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Health Department offers free hepatitis A vaccinations

News and notes from Pasco County
 
Pasco County community news
Pasco County community news [ TMCCARTY80 | Tara McCarty ]
Published Feb. 18, 2020

COUNTYWIDE

Agency on Aging receives 3-year grant

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas has been selected as one of 11 “Innovation in the Health Care System” grant recipients statewide for funding from the Florida Blue Foundation. The three-year, $300,000 grant will fund the nonprofit organization’s Senior Community Health Program, which strengthens linkages between medical and social service providers to improve access and health outcomes for under-resourced seniors.

The program operates out of the Baycare Turley Family Health Center in Clearwater and the WellMed Clinic in St. Petersburg. This funding from the Florida Blue Foundation will equip the Area Agency on Aging to serve more seniors in the current sites and expand into Pasco County, with a newly-developed partnership with the Medical Center of Trinity, an HCA hospital.

Presentations honor African-American heritage

In celebration of Black History Month, Pasco-Hernando State College will host the following presentations on Feb. 26:

• “You Need a Schoolhouse,” presented by Stephanie Deutsch, will be at 11 a.m. at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel. The presentation explains how two men, one wealthy and the other an educator, worked together to build schools for Blacks in the south.

• Kuumba Drummers and Dancers will perform at 1 p.m. in the West Campus Performing Arts Center, 10230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey. This is a high-energy performance that highlights African-style dancing and skilled African drumming.

There is no cost to attend either event. For information, call (727) 816-3192.

Scholarship application deadline nears

The Sunshine Opportunity Scholarships program is accepting applications from Tampa Bay area high school seniors for its 2020 college scholarships. The application period runs through March 1.

The awards are worth $20,000 over four years and are renewable annually for students who remain in good academic standing. Applicants should be high-achieving high school seniors in Pasco, Pinellas or Hillsborough counties who have overcome significant obstacles in life and who plan to attend a public university in Florida for their undergraduate studies.

Up to 10 scholarships are expected to be awarded. Winners will be notified in April. Students may apply online at sunshineopportunityscholarshps.com.

HOLIDAY

Comedy museum now offers tours

The National Comedy Hall of Fame Museum is available for tours. The museum, at 2435 U.S. 19, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Special hours can be arranged for groups of 12 or more.

General admission is $12, $6 for ages 11 and younger. The facility is home to a comedy club, comedy schoo, and banquet room available for parties and events. For information, call the museum at (727) 937-2479, tour bookings at (727) 541-7876, or email to comedyhall@aol.com.

HUDSON

Elks seeks golfers, sponsors

Aripeka Elks Lodge 2520 is seeking sponsors and golfers to participate in its third-annual Golf Outing March 7 at Meadow Oaks Golf Club, 13125 Fairwinds Road. Following the tournament, sponsors and players will be treated to a buffet dinner and award prizes at the Elks lodge on Denton Avenue.

The cost is $55 for golfers; hole sponsorships are $85. For further details and registration, call the lodge Tuesdays through Friday at (727) 868-2994.

LAND O’ LAKES

Republicans host candidate ‘meet and greet’

The Republican Club of Central Pasco and the Pasco Federated Republican Women’s Club will host a joint meeting on Feb. 24 to feature Republican candidates who have filed for the District 4 County Commission seat. A social will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting starts at 7 p.m., at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

The meeting will be a “meet and greet” session to get to know the candidates and their stances on the issues, including Gary Bradford, Jeff Miller, Gabe Papadopoulos and Dan Tipton. For information, call (813) 996-3011.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Free second dose hepatitis shot offered

The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County is offering free second dose hepatitis A vaccinations Feb. 22 and 29 at the office at 10841 Little Road. The vaccinations will be given to clients who received their first dose at least six months ago. This includes, but is not limited to, all those who attended the hepatitis A outreach events in July and August. Also, on Feb. 22 only, free HIV and hepatitis C rapid testing will be available, with results available in 20 minutes.

The Health Department has established a hotline for those who have questions about hepatitis A; call (727) 619-0400. Visit the website at floridahealth.gov.

Loquat Fest plans underway

The seventh-annual Florida Loquat Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 21 at Frances Avenue Park. Volunteers, harvesters and harvest donors are wanted to participate. Canners also are wanted to prepare and sell preserves, including jellies, jams, compotes, canned halves and slices.

Those wishing to volunteer in setting up the event or helping at the festival can email Marilynn deChant at mdechant@tampabay.rr.com.

Poets and writers are needed for the Florida Loquat Literary Festival. Submissions are welcome, and all authors are invited to read at the event and to be published in the annual book, Leaves of Loquat, which will be presented next winter. Prizes will be awarded, including $200 for first place, $100 for second, and $50 for third.

The deadline to submit entries is March 6. Writers can submit two poems. If making more than one submission, send both in a single document. Include a brief biography, sharing writing experience/publications, if any, and send to dechant@usf.edu. Submissions may be mailed to Friendship Farm and Fare, P.O. Box 596, New Port Richey, FL 34655-0596. Those interested in being Literary Festival sponsors can email Marilynn deChant at the email above.

CARES event celebrates seniors

CARES (Community Aging and Retirement Services) is seeking sponsors for its annual benefit, Celebrating Seniors, which will be from 6 to 9 p.m. March 19 at Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave. The event is held to honor older adults and leaders who serve Pasco County with passion and purpose.

The event theme this year will be the Roaring ’20s. Sponsors can nominate an older adult or community leader of their choosing. For sponsorship information, contact Melissa Mathe at mmathe@caresfl.org or (727) 862-9291, ext. 2046.