The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

A picture-perfect perch

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Joanne Dionne, of Dade City, captured this photo of a seagull perfectly perched on a log at Green Key Beach in New Port Richey. A seagull is the only seabird that can walk on land as easily as it paddles in the water and soars in the wind. 

Idalia Closure Updates from AdventHealth West Florida Division

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Latest Closures and Schedule Changes
As of 10:30 p.m. on Monday, August 28, 2023
AdventHealth Medical Group: 

  • Hillsborough County Physician Practices: Closing at 3 p.m. Tuesday, 8/29
  • Pasco County Physician Practices: Closing at 3 p.m. Tuesday, 8/29
  • Pinellas County Physician Practices: Closing at 12 p.m. (noon) on Tuesday, 8/29
  • Polk County Physician Practices: OPEN, closures to be determined
  • Highlands County Physician Practices: OPEN, closures to be determined
  • Hardee County Physician Practices: Closing at 3 p.m. Tuesday, 8/29
  • Marion County Physician Practices: Closing at 3 p.m. Tuesday, 8/29

AdventHealth West Florida Division Care Pavilions: 

  • Imaging Centers: Closing at 12 p.m., Tuesday 8/29
  • Lab: Closing at 12 p.m, Tuesday 8/29
  • Buildings are closing at 3 p.m., Tuesday 8/29

AdventHealth Express Care at Walgreens Locations: 

  • Pinellas County Express Care at Walgreens Location: Closing at 12 p.m. (noon) on Tuesday, 8/29
  • All other Express Care at Walgreens locations will close at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 8/29

Open Healthcare Locations: 

Hospitals: AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Heart of Florida, AdventHealth Lake Placid, AdventHealth Lake Wales, AdventHealth Ocala, AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Tampa, AdventHealth Wauchula, AdventHealth Zephyrhills, AdventHealth North Pinellas Emergency Room 

AdventHealth CentraCare Urgent Care Centers 

AdventHealth Home Health 

AdventHealth On Demand Video Visits: If you have a non-emergency health care need and would like to access care during Tropical Storm/Hurricane Idalia, AdventHealth offers On Demand Video visits. The board-certified healthcare team is available 24 hours a day and care can be accessed via the AdventHealth app through the App Store or Google Play. Visit AdventHealth.com/video-visits to learn more.

During a hurricane, AdventHealth needs to utilize and reserve its resources to provide care for patients and working staff members until the storm passes and conditions return to normal. Our hospitals are not equipped or designed to serve as a public shelter for the community, and we encourage residents to contact their county’s emergency operations center for locations of public shelters.  

While we understand the desire for family members to remain with their loved ones in the hospital during a storm, we strongly encourage potential visitors to consider the advice of emergency officials to stay off the roads and remain at home until the storm passes.

We are committed to providing the best possible care to our community during the storm, and we will continue to monitor the situation and provide ongoing updates. Additional updates are being provided on AdventHealth.com/hurricane.  

Getting a jump on the holiday spirit

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club may be on a summer hiatus, but some of its members are busy preparing for the fast-approaching holiday by handcrafting greeting cards to be distributed to senior centers, Meals on Wheels recipients, assisted living facility residents and veterans nursing homes. For more information about the club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.

Gulfside Hospice launches new online shop

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The Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppes have announced the grand opening of its innovative Online Thrift Shoppe to complement its fleet of in-person stores throughout Pasco County, according to a news release.

The hospice thrift shops have provided affordable clothing, furniture and household items since 1992, for Pasco County residents to purchase.

The stores now offer a virtual shopping experience — while remaining committed to their loyal customers and the mission of supporting hospice care in the community, the release said.

Shoppers can go to ShopGulfsideThrift.org to browse through the online collection of items from the comfort of home.

The Online Thrift Shoppe features a large variety of items from each of the four Gulfside store locations — Bayonet Point, Dade City, New Port Richey and Zephyrhills. With the online option, shoppers can ‘visit’ all stores at once.

Currently, each online purchase requires the buyer to pick up the items at their convenience from the designated store.

All proceeds from the virtual store will benefit patient care and bereavement programs at Gulfside Hospice, just as the brick-and-mortar stores do.

For more information, call 800-561-4883.

Published August 30, 2023

Business Digest 08/30/2023

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Maggie’s Snow Shoppe hosts grand opening
Maggie’s Snow Shoppe, a member of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s SMARTstart program, was set to have its grand opening celebration on Aug. 25 (after The Laker/Lutz News deadline).

Liz Guerra, founder of the flavored shave ice company, was inspired by the treats her grandmother provided when she was a child, according to a Pasco EDC news release.

“To watch her go from idea to a really neat and trendy mobile shave ice camper in such short order is what makes me love the work we do at SMARTstart,” Dan Mitchell, SMARTstart program director, said in the release.

Guerra’s business has evolved from serving shave ice treats from a tent at farmer’s markets to going mobile.

She uses all-natural fruit-based syrups, made in Pasco, the release says. Maggie’s Snow Shoppe sells a variety of shave ice with syrups and fruit toppings and has plans to add specialty sodas.

Her mobile camper will be serving up shave ice throughout the county and can often be found at 7th Street Mini Golf and Game Parlor.

Pasco EDC’s SMARTstart program is an innovative suite of programs that provides the tools new and growing businesses need for long-term success.

To find out more about SMARTstart and other Pasco EDC programs, visit PascoEDC.com.

Women in Business Empowerment Conference
Women in business who are looking for inspiration, who want to learn about practical tools that can be useful for entrepreneurs and who want to meet other like-minded women may want to check out the Women in Business Empowerment Conference. The event has a slate of featured speakers. It is scheduled for Sept. 15 from 8 .m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Residence Inn by Marriott, 2101 Northpointe Parkway, in Lutz. The registration cost is $20; the deadline for registration is Sept. 8. Register via https://rb.gy/iduj0.

Florida ranks No. 1 in jobs gained during July
Florida ranked No. 1 among the nation’s most populous states, in terms of job creation during July, according to a news release from FloridaCommerce.

The state attributes the high job growth to investments in infrastructure development, workforce training, broadband availability and state policies that continue to attract businesses to Florida. More than 2.5 million new businesses have formed and more than 1 million Floridians have joined the workforce during the past four years, which is highest in the nation, according to the state’s news release.

FloridaCommerce combines the state’s economic, workforce and community development efforts.

North Tampa Bay Chamber breakfast
Deagan Watson, president and CEO of North Tampa Behavioral Health, will be the featured speaker at the North Tampa Bay Chamber business breakfast on Sept. 5 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. 

Cost is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Registration must be made in advance. For more information, visit the chamber’s website at NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

New specialty shop opens in Lutz
Pickled Makers Local Shop and Studio opened in May, at 2020 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite 8, in Lutz. Each item in the store is locally made or curated, according to a news release from the business. The shop aims to be a one-stop shop for locally made products and gifts. To find out more, visit the shop’s website at PickledMakers.com.

J.Joseph Salon opens new location
J.Joseph Salon Wesley Chapel, at 1738 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, hosted a grand opening on Aug. 19.

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group (EPNG) meets on the second Tuesday of the month (except for December), at 7:30 a.m., at IHOP, at 13100 U.S. 301, in Dade City. The group’s meetings feature speakers from a wide array of backgrounds. Here is its upcoming slate of speakers:

  • Sept. 12: Todd Vande Berg, director of planning, City of Zephyrhills
  • Oct. 10: Nikki Alvarez-Sowles,  Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller
  • Nov. 14: Madonna Wise, author, local historian and retired educator

For more information about EPNG, contact Nils R. Lenz at 813-782-9491 or  

NTBC seeking nominations for awards
The North Tampa Bay Chamber is seeking nominations for its 2023 Celebrating Excellence in Business Awards, which will be presented on Nov. 16.

Award categories are: Excellence in Innovation; Excellence in Collaboration; Excellence in Integrity; Excellence in Inclusivity; and Community Hero.

The chamber invites nominations for businesses that have demonstrated excellence in areas such as innovation, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and community involvement, according to a chamber news release. Self-nominations are encouraged.

Applications are due by Oct. 6. They will be judged by a five-member independent panel between Oct. 9 and Oct. 13. The finalists will be announced on Oct. 27 and the awards will be presented at an event on Nov. 16.

For details, visit the chamber’s website at NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

SCORE mentors
Businesses needing help can get it from a SCORE mentor, and people with knowledge to share can volunteer to mentor others. SCORE welcomes those needing assistance, as well as those who are able to provide it. Find out more by visiting SCORE.org/pascohernando.

Chalk Talk 08/30/2023

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Student attends research experience
Diana Hernandez, a recent Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) graduate and Wesley Chapel native, attended a summer educational opportunity at Boston University.

Hernandez’s journey started with involvement in the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Leadership and Academic Enhancement Program (LSAMP) through PHSC.

Diana Hernandez, of Wesley Chapel, attended a summer educational opportunity at Boston University (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

The LSAMP program, named in honor of former congressman Louis Stokes, is a National Science Foundation funded program intended to support historically underrepresented students in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.

The program fosters student growth and gives opportunities for participation in a

variety of programs, such as Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), which are highly competitive and prestigious programs having an acceptance rate of approximately 3%.

“Through the program, students have experienced valuable opportunities to expand their perspectives through travel experiences both in and out of state. They have attended conferences, participated in professional development workshops, taken part in college tours at the University of South Florida (USF), conducted water testing at the Crystal Springs Preserve, and explored the possibilities of humanoid robots at The Institute for Human & Machine Cognition,” said Courtney Dominique, pre-collegiate and LSAMP advisor at PHSC, in a news release.

Hernandez’s four-month summer REU at Boston University focused on The Fundamental Research in Chemistry Addressing Problems in Biology.

“I read many articles regarding my research consisting of the discovery and development of medicinally important compounds for the leishmaniasis parasite and worked under the supervision of Dr. Scott Schaus,” said Hernandez in the release.

Hernandez started her junior year at USF this fall where she plans to continue her

studies using her newly acquired experience to aid in her academic and professional journey.

During her time at Boston University, she also assisted graduate students in their research for their thesis. This consisted of creating imine reactions, running NMRs, using column chromatography, and many other incredible procedures that one doesn’t get to do during their undergraduate years.

Students interested in the program can apply at Equity-services.phsc.edu/students/student/lsamp. 

Reading Challenge
Pasco County Schools has introduced R.A.C.E. to Read, Pasco! This is a district-wide, pre-K through 12th grade reading challenge for the 2023-2024 school year. All students and staff can participate to collectively read 15 million minutes from Aug. 10 to May 24. Minutes will be logged via Beanstack and celebrations will be school-based. Check out https://zoobean.wistia.com/medias/qcrwyjtjs1?wtime=0 for details.

College Prep & Readiness
The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a College Prep and Readiness session on Sept. 2 at 3 p.m. Are you preparing to go to college? Do you require help navigating the application process? A guest speaker will talk about first-hand experience from working in college admissions and discuss the best practices and tips to writing the best application essay during this hour-long session. For information, call 813-929-1214.

Teen Republican Club
The Teen Age Republican Club of Trinity is inviting students from all local high schools to join this active, growing, national club. Members of the club volunteer and fundraise for Tunnel 2 Towers, veterans groups, and more. The club meets once a month. The next welcome/informational meeting is on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m., at Havana Dreamers Café, 3104 Town Ave., in Trinity (Longleaf). 

Dues includes a T-shirt. Adult advisors are available to assist the club. For information, call 727-316-5476 or 727-774-9327.

Early Release Days
Pasco County Schools will have eight early release days for students, according to its Pasco Post newsletter. Schools will be released two hours earlier than usual on these dates: Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1, Dec. 6, Jan. 10, Feb. 14, March 13 and April 10.

Saint Leo University welcomed students to the fall 2023 semester and new academic year. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Saint Leo welcomes students
Saint Leo University welcomed new, transfer and returning students to its residential campus in Pasco County to begin the fall 2023 semester and new academic year. More than 800 new students — local and transfers from countries throughout the world — arrived at the campus in St. Leo. Classes began on Aug. 28.

A Family Respite Area was provided in the Student Activities Building lobby where families and students could have refreshments, ask questions, meet other students and family members, and interact with support staff. The university also hosted a Parent and Family Association Meeting to provide information on ways to get involved and how to stay connected, as well as a Q&A session.

In addition, international students participated in a parade of countries, there were student performances, and sharing of the university’s history and traditions.

Saint Leo’s Welcome Week, which runs through Sept. 2, includes First Day of School Pictures, Puppy Play, Rec the Night games, We’ve Got Your Six, Popsicle Pursuit, and more.

Homeschool Morning
The Tarpon Springs Aquarium, 1722 N. Pinellas Ave., in Tarpon Springs, will host a Homeschool Morning: Backyard Florida Adventure on Sept. 7 and Sept. 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., for kindergarten through fifth grade. The event will feature hands-on activities and live animals. The cost is $10 per person (ages 2 and older); $5 per annual passholder (includes day pass admission). For information, visit Tarpon Springs Aquarium on Facebook.

 

Health News 08/30/2023

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Mary Partridge

New director named
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz has named Mary Partridge as its new operations director. Partridge began her new role on Aug. 7 and succeeded Sara Dodds, who was operations director before her promotion to hospital president in April.

As the new director, Partridge will assist Dodds and share in the responsibility for integrating the hospital’s strategic plan into operations and provide oversight for the development of high-quality compassionate care.

She will have leadership to ensure efficient services, designed to meet the needs of patients, physicians, team members and the community.

Partridge has been with BayCare since 2017 in positions at its various hospitals that included: quality, safety and regulatory manager; quality improvement manager; and patient services director.

She is a registered nurse and holds a master’s degree in both nursing and business administration from the University of Phoenix. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Relieving nursing shortage
Saint Leo University is focused on meeting the health care needs of the community through its Bachelor of Science in nursing program.

When the fall semester begins on Aug. 28, students will begin their junior year in the core nursing program classes. With hands-on learning, the juniors will learn in the skills and simulation labs and go to a clinical setting.

Members of the university’s inaugural class of juniors pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing took part in an orientation meeting with Dr. Deb Peterson, chair of Saint Leo University’s Nursing Program (front row, right). (Courtesy of Courtesy of Renee Gerstein, Saint Leo University)

During the spring 2024 semester, nursing students will partner with AdventHealth Zephyrhills.

By the end of its first five years of operation, Saint Leo’s program is expected to add nearly 200 nurses to the workforce.

With the rapid growth of Pasco County, where Saint Leo’s University Campus is, Pasco Economic Development Council President/CEO Bill Cronin noted, in a news release, “In one of our greatest areas of need — health care — it is especially clear that we need our education partners to step up and produce the talent needed for our hospitals and other health care providers to thrive.”

Joey Resnick, CEO of Premier Community HealthCare Group, echoed Cronin in his support. “I see the urgent need for nurses to provide services for people of all ages to support health promotion, disease prevention, and illness care.

“The Saint Leo University Bachelor of Science in nursing program has a curriculum that aligns with health promotion and the needs of those with chronic and late-stage illnesses. This emphasis will support the needs of the growing population in our region,” said Resnick.

Funds from the state of Florida and private donors will be used in part to build an experiential learning space on the second floor of Benedictine Hall at Saint Leo University. 

Achievement Award
HCA Healthcare West Florida Division hospitals received 42 American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Stroke quality achievement awards for their commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, leading to more lives saved and reduced disability, according to a news release.

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S., the release said. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die.

Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

HCA Florida Trinity Hospital, 9330 State Road 54 in Trinity, received these awards this year:

  • Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus
  • Target Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus
  • Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll

Apprenticeship program builds careers
A new health care apprenticeship program at AdventHealth is helping young adults in the area to build strong careers in the medical field. 

AdventHealth and Ultimate Medical Academy were chosen to partner with CareerSource Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners to implement the first health care Apprenticeship-to-Career Empowerment Program (ACE), according to a news release.

Students were carefully selected from their respective communities with a rigorous interview process, and gives them the opportunity to earn a professional career certificate, gain paid work experience, and have assistance in preparation for entering the professional workforce.

These phlebotomy (taking and preparing patient blood samples for testing) students were given hands-on experience at AdventHealth Tampa on Aug. 16.

Employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 10% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Florida has one of the highest employment levels for phlebotomists in the country, the release said.

It’s a take-out meal for this heron

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Barry White snapped this photo of a great blue heron preparing to eat a water snake, in Land O’ Lakes, off Collier Parkway. Great blue herons on the hunt wade slowly or stand statue-like, stalking fish and other prey in shallow water or open fields. Watch for the lightning-fast thrust of the neck and head as the birds stab with their strong bills.

This Penny shines!

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Penny is a 3-month old red lab. She was born in Pennsylvania, but now happily resides in sunny Florida. Penny enjoys playing with her toys, going for leisurely walks, and eating treats. While still young, she’s already learned commands like ‘sit,’ ‘stay’ and ‘lay down.’ Penny hopes to grow up and someday be a certified therapy dog so she can support students in schools. Penny’s proud owner is Stasi Roop, of Zephyrhills.

Defend yourself against phone scams

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The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) has been seeing an increase in warrant-related scams and is offering guidance on how citizens can protect themselves from warrant and similar phone call scams.

In a warrant scam, someone poses as a PSO member, using an agency member’s name and demanding payment over the phone. Often that caller tries to make the scam seem more legitimate by using a victim’s personal information, which the caller obtained from a public record search, according to a PSO news release.

The caller threatens the victim with an arrest warrant, or with an arrest, if the victim refuses to pay. The scammer also insists that victims do not disconnect the call or text anyone, or the fine increases.

The imposter also demands payment in the form of gift cards, wire transfers, credit cards or through money sharing apps, the release said.

Potential victims should know that the sheriff’s office will never demand payment over the phone to clear a warrant.

Here are some tips from the PSO to help you to protect yourself from phone scam:

  • Beware of requests for unusual payment methods for government business, such as gift cards or money-sharing apps.
  • Don’t provide or verify personal information with the caller.
  • Don’t feel pressured to act due to the urgency of the caller.
  • End suspicious phone calls immediately and report them.
  • Call the business back that the caller is posing to be associated with to verify the legitimacy of the request.

These scams often try to scare people into handing over personal information or hard-earned money. 

The best defense against fraud and scams is awareness, according to the PSO.

Visit PascoSheriff.com or follow the sheriff’s office on social media for the latest news.

Published August 23, 2023