The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Looking to feel better? Consider adding an iron supplement

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(Mariana Rascao/Unsplash)

Anyone looking to dramatically and easily improve their overall health and wellness would be wise to consider adding an iron supplement to their diet.

A common problem
Although few people ever think about their iron intake, assuming eating enough leafy greens or taking a multivitamin will suffice, iron deficiency is the most common nutritional shortfall globally, including in the United States, where it is estimated that 1 in 5 people need more iron to function properly. This holds true across all age ranges and physical conditions, from senior citizens to infants to performance athletes, but most notably this is the case for women of childbearing age.

Why your iron levels matter
Without sufficient iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin — the substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen to tissues and organs, which can impact nearly every system in the body, even leading to death in the cases of extreme anemia. Iron deficiency can also exacerbate many health conditions, especially cardiac, pulmonary and circulatory problems, and it plays a critical role in conditions like restless leg syndrome, ADD/ADHD, celiac disease, and Crohn’s disease.

That said, the symptoms of less severe iron deficiency can be harder to pinpoint. They include:

  • Tiredness or lethargy
  • Weakness
  • Irregular heartbeat or shortness of breath
  • Headache, dizziness, lightheadedness
  • Unusual food cravings and appetite changes
  • Appearance issues like thinning hair, pallor, dark circles, or brittle nails
  • Behavioral issues like excitability, inability to focus, or irritability, especially in children
(Angel Sinigersky/Unsplash)

Choose Wisely
Adding an iron supplement is an easy way to address a host of pressing issues, but buyer beware — not all iron supplements are created equal. Even those who know they need iron may not take supplements because they are notoriously bad-tasting and can cause significant gastrointestinal distress, essentially trading one problem for another. The supplement market is also largely unregulated, resulting in many companies producing inferior products or making unsubstantiated claims about the effectiveness of their products.

So how can you find the best supplement for you and your family? The short answer is to ignore the marketing hype and trust medicine. Follow your doctors’ advice and look for an iron supplement that has been clinically proven to be safe, effective and well-tolerated in all age groups.

From enhancing your appearance and providing an immune system boost to giving you the stamina and focus you need to complete tasks with confidence, adding an iron supplement is one of the best ways to improve your overall health and well-being.

Published March 13, 2024

Planning commission approves zoning amendments

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The Pasco County Planning Commission approved two zoning amendments and two comprehensive plan amendments during its March 7 meeting.

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will need to finalize these decisions at future meetings. This is because the Planning Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the BOCC.

(Maxmillian Conacher/Unsplash)

Discussed at length was the approval of the transmittal of a comprehensive plan amendment affecting a 92.6-acre parcel on Bellamy Brothers Boulevard to the BOCC for its adoption. The request had originally been listed on the meeting’s agenda as a consent item and such items are typically adopted with little or no discussion.

This request, submitted by Sandarben LLC of Odessa, proposed that the zoning of the property, which is currently AG (Agriculture), be changed to AG/R (Agriculture/Residential). This would enable 18 homes to be built on the property where only nine currently are allowed.

The proposal was approved by a 4-2 vote, with Planning Commission members Chris Williams and Jon Moody voting against it.

The Florida Department of Commerce (DOC) and other agencies had reviewed the request because of the size of the property in question. The BOCC received a letter of no comment from the Florida DOC.

An area resident, Ralph Barthle, asked for the request to be denied. Barthle said he is concerned about 10 traffic fatalities that had occurred on Bellamy Brothers Boulevard between 2017 and 2023. This was on the stretch of the road from the Hernando County line to State Road 52 in Pasco County. 

He told Planning Commission members five of the fatalities had been from 2017-2022 while five more had occurred in 2023 alone. People don’t drive on Bellamy Brothers Boulevard as they should and also speed around curves, according to Barthle.

The property owner’s representative defended the request. She told Planning Commission members a curve on Bellamy Brothers Boulevard near the affected site was not one that was conducive to causing a traffic accident because of its elevation or other factors.

In other matters last Thursday, the Planning Commission:

  • Approved a zoning amendment for Serene Preserve Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD) that was requested by EC-Willow Bend LLC of St. Petersburg. The property is currently zoned E-R (Estate Residential). The requested change referred to by the BOCC would permit the development of 37 single-family detached units near Willow Bend Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. 
  • Approved a zoning amendment for 1.95 acres of property located on the northeast of Tupper Road and State Road 54. The property is currently zoned R-2 (Low Density Residential District) and C-2 (General Commercial District). The requested change that was referred to the BOCC is for the entire property to be zoned C-2. 
  • Recommended approval of a comprehensive plan amendment requested by Finlay Commercial Center to permit 3.49 acres of property north of Dade City to be changed from RES-6 (Residential-6 DU/GA) to COM (Commercial). If approved by the BOCC, this would allow the property located on the east side of U.S. 301 and approximately 750 feet south of U.S. 98 to be used for commercial purposes.
  • Timber Ridge LLC of Dade City requested a continuance to the April 4 Planning Commission in Dade City of a zoning amendment it is seeking. The applicant would like to have the zoning of the approximately 48.42-acre parcel located at 15845 14th St., to be changed from R-3 (Medium Density Residential District) to an MPUD (Master Planned Unit Development. The item was originally on the consent agenda but the applicant requested the continuance. If adopted by the BOCC, the applicant could be allowed to develop a maximum of 190 single-family detached units.

Published March 13, 2024

Proposed ordinance could help spark employment growth

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The Pasco County Planning Commission agreed to refer a proposed ordinance to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) that, if adopted, is likely to help promote increased employment growth in the county.

Several amendments to Pasco County’s Comprehensive Plan are being proposed.

One of the purposes of the proposed ordinance is to streamline policy implementation and to upgrade policy approaches in response to market demands.

(Benjamin Lehman/Unsplash)

Also being considered is an amendment that would provide for better flexibility in implementing employment-generating land use classifications.

If the ordinances are adopted, authorized commercial uses and the general range of potential uses to further the intent of employment generation would be amended.

Industrial compatibility adjacent to wetlands, commercial development in general, and land uses and floor area ratios (FAR) within Future Land Use (FLU) categories are being considered.

Making changes in commercial infill development, commercial location limitations and amending calculations of residential densities would occur if the ordinance was adopted.

The county’s intent of restricting Industrial Heavy (IH) uses adjacent to wetlands would also be clarified along with clarity on where commercial development could occur. Meanwhile, provisions allowing for greater flexibility for where neighborhood commercial development could occur also would be included.

In addition, the location of commercial development being able to occur at collector and arterial intersections including collector/collector, arterial/arterial and collector/arterial intersections would be clarified.

Size limitations would be increased from 4 acres to 5 acres, to align with how commercial infill is treated.

Texts would be amended to remove prohibition of light industrial land use classifications and uses adjacent to Category 1 wetlands.

And finally, there would be provisions for amendments that would be necessary for consistency if the ordinance was adopted. 

The BOCC is scheduled to consider the ordinance for adoption at its June 4 meeting in Dade City.

Published March 13, 2024

State lawmakers wrap up session by passing school choice revision bill

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(The Center Square) — Florida wrapped up its legislative session on Friday, March 8, and, before leaving Tallahassee, lawmakers passed a revision of the state’s school choice programs.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 89-18 on Thursday, and if signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the legislation would go into effect on July 1.

House Bill 1403 is sponsored by state Rep. Josie Tomkow, R-Polk City. It would revise both contributions and provisions for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, the Hope Scholarship Program, virtual instruction program providers, private school requirements and students in personalized learning programs.

(CDC/Unsplash)

Last year, Florida lawmakers passed one of the largest expansions of school choice in the nation, HB 1, which enables more parents to choose the education that meets the needs of their children. However, feedback from constituents has revealed that there have been issues with providing funds within an expected timeframe.

Scholarship program funds are able to be used by parents on a range of educational tools, including private schools, tutors and educational materials for homeschooled students. Students were also able to enroll in a school outside of their district.

During the bill’s passage through committee, Tomkow said that this bill would remedy some of the funding issues by establishing separate application and renewal deadlines for the various programs so that renewals can be funded earlier.

Applications received after the deadline would be considered for the next school year. Payment for full-time tuition and fees must be made by the scholarship funding organization within seven business days of approval.

To address concerns about educational options available to students, Tomkow said that the bill would allow personalized education program students to use their funds for when instruction is provided away from the school under a student learning plan.

Tomkow added that because of the popularity of the Family Scholarship Program for students with unique abilities, overall funding would increase the annual growth of new FES-UA scholarships from 3% to 5%. If demand ever exceeds 95% of capacity again, the bill allows for an additional 1% increase the following year.

The bill would also remove an age limitation, allowing three and four-year-old students with disabilities to access scholarships and further increase transparency by requiring scholarship funding organizations to report on performance metrics related to applications and reimbursements.

Published March 13, 2024

Fantasy sports bill awaits floor vote in state Senate

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(The Center Square) — Daily fantasy sports operators are awaiting the passage of a new bill if they want to keep hopes alive of providing their services in the Sunshine State.

Senate Bill 1568 is sponsored by state Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Palm Coast, and would create the Fantasy Sports Contest Amusement Act, which authorizes the offering of fantasy sports contests.

The bill would require the Florida Gaming Control Commission to enforce and administer the act and it would also be authorized to take certain actions against an operator.

(Annie Spratt/Unsplash)

The bill is on the Senate’s special order calendar awaiting a floor vote. Time was not on the side of bill supporters with the session scheduled to end on Friday, March 8.

(Note: No action had been taken as of The Laker/Lutz News press deadline.)

Daily fantasy sports apps Betr, Underdog Fantasy and PrizePicks, were forced to cease operations on March 1 after the commission sent all three cease-and-desist letters in February to stop offering or accepting bets or wagers from Florida residents. Operators were previously sent cease-and-desist letters last year in September to end “pick’em” games in Florida.

According to the bill, only peer-to-peer games and traditional draft competitions will be allowed. At the same time, contest operators would be prohibited from participating in a fantasy sports contest that the operator offers.

Furthermore, any employees or agents of a contest operator would be prevented from sharing confidential information with a third party that could affect the outcome of fantasy sports play.

The bill states that the intent of the legislation is to ensure public confidence in the integrity of fantasy sports contests and their operators and to regulate participants and contest operators while enacting consumer protections related to fantasy sports contests.

The commission would be required to enforce and administer the act. It would be authorized to take certain actions, including revoking an operator’s license, conducting investigations and monitoring the operation and play of fantasy sports contests.

Winning outcomes cannot be based on the score, point spread, or any performance or performances of any single actual team or combination of teams or any single performance of an individual athlete or player in an actual sports event.

Fantasy sports operators would be required to apply with the commission for a license that would be effective for one year and would have to be renewed annually. The cost of the initial license would be $500,000, with a renewal cost of $250,000.

Published March 13, 2024

Florida bill would make it easier for dentists to be certified

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(The Center Square) — Florida’s dental students could soon have help gaining their qualifications a little easier after a bill was passed by the Legislature and is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.

Senate Bill 938 is sponsored by state Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, and would make changes to the dental industry in the Sunshine State. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers, most recently in the House on March 5.

(Quang Tri Nguyen/Unsplash)

Yarborough said during the bill’s passage through committee that the bill is agreed-upon language between the Florida Dental Association and the Florida Board of Dentistry to clean up the Dental Practice Act after various changes over recent years related to the dental license exam and the dental licensure process.

The bill updates the Dental Practice Act to reflect that Florida accepts the American Board of Dental Examiners exam, which is offered and accepted in 48 states. The bill creates uniformity and the dental exam process, regardless of whether the dental student takes their licensure exam in-state or out-of-state.

Dental students going through the curriculum in a graded format of the exam would be allowed to take different sections of the exam throughout their years at dental school, not just in their final year.

Furthermore, the bill adds language to take into consideration personal emergencies or special hardships when out-of-state applicants apply for dental licensure, which is currently not an option for the Board of Dentistry to consider. The bill would also delete outdated language throughout Florida laws.

The bill would require anyone who is applying for a dental license to meet certain criteria, including being older than age 18, a graduate of a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation or another entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and successfully passed the dental exam.

Other requirements to get a dental license in Florida include applicants providing sufficient evidence that they have never been convicted of or pled “nolo contendere” to a felony or misdemeanor related to the practice of a health care profession in any jurisdiction.

The board also would be able to excuse the mandatory 1,200-hour requirement in the event of a hardship. If the bill receives DeSantis’ signature, it will come into effect on July 1.

Published March 13, 2024

Spring cleaning: don’t toss that ‘junk,’ it may be valuable!

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From baseball cards and sports equipment to postcards and photographs, is that “junk” in your attic or basement dusty treasure or just dusty? We’ve all heard of families getting rich from the sale of rare memorabilia they found when spring cleaning.

A little time spent determining if items are valuable and where to sell them can pay off in the long run.

“The sale of older sports cards, postcards and photographs can yield thousands of dollars, even tens of thousands or more for the right ones,” says Al Crisafulli, auction director at Love of the Game Auctions, an internet sports auction house that helps families identify and sell valuable sports cards and memorabilia.

(c) Delpixart / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Crisafulli has assisted people in selling tens of millions of dollars of baseball card collections, autographs, sports equipment and more. Such sales can be life changing. In one instance, he researched a family’s old baseball bat and proved it was game used by Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig. His Love of the Game Auctions sold it for almost half a million dollars, a figure which would top a million dollars today.

Here are some of his tips to determine if your sports collectibles are valuable:

The Older, the Better with Cards
Vintage sports cards from the early periods of sports are collectible, especially Hall of Famers. Do you have stars from the 1960s, 1950s or earlier? Look for names like Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner or Ty Cobb. Even non-star cards can be valuable, especially in nice condition with sharp corners and no creases.

Really early cards from the 1880s through the 1930s are particularly desirable, such as those by tobacco, gum and candy brands, such as Old Judge, Piedmont, Sweet Caporal, American Caramel, Goudey or Diamond Stars.

When determining where to sell cards and memorabilia, focus on a specialty auction house, such as Love of the Game, which employs trained experts in researching sports ephemera, and maintains bidder lists of sports collectors. More information is available at loveofthegameauctions.com.

Don’t Overlook Memorabilia and Equipment
Cards aren’t the only potentially valuable things. Look for older promotional and advertising ephemera spotlighting sports stars, especially items that promote sporting goods, food or tobacco brands. Ads from magazines aren’t valuable, but store displays, signs and premiums can be pricey.

Old sporting goods and equipment, such as balls, bats, gloves and uniforms, can also be valuable, especially if you had a family member who played minor or major league sports. Note that items from before the 1960s are highly collected. Also look for equipment endorsed by star players. Condition matters, but game-used equipment from professionals can be valuable in almost any condition.

Save Postcards and Photographs
If you have old photographs, cabinet cards or postcards of sports stars or ballparks, they should be evaluated. Those from pre-1960 can be expensive. Look for early “real photo” postcards from the 1900s through the 1940s, which are photographs printed on postcard backs.

Popular stars are key, meaning original images like Babe Ruth or early ballparks can be valuable, as opposed to images of your family members playing sports or of popular vacation destinations. When examining photographs, look for markings on the back, such as photographer, publication and date stamps. Also set aside cabinet cards, which are photographs from the 1880s through the 1930s adhered to cardboard stock.

“A good rule of thumb is that the older a sports item is, the more valuable it might be, especially from before the 1950s going back to the 1880s,” says Crisafulli.

This spring cleaning season, don’t rush to haul “junk” to the curb. Examine it first.

Published March 13, 2024

7 reasons to upgrade to electric and induction cooking appliances

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Cooking with gas? Industry experts say there are many reasons to consider retiring your gas-powered appliances.

(c) Susan Serra

To help you understand what your kitchen may be missing, Melissa Haber, the vice president of EuroChef USA, offers seven reasons why your next home upgrade should include making the swap to electric or induction cooking.

  1. You’re health- and eco-conscious. Gas appliances at home are associated with an increased risk of asthma and other illnesses, particularly in children, as they emit harmful air pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and methane, even when they’re not in use. The same pollutants are also harmful to the environment, contributing to air quality issues and climate change. In fact, national annual emissions from gas cooktops are equivalent to the emissions transmitted from half a million cars.
  2. They’re easy to maintain. Compared to the metal grates of a conventional gas stove, the flat surface of an electric or induction cooktop is nearly effortless to clean. A damp dish rag and soap works for most cleanup sessions. For more involved messes, a little vinegar goes a long way.
  3. They offer safety benefits. With no open flame, electric appliances lower the risk of burns or fires, particularly those with safety features such as “power on” lights and residual heat warnings that inform users when the surface is still hot. Induction cooking also has safety benefits, since only the cooking vessel is directly heated and the surface of the cooktop itself does not retain or give off heat.
  4. You value precision. Induction cooking is faster and more efficient than cooking with gas. The high-end induction ranges offered by the Italian brand Lofra, which combine elegant design with modern cooking features, are a good example of how accurate temperature control allows you to prepare meals like a professional in the comfort of home.
  5. Making changes can be feasible. Installing a gas hookup can be costly, time-consuming and involve inspections. The installation process for electric appliances on the other hand is easier and less expensive. Not able to replace your gas appliances with electric? Investing in a range hood is a sensible solution that can cut your appliance’s air pollution by about half.
  6. You’ll be ahead of the curve. A growing number of cities and municipalities are banning new gas hookups for appliances to reduce air pollution and help fight climate change. Making the switch to electric or induction can help you get ahead of the regulatory curve.
  7. New options are being introduced. With sales of electric appliances on the rise, a few select manufacturers have taken note, and to meet customer demand, have recently introduced additional options offering style and sought-after features. For example, the Italian brand Verona offers electric ranges in its Prestige and Designer Collections that deliver an upgraded look, with single and double oven options to suit varying needs and tastes. All are equipped with five burners that accommodate pots of any size, and a multi-tasking dual element that ranges from simmer to boil with the simple turn of a knob.

“As more consumers have come to realize the value and advantages of electric and induction cooking, it became important to us to offer them the same versatility and style they might expect with traditional gas-powered cooking appliances,” says Haber.

Whether you want to prioritize your family’s health and safety, or you simply want to embrace the convenience of modern cooking technology, electric and induction appliances can be a game changer in your kitchen.

Published March 13, 2024

Early voting begins for March 19 Republican presidential primary

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Tampa Bay area voters are now able to make their picks for the March 19 primary election, with early voting sites open throughout the region.

Only registered Republicans will be able to vote in the Republican presidential primary, however, some counties are also holding municipal elections open to all voters.

(Element5 Digital/Unsplash)

To vote early, voters must go to an early voting site in the county in which they’re registered. Open dates, times and locations vary by county:

  • Pinellas County sites are open until March 17, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Voting sites are at the Supervisor of Elections Office at the Election Service Center in Largo, the County Building in St. Petersburg and the Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater. More information can be found at VotePinellas.gov.
  • Hernando County sites are open until March 16, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Voting sites are at the South Brooksville Community Center, Spring Hill Branch Library, Supervisor of Elections Branch Office/Forest Oaks Government Center, East Hernando Library, Hernando County Utilities Bldg./Community Room. More information can be found at HernandoVotes.gov.

For voting by mail, ballots must be received by the county Supervisor of Elections in which you’re registered by 7 p.m., March 19. Vote by mail ballots must be signed, and the signature must match the signature on file. Voters can drop their ballots at a secure ballot intake station found at local election offices and early voting locations. If you plan to mail your ballot, allow plenty of time for the ballot to be received.

Election day voting will take place March 19, 7 a.m – 7 p.m. Voting at the polling place assigned to a registered voter’s address is required. Visit your County Supervisor of Elections website to find your polling location.

Published March 13, 2024

State Senate committee advances bill to limit terms of county commissioners

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(The Center Square) — A bill that would put term limits on Florida county commissioners passed a key hurdle in the Senate Committee on Rules, on Monday.

Senate Bill 438 is sponsored by state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill. It would introduce term limits for county commissioners and would require certain counties to hold a referendum election to ask voters if they approve or disapprove of term limits in their county.

Florida Senate, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the bill’s text, it says that a person is prohibited from being on a ballot for reelection to the office of county commissioner if they had served in that office for eight consecutive years. The person would also have a waiting time of at least two years before they could run for the county commissioner’s office in another county.

While introducing the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules Monday, Ingoglia introduced an amendment that would allow constitutional counties to put the question of term limits to voters this coming November, as they currently do not have the authority to do so.

Marion County Commissioner Kathy Bryant opposed the bill. She told the committee that not once in all her years as commissioner has she received a request from a constituent to introduce term limits.

“(The bill) is a solution looking for a problem that doesn’t exist,” Bryant said. “In my 14 years serving Marion County, out of nearly 8,000 emails that have come into my office, there has not been one asking for term limits for county commissioners… The thought that a county commissioner can’t be fired is just incorrect.”

Ingoglia previously stated during the bill’s passage through the Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections in January that the lack of term limits at local levels prevents communities from going out and finding the next generation of leaders.

“When you have somebody who is in office, she or he may be there for 26 years, there’s no end in sight for that term, so then people stop looking for people as potential replacements,” Ingoglia said. “The lack of term limits is a chilling factor to have the local communities find and recruit people to eventually take their place.”

Ingoglia said that term limits are very popular with voters because they do not want people to serve in government for an eternity and added that it helps society raise future policymakers.

Published March 06, 2024