Lutz News-Lutz/Odessa-March 4, 2020

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Florida responds to threat of coronavirus Two cases have tested positive in the Tampa Bay area

By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

The Florida Department of Health declared a public health emergency in Florida on March 1, after two cases tested “presump-

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tive positive” for coronavirus disease 19, referred to as COVID-19. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees outlined the state’s response to the threat of the virus during a news conference held on March 2, at the Florida Department of Health’s Tampa Branch Laboratory. They shared some details of the two cases that have since been confirmed as positive.

One case involves a man in his 60s in Manatee County who was hospitalized for evaluation and treatment for pneumonia. He is stable and remains hospitalized. “At the present time, it is not known how the individual was exposed to COVID-19,” Rivkees said. “The second patient is a woman in her See CORONAVIRUS, page 13A

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Simulation teaches a real-life history lesson

Second-grade students at McKitrick Elementary School, 5503 Lutz Lake Fern Road, went back in time, to the early 1900s, when the school had its third annual Ellis Island simulation on Feb. 27. Students and volunteers, many dressed in period clothing, were able to get a taste of the kind of experience endured by people arriving in America during that time. The program featured the different steps that immigrants had to complete in order to become American citizens. Above, to simulate the boat ride to Ellis Island from their character’s home country, students and their handmade suitcases were crammed into the makeshift boat (a fenced in area) for 10 minutes. A quarter of the boat was reserved for first-class passengers, further reducing the space where students could stand. Volunteers periodically splashed water over the sides of the fence to mimic the ocean spray, as well as splashed them upon their arrival to simulate the delousing measures newcomers arriving in America faced. From left: Eli Pilcher, Ja’chai White and Mason Pettit. For more coverage on this story, please turn to page 1B.

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The LAKER WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA EDITION

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Amici Pizza plans stand-alone location By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

of heading toward a construction start Amici Plaza in spring with an opening likely

by the end of 2016. Pasco County records show a conceptual Owners of Amici Pizza & Deli are planthe plan with about 3,000 square feet for ning to build a new stand-alone restaurant, for restaurant, and about 1,800 square feet with additional retail space, on Wesley retail. Chapel Boulevard. “We’d like to have our own building and The new restaurant is a short distance a bigger kitchen,” said Andrea Mannino. from the existing Amici restaurant in Grand No decisions have been made on the adOaks Square, at Wesley Chapel and Pet Lane. ditional retail space, he said. Andrea and Josephine Mannino, are

The site is located at the corner of Magnolia Boulevard and Wesley Chapel Boulevard, which is also known as County Road 54. Pasco County is moving forward with acquisition of right-of-way along County Road 54 to prepare for the expansion of the twothe lane road into a four-lane road at 54 junction of State Road 56 and State Road See PIZZA, page 13A

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Pasco administrator to retire in

By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker expects to be very busy over the next year and a half. She’ll be crossing off a to-do list, one by one, before leaving in 2017 to go on a lengthy road trip with her husband. The couple will hit the road with their recreational vehicle and their motorcycles, on a tour of as many baseball parks and national parks as they can squeeze into a year. “That’s been our dream,” Baker said, so letting her contract lapse in July 2017 makes sense. But, don’t expect a lame duck administrator. “There’s no kicking back here,” Baker said.“This isn’t me slowing down. ” Baker has told Pasco County commissioners she won’t seek renewal of her current two-year contract, which makes her

last day July 9, 2017. By then, Baker will have worked 35 years in public service, 24 of those years with Pasco County. Her to-do list, in short form, includes: • Completing masMichele Baker ter plans and updates for storm water, solid waste and tourism • Funding and building a diverging diamond road design to ease traffic congestion at State Road 56 and Interstate 75 • Completing the State Road 56 extension • Nurturing SunWest Park, the county’s fledgling aqua park • Replacing and repairing aging infrastructure and roads damaged by the summer flooding • Making progress on the expansion of

2017

the jail and construction of new fire stations • Relocating more government offices to central Pasco

Baker also plans to fill vacancies for a few key leadership positions that remain, cluding an assistant county administrator infor public safety and administration. Progress has been made, Baker said, but government services still could be more customer-friendly. A culture that was decades in the making is being changed, she said.“You don’t get to turn a canoe.You’re turning a ship. ” Public service wasn’t Baker’s first career choice. Over the years she worked as a waitress, flight attendant and a theater manager. also served in the U.S.Air Force Reserve. She Her undergraduate degree was in business administration. It wasn’t until she accepted a secretarial See RETIRE, page 11A

Kumquats reign supreme at area festival

By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

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The first kumquat tree in St. Joseph took root more than 100 years ago, when C.J. Nathe planted it in his backyard. He added a few more, and soon he had small grove on an acre of fertile ground. a The kumquat king, as Nathe was later dubbed, transformed a quiet back road community into the Kumquat Capital of the World. An open house will take place on Jan. and Jan. 29 at the Kumquat Growers 28 pack- Margie Neuhofer and her i h h b dJ d

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In the Psychological Testing room, student Rafael Torres-Pereira sits in silence, clutching his suitcase, as he waits to be called. The tests administered here, such as the feature profile test, were widely used at Ellis Island, to determine mental ability. All the tests and questions used throughout the event were the actual ones used at Ellis Island in the early 1900s.

After completing the activity, which lasted about three hours, students were sworn in as American citizens by a judge, being portrayed by McKitrick Elementary School Principal Allison Cline. Before this step, they had to complete an application and take a citizenship test, answering questions such as: ‘What is your occupation?’ And, ‘Do you know the Pledge of Allegiance?’

Pasco eyeing big 78 floors up, blind man and guide dog survive 9/11 changes to apartment mobility fees

By Brian Fernandes

bfernandes@lakerlutznews.com

Michael Hingson felt a sense of calmness as he walked floor by floor — exiting the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Hingson has been blind since birth and he, with his former guide dog, Roselle, had to work as a team to find their way to safety. Hingson, the author of “Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog and the Triumph of Trust,” recently shared his story at Saint Leo University. He was accompanied by his current guide dog,Alamo. During his talk, Hingson detailed what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, but also shared experiences from throughout his life that gave him the instincts to survive that devastating day. On 9/11, Hingson said he and his business partner, David Frank, were working for the Artecon corporation on the 78th floor

of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. As they prepared for an important presentation, Hingson said,“suddenly we heard a muffled explosion, the building shook. “Then it began to tip. We moved about 20 feet, I think,” he said. Frank began shouting for everyone to leave the office, imploring Hingson to come along. Hingson, and his guide dog, Roselle, evacuated with everyone. Hingson remained calm and tried to assure Frank to do the same. He said he was able to contain his emotions because he previously had developed a mindset that kicked in automatically. Before the day of the attacks, he said:“I kept thinking almost every day I went in, ‘What if there’s an emergency today? What do I do?’ So, when he had to suddenly leave the See BLIND, page 13A

By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

The Pasco County Commission has signaled it wants to end mobility fee incentives that it provides for new market-rate apartment construction within the county. At the same time, commissioners are looking to waive mobility fees for builders of affordable housing — homes or apartments. Commissioners also are eyeing a mobility fee waiver aimed to spur new construction in an area along U.S. 19, in West Pasco. Transportation mobility fees are the charges that accompany new construction, with the intent of addressing the impacts See MOBILITY, page 13A


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