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FEBRUARY 24, 2016
Town hall covers myriad topics By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
A local church was packed with more than 100 residents during a town hall meeting held by Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, and county staff. Those attending had a chance to get a primer on how Pasco County departments function, and to get snapshots of what’s happening across the county and in their neighborhood. They also got a chance to speak face-to-
face with county staff members on issues, including the proposed Ridge Road extension, flood prevention efforts, and the future of the State Road 54 and U.S 41 intersection. The meeting, which lasted around three hours, was held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, in Lutz. County staff members gave presentations about planning and growth, stormwater, code enforcement, parks and recreation, crime prevention, capital projects and transportation.
Residents had a chance to ask a few questions at the end of each presentation, and could meet privately with staff members, too. “We tried to think of things that are of concern to you,” Starkey said, in her opening remarks. Richard Gehring, the county’s strategic policy administrator, gave residents a picture of the county’s population growth. The census pegged the county’s populaSee TOWN HALL, page 11A
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Christian Social Services Thrift Store, 5514 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
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Jacquie Petet and Patty Byers work at Christian Social Services Thrift Store. The nonprofit organization provides help, in a variety of ways, to people who are struggling.
Thrift store seeks to push up sales By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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Christian Social Services of Lutz & Land O’ Lakes Inc., gets a lot of visitors, as people bring donations to the thrift store at 5514 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., which resembles a large red barn. But, the charity had been trying to figure out a way to capture some of that traffic, before it headed back onto Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, said Jacquie Petet, executive director of the charitable organization. That’s when they came up with the idea of issuing $3 in Red Barn Bucks to anyone who brings in a donation, Petet said. The store needs to sell more merchandise to help cover payroll, utilities and other expenses, Petet said. “We are a very low-budget organization. If you look around, you could probably find three things in this office that we actually paid money for. We just wait until it comes through the back door,” Petet said. There are four employees and about two dozen regular volunteers. It also gets help, periodically, from youth groups and community organizations. Despite its small staff, the organization
Loretta Parker was at Christian Social Services Thrift Store recently to pick up some groceries. She said the charitable organization has been a saving grace for her.
Christian Social Services Thrift Store Nancy Taylor is one of about two dozen volunteers who regularly help at Christian Social Services Thrift Store.
provides great services, said Loretta Parker, who was at the thrift store recently to pick up some food from the pantry. “If it hadn’t been for this place, I would be so far under,” Parker said.“They are great with every kind of help,” she said. Volunteers Nancy Taylor, Beverly Maples See THRIFT, page 11A
HOURS: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHAT: Clothing, linens, shoes, dishes, jeans, small appliances, jewelry, books, home décor WHERE: 5514 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes DEALS: Every month, items marked with a different color are on sale. Everyone who donates goods receives a $3 coupon to spend in the store.
For more information: (813) 995-0088
Human trafficking often unseen problem By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Edie Rhea said she was just 10, when her mother’s boyfriend began sexually abusing her and selling her to strangers for sex. Others may have never suspected what was going on, because Rhea said she lived in a four-bedroom, two-bath house in a nice neighborhood. She also went to school, like other kids, she said. Even though there were opportunities to tell someone else, Rhea said she was too frightened, because the man who was trafficking her had threatened to kill her. And, she believed he would. She finally escaped the situation when she was 17, and her mom kicked the boyfriend out of the house, but Rhea was kicked out, too. She then found a boyfriend, got pregnant and the couple married, she said. But, the problems didn’t end there. “The first 10 years of our marriage was bad news,” she said, noting she was using drugs and alB.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO cohol, and was involved in marital Edie Rhea said she spent several years of her life as a victim of human trafficking, being sold for sex, affairs. At one point, she was hooked from the time she was 10 until she was 17. She now leads Healing Root Ministry, based at First on prescription drugs, she said.And, Baptist Church of Lutz. The ministry is striving to raise money to build a transitional house for See TRAFFICKING, page 11A
women rescued from human trafficking. Rhea wants to help those women reclaim their lives. A fundraiser is planned on March 5 to help raise money for the house, which will be called The Gate.