The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

These drivers make safety a priority

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The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) honored 17 operators for their stellar safe-driving records, and inducted them into the One Million Mile Club and the Two Million Mile Club.

New members of the Two Million Mile Club (Courtesy of HART)

To qualify for membership in the One Million Mile Club, a bus, van or streetcar operator must demonstrate an exceptional dedication to safe vehicle operations by completing 14 consecutive years without a preventable accident, according to a news release from HART.

To get into the Two Million Mile Club, an operator must accumulate 27 years without a preventable accident.

“Many of our operators are special, but this group represents the best of the best. We are proud to salute them,” said HART Chief Operating Officer Ruthie Reyes Burckard, in a release.

Burckard added that it takes skill and vigilance at all times to achieve this elite Million Miler status.

The newly inducted members to the Million Mile Club are: Robert Baker, Sabrina Brown Mills, Fernando Burga, Crystal Edwards, Debra Eskridge, George Freeman, Bernier Lalime, Gregory Lester, Carlos Martinez, Dwight Phillips, Gabriel Siragusa and Manuel Tejada.

The Two Million Mile Club has three new members: Philip Burgos, Rafael Camacho and Ronald Watkins.

Rafael Rosado is only the second TECO Line Streetcar motorperson to achieve the Streetcar One Million Mile.

Published October 09, 2019

Plant growers benefit from new website

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The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hopes to help growers with solutions for their plant problems.

The school’s Plant Diagnostic Center has launched a new website, Diagnostics.ifas.ufl.edu, to expedite the process of finding answers to plant questions.

The launch of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ new online Plant Diagnostic Center aims to help expedite finding solutions to plant problems. (Courtesy of Tyler Jones, UF/IFAS)

Carrie Harmon, director of the Plant Diagnostic Center, said in a release, “Maybe it’s a farmer who has spotted an unfamiliar bug in the fields, or a homeowner whose once-healthy garden has developed discoloration on some leaves. In these instances, growers just want solutions.”

The new website aims to be a one-stop shop, connecting the internal and external audience to the plant problem solutions needed, in just a few clicks.

The internal audience is an extensive network of UF/IFAS Extension agents in every Florida county, the Florida Master Gardeners program, and several plant health clinics throughout the state.

The website’s external audience is anyone who is seeking help for their plants, whether that involves disease, pest or weed identification; soil and water quality testing; or resources and suggested management methods for a known problem.

Harmon said, “We need people to know that they’ve got this incredible resource in the community.”

Of course, those seeking answers can still visit their local Extension office and get to know the agents and master gardeners to take full advantage of the expertise and help they can provide.

Published October 09, 2019

Yes, Minnie like the mouse!

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Minnie was found on a rainy day last August meowing in a bush, and barely 4 weeks old. Being black and white with large ears and extremely tiny, the name Minnie fit perfectly. She is quite fearless and feisty, and enjoys trying to catch lizards through the screen, or playing hide and seek with her brother, Milo, a Dalmatian. Her proud owner is Gina Rehberg, of Wesley Chapel.

Dinner and a show!

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This resplendent cardinal decided to dine just outside the kitchen window at the home of Steve Vinik and his wife, in Lexington Oaks in Wesley Chapel. The Viniks said there are two male cardinals that visit from time to time, and sometimes simultaneously. The couple has also seen a female cardinal, a red-winged blackbird, a tufted titmouse, a red-bellied woodpecker, a house finch, blue jays and mourning doves.

Chalk Talk 10/09/2019

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Dr. Jeffrey Senese
(Courtesy of Mary McCoy)

Saint Leo inauguration
Saint Leo University will celebrate the inauguration of its 10th president, Dr. Jeffrey Senese. The ceremony will be on Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. at the university’s Marion Bowman Activities at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

Prior to becoming president at Saint Leo University, Senese became the university’s first provost in 2018. He came to Saint Leo after serving as provost at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

For event information, contact Mary McCoy at (352) 588-7118 or at .

 

 

Free math hotline
Hillsborough County Public Schools offers a free math homework hotline, available on select Thursdays, for math help on any topic.

Certified math teachers will be available from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Oct. 10, Oct. 17, Nov. 7, Nov. 14, Nov. 21 and Dec. 5.

There also is a ‘live’ show on Spectrum Chanel 635 and Frontier Channel 32, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., or live stream at MHH.mysdhc.org, and students can win prizes and/or answer the challenge question.

For information, contact Maggie Mixon at (813) 272-4927 or .

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 .

Teacher fellowship
The American Geographical Society (AGS) has named Anne Cullison, of Sunlake High School, a 2019 AGS Geography Teacher Fellow.

The AGS Fellow program is a year-long professional development opportunity that enables geography teachers to incorporate open source mapping into classrooms, and provides supplementary resources and materials to the selected teachers.

Cullison was one of  50 teachers selected from across the United States to participate in the initiative.

Loan forgiveness
The federal government may forgive all or part of teachers’ and nurses’ federal student loans, if certain requirements are met.

The forgiveness options, according to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA), include:

  • Teacher loan forgiveness. To qualify, you must teach at least five full years in a low-income school in an eligible district. Depending on the field, teachers may have up to $17,500 in student loans forgiven. For details, visit Ed.gov.
  • Nursing loan forgiveness. You must be at least a registered nurse and agree to work full-time for at least two years in a critical shortage facility. If the agreement is fulfilled, 60 percent of the loan balance will be forgiven. Another 25 percent will be forgiven if work is done for a third year. Nurses teaching at an accredited school of nursing also may qualify. For details, visit BHW.hrsa.gov.

The Internal Revenue Service does count the amount forgiven as income.

To learn more about KHEAA, a public, nonprofit agency that provides free information about financial aid and financial literacy, visit KHEAA.com.

Invention winners
Two students from Tampa were honored for their innovations at the Florida Invention Convention.

Makana Salim-Uesi, a seventh-grader at Williams Middle Magnet School, took first place for her invention, “RCV H20,” a model of a labor-saving device that can transport and filter water at the same time.

Salim-Uesi’s invention can be useful to people in rural areas and developing countries where access to clean water is extremely limited.

Shreya Mathur, a 12th-grader at Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School, took third place for her invention, “Stress Master,” which enables the user to access any part of their body with a hand-held massager by a 360-degree pivot unit.

Mathur also won the Bailee’s Choice Award.

For information on the convention, visit InventFlorida.org.

Where the birds are bountiful

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Theresa Sierra and her husband moved a year ago from Carrollwood to Land O’ Lakes. They cannot believe the incredible number of beautiful birds they have the opportunity to see at their home, on Lake Thomas. This green heron has such a personality, Theresa had to take more than one shot.

Otis is still a ‘pup’

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Otis is a Jack Russell/West Highland Terrier and turned 16 years old just last month. He is still as youthful as when he was a pup. Otis enjoys chasing his monkey toy, looking for lizards, riding in the car, and going on walks. He resides with his family, Dave, Kristi and Alexis Watts in Odessa.

Chalk Talk 10/02/19

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Schools and PTA garner recognitions

(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The Pasco County School Board recognized the Pasco County Council PTA and three schools at its September board meeting. Seven Oaks Elementary, River Ridge Middle and Wiregrass Ranch High schools were named National PTA Schools of Excellence. The Pasco County PTA was honored with the Florida PTA Safety Award, President’s Award for Membership, and Gold membership increase. From left: Heather Buboltz, Seven Oaks PTA past president; Kurt Browning, superintendent of schools; Megan McNeil, Wiregrass Ranch PTSA past president; Robyn White, Wiregrass Ranch principal; Shauntte Butcher, Seven Oaks principal; Denise Nicholas, PCC PTA president; Kevin Kolean, River Ridge assistant principal; Jennifer Resto, River Ridge School of Excellence chairman; and Alison Crumbley, school board chairwoman.

Criminal justice panel
Saint Leo University at 33701 State Road 52, in St. Leo will host a criminal justice panel discussion on Oct. 7. The panel will include Saint Leo’s criminal justice and psychology faculty members as well as Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco. A reception will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. in the Kirk Hall lobby. The discussion panel will follow from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Selby Auditorium in Lewis Hall. The event is free and open to the public. For information, call Mary McCoy at (352) 588-7118 or email .

Student concert
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will present “Fall Into Songs of the Roaring Twenties,” a student concert, on Oct. 8 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., in Selby Auditorium, Lewis Hall. For information, email , or leave a message at (352) 588-8401.

National Merit semifinalists
Officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of about 16,000 semifinalists in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

These high school seniors have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million, to be offered next spring.

Local students that have been named as semifinalists are:

  • Cypress Creek High School: Mindy L. Do
  • Land O’ Lakes High School: Shannon S. Chen, Achyudhan R. Kutuva, Kathy Liu, Steven Miltenberger, Stanley S. Moonjeli, Elizabeth A. Thorner, Maxwell M. Twitmyer, Takashi Xu and Jennifer R. Zartmen
  • Lutz (home-school): Mark T. Thivierge
  • Mitchell High School: Bethany A. Bradshaw, Dustin G. Rendell and Amber L. Seaberg
  • Pasco High School: Nicholas C. Gray and Joseph S. Hart
  • Steinbrenner High School: Jonathan E. Barbara, Rebekah F. Hurwitz, Matthew R. Lee and Rana X. Scherer
  • Wharton High School: Valeria M. Gutierrez and Shehzad S. Shah
  • Wiregrass Ranch High School: Aidan J. Persaud

Saint Leo ranked best value
Saint Leo University was ranked as one of the best regional universities and best values in higher education in the South, in 2020 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. Among regional universities in the South, Saint Leo ranked 25th, up from its 47th place ranking last year.

The university also jumped up to fifth place, from 14th place last year, among Best Value Schools in the South.

And, Saint Leo tied with Christian Brothers University (Tennessee) for 14th place as Best for Veterans School among southern regional universities, up from 31st place last year.

In a new category, Saint Leo was named to the Top Performers on Social Mobility in Southern Regional Universities list, tying for No. 10 with Columbia College (South Carolina).

For more information on the 2020 Best Colleges, visit USNews.com/best-colleges.

 

Health News 10/02/19

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(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

Jennifer Williams receives DAISY award
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point (RMCBP) has recognized Jennifer Williams as the recipient of its September DAISY award. Williams is a registered nurse in the Cardiopulmonary Recovery Unit and was recommended for the award by a patient who was in her care, as well as the patient’s family member. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, and honors the family of Patrick Barnes who succumbed to complications of an autoimmune disease. From left: DAISY Award Committee members Jeanine Baggott and Danielle Montanez Calabrese; Melanie Wetmore, RMCBP CNO; award winner Jennifer Williams; and, Daisy Award Committee member Aida Guardiani.

Two of the ‘star’ volunteers: Luvon Crafton, left, and Juli Ormsby
(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

Hospital honors volunteers
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point recognized its volunteers with the second quarter Star Awards.

Luvon Crafton has been volunteering at the hospital since May 2015, and has already accumulated 3,540 life hours and 4,567 merit hours. Crafton can be found at Welcome Center A and Welcome Center D.

Al Herrick has been regarded as a loyal and professional courtesy cart driver, volunteering since 2014, and has accumulated more than 1,250 life hours of service. He has a reputation for treating everyone with respect and dignity.

Juli Ormsby began volunteering in 2016 as a chaplain’s aide and has since become a licensed chaplain. In her three years at Regional Medical, Ormsby has accumulated more than 1,350 life hours and 1,500 merit hours.


Advocate positions available
Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has advocate positions available in Hillsborough County.

Volunteers visit with residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes to ensure they are treated with dignity and respect.

Training and certification are provided, and volunteers participate in council meetings, administrative assessments and complaint resolution in facilities.

Those interested need to:

  • Enjoy working with seniors and those with disabilities
  • Plan to volunteer 20 hours a month
  • Pass a background check (paid for by the program)
  • Complete certification training
  • Communicate well
  • Attend a monthly meeting

Applicants can visit Ombudsman.myflorida.com or call (888) 831-0404 for information.

Recognitions for Oak Hill
Oak Hill Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for the Treatment of Sepsis Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards.

The certification recognizes health care organizations that provide clinical programs across the continuum of care for treatment of sepsis.

The certification evaluates how organizations use clinical outcomes and performance measures to identify opportunities to improve care, as well as to educate and prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge.

For information, visit JointCommission.org.

Also, Oak Hill’s Transitional Year Program has received continued accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

The Transitional program is a one-year post-graduate program for residents to have a variety of training experiences before further subspecialty training.

Some of the fields requiring Transitional Year before beginning a specialty residency include anesthesiology, radiology, neurology, dermatology and ophthalmology.

Breast cancer awareness
The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office is set to team up with the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation during October. In their sixth year of collaboration, the agencies will once again strive to raise funds and bring awareness in combating breast cancer. Those purchasing first-time or renewed automobile registrations in October, may trade their plate for the End of Breast Cancer specialty tag at their local Pasco tax office. Proceeds from the tag promotion will go toward the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation. Cash donations also will be accepted. For information, call Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179 or visit PascoTaxes.com.

Thriving buck

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Bob Harrigan snapped a photo of this white-tailed deer through his screened lanai, off Lutz Lake Fern Road, in Lutz. Harrigan said residents spotted ‘Gimpy’ years ago noticing his damaged right front leg and wondered if he got hit by a car, and if he would survive. This young buck seems to be doing just fine!