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Speakersshed light onhealth carechallengesBy B.C. Manionbcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

Patients and providers offered insightsinto obstacles relating to the treatment ofpeople living with Parkinsons, Alzheimersand Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis during arecent roundtable hosted by U.S. Rep. GusBilirakis.

Bilirakis, who is a member of the Energyand Commerce subcommittee on Heath,hosted a roundtable focusing on neurologi-

cal conditions on May6 at the CarrollwoodCultural Center.

Bilirakis askedpanelists and mem-bers of the audienceto talk about chal-lenges facing patientsand their families, andobstacles thwartingproviders. He alsoasked those gatheredto share information

about clinical trials and breakthroughs.Ron Hall, who has Alzheimers disease

told Bilirakis, probably the biggest thing isthe unknown trying to figure out whatyoure going to do to keep your life normalas possible.

The hard part, he said, is just not know-ing whats coming your way.

With all of these other diseases outthere, you can say, Im going to fight it. Imgoing to beat it. With Alzheimers, theres nobeating it.

Halls wife, Diane, said weve never beento a neurologist, just a geriatric doctor andhad tests performed.

Sometimes, we think, maybe we shouldgo, and then we ask ourselves: Do you reallywant to know how far along you are? shesaid.

Dr. Charles Brock, another panelist, toldthe couple: I think visiting the neurologistis helpful. Its empowering because thatphysician is likely to know there may bedrug trials going on, there may be new treat-ments, there may be new supportivemeasures that would be helpful to you andat least give you the opportunity to make adecision about what you want, which givesyou more control.

Dr. Jessica Banko, associate institute di-rector for the University of South FloridasByrd Alzheimers Institute, agreed withBrock.

Having some of that knowledge ofwhere in the journey you lie may opendoors to additional measures, not alwaysnecessarily pharmacological, Banko said.There are caregiver interventions to mini-mize stress and burden, and improve qualityof life; there are behavioral measures andother ways to get involved in, maybe in vali-dating new diagnostic tools.

See HEALTH, page9A

B

INSIDE, PAGE 1B

By Kathy Steeleksteele@lakerlutznews.com

A Dairy Queen and a long-planned apart-ment complex at Terra Bella are underconstruction on State Road 54 in Land OLakes, between Livingston Road and ViaBella Boulevard.

The fast-food restaurant is expected toopen in two to three months, possibly bythe Fourth of July weekend, according toKeith Bennett, owner of Retail SiteDevelopment.

The Dairy Queen location is one of sev-eral outparcels adjacent to Terra Bella thatare available for commercial development.These smaller commercial projects are ben-efiting from proximity to shopping mallssuch as The Grove in Wesley Chapel, TheShops at Wiregrass and the soon-to-openTampa Premium Outlets, Bennett said.

Between those three projectsyouregetting outward growth, he said. Its naturalfor commercial development like this, withinterested companies like Dairy Queen.

The fast-food restaurant will seat about75 people and have a drive-through win-dow. Bennett owns additional commercial

parcels adjacent to the Dairy Queen site.Once that project is complete, he said,

Well look to see what we choose to dowith the balance.

Southeast Commercial also is marketingcommercial outparcels fronting State Road54 at Terra Bella.

Behind the Dairy Queen site, alongVenezia Avenue, construction also is underway on Alta Terra Bella, an apartment com-plex of 311 garden apartments in 14three-story buildings.

The North Carolina-based Wood Partnersis building the complex as the final residen-tial phase of Terra Bella, a community ofmore than 250 single-family homes.

A groundbreaking was held late in 2014.Construction is expected to finish by May2016, but leasing could begin as early asSeptember of this year, according to a pressrelease from Wood Partners.

The project is projected to generate$24.5 million in local income, $2.5 millionin taxes and other revenues for local govern-ments, and nearly 380 jobs. The dataprovided by Wood Partners in its press re-lease is based on a formula used by theNational Association of Home Builders.

KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTOSConstruction is under way on Alta Terra Bella, an apartment complex of 311 garden apart-ments off State Road 54 in Land O Lakes.

Land O Lakes to getDairy Queen, apartments

By Michael Murillommurillo@lakerlutznews.com

Campaign season has begun again inLutz.

Candidates for Lutz Guvna will gatheron May 16 at the Old Lutz School to lie,make promises theyll never keep and try tograb a little cash for their campaign.

Lutz wouldnt have it any other way.The candidates arent running for politi-

cal office. Theyre vying for the ceremonialtitle of Lutz Guvna, an annual tradition thatreduces the campaign to its lowest commondenominator: Money.

The amount of money raised by eachcandidate in creative ways is how a win-ner is determined.

But the money raised by these candi-dates doesnt go to slick television ads orcampaign tour buses like you might see in apolitical election. It goes directly to local or-ganizations and charities, making the LutzGuvna race an elaborate communityfundraiser with some unusual traditions.

According to Suzin Carr, the ceremonialkickoff on May 16 is a fun way for the pub-lic to meet the candidates and enjoy thespectacle.

It is a great thing to watch some small-town silliness at its finest, she said.

Carr is quite familiar with this brand ofsilliness because shes been the Guvna twice.

Now she gets to enjoy the festivities

from the other side, playing the role of can-didate recruiter and all-around Guvnaambassador.

The candidates will be put through theirpaces that afternoon, taking part in a ques-tion and answer session that demandscreative answers.

Theyll also have a chance to make out-landish campaign promises that defy logic,science and common sense. And theyll beforced to play some games that remain se-cret so as not to give them any hints atwhats in store.

Overall, the goal is to raise money, andthe Guvna race does it well. Last year thecandidates raised $9,000 in all, with lessthan $20 separating the winner Dr. CindyPerkins from the runner-up.

But all of the candidates played a role inhelping around 20 different groups, includ-ing scout troops, the Lutz Civil Air Patrol andthe Old Lutz School.

The annual Guvnas race also fosters asense of closeness for area residents in an

Once again, the Guvnas race is on

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis

Dairy Queen is expected to open by July 4 on a parcel next to the Terra Bella subdivision offState Road 54 in Land O Lakes.

See GUVNA, page9A

FILE PHOTOLast years Lutz Guvna candidates had to show off their knitting skills to impress the com-munity. There are new, secret challenges for this years crop of hopefuls.

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By Kathy Steeleksteele@lakerlutznews.com

Pasco County will merge its parks andrecreation department and its environmen-tal lands program and create a new division the Parks, Recreation and NaturalResources Department.

The Pasco Commission approved themerger at its May 5 meeting.

The restructuring comes as the countyprepares to implement a master plan forcounty parks. The focus is on improving effi-ciency, better customer service and keepingup with the growth from new develop-ment.

It all comes down to funding really, saidCathy Pearson, assistant county administra-tor for public services.

The restructured department wouldhave three managers for natural resources,fiscal and support services, and parks andrecreation, who would report to a director