The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

New Manufactured Homes At Shadow Wood Village

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It’s not too late to discover the fabulous new homes at Shadow Wood Village in Hudson, located just 30 minutes from Land O’ Lakes, and less than two miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

In the three months since this manufactured home community began selling new homes priced in the low $90s, 14 out of 20 inventory homes have sold. There are just six homes left, and these are expected to sell quickly to those age 55 years and older.

The community’s new homes are spacious — up to 1,456 square feet — and boast front porches, great rooms for living and dining, two or three bedrooms, den, and two full baths. Floor plans are open and contemporary with the latest in home design trends. Kitchens feature lots of cabinets and a large island for bar stools and conversation, and in some models, with the kitchen sink inset in the island. Quality blinds and appliances are provided, including a refrigerator and a washer/dryer.

Every home has an inviting front porch (some as large as 10 X 12), a covered carport with a large, secure storage area, and steps leading from the driveway to the back of the home for convenient unloading of groceries and easy access to the laundry area.

Currently, two-bedroom and three-bedroom floor plans are ready now.

Shadow Wood Village offers residents an array of amenities, including a heated pool. Call Community Manager Pennye Roses for more information at (877) 360-1124, or email .

Published May 27, 2020

Why Live at Club Wildwood?

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Adults age 55-plus are discovering Club Wildwood in Hudson as a perfect community to live because of  its beautiful manufactured homes, first-class amenities (including an 85,000-gallon pool), and fabulous location just 30 minutes from Land O’ Lakes and 5 minutes from the beach.

At 478 homes, Club Wildwood is the largest retirement community in north Pasco County.  With so many residents, there is always something going on for folks 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 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 Land O’ Lakes and Lutz, which are just 30 minutes away, because living at Club Wildwood with all its fabulous lifestyle costs less than renting an apartment, and its location on U.S. 19 makes it easy to get to work and close to so many things to do.

Call Community Manager Sean Terris for more information at (866) 799-6707, or email .

Published May 27, 2020

New Charter School Ready For Students at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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Pasco County’s newest charter school, Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, is on track to open later this summer with 652 students in kindergarten through sixth grades.

Principal Aimee Mielke reports there are still openings for students in all grades, and encourages interested families to explore the school’s website and complete its application as soon as possible. Information and the application form are at PinecrestWesleyChapel.com.

The school, which is located on State Road 54 about three miles east of I-75, will have several sections at every grade level, with kindergarten having the most.

“We’re looking at opening with between six and eight kindergarten classes, and four classrooms each for first and second grades,” said Mielke. “It is very rewarding to be a new school that is flexible and able to offer the number of classrooms per grade that our community needs.” Grades three through six will have two and three sections.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel is a tuition-free public charter school situated at the community entrance of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. It is the first Pinecrest Academy in Tampa Bay, and will be expanding to add seventh and eighth grades in subsequent years.

With 16 schools nationwide, Pinecrest Academy Inc. has made a name for itself in the education community. It offers advanced programs, including a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum, and a dual English/Spanish language program. With the STEM program, Pinecrest students will learn about new technologies, such as robotics, and will have fully functioning STEM labs in all grades — something most schools do not offer.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel also will have self-contained classrooms for gifted students, where pacing will be faster and performance tests much more in-depth, to allow gifted students to flourish in their education.

“All Pinecrest schools have an emphasis on high-quality instruction. We’ll continuously be monitoring the data so we know what each student needs, and have many different programs available to focus on the needs of the individual student,” says Mielke.

Everything designed and purchased for the classroom was chosen for student engagement, Mielke explains, and technology is an essential component of the new school. Laptops are being provided for every student in grades two through six, as are iPads for first-graders and kindergartners.

Each classroom will have a 70-inch Clear Touch Interactive Board mounted on the wall that will be used to pull up textbooks and other teaching aids. Teachers and students will be able to work on the screen, much like a giant, touch-screen white board.

The inviting furniture Meikle’s team selected for their classrooms was chosen to give students a feeling like they are walking into their living room, not a traditional school classroom.

The modern architecture of Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel gives students and faculty stunning lake and conservation views.

“There is a lot of research that proves that children have different learning styles, and we want our classrooms to be flexible and versatile so kids can break up into small groups to work together most effectively,” said Mielke.

The Principal is especially excited about a large whiteboard table in every classroom that children can work directly on, and which the teach can then elevate and flip up to create a large white board for the entire classroom to see. Plus, every chair and table is on wheels, so they can be easily moved around the classroom for small group learning.

The furniture and technology will begin to arrive at the school in mid-June, and Mielke hopes to open the school’s doors for tour to families and teachers in July. The school schedule is tied to that of the Pasco County Public School system, which is expecting schools to open August 10.

Mielke has hired most of the school’s 27 teachers, including classroom, art, music, Spanish and physical education, as well as an instructional coach and office staff.

“We have a nice combination of experienced teachers from both public and charter schools, with seven teachers at more than 20 years of experience. Plus, we have two brand-new teachers who I am very excited about,” said Mielke, who adds that over half of her teaching staff have master’s degrees.

Blue and green colors brilliantly burst along the hallways of the modern building that has 49 large classrooms, oversized art and music rooms, and high-tech science labs. The school is visually notable with unusual windows in the shape of half-moons, circles and squares that give students and faculty stunning lake and conservation views.

“There’s no question that Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel is a visually stunning architectural masterpiece,” said Miekle.

Pinecrest is offering before and after care for their students, which will start at 6 a.m., and end at 6 p.m. It will be fee-based, but Mielke ensures it will be affordable. Pinecrest also will be providing a fee-based private Pre-K program for siblings of Pinecrest students; to be considered for the Pre-K program, a child must be 4 years old by Sept. 1.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel is one of the most important elements of the goal to build a brand-new town in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing and community relations for the Avalon Park Group. Lerret noted that the developer’s goal is to have the very best school in the entire state.

“Our residents are ecstatic to now have the option to send their children to one of the top charter school operators in Florida,” said Lerret.

Published May 27, 2020

Affordable Homes That Inspire Community Connections

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With tree-lined streets winding around sparkling lakes and flower-filled parks, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel exemplifies small-town America. Avex Homes, a premier builder in this award-winning community, combines this small town charm with innovative floor plans to bring affordable single-family homes and townhomes to area homebuyers.

Avex homes are solidly built in a variety of classic designs, each rich with architectural detail and a traditional focus on the front porch. Its single-family homes start in the mid-$200s, and are available on a variety of lots, including conservation and water views.

The builder offers buyers eight floor plans to choose from, ranging in size from 1,585 square feet to 2,856 square feet in one- and two-story plans. Four inventory homes are available for families looking to move this summer. All are one-story homes, with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a 2-car garage. Prices range from $259,000 to $296,092.

Avex also offers maintenance-free townhomes with two-car garages in the rear. Three floor plans are available, ranging from 1,608 square feet to 1,834 square feet, each with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.

Homes are built with distinctive exteriors and open floor plans. Each home has a front porch, covered lanai or private breezeway that connects to the garage.

“Our townhomes are beautifully designed with upscale custom finishes, and offer buyers a tremendous value for the Wesley Chapel area,” said Cheryl Gonzalez, sales representative for Avex Homes. “Plus, every home comes with a 2-car garage — something you rarely find in townhomes that begin in the low $200,000s.”

Three inventory townhomes are available now, all affordably priced between $232,761 to $247,688.

“Buyers love our townhomes’ cozy feel and old-fashioned, traditional look,” said Gonzalez. “People always comment on how spacious they feel because of our open floor plans and standard 9-foot ceilings on both the first and second floors.”

If building from scratch, homebuyers can upgrade their townhome’s finishes to their individual lifestyle and design preferences — from moving electrical outlets, to upgrading cabinets and flooring, to choosing colors that best show off their individual taste. The most popular upgrades are quartz countertops and luxury vinyl flooring.

Beazer Homes is closing out its sales in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, and is selling its model home. The Cypress Pointe is a two-story home at 2,254 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a 2-car garage. This home is loaded with designer upgrades, including a spacious master suite, covered lanai and luxurious pool. The home is available now, and the price is $389,000.

Amenities
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.

Published May 27, 2020

Use tax holiday to stock up on emergency items

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The 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to the Florida Department of Revenue’s website.

This sales tax holiday begins May 29 and extends through June 4.

During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. However, the sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. Additionally, the sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

Items exempt from the sales tax include:

  • Flashlights, lanterns, self-powered portable light sources costing $20 or less
  • Batteries, including AAA, C-cell, 6-volt, AA, D-cell and 9-volt; coolers and ice chests (food storage, nonelectrical), costing $30 or less
  • Portable radios, two-way radios, or weather-band radios, bungee cords, tarps, tie-down kits, costing $50 or less
  • Gas or diesel fuel tanks costing $25 or less
  • Batteries costing $30 or less
  • Power generators costing $750 or less

Hurricane Season officially begins on June 1 and ends on Nov. 30.

For more information, visit FloridaRevenue.com.

Published May 27, 2020

Hillsborough County neighborhood parks reopening

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Hillsborough County has reopened neighborhood parks, green spaces and dogs, effective May 18, according to a county news release.

Although the parks are open, users must obey social distancing guidelines, and portions of many parks will continue to be off-limits, the release says.

Visitors are encouraged to wear face coverings and to bring water to hydrate and provide for pets. Tennis/pickleball courts and volleyball courts will be open, but no organized sports, activities or groups will be allowed.

Outdoor restrooms will be open at staffed sites.

The following areas remain closed:

  • Recreation centers/buildings
  • Athletic fields
  • Playgrounds
  • Shelters
  • Splash pads
  • Skate parks
  • All courts excluding tennis/pickleball and volleyball courts
  • Programs
  • Events and rentals

Several of the county’s conservation parks remain closed, but nature preserves and the following conservation parks are open, including:

  • Flatwoods Conservation Park, 14302 Morris Bridge Road in Thonotosassa, and 18205 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Tampa
  • Morris Bridge Off-Road Biking Area, 12651 Morris Bridge Road, Thonotosassa

Published May 27, 2020

Beware of hidden dangers to pets in your landscape

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As a dog lover (well, an animal lover in general), I spend a lot of time keeping an eye on my treasured pets.

I make sure they are eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of fresh water and have comfy beds for sleeping.

I’m also vigilant about keeping them away from getting into anything dangerous, such as cleaning supplies, fertilizers and medications.

Oleander flowers. UF/IFAS Photo by Tom Wright.

Whether they’re inside or outside, pet owners must be responsible for keeping their pets safe.

That’s a duty that I take seriously.

Pet owners typically are aware that chocolate, grapes, onions and caffeine are poisonous to pets.

But, other dangers aren’t always so obvious.

Those hazards include poisonous plants and common landscape items that can become hazardous.

Many would agree that mulch is an excellent addition to the landscape. It locks in moisture, prevents weeds and adds curb appeal. However, be sure to keep your pets, especially the younger ones, away from it.

Mulches generally are woody and sharp, and when a pet chews on mulch, there’s a risk of pieces lodging in the throat or the intestines. That’s always serious and sometimes can be fatal.

So, when puppies are out exploring your yard, be sure to keep a close eye on them and offer them lots of pet toys to keep their interest.

Watch out for small rocks and sticks, too. They also pose choking dangers and can cause puncture wounds, and blockages.

But, the biggest risk comes from common landscaping plants because many, while beautiful, are poisonous.

Of course, just because a plant has toxic properties, it doesn’t mean it can’t or shouldn’t be used in a landscape.

Plants play various roles in the landscape. Sometimes they are pollinators. They also provide food or homes for wildlife. Plus, they are important aesthetic features that can boost the value of property.

Lantana is a sturdy and pretty plant, but it also contains toxins that can be harmful to pets. (Courtesy of UF/IFAS)

So, with all those benefits, just remember to be mindful of what you are planting in your landscape, and be sure to take precautions to keep your pets and children away from potential dangers.

To help you stay safe, here are some things to remember about some popular landscape plants.

Milkweed, a favorite among gardeners, exudes a milky sap. Besides causing irritation, the sap can be toxic if consumed.

If you have this plant in your landscape, be sure to keep your pets way from it.

Also, be sure to prevent your pet from straying onto someone else’s property because there may be plants there that could pose harm.

Lantana is another fan favorite. This plant is tough as nails and pretty, too, and is frequented by bees and butterflies. It is also easy to grow and adds nice color to the landscape.

But, it also has its downsides.

It is not recommended in Florida because it is quite invasive and once established, is hard to control.

The name of this plant, angel’s trumpet, belies the dangers it poses. All parts of this plant are poisonous. (Mary Rathman)

Plus, it is highly toxic to animals.

Angel’s trumpet is a beautiful plant with huge flowers, shaped like trumpets. The flowers — which can come in white, yellow, orange or peach — hang downward and have a delicate fragrance.

But, the name angel’s trumpet is a misnomer: All parts of this plant are poisonous.

Coral bean — a  favorite plant of hummingbirds and butterflies — has tall, red blooms. Those blooms give way to black seed pods, and when they are opened, they give way to shiny, red seeds.

The pretty seeds are enticing to pets and children, but are highly toxic.

If you have this plant, consider removing the seed pods before they split so the seeds aren’t distributed into the landscape.

Another beautiful plant, oleander, is fast-growing and requires little maintenance.

This gorgeous plant produces copious flowers of red, pink, coral, yellow or white combined with long, dark green leaves — making it a shrub showstopper.

At this point, you may have surmised, that every part of this plant is poisonous.

Chinaberry, a very common tree in Florida, grows quickly and tall, and has fragrant flowers.

But, it doesn’t live long, and is a messy tree with poisonous fruit and seeds.

This plant is aggressive and invasive, and not recommended in the landscape. Nicotiana, or flowering tobacco, is another home gardener favorite.

Use care not to let your dog play with small sticks because they can become a choking hazard. Also keep an eye on your pooch to keep him away from dangerous plants. (Courtesy of UF/IFAS)

Its green, purple, pink or white flowers are plentiful and it has a heavenly scent, especially at night, making it a great plant for moon gardens.

Since it does contain nicotine, it is another poisonous plant to keep away from pets.

Mistletoe, a popular traditional decoration around the holidays, is poisonous to pets.

It’s not good for trees, either. Found living on many trees in Florida, mistletoe is a parasite, robbing its host plant of nutrients and water. Large infestations of mistletoe can kill otherwise healthy and established trees over time.

It also spreads easily, so if you spot mistletoe, remove it from your landscape.

During summer months, yesterday-today-and-tomorrow blooms can grab your attention as they change color from purple or lavender to white within a day or two.

These plants can grow to be 8 feet tall to 10 feet tall, although there are some dwarf varieties available.

All parts of yesterday-today-and-tomorrow plants are poisonous. The berries are the most toxic.

When deciding what to add to your landscape, be sure to take the time to investigate new plants before planting them.

The first principle of Florida-Friendly Landscaping is to put the right plant in the right place.

This applies not only to mature height, width, sun or shade, but also with consideration to pets and the potential dangers that exist.

Also, after pruning poisonous plants, do not burn the branches. Burning them can release toxic compounds that can cause serious health risks, if inhaled.

Finally, keep in mind that just because a plant is poisonous, it doesn’t mean it must be banned from your landscape.

It just needs to be located in a place where it will be less accessible, or inviting, to pets and children.

If you would like to know about specific plant species and whether they are poisonous, or if you are unsure of a plant identification, be sure to reach out to your local University of Florida/IFAS Extension Office for information.

As the old adage goes, it’s better to be safe, than sorry.

For more information about plants that are poisonous to pets, visit tinyurl.com/ojasgpk.

By Whitney C. Elmore

Dr. Whitney C. Elmore is the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension director and an Urban Horticulture Agent III.

Published May 27, 2020

Signs of support and appreciation

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Expressions of appreciation for first responders and health care workers, and words of encouragement for the community are showing up in all sorts of ways during this coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Here are a few examples.

Drive-up customer Rylee Fitzsimmons, of Land O’ Lakes, received a free meal from server Emily Spedale, at Walk-On’s Bistreaux and Bar, 25372 Sierra Center Blvd., in the Cypress Creek Town Center. The restaurant, off State Road 56, had a community give-back day. (Randy Underhill)
John Bush, left, shift manager; Shelly Mathis, morning manager; and Mason Bragg, stand next to a red ribbon, symbolizing support for first responders. They work at the McDonald’s in Dade City.

 

Meal planning: Making the most of your groceries

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Grocery shopping — such a routine errand once before — now is an entirely new endeavor.

Today it requires packing the gloves and mask, wondering what items will be in short supply, and remembering to follow the one-way aisle rules. It’s not what it used to be.

On top of that, you must remember to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines on social distancing — which means staying at least 6 feet apart from others.

By planning meals, you can save time and money — and reduce trips to the grocery store. A pot of soup, for instance, can typically provide two meals for a family of four, or four or five meals for a couple. (Shari Bresin)

All of that makes you want to shop less often at the grocery store.

Of course, you can order groceries online, but that involves a service delivery and a tip, which, of course, eats into your grocery budget.

But, planning ahead can help you reduce the number of trips you make to the grocery store, or the number of online orders you make.

Don’t just meal plan — plan to prepare foods you can stretch into additional meals.

I’ve been an advocate for meal planning for years, pandemic or not.

And, once I started meal planning, I saw my grocery budget go down significantly and my food waste was reduced to zero or close to it.

Meal planning takes the stress out of dinnertime; you won’t dread the question “What’s for dinner?” from the kids anymore, because you’ll already know what you’ll be serving and on which days.

Some people may like to shop for up to two weeks’ worth of meals, if they have the fridge space.

I shop on a weekly basis, as I had pre-pandemic, but I now plan more for meals that can stretch, so I can freeze leftovers.

This gives me peace of mind. I know that if my shopping trip the following week isn’t successful, I have some meals to cover a few days, if needed.

On the other hand, if my grocery trip the following week is successful, I can keep the leftovers in the freezer as a backup supply for future meals.

Here are some ways to help you be a savvy grocery shopper, and to help you stretch your meals.

Remember, liquid-based foods are the easiest to bulk up, and to make sure there’s plenty of fiber.

Fiber makes you feel full, leaving more food for leftovers.

So, what are high-fiber foods?

Think vegetables, beans and whole grains.

Be sure to make extra brown rice and whole wheat pasta; this makes the meal go further than adding extra meat, and is less expensive.

Soups, stews, casseroles, stir-fries and chilis will yield a lot of food and keep your stomach satisfied. They also ensure there are leftovers for another meal.

It is also important to know how long food will keep.

Great resources to help you here are the app Food Keeper and its corresponding website FoodSafety.gov/keep-food-safe/foodkeeper-app.

Both provide information about how long to store food until it needs to be cooked before it goes bad.

For example, meat should be cooked within three to four days of its purchase, to keep it from going bad. So, plan to have meat dishes earlier in the week and go meatless later in the week.

Or, consider canned meats.

And, don’t forget to try canned or frozen fruits and vegetables if you don’t think you’ll consume the fresh produce in time.

Remember, you’re not just trying to stretch your meals, but also your budget.

Most leftovers should be eaten within four days. If you don’t think you’ll eat them by then, freeze them.

Third, plan your meals.

If you’re new to meal planning, start with shopping for just one week’s worth of meals.

Keep in mind, you’re trying to plan for meals that stretch.

If you’re making chili one night, list out the ingredients.

See what you already have at home (onion, spices, etc.) so that you only buy what you need. A chili recipe typically yields two meals. You can enjoy it one night and then finish it a few nights later, or freeze the second meal for a future dinner.

Soup is another example of a meal that stretches.

Add water to the broth to get more volume.

List out what meat, beans and vegetables are needed, see what you already have in the house, and then buy what you don’t.

Again, a soup recipe typically can yield at least two meals.

It’s tempting to stock up on comfort foods during this pandemic, but try to resist that temptation.

They comfort foods don’t help your immune system, and lead to consuming too many calories.

Remember, self-care is more important than ever now.

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.

Vegetable and bean soup

Ingredients

  • 20 ounces of assorted dried beans and other legumes, such as black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, lentils, yellow split peas, green split peas, pink beans, great northern beans and so on. (Soak in water for at least eight hours).
  • One onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
  • 4 celery stalks, chopped
  • 6 carrots, chopped
  • 1 can of diced tomatoes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper to taste
  • 8 cups to 12 cups vegetable broth, or until all ingredients are covered
  • 5 cups to 6 cups of water

Simmer on stove for 1.5 hours or cook on low in slow cooker for 8 hours to 10 hours.

In the last 10 minutes, remove the bay leaves and add:

  • 4 cups of spinach or kale
  • 12 ounces to 16 ounces of your favorite pasta or egg noodles

Enjoy with baguette bread or crackers.

Tip: The egg noodles will get mushy if frozen and then thawed and reheated, so I will meal plan to have this another time in the week for dinner or have it for lunches. If you prefer to freeze it, skip the noodles; or make the noodles separately and then add to the leftover soup.

Published May 20, 2020

AdventHealth cites problems with lab; issues apology

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AdventHealth had been providing free testing for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) at locations in its West Florida Division but discontinued it because of issues with a third-party lab, according to a news release from AdventHealth.

“To meet the unprecedented demand for COVID-19 testing, we rely on nationally accredited third-party labs to assist us. Unfortunately, one of these labs processing a significant number of our public tests has been unable to fulfill its obligation,” the health care provider said, in the release.

“AdventHealth has terminated its contract with this lab, and we share in the disappointment and frustration this situation has created. We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and uncertainty it has caused.

“This issue impacts more than 8,000 people throughout AdventHealth West Florida Division. “This situation has created unacceptable delays, and we do not have confidence in the reliability of the tests. We are working diligently to notify and appropriately accommodate those who are impacted. They will be receiving a letter from us and may also receive a phone call.

The individuals fall into two categories:

  • Those whose samples were processed, and whose results provided by the lab are not deemed reliable.
  • Those whose samples are at the lab in question and are part of the backlog will not be tested; therefore, no result will be available.

AdventHealth has directed the lab to destroy those samples, in accordance with the law, the release says.

In the case of unreliable results, there were individuals with unreliable positive results, that will require retesting, AdventHealth says.

Also, Individuals with unreliable negative results who are symptomatic need to seek care and may require retesting.

Also, individuals with unreliable negative results who are asymptomatic but request to be retested will be offered testing pending availability, the health care provider adds.

Mike Schulz, president and CEO of AdventHealth West Florida, addressed the issue in a statement:  “It has been a privilege to serve our community during these unprecedented times, and we remain committed to our promise to keep you safe and provide the best care possible.

“We are taking ownership of these issues and are reaching out to the thousands of those who were impacted to help make it easy for them to understand the next step in their care,” he said.

Published May 20, 2020