The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

2017 had it all: A sinkhole, Hurricane Irma, wildfires and floods

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But, it also was a year of significant growth, notable achievements and touching moments, too.

It’s not often that Land O’ Lakes makes the international news, but it did just that in July when a massive sinkhole swallowed two homes in Lake Padgett Estates.

This is an aerial view of a giant sinkhole that developed in Lake Padgett Estates, swallowing two homes and causing several others to be condemned. (File)

Then, just a few months later in September, the world’s attention turned to Florida as a potential category 5 Hurricane Irma appeared heading straight toward Tampa Bay.

The year also was marked by severe flooding and wildfires in Pasco County.

It also was a year for the changing of the guard, as Dan Biles was named Pasco County’s administrator to replace Michele Baker, who retired.

Scores of headlines during 2017 involved stories about the area’s congested roadways — and projects that are planned, underway or being discussed to improve traffic flow.

Major road projects that have begun or are planned include improvements to Interstate 75 and state roads 54 and 52. A four-lane extension of State Road 56, between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, is also under construction.

With its sustained wind speeds of 185 mph, Hurricane Irma was deemed to be one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the Atlantic. At one point, forecasters said it appeared headed toward making a direct hit on the Tampa Bay region.

Another improvement, known as the diverging diamond, is planned to improve traffic flow at I-75 and State Road 56.

And, discussions continue over the best ways to reduce congestion at U.S. 41 and State Road 54, an intersection that handles roughly 100,000 vehicles per day.

The county also appears to be making progress in its quest to secure a permit for the extension of Ridge Road, a project it has been seeking for nearly two decades. While the project can’t come soon enough for supporters, its detractors remain steadfast in their opposition.

Increasing traffic is a symptom of Pasco’s robust growth
Housing developments, retail projects, restaurants, businesses and medical facilities are sprouting up on land previously occupied by citrus groves, farms and cattle ranches.

New schools continue to pop up, or expand, too.

Zephyrhills now has a permanent venue for community events, such as the Z’ Hills BBQ & Blues Fest, a popular event, which features blues bands and tasty barbecue.

In August, Pasco County Schools opened Bexley Elementary, in the Bexley subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes and Cypress Creek Middle High School, off Old Pasco Road, in Wesley Chapel. In the coming year, it plans to begin construction of Cypress Creek Middle School.

Also, on the same campus, the school district and Pasco-Hernando State College plan to operate a new performing arts center. That center will be built by the college with $15.5 million in state funds, but both the school district and the college will use it as a teaching facility.

Meanwhile, the school district continues massive renovation projects at Land O’ Lakes High School and at Woodland Elementary School in Zephyrhills.

More public school projects are expected, as funding for school construction gets a boost from increased school impacts fees adopted by the Pasco County Commission that will begin being phased in on Jan. 1.

On the private school front, North Tampa Christian Academy is expected to begin operations in Wesley Chapel in the fall of 2018.

Roy Hardy, of Dade City, who died this year, was known for his perfect Kiwanis attendance and his fish fry fundraisers for the Hardy Benevolent Fund to help cover medical costs for others in need.

And, a charter school also has announced its intentions to open in Wesley Chapel in 2019, but has not identified its location yet.

The year also signaled changes on the spiritual scene across the region, too.

Van Dyke Church in Lutz changed its name to Bay Hope and expanded the scope of its mission. North Pointe Church settled into its first permanent home in Lutz, and the Episcopal Church announced its intentions to branch into Wesley Chapel.

The region also added to its list of amenities during the past year.

In Wesley Chapel, the 150,000-square-foot Florida Hospital Center Ice opened in January, with its Olympic-size rink, three National Hockey League-size rinks and one junior rink. Several rinks can easily be converted to accommodate basketball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball and events such as corporate meetings, and parties.

In Land O’ Lakes, the Heritage Park Stage opened, off of U.S. 41. The project, which was years in the making, has already become a popular gathering spot for community events.

Starkey Park District Park also opened in Land O’ Lakes, off State Road 54.

Meanwhile, across the county, Zephyrhills added a permanent venue for community events, such as Pigz in Z’Hills, a popular barbecue and blues event.

A time of milestones and transitions
While new construction made the news, 2017 was also a year of big milestones, including R.B. Cox Elementary School’s 90th birthday, in Dade City, and the Dade City Garden Club’s 70th anniversary.

Andre Pamplona, general manager for Royal Lanes, said the closing of a bowling alley has an impact on the community. Royal Lanes, which opened in the 1970s turned off the lights for the final time in May. Lots of memories were made in that building, known for its bowling leagues and birthday parties.

But, it was also the year that Royal Lanes, a community fixture in Lutz since the 1970s for bowling leagues and birthday parties, turned out the lights for the final time in May.

On a more personal level, the region mourned the loss of some of its biggest champions, including Eddie Herrmann of San Antonio, Roy T. Hardy of Dade City and Ray Mason of Land O’ Lakes. All three men were known for their deep commitment to civic causes.

Others — who captured headlines for their excellence — included Margaret Polk, the Odyssey of the Mind team from Wesley Chapel Elementary School, and Courtney Urban, a volunteer for Gulfside Hospice who received a national award for her volunteer work.

Polk, a school nurse at Pasco High School, was named the Florida Association of School Nurses’ 2017 School Nurse of the Year.

Elaine Pittman, a Lutz gardener in her 80s, grows plants and sells them to raise money for Christian Social Services. She chose that cause because it feeds people who are hungry.

Wesley Chapel Elementary School’s “Catch Us If You Can” team, finished first in the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals held in May at Michigan State University. Members of the team were Jake Piller, Sam Cappelluti, Isabell Barrios, Mina Melaika, Rowan Heyman, Jason Sherman and Justin Acosta. Teachers Veronica Acosta and Janet Heyman coached the team.

And, Urban, who initially began volunteering at Gulfside’s Thrift Shoppe in Lutz so she could hang out with her grandmother, went on to serve the organization in a variety of roles.

And then, there were the people who simply extended themselves to help others.

There was Elaine Pittman, a Lutz gardener in her 80s, who nurtures plant cuttings to create plants, which she sells to raise money for Christian Social Services, an organization that provides food for people who are hungry.

And, there was Whitney C. Elmore, who oversees Pasco County Extension.

Elmore reached out to help Frogmore Fresh Farm, outside of Dade City, after Hurricane Irma uprooted and toppled about 100,000 blueberry bushes. Elmore got the ball rolling, but hundreds of volunteers responded — stepping forward to help the farm.

Two Boy Scouts also made a difference in the communities where they live.

Michael Valenti of Lutz and Gabe Vega of Land O’ Lakes each spearheaded Eagle Scout projects.

Cypress Creek Middle High School students make their way to their second class the first day of school on the new campus in Wesley Chapel. Bexley Elementary School also opened for the first time in August, for the 2017-2018 school year.

Valenti spruced up the Lutz Memorial Park in Lutz, and Vega created a Rosary Garden at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes.

And, then, there was a trio of Wesley Chapel Girl Scouts in Troop 1263 who gave new life to Karina’s Garden, behind the administrative offices of Sunrise of Pasco County, in their quest to earn a Girl Scout Silver Award.

The girls — Paige and Kaitlin Trabouley and Alyssa Duran — added flowers, plants, butterflies and statuary to create a place of repose and refreshment in the garden which honors the late Karina Abdul, a former shelter director.

The garden now provides a place to take a break and enjoy nature, according to Vicki Wiggins, director of development for Sunrise, which is a domestic and sexual violence prevention and services organization.

The garden had been choked with weeds and had fallen into disrepair.

The girls and the volunteers they enlisted changed all that.

“It’s beautiful. I’m so happy they did this. They brought it back to life,” Wiggins told The Laker/Lutz News, when the project was completed.

Published December 27, 2017

Two award-winning teachers create ‘safe’ places to learn

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Drop by Hannah Trapani’s mathematics classroom and chances are the teacher will be helping her students figure out a complicated mathematics problem by literally drawing it out.

Trapani has been known to have students cut dyed spaghetti into specific lengths and glue the pieces to a graph, to help drive home a lesson.

“If they can start visualizing what they’re doing, I think that helps a lot,” Trapani said.

And, she’s always on the lookout for new ways to deliver instruction.

Hannah Trapani, who teaches Algebra II Honors and Advanced Placement Statistics, has been singled out for her outstanding work as a mathematics teacher.
(B.C. Manion)

“I’m constantly on Pinterest. I’m constantly on any website I can find — to try to make it easier for the kids to understand things,” the Land O’ Lakes High School teacher said.

She encourages students in her Advanced Placement Statistics and Algebra II Honors classes to risk failure because, by overcoming a fear of not knowing, they gain deeper understanding.

Meanwhile, Terry Stanley, a science teacher at the same school, also realizes that to truly learn, students must be willing to initially miss the mark.

One recent day, there was a steady hum of activity, as Stanley moved about the classroom. She helped some who were peering into microscopes, checked in with others about their observations and answered questions as they came up.

When they completed their task, she instructed her students to compare their work against published results. She directed them to offer reasons for why their results were similar or different.

As Stanley engages her Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate students, she isn’t seeking only to prepare them to perform well on tests. She has a higher aim: She wants them to develop critical thinking skills that will serve them throughout life.

While their subject matter is different, Trapani and Stanley have much in common.

For one thing, they are each recipients of a Barrett Family Foundation Excellence in Science/Mathematics Teacher Award, which recognizes outstanding teachers of mathematics and science.

Three sections of seniors taking an International Baccalaureate Biology course taught by Terry Stanley made skeletons during their muscle unit. The students took information they’d heard in the classroom, as well as information they’d read, and translated that into a three-dimensional model.

The award is provided by a nonprofit charity, based in Clearwater. It honors teachers who share their energy and enthusiasm for science or mathematics through creative and innovative methods. It carries a $10,000 prize for each recipient.

While they share many professional characteristics, they came into teaching on different paths.

Stanley said she knew from an early age that she enjoyed teaching others.

“I remember in first grade, I would do my work as effectively and as efficiently as I possibly could, so that I could be awarded to go help the next-door kindergarten teacher,” Stanley said.

Trapani, on the other hand, initially was interested in becoming a physical therapist. When she got one B, though, she dropped that idea. She knew the acceptance criteria was stringent, and didn’t think she’d be selected over others who had achieved straight As.

So, Trapani turned to something else that felt like a natural fit.

“I grew up teaching my younger brothers and sisters,” explained Trapani, who comes from a family of six children.

“In high school, the teacher would teach and I would sit next to a couple of people, and they would say: ‘Explain that to me again.’ I would help people,” Trapani added. “I knew I was always good at explaining things to other people.

“I think it (becoming a teacher) was always meant to be. I don’t think it was one defining moment. It was more like giving in to your fate,” Trapani said.

Removing barriers to learning
While both educators now teach in Land O’ Lakes High School’s International Baccalaureate program, their experience also includes teaching students of wide-ranging ability levels.

Trapani said she thinks she is a better teacher because she personally struggled as a learner and because she has taught struggling students.

“I know what it’s like to work really hard, and to finally be able to understand,” Trapani said.

Plus, she said, students at every ability level can find themselves struggling at times.

“You get these kids that are gifted and because they are so smart, they have never struggled. “And then they get to your class, and Algebra II is really the first time they see really new math.

Terry Stanley recaps a lesson and her expectations at the end of a class period during a recent class at Land O’ Lakes High School. She has been honored for being an outstanding science teacher.

“Those kids who have never had to study, who have never struggled, never hit that wall (before),” she said.

Trapani helps students by teaching them how to study for her classes.

She also makes it abundantly clear that she’s available to help students who need it.

She makes an effort at getting to know her students.

“When I go around and I check homework, I make eye contact with every person,” she said.

“I try to really connect with the kids; I think that makes a huge difference. I think if they feel you are there for them, then they’ll be there for you,” Trapani said.

“I try to help them understand that their self-worth is not wrapped up in whether or not they’re perfect at this problem, and whether or not they have an A. In the end, are they going to be a good person? Are they going to weather the storm?

“The fact that they failed my test, I’m not heartbroken about it,” Trapani said. And, she said a student who fails a test shouldn’t be heartbroken, either. Instead, her attitude is: “Let’s find a way to overcome this.”

Learning the course content is important, Stanley said, but when students leave her classroom she wants them “to know how to think, how to observe, how to ask questions.”

Stanley believes teachers must find ways to reach their students.

Teachers need to understand their audience, each individual,and then tailor-make their lessons to bring their students to the place they need to be, Stanley said.

“If they’re not interested, I try to find commonality with them. I try to find an entry point, if you will, for conversations outside of the content area.

“They understand that they have to perform in the class, but it’s a journey, and we’re going on this journey together.

“How are we going to get you to that point where you need to be?

“I’m here to help you. I’m your coach. I’m here to help you get where you need to be,” said Stanley, who teaches Advanced Placement Biology and IB Biology.

Some students are stymied by a lack of confidence, she said. Some just want to regurgitate what they’ve read in a book.

Stanley recalled that a student once told her: “I know everything I need to know about biology.”

She told the student she was happy for him, but to let her know if that perspective changed.

A few weeks later he came back to her and said: “I realize that what I know Miss Stanley is what I read in a book, and superficial. I can’t think through these problems that you’re putting on this test.”

It’s moments like those — when an obstacle to learning has been removed or overcome — that are especially gratifying, both teachers said.

Both Stanley and Trapani were pleased by the recognition they received from the Barrett Family Foundation award, and enjoyed celebrating their success with their families.

And, they have another thing in common, too.

“I absolutely love what I do,” Trapani said.

Stanley added: “I always was drawn to teaching. I just always had a passion for explaining things, observing, questioning.”

Kudos for Hannah Trapani and Terry Stanley
Hannah Trapani and Terry Stanley are each recipients of a Barrett Family Foundation Excellence in Science/Mathematics Teacher Award. Trapani teaches mathematics and Stanley teaches science, both at Land O’ Lakes High School.

Here are some excerpts from letters of support submitted on each teacher’s behalf in their nomination packets for the award.

Hannah Trapani
“Mrs. Trapani told her students that she would always be available after school … Mrs. Trapani’s devotion of her time to offer one-on-one help to me and other students who would stay after school was crucial to my success.” – Land O’ Lakes High student Ashley Kupferman

“Hannah gives freely of her time to students who struggle. She will help them during her lunch hour, before and/or after school. If a student is having difficulty with a standard, she will approach them and offer extra help and guide them to websites that provide assistance as well.” — Land O’ Lakes High mathematics teacher Amy Smith

“Hannah directs every ounce of energy towards helping all students learn. She accomplishes this by looking at each student as an individual with unlimited capabilities.” – Land O’ Lakes High Principal Ric Mellin

Terry Stanley
“… the abundance of laboratory experiments, which far exceeds my previous classroom experience, causes students to genuinely comprehend and understand the importance of the work they are doing. Ms. Stanley’s class looks to confront head-on that quintessential high-schooler question of ‘Who cares?’ and silence it with a simple answer: ‘Me.’”— Land O’ Lakes High student Camellia Moors

“To teach is to light a fire in the mind. If our role as educators is to guide students to explore the unknown, then Terry Stanley has accomplished this thousands of times over.” — Land O’ Lakes Assistant Principal Jeff Morgenstein

“Although it has been several years since I have walked the halls of Land O’ Lakes High School, I can safely say that my experience in Ms. Terry Stanley’s classroom changed my life in ways I am still realizing to this very day. Each day in her classroom was a chance to learn new and exciting things about the world around me. Going to class wasn’t just a boring lecture, it was interactive research, it was working together, and it was putting what we learned to the test.” — Land O’ Lakes High School graduate Blake Lash, now a research scientist

Published December 27, 2017

Community gardening coming to Dade City

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Two new community gardens will be coming soon to Dade City.

The University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Pasco County Extension Office will be establishing community gardens with the help of the City of Dade City, the Pasco County Commission and private donors.

Soon, gardeners will be using community gardening plots to grow vegetables in Dade City. (Courtesy of Eden Santiago-Gomez, Pasco Extension Office)

Members of the community will be able to grow their own produce in free garden plots, according to Whitney C. Elmore, Pasco County Extension director and urban horticulture agent.

The gardens will be located at Watson Park, which is at North and Main avenues, between 17th and 19th streets, and on the land surrounding the Stallings Building, at 15029 14th St.

The Dade City Watson Park Community Garden is being made possible with support from Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez, the Dade City Commission and UF/IFAS, Elmore said. This is a new land use agreement model piloted between the University of Florida and a municipality, she added.

The Stallings Building Urban Farm has been made possible through the recently passed Pasco County Urban Agriculture Ordinance, the cooperation of Pasco County Commission and the guidance of Assistant County Administrator Cathy Pearson, Elmore added.

Many private citizens and companies also donated items and equipment to make these new ventures possible, according to Eden Santiago-Gomez, community gardens program assistant at the extension office.

The Dade City Watson Park Community Garden will host more than 30 community plots of varying sizes, including wheelchair-accessible and senior-accessible raised beds. All plots and beds will be available to lease free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis to the surrounding community.

Nice, plump tomatoes may be among the vegetables grown soon in Dade City by gardeners using community garden plots. (Courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS)

Educator plots also will be available, so students on school field trips can engage and interact with all things gardening.

Lessons will be taught, on site, by the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension faculty and staff on topics such as gardening 101, good bugs/bad bugs, gardening for nutrition, composting, rain water harvesting, fertilizers, eating on a budget, and making your own healthy snacks, Elmore added.

Garden tours also will be available to the public in the future by Pasco Master Gardeners and Horticulture staff.

A planting party will be held to commemorate the first community garden in Dade City. The party will be on Jan. 12, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Dade City Watson Park Community Garden. The public is invited to share the afternoon with Dade City officials, local leaders and members of the community.

The Stallings Building Urban Farm will feature more than 50 8-foot-by-8-foot community plots and six raised wheelchair-accessible beds, all available for the community to lease, free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. The rest of the area will be farmed by the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Office’s Community Gardens Program. All food grown in that area of the Urban Farm will be donated to local food pantries initially. At some point, the hope is to offer a monthly farm stand or possibly Community Supported Agriculture to benefit the local community, Santiago-Gomez said.

Numerous gardening techniques will be utilized at this site (from traditional row cropping to permaculture design techniques) as educational demonstrations for county residents during various classes, to be offered in the near future.

Both gardens are located in the low-income communities of Dade City, and are aimed at helping local community members learn to grow their own food.

This will give local community members access to fresh fruits and vegetables, in what is currently a food desert. Additionally, money saved on grocery bills, by growing much of the produce needed for a family, can be redirected to other areas of everyday life, Elmore said.

Citizens can sign up now for a free garden plot at either of these locations and start gardening. Please contact Eden Santiago-Gomez at or (352) 518-0156 to reserve your free plot.

Here’s a slate of upcoming classes aimed at helping people who want to learn more about how to propagate from seeds, and other gardening topics.

Propagating from Seeds #101
Where: Clayton Hall at Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36702 State Road 52 in Dade City
When: Jan. 6, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Learn some tricks of the trade to successfully germinate seeds and raise the seedlings to beautiful plants.
Registration is required. Call the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Office at (352) 518-0156 for details.        

Composting Workshop
Where: Centennial Park Branch Library, 5740 Moog Road in Holiday
When: Jan. 11, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: $35 fee, includes instruction and one composting bin
Details: Learn how to recycle nutrients into plants and add organic matter to your soil. The workshop covers the do’s and don’ts of composting for Florida flowers and vegetables. Each Pasco household is eligible to receive one compost bin when at least one household member registers and attends this workshop.
Call the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Office at (352) 518-0156 for details.        

Vegetable Gardening Basics
Where: Stallings Building, 15029 14th St., in Dade City
When: Jan. 18, 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Learn how to to choose a location for a garden, what makes good soil, when to plant different vegetables, and how to control common vegetable garden pests.
Registration is required. Call the UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension Office at (352) 518-0156 for details.        

Published December 27, 2017

Design work to start on $15.5 million PHSC performing arts center

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Design work is expected to get underway soon on a Pasco-Hernando State College performing arts center that is planned for the Cypress Creek Middle High School campus, off Old Pasco Road.

The $15.5 million project will be built by the state college, but both the college and Pasco County Schools plan to use the facility for educational programming.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, sees enormous potential for a planned $15.5 million performing arts center that will be built on the Cypress Creek Middle High School campus by Pasco-Hernando State College.
(B.C. Manion)

Additionally, Pasco County Schools is planning to begin construction on Pasco County Middle School, which is scheduled to open in August of 2020.

“We’re designing the middle school, with the performing arts in mind,” said Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools.

“We’re going to have some dance rooms at the middle school. We’ll have a black box theater at the middle school. We’ll have a chorus room. We’ll have an orchestra room,” he said.

“Sometimes the college might be in our middle school at night, using the black box theater, and we might be in the new performing arts center, using the stage,” Gadd said.

Harvard Jolly — the architect for the middle school project — also has been selected to do the performing arts center, said Tony Rivas, PHSC’s associate vice president for facilities management and administrative services.

Creative Contractors has been selected as the construction management firm, Gadd said.

Both Creative Contractors and Harvard Jolly have experience with performing arts center projects, Rivas said.

The architect will be holding design charrettes with the users in January and February, to discuss design considerations.

The design must take into account the users’ needs, budget and state regulations for educational facilities, Gadd and Rivas said.

It also must consider how spaces interact with each other, Rivas said.

“You want to get certain things close to certain things, and you want to not necessarily be in proximity for other things because of noise levels or distractions. Those things come into play,” Rivas explained.

The arts center will be a teaching facility, but there’s also a desire to have a facility that can be used as a public venue, too, Gadd said.

Initially, the goal was to secure about $60 million in funding for a performing arts facility that would have accommodated about 3,500 seats, Gadd said. Actual funding came in at $15.5 million, which means the center will be much smaller.

Gadd said he hopes the new center will have a stage large enough to accommodate an orchestra. “If you have a stage that can hold an orchestra, then it can hold anything,” he said.

Construction is not likely to begin for about a year.

The college is in charge of construction, but the school district is providing about 5.5 acres for the site.

Lots of details regarding cost-sharing for operations and shared use of facilities still need to be worked out, Gadd added.

Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services, said the school district plans to offer curriculum such as digital design courses, lighting, production, cinematography and traditional arts programs for students who are interested in the performing arts.

Rivas noted that that it’s very early in the process, but as things progress, information about the project will be shared in a number of venues to keep lines of communication open. For instance, the construction manager will have a website that will have progress photos and different milestone events.

“We have to be attuned to the fact that we are in the community. We’re going to keep that awareness and sensitivity, and always try to be a good neighbor,” Rivas said.

Creative Contractors has extensive experience in building performing arts centers — both professional and educational, said Joshua Bomstein, president of the Clearwater-based company.

“We’re finishing the Tampa Theatre renovation right now. We did the complete renovation of the Capitol Theatre in downtown Clearwater. We’ve done all of the work at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater,” he said.

His company also did the Clearwater High School performing arts building, the performing arts building at Manatee High School, and the performing arts auditorium at Generations Christian Church in Trinity.

Bomstein is excited about the new project.

“This is going to be phenomenal facility. I predict and promise that,” he said.

Published December 27, 2017

Iconic scenes offer good cheer across the region

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The Historic Pasco Courthouse in downtown Dade City is dressed up for the holidays. (Richard Riley)

Whether it’s a traditional Nativity scene in San Antonio, a dressed up historic courthouse in downtown Dade City, synchronized music and lights at a shopping mall in Wesley Chapel or an old-fashioned Christmas at the Old Lutz School — the spirit of the season abounds across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Whether you’re gathering with family and friends here, or traveling elsewhere to enjoy the holidays, we at The Laker/Lutz News want to wish you the very best that life has to offer during the holiday season, and throughout 2018.

Published December 20, 2017

Choirs and bands provided holiday music at many venues this season. (RIchard Riley)
A look at one of the many realistic scenes from a Walk Through Bethlehem at Richland Baptist Church. (Richard Riley)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dade City Garden Club helped to decorate the Pioneer Florida Village & Museum. (Richard Riley)
Giant old-fashioned holiday cards convey an expression of seasonal cheer to those passing by, or dropping into, the Old Lutz School on U.S. 41. (B.C. Manion)

Have a very, merry — safe — holiday season

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It’s that time of the year that people enjoy purchasing presents for loved ones, and gathering with family and friends — but, it’s also a time when crime and accidents can ruin happy holiday plans.

So, here are some suggestions from Shawn Whited, division chief for Pasco Fire Rescue and Deputy Ron Buzzetto, of Pasco County Sheriff’s Office crime prevention division, which seek to help you have a safe and merry season.

Staying safe at home
Division Chief Whited offers these pointers for staying safe at home:

  • Inspect your electrical cords. Make sure they’re not frayed.
  • Do not overload outlets with too many electrical cords.
  • If using a living tree, be sure to keep it watered to prevent it from becoming a fire hazard.
  • When baking, be sure to pay attention, and don’t lose track of time. “You’d be surprised at how many house fires we go to that started with something in the oven that somebody forgot,” Whited said.
  • If using a turkey fryer, be sure to measure the oil correctly and use the proper temperature. Also, be sure the turkey has been thawed before cooking.
  • When using the fireplace, do not over pack it with materials, and make sure those materials fit in the fireplace. Do not burn wrapping papers, the embers can fly and can cause a fire. Also, the intensity of the heat from the wrapping paper could cause a chimney fire.
  • Be sure to extinguish candles, to avoid a potential fire.
  • If you like to place wrapped presents under the tree, be sure not to wrap any items that are harmful to your pets. For instance, chocolate is bad for dogs, but chances are your dog will sniff it out and get into it, if you wrap some and leave it under the tree.

Deputy Buzzetto adds these tips for staying safe on the home front:

  • Protect package deliveries. “This is a prime time of year for porch piracy,” Buzzetto said. Protect yourself by having those packages rerouted to your office, your neighbor or a family member if you won’t be at home to receive it. Otherwise, get a post office box.
  • Reduce home burglaries. “Most break-ins typically happen during the day, when folks are at work,” Buzzetto said. Some ways to reduce risks include using a home alarm system; keeping curtains and blinds drawn, to prevent would-be burglars from seeing your valuables; being sure your windows and doors are locked; making sure your vehicle’s doors are locked; joining a Neighborhood Watch, to help each other keep an eye out for suspicious characters.
  • Don’t open the door to strangers. Ask who it is through the door before deciding whether you want to answer it, Buzzetto said.

Staying safe while shopping
Deputy Buzzetto offers these reminders:

  • Be mindful of your surroundings, day or night.
  • Park in well-lit areas. Do not get out of your car if you feel unsafe.
  • Be sure your car is locked.
  • Carry only what you need. If you’re carrying a purse, you run the risk of having your purse snatched.
  • Do not place your purse in the trunk, while you are in plain view of others.
  • Do not carry a multitude of credit cards. If one credit card is enough, just take that.
  • Keep valuables in your car out of plain sight of potential criminals.
  • If you feel uncomfortable walking back to your car, go back to the store and ask for an escort.
  • Shop in pairs, if possible. You are less vulnerable to becoming a victim of crime.
  • When returning to your car, have your key fob ready. It can activate your car horn, which can deter criminals. Also, a small horn or whistle are other ways to make noise and deter criminals.

Avoid skimmers
Gas stations are a prominent place for card skimmers, so the best approach is to pay by credit inside the gas station, Buzzetto said.

Staying safe on the road
Both Whited and Buzzetto remind motorists to play it safe through defensive driving.

  • If someone starts following, Buzzetto said, call 9-1-1 and drive to an area where there are lots of people. Criminals are less likely to engage when there are witnesses.
  • If you have car trouble, try to get to a safe place off the road, Whited said. If it’s not possible to move your car to a safer location, get out of the car and move yourself to a safer location, Whited said.
  • Do not text or use your phone while driving, Buzzetto said. “Find a safe place. Pull over,” he said.
  • Be extra cautious on the road because there are more people out during the holidays, and this is the time of year when there are visitors in the area that are unfamiliar with area roads, Whited said. There are also returning snowbirds, and because of new construction, things don’t look the same as they did when they left, Whited said.

The bottom line, Buzzetto said, is to be sure to pay attention.

“This is ‘crime of opportunity’ season here, with the holidays,” he said.

“People are so consumed with their phone that they miss looking up, and looking around,” Buzzetto said. “Your personal safety is first and foremost. Property can be replaced. Purses can be replaced. Your personal safety has to be the priority.”

These are 10 tips to avoid fire dangers during the holidays
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and the National Fire Protection Association offers these tips to help ensure your holiday plans don’t go up in smoke:

  • Have a fireplace chimney cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.
  • Make sure a fireplace flue or damper is open before starting a fire. The opening draws smoke up the chimney and out of a building.
  • A fireplace must have a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container, which then is placed a safe distance from any residence.
  • Inside the home, install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in every bedroom, and in hallways leading to bedrooms.
  • Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from a fireplace or other indoor heating equipment such as a furnace, wood stove or portable space heater.
  • Have a 3-foot “kid-free zone” around fireplaces and fire pits.
  • Position a fire pit at least 10 feet away from any structure, combustible material, or neighboring yard.
  • Do not put a fire pit directly on a wooden deck or grass, or beneath eaves or low-hanging tree branches. Place the fire pit on a nonflammable surface, such as concrete or patio blocks.
  • Burn only dry and aged wood. Generally, hardwoods such as oak and maple are preferred. Properly cured, they release more heat and burn cleanly.
  • Never leave an active fireplace or fire pit unattended.

Published December 13, 2017

Young women get hands-on science experience

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The Perry Initiative held a one-day program at Medical Center of Trinity to give young women a hands-on experience in science, and to broaden their exposure to opportunities in the fields of orthopedic surgery and engineering.

Erin Sinnott said participating in The Perry Initiative at Medical Center of Trinity was ‘an amazing experience,’ far exceeding her expectations. (Courtesy of Medical Center of Trinity)

The event, which was last month and was co-sponsored by the Medical Center of Trinity, involved 40 young women selected to attend from 16 local high schools.

The students had a chance to learn from prominent women surgeons, engineers and business women in the field of orthopedics.

Women currently make up 7 percent of the surgeon and engineer workforce in the field of orthopedics, according to a news release from The Perry Initiative. The event was intended to help give participants exposure to potential careers options.

The students had the chance to perform surgical simulations to correct scoliosis deformity, to fix a broken leg and to repair a rotator cuff, according to the news release.

The day included lectures on engineering and orthopedics, the simulations and a question-and-answer session.

Land O’ Lakes, Sunlake and Steinbrenner were among the participating high schools.

Dr. Jennifer Cook, orthopedic surgery, was instrumental in bringing the program to the medical center.

Kylie Siminiski, a student at Steinbrenner High School, works with Dr. Jennifer Cook during a one-day program at Medical Center of Trinity aimed at giving young women exposure to the fields of engineering and orthopedic surgery.

Alyssa Kovacs, a junior at Land O’ Lakes High School, was impressed by the one-day program.

“I thought the experience was great. It definitely changed my mind about what I want to do.

“I knew I wanted to be a doctor working in a hospital … but, I didn’t think I wanted to go into ortho surgery. I never really thought about ortho surgery until The Perry Initiative.

“I really don’t know to explain it: It clicked something inside,” the high school junior said, in an interview after completing the program.

“It was a great experience, and it definitely changes how you see things,” Kovacs added.

Erin Sinnott, a senior at Sunlake High School, also gave high marks to the program.

“It was amazing. I wasn’t really expecting so much when I walked in,” Sinnott said.

“At first they showed us what we were doing, then we broke off into small groups, and we got to do it all by ourselves,” she said.

The experience has inspired her to consider the possibility of becoming an orthopedics surgeon, she said.

Published December 13, 2017

Holidays can be sorrowful for some

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Seasonal carols, tinsel-draped trees and jolly Old St. Nick convey a time of merriment and joy, but the holidays can be difficult for those grieving a significant loss.

To help people to cope with their sadness, Gulfside Hospice is offering free holiday grief support workshops on Dec. 7 in Zephyrhills and Dec. 12 in New Port Richey.

Kelly Cavagnetto, a bereavement counselor, will be conducting the sessions, which will last about 90 minutes and will be the same in both places. They aim to provide some strategies to help people trying to navigate what can become an especially challenging emotional time.

“The first holidays after somebody passes, there can be a lot of anxiety about the upcoming holiday,” Cavagnetto said. “There’s a lot of feeling unsure: ‘I don’t want to decorate, but do I have to decorate? Should I decorate?’”

Those who are grieving often worry whether familiar traditions or foods will trigger a greater sense of sadness for them, the counselor said. Someone might say: “I don’t know if I can cook the same meal they enjoyed eating.”

The grief session aims to give those grieving some tools, she said.

“Our main goal is to sort of brace them for that, and help give them some of the coping skills to kind of get through the day,” she said.

It’s a good idea to begin preparing, Cavagnetto said, because “Christmas, Hanukkah — those winter holidays are coming whether we want them to, or not. We can’t really avoid them.”

In her session, she talks about the importance of “self-care.”

Find ways to help reduce stress, she suggested, which can include listening to music, meditating, drawing or other techniques.

It’s a good idea to have a family meeting to talk about expectations and needs, she said.

The meeting can start something like this, she said: “We’ve had some big changes this year. This is how I’m feeling about it. What do you guys expect from me? What do you expect from the season? How can we pull this off? Can we pull this off?

“We really encourage our families to talk it out amongst themselves, because everyone has different expectations and different needs,” the counselor said.

“Maybe if there’s a young child in the home, they expect a tree to go up. But, maybe that’s not something we’re going to do. So, if they can come up to some type of a compromise where they have a small tree in their room, where somehow everyone’s needs are fulfilled, she said.

Consider creating new traditions, Cavagnetto said.

“Sometime we can’t do the same old thing, there’s too much emotion attached to it. So, if your family always cooked at home, and your spouse was a big part of cooking that meal, or your parent was a big part of cooking that meal, it’s OK to think about going out this year,” she said.

Another strategy involves finding a way to memorialize your loved one.

“Maybe there was a special decoration that mom always had to have out on the tree, or displayed somewhere special,” she said.

Or, maybe you want to make a new ornament, or set a place at the table for your loved one, or find another way to honor the loved one’s memory, she said.

Some people light a candle in the loved one’s favorite scent.

“You can even do that year-round, when you’re having a rough day, thinking of them,” she said.

It’s also important to realize that emotional triggers often occur unexpectedly, the counselor added.

For instance, lately she’s been hearing a lot about people being upset about memories popping up on Facebook.

“Those pictures are coming back up for people, and they might not expect them to be there,” she said.

People who are grieving often don’t know if they can handle attending a holiday gathering, Cavagnetto said.

“I tell my clients: ‘Always have an escape plan.’

“If you typically carpooled to a holiday party, maybe this year you want to drive by yourself.

“You always want to able to exit, when you’re ready to exit,” she said.

She also tells them to be aware of their emotional levels.

“It’s OK if you’re only there for 15 minutes, and you get your hellos and your happy holidays in, and make a break for it,” she said.

It’s also important for those who are grieving to identify where they can turn for support, whether it’s a counselor, or family member or friend.

For those wanting to show support to someone who is suffering a loss, it’s a good idea to check with them to be sure they’re OK.

“See if they have any holiday plans. If they say they don’t want to do anything this year, just let them know what you’re doing, and let them know that they’re invited. They might change their mind, day of. Or, they might get to that point where they’re really lonely, and they might need somebody to reach out, so it’s important to know who’s there,” Cavagnetto said.

“People can feel really alone. If it has been a few months, they feel that other people have settled back into their routine and don’t even talk about their loved one anymore, their spouse or their parent, or their child, whoever it was,” she said.

Sometimes, they’ll want to talk about their loved one, other times they won’t, she said. The important thing is to be willing to listen, to talk and to share memories, if they’d like to.

When it comes to grieving a loved one, Cavagnetto said, “there is no cookie-cutter answer.”

Holiday Grief Support Workshops
Where: Gulfside Center for Hospice Care, 5760 Dean Dairy Road, Zephyrhills
When: Dec. 7 at 4 p.m.
Or: Gulfside Bereavement and Community Outreach Center, 6230 Lafayette St., Dec. 12 at 4 p.m.
Both of these sessions will be free, and those attending will talk about techniques to help them cope with their grief during the holidays. Both sessions are expected to last about 90 minutes and will cover the same content.

Information: Call Kelly Cavagnetto at (727) 845-5707.

Published December 6, 2017

New Christian academy scheduled to open in fall 2018

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The North Tampa Christian Academy, now under construction, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2018.

School officials expect it to open with 250 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, said Dawn McLendon, marketing and enrollment director. It also expects between 50 and 60 in its early childhood program, which will serve students beginning at age 2.

The school, being built at 5619 E. County Line Road in Wesley Chapel, is a private Christian school, sponsored by the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

This is what the campus of the North Tampa Christian Academy is expected to look like when it opens for the 2018-2019 school year next fall. (Courtesy of North Tampa Christian Academy)

The denomination has sponsored schools throughout the United States and across the globe.

“We’re one of the largest denominationally sponsored school systems,” McLendon said.

The conference has 30 schools in Florida, including one in Zephyrhills and one in Tampa.

“We don’t have a traditional setup, where you think of rows of desks and 25 kids, 30 kids, 40 kids,” McLendon added.

While it isn’t the same, its setup is similar to the private model of a lower school, middle school and upper school, McLendon said. “It’s divided by buildings (which serve specific age groups), more than grade structure,” she explained.

The North Tampa Christian Academy emphasizes the “whole person” approach to education, by promoting a balanced development of the whole person – spiritually, physically, intellectually, socially and emotionally, background materials say.

Its design — both programmatically and physically — seeks to create an environment that fosters collaborative, project-based learning, with focus on service to others and real-world experience, according to information supplied by McLendon.

Construction is underway at North Tampa Christian Academy, a new private school that is scheduled to open in Wesley Chapel in the fall of 2018.

The learning environment is designed to encourage an appreciation of beauty and the natural environment, and will incorporate strong connections between indoor and outdoor areas – including learning terraces, gardens, shaded reading areas, nature trails and playfields.

“The design is very intentional,” McLendon said, with the goal of providing students with the individual attention they need to reach their potential, while also promoting group learning.

Even the furniture is designed to honor learning styles and learning preferences of students, she said.

Planning for the school began in 2012, when the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, in collaboration with Adventist Health Systems and the Florida Hospital West Florida Region, began to envision the school.

A 43-acre site for the school was purchased on Aug. 17, 2015.

Prakash Nair of Fielding Nair International, a global leader in innovative school design, is the school’s designer, and Wannemacher Jensen Architects is the project architect.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held Nov. 4, 2016.

Sandra Doran is head of school, Stephen Herr is associate head of school, and McLendon is marketing and enrollment director.

The school is now accepting applications for the 2018-2019 school year, which begins in fall of 2018.

North Tampa Christian Academy
North Tampa Christian Academy, now under construction at 5619 E. County Line Road in Wesley Chapel, is scheduled to open in fall 2018.

Here are some facts about the school:

  • It will serve children from age 2 through grade 12.
  • Its curriculum is based on the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist Educational Standards, the Common Core Curriculum, and the Next Generation Science. There is an emphasis on project-based learning, competency-based grading and real-world teaching.
  • Students do not need to be of the Seventh-Day Adventist denomination to attend the school.
  • Tuition ranges from $11,900 to $15,900 per year, based on the student’s grade level. Scholarships may be available through the Step-Up Scholarship and the McKay Scholarship programs, and families can work with the school leadership team to assess the family’s financial scholarship needs.

For information, visit the school’s website, NorthTampaChristian.org, attend an upcoming information session, contact the school through email , or call (813) 591-0309.

Published December 6, 2017

Families can find out more about Pine View Middle IB

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Families who want to know more about the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at Pine View Middle School can attend a community information night.

The session is planned for Pine View Middle School, 5334 Parkview Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, on Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Students who are interested in the program, but are not zoned for Pine View Middle School, may apply to attend the school through the magnet application process.

The community information night will provide information about the program and about how to apply to attend.

Pine View Middle is Pasco County Schools’ first IB Middle Years Programme Candidate School.

It has around 1,000 students.

Its mission, according to the school’s website “is to provide a rigorous, world-class education which inspires students to become active, compassionate, and collaborative lifelong learners who understand and respect other people and their differences.”

The International Baccalaureate program aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect, according to Pine View’s website.

The organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging program of international education and rigorous assessment. The IB program encourages students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

Published December 6, 2017