The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Park Square Homes Opens New Model in Asturia

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Families looking to build a new home in one of the in-demand communities along the State Road 54 corridor have an exciting new option with Park Square Homes, a family owned builder based in Orlando that is Asturia’s newest builder.

Located in Odessa, Asturia is a master-planned community of just 550 homes that is nearing completion. Located less than one mile from the Suncoast Parkway, Asturia is known for its premier builders and amenities that include nature trails connecting neighborhood and parks, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a contemporary 5,800-square-foot clubhouse with a resort-style, zero-entry pool.

Park Square Homes joins ICI Homes and David Weekley Homes as the exclusive single-family home builders in Asturia. Park Square Homes has 22 lots in Asturia, and seven homes have already been sold since opening for sale at the end of the year. All Park Square homes are being built on 55-foot lots that are conveniently located close to the community’s entrance on State Road 54. These are some of the largest interior lots remaining in Asturia.

The homes Park Square Homes is building in Asturia all have new elevations designed just for this community, with front porches and covered lanais with pavers. One- and two-story homes are designed with kitchens that open to great rooms and eat-in cafés, and are bright and airy with large windows, including optional transom windows on some models.

The Margate II by Park Square Homes is Asturia’s newest model home.

Park Square Homes is known for its well-designed, easy-living floor plans that maximize living areas with many high-end standard features, including granite countertops, 42-inch cabinets, and smart home packages. Five floor plans are available at Asturia, all with private and expansive master suites, large secondary bedrooms, optional drop zones at the garage entrance, spacious laundry rooms, and large open lofts.

“We are very excited to be building in Asturia — one of Pasco’s most prestigious master-planned communities that offers our homeowners some of the area’s best amenities, with great schools and quick access to major roadways,” said Sang Lee, Tampa Division president for Park Square Homes.

The Margate II by Park Square Homes is Asturia’s newest model home. This beautifully furnished model opened earlier this month, and features three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage.

The 1,966-square-foot home has an inviting foyer that opens to a spacious office and island kitchen with an abundance of cabinets. The office space also can be built as a playroom with optional French doors, or as a fourth bedroom. A private master suite at the rear of the house has his-and-her closets and a luxury master bath. The Margate II also is available with a 15’ x 26’ bonus room and bath on the second floor. Pricing begins at $324,990.

The Walton II is another one-story plan available at Asturia, and comes standard with four bedrooms in its 1,811 square feet of living area. Pricing begins at $309,990.

Park Square Homes also is offering three two-story homes in Asturia, ranging from 2,382 to 3,075 square feet, with four or five bedrooms and three baths. All floor plans have one bedroom on the first floor, with the Pensacola plan offering the master suite downstairs. Two-story floor plans begin at $345,990.

“Many families looking at our floor plans in Asturia are first-time buyers, or empty-nesters wanting to downsize,” said Lee. “They are attracted to Asturia for its healthy lifestyle and schools, and truly appreciate the great value they get with a Park Square Home. Our model, the Margate II, is one of our best-selling floor plans, and we are so pleased to be able to offer it in Asturia.”

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

More information about Park Square Homes can be obtained by visiting its Asturia model at 2370 Stone Table St., Odessa, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m.; calling (813) 497-8128, or by emailing .

Published February 26, 2020

Lottery Deadline Approaching for Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel

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The deadline is quickly approaching for parents wanting their children to be in the 2020-2021 enrollment lottery for Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, a new, tuition-free public charter school located at the community entrance of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

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

Parents must complete the application form online at PinecrestWesleyChapel.com, by midnight on March 6. Several information sessions are scheduled on Feb. 29 and March 2 (see info box).

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 have the option of sending their children to one of the top charter school operators in Florida,” said Lerret. “The school is conveniently located at our community’s entrance, and will be open before the completion of the widening of State Road 54, which runs in front of the school and our community.”

The new school will open with 650 students in kindergarten through sixth grade, and plans to expand to serve up to eighth grade. It is the first Pinecrest Academy in Tampa Bay.

With 16 schools nationwide, Pinecrest Academy Inc., has made a name for itself in the education community. As Aimee Mielke, the newly appointed principal for Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, would say, “When you walk into a Pinecrest school, you know you’re in a Pinecrest school.”

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.

The principal is excited about the advanced programs Pinecrest will offer its students, 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 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.

“All Pinecrest schools are high-performing,” Miekle continues. “Once we commit to a community, we’re not going to let you down.”

For the 2018 school year, all Pinecrest Academy schools in Florida earned an “A” from the Florida Department of Education.

“Pinecrest is unlike anything else…When somebody finds a school that fits what they believe in and what they want to see for their child, they will drive from anywhere,” says Mielke.

Pinecrest will be 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, your child must be 4 years old by Sept. 1.

For more information, please go to PinecrestWesleyChapel.com.

Pinecrest Info Sessions
Saturday, Feb. 29
Kindergarten: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Grades 3, 4 and 5: Noon to 1 p.m.
6th Grade: 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Monday, March 2
Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Grades 3, 4, 5 and 6: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

RSVP required at PinecrestWesleyChapel.com.

All sessions are next to the school at:
Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel, 33425 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel 33543

New Principal Has Pasco Roots
Aimee Mielke has been appointed as the first principal at Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel.

Mielke has been in the education industry for 23 years, with 20 of those working for Pasco County, most recently as principal of Connerton, Watergrass and Trinity elementary schools. She currently is principal of a charter school in Citrus Park, SLAM Tampa, a 6-12 school that focuses on sports leadership, arts and management.

Principal Aimee Miekle shows off the new crest for Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel.

“I love Pasco County, and it feels great to be back” says Mielke. When she was getting her bachelor degree at the University of South Florida, Mielke interned in Land O’ Lakes at Sanders Memorial Elementary, where she fell in love with the area and greatly appreciated the huge support she received from the community.

Throughout the years, Mielke has worn many different hats. She’s been a teacher, supervisor and director at the district level, assistant principal and principal. One thing she hasn’t done until this point was to open her own school, which is why Pinecrest is a dream come true for her.

“I have so many opportunities to be creative…I’m putting my stamp on the school from the ground up,” says Mielke.

Mielke says her main focus for the first year is to build meaningful relationships with her students and their family members, as well as providing students with the highest quality academics. Mielke plans on spending a lot of time this summer on professional development for Pinecrest teachers to ensure they will give the best education to their incoming students.

Published February 26, 2020

Resident Artist at March Gallery Show

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Richard Terrill, a three-year resident of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, is exhibiting his contemporary paintings at the East Pasco Fine Arts Gallery now through April 30.

Richard Terrill’s portrait of Rumi, the celebrated Persian poet from the 13th century.

Terrill is an accomplished contemporary painter, whose work draws you in with bright colors, high contrasts and whimsical tangents. His paintings are colorful, unconventional and political – work that one would not expect from someone who taught high school and college English for 39 years. But, after talking with the artist for a few minutes, one quickly realizes that Terrill is also a knowledgeable historian, who artistically incorporates his world view points into his paintings.

“I like to use bright colors because they uplift the often serious and somber content of my paintings,” said Terrill. “And, I often add whimsical scenes into my paintings that poke fun at the seriousness of the human psyche.”

Terrill’s paintings have been exhibited and sold in the museum shop at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. This is his first art show in Florida.

His exhibit can been seen daily at the Welcome Center for Avalon Park West Chapel, which is located on State Road 54 about five miles from I-75. Avalon Park Wesley Chapel and the Pasco Fine Arts Council work together to bring arts and cultural events to East Pasco County.

“One of the main goals of this partnership is to introduce people to local artists like Richard Terrill, with monthly exhibits and demonstrations,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of the Avalon Park Group. “It is exciting to discover artists like Richard Terrill who already live in our community, and are willing to share their great talent with their neighbors.”

Artist Richard Terrill
Gallery Show
Feb. 24 – April 30
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday – Saturday

Reception“Outsider…ArtBrut…CoBrA…and More”
Friday, March 20, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Afternoon Tea
April 15, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Free – Refreshments Served

East Pasco Fine Arts Gallery
Avalon Park Information Center
33613 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel

Published February 26, 2020

ICI Homes Opens New Wesley Chapel Model in Persimmon Park

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ICI Homes, Florida’s premier family owned builder, has been so pleased with its success in Asturia in Odessa, and Bexley in Land O’ Lakes, that it has expanded its Pasco footprint with a new community in Wesley Chapel called Persimmon Park.

Located in the area’s most prestigious neighborhood — the master-planned community of Wiregrass Ranch —  Persimmon Park is Wesley Chapel’s newest new home community. ICI Homes is building 97 homes in this unique subdivision located off Bruce B. Downs and Chancey Road, directly behind The Shops at Wiregrass and AdventHealth Wesley Chapel.

The Lantana is the beautifully furnished model home at Persimmon Park, with three bedrooms, two baths, an open kitchen and unique breezeway for outdoor living.

“This is our first project in Wesley Chapel, and we are very excited to have been invited by the Porter family to build our homes in this vibrant community,” said Paula Spitler, Tampa sales manager for ICI Homes.

The Porter family is the owner and developer of Wiregrass Ranch, and homesteaded and lived on this land for generations. It was the Porters’ vision that brought together the unique land use plan that creates a live, work, play and learn environment with single and multi-family homes, a regional county park, large and small business centers, shopping malls and restaurants, schools and colleges, regional employers and medical facilities.

“The Porters interviewed multiple builders, and we’re very honored that they saw the value ICI Homes is bringing to Wiregrass Ranch,” says Spitler.

The result of such foresight are neighborhoods like Persimmon Park that are tucked inside Wiregrass Ranch and designed as walkable communities with trails that lead to parks, schools, entertainment, recreation and top-notch medical facilities.

“Persimmon Park gives our residents immediate access to all that Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel have to offer,” said Spitler. “Plus, the communities’ amenities are everything that a family wants without going overboard — a unique T-shaped pool and cabana, outdoor grilling, interconnecting trails, and dog parks for small and large breeds.”

ICI Homes is introducing its first neo-traditional homes in Persimmon Park, featuring open floor plans with front porches, and garages at the back of the home. The first phase has 40 homes on 40-foot homesites, and ICI is premiering five new floor plans with prices beginning at $292,900.

“Light and bright with lots of windows,” Spitler describes these floor plans as having a cottage look and feel that are open, airy, and exemplify Florida casual living inside and out.

“These homes have been designed for people wanting to simplify their life, who want less square footage to clean and maintain, yet want all the upscale finishes and details offered by ICI Homes,” says Spitler.

The beautifully furnished model home at Persimmon Park is the Latana. At 1,793 square feet, this one-story home features three bedrooms and two baths, with an open kitchen and unique breezeway for outdoor living. It’s a great home for first-time buyers, as well as empty-nesters wanting to downsize. The builder’s second one-story floor plan is the Jasmine, which is slightly smaller at 1,552 square feet, and also has three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage.

ICI Homes also is introducing three, two-story floor plans, ranging from 2,020 to 2,434 square feet. The largest home is the Primrose, which offers the master bedroom downstairs, and a game room and three additional bedrooms upstairs. The Magnolia and Orchid also are four bedroom, three bath homes, and designed specifically for Persimmon Park.

Great public schools are another reason families are choosing Persimmon Park. Students are assigned to highly rated Wiregrass Elementary, Dr. John Long Middle and Wiregrass Ranch High. “These are some of the best public schools in all of Pasco County,” said Spitler.

From the huge success it had in Bexley and Asturia, ICI Homes is continuing to build its legacy in Pasco County with its new community of Persimmon Park.

Since it was established in 1980, ICI Homes has built over 4,000 single-family homes in Florida and the Tampa area, and has earned several prestigious awards for design and innovation.

Persimmon Park
VIP Appointments
Pre-Opening Pricing
Feb. 28 – March 5
To schedule, call (813) 359-9818.

VIP buyers can purchase a home before open house pricing is set.

February 26, 2020

New East Pasco school gets a name

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A new high school that will focus on technology, STEM and business programs on the east side of Pasco County will be called the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.

The Pasco County School Board approved that name unanimously during the board’s Feb. 18 meeting.

The school is located at Curley Road and Keifer Road in Wesley Chapel on the former Kirkland Ranch property.

Program plans for the school include academies for Business, Finance & Marketing; Digital Technology; Engineering Technology; Health Science & Human Services; Transportation Technology; and Building Technology, according to Pasco County Schools’ Facebook page.

The school will serve grades nine through 12 and offer industry certification in high-demand career fields with a focus on technology, STEM, and business, the Facebook page adds.

The name Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation encompasses both the area where it will operate, and in general, to the school’s mission.

Board members received about 100 suggested names for the school.

Board member Alison Crumbley said there were so many fine people on the list that she couldn’t narrow it down to just one.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong said the name — Academy of Innovation — is broad enough to cover the ever-evolving direction of career and technical education.

“As we know, CTE is changing daily,” Armstrong said.

The new school is slated to open in August 2022.

Published February 26, 2020

Customers Become Friends at Prime Time Home Team

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It’s not just about finding that dream home, or quickly selling a client’s property, for the Prime Time Home Team.  According to partners Ernest Van Glahn and Debi Bolusi, their business is also about building long lasting relationships that often evolve into friendships.

With over 22 years of combined industry experience, the two Realtors train under the Craig Proctor Coaching Program, where Ernest is also a certified coach. This past November, the pair was honored with the program’s Quantum Leap Award for exceptional gains in real estate.

“We have some really innovative consumer programs” said Debi. “For instance, if buyers don’t Love Their Home Within 18 Months After Purchase, We Will Buy it Back or Sell It For Free, and for sellers, We Will Guarantee The Sale of Their Home or We’ll Buy It (conditions apply).”

“We also provide our buyers with a free 13-month home warranty,” said Ernest. “We recently had a client who was so grateful for this warranty because his hot water heater stopped working three days after he purchased the home, and the home covered the replacement of the hot water heater, saving him hundreds of dollars.”

The Prime Time Home Team specializes in first time homebuyers and also works with current homeowners who are downsizing or need more space for their growing family. Seniors often call looking for a maintenance free villa, and they regularly work with retirees and others moving to Florida.

The Prime Time Home Team also offers programs for military (retired and active), as well as first responders.  They work with several lenders and loan options, and can assist with down payment assistance programs.

A retired New York City Police Captain, Ernest was a first responder on 9/11 and believes in the importance of assisting his brothers and sisters in arms.  Today, Prime Time Home Team donates to the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation, named after a New York City firefighter who lost his life on 9/11. This foundation pays off the mortgage of first responders and members of the military when they are killed in the line of duty.

“Both of us being from New York and having lived through the tragedy of 9/11, this foundation is very close to our hearts” said Debi and Ernest. “Our goal for 2020 is to donate $10,000 to the Stephen Siller Foundation by donating a portion of our commission on every closing.”

Call 24/7 • 813.359.0880 • PrimeTimeGuaranteedSale.com

Published 2/19/20

Take Care Of Your Trees Before Storm Season

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Alfredo Carrillo & Bobby Van Allen

By Kelli Carmack

When Hurricane Irma hit two years ago, Alfred Carrillo and his family were staying with Bobby Van Allen and his family. The catastrophe that ensued from Irma’s wrath led to a conversation between the two friends that became an idea for a new business venture.

“One thing led to another, I broke out a napkin and it all came together,” said Van Allen.

That idea was Central Florida Tree & Debris.

Based in Dade City, Central Florida Tree & Debris provides topnotch services for all tree care needs. The company offers a diverse range of services, including removal, felling, lopping, trimming, pruning, shaping, surgery, wood chipping, stump removal, land clearing and weed control.

Central Florida Tree & Debris has highly skilled, fully qualified arborists who safely remove trees of any size. Arborists also provide proper care and maintenance of trees, to insure that your trees continue to be an asset to you and your property for years to come.

In addition to working with home owners, the company also provides services for commercial property owners. Central Florida Tree & Debris also works for major developers such as Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy to perform hazardous tree removals. In order to perform this specialized line of work, Central Florida Tree & Debris has the most updated technology and all their employees are fully trained and certified in areas such as CPR, First Aid, etc. Central Florida Tree and Debris takes pride in being fully equipped to tackle any service required of them.

With competitive prices and great customer service, Central Florida Tree & Debris strives to provide 100% customer satisfaction.

“It’s a great feeling… it’s great to give back to the community I grew up in and to make it,” said Van Allen.

Chelsea Carmody, administrative director for Central Florida Tree & Debris, prides her company on its great customer service.

“We make those personal connections that matter to our customers,” said Carmody, who adds that Central Florida Tree & Debris is a company full of like-minded people who share the same values: growth, integrity, persistence and trustworthiness.

If you’re thinking of doing the job yourself, Van Allen stresses the dangers that come with tree removal. “It pays to call in an expert for your own personal safety and the safety of your property,” said Van Allen.

With hurricane season beginning in just a few months, it’s important to note that Central Florida Tree & Debris specializes in disaster recovery, offering a 24-hour rapid response to storms and other natural disasters.

Office: (352) 437-4542
Address: 15000 Citrus County Drive, Suite 324, Dade City, FL 33523

CFtreeservices.com/index.html

Published 2/19/20

This Home Lender Puts You First

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By William Jacko

When Bruce and Tasha Henry chose the name OhmStar Home Lending for their new business, they wanted something with a soothing sound that would generate positive energy.

“The meaning of ohm is the ultimate,” said Tasha Henry, who holds a doctorate in occupational therapy. “It’s been proven that saying the word ‘ohm’ brings a calming effect and healing vibration to the soul — it clears the atmosphere and brings light to situations.

“And, we wanted to bring light to our buyers. It can be a dark place if you’ve never bought a home before because you don’t know what to expect. You need light, guidance and someone to help decrease the stress. We wanted to send a good and positive vibration out to the universe.”

OhmStar opened in 2004, and with savvy leadership, survived the 2008 recession to become a mortgage lender with both state and national licensing.

“OhmStar Home Lending is a direct lender,” said Tasha. “We’re not going to shop customer loans to 50 different lending companies. We’re pretty much a one-stop shop, and customer credit will only be pulled once.”

The Henrys communicate directly with mortgage underwriters who make the final decision.

“We are able to close and fund very complex loans in less than 30 days,” said Tasha. “We’ve even had VA loans that we’ve closed and funded in two weeks, which is almost unheard of, and are very proud that our turnaround time. Our goal is to get the loan in, closed and funded in less than 30 days.”

As a mortgage lender, OhmStar offers Federal Housing Administration, Veterans Affairs, conventional and 12-month bank statement loans. They also offer first-time homebuyer programs, and can do refinances, purchases and loans for investment properties, second homes, primary residences, duplexes, apartment buildings and commercial loans.

“We cater to veterans,” said Bruce Henry, who holds a doctorate in business administration. “We can do 100% financing for veterans with FHA and VA loans, and also offer a credit enhancement program to help veterans and other clients whose credit is not the best.”

The OhmStar credit enhancement teaches financial literacy to their customers. “We offer classes designed for first-time homebuyers—just to educate people on financial literacy,” said Tasha.

While the Henrys have built a large and successful lending business, they continue to give personalized service that small businesses specialize in.

“I was born in the early 1960s, and remember going to the neighborhood food and meat markets,” said Bruce. “Those hometown services were important to me growing up because they looked after the little person. We believe in that same level of service and sense of community, and strive to offer that to our customers every day.”

813-784-1206 • www.ohmstarloans.com • 7320 E. Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33637

Published 2/12/20

Orange Blossom Garden Club has deep roots

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Ever wonder how to attract butterflies to your garden, or unravel the mysteries of growing herbs?

Can you tell the difference between a cattleya, oncidium or phalaenopsis?

Hang out with members of the Orange Blossom Garden Club of Lutz for a day, and you’ll learn all those things and more.

Lee Ann Brown, president of The Orange Blossom Garden Club of Lutz, tries to decide which orchid to buy at Everlast Orchids & Supplies. (Karen Haymon-Long)

The club, whose history dates back to 1941, has 24 members who collectively know all sorts of interesting things about flowers and plants, gardens and pests, rooting, trimming, grafting and growing.

They learned recently at one of their monthly meetings about a smartphone app that helps identify plants. But, then, they already have Harriet Vaughan or Sara Rametta for that.

“Someone in our group always knows what a plant is,” says Lee Ann Brown, club president, while driving members to Everlast Orchids & Supplies in Spring Hill for a club field trip. Along the way, she explains how much members learn from each other and from speakers at their monthly meetings.

At State Road 52 and U.S. 41, she abruptly interrupts herself: “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe they’re taking down all those trees,” she says, wearily.

That’s a theme repeated by others on the outing. Some members – most past 60 – grew up in Florida and remember when the state was much less developed. Some even fought the widening of U.S. 41, the very road they were traveling on, on the way to Spring Hill.

Club members are drawn to a variety of plants and flowers.

Brown — who taught theater to high school students, some of whom made it to Broadway — rescues all sorts of plants from estate sales for a couple of dollars each and coaxes them back to beauty.

Eva Balogh and Darwin Brew ponder between two orchids, before Balogh spots yet a third contender.

“Usually, they just need a little attention,” she says.

Former city planner Barbara Leiby says she learned about begonias at a club meeting and now grows her own.

Another member, Eva Balogh, says, “I can’t limit myself, so I grow everything.” Her friend, Darwin Brew, takes the opposite approach. He has 600 orchids and couldn’t resist buying more at Everlast.

He meticulously labels them and spends days bringing them in from the cold. But, he doesn’t seem to mind.

“It’s fun,’’ he says.

His first orchid was a pink phalaenopsis.

Hong-Chia Lee has 200,000 orchids in his greenhouses off U.S. 41 in Spring Hill. He sells to the public and to florists, garden shops and plant brokers.

“It was 10 bucks, so I bought it, brought it home and put it on a table, and it bloomed and bloomed and bloomed.”

He was captivated.

At Everlast, he helped Eva Balogh decide between a delicate white cattleya hybrid or a yellow one, both with a splash of purple-pink.

“This one has more buds,’’ he tells her, as she spots yet a third choice.

“And, look at that one,” she says, pointing to another prize winner.

There are just so many to choose from.

Hong-Chia Lee and his wife, Andrea Macias, who own Everlast, have 200,000 orchids in greenhouses spanning an acre off U.S. 41 in Spring Hill.

They sell to the public, as well as to florists, garden shops, and to brokers who sell to Lowe’s and other chain stores.

Lee offers growing tips, as he leads 16 garden club members on a tour of his greenhouses.

“Most people do too much to orchids,” he tells the members.

“Just like your husbands, just leave them alone. We like to be left alone,’’ he said, laughing. “They’d rather be dry than wet. Water them every 8 to 10 days. Not every day.”

Since most of his orchids come from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Thailand and other warm places, they like the heat. One of the best places for them in the winter, he says, is a warm and humid bathroom.

A close-up view of a phalaenopsis.

He spends $30,000 on propane to keep his stock warm every winter, but then, he orders 9,000 plants and 1,200 bags of moss at a time, and 18-wheeler trucks deliver his fertilizer.

Asked how many orchids he has at home, he smiles and says, “Zero.’’

Of course, he doesn’t have to go far to see them.

He and his wife, and his 8-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter, live in a house on their 9-acre nursery property, so, “If I want to see an orchid, I just come here,” he says.

Some garden club members have been to his nursery before and he donates orchids to their annual plant sale, whose proceeds fund a yearly $500 scholarship to a high school senior planning to concentrate on agriculture of some sort.

This year’s sale is March 7 from 9 a.m. to noon, at County Line Produce, at County Line Road and U.S. 41 in Lutz.

Club members also collect canned goods for a food bank and donate throws, socks and other items to a nursing home.

At lunch after their nursery tour, they talk about herbs and coffee plants (they both like shade); bromeliads (The University of South Florida’s Botanical Gardens has pretty ones); bleeding hearts (they’re wonderful, but have to be thinned sometimes); camellias (lovelier than roses); orchids (addictive); deer (bad) and snakes (good).

Their conversations have that good friends’ easy feeling, with no mention of politics, religion, sports or the state of our union.

But, then, that’s what garden clubs are for — friendship, learning and swapping stories about flowers, gardens and other natural wonders.

Garden Club
The Orange Blossom Garden Club of Lutz meets at 10 a.m., on the first Wednesday of the month, from September through June, in the Lutz Civic Center, 98 First Ave., N.W., in Lutz. (December’s meeting is a holiday luncheon and June’s is a scholarship luncheon). For more details, call (813) 949-1301.

Orchid shop
Everlast Orchids & Supplies is at 17019 U.S. 41, Spring Hill. Open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call (727) 235-1386, or visit www.EverlastOrchids.com.

By Karen Haymon-Long

Published February 19, 2020

Less Pain and Quicker Recovery With Opioid-Free Anesthesia

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Now Available At Medical Center of Trinity

There’s a new way of doing surgery at Medical Center of Trinity that greatly reduces patient pain and recovery time, and eliminates the use of opioid medication and its addictive properties.

Dr. Dilendra Weerasinghe, a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon, recently joined the hospital’s medical staff and brought with him expertise in opioid-free anesthesia. He has worked closely with Dr. Jonathan Hisghman, who heads up the hospital’s anesthesiology department, to set up an opioid-free anesthesiology program.

Dr. Dilendra Weerasinghe

The two physicians have implemented a protocol for surgery and post-operative care that was initially developed in the United Kingdom, where Dr. Weerasinghe received his medical training.

“Instead of using opioids and traditional anesthesiology, this protocol uses multiple drugs and nerve blocks that stop the pain at the source, before neurons transmit pain from its source to the brain,” explains Dr. Weerasinghe. “For example, before you make an incision or a cut, you block the pain before it reaches the brain or the central nervous system.”

Dr. Weerasinghe came to Medical Center of Trinity last fall to launch an opioid-free weight loss and general surgery program. His team has already successfully used this protocol on more than 20 surgeries, including bariatric cases.

Opioid-free anesthesiology has many benefits, but one of its most important is not exposing the patient, his family and caregivers to opioids’ addictive risks.

“We have an opioid crisis today, and the source for many of these drugs are prescriptions written to relieve pain after surgery,” explains Dr. Hisghman. “Unfortunately, these prescriptions can sometimes be abused by the patient, or by people who have access to a patient’s drugs.”

“Treating pain with opioids has the unintended consequence of opioid addiction, and continuing to prescribe opioids today contributes to the addiction and overdose crisis impacting our communities,” adds Dr. Weerasinghe.

There are many other important advantages of opioid-free anesthesiology. This includes less pain and shorter recovery time after surgery, reduced nausea that allows patients to more quickly resume normal eating and drinking, and no constipation common with opioid drugs.

“Most importantly, patients spend less time in the hospital, and resume their regular activities much sooner,” said Dr. Weerasinghe.

For the past 20 years, there was a big push to eliminate patient pain, explains Dr. Weerasinghe, which led to the over-prescribing of opioid medication.

“Being free of pain is not necessarily a good thing, especially if it delays a person’s recovery and exposes him to potential addiction,” said Dr. Weerasinghe. “Cultural, political and pharmaceutical factors pushed for a standard of no pain, which is not always the best goal for a patient because of the risk opioids bring.”

Dr. Weerasinghe shared that research on patient discharge after surgery shows that 7% of patients are still using opioids six months after surgery, and of those, 14% are still on opioids five years later. The best way to prevent addiction from occurring is to not prescribe opioids at the time of surgery.

“The opioid crisis contributed to exploration of alternative pain relief, which led to the multi-modal approach to pain relief that we’re using with opioid-free anesthesiology,” said Dr. Weerasinghe.

“This is not an abandonment of pain relief — but a new solution to stop the pain at the source,” adds Dr. Hisghman. “After almost 20 years of practice, I did not want to be left out on this new approach to treating pain at its source, with better outcome for my patients.”

Drs. Weerasinghe and Hisghman have found that opioid-free anesthesia often provides superior post-operative pain control and lessens side effects often found with opioid pain medication.

“Opioid-free anesthesia makes surgery more pleasant, increases safety and enhances recovery,  all while providing superior pain control,” said Dr. Weerasinghe. “Our patients want this – it makes surgery less complicated and gives us better outcomes.”

Medical Center of Trinity is the only hospital in Tampa Bay currently using opioid-free anesthesiology. Its patients have ranged in age from their 30s to 80s, and all have left the hospital with minimal to almost no pain.

“I even recommended a similar opioid-sparing anesthesia model for my mother-in-law, who had great success,” said Dr. Hisghman. “She is a believer in this protocol, and so am I. This is a visionary approach for our hospital, and truly sets us apart from other medical facilities. We are very proud to be offering it to residents of our community.”

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