The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

8/07/2015 – MILITARY MEMORIAL DEDICATION

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East Pasco Chapter 705 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart USA will dedicate a Purple Heart Memorial in Zephyr Park, 38116 Fifth Ave., on Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. The memorial is in honor of the almost 2 million Americans who have been wounded or killed in combat. Sponsorships are available. For information, call Earl McMillan at (813) 782-3425.

8/17/2015 – KNITTING/CROCHETING GROUP

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The Threads of Compassion, a ladies knitting and crocheting group, meets at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 15520 North Blvd., in Tampa on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The group makes blankets and caps to donate to cancer patients at local hospitals. For information, call Kathy Morse at (813) 962-5766, or Pat Martin at (813) 948-3513.

8/04/2015 – FREE KIDS SHOWS AT COBB

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Cobb Grove 16 Theatre, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will offer one more week of free kids movies with the showing of “The Lego Movie” and “Sesame Street: Follow That Bird” on Aug. 4, Aug. 5 and Aug. 6. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Large groups, schools and camps are invited. For information, call (813) 948-5444.

8/02/2015 – CONGREGATION KOL AMI EVENTS

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Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road in Tampa, is hosting morning brunch and planning meetings to discuss programming ideas and make plans for the 2015-16 school year. The first one is Aug. 2 at 10 a.m., for families with children in kindergarten through second grade. The second meeting is Aug. 9 at 10 a.m., for families with children up to age 4. There will be childcare volunteers, to allow children to play. To RSVP, email ">.

8/01/2015 – MEET HUNGER GAMES ACTRESS

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The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel will host Willow Shields (“Primrose) on Aug. 1 during the Back-to-School Bash from noon to 3 p.m. Guests can meet Shields and get an autograph, with restrictions. The line will open at 10 a.m., at Center Court. The first 500 fans will receive a Macy’s style guide featuring a photo of Shields, for autograph. There also will be a mini fashion show. For a complete set of rules and instructions on the meet and greet, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/rules.

HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE NEEDS VENDORS

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St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, 17513 Lakeshore Road in Lutz, is looking for crafters/vendors for its Women’s Club Holiday Boutique Craft Fair on Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information, call (813) 909-4469, or email ">.

8/29/2015 to 10/4/2015- MILITARY GET FREE TICKETS TO RAYS

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The Tampa Bay Rays will offer all military, retired military, and veterans with an honorable discharge, two free tickets for the remaining 30 games at Tropicana Field. Participants can go to RaysBaseball.com and fill out an honor pass application. A third party will then verify that the participant is military or a veteran. Honor passes can be picked up at the ticket office at Tropicana Field on game night.

8/29/2015 – POTTERY CLASSES EVERY SATURDAY

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San Antonio Pottery, 11903 Curley Road in San Antonio, is hosting hand-building and potter wheel classes every Saturday in August, for ages 8 and older. No prior experience is needed. Guests just need an adventurous spirit, and a willingness to have fun and get a little messy.
Classes are 10 a.m. to noon, for ages 8 to 12, with parents and grandparents; and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., for ages 13 and older. The cost is $25 per person and includes instruction, clay, glazing and firing of one piece. There also is a six-week Tuesday/Wednesday wheel throwing class available. Reservations are required. For information, email ">.

 

Chalk Talk 07-22-15

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(Courtesy of Florida School Boards Association)
(Courtesy of Florida School Boards Association)

Cindy Stuart becomes certified board member
Cindy Stuart, a Hillsborough County School Board member, was recognized as a certified board member at the annual summer conference, in June, sponsored by the Florida School Boards Association. Stuart earned the distinction by completing a minimum of 96 hours of training in 12 areas focusing on the governance roles and responsibilities of school board members.

PHSC names building after Katherine Johnson
Pasco-Hernando State College hosted a dedication ceremony in June for the Katherine M. Johnson Administration Building at the Porter Campus of Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The PHSC District Board of Trustees selected the Porter Campus administration building to honor Johnson in consideration of the significant role she played in establishing the Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel.

Community members, faculty, staff and students attended the event honoring Johnson in recognition for her decade of excellence in serving the college.

Johnson retired on June 30 after serving as college president since 2005.

POP 21 bus making stops for students
Pasco County school students who are taking advantage of the free summer lunch bus meals also will get free books.

The POP 21 bus (Power on Pasco) will depart from Pasco Middle School at 9:35 a.m., July 28, to hand out free books to those students.

Schools and individual staff members donated thousands of used books, and the district purchased around 700 new books from Scholastic.

The stop locations are:

  • Arbours Apartment Complex, near 12861 Stately Oak St., in Dade City, from 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
  • Dade Oaks Apartments, near 37455 Acorn Loop in Dade City, from noon to 12:45 p.m.
  • Lake George Apartments, near 15246 Davis Loop in Dade City, from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Lecture-style art workshop
The Encore Academy at Pasco-Hernando State College is offering a travel art workshop on the East Campus in Dade City, 36727 Blanton Road. The lecture-style workshop on July 30 will focus on the must-see art of France.

PHSC art instructor Charlene Jones will highlight paintings, sculptures and other works for those planning to travel abroad or for armchair travelers.

The workshop costs $12. Registration deadline is three days prior to workshop date.

For more information about this and other Encore Academy workshops and memberships, call (352) 797-5167, or visit PHSC.edu/encore.

Teacher boot camp at Saint Leo
The undergraduate Education Department at Saint Leo University will host local school district teachers at its annual Beginning Teacher Boot Camp program July 31 from 9 a.m. to noon, in the Student Community Center at the campus, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

Beverly Ledbetter, a 37-year veteran teacher, will lead the training, which will include:

  • classroom management strategies
  • contract rights and responsibilities
  • workplace acronyms new teacher don’t yet know
  • what new teachers can do to find out how school support personnel and fellow teachers work together on practical matters

To attend, email with “Beginning Teacher Boot Camp 2015” in the subject line.

Stuff the Bus volunteers needed
The United Way of Pasco County will host the 5th Annual Stuff the Bus for Teachers July 31 to Aug. 2, at various Walmart and Publix locations, and is looking for volunteers.

There are three-hour shifts available: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

To sign up, visit tinyurl.com/stuffthebus2015 or UnitedWayPasco.org.

For information, call (727) 835-2028.

Volunteer day at Sanders
The community is invited to take part in the STEAM Team Volunteer Day at the new Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School, 5126 School Road in Land O’ Lakes, on Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. Volunteers will help new teachers set up their classrooms.

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the event.

For information, call Sandy Graves at (813) 817-3011.

Sponsors needed for Back to School Bash
Cobb Theatres Grove 16, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel is looking for sponsors for its seventh annual Back to School Bash on Aug. 15. The event, themed after the movie “Fantastic Four,” will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Programs at the event include activities like face painting and games to haircuts, health screenings and school supply giveaways.

If interested in becoming a sponsor or partner, call Demene Benjamin at (813) 948-5445, or email .

Academy at the Lakes tours
The admissions office at Academy at the Lakes, 2331 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, will offer campus tours throughout the summer. Tours are scheduled Monday through Friday during school hours. There are small group tours on a weekly basis. Children are welcome. Tour groups are limited to 10 people. For information, call (813) 909-7919.

Preventing that summer slide
Fox Hollow Elementary School teachers are volunteering their time and hosting a Summer Slide camp every Tuesday during the summer from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program is designed to prevent the summer slide of academics for students.

Using the American Reading program, teachers meet with individual students, collect reading data and set power goals so students have a purpose for reading.

Students also can check out books from the media center, have independent reading time, and complete 30 minutes of I-ready lessons. I-ready is an online program that offers personalized instruction to unique areas of need.

Fox Hollow also is part of the summer feeding program, and serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday to children up to 18 years of age. Breakfast is available 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., and lunch is available noon to 12:15 p.m.

Pasco County Schools provide free summer lunches
Pasco County Schools and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and local agencies are partnering for the 2015 Summer BreakSpot Summer meal program.

The program was established to ensure that low-income children receive nutritious meals when school is out for summer. Meals and snacks are provided at no charge to children ages 18 and younger.

To learn more about Florida’s Summer BreakSpot sites and to find a location, visit SummerFoodFlorida.org.

Matthew Tapie is new director for Catholic-Jewish Studies
Saint Leo University President Arthur F. Kirk Jr., has appointed Matthew A. Tapie as director of the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University, effective July 16.

Tapie comes to Saint Leo from The Catholic University of America, where he was a visiting professor of theology and religious studies, and a research fellow at CUA’s Institute of Interreligious Study and Dialogue.

Tapie succeeds Michael Anthony Novak, who has served as interim director of the center for the last year.