The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

A show of appreciation

By

(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club members donated sanitizing supplies, paper products and student necessities that were needed in teachers’ classrooms. The women also included treats and thank-you cards to show their appreciation. Members of the Education & Libraries Committee delivered donations to Chris Holten of Shady Hills Elementary School. For more on the club, visit LutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.

RapTime gives kids the tools to stay in school

By

It’s called RapTime, and it has made a big difference for children in Wesley Chapel.

Eight years ago, sisters Pam Thomas and Susan Riley, while working with Life Church and the Life Community Center, began a program to help kids stay in school and strive for high school graduation.

The RapTime kids took a field trip to a University of South Florida basketball game, again, pre-COVID-19. (Courtesy of Pam Thomas)

They came up with RapTime, which stands for Reducing Adolescent Problems Through Increased Motivation in Education.

The first group of kids are now juniors at Cypress Creek High School. The program enrollment has grown to 24.

Their grades have improved drastically. College is not only a dream, it’s now an expectation. Through field trips, they have been exposed to a range of educational and cultural experiences.

With funding from Life Church and the United Way, which helps with professional tutors, RapTime is thriving and getting results.

“RapTime has really helped me,’’ said Serena Burgos, one of the program’s original students. “I’m more confident about school and learning a lot from the tutors. They really help me get my grades up.’’

“It has been phenomenal,’’ said her mother, Yvette Burgos. “I have two daughters participating (including 12-year-old Isabella Melendez) and I never have to worry about their grades. My older daughter (Serena) is talking about becoming a nurse or maybe a doctor. She has a lot of great goals. She talks all the time about going to college. It has been a great, great thing for us.’’

It has fulfilled the dreams of Thomas and Riley, who simply wanted to give back in their neighborhood. They once did research and found that approximately 80% of the people in their area did not finish high school. They wanted to reduce that drop-out rate.

“What separates us from most after-school programs is we follow it through all the way to graduation,’’ Thomas said. “We’ve been with some of these kids a long time and seen all the maturation, all the changes.’’

“We are part of this community, so we live it, breathe it and do it with them every day,’’ Riley said. “How can you ride down the street and turn your face in a different direction when you see someone in need? Our pastor always said, ‘Use whatever is in your hands’ and ‘Your geography is your ministry.’ The best thing is to help these children and hope they come back and help future generations.’’

Along the way, RapTime has also received some help. Life Church (formerly Victorious Life Church) opened a new 3,000-square-foot community center that replaced a 900-square-foot building, allowing RapTime to add more programming and people.

The after-school programs run from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., on Monday (elementary school), Tuesday (middle school) and Wednesday (high school).

“We are still a small program, but we have grown,’’ Thomas said. “It’s word of mouth, not open to everyone. We grow from the foundation. We have gotten the parents to buy in. Not everyone wants the private tutoring, but it’s available to those who do want it. Even beyond our after-school sessions, we try to provide other areas of growth.’’

RapTime offers field trips. The kids have gone to the University of South Florida and Saint Leo University. They have visited museums, attended concerts and experienced athletic events.

“One of the reasons we took them to a USF women’s basketball game was to show them there’s more outside the four walls of their community,’’ Riley said. “And, it showed them that if you want to get to this point and go to USF, you’ve got to do A, B, C and D. You’ve got to finish high school and maintain good grades to get scholarships.

“The parents really want their kids to be involved in something. We want to give them a goal and keep them off the streets, where we sometimes see kids running wild and crazy. We want them to be focused and accomplishing things. We are reaching those goals,” she said.

When the first group of RapTime kids reaches high school graduations next year, they can expect a huge party.

Thomas and Riley, with a laugh, promise that a limousine will be involved.

“We all have something to shoot for,’’ said Ashley Wells, 16, a sophomore at Cypress Creek. “I used to have a lot of drama at school. This program has helped me not to have drama. Whether it’s my homework or the everyday schoolwork, I get stuff done now. It’s more fun this way.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published September 23, 2020

Hillsborough singled out for recreational efforts

By

Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation has been singled out for two state honors from the Florida Recreation and Park Association.

The Hillsborough department won a 2020 Agency Excellence Award in the community building category, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation received state recognition for its efforts to serve and enhance the community through its facilities and programming. Nature Program Specialist Brad Lympany was named the 2020 Rising Star for his work to build relationships with the community, and to develop programs including the county’s Hiking Spree program. (File)

That award recognizes the department’s efforts “to serve and enhance the community through its 166 parks, 118 playgrounds, 53 community centers, and nearly 50 sports complexes,” the release said. It also notes that the department manages 55 youth sports organizations, serving  26,439 youths last year.

Among its accomplishments, the release says, are:

  • The transformation of Lucy Dell Pond park from an overgrown water basin that attracted illegal dumping to an attractive pond featuring an LED-lit boardwalk and native landscaping.
  • The creation of Carrollwood Village Park, which turned a decommissioned wastewater treatment facility into a park with an amphitheater, fitness challenge course, skate park, dog park, splash park, inclusive playground, and 24-hour gym for county deputies.

The department also offers a wide range of licensed after-school and summer camp programs, which includes the Positive Coaching Alliance curriculum.

The programming has a strong component for those with disabilities, and the programs’ fee structure is designed to make the camps accessible to all youth.

The department also has partnerships with community groups, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Tampa Bay Lightning, community HOAs and civic groups, including the Carrollwood Conservancy, and the Northdale Older Wiser Lives Seniors (OWLS), the release says.

Plus, the department fosters strong community involvement through more than 30 signature events, including the Northdale Family Fun Fest.

Other achievements include:

  • Efforts to change the way the urban forest is managed, including development of an urban forest master plan that calls for planting 27,000 trees by 2024
  • The All People’s Life Center, which hosts numerous tournaments, including those for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and other adaptive programming
  • The Ed Radice Sports Complex, which includes five softball fields, eight baseball fields, nine soccer fields, and 10 horseshoe pits.

Besides winning the department award, Nature Program Specialist Brad Lympany was named the 2020 Rising Star for his work developing and implementing Parks & Recreation programs, and building relationships with the community, the release says.

Lympany was involved with several of the department’s most popular programs, including Hiking Spree, Senior’s Outdoor Active Recreation (SOAR), and Eco Adventure Camp.

Lympany works with a wide variety of community groups, including Outdoor Afro, which is dedicated to getting members of the African American community out on hiking trails, and the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, the release says.

Published September 23, 2020

Local nonprofit group in danger of closing

By

The Alzheimer’s Family Organization (AFO), which has been serving the Tampa Bay area for more than two decades, is in danger of closing, according to a news release from the organization.

The AFO provides free services to caregivers with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias, but now it’s in need of help itself.

The nonprofit relies almost entirely on fundraising as their source of income, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, fundraising has come to a halt.

The AFO had five major fundraisers set up for 2020 spread out over the eight-county service area: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Lake, Marion, and Sumter.

It held one fundraiser just days before the state shut down due to the pandemic, but had to cancel the other four.

To stretch the remaining funds, the brick-and-mortar office building in Spring Hill was closed to allow staff to continue to provide support to caregivers.

Based on current estimates, funding will be exhausted by Thanksgiving, the release says.

The organization hopes to raise the $200,000 it needs to sustain services until early summer of next year, with the hope that fundraising can resume.

Should the AFO close, countless numbers of caregivers will lose vital support and services to help them successfully care for their loved ones, such as support groups, wanderer’s reunification, education, coaching and other needed services as they walk their journey of this disease.

To find out more or to donate, visit AlzheimersFamily.org, or call (352) 616-0170.

Published September 23, 2020

She finds her true joy in equestrian competition

By

Around the rim of Reagan Moore’s bedroom there are dozens and dozens of championship ribbons — different sizes, different colors — each telling the story of how her interest in horses went from immediate fascination to dedicated obsession.

Lutz’s Reagan Moore and her American Saddle Bred mare Mountain View’s Last Dance were awarded sixth place at the World’s Championship Horse Show Saddle Seat Country Pleasure division. (Courtesy of Allison Moore)

Moore, a 14-year-old Lutz equestrian, had her finest hour to date in August, at the World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Kentucky, finishing sixth in the 13-and-under Saddle Seat Country Pleasure division.

Aboard her beloved black American Saddle Bred mare Whitney (known as Mountain View’s Last Dance during competition), Moore displayed expert discipline, timing and poise. She guided her horse through an intricate pattern of walking, trotting, extended trotting, then a halt (where the horse must stand on all four feet and not move) before the closing canter.

“Reagan is just comfortable on a horse and it’s really natural for her,’’ said Sarah Russell, Moore’s trainer. “From the first time I ever saw her at age 5, that was true. For a lot of people, it’s not natural and you kind of have to teach them how to feel what the horse needs. Not with Reagan. She knows.

“She has been competitive from Day One, always willing to put in the time. She’s at the barn practically every day. She basically lives there. She does whatever it takes to get the job done, so she deserves the credit.’’

When Moore was 3 years old, her maternal grandmother, a former barrel racer, took her to a horse show. That’s how it began. Moore was smitten. She had been riding ponies at the zoo. But, when Moore learned that she could actually compete, her young life found a new focus.

Very quickly, it went from sport to lifestyle.

Her mother, Allison, eventually returned to college for a degree in diagnostic medical sonography so she could become an ultrasound technician and “help financially support this habit,’’ she said with a laugh.

Moore plans to become an equine vet one day, so her mother figures it’s an equal trade. Truth be told, though, Moore’s mother has become equally obsessed with the sport and its trappings.

‘It’s all about the ride’
“People who haven’t been around horses might not understand,’’ Moore’s mother said. “We love the smell of a horse. There’s nothing like being around one. It really is a wonderful thing. It makes me happy to see Reagan so happy. I had her dancing for a while, but she hated that. She loves the horses, the competitions, and I just don’t see any way that’s going to change.’’

Moore, a ninth-grader who takes virtual-school courses, doesn’t want it to change.

“Horses are such amazing animals,’’ Moore said. “They make my day. They make me happy. I fell in love with them from the start.

Lutz’s Reagan Moore, straddling Mountain View’s Last Dance, competes at the World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

“I think my competitions have made me more confident and more determined. I’m very driven academically and make all As. But, my passion is horses. There’s something perfect about it, being at the barn, riding, competing. I love it all.’’

Russell, who owns the Wesley Chapel stables where Moore trains, said she loves the way her student goes about the craft. Saddle Seat is a form of English riding. It requires plenty of discipline and training. One false move can ruin a ride, and the results of subjective judging can sometimes be frustrating.

For Moore, though, it’s never about the ribbon (although ribbons are nice). It’s more about the self-satisfaction she gets from meeting an internal standard. She also loves the relationship that can be built with a horse. Moore’s family purchased Whitney last year, and she says her horse is “very sweet, kind of feisty and really cool.’’

“I’m always happy during competition,’’ Moore said. “I’m smiling the rest of the day. Honestly, it’s all about the ride. It’s about how I feel. when I first started competing nationally, sometimes I wasn’t happy with the ribbon (I received). But, now I’m happy with the ride. That’s what matters.’’

“I told Reagan in Louisville that there were plenty of kids there like her who wanted it just as bad,’’ Russell said. “You never know. Maybe you don’t have your best ride or maybe another horse was better on that day. All I know is when other people might be fussing (over the placement), Reagan is always thrilled. She’s smiling and petting her horse all the way back to the barn. She has the best attitude and sportsmanship about the whole thing.’’

Moore is training for her next big competition, The Royal in Kansas City, and will advance to the 14-to-17 class next year, where she’ll be among the youngest in her division.

“I’m so grateful for everything I get to do and the chance to go up against all these great riders and horses,’’ Moore said. “Sometimes, I’ll look up at all the ribbons in my room and remember all the places I’ve been, and all the fun I’ve had. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m just as excited now as I was when I started. Every day I get to do it, it just makes me happy.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published September 16, 2020

Survey shows most would not use hurricane shelters

By

Pasco County issued a Hurricane Season Survey, and the results are in.

The survey revealed that nearly 60% of respondents indicated it’s very unlikely they will go to a shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Pasco County news release.

Still, the release notes, it remains critical “to have a plan and resources for sheltering at home or with friends.”

Other highlights from the 2020 Hurricane Season Survey include:

  • Nearly 48% of respondents are unaware of what to bring to a hurricane shelter
  • Nearly 25% of respondents have not packed a go-kit
  • Nearly 44% of respondents do not know their evacuation zone
  • Nearly 67% of respondents have not downloaded the My Pasco App

More than 1,300 residents provided feedback through the survey, which the county says helps Pasco County Emergency Management shape sheltering plans.

It also helps the county know what resources that residents need to be better prepared for potential disasters, the release adds.

“We work year-round to develop innovative tools to help keep our residents safe and informed,” Emergency Management Director Andrew Fossa, said in the release.  “Survey data indicates a need for more preparation in our communities. Now is the time to learn what you need to bring to a shelter, to pack your go-kit, to download the MyPasco App – to make your plan.”

You can learn how to prepare your family and pets, secure your home, pack a go-kit and more by visiting PascoEmergencyManagement.com.

You can also get the latest updates and information from Pasco’s Emergency Operations during a disaster by downloading the MyPasco App and signing up for the Alert Pasco Emergency Notification System.

Published September 16, 2020

Making a name for themselves, on a new stage

By

Before these athletes hit the gridiron for their respective colleges, they were known for their skills on local fields. Find out more about what they are up to now. Check out our coverage on Sports.

Donovan Jennings didn’t start playing football until his freshman year at Gaither High School, but he quickly developed his skills, attracting a number of scholarship offers. The massive left tackle is now a junior at the University of South Florida. (Courtesy of Gaither High School athletics department)

 

Noah Ruggles, a Steinbrenner High standout, emerged as the University of North Carolina’s primary kicker as a sophomore last year. At Steinbrenner, he earned All-State honors and other accolades. (File)
Isaiah Bolden was a three-sport star at Wesley Chapel, shining in football, basketball, and track and field. In addition to his pigskin talents, Bolden was the varsity basketball team’s leading rebounder (8.5 rebounds per game in 2017-2018) and collected a bronze medal in the 100-meter dash at 2018 Class 3A state championships. Now, he’s a redshirt sophomore at Florida State University. (File)
Ja’Quan Sheppard, safety at the University of Cincinnati, was mostly known for his skills as a wide receiver at Zephyrhills High School, where his impact helped guide the Bulldogs to arguably its best season in program history in 2018. (Courtesy of Zephyrhills High School Athletics department)

A Gentle Touch from Gentle Hands OBGYN

By

Dr. Gem Ashby

By Kelli Carmack

When Gem Ashby moved from her native island of Barbados to attend medical school in America, her mind was set on a career as a pediatrician or surgeon.

However, after completing her rotations at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Dr. Ashby found herself falling in love with another specialty, Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN).

“Once I witnessed my first labor and delivery, I knew that OBGYN was the specialty for me. No other rotation gave me the love, joy and excitement that I got with OBGYN,” said Dr. Ashby.

Dr. Ashby went on to complete her residency training at Florida State University’s OBGYN program in Pensacola, then moved to Tampa to work for Generations OBGYN, a unit of Women’s Care Florida.

After eight years at Generations OBGYN, Dr. Ashby wanted to focus her time and attention on the growing needs of women in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, and in 2018 opened her own practice, which she called Gentle Hands OBGYN.

Many of Dr. Ashby’s staff came with her from Generations OBGYN.

“Most of us have worked together for 10 years now…we’re like a family, and we make sure we treat our patients like they, too, are part of our family,” said Dr. Ashby.

One of the newest additions to the Gentle Hands family is Dr. Kristen Witkowski, who is also Dr. Ashby’s business partner.

Dr. Witkowski was born in Chicago, Illinois, where she completed her OBGYN training. After missing her family who had relocated to Florida, and digging her car out of snow for the umpteenth time, she decided her future was in Florida.

Dr. Witkowski enjoys all aspects of the OBGYN specialty, but her favorite part is the relationships she builds with her patients. “It is important to me that patients feel listened to, understood and respected,” said Dr. Witkowski.

Dr. Ashby and the entire Gentle Hands OBGYN team are devoted to going through all stages of a patient’s life — the excitement of a pregnancy, having the baby and even menopause.

Services include prenatal care, delivery, in-office ultrasounds, infertility testing and treatment, routine pap smears, laparoscopic and robotic surgery. It also offers virtual exams for select OB and GYN to existing patients during the current coronavirus crisis.

2391 Oak Myrtle Lane, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

(813) 803 – 2219

GentleHandsOBGYN.com

Published 9/2/20

A tradition, with some new twists

By

Five-year-old Connor Mathes and his 3-year-old brother, Zachary, get ready for the first day of preschool at Xavier Elementary School in Appleton, Wisconsin. (Courtesy of Erin Mathes)

Getting ready for the First Day of School typically means new back-to-school clothes, shoes and a backpack. This year — during the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic— it means a mask, too. Five-year-old Connor and 3-year-old Zachary Mathes, grandsons of Diane Kortus, publisher of The Laker/Lutz News, were among the millions of children across the country beginning the 2020-2021 school year. The boys attend preschool at Xavier Elementary School, in Appleton, Wisconsin.

If you want to help kids, Kiwanis Club wants you

By

A new Kiwanis Club in Wesley Chapel is looking for civic-minded people who want to help build leadership-related activities for school-age children.

“If I asked you, ‘Would you like to be part of an organization that gives all of its money to children and the development of children’s programs,’ how can you say no?’’ said Joe Meyer, a Sarasota-based Kiwanis member who specializes in building and maintaining clubs.

The Kiwanis Club has four new Tampa Bay clubs forming, including one in Wesley Chapel. Florida has 240 adult chapters with approximately 6,900 members.

In the United States, the organization raises more than $100 million annually and dedicates it to 150,000 community service projects, which translates into 18.5-million service hours.

Kiwanis Club in Wesley Chapel is seeking new members.

The clubs are involved in all sorts of public service works.

They have built all-access playgrounds, restocked libraries, created food pantries, bought medical equipment, hosted diversity fairs, and stuffed backpacks with school supplies.

Ed Anderson, a Wesley Chapel realtor and Kiwanis member since 1977, is serving as advisor for the new Wesley Chapel club.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced most of its organizational meetings to be held via Zoom video conferencing, but Anderson is encouraged by the initial response.

“Wesley Chapel is such a fast-growing area, one of the fastest-growing places in Florida, that it just seems like a natural to establish a club that could really grow,’’ said Anderson, who has most recently served as secretary of the Kiwanis Club of Carrollwood. “Even though Wesley Chapel is a fairly affluent area, there are still folks who need things.

“Once you’re a Kiwanian, it becomes part of your life. Once a Kiwanian, always a Kiwanian. You’re able to impact the community and make a difference. There are many networking groups and business groups. They are great, but their purpose is to build businesses. In Kiwanis, your sole objective is giving back to the community — specifically kids.’’

What are some of the Kiwanis projects?

The Terrific Kids bumper stickers, as in “I have a Terrific Kid at Wesley Chapel High School,’’ is a Kiwanis project.

The Key Clubs that exist in most high schools, emphasizing leadership, character development and service? That’s Kiwanis.

The BUG (Bring Up Grades) programs that recognize students who raise their grade to an acceptable range and offer certificates, buttons and parties? That’s Kiwanis, too.

Kiwanis also is about people such as Alex Dang, a Wiregrass Ranch High School graduate and a University of South Florida freshman who’s majoring in bio-medical sciences. He has designs on medical school and becoming a pediatrician.

In his sophomore year at Wiregrass Ranch, Dang joined the Key Club.

“The comparison of myself from the beginning of high school compared to now is so dramatic,’’ said Dang, 18. “I’ve learned about social networking, communication skills and public speaking. I was a Key Club board member, so I had to speak and become a leader.

“Before, I didn’t really pursue any of those skills. Key Club gave me a push in that direction and really put my life on a different course.’’

Dang has joined the Kiwanis Club of Wesley Chapel.

“Wesley Chapel is such a tight-knit community, so I really think a lot of people are going to join and participate in the activities and sponsorships,’’ Dang said. “The best thing about Kiwanis Club is anyone can join, no matter what skill set you have. In fact, it’s even better if you have a different skill set because that makes the club more diverse and strong.’’

Meyer, a membership-building specialist, said all walks of life are welcome.

“We get bankers, real estate professionals, insurance people, automotive repair, sales people, retailers, school employees … you name it,’’ Meyer said. “It’s all about getting people to work together and helping children in the community. You have to have a big heart and the desire to help kids. There’s great camaraderie in the club and the rewards are immense.’’

For any men or women interested in the opportunity, the Kiwanis Club of Wesley Chapel’s Facebook page summed it up:

“Kids are curious, lovable and hilarious. They are also wild, impatient and vulnerable. Help us look out for kids in Wesley Chapel and around the globe.’’

For more information on the Kiwanis Club of Wesley Chapel, contact Ed Anderson at (813) 841-2773 or .

By Joey Johnston

Published September 09, 2020