The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

Wreath tributes for veterans

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(Courtesy of Liberty Manor for Veterans)

Mamie Robinson, of Plant City, made and delivered seven wreaths in an all-American motif to the residents of Liberty Manor for Veterans Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit organization, in Tampa. The mission of Liberty Manor is to promote the developmental and social needs of disabled and honorably discharged veterans who have fallen victim to homelessness, providing transitional, supported housing and establishing objectives designed to attribute to self-sufficiency. Anyone interested in assisting this initiative can contact Connie Lindsay at 813-900-9422, or visit LibertyManor.org.

Meet Murphy and Gordie

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Murphy, left, and Gordie are golden retrievers – brothers and littermates that moved to Florida from Massachusetts, to live out their golden years in the Sunshine State. Their hobbies have included chasing tennis balls, squirrels and lizards. Sadly, Murphy, crossed the rainbow bridge unexpectedly on March 12, just 11 days shy of the brothers’ 10th birthdays. The Glynn family – Brian, Jess, Brendan and Reese, will miss Murphy tremendously, but will always show Gordie their love, at their home in Wesley Chapel.

A pop of color

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This stunning cardinal’s photo was snapped by Janna Rolfe, of Meadow Pointe in Wesley Chapel. Rolfe said we are ‘so fortunate to have so much pretty wildlife here in our county,’ and she enjoys seeing the pictures in the paper each week.

Health News 03/31/2021

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Nurse navigator serves as guide
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s orthopedic surgery services includes the unique position of nurse navigator.

Krystal Taylor, orthopedics nurse navigator, left, and Brynn Ladoniczki, orthopedics nurse manager (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

Krystal Taylor, the hospital’s nurse navigator, guides patients completely through orthopedic surgery, working with their surgeon.

“Krystal is the person with you from the very start, before surgery, before you even come into the hospital,” said Brynn Ladoniczki, the hospital’s orthopedics nurse manager, in a news release.

“She’s also with you during pre-op, post-op and after discharge. You’ll have your very own person who’s with you each step of the way to make sure you have everything you need,” Ladoniczki said.

Taylor added, “I’m the patient’s advocate. I’m there to help you maneuver through each stage, prior to admission, while they are in the hospital and when you go home. I’m here to prepare, educate, inform and help you know what to expect.”

Taylor also has the advantage of being an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). This special designation allows her to do things similar to a doctor and beyond the role of a traditional nurse. She can write orders for physical therapy or home health care, prescribe medications, order nutrition and diet consultations or order equipment like a rolling walker. She can also speak on a surgeon’s behalf and facilitate a discharge so a patient can go home faster.

“Patients appreciate the work of our nurse navigator,” Ladoniczki said. “They like that familiarity and consistency of having that same person with them the whole time.”

Learn more about St. Joseph’s orthopedic services at BayCare.org/hospitals/st-josephs-hospital-north.

Count the Kicks campaign
The Florida Department of Health is partnering with Count the Kids, an evidenced-based stillbirth prevention public health campaign, to educate and empower pregnant women about the importance of tracking fetal movement in the third trimester of pregnancy.

One out of every 147 pregnancies in Florida ends in stillbirth, according to Florida vital statistics, in a news release.

The campaign was launched in April 2020, near the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research shows the benefits of expectant moms tracking their baby’s movements daily and learning how long it normally takes the baby to get to 10 movements. After a few days, moms will begin to see a pattern.

If the baby’s “normal” changes during the third trimester, it could be a sign of potential problems and an indication that the expectant mom should call her health care provider.

Maternal health providers, birthing hospitals, social services agencies, childbirth educators and other providers in Florida can order free Count the Kicks educational material, at CountTheKicks.org, to help them have the kick-counting conversation with expectant parents.

Since the launch of the campaign last year, more than 313,000 educational pieces have been distributed throughout the state.

Count the Kicks also has a free app available in the iOS and Google Play app stores, and is available in 12 languages.

It also features a kick-counting history, daily reminders, and the ability to count for a single baby and twins.

 

Chalk Talk 03/31/2021

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(Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

Sheriff’s office hosts training
While Pasco County schools were on Spring Break, several school crossing guards and traffic control officers spent part of the week becoming FDOT Certified School Crossing Guard Trainers. The training, hosted by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, included a classroom portion, and demonstrations and practice outside at Safety Town in Shady Hills. In addition to the PSO, five other agencies were in attendance as well. The PSO also is hiring school crossing guards. For information and to apply, visit JoinPSO.com, and click on ‘Current Openings.’

Shoe drive success
Victory High School, a recovery high school in Holiday, recently hosted a shoe drive asking the community to clean out their closets to donate.

Fifty-two large garbage bags of gently used and new shoes were collected.

Victory High will receive a check from Funds2Orgs for the donations.

Student achievement
Thais Jacomassi, of Lutz, was named to the fall Dean’s List at Emerson College, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Jacomassi is majoring in writing, lit and publishing, and is a member of the Class of 2022.

AP Capstone program
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill is one of approximately 2,000 schools worldwide to implement the AP Capstone Diploma program, according to a school release.

The innovative program allows students to develop the skills that matter most for college success, such as research, collaboration and communication.

The program consists of two yearlong courses taken in sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research.

Students who score a 3 or higher in both courses, and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing, earn the AP Capstone Diploma.

Students who score a 3 or higher in both classes, but not on the additional four exams, can earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

Bishop McLaughlin will start offering AP Seminar in the fall. In this class, students choose and evaluate complex topics through multiple lenses — identify credibility and bias in sources, and develop arguments in support of a recommendation.

In the subsequent AP Research course, students design, execute, present and defend a yearlong research-based investigation on a topic of individual interest.

For information, visit BMCHS.com, or call 727-857-2600.

Need-based scholarships
Take Stock in Children, a need-based scholarship program with the Pasco Education Foundation, has announced that its application period for the 2021-2022 school year is now open to students currently in eighth grade attending Pasco County Schools.

The program is statewide, and provides scholarships, mentoring and hope, to help break the cycle of generational poverty through education.
Eligibility requirements and online applications are posted at TakeStockPasco.org or PascoEducationFoundation.org. The deadline to apply is April 15.

Selected students will be provided with a college readiness coach, a mentor, and College & Career Readiness Services.

How educated is Florida?
WalletHub has released its report on 2021’s Most & Least Educated States in America.

In order to determine the most educated states, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 18 metrics that examined the key factors of a well-educated population: educational attainment, school quality, and achievement gaps between genders and races.

Florida’s rankings are (1=Most; 25=Average):

  • First: Gender Gap in Educational Attainment
  • Fifth: Average University Quality
  • 29th: Percentage of Bachelor Degree Holders
  • 29th: Percentage of Graduate or Professional Degree Holders
  • 31st: Racial Gap in Educational Attainment
  • 32nd: Percentage of Associate Degree Holders or College-Experienced Adults
  • 33rd: Percentage of High School Diploma Holders

For a full report, visit WalletHub.com/edu/e/most-educated-states/31075.

Child care courses
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) is offering a course for child care directors to become credentialed and a course for those seeking a child care professional credential.

The Operation of an Early Childhood Center course will be offered as a remote, online class via Zoom, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., from May 17 to July 16.

The Childcare Professional Credential course will be offered as a hybrid course meeting via Zoom for 48 of the 120 class hours, on Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., from May 13 to Aug. 3. The remaining course hours will be delivered through online assignments.

Both courses are T.E.A.C.H. scholarship eligible (visit Teach-fl.org.) and Rapid Credential scholarship eligible (visit PHSC.edu/academics/job-training/scholarship).

Students need to apply as soon as possible, as T.E.A.C.H. takes six weeks to eight weeks to process, and Rapid Credential is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

To learn more about these courses, or to enroll, visit PHSC.edu/academics/continuing-education, or email .

Tuition assistance
CareerSource Tampa Bay has $4.6 million available to assist Hillsborough County youth and adults with tuition assistance scholarships to begin post-secondary training at local schools, according to a news release.

Scholarships are awarded in totals of up to $10,000 based on the program choice. Tuition assistance is awarded in the following in-demand industries: Health care, information technology, manufacturing and trades, professional services, and retail and hospitality.

The scholarships will be available to young adults ages 16 to 24 through the Young Talent Tampa Bay program, and adults age 18 and over through the Adult & Dislocated Worker program.

To be eligible to the programs, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a Hillsborough County resident
  • Meet certain age requirements
  • Meet U.S. citizenship or permanent resident requirements
  • Be registered for the Selective Service (males only)
  • Additional income eligibility applies

In addition to the scholarships, the programs also offer a designated career coach; employability skills training; financial literacy; assistance with resumes; national certifications for workplace training; limited supportive services; job placement assistance, including on-the-job training opportunities; career exploration and guidance; GED assistance (youth only); and placement assistance into Paid-Work-Experience (youth only).

Youth ages 16 to 24 can register for upcoming virtual information sessions at CareerSourceTampaBay.com/job-seekers/youth/.

Virtual sessions for those age 18 and older take place virtually every Wednesday at 10 a.m. To attend a session, email .

To apply to the Adult & Dislocated program, visit SurveyMonkey.com/r/N7QV576.

Republican scholarships
The Republican Party of Pasco Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for Pasco County Schools’ graduating seniors, including pubic, home-schools, charter and private schools.

Graduating seniors from any Pasco County high school are eligible if they meet this criteria:

  • Must be a registered or preregistered Republican
  • Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA
  • Complete a 650-word minimum essay on the topic: “What is the importance of conservative values for young people in today’s world?”
  • Extra points will be given for club and social activities, volunteer hours and campaign participation
  • Must be planning to attend an accredited community college/university or accredited vocational school in Florida

Applications can be found online at PascoGOP.org, at the individual’s high school career counselor’s office, or at the Pasco Republican Party office in Hudson.

Applications and essays must be emailed to , or to RPOP, 12043 Cobblestone Drive, Hudson, FL 34667, Attention: Sandy Graves, scholarship chair.

For information and questions, call 727-863-5400, or email .

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m., April 30.

Five $1,000 scholarships will be awarded in May.

Eli Guy loves people visits

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Eli Guy loves his human parents, Amanda and Michael Zabrocki, and his human siblings Kaitlyn and Evan, and lives with the family in Bexley, in Land O’ Lakes. He is crazy about his visits with his grandparents.

A ‘spectacular’ sight

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Michael Ereon caught his barred owl perched atop a couple of street signs in Lexington Oaks, in Wesley Chapel. Barred owls roost quietly in forest trees during the day, though they occasionally can be heard calling in daylight hours. At night they hunt small animals, especially rodents, and give an instantly recognizable ‘Who cooks for you?’ call.

Health News 03/24/2021

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Hospital celebrates 40 years
Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, a Level II Trauma Center, celebrates its 40th anniversary on March 23, in recognition of its historical beginning and contributions to the community.

The Pasco County Commission on March 9 presented the hospital with a proclamation in appreciation of its four decades of service.

More than 82,000 patients yearly arrive from the West Suncoast, Nature Coast, and across the nation to receive superior care at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, a facility that is connected to the nation’s leading health care system, HCA Healthcare, according to a news release.

“Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has been providing exceedingly excellent and exceptional service for the past 40 years, with constantly evolving cutting-edge technology and progressively improving world-class patient care,” said Dr. Rao Musunuru, who has served as chairperson of the hospital’s Board of Trustees multiple times over the past 40 years and was instrumental in establishing the nationally acclaimed heart institute, in the release.

Comfort for those in need
Three members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club — Dolores Tarafa, Debbie Cardona and Dee Knerr — designed and fabricated “fidget” lap blankets for patients at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home Memory Unit in Land O’ Lakes.

The women did some research and learned that this type of blanket is a very helpful tool in calming the anxiety of dementia patients.

Many hours of sewing and handcrafting went into each piece, and 10 blankets were delivered to the nursing home facility’s activities director, Johanna Snee.

For information on the club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.

Local hospitals recognized
AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills are the only Tampa Bay hospitals to achieve Healthgrades’ 2021 America’s 250 Best Hospitals Award, according to a news release.

The distinction places the two hospitals in the top 5% of nearly 4,500 hospitals assessed across the United States for superior clinical performance, according to Healthgrades.

“Patient safety and high quality of care continues to be our priority and we are honored to receive this recognition, said Erik Wangsness, president and CEO, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, in the release.

“This award is a testament to the hard work of our physicians and team members who are committed to keeping our patients safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and each and every day,” Wangsness said.
During the 2021 Healthgrades study period, these facilities showcased superior performance in clinical outcomes for patients who suffer heart attacks, stroke, heart failure and sepsis.
“Clinical excellence is at the core of our care and this distinction highlights our ongoing commitment to provide our expertise to every patient, every time,” said Amanda Maggard, president and CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Dade City.

“This prestigious honor celebrates the dedication of our teams who continue to go above and beyond to ensure our communities are receiving the best care possible and experiencing better outcomes,” said Maggard.

To learn more about how Healthgrades determines award recipients, and for more information on Healthgrades Quality Solutions, visit HealthGrades.com/quality.

Chalk Talk 03/24/2021

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Republican scholarships
The Republican Party of Pasco Scholarship Committee is now accepting applications for Pasco County Schools’ graduating seniors, including pubic, home-schools, charter and private schools.

Graduating seniors from any Pasco County high school are eligible if they meet this criteria:

  • Must be a registered or preregistered Republican
  • Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA
  • Complete a 650-word minimum essay on the topic: “What is the importance of conservative values for young people in today’s world?”
  • Extra points will be given for club and social activities, volunteer hours and campaign participation
  • Must be planning to attend an accredited community college/university or accredited vocational school in Florida

Applications can be found online at PascoGOP.org, at the individual’s high school career counselor’s office, or at the Pasco Republican Party office in Hudson.

Applications and essays must be emailed to , or to RPOP, 12043 Cobblestone Drive, Hudson, FL 34667, Attention: Sandy Graves, scholarship chair.

For information and questions, call 727-863-5400, or email .

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m., April 30.

Five $1,000 scholarships will be awarded in May.

Water safety program
The Rotary Club of Trinity will visit the Tanglewood Learning Center in New Port Richey on March 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., to present the Josh the Otter Water Safety and Literacy Project to 60 preschoolers. The program promotes water safety and drowning prevention through the “Josh The Baby Otter” book.

The club partners with the drowning prevention nonprofit that created the program, the Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation, which was established in honor of 2-year-old Joshua who died in 2008 after falling into the family pool.

The Trinity Rotary is looking to expand its awareness of drowning prevention with the Josh the Otter program to other schools and groups serving children.

For information, contact Becky Bennett at 727-967-7509 or .

Student degrees
These local, Odessa students recently earned degrees from Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, Utah:

  • Kea Allen: Master of Business Administration
  • Aneta Budzinski: Master of Science, Nursing – Leadership and Management
  • Rachel Morrell: Bachelor of Science, Nursing

Saint Leo receives honors
Saint Leo University earned honors in three categories for providing the best online education bachelor’s programs in the United States, according to the 2021 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Programs edition, released earlier this year.

The school received honors in the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs in Business (tied for 65th), Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans (ranked 75th), and Best Online Bachelor’s Programs (tied for 93rd) categories.

Launched in December 1998, Saint Leo was one of the first institutions to embrace online education with the creation of the Center for Online Learning, according to a news release.

U.S. News assessed universities and colleges based on four categories:

  • Engagement, which ranked bachelor’s degree programs based on promoting student participation and interaction with faculty members
  • Services and technologies, which looked at how well institutions support technology, learning assistance, career guidance and financial aid
  • Faculty credentials and training, which ensures that online instructors’ credentials mirror those of campus-based bachelor’s programs and makes sure faculty have proper training to teach distance learners
  • Expert opinion, which enlists a survey of high-ranking academic officials who look at tangible factors affecting program quality

To view all the rankings, data and methodologies for the 2021 Best Online Programs, visit USNews.com/online.

Need-based scholarships
Take Stock in Children, a need-based scholarship program with the Pasco Education Foundation, has announced that its application period for the 2021-2022 school year is now open to students currently in eighth grade attending Pasco County Schools.

The program is statewide, and provides scholarships, mentoring and hope, to help break the cycle of generational poverty through education.

Eligibility requirements and online applications are posted at TakeStockPasco.org or PascoEducationFoundation.org. The deadline to apply is April 15.

Selected students will be provided with a college readiness coach, a mentor, and College & Career Readiness Services.

How educated is Florida?
WalletHub has released its report on 2021’s Most & Least Educated States in America.

In order to determine the most educated states, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 18 metrics that examined the key factors of a well-education population: educational attainment, school quality, and achievement gaps between genders and races.

Florida’s rankings are (1=Most; 25=Average):

  • First: Gender Gap in Educational Attainment
  • Fifth: Average University Quality
  • 29th: Percentage of Bachelor Degree Holders
  • 29th: Percentage of Graduate or Professional Degree Holders
  • 31st: Racial Gap in Educational Attainment
  • 32nd: Percentage of Associate Degree Holders or College-Experienced Adults
  • 33rd: Percentage of High School Diploma Holders

For a full report, visit WalletHub.com/edu/e/most-educated-states/31075.

Child care courses
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) is offering a course for child care directors to become credentialed and a course for those seeking a child care professional credential.

The Operation of an Early Childhood Center course will be offered as a remote, online class via Zoom, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., from May 17 to July 16.

The Childcare Professional Credential course will be offered as a hybrid course meeting via Zoom for 48 of the 120 class hours, on Tuesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., from May 13 to Aug. 3. The remaining course hours will be delivered through online assignments.

Both courses are T.E.A.C.H. scholarship eligible (visit Teach-fl.org.) and Rapid Credential scholarship eligible (visit PHSC.edu/academics/job-training/scholarship).

Students need to apply as soon as possible, as T.E.A.C.H. takes six weeks to eight weeks to process, and Rapid Credential is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

To learn more about these courses, or to enroll, visit PHSC.edu/academics/continuing-education, or email .

Host an exchange student
The nonprofit organization International Student Exchange (ISE) is looking for volunteer families to host international high school students in the coming academic year.

Host families can expect to gain a new family member, experience a new culture, create lifelong friendships, and make a positive impact, locally and globally.

The exchange students are between the ages of 15 and 18, and come from countries such as Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Thailand, Brazil, Italy, Norway and more.

The deadline to match students with families is Aug. 31.

Families can select a student based on shared interests, hobbies, gender, etc.

Family screenings include a background check, an in-home interview, and a verification of personal references.

International students are English-speaking and have their own spending money.

Families will provide a caring environment, a room and daily meals.

Those who host ISE students are eligible to claim a $50 charitable contribution deduction on their itemized tax returns for each month they host a student.

For information, call 727-237-1885, or visit ISEusa.org.

Library team sets out on scientific challenge

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Pasco County Libraries is taking on the NASA challenge — “Plant the Moon” — to attempt to grow plants in a simulated moon base environment.

A libraries team has embarked on a 10-week challenge that started in February, to examine how vegetation grows in lunar soil.

Science is ‘sprouting’ at the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City, as Pasco County Libraries embarks on a NASA challenge. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

When the growing period is complete, the findings will be submitted and showcased during a virtual symposium scheduled for April 29 and April 30, with NASA scientists and other researchers.

The challenge was issued by the Institute of Competition Scientists in collaboration with the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science (CLASS) Exolith Lab, according to a news release.

The UCF lab provided lunar soil simulant for the libraries to use, to conduct the experiment.

“We are so excited for this unique opportunity,” said Hugh Embry Library associate Sarah Pass in the release.

“Our team, the MoonRakers, is attempting to find ways to grow plants effectively in a simulated moon base environment. We hope our customers will enjoy this experience as much as we are,” said Pass.

The public is welcome to stop by to see the plants growing in the center of the library, at 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City.

Those interested also can track the plants’ progress on the Hugh Embry Library’s Facebook page.

Published March 17, 2021