B.C. Manion

04/16/2016 – Lutz school workday

April 13, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41, will host its monthly workday on April 16 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. There will be mulching, gardening and cleaning up. Participants should bring water. For information, contact Suzin Carr at (813) 453-5256 or .

Seventy years of marriage, and going strong

April 6, 2016 By B.C. Manion

They were teenagers.

She was visiting her brother and his wife in Tampa, and she took the streetcar over to the Sulphur Springs swimming pool.

He was at the pool to relax.

He spotted her.

Nellie and Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., recently celebrated 70 years of married life, and they relish the love story they share. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Nellie and Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., recently celebrated 70 years of married life, and they relish the love story they share.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“He came over and started talking to me, and he was cute, so I talked back with him,” said Nellie Bailey, of Lutz.

“I was 16,” said Nellie, now 87.

“I was 17,” said Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., now 88.

“That day we went to Whitehead’s Drugstore, got a hamburger and went to a movie,” Hugh said.

They don’t remember what movie they saw.

“I was looking at her, not the movie,” Hugh said.

“We dated every night the whole summer,” Nellie said. “We went to the beaches. We bowled and we ate out, and we went to movies, and we went over to the park and kissed under the trees.”

But, then she had to return to North Carolina to finish high school. He had to finish high school, too.

“We wrote about once every two weeks. We continued on with our normal lives, going to school, and dating other boys and girls. But, we didn’t forget each other. We kept writing,” Nellie said.

Then, she moved to Tampa with her family in January of 1946.

“We renewed our dating, dating every night,” Nellie said.

Then he was drafted.

Nellie Bailey’s beauty attracted the attention of Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., more than 70 years ago, leading to a marriage that’s still cherished by both Nellie and Hugh. (Photos courtesy of Janice Kurtz) — Nellie Bailey’s beauty attracted the attention of Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., more than 70 years ago, leading to a marriage that’s still cherished by both Nellie and Hugh.
(Photos courtesy of Janice Kurtz)

“He asked me to marry him and go with him. I said, ‘OK, let’s go,” Nellie said.

They married on March 31, 1946.

“Our first stop was Amarillo, Texas. The next stop was San Antonio, Texas. The third stop was West Palm Beach. I followed him wherever he was sent.

“He was honorably discharged in February 1947,” Nellie said.

“We had our first anniversary in Tampa, March 31, and our daughter was born then. Right on the day.”

Their second child, a son, also was born on their anniversary in 1951.

The couple went on to have a total of four children: Donna, Gains Jr., James Douglas and Janice Nell. The couple also has six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

This past weekend, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary at a party with about two dozen family members.

Even after seven decades, the romance is alive.

Nellie said she wrote Hugh a love letter years ago. “He reads it every night,” she said.

And, she still recalls every word of a song called “You Belong to My Heart” — their song when they were dating.

“He tells me every day, ‘I love you more than anything in the world.’ And, I tell him the same thing, every day,” Nellie said.

“We always kiss goodbye when he goes out the door and kiss when he comes in,” she said.

“We love each other very much. If we have a spat or disagreement, we can’t stay mad, or go to bed mad, because we won’t be able to sleep if we do.

“I’m miserable as soon as we have cross words and he is, too, so the sooner we make up, the happier we are,” Nellie said.

Gains Hugh Bailey Sr., when he was young.

“We just can’t stay angry. I’ll try to see his side and he’ll try to see my side, and we kind of communicate on it and settle it – to both of our satisfactions, to where we’re both all right with it,” Nellie said.

“Whatever is important to him, is important to me. And, that’s the same way he feels,” she said.

“If it isn’t, I make it important,” Hugh said.

For instance, he said he learned to fish after she gave him a rod and reel.

“I fished when I was a child and he didn’t, so I bought him a rod and a reel as an anniversary present,” Nellie said.

“Our neighbor was a fisherman, and he started taking me fishing,” Hugh said.

For her part, Nellie expanded her musical tastes.

“He likes country music, and I never did like country music,” she said. “I like country music now.”

Hugh was always a good provider, Nellie said.

“We took vacations every year with the children, to the beaches, and camping and fishing. We enjoyed them so much. We got a boat, and he (Hugh) took them (water) skiing. We’d swim at the beach. We took them fishing,” Nellie said.

“We’ve traveled all over the United States, from Maine to San Francisco. We took the whole family, the children and grandchildren, to Yellowstone,” Hugh added.

Having fun with each other, with their friends and with their family, has always been important to both of them.

“We’ve always had fun. You just can’t have a good marriage without some fun in it,” Nellie said.

They also share many fond memories of times they’ve shared together.

When they lived in San Antonio, they lived near the Alamo.

“Bands would be down there playing every night. Our windows would be open, and we could hear that soft romantic music,” Nellie said. “They had a watermelon hut there. They served nothing but watermelon down by the water, so we’d have watermelon every night.”

Hugh thinks Nellie saved his life.

“I went into Afib and my heart was beating 160 beats a minute, and they took me to Tampa General,” Hugh said.

He spent seven days in intensive care, with Nellie at his side.

“He was heavily sedated,” Nellie said. “They would say: ‘He might can hear you.’

“I’d say, ‘Hugh can you hear me? Squeeze my hand.’ He’d squeeze my hand,” Nellie said.

When they were young, Nellie said, she recalls imagining Hugh the way he looks today.

“That’s what I always wanted, for us to grow old together,” she said. “We’re actually still in love. It’s a much deeper love now.”

Hugh agreed: “She’s still my sweetheart.”

Published April 6, 2016

Finding music within life’s difficulties

April 6, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Playing classical music is not the easiest feat — even when you’ve had formal training and are adept at reading sheet music.

For James Williams, it is even more challenging.

Not only does he lack formal training, but he also has had to overcome obstacles caused by his autism, a condition he was diagnosed with at age 3.

The now 18-year-old, who originally hails from London, said he began teaching himself to play piano when he was attending Weightman Middle School, in Wesley Chapel.

He had a simple motive: He wanted to win the school’s talent show.

And, he did.

Eighteen-year-old James Williams is a Florida finalist in the 2016 VSA Florida Young Soloist Competition. He now will compete for international honors. Shown here, he is playing on the grand piano in the lobby at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Eighteen-year-old James Williams is a Florida finalist in the 2016 VSA Florida Young Soloist Competition. He now will compete for international honors. Shown here, he is playing on the grand piano in the lobby at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Since then, he has continued teaching himself and recently he was named one of the state’s three top soloists in the ninth annual 2016 VSA Florida Young Soloist Competition.

Winning that contest means that he’s representing Florida in the VSA International Competition in Washington D.C., later this year.

The other two Florida finalists in the competition are Lyudmilla Fuentes, from Polk County, and Jacqueline Blanche, from Charlotte County.

The state finalists were selected through a strict adjudication process facilitated by Tampa Bay professors of music at the University of South Florida and at the Ybor City campus of Hillsborough Community College.

The Florida and International Young Soloist Program seeks to identify talented musicians, ages 14 through 26, who have a disability. The intention is to increase the musician’s likelihood of having a successful career in the arts, according to a news release from the VSA Florida, at the University of South Florida.

The program delivers opportunities for serious music students to showcase their abilities at venues throughout Florida.

In a partnership with the Florida Orchestra and Ashley Furniture, each winner will perform at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg in October at the orchestra’s annual Concert in the Park.

The international award is presented to four outstanding musicians, two from the United States and the other two from the international arena.

Winners of the international competition each receive a $2,500 award, professional development and the opportunity to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Williams has learned to play by listening to music and observing other pianists, on YouTube and in other venues.

He has performed at various events and in competitions.

One highlight so far was an appearance at a conference in Orlando for the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, where he performed before Temple Grandin.

Grandin is perhaps the most prominent author and speaker, who has autism. She didn’t speak until she was 3, and her parents, at one point, were told she should be institutionalized.

Williams’ mother — Stephanie Stevens — understands the frustrations that parents face when they have a child with autism.

Williams, like Grandin, was diagnosed at age 3.

“He wasn’t talking. He wasn’t progressing as quickly as he should,” Stevens said.

The doctors were not much help.

“People were very much in the dark about autism” she said.

She was raising her son as a single mother, doing shiftwork in London.

She decided to move to the United States in 2007 to join most of her family members, who were already living here.

Since then, she has married her husband, Ralph, who has been a tremendous source of support for her and her son.

She credits faith for helping her son succeed in music, despite his difficulties.

“People prayed over him, constantly. And, my belief is that it was that power of prayer that has helped him overcome these things,” she said, referring to challenges posed by autism.

Williams, who graduated from Wesley Chapel High School, said he plays piano daily, usually twice a day.

He handles all kinds of musical gigs — helping to raise funds for charities and to earn money.

He hopes to pursue a career that involves music, too.

One of his goals is to use his music to help raise awareness about autism, he said.

He’s also delighted to be named one of the top three soloists in Florida in the VSA competition.

“I felt quite special,” he said. “I was a bit surprised, actually.”

His mom is thrilled, too.

“For him to be where he is now, to me, is a blessing.

“It just shows what you can do, no matter what your difficulties or disabilities, or background – with the right kind of determination and encouragement, there is help, and there is hope,” she said.

She also wants to pass along a message of hope, to other parents who have seen their children struggle with autism.

“I’d say to any parent, any guardian: ‘Don’t be discouraged. There’s always hope,’” Stevens said.

Published April 6, 2016

Preserving stories of Wesley Chapel’s past

April 6, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Motorists passing through Wesley Chapel today are likely to see it as a place on the move.

Within the past decade or so, a landscape once characterized by cattle ranches and citrus groves, has become a place becoming more widely known for its shopping, medical, education and residential options.

Gwen Wells Ellerbee and Esther Burnside Boyette are washing clothes in this 1941 photo taken at a location off of Ellerbee Road. (Courtesy of Madonna Jervis Wise) — Gwen Wells Ellerbee and Esther Burnside Boyette are washing clothes in this 1941 photo taken at a location off of Ellerbee Road.
(Courtesy of Madonna Jervis Wise)

But, there are plenty of people who remember when the community was more closely associated with timber and turpentine operations, moonshine stills and gator hunts.

To help keep those memories alive, the Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch hosted a Wesley Chapel History Fair.

The college intends to have the event every year, said Dr. Bonnie Clark, vice president of distance education and provost of the Porter Campus.

Speakers at the event were:

Madonna Jervis Wise, author of “Images of America: Wesley Chapel,” who talked about details about the community she unearthed during her research
J. Thomas Touchton, founding chairman of the Tampa Bay History Center, who brought along an 1884 map of Hernando County, when it included Wesley Chapel, though not called that at the time
Quinn Porter Miller, who shared stories about the Porters’ history in Wesley Chapel
Stephanie Bracknell Black, director of the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, who shared stories about her grandfather, Lonnie Tucker
Angelo Liranzo, a librarian who talked about a project involving the digitizing of more than 100 years of newspapers, and how to access the data

Because Wesley Chapel, unlike some communities, did not have a central downtown or a government, Wise relied on information she gleaned from homestead records, pension records and other public records, and interviews with families.

As she conducted her research, she learned about the close connections between families.

“I’ve rarely seen families that cared so much about each other,” Wise said.

She was surprised to learn about the important role that music played in Wesley Chapel.

“There’s something in Southern Culture that’s known as the fifth Sunday sing. Sometimes it is known as the singing convention,” Wise said, explaining people would gather for an entire day of singing and picnics.

Dr. Bonnie Clark, vice president of distance education and provost of Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, checks out a map of early Wesley Chapel homesteads. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Dr. Bonnie Clark, vice president of distance education and provost of Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, checks out a map of early Wesley Chapel homesteads.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“The First Baptist Church of Wesley Chapel was the center. After the convention, they had something that was known as ‘Dinner on the Ground.’ This was an all-day thing.”

Wise also talked about the turpentine communities, truck patches, gator hunting and moonshining that were part of life in Wesley Chapel.

There aren’t many remaining historic houses in Wesley Chapel, and that’s mainly because most were constructed of wood, Wise said. “We actually only found about three or four homesteads that were still standing.”

Quinn Porter Miller, another speaker, applauded the idea of annual history fairs.

“My dad would talk about all of these stories. My brother and I would say, ‘We’ve just got to get them all in one room, give them some Scotch and hit record.’

“We didn’t get the chance before my dad passed and, thankfully, Madonna (Jervis Wise) was able to get these people together and really document all these wonderful stories and these things, otherwise, that would really go down with the people,” Miller said.

Miller told the crowd about her grandfather James Hatcher “Wiregrass” Porter, who moved into the area in 1946 with his wife, Martha.

Her dad, Don Porter, was 6 when the family moved to Wesley Chapel.

“Wiregrass’ father, J.B. Porter, or J.B. or Pop Porter, as he was called, bought the land in 1937 from the Rockefeller Land Trust, for somewhere around $3 an acre,” Miller said.

When Wiregrass moved to the area, he and his family lived in an old frame house.

“My grandma Martha would cook these three hot meals a day on a Coleman stove. No electricity, no running water up there until they built their red brick house on (State Road) 54 in 1960,” Miller said.

“I don’t know if anyone could have known how this area would grow,” Miller said.

But, the family has always known how important education is, and that’s what inspired the gift of 60 acres where Porter Campus now sits.

She recalled her father’s determination to help make that happen.

“He knew how important it was that a student could go from preschool through college without having to leave the Wesley Chapel community,” she said.

And, when Don Porter came to the college’s dedication ceremony shortly before his death, he was thrilled by the college, she said. She recalls him saying: “Can you believe this? Isn’t it wild?”

Touchton also recalled Don Porter’s vision for the area.

“I remember visiting with Don when he would show me the master plan, as it was being developed. He was willing to be patient, and he would point out different areas of the property – this will be residential, this will be shopping, this will be education, this will be sports. He was very, very proud of the vision, in conjunction with his brothers, of course, and I’m sure J.D. and Quinn,” Touchton said.

Black shared tales of the legendary Lonnie Tucker, known for his gator hunting abilities and his marksmanship.

To her, though, he was her grandpa.

She recalled asking him once to bring two big watermelons to share at school.

He did.

But, he also brought scores of small watermelons so all kinds of people got to take one home.

The annual history fair aims to prevent such memories from fading away.

Published April 6, 2016

This time, Santa is the recipient

April 6, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Usually, Santa is on the giving end of things.

But, not this time.

Santa Paul, also known as Paul Bartell, recently received an Honorary Paul Harris Fellow Award for Community Service from the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club.

The award was presented on March 8 at Hunter’s Green Country Club, during the Rotary of Wesley Chapel Noon’s first Foundation Dinner, an event the club plans to host every year.

Bartell was recognized for the many good deeds he performs, both undercover as Santa Paul, and more directly through his Relay for Life activities.

Santa Paul, also known as Paul Bartell, talks with a young boy at a ‘Breakfast with Santa’ event. (Laura Hauser photos courtesy of Paul Bartell) — Santa Paul, also known as Paul Bartell, talks with a young boy at a ‘Breakfast with Santa’ event.
(Laura Hauser photo courtesy of Paul Bartell)

Bartell and his wife also have been heavily involved in their children’s schools, have worked to raise scholarship funds to honor their son, Sean, who died from a rare condition at the age of 16, and for their tradition of opening their home at the holidays to spread Christmas cheer.

Santa Paul is widely known around Wesley Chapel.

He’s been playing Santa for charity since 1995.

He volunteers for eight schools in Pasco and one in Hillsborough County.

He dons his Santa costume so school PTAs can raise money through “Cookies with Santa” or “Photos with Santa” events. Over the years, he’s played Santa to roughly 30,000 children, include 3,750 in 2015.

He and his wife, Jamie, also have opened their home during the holidays. As Santa and Mrs. Claus, they share cookies, fudge, punch and music at their home, which is decked out to the max. Those visiting can also have their photo taken with Santa in his sleigh, and Santa gives a gift to each child who visits. Last year, 847 guests dropped by.

Bartell also has been involved with Relay for Life since 1991, serving as a team captain for the last eight years.

He also has been active at his children’s schools since 2003.

After their 16-year-old son died, Bartell and his wife rallied to pass on Sean’s legacy by creating a memorial scholarship. This year, they plan to give four $1,000 scholarships.

Bartell also does his Santa gig for company Christmas parties, using the money he earns from them to help support the scholarship fund and to buy presents for children visiting his home during the holidays.

Bartell was both surprised and delighted to receive the Rotary Club’s honor, particularly in light of the caliber of the other nominees, he said.

In a Facebook posting, he said: “This award is a great honor in the Rotary community, and I am truly honored to have been chosen.”

Sean Bartell Memorial Scholarship
What: Second annual Pasta Dinner Fundraiser
When: April 16 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel, 33425 State Road 54
Cost: Advanced tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 5 to 10, free for kids younger than age 5. The price at the door is $12 for adults, $6 for kids ages 5 to 10. Tickets are available by calling Paul Bartell at (813) 416-9238, or at Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.
To-go boxes will be available.

Published April 6, 2016

These women love to soar

March 30, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Whether they’re supporting young girls through scholarships to Space Camp, or honoring women pilots who served in World War II, there’s an organization of women that supports the joy of flying in all of its forms.

The group, which calls itself The Ninety-Nines Inc., got its start in 1929.

It began when some female aviators wanted to have to a long-distance race, said Marilyn Shafer, of Land O’ Lakes, who is a member of the Florida Suncoast Chapter of the group.

“It was supposed to start out in California and go over the mountains,” Shafer said.

Marilyn Shafer is enthralled by the joys of flight. The Land O’ Lakes woman belongs to The Ninety-Nines Inc., an organization that supports women and the joy of flying, in all of its forms. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Marilyn Shafer is enthralled by the joys of flight. The Land O’ Lakes woman belongs to The Ninety-Nines Inc., an organization that supports women and the joy of flying, in all of its forms.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“The men didn’t want the women doing that because it was too dangerous for women to be able to get over mountains safely,” Shafer said.

The women decided: “We’re going to do it anyway.”

Through the race, the women discovered how fantastic it was to have the support of each other, and they decided to form an organization of female aviators.

“They sent out formal letters to every licensed woman pilot in the United States. I want to say there was about 129, and 99 of them replied,” Shafer said.

They tossed around some names.

In the end, they chose to honor the women who wanted to be part of the new organization. So, they called themselves The Ninety-Nines.

Amelia Earhart was the group’s first president.

Over time, the group has spread its wings — substantially. It’s now an international organization with about 4,900 members, Shafer said.

“Our mission is advancement in aviation, through scholarship, education and support, while we keep in mind where we started — our history,” Shafer said.

The Suncoast chapter includes a wide swath of territory, including Pasco County and going from Crystal River to Sarasota, from Ocala over to Winter Haven.

The chapter has roughly 60 members, including commercial pilots, military pilots, general aviation pilots and student pilots.

The group sponsors two scholarships a year for girls, in grades four through six, who would like to attend Space Camp. This year’s deadline for applications is April 2.

The chapter also is involved in other educational activities.

“We just finished a Girl Scout Aviation Day over at Clearwater Air Park. Girl Scouts came in. We had different stations. They got to build an airplane. They got to set off rockets,” Shafer said.

The girls also had a chance to learn about experimental airplanes and to see how an airplane is built.

Besides all of that, they were able to climb into an airplane, put on the headphones and have their photo taken while they were sitting at the controls, Shafer said.

Every year, the chapter honors members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, also known as WASPs, at the annual Fun ‘n Sun International Fly-in & Expo, an event in Lakeland.

The number of WASPs is dwindling, Shafer said.

“They were the women who served during World War II. They flew airplanes, trailing a target for the men on the ground to practice live ammunition training in shooting things out of the sky,” she said.

They delivered newly built airplanes to the East Coast, so men there could use them in Europe,” she said.

“We have very few left. We try to bring each of them that are interested, and a companion, and put them on Sun ‘ N Fun Radio. We have a luncheon for them, where they field questions,” she said.

This year the luncheon is on April 7.

Besides supporting female aviators, members of The Ninety-Nines have been involved in creating air markings — to help pilots in the air to know where they are.

“They divided themselves up into different sections of the United States, and they would climb up on barn roofs and paint the name of the town on the barn roof.

“Or, they would put up something on the ground with a mark, to denote their location, if you saw it from the air,” she said.

They still do that kind of work at airports, she said.

“Our big thing is our compass rose. We will do (paint) a compass rose with the cardinal points, North, East, South and West. It’s painted to magnetic north. It has to be approved. It has to be gridded by the airport authority,” Shafer said.

Shafer’s own fascination with aviation began very early.

“My dad was a Navy pilot and was killed when I was 5. He was taking up a plane for a test, and it crashed on takeoff.

“I’ve always been enthralled with airplanes,” she said.

She wanted to learn how to fly, but usually she didn’t have the time or money, or both, to pursue it.

“It’s not cheap to get a pilot’s license. It’s $5,000 or $6,000, depending on how dedicated you are and how fast you want to get your hours in,” she said.

At age 50, though, she decided to go for it.

She’s delighted she did.

“It’s absolutely wonderful. When you fly, it’s so freeing. You have your headphones on, and yes, you have contact with the ground. But, you don’t have that cellphone ringing, and ‘Oh, I should be doing housework …

“All you do is think about flying,” she said.

She does regret one thing.

She wishes she had joined The Ninety-Nines sooner.

“I thought I had to have my pilot’s license first to be able to join. And, that’s wrong.

“You can join the Ninety-Nines as a student pilot, and there are scholarships available,” Shafer said. “The Amelia Earhart Scholarship from our International Office in Oklahoma — if you get that, it pays for everything.”

More information about The Ninety-Nines Inc., and the Space Camp scholarship, can be obtained on the chapter’s website.

Published March 30, 2016

Cafeteria lady basks in the limelight

March 30, 2016 By B.C. Manion

When Suellen Smith began stocking formal attire in a closet in the Zephyrhills High School cafeteria, she was hoping the effort would help create a little magic for some young men and women.

The cafeteria manager knew that most of the school’s students come from families that struggle financially, and she wanted to do her part to help.

During her visit to Washington D.C., Suellen Smith had a chance to see some popular spots for tourists. (Photos courtesy of Suellen Smith) — During her visit to Washington D.C., Suellen Smith had a chance to see some popular spots for tourists.
(Photos courtesy of Suellen Smith)

So, in addition to the hundreds of meals it serves up each day, the cafeteria is also known as being a place where students needing to dress for a special occasion can do a little ‘shopping’ for free.

What began quietly, around five years ago, has helped hundreds of students make special memories.

And, while it started with the idea of helping give students a time to remember, Smith’s compassion has resulted in the cafeteria manager having a few shining moments of her own.

The honors began flowing in last year when Smith received the Community Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Florida School Nutrition Association and the “Best Behind the Scenes” award from Pasco County Schools.

She was recognized on a bigger stage recently, when she traveled to Washington D.C., where she was honored by the School Nutrition Foundation as one of five School Nutrition Heroes in the country.

A video telling the story of Smith’s fancy clothes closet and the other ways she helps students was played during the Feb. 29 national event.

It was replayed on March 15, when the Pasco County School Board lavished praise on Smith — casting a spotlight on her accomplishments.

Smith never expected the attention or applause, but she is touched by the recognition.

“It was just happenstance that it started,” Smith said.

“I just had gotten involved with the county’s Cinderella Project, and then I realized that we could do it out of here, and I’d have dresses available for the kids’ homecoming and the military ball,” she said. “It has just grown bigger and bigger through the years.”

Suellen Smith gets ready to attend a reception honoring her and four other School Nutrition Heroes from across the country during an event in Washington D.C.

Since returning from the nation’s Capitol, she’s received a cash donation to help with expenses, she said. “I also got a box of dresses shipped to me from Maryland,” she added.

While helping kids, Smith said she gets something, too.

“Nobody has more fun with it than I do,” she said. “I gave three away yesterday. That was three times I got to get somebody dolled up, and leaving here like a princess. It was really fun.”

She basked in the glow of recognition at the national event.

“I was a celebrity for an evening — queen for a day — that’s what I say,” Smith said.

At the conclusion of her video, throngs of people approached her at the national awards ceremony.

“So many people came up and just hugged me. And, people cried,” she said.

While Smith doesn’t view herself as a hero, it means a lot to her to be appreciated, and she hopes other cafeteria managers will feel inspired to do what they can for the kids at their schools.

“I was blessed when I started in school food service that I worked with a manager that showed me that we could do more for the children than just lunch, that we could actually touch their whole life,” Smith said, during the video. “So, that’s what I try to do.”

Published March 30, 2016

Saying thanks, a million times over

March 30, 2016 By B.C. Manion

John Picciano has fond memories of his years at Saint Leo University, and a deep appreciation for the influence that the Benedictine Sisters of Florida had on his life.

That’s what motivated the CEO of Ogelthorpe Inc., to donate $1 million to the Benedictine Sisters’ The Future is Now Campaign.

“The sisters, at that time, were very instrumental in bringing out my potential as a student,” Picciano said. “They emphasized Christian values.

John Picciano expresses his gratitude for the influence the Benedictine Sisters of Florida have had on his life through a $1 million donation to the sisters’ fundraising efforts. He is shown here, presenting an oversized copy of the check to Sister Roberta Bailey. (Courtesy of Benedictine Sisters of Florida) — John Picciano expresses his gratitude for the influence the Benedictine Sisters of Florida have had on his life through a $1 million donation to the sisters’ fundraising efforts. He is shown here, presenting an oversized copy of the check to Sister Roberta Bailey.
(Courtesy of Benedictine Sisters of Florida)

“They made me feel at home, and also were very good to help develop my self-esteem,” said Picciano, who went on to become a priest in the Diocese of Orlando, before stepping away from that vocation into a corporate role.

The Future is Now Campaign seeks to raise $1,650,000 to build an additional wing onto Holy Name Monastery, off State Road 52, across from Saint Leo University, near Dade City.

The additional wing was always part of the plan, but just not this soon.

“We knew the new facility would garner renewed interest in our community over a period of five or six years, but did not imagine it would happen so quickly,” Prioress Sister Roberta Bailey, said in a news release.

Requests have been flowing into the monastery from large groups wanting more than just a day retreat, Bailey explained. There also are women who are interested in discerning a vocation. Those needs require more space, Bailey said.

Besides donating $1 million, Picciano is chairing the fundraising campaign.

When Holy Name Monastery opened its doors in 2014, plans had already been drawn to expand the building at a future date. But, the need for larger quarters came sooner than expected. (File Photo) — When Holy Name Monastery opened its doors in 2014, plans had already been drawn to expand the building at a future date. But, the need for larger quarters came sooner than expected.
(File Photo)

A graduate of the class of 1969 at Saint Leo University, Picciano is the CEO of

an inpatient multihospital system dedicated to substance abuse care and counselling.

“I’m in the health care business. I work with drug addiction and psychiatric hospitals. We manage those facilities, and as a result of many things, we’re able to give back,” Picciano said. Last year, he gave $1 million to Saint Leo University.

Ogelthorpe, which has its corporate headquarters in downtown Tampa, has hospitals in Ohio, Texas, Louisiana and Florida.

Picciano’s contribution, combined with proceeds from a fundraiser and gifts from other donors, has brought the total raised to date to $1,334,896. Efforts continue to raise the remaining $315,104.

The additional space at the monastery is needed, said Picciano, noting he believes Pope Francis is inspiring more people to consider a religious life.

In addition to providing space for women who are considering vocations, the wing will provide more room for retreats, he added.

“I think the rooms will be well-used for their mission. The Benedictines are to work and pray, that’s what they do,” Picciano said.

For more information, visit BenedictineSistersOfFl.org.

Published March 30, 2016

History fair focuses on Wesley Chapel

March 23, 2016 By B.C. Manion

If you’re curious about the history of Wesley Chapel, there’s a new event designed to help you learn about the community’s past.

Pasco-Hernando State College is hosting the Wesley Chapel History Fair on March 31, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the college’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd. The event will be in the college’s conference center.

Pasco-Hernando State College is hosting a history fair on March 31, with speakers sharing stories about Wesley Chapel’s past. Madonna Wise will talk about her book, “Images of America: Wesley Chapel.” (Photos courtesy of Madonna Jervis Wise) — Pasco-Hernando State College is hosting a history fair on March 31, with speakers sharing stories about Wesley Chapel’s past. Madonna Wise will talk about her book, “Images of America: Wesley Chapel.”
(Photos courtesy of Madonna Jervis Wise)

The event will showcase stories and anecdotes about the area, as it has evolved from a rural community into a center for growth in Pasco County.

Madonna Jervis Wise will talk about her latest book, “Images of America: Wesley Chapel,” which recounts what Wesley Chapel was like when the community still had moonshiners, alligator hunters, turpentine and timber operations.

Wise also will be signing copies of her book, which will be available for purchase at the event.

Other highlights will include presentations from two women who will share stories about their family members.

Stephanie Black, director of the Pioneer Museum & Village, will recount tales of the legendary Lonnie Tucker, and Quinn Porter Miller will share vignettes about James H. “Wiregrass” Porter, and her family.

Thomas Touchton, founding Chairman of the Tampa Bay History Center, will share the J. Thomas and Lavinia W. Touchton Collection of Florida Cartography.

Angelo Liranzo, a librarian who spearheaded the digitizing of more than 100 years of area newspapers, will provide a hands-on demonstration regarding local historical resources.

There was a time when Wesley Chapel was widely known for its moonshining operations and its alligator hunting. The community has been transformed in recent years into a major growth center in Pasco County.

Wise, who has also written local history books about Zephyrhills and Dade City, said it was harder to find a starting point in Wesley Chapel because the community did not have a city hall or established town center.

So, she relied on her knowledge of genealogy and tracked down people she could interview, which led to more interviews and documents to help tell the community’s story.

Putting together the book meant interviewing scores of pioneer descendants, culling through land records, visiting properties and even putting together a map to get a sense for what it used to be like.

As Wise did her research, she said one surprising discovery was that women in the community had long been acknowledged for their contributions.

“Pioneer women of Wesley Chapel were revered for their tireless days of toil, with a nurturing spirt and the skill to raise large families,” she wrote in her book.

Published March 23, 2016

New elementary school gets a name

March 23, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The school formerly known as Elementary W now has a name.

Pasco County School Board members voted unanimously on March 15 to name the school Wiregrass Elementary.

The board chose the name after little discussion. They decided to go with a name that reflects the community where the school will open in August.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong made the motion for the school’s new name, saying she was recommending Wiregrass, rather than Wiregrass Ranch, to avoid potential confusion with the nearby Wiregrass Ranch High School.

Armstrong also noted that she prefers naming schools based on their location because it helps to build a sense of community.

She also noted that naming a school for a person can lead to problems later on. “Down the road, when we want to repurpose a building, we want to repurpose a program, it makes it very difficult to do so because people have very strong feelings, as well they should,” Armstrong said.

“I have always felt strongly that geographic names are the way to go,” agreed School Board Chairwoman Joanne Hurley.

The new school will be led by Principal Steve Williams and Assistant Principal Melissa Bidgood.

Williams joined Pasco County Schools in 2001, working as a literacy specialist, then assistant principal and then principal.

Most recently, he led the Office for Teaching and Learning, supporting K-12 learning in all Pasco County Schools.

Bidgood joined Pasco County Schools in 2004. She spent the first part of her career at Sunray Elementary School followed by Sand Pine Elementary as a classroom teacher.

She later became a literacy coach at Seven Springs Elementary School, interned at Sunray Elementary as assistant principal and, most recently, has served as an assistant principal at Seven Oaks Elementary School.

Published March 23, 2016