The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Wesley Chapel native proudly serves country

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Kaelyn Cardona, a graduate of the Class of 2013 at Wiregrass Ranch High, is now known as Seaman Cardona and she works as a cryptologic technician in Pensacola.

The Wesley Chapel native is stationed with a command that’s responsible for teaching future information warriors the skills required to defend America around the world.

Seaman Kaelyn Cardona

She operates out of the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station in Pensacola.

As a cryptologic technician, she’s responsible for analyzing electronic communications, jamming enemy radar signals, deciphering information in foreign languages, and maintaining equipment and networks used to generate top secret intelligence.

Cardona credits success in the Navy with lessons she learned during her years in Wesley Chapel.

“Growing up, I learned to never give up, which helps me so much in the Navy,” Cardona said, in a news release.

The IWTC Corry Station is just one component that makes up the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) domain, headquartered at Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station.

The CIWT leads, manages and delivers Navy and joint force training to 22,000 students annually.

It also oversees about 200 courses at four information warfare training commands, two detachments, and additional learning sites located throughout the United States and Japan.

As a member of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Cardona and other sailors and staff know they are part of a legacy, serving as a key component of the information warfare community.

These sailors have a tremendous responsibility in creating options for fleet commanders and advising decision-makers at all levels, serving worldwide aboard ships, submarines and aircraft, and from the National Security Agency to the Pentagon.

Cardona said, “Serving in the Navy means giving back to my country that I love.”

Published August 15, 2018

Health News 08/15/2018

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(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Tampa_

Moon Lake gets needed school supplies
Team members from Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care delivered much-needed school supplies to Moon Lake Elementary in New Port Richey. The donations will help students successfully kick off the school year. This is the fifth year the LTAC team has provided the supplies.

 

 

 

New robotic technology
The Medical Center of Trinity has acquired the latest enhance technology in robotic-assisted surgery, which will enable doctors to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control.

The high-definition 3D vision system allows surgeons to see key anatomy with immense depth and clarity.

The specially trained surgeons who perform the procedures at the hospital control the robotic-assisted surgical system, which translates his or her hand movements into small, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the body.

Robotic-assisted surgery allows the doctor to perform complex procedures through just a few tiny openings.

For patients, this may mean less trauma and pain, minimal scarring, decreased blood loss, and faster recovery.

The new technology is guided hands-on at all times by a board-certified physician.

Procedures are now performed in general surgery (gall bladder, appendectomy, hernia), colorectal, gynecology, thoracic, urology and urogynecology.

For more information on minimally invasive surgical options and physicians who perform robotic-assisted surgery at Medical Center of Trinity, call (727) 834-5630, or visit MedicalCenterTrinity.com.

Chalk Talk 08/15/2018

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Al Hernandez

Three reappointed to district board
Gov. Rick Scott announced the reappointment of Al Hernandez, Lee Maggard and Robin Schneider to the District Board of Trustees for Pasco-Hernando State College. All three have been reappointed for a term ending May 31, 2022.

Alvaro “Al” Hernandez, of Odessa, is vice president of marketing at Humana, and received his bachelor and master degrees from Nova Southeastern University.

Lee Maggard

Lee Maggard, of Zephyrhills, is the assistant vice president and commercial relationship manager for CenterState Bank in Dade City. Maggard received his associate degree from PHSC in 2007 and a bachelor degree from the University of Florida in 2009.

Robin Schneider

Robin Schneider, of Spring Hill, is marketing coordinator at Medical Center of Trinity. Schneider currently serves as the PHSC District Board of Trustees vice chair.

“We are very pleased with the reappointments of our board members and look forward to their continued leadership and commitment to higher education in our communities,” said Timothy Beard, PHSC president, in a release.

 

 

Backpack blessing
Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54 in Lutz, will host a Back to School Dedication Aug. 19 at 10:30 a.m., with a special service in support of and to pray for children and teachers as they begin another school year.

Children are asked to bring their backpacks for a special blessing.

Following the dedication, there will be a festival, including lunch, bounce houses, a dunk tank for a teacher, and more.

For information, call (813) 948-4522.

Childhood center course
Pasco-Hernando State College will offer a course for child care directors to become credentialed.

The new course, Operation of an Early Childhood Center, meets Florida Department of Children and Families requirements for the director credential.

Interested child care workers can enroll for the course, which runs Aug. 20 to Oct. 10 at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The class will meet on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

A second course will be offered on Oct. 16 to Dec. 6, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.

For information or to enroll, visit PHSC.edu/academics/continuing-education.

Saint Leo ready for students
Saint Leo University will welcome close to 700 first-year students, as they officially move into their residence halls Aug. 16. Classes will start Aug. 21.

Move-in day for those first-year students will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at University Campus, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

The new Lions, and parents, can take part in a reception Aug. 16 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., in the Marion Bowman Activities Center gym. For students, there will be a mini pep rally at 4 p.m.

Orientation for international and Honors Program students, as well as Emerging Mathematics and Computer Science scholars will be Aug. 14 to Aug. 16.

Incoming biology students can take part in Bio Boot Camp. The camp is a pre-semester primer, and students can get familiarized with the laboratories, attend lectures and learn study skills.

All students can join in a sing-along with the movie, “The Greatest Showman,” Aug. 20 at 7 p.m., in Selby Auditorium in Lewis Hall, hosted by the Department of Language Studies and the Arts.

On the first day of classes, Aug. 21, Student Activities will host a welcome back event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., near the Student Community Center. Students can get shirts spray painted, take first-day-of-school photos, and have smoothies and ice pops.

Throughout the first week of school, various campus groups will host events.

For more information, visit SaintLeo.edu.

Free college workshop
Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts will offer “College Bound: Figuring It Out, Part 2” Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.

The free workshop is for students interested in musical theater, music, theater and dance programs, at the college and university level.

Students and parents will be provided with the tools and knowledge to navigate the performing arts programs, submit a solid application, and prepare for prescreen and entrance auditions.

For information, call (813) 222-1040, or visit PatelConservatory.org.

Back 2 School campaign
Eckerd Connects, which helps vulnerable and troubled children, is hosting a “Back 2 School” campaign in an effort to support local programs: Project Bridge, Raising Hope, E-Nini-Hassee, Challenge Youth Academy, and foster children in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

To support the campaign, school supply donations can be made at any drop-off center. Locations can be found at Eckerd.org/Back2School.

Monetary donations can be made on Eckerd.org. A $25 donation can support a child with either one school uniform or one backpack full of supplies.

The campaign runs until the end of August.

Pasco Schools’ Citizens Academy
Pasco County Schools is launching a Citizens’ Academy to educate the public on the operation of the public school system.

The academy will consist of seven monthly meetings: three during the day and four in the evening.

The mornings will be school visits around the county, while evenings will be classroom lessons on budget, school choice, planning, construction and maintenance, transportation, school safety and more.

Each academy class will have 30 to 50 members from the community.

For information, visit PascoSchools.org, and click on the Citizens’ Academy banner at the top.

Rocky loves the water

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Rocky is a pure-bred Rottweiler and is 19 months old. He loves the pool and the dog beaches, and his girl friend, Keri, next door. Rocky’s proud owners are Phil and Sherry Meerovitz, of Lutz.

A field full of rabbits

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Sharon Thompson said there were 10 rabbits in the Country Walk subdivision in Wesley Chapel, at Country Point Boulevard and Rolling Green Drive. The rabbits were very still and appeared to not move a muscle.

Health News 08/08/2018

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(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

Neuroscience Center now open
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point hosted an open house at its Neuroscience Center. The center features a new digital x-ray imaging system to view extremely detailed, real time images of a patient’s head, neck and spin during stroke, and other neuro endovascular procedures that require exact precision. Dr. Rao Musunuru and Sharon Hayes, CEO Bayonet Point (center), cut the ribbon at the open house.

Hospital licensed as stroke center
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has been licensed as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Agency for Healthcare Administration.

It is one of the only 45 hospitals in the state, and the only one located in Pasco County, providing patients with 24/7 availability of immediate access to the full spectrum of neuroscience-related care, including the latest technologies in the detection, treatment and rehabilitation for strokes.

(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Comfort pillows help make a difference
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club spent hours sewing, stuffing and delivering comfort pillows to area hospitals for breast cancer patients, post-surgery. More than 400 pillows were delivered to Moffitt Cancer Center, Hope Lodge and Florida Hospital. Barbara Booth dedicated much time and effort to sew 290 pillows by herself.

Chalk Talk 08/08/2018

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(Courtesy of Florida Hospital)

Christian academy will open for new school year
North Tampa Christian Academy, on East County Line Road in Wesley Chapel, will open its doors this month for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Orton Varona, who previously served as the Head of School at North Dallas Adventist Academy, has been named as the school’s president. To learn more about the school, and to take a visual tour, visit SeeThisSchool.com.

Teacher lists available
Parents from local schools can access supply lists online for the 2018-2019 school year.

With just one or two clicks, parents can find their child’s exact supply list and then click right over to prefilled shopping carts on Target, Walmart, Office Depot, Amazon and more, to purchase the list and have it shipped right to their home.

Store pickup also is available.

More than 50,000 schools have now posted lists on the website, which include required and requested items, as well as specific notes and clarifications from teachers and school staff.

Complete details and all the lists are available at TeacherLists.com/parents.

Academy ribbon cutting
New L.E.A.P.S. Academy will host a ribbon cutting Aug. 9 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at its new location, 21754 State Road 54 in Lutz.

Festivities will include food, drink, music, raffles and prizes.

Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts are optional.

For information and to RSVP, call Megan Carrillo or Terie Alonso at (813) 973-7938, or email or .

New start times for Hillsborough schools
Changes in start times take place for the first day of school in Hillsborough County on Aug. 10.

All campuses open 30 minutes before the first bell for free breakfast and a range of enrichment activities.

Most schools will operate on these schedules:

  • Elementary: 7:40 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. (12:55 p.m. on Mondays)
  • Middle: 9:25 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. (3:20 p.m. on Mondays)
  • High: 8:30 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. (2:25 p.m. on Mondays)
  • Magnet elementary: 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. (2 p.m. on Mondays)
  • Magnet middle and high: 8:30 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. (2:25 p.m. on Mondays)

To confirm school bell times, and to check out before and afterschool care options, visit SDHC.k12.fl.us.

Back-to-School celebration
Bank of the Ozarks, 4/One The Gentlemen’s Quarters and Goin’ Postal will host a Back-to-School Celebration Aug. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 4/One, 38435 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Students can receive a free haircut, and a bag of school supplies (while supplies last).

On-site activities will include a bounce house, giant games and puzzles, corn hole, a baseball pitching contest, hockey and soccer goal contests, chalk art, hula hoop contests and more.

School supply donations will be accepted through Aug. 10 at 4/One, and at the Bank of the Ozarks branch, 7435 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills.

Share-A-Haircut
Hair Cuttery will support underprivileged children with its Back-to-School Share-A-Haircut program.

For every children’s haircut (up to age 18) purchased before Aug. 15, a haircut certificate will be donated to a child in need.

For locations, visit HairCuttery.com.

Back 2 School drive
Eckerd Connects, which helps vulnerable and troubled children, is hosting a “Back 2 School” campaign in an effort to support local programs: Project Bridge, Raising Hope, E-Nini-Hassee, Challenge Youth Academy, and foster children in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

To support the campaign, school supply donations can be made at any drop-off center. Locations can be found at Eckerd.org/Back2School.

Monetary donations can be made on Eckerd.org. A $25 donation can support a child with either one school uniform or one backpack full of supplies.

The campaign runs until the end of August.

Saint Leo appoints vice president
Dr. Jeffrey D. Senese, president of Saint Leo University, announced the appointment of John Nisbet as vice president of business affairs and chief financial officer, effective July 1.

Nisbet will be responsible for the university’s financial staff, Human Resources, and University Technology Services. He also will create a five-year fiscal plan, including operating and capital budgets, revenue, and strategic investments.

Previously, Nisbet served as vice president for finance at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

Prior to Creighton, he had leadership roles in finance and administration at Ohio State University, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, OhioHealth, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Nisbet has a Master of Business Administration from Ohio State University, and a Master of Science in molecular and cellular physiology from the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine.

He also has a Bachelor of Science in zoology from Ohio State University.

Senator’s charity comes out on top

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The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office recently featured Lauren’s Kids as its charity of choice, and raised $12,346.48 for the organization.

State Sen. Lauren Book, fifth from left, accepts a hefty check for Lauren’s Kids from monies raised through the Pasco County Tax Collector’s offices. From left: Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano; Becky Bennett, director of development Pasco Kids First; Wendi Wininger and Judy Rosier, Pasco tax collector’s office; State Sen. Lauren Book; Zoraya Melo and Linda McNally (Dade City manager), Pasco tax collector’s office; Michelle Vancuren, director of operations Pasco County Tax Collector; Miranda Hager, trauma counselor Pasco Kids First; and Chris Peynado, Pasco tax collector’s office. (Courtesy of Pasco County Tax Collector)

Lauren’s Kids, created in 2007 by State Sen. Lauren Book, is a statewide organization that works daily to prevent childhood sexual abuse through education and awareness.

Book, herself, is a victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a trusted caregiver. She has taken her own experiences and turned them into an opportunity to help children find hope and healing.

The five branches of the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office promoted the Lauren’s Kids specialty license plate, and accepted cash donations during the month-long campaign. Customers also could check-off the voluntary charitable donation box through renewals.

The senator said, in a release, “Thanks to the support of the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, we are able to prevent abuse, protect childhood, and help survivors heal. Nothing is more important than keeping Florida’s innocent children safe, and we thank our partners in Pasco for helping to shine light in dark places.”

For more information regarding Lauren’s Kids, visit LaurensKids.org.

For details about charitable promotions sponsored by the Pasco tax collector’s office, call Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

Published August 1, 2018

Residents receive recognition at poster exhibit

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Two residents at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point received recognition at the HCA West Florida Graduate Medical Education (GME) Consortium Poster Exhibition.

Dr. Anthony Salibi with his People’s Choice Award trophy and Dr. Ravi Chari, president HCA West Florida
(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

Dr. Anthony Salibi, internal medicine, was awarded the People’s Choice Award with his poster entitled, “Early Recognition of Sepsis and Goal Directed Therapy Resulting in Reduced Hospital Mortality.”

Dr. Nicholas Kolinsky, internal medicine, received the Inter-Professional Award for his poster entitled, “Left Main Coronary Artery Dissection and Aortic Insufficiency Following Blunt Chest Trauma.”

The awards were presented at the second annual exhibition at the University of South Florida, Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation.

Each of the HCA West Florida GME hospitals presented posters showcasing the research, scholarly activity and quality initiatives being performed by the residents and fellows across all GME programs.

Chalk Talk 08/01/2018

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(Courtesy of Benjamin Watters, Saint Leo University)

Girls Can! offers hands-on learning
For the fourth year, Saint Leo University hosted the Girls Can! Robotics Camp, aimed at increasing the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in the hopes of opening young girls’ eyes to the opportunities in the STEM fields. The campers learned to build Lego Mindstorm robots and spent time learning programming. Destiny Sommer and Lydia Nystrom, students at Saint Anthony Catholic School in San Antonio, work on programming their robot to move.

Share-A-Haircut
Hair Cuttery will support underprivileged children with its Back-to-School Share-A-Haircut program.

For every children’s haircut (up to age 18) purchased between Aug. 1 and Aug. 15, a haircut certificate will be donated to a child in need.

For locations, visit HairCuttery.com.

Sales Tax Holiday
The annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday will run from Aug. 3 to Aug. 5.

Items exempt from sales tax include most school supplies that cost $15 or less, and clothing, footwear and accessories that cost $60 or less.

For more information, visit FloridaRevenue.com/backtoschool.

Back-to-school haircuts
My Salon Suite of New Tampa, 20707 Center Oak Drive, will provide free haircuts, in exchange for school supplies, Aug. 5 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For every $5 to $10 of donated school supplies, a child will receive a free haircut. The donated supplies will be given to Quail Hollow Elementary and Metropolitan Ministries.

There also will be free food, face painting and more.

For information, call (813) 501-0600.

Life after high school
The Hope Ranch Learning Academy will offer “Finding Your Future: A Game Plan for Life After High School” Aug. 6 to Aug. 11, at First Assembly of God, 36322 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills.

This is a summer camp for students with IEPs or 504 plans, and includes classroom modules and community experiences on topics such as confidence building, communication, decision making, goal setting and problem solving.

For information and to register, visit HopeServicesOnline.com.

Eighth annual Stuff the Bus for Teachers
United Way of Pasco County is conducting its eighth annual Stuff the Bus for Teachers. The campaign is set for Aug. 3, Aug. 4 and Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Supplies that are collected will be distributed by Pasco County Schools.

A school bus will be stationed at Walmart shopping centers to collect donations at the following locations:

  • Walmart-Port Richey, 8701 U.S. 19
  • Walmart-New Port Richey, 8745 State Road 54
  • Walmart-Lutz 1575 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
  • Walmart-Wesley Chapel 28500 State Road 54

Volunteers at all locations will hand out shopping lists and collect the donations.

On Aug. 6, volunteers will gather at the The Mike Fasano Hurricane Shelter, 11611 Denton Ave., in Hudson, to sort and pack the supplies.

Volunteers are needed at the donation sites and at the packing sites.

For information, contact Melinda Velez at or (727) 835-2028.

Students demonstrate skill sets
Career and technical students in Florida won one of the nation’s highest awards at the annual SkillsUSA Championships in June. The event is for students in middle school, high school or college/postsecondary programs.

More than 6,300 students competed at the national showcase, demonstrating their technical skills, workplace skills and personal skills in 102 hands-on occupational and leadership competitions. Areas of competition included robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance, public speaking and more.

Industry leaders from 600 businesses, corporations, trade associations and unions planned and evaluated the contestants against their standards for entry-level workers.

Skill Point Certificates were awarded in 72 occupational and leadership areas to students who met a predetermined threshold score in their competition, as defined by industry.

The certificate is a component of SkillsUSA’s assessment program for career and technical education.

William Isham, of New Port Richey and a student at Marchman Technical College, was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in electrical construction wiring.

Riley Klingensmith, of Hudson and a student at Marchman Technical College, received a Skill Point Certificate in cosmetology.

Help us share your ‘First Day of School’ photos
We know that you take them, so why don’t you share them?

“First Day of School” photos are an annual tradition for many families, and we’d love to share your priceless moments with our readers.

Liam Perkins celebrates his first day of fifth grade last year at New River Elementary in Wesley Chapel. (File)

So, whether your school is big or small, and whether your child’s in kindergarten, college or home-schooled, please send us your photos.

The number we will be able to publish depends how many we receive, the quality of the photos and whether we have enough information.

If you would like your submission to be considered, please email us a digital copy. Include the name or names of the student, the grade of the student or students, and the name of the school. If there is more than one student, please identify them from left to right.

Also, please include your contact information, in case we need to get back to you for additional details.

Finally, feel free to send us your photos whether you took them at home before leaving for school, or whether you took them at the school itself.

Please submit the photos by Aug. 17 by emailing them to .