The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

7/20/2015 – EAST PASCO DEMOCRATIC CLUB

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The East Pasco Democratic Club will meet July 20 at 7 p.m., at The Commons on Pretty Pond, 38130 Pretty Pond Road in Zephyrhills. The guest speaker will be Brian Corley, Pasco County supervisor of elections, on the topic of voting laws as they affect voters, registration and vote by mail. Light refreshments will be served. For information, call Fern Williams at (813) 838-0767.

7/19/2015 – FREE ICE CREAM SOCIAL

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Whole Foods Market, 3802 Northdale Blvd., in Tampa, is hosting a free ice cream social July 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Guests can get a free one-scoop ice cream sundae, while supplies last, and enter to win a summer gift basket. For information, call (813) 264-3600.

7/18/2015 – CYCLE-A-THON FOR BREAST CANCER

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Stephanie Farquhar is hosting a cycle-a-thon for breast cancer at Pura Cycling Studio, 1822 Bruce B. Down Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, July 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The proceeds will help her mother, Debra Farquhar, walk for breast cancer and fund research. Guests can cycle for 45 minutes, starting at 9 a.m., for a donation of $25. To reserve a seat, contact Stephanie Farquhar at (813) 501-2124 or email .

7/16/2015 – MEET COMMISSIONER BECKNER

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Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, District 6, will host office hours for the community July 16 from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Austin Davis Public Library, 17808 Wayne Road in Odessa. No appointment is necessary. Residents will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. For information, call (813) 273-3652.

7/31/2015 – STUFF THE BUS FOR TEACHERS

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The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is collecting school supplies from July 31 to Aug. 2 for the Stuff the Bus for Teachers program. Some of the school items needed include mechanical pencils, pens, scissors, pink erasers, dry erasers, dry erase markers, hand sanitizer, rulers, copy paper (white and colors), spiral notebooks, folders (3-prong and no prong), and colored pencils. For information and donation sites, email .

8/19/2015 – SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE

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Sharpline Investigations is hosting a school supply drive through Aug. 21, with local drop-off locations in Wesley Chapel and Lutz. Supplies needed include backpacks, pencils, pens, spiral notebooks, composition books, binders and notebook paper. The supplies will be distributed to students in Hillsborough and Pasco counties that are at risk in attendance, academics and behavior. For information and locations, visit SharplineInvestigations.com/giving-back-to-the-community/.

7/15/2015 – DONATE SCHOOL SUPPLIES

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Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care will collect school supplies July 15 through Aug. 8 at all five of its thrift shops. Anyone who donates will receive a voucher for 25 percent off a single item (sale items and furniture excluded), valid for one week after the donation, at any thrift shop location. Supplies needed include backpacks, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, folders, glue sticks, markers, notebooks, paper, pencil cases, pens, scissors and yellow pencils. All supplies will be distributed to needy children in Pasco County through the Kiwanis Club of Greater West Pasco. For a list of shop locations, visit GHPPC.org.

Chalk Talk 07-08-15

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Top Dogs at Stewart Middle
The Pilot Club of Zephyrhills honored the Top Dog winners for the fourth quarter from Stewart Middle School. Students were chosen for academics and leadership roles in the school. Those recognized were Autumn Bayless, Jaylen Tucker, Ja’Varrius Wilson, Joseph Game, George Kohler, Victoria Pelfrey, Sophie Patino, Cortney Fishback and Lyric Dixon-Seal.

Battle of the Belts winners
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point awarded a $500 prize to the students of Land O’ Lakes High School for the most improved safety belt use while driving in the Battle of the Belts.

The program, with its partner Safe Kids of Pasco County, promotes seatbelt use among teens and was initiated in an effort to change statistics and increase safety belt use among teenagers.

There were several award categories including highest seatbelt use, most improved seatbelt use, best school campaign, best public service announcement, best poster and best essay.

Land O’ Lakes High School had the highest percentage of increased safety belt use in Pasco County. The trauma center at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point sponsored the prize for the most improved seatbelt use.

Columbiettes award scholarships
The Columbiettes of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes awarded scholarships to local students during a reception in June.

Students receiving the scholarships were Catherine Cole, Florida State University; Lisa Goldsworthy, graduate of Sunlake High School; and Rose Kabat, graduate of Land O’ Lakes High School.

The scholarships were made possible through sponsors and proceeds from The Columbiettes’ annual fashion show.

Special Olympics World Games
The Land O’ Lakes High School Unified Special Olympics Soccer Team will represent the United States at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles July 25 through Aug. 2.

The team will depart Land O’ Lakes High School on its journey to the World Games on July 20. Fans are encouraged to participate in a send-off at noon that day. Interested fans should gather by 11:45 a.m. Parking is available to the southeast of the school. The goal is to line Gator Lane with cheering fans as the team departs.

The Land O’ Lakes High School Unified Soccer Team consists of 12 members. Seven members are Special Olympics athletes and five are partners. They practice Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, 3032 Collier Parkway. The team is coached by state 3A girls soccer coach of the year Vicky King, and assistant coaches Phyllis Crain from Land O’ Lakes High School and Meghan McLean with Special Olympics Florida.

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.

Lecture-style art workshops
The Encore Academy at Pasco-Hernando State College is offering a series of three travel art workshops on the East Campus in Dade City, 36727 Blanton Road, on Thursdays, July 16 to July 30 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

These lecture-style workshops will focus on the must-see art of Greece on July 16; the must-see art of Italy on July 23; and the must-see Art of France on July 30.

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

Each workshop in the series is $12 and may be taken independently.

Registration deadline is three days prior to workshop start date.

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

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.

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 not in session. Meals and snacks are provided at no charge to children ages 18 and younger when school is out for the summer.

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

 

SMOKING CESSATION

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Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel will offer the Tools to Quit smoking cessation program July 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at its Health & Wellness Center, 2700 Healing Way. Participants can plan their quitting process, establish goals and learn strategies for success. The program provides free nicotine replacement products such as patches, gum and lozenges. To register, call (813) 929-1000, ext. 208.