The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Academy at the Lakes turns 25

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The Academy at the Lakes students came striding off the yellow school bus, ready for action.

They’d just arrived at the Old Lutz School, and before long, they were yanking weeds, pushing wheelbarrows and spreading mulch at the historic schoolhouse, an icon in the community of Lutz.

They were also picking up branches and sticks, strewn about by Hurricane Irma.

From left, Hannah Church, Anisa Nanavati and Addison Pollock work to transport mulch from a huge pile across the yard from the Old Lutz School to plant beds closer to the school. The trio of eighth-graders from Academy at the Lakes was taking part in a service day the school organized to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
(B.C. Manion)

This crew was just one of many spending the day doing volunteer work at various locations — as Academy’s students and staff spent the 25th day of its 25th year, giving back to the community.

“Service has always been one of our core values, whether you’re a 3-year-old or a senior in high school. We provide age-appropriate opportunities for children to learn an ethic of service,” said Mark Heller, head of school.

“We need to make sure that all of our children know how to be net givers to the world, as opposed to takers from the world.

“They need to understand, and be taught, and experience how to do things that make a difference for others — and how good it feels to do that.

“That’s part of what we did on the 25th day, thanking the community that has nurtured us and sustained us over our first 25 years,” said Heller, who leads the school, located at 2331 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

Suzin Carr, who organized the workday at the Old Lutz School, was delighted to have Academy’s help.

“Today, they’ll help clean up after the hurricane. They’ll do some mulching,” she said, pointing to a huge pile, across the schoolyard.

“That pile will be gone by the time they leave, no doubt,” Carr said.

She also appreciated the timing of the volunteer effort.

“They’ll help us get ready for our market, which is Oct. 14, the Market at the Old Lutz School,” Carr said, putting in a plug for the upcoming fundraiser.

Beth Nevel Rader and her brother, Ben Nevel, were there helping, too.

“My brother and I went to school here, one through six,” Rader said, noting her brother is the chairman of the Citizens for the Old Lutz School, a group that works to preserve the school.

“I think the kids are just awesome to come out and volunteer,” she added.

Colleen McCormick, science department chair, said Academy students routinely volunteer in the community.

“This is something that’s part of our core values,” she said.

Service is one of the core values at Academy at the Lakes, and those acts of service can be tailored to be done by the school’s pre-kindergarteners through seniors, said Mark Heller, head of school. (Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes)

That’s important, she said, because “hopefully, it instills a spirit of giving back that they’ll continue after they leave Academy.”

Kevin Crowley, who teaches video production and is the golf coach, has been at the school for 17 years.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” said Crowley, whose daughter attended the school, from pre-kindergarten through high school.

While one group was at the Old Lutz School, other groups were planting sunflowers, cleaning up Collier Parkway or pitching in at Feeding Tampa Bay and Metropolitan Ministries.

Heller attributed Academy’s staying power to its ability to create a culture that works on a scale “that takes great care of the individual.”

“I think there’s great power, in the small school, to unlock human potential,” he said.

In a school with a low student-teacher ratio, the teachers get to know each student “well enough to know how to motivate them to be their best and to inspire them to be their best,” Heller said.

With such familiarity, they can transmit “a sense of that joy in the journey, of how to walk through life finding things that are beautiful, and wonderful and meaningful,” Heller said.

Academy at the Lakes originally opened in 1982 as a preschool operated by Connie Wendlek, but evolved into Academy at the Lakes Day School in 1992, with 32 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Connie’s husband, Richard, a former Pasco County principal became the head of school.

Besides drawing students from Land O’ Lakes, the school also attracts students from Odessa, Trinity, Lutz, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City, Tampa and other Tampa Bay communities.

The school now has more 500 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, in its lower division, middle division and upper division programs.

Essentially all of its graduates pursue education beyond the secondary level, with approximately 80 percent being accepted by their first-choice colleges, according to school statistics.

Heller is gratified by the school’s accomplishments during its first quarter-century, and he’s enthusiastic about what lies ahead.

“There are tremendously exciting things on the immediate horizon for Academy at the Lakes.

“We own 47 acres of undeveloped land just on the other side of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church,” he said.

“We have our stake of the ground right here in Central Pasco, in Land O’ Lakes. As the community grows, so too, will Academy at the Lakes, just as has happened in the first 25 years of Academy of the Lakes.

For more information about the academy, call (813) 948-7600, or visit AcademyAtTheLakes.org.

Academy at the Lakes timeline
1982: Connie Wendlek opens Academy at the Lakes Preschool.

1992: Connie Wendlek’s preschool evolves into Academy at the Lakes Day School, which opens with 32 students in prekindergarten through eighth grade. Her husband, Richard, a former principal in Pasco County Schools, becomes the head of school. Connie is the music teacher.

1997: McCormick Campus opens to house a middle school.

1998-99 school year: The school adds ninth grade. In subsequent years it added 10th grade, 11th grade and 12th grade.

2002: The school has its first high school graduation. There are four members in the class.

2004: The new high school building opens. The structure has the same colonial touches as the middle school.

2006: Academy at the Lakes accepted into the Florida High School Athletic Association.

2008: School gymnasium opens, new sixth-grade classrooms added to the fifth-grade suite, and the school introduces its fifth- and sixth-grade program.

2012: Academy at the Lakes celebrates its 20th anniversary.

2013: Academy acquires 47 acres of land from the MacManus family.

2015: The new Lower Division playground is dedicated.

2017: Master planning for future begins.

Published September 27, 2017

Jewish community gears up for Yom Kippur

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Yom Kippur, considered to the most important holiday in the Jewish faith, this year runs from sunset on Sept. 29 through nightfall on Sept. 30.

Yom Kippur runs from sunset on Sept. 29 to nightfall on Sept. 30. It’s considered to be the most important holiday in the Jewish faith, and is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service. (File)

Yom Kippur, meaning “Day of Atonement,” marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Both are part of Judaism’s “High Holy Days.”

Yom Kippur is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service.

Observance: The Torah (Jewish bible) commands all Jewish adults (apart from the sick, the elderly and women who have just given birth) to abstain from eating and drinking between sundown on the evening before Yom Kippur and nightfall the following day. The fast is believed to cleanse the body and spirit, not to serve as a punishment. Religious Jews observe additional restrictions on bathing, washing, using cosmetics and wearing leather shoes. The prohibitions are intended to prevent worshippers from focusing on material possessions and superficial comforts.

History: According to tradition, the first Yom Kippur took place after the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and arrival at Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Descending from the mountain, Moses caught his people worshipping a golden calf and shattered the sacred tablets in anger. Because the Israelites atoned for their idolatry, God forgave their sins and offered Moses a second set of tablets. Jewish texts recount that during biblical times, Yom Kippur was the only day on which the high priest could enter the inner sanctum of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and made atonement and asked for God’s forgiveness on behalf of all the people of Israel. The tradition is said to have continued until the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 A.D.; it was then adapted into a service for rabbis and their congregations in individual synagogues.

Traditions and symbols of Yom Kippur:

  • Pre-Yom Kippur feast: On the eve of Yom Kippur, families and friends gather for a bountiful feast that must be finished before sunset. The idea is to generate strength for 25 hours of fasting.
  • Breaking of the fast: After the final Yom Kippur service, many people return home for a festive meal. It traditionally consists of breakfast-like comfort foods such as blintzes (pancakes), noodle pudding and various baked goods.
  • Wearing white: It is customary for religious Jews to dress in white — a symbol of purity — on Yom Kippur. Some married men wear kittels — white burial shrouds — to signify repentance.
  • Charity: Some Jews make donations or volunteer their time in the days leading up to Yom Kippur. This is seen as a way to atone and seek God’s forgiveness. One ancient custom known as kapparot involves swinging a live chicken or bundle of coins over one’s head while reciting a prayer. The chicken or money is then given to the poor.

Local Yom Kippur services:

Where: Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road, Tampa
Services:
Sept. 29: Kol Nidre at 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 30: Shacharit/Yizkor at 9 a.m.; Rabbi’s Teaching at 4:15 p.m.; Mincha at 6 p.m.; Neilah at 7 p.m.; Havdallah at 8 p.m.; and Break the Fast at 8:15 p.m.
For information, call (813) 962-6338, or visit KolAmi.org.

Where: Congregation Mekor Shalom, 14005A N. Dale Mabry Highway
Services:
Sept. 29: Erev Shabbat at 6: 30 p.m.; Kol Nidre at 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 30: Yom Kippur at 9 a.m.; and, Minha, Ma’ariv, Neilah & Shofar Blast at 5:30 p.m.
For information, call (813) 963-1818, or visit MekorShalom.org.

Where: Congregation Beth Am, 2030 W. Fletcher Ave.
Services:
Sept. 29: Kol Nidre at 8 p.m.
Sept. 30: Yom Kippur morning service at 10 a.m.; Junior Congregation at 11:30 a.m.; Children’s Service at 2 p.m.; Discussion Group at 3 p.m.; Yom Kippur afternoon, Yizkor, N’eila Final Shofar at 4:30 p.m.
For information, call (813) 968-8511, or visit BethAmTampa.org.

Where: Chabad at Wiregrass, 2124 Ashley Oaks Circle in Wesley Chapel
Services:
Sept. 29: Kol Nidre at 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 30: Yom Kippur morning service at 10 a.m.; Yizkor Memorial Service at 12 p.m.; Afternoon & Neilah Closing Service at 5:45 p.m., and Shofar Blast at 7:51 p.m.

For information, call (813) 642-3244, or visit ChabadAtWiregrass.com.

Published September 27, 2017

Pasco County boosts its stormwater fee

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Pasco County residents will be paying a higher stormwater fee, following a Sept. 19 vote by Pasco County commissioners to increase the rate.

Beginning in 2018, the annual fee will increase from $57 to $95 — a 67 percent increase.

A previous increase approved two years ago added $10 to the fee, raising the rate from $47 to $57.

Commissioners were divided over raising the fee during two workshops earlier this year, but they gave tentative approval to the increase to meet a deadline for providing tax information to the Pasco County Property Appraiser’s office.

There was some hope the increase wouldn’t be needed, or could be reduced, if state funds came through for several proposed drainage projects.

That didn’t pan out.

Only two projects, for a total of about $1 million, were included in the 2018 state budget, and both of those were vetoed.

So, the higher fees are intended to support projects that can ease the county’s chronic flooding issues.

There’s no doubt that Pasco residents have seen their share of flooding in the last two years, and most recently endured the wind and rain from Hurricane Irma.

County staff members previously told county commissioners of a backlog of 93 years of service and maintenance to clean drainage culverts. More projects for repairs and other services also would take decades. Total costs for all projects could add up to about $300 million.

The increased fee will give the county about $25 million for engineering and design of 10 priority capital projects, and for cleaning, replacing and maintenance of culverts and swales.

Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as Swiftmud, is being asked to contribute half of an estimated $38 million in construction costs for the capital projects.

Hurricane Irma is only the latest to add to Pasco’s flooding issues.

Tropical Storm Hermine in 2016 and torrential summer rains in 2015 caused extensive flooding to Pasco County homes. Much of the damage was in New Port Richey, Port Richey and Elfers, though some areas of central and east Pasco also saw flooding.

In separate votes, county commissioners also approved special assessments related to the purchase of two former golf courses in the Magnolia Valley and Timber Oaks subdivisions.

The purchases centered on easing flooding in those areas by creating additional drainage capacity.

However, Magnolia Valley and Timber Oaks residents through the special assessments will pay a share of the purchase prices.

Magnolia Valley residents will pay $28; Timber Oaks residents, about $61.

Magnolia Valley resident Judy Osteen spoke during public comment against the fee.

“You’ve selected a few people to pay for a project that the whole county is going to enjoy,” Osteen said. “That to me is the county dictating to a certain amount of people for a project they want done.”

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano said homeowners’ property values would benefit from the county’s efforts.

Published September 27, 2017

‘He was our own Indiana Jones’

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After 91-year-old Bill Smith was laid to rest on Aug. 11 amid the emotionally riveting melody of bagpipes from quaint Smith Cemetery, a group of Smith’s fans gathered at Lake Jovita to swap stories and remember the rugged Wesley Chapel pioneer.

Dr. Christopher Darby Immer, the pioneer’s son, was among those paying homage to Bill’s memory.

Bill and Luther Smith on horseback in Wesley Chapel in 1940. (Courtesy of Madonna Jervis Wise)

“He was our own Indiana Jones!” said Immer, recalling his initial encounter with the legendary Bill Smith.

“Do you remember the Indiana Jones character that was created by Harrison Ford in “Raiders of the Lost Ark?” Immer asked.

“Well, I was 10 years old and star-struck by Indiana Jones. Around about that same time, I encountered Bill Smith.

“Modest and unassuming in demeanor, he shared a few quips on Wesley Chapel…ranching, open range and the like.

“Understanding a thing or two about the attention span of a 10-year-old, Bill pulled out his authentic Florida Cracker Whip and — reminiscent of Harrison Ford — Bill wielded his braided rawhide with painstaking precision.

“Just four effortless thrusts and he peeled each of the four letters from the label of the aluminum Coke™ can in sequence,” Immer said.

Timing was important to Bill Smith — along with honor, friendship, legacy and savoring life’s gusto.

Unpretentious and keenly aware, Bill was much more than merely his folksy humble Florida-boy persona.

He traveled the world with his beloved Lillian.

He had a map that chronicled their extensive travels and his hunting expeditions throughout the world—every continent.

He was well-read and, on things he deemed important, held strong opinions.

It was only after one got to know him well, that Bill would humbly reveal glimpses into a life well-lived.

For instance, his division was first to enter bomb-ravished Nagasaki, at the beginning of allied occupation of Japan at the conclusion of World War II.

And, during a 1963 work project on the Wesley Chapel overpass at the construction of Interstate 75, Bill remembered the fellow who waved him down off his tractor to tell him the sad news: “Our President was assassinated!”

Bill’s wife Lillian found a 2004 handwritten memoir, drafted in Bill’s classic self-effacing fashion.

Bill Smith, Michael Boyette and Ruth Smith Adams had a wealth of knowledge about the Wesley Chapel of long ago.

In part, it reads: “I was born William Rollie Smith on November 15, 1925, to Luther Daniel Smith and Louneta (Stanley) Smith in a two-story home about 200 yards from where I reside on Smith Road. A Fourth Generation Floridian, many would see my years as simple … it was a day-to day survival. I could not grow up fast enough to leave the farm during the Great Depression years.

“My sister, Ruth and I had a hard life but a good life, and we were always close. Everyone should have a sister like mine. We completed the eighth grade at a two-room schoolhouse with no electricity (electricity came in 1947), near the 1878 Double Branch Baptist Church, which was the center of the community, before subsequently graduating from Pasco High.

“My grandfather was Daniel Henry Smith, a man I dearly loved who told stories of the past. He died in 1955—a great loss. He and dad had cattle and hogs…running in the woods…from San Antonio to the present day site of the University of South Florida. This was the time of Open Range. You fenced the animals out of your yard or farm. Cities were fenced in!”

A descendant of homesteaders, William Riley Smith and Anne E. Sims Smith, Bill was eager to share that the Homestead Act of 1862, provided a 160-acre piece of land for a person who had resided on the land for five years and improved it.

Smith’s family was recognized at the September 1987 centennial ceremony, which commemorated the formation of Pasco County (including Precinct 4, Wesley Chapel). Fittingly, the homesteaded land now belongs to the Pasco County School Board.

Preserving history was an important mission for Bill.

In recent years, he lamented that his cohorts were decreasing.

His boyhood friend and close neighbor, Frederick (Dick) Tucker, passed away in 2012.

More recently, Wesley Chapel lost other keepers of the frontier history.

Michael Boyette, who spearheaded the placing of the Wesley Chapel historical marker, died on June 30, 2017. Bill’s own sister, Ruth Smith Adams, passed away on May 24, 2017.

The Smith cracker home is on display at ‘Cracker Country’ at the State Fairgrounds as a hands-on living legacy of frontier Florida. (Neighbors of Daniel H. and Elizabeth Geiger Smith built the cracker home in barn-raising fashion as a wedding present in 1894.)

The house was donated in 1979, as a tribute.

The fairgrounds exhibit reflects life on the Florida frontier, which included farming, ranching, charcoal producing, gator hunting, turpentine stills and moonshining.

Frontier independence permeated Wesley Chapel pioneer settlers who possessed a character of hard work and strength. Eking out an existence was a challenge, and Wesley Chapel was known for its gator hunting and moonshining.

Bill donated his moonshine still to the Florida Pioneer Museum in Dade City.

Wesley Chapel, as well as Bill’s many friends and family, will mourn the loss of his wisdom and insight.

One such lifelong friend and a member of Bill’s weekly fishing group is local sports hero Keathel Chauncey, who offered this reflection: “From the times that I spent with Bill, I realized that he was a straight shooter (literally and figuratively).

“Taught from early in his life what life is about, Bill experienced families that respected each other, worshipped together, and helped anyone in need. When you asked him a question or advice about anything, his answers came from his heart and his upbringing. ‘Find a quiet place, think of the teachings of the Bible, and you will find your own right answer, you don’t need me.’

“Bill Smith taught me self-respect, self-reliance, honor, patience,” Chauncey said.

By Madonna Jervis Wise

Madonna Wise, who lives in Zephyrhills, has written three local history books and is actively involved in preserving local history.

Published September 27, 2017

Park bench honors original garden club members

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The San Antonio Founders Garden Club recently paid tribute to the 23 original members of the club by dedicating a park bench in their honor.

Members of the San Antonio Founders Garden Club and community members listen to Donna Swart, the club president, during the dedication of a park bench. (Richard Riley)

The event was at the San Antonio City Park, 32819 Pennsylvania Ave., on the morning of Sept. 7.

The ceremony was meant to celebrate and honor the club’s many contributions through the years.

The club draws its name from the fact that it was the first garden club in the city, according to a history compiled to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary in 2011.

The name also pays homage to the foresight of the original founders of the Catholic Colony of San Antonio who set aside the land for a park, the document adds.

Deacon Irv Lau of St. Rita’s Catholic Church blesses the bench during the dedication ceremony on Sept. 7.

No minutes were taken at the club’s first meeting, the account says, but those attending the second meeting were: Jeanette Barthle, Stella Barthle, Rose Cope, Margaret Cissel, Alice Epperson, Bobbie Epperson, Jo Ann Franz, Marie Harper, Ruth Pike Herman, Mary Jones, Effie McCabe, Margaret Keifer, Patsy Reynolds, Theresa Schrader and Charlene Spalding.

The following month, Elizabeth Cannon, Blanche Naeyaert, Sylvia Gude and Dolores Nalley joined, and shortly thereafter, Alice Burger, Betty Burger, Sid Corrigan and Mary Schrader joined, the account says.

Betty Burger and Stella Barthle are two of the original founders who are still active in the San Antonio community.

The club still hosts an annual “Christmas in the Park,” which offers an old-fashioned celebration for the holidays.

The event, scheduled for the evening of Dec. 3, aims to encourage families and friends to gather together to celebrate the season.

Festivities generally include a sing-along, a tree lighting and free refreshments.

Published September 27, 2017

UPDATED: Getting help and helping others

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Hurricane Irma is causing some people to turn to others for help, and offering others an opportunity to be of service.

Here are some places to turn for help, or to get involved.

Hurricane Irma blew down lots of trees around Pasco County, including this one, across an East Pasco road. (Richard Riley)

Free well water testing kits
The UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service is offering free, private well water testing kits for owners whose wells flooded due to Hurricane Irma. The water sampling test kits are available Sept. 28 and Sept. 29, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the extension office, 36702 State Road 52 in Dade City. Only 60 kits are available, and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The extension office will collect the water samples on Oct. 3, from 8 a.m. to noon. Kits received after that date will not be accepted for testing.

 

Temporary roof replacement
If your roof was damaged by Hurricane Irma, you may be eligible for free temporary roof repairs by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Operation Blue Roof can install a temporary roof covering. For more information, call 1-888-Roof-Blu (That’s 1-888-766-3258.)

Need to file an insurance claim?

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and the state’s Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier offer these tips to help consumers:

  • Have all of your insurance policies handy.
  • Document damage. Take photos or shoot video before making any temporary repairs.

A free smartphone app developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners called “MyHome Scr.APP.book” can help you take and store a room-by-room log of photos.

  • Contact your insurance company or agency as soon as possible to report damages.
  • Cover damaged areas that may be exposed to the elements to prevent further damage.

Your insurance company may reimburse the expense of these temporary repairs, so keep all receipts. Remove water-logged and otherwise damaged items from your house to prevent the spread of mold, but document them and do not dispose of any damaged property until your insurance company adjuster has had an opportunity to survey it.

The Office of Insurance Regulation also has additional storm-related materials at www.floir.com/Office/HurricaneSeason/hurricaneresourcepage.aspx.

Trees did not fare well in front of a home near downtown Dade City. (Stefanie Burlingame)

Avoiding rip-offs

  • If you’re having work done, research a company or contractor, ask for references and get multiple quotes before signing a contract. Be sure the contractor carries general liability insurance and workers’ compensation.
  • Beware of any unsolicited offers or contractors claiming they can perform repairs at a discount with leftover supplies from another job.
  • Never pay the full amount up front, and do not make final payment until completely satisfied with the work performed.
    • If you suspect someone of price gouging, call (866) 9NO-SCAM.
  • Keep in mind that federal, state, and county government employees will have identification badges and will not approach you in your home for cash payments or banking information. There is no fee to apply for or to get disaster assistance from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, or the State of Florida.

Emergency bridge loans available
Small business owners with two to 100 employees, in any of Florida’s 67 counties affected by Hurricane Irma, can apply for short-term loans up to $25,000. These interest-free loans are granted in terms of 90 or 180 days. To be eligible, a business must have been established prior to Sept. 4, 2017, and must demonstrate economic injury or physical damage as a result of Hurricane Irma. The deadline to apply is Oct. 31. For information, visit FloridaDisaster.org.

For more information, call the Florida Small Business Development Center Network at (850) 898-3489.

Hurricane Irma left her mark on Saint Leo University, knocking over trees on campus and causing water intrusion in dozens of rooms. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Individual and household assistance
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has determined that Pasco County is eligible for the Individuals and Household Assistance Program, which provides financial help or direct services for eligible residents.

Available help includes:

  • Housing assistance for renters or homeowners for temporary housing, home repairs and either semi-permanent or permanent housing construction services
  • Other needs assistance, including uninsured, disaster-related necessary expenses; serious needs, such as medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, repair, cleaning or replacement of personal items; and, other eligible expenses
  • Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Debris removal
Pasco County Utilities, Solid Waste and Resource Recovery Department, was scheduled to begin removing debris this week.

  • In preparation for the removal, Pasco County homeowners must have all debris materials brought to the curb or roadside for pickup. Residents should be aware and be careful not to block fire hydrants, mailboxes, electrical boxes or any other structures. Contractor generated debris will not be picked up.

Do not bag debris. Refrigerators should be empty, with the doors secured or removed.

Requests for debris pickup must be submitted to Pasco County Customer Service Center by emailing , providing the address where the debris is located. Residents can also call customer service at (727) 847-2411.

Debris must be separated into the following categories:

Furniture: Mattresses; couches, sofas, chairs; dressers; lumber, if not pressure treated; particle board; laminated flooring; dry insulation (if wet, pile with construction); carpet and padding

Construction: Drywall, plasterboard, ceramic tile, concrete, lumber (pressure treated), wet insulation

Vegetation: Tree cuttings (must be no more than 5 feet in length, and all branches must be bundled)

White Goods: Appliances, metal furniture, metal shelving, bicycles, items that are more than 75 percent metal

Hazardous Waste – Delayed Pick-Up: Any household chemicals; oil, gas, flammables; lawn and garden chemicals; televisions; computer monitors computer towers (CPUs)

Pasco needs volunteers for disaster assessment
Pasco County needs volunteers who are able to help with disaster assessment in the field.

If faith-based, charitable, or other organizations or civic minded individuals are available and have successfully passed recent background checks, please email your contact information to , or call the Volunteer Hotline at (727) 847-8940.

Other volunteer opportunities may become available. Additional information will be posted at PascoCountyFl.net.

Help record Hurricane Irma’s damage
Pasco County encourages residents and business owners who have been affected by the recent storm to report damages to their homes, properties and businesses by opening the MyPasco App and clicking the Report Irma Damage icon, or by completing a Damage Assessment Survey located online at PascoCountyFl.net. 

Securing accurate information will help the State of Florida and the Federal Office of Emergency Management to determine if the county has enough damages to seek a federal declaration for our residents to receive financial assistance to make necessary repairs to their properties.

Zephyrhills economic summit will focus on health care

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An economic summit is coming to Zephyrhills next month, with a primary focus on offering solutions to the needs of the medical community — which represents the largest percentage of the city’s workforce.

The inaugural Zephyrhills Economic Summit — organized by the Zephyrhills Economic Development Coalition (ZEDC), in partnership with the City of Zephyrhills and The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce — is scheduled for Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Scotland Yards Golf & Country Club, 9424 U.S. 301, Dade City. Registration is $8, with breakfast and lunch provided.

Representatives from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, the city’s largest employer, will make presentations at the economic development summit. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

Representatives from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills — the city’s largest employer — will be delivering presentations, along with a number of medical practitioners from Zephyrhills.

Survey results of the 2017 ZEDC Medical BizWalk also will be announced and discussed throughout the summit.

The ZEDC collaborated with professors from University of South Florida’s School of Public Affairs on identifying needs of medical employers and employees in the city.

Melonie Monson, executive director of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, said one of the main outcomes from the BizWalk and economic summit is to address the issue of why many health care professionals work in Zephyrhills, but choose to live elsewhere.

Said Monson: “We want to know why they do not live here and what can we do (to address) what type of housing they need and what type of businesses they are looking for in the community…”

Besides addressing issues within the medical community, there also will be roundtable discussions on the city’s development and future growth opportunities in business, infrastructure and so on.

Other talking points will focus on how residents can become more involved in community affairs and additional amenities they prefer within city limits, Monson said.

“We would like to make sure that we’re informing the public of all of the great things that are going on around our community and any of the issues that might be affecting them that we’re working,” Monson said.

“We want everybody there that has any interest in what’s going on in the community,” she said.

The summit also will feature State Rep. Danny Burgess, Pasco County District 1 Commissioner Ron Oakley, Zephyrhills City Manager Steve Spina and Zephyrhills Planning Director Todd VandeBerg.

“We’re going to have the city’s planners…talk about the different things that we have coming into our community, and then we’re going to hit on the government side and how we can be better advocates in Tallahassee for our community,” Monson explained.

Some forthcoming projects that may come up include: construction of a new City Hall; development of a multi-million dollar, city-owned tennis center; various master-planned communities; and, restoring and reopening Hercules Park.

Monson said similar ZEDC-led summits will be held each fall, with a different spotlight each year, such as the education and industrial sectors.

The ZEDC was developed in 2012, partnering with city and local leaders in business, government, education and economic development, to create a sustainable and vibrant business and economic climate in Zephyrhills. Besides assisting the needs of the medical community, one of the ZEDC’s key initiatives is developing a vision for the city’s municipal airport for growth and expansion. Designing a comprehensive targeted jobs and barriers report is another.

For information on the summit, call The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce at (813) 782-1913, or email .

Published September 20, 2017

Residents offer opinions on life in Pasco

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An annual online citizen survey offers a snapshot in time of how Pasco County residents view their quality of life.

And, it turns out that in 2017, about 71 percent of the people living in Pasco considered the quality of life either excellent or good.

The survey did spotlight a few negatives, including a frustration with traffic that makes it hard to get around. On that issue, results showed about a 10 percent decline in their views on “traffic flow” compared to the rating they gave it in 2015.

“Ease of travel by all modes of transportation such as walking, biking, driving or public transportation were rated lower in Pasco County than in communities across the nation,” according to survey’s written conclusions.

But, the news wasn’t all bad on roads.

Pasco Performance Management Director Marc Bellas

There is room for improvement, but about 34 percent of survey responders felt positive about road repairs, compared to only 25 percent in 2016.

That “big jump” is a trend in the right direction that indicates residents are seeing improvements in road repair efforts, said Marc Bellas, the county’s performance manager.

And, the overall quality of government services rose about 9 percent from 2014, according to the survey.

In general, Bellas said, “(Residents) feel more positive about the direction we’re going in.”

Bellas presented the survey results to Pasco County commissioners at their Aug. 29 meeting in New Port Richey.

County officials launched the online survey in mid-April. Residents had until May 31 to participate. Residents also had the opportunity to complete a survey during the Pasco County’s Disaster Expo in April, and later at a county-staffed booth at the Cotee River Seafest in New Port Richey.

About 2,500 residents completed the survey, and also provided written comments.

On average, about 350 communities within Pasco participate in the survey each year.

About 59 percent of the responses in 2017 were from west Pasco; 26 percent from central Pasco; and 15 percent from east Pasco.

Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes generally fell within central Pasco. Zephyrhills and Dade City were in east Pasco. But, there was some overlap as boundary lines were drawn, based on population density and zip codes.

The survey is one of the county’s tools to measure how often residents use government services, and how effectively government meets their needs. Results also can help guide county officials in strategic planning.

The survey provides insights, too, on areas where residents might need more information on projects their government is working on, said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore.

“Let’s think about how we can get the word out there better, so (residents) know what’s coming,” he said.

Questions were modeled from a national citizen survey, and results compared with national benchmarks. Pasco did its first online survey in 2009.

Safety and the economy were among the most important issues in 2017. These results largely mirrored results from the 2016 survey, though the economy slipped past mobility into second place as an issue of importance.

Comments on the economy were mixed.

Residents said they still see empty buildings, but Bellas said, they also like seeing new businesses “that are of high quality.”

Not counting law enforcement, fire rescue and ambulance service, residents singled out road maintenance, code enforcement, and parks and recreation as top priorities.

While residents see improvements in the quality of road maintenance and code enforcement, those services fall below the national benchmarks.

On a positive note, about 70 percent of survey respondents had positive views of the quality of parks and recreation services. That is an upward trend that exceeded the national benchmark.

Residents appear to place increasing value on those services as important to quality of life, Bellas said.

“Citizens are noting that we’re making a difference,” he added.

For more details about the survey results, visit PascoCountyFl.net.

Published September 20, 2017

Area spared worst of Hurricane Irma

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Hurricane Irma devastated other parts of Florida, causing less damage than feared in Tampa and surrounding communities.

But area homes, businesses and other locations were not entirely spared from Irma’s wrath.

Concerns continue over rising floodwaters, which already have flooded homes and roads.

Rising water on River Road in Dade City made the road live up to its name in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. (Stefanie Burlingame)

And, Irma’s whipping winds knocked down trees, shredded billboards, damaged fences, ripped off shingles and siding and did other types of damage to locations throughout The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Power outages became a major hassle for residents and businesses, causing many businesses to remain closed after Irma blew through and utility crews to swarm to widespread power outages.

Pasco’s four power companies — Duke Energy, Tampa Electric, Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative and Sumter Electric Cooperative — reported 217,382 addresses without power, according to statistics provided by Pasco County’s emergency management officials.

Still, Pasco County officials were grateful that the area did not feel the full force of Irma’s fury.

Throughout Pasco County, Irma destroyed four homes and caused major damage to 56, according to county statistics. Additionally, 124 homes had minor damage and 205 were affected. Plus, 90 businesses reported property damage.

Hurricane Irma shredded billboards as she made her way through northern Hillsborough and Pasco counties. (B.C. Manion)

“I think we’re fortunate. We were forecasted to possibly see a Category 3 or (Category) 4 hurricane come right through here. We are fortunate that did not happen,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley noted there was concern about the county’s mobile home communities, in particular, given the high winds that were predicted.

“If you look at Zephyrhills, they really came through,” Oakley said. “We’re very fortunate.”

Both commissioners said they continue to be concerned about rising floodwaters and property damage, but they also praised the community’s response to Irma.

“Our citizens in Pasco County are just amazing,” Moore said. “I have just witnessed so many people being so generous in helping one another, and offering to help each other.”

In the run-up to the hurricane, for instance, people were filling up sandbags all over the county to help them protect their businesses and homes.

Utility crews could be seen all over Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties, as crews worked to restore power. (B.C. Manion)

At one location, Moore said, he began chatting with some of the folks, who told him: “We were here to get sandbags. We saw people needed help, so we’ve been here for five hours. (They were) all walks of life, all types of people. The community has really come together.”

Irma’s potential threat prompted the opening of 26 hurricane shelters across Pasco County, which housed 24,100 people, including those with special needs.

Nearly 800 students and support personnel sheltered at University Campus in St. Leo.

Damage assessments are ongoing, but Irma knocked down a number of trees on the campus, and water got into at least 60 rooms, according to a university report.

After Irma passed, Moore said he put out a call for volunteers to load equipment at Wesley Chapel High School to help get some nursing home residents back home.

“I put on a Facebook call to action and said, ‘Hey, if anybody can down here, we’re loading U-Haul trucks with equipment.’

A tree crashed down on a mobile home in a mobile home park on Morningside Drive in Dade City. (Stefanie Burlingame)

“You wouldn’t believe the response,” he said, noting he wound up telling some volunteers that they already had enough help.

“I was touched by that, just knowing that our citizens are there, wanting to help one another and not looking for any accolades.”

Another bunch of volunteers showed up on Sept. 15 to help load cleaning supplies, snack foods, clothing and other donations onto a convey of 10 vehicles at Wesley Chapel Nissan, to take them to the Pasco County Staging Area, a temporary distribution center near the Suncoast Parkway.

The donations came from customers and employees of the dealership, members of the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club Noon, members of the community, area churches and Support the Troops.

Hurricane Irma also caused plenty of disruptions.

Besides the power outages, parents were forced to find new day care options, as public schools in both Hillsborough and Pasco counties closed as Hurricane Irma approached, and remained closed for the week following its landfall.

Those venturing around The Laker/Lutz News coverage area found it more difficult to get around, too.

At the peak of the storm, 749 county roads were closed, and in the aftermath, 97 of the county’s 260 traffic signals weren’t working because of power outages.

There were stop signs at some normally lighted intersections; generators strapped to utility boxes at others; and, in most cases, motorists were expected to treat the intersection like a four-way stop. Some motorists did, but others did not.

Considerable efforts were made to keep the public informed.

Those stepping up to provide emergency help drew high praise from elected officials.

The county’s Resident Information Center fielded 20,340 calls between Sept. 8 and Sept. 14, and throughout the storm, the Joint Information Center used social media, news releases and video links to provide timely information in English, Spanish and American Sign Language. Those communications included 57 news releases, 42 media alerts, five news conferences and 67 media inquiries. There were 12 reporters embedded in the Pasco County Emergency Operations Center.

Pasco County officials also are grateful for a lengthy list of community partners and agencies that have been helping in recovery efforts. Those partners include law enforcement agencies, utility companies, city governments, the school board, the University of South Florida, Pasco-Hernando State College, the Florida National Guard, volunteer ham radio operators, emergency response team volunteers and external rescue teams from Ohio, Arkansas, Illinois, among others.

Commission Chairman Moore put it this way: “The team has just been incredible. These people are running on fumes. You never hear anybody complaining.”

He planned to express his appreciation at the board’s session this week.

“I will give them a standing ovation at the meeting,” Moore said.

Published September 20, 2017

Hurricane Irma leaves behind stories to tell

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A day after Hurricane Irma stormed through Tampa Bay, residents ventured out for ice, gas and cleaning supplies.

Some had a ray of hope that somewhere they would find an open restaurant. They tooled along the busier corridors spying telltale signs of life – cars and the people in them.

Bagging ice
A Twice the Ice machine on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard had a steady line of residents waiting to fill coolers with bags of ice.

Sheila Crawford’s house, off North Dale Mabry Highway at County Line Road, lost power about 6 p.m., as Hurricane Irma swept into Pasco County.

The next day, there was still no power, and no gas to be found for a generator.

She wanted ice and sodas, preferably cold ones. She found the ice, but the drinks were still on her to-do list.

She recalled the “whipping wind and listening to cracking of trees going down. It was scary.”

The day after Hurricane Irma stormed through Pasco County, Harry Perkerson picked up bags of ice at a Twice the Ice machine on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. (Kathy Steele)

The first thing she wanted to do after being freed from Irma was to find a hot cup of coffee. “Now, I’m just so happy to be out,” she said.

Harry Perkerson also stood in line for ice. He and his wife Shirley lost power sometime early Monday morning.

They had filled a bathtub full of water, bought gas for their generator, and filled their car with gas.

Besides ice, post-Irma, he needed more gas.

Irma took out four “big trees” at their Land O’ Lakes’ home, including two large oak trees.

“It’s a mess,” he said. But, he added, “They didn’t hit the house.”

Next up for the Perkersons? Dining out.

“Have you found anything open yet?” he asked.

To go or not to go
Angela Lynch ended up at home with her mother and her fiancé. As Irma raged outside, Lynch, at times, watched the storm from behind her sliding glass doors.

She didn’t plan to be a spectator.

“I went shopping to leave town,” she said. “We ended up staying.”

News reports said Irma was shifting eastward, so it seemed safe to stay.

With food on hand, she mixed up a “Manwich” meal from hamburger and baked beans. And, she even managed to cook up her mother’s breakfast biscuits on a grill.

Her family and house survived with no damage, but she was waiting for word on how her office in Ruskin fared.

Friends help friends
Kathy Moré and Sandra Randazzo combined forces to deal with Irma. And, on Tuesday they celebrated with margaritas at Ukulele Brand’s in Land O’ Lakes.

Randazzo came to Moré’s house, which lost power Sunday night. They had cooked up a mess of food, including pork chops and potatoes.

They fashioned a safe room in a hallway, with a futon, a cooler, snacks and wine. And, they never used the room.

“I think we got lucky,” said More. “We prepared for the worst and are glad that didn’t happened.”

Her house was still without power on Tuesday, and no sign of when it might be turned back on.

“I feel displaced without my electricity,” Moré said.

Randozzo’s home apparently never lost power.

But, no matter, they felt lucky. Moré planned to donate her trove of leftover canned goods to a local shelter.

Randazzo recalled Hurricane Andrew, from 1992, when she lived in Miami.

“Andrew was worse,” she said. “The howling wind was a hell of a lot worse in Andrew. It was definitely worse, but that was a hurricane 5.”

Share your hurricane stories and photos
We’d love to share your Hurricane Irma experiences and photos with our readers. Please tell us how you weathered Hurricane Irma. Did your home, car or property suffer damage? Did your power go out? Is your power still out? How did you cope without television, telephone or Internet? How did you handle child care, while the schools were closed? Finally, did Irma ruin wedding, proposal or other special plans?

Please send us your stories and photos, if you have any, by Sept. 22. We plan to publish a selection of what we receive in our Sept. 27 issue. Send your submissions to .

Thanks!

Published September 20, 2017