Relays For Life Still Drawing Crowds

“Cancer has touched most, if not all of us,” said one of the organizers and top fund raisers of this year’s 18-hour Wesley Chapel Relay for Life, which began at 6 p.m. on April 27 at the track at Wesley Chapel High. “Until we have a cure, we have Relay.”

The more than 340 participants on 29 teams at the Wesley Chapel Relay had raised more than $33,000 as the event began, which was literally just a few hours before we went to press with this issue.

We won’t know the total amount raised at the Wesley Chapel Relay until sometime closer to our next issue, but there’s no doubt that the organizers, survivors, caregivers, family members and spectators were treated to a warm, wonderful overnight “stroll” while enjoying great games, prize drawings, food and lots of fun.

Cancer survivor Karen Reinhold sang a stirring rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Like a Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and a local Boy Scout troop provided the color guard sendoff for this year’s Wesley Chapel Relay “survivor lap.” We will provide a more complete update on this outstanding event in our next issue.

Wiregrass Ranch Relay May 11!

Wesley Chapel residents who want to help in the fight against cancer can still get involved with the upcoming Wiregrass Ranch Relay for Life, which will begin on Friday, May 11, 6 p.m., around the running track at Wiregrass Ranch High. The Relay will continue through the night until noon on Saturday, May 12.

At our press time, the 199 participants on 28 Wiregrass Ranch Relay teams had raised nearly $11,000.

For more information about these and other Relay events, visit RelayforLife.org. — GN

School Board Holds Off On Facebook Change

We’ve all snapped a picture with our camera phones to post on our Facebook pages or blog sites, but what about the people in those pictures? A proposed change to the Pasco County School District student code of conduct would have required students to get the consent of any other student or faculty member before taking their picture, and especially before posting it to a social networking site or anywhere on the web. However, at its meeting on April 17, the School Board chose to hold off on any such change for now.

Technology is rapidly finding its way into every facet of life, including our school systems. “Students take photos of the white board (in class) as a form of notes, how are we supposed to stop that picture from having another student in it?,” asks District spokesperson Summer Romagnoli. Even though no vote was taken on the 17th the change to the code of conduct is up for a “second reading” next month. “The problem is how to determine consent,” she adds. “Can a minor give consent? Things like that. The goal is to bring our regulations in line with others around the country.”

Principal Raymond Bonti of Wiregrass Ranch High said he could not make a comment on the issue until he knows more about the rule change and how it could affect his school.

However, principal Scott Mitchell of Watergrass Elementary says that the change would have been a non-issue at his school. “We already have rules in place to prevent unwanted photos,” says Mitchell, adding that it would more likely affect middle and high school students.

The issue is not dead, however; the School Board is looking into other ways of addressing unwelcomed photography (and the displaying of photos) in its policy manual. There have been revisions made to protect students in areas where privacy or confidentiality could be compromised. This revision prohibits the use of cameras and other electronics in all locker rooms, restrooms and school clinics.

With more and more schools embracing technology for educational purposes, the use of electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.), which was once prohibited, is becoming more frequent and is even encouraged in some cases. While texting in class, answering a phone call during school hours, etc., are still frowned upon, students are still able to utilize their devices now more than ever before. – JM

How To Win ‘Broadway’ Tix & Much More!

With the Wiregrass Ranch Relay for Life coming up on Friday, May 11 (at Wiregrass Ranch High), and with my father, Jack Nager, being a 45-year cancer survivor who never had a recurrence at a time when the “cure” rate for all cancers was about as high as the cure rates for lung and pancreatic cancer are today, cancer is one disease that pulls at my heart every day.

So, to be able to help promote not only the Wesley Chapel (which was held the weekend we went to press; see page 8) and Wiregrass Ranch Relay events, but also the New Tampa Relay for Life on May 18 — and literally anyone or any other organization trying to raise money and awareness of any major illness or legitimate community cause — is not only my pleasure, it’s my honor and privilege.

And, speaking of the Relays for Life, I hope that anyone planning to participate in either of those two great upcoming events will check out a song on Youtube.com, written and performed by my friend from junior high school, Carine Ulano, called “Ribbons of Hope,” which Carine wrote for a friend of hers who is a breast cancer survivor.

Everyone who sends us an email saying they “liked” the song (which I hope will one day become the theme song for ALL Relay for Life/ cancer fund-raising events) to our new editorial email address (EditorialDept@NT NeighborhoodNews.com) or on our website (NTNeighborhoodNews.com) by Tuesday, May 8, will be placed in a random drawing to win a pair of tickets to see “Broadway Comes to Tampa” on Saturday, May 12, plus other restaurant/spa prizes!

See page 31 for details about this awesome upcoming show!

Good Luck, Recruits…& Brandon Allen!

I was driving down Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. the week before we went to press, when I saw a 25-foot-tall rock-climbing wall as the centerpiece of a great event being hosted by the U.S. Army Recruiting Office located in the same plaza as The Hungry Greek & Dickey’s BBQ restaurants located directly across BBD from the spectacular Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (see our exclusive on page 1!).

There appeared to be as many as 100 newly signed local Army recruits at this definitely fun party, plus many members of their respective families, enjoying great grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, some flag football and of course, scaling the Army-caliber rock wall, which definitely appeared to be more challenging (because of the spread of the footholds) than any section of the rock-climbing areas at the New Tampa YMCA.

I was really impressed with one young recruit I called “Spider Woman” (photo), who went up the wall — barefoot, mind you — in just over 20 seconds, a hair behind the day’s top climber, who finished in 19 seconds. The young people I saw were already very fit, very competitive and most seemed very much ready for the start of basic training. They even all knew where they were going.

As I chatted with some of the recruits, one freshly crew-cutted young man said, “Mr. Nager, do you recognize me?” I didn’t, so I asked him his last name. This young former soccer and football player and Wharton High grad was Brandon Allen, one of my son Jake’s close friends from youth soccer. Thanks to already having two years of college credits, Brandon is on the fast track to becoming part of the U.S. Special Forces. Good luck, recruits. Come home safe and make us proud!

For more information about enlisting in the U.S. Army, call 994-8132 or stop in at 2653 BBD.

How To Win ‘Broadway’ Tix & Much More!

With the Wiregrass Ranch Relay for Life coming up on Friday, May 11 (at Wiregrass Ranch High), and with my father, Jack Nager, being a 45-year cancer survivor who never had a recurrence at a time when the “cure” rate for all cancers was about as high as the cure rates for lung and pancreatic cancer are today, cancer is one disease that pulls at my heart every day.

So, to be able to help promote not only the Wesley Chapel (which was held the weekend we went to press; see page 8) and Wiregrass Ranch Relay events, but also the New Tampa Relay for Life on May 18 — and literally anyone or any other organization trying to raise money and awareness of any major illness or legitimate community cause — is not only my pleasure, it’s my honor and privilege.

And, speaking of the Relays for Life, I hope that anyone planning to participate in either of those two great upcoming events will check out a song on Youtube.com, written and performed by my friend from junior high school, Carine Ulano, called “Ribbons of Hope,” which Carine wrote for a friend of hers who is a breast cancer survivor.

Everyone who sends us an email saying they “liked” the song (which I hope will one day become the theme song for ALL Relay for Life/ cancer fund-raising events) to our new editorial email address (EditorialDept@NT NeighborhoodNews.com) or on our website (NTNeighborhoodNews.com) by Tuesday, May 8, will be placed in a random drawing to win a pair of tickets to see “Broadway Comes to Tampa” on Saturday, May 12, plus other restaurant/spa prizes!

See page 31 for details about this awesome upcoming show!

Good Luck, Recruits…& Brandon Allen!

I was driving down Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. the week before we went to press, when I saw a 25-foot-tall rock-climbing wall as the centerpiece of a great event being hosted by the U.S. Army Recruiting Office located in the same plaza as The Hungry Greek & Dickey’s BBQ restaurants located directly across BBD from the spectacular Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (see our exclusive on page 1!).

There appeared to be as many as 100 newly signed local Army recruits at this definitely fun party, plus many members of their respective families, enjoying great grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, some flag football and of course, scaling the Army-caliber rock wall, which definitely appeared to be more challenging (because of the spread of the footholds) than any section of the rock-climbing areas at the New Tampa YMCA.

I was really impressed with one young recruit I called “Spider Woman” (photo), who went up the wall — barefoot, mind you — in just over 20 seconds, a hair behind the day’s top climber, who finished in 19 seconds. The young people I saw were already very fit, very competitive and most seemed very much ready for the start of basic training. They even all knew where they were going.

As I chatted with some of the recruits, one freshly crew-cutted young man said, “Mr. Nager, do you recognize me?” I didn’t, so I asked him his last name. This young former soccer and football player and Wharton High grad was Brandon Allen, one of my son Jake’s close friends from youth soccer. Thanks to already having two years of college credits, Brandon is on the fast track to becoming part of the U.S. Special Forces. Good luck, recruits. Come home safe and make us proud!

For more information about enlisting in the U.S. Army, call 994-8132 or stop in at 2653 BBD.