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Pasco-Hernando State College

Gearing up for the new school year

August 2, 2022 By B.C. Manion

As students in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area head off to school for the 2022-2023 academic year, those arriving at Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation will be helping to usher in the new school’s traditions.

Kirkland Ranch, at 32555 Innovation Drive in Wesley Chapel, is a magnet school that will specialize in preparing students in career fields and technical trades such as automotive maintenance and repair, including diesel; biomedical sciences; building trades and construction technology; cybersecurity; digital media and multimedia design; engineering and robotics; welding; electricity; and, patient care technology.

Students at Saint Leo University, 33701 State Road 52, in St. Leo, will have an opportunity to learn in the school’s new robotics and artificial intelligence lab, on the first floor of Kirk Hall.

Dr. Monika Kiss explains some of the features of Saint Leo University’s new Robotics and AI Lab. (Courtesy of Chad Gonzalez/University of Saint Leo)

The lab is part of the university’s new School of Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Data Science (CARDS), which brings together several popular areas of study and degree.

At Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, 33347 State Road 54, a new middle school building will help to accommodate students at the growing charter school.

Those are just a few changes that await, as a new academic year gets into full swing soon.

The first day of school for students is Aug. 10 in Pasco and Hillsborough public schools.

The beginning of the school year varies for private schools, Pasco-Hernando State College, Saint Leo University and the University of South Florida, as well as for home-schooled and online students.

Typically, the beginning of the school year means that families are doing some shopping, or taking advantage of school supply giveaways.

For those still needing to shop, the Florida Back-to-School sales tax holiday remains in effect through Aug. 7. In general, the tax holiday means no taxes are due on the retail sale of:

  • Clothing, footwear and some accessories (selling for $100 or less per item)
  • Certain school supplies(selling for $50 or less per item)
  • Learning aids (selling for $30 or less per item)
  • Personal computers and certain computer-related accessories for personal use (selling for $1,500 or less)

Public school students in Lutz and Odessa attend schools in either Hillsborough or Pasco, depending whether they live north or south of the county line. Some Hillsborough students also attend Hillsborough schools in New Tampa.

Students in Central Pasco attend schools in Odessa, Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, while those in East Pasco attend schools in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City, St. Leo and San Antonio.

There’s some overlap between communities, since the shapes of school zones vary and there are magnet schools that draw students from beyond traditional boundaries.

As the school year kicks in, the impact on area traffic will be noticeable, as students, teachers, cafeteria workers, assistant principals, principals and other staff members make their way to their respective campuses.

And before heading back, it’s a good idea for students and parents to do a little homework to find out more about what to expect in the coming school year.

School websites often offer a wealth of useful information about school rules and expectations, how to sign up for various activities, fees that are due, and so forth.

Be sure to check the Twitter and Facebook social media channels for individual schools and your school district, too, to see if there’s any current news that’s helpful to you.

For instance, those following the Pasco County Schools’ website would know that the federal government is ending free meals it had been providing for all because of COVID-19 relief funding.

Some students will qualify for free or reduced price meals. But here are this year’s charges for paid and reduced price meals.

Elementary: Breakfast: $1.60 paid, 0.30 reduced; lunch, $3 paid, 0.40 reduced

Middle: Breakfast: $1.75 paid, 0.30 reduced; lunch, $3 paid; 0.40 reduced

High: Breakfast: $1.75 paid,  0.30 reduced; lunch, $3.75 paid; 0.40 reduced.

As the new school year begins, both Pasco and Hillsborough public schools continue to work to fill staff vacancies.

The school boards in both districts also are urging voters to approve a tax increase that they say will help them to attract and retain quality staff.

In Pasco, the ballot question asks for a yes or no vote on whether to levy an additional tax, not to exceed 1 mil, beginning July 1, 2023 and ending no later than June 30, 2027.

The proceeds, according to the ballot question, will be used “for essential operating expenses to maintain salaries competitive with the market, attract and retain high-quality teachers, bus drivers and other non-administrative school support employees.”

In Hillsborough, the tax increase also would last four years, unless extended by voters, according to the district’s website.

At least 75% of the proceeds would go for increased compensation for teachers, counselors, media specialists , bus drivers and transportation assistants, classroom assistants, and other non-instructional support staff.

Hillsborough also would use proceeds to protect and expand art, music, physical education and workforce education.

Voters will decide the outcome of the ballot initiative, in their respective county, during the Aug. 23 Primary Election.

Published August 03, 2022

Chalk Talk 07/27/2022

July 26, 2022 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Donation to help children in crisis
The Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) Chapter of Association of Florida Colleges collected brand-new stuffed animals to deliver to first responders in Pasco and Hernando counties. PHSC employees and community members donated 285 stuffed animals, which were given to the Pasco and Hernando Sheriff’s Offices. First responders will use the donations for children in crisis situations, to help them calm down. From left: Hernando County Sheriff’s Office officers Sgt. Matt Lillibridge, Deputy Juan Perez and Deputy Deena Groves; and Samantha Apostolou, senior office assistant, Academic Success Center, and PHSC Chapter of AFC Spring Hill Campus representative.

Wiregrass Round-Up
Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will host a “Freshman & New to Wiregrass Round-Up” on July 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Student drop-off begins at 8:45 a.m.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet some of the teachers, tour the school, and create a freshman memory box to take home. A pizza lunch will be provided.

For more information and to register, visit WRHS.pasco.k12.fl.us.

Back-to-school fundraiser
Step up for Pasco Students! is a back-to-school fundraiser, sponsored by Pasco County Property Appraiser Mike Wells; the YMCA of the Suncoast James P. Gills Family Branch Togetherhood Committee; educator, entrepreneur and philanthropist Jacques Hakim; and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office Charities.

Every $10 donation buys a new pair of shoes for a child in need: The goal is 5,000 pairs.

Sponsorship levels also are available.

For information or to donate, visit bit.ly/2022ShoeDrive.

Backpack handout
Verizon retailers, TCC and Wireless Zone stores will be handing out backpacks full of school suplies, to help students prepare for the upcoming school year and to help parents reduce their supply spending.

Participating stores will be giving out backpacks on July 31 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., or while supplies last.

In addition to getting a backpack filled with supplies, students also can be entered into a sweepstakes to win a $10,000 college scholarship through the School Rocks Backpack Giveaway’s Big Impact. Children in kindergarten through 12th grade are eligible for entry. A total of five scholarships will be randomly awarded to select winners.

These local stores will be handing out backpacks: In Lutz, 18959 State Road 54. Call 813-949-0999; and in Wesley Chapel, 28329 Paseo Drive, Suite 190. Call 813-991-7202.

Stuff the Bus
The Pasco Education Foundation is looking for community partners, businesses and individuals to help “Stuff the Bus” on Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the foundation’s Wise Supplies Center, 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Portable 30, in Land O’ Lakes.

The needed supply list includes: copy paper; primary paper and journals; highlighters; washable markers; sharpies; dry erase markers and erasers; gel pens and erasable pens; scientific calculators; batteries; Clorox wipes; laminating pouches; lunch boxes; construction paper; scissors (all sizes); velcro dots; bandaids; Ziploc bags (all sizes); graph paper; recess equipment; and No. 2 pencils.

For information, call 813-794-2705, visit PascoEducationFoundation.org/wisesupplies/, or email .

Volunteers needed
AdventHealth Center Ice is looking for volunteers for the U.S. Figure Skating 2022 National Showcase, Aug. 1 through Aug. 6.

Available opportunities include: spotlight operators; performer check-in; registration assistance; and assistance with performers on and off the ice.

Necessary training will be provided prior to the event.

Students can receive applicable volunteer hours for the Bright Futures program.

For information, visit tinyurl.com/2j66krk4.

Sewing for home-schoolers
The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will offer Homeschool Sewing for Beginners on Aug. 3 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., for ages 9 and older.

All supplies will be provided. Participants can create a needle book, using basic sewing tools, and practicing simple skills such as measuring, cutting, straight stitch and backstitch.

Safety and waiver forms are required. A guardian/parent must complete the form for anyone under the age of 18. Forms can be picked up at the service desk before the class.

Registration is online at PascoLibraries.org.

National pilot program
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) is among 15 of the country’s leading community colleges selected for the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) Entrepreneurial College of the Future national pilot program, according to a news release.

The new initiative harnesses teams of three leaders at each college who will work together and with other colleges to tackle challenges and opportunities in their campus and local communities.

PHSC representatives will be Lisa Richardson, associate vice president of alumni and college relations/executive director, PHSC Foundation; Jim Myers, assistant professor and program director of business; and Sonia Thorn, assistant vice president of academic affairs, marketing and communications.

Through the collaboration, a group of leading experts in ideation, fundraising, student and employee engagement, and workforce development will identify the best innovative practices that will be shared through NACCE’s network of colleges reaching over 4 million students, the release said.

Pasco Schools superintendent won’t seek another term

June 14, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has announced he will not seek reelection, when his current term ends in 2024.

Browning was elected as superintendent by defeating incumbent Heather Fiorentino in the primary election of 2012 and by defeating write-in candidate Kathy Lambert in the general election.

Before running for superintendent of Pasco Schools, Browning served as Florida’s Secretary of State under governors Rick Scott and Charlie Crist.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning will not seek reelection, when his current term expires in 2024. (File)

Before that, he was Pasco County’s Supervisor of Elections for 26 years.

The schools superintendent announced his decision to not seek a fourth term in a June 2 YouTube video.

Browning said a variety of factors played a role in his decision, including many personal reasons.

“My wife, Kathy, is contemplating retirement and we have grandchildren who live out of state. “We want to be free to visit them more a lot more than we do.

“Some of the reasons are professional. I believe we are nearing the point where we will accomplish many of the goals I set out when I was first elected.

“Another reason? Well, it’s kind of a cliché, but you just know when it’s time.

“I am now in the  middle of my third term as superintendent. When I complete my term at the end of 2024, I will have served for 12 years.

“The tenure of superintendents these days is around five to six years. I can understand why so many of my colleagues move on, after five years or so.

“This job has been challenging and it has been gratifying. I have benefited from a supportive community and a great staff. And, without both, I never would have made it this far,” he said.

“I’m extremely proud of so many things we’ve accomplished. We’ve expanded school choice, with innovative programs.

“We have done an amazing job managing growth.

“We weathered the pandemic better than most.

“And, all along, we kept the finances in order.

“But this is not a time to look backwards.

“I am determined to spend the rest of my term looking forward.

“We have so much more to get done, and I hope my announcement today will instill an even greater sense of urgency.

“I definitely feel that sense of urgency.

“We have work to do and I intend to finish strong,” he said.

When Browning came into office, he said he wanted to create a school system with more choices for parents and students.

During his tenure, the district has expanded educational options for students, by adding more magnet schools and more magnet programs. It also has increased participation rates in rigorous courses.

Under Browning, in concert with the elected school board, the district also has expanded opportunities for students wishing to pursue technical career options.

Some highlights during Browning’s administration include the opening of Starkey Ranch K-8 in Odessa. This was the first district school specifically designed to serve kindergartner through eighth-graders.

Through a collaborative partnership involving the school board, Pasco County and the developer of the Starkey Ranch community, the school was deigned to include a library, open to the public, as well as to students; a theater, which can be used for school and community performances; and, a district park, which provides facilities for both public and student use.

The district also partnered with Pasco-Hernando State College on a project to locate the state college’s  Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) on a campus shared by Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle School, also in Wesley Chapel.

Students in the school system can take advantage of IPAC’s programs and facilities. There’s a direct tie-in to the programming offered by the school district, too. Cypress Creek Middle has a black box theater.

In the coming school year, the school district intends to open Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, also in the Wesley Chapel area. That school will feature a broad range of technical training programs, along with academic offerings.

The district also has begun construction on a 6-12 STEAM magnet (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) school.

The school is being built on a site in the heart of Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco County campus.

When fully developed the cancer research hub is expected to attract life science companies and researchers from around the world to pursue breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer.

While the district has made strides, it also has faced increasing criticism from speakers during its public school board meetings. Issues sparking controversy have included mask mandates on school campuses, money spent on professional training, textbook selection and the timing of a referendum intended to generate funding for raises for non-administrative district personnel.

On another front, soon after Browning announced his departure in 2024, former State Sen. John Legg pre-filed with the Pasco Supervisor of Elections, declaring his intention to seek the post.

Legg has served in the state’s Senate and in its House of Representatives, and is the co-founder and chief financial officer of Day Spring Academy.

The charter school, which serves pre-school through 12th grade, has five campuses.

Published June 15, 2022

Chalk Talk 06/08/2022

June 14, 2022 By Mary Rathman

A line of 55 pictures of students from Country Walk splits in the intersection of Country Point Boulevard and English Turn Way. It resumes with high school graduates and others. (Fred Bellet)

Country Walk celebrates Class of 2022
Motorists entering Country Walk had a chance to celebrate graduates of all ages, with signs bearing photographs of their favorite graduates.

The tradition got its start during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to George O’Connor, a resident there. The parents and grandparents purchase signs with their favorite graduate’s photo, which are then put on display, he said.

Mindy Gammage placed the signs in the median of the community’s main entrance.This year, 55 graduates were featured.

(Courtesy of Shantel Meyers)

Woman’s club awards scholarships
The GFWC Wesley Chapel Woman’s Cub presented its 2022 scholarship winners with certificates of congratulations. One of the scholarships was a generous donation from a supporting couple of the woman’s club, and was named in honor of the wife’s father who was a school teacher for more than 30 years. The A. Joseph DeGennaro scholarship was awarded to Lana Guzman. From left: Marie Ambrosino, club scholarship chairman; and scholarship winners Brianna Harris, Isabella Villegas-Lombeyda and Lana Guzman. Harris will be attending Saint Leo University, and Villegas-Lombeyda and Guzman will be attending the University of Florida.

 

 

 

Summer meals program
Pasco County Schools Summer Food Service program began June 6 and continues through July 29.

Breakfasts and lunches will be provided Monday through Thursday to anyone age 18 and younger, at various West Pasco, Central Pasco and East Pasco schools.

Students attending PLACE or Extended School Year programs will receive meals on campus while attending the program.

For school locations, visit Connectplus.pasco.k12.fl.us/summerfoodpasco/site-locations/.

Additionally, buses will be available at these locations, also Monday through Thursday:

  • Hilltop Landings Apartments, 37611 Colina Drive, Dade City
  • Resurrection House Park, 37124 Lock St., Dade City
  • Trilby United Methodist Church, 37504 Trilby Road, Dade City
  • Zephyrhills YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, Zephyrhills
  • Crystal Springs Community Center, 1655 Partridge Blvd., Zephyrhills

For questions and information, email .

Summer Haul Pass
Students can ride GoPasco County Public Transportation buses on regular routes all summer, for just $20. The special rate is effective June, July and August 2022.

Summer Haul Passes are available at these locations:

  • GoPasco Administrative Office, 8620 Galen Wilson Blvd., New Port Richey
  • Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Office, East/West Pasco Government Centers
  • Pasco-Hernando State College bookstores, in Dade City, New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel
  • County libraries

For more information, visit bit.ly/SummerBusPass.

Student achievements

  • William Brockman, of Lutz, Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College
  • Austin Brown, of Lutz, Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College
  • Hannah Coleman, of Lutz, Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College
  • Kassidy Gordon, of Lutz, Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College
  • John Martinez, of Dade City, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management, from Union University (Jackson, Tennessee)
  • Ryleigh McElroy, of Lutz, Dean’s List at Talllahassee Community College
  • JoAna Mucklow, of Odessa, Chancellor’s Honor Roll at the University of Mississippi. Mucklow is majoring in general business.
  • Mykayla Christine Parise-King, of Lutz, Honor Roll of the Academic Dean at Mars Hill University (North Carolina)
  • Brynnan Popper, of Odessa, Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College

Fee adjustment meeting
Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its board meeting on June 21 at 6 p.m., at the North Campus.

Fee adjustment proposals are reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by PHSC’s Council of Academic Affairs, a committee that includes representation by administrators, deans, academic department chairs, program directors, faculty and staff.

Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories, and program testing. Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarships and grants.

For details regarding proposed fee adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu, and click on Policies and Procedures, Public Disclosures.

Pasco observes Juneteenth through events, celebrations

June 7, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kathy Steele

After being declared a federal legal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth is gaining greater recognition as communities across the nation celebrate, and commemorate, the historic end of slavery in the United States.

The holiday marks the day in history, when on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas, with the news that slaves were free.

President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free slaves in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union in 1863.Texas was the last Confederate state to fall to Union soldiers.

For generations Black communities celebrated Juneteenth, or Freedom Day, with picnics, church services, remembrances of ancestors, poetry readings and programs about African American heritage. Over the years, a handful of states, including Texas, recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday.

For many years, Pasco County has issued proclamations honoring Juneteenth.

Now, with a national holiday marking the day, Juneteenth is garnering more attention.

“I am very pleased and very happy with interest being shown not only in Pasco (County) but across the country. People are celebrating even before the day of Juneteenth.There’s great history here,” said Cassie Coleman, a member of the East Pasco Juneteenth Committee and an organizer of the Rosewood Traveling Exhibit.“I think it’s going to get bigger and bigger,” she said. She also thinks it will “teach our children a little bit more about our history.”

In Pasco County, the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Department is partnering with businesses and community groups to organize a week of Juneteenth activities. Partners include East Pasco Juneteenth Committee, AdventHealth, Pasco-Hernando State College, the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village and the Rosewood Family Reunion Inc.

In Wesley Chapel, residents of Union Park and Union Park East will host the third annual Juneteenth Family Day to “celebrate freedom,” on June 18 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., at The Landing. Festivities will include free drawings, games, spoken word performances, music, dancing, and food trucks.

In prior years of local Juneteenth events, Pasco County’s parks department and AdventHealth embraced the festivities with a goal to expand outreach for health screenings within Black and Hispanic communities.

In 2020, a Saturday event drew about 300 people, said Kimberly Miller, East Pasco recreational coordinator for the county’s parks department.

Last year as a national holiday, the Juneteenth crowd grew to more than 700 people, she said.

“It’s become huge.We’re looking to make it bigger and better.”

Festivities from June 15 through June 18 will include traditional picnics with health screenings, and family activities, music, a bowling night, a community paint party and a special presentation on the history and legacy of the Rosewood Massacre.

A special Rosewood Traveling Exhibit will be on display at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village from June 13 through June 20. On June 17, Rosewood descendants from the Lacoochee community will host a special presentation: A Night to Remember.

Lacoochee resident Ebony Pickett is a descendant of several survivors of the Rosewood Massacre.

The trauma of Rosewood is still felt, Pickett said. Some survivors changed their names soon after because they thought they would be tracked down.“It was a real fear,” she added.

Rosewood was settled in the 1840s by white and Black residents, but by the 1890s, the town was predominately Black. The one exception was a white family that ran a general store.

In the first week of January 1923, white mobs including Ku Klux Klansmen from surrounding counties descended on Rosewood fueled by an untrue report that a white woman had been assaulted and raped.They burned and destroyed the town. Some residents received shelter from the white store owner. Others fled into the nearby swamp and hid for days in bitter cold.Those who survived never returned but resettled in other communities, including Lacoochee.

The number of deaths is disputed.

The official record acknowledges eight deaths — six Black people and two white people. But Pickett said survivors remember many more Blacks died.

Rumors of a mass grave have persisted, despite official reports to the contrary.

Survivors were reluctant for many years to talk about the massacre until prodded by younger family members. Pickett said she didn’t hear the story of Rosewood until she was in third grade. It was a secret too dark to be spoken of publicly by those who lived through the assault, she said.

Pickett’s uncle, Willie Evans, who died in 2020, was among survivors who fought to secure reparations through the Florida legislature. A Rosewood claims bill was approved in 1994 that included direct payments to a small number of survivors and educational scholarships to descendants.

The Rosewood Family Reunion Inc. created the Rosewood Traveling Exhibit to tell their story. The special presentation will include members of the Rosewood families, a youth art show and a performance by the Rosewood Family Choir.

Pickett is glad to see Juneteenth becoming nationally recognized as a day to celebrate but also an opportunity to reflect and learn about the past. “We’re happy to do more,” she said.

Coleman agrees. “It’s something that will put us in mind of facts and history, so we won’t repeat it in future.”

Upcoming Juneteenth celebrations

These special events are planned during Juneteenth Week, June 15 to June 18

Beats N’ Brushes, a canvas painting party set to music

WHEN: June 15, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: The James Irvin Center, at 38122Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City
COST: $10 Tickets are required.
INFO: 352-521-4166

Family Bowling Night

WHEN: June 16, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: East Pasco Pin Chasers, 6816 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills
COST: $5 Tickets are required.
INFO: 352-521-4166

A Night to Remember

WHAT: A special presentation on the legacy of Rosewood and a youth art show.
WHEN: June 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. WHERE:PioneerFloridaMuseum&Village,15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City

COST: Free but pre-registration is required. Space is limited.
INFO: 352-521-4166

The Rosewood Traveling Exhibit

WHAT: A special exhibit on the legacy of Rosewood including photographs and artifacts from Rosewood family survivors

WHEN: June13 through June 20, during museum hours

WHERE: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City

COST: Free but pre-registration is required. Space is limited. Contact the museum for hours and admission. INFO: 352-567-0262

Third Annual Family Celebration Day

WHAT: Juneteenth celebration organized by residents of Union Park and Union Park East
WHEN: June 18, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Landing, 32885 Natural Bridge, Wesley Chapel

COST: Free
INFO: Email

Second Annual East Pasco Juneteenth Community Celebration

WHAT: Free health screenings; food trucks; family fun zone; games; drawings for prizes; local vendors; Juneteenth Toddler Pageant; and special performances WHEN: June 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: The James Irvin Center, at 38122 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City

COST: Free
INFO: Contact Kimberly Miller at 352-521-4166 or

Published on June 8, 2022.

Talent abounds in this competition

June 7, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

(Courtesy of Heritage Arts Center Association)

The Heritage Arts Center Association (HACA) produces “Spotlight on Talent,” a regional performing arts competition for young students up to high school seniors. There are $4,000 in prizes and trophies, in addition to a $1,000 Pasco Heritage Scholarship.

This year, the scholarship was awarded to Faith Phaller, a Blackwood Studios dancer.

Heritage Arts also gives the Nereim Visual Arts Award to aspiring artists, in honor of the late founding board members Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Nereim.

Erin Caffarelli, a graduating senior at Zephyrhills High, was selected for this recognition. She shared her sculpture of a dramatic fox-like creature — realistic but completely imaginary — with the HACA Board. Her work can be viewed on Heritage Art’s Facebook page, as well as its website at HeritageArts.org.

Caffarelli will attend Pasco-Hernando State College and plans to study mechanical engineering and robotics at Florida Polytechnic.

Published June 8, 2022.

Chalk Talk 6/08/2022

June 7, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

SUMMER HAUL PASS

Students can ride Pasco County Public Transportation buses on regular routes all summer, for just $20.The special rate is effective June, July and August 2022.

Summer Haul Passes are available at these locations:

• GoPasco Administrative Office, 8620 Galen Wilson Blvd., New Port Richey

• Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Office, East/West Pasco Government Centers

• Pasco-Hernando State College bookstores, in Dade City, New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel

• County libraries

For more information, please visit bit.ly/SummerBusPass.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

• William Brockman, of Lutz, Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College

• Austin Brown, of Lutz, Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College

• Mya Cobb, of Lutz, Diversity Scholarship at Appalachian University (Boone, North Carolina)

• Hannah Coleman, of Lutz, Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College

• Jaelyn Evans, of Odessa, Dean’s List at Mississippi College (Clinton, Mississippi)

• Kassidy Gordon, of Lutz, Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College

• Jenny Han, of Odessa, President’s List at Georgia State University

• John Martinez, of Dade City, Dean’s List and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management, from Union University (Jackson, Tennessee)

• Ryleigh McElroy, of Lutz, Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College

• JoAna Mucklow, of Odessa, Chancellor’s Honor Roll at the University of Mississippi. Mucklow is majoring in general business.

• Mykayla Christine Parise-King, of Lutz, Honor Roll of the Academic Dean at Mars Hill University (North Carolina)

• Brynnan Popper, of Odessa, Dean’s List at Tallahassee Community College

SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM

Pasco County Schools Summer Food Service program began June 6 and will continue through July 29.

Breakfasts and lunches will be provided Monday through Thursday to anyone age 18 and younger, at various West Pasco, Central Pasco and East Pasco schools.

Students attending PLACE or Extended School Year programs will receive meals on campus while attending the program.

For school locations, visit Connectplus.pasco.k12.fl.us/summerfoodpasco/si te-locations/.

Additionally, buses will be available at these lo- cations, also Monday through Thursday:

• Hilltop Landings Apartments, 37611 Colina Drive, Dade City

• Resurrection House Park, 37124 Lock Street, Dade City

• Trilby United Methodist Church, 37504 Trilby Road, Dade City

• Zephyrhills YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, Zephyrhills

• Crystal Springs Community Center, 1655 Partridge Blvd., Zephyrhills

For questions and information, email .

FEE ADJUSTMENT MEETING

Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its board meeting on June 21 at 6 p.m., at the North Campus.

Fee adjustment proposals are reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by PHSC’s Council of Academic Affairs, a committee that includes representation by administrators, deans, academic department chairs, program directors, faculty and staff.

Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories and program testing. Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarships and grants.

For details regarding proposed fee adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu, and click on Policies and Procedures, Public Disclosures.

Published June 8, 2022.

Chalk Talk 06/01/2022

May 31, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Cambridge recognition
San Antonio Elementary School has been recognized by Cambridge Assessment International Education (Cambridge International) as a Demonstration Center, an honor that means it can serve as a model for the prestigious program, according to a news release.

Demonstration Centers are qualified to host showcase events for teacheres, school administrators, and district leaders from around the nation who are interested in learning about Cambridge International.

Cambridge International is dedicated to helping schools deliver the best education possible by providing comprehensive support, including teacher professional development and training, classroom resources, and membership of a global learning community, the release said.

“This is a huge honor for San Antonio Elementary School and for our entire school district,” said Kurt Browning, Pasco superintendent of schools, in the release.

“This speaks volumes about the quality of our teachers and the leadership here. The opportunity this provides our students is incredible,” said Browning.

Pasco Middle School also has been honored as a Demonstration Center.

Visit CambridgeInternational.org for more information.

Finance Challenge
Land O’ Lakes High School is one of the top four teams in the United States for essential skills in personal finance, after winning the Florida state championship and national semifinal rounds in the National Personal Finance Challenge, according to a news release.

The team scored an all-expense-paid trip to New York City on June 5, to compete with three other teams in the national finals.

Organized by the Council for Economic Education (CEE), the Finance Challenge allows high school students to demonstrate mastery of earning, spending, saving, investing, and managing credit and risk.

Only 24 states require students to take a course in personal finance to graduate, according to the CEE and its 2022 Survey of the States.

The Land O’ Lakes team includes Andrew Domonkos, Allen Ho, Rishabh Kanodia and William Shelton, coached by teacher Andrew Camp.

Summer meals program
Pasco County Schools Summer Food Service program will begin on June 6 and continue through July 29.

Breakfasts and lunches will be provided Monday through Thursday to anyone age 18 and younger, at various West Pasco, Central Pasco and East Pasco schools.

Students attending PLACE or Extended School Year programs will receive meals on campus while attending the program.

For school locations, visit Connectplus.pasco.k12.fl.us/summerfoodpasco/site-locations/.

Additionally, buses will be available at these locations, also Monday through Thursday:

  • Hilltop Landings Apartments, 37611 Colina Drive, Dade City
  • Resurrection House Park, 37124 Lock Street, Dade City
  • Trilby United Methodist Church, 37504 Trilby Road, Dade City
  • Zephyrhills YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, Zephyrhills
  • Crystal Springs Community Center, 1655 Partridge Blvd., Zephyrhills

For questions and information, email .

Student achievements
• Roland Anthony Chacon, of Lutz, earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Mars Hill University, North Carolina.
• Tyler Jacob Lala, of Odessa, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Mars Hill University.
• Madison Nichols, of Odessa, was named to the Dean’s List at Nazareth College, Rochester, New York.
• Dylan Schaffer, of Lutz, earned a spot on the Dean’s List at Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Missouri.

Award recipients
Pasco-Hernando State College announced the recipients of the annual NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development) Excellence Awards.

The 2022 honorees include: Julie Hendrickson, associate professor and department chair, biological services; VickieAnn Laubach, Ed.D., assistant professor, nursing, and simulation coordinator, health and nursing programs; and Curtis Scaglione, professor and program director, information technology.

NISOD’s awards recognize men and women each year who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment and contribution to their students and colleagues.

“Recognizing those individuals who have contributed to student success and their colleges’ mission is something we look forward to doing each year,” said Dr. Edward J. Leach, NISOD executive director, in a news release.

The NISOD membership organization is committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning and leadership at community and technical colleges.

For information, visit NISOD.org.

Chalk Talk 05/25/2022

May 24, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Kylie Culver, Saint Leo University Class of 2022 valedictorian, addresses graduating students on May 14. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Saint Leo awards degrees
More than 1,200 students earned degrees from Saint Leo University, during two commencement ceremonies on May 14, according to a news release. Doctoral, master, bachelor and associate degrees were awarded.

Kylie Culver, of Tampa, served as valedictorian of the Class of 2022. In her commencement address, Culver noted how the graduates successfully completed their degree programs through a global health crisis.

“The Class of 2022 has been through a lot,” said Culver in the release.

“Not only did we have the regular challenges that come with being college students – making sure we got good grades, making friends, managing our time, and social lives, but we also have the additional challenge of living through a pandemic,” noted Culver.

Salutatorian for the class was David Pacheco, of Brentwood, New York.

Free summer program
The City of Zephyrhills will present the 2022 Free Summer Recreation Program from May 31 to July 7, Mondays through Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Stewart Middle School, 38505 10th Ave., in Zephyrhills.

The program is limited to 120 students who have completed any grade in kindergarten through fifth grade, in 2021-2022.

For information and to register, visit www.ci.zephyrhills.fl.us/225/Summer-Recreation-Information.

Student achievements

  • Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, welcomed new initiates from 78 universities. These local students were inducted: Jenna Boudrea (Lutz), University of South Florida; Madelynne Eash (Odessa), Jacksonville University; Hannah Everich (Lutz), University of South Florida; Dylan Gellett (Lutz), University of South Florida; Andrew Nissensohn (Lutz), Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia; and Zachary Rashas (Lutz), University of South Florida.
  • Andrea Denton, of Wesley Chapel, was recognized to the President’s List at Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas.
  • Timothy Elko, of Lutz, earned a Master of Science from the University of Mississippi Graduate School. Elko majored in sports analytics.
  • Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee, has recognized Danielle Frances and Jenna Freligh, both of Lutz, to the Dean’s List.
  • Wolfang Louk, of Lutz, and Faith Quinn and Grace Quinn, of Wesley Chapel, were named to the Dean’s List at Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas.
  • Southern New Hampshire University named these local students to its President’s List: Jennifer Nalley, Odessa; Masum Rahman, Odessa; and Allie Ungerecht, Lutz.
  • Madison Nichols, of Odessa, earned a bachelor degree in psychology, at Nazareth College, Rochester, New York
  • Sean Saccomanno, of Land O’ Lakes, was recognized to the Dean’s List at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin.

Kids Tag Art fundraiser
Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy Millan presented the results of its first ever Kids Tag Art Program to the Hillsborough County School Board. The inaugural event raised $33,769, and will provide $1,200 for art supplies and materials to each participating eleentary school, according to a news release.

The Kids Art Program is a creative fundraiser that gives Title I, fifth-grade elementary school students the opportunity to showcase their artistic abilities by designing front license vanity plates in art class.

The plate designs are printed on metal plates, and then sold to family, friends and to the public.

Proceeds from the plate sales and sponsorships go back to the participating schools, to help support their arts program.

Humanitarian Awards
High school students throughout Pasco County recently were honored during the Florida Holocaust Museum’s 2022 Anne Frank Humanitarian Award event.

The award recognizes the outstanding humanitarian actions of high school juniors who have worked to better the lives of others at their schools and in their communities.

“These students are already leaders, being honored for their acts of kindness and for making a difference in our community,” said Superintendent Kurt Browning in a news release.

The winners in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, are: McKenna Yingling, Cypress Creek High School; Aross Adhikary, Land O’ Lakes High; Johana Morales, Pasco High; Benjamin Borton, Sunlake High; Angelica Chirino, Wesley Chapel High; Kate Niehoff, Wiregrass Ranch High; and Jamarius Giles, Zephyrhills High.

Fee adjustment meeting
Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider approving proposed adjusted course-related fees at its board meeting on June 21 at 6 p.m., at the North Campus.

Fee adjustment proposals are reviewed and approved for DBOT consideration by PHSC’s Council of Academic Affairs, a committee that includes representation by administrators, deans, academic department chairs, program directors, faculty and staff.

Many fee adjustments relate to vendor increases for workforce courses, laboratories, and program testing. Some fees may be covered by financial aid, scholarships and grants.

For details regarding proposed fee adjustments, justification for the fees and fee implementation details, visit Policies.phsc.edu, and click on Policies and Procedures, Public Disclosures.

Planet Fitness offers pass
Planet Fitness is offering a High School Summer Pass program through Aug. 31, for all high-schoolers ages 14 to 19.

Students will be able to work out at no cost, at any Planet Fitness location.

The fitness center aims to help teenagers stay physically and mentally fit over the summer, by providing a way to exercise for free while school is out.

The program, which used to be called the Teen Summer Challenge, first launched in 2019, and more than 900,000 teens signed up.

To encourage teens to take advantage of the program, all participants automatically will be entered into a sweepstakes awarding one person, in each state, with a $500 scholarship.

Additionally, one grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship will be awarded at the end of the summer.

The scholarships can be used for academic or athletic activities, or other programs.

Teens can preregister for the program online at PlanetFitness.com/summerpass.

Plans moving forward in Angeline community

April 26, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County Schools has begun construction on a $52.7 million magnet school in the Angeline community, which is expected to offer an array of new opportunities for students in grades six through 12.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, offered a brief update on the project during the Pasco County School Board’s April 19 meeting.

Work has begun on putting up the stem walls on the project, Gadd said. “We’re on time, despite supply chain issues,” he said.

“It’s going to be another great facility in Pasco County,” the deputy superintendent added.

The school board approved a contract in November with Ajax Building Company, to construct the building on an 18.8-acre site in the new Land O’ Lakes development, which is being billed as a wellness community.

Angeline will emerge on thousands of acres of land, east of the Suncoast Parkway and south of State Road 52. The area includes Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco County campus.

County Administrator Dan Biles anticipates the cancer center’s presence in Pasco to spur what he has described as “generational change.”

The project is expected to include a massive research and corporate innovation district.

It has site entitlements that encompass 24 million square feet, and include plans for a hospital, research and development space, office, manufacturing, laboratories, pharmacies, educational facility/university, hotel, and commercial space. The multiyear, multiphase project is expected to create 14,500 jobs.

At previous school board meetings, Gadd has reported that the school district, Moffitt and Pasco-Hernando State College are collaborating to create a magnet school, featuring unique offerings and opportunities for students.

The school is designed for 1,700 students. Its plans call for a facility with 186,882 gross square feet.

The project is expected to be substantially completed in April 2023, with final completion in June 2023.

In an unrelated action, the Pasco County Commission has approved earmarking $50,000 for a park project in Angeline.

County board members approved the expenditure during their April 19 meeting, allocating the money to be used for a stormwater and flood plain engineering analysis related to a future park.

Published April 27, 2022

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What’s Happening

08/07/2022 – Back to School Bash

The annual Back to School Bash at the Tampa Premium Outlets is scheduled for Aug. 7 from noon to 4 p.m. There will be kids activities, local family services, an interactive scavenger hunt, sports mascots, performers, and a business expo offering after-school programs, clubs, tutoring, health care and more.  Preregistration opens on June 16. Separate registration is required for a new, full-inclusion sensory area with access for neuro-diverse children. Visit EventBrite.com for more information. … [Read More...] about 08/07/2022 – Back to School Bash

08/08/2022 – Afterschool snacks

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will host Chef Yamira Lee Johnson on Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m., for a demonstration on easy, healthy recipes kids and parents can make for an afterschool bite. This is an online program for all ages. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 08/08/2022 – Afterschool snacks

08/09/2022 – Butterfly gardening

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host a master gardener presentation on butterfly gardening on Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. Registration is online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 08/09/2022 – Butterfly gardening

08/09/2022 – Coffee with a deputy

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office will host “Coffee with PSO” on Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Wawa, 25155 Maren Way in Lutz. Deputies will be on hand to answer questions and to get to know the community. … [Read More...] about 08/09/2022 – Coffee with a deputy

08/09/2022 – Native Plant Society

The Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will meet on Aug. 9 at 7 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. There will be showing of the 2018 American documentary, “The Serengeti Rules,” directed by Nicolas Brown and based on the book by Sean B. Carroll. The film explores the discoveries of five pioneering scientists: Bob Paine, Jim Estes, Anthony Sinclair, John Terborgh and Mary E. Power. Popcorn will be provided. For information, call 813-469-9597. … [Read More...] about 08/09/2022 – Native Plant Society

08/09/2022 – Transportation stories

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will present story times on the topic of transportation on Aug. 9 and Aug. 10. Toddlers can attend at 10:15 a.m., and preschoolers at 11:15 a.m. The 45-minutes sessions will include songs, stories and movement. Register online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 08/09/2022 – Transportation stories

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The next @ZephyrhillsCity Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 8, 2022 at 6:00 PM at the #Zephyrhills City Hall Council Chambers, 5335 8th Street.

Meeting agenda packet: http://ow.ly/sqFR50KcJxG

Questions? Contact the City Clerk's office at 813-780-0000.

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Tonight @Publix surprised the @SteinbrennerFB team after catching wind of their Shopping Cart Test. Publix VP Sam Pero gave the team their very own shopping cart lapel pin, a $1,000 check, and of course, some Pub Subs. 👐🛒💚

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