The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Pasco sheriff calls for more deputies

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Pasco County’s top law enforcement official appeared before the Pasco County Commission last week, making a case for the county to fund more deputies on the street.

Citing a statistic from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco told the county board: “We are 64th out of 67 counties, in terms of law enforcement officers, per thousand (residents) that we serve.”

Based on figures from Florida Tax Watch, Pasco ranks 55th out of the state’s 67 counties in terms of funding for public safety, Nocco added.

Pasco County significantly lags behinds Pinellas County, when it comes to sworn law enforcement officers, Nocco said, noting Pasco’s ratio is 1.06 officers per 1,000 residents, while Pinellas County’s ratio is 1.86.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco is making a case for hiring more deputies to put on the street, in response to the county’s growing needs. (File)

Other ratios of nearby counties are: 1.23 for Hillsborough County; 1.26 for Polk County; and, 1.32 for Hernando County.

Nocco also emphasized that these are numbers from the FDLE.

To match Pinellas County’s level of service, Pasco would need 399 more deputies. It would need 130 more to match Hernando; 100 more to match Polk; and, 85 more to match Hillsborough.

The staffing at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office is not keeping pace with the county’s growth, Nocco said.

“We’re trying to maintain the level where we’re at. We seem to keep falling behind.

“I am not anti-growth. I am not anti-development. That’s not my role and responsibility.

“My role and responsibility, as the sheriff, is to make sure we do everything we can to keep our community safe,” Nocco said.

He added: “It’s also my role to come here and explain this and tell you, this, to tell you, ‘Hey, this is where we’re at.’”

He told the county board that for every 1,000 additional residents, Pasco should be adding two additional deputies.

And, that, he said, would just slightly improve the current level of service.

He also told commissioners that it’s not just a matter of hiring new deputies. They must go through an onboarding process.

“It takes us over a year to hire somebody, train that person, put through orientation and put them on the street,” Nocco said.

Plus, since it’s an around-the-clock job, 365 days a year, it’s not just a matter of hiring one deputy to be out on patrol. It takes five deputies to equal having one on patrol at all times.

Pay is another significant issue, Nocco said.

Around 2015, Pasco lost more than 100 officers to the City of Tampa, because of pay.

“They actually called it ‘The Tampa 100 Club,’” Nocco said.

While the county board responded to that problem, Pasco again is at a disadvantage when it comes to pay, Nocco said.

“We’re now competing against higher-paying agencies. So, Tampa PD (Police Department) is starting at $60,000 a year. Pinellas is $51,000.

“Florida Highway Patrol is planning to have a starting salary of $56,000 a year, if Gov. Ron DeSantis approves it, which he has said that he will,” Nocco said.

At the same time, Pasco’s starting salary is $46,948, just slightly above Hernando County.

He also noted there’s an issue of hiring law enforcement officers across the country “because a lot of people lost interest, and say, ‘Hey, maybe I don’t want to get into that field,’’’ Nocco said.

Pasco’s 30-year retirement also puts it at a disadvantage to Tampa, which has a 20-year retirement for high-risk positions, Nocco said.

If the county doesn’t increase pay for its law enforcement officers, they will go elsewhere, Nocco said.

“And, if you lose them to Hillsborough, Pinellas, you’ve now trained them up, build them up, and they go somewhere else,” he said.

The sheriff also asked the county board for some assurances about his budget.

“I don’t think there’s anyone who will disagree with keeping the current budget for law enforcement and court security at $111 million.

“I just want to make sure that everybody is good with that, that the $111 million stays with the law enforcement budget and the $51 million (for jail operations) will transfer back to the county.

Reducing the $111 million would result in reduced law enforcement services in the county, Nocco said.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey told Nocco: “I’m not prepared to say anything about numbers.”

County Administrator Dan Biles said, “as part of the jail transfer, our budget office is working with (their budget office), to see what their expenses are in the jail, because we have to build a budget based on line-item expenses. So, we’re working on that.”

However, Biles added, “I don’t expect us to ask for any of that piece, as we move forward into ’23, with the jail transition.”

Commissioner Mike Moore wants the county to explore ways it could shift the burden of these costs to the new growth that is causing the expenses.

He raised the prospect of creating a new MSTU (municipal services taxing unit), so new growth could pay for new costs incurred for public safety services.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said it might be possible to structure something like that, but added that he’s not aware of it being done anywhere, and he’s not sure that would be  defensible.

After the lengthy discussion, there was a consensus on the board that the conversation needs to continue.

The board has a budget workshop planned for May 24.

Ratio of law enforcement officers (per 1,000 residents)
Pasco: 1.06
Hillsborough: 1.23
Polk: 1.26
Hernando: 1.32
Pinellas: 1.86

Source: Pasco County Sheriff Nocco, citing state law enforcement figures

Published April 13, 2022

Dade City naval officer sets off for deployment

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Lt. Junior Grade Riley Roberts recently departed on her first deployment, which will involve seven months driving the USS Gunston Hall, performing repairs and in command of some of the 600 other sailors on board.

Lt. Junior Grade (LTJG) Riley Roberts is shown here, center, with other members of the Roberts family, from left, her sister, Alison; her brother, Jonathan; her mother, Tracey; and her father, Dave. (Courtesy of Tracey Roberts)

Her vessel’s whereabouts and duties are classified — even to her family — but the 25-year-old naval officer, from Dade City, is embracing all the emotions that come with her first military orders.

“I’m mostly excited, but there are some nerves and stress,” Roberts said, in a recent telephone interview. “The weight on your shoulders that you’re navigating a ship with 600 of us on it, so their lives are in my hands. It’s a little scary driving it, but I also do enjoy it.”

At Pasco High School, Roberts was a member of the JROTC, but didn’t sign up for service after graduation. Instead, she attended Florida State University and then enlisted in Officer Candidate School, where she graduated in July 2019.

She was stationed at the naval base in Norfolk, before her deployment.

While Roberts is away at sea, those back home in Dade City will be keeping her in their prayers, especially those at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Lt. Junior Grade (LTJG) Riley Roberts, who graduated from Officer Candidate School in July 2019, just began her first deployment. She will be at sea for seven months, steering the USS Gunston Hall.

She has belonged to the church since was born and has been active in myriad ways. She has served as altar server, been involved in youth group, has done ministry work and has performed in the choir.

“People at our church watched her grow up, care about her, have seen her sing in the choir,” said her mother, Tracey. “Even if they don’t know her name, they know Riley’s voice. So they’re asking about her all the time. Neighboring Catholic churches have added her to the prayer list and, of course, our parish gathered to offer a Mass for her protection.

“That means a lot to us and, of course, her,” Tracey said.

More than just prayers, Sacred Heart also added Riley to its Wall of Honor, a place where parishioners dating back to World War II are recognized for their service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Also on the wall: her father, David, and grandfather, Scott.

“My mom showed me pictures of it and I got goosebumps seeing myself up there with all the names,” Riley said. “I’m humbled to be on there when I think about all the others up there who lost their lives during bigger conflicts.”

At home in Dade City, Tracey, who works for Sacred Heart’s Early Childhood Center on the church grounds, is dealing with her own nerves, as any mother of a military officer would.

The USS Gunston Hall (Wikipedia.org.)

“It’s kind of terrifying, quite frankly,” Tracey said. “I am very proud of her, more proud than I thought I would be. I toured her ship, (have) seen what she does, driving a 600-foot warship. She’s super inspiring and has become a very tough, independent, brave person. In my mind, she’s going to be fine, but I’m still her mom — still going to worry.”

Certainly everyone at Sacred Heart will worry for Riley, especially those who she lovingly calls her “Old People Fan Club.” But she is ready to take on this seven-month challenge, even when faced with uncertainty regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine, and a potential for U.S. military involvement.

Riley says she will think of her family, and her church, in Dade City.

“I love going to that church because everyone knows who I am,” she added. “I get recognized around town, and, to be honest, I’ve struggled to find a church here in Virginia because none can compare to mine.

“I know it sounds cheesy, but I joined (the Navy) because I felt obligated to do so. I feel every able-bodied person should serve your country, so I joined and didn’t care what my job would be. If I had to scrub toilets, so be it. But, right now, there are no plans to engage (with Russia) and I hope it stays that way.”

Published April 06, 2022

State Road 56 closure delayed due to weather

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By B.C. Manion

The plan to close State Road 56, near Interstate 75, beginning at 11 p.m. on April 1 and ending on April 3 — has been postponed, according to the District 7 office of the Florida Department of Transportation.
The closure is being postponed due to weather. No additional information is available at this time.
Revised March 31, 2022

Making bath time less ‘ruff’

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This place is for the dogs.

Sit. Stay. Splash.

No, it’s not a dog groomer. It’s actually a self-serve dog wash.

Sadie and owner Amy Bailey are all smiles during bath time at Sit. Stay. Splash., a self-serve dog wash, at 1930 Collier Parkway in Lutz. (Mike Camunas)

It’s a start-up business that Alison Sebesta opened in February.

She admits she may have had ulterior motives when creating her storefront, at 1930 Collier Parkway in Lutz.

“I just want to pet dogs all day,” Sebesta, an owner of two Corgis, said with a laugh.

“All of us have dreams that make our hearts happy and the last three weeks have definitely done that for me.”

Sebesta opened Sit. Stay. Splash., on Feb. 22, as a way for dog owners to groom their dogs, in between groomer appointments.

Rei is bathed by her owner, Sofia Lopez, at Sit. Stay. Splash., in Lutz.

The setup makes it easier to bathe dogs, whether they are larger, elderly, or skittish.

“It’s about replacing what (the owner) would do at home,” Sebesta, a Land O’ Lakes resident, said. “You’re not on your hands and knees for hours soaking wet.”

At Sit. Stay. Splash., Sebesta installed five raised tubs so owners can remain standing while bathing a dog that can be tethered, to remain close. Each tub has an easy-to-use spray nozzle and soap, making washing and rinsing a breeze.

There also is a walk-in station for very large or older, or physically challenged dogs that can’t make it up the steps to the raised tubs.

Bath services start at $10. Sebesta handles clean-up duties.

“Any dog can come here,” Sebesta said. “I wanted to make sure we could bathe any type of dog.”

Cadbury gives Sit. Stay. Splash. owner Alison Sebesta kisses during bath time at the self-serve dog wash in Lutz.

There also are blow-drying stations at Sit. Stay. Splash., which allow for additional grooming needs from nail trimming, light hairstyling, and even scented sprays. Sebesta provides aprons, soaps/conditioners and towels, however, owners are more than welcome to bring their own supplies, such as treats or specialty shampoos.

That is why Kristin Reynolds and her husband, Ryan, bring their 10-month-old chocolate lab, Cadbury, to Sit. Stay. Splash.

“Right now he needs some medicated shampoo, but also, it’s just so much easier to bathe him here,” Kristin Reynolds said. “He’s 10 months old and 80 pounds already, and we just can’t do it in the bathtub.”

“He doesn’t really like the dryer, but he tolerates (a bath) a lot more,” her husband added. “This place is great because I just can’t get down on my hands and knees. This is just way easier on both of us.”

Amy Bailey has been taking full advantage of Sit. Stay. Splash.’s opening, as her dog, Sadie, a Doodle mix, is always in need of grooming. Bailey can’t get to the groomer on a weekly basis, so the self-service wash has been perfect for Sadie, whose fur needs to be blown dry or else it will mat.

“It’s been a lifesaver for me, because I just can’t sit on the floor for an hour and blow dry her,” Bailey said. “Both (the wash and dry station) have been great, but the blow dryer is the big reason we’re here.”

Sebesta will be there to help, sometimes assisted by her Corgis, Odin and Dashel. All she wants is to make bath time as easy as possible.

And to have a little fun with dogs, too.

“At the end of the day, this isn’t the groomer. It is supposed to be as stress-free as possible for every dog,” Sebesta said. “I want the community to enjoy it, I want the owners to enjoy it and — I just want to pet dogs, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Sit. Stay. Splash.
Where: 1930 Collier Parkway, Lutz
Services: Dog bathing, drying, self-service grooming
Owner: Alison Sebesta
Info: 813-406-4293 or SitStaySplash.com

Published March 23, 2022

Cadbury gives his owner, Ryan Reynolds, a knowing look during bath time at Sit. Stay. Splash., a self-serve dog wash, at 1930 Collier Parkway in Lutz.
Sit. Stay. Splash., is a self-service dog bath business in Lutz, where dog owners can use a raised tub and blow-drying module, as an easier way to clean and groom their pets.
Sadie gets the blow dry treatment at Sit. Stay. Splash., in Lutz.

 

High gas prices hitting wallets hard

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Gas prices are skyrocketing, with no apparent end in sight.

In a two-week period since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the average price for a gallon of gas climbed 73 cents a gallon in Florida; oil prices climbed $32 a barrel and the price to fill an average-sized tank of gas was $63, compared to $41 a year ago, according to Mark Jenkins, AAA (American Automobile Association) spokesman.

The 73-cent boost within two weeks is the largest increase in two weeks that AAA has recorded since it began tracking gas prices in 2000, Jenkins said, via email.

Gas prices have reached a record high in the United States, surpassing the previous record set in 2008. The price last week at RaceTrac on State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel was $4.39 a gallon for regular, about average in Pasco County. (Mike Camunas)

The average price around the state on March 11 was $4.378 per gallon. That shatters the previous record of $4.08 per gallon, set back in July 2008, according to AAA figures.

The crisis in Ukraine has prompted President Joe Biden to stop the import of Russian oil and that comes at a time when the United States is experiencing its highest rate of inflation in 40 years.

Motorists are feeling the pain at the pump.

“I live in Saint Mary with my sister in her house,” freelance construction worker Victor Reyes said, while filling up his truck and at least four gas containers, at a Pasco County gas station.

The price at the pump was $4.39 a gallon for unleaded 87.

“I used to go home every night. Now, I just go home on Saturdays. I sleep on the construction site because gas, it’s too expensive.

Brian Quigoley, of Wesley Chapel, gets some gas at a fueling station in Wesley Chapel.

“There’s nothing else I can do,” he said.

Zach Perry, a traveling salesman from Tampa, said he has to drive for work, so he’s stuck with the higher prices.

“My gas budget has doubled, but there’s nothing I can do about it,” Perry said, while filling up at a Lutz gas station.

The cost of gas also is influencing what people do with their leisure time.

“I don’t go anywhere anymore — at least now with these prices,” said Brooke Miller, a retired Air Force veteran who lives in Land O’ Lakes. “I go to the grocery store and I go home. I used to meet up with people to do some quilting at the community center, but I’m not going to do that anymore. We’ll probably have to quilt together on Zoom now.”

Despite the high prices, some gas stations experienced lines at the pump last week. In some cases, customers were filling up containers to avoid the prospect of paying more.

“We’ve got lines running out of the parking lot and into the street, and blocking traffic,” the gas manager at Costco in Lutz, Jordan Cass, said. “That’s leading to a lot of tense situations or unhappy customers, but just everyone needs gas. Sure, its members and they get a discount, but the demand here (at Costco) has, if anything, gotten higher.”

On average, Costco receives four shipments of gas regularly, but that has ballooned to six a day in recent weeks, Cass said. “We can’t keep it in the tanks,” he said, sounding slightly exasperated.

Drivers are frustrated, too. “When you gotta drive, you gotta drive,” Perry said. “And you need gas to drive. Guessing we’ll be stuck with high prices for a while.”

Gas prices soaring
Here’s a look at average gas prices on March 11, as tracked by AAA (American Automobile Association):

National average: $4.331
Florida average: $4.378

Hillsborough County retail prices:$4.399-$4.92
Pasco County retail prices: $4.384-$4.398
Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater: $4.40, regular; $4.734, mid-grade; $5.027 premium; $5.122, diesel
The previous record in Florida was $4.08 per gallon, set in July 2008.

Source: AAA

Fuel-saving tips

  • Tires & maintenance: Keep your vehicle in top shape through routine inspections; in between, be sure your tires are properly inflated.
  • Plan ahead: Map your route before you go, to minimize unnecessary turnarounds and backtracking. Avoid peak traffic times. Combine errands.
  • Watch your speed: Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Reducing highway speeds by 5 mph to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.
  • Avoid excessive idling: A car engine consumes one-quarter to one-half gallon of fuel per hour when idling. A warm engine only takes around 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. When it is safe, shut off your engine when you will be stopped for more than 1 minute.
  • Use “fast pass” or “express” toll lanes: Avoiding unnecessary stops or slowdowns on the highway helps save fuel.
  • Avoid rush hour: You’ll use less gas if you’re not stuck in traffic jams.
  • Anticipate road conditions: Pay attention to what’s happening on the road to maintain momentum and avoid unnecessary stop-and-go travel.
  • Purchase recommended fuel type: If regular gas is recommended for your vehicle, that’s all you need. Opting for premium when your car doesn’t requireit will cost more and won’t boost efficiency.
  • Shop around & save: There are apps and websites that will help you find the best prices.

Source: AAA

B.C. Manion contributed to this article.

Published March 13, 2022

Apartments’ rejection is challenged

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SD Wesley Chapel LLC and Stock Development LLC are challenging the Pasco County Commission’s decision to reject a proposed mixed-use project of apartments, office and retail on a parcel in Seven Oaks.

The petitioners have filed a challenge under the state’s Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act.

They claim that the county’s denial was “unreasonable and unduly burdensome.”

David Goldstein, chief assistant Pasco County attorney disputes that claim.

He wrote, in part: “The denial was not unreasonable or unfairly burdensome to petitioner, because the board did not take away any of petitioner’s existing rights to utilize petitioner’s property (“Parcel S-19”) for retail and/or office uses, which have been the uses contemplated for Parcel S-19” since the Seven Oaks development was approved.

Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder informed the county board of the challenge, during its Feb. 22 meeting.

The petitioners have filed a challenge under the state’s Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act.

“It’s a process that someone who believes that they are inordinately burdened by the action by the Board of County Commissioners in land development can take,” Steinsnyder explained.

Both parties agree to a special magistrate, which in this case will be David Mechanik, a Tampa attorney who is a Florida Supreme Court-certified mediator and a certified planner, Steinsnyder said.

“Unlike a court mediation, the public is invited to attend, especially those who are affected,” Steinsnyder said.

There will be an opportunity for negotiation, between the petitioners and the county, to see if a resolution can occur.

“If such a resolution were to occur, I’m not saying that it would, then that would come forward to the board in another public hearing to vote on whatever the settlement would be,” Steinsnyder said.

The mediation would take place in a county facility, which be selected based on how many people are expected to attend, Steinsnyder said.

The dispute stems from the county’s Jan. 11 denial of the petitioners’ request to modify the entitlements on a parcel within Seven Oaks to allow a development that includes 320 luxury apartment units in a vertical mixed-used project on land zoned for commercial uses.

The proposed project site is next to the Sam’s Club, in Seven Oaks, a community in Wesley Chapel, off State Road 56 and County Road 581.

The county board rejected the request on a 3-2 vote. Commissioners Mike Moore, Jack Mariano and Ron Oakley supported Moore’s motion for denial, while Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey and Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick dissented.

Seven Oaks’ residents turned out in force at the public hearing to express their opposition.

In the hours-long meeting, many residents testified that their community already has land available for apartments, in a more appropriate location.

They said the traffic created by the development would add to already congested roads and would pose hazards.

They complained that the amount of proposed development was too much for its intended site.

The developer, however, said the project has been carefully planned and would be an asset to the area. He said that great efforts had been made to amend his plans and to design a project that would offer a high-qualify lifestyle, while also incorporating some commercial elements.

County commissioners Moore and Mariano said the proposed project reduces the amount of land available for job-generating uses. Oakley said the project was too big for the proposed site.

The special magistrate is expected to consider the merit of the request for relief, seek solutions between the petitioners and Pasco County, hold an informal public hearing, and then issue his recommendation.

Pasco County has requested that the special magistrate hold the hearing as soon as practicable.

Published March 09, 2022

New ordinance aims to ban panhandling in Pasco County

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An ordinance adopted by the Pasco County Commission aims to halt solicitation by panhandlers — by making it unlawful for pedestrians and motorists to physically interact, unless a vehicle is parked.

The ordinance is patterned after one adopted in Lee County, and Pasco county board members said it’s needed to reduce safety hazards on county roads.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano applauded Lee County for finding a solution to the issue of panhandling, and he thanked Senior Assistant County Attorney Patrick Moore for handling the legal work to bring the ordinance forward.

Mariano repeatedly has said it’s a problem that needs to be addressed.

“You hear some of them talking about making $600 a day, doing it.

“One watched some guy finish for the day. He got through with his panhandling, got into his new Cadillac and went away,” Mariano said.

“When the people know they can’t do business in the middle of the right of way, I think they stop,” Mariano said.

He added that when the source of the money goes away, “I think this problem will get eliminated a lot quicker.”

According to Moore, from the county attorney’s office: “What this ordinance does, regardless of the reason why someone is in the road, or why they’re in the median, or interacting with vehicles, it’s dangerous. Regardless of the reason of that occurring, it (the ordinance) makes it prohibited.”

Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick said it needs to be addressed to improve safety.

She noted that of the county’s top 10 most dangerous intersections for pedestrians and bicyclists, six are on U.S. 19.

The U.S. 19 corridor has been notorious for the number of panhandlers that congregate there, according to testimony offered by commissioners during previous discussions relating to panhandling.

Commissioner Mike Moore noted that when he joined the board, the problem was predominantly in West Pasco, but it since has spread into Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Wesley Chapel.

Commissioner Ron Oakley said panhandling isn’t a big issue in East Pasco, but he joined his colleagues in approving the ordinance because he thinks it is needed to address the problem in other parts of the county.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said, “I’m hoping that this ordinance can help stop the tragic things that are happening out on our roadways.”

She told her colleagues that recently she was driving home along U.S. 19, at night, and could barely see a woman, who was dressed in dark clothing, walking along the median.

Mariano brought a video to show board members panhandlers out in the road. There was a glitch on the video, but board members didn’t seem to need to see it, to understand there’s a problem.

Moore, from the county attorney’s office, said the new ordinance prohibits the stopping or standing by pedestrians in a median, and also prohibits the physical interactions between a pedestrian and an occupant of a motor vehicle that is not legally parked.

The regulations also prohibit the commercial use of public rights of way.

Any person found in violation must cease the activity and may be issued a citation punishable by a fine not to exceed $500, according to the ordinance.

Each action in violation of a provision of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense. Issuance of a citation does not preclude an action for injunction, issuance of a trespass warning where authorized, or any other legal remedy available to Pasco County, the ordinance adds.

The board unanimously adopted the new regulations at its Feb. 22 meeting.

The ordinance must be filed by the clerk to the board to the Department of State, within 10 days of its adoption. It takes effect upon that filing.

Published March 02, 2022

Women Trailblazers: They helped carve a path for others

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When Madonna Jervis Wise set out to write about women trailblazers in Tampa Bay, she was looking for women who carved their own path — through Florida’s wild lands, and within such  realms as law, politics, education, social justice, sports and community life.

Kate Jackson stands between two friends with their bicycles. Jackson, who made her mark in Tampa, was commissioner of the Girl Scouts, was involved in the business and Professional Women’s League, the Catholic Woman’s Club and nearly every women’s group in Tampa. (Courtesy of the Tampa Bay History Center)

Some of these women are widely known today, occupying — or having occupied — positions of prominence. Others played a pivotal role in shaping opportunities for future generations but were not necessarily heralded during their own lifetime, and are all but forgotten today.

Wise’s book, “Images of America: Trailblazing Women of Tampa Bay,” shares the stories of women who have helped to shape today’s way of life.

She conveys their contributions through photographs and through accounts she gleaned from artifacts, historic sources, newspaper clippings, public records, oral histories and interviews.

The 159-page book is a result of months of recent work, coupled with years of research Wise has done for her other local history books, as well as from knowledge she has acquired through deep involvement with area historic societies.

‘Alice Hall made a living doing what people say cannot be done,’ Paul Hogan wrote in The Tampa Tribune in 1990. She was active in the Zephyrhills chamber, the Garden Club and the Veterans Associations. She was instrumental in bringing a hospital to the area and later equipped it with cardiovascular equipment from funds she raised. She worked for the Tribune from 1953 to 1990, and retired as a writer for the Tribune when she was 86. Here, she is shown wearing period clothing for a Founder’s Day celebration. ‘Without her, gone would be the hospital, the city’s first nursing home, first bank, its first emergency rescue equipment, its blood drive, its floral displays, Krusen Field, the Pioneer Florida Museum, and even the continuation of Founder’s Day. What she does, she does with her whole heart,’ said councilwoman Gloria Brown. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills Historical Society)

When Wise was compiling a list of women to include, she put out feelers to former colleagues and to community leaders.

She also consulted her daughters, Mamie and Rachel, and her daughter-in-law, Emily.

Mamie is an assistant U.S. Attorney and Rachel is a public defender. Emily is a director at Academy of the Holy Names.

They brainstormed with the author, with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

Many colleagues suggested names of women whom Wise said she had not known before, but once she did her research, she knew they must be included.

Others in the book are women that Wise met during her own professional life.

One of those women in retired Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Lynn Tepper, who presided over Family Court cases in Pasco County. Wise said the judge is known for her work in creating a family centered, trauma-informed courtroom.

The other is Margarita Romo, an ordained minister who founded Farmworkers Self-Help, in Dade City and has spent decades working to improve life for migrant farmworkers. She was recognized for her contributions when she was inducted into the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed to individuals who have made significant contributions to improving the lives of minorities and all citizens in Florida.

The book covers a lot of ground.

It begins with contributions of indigenous women and includes women who are still making a difference today.

The photographs came from myriad sources, including The Tampa Bay History Center, newspaper archives, fivay.org, Florida Memory (Florida State archives), The Burgert Brothers Collection at the John Germany Genealogical library, the East Hillsborough Historical Society, Brooksville Mainstreet, and others.

She even obtained photos from the Henfield Museum in London featuring some Tampa Bay suffragettes.

Local photographer Richard Riley provided some photos, and others were supplied from private collections.

When Wise couldn’t acquire a usable photo, she turned to a local retired art teacher, who sketched the photographs for her.

Throughout her research, Wise said there was one common thread — regardless of the women’s background or endeavors —the woman had to be willing to step out, to break the mold.

“Without a doubt, successful, professional, prominent women will talk about how difficult it was to speak up. How difficult it was to be one of a few, maybe the only one, in class,” Wise said.

“I think you’re always reminded of the incredible courage it takes,” the author added.

She hopes the book will show that from generation to generation, women have built on the work done by women who blazed a trail before them.

Want a copy?
“Images of America: Trailblazing Women of Tampa Bay,” is available for $23.99, at Amazon.com; the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce; Pioneer Florida Museum & Village; Tampa Bay History Center Museum store; Wesley Chapel Barnes & Noble; and Lanky Lassie Shortbread in Dade City.

Madonna Jervis Wise book talks
March 1 at 6 p.m., and March 18 at 6 p.m.
Both talks are at the Florida Pioneer Museum & Village, 15602 Museum Road, in Dade City. The March 1 talk is in the main museum building; the March 18 talk is in Mabel Jordan Barn.

Published February 23, 2022

Betty Castor served as the Florida Commissioner of Education, was the president of the University of South Florida, was the first female member of the Hillsborough County Commission and served in the Florida Senate. Here, she is shown at the old capitol building in Tallahassee, joining students to protest educational budget cuts on Sept. 24, 1991. (Courtesy of Mark Foley Collection, Florida Memory)
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was a relocation of Seminoles to Oklahoma, which provided the impetus for the Second Seminole War. Seminole genealogy is passed through the mother, as the children belong to her and to the clan she represents. The maternal figure rules the household. (Courtesy of Burgert Brothers Collection, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library)
Jan Kaminis Platt is shown here at age 7. The former Hillsborough County elected leader earned the nickname ‘Commissioner No,’ for refusing to support development she deemed to be poorly planned or harmful to the environment. After Platt’s death, former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio said Platt “could always be counted on to be a voice for honest and open government … who never wavered from her convictions.” (Courtesy of Tampa Bay History Center)
Mabel Healis Bexley served as the executive director of The Spring of Tampa Bay, for 19 years. Prior to that, she coordinated education and job training for women prisoners in Hillsborough County in the 1970s at the Women’s Resources Center, which introduced her to domestic violence and its trauma. Bexley was a powerhouse fundraiser, public speaker and change agent. In addition, she enjoyed a variety of interests, including equestrian sports. She is shown here riding her Arabian stallion, Kamazan, with her son, Christopher Healis ‘Kit’ Bexley. (Courtesy of Jennifer Bexley)
Christine Mickens, far right, leads a discussion about a community endeavor. She is joined in the conversation by, from left, Estes Smith, Rev. Cora Hall and Dorothy B.T. Baker.
Mickens became one of the first African-American women in the rural South, since Reconstruction, to be appointed to an elective position when she was named in 1981 to replace her late husband, Odell Kingston Mickens, on the Dade City Commission. She served on the commission until her death. The couple arrived in Dade City in 1933, during the Great Depression, having been referred to the area by their mentor, Mary McLeod Bethune. Mickens taught at the Dade City Colored School, Moore Academy, Mickens High School and Pasco High School, for a total of 40 years. When the boys basketball team didn’t have a coach, she stepped in to fill the gap. She also helped with integration efforts in Tampa Bay schools. (Courtesy of Moore-Mickens Education Center)
Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Lynn Tepper, left; Madonna Wise, center; and Margarita Romo, right, all met each other through their professional work. Judge Tepper is known for her efforts to create a family centered, trauma-informed courtroom; Wise formerly worked as an educator and is the author of several local history books; and Romo has spent decades working to improve the lives of migrant farmworkers. She was recognized for that work when she was inducted into Florida’s Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Wise has dedicated ‘Trailblazing Women of Tampa Bay’ to Romo. (Courtesy of Madonna Wise)

 

 

Pasco attracts 1.3 million visitors

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The numbers are in — and they’re looking good for Pasco County tourism.

While much of the country is still rebounding from the impacts of COVID-19, Pasco County set new records in the number of visitors it attracted and tourism’s impact on the local economy, according to a 104-page report delivered by Adam Thomas, tourism director Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, the county’s tourism arm.

A look at Gerry Austin and her tandem instructor as they soared through the clouds at Skydive City. (File)

Thomas shared the findings from the 2021 Economic Impact & Visitor Tracking Report, completed by Downs & St. Germain Research Inc., consultants on the county’s tourism efforts.

Thomas delivered the good news to the Pasco County Commission at its Feb. 8 meeting.

Perhaps the biggest news is Pasco’s record-shattering number of visitors, which the study put at 1,358,200 — compared to the previous high mark of 1 million, set in 2019.

“From right off the heels of a pandemic, we welcomed over 300,000 additional visitors,” Thomas said.

Those guests generated about 1.4 million room nights, 16.6% growth over fiscal year 2019.

The tourism impact report was based on 2,499 interviews completed with Pasco County visitors online and in-person at local attractions, parks, hotels and events, between Oct. 1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021.

The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center in Zephyrhills is altering its membership pricing model for the coming year. (File)

The total economic impact was calculated based on direct spending by visitors, and indirect and induced impacts, such as increased business and household spending generated by tourism dollars.

Downs & St. Germain Research uses economic modeling to calculate the multiplier based on direct expenditure data collected from visitors to Pasco County, according to the report.

The multiplier used for Pasco County is 1.41.

Based on those calculations, the overall economic impact from tourism in Pasco County last year was $721 million.

Visitors spent an estimated $511 million on restaurants, gas, lodging, attractions and entertainment, up 10.6% from fiscal year 2019.

Directly and indirectly, there are more than 9,200 jobs in Pasco that support the tourism industry, and those jobs generate more than $231 million, Thomas said. That’s up (about) 38%, year-over-year from 2019, he added.

The report also breaks down why people are visiting Pasco, where visitors are coming from, and offers demographic information on those traveling here.

Here are some specifics:

Why they came:

  • 29% to visit friends and family
  • 16% to attend a sporting event, throughout Pasco
  • 11% for a getaway

Who came:

  • Typical travel parties consisted of 2.7 people.
  • One in three travel parties included someone under age 20.

Where they came from:

  • 64% of visitors came from five states: 46% from Florida; 4%, Georgia; 4%, Illinois; 4%, New York; and 4%, Ohio.

How they arrived

  • 85% drove; of those who didn’t, the vast majority flew through Tampa International Airport.

The economic impacts from tourism go beyond the businesses that serve tourists, such as hotels, restaurants and gas stations, Thomas said.

For instance, the tourism industry saves every Pasco household more than $385 a year in state and federal taxes, the tourism director said.

It also draws attention to Pasco County, and that can prompt visitors who own businesses to decide to set up a venture here, said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who chairs the Pasco County Tourist Development Council.

Thomas also noted that the county gets a good return on investment for its tourism marketing efforts.

For every dollar spent on marketing Pasco County, visitors spend $70, Thomas said.

“Our strategy is really focused on hitting the right visitor, at the right time, in the right medium — to get the ultimate return,” he said.

Pasco County Tourism, by the numbers
Economic impact
2021 $721,719,800, up 10.6% from 2019

Visitor spend
2021: $511,857,800, up 10.6% from 2019

Visitors attracted
2021: 1,358,200, up 30.8% from 2019

Room nights generated
2021: 1,419,000, up 16.6% from 2019

Jobs supported
2021: 9,254, up 17.6% from 2019

Wages and salaries generated
2021: $231,648,800, up 37.8% from 2019

Source: Florida’s Sports Coast, FY 2021 Economic Impact & Visitor Tracking Report (Downs & St. Germain Research)

Published February 16, 2022

Steve Melton’s Machinery Museum

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Like many collections, this one started small.

Steve Melton — whose family owns about 1,500 acres of farmland in northern Pasco County — began with just a few tractors.

“We were poor, in farming, growing up.

Steve Melton, owner of Melton’s Machinery Museum, uses a piece of antique equipment to shell an ear of corn. (Christine Holtzman)

“Because we were buying land, we couldn’t afford any nice tractors.

“So, we bought all of these different makes of tractors, which were John Deere and Farm-Alls and Fords,” he said.

They ran the old tractors for years, because they couldn’t afford to buy new ones.

Later in life, when the family could afford new tractors, Melton began acquiring old tractors.

“And my Dad said, ‘Son, we have spent all of years trying to get rid of these tractors and you’re buying them back,’” he recalled, with a laugh.

The firetruck came from the Florida Pioneer Village & Museum. It was a Dade City firetruck for the Edwinola. ‘I’m using this for kids to have fun on, now,’ says Steve Melton, who has amassed a giant collection of farm implements and machinery, as well as other assorted items.

Now, he has a tractor shed where he keeps his old tractors.

“I don’t restore them. I keep them in what they say, is their working clothes,” he said.

He has a John Deere corn cultivator, which he uses in his garden patch.

Its top speed, when driving, is 12 mph; when cultivating, he runs it at about 2 mph.

While his collection began with tractors, it didn’t end there.

Not by a long shot.

Next, he began picking up pieces that would reflect “the old way of life” — the kinds of tools his grandfather would have used for farming.

Besides owning the machinery museum, Steve Melton is a cowboy poet. Here his reflection is shown in an old mirror on his property.

Melton became curious: “How did we get from so agrarian, to the place where we are now?”

“I just got enthralled and passionate about collecting farm implements and farm machinery that would have shown that (simpler way of life),” he said.

He officially established Melton’s Machinery Museum on his property in 2002.

Some of the items he bought, some were donated, and others were gifts.

The museum sign, which hangs overhead, explains what he’s after: Investing in the future, by preserving the past.

Steve Melton uses his blacksmith skills to make items, such as the knife he’s holding.

The collection is eclectic — featuring farm tools and equipment, but also household items.

He has a General Electric refrigerator, a double-drum wooden washing machine, butter churns and an antique bathtub.

The collection includes authentic railroad signs and equipment, from Trilby and Dade City.

He has barbed wire, dating back to the 1800s, a gas engine used to run lathes, a mechanical vacuum, and a yoke designed for humans to haul heavy loads.

The Chevron truck is an airport tanker truck from the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport.

His corn-sheller is well over 120 years old.

He has horse-drawn farm implements, such as a hay mower, seed planters and plows, to name  just a few.

He has a sod cutter, dating back to the late 1800s, which would have been used to create little houses, on the prairie.

“Picture yourself in Kansas, Missouri, 1870s,” he said.

“You’ve just moved to the wild prairie to farm. You get out there, and there are no trees.

Steve Melton wears a hand-carved yoke on his shoulders, as he explains how the device would have been used to haul water or handle other tasks. He estimates that the yoke is around 120 years old.

(You think to yourself): ‘What am I going to build my house with?’

There, he points to the sod cutter: “You hitch a horse to this and you cut the sod, for your ‘soddie’ home,” he said. “You could make blocks of sod with this.”

Melton’s long history as a farmer and his fascination with antique implements reveal themselves, as he walks through his museum, weaving stories about Florida history and the agrarian way of life.

For instance, he shared: “People do not realize the turpentine industry 100 years ago was the No. 1 industry in Florida.”

Once the turpentine tapped out, the lumber was harvested, he said.

Then, once the turpentine and trees were gone,  the land could often be bought for a few dollars an acres, at tax sales.

Steve Melton smiles as he wraps up the recounting of his poem, ‘Goose Down.’

Melton enjoys sharing his knowledge, and also likes to get visitors — especially children — involved, so they can see for themselves how the equipment works.

He does demonstrations, too.

“I love to demonstrate things that go from a raw product to a finished product that you can use and utilize,” he said.

“I like to do blacksmithing – take a raw piece of metal, form it into a spoon or to a knife or some kind of thing we can actually use,” he said.

“I grow corn and what I do is let kids see where food comes from. I put it in here.” He said, pointing to a piece of equipment. “I let them shell it off the cob. I take that and let them take the corn kernels over here (to a grist mill) and let them grind it into cornmeal and grits.

This simple sign says it all: Melton’s Machinery Museum was established in 2002.
It represents: ‘Investing in the future, by preserving the past.’

“Then, they sift it into the respective corn meal and grits — grits for breakfast and cornmeal for supper.

“What I’m doing is teaching kids — and anybody else — how does our food come from fields … to kitchen tables,” he said.

He has a theory about people who amass collections.

“People collect things to remind them of their youth, when things were, in their minds, better and simpler and enjoyable.”

That’s true for him.

“It was a harder life, but it was simple,” Melton said. “Generations of families are (represented) in a collection.”

Want to see for yourself?
Steve Melton enjoys giving people personal tours of his collection, which are offered free, only by appointment. If you’re interested, email him at to set up a date and time.
(P.S. He’s a cowboy poet, too, so he may be willing to share one, or two of his poems, if you make a request.)

Published February 09, 2022