The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Everyday tips to stay away from flu, other illnesses

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Local efforts are under way to encourage healthy habits to avoid illness.

Everyday preventive actions can help slow the spread of germs that can cause many different illnesses, and may offer some protection against the flu.

“While a flu shot is the most effective measure against getting the flu, good prevention habits help reduce more than just the spread of flu,” said Kathleen Yeater, executive director of nursing at the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County, in a release.

The school district, government and health department in Pasco are pushing out reminders to practice healthy habits for prevention. Even Pasco County Parks and Libraries have teamed up with characters they developed named Nate and Wendy to get the message out about flu prevention. Thousands of people have watched the “Nate & Wendy” shows that address a variety of topics from the county government, according to a release.

The latest episode focuses on school children washing their hands and covering their mouths when they cough. That video can be found at Youtu.be/nPHV5mesjMY.

The messages, however, are the same for adults.

“If you do catch the flu, it’s important that you stay home and fight the illness,” said Randy TeBeest, assistant county administrator covering public safety. “We encourage our county employees not to spread the illness around by coming back to work. Stay home, get better, then come back.”

Some steps to help with everyday preventive actions include:

  • Stay home when sick. If possible, stay away from work, school and errands. This will help prevent others from catching it. Also, avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Throw the tissue away after use, and wash hands. If a tissue is not available, cover mouths and noses with sleeves, not hands.
  • Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth. Germs can spread this way.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces or objects. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill.

Steinbrenner/Gaither game gets lesson in texting, driving

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It’s a rare time to have football and Halloween on the same night, but AAA is going to make the best of it by sharing a true fright: texting and driving.

AAA and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will attend Friday’s football game between Steinbrenner and Gaither high schools, where they hope to talk about the dangers teens face when they get behind the wheel. Of course, that becomes much more complicated when they decide to pull out their phone and text as well, according to a release.

The number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes by a distracted driver was 3,328, with another 421,000 people injured in 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

During the Steinbrenner/Gaither game, both AAA and the sheriff’s office will hand out “Don’t Txt n Drive” T-shirts, show a public service announcement about teen driver safety, and ask teens in attendance to make a voluntary pledge to not text and drive.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Steinbrenner, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, in Lutz, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.

Steinbrenner (3-4-1) is looking to play spoiler in the game as Gaither (5-3-0) is looking for a way to break the three-way tie at the top of the Class 7A-District 7 standings it shares with Sickles and Tampa Bay Tech. Steinbrenner edged Freedom last week 7-6 to take them out of the district championship race, and dropping them to 4-4-0.

 

In Print: Growth at The Grove could get red light

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It takes a lot to stand in the way of progress, but a popular shopping center just off Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel may have finally found its Achilles heel: A traffic light.

The Grove at Wesley Chapel has the room to grow, however new tenants are shying away from the complex because they say another traffic light is needed where Oakley Boulevard meets County Road 54.

“The challenge we have with all the major future development out of The Grove centers around the fact that the project lacks a traffic signal at the main entrance,” said Jim Mazzarelli, managing director at Genesis Real Estate Advisers, the company working with The Grove developers. “As our engineers say, we don’t have an ingress problem, we have an egress problem. You can get in, but you can’t get out.”

There is a traffic light for cars wishing to turn left from the shopping center, but that means traveling west to Gateway Boulevard before leaving. Oakley makes more sense, Mazzarelli said, because that’s considered the main drive out.

But getting that light won’t be easy. Although the main road past The Grove is now county-maintained, the Florida Department of Transportation still controls the intersection with I-75, and rules currently prevent the state agency from allowing a traffic light that close.

So what are The Grove’s options? Find out in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available on newsstands and driveways right now. Or you can read the free online e-edition by clicking here.

For those who feel jumping out of a perfectly good airplane thousands of feet above the ground with nothing more than a large piece of nylon isn’t exciting enough, Zephyrhills is bring the world to town with the World Canopy Piloting Championships.

Florida resident and reigning national champion Tommy Dellibac will be among the competitors vying for gold at the World Canopy Piloting Championships in Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of Randy Swallows)
Florida resident and reigning national champion Tommy Dellibac will be among the competitors vying for gold at the World Canopy Piloting Championships in Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of Randy Swallows)

It’s all about “swooping,” and it’s the first time the world competition has come to the United States. And unlike regular skydiving, this is something people can gather on the ground to not only watch, but also enjoy.

“All the action happens in the last 10 seconds of the skydive, close to the ground,” T.K. Hayes, president and general manager of Skydive City, told reporter Michael Murillo. “It is totally a spectator sport.”

It’s going to cost $100,000 for Skydive City to put on the event, which takes place Nov. 4-6, but the company did get a little help from the Pasco County Tourist Development Council, which contributed $15,000 to the cause.

And it’s not just jumpers from around the world. It also includes a Florida swooper who was the champion at the last world competition two years ago. Is he coming back? Can he defend his title?

Find out in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available now both on newsstands, and in our online e-edition, which you can read for free right now by clicking here.

Several years ago, retiring Pasco County commissioner Pat Mulieri found herself at the Pasco County Animal Services shelter in Land O’ Lakes, and vowed she would never return. Seeing all the animals the shelter had to put to sleep tortured her soul so much, that she preferred it to be out of sight, out of mind.

However, Mulieri realized the only way to make a difference was to become involved, and she did just that in 2012. And now she’s looking to continue her very active role with the animal shelter on Dogpatch Lane even when she finally steps down from the government dais next week.

But despite all the efforts the shelter has done to reduce the percentage of animals that have to be killed each year, Mulieri believes real change will have to happen outside the shelter, not inside, to really make a difference.

“You’ll never be able to adopt them all out,” Mulieri told reporter Michael Hinman, “and you’ll never be able to cut down on the pet population until you change people’s ideas.”

That means encouraging everyone to spay or neuter their animals. Otherwise, it’s possible for one cat couple, for example, to be the top of the family tree of more than 420,000 cats … in just seven years.

How else can people help to save lives at the animal shelter? Find out in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available on both newsstands, and right here in our free online e-edition.

And finally, photojournalist Fred Bellet has some great pictures to share from the recent cut-a-thon at The Grove at Wesley Chapel’s Ulta Beauty location, all to help raise awareness about breast cancer, and at the same time, raise money for research. 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.

Dr. Christina Gomez is new OB/GYN in North Pasco

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Dr. Christina Gomez believes practicing medicine is truly a calling. Growing up in Tampa, she volunteered in nursing homes and hospitals as a teenager before attending USF.

My Gynecologist’s Pasco office staff are Kristina, Dr. Gomez and Doris.
My Gynecologist’s Pasco office staff are Kristina, Dr. Gomez and Doris.

During her residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Dr. Gomez gravitated toward obstetrics and gynecology. “It’s what I loved best during rotations,” she said.

Gomez approaches patients by focusing on their overall health and well-being. She believes patients should be educated about their health and be their own advocates. She encourages patients to ask questions about any and all health issues.

Before opening her new office on State Road 52 close to the Suncoast Expressway, the closest My Gynecologist office for Land O’ Lakes residents was in Spring Hill. Now, patients have convenient access to annual exams, contraceptives, menopause management and obstetrical care.

“I live three minutes away from my office,” said Dr.Gomez. “I shop here, work here and play here. I understand why it’s so important for women to have convenient access to the medical care they need.”

My Gynecologist provides patients with access to an online portal where medical information is available to them 24 hours a day. In addition, a medical liaison is available to answer any questions. These services set My Gynecology apart from other medical providers and allow patients to become their own health and well-being advocates.

My Gynecologist’s north Pasco office is staffed by Dr. Gomez and two assistants, and has the full support of the practice’s main office in Spring Hill. Tests and procedures can be performed at either location. Dr. Gomez has privileges at Bayfront Health Spring Hill.

“I feel like I’m fulfilling a need in the community, while doing what I truly love,” said Dr. Gomez.

Whether riding on the Suncoast Parkway Bike Trail,or visiting Lowry Park Zoo with her young son, Dr. Gomez enjoys living in the community where her patients also live.

“This is home. Getting to work so close to home is great. I love taking care of people, especially helping women understand the importance of good health.”

My Gynecologist accepts most major insurance plans, including Medicare. The Pasco office offers open extended hours during the week.

My Gynecologist is located at 14751 State Road 52, Suite A105, in Hudson, in the Hays Road Town Center. Learn more at MyGYN.net.

– Jenny Timms

This story is a feature of the advertising department.

Pasco libraries to tackle identity theft

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The Pasco County Library System is offering a program to teach residents how to protect themselves from identity theft, and how to catch identity theft early.

The 45-program will be offered throughout November and part of December at library branches around the country.

It’s free, and also will explain what to do if someone feels they have become a victim of identity theft.

Upcoming programs include:

  • Centennial Park Library, 5740 Moog Road in Holiday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m.
  • South Holiday Library, 4649 Mile Stretch Road in Holiday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.
  • Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m.
  • Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m.
  • Regency Park Library, 9701 Little Road in New Port Richey, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.
  • Hudson Regional Library, 8012 Library Road in Hudson, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m.
  • New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m.

For information, visit PascoLibraries.org.

Diabetes November focus for tax collector

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November is National Diabetes Month, and to help raise more awareness for the cause, Pasco County tax collector Mike Fasano is partnering with Terri’s Tears Charitable Trust Foundation to raise some money.

Throughout the month, all five branches of the tax collector’s office will collect cash donations, that will in turn be donated to Terri’s Tears, which Fasano says has a proven track record in diabetes research. It is estimated that more than 1 million Floridians have diabetes, and it’s further estimated that 30,000 children and young adults are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes annually.

“Our foundation’s mission statement is nine simple words: Because we have to find a cure for diabetes,” said Vince Garofolo, president and chief executive of Terri’s Tears, in a release. “The monies raised through this campaign will help us to fund research institutions in their pursuit of a cure. We appreciate the support Mr. Fasano, his staff, and the 200-plus employees who are willing to help us educate the citizens of Pasco about diabetes, and we thank them for their generosity to the cause.”

Terri’s Tears was founded to honor the memory of Mary Theresa “Terri” Garofolo, a Type 1 insulin dependent diabetic for more than 35 years. Terri’s Tears raises money to assist with research efforts to help people afflicted with this disease.

“There probably is not a person or family who has not been impacted by diabetes in some form,” Fasano said, in a release. “I venture to guess that everyone either has personal experience, or knows someone who is a diabetic.

“During November, I encourage our customers to drop a donation into our collection jars. Every dollar raised will bring diabetes research one step closer to finding either a cure, or better treatments for those afflicted with diabetes.”

Besides making donations at the tax collector’s office, people can send a donation to Terri’s Tears, c/o Florida West Coast Credit Union, 7200 Ridge Road, Suite 1, Port Richey, FL, 34668.

For information on where to donate, visit PascoTaxes.com.

Halloween creates scary combination for pedestrians, motorists

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Halloween can be one of the most deadly nights of the year for both pedestrians and motorists, according to AAA.

With the increased number of walkers trick-or-treating, and party-goers that could be impaired behind the wheel, it makes for a scary combination. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that Halloween is consistently one of the top three days for pedestrian injuries and fatalities, and that 48 percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities on Halloween night in 2012 involved a drunk driver.

“On Halloween, motorists need to be especially vigilant between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight when pedestrians are most vulnerable,” said AAA spokesman John Pecchio, in a release. “Slowing down, watching for trick-or-treaters who might cross between cars or mid-block, and using a designated driver may save a life.”

AAA offers motorists these tips to help keep roadways safe:

• Avoid neighborhood shortcuts. If possible, avoid cutting through residential streets where trick-or-treaters are likely to be present. When providing directions to a party, try not to route guests through neighborhoods unnecessarily.

• Watch for children in the street. And not just on streets, but medians and curbs as well. Excited trick-or-treaters, often in dark costumes, may not pay attention to traffic, and cross mid-block or between parked cars.

• Slow down. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian is more than twice as likely to be killed if they’re hit by a car traveling at 35 mph compared to 25 mph. What seems like a small difference — just 10 mph — can be the difference between life and death.

• Drive sober. Alcohol-impaired drivers make up about one-third of all motor vehicle deaths resulting in an average of one death every 45 minutes. Always designate a sober driver when planning to drink.

But it’s not just drivers who should consider some tips, but trick-or-treaters as well.

• Trick-or-treat together. AAA recommends that parents accompany young trick-or-treaters at least until the age of 12.

• Make a plan. Review trick-or-treating safety precautions and plan the rote ahead of time. Remind children never to cross the street mid-block, or between parked cars.

• Check costumes. Choose disguises that don’t obstruct vision, and opt for non-toxic face paint instead of masks. Check and adjust the length of customers to avoid tripping, and add reflective material to keep kids visible.

• Buckle up. If driving trick-or-treaters between neighborhoods, always use appropriate car booster seats, and have children exit and enter on the passenger side of the vehicle.

For additional Halloween tips, visit AAA.com/PublicAffairs.

Lower gas here just in time for holiday shopping

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Drivers are paying on average 65 cents less per gallon of gas they did just six months ago. And the price at stations around the state — and nation — continue to drop.

Gas in Florida checked in at $3.04 over the weekend, down 11 cents from a week ago, and below $3 in many markets, including in and around Pasco County.

“We are seeing gas prices falling at an average of 1 to 2 cents a day,” AAA spokesman John Carrasco said, in a release. “That’s extra money consumers can now use in other areas, like holiday shopping.”

Prices nationwide are the lowest since 2010, and gas has fallen below the $3 mark in 17 states, AAA said. Georgia was the latest state to cross the $3 mark, where the state average currently sits at $2.93. Tennessee, on the other hand, has one of the lowest gas prices in the nation at $2.80.

A barrel of oil fell $1.08 on Friday to $81.01, and hit a two-year low on Oct. 16 when it briefly dropped below $80. Some analysts believe oil prices could drop to $75, which likely would translate to even lower prices at the pump.

Florida’s prices are down more than a quarter from a year ago, when gas was selling at $3.30.

The RaceTrac and Mobil stations on State Road 52 on the northern part of Land O’ Lakes, has the cheapest gas in that area, checking in at $2.89 on Sunday, according to GasBuddy. The Sunoco at Land O’ Lakes and Causeway boulevards has reportedly the most expensive gas at $3.03.

Sam’s Club on State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel was just a penny cheaper than many of its surrounding competitors, with prices at $2.88. Not even the most expensive gas in that area is above $3 now, with two stations coming in at $2.99.

Two stations in Lutz reported $2.89 gas — the Citgo at North Dale Mabry Highway and Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, and Lutz Petroleum on U.S. 41. Two Shell stations in the Van Dyke Road area remain that area’s most expensive, at $3.09.

The cheapest gas n Zephyrhills was found at the Shell station at Buchman Highway and Central Avenue, which reported $2.95. Only the Citgo on Gall Boulevard and Chancey Road was above $3, according to GasBuddy, at $3.01.

Dade City has some of the cheapest prices in the area, with D&D at U.S. 98 and U.S. 301 reporting $2.85, and the Clark station at U.S. 301 near Long Avenue checking in at $2.87.

Scott wants closer look of Ebola threat

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Although one nurse already under quarantine feels the measures are too restrictive in other parts of the country, Gov. Rick Scott has issued an executive order that could go as far as putting people under quarantine he feels is at high risk for Ebola.

At a minimum, however, Scott is ordering twice-daily health monitoring for people returning from certain parts of the world where the virus is in an outbreak, continuing over the 21-day incubation period of Ebola. That includes areas like Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined to be high-risk.

“We have asked the CDC to identify the risk levels of all returning individuals from these areas, but they have not provided that information,” Scott said in a statement. “Therefore, we are moving quickly to require the four individuals who have returned to Florida already — and anyone in the future who will return to Florida from an Ebola area — to take pear in twice-daily 21-day health evaluations with DOH personnel.”

The Department of Health, according to the governor’s office, started to look for people returning to Florida from those areas after a doctor returned to New York and later tested positive for Ebola. While the executive order stops short of automatically ordering a quarantine of those returning from those areas, Scott said he’s giving the health department the authority to take that action for anyone they believe is “at high-risk of testing positive for Ebola due to the type of contact they had with the disease.”

Just four people have been diagnosed inside the United States with Ebola, two of them health workers in Texas who treated the first diagnosed case. Although there is a virus outbreak in parts of Africa, the ability to spread Ebola is still difficult, because it requires an infected person to show signs of the illness, like fever, and it requires direct contact with bodily fluids.

Animal shelter looking to ‘make a difference’

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Looking for a way to help make a difference? Well, Saturday is National Make a Difference Day, and Pasco County Animal Services has plenty of ways to assist people in living up to the day’s name.

The shelter, located at 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes, will host a community get-together Oct. 25 from noon to 4:30 p.m., looking for help when it comes to various items needed for the shelter’s furry tenants. That includes canned cat food, kitten formula, treats and even peanut butter. In return for donations like that, all adoption fees will be waived.

Make a Difference Days takes place on the fourth Saturday in October, where thousands of people come together to make a difference in the lives of others. It’s also one of the biggest volunteer days of the year, according to a release, and that will be felt in Pasco.

Coming to help at the shelter this weekend includes several groups, like the Future Business Leaders of America from River Ridge High School, and the Paws Club from Land O’ Lakes High School. They will take pictures of the animals with their new families, and hand out Halloween candy for kids.

“Community service projects bring so many people of all ages together in recognition of this day,” said Franchesca Blocher, a first grade teacher at Saint Anthony’s school in San Antonio, in a release. “I decided that this year, I would like to get some kids together and do a project that benefits Pasco County Animal Services.”

Blocher orchestrated a drive with her students that brought in several items off of the shelter wish list. Some were dropped off last weekend, and the rest will be shared this coming Saturday.

For more information on National Made a Difference Day, and the activities taking place at the shelter, call Pasco County Animal Services at (813) 929-1212, or visit PascoCountyFl.net/PAS.