Mary Rathman

Pledging to help the community
Culver’s has been committed to being an active member in its local community since 1984. On Sept. 14, the restaurant in Lutz hosted a Scoopie Night to raise funds for Veterans Elementary School in Wesley Chapel. The event included games, activities, and a visit from Culver’s mascot, Scoopie. The event raised more than $500 for the school. Breanna Flanigan hung out with Scoopie himself at Culver’s.

 

 

 

 

Manufacturing Day
On Oct. 7, thousands of students and educators from schools across Florida will take field trips to learn about products Made in Florida, and the opportunities for high-skilled, high-wage careers offered through Florida’s approximately 19,000 manufacturing companies.

Most student tour events are held on nationally celebrated Manufacturing Day and mark October as National Manufacturing Month.

For information on Florida’s Manufacturing Day 2016 news and events, visit MFGDay-fl.com.

Keystone Prep fundraiser
Keystone Prep High School will host “Taste of Keystone” on Oct. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the campus at 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa. The high school specializes in special-needs students.

There also will be rides, games, a car show, food, vendors and crafts.

For information, email Randy Keck at .

Wiregrass Ranch student gets national honor
Caroline E. Eichelberger, a Wiregrass Ranch High School student, has been selected to be a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. The organization recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment.

NSHSS members automatically become lifetime members at the time of their initial membership. From high school to college to career, NSHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resources needed to develop their strengths and pursue their passions.

Student receives Legion of Valor award
Allison Segard, a Gulf High School International Baccalaureate senior, received the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement Award, presented by the Gulf High ROTC program.

Segard is an IB transfer student from Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee.

Only 60 of the awards are given nationally each year, and the award can only be presented by a military veteran who earned a Medal of Valor during their service.

Segard received her award from Michael Perry of Zephyrhills, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient from the Vietnam War.

PHSC is an educational investment
WalletHub analysts ranked Pasco-Hernando State College as offering the highest return on educational investment among 821 community colleges. Also ranking first was Valencia College, Coastline College (California), Northern Oklahoma College, and Cochise County Community College District (Arizona).

PHSC also received a national ranking of 15th in the career outcomes category.

Other WalletHub rankings include the Florida College System as fourth in the nation, and PHSC overall ranking of third among 28 Florida two-year colleges.

For information about Pasco-Hernando State College, visit PHSC.edu.

Chamberlain High 50th
The Chamberlain High School Class of 1966 will host a 50-year class reunion on Oct. 14 and Oct. 15. The committee needs help locating the Class of 1966 graduates.

If you graduated in 1966 and would like to have your name included for future updates and information, send your name (including maiden name), email, current address, home and/or cellphone number, and spouse’s name to

If you know anyone else in the class who has not yet been contacted, email their name and contact information to the same email address.

Job and internship fair
Pasco-Hernando State College will host the CareerSource Pasco Hernando Job & Internship Fair on Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon, at PHSC East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road in Dade City.

For information, contact Nathan Stevens at (352) 585-5117 or .

Boundary committee meetings
The High School GGG Boundary Committee has added two additional meetings and a parent information night to its schedule, to review maps and demographics of affected schools and work on potential boundary options for the school under construction on Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

Committee meetings will be on Oct. 20 and Dec. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

A parent meeting will take place on Nov. 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Boundary committee meetings are public meetings. Members of the public may attend as observers only.

All meetings are at Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road.

To see documents considered by the committee, visit PascoSchools.org, and click on the Rezoning link on the right.

Denham Oaks seeking partners
Denham Oaks Elementary School, 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., has been in the Lutz area for more than 20 years and is looking for businesses to support the school.

Sponsorship opportunities start at $25, and allow the business to build its brand among local residents while supporting education.

There also are opportunities to join the School Advisory Council or serve as a judge for the student arts contest.

For information, visit DOES.my-pta.org, or email .

Sponsor Student of the Month program
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce has promoted the Student of the Month program for more than 20 years. Chamber businesses partner with local schools to encourage youth.

In most cases, the schools choose one student each month from September to May to be the winner of a trophy and T-shirt recognizing their achievement.

The business name is listed on the T-shirt, and the schools typically provide the business with the opportunity to visit the school each month and present the award.

The cost of a company to be a sponsor is $250 for the year.

Those interested in sponsoring a school or continuing a sponsorship from the previous year, can email the chamber office at , or fax to (813) 909-0827.

Donate shoes and socks for students
The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office is participating in the new shoes and socks collection campaign to assist local students and families in need. A collaborative effort between Pasco County government and the school district, the “Two Good Soles” campaign, is seeking to collect as many new pairs of shoes and socks as possible.

All five tax collector’s offices will be collection sites for donations until Oct. 25, and will have a labeled collection box near the door.

For information and office locations, call Greg Giordano at (727) 847-8179.

Early childhood program
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, offers an Early Childhood Center through the state funded VPK program.

This is a faith-based structured preschool learning environment. The program starts at age 2, and focuses on phonetic awareness, letter recognition, writing skills, reading strategies and problem solving activities.

There are two sessions: a morning preschool program and an afternoon program. Extended hours are offered, if needed.

For information, contact Corrine Ertl, center director, at (813) 948-5999 or .