What's happening
By Times Staff Writer
Published January 30, 2005
San Antonio is home to a new chapter of Rotary Club International. The chapter meets at noon Tuesdays at the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club, 11500 Old Tampa Bay Drive.
On Tuesday, Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Kurt Browning will speak. The public is invited to attend.
The local San Antonio chapter invites all residents and business people to the meetings. The meetings feature food and social gatherings and a speaker.
The local chapter is involved in several local charities, and the San Antonio chapter plans to rebuild the bulletin board at the San Antonio Post Office, with help from others in the community.
Rotary is a global network of community volunteers. Members are business and professional leaders who volunteer in their communities and promote world health and peace.
Rotary's 31,000 clubs in more than 165 countries encourage high ethical standards in business and carry out projects to address poverty, health, hunger, education and the environment.
For information about the new San Antonio Rotary cal l J.D. Moore at (813) 629-1331.
Fasano to speak at Saint Leo UniversityState Sen. Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey), will speak at Saint Leo University at 3 p.m. Friday in Selby Auditorium. The event is sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. Fasano will speak on his experience in Florida politics; a discussion with the audience will follow.
Fasano was elected to the state Senate in November 2002 and re-elected to a four-year term in 2004. Prior to entering the Senate, he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives, serving for eight years as majority whip, majority floor leader, and majority leader.
Fasano is an associate vice president with Morgan Stanley in Port Richey. He has been a resident of Florida for 32 years and lives in New Port Richey. He is a lector and active member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
For information about this and other events at Saint Leo University call Karla Willman, director of public relations at (352) 588-8121 or Sally Guignon, communications specialist at (352) 588-8237.
Primrose School opens"Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child," reads a small plaque on the counter in the front office of Primrose School. The 12 words sum up the philosophy of the education children receive at Land O'Lakes' newest learning center for children ages 6 weeks through 12 years.
Primrose School, on Weeks Boulevard, just off Collier Parkway, and next door to Lake Myrtle Elementary School, held its grand opening Jan. 15, two days before opening day. Kelli and Steve Chojnacki are the local owners of Land O'Lakes Primrose School.
Melanie Wicinski, director of the school, eagerly takes visitors on tours of the facility. She emphasizes that Primrose is "a private educational preschool, not just a child care facility."
The curriculum of Primrose stresses balanced child detail activities, blending child initiated and teacher directed activities, bringing into focus Primrose philosophies of character and value.
In the entrance hall of Primrose, a long chart displays an outline of programs under the title "Exclusive Early Childhood Development for the Balanced Child." Programs of learning range from social and emotional development, language development and small and large motor skills for infants to problem solving, listening skills, oral language development, science and music for 3-years-olds to character development, community awareness, print knowledge and foreign language for 4-year-old kindergarten students. The chart continues to show that 5-year-old kindergarten students build on previously learned skills and they perfect skills that will lead them to success when they begin school. The Explorers Club, the group of children who arrive for a few hours after school, also have a plan that leads them in enhancing already acquired skills.
Wicinski explains that Primrose has 60 children enrolled but the facility is licensed for 186. The student to teacher ratio exceeds the state expectations and she gives examples such as the state ratio for 2-year-olds is one teacher per 11 students. Primrose's ratio is one teacher per eight 2-year-olds. Other ratios for 3- to 5-year-olds are similar. The state ratio for after school students is one teacher per 25 students. Primrose ratio for that same group, the Explorers Club, is one teacher per 12 students.
There are many learning opportunities for children of all ages. One that catches the interest of many parents is the Spanish classes that begin at age 3. This follows sign language that is used with infants and toddlers, helping those young children to develop early communication skills.
Sparkling classrooms filled with colorful displays and hands on learning games and toys open off a long hallway. Classical music softly plays over the intercom and midway down the hall, a display center holds a television with continuous running pictures of school activities. Across the hall, on a large bulletin board, there are pictures and a brief biography of each teacher in the program.
At the end of the hallway is a sign marking the laundry room. Wicinski explains that the facility washes all linens for the center, including blankets, crib sheets, and covers for napping mats.
Meals are provided at Primrose, and the school boasts its own chef, Carmen Glynn, who trained in the Disney World Culinary Apprenticeship program. When asked what the children's favorite meal is she laughs easily and responds, "Probably macaroni and cheese, but here it is made from scratch"
Wicinski also relays that Glynn can create beautiful ice sculptures for special occasions and even makes her own fortune cookies.
The outside playground offers a variety of play areas with the focal point being a large cherry red fire truck, a play system that was custom built for Primrose by Little Tykes Commercial, and designed to meet the specific gross motor skill developmental needs of young children.
Primrose School Franchising Co., Acworth, Ga., is considered among the country's leaders in early childhood education. The company operates schools in 11 states and has 124 locations. Primrose has received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the North Central Association Commission of Accreditation and School Improvement.
For information on Primrose Schools, visit www.primroseschools.com
For information or to tour the new 10,000-square-foot Primrose School call (813) 929-8979.
Woman's Club Flea Market FundraiserDon't throw out those old dishes, outdated/outsized clothes, knickknacks, small appliances, and other items no longer needed. The Lutz/Land O'Lakes Woman's Club is collecting donations from the public for its annual flea market fundraiser that will be at the old Lutz School House on March 4-5 and March 12. All items donated must be clean, usable and in working condition.
All money raised by the Woman's Club goes to support a variety of community needs, including the awarding of many scholarships each year.
Items to be donated can be brought to the old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41, Lutz, beginning Monday. Items may be dropped off on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. until noon, each week until the sale begins March 4. Anyone having items but unable to drop them off at those times may call Phyllis Hoedt at (813) 949-1937 or (813) 949-1919.
Woman's Club holiday luncheon The Lutz/Land O'Lakes Woman's club celebrated the recent holidays with a luncheon at Pebble Creek Golf and Country Club. President Cheryl Benton welcomed members and guests to the annual event. The guests included husbands who helped with the Lutz Arts and Craft Festival sponsored by the club.Lorriane Dabney, membership chairperson, recited from memory the Christmas story. Club members brought gifts for residents of the local spouse abuse centers.
Two Operation Smile Opportunity Baskets and several Boutique Opportunity items were awarded. The drawing for the baskets and boutique items raised money for the state president's project called Operation Smile, which pays for reconstructive facial surgery in Third World countries. For such cases doctors donate their services. The club accomplished their goal of raising $824 that will go toward the cost of one operation.
Pasco goes red for womenEmployees at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point are joining companies across the nation and wearing something red on Feb. 4 to support the American Heart Association's Wear Red Day event and increase awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of women.
On Wear Red Day employees donate $5 to the American Heart Association so they can wear red on a designated day. Money raised will benefit research and education to help reduce the incidence of heart disease in women.
Wear Red Day is a component of Go Red for Women, the American Heart Association's national campaign to raise awareness of heart disease in women and encourage women to take charge of their health.
"Hospital employees will participate in the campaign because, for many of them heart disease is personal," said Dave Williams, CEO of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point. "Wear Red Day in an opportunity for everyone to remember their female friends and family members who have suffered from the disease. It's also a time to think about their own hearts and take charge of their own health."
Melanie Price, a senior vice president of Bank of America and president of the American Heart Association's Nature Coast community board said, "Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point and companies throughout Pasco County are really putting their passion into action by participating in the Wear Red Day campaign. Their generosity is helping to heighten awareness and bring forth positive change to defeat this major health threat."
"We are committed to supporting organizations and programs that interest our employees. Since heart disease affects so many of our employees' personal lives, Wear Red Day is a perfect fit," said Williams. "The American Heart Association makes the event easy by providing everything we need in a tool kit. We just pick the date, collect the funds, and forward the proceeds to the association."
For information on conducting a Wear Red Day campaign, contact the American Heart Association at toll-free 1-800-275-0448.
HIGH FIVESFifth-grader Andrew Lang took his place at the lectern and with confidence and a touch of humor entertained an audience of more than 50 by reading a poem he had created, It's Hard to Be A Hamburger. Chuckles rose from adults and young people as Andrew creatively gave a hamburger personality to which the audience could relate.
Andrew Lang, a student at Mittye P. Locke Elementary in Elfers, was one of 15 students in grades first through 12th that walked away with honors after being declared winners in the annual Lutz/Land O'Lakes Woman's Club Youth Writing Contest. A reception was in the Lutz Community Center recently to present awards and hear students read winning entries.
The contest was designed to give students in all grade levels an opportunity to create an essay or a poem. Winners were selected in each category from among applicants from Pasco and Hillsborough counties. There were eight winning entries from Hillsborough and seven from Pasco County.
Pasco County winners were for grades first through third, story, Emily Higgins, Lake Myrtle Elementary; poem, Joshua June, Mittye P. Locke Elementary. In grades fourth through sixth, winners were, for story Jessica Tutor, Calusa Elementary; poem, Andrew Lang, Mittye P. Locke Elementary. Winners in grades seventh through ninth, story, were Jessica Tabet, Weightman Middle School; poem, Taylor Rowand, Pine View Middle School. In the high school division, Becky Forman from Land O'Lakes High School won in the poem division.
Hillsborough County winners were for grades first through third, story , Derek Anderson, Lithia Springs Elementary; poem, Madison Ellertson, Lowry Elementary. In grades fourth through sixth, the winners for story was Jeffery Jung, Tampa Palms Elementary; poem, Marlena McLemore, Adams Middle School. Winners in grades seventh through ninth, were for story, Sara Almcrantz, Orange Grove School; poem, Maria Lebron, Ben Hill Middle School. In the high school division, Danielle Lair, Armwood High School, won for her story. and Veoletta Range, Armwood High School, captured the prize for her poem.
Judges for the event were Charlie Reese, Beth Colson, Helen Swisshelm, and Virginia Blair.
Under the leadership of President Cheryl Benton, the Lutz/Land O'Lakes Woman's Club sponsors many community activities, including the annual Youth Writing Contest. The club served refreshments to writing contest winners and their families at the end of the ceremony. Gracious youngsters offered thanks to Woman's Club members.
With a beaming smile, Andrew Lang hesitated before stuffing a chocolate chip cookie into his mouth, saying that he is ready to write his next poem and it will be titled, It's Awful to be an Omelette. Laughter followed Andrew as he and his family headed for home and the Woman's Club members began to close the evening's activities.
Cpl. Jared Provost, brother of Pennye Provost Garcia, Land O'Lakes High School varsity cheerleading coach, is serving with A Co/1088th Eng. Unit of the 256th Brigade of the Army National Guard in Baghdad.
Provost earned his bachelor's degree from Louisiana Tech in 2001 and was working as a forester for Roy O. Martin Co. when he was called to active duty. He trained in Fort Hood, Texas, and in the California desert before being sent to Iraq in October .
Provost is the son of Doris and Charles Provost and is the youngest of their five children. His siblings, in addition to Garcia, are Pam Lane, Lafayette, La.; Chuck Provost and Mitch Provost, both of Woodlands, Texas. Garcia notes, "Jared was born when I was in college so I took care of him a lot when he was little. He is my little brother."
Garcia's students have been corresponding with Provost and are learning first hand what it is like to serve in Iraq. He shares the day-to-day activities such as being "in the fields for 24 hours at a time." He also writes of waiting in phone lines to call home and how computers and e-mail have made communications with home easier. In one note to the students, he simply stated, "Don't ever take freedom for granted."
While her thoughts are constantly with her brother, Garcia says she remembers that quote when little problems arise. "Just think of what they - the soldiers - are doing at that very moment and your problems become so unimportant. They are the reason we can do what we want here."
Mitchell Sheffield, 13, a seventh-grade student at Raymond B. Stewart Middle School in Zephyrhills, recently participated in the 2005 Florida Music Educators Association All-State Band Concerts. This was Sheffield's first year to be selected for the All-State Band honor. He was among 120 students from around the state to participate in the seventh and eighth grade division of All-State concerts. After two days of rehearsal the students performed at the Tampa Convention Center.
Sheffield is the son of Mark and Denise Sheffield of Dade City.
Michael Vail is Sheffield's band instructor at Stewart Middle School. Vail was recently recognized for 25 years of service from the Florida Music Educators Association. The award recognizes the outstanding service of members who have been active in music education for 25 years or more.