The LAKER
ee r F
WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
Auto Accident? Slip and Fall? FREE CONSULTATION
Schools adjusting amid pandemic
By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Whether its drive-thru feeding sites or widespread distance learning, the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created myriad logistical challenges for school districts nationwide. Pasco County Schools is no different — operating as the state’s ninth-largest school district, and 49th largest in the nation. Even so, Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning is maintaining an upbeat outlook in what has otherwise been a trying
No Fees Or Costs Unless You Win HOLLIDAY KARATINOS LAW FIRM, P.L.
M AY 2 7 , 2 0 2 0
situation over the last two months or so. Speaking to the East Pasco Networking Group at a May 12 virtual meeting, Browning acknowledged the pandemic “really stretched the school district,” but credited district leaders and administration for “very quickly” pulling together a largescale distance learning education program once it became apparent the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year would be remote. Pasco Schools was more prepared than other surrounding counties, Browning said. That’s because the district already had “a
very robust virtual education program” known as Pasco eSchool, which typically serves more than 3,000 students in a normal year. “It wasn’t easy, but we were better positioned than a lot of districts even surrounding us,” the superintendent said. Unlike other districts, too, Browning added Pasco School instantly pushed out lesson plans for most courses to the virtual learning platform, rather than requiring teachers to develop a curriculum to post See SCHOOLS, page 13A
HelpingInjuredPeople.com Call Attorney
JIM HOLLIDAY 813-868-1887 “I Will Aggressively Fight To Protect Your Legal Rights” 18920 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Ste 101 Lutz, FL (Corner of Sunlake & Dale Mabry)
Walk-Ins Welcome
ESSENTIAL BUSINESS WE’RE OPEN following COVID-19 precautions
DISINFECTION & FOGGING FREE AC
LK/LZ
COVID-19
Air Conditioning • Plumbing • Electrical
With $39.95 Tune-up, $190 value Must present coupon. Cannot be combined.
FREE SERVICE CALL
LK/LZ
One per visit. Exp. 6/30/20. While supplies last.
With Repair M-F 8AM-8PM Must present coupon. Cannot be combined. One per visit. Exp. 6/30/20.
2012-2019
CAC1816647 CFC1428982 EC0001103
Same-Day Service Free 2nd Opinion* Free Estimates** 24/7 Emergency **Free estimates for new A/C, water heater, water treatment, whole home generators, whole home repipe and electrical panel upgrade. *Free second opinion with written diagnosis from another company.
CORNERSTONEPROS.COM
813-990-0561
CHRISTINE HOLTZMAN
Take a moment to savor a sunset It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed lives, caused job losses, closed school campuses, canceled celebrations and caused anxiety — and yet, beauty still remains. This sunset was captured on a spring evening, over East Lake Ellis, in Land O’ Lakes. The lake is situated between Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, School Road and Hopson Road.
Pasco seeks to hike Seminar offers advice on coping amid COVID-19 fees for market-rate apartments
By Kevin Weiss
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
is import ta ant to o us
Your opinion helps us navigate what nt stories you want to read in ews. The Laker/Lutz News.
complete our ur short survey and ible you’ll be eligible 00 to win a $100 publix gift card! ard! go to: research.net/r/150911 50911
B INSIDE, PAGE 1B
Jesse Varnadoe mostly has kept an optimistic outlook, despite stay-at-home orders and quarantine protocols. It hasn’t been easy, though. Besides claiming lives and flattening the economy, the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a range of reactions — including loneliness, isolation, cabin fever and other responses. “Being stuck in the house, not being able to go anywhere — I started to get in a funk almost,” said Varnadoe, a student at PascoHernando State College (PHSC). To stave off negative moods, the student said he tries to “make every day mean something.” Even simple routines help, he said, such as folding laundry or hanging clothes. Staying in regular communication with friends and family helps, too. His advice to others? “Every day, make sure that you have something that you want to accomplish, even if it’s not much, and it’ll keep you on the right track, it’ll keep you moving, it’ll help you to not become depressed,” Varnadoe said. He was one of several speakers on a virtual panel discussion organized by PHSC and designed to offer ways to help people cope through the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers at the May 11 virtual summit included students and individuals from behavioral panelist Rod Cunningham underscored the vulnerability of people in isolation. Cunningham, who is the community outreach director with the Drug Enforcement Agency, observed that even vicious criminals are found lying in the fetal position when retrieved from solitary confinement. “Men are not made to be alone,” Cunningham said. He advised people to schedule social distancing activities that simply make them “feel better,” whether it’s gardening, reading, playing video games, or even perusing social media. “It’s important to understand yourself and start to pull your plan together,” Cunningham said. Panelist Harold Jackson suggested one
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
way to lighten things up is to take a humorous look at certain aspects of the pandemic. For instance, he joked:“If you need a 144 rolls of toilet paper, you probably needed to see a doctor before COVID-19 hit. “There are aspects of this thing that we can laugh about, because we’re not laughing a lot today,” said Jackson, who is a community relations liaison with Tampa Family Health Centers. He also suggested that people draw on whatever faith-based experiences or readings they have, “to move forward through (the pandemic).” Dr. Joe Bohn, a professor at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, recommended using the new-found personal downtime to pick up a new skill or hobby. He is following his own advice by taking online dance classes. Amidst the pandemic, it’s been therapeutic, he said. He’s also passed along what he’s learned about dancing to other professors and students. “It’s helped them, given them an outlet,” he said. “I think it’s one of these things of having something to do every day.” Some panelists from the college also offered suggestions on what the college can do to help support PHSC’s large student body during this pandemic. Dr. Eddie Williams said many students are facing financial issues, technological issues
The Pasco County Planning Commission is recommending approval of an ordinance that would raise mobility fees charged for market-rate apartments. The proposed ordinance also would eliminate mobility fees for single-family and multi-family projects that qualify under the county’s definition of affordable housing. In recommending approval, the planning commission suggested that the higher rates take effect on Jan. 1, 2021.The changes had been proposed to take effect on Aug. 10. The Pasco County Commission will have the final word on the issue. Planning commissioners decided to recommend a delay in implementation based on their concerns about the current economy, and after hearing those same worries expressed by the public. Ed Rogers with Florida Design Consultants, who spoke on behalf of Crown Community Development, urged commissioners to delay implementing higher fees. “Crown Community Development currently has two projects under active development that are fully entitled and have multi-family components. Chapel Crossings is in the urban service area and Watergrass is in the suburban area. “In both projects, Crown has contracts pending with market-rate apartment developers who are on the cusp of moving forward,” Rogers said. He referred to a County Commission workshop, when that board decided to seek higher mobility fees for market-rate apartments and to drop the fees for affordable housing. “We were living in a different economy back in February,” Rogers said.“In fact, the first item on the workshop agenda that day was the county budget for the next fiscal year, and the OMB (Office of Management and Budget) presented to the board a glowing picture of the economy, which was vibrant at the time. “The COVID-19 crisis and its significant
See SEMINAR, page 13A
See FEES, page 13A
COURTESY OF THE CDC
This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses.