The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

This festival is more than a little fishy

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Folks got their fill of fish and festivities at the Pioneer Florida Museum’s first Mullet & Music Festival on Nov. 12.

Mark and Jenny Hanna, of Dade City, are impressed with the generous portions served at the Mullet & Music Festival (Richard K. Riley/Photos)
Mark and Jenny Hanna, of Dade City, are impressed with the generous portions served at the Mullet & Music Festival
(Richard K. Riley/Photos)

The event began at 10 a.m., and continued until 4 p.m.

It featured fried mullet and smoked mullet dinners, musical entertainment and assorted activities, including a smoked mullet competition, a mullet head competition and mullet toss.

For $10, diners could enjoy a plate of fish, grits, greens and hushpuppies.

For those not particularly fond of fish, festivalgoers could purchase hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries.

Mullet smokes on a grill at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village’s first Mullet & Music Festival.
Mullet smokes on a grill at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village’s first Mullet & Music Festival.

There was a beer and wine garden, too.

Admission to the event was included in the admission charge to the museum and village, which features exhibits and artifacts from the pioneer era.

The Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Florida’s pioneer heritage.

Published November 16, 2016

Rocco DeSimmon, of Wesley Chapel, takes a photo of the antique fire engines on the museum grounds. 
Rocco DeSimmon, of Wesley Chapel, takes a photo of the antique fire engines on the museum grounds.
Joseph Alexander, of Dade City, provides the alternative, fat-fried mullet. Customers could choose smoked or fried mullet for the same price.
Joseph Alexander, of Dade City, provides the alternative, fat-fried mullet. Customers could choose smoked or fried mullet for the same price.

Local author is inspired by mysterious phenomenon

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The notion of writing about “things that go bump in the night” is not a new idea for novelists.

Many authors have used the presence of unexplained sounds to help create a sense of suspense for their readers.

But, in the case of Alicia White, an author who lives in Wesley Chapel, it was a sound that she actually heard — similar to a sonic boom — that sparked the the idea for her first novel, “The Roar.”

A.M. White was inspired to write her first novel by a mysterious booming sound she has heard in Wesley Chapel. She called that novel ‘The Roar.’ She has finished a sequel and expects the third book in a three-part series to come out next spring. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
A.M. White was inspired to write her first novel by a mysterious booming sound she has heard in Wesley Chapel. She called that novel ‘The Roar.’ She has finished a sequel and expects the third book in a three-part series to come out next spring.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

White has lived in the Tampa area since 1991, but she didn’t hear the sound until she moved into Wesley Chapel about a year ago and, since then, she’s heard it about five times.

“It rattles things, kind of like a sonic boom would,” she said.

She quickly learned that she was not alone.

“There have been reports within a 15-mile radius,” said White, who uses the pen name A.M. White.

“People make note on social media to get reassurance that they’re not going crazy,” she notes. So far, there’s no explanation for the phenomenon.

The author said she’s heard the sound, and so has her husband, Mark, and their 8-year-old son, Landon. Their 4-year-old Grayson hasn’t heard it, but White’s dad, Gary Orchard, who lives in Lutz, also heard it once while sitting in White’s living room in Westbrook Estates.

“It’s not just this neighborhood. People have reported hearing it in Lexington Oaks, up near Quail Hollow, over to Meadow Pointe,” White said.

The author, who expects to release her second novel, “Into the Roar,” on Nov. 17, said she’s wanted to be a writer since she was young, but never seriously pursued it until last year.

“Last spring, I kind of had a brush with my own mortality. I had a health scare,” she said.

That motivated her to stop thinking about trying her hand at writing and to start doing it.

The second-grade teacher said she finds windows of time for writing after her boys are in bed. She squeezes in about four hours a night for her writing.

She envisions a third book in the series, which she describes as a dystopian novel, in the vein of books like “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent.” She expects her third book to be released in the spring.

White thinks she has an unusual writing process, which she describes as a “reverse-movie” approach.

“I see it playing out in my head, and it just comes out,” she said.

Since she sees what’s happening to her characters — and it can be violent at times — it can be an emotional experience, said White, who teaches at Turner/Bartels K-8, in New Tampa.

In addition to writing her books, White also designed the covers and does all the marketing, through social media, such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

By publishing her own work, she owns the rights, but White would like to find a publisher to pick up her books because she’d love a wider audience.

White said she’s encouraged by the feedback she’s been receiving.

“There’s a lot more to it than the money,” she said, noting “The Roar” has attracted readers as young as 12 and as old as 91, and has appealed to both genders.

And, while she’s never stepped foot out of this continent, her book has been read by people in six of the seven continents and by people in 10 different countries.

Reviews on Amazon.com for “The Roar” characterize the novel as “fantastic” and say it deserves five stars. It is described by one reviewer as a “great read.” Another said, “couldn’t put it down.” Another reader summed it up by saying, “Wow!”

Copies of “The Roar” are available through Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. The paperback sells for $11.99 and the Kindle version is $2.99.

Published November 9, 2016

SwampFest gearing up for community-based fair

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SwampFest, hosted by the Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Booster Club, gives kids and adults a chance to have fun — but also helps raise money to benefit the high school and other local organizations.

This year, the event will feature a new carnival company, said Doug Hutchinson, SwampFest coordinator.

SwampFest will feature 24 rides, a magic act, bands, a DJ, other entertainers, food and carnival games. It’s a local event that offers fun for people of all ages, said Doug Hutchinson, SwampFest coordinator. (File Photo)
SwampFest will feature 24 rides, a magic act, bands, a DJ, other entertainers, food and carnival games. It’s a local event that offers fun for people of all ages, said Doug Hutchinson, SwampFest coordinator.
(File Photos)

“It’s going to be Arnold Amusements. They’re a family oriented, family owned, carnival company. Right now, they’re doing the Hillsborough County Fair down in Brandon,” Hutchinson said.

“Last year, we had a little disappointment because the operator that brought the rides, brought just the rides. We didn’t really have a full complement of games … where it makes it more like a fair,” Hutchinson said.

Arnold Amusements will bring a full Midway, with games, rides and amusements.

The event will last four nights, from Nov. 3 through Nov. 6. Highlights include 24 rides, a magic act, and performances by Stonegrey, Vincent Randazzo, Nunes at Night, DJ Carlos, Nicole’s Dance Center, Show on the Road Tampa and Suncoast Dance.

Hutchinson said the organizers talked to teenagers to find out what they’d like, and they suggested a DJ because they want to dance, Hutchinson said.

The event will be at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

SwampFest is an offshoot from Flapjack Festival, a popular Land O’ Lakes event that shifted to Dade City, and then was suspended.

After the Flapjack Festival moved, a group got together to organize SwampFest, said Hutchinson, who was the coordinator for the Flapjack Festival in Land O’ Lakes.

Tickets for Midway rides will be sold individually, or event-goers can purchase armbands for unlimited rides.
Tickets for Midway rides will be sold individually, or event-goers can purchase armbands for unlimited rides.

“We started having it the same weekend as Flapjack used to be. It’s not as big. Our goal is to try to make it more of a community-based fair,” he said.

The event raises money for the Land O’ Lakes High School Booster club, but it also raises money for other groups who sell pre-sale tickets.

Pre-sale armband tickets for unlimited rides are $15 each. On-site armband ride tickets are $25.

Locations selling the pre-sale tickets are: Land O’ Lakes High School cheerleaders, Sunlake High School (guidance office), Sanders Elementary School, Pine View Middle School, Sugar and Spice Daycare and Beef O’ Brady’s at Village Lakes, Wilderness Lakes and Sunlake.

The event has free admission, and generally attracts between 2,000 and 3,000 people, Hutchinson said.

This will be the second year that the event will be at the upgraded Land O’ Lakes Community Center Park.

Hutchinson can’t wait until the park gets its stage, which will be in time for next year’s SwampFest.

“It’s not easy getting some of the entertainment to come out there and play under a tent,” he said. With the stage, it will be easier to persuade musicians to come out to play.

The event was initially held at Land O’ Lakes High, but the community park offers a greater degree of visibility, creating a better opportunity to attract people who are traveling past the event, he said.

Proceeds from SwampFest are used by the booster club to benefit students at Land O’ Lakes High.

“For the first five years, we put pretty much all of our money that we made off of SwampFest into upgrading the weight room,” Hutchinson said.

The boosters also paid for the school’s blue and gold marquee sign.

“That’s a nice sign, and it was definitely overdue,” he said, estimating its cost at about $12,000.

The event is now in its seventh year, having skipped one year because of construction at the park.

It’s the kind of event that brings people together, Hutchinson said.

“The year that we didn’t have it, everybody was complaining because that’s kind of their annual alumni get-together,” he said.

For more information about SwampFest, visit LOLSwampFest.com.

SwampFest
What: A community festival featuring games, rides, entertainment and food
Where: Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
When: Nov. 3 through Nov. 6 (See LOLSwampFest.com for more details)
How much: Free admission; pre-sale unlimited ride armbands, $15; on-site unlimited ride armbands, $25.

Published November 2, 2016

 

Hearts for Hospice 5K keeps legacies alive

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Ethel Dunk was known for her endless energy, so it seemed only fitting to her family and friends to honor her memory to form a team called “Ethel’s Energizers” to raise money at the annual Hearts for Hospice 5K.

Dunk occupied many roles in life.

For Ethel's Energizers, the Hearts for Hospice 5K is a way to keep alive the memory of Ethel Dunk, who was a mother, grandmother, wife, sister, aunt and friend. (Photos courtesy of Keth Luke)
For Ethel’s Energizers, the Hearts for Hospice 5K is a way to keep alive the memory of Ethel Dunk, who was a mother, grandmother, wife, sister, aunt and friend.
(Photos courtesy of Keth Luke)

She was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

Cindy Walker and Barbara Russell, both of Land O’ Lakes, are Dunk’s daughters and co-captains of the team which was named to honor Dunk’s energetic spirit.

Both women applaud the work that hospice does to help families.

Walker is a nurse.

Because of the help of Gulfside Hospice, she was able to put that nursing role aside, so she could relate to her mom as her daughter.

Russell said the team that came in to provide assistance included aides, nurses, social workers and clergy.

It made a real difference, Russell said, noting she remembers talking to a clergy member who asked her: “If you had one last thing to say to your mom, what would you say?”

It helped both her and her mom to say things to each before her mom’s passing, Russell said.

Both women said they decided to raise money to help Gulfside Hospice because it needs the community’s support.

‘Participating in the Hearts for Hospice 5K is a way to keep our mom's legacy alive while helping others care for their loved ones,’ said Barbara Russell, one of Dunk’s daughters and team co-captain.
‘Participating in the Hearts for Hospice 5K is a way to keep our mom’s legacy alive while helping others care for their loved ones,’ said Barbara Russell, one of Dunk’s daughters and team co-captain.

“The patient never gets a bill,” said Walker, who also serves as a volunteer, but not in the capacity of a nurse.

People often have the wrong impression of what hospice is, Russell said. “Everybody thinks of it as death,” she said. “It’s just so much more than that. It’s just a loving community.”

Dunk’s family became acquainted with Gulfside Hospice in 2014, when Dunk’s illness became too much for the family’s health care professionals.

“We have developed a bond with our Gulfside Hospice family. We may have lost our mom, but we gained friendships and support,” Russell said.

After Dunk’s death in 2014, the family decided to honor her by joining Gulfside Hospice’s fundraising community.

They signed up for what was then called Hike for Hospice, but is now known as the Hearts for Hospice 5K, and they launched Ethel’s Energizers team.

The team has grown every year.

This year, 25 people will walk as part of the team in honor of Dunk, ranging in age from 1 to 85.

It’s a fitting tribute, Russell said. “Hospice is not about giving up; it’s about celebrating the end of life.”

This year’s 10th annual Hearts for Hospice 5K, presented by Bouchard Insurance, will take place on Nov. 6 at Rasmussen College, 18600 Fernview St., in Land O’ Lakes. Registration and check-in begin at 7:30 a.m., and the 5K walk, run and one-mile fun run start at 8:45 a.m.

To register for the event, or create a team and fundraise like Ethel’s Energizers, visit HeartsForHospice5K.org. For more information, call Chelsea O’Keefe at (727) 845-5707.

Published November 2, 2016

Halloween tricks, treats and traditions on tap

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If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Halloween, you’ll find plenty of options across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., is hosting a Family Fun Festival that it’s calling “Light the Night.”

The event will be from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Oct. 31.

Pumpkin patches are popping up all over Hillsborough and Pasco counties, as area residents prepare for Halloween and fall festivals. (File Photos)
Pumpkin patches are popping up all over Hillsborough and Pasco counties, as area residents prepare for Halloween and fall festivals.
(File Photos)

Cars will be decorated with favorite kid-friendly themes and will line up on the Yellow parking lot and grounds outside the church’s Gatheria.

The cars’ trunks will be full of candy for children through fifth grade.

Each car also will provide a game, face painting, puppet show or other opportunity for fun.

Other highlights will be inflatables, balloon animals and a hayride.

Bring a camera to take advantage of photo opportunities.

Admission is $3 per person, with a maximum charge of $15 per family.

Children age 2 and under will be admitted without charge.

Hungry Harry’s BBQ will be available for purchase for $5, and other food items also will be available through the church’s kitchen.

The trunks will be open for children to pick up candy from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The inflatables will be available the entire evening.

Register by Oct. 30 at Idlewild.org/children, to avoid waiting in long lines. To find out more, call (813) 264-1515, ext. 1561.

Meanwhile, in Pasco County, the 12th annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival & Carnival is set for Oct. 28 through Oct. 30, at 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd.

This year, the event has added a day to give families more time to enjoy carnival food, midway games and rides.

These gourds add a splash of Halloween color.
These gourds add a splash of Halloween color.

The festival will be from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., on Oct. 28; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Oct. 29; and, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Oct. 30.

Highlights on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 will include live music, a business expo, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, pony rides, fall foods and beverages, food trucks, interactive craft activities, arts and crafts exhibitors, vendors, a doggie fun area and pet adoption event.

Kids can celebrate Halloween in a safe environment on Oct. 29, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Trunk or Treat activity.

For more information on the festival, a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce event, visit GroveShopping.com. Visit DreamlandAmusements.com for coupon savings on ride wristbands, ride tickets and carnival food.

Meanwhile, over in St. Leo, Saint Leo University’s Office of Residence Life is inviting the community to Haunted Marmion, an event set for Oct. 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Marmion-Snyder Hall, 33701 State Road 52.

All floors of the residence halls will be transformed into a themed haunted house. Trick-or-treating will occur on two floors of Snyder Hall. There will be games and other activities in the Lion’s Den (a common area for both halls) for those not participating in the haunted house or trick-or-treating.

The event is free; however, those attending are asked to donate one or more canned/nonperishable food items at check-in, which will be given to a local food bank for distribution to those in need in the community.

In Land O’ Lakes, those who enjoy a good scare may want to drop by the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., to experience The Haunted House on 41.

The event, slated for Oct. 27 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Oct. 28 and Oct. 29 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., promises three nights of bone-chilling terror.

Admission is $1 each. Some scenes, the organizers with Pasco County Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources say, may be too intense for young children.

For those who enjoy staying active, the Northdale 5K Pumpkin Run & 1 Mile Family Run/Walk may be just the thing.

The event is set for Oct. 29, at the Bob Sierra YMCA Youth & Family Center, 4015 Ragg Road in Tampa.

The chip-timed race will have a costume contest and is dog friendly. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Bob Sierra Y’s annual campaign to ensure the facility keeps its doors open to all, regardless of an individual’s financial hardship.

For more information, call (813) 962-3220.

Some area high schools are also hosting special events.

Sunlake High School, at 3203 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, is holding a “Trick or Treat Around the Track” on Oct. 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m.

Wesley Chapel High School, at 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel, is hosting a “Halloween Safe Zone,” on Oct. 29 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the school’s cafeteria and parking lot.

For more details about these events, contact Sunlake High and Wesley Chapel High.

Area libraries also are holding special events.

Land O’ Lakes Library, at 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, is hosting a Pumpkin Fest for all ages on Oct. 29 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event involves decorating pumpkins, using a wide variety of techniques.

New River Library, at 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, has three Halloween events planned.

On Oct. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the library is welcoming infants through 5-year-olds to wear their favorite costume to the library’s Costume Story Time.

The library also is hosting a Halloween Movie & S’Mores for fourth-graders and older on Oct. 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

And, on Oct. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., it’s hosting a Fall Family Night.  The evening will feature crafts, refreshments and a costume contest.

The Carrollwood Toastmasters are also getting into the Halloween spirit by hosting an open house on Oct. 26 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa. There will be free food, fun and prizes. Feel free to wear a costume and bring a friend.

Published October 26, 2016

 

Local businesses are ‘companies to watch’

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Three local businesses will be honored on Nov. 3 as being among 50 “companies to watch” in Florida.

Gator Cleaning Solutions, RISA and X-Link Medical Software Interfacing will receive their awards at a celebration at Hard Rock Live, Universal CityWalk, in Orlando.

Mary Lynn and Gary Gorsline lead X-Link Medical Software Interfacing, which has been identified as one of 50 companies to watch across Florida. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Mary Lynn and Gary Gorsline lead X-Link Medical Software Interfacing, which has been identified as one of 50 companies to watch across Florida.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

These companies were selected from 500 nominees in the annual Florida Companies to Watch annual awards program.

The statewide program identifies companies that are expected to achieve significant growth over the next several years. The awards program is managed by GrowFl, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida, in association with Edward Lowe Foundation and with programmatic support from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

Winners of the distinction were singled out based on several factors, including their entrepreneurial management teams, competitive marketing positions and strong community involvement.

The 50 companies making the list generated more than $1.1 billion in combined revenue and added nearly 1,200 employees, between 2012 and 2015, according to information provided by the Pasco Economic Development Council.

Businesses on the list also had a 30 percent increase in revenue and 33 percent increase in job growth in 2016, the Pasco EDC reports.

Gary and Mary Lynn Gorsline, owners of X-Link Medical Software Interfacing, are delighted that their Land O’ Lakes-based company is one to watch.

Their company, which began in March 1988, now has 12 employees, but has immediate needs to add three more, Mary Lynn Gorsline said.

The couple is pleased to see second-stage companies receive recognition and support.

“It’s a group of companies that are not startups, and they’re not Ford Motor companies,” Gary Gorsline said.

Jenny Connell, an account manager with Gator Cleaning Solutions, prepares to visit a client. (Courtesy of Gator Cleaning Solutions)
Jenny Connell, an account manager with Gator Cleaning Solutions, prepares to visit a client.
(Courtesy of Gator Cleaning Solutions)

Mary Lynn, added: “Second-stage companies are hugely important because they generate more jobs — yet get very little attention. Startups get lots of attention. Tiny little businesses get lots of attention, but second-stage that drive the economy are largely overlooked.”

Innovation has played a huge role in the company’s success and remains essential, she added.

“We have to never, ever, ever stop innovating because if we do, we’ll go away,” she said.

One pivotal moment for the company came from the exposure it derived from being among 80 top U.S. vendors that demonstrated at the Interoperability Showcase for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, the largest American health care tradeshow.

The appearance there led to new partnerships and created new opportunities at the local, state, national and international levels, according to the couple.

The company also has supported the creation of a clinic in Managua, has provided financial support to the nonprofit Ghana Orphanage and helped with the startup, and has provided continued support for Oasis Pregnancy Care Center, which has office space in Copperstone Executive Suites, where X-Link operates.

Gator Cleaning Solutions, of Odessa, has been in business for more than 12 years. The company has evolved from a janitorial service to a facility maintenance provider.

It delivers customizable strategies to meet its customers’ needs. Recently, it expanded to include residential floor care such as carpet, tile/grout and upholstery cleaning.

The company rebranded itself in 2010, changing its name, expanding its executive leadership team and developing its first comprehensive website. It expanded its footprint in 2012 by purchasing its corporate office and warehouse space, and adding staff, to prepare for continued growth.

The company is a big believer in community involvement.

“I’m a big part of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel,” said Erin Meyers, co-owner of the company.

She’s also involved with the Interact Club at Land O’ Lakes High School and is a Big Sister in the Big Brother/Big Sister organization.

Her husband, Marcus, also a co-owner of the company, coaches two teams in the West Pasco Soccer Club. He’s also on the Greater Pasco Chamber Board.

The company shows its support for community involvement by providing a paid work day for each employee, dubbed a “Give Day” to allow them to give back to a charity of their choice.

The company is also involved in a number of other organizations and charitable causes.

The company has about 80 employees, including about 30 full-time staff members, Erin Meyer said.

“We made it to a finalist last year. We were totally honored. If you look back at last year’s winners, there were just some amazing companies,” she said. “To have won this year is just extremely exciting and humbling.”

RISA, of Land O’ Lakes, is also on the list of companies to watch.

RISA is a Hispanic, Certified Veteran Owned Small Business that specializes in cyber security and information technology services.

It helps the Department of Defense and the federal government to secure networks, improve overall network security and achieve government regulatory compliance, according to its website.

It also supports a number of charitable causes and organizations, locally and internationally, including a micro-church in Germany that provides food, clothing, shelter and the Gospel to Germans who may have never read the Bible or heard of Jesus, the company’s website says.

Closer to home, the company supports Christian Social Services of Land O’ Lakes and Grace United Methodist Church, which in cooperation with Metropolitan Ministries, provides hot dinners weekly to members of the local community.

Published October 26, 2016

Play offers insights about the life of nuns

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Step into a conversation and mention the word “nun,” and it’s not uncommon for someone to describe a stereotypical incident of a woman wearing a religious habit and wielding a ruler to inflict discipline.

But, there is so much more to the story of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida, and a play to be presented this weekend at the Saint Leo Black Box Theatre in Benedictine Hall, provides a glimpse into those lives.

Eight Saint Leo University students wrote the play, “Women on the Move: The Story of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida.”

This poster announces an original play, written by eight Saint Leo University students, about the lives of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)
This poster announces an original play, written by eight Saint Leo University students, about the lives of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

It shares the story of women who left their homes to join a new community in Florida, to carry out their faith through the work of their daily lives.

At times, the dramatization is touching, said Alicia Corts, assistant professor of theatre at the university, and the play’s director. At other times, it’s amusing, she said.

Corts, who arrived at the university last year, recalled the genesis of the play.

“When I first arrived at Saint Leo, we were getting a brand new theater, which is a big thing for Saint Leo,” she said.

The reason the university has the theater is because when the Sisters sold their old monastery building, the university had room to create the theater. It is housed in the space that had been occupied by the chapel in the former monastery.

“I knew all of that coming into the job, but on my first day, I was going to get my keys,” Corts said. As a security guard was giving her a ride to pick up her keys, they stopped to wait for traffic.

“I pointed to the theater and said, ‘Well that’s my new home. That’s my new theater.’

“And, he said, ‘You know when they moved out of that place was the first time I saw those ladies cry.’

“I thought that’s really dramatic, that’s interesting. I didn’t know that part of that.

“It got me to thinking about that idea of home, and leaving your home,” the play director said.

Even though the nuns sold the building, it still felt like they deserved an expression of gratitude, the play director said.

“So, I proposed that we write a play,” Corts said.

And, that’s precisely what happened.

The students went to work, researching the history of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida. They unearthed old records, conducted interviews and wrote vignettes.

“They went back to records from the 1800s. They contacted the original monastery that the nuns came from,” Corts said.

“These kids just dug into their (the Sisters’) lives and wrote this show as an expression of gratitude for the new home that we have. They (the Sisters) left their home and now we have our new place,” she said.

When they arrived in East Pasco from Elk County, Pennsylvania, in 1889, the religious sisters lived in a three-story hotel in San Antonio.

The play captures moments in these women’s lives and also dispels some myths about nuns, Corts said. At one point in history, she said, nuns were called witches because of the religious clothing they wore and the prayers that they chanted.

The production is sponsored by the university’s Department of Language Studies and the Arts.

It involves 30 people, counting both cast and crew. It will be premiered on the weekend of Oct. 28 through Oct. 30, with each show starting at 7 p.m.

The play will be performed to an 80-seat house at Saint Leo Black Box Theatre in Benedictine Hall.

Admission is free, but a donation of $10 or more is suggested. All proceeds will go directly to the Benedictine Sisters of Florida and their continuing work.

To reserve a ticket or for more information, email .

‘The great work still goes on’
Sister Roberta Bailey, now serving in her second term as Prioress at Holy Name Monastery, recounted the sacrifices made by members of the religious order during a 125th birthday celebration for the town of St. Leo.
“We preserve our stories because we want never to forget that the opportunities we have today were not simply lavished upon us,” Bailey said. “They were purchased at a great price, at travel from home; cold, cracked, work-worn knuckles; study by night with midnight oil; stomachs that ached with hunger; raking, hoeing and manuring groves and gardens; saving, skimping and salvaging.
“What firm faith and incredible courage our founding sisters must have had,” Bailey said. “Imagine what daring it took to venture south into this unknown territory,” Bailey said.
Since arriving in 1889, the sisters have been educators and administrators, town mayors and commissioners, members of various boards, leaders of religious programs and ministries, and involved in work in surrounding communities and in other states.
“The great work still goes on,” she said. “As long as there are gaps between our ideals and our reality, there will always be great work to be done.”

Originally published in The Laker/Lutz News on Aug. 3, 2016

Lifelong learners have new options at PHSC

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Maybe you’ve always wanted to try your hand at writing, start an edible garden or learn some foreign phrases.

wxp-rgbLifelong learning courses, offered through Pasco-Hernando State College’s ED2Go Online, are designed to help you fulfill those desires.

The courses are geared specifically for lifelong learning students.

The programs last six weeks, with new courses opening every month, said Karen Strouthopoulos, a senior office assistant at PHSC.

The instruction is delivered online, with class participants signing onto the class from their personal computers, Strouthopoulos said.

The state college offers more than 300 noncredit continuing education courses, ranging in cost from $104 to $146. Once students register and the course begins, they have six weeks to access the instructional materials.

They also can email questions to their instructor and participate in live chats with other students in the class.

Courses beginning on Nov. 9 include:

Computer

  • Introduction to Windows 10: Learn to use this operating system to customize your desktop, manage files and folders, and navigate the internet. Cost: $118
  • Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking: Make the most of your scrapbooking talents and artistic ideas when you combine digital and traditional scrapbooking techniques. Cost: $104
  • Understanding the Cloud: Learn what you need to know to truly understand the cloud, including how it works, what drives it, why it’s so popular, and how to make it work for you. Cost: $104

Healthy Living

  • Start Your Own Edible Garden: Learn how to grow delicious, nutritious fruit and vegetables in your own backyard. Cost: $104
  • Luscious, Low-Fat, Lightning-Quick Meals: Join a registered dietitian and discover how easy it can be to prepare delicious and nutritious meals. Cost: $104
  • Lose Weight and Keep It Off: Discover how to establish a healthy approach to successful weight loss and weight management for life. Cost: $104

Languages

  • Discover Sign Language: Discover the fun of learning sign language and using your hands to communicate with the deaf. Cost: $104
  • Speed Spanish: This course is designed for anyone who wants to learn Spanish pronto. Cost: $104
  • Instant Italian: Participants will learn practical, everyday words and phrases that will make any trip to Italy more enjoyable. Cost: $104

Personal Development

  • Assisting Aging Parents: Learn to prepare for the challenges of aging parents, while learning to cherish the transition. Cost: $104
  • Genealogy Basics: Learn where to look, who to contact, and how to use research tools to begin an exciting and fascinating exploration of your family roots. Cost: $104
  • Music Made Easy: Learn the fundamentals of music theory. Be able to read, write and play simple music. Cost: $104
  • Write Your Life Story: Learn how to create and distribute an inspirational and professional autobiography for family, friends and others. Cost: $104

Travel 

  • Travel Photography for the Digital Photographer: Learn tricks and techniques to capture scenes from around the world. Cost: $104
  • Travel Writing: Learn how to write and sell travel articles and books. Cost: $104

To see the complete list of PHSC’s Ed2Go courses, or to register for these and other noncredit courses, visit Ed2go.com/phsc/.

For information, call (727) 816-3123, or email .

Published October 26, 2016

Rattlesnake fest hits half-century mark

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They weren’t bringing in rattlesnakes that they’d found out in fields or carting in live gopher tortoises to race — but they were having old-fashioned fun at the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run.

Kids scaled up rock walls, people had close encounters with alligators and bands played continuously.

The festival, held in San Antonio’s City Park, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a two-day event, on Oct. 15 and Oct. 16.

Richard K. Riley/Photos Taylor Weiss, of New Port Richey, makes her way up the rock wall.
Richard K. Riley/Photos
Taylor Weiss, of New Port Richey, makes her way up the rock wall.

It was a hit.

It’s hard to get actual numbers, since there’s no admission charge, but Betty Burke, chairwoman of the organizing committee, estimated attendance at between 7,000 and 8,000 people.

“My goodness, it was fantastic,” said Burke, a member of the Rotary Club of San Antonio, which put on the event.

There were lots of kids, she said. And, “there were dogs everywhere.”

People seemed to be enjoying themselves, said Burke, noting she was “very happy” with the way things turned out.

“Croc Encounters — that was real popular,” the chairwoman said. “Everybody loved the music,” she added.

Besides listening to bands, festivalgoers could get a bite to eat, pose for a picture in the pumpkin patch, or do a bit of shopping.

There were barrel train rides, a bounce house, a rattlesnake run, and wooden gopher tortoise races — a perennial hit at the event.

The gopher tortoise races, which use wooden mechanical tortoises, is always a big hit at the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run.
The gopher tortoise races, which use wooden mechanical tortoises, is always a big hit at the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run.

The festival is the primary fundraiser for the Rotary Club of San Antonio. Proceeds support local scholarships, community projects and international Rotary projects, such as Polio Plus. The event is partially funded by Visit Pasco Tourism and Visit Florida. Area businesses, community members and sponsors, including The Laker/Lutz News, also support the event.

Published Oct. 19, 2016

 

 

Boundaries recommended for Elementary B

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A boundary committee has recommended boundaries for a new elementary school being built in Bexley, a new subdivision being built in Land O’ Lakes, off of State Road 54.

The committee has selected an option that would include Ballantrae, Suncoast Meadows, Suncoast Pointe, Hayman/Fuentes, Meadowbrook/Sierra Pines, and all of Bexley, which are east of the Suncoast Parkway.

The new elementary also would include Swan View Townhomes, Ivy Lake Estates and Toscano at Suncoast, which are west of the Suncoast Parkway.

Courtesy of Pasco County Schools This rendering depicts what the exterior view of a new elementary under construction in Bexley, will look like.
Courtesy of Pasco County Schools
This rendering depicts what the exterior view of a new elementary under construction in Bexley, will look like.

The proposed boundaries would reduce crowding at both Odessa and Oakstead elementary schools, and would provide additional students for Lake Myrtle Elementary.

Students that would be shifting from Oakstead to Lake Myrtle live in these areas: Morsani, Woodville Palms, Cambridge/Lake Linda, Oakstead Area South, Cypress Cove/Village on the Pond, Meadowview/Country Close and Foxwood/Lake Heron.

While the committee recommends the boundaries, the Pasco County School Board has the final word on where the lines should be drawn.

Elementary B is expected to open in the fall, for the 2017-2018 school year.

It will have a capacity of 878 students, and is expected to have 706 students.

Oakstead, which had 1,095 enrolled students is expected to have 765 students, under the proposed boundaries. Odessa, which had 1,000 students, is expected to have 780, and Lake Myrtle, which had 587 students, is expected to have 616.

A parent meeting has been scheduled for Nov. 1, from6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the cafeteria at Oakstead Elementary,11925 Lake Patience Road.

At that meeting, staff for Pasco County Schools, will explain the proposed boundaries and will invite those attending to ask questions and provide feedback.

While the school district needs to draw boundaries for new schools, the issue is typically controversial. Some parents complain that they deliberately moved into the area because of the school they believed their child would attend. Others are happy with the school and don’t want their child’s education disruption. Potential issues with childcare, after-school activities and the parents’ ability to be involved at the school are other common complaints.

Dave Skanga, area superintendent for Central Pasco schools, said he understands that parents have concerns, especially about the unknown.

However, Skanga said, the district will do what it can to reduce parental concerns about having their children zoned to a different school.

He expects the principal of the new school to be named in November. He also noted that many of the teachers will be coming from schools whose students are being shifted into the new school, Skanga said.

“This is going to be a beautiful building,” Skanga said. It will be well equipped, too, he said. “It’s state-of-the-art when we open a new school.”

The school board is scheduled to hold its first public hearing on the proposed boundaries on Dec. 20 and its second public hearing on Jan. 17, when it is expected to make the final decision on the issue.

Published Oct. 19, 2016