The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Evie is a real sweetheart

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Evie is the best pet ever, according to her owner, Madison Boatright. This 6-year-old rabbit loves to give morning kisses, friendly snorts, cuddle and play. She enjoys chilling out in her tunnel or hopping around in her pen. If she escapes her pen, Evie can be found lying on the couch. When she wants to play, she nibbles at her cage to be let out. Boatright is a student at Turner Bartels Middle School in New Tampa, and her teacher, Bryndi Colwell, said her students read the newspaper and asked if they could submit photos of their pets.

Dennis the menace?

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This squirrel, named ‘Dennis’ by one of the staff at The Laker/Lutz News, hung around quite a bit in front of the office in Land O’ Lakes, as well as up in the rooftop!

Health News 02/09/2022

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Providing comfort for patient care
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club’s sewing team produced 40 comfort pillows, 10 baby blankets, numerous port protectors, hats and turbans, which were delivered to the Moffitt Cancer Center and an AdventHealth hospital. These handcrafted items are always enthusiastically received and usually requests are made for more because the need is so great. Woman’s club member Pam Blumenthal, left, makes a delivery to a staff member at Moffitt Cancer Center. For information, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org, or its Facebook page.

Girl Scout creates patch
Emma Wegener, a senior at Anclote High School and a member of Girl Scout Troop 1142, is the daughter of Sue Wegener, R.N., Medical Center of Trinity-Behavioral Health Center, and knows first-hand the importance of mental health, according to a news release.

Throughout her middle and high school years, Emma noticed there was no eduation being presented to students about mental health. She witnessed the misuse of terms, the suffering of individuals struggling with mental health issues, and the growing stigma surrounding this important subject, the release says.

To address this issue, Emma created a Girl Scout Patch Program — the Gold Award: The Mental Health Awareness Patch, For Girls by Girls.

The self-guided patch program is aimed at middle and high school Girl Scouts, to help provide an accurate education about mental health.

Throughout the program, the Scouts learn about negative stigma, how it persists and, most importantly, how to fight it.

The patch is an attempt to educate students about something that can affect everyone, and to normalize the information and produce conversations about it.

Chalk Talk 02/09/2022

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Immigrant scholarships
TheDream.US, a college access program for immigrant youth, is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Applications are open to immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS, who came to the United States before the age of 16 and before Nov. 1, 2016.

TheDream.US offers the national scholarship to undocumented first-time college students or community college graduates living in Florida to attend one of these Partner Colleges: University of Central Florida, Valencia College, Broward College, Florida International University, Miami Dade College, Palm Beach State College, University of South Florida, and Florida Atlantic University.

Students can receive up to $37,000 for tuition, fees, books and supplies for a bachelor’s degree.

Application deadline is Feb. 28.

For information on eligibility and how to apply, visit TheDream.US/scholarships/.

Scholarship applications
Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is accepting applications for the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections Scholarship (FSASE).

Applicants must be at least a junior in college; be enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida, and have at least a C average or above for the previous year; have been a resident of Florida for two years; and demonstrate a financial need.

Two letters of recommendation, one from a college or university last attended or graduated from, and one from a personal reference should accompany the application.

The applicant also must be a registered voter.

Applications, as well as additional requirements, guidelines and eligibility information, can be found online at PascoVotes.gov, by selecting the 2022 FSASE Scholarship Application under the Newsworthy tab on the homepage.

Deadline for getting applications to the supervisor’s office is March 11.

Applicants will be personally interviewed by Corley, who will then select one finalist from Pasco County for consideration by the FSASE Scholarship Committee.

The association will award four $1,200 scholarships statewide to a political science/public or business administration or journalism/mass communications major.

Action board scholarships
The Hillsborough County Community Action Board Scholarships are now available to Hillsborough County students who want to continue their post-secondary education.

The scholarships can be used at trade schools, community colleges, or four-year universities, and are awarded to students to help alleviate some of the financial burden of tuition.

All applicants must follow specific criteria.

Interested students should read through the full Community Action Board Scholarship Application Package (visit tinyurl.com/2p95vwc6) before applying online, to ensure all documents are complete and requirements are met.

A full list of required documents can be found in the online package.

Students can apply online at tinyurl.com/yc46uy6p, once all the information and documents have been collected.

Applications are due by March 18.

For information and questions, call 813-272-5074, ext. 55316.

5 for 5 Dinner
The Republican Party of Pasco (RPOP) Scholarship Committee will host the return of its 5 for 5 Dinner on March 24, at Timber Greens Golf & Country Club in New Port Richey.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco will be the master of ceremony, and Chef Adam and Sous-Chefs Sen. Danny Burgess, Rep. Randy Maggard, Clerk of Court Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, and Pasco Commissioners Ron Oakley and Kathryn Starkey will prepare a five-course meal.

Sponsorships and single tickets are available. The money raised will benefit the RPOP Scholarship Fund to award five $1,000 scholarships to seniors applying from any Pasco high school, private, charter or home-school.

Students must attend an accredited Florida college, university or technical/vocational school.

Applications are online at PascoGOP.com/rpop-scholarship/, or at the student’s school Career Resource Center office.

Deadline for application submission for review is March 25.

Scholarships will be awarded in the spring.

For more information on applications, tickets or sponsorships for the dinner, call the Republican Party office at 727-863-5400; Sandy Graves at 813-817-3011; or Jean Nathe at 813-783-4364.

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 .

Child care opens
St. Clement’s Academy, a school-readiness provider, will open for full-time, affordable child care, for children ages 2 to 6, beginning in March, according to a news release. The hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The academy is a new facility on the campus of St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 706 W. 113th Ave., in Tampa.

The academy, which 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.

Wait-list spots are available. Mention The Laker/Lutz News and the academy will waive its registration fee, the release says.

For information and to schedule a tour, call 813-932-6204.

Interns gain knowledge about local law enforcement

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These new interns will learn more about law enforcement during the 2022 spring semester at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) has welcomed 20 new interns for its 2022 spring semester.

These students will work alongside various PSO units, including the Behavioral Health Intervention Team, Forensics, Victim Advocates, Economic Crimes, Major Crimes, and others.

The internship program offers diverse opportunities, presenting career paths available with the sheriff’s office.

Internships also give students an opportunity to gain experience and learn about law enforcement.

Applications currently are being accepted for the 2022 summer semester.

To apply, visit JoinPSO.com, and complete a volunteer application by Feb. 18.

Published February 02, 2022

Have a little ‘faith’

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Faith is 1 ½ years old and a little too big to fit through the cat door, although she tries her best! She is a mixed breed that her mom, Charlene, rescued from a shelter when Faith was 6 weeks old. Faith lives with the Carl Milillo family, including four brothers; Sadie, a 12-year-old rescue sister; and Hope and Holly, sister cats, in Lutz.

A stunning portrait

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Kimberly Collins lives in Meadow Pointe and plants her yard to attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds — and what better way to capture a photo like this, of a Monarch butterfly sitting for a portrait! Collins said she is thankful for the opportunity to share her love of nature.

Chalk Talk 02/02/2022

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Child care opens
St. Clement’s Academy, a school-readiness provider, will open for full-time, affordable child care, for children ages 2 to 6, beginning in March, according to a news release. The hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The academy is a new facility on the campus of St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, 706 W. 113th Ave., in Tampa.

The academy, which 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.

Wait-list spots are available. Mention The Laker/Lutz News and the academy will waive its registration fee, the release says.

For information and to schedule a tour, call 813-932-6204.

Family Fest & Health Fair
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) will host a free Family Fun Festival and Health Fair at the school’s New Port Richey campus, 10230 Ridge Road, on Feb. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Festivities will include music, food, campus tours, children’s activities, crafts, games, prizes and giveaways.

Information on PHSC programs, financial aid, scholarships, student activities and athletics also will be provided; and application fees for college admission will be waived for prospective students in attendance.

Students under the age of 18 interested in applying at PHSC must be present along with a parent or guardian.

The free event, sponsored by the Musunuru family, will be hosted in recognition of Pasco County’s Rao Musunuru, M.D. Day, established on Feb. 1, 2014 by the Pasco County Commission to honor the nationally renowned, Hudson-based cardiologist and his many initiatives to support community health.

Organizations providing health care, mental health services, diet and fitness programs, or any service related to community wellness can reserve a free table for the event’s Health Fair online at tinyurl.com/ya6cfur2.

To register for the event, visit PHSC.edu/about/events.

Flexible-start classes
Registration for Hillsborough Community College’s (HCC) spring flex-start semester is underway, with an offering of more than 1,000 classes.

The flex-start schedule offers a variety of start dates, times and modalities, including on campus, online, and live online, to ensure that students have the flexibility they need.

Students can earn credits applicable to any of HCC’s associate in arts and associate in science degrees, college credit and postsecondary adult vocational credits.

Tuition assistance also is available.

Flex-start semester dates are: Feb. 7 (12-week classes); Feb. 14 (10-week classes and five-week classes); March 8 (eight-week classes); and March 29 (five-week classes).

For information, visit HCCfl.edu/flexstart.

Scholarship applications
Supervisor of Elections Brian E. Corley is accepting applications for the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections Scholarship (FSASE).

Applicants must be at least a junior in college; be enrolled or accepted as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida, and have at least a C average or above for the previous year; have been a resident of Florida for two years; and demonstrate a financial need.

Two letters of recommendation, one from a college or university last attended or graduated from, and one from a personal reference should accompany the application.

The applicant also must be a registered voter.

Applications, as well as additional requirements, guidelines and eligibility information, can be found online at PascoVotes.gov, by selecting the 2022 FSASE Scholarship Application under the Newsworthy tab on the homepage.

Deadline for getting applications to the supervisor’s office is March 11.

Applicants will personally be interviewed by Corley, who will then select one finalist from Pasco County for consideration by the FSASE Scholarship Committee.

The association will award four $1,200 scholarships statewide to a political science/public or business administration or journalism/mass communications major.

Action board scholarships
The Hillsborough County Community Action Board Scholarships are now available to Hillsborough County students who want to continue their post-secondary education.

The scholarships can be used at trade schools, community colleges, or four-year universities, and are awarded to students to help alleviate some of the financial burden of tuition.

All applicants must follow specific criteria.

Interested students should read through the full Community Action Board Scholarship Application Package (visit tinyurl.com/2p95vwc6) before applying online, to ensure all documents are complete and requirements are met.

A full list of required documents can be found in the online package.

Students can apply online at tinyurl.com/yc46uy6p, once all the information and documents have been collected.

Applications are due by March 18.

For information and questions, call 813-272-5074, ext. 55316.

Student achievements

  • Rebecca Bach, of Lutz: Dean’s List at Missouri State University, Springfield
  • Jennifer Clifford, of Lutz, and Christian Hewett and Jack Houser, both of Odessa: Dean’s List at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Emmah Federman, of Lutz: Dean’s List at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
  • Jenna Freligh, of Lutz: Dean’s List at Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee
  • Trevina Jason-Vikram, of Wesley Chapel: Dean’s List at Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Minnesota
  • Emily Leonard, of Wesley Chapel: President’s List at Mercer University, Macon, Georgia
  • Brady Lindauer, of Land O’ Lakes: Dean’s List at Saint Mary’s University, Winona, Minnesota
  • Bryce Lowe, of Lutz: Dean’s List at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin
  • Lunide Orleus, of Lutz: Dean’s List at Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee
  • Emily Ymiolek, of Lutz: President’s List at The University of Alabama

Bella is a sweetheart

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Bella is a 2-year-old girl that was adopted last year. At first, she was quite shy, but today she is more active and happier than ever. Bella starts her day around 4 a.m., chasing her toys around the house and making sure to not let her owners sleep in. She likes to wait all day at the window for her family to come home. She also has the cutest markings that make a heart on her nose. Bella lives in Land O’ Lakes with her proud owner, Austin McAdams.

Health News 01/26/2022

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Dr. Rodrigo Torres (Courtesy of AdventHealth West Florida Division)

Doctor of the Day
Dr. Rodrigo Torres, chief medical officer for AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth, served as Doctor of the Day for the opening of the 2022 Florida Legislative Session.

“I am extending my appreciation to Wilton Simpson, the president of the Florida Senate, for inviting me to take part in the 2022 Florida Legislative Session, as the Doctor of the Day,” said Dr. Rodrigo Torres, in a news release

“I am grateful to be part of the AdventHealth West Florida Division, which remains focused on pioneering innovation and being the source of vital information for all the communites we serve,” he added.

Doctor of the Day was founded in the 1960s by a former Florida House member, Rep. Walter Sackett, M.D., from Miami, who encouraged the Florida Medical Association to bring a physician to Tallahassee.

The program delivers a vital professional service to the members of the Florida Legislature and all legislative employees.

Blood donor milestone
Larry Jasper, of Spring Hill, has joined the ranks of less than 50 Floridians who have reached the 125-gallon blood donor milestone since blood banking began during the Second World War, according to a news release. Jasper reached the milestone at OneBlood’s Spring Hill donor center.

After 30 years of service in the Army, most of those years in Special Forces, Jasper retired in 1997. In 1999, he became a whole blood donor in New Jersey, and soon after was asked to donate platelets.

Jasper moved to Florida in 2004 and continued to donate platelets regularly.

He was the first donor when OneBlood opened its new center in Spring Hill earlier this year.

His 125-gallon donor milestone equates to 1,000 pints.

Generally, healthy people age 16 and older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood.

All donors receive a wellness checkup of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count, cholesterol screening, and a surprise gift.

To learn more, visit OneBlood.org, or call 1-888-936-6283.