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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Head Start classes offered at Nye Park

July 27, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

County also eyeing softball field upgrades

By B.C. Manion

Hillsborough County’s Head Start Program has moved into the former recreation center at Nye Park on Sunset Lane.

The program has been operating for the past couple of months and is enrolling children who will be ages 3 or 4 by Sept. 1.

Louis Finney Jr., who oversees Hillsborough’s Head Start/Early Head Start program, said most of the slots at this location have already been filled.

Children participating in the Head Start and voluntary prekindergarten programs must come from families who meet income eligibility guidelines, Finney said.

The program also gives a preference to children with disabilities.

Parents who have children in the program also must be working during the day, Finney said. The program operates year-round, except for brief breaks.

The program at Nye Park can accommodate a total of 69 children and operates from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The county is installing some fencing and new furniture to accommodate the program, Finney said. He added a that county survey showed there are children in the area who will benefit from the services.

“The parents are pretty excited about it,” Finney said.

In addition to launching a new Head Start program at the park, the county is also considering some improvements to two existing softball fields.

The county’s proposed budget, which the Hillsborough Commission will consider in September, calls for $275,000 for improvements to the softball fields, said Kemly Jimenez Green, community relations coordinator for Hillsborough County. If approved by commissioners, the money would become available beginning Oct. 1.

The renovation is intended to allow for expansion for the Lutz Leaguerettes girls softball program because the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex cannot handle additional demand, Green said.

For more information about Hillsborough County Head Start/ Early Head Start, call (813) 272-5140, or visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/headstart.

Zephyrhills on verge of economic development

July 27, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By B.C. Manion

The city of Zephyrhills appears to be getting serious about its economic development efforts.

At press time, city council members were scheduled to vote July 23 to bolster efforts to help local businesses expand and lure new companies to the East Pasco County community.

The four options that council members were scheduled to consider range from $50,000 to $100,000.

Zephyrhills Mayor Steve Van Gorden speaks at a July 11 economic summit in the council chambers at city hall. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

City leaders have been talking for months about creating an economic development group aimed at increasing employment opportunities for local residents. They also want to give young people a reason to remain in Zephyrhills rather than move away to pursue careers elsewhere.

This most recent initiative follows years of talk about boosting efforts to spur the city’s economy, several speakers at a July 11 economic summit at city hall said. The event drew about 60 people.

“We discuss, discuss, discuss and we plan, we plan, we plan and there’s no action,” said Zephyrhills Mayor Steve Van Gorden. “We must act. I believe firmly that we are at a crossroads in Zephyrhills. Our kids’ futures are at stake. Our community is at stake.”

The current effort to create an economic development group, complete with a structure and funding to support its work, grew out of the work of an Economic Development Task Force that was led by former Mayor Cliff McDuffie.

After that group completed its work, Van Gorden and city manager Jim Drumm called for a steering committee to propose the structure and funding for an independent economic development group that would be housed at the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

Once the economic development group is established, it would have an advisory board including representatives from Main Street Zephyrhills, the chamber, city staff, the Pasco Economic Development Council (PEDC) and industry stakeholders.

The steering committee recommended these four options:

—Spend up to $100,000 on economic development efforts. Of that, the chamber would receive $50,000 to provide administrative, managerial and leadership support to the economic development group. The budget also includes $25,000 for startup, marketing and operational support and $25,000 to cover half the salary of a city position that would be assigned to work on economic development efforts.

—Spend up to $75,000 to support economic development efforts. This option would allocate $50,000 to staffing the economic development group. It also would earmark $15,000 for marketing efforts and $10,000 for 20 percent of a city staff person’s time.

—Spend up to $50,000 to support economic development efforts. This option would allocate $30,000 to contract with the PEDC for a half-time position that would be devoted to economic development for Zephyrhills. It also includes $10,000 for marketing efforts and $10,000 for a chamber economic development liaison. It also identifies a city staff member to serve as a contact person.

—Spend up to $75,000 to support economic development efforts. This option involves contracting for a full-time staff member from the PEDC to work on economic development for Zephyrhills.

John Scott, president of the chamber, said his board of directors voted unanimously to support the first option.

“The Zephyrhills business leaders favor local economic development initiatives,” Scott said. “Local stakeholders are a natural resource for expertise.”

Not only are local stakeholders most knowledgeable about the area’s needs, they are also the most engaged, Scott said.

Whatever decision the city makes, it is time to move forward with a bold action, Van Gorden said. The city must have the mindset that when it makes decisions, it is seeking to create conditions that foster economic growth, Van Gorden said.

“It’s no longer OK to do business like we’ve been doing. It’s not OK,” Van Gorden said. Any investment the city makes would be tied to a measurable plan of action, he added.

“We want tangible results,” Van Gorden said. “What’s going to happen in 60 days? What’s going to happen in 90 days? What’s going to happen six months from now? And what’s going to happen in a year?

“As business leaders, community leaders, civic leaders you need to hold myself and my colleagues accountable,” Van Gorden continued during the summit.

Zephyrhills has been struggling economically, but it has much to offer, Van Gorden said. “We build from a place of strength.

“We have a proud heritage,” Van Gorden continued. “We’re the drugstore on Fifth Avenue. We’re Zephyrhills High School. We’re the Founder’s Day Parade. We are community. We are Zephyrhills. Our roots are strong.”

The city also has world-class medical facilities and a recreational facility that attracts people from all over the globe.

“Sky Dive City is a mecca of international skydiving,” Van Gorden said. “When they do things at Sky Dive City, they bring in people who stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants, buy our goods and services.”

Van Gorden also noted the city’s proximity to major industrial areas.

“We are poised to be major players, major players,” Van Gorden said. “I’m not talking about incremental change. I’m talking about transformational change that will impact our community for years to come.”

Vonnie Mikkelsen, executive director of the chamber, said she’s excited about the prospects of bringing all of the city’s stakeholders — the business community, the chamber, Main Street, elected leaders and city staff together — to work on common interests.

Mikkelsen said she loves her job, but also has her frustrations.

“As passionate, as capable as we are, and as willing to work to make this community better, we tend to work in silos, and it’s frustrating, and its very, very ineffective,” Mikkelsen said.

The worst thing that could happen at this point is inaction, Mikkelsen said. The city needs to move forward to chart its own destiny, rather than playing a reactionary role.

 

Award has local girl scouts feeling golden

July 27, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Jeff Odom

Through hours of volunteering, dedication and hard work, seven local young women completed the requirements necessary for the Gold Award — the highest award granted by the Girls Scouts of the USA.

But, it’s not the thin mints that got them there.

The seven are among the 45 from the West Central Florida chapter who earned the honor this year. The locals are Lauren Goldsworthy, Jennifer Becker, Sarah Castillo, Katherine Johnson, Michelle Newberger, Victoria Arnold and Hannah Eichhorn. Each completed an individual project to lend a helping hand to others and better their community.

Recent Sunlake High graduate Laura Goldsworthy shows off her project, Signing with Stingrays, which earned her Gold Award honors from Girl Scouts of the USA. (Photo courtesy of Laura Goldsworthy)

“I am just so happy that more people will be able to enjoy an experience that I like,” Goldsworthy said of her project.

Goldsworthy, a recent Sunlake High graduate, helped raise awareness for more assistance for the deaf at Tampa attractions.

Her partnership with a sign language club helped create the Signing with Stingrays project, which sent translators once a month to the Florida Aquarium’s stingray show to translate the spoken words into sign language. When one is not available, Goldsworthy created a video for them to follow along with.

“I combined two of my loves, which are American Sign Language and marine biology, and my goal was to make my community a more American Sign Language friendly place,” Goldsworthy said. “I wanted to provide something and make (it) more available to the guests and hard of hearing visitors at the Florida Aquarium.”

Goldsworthy said she was always interested in sign language from an early age because of how unique it is, and she wanted to use her interest to better the area.

“I’ve always grown up with people who have known and love sign language, so I wanted to continue with my education on sign language, and this project just so happened and turned out to be a really amazing project to do that with,” Goldsworthy said.

Becker organized games and events while raising awareness for her project called Make Every Day a Blessing. While at Steinbrenner High, Becker led the Optimist Service Club, which helped sustain her project at Everyday Blessings children’s home in Thonotosassa.

She said what she learned, while helping the children at the home, left her with memories and lessons that will last a lifetime.

“I just wanted to help out and give back to other people and those kids around our community,” said Becker, who is currently studying at University of Florida. “I was never really a children’s person before this, but just when I went there and saw these kids, like five kids would hook on your leg. … Even though a lot of bad has happened to them, they’re still caring.”

Becker added that she hopes to one day return to see the children and encourages others to do the same.

“I just think that going to help children that are at-risk, whether it’s the Boys and Girls Club or something, I think it’s really important for people to also be aware of and help a little bit,” Becker said. “These children’s lives would be so much better for it, and that’s the key part.”

Johnson, an Academy at the Lakes graduate, created a project to raise awareness of abusive teen dating relationships. The Spring of Tampa Bay is integrating her project into the center’s monthly programming throughout Hillsborough County.

Castillo, of Lutz, helped foster children at Kids’ Place create their own personalized life book, which let each youngster tell the story of their experiences with her project, Fostering Memories.

Newberger, a Steinbrenner graduate, used her project, called Our History, to provide fourth-graders at Lutz Elementary notebooks, photos, crafts and information to help them study history.

Arnold, of Odessa, helped teach kids about the importance of literacy with her project, Books for Children in Need.

Eichhorn graduated from Berean Academy in Lutz, which has since closed. Her project provided more than 700 books for the needy, which resulted in a library being established at Metropolitan Ministries’ local shelter.

For more information on Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, visit www.gswcf.org.

–Follow Jeff Odom on Twitter: @JOdomLaker

Survey offers look at Pasco businesses

July 27, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By B.C. Manion

A recent survey conducted by the Pasco Economic Development Council offers a glimpse into short-term plans of hundreds of companies operating in the county.

The voluntary survey, which was completed during a period of months by representatives of about 340 businesses, posed a number of questions to provide a snapshot of current plans for area business.

It asked businesses whether they plan to have more, fewer or the same number of employees. It also inquired about expansion plans, in terms of both space and new products or services, and about the outlook for capital equipment purchases and investment in training. And, it asked companies to identify how much of their trade comes from outside of Pasco.

In terms of employment, the vast majority of survey respondents expected to remain steady, with 68 percent responding they intend to remain at the same employment level.

However, 27 percent of the companies responding said they expect to increase employment, and fewer than 5 percent expect to trim staff.

On the capital equipment front, more than 71 percent of responding companies said they don’t anticipate action in that area; the remaining 29 percent did.

When it comes to physical plants, the vast majority of companies, nearly 82 percent, report they do not anticipate needing larger facilities.

Although most employers reported they’re not planning hiring sprees, significant equipment purchases or a need for larger quarters, 60 percent are planning to launch new products or services during the next two years.

A need for training also seems to be on business leaders’ minds. Of those surveyed, nearly 57 percent said they plan to allocate funds for increasing workers’ skills in 2012.

John Hagen, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council, said the survey is useful on a number of fronts.

He said the data was collected from companies across Pasco, and he credited chambers of commerce across the county for helping to make that happen.

That’s a good sign for future ventures involving partnerships with the chambers, Hagen said. “I think it bodes well to do other projects like that.”

One bit of positive news emerging from the survey is 27 percent of the participating companies expect to add employees.

Hagen interprets that finding this way: “Hey, we’re turning the corner here, slow, but sure.”

Hagen said it’s not unusual for companies to be reluctant about hiring after a recession. They tend to wait until they feel the economy is on more solid ground, he added.

Roughly three-quarters of the survey participants reported they have no plans to purchase capital equipment during the next two years, but the news on that front isn’t entirely negative. About 100 companies reported they do plan to invest in capital equipment.

Hagen suspects hiring and capital purchases will pick up if businesses find a market for their product and service initiatives.

Hagen also said the interest in companies investing in training signals that they are trying to maximize the potential and productivity of existing staff.

Employees in today’s workforce must be more skilled than their counterparts of the past, Hagen said.

“It’s no revelation,” Hagen said. “The bar is moving up nationally. We see that we’ve got to step up.”

The development council has been working with various partners on a number of initiatives to help close the gap between the skills potential employees have and those employers need.

In addition to getting a pulse on what’s happening with the local economy, the survey also looked at where Pasco companies are doing business.

Hagen said his organization asked that question because it’s important for his group to work with companies to increase their business outside of the county, or to help those that haven’t sold products or services outside of Pasco to expand their reach.

When services and products offered by local companies are purchased beyond the county lines, it increases the size of Pasco’s economic pie, Hagen said.

The more revenue that streams in, the bigger the pie becomes and the more everyone in the county benefits, Hagen said. The smaller the pie, the smaller the slices for everyone.

Hagen thinks the prospects are bright for Pasco.

“There’s really a lot of untapped potential,” Hagen said, noting the vast tracts of land available for development and the excellent road system that provides easy access to many areas within Pasco.

 

Shivvers family creates farm sanctuary

July 27, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Jeff Odom

Just off a long stretch of Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, Debbie Shivvers and her husband, Mike Shivvers, have created a place for threatened and endangered farm animals to live safely.

Amongst the chickens, turkeys and goats, the Shivvers adopted two French Poitou donkeys, which are considered one of the rarest and most endangered breeds in the world.

Debbie Shivvers scratches Mimi, one the endangered French Poitou donkeys at Debbie’s farm in Wesley Chapel. (Photo by Cameron Valdez)

At one point in the 1980s, there were only 19 of the donkey still living worldwide. That number is now more than 2,000.

The 1-year-old male, Marcel, and his 7-year-old female companion, Mimi, roams the long fields of the Shivvers’ Plott Hollow Farm. Mimi even serves as a protector of the other animals from wild creatures such as bobcats and hawks, which threaten the others as predators.

“The initial reason we looked at (the donkeys) was to protect the goats and the chickens,” Mike said. “There’s bobcats and there’s coyotes in this area, and we’ve lost a couple chickens. … Donkeys are very protective animals.”

While the couple owns a thriving grooming business, located adjacent to the farm, a lot of time is spent looking after Mimi, who is pregnant and is due to give birth in August. Mike said Mimi is already into her motherly phase, keeping the goats in line and sometimes even letting them ride on her back.

“(Mimi) will walk over to where they all are and they’ll jump up onto her back, and sometimes one will knock the other off,” Mike said. “They all want to be the center of attention.”

Debbie said the couple moved from St. Petersburg to Wesley Chapel to start the farm two and a half years ago with the goal of creating an area for threatened species to live and breed.

“I grew up (in North Carolina) with a pet goat, so that was a must,” Debbie said. “Then, once we got the chickens, I said ‘I never thought I’d love chickens this much.’ And from there it all came together.”

Mike added, it didn’t take much convincing from his wife.

“I had to think about it, but I kind of just grew into it,” Mike said. “I had never done it, since I’m from New England. Up there, we just had dogs and cats. Chickens and things were what you saw at the zoo, or the grocery store.”

Other animals on the farm include heritage breed chickens and an endangered American mustang horse, which the couple adopted from a kill shelter in Citrus County earlier this year. Mike said owners leaving their horses at pounds aren’t uncommon these days because of economic uncertainty.

“Usually when you think of a pound, you think of dogs and cats, but there’s a lot of horses there too now,” Mike said. “With the way the economy has been and stuff, people are getting rid of their horses because people can’t feed them. The hay has gone up so high (in price).”

Mike said looking after the animals is a source of relaxation. It sometimes is even a reminder that life isn’t so bad after a hard day.

“You get satisfaction out of taking care of them,” Mike said. “You’ve got to come out and spend a lot of time with them, and it’s hard not to love them.”

The couple would like to expand the farm. They would like to first add more breeds of goats and chickens.

“With the world the way it is and so many breeds on the decline or in extinction, it’s all fine and dandy to be concerned about that, but if you don’t act nobody will,” Debbie said. “It has to start with one person.”

For more information on Plott Hollow Farm, visit www.plotthollowfarm.com.

Opponents try to thwart Lutz school plans

July 27, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By B.C. Manion

Residents living near a proposed charter school in Lutz for sixth- through 12th-graders are so concerned about potential negative impacts, they have filed an appeal to try to block it.

The heavily forested school site that Learning Gate wants to use for its middle and high school campus. This shot was taken from a neighboring backyard.

It’s not the school that opponents said they oppose — it’s the proposed location and its potential for creating dangerous traffic conditions, potential flooding and unwanted noise and pollution.

They outlined their concerns about the potential development in an appeal to the Hillsborough County Land Use Appeals Board. They have asked the board to rescind a decision by Land Use Hearing Officer Steven Luce, or at least send it back to the hearing officer.

Luce granted a request by Learning Gate Community School to build on a 62-acre site near the intersection of Sunset Lane and US 41.

The school, which has won national recognition for its environmental education emphasis, wants to accommodate up to 1,000 middle and high school students on a heavily forested campus.

Its plans call for several school buildings scattered about the campus for classrooms, a green house, administrative offices and an agricultural barn.

Patti Girard, founder of Learning Gate, said the new campus is intended to allow for expanded enrollment and extended curriculum through high school.

Girard said none of the buildings would exceed 25,000 square feet, in keeping with the school’s desire to minimize impacts on the site.

Unlike traditional high schools, this one does not include a stadium or athletic facilities.

At a May 14 public hearing before Luce, Girard said the school wants to work out an arrangement with Hillsborough County to use the recreational facilities at Nye Park. So far, county officials said they have not discussed that idea with school representatives.

The school plans to have two entrances. One would be off of two-lane Sunset and the other off four-lane US 41.

Neighbors said allowing access off of Sunset would increase hazards on a road that already has safety issues.

In their appeal, they note the school does not yet have an easement off US 41 to get to the school site. Thus, they contend, it lacks the access to a four-lane road required for high schools in the Lutz Community Plan, which is incorporated as part of Hillsborough’s comprehensive plan.

Girard and experts testifying on the school’s behalf told Luce at the May 14 hearing that traffic impacts would be minimized by its schedule. The school will stagger its starting and ending times for students, thus reducing the number of vehicles that be will on the road at any given time, they said. They also will arrive after the peak morning traffic and leave before the afternoon peak traffic.

In granting the school’s request, Luce adopted conditions for approval suggested by county staff and added restrictions for turning movements at the Sunset entrance.

But a group of residents who joined together for the appeal said Luce disregarded their objections in rendering his decision.

At the public hearing, they raised concerns about potential flooding, a lack of public water and sewer services, environmental damage the project will cause and increased noise, pollution and litter.

In their appeal, opponents also contend the architectural style of the school conflicts with the Lutz Community Plan, which calls for schools to emulate the Georgian Rival-style of the community’s Old Lutz Schoolhouse.

The appeal has been set for a hearing on Sept. 14.

The appeals board can uphold or remand the case to the hearing officer during the board’s first hearing.

If the case is brought back for a second appeal, the appeals board has the authority to rescind the permit, but that action must be taken by a super majority of the board.

Anyone wishing to challenge the appeals board’s action must take the issue to court.

Land O’ Lakes claims sectional gold

July 27, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The Land O’ Lakes Little League won the Sectional 4 softball championship for players ages 9 and 10 with a 5-2 victory against Plant City on July 15.

Land O’ Lakes hosted the sectional tournament, where the home squad went 3-0 after going 4-0 to win the District 25 title at New Tampa on July 3. The title qualifies the Central Pasco County program for states.

The Land O’ Lakes 9- and 10-year-old softball team won the Section 4 championship on July 15. (Photo courtesy of Kaela Miller)

Callie Turner pitched the first four innings with nine strikeouts for Land O’ Lakes in the sectional finals. Lexi Kilfoyl closed the contest.

Land O’ Lakes needed a fifth-inning rally to win the contest, which was started with a lead-off walk from Jenna Gabrielli, followed by a single from Turner.

Asia Thomas smacked an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2. Kilfoyl put Land O’ Lakes up for good with a two-run double. Emily Bowling brought Kilfoyl home later in the inning for the contest’s final score.

Players on the squad include Kimmie Cheung, Vanessa Alexander, Gianna Degrace, Prestine Carter, Morgan Boudreau, Bianca Potts, Anna Rawls, Bowling, Gabrielli, Turner, Kilfoyl and Thomas. Manager Homer Kilfoyl and coaches Dan DeGrace and Darin Kilfoyl lead the team.

Land O’ Lakes traveled to Viera last weekend for the state tournament, but results were not available by press time.

–Kyle LoJacono

Lutz claims sectional crown

July 27, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The Lutz Little League 9- and 10-year-olds won the Section 4 championship July 15 at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, earning a state berth. Lutz got past teams from South Brandon, Plant City and Buffalo Creek to earn the title with a 3-1 record.

Addison Dubin pitches against Buffalo Creek in an 8-6 victory for Lutz on July 14. (Photo by Cameron Valdez)

The Northwest Hillsborough County program defeated Buffalo Creek 8-6 the morning of July 14. Lutz lost an 11-9 contest to South Brandon later that night, which included a six-hour rain delay.

The marathon games continued July 15 with a seven-hour contest against Plant City, which included a venue change.

The title game started at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, but finished at Dade City Little League because of bad weather in Central Pasco County. Lutz came out on top of the championship contest 11-5.

Lutz played at the state tournament in Fort Lauderdale July 21 to 23, but results were not available by press time.

–Cameron Valdez

Dream ends for Land O’ Lakes Little League

July 27, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Meaghan O’Neal

The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent

Land O’ Lakes Little League entered the finals of the Section 4 tournament needing just one more win to earn a spot in states.

It didn’t happen for the Central Pasco County 11- and 12-year-olds.

Land O’ Lakes was matched against Plant City in the tournament finals on July 22 at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex. Both squads were 2-2 entering the contest, but the home team ended up on the losing side of an 18-9 score.

Vinny Leonetti congratulates his teammate Colton Bierly on his home run that kept Land O’ Lakes Little League in the final game at sectionals.

The first five innings of the championship game looked bleak for Land O’ Lakes, falling behind 9-2.

With one mighty swing, Colton Bierly brought the home team back from the brink with a three-run homer to close the score to 9-5.

Bierly’s teammates rushed onto the field to congratulate him. He said “it felt good” to bring the team back in the game.

Land O’ Lakes pushed across four more runs before the game would end, but it wasn’t enough to win.

Manager Mike Peeples, a former MLB player, said he is still proud of the job the boys did despite coming up short of states.

“They did great,” Peeples said. “We’ve worked hard the past couple weeks and some of them have made big strides. We were short by one game and that hurts, but they did very well and I’m proud of that.

“(It took) the whole team; all 13 of them played well all season,” Peeples continued. “You saw signs of it late in the game. They kept fighting. To get this far it took all 13 kids just being teammates and playing the game together.”

Woodside to lead Freedom baseball

July 27, 2012 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

Mason Woodside was hired as Freedom’s new baseball coach July 17, taking over a program coming off its first postseason berth.

“I am extremely excited for this opportunity at Freedom High School,” Woodside said. “I believe through hard work and preparation, we can continue to build a very good baseball program.”

Mason Woodside

Woodside, 25, comes from Steeleville High in Illinois, where he was also a physical education teacher and served as the school’s athletic director.

“First of all, we were looking for a good teacher, which he is, who is also a good baseball coach” said Freedom athletic director Eli Thomas. “He came highly recommended and we’re confident he’s the person for the job.”

Woodside coached American Legion Baseball in his hometown of Pinckneyville, Ill. for three years before leading the Steeleville program for two seasons.

The Patriots’ new skipper had already moved to the Tampa Bay area when he learned of the coaching and teaching opening while on the Hillsborough County schools website.

“From talks with my principal (David Sheppard) I feel like there is a lot of potential to grow and develop the student-athletes at Freedom to become not only good baseball players, but also good people,” Woodside said. “I am very big on my players being role models for other students, as well as being well disciplined themselves as a student-athlete.”

Woodside replaces A.J. Leppla, who resigned in June following three years at the helm while compiling a 34-37 record. The Patriots went 15-10 last season, including a playoff berth as a district runner-up.

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