The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Winter sports awards

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Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Athletics recently awarded student-athletes with Winter Sports Awards for their hard work and leadership in academics and athletics, according to a HCPS Facebook post.

Team GPA:
Girls Basketball: Bloomingdale Senior High
Boys Basketball: Lennard High
Girls Soccer: Newsome High
Boys Soccer: Newsome High
Cheerleading: Newsome High

Individual:
Beckham Hockley, Sickles High – Dottie McGahagin Girls Basketball Award
Daniel Delgardo III, A.P. Leto High – Alston “Mac” McGahagin Boys Basketball Award
Gwyneth Liebowitz, Plant High – Williamson-Snapp Outstanding Cheerleader Award

A keen eye 

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Veena Jadeja noticed this perched hawk during an early morning walk in the Seven Oaks community in Wesley Chapel — perhaps it was on the lookout for breakfast. These ‘forest’ hawks hunt prey ranging from mice to frogs and snakes.

Health News 04/10/2024

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Stitched with love for patient recovery
GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club members Melba Peneira and Gail Howard delivered bundles of hand-sewn pillows to AdventHealth Tampa and the Moffitt Cancer Center. These pillows help to provide comfort to post-surgery breast cancer patients and are made by a team from the woman’s club. For information, visit LutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.

Drug disposal bags available
Pasco County Fire Rescue is providing drug disposal bags at every fire station in the county — free for pickup by members of the community — in partnership with the Alliance for Health Communities (AHC), according to a news release.

The Deterra Drug Deactivation System Pouches use a chemical to deactivate the drugs, preventing environmental contamination and rendering the medication unusable. The medication can simply be dropped in the bag, water added, and the medication becomes deactivated.

Pasco Fire Rescue will become the largest department in the country with the risk reduction tool, now available at all of the county’s nearly 30 fire rescue stations, the release says. The bags also are available on all fire engines and will soon be available in Fire Rescue staff vehicles.

Fire Rescue Chief Anthony Perez said it is an easy, simple way for people to get rid of unused or unnecessary medication….keeping the medication out of the wrong hands, which helps keep the community safe. The bags are available at no cost to the community through AHC.

For more information, email .

Ridge Community High School Principal Angela Clark accepted the donations from Tim Clark, president and CEO of the AdventHealth Polk market. (Courtesy of AdventHealth Heart of Florida)

Hospital partners with school
As part of an ongoing partnership between AdventHealth Heart of Florida and Ridge Community High School in Davenport, Tim Clark, president and CEO of the AdventHealth Polk market, donated medical supplies to the school and Principal Angela Clark.

Clark asked the health academy leaders what sort of equipment the students needed to help as they progress through the four years in the health care academies. The answer: blood pressure (bp) cuffs of different sizes and new stethoscopes. The hospital donated 15 stethoscopes and 20 bp cuffs to the students, according to a news release.

The community school offers students opportunities to learn trade skills in academies, like the health care academy. Students work through rigorous programs learning marketable and employable skills to their chosen industry. Participants also work with community partners to learn and apply the skills they’ve learned.

Chalk Talk 04/10/2024

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Unique nursing partnership
Saint Leo University nursing program’s Dedicated Education Unit’s (DEU) partnership with AdventHealth Zephyrhills provides hands-on training for students in the program. Those participating receive one-on-one training with nurse preceptors (mentors), to prepare future nurses and possible employees, according to a news release.

Saint Leo University nursing student Grace Lundfelt, a junior, listens to the heart of ‘patient’ Kim Manning, clinical nurse educator, at AdventHealth Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of Caroline Jorgensen/Saint Leo University)

Saint Leo’s first group of nursing students completed their first clinical rotation at the hospital on March 20 and March 21, getting hands-on experience in multiple areas and specialties.

In a typical clinical model, a nursing instructor in the hospital mentors eight nursing students and each student is assigned to one patient. The instructor then rotates from student to student each shift. 

With a DEU model, because the student is paired with their mentor, the student actually works alongside that nurse, who usually is assigned a caseload of patients.

Saint Leo students worked side by side for 12-hour shifts with their mentors and university nursing instructor Paige Porter for 12-hour shifts.

Student Martina Encomienda said, in the release, she was focused on becoming an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse, but after her experience and training she is now interested in becoming an orthopedic nurse.

The DEU could help ease the nursing shortage for AdventHealth Zephyrhills (and AdventHealth Dade City) as the students are prepared and ready to work.

The partnership will pick up again for the next academic year, providing students with new experiences and training.

Career & Tech Expo
Pasco County Schools will present a Beyond Career & Tech Expo on April 16 from 9 a.m. to noon for high school seniors and juniors, and from noon to 1 p.m., for middle school students, at Hudson High School, 14410 Cobra Way.

The event aims to connect Pasco County graduating seniors with certificate programs, apprenticeship programs, one-the-job training opportunities, employment opportunities and armed services opportunities.

For more information, email Jennifer Batchelor at or Jesy Rodriguez at .

Saint Leo casino fundraiser
The Saint Leo University Athletics Department will host a Casino Night fundraiser on April 20 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at its Wellness Center, on the west side of the campus at 33701 County Road 52 in St. Leo, for guests ages 21 and older.

Proceeds will benefit the school’s athletics department so its programs can provide a great experience for student-athletes and allow them to compete at the highest level of the Sunshine State Conference and NCAA Division II.

Tickets are $70 and include playing chips, hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets for beer or wine. Guests can “dress to impress” in cocktail attire. There also will be a live DJ for dancing, a raffle and silent auction, as well as a photo booth.

Casino games include blackjack, roulette, slot machines, craps, Texas Hold’em, and a Big Money Wheel.

For tickets, visit SaintLeoEvents.totalcamps.com/shop/EVENT.

For more information, email Dawn Boltin, associate athletic director of Business & Finance/SWA, at .

Earth Day contest
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is celebrating Earth Day by hosting its annual Earth Day Poster Contest, for grades four to 12. The theme is “Clean is Green: Preserving Florida’s Future.”

Artwork will be selected from each grade group (fourth to fifth grades; sixth to eighth; ninth to 12th) in each of DEP’s six district regions and winners will receive day passes for Florida State Parks. District winners will be entered into a statewide contest. The winning entries also will receive a full-size printed poster of their artwork.

For complete rules and guidelines, visit https://floridadep.gov/comm/comm/documents/earth-day-2024-rules-and-guidelines.

Poster submissions are due by 5 p.m., April 22. Winners will be announced in May.

HERricane Summer Camp
Pasco County Emergency Management is calling on high school students to step up and take part in its second annual HERricane Summer Camp, scheduled for July 15 to July 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Pasco County Emergency Operations Center, 8744 Government Drive, Building A, in New Port Richey.

The free, weeklong program was developed in Arlington County, Virginia, and offers an opportunity for young women in grades nine to 12 to explore emergency management-related careers.

Female students enrolled in a Pasco County high school in August 2024, including incoming ninth-graders, can apply.

The program includes multiple sessions and activities with speakers from various fields. Upon completion, students will receive Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and 40 volunteer hours.

Interested students need to fill out an application, which includes a short essay question, and apply no later than May 3. Students younger than age 18 will need a parent/legal guardian signature.

To submit an application, visit https://pasco.rja.revize.com/forms/8319.

National Siblings Day – April 10

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National Sibling(s) Day is celebrated on April 10 to honor brothers and sisters. At times, siblings can provide us with our biggest competition, strongest encouragement and remind us of our most embarrassing moments. They can be our best friends, or our worst enemies. Here are ways to observe this special day:

(Elle Hughes/Pexels)

• Celebrate your siblings and all the times you’ve had together.

• Laugh at the awkward and ill-spent time in your youth.

• Catch up with your sibling(s). Enjoy looking at photos and videos of time spent together.

• Play or song or two.

• Share photos of you and your siblings.

• Use #NationalSiblings Day to post on social media.

 

WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care

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Tampa Bay welcomes WAVE Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art spinal care clinic founded by Dr. Ryan LaChance. WAVE Wellness specializes in Upper Cervical spinal care, a strict discipline of Chiropractic focusing on the most vital area of the spine — C1 and C2, or the Atlas and Axis bones — to ensure it is structurally and neurologically sound.

“Just about every nerve in your body meets at the base of the skull, forms the brainstem, and is protected by these upper-most vertebrae in the spine,” Dr. LaChance explains. “The brainstem is the control center of the body’s nervous system, and is responsible for regulating every single organ, tissue, cell, function, system, and process in the entire body. If those upper-most vertebrae are misaligned, it can put pressure on the brainstem and interfere with the normal neurologic signals and proper nervous system communication between the brain and body.”

Upper Cervical Chiropractors aren’t focused on “back pain,” or the treatment of any disease for that matter, but rather, restoring function throughout the body. They believe our bodies are capable of healing themselves when given the opportunity to do so — and that begins by having a properly functioning nervous system.

Dr. Ryan LaChance

Dr. LaChance didn’t set out to specialize in Upper Cervical spinal care. It wasn’t until he experienced this type of care himself that he decided to pursue it.

“I fell in love with it after receiving consistent Upper Cervical care myself. Over time, I noticed that I no longer had headaches, no longer had feelings of anxiety or depression, my gut health problems resolved, my allergies went away, I could sleep better, and I never experienced any symptoms of my Lyme Disease again.  Since I was feeling better than I had in over a decade, I knew that I had to become an Upper Cervical Chiropractor.”

Only about 0.1% of Chiropractors are Upper Cervical specific. And WAVE Wellness uses the most advanced nervous system scanning and 3D imaging technology with every new client.

Based on those images, they will determine if and how a client needs adjusted, and administer their incredibly safe and gentle technique that involves no popping, cracking, twisting, or pulling of the spine.

It is important to understand that WAVE Wellness does not diagnose disease, but provides wellness care, which everyone can benefit from, from newborns to parents, and students to athletes. Since health insurance does not cover this type of service, WAVE Wellness strives to make care as affordable as possible. They offer family packages, so your entire household can experience the benefits of Upper Cervical Chiropractic.  Some of the most common conditions people first seek care for are migraines, anxiety and depression, gut health, neurological disorders, and autoimmune conditions.

Dr. LaChance had a final word — “I want you to know that WAVE Wellness has something for you. You are unique. You are different. And so are we.”

For more information, visit WaveWellnessCenter.com.

Published September 06, 2023

County offers ‘Safe Place’ locations for youth in need

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National Safe Place Week helps to raise awareness about the vital program, Safe Place, that provides kids ages 10 to 17 who are in crisis access to immediate support services.

Whether there was a fight with their parents or they are fleeing domestic abuse in the home, kids and teens without a place to go can visit a Safe Place location in Hillsborough County to get assistance.

With nearly 200 Safe Place locations in Hillsborough County, including fire stations and libraries, kids can look for the yellow and black “Safe Place” sign.

If kids have access to a cellphone, they can text SAFE with their location to 4HELP and receive a message with the closest Safe Place site and phone number to Children’s Services.

This program has been managed by Hillsborough County Children’s Services for more than 30 years and staff at all “Safe” spots are trained to call Children’s Services, which will send a qualified staff member to the location to talk with the youth in need.

If necessary, transportation to the Children’s Services campus in Tampa also will be provided so the child can receive professional support services.

To learn more about the program and how to get involved, visit HCFL.gov/SafePlace.

Published April 3, 2024

An optical illusion

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Bonnie Caston, of Zephyrhills, snapped this ‘optical illusion’ photo — it appears the soft shell turtle’s head is coming out of the side of its neck. Maybe there is one turtle on top of another? In reality, only a single turtle was sitting by the water. 

New members sought for historic board

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The City of Zephyrhills is actively seeking three additional members to join its Historic Preservation Board, according to a news release.

The Board administers various programs aimed at preserving the city’s heritage, including Historic Façade Grants and the review of Certificates of Appropriateness for alterations, demolition and new construction in historic districts, the release says.

The board was established to oversee the designation and regulation of the city’s historic, archaeological, cultural and architectural resources. Members help to shape the future of the community while honoring its past by advising the City Council on matters related to historic preservation.

Meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month, with agendas available beforehand and minutes accessible after approval.

Online applications for board membership are available on the city’s website, at https://ow.ly/635N50QZ5JJ.

For additional information or questions, contact Hunter Gearhart, City of Zephyrhills historic preservation specialist/community planner, at 813-780-0000, ext. 3502, or .

Published April 3, 2024

Support the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters

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Residents can trade in their car tag for a Big Brothers Big Sisters tag to support BBBS services. (Courtesy of Pasco Tax Collector’s Office)

The five Pasco County Tax Collector’s offices will feature Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) as its April Charity of the Month. All donations made in person to the tax collector offices, through the mail or online will benefit BBBS.

“Children without a strong adult presence in their life, kids in jeopardy of not completing school or who may come from a broken home and who need a mature adult to provide practical life lessons, are served by this fantastic program,” said Tax Collector Mike Fasano, in a news release.

“Your donation in any amount will help advance the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters. You  may also support the life-changing services provided by this agency by trading in your regular car tag for a Big Brothers Big Sisters tag,” said Fasano.

For more information, those interested in donating can speak to a customer service representative at any of the tax collector’s offices.

Donations also can be mailed to Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, P.O. Box 176, Dade City, FL 33526-0276.

To give online, visit GovHub.com/fl-pasco/tc-gives/donate.

Contact Assistant Tax Collector Greg Giordano at 727-847-8179 about the charitable programs.

For details about BBBS, call Alyssa Reas, program director, at 813-310-9184.

Published April 3, 2024