Hometown

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 21, 2007

High Fives

Thirty-one Pasco County schools were recently recognized by the Florida Department of Education as 2006-07 Five Star Schools. This prestigious award is the highest award given for community and parent involvement.

Schools in central and east Pasco receiving the Five Star award were Lake Myrtle Elementary, Centennial Elementary, Pasco Elementary, Quail Hollow Elementary, Denham Oaks Elementary, San Antonio Elementary, Seven Oaks Elementary, Lacoochee Elementary, Sand Pine Elementary, Wesley Chapel Elementary, West Zephyrhills Elementary and Wiregrass Ranch High School.

Five star schools have shown exemplary community involvement and are designated annually. Both the letter and spirit of the school improvement and accountability legislation are built upon the active involvement of parents, guardians, business people, and other community members in efforts to improve Florida's schools.

In order to qualify for this award, a school must achieve 100 percent of the criteria in the categories of Business Partnerships, Family Involvement, Volunteers, Student Community Service and School Advisory Councils. Each of the schools must develop a portfolio that documents the achievements in these categories.

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CARES (Community Aging and Retirement Services, Inc.) recognized 15 senior-driven volunteer organizations at the agency's Annual Benefit and Recognition Dinner honoring Gov. Charlie Crist on Sept. 24 at Spartan Manor in New Port Richey. Each of the nonprofit groups honored has served the Pasco community for five years or more and has a documented 1,000 hours or more of senior volunteer services for 2006. The 15 groups have a total of 4,653 volunteers who have logged a total of 548,558 hours. The estimated value of their volunteer service is $10,296,434.

Dr. Rao Musunuru, co-chairman of the CARES event, introduced Pasco Sheriff Bob White, who presented representatives from each group with a plaque commending their service.

The groups honored included: Alzheimer's Family Organization; CARES (Community Aging and Retirement Services Inc.); Community Hospital Volunteers; Florida Hospital, Zephyrhills, Volunteers; Gulfside Regional Hospice; Hernando-Pasco Hospice; Lutz-Land O'Lakes Woman's Club; Morton Plant North Bay Caring Partners; Pasco County Elderly Nutrition; Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point Volunteer Association; RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program); SCORE ( Service Corps of Retired Executives); Seniors versus Crime Project; SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Elders); and Stepping Stones for Independence.

About one third of older Americans volunteer - about 15-million. They give an average of 4.4 hours per week to the causes and groups they support.

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A packed house filled the ballroom at the Groves Golf and Country Club in Land O'Lakes on Sept. 23, to enjoy a benefit concert that showcased the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. The event, presented by Artists for Humanity and The Groves, was organized to support Hernando-Pasco Hospice (HPH) and raised $3,446 for the not-for-profit agency.

Artists for Humanity is a group comprised of eight talented volunteer performers who vary in age and occupation but share a passion for music and a dedication to helping others. Founded in 2004, group members have organized concerts to raise funds for a Tampa Bay family affected by cancer, Habitat for Humanity, victims of Hurricane Katrina and several other causes. Performers are Barbara Friedman, Lin Grant, David Groomes, Rebecca Groomes, Roberta Moger, Melody Ossi, Michael Pruitt and Dolores Riego de Dios.

Friedman and Rebecca Groomes demonstrated their talent as accomplished pianists while vocalists, including Friedman, sang solos or duets from Broadway shows like Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita, Cats and Phantom of the Opera.

The concert was the brainchild of Judith Groomes, Land O'Lakes, who wanted to do something for HPH after her friend and neighbor, Audrey Shustek, lost her husband under the hospice's care last January. Groomes and Shustek, along with Mim Antonacci, Roz Cummings and Lois Owens helped organize and provide support for the concert. Warren Groomes served as master of ceremonies and more than 25 individuals made contributions in memory of loved ones. Many local merchants provided gift certificates, goods or services that were presented during the evening to lucky recipients.

Heritage Arts Association, Johnson Movers, Smiles Caf and the Groves Social Club also helped the cause by providing support.

"Every penny we raise, we want it to go to hospice," Shustek said.

HPH is a not-for-profit agency that provides care, comfort and support to individuals and families affected by a life-limiting illness regardless of their ability to pay. The organization is Pasco County's original hospice and has two hospice houses and three hospice care centers countywide. Most patient care, however, takes place in private residences, nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The hospice also serves Hernando and Citrus counties.

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On a recent Thursday afternoon, Creation Station, 20430 Gator Lane, Land O'Lakes, was bustling as the re-use center opened its doors for another year, offering recycled free materials to non-profit groups and school employees. In the first 90 minutes after opening, 33 customers had carted away 627.8 pounds of materials to use, mostly with students in classrooms working on projects.

Karen Bryant, recycling coordinator, has things well organized at the center. Similar things are grouped together and that saves time when someone is looking for a specific item. A room just to the right of the entrance has computer parts, desk accessories and office materials, even pencils, pens and staplers. Another room has cloth, yarn, patterns, wallpaper books, and other similar items for art projects.

In the back left corner, games are stacked on a shelf and a rack holds gently used but in good condition books. Barrels of foam peanuts used in packing, boxes of small leather cut outs from a company that makes luggage tags, and bins of small empty plastic containers wait for the teacher or person who needs exactly that item for student projects.

Excited chatter comes from one room as home-schooled student Kyra Rookey holds up a container for her mother to see and says, "This is just what I need."

Kyra, a dual enrolled high school student at PHCC, came with mom, Leslie Rookey, who is the group leader for TGIF Co-op, a group of moms who do homeschooling. She had her arms full of materials that will help educate youngsters.

In another corner, a group of Sand Pine Elementary teachers sorted through books and games, things that will enhance their classroom and offer one more learning resource to students. And it's all free.

Each time Creation Station is open the supplies can be very different. The huge box of egg cartons on the porch may go quickly and not be available next month. Same with the toilet paper and paper towel tubes heaped in a big barrel.

All items are donated from businesses or civic groups and many come from individuals.

"Sometimes we drive up in the morning and the porch is full," says Bryant, referring to donations that have been left at the center.

Items accepted at Creation Station include arts and crafts materials, audio tapes, used and in good condition books, bottle caps, cardboard, fabric, office supplies, all kinds of containers, tile, tissue paper, egg cartons, glass jars -especially baby food jars, posters, yard, thread and a number of other items. A list is provided by Creation Station of things that are acceptable and things they cannot accept such as food, clothing, furniture, medicine bottles.

Creation Station fliers emphasizes that items must in good condition and clean.

Creation Station is open the first Thursday of each month, 2 -5 p.m. The center opened its doors officially Dec. 1, 2005 and has continued to collect and hand out free materials since then. It's a winning situation for local businesses to donate their surplus items instead of paying for disposal of them.

With students using many of the items in projects it also drives home the idea of recycling and conservation.

For more information call Bryant at (813)794-2752.

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[Last modified October 20, 2007, 20:42:09]