The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Business Digest 05/03/2023

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Blue Heron is expanding
Wesley Chapel’s Blue Heron Senior Communities, which opened two years ago, will soon begin an expansion to add 35 beds, according to a news release.

The addition will provide skilled nursing and rehabilitation to those seeking to recover from an illness before returning home.

Blue Heron is located at 5071 Eagleston Blvd., Wesley Chapel, across the street from BayCare Wesley Chapel and a few minutes north of AdventHeath Wesley Chapel.

The additional 35 beds will bring Blue Heron’s total to 141 private suites.

Blue Heron also offers 95 private assisted living apartments, including a separate wing of 22 apartments specifically dedicated to residents with Alzheimer’s or other forms of age associated memory impairment, the release says.

The 35-bed addition is expected to open in the summer of 2024. It also is expected to generate 35 new jobs, according to the release.

Using financial statements
This webinar, led by Pasco-Hernando SCORE volunteer Jose Melgar, focuses on helping business owners to make good decisions based on financial information. The session is from noon to 1 p.m., on May 11. Register today at SCORE.org/pascohernando.

Operating a home business
Learn some of the pros and cons of operating a home business. The webinar is set for noon to 1 p.m., on May 31. Sharon Eldridge, a Pasco-Hernando SCORE volunteer, will share her insights on this topic. Register today at SCORE.org/pascohernando.

SYNERGY HomeCare opens new locations
SYNERGY HomeCare is opening two new locations. One is at 2625 Stonewood Park Loop, Suite 108, in Land O’Lakes, and the other one is at 3500 E. Fletcher Ave., Suite 220, where it will serve the majority of the Tampa metropolitan area, according to a news release. 

The Land O’ Lakes location is owned and operated by the husband and wife duo of Travis and Jennifer Larimore. Travis is a longtime emergency medicine physician assistant with U.S. Acute Care Solutions (USACS) in Tampa, while Jennifer has spent the majority of her professional career working in Pasco County schools. 

The East Fletcher Avenue location is owned and operated by Sarah Bains and Alaina Tackitt. Sarah comes from a background in accounting, but her time spent providing care for her father introduced her to the world of professional caregiving. Alaina is already familiar with providing in-home care, as her very first job was as a professional caregiver. 

SYNERGY HomeCare is the nation’s fastest-growing home care franchise and it offers a wide array of services to its clients, including in-home care, post-surgery assistance, child care, backup care, and more. 

Fleet management wins honors
Hillsborough County’s fleet management recently received top honors in three categories in the 2023 NAFA Fleet Management Association’s annual contest recognizing the best fleets in the United States and Canada.

The county fleet management was named best public fleet. Its director, Robert Stine, was named fleet professional of the year. Also, Alex Gonzalez, received the fleet technician of the year, according to a news release.

The county won top honors in the only three categories it was eligible to enter, according to the release.

The National Association of Fleet Administrators Inc. is a not-for-profit society for professionals who manage fleets of automobiles, SUVS, trucks, vans, fire apparatus, and a wide range of specialized mobile equipment.

Chalk Talk 05/03/2023

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(Courtesy of Mary McCoy, Saint Leo University)

A collaborative effort
Members of the public and Saint Leo students and alumni attended a Community Expo presented by Saint Leo University and Moffitt Cancer Center on April 14, as the two institutions partnered to offer job and education opportunities to area residents, students and alumni. Moffitt is building a medical research and innovation center on 775 acres in Land O’ Lakes in Pasco County, and Saint Leo is helping to educate students and provide a talent pipeline. Both institutions are collaborating to support substantive social and economic impact, noted Dr. Mark Gesner, vice president of community engagement and communications, in a news release.

A look at Dylan Zuccarello’s design rendering selected to win new furniture for his classroom. (Courtesy of Alden Iaconis, Keybridge Communications)

Teacher wins furniture
First-year math and science teacher Dylan Zuccarello of Lawton Chiles Elementary School in New Tampa is one of three winners in a national classroom furniture giveaway from furniture-maker KI. He was selected from nearly 500 entries and won in a poll of nine finalists, according to a news release.

After submitting his classroom design, Zuccarello was awarded $40,000 worth of furniture to bring his vision to life.

The teacher wanted his classroom to make students excited to come to school and make it easy for kids to connect and interact with each other, something he said he would have loved to have had back when he was a student.

His design focused on creating different zones to ensure his students would be comfortable no matter their communication or learning style.

Literacy for Families
PBS Kids will present “Literacy for Families” on May 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa.

Participants can discover a variety of pre-reading/reading/language-based games, crafts and other suggestions that promote literacy.

The program is designed for families and their children ages 3 to 5. A family is considered a parent/guardian plus one or two children.

Registration is required. For information, call 727-815-7126.

Student achievements
• Emily Flinter, of Lutz, was initiated into the Emory University Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society.
• Payton VanNort, of Lutz, is a member of the production crew for Marietta College’s (Ohio) performance of “Spring Awakening.” VanNort is majoring in theater-directing and is working as an assistant stage manager in the production.

Summer Open House
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of South Florida (OLLI-USF) will host a Summer Open House on May 11 at 10 a.m., at the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club, 200 Inverness Ave., in Temple Terrace.

OLLI is a member-based learning community of adults age 50 and older. It offers classes, workshops, lectures, events and social networking, and provides high-quality, low-cost learning opportunities for adults. Visit USFSeniors.org for more information.

The open house will highlight the 100 liberal arts and technology classes and lectures that will be offered both in person and online, and guests can meet the faculty.

The keynote speaker will be retired professor Howard Kerner on the topic of “History: Why Don’t We Know the Names of the Good?” Kerner researches and shares uplifting and inspiring stories of human goodness during the Holocaust.

To RSVP for the event, call 813-974-5848.

Alternative Peer Group
Victory High School in New Port Richey will host an Alternative Peer Group from May 15 through July 27, for youth ages 14 to 18 who have a substance use disorder or co-occurring disorder and no sex or violent offenses.

The program will run Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with two weeks off: May 29 to June 2 and July 3 to July 7.

The group will take educational field trips to discover new career options, trades, vocational opportunities and tour colleges, and it will participate in sober, fun activities in Tampa Bay.

There also will be yoga, art, and sound healing sessions.

For more information, visit FloridaRecoverySchoolsOfTampaBay.com.

Spirit Night
Pasco County Schools will celebrate education with a Spirit Night at the Tampa Bay Rays’ game on May 20 at 4:10 p.m., at Tropicana Field.

Lower-level seating is $19. The deadline to purchase tickets is May 8. A portion of each ticket purchased will benefit the Pasco Education Foundation.

For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/3w8ram5k.

Cornhole fundraiser
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) will host a PHSC Foundation Cornhole Tournament on May 20 at 11 a.m., at Backdraughts Pizza, 6351 Grand Blvd., in New Port Richey, to benefit the PHSC Foundation.

There also will be a 50/05, live auction, raffles, and a guaranteed sponsor payout for first, second and third place.

Participants should bring their own bags; six games are guaranteed.

The cost is $25 through the ScoreHolio App or the day of the tournament.

For information, contact Lisa Yeager, foundation advancement coordinator, at 727-457-7888 or .

New classes at Lighthouse
Lighthouse Community School will begin offering classes for elementary school age children in the 2023-2024 school year, according to a news release. Lighthouse Preschool of Wesley Chapel already has 3- to 4-year-olds enrolled in its programs. 

The community school model brings together aspects of homeschooling and the benefits of classroom learning. Students are given qualified instruction on campus two days per week. Parents are responsible for homeschooling two days per week using the curriculum and lesson plans sent home by the classroom teacher.

“After many years of requests from parents, we decided to expand Lighthouse to include these older students,” said Director Heather Olsen, in the release. “Our plan is to begin with two teachers in a combined kindergarten/first grade class and to add additional classes as more people express interest.”

Lighthouse Community School is a Christian school that meets at Grace Community Church, and is located 1.5 miles north of State Road 54, near Wesley Chapel District Park.

For information, visit LighthouseWesleyChapel.com. To schedule a tour, call 813-994-8678.

Athletics director recognized for his loyalty

Steve Winterling (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Steve Winterling, athletics director for Pasco-Hernando State College, has received the NJCAA Loyalty Award, an honor awarded only 22 times in the history of the National Junior College Athletic Association, according to a news release.

Winterling is the first in Florida and FCSAA Region 8 to receive the award.

The Loyalty Award is given to an active athletic director in the NJCAA that has worked to uphold the ideals of the organization. Significant to this award is leadership in an athletic program exemplifying excellence both on the field or court and in the classroom.

“I think being there for our student-athletes and their academic success is very important and has always been a high priority for us,” said Winterling, in the release.

Winterling has served as the athletics director at Pasco-Hernando State College since 2018 and was the head baseball coach for the Bobcats for 27 years prior.

He started Pasco-Hernando State’s first intercollegiate baseball team in March 1991 and in 1994 took the Bobcats to its first FCSAA State Tournament, finishing as state runner-up.

In 1995, the program won the Suncoast Conference and made its second appearance in the state tournament. He built the Pasco-Hernando State College athletics program by recruiting quality student-athletes to play against top competition throughout the state of Florida. More than 30 players have signed professional contracts and many others have gone on to four-year institutions.

Winterling also is heavily involved on the national level as the chair of the NJCAA Division II Softball Committee and a member of the NJCAA Division II Volleyball Committee. In 2021, Winterling was selected into the FCSAA Hall of Fame, and in 2022 was inducted into the Paso-Hernando State Walk of Fame.

“I enjoy watching them compete, but mainly getting to see their journey and know them as people,” said Winterling.

Principal Chris Dunning accepts the National Demonstration Magnet School award on behalf of Wendell Krinn Technical High. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

High honors for tech school
Wendell Krinn Technical High School (KTech) has been awarded the designation as a National Demonstration School by Magnet Schools of America (MSA), according to a news release.

This rare distinction means the school has met MSA standards at the highest levels and can now serve as a model for schools around the nation interested in establishing successful magnet schools and magnet programs.

The A-rated school in New Port Richey offers technical programs that prepare students for college and careers in biomedical science, cybersecurity, automotive maintenance, culinary arts, welding, robotics, and other fields.

“This says a lot about the high level of the programs and instruction we offer our students,” said Krinn Principal Chris Dunning, in the release.

“It is truly a collaborative effort involving all the teachers, staff and administrators at KTech and at Marchman Technical College,” said Dunning.

Some Marchman instructors teach KTech students.

Superintendent of the Year
Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has been named Superintendent of the Year by Magnet Schools of America, a national honor that acknowledges Browning’s commitment to expanding school choice in Pasco, according to a news release.

Browning was elected as superintendent in 2012, identifying a need to expand opportunities and choices for students and families in Pasco County.

At that time, the school district had two International Baccalaureate magnet programs.

These three programs have since been implemented: Cambridge Programme, STEAM/STEM, and the expansion of International Baccalaureate, each of which has a K-12 feeder pattern in designated pathways in the school district.

Over the course of the last 10 years, the district has implemented 26 new magnet schools and programs with topics and fields of study based on community need and student interest.

“This national recognition says a lot about our district’s laser focus on expanding choices for families,” said Browning, after receiving the award, the release said.

“We have been determined to provide world-class programs that prepare students for college, career and life. …Everyone shares in this honor: our teachers and students, our administrators, our school board, and our entire school community for really embracing this effort,” said Browning.

Nakita loves the warmer weather

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Nakita is a 10-year-old Cornish Rex. She originally is from Minnesota, where she was always cold. Nakita is happy to live in beautiful, sunny, hot Florida. Most days she lays outside on the lanai. She is very sweet and always greets visitors at the door. Nikita lives in Land O’ Lakes with her proud owners, Lynette and Patrick Condra.

Fastest wins!

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Debbie Wright watched as this young gator swam away with her ball on the 18th hole at The Groves Golf and Country Club in Land O’ Lakes. Wright said she wasn’t fast enough to retrieve her ball from the water!

Health News 04/26/2023

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Michelle Deaton and her son, Wyatt (Courtesy of Swim Across America)

A celebratory swim
Wesley Chapel resident and mom Michelle Deaton will celebrate Mother’s Day and her 50th birthday, five years cancer-free. 

She will celebrate by swimming 2 miles in the ocean with her 12-year-old son Wyatt by her side, to make waves to fight cancer for the Swim Across America Tampa open water swim. Hundreds of swimmers and volunteers will join them at North Shore Park in St. Petersburg on May 6.

Michelle was diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of breast cancer, when Wyatt was just 7 years old.

Her son signed up for Swim Across America with Team Tampa Elite Aquatic Manta Rays and has been swimming for them for the past four years.

Last year, the Deaton family cheered on Wyatt and his swim coach Brian Ahern who swam 2 miles together, to raise $6,000 for cancer research for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

To learn more about the Swim Across America Tampa open water swim, or to register to swim, donate or be a land or water volunteer, visit SwimAcrossAmerica.org/tampa.

Hospital names new leader
Phil Minden is now serving as president of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.

He also is continuing to serve as president of St. Joseph’s Hospital South in Riverview, pending the completion of a national search for his replacement there.

Minden has been part of BayCare since 2016, when the health system acquired Bartow Regional Hospital, where he was president, according to a news release.

He remained in Bartow until he became president of St. Joseph’s Hospital South, in January 2019.

St. Joseph’s Hospital was founded in 1934 by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. The 615-bed hospital is located at 3001 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in Tampa.

BayCare operates two facilities within The Laker/Lutz News region, BayCare Wesley Chapel in Wesley Chapel and St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz.

Chalk Talk 04/26/2023

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(Courtesy of David Ingalls, Wharton High School)

Shooting for Nationals
The Wharton NJROTC Precision Marksmanship Team placed third  along with an individual sixth place for Kylie Lewis in the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Southeastern Regional Competition from April 13 to April 15. The team was made up of Andrea Boknevitz (senior), Gretchen Miller (senior), Kylie Lewis (senior) and Christian Perna (sophomore), with coach GMC Wayne Boknevitz. The third place finish qualified the team to move on and represent the Southeastern Region at the CMP Nationals in Camp Perry, Ohio from July 10 to July 12. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the team get to the next competition. Visit GoFund.me/39cdbb7e. 

‘Signing Day’
Pasco County Schools will host “Signing Day” on April 26 at 9 a.m., for high school students who are declaring their intent to return to teach in Pasco schools after college. The 33 students are graduating from Pasco’s New Teacher Academy (NTA) where they have had the opportunity to explore their chosen profession.

The New Teacher Academy is one of Pasco Schools’ many strategies for addressing the ongoing teacher shortage, in this case by preparing “homegrown” teachers who come directly from our schools and our community. The 33 student graduates are nearly twice as many as last year, when Pasco held its first signing day.

The New Teacher Academy was established at River Ridge High School in 2016 for students who are considering a career in teaching to learn more about the profession. The NTA provides hands-on experience at elementary schools in Pasco County.

The signing-day event will take place at River Ridge High School, 11646 Town Center Road, in the media center, and will feature an NTA graduate who has gone on to earn her college degree and is slated to begin teaching at a Pasco County elementary school next school year.

Florida Prepaid
Pasco County Schools is reminding families that Open Enrollment in Florida Prepaid ends April 30 to lock in the cost of college tuition, starting at just $45 a month. To learn more, visit bit.ly/3H1SeQH.

Literacy for Families
PBS Kids will present “Literacy for Families” on May 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa.

Participants can discover a variety of pre-reading/reading/language-based games, crafts and other suggestions that promote literacy. The program is designed for families and their children ages 3 to 5. A family is considered a parent/guardian plus one or two children.

Registration is required. For information, call 727-815-7126.

Summer Open House
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of South Florida (OLLI-USF) will host a Summer Open House on May 11 at 10 a.m., at the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club, 200 Inverness Ave., in Temple Terrace.

OLLI is a member-based learning community of adults age 50 and older. It offers classes, workshops, lectures, events and social networking, and provides high-quality, low-cost learning opportunities for adults. Visit USFSeniors.org for more information.

The open house will highlight the 100 liberal arts and technology classes and lectures that will be offered both in person and online, and guests can meet the faculty. The keynote speaker will be retired professor Howard Kerner on the topic of “History: Why Don’t We Know the Names of the Good?” Kerner researches and shares uplifting and inspiring stories of human goodness during the Holocaust.

To RSVP for the event, call 813-974-5848.

Alternative Peer Group
Victory High School in New Port Richey will host an Alternative Peer Group from May 15 through July 27, for youth ages 14 to 18 who have a substance use disorder or co-occurring disorder and no sex or violent offenses.

The program will run Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with two weeks off: May 29 to June 2 and July 3 to July 7. The group will take educational field trips to discover new career options, trades, vocational opportunities and tour colleges, and it will participate in sober, fun activities in Tampa Bay. There also will be yoga, art, and sound healing sessions.

For more information, visit FloridaRecoverySchoolsOfTampaBay.com.

Spirit Night
Pasco County Schools will celebrate education with a Spirit Night at the Tampa Bay Rays’ game on May 20 at 4:10 p.m., at Tropicana Field. Lower-level seating is $19. The deadline to purchase tickets is May 8. A portion of each ticket purchased will benefit the Pasco Education Foundation.

For tickets, visit PascoEducationFoundation.org/community-involvement/teaming-up-for-kids/.

PROMise program for students
The Auto Club Group, AAA, is working with Florida schools to prevent prom and graduation season from turning deadly on the road, by launching its annual AAA PROMise program designed to help teens avoid substance-impaired driving, as well as distracted driving, according to a news release.

The program works by having teens sign a pledge banner and make this promise before prom and graduation celebrations:

  • I promise not to drive impaired or distracted.
  • I promise not to let my friends drive impaired or distracted.
  • I promise my parents I will get home safely or call them for help.

Parents also can PROMise that they will always pick up their teen, regardless of the time or location.

Public and private schools can participate in the program for free by registering at AAA.com/PROMise.

Schools will receive a tool that includes: fact sheets/resources; a pledge banner; and premium student items, such as drawstring bags, an AAA PROMise keepsake and more.

Last year, more than 300 schools participated in the program.

The deadline to order is May 31.

Autism certification
Florida’s Sports Coast has announced the Destination Management Organization has completed autism-specific training to become a Certified Autism Center, designated by The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, a global leader in online training and certification programs, according to a news release.

The certification acknowledges that Florida’s Sports Coast staff have completed training and certification in best practices when assisting autistic individuals in the destination.

“Our goal as a destination is to provide the best service and experiences possible to visitors of all abilities,” said Adam Thomas, tourism director, in the release.

“To achieve that goal, we do our part to educate ourselves on the various needs of our visitors. We are delighted for Florida’s Sports Coast to now be a Certified Autism Center, having completed autism-specific training so that we can better implement practices to assist autistic individuals who visit, and live, in Pasco County. Next, we look forward to becoming a Certified Autism Destination in 2024,” said Thomas.

For information on the Certified Autism Center or Autism Travel, visit IBCCES.org/cac-faq-travel or AutismTravel.com.

A friendship in the making

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Five-year-old rescues Azalea (Husky mix) and Peppa (Schnorky) have had hard lives but are now finding friendship with each other and their proud owner, Julie Bluver.

These owls quietly roost

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Laurie Kimball, of Land O’ Lakes, said each year a pair of barred owls returns to a box in her backyard to have their young. This year, the pair was blessed with two owlets. Kimball said it is a pleasure to watch the parents raise their young, as recently, the owlets fledged (become capable of flight) after five weeks of age. Their parents will continue to watch over them for the next four months. 

A day of new beginnings

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(Courtesy of AdventHealth West Florida Division)

For nearly 40 years, members of the community have gathered at AdventHealth Zephyrhills for its annual Easter Sunrise Service and dove release. The free event offers the opportunity for AdentHealth to connect with its patients and the community, and to celebrate a day of new beginnings. On Easter Sunday, about 250 people joined the outdoor worship.

Chalk Talk 04/19/2023

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Freedom High student Edgar Gomez Mendez was awarded second place in the Drop Savers Poster Contest, Division 5. (Courtesy of Arts Council of Hillsborough County)

Water conservation awareness
Hillsborough County Water Resources and the City of Tampa Water Department announced the winners of this year’s Drop Savers Poster Contest. The contest was open to all Hillsborough County Public Schools and private kindergarten to 12th grade students.

Students had the opportunity to design a poster about water conservation, which helped them to understand how important it is to conserve vital and limited water resources.

Each poster depicted a water conservation idea, in slogan form, drawing form, or both.

The public schools of the first-place winners will be awarded bottle-filling water stations and up to 100 reusable water bottles.

The first-place winning posters also were submitted in the American Water Works Association’s Florida Section competition.

These area students were recognized:

  • Niam Kumar, Carrollwood Day School, first place Division 1 (kindergarten and first grade)
  • Tulasi Akula, Tampa Palms Elementary, first place, Division 3 (fourth and fifth grade)
  • Peter Meriga, Benito Middle, second place, Division 4 (sixth to eighth grade)
  • Sophia Cui, Liberty Middle, third place, Division 4 (sixth to eighth grade)
  • Edgar Gomez Mendez, Freedom High School, second place, Division 5 (ninth to 12th grade)

Future Business Leaders
Steinbrenner High School’s FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) students recently attended the 2023 State Leadership Conference in Orlando. The school had eight state competitor events place in the competition — the most in Steinbrenner history, according to a news release.

Student winners are:

  • Rahul Boggavarapu: Advertising
  • Kartikeye Gupta: Cyber Security
  • Louis Li: Impromptu Speaking
  • Katrina Lippert: Economics
  • Emmanuel Medina: UX Design
  • Shauri Nyshadham: Intro to Business Procedures
  • Jacob Salmon, Tabur Salmon: Computer Game & Simulation Programming
  • Ryan Sumiantoro, Alyssa Hayman: Mobile Application Development

Steinbrenner’s team advisor, Allison Cuffaro, was inducted into the FBLA Adviser Hall of Fame.