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The Laker/Lutz News

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

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League of Women Voters

Addressing Pasco’s hunger issue

January 5, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

In society’s modern parlance, it’s called “food insecurity.’’ In simple terms, it’s hunger. And, it’s a big problem in Pasco County, particularly in the COVID-19 era.

Christine Bright, Pasco Unit chair for the League of Women Voters, recently gathered officials from five nonprofit agencies for a panel discussion — “Hidden Hunger in Pasco.’’

Key statistical takeaways:

  • Pasco County’s poverty rate for children is about 25%, which is higher than the statewide average of 20%
  • 45% of Pasco households fall under the “ALICE threshold’’ — which means Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. It reflects households that are barely making it, probably one crisis away from financial wipeout
  • Feeding Tampa Bay’s food requests have increased by 360% since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Bright said the League of Women Voters, a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization, believes that its core mission is to educate and advocate about a community’s important issues.

“Hunger in our community is at the top of that list,’’ Bright said.

There are ongoing solutions — even in these challenging, virus-driven times.

Patti Templeton, executive director of One Community Now, which works to eradicate childhood hunger, said the agency has been implementing a “Pack-A-Sack’’ program for 37 elementary, middle and high schools in Pasco County. The program feeds approximately 1,600 children on weekends.

“Children who struggle with hunger have a lower attention span, a greater absentee rate and other ailments, as well,’’ Templeton said. “We are seeing an impact. Teachers always tell us they see a difference in the kids, especially on Monday mornings. This bridges the gap from the food they get during school to the weekends, where there might not be any food available at their homes.’’

With an acknowledgement that some homes might not have electricity or refrigeration, the sacks usually contain cereal boxes, breakfast bars, canned ravioli, peanut butter, crackers, applesauce, raisins and juice, while carefully avoiding the high-carb fillers, such as cookies or chips.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Promise Foundation continues to implement a weekend backpack program through Pasco schools. Diana Thomas, secretary of the foundation’s board of directors, said it began a decade ago when her daughter (then 7) used her school lunch money to buy food items for classmates who didn’t have money.

“That brought to light the food insecurity that was happening in our county,’’ Thomas said. “We are unaware of that. We were mind-blown when we realized how much hunger was going on with our children.’’

The Thomas Promise backpacks provide about 2,000 meals each weekend.

Helpers need help, too
One Community Now and Thomas Promise both rely heavily on donations, grants and volunteers.

“Fundraising is down, but the need has gone up,’’ Thomas said. “We had to rework the way we do things and figure out creative ways to get food to families, but we are making it work because it needs to work.’’

Templeton said 50% of her agency’s funding comes through private support and it is always seeking new donors. The major fundraising event, the annual Hunger Walk, had to be done virtually and produced $58,000 (compared to $117,000 last season).

“It’s important that we have the resources to do this work,’’ Templeton said. “Of the 46,000 kids (in Pasco schools), we estimate that 5,000 of them are chronically hungry, not knowing where their next meal will come from. Resources are important.’’

That fact is perhaps best known by Steffan Davis of Pasco’s United Way organization and its Operation Feeding Pasco program.

The United Way is heavily dependent on employment because workers are asked to contribute from the paycheck.

“Collections are down across the board,’’ Davis said. “A lot of nonprofits were burdened before COVID-19 and now they are experiencing deficits. The challenges are no different for us. Thankfully, the Pasco County government has been incredibly generous during this emergency.’’

That included an innovative program, funded through a $600,000 federal grant, where 12 struggling Pasco restaurants were kept open to feed food insecure citizens. Partnering with 19 nonprofit agencies, the restaurants served more than 250,000 hot meals.

Ashley Jones, nutrition specialist with Pasco County Schools, said the district’s numbers held steady during COVID-19, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (DOA).

“We had to come up with a way to feed students (with schools going online during the initial virus) and the DOA released some emergency waivers that allowed us to keep on going,’’ Jones said.

Free food was provided at 26 school sites from mid-March through August, accounting for 1.6-million meals.

Those services are vital. The Coalition on Human Needs estimated that 2.5-million Americans have fallen into poverty as a result of COVID-19.

“What you learn is, people who fall into poverty are not necessarily that different than (someone who hasn’t),’’ said Beth Hovind, co-chair of Poverty Action. “The loss of income and resources means not having enough money to meet the needs of the family and that includes food.

“I think we’re learning we have to come up with ways to replace that lost income instead of offering (other services). If the money is scarce, the priorities become rent and utilities, and some of the money to pay that comes from the food fund.’’

There are no easy answers to these issues. But, in Pasco County, Bright said the ongoing conversation and collaboration between nonprofit agencies is helping to create solutions.

“For all of our citizens, particularly school-age children, we realize this is something that must be addressed,’’ Bright said. “If there are unmet needs, we want to figure out a way to help.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published January 06, 2021

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Beth Hovind, Christine Bright, Coalition on Human Needs, Diana Thomas, DOA, League of Women Voters, One Community Now, Operation Feeding Pasco, Pasco County hunger, Pasco County Schools, Pasco County United Way, Patti Templeton, Poverty Action, Steffan Davis, Thomas Promise Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Two Hillsborough women to be honored

January 8, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

A Valentine’s Day ceremony and luncheon is being organized by the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County to celebrate two women of distinction.

The 15th annual Lifetime Achievement Award Luncheon will honor Liana Fernandez Fox, Ph.D., and the late Dena Gross Leavengood, according to a posting on the Hillsborough County website.

The event will take place on the day that coincides with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Women Voters.

Fox and Leavengood are being honored for their contributions to the local community, and to the state of Florida.

The Feb. 14 event is set for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Bryan Glazer Family JCC, 522 N. Howard Avenue, in Tampa. Lorna Taylor, president & CEO of Premier Eye Care, will serve as emcee.

Fox represents the fourth generation of her Cuban and Sicilian ancestors in Tampa.

She began her career as a statistician for Florida’s State Road Department in 1969.

She retired as full professor of mathematics, after teaching for five years at Tampa Catholic High School and 33 years for Hillsborough Community College in Ybor City, and at the University of South Florida.

She pioneered the offering of online mathematics courses for HCC.

She currently is a trustee for the Tampa Bay History Center and president of the board of directors at Champions for Children.

Fox remains active at USF, serving on the Dean’s Advisory Council of Arts & Sciences, USF’s Women in Leadership and Philanthropy (WLP) and the USF Latin Community Advisory

Committee.

And, those are just a few of Fox’s accomplishments.

Leavengood, who passed away last year, was a Florida native and a marine biologist who was known for her community activism.

She graduated with a zoology degree from the University of Florida and received her Masters from USF. Her education and training launched a career that would span decades of activism and professional accomplishments. Dena was a tireless civic volunteer and was affiliated with countless organizations, including past president and board member of the League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County, the Athena Society, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida and the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce to name but a few.

Registration for the event is available at HCLWV.org/laa.

Published January 08, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Athena Society, Bryan Glazer Family JCC, Champions of Children, Dena Gross Leavengood, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Hillsborough Community College, League of Women Voters, Liana Fernandez Fox, Lorna Taylor, North Howard Avenue, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, Premier Eye Care, Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa Catholic High School, University of Florida, University of South Florida

Political Agenda 07/18/2018

July 18, 2018 By B.C. Manion

Sample ballots available
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley has announced that sample ballots for the Aug. 26 Primary Election are available online at PascoVotes.com, and will be mailed to Pasco County voters on Aug. 6.

To view sample ballots online, voters need to know their voting precinct and party of registration.

Club meetings

Republican Club of Central Pasco
Mike Wells will be the guest speaker at the Republican Club of Central Pasco’s meeting on July 23. The club meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The social will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting starting at 7 p.m. For more information, call (813) 996-3011.

Trinity Democratic Club meeting
The Trinity Democratic Club’s July 25 meeting will feature Chris Hunter, candidate for the district 12 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Amanda Murphy, candidate in district 16 seat in of the Florida Senate. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, at 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity. Doors open at 5 p.m., for dinner and happy hour (self-pay) with food and beverages available for purchase throughout the meeting. For more information, call (415) 609-3633.

Candidate forums

  • Idlewild Baptist Church, at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz, will host a candidate’s forum on July 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • The East Pasco Democratic Club will host a political forum for all Democrats, Republicans and no party affiliation for local and state offices on Aug. 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills. The League of Women Voters will be there to register voters or update voters’ current registration. Light refreshments will be served.

Ice cream social
The Central Pasco Democratic Party will host an ice cream social on Aug. 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Meadow Pointe Community Center, 28245 County Line Road. Those attending can meet other Democrats and talk with local candidates.

Endorsements

  • The West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association has endorsed Mike Moore, in his re-election bid for the District 2 seat on the Pasco County Commission, according to Moore’s campaign.
  • The Veterans Caucus; Alex Sink, former chief financial officer of Florida; and the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida, have endorsed Brandi Geoit in the race for District 4 seat on the Pasco County Commission, according to Geoit’s campaign.

Published July 18, 2018

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Alex Sink, Alice Hall Community Center, Amanda Murphy, Brandi Geoit, Brian Corley, Centra Pasco Democratic Party, Chris Hunter, Copperstone Executive Suites, County Line Road, Democratic WOmen's Club of Florida, East Pasco Democratic Club, Exciting Idlewild Boulevard, Fifth Avenue, Fox Hollow Golf Club, Idlewild Baptist Church, Land O' Lakes Boulevard, League of Women Voters, Lutz, Meadow Pointe Community Center, Mike Moore, Mike Wells, Pasco County Commission, Republican Club of Central Pasco, Robert Trent Jones Parkway, Trinity Democratic Club, Veterans Caucus, West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association, Zephyrhills

Solar co-ops offer savings on solar panel installations

January 31, 2018 By Kathy Steele

Florida lags behind other states in producing clean, renewable energy from the sun. It doesn’t crack the top 10 in state rankings, even while being promoted nationwide as the Sunshine State.

But, Florida, along with other states across the country, is embracing solar power, and other clean energy sources, in ways that don’t always get noticed.

Workers install solar panels on a rooftop.
(Public Domain)

Solar panels, wind farms and electric-powered vehicles are among the technologies driving the alternative energy industry.

It’s often described as the quiet revolution, said David Sillman, coordinator for North Pinellas FL Sun, or Solar United Neighbors of Florida.

Sillman was the featured speaker on Jan. 22 at the Dade City Garden Club meeting. His topic was “Electrifying Future: Solar and Alternative Energy.”

The Solar Energy Industries Association has ranked Florida 13th nationally for solar capability, but also reported that the state has the third-highest potential for solar capacity.

Sillman said other rankings have put Florida as low as 18th.

“The good news is, we’re catching up,” Sillman said.

The Washington D.C.-based Solar United Neighbors and its chapters around the country are joining with other like-minded organizations and nonprofits, including the League of Women Voters and the Sierra Club, to promote solar power.

North Pinellas FL Sun and the local League of Women Voters, for instance, partnered in 2016 to launch the St. Pete Solar Co-op.

There also is the Hillsborough County Solar Co-op.

Currently, Sillman said he knows of no cooperatives in Pasco County.

But, solar cooperatives are simple to pull together. “All that is needed is volunteers,” he said.

It can be neighbors who want to install solar panels on their homes, or who simply want to learn more about the renewable energy industry. Joining a cooperative doesn’t require that a member install solar panels.

However, as a group, members can get bids from local solar companies that offer discounted rates on installation, Sillman said.

Costs over the past years have fallen, he added.

His costs in 2011 were about $25,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bath home. It might cost about $10,000 today, Sillman said.

According to Clean Energy Guide, costs for solar panels have dropped 99 percent, from $50 per watt in 1979 to 50 cents per watt in 2015.

Also, federal tax credits are available.

Typically, solar systems pay for themselves within 8 ½ years, and they come with 25-year warranties, Sillman said.

The life of a system can be from 30 years to 40 years, he added.

For information on solar energy and cooperatives, visit SolarUnitedNeighbors.org.

Published January 31, 2018

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Clean Energy Guide, Dade City Garden Club, David Sillman, League of Women Voters, North Pinellas FL Sun, Sierra Club, solar energy, Solar Energy Industries Association, Solar United Neighbors of Florida, St. Pete Solar Co-op

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01/16/2021 – Train Show & Sale

Regal Railways will present a Toy Train, Toy Show/Sale on Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Hernando Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St., in Brooksville. Vendors will be on hand with various model trains, toys and die cast cars. There also will be a running train layout. Admission is $5 for adults, and free for kids age 12 and younger. Credit cards will be accepted. For information and to prepay, visit RegalRailways.com. … [Read More...] about 01/16/2021 – Train Show & Sale

01/18/2021 – Garden club

The Dade City Garden Club will host a virtual general membership meeting on Jan. 18 at 9:30 a.m., via Zoom. The program will feature a presentation by Madonna Wise, author of “A Haunted History of Pasco County.” Wise’s husband, Ernest, also will present a short demonstration on pressing flowers. Non-members can attend. Registration is through email at by Jan. 17. For information, visit DadeCityGardenClub.com. … [Read More...] about 01/18/2021 – Garden club

01/19/2021 – Best of crafts

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present a “Best of Craft Tuesdays: Playlist” on Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check out a video at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary to learn about some of the craft programs that are worth revisiting from the past year. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . … [Read More...] about 01/19/2021 – Best of crafts

01/19/2021 – Virtual gardening

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present “Virtual Backyard Gardening with Jo Ann” on Jan. 19 at 2 p.m., via Zoom. Registration is required to receive an email on how to join the meeting. For information, email . … [Read More...] about 01/19/2021 – Virtual gardening

01/20/2021 – Library story times

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer these upcoming story times: Jan. 20, for birth to age 5: Participants can tune in anytime between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary, to hear “Private I. Guana.” For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . Jan. 21 at 10 a.m.: “Virtual Baby Time with Miss Cindy.” Visit Facebook.com/cplib. Jan. 21 at 10 a.m., for ages 2 to 5: “Virtual Story Time with Miss Jenn.” For information, call Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020. … [Read More...] about 01/20/2021 – Library story times

01/20/2021 – LOL Book Club

The LOL Book Club from the Land O’ Lakes Library will meet on Jan. 20 at 2:30 p.m., to discuss “Beartown” by Fredrik Backman. Register online for a Zoom link, which will be sent out via email a day ahead of the discussion. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 01/20/2021 – LOL Book Club

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