Jean Hayes, Times Staff Writer

Jean Hayes started at the Times in 1998 working out of the Port Richey office. She currently works in the Brooksville office and is community news coordinator for the Hometown Hernando feature. Jean also handles the Hernando and Pasco business digests and the occasional Hernando Neighbor feature.

Phone: (352) 848-1438

Email: jhayes@tampabay.com

  1. Pasco business digest, May 19

    Business

    Business digest

    Events

    WEST PASCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE will have its Ambassador Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Estela's Mexican Restaurant, 5706 Main St., New Port Richey. A Cinco de Mayo Party will be held. The cost is $11 (includes beverage, tax and gratuity). To RSVP, call the chamber at (727) 842-7651.

    WEST PASCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE will host a combined ribbon-cutting at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday for Nationwide Compliance Alliance and James R. Spear Cleaning Service at Verizon Events Center, 8718 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey. Call Clara Rose, (941) 284-8640 or James Spear, (727) 288-1362....

    Farewell after 15 years A special luncheon was held to celebrate the May 2 retirement of Sonia Quinones, center, Gulfside Regional Hospice’s director of bereavement and volunteers. She is pictured with her replacements, Karl Knox, the new director of bereavement, and Kelly Milner, the new director of volunteers. Quinones, who began at Gulfside in 1998 as a social worker, has held positions as psychosocial manager, director of psychosocial and director of bereavement before her current position. Linda Ward, Gulfside’s president and chief executive officer, thanked Quinones for her service to Gulfside and the community.
  2. Hernando County business digest

    Business

    Who's news

    Dr. Michael W. Higgins, who specializes in nonoperative and operative management of the spine and general orthopedic conditions at Hernando Orthopaedic & Spinal Surgery, 4055 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill, recently attended the 53rd annual American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics Postgraduate Seminar in Miami Beach, where he received updates on current techniques and controversies in orthopedics....

    National Nurses Week celebration: To kick off National Nurses Week, Brooksville Regional and Spring Hill Regional hospitals hosted a rededication celebration for its nurses on May 6, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing. National Nurses Week recognizes the women and men who dedicate their lives to healing. The theme for this year’s week was “Delivering Quality and Innovation in Patient Care.” Nurses gathered on the front lawn of each facility to recite the Florence Nightingale pledge. Shown here are members of the nursing team at Brooksville Regional Hospital.
  3. Pasco County business digest, May 12

    Business

    Business digest

    Networking and mixers

    Trinity Positive Business Network: 8:30 a.m. Monday at Oasis Coffee Spot, 9213 Little Road in the Regency Shopping Center, New Port Richey. Call Ashok Visuvasam at (813) 333-1622.

    West Pasco Chamber of Commerce: Chamber Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Monday at Fox Hollow Golf Club, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway, New Port Richey. The speaker is Melanie Snow, public information officer for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. Cost: $12, includes beverage, tax and gratuity. (727) 842-7651....

  4. Business digest

    Business

    Who's news

    Andrea Bolton was recently certified as a Jazzercise instructor.

    Bolton completed an intense three-day workshop and performed a 10-routine audition to earn the right to teach Jazzercise classes. She will begin offering classes at the Jazzercise Center, 7257 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. For information, call (352) 442-8595.

    • • •

    Spring Hill Regional Hospital, 10461 Quality Drive, Spring Hill, recently recognized associates at its monthly Getting 2 Great celebration....

    Bolton
  5. Hernando County business digest

    Business

    Briefly

    Oak Hill Hospital was recently presented the American Heart Association's Start! Fit-Friendly Company gold award for the third consecutive year. The award recognizes companies that demonstrate progressive leadership by making the health and wellness of their employees a priority.

    Who's news

    Registered nurse Carolyn McLain, who was recently named Nurse of the Year at Brooksville Regional Hospital, was one of six nurses awarded Nurse of the Year recognition by Health Management Associates, the hospital's parent company....

  6. Your news: Hometown Hernando for April 28

    Human Interest

    We need your news!

    Hometown Hernando is devoted to everyday life in our county, whether it's snapshots from your family reunion or a few lines thanking someone for a job well done. Call Hometown Hernando news coordinator Jean Hayes at (352) 848-1438, fax (352) 754-6133, or jhayes@tampabay.com.

    The Glen Lakes Ladies Golf Association had its Spring Member/Member Golf Tournament on March 21 and 22. For the two-day event, competitors picked their own partners. Day 1 was a scramble for holes 1 to 9 and a modified alternate shot for holes 10 to 18. Day 2 was best ball of partners....

    The team of Chotsie Raver and Linda Keller won the overall low-gross award.
  7. Pasco business digest for April 28

    Business

    Briefly

    ASK A LAWYER: West Pasco Bar Association's annual Law Week kicks off Monday. Declan Mansfield will head up the "Ask A Lawyer" program on Wednesday. Sign-ups are available from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at CARES, Rao Musunuru Center, 12417 Clock Tower Parkway, Hudson, and at CARES, Claude Pepper Center, 6640 Van Buren St., New Port Richey.

    The program provides the general public with the opportunity to talk with local attorneys who are volunteering their time to discuss law-related questions and issues. To sign up, call (727) 844-3077 for the New Port Richey center, or (727) 863-6868 for Hudson....

    Courtesy of Kurt Conover Fit-Friendly Gold Award: Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point was once again awarded the American Heart Association’s Fit-Friendly Company Gold Award. Fit-Friendly Companies demonstrate progressive leadership by making the health and wellness of their employees a priority. Doug Goodman, the hospital’s vice president of human resources, accepted the award April 17 at the American Heart Association’s Fit Friendly Symposium.
  8. Your news: Hometown Hernando for DATE

    Human Interest

    HIGH FIVES

    368922-A Courtesy of Linda Tacy

    CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

    368923-B Courtesy of Sylvia Stark

    • • •

    368924-C Courtesy of Sylvia Stark

    • • •

    368925-D Courtesy of Sylvia Stark

    368926-E Courtesy of Brian Moore

    • • •...

    Travel clubs take a ride on the Creole Queen: Members of the High Point Travel Club and the Happy Wanderers Travel Club recently enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Mississippi River. The group, photographed just before boarding the Creole Queen, spent three nights in New Orleans in early March.
  9. Sustainable Zephyrhills gets award; more Pasco business news

    Business

    Briefly

    The city of Zephyrhills was recently recognized by three professional organizations for Sustainable Zephyrhills, a community action plan developed with the assistance of Vrana Consulting.

    On March 25, the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council announced that Sustainable Zephyrhills received an award of merit/honorable mention in the Going Green award category at its Future of the Region Awards annual luncheon....

    Going Green award Tammy Vrana of Vrana Consulting, Zephyrhills City Council member Jodi Wilkeson and city planning director Todd Vande Berg accept the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s Going Green award for the Sustainable Zephyrhills community action plan. It was announced March 25.
  10. Business news for Hernando County

    Business

    Who's news

    Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill, has announced its "stars" — associates of the month — for March.

    They are Jessica Kekovich and Judith Radke.

    Kekovich, a licensed practical nurse, joined the hospital in September 2004 and works in the progressive care unit.

    Radke, a registered nurse, works in the intensive care and cardiovascular intensive care units, caring for post-open heart surgical patients....

    Triana
  11. Hernando business digest for April 14

    Business

    Briefly

    Powers Dorsett III, owner of Zeneda Partners Limited Partnership, 36 N Broad St., Brooksville, recently received a $2,000 grant award from the Brooksville Community Redevelopment Agency's executive review committee.

    The grant will go toward a clay tile facade for the roof's eave on the building. All commercial property in the Brooksville CRA district is eligible for the matching grant program. The area includes properties that front along Main, Liberty, Broad and Jefferson streets and Fort Dade and Saxon avenues....

  12. Hernando business digest for April 6

    Business

    Who's news

    Dr. Brandy Michelle Roose, a board certified family physician, has relocated her practice to 15120 County Line Road, Suite 101, Spring Hill.

    Roose joined Access Healthcare in August 2011 and has focused on diabetic care, women's health, pediatric and adolescent care, in-patient work at Oak Hill Hospital, routine medical exams and preventative health.

    For information, call (727) 378-8588....

    Diplomat for February: The Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce recently named Lissa Gancedo, left, owner of Lifestyle Limousine, Diplomat of the Month for February. Gancedo accepted the award from John Mitten, chamber board chairman.
  13. Pasco County business digest for April 6

    Business

    Briefly

    Leadership Pasco, a development program that explores issues through a series of seminars and hands-on activities, is accepting applications for its Class of 2014.

    The program is open to people interested in community involvement and supporting the prosperity of Pasco County. Topics include leadership skills, the history of Pasco County, education, health care and social services, law enforcement and criminal justice, economic and business development, government and infrastructure....

    Boone
  14. Your news: Hometown Hernando for March 31

    Human Interest

    We need your news!

    Hometown Hernando is devoted to everyday life in our county, whether it's snapshots from your family reunion or a few lines thanking someone for a job well done. Call Hometown Hernando news coordinator Jean Hayes at (352) 848-1438, fax (352) 754-6133, or jhayes@tampabay.com.

    Chapeau Rouge Red Hats meet: Members of the Chapeau Rouge Red Hats, a Brooksville chapter of the Red Hat Society, recently met at Southern Ladies and A Gent in downtown Brooksville. Members seated around the table, from left, are: Norma Jean Rawson, Beverly Lewis, Clara Hauser, vice queen Marsha Roderick, Dorothy Hinkle, John and Chris Kovacs, Lydia and Larry Dodson (celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary) and Carol Landers.
  15. Pasco business digest

    Business

    Business digest

    Briefly

    Horizon Homecare recently announced it has been named a Top Agency of the 2012 HomeCare Elite for the sixth consecutive year. HomeCare Elite is a compilation of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States. Winners are ranked by an analysis of publicly available performance measures in quality outcomes, process measure implementation, patient experience, quality improvement and financial performance....

    Grand opening: The Heart & Vascular Institute of Florida, at 6633 Forest Ave., Suite 300, New Port Richey, held a grand opening celebration on March 7. The event included a ribbon cutting and wine tasting. The new office, located in the North Bay Hospital Medical Arts building, is open and accepting new patients. Physicians attending the event included Drs. Alan Camp, Parag Patel, AJ Moondra, George Dagher, Kerry Kaplan and Stephen Turker. For information, contact marketing specialist Stephanie Ruppel at (727) 482-4430 or visit havi-north.com.