The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

County offers ‘Safe Place’ locations for youth in need

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National Safe Place Week helps to raise awareness about the vital program, Safe Place, that provides kids ages 10 to 17 who are in crisis access to immediate support services.

Whether there was a fight with their parents or they are fleeing domestic abuse in the home, kids and teens without a place to go can visit a Safe Place location in Hillsborough County to get assistance.

With nearly 200 Safe Place locations in Hillsborough County, including fire stations and libraries, kids can look for the yellow and black “Safe Place” sign.

If kids have access to a cellphone, they can text SAFE with their location to 4HELP and receive a message with the closest Safe Place site and phone number to Children’s Services.

This program has been managed by Hillsborough County Children’s Services for more than 30 years and staff at all “Safe” spots are trained to call Children’s Services, which will send a qualified staff member to the location to talk with the youth in need.

If necessary, transportation to the Children’s Services campus in Tampa also will be provided so the child can receive professional support services.

To learn more about the program and how to get involved, visit HCFL.gov/SafePlace.

Published April 3, 2024

Traffic from proposed Hudson subdivision won’t have access to Hazel Avenue

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(Musa Haef/Unsplash)

After more than two hours of discussion, the Pasco County Planning Commission decided at its March 21 meeting to not permit vehicular access onto Hazel Avenue from a proposed subdivision in Hudson.

The commissioners agreed by a vote of 4-2 to approve a rezoning request by Gary L. Blackwell Investments Inc., with conditions, and to send it to the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The Planning Commission (PC) acts as an advisory board to the BOCC. 

If approved by the BOCC at a future meeting, the zoning of approximately 107.24 acres north of Hudson Avenue and east of Hazel Avenue will be changed from A-R Agricultural-Residential District and A-C Agricultural District to an MPUD Master Planned Unit Development. This will allow a maximum of 321 single-family detached units to be developed on the site.

Several area residents spoke against the proposed traffic interconnection with Hazel Avenue that had not been originally planned.

Members of Pasco County’s department of Planning and Development had recommended the interconnection after reviewing information they had been provided, said attorney Kamala E. “Kami” Corbett who was representing the applicant.

 “We don’t need that extra traffic on Hazel Avenue. We don’t need it and we don’t want it,” William A. Kromer said.

“I am totally opposed to them opening that road on Hazel and using it for more traffic. It’s not safe,” Kathy Kromer said.

“That connection to Hazel Avenue is not something that should be allowed,” Alisha Juanis said. She added it wouldn’t be a good thing to do even if county staff had recommended it.

“The majority of people driving down Hazel Avenue are not area residents,” Amber Tucker added. She also asked planning commission members to either deny the rezoning request outright, or to approve it with a lower density than the applicant had requested.

Planning commissioners briefly considered letting part of Hazel Avenue to only be used as an emergency access to the proposed subdivision. They decided to instead permit a 5-foot-wide sidewalk to be installed on Hazel Avenue. A crosswalk at the intersection of Hazel Avenue and Cobra Way would give students a safe place to walk when they were going to area schools.

It also was proposed that emergency access to the subdivision be provided by means of nearby Edwards Road. 

Robert “Bob” Waldo told planning commissioners he owned the property on Edwards Road that Blackwell planned to use and that he wouldn’t grant an easement for that purpose.

Attorney Corbett, of the Clearwater office of the law firm Hill Ward Henderson, said she thought that part of Edwards Road could be used for emergency access since it was on county records as being for public access. 

In other business last week, planning commissioners:

  • Approved a conditional use request for a Group Living Arrangement in an A-C Agricultural District for 471.40 acres in Northwest Pasco County made by Word of Life Fellowship/Word of Life GLA. If approved by the BOCC, Word of Life, which is an adult and youth religious camp and facility, will be able to have nine buildings constructed that can be used as dormitories for up to 440 people. This would increase the number of buildings on the property to 52 and the number of people who could stay in the dormitories to 1,237.
  • Approved a special exception requested by Hope Youth Ranch Inc., to be able to have a private school serving up to 60 special needs students in an R-2 Low Density Residential District on approximately 1 acre in northwest Pasco. This needs to be approved by the BOCC.
  • Approved a zoning amendment requested by Sandra Marie Brown, Stefanie F. and Derek L. Pontlitz for 19.841 acres on the north side of Dusty Lane to be a conditional use request, changed from an A-C Agricultural District to an R-4 High Density Residential District. If approved by the BOCC, this would allow 47 single-family residential units to be built on the property in southwest Pasco.

Published April 3, 2024

New members sought for historic board

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The City of Zephyrhills is actively seeking three additional members to join its Historic Preservation Board, according to a news release.

The Board administers various programs aimed at preserving the city’s heritage, including Historic Façade Grants and the review of Certificates of Appropriateness for alterations, demolition and new construction in historic districts, the release says.

The board was established to oversee the designation and regulation of the city’s historic, archaeological, cultural and architectural resources. Members help to shape the future of the community while honoring its past by advising the City Council on matters related to historic preservation.

Meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month, with agendas available beforehand and minutes accessible after approval.

Online applications for board membership are available on the city’s website, at https://ow.ly/635N50QZ5JJ.

For additional information or questions, contact Hunter Gearhart, City of Zephyrhills historic preservation specialist/community planner, at 813-780-0000, ext. 3502, or .

Published April 3, 2024

Support the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters

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Residents can trade in their car tag for a Big Brothers Big Sisters tag to support BBBS services. (Courtesy of Pasco Tax Collector’s Office)

The five Pasco County Tax Collector’s offices will feature Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) as its April Charity of the Month. All donations made in person to the tax collector offices, through the mail or online will benefit BBBS.

“Children without a strong adult presence in their life, kids in jeopardy of not completing school or who may come from a broken home and who need a mature adult to provide practical life lessons, are served by this fantastic program,” said Tax Collector Mike Fasano, in a news release.

“Your donation in any amount will help advance the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters. You  may also support the life-changing services provided by this agency by trading in your regular car tag for a Big Brothers Big Sisters tag,” said Fasano.

For more information, those interested in donating can speak to a customer service representative at any of the tax collector’s offices.

Donations also can be mailed to Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, P.O. Box 176, Dade City, FL 33526-0276.

To give online, visit GovHub.com/fl-pasco/tc-gives/donate.

Contact Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at 727-847-8179 about the charitable programs.

For details about BBBS, call Alyssa Reas, program director, at 813-310-9184.

Published April 3, 2024

Report: New technology could assist growth in Florida’s manufacturing sector

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(Spencer Davis/Unsplash)

(The Center Square) — A recently released report has shown huge growth in Florida’s manufacturing sector, which is responsible for almost half a million jobs in the Sunshine State.

Florida TaxWatch has released the Unleashing Digital Transformation: 2023 MakeMore Manufacturing Summit Summary Report, which focused on how Florida’s manufacturing industry can create greater value and increase profits by deploying new technologies en masse.

FloridaMakes, a statewide, industry-led, public-private partnership operated by Florida’s regional manufacturer’s associations and partner organizations, has a single goal to strengthen and advance Florida’s economy by following three main principles: technology adoption, talent development and business growth.

FloridaMakes further represents the Manufacturing Extension Partnership in Florida, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

FloridaMakes’ Executive Vice President Zoraida Velasco said in the report that in order for Florida’s manufacturing sector to grow, the industry must communicate with each other to enhance dialogue and begin brainstorming solutions to correct what is not working and enhance what is.

Currently, Florida’s gross domestic product is approximately $1.5 trillion. Manufacturing makes up roughly 5% of the Sunshine State’s annual total economic output, and according to the report, Florida has over 25,000 manufacturers.

The report also notes that the average number of employees per manufacturing company is 17 because most manufacturing companies are small. However, these companies play a pivotal role and are considered “foundation” or supplier companies that support larger companies to keep moving forward.

In total, there are more than 426,000 high-wage manufacturing jobs in Florida, producing goods including aerospace products, food and beverages, communications, and equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, semiconductors and boats.

Around 4.4% of the state’s workforce is employed in manufacturing, with an average wage of $74,575.2 per year. Recent employment data shows that Florida is one of the top ten states in the nation for manufacturing employment.

Experts have recommended that Florida does several things to continue manufacturing growth. This includes manufacturers stepping up marketing and messaging efforts; putting more recruitment efforts into high schools to show students that they have opportunities in manufacturing employment; and further adding that Florida’s 14 regional manufacturer associations need to be put to better use.

Published April 3, 2024

Report: State officials closed more than 1,300 Medicaid fraud cases in 2022

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(National Cancer Institute/Unsplash)

(The Center Square) — According to a recent report, the Florida Legislature’s research arm found that state officials closed more than 1,300 Medicaid fraud cases in 2022.

The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) released its biennial review of the Agency for Health Care Administration’s oversight of fraud and abuse in Florida’s Medicaid Program in late January.

The agency provides health care for low-income families and individuals while assisting those living with disabilities and the elderly with care costs for nursing facilities, and long-term expenses.

OPPAGA noted in its report that the Office of Medicaid Program Integrity is responsible for fraud and abuse monitoring within the program and collaborating with state and federal entities to detect, prevent and deter fraud.

During fiscal 2021-22, the agency closed 1,397 fraud and abuse cases — 48.8% were identified as overpayments and providers — with the majority being the fee-for-service program and amounted to $22.5 million. The report also said that the agency handled more than 13,000 abuse and fraud complaints. 

The Legislature appropriated $41 billion for Medicaid program operations in fiscal year 2023-24.

Statewide, 65% of Medicaid’s total expenditures came from Medicaid Managed Care accounts, while the remaining 35% of expenditures came from the fee-for-service program.

According to the report, Medicaid enrollment in the Sunshine State grew substantially after the COVID-19 pandemic because of federal legislation. Between March 2020 to April 2023, total Medicaid enrollment increased by 54% or from 3.8 million to 5.8 million.

However, after new legislation ended the changes, federal funding was decreased and states returned to previous eligibility and enrollment operations, Florida began this redetermination in April 2023. By October, the agency reported that Florida had the ninth-lowest termination of coverage rate among states.

The report states that the program serves approximately 4.4 million people each month as of October, and the agency states that 4.6 million recipients will have their cases redetermined by the state Department of Children and Families over a 12-month period ending March 2023.

By August, 2.2 million enrollees had their cases redetermined, 67% or 1.5 million recipients were deemed eligible, while 32% or 746,000 recipients were disenrolled after being deemed ineligible. Fifty-five percent of those disenrolled were done so for procedural reasons, while 45% were terminated due to eligibility.

In February 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General estimated that $6.9 million had been paid in Medicaid, for recipients enrolled in Florida and residing in another state.

Published April 3, 2024

State unemployment rate continues to trend below national average

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(The Center Square) — Recently released statistics show that Florida’s unemployment rate remains below the national average.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of February 2024, the Sunshine State has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, an increase of 0.3% from February 2023. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate currently sits around 3.9%.

(Clem Onojeghuo/Unsplash)

Preliminary data shows that Florida has a labor force of just over 11 million with 345,000 Floridians out of work. While Florida’s seasonally adjusted total nonagricultural employment reached nearly 9.89 million in February, jobs decreased by -0.1% or 5,500 jobs over the month.

Florida is also outpacing the national average for job creation after gaining 226,200 jobs over the past year, an increase of 2.3%, while national job numbers only rose by 1.8%. Miami-Dade County had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.6%, while Citrus County had the highest unemployment rate in Florida at 5.2% in February 2024.

Over the past year, there has also been growth in nine out of 10 major industries, with education and health gaining the most jobs adding over 57,000 jobs, an increase of 4%. Trade, transportation and utilities had an increase of 2.5% and added 48,300 jobs, while leisure and hospitality added over 35,000 jobs, a 2.7% increase.

Florida’s information industry was the only industry to take a significant hit, losing around 900 jobs, a decrease of 0.6%.

The Bureau further reported that North Dakota had the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 2%, while South Dakota followed closely behind with a rate of 2.1%. California now has the highest unemployment rate at 5.3%, eclipsing Nevada slightly which has a rate of 5.2%.

Alabama saw its labor force increase over the past year, rising from 2.2 million to 2.32 million by February while the overall unemployment rate rose from 2.3% to 3%. Georgia’s workforce increased from 5.26 million to 5.33 million within a year, while its unemployment rate dropped from 3.2% to 3.1%.

Texas has an overall labor force of 15.1 million, having increased over the year from 14.95 million. The Lone Star State also has an unemployment rate of 3.95, a slight improvement from 4% a year ago.

Published April 3, 2024

What families with college-bound students need to know this spring

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(MD Duran/Unsplash)

Perhaps even more nerve-wracking than waiting for your child’s college acceptance letters is learning whether they’ve been awarded financial aid. Recent changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) designed to simplify the process have led to unforeseen hiccups and technical glitches, causing academic institutions to delay sending out financial aid award letters. However, once you finally get the results, it can give your family a better idea of what to do next.

“Our research shows that for a majority of parents, figuring out how to pay for college was the ‘road to college’ activity that caused them the most stress. By making a financial plan and prioritizing it, you can be well-prepared to avoid the most common bumps in the road,” explains Angela Colatriano, chief marketing officer, College Ave.

Colatriano recommends using this spring to teach your child these valuable financial skills: how to set up a budget, how to pay bills and how to manage credit. If your family will potentially be borrowing to finance college, students should also gain an understanding of how loans work, and how the different terms of the loan will affect their monthly payments and overall loan cost.

Speaking of budget, you should set a realistic budget for yourself. A recent College Ave survey found that in addition to helping pay for tuition and housing costs, parents also contribute to their child’s phone bill (65%), health insurance (61%), food and groceries (42%), cable and internet bill (35%) and transportation (32%). Be realistic about which expenses you can afford and where you want to ask your child to chip in.=

Decode award letters
Financial aid award letters can look different for each school. Familiarize yourself with their components so that when they arrive, you’ll be ready to decipher them. Here’s what to look for:

  1. Free money: The award letter will list whether your student is eligible for scholarships and grants (sometimes called Merit or Gift Aid). This is money you typically don’t need to pay back.
  2. Federal Work-Study: Your child might be eligible for Federal Work-Study jobs. While jobs aren’t guaranteed, they can be a good opportunity to help cover educational expenses.
  3. Student Loans: Schools will list any federal loans your child is eligible to receive. Helpful hint: They may be grouped with scholarships and grants. You should also note whether the loan is subsidized or unsubsidized. Because unsubsidized loans accrue interest while your student is enrolled and during deferment periods, this will affect the overall loan cost.
  4. Other factors: Check if awards being offered are for all four years and understand what your child will need to do to continue being eligible for them, year-to-year.

To get an apples-to-apples look at the offers, calculate the net direct cost of each school by subtracting offered scholarships and grants from the cost of attendance (tuition, room, board, textbooks and fees). If applicable, you can subtract work-study aid, too. You should also factor in expected increases in tuition, room, board and other fees.

Fill in the gaps
If after doing the math, you find you have a financial gap to cover, look into private scholarships. 

You may also want to consider a private student loan or parent loan. Look for a lender with great rates, flexible repayment terms, and the opportunity to customize the loan to fit your budget.

“The important thing is not to panic. If you filled out the FAFSA, financial aid award letters are on the way. And once you receive them, you and your student can get to the fun part of planning for the future,” says Colatriano.

-StatePoint

Published April 3, 2024

 

Pediatricians can help teens quit vaping and using tobacco

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(E-Liquids UK/Unsplash)

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and it almost always begins during adolescence. According to leading medical advocates, pediatricians have a role to play in getting kids to quit vaping electronic cigarettes and using other tobacco products.

Ten percent of American students report using tobacco products, according to the FDA. And while there have been declines in the use of cigarettes among adolescents, the popularity of e-cigarettes and other smokeless tobacco and nicotine products is on the rise. Smoking and vaping are both harmful to health, particularly to youth, whose brains are still developing and who are uniquely vulnerable to nicotine dependence.

That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed the Youth Tobacco Cessation Progressive Web App. This new, free clinical decision resource, which can be used on a computer, tablet or offline mobile app, leads physicians through the following steps:

  1. Ask: Screen for tobacco use with all youth, during every clinical encounter.
  2. Counsel: Advise all youth who use tobacco to quit and have them set a quit date within two weeks.
  3. Treat: Link adolescents to behavioral treatment extenders and prescribe pharmacologic support when indicated. After the visit, follow up to assess progress and offer support.

The web app also provides a flowchart for clinical interactions, links to product descriptions, an AAP policy and clinical report, sample counseling statements, behavioral support options, such as texting services, quitlines and online resources, and detailed information on pharmacologic support, including nicotine replacement therapy.

There is currently little data on successful youth tobacco treatment strategies. In the meantime, clinicians can leverage existing literature and promising practices to support tobacco cessation in young people. To learn more and to access the Youth Tobacco Cessation Progressive Web App, visit aap.org/HelpKidsQuit.

Tobacco use and nicotine dependence are significant health concerns. Pediatricians can use their vital, trusted role as a source of expertise, support and guidance to provide teens with confidential tobacco cessation care.

-StatePoint

Published April 3, 2024

 

Major Land O’ Lakes intersection to close for paving

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The intersection of U.S. 41 and S.R. 54 will be closed for milling and paving work from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Thursday (April 1 – April 4) nights, weather permitting. All traffic will be directed to turn right at the intersection, according to a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) email. Drivers who planned to make left turns at the intersection will need to use two of the detour routes listed below. Drivers are advised to plan extra travel time to go through the detours or choose alternate routes.

Detour Routes:

1) Northbound US 41: Traffic will be reduced from three lanes to one lane and detoured to eastbound SR 54, U-Turn at Raden Drive, then go west and turn right to continue north on US 41. Traffic planning to go west on SR 54 will then need to use detour 4.

2) Southbound US 41: Traffic will be reduced from three lanes to one lane and detoured to westbound SR 54, U-Turn at Sophia Drive, then go east and turn right to continue south on US 41. Traffic planning to go east on SR 54 will then need to use detour 3.

3) Eastbound SR 54: Traffic will be reduced from three lanes to one lane and detoured to southbound US 41, U-Turn at Lake Floyd Drive, then go north and turn right to continue east on SR 54. Traffic planning to go north on US 41 will then need to use detour 1.

4) Westbound SR 54: Traffic will be reduced from three lanes to one lane and detoured to northbound US 41, U-Turn at Morgan Road, then go south and turn right to continue west on SR 54. Traffic planning to go south on US 41 will then need to use detour 2.

For project information and to sign up to receive email alerts, visit https://www.fdottampabay.com/project/759/441659-1-52-01-441658-1-52-01.