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coronavirus disease-2019

Coronavirus could ‘decimate’ state appropriations

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The recently passed $93 billon Florida state budget included some big wins for East Pasco, but District 38 state Rep. Randy Maggard isn’t ready to celebrate or take a victory lap just yet.

That’s because the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will force state lawmakers back to Tallahassee for a special session sometime this summer — and likely result in major spending cuts for budgeted programs and projects due to a shortfall in sales tax revenues.

“This virus, it’s just going to decimate our budget,” Maggard said, during an East Pasco Networking Group virtual conference meeting on April 13.

Randy Maggard represents District 38 in the State House of Representatives (Courtesy of Florida House of Representatives)

The Dade City Republican helped secure a total of $16.6 million in appropriations to be used in projects by Zephyrhills, Lacoochee, Pasco County and Saint Leo University. These projects include intersection improvements, establishing a new robotics program, and septic to sewage for a fast-growing part of our county.

But, the freshman lawmaker admitted he isn’t sure which, if any, of those projects could be on the chopping block a few months from now.

“The problem we’re in, we all don’t know what’s going to change on us,” Maggard said. “All the good things we accomplished may not last, so that’s what we are dealing with at the moment and just watching, because It’s unchartered waters for all of us.”

Aside from budgetary impacts, Maggard outlined other issues that have or could become the result of COVID-19.

One of the more well-documented issues surfaced is the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) having trouble managing the massive volume of people filing for unemployment benefit claims.

Maggard mostly defended the DEO — pointing out the system was never designed or could’ve anticipated such unemployment levels in a state with historically low unemployment.

The lawmaker explained the DEO would typically file more than 10,000 unemployment claims in a month. Now, the department is getting as many or more in a single day.

“I think you’ve gotta put it in perspective a little bit,” Maggard said. “Nobody expected this to happen and where it’s going. Nobody expected it in our unemployment part and in our small businesses and our restaurant businesses. I just feel so bad for them, because it’s devastating…so we’re working tirelessly to try to do the right things to get us through this as quick as possible.”

He added “99% of what I do daily now is trying to help people get unemployment claims and fight it through the system.”

Maggard touched on some other unintended consequences resulting from COVID-19.

He explained statewide stay-at-home orders have led to a rise in domestic violence, and strains on waste management, while consumer stockpiling has exposed a truck driver shortage and product supply chains.

Maggard also raised concerns of the risk of utility and electric companies being overwhelmed as “everybody’s staying home under A/C, 24/7…and we haven’t even hit the summer hot time yet.

“This virus has really compounded a lot of problems and shows us a lot of weaknesses and some of the things we thought we had set up and were foolproof,” he said, “but, the good thing is we’re learning from it, we’re going to get through it…and there’s a light at the end of the end of the tunnel.”

Maggard reflects on first year in office
Voters selected Maggard in a special election last June to become their next representative in District 38 of the Florida House of Representatives — filling the vacancy created by former Rep. Danny Burgess, who accepted an offer from Gov. Ron DeSantis to become the executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Participating in his first 60-day regular legislative session “was absolutely one of the biggest honors of my life,” Maggard said, adding, “to be able to walk out on that chamber floor and realize you’re one of 2,700 people that ever stepped there, it gives you chills.”

Maggard spent 30 years as vice president of Sonny’s Discount Appliances in Dade City. He is a Pasco County native, attended Zephyrhills High School and holds an Associate of Arts degree from Pasco-Hernando Community College (now known as Pasco-Hernando State College).

He underscored the significance of his new role.

“Every time we press a button, we affect 21 million people’s lives,” Maggard said, “and I take that very seriously.”

With that, stopping a bill is oftentimes more important than passing a bill, Maggard said, “because every time something is passed, something is taken away, there’s some kind of freedom affected.”

“I quickly learned that my job up there was to stop things — bad policies — more than it was trying to make good policy, so I did a lot of arguing, debating over that,” he said.

For Maggard, the job overall has been “like drinking from a fire hose”  — in terms of the volume of tasks and issues that come across his desk regularly.

“When you’re running for office, you can’t really get prepared for all the amount of information that you need to use, and the people you need to see, and the work you have to do to be able to vote the right way for your citizens in Pasco,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maggard commended fellow state lawmakers for working together and across the aisle, as both the House and Senate unanimously approved the $93 billion state budget in March.

He highlighted the procurement of $690 million for water protection and restoration of the Everglades; $1.7 billion dollars for hurricane response; and, $17 billion for PreK-12 education funding, including $500 million for teachers pay raises, among others.

“The Republicans and Dems, we do have some differences,” he said, “but, we can sit down and have a breakfast, both sides, and talk and work something out, and I think that’s what good government’s supposed to be.

“We were called not to be politicians, but to be statesmen. I’m arguing for East Pasco, but somewhere in the middle there, we’ve gotta do what’s best for 21 million people.”

Published April 22, 2020

Impacts of pandemic being felt across Pasco

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As the death toll rises and the economic meltdown continues — communities and businesses across the country grapple with impacts of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Pasco County’s priorities have been to protect the health and well-being of its residents and to get the economy back on track, as quickly as possible when the pandemic passes, said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, in an email.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore said the county has been focusing its energies on keeping residents safe during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. It also is putting a high priority on getting the economy on track, once the pandemic passes. (File)

The county’s emergency management center has been working around the clock, and the county is in constant contact with local hospitals, and state and federal agencies, Moore said.

The county also has continued to order sample and test kits, as well as personal protection equipment for first responders and health care professionals, he added.

The county also has been proactive in identifying and securing locations for hospital overflow, should it be needed, Moore said, noting it has 38 standby locations.

And, Moore noted that he recently took part in a virtual town hall with representatives of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., and the Florida SBDC, to provide information to businesses about resources where they can seek  help, as many struggle to survive.

Another town hall is planned April 30 at 2:30 p.m., to focus on the unique challenges being experienced by the special needs community. (This will be a Zoom conference, with audio availability. Details to come). Experts will share their knowledge of best practices.

Moore also noted that although some functions of government are closed to the public, others continue to function to provide services — such as public transportation and virtual inspections.

Library buildings are closed, but online services are being offered.

The pandemic has hurt the county’s economy, and thereby county revenues. It is now reevaluating several projects, Moore said, but he did not provide specifics.

He did say “our tourism department is taking a beating right now” because it relies on tourist development taxes to fund it.

Moore also thanked residents, noting the vast majority are staying home unless they need essentials, such as food or medicine, or need to go to essential places of work.

“I suggest wearing a face covering while at the store to protect others, as well as yourself,” he said.

Pasco County Commission Kathryn Starkey is encouraging residents and businesses to do what they can to help others during the pandemic.

During a recent ZOOM virtual meeting of WOW TOO, Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey also talked about the local impacts of COVID-19.

“I think we’re very fortunate in Pasco County that we don’t have the high densities that you’re seeing in South Florida and some of the counties to the south of us. Our percentage of positives is much lower, and I think people in Pasco County are doing a great job of social distancing,” Starkey told the women’s networking group, which is part of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

“We tried to keep business open, as usual, in Pasco County,” she said.

“We were in the midst of transitioning some of our permitting to online; some of that won’t be done until the end of the month, unfortunately. A little bit of business, as far as development business, has come to a halt.”

Virtual inspections, however, are ongoing, she said.

“As far as our budget, we know that it’s taken a hit. Our sales tax has taken a hit,” she said. “We’re reanalyzing what our budget is going to look like for next year.

“We’ve got a little bit of a freeze on, as far as hiring,” she said, noting that the county wants to be sure that it is as efficient as possible.

“We hesitated at doing the Stay at Home, Safer at Home, because the Pasco County numbers were pretty darn good, and people were being, I think, mostly respectful of the 6-foot distance, and not congregating in big numbers,” Starkey said.

“We wanted our businesses to be able to stay in business as long as possible.

“We know that this is hurting a lot of people,” she said.

But, even with the governor’s Stay at Home order, there are some things that are open, Starkey noted.

For instance, people can use Starkey Wilderness Park. “You can walk and hike in the park,” she said, but you can’t drive there — you’ll need to find a place to park nearby.

There are also U-Pick farms open, where people can pick blueberries or peaches.

Starkey is encouraging county residents and businesses to do what they can to support local restaurants.

She puts out a daily newsletter to keep people posted on new developments regarding COVID-19. To sign up for the newsletter, email your request to .

Published April 22, 2020

Pandemic keeps students home from school

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Florida’s elementary and secondary campuses will not reopen this school year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on April 18.

Instead, students and teachers will continue with the distance learning model, which began in March. That approach began as a way to limit the potential spread of coronavirus disease-2019. (COVID-19).

The national death toll for the pandemic reached 37,202 as of April 20, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The economic meltdown has resulted in the loss of more than 22 million American jobs, according to national reports.

In explaining why he decided to close school campuses, DeSantis said “We spoke with a lot of folks throughout the state.

“There was some differing opinions. Some parents were not interested in their kids going back. Some others — it’s been tough around the house, they would have liked to have seen them go back,” the governor said, during a news conference that was carried live on WTSP 10 News.

“We’ve got pretty good momentum for distance learning. It’s obviously not the ideal situation, but given where we are in the school year, we felt that was the best decision to go forward,” he said.

DeSantis said he asked if there would be a huge academic benefit of reopening schools, but most people didn’t think so.

“I think the last thing you want to do is force everyone in school and have half the kids not show up, because the parents didn’t want (it) — their teachers didn’t want to do it.

“It was an easier decision for me to make, knowing that we’ve done so well with the distance learning,” DeSantis said.

In a YouTube video posted on the Pasco County Schools’ website, Superintendent Kurt Browning said the district’s campuses will remain closed, but that distance learning will continue through May 27.

Browning said he agreed with DeSantis regarding the closure of campuses.

“Due to the potential health and safety risks, I could not in good conscience direct our students, teachers and staff to return in this environment,” the superintendent said.

In regards to distance learning, Browning said: “Most of our teachers and students have made tremendous progress. They have acclimated to our new normal with creativity and energy.”

He acknowledged that the district continues “to work with a very small number of students who have not yet engaged.”

Browning added that “student feeding days will continue on Tuesdays.”

The numbers are increasing each week, but the district’s food and nutrition staff, and army of volunteers are getting the job done, Browning said.

He also touched on the topics of graduations and proms.

“These are once in a lifetime experiences, and we know how important they are. We remain hopeful, and at the same time, we are weighing our options.

“We still have several weeks to make sure that our seniors have a graduation that is memorable and meaningful,” Browning said.

He added: “We know many students and teachers have a need to retrieve their belongings form school. When we left for Spring Break more than a month ago, I’m sure there were many personal belongings left in lockers and desks and cabinets. We know it’s important that you have an opportunity to retrieve your things, but it must be done safely.

“Your school will inform you about their specific plan, soon,” Browning said.

Hillsborough County public schools announced the extended closure on its website, and noted its eLearning will continue through May 29.

“We know you have many questions about your student’s grades, as well as activities and events planned during the fourth quarter. We will be providing you additional details in the coming days, including information regarding graduation ceremonies,” according to the website.

The district also announced that all May graduations will be canceled, but that it has worked with the Florida State Fairgrounds to secure alternate dates in July.

“We know this is heartbreaking for students. Especially our seniors. All extracurricular activities will be canceled during this timeframe. But, we have worked with select seniors, school-based leaders and district staff to develop multiple options for school graduations.”

In addition to announcing the campus closures, DeSantis also announced that a task force will begin work this week to “develop a three-stage approach to reopening the state: short-term, medium-term and long-term.”

The task force will meet telephonically and is expected to have its recommendations for short-term steps to DeSantis by April 24.

“Then, once we get that in place, they’re going to look to the medium- and long-term strategies,” the governor said, noting the task force will include small business owners, industry representatives and elected officials, including Wilton Simpson, incoming president of the Florida Senate, and Chris Sprowls, incoming speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.

DeSantis also gave updates on Florida’s testing efforts, and announced that the state would begin publicly reporting the names of nursing homes and long-term care facilities that have reported cases of COVID-19.

Published April 22, 2020

Zephyrhills employees taking coronavirus precautions

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Work inside Zephyrhills City Hall proceeds, but additional safety precautions have been instituted among city staffers, in response to threats posed by the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Most all city departments and employees have begun working in split shifts, or A-B shifts, to create more separation among each other, Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe explained during an April 13 virtual city council meeting.

Poe said city employees have begun a “day on, day off” schedule model — working Monday, Wednesday, and Friday one particular week, then Tuesday and Thursday the following week.

The scheduling change, which affects more than 100 city employees, is expected to continue “for the foreseeable future,” Poe said.

The change won’t really impact the city’s police and fire departments and dispatchers because they already follow a split-shift schedule, Poe said.

The city manager explained the reasoning to cut daily work crews in half, particularly for areas such as the city’s maintenance yard: “We wanted to split those crews basically in half, so that God forbid somebody comes down with it (COVID-19), they don’t infect the entire department, they only potentially affect only half the department, so that we can continue to operate.”

Meantime, most department heads are still working full shifts, Poe said, “because they’re able to be in their office and keep the separation,” though large staff meetings are being held via virtual conference call.

Some city employees have been able to work remotely, accessing desktops and answering phone calls from home. The city’s IT department is trying to issue more laptops and the necessary software for more employees to do so, Poe said.

Other safety measures have been taken, too.

Inside the confines of City Hall, staffers have relocated desks further from one another and set up glass partitions.

Each employee has been provided N95 masks, gloves and their own refillable bottle of hand sanitizer. The fire department, meanwhile, has been issued retrofit respirator masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment, some of which also has been ordered for the city’s police, utility and public works departments.

Aside from scheduling and social distancing changes, various city projects and regular day-to-day operations press forward.

Construction is ongoing at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellbeing Center, along with road resurfacing work on Sixth Avenue and 12th Street, for instance.

Other routine maintenance projects, however, are taking “a little bit longer” because of the split shifts, Poe said.

Meanwhile, the city is receiving building constructions plans and issuing permits, and collecting in-person utility payments, though residents are encouraged to pay online or use the drobox as much as possible to limit contact.

“Zephyrhills is still open for business,” the city manager said. “Obviously, we’re trying to take all the precautions we can, to create the separation and safety of all our employees and citizens, but we’re trying to keep as much normalcy as we possibly can.”

Alan Knight (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

No municipal election for Zephyrhills
Municipal elections in Pasco County have been delayed indefinitely, but in Zephyrhills a local election isn’t needed after all.

A city mayoral race was initially set between incumbent Gene Whitfield and Justin Docherty, but Docherty has since dropped out of the race after failing to properly qualify for the local election. The announcement was made during an April 13 regular city council meeting.

Gene Whitfield

Whitfield has held the mayor chair since 2014, when Danny Burgess resigned to run as the area’s state representative in Tallahassee. Whitfield has owned Whitfield Funeral Home in Zephyrhills the past 25 years. He also is former director of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

The Zephyrhills mayor serves mainly an ambassador’s role, being a presence at many public events, ribbon cuttings and so on. As far as citywide matters, the mayor doesn’t run council meetings, cannot make motions and cannot vote on matters before the council, but does have the ability to veto city ordinances.

Meanwhile, Seat 2 councilman Alan Knight retains his seat after running unopposed. Knight is a retired educator who’s worked mainly in Pasco County Schools as a teacher, coach and administrator. He was first elected to the seat in 2014.

Published April 22, 2020

Places you can turn to for help in Pasco, Hillsborough counties

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Pick up paper unemployment forms
Both Hillsborough and Pasco counties are handing out paper unemployment forms at specific libraries.

Hillsborough County
The location near The Laker/Lutz News coverage area is at Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave. The library’s drive-thru will be open seven days a week, from 9:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Once completed, residents also can drop off the forms at either drive-through, and library staff will mail the documents for them.

Pasco County
Printed unemployment forms will be available just outside the entrance to these libraries, in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:

  • Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes
  • Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City

If you’re unable to visit a library in person and would like to request a blank application form by mail, please contact the library at "> or through the “Ask A Librarian” feature at PascoLibraries.org.

Once completed, residents can mail the form to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

For more information about Pasco County Libraries, including the library catalog, E-content,  programs, events and links to all Pasco County Library branches, visit PascoLibraries.org.

Hillsborough County emergency help
As the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) fallout continues, Hillsborough County officials are reminding residents about assistance available to help people meet their food needs.

Here is a look at some programs:

  • Hillsborough residents age 60 and older can apply for food assistance through Hillsborough County Aging services. There is no income requirement to participate in the federally funded program. To find out more, call (813) 2727-5250.
  • Feeding Tampa Bay is offering drive-thru distribution of free, pre-packaged groceries to Hillsborough County residents in need. Distribution is on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Hillsborough Community College’s Dale Mabry campus, 4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd., in Tampa. Check Feeding Tampa Bay’s website before the events, to be sure there have been no changes. To find out about other food assistance programs and information, visit FeedingTampaBay.org, or call (813) 254-1190.
  • Tampa YMCA Veggie Van is distributing free pre-packaged bags of produce in several neighborhoods in Hillsborough County. No ID, paperwork or pre-screening is required to receive the food. Learn more, visit Tampa Veggie Van on Facebook.
  • SNAP recipients across the state starting April 21 will be able to use EBT cards to make eligible food purchases from Walmart and Amazon online.

Pasco Planning and development open online
Pasco County’s planning and development department is only accepting electronic submittals via its online portals. It is not accepting hard copy application packages, hard copy re-submittals or checks.

All project information must be uploaded in Accela and all payments must be made online via e-check ($1.99 fee) or credit card (2.65% fee) through the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) portal.

To communicate with the department, reach out to a specific staff member, via email or telephone. You can email general questions to , or call (727) 847-8142.

Tips for reducing stress
Here are some suggestions from the National Alliance on Mental Illness to help reduce potential stress and anxiety, as the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic disrupts our daily lives.

Manage how you consume information
Equip yourself with information from credible, reputable sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). See “Basic information” section for more links.

Be selective about how you consume news. It’s generally a good idea to stay engaged and informed. Having some limits on your news consumption can help:

  • Watching or listening to the same news constantly can increase stress. Reading can be an easier medium to control how much and what kind of information you’re absorbing.
  • Set limits on when and for how long you consume news and information, including through social media. It may help you to choose a couple of 15-minute blocks each day when you will check news/social media and limit your news consumption to that time.
  • False information spreads very easily on social media and can have serious consequences for individual and public health. Always verify sources and make sure they are reputable, especially before sharing anything.

Follow healthy daily routines as much as possible
Your daily habits and routines can help you feel more in control of your own well-being.

Even simple actions can make a difference:

  • Make your bed
  • Get dressed
  • Connect with loved ones
  • Move your body
  • Make time for breaks
  • If possible, take regular short breaks during work or between shifts. During these breaks, go outside and engage in physical activity if you can.
  • Practice good hygiene, especially by cleaning your hands
  • Get enough regular sleep, it is critical for your immune system
  • Eat nutritious food as much as possible, especially fruits and vegetables

Published April 22, 2020

Celebrating Mother Earth’s bounty

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In honor of Earth Day, let’s recognize how the Earth provides foods to keep us nourished and fed.

Gardeners tend to have an appreciation for what the Earth has to offer, but that may be especially true right now — as the world grapples with the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

A microwavable silicone popcorn popper is an easy way to make popcorn. Pour enough kernels to fill the base, close the lid (this one is foldable flaps) and microwave for about 2 minutes, or until the pops are 1 second to 2 seconds apart. (Shari Bresin)

Fears have caused people to panic shop and hoard food.

People who grow their own food don’t have such worries.

So, even if you aren’t yet a gardener, perhaps the recent times we’ve been living through will serve as a motivator for you to consider taking it up.

Having a diet that consists primarily of foods that came from a plant is helpful to maintain good health.

It’s hard to get the recommended amounts of vitamins, minerals and fiber if you mostly consume processed prepackaged foods. If you’re doing that, you’re likely consuming too much sodium, fat and sugar.

Food from the ground, such as herbs, spices, beans, nuts, whole grains, vegetables and fruit are full of nutrients. They’re considered nutrient-dense foods because they have a high nutrition content, with few calories.

A calorie-dense diet, on the other hand, is one that has lots of calories and little nutrition.

For instance, think of the choice between a sugary soda vs. a homemade fruit smoothie.

Your body will get lots of calories from the soda, but negligible nutrition.

A fruit smoothie, on the other hand, has much more nutrition. To make one, use a small amount of 100% juice, some plain flavored yogurt, and various fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries, bananas, kale and so on.

Or consider the difference between a doughnut and a bowl of oatmeal (no sugar added), mixed with fruit.

The doughnut provides plenty of calories, sugar and fat. The oatmeal with fruit provides fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Some options are less obvious.

When choosing packaged foods, be sure to read the ingredients.

Here’s a tip: Look for packaged foods with a short list of ingredients, and ingredients that are easy to pronounce.

Also, be sure to check the nutrition content on the nutrition facts label.

Be sure to keep in mind that even when a meal starts off healthy, it can quickly become less healthy by heaping on toppings containing fat, sodium, sugar and calories.

One way to add flavor to your foods while skipping all of the extra calories is to use herbs and spices.

So, skip the sauces, gravies or dressings, and use herbs and spices to add flavor.

Here are some popular herb/spice combinations, recommended by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, for livening up common meals:

  • For beef: Try bay leaf, marjoram, nutmeg, sage, thyme, onion powder or pepper
  • For lamb: Try curry powder, garlic, mint or rosemary
  • For pork: Try onion powder, garlic powder, sage, pepper or oregano
  • For veal: Try bay leaf, curry powder, ginger, marjoram or oregano
  • For chicken: Try ginger, marjoram, oregano, paprika, poultry seasoning, rosemary, sage, tarragon or thyme
  • For fish: Try curry powder, dill, dry mustard, marjoram, paprika or pepper

And now, for some popular combinations for vegetables that are currently in season:

  • Carrots: Try cinnamon, cloves, dill, ginger, marjoram, nutmeg, rosemary, sage
  • Corn: Try cumin, curry powder, onion, paprika, parsley
  • Potatoes: Try dill, garlic, onion, paprika, parsley, sage
  • Summer squash: Try cloves, curry powder, marjoram, nutmeg, rosemary, sage
  • Tomatoes: Try basil, bay leaf, dill, marjoram, onion, oregano, parsley, pepper

Here are a couple of tips.

Herbs (the leafy part of the plant) and spices (the root, bark, stem, etc.) can be fresh or dried; just know that if a ratio calls for one and you substitute for the other, the amount will vary.

Keep in mind that 1 tablespoon of cut fresh herbs is the equivalent of one teaspoon of crumbled dried herbs and ¼ teaspoon to ½ teaspoon of ground dried herbs.

Also, remember there really isn’t a right or wrong way to flavor your food. So, add spices and herbs, based on your personal preferences — and enjoy!

By Shari Bresin

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

Recipe
Here’s a nice healthy snack you can make for the kids (or yourself) as they do school, or you work at home.

Directions:
Pop popcorn kernels on your stove, or in a microwavable silicone popcorn popper.

Instead of the typical toppings of salt, butter or cheese — try topping the popcorn with some olive oil and dried herbs or spices.

Some possible topping flavor combinations include:

  • Rosemary and ground pepper
  • Garlic powder and onion powder
  • Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes
  • Cilantro and lime juice
  • Basil, oregano and red chili powder

Published April 22, 2020

Florida’s Sports Coast seeks rebound from COVID-19

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The months of March and April historically yield the highest tourist development tax revenues seen all year in Pasco County, tourism officials say.

And, Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, the county’s tourism arm, was expecting another sunny spring — further buoyed by neighbor Tampa hosting WrestleMania and the NCAA March Madness college basketball tournament, among other nationwide sports attractions.

The $44 million, 98,000-square-foot Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County is still on track for opening this summer, and hosting a slew of multi-purpose sporting events beginning this fall. (File)

Then coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) delivered a lethal blow — coincidently around the time county tourism leaders were set to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Florida’s Sports Coast rebrand.

“This couldn’t have come at a worse time for us,” Florida’s Sports Coast tourism director Adam Thomas told The Laker/Lutz News. “We had new promotions to celebrate and really promote, and really, our balloon got shot down.”

The pandemic didn’t just rain on the tourism agency’s birthday parade. It also forced the postponement or cancellation of at least nine sporting events.

They include:

  • Amateur Athletic Union Florida West Coast Karate Championships in Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill
  • Savage Race and Savage Blitz extreme mud and obstacle course races in Dade City
  • Gran Fondo Florida bicycle race in San Antonio
  • USA Hockey Adult Men’s and Women’s National Championships at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel
  • Florida Premier Football Club Spring Showcase at fields in Land O’ Lakes, Odessa and New Port Richey
  • Caliente Dare to Bare 5K in Land O’ Lakes
  • Amateur Junior Golf Association qualifier event at Saddlebrook Golf Club in Wesley Chapel
  • Sunshine State Games Figure Skating Championships at AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel

But, Florida’s Sports Coast officials aren’t throwing in the towel just yet, even as hotel room nights and economic impact losses pile up.

Thomas said his office is working with the various events rightsholders and decisionmakers in hopes to reschedule many of those postponed events sometime later this year, once travel bans and stay-at-home orders are lifted.

“All we can do is keep those conversations going and keep a positive dialogue with each rightsholder but, at the end of the day, it’s up to them,” the tourism director said.

Meantime, Florida’s Sports Coast officials anticipate a strong rebound from mid-summer onward — as a slew of new sports and recreation facilities are set to come online.

Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, Pasco County’s tourism arm, is banking on a strong rebound, despite cancellations resulting from the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Among the most ballyhooed is the $44 million, 98,000-square-foot Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County in Wesley Chapel, which is eyeing a July opening. The indoor multi-purpose sports complex is on track to host eight different events in the fall, beginning with a September volleyball tournament.

Thomas called the facility “the big highlight of our summer,” also noting the venue scored a “major, major event” in basketball for 2021.

The county also expects to reap the benefits of the $4.9 million Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellbeing Center, set to open late summer. The facility figures to have a global reach and play host to large United States Tennis Association-level tournaments. “It’s a little nugget in our back pocket,” Thomas said.

Moreover, Snowcat Ridge, promoted as the state’s first alpine snow park, is still believed to be on track for a November opening in Dade City.

Florida’s Sports Coast communications manager Kolby Kuyck Gayson said that project is integral to the agency’s recovery plan, “because it’s a brand new attraction and it’s going to be hitting right at the time where we’re expecting people to finally be comfortable really getting out there and traveling.”

The tourism office has other reasons for guarded optimism, too.

The 10-daylong Tohrs2Hot4Ice roller derby national championships remains a go for late June and early July at AdventHealth Center Ice. The event could generate as many as 2,000 room nights and an economic impact north of $4 million, Thomas said.

Florida’s Sports Coast also is doubling down on promoting leisure activities, such as a 10-day bay scallop season along the Anclote River, which hopes to draw families within a 350-mile driving radius across Florida, south Georgia and so on.

Elsewhere, the tourism office is pushing to solicit more business meetings and corporate retreats to county hotels through the end of the year.

Pasco had a record year for tourism  in 2019 — hitting the million-visitor mark for the first time ever.

Per tourism office reports, 1,038,700 million visitors generated 1,217,021 room nights in paid accommodations between October 2018 and September 2019. The county’s annual bed tax collections surpassed $3 million for the first time, in that span.

Thomas acknowledged those numbers will be down across the board this year, but added fiscal year 2021 should be “a banner year” from an increased demand for vacations and visitations.

Thomas observed, “This is kind of an anomaly we’re dealing with, not just Pasco, but the entire global tourism marketplace is dealing with the same issue. The demand (for vacations) is at an all-time low now. A year from now, the demand is going to be at an all-time high. …There is a light at the end of the tunnel, there is a brighter day ahead of us.”

Published April 22, 2020

Crisis line’s call volume rises

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The call volume has been increasing at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, amid the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Statistics kept by the crisis center reveal that from March 21 through March 27, a total of 1,617 calls came in — with 540 of those being related to COVID-19.

Calls from March 28 to April 3 totaled 1,828, including 704 pandemic-related calls.

Clara Reynolds, president and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, said the center is fielding more calls and spending more time on each call, as anxiety increases during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. (Courtesy of Crisis Center of Tampa Bay)

“The biggest reason right now is regarding financial assistance, but we also saw a high rate of individuals seeking emotional support, as well,” said Clara Reynolds, the crisis center’s president and CEO.

“And, as you can imagine, you may be calling because you’re worried about your finances, but you can see where that would also have an emotional toll,” Reynolds said.

During the week ending March 27, there were 236 calls involving financial need; during the week ending April 3, the volume of those kind of calls increased to 412.

“Certainly, what we have seen, too, added into this stress over the past week, now Week 2, is adding the home educational requirement that many families are experiencing as well,” Reynolds noted.

“You’ve got one — the stress of the virus. Then you’ve got lockdown, which can add additional stress to households. Then you add people losing their jobs, or seeing their jobs change significantly, i.e., working from home, versus working in an office. Then, you add these children on top of it that have to have some educational stuff at home, as well.

“It is just a soup of stress and anxiety,” Reynolds said.

On top of that, there’s additional stress and anxiety for people who are living in a domestic violence situation, or in a home that’s not stable and steady.

When people call 211 looking for assistance and support, they may be calling in regarding whatever the top issue is at that time, Reynolds said.

But, she added: “it’s always a symptom of bigger problems.”

“Right now, the big symptom is, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to keep this roof over my head. I don’t know how I’m going to feed my family,’” Reynolds said.

“We believe that after we watch the COVID-19 spike and then start to decline —  we are going to see an incredible increase in the number of behavioral health calls,” she said.

“People right now are just trying to survive, whatever survival looks like.

“Once we get past it and life returns to this ‘normal’ place, we believe we’re going to see a behavioral health crisis like we’ve never seen before,” she said.

Those mental health needs are likely to come from first responders, who are working 16-hour to 20-hour days. Or, from people who had jobs and don’t have them now, or the jobs they have, have changed.

“It’s going to be this new ‘normal,’ that many of us are not going to know how to manage or navigate,” Reynolds said.

Before COVID-19, she said. “we would spend about 7 minutes on average, with each caller, helping them to talk through what their issues were, so we could really get to the root of a problem.”

Now, it’s taking 15 minutes to 20 minutes.

“There’s so much stress, we’ve got to de-escalate first before we can then get to the root of the problem,” she said.

There’s also a percentage of callers that Reynolds described as “high-need, high-utilizers.”

Those callers may call in as may 200 to 300 times a year, because the crisis center is their outlet, she said.

Typically, a call like that may take 15 minutes to 20 minutes to de-escalate. Now, it’s maybe taking 30 minutes to 45 minutes, Reynolds said.

“So, not only has our call volume increased, but it’s taking us longer to get through each call to make sure that we’re providing a real benefit,” Reynolds said.

Concerns about the pandemic can affect people of all ages, so Reynolds offers this advice on how to talk to children about it.

“I think it’s important for them to understand how they can help because kids are natural helpers. Anything that they can do to feel like they are doing something positive to contribute, will help to lessen their anxiety.”

Teach them about washing their hands, covering their coughs and sneezes, staying 6 feet away from others, she said.

It’s also easy for people to feel socially isolated and miss having contact with family and friends, she said.

She recommends making creative use of technology to bridge gaps, such as holding virtual happy hours.

She said it’s also a great time to journal, express yourself artistically, do coloring sheets, or cook.

At a time when you can’t make in-person connections with your family and friends, it’s a good time to give yourself permission to engage “in more self-care than you normally would,” Reynolds said.

Need help?
Those in a domestic violence situation should call 911, 211 or The Spring of Tampa. TheSpring.org has resources to help.

Published April 15, 2020

Pandemic affects Pasco services

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Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has affected local government services.

Here’s a look at some of the changes. Be sure to check the Pasco County website, at PascoCountyFl.net, for updated information.

CLOSED Pasco County buildings and properties until further notice:

  • Historic Pasco County Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave., Dade City
  • Guardian Ad Litem Office West
  • Guardian Ad Litem Office East
  • Elderly Nutrition East, 13853 15th St., Dade City
  • Elderly Nutrition Central, 6801 Wisteria Loop, Land O’ Lakes
  • Elderly Nutrition West, 8600 Galen Wilson Blvd., New Port Richey
  • All Pasco County Libraries (closed until April 30)
  • All Parks are closed, along with Recreation Complexes, Community & Education Centers
  • All parks-sponsored large events and mass gatherings are cancelled, until further notice, and the following parks facilities in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area are closed: Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex; Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park Community Center; and Starkey Wilderness Park Education Center.
  • All Pasco County libraries are closed through April 30.
  • All Pasco County Senior Centers are closed, and all senior programs, activities, classes and meetings are cancelled until further notice. Call (727) 834-3340 for more information.
  • Pasco County Recycling closed its three community recycling drop-offs until further notice.
  • All Property Appraiser’s offices are closed to the public until further notice. Employees are working remotely, and online services are available: PascoPA.com.
  • The Pasco County Tax Collector’s five offices are closed to lobby traffic, but drive-thru services are available for certain transactions. Visit PascoTaxes.com for more information.

OPEN

  • The Animal Services shelter is open. Animal Services is restricting all field operation calls to only emergency response and priority calls. Animal Services is not accepting owner/agent surrendered animals; intakes will be scheduled for a later date. In-person pet licensing sales are suspended until further notice.
  • Pet licensing is available online: secure.pascocountyfl.net/petlicensing.
  • Select boat ramps and the Suncoast Trail will remain open. (Please follow all CDC social distancing guidelines.)
  • Pasco County Public Transportation (PCPT) is suspending all fares until further notice. The number of riders will be limited, and to accommodate the change, there will be more buses on the county’s busiest routes by temporarily suspending services on Routes 18, 25, 31 and 41.

For more information, visit: bit.ly/PCPTRiderAlerts.

  • Pasco County Solid Waste is limiting access to the West Pasco Resource Recovery and the East Pasco Transfer Station. Only commercial vendors and customers with bagged, household waste will be able to drop off trash.
  • The Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office is encouraging the use of online and telephone resources to resolve issues, pay fines, check on public records, track court events and much more. To see a full list of services available to you remotely, visit PascoClerk.com/809/COVID-19-Coronavirus-Pandemic.

• UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County is offering online webinars, meetings and activities, and postponing all in-person events, meetings and activities through April 30. Visit its website for more information.

Published April 15, 2020

Signs of our time

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Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has affected every aspect of life.

Most of the time, when kids aren’t in school, they can just go to the park to play. But, during this time of COVID-19, that is not an option. (B.C. Manion)

The global pandemic has caused thousands of deaths and has rocked the economy — with no clear end in sight.

The unemployment rate has soared; millions are out of work.

School campuses are closed and parents, teachers and students are adapting to distance teaching and learning.

Businesses have suffered huge losses. Some have shuttered temporarily. Some don’t expect to be back. Others are trying to hold on by changing the way they do business.

Roller-skating at Eddie’s Roller Rink, on State Road 52 in San Antonio, will have to wait — until the pandemic passes. (Christine Holtzman)

Grocery stores have signs on shelves, limiting the number of items patrons can purchase, such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, eggs, canned fruits, bread and others.

More customers are ordering groceries online and having them delivered.

The threat posed by the deadly virus has halted social gatherings, shut down parks, and closed gyms and libraries. It has forced movie theaters to go dark.

Churches, synagogues and other religious centers have had to find new ways to share their faith.

Sanders Memorial Elementary School offers an upbeat message on its school marquee, encouraging everyone to be strong and stay healthy. (B.C. Manion)

Efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in nursing homes closing their doors to visitors. Hospitals have imposed strict visitor policies. Large gatherings for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and even funerals are being postponed, or skipped entirely.

People in some states, including Florida, are being ordered to stay home when possible, and to wear masks in public places.

In the midst of the upheaval, there are those who offer hope, humor, optimism and help.

And, there are some offering encouragement, too, such as Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes.

Its sign reads:  “Stay safe and healthy.”

Published April 15, 2020

Hungry Harry’s, a mainstay in Land O’ Lakes, is still serving to-go orders pit-side. Call ahead for faster service. (Christine Holtzman)
The school community of Countryside Montessori wants its Cougars to know that they’re missed. (B.C. Manion)
This signs informs patrons that the CrossFit facility in Lutz is closed due to the governor’s mandate, relating to COVID-19. (B.C. Manion)