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Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Presidential Preference Primary

Election supervisors seek more flexibility

April 28, 2020 By B.C. Manion

The Florida Supervisors of Elections — an organization representing all 67 county election supervisors across the state — is seeking greater flexibility regarding how elections are conducted during the remainder of the 2020 election cycle.

The organization has asked that Gov. Ron DeSantis issue an executive order granting more flexibility, in light of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Brian Corley said county supervisor of elections across the state are asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to grant more flexibility in how elections are conducted during the remainder of the 2020 election cycle. (File)

The request asks that the executive order modify current Florida Elections Code to allow for more flexibility in meeting the challenges of staffing the polls, securing polling locations, and providing additional voting methods, according to Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley.

The goal is to lessen the impact to in-person voting due to worker shortages and fewer polling locations, Corley said.

To that end, supervisors of elections across the state are asking that they be allowed to designate additional early voting sites, extend the early voting period to 22 days prior to and up until 7 p.m. on election day, and the flexibility of consolidating polling places and/or relocating them to early voting sites.

Now, early voting across the state ranges between eight and 14 days, Corley said.

The additional flexibility being requested is important, Corley said.

“Going into the Presidential Preference Primary, back on March 17, we had some immense challenges,” he said. “We had several hundred poll workers that respectfully bowed out, because of concerns about their health.”

“Our poll workers are generally senior citizens. They’re concerned for their health and their safety. Couldn’t blame them at all,” he said.

When that happened, Corley said he reached out to Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles, Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning and Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco for help.

“Due to schools being closed, we got a tremendous response from teachers and school-related personnel, and others,” Corley said.

Additionally, at the last minute, he said, “we lost polling places.”

So, polling sites had to be consolidated.

“We limped through the PPP (Presidential Preference Primary).

“We’re looking ahead toward the fall, and if we have a similar situation, or fear of a similar situation, we’re going to have a serious issue with adequate poll workers,” Corley said.

“We’re being proactive as the state association of supervisors of elections, basically saying to the governor — ‘We need some flexibility.’”

“I’ve had people say, ‘Why don’t we just do all mail ballots?’

“I’m not opposed to that. I think that would be a great solution, however you can’t flip a switch and make that happen. It takes about a year,” Corley said.

Flexibility is needed because Florida is diverse.

“What Miami-Dade needs is not the same as what Pasco needs. What Pasco needs is not the same as what Clay County needs,” he said.

“Vote by mail right now is about a third of the vote,” he said, but predicts it will increase to about 60%.

“The reason we’re asking for Early Voting is because they are larger facilities. We can control some of the safety, as far as the protocols for social distancing.

“Having larger facilities would incorporate our model to get voters in and out, expeditiously and safely,” he said.

“You could see a model where you don’t have your traditional election day polling places,” he said.

Rather, there could be 15 to 20 early voting sites that are larger facilities that would take the place of election day, neighborhood polling places.

“The problem is, you can’t just decide mid-October to do X,Y and Z. You have to plan for it now,” Corley said.

“Quite frankly, all options are on the table.

“We know this, we have to have an election. It’s in the constitution. You can’t just defer the presidential election in November. It’s going to happen, and we’re going to make it work. We just have to be a little innovative on how we do it,” Corley said.

Vote-by-Mail ballots
If you would like to vote by mail, go online to PascoVotes.gov, call (800) 851-8754 or send a handwritten request to Brian E. Corley, P.O. Box 300, Dade City, Florida, 33526-0300. Handwritten requests must include your signature and date of birth.

Florida voters have had the option for no-excuse voting by mail and utilization has increased exponentially since its inception.

Requests for vote-by-mail are accepted daily and can be made for up to two election cycles. Ballots are mailed approximately 40 days prior to any election, and per Florida Law, are due back in the Supervisor of Elections’ Office by 7 p.m. Election Day.

Published April 29, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Brian Corley, Chris Nocco, COVID-19, Dan Biles, Early Voting, Florida Elections Code, Kurt Browning, Presidential Preference Primary, Ron DeSantis, Vote By Mail

Threat of COVID-19 disrupts rhythms of daily life

March 24, 2020 By B.C. Manion

Health and economic threats loom large in light of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), but there have been great costs, as well, on a personal level.

Life as we knew it, just a few weeks ago, has been turned upside down.

Recommendations to limit gatherings to 10 people are killing plans for personal celebrations — such as weddings, graduations and retirements, as well as birthday and anniversary milestones.

Concerns about spreading COVID-19 are causing parents to keep their children away from the grandparents.

Spring break trips and visits to theme parks — that families had been looking forward to for months, were cancelled.

And, even memorial services for loved ones are being postponed to allow for a larger celebration of life, later.

Retired teachers Judy and Glenn Alvarez, of Lutz, said the COVID-19 pandemic caused an unwanted cancellation in their life.

“We were supposed to go the Master’s — a bucket list thing,” Judy said.

She also noted that it’s annoying to be unable to find things in the grocery store. “Chicken, for example, there wasn’t any fresh chicken.”

The retired Lutz Elementary School teacher said she’d be surprised if schools reopen this year.

“I think that’s disappointing, too. Kids — playing their last game — not knowing they were playing their last game,” she said.

Glenn, a former baseball coach added: “If you’re a senior, this was your big chance in high school to shine. And, all of a sudden, it’s shut down.”

People across The Laker/Lutz News region noted that some view COVID-19 as a serious threat, while others, not so much.

Eighty-four-year old Bettie Coupland, of Dade City, said precautions are necessary.

“It’s a very serious thing,” she said. “We only go where we have to go.”

In fact, she and her husband, Lester, weren’t sure whether they would head to the polls on March 17 for the Presidential Preference Primary.

Ultimately, they decided to go — but, they wore masks.

Charissa Garcia, of Zephyrhills, said “a lot of people are not taking it seriously.”

Her husband, Joe, agreed: “We’re not preparing enough. We’re not ready for what’s coming, and everybody around here is acting like, ‘Oh, it’s just the common cold,’ and all this other stuff, and there’s going to be a rude awakening here.”

He also noted that there’s a lack of consistent messaging from the government and a lack of available tests.

“We’re all walking time bombs, and we don’t know who has what. We could all be carrying it asymptomatic and we don’t know that, and we’ve got nothing but snowbirds around us that are ready to migrate back home,” Joe said.

The couple said they’re doing their best to stay out of public places.

Even though the government is urging people to use social distancing — that is staying 6 feet away from each other to avoid spreading the virus — many are failing to comply.

“I see what’s going on in Italy, and they were in this same situation 10 days ago, and us being Americans — we’ve never dealt with something like this here,” Joe said.

He also noted that Americans tend to believe that things that happen in other countries couldn’t happen here.

So, he said, “people aren’t taking it seriously, and we’ve got a lot of tough times to go through.”

Thirty-four-year-old Brandon Bristow, an educator from Zephyrhills, said he thinks people need to take necessary precautions — but, he also believes that the threat has been blown out of proportion.

At the same time, though, he added: “It’s better safe than sorry.”

Bristow said he works with children, so he’s constantly washing his hands.

“Also, I am watching how much people interaction I’m having,” he added, and being sure to use hand sanitizer after touching surfaces.

Church congregations are being affected, too.

Instead of holding regular services, churches are livestreaming them.

Fred Perkins, the pastor of New River Methodist Church, off State Road 54, in Zephyrhills, planned to broadcast his service on YouTube, according to his daughter-in-law, Amanda Perkins.

The church has been broadcasting its contemporary service on My Facebook Live for a couple of years, she said. But, the church has two other services that are primarily attended by senior citizens.

“They’re not able to come to those, so we are going to be, for the first time, going to be broadcasting on a YouTube channel this weekend, so they can hopefully tune in,” she said.

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, in Land O’ Lakes, also live-streamed two Masses on March 22, one in English at 9:30 a.m., and one in Spanish at 11:30 a.m.

To give the services a more personal touch, the parish asked families to email a photo of their family to the church office.

They planned to enlarge the photos to place them on chairs in the church, so the priests could see the faces, while celebrating the Masses.

Kevin Weiss contributed to this story

Published March 25, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Amanda Perkins, Bettie Coupland, Brandon Bristow, Charissa Garcia, coronavirus disease 19, COVID-19, Fred Perkins, Glenn Alvarez, Judy Alvarez, Land O' Lakes, Lutz Elementary School, My Facebook Live, New River United Methodist Church, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Presidential Preference Primary, State Road 54, YouTube, Zephyrhills

Precautions planned at polling places

March 11, 2020 By B.C. Manion

As Pasco County voters head to the polls on March 17 for Florida’s Presidential Preference Primary, precautions are being taken to guard against the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.

“We have been monitoring this situation and have been communicating with the Florida Department of State, as well as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on election day polling place preparation,” Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley said, via email.

“We have ordered hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for each polling place (our poll workers are also encouraged to bring their own as well).

“In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended precautions, those in the polling place will be asked to practice good hygiene (hand washing/covering coughs and sneezes) and if not feeling well, remain home,” Corley adds.

“Also, disinfectant wipes can be used to wipe down surfaces (Electronic Poll Books, privacy booths, secrecy sleeves, doorknobs, etc.),” the supervisor of elections said.

He also noted that his office promoted vote by mail as an option.

Early voting is ongoing in Pasco and Hillsborough counties, and will end on March 14 in Pasco County and March 15 in Hillsborough County.

Vote-by-mail ballots must be received by your county Supervisor of Elections Office by the time polls close on March 17.

Florida is a closed primary state, which means the only candidates on a voter’s ballot will be those of the same party as the voter’s registration. In other words, only registered Republicans and Democrats will be able to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary.

After the Presidential Preference Primary, designated political party delegates from Florida formally nominate the preferred presidential candidate at the respective party’s national convention, according to the Florida Secretary of State’s website.

For additional information in Pasco County, visit PascoVotes.gov, or call (800) 851-8754.

For additional information in Hillsborough County, visit VoteHillsborough.org, or call (813) 744-5900.

Published March 11, 2020

Filed Under: Health, Local News Tagged With: Brian Corley, Centers for Disease Control, Florida Department of State, Presidential Preference Primary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Presidential Preference Primary is coming soon

March 4, 2020 By B.C. Manion

Early voting began on March 2 in Hillsborough County and will begin on March 7 in Pasco County in the Presidential Preference Primary.

Voters will go to the polls to express their presidential preference on March 17.

Florida is a closed primary state, which means the only candidates on a voter’s ballot will be those of the same party as the voter’s registration. In other words, only registered Republicans and Democrats will be able to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary.

There are three ways to vote in the primary: By mail, at early voting sites or at polling places on election day. Vote by mail ballots must be received by your county Supervisor of Elections’ office  by 7 p.m., on March 17.

After the Presidential Preference Primary, designated political party delegates from Florida formally nominate the preferred presidential candidate at the respective party’s national convention, according to the Florida Secretary of State’s website.

These national conventions are typically held in July or August. Based on the party rules governing delegate voting procedures, the party decides at the convention which presidential candidate will represent the party on the General Election ballot, the Secretary of State website reports.

For additional information in Pasco County, visit PascoVotes.gov, or call (800) 851-8754.

For additional information in Hillsborough County, visit VoteHillsborough.org, or call (813) 744-5900.

Candidates on the ballot*

Republican candidates on ballot
Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente
Donald J. Trump
Joe Walsh
Bill Weld

Democratic candidates on ballot

  • Michael Bennet
  • Joe Biden
  • Michael R. Bloomberg
  • Cory Booker
  • Pete Buttigieg
  • Julián Castro
  • John Delaney
  • Tulsi Gabbard
  • Amy Klobuchar
  • Deval Patrick
  • Bernie Sanders
  • Joe Sestak
  • Tom Steyer
  • Elizabeth Warren
  • Marianne Williamson
  • Andrew Yang

* The Pasco County Supervisor of Election’s website reports that “if a candidate does not submit a formal withdrawal by Dec. 9, 2019 in accordance with section 103.101(3), Fla. Stat., the candidate’s name must remain on the Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) ballot for his or her respective party. A vote cast for any candidate appearing on the ballot will count as a vote for that candidate.” 

Early voting in Hillsborough County
Early voting in Hillsborough County began March 2 and ends March 15. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Here are the sites, within or near The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, where ballots can be cast:

  • Austin Davis Public Library, 17808 Wayne Road in Odessa
  • Jimmie B. Keel Regional Public Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa
  • New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., in Tampa
  • Northdale Recreation Center, 15550 Spring Pine Drive, in Tampa

Early voting in Pasco County
Early voting in Pasco County begins March 7 and ends March 14. Hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily.

Here are the sites, within or near The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, where ballots can be cast:

  • Advent Health Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel
  • Alice Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills
  • East Pasco Government Center, 14236 Sixth St., in Dade City
  • Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes
  • New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel
  • Odessa Community Center, 1627 Chesapeake Drive in Odessa
  • Pasco County Utilities Administration Building, 19420 Central Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes

Published March 4, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Early Voting, Florida Secretary of State, Presidential Preference Primary

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01/23/2021 – Adult craft

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01/25/2021 – Fizzy bath bomb

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Mr. John from Bricks 4 Kidz will show participants how to become a Lego Master Builder with an online class that teaches various building methods and techniques. The program will be presented on Jan. 25 at 4:30 p.m., for ages 5 to 12. Registration is through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 01/25/2021 – Lego building

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