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Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Gulf of Mexico

Our Residents Loving Living At Club Wildwood

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Adults age 55-plus are discovering Club Wildwood in Hudson as an ideal community to call home because of its beautiful manufactured homes, first-class amenities (including an 85,000-gallon pool with relaxing waterfall), and an enviable location just minutes from the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.

At 478 homes, Club Wildwood is the largest retirement community in north Pasco County.  With so many residents, there is always something to enjoy, from water aerobics in its Olympic-size swimming pool, to twice-a-week bingo and weekly happy hours. Residents are friendly and welcome newcomers to all activities and clubs.

This exceptionally maintained park has re-sale homes priced from $20,000 to $85,000. New homes also are available for sale or lease, and begin in the low $90s. All homes are double-wide, and offer two or three bedrooms, two baths and an attached carport and storage area. Most existing homes have been updated with the latest design styles, and are a tremendous value for a single-family home in terms of cost, amenities and location.

Many of the community’s newest residents are moving from central and east Pasco, because living at Club Wildwood often costs less than renting an apartment, and its location on U.S. 19 makes it easy to get to work, shop and enjoy area attractions. The community’s monthly lot rental fee is less than $700, and includes city water, trash, sewer, landscaping and full use of all recreation facilities.

In addition to its exceptionally large pool and deck, Club Wildwood has a picnic area, shuffleboard courts, a bocce ball court and horseshoe pits. There’s even a dog run area for pets  and a large catch-and-release fishing lake for anglers.

The community’s spacious clubhouse includes a small library, pool tables, fitness room and card tables. Regular activities including bingo, karaoke, potluck dinners, coffee hours, dart tournaments, happy hours, pancake breakfasts, line dancing, and bridge games. During the social distancing requirements of COVID-19, some of these activities have been suspended, but all will be back when it is safe to gather together again.

Outside of the park, many Club Wildwood residents participate in special interest clubs, including bowling and golf leagues, the Red Hat Society and volunteering at nearby Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point.

The 290-bed hospital, which is less than 10 minutes from Club Wildwood, is the only Level II Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center in Pasco County, and its renowned Heart Institute provides comprehensive cardiac care and an open heart surgery program.

Contact Community Manager Sean Terris for a private tour at (866) 799-6706 or .

Published July 29, 2020

New Manufactured Homes At Shadow Wood Village

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It’s not too late to discover the fabulous new homes at Shadow Wood Village in Hudson, located just 30 minutes from Land O’ Lakes, and less than two miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

In the three months since this manufactured home community began selling new homes priced in the low $90s, 14 out of 20 inventory homes have sold. There are just six homes left, and these are expected to sell quickly to those age 55 years and older.

The community’s new homes are spacious — up to 1,456 square feet — and boast front porches, great rooms for living and dining, two or three bedrooms, den, and two full baths. Floor plans are open and contemporary with the latest in home design trends. Kitchens feature lots of cabinets and a large island for bar stools and conversation, and in some models, with the kitchen sink inset in the island. Quality blinds and appliances are provided, including a refrigerator and a washer/dryer.

Every home has an inviting front porch (some as large as 10 X 12), a covered carport with a large, secure storage area, and steps leading from the driveway to the back of the home for convenient unloading of groceries and easy access to the laundry area.

Currently, two-bedroom and three-bedroom floor plans are ready now.

Shadow Wood Village offers residents an array of amenities, including a heated pool. Call Community Manager Pennye Roses for more information at (877) 360-1124, or email .

Published May 27, 2020

Palm Harbor’s Wall Springs Park

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A place where everyone can reach great heights, see priceless views

You don’t have to be a millionaire to have water views worth millions.

Just spend a little time at Wall Springs Park in Palm Harbor.

A new observation tower features wide ramps, so everyone can get to the top to see water views. (Karen Haymon Long)

There, you can see the sultry Gulf of Mexico and mullet-jumping Boggy Bayou from fishing piers, docks and a $1.7-million observation tower that’s accessible by wheelchair all the way to the top.

You might just see a giant snook – fat and at least 30 inches long – like we did from one of the fishing piers. Or, perhaps you’ll spy soaring great blue herons, fish-toting osprey, and butterflies fluttering in their very own flower garden.

We watched a man and a woman fishing in waist-deep water out in the bayou, saw a tricolored heron, snowy egrets and park benches shaped like Doctor Seuss fish. We took all the trails and looked out

A wide boardwalk in the park leads to water views. The park is surrounded by watery beauty.

over the bubbling spring, where we watched wading birds fishing from grassy islands.

From wooden boardwalks, visitors can watch water from the Upper Floridian Aquifer bubble up through rocks and out a spill flowing westward. Park officials say the spring’s flow can vary from next to nothing during droughts to 7,405 gallons a minute. During heavy rainfall, an astounding 10.7 million gallons of water can flow through the spring in a day.

The spring – always 74 degrees – is named for the Wall family, who owned the property from 1884 to 1927. The Davis family, who bought it from the Walls, renamed it Health Springs and turned it into a popular health spa and bathing area for locals and tourists. The Cullens, who bought it in 1948, renamed it Wall Springs and opened it to the public as a recreation and swimming area until the mid-1960s.

Wall Spring remains a constant 74 degrees and can pump up to 10.7 million gallons a day during rainy season.

Pinellas County began buying the land in 1988 for a park. Today, to protect the spring, no swimming is allowed.

But, if you want to, you can stare at water all day from the top of the 35-foot observation tower that just opened last summer. An arsonist burned down its predecessor on Sept. 11, 2013, and it had to be rebuilt, fortunately, mostly with insurance money, according to a county official.

This tower, unlike the last, was designed with wide, ADA-approved ramps, so it’s easy for everyone to get to the gorgeous Gulf views at the top.

We even saw a man with a bike up there, although we wondered if that was against park rules.

The park’s benches add a whimsical touch to its natural beauty.

The park is 84 acres, so it offers plenty of room for serene walks, either along the wide, paved paths, or among fragrant magnolias, soaring pines and old oaks.

Picnickers can reserve covered shelters, or eat lunch on picnic tables, blankets on the grass, or on whimsical benches. Kids can play on a new playground under a soaring white canopy next to the butterfly garden and a Little Free Library shaped like a birdhouse.

The park has lots of other things to brag about – more than ample parking and clean restrooms, for starters. Plus, it is connected to the Pinellas Trail, which makes biking or walking there from Tarpon Springs or Palm Harbor a nice outing.

And, it’s about to get bigger and better.

The county owns 125 acres north of the park – acquired with a grant from the Florida Communities Trust Forever Florida program that helps communities protect natural resources, provide recreation and preserve fast-disappearing waterfronts.

A couple fishes in waters within view of Wall Springs Park. The park also has two fishing piers.

Plans call for another picnic shelter, restrooms, more trails and a parking area. A paved, mile-long path will lead from the existing park to a new observation platform overlooking the Gulf shoreline on the new property.

County officials hope the new segment of the park will be ready by the fall of 2020.

The park doesn’t have everything. There’s no kayak/canoe launch, and there is no plan for one in the future, at least for now.

Still, the park offers plenty to do, plenty to see and plenty of watery beauty.

Tips for the Trip
Wall Springs Park is a Pinellas County park at 3725 De Soto Blvd., in Palm Harbor. From Alternate 19 North (Palm Harbor Boulevard) take Brevard Street west to the park entrance.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily
Admission: free
Info: (727) 943-4653 or PinellasCounty.org/park/21_Wall_Springs.htm
Where to eat: The park has five picnic shelters and grills, and other picnic tables, so it’s an ideal place to eat outdoors.

Wall Springs Park’s stone entrance wall reflects Pinellas County parks’ iconic architecture.

If you prefer to explore nearby restaurants, here are a few recommendations:

  • Iron Oak New American BBQ, at 917 11th St., in downtown old Palm Harbor, is an easy drive south from the park and has delicious barbecue, craft cocktails and lots of craft beers on tap. Sit outside or inside at the cozy bar; IronOakBBQ.com; (727) 754-7337. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
  • Rusty Bellies on the water, at 937 Dodecanese Blvd., in Tarpon Springs. Go for fresh seafood and the views; RustyBellies.com; (727) 934-4047. Closed Mondays. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
  • Mykonos, at 628 Dodecanese Blvd., in Tarpon Springs, across from the sponge docks. Go for wonderful, authentic Greek specialties; (727) 934-4306. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Rusty Bellies and Mykonos have free parking, a real plus in Tarpon Springs. The town has many other restaurants, not all Greek. Search for “Tarpon Springs restaurants” on the Web.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published July 31, 2019

An island oasis, a day-trip away

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Maybe because it’s an island.

Or, maybe because it’s close to home, but feels so far away.

Or, maybe because Anna Maria Island lulls you with its watery beauty and makes you forget the world outside.

Maybe, for all these reasons, this island is an ideal place for a day-trip.

Anna Maria City Pier, looming out into Tampa Bay, can be seen from this spot in Bayfront Park, a popular place to set up umbrellas and stroll the beach. (Karen Haymon Long)

For years, Tampa families have escaped to their second homes on the island on weekends just to get away. Most were nothing fancy, white cottages an easy stroll from long stretches of sandy beaches. If they got up early enough, they might be the only ones on the beach for miles.

Some modest cottages and little houses are still there. But, more and more have been torn down and replaced by much larger homes on the water, more often owned by out-of-staters than by Tampa Bay area locals. Many new and old homes are now vacation rentals, which gives the island a more transient feeling than ever before.

That didn’t hurt the vibe, though, on our recent day visit to Anna Maria, the northernmost of the three cities on the island. (The others are Bradenton Beach to the south and Holmes Beach in the middle).

It was enjoyable to watch other tourists like ourselves fishing and sitting on the city pier, riding bikes down the middle of South Bay Boulevard, or lining up for a first-come, first-served lunch at the popular Waterfront Restaurant & Craft Bar.

The Waterfront Restaurant & Craft Bar offers indoor and outdoor dining with water views.

Before noon, retirement-aged couples sat at picnic tables on the city pier chatting and drinking canned beer, while an older man fished from his wheelchair, using shrimp as bait. A little boy in a red baseball cap sat watching a sheriff’s boat with deputies aboard idling beside the pier. A young couple fished under the watchful eyes of hungry pelicans.

On land, groups of families and lots of couples walked the beaches, rode rental bikes up and down narrow, sea grape-lined streets, and ducked in and out of shops.

We enjoyed strolling past homes, some named: “After All,” “Serenity Now,” “Casa del Mar,” “Starfish,” “Three Palms,” “Manatee House …”

A man on a bike wore a T-shirt that said “Island Bum,” an enviable statement on such a pretty day.

No one seemed in a hurry. No one seemed the least bit interested in what was going on in Washington D.C., or anywhere else.

A woman in a little shop called Just Beachy shopped for an Anna Maria Island T-shirt, but sounded conflicted about buying one or not.

Anna Maria, the northernmost town on Anna Maria Island, offers picturesque views of Tampa Bay.

“I don’t want more people to come here,” she said. “I want to keep it our secret.”

“Too late for that,” another woman said. Then they laughed.

The secret’s long been out.

But, Anna Maria still isn’t too crowded to make it stressful on an off-season weekday in May. Weekends, though, are another story.

One of the best things about Anna Maria is that once you park, you don’t really need a car. Water – the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay, the Intracoastal Waterway – are all an easy walk from anywhere inland. If you tire, you can hop on the free trolley, rent a bike or sit a spell in a cozy bar, cafe or ice cream shop.

Or, you can shop in one of the local boutiques or gift shops. I particularly like The White Egret, at 10006 Gulf Drive, specializing in an array of coastal home decor and gifts, and its sister store, The Egret’s Nest, at 10010 Gulf Drive, a high-end women’s and baby boutique.

Both stores have friendly service and attractive gifts hard to find in chain stores. They’re also a fun place to eavesdrop on other visitors.

Anna Maria Pier is a popular place for locals and tourists, alike.

“I wish I could move here,” one young shopper told the sales clerk. “My hair always looks so much fuller and better in this humidity than it does at home.”

When the clerk asked where she lived, she told her, “Orlando,” which sounded funny, considering all of Florida seems so humid and muggy in late spring and summer.

Many visitors head to the beach and stay all day, a smart idea, since it’s sometimes tough to find a parking spot. We drove up and down the beach-side streets and never found a place that didn’t require a local permit. Those who came early got the free, no- permit spots. We figured most people who aren’t staying on the island in one of the houses or at an inn or hotel must go to Holmes or Bradenton beaches to the south that both have large parking lots.

We ended up parking in a free spot near the city pier and walked from there down the pier, then along Bayfront Park, a spit of beach on Tampa Bay. Then, we headed to lunch at The Waterfront Restaurant & Craft Bar, where we sat outside with a view of the bay.

Anna Maria stretches along the Gulf of Mexico, drawing visitors during the day and later for sunsets.

We had been before, and remembered the good food and watery views. This time, I had excellent crab cakes, loaded with lump crab, atop a tropical salad for $15. My husband enjoyed his carnitas, pork braised in orange juice and seasonings, and served on tortillas with cheese, avocado, chimichurri and lime for $12. Another diner raved about her steamed mussels, $12.

It’s such a peaceful setting, with kayakers gliding east and west, with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge as a backdrop. If they time it right, kayakers can paddle to Bean Point Beach to watch the sun set over the Gulf with others gathered there.

Or, they can just paddle around, enjoying the green, tranquil waters of the bay and maybe even see a dolphin or two – all on island time.

Tips for the Trip
How to get there: Anna Maria is in Manatee County. Once over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Interstate 275 South, take U.S. 19 south to south Tamiami Trail. Go left (south) on the trail, then go right (west) on State Road 64. When that dead ends at the beach, turn right on Gulf Drive, which leads to Anna Maria.

Where to eat: We liked The Waterfront Restaurant & Craft Bar, at 111 South Bay Blvd., that offers indoor and outdoor seating and a dark-wood bar that serves 13 craft cocktails. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Visit TheWaterfrontRestaurant.net or call (941) 778-1515.

We’ve also enjoyed eating at The Sandbar Restaurant, at 100 Spring Ave., on the Gulf of Mexico, a wonderful place for sunsets and grouper sandwiches. Call (941) 778-0444.

Anna Maria has many other restaurants, cafes and bars as well. Find them, along with places to rent kayaks and paddleboards, at AnnaMariaIslandChamber.org.

Where to stay: If you want to stay overnight on the island, there are lots of options – from homes to inns, motels and resorts. For listings, see VisitAnnaMaria.com.

Fun fact: According to legend, Anna Maria Island was named by a Spanish explorer for the Virgin Mary and her mother, Ann.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published August 9, 2017

Keeping safe, when a hurricane threatens

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Hurricane Season 2017 is underway, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has shored up its ability to respond to the potential for deadly storms.

Within the past few months, Sheriff Chris Nocco has created an Emergency Management Division and has appointed two seasoned war veterans to top leadership positions.

Nocco named George McDonald as chief of the Joint Operations Bureau of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and Jared Hill as director of Emergency Operations.

Storm surge causes the greatest damage during a hurricane. The rising water can destroy piers, erode beaches, flood properties and make areas impassable. (File)

McDonald is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel and has served in a variety of command, staff and leadership positions throughout his career.

The bureau — which encompasses Emergency Operations, Special Operations and Communications — oversees areas that directly connect to the county during critical situations.

It’s also responsible for training law enforcement and civilians within the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.

Hill, a retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel, served as the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) adjutant and the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan assistant operations officer, among other assignments.

The pair’s military background should bode well if catastrophic events arise, whether it’s a hurricane or another disaster.

“Critical to the sheriff was the (agency’s) response to emergencies within the county, and what he wanted to do was bring in people who have been through different types of emergencies, and key to that was veterans,” McDonald said, during a recent press conference on hurricane preparedness.

Nearly a quarter of the agency has veteran experience, but McDonald insists it’s not about militarizing law enforcement.

Instead, he said, it’s about “using the experience we (veterans) had from our overseas deployment, not only in wartime, but in peacetime.”

This includes tactical skills, and the ability to task-organize in critical, high-pressure situations.

“We all served in combat zones, we’ve operated in stressful environments, and we were at ease working in an environment like that, and I think that’s a proven quality that the sheriff was looking for,” McDonald said.

The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.

If you live in an area that needs to evacuate, it’s good to know the evacuation route you’ll be taking. (File)

Hurricane experts say October is the most likely time for Florida to be hit with a tropical storm, due to the build up of energy in the atmosphere, accumulated through the summer months.

Last September, Hurricane Hermine was the first hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Hurricane Wilma in 2005, and the first to develop in the Gulf of Mexico since Hurricane Ingrid in 2013.

Hermine developed in the Florida Straits in August, and later spread to the Tampa Bay region.

Damage estimates from the storm exceeded $111 million in Pasco County alone.

In Pasco County, seven homes were destroyed and 305 homes sustained major damage.

Additionally, 796 homes were affected by the storm, but didn’t suffer any damage.

In preparation for another major storm, the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Division has been procuring surplus military gear, including high-powered generators, Humvees and portable field kitchens.

According to Hill, the agency is able to obtain the equipment for “pennies on the dollar” through the Law Enforcement Support Office, a subsidiary of the U.S. Department of Defense.

Hill said training and maintenance of the equipment also has been incorporated as part of the agency’s disaster planning process.

The county jail is another asset that can be harnessed during a hurricane by deploying prison labor to install sandbags to reduce potential for flooding in specific areas.

Additionally, nearly 400 volunteers are ready to help at a moment’s notice, via the agency’s Civilian Support Unit.

Each of those resources, Hill said, allows the Pasco Sheriff’s Office to “react a lot faster than most anybody else can within the county.”

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco recently appointed two seasoned war veterans to top leadership positions within the agency’s Emergency Management Division. Jared Hill, left, is the agency’s director of Emergency Operations. George McDonald is chief of the Joint Operations Bureau of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. Both have more than 20 years of military experience. (Kevin Weiss)

“We’re actively on the job everyday, we’re doing as much planning as we can,” Hill said. “Not that any plan is going to be perfect, but we’ve the ability to direct crisis situations and gather forces to help out in any situation.”

Should a hurricane strike, the Sheriff’s Office would work alongside the Pasco County Office of Emergency Management and Pasco County Fire Rescue, among other government agencies

“We’re not doing this unilaterally. We’re tied in to the county’s emergency management,” Hill said.

While wind and water pose dangers during a hurricane, there also are dangers in the aftermath.

County officials recommend avoiding roads covered by water and debris, and staying clear of downed power lines.

It’s also important to realize that water, not wind, is the most hazardous outcome of a tropical storm.

According to the National Hurricane Center, storm surge, rainfall flooding, high surf and deaths just offshore (within 50 nautical miles of the coast) combined for 88 percent of all deaths in the U.S. from hurricanes, tropical storms or tropical depressions from 1963 to 2012.

Other potential dangers can arise, too.

Snakes and other animals sometimes make their way into homes during a storm.

And, floodwaters can contain fecal matter, bacteria and viruses.

Food-safety hazards should be considered, too.

A refrigerator keeps food cold for up to four hours after loss of power, and then perishables should be moved to a cooler with ice.

If in doubt, throw it out.

“You don’t want to survive the storm and die of food poisoning,” Hill said.

Bracing for the storm

  • Prepare your home from wind damage before a storm threatens. Remove loose and damaged limbs from trees. Secure and brace external doors. Board up external windows.
  • Remove items around your home that could act as projectiles in high winds. Such objects include potted plants, barbecue grills, garden gnomes, chairs and garbage cans.
  • Place sand bags around low-lying areas near your house.
  • Well before any major storm hits, be sure to review your insurance. Be sure you have the proper amount of coverage to protect your home, business and belongings.
  • Stock up on hurricane supplies, including flashlights, batteries, self-powered portable lights, waterproof sheeting, a nonelectric food storage cooler, a portable generator and reusable ice.
  • Have personal items readily available. These should include blankets and pillows; hygiene supplies, moisture wipes and toilet paper; waterproof and seasonal clothing; reliable shoes; a first-aid kit and special medications; tools; and, cameras.
  • Protect your documents in a watertight plastic bag or waterproof container.
  • Fill your gas tank and have plenty of cash on hand, in case the storm knocks out power from gas pumps and ATMs.
  • Move your car as far inland as possible and on higher ground, to protect it from possible flooding, but do not park it next to a tree.

Be ready to evacuate, or shelter in place
If you are ordered to evacuate, know the local hurricane evacuation route(s) to take and have a plan for where you can stay.

  • Have a disaster supply kit you can take with you. It should include a flashlight, batteries, cash, required medicine, first aid supplies (kit), 2 gallons to 3 gallons of water per person, documents such as a driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, insurance information and tax documents, a hand-crank or battery-operated radio and a cellphone with a charged battery.
  • If you have a pet, have a plan for it. If you will need to evacuate, know where you can take your pet with you. Be sure to prepare a hurricane kit for your pet, including food, any medicines, toys, a bed and so on.
  • Have a family emergency communication plan. Your loved ones need to know how to contact you before the storm, and especially afterwards, when communication infrastructure may be damaged or overwhelmed.
  • Check on your neighbors to see if they need help.
  • If you are not in an area that is advised to evacuate, and you decide to stay in your home, plan for adequate supplies in case you lose power and water for several days, and you are not able to leave due to flooding or blocked roads. Be sure to have plenty of food. Suggested items include juices, crackers, breakfast and protein bars, canned and dried fruit, peanut butter, bread, canned protein (tuna, chicken, Spam), powdered milk and condiments. Also have on hand disposable utensils, plates and napkins.

During the storm

  • Stay inside and away from windows and doors
  • Close all interior doors
  • Keep curtains and blinds closed
  • Get into a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level
  • Lie under a table or other sturdy objects

Returning home

  • Bring necessities, such as food and water, when you return
  • Keep an eye out for snakes and other animals that may have entered your home during the storm
  • Do not drive down roads covered by water or debris
  • Watch out for downed power lines and stay away from them
  • Avoid skin contact with floodwaters because the water can be carrying all sorts of contaminants such as fecal matter, bacteria and viruses.
  • Wear protective clothing and use proper equipment when cleaning up the mess the storm left behind. Before trimming trees, make sure there are no power lines nearby.
  • Be sure to use plastic sheeting to cover roof damage and/or broken windows, to keep water from entering your home or business.
  • Contact your insurance agent to report any covered damage to your home, apartment or vehicle. Be sure to have detailed photographs, so you can submit them with your claims.
  • Save receipts for all dining, hotel, medical, hygiene and even entertainment. Some of these items may be eligible for reimbursement. Save the receipts from the time you leave your home until you return to stay there.
  • Watch out for scams and unlicensed contractors. Verify the contractor’s business license and insurance. Make sure quotes are in writing.

                                                                      — Compiled by B.C. Manion and Kevin Weiss

Sources: Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Boatsetter, and Tree Care Industry Association.

Published July 26, 2017

Fort De Soto Park: A recreation destination

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The Tampa Bay area has all sorts of places to escape and feel like you’re on vacation without having to drive very far or fly off somewhere.

A fisherman in Mullet Key Bayou in Fort De Soto Park is so intent on his task he doesn’t seem to know that two kayakers are sliding past him. (Karen Haymon Long)

And, when you get company from afar, there’s always someplace wonderful like Fort De Soto Park to take them. Here, all in one place, are a world-class beach, views of both the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, two fishing piers, boat launches, a historic fort, a ferry ride to Egmont Key, nature trails, kayak rentals, picnic shelters and the chance to see dolphins, manatees and more than 300 species of birds.

If you like to camp, the park – Pinellas County’s largest, with 1,136 acres – offers 238 camp sites for tents, pop-ups and RVs.

When my niece, Katie, visited recently from Georgia, we spent the day at the park soaking up sun, touring the fort and its museum, and strolling on Gulf Pier, where we saw five dolphins leaping from green, choppy water.

I had promised she’d see dolphins around the pier, attracted by thousands of tiny bait fish that always seem to be around.

A British rapid-fire rifle, built in 1890, once protected Egmont Key when it was home to Fort Dade and was later moved to Fort De Soto so more people could see it. The fort within Fort De Soto Park is open to the public.

And, there they were, cruising close to the pier and arching out of the water in pairs – perfect for a picture she sent to her mom.

All sorts of fishermen – from regulars with their wheeled carts overflowing with fishing gear to sunburned tourists – try their luck on the 1,000-foot-long pier, so it’s a good place to people watch.

A friendly fisherman, obviously a regular, helped us spot dolphins, while a younger man, who looked like a spring-breaker, hung his rod over the railing, trying hard to catch bait fish clustered under the pier. A cheering section – probably his family – rooted him on.

We saw all sorts of birds that day – seagulls soaring over the pier, pelicans in the bayou fronting the campgrounds, great blue herons and snowy egrets keeping watch at the beaches and curlews, which we call “chickens,” pecking around the camping and picnic grounds.

At the campground, we watched a man fishing in Mullet Key Bayou, water up to his thighs, oblivious to kayakers slipping silently behind him. Many sites line the bayou, with open views of water. We liked the fact that tents – which we prefer – and smaller pop-ups have their own area, separate from spots that allow RVs, which are known to run noisy generators, even at night.

Campers with dogs have yet another area – far from campers who prefer to travel without pets. The opposite was true at Jonathan Dickinson State Park on the east coast when we visited recently. Giant RVs overshadowed tiny tents and lots of campers had dogs in the campground we saw.

The Gulf Pier in Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County is a great place to fish, and to see dolphins and freighters heading out into the Gulf of Mexico. In the background is Egmont Key and its lighthouse. A ferry from the park goes out to Egmont Key.

Fort De Soto’s campsites also offer lots more shade: most are nestled among trees that provide a natural barrier between sites. Bathhouses – some recently updated – were clean on our visit. A camp store sells everything from food to camping supplies and Florida souvenirs.

And, it’s a bargain to camp there at right around $40 a night for tent or RV.

A walking, biking trail leads to the boat launch area, with 11 floating docks, where we saw kayakers heading out for a ride. The trail also goes to the beach, and to the Gulf and Bay piers, the fort, picnic areas and shelters, and to a concession/snack bar/souvenir shop next to the fort.

After checking it out, we decided to eat there, since it would have taken too much time away from the park to drive to eat lunch somewhere else. We were happily surprised to find that the food was very good – fresh and cooked right there by a short-order cook. And, the price was good, under $10, for an excellent Caesar salad with grilled chicken. We ate at picnic tables just outside the concession with mostly British tourists on holiday.

It was an easy stroll to the fort, built in the late 1800s to protect the Tampa Bay area during the Spanish-American War. We walked around the remaining fortifications and studied the two British rapid-fire rifles built in 1890 that once protected Egmont Key, when it was home to Fort Dade and later moved to Fort De Soto so more people could see them.

Many campsites at Fort DeSoto Park face Mullet Key Bayou, making them perfect for launching kayaks. Some campers head out just before sunset to watch the sun go down and the sky light up.

And, we checked out the last four 12-inch M 1890-MI mortars remaining in North America. The only others are in the Philippines. Surprisingly, very little signage – or historical information – is available at the fort. But, we later discovered a free history museum that offers all sorts of information about the fort in a building next to the Gulf Pier’s parking lot.

A park brochure online at PinellasCounty.org (select Fort De Soto Park) also features a historic walking tour of the fort with pictures and lots of good information.

It’s best to go the museum, or check out the brochure, before visiting the fort. We wish we had.

The park’s beach is among the best in the country, with powdery white sand, and on weekdays there are large areas with few people.

Fort De Soto Park – Pinellas County’s largest park – boasts one of America’s best beaches. It’s not even overcrowded on some weekdays.

The beach deserves its accolades. Stephen Leatherman, known as Dr. Beach, crowned Fort De Soto’s beach as No. 1 in the nation in 2008 and as one of America’s best in 2005. (He never picks the same beach for the top spot more than once). And, Trip Advisor, the popular online travel site, picked it as the nation’s top beach in 2009.

Two designated swim centers – East Beach and North Beach – have plenty of parking, picnic shelters, restrooms, showers and playgrounds. A dog beach area is between the Gulf and Bay piers.

On the beach, a warm breeze blew softly and white billowy clouds danced across a clear blue sky. Sea oats sprung from the sand and kids played under royal blue beach umbrellas. It was a picture postcard day in Florida.

We had one more nice surprise before heading home. We drove south along the beach, past the giant American flag near the park entrance station, and at the end of the road saw kite-boarders soaring above the water, their colorful kites against the sky with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge looming behind them.

It was windy, the perfect day to fly. And, their pleasure was ours.

TIPS FOR THE TRIP
How to get there: Fort De Soto Park is at 3500 Pinellas Bayway South in Tierra Verde. From St. Petersburg, take I-275 south, then exit 17 onto Pinellas Bayway/FL 682 west. After 3 miles, turn left onto Pinellas Bayway (FL 679). Go 6.6 miles to the park. Park entrance is $5.

For information on the park, maps, camping and picnic shelter reservations, see PinellasCounty.org/parks, and choose Fort De Soto Park. For reservations for the ferry to Egmont Key, call (727) 398-6577.

Where to eat: We liked the concession snack shop next to the fort in the park. On another visit, we enjoyed lunch close to the park at the Island Grille & Raw Bar, 210 Madonna Blvd., Tierra Verde. It has good seafood, friendly service and a signature marlin mounted over the entrance.

See IslandRawBar.com.

Fun fact: The park stretches over five keys: Mullet Key, St. Jean Key, St. Christopher Key, Madelaine Key and Bonne Fortune Key.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published June 21, 2017

Mariano to BP: Settle oil spill lawsuit

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Jack Mariano has one thing to say to BP: Enough is enough.

In a letter addressed to the British petroleum conglomerate, the Pasco County Commission chairman is urging company officials to drop its appeal of a potentially $18 billion verdict in a federal Clean Water Act lawsuit. Instead, Mariano pled BP to finalize claims from Pasco businesses, and allow all involved to finally move forward.

“The Tampa Bay region and Pasco County cannot afford a further delay in its recovery efforts,” Mariano wrote. “BP’s decision to appeal the ruling, and thus continue to delay the outcome of the trial, will result in yet another time delay in correcting and addressing the damage that occurred because of the spill.”

The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana on April 20, 2010. Oil continued to spill into the water for nearly three months, in what the government estimated was 4.9 million barrels making its way into the ecosystem before the well was officially sealed in September 2010.

BP reportedly settled billions of dollars worth of claims, including $6.6 million worth in Pasco, according to The Legal Examiner. However, that’s just based on nearly 70 claims while a total of more than 1,100 exist in the county, demanding $105 million.

BP did not return a request by The Laker/Lutz News for comment, but released a statement last month saying it disagreed with the court decision that the company was grossly negligent for what happened on the Deepwater Horizon, and that evidence at the trial did not support the judge’s conclusion.

“The law is clear that proving gross negligence is a very high bar that was not met in this case,” BP said in its statement. “BP believes that an impartial view of the record does not support the erroneous conclusion reached by the district court.”

In the meantime, people and wildlife that call the Gulf home continue to suffer from the spill, Mariano said. He cited a University of South Florida study that found “injurious fish skin lesions” on animal life, which he said resulted from the spill.

“For a region that relies on its natural resources to help drive its tourism industry, such delays can have disastrous effects for us in the Tampa Bay region,” he said.

Plunging gas prices take a breather

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Notice gas going up at your favorite fill-up station? Don’t worry, it’s happening everywhere.

Maintenance at refineries along the Gulf of Mexico created a spike in gas prices this past week, pushing the cost of a gallon of gas up nearly a dime in one night Wednesday in some places around the state. But it did calm down elsewhere, and Florida reported an average of a 2-cent rise since last Sunday.

“Last week was a temporary setback in what should otherwise be a month of falling as prices,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins, in a release. “In October, refineries reduce output to conduct maintenance on their systems. They choose this month because fewer people are driving, and demand for gasoline is lower. However, there are more refineries along the Gulf coast doing maintenance compared to last year, and that put a temporary strain on supplies, causing prices to rise.”

However, that maintenance work should be done within the next week or so, Jenkins said, and that should cause gas prices to drop 20 cents by Thanksgiving.

If it weren’t for the maintenance work, gas prices would be at the lowest levels in a long time. The price of a barrel of oil settled at $89.74 last week, the first time it’s closed below $90 since April 2013. The United States remains the lead oil producer in the world because of the shale boom, and domestic crude production is at its highest level since March 1986, according to a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Gas prices in Florida averaged $3.31 Sunday, up 2 cents from last week but still down 5 cents from a month ago. It’s even with prices from a year ago.

Marathon had the lowest gas prices in the Land O’ Lakes area Sunday, charging $3.17 at its station on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and Ehren Cutoff. The highest was $3.29 at the Shell station on State Road 54 and State Road 56, according to GasBuddy.

However, prices were much better in Wesley Chapel, with $3.09 reported at the Marathon station at Wesley Chapel Boulevard near Magnolia Boulevard, and at the Shell station on County Road 54 and Oakley Boulevard. Prices peaked at $3.29 at two stations Willow Oaks Drive and State Road 56.

Gas prices in Lutz ranged from $3.19 at Citgo on North Dale Mabry Highway and Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, to $3.34 at the Shell station at Dale Mabry and Van Dyke Road.

Prices in Zephyrhills were pretty uniform, with several stations reporting gas at $3.22 or $3.23 over the weekend, according to GasBuddy. The 7-Eleven on Fifth Avenue had the highest-priced gas, but it’s $3.29 was not that far above everyone else.

Dade City was a little cheaper with $3.19 reported at Clark on U.S. 301 near Long Avenue, and at Sunoco on U.S. 301 near Jordan Road. The most expensive there was $3.29 at two stations not far from downtown.

 

Gas higher for summer, but not for long term

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Drivers probably were not happy to see gas prices jumping up just ahead of the Labor Day holiday, as they typically do when demand is higher, but they should be happy that it was still the cheapest Labor Day weekend gas in four years.

More than 29.7 million families gassed yup for a road trip on the weekend, according to AAA, with average prices nearly 19 cents cheaper than last year in Florida.

“There’s no doubt that low gas prices helped convince many Americans, who were on the fence about traveling, to take a trip during the holiday weekend,” said Mark Jenkins, a AAA spokesman, in a release. “Prices may get even cheaper in the coming months.”

That will come because of a mixture of higher domestic production in the fall, and lower demand, Jenkins said. In fact, he is expecting to see gas prices fall to below $3 a gallon before the end of the year. However, things that could spoil that would be refinery outages, or a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.

Barrels of oil were trading at $97.88 at the beginning of August, but finished the month at $93.86, helping to push the national average gasoline pieces down 9 cents. That included a 6-cent drop in Florida, as well as 8 cents in Georgia and 7 cents in Tennessee.

Right now, Florida is averaging $3.37 per gallon, 3 cents more than last week, but down a nickel from a month ago.

As of Monday, the cheapest gas in Land O’ Lakes, according to GasBuddy.com, was at the Mobil station at State Road 52 near the Suncoast Parkway, where regular unleaded was listed at $3.19. The most expensive was at a Shell station on the corner of State Roads 54 and 56, with a price of $3.37.

In Wesley Chapel, gas prices ranged from $3.18 at Sam’s Club on State Road 56 near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, to $3.38 at a Shell station at State Road 54 and Oakley Boulevard. Lutz saw prices as low as $3.26 at a Sunoco in State Road 54 and Collier Parkway, and as high as $3.39 at the Shell station at Van Dyke Road and Lakeshore Drive.

The cheapest gas in Zephyrhills as of Monday was at the Marathon at Eiland Boulevard and Geiger Road at a cost of $3.25. The most expensive was reported at Citgo at Wire and Otis Allen roads at $3.40. Dade City gas prices ranged from $3.26 at the RaceWay at U.S. 301 and McDonald Road, to a cash price of $3.39 at the BP station on U.S. 98 Bypass and Church Street.

 

Gas prices hit 4-year low

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Does the cost of gas seem cheaper than usual? It should, because drivers haven’t experienced prices like these since 2010.

Back then, gas was $2.74 per gallon, according to AAA. Within a year, it would jump nearly 80 cents, and climb even higher in 2011.

Yet, the national average of $3.50 set over the weekend not only is 3 cents cheaper than last week, but the lowest it’s been since those prices started to climb in August 2010.

“Typically, gasoline prices fluctuate in July and August, but for the most part, prices have steadily declined,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins, in a release. “Oil prices decreased dramatically this week, so there’s no reason gas prices should go up any time soon. In fact, if these conditions continue, prices could eventually slip below $3 a gallon by the end of the year.”

Of course, there are always events that can get in the way of such an occurrence, like refinery outages, spikes in oil prices, and merely the threat of a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, Jenkins said.

The price of a barrel of oil dropped $4.21 in just a week to $97.88 — the biggest weekly decline in seven months, and the lowest since February. Refineries are running at record levels, and there is more than enough gasoline in the market, which has helped bring down prices despite multiple overseas conflicts, AAA said.

Florida’s gas is at $3.41, down a nickel from last week, and at its lowest point since February. Just a month ago, gas in the state was at $3.61. Last year at this time, drivers were paying $3.58 at the pump on average.

As of last Sunday, gas prices in the Land O’ Lakes and Lutz area ranged from $3.21 to $3.49, according to GasBuddy.com, with the cheapest found at Lutz Petroleum on U.S. 41. The cheapest gas in the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area was $3.22 at Sam’s Club on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, with high prices around $3.47.

In the Zephyrhills area, gas cost between $3.37 and $3.42, the cheapest found at the Marathon station on Eiland Boulevard. However, drivers willing to go a little further for cheaper gas could find it at $3.31 at the Shell station on the corner of Cortez Boulevard and U.S. 301.