The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Be on the lookout for SAT prep scams

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The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a scam alert in which scammers are tricking parents into paying for bogus SAT and ACT prep materials, according to a BBB news release.

The scammers make unsolicited calls and claim to be from the College Board, the company responsible for the PSAT, SAT and AP tests, or another educational organization. The caller claims to be confirming your address so they can send test prep materials, such as books, CDs or videos that a child requested.

The catch is: The caller needs you to pay a deposit, sometimes several hundred dollars, for the materials, and claims it will be refunded when the materials are returned after a set number of days.

If you provide your address and credit card details, the materials never arrive and the deposit will never be refunded. Scammers now have your credit card number and other personal information.

(Getty Image)

Several people have reported to the BBB Scam Tracker that the caller even had their child’s name, phone number, address, school information and/or the date and location of their child’s scheduled test, the release says.

The BBB offers these tips on how to avoid test prep scams:

  • Always be wary of unsolicited callers. If someone asks for payment, research their organization before sharing personal information or agreeing to receive services or products. Look up the business they claim to represent at BBB.org. Search the name, along with the words “scam” or “complaint.” Check BBB Scam Tracker to see if anyone else has filed a report about the company.
  • Double-check with your child. If scammers say they are calling because of a service a child requested, tell them you need to check with the child first and hang up. Do not send any money or make a payment if there is any doubt about the call.
  • Understand the College Board’s practices. The College Board will never ask you for bank or credit card information over the phone or via email. If a caller suggests otherwise, hang up. Visit CollegeBoard.org.
  • Use your credit card when possible. Credit card companies may refund your money if they spot a fraudulent charge or if you report one in a timely manner. The same protection may not be offered with a debit card or other payment options. Never agree to pay a stranger with a money wire, prepaid cards, or digital wallet such as Cash App or Venmo.

Whether or not you’ve lost money, if you have spotted a scam, report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker.

To find out more about scams and how to avoid them, visit BBB.org/AvoidScams.

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

New initiative helps make swim safety a priority

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Drowning is a leading cause of death for children, especially for young children between the ages of 1 and 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In response to the statistics, AdventHealth Tampa has launched a new swim safety initiative, giving out neon-colored swim safety lanyards and whistles in the pediatric unit and pediatric emergency room, just ahead of Spring Break for most Tampa Bay area kids, according to a news release.

AdventHealth Tampa has begun distributing brightly colored lanyards as part of a new swim safety initiative. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

Dr. Sara Kirby, medical director of the AdventHealth Tampa Pediatric Emergency Department, has led the initiative with the goal to increase swim safety awareness and designate a responsible adult during pool activities.

“Most of the drowning and near-drowning incidents we see in the emergency room are from pools,” said Dr. Kirby in the release. “We often hear a lot of, ‘I thought he was watching’ or ‘I thought she was watching.’ But it’s important to remember that if it’s everyone’s job, it’s no one’s job.”

The neon-colored safety lanyards serve as a physical, visible reminder of who is in charge at the pool, beach or any body of water.

“They will help you know who’s watching the children at any given moment,” the medical director said. “Then, if that person needs a break, they can hand the lanyard off to another adult.”

Dr. Kirby shares these additional tips for swim safety:

Take swimming lessons. From an early age, kids need to understand how to be safe around water. Pools can pose a powerful temptation for young children and it’s crucial they know what to do. Swim lessons can help. Check with the Red Cross, YMCA and other local organizations that may offer swim lessons for all ages.

Never rely on flotation devices (or even life jackets) to save a child. These aids should be viewed as just that — aids. These tools cannot be relied on to save a child from drowning.

Don’t leave children unattended in a body of water. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bathtub or a pool, never walk away while your little one is playing in the water, even for a few moments.

Know what to do in an emergency. If a child slips underwater and stays there for a while, or another water-related emergency occurs, you should know what to do: Call 911 and perform CPR if needed. Even if the child is awake and appears fine, call 911 so a medical provider can make sure they are OK.

These tips can easily apply to not only pools, but oceans, lakes or ponds.

“There’s water just about everywhere in Florida, so anything we can do to raise awareness and education around swim safety, especially heading into the spring and summer seasons, is the goal,” said Kirby.

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

Thrive Over 55 Senior Expo coming April 4

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Area seniors who attended last year’s Thrive Over 55 Expo were able to enjoy a free breakfast and lunch, as well as gather a variety of information geared toward their age group. (Courtesy of Adrian Garson)

Local residents over the age of 55 are invited to the third Thrive Over 55 Senior Expo on April 4 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at B&B Theatres Wesley Chapel – The Grove 16, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The Laker/Lutz News will host the free event with more than 40 vendors and hundreds of seniors throughout the morning. Guests will be provided with a free breakfast and lunch, along with an informative morning filled with games and raffles.

Vendors range from medicare providers, home improvement specialists, retirement communities and travel agencies.

The title sponsors are Gulfside Healthcare Services and Vertos Medical, both of which will present a 30-minute breakout session during the expo.

Tickets are free, but are required. To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/thrive55expo.

There also are a few vendor opportunities left. Please email for more information.

Published March 06, 2024

Help Pasco prepare for extreme climate hazards

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As many residents are aware, Pasco County is vulnerable to extreme climate hazards like flooding, storm surge and heat. There is no way to control these events, but we can control how we prepare for, adapt to and recover from them.

(Courtesy of Pasco County)

Pasco County is inviting the community to take the Resilience and Sustainability Survey, to help shape the preparation for future climate hazards, according to a county news release.

The county is working to create a resilience plan and received a grant of more than $750,000 in Community Development Block Grant Mitigation Funds administered by the Florida Department of Commerce, the release says.

The Resilient Pasco Project consists of these three parts:

The project intends to find ways to strengthen the community and protect Pasco’s environment, communities and economic prosperity.
The survey will be available for the next couple months, according to the release, and is available online at tinyurl.com/9c3pmk23.

Published March 06, 2024

State lawmakers move closer to changes with state’s insurer of last resort

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(The Center Square) — A bill that could prevent Florida’s part-time residents from using the state’s property insurer of last resort for their vacation homes could be headed to the Senate floor after passing a key committee vote unanimously on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 1716, sponsored by state Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, passed the Fiscal Policy Committee with a 19-0 vote. It would make changes to Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s eligibility requirements and would merge the corporation’s revenues, assets, liability, losses and expenses into one account.

Scott Graham/Unsplash

Bill sponsor Boyd said during a Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance meeting in late January that the bill was designed to limit the impact on Florida.

“The overall goal is to limit the overall exposure to Florida from the Citizens’ large policy count that we had up at a high level at one point, we lessened it at another point, and now it’s growing back again,” Boyd said.

Boyd stated that the bill does several things, including allowing additional carriers to enter the Florida market to provide policies for properties not eligible for coverage from Citizens.

“The bill permits an eligible lines insurer under certain conditions, to take second homes out of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, and those conditions that they must follow is the insurer must be A-rated or higher by AM Best, and the insurer must use a Florida resident surplus lines broker,” Boyd explained.

The bill would mandate that an eligible surplus lines insurer who wants to participate in the Florida market after meeting those conditions has to file a plan with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

There are currently between 45,000 and 60,000 policies with Citizens that are considered second homes by the corporation. The bill would make these homes ineligible for coverage by Citizens.

“The bill would make a non-primary residence ineligible to return to Citizens,” Boyd said. “The bill also makes changes to facilitate the restructuring of Citizens into a single account later this year, which the Legislature authorized during the 2022 special session.”

The bill would make conforming changes to Citizens’ clearinghouse, needed because of new eligibility requirements for non-primary residences, while eliminating the prohibition that precluded Citizens from allowing a bond to be allowed during a bid process.

If the bill passes, Citizens would also be eligible to apply for patents and trademarks, which will provide protection for Citizens’ intellectual property that they may have developed in-house.

Published March 06, 2024