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MOSI redefines health screenings By Michael Hinman mhinman@lakerlutznews.com
When the Imax theater first opened at Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry in Tampa in 1995, the technology behind the larger-than-life films was still quite revolutionary. Today, however, it’s hard to find a movie complex without an Imax screen, and nearly all of them are digital — leaps and bounds
beyond MOSI’s now almost antiquated filmbased system. But that’s changing after a $2 million donation from Florida Hospital that will not only rename the dome theater after the hospital chain, it will bring science to the masses in ways that were never imagined 20 years ago. Called “Florida Hospital Presents Live SX,” surgeons at local hospitals will perform routine surgeries, which will be broadcast live to MOSI’s Coleman Science
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By Michael Murillo mmurillo@lakerlutznews.com
Megan Burgess loves to paint and sing. She looks forward to her weekly art and music class, designed for people with special needs, which are Thursday evenings at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on Collier Parkway. But if it doesn’t get more support, she might lose that opportunity. And that loss would be felt by both Megan and her mother. “It would be horrible.You want the kids to be socializing,”Violetta Burgess said. Her daughter Megan, 21, has low-functioning autism. She has trouble communicating verbally, but her enthusiasm for the class is clear:When Violetta tells her it’s time for art or music, Megan goes to find her shoes. She knows where she’s going that night, and has a fun time singing, using percussion instruments, painting and participating with everyone else in the class. The problem is that “everyone” was just five students this past session. And for VSA Florida, the state branch of Very Special Arts — an international nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding art opportunities for people with disabilities — five is simply not enough. “It does put the program in jeopardy, because if we don’t keep our numbers up, we’re not able to keep it going,” said Wendy Finklea,VSA Florida’s director of programs. “We aren’t at the point where the class is sustaining itself.” The class requires at least seven students to break even, but really needs a steady ros-
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Megan Burgess paints at her weekly art class at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex with art teacher Angela Dickerson looking on. VSA Florida’s art and music classes for special needs students aren’t breaking even, and if attendance doesn’t improve, the program could be in jeopardy.
ter of 10 or more students to be financially viable long-term. The $40 per month that participants pay not only compensates the teachers who direct the classes, but also covers a nominal fee the organization pays
the recreation complex. Since classes moved from the University of South Florida to Land O’ Lakes in January, See SPECIAL, page 12
When it comes to helping the homeless, she’s not too proud to beg bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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Works Theater for middle school, high school and college students. “Live SX” will be a lot like the more traditional surgery amphitheaters, except without the need to travel to a hospital. Surgeons will answer questions from the audience, and provide a glimpse into surgery many may not have had otherwise. “We believe that investing in MOSI is im-
Special needs classes struggling to stay afloat
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In her previous role, Carol Scheckler delivered warm greetings to people when they dropped in at the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce. But she stepped away from her job as administrative assistant at the chamber in May, and has since become president of The Samaritan Project, based in Zephyrhills. The chamber job, she said, was her paycheck. The Samaritan job doesn’t pay Scheckler a dime. “Now, I don’t have a paycheck, just a passion and a mission,” Scheckler told members
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Carol Scheckler, president of The Samaritan Project, said helping the homeless is her passion and mission.
of the East Pasco Networking Group at its July 8 breakfast meeting. In fact, there are no paid positions in The Samaritan Project organization, she said. “None of us get anything other than the reward of knowing we are helping some people,” said Scheckler, who became acquainted with the charitable organization when she was working for the chamber. She learned about it through Tim Mitchell, who was president of the Zephyrhills chamber at the time, and president of The Samaritan Project as well. “I met a lot of unique people, coming See HELPING, page 12