The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

A bold bird

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Male red-winged blackbirds are hard to mistake — as they are glossy black with red-and-yellow shoulder badges. The males do everything they can to get noticed, sitting on high perches and belting out their ‘conk-la-ree’ song all day long. Females stay lower, skulking through vegetation for food and quietly weaving together their nests. Scott MacKay caught this red-winged blackbird taking off at his home in Concord Station in Land O’ Lakes.

Biz Digest 11/24/2021

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Zephyrhills chamber awards
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce had its annual banquet to honor the communities’ businesses, outstanding chamber members and others who contribute to community life through their leadership.

Here are the honorees for 2021:

Small business of the year: Zephyrhills Cinema 10

Large business: Sunrise Eatery

Ambassador of the year: Debbie Murray

Leadership in government: Chief Derek Brewer, Zephyrhills Police Department

Diamond Award: Zephyrhills Museum of Military History

Citizen of the Year: Gwendolyn Beasley

Chamber member of the year: Beth Aker

Zephyrhills Chipotle opens
Chipotle Mexican Grill has opened its first Zephyrhills location, at 7646 Gall Blvd. The restaurant serves burritos, quesadillas, tacos, salads and other menu items. It also has a drive-thru pickup lane that allows customers to pick up digital orders without leaving their vehicles, according to a news release. The restaurant opened on Oct. 28.

Florida Educators Insurance relocates
Florida Educators Insurance, a Horace Mann Insurance Company, had a Nov. 16 celebration of the grand opening of its new location, at 2660 Stonewood Park Loop in Land O’ Lakes. The event included games, food and drinks.

Economic development honors
The Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) recently received honors from three economic development organizations, hauling in a total of four awards for top marketing initiatives, according to a Pasco EDC news release.

  • The Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) honored Pasco EDC with an award for the Pasco County: Meet, Live, Work, and Play on Florida’s Sports Coast video at its annual conference in Tampa on Aug. 16.

Pasco EDC won The Best of Class, Large Division award for the video that was created to showcase the county as a place to do business, as well as visit and host a sporting event or meeting.

  • The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) awarded Pasco EDC with two awards in the population over 500,000 category, at its annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee, on Oct. 6.

The 2019-2020 Annual Report received a bronze award.

The digital Ready Sites property videos won a silver award.

  • The Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC) recognized Pasco EDC’s relationship with Florida’s Sports Coast by presenting the Innovative Partnership award to Pasco EDC at its annual conference in Orlando on Oct. 14.

edible grand reopening
edible, at 3749 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, recently had a grand reopening celebration on Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event featured a live DJ, a balloon artist, face painting, free samples and more. For more information, call 813-929-7362.

Business and Education Summit
CareerSource Tampa Bay will hold an education and business summit on Jan. 10. The summit, entitled: “Vision 2022: Shaping the Future of Work,” is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Tampa Marriott Water Street, in downtown Tampa. Coffee and networking starts at 8:30 a.m.

For more information or to register for the event, visit CareerSource Tampa Bay’s Vision 2022, at CareerSourceTampaBay.com/vision2022.

Registration is $50 per person. Sponsorships also are available for businesses that want to help underwrite the event or would like to register multiple individuals.

SBA offers info on FAQs
The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy has released a new version of its most popular publication, “Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business.” Another publication, “What’s New with Small Business?” also has been updated. For more information, go to Advocacy.sba.gov.

Tampa ranks No. 6
The personal-finance website WalletHub has released its report identifying 2021’s Best Places to Retire in Florida, and Tampa came in at No. 6.

To determine the most ideal retirement places for older Americans, WalletHub compared more than 100 cities in the Sunshine State across 29 key indicators of retiree-friendliness. The data set ranges from cost of living to health care facilities per capita to number of attractions, according to a news release from WalletHub.

To view the full report and individual city ranks, visit tinyurl.com/24x5mk3j.

Volkswagen grand opening
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce recently had a ribbon-cutting during the Oct. 26 grand opening celebration of the Volkswagen dealership at 26500 Silver Maple Parkway in Wesley Chapel.

Starkey appointments
Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey has been named to three committees at the National Association of Counties, according to a Pasco County news release.

Starkey will serve on these committees:

  • Community, Economic and Workforce Development Steering Committee, as vice chair
  • International Economic Development Task Force, as vice chair
  • Large Urban County Caucus, as a member

The association’s mission is to strengthen America’s counties, and create healthy, safe and vibrant counties across the country. It serves nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees, the news release says.

New dining and retail
The Shops at Wiregrass, at the intersection of Bruce B. Downs and State Road 56, in Wesley Chapel is expanding its retail and dining options.

Among the new offerings are Atleta, Coffee Latitutes, Go! Calendars Games & Toys, Optimal Wellness, SiKicks & Collectibles, Sky Jewels and Tonella’s Handcraft.

To get details about these and to find out more about the mall’s current and coming tenants, visit the mall’s social media channels.

Chalk Talk 11/24/2021

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Brian Butler, CEO of Vistra Communications, left, and Kim Jowell, Hillsborough Education Foundation CEO, center, visit students at Lockhart Elementary School, as part of the CEOs in Schools program. (Courtesy of Hillsborough Education Foundation)

CEOs in Schools program
Tampa Bay area senior executives recently volunteered at Hillsborough County public elementary schools as part of the innovative, educational program – CEOs in Schools.

Each business leader was paired with a local school and experienced a day in the life of educators and students, with the opportunity to share their own business knowledge with principals, teachers and the next generation of professionals.

Each executive’s day was tailored to the needs of the school community.

CEOs in Schools was founded by Brian Butler, CEO of Vistra Communications in Lutz. The program is in its third year and helps to build lasting relationships that benefit everyone involved.

Butler was joined by Kim Jowell, CEO of the Hillsborough Education Foundation, in a visit to Lockhart Elementary School in Tampa, where Jowell spent the day welcoming students to school, reading morning announcements, and meeting with school leaders.

This is a sample of artwork submitted by Zelin Wang, Grade 11, for a previous contest. (Courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

Fish art contest
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in partnership with Wildlife Forever, again will host the Florida State Fish Art Contest.

The program seeks to inspire creativity while developing the next generation of anglers and conservationists.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can compete in this free contest for a chance to win state and national honors, and prizes.

Florida winners will be selected by the FWC in four grade categories: kindergarten through third grade; fourth through sixth grade; seventh through ninth grade; and 10th through 12th grade.

State winners will advance to the national competition, to be judged for top prizes including Best of Show.

Entries should be submitted online at tinyurl.com/yaw9afj5. The deadline to enter is March 31.

Submissions must include:

  • An original horizontal 9-inch by 12-inch piece of artwork featuring any fish from the official fish list (found at tinyurl.com/5bujmn32)
  • A piece of creative writing, no longer than one page, about the chosen species (required for grades four to 12)
  • A Florida State Fish Art Contest entry form

Early release days
Pasco County Schools again will utilize a monthly, early release time to allow for staff to engage in professional development aligned with student needs, and district and school priorities.

Upcoming early release dates are: Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 2, March 9 and April 13.

On each of these days, students will be released two hours early.

The bell times, including the early release times for each school, can be found online at Pasco.k12.fl.us/site/pcs_bell_schedule.

Honor Society hosts fundraiser
The Martinez Middle School National Junior Honor Society will host a donation drive to benefit Hope Children’s Home, on Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Stonebrier basketball gazebo, 3741 W. County Line Road in Lutz.

Guests can bring a blanket or lawn chair, and eat, relax and listen to live music with local metal band, Actual Purgatory. The Bacon Boss food truck will be on site from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Kona Ice will be on site from noon to 2 p.m.

Accepted donations include: Nonperishable items (such as canned veggies, box/bag cereal, canned soup); household items (such as paper plates/bowls, aluminum foil, dryer sheets); school supplies (such as white board cleaner, binders, post-its); and, gently used clothes/shoes for boys and girls ages newborn to 18 years old.

For questions and a more detailed list of acceptable donations, email Annie Hayman at .

 

Health News 11/24/2021

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The TransCarotid Artery Revascularizations (TCAR) team at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, in Lutz. (Courtesy of BayCare)

Innovative procedure debuts
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is performing TransCarotid Artery Revascularizations (TCAR), an innovative surgical procedure that is less-invasive for patients with carotid artery disease, according to a news release.

Carotid arteries are the blood vessels on the side of the neck. The disease happens when fatty, waxy buildups clog these arteries. The buildup can restrict blood flow to the brain.

Any repair of the carotid artery carries some stroke risk during the procedure itself. TCAR is specifically designed to help minimize stroke risk by keeping potential stroke particles away from the brain during the procedure.

TCAR is considered an excellent alternative to the carotid endarterectomy, another type of carotid artery surgery, the release says.

“TCAR is not as high risk for stroke; it is a newer platform for major surgery,” said Alicia Allen, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North manager of interventional services, in the release.
Dr. Brandt Jones, a vascular surgeon who performed the first several TCARs at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, points out other advantages in addition to a lesser chance of stroke.

“It can also prevent injury to nerves, complications related to post-surgical swelling and there is less of a risk for cardiovascular side effects,” Dr. Jones said, in the release.

“The surgery is also more cosmetically appealing. The incision is significantly smaller and that can make a big difference for some people.”

TCAR also can reduce the time required to perform the procedure and the amount of time a patient needs to spend recovering in the hospital.

Learn more about TCAR at tinyurl.com/2rrd76fh.

Crisis Center grant
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay has been awarded a $50,000 grant from USAA to support community paramedicine and care coordination services for veterans in Tampa, according to a news release.

Veterans participating in the program can receive one-on-one support from a paramedic for ongoing medical issues, while also working with a care coordinator to get information for situational and behavioral health concerns.

The Crisis Center also operates the Florida Veterans Support Line, where veterans can receive support and links to community resources from a veteran peer.

“We are incredibly appreciative of USAA’s ongoing support of the Crisis Center’s mission. Over the years, they have provided funding for several programs within the Crisis Center. We are excited to see the impact that combining these two services could potentially have on veterans throughout our community,” said Clara Reynolds, president and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, in the release.

Veterans and their family members interested in learning more about the program or about receiving help can call the support line at 1-844-MyFLVet (693-5838).

Resource list
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has compiled community-based resources on its website to help serve its citizens, according to a news release.

Resources are available for a variety of challenges that citizens may encounter, including mental health issues, houselessness, suicidal thoughts, and more.

The list was developed to give those seeking assistance a place to start when they may not know how.

To see the resources, visit PascoSheriff.com/MentalHealth.html.

An homage to veterans

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Events were held around The Laker/Lutz News region to pay homage to Veterans Day, a federal holiday on Nov. 11 to mark the anniversary of the end of World War I and to honor those who have served in the military. Here’s a look at the Field of Flags, which was organized by the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon. The display was put up in front of the Tampa Premium Outlets, located on one of Pasco County’s busiest roadways. The breeze lifts this flag, at just the right moment, to show off its features. The stripes represent the original 13 colonies; the stars, the 50 U.S. states. The colors have meaning, too. The white symbolizes purity and innocence; the red symbolizes hardiness and valor; and the blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.

(Mary Rathman)

Gaston is living his best life

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Gaston is a 1 ½-year-old French bulldog that moved in September, to Wesley Chapel from Illinois. He’s still adjusting to Florida’s heat, but he’s living his best life — exploring and eating alfresco at all the restaurants in the area. Gaston lives with his proud owner Ariana Litt.

On the lookout, with keen eyes

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The red-shouldered hawk, referred to as a ‘hawk of the woodland’ (according to Audubon.org), is often heard before it is seen. Its clear, whistled calls are conspicuous, especially in the spring. Vic Anthony, of Land O’ Lakes, snapped this red-shouldered hawk atop a lamppost, which made for a perfect lookout.

Hospice proclamation

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From left: Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller; Comisssioner Mike Moore; Linda Ward, president & CEO of Gulfside; Commission Chair Ron Oakley; Kirsty Churchill, director of public relations for Gulfside; and Commissioner Jack Mariano. (Courtesy of Gulfside Healthcare Services)

The Pasco County Commission at its Nov. 9 meeting proclaimed the month of November National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and commended the staff from Gulfside Healthcare Services for their compassionate care to the residents of Pasco County, according to a news release.

“We are so grateful to have been able to provide quality care to those who need it in Pasco County for the last 32 years,” said Linda Ward, Gulfside president & CEO, in the release.

“Our team has bravely pioneered the challenging times and never wavered from our mission of providing quality, compassionate care to everyone who needs it, regardless of their financial situation,” said Ward.

In celebration of National Hospice & Palliative Care Month, Gulfside is offering complimentary copies of Five Wishes, an easy-to-use tool with advance directives and planning information prior to becoming seriously ill.

To receive a free copy, contact the Public Relations Department at or 800-561-4883.

Chalk Talk 11/17/2021

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Steinbrenner High’s JROTC Cadet Lt. Col. Zoe Spanos holds the achievement award she recently received from The Legion of Valor of the United States of America. (Courtesy of Cadet Staff Sgt. Cooper Diaz)

Cadet receives high honor
Steinbrenner High School Junior Reserve Officer Corps (ROTC) Cadet Lt. Col. Zoe Spanos was awarded the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross at the school’s homecoming pep rally.

Each year, The Legion of Valor of the United States of America gives this award for achievement of scholastic excellence in military and academic subjects.

It is awarded only to the most outstanding cadets and is limited to one cadet for each 4,000 senior-year cadets enrolled within an Army JRTOC Brigade, according to a news release.

Cadet Spanos is a senior at Steinbrenner High and currently serves as the Warrior Battalion Commander.

She is one of only 65 Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine JROTC cadets to receive the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement award out of 500,000 cadets nationwide, and she is the first cadet in the history of Steinbrenner High School to receive the award.

Educator grants awarded
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) awarded $104,941.81 in grants to 48 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program, according to a news release.

The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities, as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness campaigns.

Each school district allocates a portion of its annual youth education funding provided by the SFWMD to support the Splash! grants in their county.

SFWMD awarded grants to the following schools/teachers in Pasco County:

  • Bayonet Point Middle School, Rowenna Collins
  • Hudson Academy, Shamsher Lamba
  • James M. Marlowe Elementary, Michelle Wainwright
  • Quail Hollow Elementary, Lora Darby
  • Richey Elementary, Angela Taylor and Shaun Burr
  • Sunlake High, Gail Charpin

Grants are available for freshwater resources field studies, water-conserving garden projects, community or school awareness campaigns, and on-site workshops.

For information, visit WaterMatters.org/SchoolGrants.

Time to fill out FAFSA
Students who plan to attend a technical school or college in the fall of 2022 should submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible, according to the KHEAA (Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority), in a news release.

Those who do not think they can qualify for financial aid should submit the FAFSA, too. Rules governing student aid programs sometimes change, and students who do not file the FAFSA may miss out on free money that could help pay for their education, the news release says.

Some student aid programs have limited funds and provide awards on a first-come, first-served basis, so FAFSA applications should be submitted early.

Parents or guardians of students considered dependents under federal guidelines also must provide financial information. This affects most students going directly to college from high school, who are typically considered a dependent.

A formula set by Congress is used to determine if students qualify for federal and state aid, the release says.

Saint Leo food drive
Saint Leo University’s Tampa Education Center will collect food through Nov. 18 for Metropolitan Ministries, whose mission is to care for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, according to a news release.

Saint Leo University-Tampa is in the former Berriman-Morgan Cigar Factory building, at 1403 N. Howard Ave., in Tampa.

Canned goods and nonperishable food may be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For information, contact Rod Kirkwood at or 813-743-3228.

Early release days
Pasco County Schools again will utilize a monthly, early release time to allow for staff to engage in professional development aligned with student needs, and district and school priorities.

Upcoming early release dates are: Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 2, March 9 and April 13.

On each of these days, students will be released two hours early.

The bell times, including the early release times for each school, can be found online at Pasco.k12.fl.us/site/pcs_bell_schedule.

Cleanup efforts protect waterways

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Lewis Queensberry (left) and his friend pick up trash on Little Road in Trinity, which Queensberry adopted. (Courtesy of Ryan Hughes, Pasco County)

The rain couldn’t dampen anyone’s spirit at the 2021 International Coastal Cleanup, presented by the Rotary Club of New Port Richey.

More than 1,200 volunteers worked their way throughout Pasco County, picking up 24,000 pounds of trash and litter along the roadways, public spaces and waterways during the event, according to a news release.

By the numbers:

  • 12 tons of trash and litter were collected
  • 52 locations were cleaned up around Pasco County
  • 1,210 people volunteered
  • 3,771 volunteer hours were completed

“We’re thrilled by the turnout,” said Kristen King, Keep Pasco Beautiful coordinator.

“This year we had more locations than ever, and many of those locations are along roadways,” King said, in the release.

That’s important, she said, explaining: “By cleaning roadways and public spaces, we’re preventing trash from entering our waterways.”

The Pasco County Department of Public Works plays an important role in picking up the trash from the event and managing the Adopt-A-Thon program for volunteers who are interested in helping to clean up the community in other ways.

For information, visit KeepPascoBeautiful.org.

Published November 10, 2021