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Dining and shopping options expand, near Wesley Chapel By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic have forced businesses to shutter, and others to regroup — but activity continues to hum along at the Cypress Creek Town Center, near Wesley Chapel. Located at Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 56, the outdoor mall features a broad array of shops, restaurants, stores and a hotel on the north side of State Road 56. Meanwhile, across the way, on the south side of State Road 56, Tampa Premium Outlets occupies a large chunk of real estate, but is surrounded by free-standing restaurants, big box stores, an entertainment venue and other things. The assortment of places to eat, drink, shop and have fun continues to grow. The newest development is a massive
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This sushi restaurant, in the Cypress Creek Town Center, is expected to open soon, according to its Facebook page.
Floor & Décor, now under construction at 25737 Sierra Center Blvd. Crews were busy painting an exterior wall recently, and a sign hung on a chainlink fence made this promise: Coming soon. Floor & Décor, headquartered in Atlanta,
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offers a wide assortment of in-stock, hardsurface flooring, including tile, wood, laminate/luxury vinyl plank, and natural stone, along with decorative and installation accessories. A number of other new businesses have opened nearby, or are expected to open soon. They include: • Pure Hockey, 25629 Sierra Center Blvd., sporting goods store that specializes in hockey gear • La-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Decor, a 13,560-square-foot store at 25960 Sierra Center Blvd. • Five Guys, a restaurant specializing in handcrafted burgers and fresh fries, at 25598 Sierra Center Blvd. • Crumbl Cookies, a dessert shop offerSee OPTIONS, page 11A
Local artists paint hay bales
18920 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Ste 101 Lutz, FL (Corner of Sunlake & Dale Mabry)
People who enjoy viewing public art might want to check out six hay bales — painted by artists of various ages — that have been stationed around locations in Dade City. For more photos, see Page 3A.
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These paintings were done by Morgan Turgeon and Ethan Wiley, students at Pasco High School. The painted hay bales are at Price Park.
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Pasco County’s COVID-19 cases surpass 10,000 mark By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
As Pasco County’s COVID-19’s positive cases surpassed the 10,000-mark, local officials continue to consider their best responses to the threats. The Pasco County Commission and the Pasco County School Board were both scheduled to take up the issue during their meetings on Oct. 20, which occurred after The Laker/Lutz News’ deadline. Pasco County commissioners were expected to hear an update on local COVID-19 conditions, from the health officer for Department of Health-Pasco County, during the board’s morning session. During a September update, Mike Napier, the public health officer for Pasco County told the board he realized there was significant interest on when it would be appropriate to lift mask mandates and social
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distancing restrictions. At that time, he told them the best time would be when a vaccine was available, or medication was available to treat it. From a practical standpoint, though, he told commissioners that the positive cases would need to be lower — and he said he would report back in October. Napier also told commissioners that he’s
on regular conference calls with health officers and county officials around the region, and they were leaning toward trying to come up with a regional response to the issue of face coverings. The idea is to come up with a consensus on the numbers and benchmarks to use, and to consult with academics to determine the approach, Napier said. Presumably, the presentation at the board’s Oct. 20 meeting provided an update on those issues. Meanwhile the Pasco County School Board was set to take up the issue of masks and other personal protective equipment during its afternoon workshop on Oct. 20. Board members were expected to consider a proposed rule change that would require mask or face coverings for everyone on a school campus, through the end of the 2020-2021 school, in the interest of protecting the health and welfare of students, staff and visitors. The proposed rule also calls for observing social distancing, washing hands frequently and using other personal protective equipment, as may be necessary. See COVID, page 11A
Pasco experiencing recent spike of overdoses By Joey Johnston Special to The Laker/Lutz News
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) has reported a record-setting spike in drug overdoses. A lethal dose of the painkilling opioid Fentanyl is 2 milligrams, almost imperceptible, but the PCSO Narcotics Unit removed 435,000 lethal doses of the drug from the county’s streets during a six-week period. The story doesn’t stop there. Aided by a federal grant, the PCSO has established a Behavioral Health Intervention Team, which helps citizens with mentalhealth issues or substance-abuse problems. Members of the 16-person team contact overdose survivors within 48 hours of the incident, then connect them with community rehabilitation partners such as BayCare. According to Sheriff’s Office records, Pasco County overdoses reached an all-time monthly high of 167 (37 fatal) in May, then maintained a steady pace in June (146, 18 fatal); July (140, nine fatal); and August (147, 24 fatal).
From 2017-2019, the largest overdose total in any month was 89. In 2020, there were startling overdose upticks in May (297% increase), June (239% increase), July (204% increase) and August (234% increase), compared to the average of those month’s totals in the previous three years. But, to Pasco County Sheriff’s Capt.Toni Roach, the key number is 49.Those are the people who have been placed under the care of a substance-abuse program because of the intervention team’s work. “I know that doesn’t seem like a large number, but we’re running at about a 25% commitment into a program (after intervention),’’ Roach said. “That’s (49) people I know who aren’t going to potentially overdose and die in our community. That’s because the detective has been able to engage them and help them get appointments with behavioral health providers. “We’ve created a path, giving these overdose subjects a golden ticket, getting them to the head of the line for services. These overdose subjects, they overdose, they al-
most die and they want help.“The overall effects of withdrawal and addiction manifest themselves within the first 24 hours. That’s why it’s crucial to get to them before they use again. If we get them into services quickly and reduce the withdrawal effects, they’re going to be more successful in staying,” she said. Sometimes, it’s difficult to follow through, though. Roach said the intervention team has worked with approximately 1,000 overdose follow-up assignments in the last year.About one-third of the subjects couldn’t be located, potentially because they were homeless, transient or intentionally avoiding authorities. For subjects who are located, about half of them are interested in services. Most of the time, Roach said, they don’t know where to start. “We have that hard conversation and tell them,‘This is your rock bottom, and we’re here to help you,’” Roach said.“We help take See OVERDOSES, page 11A