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By MICHELLE JONES
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 21, 2001
Rhea Law, immediate past chair of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, was the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. The meeting was held at Merrill Gardens, a retirement and assisted living facility, in Lutz. She encouraged chamber members to meet with other chambers, to target membership and let potential members know what the chamber can do for them.
"Have ready-to-build sites available for new businesses you want to bring into the community," she said. "So they can pull their building permits right away."
She also encouraged the chamber to focus on the existing businesses.
"They are the lifeblood of the community," she said.
Her talk centered on the past, present and future of the Tampa chamber.
"A group of people came together in 1885 to talk about water works and to talk about having Henry Plant build a bridge from Kennedy to his hotel," she said. "We are still taking about water and roads 115 years later."
SunTrust Bank, Wesley Chapel branch, will host a combined chamber mixer for Central Pasco and Wesley Chapel chambers in conjunction with the announcement of Central Pasco Chamber president Sandy Faulconer's new position at the bank. The mixer is set from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15.
The February meeting of the chamber will be at noon Feb. 21 at the Baldomero Lopez VA Nursing Home. The speaker will be Don Welch of SCORE. For reservations, call (813) 996-5522.
5K and mile runs will kick off the grand opening of the Suncoast Parkway at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 3. The run and other festivities are scheduled at the parkway and State Road 52, four miles west of U.S. 41. At 10:30 a.m. a ribbon cutting is scheduled with a parade featuring law enforcement officers. There will also be face painting for the children, games and food. Cost for the 5K is $14 before Saturday and $16 after. On race day the cost is $20. For the mile race the cost is $10, $12 and $15 on race day. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Gold Shield Foundation. A shuttle bus, located at Safety Village, off of State Road 52, will transport people to and from the parkway. For information, call (813) 874-7223.
A Spring Sports Information Night is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 29 in the Wesley Chapel High School cafeteria. A Valentine Dance and Lip Sync Contest is scheduled from 7 to 11 p.m. Feb. 10 in the school gym. The school is having a blood drive from 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 27. The bloodmobile will be parked in front of the school.
The AARP offers tax assistance from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Feb. 6 through April 10 at the Land O'Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O'Lakes. The Teen Book Club will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday to discuss Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, and an Internet Demonstration is scheduled for the same time. For information, call (813) 929-1214.
Kids' Stuff Preschool and Kindergarten will host an informational meeting at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the school located at 21360 Lake Floyd Drive in Land O'Lakes. Parents of children who will be attending kindergarten for the 2001-2002 school year are invited to attend. For information, call (813) 949-2237.
Kathy Lachicotte has been appointed associate head of lower school at the Academy at the Lakes Day School. She is a charter member of the faculty where she has taught elementary grades since the school's founding in 1992. A graduate of the University of South Florida, she is enrolled in the Master of Education Program Educational Leadership.
"Kathy is a cutting-edge educator who derives great pride and satisfaction from creating and delivering learning experiences marked by excellence," said Richard Wendlek, head of the school. The academy will have two open houses this month. Parents interested in admission for student in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to attend from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday and parents and students in grades 5-12 should attend from 7 to 9 that evening. For information, call (813) 948-6823. The events will be held at the McCormick Campus on Collier Parkway.
Members of the General Federation of Women's Clubs International Lutz Land O'Lakes Woman's Club will hold their general meeting at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Land O'Lakes Community Center on U.S. 41. The program will showcase member's talents in the areas of arts and crafts, photography, sewing and literature. Blue ribbon winners will go to district where they will compete against 16 other clubs. For information, call (813) 968-8048.
People who are interested in becoming a sponsor of the youth dairy show at the Pasco County Fair should contact Joan Crandall at (813) 788-6119 or the dairy show at (352) 567-6678. The dairy show is scheduled for 3 p.m. Feb. 23 and will feature youth and their animals.
Volunteers are needed to fill posts at the 54th annual Pasco County Fair scheduled for Feb. 19 through Feb. 25. They will help plan the event and work during the fair at various exhibit buildings. Some 200 volunteers are needed each year to fill posts, according to Margie and George Franklin, members of the Pasco County Fair Association's board of directors and volunteer coordinators. A volunteer orientation luncheon is scheduled for Feb. 10 to explain various duties, provide a tour of the fairgrounds and sign up for times. Anyone wanting to volunteer is invited to attend the orientation and should call the fair office at (352) 567-6678 by Feb. 2 to reserve a luncheon spot. There is also an appreciation dinner after the fair.
The Pasco County Fair Youth Sheep Show is accepting entries throughout the state through Feb. 1. The show is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 25 in the livestock pavilion on the fairgrounds at 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City. Exhibitors must be members of Future Farmers of America, 4-H Clubs or Clover Buds within the state and currently attending school in grades kindergarten through 12. Entry forms, rules and regulations are available at the Pasco County Fair Office. For information, call (352) 567-6678.
- Michelle Jones covers central Pasco community news. She can be reached at (813) 226-3459. Her e-mail address is jones@sptimes.com.