The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Health News 01/03/2024

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Shovels and hard hats were set up on Dec. 8, when Gulfside Hospice broke ground on a new, state-of-the-art Gulfside Hospice Care Center. (Courtesy of Gulfside Hospive)

Stepping forward to enhance end-of-life care
Gulfside Hospice, a leading provider of compassionate health care services, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its newest venture — a state-of-the-art Gulfside Hospice Care Center — on Dec. 8, on the future grounds of the center.

Members of the Gulfside Board of Directors line up by the mound of dirt to be the first to break ground at the new construction site.

The event featured speeches from key figures involved in the project, a ceremonial groundbreaking, and an opportunity for those attending to learn more about the innovative features of hospice care.

The new center was designed to provide unparalleled comfort, support and dignity to individuals facing life-limiting illnesses. Equipped with cutting-edge facilities and a team of compassionate health care professionals, the facility aims to redefine the standards of hospice care in New Port Richey and beyond in Pasco County.

The groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of construction and the hospice care center is expected to open its doors to patients in January 2025.

Gulfside Healthcare Services is a nonprofit organization that includes three lines of businesses: Gulfside Hospice, offering care for patients at end of life; Gulfside Palliative Care, providing treatment options for those with chronic illness; and Gulfside Home Health, helping patients stay independent through skilled nursing and rehab at home. 

For more information, visit Gulfside.org, or call 800-561-4883.

New medical staff
Access Health Care Physicians LLC has announced Dr. Navin K. Yadlapalli has joined its medical staff. Yadlapalli is board certified in internal medicine, received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has a Bachelor of Science in pre-medicine from Pennsylvania State University. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

The doctor comes to Access Health Care from New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York where he practiced as a hospitalist and as an assistant professor of medicine.

Prior to that, Yadlapalli served as a hospitalist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and as an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School.

He also has published articles on back pain and infertility and has been board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine since 2014.

Yadlapalli will see patients at the Access main office, 5350 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill. For information, call 352-688-8116.

Chalk Talk 01/03/2024

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(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

These students have a passion for service
The National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) of Woodland Elementary, in Zephyrhills, hosted a dance fundraiser and raised enough money to donate $1,000 to two local charities — The Thomas Promise Foundation and the Helping Hearts Café, according to the Pasco County Schools’ Facebook page. The NEHS provides students in grades four to six a place to develop and apply their passion for service, while obtaining the skills to be confident young leaders for years to come, according to its website. Membership in the NEHS is centered on recognizing students for their accomplishments while challenging and equipping them to develop further as leaders through service to their school and community.

Creative Writing residency
Saint Leo University’s Master of Arts in Creative Writing Program will host a mini-residency in January at the campus, 33701 County Road 52 in St. Leo.

  • Jan. 5, 5 p.m.: Craft discussion and reading by faculty member and military veteran Brooke King, followed by dinner with faculty members at 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Craft discussions on writing and publishing, an open mic, and faculty readings

The mini-residency will take place in person and via Zoom. The cost is $25, which can be paid online at SaintLeo.edu/creativewriting. For information or to RSVP, email Anne Barngrover at . Requests for special accommodations can be made by emailing . For information, visit SaintLeo.edu/accommodations.

Storytelling Workshops
The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will host its annual five-week Storytelling Festival Workshop Series, recommended for students in grades two to seven. Participants can learn to tell a story (combining public speaking, literacy skills and creative theater arts) for an audience and may have a video of their storytelling posted on the library’s YouTube channel.

Workshops at the Lutz Branch Library are scheduled for Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., on Jan. 16, Jan. 23, Jan. 30, Feb. 6 and Feb. 13. Registration is encouraged online at tinyurl.com/yexny9kj and registers a child for the entire series.

Science Festival
The 2024 St. Petersburg Science Festival is scheduled for Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus, 140 Seventh Ave., S., and Poynter Park, along the waterfront. Families can explore the wonders of hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).

The event is held in conjunction with MarineQuest, the open house of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. Guests can walk from one event to the other.

Admission is free to both the festival and MarineQuest.

National Scholars Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue food and agriculture career paths. The deadline to apply is March 1.

Administered through the USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, the scholars program is available to eligible high school seniors entering their freshman year of college, as well as rising college sophomores and juniors.

The program is a partnership between the USDA and the 19 historically Black land-grant universities that were established in the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1890. The USDA partners with these 1890 universities to provide scholarship recipients with full tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Scholarship recipients attend one of the 1890 universities and pursue degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The scholarship also includes work experience at the USDA through summer internships.

Scholars accepted into the program are eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment with the USDA upon successful completion of their degree requirements by the end of the agreement period.

The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program awarded 100 scholarships in the 2023 cohort of 1890 Scholars.

Young people can complete and submit their e-applications online at USDA.gov/partnerships/1890NationalScholars.

For more information, email .

Timmy now has a happy life

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Timmy was adopted from Pasco County Animal Services in April 2019 when he was approximately 1 year old. He previously had a rough life, but has a very happy one now and enjoys being his family’s little boy. Timmy uses all areas in the home, including the music room! Timmy lives with his parents, Sandy Rotunda and Kathy Turner, in Land O’ Lakes.

Health News 12/27/2023

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New option for older adults and health care
AdventHealth Well 65+, a medical practice dedicated to tailored primary care for people aged 65 and older, hosted a ribbon-cutting on Dec. 13 at its new facility, 12400 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, according to a news release.

A new AdventHealth Well 65+ facility will offer another option for older adults’ specialized health care. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

The new option focuses on the important role of specialized primary care for older adults.

“AdventHealth Well 65+ is committed to addressing these specific needs by providing comprehensive, compassionate care tailored to each person,” said Dr. Heather Vermilyea, in the release.

“Our team’s focus on personalized care plans ensures older adults receive the attention and support necessary to maintain their health and vitality,” said Vermilyea.

Additionally, AdventHealth Well 65+ specializes in senior mental health and the contributing factors for those issues, including chronic health conditions, stress, substance abuse, isolation and loneliness.

The facility has a dedicated social worker on site to provide added emotional support and counseling.

For more information or to schedule appointments, visit AdventHealthWell65Plus.com, or call 407-809-5457.

Department of Health holiday closures
The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County (DOH-Pasco) offices will be closed on Dec. 29, Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. Offices will reopen on Jan. 3 with regularly scheduled hours.

Vaccination recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reaching out to health care providers and clinicians to encourage them to recommend all patients receive all respiratory immunizations they are eligible for, according to a news release.

Respiratory illness activity is rapidly increasing, yet vaccination rates for COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remain low, the release says.

Getting vaccinated now can help prevent hospitalizations and save lives.

The CDC on Dec. 14 issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) advisory to raise awareness about respiratory illness activity and urge action. COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising quickly and since the summer, public health officials have been tracking a rise in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), which is caused by COVID-19.

To increase vaccination coverage, COVID-19 vaccines are available at no cost to people who are uninsured and underinsured through the Bridge Access Program.

With the upswing of influenza activity and RSV activity that remains high in many areas, strain on the health care system could mean that patients with other serious health conditions may face delays in receiving care. Low rates of vaccinations also could lead to more days of missed work and school.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/mr2hp7yv.

Life-changing surgeries
As part of a nationwide effort to help patients with debilitating joint conditions improve their quality of life, AdventHealth Carrollwood, the Florida Orthopaedic Institute and the Pioneer Medical Foundation have joined forces for a third year to provide 25 Tampa Bay area patients who may not qualify for government health coverage, have insurance or be able to afford surgery on their own with free hip and knee replacements, according to a hospital news release.

Dr. Brian Palumbo has led the effort to involve all three organizations to participate in the program and said it is helping to fill a critical need.

“When we talk about procedures that can really enable and get patients back to functioning, there’s nothing better than a hip or knee replacement,” Palumbo said in the release.

“The incidence of hip and knee arthritis, severe disease which requires a joint replacement, is rising almost exponentially,” the doctor said. “There’s actually a shortage of joint replacement surgeons that’s expected in the next decade or so. It’s certainly a potential issue in the future for the United States.”

AdventHealth Carrollwood will provide nearly 200 staff volunteers to help complete the surgeries, which will all take place on Jan. 6. Patients said the opportunity to have these free surgeries will be life-changing for them.

Elder-Abuse Protections
The personal finance website WalletHub has released its annual report on the States with the Best Elder-Abuse Protections, shedding light on the importance of recognizing that the elderly population, who often rely on a fixed income, are particularly vulnerable to financial, emotional and physical abuse.

WalletHub’s findings include:

Elder-Abuse Protections in Florida (1=Best; 25=Average)

Second — Elder-Abuse, Gross-Neglect & Exploitation Complaints*
15th — Nursing Homes Quality
17th — Total Expenditures on Legal Assistance Development per Residents aged 65+ years
27th — Number of Certified Volunteer Ombudsmen*
30th — Total Expenditures on Elder-Abuse Prevention*
*per resident aged 65+
Overall, Florida was ranked 26th.

Here are tips for spotting signs of elder financial abuse, the release says:

  • Watch for unusual bank or credit card activity. Be alert to unexplained or sudden changes in an older adult’s financial situation, such as significant withdrawals, transfers or expenditures, as well as unusual ATM use or unfamiliar purchases.
  • Be wary of new or unusual “friends.” Watch for new acquaintances who seem overly interested in the older person’s finance or property.
  • Keep an eye on social media and internet use. Monitor the elder’s social media profile (and email accounts) for suspicious connections and posts that may divulge personal information to others.
  • Pay attention to changes in legal documents. Watch for changes in wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or other legal documents that appear to benefit someone other than the older individual.
  • Be mindful of changes in behavior. Pay attention to the older person appearing more fearful, anxious or secretive about their finances, or isolating themselves from or avoiding family and friends.
  • Take note of any decline in personal care conditions. Poor living conditions, lack of necessary medical care or improper nutrition may suggest that financial resources are not being used for the person’s well-being.

For a full report and information, visit WalletHub.com/edu/states-with-best-elder-abuse-protection/28754.

Chalk Talk 12/27/2023

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Rohil Agarwal is Pasco County Schools’ 2023-2024 Star Senior. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

This student is a rising ‘star’
Pasco County Schools has announced Rohil Agarwal, a senior at Land O’ Lakes High School, as the district’s Star Senior for the 2023-2024 academic year. The award, which involved a rigorous selection process from among 15 finalists, recognizes Agarwal’s exceptional scholarship, leadership, service and citizenship achievements.

Agarwal has excelled in the International Baccalaureate Programme, maintaining a 4.7959 weighted GPA and a 4.0 unweighted GPA, earning him the designation of National Merit Semifinalist and AP Scholar with Distinction.

He also has held significant positions such as co-president of the DataEthics4All AI Youth Council, president of Mu Alpha Theta, district president of FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), co-founder of the Coding Club, and president of HOSA (Future Health Professionals, formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America).

Agarwal has developed and taught ethics courses, directed AI hackathons, and led global tech talks. His community service includes volunteer work with Ekal Vidyalaya, and participation in GatorGrowl and Open House events.

The honoree also has multiple President’s Volunteer Service Awards and a recognition as a Sunshine State Scholar. He achieved first place in the National Congressional App Challenge, and achieved success in various state and regional competitions in HOSA, National History Day, and Robotics.

Agarwal’s extracurricular activities include: student researcher at Florida State University’s Young Scholars Program, a software engineer intern at Axiamatic, a key member of the Robotics FIRST Tech Challenge team, and a leader in Mu Alpha Theta and FBLA.

On the side, he has contributed as a graphic designer and private math tutor.

Creative Writing residency
Saint Leo University’s Master of Arts in Creative Writing Program will host a mini-residency in January at the campus, 33701 County Road 52 in St. Leo.

  • Jan. 5, 5 p.m.: Craft discussion and reading by faculty member and military veteran Brooke King, followed by dinner with faculty members at 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Craft discussions on writing and publishing, an open mic, and faculty readings

The mini-residency will take place in person and via Zoom. The cost is $25, which can be paid online at SaintLeo.edu/creativewriting. For information or to RSVP, email Anne Barngrover at . Requests for special accommodations can be made by emailing . For information, visit SaintLeo.edu/accommodations.

Commencement, nurse pinnings
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) hosted commencement and nurse pinning ceremonies on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13, at its West Campus in New Port Richey.

PHSC President Timothy L. Beard presided over the commencement ceremonies for a final time before retiring in January. Jesse Pisors, Ed.D., is slated to assume the PHSC presidency role.

These ceremonies are dedicated to honoring and recognizing students who earned certificates and diplomas in varying fields of study, as well as those who earned an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Applied Science degree.

The events included several keynote speakers: alumna Brianna Belle, Pharm.D.; Christa Tanner, Congressional staffer, U.S. House of Representatives; Dorian Howell, former PHSC SGA president; and current graduate Jamileh Hassan, SGA speaker.

Teacher of the Year finalists
Pasco County Schools has announced its three finalists for the 2024 Teacher of the Year award. These educators have been selected for their dedication, innovation and the profound impact they have had on their students and the community. The three finalists are:

  • Stephanie Bertig, digital media educator, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation
  • William Rutherford, music educator, Gulf High School
  • LeAnne John, Agricultural Science and CTE educator, Zephyrhills High School

The winner will be announced at a Star Dinner scheduled for Jan. 25.

National Scholars Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue food and agriculture career paths. The deadline to apply is March 1.

Administered through the USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, the scholars program is available to eligible high school seniors entering their freshman year of college, as well as rising college sophomores and juniors.

The program is a partnership between the USDA and the 19 historically Black land-grant universities that were established in the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1890. The USDA partners with these 1890 universities to provide scholarship recipients with full tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Scholarship recipients attend one of the 1890 universities and pursue degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The scholarship also includes work experience at the USDA through summer internships.

Scholars accepted into the program are eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment with the USDA upon successful completion of their degree requirements by the end of the agreement period.

The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program awarded 100 scholarships in the 2023 cohort of 1890 Scholars.

Young people can complete and submit their e-applications online at USDA.gov/partnerships/1890NationalScholars.

For more information, email .

Buckle up the right way for safety

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Whether taking a trip for the holidays, or just driving in the neighborhood, parents and caregivers are encouraged to help make sure children are buckled up in the right seat, for every ride, every time.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 12 in the United States. In fact, one in three kids under age 13 in 2021 who died in car crashes were unrestrained, according to a State Farm news release.

Studies examining misuse among users of child car seats estimate that more than half of car seats are not used or installed correctly. A properly used and installed child safety seat can reduce the risk of injury by as much as 71%, the release says.

State Farm has teamed with Safe Kids Worldwide to launch the Good Neighbor Car Seat Safety Program — a new national initiative to increase access to education and resources, help inspire behavior change, and create a culture of safety for children and families.

Safe Kids is a nonprofit organization working to reduce unintentional injuries to children ages 0 to 14, and to build equitable and sustained systems that support injury prevention. To learn more, visit SafeKids.org/car-seat.

“With over 3.6 million children born in the U.S. every year (CDC/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), State Farm is committed to helping kids stay safe ‘From Car Seat to Driver’s Seat,’” said Jose Soto, State Farm corporate responsibility analyst, in the release.

Before the end of 2023, the Good Neighbor program will bring car seat checkup events to communities in 25 cities across the country.

For more information on State Farm’s mission, visit StateFarm.com.

Published December 20, 2023

Somi brings immense joy to her family

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Somi is a 2-year-old Shiba Inu. She is quite playful and has a very gentle disposition and befriends just about everyone she meets. Somi is naturally inquisitive, with a sense of smell that seems to be unparalleled for finding that errant treat hiding under the sofa. Her favorite time of the day is the evening, when the family is home together and she can be seen making the rounds, getting a good scratch and ear massage. If you look closely, you can see her smiling — it’s absolutely adorable and warms her family’s hearts. Somi lives in Land O’ Lakes with Jeff and Debbie Hanneken.

An aerial predator

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Will Kuhns snapped this photo of a dragonfly in his Ballantrae neighborhood in Land O’ Lakes. Dragonflies are powerful and agile fliers, capable of migrating across the sea, moving in any direction and changing direction suddenly. The adult dragonfly can propel itself in six directions: upward, downward, forward, backward, to the left and to the right.

Health News 12/20/2023

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(Courtesy of Gulfside Healthcare Services)

Fashion show nets nearly $37,000 for Gulfside
The Candace Glewen Charity Fashion Show recently raised nearly $37,000 to benefit Gulfside Hospice. Attendees enjoyed a holiday boutique expo, lunch, and local ‘celebrities’ and community business partners modeling the latest fashions from Dillard’s. The event began in 2017 and was renamed in 2021 to honor the legacy of longtime board member and friend of Gulfside, Candace Glewen. Proceeds from the show will help to provide patient care and bereavement support for the community. For more information and other upcoming fundraising events at Gulfside, visit Gulfside.org, or call 800-561-4883.

Local health facility is a Top General Hospital
The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on health care safety and quality, has announced the 2023 recipients for their coveted annual Top Hospital Award and Top Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Award –and that list includes four AdventHealth West Florida Division hospitals, according to a news release.

The Leapfrog Group honored AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Ocala as Top General Hospitals, AdventHealth Lake Placid as a Top Teaching Hospital and AdventHealth Wauchula as a Top Rural Hospital. This national recognition award is widely known as one of the most competitive honors U.S. hospitals and surgery centers can earn in safety and quality. 

The award honors hospitals and ASCs that demonstrate the highest performance in the nation on quality and patient safety, including infection rates, prevention of medication errors and surgical safety, among other standards.

Additionally, all AdventHealth West Florida Division hospitals in the Tampa Bay area recently earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group for Fall 2023, including AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth North Pinellas, AdventHealth Tampa, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills.

The Leapfrog Group assigns an A, B, C, D or F grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm to patients.

To see the full methodology and list of institutions honored as 2023 Top Hospitals, please visit LeapFrogGroup.org/tophospitals.  

Most common sleep disorders
A study conducted by sleep experts Eachnight analyzed online search data to determine the top five most searched for sleep disorders in the United States, including search terms such as parasomnias, Kleine-Levin syndrome, and more, according to a news release.

Insomnia is the most searched for sleep disorder and the most likely to affect Americans over the holidays, according to the study.

Insomnia is a condition that makes it difficult to fall asleep and to stay asleep. The average monthly search volume for insomnia was 410,500. According to research, short-term insomnia affects 30% of adults while long-term affects 10% of adults throughout America.

Sleep apnea ranked in second place. According to the study, this sleep disorder that prohibits people from breathing during sleep has an average monthly search volume of 388,500. There are three types of sleep apnea — obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea — that affect roughly 18 million Americans, the release says.

Restless leg syndrome, which urges people to move their legs while sleeping, is the third most common sleep disorder with 250,583 average monthly searches. Also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, an estimated 7% to 10% of people suffer from this sleep disorder in America.  

In fourth place, sleep paralysis has 246,833 average monthly searches nationwide. The sleep disorder prohibits a person from moving while falling asleep or waking up; it may also cause difficulty breathing, chest compressions, and distressing hallucinations. Between 25% to 50% of Americans experience this within their lifetime. 

The fifth most common sleep disorder is narcolepsy, a condition that affects around 125,000 to 200,000 people in America, with 242,250 average monthly searches. This sleep disorder causes people to involuntarily fall asleep at various times of the day and night and is characterized by four common symptoms: hallucinations, excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep paralysis, and sleep disruption, the release says.

Local physician earns degree
Jacksonville-based Florida Academy of Family Physicians announced that Dr. Charles Ross, FAAFP, of Lutz, recently achieved the degree of Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP) from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) – the national association that represents nearly 134,600 family physicians, residents and medical students, according to a news release. 

The degree of Fellow recognizes AAFP members who have distinguished themselves among their colleagues and communities by their service to family medicine, advancement of health care to the American people, and by their professional development through medical education and research.

Criteria for receiving the AAFP Degree of Fellow honor consists of a minimum of six years of membership in the AAFP, extensive continuing medical education, participation in public service programs outside medical practice, conducting original research and serving as a teacher in family medicine. 

The AAFP was the first national medical specialty organization to require its members to complete a minimum of 150 hours of accredited continuing medical education every three years – and the only medical specialty society devoted to primary care.