B.C. Manion

Wish list for the holidays: Food, blankets, toothbrushes

December 2, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Helping children who are in need is nothing new for the staff members at Centennial Middle School – they’ve been doing that for years.

But, in recent years, Marty Pekarek, who chairs the Dade City school’s Assist, Believe and Care program, has noticed that children are asking for life’s essentials.

“They ask for food and clothing,” she said.

Their families need blankets, too, said Pekarek. Children in homes without heat have told school staff that they pile clothes on their bed to stay warm on cold nights.

Sometimes, a child’s request can be heartbreaking, Pekarek said.

Marty Pekarek lays out angels for Centennial Middle School staff members to pick up, as the school gears up to brighten the holidays for students in need at their school. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Marty Pekarek lays out angels for Centennial Middle School staff members to pick up, as the school gears up to brighten the holidays for students in need at their school.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

“I think the saddest one I had one year was a little boy who said he just wanted toothbrushes, because all five family members were using the same one,” said Pekarek, a learning coach at the school.

Like other Pasco County schools, the ABC program at Centennial Middle, 38505 Centennial Road in Dade City, is funded by voluntary contributions from school district employees.

“It’s to help needy families. Sometimes during the holidays and sometimes other times when families have issues — they need food or clothing or something for children,” Pekarek explained.

“It’s not a government-funded program. It’s just teachers and staff members that donate money to it,” Pekarek said.

In previous years, teachers and staff members would “adopt” a child for Christmas and purchase items for that child. But, that got to be too expensive, Pekarek said.

So, in recent years, employees at Centennial Middle have helped by buying specific items.

This year, the school is providing Christmas gifts for 56 students.

Pekarek creates a spreadsheet of the items she needs, and then makes small angels that indicate specific needs.

This year’s campaign kicked off with a holiday potluck breakfast on Nov. 20, where staff members picked up angels.

“Whatever they can afford, they pick up. They purchase the items. They have to have them back in time for me to wrap the presents,” Pekarek said.

The gifts will be distributed to students on Dec. 16 and Dec. 17.

“Sometimes people can afford to buy only two bags of candy, and that’s helpful. “Anything helps us.

Centennial Middle School helps families in need during the holidays, and also at other times of the year. This is some of the food in its pantry.

“This year, we’re getting the kids hoodies, because they usually don’t have warm jackets,” she said.

“The hoodies, I actually have the sizes and the colors that they want,” Pekarek said.

The students also receive socks, a stocking filled with candy and school supplies, and a bag of personal hygiene items including soaps, shampoos, conditioners and deodorant.

At Christmas time, the committee also provides extra food to help see them through the long holiday break, Pekarek said.

The school also keeps a clothes closet to help children who need clothing. And, during the first cold snap of the season, it offers students a chance to pick up one of the coats that have been donated to help children who don’t have one, she said.

Pekarek has been involved in the ABC committee’s efforts since she came to the school about 14 years ago.

Centennial Middle Principal Rick Saylor is gratified by his staff’s generosity.

“I think it’s amazing. I think it goes to show you that it’s not just about showing up and teaching them. It’s about caring about them. It’s about wanting to take care of all their needs,” Saylor said.

“We know that if they don’t have some of these items that people are going to give them for Christmas, then it’s definitely going to affect how the kids are doing in the classroom.

“I think it goes to show the caring nature of the staff that I have. They truly, truly care about the kids. And, that’s so important. Once you care about them, then you can really, really teach them and really, really make an impact.

“Once they know you care, then there’s that rapport piece,” Saylor said.

The principal also appreciates Pekarek’s efforts.

“Ever since I’ve been here, she’s taken this on and spearheaded these efforts. It’s a lot of time and energy outside of work. We just appreciate what she does.”

Pekarek enjoys being involved.

“I love this school. We have really good kids and really appreciative families,” Pekarek said. “Some families cry when they pick up their presents.”

Want to help?
Centennial Middle School, at 38505 Centennial Road in Dade City, has begun its annual campaign to help families in need for the holidays. It especially needs new blankets to help children who sleep in homes without heat. Those wanting to donate new blankets can ship them or deliver them to the school. For more information on how you can help, please contact Marty Pekarek at (352) 524-9700.

Published December 2, 2015

Lutz Arts & Crafts Show canceled

November 25, 2015 By B.C. Manion

The GFWC Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival — an event that’s attracted around 30,000 people in recent years — has been canceled because of a possible sinkhole in a road at Lake Park.

Signs on Van Dyke Road and North Dale Mabry Highway let people know that the show has been canceled, and news releases have been sent out to help spread the word.

“Hillsborough County Park Rangers have discovered a sinkhole which has recently opened on the main ingress/egress roadway into the park, and due to safety concerns and liability issues, the county has deemed the road unusable until remedial measures can be taken,” according to a news release from the woman’s club.

The GFWC Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival has been canceled because of a possible sinkhole in Lake Park. This is the first time in more than three decades that the show won’t go on. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — The GFWC Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival has been canceled because of a possible sinkhole in Lake Park. This is the first time in more than three decades that the show won’t go on.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The problem with the road could not be fixed in time for the 36th annual show, scheduled for Dec. 5 and Dec. 6, said Shirley Simmons, the art show’s co-director.

“We’re all disappointed,” Simmons said.

The woman’s club did not find out about the problem until it was too late to find an alternative venue that was large enough to accommodate the show, Simmons said.

So, for the first time in more than three decades, the show won’t go on.

The popular event has been a draw for vendors from all over the country, and has been the largest annual moneymaker for the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

“It probably affected about 300 vendors,” Simmons said. “I had room for one photographer – that was it.”

The show has been a popular stop for vendors who travel about the South to sell their wares and art works at shows and festivals, Simmons said.

For some of them, it’s their best show of the year, she said.

The two-day event also has been a big draw for people who enjoy buying unique holiday gifts.

“It’s always such a wonderful community event,” Simmons said. “It gets everybody into the Christmas spirit.”

Besides giving vendors a quality venue and shoppers a fun place to pick up presents, the show has generated money to help scores of local organizations.

The lack of the revenue will decrease the woman’s club’s ability to help other organizations, causing a ripple effect that will touch many lives.

Published November 25, 2015

Therapy horse farm faces possible closure

November 25, 2015 By B.C. Manion

As Beverly Levitt walks around the 8-acre horse farm in Wesley Chapel, she talks to the animals.

There’s Moe and Clint. Chino and Cracker. Moon Light and Fancy. Renegade and Baby Bobby.

There’s Brandy, Fagozee, Cooper and Pixie.

Some of them, including Pixie and Moon Light, have been at Healing Horses, One Child at a Time Inc., since the horse rescue began six years ago.

Devin Clark gives Baby Bobby a bath. Baby Bobby is a pony that was wild when he came to Healing Horses, One Child at a Time, in Wesley Chapel. Now, the horse is completely at ease with Clark. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Devin Clark gives Baby Bobby a bath. Baby Bobby is a pony that was wild when he came to Healing Horses, One Child at a Time, in Wesley Chapel. Now, the horse is completely at ease with Clark.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

As Levitt steps around the farm, in her shin-high rubber boots, she talks about the horses’ temperaments.

Chino arrived at the farm on Sept. 22 and has gained more than 100 pounds since.

Pixie, a pony, “has the Napoleon Syndrome,” Levitt said. “She runs this place.”

Renegade, “was completely wild when he came here. They had turned him loose on the side of the road in Hernando County,” she said.

Some horses have medical conditions. One has chronic ulcers. Another, narcolepsy. One has endured dozens of surgeries.

Fagozee, a former racehorse, had been sent off for auction, but was saved and Levitt wound up with him.

“He has cancer. His days are numbered. As long as he’s comfortable and happy, we’ll keep him as healthy as we can; and when his time comes, we’ll put him out.”

The horse rescue began when Levitt suddenly ‘inherited’ 11 horses.

She knew she would be taking in six, but didn’t anticipate getting nearly double that number.

At first, she was irritated. She was worried, too, about being saddled with so much responsibility.

“They were in bad shape,” Levitt said.

“I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m a blue collar person, what am I going to do?’ ”

But then, during the middle of the night, she was inspired.

Pixie, shown here with Lynn Oliver, has been living at Healing Horses, One Child at a Time Inc., in Wesley Chapel. Oliver is vice president of the nonprofit organization.

“I’d been a scout leader many years before, and we had always taken the ADD (attention deficit disorder) kids, the ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) kids — my husband and I, before he passed away.

“We had always wanted a center for kids with special needs,” she said.

Meanwhile, she also was blessed with a special needs grandchild.

“I have met hundreds of families (with special needs children). I had a full understanding of what just the therapeutic equipment needed by these children cost, and it’s not covered by insurance,” she said.

So, she decided to use the horses to provide therapy.

Over the years, roughly 50 horses have spent time at the rescue. Some are there now. Some have been adopted. Some have died.

During that same time, hundreds of kids have spent time working the horses, riding them, observing them, walking them and bathing them.

One recent day, Caitlin Okolovitch, who attends Land O’ Lakes High School, was working Brandy.

Okolovitch found out about Healing Horses when she and her mom were doing an Internet search to find a horse rescue. The teenager wants to work with horses.

Fancy is taking it easy. The quarter horse, now over 20 years old, has lived at the stable for more than five years. She has chronic ulcer problems.

She began volunteering at Healing Horses when she was in middle school.

“When I first came out here, it was awesome, and I never wanted to leave,” the 15-year-old said. “A lot of the kids coming here make bonds with the horses,” she said.

Brandy is the horse that Levitt uses as a therapy horse for teenagers, she said.

Kids can relate to the horses.

Devin Clark, another regular at the farm, has a special bond with a horse named Baby Bobby.

The 12-year Clark saddlebroke Baby Bobby, Levitt said. He was at the farm recently giving the horse a bath.

Clark said he enjoys working the Baby Bobby, and he thinks other kids like coming to Healing Horses, too.

Levitt said the horses have helped all sorts of kids.

Some have had scrapes with the law. Others just love being around horses.

Some come from as nearby as Zephyrhills, and Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes, and others have traveled from Brooksville, Brandon and Pinellas County, Levitt said.

Many of the kids have special needs, such as autism, hearing problems, or difficulties at home.

Horses have an uncanny way of understanding these kids, she said.

“They have more compassion and sensitivity than any human being I’ve ever met,” Levitt said.

“You put a kid with a 1,500-pound animal that they can tell what to do, and watch your self-esteem grow, and their confidence and their abilities,” Levitt said.

“One child, with Down Syndrome, had no language when he came here. He learned a lot of words on the back of a horse,” she said.

Initially, Levitt supported the horse farm on her own.

But, she realized she couldn’t do it alone, and she set up a nonprofit organization.

For many years, a private donor provided much of the support.

But, that donor has decided to use the money she was providing to others to support her own charity, Levitt said.

“We’re in trouble. I’m not going to go down without a fight. Right now, I’ve got a barn full of feed, but I’ve got the feed bill to go with it.”

“You can only rob Peter to pay Paul for so long before it’s going to catch up.”

It costs about $2,000 a month in feed and more than $2,000 a month in hay, and that’s not counting the veterinarian bills, the farrier costs and assorted other costs.

So, Levitt is trying to build community support to keep the operation going.

If it closes, it would be shame, said Liz Clark, who said all five of her sons have benefited from spending time at the farm.

Levitt is seeking donors to pledge $5 a month to help keep the operation going.

“That is one Starbucks coffee a month. That is one visit to McDonald’s. Five dollars a month makes a lot of difference in a lot of lives, and it’s a tax write-off to boot.”

For more information or to help, visit HealingHorsesOneChildAtATime.com.

Published November 25, 2015

Zephyrhills Woman’s Club turns 100

November 25, 2015 By B.C. Manion

In the beginning, the GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills was a group of 15 women, who decided they wanted to form a civic club.

They established the club on Nov. 11, 1915 and voted to join the Florida Federation of Woman’s Clubs, automatically making them part of the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs, a national organization.

Linda Weyer is the current president of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills, a club she says that remains committed to its mission of service. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Linda Weyer is the current president of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills, a club she says that remains committed to its mission of service.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

On Nov. 15, about 90 people gathered at the Zephyrhills’ woman’s club’s stone building to celebrate a century of service.

Service continues to be the mission of the club, said current club President Linda Weyer.

“The GFWC in and of itself is responsible for a lot of beautification of streets, for public libraries, the National Park system, the Everglades. The Everglades would not be the Everglades National Park without the GFWC,” Weyer said.

“And, in Zephyrhills, we help with all of the local charities, especially relating to children.

“We help Everyday Blessings, the Pregnancy Care Center,” she said. “We’re working with Thomas Promise this year, to make sure the children, that are poor in the schools, get backpacks with food to take home for the weekends,” she added.

“We do help sponsor a second-grade classroom at West Zephyrhills Elementary School. And, every year, we collect school supplies in August and take them over to West Zephyrhills Elementary, and let the liaison distribute them to the children that need them. That way, they don’t get embarrassed,” she said.

This artist’s rendering depicts the home of the GFWC of Zephyrhills, the oldest service club in Zephyrhills, which celebrated its 100th birthday at a celebration on Nov. 15. (Courtesy of GFWC Women's Club of Zephyrhills) — This artist’s rendering depicts the home of the GFWC of Zephyrhills, the oldest service club in Zephyrhills, which celebrated its 100th birthday at a celebration on Nov. 15.
(Courtesy of GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills)

The club also awards scholarships, and donates time and money to local charities such as Meals on Wheels, Hernando-Pasco Hospice, Support Our Troops, Everyday Blessings, Relay for Life and many others. The club also gives to national and international relief efforts, according to Granger.

Weyer was excited about the club’s centennial celebration.

“It is a very big day. I’m very honored to be the president of this club at this time,” Weyer said, noting she expected people from Tampa, Spring Hill, Brooksville, Ruskin and St. Petersburg to join the celebration.

When the club began, it chose moss gray and pink as the official colors, the Cherokee rose as the club flower, and “America the Beautiful” as the club song, according to a historical account compiled by Gina Granger.

The yearly dues were $1, and early meetings were held in various buildings and members’ homes, according to Granger’s account.

In exchange for two lots bought by members in 1925, which the club later deeded to the city, the city gave the club a 99-year lease on a native rock building erected on the site in 1946—a public works project that was part of the Works Progress Administration under U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The clubhouse was built from native rock hauled from a quarry on the Hillsborough River. Club members raised funds by hosting various events to complete and furnish the interior, Granger adds.

The club, which now has 36 members, is always welcoming new members. It meets every first Friday of the month, during the months of September through May. The meetings are at 12:30 p.m., in the clubhouse located at 38545 Fifth Ave. Membership is open to any woman age 18 or older. Current annual dues are $25.

To learn more about the Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills, you can find them on the web at GFWCWomansClubOfZephyrhills.com.

Published November 25, 2015

A gift for shoppers: Two malls within 2 miles

November 25, 2015 By B.C. Manion

As Black Friday approaches, shoppers will scour advertisements for deals and map out a strategy to make the most of savings.

And this year, for the first time in Pasco County history, consumers will be able to shop at an outlet mall and a traditional mall within 2 miles of each other.

Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass, said the shopping mall expects to benefit from the nearby location of Tampa Premium Outlets. The outlet center will bring more people into the area, and some will likely visit his mall, he said. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass, said the shopping mall expects to benefit from the nearby location of Tampa Premium Outlets. The outlet center will bring more people into the area, and some will likely visit his mall, he said.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

There was a time when the prospect of having a new mall so nearby would have been a cause for concern, said Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass.

But, that was when plans called for a traditional mall on the land where Tampa Premium Outlets opened on Oct. 29.

The landscape of Wesley Chapel has changed dramatically in the seven years since The Shops at Wiregrass opened, Lenners said.

Back then, State Road 56 ended at the mall’s entrance to Dillard’s, and Bruce B. Downs was a two-lane road.

Now, the area is popping.

State Road 56 has been extended to Meadow Pointe Boulevard, with a proposal to make it four lanes all the way to Zephyrhills. Bruce B. Downs is now a six-lane road.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel opened 3½ years ago, is undergoing a $78 million expansion, 2 ½ years ahead of schedule.

Plus, Lenners noted, there’s an 85,000-square-foot medical office building going up next door, Pasco-Hernando State College opened its Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch down the street, and there are about 1,000 homes under construction within a 3-mile ring of the mall.

“You’ve got Estancia. You’ve got The Ridge. Seven Oaks has got a lot of development. You’ve got Arbor Woods. Standard Pacific has a couple of developments on Meadow Pointe, as well, and you’ve got all that coming by the mall,” Lenners said.

“All of this is happening in our backyard, everything east of (Interstate) 75,” he said.

The primary customers at The Shops at Wiregrass are between the ages of 25 and 44, Lenners said. The average annual household income ranges from $85,000 to $90,000. And, the mall’s annual performance has improved every year since it opened, Lenners said.

The general manager doesn’t view Tampa Premium Outlets as competition to be feared.

Instead, he said, “it’s a perfect complement to what we have.”

An outlet center typically draws customers from roughly a 50-mile radius, Lenners said, His mall draws from a 10-mile ring.

The retail expert expects Tampa Premium Outlet’s longer reach to bring more people into the area, with some of those people deciding to check out The Shops at Wiregrass, at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

“The benefit for us is that customers that wouldn’t have come typically all of the way up here to visit — from Tampa, or some outer-lying areas — now they’ll come to the outlet (mall),” Lenners said.

The Shops at Wiregrass, just 2 miles away from Tampa Premium Outlets, will likely serve customers who want to eat at its restaurants or explore additional shopping options, he said.

The addition of Tampa Premium Outlets has not prompted The Shops at Wiregrass to rethink its game plan or amp up its events, Lenners said.

“We’ve established ourselves as a staple of the community, and that’s because of the events that we do,” he said. For example, this is the eighth holiday season that The Shops at Wiregrass has hosted “Symphony in Lights.”

This year, the show, presented by Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, has been revamped.

But, that’s not because of the new outlet mall, Lenners said.

The old tree wouldn’t work with current technology, and problems cropped up when it rained, Lenners said.

The new tree is 54 feet tall, including the star, and is about 27 feet in diameter.

“The presentation is much more dramatic,” Lenners said. There are four shows a night, with music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra for two shows and a mix of holiday songs — that were suggested by mall shoppers — for the other two.

In between the sound and light shows, local groups give live performances on a stage in the mall’s center court, in front of the giant Christmas tree.

That’s been a tradition for years.

“Every night, there’s a different group. They’ve got their 45 minutes of fame,” Lenners said.

The mall will continue to have assorted events, including the Suncoast Arts Festival, car shows, fresh markets and charity walks for various causes, Lenners said.

It also continues to consider new possibilities.

“We’re constantly evolving things. We’re massaging. We’re constantly looking at events: What works? What doesn’t? What’s starting to get stale?” Lenners said.

Having the Tampa Premium Outlets and The Shops at Wiregrass in such convenient proximity adds to the Wesley Chapel area’s growing cache, Lenners said.

“We’re turning into a shopping mecca, destination. You can pretty much make a day of it,” Lenners said.

Published November 25, 2015

Parents oppose proposed Elem W boundaries

November 25, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Scores of parents from the communities of Arbor Woods and Northwood are opposed to proposed school boundaries that would send their children from their Wesley Chapel community over to Denham Oaks Elementary, in Lutz.

About 100 people showed up at a community meeting on Nov. 19 to seek changes to the proposed boundaries for Elementary W, a new school being built off Mansfield Boulevard.

They told officials they understand that Seven Oaks Elementary needs relief from overcrowding, but they don’t want their children to be sent to a school in a different community.

They raised numerous concerns.

Vince Iglio, a parent from Arbor Woods, questioned the school district’s projections regarding future growth, particularly in the area of Denham Oaks Elementary. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Vince Iglio, a parent from Arbor Woods, questioned the school district’s projections regarding future growth, particularly in the area of Denham Oaks Elementary.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

They don’t want to contend with the traffic on State Road 56, particularly near Interstate 75.

They don’t want their children to leave an A-rated school to go to one with a lower grade.

They want their children to have access to the same programs and services that they now enjoy at their current school.

They’re concerned about how the shift will affect which middle school and high school their children will attend.

And, they question the accuracy of the district’s projections.

They want district officials to change the boundaries so children in Arbor Woods and Northwood can attend Sand Pine Elementary, which is closer to where they live.

Elementary School W, now under construction off Mansfield Boulevard, is intended to provide some relief for Seven Oaks and Double Branch elementary schools. It also has some space available to accommodate anticipated growth, said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools.

A boundary committee for Pasco County Schools has recommended a number of shifts that would affect the boundaries of Seven Oaks, Double Branch, Sand Pine and Denham Oaks.

Williams said the committee considers a number of factors when recommending school boundaries.

Those include school capacity, current enrollment and growth projections. The committee also attempts to avoid splitting subdivisions and considers traffic, he said.

Vince Iglio, representing Arbor Woods, said his neighborhood has just 25 students, which would have a negligible impact, if the students were assigned to Sand Pine.

Chris Williams, the director of planning for Pasco County Schools, explains the process used by a boundary committee to make recommendations regarding a school’s boundaries to the Pasco County School Board, which makes the final decision.

But, Williams said, if Arbor Woods were assigned to Sand Pine, the district should also consider other parts of Northwood, which would yield an impact of roughly 200 students.

Iglio questioned the district’s projections for Denham Oaks. He said the school could become overcrowded as early as next year, given the development that’s springing up in the area.

Williams said he expects that all of the schools affected by Elementary W’s boundaries will continue to grow, but some areas are expecting greater growth pressures.

Jennifer Northey, president of the Parent Teacher Association at Denham Oaks, told parents gathered in her school’s cafeteria that she understood why they were fighting the move. She said she’d be doing the same thing if her school’s boundaries were being changed and her family was affected.

She said she came to the meeting to reassure the parents that good things are happening at Denham Oaks.

David Scanga, a district administrator who supervises numerous schools, including Denham Oaks, said he understands parent’s concerns. He told them that Denham Oaks has been making great strides in improving its performance.

Ali Soofi, a resident of Arbor Woods, detailed some of the concerns of the Arbor Woods community in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

“All of us knew that eventually we would be rezoned to a different school,” Soofi wrote. “However, none of us realized that we would be moved to a different city.

“Zero part of our rationale has to do with any school ratings,” Soofi added. “We just want to stay in Wesley Chapel, where we spend all our time, money, and worship.”

The Pasco County School Board has the final word on school boundaries, and it is slated to consider the boundaries at public hearings set for Dec. 1 and Dec. 15.

Elementary W boundary hearings
What: Public hearings for proposed boundaries for Elementary W, a new school which will open next school year in Wesley Chapel.
When: Dec. 1 at 9:30 a.m., and Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.
Where: Pasco County Schools district complex, Building No. 3 North, at 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Published November 25, 2015

Tampa Bay Lightning launches regional partnership

November 18, 2015 By B.C. Manion

A $6 million initiative to expand the game of hockey regionally in Tampa Bay is beginning to play out in local schools.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association are collaborating on a five-year program that aims to develop hockey players and provide life skills lessons to area youth.

As part of that initiative, schools throughout the region are beginning to have street hockey clinics to teach children about the game.

Chester Taylor Elementary students learn about the game of hockey during a recent street hockey clinic led by personnel from Tampa Bay Lightning. (Photos courtesy of Pasco County Schools) — Chester Taylor Elementary students learn about the game of hockey during a recent street hockey clinic led by personnel from Tampa Bay Lightning.
(Photos courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Pasco County plans to offer the program to all of the district’s fourth- and fifth-graders, said Amy Lipovetsky, program coordinator for kindergarten through 12th grade physical education.

The school district was approached by Tampa Bay Lightning and was glad to participate, she said.

“It fits nicely with our standards in the physical education program,” Lipovetsky said.

There is a standard that calls for being able to strike with an implement, which you can do with a hockey stick.

“I know the teachers are excited, and the kids like something different,” said Lipovetsky, who also oversees Pasco’s athletic programs.

The Lightning plans to provide the street hockey clinics at 500 schools throughout the region.

“This semester they had openings for maybe 10 of our schools. And, we’re going to open up next semester for any remaining spots that they have,” Lipovetsky said.

Additional schools will participate as openings become available, she said.

Makenna Rice, of Chester Taylor Elementary School, focuses as she handles her hockey stick during a street hockey clinic at her school. The Tampa Bay Lightning is trying to increase awareness about the game of hockey through a partnership with Tampa Bay area schools.

When the clinics are held at a school, the Lightning sends in about five staff members to teach the game to the school’s fourth- and fifth-graders.

They come in for a day, and they work with all of our fourth- and fifth-graders. Generally, that takes five to six sessions.

“We want it to be effective. We don’t want any more than 60 kids out at one time, so that they can get the most out of the event,” Lipovetsky said.

Some former Lightning players are involved, and the school district’s physical education teachers are involved, too, she said.

“The cool thing is that each of these kids gets to walk away with a hockey stick and a voucher (for a game).”

The program is going an additional step at Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School, the district’s only magnet school.

Sanders students will learn about the concepts of geometric constructions, energy and force — through a computer game on the sport of hockey.

Schools that have participated in the street hockey clinics so far include Chester Taylor and San Antonio elementary schools.

Besides Sanders, other area Pasco schools scheduled to have clinics this semester are Seven Oaks Elementary in Wesley Chapel and Denham Oaks in Lutz.

The street hockey clinics also take place in other Tampa Bay area schools, including schools in Hillsborough County.

Published November 18, 2015

A cross-country mission to battle polio

November 18, 2015 By B.C. Manion

When Nick Hall set out to make a bicycle trek across the country, he focused on a single goal: To inspire others to join him in the quest to conquer polio.

It was a 3,000-mile ride that would take Hall up steep mountain passes, through stretches of desert, and along interstate highways and down narrow roads.

He’d sleep in a tent on the side of the road, or in abandoned buildings, or behind truck stops.

Nick Hall climbed steep mountain passes during a 3,000 trek aimed at raise awareness about the quest to conquer polio, and to raise money to help purchase vaccines to help eradicate the disease. (Courtesy of Nick Hall) — Nick Hall climbed steep mountain passes during a 3,000 trek aimed at raise awareness about the quest to conquer polio, and to raise money to help purchase vaccines to help eradicate the disease.
(Courtesy of Nick Hall)

He’d wash his change of clothes in sinks at truck stops or convenience stores.

Hall began his cross-country trek on July 14 by placing the rear wheel of his bicycle tire in the Pacific Ocean.

He finished his journey — surrounded by family, friends and supporters — on Aug. 15 in St. Augustine.

Along the way, he shared the Rotary Club International’s quest to eradicate polio from the face of the planet.

While he was out on the road, Hall said, his grandson asked how one man riding a bicycle could help put an end to polio.

Hall’s wife told the boy that as the cyclist met people along the way, they’d want to know his story, and after they heard it, they’d share it.

Ironically, Hall said, this is much the same way an infectious disease — such as polio —is spread. One person has contact with another person, who in turn has contact with others.

As Hall made his way across the country, Facebook posts chronicled his journey, and donations came in to battle polio from people in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and, as far away as South Dakota.

Nick Hall attends a Wesley Chapel Rotary Club meeting to share the story of his 3,000-mile bicycle trek to raise awareness about the quest to end polio. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Nick Hall attends a Wesley Chapel Rotary Club meeting to share the story of his 3,000-mile bicycle trek to raise awareness about the quest to end polio.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The ride is over, but Hall is still sharing his story. He recently talked about his adventures at a noon luncheon meeting of the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club.

“I never had a goal of covering a certain number of miles, nor getting to a certain destination by a certain time,” Hall said. There were too many variables beyond his control, he explained.

He had no power over the direction of the winds, he said, and didn’t know if he’d encounter a hurricane, or when his bicycle would need a repair.

“And so, my goal was only ever to keep the bike moving 10 hours a day,” Hall said.

Hall figured he had an average of 15 hours of sunlight a day, leaving plenty of time for breaks, which he took during the hottest parts of the day.

And, it was hot.

“The bank sign in Blythe, California, on the edge of Death Valley, registered 115 degrees. And, for 10 consecutive days, the high never got below 100.”

His longest ride on a single day was 150 miles; his shortest, was under 70.

“My day would begin at usually a half-hour before sunrise. I would set my alarm to go off, because I didn’t want to miss a minute of the cooler temperatures before the sun really got blisteringly hot,” he said.

“I’d have a Fig Newton. I’d stop at a grocery store — buy a box, just to take the edge off my appetite. I didn’t want to waste time eating a full breakfast, not when it was the coolest part of the day.

“I’d wait three or four hours before stopping, and then would eat a couple of fried eggs, fried ham, hash browns, toast. Sometimes extra servings of the hash browns,” he said.

Nick Hall finishes his trek from San Diego to St. Augustine. The bicycle trip involved riding through all sorts of conditions. (Courtesy of Nick Hall) — Nick Hall finishes his trek from San Diego to St. Augustine. The bicycle trip involved riding through all sorts of conditions.
(Courtesy of Nick Hall)

Around mid-morning, he’d stop for one of his favorite snacks: A paper-wrapped Hostess Apple Pie.

It was 780 calories, and it was awesome, he said.

“I was losing a lot of electrolytes. Why take salt pills when you can eat potato chips? Or, salted peanuts?

“And then, I would have a couple of ice cream bars in the late afternoon.

“You know there’s not much pleasure cycling across West Texas — a barren landscape, resembling the landscape of the moon.

“And, there’s a need. We all need pleasure,” he said.

So, he indulged in foods that gave him pleasure and also helped him maintain his weight, as he was burning around 4,000 calories a day.

Hall rode through all kinds of conditions.

He traveled on Interstate 10 through parts of Arizona and Texas.

Riding on an interstate sounds hazardous, he said, but it was actually safer than some of the other roads he took.

“Compare I-10, with a speed limit of 70 miles per hour, with a road I was on in Louisiana — two-lane road, speed limit 70 miles an hour. No shoulder.

“There were multiple times when big logging trucks would whiz by. They couldn’t pull over very far, because there was oncoming traffic.

“I had multiple, ‘Oh, fecal matter’ moments,” he said.

His worst mishap occurred on the morning of July 26, as he cycling on I-10 in West Texas.

He was coming down a mountain pass at a decent clip.

“All of a sudden, I heard this horrible, metallic, crunching sound,” he said. “The bike came to a shuddering stop. I did not. I kept going.

“I’d run over a 6-inch bolt,” said Hall, who scraped his face and knee but didn’t break any bones.

The bolt hit the front tire, and the bike was missing spokes, had broken spokes and had a bent fork.

A truck driver gave Hall a lift to San Antonio, Texas, for bike repairs, and Hall was back on the road two days later.

Hall said the best moment on his trip came when he arrived in Palatka.

At that point, he knew he was ahead of schedule. He knew he wouldn’t need to wash his clothes in a convenience store sink, or need to scout out a safe place to sleep.

He said he had the satisfaction, too, of knowing people he’d met along his journey had contributed donations to help eradicate polio from the planet.

Published November 18, 2015

Elementary W causes boundary shifts

November 18, 2015 By B.C. Manion

The sight of a new elementary school under construction would seem to be a cause for celebration.

But, even when students can attend a new school, and even when the new school will reduce crowding at other area schools, the prospect of boundary changes for existing schools is often fraught with controversy.

“Folks don’t want to move. I can understand. Folks are loyal to their school,” said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools.

Elementary W, being built off Mansfield Boulevard in Wesley Chapel, is slated to open in August 2016.

A sign lets passersby know that the construction of Elementary School W is being supported by Pasco for Penny funding. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — A sign lets passersby know that the construction of Elementary School W is being supported by Pasco for Penny funding.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

It will affect the current boundaries for Seven Oaks, Double Branch, Sand Pine and Denham Oaks elementary schools — if the Pasco County School Board approves a plan recommended by a school boundary committee.

Those who are interested in learning more or weighing in on the proposed boundaries are invited to attend a community meeting set for Nov. 19 at 6 p.m., at Denham Oaks Elementary, 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz.

The proposed boundaries aim to reduce crowding and leave room for future growth in schools expected to experience the largest enrollment increases over the next few years, Williams said.

Under the proposal, students would be shifted out of Double Branch Elementary and Sand Pine Elementary into the new Elementary W, Williams said.

Then, some students from Seven Oaks would be assigned to Sand Pine, and others from Seven Oaks would be assigned to Denham Oaks, Williams said.

“Part of the rationale is that we don’t want to shift a whole huge amount of kids to Sand Pine and have to move a bunch of portables over there,” Williams explained.

The walls have gone up at Elementary School W, a new school being built off Mansfield in the Wiregrass area of Wesley Chapel.

“Denham Oaks has quite a bit of room now,” he added.

The boundary committee’s proposal is facing resistance, Williams said.

Although Williams was out of town recently, he said he’s heard that “the biggest opposition is coming from the Arbor Woods group. They’re the newest phase of the Northwood development. They don’t want to be zoned into Denham Oaks.”

Opponents would prefer to stay at Seven Oaks Elementary or move to Sand Pine Elementary, he said.

“Part of their rationale is that Denham Oaks is a lower-graded school. They’re concerned about that,” Williams said.

Opponents also are concerned about traffic through the interchange of State Road 56 and Interstate 75, especially with the recent opening of Tampa Premium Outlets, Williams said.

However, the committee has taken a look at the traffic issue, Williams said.

“They certainly have the ability to go down to County Line (Road) and traverse County Line (Road). By our measurement, so far, the drive times to get to Denham Oaks (Elementary School) from that area are not as bad as they made it out to be,” Williams said.

There’s no question that Seven Oaks Elementary needs relief, the planning director said.

“The car line at Seven Oaks is just madness because of how many kids we have there,” he said. “We just can’t continue to have that many kids at Seven Oaks Elementary.”

In addition to the upcoming community meeting, the public also can weigh in at two public hearings before the Pasco County School Board.

The first public hearing will be during the board’s 9:30 a.m. meeting on Dec. 1, and the second public hearing will be during the board’s 6 p.m. meeting on Dec. 15. The board meets at in the school district complex, Building No. 3 North, at 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Elementary W boundary meeting
What: Community meeting to discuss proposed boundaries for Elementary W, a school under construction in Wesley Chapel that’s expected to open in August 2016.
Where; Denham Oaks Elementary, 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz
When: Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.
Who: All are welcome

Published November 18, 2105

Chorale offers thanksgiving, through song

November 18, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Marvin Robertson has been passing along his love for music for decades, and for the past eight years he’s been sharing that passion as the director of the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Chorale.

The chorale, a group of 29 singers selected through audition, shares it loves of music by presenting free local concerts.

Its next performance, Festival of Thanks, is set for Nov. 21, beginning at 5 p.m., at the East Pasco Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7329 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills.

The event will include a welcome by Randy Surber, president and chief executive officer of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, and will have a homily on the theme of Thanksgiving, Robertson said.

Marvin Robertson, director of the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Chorale, is shown here leading the chorus, during last year’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the hospital. The community chorus is gearing up for a Nov. 21 public performance, focusing on the theme of Thanksgiving. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills) — Marvin Robertson, director of the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Chorale, is shown here leading the chorus, during last year’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the hospital. The community chorus is gearing up for a Nov. 21 public performance, focusing on the theme of Thanksgiving.
(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills)

The Festival of Thanks will be a 70-minute program that includes a mixture of challenging music, as well as patriotic songs and hymns, Robertson said.

The audience will be invited to sing along on the first piece, “Now, Thank We All Our God,” and to join in on the final number, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” the chorale director said.

The program also includes a piece by Aaron Copland, a widely known American composer.

One of the more challenging works on the program is a piece called “Song of Moses,” composed by Chris Medina, a choir member who works in radiology at the hospital, Robertson said.

The piece is dedicated to the memory of James Leuthauser, a former member of the chorale’s bass section, who died two years ago.

Medina said he was inspired by a Biblical verse that “speaks of a song that is sung by the people that are redeemed from the earth … It’s kind of a happy, eventful song.”

Medina has belonged to the chorale group since it began, but his association with Robertson goes back to his college days at Southern Adventist University in Tennessee. Robertson, now retired, was dean of the school of music.

Medina said he enjoys being part of the chorale. “It’s a stress reliever for me,” he said.

Being a member of the chorale is enriching, said Sue Green, a member of the group for seven years.

The group rehearses from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Mondays, and, after the most recent practice, Green said she is feeling more confident about the selections in the upcoming performance.

“We’re working on it, putting on the finishing points,” Green said.

The chorale offers a wonderful opportunity for people who have a passion for singing to share it with others, Green said.

“It is challenging, and it’s thrilling,” said the retired preschool teacher.

Robertson said the chorale members come from all walks of life, and range in age from 16 to nearly 80.

“It’s an interesting group,” he said, noting the chorale includes nurses, radiology techs, teachers, a real estate broker, a doctor, a chaplain, and retired U.S. Marines, among others.

Through the years, members have come from as far away as Lutz and Hudson and Lakeland, he said.

The youngest member, 16-year-old Rose Phelps, is delighted to be part of the group.

“Singing in a choir is just so helpful because I’ve learned so much about how it sounds when all of the voices come together, the basses and the tenors, and altos and sopranos. It just really trains my ear. Hearing all those parts together is really amazing,” she said.

Being a member of choir provides opportunities for growth.

“He just gives us a piece, and we have to try to sing it right off the bat,” she said.

She’s impressed by the musical ability of other members of the choir and said she’s learning, constantly.

Besides the Festival of Thanks, the chorale also performs at the Christmas Tree Lighting at the hospital campus, and at what Robertson calls a “Prelude to Easter” concert.

The Festival of Thanks begins at 5 p.m., but doors open at 4:30 p.m., and it’s a good idea to get there early, Robertson said.

“We don’t open the doors until 4:30, and there’s always a group waiting outside. We average probably 400 to 500 people. It fills the sanctuary,” he said.

Some people have been to every Thanksgiving concert, since they began giving them, Robertson said.

“They come. I notice them, because they try to sit in the same place all of the time. And, they are not members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They are people who like this type of music,” Robertson said.

The portion of the program that allows audience participation provides individual enrichment, Robertson said, “but it’s also community involvement I love to hear the people sing, because they really do sing.”

Green said the chorale is well received.

“Many people have said that it is the best-kept secret of Pasco County,” Green said. “I’m not really certain which group receives the biggest blessing, the musicians or the audience.”

Robertson said the hospital provides financial support to promote the chorale, which, in turn, supports the community through the arts.

“Health care is more than just taking care of the sick,” he said. “We’re enhancing the life of the community.”

What: Festival of Thanks, featuring several musical selections by the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Chorale.
Where: East Pasco Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7329 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills
When: Nov. 21 at 5 p.m.
Who: The public is welcome and admission is free.

Published November 18, 2015