The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Hurricane Irma

Stay safe: Hurricane season can be deadly

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Tropical Storm Elsa was headed toward the Tampa Bay region this week, and it was too early to know what the impacts would be — as The Laker/Lutz News went to print.

Regardless of Elsa’s impact, experts are predicting an above-normal Hurricane Season 2021.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center has predicted a 60% chance of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and a 10% chance of a below-normal season.

NOAA 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, according to the predictions.

Laura Wilcoxen, interim director for emergency management in Pasco County urges people to prepare now, so they can take any actions that become necessary, if a big storm heads our way. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

An average hurricane season – which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30 — produces 14 named storms, of which seven become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes, according to NOAA’s updated statistics.

The last hurricane to hit Pasco County was Hurricane Irma, in 2017. County officials have estimated that more than 200 homes were damaged, with 56 homes suffering major damage and four homes destroyed, according to the 2021 Pasco County Disaster Preparedness Guide.

Of the 261,000 addresses in Pasco County, approximately 217,000 addresses reportedly were without power, the guide adds.

As this issue of The Laker/Lutz News was going to print, experts were keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Elsa that was brewing, but it was too early to tell whether the storm would affect the Tampa Bay region.

Of course, it’s impossible to predict when or where a hurricane or tropical storm will strike, so that’s why emergency management officials urge residents to be ready to take whatever actions are necessary.

Laura Wilcoxen, interim director for emergency management for Pasco County, said residents need to prepare now, so they can be ready if a threat arises.

Prepare now
It’s important to keep in mind there are just a couple of thousand first responders, Wilcoxen said, compared to more than 550,000 Pasco County residents.

“So, personal responsibility is extremely important for us all to be able to recover as quickly as we can,” she said.

First, know your hazards, she said. “Are you in an evacuation zone? Are you in a flood zone?

“You know best where you live. You know best the route that you routinely travel,” Wilcoxen said.

Perhaps you’re new to the area.

In that case, Wilcoxen suggests: “Talk to your neighbors. Ask them what their experience has been in past storms.”

Perhaps you haven’t geared up yet for this storm season.

Wilcoxen offers this advice: “Prepare a simple go-kit: Quick things that you can grab, in a backpack. Water, some food, your medications, batteries, a flashlight.”

Prepare a larger home kit, too.

That kit should include 1 gallon of water per person, per day, for up to 7 days; nonperishable food, a non-electric can opener, hygiene items, and so on.

Those preparing disaster kits also should keep in mind the need to pack personal protection equipment, such as masks and gloves, in case they are needed, she said.

As you make preparations, consider any special needs of elderly or disabled people, infants and pets, she said.

Also, if you will need a special shelter, be sure to know where they are and how to register.

This is the list of 2021 Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Names from the World Meteorological Organization and presented in a graphic by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. See page 1B for a lengthy list of practical tips intended to help you prepare before storms threaten; stay safe if severe weather hits; and, respond in the aftermath. (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Stay safe
“Each storm is different. Some of the worst damage that this county has experienced has been because of a tropical storm,” Wilcoxen said.

Residents need to know their evacuation zone.

“Heed the warnings. There can be a lot of complacency based on previous experience,” Wilcoxen said.

“If county officials are giving you a warning that it’s time to evacuate, it’s because there’s a high potential for threats to life and safety,” the emergency response expert said.

Areas of special concern include coastal areas that are subject to storm surge and buildings that would be susceptible to wind damage, such as mobile homes or homes that are not secured to their foundation, she said.

There are public shelters available, but they should be the option of last resort, Wilcoxen said.

It’s better for people to find friends or family, or stay in a hotel, Wilcoxen said.

“You are going to be much more comfortable than you would be at a shelter,” she added. “Shelters are really like the lifeboat —they’re the lifeboat, not the cruise ship.”

County shelters will follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Florida Department of Health, Wilcoxen said.

There will be isolation areas, if needed, because of COVID-19, she added.

Protect your property, and yourself
“Know what your insurance covers,” Wilcoxen said.

If you need flood insurance, get it now.

New flood insurance policies cannot be obtained, if a storm is approaching.

It’s also a good idea to take action now, such as trimming your trees, to reduce potential property damage, she said.

When a storm is approaching, store items — such as patio furniture, grills and planters — in a garage or in another secure place. Those could become projectiles during high winds.

If you have emergency equipment, be sure you know how it works. That’s particularly true about generators, Wilcoxen said.

“Make sure they’re (generators) properly installed. You don’t want to put them inside your garage. Don’t put them next to your bedroom window. Make sure the way it is wired in, is correct,” Wilcoxen said. “You don’t want to have a disaster, within a disaster.”

Be sure you have a communication plan.

Whether you are evacuating or sheltering in place, be sure to share the specifics with someone who is outside of the danger zone.

Keep informed
Wilcoxen encourages residents to register for the AlertPasco app, which provides timely reports.

The county also has the social media NextDoor app, which can push out more information, easily, she said.

Wilcoxen also recommends that residents read the county’s disaster guide.

“It’s been updated and designed to make it user-friendly,” Wilcoxen said.

The county’s preparedness videos, on the emergency management page of the county’s website, are helpful, too, she said.

“If you have people who are interested in learning about how to properly fill a sandbag and stack them, we have a video about sandbags. If you want to learn more about what to take to a shelter, we have a video on our shelters. We also have one on how to build a kit.

“They’re just great, useful, educational tools,” Wilcoxen said.

“If you have any questions ever, make sure you’re reaching out and asking. Our team is here to help,” Wilcoxen said.

Preparing for a disaster
Would your organization or association like to know more about preparing for a disaster? Pasco County’s emergency management department has speakers available to provide presentations. To find out more, call 727-847-8137.

Written for July 07, 2021 publications

Revised July 05, 2021

State lawmaker offers overview of past legislative session

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This past legislative session — and money flowing into Pasco County from the state’s record $88.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2019 — was the topic du jour for State Rep. Danny Burgess, during a recent appearance at a North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Burgess, who represents the House District 38 seat covering east Pasco and portions of central Pasco, highlighted a number of local projects that received state funding:

  • $15 million for the Overpass Road interchange at Interstate 75
  • $4.3 million for the Thomas Varnadoe Forensic Center for Research and Education located at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center
  • $1 million for the proposed Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center in Zephyrhills
  • $5.9 million for upgrades at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport
  • $750,000 for a road study on pursuing an additional extension to State Road 56 that would link to State Road 39
State Rep. Danny Burgess was the featured guest speaker at the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s September breakfast. (File)

“We walked away locally in east Pasco with the most historic levels of funding that we’ve ever had. We were able to do some pretty good things for this area,” said Burgess, the featured guest speaker at the chamber’s September breakfast at the Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

Overall, the entire state budget was a 7.6 percent increase, or about $6.3 billion more than the   2018 fiscal budget.

Burgess noted the considerable surge was due to some “unforeseen things,” including Hurricane Irma, the Parkland shooting and rising health care costs related to Medicaid.

Even so, Burgess said the state still came away with a balanced budget and AAA bond rating, which he characterizes as “fantastic news” for areas, including Pasco County, that are “developing and growing and expanding their business base.”

Said Burgess: “All of the major publications and research entities in the country are still ranking Florida the top one, or two, in terms of fiscal health and places that people want to be in, and, places that people want to start their business, so that matters. Florida is right there neck and neck with Texas in terms of desirability and enacting the right policies to have a friendly business climate, so those are things that we can continue to foster and build upon as we move forward.”

Meanwhile, of the 74 bills signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, Burgess said the “biggest win” of the legislative session was the passage of HB 37, which sets forth parameters for direct primary care agreements.

Under direct primary care agreements, doctors charge patients monthly fees in advance of providing services, with patients then able to access services at no extra charge.

The bill amends the state insurance code to make clear that direct primary care agreements do not violate insurance regulations.

Primary care providers are defined as physicians, osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, nurses or primary care group practices.

Burgess, who sponsored the bill with Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, said there’d been an attempt to pass some variation of the bill over the last four years.

He explained the legislation should benefit small businesses who’d like to offer health care options for their employees, but otherwise can’t afford to in the traditional health care marketplace.

“This bill is a great way to expand options and access for Floridians everywhere,” the state representative said.

“It removes that middleman of bureaucracy of health care and health insurance, and it allows so much more time between the patient and doctor.

“I think that it’ll have a big impact for us as we move forward. More doctors are going to start practicing in this arena, which is great,” the state lawmaker said.

Elsewhere, Burgess touched on other priorities Florida needs to address going forward — such as expanding opportunities for veterans statewide.

The state representative stressed the need to provide more options for soldiers suffering from combat-related illnesses, including post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injuries.

He also mentioned the need to create more workforce opportunities for veterans through equivalency of training programs in careers, including law enforcement, engineering, firefighting, contracting and others.

Said Burgess: “Florida needs to be the most veteran-friendly state in the nation. I think that we’re close to being there.

“We’ve done a lot to be there, but I think we have a long way to go.”

Published September 12, 2018

Nursing homes and hospitals face new fees

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Hurricane Irma largely spared Tampa Bay, and Pasco County, from its destructive path in 2017.

But, Irma also cast light on a weakness in hurricane preparedness for one of the most vulnerable populations – people living in licensed health care facilities.

Kevin Guthrie, assistant county administrator for public safety

The Pasco County Commission on July 10 approved an ordinance that makes provisions for coordinating evacuation plans between licensed health care facilities and the county’s emergency operations.

The ordinance also provides a fee schedule for licensed facilities, such as nursing homes and hospitals, to pay for county-led training and exercises in emergency management. And, it allows Pasco to hire an emergency management coordinator at an annual salary of about $61,000.

The coordinator will oversee the county’s health care operations program, including annual reviews of emergency plans prepared by licensed health care facilities. There also will be at least six annual training courses, and at least eight staged exercises to prepare for emergencies.

“The health care industry contacted us about this,” said Kevin Guthrie, Pasco’s assistant county administrator for public safety.

During Irma, some nursing homes evacuated patients to the county’s shelters. But, issues arose on the patient’s care and how they would be transported back to the nursing homes after Irma passed, county officials said.

Pasco County deputies, in some instances, had to step in and provide transportation.

Commissioners discussed the matter in a January workshop with local health care officials.

Funding for the program will come from annual fees of $250 collected from licensed facilities with 16 or fewer beds; and, $500 from facilities with more than 16 beds.

Also, a fee of just under $12 per bed will be collected.

At the January workshop, county officials reported estimates of more than 6,200 beds within the county. Most of the beds were at assisted living facilities, nursing homes and hospitals.

Published July 18, 2018

New fees needed to help protect patients during hurricanes?

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Pasco County commissioners are discussing the possibility of imposing new fees to help protect patients in licensed health care facilities when hurricanes threaten or hit.

Although Hurricane Irma was a less destructive storm than many feared as it blew through the Tampa Bay region, it revealed potential problems in protecting, evacuating and sheltering patients in licensed health care facilities.

County staff provided a preview of a proposal to address those issues at a Jan. 30 workshop with commissioners in Dade City. Representatives of Florida Health Pasco County and Medical Center of Trinity attended, too.

Kevin Guthrie, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator for public safety

Recommendations include training exercises, drills and hiring a full-time operations coordinator.

And, there are ongoing discussions on how to fund all of this.

County officials favor collecting an annual fee per bed, ranging from just under $12 to slightly more than $14.

Preliminary estimates show the county has more than 6,200 beds. Most are in assisted living facilities, nursing homes and hospitals.

A second option would be an annual fee per facility ranging from about $864 to more than $914.

Pasco would like to hire the operations coordinator by this spring.

Initially, health care providers could be asked to make voluntary contributions until a fee schedule is approved.

The county’s operations coordinator would serve as liaison between Pasco, the state health department and licensed facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living establishments, hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.

“We have to have one person who is dedicated to this,” said Kevin Guthrie, Pasco’s assistant county administrator for public safety. “We just don’t have that.”

The county’s emergency management department reviews and approves emergency plans prepared by those facilities. There is much to consider.

State and federal laws apply to health care providers and their emergency readiness.

For example, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, set new rules for patient safety during emergencies for a list of 17 categories of Medicare and Medicaid providers. Those took effect in November 2017.

The list includes hospitals, hospices, transplant centers, home health agencies and community mental health centers.

The county also has other rules that come under review.

Gov. Rick Scott issued an emergency order after 14 nursing home patients in Hollywood died after a power failure at their nursing home. The governor’s order requires health care providers have generators and fuel to last four days.

The same rule applies whether the facility has six beds or 400.

“It’s going to be some of the smaller units that struggle and need help,” said Devin Sommise, director of engineering and facilities for the Medical Center of Trinity.

Pasco has as many as 26 shelters available for emergencies. Many are based in area high schools and middle schools.

As Hurricane Irma approached, some nursing homes evacuated patients to shelters.

But, there were problems.

According to Guthrie, 15-passenger vans would show up at a shelter “just dropping off people at the door step.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said at least one nursing home didn’t have enough staff to transport patients from a shelter back to the nursing home.

“It was disappointing they didn’t staff to get their patients back,” he said.

Pasco County Sheriff’s office stepped in and brought passenger vans to pick the patients up, Moore added.

“Somebody from the facility should have to stay with them,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

The county’s proposal would focus on developing a communication plan to prevent similar occurrences.

If the new job position is approved, duties would include reviewing, but not writing, emergency plans for health care facilities in Pasco, as well as facilitating eight exercise events and six training courses.

“Everyone has to have a plan. Everyone has to execute it,” said Sommise. “How are you getting these people out? Show me.”

Published February 14, 2018

Local man reaches ‘Hall of Fame’ status with relief charity

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When Mike Mira headed to the Noon Rotary Club Zephyrhills meeting nearly six years ago, he didn’t know it was going to change his life.

Mike Mira sits in his Zephyrhills restaurant, with a plaque and numerous $100,000 candy bars. The candy bars signify the amount of money that Mira has raised for ShelterBoxUSA, an organization that provides help internationally to victims of disaster. (B.C. Manion)

But, when the Zephyrhills man heard the presentation from ShelterBoxUSA representatives, he knew he wanted to get involved.

The presentation came about 18 months after the earthquake in Haiti, Mira said.

ShelterBox, which is an international organization, responds to disasters around the world. Trained responders will do an assessment to see what the need is, Mira said.

“If there’s a need, they’ll call for shelter boxes to come in,” he said.

The aid the organization sends is adaptable, based on what’s needed.

Sometimes it sends sturdy green shelter boxes, which hold practical tools and utensils, to support everyday life.

Contents of the box can vary, based on the disaster that occurred and the climate where it happened.

In general, though, each box contains a family-sized tent, solar lights, water storage and purification equipment, thermal blankets and cooking utensils.

In other cases, it sends shelter kits. These include toolkits, ropes, fasteners and heavy-duty tarps that can be used to build a shelter, repair damaged buildings and begin to rebuild a home.

These flooding victims in Malawi are carrying shelter boxes. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

Again, the kits are customized to suit the needs of the community. Sometimes they include corrugated iron to help make resilient roofing, or even room dividers and mattresses to make warehouses habitable.

In some situations, the kits might also include solar lights, mattresses and water containers.

Sometimes, when families can’t start rebuilding their homes immediately, the organization supplies large, sturdy tents that can withstand extreme weather conditions and temperatures.

When a disaster strikes, ShelterBox Response Teams travel to the area to determine what, if any kind of response is needed, Mira said.

They go by foot, boat, helicopter or even tuk-tuk to get there, according to the organization’s website.

ShelterBox also makes sure the items end up in the right hands, Mira said.

These victims of an earthquake in Nepal are carrying supplies provided by ShelterBox. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

“If they don’t come in through customs into our hands, we don’t bring them in. We want to make sure they actually go to the people who actually need them.

“That was the biggest selling point for me to get involved in the organization,” said Mira, who recently was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame.

ShelterBox’s history dates back to 2000, Mira said, noting it was started by a Rotary Club.

“They wanted to help people who had lost everything,” he said.

“They came up with a kit. It had a tent. Basically, a glorified camping kit,” Mira said.

Over time, the organization grew into its own separate international entity, which is based in the United Kingdom.

A donkey hauls a cart holding a shelter box, in Ethiopia. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

There are 14 affiliates around the world, Mira said.

“ShelterBoxUSA is right here in Lakewood Ranch, near Sarasota,” said Mira, who is a lead ambassador for the organization, and oversees the ambassadors in Florida and Georgia. He personally covers Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

Mira has done his part to spread the word, giving more than 100 presentations and raising more than $100,000. For his efforts, he recently became the 23rd person inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame.

The organization also has a location in Santa Barbara, California.

While it responds to disasters in far-off parts of the world, it also responds in the United States, he said.

“After Hurricane Katrina, when federal, state and local government were all pointing the finger at each other, and ‘Who’s problem is this?’ ShelterBox was on the ground,” he said, helping families.

“Superstorm Sandy, we responded. There wasn’t a need for the shelter. But, we left tons of mittens and scarves and hats.

These children and a woman sit in a tent provided by ShelterBox. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

“We tailor the kits to where they are going,” Mira said.

“After the Japanese tsunami, we put a bunch of winter gloves and hats, and things like that, scarves. If it is going somewhere in Africa, we’ll put extra mosquito netting.”

It costs $1,000 for each shelter box, he said. In 2017, the organization helped 160,000 people, he added.

The organization focuses solely on helping families who have lost their shelter to operate from day to day.

“When the Haiti earthquake hit, the responder from ShelterBox called headquarters and said ‘Send everything we have.’

‘Everything in Cornwall?

‘No, everything we have around the world. We need it all.’

“We sent 28,417 shelter boxes, and an additional 7,000 just tents,” he said.

ShelterBox does not provide food.

“We work with other aid agencies. We provide the shelter. There are other agencies that provide the food, the medicine and stuff like that,” Mira said.

ShelterBox is currently responding in the Caribbean following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Bangladesh following flooding in the north and the Rohingya refugee crisis in the south, and Somaliland where people are displaced by drought. The organization is also providing aid to people displaced by conflict situations in Syria, Iraq, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Mira is proud of the organization’s record.

“We’re Charity Navigator 4-star rated, the highest rating you can get from Charity Navigator.

Anyone who would like to help can go to ShelterBoxUSA.com to donate.

“If there are any organizations who want a presentation, they can contact me,” Mira said. He can be reached at (813) 469-0243.

Published January 10, 2018

2017 had it all: A sinkhole, Hurricane Irma, wildfires and floods

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But, it also was a year of significant growth, notable achievements and touching moments, too.

It’s not often that Land O’ Lakes makes the international news, but it did just that in July when a massive sinkhole swallowed two homes in Lake Padgett Estates.

This is an aerial view of a giant sinkhole that developed in Lake Padgett Estates, swallowing two homes and causing several others to be condemned. (File)

Then, just a few months later in September, the world’s attention turned to Florida as a potential category 5 Hurricane Irma appeared heading straight toward Tampa Bay.

The year also was marked by severe flooding and wildfires in Pasco County.

It also was a year for the changing of the guard, as Dan Biles was named Pasco County’s administrator to replace Michele Baker, who retired.

Scores of headlines during 2017 involved stories about the area’s congested roadways — and projects that are planned, underway or being discussed to improve traffic flow.

Major road projects that have begun or are planned include improvements to Interstate 75 and state roads 54 and 52. A four-lane extension of State Road 56, between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, is also under construction.

With its sustained wind speeds of 185 mph, Hurricane Irma was deemed to be one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the Atlantic. At one point, forecasters said it appeared headed toward making a direct hit on the Tampa Bay region.

Another improvement, known as the diverging diamond, is planned to improve traffic flow at I-75 and State Road 56.

And, discussions continue over the best ways to reduce congestion at U.S. 41 and State Road 54, an intersection that handles roughly 100,000 vehicles per day.

The county also appears to be making progress in its quest to secure a permit for the extension of Ridge Road, a project it has been seeking for nearly two decades. While the project can’t come soon enough for supporters, its detractors remain steadfast in their opposition.

Increasing traffic is a symptom of Pasco’s robust growth
Housing developments, retail projects, restaurants, businesses and medical facilities are sprouting up on land previously occupied by citrus groves, farms and cattle ranches.

New schools continue to pop up, or expand, too.

Zephyrhills now has a permanent venue for community events, such as the Z’ Hills BBQ & Blues Fest, a popular event, which features blues bands and tasty barbecue.

In August, Pasco County Schools opened Bexley Elementary, in the Bexley subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes and Cypress Creek Middle High School, off Old Pasco Road, in Wesley Chapel. In the coming year, it plans to begin construction of Cypress Creek Middle School.

Also, on the same campus, the school district and Pasco-Hernando State College plan to operate a new performing arts center. That center will be built by the college with $15.5 million in state funds, but both the school district and the college will use it as a teaching facility.

Meanwhile, the school district continues massive renovation projects at Land O’ Lakes High School and at Woodland Elementary School in Zephyrhills.

More public school projects are expected, as funding for school construction gets a boost from increased school impacts fees adopted by the Pasco County Commission that will begin being phased in on Jan. 1.

On the private school front, North Tampa Christian Academy is expected to begin operations in Wesley Chapel in the fall of 2018.

Roy Hardy, of Dade City, who died this year, was known for his perfect Kiwanis attendance and his fish fry fundraisers for the Hardy Benevolent Fund to help cover medical costs for others in need.

And, a charter school also has announced its intentions to open in Wesley Chapel in 2019, but has not identified its location yet.

The year also signaled changes on the spiritual scene across the region, too.

Van Dyke Church in Lutz changed its name to Bay Hope and expanded the scope of its mission. North Pointe Church settled into its first permanent home in Lutz, and the Episcopal Church announced its intentions to branch into Wesley Chapel.

The region also added to its list of amenities during the past year.

In Wesley Chapel, the 150,000-square-foot Florida Hospital Center Ice opened in January, with its Olympic-size rink, three National Hockey League-size rinks and one junior rink. Several rinks can easily be converted to accommodate basketball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball and events such as corporate meetings, and parties.

In Land O’ Lakes, the Heritage Park Stage opened, off of U.S. 41. The project, which was years in the making, has already become a popular gathering spot for community events.

Starkey Park District Park also opened in Land O’ Lakes, off State Road 54.

Meanwhile, across the county, Zephyrhills added a permanent venue for community events, such as Pigz in Z’Hills, a popular barbecue and blues event.

A time of milestones and transitions
While new construction made the news, 2017 was also a year of big milestones, including R.B. Cox Elementary School’s 90th birthday, in Dade City, and the Dade City Garden Club’s 70th anniversary.

Andre Pamplona, general manager for Royal Lanes, said the closing of a bowling alley has an impact on the community. Royal Lanes, which opened in the 1970s turned off the lights for the final time in May. Lots of memories were made in that building, known for its bowling leagues and birthday parties.

But, it was also the year that Royal Lanes, a community fixture in Lutz since the 1970s for bowling leagues and birthday parties, turned out the lights for the final time in May.

On a more personal level, the region mourned the loss of some of its biggest champions, including Eddie Herrmann of San Antonio, Roy T. Hardy of Dade City and Ray Mason of Land O’ Lakes. All three men were known for their deep commitment to civic causes.

Others — who captured headlines for their excellence — included Margaret Polk, the Odyssey of the Mind team from Wesley Chapel Elementary School, and Courtney Urban, a volunteer for Gulfside Hospice who received a national award for her volunteer work.

Polk, a school nurse at Pasco High School, was named the Florida Association of School Nurses’ 2017 School Nurse of the Year.

Elaine Pittman, a Lutz gardener in her 80s, grows plants and sells them to raise money for Christian Social Services. She chose that cause because it feeds people who are hungry.

Wesley Chapel Elementary School’s “Catch Us If You Can” team, finished first in the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals held in May at Michigan State University. Members of the team were Jake Piller, Sam Cappelluti, Isabell Barrios, Mina Melaika, Rowan Heyman, Jason Sherman and Justin Acosta. Teachers Veronica Acosta and Janet Heyman coached the team.

And, Urban, who initially began volunteering at Gulfside’s Thrift Shoppe in Lutz so she could hang out with her grandmother, went on to serve the organization in a variety of roles.

And then, there were the people who simply extended themselves to help others.

There was Elaine Pittman, a Lutz gardener in her 80s, who nurtures plant cuttings to create plants, which she sells to raise money for Christian Social Services, an organization that provides food for people who are hungry.

And, there was Whitney C. Elmore, who oversees Pasco County Extension.

Elmore reached out to help Frogmore Fresh Farm, outside of Dade City, after Hurricane Irma uprooted and toppled about 100,000 blueberry bushes. Elmore got the ball rolling, but hundreds of volunteers responded — stepping forward to help the farm.

Two Boy Scouts also made a difference in the communities where they live.

Michael Valenti of Lutz and Gabe Vega of Land O’ Lakes each spearheaded Eagle Scout projects.

Cypress Creek Middle High School students make their way to their second class the first day of school on the new campus in Wesley Chapel. Bexley Elementary School also opened for the first time in August, for the 2017-2018 school year.

Valenti spruced up the Lutz Memorial Park in Lutz, and Vega created a Rosary Garden at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes.

And, then, there was a trio of Wesley Chapel Girl Scouts in Troop 1263 who gave new life to Karina’s Garden, behind the administrative offices of Sunrise of Pasco County, in their quest to earn a Girl Scout Silver Award.

The girls — Paige and Kaitlin Trabouley and Alyssa Duran — added flowers, plants, butterflies and statuary to create a place of repose and refreshment in the garden which honors the late Karina Abdul, a former shelter director.

The garden now provides a place to take a break and enjoy nature, according to Vicki Wiggins, director of development for Sunrise, which is a domestic and sexual violence prevention and services organization.

The garden had been choked with weeds and had fallen into disrepair.

The girls and the volunteers they enlisted changed all that.

“It’s beautiful. I’m so happy they did this. They brought it back to life,” Wiggins told The Laker/Lutz News, when the project was completed.

Published December 27, 2017

They hit the water to solve crimes, make rescues

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A Pasco Sheriff’s Office team has been trained to respond to emergency calls involving water rescues, and to search for evidence in lakes, rivers and other water bodies.

The tactical units, called the Underwater Recovery/Swift Water Response Team, includes divers, rescue swimmers and deputies who pilot boats.

“We really can do anything that needs to be done on the water,” said Lt. Jay Galassi, who oversees the Marine Unit.

The Underwater Recovery/Swift Water Response Team held a training exercise on Dec. 4 at SunWest Park on Old Dixie Highway in Hudson, to practice its new waterborne skills. The unit was deployed over the summer during Hurricane Irma to assist residents living in flood-prone areas, such as the Elfers community in Pasco County. They also recovered items and debris in the November plane crash of former Major League Baseball pitcher Roy Halladay. (Kevin Weiss)

The 18-member team became nationally certified in November, after completing advanced swift water training through Dive Rescue International.

The certification means the team is ready to serve a wide range of scenarios, from safety and security, to special waterborne operations — even in strong water currents.

Officials say no mission is too large, whether its retrieving cars crashed in bodies of water, rescuing drowning victims, or looking for evidence or weapons underwater.

The certification also allows it to assist in Federal Emergency Management Agency-related response efforts, on a local, regional and national level.

“We could deploy to Texas, we could deploy to South Florida, North Florida, wherever…and then still have a team here that could effectively deal with issues in Pasco County,” Galassi said.

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office began the task of creating and implementing a Swift Water Recovery Team in late 2016 for rescue and recovery operations in areas that frequently flood in the county.

The team initially planned to include just four members who would respond to any swift water event in Pasco County. But, as the process of creating the team evolved, the Sheriff’s Office obtained funding from private citizens allowing the agency to dedicate more than a dozen fully trained and equipped personnel to the team.

The unit has been deployed for several high-profile occasions this year.

For instance, they assisted during Hurricane Irma to provide aid to residents living in flood-prone areas, such as the Elfers community.

They also recovered items and debris from the November plane crash of former Major League Baseball pitcher Roy Halladay.

They also conducted underwater searches in Wesley Chapel in a recent missing persons case.

The team held a training exercise on Dec. 4 at SunWest Park on Old Dixie Highway in Hudson, to practice and maintain its new waterborne skills.

Mitch Bollenbacher is a member of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s Swift Water Response Team. The team’s 18 members retrieve cars crashed in water, rescue drowning victims, conducting evidence and weapons searches underwater and handle other water-related duties.

Team members tested three new 12-foot long INMAR inflatable/recovery boats purchased from private community donations.

As part of the drill, they assembled the boats — which involved inflating them and connecting motors — and then they operated them on the water.

They also practiced setting up what’s called a highline, a rope that connects to the boat and is controlled by someone on land. The rope line helps stabilize the boat for rescue and recovery operations in high waters or strong currents.

“We just kind of keep current on getting the speed down of getting the boats out and getting them in the water. The water here is nice and clean, so we just run the boats out here and get the motors all cleaned up,” Galassi said of training at SunWest Park.

The boats, equipped with 25-horsepower Suzuki motors, are designed to hold steady control in all bodies of water, fighting against heavy winds and currents.

They are being used instead of the larger, bulkier boats the team previously used, said Mitch Bollenbacher, a member of the team.

“These are easier to maneuver. They sit very still,” Bollenbacher said. “You can anchor the boat, and then a diver can dive off the back of it. The boats aren’t really affected by the wind or the current. They kind of maintain control in the water.”

Bollenbacher also said the boats can traverse tight-access areas, including lakes, canals and retention ponds — where someone might discard a body, weapons or another type of criminal evidence.

“It’s definitely something that we needed at the Sheriff’s Office,” said Bollenbacher, who’s been with the agency more than four years.

“We can now definitely search an area and say, ‘No, it’s not here.’ You can 100 percent say, ‘There’s no one here, there’s no object here, and we searched it,’”

said Bollenbacher, who is a swimmer and a diver, and has been around the water since he was a teenager.

To be considered for the special unit, deputies must pass a standard test for their water skills.

Even with his skills, Bollenbacher said there’s still trepidation in and around water, with the presence of alligators and other unknowns.

“It’s Florida. There’s always a fear,” he said.

The team takes precautions to stay safe.

“The biggest thing is safety, double-check and use the right equipment for the right job,” Bollenbacher said.

By year’s end, the agency looks to also have its Underwater Recovery Team, or tactical dive team, certified as a specialized unit of the Division of Homeland Security. It would allow the Sheriff’s Office to assist federal task forces in waterborne operations, including: antiterrorism and maritime dignitary protection, drug interdiction, underwater crime scene, special response team support, and maritime surveillance.

Published December 13, 2017

Thousands get emergency food assistance in Pasco

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Thousands of residents from about 14 counties came to the Pasco County Fairgrounds to qualify for emergency assistance in replacing food lost during Hurricane Irma’s power outage.

From Nov. 5 through Nov. 8, Pasco County deputies monitored an orderly progression of vehicles that stacked up in both directions along State Road 52, outside Dade City.

Applicants for the food emergency D-Snap program formed long lines at the Pasco County fairgrounds as they waited to apply for assistance in replacing food lost during Hurricane Irma. (Kathy Steele)

Traffic moved slowly, but the disruptions that seemed to overwhelm similar events in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties didn’t materialize.

The fairgrounds were a change in venue after Pasco County commissioners backed away from an agreement to hold the event at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, on Collier Parkway. They decided that using that would result in traffic gridlock on what already is one of the county’s busiest urban corridors.

The income-based Food for Florida program is administered by the Florida Department of Children & Families in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dozens of four-day events have taken place across the state, starting at 6 a.m., and ending at 7 p.m., each day.

In Pasco, cars and trucks filled the 20 acres of hilly grassland at the fairgrounds that usually sees its busiest traffic at fair time.

By mid-day of Nov. 8, more than 21,000 households had applications processed during the multiday event. About 90 percent qualified for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, or the D-Snap program.

Residents came not only from Pasco, but from Collier, Lee, Volusia, Sarasota and Polk counties, too.

One woman, who didn’t want to give her name, drove about two hours from Brevard County.

Staff members from the Florida Department of Children & Families helped direct applicants seeking emergency food assistance at the Pasco County fairgrounds.

Most who came from long distances said they made the trip because food sites in their areas had closed before they realized help was available.

And, on the final day of the program, some said they had just learned they could be eligible.

Teresita Ayala, who lives in Pasco, said her sister-in-law in Tampa told her about the program going on at the fairgrounds.

So, Ayala and her friend, Shawna Stacy, came on the final day.

Ayala has four children.

Power was out for nine days, said Ayala. “So, all our food went to waste.”

Stacy lives with her grandparents, one of whom is diabetic. They had no power for about a week.

They took on extra expenses buying more food, and ice to keep it cool, Stacy said.

Dade City resident William Wilson sat under a canopy, out of the sun. He drove a friend to the fairgrounds to make an application for D-Snap.

“I’m just helping a neighbor,” Wilson said.

Wilson said he receives food stamps so didn’t qualify for D-Snap.

Instead, he and other regular food stamp recipients will get increased monthly allotments for September and October.

Loss of food during the hurricane made it tough, Wilson said.

The last minute decision to pick another site to host the D-Snap event meant adjusting the event’s schedule from an October start to November.

Pasco County commissioners initially agreed to allow the state Department of Children and Families to use the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center. Within about two days of the announcement of the event, there were about 11,000 preregistrations.

The potential for large crowds, and traffic gridlock, on such a busy corridor set off alarms with county officials and county commissioners.

With the recreation center no longer a possibility, the board of directors of the Pasco County Fair Association offered their site for rental. The association also had staff members available to help with parking and other activities.

As the fairgrounds site in Pasco closed, the Department of Children and Families had two remaining sites scheduled to open in Miami-Dade and Broward counties on Nov. 7 through Nov. 9. Those would conclude the in-person statewide signups, and distribution of D-Snap cards.

For additional information on eligibility, visit DCF.state.fl.us/programs/access.signup.

Published November 15, 2017

Food relief site at Pasco fairgrounds

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A federal emergency food relief program found a new location, and set new dates, to aid qualifying residents who lost food during Hurricane Irma.

Applications will be taken Nov. 5 through Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

Similar events have been staged in counties in the Tampa Bay area that have drawn tens of thousands of applicants.

The events have been plagued with reports of larger-than- expected crowds, hours-long waits, and traffic gridlock.

Previously, Pasco County commissioners had approved an agreement with the Florida Department of Children and Family Services to allow an emergency food relief program at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, off Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

The department, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is administering the Food for Florida relief program.

Before the Pasco County Commission initially approved the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, they raised concerns about the location because it’s on a busy corridor and at a recreation complex with youth athletic activities. After approving it, they quickly regretted the decision, and on Oct. 16 sent a letter to DCF officials withdrawing from the agreement.

The new site has one feature lacking at the recreation center – 20 acres for parking.

Fair association officials also have years of experience in handling crowds and traffic. Some of their staff will help with parking and other activities.

“We have traffic flow and people flow down to an art,” said Dicky Brown, president of the fair association.

The rental agreement with DCF was finalized on Oct. 18, Brown said.

The agency will have the use of two buildings, including restroom facilities, and an open field for parking.

It’s a major undertaking, and a strain on any community, Brown added. “But, we can get people off (State Road) 52 faster than anywhere because we have 20 acres of parking.”

The search for a new site was a countywide effort among local governments and agencies, including county commissioners, the school district and law enforcement, said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells Jr.

“It’s (fairgrounds) the only location that made sense and everyone worked together,” said Wells, who is on the fair association’s board.

The DCF will have hundreds of employees on site during the four-day program. Law enforcement from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and Dade City will aid in traffic and crowd control.

Residents who come to the site can qualify for food replacement for September and October, based on income and losses suffered during Hurricane Irma.

People who currently receive food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, aren’t eligible. Instead, they will be compensated with extra benefits through the monthly program.

For eligible applicants, Disaster-SNAP, or D-SNAP debit-style cards, will be issued if the applicant lived or worked in one of the 48 declared federal disaster counties from Sept. 5 to Oct. 4.

To speed up the process, DCF officials encourage applicants to preregister at least a day before coming to an application site.

For information, visit Dcf.state.fl.us/programs/access/fff/.

Published October 25, 2017

Federal aid available for Hurricane Irma victims

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Federal emergency management teams are fanning out statewide to help Hurricane Irma victims register for financial assistance.

Residents in Pasco County lost trees, and in many instances, suffered damage to their homes due to Hurricane Irma. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is taking applications to provide financial assistance. (Kathy Steele)

In Pasco County, a team settled in at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library on Collier Parkway from Oct. 11 through Oct. 14.

Area residents applying for assistance also could speak with representatives of the United States Small Business Administration and Pasco County.

Pasco County officials will make announcements soon about more locations that will open to take applications.

The in-person meet-ups with Federal Emergency Management Agency workers are only one of several ways to register for financial assistance.

Currently, the deadline to register is Nov. 9.

State officials have the option to request an extension, however.

Steven Solomon, a FEMA media relations specialist, said the easiest way to apply is to online.

The website is Disasterassistance.gov.

For those who don’t have access to a computer or the Internet, they can call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362. Because FEMA is responding to a number of recent disasters, including Irma and Hurricane Harvey, there could be long waits on the phone.

“We’re asking for people to be patient,” Solomon said.

FEMA workers also are out in the field in the 48 counties declared as federal disaster areas. “We’re walking door-to-door with Ipads, registering people as we go,” Solomon said.

The field workers will have a federal ID badge, which residents should ask to see, Solomon said.

Those who register with FEMA for assistance will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Social Security number
  • Address of the damaged property and a contact phone number
  • Insurance coverage
  • Total household income
  • Bank routing number and account number

FEMA will schedule an appointment for an inspector to meet the applicant – age 18 or older – at the hurricane damaged property. The inspector doesn’t determine eligibility, Solomon said.

All of the information is sent to FEMA, and a letter will be sent to the applicant regarding a grant award.

FEMA grants can pay for a variety of losses including home repairs, temporary housing, transportation, medical and dental costs and funeral expenses.

These will be grants, not loans that would be repaid. Also, grants are not considered taxable income, and they don’t affect other benefits being received, such as Social Security or food stamps.

Homeowners with property insurance should file separate claims with their insurance companies and FEMA. The federal agency can supplement what insurance doesn’t cover.

Grant amounts aren’t intended to be a dollar for dollar replacement of all losses, but Solomon said they can aid in “making people whole again.”

Businesses can apply for low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration. Solomon said it also would be helpful for business owners to talk with FEMA representatives to find out if other types of benefits also would be available.

Anyone who needs repairs completed should do so as quickly as possible, without waiting for a FEMA decision, Solomon said. But, they also should take pictures of the damage and keep receipts for purchases and services, he added.

Everyone should be on the alert for scam artists trying to take advantage of people, Solomon said.

“There is no charge for anything FEMA does,” Solomon said. “If (anyone) asks for money, it’s a scam.”

Avoid being scammed
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued some tips to help people avoid being scammed, as they recover from a disaster.

Scam attempts can be made over the phone, by mail, by email, through the Internet, or in person.
Here are some tips to remember to safeguard against fraud:

  • Ask to see ID badges. All Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives always carry an identification badge with a photograph.
  • Keep your FEMA registration number safe. It is your key to your application information. Do not share it with others.
  • Safeguard personal information. No state or federal government disaster assistance agency will call you to ask for your financial account information. Unless you place a call to an agency yourself, you should not provide personal information over the phone. It can lead to identity theft. In general, be cautious when giving personal information such as social security or bank account numbers to anyone. FEMA will only request an applicant’s bank account numbers during the initial registration process. FEMA inspectors will require verification of identity but will already have your registration number.
  • Beware of people going door to door. People knocking on doors at damaged homes or phoning homeowners claiming to be building contractors could be con artists, especially if they ask for personal information or solicit money.
  • Know that federal workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA and Small Business Administration staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections, or to help fill out applications. FEMA inspectors verify damages, but do not involve themselves in any aspect of the repair nor recommend any contractor.
  • If you suspect fraud, call the toll-free FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721, or call your local law enforcement agency.

Published Oct. 18, 2017