The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

04/04/2023 – Friends of the Library

By

Friends of the (Land O’ Lakes) Library will meet on April 4 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., following its weekly Patio Book Sale from 10 a.m. to noon, at 2818 Collier Parkway. The nonprofit group supports library programs for all ages. Call 813-929-1214 for information.

Family film favorites

By

Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., in downtown Tampa, will offer its Kid-Inspired Movie Series, with discounted tickets of $8 for ages 3 to 12. Adult tickets are $10. All shows are at 3 p.m.

  • April 2: “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” (1989, Comedy, PG)
  • April 9: “The NeverEnding Story” (1984, Fantasy, PG)
  • April 16: “Akeelah & The Bee” (2006, Drama, PG)
  • April 23: “TRON” (1982, Sci-Fi, PG)
  • April 30: “Toy Story” (1995, Animated, G). Prior to this movie, guests can pose in front of a green screen and take home a free souvenir photo, in the lobby.

For information and tickets, visit TampaTheatre.org.

04/01/2023 – Food Truck Festival

By

An International Food Truck Festival will take place on April 1 and April 2 at the Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz, with more than 70 food trucks, tents and trailers, to benefit local charities. Admission is $5. For more information, call 727-674-1464.

04/01/2023 – HoppyFest

By

Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources will host “HoppyFest” on April 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Wesley Chapel Recreation Complex, 7727 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel. Egg hunt age groups: 0 to 2 years, 10:15 a.m.; 3 to 5 years, 11 a.m.; 6 to 8 years, 11:45 a.m.; 9 to 12 years, 12:15 p.m. Participants should bring a bag or bucket to collect eggs. Pre-registration is required. Call 813-345-3145 for information.

Free veteran admission

By

The Imagine Museum, a contemporary glass art gallery in St. Petersburg, is offering free admission now through November to veterans, active-duty military, first responders and their immediate family members, in recognition of National Veterans and Military Families Month. The museum plans to showcase its “Flight and Illusion” installation, a series of military-themed glass art created by museum founder Trish Duggan. For hours and information on free veteran admission, visit ImagineMuseum.com/special-offers.

Health News 03/29/2023

By

Grant funding
The Florida Department of Children and Families announced $21 million in available funding for essential programs to enhance mental health crisis services in Florida’s communities and the Recruit and Maintain Behavioral Health Professionals grant program through select managing entities, according to a news release.

Funding will be allocated for crisis services and supports that help to address specific community needs deploying a three-pronged approach focused on prevention, intervention and recovery.

The services provided include immediate triage, assessment, care coordination/case management, and crisis intervention for individuals with behavioral health challenges.

In addition, through the grant opportunity, funding will support increased recruitment and retention efforts for behavioral health professionals; professional development opportunities for the existing workforce that allow upward mobility; and the development of innovative workforce initiates, the release said.

Specifically, the grants will focus on recruitment and retention of these types of professionals: Social work, psychology, marriage and family therapists, mental health therapists, psychiatrists and certified peer specialists.

Nursing award
The Florida Association of School Nurses (FASN) has named Pasco County Schools’ Amy Ponce as the Excellence in School Nursing: School Nurse Administrator of the Year (2023). Ponce is the first recipient of the statewide award, according to a news release.

Ponce, who has worked for Pasco County Schools for 10 years, now oversees all School Health Services for the school district.

The FASN described Ponce as a dedicated and effective medical professional who has “consistently improved the practice of school nursing in Pasco,” and who has been instrumental in supporting school nurses around the state and increasing leadership growth among school nurses, the release said.

“Amy Ponce is a great supervisor and a great advocate for school health. We are fortunate to have her here in Pasco,” said Superintendent Kurt Browning.

Browning recalled when Ponce was a school-based nurse in 2018, she was instrumental in saving the life of a high school student by performing CPR after the student suffered a heart attack.

Veterans fundraiser

By

American Legion Post 108 Lutz-Land O’ Lakes has started a GoFundMe campaign to support an upcoming Healing with Horses event at Peaceful Pastures Ranch. Donations will help to cover the cost for 30 veterans to experience equine therapy, have food and drink, and support the ranch in its efforts to care for rescued horses and its Healing Heroes program. For more information and to donate, visit tinyurl.com/2p9yw2m2.

Nursing forum

By

Join the Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions (ISPS) and Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) panel of experts to explore the intersection of nursing and the workforce on April 4 at 2 p.m., at the PHSC Instructional Performing Arts Center, 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. Panelists will discuss the trends, challenges and solutions for those in the nursing field, as well as the state of nursing education in Florida. For information, visit ISPS.spcollege.edu/events/nursing-workforce-dilemma/.

Health speakers

By

The GFWC Wesley Chapel Women’s Club will meet on April 5 at 6 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel. The guest speakers will be Dr. Chase Riever from Double Branch Chiropractic and Dr. Kelsey Baxter, Chinese medicine. For information, email Cindi Nalon at .

Medicare sessions

By

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas’ SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program is free. A SHINE representative will be available at these locations to answer Medicare questions:

  • April 20 at 10:30 a.m.: New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel. For information, call 813-788-6375.
  • By appointment: Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway. For information, call 813-929-1214.