The LOLA News from your neighborhood

What’s Up In Downtown
Land O’ Lakes And Lutz
... And Where Is Downtown Anyway?

Land O’ Lakes and Lutz share space in Central Pasco County where boundary lines butt up against each other, run parallel and zigzag. The geography is not cookie cutter perfect, as both areas spread out and share common thoroughfares like the Suncoast/Veterans Express Way, Highway 54, Highway 41, Dale Mabry and two major interstates, I-275 and I-75. It is hard even for long time residents to know where one town stops and the other starts, but we are a community and the residents that call this area home have a lot to be proud of. Just don’t spend any time looking for “downtown” for either city.

The eastern and western areas of Pasco have more traditional downtown, main street areas, but here in Central Pasco businesses and stores are clustered along the major roadways, tucked back into cul-de-sacs and business parks, and in strip shopping centers.

When area residents need governmental services, we do have a wonderful resource, the Central Pasco Government Center at 4111 Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. Land O’ Lakes Boulevard is also known as US 41, yet another phenomenon here in the land of “apexes” where major roadways change names as they cross or merge with other roadways. Locals use street names interchangeably and newcomers soon catch on as they settle into our comfortable, laid back communities.

Regardless of which address you favor, the Government Center is as close to “downtown” as we get in these parts, and the services provided there are equal or superior to any available in larger metropolitan areas.

Sooner or later all residents enter this center for one of the many services offered, or required by the Pasco County Tax Collector, Mike Olson. Olson has served the residents of Pasco County as the elected Tax Collector since 1981. He is a life-long resident of Pasco County and he is passionate about serving county residents in the best and most expedient manner. Olson oversees a total of four tax offices with a staff of 150 employees.

Twenty-six of those employees staff the motor vehicles section at the Central Pasco Government Center. The conveniently located ground floor office is open six days a week, with extended hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday mornings. In 2010 Olson’s offices served over one-half million lobby customers in addition to mail and internet services. Even with that volume, most client visits were accomplished smoothly until the State of Florida began implementing the REAL ID Act passed by Congress in 2005. The law was drafted after September 11, 2001 with a goal of making drivers licenses harder for terrorist to obtain. In January 2010 Florida began requiring new documentation for residents renewing or applying for a driver’s license or state identification card.

Mike Olson is not a fan of the rush to implement the REAL ID Act. He wants Pasco residents to know this is a state law, not local regulations. However, he is charged with enforcing and supporting the law. Olson believes this law is “well intentioned”, and the result of “an abundance of caution.” While revisions are still ongoing, implementation has made his job more costly and difficult. “This is one time I wish the state had let other states work out the bugs,” he explains.
New drivers license requirements cause the majority of problems for Olson and his staff. If renewal on line is an option, you will not notice a change, but if you are required to appear in person for renewal of a license or a state issued identification card you will need to bring additional documents as proof of your identity.

Olson understands the stress of meeting extra government regulations, can make tempers short, and so he has exercised an abundance of caution himself on the behalf of his customers and his employees. Armed guards from Allied Barton now provide security in all three license offices. “When customers see and hear unruly people, they need to feel secure that there is a trained professional there to help put out a fire,” said Olson.

Of course the very best way to avoid the frustration of extensive red tape is to be well prepared before you visit the driver’s license office. The state has created a website to answer questions and provide a list of the documents you’ll need to produce. Visit www.GatherGoGet.com to be sure you have all the necessary paperwork required on your first trip. And plan ahead because late fees do apply if your license expires before renewal.

Some new items on the list include a certified government birth certificate-not a hospital birth certificate. If you have a Certification of Naturalization, an Alien Registration (green card form 1-551) or a consular proof of birth abroad, bring them along. By all means bring your passport if you have a current one. You will also need to bring an original social security card or a W-2 or paycheck showing your name and number, or a letter from Social Security if no card has been issued in your name. You must bring two documents as proof of your residential address, and post office boxes do not count. Sadly, if you received a card from the state for your renewal notice, it also doesn’t count. They are looking for utility bills, mortgage statements, rental agreements, voter registration cards, or a statement from the person you reside with and proof of their address (times two)! The website has an extensive list that will help you assemble the correct documentation. If you have had a name change, be prepared to show each and every change since birth; marriage, divorce, remarriage, adoption, reverting to a maiden name after a divorce. Each change will require an official document, a marriage license, not a church license, divorce degree, etc. and no photo copies, only certified or originals. A valid passport, in your current name will meet all name change requirements. Some documents that will not help include a Medicare card, or military paperwork.

When you visit www.GatherGoGet.com there is an option to print a personalized list to help you prepare for your license or identification card renewal. Take full advantage of this helpful tool and remember to keep your cool when you visit the license office. If the clerk behind the desk questions your paperwork, he/she is just doing their job so don’t shoot the messenger…remember …armed guards are now on duty.

John Edward Wants To Offer A Sense
Of Hope & Optimism In Troubling Times

Psychic medium and author John Edward is thinking about you, your family and the community. Beyond what he does as a physic medium at events across the country, and the seven books he writes about what he calls the “other side” of life, he wants people to know that they have a power within themselves to change their life dynamic. This doesn’t mean that everyone is a psychic and should set up shop, but Edward believes that each and every one of us has the internal spirit to change our own lives.

“It is a matter of paying attention to the signs in your life,” says Edward, who began harnessing his own psychic energy by the age of 15. “There are signs surrounding us but people are not paying attention. It is like having cellphones all around us that we are not tuning in to. If people listen to positive signs, positive things can happen to them.”

Edward will be speaking and offering readings to some members of the audience on Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Doubletree Tampa Airport Hotel in Tampa. He is traveling throughout Florida the week of February 7-12, but he says his events are not just about speaking with those close to us who have passed on.

“Everything I do is to try to raise awareness in people,” he says. “Today, people are coming from a place of fear. There is a lot of shifting and changing going on as people lose their jobs, their homes and worry about their future. I want people to realize that life is going to go on. That positive adjustments can be made to your life.”

Edward says that people have control over their thoughts. “We have the power to control how we think and feel,” he continues. “If we project positive thoughts and attitudes, this will reflect on our life, our friends and our family. Imagine a person going on a job interview who has not showered, does not wear clean clothes or does not project a good image. He or she will most likely not get the job. It is the same with our internal selves. If we clean our energy, if we start behaving energetically and in a positive manner, people are going to react to you in a favorable way.”

In order to make his philosophy and teachings more accessible to people across the country, Edward has started an on-line project called “The Five,” a $5-a-month, interactive communication group. “I can’t possibly provide everyone a reading, but I try to teach people to look for their own signs around them from people who have passed,” says Edward. “With ‘The Five’, I am taking my newsletter and website and making an interactive community. It is another way for me to interact with you, where people will randomly get selected for readings, questions, there will be live interactive shows. Each member will also receive one of my books and certain discounts and member-benefits throughout the year.”
“You won’t see me doing book signings or things to try to promote my events,” Edward continues. “If someone reads this article or reads something I write that helps them internally, I think there is great value in that. There is a lot we can do to help ourselves.”

Psychic and medium John Edward will be in Tampa at the Hilton Rialto on Fri., Feb. 10, 2012 at 7 p.m. at the Doubletree Tampa Airport Hotel, 4500 Cypress St. in Tampa. Tickets are available at www.telecharge.com, or by calling 800-233-3123. You also can visit www.Johnedward.net/the-five to obtain more information about Mr. Edward or to purchase tickets.