The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Brian Fernandes

Get ‘uncorked’ and sample wines

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Wine enthusiasts are invited to sample various wines at ‘Uncorked,’ an event set for April 7 in Dade City.

The Dade City Garden Club will host the function from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The April 7 ‘Uncorked’ event will allow guests to wine, dine and socialize with others. (Courtesy of Joan Hepscher)

Various tables will offer an assortment of red and white wines for guests to sample from.

And, craft beer will be this year’s new feature provided by Barley’s Angels.

Each table will also include appetizers selected to complement the drinks.

As patrons enjoy food and wine outdoors, the Dennis Alfonso Combo band will once again perform live throughout the event.

Inside the garden clubhouse, guests can learn how to prepare new treats as they partake in several cooking demonstrations hosted by Chef R.J. Webb.

And, some lucky attendees won’t need to leave empty-handed because a raffle drawing will take place for a gift basket.

Tickets for the drawing can be purchased for $2 each or $5 for three.

Tickets for sampling are $40 each and parking is free.

Guests must be 21 years old or above, and no pets are permitted.

Proceeds will go toward preserving the club’s historic building, as well as garden maintenance.

The event will take place at The Dade City Garden Club at 13630 Fifth St., in Dade City.

Tickets can be purchased at the door, or in advance.

For advance tickets or for additional information, call Debbie Parks at (352) 567-9003 or (813) 714-5591, or email her at .

Uncorked event
Where: The Dade City Garden Club, 13630 Fifth St., Dade City
When: April 7 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: $40 a ticket
Details: The ‘Uncorked’ event allows guests to sample various wines, craft beer and appetizers while enjoying a live performance. Cooking demos will be offered, as well as a chance to win a gift basket.
Info: For tickets or further inquiries, contact Debbie Parks by calling (352) 567-9003 or (813) 714-5591, or by emailing .

Published April 03, 2019

Florida Aquarium showcases wildlife in a fun way

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The diverse beauty of sea life can be marveled up-close when visiting The Florida Aquarium.

Roger Germann, president and CEO of The Florida Aquarium, is all about educating the public on aquatic life with lots of exciting activities. (Courtesy of The Florida Aquarium)

Since its opening in 1995, the Downtown Tampa attraction has given tourists a glimpse into the aquatic world, while offering them a chance to learn and have fun at the same time.

The venue attracts 800,000 visitors annually.

“The aquarium is set up to take you on a water journey,” explained Brian Gallaher, digital media manager at the aquarium. “We want to educate, inspire and entertain all at the same time.”

Home to an estimated 8,000 plant and animal species, the facility is divided into seven main galleries:

  • Wetlands Trail
  • Journey to Madagascar
  • Bays and Beaches
  • No Bones Zone
  • Coral Reef
  • Dragons Down Under
  • Waves of Wonder

Native Floridian wildlife can be explored while strolling through the Wetlands Trail.

“A lot of animals here are rescues, especially the birds,” Gallaher said.

The Florida Aquarium’s Mosaic Center features an array of bird portraits by photographer Jim Gray. Here a roseate spoonbill is seen ascending from a pond in Sarasota. (Brian Fernandes)

One such bird is the Great Blue Heron in the trail’s Mangrove Forest.

The aquarium serves as a rehabilitation center for animals such as one heron who was transferred from an animal sanctuary after suffering an injured wing.

The furry North American river otters can also be spotted above water. During winter season, kids can interact with them in an open area layered with snow to provide even more fun.

A White Gar shark, with its protruding teeth, as well as the red drum and snook fish, also can be viewed, too.

If visitors hear a rustling in the leaves, perhaps it’s the spotted Burmese python, slithering from limb to limb.

While the python is not native to the Sunshine State, it has adapted and thrived, growing as long as 13 feet.

For those looking for a sample of African wildlife, check out the aquarium’s Journey to Madagascar. That offers a glimpse of animals that are indigenous to the region.

Why observe wildlife from outside the tank, when you can swim alongside it? The Florida Aquarium grants tourists the chance to get a more up-close view of the sea’s inhabitants. (Courtesy of The Florida Aquarium)

Geckos, reef fish and giant clams can be viewed in that gallery.

And, if you’ve never heard a cockroach hiss before, you’ll have your opportunity here.

This gallery also brings awareness to such endangered species as lemurs, radiated tortoises – and even coral reefs.

“Coral is an animal,” Gallaher explained. “A lot of people don’t realize that.”

A small-scale nursery houses diverse coral, which are threatened by pollution and rising water temperatures in their native seas.

The No. 1 priority there is to provide a safe environment to allow the reproduction of more coral – which eventually will be integrated back into the wild.

The Bays and Beaches area is home to one of the aquarium’s eldest members – Cleatus, the Goliath grouper.

His namesake serves him well: He is 5-foot-10 and weighs nearly 300 pounds.

Cleatus is not only one of the eldest members of The Florida Aquarium, but one of the largest as well. This goliath grouper weighs almost 300 pounds – and is said to be continually growing. (Brian Fernandes)

And, Cleatus is still growing, Gallaher said.

Other expert swimmers found in this gallery include stingrays, spiny lobsters and upside down jellyfish, to name a few.

More colorful marine life with elongated, prickly bodies can be found in the No Bone Zone.

Often associated with clownfish, sea anemones can be mesmerizing to watch — as their numerous tentacles float about.

Diverse color also illuminates the water with the presence of sea cucumbers, sea urchins and sea stars.

In addition to more turtles and stingrays, the Coral Reef gallery showcases various sharks, barracudas and eels, while Dragons Down Under has some of the smallest sea creatures – sea dragons, seahorses and pipefish.

The aquarium’s newest gallery, Waves of Wonder was unveiled last year. It houses the center’s second largest exhibit – Heart of the Sea.

The Splash Pad is one of the outdoor amenities at The Florida Aquarium where kids can soak themselves with water on a hot day. (Brian Fernandes)

The exhibit offers guests a chance to learn about the aquarium’s conservation efforts to rehabilitate endangered sea life — using multi-camera technology and live programs to explain that work.

And, if looking through a glass window doesn’t satisfy your curiousity, you can even swim with sea life.

Under the supervision of a trained diver, guests can view animals up-close and be apart of the exhibit, too.

Roger Germann, president of the aquarium, said these offerings bring more awareness to the plight facing aqautic life — and aim to motivate people to be more conscious about keeping oceans litter-free.

With an educational tutorial, guests can sit in the 4-D theater room wearing three-dimensional glasses, feeling just inches away from underwater spectacles.

The newly renovated Mosaic Center has several ballrooms, which can be used for meetings, birthday parties and other special events.

The diverse color of sea life can add to the awe of the ocean, as seen here with blue jellyfish floating by. (Brian Fernandes)

It also houses an art gallery showcasing images of various birds by photographer Jim Gray.

There’s also a gift shop, a café and an outdoor bar, where adult beverages can be purchased.

Kids can get soaked at the Splash Pad water park, and there’s a Wild Dolphin Cruise available, too.

The aquarium aims to promote recreation and education, Germann said.

“We think that one of the best ways to get people to make change is through inspiration and entertainment,” the aquarium president said.

“Animals here serve as ambassadors, educators and as science.”

To learn more on the aquarium or to purchase tickets, call (813) 273-4000, or visit FLAquarium.org.

The Florida Aquarium
Where: 701 Channelside Drive in Tampa
When: Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Ticket prices vary daily
Details: As one of Tampa’s hotspots, The Florida Aquarium has several galleries featuring aquatic wildlife to view and even swim with. A theater, diner, gift shop and water park also add to the entertainment factor.
Info: To learn more about the aquarium, call (813) 273-4000, or visit FLAquarium.org.

New turtle rehab opens in Apollo Beach
The Bay Area has a new, safe haven to nurse wounded and malnourished turtles from various coasts off the United States.

The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center officially opened on Jan. 23, taking in its first batch of turtles two weeks later.

The Apollo Beach rehab is a branch of The Florida Aquarium, and has been at least a decade in the making.

“There was a moment where we started seeing more and more turtles that needed helped,” said Roger Germann, president and CEO of The Florida Aquarium.

Once a plan was set in motion for the $4.1 million center, the project received funding from the state, as well as donors, Germann said.

The first group of sea critters arrived on Feb. 4. It included a half-dozen green turtles and one loggerhead turtle.

They were rescued off the U.S. East Coast from freezing waters due to the harsh weather of this past winter.

Physical therapy also plays an important role in regaining health, as the two-story center offers several rehabilitation pools. One of those pools is an 11-foot turtle dive tank, the deepest one in Florida.

While the rehab is in full operation, a date has not been set to open it for public viewing.

Published April 03, 2019

State Road 56 extension to Zephyrhills is progressing

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Pasco County’s efforts to extend State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard to U.S. 301 are advancing, as construction is now in the latter phases of development.

“The main thing is the local connection between Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel,” stated Gregory Deese, resident engineer for the Florida Department of Transportation.

The project, which began two years ago, will offer motorists a direct route between the two communities.

Construction for the new State Road 56 extension is advancing as the road is set to be paved in the near future. Also, traffic lights will be set up where State Road 56 intersects with Morris Bridge Road and U.S. 301. (File)

This will be a new alternative to traveling on Old State Road 54 further north.

Deese noted that it may also be beneficial in serving as a new hurricane evacuation route for those distancing themselves from coastlines.

Currently, State Road 56 ends at its intersection with Meadow Pointe Boulevard.

The road’s future extension, heading east, is barricaded from public use as roadway is still being constructed.

There’s about ½-mile of roadway that remains to be built, at which point the 6-mile stretch will be paved with asphalt, Deese said.

Traffic lights will also be installed where State Road 56 intersects with Morris Bridge Road and as it intersects with U.S. 301.

That work will require some daytime lane closures on both Morris Bridge Road and U.S. 301.

Flaggers will signal motorists as opposing traffic will have to share lane space.

“We’ll have stop signs and ‘slow’ signs to make sure that [the] operation is safe,” the engineer said. “You’ll stop traffic in one direction to allow the opposite direction to go through.”

Closures are expected to take place before and after morning traffic peak hours, Deese added.

In addition to the lights where it meets State Road 56, Morris Bridge Road will undergo an expansion.

This will accommodate a northbound and southbound left-turning lane – both heading east and west onto State Road 56 respectively.

U.S. 301 will be expanded to include a right-turn lane, and re-striped to provide a left-turn lane – both heading westbound onto State Road 56.

The project also will provide easier access to the Zephyrhills Correctional Facility on U.S. 301 (Gall Boulevard).

A northbound left-turn lane and a southbound right-turn lane on U.S. 301 will be added as a convenient entryway onto the premises.

Also, a 10-foot-wide trail will be added on the south end of State Road 56 for pedestrians.

“The multi-purpose trail on [State Road] 56 is basically a path that rollerbladers or walkers will be able to use,” Deese explained.

Also included is a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the north end, and two 7-foot-wide bicycle lanes – on both shoulders of the road.

These amenities will run the entire course of the 6-mile project.

The $59.2-million development is set for completion as early as this fall.

Published March 27, 2019

Jelly Bean Fling ushers in Spring

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It’s time to grab those Easter egg baskets for the annual Jelly Bean Fling in Dade City.

The event, now in its third year, will be on April 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kids will be provided baskets for an all-day egg hunt. Each plastic egg will contain sweet treats inside.

The Jelly Bean Fling just isn’t complete without a special visit from Jasper, the Easter bunny. He will be one of the event’s attractions on April 6. (File)

Other activities offered through the day include a barrel train ride with Conductor Joe at the helm, and a chance to explore the interior of various vehicles with Touch-a-Truck.

A bounce house with a slide will be available, as well as pony rides.

Other animals will be there, too, as the Blake Veterinary Hospital will be offering a petting zoo.

There will be carnival attractions inside the Mabel Jordan Barn, which kids can enjoy with five free tickets they receive at admission.

Face painting, rock painting, hat decorating and making tulip crafts will be the featured activities there.

Everyone’s favorite bunny, Jasper, will make an appearance – posing for free snapshots with guests from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Food trucks will be on site, for those who want to grab a bite to eat, and there will be vendors offering wreaths, clothing, soaps, honey, jewelry and other items.

The event also features live music from Mr. Tommy, who will encourage guests to sing along at his shows, scheduled for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The function will be at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.

Parking is free, while admission will be $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for those under age 5.

Additional tickets for the barn games can be purchased at 50 cents each.

For more information, contact Brenda Minton at (352) 567-0262 or at .

Jelly Bean Fling
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
When: April 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for those under age 5
Details: The public is invited to attend an Easter-themed event with an egg hunt, petting zoo, kids’ rides, games and a visit from the Easter bunny.
Info: Contact Brenda Minton at (352) 567-0262 or at .

Published March 27, 2019

High school fair offers diverse career paths

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While parents and students had an opportunity to learn about post-high school options — representatives from colleges, technical schools, military branches and other programs had a chance to make their pitch at the College and Career Fair recently at Wesley Chapel High School.

Those attending the March 11 event could pose questions to representatives from more than 40 organizations, and could take home brochures and other handouts.

Youseff Khalil, left, is supported by his parents, Ereny Youwakim and Bassem Rizk, at Wesley Chapel High School’s College and Career Fair. Here, the 16-year-old is filling out a computerized form at the National Aviation Academy booth on March 11. (Brian Fernandes)

Wesley Chapel High had the program in its gym, but the fair was open to students from other high schools, too.

“They (students) really like that it’s all in one place,” said Kelly Faysash, college and career specialist at Wesley Chapel High. “It’s a good opportunity to come one night with a parent and be able to [hear from] a lot of different colleges and universities.”

Keiser University, a private, nonprofit institution, was among those participating.

Pauline Hardy, admissions counselor from the New Port Richey Campus, was there to represent the Florida-based university, which offers services internationally, including programs in business, health care, criminal justice and psychology.

Hardy noted that Keiser offers programs that are convenient for students who have children, or full-time jobs.

“Some of the unique points are that you can take classes one at a time, and each class lasts four weeks,” the counselor explained.

Many of the university’s most coveted programs are medical – especially nursing.

Health care is an ever-expanding field, with numerous opportunities, Hardy said.

Across the gym, Michelle Turner was representing another school offering medical programs – Florida Career College.

One common question asked about the school is how it will help transition students into the workforce, Turner said.

The Wesley Chapel High School gymnasium hosted more than 40 representatives from colleges, academies and companies at its annual College and Career Fair. Parents and students from various high schools visited the many booths on March 11.

To that end, the college’s career service department stages mock sessions to help students prepare.

“They start working with them (students) one month in, to start grooming them with interview skills, their resume and how to present [themselves],” she said.

Some schools, however, including the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, focus on the world of arts.

The school is located in both New York and Los Angeles, offering courses in acting, as well as musical and dance theater.

The academy’s faculty attend various high schools across the nation to hold workshops. Students get an idea of what the school is about and have the chance to perform auditions.

Lauren Paha is a faculty member of the academy and will be hosting an audition at Wesley Chapel High in April.

She noted that financial assistance is a common area of concern for students and parents.

“Not only do we give away talent-based scholarships, we also do merit-based scholarships,” Paha stated. The school is also receptive to financial aid coming from outside the academy.

All of the instructors at the academy are still active in the industry – whether on Broadway, directing or singing, Paha remarked.

The bar is also set high for instructors at Full Sail University, requiring at least four years of industry experience.

“What we focus on is entertainment, media, arts and technology,” said Jolie Parris, outreach representative for the school.

The university logo was recognizable as several of its alumni have gone on to do artwork for big-budget projects.

Such projects include the Fortnite video game and films like The Incredibles and the Marvel comic series.

Dylan Miller, left, a Wesley Chapel High School junior, is accompanied by his mother, Danielle, at the school’s College and Career Fair on March 11. At the National Aviation Academy booth, Ayiende Smith explains what programs the school has to offer.

They, too, offer scholarship programs and have workshops at high schools, where student can create music beats and learn about animation.

Rebecca Maher attended the fair with her two daughters – students at Cypress Creek Middle High School.

Tuition was at the top of her mind, when visiting the booths.

She wanted to know: “First and foremost, are we going to be able to afford the school of their choice?”

The Wesley Chapel resident has been helping her daughters find scholarships online, but was also able to pick up information at the various booths.

While one daughter has set her mind on engineering, Maher still encourages both not to limit their options.

“There’s so many majors at all these schools, which is one of the things I try to impart to my kids,” she said.

Other options may be found outside of colleges, such as the Paul Mitchell company, which offers courses.

Those with an interest in hair styling can enroll in its cosmetology or barbering programs.

The programs offer career fairs so students can speak one-on-one with industry experts.

Besides offering financial assistance, Paul Mitchell helps in making a smooth transition into the workforce after completion.

“Job placement is one of the things we focus on,” said Melissa Salazar, marketing associate for the company. “To see someone go through the program and placed in the industry is super important.”

Youseff Khalil, a student from Cypress Creek Middle High School, was busy roaming the booths with his parents.

While he admitted an interest in engineering, he said he was open to other fields – even those outside of academia.

The military is one such alternative to schooling, which was represented by the National Guard and the U.S. Army.

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Pelfort, of the National Guard, was ready to explain the benefits of serving this military branch.

“It looks good on a resume,” he said. “You’ll always get priority being in the military.”

Although some may decide to pursue a career in the military, others may use it as a means of getting a higher education, the sergeant said.

In the National Guard, a student can serve one weekend a month and two weeks out of the summer – granting more class and study time.

And, with a three- or six-year commitment, students are eligible for full tuition coverage.

“We’ll pay 100 percent up to a master’s degree,” Pelfort explained.

Also, an additional $380 a month is paid out to use for books and other  necessities.

The sergeant echoed a common message conveyed at many booths: “Take advantage of it and do it while you’re young.”

Published March 20, 2019

Century-old bell stolen from Lutz church

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Members of Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church are in disbelief as part of their identity has been stolen – a signature bell that has accompanied the church, throughout its history, as it moved from one location to the next.

The Lutz church became aware the bell was missing in mid-February, and officials still don’t know exactly which day the theft occurred.

This bell stand looks strange to members of the Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Lutz, who are accustomed to seeing it with the church’s 116-year-old bell. The historic bell was stolen in February. (Brian Fernandes)

“We were stunned,” said Penny Knight, the church secretary. “It was so heavy and so securely placed, that we couldn’t believe it.”

A bicyclist who frequently rides around the church’s neighborhood, first noticed the bell missing from its metal frame.

He brought it to the attention of the church maintenance man and the authorities were informed.

With the bell taken, the only remnants left behind were a wrench and a foam cushion.

“They took a long pipe wrench,” speculated Cumberland Elder Sidney Swindle. “They unscrewed some nuts up on the top that held it to the frame.”

Swindle added that he thinks the cushion may have been used to delicately lower the bell to the surface.

Given how heavy the bell is – several hundred pounds – the theft was likely a team effort, the church elder reasoned.

Knight, who has attended the church since age 12, said the iconic bell has “been a long part of our history.”

In the late 1950s, Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church was relocated to the Seminole Heights community in Tampa. Outside the sanctuary, the church’s bell was displayed upon a pedestal. (Courtesy of Sidney Swindle)

The bell was created in 1903 and has been a trademark of the church ever since.

Christ Cumberland was first established in Lakeland. By the late 1950s, the church’s wooden structure was uprooted from its foundation and relocated to the Seminole Heights community in Tampa.

“It was literally moved here by trucks and trailers,” the secretary recalled – and so too moved the bell.

After the church was torn down and rebuilt, the bell was displayed outside on a pedestal.

By the early 1990s, both the church and bell moved to another area of Tampa before settling in Lutz in 2002.

There the bell hung from a frame, stationed on the ground, between the sanctuary and the church’s adjacent building.

“In order to preserve it, we had it mounted on a concrete slab,” Swindle explained. “It was welded to the point that it would not move.”

This was done, in part, as a precaution to prevent kids from swinging the heavy object.

The theory is that it may have been stolen because the thieves think it has value, but Swindle notes that there is an engraving on the bell that identifies its original  home at the Lakeland Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

“The bell is very sentimental to us,” Swindle said.

The church remains optimistic for its return — even hoping that those responsible will have second thoughts.

Anyone with pertinent information is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8000.

Published March 20, 2019

Dade City picnic offers a taste of New York

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About 80 people packed the clubhouse at Country Aire Manor recently for the annual Otsego County picnic.

Besides catching up with friends and making new acquaintances, those gathering enjoyed a potluck lunch, had a chance to reminisce, and share their East Coast and Southern cultures.

New Yorkers and Floridians alike gathered for the 2019 NY Otsego County Picnic on March 8, at Dade City’s County Aire Manor clubhouse. Guests got to meet up with both new and familiar faces, while eating various foods. (Brian Fernandes)

Sally Harrington, of Cooperstown, New York, said she was happy to run into old friends.

“I’ve seen a lot of people that I haven’t seen in years – which is very surprising to me,” said Harrington, a Florida snowbird, who made a point to attend the picnic before heading back up North.

She was invited to the Dade City get-together by her friend Ken Morris, an Otsego County native with strong ties to the yearly picnic. His grandfather, a New York transplant to Zephyrhills, was one of the event’s founders.

“I was a high-schooler when I use to visit him,” Morris recounted. “It was a great place to get out of the snow.”

Word of the picnic typically gets around either by email chain, telephone calls or word of mouth.

As this year’s host, Rex Yurenka personally helped to circulate invitations.

“Most of these people are from New York and they have houses down here,” said  Yurenka, a snowbird himself.

Those gathering had a chance to share special foods.

Joe Corraro, for instance, prepared his signature-style meatballs for the picnic. A native of Otsego County, he also is a former firefighter and former pizza parlor owner.

Now a resident of Zephyrhills, Corraro has been a regular at the picnic for nearly a decade.

When it comes to deli sandwiches, Corraro observed, the North beats the South.

But, the South has a real advantage on another front, he said. The warm weather is a whole lot nicer than shoveling snow, he said.

Besides Corraro’s meatballs, the buffet included pasta salad, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, goulash stew and fruit salad, to name just some of the items.

And, this year, for the first time, the event featured live entertainment.

Guitarist Jim Dorn took to the stage, playing songs dating back to the 1960s.

Another high point was the chance drawing: Sixteen guests won prizes to take home.

Yurenka said he had just two rules for the picnic’s guests:  “Go away full and have a good time.”

Published March 20, 2019

Seminars aim to empower Pasco women

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The first of a three-part series aimed to advance the interests of Pasco County women took place on March 4 at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, on Collier Parkway.

All of the meetings, being presented by the Pasco County Commission on the Status of Women and the Pasco County Commission, are being held at the library, and are free and open to the public.

The theme of the first part of the series was “Health and Wellness.”

Sarah Cobelli, of BayCare Behavioral Health, was one of the speakers who took part in a presentation on ‘Health and Wellness’ hosted by the Pasco County Commission on the Status of Women, on March 4 at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, on Collier Parkway. (Brian Fernandes)

Guest speakers Mike Napier, of the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County, and Sarah Cobelli, of BayCare Behavioral Health, shared pertinent information relating to women’s health issues.

“Virtually everything we do at the health department is in partnership with someone else,” explained Napier, administrator for the Florida Department of Health — Pasco County.

The department works with Moffitt Cancer Center, Premier Community Healthcare Group and other partners.

They work to bring awareness to issues such as cervical and breast cancer, and provide information about treatment options.

The department also receives government funding, which is used to provide screenings.

Efforts also are being made to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A, and the health department is receiving assistance in this effort from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Napier said.

Through this collaboration, vaccinations are offered in the jail system, Napier explained.

“The good news is, it’s almost 97 percent – after you’ve had those shots – that you’ll be immune to any Hepatitis A,” Napier said.

Napier also advocates child vaccination for Hepatitis A and for the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Napier dispelled the notion that HPV is always linked to physical intercourse, stating that the stigma makes parents hesitant about vaccinating their children.

Teenage pregnancy, however, is a reality that the department addresses through its family planning program.

“It’s very difficult when we see moms coming in at 16-17 [and] trying to get them to finish school,” Napier said. “We’ve got to do something about that.”

The program offers testing, counseling and various contraceptive methods.

It also works in conjunction with schools to make sure students are well-educated and have a resource to call for help.

Tobacco use is another area of local concern, Napier pointed out.

“Unfortunately, Pasco County continues to have some of the highest smoking rates in the state,” the administrator said.

As of last year, 21 percent of adult Pasco residents were chronic smokers, according to the health department.

It also noted in a 2013 study that 22 percent of women in the county were smokers – significantly in the 18 to 44 age range.

The health department is working with medical institutions to distribute and collect health surveys.

The effort allows hospitals and other health care facilities to share medical information, and to better identify health trends based on demographics.

“It’s going to be consistent with all the hospitals and the health industry, to be able to say, ‘We all see the same data and now we’re going to try to act on that data,’” Napier stated.

The administrator also noted that providing mental health care to women who need it remains challenging.

Cobelli provided a presentation focused on behavioral health and substance abuse among women.

As a program manager for BayCare, she oversees community-based services for both children and adults.

“One of the newer additions to BayCare – within the last couple of years – is behavioral health integration, that especially females find comfort in,” Cobelli said.

This program is a convenient means for women to see their primary care physician and speak with a mental health counselor within the same office.

Another outreach program allows nurses, with a mobile medical unit, to go outdoors informing the homeless about medical resources and housing that may be available to them.

There’s also outreach to teenage mothers.

With the help of case managers, another state-funded program provides intervention for pregnant or postpartum women struggling with substance abuse.

For the 2018 fiscal year, Cobelli stated: “About 65 percent of the women that are enrolled have a primary diagnosis of an opioid disorder.”

There are also services available to women outside the program to help with essentials, such as car seats, strollers and baby formula.

BayCare encourages women with substance abuse, who are coming out of jail, to attend its group meetings three times a week.

With the Alternatives to Incarceration Pasco program, BayCare works with the Sheriff’s Office to establish special services for those with substance disorders.

The second part of the series, focused on Economic Prosperity, will be held on April 8.

The third part of the series, focused on Safety and Access, will be presented on May 6.

For more information visit, PascoCountyFL.net/2662/Commission-on-Status-of-Women.

Women’s lecture series presented by the Pasco County Commission on the Status of Women and the Pasco County Commission
Where: Land O’ Lakes Library meeting room, 2818 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
When: Upcoming sessions are planned on Economic Prosperity on April 8 and Safety & Access on May 6. Both sessions start at 2:30 p.m.
Cost: Free to public
Details: A series of presentations from guest speakers will discuss educating and advancing Pasco County women
Info: Visit PascoCountyFL.net/2662/Commission-on-Status-of-Women. 

Published March 20, 2019

Music fest returns to Land O’ Lakes

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Get ready for some sounds of music — at the fourth annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival.

The event is set for March 23 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The band Solar Exposure is scheduled to make a return at the fourth annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival. Numerous bands are on the March 23 lineup. (File)

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event. Live performances will be provided by Bearded Brothers, Stonegrey, Peace of Woodstock and Solar Exposure.

Festival-goers can bring blankets or lawn chairs to relax on the large open field and listen to bands, as they make their appearances on stage.

There also will be food trucks, adult beverages, and arts and crafts available for purchase.

Admission is free and parking is $10.

Coolers are not permitted, but pets are welcome, as long as they are on a leash.

Proceeds will benefit the Pasco County Parks Department so youth can go on camping expeditions.

Heritage Park is located at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

For additional information, call the chamber at (813) 909-2722, or email .

Land O’ Lakes Music Festival
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
When: March 23 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: Free admission; $10 for parking
Details: There will be live musical performances throughout the event; food and merchandise will be available for purchase.
Info: Contact the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce at (813) 909-2722 or .

Published March 13, 2019

If you enjoy sampling foods, this event is for you

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The Taste of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel offers event-goers a chance to dine on foods from nearly 50 Bay Area restaurants in one place.

When you’re eating delicious foods and skating on the rink, music can be that special addition to make the fun complete at the Taste of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Thompson Brand Images)

The event is set for March 24 from noon to 4 p.m., at AdventHealth Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Offerings will include chicken and waffles from Noble Crust; Buttermilk Provisions’ famous donuts and peanut butter balls; crab-shrimp avocado stacks, as well as jerk chicken pasta, from Bahama Breeze; and Pomodoro’s pizza and garlic knots, to name a few.

There are also adult beverages, including wines and craft beers from establishments such as the Zephyrhills Brewery, PRP Wine International, and 81 Bay.

The 2019 People’s Choice Award for the food and beverage categories will be determined by which business holds the heaviest amount of tickets.

Not only do the tickets grant patrons samples, but also makes them eligible to rent a pair of ice skates for free.

Normal admission for using the skating rink still applies.

Entrance into the arena is free, as well as parking.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door in the amount of 25 for $25; 50 for $50; and 100 for $100.

Proceeds benefit local charities and high school scholarship programs.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit TasteOfNewTampa.org.

Taste of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel
Where: AdventHealth Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel
When: March 24 from noon to 4 p.m.
Cost: Entrance is free. Tickets are sold 25 for $25; 50 for $50; and 100 for $100.
Details: Patrons can sample various cuisines and drinks from restaurants and breweries in Tampa Bay. The skating rink will also be open to add to the fun.
Info: For additional details or to purchase tickets, visit TasteOfNewTampa.org.

Published March 13, 2019