The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Photos of the Week

A dignified retirement

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(Fred Bellet)

The last two American flags become engulfed in flames in the bottom of a burn pit used for a military-style Flag Retirement Ceremony. The ceremony disposed of some 400 old, torn, worn and tattered flags, which were collected from throughout the community by members of Lutz/Land O’ Lakes American Legion Post 108. For more, see the full story with photos.

Saint Leo University celebrates in-person graduations

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As graduates from Saint Leo University celebrated their individual achievements during the 2021 commencement exercises, there were plenty of personal moments, too.

One of those moments involved Tom Dempsey and his granddaughter, Alexis.

Tom Dempsey, board of trustees emeritus at Saint Leo University, center, congratulates his granddaughter, Alexis Dempsey, who received her doctor of business administration degree. Saint Leo University President Jeffrey Senese, is on the left. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Dempsey, the founder and CEO of Saddlebrook Resorts Inc., in Wesley Chapel, was able to congratulate Alexis, on stage on May 22.

Alexis received her doctor of business administration degree and her grandfather, a trustee emeritus of Saint Leo University, was able to congratulate her on stage.

Saint Leo University had three in-person ceremonies — at the Florida State Fairgrounds on May 21 and May 22 — conferring more than 1,250 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and associate’s degrees.

The graduates studied at the main campus north of Tampa in St. Leo; at Saint Leo’s Florida education centers in Tampa, Ocala, Lake City, and Jacksonville and at the East Pasco Education Center locations in Pasco and Hernando counties; at MacDill Air Force Base (Tampa) and Naval Station Mayport (Jacksonville), and online throughout the world.

Published June 16, 2021

Front and center

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Eva Weiss, 16, played the part of ‘Maria’ during the play, “Lend Me a Tenor.” Connor Mirrop, 18, of Dade City reacts to Matia’s dialogue. (Fred Bellet)

Sixteen-year-old Eva Weiss assumed the role of Maria during the play, ‘Lend Me a Tenor.’ Actor Connor Mirrop, in the role of Max, reacts to Maria’s comments. Arts in Motion Pasco offered backyard performances due to COVID restrictions. See full story.

Riding high

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The Laker’s graphic artist Stefanie Burlingame snapped this amazing photo of a Coast Guard plane, from Frazee Hill Road in Dade City. If you zoom in and look closely enough, you can see two men with their headsets on!

Newest K9 additions

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The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has two new additions to its K9 crew — bloodhound puppies named Hemi and Shelby.

Both Hemi and Shelby are 3-month-old littermates that were born in Kentucky.

In about 10 months, this pair will help locate missing people, including those who have wandered from home, as single-purpose tracking K9s, according to a news release.

Sgt. Brian Hernandez and partner, K9 Shelby (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)
Dep. Bobby Lewis and partner, K9 Hemi

Taking in the sights, and sounds

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(Fred Bellet)

Two-year-old Lilliana Joiner has a remedy for all of the loud gunfire during the World War II re-enactment, at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City. The little girl was visiting with her parents, Daniel and Danielle Joiner. Her 8-year-old sister, Sophia, and 6-year-old sister, Michelle, were there, as was her grandmother, Bonnie Lyke, and other friends. See more photos from the event in the full coverage story.

Festival benefits Gulfside Hospice

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Those attending the Charity Festival of Arts could view an art competition, enjoy a talent showcase, visit a variety of vendors, and kids could make crafts, at an April 17 event at Heritage Park, in Land O’ Lakes, benefiting Gulfside Hospice.

Fourteen-year-old Allie La Russa, of Land O’ Lakes, was among the entertainers at the Charity Festival of the Arts, a benefit for Gulfside Hospice held at Heritage Park in Land O’ Lakes. (Fred Bellet)
Gulfside Hospice volunteer Patty Killoy, of Land O’ Lakes, had her hands full when a gust of wind blew over the painted canvases of artwork entered into the competition. Killoy has been volunteering for hospice for two years.
Seven-year-old Hallynd Zipf, of Land O’ Lakes, enjoys a bowl of Lucky’s Italian Ice, at the festival. She was there with her dad, Charley, and her 5-year-old sister Landrey.
Andrew Krance, of Wesley Chapel, brought the color and plenty of it as he stands with one of his large format acrylic paintings. Krance said he’s been cranking out paintings for half a century and usually completes the work in one day. Krance said one of his specialties is transferring his artwork onto blankets and goes by the name, Blankets Des Artiste.
Jewelry-maker and gemstone specialist, Beryl Oduor, of St. Petersburg, demonstrated the art of bracelet-making, using cat’s eye and hematite beads. She was one of the vendors at the festival.
Drew Regan, left, and Alex Regan, both of New Port Richey, sing inspirational music they brought over from the Riverside Baptist Church in New Port Richey. Percussionist Matt Martin led with the beat. They were among the line-up for the local talent showcase at the Charity Festival of Arts at Heritage Park in Land O’ Lakes.

 

Partners retire together

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Since 1996, Cpl. Joe Liddick has served the citizens of Pasco County as a member of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO). During that time, he spent more than 21 years within the PSO K-9 Unit, and served with his partners K-9 Nik, K-9 Ace and K-9 Chris, according to a news release.

Cpl. Joe Liddick and K-9 Chris (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

Cpl. Liddick has answered countless calls for service and has conducted thousands of tracks. The tracks resulted in the location of 764 suspects, missing persons and suicidal individuals throughout Pasco County.

Both Cpl. Liddick and K-9 Chris also have been established members of the Tampa Bay Regional Bomb Squad, as an explosive detection K-9 team. As members of this team, the partners conducted hundreds of explosive sniffs to ensure the safety of the citizens of the Tampa Bay area at large venues and festivals.

K-9 Chris began serving Pasco County in February 2016, and in addition to his service as part of the Regional Bomb Squad, he has helped recover numerous missing individuals in Pasco County, as well.

The German shepherd was born on Nov. 16, 2014, in Germany and was certified in patrol work and explosives detection.

Both Cpl. Liddick and K-9 Chris celebrated their retirements on April 5.

A new family addition

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(Courtesy of ZooTampa)

ZooTampa at Lowry Park has announced the newest addition to its family —  a baby welcomed by Siamang gibbons Hutan and Sensei, on Feb. 24. Siamangs occupy habitats as extensive as 50 acres in the wild, and their calls can be heard up to 2 miles away. The baby’s birth is a positive step forward in maintaining the population of these swinging primates for generations to come.

Spring weather brings out residents and wildlife

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(Courtesy of Mary Rathman)

The recent cooler temperatures, and breezy, sunny Spring days brought out an abundance of residents and wildlife at Lettuce Lake Park. The Hillsborough County-run park, which opened in 1982, is 240 acres, just outside the city limits of Tampa, on Fletcher Avenue between Interstate 75 and the University of South Florida. The Hillsborough River runs through it.