The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Browning has concerns about recommended state test

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Students across Florida will face a new standardized test next year to replace the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test 2.0.

Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart has selected a replacement test, but not everyone is embracing it.

“I don’t agree with the choice that she’s made,” Pasco County Schools superintendent Kurt Browning said.

Florida has joined a host of other states in the pursuit of Common Core Standards — now known as the Florida Standards — which define what students should know as they proceed through school in order to graduate from high school fully prepared to enter college and the work force. Browning has been making the rounds for more than a year, talking to parents, teachers, administrators and civic groups about the importance of adopting the more rigorous standards, and also of the importance of being able to measure the district students’ progress against students across the nation.

The test Stewart has selected won’t allow those national comparisons, Browning said.

With the FCAT, the district could compare itself to other Florida districts, but that’s where it stopped, Browning notes.

“With this new assessment, we still can’t compare ourselves to other states,” he said.

The superintendent said he’s also concerned that the field-testing for the new assessment is being done in Utah.

“Utah is nothing like Florida,” Browning said. “In addition to that, we find out that it’s not the entire assessment that’s being field-tested, but just questions that are being field-tested.

“Right now, we’re just going in there saying, ‘Well, if it’s good enough for Utah, it’s good enough for Florida.’ I disagree with that.”

Stewart selected the not-for-profit American Institutes for Research to provide the new English language arts and mathematics assessment.

Browning noted the new assessment is not a done deal until it gains approval from the state Board of Education.

“The Legislature certainly has the opportunity to chime in on what assessment is used,” Browning said. And if state lawmakers do, Browning asks them to approve “an assessment that provides transparency, that truly measures student growth,” and that would allow for comparability with performance by students in other states.

Pasco School Board member Cynthia Armstrong agrees with Browning’s objections. Armstrong is concerned the test doesn’t allow comparisons across the nation, and she also is worried about the field-testing being done in Utah, which is much less diverse than Florida.

When Stewart announced her selection of the assessment, she posted prepared letters to teachers and parents.

In the March 17 letter to teachers, the education commissioner noted she has heard repeatedly from teachers that they want “tests that provide a more authentic assessment of our students’ grasp of Florida Standards.

“These assessments will do that,” Stewart said, “because they will include more than multiple choice questions. Students will be asked to create graphs, interact with test content, and write and respond in different ways than on traditional tests.”

The education commissioner also told teachers the “new question types will assess students’ higher-order thinking skills, which is in keeping with the higher expectations of the Florida Standards.

In a March 17 letter to parents, Stewart explained the new Florida Standards, upon which the new test will be based.

“As many of you know, your children will have new goals to meet with the adoption of the Florida Standards,” Stewart wrote. Simply put, these standards are the detailed expectations of what every child should be able to do at each grade level.

“The new standards were developed with unprecedented input from Florida teachers, educators and the public,” Stewart wrote. “The emphasis with these standards is for your children to think critically and analytically and go beyond memorization.”

Published April 2, 2014

Free cordless telephones for people with a hearing loss

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Most of us know the feeling.

We’re on the telephone, and suddenly we lose the connection with the person we’re talking to.

People who have certified hearing losses or speech difficulties can receive a free cordless telephone like this to help them communicate. (Courtesy of Florida Telecommunications Relay)
People who have certified hearing losses or speech difficulties can receive a free cordless telephone like this to help them communicate.
(Courtesy of Florida Telecommunications Relay)

But imagine if you always had trouble hearing the person on the other end of the line. For people who are hard of hearing, talking on the telephone can be a tremendous challenge.

Life can get easier, now, through some new telephones offered for free to people who have been certified with a hearing loss or have speech difficulties. They are being offered by Michael Sutter, an outreach specialist for Florida Telecommunications Relay Inc., a nonprofit distributor of specialized telecommunications equipment for people with hearing loss and speech difficulties.

The cordless phones can amplify incoming sounds so that people receiving the call can hear the equivalent of someone talking to them from less than 5 feet away, Sutter said.

The telephones are purchased with funds secured from taxes people and businesses pay for telephone lines intended to serve people with communications difficulties, Sutter said. The available telephone, the XLC2, was developed by Clarity, a division of Plantronics Inc.

Features of the XLC2 include a talking caller ID, which announces the incoming caller, and a talking dial pad that reads the numbers as they are dialed. The large, easy-to-read buttons also are backlit to help senior citizens who have low vision. The buttons on the handset are spaced apart to be easily accessible for those with dexterity issues or arthritis.

To qualify for a telephone, the recipient must be a Florida resident and certified as having a speech loss or hearing difficulty.

“Our target demographic is Boomer and up,” Sutter said, but recipients can be young or old, as long as they have documentation of their hearing or speech issues.

A hearing aid specialist or audiologist typically provides the information, but there are other avenues that can be used as well to get the certification, Sutter said.

For additional information, visit FTRI.org, or call (800) 222-3448.

Free cordless telephones are available to Florida residents who have a documented hearing loss or speech difficulty. The phones can be obtained by filling out an application and visiting a Florida Telecommunications Relay Inc. office.
An office can be found at Self Reliance for Independent Living, 8901 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa.

Published April 2, 2014

 

Jo Van Bebber’s nurturing ways left an imprint on Lutz

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When people talk about Alice Joan “Jo” Van Bebber, they’re quick to mention her nurturing ways, her zest for life, her culinary skills, and the fact that she was the first person to win the honorary title of Lutz Guv’na.

Jo Van Bebber was a fixture at community events in Lutz, including this holiday event where she joins Marilyn Wannamaker, right. (Courtesy of Cheryl Benton)
Jo Van Bebber was a fixture at community events in Lutz, including this holiday event where she joins Marilyn Wannamaker, right.
(Courtesy of Cheryl Benton)

Van Bebber, who was laid to rest on March 8, spent decades of her life serving her community.

She was a vital member of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, serving the organization as its president and in nearly other capacity, said Cheryl Benton, one of Van Bebber’s dear friends. She always made newcomers feel welcome, quickly taking them under her wing and teaching them the ins and outs of the club, other members said.

“I was a walk-in to the club,” Pat Serio said, noting she was attracted to the organization by its work to help survivors of spouse abuse.

Serio recalled that as soon as she arrived, Van Bebber greeted her and began introducing her around. By the end of the meeting, Van Bebber already had figured out how to put Serio’s talents to work to help the club and the community.

Beyond serving the local club, Van Bebber also was involved at the district, state, national and international levels.

When Van Bebber took ill, it was an “egregious blow” to the community, said Edwina Kraemer, another former woman’s club president and former Guv’na. Kraemer credited Van Bebber as being among a trio of women who recruited her to join the woman’s club.

“Jo was my mentor,” Kraemer said.

Van Bebber was vivacious and enjoyed entertaining, but she could be a stickler for details, club members said.

“She could be a general,” Kraemer said. “She knew parliamentary procedure, our bylaws and standing rules. She could quote the page and paragraph,” Kraemer said.

Besides her dedication to the woman’s club and to Lutz, Van Bebber was a devoted mother and grandmother, said Marilyn Wannamaker, another one of Van Bebber’s close friends. Van Bebber also was involved at the First United Methodist Church of Lutz.

Both women were widows and often dined together on the weekend, Wannamaker said. “To me, we lost a truly great lady.”

Van Bebber died March 5. Her husband Bill preceded her in death, and she is survived by three sons: Bill, Greg and Wynn, and a daughter Pam.

Van Bebber also is survived by nine grandchildren.

Published March 26, 2014

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Looking for something to do? Check your local library

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Bands from Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are tuning up to test their musical chops at the Rockus Maximus XVII Battle of the Bands.

Teens and pre-teens search through Legos during Lego Day at the Land O’ Lakes Branch of the Pasco County Library System. (Photo Courtesy of Pasco County Library System)
Teens and pre-teens search through Legos during Lego Day at the Land O’ Lakes Branch of the Pasco County Library System.
(Photo Courtesy of Pasco County Library System)

The free music festival on March 28 showcases bands vying for cash and other prizes. Besides promoting local music, the family-friendly event offers sideshow acts, including a juggler, martial artists, a dance troupe and other performers.

The event will be at the Rotary Park Pavilion at the Concourse, near the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 52.

It’s an event that drew national recognition for the Pasco County Library System, resulting in the prestigious John Cotton Dana Award for excellence in public relations in 2010.

But the Battle of the Bands is just one of many ways the library system seeks to engage the community.

“The idea here is that we are trying to provide experiences and opportunities for everyone, at every stage and need in their life,” said Paul Stonebridge, teen services manager of the Pasco County Library System. “We’re trying to get people as early as we can get them and keep them forever.”

Do you like to play chess? There’s a club for that. Perhaps you’re an avid reader — there’s a book club for that, too.

There are story times geared to different age groups, and activities such as crafts and family nights. There are free movies, too, geared toward different audiences. Free popcorn and drinks accompany all the events.

Periodically, there are special events, such as an American Heritage Tea Party or a Curious George Reading Day.

Often, the library will offer a class or presentation or activity that’s designed to combine fun and learning, Stonebridge said. For instance, kids recently were invited to learn how to take photographs of themselves, known as “selfies.” While they were at it, they also got some advice on staying safe in cyberspace.

The library recognizes that people of different ages have varying needs and desires. So, it customizes its programming.

The pre-teen crowd has a hard time getting to the library because they lack mobility, Stonebridge said. One way to get them there is to encourage parents to bring them. To help make that happen, the library allows parents to drop pre-teens off for a couple of hours.

While they’re having fun at the library, the parents can run errands, shop for grocery, meet a friend for coffee, or have a bit of time to themselves, Stonebridge said. The library does request, however, that the parent remain in the vicinity, in case something comes up and they need to return to the library before the activity is over.

The library works hard to provide interesting programs for teenagers. One way they accomplish that is by involving teens in the planning.

In exchange for serving on the teen advisory board, teens earn community service hours, have first dibs at other library volunteer opportunities, and get to have a say in the activities the library offers.

“Here’s a chance for people to be listened to, to actually have someone want to hear what they have to say,” Stonebridge said. “We’re trying to hit them with the things they need and want at this point in their lives.”

For instance, the library has an Anime Club, gaming nights, a Robotics Club and other activities.

The library also has an on-demand service that provides help with homework and often can arrange for tutoring for students who need more assistance. Sometimes, free tutoring can be provided. At other times, they’ll offer referrals.

The library is geared for people of all ages. For example, it has a teen gaming night and an adult gaming night. Teen gaming nights draw about 200 kids, while adult gaming nights draw about 50 people, Stonebridge said.

The library also hosts senior citizen socials for people 55 and older.

“We’re trying to give people a place they can socialize, make friends, reconnect,” Stonebridge said.

It also offers help for people who are looking for a job, want to start their own business, or need help figuring out forms for government assistance, such as Medicaid, food stamps and unemployment benefits.

People who have trouble reading or lack computer experience should not feel intimidated, Stonebridge said.

“Don’t be hindered by your limitations of education or background or experience,” he said. “If you’re scared of computers, you just haven’t used them or you don’t read well, we’re here to help you with that. We don’t penalize people for that. We want to help you.”

These services are free to anyone who has a library card, Stonebridge said. Library cards are issued for free and are available even to people who live in another county, as long as they have a library card where they live and have identification with their picture on it.

And, on top of all of the activities and services, the library also offers books and DVDs for patrons to borrow.

Anyone who wants to learn more is invited to drop by a library, or visit PascoLibraries.org.

Rockus Maximus XVII
WHAT: Battle of the Bands — Bands from Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties compete for prizes. The family-friendly event also features entertainers and sideshow acts
WHEN: March 28 from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Rotary Pavilion at the Concourse, 15325 Alric Pottberg Road, Shady Hills (Near State Road 52 and the Suncoast Expressway)
COST: Parking and admission is free.
Concessions for purchase will be available, but those attending are welcome to bring a picnic.

Published March 26, 2014

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County official says cancer gave her a new perspective

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The women sat in a circle, quietly sharing the ways their lives have been affected by three devastating words: “You have cancer.”

Paula O’Neil attends a breast cancer support group at The Center for Women’s Health at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel to share her personal experiences with breast cancer. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Paula O’Neil attends a breast cancer support group at The Center for Women’s Health at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel to share her personal experiences with breast cancer.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

For one, the words were so fresh that she couldn’t quite wrap her mind around her situation. For another, those words have been uttered repeatedly and have caused multiple surgeries.

One member of the group, Paula O’Neil — Pasco County’s clerk of the circuit court and county comptroller — had joined the women to share her story. For O’Neil, like for the others, finding out she had breast cancer was a jolt.

“I was totally shocked. I really felt that I led a healthy life,” O’Neil said.

In the area where the cancer was found, O’Neil had been previously screened with a mammogram and a sonogram and had been fine, she said.

Statistics from the American Cancer Society, estimate that about 1.7 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2014, and nearly 1,600 Americans per day are expected to die from the disease.

When O’Neil heard she had breast cancer, she didn’t believe she would die. She said she’d met so many survivors through her association with the American Cancer Society that she didn’t expect that her disease would be fatal.

“I figured I would make it through,” O’Neil said.

But that didn’t mean the experience was easy.

“I think the hardest time is between the time when you find out and you find out what they’re going to do,” she said. “You don’t how far it spread. You don’t know what’s going to happen to you.”

It’s not easy for the family, either.

“When you first find out you have cancer, you and your family, it’s like, ‘Holy cow, are you kidding me?’ And then, you start accepting it,” she said.

Making O’Neil’s case more complicated is the public nature of her work. As clerk of the circuit court, she has a large staff of 150 people and many responsibilities. Before she informed her staff, O’Neil gathered her executive team around her to share her news. She wanted them to help reassure the staff that she was looking good and expected to be OK.

She said she wanted to be sure she controlled the story, so she notified the press.

“When you’re in an elective position, you have to be careful. You don’t want people to think you’re going to die,” O’Neil said. “I wanted the story from myself. I didn’t want rumors.”

She said her initial concerns were about losing a breast and losing her hair. When she found out she needed a mastectomy, she said she pushed for a double mastectomy to avoid having to go through a similar ordeal later.

She was advised, instead, to have genetic testing done to see if she had a genetically inherited trait that made her at high risk for breast cancer. The result was negative, so she was denied the double mastectomy.

Like most cancer patients, O’Neil did not want to lose her hair. Part of the reason was a concern for her appearance because she’s on television every other week, during Pasco County Commission meetings.

“I don’t know if I would have done that with a wig. I didn’t want to look sick. It was real important to me not to look sick,” O’Neil said.

She underwent chemotherapy, but she kept most of her hair.

“I did the chemo cold caps to save my hair. I was able to freeze my scalp to save my hair,” she said. “It thinned. It thinned a lot.”

Patients wear a specially designed cap that is cooled to a very low temperature to constrict the blood vessels to prevent them from carrying the harmful drug agents to the scalp, thus preventing the drugs from damaging the hair follicles.

The chemo cold caps are not covered by every insurance plan, but were covered by hers, O’Neil said.

In addition to the chemotherapy treatments, O’Neil also underwent breast reconstruction, which resulted in an infection in her stomach for six months, she said.

As she shared her story, other women in the group opened up. Some talked about how hard it is to tell others they have cancer. Other women talked about how grateful they are being able to share their experiences at the support group, which meets at The Center for Women’s Health at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

The women shared their pain, but also offered each other practical advice.

For those who have trouble sharing their story, there’s a website called CaringBridge.com that allows communications to be shared with whomever they want to keep in the loop, one woman said.

Another said there’s a website geared to helping organize the contribution of meals by others who care. That’s called, TakeThemAMeal.com.

O’Neil told the women she was honored to meet with them.

“We’ve all been through the same things,” she said. “I can tell you this: It’s not a path I would have chosen, but I’m very grateful, grateful for the experience. It gives you a different perspective on life and on how precious it is.”

O’Neil said she’s always believed she would one day work at a cancer camp for kids. Now, when she does, she’ll be able to relate to them on a deeper level.

“I’ll be able to say, ‘I’ve been through chemo, too,’” O’Neil said.

Published March 26, 2014

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Superintendent pushes new standards, parent involvement

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As the Pasco County school district shifts to a more rigorous set of educational standards, Superintendent Kurt Browning has been making the rounds to explain the changes to parents.

At a series of community forums, Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning explained the Common Core State Standards. The system defines what students should know as they proceed through school so they can graduate from high school fully prepared to enter college and the work force. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
At a series of community forums, Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning explained the Common Core State Standards. The system defines what students should know as they proceed through school so they can graduate from high school fully prepared to enter college and the work force.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

During his most recent stop at Wiregrass Ranch High School — the final of 13 community meetings — Browning told parents that the district must change the way teachers teach and students learn. He also called for greater involvement by parents to help prepare students for entering school and to reinforce learning at home.

The district’s current performance must improve, Browning said, especially since the district is ranked 34th out of the state’s 67 districts.

“I’m not the least bit happy with 34,” Browning said.

Society has changed and the district must change, too, to meet its goal of producing students who are ready for college, careers and life, Browning said.

“We’ve got to make a connection between what’s happening in the real world and in the classroom,” Browning said.

Along those lines, the district is shifting to Common Core State Standards and raising the bar on expectations. The standards define what students should know as they proceed through school in order to graduate from high school fully prepared to enter college and the work force.

“We’re embracing a new way of teaching and learning,” said Rayann Mitchell, a senior supervisor in the division of curriculum, assessment and instruction.

The new standards are causing teachers to think differently about the way they teach, Browning said.

Instead of standing at the front of the classroom lecturing, teachers are now pushing for more collaboration between students and self-directed learning, Mitchell said. When parents visit a classroom, they may see different ways of teaching and learning. Instead of being seated in neat rows, students may have their desks pushed together so they can collaborate on projects, divvy research assignments and share what they’ve learned.

Teachers are being challenged in new ways, too. They’re using technology to help deliver lessons, and they’re using a new set of educational standards. The standards aim at helping students develop a deeper understanding of concepts and an ability to use their knowledge to tackle new academic challenges, Mitchell said.

Under Common Core, students will spend more time reading for information and less on literature as they advance through their school years. Elementary students will spend about half of their time on literary texts and the other half reading for information. Secondary students will spend about 30 percent of their time reading literature and the rest reading information.

Students will read a wide range of information and also will dig deep into content, Mitchell said.

“We want them to be able to pick up anything they want to read and to be able to figure it out,” she said.

In mathematics, the shift is toward developing a deeper understanding so that students can use efficient and effective ways to solve problems. Besides communicating their math knowledge through writing, they’ll also be expected to explain it, orally.

Teachers need to help students become self-directed learners, Mitchell said.

School districts cannot use a one-size-fits-all approach to instruction. “Every child learns differently,” Browning said. “There are going to be some kids that just aren’t going to get it.”

The district must address those needs. “We’re about pushing kids, but we’re not about pushing kids along,” he said.

Students may complain to their parents that school is hard, Browning said. But school is supposed to be challenging. It isn’t supposed to be easy. Learning requires work.

There are many ways that parents can help. Parent involvement begins before children enter school, he added, noting some youngsters arrive at school without knowing such basic things as the alphabet, colors, numbers or seasons.

Having nonfiction materials at home for children to read, engaging children in family projects, and helping with homework, are among the ways parents can support their children’s education, Browning said.

Sometimes, children are frustrated by homework because they say they haven’t learned a concept yet in school, one parent noted on a comment card. The district’s policy is that homework is intended to reinforce what’s been learned in school. It’s a way to practice new learning, Mitchell said. If materials are being sent home and the child doesn’t understand, parents should reach out to teachers.

Browning encourages parents to talk with teachers, and if they can’t resolve their issue there, to talk with principals. He invites them to take their issues up the chain of command until they reach him if problems cannot be resolved.

The community forums have been informative, Browning said. For one thing, the district has learned it needs to communicate more with parents. To that end, it will launch a monthly newsletter next school year to keep in touch with parents. The newsletter will be emailed to any parent submitting an email address.

The community meeting also addressed some misconceptions about the Common Core standards. Skeptics have claimed that Common Core are standards that are being pushed on local districts by the federal government, but Browning said that isn’t true.

The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers collaborated with teachers, researchers, education experts, and members of the higher education and business communities to design and develop the standards.

Local school districts are in charge of the educational materials used to ensure students meet those standards, Browning said.

This year, Florida students will continue taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, Browning said. Next year, there will be another assessment, though state officials have not yet decided what that will be.

The school district’s goal is to equip students for challenges they’ll encounter beyond high school. So, Browning told parents that when international companies locate in Tampa Bay, “I want your kids to be able to compete for those jobs.”

Sources of help for parents:

• PTA.org

• ParentToolKit.com

• K12Blueprint.com/ccss

• The ‘In Sync’ education link at Pasco.k12.fl.us.

Published March 19, 2014

Land O’ Lakes teen prepares for big summer adventure

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Many teenagers would be content to spend their summer vacation learning how to drive, getting a part-time job or hanging out at the beach. But 16-year-old Amy Deeb has much bigger plans.

Amy Deeb, a sophomore at Sunlake High School, received a scholarship from the U.S. Department of State to study Hindi this summer in Indore, a city in central India. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Amy Deeb, a sophomore at Sunlake High School, received a scholarship from the U.S. Department of State to study Hindi this summer in Indore, a city in central India.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She’ll jet off to New York on July 5 where she’ll spend three days being prepped before traveling another 7,600 miles to spend the summer in Indore, a city in central India. The Sunlake High School student will be immersed in the sights, sounds, language and culture of the place – and she’ll spend at least 120 hours in class learning Hindi.

Deeb’s travel expenses and classes are being covered through a scholarship provided by the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth program. She’ll stay with a host family and receive a stipend to cover her day-to-day expenses in India.

The program is intended to encourage youths to develop language skills in Arabic, Mandarin, Korean, Persian (Tajiki), Russian, Turkish and Hindi. The initiative is aimed at helping prepare Americans become leaders in a global world, according to the NSLI for Youth website.

While in school, Deeb will focus on reading, writing, speaking and listening, so that by the end of her program, she’ll be familiar with the Devanagari alphabet and will possess and understand Hindi grammar and the different dialects of Hindi, according to the program’s website.

Not only will Deeb learn a new language, but she’ll also learn new sounds and how to make them. She’ll have a chance to explore the context in the language, including Indian crafts, music and dance, as well as yoga and the Bollywood film industry, the program’s website says.

Deeb is counting the days before her departure. She knows throwing herself into a new place without extensive background in the language or culture is a somewhat daunting challenge. But she is ready to embrace it.

“Complete immersion,” she said, is a very cool way to learn about another culture and language.

When she applied for the scholarship, Deeb said she had to rank three languages she was interested in studying. Hindi was her No. 1 choice.

“I figured if I’m going to go for it, I may as well pick something that’s so, in my mind, different from what I could ever experience in America,” said Deeb, who has aspirations of becoming a surgeon working in foreign countries.

She has her sights set on work in fetal surgery. “I think it would be interesting to be kind of like a pioneer in fetal surgery,” Deeb said.

She expects to be in class about six hours a day during the week. She’ll spend other time with her host family and on cultural excursions.

Deeb studies American Sign Language, but doesn’t take other language classes. She believes her sign language studies will help her be more observant of others than she might have otherwise been.

But she admits she doesn’t have a clue about speaking Hindi.

“I could be just terrible at Hindi – it’s a definite possibility,” Deeb said, but it won’t be for a lack of effort or enthusiasm. “I’m going to throw myself in there and hope for the best.”

Deeb said she found out about the scholarship program from two of her cousins who live in Tucson, Ariz. Both of them have been selected to study Mandarin, and one of them is currently involved in a yearlong program, Deeb said.

Deeb found out about the program when she was 13 and knew then that she wanted to apply when she turned 16. She’s delighted she was chosen.

“It’s very selective,” Deeb said, noting about 3,500 students apply nationwide for scholarships for all seven languages. About 400 or fewer receive scholarships.

Her application included three essays, biographical information and a copy of her transcript. Finalists also underwent personal interviews, which lasted about 40 minutes.

The main qualities the program requires are enthusiasm and aptitude, Deeb said.

She seems to qualify on both counts. Deeb has a 4.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale, with extra points awarded for rigorous coursework.

And, her enthusiasm is obvious.

“I can’t even imagine in my mind what it’s going to be like to go there. I am so excited,” Deeb said.

For more information about the National Security Language Initiative for Youth program, visit NSLIForYouth.org.

Published March 19, 2014

Gamble Mansion: A remnant of the past

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Families looking for an inexpensive outing, people who enjoy interesting architecture, and history buffs should consider making the trek to the Gamble House Historic State Park in Ellenton.

The park boasts Gamble Mansion, the oldest building in Manatee County.

Gamble Mansion in Ellenton is the only remaining antebellum plantation house in South Florida. The park is open to visitors every day. The mansion is open to visitors, by guided tours only, Thursdays through Mondays. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Gamble Mansion in Ellenton is the only remaining antebellum plantation house in South Florida. The park is open to visitors every day. The mansion is open to visitors, by guided tours only, Thursdays through Mondays.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

It sits on land once part of a thriving sugar plantation. And it’s the place where the secretary of state for the Confederacy is believed to have hid out briefly during his escape from the United States.

Gamble Mansion is considered to be a fine example of antebellum construction, and is the only remaining plantation house remaining in South Florida. It belonged to Maj. Robert Gamble Jr., who arrived in the area from Tallahassee in 1843 after the end of the Second Seminole War, according to documents on display in the museum in the park’s visitor center.

Gamble was attracted by the area’s mild climate, rich soil and easy access to the Manatee River. He also was enticed by free land, offered by Congress through the Armed Occupation Act to encourage settlement of the frontier. Before Gamble set foot on the plantation, its only occupants were wild creatures, oak hammocks and pine flatwoods.

By 1845, Gamble’s plantation was among a dozen cultivating sugarcane and producing sugar for the New Orleans market, according to a historic marker at the park. Sugar and molasses were shipped by schooner and steamboat to Louisiana.

Over time, Gamble amassed holdings of about 3,500 acres, including about 1,500 acres under cultivation. Besides sugar, the plantation produced limes, lemons, olives, oranges, corn and beans, according to a map in the museum, depicting the plantation.

Gamble purchased modern machinery from New Orleans and the slaves working the plantation were brought by boat from the Tallahassee area where his father had a plantation, according to museum documents. By 1855, he owned 155 slaves. They did all of the plantation work, from cooking to clearing fields to rowing across a river to cut wood to use as fuel at the sugar works.

Gamble was a bachelor, but he lived in a mansion, featuring Greek Revival architectural elements, that was built in stages over six years. The two-story structure is made of red brick and tabby brick, which consists of shells, sand and oyster-shell lime.

The 10-room mansion was built to last. Eighteen columns support the roof and upper verandas, and the walls are nearly two-feet thick.

While the building was strong, the plantation’s finances were not. The plantation operated on a complex credit structure, and by 1856, Gamble’s finances had become so strained, he could not weather problems that resulted from declining sugar prices and crop losses, according to museum documents.

Gamble sold the estate for $190,000 in 1856, and returned to Tallahassee.

The mansion’s story, however, was far from over.

One of its most exciting chapters involves the former secretary of state for the Confederacy.

“Just before Richmond, Va. — the southern capital fell — Judah P. Benjamin, secretary of state of Confederate States of America, fled with President Davis and other Cabinet members,” according to museum documents. “Benjamin escaped the North America mainland by way of Florida, and tradition has it that the Gamble House was his last stop.”

The house has faced its share of challenges, park manager Kevin Kiser said.

“It had been damaged by hurricanes. Some of the people who owned it had used it for manure storage. It was in shambles,” Kiser said.

The neglected mansion was in a state of ruin before it was revived by the Judah P. Benjamin Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy, which purchased the property in 1925 and deeded it to the state.

About 75,000 visitors drop by the historic site every year, and it is a popular backdrop for weddings and other special events.

People touring the mansion will see rooms that are mostly outfitted with furniture and tools of the day appropriate to the style of a mid-19th century plantation.

“We don’t really have any records of how they used the rooms,” Kiser said, so the furnishings reflect an interpretation of how the rooms might have been used between the 1840s and 1860s.

The house has never been electrically wired. It does have high ceilings and cross-ventilation to help make life bearable on sweltering summer days.

Besides its antebellum architecture, another unique feature at the mansion is a huge cistern, built to catch rainwater from the roof’s gutters. A cistern was needed to provide drinking and bathing water for the people living there, Kiser said.

After Gamble left, Maj. George Patten bought the land and mansion in 1872 for $3,000. The Pattens abandoned the mansion in 1895 to avoid the high costs of maintenance, and a new home was built on the site for Dudley Patten and his wife. Originally, the house consisted of four rooms, but additions were added in 1904 and 1912.

Today, the house is used as a chapter house for the local Judah P. Benjamin Chapter, and is recognized as the Florida headquarters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Besides its interesting history, the park offers a pleasant respite from daily life, with its picnic areas, park benches and Spanish moss-draped trees.

WHAT: Gamble Plantation Historic State Park
WHERE: 3708 Patten Ave., Ellenton, just off U.S. 301
WHEN: 365 days a year, 8 a.m. until sundown for park; most days except some holidays for the mansion
COST: Free for park admission; Gamble Mansion is $6 for adults, $4 for children 6-12, with younger children free.
Tours last 45 minutes, and are offered several times a day on Thursdays through Mondays.
The visitor center has a museum, open Thursdays through Mondays.
Group tours can be arranged by calling (941) 723-4536.

WHAT: Spring Park Car Show and Swap Meet
WHERE: Gamble Plantation Historic State Park, 3708 Patten Ave., Ellenton
WHEN: March 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
COST: Car registration fee is $15 in advance, $20 day of show
INFO: Call (941) 405-3533

Published March 19, 2014

Shutterbug shootout features Tampa Bay’s beauty

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Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or an amateur who wants to improve your skills, a new photography workshop organized by a Land O’ Lakes couple may be right up your alley.

Jason Hahn specializes in nature photography. This shot features a red-shouldered hawk. Hahn and 15 other professional photographers will share their knowledge at the Tampa Bay Photo Shootout in April. (Courtesy of Jason Hahn)
Jason Hahn specializes in nature photography. This shot features a red-shouldered hawk. Hahn and 15 other professional photographers will share their knowledge at the Tampa Bay Photo Shootout in April. (Courtesy of Jason Hahn)

Noted nature photographer Jason Hahn and wife Nicole have been laying the groundwork for months for a new regional event they hope will attract photographers from near and far to hone their skills, while also having fun.

The couple owns Outdoor Photo Workshops, which already organizes a similar two-day workshop in South Dakota that attracts about 200 photographers a year.

The inaugural Tampa Bay event, called the Tampa Bay Photo Shootout, will be April 4-6, at the Pinellas Technical Education Centers. Registration is $225, which includes an optional free Photography 101 workshop on April 4 and four workshops — out of a list of 46 options – on Saturday and Sunday.

There also are two lunch sessions with talks by professional photographers. During one luncheon session, Hahn will do an aerial photography demonstration using a drone.

In addition to the registration charge, some photo shoot venues have small admission fees. While the lunch chats are free, participants must buy their own meals.

Locations for the photo shoots will range from street life in Ybor City to nature shots at Weedon Island; from city skylines in downtown Tampa to a wet walk in a Pasco County cypress strand. One workshop the couple expects to be popular is a swimsuit fashion shoot on the beach.

The Tampa Bay area, though, offers diverse photo opportunities. Photo shoots are planned to allow photographers to capture images of classic cars, coastal landscapes, birds of prey, and scenes in a working set for “Dry Creek,” a television show shot in a replica of an 1800s western town.

Shutterbugs also will be able to work on a wide range of skills. Those who enjoy the challenge of taking action shots will have the opportunity to photograph horseback riders shooting at targets at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds.

Some photographers will want to hone technical skills, while others want to work on their artistic expression. Some may want some pointers on the business side of the profession.

“No matter what you are interested in, or where you want to grow as a photographer, we’ve got something that will fit your particular needs,” Hahn said.

The Hahns have assembled a team of professional photographers — hailing from such places as Florida, South Dakota, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Kentucky and Minnesota — to share their expertise. The keynote speaker is Jim Clark, former president of the North American Nature Photography Association, who will travel from Virginia to the shootout.

The event is intended for photographers of all ability levels, Hahn said. Some hobbyists may be trying to decide whether to take the plunge and pursue photography full-time. They’ll be able to find plenty of experienced photographers who can tell them about opportunities, challenges and joys the field offers.

“Folks that are a little bit more skilled tend to gravitate to the portfolio reviews,” Hahn said. “Some of them are trying to make that decision, whether they should jump into this and do it.”

The 30-minute portfolio session is an additional $30 fee, Nicole Hahn said.

Most participants will bring along a single-lens reflex camera, but there are those who will use point-and-shoot digital cameras, or even smartphones. One of this year’s sessions is geared to smartphone photography.

“You do have these fairly sophisticated cameras in smartphones,” Hahn said. “They take good pictures, but you’ve got to learn how to do it right.”

People need not feel intimidated if they lack fancy equipment or if their photography knowledge is limited, Hahn said.

Besides opportunities to learn, the two-day event is fun, Nicole Hahn said. “Some people just enjoy the camaraderie.”

Her husband agreed. “We can’t stress enough the social aspect of this. Photographers are a different group of people,” he said.

Photographers often want to spend a couple hours observing when the rest of the family is ready to move on. This event allows them a chance to immerse themselves in something they love, and to share the experience with like-minded people, Hahn said.

The couple said they have tried to keep the workshop’s price reasonable, to encourage participation. They also offer a 50-percent discount to full-time students.

“I’m a big believer that we’ve got to act as mentors for the next generation of photographers and conservationists,” Hahn said.

Registering for the shootout must be done online. To register or learn more, visit ThePhotoShootout.com.

Published March 12, 2014

Wiregrass Ranch has impressive science fair results

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Ryan De Vroeg’s fascination with military weapons and armor began when he was just a little kid.

He recalls watching the Military History channel when he was quite small, and being drawn to stories about how weapons work and how they’ve evolved.

Wiregrass Ranch High School student Ryan De Vroeg has a new enthusiasm for competing in science fairs since his teacher, Branden Anglin, encouraged him to explore a topic of interest to him. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)
Wiregrass Ranch High School student Ryan De Vroeg has a new enthusiasm for competing in science fairs since his teacher, Branden Anglin, encouraged him to explore a topic of interest to him. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

So, when his Wiregrass Ranch High School teacher encouraged students to do science fair entries based on their interest areas, De Vroeg decided to study the impact force of a composite material, in a quest to design safer armor to protect soldiers and law enforcement personnel.

De Vroeg, whose study involved carbon fiber, said he was inspired by a desire to improve protection for military personnel and law enforcement officers. His entry at the Pasco Regional STEM Fair — which focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics — won first place in the engineering category and was named the most outstanding exhibit in materials science by the ASM Materials Education Foundation.

De Vroeg now moves on to compete at the Florida State Science and Engineering Fair slated for April 8-10 at Lakeland Center in Lakeland. He is one of four Wiregrass Ranch High students who advanced beyond the regional fair. Other students with winning entries were Vasili Courialis, Tyler Glantz and John Pease.

Courialis, who now attends Sunlake High, designed an experiment to determine whether or not manipulating the center of gravity in an SUV could reduce the rollover rates of the vehicle. His entry was chosen to be one of two representatives for Pasco County at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in May.

Glantz looked at rocket design and which design would decrease fluid drag on a rocket in the atmosphere. Pease measured the impact force of a soccer ball, and looked at ways he could reduce that force to help protect soccer players at all levels.

“This the first time Wiregrass Ranch has sent students to both state competition and international competition as well,” said Branden Anglin, who teaches biology and biology honors, and coordinates the science fair for Wiregrass Ranch. “This is a tremendous achievement, considering that this the first year that Wiregrass Ranch sent a student to regional fair.”

This is also De Vroeg’s first science fair.

“I wasn’t really a fan of science fairs when I was younger because teachers just forced me to do something out of a book,” De Vroeg said. However, he changed his attitude because of Anglin’s approach.

The science fair, Anglin said, is not about a grade.

“All too often, we approach it as a requirement for the science classroom,” he said. “We assign the project, let the kids go, and expect them to come back with a decent project. That leads to students turning to the Internet and giving us canned projects in return.”

A science fair helps spark scientific interest in students, Anglin added.

“If I were to force students to do a science fair project only on a slim range of topics, I would get back less-than-exciting projects that were merely a copy of a project found online,” he said.

Giving students a range of options allows them to own the process, he said.

“I then help them to refine that project, and make it into a high-quality project that they can be proud of,” Anglin said.

He thinks teachers can use science fair projects to share their passion for understanding how the world works. And he shares that with students about their science fair projects as well.

“I tell them I want them to try to change the world, and not settle for anything less than their best,” Anglin said.

He believes this gives students an opportunity for an authentic way to experience science.

“They aren’t just reading a textbook or taking notes, they are actually doing science. They are being scientists,” Anglin said. “Many students, myself included, change their career path after advancing to state or international competition.”

De Vroeg’s new interest in scientific competitions may bode well for the young man, Anglin said.

“Ryan is one of my most enthusiastic students when it comes to scientific discovery,” he said. “He has a lot of great ideas, and, if he pursues those interests, he will make a dramatic impact on the world of material engineering.”

He’s particularly impressed by De Vroeg’s grasp of concepts, especially in light of his youth.

“To do this kind of work as a freshman in high school is almost unheard of,” Anglin said. “Ryan has positioned himself to be a competitor at the regional, state, and international level over the next three years if he stays dedicated to his craft and really focuses on generating unique and applicable projects.”

Published March 12, 2014