The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

01/30/2016 – Kids’ movie and popcorn

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The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, will host a kids’ movie and popcorn on Jan. 30 at 1:15 p.m., for kindergarten through third grade, and their families. For information on what movie will be showing, call (813) 788-6375.

01/30/2016 – Leisure Days yard sale

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Leisure Days RV Resort, off Morris Bridge Road and State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, will have a park-wide yard sale on Jan. 30 starting at 8 a.m. There also will be refreshments and a quilt raffle outside the clubhouse. The Leisure Days Quilters’ annual quilt show will be on Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

01/30/2016 – Audition for ‘The Secret Garden’

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Live Oak Theatre Company will host auditions for “The Secret Garden” on Jan. 30 at Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 200 Mount Fair Ave., in Brooksville. The roles of Lily and Archibald have already been cast. All auditions are by appointment. For information, email , or visit Facebook.com/LiveOakTheatre.

01/30/2016 – Light Up the Night events

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Join the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office to raise awareness of human trafficking with these two events on Jan. 30 in Wesley Chapl.

  • The Radiant 5K at 8 a.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. Entrance fee is $30 in advance, and $35 the morning of the race. Visit RunSignup.com/race/fl/wesleychapel/theradiant5k.
  • Light Up the Night at 6 p.m., at The Shops at Wiregrass. There will be a live performance by The Vibe.

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

01/29/2016 – Teen talent show

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The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a Teen Talent Show on Jan. 29 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Groups of one to five people can register. There will be cash prizes awarded for first, second and third place. The show is for grades six through 12. For information, call (813) 929-1214.

01/28/2016 – Learn to bead

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The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host “Learn to Bead and Make Jewelry” on Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., for ages 12 and older. Participants can learn the basics of beading and jewelry making, and complete a small craft project. A makerspace liability waiver must be signed, and a dress code must be followed for safety. For information and to register, call (813) 929-1214.

01/27/2016 – Postcard club

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The Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, will host a new Post Crossing Club on Jan. 27 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Participants can learn how to send and receive pen pal color postcards from all over the world. The program is for adults only. For information, call (352) 567-3576.

01/27/2016 & 01/28/2016 – Genocide survivor to speak at St. Tim’s

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As part of its celebration in the Catholic Church’s Year of Mercy, Saint Timothy Catholic Church, 17512 Lakeshore Road in Lutz, is presenting Immaculee Ilibagazi, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. Ilibagazi’s story became a best seller, and she was featured in documentaries and on 60 Minutes. She will be speaking on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m., and Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. A Mass will precede each talk.

Sensory friendly films at Cobb

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Grove 16 Cobb Theatres, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will show sensory friendly family films where kids can be kids in a safe and accepting environment. The auditoriums are made more comfortable with brighter lights, and the sound level is turned down. The audience is encouraged to be themselves and interact with the movie, while having fun without the worry of disturbing others. Guests can sing and dance during the movies. All shows begin at 10 a.m.

  • Feb. 6: “Kung Fu Panda”
  • March 5: “Zootopia”
  • April 30: “Ratchet & Clank”
  • May 21: “Angry Birds”
  • June 18 : “Finding Dory”

For information, call (813) 948-5444.

Chalk Talk 01/20/2016

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(Courtesy of NAMI Hernando)
(Courtesy of NAMI Hernando)

Gulf Coast students pay it forward to NAMI
Students of Gulf Coast Academy and Gulf Coast Middle Schools paid it forward by raising $1,431.70 to support NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Hernando, and the residents of the community living with mental illness. NAMI Hernando invited the students to the Beautiful Mind Center for a pizza party to thank them for their efforts. While there, the students decorated the center for the holidays. Shown, front row from left, Tiffany Egli, Geri Anderson and Heather Phillips. Back row from left, Ethan Egli, Lisa Anderson, Gabrielle Anderson, Kara Peters, Cheryl Peters, Rayna Phillips and Aiden Phillips. For information about NAMI Hernando, call (352) 684-0004, or email .

Peguero receives inauguration scholarship
Jessica Peguero, a Center for Online Learning student with Saint Leo University, was named a recipient of an inauguration scholarship, which were provided to deserving students. Peguero, of Land O’ Lakes, is pursuing a degree in psychology. She will graduate in in April.

The inauguration scholarships are the result of Saint Leo University President William J. Lennox Jr.’s decision to forego a formal inauguration ceremony, and instead, provide 20 inauguration student scholarships.

Saint Leo has awarded five $2,500 scholarships each to students from University Campus, the Center for Online Learning, education centers, and graduate programs.

These one-time scholarships are funded and provided by a donor to the university.

Free math circle program
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, is offering its free, weekly Math Circle program for area middle and high school students. The program includes hands-on activities that engage young people and help them sustain an enthusiasm for mathematics.

Sessions are on Thursdays, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., through May 12 in Lewis Hall, Room 207. There will be no class on March 17, due to Spring Break.

For information, contact Monika Kiss at (352) 588-8836 or .

Sunshine Book Club discussion
The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host the “Taste of Sunshine Book Club” on Jan. 21 at 5 p.m., with a discussion on “Athlete vs. Mathlete” by W.C. Mack.

Each month, there will be a discussion on one of the third through fifth-grade books, a craft and a snack.

Registration is required. For information or to register, call (813) 929-1214.

Countryside Montessori open house
Countryside Montessori Charter School, 5852 Ehren Cut-Off in Land O’ Lakes, will host an open house for the 2016-2017 school year, on Jan. 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., for first through eighth grade.

Students and families can tour the campus, and meet the teachers and staff.

For information, call (813) 996-0991, or visit CMCSMontessori.com.

School Choice Week is Jan. 24 to Jan. 30
Students, parents, teachers and community leaders are planning more than 15,000 events during National School Choice Week, including open houses at schools, rallies, roundtable discussion, school fairs and more.

School choice means empowering parents to select the best education environment for their children. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, online learning, and homeschooling.

All 50 states offer parents the freedom to educate children in the home.

All 50 states have public magnet schools, which focus on subjects such as math, science and the arts.

Forty-six states allow some type of public school open enrollment program, so parents can choose the right traditional public school, regardless of location.

Forty-three states allow for the creation of public charter schools, which are innovative, tuition-free public schools.

Thirty states offer full-time, tuition-free online academies.

And, 27 states offer private school scholarship or tax-deductible programs to help make private school more accessible.

To learn more, visit News.SchoolChoiceWeek.com.

Land O’ Lakes Christian open house
Land O’ Lakes Christian School, 5105 School Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host an open house on Jan. 31 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

For information, call Melissa Ackerson at (813) 995-9040.

Fifth-graders break into top 10
The fifth grade Media Club students from Veterans Elementary School in Wesley Chapel were voted into the top 10 contenders (for the second time in three years) for the Scotties’ Trees Rock video contest.

Students were encouraged to be creative by creating a poem, a play, a speech, a song, or a dance on the importance of trees to themselves, their school and their community.

The school with the most eligible votes will receive $10,000 to use toward a sustainable project, such as tree plantings, outdoor classrooms, playgrounds, athletic fields, gardens and greenhouses.

Veterans’ club coordinator, Susan Forgas, helped the students create a mock newscast intermixing sports, news and reality television between tree facts. If the school wins, it will use the winnings to further their efforts in expanding its butterfly sanctuary and edible gardens, along with adding a sensory garden.

Winners will be announced Feb. 15.

The videos can be viewed at ScottiesTreesRock.com.