Mary Rathman

The Tobacco Free Florida “Quit Your Way” program will be offered on Aug. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Zephyrhills Library, 5347 Eighth St., and on Aug. 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, 14000 Fivay Road in Hudson. The program covers all forms of tobacco. Participants can receive free nicotine replacement patches, gum and lozenges, while supplies last and if medically appropriate. Registration is required. For information, call (813) 929-1000.

Chef Samuel Hammett, from Terra Healthy Fresh Food in Zephyrhills, will prepare a high-protein quinoa salad on Aug. 16 at 2 p.m., at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ CREATION Health Wellness Center, 38233 Daughtery Road. Guests will get to sample the finished product. The demonstration is free, but reservations are required. For information, call (813) 779-6476.

Bayfront Health Dade City, 13100 Fort King Road, will host a bariatric support group every other Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Participants can receive ongoing education following surgery, have questions answered before and after surgery, and can share and provide support to others. Upcoming meetings will be Aug. 17 and Aug. 31. For information, contact Dina Erickson at (352) 521-1170 or .

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Pasco County will offer NAMI Family-to-Family, a free, 12-session education program for family, significant others and friends of people living with mental illness, starting Aug. 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the West Pasco area. The sessions will meet once a week.

Participants can learn how to manage crises, solve problems and communicate effectively; how to take care of themselves and manage stress; how to develop the confidence and stamina to provide support with compassion; and, how to find and use local supports and services.

Topics also will include up-to-date information on mental health conditions, current treatments, and the impact of mental illness on a whole family.

For information, call (727) 992-9653, or email .

The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office has named the Pasco Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention as its charitable giving organization for the month of August.

The ASAP’s main priority is to reduce substance abuse among youth by empowering young people to help change their community. ASAP creates public service announcements and media campaigns to reach the general public about the dangers of substance abuse, as well as new drugs that are becoming available.

The promotion will allow tax collector customers who either visit or mail in payments to make a donation to the ASAP. Every dollar donated will go directly to the charity for use in the local community.

For information about ASAP, visit PascoASAP.com, or call Monica Rousseau at (727) 315-8658.

For information about charitable giving programs, visit PascoTaxes.com, or call Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179.

Tickets are now on sale for the Florida Orchestra’s “Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses” on Dec. 16 at 8 p.m., at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. The concert will celebrate the video game’s 30th anniversary. Tickets for reserved seats start at $25. For information, FloridaOrchestra.org or call (727) 892-3337.

The Westchase Artists Society will host a group show for its 10th anniversary through Sept. 30, at the Art Gallery at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library, 11211 Countryway Blvd., in Tampa. The group show will feature the work of 17 artists including mediums such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, sculpture and photography. Admission is free. For information, visit WestchaseArtists.com.

The Hispanic Business Leaders of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will host a “Havana Casino Night,” presented by Rivera Chiropractic on Aug. 19 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., at Heritage Harbor Golf and Country Club, 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway in Lutz. Guests can use “fun money” to play casino-style games. There also will be music, dancing, hand-rolled cigars, door prizes and more. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door for members, and $30 in advance and $35 at the door for non-members. For information, call (813) 377-9214 or (813) 909-2722.

The Chinesegut Conservation Center, 23212 Lake Lindsey Road in Brooksville, will host “Meet the Beetles” on Aug 19 at 10 a.m. The guest speaker will be William Lester of the University of Florida/IFAS program. Lester will introduce the air potato leaf beetle and its effects on bio control of air potato vines in Hernando County. For information, call (352) 754-6722.

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club will host a summer luncheon fundraiser on Aug. 18 at noon, at the Lutz Community Center, 101 First Ave., N.W. Lunch will include an entrée, salad or side, beverage and dessert for the price of $7. Guests can dine in or take out. The project will be filling Christmas shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse.  For information, call (813) 786-8461.