The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

A space for budding doctors to grow 

By

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel CEO Ryan Quattlebaum cuts the ribbon on the new space for the graduate medical education program. Photo courtesy of AdventHealth

 

A new space for the AdventHealth Wesley Chapel graduate medical education program. Photo courtesy of AdventHealth

WESLEY CHAPEL – AdventHealth Wesley Chapel has opened a new expanded space for its graduate medical education program. The new space will be used to train the next generation of physicians. 

It is part of a larger, ongoing expansion at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel.

The newly expanded Family Medicine Residency program space includes eight new exam rooms, a procedure room, workstation and office space for faculty and staff. These new facilities were designed to provide medical residents with an optimal environment for hands-on learning, collaboration and high-quality patient care.

“With the opening of our expanded GME program space, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel solidifies its role as a destination for top-tier patient care as well as a center for academic medicine,” said Dr. Omari Hodge, founding graduate medical education program director. “We’re excited to have our second year of Wesley Chapel resident physicians use this new space to learn and grow alongside our experienced clinical teams.”

Construction of the full AdventHealth Wesley Chapel hospital expansion will be completed in December and will add more than 80,000 square feet of new hospital space and increase the licensed bed count from 169 to 193. This includes new inpatient units, surgical suites, advanced imaging services and patient recovery areas.

 

Chalk Talk (9/17/25): University designated as veteran-friendly

By

University designated as veteran-friendly

ST. LEO – U.S. Veterans Magazine recently recognized Saint Leo University as a Veteran-Friendly Yellow Ribbon Program school.

Saint Leo was assessed on key criteria such as offering veteran resource centers, student-veteran organizations, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs certifying officials, academic credit for military training or experience, and career services tailored to veterans’ needs.

Saint Leo was one of the first universities to bring college degree programs to military bases so that active duty personnel and veterans could study on base. Now, Saint Leo offers degrees as well as support services at University Campus, online, and at regional education centers including MacDill AFB and Naval Air Station Key West.

“Our mission is to foster an environment where veterans as well as service members and their families thrive academically and personally,” said Anthony DeSantis, director of the Office of Military Affairs & Services. “We want to make their transition to the classroom easy, affordable, fun and life-changing.”

 

Tax office finds that generosity adds up

TAMPA – The Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office collected 34,221 supplies for students through its July school supply drive. 

The donated supplies, collected at all tax collector locations throughout July, will be distributed through the Hillsborough Education Foundation’s Teaching Tools Store. The store provides free resources to teachers to ensure every student has the tools they need to be successful.

“When we come together to invest in our students’ education, we’re investing in our community’s future,” said Nancy Millan, Hillsborough County tax collector. “Every pencil, every notebook, and every backpack donated represents our collective commitment to ensuring that all children, regardless of their economic circumstances, have the tools they need to learn, grow, and thrive.”

 

SNHU names president’s list

MANCHESTER, NH – Southern New Hampshire University named students from the area to its summer president’s list. 

The following students earned a grade point average of 3.7 or higher: 

  • Odessa: Piper Ray and Braxton Smith.
  • Lutz: Cortni Coffin, Leanne Hayes and Holly Hsu.

The summer terms run from May to August.

 

Quick Hits

  • Hillsborough County Public Schools shared moments Capt. Edwin Smith reunited with his children at York PreK-8 and East Bay High School after being deployed with the Navy for 18 months. 
  • Tampa Bay Rays players delivered school supplies to students at Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School. 
  • Coach Andy Schmitz (Head Coach) and defensive coordinator Justin Fenton tallied their 100th win with the J.W. Mitchell High School football program.
  • Arshiya Ghosh, of Starkey Ranch K-8, made the Top 300 in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.
  • River Ridge Middle School’s 2025 yearbook won awards from the Florida Scholastic Press Association and National Scholastic Press Association.
  • Matthew Higgins, of Lutz, made the summer dean’s list at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire. Higgins earned a grade point average of 3.5 to 3.699.
  • Grayson Gilmore, of Lutz, has enrolled at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia for the fall semester. Gilmore is majoring in kinesiology.
  • Kevin Perez, a University of South Florida student and a member of the Suncoast Battalion of Army ROTC, finished first in the In Their Honor 5K on Sept. 8 at Saint Leo University. Austin Curtis, a USF student and ROTC member, finished second.

Glazer Children’s Museum celebrates 15 years of play

By

There will be plenty to do during Glazer Children’s Museum’s upcoming Birthday Bash. Photo courtesy of Glazer Children’s Museum

TAMPA – The Glazer Children’s Museum is marking a milestone this month: 15 Years of Play. To celebrate, Florida residents can get in with $15 admission all September long. Families are invited to join in a month packed with birthday-themed activities, special performances and a giant free Birthday Bash in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on Sept. 27.

“Play is the foundation for curiosity, confidence and lifelong learning,” said Sarah Cole, president and CEO of the Glazer Children’s Museum. “When a child plays, they’re not just having fun, they’re discovering new skills and building imagination that will carry them into the future. More than three million children and families have discovered that joy within our walls, each experiencing the growth and connection that play makes possible. That’s the true impact of play, and it’s what makes this milestone so meaningful to celebrate with our community.”

 

Throughout September, families can:

  • Get creative making party headbands and glasses in Make Space Craft; the perfect accessories to wear to the big Birthday Bash.
  • Cozy up for birthday-themed story times.
  • Play together with classic games like Pin the Cherry on the Cupcake, limbo, charades and dance parties.
  • Experience live theater, including special performances of Quince by Victoria Rios on Sept. 20, 21 and 28, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

 

The Big Birthday Bash

This year’s Birthday Bash is extra special. It’s part of Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play, a global initiative encouraging kids and families to step away from screens, head outdoors and discover the joy of play. 

The free community celebration will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 27 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. 

Activities include live performances, touch-a-truck experiences, bounce houses, local artisans and kid-run vendor booths, costumed characters and food trucks.

Diocese completes 1,000,000 Acts of Mercy

By

Volunteers made sandwiches for homeless people in St. Petersburg, pitched in at food pantries in New Port Richey and Trinity, and helped hurricane victims in Dade City. Photos courtesy of Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg

SAINT PETERSBURG – The Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg has exceeded its ambitious goal of completing 1,000,000 Acts of Mercy (kindness) in 2025. 

The diocese completed the challenge three months ahead of its Dec. 15 deadline.

“My heart is full of gratitude for all who have worked together to achieve this remarkable milestone that reflects our call to love as God loves and serve as Christ serves,” said Bishop Parkes, who established the Mercy Challenge in response to the Jubilee Year of Hope that was launched by the late Pope Francis.

The challenge encouraged Catholics to go above and beyond traditional efforts to show kindness and compassion. 

Participants were asked to record all acts of service on the diocesan website (Mercy2025.org). They were challenged to focus on 14 categories of service that the Catholic Church describes as Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. These categories range from visiting the sick and sheltering the homeless to comforting the afflicted. 

Volunteers made sandwiches for homeless people in St. Petersburg, pitched in at food pantries in New Port Richey and Trinity, and helped hurricane victims in Dade City. Photos courtesy of Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg

Examples include:

  • Helping flood victims clean out their homes
  • Bringing flowers to those who are ill
  • Showing gratitude to veterans for their sacrifices
  • Feeding the hungry
  • Donating clothes to people in need
  • Praying for people who are suffering
  • Cleaning up gravesites

By the Numbers:

  • 73 parishes participated
  • 35 schools participated
  • 2 mission churches participated
  • 7 diocesan ministries participated

 

Museum Mashup brings Salvador Dalí to MOSI

By

TAMPA BAY – St. Petersburg’s Dalí Museum and Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry are teaming up for a museum mashup this fall. 

The crossover between the two museums will bring to life STEAM topics (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) in new, interactive, hands-on ways.

 

The man behind the mustache

A reimagined Salvador Dalí will make his way across the Bay, on loan from The Dalí, to complement MOSI’s special exhibition “Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine.”

“Dalí Lives” is a digital experience that allows visitors to hear about the legendary artist’s inspirations and motivations as they talk with an AI-generated Salvador Dalí on an interactive life-size screen.

“At MOSI, we love that ‘aha’ moment when a guest discovers that science and art are connected and you can’t have one without the other,” said John Graydon Smith, President and CEO of MOSI. “And who better to help you come to that realization than a re-creation of Dalí, an artist who was so passionate about science and discovery?” 

The virtual re-creation of Dalí enhances the  already engaging “Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine,” a traveling exhibit that explores the real impact of artificial intelligence.

 

Hands-on science

Science educators from MOSI will present engaging, hands-on experiments and activities at The Dalí on the second Thursday of each month, September through December, from 5 to 7 p.m. Additionally, this fall, visitors will have the opportunity to join a conversation on art and technology at MOSI, hosted by The Dalí.

“Salvador Dalí was endlessly inspired by the world around him, including science, which shaped his art,” said Kathy Greif, chief operating officer of The Dalí Museum. “This collaboration gives audiences at both museums a unique opportunity to experience that connection between art and science in a new and meaningful way.”

This Dalí Museum/MOSI mashup will continue through the fall. 

Learn more about MOSI’s “Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine” at mosi.org and see The Dalí Museum’s events calendar for upcoming activities at TheDali.org.

News Briefs (9/10/25): Arrest made in fatal shooting

By

Arrest made in fatal shooting

DADE CITY – The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in a Sept. 1 shooting that resulted in two deaths. 

The sheriff’s office said three men were shot around 9:30 p.m. in the Blanton Road area. Two of the men died from their injuries. The other was taken to a hospital for treatment. 

The sheriff’s office said Sept. 1 the suspect and victims had an argument that led to the shooting. 

The next day, deputies arrested 35-year-old Miguel Angel Hernandez on Sept. 2 on charges of murder/homicide premeditated. The sheriff’s office described the incident as isolated with no threat to the public. 

 

Sheriff’s office finds gun on campus

NEW PORT RICHEY – The Pasco Sheriff’s Office said on Aug. 26 that a 17-year-old student at Gulf High School was charged with possession of a firearm and possession of a weapon on school grounds. 

The sheriff’s office investigated after receiving a report of a weapon on campus. A handgun was found. 

Deputies also investigated reports of a potential weapon at Chasco K-8 on Sept. 2 but said there was no weapon on campus. 

 

Rep. Lee works to improve airline transparency

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Laurel Lee announced the introduction of the Frequent Logistics Information for Grounded and Held Travelers (FLIGHT) Act. 

Sen.Rick Scott is leading the companion bill in the Senate.

This legislation would require airlines to notify passengers when a flight is delayed by more than 15 minutes and provide updated status notifications every 15 minutes thereafter.

“Every traveler knows the frustration of sitting at the gate with little or no information about when their flight will take off. Too often, passengers are stranded at airports or even stuck on the tarmac for hours, without meaningful updates. While some delays are unpreventable, airlines can do more to keep customers informed,” Lee said. “The FLIGHT Act is a commonsense step to require airlines to provide timely updates so families can adjust their plans accordingly.”

 

It’s a Fall Y’all Festival offers family fun

CLEARWATER – The Fall Y’all Festival celebrates all things autumn with festivities for the entire family. 

The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 4 and 5 at Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St. Admission is free.

Activities include “Lil Miss and Sir” pumpkin contests, a corn maze, food trucks featuring fall treats and more than 150 vendors. Children will enjoy the kids’ zone with contests and more fun. There will be pumpkins available to purchase. Plus, plenty of fall photo opportunities.  

Clearwater Downtown Development Board sponsors the event. 

Visit https://www.saucyqueen.com/products/fall for vendor and sponsorship opportunities.

 

Chamber hosting Fall Fest and Carnival

WESLEY CHAPEL – The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce presents the 21st anniversary Wesley Chapel Fall Fest and Carnival.

The festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26 at The Grove at Wesley Chapel. The carnival opens Oct. 23 to 26 until 11 p.m. 

Attractions include a fall pageant, trunk or treat, carnival, costume contests and games.

Sponsorships are available. Call 727-674=1464 for details. 

 

Congregation breaks ground on temple

By

Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife, Kathy Andersen, greet  the Rev. Glenn Dames, senior pastor at Allen Temple AME Church. Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 

Kathy Andersen, wife of Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shares her personal message of Jesus Christ and her ties to the local community. Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

TAMPA – Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with government, interfaith and community leaders, gathered Aug. 23 for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Tampa Florida Temple. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, presided at the event and Elder Brook P. Hales, General Authority Seventy, conducted. The Apostle and longtime Tampa resident offered a dedicatory prayer over the land and all who will be influenced by it.

“We ask that Thou might bless this land and this sacred house once constructed, that it might be a light and strength to the Latter-day Saints and to all the community,” Elder Andersen prayed. “Let our friends and neighbors feel Thy Spirit and increase their faith in Thy Son as they sense what has come to this place.”

The Andersens have deep roots in the Tampa area. Elder Andersen’s wife, Kathy, was born and raised in Florida, much of it in Hillsborough County. They lived in the Tampa area from 1977 to 1993 raising their family, until church service moved them elsewhere.

Sister Andersen reflected on the growth of the church in the Tampa area since she was a young girl where she was taught about Jesus Christ. “I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love to listen to His words. ‘Come follow me,’ he said.”

Five hundred members and friends gathered at the 12-acre site at 9445 Camden Field Parkway in Riverview. Among the honored guests were Florida State Representative Michele Rayner, the Rev. Glenn Dames of AME Church and leaders from Metropolitan Ministries.

Major Colleen Handrick, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; Florida State Representative Michele Rayner; Kathy Andersen; Elder Neil L. Andersen, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elder Brook P. Hales, General Authority Seventy; and Denise Hales break ground on the site. Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“The temple is going to touch the lives of tens of thousands of people,” said Patrick Davis, Associate Director of Development at Metropolitan Ministries. “I understand the importance of the temple in the community. I do feel very blessed, because we all bring our blessings to this temple.”

Florida is currently home to more than 176,000 Latter-day Saints in nearly 280 congregations. The first congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ was created in 1897. The Tampa Florida Temple will serve more than 27,000 members in and around the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast.

Local members Ikwo and Dinah Ibiam explained that having a temple in the area sends a message that this is a place where people strive to be good.

Latter-day Saints consider each temple a house of the Lord and the most sacred place of worship on earth. Temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses (chapels). All are welcome to attend Sunday worship services and other weekday activities at local meetinghouses. The primary purpose of temples is for faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ to participate in sacred ceremonies, such as marriages, which unite families forever, and proxy baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors who did not have the opportunity to be baptized while living.

Hospital offers fresh approach to lowering blood pressure

By

:

Holly Hutchinson, Kimberly Wright, Ron Wical, Gerald Grabowski and Denise Lentine stand in a St. Joseph’s Hospital-North procedure room set up for a renal denervation procedure. Photo courtesy of BayCare Health System

 

LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is performing an innovative procedure that can lower patients’ blood pressure with less medication or no medication at all.

The procedure is called a “renal denervation” and performed by a specialist in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology.

“Patients with resistant hypertension defined as blood pressure over 130 systolic or 80 diastolic on three medications or higher are candidates for renal denervation,” said Dr. Muthusamy Velusamy, a cardiologist who performs the procedure at the Lutz hospital.

Renal denervation is a one-time procedure that targets nerves near the kidneys that can become overactive and cause elevated blood pressure. During the minimally invasive procedure, the doctor inserts a thin tube into the renal arteries and applies thermal energy to disrupt the nerves. The tube is removed, leaving no implant behind. The patient is under mild sedation during the procedure and expected to go home the same day.

“Renal denervation can be very effective, the outcomes can be good in managing blood pressure resulting in less medications or no medications for some patients,” Velusamy said. “It is nice to have this treatment locally and make it available to patients to help achieve good control of blood pressure.”

High blood pressure is a common condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure and only about one in four have it under control.

The prevalence of the condition makes the innovative solution of renal denervation all the more compelling.

“Renal denervation is a proven approach to lower blood pressure and reduce the amount of medications patients need to have,” said Kimberly Wright, manager of interventional services and noninvasive cardiology at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.

Clearwater’s Morton Plant Hospital, Safety Harbor’s Mease Countryside Hospital, Tampa’s St. 

Joseph’s Hospital and Winter Haven Hospital are also performing this procedure. 

Other BayCare hospitals will offer renal denervation in the future.

Chalk Talk (9/12/25): Hebrew Academy holds BBQ

By

More than 150 people attended the Back to School BBQ on Aug. 24, including Matthew and Harrison Leskowitz. Photo courtesy of Hebrew Academy Tampa Bay

 

Hebrew Academy Tampa Bay holds Back to School BBQ

Organizers say the Back to School BBQ felt like a family gathering for attendees sharing their Hebrew Academy Tampa Bay connections. Pictured are Avital & Hadassah Shimonov. Photo courtesy of Hebrew Academy Tampa Bay

TAMPA – Hebrew Academy hosted its annual Back to School BBQ on Aug. 24, marking a new school year, continued growth and a milestone in its building expansion. 

Hebrew Academy Tampa Bay is a nationally accredited Jewish Montessori Day School imparting Judaic and general studies education to Jewish children of varied backgrounds. 

Older children took on the role of mentor as they guided younger peers through activities that included a bounce house, basketball throw, Arty Faces by Lutz face painting, and a cotton candy and popcorn station. 

Partygoers were also treated to a tour of the building that was announced at Purim Sunday Funday on March 5, 2023. At that time, Sulha Dubrowski, head of school, told those in attendance that Hebrew Academy Tampa Bay would be expanding to accommodate its growing student body. That dream is coming to fruition with the construction of four new classrooms for the upper elementary and middle school, an outdoor learning deck and new bathrooms.

 

Bishop talks about Minneapolis Catholic school shooting

  1. PETERSBURG – Bishop Gregory Parkes issued this statement on Aug. 27, in response to the shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis:

Today, we are confronted with a heartbreaking act of evil and violence at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. The tragedy is made even more painful by the fact that the victims were innocent children, and the adults caring for them, who were attending the celebration of the Holy Mass, a sacred time when the faithful gather in prayer and communion with God.

The Catholic community of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg mourns this tragedy with all of the victims and their families. We extend our heartfelt prayers and express our deepest sorrows to the students, families, faculty, parishioners and all who have been shaken by this violence.

May God’s consolation bring comfort in the midst of unspeakable sorrow. I invite all people of faith to unite in prayer for the victims, for their loved ones, and for the healing of the Annunciation community.

Let us entrust all victims of violence to the loving care of our Blessed Mother Mary, who stood at the foot of the Cross and who intercedes for all who are grieving.

 

Student Achievements

  • Andrew Surin, a graduate of Tampa Catholic High School, is one of 87 football newcomers to continue their career at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. 
  • The University of North Georgia welcomed 242 new cadets, including Ana Gonzalez Rodriguez from Lutz, during Freshman Recruit Orientation Group Week, held Aug. 3 to 9 at UNG’s Dahlonega Campus.
  • Blake Graham, of Odessa, achieved Dean’s List Highest Honors for the summer 2025 semester at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana. 
  • Rodney Maxime, of Zephyrhills, made the dean’s list at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri. He earned at least a 3.5 grade point average. 

 

Quick Hits

  • Pasco County Schools will partner with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a program that will recognize principals, teachers and support staff at school board meetings. 
  • Vicky King, a soccer coach at Land O’ Lakes High School, was inducted into the Tampa Bay Soccer Hall of Fame. 
  • Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player William Gholston is serving as a defensive line coach for Sickles High School. 

Construction starts on medical office building 

By

This rendering shows a new medical office building at AdventHealth Zephyrhills. Rendering courtesy of AdventHealth

ZEPHYRHILLS – Construction has started on a new medical office building on the AdventHealth Zephyrhills campus. 

The office building will provide nearly 35,000 square feet of additional space for new and employed physicians, while offering patients more high-quality health care options close to home. It will house primary care and multiple specialty physician offices, including cardiology, gastroenterology, general surgery and urology.

This comes as Pasco County projects a 40% increase in population by 2045, with most of the employment and population growth expected to happen within the center of the county.

“AdventHealth Zephyrhills has been part of this community for 40 years, and we’re intentionally planning and building for the future,” said Mike Murrill, president and CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills. “This new space will allow us to recruit additional top physicians and provide them with the resources they need to deliver the highest quality of care. As our community grows, we remain committed to helping our neighbors heal and feel whole, close to where we live, work and play.”

The new medical office building will be just the latest in a series of recent investments AdventHealth has made across Pasco County.

Later this year, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel will open its expanded three-story North Wing and two-story South Courtyard Infill. The expansion will increase the hospital’s licensed beds from 169 to 193, with room for two more 24-bed units in the future.

AdventHealth also recently opened the AdventHealth Meadow Pointe ER with 12 patient beds, two triage rooms and imaging and lab services, as well as a pediatric-friendly room. The new ER brought more than two dozen jobs to the area.

AdventHealth Sports Med and Rehab Zephyrhills also opened its doors in May. The clinic is equipped to handle the growing rehabilitation needs of the East Pasco community, from injury recovery to post-surgical therapy and beyond.  

AdventHealth Zephyrhills also recently unveiled a newly renovated Electrophysiology Lab, delivering leading-edge cardiovascular care.

AdventHealth is partnering with HuntonBrady Architects, an architecture and interior design firm, on the new medical office building project as well as builder, Robins & Morton.

“The groundbreaking of the AdventHealth Zephyrhills Medical Office Building marks an exciting milestone in our long-term partnership with AdventHealth,” Robins & Morton Division Manager Todd Watson said. “We are honored to help bring this new facility to life as it expands access to high-quality health care for our community. We look forward to seeing the lasting, positive impact it will have for years to come.”

Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2026.

 

//PULL QUOTE//

 “What I’m so excited about is the opportunity we have to bring the best of technology, the best of our providers all here to serve our community better each and every day. Patients, when they walk through these doors, are able to have all of that care right there in one building. Today, that’s fragmented around our community. This is an opportunity to bring that together to serve our patients and our community even better.”  – Mike Murrill, president/CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills