News

Hometown

By TIMES STAFF
Published August 12, 2007

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High Fives

Navy Seaman Recruit Katie L. Mohr, daughter of Kathleen C. and Mark A. Mohr of Port Richey, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

During the eight-week program, Mohr completed a variety of training that included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, fire fighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.

Mohr is a 2004 graduate of Land O'Lakes High School.

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The Sunlake High School cheerleaders recently completed their first cheerleader camp. The camp took place July 18-21 at the University of South Florida and was run by the National Cheerleader Association. Team members participated in classes for chants, cheers, safety spotting, stunts, and dance.

Both junior varsity and varsity proved to be teams on the rise with the awards they earned. The camp is labeled "elite" by National Cheerleaders Association. Cheerleaders attending this camp took part in "elite" stunts during stunt classes.

According to varsity coach Pennye Garcia, "the Sunlake team is just beginning and are not at the elite level yet, but were able to step it up and compete with elite teams the entire camp. They did an awesome job and the NCA staff was impressed with our young team and how well they looked with no seniors."

After the first evaluation, both varsity and junior varsity received excellent and superior ribbons for their performances on the camp cheer and a chant performed for the NCA staff and other campers. For the final evaluation both teams received superior ribbons for their performance, which included a chant, cheer and stunt.

The varsity team received the Team Award from peers for the final evaluation and they received a Motions Award from the NCA staff for both evaluations. Both teams walked away with the Spirit Stick Award and junior varsity received the Herkie Award, which goes to the team that shows true team spirit, unity and leadership throughout the camp. Both teams received a bid to nationals, which will take place in Dallas in 2008.

What's Happening

Members of the East Pasco Political Club celebrated the club's fifth anniversary at a July meeting at Fung Garden Restaurant , Zephyrhills. State Sen. Mike Fasano was the guest speaker and congratulated the club on its many achievements. He also reviewed the accomplishments of the 2007 legislative session.

Other guests attending were State Rep. Will Weatherford; Joy Hampton, assistant district director for U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite; and Steve Van Gorden, Dade City commissioner.

Club members recognized Ralph Ackerly, the club's first president in 2002, and Dick Albrecht, who has guided the club the past four years.

The club, with 12 members, was chartered in 2002 as the East Pasco Republican Club. In 2005, the charter was not renewed and the 32 members voted to change the club name to the East Pasco Political Club.

The club's present 64 members continue the club's commitment to the Republican principles and to give leadership to growth management, education and environmental issues.

For information about the club, call 813780-7328.

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Recently, LakeWatch volunteers met at the Land O'Lakes Community Center on US 41 in Land O'Lakes. Eric Schulz, regional coordinator with the LakeWatch program based at the University of Florida, provided recent data collected by local volunteers who live on and monitor many lakes in Pasco County.

Volunteers check clarity by measuring depth and collect water samples monthly and deliver them to a freezer at the drop-off site, where they are stored, picked up, and transported to the lab in Gainesville for analysis. Once the samples are analyzed, volunteers receive reports showing levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorophyll.

This water quality program has been in existence for 21 years and has expanded over the years and now includes exotic species monitoring. It has been beneficial to both volunteers living on Florida lakes and to the university. Working together, they are able to develop a large data base of lakes across Florida. This data is used to show changes and trends.

Concerned about the environmental impact of U.S. 41 widening, development of paved roads in their neighborhood, construction of new homes and businesses nearby, Paul and Betsy Crisp attended the meeting.

"We have lived here since 1981 and started monitoring 14-acre Treasure Lake back in 1993," explained Betsy. "At the meeting, Eric took time to go over all our data and explained that we have a lake that others would envy with low/moderate levels and good clarity But he also warned that could change if people living on our lake over-fertilized and the runoff caused chemicals to wash into our lake and make those levels rise."

There are approximately 50 lakes in Pasco. Some of the lakes from which data has been collected and posted on the web site for 2005 include: Bird, Blanton, Crews, Dupree, East, East Ellis, Geneva , Jovita, Karney, King, Little Black, Little Como, Parker, Saxon North, Saxon South and Treasure.

LakeWatch is always looking for more volunteers. For anyone interested in learning more about caring for lakefront property, LakeWatch also offers many informative publications. More information is also found at LakeWatch web site http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu, by calling Schulz at (352) 392-4817 or, toll free, 1-800-LAKEWATCH or E-mail: fl-lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu

Upcoming Events

San Antonio residents are gearing up for the 2008 American Cancer Society Relay For Life, to be held April 12 -13 in the City Park. Former and current cancer patients, their families, businesses, civic organizations, and the public are invited to take part in this team event for residents of Northeast Pasco County.

The 2007 Relay For Life, San Antonio's first, raised $61,000 for cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services. This amount far surpassed the $35,000 goal.

The theme for the 2008 San Antonio Relay For Life is "Cruisin' for a Cure." Eighteen teams have registered and fund-raisers are beginning. Ports of call for the 18 teams include Hawaii, Tahiti, Ireland, Alaska, New Orleans, and the Caribbean.

The official kick-off meeting will be in September. In the meantime, anyone interested in participating should call Patty Richter at (352) 567-9997 or email her at richterfp@earthlink.

The American Cancer society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering, and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. For more information on cancer, call the American Cancer Society, toll free, at 1-800-ACS-2345, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit www.cancer.org.

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The Lutz/Land O'Lakes Woman's Club will sponsor its annual Spouse Abuse Shower from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lutz Community Center. Small containers of shampoo, conditioner and hand lotion, such as vacationers often find in hotels, are welcomed donations. Other items needed are diapers of all sizes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, detergent, paper goods, toiletry items and non-perishable food. These items will be distributed to the Pasco Salvation Army Shelter, The Springs of Hillsborough County and Pasco Sunrise Shelter in Dade City.

During the Spouse Abuse Shower a light lunch will be served for a donation of $5. There also will be a mini-mart featuring clothing and donated household items.

To donate items or for more information, call Auralee Buckingham at (813) 949-7481.

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[Last modified August 11, 2007, 21:07:00]

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