The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

New Model Homes Open For Tour At Asturia

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Unique Floor Plans Offered By Four Premier Builders

The holiday season is a wonderful time to dream about your next home, and Asturia invites you to visit its model homes by some of America’s top builders, in Odessa.

The community’s beautifully furnished model homes are open for tour daily at this master-planned community, located off of State Road 54, just west of the Suncoast Parkway.

David Weekley Homes, ICI Homes, Park Square Homes and Ryan Homes are Asturia’s exclusive builders. Model homes are open daily in the community’s third and final phase, with on-site agents to assist homebuyers.

The Costa Mesa by ICI Homes is Asturia’s newest model home, located on a fabulous conservation homesite.

The community’s newest model is the Mendocino by David Weekley Homes. The beautifully furnished Mendocino is 2,845 square feet, and features four bedrooms, an open study, three full baths, one half-bath and a two-car garage. Designer touches include an extended lanai, oversized kitchen island, an owner’s retreat with tray ceiling and wood beam accents, a spa-like bath and oversized walk-in closet.

Priced from the $340s, the Mendocino is included in David Weekley Homes’ Asturia’s Lake Series, with homes that range in size from 2,200 square feet to 3,200 square feet that are built on 55-foot homesites.

To celebrate the holidays, David Weekley Homes is hosting a Sips with Santa special event on Sunday, Dec. 15 at it model home center. Celebrate the Christmas season with hot chocolate, coffee and s’mores, with Santa hearing Christmas wishes from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Other single-family home models in Asturia are available for tour by ICI Homes, and Ryan Homes has models of its townhome community. And, at the first of the year, a new model by Park Square Homes will open, with a rear-entry floor plan that will be priced in the high $300s.

In late June, ICI Homes opened its new Costa Mesa model near the community’s entrance on a beautiful waterfront homesite with long conservation views. This one-story, four-bedroom, three-bath, three-car garage plan is 2,565 square feet, and showcases a huge kitchen with extra-large island and closet-size, walk-in pantry that is cleverly hidden behind cabinetry.

ICI Homes also has a second model on a beautiful conservation lot, the Serena, that is now for sale and can include the model’s professionally decorated, high-end furnishings for families wanting a turn-key home ready now.

Ryan Homes offers two floor plans in Asturia’s only townhome community. These three-bedroom townhomes range from 1,580 square feet to 1,770 square feet, all with two-car, rear-entry, detached garages. The homes feature private outdoor courtyards with paver patios and privacy fencing. Prices begin in the $220s. Ryan Homes hit their halfway mark and have only 108 units to go. They have no inventory of homes, which allows the builder to customize new construction townhomes for its buyers.

“The beautiful Asturia community has so much to offer with its first class amenities, and our homes are at a perfect price that our sales have been brisk,” said Mona Cruz, one of the Ryan Homes sales team.

David Weekly Homes and ICI Homes have inventory homes available for families who are looking to move now or at the first of the year. These homes have special year-end pricing, which includes both price discounts and other incentives.

Park Square Homes is Asturia’s newest builder, and is building its Margate II model that features three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage. This 1,966 square foot home has an inviting foyer with spacious flex room, an island kitchen with an abundance of cabinets and large den off the foyer. The Margate II starts at $319,990 and a model of this floorplan is expected to be completed in January.

Asturia is Park Square Homes first entry into Pasco County. It brings over 35 years of experience building quality homes in Central Florida, and expanded into the Tampa Bay market in 2007 with communities in south Hillsborough County.

About Asturia
Asturia offers residents a kid-friendly, family oriented lifestyle surrounded by miles of multi-use trails, interspersed with dog parks and pocket parks. The community’s distinctive, 5,800-square-foot Amenity Center and Clubhouse includes a fully equipped fitness center, covered outdoor living rooms, a luxurious resort-style swimming pool and expansive lawn areas for recreation.

Currently in its third phase, when Asturia’s development is complete, it will likely have less than 550 single-family homes.

“What makes Asturia stand out from other new home developments is our smaller size,” said Lane Gardner, senior managing director for Hines, the developer behind Asturia. “Other communities in the area are looking at 3,000 to over 5,000 homes, and many years of construction. Our families prefer the intimate neighborhood experience that comes with Asturia’s modest community size.”

Outstanding schools are another top reason why families move to Asturia. Children attend some of the best schools in Pasco County, including Odessa Elementary, Seven Springs Middle School and J.W. Mitchell High School. All three schools have received a minimum A or B school grade for the last three years.

A low-cost HOA and CDD are well worth the benefits of living in Asturia, with fees considerably less than other master-planned communities in Pasco County.

Asturia’s central location is just five minutes from the Suncoast Parkway, and also provides close proximity to U.S. 41, U.S. 19 and I-75. Its master plan incorporates retail, office, multifamily and a variety of single-family residential offerings.

More information can be obtained by visiting Asturia’s model homes, registering at the community’s website, AsturiaFlorida.com, or by calling (813) 510-3601.

Published November 27, 2019

Be a Santa to a senior

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The holiday season is a time of gatherings, giving and good cheer.

But, it’s also a time when seniors who live alone can be forgotten.

To help prevent that, Home Instead Senior Care serving East Pasco County is once again offering the community a chance to spread joy to local seniors through its Be a Santa to a Senior program, according to a news release.

(Courtesy of Home Instead Senior Care)

The program invites members of the community to give a senior a gift.

Since the program’s inception in 2003, the Be a Santa to a Senior program has mobilized more than 60,000 volunteers, provided approximately 1.2 million gifts and brightened the season for more than 700,000 deserving seniors nationwide, the news release says.

“The Be a Santa to a Senior program is all about including seniors in the joy of the holiday season,” Michele Bonneville, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Wesley Chapel, said in the release. “A simple gift shows them they are a loved and vital member of our community.”

To help, visit a participating location and look for the Be a Santa to a Senior tree on display from Nov. 5 to Dec. 10.

Each tree will be decorated with ornaments featuring seniors’ first names and gift suggestions. Holiday shoppers can choose an ornament, buy the requested gift and return it to the store with the ornament attached. There’s no need to worry about wrapping — community volunteers and program partners will wrap and deliver the gifts to local seniors in time for the holidays.

Be a Santa to a Senior receives support from local businesses, nonprofit organizations, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community. The Home Instead Senior Care office serving East Pasco County has partnered with businesses and organizations to help with gift collection and distribution.

Be a Santa to a Senior trees can be found at these locations:

  • Bealls Outlet, 21701 Village Lakes Shopping Center Drive, Land O’ Lakes
  • Bealls Outlet, 5351 Village Market, Wesley Chapel
  • Bon Worth Women’s Clothing, 7409 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills
  • Pasco County Tax Collector – Dade City, 14236 Sixth St., No. 100, in Dade City
  • Pasco County Tax Collector – Land O’ Lakes, 4135 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O Lakes
  • Pasco County Tax Collector – Wesley Chapel/Lutz, 4610 Pet Lane, No. 101, in Lutz
  • Sweet Darling Quilts, 26240 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Lutz

For more information about the program, visit BeASantaToASenior.com, or call (813) 991-7524.

Published November 27, 2019

Gulfside Hospice Helps Over 1,000 Pasco Families Every Year

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Hospice is the bridge that helps terminally ill patients and their families navigate the health care system in the final stages of life, while also providing emotional and social services support for the entire family.

In Pasco County, Gulfside Healthcare Services has been providing hospice services for more than 30 years, and helps over 1,000 families every year care for their loved ones, and provides grief counseling and spiritual guidance to help patients through their final journey.

Heading up hospice services at Gulfside is Kathy Postiglione, who started work at the agency 15 years ago as a registered nurse, and today is chief operating officer and senior vice president.

“As a nurse, what attracted me to hospice care in the beginning, and still captures my heart today, is its holistic approach to patient care that is driven by the patient and family,” said Postiglione. “It is the most personal type of care found in nursing, and one that has not changed much since the hospice movement was founded in the 1970s.”

The hospice philosophy provides care in the comfort, security and privacy of wherever a patient calls home, by bringing together a team of professionals who addresses the patient’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.

“Our team of nurses, physicians, ministers and social workers works together to find out what the patient needs, discuss the best options for his or her wishes, and helps to set pain management goals,” said Postiglione.

Hospice care begins with a discussion between the doctor and terminally ill patient and the family, who together agree to bring hospice in for a consultation.

“Often it’s the patient who says, ‘I’m done, and no longer wants additional treatments,’” explains Postiglione.

The initial meeting can be in a patient’s home, hospital, assisted living facility or nursing home, and include nurses, both RN and LPNs, hospice medical staff, social worker and chaplain. Up to 10 people can be at the initial meeting, plus staff from the facility.

“We also work with the patient to identify personal goals they want to accomplish – it could be to write their personal story, put together a video, try to re-connect with family members and friends they have lost touch with, and often mend some bridges,” said Postiglione.

Once a patient enters hospice care, the Gulfside team provides interdisciplinary medical support and services, which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It also has resources to help with legal and financial services involving end-of-life care.

“Patients and families are often so overwhelmed by what needs to be done, that they are very anxious.  We break down the tasks and set up a plan to help them accomplish their goals, while providing the care the patient needs to relieve pain, and make the journey as peaceful and comfortable as possible,” explains Postiglione.

Being in hospice care does not mean patients need to give up treatments, and often continue to see their own doctors.

“Patients sometimes want to continue their treatments, and we are here to support the patient in any way we can,” said Postiglione.

Since its establishment in 1989, Gulfside Hospice has grown from an organization run primarily by volunteers, to a full-service health care entity that employs over 330 people with an average census of 550 patients.  When Gulfside began operations, it had just 15 employees and was servicing 50 patients.

While most patients are older adults and seniors, often diagnosed with cancer, Gulfside Hospice also cares for terminally ill children and young adults. Patients typically come into hospice when their prognosis is less than six months, and the average length of stay in the program is 70 days.

One area that makes Gulfside Hospice unique compared to other hospice organizations is its ability to provide patients with more expensive medications.

“When a patient has a need for a more expensive medication, we never deny the request, because we have the resources to provide medication that Medicare may not pay for,” said Postiglione.

Gulfside has been able to keep up with Pasco’s population growth because of its ability to attract top professionals to its team.

“We place a tremendous value on our employees, and consistently seek feedback from them on their challenges, equipment they need, the schedules that work best for their families,” said Postiglione. “We have a very dedicated group of people, most who have worked here for many years, because of the high satisfaction they get by working with our patients and families.”

Gulfside Healthcare Services also works with over 200 volunteers, many who become involved after hospice has cared for a loved one.

“Many of our volunteers give the gift of presence  —  which is staying with patients who may not have family or friends close by, until they pass. Others work in our dietary area, bringing meals to patients in our in-patient facilities. We also have volunteers who take care of patients’ pets, and many volunteer at our thrift stores, do office work and help at fundraising events,” said Postiglione.

For patients needing critical nursing care, Gulfside Hospice operates the Rucki Hospice Care Center in Zephyrhills and the Gulfside Center for Hospice Care at Heather Hill Healthcare Center in New Port Richey. Its thrift shops are located in Lutz, Dade City, Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and Hudson.

“People are often surprised at the range of services we offer at Gulfside Hospice,” said Postiglione. “We are proud of our ability to help many Pasco families in one of their greatest times of need.”

Published November 20, 2019

Crowd is enthusiastic at Alpaca Open House

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Brisk weather didn’t deter a large crowd from showing up to Sweet Blossom Alpacas’ fifth annual Alpaca Open House, in Dade City.

Visitors could get a close-up look at alpacas and llamas, feed the animals and pose for photographs with the animals near them.

Austin Wash, 11, was in awe during his first encounter with a llama, as well as the many alpacas during the open house. Austin, along with his parents, Randy and Tiffany Wash, made the trip from Lakeland to attend the open house. (Fred Bellet)

The event was held on a 15-acre farm, at 37543 Pappy Road, just minutes off of Interstate 75.

Besides checking out the animals, visitors could buy alpaca products, including hats, socks, scarves, shawls, rugs, raw fiber and yarn.

During the open house, one alpaca photo-bombed a picture, while another gazed in curiosity as a photographer clicked his camera.

According to Sweet Blossom’s website, alpacas are “somewhat timid, but very curious and intelligent.” The website adds: “they are more cat-like than dog-like in their attitude towards us humans.”

Two-year-old  Zooey Ferland, of Dade City, displayed no fear during her first encounter with a llama at the open house.

She was there with her mom and dad, Kristin and Alex. Alex works at the zoo at Busch Gardens. That’s why Zooey’s name is spelled that way.

Published November 20, 2019

Zooey Ferland, 2, of Dade City has no fear of the llama during her first encounter with the animal during the open house. Zooey was there with her dad and mom, Alex and Kristin.
A Suri-type alpaca was all smiles at the sight of human visitors to the open house on Pappy Road in Dade City. Alpaca teeth are trimmed because they have only one set of teeth, on the bottom.
Kelly Stead, of Tampa, center, and other visitors to Sweet Blossom Alpacas Open House check out a pair of alpacas standing back to back.

How to cater to strict diets at Thanksgiving

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As fun as it is to host guests for Thanksgiving, it can be challenging to cater to those with strict diets.

Guests who can’t eat something will say: “I’m allergic to eggs/nuts/wheat” or “I’m vegetarian/vegan.”

But, these days, there also are plenty of fad diets or food trends that people take on as a lifestyle choice and not necessarily for medical reasons.

Rice in its natural form is one type of grain that is gluten-free and is popular among those who can’t eat gluten. Check packaging though to make sure it’s not processed alongside wheat or other gluten-containing grains. (Courtesy of Pixabay)

Regardless of the why certain foods are off limits for some — offering an alternative for these guests to eat will make them feel welcomed and included.

Some people with food allergies or other food restrictions may choose to bring or make their own food for Thanksgiving or other family events because they didn’t want to be a burden.

That’s completely fine, if that’s their choice. Some may even prefer it that way.

But, someone traveling and staying at a hotel might not be able to make a dish in advance and bring it over.

So, to make it easier for you, when you are hosting the meal, make a dish that not only your strict-diet guests will like, but one that everyone else at the table will enjoy, too.

Sometimes it is as simple as swapping out a few ingredients.

For example, those following a vegan diet won’t eat any animal products.

So, if you’re making sweet potato casserole, use vegan butter, plant-based milk, and vegan marshmallows. (Regular marshmallows have gelatin, which is made up of various animal sources, like bones, ligaments, or pigs’ skin).

The sweet potato casserole will taste the same and the non-vegans probably won’t even notice.

Also, be sure to take precautions to prevent cross-contact if someone is allergic to a food. This is the same concept as cross-contamination, but in this case we are talking about an allergen and not a pathogen.

To avoid cross-contact, be sure to use separate cutting boards, knives, etc., or properly wash and sanitize them in between using the allergenic food and safe food.

Also, always wash your hands in between handling the different foods.

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.

Here are recipes that a gluten-free friend of mine shared for dishes she enjoys on Thanksgiving. 

These are both gluten-free and vegan-friendly.

Gluten and Dairy-Free Dirty Rice
Ingredients:
Rice (typically, 1 cup of rice to 1 ½ cups liquid for four servings of cooked rice)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion
2 stalks of celery, diced
8 ounces of fresh mushrooms, chopped
Water or Vegetable Stock
Salt
Pepper

Directions:
Chop onions, celery, and mushrooms.
Keep mushrooms separated from celery and onions.
In a large stock pot, sauté celery and onions until tender.
Add mushrooms and stir.
Add a dash of salt and pepper.
Measure your desired amount of rice.
Add uncooked rice and stir, lightly toasting the rice.
Add your desired liquid (water or vegetable stock) to the proportions on the rice. Stir and bring to a boil. Stay close to watch.
Once boiling, turn heat down to low, stir again, place lid on the pot.
Cook until rice is tender. Serve warm and enjoy.
You can use a gluten-free chicken broth instead of water or vegetable stock if you weren’t also trying to make it plant-based.

Gluten and Dairy-Free Fresh Tomato Salad
Ingredients:
Your Favorite Fresh Red Tomatoes
Italian Seasoning Herbs Mixture
Fresh Basil
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper

Directions:
Cut your fresh tomatoes into circles and place them on a serving tray.
Chop fresh basil (about 1/4 cup basil for three large tomatoes, such as beefsteak).
Sprinkle Italian Seasoning herb mixture on the tomatoes.
Sprinkle kosher salt and black pepper.
Add fresh basil.
Just before serving, lightly sprinkle olive oil and balsamic vinegar on the tomatoes. Enjoy!

Published November 22, 2019

Hanging out with alpacas

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Visitors at Sweet Blossom Alpaca’s fifth annual Alpaca Open House had a chance to get up close and personal with alpacas. According to the venue’s website, alpacas are “somewhat timid, but very curious and intelligent.” The website also notes, “they are more cat-like than dog-like” in their attitude toward humans. The event, at 37543 Pappy Road, in Dade City, drew a big crowd.

An Huacaya alpaca looks curiously at a photographer — checking out the clicking sound of the camera. (Fred Bellet)
A hungry llama has its choice of handouts, as visitors line up along the fence at Sweet Blossom Alpacas’ open house.
As adults check their phones, curious children saw eye-to-eye with the curious alpacas.

More Inventory and Better Vehicles At Dade City Auto Sales

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Jennifer Weeks and Dave Maurandian

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

New owners at Dade City Auto Sales have revitalized this long established car lot on U.S. 301, by bringing in better quality vehicles and increasing its inventory to over 100 vehicles by the first of the year.

“We had a vision of what this place could be,” said Lou Taliercio, who now owns the business with brother Mike. “Our vision was to bring in late model, affordable cars and trucks that are CarFax Certified that sell quickly, so we always have something new on the lot.”

The Taliercio brothers also own Tampa Bay Auto Network in Tampa, where they specialize in hand-picked, late model luxury and performance cars. Their father, Vincent, helped his sons get started in the car business, with the purchase of their first five vehicles, 14 years ago.

“We are bringing our many years of automotive experience to Dade City, to provide the east Pasco community with quality vehicles that are fairly priced, and available with many financing options,” said Lou Taliercio.

Already, Dade City Auto Sales is a Preferred Dealer for many local credit unions, including Achieva and MidForida, and works closely with Wells Fargo and other banks.

The Taliercios became interested in Dade City Auto Sales through a personal friend, Dave Mauradian, who had worked for the prior owner for many years.

“Dave is a great guy and wanted to stay at the dealership, and we saw the opportunity and appreciated its great location on U.S. 301,” said Lou Taliercio.

The brothers bought the business this summer, made some initial improvements to its building and property, and re-opened Dade City Auto Sales over the Labor Day weekend with over 50 vehicles on its lot.

Working with Mauradian in Dade City is Jennifer Weeks, who came from the company’s Tampa location and has over 20 years of automotive experience. Both salespeople adhere to their company’s philosophy of no-pressure sales.

“We want to sell cars the way we want to be sold cars,” said Taliercio. “We don’t believe in high-pressure sales, and always treat our customers with patience and respect.”

The quality of its vehicles also sets Dade City Auto Sales apart. Every vehicle is CarFax Certified, which means it has never been in a flood, nor in an accident with structural damage.

“Our cars sell themselves because of their quality and fair prices,” said Taliercio. “We are able to keep prices low because we are local owners and don’t have big company overhead.”

Lots of inventory is something else customers like about Dade City Auto Sales. Most weeks, 10 to 15 new vehicles are moved onto the lot, Taliercio said, especially trucks, which are most in demand.

Taliercio is excited to be in Dade City, and has already joined the local Chamber of Commerce.

“We see a lot of good things happening in Dade City, and believe this is a great time to be opening a business here.”

(352) 567-4040 • 13043 U.S. Hwy. 301, Dade City  33525

DadeCtyAutoSales.com

Published 11/13/19

Bella Tire Opens On State Road 52

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By Deborah Bostock-Kelley News

Special to The Laker/Lutz

Rich Nicoloff was already late for church when he spotted a couple on the side of the road with a blown tire. He knew if he stopped, he’d miss the service. But, Nicoloff also knew he wasn’t the kind of person who could just drive past. So, he pulled over, explained that he owned Bella Tires in Land O’ Lakes, and offered to open his shop on a Sunday to replace the couple’s blown tire.

 

Nicoloff didn’t think much of that act of kindness, because he enjoys helping people as much as he enjoys managing Bella Tires, a business he opened in August, after a 27-year career as a criminal investigator for government.

Following the advice of a friend who also owns a tire store, Nicoloff found a highly visible spot for his business on State Road 52, about a mile east of U.S. 41, in front of the Pilot Country subdivision.

Bella Tires, which is named after Nicoloff’s daughter, offers tires and automotive services for personal and commercial vehicles and trailers. It has a drive-up port for semi-trucks for tire repair and replacement, and will soon be adding two new service bays.

Nicoloff buys his tires directly from the manufacturer (purchased through a distributor), which are of  better quality than tires sold at box stores and national tire retailers. If he doesn’t have the particular tire needed, he will get it — even a lawnmower tire.

In addition to tire repair and replacement, other services include lift kits, leveling kits, brush guards, winches, car and truck accessories installed, oil changes, professional detail service, vehicle diagnostics, batteries and general mechanical jobs, charging systems, air conditioning, trailer axle service, trailer wiring jobs, and diesel truck engine service.

Nicoloff wants his customers to understand  how and why a vehicle should be serviced, and offers a free lunch and learn for women on Saturdays from  9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

“I want to help educate women, so if anything is wrong with their car, they know at least a little something about it,” said Nicoloff. “I teach simple stuff, such as the importance of keeping your tires at the recommended pressure for fuel economy, and also so your vehicle handles better. I want women to know that when you get your brakes changed, always ask for your brakes back, because then you know that new brakes were put on your car.”

Servicing vehicles is only part of what Nicoloff loves about owning a tire company named after his daughter.

“I love meeting interesting people and being able to witness to them  —  that’s probably my favorite part of running Bella Tires,” Nicoloff says.

813-995-0777 • 19245 State Road 52, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639

www.BellaTires.com

Published 11/6/19

$1.99 Cleaners Offers Lowest Prices

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By William Jacko

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

When Vincent Hernandez saw a need for an affordable dry cleaner in Zephyrhills, he and his wife, Emina, decided to open $1.99 Cleaners on U.S. 301, just south of downtown.

And, with his family’s long history in the dry cleaning business, Hernandez had an immense knowledge base and business know-how to draw from.

“My family has been in the dry cleaning business for 30 years out of Hillsborough County. I am following in the steps of my father to bring his great services and pricing to the Zephyrhills community,” said Hernandez.

At $1.99 Cleaners, the emphasis is clearly on price, but without sacrificing quality cleaning.

“By owning our own equipment, property and buildings, we are able to provide almost wholesale prices, and then pass these savings onto our consumers,” Hernandez said.

The young business owner is so confident in the ability of $1.99 Cleaners to deliver the lowest prices in town, that he has an impressive coupon-matching policy.

“If you have competitor coupons and want to try us, we will honor those coupons from other dry cleaning and laundry services, and do exactly what they say. Plus, we’ll likely save you even more money, because our prices are already lower than a standard dry cleaning bill by about 20% to 25%,” said Hernandez.

The bulk of $1.99 Cleaners’ business is laundering and dry cleaning clothes, but it also cleans wedding dresses, comforters, household items, curtains and drapes. The business also does basic alterations — hem pants, cut sleeves, take in waists, expand waists (when possible), sew buttons and repair rips in clothes.

 “The laundered process is water-based,” Hernandez said.  “Clothes are actually pressed wet on a hot plate, which is geared toward the business shirt, because it gives the shirt a good firm and fresh feel.”

Dry cleaning uses a very different process.

“Even though the process is called dry cleaning, clothes are still saturated with a petroleum base that doesn’t mix with water, which preserves the life of the fabric and gets clothes really fresh and clean,” said Hernandez. “This is an environmentally friendly process, and we carefully follow guidelines sanctioned by the EPA.”

 Hernandez is grateful for the assistance his business has received from the City of Zephyrhills.

“We want to thank the city for guiding us, helping us to revitalize this building, and allowing us to provide affordable cleaning services for the community,” said Hernandez.

813-779-7977 • 4932 Gall Blvd. Zephyrhills, FL 33542

Published 11/6/19

Initiatives aim to help veterans

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Veterans statewide could soon see a slew of new and expanded benefits and services, if the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs gets its way in the 2020 legislative session and beyond.

The agency is enrolling 17 legislative bills for the upcoming 60-day session, which begins in January, Al Carter, the department’s chief of staff, reported at the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’s November breakfast meeting at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel.

Those priorities include greater funding and staffing for the cabinet agency, Carter said. The department of veterans affairs now has an annual budget of $150 million. It has 1,260 employees, serving Florida’s 1.5 million veterans.

Florida Department of Veterans Affairs chief of staff Al Carter was the featured guest speaker at the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’s November breakfast meeting at Pasco- Hernando State College-Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel. (Kevin Weiss)

“The long and short of it is, we want to be a premier agency to advocate for our veterans, and receiving those benefits and services that they’ve earned as a product of their service,” Carter said.

“Billions of dollars are available for services. Let that sink in,” he said.

Some department requests include:

  • Funding to complete two new 100-plus bed veterans’ nursing homes in Port St. Lucie and Orlando
  • 104 full-time positions for the department’s Homes Division
  • Five full-time staff to expand its team of veterans’ claims examiners
  • Three positions within its Bureau of Information and Research, a new division analyzing trends in federal legislation and identifying potential voids in veterans’ benefits and services.

There’s also an effort to build upon a number of bills or laws from past legislative sessions, Carter said.

For instance, the department wants to expand funding for alternative treatment options for veterans with post-traumatic stress. It wants to go beyond counseling and prescription medications.

The veterans affairs department contracts with state colleges and universities to offer these treatments: hyperbaric oxygen treatment, physical therapy, accelerated resolution therapy, music therapy, equine therapy and service animal training therapy.

Carter, a retired Army colonel who spent 28 years in the military, noted that roughly 20 veterans commit suicide every day.

The challenges that veterans face are not “cookie-cutter in nature,” he said. As a result, “treatment for one does not necessarily reflect treatment for all.”

He added: “Whatever helps the largest number of veterans, we’re trying to do, and these alternative therapies have proven helpful in getting veterans off of those different opioids.”

The agency also is proposing an amendment to the state’s homestead tax exemption to allow the same ad valorem tax discount on homestead property for the surviving spouse of a combat-disabled veteran age 65 or older. The exemption would remain in effect for the spouse, until he or she dies.

“It’s revenue neutral to the state, so it’s a no-brainer to do this,” Carter said.

Another legislative initiative would allow medical doctors and doctor of osteopathic physicians employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and licensed in other states to also practice and treat veterans in private medical facilities in Florida. (Doctors employed by the VA and practicing in Florida do not have to have a Florida medical license.)

Carter said the measure would provide more convenient accessible care for veterans, particularly when VA clinics close due to inclement weather, or are relocated or shut down.

“Having the ability for our doctors on the VA staff to be able to go to these (private) facilities and treat our veterans is definitely huge,” he said.

Burgess seeking to boost agency services
Carter also detailed an initiative called Forward March.

That initiative began after former State Rep. Danny Burgess, of Zephyrhills, was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to become the executive director of veterans affairs.

Under Forward March, the department assesses the needs of veterans across the state, and seeks ways to eliminate redundancy and increase collaboration in veterans services offered by businesses, community and volunteer organizations — as it pertains to housing, mental health, emergency assistance and legal matters.

Carter said early observations reveal that veterans are often unaware of how to get access to services, and that organizations offering services often are “working in silos,” instead of working together.

He explained: “There may be one person, one entity over here providing housing services and they’ve got grants to provide housing services to a variety of veterans, and then there’s another one right next door that has no clue what this other one does, and oftentimes they’re doing very similar programs. If they were joined together, imagine the amount of services that they could provide. They could double, if not triple, the amount of services for our veterans, so that’s one of the things we’re trying to key on.”

Carter also touched on some more long-range goals for the agency, spearheaded under Burgess’s leadership.

One is expanding the agency’s GI LAW (Lawyers Assisting Warriors) initiative, whereby veterans affairs contracts with some of the state’s leading law firms to provide pro bono legal services to military members. The program currently applies only to sergeants (E-5) and lower ranks, but the department hopes to ultimately expand it to all veterans.

That program is particularly helpful to the state’s homeless veteran population, Carter said, noting they oftentimes are homeless because of minor legal issues they need to resolve, but often are reluctant to seek help.

“It’s a phenomenal program,” Carter said. “We’re coming out to meet (veterans), where the rubber meets the road, and help them to get back into society.”

The department also is working to expand a program that’s designed to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment, and rehabilitation pathways for veterans involved with the criminal justice system, rather than punishment.

Burgess also has pushed to enhance the department’s online communication footprint — making its mobile app more user-friendly, and, creating Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube pages, to complement its website and Facebook page.

“(Burgess) is tech-savvy. Unfortunately I’m not,” Carter joked.

Published November 13, 2019