The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

New Alateen meeting

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Al-Anon Family Groups District 5 will offer a new weekly Tuesday Alateen meeting at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, Education Building, 4843 Mile Stretch Drive in Holiday. The first meeting is Jan. 19 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be an Al-Anon meeting at the same time.

Alateen is a fellowship of young Al-Anon members, usually teenagers, whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking.

Teens also can visit the Alateen chat meetings at Al-anon.org/try-an-alateen-chat-meeting, or the North Florida Alateen Chat Room on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., at Chat.alateen.net.

For information, call Betty D. at (727) 484-6174.

Open house at Watermark

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The Watermark at Trinity Memory Care will host an open house on Jan. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those interested in visiting can meet Aileen Carlson, the executive director, and have refreshments and a light lunch while learning about the new kind of memory care coming soon at Watermark. The open house will be at the Watermark Trinity sales office, 10751 Maple Creek Drive, Suite 104, in Trinity. For information, call (727) 597-4082, or visit WatermarkCommunities.com.

Medicare assistance

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The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer “Medicare Assistance at 65” on Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon. For information, call (813) 929-1214, or visit FloridaShine.org.

Tobacco cessation

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The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer a free “Tools to Quit” seminar to help tobacco users quit on Jan. 15 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will set a quit date, make a plan, and work through simple steps to quit. Free optional nicotine replacement therapy, including patches, lozenges or gum, will be provided. The program is sponsored by the Florida Department of Health. For information and to register, call Deann Marasco (813) 929-1000, ext. 205.

Support group for kids & teens

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Gulfside Hospice and Suncoast Kid’s Place will offer a new grief support group for kids, teens and their caregivers.

Starting Jan. 14, the group will meet on the second and fourth Thursdays each month, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Gulfside Hospice Bereavement and Community Outreach Center, 6224 Lafayette St., in New Port Richey. There will be three groups at the same time: a children’s group, a teen group, and a parent/caregiver group. These peer support groups will use art and games to talk and assist in processing grief feelings and develop coping tools. The groups are free and open to the community.

Upcoming dates will be Jan. 28, Feb. 11, Feb. 25, March 10 and March 24.

For information, call Kelly Cavagnetto at (727) 845-5707.

Medicare help

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The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, will host a SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) representative on Jan. 14 at 11 a.m., to answer Medicare enrollment questions. For information, call (813) 788-6375.

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills honors DAISY recipients

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Florida Hospital Zephyrhills recognizes the efforts nurses perform every day by handing out the monthly DAISY award. Each recipient receives an “Extraordinary Nurse” certificate, and a hand-carved sculpture by artists of the Shona Tribe of Africa entitled “A Healer’s Touch.” Those recognized were:

  • September: Jody Wilcox works in the Clinical Decision Unit and was nominated by a patient’s family member. Wilcox helped educate the family, called the appropriate resources as needed, and offered comforting and reassuring hugs, during the family’s difficult time.
  • October: Kelli Jones received numerous nominations from her patients for going above and beyond and treating them like a member of her own family. Jones also serves as her department’s CREATION Health Champion and Pain Champion.
  • November: Elizabeth Conageski works in the Med Surg III Unit and has been nominated several times for her extraordinary care and competence. Conageski gave a patient a handwritten scripture from Isaiah that had great emotional impact on an individual.

01/20/2016 – Food manager’s certification

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Betsy Crisp, of UF/IFAS Extension, will offer comprehensive food handler training on Jan. 20, Feb. 17, March 16 and April 20, at the Central Pasco Professional Center, 4111 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The course includes food safety concepts, such as personal hygiene, property cleaning and sanitizing procedures, proper thawing, cooking, hot holding and reheating foods, and more. Upon completion of the training, participants will receive a state certificate of achievement from the University of Florida, and upon passing the ServSafe Manager’s Exam, will receive a national certification valid for five years. Class starts at 8:30 a.m., with an exam from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is required. For information, call (888) 232-8723.

01/20/2016 – Tour the solar system

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The Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, will host “Astronomy: A Grand Tour of the Solar System” on Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m., presented by Kevin Manning, NASA consultant. After the presentation, there will be stargazing. Admission is free. For information, call (352) 567-3576.

01/17/2016 – Poker lessons

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DATE CORRECTION: The Tampa Jewish Community Center & Federation, 13009 Community Campus Drive, will offer poker lessons starting Jan. 17 from noon to 2 p.m. The lessons will be taught by Simon Agamiyev. The cost is $20 for members, and $25 for non-members. For information and to register, email Marissa Rosenthal at .