The Laker/Lutz News

Phyllis Bross

Pasco tax collector’s office receives ‘Heart of Pasco’ award

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Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and the Land O’ Lakes Tax Collector’s Office recently accepted the Heart of Pasco Award for the office’s exemplary customer service and outstanding community outreach efforts.

Sandy Graves, the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s chairwoman for community affairs, bestowed the award to Fasano, during a Jan. 10 ceremony outside the tax collector’s office in Land O’ Lakes.

The staff of the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office in Land O’ Lakes stand alongside members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. The tax office became the recipient of the Heart of Pasco Award on Jan. 10 for its exceptional community service. (Brian Fernandes)

The “Heart of Pasco” award goes to a business that exemplifies the chamber’s mission to “aggressively advocate for the interest of our diverse business community by promoting business advancement, economic growth and job creation.”

Graves said the acknowledgement stems, in part, from that the tax collector’s office expansion in Land O’ Lakes, allowing it to better accommodate its patrons.

In accepting the award, Fasano said, “as Land O’ Lakes grows and Lutz grows, so did our office.”

Fasano, who became the county’s tax collector in 2013, said he wanted to improve the agency and to expand its locations to better serve its customers.

“In some ways, we were behind the times at the tax collector’s office,” said Fasano, recalling when he joined the office. “We needed to be at the same level [and] direction that Pasco was going.”

As a former member of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate, he understood the importance of serving the needs of his constituents.

As tax collector, he identified that more space was required to serve an expanding population.

“The growth has been overwhelming, but it’s been good, solid growth for our economy and the tax base,” Fasano said.

To help address expanding needs, the tax collector’s office relocated its Land O’ Lakes office to a building next door, in October 2017. The building, previously occupied by the county’s health department, underwent a renovation supported by $1.4 million in county funds.

The Land O’ Lakes office has Saturday hours, too.

Graves also complimented the friendly nature of the tax collector’s staff.

“They all act as if they want to be there,” agreed Suzanne Beauchaine, executive director of the chamber. “They’re happy serving the community.”

Graves and Beauchaine said they have personally witnessed humble attributes of a leader in Fasano.

“The fact that Mike Fasano is the tax collector and you walk in there – he’s right there to say hello to you,” said Beauchaine. “He’s hands-on.”

In addition to attracting Fasano’s staff and chamber members, some Pasco residents also attended the award ceremony — which also recognized the tax collector’s work involving charitable organizations.

The Heart of Pasco Award is given out every four months to Central Pasco organizations for their community outreach – especially for charitable work.

Phyllis Bross, is a chamber member, who also serves as vice chair of the Community Aging and Retirement Services organization.

She said she’s seen Fasano work on behalf of the non-profit group which assists senior citizens in Pasco County.

The tax collector’s office has been involved in helping to raise money for numerous community causes and organizations.  In fact, the office has helped 58 different charities and organizations, with some being helped more than once, according to Greg Giordano, who keeps track of the efforts for Fasano’s office.

Last year, for instance, Fasano and his staff put together cookbooks to sell to raise funds for the local animal shelter.

Bross said Fasano obviously values his employees and they work together, like a family.

Under his leadership, the staff has seen their hourly wages increase by more than $5.

Fasano sees this as an expression of appreciation for his team’s hard work and dedication.

“We could not come close to the success we have if it wasn’t for the employees at the tax collector’s office,” Fasano said.

Since becoming the Pasco County tax collector in 2013, Mike Fasano and his staff have sought community support through the office for dozens of charities.

Bikers Care Charities
Support Our Troops
Salvation Army’s Annual Red Kettle Drive
Farm Share Annual Holiday Food Giveaway
Be a Santa to a Senior Annual Holiday Gift Collection
Lighthouse for the Blind
The Volunteer Way
Hernando Pasco Hospice
Guardian ad Litem Recruitment Drive
Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation
Donate Life/ Lifelink Foundation
Center for Independence (now known as the Arc Nature Coast)
AAA Traffic Safety Foundation
Florida Breast Cancer Foundation Annual Campaign
Terri’s Tears Foundation
Toys 4 Tots Annual toy drive
Veterans Flag Pin Collection Drive
One Community Now’s Annual Hunger Walk
Salvation Army’s Domestic Violence Program
American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day for Women Campaign
Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
Take Stock in Children
Pasco Kids First
Lauren’s Kids
Pasco Sheriff’s K-9 Foundation
Stop Heart Disease
Community Volunteer Corps
Pasco Fine Arts Council
Kiddy-Up Ranch
AFIRE of Pasco
PACE Center for Girls
Pasco Education Foundation
Metropolitan Ministries
Alzheimer’s Family Organization
ASAP of Pasco
Two Good Soles Shoes & Socks Drive
Moffitt Cancer Center
Restored Hope
Blanket Tampa Bay/ Blanket Pasco County
NAMI of Pasco
CARES – Pet Program
Smile Faith Foundation
Homeless Coalition of Pasco
Tax Collector’s Backpack Giveaway
Good Samaritan Clinic
Hurricane Irma Victims Relief – Pasco County
Feeding Pasco’s Elderly
Nourish to Flourish
Sheriff’s Explorer’s Post #916
Special Olympics of Pasco
Connections Job Development Program
CARES – Senior Health Care Center
Catholic Charities Women’s Shelter
RAP House
Shriner’s Christmas in July Toy Drive
Hudson Boy Scout Troop #545
The ROPE Center
Pasco Friends of Animal Services
Published January 16, 2019

Caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients don’t have to go it alone

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When someone learns that a loved one is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, it can seem overwhelming.

Phyllis Bross, a retired attorney from Land O’ Lakes, understands the feeling. Her mother and aunt were both Alzheimer’s patients, and she now runs the Alzheimer’s Association/Caregiver Support Group that meets monthly at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway.

Based on her own experiences, Bross said, generally, when a caregiver learns about the diagnosis, he or she feels lost.

Phyllis Bross, a retired attorney, runs a monthly Alzheimer’s Association support group at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library. It’s a monumental challenge for caregivers, she said. In short, she recommends: ‘Try to get as much information as you can. Try to get as much support as you can. Try to get things rolling.’ (B.C. Manion)

“You’re worried about your future finances, and providing medication, and other kinds of support and help for your loved one.

“You know you don’t have a medical background, so you’re wondering: Should someone else be taking care of him or her? Or, should I do it because of the familiarity and the love for the person?” Bross said.

Because they don’t know what to do, most people begin sorting things out by turning to a support group for help.

“I think that’s a great place to start,” said Bross, who, in addition to her legal experience, has an undergraduate degree in social work. There are all kinds of support groups available, offered by the Alzheimer’s Association and other groups, she added.

There are definite steps that caregivers can take to help themselves, Bross added.

While the loved one is competent, it’s important to ask: “Do you believe you can trust me … to take care of you, to take care of your money/the family money, to take care of your health, to make end-of-life decisions for you?” Bross said.

If the answer is yes, the next question would be: “Can we go to an attorney, an elder law attorney and discuss you’re possibly providing me with a durable power of attorney?” Bross said.

Taking that action will simplify later decisions that will need to be made, she said.

She also suggests organizing a family meeting, so you can find out their level of support and if they can help you make decisions.

It’s also important to start asking questions early, Bross said.

For instance, when visiting an elder law attorney, ask about the possibility of your loved one qualifying for Medicaid, in case the family ends up not being able to afford all of this care that’s going to be needed.

It’s also important to become aware of long-term care facilities that may become necessary at some point.

“Look at facilities. Even if you’ve promised your loved one you won’t put them in a facility, you don’t really know how sick they’re going to get,” Bross said.

Sometimes, no matter how much a caregiver wants to keep his or her loved one at home, it becomes impossible.

In short, Bross recommends: “Try to get as much information as you can. Try to get as much support as you can. Try to get things rolling.”

Beyond needing help with feeding, bathing and other physical needs, Alzheimer’s patients sometimes become difficult to handle.

“Their temperament changes very often. They might become abusive,” Bross said.

She advises to prepare for “the worst-case scenario.”

Bross also recommends a book called, “The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People Who Have Alzheimer Disease, Related Dementias, and Memory Loss,” by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins.

“People in my Alzheimer’s care group call it their Bible,” she said.

It is important to provide support to caregivers, Bross said. In addition to the physical, medical and financial challenges they encounter, there’s an emotional toll, as well, Bross said. “It’s a terrible disease.”

It’s important to provide support to help caregivers through “their sadness and depression,” Bross said.

“It’s such a hard job,” she said.

Alzheimer’s disease
Memory loss and confusion are the main symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, but those also can be symptoms of other health conditions. A medical diagnosis is necessary to pursue appropriate treatment and to rule out other possible, sometimes reversible, conditions.

People with Alzheimer’s may experience these types of symptoms:

Cognitive: mental decline, difficulty thinking and understanding, confusion in the evening hours, delusion, disorientation, forgetfulness, making things up, mental confusion, difficulty concentrating, inability to create new memories, inability to do simple math, or inability to recognize common things

Behavioral: aggression, agitation, difficulty with self-care, irritability, meaningless repetition of own words, personality changes, restlessness, lack of restraint, or wandering and getting lost

Mood: anger, apathy, general discontent, loneliness, or mood swings

Psychological: depression, hallucination, or paranoia

Other common symptoms: inability to combine muscle movements, jumbled speech, or loss of appetite

Source: Google fact sheet

Practical tips for caregivers:

  • Join a support group.
  • Attend summits and seminars to learn about financial resources and research studies.
  • Create a binder to keep track of medical information, financial information, legal information and questions.
  • Be aware there are all sorts of potential sources for funding and research, including federal, state, county, local, universities and nonprofits.
  • Ask family members how they would like to help and divvy up the tasks, accordingly. Someone may be willing to handle providing transportation, while another provides financial support. Someone else may be able to do practical chores, such as cooking, cleaning, yard work and so on.
  • Observe the patient’s status and record it in a journal — to help keep track of the patient’s changing condition.

Practical ways to help caregivers:
If you’d like to help a caregiver of someone afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease, here are some ways you can help:

  • Offer to give them a break by volunteering to watch over the patient, while the caregiver does shopping, goes to a hair appointment or does errands. (This may not be possible based on the patient’s condition or willingness to accept your care. If that won’t work, another option would be to provide a gift of paid-for respite care.)
  • Bring over dinner or provide gift certificates for meals.
  • Watch a movie at the caregiver’s house.
  • Take some nice photographs of the caregiver and their loved one, so the caregiver will have them later.
  • Provide emotional support, through a poem or a loving letter.
  • Step in to help in practical ways, such as yard work, house work or other chores.

Source: Phyllis Bross, facilitator of the monthly Alzheimer’s support group that meets at Land O’ Lakes Branch Library

 

Other sources of help include:

  • The Alzheimer’s Association: 24-hour hotline: (800) 272-3900; or visit ALZ.org
  • The Florida Department of Elder Affairs: (800) 963-5337; or visit ElderAffairs.state.fl.us

Published November 29, 2017

Land O’ Lakes festival offers music, car show, food

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Things didn’t go exactly as planned.

The permanent stage event organizers had hoped to use remains under construction.

Soul Circus Cowboys were the headline act at the second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival.
(Courtesy of Suzanne Beauchaine)

There were also some pre-event traffic snarls. And, electrical problems threw off the schedule, precluding Stonegrey, the first musical act, from being able to perform.

Those at the festival had the chance to hear performances by The Higgins Brothers, Shalyah Fearing, City Groove and Soul Circus Cowboys.

The event was presented by the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, as a way to give back to the community.

David Gainer, the event chairman and president-elect for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, was disappointed things didn’t go as smoothly as planned.

“With all the pre-planning and walk-through the day before, we somehow still had a couple of issues. It was disappointing not to have Stonegrey open the show.  We sincerely apologize to them and, more importantly, their fan base who came out to see them,” he said.

Overall, though, those attending the second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival seemed to be having a good time.

Gloria Dale and Rosie Heim were working a booth to try to drum up support for Heim, who is campaigning to become the new Honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes. Dale is the deputy honorary mayor a title she’s been given for life.
(B.C. Manion)

People were checking out the vintage Cadillac and old-school Nova, the Teslas, and the other vehicles that owners were showing off at the Al and Ida Silver Memorial Car Show.

Event-goers also were grabbing a bite to eat, including barbecued meals served by Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que, hot dogs from D&R Specialty Dogs, and food and drink from other vendors.

And, the mood was generally upbeat, as people strolled up and down vendor aisles, checking out displays and picking up freebies at the March 11 event at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center and Park.

“This is a great day,” said Phyllis Bross, who was working at the AARP Land O’ Lakes Chapter’s booth to raise awareness about the organization. “People seem happy, and I see children with balloons. Everyone loves the food.”

Rosie Heim was at the festival trying to garner support for her bid to be the next Land O’ Lakes Honorary Mayor. She wants to win the race so she can make more people aware of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, a volunteer organization involved in countless community causes and events.

Heim was there with her sidekick, Gloria Dale, who has been named the deputy honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes for life.

The two ladies were selling “I love Land O’ Lakes” buttons and chances for prizes, to help raise money for Heim’s campaign.

Shalyah Fearing, a performer whose familiar to fans of the television program ‘The Voice,’ performed at the second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival on March 11.

Tim Clayton Sr., and his son, Tim Clayton Jr., were there working the Knight Pest Control booth. The presence of a life-size replica of a knight in shining armor helped draw attention to their booth.

“We go to all of the chamber events,” said Tim Clayton Sr., whose company is a member of Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, and has offices in Pasco, Hernando and Pinellas counties.

He was particularly pleased that the event featured a car show, in addition to the music and vendors.

“There are a couple of Teslas over there,” he said. “They’re beautiful cars.”

There were scores of other businesses and organizations with booths at the event.

Lowe’s Home Improvement had a booth and so did Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Seal Swim School was there, and so was Connerton. The Laker/Lutz News had a booth, too.

Organizers estimate attendance at about 1,000. Admission was free, except for reserved seating at the concert. Parking was $10.

Gainer said the experience “was definitely a learning process for us (event organizers), but it will help us with the planning of our future events.

“Overall, we believe it was a success, and we can continue to build from this. We understand that it takes time to grow an event such as this, and we intend to see it become a signature event that the Land O’ Lakes community can look forward to annually,” he said.

Published March 15, 2017

New adult day care serves Lutz, Land O’ Lakes

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There’s a new adult day care center available for caregivers who need someone to watch their loved one while they’re working, running errands or merely taking a break from their caregiving duties.

CARES Adult Day Care at Northlake Community Center, 2640 N. Lakeview Drive in Tampa, opened in July in an updated recreational center.

CARES Adult Day Care at Northlake Community Center opened in July. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
CARES Adult Day Care at Northlake Community Center opened in July.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

The adult day care center provides care for those ages 18 and older afflicted by Alzheimer’s or dementia, or who have other special needs.

The goal is provide the help that caregivers need and to provide socialization for those coming to the day care, said Brittany Stowers, center manager.

The center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Some clients come daily and stay for the entire day. Others may come one or two mornings a week, or every other week, Stowers said. Those arrangements are made individually.

Program costs vary, based on how many hours of service a client receives and on individual financial situations, Stowers said. She said that will be discussed when arrangements are made for the care.

Regardless of the amount of time that clients spend in the center, the goal is to make it an inviting and stimulating place for them, Stowers said.

There are various activities, including daily walks, arts and crafts, meals, snacks and entertainment.

They play No Money Bingo, do brain teasers and share their talents. Some people really enjoy singing, Stowers said.

Brittany Stowers is the center manager for the CARES Adult Day Care at Northlake Community Center, 2640 N. Lakeview Drive. The center provides care for those ages 18 and older who are afflicted by Alzheimer’s or dementia, or who have other special needs.
Brittany Stowers is the center manager for the CARES Adult Day Care at Northlake Community Center, 2640 N. Lakeview Drive. The center provides care for those ages 18 and older who are afflicted by Alzheimer’s or dementia, or who have other special needs.

Clients also can look through books and magazines that have been donated to a small library at the center.

Clients can sit on recliners indoors and on picnic benches on the back porch. There’s an arts and crafts room, too.

“Since it is not a residential facility, we know they really don’t need to be here if they don’t want to,” Stowers said. “They can tell their family members, ‘I don’t like it. It’s boring.’ ”

Knowing that clients have a choice is motivating to the center’s staff to be sure to find ways to engage the clients, and to encourage them to interact with each other, she said.

“It really pushes us to find activities that they would really like to do, so they enjoy coming back every day,” she said.

“I haven’t heard one person say ‘I’m bored’ yet,” said Phyllis Bross, a CARES board member, who was at the center one recent morning.

The center gives the clients a place to meet new friends, both Stowers and Bross said.

They won’t become isolated, Bross said, noting that can easily happen if a person doesn’t get out to meet new people.

Besides letting the community know about the available service, the staff wants to invite anyone who is interested in volunteering to step forward.

“Volunteers are so helpful,” Stowers said. She’s looking for people who have special talents or hobbies, to help make the activities more engaging.

She’s also looking for people who don’t mind taking on some chores.

She could use people who want to help in the kitchen, or do clerical work, or merely provide companionship for clients by talking or listening to them.

The center has the capacity for 100 clients. So far, it has 16. Stowers expects the number to increase, as people become aware of the service.

The center is one of six in Pasco and Hillsborough counties. The two locations in Pasco County are in New Port Richey and Dade City.

CARES receives support from Hillsborough and Pasco counties, the Area Agency on Aging, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the United Way of Pasco County, and Senior Connection Center Inc.

Anyone who wishes to volunteer or needs more information, should call Stowers at (813) 570-7901.

“Living Well into the Future”
What: Jeremy Ewbank will perform as Elvis, Diane Hunter will give a presentation on a healthy body and mind, and Phyllis Bross will present on the accessibility and importance of Alzheimer Support Groups.
Where: CARES Adult Day Care at Northlake Community Center, 2640 N. Lakeview Drive in Tampa.
Who: All are welcome

 

World Alzheimer’s Day event
What: The staff will decorate the center in purple, and people will wear purple to bring awareness to World Alzheimer’s Day. Phyllis Bross will present on the importance of Alzheimer Support Groups and forever learning. Diane Hunter will present on a healthy body and mind.
When: Sept. 21, beginning at 10 a.m.
Where: CARES Adult Day Care at Northlake Community Center, 2640 N. Lakeview Drive in Tampa
Who: All are welcome

Published September 16, 2015