The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Breast cancer support

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Florida Cancer Affiliates, 3611 Little Road in Trinity, will have a breast cancer support meeting on Jan. 7 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The group is an open discussion on topics of interest. Anyone who has been touched by cancer is invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served. For information, call (727) 236-0302.

Chalk Talk 12/30/2105

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Pasco School Board elects chairwoman
The District School Board of Pasco County elected Joanne Hurley (District 2) board chairwoman and Allen Altman (District 1) board vice chairman at its annual reorganization.

Hurley will serve a one-year term as chairwoman before her retirement from the school board next November. She was first elected in 2008, and was re-elected in 2012. Hurley served as chairwoman of the board once, and vice chairwoman twice.

Altman will serve a one-year term as vice chairman. He was elected to the school board in 2006, and was re-elected without opposition in 2010 and 2014. Altman has served as vice chairman and chairman of the board.

Bright Ideas contest
Belle of the Ball Project is supporting Bright House Networks’ program, “Bright Ideas STEM from Today’s Youth,” to help youth develop into innovative entrepreneurs. In the program, students are encouraged to submit a new idea, powered by STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) that can help make the world a better place.

By entering, high school students will vie for the opportunity to compete head-to-head on TV, in front of a studio audience in Orlando. The winner will have the chance to work with a leading innovation firm.

The program is currently open and available for students ages 14 to 19. The deadline to enter is Jan. 4.

To enter, visit BrightIdeas.BrightHouse.com/.

School board meeting cancelled
The District School Board of Pasco County has cancelled the regularly scheduled Jan. 5 board meeting due to winter break.

The district is closed from Dec. 21 through Jan.4.

Magnet school offers tour
Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School, 5126 School Road in Land O’ Lakes, will offer a school tour on Jan. 8, to show parents and prospective students the programs and facilities.

Principal Jason Petry and staff will lead parents through each grade level area, the collaboration center, outdoor classroom areas, boardwalk, and athletic facilities. Sanders is Pasco County’s first magnet school and was designed to focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

For information, call Kristie Newsome at (813) 794-1500.

STEM magnet school info meetings
Centennial Middle STEM Magnet School, scheduled to open in August, will host parent information sessions at 6 p.m., as follows:

  • Jan. 11 at Raymond B. Stewart Middle School, 38505 10th Ave., Zephyrhills
  • Jan. 12 at Pasco Middle School, 13925 14th St., Dade City
  • Jan. 13 at Thomas E. Weightman Middle School, 30649 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel
  • Jan. 19 at Dr. John Long Middle School, 2025 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel
  • Jan. 20 at Centennial Middle School, 38505 Centennial Road in Dade City
  • Jan. 21 at Chester W. Taylor Elementary School, 3638 Morris Bridge Road in Zephyrhills

Parents of sixth- and seventh-graders at the host schools, as well as those of current fifth-graders in the elementary schools that feed into them, are encouraged to attend.

The superintendent, the magnet school principal, and district staff will discuss the STEM magnet theme and programs that will be offered at the school. Parents also will hear about magnet school application timelines and options for transportation.

Still time to enroll for spring classes at PHSC

Currently enrolled and returning Pasco-Hernando State College students are encouraged to register for spring classes as soon as possible. Spring classes begin on Jan. 11.

New students interested in taking classes this spring should visit PHSC.edu/wise, for admissions information. The application fee is $25, with an additional $20 assessed during the late registration period, which is Jan. 11 through Jan. 15.

For more information, visit PHSC.edu, or contact the Student Development Office at a nearby PHSC location.

Lutz native performs at Belmont concert
Sarah Fechtel, a native of Lutz and commercial music major at Belmont University, performed in the “Christmas at Belmont” concert at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The concert was taped live and aired nationally on PBS this holiday season.

More than 700 student musicians joined the Belmont School of Music faculty and the Nashville Children’s Choir for the concert. This year’s edition featured the University Symphony Orchestra, Belmont Strings, University Singers, Belmont Chorale, Percussion Ensemble, Musical theatre, Jazz Band, Jazzmin, Southbound and Company, and mass choirs.

Thursday Musicale offers scholarships
The Thursday Musicale, a women’s choral group formed to promote music in Pasco and Hernando counties, offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Pasco and Hernando counties who plan to study music in college and make it a career.

The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Jan. 22. Auditions will be Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Seven Springs in New Port Richey.

For applications, contact your high school career counselor and/or music director.

For information, email .

Take Stock in Children applications
Take Stock in Children scholarship applications are now being accepted online through Jan. 24 for Pasco County Schools’ students on free/reduced lunch in grades eight to 10.

The organization, a program with the Pasco Education Foundation and partnered with Pasco County Schools, has provided scholarships, mentors and hope since 1995.

For information and an application, visit PascoEducationFoundation.org.

Best classic pictures at Tampa Theatre

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Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin Theatre in Tampa, will host a “Best Picture Classic Series, featuring seven Best Picture winners that span 10 decades. All shows are at 3 p.m. The January shows are:

  • Jan. 10: “All About Eve”
  • Jan. 17: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”
  • Jan. 24: “My Fair Lady”
  • Jan. 31: “The Artist”

The cost is $10 for general admission, and $8 for theater members. For information and tickets, visit TampaTheatre.org.

01/08/2016 – New Year’s Waltz at Straz

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Tampa Bay Times Masterworks will present “New Year’s Waltz” on Jan. 8 at 8 p.m., at the Straz Performing Center for the Arts, 1010 N. Macinnes Place in Tampa. Michael Francis will lead The Florida Orchestra in a Viennese and waltz-themed program. Tickets start at $15. For information, visit FloridaOrchestra.org.

01/08/2016 – Shabbat family event

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Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road in Tampa, will host a Shabbat family event on Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. Guests can choose between a “Pizza and PJ Shabbat” for younger families, or a musical Shabbat service outside, for ages 8 years and older. At 7:30 p.m., there will be a service wrap-up, singing and Kiddush, at the amphitheater. For information, call (813) 962-6338.

01/08/2016 – Vietnam commemoration program

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The Pasco Federated Republican Women’s Club will host a luncheon on Jan. 8 at noon at The Grove Golf & Country Club, 7924 Melogold Circle in Land O’ Lakes. The guest speaker will be Lou Rinaldi, district representative for the Vietnam Commemoration Program. The program is meant to thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were prisoners of war or listed as missing in action. The cost for the luncheon is $20. For information or to make a reservation, contact Fran Scerbo at (727) 597-3727 or .

01/08/2016 – Author Tim Dorsey in Carrollwood

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The Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road in Tampa, will host author Tim Dorsey with a presentation on “Florida: A Target-Rich Environment for Crime Writers” on Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. Admission is free. For information, call (813) 922-8167.

Free yoga classes start Jan. 5

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Triniti Fitness & Nutrition, 6248 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills, will offer weekly yoga classes on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., starting Jan. 5, for adults age 18 and older. Classes will be taught in both Sanskrit and English, and will include a mixture of hatha, kundalini, ashtanga, lyengar, restorative, anusara, vinyasa and others, as well as tai chi and QiGong. M.J. Price will be the yoga instructor. The classes are free, but donations will be accepted, and the class will vote on a local charity to receive the funds. For information, call (727) 623-2107.

01/02/2016 – Kol Ami hosts havdalah

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Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road in Tampa, will host a “Havdalah and Hollywood Program” on Jan. 2 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Havdalah will take place under the stars at 7 p.m., followed by the movies “Keeping the Faith” (for adults) and “Prince of Egypt” (the animated version for kids). Adult supervision will be available for the kids’ movie. Admission is free, but guests should RSVP by calling (813) 962-6338.

01/02/2016 – Movie and popcorn

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The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a movie and popcorn event for grades kindergarten to fifth grade on Jan. 2 at 2 p.m. The movie will be a newly released G or PG rated film. For information, call (813) 929-1214.