The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Theater group looking for peer mentors

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New Tampa Players is seeking peer mentors of this year’s Penguin Project production of “Mary Poppins Jr.”

The Penguin Project gives children and young adults with special needs, ages 8 and older, the opportunity and the support to be the stars of the show.

The young artists have developmental, intellectual, physical and learning disabilities, and are joined on stage by their peer mentors who give them the support they need to shine.

This year, “Mary Poppins Jr.,” has a record 47 young artists, and New Tampa Players is looking for 20 mentors, ages 16 and older, to support them. The youngest artist is 8 years old, and the oldest is 28 years old.

The primary role of a mentor is to build a friendship with their young adult, and to be responsible for knowing their artist’s blocking, choreography, and lines.

Mentors rehearse through the entire five-month rehearsal process, too, usually once to twice a week.

Peer mentors also perform with their young adult during the play performances, scheduled for March 11, March 12 and March 13.

New Tampa Players is the first replication site for the Penguin Project in the state of Florida, and is now in its fourth year.

For information, email Nora Paine, producing artistic director, at .

Published October 27, 2021

Sponsor a wreath, for those laid to rest

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Staff Sgt. Andrew King, of Oklahoma, and Sgt. Kristopher Calnon, from California, at the time both stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, post one of the ceremonial wreaths during a previous Wreaths Across America event, at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. (File)

Wreath maker Morrill Worcester found himself with a surplus of 5,000 wreaths during the holiday season in 1992, in Harrington, Maine, and seized the opportunity to pay tribute to our country’s veterans, according to the Wreaths Across America website.

With the help of then Maine Senator Olympia Snowe, Worcester arranged for the wreaths to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery. This annual tribute has continued every year since, touching the lives of millions of veterans’ families and volunteers.

Boy Scout Troop 117 of Zephyrhills is collecting sponsorships through Nov. 19, for the wreath program.

There will be a local ceremony, open to the public, on Dec. 18 at 10:30 a.m., followed by the placing of wreaths at Florida National Cemetery, in Bushnell, where 180,000 local veterans are laid to rest.

To sponsor a wreath, you can do one of the following:

  • Order online at WreathsAcrossAmerica.org/FL0498P. (If requesting a specific grave, service member information must be supplied.)
  • Mail a money order or check made out to Wreaths Across America, WAA c/o Meagan Sammons, P.O. Box 3103, Zephyrhills, FL 33539.

To specify service member information for a specific grave, or to request a pickup, please call Meagan Sammons, scout master Troop 117, at 813-838-3822.

For more about the program started by Worcester, visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

Published October 27, 2021

This household staple is a much-needed item

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The Peanut Butter Challenge — UF/IFAS Extension’s annual jar collection for local food pantries —again is in full swing statewide this year, according to a UF/IFAS news blog.

The challenge was conceived as a way to feed hungry families ahead of the holidays, in addition to promoting a Florida-grown crop.

Peanut butter is nutrient-dense and shelf-stable, and is a popular item in food pantries.

Fifty-three counties, including Hillsborough and Pasco, are participating in this year’s event, including a partnership with the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Cooperative Extension.

Unopened jars of peanut butter can be donated to local county Extension offices through Nov. 24.

At the end of the donation period, the number of jars is tallied to determine the bragging rights champion before the donations are delivered to those in need.

Pasco collection points for jars of peanut butter will be the main office of UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County, 36702 State Road 52 in Dade City, and The One Stop Shop satellite office at 15029 14th St., in Dade City. They will delivered to area food pantries.

To learn more about the challenge, visit tinyurl.com/5e992z9e.

Published October 27, 2021

Puddles is aptly named

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Puddles is about 16 weeks old and a bulldog/shepherd mix. Her owners named her after she left too many puddles in the house on her way to being house-broken. Puddles is loving her new forever home with Summet Underwood in Land O’ Lakes.

This pelican made a splash

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Theresa Sierra was sitting on her dock on Lake Thomas in Land O’ Lakes when she spotted what she thought was a very large duck. Upon taking a closer look, Sierra realized it was a brown pelican that was very photogenic. It circled her dock a few times before departing.

Volunteer wins national award

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Vanessa M. Dazio, OTD, OTR/L, certified occupational therapist (Courtesy of CARES)

The CARES nonprofit organization announced that Vanessa M. Dazio, OTD, OTR/L, won the 2021 NBCOT Impact Award for her volunteer work at the CARES Claude Pepper Senior Health Clinic in New Port Richey, according to a news release.

The award recognizes certified occupational therapy (OT) practitioners who demonstrate exceptional professional commitment through their dedication, hard work, and outstanding OT skills to improve their clients’ overall life satisfaction.

According to the NBCOT (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy), treatment strategies include wellness promotion, rehabilitation, and habilitation.

The occupational therapy professional assists the client in regaining function or adapting to changes by assessing and addressing all aspects of recovery, not just the physical.

Dazio was nominated by clinic manager Gisela Dalnoky, RN, for her outstanding work of providing OT treatment to underserved, uninsured older adults in the Pasco County community.

“It’s been an honor to work with so many fine people at the CARES Senior Health Clinic. I would encourage retired or working medical professionals to volunteer some time with us. We are truly saving lives and improving health outcomes for people who need the help. It’s been incredibly satisfying,” said Dazio, in the release.

The CARES Claude Pepper clinic is at 6640 Van Buren St., in New Port Richey, and can be reached at 727-844-3077.

Chalk Talk 10/27/2021

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Law enforcement graduates
Law enforcement officers from five Florida counties, who make up the 22nd cohort of Saint Leo University’s Command Officer Management Program, received their diplomas on Sept. 16.

The 22nd cohort of Saint Leo University’s Command Officer Management Program. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell was the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony.

The Saint Leo program was designed to provide onsite education that prepares law enforcement officers for the transition to command staff, by addressing areas such as leadership, ethics, human resources, critical incident management, and other relevant administrative competencies.

The 18-credit hour certificate program consists of six courses during six months (three terms) for undergraduate or graduate academic credits.

Class graduates and their agencies are:

  • Citrus County Sheriff’s Office: Sgt. Bobby Price
  • Lake County Sheriff’s Office: Sgt. Timothy Beary, Sgt. Robert Casaburi, Sgt. Brian Forst, Sgt. Gerald Green, Sgt. David McDaniel, Sgt. Nate Pickens, Lt. Elvin Rodriguez (class president), Cpl. Bret Rutzebeck, Cpl. Keith Sommer and Sgt. Billy Walls
  • Pasco County Sheriff’s Office: Sgt. Eric Cayer and Lt. Luby Fields
  • Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office: Lt. Joseph Mitchell and Lt. Ivan Nelson
  • Sumter County Sheriff’s Office: Sgt. Dave Clark and Sgt. Clinton Hayes

Saint Leo is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of College and Schools (SACS).

For more information on the program, contact Nikki Heister at or 352-588-8487.

Saint Leo food drive
Saint Leo University’s Tampa Education Center will collect food from Nov. 1 through Nov. 18 for Metropolitan Ministries, whose mission is to care for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, according to a news release.

Saint Leo University-Tampa is in the former Berriman-Morgan Cigar Factory building, at 1403 N. Howard Ave., in Tampa.

Canned goods and nonperishable food may be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For information, contact Rod Kirkwood at or 813-743-3228.

Drive-Thru Reading
Staff members from the New River Library and the Hugh Embry Library will greet students at Rodney B. Cox Elementary’s “Fall into Reading Drive-Thru Festival” on Nov. 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the school, 37615 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City.

Students can receive goodies to encourage reading and learning.

For information, call 813-788-6375.

Rabbi to speak
The Saint Leo University Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies will host a free lecture on Nov. 4 starting at 7 p.m., at Congregation Schaarai Zedek, 3303 W. Swann Ave., in Tampa.

The guest speaker will be Rabbi Dr. David Novak from the University of Toronto, on the topic of “Is There a Universal Moral Law? Natural Law in the Catholic and Jewish Traditions.”

Another guest speaker, Dr. Vincent Lloyd, will follow Novak’s address and the two will share some reflections.

To attend, reserve a seat online at Zedek.org/ccjs.

Honor Society hosts fundraiser
The Martinez Middle School National Junior Honor Society will host a donation drive to benefit Hope Children’s Home, on Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Stonebrier basketball gazebo, 3741 W. County Line Road in Lutz.

Guests can bring a blanket or lawn chair, and eat, relax and listen to live music with local metal band, Actual Purgatory. The Bacon Boss food truck will be on site from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Kona Ice will be on site from noon to 2 p.m.

Accepted donations include: Nonperishable items (such as canned veggies, box/bag cereal, canned soup); household items (such as paper plates/bowls, aluminum foil, dryer sheets); school supplies (such as white board cleaner, binders, post-its); and, gently used clothes/shoes for boys and girls ages newborn to 18 years old.

For questions and a more detailed list of acceptable donations, email Annie Hayman at .

Nacho loves his family

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Nacho celebrated his fourth birthday in August. His favorite thing to do with his family is to ride in the car. Nacho lives in Land O’ Lakes with his parents, Danielle and Rich Stitt, and his siblings, Mercedes,  Luke and Janelle.

Health News 10/20/2021

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GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club team members take a break from working on the garden border at Camp Idlewild in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Garden aims to create peaceful setting
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has undertaken a large, special project in creating a sensory garden, from scratch, at Camp Idlewild in Land O’ Lakes.

The camp serves as a setting for autistic children, and the club chose the garden project to provide a colorful, fun space with a calm atmosphere for the campers.

Club members have provided benches, borders, a gravel pathway, an interesting sculpture, and two garden arches and a wooden Ms. Catie Pillar ‘train’ (made by David Bellingar).

Plants soon will be placed to attract butterflies, too.

The garden is still a work in progress, coming along in stages.

For information about the woman’s club and membership opportunities, visit their Facebook page, or GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.

Skin cancer treatment
Skin cancer is the country’s most prevalent kind of cancer and often involves surgery, which can cause deformity, significant pain, long recovery periods, scarring, and discontinuation of    medications.

ForCare Medical Center, 15416 N. Florida Ave., in Tampa, now offers electron-beam therapy for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma skin cancers, according to a news release.

The therapy requires no cutting or downtime, and may be less painful than surgery itself.

Electron-beam therapy allows precise depth control and tight borders, especially around sensitive areas such as eyelids, lips and ears.

And, patients do not need to stop taking medication, as they may have to if undergoing surgery, according to Dr. Seth Forman, in the release.

For information, visit ForCareMed.com, or call 813-960-2400.

Board chair named
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay’s nonprofit Board of Directors has named Meredith Freeman as its chair for the 2022 financial year, according to a news release.

Freeman has voluntered as a member of the board since 2017. In previous years, she served on the executive committee as the board secretary and chair-elect.

“The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay provides critical services to our community, from recent efforts to help residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, to helping those in crisis through the 211 crisis hotline. I am humbled and honored to be selected by my fellow board members to serve as chair of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay,” said Freeman, in the release