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MARCH 17, 2021
Debate over multifamily continues
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
A Pasco County Commission proposal to halt the use of commercial land for multifamily development has met resistance from the Pasco County Planning Commission. The county board directed its staff on Feb. 9 to pursue modification of the county’s land development code to remove the con-
sideration of multifamily development as a conditional use on land zoned for commercial use. A majority of the county board members said they wanted to preserve commercial land for commercial use. County planners drafted a proposed amendment, to meet that directive, and took it to the planning commission’s March 4 meeting.
Planning commissioners, however — as well as a county staff member and two private attorneys — raised questions about the proposed change. Planning commissioner Jaime Girardi said, “I understand what the board’s direction here is, and the way they’re trying to go, but I’m just worried if there’s any other uninSee DEBATE, page 9A
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Everybody’s Irish at this parade
Decorated golf carts, bagpipers, leprechauns and miniature therapy horses helped to create a festive feel at the second annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 13 at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club, in San Antonio. Above, Members of Boys Scouts Troop 311, from San Antonio, carry a banner to express appreciation for first responders. Check out more photos, page 1B.
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Seven-year-old Aiden Riley, of Land O' Lakes, sports a beard as he rides the back of a golf cart during the parade. He was there with his grandparents, Mary Ann and Robert Cleaves and his 4-year-old sister, Addison Riley.
Grace Oddo gets into the spirit of the parade by donning a sculpted balloon hat representing a rainbow with a pot of gold. The former New York resident recently moved to the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club.
COURTESY OF CARMEN QUILES
Carmen Quiles stands near some of the ‘Bags of Love’ containing food and other items that she and her husband distribute to the homeless.
Celebrating one life, saving another
Government stimulus check inspires kindness, generosity
By B.C. Manion
By Joey Johnston Special to The Laker/Lutz News
When Wesley Chapel’s Carmen Quiles’ family received a stimulus check from the federal government, her initial reaction was — who can’t use some extra cash during a pandemic? But then, she thought, there are others who need the money more. She turned that generous impulse into action, packing up “Bags of Love” for the homeless — and distributing them in hot spots throughout North Tampa. She packs sausages, cookies, crackers, peanut butter cups, sanitizers, socks, blankets, Band-Aids, ointments and more into her bags. Quiles’ husband, Hector, a retired Navy Captain and former nurse manager of specialty clinics at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital, had no See GENEROSITY, page 9A
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The day began with a festive feel. Christine O’Connor, her husband Paul and their son Sean, of Lutz, had gone to an 80th birthday party for Christine’s mom. Great care had been taken to ensure that Connie Kubiak’s milestone celebration on July 26 would be special. A dozen people — mostly immediate family — were at the birthday gathering at Connie and Carl Kubiak’s home, in Tampa’s Dana Shores. The house was decked out with 80th birthday balloons, Christine and her sister-inlaw Kelly Kubiak had catered the meal, and there were special cupcakes, too. Christine had spent hours painstakingly putting together a power point presentation — showcasing her mom’s life —timed to a soundtrack of Jimmy Buffet tunes. “That was really moving for my mom,” Christine said. It had been a great day, and the party was wrapping up — with immediate family members saying their goodbyes. Christine was chatting with her brother, Chuck Kubiak, when suddenly he said he felt lightheaded, and he fell into a recliner. She thought he’d passed out. She tried to get a response, but couldn’t stir him. “Then, all of a sudden, his color changed. I turned to Paul and I said,‘He is
“I started CPR on him, between CPR compressions and mouth-to-mouth, went back and forth about three times,” Paul said. As he was doing mouth-tomouth, he turned Chuck’s head and could hear gurgling. “He started aspirating a little bit,” Paul said. “I just flipped him up on the side. He was breathing, but it was very labored,” Paul said. “Probably the whole scenario was around 5 minutes or so, 5-7 COURTESY OF CHRISTINE O’ CONNOR minutes,” Paul added, referring to Paul O’Connor stands next to his brother-in-law, Chuck when he began CPR and when Kubiak. When Kubiak went into sudden cardiac arrest, emergency responders arrived. O’Connor, an Eagle Scout, performed CPR — saving his Chuck was transported to St. brother-in-law’s life. Joseph’s Hospital’s main campus in Tampa, where he received not breathing.’” care and a defibrillator was installed in his When Paul heard that, he said,“I said to chest. He was discharged nearly a week myself,‘It’s go time.’ later. “I yelled over to my niece (Brooke Since then, Chuck has had visits with his Kubiak) to call 911,” Paul said. cardiologist and had a return trip to the hosHe asked his nephew, Brian Kubiak, to go pital because of blood clots. He remains on get his keychain.That’s where Paul always medication and said his prognosis is good. keeps a CPR face shield. Paul, who is an Eagle Scout, said his “I went to the other side of Chuck,” Paul Scout training prepared him to do what said. ““I checked his carotid (artery) for a needed to be done. pulse. No pulse.” He recently received a Medal of Merit Paul, Christine and her brother Craig See SAVING, page 9A Kubiak laid Chuck out on the floor.