Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Christine Powers

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Adult day care centers are an excellent alternative for working caregivers or caregivers that just need a little time off for themselves.

CARES operates two adult day health service centers — one in Dade City at the CARES Crescent Enrichment Center, 13906 Fifth Street, and the other in New Port Richey at the CARES Claude Pepper Senior Center, 6640 Van Buren Street. However, before entrusting their loved one to an adult day care center, most caregivers want to make sure that they will be safe and receive appropriate care. We’d like to address that concern.

CARES adult day care centers are licensed by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, which requires that all adult day care facilities be licensed. Inspectors visit the centers on a regular basis checking the facility, the food storage and preparation and the fire and emergency plans.

The Department of Elder Affairs and the Department of Agriculture makes sure that the kitchens are clean and that an approved menu is offered. Every year, the food menus must be approved by a registered dietician. The Pasco Office of Emergency Management must approve the centers’ emergency plans. The fire plans, also, must be approved and regular fire drills are required.

The licensing procedures include a review of the participant’s charts to insure that they are receiving proper care. The staff and operation of the facility, are also observed. The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas conducts periodic surveys of the centers to insure that they are meeting the criteria for state and federal grant funding.

Adult Day Services have evolved over the last few years from social programs to medical models to meet the needs of the aging population. CARES centers provide quality care that is validated by our outstanding survey results.

CARES Adult Day Services centers are places for older adults, who may be challenged in their everyday activities, to have a whole lot of fun, to make new friends, to play a game of cards or to learn something new all in a well regulated and safe environment.

For more information, call Christine Powers at (727) 863-6868

Christine Powers is the director of Adult Day Care Services.

Karin King needs help and leftover Halloween candy for her cause

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES — Most people enjoy fresh-baked cookies, but that luxury is something the women and men of the U.S. armed forces do without daily.

That is, except when Karin King is baking.

“It warms my heart to be able to help make the troops’ lives a little nicer,” King said. “They do so much to keep our country safe, and have to do it in faraway places in bad conditions. If I can send some of them cookies and treats to make them smile, then it is worth it. It lets them know people still care about what they are doing.”

King has done more than send just some of them cookies. Over the last three years, she has baked 100 dozen, or 1,200 cookies, each week as part of the Treats for Troops program she established in Land O’ Lakes. The cookies cost a few hundred dollars per week.

King is unemployed, which gives her more time to bake cookies. Those cookies almost fill 17 boxes each week, and she fills the extra space with candy.

King said a few other people have helped in the past, but she is the only one baking now. She is asking anyone interested in helping bake cookies for the troops to call or e-mail her (see the box below).

Candy is used in place of packing peanuts to prevent the cookies from crushing, so King requests donations for unopened leftover Halloween candy. While she cannot send chocolate cookies from May to October due to the heat, there are no restrictions to the kind of candy that can be donated now.

“I don’t want anyone to buy extra candy just to give to me,” King said. “I know that people usually have lots of leftover candy that they don’t have a chance to give out on Halloween.

“So I’m asking anyone to donate what they aren’t going to use and to try and gather and donate other people’s leftover candy too. Parents can ask for leftovers at their kid’s schools, youth clubs, sports teams, day cares, churches and other places to make donations.”

Those interested in donating can drop candy off at The Laker/Lutz News, located at 1930 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite No. 14. King said people can also drop off candy at her residence, or she will meet them if they do not live close to her.

King collected 1,600 pounds of candy in 2007 and 2,000 pounds in 2008. This year’s goal is 5,000 to 10,000 pounds.

Her efforts were recognized in April with a certificate of appreciation from Multi-National Force-Iraq. Flags were flown in honor at bases in Al Qatar, Kuwait and Afghanistan. She also received letters and e-mails of thanks from troops, who share the candy with children who save troops’ lives.

“The kids have spared the lives of our troops by telling them where the enemy placed bombs more than once,” King said. “Many times the troops tell me the cookies are the first the kids over there have ever eaten.”

King sends the boxes of treats through Support Our Troops in Wesley Chapel. Bob Williams, who served on the USS Independent in Vietnam from 1964 to 1967, is in charge of that organization.

“Karin has been a huge help in sending things to the troops,” Williams said. “Getting a bag of cookies and candy from home makes all the difference in the moral of the troops. I want these boys and girls to have the respect they deserve because that wasn’t the case sometimes in the past. People like Karin help make life livable for them.”

Williams buys thing like small refrigerators, microwaves and televisions to send to the troops in large boxes, along with the treats from King. It costs hundreds to thousands of dollars to mail boxes to troops each year. Donations are welcome.

While the troops like the treats, there is one person that has to suffer through the baking.

“The only problem is I have is to smell all those cookies all the time, but I’m not allowed to eat any of them,” said King’s husband, Jim. “It really is incredible to me the dedication Karin has. I am just the guy who goes and gets stuff for her, to make it easy for her. She does everything herself.”

Jim King’s father, James C. King, was in the armed forces as the medical director for the U.S. Public Health Service.

“I’ll keep sending the treats as long as I possibly can,” King said. “It is the least I can do for those real heroes around the world.”

How to Help

Karin King with Treats for Troops

Call: (813) 746-1517

E-mail: or

Needed items: Leftover Halloween candy; help with baking; coffee; instant beverages (Kool-Aid, lemonade); tea; toiletries (body wash, shampoo, body lotion, sunscreen) and feminine hygiene products

Drop-off location: 1930 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite No. 14

Web site: www.TreatsForTroops.Info

Bob Williams with Support the Troops

E-mail:

Needed items: Checks or money orders payable to the Postmaster and sent to P.O. Box 7560 Wesley Chapel, FL 33545 to help pay for postage

Web site: www.ourtroopsonline.com

Jan Slater has taken a more flexible job

By Ashley Dunn

ZEPHYRHILLS — Jan Slater, executive director of the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, turned in her resignation on Oct. 26. Her last day with the Chamber will be Nov. 7.

Slater, who was hired in August 2006, said she has had some changes in her personal life since 2008 when she and her husband adopted four children.

“This is a wonderful job,” she said. “I love this job, but I need to be home with my family more.”

Slater has accepted a part-time position, but she didn’t want to say what it is. She said she plans to remain involved in the community, continuing her work with East Pasco Meals on Wheels, the Rotary Club of Zephyrhills and the Samaritan Project.

Mike Mira, president of the Chamber, called Slater the “backbone” of the organization and said she has always been willing to put in as many hours as necessary to get the job done.

“Jan Slater, over the past three years, has done an outstanding job,” he said.

The Chamber is now looking for a new director, especially because the seasonal residents are coming back.

Those interested in applying can e-mail their resumes to Mira at , mail them to P.O. Box 759, Zephyrhills, Fla. 33539, or fax them to (813) 788-4881. Be sure to direct your resume to Mira’s attention. Mira said the Chamber will accept resumes until Nov. 13, and the executive committee will choose Slater’s replacement shortly thereafter. The person the committee selects will have a minimum of two years of college experience, a knowledge of QuickBooks and Microsoft Publisher, and experience in event planning and community service.

Joey accomplished what many in his family could not before him

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

LUTZ — Joey Vars, of Boy Scouts of America Troop 12 in Lutz, has been working toward becoming an Eagle Scout for 10 years.

“I’m the first person in my family to become an Eagle Scout,” the 16-year-old said. “My dad (Ken Vars), uncle (Roger Vars Jr.) and grandfather (Roger Vars) were all in scouts. Because none of them were Eagles, they told me from the beginning how cool it would be for me to make it all the way. That inspired me from the beginning.”

Joey’s 10-year journey began as a Tiger Cub, the earliest rank boys can begin in scouting, with Cub Scout Pack 323 in Land O’ Lakes. Cub Scouts is a part of BSA and is designed for elementary school kids.

Joey’s goal was completed Sept. 1 when he passed his Eagle Board of Review, something that was especially rewarding for his father.

“I got up to Life Scout and was one merit badge shy of getting Eagle,” Ken said. “I didn’t get the swimming merit badge because my birthday is in April and I grew up in upstate New York. It is kind of hard to get a swimming merit badge in the dead of winter. That was my fault for bad planning, but Joey got his Eagle with plenty of time to spare.”

Scouts must complete all Eagle Scout requirements before turning 18.

The Board of Review is the last step in becoming an Eagle and is a lengthy interview process about scouting, current events and the potential Eagle Scout. As many as six board members interview the scout, none of which can be a leader from the scout’s troop or one of the scout’s family.

While everything discussed is confidential, Joey was able to share how he felt during the process.

“It was a little nerve-wracking,” Joey said. “I stumbled over myself a couple times in the beginning, but I guess I recovered. At the end, it was just such a relief to know that I was finally an Eagle.”

Joey’s current Scout Master, Daniel O’Dea, said he felt special seeing him achieve the award.

“I thought the (review) went well,” O’Dea said. “Joey is very good at carrying on a conversation. The board went longer than the others I’ve been in, which I contribute to Joey’s knowledge of current events. Joey was the second scout to get Eagle while I’ve been Scout Master, and he earned it.”

O’Dea has been the Scout Master with Troop 12 since 2006. Joey’s first Scout Master was Stephen Rivera.

Another major step in becoming an Eagle Scout is completing an Eagle Project. Joey chose to refurbish the Lutz Cemetery, off US 41 just north of the old Lutz Schoolhouse, and re-do the landscaping. Joey and other scouts with an adult leader spent 144 hours on the project.

While the project was successfully completed in April, it had problems getting off the ground.

“When we started, we went to six different landscaping companies thinking at least one would call us back, but none did,” Joey said. “That was the biggest problem I had. We finally found one that was very nice and generous to us.”

Be-Mac’s Services in Odessa supplied Joey with the mulch, plants and other materials needed for the project.

Over his time scouting, Joey was the assistant senior patrol leader (the second-highest leadership position in a troop), a patrol and assistant patrol leader and troop historian.

“Joey has never been afraid of leadership,” O’Dea said. “Joey was always willing to help the other boys and recently taught the astronomy merit badge to several of the boys and did a fine job.”

What Ken has been most proud of is Joey’s determination at his goal.

“It’s been amazing to me that he has stayed on track and been so focused,” Ken said. “It is really easy for a 16-year-old to get distracted with other things. He has also become more sure of himself, which I attribute to scouting.”

While Joey earned the award, many people helped him on his journey.

“Mr. Rivera and Mr. O’Dea have both had a profound impact in my Boy Scout years,” Joey said. “Both of them are just great role models for anyone.

“And, of course, my parents have been right there helping me since I was in Cub Scouts. They have helped me in more ways than I can remember and I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Chooie is a 5-year-old Shih-Tzu. He enjoys playing with his doggie friends and trying to steal their food. He loves to chase his chew toys. Chooie likes to hide under the bed and snore the day away. He is patient and gentle and likes to sit near his owner Fotini Vasquez’s 1-year-old baby girl when she plays. Chooie is ready for Halloween in his Captain Jack Sparrow costume. He and his proud owner live in Wesley Chapel.

Cricket is a 6-year-old male Yorkie. He is fearless and loves to play with all the dogs in the neighborhood, no matter how big or small. His best friend is Buddy Brubaker across the street. Swimming in the family pool to retrieve his bone is his favorite thing to do! Cricket loves chicken and popcorn, and hugs and kisses but on his terms as Yorkies can be quite independent. He loves to cuddle when he’s sleepy, and his favorite holiday is Halloween. Though he likes his daddy, his momma, Tina Marie Schmidt, of Lutz, is his favorite parent.

By Steve Lee

Sports Editor

LAND O’ LAKES — Shows and events for the second Swampfest, a benefit for Land O’ Lakes High’s Athletic Booster Club, are lining up.

Swampfest is scheduled from Nov. 6 to 8 at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center off US 41. Admission is free.

Wade Shows, a midway that had long been part of the Land O’ Lakes Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Flapjack Festival, will be the showcase for Swampfest. It also was part of the first Swampfest that took place last February at Land O’ Lakes High’s Gator Stadium.

Rides for the midway cost $12 in advance or $20 at the gate.

Among the other Swampfest highlights are: Florida Championship Wrestling; pancakes served by Sunlake High volunteers; laser tag by Xtreme Adventures; and an antique car show.

Vendors and sponsors are still being accepted. For further details, visit www.lolswampfest.com.