The Laker-Land O' Lakes-February 15, 2017

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Crowd gives Bilirakis an earful By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

A crowd — that sometimes became raucous — turned out to a listening session held by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis on the issue of health care reform. Bilirakis billed the session as an opportunity to receive feedback and ideas from constituents on the future direction of the nation’s health care system, including the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. People filled every seat of the Pasco County Commission’s chambers at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port

B.C. MANION

Many people brought signs to help communicate their views on the health care issue.

Richey during the Feb. 11 session. They stood in the back of the chamber, and along both walls, and the overflow spilled into government center’s lobby and down a hallway corridor. The crowd was made up of men and women, of all ages and ethnicities. Some came in wheelchairs. Some used walkers or canes. Some carried signs proclaiming such messages such as:“Repair, not repeal.”“The ACA is pro life” and “Health Care is a Human Right.” Television reports on the event aired on local and national networks, and excerpts of See BILIRAKIS, page 11A

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Managing challenges faced by teens By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

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From social media to social pressures, the challenges of a teen are unlikely to go away anytime soon. The stresses aren’t going away for parents, either. To help navigate those issues, the Steinbrenner High Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) hosted its fifth annual “World of a Teen” program on Feb. 7, inside the school’s auditorium. An estimated crowd of more than 250 people attended, according to Laura Lopresti, vice president of programs for Steinbrenner High PTSA. Those attending came from numerous areas public high schools, middle schools, as well as a public elementary, a private school and a public charter school. The award-winning program featured a panel of eight experts, who discussed topics ranging from drug usage and social media habits, to picking the right college. During the 90-minute event, parents and guardians filled out questions on notecards, which then were read anonymously to the panel. The answers were forthright, and panelists had plenty of advice. “I think that a lot of people left here with a lot of questions answered — parents and children— and I think it gave them a lot of content to talk about at home,” said Edgar Guzman, a Tampa-based attorney, one of the panelists. Drug usage, especially marijuana, was a frequently broached topic. The panelists’ message to the audience: Stay away. Lynn Posyton, community relations specialist for Drug-Free World, said she’s noticed the substance being abused “more and more.” It’s also becoming more hazardous, she said. Posyton noted the levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have increased over the past several decades. That’s the chemical that’s responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. “It’s not the weed of the ’60s, ’70s or ’80s,” she said.“THC in 1981 was 2 percent. Now, it’s 17 percent.” That sharp level, she said, affects individuals differently. “It’s getting crazier and crazier, and harder for a child to understand what’s right and what’s wrong in terms of drugs,” Posyton said.“The most important thing is education of what drugs are. If you’re going to do something, you should find out about it before you’re going to do it. She added: “Don’t listen to the people that say it’s not affecting them; do you look inside and see what’s happening to your liver?” See TEENS, page 11A

B.C. MANION

Members of the Helping Hands Club pose near the lake behind Heather Shisler’s home. Back row: Caileigh Brown, Kaylee Roy, Gavin Brown and Ella Neuffer. Front row: Isabella Steady and Alexis Hopper.

These kids want to help out By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

None of these kids are old enough to go out and get a job. They also have trouble finding places where they can volunteer. So, they formed the “Helping Hands Club” to do something about that. Twelve-year-old Caileigh Brown, a sixthgrader at Rushe Middle School, came up with the idea. Other members of the club are 11-yearold Isabella Steady, a sixth-grader at Rushe; 11-year-old Alexis Hopper, a sixth-grader at Rushe; 13-year-old Kaylee Roy, an eighthgrader at Rushe; 10-year-old Ella Neuffer, a fifth-grader at Oakstead Elementary; and, 9year-old Gavin Brown, Caileigh’s little brother, a fourth-grader at Oakstead. The group formed shortly before the holidays. The club meets on weekends at Heather Shisler’s home in Land O’ Lakes. Shisler is Gavin and Caileigh’s mom. The meetings generally last about 90 minutes. Early on, the kids focused on figuring out things they’d like to do. So far, they helped at Sunrise of Pasco Inc., a domestic violence shelter, and at Zaksee’s Bird Sanctuary. They sorted out a storage closet at the domestic violence shelter, and they helped do some cleaning and planted seeds at the bird sanctuary. Club members said they’ve tried to get

involved before, but have had trouble gaining momentum. “In fourth and fifth grade, we would try to make these volunteer groups to help people. None of them were ever successful,” Steady said. “A lot of the things that we actually wanted to do, we’re too young. You have to be 16,” Brown said. Neuffer said she enjoys being in the club.“I love helping out people,” she said. Brown’s little brother, Gavin, is first to admit he was drafted into the club. But, he said, he enjoys being part of it. Shisler lets the club meet at her house, helps the kids with setting up volunteer opportunities and transporting them. The group’s goal is to complete at least one — but hopefully more — volunteer activities each month. The opportunities need to be within the general area, and need to be tasks that can be completed within a day or less. The idea is to make a difference, the kids say. “It’s a good thing to do in your free time, instead of watching TV,” Roy said. The kids know there are a number of chores they can perform. In some cases, they may be able to do chores for pay, such as babysitting or dog walking, in which case the money they earn would go for a charitable cause, they said. Glenda Steady, who is Isabella’s mom, is See KIDS, page 11A

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Truflight expansion will add 100 jobs By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

TRU Simulation + Training makes flying as real as it gets for pilots getting a virtual experience of soaring into the skies. The company manufactures flight simulators, and provides the commercial and military markets with pilot training.The subsidiary of Textron Inc., also provides FAA-certified Part 142 OEM-supported pilot training. TRU Simulation + Training celebrated the opening of a $30 million expansion of its Pilot Training Center in Lutz on Feb. 8.The facility opened nearly two years ago in a 15,000square- foot facility at 1827 Northpointe

Parkway, off State Road 54 at Suncoast Parkway. The expansion is expected to add 100 jobs. “This more than doubles the capacity of this facility,” said David Smith, vice president of TRU training centers. The newest flight simulator resembles a large white capsule perched atop black stilts. The simulators can weigh between 25,000 to 40,000 pounds each, and cost $6 million to $10 million to build. Another three simulators can fit into the expanded space. See TRUFLIGHT, page 11A

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TRU Simulation + Training manufactures full flight simulators and provides pilot training on-site. The simulators weigh between 25,000 and 40,000 pounds.


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