The Laker-Land O' Lakes-July 13, 2016

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The LAKER LAND O’ LAKES EDITION

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Paper recyclables permitted at curb By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

Curbside recycling is expanding. For the first time in Pasco County’s recycling history, newspaper, cardboard and other mixed paper are now eligible for the county’s curbside pickup program. No additional fees will be charged. Residents who pay for twice-a-week trash service already are billed for the recycling service. Items already accepted are aluminum cans, metal food cans, plastic bottles, jars and containers with numbered codes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7, and glass bottles and jars in clear, green and brown colors. Now, county officials say residents can drop paper and cardboard into their recy-

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cling containers along with the jars, cans and bottles they normally discard. In addition to newspapers, “mixed paper” includes inserts, junk mail, office paper, paper bags and wrapping paper. Cardboard includes shipping containers that have been flattened, cereal boxes, shirt inserts, cardboard tubes and shoeboxes. The Pasco County Commission discussed the addition of paper and cardboard as pickup items at a May 17 workshop, and agreed the change made sense.

It is a good conservation measure, and “reduces and keeps landfill space free for other types of trash that can’t be recycled,” Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said in an email to The Laker/Lutz News. The six haulers who provide trash service to county residents began accepting the expanded list of recyclables effective June 29. Paper and cardboard have been excludSee PAPER, page 11A

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Forester’s days are anything but routine By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

One day, Mona Neville may be riding in an airplane over Pasco County searching for signs of Southern Pine Beetle infestations. Another day, she may be talking to a homeowner who wants to create a stewardship plan for his property, or explaining a cost-share program aimed at encouraging healthier forests. Or, perhaps she’ll be providing technical advice on tree ordinances to local governments or guiding some scouts through some forested land — in their quest to earn a badge. Neville’s job — as the forester for Pasco County — is anything but a 9-to-5 behind the desk routine. In fact, if you call her, chances are she’ll be out in the field. And that’s exactly how it should be, said Neville, who grew up in Wesley Chapel, graduated from Land O’ Lakes High School, and received her bachelor’s degree in forestry management from the University of Florida. “We’re out of the office more than we’re in the office, or we try to be. That’s the whole goal, working with the landowners,” Neville said. She began her career with the Florida Forest Service Withlacoochee Forestry Center, as a state lands forester. She was delighted when she had the chance to return to her roots. She became the forester for Pasco County in January and is stationed in the forest service’s Dade City office. “As the county forester, we help any private landowner with any of their forest management needs,” Neville said. She also can help local governments with urban forestry or parks forestry issues, she said, And, she can advise private landowners on urban landscape issues, she said. “It may be somebody in a development that calls me and it looks like their tree is dying or declining, or they don’t know what type of tree it is, and they want to know

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B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTOS

Jake English and Mona Neville discuss plans for managing English’s pine forest, and also talk over some cost-sharing programs available through Florida Forest Service.

more about it. I’ll go out and see them,” she said. “It could be shade tree calls, or forest health calls,” Neville said. “Some of the bigger developments, that do their own maintenance, will call when they have sick trees,” she said. If a homeowner’s association needs technical advice, she’s happy to provide it. The Withlacoochee District includes Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter and Lake counties, and each county has its own forester. Neville said she’s noticed a growing interest in the preservation of forested lands. “That whole sustainability concept is really starting to come back,” she said. Recently, she made a visit to Jake English’s wooded property in Land O’ Lakes. She was there to help English work on

his stewardship plan and to explain some cost-share programs available through the Florida Forest Service. There were cows grazing on the property. “They go through the pine stand and chew up all of the grass, and mow it for him,” she said. “Florida Forest Service offers several cost-shares, different times a year,” Neville said.Those include programs to prevent the spread of Southern Pine Beetles, to eradicate cogongrass, to thin out pine stands and to replant trees. “This property is due for a thinning, because trees can only grow so much before they’re competing too much for nutrients,” Neville said. “A healthy stand needs to be thinned, See FORESTER, page 11A

Thousands enjoy festivities at Connerton By B.C. Manion

ten to live music by Gottagroove. The Fraternal Order of Police, Pasco Rain threatened to spoil County Lodge 29 hosted the the celebration, but the beer and wine garden. weather cleared just about People mingled, played time that festivities were set games and relaxed, waiting to begin at the Nation for the fireworks to begin, Celebration Independence and there was plenty of Day Party at Connerton. “oohs” and “ahs” from the The rain stopped around crowd, as they went off, 5 p.m. — the time the July 2 sending colorful bursts in event was scheduled to start, the sky. but then there was a light Numerous sponsors were drizzle until around 5:30 involved in the event, includp.m., said Joan Staut, marketing Benedetto’s, which ing coordinator for sponsored the fireworks. Connerton, a master-planned Other sponsors included New Town Community in McDonald’s, Air Hawk Land O’ Lakes. Heating and Cooling,Wayne COURTESY OF CONNERTON O’ After the rain stopped, Brien, State Farm people began streaming into Colorful bursts of fireworks across the night sky at Connerton drew an Insurance, Greenacre the community, and by the appreciative response from a crowd estimated at 5,000 for the Nation Properties, Yellowstone time the event was over, offi- Celebration Independence Day Party at Connerton in Land O’ Lakes. Landscape, Mary Ann Carrollcials estimate that more than Homeward Real Estate, 5,000 turned out for the festivities. Some tested their skills in miniature golf. Ierna’s Heating & Air Conditioning, and People ranging from grandparents to ba- Others played carnival games. Medi-Weight Loss. bies, and all ages in between, clearly were Families, couples and friends sat around Connerton’s staff was pleased by the enjoying themselves. large round tables, under a giant tent, to eat turnout and gratified by the expressions of Some kids jumped around in bounce meals they purchased from nine food trucks appreciation they heard from people athouses. Others slid down an inflatable slide. from Tampa Bay Food Truck Rally, and to lis- tending the event, Staut said.

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com


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