The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

An iconic, vocal bird

By

Nicole Magazu, of Land O’ Lakes, enjoys taking pictures of birds and she was thrilled to capture this Northern Mockingbird with a berry in its beak. The Northern Mockingbird is one of the most iconic birds of the South, and it is probably the bird that people see the most. It is also the state bird of Florida. The mockingbird is very vocal and can imitate the songs of at least 50 or 60 other species of Southern birds — they even mimic car horns and car alarms.

Bell Lake Road project begins in January

By

Pasco County’s Bell Lake Road Improvement Project in Land O’ Lakes is scheduled to begin on Jan. 4, and run through spring 2022.

The year-plus project will consist of extensive infrastructure and safety improvements — including road reconstruction, stormwater modifications, curb and sidewalk — along Bell Lake Road, east of U.S. 41 to Banjo Lake Road, according to a Pasco County news release.

Eastbound and westbound lanes on Bell Lake will remain open as much as possible during the project; however, lane closures and full road closures could be necessary, periodically.

Drivers should be aware of traffic pattern changes, including lane shifts, slower speeds and full detours.

A full road closure and detour is tentatively scheduled to begin mid-March, for approximately eight days. Reminders and planned detour routes will be published prior to the closure.

Project details include:

  • Construction hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Nighttime work during the eight-day detour period
  • Residents always will have access to their homes
  • Construction team will coordinate with emergency response and public transportation agencies to ensure uninterrupted service
  • Project completion in early spring 2022

The contractor for this Pasco County Engineering Services project is Kamminga & Roodvoets Inc.

For information and questions, contact Matt Kodsi at 727-834-3604 or ">.

Published December 30, 2020

Health News 12/30/2021

By

(Courtesy of Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office)

Helping to fund research and education
The five offices of Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano partnered with the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation to help raise funds and awareness of breast cancer, its symptoms and treatment. The tax collector’s offices promoted the sale of the foundation’s “End Breast Cancer” specialty tag and accepted voluntary check-off donations on automobile registrations.

Twenty-three license plates were sold, and combined with cash donations, a total of $9,018.97 was raised to help ‘end the suffering caused by breast cancer,’ according to a news release.

Day of service
The GFWC Wesley Chapel Woman’s Club took part in a day of service to shower love, respect and kindness upon persons with disabilities or special needs in the community.

The club members made 15 ‘fidget’ lap quilts for Alzheimer’s patients and donated them to Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care.

An ‘A’ for patient safety
AdventHealth West Florida Division once again has earned the highest marks possible for patient safety and quality. It is the only health care system in the Greater Tampa Bay area to achieve all As from Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care ratings organization, according to a news release.

  • AdventHealth Carrollwood: 11th consecutive A
  • AdventHealth Dade City: first A (hospital acquired in 2018)
  • AdventHealth North Pinellas: 15th consecutive A
  • AdventHealth Sebring: sixth consecutive A
  • AdventHealth Tampa: sixth consecutive A
  • AdventHealth Wesley Chapel: 11th consecutive A
  • AdventHealth Zephyrhills: sixth consecutive A

AdventHealth North Pinellas, AdventHealth Sebring and AdventHealth Zephyrhills also were recognized as Top General Hospitals.

Chalk Talk 12/30/2020

By

Ribbon-cutting
Florida’s Recovery Schools of Tampa Bay Inc., will open its first nonprofit, private school – Victory High School – to help youth struggling with addictions.

Teens in traditional high schools are exposed to forces that make it very difficult to maintain recovery, and of those who make a commitment to recovery, more than 50% relapse within 12 months, according to a news release.

Recovery Schools of Tampa Bay “aims to be a beacon of hope and provide wraparound services to the families and students; a safe, connected healing-centered environment that honors the whole child; and collaborates with the family to bring growth,” the release said.

Students range in ages from 14 to 19, and receive an education, mental health services, and opportunities to learn and lead substance-free lives with individualized recovery support.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 4 at noon, at Calvary Chapel Worship Center, 6825 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey.

Victory High also is having a shoe drive fundraiser event, “Stepping into Recovery,” through Jan. 31. Donations of new or gently used shoes will be accepted.

For information, contact Tina Levene at 813-444-7766 or .

National Philanthropy Day
National Philanthropy Day honors charitable donations and volunteerism from local organizations and individuals.

The PHSC (Pasco-Hernando State College) Foundation, a member of the Nature Coast Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, has recognized the following organizations and individuals for their philanthropic efforts:

  • Philanthropic Corporation of the Year: Suncoast Credit Union
  • Volunteer of the Year: Paul Friedlander
  • Philanthropist of the Year: Scott Fink
  • Philanthropic Service Organization of the Year: Rotary Club of New Port Richey
  • Philanthropic Small Business of the Year: George’s Wholesale Tires

Open application windows
The Pasco Pathways Innovative Programs and School Choice selections for the 2021-2022 school year can be found online at Pasco.k12.fl.us/school_choice_catalog/catalog.

The controlled open enrollment window for elementary and secondary grades opens on Jan. 7 at 8 a.m., and closes on Jan. 21 at 4:30 p.m.

Acceptance notifications for secondary grades will be made between Feb. 19 and Feb. 28.

Elementary grades acceptance notifications will be from March 12 and March 26.

To complete a school choice application, a parent must have an active parent account in myStudent.

Inclusivity award
Pasco-Hernando State College was awarded the 2020 Excellence in Inclusivity Award by the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, for its “It Takes Us” program addressing social justice and race relations.

Jessica White, director of student life and leadership, acknowledged the collaboration of many committed individuals who contributed to the honor, while acknowledging the career contributions of Imani Asukile, director of global and multicultural awareness equity and special assistant to the president.

“We collectively felt this award should be dedicated to Imani (Asukile)’s longstanding service to our institution and for his commitment to equity, fairness and social justice,” said White, in a news release.

Outstanding seniors
Pasco County Schools congratulates its 2021 Outstanding Seniors:

  • Anclote High School: Thomas J. Crawford
  • Cypress Creek High School: Matthew Ravenna
  • Fivay High School: Tyler Borges
  • Gulf High School: Angel Martin-Meza
  • Hudson High School: Sydney Ramos
  • J.W. Mitchell High School: Tiffani Bidgood
  • Land O’ Lakes High School: Kaitlyn Wall
  • Pasco eSchool: Emma Burdik
  • Pasco High School: Augustus Hoff
  • River Ridge High School: Raynee Meek
  • Sunlake High School: Geoffrey Brown
  • Wesley Chapel High School: Sydney Bauer
  • Wendell Krinn Technical High School: Mariano DeCarvalho
  • Wiregrass Ranch High School: Lynn Asare-Bediako
  • Zephyrhills High School: Madison Aguilera

Honor roll
The University of Mississippi announced the students recognized for the fall 2020 Honor Roll lists, including the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, which is reserved for students who earn a semester GPA of 3.75 to 4.00.

Two area students were named to the Chancellor’s Roll: Timothy John Elko, of Lutz, and Madeleine Nicole Hendron, of Odessa.

Winter commencement
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) hosted a virtual, live-streamed commencement on Dec. 16 for winter 2020 graduates.

Graduating students who opted to participate were asked to submit a photo for the video.

Speeches were recorded by Timothy L. Beard, PHSC president; Marilyn Pearson-Adams, PHSC district board of trustees chair; Channing Sampson, PHSC student speaker; and Jessica LaBoissier, associate professor, English, and faculty senate president.

Approximately 185 degrees and certificates were conferred at the virtual ceremony.

Chalk Talk 12/23/2020

By

Members of the K-Tech team, from left: Emily Null, Amanda Marrero and Shelly Nonnenberg. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Students’ experiment goes to space
A science experiment created by Kendall Krinn Technical High School (K-Tech) students in Pasco County was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) with the launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Mission 14 and the Dragon cargo spacecraft was launched on Dec. 6.

An all-female team of K-Tech students from Sarah Kumar’s biomedical science class entered a national flight experiment design competition.

The team’s experiment was selected from among thousands of submissions of real flight experiments created by students from around the nation.

The K-Tech submission explores the effects of microgravity on amoxicillin’s ability to kill the bacteria that causes staph infections, which is a critical concern for astronauts living within the close confines of the ISS.

The team has its own compartment inside Dragon’s payload box for its mini-lab, which the astronauts will test aboard the ISS.

This authentic STEM experience included a formal research project and a written proposal by the student team.

High school fishing program
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) 2020-2021 High School Fishing Program offers high school fishing clubs or teams the opportunity to apply for the Florida Sport Fish Restoration R3 Fishing Grant.

The grant program focuses on recruiting new anglers to ensure the future of fishing in Florida.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program this school year is abbreviated to only include the spring semester.

The grant will award up to 30 high school fishing clubs or teams $500 to assist with club expenses, the purchase of fishing licenses or gear for participants. The clubs and teams will receive an updated educational curriculum comprised of lessons and activities on fisheries conservation and resource management, plus a chance to win prizes by completing the Pure Fishing Conservation Project.

The grant is open to new or existing freshwater or saltwater fishing clubs or teams at public, private and charter high schools.

To qualify for a grant, high school fishing clubs or teams must have a minimum of five members and be represented by a school faculty member or parent who will follow the provided instructor’s manual.

The application can be downloaded at MyFWC.com/news and submitted to . The deadline for applications is Jan. 15 at 5 p.m.

Safety first, when viewing holiday lights

By

A great way to get into the holiday spirit is to enjoy holiday lights from your car, while maintaining social distance.

As you visit a community display or check out decorations in your neighborhood, though, remember to stay safe on the road to avoid unnecessary risks behind the wheel.

“Drive-thru events and activities have been a go-to for family fun throughout 2020,” Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA-The Auto Club Group, said  in a news release.

“Personal vehicles can help you safely share in the joys of the season, but combining driving with other activities could land you on the naughty list,” Jenkins said.

The Auto Club reminds offers these safety reminders, to help you keep safe when you are viewing light displays, while driving:

  • Watch for pedestrians, especially in residential areas. People on foot may be more interested in the lights, than oncoming traffic.
  • Remain seated and buckled, even while parked on the roadside.
  • Pull over if you need to program your navigation system, check a map, take pictures, or do anything that will take your attention off the task of driving. You can also delegate those tasks to a passenger.
  • Do not come to a complete stop in a traffic lane. If you encounter someone who has stopped, only pass if it is safe and legal to do so.
  • If you visit a drive-thru event and are asked to turn off your headlights, remember to turn them back on when you exit the display.

As always, check weather and roadway conditions before you go out.

Published December 16, 2020

Ziggy is ‘paw’some!

By

Ziggy is a cute, spunky 5-year-old Cavachon that loves chasing lizards, going on walks, and snuggling with his family. Cavachons are medium-sized, playful, generally happy, fun family dogs that love companionship. Ziggy came from Atlanta, Georgia, to stay with the Mercado family, temporarily, in January, and due to COVID-19, has been living with them for almost a year. The Mercados enjoy Ziggy’s company and have come to love him very much in such a short time. Ziggy lives with Stormy, John, Colby, Clayton and Cameron Mercado in Wesley Chapel.

A meal for one

By

Karen Whitenton, of Lutz, found this brown thrasher hanging around her yard for about a month, foraging for food and flipping bark mulch chips in the flower beds. The thrasher is about the size of a robin and known to be an exuberant singer.