Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Sarah Whitman

Senior staff writer

When a child opens a book, a door to a whole new world is opened.

Now through the end of April, Goodwill-Suncoast will host a book drive to benefit the BookWorks childhood literacy program.  The program promotes childhood literacy by delivering books to children at Head Start programs in low-income areas.

“BookWorks gives books to children who otherwise might not be able to afford them,” said Chris Ward, marketing manager for Goodwill-Suncoast. “We send volunteers to read in Head Start preschool classrooms and when story time is over, we give each child a book of their own to take home.”

More than a thousand children throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk and Pinellas counties receive books each year. In order to expand the program into more classrooms, people need to donate books. Donations are now being collected at all Goodwill-Suncoast stores and donation centers, including the new Cypress Creek location in Wesley Chapel, now the Pasco County headquarters for BookWorks.

“Books should be new or like-new storybooks geared toward children age three to five,” Ward said. “Illustrated books are great but there should be a story too.”

No used or religious-themed books will be accepted. Some favorite books include “Thomas the Train” and fairy princess stories. Children also love books about animals.

Carolyn Duffy, lead teacher for Head Start in New Port Richey, said her students can hardly contain their excitement when it comes to BookWorks. A volunteer from the program visits her classroom twice a month.

“They are so excited the morning they know a storyteller is coming to read a book to the class,” Duffy said. “Then, they get to go home with a book.”

For many of the children in Head Start classrooms, a book from BookWorks is the first book that’s their very own.

“I’ve had parents ask when they have to return the book and when I tell them it’s to keep, they can’t believe it,” Duffy said.

Duffy said having a book to read at home is important.

“It encourages families to read together,” she said. “When parents read to their children, it is the beginning of a lifetime of reading.”

Ward hopes to collect enough books so that volunteers can visit more Head Start locations on a bi-weekly basis.

“The children in some of the classrooms have had volunteers coming to their schools for so long, they have started their own little libraries,” Ward said. “It’s wonderful.”

Ward said BookWorks is in sync with Goodwill’s overall mission.

“Our mission is to help people achieve their full potential through the power of work,” Ward said. “Literacy is an important factor in being successful in life and in the work force.”

For information on BookWorks or to find out how to volunteer as a storyteller, call (888) 279-1988.

Info

• Local Goodwill sites
• 2390 Willow Oak in Wesley Chapel
• 25013 Village Lakes Shopping Center Dr. in Land O’ Lakes.

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — At an art studio in Zephyrhills, people gather to learn more than how to draw and paint, they gather to heal.

Cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers learn from volunteer Mary Sears in the weekly Art Therapy program provided through The Florida Medical Clinic Foundation of Caring.

“They come here and a lot of times they are withdrawn and timid,” Sears said. “That only lasts a short period of time. Everyone here is very warm and welcoming. There is no dissension here. Everyone shares their problems and their joys. We laugh together and cry together. They are my extended family.”

Sears has been teaching the art classes for five years at The Healing Arts Studio, 38135 Market Square. She said the payment she receives is worth more than any amount of money she could get.

“When I started teaching, a lady came to paint in a class,” Sears said. “When I was telling them time is up, she said that couldn’t be. She told me for two hours she had forgot about her cancer. That is my pay. I love to volunteer here.”

Ann Moyer, of Zephyrhills, started taking lessons through the program when she was taking care of her mother who had pancreatic cancer.

“Mary taught me how to do different mediums,” Moyer said. “I learned different techniques and what to do after you finish a painting like how to mat, frame and finalize with a sealer. I never thought I could draw until she taught me shapes and dimension.”

The positive attitude Sears brings to the class inspires students like Moyer.

“She made me more positive,” Moyer said. “Instead of saying I can’t do it, now I know I can.”

Sears and her students will display their work at a sidewalk art show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 3 at the clinic. The show will include work from all mediums including pen and ink, acrylic, graphite, watercolor, pastel and oil.

“We mainly want everyone to come and see what we do,” Sears said. “It is such a boost for them to get to show off their work. In life there are so many things you can’t control, like cancer. When you have that brush in your hand, you can forget for a while about the chemo, the surgeries and losing your hair.”

Jack Taylor, of Zephyrhills, has been painting with the program since he was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer about three years ago.

“I find it to be relaxing to just get in here and forget about anything else,” Taylor said. “I like painting horses because I used to ride them. It reminds me of when I lived on a farm when I was a kid.”

Zephyrhills resident Mary Campbell is a breast cancer survivor with one more year of medication to go. She said she loves to come and paint on Wednesdays because she gets to socialize with Taylor and everyone else in the class.

“I don’t feel alone,” Campbell said. “It is good to be with people who have the same problem as you do. I feel like everybody here is all the same. You become so close to so many of them, you don’t want to stay home.”
Many of the artists never really knew they could paint before coming to Sears’ class, like Ellen Reid of Zephyrhills. Reid was a caretaker to her husband, Thomas, until he passed away last October.

“Mary just said you can do it, so I tried,” Reid said. “It is very calming. It can take me to a place I used to be. When I start to feel depressed, I just pull out my artwork and it makes me feel better. I have learned to just live in the moment.”

The class is so helpful that Paulette Richardson said she wishes she had something like this when she was diagnosed and treated for kidney cancer eight years ago.

“My quality of life would have been better because I wouldn’t have been sitting around thinking about it,” Richardson said. “This is the only social thing I do. We get to know each other, we are like a big family. We support each other and it means a lot.”

For information, visit www.floridamedicalclinic.com or call (813) 783-9932.

Two of three children have the disease

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES — The Cartwrights thought they had all the information needed to prevent the spread of sickle cell anemia. Still, two of their children were born with the disease.

“I was shocked, very upset and in disbelief,” said Danica Cartwright. “I was very confused because we thought we knew everything we needed to know and that our kids would be ok.”

Two of Cartwright’s children, 9-year-old Dayzha and 4-year-old Dondray, have sickle cell anemia, a condition that causes someone’s red blood cells to be sickle-shaped.

Cartwright and her husband, Daziano, do not suffer from the disease. Cartwright however, like most of those in her immediate family, has the sickle cell trait, which means her children can inherit the disease even though she has no symptoms.

“Unlike a lot of genetic disorders, sickle cell anemia can be passed from parent to child even if only one parent is a carrier,” said Dr. Tung Wynn, pediatric hematologist at Healthpoint Medical Group Children’s Orthopedics of Tampa Bay. “Some doesn’t have sickle cell anemia unless they have the symptoms.”

Wynn treats the Cartwright children Dayzha and Dondray. The two require his care because the sickle-shaped blood carries oxygen poorly; causing cells to die too quickly.

“Normal blood cells live about 120 days and sickle cell blood will only live 20 to 30,” Wynn said. “They also don’t make as much blood.”

While the disease is serious, it has not prevented Dayzha from physical activity, which helps her get through the most difficult times.

“I used to play softball and now I dance,” Dayzha said. “I do jazz dance and acrobatic dance. I like doing both of them and I want to be a dancer when I grow up. Whenever I have a bad day I dance and I feel better.”

Wynn said sickle cell is more prevalent in certain ethnic groups. About one in 20 African Americans have it.

“The result of having sickle-shaped blood is chronic anemia that leads to many different crises,” Wynn said. “The most common crisis is the crisis of pain caused when the shape of their blood blocks blood flow to the smallest blood vessels, which causes acute pain in the muscles. Other crises are when a lot of the (blood) cells burst causing infection and another that traps blood in the spleen which causes it to swell and even burst.”

While all the crises are dangerous, the most debilitating for Dayzha is the most common.

“The problem is we didn’t know how to manage the disease when Dayzha was born, so she suffered from the pain crisis a lot,” Cartwright said. “It can get really bad in her arms, legs and sometimes stomach. It can get so bad in her legs that she can’t walk.”

The pain can last so long, it sometimes seems like forever to the young girl.

“It’s the worst in my legs and I feel a lot of pressure there sometimes,” Dayzha said. “It can last two or sometimes three days when it’s really bad.”

The Cartwrights have learned how best to manage the disease. One of the most important steps is to keep the two kids hydrated.

“Drinking lots of fluids helps keep the blood from causing the pain in her arms and legs,” Cartwright said. “We also have to make sure she doesn’t stay out in the hot sun too long because she can get dehydrated…The cold can bring on the pain so we make sure she has a sweater too.”

Getting enough sleep and eating a good diet with lots of vegetables is also helpful in decreasing the number of crises.

“Now we know what to do and Dondray hasn’t had as many problems as Dayzha did.” Cartwright said. “They both have to take one milligram of folic acid each day because people with it, their bodies don’t recycle folic acid very well. People with it also have to take penicillin until they’re 5 because they can get infections really easily.”

Both Dayzha and Dondray were diagnosed with the disease soon after birth because they were at a higher risk of contracting it.

Cartwright’s children had a 25 percent chance of inheriting the anemia, a 25 percent chance of having the trait and a 50 percent chance of having no trace of the disease. She said they decided to have more children because they wanted to have more than one child.

The couple’s youngest child, Daylen, is less than 1-year-old and does not have sickle cell anemia.

The Cartwrights take Dayzha and Dondray to get their blood checked every six months. They also get hearing, vision and heart screenings regularly.

“In the past people with sickle cell anemia lived until about 32-years-old, but today’s technology has increased the lifespan to 50 or 60,” Wynn said. “I’d say the Cartwright children have a great chance of living full and healthy lives.”

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

LAND O’ LAKES — “Travel down the business highway to success” is the theme of the upcoming Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce Business Expo.

The Expo will be at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, from 4 to 7 p.m. March 12 and from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 13. The Expo will have everything from local businesses showing their services, to a taste of the town and even a pie and cake baking contest.

The chamber has opened up the business expo to nonmembers, which is something they haven’t done before. Kathy Dunkley, executive director of the chamber, said she has about half of the 98 businesses she needs and may even sell out.

“We opened up to nonmembers because of the economy this year,” Dunkley said. “This gives businesses the opportunity to show off their products, services and employees. Many of the businesses that have been doing it for years keep coming back because they get business from it.”

Lou Molner, broker/owner of Coldwell Banker Advantage Team Realty, said he has been in the Expo for at least 11 years because it is a great way for people to learn about his business.

“It is a chance to show our face and interact with the community,” Molner said. “I like it because I get to meet people in the community and people from other businesses. I also like to go and try the food. The chamber handles these Expo’s like real pros.”

Even though Dunkley is excited to show off the businesses in the community, she is really looking forward to the pie and cake contest, but she still needs more entries.

“We need people to participate,” Dunkley said. “It is a lot of fun. People don’t have to be the greatest bakers in the world; we would just like some people to make an attempt. First place will get a blue ribbon and a basket with baking equipment.”

After the judges get a taste, the extra slices will be sold at the event with the proceeds going to the Pageant Scholarship Fund at the chamber. The chamber usually has the Central Pasco Scholarship Pageant in the fall where teens can get as much as $500.

Visitors to the Expo will also have the opportunity to win door prizes and a $1,000 savings bond.

In addition to the Expo, the chamber will also have a Taste of the Town from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 13. Restaurants from the area like Pizza Villa and Golden Inn will have samples for $1 each.

“The restaurants give a lot more than just a sample of food for that dollar,” Dunkley said. “It would behoove the community to come out and try the restaurants and see what they have to offer.”

At the Expo, the chamber usually has a chef doing food demonstrations. This year the chamber is still looking for a “celebrity chef.”

In addition to promoting businesses through the Expo, the chamber recently started a Facebook page.

“I want to do more with it, but right now we have our events on there like our meetings and our ribbon cuttings,” Dunkley said. “It is a great way to get our information out there quickly.”

For more information, visit www.centralpascochamber.com or www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Pasco-Chamber-of-Commerce/178745857326.

By Suzanne Schmidt

Staff Writer

Children scarred by a fire can take a long time to heal emotionally and physically.

At Camp Hopetake, kids who have been seriously burned go to this safe and supportive environment where they can share their feelings and interact with other seriously burned kids. This year the camp is struggling to raise funds so the GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club has stepped up to help.

The club will donate money raised from its 13^th Annual Night of 5000, a black tie optional gala, at 6 p.m. March 20 at the Ritz Ybor, 1503 East 7^th Ave. in Ybor City.

Heather Keen, president of the club, said the club chose the camp because it is a good charity.

“One reason why we chose the camp is because they are a local organization,” Keen said. “This is truly a home-grown project. With the economy down, it is harder and harder to get sponsorship dollars. We are hoping the money we raise will impact them.”

Tampa Fire Fighters Local 754 works in conjunction with the Tampa General Hospital’s burn unit to provide the camp for 40 children between the ages of five and 17. The camp started about 20 years ago.

“At the camp all the kids require so much more care than at a traditional camp,” Keen said. “It is a self-esteem builder where the kids can just go and have fun with other kids going through the same thing.”

Jace Kohan is not only a captain for the Tampa Fire Rescue; he also is the president of the Tampa Fire Fighter Charity Fund.

“We are so thankful the woman’s club is helping us out,” Kohan said. “The camp is completely run on donations and this year donations are down.”

Children invited to the camp will stay at a dormitory at the University of South Florida June 13-19. Throughout the week, children will go to places like Busch Gardens, Adventure Island and Disney World and also do activities like going bowling and swimming. For more information or to donate to the camp, visit www.tampafirefighters.com and look under the community service heading or call (813) 229-7540.

“Many of the kids were rescued from burning homes and were treated by paramedics or nurses at Tampa General,” Kohan said. “It is very rewarding for the fire fighter and paramedic volunteers to be able to help them with their physical and emotional scars. Some of the kids take a long time to heal and as fire fighters we understand what it is like.”

The event will kick off with a cocktail hour featuring live jazz entertainment, a cigar roller, cash bar and a silent auction. After the cocktail hour, guests will be ushered into the ballroom to enjoy entertainment by the Collective Soles Arts Group directed by Troy Jansen and Synchronicity.

“It is a great band,” Keen said. “I think they will be able to keep people on their feet. They play great dance music and covers. It is also a great event to attend because each person will have a chance to win $5,000.”

The woman’s club raises funds for various charities throughout the year including OASIS, Joshua House, A Kids Place and The Spring of Tampa Bay.

“It is a great way to be able to give back to a bunch of different organizations,” Keen said. “It keeps me going when I see the smiles on the kids faces for all the different projects we do.”

Aleisha Linck, of New Tampa, has been a member of the club for one year. She said she joined because she likes the volunteer opportunities and the camaraderie.

“We get to give back to the community,” Linck said. “Since I joined I have made so many amazing friends. It has been a blast. I am constantly recruiting.”

The club accepts new members all year-round from the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area.

Tickets for the gala are $100 per person. Sponsorship opportunities are still available as well. For more information, visit www.ntjwc.com.

By Kyle LoJacono

Staff Writer

ZEPHYRHILLS — Kevin Ryman and Charlie Proctor will be giving free appraisals for those who want to know the value of their coin collections March 6.

“People have been coming by and calling me asking about coins more and more,” Proctor said. “It’s great for me because I love coins and buying and selling them. It gives me a reason to focus more on coins.”

The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ryman Construction Inc., 36413 SR 54 in Zephyrhills. It is the second such event for the two men. The first was in Dade City in January.

“We want people to make appointments so we know how many people to expect,” Kevin said. “We’ll be paying cash to anyone who wants to sell their coins there too. We’ll appraise as few as one coin or a whole collection. If people keep showing up we’ll do more of the appraisals in town.”

To make an appointment, call Ryman at (813) 714-0962 or Proctor at (813) 780-1858.

“I first got interested in coins because my grandparents (Ike and Catherine Miller) had some and I loved looking at them,” Ryman, who owns Ryman Construction, said. “I’ve always bought coins and I don’t sell nearly as many as Charlie does.”

Proctor, who owns Charlie’s Coins, had his interest sparked by one special dime.

“I didn’t have a relative who had a lot of coins, but my father (Clarence) would let me and my sister (Patty) have as many coins as we could grab from his pocket in one handful,” Proctor said. “He worked three or four jobs at a time and always had a lot of change. One time I found a Mercury dime, which were all made of silver. I started researching coins because of that one dime and I’ve been hooked since.”

Ryman and Proctor both said their favorite coins are any of the old ones made from gold and Morgan silver dollars, which were made from 1878 to 1921 and are 90 percent silver.

“For years the auto detail company brought in a lot of my income, but last year with the economy the way it was people cut back on their cars,” Proctor said. “For the first time I made more selling coins than in car detailing.”

Neither Proctor nor Ryman ever clean the coins they buy for themselves or for later sale.

“That kills the value of the coin,” Proctor said. “I know a cleaned coin as soon as I see it and I won’t buy them that way. People might think it’s no big deal to try and take some dirt off, but it’s really destroying the coin.”

Zephyrhills winter resident Stanley Rynes buys coins from Proctor eight or nine times each year.

“I love collecting Civil War tokens, and Charlie will call me whenever he gets some in,” Rynes said. “I’ve been to other coin dealers in the area and Charlie is the one I like most because of his honesty. He bends over backward to make sure you’re comfortable with any deal.”

Ryman has developed a similar reputation with Proctor.

“Kevin is a great guy, and I thought that before I knew he collected coins,” Proctor said. “His construction business keeps him a little busier so he can’t buy and sell as much as I do, but he’s starting to get people to see he gives fair prices on coins.”

Owner of featured pet sitting service charged with marijuana trafficking

Katie Yates, one of the owners of a pet sitting service featured in the Feb. 24 editions of The Laker and Lutz News, was charged with the manufacture of marijuana last October after Pasco County deputies raided a home she rented and confiscated 70 plants and 6 pounds of packaged marijuana. The Land O’ Lakes home was located in the gated community of Plantation Palms.

Yates’ husband, Robert, also a partner in All About Love Pet Sitting & Transportation, was arrested with his wife on Oct. 14. According to court records, marijuana trafficking charges against Robert Yates were dropped Nov. 18.

Katie Yates’ case is still pending a final hearing. She pled not guilty to the manufacture of marijuana on Dec. 8 and is currently enrolled in a court-ordered drug treatment program. Her next court appearance, a status check, was March 1.

When reporting on the couple’s pet sitting service, the staff of The Laker and Lutz News was unaware of the Yates’ arrests and Katie Yates’ subsequent felony charge.

Katie Yates gave the following statement regarding this situation to The Laker and Lutz News:

“I feel that it is very unfortunate that after all the good I am contributing to the community that my past has to be brought to light in this manner. The charges brought against me last October in no way, shape, or form defines my character, morals, values, or how I conduct my business.

“I might have regrettably made mistakes in the past, as I believe we all have in some way or another. Nobody is perfect. But learning from our mistakes helps to shape our character and grow as individuals. I have definitely learned a lot from my past and I am blessed because of it. I have now created a successful business and provide a valuable service for our community.

I am an active member of my church and I belong to a homeless outreach program which helps feed 125-200 people weekly. I am proud of the woman I have become. I am a person of faith and I believe in the power of forgiving others for things that I might consider to be wrong. I pray that the community also shares this belief in forgiveness and second chances.”

Chelsea is a 1 ½- year-old boxer. She goes to daycare at Happy Tails Pet Lodge and loves every minute of her day. Just the mere mention of the place makes her grin. Chelsea’s proud owners are Jim and Lisa Patterson of Land O’ Lakes.