It's Not A Job, It's A Passion

That's what being a teacher is all about for one Pasco School teacher.

Connerton Elementary School in Land O' Lakes is one of Pasco County's newest schools. It sits by itself off the main road, and there is very little around the school. While it is semi-secluded, it houses a very special and vital resource for the children - its teachers. There is one teacher that stands out among her peers. Kristen Whelahan, a kindergarten teacher that is not only young in age, but career as well. But don't let that fool you, Whelahan is a teacher who puts her all into her career, a career she calls her "passion." Whelahan is a native of Long Island, N.Y., and is a graduate of Long Island University. She came to Florida five years ago to begin her teaching career. Whelahan also has a passion for reading and obtained her …

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Positively Parenting

Sunrise Offers Hope For Healing

Raise awareness, increase safety and protection for domestic violence victims.

When domestic violence is a real issue in a home, victims are often unsure of where to turn. In Land O' Lakes, Sunrise of Pasco County is the local domestic violence center. It is also the only sexual assault center serving all of Pasco County. Its hot line number is 352-521-3120.  Larry Reidt is a mental health counselor with Sunrise. He has a master's degree in rehabilitation and mental health counseling and specializes in working with child victims of domestic and sexual violence age 12 and up. He also helps adults who have been sexually assaulted. Reidt says that most times sexual assault perpetrators are known to the child or the family. An attacker might, for example, be a step-parent, babysitter or other care givers. He encourages …

Mom's Beat

Save Money and Make Money This New Year

How to help a locally owned business, a fellow parent and your wallet.

I’ve been trying to get organized for the New Year. The last week has been spent cleaning out junk drawers, organizing closets and basically getting rid of anything that I haven’t used in the last 12 months. As soon as I work up the courage, I am going to tackle the kids’ rooms. One good thing about cleaning out the kids’ closets is that I can take many of their items to a local children’s consignment shop for resale. My favorite consignment store by far is All About Kids located at 1900 Land O' Lakes Blvd. in Lutz.  Their staff is extremely friendly and once you are in their system, the drop-off process takes all of two minutes.  Over the years, I have taken tons of my children’s gently used clothing, shoes, books, DVDs and furniture to …

Meet Greg Reaster and B.I.K.E.R.S.C.A.P. Inc.

Bikers restore and donate computers to children in need.

Located on Lake Thomas, just off the beaten path, you will find not only a unique organization, but a unique person as well. Greg Reaster is founder and chief executive officer of B.I.K.E.R.S.C.A.P. This is a nonprofit organization that puts a child's education first. B.I.K.E.R.S.C.A.P. is a group of bikers that restore donated computers that are, in turn, given to children that need them. BIKERSCAP stands for, Building Intellect Knowledge Education Resources & Schools with a Computer Acquisition Program. Reaster is proud of his organization and loves what he does by placing the power of technology in the hands of children that might otherwise have to go without. Patch: How old are you? Reaster: 55 Patch: Where were you born? Reaster: …

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Dance, Gymnastics Academy To Open In Land O' Lakes

Students have been on waiting lists for dance and gymnastics classes.

The Dance and Gymnastics Academy of Tampa, currently located at 2632 Land O' Lakes Blvd., will soon open a brand new facility.The studio now in use is 5,000 square feet; the new studio will be a two-story building with 12,000 square feet. This expansion will accommodate the growing interest in dance and gymnastics in Land O' Lakes.A new feature will be an in-ground foam pit, full women's and men's gymnastic equipment and a 2,000-square-foot dance room. The lack of space at the old facility makes it necessary to limit class size and turn down applications, officials said. The new center will allow for about 700 students, and the number of gymnastics classes held at a time will increase from three to six. The owners are Susan Sisk and Jill…

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