The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Business Digest (7/16/25): MyPasco.net wins award

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MyPasco.net wins award

NEW PORT RICHEY – Pasco County received Gold-level recognition in the Horizon Interactive Awards.

MyPasco.net offers real-time updates, essential resources and emergency preparedness guidance.

The award submission highlighted several innovative features, including an interactive pop-up, which provides critical information during emergencies.

“This award reflects the dedication and innovation of our media relations and communications team,” said Media Relations & Communications Director Tambrey Laine. “We put a lot of thought into building a website with you in mind – designing MyPasco.net to be intuitive and to help you easily find the information you need, especially during emergencies.”

On the web: MyPasco.net

 

Hooters opens new location  

THE VILLAGES – The first Hooters location in The Villages celebrated its grand opening July 7 at the Lake Deaton Plaza (700 Kristine Way).  

More than 70 employees have been hired for the location, which is 4,500 square feet inside and includes an outdoor patio. The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“The residents of the Villages have asked for Hooters, and we are excited to open our doors,” HMC Hospitality Group CEO Neil Kiefer said. “We look forward to serving great food in a fun atmosphere and being a part of The Villages community.”

 In addition to The Villages restaurant, HMC Hospitality Group plans to expand with a Hooters location in Wesley Chapel with the anticipated opening this fall.

 

Greater Pasco events

NEW PORT RICHEY – Greater Pasco Chamber members will host a women’s networking opportunity and a brochure exchange.

  • The Professional Women in Business group meets for networking from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 16 at HCA Florida Hospital Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, Trinity. Members pay $12. Others pay $15. Register in advance.
  • Members exchange company literature during Trinity Brochure Exchange from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 17 at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club, 3535 Trophy Blvd., Trinity. Register in advance. 

Visit greaterpasco.com for details about the chamber and events. 

 

East Pasco events

DADE CITY – East Pasco Chamber members will host Coffee & Networking events.

  • Members meet up for Coffee & Networking from 8 to 9 a.m. July 18 at the chamber’s Zephyrhills location, 38550 5th Ave., or 8 to 9 a.m. July 22 at the chamber’s Dade City location, 14112 8th St. Register in advance. 

Visit eastpascochamber.org for details about the chamber and events. 

 

Chalk Talk (7/16/25): Pasco Education Foundation makes an impact

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Pasco Education Foundation makes an impact

LAND O’ LAKES – School board member Al Hernandez shared some highlights of how the Pasco Education Foundation is working on behalf of students and the community.

Hernandez expressed gratitude for these recent accomplishments: 

  • The foundation provided nearly $25,000 this year to support the Energy & Marine Center, helping more than 540 Title I students attend PEACE Camp this summer. 
  • The foundation’s Wise Supplies center gave out free supplies, impacting 1,600 teachers and 32,000 students at 97 schools during the 2024-25 school year.
  • The foundation awarded $428,000 in scholarships to nearly 200 graduating seniors.

 

Tax offices accept supplies

TAMPA – The Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office is supporting the Hillsborough Education Foundation by hosting a school supply drive throughout July. 

All Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s offices will serve as donation drop-off locations, collecting school supplies that will be distributed through the foundation’s Teaching Tools Store. The store provides free supplies to teachers. 

“Every student deserves to walk into their classroom on the first day of school feeling prepared and confident,” said Nancy Millan, tax collector. 

Last year’s drive resulted in over 27,000 donated items.

Most needed items include pencils, pens, crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue sticks, scissors, hand sanitizer, tissues, notebooks, composition books, folders, binders and backpacks.

Visit hillstaxfl.gov for locations. 

 

36 excel on Cambridge exam

LAND O’ LAKES – Pasco County Schools recognized 36 students July 8 from Anclote, Hudson and Pasco high schools that received Cambridge Learner Awards from Cambridge International Education and Cambridge University Press and Assessment.

Students earned the honor for how well they did in the June 2024 Cambridge exams, according to Sarah Dufresne, supervisor of magnet schools and programs 

Natalia Mouton, of Hudson High School, scored an A on three Cambridge exams to earn the Cambridge Scholar Award for Distinction. 

Another seven students earned the Cambridge Scholar Award with Merit by scoring a B or higher on three exams. Twenty-eight students won the Cambridge Scholar Award by scoring a C or higher on three exams.

 

Tutors receive kudos

LAND O’ LAKES – Pasco County Schools recognized high school tutors from the RAISE High School Tutoring Program.

Heather Rulison, coordinator for advanced and enriched programs, said RAISE “pairs high school juniors and seniors with kindergarten through third grade students to improve literacy skills and foster a love for reading.”

Tutors not only earn high school credits but also earn a paycheck. 

The district recognized several students July 8 for earning New World Scholar designation for dedicating at least 75 hours to tutoring. Rulison said many of them exceed 200 hours. 

 

USEP boss: ‘We are united’

LAND O’ LAKES – Instructional employees voted to continue having the United School Employees of Pasco represent their interests as a bargaining agent.

Votes were tallied June 27, revealing 98.2% favored USEP, according to President Jeff Larsen. 

“We are certainly pleased but honestly not that surprised by this result,” Larsen said. “We are united. This result simply means that we’ll continue to do what we do. As a united group, we will continue to collectively advocate for better working conditions, benefits and compensation.”

School-related personnel will go through their own voting process.

 

Student achievements

  • David Alejandro Jr., of Land O’ Lakes, made the spring dean’s list at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, for earning a 3.5 GPA or higher. This is the second consecutive semester that the football player has made the list. 
  • Kalani Martin, of Wesley Chapel, graduated with a Doctor of Medical Science degree from the College of Health Professions at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.
  • Jett Ellen Odom, of Land O’ Lakes,  earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas.

 

Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club helps celebrate July 4

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From patriotic floats and neighborhood pride, the 4th of July Celebration and Parade continues to be a cherished event that reflects the spirit and unity of Lutz. Pictured are Linda Urban, Georgiann Frey, Becky Jenkins and Jennifer Rankin. Photos courtesy of Pennee Bowen

LUTZ – The Lutz community came together in patriotic spirit to celebrate another 4th of July Celebration and Parade, sponsored by the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club and supported by the Lutz Civic Association, Boy Scout Troop 12, Civil Air Patrol, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Lutz Fire Department.

The day started with the annual 5k and 1 mile Fun Run prior to the parade. The Results of the annual Lutz Guv’na race were announced with Becky Jenkins winning the title by collecting the most donations. The three candidates broke the record for the highest dollar amount in Guv’na race history to make the Lutz community the real winner of the day. All the money goes to nonprofits serving Lutz.

Linda Mitchell, Sue Chase, Shirley Wilhite, Pennee Bowen, Aniko Solomson and Dee Knerr

The event also included vendors, food trucks and a food tent run by Boy Scout Troop 12.

The day ended with the annual cake auction. The cakes were donated by community members and were judged in several categories and age groups. After the awards were given, the cakes were auctioned to the highest bidder.

On the web: lutzlandolakeswomansclub.org 

 

County earns Innovation Award for response to opioid crisis

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NEW PORT RICHEY – Pasco County earned a 2025 Innovation Award for opioid response from the Florida Association of County Health Services Administrators.

Pasco County Government, in partnership with BayCare Behavioral Health Institute, received honors for its strategic use of opioid settlement funds to launch the Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center.  

This new service line within Pasco County’s crisis continuum of care is the first behavioral health urgent care center in Florida, providing immediate support for those in need of mental health and addiction care that may not require intensive intervention.

“This award reflects what’s possible when local government, health care leaders and community partners come together with a shared vision,” said Kathryn Starkey, chair of the Pasco Board of County Commissioners.  “Pasco is proud to lead the way in transforming how we respond to substance use and mental health challenges.”

The Innovation Award recognizes counties that take forward-thinking approaches to public health delivery.  Pasco’s model was selected for its impact, replicability and alignment with long-term solutions to urgent behavioral health needs.

“This new (urgent care center) in Pasco County is an example of what can be achieved when community partners work together toward a common goal,” said Tracey Kaly, clinical operations director for BayCare. “This much-needed resource for the people of Pasco would not have been possible without the county’s proactive leadership and responsible stewardship of opioid settlement funds.”

Since February, Pasco’s urgent care center has served over 600 people. Vulnerable people and families have received critical support regardless of their ability to pay.  

Support for this service comes from the Opioid Fund, Community Development Block Grant and other federal and private funding sources.

Podcast puts spotlight on Pasco’s parks & rec department

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NEW PORT RICHEY – Pasco County Manager Mike Carballa paid tribute to National Parks and Recreation Month during the 52nd episode of “Pasco Podcast.”

Carballa interviewed Parks Manager Rob Mahler and Assistant Recreation Manager Deanna Baltimore during the episode. 

“From maintaining our beautiful park spaces to hosting programs that bring neighbors together, our parks and recreation team works tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to make Pasco County the perfect place to live, work and of course,” Carballa said during the episode. 

Baltimore said residents would be surprised to learn that the parks and recreation department serves more than 1,000 children through its summer day camp. Mahler mentioned another staggering stat: the department maintains 129 athletic fields, which are in high demand. 

They briefly touched on the parks and recreation department growth.

“The parks are changing so drastically,” Mahler said. “The amount of parks that are coming online – we were talking about this morning in our meeting – I think there’s five of them on the horizon. 

“A rec complex that’s going to be in Dade City and the partnerships that we’re doing to try to get those things there to where it’s going to be multi-use and and service individuals that are part of the city and not just just the county. I think that stuff is awesome, from trying to provide opportunities for people all across the county, whereas the west had been built up before and now the east side’s getting their turn.”

Listen to the rest of the podcast at https://www.youtube.com/@PascoCountyGovernment to hear more about the parks and recreation’s community-centered approach to programming. 

New NICU will feature couplet care rooms

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LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz will open a $2 million, 5,431-square-foot, eight-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on July 15 with “couplet care” rooms. 

The NICU will have two private couplet care rooms, each measuring 525 square feet, where mothers and babies are cared for together. Normally, mothers and babies are separated when babies need to go to the NICU. 

Clearwater’s Morton Plant Hospital recently started couplet care in its NICU.

“Morton Plant Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital-North are the first in the Tampa Bay area to have NICU couplet rooms, and to the best of my knowledge, the first in the state of Florida,”  said Charles Ennis, a BayCare patient services director overseeing several of the health system’s NICUs.  

Ennis noted staffing and physical facility logistics are reasons why NICU couplet rooms are not common.

“Speaking as both a mom and a doctor, it’s a stressful situation for your new baby to require intensive care, but even harder to deal with while you yourself are trying to recover from giving birth,” said Dr. Alisa Pierce-Kee, a BayCare Medical Group pediatrician in Lutz. “It’s emotionally challenging to have your baby out of your sight when you know they are sick. Couplet rooms are so important, to allow the parents respite, and to allow the mother to heal, while seeing with her own eyes that her newborn is getting the best care possible. I’m really proud that our hospital is such a pioneer in this kind of forward-thinking care.”

The NICU will provide specialized 24/7 care for babies born prematurely, underweight or with special health needs and requirements such as IVs, respiratory therapy or other therapies. The Level II NICU will be staffed by neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners and experienced neonatal nurses. The NICU will supplement St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s existing labor and delivery and Mom & Baby maternity services. St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s NICU location is adjacent to the hospital’s Mom & Baby unit and is converted from a space that formerly housed adult medical and surgical patient rooms.

The other NICU rooms that are not couplet care are private for one baby. The private NICU rooms, measuring 280 square feet each, include sleeping accommodations, a bathroom and shower for a parent or another loved one to stay overnight with the baby.

“We’ve seen nationally that birth rates are going down but the needs for NICU beds are increasing,” said Sara Dodds, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North president. “We know that some of that is due to women having babies later in life and women also dealing with more medical issues. We are giving local moms an option to deliver close to home with the availability of a NICU.”

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s Level II NICU can stabilize a baby’s condition and arrange for transport to Tampa’s St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital Level IV NICU if a higher level of care is needed. A Level IV NICU provides the highest level of care.

St. Joseph’s Hospital-North will have BayCare’s sixth NICU.  In addition to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North and previously mentioned St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, BayCare has NICUs at Safety Harbor’s Mease Countryside Hospital (Level III), Clearwater’s Morton Plant Hospital (Level II), Riverview’s St. Joseph’s Hospital-South (Level II) and Winter Haven Women’s Hospital (Level II).  Plant City’s South Florida Baptist Hospital is also adding a Level II NICU later this year.

The addition of the NICU at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is part of the BayCare Kids continuum of care from infancy to adolescence.

Chalk Talk (7/9/25): McDonald’s grants fuel school programs

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McDonald’s Golden Grants fuel education programs

TAMPA – Applications are open for the 2025 McDonald’s Golden Grants program. 

McDonald’s owner/operators will be selecting programs that fuel the imagination, education and growth of students in Central Florida, including Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Hillsborough counties.

The grant program has awarded $400,000 in its first four years. This year, grants will be awarded in the amounts of $10,000, $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000 based on creativity and hands-on application of projects. 

Qualifying activities include after-school, arts, community service, education, empowerment, mentorship, sports and technology.

Recipients will be announced in November. 

Apply through Oct. 10 at https://mcdgoldengrants.com/florida/.

 

Student Achievements

  • Jillian Abarca, of Odessa, made the spring dean’s list at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia for earning a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
  • David Alejandro, of Land O’ Lakes, made the dean’s honor roll at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas for earning a GPA of 3.6 or higher. 
  • Alexa J. Astete, of Tampa, made the spring dean’s list at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont for earning a GPA of 3.5 or higher. 
  • Anthony Becht, of Wesley Chapel, made the spring dean’s list at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa for earning a GPA from 3.5 to 4.0. Becht majors in communication studies.
  • Alyssa Bongiovann,i of Lutz, made the spring honor roll at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee fo earning a GPA of 3.85 or higher. 
  • Caitlyn Culpepper, of Odessa, made the spring chancellor’s honor roll at University of Mississippi for earning a GPA from 3.75 to 4.0. Culpepper majors in biochemistry.
  • Lyla Gardner, of Lutz, made the spring dean’s honor roll at University of Mississippi for earning a GPA from 3.5 to 3.74. Gardner majors in allied health studies
  • Isabella Gurau, of Dade City, made the spring dean’s list at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa for earning a GPA from 3.5 to 4.0. Gurau majors in animal science.
  • Jessica Loyal, of Egypt Lake, graduated with a degree from Des Moines Area Community College in Des Moines, Iowa. Loyal studied homeland security.
  • Trevor Mayberry, of Odessa, made the spring president’s list at Mississippi State for earning a GPA of 3.8 or higher. 
  • JoAna Mucklow, of Odessa, made the spring chancellor’s honor roll at University of Mississippi for earning a GPA from 3.75 to 4.0. Mucklow majors in finance. 
  • Gennaro Scarfogliero, of Odessa, ,made the spring dean’s list at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia for earning a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
  • Brady Stauffer, of Land O’ Lakes, made the spring semester dean’s list at Des Moines Area Community College in Des Moines, Iowa for earning a GPA from 3.5 to 3.99. Stauffer studies exercise science.
  • Adia Symmonds, of Lutz, made the spring president’s list at Mississippi State for earning a GPA of 3.8 or higher. 
  • Kelli White, of Odessa, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from SUNY Canton in Canton, New York.

 

Quick Hits

  • Pasco County Schools is registering people through July 22 for its Citizens’ Academy, an eight-session program that shows what goes on at the district. 
  • Fred K. Marchman Technical College students Nina Austin and Dallas Raymond were among medalists at the National SkillsUSA Championships, according to Pasco County Schools.
  • Victory High Schools is looking for players and sponsors for its annual charity golf tournament Nov. 17 at  Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club in Palm Harbor. 

 

Health & Wellness (7/9/25): Class helps busy parents-to-be

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Busy parents-to-be benefit from this childbirth class

LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is holding a free, one-day Comprehensive Childbirth Class designed for busy parents-to-be who want a one-session presentation that covers the basics.

The class takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 26 in a hospital classroom, 4211 Van Dyke Road, Lutz.

Registered nurse-certified childbirth educators teach new parents about labor and birth and provide an overview of breastfeeding and newborn care. The class includes a tour of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s labor and delivery rooms, mother and baby rooms and new NICU. 

Register by visiting BayCareEvents.org and choosing “St. Joseph’s Hospital-North” in the “Facility/Location” filter and scrolling to the July 26 class listing. Register by phone by calling 855-314-8352 and pressing the number “2” at the prompt.

 

EPIC moving location

CLEARWATER – EPIC (Empath Partners in Care), a member of Empath Health, announced its Clearwater location is moving to a more convenient center designed to better serve the community. 

Starting July 14, EPIC will welcome clients in its new home at 4600 140th Ave. N., Suite 220, Clearwater.

The new location is easily accessible via Bus Route 52.

EPIC’s current office (5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater) will close as operations will fully transition to the updated space. 

Clients will continue to have access to EPIC’s services, including HIV testing, mental health services, housing assistance, food pantry and pharmacy.

Joy Winheim, president of EPIC, said the move makes it easier for people to get the help they need. 

On the web: myEPIC.org

 

AdventHealth expands bariatric surgery options

DAVENPORT – AdventHealth is expanding in Polk County with the opening of a newly enhanced AdventHealth Medical Group Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery in Davenport. 

The space will allow Dr. Shiva Seetahal, the opportunity to see and help even more patients.

The expansion to the office, located at 410 Lionel Way Suite 204 in Davenport, opened June 30. It features five exam rooms, a medication room and lab and additional space for more providers to help care for patients.

Nearly one in three Floridians are overweight or obese, an increase of nearly 2% from the year before, according to the Florida Department of Health. Studies show weight loss and bariatric surgery care can reduce conditions such as type II diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

 

Hospital helps with drive

LAKE PLACID – Hundreds of families in need in the Lake Placid area got a share of more than 7,600 pounds of food through a partnership between AdventHealth and United Way Central Florida. 

It was all done through the United Way End Hunger Initiative, an effort to ensure families in need across Highlands County have access to nutritional meals amid rising food costs.  

On June 26, AdventHealth leaders and team members joined the United Way of Central Florida and volunteers from the South Oak First Baptist Church to hand out food at the church. Dozens of people had their cars lined up hours before the event so they could get food.

 

BayCare hires chief medical information officer 

CLEARWATER – BayCare has named Patrick Brown as vice president and chief medical information officer. 

Brown is responsible for upholding the strong relationship between the medical staff and the information services department, ensuring that communications are effective and the interests of both groups are translated appropriately.

Prior to joining BayCare, Brown served as vice president and CMIO of Centra Health in Lynchburg.

“He’s a talented informaticist who values relationships,” Chief Information Officer Lynnette Clinton said. “His expertise will guide the use of our clinical systems into the future.”

 

Baycare hires CTO

CLEARWATER – BayCare has named Philip Karp as vice president and chief technology officer. 

As BayCare’s new CTO, Karp is responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of infrastructure hardware and software technologies, clinical engineering operations and governance, platform currency, and operational excellence to ensure audit readiness and security/service excellence for the enterprise infrastructure.

“My focus will be on amplifying our current strengths while introducing new innovations that advance our operational capabilities,” Karp said. “Our shared goal is clear: develop secure, reliable solutions that give clinical staff the technology they need to provide exceptional patient care and directly support BayCare’s mission.”

Prior to joining BayCare, Karp served as vice president of IT architecture and infrastructure at NYU Langone Health in New York City. 

 

Business Digest (7/9/25): Training helps landscaping pros

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Training helps landscaping pros

DADE CITY – The UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service is offering Green Industry Best Management Practices (GI-BMP) Training designed for landscaping professionals who apply fertilizers commercially.

The event takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 22 at UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County, 36702 County Road 52, Dade City. Advance registration is required at mypas.co/PascoGIBMPJul25.  

The training costs $30 for green industry professionals and $20 for Pasco County Government, school board and other municipal employees. All participants must have a government-issued photo ID and a pre-paid ticket for admission. Lunch will not be provided.

 

MarineMax supports townhome build

OLDSMAR – MarineMax celebrated the dedication of its eighth and ninth homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, supporting two families as they worked toward homeownership.

Each year, employees from across the company trade their desks for tool belts, working side by side with Habitat families to frame, paint and build homes from the ground up.

“Our partnership with Habitat for Humanity is one of the most meaningful things we do,” said Beth Garland, senior vice president of people strategy at MarineMax. “Getting to know the families, rolling up our sleeves and building something together – it’s incredibly rewarding for all of us.”

This year’s homeowners are a preschool director with three daughters as well as a dialysis technician and mother of eight. 

 

East Pasco events

DADE CITY – East Pasco Chamber members will host a Business Breakfast and Coffee & Networking events.

  • Members mingle during the Business Breakfast from 7 to 8:30 a.m. July 10 at Golden Corral, 6855 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills. Admission costs $15. Register in advance. 
  • Members meet up for Coffee & Networking from 8 to 9 a.m. July 11 at the chamber’s Zephyrhills location, 38550 5th Ave., or 8 to 9 a.m. July 15 at the chamber’s Dade City location, 14112 8th St. Register in advance. 

Visit eastpascochamber.org for details about the chamber and events. 

 

Equestrian estate sells for $3.65M

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ODESSA – An equestrian estate at 19144 Huckavalle Road has sold for $3,650,000, achieving the highest-priced residential transaction in the 33556 zip code so far this year. 

The sale was represented by Karen Hegemeier and Alee Douglass of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s South Tampa office.

“This extraordinary property offered a rare blend of refined living, equestrian excellence and unparalleled natural beauty,” Hegemeier and Douglass said in a statement. “A sale of this caliber reflects the growing demand for private estates that provide both luxury and a meaningful connection to the land.”

The estate is tucked between the Lake Frances and Lake Dan Nature Preserves and bordered by 1,000 acres of Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program land. It spans more than 10 acres and features a custom-built main residence, a separate guest house and two expansive barns.

The main residence is situated on just over five acres. Its open floor plan leads to walls of hurricane-rated glass doors framing uninterrupted views of the pool and protected land. The chef’s kitchen is the heart of the home. There’s also a  primary suite and four guest bedrooms.

The lanai allows for alfresco entertaining with an outdoor fireplace and summer kitchen. The resort-style pool and spa feature a mineral filtration system, sunning deck and customizable lighting. 

The 20-stall barn offers functionality with baths, storage rooms and a configuration tailored for equestrian use.

Adjacent to the main home, the guest house rests on its own 5.49-acre parcel and encompasses 1,555 square feet with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a deck and a two-car garage. 

A second barn, complete with electrical, plumbing and a large concrete pad for equipment, is also located on this parcel.