The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

12/01/2015 – Christmas concert at Saint Leo

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Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will present its family friendly concert, “A Saint Leo Christmas,” on Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., in the Student Community Center.

Admission is free, but ticket reservations are required for seating at the 7 p.m. show. The evening performance will be followed by the blessing of the manger and the lighting of the campus tree.

For evening ticket reservations, contact Tamra Hunt at (352) 588-8294 or .

For assistance with accommodations for parking or seating for either show, contact Jennifer Orendorf at (352) 588-8401 or ">.

Thanksgiving service

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The North East Pasco Ministerial Association will host a “Community Thanksgiving Service” and meal on Nov. 24 at noon at the Calvary Assembly of God CHurch, 13544 U.S. 98 in Dade City. The service is free, but donations will be accepted. Proceeds will go to various organizations and activities that the association supports. For information, contact Robert McConathy at (352) 567-2038 or .

11/21/2015 – Mistletoe Market

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The Dade City Woman’s Club will present a “Mistletoe Market” on Nov. 21 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Historic Dade City Woman’s Club, 37922 Palm Ave., in Dade City. There will be vendors with jewelry, personalized gift items, poinsettias, Christmas decor, crafts, wreaths and more. There also will be raffles. Proceeds will benefit the club’s Shoes for Children Program. For information, call Sharon Grace at (352) 668-8088.

Chalk Talk 11/18/15

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Lutz man honored as outstanding alumni

Dr. Marc Musto
Dr. Marc Musto

Thomas University in Georgia recently honored three of its most outstanding alumni during the annual Alumni Awards Dinner at TU’s main campus. Dr. Marc Musto, from Lutz, received the Distinguished Recent Graduate Award, given to an individual who graduated in the last five years, in recognition of Musto’s personal and professional accomplishments and support of Thomas University.

Musto graduated from TU in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. He was a member of the men’s soccer team, served on the Honor Council, and worked as a peer tutor for three years.

After graduation, Musto enrolled in the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. While at SCO, he was awarded a three-year Health Professions Scholarship from the United States Air Force. He served as the SCO liaison for the Armed Forces Optometric Society.

In July 2015, Musto graduated as a captain from Commissioned Officer Training at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is currently commissioned at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

General Barry McCaffrey to speak
Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo, will host Gen. Barry McCaffrey on Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.

McCaffrey is an international affairs expert and national security analyst for NBC News, and will speak on the topic of “Policy, National Security and the Road Ahead.”

There will be a brief question-and-answer session. Admission is free.

For information, contact Colleen Tiesler at (352) 588-8291 or .

Winter Art Showcase and Book Fair
Wiregrass Ranch High School will have a “Winter Art Showcase and Book Fair” at Barnes & Noble at The Shops at Wiregrass on Dec. 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be a jazz quartet, carolers and drama performances, “Artist in Action,” storytelling, face painting, art exhibits, free gift wrapping and more. Come and show your support and win prizes like a GlowLight Nook, PTSA gift bag and original paintings.

If you cannot make the event, shop online from Dec. 3 to Dec. 7, using voucher code 11704327 at BN.com/bookfairs, and a percentage of your Barnes & Noble purchases will benefit the fine arts department at Wiregrass Ranch High School.

Hockey clinics for students
The Tampa Bay Lightning will host Street Lightning Hockey Clinics for the fourth and fifth graders at these schools:

  • Dec. 7 at 9:50 a.m.: Seven Oaks Elementary School in Wesley Chapel
  • Dec. 11 at 9:50 a.m.: Denham Oaks Elementary School in Lutz

Every participating student receives a hockey stick and a Lightning game voucher.

For information, call Amy Lipovetsky, Office for Teaching and Learning, at (813) 794-2246.

Superintendent of Catholic Schools named
The Diocese of St. Petersburg has appointed Chris Pastura as Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Centers. Pastura comes from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, where he had served as assistant superintendent, director of School Strategic Planning since 2011.

Pastura has a Master of Nonprofit Administration from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Educational Administration from Xavier University, and a Bachelor of Arts in theology from Xavier University. He has worked as a high school principal, assistant principal, lay missionary and theology teacher.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg includes 45 schools and centers, and 11,000 students throughout five Florida counties.

Saint Leo named great college to work for
For the third consecutive year, Saint Leo University in St. Leo, was named one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to a new survey by “The Chronicle of Higher Education.” The results were based on a survey of 281 colleges and universities.

Saint Leo achieved honors in eight categories this year: Collaborative Governance; Compensation and Benefits; Confidence in Senior Leadership; Facilities, Workspace and Security; Professional/Career Development Programs; Respect and Appreciation; Supervisor/Department Chair Relationship; and Work/Life Balance.

Because Saint Leo was rated highly in eight out of 12 categories, it also was named a 2015 Honor Roll institution.

Get help for health care enrollment

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Premier Community Healthcare will offer help to anyone who needs assistance for the open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act. The deadline for coverage is Dec. 15.

Those interested can receive one-on-one help at these libraries:

  • Dec. 5 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway
  • Dec. 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City
  • Dec. 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Regency Park Library, 9701 Little Road in New Port Richey

To make an appointment, call (352) 518-2000.

For those that miss the library sessions, walk-ins/appointments to receive free education and assistance from counselors are available at Premier locations on Mondays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Tuesdays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Dade City Family Health Center, 14027 Fifth St.
  • Zephyrhills Family Health Center, 37920 Medical Arts Court
  • New Port Richey Family Health Center, 2114 Seven Springs Blvd.

For information, visit PremierHC.org.

Free community seminar

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The Alzheimer’s Family Organization and Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care will offer a free community seminar, to provide resources to caregivers, on Nov. 19 at Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

There will be a vendor fair at 9 a.m., and guest speaker presentations at 10 a.m. Virtual Dementia Tours from Senior Helpers will be available throughout the day.

A free, boxed lunch will be provided, and door prizes will be given out from vendors.

Guest speakers include Dominick De Petrillo, executive director of AFO; Virginia Norton of Gulfside Hospice; Eileen Poiley, director of education at USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute; Susan Frangello, T’ai Chi/Qigong instructor; and Matthew Barry, attorney with the Nature Coast Law Offices of Gregory Gay.

Reservations are required. For information, call toll free (888) 496-8004 or (727) 848-8888.

Medicare help

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The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, will host a SHINE Medicare help event on Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. A volunteer from Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders will be available to help people with Medicare enrollment questions. For information, call (813) 788-6375.

Tobacco cessation

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Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., will offer the “I Quit” tobacco cessation program Nov. 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. No reservations are required. For information, visit FHZeph.org.

Breast cancer support

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Florida Cancer Affiliates, 3611 Little Road in Trinity, will host a breast cancer support group meeting on Nov. 19 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will be an open discussion on topics of interest. The group is for anyone who has been touched by breast cancer. Light refreshments will be served. For information, call (727) 236-0302.

Group leader orientation

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The Alzheimer’s Family Organization will host a “Support Group Leader Orientation/In –Service” on Nov. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Brookdale New Port Richey, 6400 Trouble Creek Road. The meeting will instruct individuals in the running and proper functioning of a support group. Upon completion of the program, the support group leader will receive a certificate and will be eligible to affiliate the support group with the AFO.  Training is free and open to the public. Those interested must register by calling the office at (727) 848-8888 or (888) 496-8004, or by visiting the website at AlzheimersFamily.org.