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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Saint Leo University selected for Partners in Peace Initiative 

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New Honors course on 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate connects Saint Leo students with Tampa Bay’s Venezuelan community and the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo

ST. LEO – Saint Leo University’s Honors Program has been selected to join Partners in Peace, an initiative between the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway.

Saint Leo is part of the third cohort of institutions to receive the distinction, joining about 50 universities in the United States and Europe selected from more than 700 eligible honors programs and colleges.

“Being named a Partner in Peace is an incredible honor for our Honors Program and places Saint Leo in prestigious company,” said Jim Burkee, president of Saint Leo University. “It strengthens our commitment to global engagement, reflects the kind of scholarship we want our students to pursue and reinforces the core values embedded throughout our academic programs.”

The university’s selection was based on a new Honors course, HON 361: Democracy, Technology, and the Nobel Peace Prize, proposed and taught by Dr. Dan DuBois, associate professor of history and international studies and director of the Honors Program. The course will be offered for the first time in spring 2027.

“The Partners in Peace designation brings formal affiliation with one of the most consequential international organizations in history to Saint Leo. Honors students are now positioned to engage in topics of global significance through a structured educational exchange with the Nobel Peace Center and with the backing of the National Collegiate Honors Council,” said DuBois. “As Honors Director, I am humbled to oversee this new partnership and grateful for the opportunity to embed the ideals of Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Peace Prize in the curriculum of our Honors students.”

Through Partners in Peace, participating honors programs develop curricular and co-curricular projects inspired by the work of Alfred Nobel and Nobel Peace Prize laureates. At Saint Leo, HON 361 will focus on 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado and examine the intersection of democracy, technology and civic resistance in her efforts to advance free and fair elections in Venezuela.

As part of the course, Saint Leo students will conduct a community oral history project with members of Tampa Bay’s Venezuelan diaspora, documenting firsthand accounts and perspectives that have shaped the region’s Venezuelan community. This work will allow students to put their study of democracy, civic engagement and political change into practice by connecting classroom concepts to lived experiences.

Saint Leo University will receive formal recognition as a Partner in Peace at the NCHC Annual Conference in November 2027, following the completion of HON 361 and its associated project.

Learn more about Saint Leo’s Honors Program at saintleo.edu/academics/honors-program.

Tampa Funeral Home plans Dolly Parton celebration

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TAMPA – Blount & Curry Funeral Home-Carrollwood is inviting the Tampa Bay community to celebrate the life, music and legacy of Dolly Parton at Dolly & a Cup of Ambition.

The free community celebration will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 25 at Blount & Curry Funeral Home-Carrollwood, 3207 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa. Guests are welcome to stop by anytime during the event. 

At the heart of the event will be Dolly Parton’s music. Guests can expect a fun, welcoming atmosphere to enjoy some of Dolly’s most memorable songs while celebrating the woman behind the music. Dolly’s music will set the tone for a morning filled with laughter, memories and a little Southern sparkle.

Guests can also enjoy Folgers coffee, inspired by Dolly’s famous “cup of ambition,” along with old-fashioned Southern banana pudding, a dessert inspired by Dolly’s childhood.

The celebration will also feature Dolly Parton trivia, fun facts, stories and memories, giving fans an opportunity to share what Dolly’s music and legacy have meant to them.

“We wanted to create something that is fun, welcoming and a little unexpected,” said Laura Holland, funeral director at Blount & Curry Funeral Home-Carrollwood. “Dolly’s music has brought joy to generations of people, and her story is one of perseverance, family, humor, generosity and following your dreams. We thought, what better way to celebrate Dolly than by filling the room with her music, enjoying a cup of coffee, sharing some banana pudding and having a little fun?”

 

Golisano gives $40M to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

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Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital celebrated a $40 million gift. Photo courtesy of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
The hospital is scheduled to open in 2027. Rendering courtesy of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

WESLEY CHAPEL – Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital announced a $40 million gift from Paychex founder Tom Golisano to support the construction of its new campus in Wesley Chapel. 

The gift is the largest donation in the 100-year history of Johns Hopkins All Children’s. In recognition of the gift, the new building will be known as Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Golisano Children’s Medical Center at Wesley Chapel.

The center also became part of the Golisano Children’s Alliance, a growing national network of 21 children’s hospitals advancing pediatric care.

“We are grateful to Mr. Golisano for seeing the promise of this investment, the strength of the Wesley Chapel and All Children’s communities, and the potential of what we can create together,” said Alicia Schulhof, president of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. “His generosity will be felt not only in the physical building, but in the young lives and healthier futures that unfold within it for generations.”

The five-story, 56-bed hospital is part of a more than $300 million investment on a 112-acre property near Interstate 75 and Overpass Road in Pasco County. The new campus is expected to open in fall 2027.

“As a father and grandfather, I’ve seen firsthand what it means for a family to have a great children’s hospital close to home in a difficult moment,” Golisano said. “My hope is that no family, no matter where they live or what they can afford, has to travel far or wonder if their child will get the best care available.”

Jenine Rabin, executive vice president of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, said the goal was to fund a large portion of the campus through philanthropy.

“This transformational donation is going to help accelerate the additional fundraising that’s needed to bring expert medical care to the Wesley Chapel area and surrounding communities,” Rabin said. 

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Golisano Children’s Medical Center at Wesley Chapel will feature a 17-room emergency department, four operating rooms, an infusion center, sleep laboratory, gastroenterology procedures suite and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. The second floor will include 25,000 square feet of outpatient care space with 36 rooms. 

Construction on the campus began in 2025 and is currently on budget and on schedule to open in fall 2027. Exterior walls, windows and the roof are in place. Drywall, electrical work, plumbing and other interior work are underway. Johns Hopkins All Children’s has also started hiring staff for the new hospital.

“We will be able to weave the Golisano Children’s Alliance into the DNA of what we do in Wesley Chapel, and we are grateful that Mr. Golisano’s support will help us bring the pediatric expertise that this community needs,” said Joseph Perno, chief administrative officer for the new hospital. “We are excited to make the community and the Golisano organization proud.”

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Golisano Children’s Medical Center at Wesley Chapel is part of a broader era of expansion for the organization. Other projects underway include a 28,000-square-foot expansion of the Emergency Center and surgery suites at the St. Petersburg campus, expanded urgent care services in Tampa, obstetrics and gynecologic care and additional outpatient care along Florida’s west coast.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra announces 30th anniversary winter tou

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001: Trans-Siberian Orchestra performs in 2025. Jason McEachern photo

 

TAMPA – The Trans-Siberian Orchestra will celebrate its 30th anniversary at Benchmark International Arena with two events Dec. 20, featuring a reimagined staging of “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” followed by a second set. 

Trans-Siberian Orchestra pairs an audio/visual experience that includes lasers, pyrotechnics and special effects with fan-friendly ticket pricing.

“Thirty years in, we never take a single person in that audience for granted,” said Al Pitrelli, music director and guitarist. “With the economy the way that it is right now, it shouldn’t be a mortgage payment for a family to come out to see us.”

Since its formation in 1996, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has grown into a multiplatinum progressive rock group, generating more than $1 billion in gross ticket sales and establishing its annual rock theater tour as a tradition. 

“The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” follows the journey of a runaway who breaks into an abandoned vaudeville theater on Dec. 24 to escape the cold. The teen is discovered by the theater’s caretaker, who uses the ghosts and spirits from the building’s past to turn her life around.

The rock opera features beloved songs originally created by the late Paul O’Neill and the group’s composers, including Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s signature hit, “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24.” The RIAA-certified triple-platinum track has amassed more than 300 million global streams. 

Other fan favorites include “Christmas Canon,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Mad Russian Christmas,” “Wizards in Winter,” “Requiem (the Fifth)” and “This Christmas Day.”

At least $1 from every ticket sold benefits select local charities. Trans-Siberian Orchestra has distributed more than $20 million to charities all across North America.

 

The Warlock House Enchantment opens gates for Spookfest

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The Warlock House Enchantment will offer statuary tours on Tuesdays and Fridays in October. Photo courtesy of The Warlock House Enchantment

 

Artist Lewis VanDercar, known as the “Warlock of Wesley Chapel,” created a peculiar environment at The Warlock House Enchantment. Photo courtesy of The Warlock House Enchantment

WESLEY CHAPEL – Lewis VanDercar spent decades transforming his Wesley Chapel property into an unusual world of sculpture, statuary, artwork, unconventional architecture, gardens and peculiar creations. 

VanDercar was once known locally as the “Warlock of Wesley Chapel.” Halloween was part of family life at The Warlock House Enchantment during the 1970s, with costumes, tricks, treats and playful surprises. 

The family is opening the gates to a new generation, beginning with its first-ever Spookfest on Oct. 3 and continuing with statuary tours on Tuesdays and Fridays in October at 7 and 10 p.m.

Warlock Family Spookfest is a whimsical, family-friendly Halloween adventure at the historic property. Families will explore magical villages; meet playful characters; enjoy games, crafts, live entertainment, food and vendors; and discover art and local history.

Children will carry Warlock Apprentice Passports, collecting stamps through themed experiences including pirates, mermaids, herbology, bubbles, carnival games, broom decorating and storytelling. They can earn a special prize when they complete their adventure. 

Warlock Family Spookfest takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at The Warlock House Enchantment, 25950 Queen Sago Place, Wesley Chapel. 

Admission costs $15 for adults, $10 for children 10 and older, and free for children younger than 10. 

Costumes are encouraged. The experience is playful rather than scary.

Learn more at thewarlockhouse.com.

BayCare generates $13B in economic impact for Florida

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CLEARWATER – A new report by Washington Economics Group found that BayCare has a $13 billion impact on Florida’s economy each year, including supporting jobs for more than 66,000 residents.

Based on 2025 data, the economists found BayCare’s economic impact was up 30% since its last study based on 2022 data. The latest study found that annually BayCare:

  • Generates $4.8 billion in household income
  • Contributes $7.2 billion to Florida’s gross domestic product
  • Provides more than $1.6 billion in revenues to federal, state and local governments  

The economists noted BayCare’s impact is expected to grow. 

BayCare’s planned capital projects through 2030 will contribute an additional cumulative $6.6 billion in economic impact and an additional 30,871 jobs in the state. These include a new hospital in Manatee County opening in 2028, a new children’s hospital facility in Tampa opening in 2030 and expansion of its urgent cares, BayCare HealthHubs and freestanding emergency departments.  

“Health care is changing rapidly, and at BayCare, our disciplined growth also serves the region by providing high-quality care while supporting jobs, workforce development, research, community partnerships and investments that help strengthen Florida’s economy,” President and CEO Stephanie Conners said. 

The study details the impacts of BayCare’s 16 hospitals and in each of the five counties served.

Hillsborough and Pinellas County operations provide more than $4.1 billion and over $5.1 billion in total economic impacts, respectively. These are followed by Polk County with over $1 billion in total economic impact, Pasco County with $677 million and Manatee County with $88 million. Pasco grew by 71%, the highest percentage, in large part due to the opening of BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel in 2023.  

BayCare’s 16 hospitals provide the largest portion of economic impact at $8.7 billion. BayCare Medical Group grew by 154% to $1.9 billion.  

The economists also highlighted how BayCare’s Graduate Medical Education and workforce development programs benefit the state’s economic health. According to the study, 77% of the jobs supported are in higher-wage, knowledge-based services. 

BayCare provided $500 million in community benefit programs and health care services in 2025.

Read the BayCare 2026 Economic Impact Report at https://baycare.org/about-us/economic-impact#overview.

Custom homebuilder incorporates models into sales approach

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Construction is underway on the Westshore model, a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home with an elevator. It is expected to be completed in spring 2027. Photo courtesy of American Momentum Bank

TAMPA – AR Homes by Custom Craft is expanding its presence in Tampa Bay.

The custom homebuilder is taking a different approach to sales through a series of model and inventory homes designed to meet demand for high-end luxury homes. Included in the projects is a model storm-ready home in South Tampa that is designed for coastal and flood-prone areas.

The projects are being financed by American Momentum Bank. The bank has provided over $3.27 million in loans to finance the projects, which include a 4,068-square-foot inventory home in Odessa, a 3,824-square-foot inventory home in Lutz and a 4,785-square-foot model home in Tampa.

“Despite what’s happening in the overall market, the luxury home market in Tampa is strong,” said Adam Smith, president of Custom Craft Homes. “While it’s not common for custom homebuilders to be investing in inventory and model homes, it’s part of our overall growth strategy and will allow us to cater to our high-end clientele and deliver luxury homes quickly.”

Custom Craft Homes specializes in “on-your-lot” custom luxury homes in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. It has built homes in the Avila Golf & Country Club subdivision in North Tampa, and the Skylake and Victoria Lakes communities in Lutz and Odessa, respectively.

Model homes are uncommon among custom builders, but leaders at Custom Craft Homes believe they play an important role in helping luxury buyers understand a home’s design, finishes, sight lines and livability before making a purchase decision.

“We believe that when people can see and touch a home and get a sense of your architectural style, they become more comfortable in their buying decisions,” Smith said. “This has been proven by the bigger builders, and it’s the reason we feel strongly about building a model luxury home.”

Custom Craft Homes was founded in 1988 and self-funded all projects, until it established a relationship with American Momentum Bank in 2025. The first loan was to build a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Odessa – the “Grandview” model in Victoria Lakes – which now serves as a model home open to the public seven days a week between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

“American Momentum Bank has deep experience working with homebuilders in the Tampa Bay area, having financed the construction of hundreds of new homes across West Central Florida, including townhome, infill spec homes, and horizontal and vertical construction within small to mid-sized subdivisions,” said Valerie Girrens, senior vice president, senior commercial relationship manager at American Momentum Bank. “We remain committed to residential construction throughout various market cycles.”

The storm-ready model home, located at 210 S. Occident Street in Tampa’s Beach Park neighborhood, will be an elevated three-story residence that combines AR Homes’ architectural style with enhanced protection from potential flood risks. The first floor will feature a six-plus-car garage, with living spaces on the second and third floors.

The “Westshore” model is a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home with an elevator, a gourmet kitchen with Gaggenau appliances, 90-degree sliding glass doors that open to the outdoor living space, a pool, a sunken fire pit and a floating staircase. The home features impact windows and doors and a whole-home generator. Construction is underway and is expected to be completed in spring 2027.

Construction is also underway on the “Grayton” model in the Skylake community in Lutz. The four-bedroom, four-bathroom home includes a club room that can be used for recreation or a media room. The outdoor space also includes a custom-designed outdoor kitchen, pool and spa and a 659-square-foot cabana providing covered outdoor space for indoor-outdoor living. The home is available for purchase and expected to be completed in February 2027.

“What we are finding is that people want something they can move into within 90 days, whether they are relocating or just looking to upgrade their home,” Smith said. “Custom homes have a lengthy planning and completion process, so having inventory available gives buyers a faster path to ownership while still delivering the design, quality and craftsmanship they expect from us.” 

Local Wildlife: Parrot spreads its wings at aquarium

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Photo courtesy of The Florida Aquarium

A double yellow-headed parrot helped the Florida Aquarium kick off 813 Day. The celebration, inspired by the city’s area code, featured special activities to encourage natural behaviors among the aquarium’s animals while keeping them active and engaged. Photo courtesy of The Florida Aquarium

Health & Wellness: Doctor performs 1,000th robotic surgery

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A robot positioned in an operating room for a surgery. The surgeon operates the robot from a console. Photo courtesy of BayCare Health System

 

Doctor performs 1,000th robotic surgery

LUTZ – Dr. Louis Matherne IV, a general surgeon at Lutz’s St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, recently performed his 1,000th robotic surgery.

A surgeon guides and controls the robot’s mechanical arms and surgical instruments from a console with a high-resolution 3-D screen. When the surgeon moves, the robotic arms respond precisely to those movements in real time. The instruments work identically to the movement of a surgeon’s arm, elbow and wrist, however with an enhanced range of motion. 

Matherne performs surgeries on the gallbladder, appendix, colon, small bowel and hernias. Robotic surgery can offer patients smaller, more precise incisions, faster recoveries, shorter hospital stays and outpatient surgery options. 

 

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel expands stroke treatment

WESLEY CHAPEL – AdventHealth Wesley Chapel has added a biplane neurointerventional suite designed to provide advanced treatment for severe strokes.

The technology allows physicians to perform minimally invasive procedures including mechanical thrombectomy, which removes blood clots from the brain and restores blood flow in patients experiencing severe ischemic strokes.

“Having the ability to provide advanced stroke intervention on our campus means patients can receive critical treatment faster, which can lead to better outcomes and improved recovery,” said Dr. Jason Maljaar, medical director of neurology.

The hospital has also added specialized neurointerventional physicians, allowing more patients to receive treatment in Pasco County without being transferred to another facility.

The suite can also be used to treat brain aneurysms, perform diagnostic cerebral angiograms and provide other emergency and elective neurovascular procedures.

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel is a Primary Stroke Center and is pursuing Comprehensive Stroke Center designation.

 

BayCare names first support services VP

CLEARWATER – BayCare has hired Lawrence “Wren” Roberts as its first vice president of support services.

Roberts brings more than 30 years of support services leadership experience, including nearly 20 years overseeing health care operations across multiple facilities.

He joins BayCare from Centra Health in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he most recently served as senior director of support services. He oversaw food and nutrition, environmental services, security, emergency management and life safety across the health system’s campuses.

Roberts previously worked for Marriott and Sodexo. He also managed food production for South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City from 1992 to 1995.

 

AdventHealth Heart of Florida earns safe sleep designation

DAVENPORT – AdventHealth Heart of Florida has received the Gold Level Safe Sleep Hospital designation from the Cribs for Kids National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program.

The designation is the program’s highest level of recognition for hospitals providing infant safe sleep education, staff training and community outreach.

AdventHealth Heart of Florida provides safe sleep training for care teams, educates parents and caregivers before discharge and connects families in need with safe sleep spaces for newborns. 

“Every family deserves access to the information and resources that can help keep their baby safe,” said Janell Chyle, director of women’s services at AdventHealth Heart of Florida.

 

Quick Hits

  • September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and Tuesday, Sept. 8, is 988 Day. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay answers local calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It also provides suicide prevention care coordination services. On the web: crisiscenter.com

What’s Happening (Sept. 3-11, 2026)

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Sept. 3

Caregiver Support Group

A facilitator from the Alzheimer’s Association leads a monthly support group at Land O’ Lakes Library for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s. 813-929-1214

10-11:30 a.m.; 2818 Collier Pkwy., Land O’ Lakes

 

Menacing Mosquitoes

A Master Gardener discusses mosquitoes at Wesley Chapel Library. Learn tips to keep them out of the garden. 352-518-5064

11 a.m.-noon; 27531 Mystic Oak Blvd., Wesley Chapel

 

Butterfly Gardens

Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center hosts a Plant Parent Club program on butterfly gardens with gardener Susan Dalton Carney. Registration required to receive a take-home kit. 727-815-7126

6-6:50 p.m.; 12118 Lake Blanche Drive, Odessa

 

Sept. 4

Bingo

Adults play bingo at Hugh Embry Library. 352-567-3576

2-3 p.m.; 14215 Fourth St., Dade City

 

Sept. 5

Book Club

The Saturday Book Club at New River Library discusses “The Book Club for Troublesome Women” by Marie Bostwick. 813-788-6375

10:30-11:30 a.m.; 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel

 

Ukulele Jam

The Tampa Bay Ukulele Society leads a Ukulele Jam at New River Library. Bring your ukulele. 813-788-6375

Noon-2 p.m.; 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel

 

Sept. 8

Medicare/Medicaid & SNAP Help

Adults can get help applying for the QMB state buy-in program to help pay Medicare Part B premiums, Medicaid and SNAP benefits at Zephyrhills Public Library. Contact José Rodríguez at 813-420-3013 for more information. 

9 a.m.-3 p.m.; 5347 8th St., Zephyrhills

 

Indoor Ponds

A Master Gardener explains how to create a planted aquatic system indoors at New River Library. Registration required. 813-788-6375

2-3 p.m.; 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel

 

Therapy Dogs

Regency Park Library invites children to practice reading with certified therapy dogs from Sharing Our World Therapy Dogs. 727-861-3049

5-6 p.m.; 9701 Little Road, New Port Richey

 

Sept. 10

Crafty Connections

Wesley Chapel Library hosts a social crafting session during Crafty Connections. Adults can bring their own project or work on a featured craft. 352-518-5064

11 a.m.-noon; 27531 Mystic Oak Blvd., Wesley Chapel

 

Tween Book Club

South Holiday Library hosts Story Seekers, a monthly book club for tweens. 727-834-3331

4-5 p.m.; 4649 Mile Stretch Drive, Holiday

 

Republican Club

The Wesley Chapel Republican Club hosts U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis as guest speaker at its September meeting at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church. New members and guests are welcome. Coffee and dessert will be served.

6:30 p.m.; 2017 Reigler Road, Land O’ Lakes

 

Sept. 11

9/11 Remembrance

BNI and Seniors in Service host 9/11: A Time of Remembrance at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village. The event honors those who died on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as veterans and first responders. Brian Orr shares his experience in New York during the attacks. Bring canned food for local food pantries. 

8-9 a.m.; 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City