The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Poppy is a bundle of energy

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Poppy is a 2-year-old Boston puggle. She is known for her crazy amount of energy and she lights up any room she runs into. Poppy loves all toys, especially the kind she can destroy in under a minute! She loves car rides and enjoys long walks with her owners. Poppy likes to have a ton of fun at the local dog parks, too. Poppy’s lucky parents are Jesse and Kathryn Routier, of Wesley Chapel.

A mirror image

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Rachel Marietta took this striking photo of an anhinga near her home in Wesley Chapel, around Oak Creek. The word anhinga comes from the Brazilian Tupi language and means ‘devil bird’ or ‘snake bird.’ The anhinga, sometimes called darter, American darter, water turkey or snake bird, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas.

Mother’s Day treats

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club donated gift items as Mother’s Day treats for residents and staff of Angels Senior Living of North Tampa. Assembling the contents and hand-crafting gift bags was a joint club project with the woman’s club teen affiliate group, Little Women of Lutz. Club member Pam Blumenthal, left, delivered 63 gift bags to Abbey Bennett, an intern at Angel Senior Living. For information on the club, visit LutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org, or its Facebook page.

Chalk Talk 05/19/2021

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(Courtesy of Mary Hanchar)

Students earn merit recognition
Three students from Lexington Oaks were honored by the Lexington Oaks Women’s Club with a merit award and lunch at Glory Days. Each year, the women’s club provides monies to a few resident recipients to offset the cost of their college education. All Lexington Oaks high school seniors and college students can complete an application and submit it to the club’s merit award committee. The 2022 merit applications will be available in the Lexington Oaks Community Center, in October. The 2021 merit award winners are, from left, Jacqueline Maher, Joseph Vreeland and Taryn Clower.

Community service
The Goodwill-Suncoast volunteer program for high school students has pivoted to a virtual format this year.

Students in J.A.G. (Junior Ambassadors of Goodwill) can earn up to 25 hours of community service.

The virtual program allows students to volunteer on their own, at the direction of Goodwill Volunteer Services. Each program activity supports a different aspect of Goodwill’s mission.

To learn more, visit Goodwill-suncoast.org/junior-ambassadors.

Student achievements

  • Garrett Evan Ashley, of Lutz, graduated from the University of Mississippi – Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in Sport and Recreation Administration.
  • Jesse Andrew Fox, of Odessa, graduated from the University of Mississippi – Oxford with a Bachelor of Business Administration.
  • Ryan Furlong, of Lutz, participated in Virtual Service Week 2021 while pursuing a degree in Business Economics at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. Themes during Virtual Service Week centered around social justice, health care and mental health, hunger and the homeless, the environment and sustainability, and issues on borders and migration.
  • Dinesh Kumar Kannabiran Vasudevan, of Odessa, completed a Master of Science in Project Management at the University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, Kentucky.
  • Jake Metrosky, of Land O’ Lakes, graduated magna cum laude from Flagler College in St. Augustine
  • Kobe Speros, of Land O’ Lakes, graduated from Flagler College in St. Augustine
  • Amy Stanton, of Odessa, was inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, and initiated at Georgia College & State University, in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Hillel opens preschool
The Forman Early Learning Center, a Hillel-JCC Jewish preschool, will host a grand opening on May 23 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Hillel Academy, 2020 W. Fletcher Ave., in Tampa.

The expansion program includes children ages 1 to 4, to serve the growing need of Jewish early childhood education in northeast Tampa.

The new 6,500-square-foot center has 10,000 square feet of playground area, right on the academy’s campus.

The Hillel-JCC program is bilingual — Hebrew and English — and is focused on the growth of each and every child as he or she develops.

Children participate in experiential learning, through a Jewish lens, as they transition to elementary school.

In addition to outside time, the program includes music, art, cooking and physical education classes, and runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

During the grand opening, visitors can check out the classrooms, play on the playground, view the toddler teaching kitchen and meet the educators.

All children will receive a special gift, too.

Visit HillelAcademyTampa.com/academics/preschool, for information about the early learning center.

Financial aid tip
The federal government requires many students who submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASA) to verify information reported on the FAFSA, according to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). Parents also will have to provide information.

Students requiring verification are chosen by the U.S. Department of Education.

The KHEAA advises students and parents to take the verification process seriously, as any financial aid can be held back until the process is complete. Putting it off can lead to frustration if the process isn’t finished when classes are ready to start.

Colleges may do the verifications on their own or may contract with an agency to handle the process.

The KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established to improve student access to college. It provides information about financial aid and financial literacy at no cost to students and parents.

For information, visit KHEAA.com.

Newest K9 additions

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The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has two new additions to its K9 crew — bloodhound puppies named Hemi and Shelby.

Both Hemi and Shelby are 3-month-old littermates that were born in Kentucky.

In about 10 months, this pair will help locate missing people, including those who have wandered from home, as single-purpose tracking K9s, according to a news release.

Sgt. Brian Hernandez and partner, K9 Shelby (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)
Dep. Bobby Lewis and partner, K9 Hemi

Opte’mus Prime has many skills

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This is Opte’mus Prime, formerly known as Grimm. Opte’mus was adopted from the Tampa Bay Humane Society 2 1/2 years ago. He is 6 years old and is a mix of many breeds. He loves his naps in comfy places under the covers (of course), as well as long walks and car rides. Recently, he learned to garden. Opte’mus has excellent skills as a digger. Also, he stays on watch to secure the garden’s perimeter from lizards. He keeps his family company when they need it the most, in his own special way. Opte’mus is a good boy, and lives with Paula Jeffferson and family in Zephyrhills.

A fleeting visitor

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This yellow-rumped warbler visited Karen Whitenton’s yard in Willow Bend, in Lutz. Whitenton said she sees a variety of warblers this time of year, but this particular one may have just been passing through, as it only made an appearance once.

Health News 05/15/2021

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Hospital recognized for 40 years of service
A resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County congratulated Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point on its 40 years of service to Pasco County citizens and its transition to an award-winning medical center.

Bayonet Point-Hudson Hospital opened its doors in 1981, in a small facility serving the northwest Pasco community of less than 25,000 people.

The medical center adopted a new name in 1997, transforming to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point. The facility is connected to the nation’s largest healthcare system, HCA Healthcare.

Bayonet Point also received the 2021 Patient Safety Excellence Award for a fourth-consecutive year. The award recognizes a hospital’s excellence in safeguarding patients from serious, potentially preventable complications during their hospital stay.

The hospital is the only Level II Trauma center serving Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

And, its graduate medical education program has earned Bayonet Point a Statutory Teaching Hospital designation.

For more on the hospital’s achievements, visit BayonetPointHospital.com/about/newsroom.

Mental health awareness
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) helps to fight the stigma of mental illness, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families.

This year, NAMI will continue to amplify the message of “You Are Not Alone,” and will use the time to focus on the healing value of connecting in safe ways, prioritizing mental health and acknowledging that it is OK to not be OK.

The organization will use its own blog, personal stories, videos, digital toolkits, social media engagements and national events to share the vision where anyone affected by mental illness can get the appropriate support and quality of care to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

For information and a list of events, visit NAMI.org/calendar.

Pregnancy center
The Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers has opened a new office at 37522 Meridian Ave., in Dade City.

The center provides pregnancy tests, ultrasounds by appointment, pregnancy options counseling, pregnancy and parenting classes, essential baby items, and community resources and referrals.

All services are free, and are provided in English and in Spanish.

For information, call 352-534-5003.

Gulfside needs volunteers
The Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppe Team is looking for volunteers ages 15 and older for its Dade City, Lutz and Zephyrhills stores.

Volunteer duties include greeting and assisting customers, sorting and pricing items, and accepting donated items.

The proceeds from each of the Gulfside shops directly support its patient care costs and the operation of the Gulfside Centers for Hospice Care.

For information, visit Gulfside.org/thrift-shoppes.

Chalk Talk 05/12/2021

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Amara Hays (Courtesy of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

Students of the Month
Five students from Raymond B. Stewart Middle School were honored as The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Students of the Month.

Students are chosen by the teachers and administration for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their individual school, family and community.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, chamber members delivered a certificate and goody bag to each student, in lieu of the ceremony that usually takes place.

The students receiving honors were Logan Forbes, sixth grade; Amara Hays, eighth grade; Nyla Nobles, eighth grade; Karsten Osgood, seventh grade; and Elizabeth Wagoner, eighth grade.

Karsten Osgood
Nyla Nobles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writers retreat
Saint Leo University will host its eighth Sandhill Writers Retreat, virtually, on May 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., via Zoom.

The retreat is for writers of all experience levels, and sessions and workshops will cover a variety of topics, conducted by prominent writers.

Topics will include: Fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, nature writing, writing for veterans, spoken word and performance, publishing, and creating literary community.

The complete program showing all classes, teacher biographies, and digital access to a local bookstore carrying titles from the workshop authors is available at SaintLeo.edu/sandhill-writers-retreat.

Fees are between $25 and $45, with additional charges for optional consultations or master classes.

Those attending the retreat and other members of the public also are invited to register to attend a free reading featuring veteran-author Brian Turner, of Orlando, on May 14 at 7 p.m., also via Zoom.

Fee adjustment review
Pasco-Hernando State College’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will meet on May 18 at 6 p.m., at the Spring Hill Campus, to consider the approval of proposed adjusted course-related fees.

Fee adjustment proposals are reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by PHSC’s Council of Academic Affairs, a committee that includes representation by administrators, deans, academic department chairs, program directors, faculty and staff.

For details regarding the adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu/policies-and-procedures/public-disclosure.

Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories, and program testing.

Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarship and grants.

Questions or concerns about the proposed fees should be directed to the appropriate dean listed on the web page.

Hillel opens preschool
The Forman Early Learning Center, a Hillel-JCC Jewish preschool, will host a grand opening on May 23 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Hillel Academy, 2020 W. Fletcher Ave., in Tampa.

The expansion program includes children ages 1 to 4, to serve the growing need of Jewish early childhood education in northeast Tampa.

The new 6,500-square-foot center has 10,000 square feet of playground area, right on the academy’s campus.

The Hillel-JCC program is bilingual — Hebrew and English — and is focused on the growth of each and every child as he or she develops.

Children participate in experiential learning, through a Jewish lens, as they transition to elementary school.

In addition to outside time, the program includes music, art, cooking and physical education classes, and runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

During the grand opening, visitors can check out the classrooms, play on the playground, view the toddler teaching kitchen and meet the educators.

All children will receive a special gift, too.

Visit HillelAcademyTampa.com/academics/preschool, for information about the early learning center.

In-person graduations
Pasco County Schools will host in-person graduations in school stadiums, unless otherwise noted.

This year, each graduate will be allowed to have four guests — two guests to accompany the graduate on the field, and two seated in the bleachers.

“We know how important it is to the graduates to walk across the stage and receive their diploma in person. And we know how important it is to have family there to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime experiences,” said Kurt Browning, Pasco superintendent of schools.

Here is a complete list of graduation dates and times for the schools in The Laker/Lutz news coverage area:

  • May 26 at 6 p.m.: Marchman Technical College, at River Ridge High Performing Arts Center
  • May 27 at 6 p.m.: Pasco eSchool, Idlewild Baptist Church
  • June 1 at 6 p.m.: Wendell Krinn Technical High School, in the school’s gymnasium
  • June 2 at 7 p.m.: Cypress Creek High School
  • June 3 at 9 a.m.: Zephyrhills High School
  • June 3 at 7 p.m.: Wiregrass Ranch High School
  • June 4 at 7 p.m.: Land O’ Lakes High School
  • June 4 at 7 p.m.: Wesley Chapel High School
  • June 4 at 7:30 p.m.: Pasco High School
  • June 5 at 9 a.m.: Sunlake High School

For more information, email Stephen Hegarty at ">.

Animal Services achieves ‘top’ status

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Pasco County Animal Services (PCAS) has been recognized for inspiring positive change, and helping pets and people in the community.

Human Animal Support Services (HASS) has named PCAS a Tier 1 shelter, according to a news release.

Spencer Conover, PCAS assistant director (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Subsequently, PCAS now officially will serve as a mentor and example for animal shelters throughout the country.

The HASS Tier 1 requirements include:

  • Reuniting lost pets with their owners
  • Resources for owners to keep pets
  • Resources for owners rehoming pets
  • Reducing length of shelter stays

PCAS already implements aspects of the HASS model through multiple events, including free microchip clinics and a pet food bank for residents in need.

“Supporting the human-animal bond is at the core of our mission,” said Spencer Conover, PCAS assistant director, in the release.

“We have presented our ideas to shelter directors and program investors nationwide, and we look forward to continuing as an ambassador for community-based animal sheltering,” said Conover.

HASS is a national coalition led by American Pets Alive! that focuses on reducing shelter intakes, and ensuring community support for people and their pets.

The group formed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which threatened pet owners’ abilities to keep their pets, and led to more fostering and adoption.

Published May 05, 2021