The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

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

Business community weathers Hurricane Irma

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Hurricane Irma left residents and business owners in northern Hillsborough, east Pasco and central Pasco assessing damage, cleaning up the mess, and, calculating their losses and counting their blessings.

Walgreens drugstore let people know it was open for business after Hurricane Irma’s departure. (B.C. Manion)

For business owners, the focus was on reopening and getting Pasco County’s commercial back in motion.

The effort goes on.

Zephyrhills’ chamber gave shelter
With shelters filled to capacity, The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce on Fifth Avenue opened its doors for three families to weather Hurricane Irma.

“They did well in our building,” said Melanie Monson, the chamber’s executive director.

Someone even managed to get some video footage of the storm.

In the aftermath, Monson and chamber staff pitched in to help people in need — including clearing debris and cutting up trees.

“Anything we can do to get people’s lives back, we did,” she said.

Zephyrhills’ businesses generally were luckier, and appeared to suffer less damage than other parts of the county. A few roofs were coming off, and a lot of trees were felled.

Duke Energy estimated that the Zephyrhills area, including its businesses, would have power restored by Sept. 15. Withlacoochee Electric said it might take longer for some of its customers.

The chamber cancelled all events the week of the storm, including its Citizens of the Month awards to area students.

“We’re going to double up for October, and do double the number of students,” Monson said.

Ukulele’s playing its tune again
Bryant Brand, owner of Ukulele Brand’s, reopened the waterside restaurant in Land O’ Lakes on Sept. 12 at 3 p.m. The restaurant lost power for more than 12 hours.

Some food had to be tossed out, but Brand said the restaurant withstood the battering winds. A floating dock still floated, but dipped about a foot-and-a-half underwater.

Brand said he would wait to see if the water drained away, and what kind of damage was done.

Within 30 minutes of the restaurant’s opening, cars began filling the parking lot, and hurricane-weary residents headed for the outdoor tables or the cooler bar inside.

It was business as usual.

The Shops at Wiregrass pitches in to help
Hurricanes have threatened in the past, but Hurricane Irma delivered.

“It was definitely a learning experience for everyone,” said Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass.

With Irma waffling on her direction, Lenners said the decision to close the mall came on Sept. 9, when it appeared obvious the hurricane had west Florida, and Pasco County, in her sights.

Something unexpected happened.

Some residents decided to leave their cars in the mall’s garage for safe keeping.

“Parking in the garage caught us by surprise, but we allowed them to park there to be a good neighbor,” Lenners said.

The mall came through without damage, and mall officials hoped to reopen on the afternoon of Sept. 11. Out of caution, the opening was delayed until Sept. 12, though a few restaurants opened doors sooner.

Yamato’s Japanese Steakhouse and Pincher’s seafood shack on Sept. 11 had long lines of residents eager to put Irma behind them with a hot meal and a cool place to hang out.

“I think we were all stir crazy, and had no power,” Lenners said.

Irma’s timing couldn’t have been worse. She came during a weekend, when shops and restaurants normally look forward to crowds.

“It certainly was a blow,” Lenners said, but noted it was too early to tell the precise impacts.

There already is some rebound, in part, due to schools closing for the week, he noted.

“You did have a lot of families off work because their businesses didn’t have power,” he said. “We’ve started seeing an uptick in traffic on Tuesday (Sept. 12).”

The mall planned to partner with 99.5 QYK radio station on Sept. 15 for a Help Our Community Heal event. The radio station was scheduled to hand out free water and batteries, and provide charging stations for people needing help. Donations also were being collected to aid about 700 linemen who have been restoring power.

Drive-through here and there
Motorists wrapped their cars around McDonald’s at Connerton on Tuesday morning, eager to grab bags full of breakfast foods and hot coffee from the drive-through lane.

Area restaurants that were able to open immediately after Hurricane Irma activated drive-through windows, with limited menus.

Kentucky Fried Chicken on State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes also was among the fast-food chains with lines of cars quickly surrounding the restaurant.

Tampa Premium Outlets is shopper ready
Tampa Premium Outlets reported no problems arising from Hurricane Irma. As of Sept. 12, stores began opening and the outlet mall “is open for business as usual,” said Sarah Rasheid, in a written statement. Rasheid is director of marketing and business development.

“We recognize the devastation our communities are experiencing by Hurricane Irma’s arrival in Florida,” Rasheid said in her statement. “It is heartbreaking when events like these occur, and our thoughts and prayers are with all the families throughout the state.”

Home improvement stores fill needs, before and after
Home improvement stores, like Home Depot and Lowe’s, were slammed with customers frantic to buy plywood to board up their homes, generators to keep refrigerators running and flashlights to light the dark.

Now that Irma is history, shopping is getting back to normal.

But, there also have been plenty of residents needing cleanup supplies.

Lowe’s, on State Road 54, east of U.S. 41, sent in a small team of employees to get the store ready for its reopening on Sept. 12.

The store shut down about lunchtime on Sept. 9, before Irma struck.

“I’d love to see power returned to the whole area,” said Michael Armstrong, Lowe’s store manager.

Since reopening, Armstrong has seen a mix of customers. Buying is happening across all categories, he added.

People are filling carts with flowers, patio cushions and usual needs of a home. But, he said others are on the hunt for cleaning supplies, rakes, yard clippers and tarps for their roofs.

Those still without power also wanted flashlights, he said.

In the midst of providing area residents with their hurricane needs, Lowe’s, as a company, also had to consider its own employees.

Armstrong said employees had to think of their own safety and their families. Their decisions reflected the dilemmas everyone had. And, he said some opted to evacuate; others stayed.

“We keep a list of associates,” he said. “As soon as the hurricane was over, we started calling everyone. At 9 a.m., yesterday, (Sept. 12) we reached the last one. It’s not just about coming to work. It’s ‘we want to check on you. See how you’re doing’.”

As of Wednesday, Lowe’s was on track for a normal business day.

Dade City ready to rebound
Dade City’s downtown businesses took a hit during Hurricane Irma. But, with power restored, they began opening doors around mid-week to shoppers and diners.

For two days after Irma passed, downtown seemed “very quiet,” said John Moors, executive director of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

“I haven’t heard of anything looking major, except for cosmetic stuff and trees down,” he said.

Revenue losses are to be expected, however.

“There’s definitely concern over the whole week,” Moors said. “The major thing is people were safe. It’s just a lot of work to get cleared up.”

It’s early yet, but Moors said some merchants might want to explore hosting a special event to help businesses rebound from Irma.

Published September 20, 2017

She knows local history, and is preserving it

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If you want to learn a thing or two about local history — particularly as it pertains to Wesley Chapel, Dade City and Zephyrhills — a telephone call to Madonna Jervis Wise will put you on the right track.

Madonna Jervis Wise has written several books, including four which help preserve the history of Zephyrhills, Dade City and Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion)

Wise has written books about all three communities.

“I’ve always been interested in history,” she said. “We’re sitting in my dining room, and these are some of my family heirlooms that came on a covered wagon from Pennsylvania,” the retired educator said, during an interview in the Zephyrhills home she shares with her husband, Ernie.

Her interest in the history of people, places and things began early.

As a little girl, she would go with her father, who was a farmer in Indiana, as he went out to plow fields.

As he worked, he would have her wait in the home where he was plowing.

“One of those people that I remember, when I was about 6 or 7, was Mrs. Hefley. And, I remember her showing me the crochet work and the tatting work. She would begin to tell me about the family and the experiences they had. I just always made those connections.”

She also recalls spending an enormous amount of time with her grandparents.

“My grandfather was a blacksmith during World War I,” said Wise, who began her career in education as a history teacher.

Dade City women organized the Alpha Sorosis Club, which met regularly for intellectual pursuits. The club was founded in 1909, and continued through 1968. (File)

She’s always been a writer, for as long as she can remember and, wherever she’s worked, people have turned to her to do newsletters and other writing chores.

Her foray into authoring local history books began while she was working as the principal at West Zephyrhills Elementary School and she began compiling information about the community of Zephyrhills.

“I just started researching it,” she said. “I would get more and more stuff. I was like, ‘This has to be preserved.’ That’s kind of how it happened.”

To capture that history, she self-published a book called “Zephyrhills – An Anthology of its History Through Education.”

The book was a family affair. Her husband and daughter, Mamie, edited the volume.

Downtown Dade City, during the 1940s, was a thriving hub of activity.

Around the same time, she published a book called “Juanita in Blue,” a four-year project showcasing her mother’s recipes.

“My mother was an extraordinary cook. She ran this little restaurant in Indiana. It was called The Rainbow Café.

“After she passed away, I had all these boxes of recipe cards,” Wise said.

So, she created cookbooks for each of her three kids: Jervis, an attorney in St. Petersburg; Mamie, an attorney in Tampa; and Rachel, who is studying to become an attorney, in Gulfport.

The three community history books that Wise has written are part of Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series.

The publisher, which has now merged with History Press, invited Wise to do a local history book about Zephyrhills. After that, the publisher invited her to do books on Dade City and Wesley Chapel.

Before accepting the offer to do the Dade City book, Wise said she cleared the idea with various groups from the Dade City community because she didn’t want to be presumptuous or intrusive.

Any concerns along those lines were alleviated by Dade City folks who not only encouraged her to pursue the local history book, but helped her in tracking down the documents and photographs that she needed to tell the community’s story.

“It really came together,” Wise said.

Pasco Packing was the home of the largest citrus processing company in the world, when citrus was in its heyday in Florida.

Next, she tackled the task of compiling Wesley Chapel’s history.

Figuring out how to approach that took some thought, she said, because unlike Zephyrhills and Dade City — which are municipalities with city records — Wesley Chapel is unincorporated.

So, she turned to genealogy skills to help track down the families who have shaped the community’s history.

Initially, she thought the book would focus primarily on ranching, and would include some ranching artifacts.

But then, she went into some genealogy sites and plugged in some key names, which led to interviews with families.

One interview led to another, and the story of Wesley Chapel emerged.

A desire “to preserve the stories” motivates her to do the research, conduct the interviews, gather the photographs, track other documents and compile the local history books, she said.

Wise said she enjoyed digging into the history of residents who settled in Pasco County, adding they remind her of the people in Patrick Smith’s book, “The Land Remembered.”

“It’s a young history, relatively speaking,” Wise said. It’s an area where “rugged people cleared the land and settled and persevered. I’ve always been drawn to those stories.

“I become really enamored with the people,” Wise added. “That was a hard life. The mosquito-ridden frontier of Florida — no air conditioning.

“It was something else,” she said.

Published September 20, 2017

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