B.C. Manion

Election 2014: What voters are saying

November 4, 2014 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County elections supervisor Brian Corley is considering the mid-term election a success, as more than 150,000 voters made their way to the polls locally, and exceeded the dismal 47 percent turnout the county had in 2010.

As election workers get ready to tabulate votes, people are still going to the polls — they are open until 7 p.m. Here are some of the things those voters are saying as they cast their ballots.

Tommy Seal, 40, of Zephyrhills, accompanied his 18-year-old son, Isaiah Seal, to Alice Hall Community Center in Zephyrhills to cast their ballots. For Isaiah, this was his first time at the ballot box.

Both said they were supporting Rick Scott for governor.

“He’s done some good things for the state,” the older Seal said. “He’s helped improve the economy.”

However, the two were in disagreement on Amendment 2, the constitutional amendment that would legalize medicinal marijuana — but not in the way one might think.

Tommy Seal voted for it. His son didn’t.

“Honestly, if you’re in pain, every opportunity to help you, I think should be available to help you,” the older Seal said.

“There’s already problems with drug dealing in Florida,” his son said. “I thought it wouldn’t be wise to support it.”

David Sanchez, 59, of Wesley Chapel, took his parents to Alice Hall so they could vote. He’d already voted earlier himself.

Unlike the Seals, Sanchez cast his vote for Charlie Crist, and threw his support behind Amendment 2.

“I’m a lifelong Democrat,” Sanchez said. “The Republicans never did anything for me.”

His reasons for supporting medical marijuana were personal.

“I have two sisters that died from cancer,” he said. “They both suffered. They both looked like concentration camp survivors.”

Lauren Butts, 28, of Zephyrhills, went to the polling place to show her support for Danny Burgess, who is running for the state House District 38 seat.

“I’ve known him my whole life,” she said. “I wouldn’t trust any candidate more than I trust him.”

Dani Stoughtenger, 19, of Zephyrhills, wanted to be sure to make her voice heard.

“I’m liberal,” she said. “I voted for Charlie Crist. I voted yes on Amendment 2. I voted for Danny Burgess.”

Burgess, however, identifies as a conservative Republican.

“He is in the community,” Stoughtenger added. “He’s always been a part of the community. They’re a great family here in the Zephyrhills area. My family is actually friends with the Burgess family.”

J.J. Battle, 43, of Wesley Chapel, said he came out to support Crist.

“I haven’t been pleased with Rick Scott,” he said.

Scott’s refusal to accept federal funds for projects like high-speed rail and other services, led to job cuts and reduced services, he said.

“I’ve got clients that need help, and I can’t give it to them,” Battle said.

He also voted against medical marijuana.

“I don’t see a need for it,” he said. “I think it would be overused, and used in the wrong way.”

Danielle Westbrook, 30, was at the Wesley Chapel polling place with her 1-year-old son, Amos Rivera.

The two issues that stood out for her were the governor’s race and Amendment 2. She supported Adrian Wyllie, the Libertarian candidate for governor.

“It’s important for people to know that you can vote for a party besides Democratic or Republican,” she said.

Westbrook did support medical marijuana, saying she thinks people who are ill should have that option.

Bamboo canes soar above 70 feet at Dade City sanctuary

October 30, 2014 By B.C. Manion

“I’m not so much a nurseryman. I’m more of a collector of bamboo,” said Leonard Daszkiewicz, who has a bamboo farm and garden off U.S. 98 in Dade City.

“When the latest ones come out of quarantine in China, I usually add one or two to my collection,” he said, leading a tour group from the Land O’ Lakes Garden Club around his property.

These towering canes of Bambusa chungii, also known as tropical blue bamboo, shoot skyward at Greenbelt Nursery & Bamboo Gardens on U.S. 98 east of Dade City. Members of the Land O' Lakes Garden Club recently toured the farm to check out Leonard Daszkiewicz’s 10-acre garden sanctuary that includes his impressive collection of bamboo plants. (Fred Bellet/Photo) — These towering canes of Bambusa chungii, also known as tropical blue bamboo, shoot skyward at Greenbelt Nursery & Bamboo Gardens on U.S. 98 east of Dade City. Members of the Land O’ Lakes Garden Club recently toured the farm to check out Leonard Daszkiewicz’s 10-acre garden sanctuary that includes his impressive collection of bamboo plants. (Fred Bellet/Photo)

Daszkiewicz’s collection boasts more than four-dozen stands of bamboo, with some canes soaring more than 70 feet. As he led the group around his property, Daszkiewicz told the garden club members about the various kinds of bamboo in his collection.

The avid gardener also told the group about the multitude of plants and trees on his 10-acre plot.

The pride and joy of his collection is a tropical blue bamboo that he bought for $90 in 2003. At the time, it was in a pot and it was 2 feet tall.

Now, it towers skyward.

Bamboo is a resilient plant, Daszkiewicz informed the group. In 2004, he thought he’d lose his bamboo because of the three back-to-back hurricanes that hit the state.

“The river was in flood stage for six weeks,” Daszkiewicz said. “I thought I was going to lose my bamboo. I didn’t lose a one. (But) it killed every laurel oak tree.”

The bamboo didn’t die, because it’s technically not a tree, but a giant grass.

“It can take flooding,” he said.

In another spot in the garden, Daszkiewicz has a stand of running bamboo. This bamboo lives up to its name, he said, unless steps are taken to keep it from running too far.

He has enclosed his stand in a barrier that runs more than 2 feet into the ground. Even so, he keeps an eye on it just to be sure it doesn’t escape its confinement.

“You can’t ignore it,” Daszkiewicz said. “It’s invasive.”

Besides being beautiful, bamboo canes also are musical. When the wind is blowing around 15 to 20 miles an hour, he said, “The canes bonk together and make musical sounds.”

Daszkiewicz’s wife Noreen is impressed by her husband’s handiwork.

“It’s fantastic,” she said. “It’s a sanctuary.”

Daszkiewicz’s extensive garden sits on a plot that is part of the acreage his grandparents homesteaded during the 1930s, after moving here from Chicago.

As the garden club members made their way around the property, Daszkiewicz — a Pasco County master gardener — pointed out his extensive collection of trees and plants. Some yield beauty for the soul. Others, food for the body.

He grows okra, kale, onion, beets and sweet potato, among other things. He also grows giant stalks of sugar cane.

“In December, I’ll cut it down,” Daszkiewicz said. Then he’ll take it to a processor, who will turn it into syrup.

“Last year, I got about three gallons of syrup,” he added

Daszkiewicz uses the syrup on everything from pancakes to rice. He also grows camellias, which add color during the cooler months.

Marie Woody, president of the Land O’ Lakes Garden Club, said the club goes on field trips to see beautiful gardens, and to learn new gardening techniques. The group has 15 members, coming primarily from Land O’ Lakes, but also from Zephyrhills, Tampa and other areas, too.

It is open to men and women, she said, and welcomes new members.

The club meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, from September through April. It ends the year with a celebration dinner in May.

Annual dues are $10.

For more information about the Land O’ Lakes Garden Club, call (813) 961-2697.

Published October 29, 2014

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Stadium projects reveal sense of connection to Pasco High

October 23, 2014 By B.C. Manion

It’s a familiar scene in movies and in television shows about high school football teams in small towns.

The stands are filled with the locals.

Pasco High School principal Kari Kadlub, center, joins, from left, Mark Fox, Bobby Correia, Tom Lameau and Wilton Simpson, inside the window of the new concession stand at Pasco High School’s football stadium. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

A lot of the spectators there don’t have a player on the team from their family — but it’s their team anyway because they attended the high school or live in the community.

“You know the movies, when you see Texas football? It’s like that,” said Pasco High School principal Kari Kadlub. “The community support is amazing.”

The stadium is the place to be when Pasco High has a football game, Pasco County Schools planning director Chris Williams said.

“I didn’t realize it until I moved to Dade City, but the Friday night game, everybody goes there,” he said. “It’s a community event. It’s not one of these things where only the parents go.”

“It’s a culture,” agreed state Sen. Wilton Simpson, who graduated from Pasco High in 1984. His mother also is a graduate of the school, as are his wife and daughter. His son will graduate from there next year.

“All of the Simpsons have come through here,” he said.

Some spectators have been regulars at the games for decades, Kadlub said. One group of sisters has been Pasco High fans for about a half-century.

“They literally sit on the track with their lawn chairs,” she said.

Part of the attraction is the team itself, said Simpson, who recently spearheaded a community effort to help build a concession stand and add new restrooms at the stadium.

“We’ve got good coaching and a good program,” he said.

Many Pasco High graduates still feel a deep connection with the school, said John Petrashek, director of construction services for Pasco County Schools.

“It’s a real identification and association,” he said. “That’s where they went to school. That’s where they graduated. That’s their school.”

“There’s a lot of pride here,” Simpson agreed. “If you come out here (to the concession stand) and look at the boosters cooking, most of them graduated from this school. Some of them (graduated) in the ’70s, and some in the ’80s.”

The community and Pasco County Schools came together to make the improvements happen. The concession stand — built to last for at least 30 years — replaces a shed. The stand’s professional restaurant-style equipment replaces a portable grill.

“I helped raise the funds for the project and was general contractor,” said Simpson, who also is head of Simpson Environmental Services, which specializes in asbestos removal, mold remediation, duct cleaning, lead-paint abatement, general contracting and demolition work.

On top of that, he owns and operates Simpson Farms, an egg-laying facility based in Trilby that is home to more than 1 million chickens — supplying eggs to supermarkets throughout Florida.

Tom Lameau, an electrician for Pasco County Schools, did the electrical work on the project. Bobby Correia, also on the district’s staff, did the plumbing. A number of other district employees handled other chores during construction.

The new concession stand and new bathrooms were desperately needed, Simpson said. Construction began a couple of days after the last school year ended, and work was completed a couple of days before the school’s first football game.

One portion of the project remains to be done. It involves renovating the restrooms underneath the stadium, Simpson said. That work will start after football season ends.

“If you go back to the ’80s, the restrooms under the stadium are the same ones as when I was here,” he said.

Besides benefiting the football crowd, the concession stand provides an avenue to generate revenue for booster programs and local civic groups, Simpson said.

“The Kiwanis Club and Rotary Club may use this facility for fundraisers during the year,” he noted.

The project cost about $275,000, with the school district covering about $75,000, and community contributors chipping in the rest.

Simpson was humble about his contributions to the effort.

“There were a lot of very generous people,” he said. “We were just the backstop.”

The school celebrated the new facilities at a dedication ceremony at the Oct. 10 game.

Kadlub marvels at the transformation.

“You see, over there, that shed?” the principal said, pointing at a small shed across the field. “We called it Ted’s Shed.”

There’s no comparison between the old facilities and what’s there now.

Not only is the concession stand larger and better looking, Kadlub said, the equipment is safer and allows food to be cooked more quickly.

“At halftime, there used to be a really, really long line,” she said. Now, patrons can get their food faster.

There’s a lot to be said for creature comforts.

“I was on the fair board for a long time,” Simpson said. “As we upgraded our facilities — cooking facilities and restroom facilities — it was easier to keep a crowd longer.”

Published October 22, 2014

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Ornaments reveal history, raise money

October 23, 2014 By B.C. Manion

When the Dade City Garden Club began selling an annual holiday ornament to raise money for the club, the decoration was simple: a two-dimensional square.

That didn’t matter.

The ornament’s theme — the Historic Pasco County Courthouse — touched a chord among area residents and quickly sold out, recalled Pat Carver, who was involved in getting the ornament sales off the ground.

The Dade City Garden Club sells a holiday ornament each year to honor a local place or organization. Proceeds help pay to maintain the garden club’s facilities and support its community projects. (Courtesy of Dade City Garden Club)

When people bought the ornament, they would say things like, “This was the room where I got married,” or, “this was where my mother was a secretary,” Carver recalled.

The garden club didn’t originate the fundraising idea, but it recognized its potential, Carver said. Jackie Preedom, a fellow garden club member, heard about it when she attended a convention. Since then, the ornaments have been popular with the community.

“There are people who anxiously look forward to what the next ornament is going to be,” Carver said.

That’s because Dade City is a place where people still feel a connection with each other, and with the town’s landmarks and institutions.

“We love our community,” Carver said.

Apparently, the idea of selling an annual ornament to raise money for the club has had staying power – the tradition has been going on for two decades now.

Proceeds help pay expenses to maintain the garden club’s building, grounds and botanical garden to support club projects, according to club member Sally Redden. Those projects include floral, horticultural and environmental programs, flower shows, garden tours, and civic beautification projects.

The entire garden club votes on what the ornament should feature. Each is accompanied by a card stamped with a picture of the ornament on the front and contains a brief historic account on the back.

This year the garden chose to pay homage to the Pasco County Fair. Like the garden club, the fair has deep roots in the county. Both got their start in 1947.

Fairs in Dade City date back to 1915, but there hadn’t been any for a long time. The Pasco County Fair evolved from the Pasco’s participation in the Florida State Fair, according to the ornament’s fact sheet, and was designed to showcase county resources.

Rancher D. E. Cannon led the efforts, with the help of Jimmy Higgins, George Nikolai, Bob Williams and Joe Collura. They found a 40-acre tract along State Road 52 and raised $3,500 to purchase the site.

The Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of Commerce were instrumental in helping raise the money from local businesses and the community.

The first documented Pasco County Fair began on Jan. 20, 1948.

Ornaments are available for purchase through garden club members and at the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, 14112 Eighth St., in Dade City.

The ornaments are $22 each, and checks should be made payable to the Dade City Garden Club.

Here are some of the ornaments the Dade City Garden Club has sold over the years:
1994: Pasco County Courthouse
1995: Dade City Grammar School (Cox Elementary)
1996: Dade City Garden Center
1997: First Presbyterian Church of Dade City
1998: Historic Pasco County Courthouse
1999: Dade City Woman’s Club
2000: Pioneer Florida Museum
2001: Edwinola
2002: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
2003: St. Leo Abbey Church
2004: First United Methodist Church of Dade City
2005: National Guard Armory
2006: Atlantic Coastline Railroad Depot
2007: First Baptist Church of Dade City
2008: Williams/Lunch on Limoges
2009: Pasco High School
2010: Lacoochee School House at the Pioneer Museum
2011: Pasco Packing Plant
2012: Pasco County World War II Memorial
2013: 1913 Pasco High School
2014: Pasco County Fair

Published October 22, 2014

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Dreamhouse Theatre seeks to entertain, inspire

October 23, 2014 By B.C. Manion

The stage is empty.

But then, they start arriving: The woman who does information technology finance during the day, the guys who do pest control and lawn work.

Then, there’s the nanny, the grocery clerks, the college students and the teachers.

Grace Spenceley, left, Sylvia Roper, Jose Sotero (sitting), Janelle Ankrom and Phyllis Frey (on a platform) run through a number as they prepare to perform in Dreamhouse Theatre’s first full-fledged play, ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’ (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

When they hit their marks, they shed those roles of daily life and become Seymour, Audrey, Orin Scrivello D.D.S., and other characters in “Little Shop of Horrors.”

As they immerse themselves, the actors hope they can transport the audience right along with them into the world they’ve created. At least that’s what cast members said during breaks at a recent rehearsal at Bridgeway Church on Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

They’ve been rehearsing for weeks.

They’ll present the comedy rock horror musical at 8 p.m., on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road.

The musical represents the first full-fledged production of Dreamhouse Theatre, a theater company based in Wesley Chapel that got its start about a year ago. The company’s first production was a musical review, but this one is much more ambitious.

Bryan D’Onofrio, the company’s artistic director, has a lot riding on it. As does his wife, Darci, the play’s executive director.

“Something we’ve always wanted to do was to have our own theater,” Bryan D’Onofrio said. “That’s been a dream of ours.”

The couple has talked about it for about two decades.

“Our pastor gave us a book called ‘The Dream Giver,’” he said. “It was about following your dreams and doing what you’re meant to do, what you’re born to do.”

So, the D’Onofrios decided: “Let’s give this a shot.”

They joined forces with Chris and Melissa VanSchaik, also of Wesley Chapel, to bring the vision of Dreamhouse Theatre to life.

They don’t have a permanent home yet, but they have lofty goals. They want to open a storefront initially and eventually build their own arts center, where they can put on about a half-dozen productions a year, and offer arts classes and summer drama camps. They’ve even talked over the possibility of a couple locations with J.D. Porter near Wiregrass Ranch, Melissa VanSchaik said.

“We just think there’s such a need for it in this area,” she said. “There’s no entertainment quite like live theater. There’s nothing like this in our area that’s consistently family friendly — passes that love for the arts onto the kids.”

Ticket prices at places like the Straz Center in Tampa are astronomical, she said.

“It’s very hard to take a family of five to a show where tickets are $100 apiece.” VanSchaik added.

The goal is to provide quality entertainment at an affordable price, said Chris VanSchaik, who got involved when Bryan D’Onofrio was drama pastor at Victorious Life Church. The VanSchaiks helped in the dramatic productions there, with Chris building sets and Melissa doing makeup.

“It was really a great avenue as a makeup artist to get to explore the world of special effects,” said Melissa, a makeup artist, a stylist and a part owner of Eclipse Salon and Spa in Lutz. “Having that creative outlet really fulfilled something within me that would have been dead otherwise.”

Besides being co-owners of Dreamhouse Theatre, the VanSchaiks are helping with makeup and stage construction, too.

Many of the actors have known the D’Onofrios for years. For some, acting has been part of their lives for years.

That’s true for Timothy Mendoza, 20, who is playing the role of Seymour Krelborn. Mendoza is so serious about acting he aspires to make it his life’s work.

Gabrielle Dion, 18, has been cast in the role of Audrey. She has never played a lead role, and said she’s excited and feels ready.

While some are seasoned performers, Phyllis Frey, 48, is making her theatrical debut. The Wesley Chapel resident is an experienced choral singer, but has never attempted acting.

“I find it very challenging,” Frey said, noting that it not only involves singing, but acting and moving, as well.

Jorge Diaz, who teaches acting classes and works as a pest control operator, is playing the role of Orin Scrivello D.D.S. The New Tampa 22-year-old believes he was born to act.

“Being on stage, it’s like I’m home,” he said. “When I’m on that stage, it’s like I’m in a different world.”

Janelle Ankrom, 18, enjoys being able to try on life through a new perspective.

“I get to be someone else,” the Land O’ Lakes resident said. “I get to experience what they would be feeling and something that I would probably not do in my real life.”

For Grace Spenceley, 18, acting almost is like an out-of-body experience. When she’s acting, the Land O’ Lakes resident is so attuned to her character that she almost forgets she’s there.

Lori Littlefield, who is handling many backstage duties, was involved in her first theatrical production when she was 3.

“I just love the theater,” said the Wesley Chapel woman who now works at Tampa Palms Elementary School. Littlefield will do anything — even sweep the floors — if it gets her into the theater.

Sylvia Roper, 48, who works with preschoolers all day long, has known the D’Onofrios for years.

“I’m enjoying performing,” she said.

Her acting skills come in handy at her day job, too. “I’m a lot of different characters all day long.”

Jose Sotero, 48, likes the feeling that comes when the actors are performing well. “It’s really awesome when you can fit in that part, when you see the audience get connected,” the Wesley Chapel pest control operator said.

Josiah Lindsay, who is playing eight different roles in the upcoming play, enjoys having an opportunity to learn. The Wesley Chapel 19-year-old told friends he’s “playing every non-main character in the show.”

“I’m literally every extra who has a line,” he said.

The D’Onofrios know they took a big risk when they decided to pursue their dream, but it’s a dream they believe in.

“We absolutely love the arts,” Darci said. “We want to bring them here. We know that’s a need.”

“We really believe in the power of the arts — in music and dance and theater,” Bryan added.

No matter the outcome of chasing his dream, Bryan D’Onofrio said there’s one thing he won’t have to regret.

“When I’m 75, I’m not going to say, ‘I wish I would have tried that,’” he said.

If you go
WHAT: ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
WHO: Dreamhouse Theatre
WHEN: Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, 30651 Wells Road.
COST: $20, available at the door
INFO: DreamhouseTheatre.com, or call (813) 997-7146.

Published October 22, 2014

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Helping children learn to serve, by providing healthy snacks

October 16, 2014 By B.C. Manion

It’s not a bit uncommon for schools to hold food drives to help provide holiday meals for the poor, but Connerton Elementary School has a new program aimed at helping children who are hungry over weekends.

The program, called Pack-A-Sack, is similar to some already under way at schools where a large percentage of children eat free or reduced-price meals, Connerton principal Aimee Boltze said.

Kensington Mize, left, and her sister Maryalice are involved in an effort at Connerton Elementary School to help ensure no students attending their school go hungry over the weekend. (Courtesy of John Mize) — Kensington Mize, left, and her sister Maryalice are involved in an effort at Connerton Elementary School to help ensure no students attending their school go hungry over the weekend.
(Courtesy of John Mize)

On the surface, Connerton doesn’t seem like a school where children would need food assistance on the weekend. But that reality is that 36 percent of Connerton’s students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, Boltze said.

And some of those children are chronically hungry, said John Mize, a parent volunteer who has helped Connerton establish the Pack-A-Sack program. Mize was discussing this need when Boltze and they decided to tackle the challenge of helping these children.

“Over the last six months, we developed the strategy,” he said. “We identified the children that need the support.”

Boltze also assigned Sarah Owen, of the school’s exceptional student education staff, to serve as the school liaison.

Mize has played a huge role in getting the program going, Boltze said. The Land O’ Lakes man and wife Stephanie put a high priority on teaching their children the importance of serving others.

They have two daughters attending Connerton — 9-year-old Kensington, 9, and Maryalice, 7. They also have a son Patrick, 4, who will start kindergarten there next year.

Mize sits on the board of a nonprofit organization, Start-A-Snowball, that provides $100 grants to support youth service projects. He said his work with that organization has inspired him to be involved at Connerton.

The Mizes, Boltze and Owen have helped to foster collaboration between students, faculty, parents, local businesses and local churches, to launch the supplemental nutrition program.

“Initially, we want to start with the food,” Mize said. “Long-term, we want to branch out to other services.”

For instance, a partnership is being formed with Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, he said. The church plans to get involved with food drives, with tutoring and possibly even some sports league scholarships.

Another group at school is doing a clothing drive, Boltze said. The school’s first food drive yielded enough food o supply the first few months of the program.

“We packed 344 sacks of food in 45 minutes,” Mize said. “It was a sight to be seen.”

Mize got help from his family, Owen, a youth group from Gathering Pointe Church, and David Bisignano, who teaches at Connerton and leads a church youth group.

The plan is to provide the supplemental foods every weekend and during the holidays, Boltze said. The school plans to hold additional food drives and welcomes help from residents, businesses and community organizations, Mize said.

Unlike many food drives, which seek canned goods and other nonperishable food items, this one specifically seeks kid-friendly items. Those items are easy to open, offer nutritional value, and require no preparation.

“This is about making sure kids have food to eat,” Mize said. “We feel like if kids don’t have enough food to eat, they’re not going to be able to learn.”

Mize hopes other schools will set up their own programs.

“Ultimately we would like to create a model that can be replicated at other schools,” Mize said.

Want to help?
Here are the items that Connerton Elementary School needs for its Pack-A-Sack program:

• Peanut butter (12- to 18-ounce jar) and a sleeve of crackers
• Cereal (1-ounce box)
• Fruit cups (mixed fruit, peaches, applesauce, etc.)
• Animal crackers
• Goldfish Crackers
• Pudding cups
• Raisins (snack-sized boxes)
• Cereal bars or granola bars
• Cheese or peanut butter cracker sandwiches
• Ritz Bits Cheese (individual packages)
• Vienna sausages

For more information, email Sarah Owen at , call the school at (813) 346-1800, or email parental liaisons John and Stephanie Mize at .

Published October 15, 2014

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Don’t forget: Men get breast cancer, too

October 16, 2014 By B.C. Manion

Kriss Bowles was in Colorado attending a wedding with her husband, Brock, when he began complaining about pain in his spine as well as two of his ribs.

He felt a lump in his right breast, too.

Brock Bowles lost a three-year battle to breast cancer, which ultimately spread to other parts of his body. His wife, Kriss, has made it her personal mission to spread the word about the dangers of male breast cancer. (Courtesy of Kriss Bowles) — Brock Bowles lost a three-year battle to breast cancer, which ultimately spread to other parts of his body. His wife, Kriss, has made it her personal mission to spread the word about the dangers of male breast cancer.
(Courtesy of Kriss Bowles)

When they returned to their home in Lutz, Brock decided to see his doctor.

His main concern was trying to find out whether he had arthritis in his spine, but he also casually mentioned the lump in his breast, Kriss said.

The doctor ordered a mammogram to be taken the next day.

The screening led to a mastectomy, she added. The surgeon removed 13 lymph nodes, all of them cancerous.

Brock underwent chemotherapy, but despite the doctors’ efforts, the cancer spread to Brock’s lungs, hips, spine and brain before his ordeal with cancer ended his life on Sept. 16, 2004. His death certificate, however, highlighted breast cancer.

As the nation honors breast cancer awareness month in October with walks, runs, strolls, rallies and other events, Kriss — who now lives in Land O’ Lakes — wants people to remember that men die from breast cancer, too.

She said she felt compelled to get involved.

When her husband was battling cancer, “He’d lay in a recliner to sleep,” she said. “I would sit there and watch him sleep and wonder what was going through his mind. Because he knew he was dying.

“One day I said, ‘You know Lord, I know I’m not supposed to ask you why, but I’m asking ‘Why Brock?’‘”

Then she added, “I don’t expect an answer right now, but I hope someday you’ll give me an answer.”

After her husband’s death, Kriss said she began noticing that when people talked about breast cancer, they never mentioned men. So she’s made it her personal mission to spread the word about the need for men to be vigilant to protect themselves from breast cancer.

Besides being aware of symptoms, they need to avoid being too “macho” to take breast cancer seriously, Kriss said. It’s also important to eliminate any stigma: Men should not feel embarrassed about being afflicted with breast cancer because it is not a condition confined to women.

Kriss said her husband wasn’t embarrassed, but that’s not true for all men.

About 2,360 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men, according to the 2014 statistics from the American Cancer Society. About 430 men will die from breast cancer during the year.

For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1-in-1,000, according to Cancer Society estimates. The disease is about 100 times less common in men than women.

Because the incidence is so much lower, men are not routinely screened for breast cancer. The smaller number of cases, however, does not diminish the importance of the issue, Kriss said.

Male breast cancer affects everyone who has a husband, a son, a father, a brother, a nephew, an uncle or a grandfather, she said.

To help spotlight the issue, Kriss waged a letter-writing campaign last year, reaching out to governors across the nation. She asked them to designate the third week in October as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week.

So far, 20 states have done so, she said. One of those states is New Jersey.

That’s where the Bowles lived before they moved to Florida.

Gov. Chris Christie made the designation after Assemblyman Nelson Albano spoke about Brock during the opening session in Trenton, New Jersey.

Besides writing letters, Kriss also has stickers printed, sharing that “Men get breast cancer, too.” She also has had pink ribbon pins made that have the words, “Men, too,” written on them.

She gives those stickers and pins to organizers of breast cancer events, to help spread the word.

It has been nine years, since Brock died. Kriss still does what she can to spread the word, and she’s beginning to see some progress.

One day, she hopes, that this month that’s awash with pink ribbons and breast cancer prevention events will do more to acknowledge that, as her stickers say, “Men get breast cancer, too.”

Published October 15, 2014

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‘The Monuments Men’ author to speak at Saint Leo

October 16, 2014 By B.C. Manion

The author of the book that formed the basis of the movie “The Monuments Men” will speak at Saint Leo University on Oct. 21.

The 7 p.m. talk by Robert Edsel kicks off the 2014-15 University Speaker Series for the school.

The presentation will take place at the Greenfelder-Denlinger boardrooms of the student community center. It is free, and the public is welcome.

Edsel’s nonfiction account of a World War II military unit that saved European art treasures from Nazi looting became the basis of the film directed by George Clooney.

The motion picture, released last December, stars Clooney, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, Hugh Bonneville and Bob Balaban.

In addition to “The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History,” Edsel also authored “Rescuing Da Vinci and Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation’s Treasures from the Nazis.”

He also co-produced the documentary film, “The Rape of Europa.”

Edsel is the founder and president of the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art. Besides his literary and film work, Edsel also was a nationally ranked tennis player and an entrepreneur in the gasoline and oil exploration industry.

After his successful career, Edsel and his family moved to Europe during the 1990s, first living in Paris, and later in Florence. While in Florence, he developed a passion for art and architecture, according to the “Monuments Men” film website. He was curious about how so many monuments and great works of art survived the thefts and devastation of World War II.

Edsel spent 12 years researching the story of the Monuments Men, which resulted in the publication of “Rescuing Da Vinci.” His second book, which actually used the term “Monuments Men,” was published in 2009.

In January 2012, Clooney announced he would write, direct and star in the film adaptation of the book.

Saint Leo University is at 33701 State Road 52, in east Pasco County, about four miles east of Interstate 75. Free parking is available in surface lots and the campus garage.

For more information about the historical Monuments Men, visit MonumentsMen.com.

Published October 15, 2014

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Doing spiritual work, using talent and a pair of shears

October 9, 2014 By B.C. Manion

Mayra Santiago has devoted more than half her lifetime styling people’s hair to help them look good.

Normally, she uses her expertise to tend to customers at Ulta Beauty, a products retailer with salon services in The Grove at Wesley Chapel.

Mayra Santiago poses with a young child during the Wesley Chapel woman’s trip to the Amazon. The hairstylist went with her church on a mission trip because she heard there was a need for someone who could cut hair. (Courtesy of Mayra Santiago)

But over the summer, Santiago joined a group from Vida Community Church on a mission trip to Colombia to cut hair for people living in a rural village there.

“I never, never, never in my life expected to cut hair in the Amazon,” the 43-year-old said.

Vida is a bilingual church temporarily based in Land O’ Lakes, with members primarily joining it from Lutz and Land O’ Lakes. Pastors Dwight and Lizania Miranda lead the church, which has a heart for missions. Vida aims to help people meet their needs, both here and in other countries, said Mayra and her husband, Eddie, who have belonged to the church for seven years.

When she heard there was a need for someone who could cut hair, Santiago felt compelled to go. She was pleased to put her talents to use for others because she loves being a hairstylist.

“It’s my passion,” she said.

Joining the mission trip, she said, was a blessing. The experience didn’t just help others, it helped her, too.

“I appreciate everything better now,” Santiago said.

She now has a deeper understanding of just how fortunate she and others are for the everyday comforts and conveniences that most residents of the United States take for granted, she said.

Santiago traveled to Colombia on July 16, and returned July 28. The 18-member church group flew to Bogota, then caught a connecting flight to Leticia. From there, they rode on a boat — which broke down during their trip — to arrive near the remote village where they stayed.

Once the boat landed, Santiago’s group walked the rest of the way, lugging their stuff for a 20-minute trek. Santiago marveled at the way the villagers — members of the Yagua tribe — function in the 21st century.

“The people live simple lives,” she said.

They have few connections with the outside world, aside from three hours of television during the day and three hours at night. They gather at a hut-style building to watch the programs together.

They sleep on the ground without mattresses. They eat fish they catch from the river.

They use a barrel to catch water for bathing and other uses.

The bugs are horrendous.

“I’ve never seen so many mosquitoes in my life,” said Santiago, who kept the bugs away with repellant.

She slept in a tent on an inflatable mattress, using a battery-powered fan to keep cool.

Santiago and other members of her group drank the bottled water they brought to avoid the potential of becoming ill from the local water.

Her days were busy. They ate meals that mostly consisted of rice, fish, yucca, plantains and oranges.

Santiago awoke daily around 5:30 a.m., ate breakfast, and then began giving haircuts usually between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. She generally finished working around 5 p.m.

Santiago couldn’t keep up with the demand, so she asked fellow missionary Mahalie Rivera to help give the haircuts. Rivera had no experience, so Santiago taught her the basics.

They gave haircuts to young boys and young girls, old men and old women, and everyone else in between.

As they worked, a line formed outside. At some points, there were as many as 20 people waiting, Santiago said.

Women typically wanted layered looks. The young boys wanted short cuts, although some boys wanted their hair to have the same style of some popular soccer stars. However, Santiago wasn’t able to grant their request because she was unfamiliar with the players’ hairstyles.

Santiago and her husband live in Wesley Chapel and have three children: Lucas, 19 — who attends Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch — as well as Esteban, 15, and Bianca, 14, who attend Wesley Chapel High School.

The kids weren’t wild about the idea of their mom making the trip, Eddie Santiago said.

“They think it’s too extreme,” he said. “We keep telling them that they have to go with us one day, on one of these trips. It’s good for the young people to see how other people live, and all of the things they can live without and be happy.”

The experience was rewarding, said Santiago, who was not dissuaded by the humble living conditions.

“I’ll do it again,” she said.

Published October 8, 2014

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Estabrook’s knack for collaboration receives honor

October 9, 2014 By B.C. Manion

As an educator, Dave Estabrook was known for his ability to look at issues from various vantage points and collaborate with others to solve problems and help people thrive.

On Oct. 2, his contributions to education and to the Land O’ Lakes community were honored at a ceremony to dedicate the first phase of the David R. Estabrook Center for Collaboration at Charles S. Rushe Middle School on Mentmore Boulevard in Land O’ Lakes.

Dave Estabrook, an educator for 35 years, is honored for his many contributions to Pasco County Schools and the Land O’ Lakes community. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Rushe principal David Salerno, who followed in Estabrook’s footsteps at two points in his career, described Estabrook’s leadership style.

“Immediately, I observed a leader who made it his mission to seek input from many stakeholders — as many stakeholders as possible — when making decisions,” he said. “Not only that, he specifically sought out people that he thought may have a different point of view. He believed in the importance of considering all aspects of problems before recommending a solution.”

Estabrook hired Salerno to be an assistant principal at Pine View Middle School after Estabrook moved up to become the school’s principal. Salerno would later follow Estabrook as principal of Rushe.

“I learned from him that the best way to effectively collaborate, to bring about a meaningful change, is to build strong relationships centered on both communications and trust,” Salerno said.

The ceremony to honor Estabrook was carried over the school’s closed-circuit television. Superintendent Kurt Browning, Assistant Superintendent Ray Gadd and Chief Financial Officer Olga Swinson were there. So was school board member Joanne Hurley.

Estabrook’s wife Lori, his daughter and son-in-law Mallory and Chris Mullis, and Lori’s daughter and son Amy Harris and Geoff Hartwig, were there, too.

The ceremony marked the dedication of the David R. Estabrook Center for Collaboration.

“This is quite an honor,” Estabrook said. “It was quite an honor to be the first principal of Rushe Middle School, too. It was truly significant serving in a school that was named after someone who was just an outstanding leader — Chuck Rushe — and a friend of mine, as well.”

Opening and managing a school presents many kinds of challenges, Estabrook noted.

“We worked through them and worked collaboratively, and made this a great school. And it continues to be a great school under Principal Salerno’s leadership,” he said. “Collaboration, to me, is not exclusive to just adults. It should be incorporated into the teaching and learning process.”

Salerno said it is fitting that Rushe’s media center be renamed in Estabrook’s honor because the retired educator was a master at collaboration.

In keeping with his desire to help others to grow and thrive, Estabrook and his family donated $19,000 to help create the center for collaboration that now bears his name. The Pasco Education Foundation matched that gift.

Helping students collaborate with each other is precisely what the new center aims to do, Salerno said.

“About a year ago, we decided we wanted to do something with collaboration and technology,” he said. “We received input from teachers, students and parents, and the overwhelming consensus is that we wanted to make sure that we increased technology and made sure that we have students collaborate.”

Many people remember the old school library, Salerno said.

“In those school libraries, it often was forbidden to utter a sound,” he said. “You were hushed and sent to the principal’s office. You found yourself sent back to class.

“Fast-forward to today, where our goal is to see places like this, and it’s alive with learning.”

The goal is for students to lead study groups, Salerno said, and use technology to help them research real-world issues. The center now has collaboration stations that are equipped for students to work together to tackle a variety of challenges.

They can go to websites and use different apps to develop various skills. For instance, there’s a Crime and Puzzle app that aims to help them learn to make inferences, to form a hypothesis, and to analyze evidence.

Other learning opportunities focus on improving vocabulary and grammar skills, and becoming skillful of supporting each other’s efforts. They also are given opportunities to develop their research skills through challenges that go beyond reading from a single source.

The center is just in its first phase, Salerno said. He expects to add more equipment later, as funding allows.

He envisions a place where students want to visit, not just during class, but before and after school.

He pictures it as being a place that welcomes students to gather — kind of like having a Starbucks or a Barnes & Noble on campus — but without the snacks and coffee.

Published October 8, 2014

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