The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Chalk Talk 12-24-14

By

(Courtesy of Watergrass Elementary School)
(Courtesy of Watergrass Elementary School)

Interactive teach-in at Watergrass
Watergrass Elementary School in Wesley Chapel hosted a variety of presenters at the Great American Teach-In, including Linda and Ed Brunner of Tranquil Pawz Therapy Dogs. Nathanial Wright interacts with one of the therapy dogs.

Application period starts for magnet school
The application period for Pasco County Schools’ first magnet school, Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School, runs through Jan. 15.

The school is located at 5126 School Road in Land O’ Lakes and is scheduled to open August 2015.

The focus of the school is on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

For information, and a virtual tour, visit PascoSchools.org, and click on the Sanders banner at the top.

LOL students excel in WordWright
A team of students representing Land O’ Lakes High School excelled in a recent WordWright Challenge.

The school’s ninth graders placed eighth in the nation; the 10th graders placed second; and the 12th graders placed sixth.

The WordWright Challenge is a national competition in which more than 50,000 students across the nation analyze literature with a focus on perceptive interpretation, sensitivity to language, and an appreciation of style.

Students who excelled in the challenge were Tyler Visuvasam, Stutee Achaya, Joshua Brett, Josie Hidalgo, Roshan Kumaraswamy, Nana Kusi, Alison MacDonald, Sarah Bush, Michael Gendreau, Ben Martin, Shivani Saini, Albert Xing, Grace Alexander, Carter Bright, Isabella Brown, Nicholas Maci, Elizabeth May, Ashley Rocks, Jessica Twitmyer, Alexander Lewis, Tyler Ohnmacht, Hernando Torrealba, John Calahatian, Brandon Clark, Alexander Duty, Justin Mashhoff and Nicholas Suhlman.

David Berger, Margaret Higgins, Bryan Babij and Ramona Quave supervised the teams.

For information about the challenge, visit WordWrightChallenge.com.

Scholarship endowment helps veteran students
The Pasco-Hernando State College Foundation recently received a $1,000 scholarship endowment gift from The Florida Suncoast Chapter of Military Officers Association of America.

The scholarship is awarded to eligible PHSC military veteran students and their families.

To date, the organization has contributed $14,000 to its scholarship endowment.

For information on the PHSC Foundation, call (727) 816-3410, or visit PHSC.edu/foundation.

Saint Leo a top school in MAE
Military Advanced Education has awarded Saint Leo University the designation of a top school in its 2015 MAE Guide to Colleges and Universities, measuring the best practices in military and veteran education.

The guide contains the results of a questionnaire of the military-supportive policies enacted at more than 600 institutions including private, public, for-profit, nonprofit, four-year and two-year colleges.

It also gives students information about institutions that go out of their way to give back to our men and women in uniform.

The guide will be released in the December issue of MAE, and will be available online at MAE-KMI.com.

Library foundation launches website
The Pasco Library Foundation recently launched its new website, making it easier to learn about the library foundation and support the Pasco County Library System.

Donations to the library foundation make great gifts for anyone who loves books and the library.

Donations can be dedicated to a certain type of purchase or a particular program.

Personalized bookplates also can be inserted into a book of your choice.

The library foundation will also send a holiday card to inform the gift recipient that a donation was made in their name.

For information, visit PascoLibraryFoundation.org.

 

 

Concern remains over using credit cards, but not enough to stop

By

It’s the final day of the Christmas shopping season, but there is still some concern among consumers that using a credit card or debit card at major stores can create problems down the road.

Yet, a new poll by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute shows those concerns won’t stop most people from still using those cards at checkout.

Some 82 percent of shoppers say they are very or somewhat concerned that their credit card information will be stolen from cyber breaches at stores. However, 61 percent say they will keep using currency the same way, and even singing up for advantage cards offered by many retailers.

In fact, there seems to be more concerns that retailers will track purchasing behaviors of shoppers than there are of others stealing their financial information.

A substantial number of people are even open to enhanced security techniques, such as requiring fingerprint scans, but not go as far as requiring eye scans.

“In most cases, data breaches did not directly impact customers, but caused huge losses for companies,” said Sreekanth Malladi, a cybersecurity professor at Saint Leo University, in a release. “One of the affected companies, for example, spent millions of dollars to recreate and reissue their credit cards. Ultimately, the company incurred significant indirect losses, including cleanups, remaking, gap in sales, and reputation.”

In terms of whether businesses are tracking spending habits of customers, it’s not exactly what people think it is, Malladi said.

“It seems to be a myth,” he said. “People think companies now have more access to their personal information than needed. Companies actually try to safeguard an individuals’ personal information more than ever, since it will be their own loss if they didn’t.

“It is unfair for consumers to say, ‘We want you to properly authenticate transactions, but we will not give you our personal information to help it.'”

The Saint Leo poll surveyed 1,1016 adults nationally between Nov. 25 and Dec. 6. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.

Health 12-24-14

By

Dealing with the grief of miscarriage
Working through the grief of a miscarriage can seem overwhelming, but help is available. Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers offers a booklet called “Embracing Hope: Comfort & encouragement after miscarriage,” published by Focus on the Family.

It also can provide a DVD, “Miscarriage-Footprints on our Hearts,” to help people process their grief.

Oasis is located at 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite 108, in Land O’ Lakes.

You can call Oasis at (813) 406-4965, or visit OasisPregnancyCenter.org.

Holiday blood drives
Select Publix Supermarkets will host blood drives during its “12 Days of Giving” celebration

The bloodmobile will be at the following Publix locations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dec. 30:

  • 10015 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa

Dec. 30 and Dec. 31:

  • 19221 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz
  • 19034 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Tampa
  • 16560 N. Nebraska Ave., in Lutz

Donors must be at least 16 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds.

All donors will receive a wellness checkup and a $10 Publix gift card.

Appointments will be honored. Walk-ins are welcome.

For information, visit OneBlood.org/12daysofgiving.

Free health care event
The Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., will host a free health care event Jan. 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Guests can get help in choosing and signing up for a health care plan.

For information, call (813) 995-0078.

Tools to quit smoking
The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer the free Tools to Quit program for tobacco users Jan. 6 at 2 p.m.

Participants will set a quit date, make a plan, and work through steps to quit.

Those attending also will receive free optional nicotine replacement therapy including patches, lozenges or gum.

For information and to register, call (813) 929-1000, Ext. 208, or email .

Woman’s club donates to CARES
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club recently donated $300 to the CARES Organization in Pasco County.

For many years the club has manned the telephone reassurance office, making daily calls to area seniors and shut-ins who do not have any outside contacts.

The seniors are directed to available services including Meals on Wheels or other social or medical services.

Health & Wellness Fair
The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a “Get Covered, Stay Covered” Health & Wellness Fair Jan. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Premier Community HealthCare Group will host workshops and provide Healthcare Marketplace application assistance.

There will be free wellness resources and activities for kids.

For information, call Cheryl Pollock at (352) 518-2000, Ext. 9012.

(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills)
(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills)

Café supports healing work
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills has announced the opening of its newly renovated Creation Café. The former Harvest Basket Café underwent a complete renovation to help support the healing work at the facility. The Creation health principles are choice, rest, environment, activity, trust, interpersonal relationships, outlook and nutrition. The café hours are Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. For information, visit FHZephyrhills.com.

FHZH welcomes 500th baby
Florida Hospital Zephyrhills officially celebrated the delivery of its 500th baby at The Baby Place, inside the Women’s Health Center, Dec. 14.

The Baby Place offers seven private labor, delivery and recovery rooms, and seven private mother and baby rooms. Each room provides a home-like environment.

The rooms also are designed to allow significant others to stay with the mother.

For information, visit FHZephyrhills.com.

Tax Collector’s office raises $3,400 for diabetes
During the month of November, National Diabetes Awareness Month, the Pasco County Tax Collector’s office raised more than $3,400 on behalf of Terri’s Tears Charitable Trust Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting research which seeks a cure for diabetes.

Terri’s Tears Charitable Trust Foundation is a Pasco-based organization founded to honor the memory of Mary Theresa “Terri” Garofolo, a Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetic for more than 35 years.

It is estimated that more than 1 million Floridians have diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2. It also is estimated that 30,000 children and young adults are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes annually.

“For our first partnership with Mr. Fasano and the Tax Collector’s Office, this is amazing,” states Vince Garofolo, widower of Terri Garofolo and founder of Terri’s Tears, in a release.

“The citizens of Pasco County showed not only their generosity but also a genuine concern to help the cause.”

Business Digest 12-24-14

By

New Maaco coming to Land O’ Lakes
Come January, yet another shop will open where Land O’ Lakes residents can get car work done.

New franchise owner Kristen Andreani is opening her first Maaco location at 4107 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., according to company spokeswoman Betsy McDonald.

Maaco, founded in 1972, has more than 450 franchises across North America through its Charlotte, North Carolina-based Maaco Franchising LLC.

It would become Pasco’s second Maaco location, joining one on U.S. 19 in New Port Richey. The only other close Maaco location is at East Fowler Avenue in Tampa.

New retail planned for U.S. 41
Property along Land O’ Lakes Boulevard that has been vacant for more than 30 years may soon get a tenant.

Robert Sharp has requested a meeting with Pasco County building officials to discuss a 5,100-square-foot retail building for 3714 Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. That’s property located just north of Copperstone Executive Suites, across the street from the RaceTrac gas station.

Sharp didn’t share details on what he had planned for that space, but did ask for drive aisles.

The land is a little more than a half-acre, and was sold to the Fay B. Norton Family Trust in 2005 for $375,000. Late last year, the estate of Brendan Norton transferred the land to three members of the Norton family through an executor’s deed. That estate picked up the land through a trustee’s deed in 2012.

The land itself is on the market, listed through Bales Properties Inc., for $199,000.

Buffalo Wild Wings on its way
Land is getting pretty expensive along State Road 56, which is exactly what the owner of the Buffalo Wild Wings chain found out late last month.

AMC Wesley Chapel Real Estate Inc., a company affiliated with Buffalo Wild Wings owner Diversified Restaurant Holdings Inc., purchased a little more than 2.5 acres of land along State Road 56 just east of Cypress Ridge Boulevard for $2.3 million. That’s a price just north of $903,000 an acre.

The developer has plans to put the land to good use, however. AMC is seeking final approval to build a 6,400-square-foot restaurant on the site, with an 800-foot patio, with direct access to State Road 56. Buffalo Wild Wings got initial approval from the Pasco County Planning Commission earlier this month, and will seek to get the same from the full Pasco County Commission in January.

This would become the second Buffalo Wild Wings in Pasco County after the State Road 54 location in New Port Richey. Other locations are in Ybor City and Tampa’s Westchase area, according to the restaurant’s website.

Developers have not said when construction will begin, or when the restaurant would open.

Orthodontist looks to build at Wesley Chapel hospital
Developers are looking to build a three-story office building just in front of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel on land connected to a local orthodontist.

Armando Cabre, of Cabre Engineering LLC, is set to meet with county officials behind closed doors next week to discuss plans to build a 16,000-square-foot medical office building on 1.8 acres of land just north of State Road 56 along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

Cabre doesn’t mention who is interested in developing the land, but it’s owned by Lismark Holdings LLC, a company connected to New Tampa orthodontist Mark Farina, the owner of Farina Orthodontics located on Amberly Drive, as well as a second location in South Tampa.

Lismark, according to county property records, purchased the land in November 2013 for $1.28 million.

The vacant land currently is zoned for commercial, and is part of a larger sector of land the Porter family — who control the Wiregrass Ranch development — have designated for primarily medical uses to help complement the Wesley Chapel hospital.

No other details were shared about the facility, except that some of the project would be set aside to construct a drive-thru ATM somewhere in the future.

It’s not clear if Farina plans to use space in the office himself, or if he’s building to attract other medical professionals. He did not return an email request for comment last week.

It’s likely too early to talk a construction start date just yet, since meeting with county officials typically is a preliminary step in the development process.

In-home nutrition business opens
Living Path Nutrition has opened in Wesley Chapel, providing in-home nutrition consultations for individuals, families and groups. Services there include individual and group nutrition coaching, pantry makeovers, and clean-eating parties.

A registered and licensed dietitian and nutritionist provides the service.

For information, call Kim Chism at (813) 344-6534, or visit LivingPathNutrition.com.

West Winds now Rosecastle of Zephyrhills
Just two months after picking up a new owner, West Winds Assisted Living Facility in Zephyrhills is no more.

The 75-bed for-profit facility is now called Rosecastle of Zephyrhills, according to a posting on the facility’s Facebook page.

Rosecastle, located at 37411 Eiland Blvd., was sold Oct. 1 to Sabra Health Care Holdings III, which lists its address in Irvine, California, according to Pasco County property records. West Winds Prime LLC was the seller, and managed the property through carious companies since West Winds opened in 2008.

Sabra is a real estate investment trust that acquires senior citizen housing, memory care and skilled nursing facilities around the country. It purchased West Winds for $10.2 million, adding it to six skilled nursing facilities and three senior housing facilities Sabra purchased through the first half of 2014 for $141.5 million, according to filings at the time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

It remains Pasco’s third-largest real estate transaction. Topping that list was the $36.1 million sale of the Arlington at Northwood apartment complex in Wesley Chapel, followed by the $16 million sale of more than 330 acres of land in Wiregrass Ranch to make way for a proposed 550-home subdivision.

Volunteer tax preparers needed
United Way of Pasco County is looking for help this coming tax season with volunteer tax preparers.

Last year, more than 8,000 county residents used United Way’s tax preparation service, and received more than $8 million in total refunds.

Those interested in being a tax preparer does not require experience, and comes with comprehensive training.

For more information, visit UnitedWayPasco.org.

 

On The Agenda 12-24-14

By

Democratic women to get Hillary connection
The Democratic Women’s Club of Pasco County will host its regular meeting and lunch Jan. 10 at 11 a.m., at the Jasmine Lakes Civic Center, 7137 Jasmine Blvd., in Port Richey.

Guest speaker is Aaron Darr, founding member and Florida state coordinator for the Ready for Hillary campaign, and effort to “draft” former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton into the presidential race.

Cost is $5.

To RSVP, email , or call (727) 372-9321.

Ananth Prasad leaving FDOT
Ananth Prasad, who has led the Florida Department of Transportation since Rick Scott was first elected governor, will step down from that job Jan. 2.

“Secretary Prasad … has been pivotal to making sure we could make a record investment of over $10 billion in our transportation system this year,” Scott said, in a release. “Secretary Prasad has also helped Florida become a major force in international trade because of his commitment to expanding our Florida ports and airports.”

The Florida Transportation Commission is being tasked with recommending Prasad’s replacement, expected next year.

Republican Women welcome Ted Schrader
The Pasco Federated Republican Women’s Club will host a luncheon Jan. 9 at 11:30 a.m., at Ciao Italian Bistro, located in The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. Joining the club is Pasco County commissioner Ted Schrader as the guest speaker.

Cost is $20.

To reserve a seat, call Fran Scerbo at (727) 597-3727, or email her at .

Scott makes cabinet, agency appointments
Gov. Rick Scott is getting ready for his second term by making some appointments among his cabinet and supporting agencies.

  • Mike Carroll will become secretary for the Department of Children and Families, after serving as interim secretary since April. He has nearly 25 years of experience with DCF, including work as the regional manager of the organization’s Suncoast region, which spans from Pasco to Collier counties.
  • Barbara Palmer will remain director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Palmer was first appointed to that job in August 2012 after spending nearly a year as chief of staff. Before all that, Palmer was assistant secretary for administration at the Department of Children and Families.
  • Julie Jones will become secretary for the Florida Department of Corrections. She was the executive director at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles since 2009, and spent 26 years prior to that at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
  • Dr. John Armstrong will remain the state surgeon general and secretary of the Florida Department of Health. Scott first appointed Armstrong to the role in 2012 after serving as chief medical officer of the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation at Tampa’s University of South Florida.
  • Timothy Cerio will become general counsel effective Jan. 5, with Pete Antonacci serving as special counsel during the transition period. Cerio is an attorney at GrayRobinson, and was a general counsel to the Florida Department of Health from 2005 to 2007.
  • Ken Lawson will remain the secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Lawson first earned that appointment in 2011, and previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida.
  • Chad Poppell will become secretary of the Department of Management Services. Poppell has served as the chief of staff of for the Department of Economic Opportunity since January 2013, and previously was director of employee services for a utility provider in Jacksonville.
  • Rick Swearingen will become the interim commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He has been with FDLE since 1984, and has served as the director of the capitol police since June 2013.
  • Ken Detzner will remain secretary of the Department of State. Detzner was first appointed to the position in 2012 after spending 30 years in both public and private settings, including the Department of State office.
  • Cynthia O’Connell will remain secretary of the Florida Lottery. O’Connell, a former communications executive, was first appointed to the position in 2011.

In Print: A hospital for Connerton, and a chat with St. Nick

By

An area has come into its own when it has added a hospital. And Connerton has taken a huge step in that direction.

As Connerton continues to grow just north of Land O’ Lakes, entrances from U.S. 41 and State Road 52 will have to be improved, Pasco County officials say. (File photo)
As Connerton continues to grow just north of Land O’ Lakes, entrances from U.S. 41 and State Road 52 will have to be improved, Pasco County officials say. (File photo)

Pasco County’s Development Review Committee has given an initial approval on the second phase of Connerton’s overall project — and that includes early plans for a 150-bed hospital.

“What we’re doing right now is securing approval of the entitlement limits so that can decide what they can put there, depending on the market at the time,” Connerton representative Stew Gibbons told reporter Michael Hinman. “It’s a great location, especially when Ridge Road goes through, which will give you access across the county.”

Florida Hospital owns a bunch of land in Connerton through its University Community Hospital Inc., name. And if anyone builds there at this point it would be them.

But are they ready do it? Find out in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available now in driveways and newsstands everywhere, or for free online with our e-edition by clicking here.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis has spent a lot of time working on veterans issues, but now he’s focusing on yet another pressing matter that may not get the attention it deserves: mental health.

Bilirakis invited Pennsylvania congressman Tim Murphy to Land O’ Lakes recently to talk about a new bill he authored that could change the face of how we approach mental health care in the coming years.

“On any given day, half-a-million people in this nation are in jail with a mental illness,” Murphy told participants of a recent mental health roundtable at Rasmussen College, according to reporter B.C. Manion. “We have to stop pretending that we can just wish this away.”

Unfortunately, many people’s introduction to mental health care in the county is through the state’s Baker Act, which requires mental health institutions to release those under forced observation after 72 hours.

“Who came up with 72 hours for mental illness?” Murphy asked, adding that the time limit “doesn’t make clinical sense.”

Find out what can be done in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available now, or by reading our free online e-edition by clicking here.

And do you hear reindeers on your rooftop? Then that means Santa Claus is coming to town. And our very own Michael Hinman sat down with the jolly old elf himself to talk about what kids are asking for this year.

OK, so it wasn’t actually Santa Claus, but one of his many helpers — retired Q105 radio personality Pat George. He said history is starting to repeat itself because once again, boys are asking for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — something that probably hasn’t been on too many people’s minds since the 1990s.

But what about girls? Is there a new Barbie? Maybe something from the Disney movie “Frozen”? Or how about …

“A lot of them want guitars,” George said. “I don’t know what it is out there driving it, and I’m pretty up on a lot of music. But it might be because there are a lot of shows on television right now where girls are not only singing, but they’re playing instruments too. So maybe we have Taylor Swift to thank for that.”

So what is Santa’s secret? Find out in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, or read it online for free by clicking ho-ho-ho.

And finally, photojournalist Fred Bellet has some great pictures to share from a couple of events that you might be interested in. First in the final smaller edition of the East Pasco edition of The Laker, Fred offers a full-page look at the Pearl Harbor remembrance event in Zephyrhills. It’s something you don’t want to miss.

Then, Fred was out and about finding a number of great holiday moments in all different kinds of places. See a little of what he found by clicking here, and also by clicking here.

All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.

If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.

The Laker staff shares holiday memories

By

Anyone picking up the print edition of The Laker/Lutz News this week will find a little something special from many of the people who help put the newspaper together each and every week.

Everyone here in our Land O’ Lakes office was given an opportunity to share a favorite holiday memory, whether it be something recent, or even something from their childhood or past. Nine of our crew here shared their stories, which you will find scattered in the Christmas Eve edition of your community paper.

Here are some snippets of what you will find. The first is from account manager Suzanne Beauchaine, talking about a crazy cold, yet warm Christmas.

 The house would be full of light and warmth for about an hour, and then poof — everything was dark. There was no way to know how long we would be without light.

Typically, the power would be out for an hour or two, but sometimes it would be out for three.

We were forced to sit and relax by candlelight, and we found ourselves engaged in pleasant conversation. We had no idea when we would receive the glorious gift of electrical power again.

Customer service manager Carolyn Bennett shared her royal Christmas fit for a princess.

I wanted a bedroom fir for a princess. I wanted pink walls and a full-sized white canopy bed with layers of purple ruffles, white nightstands with small lamps that were fitting, and a white fur rug to place my princess feet upon. This was a Christmas wish.

As the gifts started going under the tree, I would try to figure out which part of my princess room could fit into the box. The day arrived when a very large, but flat, gift appeared. Could it be my princess bed?

My parents asked me if I really thought a big canopy princess bed could fit into such a box. How could it? I knew they were right: No way a bed could fit into that box.

Why should Christmas come to our home when my one and only wish was not coming true?

Getting together for a hayride was always a fantastic way to get into the holiday mood. We held these rides during the holidays for years in our Wesley Chapel neighborhood.
Getting together for a hayride was always a fantastic way to get into the holiday mood. We held these rides during the holidays for years in Mary Eberhard’s Wesley Chapel neighborhood.

Our accounting manager Mary Eberhard talked about making wonderful memories at the holidays.

My parents had this great idea and rented two cabins at Mohican State Park. They drove up early, and since we were only staying there a few days, my mom brought just a handful of small Christmas decorations to make the cabin look a little festive before the rest of the family arrived.

They didn’t have room to bring a tree, so my mom jokingly said that if we saw a tree lying in the road to bring it with us.

My sister, brother and I were driving up to the cabin, and sure enough, there was a beautiful blue spruce tree on the side of the road.

My mom couldn’t believe it.

Michael Hinman, our news editor, explored the cultural differences when it comes to religion and the holidays by attending a Christmas Eve Mass in his Pennsylvania hometown.

Once the priest arrived at the altar, he started talking. I’m sure what he was saying was profound, but what really got my attention is that behind me from a balcony on the second story, a small choir started a low, dramatic hum.

The priest continued to talk, and he held out his hands, first at waist level, and then on a slow rise up. As his hands ascended higher and higher, so did the crescendo of the choir behind us.

Suddenly, the priest’s hands shot straight up into the air, and the choir was in full majestic sound. At the same time, all the holiday lighting came to life around the beautifully adorned sanctuary, and it was as if a small slice of heaven had enveloped the room.

I was shocked and I was awed. I was overwhelmed by the sound, the light, the energy.

Publisher Diane Kortus discovered how wonderful it was for childhood Christmas ornaments to find new homes.

The most emotional unveilings are of ornaments given to me the first Christmas after the births of my son and my daughter. My favorites are a little brown ceramic bear with dangling arms that a sister-in-law made for Andy in 1988. And a pink Hallmark carousel pony with Rachel’s name and birthday, May 4, 1992.

My Christmas boxes seem to have more ornaments for “Baby’s First Christmas” than any other theme. There is something endearing about the birth of a child that prompts friends and relatives to bestow these special ornaments on parents.

And then, in what seeks like no time at all, reindeers made out of clothespins and glitter-globbed Santas with cotton ball bears take over the ornament box.

Community editor B.C. Manion is probably one of the most festive people in our office when it comes to Christmas, but there was even a time when she needed an act of kindness to rekindle her Christmas spirit.

I have always looked forward to Christmas

Except for one year.

My sister Anne Marie was very ill, and I just couldn’t feel the joy of the season.

So instead of going to get a freshly cut tree from a lot and decorating it with my friends, Bob and Heather, I decided not to put up a tree.

When I told Heather that I was skipping our annual tradition, she invited me to come to their place and help them to decorate their tree. As I put ornaments on their tree’s branches, I knew the decorations evoked memories of happy events, important places, and special moments for my friends.

And I thought to myself: I have a fine collection of ornaments, too.

Editorial assistant Mary Rathman says there’s nothing like a Polish Christmas.

Christmas Eve, or “Wigilia,” was our most important holiday tradition. We’d eat delicious pierogi and break bread. The bread, or Christmas wafer called oplatek, was imprinted with a holy picture. We offered our oplatek to family and friends to ask for their forgiveness, or to extend a wish for happiness.

Also on Christmas Eve, I or one of my three sisters would add hay to our creche in preparation for the Christ child. We’d then dress in our Sunday best, pile in the car, and attend midnight Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Even though we didn’t understand the language of our parents — no matter how hard they tried to teach us — just listening to the Polish Christmas carols gave me more reasons to love the season.

Our administrative coordinator, Kathy Welton, talked a little bit about a shy boy making his singing debut one Christmas.

When my son was a little older than 3, the blond-headed, blue-eyed tyke was extremely shy. Whenever someone he didn’t know well would drop over, Michael would try to hide behind me.

That is until one Christmas when we had a house full of visitors.

I had mentioned to my brother, Tom, Michael’s tendency to shy away from people. So during our gathering, Tom asked Michael, “What’s your favorite song?”

Without missing a beat, Michael said, “Sunshine on My Shoulders.”

“Can you sing it?” Tom asked.

And finally, senior account manager Terri Williamson shared how the spirit of giving comes full circle.

We lived in Flint, Michigan, the hub of the automobile industry. My mom worked at General Motors and was bringing up four children on her own. She couldn’t afford big Christmas presents, and while we never went hungry, we sure ate a lot of hamburger casserole meals.

We loved mom’s company party. We hardly ever got to go to a movie, and if we did, we never got popcorn. Plus, the gifts were always things we enjoyed.

Those holiday parties made a real difference in my life, and to this day, they have inspired me to want to bring cheer to children who otherwise might not receive Christmas presents.

Want to read the full vignettes from everyone? There’s only one way to do it: Check out the Dec. 24 print edition of The Laker/Lutz News.

Congresswoman plans forum to discuss new Cuba relations

By

Of all the states directly affected by the change in diplomatic policy with Cuba, none are likely affected more than Florida.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, is planning a community forum in early 2015 that she hopes will help community leaders and residents learn more about what those changes mean as President Obama begins to “normalize” relations with Cuba.

“We will engage the entire community, and work toward positive change that America’s policy shift will provide,” Castor said, in a release, “Whether it is travel, trade, or cultural exchange opportunities.”

Castor is working with the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and Tampa International Airport to put together there regional forum, although no formal date or time has been set as of yet.

“At the turn of the 20th century, Tampa was central to the Cuban independence movement,” Castor said. “Similarly, Tampa will lead the way in the coming years on the new opening for normalization of relations with Cuba. We have already made much progress, especially with establishing direct flights from Tampa to Cuba, and our numerous arts and cultural exchanges to build business and cooperative ties with Cuba.”

Obama has plans to lift restrictions on travel, commerce and financial activities. Over the next six months, the U.S. State Department will review Cuba’s place on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, and conduct discussions with Cuba relating to migration, according to a release.

On top of that, the U.S. Treasury Department will increase the amount of money that can be sent to Cubans each quarter from $500 to $2,000, and loosen bank restrictions as well.

The U.S. Commerce Department also will loosen an array of export limits, including the longstanding ban on popular items like Cuban cigars.

Some Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Miami, have opposed the new plan unveiled by the Obama administration last week. Rubio, whose family roots are in Cuba, claimed it’s not the decades-long embargo that is hurting the Cuban people in general, but a totalitarian regime.

His Kentucky colleague, however, Sen. Rand Paul, said the sanctions have not worked, and it’s time to change the American approach to Cuba. Some leaders in the Republican-controlled congress say they will try to block the administration’s plans for Cuba.

Charitable giving is up, but not why you think

By

The economy is starting to take off again, and with that, so are charitable donations.

A new survey from the Saint Leo University Polling Institute showed that 67 percent of Americans say they plan to give as much or more to charities than they did last year. That’s up a bit from 2013 when just 59 percent of people said they planned to give the same or more as they did the previous year.

“This may be another indication of not only an improving economy, but of increasing confidence in people’s own economic security,” said Susan Kinsella, the human services department chair at Saint Leo University, in a release.

In the survey, conducted between Nov. 25 and Dec. 6, 18 percent said they were going to give more this year than last year, compared to 15 percent the year before. At the same time, 49 percent said they would stay steady in donations compared to 44 percent last year.

Another 27 percent said they would lower their donation, or give nothing at all, compared to 32 percent in 2013.

For those who are giving, 49 percent said they were influenced by their own ethical principles, while just 15 percent said it was based on religious teachings or beliefs. At the same time, 23 percent said they were not influenced at all by ethical principles, religious beliefs, or nudging from family members or peers.

“Giving is really a personal choice, and individuals are influenced by ethical principles over religious teachings by more than a 3-to-1 margin,” Kinsella said. “Another factor to consider is that this is the United States, and we are known for being a generous country. We don’t hesitate to open our purse strings to help others in need.”

More than 1,000 adults were polled, with a margin of error plus or minus 3 percent.

Looking for a reason to get health insurance?

By

The new year is coming, and with it a chance for many people to figure out whether they want to have health insurance for the coming year.

Bayfront Health Dade City, however, feels the decision to pick up health insurance is an easy yes — even for people who are generally quite healthy, because no one knows when they might be faced with an accident and need medical care.

And without that insurance, that person or his or her family may not be able to afford medical care when they need it most.

Also, those with health insurance are more likely to see their doctor before their condition worsens and becomes more expensive to treat. Those with diabetes and do not have health insurance have a higher mortality rate those than with diabetes and health insurance at the same time.

If someone doesn’t have health insurance and experiences a serious illness or medical emergency, he will be responsible for all his medical costs, the hospital said. Health insurance protects people and their families from financial hardships that may result from health care expenses.

Also, some colleges, universities and international programs require proof of health insurance to enroll.

One of the biggest changes to health insurance in recent years thanks to the Affordable Care Act is where someone cannot be denied because of pre-existing conditions, such as having diabetes or a previous cancer diagnosis. At the same time, all insurance plans on the marketplace must cover essential health benefits, including emergency services, hospitalization, outpatient care, pregnancy and maternity, mental health and substance abuse, and prescription drugs, among others.

Marketplace health plans also must cover a set of preventive services, like screenings, tests and vaccinations to keep adults and children healthy. Those preventive services are provided free of charge, meaning no copays or deductibles.

Many people may qualify for lower costs on a health plan, the hospital said. Depending on household income and family size, people could qualify for financial assistance from the government, or subsidies, toward the cost of the premium and other financial obligations like copays and deductibles.

Also, some people may qualify for lost-cost coverage through Medicaid. In all states, Medicaid provides health coverage for some low-income people, families and children, as well as pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Although Florida has chosen not to expand Medicaid, there are still many people who qualify for Medicaid coverage in the state, the Dade City hospital said.

If nothing else, those without health coverage in 2015 who can afford it may have to pay a penalty of $325 per adult, $162.50 per child, and up to $975 per family — or 2 percent of family income, whichever is higher.

For example, a family of four with a household income of $40,500, would have a penalty of $975, since 2 percent of income would be $810. However, a family of four with a household income of $65,000 would have to pay the 2 percent, which in this case would be $1,300.

Bayfront Health Dade City is offering help through the 2015 enrollment deadline of Feb. 15, at (352) 518-1055.