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Tag: Sarah Blazonis

  • Dunedin business pushes back against outdoor dining ordinance

    Dunedin business pushes back against outdoor dining ordinance

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    DUNEDIN, Fla. — A Dunedin business owner is urging the city to change its rules for outdoor dining.

    George Courtney, who owns Reboot Arcade & Bar on Scotland Street, created a petition calling for outdoor dining areas to be allowed to stay open past 11 p.m. that’s collected thousands of signatures in the past two weeks. He said he’s also seen a lot of support from the community.

    What You Need To Know

    • George Courtney created a petition calling for outdoor dining areas to be allowed to stay open past 11 p.m.
       
    • It has collected thousands of signatures in the past two weeks
       
    • The local planning agency meeting where the ordinance amendment is expected to be discussed is scheduled for July 22 at 6 p.m.


    “We’ve had most of our patrons, some of them live downtown, a lot of them live close by, and many of the businesses downtown are really worried that if this doesn’t pass and the ‘vacate’ isn’t taken out, then it’s going to detrimentally impact it,” Courtney said.

    Courtney was referring to an amendment to the outdoor dining ordinance expected to be discussed by Dunedin’s local planning agency later this month. According to Dunedin Director of Communications Sue Burness, the current ordinance passed in 2011 and states that outdoor dining areas must be vacated by 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and by midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. 

    “We had no idea that this verbiage was in any part of the ordinance,” Courtney said.

    While Reboot Arcade & Bar has been open for nearly six years, Courtney said the first time the city contacted him about its outdoor seating was a few weeks ago.

    “We started getting messages from the city saying, like, ‘Hey, neighbors kind of want the place to close down a little earlier. What can you do about it?’ And we made a lot of concessions,” he said.

    Reboot Arcade & Bar closes at 3 a.m., but Courtney said the outdoor area has closed at 11 p.m. for the past two weeks.

    “It basically makes it difficult if we have patrons that have dogs or they want to smoke because it’s a no smoking establishment,” Courtney said.

    Burness provided Spectrum Bay News 9 with a copy of the outdoor dining permit Courtney signed that does state the vacate times for outdoor areas. Courtney said that was never previously enforced.

    As of Monday evening, Courtney’s petition on Change.org had nearly 3,400 signatures.

    “What we want is for them to understand that this affects not just us, but every business outside, whether they’re a bar or restaurant, that has seats outside,” Courtney said.

    According to Burness, 25 city businesses have the outdoor permit, including 15 downtown. 

    Talks among the city, residents, and businesses regarding outdoor dining and noise complaints began two years ago as part of the Business Resident City Task Force, Burness said. Those talks are what she said led to the proposed amendment, which would remove the vacate times but make businesses responsible for complying with the city’s noise ordinance. She said that states noise should never exceed a weighted 65 decibels measured at the property line. 

    “I feel like the ordinance, the sound ordinance that’s in place, is good enough because we could still get in trouble if we’re too loud,” Courtney said.

    The local planning agency meeting where the ordinance amendment is expected to be discussed is scheduled for July 22 at 6 p.m.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Redington Beach commissioners approve tent ban

    Redington Beach commissioners approve tent ban

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    REDINGTON BEACH, Fla. — Redington Beach commissioners voted 2-1 to ban the use of tents on its beach. The mayor said a similar ordinance was first passed in 2018, and this one just clarifies the language. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  Redington Beach commissioners approved an ordinance that prohibits tents on the beach

    •  “Tents” include shade structures like shelters, cabanas, and awnings

    • The mayor says the ordinance is a continuation of one passed in 2018 that was updated at the request of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, which wanted clarification of confusing language

    • Residents say tents are especially important for young children, seniors, and those with medical issues to enjoy the beach safely


    “Stupid – just plain stupid,” resident Debbie Decicco said of the plan earlier in the day.

    Decicco was enjoying a day on the beach with her family, and she said the canopy they use isn’t just for comfort.

    “I had skin cancer. I’m not allowed to sit in the sun constantly, but I want to be on the beach with my grandchildren,” Decicco said.

    The ordinance prohibits the public from setting up tents – whether they’re shelters, cabanas, awnings, “or other similar name.” On Wednesday afternoon, temperatures climbed into the 90s along the town’s shore, and Decicco wasn’t the only one against the plan.

    “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” said Redington Beach visitor Ed Volpe.

    “I would turn into a lobster myself,” said Chris Westby, also visiting from out of town. “The UV is really strong out here, so it’s nice to have a little protection.”

    Commissioners heard those same concerns at their meeting.

    “You need to have four umbrellas for 12 people – you need to have one canopy,” one resident told the board. 

    While the ordinance also bans umbrellas that exceed seven feet in diameter, Mayor David Will noted beachgoers can still use umbrellas for shade.

    “It continues the 2018 ordinance,” Will said. “There’s nothing new in it. It continues the original ordinance with some clarifying language.”

    Will said the law was first passed after gulf front homeowners reached out for help as short-term rentals became more popular.

    “In 2018, that’s what the ordinance was for, was to recognize that we’ve always utilized the beach throughout history and to also give some consideration to the homeowners, that they’re not going to have wild ruckus, crazy parties out there,” Will said.

    The mayor told attendees the new ordinance came about after the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office asked that confusing language in the original be simplified.

    Tempers flared at the commission meeting, with more than a dozen people – including gulf front homeowners – saying they didn’t want the ban. They said the 2018 ordinance was never enforced, and they’ve been using tents without problems for years. For many, the final vote was a disappointment.

    “It’s truly a sad day here in Redington Beach because, again, the majority of voters who elected them to their position were here in opposition to that ordinance, but they chose to go ahead,” said gulf front homeowner Al Alcala.

    The ordinance says tents can be set up on beach property owned by condo associations if the governing board provides the town with a written resolution saying that’s permitted. Representatives from some condo associations addressed commissioners and said that wasn’t enough.

    “We surveyed our owners and got a quorum vote, and 100% of the responses were in favor of allowing canopies on the beach,” said Hoag Ostling, president of the Breakers Condominium Association. “Now, the city misunderstood that and said, ‘We’ll put canopies behind the condos.’ No – that’s not what we meant. We meant the entire beach.”

    Residents said their work isn’t done, and they plan to look into whether the ordinance can be amended. Will said enforcement won’t begin immediately. He said code enforcement and the sheriff’s office need to be notified of the changes, and signs will be put up letting beachgoers know what is and isn’t allowed.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • New Port Richey city council creates ordinance to address flood insurance costs

    New Port Richey city council creates ordinance to address flood insurance costs

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. – The New Port Richey City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday that creates a Flood Risk and Preparedness Public Information Committee.

    It’s a step that could lead to discounts for residents who have policies under FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program.

    What You Need To Know

    • New Port Richey City Council approves ordinance to create Flood Risk and Preparedness Public Information Committee

    • Could lead to discounts for residents who have policies under FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program

    • Anyone interested in joining the new committee can visit the city’s website here.

    “I’m very excited that this is moving forward,” said New Port Richey City Council Member Bertell Butler. “It’s another step in lowering our insurance rates, and that’s always a good thing.”

    The committee will be made up of seven members, including someone from the city’s floodplain management office and another with the public information office. The other members could be floodplain residents, insurance agents, developers and contractors, and other stakeholders.

    They’ll advise the council on the best ways to get information to the public about flood risk and resiliency and emergency preparedness. The goal of creating the committee is to improve the city’s standing in the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System, or CRS. The CRS ranks participating communities into one of ten classes based on steps they take to reduce flood risk.

    The lower the class, the higher discount residents could get on flood policies, up to 45% off. Right now, New Port Richey is a class 7, which offers a 15% discount.

    “We would like to increase the amount of discount our property owners are entitled to,” said New Port Richey City Manager Debbie Manns. “We are working hard through a myriad of efforts to receive a better classification rating.”

    This comes as Floridians are seeing insurance prices increase across the board. Heidi Beisner said she and her family moved into their home along the Cotee River in 2017 because they wanted to be close to the water.

    “We love to see the dolphins playing in the water, the manatee. But we have to look at cost, as well,” Beisner said.

    There’s the kind of cost her family experienced in August when Hurricane Idalia caused the Cotee to flood, sending water into their yard and the first floor of their home.

    “The water got 18 inches high inside the first floor,” Beisner said.

    Then, there’s flood insurance. Beisner said her premium was $542 per year when she first moved in. By 2021, it went up to nearly $3,000.

    Jeff Starkey, owner of Great Florida Insurance, said Beisner isn’t alone in dealing with steadily rising premiums. 

    “It’s very disheartening,” said Starkey, who’s also a former city council member. “We talk to people on a regular basis that are almost getting forced out of their homes, that have lived in these homes for decades and are retired, on a fixed income, and didn’t calculate any of these premiums.”

    Starkey said his agency has seen private insurers leave the market, causing most clients to turn to NFIP. While he said he thinks the new committee is a good step toward offering homeowners relief, Starkey noted he came across something odd while preparing for an interview with Spectrum News. He said when he reviewed declaration pages for clients who should be receiving the 15% discount, few of them were. Manns said Starkey brought this to her attention, and the city has reached out to NFIP.

    “It’s important enough that the city is going to remain committed to finding a response to that question, because as you might expect, we’re very interested in making sure that our residents and business owners receive the discount that we work hard to achieve,” said Manns. 

    Beisner is currently not getting any CRS discount, but she said it would be a help. Now, she’s waiting to learn what her premium for the coming year will be.

    “We’re about 45 days out from our renewal, and because we have to deal directly with the National Flood Insurance Program, we don’t know what the premium is, and they won’t tell us until they send it to us in the mail,” Beisner said.

    Manns said New Port Richey is in the middle of a review process with FEMA, which could take several months. She said it would be several months after that before the city would hear about any change in its rating. 

    Anyone interested in joining the new committee can visit the city’s website here.

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  • Dozens petition Hernando school board to save removed principal’s job

    Dozens petition Hernando school board to save removed principal’s job

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    BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Dozens of teachers and staff members came out to Tuesday night’s Hernando County school board meeting to show support for the longtime principal of Deltona Elementary.

    The district removed Debi Shellabarger from her position earlier this month after nearly 15 years at the school. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Dozens of supporters came out to Tuesday’s Hernando County school board meeting to show support for the longtime principal of Deltona Elementary

    • The district removed Debi Shellabarger from her position earlier this month after nearly 15 years at the school

    • The district did not provide further information on Tuesday night

    Those who know and work with her call it a shocking decision.

    Her supporters showed up to the meeting with “SHELLABARGER STRONG” T-shirts.

    Nearly a dozen teachers, parents, and community members showed their support while speaking to the board. They provided the board with petitions with more than 600 signatures asking to save Shellabarger’s job.

    The district sent a letter to parents and staff earlier this month, stating Shellabarger will not return as principal next school year.

    “I’m still trying to figure out what my reaction is, because it’s just shocking,” said Kenny Hill, Deltona Elementary ESE Resource. “She cares about her teachers as much as she cares about her students.”

    The school board’s attorney advised members during the meeting not to comment on the situation.

    But Shellabarger’s supporters say she was let go because she compensated staff with flex time for working extra hours in a way that may have clashed with district policy.

    Speakers told board members Shellabarger didn’t do that with ill intent and that the policy was unclear and recently had to be rewritten.

    Those who spoke at the meeting praised Shellabarger’s more than 20 years with the district.

    They told the board that since she arrived at Deltona in 2010, she took the ESE-focused school from a “D” to a “B” rating. 

    Several called her a fierce advocate for students and said kids are the ones losing out. They asked the district to reconsider the decision.

    “As legal said, we can’t really get into it, just know that you are appreciated for being here tonight,” said John Stratton, Hernando School District Superintendent.

    The district did not provide further information on Tuesday night.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Sarasota adult day center and art museum team up to raise Alzheimer’s awareness

    Sarasota adult day center and art museum team up to raise Alzheimer’s awareness

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    SARASOTA, Fla. — June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than seven million Americans are living with the disease. And here in Florida, that includes more than 580,000 people ages 65 and older.

    What You Need To Know

    • In Florida, more than 580,000 people ages 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease

    • Adult day center Town Square University Parkway and the Ringling Museum of Art recently teamed up on a special project where members created art during a six-week series of workshops

    • The center’s leadership and volunteers say art is one of the activities offered that stimulates the brain and helps with focus

    • An auction is taking place June 26 at Town Square University Parkway in Sarasota from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


    Town Square University Parkway is just one of the local resources available for patients and caregivers. It’s an adult day center in Sarasota that’s modeled after familiar settings – like a diner and a front porch. The goal is to stimulate remembrance.

    “We are growing everyday. We continue to get members every week, and what we’re finding is that the caregivers have more patience when they pick them up,” Town Square University Parkway Program Director Denise Gibson said. “The participants, the members are extremely happy and tired at the end of the day.”

    The center and the Ringling Museum of Art recently teamed up on a special project.

    Ginny Burden says the two days a week she spends here at Town Square University Parkway gives her an outlet for all of the facets of her big personality.

    “I just love the environment, the staff, the fun things we get to do,” she said.

    She was part of a group made that made garlands out of strips of fabric. Artist Christine Gahagan helped.

    “They each have their own set of skills and their own language. So, we each have an interpersonal language with each individual member. So, if someone is becoming nonverbal, you know other ways to get them to express,” Gahagan said.

    Like Town Square’s other members, Burden has dementia. The center’s leadership and volunteers say art is one of the activities offered that stimulates the brain and helps with focus.

    “Art has always been a way to find that roadmap back in,” Gahagan said. “Each one of them still has the right to their own self expression.”

    That self expression is on display at the Ringling Museum of Art this month. The museum and center partnered on a six-week series of workshops where members created art using different mediums.

    “This is my favorite. I love that you can put these little things together,” Burden said.

    The pieces will be auctioned off to benefit the nonprofit, “All 4 The Members.” There will also be works created as part of the center’s regular art program.

    Artist Brittany Lush worked with more than 40 members on a Van Gogh-style painting.

    “We had members of our lower stages paint the solid color of the canvas, and then we had groups that each got their own flowers to paint individually how they wanted to,” Lush said.

    It’s work she has a personal connection to. Lush’s father has Lewy body vascular dementia and Parkinson’s disease and is a member at Town Square. She says she hopes the exhibit opens eyes.

    “See what our members can do and that despite the disease, they’re still enjoying their life and being able to create amazing things and learn new skills,” Lush said.

    And, like Burden, getting that thrill from a job well done.

    You can get a look at the art featured from the Town Square members at the Ringling Museum of Art’s Education Center. An auction is taking place June 26 at Town Square University Parkway in Sarasota from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Governor signs bill creating fund for Dozier, Okeechobee school victims

    Governor signs bill creating fund for Dozier, Okeechobee school victims

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    HOMOSASSA, Fla. — They were two of the most infamous institutions in the state, and Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation that makes it possible for men confined as children to the Dozier School for Boys and the Florida School for Boys at Okeechobee to receive compensation.

    What You Need To Know

    • Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Friday creating a compensation fund for victims of the Dozier School for Boys and Florida School for Boys at Okeechobee

    • The facilities were notorious for the physical, mental, and sexual abuse that took place for decades

    • Victims of abuse at Dozier have been fighting for compensation from the state for 16 years

    • Read previous coverage here


    “You know, 65 years of living each day remembering what happened – there’s no amount that would ever take that away from you,” said Charles Fudge, who spent nine months in Dozier in 1960. “That no other children get abused the way we were is probably the more important thing than money.”

    Fudge said he was 12 years old when he and his 13-year-old brother, George, were sent to Dozier for skipping school and smoking. Then, it was called the Florida School for Boys. Fudge said he can still remember the first time he saw the Marianna facility.

    “Walking down, I thought, ‘Gosh, I’m gonna enjoy it here. It’s a beautiful place.’ The third day changed my mind,” he said.

    His third day at the reform school is when Fudge said a staff member beat him for breaking a rule.

    “He was, like, 6’2” and 200 lbs. He gave me 31 licks with a leather strap that had a piece of metal in between it to give the extra snap,” Fudge said.

    Fudge said he lived in fear after that, doing everything he could to avoid another beating.

    “I knew I couldn’t do anything that would cause me to go back down there,” he said. “I just knew there was no way I could endure another beating like that.”

    Dozier is notorious for the physical and sexual abuse that happened there for decades. Nearly 100 boys died there from 1900 to 1973, and remains were exhumed from 55 unmarked graves. 

    For 16 years, Fudge and fellow White House Boys – a name that refers to the building on Dozier’s campus where abuse was carried out – have sought compensation from the state.

    “It was very frustrating,” Fudge said of efforts to get a compensation bill passed by the legislature that fell flat for several years. “The State of Florida is responsible, and they should recognize that, and they have finally done that.”

    Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation for the men confined as children to the Dozier School for Boys and the Florida School for Boys at Okeechobee to receive compensation. (Photo Courtesy: Diane Fudge)

    This year, the legislature passed a bill that creates the Dozier School for Boys and Okeechobee School Victim Compensation Program within the Department of Legal Affairs. Men who were at the school any time between 1940 to 1975 who were subjected to mental, physical, or sexual abuse are eligible for compensation. The legislation says notice must be given that compensation is available, and any relevant forms to apply will be made available on the department’s website. Applications will be due by Dec. 31. The program is funded by $20 million from the general revenue fund. Fudge was there Friday as the governor signed the bill.

    “Probably one of the greatest days of the 16 years that we have been representing the abuse that was given to us children,” Fudge said.

    When asked about his hope for the White House Boys’ legacy, Fudge said, “That no institution ever treats children in a harmful way.”

    Fudge said it’s unclear right now how much money each person could receive.

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  • Villas at Carillon residents say HOA tabled vote on $60,000 special assessment

    Villas at Carillon residents say HOA tabled vote on $60,000 special assessment

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — People who live in the Villas at Carillon townhome community said a planned vote on a $60,000 per household special assessment was tabled Thursday evening.

    “I’m happy because it bought us some time. I’m sad that it had to come to this,” said resident Nancy Radde. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Villas at Carillon residents say a vote on a $60,000 special assessment was tabled Thursday night
    • A letter sent to neighbors earlier this month said the assessment was needed to pay for capital improvement projects
    • Some who live in the townhome community said they wanted the vote tabled to give the community time to come up with more cost effective solutions
    • Documents sent to residents say the community put off fully funding reserves for 20 years

    Radde was one of the residents in the community’s 165 townhomes to receive a letter earlier this month from property management company Management & Associates.

    The letter said a special homeowners association meeting would be held to vote for the special assessment, which would upgrade or repair things like roofs, garages, drainage, etc. for the entire neighborhood.

    It included a limited proxy ballot that listed four options residents could choose from to pay the assessment: pay $60,000 by July 1, 2025, in four quarterly installments of $15,000; pay $60,000 in 32 quarterly installments of $1,875 over eight years; pay $11,650 in four quarterly installments of $2,912.50 by July 1, 2025, for immediate repairs; and increasing HOA monthly dues from $575 to $1,200 for eight years, beginning in October.

    Documents said the option to pay $11,650 could mean homeowners would be assessed $48,000 to do the remainder of the work at a later date.

    “My reaction right away was, ‘Oh, my goodness, most people can’t afford that,’” said Radde.

    “I was in shock,” said resident Tammy Rodeffer. “I started texting all my neighbors, ‘Did you get this?’”

    Management & Associates told Spectrum News their lawyers advised them not to comment to media.

    Information included in the documents sent to residents says: “Our community has a 20-year history of waiving the decision to fully fund the Villas of Carillon Reserves. The Association is now at a critical point with respect to capital improvement projects requiring community-wide balcony repairs and waterproofing, garage flat roof replacement, and painting.”

    It said the association also needs to start raising money for barrel tile roofs.

    “We’ve been told that we need a new roof because we may not be able to get insurance,” said Rodeffer. “So, it’s kind of a couple of different things coming together all at once, but I don’t feel comfortable enough yet from the letter to make this type of decision yet.”

    Rodeffer and Radde said they wanted to see the measure tabled so the community could look into ways to bring down the cost of repairs.

    “The numbers quoted to come up with this amount, we believe, includes replacing the roof with the same type of roof we have today. So, we would like them to explore different types of roofs,” said Rodeffer.

    Spectrum News was not allowed inside Thursday’s special meeting, but it was packed.

    Residents lined up down the hallway outside the meeting room at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park.

    According to Radde and Rodeffer, 110 residents signed a petition asking that the vote be tabled. Radde said that’s what ultimately happened at the meeting, and the vote was not immediately rescheduled. She said the next step is for residents to get to work.

    “The first thing we’re going to do, unfortunately, is try to come up with a new board — to terminate this one, dissolve this one,” Radde said. “Come up with a new board, come up with several committees. We have some really great talent — people who know engineering, people who know finances.”

    She said neighbors have already talked about ideas for reducing costs and decreasing that $60,000 special assessment.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Nesting loggerhead turtle killed by car on Anna Maria Island

    Nesting loggerhead turtle killed by car on Anna Maria Island

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    BRADENTON BEACH, Fla. — A Manatee County turtle watch group says a loggerhead sea turtle that had just nested near Coquina Beach was hit and killed by a car early Wednesday morning.

    What You Need To Know

    • A loggerhead sea turtle was hit and killed by a car along Gulf Drive South in Bradenton Beach early Wednesday

    • A representative from Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring said the turtle had just nested on Coquina Beach and was likely disoriented by street lights
    • Kristen Mazzarella, the group’s executive director, said action will need to be taken to protect the turtle’s nest, which is in view of the lights


    “I was devastated to hear that she was hit,” said Kristen Mazzarella, executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring (AMITWSBM). “One female can produce five-to-seven nests in a season, and so losing a female is a huge loss for that year, as well as for future years.

    Mazzarella said the loggerhead had just nested and was likely disoriented by a street light over a crosswalk when it was hit on Gulf Drive South. She said situations like this aren’t uncommon on Anna Maria Island. According to AMITWSBM, of the 404 nests on the island last year, 105 involved disoriented turtles.

    “Not all of them went to the road,” Mazzarella said. “Some of them may have gone to a house or pool lights or lights. Again, by people walking on the beach at night — it could just be a cell phone light.”

    Loggerheads are protected as a threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species Act. According to information from AMITWSBM, turning lights off, using red or amber LED bulbs, and shielding them from the beach can all help stop turtles from wandering away from the water.

    When it comes to solutions on Gulf Dr. South, Mazzarella said it could be tough. The road is right up against the beach parking lot, and she said balancing appropriate lighting to keep drivers and pedestrians safe while protecting sea turtles could be a challenge.

    “We learn from every situation, and so we’re going to learn from this one as to whether or not those lights were sufficiently shielded or in the right spectrum,” Mazzarella said.

    She said those could be among the methods AMITWSBM looks into to protect the turtle’s nest. 

    “It’s also in direct view of the lights that are on the road, and so we will have to either take some kind of action to prevent them from going towards those lights or see if those lights can have something happen to them, like get shielded,” Mazzarella said.

    Anyone who sees a turtle in distress on Anna Maria Island can call AMITWSBM at (941) 301-8434 or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Trop and Gas Plant redevelopment plan takes next step forward

    Trop and Gas Plant redevelopment plan takes next step forward

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It’s a step forward for the redevelopment of Tropicana Field and the Historic Gas Plant District. Thursday night, St. Petersburg City Council members voted 5-3 to schedule the second reading of an ordinance that would approve a development agreement for the site. They also gave the OK for a second reading of an ordinance on rezoning and a public hearing on increasing the Intown Redevelopment Plan’s redevelopment program budget. All are scheduled to take place on July 11.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Petersburg City Council approved a number of measures Thursday that move the Rays/Hines deal for the Trop and Gas Plant District redevelopment forward

    • Members could take a final vote on July 11

    • Dozens of residents spoke both for and against the plan at Thursday’s meeting

    • Read previous coverage here

    Before the meeting began, groups including Sierra Club Florida and Faith in Florida held a rally outside city hall, asking the council to “pump the brakes” on making a decision on the plan.

    “It’s ignoring the will of the people,” said Bishop Manuel Sykes, one of those who spoke at the rally.

    Speakers said they weren’t asking council to scrap the Rays/Hines deal, but they do want to see changes made to the plan. Among their concerns were environmental impacts and the project timeline when it comes to features meant for the community, like affordable housing.

    “We’re talking about getting a stadium done in a matter of three years, and everybody else’s concerns may be addressed over the next 27 years,” Sykes said.

    Inside, dozens addressed council during public comment.

    “Fundamentally, this is rotten,” said William Kilgore, an organizer with the St. Petersburg Tenants Union. “This is our money. This is public wealth, and we’re giving it to a private corporation.”

    The $1.3 billion project would see St. Petersburg contribute $287 million, while Pinellas County and the Rays would put in $312 million and $770 million, respectively.

    Supporters told the council the project is the chance to bring new opportunity to the area with mixed use development.

    “That million-and-a-half square feet of office space — if we don’t do this deal, that office space will not come,” said one speaker.

    Others said the deal is the best chance to fulfill past promises made to Gas Plant residents, which was razed to make way for the Trop.

    “If Rays/Hines is not approved, who is going to ensure that the efforts to fulfill those promises are going to be made?” one speaker asked members.

    A sticking point for some council members was that they haven’t received finalized documents on the plan and have been working with drafts.

    “It is our duty to do our due diligence, and we can only do that appropriately with final documents and not being rushed through this process,” said council member Lisset Hanewicz. 

    Council Chair Deborah Figgs-Sanders noted members had previously decided they needed to have final documents two weeks before making a final decision.

    “I’m going to vote for the motion as is, but if we don’t have those documents, we cannot really discuss them on July 11. It’s a given. We voted on that,” said Figgs-Sanders.

    Officials said if members didn’t have final documents two weeks before the July 11 meeting, they could push the items back to July 18.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Deadline extended for Twin City residents to elevate homes

    Deadline extended for Twin City residents to elevate homes

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — People in a Pinellas County mobile home park have an extra year to either elevate their homes or leave.

    The county originally set a deadline of June 1 for residents of the Twin City manufactured home community to complete the work. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  Pinellas County is extending the deadline for Twin City mobile home park residents to make repairs to their homes to June 1, 2025

    •  Residents were previously told they had until June 1 of this year to come into compliance with local regulations, which included elevating homes

    •  The assistant county administrator said the county has been unable to get in touch with park management to set up a meeting with residents

    • Lakeshore Management did not respond to requests for comment as of Monday night

    It’s a spot Erin Roth said flooded when she bought her home nearly 15 years ago, although not as badly.

    “It probably only ever got ankle deep. Now, you’re talking up to here if you’re standing in the middle of the road,” Roth said, gesturing to her chest. “That’s a big difference.”

    The “for sale” sign in her front yard is a simple way of saying she’s had enough.

    “When I leave here for good, I don’t want to worry about floods five years from now, ten years from now, or two weeks from now. I don’t ever want to think about it again,” she said.

    Water got inside Roth’s house twice in the past year – once in August, after Hurricane Idalia, and again after a December storm.

    “Idalia really ruined the house. We had to spend quite a bit of money to get it livable,” said Roth.

    She said FEMA helped her with the $22,000 necessary to make repairs.

    On top of mother nature, Twin City residents have been dealing with a different kind of uncertainty since October. That’s when Pinellas County sent letters to 82 households. It let them know their homes had to “be brought into compliance with local zoning, building and floodplain management regulations” by June 1.

    A county spokesperson said that included raising homes to 11 feet, which is based on the local flood plain code. Officials previously told Spectrum News they took this step to stay in the National Flood Insurance Program. 

    Roth said she hasn’t looked into elevating her home.

    “A friend of mine did, and they quoted him, like, $75,000,” she said.

    Assistant County Administrator Tom Almonte said in a statement the deadline for residents is extended to June 1, 2025. 

    “We have reached out repeatedly to park management to obtain access to the property to host an informational community meeting and also to discuss potential solutions, but have not received a response to date,” Almonte said in the statement. “We are committed to supporting the residents of Twin City, but as a privately-owned property, we need the collaboration of the ownership to move forward.”

     

    “You can’t find management until they want to be found,” Roth said. “A lot of people are scrambling to leave right now.”

     

    But Roth said that can be easier said that done, especially with a lack of affordable housing.

    “It’s hard to find a place to live. So, it’s like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place,” she said.

    She said the deadline extension won’t necessarily help with that.

    “We’re not going to get anything out of these places. The more water gets in them. So, it means nothing for us. I mean, thanks for not kicking us out, but in the end of it all, we are the ones that are going to be screwed,” she said.

    Her more immediate concern: the rain forecast for this week.

    “We’re leaving. Mentally, I cannot handle this anymore,” Roth said.

    She and her family planned to head to an Airbnb to wait out the weather and hope their home escapes more damage.

    Almonte said the county let residents know of the temporary occupancy deadline extension in a letter, which also provided information on how to prepare for this hurricane season. Residents with any questions were encouraged to reach out to the county at (727) 464-7700.

    Spectrum News reached out to Lakeshore Management, which runs Twin City. They did not respond to the request for comment.

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  • Pinellas seeks public’s input on opioid settlement funds

    Pinellas seeks public’s input on opioid settlement funds

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pinellas County is asking the public to weigh in on how more than $90 million in opioid abatement settlement funds should be spent. That can be done through an online survey or by attending upcoming listening sessions.

    What You Need To Know

    • The public can let Pinellas County know how they’d like to see $90 million in opioid abatement settlement funds spent

    • The county is offering an online survey and holding listening sessions in June

    • The executive director of the Recovery Epicenter Foundation said he’d like to see the money invested in initiatives aimed at prevention and recovery support resources

    • Funds are meant to be spent during an 18-year period

    “It really is for anyone that has been impacted by the opioid epidemic, friends or family members that have been impacted, or just concerned citizens that want to provide input,” said Karen Yatchum, Pinellas County’s Director of Human Services.

    The opioid epidemic has plagued Florida communities for years, but Pinellas has been hit particularly hard. A report released by Project Opioid last year said that while Florida saw a 2.6% decrease in drug fatalities in 2022, Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando counties saw death rates 40-56% higher than the state’s. It noted Pinellas had the second highest overdose rate in the state, at 56.5% per 100,000.

    For years, William Atkinson has been on the front lines of the fight against opioids in Pinellas County. He’s the executive director of the Recovery Epicenter Foundation. Atkinson said they were able to share good news this week.

    “Just yesterday, we announced through the statewide revival day, the first reduction in number of deaths in over a decade,” he said.

    Yatchum said there were 496 opioid-related deaths in the county last year, down from 597 in 2022.

    “It really is nice. It shows validation for the type of work that outreach peers are doing, but any death is too many,” said Atkinson.

    The $90 million in abatement funds, to be used during the next 18 years, is meant to save even more lives. Yatchum said the county has hired consultants with Ernst & Young to take a look at what services are available and take the public’s suggestions into account.

    “Looking at prevention services, looking at treatment services, looking at residential services, and they’re really going to help with all of this input, tell us what we really believe should be funded with these settlement dollars,” Yatchum said.

    Atkinson said there’s traditionally been a lack of funding for prevention services and for resources to support people through recovery. He said more peer respite centers are among what’s needed to fill a gap in care.

    “On top of that, helping people get to the next stage, which would be affordable housing that’s recovery-focused and allow them to start actively becoming self-supporting,” Atkinson said.

    He said investing in employment opportunities is also important.

    “We stigmatize people who have a past, and it makes it way more difficult for them to ever overcome or to have a different result. So, they’re never able to financially support themselves after they have done their time for whatever crime they committed,” he said. “Employment opportunities is another opportunity for us to invest this type of money, and if we did this, and if we did this in a real, altruistic way, we could end up at the end of 18 years with more than the $90 million we put in.”

    Yatchum said the gap analysis being conducted by Ernst & Young started May 1 and is expected to take 16 weeks. After that, they’ll present their findings to the county and its Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board. The county will then start the procurement process for programs and services.

    Listening sessions are being held at the following locations:

    Tuesday, June 18

    Largo Historic Feed Store
    295 Central Park Dr.
    Largo
    7:30 p.m.
    (Spanish Interpreter Available)

    John Geigle YMCA
    4550 Village Center Dr.
    Palm Harbor
    6 – 7:30 p.m.

     

    Wednesday, June 19

    Hispanic Outreach Center
    621 Franklin St.
    Clearwater
    1:30 – 3 p.m.
    (Spanish Interpreter Available)

     

    Barbara S. Ponce Library
    7770 52nd St. N.
    Pinellas Park
    5 – 6:30 p.m.
    (Spanish Interpreter Available)

     

    Lealman Exchange Community Center
    5175 45th St. N.
    Lealman
    6 – 7:30 p.m.
    (Vietnamese Interpreter Available)

     

    Thursday, June 20

    CAP/Union Academy Family Center
    401 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.
    Tarpon Springs
    6 – 7:30 p.m.
    (Spanish Interpreter Available)

     

    Neighborhood Family Center
    900 North Dr. MLK Jr. Ave.
    Clearwater
    6 – 7:30 p.m.
    (Spanish Interpreter Available)

     

    Friday, June 21

    Suntan Arts Center, Don Vista Building
    3300 Gulf Blvd.
    St. Pete Beach
    6 – 7:30 p.m.

     

    Saturday, June 22

    Seminole Rec Center
    9100 113th St.
    Seminole
    10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

     

    Greater Ridgecrest Branch YMCA
    1801 119th St.
    Largo
    1 – 2 p.m.

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  • Port Richey wants public input on Cotee River Landing future

    Port Richey wants public input on Cotee River Landing future

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    PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The Port Richey waterfront’s potential to boost the city’s economy has been talked about for more than 25 years.

    Now, leaders are asking the public what they want to see when it comes to new development in the Cotee River Landing area. 

    An open house will take place at Port Richey City Hall from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. A survey can also be filled out until June 6.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The city of Port Richey is holding an open house on May 30 to get the public’s input on the future of the Cotee River Landing area

    •  People can let city leaders know what businesses, activities, and amenities they’d like to see in the waterfront district at the meeting or by filling out an online survey

    •  Learn more about the Imagine Cotee River Landing project here

    “Probably the heart and soul of the city,” City Manager Matthew Coppler said of the area along the Pithlachascotee River and Miller’s Bayou that includes landmarks like Gil Dawg’s, Nick’s Park, and Whiskey Joe’s. “It’s where a lot of the activity that residents participate in, on the weekends especially, will be found.”

    The city is looking to the waterfront’s future with its “Imagine Cotee River Landing” project.

    A planning framework report released earlier this month says leaders came up with the Waterfront District Intermodal Master Plan Part I in 1998, with Part II following in 2001. They envisioned the district as a “vibrant local and regional destination for commerce, recreation, and entertainment.”

    “The community, for the last 20-plus years, has been planning for something big to happen there. We’re at the point now where that hasn’t happened, and we want to refocus and decide what the future looks like for the Cotee River Landing,” Coppler said.

    Coppler confirmed a local developer has come forward with ideas to redevelop land near Gil Dawg’s. Building condos was one possibility mentioned, but Coppler said talks are in very early stages.

    “Really hasn’t stepped forward with any concrete plans yet, which is a good thing for our community because it gives us an opportunity to understand what our residents want to see in this very important area,” he said.

    The report the developer’s early concepts don’t align with current city policies and standards. 

    An open house planned for Thursday is meant to give residents a chance to weigh in on the types of businesses, activities, and amenities they’d like to see.

    “Do they want to keep it the slow, kind of fishing village concept like is already started? Or do they want something a little bit more, you know, have more density, higher buildings?” Coppler said. 

    Some said they’re concerned about what development could bring. One business owner and resident told Spectrum News he’d be in favor of projects like revamping Nick’s Park and its boat ramp, but said when it comes to larger undertakings, like a potential condo building, he doesn’t think the area is large enough or has enough parking to support it.

    Coppler said development will eventually come to the waterfront.

    “What we’re saying is, why just let it happen?” he said. “Let’s let it happen in a way that benefits us as residents and provides us those amenities that we want.”

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  • One year later, family still waits for answers in Tonya Whipp disappearance

    One year later, family still waits for answers in Tonya Whipp disappearance

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    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — “Justice for Tonya” — that was the call from family and friends of Tonya Whipp Friday evening as they gathered in Auburndale City Park to hold a prayer vigil to mark one year since the 38-year-old was last seen.

    For Whipp’s sisters, it’s been a year of questions.

    What You Need To Know

    • A vigil was held Friday to mark one year since Tonya Whipp’s disappearance

    • Loved ones prayed for the missing 38-year-old Auburndale woman, and encouraged anyone with information on her case to come forward

    • Whipp’s boyfriend, Russell Carroll, was arrested earlier this month and charged with stealing money from her bank account after she was reported missing

    • Read previous coverage here

    “For lack of a better word: Hell,” said Jenny Shelton of what her sister’s disappearance has meant for their family. “Not knowing is detrimental to our everyday life.”

    Loved ones came together to pray and call for answers. Shelton said Whipp was last seen on May 26, 2023, and her absence has left a void in the lives of those who knew her.

    “She’s the life of the party. Always made you cry, laugh. You’d cry because you’d be laughing so hard. She’d give the shirt off her back to anybody,” Shelton said.

    Purple decorated the park, from the shirts attendees wore to ribbons tied to light poles and trees.

    Loved ones said the color was picked not just because it’s Whipp’s favorite, but also because it’s the color that represents domestic violence awareness.

    Whipp was in a relationship with Russell Carroll when she disappeared, and he is the only suspect authorities have identified in the homicide investigation.

    Carroll was arrested earlier this month and charged with stealing money from Whipp’s bank account after she was reported missing. The nonprofit group We Are The Essentials joined the search early on, which included talking to Carroll.

    “In the beginning, we interviewed him three times,” said We Are The Essentials President Nico Tusconi. “All three times, and this was while it was just a missing persons case, all three times, he had three different stories.”

    Carroll has maintained his innocence. Police have searched the home he shared with Whipp twice, most recently last week. Shelton said so far, family hasn’t learned anything new.

    “It’s forward movement, which is great in any case,” Shelton said. “But, I mean, in a case like this, it is a process, and we know it takes time. We know APD and the chief are doing everything, everything in their power to find whoever hurt my sister.”

    The search for Whipp continues, but police say she is presumed dead.

    “I believed it probably a week or two after she became missing,” said Whipp’s sister, Robin Klotzbier. “We talked every, single day. So, I knew something was wrong when she didn’t call me. But we’re going to find her.”

    Anyone with information on this case is asked to reach out to Auburndale Police at (863) 965-5555 or We Are The Essentials at (516) 253-0610.

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  • City of Zephyrhills wants public input on parks

    City of Zephyrhills wants public input on parks

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The City of Zephyrhills is once again asking the public to weigh in on the city’s future.

    This time, city officials want the public’s take on what they’d like to see when it comes to its parks.

    What You Need To Know

    • Zephyrhills asking public what they’d like in new parks 

    • Part of the effort to update the city’s parks and recreation master plan

    • Newly built Hercules Park is a $7.4 million project
    • Residents can still give input for consideration in the Parks and Rec master plan. Click on the link to take the city survey on parks

    An Open House was held Thursday night where people could weigh in on what programming they want to see and any changes they’d like made. 

    It’s part of the effort to update the city’s parks and recreation master plan.

    More aquatic activities and programs for teens were among the suggestions.

    “Well, for one thing, they’re free,” Zephyrhills resident Erica Freeman said of what she’d like to see. “In this economy, it’s so important to have someplace you can go where you don’t have to spend money, but you get a lot from it.”

    One big change on the way is construction is taking place at Hercules Park.

    It’s the first newly built park in Zephyrhills in more than 40 years.

    The $7.4 million project sits next to two schools and townhomes that are under construction.

    Officials say the city’s population increased by 64% in the past decade.

    Public Works Director Shane LeBlanc said parks are an important part of adapting to that growth.

    “It’s a little rough right now because it’s under construction, but the end product is going to be a jewel for the community,” LeBlanc said. “I think the demand is there. The more development that we have, the more residential, the more demand for parks.”

    Residents can still give input for consideration in the Parks and Rec master plan. Click on the link to take the city survey on parks.

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  • Clearwater City Council postpones vote on major Drew Street project

    Clearwater City Council postpones vote on major Drew Street project

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    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Clearwater City Council members voted unanimously Thursday night to postpone a vote on a project meant to improve safety along Drew Street.

    People both for and against the plan packed last night’s council meeting.

    What You Need To Know

    • Clearwater city council pushes back vote on major Drew Street changes 

    • Members decided to hold off on a decision to give themselves time to meet with Forward Pinellas and FDOT

    • Changes would reduce Drew Street from four to two lanes between Keene Road and Osceola Avenue, and add a center turn lane 
    • FDOT Drew Street corridor study

    Members decided to hold off on a decision to give themselves time to meet with Forward Pinellas and FDOT to get any questions answered and possibly come up with compromises.

    The sticking point is that the plan involves reducing Drew Street from four to two lanes between Keene Road and Osceola Avenue, and add a center turn lane.

    Council members questioned whether it would actually ease congestion on this major artery to downtown.

     

    Nathaniel Chason, who said he drives Drew Street every day, said his commute can be challenging.

    “When you have to stop and cars are turning left, it basically stops traffic, you know? Twenty cars behind you sometimes,” he said. “And then, also, you have to worry that you’re not. Some people turn their kind of wheel into the traffic. You have to make sure your front panel isn’t kind of off into the next lane.”

    Forward Pinellas’ Executive Director Whit Blanton said the nearly $20 million project is mostly funded by federal dollars.

    Those have to be allocated by June 10.

    If the council doesn’t approve the project by then, that money could go to other projects in the county.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Clearwater’s Mercado the next step in Downtown Gateway revitalization

    Clearwater’s Mercado the next step in Downtown Gateway revitalization

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — Clearwater residents had the chance to get a look at plans during a public meeting this week for a new park, known as the Mercado, planned for the corner of Cleveland Street and Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard.

    What You Need To Know

    •  A public meeting was held in Clearwater to let residents get a look at plans for the Mercado

    •  The Mercado will be a park at the corner of Cleveland Street and Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard with a grassy area, public art, and a large canopy

    •  The name — Mercado is Spanish for market — is meant to highlight the Hispanic population in the community
    • Construction is expected to wrap up in the fall

    “We’re very proud of it. This is a community-led project that started about a year ago, and it’s right there in the gateway leading straight into the downtown,” said Jesus Niño, executive director of Clearwater’s Redevelopment Agency.

    As of this week, the site is a fenced-off lot with construction equipment sitting on it.

    “It’s basically dirt right now,” Niño said.

    But by fall, it’s expected to be a place where people can come to relax, eat lunch or meet with friends.

    “It’s an urban space that will be basically a great investment by the CRA, and a community asset that’s going to have an impact for generations to come in that area,” Niño said.

    About a dozen residents came out to DeLukas restaurant for a public meeting about the project, which officials referred to as a “pocket park.” Some have been following talks to improve the area for a while.

    “So many years ago, I remember the first meeting we had,” Mary Bertsche said of when discussions about the project first began. “And oh, it was just — and then, we waited and waited.”

    Niño told those gathered that construction is expected to begin soon. Plans include walking paths, a grassy area, and a large canopy for shade. Money to make it happen is coming from increment funds generated by the CRA.

    The name — Mercado is Spanish for market — is meant to highlight the Hispanic population in the community.

    “I think it’s going to help kickstart the area,” said Dr. Gilbert Jannelli. “We’re all excited.”

    Jannelli is the landlord for DeLukas, which is right down the street from the future site of the Mercado. He and others said they hope the work doesn’t stop with this project.

    “The whole area is in need, from Highland down to Osceola,” he said.

    Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector said at the meeting that the future site of the Mercado is just one of those in the city in need of revitalization. He said it’s going to take some time to address all of those different areas, but an example of one recently completed project can be seen from the Mercado site.

    “We just completed, in December of 2023, a complete renovation of Cleveland Street,” Niño said. “It’s a beautiful street, beautiful asset, and now, basically, to complete the entire phase is to begin the Mercado project.”

    Janelli said he’s noticed a difference the work has had in the neighborhood.

    “The city is doing a wonderful job in marketing the area,” he said. “There’s lots of interest now. The business here is picking up since construction finished.”

    Niño said that’s part of the goal: supporting the businesses that are already in the area, as well as attracting new ones. He said once work on the Mercado wraps up in the fall, other efforts to beautify the area, like public art projects, will continue.

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  • “Game changer” – asthma drug provides new option for people with food allergies

    “Game changer” – asthma drug provides new option for people with food allergies

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For 33 million Americans, going out to eat, grocery shopping, and even school lunch time can be a source of anxiety.

    According to the group Food Allergy and Research Education (FARE), that’s how many people in the U.S. have food allergies.

    A study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine found a drug used to treat allergic asthma can offer relief.

    It’s called Xolair, and the principal investigator said stage one of a three-stage study found 67% of people who got regular injections were able to tolerate a fairly large amount of peanut, compared to seven percent in a placebo group. More than half could tolerate other foods that caused reactions.

    What You Need To Know

    • The FDA recently approved Xolair, a medicine used to treat allergic asthma, for use to reduce the risk of severe reactions in people with food allergies

    • A study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine showed a significant amount of participants who received Xolair injections were able to tolerate a fairly large amount of their allergen

    • Doctors say this offers an exciting alternative for patients whose main options have been avoiding certain foods and carrying EpiPen  
    • The parents of an eight-year-old Wesley Chapel girl who recently began injections say they’re hopeful their daughter will be able to enjoy the same activities as other kids once she builds tolerance 

    “Going from what we did before, which was primarily just tell patients they had to avoid what they were allergic to and carry their epinephrine in case they had an accidental exposure, to where we are now with this drug, it really is a potentially life changing medicine for many, many patients,” said Dr. Robert Wood, director of the Pediatric Immunology and Rheumatology Division of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore.

    Wood said the first stage of the study was specifically designed to bring back to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to potentially approve Xolair for use to treat food allergies. The FDA did just that in February, making it the first medication to get approval to help reduce allergic reactions to a number of foods after accidental exposure.

    Accidental exposure is something Layan Alabsi’s family has worked to prevent for almost her whole life. Her parents said she was diagnosed with a severe dairy allergy when she was a year old.

    “It’s been seven years since then. It’s been hard,” said Layan’s father, Humam Alabsi. “It did limit our social interaction. We’re not able to eat in restaurants. It’s hard for us eating, and she’s not enjoying it. It limited us going to parks or other places because of cross contamination.”

    Alabsi said Layan has needed to use an EpiPen three times in her life, and two of those happened last year. In one instance, he said she nearly died after trying her little sister’s ice-cream.

    “She already stopped breathing. She lost consciousness,” he said. “Thank God, she stayed with us, but I cried a lot that day.”

    The other time, just touching an eraser used by a classmate who’d eaten snacks with dairy in them was enough to trigger a reaction and land Layan in the hospital once again.

    “It’s hard for me as a mom, especially in the kitchen,” said Layan’s mother, Dania Alhyasat. “It’s like, when I want to eat something dairy, it’s like I will always clean my hand, brush my teeth, wipe the surface with Clorox wipes.”

    Twice a month, Layan and her family make the hour and a half to two-hour drive from their home in Wesley Chapel to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Her parents said she’s getting oral immunotherapy for her allergies there and recently got her first injection of Xolair.

    “This is such a game changer. We were waiting for years for something to happen in this field, something that we can use as a treatment to lessen the severity of the reaction or to prevent food allergy from developing,” said Dr. Panida Sriaroon, medical director for All Children’s Food Allergy Clinic.

    While that last part hasn’t happened yet, she said patients are excited about this new option. 

    According to the FDA, Xolair was originally approved in 2003 to treat allergic asthma. Wood said that’s also when a study involving a similar drug showed promise in treating food allergies. He said his team and others have done smaller studies through the years signaling this medicine could prevent food reactions. Wood said Xolair’s original use is not so different from its new one.

    “The way that it works is that when you develop an allergy, your immune system develops something called IGE antibodies, and this drug is specifically called ‘anti-IGE’. So, it literally blocks, it sops up the IGE that’s in your bloodstream so that it can no longer interact with the food if you’ve had, say, an accidental exposure that would normally lead to an allergic reaction,” Wood said.

    Sriaroon said injections are given every two-to-four weeks to patients with life-threatening allergies.

    “It’s not a cure,” she said. “So, Xolair will only increase the threshold of someone developing a reaction. In other words, they have a less chance of having severe reactions in case of accidental exposure.”

    For families like Layan’s, that’s huge. 

    “I’m not greedy,” said Alabsi. “I’m not hoping that she’ll consume dairy like other kids. I’m just hoping that it would be safe for her to enjoy life like other kids.”

    “I see taking my daughter to a birthday party,” said Alhyasat of where she envisions her daughter to be a year from now. “She can celebrate her best friend’s birthday party, eat a cake with her sitting with her friends in the cafeteria, living her normal life as a child.”

    That’s something Layan said she looks forward to, as well.

    “When me and my best friend went to Urban Air, I can’t even eat anything or, like, eat pizza,” she said. “It’s kind of hard because I really want to be with friends and not be alone.”

    Wood said stages two and three of the study are ongoing, and the next step for Xolair is working through the process of insurance approvals.

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  • Residents balk at plans for Anclote River Park development

    Residents balk at plans for Anclote River Park development

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — More than 100 people packed a town hall meeting on planned changes for Pasco County’s Anclote River Park Monday night.

    The big concern centered on a possible restaurant being built along the waterfront. Officials say there are no immediate plans for that, but residents tell us they’re still concerned.

    What You Need To Know

    • Plans for development at Anclote River Park dropped

    • Concerns about what the project means for the future of a native American burial mound

    • Redesigned plans have not been announced

    Commissioner Kathryn Starkey says that the county found out last month that the restaurant owner who had been interested in building a 22,000-square foot restaurant in the park agreed to a mutual termination of lease for that land.

    She says there is still space included in the park’s redesign plan for a 3,000-square-foot restaurant sometime in the future.

    And that’s something residents said is concerning.

    Michelle Ravenscroft has lived in Pasco County her whole life.

    She was among those who packed into tonight’s town hall meeting in part because she doesn’t want to see a restaurant built in Anclote River park.

    “I don’t feel reassured, and I feel like they’re going to do whatever they want to do,” Ravenscroft said. “I’ve seen so many places get torn down, and I feel like they’re building for, like I said in there, they’re not building for public need. They’re building for public desire. We don’t need another restaurant taking up more spaces. We need more green spaces.”

    Officials say part of the goal of tonight’s meeting was to clear up misconceptions about the park’s redesign.

    “I feel like when you meet people, their initial thought was that we were going to mass grade the entire site from line to line,” said Keith Wiley, Pasco County Parks, Rec, & Natural Resources Director. “Honestly, from my background coming from the natural resources field, I was shocked.”

    Officials say the project will add much-needed boat access, as well as replacing pavilions and beach improvements.

    “We’re actually going to add some more trees back to the park, because it used to have a wonderful oak canopy, and a lot of that was taken out the last remodel,” said Kathryn Starkey, Pasco County Commissioner.

    But residents told them they’re concerned about what the project means for the future of a native American burial mound and Spanish Well on site, as well as wildlife.

    Leaders told them steps will be taken to protect the environment and those spots of historic and cultural significance, features Ravenscroft said contributes to people’s passionate response to possible changes to the park.

    Plans for the redesign have not been finalized. 

    Pasco’s director of parks, recreation, and natural resources says they recently wrapped up the 30% preliminary site plan.

    The county and state agencies will have to review it.

    And while he says the hope is that the county will get comments on the plan before next year, it could be 18-24 months before they get an actual permit.

    “There is a cultural significance there with the Indian mounds,’ Ravenscroft said. “And they just don’t want to see something else torn away from something that they love.”

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Hernando residents asked to weigh in on flooding vulnerability study

    Hernando residents asked to weigh in on flooding vulnerability study

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    HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) wants to hear from residents about flood-prone spots in their neighborhoods.

    Senior Hazard Mitigation Planner Amy Bidwell said it will help the council prioritize projects they’ll apply for grant funding for to help mitigate flooding.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) is conducting a vulnerability assessment for flood-prone areas of Brooksville and unincorporated Hernando County
    • The council held a public meeting Thursday to hear from residents about areas of concern in their communities
    • The focus is on vulnerable critical assets like major roadways, bridges and water treatment plants
    • The assessment can also be filled out online

    TBRPC held a public meeting Thursday at Pasco-Hernando State College’s north campus. Larry Faragher said he and his wife, Carol, attended because flooding is a concern in their Hernando Beach waterfront neighborhood. 

    “Idalia brought flooding issues — especially my neighbors suffered, a lot more of the single level homes that are out there. They took up four-to-five feet of water,” said Faragher of the August hurricane that brought impacts to Tampa Bay. “We were fortunate. It came over our high seawall. We have a higher seawall than our neighbors. It still came over, and we came within 3.5 inches of coming into our garages.”

    Faragher said it’s the worst flooding he’s seen in 28 years in Hernando Beach.

    TBRPC is conducting a vulnerability assessment for Brooksville and unincorporated Hernando County. It’s funded by the Florida Resilient Grant Program, and the goal is to hear from people what critical assets in their communities — like bridges, major roadways and water treatment plants — might be at risk of flooding. That could lead to projects to protect them.

    “The whole coast of Hernando County is one, big hotspot — from Aripeka south all the way north, up to Pine Island,” said Hernando County Emergency Management Director David DeCarlo about flooding potential in the county.

    DeCarlo said public input in the assessment process is key.

    “It’s their community, and we want to help protect them. So, what’s important to them is important to us,” DeCarlo said.

    Thursday marked the second public meeting. DeCarlo and Bidwell said no one came to the first, and only the Faraghers attended the latest.

    Bidwell, project manager on the assessment, said during the meeting that ten years ago, the mention of flooding public outreach would bring people out in droves. She brought up the possibility of moving meetings like Thursday night’s into impacted neighborhoods. The Faraghers said they think that will help.

    “If they bring the program right to the neighborhoods that’s going to have possible effects from these floods or from whatever type of damage we’re talking about, that’s where you need to really educate the citizens, and I think they’ll come out,” Faragher said.

     In the meantime, he and Carol brought assessments home to try to give to neighbors to get their input.

    Residents can also fill out the assessment online.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Bridge collapse brings back memories of Skyway tragedy for St. Pete couple

    Bridge collapse brings back memories of Skyway tragedy for St. Pete couple

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Tuesday reminded many in Tampa Bay about the Sunshine Skyway Bridge tragedy in 1980.

    It happened on May 9 of that year when a 609-foot freighter hit the bridge’s support beams during morning rush hour. Thirty-five people fell to their deaths. Memories of that day came rushing back to Aaron and Gloria Peelar when they saw the images coming out of Baltimore.

    What You Need To Know

    • Aaron and Gloria Peelar said hearing the news of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge reminded them of a similar tragedy here in Tampa Bay

    • The Sunshine Skyway Bridge partially collapsed in 1980 after a freighter slammed into it

    • The bridge was a normal part of Aaron’s commute. He said delays may have stopped him from being on the bridge when it collapsed

    • 35 people died in the Sunshine Skyway collapse

    “When I saw that on the news this morning, I just said, ‘Not again,’” said Gloria.

    Forty-four years ago, the Skyway Bridge was a regular part of the commute for Aaron, who worked in Bradenton. They said on the morning of the collapse; the weather was terrible.

    “My husband, before he left home, it was raining so hard. I said, ‘You’re gonna drown in the driveway,’” Gloria, 68, said.

    “I had one goal, and that was to get to work,” said Aaron. “I drove by the lines on the ground because you couldn’t see. It was so dark.”

    Aaron said when he got to the bridge, he paid his toll and began to drive over. He stopped when he saw another vehicle’s lights coming toward him.

    “Somebody had turned around and was coming down. I was coming up, coming up on the peak, and when I got up, I saw something that wasn’t right,” he said.

    Aaron began backing down, not realizing part of the bridge had been destroyed. Gloria, then a nursing student, said she found out about it when she got to class.

    “What scared me so was they told me the last car that went over was a yellow car with a black top, and that was the color of the car he was driving at the time,” she said.

    Gloria said she got their two-year-old daughter and went in search of answers.

    “They had me at Fort DeSoto looking at bodies,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh, Lord, please.’ I was looking at my daughter, ‘cause she was there with me, and I just said, ‘I don’t know, if he’s gone, how I’m gonna tell you.’ I did have a cousin on the Greyhound bus, so I saw her body.”

    Aaron, meanwhile, said he was struggling to get to work. Not only did he say car issues delayed the start of his drive to work, but they also caused him to be very late. He said it wasn’t until he arrived that he found out what happened.

    “His job called me and said, ‘He’s okay,’” said Gloria. “I said, ‘I have to hear his voice. Please, let me hear it for us.’ So, they put him on the line, and you know, all I could do was just thank God.”

    “I’m a blessed man, 75 years of age,” said Aaron. “That day could have not come had it not been for God.”

    Aaron and Gloria have been married for 47 years. Both are retired and enjoy spending time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

    They said then and now, their thoughts are with those who weren’t so fortunate.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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