Mary Rathman

A team effort

November 7, 2018 By Mary Rathman

Betsy Crisp snapped a group of these ‘birds of a feather’ flocking together (ibises), on a neighbor’s dock on Barcellona Road in Treasure Lake, Land O’ Lakes. These wading birds usually feed as a group, mostly for crustaceans.

Bilirakis honored as Public Servant of the Year

November 7, 2018 By Mary Rathman

The American College of Cardiologists has recognized the efforts of Congressman Gus Bilirakis to improve health care outcomes for patients by honoring him with the 2018 President’s Award for Distinguished Public Service. Among the public health initiatives spearheaded by Bilirakis is the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act. This legislation addresses the need to invest in continued research to assist millions of Americans living with congenital heart disease, and is waiting for final approval in the Senate.

Chalk Talk 11/07/2018

November 7, 2018 By Mary Rathman

Constitution essay winners
Among a record of 103 entrants in Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Paula O’ Neil’s fifth annual Constitution Essay Contest, Carly Bowling, a fifth-grader at Woodland Elementary School, came out on top with her deep research, a keen grasp of history and the intent of the Constitution, as well as clear writing skills.

Bowling will receive a tour of the Pasco County courthouse of her choice and lunch with O’ Neil.

Lake Myrtle Elementary’s Priscilla Savill and Oakstead Elementary’s Philip Fleming both had strong essays with personal touches, that produced second and third places, respectively.

Savill’s essay wrote about the role her generation will play in “passing freedoms on to my children and future generations.”

Fleming’s submission was well-organized and packed with relevant background information that “flowed nicely into information about the Constitution,” wrote one judge.

All three winners will be presented to Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning and the district staff of Paula O’ Neil at the school board meeting on Dec. 18, where they will receive trophies and memorabilia from Saint Leo University.

Honorable mentions were awarded to Ben Roorda, Oakstead Elementary; Megan Levy, First Christian Academy; William Vaughn, Woodland Elementary; Emma Hatzistefanou, Trinity Elementary; Ethan Florer, Woodland Elementary; Bella Whiffen, Oakstead Elementary; Della Krook, Oakstead Elementary; and Genevieve Tucker, Longleaf Elementary.

The three winning compositions are posted online at Facebook. Com/PascoClerk/.

Fall job fair
Pasco County Schools will host a Fall Instructional Job Fair on Nov. 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

All education interns, teachers, student services employees, and those who have a bachelor’s degree and are interested in becoming certified educators are invited to attend.

Candidates are being sought for these positions: math, science, elementary education, school nurse, behavioral analyst, guest teachers, exceptional student education (ESE), and emotional and behavioral disorders/autism spectrum disorders (EBD/ASD).

Applicants can meet with administrators and hiring managers for on-the-spot interviews.

Registered applicants can win door prizes and giveaways.

Certification information sessions will take place at 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.

For information and to submit an application, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/hreq/, or email .

Merit scholarship semifinalist
Hannah Holliday, a senior at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill, has been named a 2018-2019 National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.

More than 1.6 million junior students entered the competition by taking the 2017 PSAT, from which the top 1 percent became semifinalists.

Moore-Mickens social
The Moore-Mickens Alumni Association (Classes of 1940-1972) will host a “Blue & Gold Social” Nov. 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Moore-Mickens Educations & Vocational Center, 38301 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City.

There will be games, prizes, food and dancing. The cost is $15.

For information, call The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce at (352) 567-3769.

Saint Leo open house
Saint Leo University, 3370 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host an open house Nov. 10 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., for students of all ages.

Check-in and breakfast will be available from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., in the Student Community Center.

Check-in and late registration will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., by the clock tower at the Student Activities Building.

There will be a presentation by Saint Leo’s Office of Admissions at 8:30 a.m.

Guests can learn about the school’s academic programs through faculty visits, resource fairs, and academic presentations and demonstrations.

Visitors also can tour the campus, talk to current students, learn about clubs and organizations, meet with financial aid representatives, talk with admissions counselors and more.

Lunch also will be provided.

Admission is free.

To register, visit SaintLeo.edu/open-house.

For information about the event, call (352) 588-8283, or visit .

Mathematics contest
Saint Leo University is looking for middle schoolers to participate in the American Mathematics Competition 8, on Nov. 13. The contest was developed by the Mathematical Association of America, and is free.

The purpose of the competition is to encourage students to develop positive attitudes about mathematics and analytical thinking by having them apply classroom learning to a 25-question, multiple-choice exam.

Students have 40 minutes to complete the questions. Learn more about the subject matter at MAA.org/math-competitions/amc-8.

Saint Leo will accommodate 30 students and mathematics faculty will monitor the contest.

Students are asked to arrive by 5:45 p.m., and go directly to Selby Auditorium in Lewis Hall. The test starts promptly at 6 p.m.

Advance registration is required. Parents should email Dr. Kevin Murphy at to reserve a spot, and include the phrase “AMC 8” in the subject line. Or, parents also can call (8352) 588-7192.

Great American Teach-In
Wesley Chapel High School is looking for speakers for the Great American Teach-In that will take place Nov. 14.

Guests are to speak for a 30-minute session and give students a few minutes to ask questions.

Students would like to hear about different jobs, hobbies and/or interesting experiences adults have had in their lives.

For information, call Kelly Faysash, college and career specialist, at (813) 794-8717.

Grants for innovation
The Hunter Brooks Memorial Fund offers grants to young people, ages 16 to 25, who have demonstrated a passion and enthusiasm in developing new ideas, especially in the fields of music, the performing arts, computer technology and entrepreneurship.

These grants, up to $5,000 each, are direct financial support to help young people bring their ideas and projects to fruition.

There is not cost or obligation to apply.

Further information and the grant application can be found at HunterWatson.org/grants.

The deadline for the current grant cycle is Nov. 15.

Kilo is on Instagram

October 31, 2018 By Mary Rathman

Kilo is 2 ½ years old. He was diagnosed with parvo when he was just 3 months old, and the veterinarian thought he might not survive. He did pull through and is now a healthy, magnificent creature. Kilo enjoys belly rubs, walks down River Walk Tampa, and meeting new people. He has his own Instagram page @ Kilo.z, where he posts most of his hobbies. Kilo’s proud owner is Duke Zamora, of Dade City.

Usually shy and quiet

October 31, 2018 By Mary Rathman

Two ducks come up to the home of Sharon Thompson, in Wesley Chapel, every day to be fed. They are not shy when it comes to begging for food. The Muscovy ducks have sharp claws for perching in trees, but are mostly seen in slow, goose-like flight at dawn and dusk.

Expansion of substance abuse treatment

October 31, 2018 By Mary Rathman

Premier Community Health Center in Pasco County will receive $285,000 to expand its scope of services and offer integrated substance use disorder and mental health services treatment.

Of these funds, $110,000 will be used to hire personnel, and $175,000 will be allocated for renovation of facilities at its Zephyrhills substance abuse/mental health treatment center.

Patients from throughout Pasco County will be able to access substance use and mental health services at this location.

The grant was funded through the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus spending bill.

Chalk Talk 10/31/2018

October 31, 2018 By Mary Rathman

Stewart Middle students are ‘top dogs’
Students from Stewart Middle School were honored as Top Dogs for their academics and leadership roles in school, through a program that was started more than 30 years ago. Each Top Dog received a certificate and a gold dog tag. The students that were recognized included Ava Tellis, Elizabeth Gettings, Aiden Thorne, Larrisa Sutton and Caitlyn Eudy. Also rewarded, but not pictured, were Andrea Chavez, Chara Antonucci and Connor Mercer.

Wiregrass hosts Literacy Night
Wiregrass Elementary School in Wesley Chapel hosted a “Fall Into Literacy Night” that featured student-developed literacy projects, such as poems and stories; reading resources for parents, guest authors and story time sessions; an art show; and, a pair of musical concerts with performances by the school’s second and fifth-grade students.

Wiregrass Elementary was aiming to build on the success of its STEAM night last spring.