The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Photos of the Week

A chair for support and good health

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The Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., is hosting no-cost weekly basic level chair yoga classes, geared toward helping people of all ages improve their balance, flexibility and range of motion, by using a chair for support in a variety of seated and standing yoga poses. Certified Humana SilverSneakers yoga instructor Cara Godwin teaches her students many simple, modified yoga poses and relaxation exercises that, if practiced regularly, could lead to some very positive health benefits. Godwin said that some of the benefits include stress reduction, mental clarity, improvement in balance (which will help prevent falls), as well as improved flexibility and range of motion (to help with the task of getting up and out of chairs, and automobiles). Chair yoga meets every Wednesday at 1 p.m., and will run through mid-December. Classes are limited and weekly registration is required. For more information or to register, call the Zephyrhills Public Library at (813) 780-0064, or register online at PascoLibraries.org.

Chair yoga instructor Cara Godwin asks her class to imagine that they are a tree in a hurricane with their branches blowing, in a pose that she describes as a ‘flamboyant’ seated tree pose. Godwin said that she likes to make her classes fun. (Christine Holtzman)
Jaime Paladio of Zephyrhills, brings his hands to heart center, during warm-up exercises at the beginning of a recent chair yoga class. Paladio attends the weekly class with his wife Belen, who is on the right.
Bernice Rooks, of Zephyrhills, performs a ‘seated modified exalted warrior’ pose. The 96-year-old said that she attends the class weekly, to help improve her balance issues.

Making a mess, to learn

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The Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, recently hosted a food-themed sensory playtime geared toward toddlers and preschoolers, where playing with food and making a mess was encouraged. The event, ‘Food, Glorious Food!’ is part of the library’s ‘Play, Make Discover!’ program, which encourages learning through playing. Karen Allen, the library’s youth services librarian, spearheaded the program three years ago. as a way for children to indulge in their senses, by touching, feeling, smelling — and sometimes tasting— different types of foods and textures. It also allowed experimentation with materials and activities that perhaps would not be allowed at home. About 200 people took part in the hour-long program that featured 18 different food stations. Participants, who were encouraged to ‘dress for a mess,’ had plenty of activities to experience, such as grinding coffee beans, sifting flour, playing with pasta and smashing Cheerios with a mallet. The library also gave away a packet, filled with ideas and instructions on how to create your own food discovery stations at home.

Using materials such as funnels, sifters, measuring cups and whisks, four children get messy while playing in a bin of flour. From left: 7-year-old Yana Miller, of Land O’ Lakes; 4-year-old John Anamuah-Mensah, of Land O’ Lakes; 2-year-old Jordyn Reindl, of Land O ’Lakes, and her 9-year-old sister, Taylor.
(Christine Holtzman)
At the ‘Hammering Cereal’ station, 3-year-old Gianna Perez, of Land O’ Lakes, smashes handfuls of Cheerios with a wooden mallet. This activity aims to boost fine motor skills, as well as sight and touch.
Two-year-old Dylan Neeson, of Land O’ Lakes, is all smiles, as he fills a mixing bowl full of colored cereal. His father, Brendan, said that they often participate in the fun programs that are held at the library.

Rev up the motorcycles and crank up the music

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Mainstreet Zephyrhills attracted a crowd to the 15th annual Music & Motorcycles in downtown Zephyrhills on Sept. 14. People who like riding motorcycles, and those who simply admire them were joined by people who enjoy live music. More photos in story!

A group of motorcycles cruise down Fifth Avenue in downtown Zephyrhills during the 15th annual Music & Motorcycles event. Only motorcycles were allowed to use this stretch of road during the event. (Christine Holtzman)
Three-year-old Ava Antoinette, of Plant City, enjoys a lollipop, as she stands near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Eighth Street in downtown Zephyrhills. Her parents, Colleen and Brian, said Ava loves motorcycles. Her father happens to own two of them.
Susie Moore, right, encourages her boyfriend, Michael Skrivanie, to get a little closer, while she takes a selfie with her phone. The Spring Hill residents are both motorcycle enthusiasts, and Skrivanie is a retired motorcycle cop from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Library offers monthly jewelry making class

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Those looking to make jewelry with a flair — while using crochet stitches — recently had the chance to do so at a crochet jewelry class at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway. The program is part of the library’s Foundry Makerspace, which offers free classes and workshops on various subjects. The free class meets the third Tuesday of each month, and is open to all skill levels. All of the materials are supplied. For more information, call (813) 929-1214.

While her class is busy at work, volunteer instructor Chrissy White, of Land O’ Lakes, shows off the inspiration for this month’s class. She created a necklace, complete with decorative beads and a tassel. (Christine Holtzman)
Wanting to make a bracelet, Andrea Scheidt, of Land O’ Lakes, adds small beads to her yarn. For her creation, she chose her favorite color, purple.
Using a large threading needle, Shannon Custin, of Lutz, applies a variety of beads, in different shapes and colors, to her yarn. Custin will use approximately 120 beads to complete her jewelry masterpiece.

Pasco County unveils first permanent 9/11 memorial

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Hundreds turned out to Tampa Premium Outlets on Sept. 7, to an event to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The event included the Memorial Mile, which attracted both runners and walkers; the unveiling of Pasco County’s first permanent 9/11 memorial; and other special moments.

Dignitaries, first responders and Rotarians pose for a group photo under the large American Flag that is being displayed on the ladder of Pasco County Fire Rescue Truck 1. (Christine Holtzman)
Aleyda Gonzalez, left, smiles at her boyfriend, Paul Faris, after completing the 9/11 Memorial Mile. The Wesley Chapel residents were there to honor Faris’ friend, Rocco ‘Nino’ Gargano (photo seen pinned to Faris’ shirt), who worked for the financial service firm Cantor Fitzgerald, on the 104th floor of the North Tower. Gargano was one of the 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees who died in the terrorist attack.
After coming in first place at the inaugural 9/11 Memorial Mile, 15-year-old Jeremiah Loo, of Wesley Chapel, catches his breath, before heading to the refreshment area. Those taking part were welcome to refuel their energy with fruit, water, bagels, croissants, muffins and more.

 

 

 

Inaugural Memorial Mile draws all ages

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Holding several American flags, 3-year-old James McLeod, of Lutz, smiles at his mother, Jeanine, before the start of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel’s inaugural 9/11 Memorial Mile at the Tampa Premium Outlets. The McLeods were walking in the event to honor some of their first responder family members that survived the terror attacks. (Christine Holtzman)

Bracing for Hurricane Dorian

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With Hurricane Irma still fresh on their minds, many Pasco County residents were taking no chances as Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida. To help residents, Pasco County set up free, 24-hour self-service sandbag sites at several locations. The sandbags were available, as long as supplies lasted. For the most effective results, the Pasco County Division of Emergency Management recommends placing sandbags at the entry and exit points of a home.

Alejandro Meneses, a volunteer with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Jeep Unit, left, assists Wesley Chapel resident Tom Fiksdal by loading sandbags into Fiksdal’s truck. Meneses was volunteering his time at the San Antonio site, helping people with filling bags, as well as loading them in vehicles. (Christine Holtzman)
At the self-serve sandbag site outside of the Pasco County Public Works building in San Antonio, Byron Gaskin, of Zephyrhills, left, shovels sand into a bag held by his friend Betty Border. The two were filling 10 bags, the maximum allowed, to help prevent flood water in an area on their property that is prone to flooding.
Casey Van Wyk, of Dade City, carries a sandbag to her car. With Hurricane Irma still fresh in their minds, Casey and her husband Daniel started prepping from the moment that this storm was first reported. With Irma, they had lots of flooding and tree damage at their Lake Pasadena home, resulting in a loss of electricity for over three weeks.

 

Bracing for Hurricane Dorian

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Teri Hardy, of Land O’ Lakes, pushes sand through a funnel that helps fill the sandbags more efficiently. Hardy, a lifelong resident of Land O’ Lakes, hopes to fill 10 bags, the maximum allowed. She wants to prevent flooding through the entryways of her newly built home. (Christine Holtzman)

Annette Rogers, of Land O’ Lakes, shovels sand to fill several sandbags at the self-service station set up by Pasco County, in the parking lot of the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex. The government agency set up several stations throughout the county, offering free sand and sandbags. Two-years-ago, Rogers’ property experienced minimal flooding during Hurricane Irma and she was taking no chances for this storm.
Carrying two bags full of sand to his car, Kenny Kroog , of Land O’ Lakes, walks past one of the sand mounds set up outside of the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex. With Hurricane Irma and the flood water he experienced still fresh in his mind, Kroog gathered eight bags of sand to provide protection for his home.

Using sewing skills to make a difference

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When feeling the pressures of life, Suze Swink, of Zephyrhills, often escapes by diving into her crafts. When she felt the need to do something more productive and purposeful with her skills, she helped co-create the fiber arts group, ‘Yarn for a Cause.’ The group, which now has five members, meets each Thursday at 6 p.m., at the New River Branch Library in Wesley Chapel. They crochet, knit and sew unique, and useful items to benefit a number of local organizations and causes. They work together on projects and do individual work, as well. Most of the materials they use to make pillows, linens and clothing come from donations. They upcycle materials into useful and functional pieces for people in need. The group welcomes new members of all skill levels. For more information, call the New River Branch Library (813) 788-6375.

Suze Swink, of Zephyrhills, co-founder of the ‘Yarn for a Cause’ group, shows off a purse that she made by recycling a pair of denim shorts. The purses will be donated to the Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills, an organization that assists homeless individuals. (Christine Holtzman)
While attending her first ‘Yarn for a Cause’ meeting, Joan Armstrong, of Wesley Chapel, examines two completed soap bags that will be donated to the homeless outreach group, Samaritan Project of Zephyrhills. Armstrong recently moved to the area from Washington State, and was looking for an activity that would allow her to make a difference. After her first meeting, she said, ‘I think I’ve found it.’
Gerry Austin, of Wesley Chapel, enjoys chatting with other members of the ‘Yarn for a Cause’ group, during a recent meeting at the New River Branch Library. The 86-year-old is crocheting yarn to make a soap bag, that will help the homeless store bars of soap. Austin also makes beanie caps for children living in the village of Hewe, Papua New Guinea.

 

Hoping for a new home

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Anastasia, a 3-year-old gray cat, is gazing out the window perhaps hoping that her new owner would soon be picking her out to take home, during the recent ‘Clear the Shelters’ event at the Pasco County Animal Services shelter, 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes.

(Christine Holtzman)