The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lutz

Cruise-in for a trip back in time

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Strolling through this Dairy Queen parking lot is like journeying back to a bygone era.

Here, you can take a trip down Nostalgia Lane to a time when AM radio ruled the airwaves, and fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirror were all the rage.

Many car owners raised the hoods of their automobiles, to show off what’s underneath. Here, two classic American Muscle Cars are on display, showing off their large V-8 engines. From left, 1960s AMC AMX and a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle 350. (Christine Holtzman)

That’s because dozens of cars, most of them American classics, are on display every Thursday evening at the Dairy Queen Grill & Chill Cruise-In, 23671 State Road 54 in Lutz.

Proud owners happily show of their rides.

They exchange stories with fellow gearheads and enthusiasts, alike.

Many of their tales center on the painstaking work it takes to restore these beauties, as well as the rigorous maintenance schedules needed to keep them in tip-top shape.

This show is just of one of several hosted in the Tampa area by Paul Figoni of Let’s Roll Promotions.

Vintage cars are lined up in the Dairy Queen parking lot for the weekly Cruise-In event that is held every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

He began his car show at the Dairy Queen in Citrus Park about 14 years ago.

When it started, it was geared toward American classic and muscle cars, but over the years it has evolved to include a wider array of styles — which, as a result, has captured the hearts of a diverse population of car enthusiasts.

As the sun was beginning to set on the last Thursday in September, the sounds of “Crossroads,” a Land O’ Lakes oldies band filled the air.

They provided the perfect soundtrack to this voyage back in time.

John Addison of Lutz, tinkers under the hood of his 1976 Chevy Corvette. Addison said that a wire had come loose.

Car enthusiasts visiting the show could drool over dozens of classic vehicles, including a 1960s Plymouth Sport Satellite, a couple of 1950s-era Ford Thunderbirds, an iconic 1954 Cadillac, a 1930s Ford Model A hotrod, a 1970s era Toyota Celica, a late 1960s model Chevrolet Chevelle, a 1968 Triumph TR250, a few vintage Corvettes, and a rare Studebaker Avanti.

And, it’s simple to participate. You just cruise in.

There are no fees to include your ride at the show. But those registering do get a chance to win the 50/50 drawing and door prizes.

Want to know more? Check out Let’s Roll Car Shows Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/letsrollcarshows.

Published October 09, 2019

Daniel Kester of Land O’ Lakes, left, and Dennis Whelan of Lutz, shoot the breeze in front of Kester’s 1954 Cadillac Series 62 car. Kester bought the classic car in 1996 for $900, and has been restoring it ever since. Whelan was at the show with his 1968 Triumph TR250.
A close-up look of the steering wheel of a 1963 Studebaker Avanti. The luxury coupe was produced from 1962 to 1963.

 

Cannabis dispensaries coming to Dade City?

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The Dade City Commission during a workshop session directed city staff to draft an amendment to the city’s land development regulations that would allow medical marijuana dispensaries within one of the city’s zoning districts.

Commissioners, at their Sept. 24 workshop, indicated that the dispensaries should be allowed in the general commercial zoning district.

That zoning district generally spans U.S. 301/U.S. 98 south and north of town and certain pockets of the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) district, but avoids much of the city’s historic downtown main street and central business district.

The City of Dade City is considering an ordinance that would permit medical marijuana treatment centers in one of its business zoning districts. (File)

The amended ordinance would require any future standalone pharmacies and drug stores to locate within the general commercial district only, as Florida statutes prevent municipalities from enacting regulations that restrict dispensaries more so than traditional pharmacies.

However, existing pharmacies in other zoning districts would be grandfathered in and would be able to continue to operate as a legal non-conforming entity.

The workshop session set direction only.

Any drafted ordinance will come before the city’s planning board and have two public hearings before a formal commission vote.

The majority of commissioners concurred that limiting dispensaries and pharmacies to the general commercial district would offer convenient access for local residents facing debilitating conditions, and still preserve the historical integrity of the downtown area’s specialty shops and mom-and-pop businesses.

“The general commercial (district) seems to accomplish what we’re trying to do,” Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said. “We’re trying to find places within our municipality limits that we can have these (medical marijuana) facilities without adversely affecting merchants’ concerns, but also be sensitive to the needs of folks that are in need.”

Commissioner Jim Shive agreed the general commercial district “seems to have less impact to the direct downtown around the merchants,” but noted he is concerned about some existing pharmacies being deemed legal nonconforming.

“I think we all want to be very compassionate people,” he said, “but we all want to do the right thing.”

Commissioner Scott Black was the lone commissioner who favored an outright ban medical on marijuana treatment centers within the municipality.

He said dispensaries are “readily available” throughout Pasco County and have become more accessible compared to a few years ago.

The county presently has three medical cannabis dispensaries in New Port Richey and another situated near the Land O’ Lakes-Lutz county line.

“It’s much more convenient to go 20 miles now than it was before (Amendment 2) was passed when you couldn’t get it at all,” Black said.

Black also had reservations about any dispensary ordinance that could prevent a locally owned pharmacy or drugstore from opening up somewhere downtown.

Black observed: “Keep in mind, what you have is a goal for a livable, workable downtown, in terms of if you want a pharmacy downtown or don’t.”

Since 2016, the city has enacted five six-month moratoriums, or temporary ban, on the sale of medical marijuana while staff researched its potential impacts on the community.

The latest six-month moratorium expired Sept. 21. If no action is taken, dispensaries could theoretically locate in multiple zoning districts, including the historic downtown area.

It’s not the first time commissioners have sought to allow dispensaries in designated areas.

The commission earlier this year directed staffers to draft an ordinance that would have permitted dispensaries in all zoning districts where the city allows pharmacies, except in the CRA district.

However, the city’s planning board recommended denial of the drafted ordinance, primarily due to language that makes existing pharmacies and drugstores in the district legal nonconforming uses.

The planning board subsequently recommended the commission to extend the moratorium, which they did.

At the latest workshop, new Dade City Senior Planner Melanie Romagnoli pointed out the previously drafted ordinance wasn’t exactly kosher, because the CRA district isn’t truly a business zoning district. “We would have to rezone everybody in the downtown to a certain district and then ban it from that certain district to practice zoning law,” she explained.

When asked by the commission for a recommendation, Romagnoli all but endorsed allowing dispensaries within city limits in some form or another.

“Coming from a pure zoning standpoint, I don’t view medical marijuana as the recreational pot that a lot of people are concerned about,” the city planner said. “It’s heavily controlled, it’s heavily regulated, and you have to have a prescription to get, so I view that particular product as going to get your prescription antibiotics, and my personal opinion is we should not regulate what is sold inside of a pharmacy if it’s already regulated at the state and federal levels. I don’t want to deny medical access to those who may need it.”

The mayor followed that sentiment, saying dispensaries should to be examined in a “medical context” to serve local residents stricken with illnesses like cancer, glaucoma and so forth.

Said Hernandez: “My heart just can’t do anything but go, ‘Hey, wow, there’s a condition and a need that needs to be addressed that we can provide access to.’ You can argue about the location of it and all that, but still having access to it is very important.”

Published October 2, 2019

Motorists soon to have smoother ride on Willow Bend Parkway

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Willow Bend Parkway in Lutz is set to undergo repaving starting the week of Sept. 9.

Willow Bend Parkway will undergo road modifications through the month of September. The work will be done during the evening to minimize disruptions. (Brian Fernandes)

Pasco County chose the modification as its program maintenance project, which will stretch from the road’s intersections with U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, to Collier Parkway.

Willow Bend Parkway’s eastbound and westbound lanes will be milled and resurfaced. The road also will be restriped, and new pavement markings will be added.

The work will be done between the hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., on Sundays through Thursdays, during which time there will be single-lane closures.

Message boards will be posted during work hours to guide traffic.

The project is estimated at $966,000, and is being paid for as part of the county’s budget.

The goal is to complete the work by Sept. 30, barring any weather disruptions.

The road is popular with motorists because it links to County Line Road, which connects to North Dale Mabry Highway, where there are a number of service providers and commercial businesses.

Published September 04, 2019

If Your House Floods, Don’t Wait To Call For Help

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There is nothing as worrisome as coming into your home after being away, or waking up in the middle of the night, and finding wet carpets and standing water on your floors.

“The first thing many people do is get out their shop vac, but the first thing they should be doing is calling a professional water extraction company,” said C.J. White, owner of the Stanley Steemer franchise in Lutz. “Using a shop vac is a bit like trying to save the Titanic with a bucket — all it does is delay the homeowner’s call for help.”

It’s important to quickly get water extracted from a flooded area, because it doesn’t take long for water to find its way under baseboards, and then be absorbed by drywall.

“Drywall is like a water wick that sucks up water as is seeps under your baseboards,” said White. “And, when water becomes trapped in your drywall, the lack of airflow and direct sunlight in the wall cavity create a perfect environment for mold growth once moisture is introduced to the drywall.”

The most common reasons homes flood is because a water supply line leaks or breaks in the kitchen or bathroom, the A/C unit backs up, or the washing machine’s drainage hose jumps out of its outlet pipe.

“None of these sources of water are ‘grossly contaminated’ and can all be easily resolved without further problems, as long as a professional extracts the water within 24 hours,” said White. “Unfortunately, many people wait three or four days before they call and, by then, the drywall is saturated and mold spores are beginning to grow.”

White explains that what could be an inexpensive extraction job, can end up costing thousands of dollars by waiting.

“If you get the water sucked up before it gets into the drywall, it may only be an $80 to $100 job. But, if you wait, the cost increases tenfold, and this can happen in as little as 12-24 hours,” said White.

White says when his crew walks into a house and there’s a musty smell, it’s already too late, which means the carpet and pad need to be thrown away, and the saturated drywall cut out and replaced.

Stanley Steemer complies with standards set by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), a nonprofit, certifying body, for the cleaning and restoration. For over 45 years, this organization has trained and certified experts to do the hands-on hard work needed to clean up the mess left by water damage.

The Stanley Steemer operation in Lutz has seven IICRC technicians who are certified to handle most kinds of residential and commercial flooding problems. Plus, every Steemer truck is equipped with a subsurface extraction tool that gets under the carpet, pad and baseboard to successfully extract water from small spills.

“If the flooded area is limited to a 10 x 10 space, this extraction tool can suck up water from the carpet and pad so that it does not need to be replaced,” said White. “The cost is just $85, compared to thousands of dollars if you wait too long and the carpet, pad and drywall have to be removed and replaced.”

As an IICRC-certified company, the first thing Stanley Steemer technicians do when arriving at a job is access what Category the water is rated at, according to industry categories:

Category 1: Flooding originates from a sanitary water source and poses no substantial risk from exposure. Within 48-72 hours, this water can deteriorate to Category 2.

Category 2: Water containing significant contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if contacted or consumed by humans. Within 48-72 hours this water can deteriorate to Category 3. Examples include discharge from dishwashers or washing machines, A/C drain pan backups, or Category 1 water losses that weren’t properly resolved quick enough.

Category 3: Grossly contaminated water that can cause adverse reaction to humans if contacted or consumed. Examples include sewage, toilet backups that originated beyond the trap, rising water from storms, and Category 1 or 2 water losses that weren’t properly resolved quick enough.

“In a Category 3 water loss, the IICRC requires most affected materials be removed and replaced. This includes any wet carpet, carpet padding, drywall and baseboards” said White. “When this happens, we have no choice but to remove everything in order to ensure the health and safety of the home’s occupants,” said White.

White adds that much of the damage that he sees is not due to the water itself but from occupants of the home not responding quickly and appropriately.

“The only thing that stops this from happening is by promptly calling a professional water restoration company,” said White.  “We are always here to help you — please don’t hesitate to call.”

Published August 28, 2019

Improvements expected at U.S. 41-Sunset Lane intersection

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Traffic heading west on Sunset Lane in Lutz often stacks up, as motorists who want to turn left onto U.S. 41 wait for their chance to do so.

Sometimes they’ll be stuck there for several light cycles, and the traffic behind them backs up on Sunset Lane.

Hillsborough County is addressing a need to improve traffic flow at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Sunset Lane in Lutz. (Brian Fernandes)

Hillsborough County and the Florida Department of Transportation have come up with some proposed improvements, and the county held an open house on July 31. There, the public could ask questions, as well as share concerns and ideas.

Plans call for rebuilding the traffic signals.

A second left-turn signal from Sunset Lane onto U.S. 41 also is being considered.

Currently, Sunset Lane has a left-turn lane, a through lane and a right-turn lane.

Sidewalk improvements also are being considered, including pavement markings and ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

On the opposite side of U.S. 41, Sunset Lane turns into Crystal Grove Boulevard, which is also expected to have some upgrades.

Design and construction costs for the improvements are estimated at more than $1 million.

Construction is set to begin in early 2021 and wrap up by early 2022.

Published August 21, 2019

Under Construction 08/07/2019

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Edmonson Electric
Edmonson Electric Inc., is set to open an office warehouse at 5611 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The two-story building will consist of two dozen offices, several breakrooms and an indoor gym. Construction on the 22,000-square-foot facility began in January and is scheduled to wrap up in August. The grand opening is expected in September.

Jammin Car Wash
Motorists will have a new facility to shine their ride with Jammin Car Wash in Lutz. The 5,500-square-foot center is at 21356 Walmart Way, just off of U.S. 41. The business, set to open in October, will offer a single drive-thru tunnel that will be able to hold multiple vehicles for washing.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel
Pinecrest Academy Inc., is opening a new public charter school in the Avalon Park West community. Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, at 33427 State Road 54, will be a two-story school and is expected to open for the 2020-2021 school year. It is expected to focus on the arts, including fine arts and performing arts. For more information on the school, visit PinecrestWesleyChapel.com.

CubeSmart
A CubeSmart self-storage facility is being built at 16900 State Road 54 in Lutz. The 97,500-square-foot complex will hold approximately 600 storage units varying in size, along three floors, equipped with an elevator and air conditioning. It also will have a lot to accommodate recreational vehicles. Construction began in March. The facility is expected to open in January 2020.

Curious about something new that’s popping up in your community? Please send us the location — along with the address, if possible — and we’ll see what we can find out. Send your email to .

Published August 07, 2019

Pasco educator embraces theater again

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During college years and beyond, Patty Smithey has devoted much of her time traveling the globe, and helping kids as an educator.

Earlier this year, though, the Land O’ Lakes resident decided to devote more of her leisure time tapping into her artistic side with acting – a lifelong passion.

“I realized recently that I needed to do something that really, truly made me happy,” Smithey explained. “I need to help other people, but it’s OK to help yourself, too.”

Patty Smithey, of Land O’ Lakes, recently became reacquainted with her love for performing on stage. She recently played Ariel, the lead role in ‘The Little Mermaid’ musical. (Courtesy of Patty Smithey)

The college admissions recruiter made her debut theater performance, as an adult, in June, in Cabaret. And, she just finished starring as the lead role Ariel, in The New Tampa Players’ production of “The Little Mermaid.”

While she just got back into acting this year, her fascination with the craft dates back to her early childhood.

Smithey recalls getting bit by the acting bug when she was just 3 years old.

The Tampa native said she and her younger sister would put on their own performances at home.

These homemade productions often involved acting, dancing and singing.

Smithey described herself as being a shy kid, but said acting provided an outlet for her to comfortably express herself.

“I just really love musical theater,” she said. “It’s always been in the back of my mind burning.”

That passion helped her break out of her shell as she got older, eventually joining the drama club while attending Steinbrenner High School, in Lutz.

The experience granted her the opportunity to venture outside the school auditorium with her group and perform statewide.

She did consider acting as a possible career path, but said her mother encouraged her to pursue other avenues.

Smithey attended Florida State University where she received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just four years.

“I majored in international affairs, which was an amazing experience,” Smithey stated. “I got to study abroad in Panama, Prague, Croatia – the most beautiful places.”

She credits her travels in helping her to develop a greater appreciation for daily life, and a broader understanding of other people.

“One thing I learned throughout my educational experience, that’s consistent, is about people and human nature,” Smithey added.

Her newly found connection to others compelled her to focus her career on academics and to inspire others in their educational endeavors.

After school, she moved to New York, where she worked as a college recruiter before returning to the Sunshine State.

Back in Florida, Smithey continued a role in academics, but this time catering to a much younger demographic.

At Spring Hill’s Classical Preparatory School, she taught reading, writing, mathematics and science to fourth-graders.

Currently, she’s an admissions recruiter at the Land O’ Lakes branch of Rasmussen College.

She enjoys her work, but she also has felt a tug to return to the stage.

So, instead of thinking about it, she told herself: “Why don’t I just get out there and do it, even if it’s not professional.”

She then took to Facebook to see what local theater productions were available.

Off the heels of her Cabaret performance, the actress didn’t hesitate in auditioning for “The Little Mermaid” musical.

So, once she landed the role, she began sharing her time between work and rehearsals for the production, which just wrapped up at the University Area Cultural Development Center in Tampa.

Playing in the lead role was an honor, and gratifying, too, Smithey said.

“It came [as] a complete shock to me. It was like ‘Wow, these people have faith in me,’” she said.

Even as the experience rekindles her love for acting, the teacher within Smithey can’t help but see her experience as an opportunity teach youths a lesson.

She said it gives her a chance to tell them: “There’s always going to be obstacles, but if you put the work in, it really pays off.”

Published August 07, 2019

Lutz teen selected as Shriners ambassador

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Zoe Spanos doesn’t let her physical challenges define her, but manages to thrive instead.

The 15-year-old Lutz teenager, who has cerebral palsy, lives life like many teens.

The rising Steinbrenner High School sophomore is a straight A student and a dedicated member of JROTC and HOSA-Future Health Professionals.

Zoe Spanos (Courtesy of Shriners Hospitals for Children — Tampa)

She’s also a fitness buff — into cross training, weightlifting and nutrition.

Lately, she’s tried her hand at golf — a game introduced to her by her grandparents. She’s set her sights on making the Steinbrenner girls golf team this season.

Due to her physical limitations, Zoe employs an unconventional golf stance and swing, which focuses more on generating power from the right side of her body. She takes weekly lessons with local golf instructor Andrew Dawes.

“My follow-through sometimes may look a little different, but I mostly just change everything a little bit so that works for me,” Zoe said.

“I just try to push my mind and body as far as it can and see where that takes me,” Zoe said.

The method seems to work, as Zoe confidently says, “I definitely have more power than a lot of 15-year-old girls, even with my different things.”

Zoe appreciates golf’s psychological challenges.

“No matter the physical part of it, I think it’s definitely more mental than anything,” she said.

The young woman has a lifetime of experience of overcoming difficulties.

At only 10 days old, Zoe developed encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. The brain swelling resulted in seizures and two strokes, and she was technically diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

“There was a point (doctors) didn’t know if she was going to survive,” recalled her mother, Michelle Spanos. “I was always asking the specialists, ‘What can they expect?’ and they said they really don’t know…”

The cerebral palsy caused a loss of muscle control that affects the left side of Zoe’s body, mostly in her foot.

Lutz teenager Zoe Spanos, who has cerebral palsy, is an avid golfer. The 15-year-old Steinbrenner High School student has been named one of 22 patient ambassadors throughout the country to represent the Shriners Hospitals for Children at the 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, an official PGA Tour event in Las Vegas this October.

With her condition, Zoe wears a specially molded prosthetic AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) brace provided by Shriners Hospitals for Children — Tampa. It’s a necessity for her left foot and ankle when doing any type of physical activity.

“When I walk, my brain doesn’t tell my foot to lift up,” Zoe explained, “so this brace basically forces my foot to do something.”

She added of the brace, “It limits mobility a little bit, but I just walk around and it’ll tilt my foot in or out a different way or move it back a little bit; it definitely helps if you walk and run.”
The brace resembles something someone with a broken leg or fractured ankle might wear.

Zoe’s mother credits Shriners Hospitals for helping her daughter over the past decade, since 2008 to be exact.

For many years, Zoe would visit the hospital as many as three times a week, receiving physical, occupational and speech therapies, and providing custom braces as she’s grown up. Zoe now visits roughly every six months for checkups.

Zoe’s efforts have inspired her mom.

“She’s always just been really driven. She’s always been tough. Nothing ever stopped her. Ever. She’s really never complained,” her mom said.

Shriners has played a big role, too, she said.

“They’ve provided every brace she’s needed, every evaluation. They’ve actually really gone over and above with the brace,” Michelle said.

While  Zoe’s family appreciates what Shriners has done for Zoe, the organization thinks highly of Zoe, too.

She has been selected as one of 22 patient ambassadors throughout the country to represent the hospital network at the 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, an official PGA Tour event in Las Vegas this October.

During the Oct. 3 to Oct. 6 tournament at TPC Summerlin, Zoe will serve as a standard bearer throughout the weekend, carrying the scores of professional golfers as they compete in the tournament. It provides a rare inside-the-ropes opportunity at a PGA Tour event, as well as the chance to share how Shriners Hospitals have helped transform her life.

As part of her participation in the tournament, Zoe’s story and photo will appear in the tournament program, and her information will be shared with the Golf Channel, which will televise the tournament nationally, to be used during the broadcast.

The teen will also partake in a pro-am event the day before the PGA tournament officially begins, getting to spend the day with a PGA Tour pro, who hasn’t been announced yet.

Always looking to improve her game, Zoe said she wouldn’t mind picking up a tip or two from her pro golfing partner.

But, more importantly, she said, “I’m just excited to show what Shriners has done for, not really just me, but everyone in the country and people that have it way worse than me.”

For more information, visit ShrinersHospitalsOpen.com.

Published July 31, 2019

Keep Your Family Healthy With A Free Air Duct Inspection

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CJ White has two very good reasons to keep his home’s air duct system free of dust and dander – 3-year-old Olivia and 6-month-old Landon.

“Nothing is more important than the health of my children, and I know how important indoor air quality is to their well-being,” said White, the children’s father.

White and his wife, Natalie, understand why they need to keep their air ducts clean, because the family owns the Stanley Steemer franchise on State Road 54 in Lutz.

Stanley Steemer in Lutz has invested in a $150,000 Caddy Vac vacuum truck for air duct cleaning, shown here in front of the business’ State Road 54 location.

“We want people to know that harmful mold growth can be prevented with regular inspections and cleaning of their air ducts,” said White. “To prevent mold from growing, the best action is to be proactive – to have your air ducts inspected before dust accumulates to a level that can support mold growth.”

White explains that mold needs two things to grow — moisture and food.

“In Florida, we have plenty of moisture because of our humidity. And, because so many homes have hard surfaces like tile and wood flooring, there is also plenty of dust in the air,” said White. “Dust and other organic materials are gourmet food sources for mold. When allowed to accumulate in your air ducts, you can be creating a breeding ground for mold growth,” said White.

The National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA) identifies the following symptoms of mold growth: runny and stuffy noses, itchy throat and ears, hives, swollen and itchy eyes, coughing and wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, some people are more sensitive than others, especially young children.

“If your air ducts have mold spores, every time someone turns on their air conditioner, these spores are spread throughout your home and recirculated multiple times a day,” said White.

NADCA, which Stanley Steemer is a Certified Firm of, recommends that homes be inspected every two years by one of its certified technicians. If excessive dust is found, it recommends a powerful vacuum removal of this debris to prevent mold from growing.

“This is why our company does not charge to do air duct home inspections —we want families to be proactive, and not wait to have their ducts inspected before it is too late, and the mold cannot be safely removed,” said White.

Powerful airflow safely removes dust and debris.

Stanley Steemer’s air duct inspectors are NADCA certified, which means they work for a licensed contractor, have extensive field experience and industry-specific knowledge of approved procedures to safely clean air ducts.

Heading up the company’s air duct division is Earl Thompson, who has worked for the White family for 17 years. Thompson and his team typically conduct two air duct cleanings and up to seven inspections daily in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

“Earl is very experienced, and regularly trains his cleaning technicians on the proper use of our vacuum truck and other equipment, so that all dislodged debris is properly removed from the home,” said White.

White’s company has invested in a powerful Caddy Vac vacuum truck for its air duct cleaning division.

“Our truck is huge — the size of a fire truck — and has an airflow of 12,500 cubic feet per minute,” said White, who adds that his company’s investment in air duct removal is over $150,000. “There’s no comparison between the effectiveness of our powerful vacuum truck, compared to much smaller, Rotobrush systems used by other air duct companies. These units only provide around 400 cubic feet per minute of suction.”

Before sending its air duct cleaning truck out, White’s technicians inspect a home to determine the necessity and scope of a cleaning.

“About half the homes we inspect do not warrant a cleaning, and there is no charge for the inspection,” said White. “In homes where air ducts need to be cleaned, we give homeowners a written estimate of the cost to clean their air ducts, and schedule the truck for another day.”

Most homes today use fiberglass duct board, which is an absorbent material. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of chemical usage in cleaning air ducts, and states there is currently no biocides, sanitizers or disinfectants that are legally allowed to be sprayed on this form of ductwork.

“If a company advertises that they can remove mold by “fogging” or “sanitizing,” they would be in violation of federal law by doing so and, depending on what they’re spraying, it can be potentially harmful to the inhabitants of the home.”

People often wait until it’s too late to clean their duct system, White said. If an inspector finds active mold growth on fiberglass ductwork NADCA recommends the removal and replacement of that ductwork.

“Mold cannot be safely cleaned from duct board and replacement can be very costly, often costing between $8,000 and $10,000. This is why being proactive and maintaining clean ductwork is so important. ” White said.

Cleaning your air ducts may not seem as important as having your carpet cleaned, but it is, according to White.

“It’s what you breathe – the air that you’re A/C system is pumping into your home all day long, The EPA estimates the average person spends upwards of 90% of their day indoors,” said White. “For the sake of your family’s health, please give us a call for our free home air duct inspection.”

To schedule your free home inspection, call (813) 996-2436.

Published July 24, 2019

Under Construction

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Firestone Complete Auto Service
Motorists will have a new option for car maintenance with the opening of a new Firestone Complete Auto Service, at 25170 Maren Way in Land O’ Lakes. The shop, which is off State Road 54, will be equipped with seven service bays, as well as an indoor waiting area, along with an HD-TV and Wi-Fi service. The 6,116-square-foot building is set to open in late September and will provide 10 to 15 jobs.

Flying Squirrel Sports
Flying Squirrel Sports will bring new recreational activities for both adults and kids. The 40,000-square-foot structure will include indoor trampolines, dodge ball games, an arcade, pool tables, and a restaurant, among other amenities. The coming attraction will be housed in the Willow Bend Towne Centre, 22920 State Road 54 in Lutz. Construction is set to be completed in August, with an official opening date planned in September.

East Pasco Fleet-Transit Facility
Efforts are underway to build a facility to house county vehicles and buses at 9928 McKendree Road in San Antonio. The 31,427-square-foot station will include an area to wash buses, a refueling station and multiple bays for vehicle maintenance. Construction is expected to end by late 2019.

Heartland Dental Clinic
A Heartland Dental clinic is under construction in the Land O’ Lakes Connerton community at 20301 Pleasant Plains Parkway. The one-story office is 4,320 square feet and will hold 13 rooms. End of construction and grand opening are both set for September.

Curious about something new that’s popping up in your community? Please send us the location — along with the address, if possible — and we’ll see what we can find out. Send your email to .