Unless you were heading to the post office or bank on Monday, chances are you probably didn’t realize the nation celebrated Columbus Day this past week.
The holiday, meant to recognize explorer Christopher Columbus and his trip to North America in the 15th century, is technically a federal holiday, but not really recognized as one that closes many businesses or schools. Except for Pasco County government.
Not that county workers weren’t on the clock Monday — they just were not available to provide services to residents, instead taking part in a twice-yearly training and appreciation day. And it also meant that people who did need to go to work — especially those who depend on public transportation — were looking for other ways to get there Monday.
“We don’t have the opportunity to train our work units as a team,” Pasco County administrator Michele Baker told reporter Michael Hinman. “The only way to give good training and to improve our customer service, and improve the level of service to our customers, is to do a timeout.”
Columbus Day was a day when bus ridership was historically low, Baker said. It’s important to have drivers and other workers with the bus lines attend the training, because they don’t typically get it otherwise.
But not everyone fully supports shutting down the bus lines on a work day. Erika Remsberg, who is running against Mike Moore for Pasco County Commission, worried about how it might affect people who need a ride to their job.
“The extend of those consequences may not be realizes or assessed,” Remsberg said. “My hope is this is such a critical training event that it will increase productivity (and) customer service more than it will hurt the folks who will lose a day’s pay, delay their (medical) treatment, or prevent them from getting groceries for their families.”
What do riders think who tried to catch the bus on Monday? Find out in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, now available throughout Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties, and also online with our free e-edition by clicking here.
October is a month where it’s easy to find pink, as many people work together to raise money to help fight breast cancer. While the medical condition is primarily associated with women, breast cancer can be a problem among men, too.
Kriss Bowles knows, because 10 years ago, she lost her husband to breast cancer.
“He’d lay in a recliner to sleep,” Bowles told reporter B.C. Manion about her husband, Brock. “I would sit there and watch him sleep, and wonder what was going through his mind. Because he knew he was dying.”
Male breast cancer can be even more dangerous than it should be, primarily because it’s not common enough to require annual exams. But also because male breast cancer carries a stigma for many that checking for it would make men less “macho.”
What can men do to protect themselves from breast cancer? Find out in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, available on newsstands and in driveways right now, or through our online e-edition by clicking here.
It’s a new rivalry, but one a lot of people are paying attention to. On Friday, the Land O’ Lakes Gators host the Sunlake Seahawks in high school football’s Battle on U.S. 41, or pretty close.
Sunlake is coming in with a very strong 6-1 record, and looking to make a trip to the postseason. The Gators, at 3-3, are poised to play spoiler — especially as Land O’ Lakes remains the top-scoring team in the district, despite its record.
But what can fans expect come Friday? Well, for started, no one taking anything for granted.
“Land O’ Lakes has a good football team,” Sunlake head coach Bill Browning told reporter Michael Murillo. “They obviously have a very good throwing game, so we have to be able to get lined up right, and be able to defend the pass against them.”
What’s worse, this is a game where everyone knows everyone else. No scouts are needed to see where the strengths and weaknesses are for both Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes.
“All the players know each other,” Browning said. “We’re right in each other’s backyard. It makes for a great rivalry game.”
Who has the edge? Draw your own conclusions after reading the full story, found in the sports section of this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News. And if you can’t wait to get your copy, check out the free online e-edition right here.
And finally, photojournalist Fred Bellet has some great pictures to share from the recent Peace Week at Pasco-Hernando State College. See what happens when Tibetan monks get a hold of colored sand in a beautiful yet spiritual display, which can be found on the front of this week’s B-Section. See it online by clicking here.
All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.
If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.
