B.C. Manion

Chamber exec leaves her mark

July 1, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Vonnie Mikkelsen is wrapping up her work this week at the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce to take on a similar role for the chamber of commerce in Springfield, Oregon.

Making the decision to leave her current post was no easy choice, Mikkelsen said.

“This was not just a job to me. It was really a commitment. It’s where my heart was. It’s where I grew at the same time that I saw people around me and the community and the organization, itself, grow,” said Mikkelsen, who lives in Land O’ Lakes.

Vonnie Mikkelsen is leaving her post as the executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce this week. She’s excited about moving to Oregon, where she’ll lead the chamber of commerce in Springfield and will live closer to her family. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Vonnie Mikkelsen is leaving her post as the executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce this week. She’s excited about moving to Oregon, where she’ll lead the chamber of commerce in Springfield and will live closer to her family.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Mikkelsen took the leadership role at the Zephyrhills chamber on Dec. 14, 2009. She was selected from a field of 44 candidates.

Since accepting that role, she’s been involved in numerous initiatives.

She helped organize the collection of items for the time capsule created to celebrate the city’s 100th anniversary.

She was involved in the push to change the hours for when liquor could be served on Sundays.

She was involved in the effort to persuade the state roads department to use a pair of one-ways running through Zephyrhills, instead of turning Gall Boulevard (US 301) into a three-lane, one-way road.

She led efforts to launch a new annual festival, the Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest, an event that attracts thousands and raises money for the chamber and community groups.

She drummed up support to create the Zephyrhills Economic Development Coalition.

And, she helped persuade the powers-that-be that finding money to create a four-lane stretch of State Road 56 — from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 — would be an investment in the region, not just a project for Zephyrhills.

While the money has not yet been found for the State Road 56 project, work is under way to see if it’s possible to get a loan from the state’s infrastructure bank to make it happen.

Mikkelsen is proud of what has been accomplished during her tenure, but she’s the first to say these achievements were a result of people working together to make them happen.

“I never would have guessed all of the things that we were able to accomplish – even at my highest expectation. We, together, have exceeded those. That’s incredibly rewarding,” Mikkelsen said.

Shortly after she assumed her role as the executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, Vonnie Mikkelsen had a chance to meet people throughout the community by working on a time capsule project to mark the city’s 100th birthday. (Courtesy of Vonnie Mikkelsen) — Shortly after she assumed her role as the executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, Vonnie Mikkelsen had a chance to meet people throughout the community by working on a time capsule project to mark the city’s 100th birthday.
(Courtesy of Vonnie Mikkelsen)

She’s been amazed by the willingness of individuals and organizations in Zephyrhills to give their time, talent and resources.

Mikkelsen thinks a chamber of commerce is in a unique position to pull people together.

“It’s (the chamber is) your business community, it’s your nonprofit organizations, it’s your faith-based organizations, your community support organizations, your schools, your government agencies. It’s a cross-section and there’s no other organization in the community like that,” Mikkelsen said.

Recognizing how people can help is important, Mikkelsen said.

“If you know the resources that are in an organization like that (the chamber), the possibilities are endless,” she said.

Having a pulse on stakeholders’ interests is essential, Mikkelsen added.

“It’s not my chamber of commerce. It’s not even the board’s chamber of commerce. It’s first and foremost, the members’, and then the community at large,” she said.

Mikkelsen said she hadn’t been at the job long before she had a chance to tap into the broad spectrum of Zephyrhills’ stakeholders.

That happened when she was working with a team to create a time capsule for the city’s 100th birthday, she said.

The capsule contains artifacts of the daily life of groups and organizations that make up the fabric of Zephyrhills.

When Mikkelsen agreed to take a leadership role on that task, she was determined to excel.

That’s her mantra.

“I don’t promise anything I’m not going to deliver on, and usually deliver beyond expectations,” she said.

When Mikkelsen joined the Zephyrhills chamber she was coming out of a period of personal transition, she said.

She’d left a position with The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a few years before because it wasn’t the right fit for her.

Then, she went back to school to get a certificate in nonprofit management from the University of South Florida.

At the same time, she was doing volunteer work.

She served as a certified guardian ad litem, acting as an advocate for children under state protection, who had been abused, neglected or abandoned.

She also volunteered hundreds of hours at the Pasco County Animal Shelter.

She said a staff member there described her as “the best used-dog salesperson in the world” because she concentrated on getting dogs socialized and ready for adoption.

Her efforts there earned her a Citizen of the Year award from the Florida Veterinary Medical Association.

When Mikkelsen arrived in Zephyrhills, she didn’t know much about the community beyond the research she’d done to help her land the job.

She got busy trying to understand the community’s strengths and opportunities, as well as its weaknesses and threats.

“You’ve got to know where they are. You’ve got to know where you are and what you need.

“Once you’ve identified your weaknesses and your threats. Once you’ve identified them and are clear about them,” she said, “that’s the starting point.

“Instead of wallowing in your disadvantages, just know them. “Then, you focus everything else on the solution,” Mikkelsen said.

Part of finding those solutions involves building partnerships and considering different points of view, she added.

Building those relationships takes time and follow-through, Mikkelsen added. “It’s not just sending an email.”

It also takes a willingness to do the research to establish credibility, and to create trust, over time through your actions, she added.

It’s important to respect people’s time and to be sure that meetings are meaningful, Mikkelsen said.

“You’re calling on volunteers. Time is money. I appreciate that. I value that. I get it. Ultimately, I don’t want to waste their time. I don’t want to waste my time. More importantly, I want them to keep coming back, and keep engaged and keep moving forward, because we need them,” she said.

Finding common ground and collaborating is an effective way to tackle issues, Mikkelsen said.

“If you’re always looking at others as a competitor and a threat, then you’re definitely not leading. It’s the biggest drag on success,” she said.

She’s fluent in Japanese. She spent 16 years in Japan and worked with Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting in Tokyo to develop programming for Cartoon Network Japan.

Factoids about Vonnie Mikkelsen
She’s fluent in Japanese. She spent 16 years in Japan and worked with Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting in Tokyo to develop programming for Cartoon Network Japan.

The ringtone on her cell is “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

She received the Florida Veterinary Medical Association’s Citizen of the Year award in 2009 for her volunteer work with Pasco County Animal Services.

Published July 1, 2015

Local woman’s club named best in state

June 24, 2015 By B.C. Manion

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club has received the Lois B. Perkins Award, which goes to the GFWC Florida Outstanding Club of the Year.

This is the third year in a row that the club has received the honor – an unprecedented distinction, according to club members.

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club members were decked out in a sea of red at a recent general meeting in support of February as Heart Health Month. (Courtesy of Patricia Serio) — The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club members were decked out in a sea of red at a recent general meeting in support of February as Heart Health Month.
(Photos courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Winning the award allows the club to retain the coveted silver commemorative tea service to use for their club events.

Kay Taylor, who is the club’s president, and Cathy Mathes, who is the first vice president, attribute the club’s success to its community involvement.

“Teamwork – that’s what makes our club such an awesome club,” Taylor said.

Mathes agreed: “We do a lot of hard work. We do it in a lot of different areas.”

The club is involved on several different fronts.

It supports the Old Lutz School. It helps Support Our Troops. It volunteers with bingo games at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home.

Members pitch in at schools. They put books at coin laundries. They put up a candidate in the annual Lutz Guv’na race. They participate in Relay for Life.

The women prepare foods for breakfast or brunch at the Hope Lodge at the Moffitt Cancer Center.

On one occasion, Mathes found the experience to be particularly poignant.

“A man came up and said, ‘My wife hasn’t eaten anything in two weeks. This is the first time she’s eaten.’

“You just want to sit there and cry,” Mathes said.

The list of activities that the women are involved in goes on and on.

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club puts on the annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival each year at Lake Park. The event is the club’s biggest fundraiser and usually attracts about 30,000 people.

Besides helping the community, the club is involved in two major fundraisers each year. It stages the Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival at Lake Park, an event that draws around 30,000 people each year. It also puts on the Woman’s Club Flea Market, another gargantuan task that involves lots of heavy lifting and volunteer hours.

Taylor has been a member for six years, joining the club a year after she moved to Lutz. She was recruited by Auralee Buckingham.

The club has developed a reputation around the community, she said.

“If somebody needs something, they come to us first to see if there’s any way we can help them,” Taylor said.

“We are all about service,” she said. “We are a working club, not a social club.”

Mathes added: “We do a lot of hard work. We do it in a lot of different areas.”

The woman’s club, known around Lutz and Land O’ Lakes as the “green-shirt ladies,” has 95 members.

The club is open to new ideas and picks up quite a few from meetings in Orlando, Mathes said.

“You learn from all of the other clubs in the state – the projects they’re working on. You can come home with some good ideas of some things you can do here,” Mathes said.

Winning the top prize was a surprise and a thrill, Mathes said.

The club placed second in a number of categories, but earned enough points to win first place, she said.

“There are a lot of active clubs all over the state. It’s just really a great honor,” Mathes said.

Published June 24, 2015

94-year-old Lutz woman pens her first book

June 24, 2015 By B.C. Manion

There was an excitement in the air on a Tuesday afternoon, as people gathered in the reception area in the building on East Chapman Road in Lutz.

People had trekked from such places at Georgia and Texas, Wesley Chapel and South Tampa, Carrollwood and Lutz, to be there.

Gladys Kuhn, known as Gobby to everyone who knows her, released her debut book at the age of 94. The memoir recounts growing up during the Depression, having a tryout with the Rockettes and Gobby’s many other adventures. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Gladys Kuhn, known as Gobby to everyone who knows her, released her debut book at the age of 94. The memoir recounts growing up during the Depression, having a tryout with the Rockettes and Gobby’s many other adventures.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

They wanted to hear Gladys Kuhn — Gobby, to those who know her — talk about her first book.

It wasn’t a typical setting for a book signing, as this one was at Horizon Bay, a retirement home at 414 Chapman Road East.

And the author making her literary debut was 94 years old.

She didn’t read dramatic passages from her book, which is simply called “Gobby.”

Instead, she shared recollections from a past that is chock full of fun and adventure.

At the front of her 105-page book, Gobby offers this disclaimer: “To whoever reads this book: All the facts, dates, times and details may not be completely accurate. I am getting a little forgetful at 94.”

The book, which is dedicated to her children, tells the story of a woman who remembers when horses delivered the family’s milk, a card in the window let the ice man know how much ice to leave and movies cost a nickel each.

She recalls a time long before television, cellphones and computers.

Gobby grew up in Chicago during the Depression.

“Sometimes the food on the table was pretty skimpy,” she writes. “Mom would make Brown Flour Soup, where she would brown the flour and butter in a fry pan, then slowly add water and onions. I hated it because it had onions in them, and I didn’t like them as a child.”

But she adds, “We always had homemade bread with it to fill the tummy and, sometimes, Mom would put a little sugar and canned milk on the bread if you didn’t like the soup.”

The book recounts her family’s life, as she was growing up — the jobs her father held, the homes they lived in and how they had fun.

She recalls getting a job in an embroidery factory after high school, to help pay for her dancing lessons.

That’s when she met her friend, Ruby Ryan, and the two of them joined a show that was heading to New York.

“We played all of the big theaters,” Gobby’s book recounts. “We interviewed with the Rockettes and got hired, but the war started and my brother was called to service, so my Mother made me come home.”

The book also follows Gobby’s marriage to Bob Kuhn and the family they had together.

It tells tales of her life as a Girl Scout leader and the adventures she shared with her scouts.

And, she recounts the family’s life on the lake in Odessa, and the good times she had while sailing.

Throughout the book, her love of life is evident. In fact, she concludes many portions in her memoir with this simple, declarative sentence: “Life is good.”

During her book chat, Gobby’s eyes lit up as she recalled the happy times that she’s had.

But she also told those gathered that she’s had her dark times, and for a period of time she had wanted to die.

But that was before she met Raymond Paradis, who also lives at Horizon Bay, she says, and when she mentions his name, she becomes joyful again.

Those gathered to celebrate Gobby’s book release were delighted to be there.

“I think it’s pretty remarkable. My mother has always done remarkable things,” said her daughter, Lynda Rix, who lives in Lutz.

Her daughter, Kathi Traywick, of Ellijay, Georgia, helped Gobby organize her book. So did Melissa Horvath, now a graduate student, who was volunteering at Horizon Bay.

Susan Cuellar, of Carrollwood, helped her mom to get started on the book.

“A lot of times, as people age, we lose some of our hobbies,” Cuellar said. “I was looking for a new thing to kind of keep mom busy. Something for her to do. I had an old computer. She was having a hard time writing. I thought she could type.

“And, it turned into a book,” Cuellar said.

Published June 24, 2015

Stepping away, after a decade of progress

June 17, 2015 By B.C. Manion

When Katherine Johnson came to Pasco County a decade ago, the educational institution she was leading was known by a different name.

It had fewer campuses, fewer students and a smaller endowment fund, too.

When Johnson came on board, the college was known as Pasco-Hernando Community College and had three campuses.

Pasco-Hernando State College President Katherine Johnson poses with members of the Porter family during a school celebrating the new campus. From left are J.D. Porter, Bill Porter, Johnson, Don Porter and Quinn Miller. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College) — Pasco-Hernando State College President Katherine Johnson poses with members of the Porter family during a school celebrating the new campus. From left are J.D. Porter, Bill Porter, Johnson, Don Porter and Quinn Miller.
(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

In 2010, the college added its Spring Hill campus, and in 2014, it opened Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

The college also added baccalaureate degree programs in 2014 and changed its name to reflect its four-year degree programs.

During the past decade, the college increased its graduation by 43 percent — a statistic that is perhaps most meaningful to Johnson, who herself graduated from what was then called a junior college.

Johnson continued her education to complete a doctorate and become a college president, but it all began with the opportunity offered at the junior college.

She is passionate about the educational opportunities offered by institutions like Pasco-Hernando State College.

“My father couldn’t afford to send me to college. He was a railroad worker. My mother was a homemaker, and I didn’t have stellar grades. I wasn’t a poor student, but I wasn’t a stellar student, either,” she recalled.

“Sometimes, community colleges are viewed as the red-headed stepchild — that we take any and all (students) — but quite honestly, I think that’s a wonderful mantra.”

She believes that community colleges are sometimes the first option, sometimes the only option and sometimes the last option.

Some students choose to attend a community college because they are on scholarship. Others choose it because it’s their only feasible option. And, sometimes they choose it because they can’t get in any other postsecondary institution.

“We are an open-door institution,” Johnson said.

Besides being an option for students on a traditional path, schools like PHSC offer opportunities for people who are in the work force or who have lost their jobs and need to develop new workplace skills.

“We’ve had to adjust our programs of study, not just here at PHSC, but everywhere due to technology, the changing work force, certainly, the economics, particularly crawling out of this recession,” Johnson said.

Katherine Johnson, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, retires on June 30, after a decade of leading the school. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College) — Katherine Johnson, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, retires on June 30, after a decade of leading the school.
(Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

“People had to learn to be flexible. They had to come back and learn new skills. And, so I think that the nimbleness of our institutions has provided access to perhaps many students who never even thought about coming back to college,” Johnson said.

She uses these three As to describe PHSC’s mission: “It’s accountability, accessibility and affordability. Those three As truly make an equation for success,” Johnson said.

“Those are the three As that I’ve always tried to tie our mission to, so that we don’t lose our way,” she said.

The college is focused on providing educational opportunities.

“Students, students, students – are at the heart of what we do,” Johnson said.

While she has played a visible role in steering the college through change and growth, she is quick to point out that there are many people behind the scenes who have played a vital role in the college’s daily operations, and its long-term success.

As Johnson prepares to leave her post, she’s delighted that the administration building at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch will bear her name.

“I was shocked that that would be a recommendation by the board, and that it would be so warmly engaged and approved by the board. I’m obviously humbled and honored to have my name on one of the buildings at Porter,” she said.

She recalled meeting Don Porter on her first day as college president.

At that very first lunch, Porter told Johnson about his vision for higher educational opportunities for students living in the community. The family’s later contribution of 60 acres for the campus played an instrumental role in making that vision come true,

“Don Porter has to be smiling from up above because this was his vision. This was Tom’s vision, God rest his soul, as well, and certainly Bill and J.D.”

The campus could not have happened without the Porter family, Johnson said.

“We couldn’t have afforded to buy that land,” she said, and she thinks it is fitting that the campus bears the family’s name.

“To know that that gift, for perpetuity, will forever change lives of students is a pretty strong legacy that we’re delighted to have associated with the Porter family,” Johnson said.

Now, the campus serves not only students living in Pasco and Hernando counties, but also students from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

“We certainly have picked up tremendous enrollment from our sister counties,” Johnson said, noting that the campus is convenient and offers attractive programs.

As PHSC looks to the future, it will be under the direction of Tim Beard, who becomes the college’s fourth president, effective July 1.

Johnson plans to move to Gainesville to join her husband, who has already moved to their retirement home.

She plans to sit out a year because of the state retirement system requirements, but after that, she’s interested in working part-time training potential college administrators through the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Florida.

“I don’t see myself being idle,” Johnson said.

As she reflects upon her life as an educator, she said she’s grateful for both its challenges and opportunities.

She said she couldn’t have asked for a better career.

Retirement receptions for Katherine M. Johnson
Pasco-Hernando State College will host several upcoming farewell receptions for president Katherine Johnson:

Wednesday, June 17
9 a.m., West Campus in New Port Richey, 10230 Ridge Road

9 a.m., West Campus in New Port Richey, 10230 Ridge Road
12:30 p.m., North Campus in Brooksville, 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd.
4 p.m., Spring Hill Campus in Spring Hill, 450 Beverly Court

Thursday, June 18

9 a.m., East Campus in Dade City, 36727 Blanton Road
12:30 p.m., Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, 2727 Mansfield Blvd.
4 p.m., West Campus in New Port Richey, 10230 Ridge Road

A decade of progress
During Katherine M. Johnson’s 10-year tenure, Pasco-Hernando State College has:

° Increased its graduation rate by 43 percent

° Increased its foundation’s assets by 50 percent

Added the Spring Hill and Porter at Wiregrass Ranch campuses
Transitioned to a state college offering baccalaureate degrees.

Published June 17, 2015

Hundreds turn out to remember Laura Hauser

June 17, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel was packed for a service held to celebrate the life of Laura Hauser, who waged a six-year battle with cancer but succumbed to the disease on June 8.

There were probably 500 people at the service on the evening of June 13, according to Trish Trout, a long-time friend who described the event, via email.

Emma White enjoys swimming in a dunk tank during a fundraiser to benefit the Hauser family. Laura Hauser lost her six-year battle against cancer on June 8. (Courtesy of Penny Foote) — Emma White enjoys swimming in a dunk tank during a fundraiser to benefit the Hauser family. Laura Hauser lost her six-year battle against cancer on June 8.
(Courtesy of Penny Foote)

Most of the people at the memorial, deemed a celebration of life, wore blue, which is the color worn as a sign of support in the battle against colon cancer.

“There were tears, there was a lot of laughter. There was so much love and support in the church,” Trout added.

“And, of course, there was a PSA (public service announcement) to get tested for colon cancer. This is exactly what Laura would want,” added Trout, who accompanied Hauser on some of her appointments when she was initially diagnosed.

Penny Foote, another friend of Hauser, also attended the service.

She knew her friend was special but had no idea her sphere of influence had been so broad.

Speaker after speaker told story after story of the positive effect she’d had in their lives, Foote said.

“I don’t even know how one person can change so many lives for the better,” said Foote, who coordinated a fundraiser for the Hauser family on June 13 at Harvester United Methodist Church in Land O’ Lakes.

The benefit raised $3,285.65, and Foote is planning to organize another fundraiser in the future to provide additional help for the family.

Hauser is survived by her husband, Richard; her son, Noah, 14; and her daughter, Tatum, 12.

She was a warrior in her battle with cancer, friends said. She’d undergone more than 70 rounds of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries.

The disease began in her colon but had spread all over her body, including her liver, lungs, spine and brain, said Stephanie Hardy, a family friend for the past four years.

Hauser had been to Seattle for treatment but had returned to Wesley Chapel to attend Noah’s eighth-grade graduation and Tatum’s dance recitals.

She made it to the graduation, but wasn’t able to go to the recitals. She was able to watch one — that was livestreamed — from her bed, Richard Hauser said.

The family had thought that potential treatment in Seattle offered Hauser her best hope and she had planned to return there, but she died at home, under the care of hospice.

Her battle was personal, but she wasn’t alone.

Her fight inspired family, friends, colleagues and strangers to step forward to show their support.

The family also is being helped by a GoFundMe account, established by Pamela Maurer Fay on May 23, which attracted hundreds of donations and sentiments of support.

“You are strong and you are loved. Find strength in the amount of people who wish to help your beautiful family. You are in our prayers,” Rick and Susan Coder wrote, when making their donation.

Hauser worked at Wesley Chapel Elementary School before her illness caused her to leave the job.

While she was working there in 2012, she received the award for School-Related Personnel of the Year for Pasco County Schools. The distinction goes to a noninstructional employee who makes outstanding contributions.

At the time of the award, Hauser’s title was media and technology assistant, but both her colleagues and her boss said her influence was far broader.

She was the campus photographer. She handled lunch duty. She shelved books and checked them out. She had a photography club for kids, put together the school’s yearbook and helped teachers with technical issues.

Principal John Abernathy, described her this way: “Laura is hands-down the most reliable, the most efficient, the most dependable, the most sincere person that I can say that I’ve run across in a really long time.

“In terms of the lives that I would say that Laura has touched – I couldn’t even put a number to it,” he said.

After learning of Hauser’s death, Pasco County Schools tweeted out a message: “Rest in peace, Laura Hauser. A great educator, mom, wife and friend to many. You will be missed.”

Published June 17, 2015

Creating the music of angels

June 17, 2015 By B.C. Manion

San Antonio choir is invited to sing at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

It’s a Wednesday afternoon and members of the Saint Anthony Choristers pay rapt attention as Sandra Lau, their director, runs through a practice.

They sing portions of several hymns as they prepare for a special Mass, celebrating the sacrament of confirmation, at Saint Anthony of Padua Church in San Antonio.

Lau is exacting, but kind.

Members of the Saint Anthony Chorister pose at the front of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in San Antonio. They will present a public concert on June 28. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Members of the Saint Anthony Chorister pose at the front of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in San Antonio. They will present a public concert on June 28.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She coaxes the singers to think about the meaning of the text and to convey that through their dynamics.

“This basically is a song of rejoicing,” she reminds them during one hymn. “It doesn’t always have to be loud, but it needs to have that sense of energy. That excitement.

“Let’s try again,” she said.

During other songs, she urges them to articulate the words they’re singing and to be mindful of not only the notes, but of their timing and duration.

Although this rehearsal is to prepare for confirmation, the choral group also is preparing to present a public concert of sacred music planned for 3 p.m., at the church, on June 28.

The choir sings in other venues, too, such as Orlando and Washington D.C.

In December, some of them will make a pilgrimage to Vatican City.

They’ll join choirs from all over the world to offer their voices in song at the New Year’s Day Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Mass will conclude the 40th International Congress of Pueri Cantores.

Pueri Cantores, which means “little singers” in Latin, founded in France in 1907.

The organization is dedicated to the conviction that singing can be an instrument in worshipping God.

Saint Anthony Choristers is part of the largest delegation of American singers ever to participate in a Pueri Cantores Congress, with almost 2,000 pilgrims expected to travel from the United States to Rome.

Other activities during the week include the “Mass of the Nations,” where the American choirs will celebrate a Mass in English in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, various “Concerts of Hope” at major churches in Rome, featuring an international mix of children’s choirs from among Pueri Cantores’ 37 federations around the world, and a private audience with the Holy Father, at which the “little singers” will sing Christmas carols from their home countries.

While the upcoming trip to Rome is exciting, many choir members said they enjoy the weekly rehearsals, as well as singing at the 10:30 a.m. Mass the first Sunday of the month during the school year and for special occasions such as confirmation, first Communion, Christmas Eve and Easter.

Lau has been the organist and choir director at St. Anthony of Padua since 1987, and has had children’s choirs almost the entire time.

The Saint Anthony Choristers became affiliated with Pueri Cantores in 2007, expanding the choir’s opportunities to participate in regional festivals and international choral gatherings.

Many of the singers in the choir have belonged for several years.

“I really like the experience,” said 13-year-old Holly Phelps. “We have a great director, and it helps train your voice, and you get to sing for lots of events.”

Sixteen-year-old Rose Phelps has been with the choir for nine years. “I love singing for church,” she said.

Eighteen-year-old Shanon Teicher said the experience has helped her become more outgoing.

“I joined the choir being super shy,” she said. It was her way of getting more involved with the church, but she said, “It’s so much more than that.”

Emily Balling, 15, has been in the group for more than five years.

“I really love it,” Balling said.

She’s enjoyed singing at music festivals and is excited about the upcoming trip to Rome.

“It just sounds so amazing when you have all of those voices together,” she said.

Tierra Carson, 16, who is thinking about majoring in organ or piano, said the choral singing is all about working together to create a unified effect.

Fifteen-year-old Alexis Rosario said she’s had a passion for music for as long as she can remember.

She’s been playing piano since age 6, and also plays harp and violin.

“I’ve had a great passion for music ever since I was born.

She loves being in the choir because of “all of these harmonies and praising God at the same time.”

She’s excited about the pilgrimage.

“To be able to go to Rome, that’s huge,” Rosario said.

This is the second time the church has sent members of its youth choir to Rome; the other time was five years ago, Lau said.

And, two years ago, members of the group took part in the International Congress in Washington D.C.

Lau, who herself fell in love with music when she was attending Saint Anthony Catholic School, is confident that the upcoming experience will leave a lasting impression.

“It is life-changing. It is fantastic,” Lau said.

There will be thousands of children singing together.

“They may be sitting next to somebody from France on this side, Portugal on this side, Germany — it’s just an amazing experience for them.”

Lau hopes the experience will be transformative, too.

“What we’re hoping is that this will help them to fall more deeply in love with the Catholic Church and realize they are a small part of something huge and beautiful,” Lau said.

What: Saint Anthony Choristers will present a public concert of sacred music
When: 3 p.m., June 28
Admission: Free, donations accepted
Where: Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 12144 Joe Hermann Drive, San Antonio

Pilgrimage to Vatican City
Who: Saint Anthony Choristers
When: Dec. 26 through Jan. 2
How much: Each pilgrim must raise $3,000 to $4,000 required for flights, lodging, meals, and activities in Italy. If you would like to help, call the church office at (352) 588-3081.

Published June 17, 2015

Laura Hauser inspired others during her cancer battle

June 10, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Editor’s note: This story reflects news we received on Monday about Laura Hauser’s death. An earlier version of the story was published in our Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills print editions circulated to readers on June 9 and June 10.

Laura Hauser waged a valiant war against cancer for six years, but lost the battle in the early morning hours of June 8.

Laura and Tatum Hauser at Contempo School of Dance. The dance moms there have made dinners for the Hauser families and had fundraisers to help support the family. (Courtesy of Stephanie Hardy) — Laura and Tatum Hauser at Contempo School of Dance. The dance moms there have made dinners for the Hauser families and had fundraisers to help support the family.
(Courtesy of Stephanie Hardy)

The disease started in her colon but had spread all over her body, including her liver, lungs, spine and brain, said Stephanie Hardy, a family friend for the past four years.

Laura had undergone more than 70 rounds of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, Hardy said.

Laura is survived by her husband, Richard; her son, Noah, 14; and her daughter, Tatum, 12.

Laura had been to Seattle for treatment but had returned to Wesley Chapel to attend Noah’s eighth-grade graduation and Tatum’s dance recitals.

She made it to the graduation, but wasn’t able to go to the recitals. She was able to watch one — that was livestreamed — from her bed.

The family had thought that potential treatment in Seattle offered Laura her best hope and she had planned to return there, but she died at home, under the care of hospice.

Laura’s battle was personal, but she wasn’t alone.

Her fight inspired family, friends, colleagues and strangers to step forward to show their support.

This coming weekend, an event is taking place at Harvester United Methodist Church in Land O’ Lakes to help the Hauser family with expenses.

That fundraiser will go on as planned, Hardy said.

The family also will be helped by a GoFundMe account, established by Pamela Maurer Fay on May 23, which attracted hundreds of donations and sentiments of support.

“You are strong and you are loved. Find strength in the amount of people who wish to help your beautiful family. You are in our prayers,” Rick and Susan Coder wrote, when making their donation.

After learning of Laura’s death, Pasco County Schools tweeted out a message: “Rest in peace, Laura Hauser. A great educator, mom, wife and friend to many. You will be missed.”

Laura worked at Wesley Chapel Elementary School before her illness caused her to leave the job.

At the time of the award, Laura’s title was media and technology assistant, but both her colleagues and her boss said her influence was far broader.

“In terms of the lives that I would say that Laura has touched – I couldn’t even put a number to it. She’s a very passionate person herself, and I think she brings that passion to everything she does. It’s who she is.”

Even more impressive was Laura’s unbridled enthusiasm, despite chemotherapy treatments for her cancer, colleagues said.

Laura has been unable to work for some time, but Richard works three part-time jobs, in addition to being a firefighter and paramedic for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

Colleagues and friends from the elementary school have continued to show their support for the family. Recently, Iris Barcelona and Christopher Gorman coordinated WCES Makes a Splash Water Day for Mrs. Hauser.

Rudy Dorough and Kristi Traver Dorough donated the water slide for the event.

Donations were accepted that day to benefit the Hausers.

Friends from the Contempo School of Dance in Lutz also have been in the family’s corner.

They raised money by selling refreshments and T-shirts, said Hardy, whose daughter has danced with Tatum Hauser at the studio.

The dance moms also got together and made dinner for the family for three months, Richard said.

“Strangers would come up and say, ‘Oh, here’s a lasagna.’ I heard about your wife.”

The support has been both tangible and intangible.

“One day, everybody she knew wore blue. Hundreds of people,” Richard said.

The cancer has caused enormous pain and sorrow for Laura and her family, but they also have experienced the incredible kindness of others, Richard said.

Laura’s cancer did not define her, her husband said. It galvanized her determination and demonstrated her strength.

“You don’t really appreciate life, until you face down the barrel of death,” he said.

Services for Laura, who was 40 when she died, are pending.

Benefit for the Hauser family
Where: Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes
When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 13
What: Garage sales, vendors, concessions, 50/50 raffle, raffle items from vendors, bounce house, slide, dunk tank, snow cones and popcorn.
Vendor spaces are 10-by-10 and cost $25, payable to Penny Foote. Each paid vendor is also requested to bring an item for the raffle valued at $20 or higher.
All raffles will be done at the end of the event, and winners do not have to be present to win.
All of the proceeds will go to help the Hauser family. Laura Hauser lost her six-year battle to cancer on Monday, but the benefit will go on.
For more information, call Penny Foote, event coordinator at (813) 996-6959 or (813) 309-9993.

Published June 10, 2015

Buzzing bees, bromeliads and beauty

June 10, 2015 By B.C. Manion

It’s summertime, so that means the kids are out of school and out-of-town guests are flocking to Florida to take advantage of the state’s world-famous theme parks and its gorgeous beaches.

But here’s a place, just off the beaten track, that’s truly one of Tampa Bay’s gems.

Ingredients derived from the purple coneflower have been widely used in folk remedies for generations and are still used for medicinal purposes today. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Ingredients derived from the purple coneflower have been widely used in folk remedies for generations and are still used for medicinal purposes today.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The Florida Botanical Gardens offers visitors a chance to experience beauty, learn about nature, get some exercise and find a nice shady spot for a picnic lunch.

The attraction, at 12520 Ulmerton Road in Largo, has another huge plus: It’s free.

You don’t have to go to Disney World or Busch Gardens to see topiary. You can visit the Wedding Garden at the Florida Botanical Gardens to see a Cupid topiary take aim at a leafy green heart.

If palm trees are your thing, you’ll enjoy the collection here, including a date palm, a ribbon palm, a European fan palm, a Zombie palm, a Sugar palm, a cardboard palm, a triangle palm — well, you get the idea.

In other spots, guests can get closeup looks at spiky “crown of thorns” plants, gorgeous water lily blooms, exotic bird of paradise plants and clusters of bananas.

There are trails especially designed for children.

There are areas likely to interest gardeners.

There’s wildlife, too, including wading birds and turtles.

There’s also something else that visitors need to know about. There are alligators.

They typically lurk below the water — but sometimes they surface to make an appearance.

The key is to be aware of them, stay away from them and take seriously the warning signs that are posted around the property.

While the Florida Botanical Gardens is a great place to visit, it’s a good idea to go early in the day before Florida’s brutal heat and humidity take hold.

Slather on plenty of sunscreen. Spray on insect repellent. Drink plenty of water.

Bring a camera.

And, enjoy.

Florida Botanical Gardens: It’s a place to experience beauty, learn about nature, reflect and relax.
Where: 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, Florida 33774
How much: Admission is free
Check website for hours of operation: PinellasCounty.org.

Published June 10, 2015

Goodbye, Mrs. Fernandez

June 10, 2015 By B.C. Manion

In her 38 years as an educator, Mary Fernandez relied on this simple guiding principle: Is it what’s best for children?

In sorting through the myriad issues and competing interests that a principal faces in the day-to-day work of running a school, that principle provided clarity when making decisions, Fernandez said.

Fernandez joined Lutz Elementary School’s staff in 1993, as an assistant principal.

Mary Fernandez, principal at Lutz Elementary for the past 11 years, retired this week. She was an educator for 38 years. While she’s stepping away from her full-time duties, she suspects that after giving herself some time to relax, she’ll be involved in education again, but not on a full-time basis. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Mary Fernandez, principal at Lutz Elementary for the past 11 years, retired this week. She was an educator for 38 years. While she’s stepping away from her full-time duties, she suspects that after giving herself some time to relax, she’ll be involved in education again, but not on a full-time basis.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She took over the school’s top post 11 years ago, becoming only just the third principal to lead the school during the past 40 years.

Fernandez took the reins from Gloria Kolka, who succeeded Eulah McWilliams.

The decision to become an educator came early for Fernandez.

She vividly recalls sitting in her fourth-grade classroom at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in South Tampa, looking at her teacher Rebecca Thomas, and thinking: “I want to be her.”

She never wavered from that desire.

Fernandez attended the University of South Florida, graduating in three years, and began her teaching career at St. Lawrence Catholic School, when she was 21.

“I worked there for seven years. It is absolutely amazing the number of children, that are now adults, that I run into,” she said.

Indeed, one of those former students, Dr. Joe Lezama, of the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital, surprised her at her retirement party.

“It was really quite touching.

“He talked about when he was 9 and he came to my class, and he had just moved to the city. He was lost,” she said. But he settled in, and life moved on.

Last year, he came with his children to the school, and when he walked in the door, he asked: “Are you Mrs. Fernandez?’”

She responded: “You’re my Joey.”

“It’s full circle,” Fernandez said.

After teaching at St. Lawrence, she went on to teach at Citrus Park Elementary, under the direction of Principal Virginia Urbanek, who is now deceased.

“What a great, great mentor she was,” Fernandez said.

When Fernandez told Urbanek she was interested in becoming an administrator, she said Urbanek told her: “Just come every Monday morning and sit with me.”

Urbanek was an early riser.

“From 6:30 to 7:30, whatever she was working on, she let me watch,” Fernandez said.

As the day progressed, Urbanek would pop in to tell Fernandez how she followed through on various issues.

When Urbanek opened Essrig Elementary as its first principal, Fernandez joined the school’s inaugural staff.

She took on her first administrative role at Lutz Elementary.

She was attracted to the school because of the community’s hometown feel.

“Lutz is well known for that,” Fernandez said.

“I didn’t want just a job,” she explained. “I wanted to be part of a family and part of a community, and I never left,” she said.

Despite her many years as an administrator, Fernandez said she has never forgotten what brought her into education in the first place.

“I loved being in the classroom, and I loved the children, and to be honest with you, I miss it every single day.

“But I found that by being an administrator, you could really be involved in so many other children’s lives,” she said.

At Lutz Elementary, she said, “We treat children like our own. If this were your child, how would you want them to be treated?”

It means being caring, but she added, “It also means tough love.”

“We just need to love children and take care of them, and I wanted to share that value with other people,” Fernandez said.

During her years as an educator, she’s seen a greater degree of attention being paid to schools at every level — federal, state, local and community.

She agrees that accountability is important, but she also thinks many communities need to do more to help schools succeed.

“The best schools are in communities that support them. That doesn’t mean wealthy, it means communities that support them.

“Lutz is a unique community. Honestly, my wish would be that a lot of schools could feel the connection to their community like we do,” Fernandez said.

And, while technology and curriculum changes, there are some aspects of education that are timeless, she said.

“You have to work with every child, individually. If you don’t understand them personally, it doesn’t matter what program you give them. You’ve got to reach them individually. You have to reach their heart,” she said.

“You have to know their family. You have to know where they’ve come from. Their values. What they’re afraid of. What their goals are,” she added.

“You have to let them know that you care about them.

“And that,” Fernandez said, “has not changed.”

Published June 10, 2015

Going the extra mile to express gratitude

June 3, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Pat Gavros set off on a journey last month, in a personal show of gratitude to the nation’s veterans and first responders.

It was a 21-day trip that took her through 19 states, with stops at veterans’ homes, police and fire stations, and memorials.

Along the way, Gavros handed out plaques and cards, thanking the men and women she met for their service.

Pat Gavros, who lives in Dade City, spent 21 days on the road delivering a message of gratitude to the nation’s veterans and first responders during her Gratitude Journey in May. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Pat Gavros, who lives in Dade City, spent 21 days on the road delivering a message of gratitude to the nation’s veterans and first responders during her Gratitude Journey in May.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She made the trip alone. She ate inexpensive meals and carried apples, bananas, yogurt and water in the car.

She had scheduled many of the visits she made during her travels, but there were spontaneous stops, as well.

Gavros is a 67-year-old woman who lives in Dade City.

She said she made the trip because when it comes to patriotism, she considers the word to be more of a verb than a noun.

“Talk is cheap,” Gavros said, adding, in matters of gratitude, actions are what count.

“I just am passionate about honoring our veterans. I thought, why don’t I drive to different states and visit different veterans’ homes and bring some kind of a little token of my gratitude.

“Then, when I started thinking about it, I thought, ‘You know what? Our first responders – those people in uniform — they’re part of our patriotic fabric. The people that keep us safe. They allow us to live the lifestyle without ever giving it a thought. You never think, ‘Oh, if my house burns, who can I call?’ ” she said.

Gavros began planning the trip in January, choosing a path that included important memorials and was compact enough she could make it happen.

And, she began seeking supporters.

“My biggest supporter, who gave me a beautiful 2015 RAV 4 to drive, was Wesley Chapel Toyota. They saw the vision, and they supplied a nice, safe car for me,” said Gavros, who recently reluctantly returned the vehicle to the dealership.

“I had a couple of hotels that gave me a few nights’ lodging,” she added.

But the financial support she’d been hoping to attract failed to materialize.

That didn’t dissuade Gavros.

She began her journey with a stop in Dade City, then headed east and north. She visited 42 cities, including stops in Washington D.C., Oklahoma City and even Ferguson, Missouri.

She visited famous memorials, as well as police and fire stations in lesser-known places.

She doled out words of appreciation and mementoes of gratitude wherever she went.

Sometimes, a local police station would make a big deal of her visit, she said.

Other encounters were smaller and more personal.

She handed out 40 plaques, including one to a patrol officer sitting in his cruiser and another to a highway patrol officer standing on the side of a road.

Gavros received badges and commemorative coins from first responders, documenting her many stops.

The effort was more physically demanding than she had expected.

She had to rise by 5 a.m., each day, to stick to her itinerary.

“I wasn’t out on a vacation. I was on a mission,” the Dade City woman said.

Besides being exhausted at times, she got lonely, too.

Those spells happened mostly during long treks between cities.

“There were some days when I was really down. You’re wondering: ‘Does it matter?’ ” Gavros said.

But then, she had experiences that erased any doubts.

One of those moments came at a veterans’ home.

As she was handing out gratitude cards, she said to a veteran: “I have a little thank you for you, but I didn’t want to buy a stamp.

“The guy said, ‘That’s OK.”

“And I said, ‘So, instead, I got in my car and I drove 2,700 miles.

“The guy looked at me. It just took a minute to gel, and he said, ‘Really?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’

“It was like slow motion. The smile came, and he said, ‘Well, isn’t that something.’ ”

Then she told the vet: “This thank you isn’t just from me. It’s from millions of Americans. I’m the emissary. I’m the one who gets the honor of coming here and bringing the message.”

Another time, she encountered a group of uniformed soldiers on a metro train in Washington D.C.

She wasn’t sure what kind of reception she would get, but she approached one and said: “Sir, today I’m going to make your day.”

Then, she handed him a card, with a heart stuck inside.

She told him: “I’m on a 5,000-mile gratitude journey, I just want to tell you thank you.”

Then, she gave out cards and hearts to the other soldiers.

“This one guy said to me, ‘Thank you for doing that.’

“I got off the train and I just wanted to go, ‘Yes!’ ”

“It was such a high. It was like, ‘Wow, this is what I came for.’ ”

During her trip, she also encountered an element of danger.

Torrential rainfall near Saint Louis forced her to change her itinerary, and the threat of tornados caused her to cut her trip short.

Gavros understands some people may wonder what would compel her to make her Gratitude Journey.

“I believe in the power of one. Every single person has the God-given gift to make a difference. I am a perfect example of that. I have no money, no resources, and yet I am able to do what I do.”

She believes it is her duty to do what she can.

“What is your obligation? What is it that you want to do that makes America better?

“Our country is in perilous times. We are in such a state of apathy. It’s unbelievable how narcissistic and self-absorbed we are.

“Whatever your gift is — it doesn’t matter what your gift is — do something.”

If you would like to know more about Pat Gavros or her Gratitude Journey, visit PatGavros.com.

Published June 3, 2015