The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Pasco Sheriff’s Office has new tool to track missing persons

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has a new tool to help find people with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism or other cognitive disorders who wander off.

Sheriff Chris Nocco held a news conference last week to talk about using scent kits to help locate missing persons with cognitive disorders.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office K-9 deputies Chris Miller and Jimmy Hall, explain how Buster, the bloodhound, tracks the scent of a missing person.
(B.C. Manion)

“What we’re trying to do, as quickly as possible, is to find those loved ones who go missing — find those missing children who have wandered off from the house; those who are dealing with mental disabilities that wander off,” Nocco said.

“The stress on the family is overwhelming,” Nocco said, noting that in addition to other calls, his department handled 1,200 calls regarding missing persons in the past year.

“The faster we can track them, the faster we can find them, the faster that we save them,” the sheriff added.

Besides protecting the missing persons from harm, a quick result alleviates concerns of loved ones and enables the law enforcement agency to deploy its forces sooner to respond to other types of calls, Nocco said.

The scent kits will be distributed through the department’s SafetyNet Program, said Det. Gennis Holsom.

That program uses a transmitter attached to a SafetyNet particpant, which is tracked by deputies with radio receivers. The scent kit will add another tool to that program.

That program focuses on the cognitive disorders community, Holsom said.

“If they wander off, we’ll respond to the scene with receivers, we can put in the unique radio frequency that that particular transmitter emits and we’ll basically track the sound. We can track right to them.

“To add to the toolbox of the Safety Net program, we’re adding the scent kit, starting in June.

“The scent kit is specifically for our bloodhounds. It will be a pure scent, which will be kept at that individual’s house,” he said.

To collect someone’s scent, sterile gauze is rubbed on exposed skin, such as the arm or neck. The gauze is then sealed in a glass jar. The scent can remain viable for 5 years or longer. Care must be taken to collect the scent properly, to be sure there is no cross-contamination.

During the news conference, the department gave a demonstration of how the scent kids will be used.

A bloodhound named Buster was given a sniff of a scent that had been collected and stored in a jar. Working with K-9 deputy Chris Miller, Buster followed a trail that led to a man who was hiding in a stand of pine trees.

The scent kid enables the bloodhound to smell an item that has just the missing person’s scent on it, K-9 deputy Jimmy Hall explained.

“Sometimes, if we take a scent article from the house, three or four other people within the house might have touched it,” Hall said. “If you were to hand me a shirt, there’s no telling how many different scents are on there.”

Those who are interested in learning more about the program should contact Shelby Homko, at (727) 815-7119.

Published June 6, 2018

 

Lutz girl making TV show debut in ‘Kid Stew’ airing on WEDU

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Twelve-year-old Madison Maxwell has done hundreds of commercials, beginning when she was just 4.

But, the sixth-grader at Academy at the Lakes in Land O’ Lakes has never been involved in a television show.

Until now.

She’s one of nine cast members in a new series called “Kid Stew.”

Madison Maxwell, a sixth-grader at Academy at the Lakes, is a cast member of a new show called ‘Kid Stew,’ which will be airing in June on WEDU. (B.C. Manion)

The show was created by James Patterson, an internationally known author of books written for young readers.

Four episodes of “Kid Stew” have been filmed and four more episodes are slated for production this summer.

Each episode, which lasts 30 minutes, features humor, skits and a fast-paced delivery to provide an engaging approach to learning.

It’s been described as sort of a combination between a kid-friendly “Saturday Night Live” and the old PBS television show “Zoom,” said Sue Maxwell, who is Madison’s mom.

The cast members wear funny wigs, crazy facial hair and dress up like French waiters, sleazy record promoters, stuffy British TV hosts and famous historical characters, according to a news release.

The show will air locally, in a marathon scheduled for June 24 beginning at 9 a.m., on WEDU. It is being carried by more than 200 stations across the country.

Madison is involved in a recurring sketch, in which she and Blake McCall, another cast member, use a phone booth to travel back in time.

During those sketches, they visited Leonardo da Vinci, Cleopatra, Thomas Edison and Shakespeare, Madison said.

“That was very fun, except for the mosquitoes. I had 37 mosquito bites,” she said, noting the filming was done outdoors near a monastery, to give the time travel a historic feel.

Madison said it’s been fun to be in the show, and she was pleased to be selected for the cast. She found out about the auditions from her agent in Miami.

She said the show doesn’t require her to adopt an entirely new persona.

Madison Maxwell holds a ‘Kid Stew’ sign. The 12-year-old from Lutz has been in hundreds of commercials. This is her first television show.

“It’s your name, and you get to act like yourself and you are your own character,” she said. “You can just be free.”

The episodes are shot in Miami, Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale area, with seven of the nine cast members coming from South Florida and the other two, including Madison, from the Tampa Bay area.

A news release describes the show this way: “‘Kid Stew’ celebrates imagination, and encourages children’s interest in reading, music, art and creative expression. Featuring comedic sketches, music videos, fun facts, virtual visits around the globe, and guest appearances from creative adults and kids alike, the series offers four, half-hour episodes packed with fun in a ‘for kids, by kids’ format that appeals to elementary school age viewers.”

The creator, Patterson, is known for his tween-targeted franchises, which include “Jacky Ha-Ha,” about a 12-year-old girl who loves to make people laugh.

‘Kid Stew’ is co-produced by South Florida PBS and Patterson, and presented nationally by South Florida PBS via American Public Television.

Madison is excited about filming the rest of Season 1 and hopes there will be a Season 2.

She’s not sure what she wants to do in the future. At one point, she wanted to be a dolphin trainer. More recently, she’s been thinking about being an orthodontist, or perhaps a neurosurgeon.

At this point, it’s too soon to tell.

Madison lives in Lutz with her mom, Sue; her dad, Mike; and, her grandfather, Ki Kim.

Published May 30, 2018

Caddy, an adventurous cat, is a teacher in disguise

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Anne Higgins, an author who lives in Land O’ Lakes, spent the bulk of her career helping children to develop their speech and language skills.

Sometimes, the speech pathologist worked directly with children.

Other times, she worked indirectly. In the Plano Independent School District, in Texas, she supervised 35 speech pathologists. During that time, she published an articulation kit for severe speech disorders that was in publication for 20 years.

Anne Higgins, a resident of Land O’ Lakes, is the author of ‘Princess Caddy Finds a Home,’ a book that uses the adventure of a cat to help children develop their vocabulary and comprehension skills.
(B.C. Manion)

Now, she wants to broaden her influence even more through a children’s book she wrote called “Princess Caddy Finds a Home.”

The idea is to use the adventures of a cat to entertain young readers, and help them to develop their vocabulary and comprehension skills.

Higgins is confident that the hardcover book, with its colorful illustrations, will appeal to a broad audience of children.

“This is a true story about a little kitty that basically came to my yard and didn’t leave,” Higgins said. “I was telling my little 3- and 4-year-olds about the kitty and found out they were more excited about what Caddy would do every day, than what Miss Anne would do.

“They could care less what I did in the morning, but they wanted to know everything that Caddy did in the morning.

“The response was amazing.

“So, I integrated her in my therapy and found it to be probably one of the best methods I’ve ever come up with,” she said.

She used the stories about Caddy and her interaction with other animals to help teach basic concepts to the children, and to help them develop their vocabulary.

The children’s book does the same thing.

She developed an index for parents or grandparents to tell them about the basic concepts that are important for 3- to 5-year-olds.

She also lists the vocabulary words presented in the book, which children will learn through repeated exposure. The book contains more than 100 vocabulary words, ranging from simple to complex.

She also added a section which lists questions, to help children develop the comprehension skills they need.

This cover shows an illustration of the real-life Caddy. (Dorrance Publishing/Wendy Bouch)

“After you read this to the child, you can ask them some questions, and see if they were listening and understanding,” she said.

Higgins received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, in Austin, and her master’s from the University of Texas Dallas branch.

Laster, she moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where she worked with 3- and 4-year-old children with hearing impairments. At the same time, Higgins worked on speech and language skills with students with autism and who were severely developmentally delayed.

Working on the book was an education for Higgins.

“It was grueling. Every chapter had to be reviewed. Going back and forth. I was trying to integrate as much vocabulary as possible. I had lists and lists and lists of vocabulary words that I was trying to put into the story. It was difficult. You have to have some determination to complete it,” said Higgins, who self-published her book through Dorrance, a publisher based in Pennsylvania.

It took about a year to complete the book, after years of collecting material to use in it, she said.

Higgins envisions the possibility of creating a series of books, featuring Princess Caddy in new adventures, such as going on a vacation, or getting a little brother or sister in the family.

The book is available through various sources, include Bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

Published May 30, 2018

Little authors are celebrated in a big way

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It’s not every day that someone becomes a published writer — and that’s especially true of second-graders.

So, staff members at Land O’ Lakes Christian School weren’t about to let the moment pass by without a good bit of fanfare.

These second-graders in Christy Hoynoski’s class wrote a book called ‘If I Were An Animal.’ The children are, (front row, from left): Savannah Wrenn, Laurelai Marano, Kylie Matkin, Sarina King, Kinsley Wooles and Esteban Lowe. The others (back row, left to right) are Hadasa Smith, Keenan Morais-Silva, Maya Vidal, ErikSebastien Capellupo, Isabelle Loscalzo, Colin VanderVere and their teacher, Christy Hoynoski. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Christian School)

The children in Christy Hoynoski’s class were celebrated in a big way at a party in the school’s lunchroom on the day their book, “If I Were An Animal,” arrived at the school at 5105 School Road in Land O’ Lakes.

There were balloons and a red carpet that was bedazzled by stars — each bearing the name of a child author.

Each of the 7- and 8-year-olds stood at a podium, reading their stories and showing off their illustrations.

Parents and grandparents came to the school to honor the children’s accomplishment, and the party featured a book-shaped cake and snacks with literary themes.

It was a big day for the second-graders, and the glow was still showing weeks later, when they talked about the stories they wrote, with a visiting reporter.

Mrs. Hoynoski, as the children call her, came up with the idea of creating the book after hearing about a free publishing kit offered by Studentreasures Publishing.

This is the cover of the book written by students in Christy Hoynoski’s second grade class at Land O’ Lakes Christian School.

The idea was to make writing more fun, the teacher said.

The children considered a variety of possible books they could do, such as “Second Grade Inventions,” “If I were a President” and “When I Grow Up.”

In the end, they voted to create a book about animals.

Besides allowing the second-graders to practice their handwriting skills and showcase their artistic abilities, the project also gave them a chance to exercise their lively imaginations, too.

For instance, in this book, there’s a zebra with rainbow-colored stripes and a white bunny with black polka dots.

The animals have interesting diets, too. There’s a pig that eats candy, a whale that eats broccoli, a horse that eats grapes and an owl that eats ice cream.

Second-graders make their way into the school lunchroom at Land O’ Lakes Christian School to celebrate the publication of their book, ‘If I Were An Animal.’

The kids also thought outside of the box when naming their animals. There’s a wolf named Snowflake, a bird named Jewel, a bobcat named Rosie and a cobra named Cutey.

The students said they enjoyed writing their stories and drawing their pictures, and, of course, they were pleased to see their work in print.

It’s a project the second-grade teacher said she’d recommend to other teachers.

“It really got them excited about writing,” she said.

Writing is an important skill, the teacher added, because it’s a skill her students will need throughout their lives.

Published May 23, 2018

ErikSebastien Capellupo shows off his illustration of a story he wrote about a cheetah, named Lightning, that can run 1 million mph.
Hadasa Smith shows off one of the stories she wrote and illustrations she did for ‘If I Were An Animal.’ She wrote about a zebra with rainbow-colored stripes and a bobcat named Rosie.
Savannah Wrenn reads one of the stories she wrote for a book created by Christy Hoynoski’s second grade class at Land O’ Lakes Christian School.

 

Cancer survivor wins scholarships, offers prevention advice

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Cailyn Ruff was a senior at Sunlake High School, in Land O’ Lakes, when she felt an odd bump on her head.

That was about a year-and-a-half ago.

“It was like a big mole,” the 19-year-old said. “I saw it through my part line. It looked funny. It would bleed.”

As it grew, she became concerned and brought it to the attention of her dermatologist.

Next, came a biopsy.

Cailyn Ruff, who lives in Lutz, was a senior at Sunlake High School when she found out she had a rare form of melanoma. She underwent a successful surgery and is cancer-free, but she wants to remind others of the importance of wearing sunscreen and hats to protect themselves from too much sun. She wants to become a pediatric nurse practitioner and recently received some scholarships to help pay for her studies. (B.C. Manion)

“It was a good three weeks before we got the first results, saying they were inconclusive. It was not something they were used to seeing. So, they actually sent it to the USF (University of South Florida) doctors.

“The dermatologist said ‘You better get a second opinion.’

Her mom, Kim Carpintier, recalled how scary that was.

It took two weeks to get her into Moffitt Cancer Center, and when they did, they were told that the young woman needed surgery immediately.

“They were worried that it had spread to her lymph nodes,” Carpintier said.

If more time had passed, Ruff would have faced chemotherapy.

As it was, surgery was performed to remove the melanoma, the surrounding area and six of her lymph nodes.

“Moffitt told her that she’s one of two kids that they’ve ever seen with this form of melanoma,” Carpintier said.

After the surgery, Ruff said, “I was in pain for a long time.”

It took her about two months to regain full mobility in her head and neck.

Still, she knows how lucky she is.

“Nothing got infected,” she said. “By March, I was 100 percent myself.”

While they do not know what caused the melanoma to form on her head, Ruff and Carpintier suspect it could have been a result from being exposed to the sun for long hours, when Ruff was a cheerleader and when she ran cross-country.

Both mother and daughter said that schools may want to suggest that students who are out in the sun for hours wear a hat and protect themselves with sunscreen.

“No one thinks to wear sunscreen and a hat during school events because you get out of school and you change, and you go and do what you have to do,” said Ruff, who is now a student at the University of South Florida.

She plans to pursue a career as a pediatric nurse practitioner, and said that’s partially due to the excellent care she received from nurses at Moffitt.

Her career choice also has been influenced by her current job as a vision therapist at Walesby Vision Center, on State Road 54 in Lutz.

She has worked with both children and adults, both for both everyday issues and various disorders, she said. She works primarily with children, performing vision therapy with children experiencing challenges such as visual-motor and/or perceptual-cognitive deficiencies. Many of the children she serves have autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or other medical conditions.

Ruff began working at Walesby to earn volunteer hours, but she was so good with children she was offered a job, Carpintier said.

Recently, Ruff received a $5,500 scholarship through an essay contest sponsored by Panera Bread and the Children’s Cancer Center. The awards were presented at the Palma Ceia Country Club in south Tampa.

Ruff’s mom was impressed by the event.

“It was beautiful. They went above and beyond,” Carpintier said. It honored youths who have dealt with cancer, ranging from 16 to 20 years old.

The stories that were shared were touching, she said.

Ruff also has received two other scholarships, one from a Greek organization, and another from an Italian organization.

She hopes to continue her education in USF’s nursing program, but realizes that it’s very competitive, so will be applying elsewhere, too.

Her goal is to work at Tampa General Hospital in the pediatrics unit, or at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital or at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.

Ruff lives with her mom, Kim, her dad, Don Carpintier, and her sister, Meghan Ruff, in Lutz.

She’s grateful for all of the help and support she’s received.

Besides the scholarships, she also has received support from her grandparents, Carol and Bill Little, and her aunt, Lois Zapert, who all live in Lutz and her grandmother, Michele Carpintier, who lives in St. Petersburg.

Published May 23, 2018

Continued growth expected for Pasco’s housing market, expert says

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Pasco County is in a rapidly growing region, so more growth is expected, a national real estate expert said last week at an event organized by the Central Pasco Association of Realtors.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist and senior vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors, made his first visit to Pasco County, to address more than 150 real estate professionals gathered at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

Lawrence Yun
(Courtesy of National Association of Realtors)

Yun anticipates moderate growth in national home sales, forecasting 3 percent to 4 percent in most parts of the country, and slightly greater increases in Florida.

There are a number of factors contributing to Florida’s strong real estate market, and Pasco County, in particular, Yun said.

Florida continues to attract foreign investors, Yun said.

Canadians come to the Sunshine state to escape the cold. British are very dominant in purchasing property in Orlando. Germans like areas such as Fort Myers and Naples. And, Latin Americans are attracted to the Miami area.

“Many Puerto Rican residents are seeking better opportunities here in Florida,” he added.

“Greater Tampa, including Pasco, has not had a large global exposure, but you are getting more of it,” Yun said.

He predicts Florida will continue to see an acceleration in population growth, especially in light of recent changes to the tax code.

“The end result, it is an additional tax burden for people living in the New England states, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York,” he said.

“People will be seeking: ‘How do I lessen some of the burden?’ One way to do that is coming to Florida,” Yun said.

He also noted that the current housing recovery is on healthy footing.

The nation certainly doesn’t want what happened in 2005, when the housing market was hot: “Anyone with a heartbeat was somehow able to get a mortgage and buy a home,” he said.

“I’m fairly confident that this increase will not lead to another decline because the fundamental backdrop is different. We’re in a job-creating environment,” he said.

And, perhaps most importantly, underwriting standards are tough.

Much higher credit scores are required to get a mortgage, he said, noting that, if anything, underwriting standards may be too stringent, especially for people who are self-employed.

More residential construction activity is needed to boost housing inventory — which will moderate prices and attract more potential buyers into the market, said Lawrence Yun, chief economist and senior vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors. (B.C. Manion)

“Home sales are rising, but in a very moderate way,” he said. “We are nowhere back to the 2005 ‘easy lending’ days.

“There is no bubble, even with the strong price recovery, because we don’t have that easy subprime lending,” Yun said.

However, he noted that rising home prices are beginning to hurt affordability.

“We hope that price increases do not become 8 percent, 10 percent every year. Your clients will diminish, if this was to continue.

“The ideal solution in the future, in the upcoming years, price growth to match similarly to wage and income growth,” he said, noting a 3 percent to 4 percent annual price increase would be ideal.

A shortage of inventory is having a negative impact, he added.

“Contract signing appears to be flattening out,” he said.

Buyers want more choices when they are shopping for a home, Yun said.

“You need more inventory,” he said.

“We just don’t have enough inventory because homebuilders have not been building aggressively, or even (a) normal amount, for 10 straight years,” Yun said.

Yun said efforts are being made to provide regulatory relief to community banks, which have been a primary lending source for small homebuilders.

“For many years in America, most of the homebuilding was done by Mr. and Mrs. Jones Homebuilding Company. They’d do about 10 homes a year. They’re not in the game today. They have challenges entering the game,” Yun said, noting that’s because of regulatory restraints on small community banks.

Yun also urges local governments to do their part to get more housing permits approved.

When more houses are built, prices moderate and consumers have more options.

When prices moderate, “middle class families who want to own a home have a better chance to own a home,” he said.

Yun noted there’s a huge mismatch between the percentage of increase in home prices and percentage of increase in incomes.

“Home prices, ideally, should rise in relation to people’s income,” Yun said.

Published May 16, 2018

Pasco County’s outlook is bright, panel says

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Panelists speaking at a real estate conference in Wesley Chapel last week said Pasco County has been making strides and is expected to continue to do so.

For decades, Pasco County has been considered a bedroom community — with residents making a daily commute to jobs in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

That picture is changing, said Heidi Tuttle-Beisner, an expert in commercial real estate.

“The excellent thing for Pasco County is that we now have jobs being created right here. We have big national companies that have chosen to build their developments here and hire the people that we have living in our community.

“Whoever thought companies like Mettler Toledo would be here?” Tuttle-Beisner said.

“Lots of people are paying attention to Pasco County,” she said.

She also gave high marks to the Porter family for the work they’ve done to manage the development of Wiregrass Ranch, in Wesley Chapel.

“People like the Porters have really done an incredible job of keeping the quality up. I don’t think we’re ever going to see (State Road) 54 be (like) U.S. 19. They set the standard,” she said, noting they have been strategic not only in building relationships. But also “building buildings that are attractive.”

Mark Metheny, division president of Lennar, said he spends a lot of his time trying to find locations for new Lennar communities.

A good example of the range of Lennar’s offerings can be found in Wiregrass Ranch, he said. Estancia is a multigenerational community, with a number of product lines, he said. There are homes exceeding $1 million, but there are also high-end townhomes coming in, he said.

“It’s really exciting to see the growth that’s going on in Pasco County,” Metheny said.

Clarke Hobby, a land use attorney based in Dade City, said his family has deep roots in Pasco County.

“We are very interested in the long-view of the county — building a great community, great places to live for our families and for many generations beyond us,” Hobby said.

“We’ve watched the Porter family and have seen their vision play out. It’s a wonderful thing they’ve done at Wiregrass – more than anything else, they’ve tried to create a balanced community. It’s so easy to just focus on the residential.

“The harder part is to bring the employment side and the institutional side, making sure that places like the building we’re in today, are here. Without their guidance, that wouldn’t have happened,” Hobby said.

He’s optimistic about the outlook in Pasco County.

“There’s a bright, bright future ahead of the county,” said Hobby, who has been involved in the effort to extend State Road 56 from Wiregrass Ranch over to Zephyrhills.

The four-lane extension, which covers 6.7 miles, is expected to open up within a few months.

He expects that extension to generate new activity, leading eventually to the construction of about 10,000 houses and millions of square feet of development.

J.D. Porter, another panelist, told the crowd that he, too, anticipates continued growth — as well as new employment.

He expects the long-awaited Raymond James office park to “start turning dirt by the end of the year.”

“It’s very exciting to have one big user like that, and we are waiting for somebody to come out of the ground,” Porter said.

That being said, he noted, “we are talking to two names that are bigger than Raymond James right now, in the immediate area adjacent to that.”

“The Raymond James announcement, once they finally go, that will be a drop in the bucket versus what actually comes down the pipeline shortly after.”

Porter also noted the family wants to be sure to have a mix of development, so the community doesn’t become too reliant on big users.

Published May 16, 2018

Ending one chapter, starting a new one

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They are members of the Class of 2018, and they will be marching — by the thousands — into their futures.

Students from across Lutz, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, San Antonio and Saint Leo are donning caps and gowns, and are leaving their high schools behind.

These are students who have grown up in the age of technology. They’ve mastered Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. They’re experts at posting to Facebook and YouTube. Their Smartphones are their constant companions and texting comes second-nature to them. And, someday, perhaps not in the too distant future, they’ll be riding in driverless electric-powered cars.

They’ve been witnesses to history.

They’ve seen the election of Barack Obama, the nation’s first African-American president, and also of President Donald J. Trump, a real estate mogul and reality television celebrity.

They’ve seen activism grow, and in many cases, have been a part of it.

After the Feb. 14 slaying of students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, students — both locally and across the nation — organized demonstrations to pressure lawmakers to make changes to gun laws.

They’ve also seen or have played a role in other growing movements, including the #MeToo Movement, Black Lives Matter and the Women’s March on Washington.

Soon, these graduates will be assuming a larger role in making their own mark on history, both in their personal lives and in the world, at large.

Some will head off to the University of Florida, Emory University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Florida Institute of Technology, Boston College, New York University, Duke University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Central Florida and Florida State University.

Of course, others will be staying closer to home, attending Saint Leo University, the University of South Florida, Rasmussen College, Pasco-Hernando State College and Hillsborough Community College.

Their major fields of study include aerospace engineering, computer science, pre-medical, environmental engineering, biology, health science, nursing, biochemistry, engineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, chemistry, communication sciences and disorders, business administration, international business and Japanese.

Others will be studying to work in skilled trades, or heading directly to the workforce.

Before beginning a new chapter, though, these graduates are pausing to celebrate their accomplishments so far.

They will gather at events with friends and family to savor this milestone in life.

Some commencement ceremonies will be in intimate settings; others, in huge auditoriums.

And, while the world around them remains unpredictable, it’s likely most of these gatherings will include the time-honored traditions of pomp and circumstance, caps and gowns, speeches, music and photos.

Of course, the big moment comes, for all of those assembled, when the name of their particular graduate is announced.

After the ceremonies come the post-commencement celebrations — as unique and varied as the graduates themselves.

As they head in their myriad directions, to decide their own paths in life, please join The Laker/Lutz News in saluting members of the Class of 2018, and congratulating them on their accomplishments.

Published May 16, 2018

Multiple myeloma group aims to provide support, information

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Camille Wilson wasn’t sure what was wrong with her when she began experiencing pain in the front of her torso, and in her back.

She was sent to a spine surgeon, who did surgery, but also a biopsy, which revealed there was a problem with her blood.

Next, she saw a doctor who diagnosed her with lymphoma — but her son, who is a doctor, urged her to seek a second opinion, and when she did, she was diagnosed and treated for multiple myeloma.

She underwent stem cell transplant, using her own stem cells.

Jim and Camille Wilson host a monthly Multiple Myeloma support group in their home, to help patients who have been diagnosed with the disease. Their support group, which has members from Pasco and Hillsborough counties, is affiliated with the International Myeloma Foundation. (B.C. Manion)

“It was probably 85 percent satisfactory, for the remission,” she said.

She remains on a chemotherapy maintenance program, which does have side effects, she said.

“Sometimes they’re acute. Sometimes, they’re not so bad,” she said. The side effects include rash and itchiness, nausea, leg cramps and neuropathy.

She’s now a four-year survivor of multiple myeloma, a white blood cell cancer that is commonly found in the bone marrow.

“Having this disease is work — to try to keep yourself stable, to keep yourself on top of all of the new things coming out, drugs, therapies, who’s the best doctor to go to,” Camille said.

“I have a primary care physician. I have a primary oncologist, and then I have a myeloma specialist, and that’s what is recommended,” she said.

“The myeloma patient journey is very difficult and can be quite horrific at times,” she said, noting, because she has experienced the challenges, she and her husband, Jim, decided to set up a support group to help others fighting the battle.

“I’ve seen other patients, what they went through, and I felt it was time for me to give back, contribute,” Camille explained.

The group meets on the third Saturday of the month at the Wilsons’ home, 6520 Yellowhammer Ave., in Tampa. The meetings are in the dance studio, Floortime Studio, which is attached to the house.

Meetings generally feature a guest speaker, who addresses issues, such as latest medications, resources that are available and medical questions. Patients, caregivers, family and friends are welcome and there is generally a free lunch, provided by pharmaceutical partners, Camille Wilson said.

The group is affiliated with the International Myeloma Foundation, and the couple travels each year to an annual meeting where they are brought up to speed on the latest information about the disease, and spend time with other support group leaders, sharing what they’ve learned along the way.

“With almost every meeting (we host), we do go around the group and each person gets a chance to speak about their journey,” Camille said.

“We share our experiences,” she said.

They also share information, such as news on medications, clinical trials, sources of financial help and other relevant data.

Newly diagnosed patients often are afraid and overwhelmed by their lack of knowledge about the cancer.

They need a place where they can talk with others who can share what they’ve learned and can relate to their feelings, Jim said.

“They need someone to talk to,” said Jim, the support group’s co-leader.

“Generally, when they leave, they feel so much better. They know they’re not alone. The roundtable sharing part of it is very effective,” Camille said.

Danny Scott, who lives in Wesley Chapel, has been attending the meetings for just about as long as Jim and Camille have been holding them. He goes to two other support groups, as well.

“You’re seeing and talking to other patients with active myeloma,” he said. “Myeloma is a disease where no two patients react, or are treated the same way.”

“You find out things that work for people, which the MDs or the oncologists don’t really know about,” he said.

There are often practical tips that others have discovered, Scott said.

The support is a good source of information from other patients about various approaches that can be helpful, Scott said. They are also can provide useful information for caregivers.

“You at least have the opportunity to seek out and find different opportunities for dealing with your disease,” Scott said, which can include things such as nutritionists, psychiatrists, psychologists and other sources of help.

Much more is known about multiple myeloma than was in the past, Camille said.

“There’s a lot of hope,” Camille added, noting there are many new treatment advances.

The support group draws members from Pasco and Hillsborough counties, Camille said. At its last session, there were 17 people, including members from Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Lutz.

Eventually, Camille and Jim, would like to shift the meeting place to a new location — possibly to a meeting room at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.

“My husband and I have to set up all of our tables. We’re getting older,” she said. “There might come a day when it won’t be that easy for us to do all of this lugging.

“I’d like to get into a nice meeting room in a medical establishment because we are an educational group for multiple myeloma,” she said. St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is a good location, she said. It has meeting rooms and a restaurant.

Multiple Myeloma support group
When: Third Saturday of the month, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Floortime Studio, 6520 Yellowhammer Ave., Tampa
Cost: Free
Details: The North Tampa Multiple Myeloma Educational Group provides information and support to patients who have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Friends, family and caregivers are welcome. Generally, there is a program and a free lunch.
Info: Call Camille or Jim Wilson at (813) 624-3872, or email  .

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells, white blood cells that make antibodies. A cancerous or malignant plasma cell is called a myeloma cell. Myeloma is called ‘multiple’ because there are frequently multiple patches or areas in bone where it grows. It can appear as both a tumor and/or an area of bone loss, and it affects the places where bone marrow is active in an adult: the hollow area within the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, rib cage, and the areas around the shoulders and hips. -Source: International Myeloma Foundation

Symptoms and signs of Multiple Myeloma
Symptoms:

  • Persistent or worsening tiredness due to anemia or reduced kidney function
  • Sudden pain due to a broken bone in the spine, ribs or elsewhere
  • Recurrent unexplained infections, such as pneumonia, sinus or urinary infection

Signs

  • Pain with movement and/or at night/rest
  • Pain tenderness/swelling of bone areas
  • Swelling, shortness of breath or evidence of heart or kidney failure

Source: International Myeloma Foundation

Published May 16, 2018

Hitting all the right notes — together

By

It’s a Monday evening at the Dade City Woman’s Club and vocal coach Alison Graham sits at a small round table, near a bank of windows.

Girls are sitting around her on the floor, listening as Graham reads through judges’ comments from their most recent competition.

It’s a routine the girls know well.

The singers, who are members of Graham Music Studios, are accustomed to performing, and also to being judged.

Alison Graham, of Graham Music Studios, uses a blend of constructive criticism, humor and kindness to help the singers under her direction to develop their voices. (B.C. Manion)

They make frequent appearances at local events, such as the Pasco County Fair, the Kumquat Festival, Church Street Christmas, the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival, the Dade City Christmas Stroll, and the holiday show at The Shops at Wiregrass.

They compete at Spotlight on Talent, a local showcase and also every year at Access Broadway in Orlando, which has regional and national contests.

Graham’s groups have been competing in Orlando for about 10 years.

Last summer, her middle group won the national competition and this spring, her oldest group took the top prize in regionals.

Graham’s groups compete in regionals every year in Orlando, and at nationals when they’re held there. The nationals rotate between Orlando, New York and Las Vegas.

While her groups and individual members in the groups have a good track record at competitions, Graham said that’s not her focus.

“It’s not about the trophy,” she said.

She’s far more interested in the individual development of each of her singers.

Amelia Collins awaits her part during a practice on a Monday evening at the Dade City Woman’s Club.

Her groups also aim to foster teamwork and camaraderie.

After a singer performs, Graham said she tries to talk to her before the awards are announced.

She wants to know how the singer felt about the performance. Sometimes the singer will acknowledge that she hadn’t prepared enough; other times, she’ll say she gave it her all.

“I don’t care what place you got. I care about: ‘Did you do well for you?’ Did you do your best?’,” said Graham, who has been coaching vocal groups and giving private voice lessons for more than 20 years.

Striving to reach their potential
She wants her singers to make the most of their ability and to continue the quest to improve.

“One of the things I say all of the time is, ‘Good is the enemy of great.’ If you’re OK with good, you are not going to be great,” she said.

Sometimes, the judges won’t see a performance the same way that Graham sees it.

When, for instance, the judge gets it wrong in Graham’s opinion, she’ll tell the singer: “We both know you got ripped off.”

Georgia Piersall dons an apron for a practice session of ‘Opening Up,’ from the Broadway show, ‘The Waitress.’

In the same breath, though, she’ll remind them: “You can’t control the judges. You have to focus on what you can control.”

Graham has three singing groups.

In general, Showtime is made up of elementary students; Showbiz is made up of middle school students; and Showstoppers is made up of high school students. Occasionally, a younger girl may be part of an older group.

And, because there are three different age groups, Graham has set up a system: “There’s a big sister, a middle sister and a little sister, and they look out for each other,” she said.

They bond with each other and validate each other, too, she said.

“If a girl kills it and still comes in fifth, the other girls will support her,” the vocal coach explained.

Graham’s weekly group lessons are 45 minutes long, beginning at 6 p.m., for the youngest singers; then at 7 p.m., for the middle group; and at 8 p.m., for the oldest group.

It costs $50 a month for the group lessons, but that doesn’t include expenses for costumes or entry fees for competitions. Most of her older singers also take private voice lessons with her.

Graham began her career as a music teacher at Hunter’s Green Elementary School, but decided to offer private lessons when her son was born, more than two decades ago.

The waiting list for her private lessons grew so long that she decided to form groups.

Most of the singers at Graham Music Studios come from Dade City, but some come from other areas, including Zephyrhills and Sumter County.

Graham said the success of her program is a result of the dedication of her singers, and the support of both their parents and the community, at large.

“I have a lot of people say, ‘Is your job like Dance Moms? I bet it is.’

“Honestly, it’s the opposite of Dance Moms.

“When I came to Access Broadway, one of the moms had Starbucks for me. Another mom ran and got my lunch for me.

Showbiz, the middle group from Graham Music Studio, rehearses a number from ‘Wicked.’

“They are just: ‘Whatever those girls need.’

“That’s why they’re successful,” Graham said.

Occasionally, though, something will come up, and she’ll have to have a chat with a parent.

She’ll say: “My job is to do what’s best for the group, and your job is to what’s best for your kid. Sometimes, those things don’t overlap.”

Ultimately, though, “they all have to understand that I’m the one who is going to pull the trigger in the end,” the vocal coach said.

The community of Dade City provides welcome support, Graham added.

“If we were from a large town, like Tampa, you just don’t know them. But in Dade City, people know these girls,” she said.

Having the girls look out for each other is essential when they are performing at a large event, Graham said.

At The Shops of Wiregrass, during the holidays, for instance, “when those little girls come off the stage, the big girls are waiting there for them,” she said.

The girls grow attached to each other and to Graham, and the vocal coach also bonds with the singers.

There’s a lot of affection and laughter, but a good deal of focus and effort, too.

Offering criticism and kindness
Catherine Beard, a relatively new singer in the oldest group, said belonging to the group requires commitment. “It takes a lot of hard work. We all have to practice over and over, until we get it right,” she said.

She thinks the singers are in good hands.

“Mrs. Alison is absolutely wonderful. She’s kind and supportive. She’s experienced. She knows what she’s doing,” Beard said.

Some girls in the oldest group have been singing with Graham for a dozen years.

Megan Phillips joined Graham’s group 11 years ago.

She was delighted when Showstoppers received the top honor at Access Broadway’s spring regional competition. The group put in extra practices to prepare and faced quality competitors, she said.

Phillips appreciates Graham.

Members of Showstoppers rehearse ‘Opening Up,’ a song from the Broadway show, ‘Waitress.’

“Mrs. Alison is a second mom. I’ve known her almost my entire life, and she’s a great person. She’s supportive and nice, but she’s not afraid to tell us what we’re doing wrong and what we need to improve ourselves,” Phillips said.

She values the other girls in her group, too.

“We really are a family here, and I love everything about Showstoppers,” Phillips said.

Mikayla Mauradian, a member in the middle group, appreciates Graham’s candor and high standards.

“Miss Allison is truly a great teacher and we love her, and she always pushes us to do better, no matter the rating,” Mauradian said.

Georgia Piersall, a member of the oldest group, said the bond between the singers helps them perform well together.

“It definitely helps to have a group of girls who are as close as sisters to work with,” Piersall said.

Plus, she added: “Mrs. Allison is so incredibly dedicated to what she does, it amazes me. She treats us like her own and is always proud of us, no matter what.”

Graham feels connected to the girls, too.

It’s always emotional when one of her singers graduates and moves on, Graham said. “I cry every year. I just sit there, and bawl and bawl.”

The girls may leave, but they tend to come back to visit.

Many show up at the end-of-year performance and pitch in backstage, Graham said.

The vocal coach believes that being part of the group gives the girls something they wouldn’t have independently.

“Something, at some point, is going to go wrong for you,” Graham said.

The friendship and support the girls get from one another, helps cushion them for life’s blows.

“It’s having a safe place to land,” Graham said.

Members of Showstoppers: Catherine Beard, Mackenzie Ferrell, Analiese Gallagher, Maitlin Hart, Chase Hemphill, Kiersten Herman, Megan Phillips, Georgia Piersall, Shelby Surratt and Haley Sanders.

 

Members of Showbiz: Bailey Bardin, Amelia Collins, Haley Collins, Isabella Como, Emma Crist, Lyndsey Furtado, Lyra Lacson, Emily Loyed, Mikayla Mauradian, Kassie Miller, Mackenzie Robinson, Payton Rodgers, Emma Shireman, Analee Tomkow, Marlee Tomkow and Macy Whisnant.

 

Members of Showtime: Carly Bowling, Katarina Carroll, Ellie DeLoyed, Sally Harper, Larkin Mainwaring, Lacey Miltner, Emeley Poblick, Sophia Poblick, Shyleigh Reeher, Mackenzie Trenkle and Keaton Ward.

Published May 16, 2018