The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Comforting kids through teddy bears

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For the second year, Lowe’s collected huggable teddy bears for a good cause.

Two volunteer deputies with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office stopped by the home improvement store on Sept. 8 to load up about 250 teddy bears.

From left, Douglas O’Connor, Dante Plesce, Don McLachlan, Jan Wyckoff, Michael Armstrong and Tim Huff pose with the donated bears that will be delivered to comfort children when Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies respond to emergency calls. (Kathy Steele)

They scooped the plush animals from a table piled high with bears of all sizes and colors.

The teddy bears are given to sheriff’s deputies who hand them out to children when they respond to emergency calls, including domestic violence situations. It’s a way to ease a child’s stress.

Lowe’s collected the stuffed animals for about a month-and-a-half, filling up a large cardboard box placed at an entrance. The contributions came from customers and employees at the Lowe’s location on State Road 54, east of U.S. 41.

“Everyone donated,” said Lowe’s representative, Don McLachlan. “We had such a great response to it.”

Last year’s teddy bear haul took in about 140 bears. The program got started by employees who wanted to help out the community.

The annual teddy bear drive this year was noticeably larger — up by nearly 110 bears over last year.

“I just feel really good that we’re able to put this together to help the kids,” said McLachlan.

Published September 20, 2017

Local bidders could have an advantage in Pasco

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Pasco County commissioners might soon give local vendors an advantage over their competitors when bidding on county government contracts.

Commissioners directed legal staff to amend the county’s purchasing ordinance to create a local preference system for contract bids, during an Aug. 22 workshop in Dade City.

For instance, a local company that offers the second lowest bid could become eligible for a contract by matching the low bid offer from a competitor. The rule would apply only within specific guidelines, based on how wide the gap could be between the bids.

Also, local engineers, architects and other professional service providers could get extra points when ranked by evaluation committees.

Pasco relies on businesses from inside and outside the county, said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells.

But, giving preference to local businesses makes sense, he added. “It’s an economic driver. We owe it to people to keep money here.”

But, there are some caveats on how best to set the rules.

Defining which businesses qualify as local is one issue the ordinance would need to spell out.

“You have lots of franchises,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore. “A franchisee is really a local owner.”

The ordinance also might address a business’ longevity in Pasco, granting an advantage to companies that have been in Pasco longer.

Supporters say local preferences could increase the money that stays in Pasco, and encourage more local businesses to bid. But, disadvantages include discouraging out-of-county businesses from expanding into Pasco, and higher costs based on less competition.

“I’ve always been in favor of local (preference) if it doesn’t cost our citizens more,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. “The devil is in the details.”

A survey by county officials found that Pasco could lose about 15 percent of current out-of-county bidders, if local vendors can match the low bid.

Nearly 400 responses were received from about 2,500 requests for completed surveys, county officials said.

County officials recommended changes in how county staff members are selected to serve on evaluation committees. The goal would be to provide a broader representation from all county departments.

However, there was sharp disagreement over whether to allow county commissioners to sit on these types of committees, specifically for professional services.

Wells and Commissioner Jack Mariano advocated in favor.

Mariano suggested it could be done on a rotating and voluntary basis. “You don’t have to do it, if you don’t want to,” he said.

Moore said commissioners could be pulled into lawsuits when bid awards were disputed.

“I’m not afraid of it,” Mariano said. “It doesn’t scare me whatsoever.”

Starkey and Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley also objected to commissioners doing committee work.

Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder recommended against it.

“I’m not saying you can’t do it,” he said. “I think it’s a bad idea.”

Commissioners opted against an official role for a member of their board to serve on the committees, though Wells and Mariano might opt to monitor the committee meetings.

Those meetings are open to the public.

Published September 13, 2017

Two museums receive money for special projects

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Two museums will receive a financial boost in Pasco County’s fiscal year 2018 budget.

The Pasco County Commission has agreed to give $25,000 each to the West Pasco Historical Society Museum and Library in New Port Richey and the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City. The action came at the commission’s Aug. 29 meeting in Dade City.

The infusion of cash to the nonprofits stemmed from a request in July by Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley.

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City served as a backdrop for a movie called ‘The Terrible Trio.’ Here, actors and students from Florida State University rehearse a scene for the movie, outside the historical Overstreet House at Pioneer Florida Museum & Village. (File)

Before granting Oakley’s request, however, his colleagues on the commission wanted details on how the money would be spent.

“They struggle throughout the years to get funding to keep up with our records and history,” Oakley said.

County officials outlined each agency’s plans for the funds. Each agency sent a letter of explanation, as well.

Pioneer Florida Museum & Village wants to relocate a historical log cabin from Lacoochee to add to its collection of historical buildings at the 16-acre site in Dade City.

Museum officials are exploring the costs and suitability of moving the cabin, according to the letter from Melissa Lea, board president, and Stephanie Black, executive director.

“The museum is continually trying to preserve and improve,” the letter states.

Other potential projects could be attic fans and better lighting for the Blanton Packing House, or repairs to other buildings. The main building, with numerous displays and traveling exhibits, needs flooring.

Visitors to the museum already can tour its history center, as well as the Overstreet House, a one-room school house. They also can check out a church from Enterprise, the Trilby depot and a train engine.

West Pasco Historical Society will spend the money to expand storage. The museum is at capacity, according to the letter from Bob Langford, the society’s president.

“In the past few years, we have had to refuse items simply due to the fact that we don’t have room,” he stated.

A second potential project would be to digitize the museum’s collection of weekly newspapers – The New Port Richey Press, The Dade City Banner and The Zephyrhills Colonist/Zephyrhills News.

For more information about both of these organizations, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org and WestPascoHistoricalSociety.org.

Published September 13, 2017

Awards honor visionary leadership, and local businesses

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The late James “Don” Porter received the inaugural Leadership Award from the Pasco Economic Development Council for his visionary role in developing the master-planned community at Wiregrass Ranch.

J.D. Porter, left, holds an award bestowed to his father, the late James ‘Don’ Porter. Also shown are Pasco Economic Development Council President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Cronin and Quinn Porter Miller, Don Porter’s daughter. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

Porter’s family accepted the award at the Pasco EDC 31st Annual Awards and Trade Show on Aug. 31 at Saddlebrook Resort & Spa.

The annual event recognizes local businesses, and their owners, for their contributions to Pasco County’s economic development.

The new award singled out Porter for his “passion, strong will, persistence and dedication,” according to a news release from the Pasco EDC.

The Porter family sold portions of Wiregrass Ranch to develop The Shops at Wiregrass, and more recently Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. Land donations also were made for the Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch; and, for a future sports complex at Wiregrass.

Pasco County commissioners recently approved a series of agreements that will lead to construction of the complex.

IC, the mascot for Florida Hospital Center Ice made an appearance at the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 31st Annual Awards and Trade Show.

There will be a 98,000-square-foot indoor sports facility, outdoor ball fields, an amphitheater and event lawn, trails and a playground. A privately financed Marriott hotel also is planned.

In addition, local businesses received awards in six categories.

Twenty-four businesses were nominated, and scored based on company growth, leadership in current business issues and corporate citizenship.

“We love having the opportunity to honor Pasco companies, and all 24 nominees have had such an important impact on economic development,” said Bill Cronin, in a written statement. Cronin is the Pasco EDC’s president and chief executive officer. “It was difficult for the awards committee to narrow it down, but the seven winners truly deserve this honor.”

The winners for Business of the Year were:

  • Florida Hospital Center Ice: Start-Up
  • Express Employment Professionals: Small business
  • FACTS Engineering LLC: Medium business
  • TRU Simulation and Training Inc.: Large business

In addition, North Tampa Behavioral Health and Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point received special contribution awards.

For information, visit PascoEDC.com.

Published September 13, 2017

Hurricane Irma: A disruptive force

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With Hurricane Irma threatening Florida last week, officials weren’t taking any chances on where or when the massive storm would make landfall.

The deadly storm was churning in the Atlantic, when Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency on Sept. 4, warning residents that Irma is a “a massive storm” that could prove devastating.

Hurricane Irma is deemed to be one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the Atlantic. It had sustained wind speeds of 185 mph. (Courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

“This storm is bigger, faster and stronger than Hurricane Andrew,” Scott said, during a news conference, referring to a Category 5 Hurricane, ripping through Miami in 1992. Andrew claimed 65 lives and caused an estimated $26.5 billion in damages.

“If you’re in an evacuation zone, you’ve got to get out,” Scott said, during one of several interviews he did on national television.

In addition to closing all state offices on Sept. 8, he also closed all state colleges, universities and public schools. He said he wanted to provide ample space for shelters.

Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel is one of several schools in Pasco County serving as a shelter.

It opened at 11 a.m. on Sept. 8 and people were already beginning to arrive.

Ninety-one-year-old Mac McKechnie, of Zephyrhills, and his wife, Rae, were among those planning to stay at the shelter.

These beds, set up at Wiregrass Ranch High, were awaiting special needs residents who needed to be evacuated for Hurricane Irma. (B.C. Manion)

McKechnie said they came to the shelter because they live in an area that floods. Plus, he added: “My wife is a nervous wreck.”

Robyn White, principal of the high school, said the shelter has a capacity of around 1,700.

“Right now, we don’t have rooms set up for that. We’re going to open us rooms as needed,” she said.

The areas are divided into a special needs area and areas for adults and families, White said.

The special needs areas will have oxygen and electricity for people who need it for their nebulizers, said Denise Fackender, of the Pasco County Health Department.

“We will be supplying oxygen, so that they don’t have to use up their small tanks,” Fackender said.

White said the shelter will stay open until officials tell her the event is over, which she expects might be for a few days.

Other local schools that were designated to serve as shelters were Sunlake High School, Wesley Chapel High, Centennial Middle, in Pasco County and Hammond Elementary in Hillsborough County.

Robyn White, principal at Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel, said the school could shelter as many as 1,700 people from Hurricane Irma’s effects, if that becomes necessary. (B.C. Manion)

The Laker/Lutz News, regularly published on Wednesdays, went to press on Sept. 8. The initial goal was to deliver the newspaper before Irma made landfall, but the plan changed when it became clear that it would not be possible to achieve that.

As the monster storm approached, it was obvious that residents were taking it seriously.

Gas and bottled water were in short supply, and parking lots were full at home improvement stores, as customers picked up plywood and other supplies to fortify their homes and businesses.

The threat of Hurricane Irma, whose path still remained uncertain at press deadline, caused government offices to close and scores of businesses and local organizations to postpone or cancel events.

The Pasco County Commission issued a local state of emergency on Sept. 6 for Pasco County, allowing the county administrator and assistant county administrator of public safety to waive everyday procedures as they feel necessary to ensure the health and safety of the community.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District closed all district-managed lands including these properties in the Laker/Lutz News coverage area: Conner Preserve, 22500 State Road 52, in Land O’ Lakes; Cypress Creek Preserve, 8720 Pump Station Road in Land O’ Lakes; the Green Swamp West, in Pasco County; Starkey Wilderness Preserve, Serenova Tract, 14900 State Road 52, in Land O’ Lakes.

A sandbag operation at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey was shut down due to traffic issues. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department closed all county parks on Sept. 9, until further notice, because of concerns about inclement weather and potential flooding. Camping ceased on Sept. 8 and no reservations will be accepted until further notice.

Pasco County bus service was still running on Sept. 8, but officials said passengers should expect delays. Bus service will be cancelled if winds exceed 39 mph.

All of Tampa’s YMCA locations were closed on Sept. 10 because of concerns for safety of the Y’s members and its staff.

Hillsborough County’s sandbag operations were halted temporarily when the county ran out of sand and bags due to the high demand. At one point, the county was distributing sandbags at an unprecedented clip of 10,000 per hour, county officials said.

As of Sept. 7, Hillsborough had distributed nearly 200,000 sandbags, estimated to be about seven times more than distributed in any previous storm event, officials said.

Evacuation zones were announced as Irma’s proximity grew closer, and as the track of the storm continued to shift.

The threat of Hurricane Irma also caused a number of events to be cancelled.

Pasco County Schools cancelled all of its sporting events and activities that were scheduled for Sept. 8 or over the weekend.

An event that the Tampa Bay Suicide Prevention Task Force and the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay planned for Sept. 9 will be rescheduled to a date not yet determined.

In announcing that Pasco County Schools would be closed, Superintendent Kurt Browning said he realized that many people may wonder why all of the district’s schools would be closed.

He explained the decision this way: “The EOC (Pasco County Emergency Operations Center) doesn’t want school buses full of school children on the roads, as evacuees from other parts of the state are arriving here. We expect thousands of south and east coast Floridians to seek shelter here, or to pass through on their way further North.

“We also use school buses to help evacuate special needs citizens to shelters.”

The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel announced it would be close at the end of business on Sept. 8 and hoped to reopen at 3 p.m., Sept. 11, depending on the conditions.

Bishop Gregory L. Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg announced that, for safety reasons, a dispensation of the obligation for attending Mass had been given. He also advised the faithful to check with their local parish regarding any potential cancellations of services.

Dangers remain, after a hurricane passes
While storm surge and high winds are the biggest threats that hurricanes pose, there are dangers that go on well after a hurricane has passed. Here are some pointers to help keep you safe, in the wake of possible impacts from Hurricane Irma.

Be careful

  • Do not drive into areas when you don’t know the depth of the water.
  • Do not touch power lines, anyone or anything in contact with lines.

This could include a fence or other object a line may fall onto. Always assume lines are
energized and stay away.

  • Don’t drive over downed power lines, and if a downed power line makes
    contact with any part of your vehicle, stay inside and tell others to stay away untilthe line is safely removed and power is turned off. Attempting to get out of the vehicle could result in serious injury or death by electrocution.
  • Never trim trees around power lines. Only qualified tree contractors should trim trees
    around power lines.
  • If you are using a generator, be sure it is outside, well away from doors, windows and vents. Generator exhaust is toxic. Carbon monoxide is deadly, can build up quickly and can linger. Do not use a generator inside a home, garage, crawl space, shed or similar area.
  • Don’t use a charcoal grill indoor, either. That, too, creates a potential for carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Limit contact with floodwater, which may have high levels of raw sewage, bacteria, viruses and contaminants.
  • If returning home after evacuating, be sure to keep an eye out for snakes and other animals that may have entered your home during the storm.

Watch what you eat and drink
If you need to boil your drinking water, be sure to bring it to a rolling boil for a full 1 minute, to kill major water-borne bacterial pathogens.

If your power has gone out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if the door is kept closed. A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if it is half-full).

Use dry ice or block ice to keep a refrigerator as cold as possible during an extended power outage. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep a fully stocked 18-cubic-foot freezer cold for two days.

Food safety after a flood

  • Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with floodwater. Discard food that’s not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it came into contact with floodwater.
  • Inspect canned foods, and discard any food in damaged cans.
  • Check each food item separately. Throw out any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture, or that feels warm to the touch.
  • Check frozen food for ice crystals. Food that still contains ice crystals may be safely refrozen.

Cleaning up, making repairs

  • Remove mold because it can cause serious health problems. The key to mold control is moisture control. After the flood, remove standing water and dry indoor areas. Remove and discard anything that has been wet for more than 24 to 48 hours.
  • Be sure to use plastic sheeting to cover roof damage and/or broken windows, to keep water from entering your home or business.
  • Wear protective clothing and use proper equipment when cleaning up the mess the storm left behind. Before trimming trees, make sure there are no power lines nearby. Only qualified tree contractors should trim trees around power lines.

Making claims, avoiding scams

  • Contact your insurance agent to report any covered damage to your home, apartment or vehicle. Be sure to have detailed photographs, so you can submit them with your claims.
  • If you had to evacuate, save receipts for all dining, hotel, medical, hygiene and even entertainment. Some of these items may be eligible for reimbursement. Save the receipts from the time you leave your home until you return to stay there.
  • Watch out for scams and unlicensed contractors. Verify the contractor’s business license and insurance. Make sure quotes are in writing.
  • If you suspect price gouging, call the state’s Price Gouging Hotline (866)-9-NO-SCAM (66-7226).

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tampa Electric Co., the State of Florida’s Attorney General’s Office, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Published September 13, 2017

Creating beauty from bits of glass

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Fusing glass to create works of art is much like other types of artistic creation, according to Michele Gould, of Purple Cloud Studio, in Land O’ Lakes.

Elizabeth Beck of Land O’ Lakes starts work on her suncatcher, pasting small shards onto a clear glass base. After this stage is complete, the suncatcher will go to Purple Cloud Studio to be fired in a kiln. (Fred Bellet)

“Every glass artist, like every painter, has his own vision,” said Gould, who recently taught a free two-hour Fused Glass 101 class at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, at 2818 Collier Parkway.

Before the class began, Gould cut big flat sheets of art glass into various shapes and sizes.

“I have every color of the visible light spectrum in glass that you can imagine,” Gould said, adding, “everyone picks their own color scheme.”

She also gives each student a clear piece of glass, which serves as a clear glass canvas.

“I set them free with the glass. Everybody does their little thing,” Gould said.

Next, the students use tiny bits of glue to attach whatever pattern they’ve created onto the clear blank glass.

After the art works dry, Gould takes each of them back to her studio to fire them in a kiln.

While she’s teaching the class, she offers tutorials about art glass and about safety.

Instructor Michele Gould says artistic glass offers many avenues for creative expression.

She also shows the students samples of completed works, to show them what happens to the art glass, as its fired in a kiln.

What begins as raw, sharp glass, gets soft and loses it edge, she explained.

They also can see that the pieces of glass she uses are compatible, meaning that they shrink and expand at essentially the same rate. If they weren’t, the fused glass could pop or break apart later, she said.

Pieces of different colored art glass can be layered or stacked, but the colors won’t blend when the pieces are fired, she said.

“They’re layered, but they retain their original color. If I stack a red and a blue, I’m not going to get purple. They don’t mix at all. They just do their thing. What you see is what you get,” Gould said.

She showed students an example, to let them see how the colors come out.

She also tells students about cathedral glass and opal glass.

Lois Cohen, of Land O’ Lakes, looks over the finished suncatcher made by Michele Gould, a glass artist who taught the Fused Glass 101 class.

Cathedrals, like a church, let the light come through, she said. Opals are more opaque.

Gould loves working with glass.

“There’s tons of different things you can make with fused glass.

“People do all sorts of stuff with art glass — from sinks in your bathroom to lamps and lighting. It’s really kind of cool. I cut it into pieces. I make bowls. I make jewelry.”

Gould believes that a free class, like the one she taught, might encourage someone to take a chance at self-expression.

“I have people say, ‘I’m not artistic,’” Gould said. But, she doesn’t believe it.

“That’s part of your human experience, and your creative spirit is there,” she said.

“Maybe you wouldn’t do this normally, but if it were free, maybe you’d take a chance on it. Maybe you’d find something new out about yourself.”

To learn more about Gould and her work, visit Michele Gould @Purple Cloud Studio on Facebook.

Published September 13, 2017

Land O’ Lakes jail unveils educational tablet program

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Miguel Perez just wants to better educate himself as he awaits trial on racketeering charges at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center.

The 53-year-old inmate has an added tool to do that, thanks to the jail’s new tablet program.

Last month, the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center distributed more than 200 Google Nexus 7 tablets to be shared among nearly 1,700 inmates. The tablets, secure and unable to connect to the Internet, come preloaded with various learning and spiritual applications, such as Kahn Academy and Calm. Inmate Doney Bedford shows some of its features. (Kevin Weiss)

Last month, the detention center distributed over 200 Google Nexus 7 tablets to be shared among nearly 1,700 inmates.

Its primary focus is on education and rehabilitation.

The tablets, secure and unable to connect to the Internet, come preloaded with various learning and spiritual applications, such as Kahn Academy and Calm.

Kahn Academy features in-depth reading material, interactive videos, virtual museum tours and TED Talks, as well as GED prep education, math, engineering, humanities, economics, science and college career prep studies; Calm helps inmates deal with substance abuse, anxiety and emotional trauma.

“There’s just so much in there — algebra, physics, economics, biology,” Perez said. “It goes from ‘A to Z.’”

The tablets, equipped with protective hard shell cases, were donated to the jail by Telmate, a leading provider of secure inmate communication systems, at no cost to Pasco County taxpayers. Other county jail systems in the state, including Flagler and Walton counties, have implemented similar educational tablet programs.

Perez, like others, has been glued to a tablet since they were delivered Aug. 17.

“It is amazing; I really love it,” Perez said. “Instead of wasting time playing cards or doing nothing or walking around moping, you can actually do something with your mind and your life.”

He added: “We’ve made a mistake  — whatever we’ve done — so it gives us the option to fix it…and move forward in a positive manner.”

Inmate Miguel Perez shows off a Google Nexus 7 tablet. The 53-year-old, who’s awaiting trial on racketeering charges, enjoys studying economic concepts through the Kahn Academy app. ‘I think it’s amazing because it gives (inmates) an opportunity…to better themselves,’ he said.

Besides learning apps, the tablets come equipped with a law library and inmate staff requests. There are also email capabilities, for a small commissary fee.

The tablets also have pre-downloaded religious texts, including the Bible and Koran.

That feature is especially meaningful to 46-year-old inmate Doney Bedford, who’s awaiting trial on drug possession charges. He aspires to become a theologian, as he receives credits for college education through mail-in correspondence courses.

“It’s got every possible translation of the Bible, it’s got the Koran, it’s got Aramaic Hebrew, and the history of the Bible. It’s an endless supply of information,” Bedford explained.

Bedford also uses the tablet to dive into subjects like ancient Egyptian history, which helps him to effectively use his jail time.

“When you have something like this, to educate yourself, it just broadens your horizons,” Bedford said.

“These resources are very, very good for us, so that way we can learn to better ourselves and become better, productive men of society,” he added.

Another inmate, 31-year-old Christopher Murgatroyd, says the tablets have even eased tensions within his housing unit.

“The pod detention is less since they’ve came in,” Murgatroyd, a combat veteran incarcerated on charges of driving on a suspended license and first-time driving under the influence.

“It’s serving more than one purpose, actually; education really helps a lot.”

Pasco County Sheriff ChrisNocco emphasized the importance of the tablet initiative, especially for detention centers where inmates have shorter stays before they’re reintegrated into society. ‘If you don’t give them the opportunity to succeed, then they’re going to be right back in here again,’ he said.

Inmates get access to the tablets in their cells, and anytime outside of lockdown, said Maj. Stacey Jenkins, who supervises the Security Services Section of the Court Services Bureau at the Sheriff’s Office. Each is assigned a unique pin number and login into tablets via facial recognition technology.

Some inmates, however, will not have access to the tablets, including those in disciplinary confinement or in the medical wing.

“Every shift change (tablets) are going to have to be accounted for by the deputies,” Jenkins said.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco emphasized the importance of the tablet initiative, especially for detention centers where inmates have shorter stays before they’re reintegrated into society.

The jail’s average stay is 67 days. That includes those held without bond or unable to post bail set by the courts, those being transferred from other states or counties while awaiting trial in Pasco County, or those found guilty and sentenced to serve less than one year.

Said Nocco: “I know a lot of times citizens and maybe some of our members are going to be like, ‘I can’t believe we’re giving inmates tablets.’ Well, a lot of these people are going to go back into the community. If you don’t give them the opportunity to succeed, then they’re going to be right back in here again.”

Another potential bonus from the program, Nocco added, is the possibility of gaining intelligence regarding ongoing criminal activity outside jail cells.

“We gain a lot of information through these tablets. We know who’s putting money into their accounts, we know who they’re talking to, and we can read their emails,” Nocco explained.

“A lot of information that we gain is from people in here, of criminal operations that still may be going on in the streets. We’re gaining that from a firsthand knowledge, and then we’re able to react to it very quickly and be proactive on the street, whereas a lot of times this information falls through the cracks.”

Meanwhile, jail officials say more apps will be loaded over time. Many will still center on education and self-help.

Perez, for one, believes an app that teaches basic life skills “would be very helpful” for fellow inmates.

“Some guys here can’t even reconcile a bank account or fill out a job application,” he said.

“Some of them could benefit from an app that could teach a basic work skill, or just teach them about doing the right thing, getting up on time, going to work,” he said.

Published September 6, 2017

Quail Hollow golf course set for redevelopment

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Plans to close Quail Hollow Golf Course and redevelop the land are moving into the next phase.

Pasco County commissioners voted 5-1 in July to rezone the property, with Chairman Mike Moore dissenting.

A pre-application meeting was set for Aug. 14 between Pasco County planners and representatives of golf course owner Andre Carollo.

The owner of the Quail Hollow Golf Course is moving ahead with plans to replace the golf course with houses, retail, offices and a day care center. (File)

That meeting is a preliminary step before additional documents and a detailed site plan are submitted for county review.

Plans call for 388 single-family houses, according to the pre-application form filed with the county.

The approved rezoning allows up to 400 single-family houses, 30,000 square-feet of office/retail and a 10,000-square-foot day care center.

The project was approved despite stiff opposition from Quail Hollow residents during public hearings.

Opponents said the redevelopment would devalue their properties, harm the neighborhood’s residential character, cause flooding and add more traffic to inadequate roads.

Attorney Barbara Wilhite, representing Carollo, said the course was not profitable, and Carollo’s request for rezoning was for redevelopment that would be less intense than the site’s existing zoning allowed.

The debate often centered on property rights of Carollo.

Area residents countered that their property rights were being ignored.

They noted that developers marketed their homes, years ago, as part of a golf course community.

But, Wilhite said the golf course was built first, and that the Quail Hollow subdivision was separate from the golf course.

Published September 6, 2017

More details sought in State Road 54/56 design debate

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Task force members want more information before reaching conclusions on future road designs aimed at easing traffic congestion along the State Road 54 and State Road 56 corridor.

The task force met Aug. 24 in a public meeting to review 11 road alternatives, and a no build option.

Task force members are expected to whittle their road list to three or four plus the no build option.

A task force is studying solutions to traffic congestion on State Road 54 and State Road 56, including the busy intersection at U.S. 41.
(File)

Just one more meeting, in October, had been planned, but task force members asked for a workshop in addition to the final meeting to get more details on the road selections. That workshop will be an open session, but no public comment will be taken.

That workshop likely will be scheduled in October.

The entire study is being done in phases, with additional meetings planned for 2018.

The task force is studying the corridor from Bruce B. Downs Boulevard on the east to U.S. 19 on the west.

The current focus is on two intersections: Little Road and State Road 54 in New Port Richey, and U.S. 41 and State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

The Aug. 24 meeting laid out the complexity of the issue.

Task force members are studying five elevated toll lanes, five at-grade level road designs, and a no build option.

Opinions are divided.

“I have been an absolute no build,” said Christie Zimmer, who is a member of the citizens’ advisory board for the county’s Metropolitan Planning Organization. But, looking at the possibilities, she added, “Something needs to happen. We have to come up with an alternative.”

Chris Saenz said the task force lacked the diversity to reflect the larger Pasco County community. He suggested a referendum could help settle the matter.

Maintenance and operating costs also will drive up already burgeoning costs of construction and right-of-way purchases, Saenz said.

One at-grade level option, with express bus lanes, could potentially cost nearly $1 billion to build.

“The cost of ownership is going to take ya’ll to the poor house,” he said. “Let’s not lose sight of that,” Saenz said.

Saenz represents Pasco Fiasco, a grassroots group that fought against a 2014 proposal to build a privately funded 33-mile express toll road over the top of State Road 56 and State Road 54. That project was scrapped.

Residents also have strongly opposed a more recent proposal from Florida Department of Transportation to build a fly-over, with toll lanes —  to ease traffic at the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41.

That proposal is among the alternatives on task force members’ list, but state transportation officials put the project on hold.

That decision is part of the reason why two task forces were formed in 2015 to come up with a future transportation vision for the corridor.

The current task force, with some members from the previous two groups, began meeting in early 2016.

Bill Ball, a principal at Tindale Oliver, acknowledged that there is some suspicion in the community that an elevated toll road is being pushed.

But, he noted that every type of design, including elevated toll lanes, at ground level and no build, is represented in the list of options.

The task force’s purpose is to gather public input, and consider the range of choices, said David Goldstein, Pasco’s chief assistant county attorney.

“If it’s not going to be elevated toll road, what do ya’ll want?” he said.

As an aid in the decision-making, task force members received individual estimates on construction costs, right–of-way purchases and maintenance costs. They also received guidance on other issues, including environmental impacts, wait times at traffic signals, and numbers of businesses that could be relocated.

Still, members wanted more.

For instance, questions were raised about who would collect tolls, and for how long, if an elevated option was selected.

“That can be part of the recommendations,” Zimmer said.

Concerns also were raised about whether any alternatives would improve the level of service along the corridor.

The answer appeared to be that not much would change, based on the growth anticipated in Pasco. Roads and intersections that are ranked now at F, for failed, could still have failing grades.

“F does not solve the problem,” said Rich Dutter, who is one of three at-large citizens on the task force.

For information on the task force and its work, visit Vision54-56.com.

Published September 6, 2017

Girl Scouts rejuvenate Karina’s Garden

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Step into the garden behind the administrative offices of Sunrise of Pasco, in Dade City, and you’ll find a place where flowers, plants, butterflies and statuary offer a place of repose and refreshment.

You’ve arrived at Karina’s Garden.

Those visiting Sunrise of Pasco’s office in Dade City have a chance to spend a little time behind the building in Karina’s Garden, which has been rejuvenated by Girl Scout Troop 1263. (B.C. Manion)

The garden initially was established in 2008 to honor Karina Abdul, a former shelter director for Sunrise of Pasco who died unexpectedly at the age of 29.

Over the years, plants became sparse and weeds took over.

So, when Troop No. 1263, of Wesley Chapel, was looking for a way to complete the requirements for a Girl Scout Silver Award, giving new life to the garden seemed to be an ideal project.

The trio of Girl Scouts — Paige and Kaitlin Traboulay, and Alyssa Duran — heard about Karina’s Garden from Kelly Mothershead, of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, who has worked with the girls on other projects.

“They decided they wanted to come in and transform this space. That’s what they did,” said Vicki Wiggins, director of development for Sunrise.

Follow the mulched path to find a relaxing seat on a newly installed bench, in Karina’s Garden. (B.C. Manion)

The Girl Scouts, their parents and other volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got busy. They ripped out weeds, built mulch paths, added pavers, painted fences, installed benches and added plants.

They celebrated the garden’s completion at a gathering in August. Besides the volunteers, friends and Sunrise staff members, local members of Karina’s family were there, too.

“The family was thrilled,” Wiggins said.

Wiggins is impressed by the volunteers’ commitment.

“They’ve been raising money for about a year. They came out. They took pictures and designed it all,” she said.

“Apparently, Karina loved butterflies, so they made sure they incorporated a lot of plants (that attract butterflies),” Wiggins said.

“They did a really great job picking out things. I think the parents worked as hard as the kids.

Paige Traboulay paints some of the detail work on a door, which creates an inviting focal point in the garden. (Courtesy of Roger Traboulay)

“They started the weekend after July Fourth,” Wiggins said. “Everything that you can see that’s not a weed, they’ve added.

“They put the pavers in. They put this structure here that has the birdhouse on it. They added the fencing here. They repainted the wall. They added the butterflies (decorations).”

Local artist Lisa Tesla volunteered her talents to give a new look to a dilapidated wooden door in the garden that had been covered in weeds and vines. Her artistry transformed the door into an inviting focal point.

Chris Wirt, of A All Animal Control of Tampa Bay, cleared the garden of two black racer snakes before the trio of scouts got to work.

Sunil Mohammed, of Totally Blu H2O, stepped up to provide garden tools.

A colorful birdhouse invites feathered friends to drop by and stay awhile in Karina’s Garden. (B.C. Manion)

Another volunteer, Karen Weiss, made the sign that credits the people who helped on the project.

Paige Traboulay said the girls began planning the project at the end of last year.

“We walked in the garden, and we saw how big it was and how much needed to be done,” said the 12-year-old, who attends John Long Middle School.

“We asked them what Karina liked. They said she liked butterflies, so we tried to focus on that. So, there’s a butterfly on the door, and there are butterflies on the fences.”

There are butterfly plants in the garden, as well.

Kaitlin Traboulay, who attends Land O’ Lakes High School, said the work was mostly done by her family and Alyssa’s family over the course of two weekends.

Thirteen-year-old Alyssa, who attends John Long Middle School, said it was hard work, and it was hot.

When they finished, she said, “I was especially happy because that meant no more bug bites.”

Alyssa Duran works on a planter in a garden at Sunrise of Pasco in Dade City. (Courtesy of Roger Traboulay)

Paige added: “After the project was done, there was these butterflies flying around to each station. We thought it was her (Karina).”

The garden now provides a place to take a break and enjoy nature, Wiggins said.

“Sometimes the office can generate anxiety and a lot of stress for folks. This is a place where they can de-stress. They can just sit and watch the butterflies, and relax.

“It’s beautiful. I’m so happy they did this. They brought it back to life,” Wiggins said.

 

Garden Restoration and beautification
Girl Scout Troop 1263 Silver Award Project July 2017
Troop members: Kaitlin and Paige Traboulay, and Alyssa Duran

Made possible with the help of:

  • Andrew Abdul, donor
  • Suni Mohammed of Totally Blue H20
  • Chris Wirt of A All Animal Control of Tampa Bay
  • Lisa Tesla, artist
  • Families and close friends
  • T’Weiss as Nice

Published September 6, 2017