Dining with class
The Academy of Culinary Arts at Land O’ Lakes High partnered with the ACF Tampa Bay Chef’s Association chefs on Dec. 20 to host a black tie fundraiser to benefit the academy.
The fundraiser also helped raise money for a contribution to the families who lost children in the Newtown, Ct. school shooting.
After the dinner, Jeffrey Rotz, a consultant/trainer for the hospitality industry, sent a note of congratulations to chef Michael Rigberg.
In part, the note said, “The dinner was outstanding last night. Your students just did a fantastic job. You should be very proud of your accomplishment by putting this arduous event together. I have attended many academy dinners and high class — 5 star — properties and in my opinion, yours last night was the BEST!” (Photo courtesy of Rob Aguis, Pasco County Schools)
Computer skills for seniors
CARES is offering a computer course designed to help older adults become familiar with the Microsoft Operating System Windows 7. The classes are designed for people who are unfamiliar with how computers work. Those taking the class will be given an introduction to the keyboard and mouse and basic lessons on how to use email, surf the Internet, write a letter and perform other computer tasks.
The course will be taught in six two-hour sessions starting Jan. 21.
The cost is $99, which includes a textbook. Classes will be at The Commons on Pretty Pond, 38130 Pretty Pond Road in Zephyrhills. To register, call (727) 514-5002.
Saint Leo MLK events
Saint Leo University is offering a slate of special activities on Jan. 21 to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Brent Scarpo will deliver a presentation called Journey to a Hate Free Millennium at 3 p.m. in the Greenfelder-Denlinger Boardrooms of the Student Community Center on the university campus, 33701 SR 52.
The presentation will include a video, a discussion and a question-and-answer session.
After that, guests are invited to join students, faculty and staff for the dedication of the new sculpture titled A Spirit of Belonging created by Steven Dickey. It commemorates the integration of Saint Leo in 1898 with the admission of Rudolph Antorcha, a black student. The Benedictine monks, who founded Saint Leo, integrated the school even though it was illegal at the time.
For more information about the college, visit www.saintleo.edu.
Seeking talent show competitors
The Heritage Arts Center Association is preparing for its 30th talent contest and is searching for talented young people who wish to compete.
Several hundred students participate each year, with judges evaluating as many as 126 different acts. The deadline for applications is Jan. 31.
The regional competition gives more than $3,000 in cash prizes and trophies to winners in several age categories.
In celebration of its anniversary, the association will also award a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior who lives in Pasco County. The scholarship is made possible by the community support of the Moonlight and Ivory concerts as well as the Spotlight contest. The scholarship will go to the Pasco senior who has the highest total scores from the finals judges. The winner will be announced at the end of the final evening show and will be separate and in addition to the individual category winners.
Tryouts will be Feb. 16. Finalists will compete March 16 at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel High.
Applications and additional information can be found at www.heritagearts.org. Those interested in being a sponsor should email Barbara Friedman at or call (352) 567-1720.
PHCC honors MLK Day
Emmy winner Gwendolyn Briley-Strand will perform a one-woman monologue as part of Pasco-Hernando Community College’s (PHCC) 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture Series.
Briley-Strand will present Harriet Tubman: The Chosen One at each PHCC campus to honor the 100th anniversary of Tubman’s death.
Briley-Strand has performed this monologue at hundreds of schools and organizations nationally and internationally, such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and The Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
The schedule of her performances:
—10 a.m. Jan. 16 in Room E-130, East Campus in Dade City, 36727 Blanton Road
—7 p.m. Jan. 16 in Room B-105, Spring Hill Campus, 450 Beverly Court
—9:45 a.m. Jan. 17 at the Performing Arts Center, West Campus in New Port Richey, 10230 Ridge Road
—6:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in Room B-104, North Campus in Brooksville, 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
The public is welcome and there is no charge.
New River Elementary kids fueled up
New River Elementary school Fuel Up to Play 60 team representatives attended the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Nov. 25 game and were part of the halftime celebration to raise awareness of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program. The Fuel Up program at New River, which encourages children to eat healthy and play for 60 minutes daily, is paid for with a grant from the National Dairy Council and the NFL in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
