On any given day, history teacher Bob O'Donnell takes a helmet from his cabinet, adopts the appropriate accent and whisks his class to a faraway place

On any given day, history teacher Bob O'Donnell takes a helmet from his cabinet, adopts the appropriate accent and whisks his class to a faraway place and time:

Caesar's invasion of Gaul. Napoleon's battle at Waterloo. Or maybe the trenches of World War I.

As an honors and advanced placement history teacher, O'Donnell helps East Lake High students understand great discoveries, the growth of the global economy, the rise of democracy and the fall of empires.

But there's one thing he can't explain: Why he has to leave.

And that has students and parents rallying to his side.

After 35 years teaching history in Pinellas County, O'Donnell, 56, finds himself in a spot he didn't anticipate. Five years ago, he, like many other teachers, signed up for the state's Deferred Retirement Option Program, or DROP.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/article427995.ece

More than 120 dogs seized from alleged puppy mill

More than 120 dogs were removed from a Tampa Bay home after authorities found them living in what they called deplorable conditions.

Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies say they found the dogs at a home in East Lake, packed two to seven to a cage. Some had broken legs, while others were undernourished and had sores from living in wire cages.

Deputies say most of the animals were living in their own feces and urine.
The injured dogs were taken to emergency animal clinics. The others will be given to shelters.
Authorities are conducting an animal neglect investigation and the matter will be referred to the State Attorney's Office to determine if criminal charges will be filed against 69-year-old Teresita Hughes, the dog breeder who owns the home.

An East Lake Florida woman found an 8-foot alligator in her kitchen

When she called 911, the operator was skeptical, asking if the creature might actually be an iguana, but video confirmed that an alligator had invaded the woman's kitchen.

Mouse over the Eyewitness News Story Window above to watch the alligator inside the kitchen.

The reptile apparently squeezed through an open sliding door at the back porch, sauntered through the house and wound up in the kitchen. Animal Control was called in, and the alligator did not appear to be entirely happy about leaving its new home.

YMCA Summer Camp

It’s time to register for YMCA Summer Camp 2008! The YMCA is the place for your child’s Summer fun! We promise to provide a safe environment with highquality programs that educate, engage, and enrich your child’s life. It will be a summer to remember!

What is YMCA Summer Camp All About?
With over 250 camps located in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas Counties, we are sure to have something to serve your children well! Campers, from age 5-12, will discover a summer full of fun and adventure when they sign-up for camp with the YMCA. Each day, we will do our best to deliver new experiences, friendships and memories that will last a lifetime! At camp, every young person that we serve has opportunities to participate in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

So, whether you are looking for exciting field trips, swimming, snorkeling, academics, drama, team sports, arts and crafts, or just running and playing with close friends, you will find an amazing array of summer camp adventures!

For more information and to register online, visit http://www.ymcasuncoast.org/


YMCA Summer Camp

Lansbrook Master Association Directors and Meetings

The Lansbrook Master Association (LMA) is governed by a seven member board of directors, who are elected each year at the Annual Membership Meeting for two year terms. Each community appoints a delegate, who votes on behalf of that community, having one vote per lot. The 2008 LMA Board of Directors is as follows:

President..............................................Ed Vanscoy
Vice President.....................................Eric Schulman
Treasurer.............................................Don Hatton
Secretary..............................................Sally Miera
Director.................................................Bob Lippy
Director.................................................Gary Hakimian
Director.................................................Carole Cosenza

The Board normally meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 PM. Meetings may be subject to rescheduling due to holidays or summer recess. Meeting signs are posted at the main entry and at the south end of the community at least 48 hours in advance, and should be consulted for details regarding meeting location, etc. Board meetings for 2008 are currently scheduled as shown below. Meetings will held in the East Lake Firehouse on Tarpon Lake Blvd.

Monday, May 22
Monday, July 28
Monday, September 22

The Annual Meeting will be posted at a later date