Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Tocobaga District makes crossing over bigger than ever

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

LUTZ — Before Cub Scout Jacob Tactuk, 10, could cross over to Boy Scouts, he had to earn the Arrow of Light award, the most important achievement for any Cub Scout.

All Cub Scouts Webelos have to earn the award before they move on to Boy Scouts. To earn the AOL, scouts must earn activity badges from 20 Webelo activities. Some of the activities include: fitness, aquanaut, citizen, communicator, outdoorsman, artist, scholar and handyman.

“It wasn’t hard work because it was so much fun,” said Tactuk, of Pack 12 in Lutz. “I like doing all the activities and getting awards.”

After earning the award, the scouts receive a badge that is sewn onto their Boy Scout uniform. The badge is the only one carried over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.

In past years, Cub Scouts crossed over to Boys Scouts when they received their AOL award, but the Tocobaga District, which covers all Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops in north Hillsborough County, decided to do something different this year.

Instead of crossing over to Boy Scouts when they received their AOL award, all north Hillsborough Cub Scouts will cross over together at group campout. The event, called Webelo Woods, will be Jan. 22 and 23, 2010 at Camp Brorein on Boy Scout Road in Odessa.

Tactuk is a fifth-grader at Lutz Elementary and started in Cub Scouts as a Wolf scout. He and his stepbrother, Nathan Burnside, were two of nine Webelo scouts from the pack that earned the award on Dec. 11. Their father, Matthew Burnside, is their den master.

“I’m very proud of what they’ve both been able to accomplish, and it’s been a great bunch of years helping them in Cub Scouts,” Burnside said. “Both my two boys and the other Webelos have all worked hard and will be very ready to be Boy Scouts…We go on more campouts than most Cub Scout dens to try and make them ready to be Boy Scouts. I’m biased, but I think they are the most ready to become Boys Scouts of any den in the area.”

Burnside said his oldest son, Matt, is a Life Scout in Boy Scout Troop 12, of Lutz.

The camp will have eight stations designed to teach the boys skills needed in Boy Scouts. Some of the stations will include: first aid; navigation skills and an axe yard to teach the scouts knife, axe and saw safety.

“I think it’s a good idea to have the district cross over together,” Burnside said. “Lots of boys drop out of scouting after they earn the AOL. It’s easy to lose interest without events like this one to prepare the kids and keep scouting in their lives.”

Tactuk said of earning the award, “I’m ready to start in Boy Scouts right now. The campout will real be fun too…My dad has helped me and Nathan and all the other scouts get our AOL.”

For more information on Cub Scouting, visit www.scouting.org. For information on the Tocobaga District, e-mail or visit www.boyscouting.com.

Pack 12 Webelos who received their Arrow of Light Award on Dec. 11 include:

• Nathan Burnside
• Camrin Cowden
• Krisztian Fedor
• Ryan Fisher
• Evan Hopkins
• Jacob May
• Liam McGann
• Jacob Tactuk
• Lonnie Wooton

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — The search is over for the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce executive director.

“We thought long and hard about all the potential applicants, and it came down to two very qualified people,” said Mike Mira, chamber president since October. “It was very close between the two, but in the end, Vonnie Mikkelsen had just what we were looking for.”

Mira said 44 people applied for the position, which was news to Mikkelsen.

“I had no idea that many people tried to get the position,” Mikkelsen said. “That makes me feel even more honored than before.

“When I applied for the position, I didn’t know where I stood, but I knew I was qualified and would be able to bring something to the chamber. I guess I just fit what the board was looking for in an executive director.”

Mikkelsen, 46, lives in Land O’ Lakes and spends much of her time volunteering at the Pasco County Animal Services’ animal shelter. For her work with the shelter, she received the Florida Veterinary Medical Association’s Citizen of the Year award in 2009. She also earned the PCAS’ Outstanding Volunteer and the Presidential Volunteer Service awards in 2008.

She has also spent time volunteering as a Guardian Ad Litem, which is a program in which volunteers make sure abused and neglected children adjust smoothly to state intervention. Some of the duties these volunteers have are to check in on the children regularly and help the kids during court appearances.

Mikkelsen was named the Pasco County Volunteer of the Month in August 2008 for her work with the Ad Litem program.

“Working as an Ad Litem volunteer is what I’m most proud of,” Mikkelsen said. “Helping these children in difficult situations does so much for them.”

Mikkelsen graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Ore., in 1985 with a double major in political science and international relations.

Mikkelsen has worked as a project coordinator and manager. She is fluent in Japanese.

“I was only going to spend about one year in Japan teaching English to students, but it turned into 16 years,” Mikkelsen said. “I worked with Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting in Tokyo developing programming for Cartoon Network Japan.”

The new executive director also earned a nonprofit management certificate from the University of South Florida in November.

“Her going to USF for nonprofit management is one of the things that tipped the scales toward Vonnie,” Mira said. “She also is a fresh face here in Zephyrhills. We’ve found that many of the same people here do all the fund-raising, charitable work and other up-front activities. We wanted someone new in the area to bring a fresh approach, and that is something Vonnie will offer the chamber and its members.”

Mira said the chamber is trying to create a new image for itself with its new director and a new Web site that will launch sometime in the next two months. He said this new approach was made to retain the chamber’s 400 members while attracting new ones from the 4,000 businesses in the Zephyrhills.

“I’m very confident in the leadership of the board of directors the chamber has, and the businesses of Zephyrhills should be too,” Mikkelsen said. “The leadership is very serious about what it wants to accomplish and has clear goals to do that. They are receptive to new ideas and in moving forward. I’m very excited about the future.”

Mikkelsen received the news of her new position in an unusual place.

“I was in the pet store getting dog food when I got the call around 1:30 (p.m.) from the chamber,” Mikkelsen said. “The food was for my Australian shepherd named Tucker and my shepherd mix named Sierra that my husband (Dennis) and I adopted from a shelter. I’d have to say I didn’t imagine that would be how I’d get the news, but it was still perfect.”

By Ashley Dunn

News Editor

PASCO COUNTY — The Pasco School district announced Dec. 4 that its graduation rate has improved and that the district performed about the state average during the 2008-09 school year.

The state uses three different calculations to measure graduation rates: the Florida graduation rate, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) rate; and the National Governors Association (NGA) rate.

Based on the Florida graduation rate, Pasco’s rate was 83.5 percent in 2008-09, up from up from 79.5 percent in 2007-08 and 73.7 percent in 2006-07. The state average was 78.6 percent.

Based on the NCLB rate, Pasco’s rate was 79.8 percent in 2008-09, up from 75.5 percent in 2007-08 and 69.2 percent in 2006-07. The state average was 76.2 percent.

Based on the NGA rate, Pasco’s rate was 77.8 percent in 2008-09, up from 73.4 percent in 2007-08 and 67.8 percent in 2006-07. The state average was 76.3 percent.

Schools with the highest graduation rates were: Wiregrass Ranch, 91.3 percent; Pasco, 91.3 percent; and River Ridge, 88.2 percent.

Additionally, Pasco’s dropout rate for 2008-09 was 1.2 percent, down from 2.1 percent in 2007-08. The state average was 2.3 percent. All of Pasco’s schools are below the state average. Six high schools had a dropout rate under 1 percent. They were: Wiregrass Ranch, 0.4 percent; Gulf, 0.5 percent; Hudson, 0.6 percent; Sunlake, 0.6 percent; Pasco 0.8 percent; and J.W. Mitchell, 0.9 pecent.

“We are extremely proud of our entire team for their concerted efforts to ensure the success of all students,” said Schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino. “As we celebrate the hard work of our students, staff and other stakeholders, we are mindful that even one child failing to graduate has negative implications for that child and our community.”

Local bank uses conservative economic policies to keep its good rating

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — Despite the banking industry suffering during the recent economic downturn, First National Bank of Pasco continues to rate highly.

“We’ve had a five-star rating for the last three years and have been in good financial shape for much longer than that,” said Kerry Westbrook, bank senior vice president and chief financial officer. “Our capital has always been good, and we are also a top-five rated bank in the state.”

Westbrook, of Zephyrhills, has worked in the banking industry for more than 30 years, the last eight with the FNB of Pasco.

The five-star rating superior was awarded by Bauer Financial Inc., an independent bank rating and research firm. Only 21 banks in Florida received a five-star rating.

“First National Bank of Pasco’s ability to earn our five-star superior rating speaks to its strength, stability and longevity,” said Karen Dorway, president of the research firm. “In a banking environment that is struggling with loan quality and delinquencies, it is an honor and a pleasure to recognize First National Bank of Pasco and the values it represents.”

FNB of Pasco was founded in 1986 with two locations, one in Zephyrhills and one Dade City. A second Zephyrhills location was added in 1999.

“The real reason we’ve been able to keep the rating for three years is we are more conservative with our practices than some other banks were,” Westbrook said. “We stuck to tried and true methods of banking that have worked for hundreds of years and will continue to work in the future. It’s those basic banking principles that have worked for us…The rating shows that we run a tight, conservative ship here.”

On the negative side, 40 state banks received a zero-star rating from the research firm.

Westbrook continued to say FNB of Pasco never gave sub prime loans, such as interest-only loans, high adjustable interest rate loans or other high risk lending that got other banks into financial trouble.

“We’ve had some past dues happen, but we try to work with our customers as much as possible,” Westbrook said. “We pride ourselves on being a community bank first, and as a member of the community we want to do as much as we can to help our neighbors. I’ve worked in bigger national banks, and I can say without question community banks are much better to work for and for the community.”

To see where other local banks rank, visit www.bauerfinancial.com and click the star rating tab on the top the Web site.

For more information on FNB of Pasco, visit www.fnbpasco.com.

Other Florida banks that received a five-star rating

• American National Bank in Oakland Park
• Bank of Belle Glade in Belle Glade
• Bank of the South in Pensacola
• City National Bank of Florida in Miami
• Community State Bank in Starke
• Drummond Community Bank in Chiefland
• First Federal Bank of Florida in Lake City
• First National Bank of South Miami in South Miami
• First National Bank of Wauchula in Wauchula
• First Navy Bank in Pensacola
• Friends Bank in New Smyrna Beach
• Gulfsouth Private Bank in Destin
• Hillsboro Bank in Plant City
• Intercontinental Bank in West Miami
• Madison County Community Bank in Madison
• Peoples Bank of Graceville in Graceville
• Peoples State Bank in Lake City
• Sunshine State Federal Savings and Loan in Plant City
• Valrico State Bank in Valrico
• Warrington Bank in Pensacola

PASCO COUNTY — It has been an exciting week for April “Shannon” Harrelson and her boys, 11-year-old Ethan and 8-year-old Loghan.

On Dec. 8, the family thought they were going to their future home in Lacoochee for a photo shoot with East Pasco Habitat for Humanity, which was partly true. The family didn’t know that they would be greeted by television cameras and Warrick Dunn. They didn’t know they would receive their home on this day or an additional $5,000 off their mortgage, not to mention that the Warrick Dunn Foundation completely furnished the home, right down to the apple pie on the table.

The community came together to make this happen. Michael Fremlin, the construction manager for East Pasco Habitat for Humanity and many habitat volunteers worked right up to Dec. 8 to make the home perfect for the family. A continental breakfast was donated by Carlos’ Catering in Seffner for the surprise home dedication.

The Warrick Dunn Foundation had volunteers from all over the state come in and help decorate. The Greater Trilby Community Association/North East Pasco Security Patrol helped to secure the home. East Pasco Quilters donated an heirloom quality quilt. The Boys & Girls Club in Lacoochee extended a free membership to the children moving in the home. Many television stations covered Warrick Dunn presenting the home to the Harrelson, and the children said now that they had a home, they wanted a puppy.

Stephanie Black, director of Family Services for Habitat, called April Harrelson to see if having a puppy was a responsibility the family wanted to undertake, recognizing owning a dog is an emotional and financial commitment. Terry Dyar in Largo had a dauchound puppy she wanted to give the family, so the staff from East Pasco Habitat drove to Largo and picked up an 8-week-old puppy.

On Dec. 10, the Warrick Dunn Foundation and East Pasco Habitat for Humanity presented the puppy to the boys as a surprise gift at Habitat’s Holiday Hope Christmas Open House with a crowd of about 150 people. Tiffany Williamson was there on behalf of Dade City Animal Clinic and donated veterinarian services, puppy shots and a gift basket with brochures, shampoo, clippers, everything you might need for a new member of the family. The boys named the dog “Bubba Dunn.” April and the boys are so grateful and amazed by the outpouring of kindness, generosity and love from the public. It has been an exciting week for the Harrelson’s and an exciting new start for a family.

East Pasco Habitat for Humanity is not a give-away program. Habitat builds houses with East Pasco families in need. Volunteer labor is used to build houses to keep the building costs low. Partner families invest a minimum of 400 hours of their own sweat equity into building their houses and the houses of others.

Jake is a 3-year-old Yorkie mix. He is a rescue dog and loves to play with his sisters: Kailee, a Great Dane mix; and Bean, a Collie mix. Jake loves to pretend to be a statue and wait for the squirrels in the yard so he can chase them. He has a heart of gold and always lets us know when another animal that needs help wanders into our yard. He has many “cat friends.” Jake lives with his owner, Susan Levin, in Dade City.

Patches is a 14-year-old mixed breed and is also known as Fat Boy, Walking Hairball and Mr. Independent. Patches came to his owner as a stray cat when he was about 8 weeks old. If you are into cute, cuddly lap cats, forget about this big boy. His mama has to beg for affection, attention and thank yous. Patches is about as independent as a cat can be and likes to think it is his house and you are allowed to live there. He loves to eat, lounge and get in your face when you are reading your favorite book. Patches is not “purr”fect, but he is loved by his proud owner, Carol Kocalis, of Land O’ Lakes.