The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Parenting in a pandemic is challenging, pediatrician says

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Are my kids safe? Is it OK for them to attend school or should they be kept home to learn virtually? What if they get sick? What if I get sick? What if they want a playdate? How can we cope if it seems overwhelming?

Parenting already seemed daunting, but parenting during a pandemic? It’s filled with starts and stops, rapidly changing information, anxiety, guilt and exhaustion.

Maribelis Perez, a pediatrician at Premier Community HealthCare’s Dade City office, offered guidance regarding parenting during a pandemic. (Courtesy of Premier Community HealthCare)

Does that sound familiar to you? You’re not alone.

Maribelis Perez, a pediatrician at Premier Community HealthCare’s Dade City office, said parents, teachers and caregivers must focus on their physical and emotional health during these challenging times of COVID-19.

“As parents, it’s important to get educated about everything that is going on,’’ Perez said during a recent Zoom video teleconference with the public. “Pandemics aren’t new. They have happened before. But, this one has brought everything to our doors.

“Prevention is always going to be the key. We have always known that infectious diseases can be prevented by simple measures such as hand-washing. Think about just six months ago, how careless we were. Now, we are washing our hands like our lives depend on it.’’

Hand-washing is a tangible answer.

Perez said many parents are searching for solutions when it comes to emotional losses. That is more difficult to define.

“We all have been stressed and anxious,’’ Perez said. “This is all very challenging. We need to remind our children they’re not alone with these feelings. We need to normalize that feeling and validate it. We can provide reassurance and tell them how to be safe, but we can’t control everything.’’

For kids who are employing virtual learning at home, there is some control that parents can utilize, though.

“It’s unrealistic to think the kids are going to stare at their screens for hour after hour,’’ Perez said. “There must be some breaks and pauses. They have to be engaged in some activity and movement. Let them dance. Let them stretch. It’s always hard, depending on the setup at home, but there must be some form of down time.’’

Preparation is also important for at-home learning, Perez said.

“We’ve all been forced to rethink our daily lives,’’ Perez said. “None of us were necessarily prepared to turn our homes into classrooms. But, if your children are staying home to learn, it really helps to have a stimulating environment, whether it’s a small space or a large space.

“They must have the necessary tools for schoolwork without the distraction of televisions and other things. Ideally, they are not in their bedroom or in bed. Those two spaces should be separated. There must be a way to emphasize and prioritize the schoolwork.’’

For children returning to the school campus, there are different issues.

“Obviously, people with various conditions, such as respiratory illnesses and diabetes, may be at higher risk, not just (to) corona, but (to) other viruses, as well,’’ Perez said. “Conversations need to take place with health care providers, and it’s how you feel as a parent, as well.

“Schools have been working on solutions for about six months now. They are keeping kids 6 feet apart in the areas where they congregate. A lot are making use of their outdoor spaces. Face coverings and face shields are going to be really important. The hand-washing and using hand sanitizer is also very big. Most schools have escalated their cleaning. I think the proper precautions are being taken. But, of course, it’s still an individual choice for each family, and it’s not an easy choice.’’

Regardless of the school choice, Perez said it’s imperative to have healthy routines.

“Daily habits and daily routines are so important,’’ Perez said. “Set up the alarm clock to get the child moving. Have an hour a day where they’re walking outside. Get to bed early and get eight to nine hours of sleep.

“Don’t forget the eating habits. When kids are at home, it’s important not to overeat. Try to work on portion control. Drink water most of the time because we often confuse being thirsty for being hungry. Just do all you can to model healthy habits because they are so important in these times. And, know that when you’re feeling anxious or stressed, those are common feelings for everyone. Take a deep breath and know that we will all get through this,” Perez said.

By Joey Johnston

Published September 09, 2020

North Tampa Bay Chamber accepting award nominations

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The North Tampa Bay Chamber has reimagined its annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Every year, the awards celebrate businesses in the region, recognizing the people and companies that have demonstrated a unique vision, innovation, and best business practices, according to a chamber news release.

This year, the 2020 Celebrating Excellence Awards will honor organizations that have demonstrated commitment and resilience during the past year and which have benefited the community, the release says.

“We recognize COVID-19 has affected businesses across our region in a variety of ways, resulting in new innovations and adjustments to business models,” the release says. “As such we have reimagined our Annual Celebrating Excellence Awards. This year the awards ceremony will be held November 12th via a professional production fully streaming with live remotes, live feeds, and celebratory toast.”

The North Tampa Bay Chamber prides itself on its 4 Core Values. It will be presenting these awards this year:

  • Excellence in Integrity Award: Honoring an organization whose demonstrated commitment and resilience during the past year has benefited the community and region
  • Excellence in Collaboration Award: Honoring an organization that has sought to build bridges and partner with individuals and groups that has strengthened the community and region during the past year
  • Excellence in Inclusivity Award: Honoring an organization that has demonstrated, through its organizational culture or in service to the community, leadership in diversity and inclusion practice during the past year
  • Excellence in Innovation Award: Honoring an organization whose demonstrated unique ingenuity during the past year has benefited the community and region

In addition to the four Core Value awards, the chamber will be adding a Community Hero(es) Award, which provides a way to highlight some additional individuals — in addition to organizations — who are being honored for their efforts, concern and compassionate response to the pandemic.

To find out more about the awards, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Published September 09, 2020

Road work causes Quail Hollow detour

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A second portion of Quail Hollow Boulevard, at Old Pasco Road, will be closed for a week because of work being done to improve the road.

Motorists will need to reroute during construction work on Quail Hollow Boulevard. The detour route is shown in green. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Pasco County sent out a news release about the closure, which is scheduled from Sept. 8 through Sept. 14.

The work is being done to improve the road’s safety and its capacity, according to the news release.

Northbound and southbound Old Pasco Road will remain open during this time and residents will have access to their homes via a detour along Sonny Drive (the detour on the map, marked in green).

The work will occur 24 hours a day, and electronic message boards will be stationed along Old Pasco Road to direct traffic.

The road is scheduled to reopen on Sept. 15, depending upon weather conditions.

Emergency vehicles will have access.

D.A.B. Constructors is the contractor for this Pasco County Engineering Services project.

If you have questions about the temporary closure, please contact Project Manager Larry Harris at (727) 834-3604 or by email at .

Published September 09, 2020

Citizens’ Academy graduates announced

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The Pasco County Citizens’ Academy recently announced the latest group of graduates from its  program.

The academy helps to educate citizens about the county’s governmental operations, according to a Pasco County news release.

It includes sessions hosted by elected officials, department directors and other county staff aimed at providing a deeper look at  government functions and services.

In addition to giving citizens a better understanding of local government, the program also helps develop a pool of knowledgeable people who can act as ambassadors, serve on advisory boards, and volunteer, the release said.

Pasco County offers the program twice a year, in the fall and winter.

This is the most recent crop of graduates:

  • Brian Becher, Spring Hill
  • Christopher Davis, Dade City
  • Virgil Funk, New Port Richey
  • Denise Hammond, Holiday
  • Mary Herrman, New Port Richey
  • Gena Hester, Wesley Chapel
  • Kazim Hosein, New Port Richey
  • Lori Johnston, Land O’ Lakes
  • Adam Jonas, Land O’ Lakes
  • Diane Kobernick, New Port Richey
  • Thomas Makowski, New Port Richey
  • Gina Musolino, Wesley Chapel
  • Tara O’Connor, Hudson
  • Patricia Shade, Hudson
  • Paula Sparks, Holiday
  • Richard Sparks, Holiday
  • Cheri Stevens, Trinity
  • Kathleen Swanson, Land O’ Lakes
  • Kevin Taggerty, Dade City
  • Samuel Watson, Wesley Chapel
  • Sonya Walling, New Port Richey
  • Coleen Weaver, New Port Richey
  • Gina Peterson, New Port Richey

Published September 09, 2020

Local woman hopes to make faith-filled impact on national level

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Zephyrhills resident Michele Bowman, raised in the Catholic Church, has always embraced faith as her life’s foundation.

“Really, it has given me everything,’’ Bowman said.

Now, she has a rare opportunity to give back.

Bowman recently was elected as one of nine National Directors for the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA), an organization that promotes spiritual growth, charitable giving, community service and sisterhood.

Zephyrhills resident Michele Bowman recently was elected as a National Director for the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, becoming the fourth Floridian to reach that level in the organization’s 117-year history. (Courtesy of Michele Bowman)

In the CDA’s 117-year history, Bowman is the fourth National Director from Florida.

Bowman, who worships at St. Joseph Catholic Church, has been active as a charter member of the 43-woman Court Mother Teresa in Zephyrhills. The chapter is one of CDA’s 1,150 local chapters. She has held several CDA positions on the state and local level, but said she’s looking forward to making connections on the national level. She’s beginning a two-year term.

“It’s a big deal and quite an honor for Michele,’’ said Kathy Brady, a regent with Court Mother Teresa. “She will be able to give her opinion and be a liaison at the highest level of our organization. She will be hands-on with a lot of big issues, and it’s going to be a great experience.’’

Bowman grew up in North Tampa, where her home parish was St. Mary Catholic Church in the Lake Magdalene area.

During her initial time as a Zephyrhills resident, she attended Our Lady of the Rosary in Land O’ Lakes when it was a small church, then saw it grow exponentially as the area’s population increased.

For nearly three decades, she has called St. Joseph home. When she first heard about the formation of Court Mother Teresa, she joined immediately. It became an important factor in her spiritual maturation.

“It appealed to me to be around a group of Catholic women, to grow in faith, to be of service to the community,’’ said Bowman, who was elected by mail voting as part of the CDA’s 58th Biennial National Convention, which was scheduled for Dallas but held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was a great way to meet people in my parish. I thought the faith-based emphasis, plus the service and social aspects, were really nice,” Bowman said.

“But, it became more than I would have imagined. It has really extended my self-confidence in speaking to people and meeting new people. At one time, I could look around my church and hardly not know anyone. Now, I look around and I know so many people, their stories, their backgrounds. I will now get a chance to do that on a national level. I wasn’t super shy, but this sort of involvement has made me more outgoing.’’

It has also given Bowman ideas about growing an organization.

At Court Mother Teresa, the group has worked with Meals on Wheels and the Trinity Cafe. It has organized a Christmas Toy Drive for children of migrant workers. It has held yard sales and bunco games to raise money for charities.

Fundraising is good.

Charity is good.

But, Bowman wants to expand those concepts. The membership must grow. And, it needs a youth movement.

Court Mother Teresa is one of only seven courts in Florida.

“There should be more, I think, probably many more, but getting things going might be a little harder than it looks,’’ Bowman said. “I think as a national director, that’s part of my job, but it’s part of all of our jobs, really. You have to continually reach out to people, go to parishes, ask the priests if you can give a talk. You try to get the interest going.

“There are many benefits not only to the church community, but to the individuals as well. I would absolutely like to see us increase our membership, and I believe we must attract some younger women. It’s a problem when your membership starts to age out. We may have to change the way we approach things, and I’d like to have a voice in this because I believe it’s a big issue. We should be proactive.’’

As a national director, Bowman will have oversight of several states and interaction with the CDA’s big-picture issues.

But, she knows local involvement is the key to growth.

“I would tell people who want to join a court that it’s a great way to make lifelong meaningful friends with like-minded values,’’ Bowman said. “It’s a way to provide service to others. You become unified in your faith and it empowers you in a way where you know you can make a difference.

“We’re connected by our Catholic faith. By working together, we reach out to each other, encourage each other and enhance our own faith. It’s always nice to pray together. You see how someone professes their faith and strength, how they handle themselves. We are always stronger when we work together. That’s always what I want to encourage,” she said.

For more information on Court Mother Teresa, contact Brady at (813) 625-5556 or Bowman at (813) 838-3804. For more information on the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, log onto CatholicDaughters.org.

By Joey Johnston

Published September 02, 2020

One for the history books

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Students donning masks arrive at Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., at the break of dawn — and make their way to their classes. The school has more room this year because it added a new classroom wing.

(Randy Underhill)

Walking toward better health

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Pasco County Extension has kicked off a virtual 10-week walking program to promote good health through physical activity.

The program, planned by UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension encourages people to start taking steps to improve their health.

The 10-week program calls for those taking part to walk 30 minutes a day, wherever they choose, while tracking their progress for accountability and support through a virtual community, according to a Pasco County news release.

All are welcome.

The benefits of walking are known. It reduces the risk of heart disease and some cancers, improves blood pressure, blood sugar levels, energy, mood and more, the release says.

The virtual walking program will run from Sept. 14 through Nov. 22. An optional virtual kick-off event is set for Sept. 11 at noon.

Register by Sept. 8, at tinyurl.com/lwffall2020.

The program registration fee is $14.99 per person, and all ages are welcome.  Sign up with friends as a team or individually, or request to be assigned to a team.

For more information, contact Shari Bresin at (352) 518-0156 or .

Published September 02, 2020

Labor Day closings in Pasco

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Pasco County government offices, including the constitutional offices and the courts will be closed on Labor Day, which is Sept. 7.  Those offices that are offering limited services due to COVID-19 will reopen on Sept. 8, according to a Pasco County news release.
Also, the courts that are maintaining limited services as a result of the coronavirus pandemic will reopen Sept. 8.

The county’s Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources’ offices, recreation complexes and community centers also will be closed on Sept. 7. However, parks and beaches will be open, dawn to dusk.

The county’s public transportation, libraries, and animal services shelter and field services will be closed on Sept. 7, too. An animal control officer will be available for emergencies.

The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office and the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County also will be closed on Labor Day.

Published September 02, 2020

Families Will Soon Begin Moving Into Persimmon Park In Wesley Chapel

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Afrika and Dawvel Brooks researched just about every homebuilder in Tampa Bay before deciding ICI Homes was the best one for their family.

“We wanted the ability to move walls and customize our new home, and ICI Homes was the only builder to welcome structural changes, and to do so at an affordable cost,” said Afrika.

The Brooks family discovered ICI Homes in the Asturia community in Odessa, and learned that the builder had just opened a new community in Wesley Chapel called Persimmon Park.

“While we loved ICI Homes’ floor plans in Odessa, Wesley Chapel was a better location for my family,” said Afrika. “It is the middle of so many things — shopping, restaurants and entertainment, and also close to hospitals and health care services. Especially for our two teenage daughters, building our new home in Wesley Chapel was a huge draw.”

The Brooks family is one of the first homebuyers in the new Persimmon Park community in Wesley Chapel. Shown here are Afrika and Dawvel Brooks, and their 14-year-old daughter, Amaya. (Courtesy of Mercedes Brooks)

The Brooks family is one of the first to buy in Persimmon Park, which is located off Bruce B. Downs within the master-planned development of Wiregrass Ranch. The community is directly behind The Shops at Wiregrass and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, and across the street from a new $200 million hospital and health care complex being built by BayCare Health Systems.

“My husband and I both work in the health care field, so being so close to two hospitals is very attractive,” said Afrika, who recently retired from the U.S. Air Force. (Dawvel is still active duty and based at MacDill Air Force Base.)

The family choose the two-story Primrose floor plan, which, at over 2,400 square feet, is the largest home ICI Homes builds in Persimmon Park. All homes in the community have two-car garages in the rear, which are accessed by private alleyways and provide ample parking.

Afrika loves that the master suite in her new home is downstairs, as is a second bedroom and adjacent bath that is ideal for an office. Her girls’ bedrooms are upstairs with a shared bath, along with a large game room.

“Because ICI Homes can make structural changes very affordably, we decided to add a studio/bonus room above our garage to give our family the additional space we desired,” said Afrika. “I’ve been told that our bonus room idea has worked out so well, that other buyers are adding it to their homes.”

The Brooks’ home is in the drywall stage of construction, and the family expects to move into their new home in November.

“The entire homebuilding experience with ICI Homes has been excellent,” said Afrika. “From our salesperson, Carmen Worrels, to the architects who added our bonus room, to our project manager and customer service team. Everyone has been so helpful, nice and responsive.”

“In addition to Persimmon Park’s desirable location, buyers are excited that the community’s amenities will be completed in late November,” adds Greg Jones, Tampa Division Manager for ICI Homes.

Amenities include a unique, T-shaped luxury pool with cabanas and grilling area. Coming soon are dog parks for small and large breeds, and trails that wind through the community and connect to the Wiregrass Ranch trail system.

In Persimmon Park’s first phase, ICI Homes is building 40 homes; at build out, 97 homes. Prices begin in the high $200s, and buyers can choose from two, one-story and four, two-story homes, with more plans coming soon. There are four inventory homes available for families needing to move quickly.

“Our cottage-style floor plans feel open and airy with lots of windows, and exemplify Florida’s casual lifestyle,” says Jones. “Our homes are designed for people wanting to simplify their life, who want less square footage to clean and maintain, yet want all the upscale finishes and details offered by ICI Homes.”

Jones adds that many builder upgrades are standard features for ICI Homes, including 6-foot windows, 8-foot doors and energy-efficient construction that boasts a 50-SEER rating. Persimmon Park offers low CDD fees at less than $2,000 a year, and its affordable HOA fee includes internet and cable television for just $90/month.

Families with school-age children are drawn to Persimmon Park because the community is zoned to the area’s highest-rated schools —Wiregrass Elementary, Dr. John Long Middle and Wiregrass Ranch High.

ICI Homes is currently offering an exceptionally low interest rate of just 2.75% on 30-year mortgages, when using the builder’s preferred lenders. A lower interest rate increases a buyer’s spending power and allows them to more quickly build equity in their home.

Persimmon Park is the first Wesley Chapel community for ICI Homes, which is celebrating 40 years of business. Based in Daytona Beach, the company is family owned and managed, and is proud of its very personalized, no-pressure approach to sales.

Published August 26, 2020

D.R. Horton To Build Up To 1,000 Homes In Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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Westgate Village is the name of the newest village coming to Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, with up to 1,000 homes to be built by D.R. Horton, the country’s largest homebuilder.

In late July, Avalon Park Group/sitEX announced that it had closed on a 285-acre parcel adjacent to Avalon Park Wesley Chapel for its third phase, and that D.R. Horton will be the builder in  Westgate Village.

Camden kitchen

“Our foundation is a single, guiding principle: a value-first dedication to the individual needs of each and every one of our nation’s homebuyers,” says Donald R. Horton, founder and chairman of the homebuilder.

D.R. Horton plans to break ground on Westgate Village during the first quarter of 2021, with plans to build townhomes and single-family homes, which will be built in two series — Express Series and Preferred Series.

Homes in the Express Series will be built on 40-foot to 50-foot homesites, and range in size from 1,239 square feet to 2,601 square feet. Floor plans will offer three to five bedrooms, two to three baths and one- or two-car garages, depending on a family’s needs.

The Preferred Series will include higher-end features and finishes. Homes will be built on 50-foot homesites and range from 1,844 square feet to 3,561 square feet.  Floor plans will vary between three to five bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half baths and one- or two-car garages.

Coral master bedroom

Townhomes will include three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, and a one-car garage with a two-car driveway. Two floor plans will be available at 1,673 square feet and 1,758 square feet.

“I am looking forward to watching our dreams for this community continue to come to life with this newest addition,” says said Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park Group/sitEX. “Working with D.R. Horton has been such a smooth process so far, and we cannot wait for the end result!”

The Westgate Village community will embrace its own set of amenities for its residents, including a resort-style pool, open-air clubhouse with an outdoor kitchen, playground, open sports field, and picnic area with pavilions.

All D.R. Horton homes will come equipped with a smart home automation system called Home is Connected, America’s Smart Home®. Both townhomes and single-family homes will be built with concrete block on the first and second floors — a superior construction process. D.R. Horton is the only production builder that utilizes concrete block on two floors in its homes.

Call C

Schools, Amenities and Downtown
Opening for the 2020-2021 school year is a new charter school at the community entrance, Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, with 650 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The school offers a core curriculum of English/language arts, mathematics, social science, science and electives, such as performing and fine arts, and world languages.

Few communities offer the recreational activities found at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, thoughtfully created for residents of all ages. New in 2019 was an expansive second amenity center with a zero-entry pool, splash pad, spa and picnic area. Avalon Park families also enjoy a wide array of other amenities, including another swimming pool, tot lot, basketball courts, pocket parks with mini-libraries, dog park, and trails and walkways that will interconnect with its planned downtown.

Coral

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel soon will offer residents places to shop and work when its downtown center is completed. Infrastructure construction has begun on the first phase, which will include two office buildings, two mixed-use retail/residential buildings and a community park.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is east Pasco County’s premier master-planned community to live, learn, work and play. The plan includes 4,800 residential homes and over a half-million square feet of commercial and civic uses, where residents will be in walking and bike-riding distance to schools, shops, restaurants, workplaces and recreational amenities.  Already, 1,500 people call Avalon Park Wesley Chapel home, and over 800 homes have been sold since it opened in 2012. The community will continue to grow over the next several years and, at build out, will be home to 10,000 residents.

For more information about these homes and the Avalon Park Wesley Chapel community, please visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com.

About D.R. Horton
As America’s Builder, D.R. Horton focuses on the satisfaction of the families that makes its houses into homes. Horton builds houses for every stage in life and provides personalized services tailored to each individual need. D.R. Horton proudly operates in 43 of homebuilding’s top 50 markets in the U.S., in which it ranks among the top five in 31 of these markets. For more on D.R. Horton, please visit DRHorton.com.

About Avalon Park Group

Avalon Park Group is a uniquely diversified family of companies engaged in businesses ranging from master-planned community development, to homebuilding, mining and property management, in Florida, Texas and Switzerland. With more than $1 billion in total assets, Avalon Park Group combines its exceptional reputation, sound business experience and significant financial resources to invest in extraordinary opportunities. At Avalon Park Group, our mission is to change the way the world lives, learns, works and plays through creating healthy sustainable communities and every aspect thereof. For more information on Avalon Park Group, visit AvalonParkGroup.com, or call (407) 658-6565.

Published August 26, 2020

Multifamily townhomes Glen and Vale