The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Grants available to protect drinking water

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Tampa Bay Water again is offering mini-grants for community groups, nonprofits, schools and universities that are interested in preventing pollution, cleaning local waterways, and protecting the area’s drinking water sources.

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful rceived $10,000 in grant funding last year to continue its Environmental Education Program for school and community groups. The program includes hands-on lessons at the Florida Learning Gardens, which Tampa Bay Water helped to build with previous grant funds. Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful is expanding the program with the Environmental Education Center at Reed Park in Tampa. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Water)

The Tampa Bay region depends on water from the aquifer, rivers and desalinated seawater for its drinking water, and Tampa Bay Water works with the community to protect those sources.

Mini-grant projects are ideal opportunities for scouts to earn merit badges, students to fulfill volunteer hour requirements, and service clubs and organizations to get involved in supporting public health and safety.

The projects also can be great for educators looking to combine STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts and lessons with hands-on experience, to supplement classroom learning.

The grants range from $2,000 to $10,000.

Last year’s recipients were:

  • Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful ($10,000)
  • Keep Pinellas Beautiful ($10,000)
  • Sickles High School ($2,000)
  • The Pasco Education Foundation ($5,000).

To qualify for a grant, applicants must submit an event or project plan related to source water protection in Tampa Bay Water’s service area that includes Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. A plan for events or projects can include river cleanups, litter prevention projects, public education campaigns and conservation outreach events.

Those interested can download an application at TampaBayWater.org/grant.

Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m., on Nov. 15.

Organizations receiving a mini-grant will be notified in December, and the funds will be distributed in 2020.

Published October 23, 2019

Richard Parker found his owners

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Three years ago, as a very sick stray, Richard Parker found his family. After months of trying to locate his owner, Richard Parker moved his way into his owners’ hearts. He is named after the Bengal tiger in the movie, ‘Life of Pi.’ Valerie Sercu and her family cannot imagine life in Wesley Chapel without him.

A peaceful setting

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These two beautiful yearlings were photographed by Sandra Smith, behind her house on the golf course of Lexington Oaks in Wesley Chapel.

Chalk Talk 10/23/2019

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(Courtesy of Randy Bush)

Promoting education and literacy
Sunrise Rotary Club has donated books for the last 10 years to local elementary schools with money raised from events and matching grants through the Pasco Education Foundation. Every year, Sunrise Rotary raises funds to promote education and literacy, and provide food bags and scholarships. To date, the group has provided 1,100 books, worth $15,000. Accepting donations, from left: Principal Latoya Jordan, Lacoochee Elementary; Principal Nena Green, Pasco Elementary; Principal Kimberly Napal, Cox Elementary; Pasco County Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning and Sunrise Rotary President Cindy Harper. Not pictured is Principal Gretchen Rudolph-Fladd, Centennial Elementary.

Trunk-or-treat fundraiser
Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road, will host its first Trunk or Treat on Oct. 25 at 6 p.m., in the school’s bus loop.

For information on this fundraiser, contact Brad O’ Dell at (813) 794-8700 or .

Scare Fair Open House
Keiser University will host a Scare Fair Open House on Oct. 30 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at its New Port Richey campus, 6014 U.S. 19.

There will be a costume contest with prizes, pumpkins to decorate and take home, trunk-or-treat, games, music, food and the WQYK-FM 99.5 station.

Guests also can learn about the school’s programs, including health care, nursing, business, legal studies, criminal justice, technology and psychology.

To RSVP, visit KUOpenHouse.com. For information, call (727) 484-3110.

Self-confidence workshop
The Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, will present a Character Development Workshop with Latoya Desamour on Oct. 28 at 6 p.m., for grades one to five, with an adult. This will be an interactive discussion about bullying and self-confidence.

Dinner will be provided.

Registration is required by calling (352) 567-3576.

Principal challenge
Wiregrass Elementary School’s Principal Steve Williams challenged students to read books through the Scholastic platform over the summer, log their reading minutes, and earn incentives at each level.

Williams made a promise to read from the school’s roof all day, to further promote literacy and reading.

The students met the challenge and cumulatively logged more than 160,000 reading minutes, and on Oct. 11, Williams hit the roof and spent the day reading textbooks, newspapers, and storybooks chosen by the students.

Top student readers from each group, along with their classmates, visited the courtyard throughout the day to have Williams read a story to them through a megaphone.

Orchestra performance
The Florida Orchestra performed “One Giant Leap: 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing” for Pasco County Schools at The Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, on Oct. 15.

Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas music teachers developed a curriculum guide with the Florida Orchestra, and youth concerts are the culmination of the effort.

This anniversary performance explored space travel and music about the skies above, and featured visuals from NASA’s exploration of the lunar surface.

The event also introduced the musical instruments of the orchestra to the students.

Honor Society ceremony
Wendell Krinn Technical High School in New Port Richey recognized and celebrated students who excelled in their career and technical education programs with a National Technical Honor Society Induction Ceremony on Oct. 16.

Students were honored for their GPAs and attendance, and received certificates.

Cuddle buddies

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Hendrix and Lux are only a few months old. They love to wrestle and cuddle with each other. Their favorite toys are their big sister’s hair ties. Both love cat treats at the end of the day. Hendrix and Lux live with James Dauenheimer in Lutz.

Waiting out the rain

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This handsome fellow came to visit the home of Tamara Hosch in Wesley Chapel and spent about 1½ hours just sitting on a fence, during a rainstorm.

Health News 10/16/2019

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Breast cancer awareness
In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Florida Department of Health  in Pasco County encourages all women to receive regular screenings to promote early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

Women should talk to their health care providers about their individual risk factors and the frequency of receiving mammograms, as well as complete any recommended mammography screenings.

Women can help lower their risk by:

  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Being physically active
  • Limiting or avoiding alcohol
  • Choosing to breast-feed
  • Quitting smoking and/or vaping

The Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides access to the screenings doctors recommend.

The screenings are free or low-cost for those who meet the program eligibility requirements.

For information, call the Department of Health-Pasco at (727) 619-0369.

Screening mammograms
Tower Radiology wants to bring awareness to the importance of mammograms by offering women $50 screening mammograms. The promotion is for the month of October only.

The offer excludes 3D mammography. Patients must bring a prescription.

Also, for every new ‘like’ on Tower Radiology’s Facebook page in October, $2 will be donated to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.

For information, call (813) 379-2691, or visit TowerRadioloyCenters.com.

AdventHealth named partner
AdventHealth has been named an exclusive health partner of Metro Development Group, the developers behind Pasco County’s Connected City

The partnership is a three-phase plan to promote healthy living, including:

  • Tele-health services inside the home
  • A wellness district accessible from the Crystal Lagoon, an available to residents and destination patients
  • Plans for an offsite Emergency Room

Some pilot programs are underway from Philips, a health tech leader, that will design, test and launch new products for homeowners.

Donate to breast cancer foundation
The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation will be the featured charity at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s offices during October.

The foundation’s main objectives are to advocate on behalf of patients, educate the public on all aspects of breast cancer, and to provide funds for research seeking new treatments and, ultimately, a cure for breast cancer.

The End Breast Cancer specialty tag will be available, and cash donations also will be accepted.

For information, visit PascoTaxes.com.

Study on ER manuals
Oak Hill Hospital’s Dr. Wayne Simmons, first-year anesthesiology resident, and Dr. Jeffrey Huang, program director of the hospital’s anesthesiology residency, published a peer review manuscript entitled, “Operating Room Emergency Manuals Improve Patient Safety: A Systematic Review.”

The aim of the review was to highlight the latest movements surrounding emergency manual  implementation nationally and abroad within perioperative medicine, with a focus on studies linking the emergency manuals to patient safety.

An emergency manual is a tool made to command all resources at hand in order to provide an anesthesia delivery plan, in conjunction with members of the anesthesia care team and operating room personnel in the aid of decision-making.

Dr. Huang participated last year in an emergency manual simulation instructor-training course in China.

The basis of the training course was that optimal outcomes in crises require that critical steps are performed in a timely manner.

Simulation workshops, demonstrations and training competitions have been tested and proven as effective ways to promote multidisciplinary simulation training and implementation of operating room emergency manuals in China.

Cancer center’s new physicians
The Advanced Cancer Treatment Centers at 14535 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville, now has these physicians on staff:

  • Dr. Clayton Elliott Alonso has joined the oncology staff
  • Dr. Aaron Denson is on the medical oncology and hematology staff
  • Dr. Peter Zavitsanos has joined the radiation oncology staff

For information, call (352) 596-3622.

Hospital names CEO
HCA West Florida has announced Regina (Gina) Temple as president and CEO for Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point.

Temple joins HCA Healthcare and Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point from San Antonio, Texas, where for the past three years she has had executive leadership roles with the Baptist Health System. Most recently, she was the president of Mission Trail Baptist Hospital.

Prior to that, Temple served as the Baptist Health System Texas Group chief operating officer, and chief operating officer of North Central Baptist Hospital.

Temple earned her doctorate from Walden University, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of West Florida, and a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of South Alabama.

Chalk Talk 10/16/2019

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(Courtesy of TD Charitable Foundation)

Donation helps include more students
Through the TD Charitable Foundation, TD Bank has donated $15,000 to support the sponsored admission program at The Florida Aquarium for under-served students in the Tampa Bay area. This is the sixth year the aquarium has received the contribution that will once again help children, youth and families who would otherwise face challenges to visit The Florida Aquarium. ‘Educating the next generation about the importance of our marine environment and wildlife is at the core of what we do, and thanks to the TD Charitable Trust, we will be able to inspire more children this coming year,’ Roger Germann, the aquarium’s president and CEO said, in a release.

Manufacturing Day
Pasco County Students participated in the annual Manufacturing Day on Oct. 4 and toured selected businesses where they learned about the manufacturing partner assigned to their field of study.

The Office of Career and Technical Education staff accompanied the students on the tours.

The event highlights the importance of manufacturing in our economy and draws attention to the many high-skilled jobs available.

School programs, such as Manufacturing Day, help to prepare students as our future workforce.

Options Night
Lutz Prep Charter and Learning Gate Community School will host a High School Options Night for seventh- and eighth-grade students Oct. 17 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Lutz Prep, 17951 U.S. 41 in Lutz.

Parents and students can learn how to make an informed high school decision regarding private, charter, traditional, magnet and IB schools.

For information, email Brian Bethune at .

Catholic scholarship
Saint Leo University again will offer the Catholic Promise Scholarship, which helps to make higher education more accessible to Catholic high school students in Florida.

The scholarship will be offered for undergraduate students for the fall 2020 semester at University Campus in St. Leo.

The scholarship will award students who have attended four years at a Catholic high school, with an annual scholarship of $14,000 toward tuition at the Saint Leo University Campus.

The scholarship is renewable each semester for up to four years, providing up to $56,000 in financial aid by the time the student graduates.

Saint Leo will host a Catholic Promise Instant Admit Day on Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Greenfelder and Denlinger boardrooms in the Student Community Center, so prospective students and their families can learn more about the scholarship.

A tour of the campus also will be included.

Students should bring transcripts and other documentation in order to be granted admission.

To register, visit SaintLeo.edu/catholic-promise.

For requirements and information, call (352) 588-8238.

Bleachers closed, temporarily
Pasco County Schools engaged a structural engineer to conduct safety inspections of seven high school concrete stadiums.

Two of those schools require temporary closure of bleachers. Locally, Pasco High School visitors’ side bleachers will be closed for maintenance for the rest of the football season, and likely through the end of the school year.

The closure is not expected to affect high school football, cross-country, soccer, track and field, or middle school events at the stadium.

The home bleachers at Pasco High will accommodate both home and visiting team fans.

Local achievements

  • Luisa F. Caban, of Land O’ Lakes, received a Bachelor of Science in social psychology from Park University’s Davis-Montham Air Force Base Campus in Arizona.
  • Em Ovalle, of Lutz, was named to the Dean’s List for the winter/spring term at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.
  • Hanley Riggs, of Lutz, enrolled at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and joined other freshmen and transfer students for a Towering Traditions orientation for SERVE, an opportunity to complete community service together throughout the greater Nashville area.

Celebrating the kumquat’s place in history

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Every year, for one day, a small, oval-shaped fruit called the kumquat takes center stage during a festival that was established by The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce in 1998.

The annual event celebrates everything that makes the Dade City area unique.

Casper Joseph Nathe came to what is now known as St. Joseph and planted an acre of the fruit trees in 1912.

(Courtesy of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce)

The Nathe family used the fruit for preserves and orders started coming in. In less than 15 years, Florida Grower magazine crowned Casper Nathe “the world’s Kumquat King.”

Since the town of St. Joseph was already known as the Kumquat Capital of the World, the chamber decided that this little fruit with the funny name could be the focus of an annual Kumquat Festival.

Thousands stream to historic downtown Dade City each year to attend the festival, which is held on the last Saturday in January.

The event features local music, arts and crafts, and myriad opportunities to sample the fruit, whether it be kumquat pie, marmalade, cookies, salsa, ice cream, or a sip of kumquat beer.

This year, besides playing its starring role at the annual festival, the tart-tasting fruit also will be the centerpiece for the annual Dade City Garden Club Christmas ornament, which honors the Kumquat Festival.

Ornaments are $22, payable by check to The Dade City Garden Club, and can be purchased at The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, 14112 Eighth St.

For information, call (352) 567-3769.

Published October 09, 2019

Arts center offers program for low-income families

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The Morean Arts Center (MAC) has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Association of Children’s Museums, to encourage people of all backgrounds to build a lifelong affinity to the arts and culture.

The program will enable low-income families to visit the Chihuly Collection, presented by MAC, for a minimal admission rate of $3 per person when they present an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, or a Women, Infant and Children (WIC) benefit card.

The Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center showcases Dale Chihuly’s colorful glass creations. (Mary Rathman)

And, all children younger than age 5 are free.

Admission includes the Morean Glass Studio, and non-ticketed exhibitions at the Morean Arts Center and Morean Center for Clay, all for one minimal fee.

Partnering with the Juvenile Welfare Board on this initiative, MAC wants to ensure that families who can benefit from the program know about it and have ways to actively engage.

The Morean also offers two free weekly programs for families — ‘Saturdays at the Morean’ and ‘Sundays at the Morean’ — as well as non-ticketed exhibitions year-round.

Museums for All provides access to museums and encourages families of all backgrounds to visit regularly.

By offering this resource and teaming up with the Juvenile Welfare Board, MAC hopes to inspire creativity and a love for the arts, for all.

The Morean Arts Center is at 719 Central Ave, in St. Petersburg. For information and events, visit MoreansArtsCenter.org.

Published October 09, 2019