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Hudson

Why Live In An Apartment When You Can Live Affordably At Club Wildwood

September 29, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Older adults in central and east Pasco county are discovering the charming manufactured home community of Club Wildwood in Hudson, which boasts affordable homes, first-class amenities and a five-minute drive to the beach.

Club Wildwood is the largest retirement community in north Pasco County, with close to 500 homes. Living in a large community means there is always someone to share things with, including swimming in the resort-style heated pool, taking your pup to the friendly dog park, enjoying crafts and potluck dinners at the clubhouse, and even fishing in a well-stocked lake. Residents are friendly and welcome newcomers to the community’s many clubs and activities.

Currently, five re-sale homes are available in Club Wildwood, priced from $29,900 to $48,000. New homes, which begin in the low $90s, also are available for sale or lease. All homes are double-wide with two or three bedrooms, two baths, and an attached carport and storage area.

Most re-sale homes have been updated with the latest designs and flooring, and are a tremendous value for a single-family home in terms of cost, amenities and location.

For folks moving from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Wesley Chapel, living at Club Wildwood costs less than renting an apartment. 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.

Club Wildwood’s location on U.S. 19 gives residents quick access to major roadways, shopping and dining, and area attractions. In addition to its Olympic-size heated pool, amenities include a picnic area, shuffleboard courts, a bocce ball court and horseshoe pits. A spacious clubhouse is currently being remodeled, and boasts a full kitchen and large meeting room, small library, pool tables, fitness room and card tables.

Regular activities include 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.

Make Club Wildwood your next home by contacting Community Manager Sean Terris for a private tour at (866) 799-6706 or .

Published September 30, 2020

Filed Under: Home Section Tagged With: Club Wildwood, Hudson

Our Residents Loving Living At Club Wildwood

August 25, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

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 August 26, 2020

Filed Under: Home Section Tagged With: Club Wildwood, Gulf of Mexico, Hudson, Red Hat Society, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, U.S. 19

Our Residents Loving Living At Club Wildwood

July 28, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

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

Filed Under: Home Section, Sponsored Content Tagged With: Club Wildwood, Gulf of Mexico, Hudson, Red Hat Society, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Sean Terris, U.S. 19

New Manufactured Homes At Shadow Wood Village

June 23, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

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 mid $90s, 18 out of 20 inventory homes have been sold. There are just two homes left, and these are expected to sell quickly to those age 55 years and older.  More homes are expected in mid-July and will be ready in a few months.

The community’s new homes are spacious — up to 1,456 square feet — and boast front porches, great rooms for living and dining, two bedrooms with a 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 the refrigerator.

Every home has an inviting front porch; one of the new models coming in has a full front porch.  A covered carport with a large, secure storage area, and steps leading from the driveway to the back of the home, is convenient for unloading groceries and provides easy access to the laundry area.

There is a very exciting lease-to-purchase plan that comes with each home when you decide to rent it. These are 12-month leases with a variety of rent incentives.  If you want to buy a new home now, or rent one, Shadow Wood has the perfect home for you.

Shadow Wood Village offers residents an array of amenities, including a heated pool.

Call Community Manager Pennye Rose for more information at (877) 360-1124, or email .

Published June 24, 2020

Filed Under: Home Section Tagged With: Hudson, Shadow Wood Village

New Manufactured Homes At Shadow Wood Village

May 26, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

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

Filed Under: Home Section Tagged With: Gulf of Mexico, Hudson, Pennye Roses, Shadow Wood Village

Why Live at Club Wildwood?

May 26, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Adults age 55-plus are discovering Club Wildwood in Hudson as a perfect community to live because of  its beautiful manufactured homes, first-class amenities (including an 85,000-gallon pool), and fabulous location just 30 minutes from Land O’ Lakes and 5 minutes from the beach.

At 478 homes, Club Wildwood is the largest retirement community in north Pasco County.  With so many residents, there is always something going on for folks 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 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 Land O’ Lakes and Lutz, which are just 30 minutes away, because living at Club Wildwood with all its fabulous lifestyle costs less than renting an apartment, and its location on U.S. 19 makes it easy to get to work and close to so many things to do.

Call Community Manager Sean Terris for more information at (866) 799-6707, or email .

Published May 27, 2020

Filed Under: Home Section Tagged With: Club Wildwood, Hudson, Sean Terris, U.S. 19

Tourism to keep booming in Pasco County, officials say

November 6, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

Tourism is booming in Pasco County — which reported nearly a million visitors last year.

And, the best may be yet to come, according to a presentation by county tourism officials Adam Thomas and Kolby Kucyk Gayson, during a recent Dade City Commission meeting.

The county now brands itself as “Florida’s Sports Coast,” with the tagline, “Let’s Play,” in its tourism pitches. Previously, it used the slogan “Visit Pasco. Open Spaces. Vibrant Places.”

Tree Hoppers Aerial Adventure Park, in Dade City, gives people of all ability levels the chance to experience a ropes course and ziplining. Tree Hoppers is one of Pasco County’s top tourist draws. (File)

It changed its brand in March to highlight the county’s growing list of recreational sports venues and outdoor activities.

“We were in dire need of a rebrand as a destination,” said Gayson, communications manager for Florida’s Sports Coast. “We needed our own identity within the Florida tourism market.”

Now, word is spreading about Pasco County in tourism circles regionally, nationally and even internationally, said Thomas, the county’s tourism director.

“In the past six, seven months, we’ve created some strong destination awareness, so the buzz is starting to get out there about the Sports Coast,” he said.

Thomas expects a noticeable uptick in activity once the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex of Pasco County comes online in July 2020 and begins booking events for 2021. The $44 million, 98,000-square-foot indoor space in Wesley Chapel will primarily accommodate basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, dance and gymnastics events.

“We’re thinking on a global scale for that facility,” Thomas said.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind facility,” he said, noting no other facility in the Southeast compares to it.

“We’re offering something that’s unique that people are going to travel around the state to come experience,” Thomas said.

The $44 million Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex is expect to draw tourists from across the country, and even internationally, after it opens next year. (Courtesy of RADD Sports)

The sports complex will ultimately benefit each surrounding community in Pasco, the tourism director explained.

That’s because, he said, there’ll be opportunities for marketing partnerships with local chambers and merchant’s associations, encouraging visitors to make trips to Dade City, Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and so on.

He put it like this: “The longer (tourists) stay here, the more money they spend. The more money they spend, the greater the economy gets.”

During the presentation, Thomas shared various tourism facts and figures from the past year.

There were 965,000 visitors to Pasco, booking 1.23 million hotel room nights in 2018, he said.

That generated roughly $57.5 million in sales tax for the county.

A group of skydivers enter a plane which they will jump from at Skydive City in Zephyrhills. Skydive City is one of Pasco County’s top tourist attractions. (File)

The economic impact generated an estimated $194 in tax savings for each Pasco household, Thomas added.

Additionally, tourism supports about 7,500 jobs each year, at hotels, restaurants, attractions and other businesses, he said.

That represents 13 percent of all jobs in the county, he said.

The tourism agency’s “bread and butter” is youth and amateur sports tourism. The next most popular categories are leisure and adventure travelers for activities including biking, fishing, boating, ziplining and so on.

He pointed out the county’s top tourist attractions annually, in order, are:

  • Skydive City in Zephyrhills
  • Giraffe Ranch in Dade City
  • Lift Adventure Park in Hudson
  • TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park in Dade City
  • Anclote Key Preserve State Park in West Pasco
  • Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park in West Pasco

He described adventure attractions as “where the rubber meets the road in pulling the entire 742 square miles of a destination together under one umbrella to call ourselves Florida’s Sports Coast.”

In addition to sports and outdoor recreation, Thomas said a greater focus is being placed on soliciting social, military, education, religious, fraternal groups, as well as business travelers, conventions and corporate retreats.

They’re doing that by leveraging meeting space that’s available at various hotels, golf clubs and local colleges.

“Those are the niche marketing segments or niche influencers that we’re trying to partner with and cater to,” Thomas said.

The bulk of the county’s visitors come from other areas of Florida and the Southeast region, followed by the Northeast and Midwest, he said.

But, he noted, there’s a growing number of international tourists. They made up 9% of all travelers to the area in 2018.

Pasco’s top international market is Canada, Thomas said. They mainly visit between January and April and their primary interests lie in outdoor activities, particularly cycling.

Meanwhile, as tourism grows, Thomas’ department is growing, too.

The agency has six staff members, including Thomas, but also is hiring a corporate tourism sales manager and a digital media producer, he said.

Published November 06, 2019

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Adam Thomas, Anclote Key Preserve State Park, Dade City, Dade City Commission, Florida tourism, Florida's Sports Coast, Giraffe Ranch, Hudson, Kolby Kucyk Gayson, Lift Adventure Park, Skydive City, Treehoppers Aerial Adventure Park, Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex, Zephyrhills

Collecting litter to help keep Pasco clean

September 25, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

About 340 volunteers fanned out across Land O’ Lakes to pick up litter and trash along the area’s roads, public lands and waterways.

In their first year volunteering for the Coastal Cleanup event, the Dana family, from Wesley Chapel, work together to pick up trash that was discarded along Collier Parkway, north of Hale Road. From left: 7-year-old Peyton, Cliff, 10-year-old Ethan, and Lydia. (Christine Holtzman)

They were among the thousands who took part in Pasco County, as part of the annual International Coastal Cleanup event on Sept. 21.

Volunteers in Dade City, Lacoochee, New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson and Holiday also joined in the efforts that were organized by Pasco County and the not-for-profit environmental organization, Keep Pasco Beautiful.

Those pitching in on the Land O’ Lakes effort met around 8 a.m., at the community center at Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., to pick up gloves, trash bags, safety vests and bottles of water.

Event sponsors paid for the supplies, and volunteers who had registered received a keepsake bag and an event T-shirt.

Some of the volunteers have been helping out for decades, including 84-year-old Gloria Dale, of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, who worked at the registration table. She’s been pitching in for 26 years.

Eleven-year old Olivia O’Malley, of Land O’ Lakes, holds a trash bag open, as her father, Michael, throws away a decaying trash bag that was found on the side of Parkway Boulevard. O’Malley, a member of Boy Scouts Troop 34, and her dad also found a piece of a car bumper earlier in the morning.

Lottie Kelley, another longtime volunteer, has helped for 24 years.

She works for Covanta, one of the event sponsors, and was the Land O’ Lakes site captain.

Helping to keep Pasco clean and green is what makes the event important, Kelley said.

“Litter is very unsightly, and it’s not good for the county,” Kelley said.

Besides being unattractive, roadway trash can be dangerous for wildlife, she said.

“We need to keep the litter off the roadways, so the animals don’t eat it. They can end up being in a terrible situation,” Kelley said.

She said this year’s effort focused on roadways in Land O’ Lakes, including Ehren Cutoff, Collier Parkway, Parkway Boulevard, Hale Road, Bell Lake Road and Carson Drive.

Boy Scout troops 33 and 34, and Cub Scout Pack 33 from Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Land O’ Lakes,  collected trash along large stretches of Collier Parkway and Parkway Boulevard.

Twelve-year-old Wesley Swank, of Land O’ Lakes, emerges from the bushes with a large Styrofoam cup, that was discarded along Parkway Blvd, near Paw Place. Swank is a member of Boy Scout Troop 33, which is based out of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Land O’ Lakes.

The troops have been participating in this event for approximately 15 years and, over the years, have picked up all sorts of items, including a glass table, a microwave, beer bottles and even a device that looked like a pipe bomb.

The idea is to remove every piece of trash discarded on the roadways to prevent it from ending up in waterways, and eventually into oceans.

As each piece trash is picked up, it is recorded on sheets, or on a downloadable app provided by the nonprofit organization Ocean Conservancy.

The ocean-advocacy group is on a mission to tackle the greatest global challenges facing the ocean.

By recording the types of trash and the amounts, the group can establish a snapshot and a state-by-state index of the problem of marine debris.

Last year, 1,823 volunteers picked up 11.94 tons of trash throughout Pasco County, according to the Keep Pasco Beautiful website.

Published September 25, 2019

Five-year-old Aliya Goodwin, of Lutz, left, and 9-year-old Caleb MacKenzie, also of Lutz, take a break from picking up trash, and sit on the bumper of an SUV. The kids were volunteering their time by collecting trash along Parkway Boulevard in Land O’ Lakes with Cub Scout Pack 33.
Seven-year-old Brendan Pratt, of Land O’ Lakes, left, and his father, Michael, stand on the corner of Parkway Boulevard and Collier Parkway. To stay hydrated, Brendan is drinking water from a hose, that is connected to the backpack full of water that he is wearing.
Cub Scout Pack 33, based out of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Land O’ Lakes, picks up trash along Parkway Boulevard, near the corner of Collier Parkway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Land O' Lakes News, Local News Tagged With: Bell Lake Road, Boy Scout Troop 33, Boy Scout Troop 34, Carson Drive, Collier Parkway, Covanta, Cub Scouts Pack 33, Dade City, Ehren Cutoff, GFWC Lutz-Land O' Lakes Woman's Club, Gloria Dale, Hale Road, Heritage Park, Holiday, Hudson, International Coastal Cleanup, Keep Pasco Beautiful, Lacoochee, Land O' Lakes, Land O' Lakes Blvd., Lottie Kelley, New Port Richey, Ocean Conservancy, Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Parkway Boulevard, Pasco, Pasco County

Pasco County hosts Disaster Expo to help residents

June 5, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

Pasco County marked the beginning of this year’s hurricane season with an expo aimed at helping residents better prepare for potential disasters.

The county’s 2019 Disaster Expo, held at the Veterans Memorial Park in Hudson, gave those attending a chance to learn about myriad ways to better protect themselves, if a disaster should strike.

Tim Exline of the Pasco County Health Department explains necessary storm precautions to New Port Richey resident Natalie Griffin. The health department was among a host of booths at the June 1 Disaster Expo, preparing residents for potential storms. (Brian Fernandes)

Participants at the June 1 event included the Pasco County Health Department, Pasco County Fire Rescue, the county’s Emergency Management team and other groups, such Home Depot and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

Judith Tear, a wildlife mitigation specialist for the Florida Forest Service, focused on educating residents about steps they can take to protect their homes from the danger of wildfires.

She encourages residents to trim trees near their homes, especially trees that have branches that hang over roofs.

When a fire is spreading, tree limbs hanging over a home can allow the fire to endanger the residence, she said.

Her organization also works in conjunction with Pasco County’s Emergency Management team and Pasco County Fire Rescue to predict the effects of harsh weather conditions, especially with summer humidity.

“Florida Forest Service is a state agency, and we work closely with our community partners,” the specialist said. “If we find that we’re getting too dry, we look at our drought index and how many days since rain.”

Depending on how dire the circumstances look, the county can place a burn ban, which it did in 2017.

The Florida Forest Service also collaborates with the Emergency Management team to issue reverse 911 calls to those living in target areas of a fire.

Along with the Florida Highway Patrol, they help post consistent alerts on digital message boards on the highway.

And, with special occasions, such as July 4, on the way, Tear strongly advises residents to avoid fueling fires with gasoline because it makes them harder to put out.

To keep documents safe, in the event of a fire, Tear said you either need to place them in a fire safe, or keep them off site.

She also suggests scanning documents and saving them on a flash drive, as a backup.

Andy Fossa, director of Pasco County’s Emergency Management, encourages residents to have generators handy in case the power goes out.

Attendees crowded inside the Veterans Memorial Park to learn about safety tips in preparing for the hurricane season. The 2019 Disaster Expo on June 1 featured various Pasco County and independent organizations.

Fossa also emphasized the importance of using generators safely.

To avoid posing a risk to utility workers, it is important to have a generator with an automatic transfer switch, which will turn off the generator once the home’s power goes back on.

If a generator is still running when the power goes back on, a utility worker could get electrocuted, or explosions can occur within the home, he said.

Fossa said a common mistake people make is operating their generator within the home, which can lead to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.

He recommends keeping generators outdoors and well anchored to the ground.

Residents also should be careful when they are using candles. They should not be left unattended, and they should be placed somewhere stable, so they won’t tip over.

Candles should not be left burning overnight, when everyone is asleep, he said.

Fossa also urged taking precautions to avoid become overheated.

He said unless you are not able to leave, staying home during a power outage should be a last resort.

He recommends staying with family or friends, or at a hotel, if possible.

There are also local shelters available, he said.

“Dependent on where the storm is coming from, we have the ability to open certain shelters,” the director noted. “As we see population growing, we’re very proactive. We’ll go ahead and get another shelter ready to go.”

Fossa said it’s also important to heed evacuation warnings.

In some cases, residents become stranded by flooding.

When that happens, Fossa said, it is best to stay put and wait for assistance.

In the aftermath of a storm, Pasco County Human Services and the Red Cross will go out into neighborhoods to assess the needs of residents.

For those displaced from their homes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can provide temporary housing – even hotels rooms for up to 90 days.

In sustaining a home for harsh weather, Fossa suggests protecting windows with shutters or plywood, or installing missile-proof windows.

“Some insurance companies actually give a break when you storm-harden your house,” he added.

Residents should have a go-kit they can take with them, if they leave their homes, Fossa said.

“If they decide they’re going to leave, they need to have a bag to pick up and walk out the door,” Fossa said.

This kit should include medications, hygiene products, flashlights, batteries, nonperishable food, water, plastic utensils, paper towels and other items.

Fossa suggests that residents should start stockpiling weeks in advance of hurricane season – buying nonperishable food in small increments.

Tim Exline of the Pasco County Health Department said residents should have a food supply stocked up to last 10 days to 14 days.

Getting a surplus of prescription medication is a good idea, too.

“Once an (emergency) declaration is made from the governor, you can go to your pharmacy and get up to a 30-day supply,” Exline mentioned.

Some pharmacies will send out prescriptions through the mail for those who cannot make the commute, he added.

Exline stressed that for those coming to a shelter, medication should be kept in its original prescription bottle, so that it can be properly identified by health officials on the premises.

Transportation services are available for all, but especially the disabled with limited mobility.

“If you have no way to get to that shelter, then you can call Pasco County [Emergency Management’s] office and they’ll make arrangements to have someone come pick you up,” Exline pointed out.

For constant alerts and notifications, residents can download the MyPasco app on their phones.

For additional information to prepare for emergencies, visit PascoCountyFL.net/2813/Prepare-For-An-Emergency.

Published June 05, 2019

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: AARP, American Association of Retired Persons, Andy Fossa, Disaster Expo, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Florida Forest Service, Florida Highway Patrol, Home Depot, Hudson, Judith Tear, Pasco County Emergency Management, Pasco County Fire Rescue, Pasco County Health Department, Pasco County Human Services, Red Cross, Tim Exline, Veterans Memorial Park

Pasco lifts ban on dock roofs on freshwater lakes

April 3, 2019 By B.C. Manion

Debate goes on over allowing dock roofs in coastal communities

A longstanding quest to permit roofs on docks on Pasco County’s inland lakes succeeded last week, when the Pasco County Commission voted unanimously to lift the ban.

It remains, uncertain though, whether that same privilege will be extended to owners of waterfront property in coastal communities. The issue will be coming back for additional discussion at a future board workshop.

A look at Bell Lake that has some docks with roofs, which were a part of life in Central Pasco, until they were banned in the county. Now, they’re allowed again on freshwater lakes. The debate continues over whether roofs should be allowed over docks in coastal communities. (File)

Meanwhile, people such as Joe Steffens, who lives on Bell Lake in Land O’ Lakes, can build a roof over his dock.

Steffens, who is in the marine construction business, also will be able to build them for other lakefront property owners, too. He had been forced to work in Hillsborough County because of Pasco’s ban.

The owners of Ukulele Brand’s restaurant, in Land O’ Lakes, also can proceed if they want to replace their waterfront dock without having to worry about whether they can replace the roof.

County Commissioner Mike Moore made the motion to amend the county ordinance to remove the restriction, seconded by Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

“I’ve been in office since 2014,” Moore said, noting that’s pretty much how long he’s been working with people in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes who wanted to put roofs on their docks.

“I have not had one person on a lake in that area say they’re against it, so I would obviously like to see this move forward,”  Moore said.  “It doesn’t impede the neighbors’ views at all.”

But, commissioners are split on whether waterfront property owners in coastal communities should be allowed to put roofs over their docks.

Some waterfront property owners asked commissioners to allow them to have roofs over their docks, to protect their boats.

“Most people have a significant investment that is sitting behind them on their waterfront property and they would like to have a dock to protect their vessel,” said Nicholas Mudry, who lives at 5415 JoBeth Drive in Gulf Landings, in New Port Richey. Some vessels cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, he said.

Jeromy Gamble, 7309 Islander Lane in Sea Pines in Hudson, said he owns Coastline Boatlift Covers.

“Since the beginning of the year, we’ve sold over $100,000 worth of boatlift covers in Pasco County. I’ve got 78 people who want to order boatlift covers, right now. There’s a massive demand.

“People all over Pasco County on the waterfront — fresh and saltwater — want to be able to protect their investments. As new people move into the waterfront communities — both fresh and salt, they’re investing in their dream of living on the water. Part of that is owning a vessel. “We offer a solution that doesn’t block the neighbors’ views. It has a removable top. It does not impede the boatlift whatsoever. It’s a clamp-on design,” he said.

“There are ways to solve this problem, if looked at properly,” he added.

But, Skip Geiger, director of public relations for the Gulf Harbors Civic Association, urged commissioners to keep the prohibition intact.

“Gulf Harbors prohibits covered docks, covered boatlifts and other covered structures on the water,” he said.

“This ordinance was originally passed to ensure that no hazards to navigation are constructed along the canals, that would interfere with the boaters’ view of the canals and docks, and allow a mix of boats, of all sizes, from kayaks to baby yachts to operate and remain clear of each other,” he said.

He told commissioners he doesn’t object to dock roofs on lakes. But, he went on: “What we do have a problem with is slipping in any sort of covered docks in that area again. It’s a safety hazard, it’s an issue not only for views but for safety of residents, and we do not want it.”

Commissioner Starkey, who lives in Gulf Harbors and is also a boat owner, opposes allowing dock roofs in coastal communities.

“We don’t want a roof. My neighbors don’t want a roof. The majority of folks there don’t want a roof. We don’t want our views to be impeded.

“You can put a cover on your boat.

“I do a lot of boating on the East Coast of Florida. Those are very, very expensive boats and there are no roofs,” she said.

County Commissioner Jack Mariano asked County Attorney Jeff Steinsnyder if the county could allow the roofs in some communities, but allow other communities to use deed restrictions to ban them.

Steinsnyder responded: “If you’re going to allow it, you’re going to have to allow it along the entire Gulf front. Your land development regulation needs to treat everybody the same.”

“You can’t carve out neighborhoods that are similar in fashion.”

Ultimately, the board agreed to lift the ban on lakefront properties, and to have a workshop regarding the issue in coastal communities. That workshop is expected in May.

On a related issues, the board approved changes to county regulations that include docks and seawalls in building permit requirements, require maintenances of docks and seawalls; and provides a provision for when the county can make repairs when the condition of the dock or seawall presents a threat to public safety.

Published April 03, 2019

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Bell Lake, Coastline Boatlift Covers, Gulf Harbors Civic Association, Gulf Landings, Hudson, Islander Lane, Jack Mariano, Jeff Steinsnyder, Jeromy Gamble, JoBeth Drive, Joe Steffens, Kathryn Starkey, Land O' Lakes, Lutz, New Port Richey, Nicholas Mudry, Pasco County Commission, Sea Pines, Skip Geiger, Ukulele Brand's Mike Moore

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The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will present “Into the Interstellar Unknown” on Jan. 27 at 6:30 p.m. Natalia Guerreo will present the latest news from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Guerrero works at the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research on the MIT-led NASA TESS Mission. The program is for teens and adults. Registration is through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 01/27/2021 – Into the Interstellar

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