The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Pasco’s property tax rate is up for vote

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Pasco County commissioners are scheduled to set a preliminary property tax rate, known as a millage rate, at their July 11 meeting in Dade City.

The meeting starts at 10 a.m., at the Pasco County Historic Courthouse, at 37918 Meridian Ave.

The rate determines how much revenue the county can collect in property taxes for fiscal year 2018.

Teens and pre-teens search through Legos during a Lego Day at the Land O’ Lakes Branch of the Pasco County Library System. Hours would be expanded at county libraries, under the Pasco County Commission’s proposed budget. (File)

That information must be provided to the Pasco County Property Appraiser’s Office in time to print and mail out annual TRIM (Truth-in-Millage) notices in August to property owners.

At a June 13 workshop, county commissioners looked at a proposed 2018 budget presented by Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles.

The approximately $1.3 billion budget fell short of meeting commissioners’ objectives.

They agreed to a list of new budget items, including restoration of library hours, upgrades at some parks, new ambulance purchases, and a third-year of promised salary increases to Pasco County deputies.

To cover expenses, commissioners chose to use about $7.6 million in reserve funds while maintaining the current millage rate.

A mill equals $1 in taxes per $1,000 in taxable value.

For example, a property owner would pay $100 in taxes based on a 1 mill rate and property with a $100,000 taxable value. In calculating the taxable value, the county applies qualifying deductions and exemptions.

For the general fund, the millage rate currently is about $7.60 per $1,000 of property value. For the fire district, the rate is about $1.80 per $1,000.

Some property owners still could see small increases in their taxes based on a 2.1 percent increase in overall property values.

Two public hearings must be held before a final vote on the 2018 budget, and the millage rate, in September. The fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.

Once county commissioners give initial approval to the millage rate, it can’t be increased prior to the final budget vote. Commissioners could, however, choose to decrease the rate.

Published July 5, 2017

Collaboration is key word at Bexley Elementary

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When visitors step into the REC center at Bexley Elementary School, they won’t be surrounded by game tables or basketball hoops.

Instead, they’ll be in the new elementary school’s media center.

The REC center gets its name from three words — Research, Enrich and Collaborate. Those words emphasize the kind of learning experience planned for children attending the school, which is set to open in August, at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

This worker is clearing off debris on the sidewalk of an interior courtyard at Bexley Elementary School. (B.C. Manion)

Bexley Principal Vicki Wolin described the school’s features and aspirations during a recent tour of the campus for Pasco County School Board members, district leaders and other guests.

When the tour-takers finished that visit, most of them drove across county to visit Cypress Creek Middle High School to get a sneak preview of that campus led by Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles.

Bexley — which will relieve overcrowding at Odessa and Oakstead elementary schools — is the largest elementary school that Pasco County Schools has ever built, said John Petrashek, director of construction services for the district.

Its design was a result of collaboration between architect Harvard Jolly, four elementary principals and David Scanga, assistant superintendent for elementary schools, Petrashek said.

That team told the district, “this is what we need to make this a very functioning, high-performing elementary school,” the construction services director said.

“We listened. We designed … They didn’t get everything they wanted, but just about,” he said.

The resulting elementary school is rich “for teaching, learning and for achievement,” Petrashek said.

The district aims to be as frugal as possible when building new schools, but doesn’t cut corners when it comes to the quality of construction and design, Petrashek said.

“This building is built to last. You can pay for a building and good design now, or you can cheapen this design and pay forever out of operational costs for maintenance and repair,” he said. “This building has a 50-year life expectancy.”

Petrashek praised Newland Communities, the developer of the Bexley subdivision, for being “tremendous partners.”

Newland ensured that the site was large enough to meet the district’s needs and also made sure that needed infrastructure was available, Petrashek said.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning is enthusiastic about the new school.

“We expect great things to come out of Bexley Elementary School,” Browning said. “It’s a beautiful place. It’s obviously very functional, and it will lend itself to a great learning environment for kids.”

Wolin noted the emphasis was on collaboration, efficiency of space and flexibility.

“We wanted something that was timeless, so it would be efficient in the future,” she said.

For instance, there are stools that can break apart into smaller seats, and also be adjusted so that they rock.

“We want to offer our students seating areas that best meet their needs for learning, instead of: “Sit down and sit still,’” Wolin said.

The building also is designed with spaces that can shrink or expand, allowing grade-level teams to work together and enabling teachers to tailor instruction to meet the varying needs of students.

The technology also offers flexibility.

For instance, the same piece of equipment can be used to show a video or to be an interactive tool, depending on what a teacher needs for a particular lesson, Wolin said.

Even the school’s large front office is designed with families in mind, the principal said, noting it is more spacious than the typical front office at an elementary school. The idea is to give families more room as they wait to take care of school business.

At Cypress Creek Middle High School, at 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, Hetzler-Nettles led the group around the campus, which initially will serve students in grades six through 11.

Much of the furniture and equipment has yet to be installed, but, like Bexley, the school will have different types of seating and spaces that can be reconfigured for different uses.

Stops on the tour included a science classroom, the school gymnasium, the cafeteria, the weight room, locker rooms, a band room, a conference room, various other classrooms and a look at the athletic fields.

For parents and students who want to see for themselves, Cypress Creek Middle High will be holding two events, designed for students in different age groups. For details, visit the school’s website at CCMHS.pasco.k12.fl.us.

Bexley is planning an open house, too. For more information about Bexley, visit BES.pasco.k12.f.us.

Published July 5, 2017

New opportunities await at Cypress Creek Middle High

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Much of the furniture and equipment has yet to be installed at Cypress Creek Middle High School, but even without it, it’s easy to see that the school is designed to offer students a multitude of opportunities when it opens in August.

Cypress Creek Middle High Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles leads a tour of Pasco County School Board members, Superintendent Kurt Browning and other invited guests for a sneak preview of Cypress Creek Middle High School. (B.C. Manion)

Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles and members of her administrative team recently led Pasco County School Board members and Superintendent Kurt Browning on a tour around the campus at 8701 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

Stops on the tour included a science classroom, the school gymnasium, the cafeteria, the weight room, locker rooms, a band room, a conference room, a variety of other classrooms and a look at the athletic fields.

The tour was similar to a walk-around that school board members and other guests took at Bexley Elementary, at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, earlier in the afternoon. Bexley, built to relieve crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools, also is set to open in August.

Both schools have different types of seating and spaces that can be reconfigured to suit the needs of teachers and students. And, both are designed to foster collaboration among teachers and among students.

Cypress Creek Middle High will serve students in grades six through 11 its initial year and will add a senior class the following year.

During the tour of that campus, Hetzler-Nettles stopped in a classroom that was flanked by classrooms on either side.

“This is an area where we could put three teachers together, they could collaborate. You could open the doors to that classroom and could open up the wall (a sliding wall),” she said.

At the same time, the principal said she’s aware that parents have raised concerns about having middle school and high school students on the same campus.

To help relieve those concerns, the principal said, “they have separate locker rooms, and they will not be crossing paths (to get to the locker rooms).”

Cypress Creek Middle High also will offer high school academies in business management, criminal justice and engineering, and middle school academics in criminal justice and engineering.

Check out this water fountain at Cypress Creek Middle High. You can get a sip of water now and fill up your water bottle for later.

It also will have separate band programs for middle and high school students.

But, it will not have an agricultural program, at least initially, Hetzler-Nettles said.

Some of the features that stood out during the recent tour included water fountains that are designed to fill water bottles, similar to the fountains in some airports. Bathrooms without exterior doors, similar to those seen at airports and other public buildings.

The shower stalls in the boys’ locker room are individual stalls and are outfitted with curtains. There’s also a stall that’s designed to be accessible for a student with a disability.

And, there’s also a chiller farm near the athletic field — attesting to the big job it will be to keep the school cool.

During their visit to Bexley Elementary, board members and guests had a chance to walk around the largest elementary school that Pasco County Schools has ever built, according to John Petrashek, director of construction services for the district.

Its design was a result of collaboration between architect Harvard Jolly, four elementary principals and David Scanga, assistant superintendent for elementary schools, Petrashek said.

The elementary school was built to last, Petrashek said, noting it has an expected lifespan of 50 years.

Want to know more?
Cypress Creek Middle High is inviting students and parents in for a sneak peek before classes begin. For details, visit the school’s website at CCMHS.pasco.k12.fl.us.
For more information about Bexley Elementary School, visit BES.pasco.k12.fl.us.

Published July 5, 2017

Downtown Dade City to get flood relief

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Puddle jumping in downtown Dade City is often a rainy day sport especially along Seventh Street, the spine of downtown’s business district.

Sidewalks can quickly overflow, forcing pedestrians to hunt for spots less than ankle deep to cross from one side of the street to the other. Other downtown streets, including Meridian, Pasco and Live Oak avenues, also see the waters rise.

(Courtesy of 54realty.com)

But, $1.4 million embedded in the state’s 2018 budget could go a long way toward easing the chronic flooding. The funds are among local requests that survived the budget veto pen of Gov. Rick Scott.

The money will pay to retrofit Dade City’s stormwater system by expanding a retention pond and installing a larger culvert system to drain off the rainfall.

According to the application presented to the state legislature, the project will “improve safety, attract new businesses and improve the local economy.”

It is something area business owners have wanted for a long while. They worry that the flooding keeps some customers from venturing downtown.

“We hope it will make an economic impact on our businesses,” said Joseph DeBono, Dade City’s public works director.

On rainy days, for instance, shoppers need more than an umbrella to try and stay dry in downtown Dade City. They likely need a pair of rain boots.

“It definitely is an issue, and this will help,” said John Moors, executive director for The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Bids for the project will go out after Oct. 1, when the new fiscal year begins.

Roads included in the project are Seventh, Pasco, State Road 52 and U.S. 98. The city-owned Irvin pond will be enlarged to accommodate more runoff. The estimated cost of $400,000 will be paid with a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Permits for the work have been approved.

Details on a work schedule for the entire project are to be determined, but the pond renovations will be the starting point, said DeBono.

Other community requests that were approved in the 2018 state budget include:

  • $500,000 for Youth and Family Alternatives
  • $150,000 for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office for a pilot program to help first-responders suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • $1.2 million for a campus of “therapeutic safe homes” for child victims of sex trafficking.

Published July 5, 2017

Eagle Scout project honors those who served

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When Michael Valenti was looking for his Eagle Scout project, he didn’t have to look very far.

He belongs to Boy Scout Troop 12, in Lutz, and it meets just a couple of blocks away from the Lutz Memorial Park.

Michael Valenti joined scouting when he was in third grade. The 16-year-old spearheaded a project to spruce up Lutz Memorial Park. (Courtesy of Ron Valenti)

The 16-year-old said he had noticed that the Lutz Memorial Park, at 98 First Ave., N.W., needed a bit of sprucing up, and he decided it would be a fitting Eagle Scout project.

So, he organized a team of helpers, secured donations and got busy.

The base for the flagpole was already there, but it wasn’t in good shape, Valenti said.

“There was just grass all around here, so when the mowers would come, they would chip out the base,” he explained. “Some of the paint was peeling off.”

The plaque wasn’t in great shape, either.

“We removed the sign, scraped all of the paint off. We repainted it, and we got these two new signs,” Valenti said. The new plaques came from Crown Trophy in New Tampa.

Before the project began, crews from Hillsborough County’s Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department removed some concrete.

Then, Valenti and his volunteers went to work.

Michael Valenti, of Lutz, did an Eagle Scout project to spruce up Lutz Memorial Park. More than 40 people helped, over two weekends, to beautify the space.

“We laid the concrete, then we planted this large flower box around it,” he said.

The volunteers also built a flower box near the Lutz Memorial Park sign.

The teenager wanted plants that could tolerate the sun, the rain and the drought. In other words, he was looking for low-maintenance plants that could survive in sandy soil, he said.

Since he wasn’t sure what would be best, he turned to gardening experts for advice.

He settled on blue salvia, pink guara and firebush.

“Over the course of two weekends, we had more than 40 people,” he said, including several members of Troop 12 and friends from Freedom High School.

Several local businesses helped out, too.

“John’s Butcher Shop and Benedetto’s (Ristorante Italiano) provided the food,” he said. “People allowed us to use their facilities, like their water and their bathrooms,” he said.

“It would have been about $2,000 with everything, including food and whatnot, but Lowe’s and Home Depot gave us significant discounts,” he said. Ace Hardware, in Lutz, helped, too.

Valenti is gratified by the prospect of becoming an Eagle Scout.

These are just a few of the 48 badges that Michael Valenti has earned. He recently completed his Eagle Scout project, which involved sprucing up Lutz Memorial Park.

“It’s kind of the pinnacle of your scouting career,” said Valenti, who lives in Lutz and is the son of Ron and Rose Valenti.

“It’s taken years of hard work to get where I am,” said the teenager, who will be a junior at Freedom High School.

And, it’s an accomplishment with staying power, he noted. “Once you’re an Eagle, you’re an Eagle for life.”

Valenti was a third-grader when he joined scouts, and he hopes he will become a scout leader when he’s an adult.

“It just ingrains very important values,” he said, and prepares youths to become good citizens.

Besides being on the path to becoming an Eagle Scout, Valenti has earned 48 scouting badges and is a member of the Order of the Arrow, scouting’s national honor society.

While he does well in school and plans to attend a state college, he hasn’t pinned down which career path he’d like to pursue.

Published July 5, 2017

Summertime fun with campfire cooking

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Those who grew up in the Girl Scouts, or Boy Scouts, have fond memories of cooking over an open fire.

For those of who didn’t have those experiences early on, it’s not too late to join in the fun.

Don’t be intimidated by your lack of expertise.

These ingredients can create a delicious campfire meal. (Betsy Crisp)

Here are some fundamentals to help you succeed with campfire cooking.

First, be sure to build the right fire in the right place in the right weather!

Plan your cookouts on non-windy days to avoid having sparks fly, which can easily spread and create a forest fire.

Remember: You don’t want a fire that is too hot.

Preferably, build your fire in a fire pit, at least 10 feet away from any grass, tree roots or branches that can easily catch on fire.

To get your fire started, you can use dry pine needles, dry moss from trees, dryer lint or crumpled newspaper for kindling.

Place the kindling under a teepee of similarly sized dry, seasoned oak logs that will burn steadily and longer — allowing you to sing songs around the campfire after dinner. (It’s best not to use green wood, because it creates smoke and doesn’t burn well).

After you get your fire started, continue to add one or two logs at a time to keep the fire under control.

Once the logs burn down and the coals turn gray — with little or no flames – it is time to cook.

Before you get started, be sure that you have all the right items on hand: pots/pans, aluminum foil, long-handled utensils, heavy duty gloves and hot pads.

Skewers are easy for kabobs, hot dogs and marshmallows for S’mores!

A metal grill/grate works well for steak, hamburgers, chicken under a brick, etc., and those that swing in/out of the way and are adjustable for height are really nice.

Dutch ovens work really well for stews and chili, etc.

And, in Girl Scouts, we just wrapped many things in heavy-duty aluminum foil packets and placed along the coals, edge of the fire.

Here are some safety reminders:

  • Always have a bucket of sand/water or hose on hand to help keep it under control or put it out completely, when you are finished. When you finish cooking and you put out the fire, be sure there are no flames or hissing embers. Stir the ashes to be certain the fire is out.
  • Always practice proper food safety: wash hands often; avoid cross-contamination between raw foods and cooked foods; use a meat thermometer; keep hot foods hot (140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) and cold foods cold (40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower); and refrigerate leftovers promptly.
  • Always watch kids and family pets around the campfire, to prevent an accident.

While it’s important to take precautions, it’s also good to remember that campfire cooking can be fun for people of all ages. Children can easily be involved with gathering sticks for kindling, wrapping food in aluminum foil, cooking under supervision and cleaning up.

With all of this in mind, here are a few recipes you may want to try.

Betsy Crisp is a Professor Emeritus, UF/IFAS Extension – Family & Consumer Sciences.

Recipes:

Simple Campfire Meal-in-One (“tin foil” dinner for one)
Ingredients:

  • Protein (4 ounces to 5 ounces): beef/hamburger patty, venison, chicken breast or fish
  • Starchy vegetable, sliced (½ cup of one): potatoes, yams or turnips
  • Vegetables, sliced (½ cup total): celery, onion, mushrooms, carrots, green beans, squash, Brussel sprouts
  • Herbs and spices (to taste): salt, pepper, garlic, Italian seasoning, dill, dash of cayenne, etc.
  • Liquid (2 Tablespoons): olive/canola oil/butter, broth, lemon juice, beer/wine

Instructions:
In the center of two layers of heavy duty aluminum foil (18-inch square, shiny side up), layer the above ingredients in same order as listed.

  1. Bring edges of foil together, fold down and roll over to form seal, then do same to each end to form a sealed packet.
  2. Place in hot coals, let cook 30 minutes to 45 minutes, until done.

Makes 1 serving.
If doing more than one, just repeat assembly process and be sure to count the number of packets that go in so that you pull the same number out of the fire (packages get charred/hide in the ashes!)

Campfire Luau Chicken
Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts, split in half
  • 2 Tablespoons dry onion soup mix
  • 1 can (16 ounces) crushed pineapple (do not drain)
  • 1 large green bell pepper, cut into strips
  • 2 cups carrots, sliced

Instructions:

  1. In the center of two layers of heavy duty aluminum foil (18-inch square, shiny side up), place a split breast (four times = 4 servings/packets).
  2. Place ¼ sliced vegetable on top of each piece of chicken.
  3. In a small bowl, mix soup mix and pineapple, divide by 4 and spoon on top of vegetables.
  4. Bring edges of foil together, fold down and roll over to form seal, then do same to each end to form sealed packet.
  5. Place on grill/hot coals (seam side up), let cook 45 minutes, until done.

Makes 4 servings.

Since S’mores are already well-known as the all-time favorite campfire dessert, I have included two other simple-to-make desserts that children will love to try… something new!

Campfire Brown Bears
Ingredients:

  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
  • 4 Tablespoons butter/margarine, melted
  • 1 can (8 oz.) refrigerated biscuit/bread dough

Instructions:

  1. Mix sugar and cinnamon together until well-blended.
  2. Melt butter in a metal cup/small metal bowl.
  3. Take the biscuits apart and roll each into a snake-like rope.
  4. Wrap/coil each piece around a skewer.
  5. Cook over a campfire until evenly browned.
  6. Use a spoon to drizzle (or brush) melted butter over cooked dough and then sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Makes 8 servings.

Campfire Banana Chocolate Chip Split
Ingredients:

  • 1 banana, well-washed (water only)
  • 1 ½ Tablespoon semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 Tablespoons mini-marshmallows

Instructions:

  1. With peel left on, slice banana lengthwise (do not cut all the way through).
  2. Spread the slit slightly open and fill with chocolate chips and marshmallows.
  3. Squeeze the banana closed as much as possible and wrap tightly in aluminum foil (shiny side in).
  4. Lay foil-wrapped banana on the campfire grill and let cook approximately 10 minutes.
  5. Carefully remove the banana from the fire and open foil just enough to get a spoon inside.
  6. Eating the peel is up to you (many countries, like Asia and South America, do) – Eat & Enjoy!

Makes 1 serving.

Published July 5, 2017

 

Explore your inner artist on Tuesday afternoons

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If you enjoy the act of creation, the Art in the Afternoon program at Zephyrhills Public Library may help you fulfill that urge.

Artist Bill Bellgraph, of Zephyrhills, works on a seascape scene, using acrylic paint. His artworks are displayed prominently in the room in this month’s exhibit.
(Fred Bellet)

The program welcomes art enthusiasts of all levels.

It’s a great way for artists to share their knowledge and mingle with other creative spirits.

Budding artists can learn techniques from those with more experience.

Artists should bring their own supplies and join those who enjoy sharing their time and talents.

The group meets at the library, at 4347 Eighth St., on Tuesdays, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Jiafu Li, of Zephyrhills, works with calligraphy and uses soft but bold strokes, as she creates characters for her bamboo tree picture.

This is just one of many programs offered at the library, said Peggy Panak, the library’s acting director.

The events calendar shows a wide range of programs offered throughout the month, including help with career searches, gardening, crafts, cooking, good health and other topics.

The library’s hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.

To find out more about what this branch offers, go to PascoLibraries.org, and search the events calendar for the Zephyrhills branch.

Published July 5, 2017

 

 

Using washable markers as his means for drawing, David Milam, of Zephyrhills, tries his hand at copying calendar art.
A look at Marian Gilbert’s detail work on her pastel sketch of a stallion.

Medication can reverse effects of opioid overdoses

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As communities across the nation struggle with an opioid epidemic, there’s a medication — that’s not widely known — that can reverse the effects of an overdose and save lives. Its generic name is naloxone.

About 75 people attended a June 15 seminar on opioid addiction and the benefits of naloxone moderated by Judge Shawn Crane, who presides in the sixth circuit.

Law enforcement officers, health care providers and a local pharmacist shared their expertise during a panel discussion. People recovering from addiction or helping family members to recover also shared their insights.

More than 75 people attended a seminar on opioid addiction and the medication, known as naloxone, which can save lives during overdoses. Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Preventions sponsored the event. (Kathy Steele)

Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) sponsored the seminar at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in New Port Richey.

The opioid epidemic is widely known.

Data from the United States Department of Health and Human Services estimates more than 650,000 prescriptions of opioid pain pills are dispensed daily. While the United States accounts for about 5 percent of the world’s population, Americans consume more than 80 percent of the world’s opioid supply.

China is a major manufacturer of illicit opioids, such as fentanyl and its derivatives.

Since 1999, the rate of deaths from opioid overdoses has quadrupled, including deaths from illegal use of heroin and other opioid synthetics, according to health and human services statistics.

On average 78 people in the country die every day from an opioid-related overdose, the department reports.

Health care providers and law enforcement officers are trying to spread the word that naloxone can reverse the effects of an overdose.

While the medication doesn’t eliminate the need for emergency medical care and treatment, it can save lives.

Naloxone is available to anyone at area pharmacies, and can be administered as an injection or through a nasal spray.

Crane and law enforcement officers agreed that the most prevalent drug of choice among addicts is methamphetamine.

“It’s cheap,” Crane said.

But, there is an increase in opioid pain medications from prescriptions or their synthetics. The use of heroin also is on the increase.

“It’s important that people know law enforcement understands that we can’t arrest our way out of the problem,” said Sherryl Johnson-Tandy, a corporal with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. “Drug addiction is a public health issue.”

Every Pasco deputy, as of April, carries naloxone as a nasal spray – sold under the name Narcan. The deputies can use the spray as first responders on the scene, without waiting for emergency medical personnel to arrive.

“We have a unique opportunity to make contact with people who are in their greatest need,” said Pasco Sheriff’s Capt. Michael Jenkins. “In an overdose, every second counts. It was a no-brainer for us.”

Johnson-Tandy said Narcan also is a protection for first responders.

During investigations, officers, or their K-9 partners, can inadvertently ingest or inhale opioids. Especially dangerous are the opioid synthetics, fentanyl or carfentanil. They could have an overdose and need Narcan immediately. Emergency medics also are at risk.

Cesar Rodriguez is a recovering addict, and serves on the ASAP Recovery Committee. He used heroin for about seven years, and nearly died from an overdose. Naloxone saved him, he said.

There is a stigma attached to addiction, but Rodriguez said, “We do recover and become productive members of society. We can turn around and help the next recovering addict.”

Naloxone also saved Lisa Conca’s son, who has been in and out of rehabilitation programs for about eight years. In years of seeking help, Conca said no one ever told her about naloxone. “I just want to pay it forward and help our community,” she said. “It’s a disease of the brain, not a moral failing. Every life deserves a chance.”

Kent Runyon likened naloxone to the automated emergency defibrillators. The portable devices save people who are having heart attacks, and can be found in public places, such as offices, gymnasiums or shopping malls, he said.

People can keep naloxone doses at work, at home, or in a purse.

“We need to do everything we can to put every tool in the box to help people live,” said Runyon, who is vice president of community relations for Novus Medical.

Asking for naloxone at any pharmacy is easy, said Ashley Huff, a Walgreen’s pharmacist.

Some health insurance plans pay for it; others don’t. But pharmacies treat naloxone requests in the same way as flu shot requests, she said.

“We don’t ask any questions,” Huff said. “Anyone can get it, and get as many prescriptions as you want, as long as you are willing to pay for them.”

A nasal spray kit, with two nasal sprays, can cost about $135. But, doses for injection can be about $20 each, although two doses are recommended, Huff said.

In some cases, one dose won’t be enough and a second would be administered soon after.

The most expensive medication is sold as Evzio at a cost of more than $4,500. It is an auto-injector, similar to the Epi-pen that is sold to people with asthma.

People with addictions aren’t the only ones who should get naloxone, Huff added. Anyone who gets an opioid prescription should consider naloxone — as a precaution against an accidental overdose, she said.

Published June 28, 2017

Vote set for July 11 on school impact fees

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It’s not clear yet how much Pasco County will increase school impact fees charged against new residential development, but there appears to be a consensus on the board that some increase is merited.

School district officials and the building community also agree that higher fees will help address the district’s problem of providing school facilities to accommodate the district’s burgeoning enrollment growth.

But, homebuilders and apartment developers don’t support the full amount of the proposed rate increases.

While students can learn in portables, a school’s infrastructure — including its cafeteria, bathrooms and media center — are not designed to handle the demands created when too many are placed on a school campus, says Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools. (File)

They say the building community is being asked to shoulder too much of the burden.

They’ve asked the Pasco County Commission to reduce the proposed impact fees that were recommended by a school board consultant.

All of these issues came up during the first public on an ordinance that would increase the impact fees.

The second public hearing is set for July 11 at 1:30 p.m., at the historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

The Tampa Bay Builders Association expressed its concerns in a May 1 letter to commissioners.

“The School District proposes very significant increases in the impact fees for single family detached (+ $4,152, 85%); single family attached (+$1,877, 107%); multifamily (+$3,421,183%) and mobile homes (+$2,673, 93%).

“However, even if the impact fees were increased to these levels the deficit (as projected by the School District) would be a staggering $284 million,” the letter notes.

“We want to be part of the solution for funding, but we know we cannot be the only source of revenue. We support an increase in the school impact fee for single family detached homes of $2,300,” the letter says.

Mark Spada, president of the builders’ association, reiterated those positions during the public hearing.

The association also advocates an effective date of Jan. 1, 2018, for the higher fees.

The current proposal calls for the new fees to take effect 90 days after the ordinance is adopted.

Representatives for the multifamily industry and a land broker also expressed concerns about the proposed fees.

The multifamily industry representatives said the fees are disproportionate for multifamily and will undermine new apartment development in Pasco County. They also questioned the data used to compute how many students are generated from multifamily developments.

A land broker urged commissioners to look at the big picture, noting the proposed fees will raise development costs so significantly that it will drive away new projects. Besides hurting land owners who want to sell their land, she said, it will also damage the county’s potential tax base.

On the flip side, others urged commissioners to boost the impact fees to the level recommended by the consultant.

They said that residential growth has put a squeeze on the school district and that it cannot keep pace with enrollment demands.

Deputy Superintendent Ray Gadd said the district is trying to address the issue before the district has schools at 200 percent capacity, which it has in the past.

“The answer to solving school overcrowding is not by adding portables.

“Kids can learn just as well in a portable as they can in a concrete building,” Gadd said. But, he noted, the bathrooms, cafeteria, media center and other facilities are built to accommodate a school’s permanent capacity.

When too many portables are added, he said, the infrastructure in the school building doesn’t work.

Commissioners appear to be leaning toward an increase, based on their questions and remarks during the public hearing, but it is unclear how much of an increase they will support — or when the increase would take effect.

“I’m in favor of doing something,” said Commissioner Mike Wells. “The issue is affordable housing. Affordable housing is multifamily.”

“I know we need to do something on impact fees,” added Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

“I do have a concern on these multifamily numbers. “If we have a sliding scale on the houses, why are we charging a studio the same price as say, a three-bedroom apartment? That doesn’t make sense to me, if it’s about student generation.”

It may be possible to have a tiered system for apartments, said David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney, but he would need to talk with the school board’s consultant about it.

“We’re happy to look at the multifamily issue,” Gadd said.

The second public hearing is set for July 11 at 1:30 p.m., at the historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

Published June 28, 2017

American Legion Post 108 marks 80th anniversary

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The group wants a home of its own

When American Legion Post 108 formed 80 years ago, it had its preliminary meeting in an old house on Denny Johnson’s old grove, on Lake Fern Road, according to club records.

About 10 veterans gathered for that initial 1937 meeting.

Next, they met in an old store building on U.S. 41, then known as Route 41, near the Superette.

After that, the group met for several years at the old Boy Scout Hall, with the Auxiliary members gathering in another room at that hall, according to an account published in a 1963 club newsletter.

From left are Joe Dilimone, Ray Mason, Lyle Watson and Hunter Arnstine, during the American Legion Post 108’s 80th birthday celebration. (Courtesy of American Legion Post 108)

Flash forward eight decades to the present: The group is still active, but is seeking a permanent home — and more members — to increase its vitality.

“We’re in a Catch-22. We need more members, and we need to meet in a place to get more members,” said Lyle Watson, the post’s adjutant. “We need fundraisers. We need a place to hold fundraisers. You can’t hold bingo if you don’t have a building to hold bingo in.”

The post currently meets monthly at Harvester United Methodist Church.

It would like to expand its activities, but it is difficult to fit into another organization’s schedule and it doesn’t have the financial means to purchase a permanent home.

Still, the post has a proud history.

When Post 108 was formed, it had 22 charter members. Over the years, membership has waxed and waned.

The post’s charter members must have been veterans of World War I, Watson observed.

Post chaplain Fred Wilsky has firsthand knowledge of how the post got started: “The guy who went out and recruited those members was my dad. He was a member of the Sulphur Springs Post.

It was during the Depression, he noted, “it was expensive for everybody to drive all of the way down there for a meeting, so they wanted to have a post out here,” said Wilsky, a member of the Army Air Corps who served in Guam.

N.B. Shewfelt, the post’s adjutant in 1963, offered a glimpse into the organization’s character in a February 1963 issue of the Lutz Legion News.

“Post No. 108 somehow keeps going right along doing their job of looking out for the interests of veterans, their widows and orphans,” Shewfelt wrote.

Over time, the name of the post was changed from Lutz Post 108 to Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Post 108. Post meetings now attract about 20 members.

Some members have been lost to death, said Post Commander Ray Mason. “We lost two veterans this year,” noted Mason, who served from 1962 to March 1968 in the Navy as a commissary store keeper.

One of those veterans who died was Granville Kinsman, a fighter pilot in World War II.

“He supported ground troops and escorted bombers to their destination,” Mason said.

“He was a paid-up lifetime member of Post 108. He was 95 years old,” Mason added.

The attendance at his funeral was gratifying, Mason said.

“Oh, my God, it was packed,” Mason said.

Post members say their experiences in the armed forces give them a particular kind of camaraderie with others who have shared the military life.

Currently, the post’s main activities are awarding school medals, providing an oratorical contest, supporting the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes and posting flags on veterans’ graves.

The organization presents two medals and two certificates at several local elementary and middle schools. The schools select the recipients. One medal goes to a boy and one goes to a girl. An honorable mention certificate also is awarded to a boy and to a girl.

“Sometimes we get invited,” Watson said. “The schools sometimes tell us what these kids have done to get selected. It is fantastic. It gives you a whole new perspective on public schools.”

At the high school level, there’s an oratorical contest, with cash awards.

The national winner gets an $18,000 scholarship, Mason said.

Presenting the awards has been a long tradition, Wilsky said.

“The post has been doing that since the beginning. My sister (Virginia) won it in 1939 or 1940,” he said. It was quite an honor, he said. It was “an affirmation of good character and studying hard and everything good about a person.”

The post needs more members so it can be of greater service, said Watson, who is retired Navy and who served from 1956 to 1974. The post could also participate in more programs that are available that are supported by the national organization.

Jim Evans said the post owes deep thanks to Vince Nasso, a former adjutant for the post.

“Without him, we probably wouldn’t have a post.

“When I joined here, I actually came from a Tampa post. There was probably no more than four or five active members. It was terrible,” said Evans, who was an Army intelligence analyst in France for three years, served in the Army Reserve for 15 years, then went back on active duty in the first Gulf War as a senior counterintelligence agent.

When Evans attended his first meeting, Nasso was the only one there. Nasso, who has since passed away, was determined to keep the post going, Evans said.

Belonging to the post is important, Evans said, because he wants to support the American Legion’s mission.

Plus, he enjoys reconnecting with people who served, he said.

“You live in communities that probably have veterans, but you may not even know it,” Evans said, adding he has a special affinity for veterans.

“I realize what most of them have been through,” he said.

Elaine Stoots, the post’s new historian, said she wants to help keep the organization alive because “we are losing some of the American ideals that founded this country.

“A lot of the rest of the world is looking to us for leadership and example. Who is going to provide it?” asked Stoots, who served from 1984 to 1990, stationed at Hahn Air Base Germany and at Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Want to help?
American Legion Post 108 is looking for a permanent home. Members believe that having a home of their own would help to increase membership, which, in turn, would bolster the group’s vitality. For more information, contact Lyle Watson at (813) 996-5917 or Ray Mason at (813) 994-1214.

Published June 28, 2017