The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pancakes, movies and more at Grand Horizons

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The snowbirds are starting to leave Grand Horizons after spending a great winter with many activities that we had previously and brand new ones to boot.

There is enough going on each day to keep anyone busy. Between shuffleboard, bingo, mahjongg, cribbage and so much more, you don’t have to stop and think what to do next.  We have enough luncheons, shows, meetings, card games and additional things for us to get together with our neighbors to socialize and mingle.

Ron and Joyce Bell at one of the many functions at Grand Horizons. (Courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)
Ron and Joyce Bell at one of the many functions at Grand Horizons.
(Courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)

Approximately 25 people went to an AARP Safe Driving course. From what I understand from talking to some of the people, the course went over some driving and safety tips. They also saw a video, and because of taking this course can get a reduction on their auto insurance.

On March 28,we had more than 90 people at the pancake breakfast. This was the first pancake breakfast that we went to in a long time, and it turned out to be as good as other people had mentioned. Needless to say, it certainly will not be the last.

Now, in addition to egg n’ bag, we have another breakfast to add to our list — pancakes and more. The breakfast was hosted by Colleen Crandall and Rosemary Semian, and they had several helpers.

Then, at 7 p.m., we were treated to a great movie called “Last Vegas” starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline and Mary Steenburgen. The cast in the show was fantastic. It was about three 60-something friends who take a break from their day-to-day lives to throw a bachelor party in Las Vegas for their last remaining single friend. The movie night was hosted by Cheryl Leone, and all who came had a terrific time and enjoyed some popcorn.

This is one of the new activities, and it is a big hit.

By Helene Rubenstein

Published April 8, 2015

Keys to having a healthy lawn

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Our Florida lawns are becoming active once again, now that the weather is warmer and days are longer than 12 hours. This also means lots of calls and walk-ins to the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Office with questions about lawn care.

Some of the more popular questions this year have been the use of pet and family-friendly alternatives to chemicals for control of lawn diseases. The best “alternative” to chemicals would be to prevent the disease from happening in the first place. The best way to prevent or reduce disease in your lawn is to use a lawn grass that’s less susceptible to disease combined with Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles to manage the lawn properly.

You can have a lush like lawn like this, if you give it the proper care. (Courtesy of Whitney C. Elmore)
You can have a lush like lawn like this, if you give it the proper care.
(Courtesy of Whitney C. Elmore)

The first Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principle is to put the right plant in the right place. Selecting the right lawn grass suited to your specific site can greatly reduce the need for fertilizer, irrigation and pesticide usage.

Watering your lawn only when needed not only helps to conserve this valuable resource, but also helps to reduce disease, since excessive moisture often encourages disease development.

Mowing your lawn to the proper height, which for most of our common Florida lawn grasses is 3 inches to 4 inches high, all year round, is a must for a happier, healthier lawn. Fertilizing with the right fertilizer at the right time and in the right amount also greatly reduces the incidence of disease in your lawn. To make your lawn more pet and family-friendly and lower the risk of disease, you can use compost on your lawn a source for nutrients, instead of fertilizer.

Compost is organic matter made up of any number of manures, bone meal, dried blood, or plant and animal waste. Kitchen scraps are an excellent example of items around your house you can compost. There are compost bins and barrels that speed the microbial breakdown of these substances into nutrient rich, soil-like matter that can be spread among your plants and across your lawn. Lawn clippings left in place, instead of being raked up and thrown away, will compost in-place, and return nutrients back to the soil. Since these materials act as slow-release fertilizers, the nutrients don’t leach easily from the soil, or as quickly as fertilizer, and don’t contribute as much to water contamination making them much more environmentally and wallet-friendly. An added benefit of using compost on the lawn may be disease suppression.

While there’s no definitive research to prove that adding compost helps reduce disease problems in the lawn, anecdotal evidence suggests there may be a benefit. Microbes that occur naturally within the soil can out compete those disease-causing microbes, especially when the lawn is healthy. Good microbes can produce inhibitory chemicals that can kill disease-causing microbes. Those good microbes come from compost. So, by adding compost to your lawn, you are not only adding plant nutrients, but potentially limiting the ability of disease-causing microbes to cause damage to your lawn. Because of the need for microbial activity, compost is more dependent on soil temperature and pH to help release the beneficial plant nutrients and produce the disease inhibiting chemicals, which benefits the lawn.

If you choose to add compost to your lawn, here are some helpful hints:

  • Only use compost that has undergone significant decay. Finished compost will smell “earthy” or “mushroom-like.” You should not be able to recognize what it was previously.
  • Get your soil tested for pH. Soil test kits are available at the Pasco County Extension Office.
  • Only apply the compost to the lawn when the temperature is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the microbes are actively breaking it down and releasing the nutrients to the lawn.
  • You can apply a thin layer of compost in a process called “topdressing” over the existing lawn. If you’re topdressing, apply ½-inch to 1-inch of material to the lawn. A lawn fertilizer spreader can make this job much easier. You may need to screen out larger pieces in the compost that won’t go through the holes of the spreader.
  • If you don’t have compost, you can purchase peat moss from most big box retailers and nurseries. Topdressing with peat moss has been shown to lower disease problems specifically in St. Augustinegrass, like ‘Floratam.’
  • Plan to topdress your lawn once in the spring, when daily temperatures are staying constant between 75 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and once in late summer when daily temperatures are holding steady at 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
  • Run a rake over the lawn to work the compost down to the soil.

For more information about producing your own compost, selecting the proper turfgrass for your lawn, fertilization, irrigation, proper mowing height, or to get a soil test kit, stop by or call the University of Florida/IFAS Pasco County Extension Office (http://pasco.ifas.ufl.edu/).

Whitney C. Elmore is the Pasco County Extension director and Urban Horticulture agent III, and Jim Moll is the Pasco County coordinator of the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program™.

By Whitney C. Elmore and Jim Moll

This column was adapted from UF/IFAS Extension publications: “Turfgrass Disease Management” EDIS Publication #SSPLP14 by M.L. Elliot and P.E. Harmon. “St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns” EDIS Publication #ENH5 by L.E. Trenholm, J.L. Cisar, and J.B. Unruh, and “Peatmoss Topdressing Control of Take-All Root Rot on St. Augustinegrass” by P.F. Colbaugh, X. Wei, and J.A. McAfee, of the Texas A&M Research Center.

Published April 1, 2015

Frank and Dean make a grand return

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Before the show even started, Terry Gardner (the host of this show plus other entertainment) gave a nice speech in which he thanked all the helpers. It was a nice touch, and then the show began.

They came back, and everyone who saw them last year knew what to expect, and they weren’t disappointed. They were here on March 7, 2014, and they were so well received, that many people asked for their return. It was granted on March 21, 2015, and many people, residents and visitors came for the show that they looked forward to.

Damion Fontaine, left, and Scott Brotherton channel Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin during a performance at Grand Horizons. (Courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)
Damion Fontaine, left, and Scott Brotherton channel Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin during a performance at Grand Horizons.
(Courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)

Both, Frank (Damion Fontaine) and Dean (Scott Brotherton) put on one heck of a performance. They also were dressed well, with Frank and Dean both wearing red bow ties with a red handkerchief and a tuxedo, while Dean also wore a red cummerbund. Frank donned a lovely fedora that Frank is so well known for.

The show started with Dean singing “You’re Nobody Til Somebody Loves You,” and Frank joined in. It was the perfect start to a great show.

Of course, in between the different songs, several jokes were told that had everyone laughing.

Frank then sang a couple of solo tunes like “Fly Me to the Moon” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” During this last song, Frank went through the audience and shook hands with many there.

Dean followed with a big hit called “Memories are Made of This” with many antics and motions that originally went with the song. Following this performance, Frank performed a classic Sinatra song entitled “Young at Heart.”

One special performance was done by Dean from Casablanca called “As Time Goes By,” and he ended the song with the words, “Here’s looking at you kid.” He followed this song with “I’ll Be Seeing You.”

Frank did a fine job with “The Lady is a Tramp,” and then Dean and Frank did a great rendition of “King of the Road” while the audience was snapping their fingers and clapping along.

Dean did a lovely performance of “Tiny Bubbles,” while Frank was in the background and joining in on the song. During this song, there was much audience participation.

Frank then sang a lovely version of “The Summer Wind,” “Love for You and Me,” “My Way,” and so many others.

Dean performed a lovely rendition of “Mona Lisa” and did a marvelous job of it in addition to the 1965 Dean Martin hit entitled “Everybody Loves Somebody.” A funny and cute time was when Dean twirled the fedora that was on Frank’s head and when the hat was on backwards, this was when Frank sounded like Louis Armstrong. But, if the hat was forward, he had Frank’s voice. Frank did a marvelous job at this and had many a person in stitches.

Frank and Dean sang “Luck be a Lady Tonight,” “The Best is Yet to Come,” “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head,” and others.

Dean performed a Tony Bennett signature song entitled “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” and he did it with much emotion.

The show ended with Frank and Dean mentioning the men who served in the armed forces and then sang “America” while they both stood. Dean then sang “Coming to America,” while the audience applauded. Then, of course, Frank performed “New York, New York,” while Dean was in the background taking some pictures and singing the chorus with Frank.

By Helene Rubenstein

Published April 1, 2015

Ice cream sundaes a treat on hot, humid days

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On March 12, we had our HOA meeting at the community center.  We discussed old and new business. There was a large turnout of approximately 70 to 80 people.

After the meeting, many people stayed to play euchre. I used to play this game, and it is fun and from what I understand, there are now many residents who play this competitive game. So if you are looking for a fun-packed game, any resident and/or visitor of Grand Horizons can come and join them.

The hosts for the ice cream social were, from left, Tom Carter, Laurie Carter, Del O’ Hara and Andy Gisondi. (Courtesy of Helene Rubenstein)
The hosts for the ice cream social were, from left, Tom Carter, Laurie Carter, Del O’ Hara and Andy Gisondi.
(Courtesy of Helene Rubenstein)

On March 13, we had our monthly lunch connoisseur at Francesco’s in Dade City. Galen and Susan Parker hosted this luncheon with help from Sam and Fred Sage, and I must say they did a marvelous job. About 38 people had a lovely afternoon with a menu that had a little of everything. It is hard making a decision.

After the luncheon, we could go shopping in Dade City, as there were plenty of shops, and there definitely was something for everyone, or we could go directly back home.

On March 15, there were about 72 people at the community center. It was on this day that we had an ice cream social hosted by Andy Gisondi, Del O’Hara, and Tom and Laurie Carter. Everyone enjoys their ice cream, and they had ice cream sundaes in addition to root beer floats.

Every topping imaginable was there and some of them were strawberries, cherries, bananas cut in slices, pineapple, coconut, chocolate and caramel syrup (regular and lo-cal), whipped topping (also regular and lo-fat), sprinkles in color and chocolate, nuts, miniature marshmallows and more. It was pure heaven, and we got to see several creations that were made by individuals that were overflowing with this special dessert.

Before tables were called to get their ice cream or floats, they also had a table filled with delicious cookies made by Andy and Del, lemonade and coffee.

It was done to perfection, and all who came to this ice cream social had one terrific time.

By Helene Rubenstein

Published March 25, 2015

Music for your ears at Happy Days

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What a lucky streak we must have been on the day Jim and Nevaida Howe rolled into the park years ago. Jim is the godfather of our Friday afternoon Fiddle Jam at the hall. This has been a tradition for many local bow benders along with a mélange of other string instruments players.

Strumming away during a jam session are, from left, Ron Marcum, Derek Haynes and Ron Graham. (Courtesy of Ron Graham)
Strumming away during a jam session are, from left, Ron Marcum, Derek Haynes and Ron Graham.
(Courtesy of Ron Graham)

Over the next year or so, this blossomed with an expansion to the Open Jam on Saturdays. This premise encourages a broader range of talent than Friday, with guitars, drums and play what “ya brought,” and encourages singers to join in. Larry and Muriel Oakes have inherited Saturdays.

Each of these venues demands a lot of personal time for set up and takedowns, as well as hall cleaning. A big hoorah for all their efforts to provide this and all who will help them with the chores. It is for all to enjoy, and it is free.

Friday’s Fiddle Jam has its own group of followers, and is always open to the old classic country style of music fan. Saturday, with an open concept, is now providing a broader music experience — the past road guy, some long-in-the-tooth axe pickers, the learners, the singers, the smaller groups that love the opportunity to entertain each other, as well as the crowd.

Come and fill those seats around them. It is a toe-tapping good time. They will appreciate it and encourage this to grow into its full potential. For your information, last week we had 25 players, and nine were from inside the park. Wonderful!

Karaoke, although it does not demand the talent to play an instrument or sing like a professional, does provide a musical fun-filled night for those who want to flex their shower voices and air guitar skills. Our own Nancy Warren encourages one and all to try their hand at it. Some need a little coaxing, but the nights are always a success.

The season wrapped this year with the second annual Talent Show on March 21.

By Ian Marwick

Published March 25, 2015

Protecting Your Valuable Assets

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Mary Jane Graham Morrow Ins 1By Mike Matthew

Special to The Laker / Lutz News

Photo: Mary Jane Graham

Lynne Mitzel, principal owner of Morrow Insurance Group, has helped Lutz families protect their assets for over twenty-five years. “Our name is synonymous with community,” says Lynne. “We have had customers with us for thirty years, and now we are insuring their children.”

“Everyone has different insurance needs. Two families in the same neighborhood will each have unique circumstances. We work to give our clients exactly what they need and want, not a cookie-cutter plan that is easy to sell.”

“We are big on relationships,” says Lynne. “At the end of the day, it is all about people working with people. You need to be able to trust the people with which you work.” “Our national carriers are constantly telling us to send our smaller clients to call centers for service,” says Lynne. “I certainly do not like my calls being answered by someone in another country. I want every one of my customers to receive the personal service they deserve from someone who knows them and truly cares about their needs.” Lynne and her team, work diligently to obtain customized coverage for each client.

A major concern facing homeowners today has to do with homeowner’s insurance. Many national insurance carriers are no longer writing homeowners policies in Florida. As a result clients often come to us having policies with the state insurer, Citizens. While a vast number of these policies are being transferred to take-out companies, even some of these companies go out of business in a few short years due to mismanagement and other financial difficulties. This is shaky ground for homeowners, and they need someone on their side to provide insurance options. Morrow Insurance stays on top of these issues along with maintaining a company base that provides alternative markets to ensure their clients are properly covered.

Morrow Insurance has one office with eighteen colleagues. Many of which have been there more than ten years. “We’re like a big family here,” says Lynne. “We actually enjoy insurance, and everyone works hard for our customers.”

“Schools do not teach people how to buy insurance or purchase real estate,” says Lynne. “These are big issues. You have to find someone who takes your interests to heart. We are a faith-based organization, and that contributes to why everyone is so caring and loving.”

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. They close for lunch daily from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., so everyone can go to lunch together. Sometimes their customers join them.

Morrow Insurance Group provides personal insurance (homeowners, umbrella, auto, flood, valuable articles, motorcycle, watercraft, recreational vehicle, and plane insurance), commercial insurance (property, commercial vehicle, workers compensation, product liability, crime, marine, and general liability), health insurance and financial planning services.

Call Lynne and her dedicated staff at (813) 963-1669 or visit their website at MorrowInsurance.net for more information. Their office is located at 18936 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz.

Conversations, good company and a little luck

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With all the snowbirds leaving for the summer months, we still had a big turnout on March 4 for coffee and doughnuts. There were quite a few of the residents there to get the news of the week. Of course the birthdays of the week were announced and recognized along with any anniversaries. There was much conversation going on, and it is a good way to relax and just enjoy the company.

Loretta Lynn belts out a tune at the Strawberry Festival. (Courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)
Loretta Lynn belts out a tune at the Strawberry Festival.
(Courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)

On March 5, we had a social club at the community center. Here again, a nice turnout showed up to hear the old and new news. Also, they talked about what is planned for the future. For example, they are thinking about a karaoke night. Discussions would follow if anyone cared to talk about it and possibly make some suggestions.

Later that night, several people got together for a game of cribbage. This is a fast-moving game and so much fun. You have to make decisions on what to discard and what to keep.

In the meantime, across the room, several women were playing mahjong. This game, like cribbage, makes you stop and think. Anyone who joined in for either game had a pleasant time.

There also was card making going on in a different room in the center. Here, the people make greeting cards for rest homes and shut-ins.

On March 6, some people attended the quilters and there was a game of shuffleboard afterward. I never went to the quilters before, but they do some amazing work. The work they do is just spectacular, and they have entered various contests and have done quite well.

On the other hand, I have gone to shuffleboard before, and we always have a good time. Usually you can get up to 20 people to attend. Sometimes, depending on the weather, we get more.

But my husband and I attended the Strawberry Fest on this particular day to see some shows and just have a delightful time. The food is absolutely yummy.

In the afternoon, we saw Loretta Lynn. If you are not familiar with her, she is a country star and has been for many a year. Her big hit is “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” and she sang this plus many other hits.

At Grand Horizons on March 7, many residents were in the community center for our monthly egg n’ bag. This is always entertaining and delicious.

If you walk in the center, you will hear all types of discussions going on, and with well over 100 people, there is buzzing throughout the room. It seems like everyone has a topic of conversation, and they all contribute to a good time. We had a great breakfast and real good company.

On March 10, we had several women attend our reading class that we have monthly. This month, we went to Marilyn’s home to discuss the book that we read for the month.

It was an interesting discussion and brought a new meaning to the book.  The book was titled “The Alchemist,” and there was a fascinating discussion about it.

We broke for some goodies after the discussion, and there were a variety of them. Decisions, decisions on what to have! One was more delicious than the rest.

During this time, there was also a lively game of pinochle being played in the center. As I mentioned before, this is an amazing game and definitely keeps you on your toes.

At night, we had bingo played in the center. There is always a nice size crowd attending, hoping it will be their lucky night.

By Helene Rubenstein

Published March 18, 2015

Residents open their hearts for families, students

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Bennett Ricks, volunteer administrator services chief for Pasco Country Fire Rescue was a guest at a recent coffee hour at Leisure Days RV Resort. He was presented with a check for $960 for the Volunteer Rescue fund. This is a yearly donation from the residents of the park.

Bennett explained the funds would go toward the purchase of equipment not made available by the county, and also for training of volunteers. He also will be sending someone to the park to demonstrate how to use the new AED located in the hall.

This is just one of the many ways the residents of Leisure Days reach out to their winter community.

For several years, Christmas baskets are set up in the hall. Each year, three families are selected to receive gifts purchased by the residents. The families receive toys, clothing, handmade items and food. Diane McMillan, coordinator for this project, said, “the parents really appreciate the gifts. There are always a lot of tears when they see what strangers have done for their families.”

The Busy Hands program has reached out to hundreds of people in the Zephyrhills area since it started in 2011. Residents of nursing homes, hospice, the pregnancy center, local schools, and many others, are the recipients of these handcrafted afghans and quilts, made through the Busy Hands program.

Tracy Thompson, volunteer manager for Gulfside Hospice and Pasco Palliative Care, said she is always hearing “how appreciative the residents and their families are – of receiving these beautiful works of art, and in fact are frequently moved to tears at the generosity of the Busy Hands. Thank you, thank you – your efforts are truly appreciated and make a big difference in people’s lives.”

Local schools, both elementary and secondary, are also being supported by the Leisure Days residents. Along with the hundreds of stocking hats that have been delivered to local schools, the residents support the Thomas Promise weekend backpack program in many ways.

The offering from the Sunday morning church service goes to the Zephyrhills High School Back Pack program.

The pregnancy center has also been a recipient of very generous gift.

The residents also purchase items for the backpack program. The food is delivered to the high school by Diane McMillan and Diane Deaton every two weeks. Diane said, “It is so little effort on our part (residents), but so important to the students; it means some go to bed less hungry.”

Another resident, Laurely Deans, learned that the high school had collected prom dresses for the students. Over the years, she has donated numerous prom dresses and added jewelry, shoes and matching ties for that special date.

Diane Vaughan, ABC Program coordinator and registrar of Zephyrhills High School, summed up the generosity of Leisure Days residents.

“Leisure Days RV Resort is a prime example that people really want to help, but they aren’t sure how. Once the residents knew about the plight of some of our financially struggling students and their families, they jumped right to help. Residents have donated money, food, clothing, handmade hats, scarves and afghans, all in an effort to help these students.

“By opening their hearts, the residents at Leisure Days RV Resort have made a significant difference in the lives of our students. I am in awe of their generosity.

“The donations provide much needed food to fill our weekend backpacks. The Thomas Promise Foundation provides food from their pantry for the weekend backpacks. Now that they are filling 1,000 backpacks a week, the pantry can use the assistance of the community.”

For more information about Thomas Promise, visit their website at TheThomasPromise.org.

By Anne Astles

Published March 18, 2015

A busy end to an active season

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This has been a very busy time for our bus. Many trips were taken, thanks to our driver, Bonnie Pratt.

Some of the places we have visited include the Spaghetti Warehouse in Tampa, the beach in St. Petersburg, Hooters, Yuengling Brewery, a Yankees-Pirates baseball game in Bradenton, and a Detroit baseball game in Lakeland.

Members of the Red Hot Chicks enjoy a dinner cruise out of Clearwater. (Courtesy of Millie LeBaron)
Members of the Red Hot Chicks enjoy a dinner cruise out of Clearwater.
(Courtesy of Millie LeBaron)

The Red Hot Chicks went to Clearwater for a dinner cruise. It is said that ‘what happens on the cruise, stays on the cruise.’ A good time was had by all.

Palm View Gardens hosted Canada Day. This included snacks, games and dinner. Prizes were presented for the winners of the games. Americans and Canadians celebrated together. It was a sea of red and white. This activity was organized by Dennis and June Simms. Co-chairpersons were Cheryl and Clarie Leightons. Linda and Gary Moore organized the games. It was a wonderful international celebration.

The Monday Women’s Golf League at Southport Golf Club had their banquet at the golf club’s clubhouse. June Simms and Cheryl Leighton organized the banquet. Marilyn Doerr and MaryAnn McPheron organized the golf league.

They were recognized for their work with gift certificates and flowers. Joanie had her usual beverage to toast all present for good luck. Thanks, everyone, for a great season.

The quilters of Palm View Gardens made a quilt to be raffled. Ted Cote bought a ticket and won the quilt. Ted had an idea to carry this further. With the blessing of the quilters, he had a raffle of his own to support the Wounded Warriors Project. At this raffle, the quilters sold tickets and took in more than $100. Joanna Austin won the quilt.

However, an anonymous donor gave Ted a $100-bill with the catch that he needed to double the money again! Ted took the challenge to the park residents at a Saturday breakfast where the challenge was met. The total raised came to $425, which was donated to the Wounded Warriors Project Foundation. Thank you to Ted for his generosity! Thank you to the anonymous donor, and to the residents who contributed to this worthy cause.

There also were spaghetti dinners to support our local fire company. One dinner was a sit-down dinner and another was a take-out only dinner. All proceeds from the dinners were given to our local fire company.

Thanks to Chuck Gould for the Thursday night dances. The Frank Moravcik Combo provided awesome dance music.

By Millie LeBaron

Published March 18, 2015

A medical home in your community

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Laker Photo FinalBy Mike Matthew

Special to The Laker / Lutz News

Pediatric Health Care Alliance has twelve neighborhood locations with more than 40 board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners dedicated to providing your child with the very best medical care.

Dr. Melody Baade and Dr. Ignatius Tan are the pediatricians at a growing Pasco location, the Suncoast Office in Odessa. “What makes our practice unique is that we provide a medical home for our patients,” says Dr. Baade. This means all patient care is coordinated through the pediatrician’s office, including specialist care, hospital admissions, chronic conditions, and more. The Odessa office has been open for five years with patients coming from a wide area.

Another unique factor about the practice, which was founded in 1997, is that it is independently owned by the physicians. All decisions about patient care and business operations are made by the pediatricians. “Many of our doctors have worked for other pediatric offices before,” says Dr. Baade. “They bring with them a great deal of experience.”

Dr. Baade earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in 1985. She completed her residency in pediatrics in 1988 at USF Tampa General Hospital. She has been recognized by physician peers on the list of Best Doctors in America from 1996 to 2014.

Dr. Tan graduated from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in 1992 and completed his residency in 1995 at USF All Children’s Hospital. He was also voted one of the Best Doctors in America by his peers from 2011 to 2014.

With Pediatric Health Care Alliance, patients get the benefits of a larger practice while seeing the same doctors in each individual office. “We get to know our patients personally, and they get to know us and our staff,” says Dr. Baade. “We’re here to help.”

Another benefit from this group practice is the availability of evening and weekend hours at their locations in Brandon, North Carrollwood and Wesley Chapel . These extended hours are available to all patients from any location when the other offices are closed for the day. Patient records are electronic and available at every location to ensure continuity of care if patients need to visit another location. For more pressing concerns, pediatricians are available on-call 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and they are also on staff at major area hospitals.

Patient care and communication are top priorities of Pediatric Health Care Alliance. “We welcome calls during business hours to discuss your concerns,” says Dr. Baade. “We try to provide same-day appointments for sick children. We also have a separate waiting area for sick children.”

The Suncoast Office is currently welcoming new patients from newborns through the age of 18, and provides care for established patients through age 21. They accept most major insurance plans. Anyone new to the area or currently looking for a new pediatrician should call for a complimentary welcome visit to meet the staff and tour the office.

“We’re in the largest pediatric group on the west coast of Florida,” says Dr. Baade. “Dr. Tan and I have been in the Suncoast office since it opened. We’re Florida natives.” Dr. Baade grew up in Daytona Beach, while Dr. Tan grew up in the Tampa area.

The Suncoast office is located at 1850 Crossings Blvd., Unit 100, in Odessa, behind the Target Plaza off State Road 54. Contact them at (813) 475-7100 or visit their website at PediAlliance.com for more information.

Additional locations include Big Bend, Brandon, Citrus Park, Crossroads, FishHawk, Lutz, North Carrollwood, Northside, South Tampa, Suncoast, Walsingham and Wesley Chapel.