The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pet shelter suffering from dog overcrowding

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It’s winter time, when the number of cats and dogs ending up at animal shelters is lower than normal. But that’s not the case right now, as the shelter at Pasco County Animal Services is overcapacity with dogs.

Because of that, the shelter is waiving adoption fees on selected animals for the remainder of November.

“It’s hit a critical point,” animal services manager Mike Shumate said, in a release. “We came through the summer months with good community support. We need the community to rally around its shelter again to help save a few more lives.”

Dogs that have been abandoned by their owners, or are simply stray, continue to drive up intake numbers at animals shelters across Florida, officials said. It’s got to the point where some shelters are restricting the number of animals they’ll accept.

“We really need pet owners to be more responsible,” Shumate said. “When that cute puppy grows up, it needs to be cared for by the family that adopted it, and not put out on the street or turned in at a shelter. Pets should be adopted for life.”

The local shelter is on a program with a goal of saving 90 percent of its animals. However, that becomes far more complicated when families just aren’t there to adopt, and when others give up on their animals to bring them to an already overcrowded shelter.

“We don’t want to euthanize adoptable animals,” said Shivana Sismilich, the shelter’s adoption coordinator, in a release. “We want our community to come to the shelter first when they consider a new pet. These dogs and cats need Pasco families to save them.”

The shelter is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6:30 p.m., and closed Sundays and Mondays. It’s located at 19460 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes.

For information, call (813) 929-1212, or visit PascoCountyfl.net/PAS.

In Print: Something funny happening at Beef’s?

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Football and hockey might be the first thing that comes to people’s minds when they think of Beef O’Brady’s. But comedy? That might be something new.

Yet, the Beef’s at 7040 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., is welcoming comedians to the sports-themed restaurant once a month. And coming up Nov. 21 is a teacher-turned-jokester from Pinellas County, Mike Rivera.

Rivera’s comedy fits with Beef O’Brady’s desire to put on a show that is adult-oriented, but not vulgar. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Rivera’s comedy fits with Beef O’Brady’s desire to put on a show that is adult-oriented, but not vulgar. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“There’s nobody else who has a comedy show in the area,” Beef’s general manager Mike Connor told reporter Michael Murillo. “We just thought this was something different.”

The show begins at 9 p.m., to allow a more adult audience to enjoy Rivera’s humor. But if anyone is expecting to hear material that would make many people blush, it’s not part of what Connor is trying to do at Beef’s.

“Dropping the f-bomb every other word is not funny,” Connor added.

Get all the details about how Beef O’Brady’s is turning to comedy in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available on newsstands and driveways right now, or for free in our online e-edition by clicking here.

Getting to Beef’s might be a little easier for residents living in the Silver Lakes community after learning a developer wanting to build more than 100 homes near the shores of Curve Lake is changing that community’s main entrance.

Southern Crafted Homes had originally looked to use the small and quite rural Fletch Road as the main entrance to Pristine Lakes, forcing residents there to travel through a small community to Barcellona Road to finally get to Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. This was not a popular idea by residents who lived along those roads, including Bobbi Smith, who had pushed for developers to acquire enough land to move the entrance to Ehren Cutoff.

That wish appears to be granted, with developers proposing to do just that.

“All we wanted was for the traffic to go a different way,” Smith told reporter Michael Hinman. “That’s the answer to everybody’s concern.”

Yet, Smith might not be ready to take a breath quite yet. Pristine Lakes wants to still use Fletch Road as an emergency entrance. What does she think of that? Find out in this week’s print edition of The Laker, available right now. Or read it right here online for free in our e-edition by clicking here.

Wiregrass Ranch High School students might be looking at a bit of a longer day soon. School officials need to deal with some overcrowding issues on campus, and one way to do that is through a 10-period school day.

“While that seems to be the most feasible and logical solution right now, we have stayed open to other possibilities,” school principal Robyn White told reporter B.C. Manion. “We have looked at every suggestion that anybody has given. So far, we haven’t come up with anything better.”

Wiregrass Ranch was built for an enrollment of 1,633, but currently has 2,333 students in the hallways and in 30 portable classrooms. It is expected to have as many as 2,500 students by the time next fall rolls around.

How would the 10-period day work? Find out in this week’s Wesley Chapel print edition of The Laker. Or read it online right now in our free e-edition by clicking here.

And finally, photojournalist Fred Bellet has some great pictures to share from the U.S. Marine Corps birthday celebration at Harbor Terrace Restaurant at Heritage Harbor Golf and Country Club. See it online 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.

Cold snap expected tonight, shelters open

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With a cold front moving through the area bringing frigid temperatures with it, Pasco County has opened shelters in Port Richey and Hudson for those who might not be able to stay out of the cold otherwise.

The shelters are located at Impact Family Church, at 8020 Washington St., in Port Richey, as well as Holy Ground Shelter, 8835 Denton Ave., in Hudson. Both shelters open at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The cold temperatures and low wind chill values are dangerous to anyone who is outside for a long period of time, according to county officials. Children, the elderly and pets are especially vulnerable to the cold, and extra care should be taken to protect them.

For additional shelter information, contact the United Way at 211.

Pasco County Public Transportation provides service to cold weather shelters free of charge during normal operating hours. Riders simply need to tell drivers when boarding they are en route to a cold weather shelter.

 

The specialists at Vein911 are experts in vein problems

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Vein911 is a medical practice specializing only in medical and cosmetic vein care and is staffed with a physician who is clinically trained in vascular and interventional radiology.

Dr. Chris Pittman
Dr. Chris Pittman

“There are a lot of practitioner’s treating veins, but not a lot of them are doing it with a high degree of quality,” says Dr. Chris Pittman, medical director of Vein911.

“This is an outpatient procedure and there is much less scrutiny than if a patient was being treated in a hospital,” said Dr. Pittman. “And because it is not a surgical disease, seeing a surgeon is no guarantee of a great outcome. Vein care is truly a buyer beware situation.”

Vein care begins with ultrasound imaging because vein disorders aren’t always visible. Doctors use ultrasound images to accurately determine the cause and source of the problem and to formulate a personalized treatment plan.

Fortunately for patients at Vein911, Dr. Pittman is an imaging expert who has more than 20 years experience performing minimally invasive, image guided surgery.

“There’s no vein disease that we can’t treat,” says Dr. Pittman. “And we’re proud to report that we’ve never had a patient who didn’t feel better afterward. In fact, 20 percent of our new patients were previously treated for vein disease, and came to us to get their treatment done right.”

Dr. Pittman is triple board-certified in diagnostic radiology (ultrasound), vascular and interventional radiology, and venous and lymphatic medicine. Diagnostic radiologists are experts at performing and interpreting ultrasound exams. Interventional radiologists use ultrasound images to perform minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures to treat diseases anywhere in the body.

Dr. Pittman and the other medical specialists at Vein911 treat vein dis- ease with the most minimally invasive techniques possible. They use ultrasound images to guide tiny instruments inside the body, which allows them to correct vein problems with little or no discomfort, using no scalpels and requiring no stitches. These procedures minimize pain, reduce the chance of infection and speed recovery time. Most treatments are completed in less than 45 minutes and patients are back to their normal routine without restrictions on their activities.

A patient’s initial consultation and ultrasound are covered by insurance, as are most treatments. This is true even with people who think their only problem is visible spider veins that they want treated for cosmetic reasons.

“Typically spider veins are a result of deeper problems,” said Dr. Pittman. “There’s no reason to live with spider veins — three 30-minute treatments are all it takes to get rid of them in most patients.”

Vein911 is the first medical prac- tice in America to offer a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee of spider vein treatment results. “We’re that confident.” says Dr. Pittman.

Vein911 has three locations: 3000 Medical Park Drive in Tampa; 2716 West Virginia Ave., in Tampa; and 13005 U.S. 301 in Riverview.

They can be reached at (813) 501-2346, or at Vein911.com.

– Mike Matthew

This story is a feature of the advertising department.

A dentist with a multi-cultural perspective

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Dr. Daniel Hwang (Dr. Dan) graduated from the prestigious Columbia University School of Dental Medicine in 1991. After operating a number of successful dental offices in New York City, he relocated to Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel 11 years ago to provide his three children with the very best tennis instruction.

Dr. Dan opened Pasco Dental eight years ago. Owing to the loyalty and referrals by his patients, he doubled his office space earlier this year. He now has 3,000 square feet of office and treatment space dedicated to the highest quality service for his patients.

PascoCentalCloser111414Patients are not just a mouth full of teeth to Dr. Dan. He takes the time to get to know his patients in order to provide them with dental solutions that fit their lifestyle and expectations. In other words, he’s not going to try to talk anyone into something that isn’t affordable or necessary.

Dentistry is a family affair. His brother is a dentist in New Jersey. His eldest son will be attending dental school after he graduates next year.

“Dentistry is not just a job,” says Dr. Dan. “I’ve been practicing for 23 years and I’m still learning about new techniques, materials and equipment.” He’s very interested in advancing his knowledge and expertise in order to deliver the very best treatment to his patients.

He emigrated to the United States from Korea at the age of six. His wife is originally from Thailand. This multicultural perspective gives him a greater ability to accommodate patients from other nationalities. Rest assured, he speaks perfect English.

“My patients receive total care under one roof,” says Dr. Dan. “I’m the only dentist in this office. Every day I strive to reduce costs, time and pain for my patients. If they need a treatment that I can’t provide, then it’s likely no other dentist can either.”

One treatment he’s been receiving a lot of requests for is described as gummy smile correction, when a person’s smile reveals their gums. This is especially embarrassing for young females. A new non-invasive treatment, called the Lipstat procedure, takes about 45 minutes to correct this problem with minimal discomfort and downtime for the patient.

Another request he’s been taking care of regularly comes from senior citizens wearing dentures. Over time, the dentures become loose making it difficult to eat a variety of foods. Dr. Dan is able to provide dental implants that totally stabilize the dentures enabling the wearer to eat anything they

like without discomfort. The Consumer’s Research Council of America has recognized Dr. Dan as one of America’s top dentists from 2009 through 2014.

Dr. Dan provides all dental services, including deep cleaning and the latest braces, under one roof with state-of-the-art equipment and a dedicated, caring staff. His office is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Evening hours are available on Wednesday between noon and 7 p.m.

Pasco Dental is located at 29450 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel. They can be reached at PascoDental.net, or at (813) 907-6600.

– Mike Matthew

This story is a feature of the advertising department.

Two locals semifinalists in national contest

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Zach and Catie Tomasello are among 25 semifinalists in the Uncle Ben’s Beginners Cooking Video Contest.

Five grand prizes will be awarded in the contest, with each winner receiving a $15,000 check for his or her family and a $30,000 cafeteria makeover for his or her school.

Catie attends Pine View Middle School, and Zach attends Pine View Elementary School.

To quality, each of the 25 finalists submitted videos of themselves and their families preparing a rice-based dish, and talking about their experience of cooking together. Between now and Nov. 26, individuals can visit UncleBens.com to vote for one of the 25 finalists’ cooking video.

A quarter of the contestants’ final score will be decided by online votes. The rest will be based on personality, creativity, and healthy ingredients of the recipe.

Voters are allowed to vote once per day per IP address.

Pasco County under freeze watch Tuesday night

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Temperatures are expected to hit freezing levels overnight for parts of Pasco County, prompting the National Weather Service to warn residents to take the appropriate precautions.

It is the first freeze of 2014, and will affect not only inland Pasco, but significant portions of Levy and Citrus counties, according to an alert by the weather service. Those places could see a hard freeze with temperatures expected to drop into the mid-20s.

The watch is in effect from late Tuesday evening through Wednesday morning. Temperatures are expected between 28 and 32 degrees, lasting three to four hours. Such conditions could kill crops and other sensitive vegetation.

The weather service suggests people protect not only crops, but other planets, pets and pipes from prolonged exposure to sub-freezing temperatures.

 

Severe thunderstorm warning, tornado watch for Pasco

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The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Central Florida, including Pasco County, until 2:30 p.m.

Meteorologists in the Ruskin office detected a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph, according to the alert. The storms were located along a line extending from 14 miles northwest of Crystal River, to 35 miles west of Holiday.

The storms are moving east at 50 mph, and already have caused widespread damage across Levy County, weather officials said.

The alert affects areas locally like Spring Hill, Dade City and Zephyrhills.

Anyone in the storm’s path is advised to prepare immediately for damaging winds, destructive hail, and deadly lightning. People outside should most to a shelter, officials said, preferably inside a strong building, but away from windows.

The entire area remains under a tornado watch until 8 p.m.

 

Finding a deal on gasoline? It’s only going to get cheaper

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Since the end of September, the price of gas has plummeted in states across the country, including 41 cents per gallon in Florida alone.

And it’s not stopping anytime soon.

“Gas prices are plunging in-line with the falling price of oil, declining demand, and pumps selling winter blend fuel, which is cheaper to produce,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins, in a release. “Gas prices should only get cheaper through the rest of the year.”

Even the national gas price is taking a hit, with the U.S. Energy Information Administration dropping its forecast from $3.38 per gallon in 2015, to $2.94 instead. The national average in 2013 was $3.49, and despite the current drop in price, has averaged $3.45 so far this year.

“The change in EIA’s forecast this month shows just how volatile gas prices can be,” Jenkins said. “Motorists can expect low gas prices to linger through early 2015, but they will likely climb above $3 a gallon in the spring.”

That’s because gas prices typically rise about 40 cents in the spring because of oil refinery maintenance, increased demand, and the switch to the more expensive summer blend fuel.

The shale boom continues to push the price of oil downward, with a barrel selling for $75.82 on Friday — down $2.83 from the week before.

A gallon of unleaded gasoline in Florida Sunday was down 3 cents from a week ago, and 32 cents from a month ago. The price is 35 cents cheaper per gallon than what it was a year ago.

Two gas stations just off State Road 52 reported the cheapest gas in Land O’ Lakes, according to GasBuddy.com, with a posted price of $2.73 per gallon on Sunday. The most expensive was found at the Sunoco station on Land O’ Lakes and Causeway boulevards, at $2.89.

The Sam’s Club on State Road 56 was slightly cheaper with prices at $2.72, while the cash price at a Citgo on State Road 54 and Boyette Road was the priciest in Wesley Chapel at $2.89.

Gas prices in Lutz ranged from $2.74 at three different stations, to $2.94 at a Shell station on North Dale Mabry Highway and Van Dyke Road.

The cheapest gas in Zephyrhills was reported at $2.72 at two different stations, while the most expensive was said to be $2.89 at a Citgo at Gall Boulevard and Chancey Road. Dade City prices ranged from $2.69 at D&D on U.S. 98 and U.S. 301, to $2.85 at the Citgo station at Lock and 21st streets.

Sheriff’s Office to help schools prepare for tragedy

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is offering a four-hour training program to administrators and staff members at area schools in December, with the hopes of curbing some of the violence and safety issues at other schools around the nation.

The Dec. 15 event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, 13651 Hays Road in Spring Hill. It will include discussion of topics like the emergency management cycle, multi-hazard planning for schools, threat and vulnerability assessments, crime prevention through environmental design, mass notification concepts, grant resources, and facilitating drills and exercises.

The first line of defense for schools is effective and purposeful planning, the sheriff’s office said in a release. The idea is to help schools develop their own emergency response plans, and identify vulnerabilities that school leaders can eliminate to help lessen the risk to students.

The cost of the training is free, and is open to “anyone involved in the safety and care of our students,” according to a sheriff’s office flier.

Those interested in taking part can register by sending an email with names of those attending, the institution name, and a contact phone number to Cpl. Donald Fly at .