The LAKER
ee r F
EAST PASCO EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
Auto Accident? Slip and Fall? FREE CONSULTATION
No Fees Or Costs Unless You Win HOLLIDAY KARATINOS
JA N UA RY 2 0 , 2 0 2 1
Changes planned in Zephyrhills CRA
By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
The Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is ushering in the new year with a a slew of projects and initiatives in the historic downtown district. “There’s a lot going on that you’ll see in January that staff has been working on,”
Zephyrhills CRA director Gail Hamilton said, during an update of the 2021 plans at a meeting with the CRA board of directors last month. The CRA district encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street.Within those boundaries are the following historic neighborhood dis-
tricts: Hercules, Historic Jeffries, Historic Abbott, Moore’s Estate, Zephyr Lake, Oakside and Plaza. Hamilton told board members that the agency has met with a consultant on forthcoming improvements to Hercules Park, a 9-acre city-owned parkland site at the corSee CRA, page 9A
LAW FIRM, PLLC HelpingInjuredPeople.com Call Attorney
JIM HOLLIDAY “I Will Aggressively Fight To Protect Your Legal Rights”
813-868-1887 OR
352-597-0009
Burgess talks pandemic response, other issues By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Florida State Sen. Danny Burgess undoubtedly has a full plate of responsibilities as he settles into his new legislative role representing District 20, which spans parts of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties. Most notable for the 34-year-old Zephyrhills Republican is tackling existing and lasting effects of the coronavirus pandemic as chairman of the newly created Select Committee on Pandemic Response and Preparedness — a role appointed by Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby. The first-term Senate member discussed COVID-19 response and other topics as the featured guest speaker at The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce’s Jan. 7 breakfast meeting at Golden Corral in Zephyrhills. Burgess didn’t mince words regarding the magnitude of short- and long-term issues that need to be tackled by the 10-member pandemic committee. “It’s a big responsibility ahead of us,” Burgess told the room of local business leaders. “We’re still learning as we go. We’re building this plane as we’re flying…because this is a new world we’re in and this (virus) has never existed before.” The committee, Burgess said, will examine “every area that’s been impacted,” particularly in the way of business issues related to the coronavirus, including restaurants, retail, entertainment establishments and so on. One such example is introducing liability protections if someone claims they contracted COVID-19 at a particular locale, he said. Burgess explained:“As you’re opening up (businesses) again, you don’t need to be looking over your shoulder wondering if you’re going to get sued because this person said they got COVID at your place or your hand sanitizer machine was empty, right? That’s the kind of stuff that we’re looking at there.” He continued with pro-business sentiments, adding “there should be a presumption that businesses should be open” through the pandemic going forward. “You should be able to operate in an environment and not be told to shut down,” said Burgess, an attorney partnered in a full-service practice in Dade City. “As long we we’re taking the appropriate (health and safety) steps and doing what you need to do as a business, you should not have to shut your doors because there are devastating impacts that could be just as bad as the virus, if you think about it. “We have to make sure that people can earn a living, that people can stay on their feet and make a wage and not cripple our economy, and so there’s gotta be that balance.” Aside from business impacts, surging mental health problems amid the pandemic will be a heavy focus for Burgess and other Senate leaders, too. The lawmaker pointed out regional See BURGESS, page 9A
Stepping back in time for old-fashioned fun
FRED BELLET
Whether they had a craving for something sweet, wanted to listen to live music, or wanted to watch a World War II reenactment, those attending the Florida Pioneer Museum’s ‘Raising Cane’ event had lots of options for having a good time. Syrup-makers used the same techniques that were used in the 19th century to make sugar cane syrup. Above, Jerry Moates, of Zephyrhills, right, and Marcus Copeland, left, of Dade City, filter and skim the cane syrup juice as it boils down in the 80-gallon kettle. The Southern Syrup Maker’s Association also had a cane syrup tasting and competition at the event. More photos, page 1B.
World War II U.S. Army reenactor Joe Gibson, of Fort Myers, took part in the World War II battle reenactment at ‘Raising Cane.’ His wife, Tara Gibson, reenacted the role of a French Resistance freedom fighter.
Hannah Schultze, of Tampa, explains the major role that women in the service played during World War II.
Vaccine demand continues to outpace supply Local counties trying new approach to vaccine rollouts By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Complaints about difficulties in registering for COVID-19 vaccine appointments in Pasco and Hillsborough counties have resulted in changes to those systems, but demand for vaccinations continues to outpace the supply of available vaccines. Both Pasco and Hillsborough now are using the same registration system for vaccines. Anyone age 65 and older who needs the COVID-19 vaccination must go to PatientPortalFl.com or call 844-770-8548 to create an account with CDR Maguire: Health & Medical (CDR Maguire). An account with CDR Maguire is required to register for a vaccination appointment. Those who have created an account with CDR Maguire must log into the patient portal to register for an appointment. Pasco’s health department announced that it would hold four vaccination clinics this week. Registrations for the clinics began on Jan. 17. Appointments are mandatory to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The health department planned to provide 400 vaccinations on Jan. 19 and 400 on
Vaccines in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order that outlines that providers can only administer COVID-19 vaccines to these groups: • Health care facility residents and staff • Those age 65 and older • Health care personnel with direct patient contact • Persons deemed to be extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 by hospital providers
Jan. 21, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Sears Auto Center in the Gulfview Square Mall, 9409 U.S. 19 in Port Richey. There also will be 500 appointments on Jan. 20 and 500 on Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Saint Leo University, 33710 State Road 52 in St. Leo. Those receiving the vaccinations should be sure to have a photo ID, when checking in for your vaccination appointment. If using the online patient portal, be sure to bring a printed or digital copy of the confirmation email you receive, containing the QR code. Both Hillsborough and Pasco counties continue to have a fundamental issue with vaccine supply. On the Hillsborough website, a health department note says:“Please understand that the vaccine is not widely available in
Hillsborough County at this time and the distribution plans depend on vaccine supplies. Supplies are provided by the federal government and distributed to the states, which then allocate them to counties.” Pasco County Commission members expressed frustrations about the vaccine supply problem at their Jan. 12 meeting. Commissioner Mike Moore raised the issue, noting that Pasco’s health department was supposed to receive 3,500 doses on a particular day. “They received zero, as we all know,” Moore said to his colleagues. “Our current population, we’re guesstimating, is 560,000 — I’m sure when the census comes out it will be closer to 600,000,” Moore said. About a third of Pasco’s population is over the age of 65, he added. If the county was to get 1,800 vaccines a week, it would take about 7 ½ years to vaccinate the population in Pasco County. At 3,500, it would take 3 ½ years to vaccinate the population of Pasco County, he said. Moore said he’d been working on the problem with Dan Biles, county administrator;Andy Fossa, county director of emergency management; and Mike Napier, public health officer for the Department of Health — Pasco County. See VACCINE, page 9A