The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Health News 02/23/2022

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Members of the surgery team at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North with the da Vinci Xi surgical robot. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

Second robot added
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz has added a second da Vinci Xi surgical robot, to meet a growing demand for its surgical services.

Robotic surgeries performed at the hospital include general surgery, urology, gynecology and gynecological oncology.

The hospital in 2021 performed 533 robotic surgeries, by 11 surgeons.

“Over the past year, we’ve nearly doubled our robotic surgery volume,” said Hannah Denton, St. Joseph’s operating room nurse manager, in a news release.

“Having one robot with our high volume of cases was beginning to cause an extended wait time for patients to be scheduled for surgery,” said Denton.

Denton added that the “increased surgical time and availability with two robotic systems continues to build our relationships within the physician groups as well as the community.”

The da Vinci surgical robot provides superior dexterity, enhanced vision and improved surgical access compared to conventional minimally invasive surgery or traditional open surgery.

For more information about robotic surgery, visit StJosephsNorthRobotics.org.

New unit for COVID
AdventHealth Carrollwood has announced plans to modernize an existing patient care unit, outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment, to provide the highest level of care for patients with COVID-19, according to a news release.

The unit conversion is part of an $11.9 million investment that is jointly funded by AdventHealth and Hillsborough County, and will strengthen the hospital’s ability to respond to future COVID surges, the release says.

The 10,680-square-foot space for the dedicated COVID unit will be located on an existing unit in the hospital, and will be equipped with technological and structural advancments to assist staff in providing elevated care for COVID patients.

Some of the additions will include:

  • Converting 25 private patient rooms to provide increased infection control and further enhance the nationally recognized safety features at the facility
  • Outfitting all 25 patient rooms with negative pressure to reduce exposure to airborne illnesses
  • Improving monitoring capabilities that will allow team members to streamline care more efficiently and safely

Chalk Talk 03/23/2022

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St. Clement’s carnival
St. Clement’s Academy, 706 W. 113th Ave., in Tampa, will host a family carnival on Feb. 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., to celebrate the grand opening of its full-time child care program (for ages 2 to 6).

The academy uses the Funny Daffer curriculum, will offer safety and parent-friendly features, including a parent communication app; shared videos and pictures of the children; and digital documentation.

Parents will receive regular progress reports and at-home activity content, linking to Brightwheel.

There will be food, games, a bounce house, tours, and more. Admission is free.

For information, call 813-932-6204.

Panel discussion
Saint Leo University’s Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies will host “Theological Perspectives on Nationalism, Antisemitism, and Racism in the United States Today,” on March 3 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., via Zoom.

The discussion will include religious scholars from three faith traditions, on the topic of the impact of each ‘ism’ in the U.S. today.

The program is sponsored by Congregation Kol Ami, Tampa Jewish Community Centers & Federation, and St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz.

Admission is free. Registration is online at SaintLeo.edu/theological. Once registered, the participant will receive a Zoom link.

For information, email Matthew Tapie at .

College career fair
Pasco County Schools will host a virtual College Career Fair on March 8 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., for middle and high school students and their families.

The event will be beneficial for families planning for college entrance and/or careers after high school.

Presentations and a live Q&A will include:

  • ACT/SAT Test Programs
  • Career Exploration Resources
  • College Admissions Process
  • Collegiate Athletics
  • Financial Aid & Scholarships
  • Florida Bright Futures Program
  • Selecting Mathematics Courses for Your Future Pathway
  • Options After High School
  • Resources for Students with Disabilities

For details and to register, visit Pasco.k12.fl.us/oll/page/college-and-career-fair.

Teachers Tour
The Florida Forest Service is inviting educators statewide to apply for the Florida Forestry Teachers Tour scheduled for June 21 to June 24, according to a news release.

The annual tour brings educators from throughout the state to Northeast Florida for an inside look at the state’s largest agricultural commodity.

The tour is designed to provide educators with an opportunity to learn how the industry meets the needs of the state’s communities and environment, from clean air and water to home goods and other wood products.

“The Florida Forestry Teachers Tour is one of the best tools we have to make the next generation aware of the important of Florida’s forests and the career opportunities they provide,” said Erin Albury, state forester and director of the Florida Forest Service, in the release.

Educators of all subjects and grade levels are encouraged to apply.

All lodging, meals and tour transportation are provided at no cost to teachers through the support of private partners and sponsors, including the Florida Forestry Association, Project Learning Tree of Florida, and Friends of Florida State Forests.

The four-day event earns Florida teachers 30 Continuing Education Units.

Deadline to apply is March 11.

To learn more, visit FloridaStateForests.org/TeachersTour.

Local fall graduates

  • Rachel Asante-Korang, Lutz: Bachelor of Fine Arts in animation, University of Tampa
  • Akshay Bhuva, Lutz: Master of Science in entrepreneurship, University of Tampa
  • Matthew Bradley, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity, University of Tampa
  • Cory Burke, Lutz: Master of Science in entrepreneurship, University of Tampa
  • Jeffrey Davis, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in business administration, University of Maryland Global Campus, Adelphi
  • Moxeshkumar Dilkhush, Odessa: Master of Science in entrepreneurship, University of Tampa
  • Nathan Egli, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
  • Daniel Engstrom, Land O’ Lakes: Master of Business Administration, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
  • Atlanta Foskey, Odessa: Bachelor of Liberal Studies, University of Tampa
  • Madeleine Hendron, Odessa: Bachelor of Applied Science, University of Mississippi
  • Melissa Hill, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in nursing, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Troy Klemm, Land O’ Lakes: Bachelor of Science in accounting, Palm Beach Atlantic University
  • Gianna Mangiaracina, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in public health, University of Tampa
  • Lindsey Marzo, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in marketing, University of Tampa
  • Kristina Nappi, Lutz: Doctor of Education, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Jennifer Pricher, Odessa: Doctor of Nursing Practice, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Jeremy Reaper, Lutz: Bachelor of Science in information and computer science/networking and security, Park University, Parkville, Missouri
  • Victor Reyes, Lutz: Associate of Arts, University of Maryland Global Campus, Adelphi
  • David Tzeel, Odessa: Master of Science in Business Administration Finance, University of Tampa
  • Ruth Wilson, Odessa: Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity management and policy, University of Maryland Global Campus, Adelphi

Fish art contest
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in partnership with Wildlife Forever, is hosting the annual Florida State Fish Art Contest.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can compete in the free contest for a chance to win state and national honors, and prizes.

The program inspires creativity, while developing the next generation of anglers and conservationists.

Florida winners will be selected by the FWC in four grade categories: Kindergarten through third grade; fourth grade through sixth grade; seventh grade through ninth grade; and 10th grade through 12th grade.

State winners will advance to the National Competition to be judged for top prizes, including Best of Show.

The deadline to enter is March 31.

For entry guidelines and information, visit WildlifeForever.org/home/fish-art/.

Crossing guard winners
Every year, the Florida Department of Transportation recognizes individuals and organizations exemplifying professionalism and responsibility for the safety of children.

This year’s award recipients are:

  • 2021 Florida Crossing Guard of the Year: Pat Alfonso, Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
  • 2021 Florida School Crossing Guard of the Year Extra Mile Award: Heather Calloway, Fort Walton Beach Police Department

For more information, visit FDOT.gov/SchoolCrossingGuard.

Dade City native helps showcase Navy’s 4th Fleet Reserve

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Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hunter S. Harwell has advanced to first class petty officer. (Courtesy of Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mitch Meppelink)

Dade City resident and 2008 Pasco High School graduate Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hunter S. Harwell advanced to first class petty officer, during a drill weekend with the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Reserve Component in Mayport, according to a news release from the Naval Office of Community Outreach.

“Currently, I serve as the leading petty officer for the public affairs office,” Harwell said, in the release. “Our team supports the Navy by creating photo, video and multimedia products to showcase our command’s many contributions to the fleet’s mission in the 4th fleet area of responsibility.”

Besides serving as a reserve mass communication specialist, Harwell also is a firefighter with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

“Growing up in the area that I did (Dade City), I learned the importance of supporting your community, seeking out opportunities and humbling yourself to other people,” Harwell said, in the release.

Though there are numerous opportunities for sailors to earn recognition in their command, community and careers, Harwell is most proud of the humanitarian missions that he was able to participate in, the release says.

“The Navy helped me decide who I wanted to be in my life,” said Harwell. “I’m grateful for the places I’ve seen and things that I’ve done in the service.”

Published February 16, 2022

A lesson in how city sanitation works

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A demonstration is given on a Curotto-Can automated front-load garbage truck. Zephyrhills Sanitation driver Donterrell Parker is behind the wheel. (
Courtesy of Kevin Weiss, City of Zephyrhills)

The City of Zephyrhills Public Works Sanitation Division provided an educational demonstration for special needs students at The Broach School in Zephyrhills, as part of National School Choice Week.

Multiple sanitation trucks were on site, with tutorials on garbage packing, truck components, and operations.

Longtime sanitation supervisor Bobby Black, sanitation driver Donterrell Parker and senior maintenance mechanic Jacob Hood were on hand for morning and afternoon sessions.

Approximately 180 students learned the ins and outs of residential solid waste collection and automated pickup.

The City of Zephyrhills’ Sanitation Division takes part in public outreach for a number of other schools in the area, as well.

Published February 16, 2022

Zephyrhills Sanitation Division supervisor Bobby Black, center, explains the use and purpose of an automated garbage truck, for students at The Broach School in Zephyrhills.

New call center hours for Pasco Utilities

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Pasco County Utilities’ (PCU) call center has updated its hours, and support now is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., as of Feb. 1, according to a Pasco County newsletter.

The Pay-by-Phone feature will continue to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and customers can still access a multitude of services online, including:

To learn more about available services, visit bit.ly/PCUServiceCenters.
For information on water-saving tips and resources, visit bit.ly/SaveH2OPasco.

Published February 16, 2022

Georgia is a joy

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Georgia is a maltipoo and a true blessing to her family. She celebrated her fifth birthday the day after Christmas. Georgia happily spends her days playing with her toys (which she doesn’t share very well) and likes to hang out on the patio, in her ‘happy place.’ Miss Georgia lives with her proud owners, Bobby and Karen Cornelius, in Lake Jovita, in Dade City.

The old, and the new

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Steve Hadley snapped a photo of this two-tailed lizard on the screen outside his house, in Connerton in Land O’ Lakes. According to AnoleAnnals.org, two-tailed (or occasionally even three-tailed) lizards are not all that uncommon. Most lizards can lose their tails and regrow a new one. The middle of each vertebra in the tail is a zone of weakness (or breakage plane), pre-made to easily fracture. When this happens, the signal goes out, and new tail construction begins. Occasionally it doesn’t quite work; the tail is only partially broken, and doesn’t come off, but enough is broken that new tail growth begins. New tails do not regrow the original vertebrae made of bone. Rather, they grow as one long, cartilaginous rod, according to the website. So, one can easily tell the new tail from the old one.

Health News 02/16/2022

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(Courtesy of Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida)

Supporting a mission for better health
The Watson Clinic Foundation has made its third $100,000 donation to the Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida (BCFCF). The Watson foundation in 2019 donated $100,000 to BCFCF, with the promise to do so for two more consecutive years. Watson Clinic Foundation Chairman of the Board Dr. Steven G. Achinger presented the check, flanked by Leah Grieger and BCFCF Outreach Director Mandy Middleton, during the fourth annual Pink Ribbon Gala.

Crisis Center turns ‘50’
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is celebrating its 50th anniversary and will focus on a specific topic each month related to behavioral health, crisis intervention, and trauma care.

In February, the focus will be on community resources and emotional support that are available to people 24/7 by calling 211. (Feb. 11 is “211 Day,” and is recognized by organizations across the country that answer calls to 211.)

For more information, visit CrisisCenter.com.

Podiatry services added
Premier Community HealthCare announced the addition of podiatry to its list of comprehensive health care services for Pasco and Hernando counties, according to a news release.

Leading the team will be Dr. Bahaa Amer, board certified in podiatric medicine and wound management.

Premier’s podiatry service line initially launched in the fall of 2021 in Spring Hill and Zephyrhills, and was supported by an $80,000 Pasco County Community Development Block Grant.

For information, call 352-518-2000, or visit PremierHC.org.

Chalk Talk 02/16/2022

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Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn ‘C.J.’ Davis (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Leadership conversation
Saint Leo University will host alumna and Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis on Feb. 22, for a conversation on mission-driven leadership.

The “Mission-Driven Leaders: Conversations on Purpose” program will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., in the school’s Greenfelder-Denlinger Boardrooms, and online via Zoom.

Davis is the past president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), and recently testified on the matter of police reform in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd.

The program also will feature an interactive, interview-style conversation with Davis, who will share her experience in leading with purpose and making a difference in her profession and society at large.

Masks will be required by all individuals attending in person, regardless of whether that individual is vaccinated.

Admission is free. Registration is required by visiting SaintLeo.edu/mdl.

Home-school resources
The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host “Digital Learning Day: Resources for Home-schoolers” on Feb. 22 at 11 a.m., for home-school families.

The workshop will explore some of Pasco County Libraries’ online resources, which are free with a library card.

Registration is online at PascoLibraries.org.

Historians conference
Members of local historical societies, researchers, museum curators, and college students are invited by the Florida Conference of Historians to attend the group’s annual meeting on Feb. 25 through Feb. 27, on the campus of Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52 in St. Leo.

Early registration is open until Feb. 18, with advance fees starting at $40 for college students.

There will be an opening reception on Feb. 25 at the Hilton Garden Inn-Tampa Wesley Chapel.

A sampling of subjects from the conference program includes:

  • Panel discussions on various parts of Florida history including Civil War legacy and the Civil War battle of Olustee
  • Teaching history and the current Florida Civic Literacy Exam
  • The life of Florida author Zora Neale Hurston
  • Food topics and agriculture
  • New studies on slavery in the antebellum South and various works about race, ethnicity, social groups and gender topics over time
  • Urban development/transportation, the environment, and more

For program details and registration, visit FloridaConferenceOfHistorians.org/annual-meeting.html.

Information about the school’s COVID-19 protocols can be found online at SaintLeo.edu/protect-the-pride.

For information or special accommodations, contact Megan Case at 352-588-8401 or .

Teachers Tour
The Florida Forest Service is inviting educators statewide to apply for the Florida Forestry Teachers Tour scheduled for June 21 to June 24, according to a news release.

The annual tour brings educators from throughout the state to Northeast Florida for an inside look at the state’s largest agricultural commodity.

The tour is designed to provide educators with an opportunity to learn how the industry meets the needs of the state’s communities and environment, from clean air and water to home goods and other wood products.

“The Florida Forestry Teachers Tour is one of the best tools we have to make the next generation aware of the important of Florida’s forests and the career opportunities they provide,” said Erin Albury, state forester and director of the Florida Forest Service, in the release.

Educators of all subjects and grade levels are encouraged to apply.

All lodging, meals and tour transportation are provided at no cost to teachers through the support of private partners and sponsors, including the Florida Forestry Association, Project Learning Tree of Florida, and Friends of Florida State Forests.

The four-day event earns Florida teachers 30 Continuing Education Units.

Deadline to apply is March 11.

To learn more, visit FloridaStateForests.org/TeachersTour.

Pasco schools partnership
Western Governors University (WGU) and Pasco County Schools (PCS) have announced a partnership to encourage faculty and staff to pursue high-quality, respected credentials and grow as professionals, according to a news release.

Employees and substitutes of PCS who are interested in becoming teachers will be eligible to apply for the $5,000 Pasco Pathways to Teaching Scholarship, valued up to $1,000 per six-month term and renewable for up to five terms for teacher licensure programs.

In addition, all qualified district employees will be eligible to apply for WGU’s K-12 Partnership Scholarship, valued at up to $2,500 ($625 per term, for up to four terms), the release says.

“Districtwide, we are proud of our outstanding teachers and their expertise and dedication to Pasco County’s students,” said Kimberly Carroll, director of human resources and educator quality at Pasco County Public Schools, in the release.

“Our partnership with WGU helps ensure our district staff is prepared to educate our diverse student population and will provide opportunities to stay on the cutting edge of education,” said Carroll.

Fish art contest
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in partnership with Wildlife Forever, is hosting the annual Florida State Fish Art Contest.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can compete in the free contest for a chance to win state and national honors, and prizes.

The program inspires creativity, while developing the next generation of anglers and conservationists.

Florida winners will be selected by the FWC in four grade categories: Kindergarten through third grade; fourth grade through sixth grade; seventh grade through ninth grade; and 10th grade through 12th grade.

State winners will advance to the National Competition to be judged for top prizes, including Best of Show.

The deadline to enter is March 31.

For entry guidelines and information, visit WildlifeForever.org/home/fish-art/.

 

New call center hours for Pasco Utilities

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Pasco County Utilities’ (PCU) call center has updated its hours, and support now is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., as of Feb. 1, according to a Pasco County newsletter.

The Pay-by-Phone feature will continue to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and customers can still access a multitude of services online, including:

To learn more about available services, visit bit.ly/PCUServiceCenters.
For information on water-saving tips and resources, visit bit.ly/SaveH2OPasco.