Whenever you have the best weather of the year for your outdoor event, youâre bound to be successful. So yes, when the American Cancer Society (ACS) decided to host its annual âMaking Strides Against Breast Cancer of Pascoâ walk on October 22, some people who might not have been planning to take a 2-3-mile walk that day at the Shops at Wiregrass mall may have decided to go ahead and take that morning constitutional in the crisp, sub-70-degree sunshine and crowds of happy people wearing pink.
In other words, although the ACS website MakingStridesWalk.org/PascoFLâs âofficialâ online statistics say there were 1,136 registered participants on 126 teams that raised more than $125,000 (not including sponsorship money, which hadnât been totaled up at our press time) taking a stroll from the mall to Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, ACS of the South Nature Coast of Florida (serving Pasco, Hernando & Citrus counties) senior market manager Robyn Liska says the actual number of people on hand that day was closer to 5,000.
Photo: Ashley Wilson
Of those 126 teams, the three that raised the most money for the event (although donations are still being accepted that will be added to the totals) were the âClerks for a Causeâ team, whose 32 members raised nearly $19,000; the âKBR Pirates in Pink,â who had the largest team at the event, with 65 members, that raised almost $13,000; and the âJazzercise Bosom Buddies, which had 34 members (some of whom did a performance during the event) who raised nearly $10,000.
The top individual fund raisers at this yearâs Strides of Pasco were Diane Ricca of the âRMCBP Volunteersâ team, who raised nearly $3,700; Jean White of the âKBR Pirates in Pink,â with $3,500; and Diane Gonyea and Kathy Ritz of the âWalmartâs Ride for a Causeâ team, who raised $3,056.50 each.
Just like the fight against breast cancer itself, the numbers for the event may not have been finalized at our press time, but a great time was had by all. For more info about ACS, visit Cancer.org.â GN
The Wharton High girls team won the team competition last year.
Itâs time to dust off your running shoes and consider building up a nice little calorie (and maybe oxygen) deficit that might just let you indulge in an extra piece of pumpkin pie later in the day, as a pair of Thankgiving Day 5K (3.1-mile) races â both of which will be held on Thursday, November 24 â are right around the corner.
The fourth annual âWiregrass Wobbleâ 5K is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day at the Shops at Wiregrass mall, with 5K runners heading out at 7:30 a.m. and the 1-mile Fun/Run/Walk (which might earn you half an extra piece of pie) will be held at 8:15 a.m.
The event has raised more than $75,000 since the inaugural run in 2013, with proceeds this year supporting the Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Foundation, FITNiche Foundation and the Rotary Club of New Tampaâs selected charities.
The Brass Tap will host post-race awards and festivities, 8:15 a.m.-10 a.m. and Pioneer Medical Group is the presenting sponsor.
The pre-registration donation is $30, and can be done online at WiregrassWobbleTurkeyTrot.com. If you register the day of the race, the suggested donation is $35. The event also will feature the School Team Competition (won by the Wiregrass Ranch High boys and Wharton High girls last year) and a Corporate Team event.
Looking to be part of an even bigger crowd of runners? The Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCAâs âGoody Goody Turkey Gobbleâ 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk will also be held Thanksgiving morning, starting at 7 a.m. Goody Goody, the title sponsor, is providing free breakfast to all participants in the race, which begins and ends at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa. The race route takes runners across the Platt St. Bridge and along scenic Bayshore Blvd. Strollers and dogs are welcome.
The YMCA says 100 percent of the proceeds raised will support the Livestrong at the YMCA program for cancer survivors and their families. Registration is $35 for the 5K, and $15 for the 1-mile. Prices go up on the day of the race. To register, visit RunSignUp.com. â John C. Cotey
A rolling wall of dirt that obscures some businesses and discourages drivers from pulling in, say local business owners.
BBD âSegment Aâ Construction Wearing Down Businesses, As Well As Drivers
Traffic is jammed, as a section of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. just north of Bearss Ave. resembles a dusty obstacle course with barriers and tall mounds of rock and dirt everywhere. Despite a steady flow of cars, itâs a slow Friday afternoon amidst the cuts of beef and fish at the Land & Sea Market in the Oak Ramble Plaza shopping center.
Carlos Otero has managed Land & Sea for 16 years, and says that in the last few months, business has fallen as the road outside his shop remains under construction. Heâs not alone, as neighboring business owners in the area have expressed frustration at the pace of the widening of BBD Segment A â from Bearss Ave. to Palm Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms â from a divided four- and six-lane road to a divided eight-lane road.
Carlos Otero manages Land & Sea Market in the Oak Ramble Shopping Center, and is worried about the effects on BBD construction in the coming months, which are usually busy.
âThe workers are not fast,ââ says Otero, who estimates his business is down 50 percent the past two months. âYou come in every day, and it is the same. It doesnât seem like there is any progress. And, people who come in, they say the same thing.â
Acropolis Greek Taverna general manager Tarek Armoush agrees.
âItâs definitely frustrating,ââ says Armoush, who helped open the New Tampa Acropolis location in the same Oak Ramble Plaza in 2007. âThe biggest frustration is that I donât feel like they have put the construction in (high gear). I see days where there is one worker out there, maybe two. It just seems they could speed this up.â
Segment A, which spans 3.5 miles and has a pricetag of about $60-million, is the third of a four-segment project that will ultimately, finally transform New Tampaâs congested main artery from four and six lanes into eight, all the way from Bearss Ave. to County Line Rd.
Segment A construction includes a 5-6 ft. sidewalk on the west wide of BBD, and a 10-ft.-wide multi-use path on the east side. Also, the southbound side of the small bridge that crosses over Cypress Creek (between the Landmark at Grayson Park apartments and Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms) has been widened, and a new four-lane bridge on the northbound side of BBD has been constructed.
Hillsboroughâs Public Works Dept.âs project manager David Vogel says that while he understands your frustration, the perception that work is not being conducted as quickly as possible is wrong. Much of the work is done underground, he says â with utilities, electrical and water â and is not visible to the everyday passerby.
âThereâs actually a lot going on,ââ he says, adding that Segment A â which was delayed from a spring 2017 finish to an August 2017 finish because of an elevation issue in one of the critical areas of construction â is smoothly moving forward.
That doesnât mean the effects arenât being felt, however. Businesses have about another year of construction in that area to look forward to, and Otero and others wonder how they will weather another year of roadwork.
Even successful businesses like Acropolis, Land & Sea and Mr. Dunderbakâs, also located in the Oak Ramble center, have seen changes in their bottom lines.
âWe were down last month,ââ according to Mr. Dunderbakâs owner J.B. Ellis, âand we havenât been down…ever.â
Thatâs significant for a business that has been at its current location since 2009, when it moved from the University Mall on Fowler Ave. The percentage loss may have been miniscule compared to what Mr. Dunderbakâs brings in yearly, but Ellis is concerned about a possible trend. A one-month loss is one thing, but multiply that by 11 or 12 months and it would leave a much bigger mark.
âThe first half, I thought they did a great job,ââ Ellis says. âI watched them build that bridge in no time. I was thoroughly impressed. But, it doesnât feel like much is being done these days.â
Ellis says there are still roads in and out of the Oak Ramble center, but they have changed to accommodate construction. You canât turn left out of Oak Ramble, and if you turn right, itâs a one-mile drive up to Amberly Dr. before you can make a U-turn. Ellis says the entire area is one big car accident waiting to happen.
Changing travel patterns, the plethora of construction equipment and barriers and the congestion caused by it all is a deterrent to many customers who might otherwise stop. Currently, there is a winding 10-foot mound of rocks and dirt roadside obscuring Acropolis (see photo below) and other businesses up and down BBD from drivers. âAnother year of this? Seriously?,ââ asks Ellis.
Rose OâBerry owns A Special Rose Florist n the other side of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Like Carlos Otero, she says walk-in business is down 50 percent as construction makes it a hassle for customers to access their businesses.
Across from BBD, Chevron gas station manager Danny Piguave said the construction has had a âlot of effectâ on business.
Chevron was a Shell station before a massive overhaul that included new pumps and a redesigned store. However, for the last year, the gas stationâs entrance has been a dirt road with barricades and sometimes feels like ground zero for all the construction, Piguave says.
âSomedays, it looks like thereâs no way in,ââ he adds. And, summer rains often reduced the entrance to a muddy patch. âWho wants to drive over that?â
When the gas station was upgraded, Aguave said the expectation was that there would be an 18-20 percent increase in business. But, that number isnât being close to being realized at the moment.
âItâs another year of this Iâm worried about,ââ he says.
Rose OâBerry, whose A Special Rose florist shop is attached to the Chevron, says her walk-in business is down 50 percent. She does most of her sales through the internet these days. âWe have to, thereâs no choice,ââ she says.
OâBerry also says that customers are complaining, as getting out and then back into traffic is a chore many are just unwilling to endure. âI just sat in traffic for half-an-hour just leaving Tampa Palms,ââ one recently told her.
âIt feels like they just keep digging right in front of us, like they have dug up the same area three timesââ OâBerry says. âItâs been like this almost a year now.â
Vogel says he doesnât recall if thatâs the case, but doesnât doubt OâBerry. âThat may be true,ââ he says. âYou do utilities, then you do drainage work, then you have to dig back in for another utility. The underground work always looks like thereâs no progress being made.â But, there is. While Vogel sympathizes with local businesses and drivers, he says there is no way to widen a road without creating a disturbance.
âWe do everything we can to mitigate the effects, but canât we eliminate them,ââ he says. âAll we can ask is that they be patient, it will get better. Eventually, it will be easier for people to access their businesses.â
Keynote speaker Sri Sridharan, the managing director of USF FCC, told the audience that cybertheft of consumersâ financial information and money has become so common that it is usually unreported by the media and not investigated by law enforcement.
As people spend more of their time working, shopping and socializing online, theyâre risking real-life consequences to their financial, professional and even personal well being. Thatâs the message that a group of experts delivered on Oct. 11 during a recent cybersecurity symposium at the Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC) Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.
Speakers presented information about protecting yourself from identity theft and social media risks, as well as about internet-based crimes such as human trafficking. The event was co-hosted with the Florida Center for Cybersecurity (FCC) at the University of South Florida (USF) and is part of PHSCâs Community Awareness Series.
Keynote speaker Sri Sridharan, the managing director of USF FCC, told the audience that cybertheft of consumersâ financial information and money has become so common that it is usually unreported by the media and not investigated by law enforcement.
âJust because you donât hear about it doesnât mean the problem isnât there,â Sridharan said, adding that identity thieves target public Wi-Fi networks such as those made available by coffee shops, restaurants and stores to intercept personal information from people using those networks.
Another trend, called ransomware, allows hackers to encrypt information on a computer or data network, preventing users from accessing their files. Users regain access by paying money to the hackers. Sridharan said one way people can avoid identity theft is taking personal responsibility for online behavior.
âCybersecurity is a serious problem and people have to practice good cybersecurity âhygieneâ to protect their personal information,â he said.
Using complex passwords that are unique to each login, shopping at well-known commercial websites, not using unknown USB drives or memory cards youâve found laying around and becoming savvy about malicious links in emails and websites are some of Sridharanâs suggestions for maintaining your online security.
Dumpster diving (going through peopleâs garbage looking for discarded documents with personal information on them), shoulder surfing (peering over someoneâs shoulder to steal a password or PIN) and skimming (a small device that scans your credit card when itâs inserted at the gas station, ATM or other automatic money machine) may sound like extreme sporting activities but theyâre actually some of the common techniques used by identity thieves according to Jeff House, associate director of PHSC network services, who also spoke during the symposium.
âThe main thing is being aware that the technologies we take for granted can easily cause us to lose our identities,â House said.
He recommends shredding sensitive documents before discarding them, positioning yourself away from the prying eyes of people around you when working online or using bank cards in public and taking a good look at point of sale terminals at registers and gas pumps to see if they appear to have been altered with information-stealing skimmers.
Social Security Protection
Staking out your Social Security account online long before claiming your benefits was the advice from Daryl Rosenthal, a public affairs specialist from the Social Security Administration. He says going online to SocialSecurity.gov and creating your account (called âmy Social Security accountâ) allows you to review your earnings history for accuracy, learn about benefits and keep someone else from accessing your account and stealing your benefits. Rosenthal said itâs not easy for someone else to access your account, but it can happen if they acquire enough personal information about you. âTo get an account, you have to enter information you know about yourself beyond your Social Security number,â he said.
Rosenthal also advises that people shouldnât routinely carry their Social Security cards with them, and that they should resist providing their Social Security number to businesses that request it.
The internet has become a virtual playground and shopping center and Corporal Alan Wilkett of the Pasco County Sheriffâs Office (PCSO) says thereâs a dark side to that activity, with human trafficking taking place online. He says the practice of human trafficking involves economic slavery, body organ harvesting and the sex trade.
âThe auctions of people are taking place online and itâs one of the most diabolical things around,â Cpl. Wilkett said. âMost of the adults I talk to have no idea this is going on.â According to Cpl. Wilkett, the best way to combat human trafficking is increasing public awareness of the problem and a willingness to get involved.
Bullying is the topic for PHSCâs next Community Awareness Series event, which will take place Wednesday, November 16, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. It will be held in the Building B conference room of the Porter Campus, located at 2727 Mansfield Blvd. For more information, you can visit PHSC.edu or call 527-6629.
Bins like this one will face stricter regulation when a new ordinance proposed by District 2 Pasco County commissioner Mike Moore receives final approval on October 25.
District 2 commissioner Mike Moore is hoping the sight of mattresses and couches stacked against overflowing donation bins will soon fade from the view of residents throughout Pasco County, now that his fellow county commissioners have voted to introduce an ordinance to more closely regulate these sometimes-eyesores.
A public hearing was held on the proposed ordinance Oct. 11 in Dade City and received no opposition, with another scheduled for Oct. 25 in New Port Richey. Moore said he did not expect any public opposition to his proposal, which has been endorsed by the other commissioners.
âIâve talked to many constituents about it, and they say, âItâs great to hear you talk about it, now letâs do something about it,âââ Moore said. âAnd we are.â
Moore, whose district represents much of Wesley Chapel, including the Wiregrass Ranch area, said he has had enough of driving past unsightly stacks of garbage masquerading as donations to the needy. Among the offending bins he cites most are one on a private service road off S.R. 54 by the Super Wal-Mart that was visible to passers-by and attracted dumpings, and another on Ancient Oaks Blvd. by the Samâs Club on S.R. 56.
Those are just two of the sites Comm. Moore has noticed in Wesley Chapel. âThere are multiple ones across the county too,ââ he says, adding that if he had to put a number on the donation bins in the county â and he admits that not all of them have become dumping spots â he would estimate there are more than 200, although an exact number is hard to tell.
The owners of those bins, however, will now have to obtain county permits and be held responsible for ensuring that the areas where they place their bins remain junk- and vandalism-free â if and when the ordinance is enacted into law.
According to the proposed ordinance, in some cases, the bins are placed on private and public property without approval from the landowners.
The county currently has no standards or permitting procedures for site location, number of bins, signage, maintenance, or security of donation bins, but Moore says the ordinance would change that.
Some Provisions…
Anyone placing a bin within the county first has to prove it is authorized to conduct business in the state and county. They also must produce a site plan showing the location of the proposed donation bin and have written consent from the property owner to set up the bin.
Moore says the bin he cited near the Samâs Club, which has now been removed, had no markings on it indicating who owned it or what it was even for. It attracted people looking to get rid of tattered mattresses, kitchen appliances, rugs and other items just dropped off in its vicinity.
The owners of the property, Moore says, had to pay to the have area cleaned up. âHe told me it was about the seventh time he had to do that,â Moore says.
The removal and regulation of donation bins isnât a new problem. Some cities in California and Michigan have banned the bins or have begun stricter regulation of them in recent years.
While many bins are marked as non-profit, not every bin is for charity and many have no markings of any kind on them. Moore says it is hard to tell them apart, as many for-profit businesses have collection bins, and sell the contents to recycling companies, which then ship them overseas. The clothes and other items are then re-purposed as rags or furniture padding and sold.
Without regulations, however, Moore says for- and not-for-profit businesses can put bins wherever they like, and not even bother to keep the area clean. In many cases, Moore says, it appears they bins arenât even emptied in any sort of timely manner.
On S.R. 54 just east of Advance Auto Parts and across the road from Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel, Moore drove by an unmarked bin collecting junk almost every day until something had to be done.
âWe actually went out there and did it ourselves, it got so bad,ââ Moore says. âWe used county staff, though, and thatâs paid for by taxpayer money.â
Moore said the problem was finally solved with the county removed the bin and placed a sign banning the dumping of anything in that area.
Hillsboroughâs Public Works Dept.âs project manager David Vogel says that while he understands your frustration, the perception that work is not being conducted as quickly as possible is wrong. Much of the work is done underground, he says â with utilities, electrical and water â and is not visible to the everyday passerby.
