The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Cross-Bay Ferry announces promotions

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The Cross-Bay Ferry has announced it is offering two new promotions for riders on Wednesdays and Thursdays during February.

One deal, is a Buy One, Get One (BOGO). The BOGO special will allow one customer to get up to three free tickets with the purchase of three full-price tickets on Wednesdays and Thursdays, excluding days of Tampa Bay Lightning home games. This offer will be valid on Feb. 1, Feb. 2, Feb. 8, Feb. 15, Feb. 16, Feb. 22, Feb. 25 and Feb. 26.

To redeem the BOGO offer, customers must use the promo code “CROSSBAYWEEKDAY” when purchasing tickets online (TheCrossBayFerry.com/st-pete-tampa) or in person at dockside ticket booths in Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Another promotion, Kids Ride Free, allows up to two kids age 12 and younger to ride free with an adult on Wednesday and Thursdays, also excluding days of the Lightning home games.

The valid dates for this promotion are the same as the BOGO deal.

To redeem this offer, customers must enter the promo code “KIDSRIDEFREE23” when purchasing tickets online or in person. All children must have their own ticket and be accompanied by an adult.

These promotions will allow the ferry to better serve rider and customer demand for its mid-week service, build on its Community Partner Program, and mark another step in the ferry’s development as a long-term transportation option for travel across the bay, according to a news release.

Published February 01, 2023

Sertoma club receives grant

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President Darrell Huling presents a check representing a $2,000 grant to Deborah Golinski, president/CEO of Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc. (Courtesy of West Pasco Sertoma Club)

The West Pasco Sertoma Club Inc., has received a 2022 Sertoma Club Grant, marking the club’s continued commitment to volunteer service, charitable support, and community leadership, according   to a news release.

Funds from the grant will go to benefit Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation of Florida Inc., in support of hearing needs of the children of Florida, which includes hearing screenings and hearing aids, as well as other hearing related needs. To learn more visit FamilyHearingHelp.org.

West Pasco Sertoma Club Inc., is part of the national Sertoma Inc. family of local civic service clubs. Sertoma was established over a century ago. It is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those who are at risk of hearing loss, or affected by it, through the organization’s education and support efforts.

To learn more about West Pasco Sertoma Club Inc., email , or visit its Facebook page, Facebook.com/darrell.huling/.

Chalk Talk 02/01/2023

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Saint Leo University’s newly named Center for Adult Learning at University Campus is on the first floor of Saint Edward Hall. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

New year, new name
One of Saint Leo University’s education centers, the former East Pasco Education Center, will now be the Center for Adult Learning at University Campus, according to a news release.

The name change is keeping with the center’s mission of educating adult learners and those of nontraditional college age. Adult learners choose to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in order to strengthen their skillsets or reskill and change careers, and Saint Leo’s Center for Adult Learning will focus on assisting students in meeting those goals.

The new center is based on the first floor of Saint Edward Hall, one of the oldest buildings on the campus, which is at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

Degrees offered at the Center for Adult Learning at University Campus include:

  • Associate of Arts: liberal arts; business administration; criminal justice; and information technology
  • Bachelor of Arts: business administration (management, marketing, and technology management); criminal justice (criminalistics and homeland security); educational studies (education and children; education and adolescents; English; social science); elementary education; human resource management; middle grades education (English and social science); psychology (clinical/counseling, developmental, experimental, general); and religion
  • Bachelor of Science: accounting; computer information systems; cybersecurity; and health care administration
  • Bachelor of Social Work: social work
  • Master of Science: criminal justice (behavioral studies, corrections, criminal investigations, critical incident management, forensic science, and legal studies)

Registration is taking place for Spring 2 Semester classes, which begin March 13, and the Summer 1 Semester, which begins May 8.

For information about the Center for Adult Learning at University Campus, email , or call 813-226-2775.

African acrobats
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) will host the Zuzu African Acrobats on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m., at the PHSC Instructional Performing Arts Center, 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

Admission is free and open to the public.

For information, contact Luther Buie, associate dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Multicultural Student Affairs, at 727-816-3192 or .

Graduation rates
The Pasco County Schools 2021-2022 graduate rate of 90.2% continues to exceed the state average and is the best among Tampa Bay area school districts, according to a Pasco County Schools news release.

Pasco’s graduation rate slipped by less than one percentage point compared to last year’s rate (from 91.0% to 90.2%), the release said.

The slight decrease reflects a statewide trend, and many districts experienced significant decreases.

The state graduation rate dropped by nearly three percentage points, from 90.1% to 87.3%.

Taking the long view, Pasco’s graduation rate is evidence of steady progress — since 2013, the rate has improved by more than 14 percentage points.

“Despite the challenges our students experienced in recent years, we continue to see steady progress year after year,” said Superintendent Kurt Browning, in the release.

“All our teachers in elementary, middle and high school can share the credit because we know that it takes a team effort to prepare students for college, career and life,” said Browning.

Hillsborough County Public School’s graduation rate for the 2021-2022 year is 87.9%, the release said.

To view the statewide results, visit the Florida Department of Education web page.

Student achievements

  • James Cook, Lutz: Dean’s List, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Nicole Marie Farmer, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in finance, University of Maryland Global Campus
  • Matthew Ferguson, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in management studies, University of Maryland Global Campus
  • Alexis Leighty, Lutz: Dean’s List, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee
  • Wolfgang Louk, Lutz: Dean’s List, Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas
  • Faith Quinn, Wesley Chapel: Dean’s List, Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas
  • Grace Quinn, Wesley Chapel: Dean’s List, Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas

Five for Five Dinner
The Republican Party of Pasco will host its third annual Five for Five Dinner (a five-course meal to benefit the club’s $5,000 scholarship fund) on March 2 at the Timber Greens Golf & Country Club, 6333 Timber Greens Blvd., in New Port Richey.

The fundraiser will help a high school student go to a college or trade school of their choice in Florida, with a $1,000 scholarship award.

Check-in and cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner at 6 p.m.

The event will feature Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, Chef Adam, and celebrity sous-chefs Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Sen. Ed Hooper, Rep. Randy Maggard, Commissioner Seth Weightman, and school board member Cynthia Armstrong.

For tickets and sponsorship levels, call Sandy Graves at 813-817-3011, or the Republican Party of Pasco office at 727-863-5400.

Winston is a playful pup

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Winston is an English mastiff and is 1 ½ years old. He loves to play in the water, particularly with the hose or sprinkler, and playing with his doggie friends at Courteous Canine. After a long day of playing, he enjoys napping and lounging at home. He lives up to the meaning of a ‘gentle giant.’ He lives with his ‘paw’rents, Erika and Jason Adipietro, in Lutz.

Your friendly neighborhood snake

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Jen McConnell snapped this photo of a red rat snake, also known as a red corn snake, at her home in Lake Padgett East in Land O’ Lakes. These snakes are found throughout Florida in virtually every terrestrial habitat from forests to agricultural lands and suburban neighborhoods. The diet of the red rat snake primarily consists of small mammals, lizards, birds and bird eggs. This species kills its prey by constriction, as they have no toxic venom or fangs.

The buddy system

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Izabella, left, and Olivia are on squirrel patrol. Olivia joined the household in 2022 after another family pet passed away and she has blended in seamlessly. Izabella and Olivia live with Carol Scharfeld in Lutz.

Chalk Talk 01/25/2023

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(Courtesy of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

Student Citizens honored
The East Pasco Chamber Foundation in partnership with The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has recognized 10 students as Student Citizens of the Month for January. Students are chosen by their teachers and administration of their individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community. Back row, from left: Kristin Jones, Chick-fil-A marketing executive director; Chick-fil-A Mini-Moo; Kenneth Davis (Stewart Middle School); Nakiah Walton (Academy of Spectrum Diversity); Saffron Stone (Zephyrhills High); Dr. Ed Goolsby (Zephyrhills Chamber board president), and guest speaker Billy Poe (Zephyrhills city manager). Front row, from left: Brayden White-Baldwin (The Broach School); Payton Leab (Chester W. Taylor Elementary); Dilianys Fernandez (Heritage Academy); Max Bartalon (East Pasco Adventist Academy); and Ashley Jablonski (AdventHealth Dade City/Zephyrhills marketing coordinator). Not pictured: J.C. Smith (The Broach School); Caleb Sanchez (West Zephyrhills Elementary); and Giovany Soler (Woodland Elementary).

A Florida first
Throughout his more than 20 years of experience in helping individuals with mental health issues, Eddie Williams, Ed.D., MSW, LMHC, NCC, CCMHC, MCAP, HS-BCP, LMFT has amassed quite the list of post-nominal letters surpassing the length of the alphabet, and with his most recent accomplishment, he will be adding four more — LCSW, according to a Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) news release.

Williams passed the National Association of Social Work Board Exam on Dec. 29. As an associate professor at PHSC, Williams is the first person in Florida to become a licensed mental health counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, and licensed clinical social worker.

Williams teaches a variety of courses at PHSC and is the social and human services program director.

“My number one goal is to help my students and others, so I’m really acquiring the licenses and accolades according to my belief that if I’m teaching a curriculum, I should continue to make an effort to know as much as possible in all areas of the field,” said Williams in the release.

“99% of my students go into one of these three areas of study, so this accomplishment is very meaningful,” said Williams.

During his educational journey, Williams has worked in numerous settings, including residential, outpatient, inpatient hospitalization and home visits, private practice, and instructional where he has provided individual, couples, family and group counseling for patients with mental health disorders and addiction disorders.

Williams is a board member for the Alliance for Healthy Communities and Hernando County Community Health Improvement Plan Partnership.

He currently is working on his dissertation for a Ph.D., in social work.

Student achievements

  • Rebecca Bach, Lutz: Dean’s List, Missouri State University
  • Derek Baxter, Odessa: Arizona State University Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa
  • Aidan Bitter and Angelica Gonzalez, of Lutz, and Anthony Becht and Macy Duregger, of Wesley Chapel: Dean’s List, Iowa State University
  • Andrew Bowden and Timothy Hicks, of Lutz, and Jennifer Nalley and Sarah Shortridge, of Odessa: President’s List, Southern New Hampshire University.
  • Landon Carter, Lutz: Dean’s List, Valdosta State University, Georgia
  • Hannah Drielick, Lutz: Dean’s List, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb
  • Abigail Flanagan, Lutz: Dean’s List, Nazareth College, Rochester, New York
  • Jenna Freligh, Lutz: Dean’s List, Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee
  • Jaeden Lowther, Odessa: President’s List, Kennesaw State University, Georgia
  • Allison Trask, Lutz: Dean’s List, Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas

Five for Five Dinner
The Republican Party of Pasco will host its third annual Five for Five Dinner (a five-course meal to benefit the club’s $5,000 scholarship fund) on March 2 at the Timber Greens Golf & Country Club, 6333 Timber Greens Blvd., in New Port Richey.

The fundraiser will help a high school student go to a college or trade school of their choice in Florida, with a $1,000 scholarship award.

Check-in and cocktails begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner at 6 p.m.

The event will feature Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, Chef Adam, and celebrity sous-chefs Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Sen. Ed Hooper, Rep. Randy Maggard, Commissioner Seth Weightman, and school board member Cynthia Armstrong.

For tickets and sponsorship levels, call Sandy Graves at 813-817-3011, or the Republican Party of Pasco office at 727-863-5400.

Stick bridge competition
Saint Leo University’s Department of Natural Sciences will host its annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition on March 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in Selby Auditorium in Lewis Hall, at the campus at 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

Saint Leo University and Pasco County high school students are invited to design and build bridges to compete in the contest.

The winners will be selected in two categories: the strongest bridge that can hold the most weight and the most aesthetically pleasing bridge that receives the most votes from the audience.

Teams of one to three students may compete, and members should come up with a name for their bridge.

The goal of the contest is to build the strongest bridge using only Elmer’s glue and no more than 200 standard Popsicle sticks. Entries must bridge a 1.2-meter span as described in the contest rules.

Last year’s winner was “Bridge to the Starz” that held 66 pounds.

High school faculty who would like to enter their students, as well as interested students, may participate by emailing by Feb. 18, then pick up a kit, design a bridge build (test if you want to) and then join in the competition on March 9.

The public is invited to attend the event to watch the teams compete.

Human Trafficking Prevention Month

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January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) is partnering with the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking to prevent and respond to human trafficking cases.

The PSO says everyone can play a vital role by recognizing common warning signs and reporting potential human trafficking activity, according to a news release.

It is important to understand and recognize common indicators of trafficking. Physical signs of trafficking can include evidence of violence or untreated wounds, exhaustion and malnourishment, addictions or even branding.

Social and interpersonal signs can include being accompanied by a controlling individual, isolation from friends or family, little to no possessions, being severely underpaid or paid nothing at all for their work, and not being in control of their money or personal documents such as their driver’s license, the release said.

Mental and emotional signs can include low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, fearful behavior and not identifying as a victim of trafficking.

Behavioral signs can include individuals being submissive and nervous, avoiding eye contact with others, being afraid of law enforcement personnel and not being permitted to speak for themselves.

Rapid reporting of potential trafficking activity can help end human trafficking.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national, toll-free number, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in over 200 languages. The hotline number is 1-888-373-7888, and is a safe place to report tips, seek services and ask for help.

Discreet text messages or online chat communication also is available by texting “BEFREE” (233733) or by visiting HumanTraffickingHotline.org.