The Laker-Wesley Chapel/New Tampa-January 6, 2021

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Addressing Pasco’s hunger issue

By Joey Johnston Special to The Laker/Lutz News

In society’s modern parlance, it’s called “food insecurity.’’ In simple terms, it’s hunger. And, it’s a big problem in Pasco County, particularly in the COVID-19 era.

Christine Bright, Pasco Unit chair for the League of Women Voters, recently gathered officials from five nonprofit agencies for a panel discussion — “Hidden Hunger in Pasco.’’

Key statistical takeaways: • Pasco County’s poverty rate for chil-

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dren is about 25%, which is higher than the statewide average of 20% • 45% of Pasco households fall under the “ALICE threshold’’ — which means Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. It reflects households that are barely making it, probably one crisis away from financial wipeout • Feeding Tampa Bay’s food requests have increased by 360% since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Bright said the League of Women Voters, a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization, believes that its core mission is to

educate and advocate about a community’s important issues.

“Hunger in our community is at the top of that list,’’ Bright said.

There are ongoing solutions — even in these challenging, virus-driven times.

Patti Templeton, executive director of One Community Now, which works to eradicate childhood hunger, said the agency has been implementing a “Pack-A-Sack’’ program for 37 elementary, middle and high schools in Pasco County.The program feeds approxSee HUNGER, page 7A

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Adding some levity, during a tough 2020 Tomas Alzamora embraced the spirit of the day at the Taco Festival, held at the Grove in Wesley Chapel, in September. See more photos from the year 2020 on page 1B.

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Two new outdoor street hockey rinks have opened at Wesley Chapel District Park and the J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex in Holiday. The rinks were created through a public-private partnership between Pasco County and the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Tampa Bay Lightning. The rinks are approximately 60 feet by 120 feet, with a full dasher-board system.

Street hockey rinks open in Wesley Chapel, Holiday

By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

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The site is located at the corner of of heading toward a construction start Magnolia Boulevard and Wesley Chapel Amici Plaza in spring with an opening likely Boulevard, which is also known as County ksteele@lakerlutznews.com by the end of 2016.

Road 54.

Pasco County records show a conceptual Pasco County is moving forward with acOwners of Amici Pizza & Deli are planthe plan with about 3,000 square feet for Road ning to build a new stand-alone restaurant, for quisition of right-of-way along County restaurant, and about 1,800 square feet 54 to prepare for the expansion of the twowith additional retail space, on Wesley retail. the lane road into a four-lane road at Chapel Boulevard.

“We’d like to have our own building and 54 junction of State Road 56 and State Road The new restaurant is a short distance a bigger kitchen,” said Andrea Mannino. from the existing Amici restaurant in Grand No decisions have been made on the adSee PIZZA, page 13A Oaks Square, at Wesley Chapel and Pet Lane. ditional retail space, he said.

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JANUARY 27, 2016

Pasco administrator to retire in

By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker expects to be very busy over the next year and a half.

She’ll be crossing off a to-do list, one by one, before leaving in 2017 to go on a lengthy road trip with her husband.

The couple will hit the road with their recreational vehicle and their motorcycles, on a tour of as many baseball parks and national parks as they can squeeze into a year.

“That’s been our dream,” Baker said, so letting her contract lapse in July 2017 makes sense.

But, don’t expect a lame duck administrator.

“There’s no kicking back here,” Baker said.“This isn’t me slowing down. ” Baker has told Pasco County commissioners she won’t seek renewal of her current two-year contract, which makes her

2017

last day July 9, 2017. the jail and construction of new fire stations By then, Baker will • Relocating have worked 35 years central Pasco more government offices to in public service, 24 Baker also plans to fill vacancies for a of those years with few key leadership positions that remain, Pasco County. cluding an assistant county administrator infor Her to-do list, in public safety and administration. short form, includes: Progress has been made, Baker said, but • Completing mas- government services still could be more ter plans and updates customer-friendly. for storm water, solid A culture that was decades in the waste and tourism making is being changed, she said.“You don’t • Funding and building a diverging get to dia- turn a canoe.You’re turning mond road design to ease traffic congestion a ship.”

Public service wasn’t Baker’s first at State Road 56 and Interstate 75 career choice.

• Completing the State Road 56 extenOver the years she worked sion as a waitress, • Nurturing SunWest Park, the county’s flight attendant and a theater manager. She also served in the U.S.Air Force Reserve. fledgling aqua park Her undergraduate degree was in • Replacing and repairing aging busiinfra- ness administration. structure and roads damaged by the It wasn’t until she accepted a secretarial summer flooding • Making progress on the expansion of See RETIRE, page 11A Michele Baker

Kumquats reign supreme at area festival

By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

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Saturday, January 30, 2016 9 AM - 5 PM Historic Downtown Dade City

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Amici Pizza plans stand-alone location

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The first kumquat tree in St. Joseph took root more than 100 years ago, when C.J. Nathe planted it in his backyard.

He added a few more, and soon he had small grove on an acre of fertile ground. a The kumquat king, as Nathe was later dubbed, transformed a quiet back road community into the Kumquat Capital of the World.

An open house will take place on Jan. and Jan. 29 at the Kumquat Growers 28 packi h d

Margie Neuhofer and her h

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KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTO

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Perhaps someday a future hockey star will be able to say he or she first learned to play hockey on the streets of Wesley Chapel and Holiday.

Pasco County has added to its assorted sports and recreational profile with yet another outdoor activity in check — street hockey.

Two public outdoor ball hockey rinks are now available for use at J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex in Holiday and Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel.

The concrete rinks — approximately 60 feet by 120 feet, with a full dasher-board system — are part of a public-private partnership between the county and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Designed with the idea of growing the game of hockey throughout local communities, the rinks will allow young hockey players in the area a place to train, whether it’s the grass roots level or in organized leagues and tournaments.

A virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony of the rinks was held Dec. 10, with several repre-

Data is useful, but conversations are needed to get a more complete picture, the school district’s research director said.

By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

sentatives on hand from both the county and Lightning, respectively.

“We are very proud to open these two rinks today as part of our pledge to build 10 ball hockey rinks across the Tampa Bay area,” Lightning CEO Steve Griggs said.

“These two rinks that we opened will give local youth the opportunity to get outside and play the great game of hockey. The Lightning would like to thank Pasco County for their enthusiasm and support in helping us make this a reality for everyone in Pasco County.”

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey tabbed the rinks “just one more wonderful thing that we’re bringing to Pasco County, to give our residents a really high quality of life.”

“This is another unique sport for kids to be involved in and learn all the good, life lessons you learn when you’re a part of a team,” Starkey said. “These rinks are a real value to the county and to the communities we serve.”

She also noted: “When (the Lightning) mentioned that they were going to put one (rink) in, knowing how large our county is and how much need that we have here, I

On the whole, this year’s Gallup Survey results in Pasco County Schools are slightly better than they were last year.

But, when Dr. Peggy Jones — the school district’s director of the office of accountability, research and measurement — discussed the results, she focused on specific data points within the report.

She detailed survey results at the Pasco County School Board meeting on Dec. 1.

In discussing the survey, she explained why it’s important for the district to collect the information to help improve both student and employee engagement.

“Why does Pasco County put money, time and effort into this process?

“We care about this,” Jones said.When employees are engaged,“productivity increases.

Customer services increases,” she explained.

“Things that decrease. Absenteeism.

Attrition.Theft,” Jones said.

The district’s mission is to provide a worldclass education, and that requires engagement by students and teachers, she continued.

“At the center of engaged students are engaged teachers, so it’s important for us to also know how our teachers feel,” Jones said.

The district has a vested interest in doing what it can to keep teachers engaged because 62% of teachers who are engaged are less likely to leave the district, Jones noted.

“We are so in need of teachers and we want our good teachers to be able to stay, and we want to have those great teachers in front of kids every day in the classroom.These are

See HOCKEY, page 7A

See SURVEY, page 7A

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Lutz teen reaches rank of Eagle Scout

By Joey Johnston Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Z

achary Meiczinger was a firstgrader when he became a Tiger, the preliminary level of Boy Scouts. He liked it from the very beginning.

And now, the Gaither High junior has achieved the ultimate: He’s an Eagle Scout.

“It’s a real honor,’’ said Meiczinger, 16, a member of Troop 12.“It’s something I’ll have the rest of my life.’’

Since the Eagle Scout designation began in 1911, only 4% of Scouts have earned the honor. Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, was an Eagle Scout. So was former President Gerald R. Ford. Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg is one, too.

Becoming an Eagle Scout requires a lengthy review process, the acquisition of at least 21 merit badges and the completion of a community service project.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to see someone grow from first-grade stature to someone who is showing leadership and has a vision of what they want to do with the rest of their life,’’ said local Boy Scouts leader Paul O’Connor, Meiczinger’s first troop leader and the supervisor of his Eagle Scout project.

Meiczinger’s project was completed at Lutz Elementary School, where he attended and where his father is a fifth-grade teacher.

He painted the fences in the school’s front area, between the cafeteria and main office, while installing about 100 plants, and mulching the entire area.

He also installed a Ga-Ga Ball Pit — a version of dodgeball played in a fenced-in octagon — to give the school kids another recreation option.

“That’s a nice payback for a place where Zach has strong ties, and I thought it was a great choice,’’ O’Connor said.

Meiczinger has lived his life making great choices. He runs cross-country for Gaither and also plays recreational soccer, but Scouting has been his driving force. He has formed lifelong relationships, learned valuable practical skills and had great experiences.

He can't recall many of his Tiger experiences. But, he does remember an overnight sleepover at the Kennedy Space Center, where they reclined in sleeping bags and stared up at the rockets.

He has enjoyed countless camping trips and a few whitewater rafting expeditions.

Next summer, he’s taking a trip to the Florida Keys, where he will impart knowledge to the younger Scouts.

“I’ve been able to stay connected to some great friends,’’ Meiczinger said. “I’ve learned how to do things like CPR. I’ve stayed really dedicated and consistent to it and that gives me a lot of pride. I started something a long time ago and now I’m finishing it.’’

O’Connor — an Eagle Scout himself — said Meiczinger’s accomplishment should be celebrated.

“Zach has given himself a tremendous opportunity,’’ O’Connor said.“He’s a junior

COURTESY OF ZACHARY MEICZINGER

Gaither High junior Zachary Meiczinger has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. The Lutz resident is 16.

Zachary Meiczinger constructed a Ga-Ga Ball Pit — a form of dodgeball, inside an octagon — as part of his Eagle Scout project, at Lutz Elementary School.

Part of Zachary Meiczinger’s Eagle Scout project, at Lutz Elementary School, involved installing about 100 plants and mulching the area in front of the school.

who is starting to look at colleges. Having ‘Eagle Scout’ on his college application is phenomenal. After college, when he’s looking for a job, the words ‘Eagle Scout’ on a job application will open so many doors.

“I have seen the benefits of it personally (working as a project manager for General

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Electric). He will be placed in leadership positions and get great exposure. My wife works at a large law firm and she sees a lot of resumes. She says if ‘Eagle Scout’ is there, that person will generally get pulled in, at least for an initial interview. It’s a powerful thing.’’

Meiczinger said he knows that already.

“I always see where the Eagle Scouts say how it sticks with them for their whole life,’’ Meiczinger said.“It helped them get places, whether it was a college or somewhere in their career. I can put the term ‘Eagle Scout’ by my name. It’s an honor and a privilege.’’

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What’s Happening

Your Community Calendar • Submit 2 weeks in advance to: news@lakerlutznews.com • All listings free of charge

TECH SERIES

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will offer a Tech Topics Series, virtually, at 5:30 p.m., each week, for all ages: • Jan. 6: Smartphone Location Services • Jan. 13: Password Managers • Jan. 20: Browser Plugins • Jan. 27: Photo Editing Apps Also, online appointments can be made for ‘tech rescue,’ for adults who need help with software or hardware issues.Available dates are Jan. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Jan. 25 from 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Registration for the tech series or tech appointments can be made through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office, along with the Pasco County NAACP, Farmshare, and local churches, will distribute free food on a firstcome, first-served basis, until the food runs out, at these locations: • Jan. 7 starting at 9 a.m.:West Pasco Little League, 6220 Pine Hills Road in Port Richey • Jan. 14 starting at 9 a.m.: Shady Hills United Methodist Church, 15925 Greenglen Lane in Spring Hill The events are rain or shine.

TREE CARE SERIES

The UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service will offer free, online classes on “Raise Them Right:Young Tree Establishment and Care,” from Jan. 7 to Feb. 11, on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Each session will explore tree selection or care, including: the right tree, right place; selecting nursery stock; steps for proper tree planting; postplanting establishment tips; pruning young trees; and, palms, planting and care.

Preregister online at bit.ly/eventbritepasco.

For information, email Katie Harper at kharper@mypasco.net.

NEW PHOTO EXHIBITS

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, 400 N.Ashley Drive in Tampa, will start the new year with two exhibits, intersecting art and the environment.Works by photographers Bremner Benedict and Jeff Whetstone will highlight the dependence on water and confront the realities of climate change.The exhibits,“Hidden Waters/Desert Springs, an Uncertain Future” and “The Batture Ritual,” will go on display on Jan. 8.The museum is open three days a week, with enhanced safety protocols. For information and museum

PLANET HUNTING The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will present virtual “Planet Hunting” on Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 7 to 12.

The guest speaker will be Natalia Guerrero, of the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research.

Guerrero worked on the MIT-led NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Mission.

Participants can learn how science and technology are instrumental to space exploration. Register through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. hours, visit FMOPA.org, or call 813-2212222.

MARBLED PAPER

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer a virtual craft for tweens on Jan. 9 at 2 p.m. Participants can learn to make marbled paper using shaving cream.To view the video, visit Facebook.com/cplib.

RAISING CANE

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, will host “Raising Cane” on Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.The event will feature cane syrup-making, and the Southern Syrupmakers Association Cane Syrup Tasting and Competition; traditional craft demonstrations; a blacksmith; model trains; food and vendors; and music by Emmet Stevens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.There also will be a World War II battle reenactment at 1:30 p.m., along with military vehicles, displays and presentations.All museum buildings will be open (masks required). No pets or coolers. Social distancing guidelines will be in place.Admission is $5 for adults and students. Children age 5 and younger are free. For information, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

DINOSAUR DRIVE-THRU

The Jurassic Quest Drive-Thru will take place through Jan. 10 at Tropicana Field.The exhibit is an interactive drive-thru experience featuring more than 70 moving and roaring dinosaurs, including a 50-footlong Megalodon.The drive-thru includes a personal audio tour guide, too.A free souvenir photo (one per vehicle) will be available online.Time slots and hours vary by day.Tickets are good for entry at any time during the time slot.Tickets will be sold online only.Admission cannot be purchased at the gate. For information, visit JurassicQuest.com.

STORY TIME WITH ZOOTAMPA

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative will present two virtual story times with Zoo Tampa, for ages 3 to 6.

• Jan. 11 at 9:30 a.m.: Shapes and Patterns in Nature • Jan. 18 at 9:30 a.m.: Senses in Nature The programs include stories, action rhymes, songs and interactive activities that combine an animal experience with early literacy skills, reading readiness and social interaction. Registration is required through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.

ROCK PAINTING

The Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., will offer rock painting kits, for all ages, on Jan. 11 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., while supplies last. For information, call 352-5673576, or email Danielle Lee at daniellel@pascolibraries.org.

MINI JAR CANDLE

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer a mini jar candle craft, for ages 18 and older, from Jan. 11 to Jan. 16.This DIY craft will include soy wax flakes, a glass jar, a scented wax cube, a wick and instructions. Registration is required for this curbside pickup. Call 813929-1214.

POETRY DISCUSSION

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host its first virtual Poetry Discussion Group on Jan. 12 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 16 and older. Participants can share a favorite poem or talk about poems themed around the New Year and resolutions.The library will send out themed poems and a guide to get things started. Registration is required. For information, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or amarisp@pascolibraries.org.

TINKERING TUESDAY

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer “Tinkering Tuesday: Math in the Museum” on Jan. 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., through curbside pickup.The program is limited to 35 participants. Kits need to be reserved ahead of time and will include a book bundle.This month’s kit features activities, crafts and online activities about math and art, and how they work together.The library’s Facebook page will have links for the instructions to the experiments and activities. Pickup begins on Jan. 12 and ends on Jan. 16. Registration is required by calling 813-929-1214.

YARN SPHERES

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present an “Artsy Craftsy Wednesday” on Jan. 13, all day, for adults. Participants can learn how to make yarn spheres, requiring minimal supplies.Watch the instructional slide show on the South Holiday Library Facebook page.

MARVEL UNIVERSE

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host “Fandom Trivia: Marvel Universe” on Jan. 13 at 4 p.m., for grades eight to 12.Test your knowledge during this virtual trivia event. Registration is required. Contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or amarisp@pascolibraries.org.

‘LIBRARY LION’

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host an online story time on Jan. 13 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., for birth to age 5.The story of “Library Lion” will be told through language play and song.To see the story videos, visit Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at daniellel@pascolibraries.org.

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NATURE NOTES

COURTESY OF NICOLE PINSON

Monarch butterflies are a welcome visitor to home gardens.

Winter and monarch butterflies You may help prevent the spread of Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE), a harmful parasite, by cutting back tropical milkweed plants during winter.

When OE infects monarch caterpillars, it may cause them to turn a dark color, lose their shape, live shorter lives, and emerge from a chrysalis malformed or unhealthy.

By Nicole Pinson Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Monarch butterflies are a welcome garden visitor, and they bring joy to any butterfly gardener. People who have experienced raising butterflies, have watched them go through their metamorphosis.

For those who haven’t seen this, monarchs — like other butterflies — go through a complete metamorphosis. They change shape from an egg, to a larva, then a pupa – also called a chrysalis, and then emerge as an adult butterfly.

To successfully raise butterflies, home gardeners must have nectar and host plants.

Nectar plants are flowering plants that provide nectar for the adult butterflies.

Examples include pentas, rosinweed, jatropha and plumbago, to name a few.

Planting lots of different flowering plants, with many colors and staggered bloom times, helps attract different butterfly species.

Host plants are specific for each type of butterfly you want to attract.

The host plant is where the adult female butterfly lays eggs. The caterpillars hatch from the egg and eat the leaves, sometimes the stem and flowers, too, of the host plants.

You should expect some leaf damage because this is normal as the butterfly larvae eat the leaves of their host plant.

Host plants include milkweed, pipevine, passion flower, plumbago and parsley.

Having a combination of host and nectar plants in your garden will encourage butterflies to stay there throughout the year.

Milkweed is one of the most common host plants home gardeners use to attract monarch butterflies. Milkweeds may be native or non-native.There is increased effort by butterfly organizations and the University of Florida/IFAS to encourage gardeners to plant more native milkweed.

Native milkweeds, which can be found at your local native plant nurseries, include white swamp milkweed (Asclepias perennis), pinewoods milkweed (Asclepias humistrata) and pink swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

Some milkweeds grow best in certain types of landscapes.Talk with the nursery to select the milkweeds that would grow best in your location.

A growing concern centers on tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica). Tropical milkweed continues to grow and flower throughout the winter, whereas our native milkweeds generally die back to the ground.

Tropical milkweed is not native to Florida or the United States, and it blooms and flowers all year – attracting monarchs to lay eggs when they ordinarily would not.

But, home gardeners love tropical milkweed, and it is an important plant for nurseries and consumer horticulture.Tropical milkweed is easy to grow, especially for children, and has bright, attractive flowers.

Recognizing this appreciation for tropical milkweed, the current recommendation is to cut tropical milkweed plants back through winter. As a rule of thumb, around Thanksgiving is a good time to cut back your tropical milkweed. Cut it back to the ground, or to about 6 inches from the ground, and repeat as needed.

Cutting back the tropical milkweed plants mimics the natural tendency of our native

milkweeds to die back in the winter. This practice prevents monarchs from laying more eggs through the winter.

Another concern is the threat of a parasite that affects monarchs called Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, or OE for short.

OE is a protozoan that spreads by spores.

When OE infects monarch caterpillars, it may cause them to turn a dark color, lose their shape, live shorter lives, and emerge from a chrysalis malformed or unhealthy.

For those who have raised monarch caterpillars indoors, you may have seen this happen.When OE infects a group of caterpillars, it’s very disheartening to a butterfly gardener.

Ways to prevent OE when raising monarchs indoors are to step up the cleanliness and avoid overcrowding too many caterpillars in an enclosure. Cutting back tropical milkweed in the winter is another way to reduce the spread of OE spores to monarch eggs and caterpillars.

Fortunately, there’s space for tropical milkweed and native milkweeds in home and school gardens.

Continue to experiment with native milkweeds and enjoy the monarch butterflies that visit your garden. If you have kids, grandkids or students, talk with them about this process.

Don’t forget to cut back your tropical milkweed through the winter to reduce the threat of OE and to promote monarch health.

Also, consider joining a citizen science initiative or participating in the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Wings Over Florida program, where you may earn fun certificates for identifying butterfly species at https://floridabirdingtrail.com/wings-overflorida-butterflies/.

Here are some more helpful links: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN780 00.pdf https://monarchjointventure.org/images/uploads/documents/Oe_fact_sheet.pdf https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/types-of-gardens/butterfly-gardens.html https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/pla nts/ornamentals/milkweed.html https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-butterflies/brochures/ Nicole Pinson is the urban horticulture agent in Hillsborough County. Contact her at pinsonn @ hcflgov.net or at 813-744-5519 X 54145.

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TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Send school news to news@lakerlutznews.com

NEW CHAPLAIN

Saint Leo University has announced that Rev. Randall Meissen recently joined the school as university chaplain to lead the University Ministry team.

“As the university chaplain, I’m very conscious of serving two segments of the university,” Meissen Rev. Randall Meissen said in a news release.

“One side is the important duty that is ministerial sacramental life, and supporting the spiritual needs of our vibrant community. The other is the openness and receptivity to the whole university. I am not here only to say Mass and hear Confession. I’m also here to support the broader university – a pluralist, multi-faith community,” he said.

Meissen is a member of the religious order, the Legion of Christ, and was ordained as a priest in 2014.

Prior to coming to Saint Leo, Meissen served as sacramental associate at Our Savior Parish and the University of Southern California (USC) Caruso Catholic Center in Los Angeles, California.

COURTESY OF PASCO COUNTY SCHOOLS

Superintendent Kurt Browning, right, surprises Yan Li Gazda, recognizing him as Pasco County Teacher of the Year.

Seven Springs Middle School’s foreign language teacher Yan Li Gazda was named Pasco County Schools 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Yan Li Gazda, who goes by Mr. Li, is a Chinese immigrant who has been teaching for six years, all in Pasco County Schools.

During the surprise visit, which included Superintendent Kurt Browning, school board members Colleen Beaudoin and Megan Harding, and Education Foundation Director Stacey Capogrosso, Mr. Li commented on how he believes the honor is shared with all the other amazing teachers in Pasco County, and expressed gratitude at all the opportunities he has had in his adopted country.

“So many teachers do so many great things in their own classrooms,” Mr. Li said, in a news release.

He also is a doctoral candidate in the history department at USC. Meissen earned his Bachelor of Arts in biology and classics in 2003 from Rice University in Houston, Texas. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 2008 and in theology in 2014 from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy.

In 2012, Meissen earned a master’s degree in Latin from the University of Florida and in 2016 a Master of Arts in history from USC.

offer a select number of courses for in-person learning in the spring.

Each class will allow up to 12 students in the classroom, with social distancing applied to each space.

Remote learning and hybrid courses still will be available as the school continues to add more in-person courses in the coming months, with safety at the core of the plan.

A full list of in-person courses can be found at PHSC.edu/in-person.

The college’s re-entry plan can be viewed at tinyurl.com/ybj5cuym.

IN-PERSON COURSES

FEE ADJUSTMENTS MEETING

Pasco-Hernando State College, in accordance with CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines, will

Pasco-Hernando State College’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will meet to consider adjusted course-related fees at its Jan.

19 board meeting, at 6 p.m., at the North Campus in Brooksville.

If the meeting goes virtual, details will be available on the school’s website at PHSC.edu.

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.

For details regarding proposed fees adjustments, justification for the fees, and fee implementation details, please visit Policies.phsc.edu

The Laker/Lutz News likes to keep our readers informed about news from our local schools, including upcoming events, photos of events, recognitions and so on. Submissions need to include who, what, where, when, contact information, identifications for individuals in a photo (unless it is a large group), and a photo credit. Please send your information two weeks prior to desired publication date, and email it to news@lakerlutznews.com. If you would like The Laker/Lutz News to consider coverage of an event, send a request to the same email.

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HOCKEY, from page 1A asked them if they’d be kind enough to put in two.”

Count former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk among those “super, super excited” to witness outdoor ball hockey ramping up in Pasco.

“This place will be loaded with kids every night,” said Andreychuk, who serves as the franchise’s vice president of corporate and senior affairs.“As we know, having kids, giving them an activity, something to do, is a great thing.”

Lightning community hockey manager Josh Dreith, too, figures the rinks will be a score on both the east and west sides of Pasco:“I love Pasco County.There’s a ton of Lightning fans in Pasco County, and there’s a ton of engaged kids, as well.”

The Holiday and Wesley Chapel locations are part of 10 rinks being funded and constructed in the five-county Tampa Bay area — via a $6 million grassroots hockey development initiative from the Lightning’s Build the Thunder 2.0 and Connect the Thunder programs, and the NHL’s Industry Growth Fund. The other rinks are situated in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Polk counties, respectively.

The rinks in Pasco are available upon request for open play now. There’s hope to have league play begin by March, depending on the COVID-19 situation, officials say.

Programming at the new rinks will eventually include:

SURVEY, from page 1A reasons why this is so important to us, and why we care about this information,” Jones said.

“We want to invest in our employees. We want them to stay, and we need to invest in them, so they will stay.And, that includes their engagement, as well as professional development,” the research expert said.

The survey results also can help guide the district into greater exploration of specific issues, Jones said.

“You can’t just go off the number, and look at the number,” she said.“The next steps after you have your data is to have some conversations with groups of people, including kids.”

For instance, the survey has an item that says: “I have the materials I need to do my work right.”

Thirty-seven percent of employees that responded to the survey strongly agreed with that statement.

In this case, the district may benefit by seeking more information on the topic, she said, noting that having specifics can help the district to better understand why employees feel that way.

Jones also provided context for some responses.

For instance, one item on the employee survey says: “At work, my opinion seems to count.”

Thirty-nine percent of Pasco employees strongly agreed.

Jones said it is not unusual for teachers to respond that way.

“K-12 teachers nationwide are going to be the least likely of any organization in the Gallup database to mark that high.

“That can be for whatever reason. It could be that the federal government is telling people what to do. The state. The district. The school administration. Whatever it may be, that feeling of maybe being less empowered, is going to make you feel like your opinions

• Clinics run by Lightning alumni • Ball hockey leagues • Adult ball hockey • Ball hockey lessons All essential equipment for teams playing ball hockey will be provided by the Lightning, including hockey sticks, balls and goalie protective equipment. Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources will manage all programming and maintenance of the rinks.

Keith Wiley, the county’s parks department director, explained: “We’re going to have a combination of free play, obviously open to the public.And then, in coordination with the Lightning, we will be working on actual league play, where we can create some structured programming, depending on (the) season.”

With the partnership, the county contributed property and $240,000 toward the cost of the underlying concrete pads at the two outdoor rinks. From there, the Lightning have built out the remainder of the infrastructure, with dasher boards, scoreboards, penalty boxes, goalie nets, and more.

Engineering design on the rinks began in February. Construction began in August with the county’s portion of the work completed in late October.

Contracting through the Lightning, EnvironBuild LLC finished the dasher boards and scoreboards on Dec. 10.

Some minor improvements do remain, such as sheds, bleachers, and scoreboard electrical connections.Those touches are expected to be complete around March or so.

don’t count as much,” Jones said.

She also shared some student results.

Student surveys explored student engagement, student hope, student belonging and social-emotional learning.

“Belonging and social-emotional learning are new,” Jones said. “We’re really excited about the two new domains because they are really at the heart of (the) work that we are doing.And, of course, we’re glad that student engagement and student hope have been there all along.”

The survey showed that 65% of the student respondents are confident they will graduate from high school; 51% said they believe they have a great future ahead.

But, Jones said, 14% of students strongly disagreed with the statement:“My classmates care about me.

“So, they feel like that their classmates don’t care about them,” Jones said, adding that response provides useful information for the district.

She also cited some results relating to social-emotional learning.

One item said:“When I’m angry or upset, I’m very good at explaining what is bothering me to other people.”

The district’s result showed that 29% of its students strongly disagreed with that, meaning they’re not good at that, Jones said.

“So, on the one hand, you might be concerned. But, on the other hand, what a great self-awareness that students can say that ‘I’m not good at that.’” she said.

On the plus side, students are confident about their listening skills.

Fifty-seven percent of students strongly agreed with the statement:“I’m really good at listening to my friends when they are upset about something.”

Superintendent Kurt Browning said the survey results are encouraging, especially during a pandemic.

But, he noted,“it still gives a lot of opportunity for areas to address,” particularly in social-emotional learning, and in working with students and teachers.

HUNGER, from page 1A imately 1,600 children on weekends.

“Children who struggle with hunger have a lower attention span, a greater absentee rate and other ailments, as well,’’ Templeton said.“We are seeing an impact.

Teachers always tell us they see a difference in the kids, especially on Monday mornings.

This bridges the gap from the food they get during school to the weekends, where there might not be any food available at their homes.’’

With an acknowledgement that some homes might not have electricity or refrigeration, the sacks usually contain cereal boxes, breakfast bars, canned ravioli, peanut butter, crackers, applesauce, raisins and juice, while carefully avoiding the high-carb fillers, such as cookies or chips.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Promise Foundation continues to implement a weekend backpack program through Pasco schools. Diana Thomas, secretary of the foundation’s board of directors, said it began a decade ago when her daughter (then 7) used her school lunch money to buy food items for classmates who didn’t have money.

“That brought to light the food insecurity that was happening in our county,’’ Thomas said. “We are unaware of that. We were mind-blown when we realized how much hunger was going on with our children.’’

The Thomas Promise backpacks provide about 2,000 meals each weekend.

HELPERS NEED HELP, TOO

One Community Now and Thomas Promise both rely heavily on donations, grants and volunteers.

“Fundraising is down, but the need has gone up,’’ Thomas said.“We had to rework the way we do things and figure out creative ways to get food to families, but we are making it work because it needs to work.’’

Templeton said 50% of her agency’s funding comes through private support and it is always seeking new donors.The major fundraising event, the annual Hunger Walk, had to be done virtually and produced $58,000 (compared to $117,000 last season).

“It’s important that we have the resources to do this work,’’Templeton said.“Of the 46,000 kids (in Pasco schools), we estimate that 5,000 of them are chronically hungry, not knowing where their next meal will come from. Resources are important.’’

That fact is perhaps best known by Steffan Davis of Pasco’s United Way organization and its Operation Feeding Pasco program.

The United Way is heavily dependent on employment because workers are asked to contribute from the paycheck.

“Collections are down across the board,’’ Davis said. “A lot of nonprofits were burdened before COVID-19 and now they are experiencing deficits.The challenges are no different for us.Thankfully, the Pasco County government has been incredibly generous during this emergency.’’

That included an innovative program,

FILE

Finding ways to solve hunger issues is a daunting proposition. An estimated 5,000 of the 46,000 students in Pasco County Schools are chronically hungry. Requests to Feeding Tampa Bay have increased by 360% since the coronavirus pandemic hit.

funded through a $600,000 federal grant, where 12 struggling Pasco restaurants were kept open to feed food insecure citizens.

Partnering with 19 nonprofit agencies, the restaurants served more than 250,000 hot meals.

Ashley Jones, nutrition specialist with Pasco County Schools, said the district’s numbers held steady during COVID-19, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (DOA).

“We had to come up with a way to feed students (with schools going online during the initial virus) and the DOA released some emergency waivers that allowed us to keep on going,’’ Jones said.

Free food was provided at 26 school sites from mid-March through August, accounting for 1.6-million meals.

Those services are vital.The Coalition on Human Needs estimated that 2.5-million Americans have fallen into poverty as a result of COVID-19.

“What you learn is, people who fall into poverty are not necessarily that different than (someone who hasn’t),’’ said Beth Hovind, co-chair of Poverty Action.“The loss of income and resources means not having enough money to meet the needs of the family and that includes food.

“I think we’re learning we have to come up with ways to replace that lost income instead of offering (other services). If the money is scarce, the priorities become rent and utilities, and some of the money to pay that comes from the food fund.’’

There are no easy answers to these issues. But, in Pasco County, Bright said the ongoing conversation and collaboration between nonprofit agencies is helping to create solutions.

“For all of our citizens, particularly school-age children, we realize this is something that must be addressed,’’ Bright said.“If there are unmet needs, we want to figure out a way to help.’’

Need information or assistance? Our local office is here to help.

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Community Sports Your Neighborhood Sports Source

New year in sports to deliver joy, excitement

By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

A

s we embark on a new year, the sports world within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area promises to deliver plenty to watch, experience and appreci-

ate.

Here is a sampling of what’s ahead in 2021:

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Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet.

Toronto Raptors call Tampa home, temporarily COURTESY OF TAMPA BAY SPORTS COMMISSION

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Florida’s high school spring sports, like track and field, are expected to make their long-awaited return after being canceled.

Spring sports can’t come soon enough

The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out most, if not all, of last year’s Florida high school spring sports season throughout Florida from March onward, as a matter of health and safety.

The long-awaited return of these athletic events — baseball, lacrosse, softball, tennis, track and field, boys volleyball, water polo, boys weightlifting — should yield special (and emotional) moments for countless athletes, fans, coaches and parents alike.

Perhaps a few records will be broken and championships won by locals will occur along the way, too.

Worth noting:The area generates its fair share of the state’s strongest baseball, softball and track and field programs, among others.

Preps to pros

The annual MLB Draft creates an opportunity for boyhood dreams of becoming a professional baseball player to become true.

Each year, about a handful of area high school or college prospects are taken in the draft —offered anywhere from thousands to hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to play America’s greatest pastime.

At least one name to watch in the July event is former Sunlake High School righthanded pitcher Tommy Mace, now a senior at the University of Florida.Various baseball outlets believe the 6-foot-6 Mace has the potential to be a first round pick, which could mean a signing bonus of several million dollars.

In three varsity seasons at Sunlake from 2015 to 2017, Mace posted a 19-6 record, 1.65 ERA and 196 strikeouts across 165.2 innings pitches. He also guided the Seahawks to the 2017 Class 7A regional finals.

Super Bowl LV in Tampa America’s most-watched sporting event — the Super Bowl — will take center stage at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7.

The community and economic impact to the surrounding area — even amid the COVID-19 pandemic — is sure to spread northwards through Hillsborough and Pasco counties, in the form of hotel stays,

restaurant patronage and leisure about town. Several ancillary Super Bowl events and outreach programs have already been scheduled in those areas, too.

Also, don’t be shocked if a former local prep star (or more) is a part of contending teams in the 55th edition of the NFL championship game.

Elite junior hockey Seeking an outdoor at Center Ice adventure? Try scalloping

The Advent Health Center Ice in Wesley Chapel may best be known for housing the 2017-2018 U.S. women’s national ice hockey team in its historic run to winning an Olympic gold medal.

The 150,500-square-foot facility — the largest ice rink south of New York — also will play host to another prestigious hockey group in 2021.

The United States Premier Hockey League — one of the nation’s top juniorlevel development programs — announced plans to play a six-weeklong, 20-game schedule across Center Ice’s four sheets of ice, beginning in January.

Using a “Hub City” concept, teams and players throughout the country will lodge at nearby Saddlebrook Resort, in between games and practices at Center Ice. Some these players will wind up playing collegiate and maybe even professional hockey.

Bored? Take a hike Still suffering from pandemic-induced cabin fever? Perhaps some fresh air and outdoor exercise in a local park or preserve can clear the homebound blues.

That can be done via Hillsborough County’s fifth annual Hiking Spree, which challenges participants to complete at least eight trail hikes from November through March 31.

The Hiking Spree’s trail list this year features 25 different trails at 20 locations throughout the county.

Grab a snorkel, a swim mask and some fins because recreational scallop season returns again this summer in Pasco County.

The now annual 10-day bay scallop season in Pasco County is tentatively scheduled from July 16 through July 25. It begins the third Friday in July each year.

The county’s scallop zone encompasses all state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern FILE Pinellas County, and includes all waters of Bay Scallop season in Pasco County runs from the Anclote River.

July 16 through July 25.

The outdoor family friendly activity of hunting for scallops is often referred to as seagrass beds lying several feet underwater, an underwater Easter egg hunt. then you grab them by hand, or with a landRequiring only basic swimming skills, ing or dip net. the idea is to float along the top of the Pasco is the southernmost county in water until you spot scallop shells in Florida Florida to offer a scallop season.

And, several of those sites fall within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area: Carrollwood Village Neighborhood Park, Peterson Road Park, Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, Lake Rogers Conservation Park, Lake Dan Nature Preserve and Cypress Creek Nature Preserve.

Participants may hike on their own, or in a group setting with friends and family. Some sites have entrance and parking fees. Hikers may repeat any trail twice for credit, as long as the hikes occur on different dates.

Aside from the feeling of accomplishment, those who complete the hiking extravaganza earn their choice of a patch, medallion for a walking stick, or a dog bandana.

The Bishop McLaughlin varsity boys basketball program may be a state title contender.

FILE

Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center.

Zephyrhills tennis center to host pro tournament The newly opened Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center soon will begin living up to its promise of being a national and international draw.

The multimillion sports complex will host a $25,000 United States Tennis Association (USTA) Pro Circuit Event from Jan. 25 through Jan. 31.

The competition will feature 32 women’s singles players and 16 doubles teams — which encompasses some of the world’s top pros who are also slated to compete in the Australian Open.

The prestigious tourney is expected to be an annual affair at the facility, at 6585 Simons Road in Zephyrhills.

8A

January 6, 2021

As if history wasn’t already made with Super Bowl being in Tampa this year, the NBA’s Toronto Raptors are playing at least the first half of its 2020-2021 home slate at Amalie Arena on Channelside.

A limited number of fans are being allowed to the games, so it’s a good opportunity to be a part of a rare occurrence and see some of the sport’s most talented players in the world, not too far from your backyard.

There’s also a further local connection: The Raptors had their two-weeklong preseason training camp at Saint Leo University’s Marion Bowman Activities Center, back in December.

COURTESY OF BISHOP MCLAUGHLIN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Bishop’s ballers

The Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School varsity boys basketball team has quickly established itself as one of the area’s highest-scoring and high-flying squads since beginning its 2020-2021 season in November.

The team features a junior trio of bona fide Division I prospects in 6-foot-4 guard Antonio Davis Jr., 6-foot-7 forward Dillon

www.LakerLutzNews.com

Mitchell and 6-foot-4 guard Emanuel Sharp, who last year led the state in scoring (31.9 points per game) while at Tampa’s Blake High School.An example of the Hurricanes dominance: They defeated Land O’ Lakes High School 80-34 in an early December contest.The team is coached by former USF and Israel pro standout Derrick Sharp.

With all that talent, perhaps a state title is in the team’s reach come early March? Wait to see.

FILE

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, a Lutz native and Gaither High alum.

Lutz native again leads Tampa Bay Rays

The new year should again generate another fruitful campaign for Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, a Lutz native and Gaither High School alumnus.

Prospects remain high for a Cash-led club that reached Game 6 of the 2020 World Series and finished with the best record in the American League during a pandemic-delayed and shortened season.

Also, expect to see and hear more of the reigning AL Manager of the Year in the new year, given the MLB is seeking terms resembling pre-pandemic levels, probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 130 to 162 regular season games, plus spring training.

However long the 2021 slate, the Rays will be fighting its third-straight playoff berth under the 43-year-old Cash, entering his seventh season as Rays skipper.

The LAKER / Lutz NEWS INSIDE: Directories, Classifieds, Games & More

B

JA N UA RY 6 , 2 0 2 1

FILE

The horse pull team of Tom Bowman of Orangeville, Pennsylvania, is seen competing in Round 2 of the lightweight class competition during the Farm Fest and Quilt Show at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, in Dade City. The two horses, George and Willie, successfully pulled 3,600 pounds and moved onto the next round.

Through the lens, a look back at 2020 Compiled by B.C. Manion

S

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

ometimes, a picture really is worth a thousand words.

Here’s an array of images that help tell the story of the year 2020 in The Laker/Lutz News region.

The photos were captured by Fred Bellet, Kelli Carmack, Christine Holtzman and B.C. Manion.

Eleven-year-old Sophia Phillips is passionate about goats. Here, she’s hugging Moon Pie. The Lutz girl has three goats of her own, and helps to care for 18 that belong to a neighbor. She says goats need to be socialized to be friendly.

The Zephyrhills High School Marching Band was one of the first marching bands taking part in the Zephyrhills 110th Founder’s Day Parade & Heritage Festival, during March. This year’s theme was ‘The Roaring ’20s: Glitz, Glam and Tin Cans’ – which celebrated the decade of the Charleston, flappers and gangsters.

Protesters stood on the side of the road, at the intersection of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, chanting slogans to try to raise awareness for the need to take action to end systemic racism. Those gathered in Wesley Chapel were there to speak up in the aftermath of the May 25 death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, according to a video that went viral and national news reports.

Before COVID-19 shut down big gatherings, people enjoyed themselves at festivals and big gettogethers. Five-year-old Xander Tombillo, of Wesley Chapel, could not get enough of this inflatable slide at the Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival, in January. His parents, Kate and Matt, estimated he’d already gone down the slide at least 20 times at the time this photo was taken.

The Allen family, of Lutz, including, from left, Joshua, Hayley, Cannan and Taylor, enjoyed watching a movie together at pop-up drive-in at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. The COVID-19 pandemic forced movie theater screens to go dark earlier this year, and it’s hard to say if they will rebound. Meanwhile the pandemic also triggered a resurgence in the popularity of outdoor movie theaters, whether permanent, or pop-ups.

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PET PAWS CATCH A FLORIDA MEMORY

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August loves people

Adopted from the animal shelter, August is adorable and possibly a pit-boxer mix. He loves to play fetch and chew on his toys.

August’s favorite treats are ice cubes and carrots. In the evening, he likes to go for long walks and cuddle on the couch afterward.

August loves most other dogs and lives with Sara Porter in Wesley Chapel.

PET OF THE WEEK FAMILIES RECEIVE A $30 GIFT CARD TO CHUY’S TEX MEX. Send us a picture and information on your favorite pet!

Write a short paragraph about why your pet is special along with a photo and mail to: Pet of the Week, c/o The Laker, P.O. Box 479, Lutz, FL 33548 or email to mrathman@lakerlutznews.com, ATTN: Pet of the Week PLEASE NOTE: OWNERS NAME AND ADDRESS MUST BE INCLUDED FOR YOUR PET TO BE CONSIDERED FOR PUBLICATION.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) received more than 5,200 fish submissions by nearly 700 different anglers during its Catch a Florida Memory tournament.

Participants had the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, catch an assortment of fish, submit photos and earn rewards.

This was a record-setting year for anglers, according to an FWC news release.

One ‘monster’ catch was made by Anthony Beau Kelly and his fishing mates that found a field of four-leaf clovers as they landed an all-time Florida state record bigeye tuna. The fish was 71 inches and weighed in at 194.8 pounds.

Adam Ball and JD Malone were the second and third anglers to reach the Saltwater Fish Life List 50-Fish Club. And, countless anglers reach the Life List 10Fish Club.

For information on participating in the next event, please visit CatchAFloridaMemory.com.

BLUELINE TILEFISH REGULATIONS

New blueline tilefish recreational harvest regulations went into effect on Jan. 1, in Atlantic state waters (and Monroe County), and include: • A three blueline tilefish recreational bag limit within the three-fish aggregate bag limit for grouper and tilefish in Atlantic state waters • An Atlantic state waters recreational season for harvest from May 1 through Aug. 31 The new regulations are consistent with those in Atlantic federal waters and

could help prevent both recreational quota overages and overfishing.

Learn more at MyFWC.com/Marine, and click on the “Recreational Regulations” and “Tilefish,” under the Reef Fish tab.

INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in cooperation with the South Florida Water Management District, will begin removing invasive floating plants in Lake Istokpoga’s Henderson’s Cove and Henderson’s Point area on the northwest corner of the lake, starting in early January. The project should take about one month to complete.

Mechanical harvesters will be used to remove heavy mats of floating plants, often called tussocks, to enhance valuable habitat for many fish and wildlife species, including the Everglade snail kite.

The FWC will remove noxious plants, including burhead sedge and primrose, to reduce the negative effects of invasive plants on the marsh.

The 27,692-acre Lake Istokpoga, near Sebring, is known for its black crappie and largemouth bass fishery.

NEW CHAIRMEN

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) commissioners elected Rodney Barreto, of Coral Gables, to serve as chairman, and reelected Mike Sole, of Tequesta, as vice chairman.

Continued on 3B

LOCAL WILDLIFE Cinnamon is the spice you need

Cinnamon is a big, bodacious, mixed-breed gal looking for her furever couch. At 2 years old, Cinnamon has her house manners down pat, although she also has some definite preferences. She is a little uncertain with new people, and would do best as the only pet in an adults-only home. Cinnamon walks like a dream on a leash, and is polite and nondestructive with her things. If this 75-pound beauty sounds like a fit for you, schedule an appointment today to meet her.

Tommy could be a friend for life Tommy is the nicest cat ever! He's super friendly and eager to explore the world around him. This 3-year-old loves being stroked on his back, and having his ears and chin scratched. Tommy has gorgeous markings, with striking dark orange stripes, and his personality is just as beautiful as his looks. Make an appointment today to meet Tommy.

If you would like to adopt Cinnamon or Tommy, be sure to visit Pasco County Animal Services at 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes. The adoption center is open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6:30 p.m. All adoption fees include spay/neuter, microchip and vaccines. For more information, email adoptionpartners@pascocountyfl.net.

AN ICONIC, VOCAL BIRD

Nicole Magazu, of Land O’ Lakes, enjoys taking pictures of birds and she was thrilled to capture this Northern Mockingbird with a berry in its beak. The Northern Mockingbird is one of the most iconic birds of the South, and it is probably the bird that people see the most. It is also the state bird of Florida. The mockingbird is very vocal and can imitate the songs of at least 50 or 60 other species of Southern birds — they even mimic car horns and car alarms.

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The GFWC Wesley Chapel Woman’s Club gathered empty prescription pill bottles and donated them to Planned Pethood, for medicine to be sent home after surgeries and other procedures. A Planned Pethood staff member, right, accepts bags full of empty bottles from club member Julie Cox.

PET PAWS, from page 2B

SHARE YOUR PET NEWS

Commissioners recognized outgoing Chairman Robert Spottswood’s dedication to conservation issues, including corals and saltwater fisheries, as well as Florida Bay and Everglades restoration.

Spottswood began his service on the commission in September 2015 and was elected chairman in December 2018.

Barreto was reappointed to the commission in July 2020, after having previously served 10 years as a commissioner, during which time he served as chairman for seven years.

Sole was appointed to the commission in May 2017 and was first elected as vice chairman in December 2018.

If you have pet news about adoptions, walks or other events for pet owners and their pets, you can let us know by sending us an email.We just need the basics: who, what, when, where and why.

The information should be submitted two weeks prior to the desired publication date. We also need a contact name and number, in case we have questions.

There is no guarantee of publication, but we consider each item we receive.

If you’d like to make a submission, send it to news@lakerlutznews.com.

Readers can now find Pets of the Week and Local Wildlife photos on our website at LakerLutznews.com, under the Pets/Wildlife link.

CORRECTION

Adventist Health System Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation is seeking approval of a conditional use that would allow a maximum of 248 apartments on a 16.24-acre site at Bruce B. Downs and Eagleston boulevards. Adventist does not plan to build the apartments, but intends to sell the property, to enable the proposed development. A story published by The Laker/Lutz News on Dec. 30 was incorrect about the hospital’s role in the project.

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VACCINES FOR SENIORS At this time, AdventHealth is not providing vaccines to the general public, including those age 65 and older, at any hospital, AdventHealth Centra Care or AdventHealth Medical Group practices, according to a Dec. 30 news release.

AdventHealth has vaccinated more than 4,000 West Florida team members to date.

Vaccinations for frontline AdventHealth team members are underway at the hospital locations in Carrollwood, Connerton, Dade City, Lake Placid, North Pinellas, Ocala, Sebring, Tampa, Wauchula, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

All information on vaccine distribution for the public will be posted online at CoronavirusVaccineFacts.com.

Those interested can go to CoronavirusVaccineAlerts.com, to sign up for email updates on when vaccines will be available from AdventHealth.

MEDICARE EDUCATION The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas will host SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) programs on Medicare education, through Zoom: • Jan. 7 at 10 a.m.: Medicare 101, an overview of the parts of Medicare, including Parts A, B, C, D, Medigap and available financial assistance • Jan. 12 at 10 a.m.: Medicare Part D Drug Plan • Jan. 13 at 10 a.m.: Medicare Part C Advantage Plans Registration in advance is required. For information, email Geralyn Fortney at Geralyn.fortney@aaapp.org.

HEALTHWISE LECTURES WellCome OM Integral Healing & Education Center will continue its Wholly Healthwise Series with a complimentary lecture on Jan. 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 4242 Lake in the Woods Drive, Spring Hill.

Dr. Maria Scunziano-Singh will discuss “Flex-Ercising: How to Get Moving in 2021.”

For information, call 352-600-4242, or visit WellComeOMCenter.com.

SPINE PAIN AdventHealth Zephyrhills will present a virtual health talk entitled “Treatment Options for Spine Pain” on Jan. 12 at noon, on the hospital’s Facebook page.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Armen Deukmedjian, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon.

To register, call 877-534-3108, or visit AHZephyrhills.com.

CREDIT UNION DONATION Suncoast Credit Union will donate $550,000 to hunger and mental health organizations throughout Florida that have seen increased needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release.

Food organizations across the state have been severely impacted by COVID-19.

Organizations that will benefit from this round of funding include Meals of Hopes, United Food Bank of Plant City and the Harry Chapin Food Bank, all three of which have seen a 50% increase in demand this year.

The credit union will donate $385,000 to food organizations to combat the needs.The funds will enable the organizations to pur-

chase food, help reduce operational costs, support in-school programs (hot breakfast and lunches, weekend meals), and fill emergency food pantries.

Mental health also has been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and Suncoast will contribute $165,000 to 11 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) affiliates throughout Florida.

The donation is the second of its kind this year for Suncoast, following its $1 million donation to hunger, health care and educational organizations for COVID-19 relief efforts this past May.

NURSE MANAGER HONORED Kimberly Demers, nurse manager of the Emergency Department at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz, has been honored with the Patriot Award from the Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program.

The award recognizes Demers’ support of her employee’s participation in the National Guard and Reserve.

According to the ESGR website and a news release, the Patriot Award reflects an employer’s “….efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide range of measures, including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed.”

HEALING SEMINAR The WellCome OM Integral Healing & Education Center will present “Authentic Healing for Sustainable Living” on Jan. 23 at 11 a.m., at the AuratoriOM, at 4242 Lake in the Woods Drive in Spring Hill.

Dr. Maria Scunziano-Singh will discuss naturopathic medical care, nutritional counseling, IV nutrition and chelation, and pure bioenergy healing.

For information and to register, call 352600-4242, or visit WellComeOMCenter.com.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME AdventHealth Zephyrhills will present a virtual health talk entitled “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:An Easy Fix” on Jan. 26 at noon, on the hospital’s Facebook page.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Randolph Knight, orthopedic surgeon.

To register, call 877-534-3108, or visit AHZephyrhills.com.

HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, unveiled a comprehensive, worldclass health and safety management plan, which features extensive measures aimed at reopening the facility in a responsible manner.

In recognition of the organization’s work, it has become one of the first in professional sports to earn dual certification from both the International WELL Building Institute and the Global Biorisk Advisory Council for excellence in COVID-19 safety preparedness and protocols, according to a news release.

Amalie has addressed several key areas, including cleaning and sanitization processes and procedures; emergency preparedness programs; health service resources; and, air and water quality management, technology and innovation.

The efforts have been part of a comprehensive overall plan, devised in conjunction with local health care and government officials, to ensure a safe and healthy reopening of the facility for fans and staff.

Following a controlled query entry into the arena, fans will notice increased measures to promote physical distancing, including at all gates, concessions and restrooms.

Concession and retail stands will be cashless and contactless, with plexiglass barriers.

See HEALTH, page 5B

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COURTESY OF SARAH VANDE BERG TENNIS & WELLNESS CENTER

The new Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center hosted major pickleball and padel tournaments last month, drawing hundreds of participants.

Tennis center hosts fruitful tournaments

By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center has only been open since September, but it has quickly shown to be a hit among Zephyrhills residents and outsiders alike.

The $4.9 million complex at 6585 Simons Road has already begun delivering on its promise to bring in large-scale racquet sports tournaments, thanks to its portfolio of 11 tennis courts, eight pickleball courts and four padel courts — plus a distinct mix of peak performance treatments in the way of a modern fitness center, cryotherapy, salt room therapy and sports counseling.

The complex hosted a weeklong pickleball tournament from Dec. 7 through Dec. 11, followed by a weekend padel tournament Dec. 12 and Dec. 13.

The pickleball event attracted over 200 participants, making it one of the largest in the state for the entire year, according to Zephyrhills Planning Director Todd Vande Berg, who updated the Zephyrhills City Council on the facility’s happenings at a regular meeting last month.

Meantime, the padel event’s 118 participants made it one of the largest padel tournaments held in the United States, the planning director said.

The padel event alone attracted a sizable contingent from Miami and the South Florida area, while others came in from as far away as Houston, Las Vegas, New York and even California. It is believed a total of 11 states were represented in all.

“They were coming from all over the country to be here in Zephyrhills to play in that padel tournament,”Vande Berg said of the new but fast-growing racquet sport popularized in Mexico and Spain.

And, more big-time tournaments in

Zephyrhills are planned in the new year.

The facility will host a $25,000 professional women’s tennis tournament bringing in some of the top-ranked players in the world, from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1.

Vande Berg also noted “there’s potentially a very large tournament that’s in the works of being investigated that would be super exciting if we’re able to get that, but we’ll continue to talk about that if that continues to pull through.”

Elsewhere, the facility’s youth sports training program — called United Global Academy (UGA) “is growing like crazy,” Vande Berg said.

“Every time you go out there, you see new kids that are training there, either on a full-time or afterschool basis; but just everything we’re hearing from parents that are coming in is,‘An amazing facility,’” he said.

Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,Vande Berg said the tennis center in general has produced “positive results to this point,” also mentioning that its regular Sunday Brunch has become “very successful.”

The complex is owned by the City of Zephyrhills, but privately managed and operated by renowned tennis instructor Pascal Collard, who’s held similar posts at the Saddlebrook Tennis Center and The Merion Cricket Club in Haverford, Pennsylvania.

It’s named in honor of former Zephyrhills High School district champion Sarah Vande Berg, who became a scholarship player on the University of South Carolina Upstate women’s tennis team.

Sarah, the daughter of Todd Vande Berg, died in an automobile accident at the age of 21 in October 2015.

The facility celebrated a soft opening in September and a grand opening in October, more than a year after a July 2019 groundbreaking on construction.

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GULFSIDE FUNDRAISERS

Due to the current pandemic, the third annual Charity Casino Night to benefit

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All proceeds will provide patient care and bereavement support in Pasco County through Gulfside.

For tickets and sponsorship information, visit CharityCasinoNight.org.

Also, due to the ongoing health and safety challenges, Gulfside postponed The Candace Glewen Charity Fashion Show, originally scheduled for Dec. 3.

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January 6, 2021

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