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Land O' Lakes Boulevard

Easter services are evolving, amidst pandemic

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There was so much uncertainty last year about COVID-19 that many churches changed up their Easter celebrations, to reduce potential spread of the disease.

A year later, many churches across the region continue to use a variety of approaches in celebrating Christianity’s most significant holy day.

Last year, for instance, Idlewild Baptist Church, at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz, relied on online services to celebrate Easter. This year, it will be holding a number of in-person services.

The First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes, at 6209 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., livestreamed its Easter service last year. This year, it will have an in-person service.

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, at 2348 Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes, created a more personal touch for its online services last year, by attaching photographs of parishioners on chairs — so officiants could look at them, while saying Mass.

This year, the church will have in-person services — while limiting the size of the crowds.

Last year, Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2018 Riegler Road, in Land O’ Lakes had a drive-in Easter service and it will do that again this year, on April 4 at 10:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, Grace Community Church, at 7107 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel, will switch from the drive-in service it had last year to an in-person worship service on April 4 at 10:30 a.m. After the service, families will be able to take advantage of a photo booth, to pose for their Easter pictures. Last year, families shot selfies in their cars.

AdventHealth Zephyrhills will have its 36th annual Easter Sunrise Service at 7 a.m., on April 4, virtually, via Facebook.com/adventhealthzephyrhills. The event was held virtually last year, too, after decades of conducting the service on the hospital’s lawn.

Meanwhile, across the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Gregory Parkes has kept protocols in place for the nearly 500,000 Catholics in Tampa Bay Area, according to a Diocesan news release.

Those protective measures include social distancing, sanitizing and the use of face coverings.

Church holy water fonts remain empty and collection baskets are not circulated, the news release says.

Bishop Parkes also has kept in place the general dispensation from Sunday Mass at this time.

If you’re interested in attending an Easter service, be sure to check your local church to get the latest details on services. Many places of worship require reservations, so be sure to check soon to reserve your spot.

Published March 31, 2021

New businesses beginning to pop up, along U.S. 41

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The signs sprouting along U.S. 41 — which is also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard — are an indication that new development is beginning to take root, on the main artery through Land O’ Lakes and Lutz.

New restaurants, a car wash and gas stations are coming. A new coffeehouse and meat shop have opened. A medical center and other developments, are planned, too.

None of this is on the same grand scale of the Tampa Premium Outlets or the Cypress Creek Town Center along State Road 56, but something is happening along Land O’ Lakes Boulevard that hasn’t happened in years.

A new restaurant is in planning stages on a site at 4422 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. It briefly was occupied by a restaurant called Mosquito Bar & Grill, and before that, Rapscallions. (Kathy Steele)

New businesses are taking a chance on a long overlooked, heavily traveled highway.

“This is great,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, whose district includes Land O’ Lakes. “As they have begun filling up along State Road 54/56, you’re seeing more happening along U.S. 41.”

Much of the new activity on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard extends from Bell Lake Road north toward State Road 52 and a nearly $50 million highway project that passes through Gowers Corner at U.S. 41.

For sale signs are plentiful, sites have been cleared and construction is underway — conveying a sense that new commercial projects are on the way, or could be coming soon.

A new Circle K gas station and convenience store is in the works at 7767 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., according to county records.

The project is being built by Frontier Building, according to a news release from that company, and the Circle K is expected to open in July.

Redstone Commercial is marketing more open land next to the Circle K.

Zaxby’s and Vortex carwash are planned for a location at U.S. 41 and Wilderness Lake Boulevard, according to posted signs and county records.

A 7-Eleven is anticipated at Bell Lake Road, along with another 7-Eleven at 9077 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., near the Tierra Del Sol subdivision, county records show.

Ps & Qs will be fluffing and styling pets from a new doggie day and boarding facility planned for 7495 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., near the community of Connerton.

Heights Meat Market, a longtime presence in the Tampa neighborhood of Seminole Heights, is operating at a small plaza at 5132 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. It opened in early 2020.

Aroma Joe’s coffeehouse is serving java, breakfast and sandwiches in a shop by the Preserve at Lake Wilderness.

Aroma Joe’s is a new coffeehouse open in a small plaza by the Preserve at Lake Wilderness, off Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

A new restaurant is expected to open at 4422 Land O’ Lakes Blvd, the site previously occupied briefly by Mosquito Bar & Grill and before that by Rapscallions, a popular meeting place.

No details are yet available regarding what the new restaurant will look like, or the type of cuisine it will serve.

The old restaurant structure has fallen into disrepair, after its closure in 2013.

Longtime Land O’ Lakes resident Sandy Graves remembers how popular Rapscallions was, especially among nearby Bell Lake residents.

Graves is pleased to see some new development and redevelopment along Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

“It’s nice to see any kind of progress,” Graves said. “I’d love to see more. It’s nice to see a new restaurant.”

There’s definitely room for improvement, she added, noting there’s still a lot of Land O’ Lakes that looks “stuck in the ’60s.”

Graves looks forward to bicycle trails being built in the future that follow along the old railroad tracks. And the completion of the Ridge Road extension, which will emerge at U.S. 41 across from Connerton, also could help, she said.

“It will be a lot easier going east and west in the county. I think things are looking up for Land O’ Lakes, which extends to the outlet mall.”

Graves sees positive changes along the northern corridor at the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

Frontier Building announced the construction of a Circle K gas station and convenience store, at 7767 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

County officials and officials from Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc., previously have touted potential economic investment in the area that is likely to result from the development of the K9 Tactical Center/Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security, and Tactics, or F.I.R.S.T., and the Adam Kennedy Memorial Forensics Fields, also known as the body farm.

These facilities are expected to attract forensics-related businesses and organizations, as well as national and international visitors to forensics conferences.

Road improvements on a northern segment of U.S. 41, plus substantial improvements along State Road 52, also are expected to support new development efforts.

And, the development of the Angeline community — along with a planned Pasco County campus of Moffitt Research Center — are expected to have a significant economic impact in Land O’ Lakes.

County records show developers are getting ready for what comes once the roadwork is finished.

Five years ago, the Tibbetts family rezoned its property at the southwest corner of Gowers Corner for residential and commercial development. No projects are announced as yet.

On property adjacent to the Tibbetts’ parcels, county records show Sandridge Commercial LLC applied for a “mass grading” permit to level and prep a large swath of land for an unidentified project.

Gowers Corner and U.S. 41 are on the development radar.

Meanwhile, the signs of new development on U.S. 41 are much less obvious south of Bell Lake.

O’Reilly Auto Parts has opened a store at 3600 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., and the Walmart Supercenter, at 1575 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., is opening a fueling station.

Businesses along the southern end of Land O’ Lakes struggle to redevelop properties after a road widening years ago that chopped off frontage, Graves said.

The county may need to consider overlay districts at locations along U.S. 41, to foster redevelopment efforts, she said.

By Kathy Steele

Published March 10, 2021

Pasco board looks to put pause on multifamily

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The Pasco County Commission is considering a temporary pause on multifamily development in the central part of the county.

The board has directed staff to prepare an ordinance that would prohibit new applications for multifamily to be considered in an area bounded by State Road 54/State Road 56 on the south; State Road 52 on the north; U.S. 41 (Land O’ Lakes Boulevard) on the west; and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and on the east.

The moratorium would take effect beginning on the date of the first public hearing — which has not been determined yet.

This 262-unit apartment development is being built off State Road 54, at Oak Grove Boulevard. The Pasco County Commission is pursuing a temporary moratorium on new multifamily development in the central part of Pasco County, to give commissioners a chance to get a better handle on how much of this type of development is already entitled in existing zonings. (B.C. Manion)

The idea is to give county staff time to research the number of existing entitlements for multifamily development and to report back to the board. Once the board has that information, it can decide how to proceed.

Board members voted 3-2 to support pursuing the temporary moratorium.

Commissioners Mike Moore, Christina Fitzpatrick and Jack Mariano voted yes; Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Commission Chairman Ron Oakley voted no.

The vote came after extensive discussion, including analysis of Pasco County’s Class A market demand provided by Lesley Deutch, managing principal with John Burns Real Estate Consulting.

Deutch, who appeared on behalf of land use attorneys Joel Tew and Barbara Wilhite, told commissioners that demand for Class A apartments in Pasco County is expected to grow by about 5,380 over the next five years. She characterized that projection as a “conservative” estimate.

Nectarios Pittos, the county’s planning director, provided a presentation that reviewed the county’s policies regarding multifamily development.

“The compact nature of development requires less infrastructure; it’s less land, and so you are making use of existing infrastructure as much as possible,” Pittos said.

Commissioner Starkey cautioned against becoming too restrictive regarding the development of multifamily housing.

“We need to have some workforce housing,” Starkey said. “I am really getting concerned that we don’t pay enough attention to this part of our society, and they need to be integrated into all of our communities.”

Commissioner Moore said his district is becoming too saturated with multifamily development.

He has repeatedly warned against the long-range potential of having large apartment complexes that become less competitive over time wind up with high vacancy rates and ultimately fall into disrepair.

Commissioner Fitzpatrick has similar concerns.

“What’s going to happen 30 years from now?” Fitzpatrick asked, expressing worries about the prospect for crime.

But, Starkey said multifamily is needed to address today’s demand.

She said young professionals aren’t buying; they want to rent.

Starkey also noted: “There is a rise in trend of apartment dwellers being higher-income brackets.”

Noting that Pasco is an attractive area, Deutch said, “there’s a lot of growth in Pasco. Unless you want it to stop, you  have to have housing.”

Like Starkey, Deutch said that renting has become a much more popular choice than it was in the past.

Chairman Oakley said Deutch’s report was informative.

“I don’t see we’re overrun with apartments,” Oakley said.

But, Moore persisted: “We continue to change zoning on parcels, when we already have the inventory to meet the demand.

“The parcels are there, ready to be developed tomorrow. These guys already have the entitlements,” Moore said.

“Did you look at all of the parcels that have the entitlements for the future, when you did your study?” Moore asked Deutch.

Deutch responded: “No, I did not. That wasn’t part of the study.”

Starkey noted that it can take decades for a property with an entitlement to actually be developed.

Attorney Tew raised this issue with the board: “I’m concerned that the commission will get into picking winners and losers in the marketplace. That is not what the government is supposed to do.”

He also told board members: “I think this is very treacherous ground and really uncharted territory for this commission.”

The prospect of a moratorium, according to Tew, “will be an immediate buzz kill to your potential employers.”

But, Moore cited a number of other places — such as Illinois, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas and other jurisdictions in Florida — where moratoriums on multifamily are either in place, or are being considered.

Mariano, like Moore, thinks the county needs a better understanding of its current level of entitlements.

“I’m really scared that we don’t know what our supply could be, if everything was going to be built out,” Mariano said.

In another action relating to multifamily development, commissioners directed staff to prepare changes to the county’s land development code to remove the possibility of developing multifamily, as a conditional use, in a commercial zoning district.

The goal is to preserve commercial land for commercial uses, according to Fitzpatrick, who made a motion to pursue the change.

Moore seconded the motion, which was approved on a 4-1 vote, with Starkey dissenting.

Published February 24, 2021

Ashes to go, a free cup of Joe

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Pastor Kevin Grills acknowledges that he’s been reluctant for years to offer “ashes to go” on Ash Wednesday.

It had a bit too much of a “fast-food feel” for his liking, the spiritual leader said, via email.

But in the midst of a pandemic, it’s important to be creative and find new ways to reach people, according to Grills, who leads the First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes.

So, this Ash Wednesday, those driving through the church’s driveway will not only receive an imposition of ashes, but also a free cup of Aroma Joe’s coffee.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten period leading to Easter.

This year, it falls on Feb. 17, and ashes will be distributed at the First Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., that morning. They will be distributed in the church’s driveway, at 6209 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O Lakes.

Those arriving will be directed to one of two pastors — Rev. Grills or Rev. Barry White will impose the ashes and will provide some information about Ash Wednesday, the season of Lent and opportunities to worship.

No one will have to get out of their car and everything will be done with safety in mind and social distancing, Grills said.

After getting their ashes, visitors can drive to a station where coffee will be made to order by Glenn Cote, the owner of Aroma Joe’s, a community partner with the church.

Stopping at the church shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes, from start to finish, Grills said.

The church has an uncomplicated motive for offering its hospitality.

“This is simply to love our neighbors,” Grills added.

The church has wanted to offer coffee to commuters for years, but just hasn’t made that happen. Grills hopes the Ash Wednesday event is just the start of a new “coffee for commuters” outreach effort that occurs on a more regular basis during the year.

Published February 10, 2021

Wetlands’ impact costs $2.7 million

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Pasco County will pay about $2.7 million to buy wetland mitigation credits related to construction of the Ridge Road extension.

The Pasco County Commission approved a resolution for the payment to EIP (Ecosystem Investment Partners LLC) and the Old Florida Wetland Mitigation Bank during the county board’s Nov. 17 meeting.

The resolution described the payment as due to “unavoidable wetland impacts.”

Ridge Road is under construction but remains embroiled in a lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club against the United States Army Corp of Engineers. The federal agency approved the road’s permit after a controversy spanning more than two decades about its construction.

The Sierra Club alleges that the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service relied on a faulty, outdated environmental report that omitted impacts to some endangered and threatened species.

County officials describe the road as a necessary addition to the county’s emergency evacuation routes.

Environmentalists have said the county wants the road to accommodate additional  development along the road’s pathway.

The road extension is intended to provide an east-west pathway from Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey, to U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, in Land O’ Lakes.

Published December 16, 2020

Cornerstone Pros Celebrates 16 Years As A Family Business

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When Dana Spears founded Cornerstone Pros in 2006, the company began as a small family business with just six employees. Today, 14 years later, it is still a family business, but now employs over 65 local residents who provide air conditioning, electrical and plumbing services to households in Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando counties.

“Being bigger doesn’t mean we have lost the family values our company was founded on,” said Dana Spears, Cornerstone’s president. “It’s actually the reason we have grown so quickly, because family values allow us to retain and attract highly skilled workers who are dedicated to our customers.”

There is a misconception that because their overhead is greater, a big company charges more for their services than a small company.

“But, being bigger actually keeps our rates more affordable because we have low employee turnover and more buying power with our suppliers,” explains Spears. “It also allows us to offer our people year-around work, top pay and employee benefits that smaller operations often cannot afford.”

Spears and her husband, James, are hands-on business owners, and are joined by several members of their family in the daily operation of their business.

All of Cornerstone’s technicians are specialists who have specific training in their field. “This means our A/C guys are experts at air conditioning, and do not go out on plumbing and electrical calls,” said Dana. “We have certified plumbers and electricians for those calls.”

Cornerstone Pros hires people who are genuine, honest, trustworthy, clean-cut, and live their lives with good ethics and morals.

“Our employees live in our service area, and are very committed to their family and community,” said Dana. “Most have been with us for over five years, and we have techs who have worked here for all 14 years. In the trade industry, this kind of longevity is almost unheard of.”

Spears recognizes that providing excellent customer service begins with excellent employees.

“We’ve been successful because we’ve built our business on reputation and trust,” said Spears. “Our motto is to go above and beyond customer expectations, and every one of our employees strives to make that happen every day.”

Dana also attributes Cornerstone’s success to being a woman-owned business.

“Women understand that nothing is more important than being customer-centered. It’s the little things that we do in the first 30 seconds that sets the tone for exceeding customer expectations,” said Dana.

“When people call, they assume we have the technical expertise to solve their problem,” she continues. “What they remember is how they felt when they first talked to our customer service rep, or first meet our technician at their door. It’s the kind, helpful voice, the clean uniform and shoe covers, the tech who focuses on them and not their phone, that sets us apart.”

Every Cornerstone employee is trained to the company’s high customer service standards.

“As a mom and wife, I know how it feels to allow someone into your home,” Dana explains. “When we send a tech to a customer’s home, I feel just like I am sending them to my own home. Over two-thirds of our calls come from the woman in the family, and as a woman, I fully understand her concerns and expectations when she allows someone into her home.”

The Spears family has deep roots in the local community. James grew up in Tampa, and Dana graduated from Land O’ Lakes High School, as did three daughters and a son, all who now work for the company. The Spears’ youngest is a second grader at Land O’ Lakes Christian School.

The family’s connection to the community also is very strong. Cornerstone Pros supports Oasis Pregnancy Center, sports programs at Land O’Lakes High School, the American Cancer Society, Operation Stand Down to support homeless veterans, Tighten The Drag Foundation fishing tournaments to benefit spinal cord research, and fundraisers for Xavier Johnson, a former Sunlake High football player who was injured.

“We want to give back to our community, which has done so much to support our business over the years,” said Dana. “This is who we are.”

Cornerstone Pros was founded in 2006 as an air conditioning service company. It moved to its 4-acre site on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard in 2011, and the following year added plumbing services. In 2014, it expanded again with electrical services.

In 2018, Cornerstone Pros built a 6,000-square-foot warehouse next to its headquarters on U.S. 41, to store air conditioning units of all sizes, and stock high-demand service items for its air conditioning, electrical and plumbing operations. It also stocks tankless hot water systems, and portable and permanent generators, including whole-house systems by Generac.

Phones are answered 24/7, and technicians are available around the clock, including weekends and holidays. Call at (813) 949-4445, anytime day or night. For more information, visit their website at CornerstonePros.com.

Published October 28, 2020

New Dunkin’ coming to Land O’ Lakes

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a rezoning that will allow for a new convenience store, with gas pumps and a Dunkin’, near Ehren Cutoff, in Land O’ Lakes.

The 2.38-acre site is on the southeast corner of the intersection of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and Ehren cutoff.

The rezoning involved joining two parcels together, one zoned for commercial and the other for rural residential.

Denise Hernandez, county zoning administrator, said the request would not introduce a new gas station onto the property — but replace one that’s already there.

The site plan also calls for a Dunkin’, she said.

County Commission Chairman Mike Moore noted that the new plan is essentially an upgrade from current conditions.

“So, it could use a little makeover and it’s getting a makeover, thankfully,” Moore said, noting that the Dunkin’ (previously known as Dunkin’ Donuts) will be an amenity in the area.

Commissioner Ron Oakley agreed with Moore’s assessment: “That’s what it says on the site plan — they’re redoing that to enhance it. It needs that in that area.”

Moore added: “It kind of goes in line with what we’re trying to do, to try to clean up (U.S.) 41.”

One resident, Rob Park, who lives on Ehren Cutoff, objected to the rezoning.

He questioned a discrepancy between two transportation studies done in the area.

A county staffer said it’s not unusual for two different transportation studies to have different data.

In other action, commissioners:

  • Approved a request for a conditional use to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages: beer, wine, liquor; package sales and on-premises consumption, anywhere within the common areas of The Shops at Wiregrass, in conjunction with the operation of a shopping center.
  • Heard an update from Moore regarding tourism prospects. Moore told board members that the county will be getting a volleyball tournament, a golf tournament, a fishing tournament and a basketball tournament. Some tournaments are coming from out-of-state, but others are shifting from other parts of Florida.

Published September 02, 2020

Pasco Schools passes preliminary budget

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The Pasco County School Board has given first-round approval to a total school district budget approaching $1.5 billion.

Superintendent Kurt Browning detailed some of the budget’s highlights, during the board’s first public hearing on the budget, held on July 28.

The board approved the tentative tax rate and budget, following a public hearing. There was no public comment. The final public hearing on the budget is set for Sept. 15 at 6 p.m., in the board room at the school district’s headquarters, 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Browning covered some of the budget’s high points.

The proposed total tax millage for 2020-2021 fiscal year is 5.922 mills, which is a decrease of 0.179 mills, Browning said. A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed taxable value.

“Under the proposed rate, a homeowner of a $175,000 home, after the deduction of the $25,000 homestead exemption, would pay $26.85 less per year than last year,” Browning said.

Olga Swinson, the district’s chief finance officer, explained the reduction.

Each year, the state sets a required local effort amount that local districts are mandated to levy, she said. This year, it was 3.664 mills. Last year, it was 3.853 mills.

“Had we been able to keep the same millage that we did last year, we would generate about an additional $6.3 million, in fiscal year 2020-2021,” she said, but that is not an option.

The district’s proposed budget, a 7.3% increase over last year’s budget, includes a general operating budget of $699 million and a proposed capital budget of $415 million.

“The district received additional funds totaling $24.1 million in state funding to accommodate a predicted growth of 1,933 students,” Browning said.

He detailed how the $24.1 million will be spent:

  • $10.1 million is set aside for School Choice, including charter schools and scholarships
  • $4.9 million will go for retirement increases
  • $2.1 million will go for insurance increases
  • $3.3 million will be used for 68.91 staffing allocations for schools and 5.7 staffing allocations for the district
  • $1.2 million will go for specific academic program initiatives, including programs aimed at supporting educational equity
  • $500,000 will go for property insurance, utilities and School Resource Officer contract increases

The district’s proposed operating budget includes allocations and operating costs for the opening of Cypress Creek Middle School, and mid-year expenses for the Starkey Ranch K-8 school.

The district’s budget also allocates funds to raise the minimum teacher salary to about $45,000, in accordance with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ requirement to improve teacher pay.

It is not clear yet what kind of raises will be provided for other district employees.

“Salary increases for additional instructional personnel and other staff will be provided as funding permits,” Browning said.

“The proposed capital budget is $415 million, an increase of $73.5 million over last year, Browning said.

Big-ticket items in that budget include the construction of Starkey Ranch K-8 and the construction of the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.

Other projects included in the capital budget include a new bus loop at San Antonio Elementary School, renovation and remodeling at Zephyrhills High School, cafeteria renovations, replacement of HVAC systems, infrastructure upgrades at various schools and lease/purchase of computers and school buses.

Published August 05, 2020

Busy hurricane season expected

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As if COVID-19, an economic meltdown and soaring unemployment aren’t enough — Floridians need to brace for an above-normal hurricane season, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

Hurricane Irma gave Floridians a taste of Mother Nature’s fury. This year, weather experts are predicting higher-than-normal activity. (Courtesy of NOAA)

Just days into the season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, Tropical Storm Cristobal swept into the Gulf Coast, triggering a storm surge of almost 6 feet along parts of the northern Gulf Coast, according to national weather reports. Heavy rain triggered flash flooding as far east as Florida, and as far north as Wisconsin and Minnesota. The storm also spawned tornadoes in Florida and as far north as Illinois.

That was the beginning of an Atlantic hurricane season that experts predict will have above-normal activity. Information released by NOAA says there’s a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a range of 13 to 19 named storms, with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, six to 10 could become hurricanes, with winds of 74 mph or higher, including three to six hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5), with winds of 111 mph or more.

An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes, according to NOAA, a division of the National Weather Service.

Concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19 — the deadly virus that has already claimed more than 3,400 lives across Florida — is causing emergency officials to plan differently this year.

Pasco County Emergency Management Director Andrew Fossa said the county will be working with the Department of Health that is maintaining a current list of COVID-positive patients, as well as people of interest.

Part of the county’s plan calls for using the center at Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, to shelter positive COVID-19 patients, or people who have been exposed to the virus.

The county also will use schools as shelters, and will open them as they are needed.

Hurricane Irma blew down lots of trees around Pasco County, including this one, across an East Pasco road. (File)

This year, because of the pandemic, the county also has lined up some hotels and a resort, to use, if necessary, Fossa said. Some empty big box stores also might serve as shelters, he added.

“You’ve got to get creative in this kind of work,” he said.

The county needs to add more potential shelters this year because, in response to COVID-19, the American Red Cross and FEMA have changed the footprint required for sheltering.

“It used to be at general population, you were allocated 20 square feet, inside this big open area. That was your little slice of life. Now, with COVID, they made that 60 square feet,” Fossa said.

Shelter routines will be different
While waiting to register, those arriving will have to stay apart from each other, to maintain a safe social distance. Before entering the shelter, they will have their temperature taken, will be asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline questions and will be given a mask to wear in the shelter, Fossa said.

Anyone whose temperature exceeds 100.4 degrees F., will be sent to a different shelter, if time permits, or will remain at the shelter but will be housed in a separate part of the shelter.

Fossa said the county has secured enough personal protective equipment for county staff, nurses and firefighters that will be working at the shelters.

Many injuries occur after natural disasters because inexperienced people try to handle tasks they don’t know how to do. Enlist the help of professionals, if possible, and make sure they are properly licensed and insured. (File)

The county is uncertain how comfortable people will feel about staying at a shelter because of concerns about COVID-19. It has released a survey to try to get a better idea of where Pasco residents stand on that issue.

Fossa noted that AAA has done a survey in Florida and the results showed that 42% would not go to a shelter because of COVID-19.

The emergency management director also noted that the state has issued some guidance on whether people should evacuate.

“If you have a  home that was built post-1996 and you’re not on the water, you’re not in an evacuation zone, the coastline or anything like that, they’re (state officials) actually encouraging residents to stay in their houses for a Category 1, maybe Category 2 (storm).”

Fossa urged residents who have not already prepared for a potential threat, to do so now.

“Be ready,” he said. “If you don’t have a go-kit yet, you’re behind the curve.

“If we need to evacuate you, I am not going to sit at your house for 45 minutes while you say, ‘I’m going to grab this, I’m going to grab that. I’m going to grab that.’ Have it ready to go,” Fossa said.

Those evacuating should “go 10s of miles, not 100s of miles,” Fossa added. “You can go 10s of miles to stay with family and friends.”

By staying close to home, residents can avoid getting stuck in miles of traffic jams and keep hotel rooms free for people who are evacuating from more vulnerable areas.

If you are ordered to evacuate, wait for emergency officials to let you know that it’s safe to return.

The county has a fleet of drones it can use to assess damage, Fossa said.

He also noted that the county has 28 generators, which it can use to temporarily restore power to traffic lights that have been knocked out by severe weather.

And, it is getting another generator that is large enough to power a small building, he said. The primary use for that generator would be to restore power to a nursing home — to avoid a tragic outcome like the one that occurred at a Hollywood, Florida, nursing home a few years back.

Pasco County also has had to plan differently for managing its Emergency Operations Center.

“We’re not going to be like Irma. I’m not going to have 120 bodies in my EOC,” Fossa said. Instead, there will be about 17 key personnel there.

“Everybody else will work virtually. That’s the safest way to do it,” Fossa said.

The county has a wealth of information available for residents who want to find out if they’re in an evacuation zone, how to prepare for a hurricane and what to do in the aftermath.

You can find that information at PascoEmergencyManagement.com.

THINGS TO DO NOW
Before a hurricane threatens
Protect your property:

  • Be sure your trees and shrubs are trimmed.
  • Clear out clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
  • Document your valuables by making a list of the items, and taking photos of them and your property.

If a hurricane threatens

  • Cover windows with pre-cut plywood or hurricane shutters.
  • Store outdoor furniture, windchimes, garbage cans, decorations, potted plants and other items that could become projectiles in high winds.
  • If you have a boat, determine how and where to secure it.

Protect yourself:

  • Know your evacuation zone and be prepared to leave, if authorities tell you do so.

Particularly vulnerable areas include mobile homes, high-rise buildings, coastal areas, near rivers or inland waterways, and land below sea level.

  • If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone, prepare an evacuation plan that includes transportation routes and destinations, and considers all family members and pets.
  • If evacuating, reach out to family or friends, now, to see if you can stay with them. Whether you are sheltering in place, or evacuating, be sure to share your plans with someone outside of the danger zone.
  • When making evacuation plans, think in terms of 10s of miles away, instead of 100s of miles. People have been known to leave their homes only to go where the hurricane landed.

Have a go bag ready
Your go bag should include:

  • Medications
  • Clothing
  • Important documents, in a waterproof container, which includes bank account records, marriage certificates or divorce decrees, driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, titles, deeds, income tax information, trusts, wills, insurance papers and birth certificates.

Some practical pointers

  • Avoid gas lines: During hurricane season keep your tank full, or at least 3/4 full
  • Have cash on hand, in case banks are closed and ATMs lose power
  • Have a phone charger that doesn’t require electricity
  • Have a printed list of important telephone numbers, including county emergency management office, evacuation sites, doctors, bank, area schools, veterinarian, etc.
  • Have books and games available, to help pass the time

Stock up on emergency supplies

  • Water — one gallon for each person for three to seven days
  • Food — enough food for at least three to seven days. Nonperishable packaged or canned food and beverages, snack foods, juices. Supplies should include nonperishable foods that are easy to store and prepare, including protein bars, dried fruit, canned pastas, soups, canned tuna, peanut butter and jelly, crackers, raisins, beef jerky. Don’t forget the baby formula and baby food.

Tools/supplies

  • Non-electric can opener, paper plates, plastic utensils, plastic cups
  • Grill, cooking tools, fuel, charcoal
  • Hand tools, automotive repair tools
  • Duct tape and heavyweight garbage bags or plastic sheeting (for shelter-in-place)
  • A wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)

Personal comfort/hygiene/sanitation

  • Blankets, pillows, sleeping bags
  • Sunscreen, aloe, bug spray
  • Special items for babies, elders, persons with disabilities
  • Toiletries, hygiene items and sanitary wipes
  • Moist towelettes for sanitation
  • Garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)

Safety

  • Radio — battery-operated or hand-cranked radio, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Weather radio
  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Medications, a first-aid kit
  • Filter masks to protect your mouth and nose
  • A whistle to signal for help
  • Seasonal rain gear, sturdy shoes or boots

Plan for your pets

  • Your pet emergency kit should include: Sturdy leashes, harnesses and/or a carrier; pet food, drinking water, bowls, cat litter, a litter pan; pet health records, current photos of your pets, in case they get lost; pet beds and toys.

DURING THE STORM
When sheltering in place

  • Close all interior doors. Secure and brace exterior doors. Take refuge in a small interior closet, or hallway on the lowest level. Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
  • Fill bathtubs or buckets with water to use for cleaning and toilet flushing.
  • Stay away from windows and glass doors.
  • Don’t be fooled by a lull in the storm. It could be the eye of the storm and the winds could resume.

AFTER THE STORM

  • Do not drive into water when you can’t see the bottom of the road; you could drown.
  • Do not walk through flooded areas, fast-moving water could carry you away. Also, the water could be contaminated with oil, gasoline, raw sewage and other contaminants. It also may be electrically charged from a downed wire.
  • Be careful about the foods you eat. If the power is out for a prolonged period, your food may have spoiled.
  • Do not burn charcoal in your house or garage, the fumes can be deadly.
  • Do not use gas-powered generators indoors or in a garage, the exhaust can be lethal.
  • If you’re using a generator, do not plug it into a building’s wiring. This can cause generator back feed, which is extremely dangerous for utility workers and for anyone in the public who comes into contact with a downed electrical wire.
  • If you have been evacuated, do not return to your home until authorities tell you that it is safe to do so.

If you have damage

  • Call your insurance agent.
  • Take photos of the damage.
  • Make emergency repairs to avoid more damage and keep receipts for tarps, lumber, etc.
  • Use licensed contractors to make repairs. Be wary of potential scams.

Published July 1, 2020

Charities hit hard

By

It was a gorgeous day on March 7, as patrons streamed into the annual Fabulous Flea Market  hosted by the GFWC Lutz Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, at the Old Lutz School.

Crowds were lined up on both sides of the school, on U.S. 41, waiting for the sale to start.

Elaine Pittman, affectionately known as “The Plant Lady,” said she sold more plants in a single day than on all but one other day during numerous years she’s sold plants at the market.

Woman’s Club member Elaine Pittman, also known as The Plant Lady, sells plants that she’s nurtured, to raise money to support Christian Social Services, which has a thrift store and food pantry. (B.C. Manion)

But, her plans to sell additional plants at the Spring Market, hosted by Citizens for the Old Lutz School, were dashed when the event was canceled because of concerns about the potential spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

Like a switch had been flipped, cancellations started happening all over.

The Taste of North Tampa Bay, The Land O’ Lakes Music Festival, The Jelly Bean Fling and numerous other events have been called off.

In the words of Pat Serio, who sits on the board of directors for the GFWC Lutz Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club: “Everything has completely shut down.

“I’m co-editor of the newsletter, and we cancelled our newsletter because frankly we had nothing to report because all of our calendar events for the next month would have to be listed as TBD (to be determined).”

Besides erasing opportunities for family fun and giving vendors a chance to make money — the cancellations have ripple effects.

Proceeds from Pittman’s plant sales, for instance, help to support Christian Social Services. That organization operates a food pantry within its thrift store, at 5514 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The GFWC Lutz Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club and scores of other civic groups rely on fundraising efforts to help others. The woman’s club supports roughly 100 local organizations and charitable causes, Serio said.

The Spring Market and Fall Market are the fundraisers held each year to support upkeep of the Old Lutz School, said Stephanie Ensor, a member of Citizens for the Old Lutz School Building.

Besides raising money, the events help acquaint the community with the local historic landmark where generations of Lutz residents went to school.

Thirty-eight vendors had signed for the market. Proceeds from the event were intended to help pay for needed repairs because of termite damage.

Doors need to be replaced, Ensor said.

“The windows are rotting,” she added. “They are so expensive, we can only replace a couple at a time.”

Food pantries are feeling the pinch, too.

Robin Granger, of Life Church in Wesley Chapel, operates a food pantry and a weekly community lunch.

“The problem is, the stores that we get donations from, they don’t have very much,” Granger said.

“Typically, we pick up food from Costco three days a week and we have not gotten hardly anything at all,” she said.

Meanwhile, she said, “I know that folks that are under-resourced are really struggling.

“We did an emergency box for a single mom a couple of days ago. She worked at one of the local restaurants as a server, but they cut her hours. When they cut her hours, she was trying to get back on food stamps, but that’s a process. Meantime, she doesn’t have enough food for her kids,” Granger said.

“We’re a little concerned about having enough food for all of the folks that we serve.

“During this whole week, we’ve had emergency boxes of food going out.”

Concerns about the economic and health crisis prompted by COVID-19 are stressing people out, Granger said.

“There tends to be a lot of folks who are a little bit scared.

“I lead the single moms group at the church. Being a single mom and not having income is really, really frightening,” Granger said.

Published April 1, 2020