The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Art Workshops Welcome Beginning Artists

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If you’re looking for something inexpensive to do that is interesting, artistic and safe in these days of social distancing, sign up for workshops sponsored by the Pasco Fine Arts Council at the Avalon Park Amenity Center in Wesley Chapel.

These upcoming workshops are taught by local artists and welcome beginning artists. They are fun, informative and a great way to unwind and learn something new.

Land O’ Lakes artist Lionel Sanchez will teach ‘Drawing from Still Life’ at a Nov. 13 workshop at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Sanchez’s works include this Tarpon Springs painting, ‘Under Repair.’

Classes are limited to just eight students, and Zoom participation also is welcome. To keep class sizes small, students must sign up prior to the day of the workshop — there are no same-day registrations. Classes are free, although there may be a small charge for provided materials.

The Pasco Fine Arts Council Inc., has been the local arts agency for Pasco County since 1978. Over the past 30 years, its goal has been to encourage community involvement in the arts, provide art education to residents and students, and stimulate art and cultural organizations throughout Pasco County.

From this Council sprung the Pasco Fine Arts Center, where artwork by local and renowned artists are exhibited at its studio locations in New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel. Its programming includes a year-round schedule of art instructions in visual arts and fine crafts, organizing and promoting workshops and demonstrations, and developing art programs for children and students.

​The Pasco Fine Arts Council recently opened a new gallery in Wesley Chapel to build relationships with local artists and community groups, and to provide cultural opportunities, art education and art exhibitions for East Pasco residents.

This gallery is the result of a unique partnership that began in 2019 between the Pasco Fine Arts Council and the developer of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

“Our goal is to bring art and cultural events, exhibits and educational classes to East Pasco County,” explains Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of the Avalon Park Group. “In our first year, this partnership has led to the discovery of local artists, introduced art workshops to our community and given member artists the opportunity to feature their work in a new venue. We couldn’t be more pleased with this program!”

“It has been an overwhelming positive experience as well for the Pasco Fine Arts Council to expand its presence in East Pasco, thanks to the vision and generosity of the Avalon Park Group,” said Jo Baughman, director of the Council.

For the Avalon Park Group, one of the main goals of this partnership is to introduce people to local artists with monthly exhibits and demonstrations at its facilities.

“This partnership has allowed us to expand the arts not only to our residents, but also to the entire east side of the county,” said Lerret.

For Baughman, who has been involved in the Pasco Fine Arts Council for over 20 years, the invitation from Avalon Park West to work together accomplishes a long-held dream.

“This partnership has been a tremendous asset to the artist community and our patrons, and has greatly expanded our ability to bring arts to all of Pasco County,” said Baughman.

It is the vision of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel for its planned downtown to be the cultural and event center of East Pasco County. The downtown’s first phase will include a dedicated Arts Gallery that will become the permanent East Pasco home for the Pasco Fine Arts Council.

Upcoming Art Workshops

Textures and Mixed Media
With Patricia Garrow
Sept. 21, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Must sign up by Sept. 14

Fun With Wire Art
With Melinda Paproski
Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Must sign up by Sept. 26

Drawing From Still Life
With Lionel Sanchez
Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Must sign up by Nov. 6

Location
Avalon Park Amenity Center
5060 River Glen Blvd.
Wesley Chapel 33543

Published August 26, 2020

Our Residents Loving Living At Club Wildwood

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Adults age 55-plus are discovering Club Wildwood in Hudson as an ideal community to call home because of its beautiful manufactured homes, first-class amenities (including an 85,000-gallon pool with relaxing waterfall), and an enviable location just minutes from the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.

At 478 homes, Club Wildwood is the largest retirement community in north Pasco County.  With so many residents, there is always something to enjoy, from water aerobics in its Olympic-size swimming pool, to twice-a-week bingo and weekly happy hours. Residents are friendly and welcome newcomers to all activities and clubs.

This exceptionally maintained park has re-sale homes priced from $20,000 to $85,000. New homes also are available for sale or lease, and begin in the low $90s. All homes are double-wide, and offer two or three bedrooms, two baths and an attached carport and storage area. Most existing homes have been updated with the latest design styles, and are a tremendous value for a single-family home in terms of cost, amenities and location.

Many of the community’s newest residents are moving from central and east Pasco, because living at Club Wildwood often costs less than renting an apartment, and its location on U.S. 19 makes it easy to get to work, shop and enjoy area attractions. The community’s monthly lot rental fee is less than $700, and includes city water, trash, sewer, landscaping and full use of all recreation facilities.

In addition to its exceptionally large pool and deck, Club Wildwood has a picnic area, shuffleboard courts, a bocce ball court and horseshoe pits. There’s even a dog run area for pets  and a large catch-and-release fishing lake for anglers.

The community’s spacious clubhouse includes a small library, pool tables, fitness room and card tables. Regular activities including bingo, karaoke, potluck dinners, coffee hours, dart tournaments, happy hours, pancake breakfasts, line dancing, and bridge games. During the social distancing requirements of COVID-19, some of these activities have been suspended, but all will be back when it is safe to gather together again.

Outside of the park, many Club Wildwood residents participate in special interest clubs, including bowling and golf leagues, the Red Hat Society and volunteering at nearby Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point.

The 290-bed hospital, which is less than 10 minutes from Club Wildwood, is the only Level II Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center in Pasco County, and its renowned Heart Institute provides comprehensive cardiac care and an open heart surgery program.

Contact Community Manager Sean Terris for a private tour at (866) 799-6706 or .

Published August 26, 2020

Safety, flexibility are the bywords as college students return

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With COVID-19 safety protocols in place and enrollments either declining or flat, Pasco County’s colleges and universities have welcomed back students for the fall semester.

Whether it was Saint Leo University or the campuses at Pasco-Hernando State College, most courses were offered online to keep class sizes small. Zoom video conferencing technology was utilized for full interactivity, while hybrid/in-person attendance demanded face masks, hand-sanitizing and social distancing.

Students gather with face masks at Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of Renee Gerstein/Saint Leo University)

Seat configurations were redone. Plexiglass shields were installed in high-transaction, high-touch point areas. Some student activities were abandoned, while others were offered virtually.

“The keyword for everyone these days is flexibility,’’ said Saint Leo Senior Vice President Melanie Storms. “Of course, there will be a learning curve. But we’re very comfortable with what we’re doing.’’

After a record-breaking 2019, which featured a 40% enrollment increase, Storms said Saint Leo will have the same number of new students (1,000) as last fall. There is a 30% reduction in new international students and a 10% decrease in students living on the main campus. Enrollment in Saint Leo’s online programs are up 16% over last year.

“We got out early with a plan and were very transparent with our students about what we were planning to do,’’ Storms said. “We often talk (in the administration) and wonder what our enrollment might have been had there not been COVID. We might have seen another pretty substantial increase. We believe the fact that we have held steady is a reflection of how strong our new class is and the flexibility we’re providing them.’’

Saint Leo students could choose their educational method — either hybrid (alternating in Group A and Group B between in-person and Zoom), connected (exclusive Zoom in a scheduled class period with other students) or online.

Regardless of the choice, all Saint Leo students are required to have at least one class fully online, so overall traffic at campus sites could be kept at acceptable levels (maximum 50% of the normal population, maximum of 15 students in all classes).

“It’s a lot to take in, but we have a team solely dedicated to analyzing this and manipulating the boxes,’’ Storms said. “We went through the classrooms and determined where we’d need to be for comfortable occupancy. We backed that into the scheduling software and worked to make sure students would have the right mix and be optimized in their educational experience.

Saint Leo University’s social distancing reminder.

“We’re all doing things we’ve never done before. Many students are just navigating their lives and saying, ‘Sometimes I’m on Zoom, sometimes I’m online, sometimes I’m in the classroom.’ It’s interesting that one-third of our students selected connected (Zoom), but our housing is only down 10%. So we anticipate a lot of students coming to live with us who are (solely) studying in the Zoom capacity. It’s a new world. We’re getting our feet wet and making adjustments on the fly.’’

At Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus, in Wesley Chapel, and its East Campus, in Dade City, course offerings will largely be online or Zoom. There are notable exceptions, particularly in the health sciences programs, where students need access to laboratories and specialized equipment or disciplines, such as welding or law enforcement.

Porter Campus Provost Kevin O’Farrell said his enrollment was down 24% from last fall during a recent snapshot, but he was optimistic about an upswing due to students making last-minute decisions.

“I know the word ‘unprecedented’ has probably been overused, but there’s no other way to describe the challenges faced by all levels of higher education,’’ O’Farrell said. “At the same time, I’ve been so heartened by the level of innovation and ingenuity everybody is using. I always say, ‘Don’t let a crisis go to waste,’ and by that I mean, it’s an opportunity to rethink all of our processes and problem-solving.

“We went to a virtual waiting room for students to utilize time with advisors. I think that’s going to become a standard now. When the pandemic goes away, I think people would rather wait at home to speak with an advisor instead of sitting in the lobby. We’ll go back to some things, but we’ve found better ways to do other things.’’

At the state college’s East Campus, Provost Ed Goolsby said his faculty has adapted well to working remotely, although some prefer occasionally utilizing their on-campus office.

“They can work from there, but they just won’t be teaching on campus for the most part,’’ Goolsby said. “There will always be a place for the face-to-face teaching and I know some students want that level of accountability. We’ll just have to see what the environment is moving forward to the spring semester and beyond.

“I think we have shown — and we have been forced to show — that education can adapt. We have seen the words ‘fluid’ and ‘pivot’ quite a bit, but those are words that describe what we need to do,” he said.

By Joey Johnston

Published August 26, 2020

Domestic violence on rise during pandemic

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Domestic violence in Pasco County has followed a worldwide trend of increased cases and incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kelly Sinn, chief executive officer with Sunrise of Pasco County, a domestic and sexual violence center that offers shelter and services for victims, said her agency saw a 22% increase in hotline calls during the pandemic’s first three months.

However, during the same period, the Sunrise shelter occupancy numbers were actually down.

“A lot of what we were hearing on our hotline, which is the gateway into shelter, was these individuals in abusive relationships were stuck at home but they felt they were better off there,’’ Sinn said. “It’s the evil they know versus the evil they don’t know. The increased risk of contracting coronavirus in a residential facility — instead of being around two to four people, they might be around up to 40 — wasn’t worth it.’’

Kelly Sinn oversees Sunrise of Pasco County, a domestic and sexual violence center. It has seen an uptick in calls, in the midst of COVID-19. (Courtesy of Kelly Sinn)

The pandemic — and its accompanying quarantines, social isolation, travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders — has created a rise in domestic violence cases worldwide, according to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office reports that the monthly total in January to the monthly total in April — the heart of the pandemic’s shutdown — accounted for increases in domestic violence calls (22.4%), police reports (30.5%) and arrests (31.8%) within the county.

The pandemic also has changed the way that Sunrise does business.

“The early trend was we weren’t getting as many (people) in shelter,’’ Sinn said. “They found a way to cope and live with what was happening to them. They adjusted their life to abuse in the home, knowing what was coming and when it was coming, instead of dealing with a virus they knew nothing about.

“Now, that is changing. Our (shelter) numbers are going back up. With the virus out there, we’ve had to adjust,” she said.

The 40-bed Sunrise shelter, which generally ran above capacity in the pre-coronavirus days, has administered social distancing rules while keeping its occupancy at about 25 to 30. The normal eight-week average stay has trended up to nine weeks or 10 weeks.

“We’re now limiting it to one family per room — or, if we have two women unaccompanied, we can put both of them in a room together — because we want to keep our victims and staff safe,’’ Sinn said. “We had to change quickly because things have happened quickly.

“The bottom line is, we’re trying to limit the number of people who come into the shelter. We have turned to telemedicine for doctors and other providers. Normally, we would have case managers, counselors and legal advocates all coming in and out. Now, we are limiting interactions — and that might mean a call from the office, which might be on the other side of the parking lot. But, we must take these precautions,” she said.

Even with those precautions, Sinn said Sunrise’s central mission won’t be compromised.

“If somebody calls our hotline and it’s a dangerous situation, we’re going to do anything we can to get them into shelter,’’ Sinn said. “Whether that’s sleeping on a trundle, a blow-up mattress or moving people around, we’ll do that.

“You have to make accommodations (immediately) because there’s no guarantee that individual will be safe or want to go (later). In the first few months (of the pandemic), people were scared and our numbers were low. As people become more comfortable with the virus and they can’t take abuse anymore, our numbers have increased. We are managing,” she said.

There was preliminary talk of expanding the shelter at Sunrise, which opened in 1982 as a solitary office and help from community members who offered shelter to victims. The need for a permanent shelter became obvious. The 24-bed shelter was expanded to 40 in 2013. But, further expansion — and maybe other financial considerations — is on hold due to the virus.

Sunrise, which has an annual $3.5 million budget, relies on federal, state and local government funding, along with private donations and fundraisers. An annual breakfast fundraiser was canceled in April, but a golf tournament remains set — for now — on Oct. 5 at Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club.

“While there have been closings and limited services in a lot of businesses, a key message for us is Sunrise is open and available,’’ Sinn said. “It’s still a resource. People don’t have to live in an unsafe environment. Our hotline (352-521-3120) is 24/7. Even if individuals aren’t ready to leave, we can establish safety plans and offer other resources they may not have known about.

“We need our community and our donors. Every nonprofit is feeling the pinch from the virus. But, our services are continuing, even in tough times. It’s humbling to see the support we continue to get and to know our community values what we can provide,” she said.

WHAT TO DO?
Here are some tips on protecting yourself from domestic violence during the pandemic.

Safety Steps You Can Take
Johns Hopkins Medicine offers these suggestions to help, if someone you live with becomes verbally or emotionally hurtful, threatens you, has episodes of explosive anger or harms animals:

  • Find a place you can retreat to safely. Avoid the bathroom or kitchen.
  • Enlist support from a trusted friend or family member you can call.
  • If necessary, use a code word or phrase to indicate you need help.
  • Memorize phone numbers of people and agencies you might need to call in an emergency.
  • Make sure you can easily access cash, identification (driver’s license and Social Security card), birth and marriage certificates, credit cards, safe deposit box keys, and bank information and health insurance information. Be sure to keep any documentation (photos, medical or police reports) relating to previous episodes of abuse.

Help is available
The 24-hour Sunrise of Pasco hotline/helpline is (352) 521-3120. The website is SunrisePasco.org.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is (800) 799-7233 (SAFE).

By Joey Johnston

Published August 26, 2020

Civil court documents now available online

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Nikki Alvarez-Sowles is the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller. (Courtesy of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office)

The civil courts department of the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office now offers online access to  summonses and similar civil court documents.

The service went live on Aug. 3, after a successful pilot program was completed, according to a news release from the clerk’s office.

Jerome Jordan is Civil Courts director, in the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s office

“E-issuance involves a Civil Courts deputy clerk affixing an authorized electronic signature to documents submitted through the Florida Courts eFiling Portal. By eliminating paper and no longer requiring in-person visits by petitioners and process servers, the process becomes speedier and more efficient,” the news release says.

“It’s a significant step forward, one we’re certain our customers and partners will welcome,” said Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, in the news release.

“As with most significant progress, it didn’t happen overnight. Our Civil Courts Operations and Information Technology teams have gone to great effort over the past year to make sure the process is efficient and effective for our office and customers,” Alvarez-Sowles said.

Civil Courts Director Dr. Jerome Jordan also weighed in, on the new development.

“The value of this project to our office, customers and citizens is tremendous. The ability for clerk’s staff to electronically issue documents, such as proposed summonses and writs e-filed with our office, will eliminate many manual, time-consuming processes,” Jordan said.

Highlights of the program include:

  • Reducing the time necessary to process documents.
  • Shrinking the turnaround time to make documents available to the filer.
  • Notifying filers at their eFile-registered email address a document has been added to a case and is available for viewing and downloading.
  • Eliminating postage and other costs as e-filers log in to the clerk’s website to retrieve their issued documents to effect service.

The pilot testers for the project were: Maggard Law Firm P.A.; Mander Law Group; McClain Alfonso P.A.; Marcadis Singer P.A.; Margaret A. McGarrity; Office of Audrey Jefferies; Office of Dale L. Bernstein; Office of Rechel & Associates P.A.; Office of Russell G. Marlowe P.A.; and Sharp Process & Investigative Services P.A.

Published August 26, 2020

She ushered in a broader selection of healthy food choices

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If you want to know about the legacy of Julie Hedine, the recently retired director of Food and Nutrition for the Pasco County School District, you should rewind to the days when school menus were different.

You should think about the jumbo chocolate chip cookie.

Of course, it was wildly popular with the students.

It was also an extremely profitable item, adding to the program’s financial flexibility. But, Hedine knew better.

“When she told us we should back away from those cookies and focus on healthy items, we all agreed with her,’’ said Rick Kurtz, who hired Hedine in 1995 as the county’s first registered dietician and then selected her as the replacement for program director in 2012.

“She took a lot of heat for that. But, she knew it was best to move away from the jumbo chocolate chip cookies — because that was the best thing for kids. That’s how she always operated,’’ Kurtz said.

Julie Hedine recently retired from the top job in Pasco County Schools’ department of Food and Nutrition Services. (Courtesy of Pasco County School District)

Hedine, who oversaw 750 employees and a $38-million annual budget, was there when the last fryer was removed from Pasco’s school kitchens.

She piqued the interest of vegetarians — and all students, really — by introducing hummus platters. She prided herself on the selection of fresh fruits and vegetables — every day.

She made the dollars stretch and maintained great relationships with vendors, always keeping new food trends in mind. She standardized menus and recipes throughout the county, for a more efficient approach.

When Hedine took over, Pasco had 38 schools/feeding stations. Now there are more than 80.

“We grew significantly and lot of things changed, but we always tried to keep it interesting for the students and follow trends,’’ Hedine said. “We wanted our students to want to eat with us. It doesn’t do any good to put out a meal that kids have no interest in eating, no matter how healthy it is.

“You have to find a happy medium, where you are satisfying nutritional requirements, but also making it enticing for students to participate,” she said.

Hedine, born and raised in Phoenix, was food and nutrition director for the Scottsdale (Arizona) School District before moving to Florida, after her marriage. She spent one year with the Hillsborough County School District before shifting to Pasco’s dietician position.

Kurtz already knew bigger things were ahead.

“She was director material from the day she walked in, so I’m grateful that she stayed with Pasco and didn’t leave for something else,’’ Kurtz said. “I knew we needed a registered dietician. I wanted one slightly moderate, child focused and someone bright. Julie brought all of that, plus she has such a happy personality, a contagious laughter and that was great to have in our office.

“She knew nutrition. She was bright enough to work the numbers and figure out how to do things within the constraints of our program. She was the perfect choice to take over and take the food program to another level, which she certainly did.’’

Hedine will pass the reins to Stephanie Spicknall, her assistant, secure in the knowledge that the Pasco food and nutrition program is on solid ground.

What will Hedine miss?

The people.

“I loved working in the field, as I called it, getting in the kitchen to help and collaborate,’’ Hedine said. “I wasn’t able to do that as much as I would’ve liked. You might need to work on budgets or attend meetings. My favorite part was being there, being involved.

“We had a lot of employees, but it’s amazing how many of them I got to know. And, of course, the students are why you do it. I could’ve gone in a number of different directions with my career, but my passion has been making sure kids are fed a healthy meal. Kids are who kept me in this business all these years,” she said.

But, Hedine also attended to many non-glamorous details, such as the standardization of protocols to ensure food safety.

Kurtz put it this way: “I think flexibility and managing all the little things no one wants to think about really define Julie. Managing waste. Offer versus serve. Making sure kids get what they want and not having them just take things and throw them away.

“All these things are so important to the program, both fiscally and for the overall environment issues,” he said.

After a 25-year career with the Pasco County School District, Hedine had been contemplating retirement. In the spring of 2019, just before the school year concluded, her health cast a deciding vote.

She also had suffered from headaches, but they began coming with more intensity. She felt fatigued and her vision seemed off. She worried when she couldn’t write in a straight line. A doctor diagnosed her with a cancerous brain tumor — Glioblastoma, which also afflicted John McCain and Ted Kennedy — so she underwent surgery.

Her husband, Gary, also was battling cancer. In fact, they underwent radiation treatments together. They both agreed it was time to seize the day.

“As much as I loved my job, it’s time to do other things and spend time with my husband,’’ said Hedine, who will split time between Florida and their place in Cape Cod. “I will still undergo treatment and I’ll be watched closely for the rest of my life.

“I’m very goal-oriented and I didn’t want to leave until some things were accomplished. But, I have to take care of myself. I think COVID-19 may have validated the timing of the decision also. My career was wonderful, but now it’s time for the next chapter. I have nothing but fond memories.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published August 19, 2020

Serving school lunches — at home — during a pandemic

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What happens when your home kitchen becomes your child’s school cafeteria?

That’s the situation many families are finding themselves in, as their children learn remotely from home, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether you chose to keep your child at home, or the school district is beginning classes remotely, you may find yourself serving lunch to your students who are eating at home.

Here’s a twist to add some fun to traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The presentation makes lunch more interesting, and helps to ensure your kids are getting enough fruit in their diet. (Courtesy of Shari Bresin)

Although there may be options available to pick up school meals (check with your district), the chances are you’ll need more food that’s readily available if your children are home all day.

So, what should you feed your kids if they’re home, without access to school lunches?

Healthy food must be at the top of the list.

Avoid processed food as much as possible.

Why?

Because a child’s diet can make a difference in his or her academic performance.

A 2018 study from the University of California, Berkley, discussed the positive links between childhood nutrition and high grades.

Eating healthy food helps with concentration, memory, physical development and behavior.

The study also talked about the negative correlation between obesity and cognition — which includes being able to remember, solve problems, store learned information and so on.

Specifically, the study mentions how refined carbohydrates, refined sugars and a diet high in saturated fat all negatively impact cognition.

So, be sure to limit those in your child’s diet to help set him or her up for academic success and help them to maintain a healthy weight.

If you’ve been in your child’s school cafeteria, you may recall seeing pictures of MyPlate.

This is the revised version of the food guide pyramid that gives a visual of the five food groups.

If you haven’t already used this guide, it may be helpful as you think of meals to make for the kids.

The food groups are fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy.

MyPlate has a few simple messages about the food groups:

  • Make half your plate fruits and vegetables

The typical diet in the U.S. is heavy in protein and grain, so be sure to make room on the plate to include more fruits and vegetables.

Doing this will ensure the recommended amounts of nutrients are being met.

  • Make half your grains whole grains

Grain food includes cereal, pasta, rice, bread, tortilla shells, crackers and so on.

As your kids consume grain products throughout the day, make sure that at least half of the time they are eating whole grain foods.

Some food your child may already eat, such as oatmeal and popcorn, are whole grains.

The packaging needs to say it’s a whole grain, not 100% wheat, honey wheat, or multigrain.

  • Eat low-fat or fat-free dairy products

One gram of fat has 9 calories.

When you switch to low-fat or fat-free dairy, you reduce your overall intake of calories that day.

  • Vary your protein routine

Animal proteins aren’t needed at every meal.

Plant-based proteins can replace animal protein, at times.

Beans, nuts, seeds, peanut butter and tree nut butters, such as almond butter and cashew butter, are plant-based proteins. Be mindful of all nut allergens.

  • You don’t have to have all five food groups in every meal, but aim to have at least three.

Here are some MyPlate-friendly lunch ideas:

  • Peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole wheat bread with low-fat milk
  • Hummus and veggies wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla shell with a side of fruit
  • Toasted bagel with egg, tomato, lettuce, and low-fat cheese
  • Tuna canned in water with whole wheat crackers and low-fat string cheese
  • Mashed hardboiled egg in whole wheat pita bread with sliced tomatoes and cucumbers
  • Taco shells with refried beans, lettuce, onion, shredded low-fat cheese, salsa, and avocado
  • Peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a stick: Make a PB and J sandwich on whole wheat bread. Cut into small pieces, place pieces on skewers and alternate with sliced bananas or jelly type fruits, such as strawberries, grapes, and/or blueberries.
  • Leftovers: many parents make large dinner portions so their kids can have the extras for lunch.

A snack should have at least two food groups.

Something simple like celery with peanut butter, or yogurt with berries should be readily available at home.

This school year may look different, but health messages remain the same: Make healthy food part of the routine for school success.

By Shari Bresin

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County.

Published August 19, 2020

Get suspicious seeds in the mail?

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If you’ve received suspicious seeds in the mail, Hillsborough County’s Extension Service will take them off your hands.

The unsolicited seeds, which appear to have come from China, should not be planted or used in any way, according to a news release from Hillsborough County.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working closely with other federal agencies and state departments of agriculture to investigate the deliveries, the news release says.

The USDA believes at this time that the packages, reportedly sometimes containing other items such as silverware and fidget spinners, are a “brushing scam” where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales, the release adds.

Seeds of unknown origin may constitute agricultural smuggling, be invasive, introduce pathogens or toxins, pose a risk of foodborne illness, or threaten plant and animal health, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The Hillsborough County Extension Service staff will accept the seeds on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Residents who are unable to drop off the seeds during these times can call (813) 744-5519 for additional instructions. The Extension Service is at 5339 County Road 579 in Seffner.

People in possession of unopened packages or packages containing other non-agricultural items should contact the USDA APHIS Anti-Smuggling Hotline at (800) 877-3835 or .

Published August 19, 2020

Pasco employees win state awards

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The Florida Sterling Council has recognized six Pasco County employees for work they performed as Sterling Examiners – including the Examiner Excellence Award – given to just one  Sterling Examiner each year, according to a county news release.

More than 150 Volunteer Examiners serve statewide, supporting the council’s mission of elevating organizational performance excellence.

The awards were presented during a virtual Examiner Recognition Ceremony on July 17.

The county’s team of examiners helps organizations across the state, while also helping the county to improve its performance, Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles said at the Pasco Commission’s Aug. 4 meeting.

“The awards program for the internal Sterling program in the state almost was like Pasco County Day,” Biles said, noting that Amielee Farrell received the examiner’s excellence award for the year.

He praised all of the county staff receiving recognition.

“They’re doing an excellent job going out and examining private and public government agencies, not only helping them, but bringing their ideas back to Pasco County so we can do our jobs better, too.

“There’s a dozen on that team right now and they’re doing an excellent job throughout the state, and then bringing those ideas back to us, so we can become the premier county that the board wants us to become,” Biles said.

Farrell, of the county’s Office of Management and Budget, was recognized for her  contributions in the areas of thought leadership, developing new software training and guidance, and her participation on two assessment teams, according to the county news release.

Pasco employees Nilda Meono received the Challenge Assessment Rookie of the Year and Courtney Cooper received the Governor’s Sterling Award Assessment Rookie of the Year.

Also, Zuzana Bobst, Courtney Cooper, Matthew Hicks and Nilda Meono were promoted from Examiner to Advanced Examiner.

Jeffrey Harris was promoted from Advanced Examiner to Senior Examiner, and Amielee Farrell was promoted from Senior Examiner to Lead Examiner.

The Florida Sterling Council was formed in 1992 as a not-for-profit, public/private partnership supported by the Office of the Governor, the county release adds.

To learn more about the Sterling Program and the role of Examiners, visit FloridaSterling.com.

Published August 19. 2020