Local News

CLEARWATER – Several employees from Tampa Bay-area Hooters locations and the corporate office attended Habitat’s townhome dedication block party on June 22 in Clearwater. 

The Original Hooters sponsored townhomes for the Sanchez and Xhokli families, making this their 11th home build with Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside. 

This year’s project marks the first townhomes they sponsored.

Representatives from Original Hooters presented this year’s donation of $151,500 to Habitat at The Original Hooters in Clearwater. HMC Hospitality Group’s Regional Training Coordinator Chelsea Vazquez presented the keys to the two homeowners.

“We are thankful to help the Sanchez Family and Xhokli Family make owning a home affordable and achievable,” said Denise Williams, chief marketing officer of HMC Hospitality Group. “We are honored to be a part of the community celebration when the families receive keys to their new townhomes.”

Over the past few months, the team at Hooters assisted with framing, window and door installation, floors, stove installation and painting. Employees from the Tampa Bay-area Hooters locations and the corporate office volunteered for a total of 252 hours between the two townhomes.

“A Habitat home will give me the stability and security I need to finally build the future I have been working toward,” said homeowner Ganimete Xhokli.

Homeowners Byron and Angelina Sanchez envision their 1-year-old daughter growing up in the new home. 

Mike Sutton, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, said his organization is grateful for the partnership with Hooters and HMC Hospitality Group.

“Their long-standing support, generosity and hands-on volunteerism make a lasting impact for local families, helping turn the dream of homeownership into a reality,” Sutton said. 

Since 2016, HMC Hospitality Group has presented Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside a total of $1,034,100 and donated more than 2,970 hours of their time to build homes.

SAINT LEO – The Benedictine Sisters of Florida has decided to relocate from the current monastery location to American House – Zephyrhills to ensure the well-being, safety, health care and spiritual support of the sisters.

“This decision arises from the Sisters’ commitment to care for one another with the compassion and dignity that the Rule of St. Benedict asks of us,” said Sister Tonette Sperando, canonical administrator of the community. “Holy Name Monastery has been a place of prayer, hospitality and service for generations. As our Sisters’ needs change, we continue that same fidelity by choosing a setting where each sister can receive the level of care she requires while remaining united as a community.”

The transition will take place later this summer in phases. 

The Sisters will continue their daily rhythm of prayer, community and presence, carrying their Benedictine spirit into their new home. They remain committed to praying for the church and the world and to staying connected with oblates, friends and all who have shared life with them over the years.

For generations, the Benedictine Sisters of Florida have served the region through ministries of education, healthcare, parish service, retreat work and social outreach, offering hospitality, stability and a quiet witness of faith. The community expresses gratitude for the support it has received and for the relationships that have shaped members’ lives. 

“We carry forward the legacy entrusted to us,” said Sister Roberta Bailey, former prioress. “Our mission remains the same: to seek God in community, to pray for the Church and the world, and to offer a presence of peace wherever we are.”

Information about the future of the monastery property will be shared as it becomes available.

SEBRING – Millions of men are living with an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. For some, like Edward Daughtry, the condition can lead to serious complications.

“I got to the point where I couldn’t urinate at all, and my bladder was full and it was painful,” Daughtry said.

The Marine Corps veteran said he also developed blood clots in his bladder, which led him to seek emergency care at AdventHealth Sebring. There, he was treated by Dr. Aravindh Rathinam, a urologist, who recommended he undergo a Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate procedure, a minimally invasive treatment that removes excess prostate tissue causing urinary blockage.

Rathinam said the procedure can provide long-lasting relief with fewer complications and shorter recovery times, while preserving normal sexual function.

“It’s a safe procedure that allows for more complete removal of the tissue causing the problem and reduces the risk of it coming back,” Rathinam said. “Recovery is typically faster, and in many cases, we can remove the catheter the same day or within 24 hours, compared to several days with other procedures.”

Daughtry said he has recovered well and has not experienced side effects. He also expressed appreciation for the care he received.

“I’m glad I had it done because I feel great now,” Daughtry said. “Dr. Rathinam is one of the best doctors I have ever had. He broke everything down for me, and I’d recommend anybody to him if they wanted to have that surgery or needed it done. He, the nurses and everybody from the sign-in point on the day of the surgery to the release date were great.”

Rathinam added that the procedure can also help detect other serious conditions.

“Because this procedure removes a large portion of the prostate, we can examine the tissue and sometimes identify cancer cells early,” he said.

With benign prostatic hyperplasia, some men may experience sleep disruption due to frequent nighttime urination, along with difficulty emptying the bladder. Without timely treatment, the condition can lead to more serious health problems, including permanent bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones and incontinence.

According to the American Cancer Society, men should begin prostate cancer screening at age 50. Those with a family history of prostate cancer should consider screening starting at age 45.

“We often hear from men who put off getting checked because they feel fine or don’t want to deal with it,” Rathinam said. “But taking a few minutes for a prostate exam can make a meaningful difference. It gives us the opportunity to catch issues early, provide reassurance when everything is normal or begin treatment before problems become more serious.”

Want to learn more?

Learn more about urological care available through AdventHealth in Sebring, Lake Placid and Wauchula at adventhealth.com/hospital/adventhealth-sebring/urology-care.

PASCO COUNTY – The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board is extending the Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage through Oct. 1, due to ongoing water shortages causing drought conditions. Under the extended order, the irrigation window for potable, well and surface water remains between midnight and 4 a.m. or between 8 p.m. and midnight. Confirm your one assigned watering day at mypas.co/SaveWater and follow all watering guidelines.

• Potable, well or surface water use – between midnight and 4 a.m. or between 8 p.m. and midnight
• Reclaimed water use – between midnight and 8 a.m.
• HOAs may not require more watering than restrictions allow, landscape replacement or pressure washing for aesthetic purposes.

“Irrigation often accounts for more than half of a homeowner’s water costs, and irrigating efficiently is one of the most effective ways to save water and save money,” said Sandra Anderson, customer information and services director for Pasco County Utilities. “Regardless of your water source, in Pasco, you can only water once a week on your assigned day.”

Tips for efficient landscape irrigation:

• Know your single watering day and stick to your schedule: mypas.co/SaveWater
• Get help programming your irrigation controllers: email
• Have your irrigation system evaluated for free with UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County to ensure your system is operating properly and efficiently: mypas.co/FreeSprinklerCheck
• This is also a good time to check your home for water leaks or drips. And if you’re considering upgrading your toilets or irrigation system, you might qualify for rebates.

Visit PascoCountyUtilities.com for more information about water conservation and Pasco County Utilities.

PASCO COUNTY – Pasco Board of County Commissioners offices will be closed Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day.

The following Pasco County departments will remain closed through Saturday, July 4, 2026:

• Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Offices, Recreation Complex Buildings and Community Centers will be closed; however, the parks and beaches will stay open to the public from dawn to dusk.
• Pasco County Public Transportation (GoPasco) will provide regular transportation services (fixed‑route and demand response) on Friday, July 3; however, administrative offices will be closed. Bus service will not operate on Saturday, July 4.
• 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.
• The Pasco County Resource Recovery Facility, West Pasco Class III and the East Pasco Transfer Station will be open on Friday, July 3. They will be closed to the public on Saturday, July 4; however, they will be open to Pasco County licensed commercial haulers.

BCC government offices will reopen Monday, July 6.

While many of us will be at a Fourth of July barbecue, have you ever wondered what was on the menu 250 years ago? Obviously not hamburgers and hotdogs, as those dishes weren’t invented yet, nor was refrigeration. Slaughtering and butchering an animal in the summer was not feasible due to flies and faster rates of spoilage. Meat was dependent on whatever wild game or livestock was available, but animals were typically slaughtered in the fall so they could then be salted or smoked to preserve it throughout the winter. By the summer, after eating the same thing for so many months, fresh and pickled vegetables were preferred, according to WBUR News. Similar to the present day, it was common to have alcohol and desserts at gatherings 250 years ago. Dessert was usually a cornmeal flatbread, molasses cookies or an apple-based dessert.

And of course, by 1776, coffee became the preferred hot beverage. Tea was favored until 1770, when the British Parliament refused to repeal the tea tax. In retaliation, the colonists boycotted tea, and it was seen as unpatriotic and controversial to drink it. As a result, they replaced it with coffee, and it’s been woven into American culture ever since. To think, if they had just done away with the tea tax, all of these coffee shops today could have been tea shops.

The diets of colonists were also dependent on region (New England, Middle Colonies or Southern Colonies), as well as race and class, while the cuisine was heavily influenced by the British, French, Africans and Native Americans.

The Native Americans taught the colonists their farming practices so they could grow the “three sisters” crops: corn, squash and beans. They quickly became staples in the American diet, as the colonists learned how these crops grow well together in close proximity, from retaining soil moisture to suppressing weeds.

The Southern Colonies (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia) grew a lot of rice, sweet potatoes, peas and corn. Pork was the predominant meat for the affluent, while the poor and enslaved mostly ate squirrel, rabbit and opossum. The region’s cuisine had a lot of influence by Africa, the Caribbean, English and Native Americans. The enslaved introduced okra and black-eyed peas.

The Middle Colonies (Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania) were known as the “breadbasket” and grew large amounts of grain such as wheat, barley and rye thanks to their fertile soil. Cornbread, porridge, bread and cereal were common back then. Food was influenced by the Dutch, English and Germans that immigrated there.

The New England colonies (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire) had rocky soil that made farming more challenging. They consumed more seafood, dairy and maple syrup.

Even though our barbecues may not have pigeon or rabbit, some parts of the American diet from 250 years ago are still seen today. Of course, diet-related illnesses had more to do with foodborne illness or vitamin deficiencies back then and less to do with metabolic diseases, but the core parts of the diet are still the same: produce, grains, protein and dairy, while indulging in dessert, alcohol and coffee.

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County, An Equal Opportunity Institution.