The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

03/05/2016 – ‘Volksmarch’ fundraiser

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Everly’s Angels Foundation, a nonprofit that provides support to special needs families, parents with a devastating pre/postnatal diagnosis, and families who experience infant loss, will host its inaugural “Volksmarch” (German for people’s march) on March 5 at Lake Rogers, 9010 N. Mobley Road in Odessa. The event is a family friendly 2.2-mile hike around Lake Rogers. Packet pickup is at 9 a.m. There will be various photo checkpoints, and a cook-out lunch will be available for a small fee after the hike. There also will be a silent auction. Individual registrations start at $25, and includes a T-shirt and one hiking medallion. A family registration for three or more starts at $50, and includes two T-shirts and one hiking medallion. For information, visit EverlysAngels.org.

03/04/2016 – Old Lutz flea market

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The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club’s annual Old Lutz School Flea Market will take place March 4 and March 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be clothing, household items, décor, sports, children’s items, books, furniture, toys and more. There also will be a food booth and a baked goods station. All proceeds are returned to the community in the form of scholarships and donations to services groups, schools and libraries.  For information, call Pat Serio at (813) 948-4752.

03/04/2016 – Movie in the park

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The Land O’ Lakes Community Center and Heritage Park Foundation will host a free “Movie in the Park” on March 4 at 7 p.m., at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The park plans to show movies on the first Friday of every month. This month’s movie is “Ice Age.” Guests should bring a chair or blanket. For information, call (813) 929-1229.

03/05/2016 to 03/12/2016 – Early voting opens

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Early voting for the 2016 Presidential Preference Primary will take place March 5 through March 12 on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at these locations.

  • Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway. Call (813) 929-1214.
  • New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills. Call (813) 788-6375.

Note that polling hours differ from the libraries’ public operating hours. For the libraries’ regular service hours, call the numbers listed.

For information about early voting in Pasco County, including a complete list of Pasco County early voting sites and schedules, visit PascoVotes.com.

Health News 02/26/2016

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Hospitals named top performers
Two Pasco County hospitals were named among the nation’s Top Performers on Key Quality Measures by the Joint Commission.

The Medical Center of Trinity was named as a top performing hospital for the conditions of heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, and stroke.

The Regional Medical Center of Bayonet Point was recognized for the conditions of heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, venous thromboembolism, and stroke.

To be recognized as a top performer on key quality measures, an organization must meet 95 percent or more on performance thresholds on accountability measure data.

Pharmacists earn certification
Three Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point pharmacists received certification in pharmacotherapy by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties. All three pharmacists passed a rigorous certification exam by the BPS.

Jessica Chan, Tamara Richards and Nicholas Rigopoulos apply their specialized knowledge of medications, and work directly and collaboratively with physicians, nurses and other health professionals to ensure that the medications prescribed for patients contribute to the best possible health outcomes.

The pharmacists evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of the patient’s medications by assessing and recognizing the status of the patient’s treated and untreated health problems, and consult with the patient’s physicians to select the medication therapy that best meets the patient’s needs.

Women’s health luncheon

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Florida Hospital Zephyrhills will host “Ladies Who Lunch” on March 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the East Pasco Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7333 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills.

The free event includes breakout sessions on health issues, complimentary screenings, a health fair, giveaways, and a luncheon with keynote speaker, Lissette Campos, director of community affairs for Tampa’s ABC Action News and host of the affiliate’s “Positively Tampa Bay.”

Participants are encouraged to wear or bring a favorite spring hat for a contest during the luncheon. There will be prizes.

For information and a reservation, call (877) 534-3108.

Medicare assistance

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SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) representatives will be available on Feb. 25 at these libraries, to answer Medicare enrollment questions.

  • The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, at 11 a.m. For information, call (813) 788-6375.
  • Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, at 2 p.m. For information, call (352) 567-3576.

End-of-life directives

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Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care will host a free seminar on end-of-life decisions and advanced care planning on Feb. 25 at 2 p.m., at the Regency Park Library, 9701 Little Road in New Port Richey. Complimentary copies of Aging with Dignity’s Five Wishes, a document to address medical and legal concerns, will be distributed. Light refreshments will be served. For information and to RSVP, call (727) 992-8984.

Spine, back lecture

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Access Health Care, 5350 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill, will offer a lecture on “Your Spine/Back Means Everything: How to Protect it and Save it from Further Ruin” on Feb. 25 from 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. For information and to register, call (352) 688-8116, ext. 4344.

HIV/AIDS awareness

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Pasco-Hernando State College, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will host a seminar on HIV and AIDS, presented by the West Coast AIDS Foundation, on Feb. 29 at 11 a.m. For information, call (813) 527-6615.