Local News

Pasco shops for headhunters

May 18, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker’s departure is more than a year away, but commissioners are taking the first step to hire her replacement.

Baker announced earlier this year that she would not seek to renew her contract, which expires in July 2017.

On May 10, commissioners received five proposals from headhunter firms seeking to find the next county administrator.

Two companies are headquartered in Florida; the others are in Minnesota, Texas and Illinois.

The search for a hiring consultant didn’t bear much fruit, said Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader.

“I was a little disappointed we didn’t get more than five,” Schrader said. “It is what it is.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore initially suggested that commissioners rank their preferences, and then invite the top three candidates to make presentations.

Instead, invitations will be sent to representatives of all five firms to attend the June 9 commission meeting at 1:30 p.m.

Each applicant will have 30 minutes for a presentation, plus time to answer questions from commissioners.

Schrader dismissed a suggestion that commissioners use Skype to hear from consultants with long distances to travel.

“If they want the job, I want them to stand right in front of me,” he said.

The firms that applied to recruit a new county administrator are: Colin Baenziger & Associates, in Palm Beach County; GovHR USA, in Northbrook, Illinois; Strategic Government Resources, in Keller, Texas; Waters & Company, in St. Paul, Minnesota; and S. Renee Narloch & Associates, in Tallahassee.

Published May 18, 2016

It’s time for a fun, and safe, summer picnic

May 18, 2016 By Betsy Crisp

It’s that time of year when many families are looking forward to the end of school and the beginning of a nice summer break.

It’s also a great time to think about heading to the beach, to a park or even just out to your own backyard to celebrate with a picnic.

But, don’t let spoiled food ruin your day.

It’s important, especially during hot summer days, to keep your food safe for consumption.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture warns everyone to plan ahead.

When preparing for your picnic, be sure to have an ice chest or cooler packed with ice packs and ice.

You’ll also need clean utensils, storage containers for leftovers, paper towels, trash bags and a food thermometer.

If you’re going out for a picnic, do a little research to find out if there will be running water, grills, picnic tables and trash receptacles at the site.

Also, if you’re thawing food to take along, be sure to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, not on a counter.

Thawing meat or poultry also reduces the needed cooking time. Cooking frozen meat or poultry takes about 50 percent longer than the recommended time for fully thawed/ fresh meat and poultry.

Do not partially cook meat and poultry ahead of time. That can be risky.

Also, be sure to use the food thermometer to cook meat or poultry to a safe internal temperature, before consuming.

To stay on the safe side: Keep your hot foods hot and your cold foods cold.

Place perishable foods, such as hot dogs, burgers, poultry, deviled eggs, and macaroni/potato/pasta salads in a well-insulated cooler with plenty of ice/freezer packs. Also be sure to store this in a shady spot and not in a hot car or in direct sunlight.

Also, quickly serve food from the cooler and return it quickly, too.

In really hot weather, above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, food shouldn’t sit out of the cooler for longer than an hour.

Also, don’t forget to unpack that cooler as soon as you return home.

Refrigerate any leftover meats and salads that are still cold, but discard them if they have become warm.

These safety tips will help you, family and friends have a happy and healthy summer!

By Betsy Crisp

Betsy Crisp is an Extension Family & Consumer Sciences agent and a licensed dietitian for the University of Florida/IFAS. She is based in Pasco County and can be reached at .

Some fun summer recipes:

California Avocado Chicken Wraps
Special dressing: ¼-cup light mayonnaise, ¼-cup plain fat-free yogurt, 1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce, finely chopped (mix well and set aside)

2 large 10”-12” spinach (or whole wheat) tortillas

½-cup shredded lettuce or baby spinach

1 ½-cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 Haas avocado, peeled, pitted, diced

2 Tablespoons real bacon pieces (2 slices, cooked well, crumbled)

¼-cup red onion, finely chopped

1 tomato, chopped

1 cup cooked chicken breast, chopped

Spread tortillas with dressing. Layer ingredients listed above (1/2 on each tortilla). Roll up and cut each in half. Makes 4 servings.

Artichoke Hummus Roll-Ups
2 large 10”-12” whole wheat (or spinach) tortillas

6 Tablespoons prepared hummus

1 jar (4 ounces) marinated artichoke hearts, cut into pieces

4 Tablespoons shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1 bell pepper, diced (any color)

1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves

Spread tortillas with hummus. Layer ingredients listed above (1/2 on each tortilla). Roll up and cut each one in half. Makes 4 servings.

Tuna Salad Wraps
4 whole-wheat tortillas 8”

1 cans (6 ounces) chunk light tuna, drained

3 Tablespoons light mayonnaise

1 ½ Tablespoons pickle relish

1 Tablespoon sweet onion, finely chopped

1 Tablespoon celery, chopped

1 teaspoon lemon juice, or to taste

Add all ingredients listed above (except tortillas). Mix well. Spread one-fourth of tuna salad onto each tortilla. Roll up, folding ends in. Serve whole or cut in half and serve. Makes 4 servings.

Peanut Butter Banana Cereal Roll-Ups
(good for breakfast or lunch!)
4 whole-wheat tortillas 8”

4 Tablespoons smooth, natural peanut butter

4 medium bananas, peeled

1/2 cup oat o-shaped cereal, honey flavored, crushed (place in freezer zipper top sandwich bag and use rolling pin or hands to crush)

Spread 1 Tablespoon peanut butter on each tortilla. Place banana in center. Sprinkle about 2 Tablespoons crushed cereal evenly over each banana. Fold ends of tortilla over the two ends of each banana and roll up. Cut each in half and serve. Makes 4 servings.

Published May 18, 2016

Tom Jackson’s commentary coming to The Laker/Lutz News

May 11, 2016 By Diane Kortus

The most important thing we do at The Laker/Lutz News is to identify and write stories you find interesting and relevant. Our goal is for you to be so engaged with your community newspaper that you read us cover-to-cover every week, and can’t wait for the next issue to come out.

One measure of the job we’re doing is our readership score, which is determined by an independent auditing firm. In an era when most newspapers report continuing circulation losses— and many are shutting their doors — our readership has grown to 81 percent.

The Jackson family during a family vacation in Scotland: Debbie, 17-year-old Chris and Tom. (Courtesy of Tom Jackson) — The Jackson family during a family vacation in Scotland: Debbie, 17-year-old Chris and Tom.
(Courtesy of Tom Jackson)

Simply put, this means if your neighborhood has 100 homes, 81 of your neighbors read our paper every week, just like you.

So why is our newspaper so successful when so many others are failing? Our formula is really pretty simple —we ask you what you want to read, and then our professional journalists go out and write these stories.

While we are certainly proud of our high readership, we don’t take it for granted, and are always open to ideas that add value to our paper. One area that we have not been able to include is commentary and opinion writing.

But that will change next week with the addition of Tom Jackson to The Laker/Lutz News.

Tom is a well-known local columnist who has written about Pasco issues, people and politics for close to 20 years. His varied journalism career includes working as a business reporter, feature writer, sports columnist and editor. Most recently, he was a conservative political columnist and blogger for The Tampa Tribune.

As a community columnist, Tom writes about the dynamics of Pasco County. He addresses conflicts between metropolitan newcomers and rural traditionalists, and low-tax enthusiasts versus infrastructure needs. His opinions are well researched, and his writing is respected, whether or not one agrees with his position.

Tom’s new column for The Laker/Lutz News will focus 100 percent on issues that impact Pasco and north Hillsborough counties. He will also profile local people with interesting stories, and organizations that make a difference in our community.

With the addition of Tom’s column to our editorial package, we have raised the journalism bar at The Laker/Lutz News. And because his local commentary will only be published here, it gives you one more reason to read us every week.

Whether or not your viewpoint aligns with Tom’s, we know his opinions will get you thinking. Please join me in welcoming Tom to our pages.

Published May 11, 2016

BizGrow2.0 touts business success

May 11, 2016 By Kathy Steele

The Pasco Economic Development Council will host its fourth annual BizGrow2.0 conference on May 12 at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

The annual event brings together successful business owners with entrepreneurs looking for inspiration and practical advice.

“The idea is to give them some inspiring stories from CEOs (chief executive officers) who have gone from startups to professional businesses, especially local business owners,” said Jennifer Lachtara, marketing communications coordinator for the economic development council.

Previous conferences have drawn crowds exceeding 90 people.

Keynote speakers will be Jorge Brea, president and chief executive officer of Symphonic Distribution; and Mike Bishop, founder of Big Storm Brewing.

Industry experts will offer advice and knowledge on a range of topics including new laws affecting the marketplace and the value of cyber security.

Information technology security is becoming increasingly important to businesses, said Lachtara.

Saint Leo University and other colleges now offer students cyber security as a major, she said.

Michael Moorman and Joshua Adams, professors of computer science and technology at Saint Leo, will discuss “Information Security Issues: A Conversation on Protecting Your Business.”

On another topic, attorney Michele Hintson of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick will discuss the fine print of contractual terms in business deals.

Attorney Tom Toner will discuss changes in patent laws.

And, Krista Covey and John Walsh, of the PEDC, will offer tips on finding a path to success.

The conference also offers plenty of time networking.

For information or to register call (813) 926-0827, or visit PascoEDC.com/events.

WHAT: BizGrow2.0
WHEN: May 12 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Pasco-Hernando State College, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel
COST: $35 per person, registration is required. A light breakfast and lunch are included.
INFORMATION: (813) 926-0827 or PascoEDC.com/events

Published May 11, 2016

Lutz Guv’na Race Kickoff set for May 14

May 11, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Get your checkbooks ready, the annual Lutz Guv’na Race is underway.

Two candidates: Greg Gilbert of Beef O’ Bradys in Lutz and Andre Pamplona of Royal Bowling Lanes, will face off in the 2016 Guv’na Debate on May 14 at the Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41. The debate will run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. as both candidates field questions from the audience and partake in quirky activities to raise money for their “campaigns,” with proceeds benefitting local nonprofits and community organizations. The event is free and the public is welcome.

“They’re two very good and solid candidates.” – Suzin Carr on Lutz Guv’na candidates Greg Gilbert and Andre Pamplona. (Courtesy of Suzin Carr) — “They’re two very good and solid candidates.” – Suzin Carr on Lutz Guv’na candidates Greg Gilbert and Andre Pamplona.
(Courtesy of Suzin Carr)

“They’re always very tongue-in-cheek kind of things, and they’re doing those to earn money for their campaigns,” said Suzin Carr, ambassador for the Lutz Guv’na Race. “The whole goal of the Guv’na race is to raise the most money and ‘buy their way into office’ and we proudly admit that in Lutz.”

The annual charity event— which started in 1991— is sponsored by the Lutz Civic Association, and typically raises several thousand dollars for about 20 beneficiaries.

The race continues through the Fourth of July weekend, where the winner is announced, and earns the coveted “sash” from the prior year’s winner. Last year’s winner was Jennifer Rankin, who raised more than $9,200 throughout the 2015 race.

“It’s been going on for more than 25 years and it’s just a wonderful event that benefits a lot of nonprofits and community organizations in the area, like the scouts and the Old Lutz School and the Friends of the Library,” Carr said. “They all get a portion of the money that is raised by writing grants for that money once it’s raised by the Lutz Guv’na Association.”

Typically, the race has about three or four candidates, Carr said, adding, there’s still time is anybody wants to step into the race.

The debate emcee will be Paul Vahue of First Baptist Church in Lutz, whom Carr described as “a very funny guy.”

Carr, a former two-time winner of the Guv’na Race, is also seeking additional community involvement and volunteers for the Guv’na festivities.

“We are really encouraging the community to come out,” she said. “We really need community involvement for programs like this to continue.”

For more information, contact Suzin Carr at (813) 453-5256.

Published May 11, 2016

Honorary mayoral candidates duke it out

May 11, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The race is on to see who will be named the next Honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes.

The annual contest, sponsored by The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, helps raise money for the chamber and some local charities.

This year, the contest pits candidates Gayle Hill and Sandy Graves.

Graves’ campaign has the somewhat lengthy slogan, “Making Land O’ Lakes the shining Census Designated Place on the hill.”

Gayle Hill, left, is running to replace Tariq Zidan, the Honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes. Sandy Graves, on the right wants the title, too. (Courtesy of Sandy Graves) — Gayle Hill, left, is running to replace Tariq Zidan, the Honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes. Sandy Graves, on the right wants the title, too.
(Courtesy of Sandy Graves)

It’s a tongue-in-cheek reference to a skirmish over where the boundaries lines should be between Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

Gayle Hill, of UpHill Marketing Group, said she decided to run because being a member of the Central Pasco Chamber has been good for her business.

“It’s given me ways to promote myself in ways that I wouldn’t ordinarily be able to,” Hill said. “This is a way for me to help give back to the chamber, while also giving back to the community in the form of the charity that I’ve chosen.”

Hill said she was encouraged to toss her hat in the ring by some other chamber members, including Terri Dusek, a former Honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes.

Hill’s campaign slogan is “Moving Land O’ Lakes Forward” and her charity is to help the Fraternal Order of Police create a permanent memorial for Pasco County’s fallen law enforcement officers.

Unlike politics in the real world, these candidates plan to hold some joint fundraising activities.

For instance, there’s softball game planned between the two women’s teams. The game is scheduled for May 20 at 6 p.m. at field at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

They’re selling a sponsorship spots on the program for $25 each, and admission to the game is $5.

Another event is planned in June. It will be a political fundraising rally dinner and movie night featuring the film, “My Fellow Americans,” according to Graves.

And, like most politicians, they’re going to have their hand out for contributions.

“We’re going to hit people up for some donations,” Hill said. Details are still being worked out for other fundraisers, she added.

Graves said she was attracted to the race because of its tradition of helping good causes.

Years ago, it helped to build the pool at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, she said.

“That sort of tradition is what I like. That community involvement and helping some local charities, and the chamber itself,” Graves said.

Graves’ campaign will benefit the Heritage Park Foundation, which will sponsor some scholarships for summer recreation programs, she said.

While it’s a friendly competition, Graves said she’s going to do her best to try to claim the sash.

“I’m trying to get the establishment behind me,” she said, with a laugh.

If you’d like to know more about this playful ‘political’ contest, call the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce for more information, at (813) 909-2722.

Published May 11, 2016

New charter school won’t open until 2017

May 11, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Several families in the Lutz and Land O’ Lakes area were anticipating Sunlake Academy of Math and Science to open in time for the 2016-2017 school year, but that isn’t going to happen.

Instead, the public charter school, which is being built at 18711 North Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz, is set to open in August 2017.

This is a prototype of what Sunlake Academy will look like once it’s complete. The 40,000-square-foot facility expects to accommodate 1,150 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade. (Photos courtesy of Charter School Associates) — This is a prototype of what Sunlake Academy will look like once it’s complete. The 40,000-square-foot facility expects to accommodate 1,150 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade.
(Photos courtesy of Charter School Associates)

The school, operated by Charter School Associates (CSA), scheduled a Parent Information Session on April 11, expecting to open for the 2016-2017 school year. But on April 27, Michael Strader, president of Charter School Associates, addressed a letter to parents and guardians, saying, “the opening of Sunlake Academy of Math and Science will be deferred to August 2017.”

He explained the delay this way: “Although the property developer and general contractor were originally confident that our new school would be ready for the Aug. 10 opening date, we recently learned that delays in the receipt of various building and site permits will push the completion of the school past that date.”

In an interview with the Laker/Lutz News, Strader indicated his group tried finding a temporary facility to hold classes until construction was complete, but to no avail.

“We couldn’t find an existing facility nearby that would be within a reasonable commute—like people who live close to where the school is planned—that would accommodate the number of students that made applications,” Strader said. “We really…examined a number of options, including area churches. We looked to see if there were any hotels with large conference facilities or meeting facilities in the immediate area, and there just seemed to be none available that we could schedule for several weeks.”

The highway entrance of Sunlake Academy, at 18711 North Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz. Up until April 27, the school advertised it would open in August 2016.

Several parents suggested the possibility of utilizing portable classroom buildings in the short-term. However, Strader noted portable classrooms weren’t really a feasible option, either.

“The only thing with portables is they require many of the same infrastructure that a permanent building would require with utility connections, hard roads for life safety vehicles — fire trucks, ambulances — so portable classrooms aren’t as simple as just bringing them in and setting them up,” Strader said.

Sunlake Academy was originally proposed to be located on an 8.4-acre piece of land at the southwest corner of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard. However, those plans changed after objections from nearby residents and numerous conditions attached to the county’s approval for the site.

Changing locations and obtaining site permits for the North Dale Mabry location has been an ongoing process, Strader acknowledged.

“I understand that (the North Dale Mabry) area is going through a whole new floodplain recalculation by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, so that had some kind of impacts on it, and we were just later than anticipated in receiving all the site permits, and that’s what ultimately put the project behind,” the CSA president said.

Once open, the 40,000-square-foot, two-story charter will be large enough to accommodate about 1,150 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade. The charter, which will be tax-funded and tuition-free, is expected to pull students from within a 5-mile radius of the school’s location, which is about a half-mile north of Exciting Idlewild Boulevard.

It will have a focus on STEM curriculum, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math. It also will offer an interdisciplinary approach to learning, in which lessons will emphasize the interrelationships between various subjects.

The school’s features will include a library and media center, science laboratories, computer labs, art rooms and an area for outdoor activities.

Despite the school’s deferred opening, Strader said he’s had conversations the school’s developer, Charter School Properties, to ensure construction isn’t delayed even further, “so that prospective parents could certainly see a building there and have confidence that the school will indeed be ready for August 2017.”

According to Strader, the school was expected to be built in two phases, progressively adding more students during each phase. Now with the additional construction time, both phases should be complete for the 2017-2018 school year.

“There was a lot of interest in the school and we had done quite well with interested parents,” he said. “So, if the demand is still there next year, we’ll have the facilities to grow…beyond the initial 600 students that we’d anticipated for this year.”

Published May 11, 2016

Health care facility coming to Lutz

May 11, 2016 By Kathy Steele

A Nashville-based hospital system plans to build a healthcare facility on an out parcel at the entrance to Walmart, the discount chain flanked on either side by North Dale Mabry Highway and Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

Mark Cooney – known as “The Land Shark” – closed a deal to sell an approximately 1.6-acre plot to New Port Richey Hospital Inc., for about $1.6 million, according to a news release from The Land Sharks LLC.

New Port Richey Hospital is a subsidiary of HCA Holdings Inc., which owns the Medical Center of Trinity among its many healthcare facilities. The seller was Hagman Properties Inc., and Canaan Development Corporation.

The site, at 1575 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Lutz, is across from a vacant lot where owners of Famous Tate plan to build a new appliance store.

Another outparcel is slated for a Stor-Kwik Self Storage. A restaurant and automobile store also are possible new additions that will be announced soon, the news release says.

More out parcels are available, with the potential for five to six new tenants.

While much of the recent development attention in Pasco County has focused on State Road 54, vacant land along U.S. 41 is stirring renewed interest in the Land O’ Lakes and Lutz areas, Cooney said, in an interview.

Five auto and tire companies have inquired about one of the parcels outside Walmart, he said, adding that one prospective buyer called Walmart a “magnet” for neighborhood development.

“We want the right mix,” Cooney said. “We’re really glad with what we have right there.”

The parcels have been marketed for about two years. One issue giving some developers pause was traffic in and out of the site.

But Cooney said a traffic signal with a new left turn at the North Dale Mabry Highway entrance to the shopping center received the green light from Florida Department of Transportation.

The eastern entrance off U.S. 41 already has a traffic signal.

Published May 11, 2016

Carrying a torch for peace

May 11, 2016 By Kathy Steele

‘Peace

Such a wonderful thing

It makes you think of a bell’s ring’

The message of peace in Jonathan Fields’ poem hung in the air.

It was written on paper, dangling on a string — reminiscent of a knitted square in a quilt of poetry made by students at Learning Gate Community School.

Natabara Rolloson of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Peace Run leads Learning Gate students on a race across the campus. (ourtesy of Pierre Lantuas-Monfouga) — Natabara Rolloson of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Peace Run leads Learning Gate students on a race across the campus.
(Courtesy of Pierre Lantuas-Monfouga)

About 600 students at the Lutz-based charter school shared artwork, poetry and songs of peace with the North American torch relay team from the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Peace Run.

About a dozen relay runners dropped by both Learning Gate campuses on May 3.

The kindergarten through sixth grade school is on Hanna Road. The school for seventh- and eighth-graders is on Lutz Lake Fern Road.

The torch runners also made visits to a school and neighborhood center in Pinellas County before heading to Alabama.

The team is on a 10,000-mile North American relay that began in New York City in mid-April and will finish in New York in mid-August. Members represented several countries including the United States, France and Hungary.

The “Peace Run” is the inspiration of Sri Chinmoy, an athlete, philosopher, artist, musician and poet who organized the inaugural run in 1987 to promote international friendship. Since then more than 5 million people have participated and runners have visited more than 140 countries, according to the website for the Peace Run foundation.

Cathy Oerter, left, gave certificates of excellence from the Al Oerter Foundation to Learning Gate students, Simon Noguerol and Kaitlyn Detuccio. Al Oerter was a four-time Olympic gold medalist. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — Cathy Oerter gave certificates of excellence from the Al Oerter Foundation to Learning Gate students Simon Noguerol and Kaitlyn Detuccio. Al Oerter was a four-time Olympic gold medalist.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

To prepare for the visit, Learning Gate students wrote poems. First-graders created paper chains with messages for peace. Students also practiced songs to perform for their guests.

“Each student wrote a way they show peace to each other,” said first-grader Margo Armstrong who read from a statement from classmates on why they made the peace chain.

“You children are definitely the voices of the world,” said Cathy Oerter. “It’s all about the journey of self-discovery.”

Oerter’s husband, Al Oerter, was a four-time Olympic gold medalist in the discus throw. He was the first athlete to win gold at four consecutive Olympic games, setting records each time.

He died in 2007 but his nonprofit Al Oerter Foundation continues to promote character and integrity through support for sports and the arts.

His wife said the foundation often partners with the Sri Chinmoy relay runs.

She presented certificates of excellence to two Learning Gate fifth-graders Simon Noguerol and Kaitlyn Detuccio.

Several students read their poems.

Learning Gate fifth-grader J. B. Montague, holds the relay torch with Andran DeAngelo, captain of the relay team for the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Peach Run.

Fourth-grader J.B. Montague shared his mathematical prowess, detailing his classmates’ accomplishments in March, the national month for reading awareness.

He added up more than 12 million seconds spent in reading.

The motto for the bi-annual torch relay is ‘Peace begins with me.” The run promotes the universal connections among people around the world, said Arpan DeAngelo, the United States team captain.

Besides the North American relay, a second team began a 16,000-mile run in Portugal in February and that will conclude in Rome in October. A third relay in the South Pacific begins this month.

Relay runner Natabara Rolloson led students on a brief race as a “peace train” across campus, leading the way and carrying the flaming torch. At the end, students were invited to walk up, touch the torch and make a wish for peace.

“It helps children and adults to realize that peace is very natural to anyone of any age,” said DeAngelo.

For information, visit PeaceRun.org.

Published May 11, 2016

Tackling problems of opioid abuse

May 11, 2016 By B.C. Manion

A panel of local people working on the frontlines to reduce the problem of opioid drug abuse gained access to the nation’s drug czar last week in a Pasco County roundtable session initiated by Republican Congressman Gus Bilirakis, of Palm Harbor.

No certain solutions were offered during the May 3 discussion with for Michael Botticelli, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

But panelists and people in the audience identified several areas needing improvement

They said:

The stigma surrounding drug addiction must be reduced
Parents need education to help prevent their children from becoming addicts
More tools and better access to care are needed to help people overcome addiction
Residential treatment programs should not be limited to 28 days
Innovative and creative approaches should be encouraged and shared
More community support is needed to help those who have completed treatment programs to avoid a relapse

Panelists said they appreciated the opportunity to talk directly with Botticelli.

Doug Leonardo, executive director of BayCare Behavioral Health put it like this: “I feel like I’m sitting next to a rock star. For folks in the field, this is the individual who has the president’s ear on policies related to substance abuse for this country. So, it’s really a big deal.”

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that opioids – a class of drugs that includes heroin and prescription pain medications – were involved in 28,648 deaths in 2014.

“We don’t have our arms around addiction and it continues to get worse,” Leonardo said. “It feels like two steps forward, one step back, sometimes.”

Part of the answer lies in changing the perception about people with addiction problems, speakers said.

“We’re talking about a brain disease,” Leonardo said. “We don’t put people in jail for having diabetes.”

Reducing that stigma can help lead to earlier intervention.

“We all tend to look the other way,” said Kelly Mothershead, a panelist who lost her only son to a prescription pill overdose. “You don’t want people to think you have a child addicted to drugs.”

Decision-makers often don’t understand the scope of the problem, said Nancy Hamilton, president and CEO of Operation PAR, an agency that screens about 30,000 people a year in seven counties.

“We admit about 14,000 into our continuum of care and we have over 4,000 people who are medicated-assisted treatment,” she said.

She hears decision-makers say, “They had their chance at treatment.”

They don’t realize that people addicted to opioids relapse most often, Hamilton said. “So, they may need two or more bites of the apple to put all of their act together.”

Dr. Laura Bajor, a psychiatrist at North Tampa Behavioral Health, said she came to a clearer understanding of the problem when she was working in Boston.

“We had a lot of clean-cut kids coming back (from the war). Guys who had joined the Marine Corps out of Catholic school and had been Eagle Scouts and football players, coming back getting paper bags full of opioids at Walter Reed (National Military Medical Center), showing back up in Dorchester and Southie (South Boston) and as soon as they ran out of the opioids, were targeted by heroin dealers that they had gone to high school with.

“It was a bit of an eye-opener to see such clean-cut guys overdosing and seeing their boot camp pictures in their obits and at their funerals.

“It really taught me that this is not a character issue or a class issue, it’s a human issue,” Bajor said.

The problem must addressed through enforcement and treatment, Botticelli said.

The Pasco County’s Sheriff’s Office agrees.

The law enforcement agency takes aim at the supply side, but also recognizes that it can’t arrest its way out of the problem.

It deals daily with problems caused by addiction.

The county jail is “probably the largest detox facility in the county,” said Capt. Chris Beaman, of the sheriff’s office.

It is working with BayCare to increase intervention.

When responding to a call, sheriff’s deputies sometimes encounter people who have hit rock bottom, Beaman said. “Maybe, at that time, we can get them to make the decision to get treatment.”

Parents need to learn what to look for and need advice on prevention strategies, and it should be offered at work places, so parents have a chance to receive it, Mothershead said.

“We have to educate before it happens,” Mothershead said.

More education is needed, agreed Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco.

“Right now, if there is any parent who doesn’t understand what SPICE is, and they think it’s something in their cabinet, we’re in trouble,” Nocco said. Abuse of SPICE, which are synethetic drugs, is growing.

Botticelli asked Leonardo to describe what he sees “as critical ingredients to get people to long-term recovery.”

Leonardo said ingredients leading to long-term recovery include some element of support, either family or someone like family; access to appropriate type of treatment for the individual; and, a supportive environment after treatment, he said.

Botticelli agreed: “We want a continuum of care, not just short-term treatment. This is a chronic disease and people need long-term care

“We have to make our communities safe and supportive for people in recovery,” said Botticelli, who has been in recovery himself for more than two decades.

Innovation and creativity are important, too, Leonardo said.

“Creativity is key because nobody is going to throw money at this problem,” Bajor said.

Closer collaboration would help, Bajor said. “We would love to network with other providers in the area to close some of the gaps that our clients tend to fall into.”

Botticelli asked Judge Shawn Crane: “What do you see as kind of the unique needs of veterans?”

Crane replied: “What we have really learned is that veterans respond better in groups of veterans.”

That’s because veterans have a unique set of experiences and a lingo that’s all their own, Crane said.

“When you are a Marine recon sniper, there’s not much of a job for you when you come back out of the service,” the judge said.

“I took people who were in Drug Court and put them into Veterans Court and into Veterans groups and they just flourished. They just felt so much at ease,” Crane said.

“We do need to look at these guys as being a little bit unique,” agreed Bajor, who was a Navy pilot. The North Tampa Behavioral Center has a program designed specifically for veterans.

“They push each other more than we push them,” Bajor said.

Published May 11, 2016