Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Woman’s club supports veterans

LAND O’ LAKES – GFWC Lutz–Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club presented a $2,000 check to Operation Patriots from the proceeds of its Tombola fundraiser to support entertainment and cookouts for veterans at Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Home.

The presentation took place Feb. 7 at the veterans’ home in Land O’ Lakes.

Club leaders said the donation reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to community service and honoring local veterans who have served the nation.

 

Scrivener running for 12th Congressional District

LAND O’ LAKES — Branden Scrivener has announced an independent bid for Florida’s 12th Congressional District, saying his campaign will focus on government accountability, education and lowering living costs.

“I am running for Congress to put people over special interests,” Scrivener said. “Our current system is built to serve corporate and foreign interests while the working class is left behind. It’s time for a representative who is unowned by political parties, figureheads and special interests. One who is focused solely on our community.”

His platform includes term limits and limits on corporate donations, fully funding Title I public schools and addressing medical debt and housing affordability.

Learn more about his campaign at brandenscrivenerfl.info.

 

Fundraiser helps police officers

TAMPA – West Central Florida Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) will host its Blue Hope Gala on March 7 at the Firefighters Museum. 

The chapter is seeking sponsorships and auction items for the event, with all donations tax-deductible.

Donna Wudyka, a retired Detroit police officer and president of the West Central Florida chapter, said the organization supports families and co-workers of officers killed in the line of duty across nine counties, including Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas.

The nonprofit provides emotional support, financial and legal resources, training for agencies and travel assistance for survivors attending National Police Week.

National C.O.P.S. has served more than 80,000 survivors through over 50 chapters nationwide.

Contact Wudyka at 313-622-6048 for sponsorship information.

Register at https://qtego.us/qlink/wcfcops.

 

CEOs continue building Habitat home
LARGO – More than a dozen Tampa Bay-area CEOs volunteered Feb. 13 in the Ridgecrest community of Largo during Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside’s fifth annual CEO Build.

The event marked the third of four build days supporting a new home for the Wesley family. Participants laid sod and planted greenery. 

Brian Kleinschmidt and Mika Kleinschmidt, hosts of “100 Day Dream Home,” served as guest site supervisors.

Since launching in 2022, the CEO Build has grown from 50 leaders raising $160,000 to 100 leaders raising $250,000 this year to provide a safe, affordable home for Tyshawnna and Andre Wesley and their four sons.

On the web: habitattbg.org/ceobuild/

 

Duke Energy offers customers resources 

TAMPA – Floridians may see higher power bills following the recent cold snap as heating systems worked harder and used more energy.

Duke Energy Florida said rates are still declining overall. Residential customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours will see a $33 reduction on February bills compared to January, followed by another $11 decrease in March.

The company also warns scams may increase. Nearly 800 scam reports were made in February 2025 after a previous cold snap, and a similar spike is expected.

Customers can request installment plans, due date extensions and access programs such as Share the Light Fund. Free home energy assessments and rebates are also available.

“Duke Energy has a dedicated team ready to provide our customers with the individualized support they need,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president.

 

Golf tourney to raise scholarship dollars

WESLEY CHAPEL – The North Tampa Bay Chamber Foundation will host the inaugural Fairways to the Future: Scholarship Golf Tournament presented by AdventHealth Wesley Chapel on April 10 at Saddlebrook Resort.

The scramble-format tournament supports scholarships for local graduating seniors. Golfers of all skill levels can register as a team or individual. The event includes prizes, raffles, hole challenges and a post-play awards luncheon. Special guests and celebrity golfers will also participate.

Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

Fees are $700 per team of four or $175 per individual player.

Visit northtampabaychamber.com for details.

 

19 acres sell in Port Richey

PORT RICHEY – Hold-Thyssen, a commercial real estate firm based in Clearwater and Winter Park, has completed the sale of a 19-plus-acre vacant tract at Richey Drive and Wilkins Street.

Carol L. Kinnard, a transaction specialist in the firm’s Clearwater office, represented the seller, Jose Albert Kreijman of Malaga, Spain, and the buyer, Port Richey Drive LLC of Delray Beach.

“This sale reflects ongoing demand for well-positioned land in Port Richey and surrounding communities,” Kinnard said. “Large tracts like this are increasingly difficult to find, and buyers recognize the long-term value of securing land in growing corridors.”

Hold-Thyssen specializes in commercial sales, leasing and investment properties statewide.

 

Pasco County explains purchasing opportunities

WESLEY CHAPEL – The Pasco County Purchasing Department will host its “Doing Business with Pasco County” Vendor Workshop and Reverse Trade Show on March 2 at the Wesley Chapel Recreation Complex.

The event invites vendors interested in working with the Pasco Board of County Commissioners to learn how to bid on county projects and connect with departments, major vendors and other business owners.

Topics include the Vendor Preference Policy, RFP and RSQ processes, the Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act, and how to prepare and submit bids and proposals. Attendees will also learn about county operations and available resources.

The workshop runs from 2 to 4 p.m. at 7727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel.

On the web: mypas.co/VendorWorkshop.

 

Bilirakis visits tax prep site

HOLIDAY – U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis visited a federally funded free tax preparation site Feb. 6 in Pasco County operated by IRS-certified volunteers through Seniors in Service Tampa.

Free services are available at Regency Park Civic Center, 10240 Regency Park Blvd., Port Richey, and Holiday United Church of Christ, 4826 Bartelt Road, Holiday. 

The program, serving the community since 2005, assists low- and moderate-income residents, prioritizing households earning under $100,000. Returns are filed electronically, with refunds typically issued within 10 days to two weeks.

Bilirakis thanked volunteers and highlighted changes under the Working Families Tax Credit Act, including potential deductions for tips, overtime pay and an additional $6,000 deduction for seniors 65 and older.

Appointments are available at events.seniorsinservice.org/taxprep or by calling 813-819-9864.

 

North Tampa Bay events

LAND O’ LAKES – The North Tampa Bay Chamber will host a New Member Orientation and Final Friday.

• Hope Kennedy, president and CEO, leads a New Member Orientation from 9 to 10 a.m. Feb. 25 at the chamber office, 28329 Paseo Drive, Suite 195, Wesley Chapel. 
• Members network during Final Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant, 6034 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite 100, Wesley Chapel. 

Visit northtampabaychamber.com for details about the chamber and events.

 

Greater Pasco events

NEW PORT RICHEY – The Greater Pasco Chamber will host the New Port Richey Business Exchange and programming for women. 

• Members trade company literature during the New Port Richey Business Exchange from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 26 at Seafire Grill, 4927 U.S. 19, New Port Richey. Members get in free. Others pay $10. Register in advance. 
• Members celebrate the grand opening of High Trim LLC from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 27 at 15036 U.S. 19 N., Hudson. The ribbon cutting starts at 1 p.m. 
• The Young Professionals Group networks during Coffee Connections from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Feb. 27 at Starkey Market, 3460 Starkey Blvd., Trinity. 

Visit greaterpasco.com for details about the chamber and events. 

 

East Pasco events

DADE CITY – The East Pasco Chamber will host Coffee & Networking and Core Connections. 

• Members network during Coffee & Networking from 8 to 9 a.m. Feb. 27 at the Zephyrhills office (38550 5th Ave.) and 8 to 9 a.m. March 3 at the Dade City office (14112 8th St.). 

Visit eastpascochamber.org for details about the chamber and events. 

 

 

TAMPA – Nearly 120 fifth-graders ran an entire city recently within The Florida Aquarium.

Aquarium staff joined the students inside their storefront, stepping into their world of budgets, businesses and boardroom decisions. One student even served as CEO for the Day, shadowing Florida Aquarium President and CEO Roger Germann and gaining a firsthand look at what it takes to lead a major Tampa Bay organization.

The visit also marked a milestone for Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay: the 20th anniversary of BizTown (now officially Muma BizTown) and Partner Tribute Day, recognizing the aquarium for helping bring learning opportunities to life for students across the region.

After weeks of classroom preparation, students interviewed for jobs, got hired and ran their businesses like real professionals, marketing products, producing goods and making decisions that showed how leadership and financial choices shape a thriving community.

“By investing time, talent and leadership, students are connecting classroom learning to real-world careers,” said Richard George, president of Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay. “By showing up and engaging directly with kids, The Florida Aquarium is shaping the next generation of confident, capable leaders for the future of our community.”

Germann and 16 team members from the Aquarium worked alongside students in the aquarium’s BizTown storefront as part of the organization’s Day of Action.

“At The Florida Aquarium, we believe it’s our responsibility to make the world a better place. Whether we’re saving marine life or inspiring the next generation of leaders, investing in our youth through partnerships like Junior Achievement’s Muma BizTown makes a lasting difference,” Germann said. “Seeing these students confidently dive into professional roles, tackle real-world challenges and make meaningful decisions is energizing and a powerful reminder that anything is possible.”

The 20th anniversary also marks the official renaming to Muma BizTown, in honor of philanthropists Pam and Les Muma. Their decades of support, including a $5 million planned gift and $2 million to $3 million in operational funding, have impacted more than 300,000 students across Tampa Bay.

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LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North expanded its robotic surgery services with the addition of a third surgical robot in January to keep up with demand.

The three robots are guided by surgeons who are specially trained and experienced in robotic surgery. They performed 908 robotic surgeries last year. The hospital saw a 70% increase in robotic surgeries from 2021 to 2025. 

Robotic surgery uses precise incisions, allowing unhealthy tissue to be removed without affecting surrounding healthy tissue. Smaller incisions cause less trauma and pain for a patient’s body, decrease blood loss and infection risk, and allow for quicker recovery and shorter hospital stays. Many robotic surgeries are done as outpatient surgeries and patients are discharged on the same day as their surgery.

“St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is dedicated to offering the safest, most minimally invasive surgeries to our communities, ensuring better patient outcomes, faster recovery times and greater patient satisfaction,” said Jennifer Downing, the hospital’s surgical services director. “Our patients trust that they are receiving the most advanced care, supported by cutting-edge technology and delivered by surgical teams known for their experience and compassion.”

Robotic surgery can provide St. Joseph’s Hospital-North surgeons with superior dexterity, enhanced vision and improved surgical access compared to conventional minimally invasive surgery or traditional open surgery. 

The surgeon-guided robot navigates a precise approach to areas that traditional surgical instruments are unable to reach.

The four interactive arms of the robot are over the patient on the operating table. The surgeon operates the robot from a console. The console has a high-resolution screen that projects 3-D images of the surgical site. 

The surgeon manually guides the surgical arms and instruments from the console using their hands and fingers. When the surgeon moves, the arms respond precisely to those movements in real time. The instruments work identically to the movement of a human arm, elbow and wrist, but with an enhanced range of motion.

“Having the opportunity to use the newest robotic surgical platform, the DV5, has been a profound privilege,” said Dr. Jonathon Tsai, a BayCare Medical Group and St. Joseph’s Hospital-North surgeon. “It has allowed me to leverage cutting-edge technology to deliver the highest standard of care to our patients at BayCare St. Joseph’s-North here in Lutz. Robotic surgery has truly shifted the surgical paradigm, offering a level of precision that significantly minimizes postoperative pain and shortens hospital stays. I look forward to the future features of the DV5 and the possibilities this updated platform holds for our field and community.”

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is accredited as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation. The designation signifies the hospital’s robotic surgery services provide the highest quality of care.

 

Lightning players, mascot brighten day for pediatric patients 

TAMPA – Tampa Bay Lightning players left the ice Feb. 4 to meet young patients at AdventHealth Tampa. 

Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh, goaltender Jonas Johansson and mascot ThunderBug visited the pediatric unit and the pediatric emergency department.

“You can see the kids’ faces when they get to see the players and see ThunderBug,” Johansson said. “They just light up the room, so it’s just amazing to give back to them.”

Players handed out stuffed bears wearing the Lightning’s white road jersey featuring the AdventHealth Patch with a Purpose. The players chatted with patients, signed autographs and took pictures with families.

Wesley Lamotta, the father of one of the pediatric patients, said it was cool for the team to meet the children. 

“It’s one of those moments that you’re not going to forget,” said Joel Funes, the father of another young patient. “It kind of makes you forget a little bit of what’s going on and brings some joy also to the room, so that’s amazing.”

AdventHealth Tampa and the Tampa Bay Lightning share a longstanding partnership focused on improving the health and well-being of the community. This visit is just one way the Lightning supports the Tampa Bay area.

 

Nonprofit offers heart screenings to youth

ST, PETERSBURG – A Florida nonprofit, founded by parents and doctors, offered heart screenings to youth Feb. 7 in St. Petersburg.

The free five-minute electrocardiogram, or ECG, can spot a life-threatening heart defect that leads to sudden cardiac arrest.

Under a new Florida law, all new student athletes taking part in high school sports will need to receive a heart screening before their first tryout or practice of this coming school year. The law, the Second Chance Act, is designed to identify and prevent sudden cardiac arrest, which takes the lives of 23,000 youth each year. 

“It’s our honor to help protect families across Florida from the very worst tragedy imaginable – losing a child to a preventable condition,” said Evan Ernst, executive director of Who We Play For, the nonprofit that coordinated hundreds of heart screenings at events across Florida, including this one.

 

AdventHealth Dade City hosting Feel Whole Night

DADE CITY – AdventHealth Dade City is gearing up for Feel Whole Night, a family-friendly community night.

Activities include food trucks, face painting, giveaways, opportunities to see the surgical robot and meet staff, and free health screenings such as blood pressure, PSA test for men, glucose, cholesterol and A1C.

Feel Whole Night takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. March 5 in the main entrance of AdventHealth Dade City, 13100 Fort King Road, Dade City. Register in advance at AHDadeCity.com/Events or call 833-300-2371.

 

Get answers on Medicare in February

1. PETERSBURG – SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas. 

Specially trained volunteers can assist with Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information.

They’ll answer questions at the following Medicare programs: 

• Medicare Basics: Feb. 19 at 10:30 a.m. at the New River Library, 34043 FL-54, Wesley Chapel. 813-788-6375
• Medicare Basics: Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at the Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Pkwy., Land O’ Lakes. 813-929-1214
• Medicare 101: Feb. 18, 11 a.m. at the Pinellas Park Library, 7770 52nd St. N., Pinellas Park. 727-369-0669
• Medicare 101: Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. at the Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S., Gulfport. 727-893-1073
• Medicare Fraud & Prevention Presentation: Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. at the Safety Harbor Public Library, 101 2nd St. N., Safety Harbor. 727-724-1525

SHINE services are free, unbiased and confidential. Counselors do not sell anything. They can be reached by calling 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111.

 

Hospital offers breastfeeding support 

LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North offers a free in-person breastfeeding support group and class in March.

Events are open to all, regardless of which hospital you delivered or plan to deliver your children. The events will be held in St. Joseph’s Hospital-North classrooms, 4211 Van Dyke Road.

• Breastfeeding Support Group: For breastfeeding mothers, their babies and an optional support person. The group provides a place where breastfeeding mothers receive support from other breastfeeding mothers and certified breastfeeding consultants. The support group will be held March 5 and 19, 10 to 11 a.m.
• Understanding Breastfeeding: Provides information to the expectant mother and an optional support person about breastfeeding basics, skin-to-skin contact, tips for returning to work and when to call a health care provider or lactation consultant. The class will be held March 5, 1 to 5 p.m.
• Understanding Your Newborn: Provides information to the expectant mother and an optional support person about many aspects of safe infant care, including feeding, diapering, bathing, signs of illness and cues and communication. The class will be held March 19, 1 to 5 p.m.

Register for the free events by visiting BayCareEvents.org and choosing “St. Joseph’s Hospital-North” in the “Facility/Location” filter and scrolling to the group or class you are interested in attending. Or, you can also register by phone by calling 855-314-8352 and pressing the number “2” at the prompt.