The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

SMARTstart showcases entrepreneurs at Food Vendor Fair

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Bee Ready 4 Anything, which specializes in honey, participated in last year’s SMARTstart Food Vendor Fair. The company will “bee” back this year. Photo courtesy of Pasco EDC

PASCO COUNTY – The UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County and Pasco Economic Development Council will present the sixth annual SMARTstart Food Vendor Fair on Jan. 29. 

The family-friendly food event shares incubator business opportunities and supports food entrepreneurs’ businesses. The community can buy food and arrange event catering or gifts. 

“Events like the SMARTstart Food Vendor Fair highlight the incredible talent and diversity of Pasco County’s small business community,” said Jack Mariano, chair of the  Pasco County Board of County Commissioners. “Supporting these entrepreneurs strengthens our local economy and showcases the innovation happening right here in our own backyard.”

The East Pasco Incubator Kitchen features an incubator where budding food entrepreneurs can produce food in a licensed commercial kitchen and then use the packaging and labeling station to create nutrition fact labels for their products. Members of the East Pasco Incubator Kitchen get access to business coaching through the SMARTstart Program. This center is co-located with UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County and features a community garden where SMARTstart members can grow their own ingredients.

“Every year we are excited to see the new culinary creations coming out of the East Pasco Incubator Kitchen and would be honored if the public were to join us to see what’s cooking,” said  Dan Mitchell, assistant vice president of entrepreneurship for Pasco EDC.

 Participating SMARTstart Incubator members include:

  • Bee Ready 4 Anything: Sells honey and bees and provides bee removal services and pollination services.
  • Bean Buggy and Co.: Mobile coffee trailer serving espresso, desserts, bagel sandwiches and craft drinks for events and catering across Tampa.
  • Blue Crow Espresso: Pours delicious espresso from their mobile coffee bike.
  • Boots on the Grind Catering by Chef Jasmin: Veteran-owned catering and private chef business based in Wesley Chapel specializing in authentic Puerto Rican cuisine and other culturally inspired dishes.
  • Da Flava Spot: Serves Jamaican cuisine, specializing in jerk chicken and more.
  • Edenesque: Specializes in homemade beef jerky and freeze-dried fruits and vegetables.
  • Finga Lickin Ting: Offers authentic Jamaican patties and other traditional pastries.
  • Maggie’s Snow Shoppe: Mobile Shave Ice business specializing in making syrups from scratch using fresh fruit.
  • Peppa & Thyme Provisions, LLC: A Jamaican-inspired food truck and catering service bringing bold island flavors to the Tampa Bay area.
  • Pucker and Pop: Serves specialty lemonade and old school dirty sodas.
  • Son’ni Boi & Petal, Inc: Specializes in creating sweet treats for company events, parties or family gatherings, offering their signature cashew brittle and more.

 

Want to go?

The sixth annual Food Vendor Fair will be held Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SMARTstart East Pasco Incubator Kitchen, 15029 14th St., Dade City. Admission and parking are free. Vendors’ item prices will vary.

Health & Wellness (01/21/26): AdventHealth breaks ground on ER

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AdventHealth, Auburndale and community leaders joined together to break ground on the future AdventHealth Auburndale ER. Photo courtesy of AdventHealth

AdventHealth breaks ground on new ER

AUBURNDALE – AdventHealth has broken ground on a new emergency room in Auburndale, expanding access to lifesaving care for residents in Polk County.

The AdventHealth Auburndale ER, located at 1052 U.S. 92 W., will feature 12 private exam rooms, advanced imaging (X-ray, CT and ultrasound), a full-service lab, pediatric emergency care, pharmacy services and respiratory therapy.

The more than 13,000-square-foot facility is expected to create over 35 jobs and open later this year as a department of AdventHealth Heart of Florida. 

The project is designed by HuntonBrady and constructed by Robins & Morton, continuing a long-standing partnership.

 

BayCare earns Press Ganey awards

CLEARWATER – BayCare has earned 17 Press Ganey Human Experience Awards for 2025.

Press Ganey surveys patients from more than 41,000 health care facilities, asking about safety, quality and overall experience of care to come up with the rankings. 

“BayCare continues to set the standard for clinical excellence and compassionate care,” said Stephanie Conners, president and CEO of BayCare. “These awards reflect the dedication of our incredible team who ensure every patient feels welcome, safe and supported when they walk through our doors.”

The Pinnacle of Excellence award honors locations that rank in the top 5% nationally for three consecutive years in delivering exceptional experiences. 

The Guardian of Excellence award recognizes locations that rank in the top 5% for an entire year, celebrating consistent excellence in patient care.

Below is a complete list of BayCare’s 2025 Press Ganey awards:  

Pinnacle of Excellence – Patient Experience Award Winners

  • BayCare Laboratories (Palm Harbor)
  • BayCare Laboratories (St. Anthony’s Hospital Medical Arts Building)

Pinnacle of Excellence – Physician Experience Award Winners

  • Physicians at St. Anthony’s Hospital
  • Physicians at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North

Guardian of Excellence – Patient Experience Award Winners

  • St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital
  • BayCare Outpatient Imaging (Bloomingdale)
  • BayCare Outpatient Imaging (Land O’ Lakes)
  • BayCare Outpatient Imaging (Wesley Chapel)
  • BayCare Laboratories (Bloomingdale)
  • BayCare Laboratories (Cheek-Powell)
  • BayCare Laboratories (Mease Dunedin Hospital Physician Office Building)
  • BayCare Laboratories (New Port Richey)
  • BayCare Laboratories (Palm Harbor)
  • BayCare Laboratories (South Tampa)
  • BayCare Laboratories (St. Anthony’s Hospital Medical Arts Building)  
  • BayCare Laboratories (Sunset Point)
  • BayCare Laboratories (Trinity)

 

Hospital offers support for new moms

LUTZ – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North offers free in-person breastfeeding support groups and newborn care classes during February. 

Events are open to all no matter which hospital you delivered or plan to deliver your child. The events will be held in classrooms at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 4211 Van Dyke Road, Lutz.

  • Breastfeeding Support Group: For breastfeeding mothers, their babies and one support person (grandmother, aunt, etc.) The group provides a place where breastfeeding mothers receive support from other breastfeeding mothers and certified breastfeeding consultants. Dates and times: Feb. 5 and 19, 10 to 11 a.m.
  • Understanding Your Newborn: Provides information to the expectant mother and one support person about many aspects of safe infant care, including feeding, diapering, bathing, signs of illness and cues and communication. Dates and times: Feb. 5 and 19, 1 to 5 p.m.

Register by phone by calling 855-314-8352 and pressing the number “2” at the prompt. Or, register by visiting BayCareEvents.org and choosing “St. Joseph’s Hospital-North” in the “Facility/Location” filter and scrolling to the group or class you are interested in attending.

 

Get answers on Medicare

  1. PETERSBURG – SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas. 

Specially trained volunteers can assist with Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information.

They’ll answer questions at the following Medicare programs: 

  • Jan. 21 at 11 a.m. at the Pinellas Park Library, 7770 52nd St. N., Pinellas Park. 727-369-0669
  • Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. at the Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S., Gulfport. 727-893-1073
  • Jan. 22 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hugh Embry Library, 14215 4th St., Dade City. 352-567-3576

SHINE services are free, unbiased and confidential. Counselors do not sell anything. They can be reached by calling 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111.

 

Chalk Talk (01/21/26): PHSC welcomes board members 

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Toni Zetzsche

PHSC welcomes board members 

NEW PORT RICHEY – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Toni Zetzsche and the reappointment of Gino Collura and Marilyn Pearson-Adams to the Pasco-Hernando State College District Board of Trustees.

Zetzsche will serve as a Pasco County representative. She is the chief communications and community engagement officer for Pasco County Schools. She is a member of the Greater Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the Pasco County Commission on the Status of Women. 

Gino Collura

Collura is the founder of Big Guava Management. He serves on the Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises Board of Directors and is an advisory board member for the University of South Florida College of Education, the Saint Leo University College of Arts and Sciences and Heroes Adapt. Collura has served on PHSC’s board since 2024.

Pearson-Adams is the owner and broker of Century 21 Alliance Realty in Spring Hill. She is a member of the National, Florida and Hernando County Associations of Realtors and was inducted into the National Association of Realtors Hall of Fame in 2020. Pearson-Adams has served on the board since 2014.

 

College students can apply for scholarship

TAMPA – Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer invites college students to apply for a scholarship provided by the Florida Supervisors of Elections. 

The FSE is offering three $1,200 scholarships to eligible Florida residents who are accepted or enrolled as full-time students in a senior college or university in Florida. Students must also be at least a junior in college, or have enough credits for enrollment as a junior prior to the application date.

Hillsborough County residents must apply through the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office by March 6. Students must be either a political science, public/business administration or journalism/mass communication major. Visit VoteHillsborough.gov/Scholarship or email to learn requirements and how to apply. 

 

Howard joins Victory High Schools

TAMPA – Victory High Schools welcomed Amelia Howard to its team. 

Howard will be providing individual and group therapy at the Tampa School. 

She is a licensed mental health counselor, qualified supervisor, addictions professional and founder of Soul Purpose Counseling & Consulting PLLC. 

She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-informed care, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. She has worked in community-based, nonprofit, managed care and private practice settings.

Her background includes work with the University of South Florida, Metropolitan Ministries and Phoenix House.

 

Quick Hits

  • Denisa Varda, of Lutz, graduated this fall from Troy University in Troy, Alabama. 
  • Elanah Hardeen, of Odessa, made the president’s list at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia. Students must earn a 4.0 grade point average or better.
  • Odessa residents Jillian Abarca, Nicholas DelNegro and Gennaro Scarfogliero made the dean’s list at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia. They earned a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
  • Lutz residents Blake Boles and Dylan Heck made the dean’s list at Nazareth University in Rochester, New York. They earned a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher. 
  • Riley Hall, of Wesley Chapel, made the president’s list at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Riley is a senior in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
  • Evelyn Randall, of Dade City, made the dean’s honor list at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. Evelyn is studying in the School of Human Ecology.

 

EggBred hatching a Land O’ Lakes location

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LAND O’LAKES – EggBred will celebrate the grand opening of its newest location in the Hub at Bexley. The weekend-long celebration on Jan. 24 and 25 will feature free food, free coffee and giveaways. 

Located at 16916 Focus Loop in Land O’Lakes, the new EggBred location will deliver a fresh breakfast experience centered around high-quality ingredients and bold flavors. Every dish is made from scratch and cooked to order using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. 

Doors open at 7 a.m. Jan. 24. Guests can take advantage of several grand opening specials. The first 100 customers will receive a free breakfast sandwich, with their choice of the Scramble Me Softly or Bacon, Egg & Cheese. The next 100 guests will receive a free sandwich on their next visit. 

Free coffee will be served all day Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the opening weekend.

Guests can expect EggBred’s signature menu offerings, including breakfast sandwiches, burritos and fresh coffee.

“We’re thrilled to open our doors in Land O’Lakes and introduce the community to the EggBred experience,” said Albert Shim, CEO of EggBred. “From the food to the atmosphere, everything we do is centered around quality, creativity and connection. We’re excited to become part of the neighborhood and serve breakfast worth waking up for.” 

On the web: eggbred.com/landolakes  

 

News Briefs (01/15/25): Pasco offices to close for MLK Day

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Pasco County offices to close for MLK Day

NEW PORT RICHEY – Pasco Board of County Commissioners offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources’ Offices, Recreation Complex buildings and Community Centers will be closed; however, parks and beaches will remain open to the public from dawn to dusk.

Pasco County Public Transportation (GoPasco) will provide regular transportation services (fixed-route and demand response); however, GoPasco administrative offices will be closed.

All Pasco County Libraries will be closed.

Pasco County Animal Services Administration Office, Adoption Center, Intake/Reclaim Shelter and Field Services will be closed. An Animal Control Officer will be available for emergencies only.

The Pasco County Resource Recovery Facility, West Pasco Class III and the East Pasco Transfer Station will be closed to the public; however, they will be open to Pasco County licensed commercial haulers.

BCC government offices will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 20.

 

Church hosts Tampa March for Life

TAMPA – The Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg will host its second annual Tampa March for Life on Jan. 17 to advocate for the protection of life and an end to abortion.

Event highlights include:

  • 9 a.m. – Mass celebrated by Bishop Gregory Parkes and local priests. The Mass is the central worship service of the Catholic faith and its highest form of prayer.
  • 10:10 a.m. – The half-mile march begins, escorted by the Tampa Police Department. Participants will follow a diocesan banner and a special float adorned with bright flowers and an image of Mary.
  • 11 a.m. – Rally at Perry Harvey Sr. Park featuring music, speakers, games, food trucks and family-friendly activities, along with information about life-affirming resources offered through Catholic Charities, including pregnancy centers and support services for women, children and families.

The event begins at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 509 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, and concludes at Perry Harvey Sr. Park, 1000 E. Harrison St., Tampa.

 

District aims to reduce risk of wildfires  

BROOKSVILLE – Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct prescribed burns now through March on Starkey Wilderness Preserve and Conner Preserve.

Starkey Wilderness Preserve is located east of New Port Richey, west of the Suncoast Parkway, north of State Road 54 and south of State Road 52. Approximately 500 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.

Conner Preserve is located south of State Road 52 and west of Ehren Cutoff. Approximately 300 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.

Some major benefits of prescribed fire include:

  • Reducing overgrown plants, which decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
  • Promoting the growth of new, diverse plants.
  • Maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat.
  • Maintaining access for public recreation.

The district conducts prescribed fires on approximately 30,000 acres each year.

New Tampa Performing Arts Center to host SpongeBob, jazz artists

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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – The 2025-26 season at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center continues in January with a variety of high-quality entertainment across music, dance and film.

  • The Tampa Qipao Team presents a dazzling evening celebrating its 10th anniversary alongside the 2026 Chinese New Year at 7 p.m. Jan. 16. Hosted by the Florida Hubei Chinese Association, this festive showcase will feature vibrant performances by singers, dance troupes and cultural ensembles, including Anna Dance Academy and Tampa Sunshine Choir. General admission tickets cost $8. Email the Florida Hubei Chinese Association at for tickets. 
  • New Tampa Jazz Nights, presented by the New Tampa Performing Arts Center and Tampa Jazz Club, returns at 8 p.m. Jan. 17 with another intimate concert from renowned jazz musicians. The concert features world-renowned vibraphonist and drummer Chuck Redd with the Best of the Bay jazz trio La Lucha. Tickets range from $10 to $35 and can be purchased through Tampa Jazz Club. 
  • Inspired by the popular show “MTV Unplugged,” the New Tampa Unplugged concert series showcases acoustic performances by prominent musicians from Tampa Bay. Alexis Carra, a Tampa native and musical theater maven, returns to the New Tampa Unplugged stage at 3 p.m. Jan. 18 after receiving high praise for her heartfelt performance last season. Carra’s career has spanned from the Broadway stage (“Wicked” and “Sweet Charity”) to Hollywood (“Mixology” and “Two and a Half Men”). Tickets range from $10 to $25 based on seat selection and can be purchased at NewTampaArtsCenter.org/tickets.
  • REVolutions Dance will perform twice at the center in January. REVolutionary Moves (Jan. 22 at 10:30 a.m.) is presented as part of New Tampa Performing Arts Center’s Theatre for Young Audiences program. This interactive and educational performance teaches audiences about the value of diversity and inclusion through a unique blend of storytelling and professionally choreographed dances. REV20 (Jan. 23 at 8 p.m.) celebrates 20 years of inclusive dance performances. The company will present its favorite dance pieces spanning the past two decades, along with new works. 
  • New Tampa Players presents “The SpongeBob Musical” from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. This unique full-length production experience is a joint production between New Tampa Players’ Mainstage and Ampersand groups. Buy tickets through New Tampa Players. 

The New Tampa Performing Arts Center is located at 8550 Hunters Village Road.

On the web: NewTampaArtsCenter.org 

Pasco tweaks parking rules for RVs, commercial vehicles 

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NEW PORT RICHEY – Pasco County no longer allows parking of recreational or commercial vehicles on streets in master planned unit developments.  

The change expands on-street parking restrictions from residential neighborhoods to include larger, mixed-use communities.

“These changes to our Land Development Code address concerns about long-term parking and storage of these types of vehicles,” said Jack Mariano, chairman of the board of county commissioners. “The goal is to improve safety and visibility on neighborhood streets and make our communities more visually appealing.”

Under the new rules:

  • You can’t park RVs, including boats, trailers, campers or jet skis, in any county right-of-way, including on-street parking spaces.
  • You can’t park commercial vehicles in master planned unit developments, unless your company is legally doing business within the development or you park your commercial vehicle in an enclosed structure such as a garage. 

Pasco County will share educational information on pascocountyfl.gov and social media platforms to help people understand the new rules. Information cards will also be placed on vehicles that are in violation of the new laws.

Warning notices and tickets with fines up to $500 per day will be issued after this educational period, which ends Feb. 27.

These updates apply only to street parking. All existing rules for RV and boat parking on private property, including temporary allowances during disaster recovery, remain unchanged. 

On the web: mypas.co/Parking-Rules 

 

Flagship breaks ground on medical pavilion 

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Precise Construction will serve as the general contractor for Wiregrass Ranch Medical Pavilion I. Atlantic Union Bank provided financing for the project. Rendering courtesy of Flagship Healthcare Properties

WESLEY CHAPEL – Flagship Healthcare Properties recently broke ground on the Wiregrass Ranch Medical Pavilion I, a 46,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art medical office development.

Stakeholders celebrated the groundbreaking at Strickland Avenue and Wiregrass Ranch Boulevard in Wesley Chapel. Construction will take about 11 months. Initial tenants are scheduled to open in 4Q 2026.

Wiregrass Ranch Medical Pavilion I is situated on a major north-south connector within Wiregrass Ranch, a 5,000-acre master-planned lifestyle destination established by the Porter Family in 1942. 

Originally used for cattle ranching and citrus orchards, Wiregrass Ranch has evolved through the Porters’ long-term vision into a community featuring residential neighborhoods, schools, greenspace, trails and institutions.

The property is positioned across from the future 102-bed Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital, under construction and scheduled to open in spring 2026, as well as across from Legacy Wiregrass Ranch, a large-scale mixed-use development planned to include more than 3,000 residential units, along with hotels, office and retail.

The project will be anchored by Florida ENT & Allergy, which has 13 locations throughout the region.

Ownership of Wiregrass Ranch Medical Pavilion I will be a joint venture among Flagship Healthcare Trust, the Porter Family and Florida ENT & Allergy with Flagship HealthcareProperties serving as project developer and managing member. 

“We are excited to bring this state-of-the-art medical facility to the Wiregrass Ranch community,” said Dev Gregg, Flagship’s executive vice president of development. “This project reflects our commitment to delivering thoughtfully designed healthcare real estate in high-growth markets, and partnering with best-in-class providers to meet the needs of growing communities.”

 

News Briefs (01/14/26): Collards Festival supports local agriculture

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Collards Festival supports local agriculture

NEW PORT RICHEY – The 11th annual New Port Richey Collards Festival & Winter Garden Expo brings together growers, gardeners and community partners to celebrate sustainable food and local agriculture.

The free event is presented  by the Rotary Club of New Port Richey and New Port Richey FarmNet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 17 at Grand Gardens, 5721 Grand Blvd. 

The festival will feature locally grown vegetable seedlings, cool-weather produce, bedding  plants, organic and heirloom seeds, gardening materials, loquat fruit trees and sign-ups for garden plots at Grand Gardens. 

Attendees can also enjoy tastings from restaurants and artisan-prepared collard dishes, plus festival shirts and collard greens cookbooks supporting local agriculture projects.

 

New Port Richey celebrates Arbor Day 

NEW PORT RICHEY – The City of New Port Richey honors the role trees play in our community and our planet during the 37th annual Arbor Day Celebration. 

The celebration starts at 10 a.m. Jan. 16 at Frances Avenue Park, 5580 Frances Ave.  

Event highlights will include an Arbor Day Proclamation, “Trees of the Future” Arbor Day Address by Dell deChant of the Environmental Committee; a presentation by fourth-grade students from Genesis School and their teacher, Louisa Jaenichen; students helping plant new trees; and a ceremonial drumming honoring all trees.

New Port Richey is a National Arbor Day Foundation “Tree City USA” and a recognized leader in urban ecological regeneration. Since 1989, the city has planted and protected trees that enhance quality of life and strengthen the ecosystem.

 

St. Petersburg hosts MLK Parade

ST. PETERSBURG –  The City of St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival are celebrating the life and legacy of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. with a parade.

The 39th annual St. Pete MLK Parade: “The Power of a Dream” will feature floats, marching bands and cultural performances from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 19. 

The parade travels through downtown St. Petersburg on a route that will culminate at Tropicana Field. The route goes west on 1st Avenue South from 3rd Street South to 16th Street South, then south on 16th Street to 3rd Avenue South.

Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers has been named the grand marshal, honoring her leadership and longstanding commitment to service.

This year’s parade will feature two distinguished HBCU marching bands, Tuskegee University and Alabama A&M University. It will also include a special appearance by the Wendell Scott Foundation, showcasing a historic Wendell Scott race car honoring the legacy of the first African American NASCAR driver and team owner to win at the sport’s highest level.

On the web: stpetemlkparade.com 

 

Regal Railways presents Model Train Show 

BROOKSVILLE – Regal Railways will present a Model Train Show and Sale with more than 70 vendor tables offering model trains, toys and related items for sale. 

The sale takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Hernando Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St.

Attendees can enjoy a running train layout, a test track experience and an interactive activity for children. A food vendor will be on site throughout the event.

Admission costs $6 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Credit cards are accepted. Prepaid admission is available at regalrailways.com.

 

Political groups to meet

WESLEY CHAPEL – Two area Democratic clubs will convene to discuss winning back the U.S. House.

The Central Pasco Democratic Club meets at 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at Meadow Pointe I Clubhouse, 28245 County Line Road, Wesley Chapel and on Zoom. Visit centralpascodems.com or call 813-453-1663 for details. 

The East Pasco Democratic Club meets at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Genesis Center, 38112 15th Ave., Zephyrhills and on Zoom. Visit eastpascodems.com or call 813-383-8315 for details. 

All friends of the Democratic Party are welcome. 

 

Freedom Alliance gives back to Navy veteran

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LAND O’ LAKES – Freedom Alliance recently presented U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jerry Wayne Padgett II with a new all-terrain wheelchair in honor of his service.

Padgett enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2001. He served aboard the USS Cushing, USS Preble and COMMGRP1, deploying five times and contributing as a command community relations photographer and rescue swimmer. 

In 2006, while on patrol in Afghanistan, he was severely injured by an improvised explosive device, resulting in a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and audio and visual impairments.

Padgett now lives in Land O’ Lakes with family and service dogs. He stays active with his son and volunteers in the community. 

His new all-terrain wheelchair will allow him to overcome daily barriers and experience a renewed sense of freedom. He’s also looking forward to returning to Florida’s trails and helping others enjoy the outdoors. 

“Jerry’s courage, resilience and unwavering commitment to serving others embody the very best of our nation’s heroes,” said Tom Kilgannon, president of the Freedom Alliance. “Providing him with this all-terrain wheelchair is a small way to honor his sacrifice and help restore the freedom he fought so hard to protect. We are proud to stand with Jerry as he returns to the outdoors he loves, and we’re grateful to the generous supporters who make moments like this possible.”

Freedom Alliance honors and supports veterans in a variety of ways. The nonprofit has awarded more than $30 million in college scholarships to children of heroes killed or disabled in military service. It has spent millions more helping injured veterans and their families with outdoor therapy trips, Heroes Retreats, care packages and mortgage-free homes. 

On the web: FreedomAlliance.org