The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

A vocal presence

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These sandhill cranes were apparently upset when Karen Whitenton’s cat entered the yard, at her home in Lutz, and raised their ‘voices.’

Mississippi’s state butterfly

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This spicebush swallowtail butterfly’s beauty was captured by Marisol Fontanez, at the Blue Jay Mobile Home Park in Dade City. The butterfly is common in natural areas and flower gardens.

Chalk Talk 12/11/2019

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(Courtesy of Melonie Monson)

Chamber honors student citizens
Nine students from across the community were honored as the Greater Zephyrhills Students of the Month for November. Students are chosen by the teachers and administration of their individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. The students recognized were: Michael Barnes, The Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Justin Cleary, The Broach School; Jacob Holcomb, Chester W. Taylor Elementary School; Victor Garcia, Heritage Academy;  Sophie Graziano, Raymond B. Stewart Middle School; Gavin Jones, West Zephyrhills Elementary School; Sophia Olleres, Woodland Elementary School; and Jonas Short, Zephyrhills High School.

(Courtesy of Joan Midgett)

Stewart ‘top dogs’ recognized
The First Quarter Top Dogs at Stewart Middle School were rewarded with a certificate, a gold dog tag and Hungry Howie’s Lunch. One student is selected by the teachers from each team for his or her academics and leadership role in the school. Students receiving the honor were: Chloe Poulimenos, Briana Daulton, Faneeza Mangroo, Melvin Joseph, Rose Medeiros, Kayla Cameron, Coryn Graham, Brandon Hodge and Naihomy Santiago.

Field dedication
Land O’ Lakes High School, 20325 Gator Lane, will host a Community Open House and Vicky A. King Field Dedication on Dec. 13.

The open house and tours begin at 6 p.m. The field dedication ceremony will take place after the girls varsity soccer game at 7 p.m. Admission to the game is $3.

Hockey club fundraiser
The Wiregrass Ranch High School Hockey Club will host a fundraiser through Twistee Treat in Wesley Chapel on Dec. 14, all day.

For each purchase made on behalf of Wiregrass, Twistee Treat will donate 20% of the proceeds to the hockey team.

For information, call the school at (813) 346-6000.

Academy market
East Pasco Adventist Academy, 38434 Centennial Road in Dade City, will host a holiday market on Dec. 15 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

There will be cultural food and drinks, cupcakes, holiday décor, accessories, natural body products, crafts, clothes, T-shirts, mugs and more. And, a holiday photo booth will be available with fun props for pictures.

Admission and parking are free.

For information, call (352) 567-3646.

Mural art contest
Pasco County and The Autism Society of Florida are calling on student artists to enter the “Food For All” Mural Art Contest, now through Dec. 27.

Students in Pasco County, ages 6 to 21, in the autism and special needs communities are asked to create and submit a colored drawing or painting depicting what sustainable “Food For All” means to them.

Six winners will have their artwork memorialized in a mural at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, next to the new Community Gardens.

Free registration is open until Dec. 15 online at bit.ly/PascoFoodForAll.

Artwork must be submitted by Dec. 27.

All art will be displayed at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey from Jan. 13 to Jan. 31.

Pepin receives designation
Pepin Academies Pasco is now an official “Interact Club” — the first of its kind in Florida for students with learning disabilities, according to a news release.

Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18.

Interact Clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but Interact is self-governing and self-supporting.

The Rotary Club of West Pasco Sunset announced the Interact Club sponsorship.

Pepin Academies Pasco teacher Belinda Delaney will be the school’s sponsor for the new Interact Club.

Pepin Pasco students have already participated in a coastal cleanup event this year, and now as an official Interact Club, plan to participate in other community service projects through the school year.

Leadership class graduates
Members of Leadership Saint Leo’s Class of 2019 recently graduated from the program, which is designed to develop and train leaders.

The program began at Saint Leo University in 2005 to expand leadership capacity, build culture, and create a common leadership lexicon across the university, including its education centers and online offices.

Saint Leo’s program is conducted by CODA Partners Inc., a professional services firm based in Gulfport and Dade City.

The Leadership Class of 2019 includes: Nikki Heister, special programs manager for the Department of Public Safety Administration; Yvonne Montell, associate director of outreach and enrollment; Kristina Floyd, senior accountant; Iris Crawford, Human Resources business partner; Alaina Plowdrey, director of the Key West Education Center; Conner Kilpatrick, assistant director of recreation; Dr. Holly Atkins, chair, undergraduate education, and professor of education; Dr. Sheri Bias, assistant professor of human resource management, Langley Office (Virginia); Lorna Holden, associate director of financial aid; Andrea Colon, Saint Leo Worldwide communications/training specialist; Greg Kunzweiler, innovation implementation specialist; and, Elizabeth Vestal, associate registrar.

 

Health News 12/11/2019

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Calendar fundraiser
Gulfside Healthcare Services’ 15-month 2020 calendar, featuring photos taken exclusively in Pasco County, is now available at all Gulfside Hospice thrift stores. Nineteen winning photos were chosen out of more than 300 photos submitted, depicting Pasco County events, places, landmarks and wildlife. The calendar is $5, and all proceeds will help support Gulfside patient care. This photo by Richard Shapiro is featured for the month of August in the new calendar. For shop locations, visit Gulfside.org.

New chief medical officer
The Medical Center of Trinity has announced the appointment of Dr. William Killinger as its new chief medical officer.

Killinger is a third-generation Florida physician.

He graduated from Emory University and the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

William Killinger

After completing general surgery at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, he trained in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.

Killinger was in private practice for 27 years in Raleigh, North Carolina.

He served as both the vice chairman and chairman of the Department of Surgery at WakeMed Health and Hospitals; served as medical director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Intensive Care unit; and, in 2016 was appointed medical director of the Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular surgery programs at WakeMed.

He is currently completing work on his Healthcare Executive MBA with Brandeis University, Massachusetts.

As chief medical officer, his interests are in patient safety, quality of care, physician relations and operations efficiency.

Killinger also is a champion of Just Culture, which refers to a values-supportive model of shared accountability. It’s a culture that holds organizations accountable for the systems they design and for how they respond to staff behaviors fairly and justly, according to HealthLeadersMedia.com.

Tai Chi comes to New Tampa
The Taoist Tai Chi Society is bringing Tai Chi to New Tampa at the New Tampa Dance Theater, 10701 Cross Creek Blvd., for a free demonstration on Dec. 17 at 10:30 a.m.

Guests can learn about the health benefits of practicing Tai Chi, and learn a few moves.

There also will be a beginner’s class every Tuesday from Jan. 7 through April 28, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Participants can learn the 108-move Taoist Tai Chi set.

For information, call (813) 685-1211, or visit TaoistTaiChi.org/brandon.

Regional Medical news
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point (RMCBP) hosted a grand re-opening of its Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine Center.

The $500,000 renovation includes everything from podiatry chairs to updated furniture throughout, as well as the addition of hyperbaric chambers.

The Wound Care Center now has been expanded to two suites, for a total of 3,865 square feet.

The hospital also made the list of Healthgrades’ 100 Best Hospitals for Specialty Care, for superior clinical outcomes in back and neck surgeries and spinal fusion.

The Bayonet Point hospital ranks 35th in the nation.

Healthgrades assesses the performance of almost 4,500 U.S. hospitals and clinical outcomes across 32 procedures and conditions. It is one of the leading online resources for information about physicians and hospitals.

In addition, RMCBP earned Platinum Level recognition for its efforts to increase organ, eye and tissue donor registrations across the state, through the Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Organ Donation Campaign. The campaign is a national initiative that unites the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, and the organ donation community with workplaces across the nation in spreading the word about the importance of donation.

Regional Medical was one of more than 1,480 organizations to participate in the 2019 campaign, and one of 638 organizations to earn platinum recognition.

BayCare welcomes new doctor
Dr. Anet Pargas, board certified in pediatrics, has joined BayCare Medical Group at 4683 Van Dyke Road in Lutz.

Pargas completed her undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences from the University of South Florida; earned a Doctor of Medicine from Morsani College of Medicine, USF; and completed a pediatric residency at USF.

Pargas also is certified in basic life support and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

She is fluent in Spanish.

To learn more, visit DrAnetPargas.org.

Foundation raises more than $400,000
A sold-out event, Southern State of Kind, raised more than $400,000 to benefit cancer patients in need through the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation.

The fundraiser featured a silent auction, chance drawings, dinner entertainment, music by JT Curtis and the Scoundrels, line dancing, and southern fare.

During the event, the Florida Cancer Specialists gave recognition to Justin Doyle, founder of the Hope, Health & Sunshine Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists cancer patients in the Tampa Bay area with groceries, gas cards, healthy snacks and patient gift bags. For the past three years, Doyle has provided Thanksgiving dinners for patients, too.

The net proceeds from the event will directly benefit the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation, which provides financial assistance for non-medical living expenses to qualified cancer patients who are currently undergoing treatment in Florida.

The event was co-chaired by Florida Cancer Specialists, and Dr. R. Waide Weaver and Dr. David D. Wright.

 

So much to be thankful for

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Three very gracious families consisting of Dave and Elaine Nalley, Karolyn Garrison, Brian Luce, Suzanne Miller, Mike Collins and their helpers, volunteered to buy, prepare and serve thanksgiving lunch to the residents. We applaud their tremendous gift. They roasted five turkeys and cooked many, many pounds of vegetables. The dessert table was overflowing. Seventy people signed up for the meal, the largest number of people to gather for any activity in our clubhouse. The weather was what I would call perfect, ranging between 60 degrees to 80 degrees, with plenty of sunshine. We here at Ramblewood Village have much to be thankful for.

Mel Fleming, Lucille and William Hyland, Richard and Sharon Wingard, and Billie Spivey await the call to the food table. (Courtesy of Barbara Tabor)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residents line up to fill their plates.

 

 

 

 

 

Helen Repass, Dennis Hermans, and Sue and Phill Molloson enjoy their meal.

 

Make a video, help get the word out

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A contest that will send thousands of dollars to Florida schools is being sponsored by AAA – The Auto Club Group, in which a total of $5,500 in prizes will be divided up among 13 winning high schools.

The Florida Teen Safe Driving Coalition (FTSDC) is hosting the Public Service Announcement Contest to promote the importance of educating young drivers.

Entrants must create positive public service announcements (PSA) that help high school students educate their peers about Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws.

(Courtesy of AAA – The Auto Group)

Graduated Driver Licensing is a gradual approach to granting teen drivers full license privileges. By allowing teen drivers to safety gain experience during structured hours, exposure to higher risk driving situations can be minimized.

According to a news release, previous AAA Foundation research found that drivers first licensed at age 18 are more likely to be involved in a crash resulting in injuries during their first year of solo driving than new drivers licensed at any other age.

The Graduated Driver Licensing laws in Florida allow young drivers to begin gaining valuable experience behind the wheel at 15 years old.

“Good GDL laws have proven to be effective at reducing teen driver crashes and that’s our focus in everything we do,” Matt Nasworthy, Florida Public Affairs director for AAA, said in the release.

For information on keeping teen drivers safe, visit TeenDrivingAAA.com.

The contest is open to public, private, virtual or home-school students in grades nine to 12, in Florida.

The deadline to enter is Feb. 28.

For details and rules, interested schools can use this link to enter: FLTeenSafeDriver.org/gdl-psa/.

Published December 04, 2019

Sabre loves people

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Sabre, a rescue pet, is a 9-year old pitbull/catahoula mix. She loves to swim and go camping. She understands more than 50 words and phrases. Sabre’s proud owners are Nancy and Jim Budinoff, of Wesley Chapel.

Up-close and personal

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Jumping spiders are generally friendly to humans and are not harmful to people. They are carnivorous by nature, but tend to shy away from humans. But, keep yourself protected, as they can sting badly. All jumping spiders have four pairs of eyes. Ray Martinez photographed this jumping spider at his home in Lutz.

Chalk Talk 12/04/2019

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First-place essay winner stands alongside Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller. (Courtesy of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller)

Essay contest winners
Lake Myrtle Elementary School’s Taylor Schamaun’s essay emerged as the winner of the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s sixth annual Constitution Essay Contest.

Students were required to respond to the prompt, “Why is the Constitution Important?”

Schamaun took first place with her point-by-point argument for the excellence of our founding document.

In second place, Oakstead Elementary’s Nathan Grob touted the Constitution for its guarantees of free speech and universal suffrage.

And, Alex Coloyan of Longleaf Elementary snagged third place for his essay praising the Constitution’s contribution as an effective and stable form of government.

Honorable mentions were given to: Abbey Tesh, Hannah Whelan, Eric Bazaria (Wesley Chapel Elementary); Alexandria Csuhai, Nicholas Campbell, Olivia Grob, Elias Watson, Taelor Stevens (Oakstead Elementary); Cali Lopez (Lake Myrtle); Evan Davis, Isabella (Longleaf Elementary); Jamie Kessler, Madison Smith (Cotee River Elementary); and Vanessa Bandini (Calusa Elementary.

A record number 113 Pasco County fifth-graders entered this year’s contest.

Second-place essay winner, Nathan Grob
Third-place essay winner, Alex Coloyan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Choice is open
Pasco County Schools’ choice application window for middle and high school students opened Dec. 3, and will close Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m.

The application is available via the myStudent parent portal.

Parents who do not already have an account, can establish a myStudent account online at the district website, PascoSchools.org (click on the myStudent link in the circle below the large photo).

This will be the only application window for secondary schools, and it will be for all school choice options, including STEM and STEAM magnet schools, International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge, and Wendell Krinn Technical High School.

Early release day
Pasco County Schools has implemented a monthly, two-hour-early release time to allow for staff to engage in professional development aligned with student needs, and district and school priorities.

Early release days will take place on the second Wednesday of each month, with the exception of January and May.

The next early release day is Dec. 11.

Citizens of the Month
The Dade City Chamber of Commerce has recognized the following students as Citizens of the Month.

September: Mason Pippin, Academy at the Farm; Aysia Sobers, East Pasco Adventist Academy; Wyatt Lowman, Saint Anthony Catholic School; Adalee Krause, Centennial Elementary; Jacob Maeker, Lacoochee Elementary; Mariana Chavez, Pasco Elementary; Luis Perez, Rodney B. Cox Elementary; Alaina Wheatley, San Antonio Elementary; Christopher Lewellen, Centennial STEM Magnet Middle; Taijabi Tekleberhan, Pasco Middle; Treasure Diaz-Cherry, James Irvin Education Center; and Yessenia Solis, Pasco High.

October: Canaan Pippin, Academy at the Farm; Rosalia Ippolito, Saint Anthony Catholic School; Antonio Chavez; Centennial Elementary; Jamie Angel, Lacoochee Elementary; Carmen Denton, Pasco Elementary; Jaime Contreras, Rodney B. Cox Elementary; Adam “Jimmy” Gragg, San Antonio Elementary; Mason Denmark, Centennial STEM Magnet Middle; Jezzabell Duffey, Pasco Middle; Charles Gumulinski, James Irvin Education Center; and Lilli Pollard, Pasco High.

Healthy schools
The 2019 Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America ranked Pasco County Schools 42nd on the list, up from 71st place in 2018.

The award culminates a year-long wellness awards program that Healthiest Employers hosts across the United States.

Award applicants are evaluated across six categories: culture and leadership commitment; foundational components; strategic planning; marketing and communications; programming and interventions; and, reporting and analytics.

The district’s health plan budget was increasing at a rate of 9% to 12% annually. Since the implementation of the Pasco Go Healthy program, the district has avoided more than $117 million in medical and pharmacy expenditures.

The data shows that more members are choosing to manage their care at the five on-site health and wellness centers.

Only one other Florida school district ranked among the top 100.

Pre-kindergarten screenings
Pasco County FDLRS Child Find offers developmental information and free screenings in coordination with the Past County Pre-K Assessment Team.

The screenings are for children not yet enrolled in kindergarten who may be having difficulties with speech, language, hearing, vision, concepts or motor skills.

Primary emphasis is on children ages 3 to 5.

For information, call Child Find specialist Caitlin Ryan or Colleen Costa at (813) 794-2630, (727) 774-2630 or (352) 524-2630.

Feeding Pasco food drive
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s annual Feeding Pasco Kids food drive is in full swing.

The proceeds from the drive will go directly to local organizations whose mission is to provide support for homeless children and students.

This year, the recipients include the Pasco Schools system and Metropolitan Ministries.

Donation boxes are placed in the lobbies of the Pasco Sheriff’s office buildings throughout the county.

Several area churches also agreed to have boxes in their buildings to assist with the food collection.

Monetary donations can be made by check or money order to Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, with “Food Drive” in the ‘for’ line, and mailed to Food Drive Donations, Pasco Sheriff’s Charities, 8700 Citizen Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34654.

The deadline to donate is Dec. 13.

For information, call (727) 844-7759.

 

Patches loves people

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Patches is 12 years young, and a rescue dog. She wants to be every person’s friend. Enjoying the heat includes swimming in the gulf and cooling off with an ice cream treat! Patches’ proud parents are Jim and Sue Kirschten, of Land O’ Lakes.