The Laker-Wesley Chapel/New Tampa-February 3, 2021 by LakerLutzNews

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Moffitt in Pasco: ‘Transformational’

Pasco County Commission approves $25 million incentive package to kickstart a Moffitt Cancer Center campus. By B.C. Manion

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A deal approved last week by the Pasco County Commission is expected to have consequences far beyond the county’s borders, government and economic development leaders said. County commissioners approved more than $25 million in incentives in an agreement with H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Hospital Inc. The county has agreed to make infrastructure improvements necessary to access the site, at an estimated cost of $24,913,012. It also has agreed to waive, or pay, certain county permitting and impact fees related See MOFFITT, page 9A

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This is the site where H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Hospital Inc., plans to expand its work on a campus in Pasco County.

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A section of Overpass Road will close next week By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

A section of Overpass Road — between Old Pasco Road and Boyette Road — is scheduled to be closed to all traffic for approximately a year beginning on Feb. 8, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The road closure is needed as the existing bridge over Interstate 75 is removed and a new one is constructed, a news release from the state transportation department says. A signed detour route will direct traffic around the closed section of Overpass Road, using Old Paso Road,Wesley Chapel Boulevard (County Road 54 and State Road 54) and Vandine Road/Boyette Road, according to the release. This design-build project will construct a new interstate interchange on I-75 at Overpass Road, about 3.5 miles south of State Road 52. The new diamond interchange will include a flyover ramp for westbound Overpass Road access onto See OVERPASS ROAD, page 9A

Overpass Road Interchange A new interchange to Interstate 75 is being built at Overpass Road. Construction limits: From Old Pasco Road to Boyette Road on Overpass Road Length: 0.9-miles Construction cost: $64 million Project start date: October 2020 Estimated completion date: Summer 2023 Detour: Overpass Road is expected to be closed for approximately one year, between Old Pasco Road and Boyette Road, beginning Feb. 8.

The Pasco County Commission, county staff and representatives of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Hospital Inc. celebrate a deal that is expected to have long-term consequences for Pasco County, and the region.

Drug overdoses increasing in Pasco County By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

During the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, there’s another alarming issue surging in Pasco County — rising fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office has reported 1,491 overdoses (and 268 deaths) from January 2020 to December 2020 — representing a 71% increase from 2019. This includes a singlemonth high of 168 overdoses (39 fatal) in May, agency data shows. Most recently, the month of December proved one of the COURTESY OF PASCO SHERIFF’S OFFICE most troublesome months in This graphic shows fatal and non-fatal overdoses in Pasco County for each month in 2020. Absent is the the past year — with 135 re- month of December, which yielded 135 overdoses and two deaths. ported overdoses and two deaths.The trend continued in 2021, as the first weekend in January record- fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid anal- A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM ed 19 overdoses, with three deaths, gesic similar to morphine but believed to be Rising drug overdoses are trending according to the sheriff’s office. across the nation. 50 times to 100 times more potent. Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco says the Over 81,000 drug overdose deaths ocSaid Nocco:“Heroin and fentanyl are the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated main two killers. When you’re seeing over- curred in the United States in the 12 the county’s substance abuse and doses, it’s fentanyl. It’s sad.When months ending in May 2020.That’s the highmental health problems because you have an overdose and peo- est number of overdose deaths ever more people are dealing with job ple pass away, it’s probably more recorded in a 12-month period, according to and financial losses, loneliness, recent provisional data from the Centers for likely than not that it’s fentanyl.” homelessness and other personal Nocco noted the agency has Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). struggles. While overdose deaths already were on even witnessed instances of car“We’re definitely seeing an exfentanil — an analogue 100 the rise in the months preceding the tremely high spike since COVID times stronger than fentanyl and COVID-19 pandemic, the latest numbers hit with mental health and submost commonly used as an ele- suggest an acceleration of overdose deaths stance abuse, and especially the during the pandemic, the CDC reports. phant tranquilizer. overdoses. There is an absolute “The disruption to daily life due to the Aside from its users, fentanyl correlation there,” Nocco recently and carfentanil offshoots pose a COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with subtold The Laker/Lutz News. threat to the public and to first stance use disorder hard,” CDC director Dr. Overdose survivors have told Pasco Sheriff responders, as they can be ab- Robert Redfield said, in a December news deputies that “they feel like Chris Nocco sorbed through the skin or release.“As we continue the fight to end this they’ve lost human connection through accidental inhalation of pandemic, it’s important to not lose sight of different groups being affected in other with people,” Nocco said. airborne powder. Instead of finding solace in faith, Nocco These substances are coming in from ways.We need to take care of people sufferthinks many turn to substance abuse, and overseas, with stronger and stronger varia- ing from unintended consequences.” According to the CDC, synthetic opioids that, he said, is creating major issues. tions being discovered on the streets, Nocco During the midst of a pandemic, there said, adding,“It’s a very dangerous situation (primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl) appear to be the primary driver of the inare mental health issues occurring that we’re dealing with.” won’t be healed with a vaccination, he said. The overdoses predominantly are occur- creases in overdose deaths, increasing 38.4% “People right now, they’re constantly on ring in the western part of Pasco County, from the 12-month period leading up to edge,” Nocco said. along the U.S. 19 corridor, Nocco said, but June 2019 compared with the 12-month peThese overdoses, Nocco said, are mostly there are also pockets of activity in Land O’ See OVERDOSES, page 9A related to heroin and other drugs laced with Lakes,Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

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Pastor celebrates 40 years at Land O’ Lakes church By Joey Johnston Special to The Laker/Lutz News

hen David Peterson marked his 40-year anniversary as pastor at First Baptist Church of Land O’Lakes, it was a celebration, indeed. The tight-knit congregation presented the pastor’s wife, Denise, with 40 roses. The couple also received an all-expenses-paid trip to anywhere in the world — and they are planning to visit New Zealand. It was a time of happiness and renewal. For the longtime church members, it was a reflection to the time when Peterson arrived. He was not long out of bible college, already a well-known quantity because he grew up in the church. He was unanimously approved and the previous pastor left abruptly. “But, if you could’ve heard my first sermon, I don’t think you would’ve predicted I’d be sitting here 40 years later,’’ said Peterson, 67. “I don’t know if anybody would’ve thought I’d made it. I was not an effective speaker. I stuttered and stammered.’’ “That’s absolutely true,’’ said Linda Galster, a church member for more than a half-century. “I think he might have been terrified.A lot of pauses.A lot of words like ‘but’ or ‘and’ … but we have seen him blossom. He has grown into someone who delivers a great message.We absolutely love him.’’ At Hillsborough Community College, Peterson took an English class that required an oral book report. “l’ll read the book, but I’m not getting up there in front of the class,’’ Peterson told the teacher. His hands got all clammy. He’d break out in a sweat. He simply wasn’t going to do it. “Then you won’t pass this class,’’ the teacher said. Peterson shrugged, and he failed the class. When he felt the call and told his family about his desire to become a pastor, his mother cried because she was overwhelmed by the honor. His brother laughed because he couldn’t visualize an effective presentation from the pulpit. “I’m living proof that whatever God calls you to do, He’ll give you the grace and strength to do it,’’ Peterson said.“Experience is the greatest teacher. Along the way, I earned three degrees (including doctor of

COURTESY OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LAND O’ LAKES

David Peterson, pastor at First Baptist Church of Land O’ Lakes for 40 years, has been married to his wife, Denise, for 38 years.

theology from Bob Jones University) and always took courses in public speaking. I tried to improve myself. “I tried to figure it up. Between Sunday services, morning service, Wednesday nights, Sunday school, weddings and funerals, I have probably spoken an average of five times a week for 40 years.That’s 10,000 occasions of speaking publicly. God has given me the ability to do that.’’ The delivery has improved exponentially. The message has remained consistent. Peterson, an introvert, fancies himself as a teacher. He teaches the Bible. That’s his textbook, his playbook, his everything. “Before I came to the church, I felt like I was reading the Bible in a dark room with a flashlight on,’’ said Susie Perez, a church member for 23 years and a teacher at Land O’ Lakes Christian School on the church grounds.“I couldn’t see the whole picture. When I started listening to his teachings, I felt like somebody turned on the light. I could see the whole Bible at once. He explained things so clearly.’’ “He just seems to know what to say every Sunday,’’ said Paul Little, a church member for 43 years. “It seems like every

CORRECTIONS • The Pasco County Fair will be held Feb. 15 through Feb. 21, at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52, in Dade City. A story published on Jan. 27 in The Laker/Lutz News contained incorrect dates. • District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation is working on a Diverging Diamond project at State Road 56 and Interstate 75, and has others planned in Hillsborough County, at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and I-75, and at Gibsonton Drive and I-75. A story published on Jan. 13 in The Laker/Lutz News was unclear on the Hillsborough locations. • Michael Penix Jr.’s name was spelled incorrectly in a story published in the Sports section of The Laker/Lutz News on Jan. 27.

time he preaches a sermon, he’s talking to me and it’s specifically what I need to hear. Sometimes, I wonder what the other people are there for. But I think they’re probably thinking the same thing. He’s very consistent.’’ Consistent enough to last for 40 years (and longer) when statistics indicate that the average Baptist pastor stays at one church for approximately six years. “In bible college, I was told to never make a major decision in a crisis or when you’re down or depressed,’’ said Peterson,

who has no specific plans for retirement but speculated it could occur within five years. “We went through hard times, very emotional times.There were times I wanted to quit. But I wasn’t going to do that. God led me here. I’m going to stick it out until God moves me.And he never did.’’ “He’s a very approachable man whose whole personality is about being calm and humble,’’ Peterson’s wife said. “That has helped when there’s a problem.There are times when I would’ve said,‘Let’s go!’ But, when it’s bad, he doesn’t run away. Even when there’s extreme turmoil, when you think it isn’t worth it anymore, when everyone is mad at you, he stays the course. He’s amazing that way.’’ In off-hours, Peterson said he keeps plenty busy with the couple’s five grandchildren.Their son, Stephen, is an attorney with the Cincinnati-based Christian Law Association, and their daughter, Sarah, is a music teacher at the church school. Peterson also enjoys tinkering with his street rod, a 1932 Ford Roadster with a V-8 engine, that he takes to car shows. Mostly, though, each day revolves around his congregation, his Bible teachings, helping with spiritual needs and assuring the financial health of the church campus. “I think people appreciate that he’s a very clear teacher of the word of God,’’ said Peterson’s wife, who added that their 38year marriage has been about using one partner’s strength to complement the other’s weakness. “He takes the cookies from the upper shelf and puts them on the bottom shelf so all can partake. He doesn’t teach his opinion or tell all these stories. If you want to learn the Bible, this is where you can come. “And I think people appreciate who he is. He’s kind. He’s not this bossy, authoritative, domineering person. He has a way of doing things, and it has served him well.’’ For 40 years — and longer.

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What’s Happening

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

ELKS LODGE BINGO

Bingo is back at the Elks Lodge, at 6851 Wire Road in Zephyrhills, on Thursdays, starting on Feb. 4 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be monetary and door prizes, and refreshments will be available. For information, call 813-782-4604.

VIRTUAL MUSICAL

The Carrollwood Cultural Center’s MAS Theatre will present “Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class” on Feb. 4, Feb. 5 and Feb. 6 at 8 p.m., online.The show is written by “Nunsense” creator Dan Goggin.The performance ‘teaches’ the viewers how to put together a cabaret act through memorable music. Online access is $10. For information, visit CarrollwoodCenter.org.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present “Taste of Dungeons & Dragons” on Feb. 4 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. During the month of February, Pasco libraries and Parks & Recreation are teaming up to host a beginner-friendly virtual environment for ages 17 and older who want to learn about the cooperative story-telling game that uses dice and rules to complete missions. Every registered player will receive a starter kit and guidance. Each week will feature a new Dungeon Master to lead the players.There is a limit of six players per session, and a limit of one session per player. Players must have computer and internet access, and a (free) Roll20 account. Registration is required. For information, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or amarisp@pascolibraries.org.

DOCUMENT SHREDDING

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles again is sponsoring The Big Shred IV on Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Robert Sumner Judicial Center, 38053 Live Oak Ave., in Dade City. Participants can bring up to three copier paper-size boxes or two tall kitchen trash bags of paper documents for free shredding.All staples, paper clips and other metal clasps must be removed.

LEGO BUILD-OFF

The Pasco County Cooperative will offer a “Planet Lego: Build-Off” on Feb. 6 at 2 p.m., for kindergarten through third grade. Kids can race against the clock to complete a Lego mission. Photos of the creations will be posted for voting.The winner will

National Library Lover’s Month Wooden heart craft The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer a DIY wooden conversation heart craft on Feb. 8, for adults and teens, through curbside pickup only. The kit will include a wooden heart, two image options (or print out something different at home), image transfer instructions and paint. Participants will need their own clear packing tape, scissors, a bowl of warm water and a paint brush. For information and to register, call 813-929-1214. Poetry group The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer a virtual Poetry Discussion Group: Black History Love on Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 16 and older, via Zoom. Participants can share a favorite poem or talk about poems written by black poets and/or themed around love. Themed poems and a guide will be sent out to help with the discussion, too. Registration is required. For information, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or amaris@pascolibraries.org. Harry Potter trivia The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host virtual Fandom Trivia: Hogwarts on Feb. 10 at 4 p.m., for teens in grades eight to 12, via Zoom. Participants can test their knowledge of the Harry Potter universe. Registration is required. For information and to receive the Zoom meeting details, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727861-3020 or amaris@pascolibraries.org. Make a ‘pal-entine’ The Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, will offer a ‘pal-entine’ craft for kids on Feb. 8, all day, through pickup only, while supplies last. Kids can design a Valentine’s Day card for a friend. For information, call 352-567-3576.

receive a Lego prize provided by Friends of the Regency Park Library.To register, call the library at 727-861-3049.

BLUES FESTIVAL

The fifth annual Pasco Blues Festival will take place on Feb. 6 from noon to 6 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.The event will include performances by Memphis Lightning (12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.), Sean Chambers (2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.), and Damon Fowler

(4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.).There also will be food trucks, shopping vendors,T-shirts and Blues swag.This is a family friendly, petfriendly event. Proper social distancing and mask usage will be enforced. Hand sanitizing stations will be available. Guests should wear a mask when in line for entry, food and beer.Vendors will be spaced at least 10 feet apart to prevent overcrowding. Chairs also will be provided for guests to set up, and should be brought back to the front when done, for another guest to use.There is a limit of chairs to the first few hundred people. Guests can bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Other than VIP spaces, no tents, coolers, food and drink will be allowed in the venue. Single admission tickets for adults are $15 if purchased before Feb. 3, online at Eventbrite.com.Tickets are $20 for adults, cash only, at the gate on event day. Kids age 12 and younger are free.

FARM FEST & QUILT SHOW

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, will host the 32nd annual Farm Festival & Quilt Show on Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.The event will include the Southern Draft Horse Association’s Draft Horse Pull at noon.The festival also includes a quilt and clothing show; a quilts and supplies sale; cane-grinding and syrup-making; a model train room; blacksmith demonstrations; traditional crafters; the Pasco County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse;The Barking Dogs; vendors and more. Pulled pork dinners ($10 cash only) can be purchased from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., while supplies last (drive-thru pickup available). Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children age 5 and younger. For information, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

COMEDY SHOW

Tickets are now on sale for Live Oak Theatre’s “The Importance of Being Ernest,” at the Carol & Frank Morsani Center for the Arts, 21030 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville. Dates are Feb. 6, Feb. 7, Feb. 12, Feb. 13 and Feb. 14. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2:30 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays.Adult tickets are $20. Children ages 13 and younger are $5 when purchased with an adult ticket.Admission includes coffee, tea and dessert, with snacks also available for purchase. For information and tickets, visit

LiveOakTheatre.org, email LiveOakBoxOffice@gmail.com, or call 352593-0027.

TINKERING TUESDAY

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer Tinkering Tuesday: Career Exploration on Feb. 9 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., through curbside pickup. Kits need to be reserved ahead of time and can include a book bundle.The kit features activities, crafts and online activities about different careers in the community, and are custom-made to each career.There is a limit to 35 participants.To reserve a bundle, call 813-929-1214.

EAST PASCO NETWORKING

The East Pasco Networking Group will meet on Feb. 9 at 7:30 a.m., at IHop, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City.The guest speaker will be Mark Warren, pastor of Journey Church of Wesley Chapel. For information, contact Nils Lenz at 813-782-9491 or nilslenz@gmail.com, or Vicky Jones at 813431-1149 or donlvicl@yahoo.com.

BRIAN CORLEY SPEAKS

The Wesley Chapel Republican Club will meet on Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m., at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2017 Reigler Road in Land O’ Lakes.The guest speaker will be Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley. Member and guests are welcome. Admission is free. For information, email wesleychapelr@gmail.com.

CANDLE-MAKING

There will be a candle-making workshop on Feb. 12 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatic Center, 6630 Van Buren St. Participants can learn how to create and pour soy candles, and take them home.All supplies are included. For tickets and information, visit Eventbrite.com.

BLACK MATTERS EXHIBIT

The Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, will host an art reception on Feb. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for its “Black Matters: Past, Present & Future” gallery event.Admission is free, but an RSVP is required to attend.The exhibit will be available to view through February.To RSVP, email Michele Stone at curator@carrollwoodcenter.org.Those attending also can request a guided tour of the gallery.

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Staff members of The Laker/Lutz News delve into some books and newspapers — just a small sampling of the types of materials that can be found at the local library. From left: Kelli Carmack, Diane Kortus, Mary Rathman and Katie Fernandez.

Show your local library some love By Mary Rathman mrathman@lakerlutznews.com

Libraries provide so much more than a place to borrow a book, music and movies — they also provide a place to do research, a quiet space to study, exhibit art displays for local artists, provide hands-on activities and offer preservation services.These institutions are celebrated in February, designated as National Library Lover’s Month. There are 9,225 public libraries across the United States, though may states have seen library closings, according to the American Library Association. A struggling economy has cost libraries some funding, as some municipalities cannot afford to keep libraries open, while other establishments are taking steps to make libraries more popular in the digital age. Many libraries have increased their offerings beyond traditional books to include free music and e-Book downloads, and free wireless internet connectivity. Services also can include hosting club meetings, increasing children’s programs, and offering DIY curbside-pickup crafts and virtual story times. Here are several ways patrons can contribute to their local libraries: • Nominate your library as your community, school or corporate organization’s project for the year. • Buy your library a subscription to a popular magazine. • Honor a friend or relative’s birthday with a book for the library. • Donate a book (or a whole shelf of books) to the Friends of the Library book sale.

• Remember your library in your estate planning. • Donate to your library’s foundation/friends group. • Give to the library through a company matching program for charitable giving. • Give the gift of a library card to a friend or loved one. • Volunteer to read stories to children or help with library visits, or to work at the library bookstore or book sale. • Attend local government meetings to urge city and county legislators to invest in libraries as a vital community resource and a necessary public service. Pasco County libraries in The Laker coverage area include: • Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., Dade City. Call 352-567-3576. • Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway. Call 813-929-1214 • New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54,Wesley Chapel (currently closed for renovations). Call 813-788-6375. • Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eight St. Call 813-780-0064. In Hillsborough County, libraries in the newspaper’s coverage area are: • Austin Davis Public Library, 17808 Wayne Road, Odessa. • Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave. • Lutz Branch Library, 101 Lutz-Lake Fern Road (temporarily closed) • New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd. Contact Hillsborough libraries by calling 813-273-3652.

COURTESY OF PATRICIA SERIO

Tokens of appreciation The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club expressed its appreciation to staff members of both the Lutz and Land O’ Lakes branch libraries. Education chair Faith Sincich, right, delivered gifts of poinsettias and other items as tokens of the club’s support for continuing to provide services under the difficult conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. For information on the woman’s club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.

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Super Bowl LV heightens potential for human trafficking By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

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As worldwide attention shifts to Super Bowl LV, efforts are ramping up to prevent the human trafficking that is often associated with major sporting events. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is working with Uber to provide human trafficking prevention education ahead of the game, which is being held this year on Feb. 7 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. “Hosting the Super Bowl in Florida for the second year in a row is a huge win for our state’s economy and tourism, but as we learned from Super Bowl LIV, traffickers will look to exploit this event to advance illegal enterprises at the expense of innocent victims,” Moody said, in a report posted on her website. Her office has been involved in Uber’s effort to educate thousands of drivers and customers through educational videos about human trafficking. The idea is to help them better understand the crime of human trafficking, how it presents itself in our communities and what to do when they suspect someone is being trafficked, the website says. During the week leading up to the 2020 Super Bowl, law enforcement reportedly made 47 arrests related to human trafficking, leading to the rescue of 22 victims, the website adds. In Hillsborough County, about three dozen adult entertainment businesses were inspected on Jan. 28, to ensure compliance with the county’s human trafficking ordinance, according to a county news release. County code enforcement officers, City of Tampa Neighborhood Enforcement, and the Tampa Police Department made the inspections, which resulted in citations issued to two businesses found in non-compliance. The citations carry a fine of $265, the release said. Inspection efforts are ongoing. Hillsborough County’s ordinance requires strip clubs, adult bookstores and theaters, cabarets and other adult entertainment businesses to post signage that provides information about human trafficking to employees, patrons and others. The signage includes details on how to contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center if they or someone they know is a victim of human trafficking. The signage must be conspicuously posted near the front entrance, and in bathroom stalls and changing rooms, and written in English, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese. These efforts are in addition to other ongoing efforts to reduce human trafficking. In January 2020, the Department of Justice awarded a $741,556 grant to the St. Petersburg Police Department for three years to create a regional Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is a collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working with organizations that provide services to victims of human trafficking. State, federal and regional agencies are among the 23 agencies on the task force, including the Hillsborough and Pasco sheriff’s offices and the Tampa, Dade City and Zephyrhills police departments. The task force focuses on education, rescue and enforcement. Local governments also have backed efforts to prevent human trafficking and to raise public awareness about the issue, with county boards in Pasco and Hillsborough counties declaring January as human trafficking awareness month. Natalie Kehn, director of outreach for the

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• Appears scared or nervous, may not make eye contact • No knowledge about where they are and why • Typically has someone with them at all times; this person may seem controlling. • Carries multiple hotel keys • Signs of branding (tattoos, jewelry) • Physical injuries or signs of abuse • Has no personal items (cellphone, ID, passport) • Not allowed to freely leave work or residence • Lies about age/false identification and/or inconsistencies • No private space available for victim If you encounter or suspect someone to be a victim of trafficking, contact local law enforcement immediately and report the incident to the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888. To learn more about how to spot and report human trafficking, visit YouCanStopHT.com.

U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking, works to cast a spotlight on the problem, to promote education and prevention efforts and to seek help for people who have been victimized by the crime. Kehn spoke at a virtual meeting of WOW-Women of Wesley Chapel, in November. “Our goal is to end trafficking and protect children,” Kehn said. She gave a big picture look at the problem, and also offered some practical advice. There’s an estimated 40.3 million children worldwide that are caught up in the cycle of human trafficking, she said. Between 100,000 to 300,000 sex-trafficking victims in the United States alone are under the age of 18, she added. People often have misconceptions about how victims get caught up in trafficking, Kehn said. “Luring and recruiting is the No. 1 way that happens in the U.S.; it isn’t kidnapping,” she explained. And, it can happen close to home. “Know your child’s friends. Know your grandchildren’s friends. Pay attention. We know that 53% of minor girls that were recruited, were recruited by another girl that was involved in trafficking. Not by an adult. Not by that creepy guy — that a lot of us think are the ones we need to watch out for,” Kehn said. People also have a tendency to think that this is a problem that happens somewhere else, not in their community, she said. But she added, this, too, is an inaccurate perception. In Pasco County, Kehn said, “we did a study over a 60-day period, where we just chose two websites to look at the sex ads. We found that there were 32 ads of buying and selling just over two websites, in just 60 days, so it is really happening here.” She also noted that the Super Bowl is coming up, and historically,“there’s been a lot of trafficking around that.” Kehn continued:“There are two primary factors driving the spread of human trafficking: the high profits and the low risks. “The problem lies in the demand to purchase a human being for sex. Because the demand exists, the traffickers are filling an economic equation and filling that supply with victims,” she said.

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Raymond James Stadium is gearing up for Super Bowl LV. Those attending big outdoor Super Bowl-related festivities will be required to wear a mask, at specific venues, to reduce potential spread of COVID-19.

Bring a mask, if heading to Super Bowl-related festivities By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

As Tampa gears up to be on the world stage during Super Bowl LV, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has ordered the use of face coverings within specific outdoor locations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. In a tweet, Castor said,“Let’s each do our part in keeping our community and visitors safe. Masks are the right defense. Masks and simple health habits will go a long way in ensuring a fun, safe #Super Bowl LV experience for all.” Besides being the host city for this year’s Super Bowl, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be the first team in NFL history to play the game in its home stadium. The Bucs take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 7. Kickoff at Raymond James Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m.A host of activities surround the game, bringing large crowds to many venues. In her executive order, Castor requires the use of face coverings within specific outdoor locations, within the City of Tampa — namely in areas defined as Event Zones and Entertainment Districts. The Event Zones are defined as areas of downtown Tampa and surrounding Raymond James Stadium. The Entertainment Districts include the Ybor City Historic District, the South Howard Commercial Overlay District, the Central Business District, and the Channel District. The city also has a mask order in effect that requires a facial covering be worn by anyone working, living, visiting or doing business in an indoor location — other than their residence — when not able to

maintain social distancing from other person, excluding family members or companions. There are some exceptions to the city’s mask ordinance, including children under age 5, people with health conditions and people working in a business that doesn’t require interactions with others, or allows social distancing to be maintained. Masks are not required while people are eating or drinking. Also, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced it will establish a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) to prohibit drones around Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7, and around the Tampa Riverwalk for the NFL Super Bowl Experience during the days leading up to Super Bowl. Drones will be prohibited within a 30nautical-mile radius of the stadium up to 18,000 feet in altitude on game day, according to the FAA. The TFR will be in place from 5:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Drones also are prohibited for 1 nautical mile around Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. until the TFR for the game takes effect. The FAA will restrict drone flights for roughly 2 nautical miles around Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park up to an altitude of 2,000 feet through Feb. 6, during event hours. Pilots and drone operators who enter the TFRs without permission could face civil penalties that exceed $30,000 and potential criminal prosecution for flying drones in the TFR. Drone pilots should check the FAA’s B4UFly app to determine when and where they may fly.

THANKS TO OUR TEAM AND COMMUNITY! In these uncertain times, the importance of local news and community connection are more evident than ever. We are committed to delivering the latest and most accurate COVID-19 news and remain dedicated to helping local businesses get the word out as they reopen and adapt to the changing marketplace.

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February 3, 2021

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EARLY RELEASE DAYS

During the second semester, Pasco County Schools will implement a two-hour early release day every month, each day falling on a Wednesday. There will be no early release day in May. The early release days, which were implemented for the first time last school year, provide teachers with an opportunity to complete professional development and experience training that will help increase effective instruction and ultimately will benefit students. Students who are registered in the district’s PLACE program will be able to stay the extra two hours with no additional charges. School buses will operate two hours earlier during early release days.The routes and bus stops will not change. Upcoming early release days are Feb. 3, March 3 and April 7. The bell times, including the early release times for each school, can be found at Pasco.k12.fl.us/site/pcs_bell_schedule, or on the Pasco County Schools’ Facebook page.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

• Christina Carroll, of Lutz: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa • Trevina Jason-Vikram, of Wesley Chapel: Dean’s List at Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Minnesota • Weiman Jiang, of Lutz: Dean’s List at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York • Elijah Johnson, of Odessa: Master of Public Health, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa • Kelly McDermott, of Lutz: Bachelor of Arts in Communications & Information Sciences, University of Alabama,Tuscaloosa • Joshua Oldenburg, of Odessa: Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology,Atlanta

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.

VACCINES FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

Pasco County Schools is partnering with the Pasco County Department of Health and the Pasco Department of Emergency Management to provide COVID-19 vaccines to school district employees who are age 65 and older, according to a news release. The first of the two vaccine doses is scheduled for Feb. 7. A second dose is scheduled for March 7. The vaccinations, which are by appointment only, will take place in New Port Richey and in Land O’ Lakes. Due to a limited supply of vaccines, the state has made it a priority to vaccinate Floridians age 65 and older.Additionally, the Pasco Department of Health has made the vaccine available to the school district’s medical first responders. The vaccinations will be administered by teams of nurses from both the Department of Health and the school district.

FEDERAL LOAN TIP

Students who will borrow money for college using federal student loans must complete entrance counseling, if they are borrowing for the first time, according to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). Entrance counseling helps students understand the financial commitments they agree to when they receive their loan. The U.S. Department of Education requires borrowers to complete the counseling before students can receive loan funds.The counseling will teach users how to borrow responsibly without taking out more loans than are needed. The department offers online counseling at StudentAid.gov, under the Complete Aid Process tab. Counseling should take between 20 minutes to 30 minutes.

Borrowers should check with their college to see if the federal counseling session is accepted, as some schools have alternate counseling program requirements. The KHEAA is a public, nonprofit agency established in 1966 to improve students’ access to college. It also provides information about financial aid and financial literacy at no cost to students and parents. For more about KHEAA services, visit KHEAA.com.

ST. ANTHONY OPEN HOUSE

St. Anthony Catholic School, 12155 Joe Herrmann Drive in San Antonio, is scheduled to open a new VPK program in August. Enrollment for new families will begin on Feb. 23. The school will host an open house on Feb. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon. Small tours will be given due to the current COVID-19 health and safety circumstances. St. Anthony is a private K-8 school founded in 1884 and dedicated to providing students with quality and Christ-centered education that addresses a child’s needs spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally and physically. For information and to learn more about the school’s VPK program, K-8 openings, or to schedule a tour, call 352-588-3041, or visit StAnthonySchoolFl.org.

SAT SCHOOL DAY

The District School Board of Pasco County will provide the SAT School Day free of charge to all juniors on March 24, according to the Pasco County Schools Facebook page. The district will register all juniors for the test; it is not necessary for students to register on the College Board website. For more information, students should contact their respective school counselor.

COURTESY OF PASCO-HERNANDO STATE COLLEGE

John Mitten

BOARD REAPPOINTMENT

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the reappointment of John Mitten to the Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) District Board of Trustees (DBOT). His term will run through May 31, 2023. Mitten, of Brooksville, is the franchise owner of Chick-fil-A in Spring Hill and a former chairman of the Hernando County Commission. He is active in his community with the Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Hernando County, YMCA of Hernando County, Hope Children’s Home, and Jericho Road Ministries. Mitten earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State University. “We are very pleased with the reappointment of John Mitten as a board member and look forward to his continued leadership and commitment to higher education in our communities,” Dr.Timothy Beard, president of PHSC, said in a news release. The reappointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

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MOFFITT, from page 1A to supporting the initial phase of building construction, at an estimated cost of $786,988. The cancer center owns a 775-acre site, near the southeast corner of the future intersection of Suncoast Parkway and the Ridge Road extension, which is currently under construction. In the 24-page agreement, approved unanimously by the county board, Pasco County details and justifies the partnership with Moffitt. In part, the agreement states:“The county has concluded that providing economic incentives to Moffitt will serve as one of the most significant catalysts in the county’s history for future economic growth, by creating the potential for new employment opportunities in Pasco County, reducing reliance on regional commuting to work by citizens, significantly diversifying the tax base, and introducing smart growth and service technologies to the area.” County staff has determined that construction of the public and non-public infrastructure outlined in the approved agreement is essential to support the overall corporate business park development of the property. In presenting the incentive package to the county board, Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., emphasized the significance of Moffitt’s decision to locate in Pasco. “Words cannot fully express the magnitude of this project, or the potential of this project,” Cronin said. In the first phase, Moffitt has agreed to construct a minimum of 128,000 square feet for corporate business park uses. That phase is expected to generate 432 full-time jobs, according to the Pasco County Office of Economic Growth. The multi-year, multi-phase Moffit project, however, is expected to include over 1.4 million square feet of research lab/office, light industrial/manufacturing, general office, and clinical building space. “The overall, large project, is estimated to create at least 14,000 jobs — indirect and direct jobs for our community,” Cronin said. Moffitt operates an internationally recognized immunotherapy program in Tampa, and is seeking to branch out because of space constraints on that campus. L. David de la Parte, executive vice president and general in-house counsel for Moffitt, told commissioners: “This is a big deal. It’s a complicated transaction. It’s been a number of years in the making. “It’s certainly important from an economic impact standpoint, but it’s even more important to the citizens of the state and to the citizens of this community,” de la Parte said. “Cancer is a terrible thing,” he added, noting that Moffitt’s role is to be a research engine, an innovator, a place of discovery. “We have been constrained, frankly, in that role, given the campus constraints that we have and have had.This will give us an opportunity to further accelerate the discovery,” he said. The attorney anticipates the Pasco campus will become “a life sciences destination

OVERPASS ROAD, from page 1A southbound I-75. To accommodate the new interchange, Overpass Road will be widened from two lanes to four lanes between I-75 and Old Pasco Road and six lanes between I-75 and Boyette Road. Blair Drive will be realigned to connect with Old Pasco Road. McKendree Road will be realigned to connect with

for the world.” Besides approving the economic incentive agreement, the board took a separate action to direct staff to secure funding to pay for the extension of Sunlake Boulevard to the Moffitt site.

CURING CANCER, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

Pasco commissioners are delighted by Moffitt’s decision to open a Pasco campus. “Yes, there’s the economic benefits that our citizens of Pasco County will have because of this facility being here,” County Commissioner Mike Moore said. But Moffitt’s work, he said, has impacts throughout the world. “Each and every one of us has been touched by either somebody that’s gone through cancer or is going through cancer now,” Moore said. Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said: “This is so great for your organization. It’s great for our county, but this is magnificent for the Tampa Bay region and Florida, as well.” Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick weighed in, too: “This will not only be an economic asset for our community, but it’s going to create jobs and it will save lives. “You guys are going to be bringing the best of the best right here to Pasco County, and I’m very excited,” she said. Commissioner Jack Mariano and Commission Chairman Ron Oakley were enthused, too. Oakley told de la Parte:“We support you all of the way, and we’re here to help you.” Along those lines, the agreement with Moffitt calls for a designated county liaison to help streamline governmental processes, and an assigned rapid response team to handle any issues that arise. Moffitt has agreed to handle the design, permitting, installation and construction of the public and non-public infrastructure outlined in the agreement. But before that occurs, these conditions must be met: • Completion of the Suncoast Parkway Interchange at Ridge Road • Completion of the Ridge Road extension in an easterly direction from the Suncoast Parkway Interchange to Sunlake Boulevard • Completion of two lanes of Sunlake Boulevard in a southerly direction from State Road 52, south of the Ridge Road and Sunlake Boulevard intersection, to Moffitt’s spine road intersection at Sunlake Boulevard Also, before Moffitt begins construction of the corporate business park building, the county and Moffitt will agree to a construction disbursement agreement that identifies specific sources of funds to satisfy the county’s obligations under the incentive agreement. The conditions are expected to be met by the end of 2022. Once they have been met, Moffitt has five years to complete the construction of the corporate business park building. The agreement also gives the county administrator the authority to approve up to three years of extensions, if Moffitt has made good faith efforts to meet its deadline. Boyette Road. Construction on the new diamond interchange, including changes to local road patterns, began on Oct. 26. Completion of the approximately $64 million project is scheduled for summer 2023. Initially, crews will work in the southwest area of the project, where a new neighborhood access road will be built at Old Pasco Road. It will replace the current Blair Drive link to Overpass.

OVERDOSES, from page 1A riod leading up to May 2020. During this time period: • 37 of the 38 U.S. jurisdictions with available synthetic opioid data reported increases in synthetic opioid-involved overdose deaths • 18 of these jurisdictions reported increases greater than 50% • 10 western states reported over a 98% increase in synthetic opioid-involved deaths

MORE TROUBLING TRENDS

While overdose figures were substantially higher in 2020 compared to 2019 and some previous years in Pasco, the sheriff’s office’s intelligence-led policing unit likewise found a steady increase each year since 2017, which, of course, predates the pandemic. This may result from lasting effects of Florida’s opioid prescription pill epidemic, Nocco said, with many users who initially got hooked on prescription pills turning to heroin, meth and other substances to get their fix. “We’re still dealing with it. It’s not over,” the sheriff said of the statewide pill crisis. “You’re looking at individuals that would’ve never used hard drugs such as meth or heroin, but because they were prescribed Roxys (Roxicodone), Oxys (Oxycodone), Xanax for minor things like a minor surgery, a tooth issue, something like that, they then became addicts, and so those people with those addictions, they’re still suffering right now.”

COURTESY OF PASCO SHERIFF’S OFFICE

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office reported 1,491 drug overdoses in 2020. That’s up 71% from 2019.

epidemic in local communities: • Expand distribution and use of naloxone and overdose prevention education • Increase awareness about and access to and availability of treatment for substance use disorders • Intervene early with individuals at highest risk for overdose • Improve detection of overdose outbreaks to facilitate more effective response On a related note, the sheriff’s office is working to make positive lasting impressions on the younger people, to help get a grip of at-risk mental health and substance use issues. The agency has partnered with the Pasco County Council Parent Teacher Association (PTA) on a mental health initiative titled, “You Matter,” which mainly focuses on suicide prevention among juveniles. Part of the effort involves distributing magnets with upbeat reminders that can be attached to cellphones and wallets, and other places. The sheriff said his agency is trying to get this message out to teenagers and young adults:“You matter in life.” The fact is that many of these kids are isolated, Nocco said. “They’re on their phones and they don’t feel like they’re engaged with what’s going on. “I understand a lot of people go on social media and walk away depressed thinking about what they read or if somebody put a negative comment on there,” he said. He wants to spread the word, to help people realize their value. “It doesn’t matter what somebody wrote about you, you matter to somebody else, and your life is important. “We don’t want to see people harm themselves or get an addiction over a comment made on social media by somebody who could live a couple of thousand miles away,” Nocco said.

SEEKING SOLUTIONS

To tackle these various substance abuse and related mental health issues, the local law enforcement agency is continuing to leverage its community-based health partners such as BayCare, Chrysallis Health and Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse and Prevention, and others. The sheriff’s office has a rolodex of health care agencies that can provide help with a range of issues, including mental health, substance abuse, homelessness, youth and family services, autism, suicide, and veterans and post-traumatic stress. More details on resources can be found on PascoSheriff.com/MENTALHEALTH.html. “We want to get to people before they get to that crisis stage,” Nocco said, adding, “and if people are starting to feel depressed, if they’re starting to feel issues and concerns, please reach out to those resources immediately. “If those health care issues are dealt with very early on, they don’t turn into criminal justice issues,” he said. The CDC also has made recommendations that can help curb drug overdose

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February 3, 2021

Community Sports Your Neighborhood Sports Source

Center Ice adds sports performance center By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

he largest ice arena in the southeastern United States has installed some new features to further enhance its sports performance and training

offerings. The 150,000-square-foot AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel is best known for having four full-sized ice rinks and a minirink housed under one roof. Recently, the facility added Octane Sports Performance, which aims to take hockey players, figure skaters and other athletes to greater heights. The 4,500-square-foot space encompasses a five-lane, 90-yard sprinting turf field, full-service weight room and full-service recovery room. Octane is designed for athletes of all ages to improve mobility, speed and agility, power and functional strength. Octane is operated under the direction of Mark Gochenour, a former professional sprinter and exercise physiologist. He has an expertise in speed development, strength training, orthopedics and metabolics; Octane also has a full-time athletic trainer on staff. Gochenour brings a pedigreed background in the fitness landscape. Besides opening several gyms throughout the Tampa Bay area, Gochenour is credited with having built the first and largest sports performance training facility in the Middle East, located in Kuwait City. He’s also previously contracted and consulted with military and law enforcement agencies, as well college and professional athletes in major sports leagues. Under his guidance, Octane’s sports performance training programs are described as “using the latest advancements in sports science and kinesiology to develop a sport-specific strength and conditioning program that improves the athlete’s overall athleticism.” Group and private training packages are available. Individualized training is based on each athlete’s personal goals and sport-specific demands. It’s also a tool that youth and adult hockey teams can take advantage of in between practices and games at Center Ice. Gochenour explained how an Octane fitness program would work for young and older athletes using both the sprint turf field —equipped with hurdles and push/pull sleds — and weight room, which features an assortment of dumbbells, barbells, plates, racks, medicine balls, boxes and manual treadmills. “The most important thing is we start very slow and make sure the athletes understand the movements patterns, they’re doing the movement patterns directly and then we can actually progress the athlete,” said Gochenour. “I get parents asking me questions all the time, ‘Should my 10-year-old be weightlifting?’ and the answer is,‘Yes.’ Now, am I going to put 200 pounds on your kid and have them do a squat? No, but I can teach them the proper squat mechanics, maybe while

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COURTESY OF BRIAN STRICKER

Hole-in-one!

Fifteen-year-old Land O’ Lakes resident Hailey Stricker recently recorded a hole-inone at Pebble Creek Golf Club in New Tampa. The feat occurred on the course’s 116-yard par-three, 12th hole, using an eightiron and a Wilson Chaos ball. Stricker — a freshman at Sunlake High — earned second team All-Conference honors as a member of the school’s varsity girls golf team.

KEVIN WEISS

The Octane Performance Center is housed inside AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel.

COURTESY OF ADVENTHEALTH CENTER ICE

The Massachusetts-based South Shore Kings of the United States Premier Hockey League undergo various warm-up and stretching exercises inside Octane’s five-lane, 90-yard sprinting turf field.

they’re holding a 6-pound med ball, and then we can progress to 8 pounds and can then progress to 15 or 16 pounds, and eventually to where they may be moving dumbbells.” Gochenour added the “key to success” in training “is understanding our process, understanding developing movement patterns and really, just buying into the new culture that we’re KEVIN WEISS developing here at Octane. “There’s nothing fancy Octane Sports Performance director Mark Gochenour about dumbbells and plates demonstrates how to use an electrical stimulation device and racks, it’s really more inside the recovery room at AdventHealth Center Ice in about processes and putting Wesley Chapel. things together,” he said. Meanwhile, Gochenour is most proud of “What it really does is, it refreshes their Octane’s new recovery room, within the legs so they can get out and play at a higher performance center. level, quicker. So, if you do those types of Formerly a little-used ballet space for fig- things, when you’re looking at your training ure skaters, Gochenour and Center Ice processes, if I can get more quality out of officials had grander visions for the enclosed you over time, your athletic performance space. should go up,” he explained. The room has been transformed to inThe Aquilo boots look similar to the clude various state-of-the-art recovery tools NormaTec compression pants, but instead and equipment once only accessible to circulates ice water around all lower body Olympic and professional or elite athletes, muscles to help promote recovery and healincluding: ing to muscles and joints. • NormaTec compression leg boots They mirror and serve the purpose of an • Aquilo ice leg boots ice bath without all the hassle, especially in • Game Ready Med4Elite recovery sys- an altered COVID-19 world. tem Said Gochenour:“It’s like being in a cold • NeuFit Neubie electrical stimulation de- bath. I can get the pants down to about 38 vice degrees (Fahrenheit), and you never have to “We started looking at products to see get in water, and it refreshes the athletes what we could bring into the area and what completely. It’s really an amazing product.” we could into the building and what we reThe GameReady Med4Elite multi-modalially came up with were four different ty therapy unit enables simultaneous products,” Gochenour said. treatment of one or two patients with multiGochenour went into further detail how ple injuries. each device can be applied by athletes. The system integrates cryotherapy, therThe NormaTec boots, for instance, use air motherapy, rapid contrast therapy and pressure massage and compression to re- intermittent pneumatic compression theralieve leg muscle aches, and temporarily py in one device. increase circulation. In simpler terms, the contraption can They’re best used for when athletes im- produce hot and cold compression to any mediately get off the ice or field when legs part of the body, whether it’s a shoulder, are fatigued, Gochenour said. elbow, wrist, knee and so on.

Saint Leo volleyball coach resigns Following the most successful season in program history, Saint Leo University head volleyball coach Jason Skoch announced his resignation to seek professional opportunities outside of coaching. Skoch led the Lions to a 24-11 mark in his lone season as head coach in 2019, while COURTESY OF SAINT LEO ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT capturing the program’s first Saint Leo indoor volleyball coach Jason Skoch hudNCAA South Region dles with his team during a game in the 2019 season. Championship and a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight. The program’s 2020 season was can- leyball programs to NCAA Tournament celed due to the coronavirus pandemic. success (Saint Leo, West Texas A&M, “I am very grateful for the opportunity Truman State). He leaves behind a coachprovided me by (Saint Leo athletics direc- ing legacy that includes over 400 career tor) Fran (Reidy) to coach at Saint Leo victories, five coach of the year honors, the past two years,” Skoch said in a re- nine 30-plus win seasons, 13 conference lease. “It was a great change of scenery championships, 12 NCAA appearances, for me and my family. I had fun with the and six trips to the Elite Eight. challenges presented, and, as the team Saint Leo beach volleyball coach Mike grew and matured, we found the ability Shearer will serve as named interim head to make history.Watching the players see coach of the indoor volleyball program.A the opportunity materialize right in front coaching search will be conducted at a of their eyes was fun.” later date when COVID-19 protocols Skoch led three different women’s vol- allow, the school says.

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“I can work all those different areas of your body, so I can spot-check everything basically from your neck to your toes, so if you have a specific injury, I can work with it hot or cold,” Gochenour explained. Meantime, the NeuFit Neubie device could be the most significant game changer for athletes. It uses electrocurrent stimulation to “trick your brain” into more quickly recovering from pain, injury or surgery. Octane is one of about just 50 providers of the technology nationwide, Gochenour said. In fact, the exercise guru flew out to Austin,Texas, to learn how to apply the product under direction of an orthopedic surgeon. With the Neubie, pulsed direct currents on electrode sticky pads are attached to different areas of the body to promote healing through the body’s tissue and the nervous system; the treatment ultimately increases blood flow and teaches troubled muscles to work at a higher level. Gochenour underscored the technology’s healing properties. A high ankle sprain can be resolved with the treatment in about two weeks to three weeks, compared to the normal six weeks to eight weeks. He also noted it’s proven effective in treating other ailments, whether it’s back issues or tennis and golfer’s elbow — pain on the inner side of the elbow. “Sometimes I can treat them one time, and it’s gone,” Gochenour said.“Some people think it’s like witchcraft, but it’s really not. Sometimes I can’t define why it works or exactly how it works; I know from a scientific perspective why it works.” The recovery room also has an assortment of training tables and lounge chairs, and also is used for taping, stretching and massages, and other sports medicine purposes to leverage what has become a growing fitness trend in the United States — more emphasis on post-workout recovery methods. Gochenour joined Center Ice in July. He first spent several months getting Octane primed and ready for an early November ribbon-cutting. He noted the coronavirus pandemic delayed some of the equipment shipment timelines, particularly when it came to outfitting the recovery and rehabilitation space. “Some of the machines took a while to get. Gosh, the hardest thing to get were the (lounge) chairs,” he quipped.

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COURTESY OF ACADEMY AT THE LAKES

1,000 point club

Academy at the Lakes senior guard Caleb Yann recently crossed the ‘1,000 career points scored’ plateau. The 5-foot-11 Yann has averaged a combined 12.7 points per game across four varsity seasons, including a high of 17.7 points as a junior. Yann also played varsity football for the Wildcats, notably as a receiver, defensive back and punter.

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F E B RUA RY 3 , 2 0 2 1

Creating a culture for success Robyn White never set out to be a school principal, but the top administrator at Wiregrass Ranch High gets high marks for her leadership. By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

“I can just remember, going back and sitting up in the bleachers and literally putting up a newspaper in front of my face and crying. “Mr. (Andy) Frelick (principal at Wesley Chapel) was very kind. He allowed (me) to have some flex days in finishing up at Dunedin High School, because I was involved in so much.” She went to work at Wesley Chapel High on Jan. 31, 2005, but her stay there was short-lived. Wiregrass Ranch High was opening and students from Wesley Chapel were being reassigned to that school.White’s job at Wesley Chapel High was cut. She joined Bonti’s staff on March 13, 2006. When the new high school opened, it had a total of 700 ninth- and 10thgraders, White said, and it operated in portables behind Weightman Middle School. B.C. MANION Wiregrass Ranch relocated to its current campus over winWiregrass Ranch High School Principal Robyn White has seen a lot of change through the years, but she ter break. said students essentially remain the same: ‘They just want somebody to care. They just want to know that By its third year, the high they’re making somebody proud.’ (The principal had been wearing a mask as a precaution due to COVID-19, school was operating at its but she removed it for this photo). 1,650-student capacity. Its enrollment has swelled through the years, causing the school to add portables, and for two years operated on a 10-period day — to limit the number of students on campus at one time. Its enrollment also has been reduced with boundary shifts — which were adamantly opposed by parents and students, alike. Now, the enrollment stands at 2,078 — but the campus feels more spacious this year because about 800 students have opted to learn remotely due to concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19.

iregrass Ranch High School Principal Robyn White was just 13 when she decided her path in life. “The only question I had, honestly, was whether I wanted to teach music or math,” said White, who went on to teach mathematics at the middle and high school levels, before stepping into school administration. Next month, on March 13, White will mark her 15th anniversary at Wiregrass Ranch High, at 2909 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. The educator joined the school as an assistant principal, under the direction of Ray Bonti, the school’s first principal. Later, she was promoted to the school’s top post, to replace Bonti when he ascended to become an assistant superintendent for Pasco County Schools. White said Bonti was one of the most important mentors in her career. He gave her a chance, she said, to learn about all aspects of school administration before she took the helm at Wiregrass Ranch. Bonti, now executive director of the Hillsborough Association of School Administrators, said White excelled, and was his logical replacement. “Robyn is one of the smartest administrators that I’ve worked with over my almost 30 years working in Pasco County Schools,” Bonti said. “Not only was she one of the smartest that I’ve worked with — she was a tireless worker. She put 100% effort into it.” She also provides sound guidance, Bonti added. “I learned a lot from her.A lot FILE of people learned a lot from her. Students across the nation walked out of classrooms on March 14, 2018, in a protest against gun vioShe mentored many teachers. lence and a call for greater action by Congress to keep students safe. The walkout was sanctioned at She mentored many students,” Wiregrass Ranch High. ‘I believe that students should have a voice to express their concerns, their opinBonti said. ions,’ said Wiregrass Ranch High Principal Robyn White. Over the years, Wiregrass Ranch High has developed a reputation for excellence, and during the reer in accounting. of it, to be very honest. I loved being in the 2019-2020 school year, White was selected But, White didn’t want to sit behind a classroom.” as high school principal of the year by the desk, she wanted to be personally involved But Reed had planted a seed. Pasco County Council PTA. in helping others. White began taking a class here and Denise Nicholas, president of the council So, after graduating from the University there, thinking perhaps someday she might at the time, said White is known for running of West Florida, in Pensacola, White landed explore an administrative role.After all, she a tight ship, and for welcoming student her first job, teaching mathematics at already had a master’s degree and would ideas. Dunedin Highland Middle School in Pinellas just need certification. “She has an open-door policy for her stu- County. When an assistant principal retired, dents,” Nicholas said. After that, she worked four years in a White became an acting assistant principal White listens, she said. dropout prevention program, before return- — allowing her the chance to give it a try. “The number of activities and groups for ing to the classroom to teach sixth-grade “I did that for a semester, thinking that students, with whatever different interests mathematics. position would be open the following year — if they have a plan and they have a sponHer next teaching stop was at Dunedin and it would be a nice, easy transition,” sor, and it makes sense, she absolutely will High School. White said. support that. “I loved being a part of the classroom,” It didn’t play out that way. “There is a tremendous number of clubs, White said. “That was the year that Pinellas County for every different interest, which is pheIt never occurred to her to pursue a job cut 23 assistant principals, so, I went back to nomenal,” Nicholas said. in administration. the classroom,” she said. Bonti said that White “has always main“Never in my wildest dreams would I That didn’t bother her, because she loved tained that really good balance of setting have ever imagined that I would have been teaching. high expectations and creating a culture a principal of a school. I wouldn’t have even But because she had served as an acting that (makes) people want to be there.” given it a consideration,” she said. assistant principal, she found herself being But, gentle nudging from Dr. Mildred called upon repeatedly to fill in when anothSHE DIDN’T SET OUT Reed, her principal at Dunedin High School, er assistant principal was out. changed that. “That got a little bit old,” White said, so TO BE A PRINCIPAL When White was beginning her career, White was very involved at Dunedin she decided to apply in Pasco County, her only ambition was to teach. High. Besides teaching, she was the athletic which was advertising for administrators. “I just remember being in awe of teach- director, she sponsored multiple clubs and Her first interview was for a job at ers, and what they did and what they taught she chaired a committee involving small Zephyrhills High, which she didn’t get. me,”White said, noting she was particularly learning communities. Her next interview was for a job at influenced by Marita Noe and Shirley Holm, Reed came to her and said:“I don’t un- Wesley Chapel High, which she landed. two of her high school math teachers. derstand.You do all of this and don’t get any “I’ll never forget the day I got the call. It White knew she had a knack for helping pay for it, Why wouldn’t you go back to was a Friday afternoon,” she said. her friends and other students learn. school and consider getting into administraShe was at a conference wrestling meet. At one point, her mom recognized her tion?” “I thought,‘My goodness, how am I going math skills and suggested she pursue a caWhite went on:“I really hadn’t thought to tell these kids that I’m leaving?

LESSONS SHE’S LEARNED THROUGH THE YEARS

Besides being an educator, White has been a learner, too. As a teacher intern, her supervising teacher gave her two pieces of advice. “Piece No. 1: Stay out of the teachers’ lounge because that’s where negativity breeds. “And, Piece No. 2:When you don’t enjoy it anymore, get out. “I tell people to this day:‘If you’re not enjoying it, why are you staying?’” She also learned how to manage her emotions. When she was an acting assistant principal, she said,“I remember multiple times I got very emotional and she (Dr. Reed) told me,‘Principals don’t cry.’” White said she has a slightly different message for the people she mentors:“I say, ‘Principals do cry, but with the door shut.’” She thinks her years in the classroom have helped her to be a better principal. “You need to be able to relate to what teachers are going through,” she explained. And, as a leader of a large school, she understands the importance of teamwork. “There’s no way that I can do this job without the team I have around me.That’s everybody from my custodial, my non-instructional staff, my teachers,”White said. She has confidence in them. “They’re all smart people. So, they know what’s going to work for them and what works for their kids. So, I give them the autonomy to decide how that’s going to work,” she said. Myriad decisions must be made, but White said:“Ultimately, it’s about what’s in the best interest of the kids.” So much has changed over the years, but students are essentially the same, the principal said. “They just want somebody to care.They just want to know that they’re making somebody proud.”

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Reba McKenzie is a 1-year-old toy poodle. She is as sweet as she is cute. Reba has a fun personality and is smart. She loves to play with her big sister Sweet Pea, a 10-year-old toy poodle. Reba lives with Gina Kriegisch in Land O’ Lakes.

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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

Theresa Sierra, of Land O’ Lakes, said this painted bunting every year comes by her birdfeeder at her home in Lake Thomas. The male bunting is vividly colored and the female is mostly green with a hint of yellow. People used to capture the males and keep them in bird cages to be sold, but that practice now is illegal.

PET PAWS ROAD-TRIPPING WITH A PET

Some pet owners find road-tripping with their four-legged sidekick more fun, according to Trips with Pets. Taking a solo road trip with a pet requires extra preparation, but planning wisely and keeping the pet’s needs in mind can make the trip more enjoyable and stress-free. Trips with Pets makes these recommendations to ensure smooth and safe travel. • Stay safe. Be sure your pet is properly secured in the back seat or cargo area, to ensure safety and to minimize driving distractions. Get your pet accustomed to a restraint in advance of the trip so it will feel more comfortable. Share your trip details, including a schedule, with a friend or family member and frequently check-in with your current location, where you are staying, and any changes you may have

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made to the original plans. • Plan and prioritize. Double-check your pet’s tags, vaccinations and microchip information to make sure they are up-to-date. Talk with your vet to ensure your pet is in top shape for travel and take a copy of vaccination records with you. Several states require proof of vaccinations for any pet crossing state lines. • Pick your path. When planning a trip alone with your pet, ensure that “essentials” can be found on your travel route. Plan a route that has plenty of places for your pup to potty, and be sure to bring waste bags and supplies to clean up after your pet. If the stop is for you, the driver, never leave your pet alone in the car. Find a pet-friendly business and use its restroom.There are pet stores and petfriendly hotel chains that will let you use the facilities with your pet.

• Reserve pet-friendly accommodations. Some hotels have a limited number of pet-friendly rooms, and most hotels have restrictions like a pet-weight limit and the number of pets allowed. Some even have breed restrictions. Finding the right hotel while you are on the road may not always work out well. • Pack up with convenience in mind. If it is just you and your pet on the trip, there won’t be anyone to leave your pet with while you pop into a grocery store or gas station. (You might also consider getting a pre-paid gas card so you can keep an eye on your pet, while refueling). Pets should not be left alone in a vehicle, so stock up on provisions for the trip. Arrange the space in your car so everything is easy to access, so you meet your pet's needs, including pet travel bowls, treats, waste bags, medication, leashes, a first aid kit, toys and blankets.

For information and for finding petfriendly accommodations, please visit TripsWithPets.com.

SHARE YOUR PET NEWS

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.

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COURTESY OF PASCO COUNTY

The Pasco Community Cares Team is shown here, with Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles on the right. The team was named the county’s Star Team of the Year, for handling the massive job of distributing millions of dollars in federal assistance to people needing help with food and housing, during the pandemic.

Pasco County honors outstanding employees By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

Beautiful Bella Bella is looking for a soft place to land. She is a little shy at first, but when you start petting her, she melts! Bella loves having her ears and chin scratched. She has pretty markings and a soft, fluffy tail. This 8-month-old sweet girl would love someone to cuddle up on the couch with. Is your home missing a furry companion? Schedule an appointment to meet Bella!

Check out Confetti Need someone to celebrate life with? Confetti is gentle with toys and loves to play fetch — even though she doesn't know the word ‘fetch’ just yet. Like many dogs, she also loves some good pets and belly rubs. Confetti would prefer a home with adults only or older children, as she's not a big fan of the little ones. This 1-yearold weighs about 50 pounds. Does Confetti sound like your perfect match? Schedule an appointment to meet her today!

If you would like to adopt these pets, 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.

Pasco County employees that went the extra, extra mile to help residents and county government adapt to the challenges posed by COVID-19 were honored in a resolution adopted by the Pasco County Commission last week. Commissioners approved the selection of the county’s 2020 Star Performers of the Year — chosen as the “best of the best” by county administration. County Administrator Dan Biles said the award winners are among a multitude of county employees who went beyond the call of duty to provide needed services during 2020. Those singled out for special recognition were: • Todd Curci, Star Performer of the Year • Tambrey Laine, Star Leader of the Year • Pasco Community Cares Team, Star Team of the Year Their contributions were outlined in a video presented during the Jan. 26 board meeting. Curci was credited with helping the county to use technology, to adjust to restricted working conditions imposed by COVID-19. He helped employees not only to work remotely, but also to collaborate and to have staff meetings. He also helped elected officials to conduct their business via remote, then hybrid sessions. “Todd tirelessly provided the necessary support and training across the organization, as we successfully transitioned to a remote work model,” the video said. “Additionally,Todd assisted teams across the organization, in hosting their WebEx meetings, including board meetings, team leadership meetings and Citizens Academy meetings. “This volume of work included more than 75 meetings and over 200 hours of individual support time,” the video said. Laine, who leads the county’s Media Relations & Communications team has created what is essentially Pasco County’s own newsroom, according to the video. Laine’s department also helps get the word out through a variety of channels, including news releases, videos and news alerts. Her department completed more than 1,000 media contacts last year, and produced more than 100 videos. Since 2017, it has helped increase the

county’s social media following by nearly 50%. The department also has established the county administrator’s podcast, has created a video about human resource benefits, has provided support messaging for census efforts and has shared news about everything from major projects to updates on COVID-19 vaccine efforts. The Pasco Community CARES Team has been the conduit for distributing millions of dollars in federal funds provided through the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act, to Pasco County residents in need of assistance. As the video put it: “Faced with the nation’s biggest health challenge in more than 100 years, many in our community lost jobs, and quickly ran out of money to pay bills and buy basic necessities. It took a small army of county staffers, from nine different departments, to handle the massive workload. “The Pasco Community CARES team served several thousand people, paying out more than $4 million in much-needed aid, with compassion, respect and integrity,” the video says. During the board meeting, the nine departments involved were represented by their team leaders: Brian Hoben, Manny Long, Lisa Stinnett, Danielle Bierman, Jessica Bleser, Marcy Esbjerg, Kristina McGonigal, and Samantha Grahn and Laine. Administrator Biles also said he would be remiss if he failed to mention the instrumental role that the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office played in the CARES Act efforts, and he wanted to be sure they received proper credit. County commissioners also heaped on some praise. “I think the county has just been remarkable in these trying times,” Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said.“Gosh, sitting here last year, who would have thought we’d have a year like this?” Commissioner Jack Mariano said Curci’s persistence and expertise helped the county adapt, but also has set it up for the future. “I think the county is going to benefit for many, many years to come, with the efficiencies of using technology,” Mariano said. He also singled out Cathy Pearson, assistant county administrator for public services, for her leadership of the CARES’ team efforts. “What you did for this community was phenomenal,” Mariano said.

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Renowned educator discusses racial equity By Kevin Weiss

try to use that inspiration to push forward again.”

kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

When it comes to race relations in America, many meaningful advancements have been made over the last several decades — but there still is a long way to go in the name of equity. At least that was the message put forth by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, a nationally recognized authority on racial issues in America. She was the featured guest speaker of PascoHernando State College’s 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative event. The Jan. 21 virtual event was organized by the college’s department of global and multicultural awareness. A clinical psychologist and sought-after leader in higher education,Tatum is president emerita of Atlanta’s Spelman College and author of several books, including the best-selling,“Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” The speaker also is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Academic Leadership Award in 2013 and the American Psychological Association’s Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology in 2014. Tatum opened the conversation by emphasizing the racial progress the United States has made since her birth in the early 1950s. She shared a story about her own family’s prior struggles. She detailed how her Black father, Dr. Robert Daniel, was unable to attend Florida State University in 1954 and obtain a doctorate in art education because it was a segregated institution, for whites only. Rather than simply allowing Tatum’s father to attend FSU, the state of Florida instead opted to pay for his transportation costs to another institution out of state — Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Tatum observed:“Today that sounds ridiculous, right? It sounds like, ‘Why would the state do that?’ and yet that was the reality then.The fact that today Florida State is quite a diverse institution, certainly no longer whites only, all of that lets us know there has been progress.”

PUSHBACK AGAINST PROGRESS

Despite gains, compared to the 1950s and 1960s,Tatum said there has been nationwide resistance following these periods of social progress — particularly around the turn and throughout the 21st century. It was evident even during the President Barack Obama years,Tatum said, when a provision of the Voting Rights Acts of 1965 was struck down by a 2013 Supreme Court ruling. That decision allowed nine states, mostly in the South, to change their election laws without federal oversight.

AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum

Some states, in recent years, also have reversed various affirmative action measures. California voters approved Proposition 209 in 1996, which says the state cannot discriminate against or grant preferential treatment on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, specifically in the areas of public employment, public contracting and public education. This decision,Tatum said, dramatically decreased the African-American student population and other minorities at California State universities. Tatum also criticized decision-making policies surrounding incarceration, anti-drug efforts and the so-called War on Drugs, which she claimed has yielded a dramatic increase in the incarceration of people of color, particularly Black men and women. The speaker suggested many of these drug policies “were racist by nature,” giving examples of disparate prison sentences for a non-violent Black individual in possession of crack cocaine, compared to a white individual caught with powder cocaine. Tatum underscored the negative impacts this “racial bias in the justice system” has caused for many Black communities and families:“What happens to you if you come out of jail and you’ve served your time, and you can’t rent an apartment and it’s hard to get a job?” Tatum also took aim at discriminatory housing and lending policies to Black families, which she said is still felt today even after the Fair Housing Act of 1968 officially made real estate redlining illegal. Over the years, Black families — even those with high-quality credit ratings — oftentimes received loans with less desirable terms than white families with similar incomes, credit and purchase power, she said. This all came to a head during the 2008 recession, Tatum said: “Many of those unfavorable loans were coming due and when the economy tanked, those loans tanked, and many people who had been given those loans found themselves in (a) position of having their houses underwater, so to speak.” When asked what the civil rights leaders of the 1960s would think about the country today,Tatum responded:“Maybe need to revisit some of the questions they were asking and

As for where the country is headed,Tatum expressed optimism with the election and swearing in of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. She commended several of the new administration’s moves, such as reversing travel bans on Muslim countries; pausing deportations for certain undocumented immigrants; extending the federal moratorium on evictions; and extending the pause on federal student loan payments and collections, and keeping their interest rate at 0%. “I am encouraged by some of the things that our new president already has done through his executive orders,”Tatum said. But, much more needs to be done, from the speaker’s viewpoint. The push for a living wage is “a really critical issue” to help uplift more Black families out of poverty,Tatum said. The problem has persisted even since Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968 in Memphis,Tennessee, when he was fighting for economic justice as part of the city’s sanitation workers’ strike. Tatum put it like this:“If you are working very hard at the minimum wage in your locale, you are going to be poor, because you cannot sustain yourself and your family on such low wages. “I am of the opinion that if a job is worth doing, it needs to be paid at a wage that allows you to sustain yourself with dignity,” she said. Not resolving that issue, she said, “is a strategic error, not just because it’s bad for the people who are trying to make a living — but it’s also bad for all of us to have a significant portion of our population unable to sustain itself.” She also pointed out that the coronavirus pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on communities of color, putting them at greater risk, because of poverty, concentrated living situations and limited access to highquality health care. Many people in these communities also are part of the so-called essential workforce, driving buses, working in grocery stores “and doing things that put you in harm’s way, without sufficient protection, during a dangerous pandemic,” she said. The distinguished educator also called for increased opportunities for robust and affordable education opportunities. She acknowledged there are available federal government programs, such as Pell Grants, to help close the gap for disadvantaged students. But, she said: “Tuitions have risen at institutions all across the country because the state funding has been insufficient

A statement from PHSC’s president Pasco-Hernando State College President Timothy Beard offered some observations regarding the current state of America’s racial issues during a recent virtual event focusing on racial equity. “First, I want to acknowledge that we’ve come a long ways, yet we have a long ways to go,” said Beard, the second AfricanAmerican to serve as president of the college. “Race is a topic that most individuals still try to steer away from, but I think it’s a discussion that we must continue to have as a nation. “I do believe in Dr. King’s words when he said we are a nation of ideals and we’re still progressing as an institution to become that more perfect union. “In order for that to happen we have to be able to deal with those topics that might not be convenient, and the only way to get better is to continue to confront those things that you can change. If you don’t confront it, perhaps you can’t change. “It is just an awesome opportunity for us to make progress as we deal with this topic of race inequality. As we look to the future, we do want to acknowledge we have what it takes for us to be successful, as chaotic as it has been the last eight, nine, 10, 11 months or so, we’re still looking for opportunities for us to be successful, and because you don’t assume, you participate, you’re being engaged in a conversation, I want to say that it’s a sign of progress.”

to cover the costs.” The burden of the additional costs is passed onto individuals and families, and the dilemma comes back to how much people are paid. The median income of an AfricanAmerican family is around $40,000 annually. “You cannot afford a college education if your family income is $40,000 per year. It’s just not possible, so how do we meet the need of young people who want to be able to pursue a college education? Lots of communities are asking this question. “We as a nation have to decide if we want to invest in the next generation. I don’t think we have made that decision in a way that is clearly visible.We really need a national initiative that says,‘We want to invest in the next generation,’ regardless of race, understanding that if we want to be successful as a nation, we have to have access to affordable education, at a level that this post-industrial economy requires.”

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Health

Wellness Send health news to news@lakerlutznews.com

BLOOD DRIVE YIELDS 20+ PINTS Ierna’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in Lutz started the new year off with a curbside blood drive in partnership with OneBlood on Jan. 5, which yielded more than 20 pints of whole blood. Each donor received a T-shirt, a restaurant voucher, a $20 gift card, and a wellness checkup that included a COVID-19 antibody test. Ierna’s also handed out its own swag, including custom hand-sanitizer pens. According to the American Red Cross, one blood donation can potentially save up to three lives. Less than 38% of the population is eligible to give blood or platelets, which makes volunteer donors important. Donation appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are open to the public. Follow Ierna’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing on social media to be notified about its next blood drive, scheduled for April 1.

HEART FAILURE TALK

FOLLOWING GUIDELINES FOR DINE-IN

AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Dade City will host a virtual health talk,“Heart Failure:There is Hope,” on Feb. 9 at noon, on both the hospitals’ Facebook pages. The guest speaker will be Dr. Binu Jacob, board-certified cardiologist. To register, call 877-534-3108 or visit AHZephyrhills.com.

MEDICARE INFO SESSIONS

The Area Agency on Aging of PascoPinellas will present these Medicare information sessions, via Zoom: • Feb. 11 at 11 a.m.: Medicare Part C Advantage Plans • Feb. 11 at noon: Medicare Basics with SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) • Feb. 13 at 10 a.m.: Medicare 101 with SHINE • Feb. 17 at 10 a.m.: Medicare Part C Advantage Plans • Feb. 17 at noon: Medicare Preventative Services Registration is required. For information, contact Geralyn Fortney at 727-570-9696, ext. 273 or Geralyn.fortney@aaapp.org.

BLOOD DRIVE

Kia of Wesley Chapel, 28555 State Road 54, will host a OneBlood Blood Drive with the Big Red Bus on Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. According to OneBlood:“If helping your community is part of your New Year’s Resolution, we invite you to come out and donate blood to help patients in local area hospitals.You can make a different this year!”

SENIOR HEALTH FAIR

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Safe, Social diSt ta anc cing

The Laker/Lutz News likes to keep our readers informed about available classes, seminars, lectures and events regarding health and wellness issues. Hospitals, doctors, individual practitioners and anyone related to the health care industry can submit information, at least two weeks in advance, to be considered for publication. Photos of events, recognitions and so on, also are welcome. Submissions should include who, what, where, when, cost, contact information, identifications for individuals in a photo (unless it is a large group), and a photo credit. This information should be emailed to news@lakerlutznews.com.

COURTESY OF PATRICIA SERIO

Bringing warmth and cheer

The residents of a local nursing home had a special and festive Christmas, thanks to the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club. Members of the club provided large gift bags filled with treats, along with requested and needed items, to bring cheer to or to keep the residents warm and comfortable. Twenty-five residents who may not have had friends or family able to visit over the holidays during the pandemic lockdown were provided for. (Note: Residents agreed to photos, but their names and the facility’s name were not to be released.)

Social distancing will be enforced, so participants must reserve a time slot to limit the number of individuals at the fair at any given time. To make a reservation, call 813-7809622.

WOMEN’S CHOICE AWARD

AdventHealth Zephyrhills has been named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care by the Women’s Choice Award. The award signifies that AdventHealth Zephyrhills is in the top 1% of 4,542 hospitals in the United States offering heart care services. The methodology used to select the hospital as one of America’s best involves evaluations of: • The number of cardiac/vascular services offered. Recognized hospitals must offer at least six of the following services: Cardiac Catheter Lab, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Cardiac Surgery, Carotid Stenting, Coronary Interventions, Electrophysiology, Vascular Interventions, Vascular Surgery and Coronary Intensive Care (CCU). • 30-day mortality and readmission rates for heart attack and heart failure • Patient recommendation ratings on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey • Primary research about women’s health care preferences For information about America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care, visit WomensChoiceAward.com/best-hospitalsfor-heart-care.

NEW STAFF MEMBER

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute has welcomed Dr. Jessica Stine, oncologist, to its staff. Dr. Stine will care for patients at Florida Cancer’s New Port Richey location, 8763 River Crossing Blvd., and in Wesley Chapel at 2391 Oak Myrtle Lane. She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami, and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she served as administrative chief resident. She was then awarded a fellowship in gynecologic oncology from the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill. Dr. Stine has worked as a proctor and speaker at da Vinci Surgery, and as an associate professor for the obstetrics and gynecology residency at Brandon Regional Hospital. She is an advanced robotic surgeon, and has an interest in fertility sparing approaches. She also is one of the few physicians trained to perform a radical trachelectomy for young cervical cancer patients who wish to preserve their ability to conceive.

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Boy Scouts conduct food drive The Laker/Lutz News Staff Report

Members of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council of Boy Scouts of America are participating in a national Scouting for Food program to benefit local food banks, according to a news release. The drive began Jan. 23, when Scouts left empty bags in neighborhoods in the nine counties of the council.They will return to collect the filled bags by Feb. 7. An instruction sheet inside the bag includes the pickup dates, Christopher Perry, the council’s Scouting for Food chairman, said in the release. The Scouts will deliver the food to designed food banks, as well as a few unit-sponsoring organizations. In Hillsborough County, food will go to Abe Brown Ministries, Community Food Bank, Santa Maria Mission and other locations.

A transition of leadership Peter Castellani, left, stands alongside his successor, April Beck, who will take over the reins at Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers. Castellani stepped into semiretirement with a celebration in his honor on Jan. 28, at Copperstone Executive Suites, where Oasis has its Land O’ Lakes office. He has served Oasis from October 2009 to the present. Beck is the new executive director and will take over the ministry’s KELLI CARMACK day-to-day operations.

The COVID-19 virus crisis has resulted in job losses and increased needs for food distribution, Perry said. “Families are struggling and the food banks are struggling; they are receiving less in donations,” Perry said, adding the organizers have chosen mainly smaller local pantries to support. In 2020, the council donated almost 35,000 pounds of canned foods and nonperishable items, collected by more than 110 units in the council, according to Perry, who hopes to exceed that number this year. “It’s a little different this year as Scouts can pick up on any day that is convenient for their unit instead of one specific collection day, as in the past,” Perry said. Masks are to be worn and social distancing practiced for both the bag distribution and the food collection.

Nominations sought to honor environmental champion The Laker/Lutz News Staff Report

Hillsborough County is seeking nominations for someone whose work to protect the environment has made a lasting difference in the quality of life for its residents, according to a county news release. The county is looking for nominees for its Hillsborough County’s Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award. The honor is bestowed each year to an individual or group who exemplifies dedication to preserving the County’s natural resources, the release says. The award is named after Theodore

Roosevelt Jr., the 26th president of the United States and noted conservationist, who placed more than 200 million acres under public protection. Nominees must live or work in Hillsborough County and “be someone who shows persistence and dedication to longterm conservation of the county’s natural resources, demonstrates integrity in performance toward conservation goals, and displays attributes of true conservation stewardship,’’ according to the award criteria. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 28. For more information, call 813-672-7876, or email Ross Dickerson at DickersonR@hcfl.gov.net.

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Florida’s best cancer care. Clos ser to our patiients. Florida’s ﬁnest cancer care is s closer tthan a eve er. Inttroduc oducing g Mo offitt’s new outp patie p ent cancer center, o opening soo on in Wesley Chapel. Beginning o February 15, you will have eve en more convenient access a to the most proven treatm ments along with screening exams and more. Plus a cance er team that willl fuel your courage to face the challe enge. If you’ve been n newly diagnosed, don’t compromise.

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10B

February 3, 2021

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