B.C. Manion

Pasco Extension eyeing options for new home

October 19, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Nobody disputes that Pasco County’s Extension Office is in serious need of an upgrade.

But that’s where the consensus ends.

Extension now operates out of space owned by the Pasco County Fair Association, under an annual $17,000 lease, which is currently on a month-to-month basis.

But the office is too small and outdated to meet Extension’s needs.

The county wants to improve conditions for Extension and has been weighing various options.

It held a community stakeholder meeting on Oct. 12 at the Stallings Building, at 15029 14^th St., in Dade

Richard K. Riley/photos Whitney Elmore, director of Pasco County Extension, said she needs more space to enable her to create more programs to serve more Pasco County residents.

City.

The county owns that building and had been leasing it out, but that lease ended and the building is now vacant.

Moving Extension to the Stallings Building is one of the options the county is considering, said Cathy Pearson, an assistant county administrator.

The building, constructed in 1991, is in generally good condition and is immediately available. It would cost an estimated $146,000 to renovate and the project would take about 120 days, Pearson said.

Some advantages are that it has a kitchen and there’s space to do a community garden center.

Another option the county is considering would keep the program at the fairgrounds, with improvements made there.

“We’re on hold right now. We want to look and see what it would cost to do some renovations to that,” Pearson said. “We haven’t had a chance to work those figures out. We want facilities to take a hard look at that in the next month or so and come back with some figures.”

The county doesn’t own the fairgrounds, Pearson said.

The county also considered a third option to move Extension to the county’s old Data Center building, but that option doesn’t appear to be viable, Pearson said.

The building, constructed in 1977, would cost an estimated $606,000 to renovate and would take about a year, Pearson said.

A fourth option would involve a public/private partnership, but none has materialized so far.

“Is there something that we’re not thinking of?” Pearson asked.

County staff needs more time to evaluate the fairgrounds option, Pearson said, noting that it just began exploring that idea earlier in the week.

She estimated it would take about 90 days to evaluate that option and suggested meeting with the stakeholders again after the holidays.

Margarita Romo is urging Pasco County to relocate the Extension Office to the Stallings Building. She said area children need more opportunities and this would help to provide them.

Reaction from the crowd was all over the map.

Some support upgrading the fairgrounds building and keeping Extension there.

Others want the county to move the program to the Stallings Building because it could serve to help lift up a neighborhood where people struggle to provide opportunities for their children.

Some noted potential safety issues, if Extension moves to the Stallings Building.

A comparison of police calls shows that the neighborhood had more than twice as many police calls than the fairgrounds location.

However, some people in the crowd noted that improved trust in law enforcement has led to a greater number of calls, and the Stallings Building is in a more populated area than the fairgrounds, which makes police calls more likely.

Others in the crowd questioned how long it would take to upgrade the fairgrounds, how much it would cost and how Extension would operate in the interim.

A question also was raised about why the county would want to invest taxpayer money in a property not owned by the county.

Other questions included whether the county would continue to pay rent on the fairgrounds property and how the arrangement would affect Extension’s ability to control scheduling and programs.

Whitney Elmore, the director of Extension, said the main goal to expand the programming that’s available.

“Our existing facilities don’t allow us to expand,” she said.

Some speakers suggested relocating Extension temporarily to the Stallings Building, until renovations can be made to the fairgrounds, at which time it would move back.

Others suggested the county consider using both sites.

Margarita Romo, founder of Farmworkers Self-Help, urged the county to move Extension to the Stallings Building and to keep it there. The community’s children need more opportunities, she said.

“Come here, where it’s a challenge,” Romo said. “Take it on.”

LeAnne John, president of the Pasco County Fair Assoc., asked for time to determine whether improvements can be made at the fairgrounds to keep Extension there.

Leanne John, president of the Pasco County Fair Association, wants Pasco County to gather more information on whether it would be possible to upgrade the fairgrounds' building, so Extension could remain there. — Leanne John, president of the Pasco County Fair Association, wants Pasco County to gather more information on whether it would be possible to upgrade the fairgrounds’ building, so Extension could remain there.

“I grew up with the fair,” said Cindy Waller, John’s mom, and also a former president of the association. “If you want to showcase your Extension Office, what better place?” she asked.

Another meeting with stakeholders is expected after the county has gathered more information.

Published Oct. 19, 2016

Marine Corps League Detachment forms in Land O’ Lakes

October 19, 2016 By B.C. Manion

A new Marine Corps League Detachment has formed in Land O’ Lakes.

The Marine Forever Detachment No. 1440 has received its official charter, and the organization now meets on the third Monday of the month, at 7 p.m. at the Beef O’ Brady’s in the Village Lakes Shopping Center, 21539 Village Lakes Shopping Center Drive in Land O’ Lakes.

The formal presentation of the detachment’s official charter took place at the Beef O’ Brady’s on Sept. 26.

The League detachment is open to active duty, reserve and honorable discharged veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy FMF Corpsmen and Chaplains who live in Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Odessa, Wesley Chapel and surrounding areas.

David Kirk, of Lutz, the commandant of the new detachment, led the quest for its formation.

He also organized the Marine Forever Veterans Group LLC, a social group of Marine Corps veterans and their wives, that has been meeting at the same Beef O’ Brady’s for dinner for the past four years. That group, which is primarily social in nature, will continue to meet for dinner on Monday evenings at 6 p.m., Kirk said.

Courtesy of L. David Kirk Florida Commandant Ron Ashley holds charter document, while L. David Kirk, commandant of the newly formed Marine Corps League Detachment No. 1440 looks on.

Unlike the social group, the League detachment will have a 501-c4 status, meaning it can raise money for charitable causes, such as helping veterans in need, providing money for education and other endeavors, Kirk said.

The Land O’ Lakes detachment was needed because the closest one was 15 miles away, or more, Kirk explained, in a previous story published in The Laker.

Besides being more convenient, it’s also less expensive to belong because it doesn’t take as much gas to get to meetings, Kirk said.

Now that the new detachment is established, existing league members can transfer their membership.

So far, the detachment has 24 members, but Kirk expects about a half-dozen new members to join this month.

This isn’t the first time that Kirk has served as commandant. He previously served in that capacity at the Angus R. Goss Detachment in Tampa.

The Marine Corps League was founded in 1923 by World War I hero Major Gen. Commandant John A. Lejeune, and its congressional charter was approved by an act of the 75th Congress, which was signed and approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Aug. 4, 1937.

The league’s mission calls for its members to “join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps and those that have been honorably discharged from that service that they may effectively promote the ideas of American freedom and democracy.”

The league’s mission also calls for “voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines and former Marines and to their widows, and orphans; and to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.”

For more information on becoming a charter member of the new detachment and to receive updates on upcoming meetings, email Kirk at

For more information about the Marine Corps League, visit http://mclnational.org//

For more information about Marine Forever Veteran Group, LLC, visit Marine4Ever.com

and Facebook.com/MarineForeverVeteransGroup.

Published Oct. 19, 2016

A half-century of old-fashioned fun

October 12, 2016 By B.C. Manion

A half-century ago, the San Antonio Jaycees got together and hatched a plan for a fun way to raise money to support local causes.

They figured they could hold a festival, with rattlesnakes as the centerpiece.

Cowboy Tom is a popular act at the annual San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival. The event is celebrating its half-century mark this year. ({Photos courtesy of San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival) — Cowboy Tom is a popular act at the annual San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival. The event is celebrating its half-century mark this year.
(Photos courtesy of San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival)

Over the decades, the leading organizers have changed — and so have some of the particulars — but the essence of the annual event remains the same: Every year, on the third weekend of October, residents and visitors flock to the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run in City Park.

This year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary, organizers have scheduled a two-day festival.

Organizers of the event have gone from the Jaycees, to R.A.G.E. (Rattlesnake and Gopher Enthusiasts), to a group of Rotary Clubs, to the Rotary Club of San Antonio, which has been the chief organizer for the past three years.

“We, of course, have help from the people who did it all of those years,” said Betty Burke, chairwoman of the current organizing committee.

“Dennis Devine, he’s been with it since the beginning, and he’s our music master.

“Jack Vogel is one of the people who started it. He was in the Jaycees,” Burke said. His son, Jay, is this year’s volunteer coordinator.

Betty’s daughter, Andrea Calvert, who works for the Town of St. Leo, is involved, too. The town sponsors a pumpkin patch, which is a popular place for people to take photos of their children, and to snap selfies, too.

Burke’s sister, Winnie, who is the president of the Rotary Club of San Antonio, is also involved. She’s in charge of the arts and crafts area.

Blacksmith demonstrations are among the highlights at the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival.

Other members on the festival planning committee include Terri Grissom, Rick Behnke and Anne Kibbe.

Event highlights include 5-mile and 1-mile runs, a family bike ride, musical entertainment, a snake show, a cowboy show, crocodile demonstrations, mechanical gopher tortoise races, food booths, children’s rides and a pumpkin patch.

Other attractions include a butterfly exhibit, children’s crafts and games, a farm animal exhibit, M.A.D. Flames Fire Entertainment and Pioneer Village demonstrations.

Vendors will be selling a variety of items, there will be a farmer’s market, and there will be a pet corner, too.

Visitors also will have a chance to learn more about the festival’s history.

In the beginning, preparing for the event meant going out into the woods — equipped with a long pole with a hook on the end — and rounding up snakes.

Amateur and professional snake hunters would bring the snakes in, and organizers would pay for their snakes, according to published reports.

The gopher tortoise races used to feature live tortoises, too.

People would decorate the creatures with glitter and nontoxic paint, and pit them against each other.

The live gopher tortoise races ended after increasing development in Florida led to the state placing them on its protected species list.

Undaunted, organizers began using wooden replicas, operated by yanking ropes to pull them to the finish line.

Over the years, the festival has helped to create many fond memories.

Children enjoy riding around in a barrel train during a previous San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival.

“It is a fun thing. The kids have always had fun,” said Donna Swart, a former volunteer, who recalled how much her kids enjoyed the festival and racing live gopher tortoises.

Eric Herrmann, who has run the mechanical gopher tortoise race for years, said he’s been going to the festival his entire life.

“As the son of one of the founders, I’m very proud of it,” Herrmann said.

“It’s one of the last old-fashioned, hometown festivals,” Herrmann said, noting his dad, Eddie Herrmann, helped to design the mechanical gopher tortoises used in the races.

“It’s a very distinctive and unusual game, that’s pretty much singular to our festival,” he said.

He recalls one festival when a girl desperately wanted to win, but couldn’t, despite repeated attempts.

At the end of the second day, she still hadn’t won a race.

“I made a decision and I called her over, and we gave a one-time award for ‘Perseverance,’” he said.

Those kinds of things make all of the work worthwhile, he said.

“There are moments of pride,” Herrmann said.

One year, a Japanese television crew came to film the event, and the race they chose to cover included the young son of a Japanese-American family.

The boy’s grandmother still lived in Japan.

“The grandmother watched the show in Japan,” Herrmann said. “That was the first time she ever got to see her grandchild — other than in a picture.”

In another instance, a young man who had attended the snake show was bit by a snake after the festival had ended.

Because he’d gone to the show, he knew what to do and sought immediate medical attention, Herrmann said.

“The doctor said, ‘That festival probably saved his life,’” Herrmann said.

The event’s souvenir T-shirts have been wildly popular through the years, he noted, adding, “there are pictures of people all over the world, who are wearing the festival’s T-shirt.”

Kibbe, a volunteer who is handling the public relations for this year’s event, is fond of the festival.

She lives on Pennsylvania Avenue, across from City Park, and she lets musicians who are playing the event to park in her yard.

“I am front and center,” Kibbe said. “I like to tell people, ‘Yes, I’m having a festival this weekend in my front yard.’”

Kibbe appreciates the way the festival has evolved, and she thinks others admire that, too.

“As people became more ecologically and environmentally conscious, we stopped painting the turtles, and we stopped catching the snakes. And now, it’s educational,” she said.

Indeed, families who homeschool their children often show up because there are so many opportunities for learning, she said.

Socially, it’s a great time, too, Kibbe said.

“It’s like a big family reunion in a lot of ways,” she said, noting people who lived in San Antonio come back for the event.

“Folks come back from out-of-town. They moved to Saint Pete, or they moved to Orlando, but they come for the festival. So, that’s a big plus.”

This year’s event is being organized by the Rotary Club of San Antonio.

Proceeds from the event will support local educational programs, scholarships, community projects and international Rotary projects, such as Polio Plus.

The event is partially funded by Visit Pasco Tourism and Visit Florida, and is supported by numerous local sponsors, including The Laker/Lutz News.

San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run
Where: City Park, 12202 Main St., San Antonio, Florida, 33576
When: Oct. 15 and Oct. 16
How much: Parking, admission and most of the entertainment are free; there are nominal charges for the snake show.

Festival schedule
Oct. 15
8 a.m.: Rattlesnake run begins; race winners are announced on main stage at 9:15 a.m.
10 a.m.: Festival opening ceremony

Musical lineup
10:15 a.m.: Graham Music Studio’s Showstoppers
11 a.m.: Crabgrass Cowboys
Noon: Beaumont!
1 p.m.: J2
3 p.m.: Jesse & Noah
4 p.m.: Those Unscrupulous Sunspots

Other highlights include:

Cates Educational Snake Lectures: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. (Free for those 5 and under, $3 for ages 6 through 12; $5 for those 13 and older)
Cowboy Tom’s Wild West Show: Performances throughout the day (Free)
Croc Encounters demonstrations: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. (Free)

5 p.m.: Festival closes for the day

Oct. 16
9:30 a.m.: Family bike ride
11 a.m.: Festival grounds open

Musical lineup
11 a.m. to noon: The band called 2 PM
Noon: Moon Dance
1 p.m.: Sassafras Bluegrass
2 p.m.: Mark Hannah & Major Dade’s Last Ride
3 p.m. Mary Smith with Dean Johnson

Other highlights include:

Cates Educational Snake Lectures: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. (Free for those 5 and under, $3 for ages 6 through 12; $5 for those 13 and older)
Cowboy Tom’s Wild West Show: Performances throughout the day (Free)
Croc Encounters demonstrations: Noon, 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. (Free)

3:30 p.m.: Closing ceremony
4 p.m.: Festival ends

Published October 12, 2016

Committee works on school boundaries

October 12, 2016 By B.C. Manion

A committee is scheduled to meet on the morning of Oct. 13 at Oakstead Elementary School to work on a recommendation for boundaries for a new Pasco County elementary school being built in the Bexley Ranch subdivision in Land O’ Lakes.

The new school, scheduled to open in the fall of 2017, is now under construction at 4380 Ballantrae Blvd.

It is intended to relieve crowding at Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools.

A new elementary school, now known as Elementary B, is under construction in the Bexley Ranch subdivision in Land O’ Lakes. It is intended to relieve overcrowding of Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools) — A new elementary school, now known as Elementary B, is under construction in the Bexley Ranch subdivision in Land O’ Lakes. It is intended to relieve overcrowding of Oakstead and Odessa elementary schools.
(Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

During boundary deliberations, the district may also consider recommending a shift in the boundaries between Oakstead and Lake Myrtle elementary schools, to provide additional relief to Oakstead and to help increase Lake Myrtle’s enrollment. Lake Myrtle is operating below capacity and can accommodate more students.

Oakstead Elementary, at 19925 Lake Patience Road in Land O’ Lakes, has a permanent capacity of 762 students, with an enrollment of 1,095 students, and a total of 1,457 students living within its boundaries. That puts the school at 705 students over its capacity.

Odessa Elementary, at 12810 Interlaken Road in New Port Richey, has a permanent capacity of 762 students, but had 1,000 students enrolled last year, and a total of 1,058 students living within its boundaries. That puts the school at 296 students over its capacity.

Lake Myrtle Elementary, at 22844 Weeks Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, on the other hand, has room to grow. Its permanent capacity is 736. It had 587 enrolled students, with 570 of those living within its boundaries. So, it is operating at 166 students below capacity.

While the district needs new schools to provide a place for students to learn, the practice of drawing boundaries for them always sparks controversy. Passions run high, as parents outline the various problems they envision if their child is reassigned to a new school, or — in some cases — is not. Sometimes the complaints are about academic opportunities, but often they involve day care or the ability to be involved in school activities.

Under district policy, when making recommendations, the school boundary committee should propose boundaries that:

Provide a balance of racial and economic diversity among populations served
Maintain school feeder patterns to the greatest extent possible
Provide room for future growth and the optimum use of schools within the proposed boundaries
Provide for safe and efficient transportations for students, to and from school
To the extent possible, incorporate complete neighborhood communities within the boundaries
To the extent possible, consider long-term construction plans to create as much stability as possible to areas affected by the proposed boundary changes

Anyone is welcome to attend the boundary committee meetings, but only committee members are permitted to take part in the discussions.

A parent meeting regarding the proposed boundaries has been scheduled for Nov. 1, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Oakstead Elementary School, 19925 Lake Patience Road in Land O’ Lakes.

The meeting will be in the school’s cafeteria.

Those interested are invited to hear the presentation, offer input and ask questions at that meeting.

School boundary committee meeting
When: Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Oakstead Elementary, 19925 Lake Patience Road, Land O’ Lakes
All are welcome. Only committee members are allowed to participate in the discussion.

Parent meeting on proposed boundaries
When: Nov. 1, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Oakstead Elementary School, 19925 Lake Patience Road, Land O’ Lakes. The meeting will be in the cafeteria.
Those interested are invited to hear the presentation, offer input and ask questions.

Published October 12, 2016

Keeping an educator’s legacy alive

October 12, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Luis E. Torres spent much of his life battling medical problems, but he never gave up on his education.

It took him 10 years to get his bachelor’s degree, but he persisted because that mattered to him, according to Iris Torres, his mother, who lives in Lutz.

He took occasional medical withdrawals, but carried on.

This is the last photograph taken of Luis E. Torres and his mother, Iris. His family keeps the educator’s spirit alive through an annual golf tournament to raise money for scholarships. (Courtesy of Iris Torres) — This is the last photograph taken of Luis E. Torres and his mother, Iris. His family keeps the educator’s spirit alive through an annual golf tournament to raise money for scholarships.
(Courtesy of Iris Torres)

“Education was very important to him,” Iris said, and in 1997, he obtained his diploma.

Luis went on to teach seventh-grade mathematics at Shields Middle School in Hillsborough County.

“That was one of his goals that he was able to accomplish,” his mother said.

But, the teacher’s medical problems weren’t over, and he died on July 2, 2011, at the age of 41.

His family refuses to let that be the end of his story.

At the time of his death, his sister-in-law, Genevieve, suggested that the family establish a scholarship fund, in lieu of receiving flowers.

Now, the Luis E. Torres Scholarship Fund is supported by an annual golf tournament, organized by Iris Torres, Luis’ mom.

She handles the planning and logistics of the tournaments, but other family members and friends step up to help on the actual day of the event.

The family wants to keep his spirit alive through the annual scholarship.

Luis was diagnosed with Lupus when he was just 9 years old, Iris said.

“Lupus can affect any vital organ, and in his case, it affected his kidneys,” she said.

He experienced complete renal failure when he was 21, and was on dialysis for 10 years. He underwent two kidney transplants, but rejected both.

Iris and her husband were not good transplant candidates.

Iris developed breast cancer, and her husband had suffered a heart attack.

Meanwhile, Luis was getting weaker.

His brother, Eric, stepped forward in 2000 to be a kidney donor for Luis.

Luis was 30 when he received the transplant. Eric was 26.

At the time, Eric said, the choice was clear: Donate a kidney or watch his brother die.

“It was scary. I never even had a cavity. So, to go from that to donating an organ, it was significant,” Eric said.

Iris added: “It was very difficult, me as a mother, seeing both of them in gurneys.”

The transplant was done at John Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland.

The family went there because, at the time, Johns Hopkins was offering a surgical approach not yet available locally.

“In Florida, they were doing what they call a cadaver incision, which is essentially from the sternum to the small of the back,” Eric said. “Johns Hopkins actually pioneered the organ harvestation through the laparoscopic.”

It was a difference of “being almost cut in half” to a procedure which used tiny incisions, he said.

“If I would have done a cadaver incision, it would have been about a two-week hospital stay,” Eric said. Instead, he went in on a Friday and was released on Sunday.

But, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Luis.

“We stayed at Johns Hopkins for four months because of complications,” Iris said. “He had a really tough road.”

Within four days of returning to Tampa, Luis had fevers reaching 104.

It turned out that Luis had an abdominal infection, and had to be opened up again and cleaned up, Iris said. He was in Tampa General Hospital for another 40 days.

Throughout it all, Luis refused to give in, she said.

What kept him going, she said, was “the love that he had for life.”

In addition to his previous medical issues, he also developed diabetes as a side effect from the medication he took after the transplant, she said.

He had several good years after the transplant, but then he developed stomach cancer, which was not detected until it was too late for treatment.

During the first year of the scholarship fund, the family raised $3,800.

This will be the fourth year the family has organized the charity golf tournament. Last year, it raised $4,500.

“The whole mission is to help anybody who is looking to overcome medical obstacles,” Eric said, noting every dollar that is raised goes directly into scholarships.

“We have given out scholarships to people who have suffered from cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, lupus, seizures, diabetes, birth defects, paralysis,” Iris said.

The goal is to get 60 golfers to participate in the tournament. It costs $475 for a foursome and $125 for a single player.

The fee includes breakfast, lunch and prizes for various categories, such as hole-in-one, longest drive, closest to the pin and a putting contest.

This year, Buddy Shelton, a celebrity trick golfer will be performing at the event, which Iris hopes will help attract more people to the tournament.

Putting on the event and gathering items for the silent auction requires a lot of effort, but the family thinks it’s worthwhile.

“We do it out of love for my brother’s memory,” Eric said.

The proceeds help provide opportunities for students who need help, Iris said.

“One thing I want to relate to the students out there is not to give up,” she said.

Luis never gave up, she adding, noting that one of his favorite quotations was: “At the end of hope, is the start of perseverance.”

What: Luis E. Torres Scholarship Fund
Fourth annual Golf Scramble
When: Oct. 21 at 9a.m., golf scramble; trick golfer Buddy Shelton performs at 2:30 p.m.
Where: Lexington Oaks Golf Club, 26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd., in Wesley Chapel
How much: $475 for a foursome; $125 for individuals; donations accepted for those just wanting to watch Buddy Shelton’s trick golf show.
For more information, visit www.luisetorresscholarshipfund.org, or call (813) 417-3021.

Published October 12, 2016

A gesture’s worth a thousand words

October 12, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Just the way you walk into a room can speak volumes about you — at least in the eyes of the beholders.

And, if you make a bad first impression, it’s very hard to undo.

Jackie Eden, of Pasco-Hernando State College, recently gave a presentation on ‘The Secrets of Body Language’ at a SMARTstart session in Dade City. When it comes to creating a good first impression, appearance counts, including what you are wearing, your facial expression, the tone of your voice and the quality of your handshake, she said. SMARTstart is program offered through the Pasco Economic Development Council. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Jackie Eden, of Pasco-Hernando State College, recently gave a presentation on ‘The Secrets of Body Language’ at a SMARTstart session in Dade City. When it comes to creating a good first impression, appearance counts, including what you are wearing, your facial expression, the tone of your voice and the quality of your handshake, she said. SMARTstart is program offered through the Pasco Economic Development Council.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

That was a key message delivered by Jackie Eden, of Pasco-Hernando State College, in a presentation she calls “The Secrets of Body Language.”

“Your first impression is the first five seconds of anytime you meet somebody. A lot of times, this is subconscious,” she said. “They’re going to make those split-second decisions about you. About your health, about your educational level, about your social status, about your intelligence, about your ambition — in just those first few seconds.”

While acknowledging she’s not an expert on body language, Eden noted she’s done a fair amount of research on the topic.

Being aware of your body language and knowing the signals you’re sending can help you become a more effective communicator — even when you’re not saying a word, she said.

She thinks the topic is so important that she gives talks about it to various groups. Recently, she shared her knowledge to a group in Dade City, meeting under the auspices of SMARTstart, a program supported by the Pasco Economic Development Council.

Body language includes gestures, body movements, facial expressions and tone of voice, she said. “Only 7 percent of communication is actually words.”

A good handshake helps to make a positive first impression. Avoid offering a ‘limp fish’ handshake or a bone-crushing grip. (Photos courtesy of Jackie Eden/Pasco-Hernando State College) — A good handshake helps to make a positive first impression. Avoid offering a ‘limp fish’ handshake or a bone-crushing grip.
(Photos courtesy of Jackie Eden/Pasco-Hernando State College)

Research shows it can take 21 times of a repeated good experience to blank out a bad first impression, Eden said.

So, she asked: “What makes a good first impression?”

Then, she answered: How you enter a room is important.

Be sure to pay attention to your posture and about the image you’re projecting, she said. For instance, looking down at the floor can signal a lack of self-confidence, while looking ahead conveys confidence.

When meeting someone new, be sure to smile, make eye contact and offer your hand for a handshake.

Be sure your handshake is firm, but not too firm. In other words, avoid limp fish handshakes or bone-crushing grips.

Your face has nearly 100 muscles, and every part of it can be expressive.

Also, be sure to “really pay attention” during the introduction, she said.

Do your best to remember the person’s name and a detail or two, about him or her.

Whether you’re going into an interview, attending a business meeting or networking, think positive, Eden said.

“What’s going on in your head really does come out in your body language,” and can show up in your facial expressions or gestures, she said.

When your words and body language don’t match, people put more stock in your body language and question if you’re trustworthy, she said.

Be sure to respect personal space, she added.

“If you ever see somebody backing away, even a couple of inches, that’s your cue that you’re too close,” she said.

While body language can provide useful information, keep in mind that it’s not infallible.

Everyone has bad days.

“Give people that benefit of the doubt. You really don’t know what’s going on with them,” she said.

Things to remember when speaking:

When meeting someone new, be sure to introduce yourself.
Use a welcoming, warm tone (If you’re not sure how you sound, tape yourself and listen. If you don’t like the way you sound, work on it.)
Try to remember the names of the people you meet and a detail or two about them.
Learn to make conversation, avoiding topics that are likely to spark controversy.
Let the speaker know you’re listening by leaning in and nodding periodically. Avoid nodding too much — it can be distracting.

Source: Jackie Eden

Making a good first impression

Smile.
Extend your hand for a handshake. (Avoid a limp fish handshake, or bone-crushing grip)
Make good eye contact.
Pay attention to your posture, what you’re wearing and your personal grooming.
Lean in, to signal you’re listening.
Respect the other person’s personal space. If the other person takes a step back, you’re too close.

Things to avoid:

Pointing (it’s considered aggressive)
Shrugging your shoulders
Texting or answering your phone
Twirling your hair
Chewing gum
Excessive fidgeting
Clicking your pen

Source: Jackie Eden

Body language mistakes that ruin job interviews

Failing to make eye contact: 65 percent
Failing to smile: 36 percent
Playing with something on the table: 33 percent
Having bad posture: 30 percent
Fidgeting too much in seat: 29 percent
Crossing arms over chest: 26 percent
Playing with hair or touching face: 25 percent
Having a weak handshake: 22 percent
Using too many hand gestures: 11 percent
Having a handshake that’s too strong: 7 percent

Source: Jackie Eden

Published October 12, 2016

Weatherford makes PHSC’s hall of fame

October 5, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Will Weatherford, the former Speaker of the House of the Florida Legislature, was inducted into Pasco-Hernando State College’s Legislative Hall of Fame on Sept. 20.

The ceremony was at the state college’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., according to a news release from the college.

From left, Pasco-Hernando State College Trustees Ardian Zika, Morris Porton, and Marilyn Pearson-Adams, former Speaker of the House Will Weatherford, PHSC President Tim Beard, PHSC trustee Robin Schneider and PHSC Board Chair Ed Blommel. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College) — From left, Pasco-Hernando State College Trustees Ardian Zika, Morris Porton, and Marilyn Pearson-Adams, former Speaker of the House Will Weatherford, PHSC President Tim Beard, PHSC trustee Robin Schneider and PHSC Board Chair Ed Blommel.
(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Ed Blommel, chairman of PHSC’s District Board of Trustees, officiated over the ceremony, which included the unveiling of a plaque to be displayed in perpetuity in the Legislative Hall of Fame.

Weatherford received an identical plaque.

“We recognize Will Weatherford, who has proved to be an unwavering champion for PHSC,” Blommel said, according to the release.

“Speaker Weatherford assisted the college in getting the funding for the construction of the beautiful Porter Campus ($52.2 million), including fighting off a veto and legislative resistance to get the final installment after construction was underway and nearly complete,” he added.

Timothy Beard, the college’s president, also recognized the former speaker’s efforts to provide equity in funding for the Florida College System, leading to a $7.7 million funding increase for the college and for securing more support for PHSC from the State Board of Education.

A number of special guests were at the event, including Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, Florida College System Chancellor Madeline Pumariega, Rep. Danny Burgess, Pasco County Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning, Pasco County School Board Member Alan Altman, Bill and J.D. Porter and Quinn Porter-Miller.

Weatherford’s induction makes him the second member of the Legislative Hall of Fame, which is a new tradition at PHSC. The honor recognizes legislators for supporting the college and higher education opportunities for their constituents.

Sen. Jack Latvala, who was inducted in July, was the first to receive the honor.

Weatherford and Latvala are both members of the inaugural class of 2016.

Published October 5, 2016

Sowing new seeds of inspiration

October 5, 2016 By B.C. Manion

For gardeners who are looking for some new ideas, the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden in Seffner provides inspiration — and information.

Nicole Pinson is an Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Nicole Pinson is an Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

The garden, at the Hillsborough County Extension office, gives growing enthusiasts a chance to see the variety of plants that will thrive in a Florida landscape.

It also showcases the various ways plants will grow — in raised beds, on trellises, in containers, or in the ground.

And, it demonstrates how to essentially create “garden rooms” through the selection of plant materials, mulch, garden furniture and other features, such as waterfalls, bridges and stages.

If that’s not enough to stir your imagination, check out the pollinator and perennial gardens out back.

In the pollinator garden, visitors can see plants that attract butterflies, bees and flies.

This fuzzy flower is a magnet for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Select the dwarf form for most yards, as the non-dwarf plant can grow to be very large. The dwarf powder puff grows best in sun to partial shade. It is about a 5-foot shrub. Be sure to protect it from freeze when the temperatures dip. It is a great perennial plant and makes a nice specimen in the garden. — This fuzzy flower is a magnet for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Select the dwarf form for most yards, as the non-dwarf plant can grow to be very large.
The dwarf powder puff grows best in sun to partial shade. It is about a 5-foot shrub. Be sure to protect it from freeze when the temperatures dip. It is a great perennial plant and makes a nice specimen in the garden.

The perennial garden is filled with thriving plants of different shapes, sizes and colors.

“What we’re doing is demonstrating to people that you can plant different kinds of hardy perennials that will last year after year in Florida,” said Nicole Pinson, urban horticulture agent for Hillsborough County.

If you need specific information on when to grow what and where to grow it, ask inside. The extension office staff and volunteers are helpful and knowledgeable and there’s a multitude of informational handouts on a wide array of gardening topics.

Hillsborough County Extension is a partnership between Hillsborough County and the University of Florida. Pasco County Extension operates through a similar partnership between Pasco County and the university.

What: Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden is a great place for gardeners to pick up ideas for rejuvenating their outdoor spaces.
Where: 5339 County Road 579 in Seffner (It’s at the Hillsborough County Extension office)
When: The garden is open week days, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
How much: Free
For information: (813) 744-5519

Published October 5, 2016

Catholic schools take part in week of caring

September 28, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Catholic schools around the Diocese of St. Petersburg partnered with Somebody Cares Tampa Bay for Carefest 2016.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School students share their love of music by donating 15 violins to St. Joseph Catholic School. From left, Mother Teresa students Brady Roell, Allie Monsour, W. Benjamin Jorgensen, Lillian Parrado, Autumn Wingfield, Jay Anastasia and Cody Flach. (Courtesy of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School) — Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School students share their love of music by donating 15 violins to St. Joseph Catholic School. From left, Mother Teresa students Brady Roell, Allie Monsour, W. Benjamin Jorgensen, Lillian Parrado, Autumn Wingfield, Jay Anastasia and Cody Flach.
(Courtesy of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School)

Students joined thousands of volunteers across Pinellas, Hillsborough, Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties to take part in the week devoted to service, from Sept. 17 to Sept. 24.

At the same time, the diocese celebrated “The Week of Caring in the Year of Mercy.”

During Carefest, schools throughout the diocese engaged in various efforts to extend themselves beyond the Catholic community, said Mark Majeski, associate superintendent of schools for the Office of Catholic Schools and Centers for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Students at Mother Teresa of Calcutta School in Lutz donated 15 violins to be used by students at St. Joseph Catholic School, and held a school supply drive to help other schools in the diocese.

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill had a first responders’ week and donated canned goods and baby items, collecting enough to fill more than four large containers, to benefit Catholic Charities.

Students at Saint Anthony Catholic School in San Antonio took part in a number of activities.

From left, Jacob Alcantara, Cassian O' Neill, Jaqueline Kowalewski, Elizabeth Kaplan, Noah Brooks and Peter Rygiel stand near the canned goods and baby items collected by Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School during Carefest 2016. (Courtesy of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic School) — From left, Jacob Alcantara, Cassian O’ Neill, Jaqueline Kowalewski, Elizabeth Kaplan, Noah Brooks and Peter Rygiel stand near the canned goods and baby items collected by Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School during Carefest 2016.
(Courtesy of Bishop McLaughlin Catholic School)

Children made thank you cards and banners, and sang for first responders.

“We thanked them for the sacrifices that they are making for our safety. We are totally grateful for their service, because it is truly a call of faith and courage. They do a lot of selfless work for us, for our safety,” said Sister Alice Ottapurackal, the school’s principal.

The children also made “survival kits” for the first responders.

They gave 105 survival kits to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and 19 to the local firefighters.

Each kit contained:

A prayer card for first responders. For police officers, a holy card of their patron saint, Saint Michael the Archangel; for firefighters, a holy card of their patron saint, St. Florian

Each kit also contained a variety of candies, along with an explanation for first responders. Those were:

Life Savers: To remind you of the many times you have been one
Starburst: For the burst of energy you need
PayDay: Because you’re not doing it for the money
Paper clip: To hold it all together
Hershey Kisses: Because you deserve them from all
Gum: To help your unit stick together
Tootsie Roll: To help you roll with the punches
Peppermint Patty: To help you keep your cool
Snickers: To remind you to have a sense of humor
Mounds: For the mounds of courage you need

Saint Anthony Catholic School children hold a banner expressing their gratitude for the area’s firefighters, during Carefest 2016, a week set aside for service. (Courtesy of Saint Anthony Catholic School) — Saint Anthony Catholic School children hold a banner expressing their gratitude for the area’s firefighters, during Carefest 2016, a week set aside for service.
(Courtesy of Saint Anthony Catholic School)

Other good works performed by Saint Anthony School students included donating personal grooming supplies for the migrant community, donating supplies for a baby pantry, and donating kits for children at Sunrise Center.

“This is the Year of Mercy, so we wanted to do something special — caring for the poor, as well as caring for people who do good things for us,” Ottapurackal said.

When the police officers and firefighters visited the school, it offered a chance for children to learn more about the services that first responders provide to the community, she said.

And, the children were able to express their gratitude.

“So we are giving and receiving,” the principal said. “Children are learning how community works. A lot of good things are happening in this world.”

Published September 28, 2016

From waterfront views to whimsy, Dunedin has it all

September 28, 2016 By B.C. Manion

If you’re looking to get away for a little shopping, eating, sightseeing or exercising, you may find everything you’re seeking in the quaint town of Dunedin.

Dunedin is such a friendly place for dogs, some people call it ‘Dogedin.’ (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Dunedin is such a friendly place for dogs, some people call it ‘Dogedin.’
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

Dunedin — which is pronounced Done-ee-din — is home to Honeymoon Island, Florida’s No. 1 state park, with its white powder beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.

The town is also conveniently situated for cycling enthusiasts, as The Pinellas Trail, a 37-mile recreational path runs straight through Dunedin’s downtown district.

Other visitors may enjoy a leisurely stroll along Main Street. They can check out quaint shops, linger over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, or indulge in sweets from the candy store or ice cream shop.

Perhaps they would prefer to visit a museum, enjoy fine dining or watch live entertainment — all are options within easy reach in Dunedin.

There’s also plenty to see.

With its quaint shops and varied restaurants, there’s plenty to explore and enjoy in Dunedin’s downtown district.

There’s a waterfront marina, a war memorial and public art, among other things.

Be sure to look up, too. If you don’t, you may miss the whimsical characters climbing up the side of a candy shop wall. Or, the giant metal rooster perched on an awning. Or, the decorative star-spangled banner arched over a street that delivers the message: “Defending Freedom,” and then adds in two smaller, attached signs: “Honoring U.S. Military.”

There’s also a mural titled “Dogedin,” that pays homage to man’s best friend, and a kitschy sign offering a warm welcome to Dunedin.

If you’re a fan of those who serve, or have served, in the military, law enforcement or as first responders, you’ll want to plan a visit to the National Armed Services & Law Enforcement Memorial Museum, at 500 Douglas Ave.

If you like looking at boats and the water, you’ll likely enjoy stopping by the Dunedin Marina.

Patrons have a chance to see thousands of items on display.

There’s everything from military sabers dating back to the American Civil War, to a sword once owned by the author of “Taps,” to a Japanese war flag and a replica of the death mask of John Dillinger.

There’s a tribute to those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 attacks; a replica of “Ol’ Sparky” (Florida’s electric chair); and, a jail cell used in the television show, “Miami Vice.”

There’s free parking available at numerous lots around the downtown district.

There are several special events planned throughout the year, too. For more information about Dunedin and upcoming activities, visit Dunedin-Fl.com.

Published September 28, 2016