The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

AdventHealth

Pasco observes Juneteenth through events, celebrations

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By Kathy Steele

After being declared a federal legal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth is gaining greater recognition as communities across the nation celebrate, and commemorate, the historic end of slavery in the United States.

The holiday marks the day in history, when on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas, with the news that slaves were free.

President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free slaves in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union in 1863.Texas was the last Confederate state to fall to Union soldiers.

For generations Black communities celebrated Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, with picnics, church services, remembrances of ancestors, poetry readings and programs about African American heritage. Over the years, a handful of states, including Texas, recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday.

For many years, Pasco County has issued proclamations honoring Juneteenth.

Now, with a national holiday marking the day, Juneteenth is garnering more attention.

“I am very pleased and very happy with interest being shown not only in Pasco (County) but across the country. People are celebrating even before the day of Juneteenth.There’s great history here,” said Cassie Coleman, a member of the East Pasco Juneteenth Committee and an organizer of the Rosewood Traveling Exhibit.“I think it’s going to get bigger and bigger,” she said. She also thinks it will “teach our children a little bit more about our history.”

In Pasco County, the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Department is partnering with businesses and community groups to organize a week of Juneteenth activities. Partners include East Pasco Juneteenth Committee, AdventHealth, Pasco-Hernando State College, the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village and the Rosewood Family Reunion Inc.

In Wesley Chapel, residents of Union Park and Union Park East will host the third annual Juneteenth Family Day to “celebrate freedom,” on June 18 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., at The Landing. Festivities will include free drawings, games, spoken word performances, music, dancing, and food trucks.

In prior years of local Juneteenth events, Pasco County’s parks department and AdventHealth embraced the festivities with a goal to expand outreach for health screenings within Black and Hispanic communities.

In 2020, a Saturday event drew about 300 people, said Kimberly Miller, East Pasco recreational coordinator for the county’s parks department.

Last year as a national holiday, the Juneteenth crowd grew to more than 700 people, she said.

“It’s become huge.We’re looking to make it bigger and better.”

Festivities from June 15 through June 18 will include traditional picnics with health screenings, and family activities, music, a bowling night, a community paint party and a special presentation on the history and legacy of the Rosewood Massacre.

A special Rosewood Traveling Exhibit will be on display at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village from June 13 through June 20. On June 17, Rosewood descendants from the Lacoochee community will host a special presentation: A Night to Remember.

Lacoochee resident Ebony Pickett is a descendant of several survivors of the Rosewood Massacre.

The trauma of Rosewood is still felt, Pickett said. Some survivors changed their names soon after because they thought they would be tracked down.“It was a real fear,” she added.

Rosewood was settled in the 1840s by white and Black residents, but by the 1890s, the town was predominately Black. The one exception was a white family that ran a general store.

In the first week of January 1923, white mobs including Ku Klux Klansmen from surrounding counties descended on Rosewood fueled by an untrue report that a white woman had been assaulted and raped.They burned and destroyed the town. Some residents received shelter from the white store owner. Others fled into the nearby swamp and hid for days in bitter cold.Those who survived never returned but resettled in other communities, including Lacoochee.

The number of deaths is disputed.

The official record acknowledges eight deaths — six Black people and two white people. But Pickett said survivors remember many more Blacks died.

Rumors of a mass grave have persisted, despite official reports to the contrary.

Survivors were reluctant for many years to talk about the massacre until prodded by younger family members. Pickett said she didn’t hear the story of Rosewood until she was in third grade. It was a secret too dark to be spoken of publicly by those who lived through the assault, she said.

Pickett’s uncle, Willie Evans, who died in 2020, was among survivors who fought to secure reparations through the Florida legislature. A Rosewood claims bill was approved in 1994 that included direct payments to a small number of survivors and educational scholarships to descendants.

The Rosewood Family Reunion Inc. created the Rosewood Traveling Exhibit to tell their story. The special presentation will include members of the Rosewood families, a youth art show and a performance by the Rosewood Family Choir.

Pickett is glad to see Juneteenth becoming nationally recognized as a day to celebrate but also an opportunity to reflect and learn about the past. “We’re happy to do more,” she said.

Coleman agrees. “It’s something that will put us in mind of facts and history, so we won’t repeat it in future.”

Upcoming Juneteenth celebrations

These special events are planned during Juneteenth Week, June 15 to June 18

Beats N’ Brushes, a canvas painting party set to music

WHEN: June 15, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: The James Irvin Center, at 38122Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City
COST: $10 Tickets are required.
INFO: 352-521-4166

Family Bowling Night

WHEN: June 16, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: East Pasco Pin Chasers, 6816 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills
COST: $5 Tickets are required.
INFO: 352-521-4166

A Night to Remember

WHAT: A special presentation on the legacy of Rosewood and a youth art show.
WHEN: June 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. WHERE:PioneerFloridaMuseum&Village,15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City

COST: Free but pre-registration is required. Space is limited.
INFO: 352-521-4166

The Rosewood Traveling Exhibit

WHAT: A special exhibit on the legacy of Rosewood including photographs and artifacts from Rosewood family survivors

WHEN: June13 through June 20, during museum hours

WHERE: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City

COST: Free but pre-registration is required. Space is limited. Contact the museum for hours and admission. INFO: 352-567-0262

Third Annual Family Celebration Day

WHAT: Juneteenth celebration organized by residents of Union Park and Union Park East
WHEN: June 18, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Landing, 32885 Natural Bridge, Wesley Chapel

COST: Free
INFO: Email

Second Annual East Pasco Juneteenth Community Celebration

WHAT: Free health screenings; food trucks; family fun zone; games; drawings for prizes; local vendors; Juneteenth Toddler Pageant; and special performances WHEN: June 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: The James Irvin Center, at 38122 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City

COST: Free
INFO: Contact Kimberly Miller at 352-521-4166 or

Published on June 8, 2022.

Health News 06/01/2022

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The Structural Heart Team and physicians at HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital celebrate the completion of their 100th Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER). (Courtesy of HCA Healthcare)

A hospital milestone
HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital’s Structural Heart Team, and Dr. Keshav Ramireddy and Dr. Rami Akel recently completed their 100th Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER), according to a news release.

TEER is an innovative procedure that has significally reduced the risk of heart failure in the patients who have undergone the treatment, the release said.

As technology and experience has grown, recent studies have demonstrated excellent outcomes after the TEER procedure and proven efficacy in reducing the mitral valve regurgitation.

In TEER, a clipping device is used. This is a minimally invasive approach through the femoral vein to treat the leakage of the mitral valve without having to conduct open-heart surgery.

After transcatheter valve repair, patients typically recover in the hospital and go home the next day.

HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital is one of only four programs in the Tampa area to have completed 100 TEER procedures, the release said.

31Hospital achieve an ‘A’
All AdventHealth hospital locations in Highlands, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties have achieved an “A” patient safety grade by the Leapfrog Group, according to a news release.

The safety grade is awarded based on a hospital’s performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harms to patients in their care.

AdventHealth implemented and enhanced several division-wide processes to keep patients safe, including elevating best practices in bar code scanning as a safety net to assure that the right patient receives the right medication every time. This effort is just one of many initiatives in place to ensure patient safety.

The hospitals in the West Florida Division to receive an “A” include: AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Lake Placid, AdventHealth North Pinellas, AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Tampa, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills.

Enhanced mental health help
Through a partnership with AdventHealth, BayCare, Tampa General Hospital, the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, and USF Health, and supported by the Hillsborough County Commission, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, and Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation, Tampa Bay Thrives announced new access points for individuals seeking short-term appointments for their mental health, according to a news release.

The Let’s Talk line, launched last year, provides the first step in helping callers figure out what support they might need for their mental health.

This new extension to service now has several additional options to connect directly to help. This includes:

  • short-term telehealth bridge counseling for individuals facing long wait times to get into their first appointment. This service is provided by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and the University of South Florida Department of Psychiatry.
  • an appointment at one of 10 local AdventHealth Express Care at Walgreens locations, where a staff member will assess needs and provide referral to a telehealth counselor for additional support
  • a referral to a licensed counselor at Tampa General’s Urgent Care powered by Fast Track on Water Street in Tampa, to help navigate next steps
  • a connection to a licensed clinical social worker at Northside Behavioral Health Center who will provide in-person help to pave the path to feeling better

All of these options are available by calling Let’s Talk at 844-YOU-OKAY. The confidential support for mental health is free and available 24/7.

Health News 03/30/2022

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New patient services director
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz has named Joanne McCarn, from San Antonio, its new patient services director, a role that McCarn started in February.

Joanne McCarn

In the new role, McCarn is a member of the leadership team and participates in planning, organizing, policy development and priortity setting.

She works closely with nursing, clinical and medical teams in providing, monitoring and evaluating patient care and services.

McCarn oversees nursing personnel, and leads and evaluates the nursing team, and sets nursing objectives and long-term goals.

She has been with BayCare for more than 20 years starting as a mobile pool nurse providing coverage and filling in nursing shifts throughout BayCare hospitals.

She’s been a charge nurse, assistant nurse manager and nurse manager at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.

McCarn is the recipient of both Nurse Manager Excellence and Clinical Nurse Excellence awards from the Tampa hospital.

“Being part of BayCare for over 20 years and having spent the last 15 years at St. Joseph’s Hospital Main (Tampa), I was somewhat apprehensive about leaving my St. Joseph’s Hospital Main family,” McCarn said in a news release.

“What has made this transition easy for me is the warm welcome I have received from everyone! I certainly feel the same family type atmosphere here at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, as well as the camaraderie shared among this awesome team,” McCarn said.

Delivering comfort for those in need
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club (in green shirts) donated and delivered hand-sewn comfort items to Moffitt Cancer Center and an AdventHealth hospital. The women also supplied hygiene items and clothing for residents of the Angel Senior Living assisted living facility. The club delivers items to various local facilities on a monthly basis. For information, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.

A real ‘goal-getter’

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(Courtesy of AdventHealth West Florida Division)

Jennifer Koszewnik, Pasco County teacher and mother of two, was honored by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at a recent game as the AdventHealth Goal Getter of the Game. Koszewnik, during the pandemic, was diagnosed with breast cancer and is undergoing treatment. She and her husband enjoyed the full Bucs experience, and Jennifer was recognized during the game, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Ending pandemic requires a unified effort

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Doctors are continuing to urge those who are eligible to get vaccinated, to mask up, to keep a social distance from others and to practice good hygiene — in a layered effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Doctors from the University of South Florida, BayCare and AdventHealth delivered that message in two separate virtual sessions held last week.

“As we opened the school year, it was truly what I call the perfect storm,” Dr. Christina Canody, pediatric service line medical director for BayCare said, during a Zoom call arranged by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents Florida’s 14th congressional district.

“Last year, when we opened, we had mandate mask requirements, we had some of the lowest rates of infectivity, positivity and prevalence that we had seen during the pandemic,” Canody said.

“This year, we were at absolute opposite ends of the spectrum.

“We were at very high prevalence and positivity rates, and we continue to see a large number of children impacted,” Canody said.

She emphasized that despite the tremendous increase in pediatric admissions to the hospital, that children generally have a less complicated course of treatment and pediatric death rates remain low.

However, she noted that the hospital chain had 180 pediatric admissions in August, which was the highest number, by far.

“The majority of those are cared for at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital,” the pediatrician said.

“We have seen an uptick in our emergency room visits, and in general, we still have capacity,” she said.

But the increase in pediatric cases, coupled with the surge in adult cases, puts a strain on health care workers, she said.

Previously, many of the hospital’s pediatric staff had transitioned to help care for adults, she said.

The hospitalization of a child also takes a toll on families — both emotionally and financially, and disrupts their daily lives, she said.

She also talked about the importance of children being able to go to school.

She noted that the social isolation during last school year has had a lasting effect on some children’s mental health.

She also noted that many people are coping with the death of relatives, colleagues or friends.

Canody emphasized the need to educate people about the seriousness of the pandemic.

She put it this way: “It’s going to continue to circulate as long as it continues to be transmitted. Most pandemics last, on average, three years.”

She underscored these steps to help reduce the spread:

  • Become fully vaccinated, if you’re eligible.
  • Wear a face mask. “It’s more important if a person who is infected wears one, but if you wear one as well, you can decrease your risk of being exposed to the virus,” she said.
  • Practice good hand hygiene. “For little kids, we try to encourage them to keep their hands to themselves and keep their things to themselves, and also to wash their hands frequently.”
  • Stay home, if you’re not feeling well.

“We all have to take care of each other,” Canody said. “It is a little defeating sometimes, when people don’t heed the message. And, I can be honest with you that personally, I’ve had family members who have been affected by this virus. I know people personally who have passed away from this virus.

“The majority of our patients in the hospital are unvaccinated and the majority of the deaths we are seeing now are unvaccinated.”

Dr. Jason Salemi, of the University of South Florida, noted “nine or 10 weeks ago we had about six children being hospitalized every day in the entire state, with COVID-19.

“We’ve had a (more than) 10-fold increase, where more recently, over the past seven days, it’s been about 66 children being hospitalized every day, with confirmed COVID-19,” Salemi said.

The USF doctor also shared statistics regarding numbers of people who are not fully vaccinated in Florida. He said those figures stand at 1 million, among those ages 12 to 17; 5.5 million for those 18 to 64; and 800,000 among those 65 and older.

There’s also 2.8 million children in Florida who are younger than 12 who cannot be vaccinated, he said.

“The most heavily vaccinated group in our society is our seniors, and they are realizing the benefits of vaccination more than any other group,” Salemi said.

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce also hosted a Zoom session involving Amanda Maggard, president and CEO of AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, and Dr. Rodrigo Torres, vice president and chief medical officer for the two hospitals.

Maggard told those listening that “about 90% of our admissions have not been vaccinated. So, the science really is proving true that vaccinations save lives, vaccinations prevent critical illness, so we really want to get the word out in the community and try to increase vaccination. That’s going to be our best way to get through this virus.”

She added that wearing masks continues to be important.

She also touched on the availability of a new monoclonal antibody treatment for patients who are 12 or older. The treatment can prevent hospitalization or death in COVID-19 patients.

The state has opened a number of sites offering the treatment, including the Fasano Hurricane Shelter, at 11611 Denton Ave., in Hudson.

AdventHealth also is offering it at its Dade City campus. (Call the hospital or check its website for details.)

Torres gave a brief history on the pandemic and touched on various strains of the virus.

While much has been reported about the Delta variant, Torres said there’s another strain, known as the lambda, which is being carefully watched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The lambda was identified in Peru at the end of last year, he said.

“It’s one that’s very virulent and it’s able to escape the mechanisms of how the vaccine works,” Torres said. “We believe that for the time being, we have a good control over this lambda variant, but this is one that actually concerns the CDC the most, out of all of these variants of interest.”

Torres also touched on the fact that the Pfizer vaccine has received FDA approval, and the hospital has recommended its staff get the third shot.

“The data has proven that on your third vaccine, you provide antibodies up to nine times the amount of what you normally would have produced just by keeping your two-vaccine regimen,” Torres said.

Published September 08, 2021

Moffitt exceeds early expectations

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When Moffitt Cancer Center at Wesley Chapel formed a medical partnership with AdventHealth, the idea was to bring Moffitt’s brand of oncology services closer to its patients, said Dr. Timothy Kubal, the cancer center’s senior medical director.

“We’re coming to you, as opposed to you coming to us,” Kubal said, explaining that a lot of Moffitt’s patients were coming from Wesley Chapel, Trinity, Dade City or Land O’ Lakes.

“We wanted to get closer to the patient and Wesley Chapel was a great opportunity to do that  with a partner,” he said, during Zoom economic development briefing with members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce on April 22.

As one of the nation’s top cancer centers, Moffitt wanted to deliver its expertise to patients, rather than them having to drive to its main campus in Tampa. At the same time, Moffitt wanted to partner with a high-quality hospital, he said.

“We can augment what they do; they can augment what we do,” he explained.

Moffitt’s center is located on the campus of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, at 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel has built an entirely new floor for oncology patients, with the long-term prospect of having up to 50 beds for oncology patients, Kubal said.

The center has 20 exam rooms, 22 infusion bays and a linear accelerator.

“I can treat probably 20 to 30 patients a day on this lin-ac (linear accelerator). It delivers radiation specified to a tumor site,” he said. “We can do any body part, from brain to toe, for radiation oncology out here.

The nice thing about being located closer to patients is that they won’t have to drive as far each day to receive the treatment, he said.

“For example, you live in Wesley Chapel, you’ve got a breast cancer. You need 20 treatments over four weeks. You can get it close to your house, as opposed to going into Moffitt, parking your car, getting set up, getting 3 seconds of radiation to hit that tumor, and then doing the hour back.

“We’ve seen a lot of patients want to transfer their radiation oncology care to this site because they live out in this area. So, this is a big draw. Right now, I think they are 1000% over projected volume.

“Their growth far exceeds what we initially thought,” he said.

The center’s 22 infusion bays are in an area that gives patients a chance to be able to see outside.

That’s important for patients because an infusion can sometimes take up to six hours, the doctor said.

The center will be able to handle infusion services for about 100 to 120 patients a day, he said. At the moment, though, those numbers stand at between 30 to 40 patients day.

In addition to its modern equipment, the center will offer a different oncology approach than what’s been available in the area, he said.

“In the cancer community, you either see everything, or you see one thing.

“So, in the Moffitt community, you might just do, for example, right-sided liver lesions. You might just do surgery on the right side of the liver, when there’s tumors there.

“In the community, commonly, you’re going to do everything.

“But what we’ve found is that it’s hard to do everything. People want to do more than one thing.

“So, what we’ve done here is we’ve hired multiple oncologists to do what we call multi-specialists.”

Besides attracting patients from Pasco and Hillsborough counties, the Wesley Chapel center has patients coming from Lakeland and The Villages, Kubal said.

People coming from Lakeland say that driving the back roads is quicker than going to Tampa, he said.

He added: “Those Villages people are willing to drive. They like to park their own car, though.”

At Moffitt’s main campus, in Tampa, patients must valet. At the Wesley Chapel center, they can do self-parking.

Besides liking to park their own cars, people coming from The Villages often have very specific plans for where they want to eat or shop, after finishing their appointment, Kubal said.

But, they aren’t the only ones having an economic impact on the area, the doctor said.

“The money I make, it goes back into the community,” he said.

“I need to eat. I need to go to the gym. I need to be able to have a meeting and grab a beer at the end of the day. My kids need schooling,” he said.

The same economic impacts are true for other staffers, too, because many of them move into Wesley Chapel after they’ve been hired.

Published April 28, 2021

Zephyrhills tennis center ready for play

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Lace up the tennis shoes and prep those rackets and balls for play — because the much-hyped Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center is now open to the public.

What began as drawings and plans on paper nearly four years ago is finally a reality in the form a $4.9 million athletic complex situated on 8.25 acres of land at 6585 Simons Road in Zephyrhills.

The complex enjoyed a soft opening on Sept. 21. A grand opening celebration is set for Oct. 17, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The center is now open every day, from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The $4.9 million Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center sits on more than 8 acres of land off Simons Road in Zephyrhills. It features 11 regulation outdoor tennis courts (nine clay surface, two hard surface), eight pickleball courts and four padel courts, and a nearly 8,000-square-foot indoor clubhouse. The northeast corner of the 8-plus-acre property is reserved for an additional 30,000-square-foot indoor multipurpose sports complex, enough room to accommodate four full-size tennis courts. (Courtesy of David Alvarez, DCA Media Consulting)

The facility’s outdoor centerpiece is 11 regulation outdoor tennis courts (nine clay surface, two hard surface), eight pickleball courts and four padel courts — two of the world’s fastest-growing racquet sports.

Attached is a nearly 8,000-square-foot indoor club housing cutting-edge health and wellness amenities that promote training and recovery.

There are rooms dedicated for cryotherapy, salt therapy, bio/neuro feedback therapy, massage and yoga. There’s also a 1,300-square-foot fitness center featuring workout equipment, including recumbent bikes, rowers and ellipticals.

The indoor clubhouse also has a full restaurant and cafe operated by Land O’ Lakes-based caterer Mark Vesh.

Though membership-based, guest users are encouraged to make court rentals and partake in other amenities. Walk-ins are welcome and any specific questions can be answered by the facility’s front desk manager.

Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, patrons are wasting no time getting their game on.

For instance, a 30-member coed pickleball group from Zephyrhills reserved courts for a mini event on the facility’s first open morning.

The complex is named in honor of Sarah Vande Berg, a former Zephyrhills High School district champion and three-time state qualifier who died in an automobile accident in South Carolina at the age of 21, in October 2015.

Her father, Todd Vande Berg, is the longtime planning director for Zephyrhills.

All-Star crew
The tennis center venture is a public-private partnership between the City of Zephyrhills and Pascal Collard, a longtime tennis pro and instructor serving as the facility’s CEO.

The municipality owns the state-of-the-art tennis facility, but Collard is responsible for its day-to-day operations and programming.

Collard has been involved with the project since October 2017, when his tennis management firm, Tennis P.R.O. Florida LLC, was hired by the city.

Finally seeing the complex come to life is a relief for Collard, noting he invested “a lot of time and money and energy and passion” in conjunction with Zephyrhills during the last several years.

Said Collard, “It’s a lifetime goal and a lifetime dream that’s come true to be able to run a place and really do something that’s touched the community and that will touch people from all over the world.”

In running the facility, he brings a diverse tennis background to the table.

The nearly 8,000-square-foot indoor clubhouse at the tennis facility contains a fitness center, restaurant/café, and rooms dedicated for cryotherapy, salt therapy, bio/neuro feedback therapy, massage and yoga, among other frills.

Collard previously served as tennis director at Saddlebrook in Wesley Chapel and The Merion Cricket Club in Haverford, Pennsylvania. His personal training includes working with several widely known tennis pros, including Younes El Aynaoui and Martin Verkerk, both of whom coincidentally ranked as high as No. 14 in the ATP Tour rankings back in 2003.

Many of the other 36 total staffers at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center similarly bring aboard respectable pedigrees.

The facility’s tennis director is Rene Moller, a former touring pro director at Saddlebrook Tennis Academy who’s been a full-time coach to John Isner, the highest-ranked American men’s tennis player, as well as Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who’s ranked No. 31 in the world.

Another notable tennis instructor is Mika Todo, a former professional WTA international tennis player from Japan who’s been working as a tennis coach for the past 20 years, and successfully trained junior players who won the title in the All-Japan Junior U12 and U14 tournament.

Also, former NFL defensive lineman Mel Williams will serve as a fitness coach and specialist in tennis footwork and plyometrics. He played for the New Orleans Saints, the Washington Redskins, the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins in the early 2000s.

A host for pro tournaments
The facility is beginning to deliver on its promise as a tourism driver for East Pasco, by drawing big-ticket national and international events.

Collard said the complex will host a sanctioned professional women’s tournament in late January that’ll offer a $25,000 grand prize for the winner and points in world rankings. The event is expected to draw 32 players representing a number of different countries and nationalities.

A corresponding men’s tennis tournament organized by retired professional Johan Kriek and sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation also is in the works, Collard said. Kriek won 14 professional singles and eight doubles titles, ranking as high as seventh in the world in the 1980s. “It’s going to be very impressive and exciting,” Collard said of the forthcoming events.

A community hangout
At a hard-hat tour back in June, Collard explained his visioning for the complex is to become a community hangout of sorts, where users do more than simply play tennis with friends then leave and go about their day.

Pickleball is one of the most popular sports among seniors. Eight brand-new courts are dedicated for that activity at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center.

“It started with tennis, but it now became a destination,” said Collard. “Basically, the concept here is, ‘I’m not doing one hour of sport and I go home. I’m coming here to play tennis, then maybe I do a cryotherapy session and then maybe I go eat here because there’s a full restaurant.’ You can bring your entire family…so it’s really unique.”

In coming years, the facility could expand even further. The northeast corner of the 8-plus-acre property is reserved for a 30,000-square-foot indoor multipurpose sports complex, enough room to accommodate another four full-size tennis courts. However, the addition had a setback when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a $1 million appropriation for the project from the state’s budget.

In opening amid ongoing coronavirus concerns, the facility is adhering to prescribed health and safety precautions, Collard explained.

Masks are required inside the clubhouse, but not while playing outdoor racquet sports.

Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center CEO Pascal Collard

Staffers also have installed about 30 umbrella tables in a roomy outdoor space for patrons to eat, drink, relax and watch play, in a socially distanced manner.

There are also plans to install a temperature screening gate before entering the building in the coming week, in partnership with AdventHealth.

Collard summed up the varied safety measures: “We have sanitizer everywhere. We have masks for everybody.”

As for next month’s grand opening, Collard promises a “big, big wow factor.”

Collard added: “We have a lot of surprises. It’s going to be pretty, pretty amazing what’s going to happen right there.”

Between now and then, visitors also may notice spruced-up landscaping on the property.

Collard noted that landscaping is always put in last.

For more information, call (813) 361-6660, email , or visit SVBtenniscenter.com.

Published September 23, 2020

AdventHealth cites problems with lab; issues apology

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AdventHealth had been providing free testing for coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) at locations in its West Florida Division but discontinued it because of issues with a third-party lab, according to a news release from AdventHealth.

“To meet the unprecedented demand for COVID-19 testing, we rely on nationally accredited third-party labs to assist us. Unfortunately, one of these labs processing a significant number of our public tests has been unable to fulfill its obligation,” the health care provider said, in the release.

“AdventHealth has terminated its contract with this lab, and we share in the disappointment and frustration this situation has created. We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and uncertainty it has caused.

“This issue impacts more than 8,000 people throughout AdventHealth West Florida Division. “This situation has created unacceptable delays, and we do not have confidence in the reliability of the tests. We are working diligently to notify and appropriately accommodate those who are impacted. They will be receiving a letter from us and may also receive a phone call.

The individuals fall into two categories:

  • Those whose samples were processed, and whose results provided by the lab are not deemed reliable.
  • Those whose samples are at the lab in question and are part of the backlog will not be tested; therefore, no result will be available.

AdventHealth has directed the lab to destroy those samples, in accordance with the law, the release says.

In the case of unreliable results, there were individuals with unreliable positive results, that will require retesting, AdventHealth says.

Also, Individuals with unreliable negative results who are symptomatic need to seek care and may require retesting.

Also, individuals with unreliable negative results who are asymptomatic but request to be retested will be offered testing pending availability, the health care provider adds.

Mike Schulz, president and CEO of AdventHealth West Florida, addressed the issue in a statement:  “It has been a privilege to serve our community during these unprecedented times, and we remain committed to our promise to keep you safe and provide the best care possible.

“We are taking ownership of these issues and are reaching out to the thousands of those who were impacted to help make it easy for them to understand the next step in their care,” he said.

Published May 20, 2020

73rd annual Pasco Fair: ‘It’s An Adventure’

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With its slew of food options, new performances, live entertainment and other activities, the 73rd annual Pasco County Fair is aiming to make an impression.

The fair’s theme is “It’s An Adventure,” and the show will run Feb. 17 through Feb. 23 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

Details about the festival were shared at a Jan. 21 Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, hosted at the fairgrounds.

The 73rd annual Pasco County Fair takes on the theme, ‘It’s An Adventure.’ (Courtesy of Pasco Fair Association)

The fair kicks off with a parade in downtown Dade City on Feb. 17 at 11:30 a.m. As usual, there will be marching bands, colorful floats, mounted horse units and more. The parade’s grand marshal will be country music star Billy Dean.

“We are excited about that,” said annual fair chairman and director Tracy Thompson. “We think that’ll attract some more people to come out to the parade.”

In the way of entertainment, there figures to be a little something for everyone during the course of the weeklong event, Thompson told chamber members. “We promise you there’ll be lots of adventures this year, in entertainment,” he said.

One of the major headliners is Jay Mattioli, a magician illusionist who was featured on Season 3 of “America’s Got Talent,” and became one of the youngest magicians ever to receive the International Brotherhood of Magicians’ Champion of Magic award. A sought-after entertainer on luxury cruise lines and for corporate events, Mattioli performs magic with live animals, levitates microphones and other illusions.

He will perform daily on the Back Porch Theatre.

Keeping with the adventure motif, the fair will take on a bit of a Jurassic Park feel from “Walking With Giants,” an interactive, California-based show that will feature moving animatronic dinosaurs that children can crawl and play on, and pose for a picture with. The show will be in the Schrader Building Entertainment Area.

Children also may get a kick out of another daily show called “Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean,” in the Kiddie Land Entertainment Area.

It’s an aerial high-wire thrill extravaganza, where pirate-dressed performers sword fight, rope slide, and take on other stunts on high-wire 20 feet in the air on top of a giant 60-foot pirate ship and a 35-foot rotating “wheel of death.”

“Kids love pirates, so it’ll be a cool show,” Thompson said.

A fair staple — Trenton Tye’s Purgatory Ironworks — returns this year, at the Clayton Way Entertainment Area. It features 1800s-era blacksmith demonstrations on how to make horseshoes, instruments and other tools, from a guy who’s been featured on The History Channel’s “Forged in Fire.”

While all that is going on, the Dan Cannon Auditorium again will be hopping with a variety of music choices throughout the week.

This year’s Pasco County Fair runs from Feb. 17 through Feb. 23. It’s expected to draw more than 50,000 attendees. Patrons come to enjoy food, live entertainment, rides, games, livestock, exhibits and more. (File)

A bluegrass show will be headlined by Little Roy and Lizzy, who Thompson called “legendary” and “icons” in the bluegrass world. They are scheduled to perform on Feb. 19 at 6 p.m.

A gospel show will be headlined by Greater Vision, an award-winning band based out of Morristown, Tennessee. They are scheduled to perform Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. “We expect a full auditorium that night,” Thompson said.

There also will be a Latin flair, with a concert from Baja Zero, a Mexican-themed music group made up of Florida natives. That particular show, scheduled for Feb. 23 at 2 p.m., is already drawing a buzz, as Thompson said there’s been “numerous comments on people excited about this coming up at the fair.”

A new feature at the fairgrounds is a rest and relaxation area, provided by AdventHealth, Thompson said. That area also will have phone-charging stations.

Foodies will find plenty to like at this year’s fair with myriad offerings available along the independent midway, said Jim Ward, vice president of the Pasco County Fair Association and the event’s concessions manager.

In addition to traditional fair grub, such as pizza, corn dogs and cotton candy, Ward said there’ll be new vendors offering items like deep-fried tacos, fried ravioli on a stick, a grilled cheese bar, and even alligator meat — in the form of gator tail, gator nuggets and gator gumbo.

In total, the fair expects about two dozen food vendors, Ward said.

“For a small county fair, we do have some top food out there,” Ward said, noting every year fair organizers try to attract exciting new food vendors to the event.

Those visiting the fairgrounds may notice a few upgrades on the property, too.

Pasco Fair president R.J. Huss said the Higgins Hall building underwent a $200,000 renovation, equipped with “state-of-the-art, industry-leading vendor electrical hookups.” The renovations come after a transformer caught fire in the building at last year’s fair, knocking out power for some vendors.

Higgins Hall and the Schrader Building, and Poultry have been freshly painted, too, Huss said. The fair association president also mentioned a brand-new sound system is being installed in the Agriculture Barn.

Meanwhile, Huss said the fair association is looking at other measures “to try to improve the aesthetics of the ground” for future years.

For more information about the fair, visit PascoCountyFair.com.

Pasco County Fair
When: Feb. 17 through Feb. 23 (Hours vary)
What: Rides, food, games, entertainment, livestock and exhibits
Where: Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52, Dade City
Cost: Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 through 12; parking is free. Discounted gate and ride tickets are available online at PascoCountyFair.com.
Info: Visit PascoCountyFair.com, call (352) 567-6678, or email ">.

Published February 05, 2020

Pasco Sheriff launches unit to help mentally ill

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is launching a new unit aimed to better serve the needs of people facing significant mental health issues.

The new unit — called the Mental Health and Threat Assessment Team (MHTAT) — will feature six deputies, two caseworkers, a clinical social worker, a sergeant and a lieutenant, who will collaborate with local behavioral health providers to provide tailored, long-term programs for citizens in need.

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is launching a new unit to better serve the needs of local citizens facing significant mental health issues. The Mental Health and Threat Assessment Team (MHTAT) will collaborate with local behavioral health partners to provide long-term care and criminal diversion to the county’s Baker Act repeats. (File)

The team’s primary task is to keep tabs on the county’s Baker Act repeats — through a proactive approach that includes frequent visitations, welfare checks, expedited behavioral health resources and criminal justice diversion programs.

An individual struggling with addiction may be referred to outpatient substance abuse treatment, for instance. Or, someone undergoing financial struggles may be referred to Pasco County Human Services and the county’s homeless coalition.

The unit will have partnerships with BayCare Behavioral Health, Chrysalis Health, Novus Medical Detox Center, HCA Florida Hospitals, AdventHealth and others, “working towards a common goal in our community,” Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said.

The program ultimately will put the agency “ahead of the curve” in crime prevention, the sheriff said.

“We see mental health and substance abuse are the two drivers of criminal justice issues in our county. That’s why we’re creating this unit,” Nocco said.

It’s also about crisis mitigation, said Lt. Toni Roach, who will head up the MHTAT unit.

“Everybody has a baseline, and when they start to dip below that baseline we can provide some intervention strategies, connect them with a case manager or whatever other behavioral health resources are in the community that could help them stabilize,” Roach said.

The unit is expected to be up and running by October. It will cost roughly $1.5 million annually.

About 11 percent of the sheriff’s calls for service in 2018 were mental-health related.

That included roughly 3,400 Baker Act reports and more than 2,100 calls involving suicides or suicide attempts.

Of those reports, 503 individuals had multiple interactions with the agency, including some who’ve been Baker Acted as many as four or five times, Nocco said.

The MHTAT will be concentrating on the population who have had multiple interactions with the county, Nocco said. The unit will help divert those people from having to call 911 and thereby free patrol deputies to respond more quickly to urgent or violent calls.

As an example, the sheriff pointed out that, last year alone, one individual with a history of mental illness called county dispatch 124 times.

But, through a personal visit from the sheriff’s office back in May, those calls have stopped, the sheriff said.  “A lot of times they just need to talk to somebody. They just need somebody to help them out.”

“It’s all about connection,” added Roach. “Interacting with anybody is just that communication piece, being able to sit down with somebody and have a conversation with people, to listen to what’s going on, what are their concerns, what are their barriers.”

And, it’s those types of soft skills that will be required for those selected to the 11-person unit.

“It takes a special person to want to be in this unit,” Nocco said. “You want somebody that has that compassion and care. Somebody who says, ‘I’m not just going to be here for an hour, I might be here two to three hours working with somebody.’”

In recent years, the sheriff’s office has placed an emphasis on training law enforcement personnel to respond better to people who are mentally ill.

The office has an eight-hour foundational course in mental health first aid and a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) program held quarterly in Shady Hills. About 50 percent of the agency’s patrol deputies are CIT certified.

Published July 03, 2019