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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lutz News

Lutz Learning Center starts All Pro Dad chapter

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Kimberly Wilson found out about the All Pro Dad program after sifting through a few children’s books a parent had recently donated to the Lutz Learning Center.

That parent was legendary NFL coach and Hall of Famer Tony Dungy.

Tony Dungy, left, has a chat with John Viscardo, one of the dads in attendance. (Photos courtesy of Lutz Learning Center)
Tony Dungy, left, has a chat with John Viscardo, one of the dads in attendance.
(Photos courtesy of Lutz Learning Center)

After speaking with Dungy and finding out more about the Family First-based fatherhood program, Wilson, the learning center’s director of innovation, was “ecstatic” about creating a chapter at the independent private school, which currently serves 120 students.

“This is really all about connecting dads with their kids, and giving them that time to connect together,” Wilson said. “Have breakfast and sit and hang out, and get to know your kids and have meaningful discussions.”

That’s what happened at the first chapter meeting on May 18, when 15 dads bonded and shared a meal with their young ones at the Lutz Learning Center campus.

The new chapter will meet quarterly during the school year, with each session focusing on a particular topic. May’s topic was “Finishing Well.”

Fifteen fathers attended the Lutz Learning Center’s first All-Pro Dad Chapter meeting on May 18. The program uses football themes to tout the importance of being a good father.
Fifteen fathers attended the Lutz Learning Center’s first All-Pro Dad Chapter meeting on May 18. The program uses football themes to tout the importance of being a good father.

The overall goal of the discussion was to empower children to “complete what they start” and “do their best” in all aspects of life.

The topic of “Finishing Well” also provided an opportunity for Dungy to reflect on one of his coaching experiences from nearly a decade ago, when he was the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

It was the 2007 AFC Championship game, where Dungy’s team faced the New England Patriots, and quickly fell behind 21-3. They eventually mounted a historic comeback to capture the Super Bowl XLI title, with a score of 38-34.

“Everything went wrong early in the game…and it would have been easy to give up and say, ‘Oh well.’ But we didn’t,” Dungy said. “Our guys continued to play hard and work hard…and encourage each other.

“If you continue to encourage even when things aren’t going well and do your best, things usually work out,” Dungy said.

Throughout the early morning session, the private school’s dads underwent positive affirmation activities hoping to ensure their young children know that their fathers support them.

This sign tells dads what they need to do at the All Pro Dad meeting.
This sign tells dads what they need to do at the All Pro Dad meeting.

Part of the morning involved a human knot disentanglement puzzle exercise, that required teamwork, patience and perseverance, from both the dads and the learning center’s students.

It turned out to be an “awesome” experience for one dad in attendance.

“It makes you appreciate being a dad more,” school parent John Viscardo said. “It really gets you talking to your kids in a nontraditional fashion.”

All-Pro Dad was launched in 1997 by Mark Merrill, with Dungy’s help.

The goal of the program is to use football themes to speak out on the importance of being a good father, the program’s website says.

“I think really the idea behind it was getting men to understand how important just a few minutes of connecting with your kids can be,” Dungy said. “Coming to school, getting them involved in knowing where the school is, knowing the teachers, letting the kids know it’s important — it sends a great message.”

The program has spread to 1,293 schools across 46 states.

Published May 25, 2016

Lutz Guv’na candidates square off in amusing debate

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There were only supposed to be two candidates facing off head-to-head at the annual Lutz Guv’na debate at the Old Lutz School on May 14.

That was until a mystery candidate was revealed prior to the debate: Donald Trump. Or, more accurately, someone dressed in a suit sporting a latex mask in the likeness of the Republican presidential candidate.

Lutz Guv’na hopefuls compete in a makeshift bowling event during the Lutz Guv’na Debate at the Old Lutz School on May 14. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)
Lutz Guv’na hopefuls compete in a makeshift bowling event during the Lutz Guv’na Debate at the Old Lutz School on May 14.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

The entertainment had just begun, as actual Guv’na hopefuls Greg Gilbert and Andre Pamplona answered mostly tongue-in-cheek questions from dozens of Lutz residents, and family members, in the crowd.

They also squared off in a makeshift bowling competition, plus costume and watermelon-eating contests.

In between the fun-filled activities was emcee Paul Vahue of First Baptist Church in Lutz, steering the event along, all while providing several jokes and one-liners to those gathered at the Old Lutz School.

The day’s silliness was done in an effort for both Gilbert and Pamplona to drum up as much support as they could, hoping to raise as much money as possible for their “campaigns,” which ultimately go to benefitting several nonprofits and local organizations.

Those in attendance quickly discovered where each candidate’s “political” obligations stand: their Lutz businesses — Beef O’ Brady’s and Royal Bowling Lanes, respectively.

Gilbert’s slogan was “Beef it up at Brady’s,” while Pamplona’s was “Raising the education of bowling.”

A watermelon-eating contest was just one of the many entertaining activities during the Lutz Guv’na Debate on May 14. From left, Andre Pamplona, Donald Trump look-alike and Greg Gilbert.
A watermelon-eating contest was just one of the many entertaining activities during the Lutz Guv’na Debate on May 14. From left, Andre Pamplona, Donald Trump look-alike and Greg Gilbert.

Most of the adulation and amusement came during the question-and-answer format of the debate, where each candidate (and Trump) made countless exorbitant promises and guarantees.

One hot-button issue was how the candidates would prevent unwanted migrants, especially snowbirds, from coming into Lutz.

Gilbert’s solution was to have “all Canadians stopped in Land O’ Lakes.” Pamplona, on the other hand, had a more grandiose idea.

“I will build a huge wall of bowling pins around Lutz,” he said with as much seriousness as the Guv’na hopeful could muster.

Roaring laughter ensued.

The debate didn’t stop there.

The candidates disputed: Who should appear on the nickel: Homer Simpson versus Hillary Clinton. How to spend Lutz citizens’ money wisely: Beef O’ Brady’s versus Royal Bowling Lanes.

But, they agreed on one thing: How to appeal to women voters — with their good looks.

Another key, and laughter-filled, moment came when the candidates were asked, “What song best describes your work ethic?”

Gilbert answered swiftly, “It’s 5 O’ Clock Somewhere,” naming the popular tune by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett.

Pamplona opted to sing — or to attempt to sing — the lyrics to the hit Rihanna song, “Work,” perhaps appealing to the younger “voters.”

The candidates’ performances throughout the afternoon festivities did enough to even impress two former Guv’nas.

“I think they did a fantastic job on their answers,” said Suzin Carr, the only two-time Guv’na. “We’ve got 2 ½ candidates that were really putting themselves out there for the community.”

“They did great,” said Jennifer Rankin, outgoing Guv’na who raised more than $9,200 throughout her 2015 race. “They did very well. I wanted to be up there.”

The annual Guv’na Race fundraiser continues through the Fourth of July weekend, where the winner is announced, and earns the coveted “sash” from Rankin, the prior year’s winner.

The race, which started in 1991, is sponsored by the Lutz Civic Association. It typically raises several thousand dollars for about 20 beneficiaries.

Dignitaries at Saturday’s event included volunteers from Steinbrenner High School, the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, the GFWC Little Women of Lutz, representatives from the Old Lutz School and the Lutz Civic Association.

For more information on getting involved or participating in Guv’na fundraising events, contact Greg Gilbert at (813) 909-2300 or , or Andre Pamplona at (813) 949-3603 or .

Published May 18, 2016

Lutz Guv’na Race Kickoff set for May 14

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Get your checkbooks ready, the annual Lutz Guv’na Race is underway.

Two candidates: Greg Gilbert of Beef O’ Bradys in Lutz and Andre Pamplona of Royal Bowling Lanes, will face off in the 2016 Guv’na Debate on May 14 at the Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41. The debate will run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. as both candidates field questions from the audience and partake in quirky activities to raise money for their “campaigns,” with proceeds benefitting local nonprofits and community organizations. The event is free and the public is welcome.

“They’re two very good and solid candidates.” – Suzin Carr on Lutz Guv’na candidates Greg Gilbert and Andre Pamplona. (Courtesy of Suzin Carr)
“They’re two very good and solid candidates.” – Suzin Carr on Lutz Guv’na candidates Greg Gilbert and Andre Pamplona.
(Courtesy of Suzin Carr)

“They’re always very tongue-in-cheek kind of things, and they’re doing those to earn money for their campaigns,” said Suzin Carr, ambassador for the Lutz Guv’na Race. “The whole goal of the Guv’na race is to raise the most money and ‘buy their way into office’ and we proudly admit that in Lutz.”

The annual charity event— which started in 1991— is sponsored by the Lutz Civic Association, and typically raises several thousand dollars for about 20 beneficiaries.

The race continues through the Fourth of July weekend, where the winner is announced, and earns the coveted “sash” from the prior year’s winner. Last year’s winner was Jennifer Rankin, who raised more than $9,200 throughout the 2015 race.

“It’s been going on for more than 25 years and it’s just a wonderful event that benefits a lot of nonprofits and community organizations in the area, like the scouts and the Old Lutz School and the Friends of the Library,” Carr said. “They all get a portion of the money that is raised by writing grants for that money once it’s raised by the Lutz Guv’na Association.”

Typically, the race has about three or four candidates, Carr said, adding, there’s still time is anybody wants to step into the race.

The debate emcee will be Paul Vahue of First Baptist Church in Lutz, whom Carr described as “a very funny guy.”

Carr, a former two-time winner of the Guv’na Race, is also seeking additional community involvement and volunteers for the Guv’na festivities.

“We are really encouraging the community to come out,” she said. “We really need community involvement for programs like this to continue.”

For more information, contact Suzin Carr at (813) 453-5256.

Published May 11, 2016

New charter school won’t open until 2017

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Several families in the Lutz and Land O’ Lakes area were anticipating Sunlake Academy of Math and Science to open in time for the 2016-2017 school year, but that isn’t going to happen.

Instead, the public charter school, which is being built at 18711 North Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz, is set to open in August 2017.

This is a prototype of what Sunlake Academy will look like once it’s complete. The 40,000-square-foot facility expects to accommodate 1,150 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade. (Photos courtesy of Charter School Associates)
This is a prototype of what Sunlake Academy will look like once it’s complete. The 40,000-square-foot facility expects to accommodate 1,150 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade.
(Photos courtesy of Charter School Associates)

The school, operated by Charter School Associates (CSA), scheduled a Parent Information Session on April 11, expecting to open for the 2016-2017 school year. But on April 27, Michael Strader, president of Charter School Associates, addressed a letter to parents and guardians, saying, “the opening of Sunlake Academy of Math and Science will be deferred to August 2017.”

He explained the delay this way: “Although the property developer and general contractor were originally confident that our new school would be ready for the Aug. 10 opening date, we recently learned that delays in the receipt of various building and site permits will push the completion of the school past that date.”

In an interview with the Laker/Lutz News, Strader indicated his group tried finding a temporary facility to hold classes until construction was complete, but to no avail.

“We couldn’t find an existing facility nearby that would be within a reasonable commute—like people who live close to where the school is planned—that would accommodate the number of students that made applications,” Strader said. “We really…examined a number of options, including area churches. We looked to see if there were any hotels with large conference facilities or meeting facilities in the immediate area, and there just seemed to be none available that we could schedule for several weeks.”

The highway entrance of Sunlake Academy, at 18711 North Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz. Up until April 27, the school advertised it would open in August 2016.
The highway entrance of Sunlake Academy, at 18711 North Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz. Up until April 27, the school advertised it would open in August 2016.

Several parents suggested the possibility of utilizing portable classroom buildings in the short-term. However, Strader noted portable classrooms weren’t really a feasible option, either.

“The only thing with portables is they require many of the same infrastructure that a permanent building would require with utility connections, hard roads for life safety vehicles — fire trucks, ambulances — so portable classrooms aren’t as simple as just bringing them in and setting them up,” Strader said.

Sunlake Academy was originally proposed to be located on an 8.4-acre piece of land at the southwest corner of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard. However, those plans changed after objections from nearby residents and numerous conditions attached to the county’s approval for the site.

Changing locations and obtaining site permits for the North Dale Mabry location has been an ongoing process, Strader acknowledged.

“I understand that (the North Dale Mabry) area is going through a whole new floodplain recalculation by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, so that had some kind of impacts on it, and we were just later than anticipated in receiving all the site permits, and that’s what ultimately put the project behind,” the CSA president said.

Once open, the 40,000-square-foot, two-story charter will be large enough to accommodate about 1,150 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade. The charter, which will be tax-funded and tuition-free, is expected to pull students from within a 5-mile radius of the school’s location, which is about a half-mile north of Exciting Idlewild Boulevard.

It will have a focus on STEM curriculum, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math. It also will offer an interdisciplinary approach to learning, in which lessons will emphasize the interrelationships between various subjects.

The school’s features will include a library and media center, science laboratories, computer labs, art rooms and an area for outdoor activities.

Despite the school’s deferred opening, Strader said he’s had conversations the school’s developer, Charter School Properties, to ensure construction isn’t delayed even further, “so that prospective parents could certainly see a building there and have confidence that the school will indeed be ready for August 2017.”

According to Strader, the school was expected to be built in two phases, progressively adding more students during each phase. Now with the additional construction time, both phases should be complete for the 2017-2018 school year.

“There was a lot of interest in the school and we had done quite well with interested parents,” he said. “So, if the demand is still there next year, we’ll have the facilities to grow…beyond the initial 600 students that we’d anticipated for this year.”

Published May 11, 2016

Health care facility coming to Lutz

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A Nashville-based hospital system plans to build a healthcare facility on an out parcel at the entrance to Walmart, the discount chain flanked on either side by North Dale Mabry Highway and Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

Mark Cooney – known as “The Land Shark” – closed a deal to sell an approximately 1.6-acre plot to New Port Richey Hospital Inc., for about $1.6 million, according to a news release from The Land Sharks LLC.

New Port Richey Hospital is a subsidiary of HCA Holdings Inc., which owns the Medical Center of Trinity among its many healthcare facilities. The seller was Hagman Properties Inc., and Canaan Development Corporation.

The site, at 1575 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Lutz, is across from a vacant lot where owners of Famous Tate plan to build a new appliance store.

Another outparcel is slated for a Stor-Kwik Self Storage. A restaurant and automobile store also are possible new additions that will be announced soon, the news release says.

More out parcels are available, with the potential for five to six new tenants.

While much of the recent development attention in Pasco County has focused on State Road 54, vacant land along U.S. 41 is stirring renewed interest in the Land O’ Lakes and Lutz areas, Cooney said, in an interview.

Five auto and tire companies have inquired about one of the parcels outside Walmart, he said, adding that one prospective buyer called Walmart a “magnet” for neighborhood development.

“We want the right mix,” Cooney said. “We’re really glad with what we have right there.”

The parcels have been marketed for about two years. One issue giving some developers pause was traffic in and out of the site.

But Cooney said a traffic signal with a new left turn at the North Dale Mabry Highway entrance to the shopping center received the green light from Florida Department of Transportation.

The eastern entrance off U.S. 41 already has a traffic signal.

Published May 11, 2016

Carrying a torch for peace

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‘Peace

Such a wonderful thing

It makes you think of a bell’s ring’

The message of peace in Jonathan Fields’ poem hung in the air.

It was written on paper, dangling on a string — reminiscent of  a knitted square in a quilt of poetry made by students at Learning Gate Community School.

Natabara Rolloson of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Peace Run leads Learning Gate students on a race across the campus. (ourtesy of Pierre Lantuas-Monfouga)
Natabara Rolloson of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Peace Run leads Learning Gate students on a race across the campus.
(Courtesy of Pierre Lantuas-Monfouga)

About 600 students at the Lutz-based charter school shared artwork, poetry and songs of peace with the North American torch relay team from the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Peace Run.

About a dozen relay runners dropped by both Learning Gate campuses on May 3.

The kindergarten through sixth grade school is on Hanna Road. The school for seventh- and eighth-graders is on Lutz Lake Fern Road.

The torch runners also made visits to a school and neighborhood center in Pinellas County before heading to Alabama.

The team is on a 10,000-mile North American relay that began in New York City in mid-April and will finish in New York in mid-August. Members represented several countries including the United States, France and Hungary.

The “Peace Run” is the inspiration of Sri Chinmoy, an athlete, philosopher, artist, musician and poet who organized the inaugural run in 1987 to promote international friendship. Since then more than 5 million people have participated and runners have visited more than 140 countries, according to the website for the Peace Run foundation.

Cathy Oerter, left, gave certificates of excellence from the Al Oerter Foundation to Learning Gate students, Simon Noguerol and Kaitlyn Detuccio. Al Oerter was a four-time Olympic gold medalist. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
Cathy Oerter gave certificates of excellence from the Al Oerter Foundation to Learning Gate students Simon Noguerol and Kaitlyn Detuccio. Al Oerter was a four-time Olympic gold medalist.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

To prepare for the visit, Learning Gate students wrote poems. First-graders created paper chains with messages for peace. Students also practiced songs to perform for their guests.

“Each student wrote a way they show peace to each other,” said first-grader Margo Armstrong who read from a statement from classmates on why they made the peace chain.

“You children are definitely the voices of the world,” said Cathy Oerter.  “It’s all about the journey of self-discovery.”

Oerter’s husband, Al Oerter, was a four-time Olympic gold medalist in the discus throw. He was the first athlete to win gold at four consecutive Olympic games, setting records each time.

He died in 2007 but his nonprofit Al Oerter Foundation continues to promote character and integrity through support for sports and the arts.

His wife said the foundation often partners with the Sri Chinmoy relay runs.

She presented certificates of excellence to two Learning Gate fifth-graders Simon Noguerol and Kaitlyn Detuccio.

Several students read their poems.

Learning Gate fifth-grader J. B. Montague, holds the relay torch with Andran DeAngelo, captain of the relay team for the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Peach Run.
Learning Gate fifth-grader J. B. Montague, holds the relay torch with Andran DeAngelo, captain of the relay team for the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Peach Run.

Fourth-grader J.B. Montague shared his mathematical prowess, detailing his classmates’ accomplishments in March, the national month for reading awareness.

He added up more than 12 million seconds spent in reading.

The motto for the bi-annual torch relay is ‘Peace begins with me.”  The run promotes the universal connections among people around the world, said Arpan DeAngelo, the United States team captain.

Besides the North American relay, a second team began a 16,000-mile run in Portugal in February and that will conclude in Rome in October. A third relay in the South Pacific begins this month.

Relay runner Natabara Rolloson led students on a brief race as a “peace train” across campus, leading the way and carrying the flaming torch. At the end, students were invited to walk up, touch the torch and make a wish for peace.

“It helps children and adults to realize that peace is very natural to anyone of any age,” said DeAngelo.

For information, visit PeaceRun.org.

Published May 11, 2016

 

Knowledge is power in the war on sexual assault

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A group of men and women gathered at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch on April 26 for a community seminar on the issue of sexual assault.

The Sexual Assault Awareness Symposium, co-sponsored by PHSC and Sunrise of Pasco County Domestic & Sexual Violence Center covered a social issue that’s often difficult for people to talk about.

It’s a widespread problem, however.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20 percent to 25 percent of college females are raped at some point in their college career.

Terri O’Brien, of Sunrise of Pasco County Inc. Domestic & Sexual Violence Center, said sexual violence is any kind of unwanted sexual contact. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Terri O’Brien, of Sunrise of Pasco County Inc. Domestic & Sexual Violence Center, said sexual violence is any kind of unwanted sexual contact.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

It’s an issue that affects the way people think and how they live, said Terri O’Brien, director of training for Sunrise.

About midway through the seminar she asked the same question twice — first to the men assembled, and then to the women.

“What precautions do you take on a daily basis to avoid being sexually assaulted?” she asked.

The men offered no response.

The women, however, did: “Don’t walk to my car alone at night,” one said.

“Watch what you drink at the bar,” said another.

“Have my keys out (when walking to the car),” replied a third.

If she didn’t have to worry, O’Brien said, “I’d sleep with my windows open at night.”

It’s a fear that judges others with a broad brush, she added.

When women walk alone at night, they put their guard up, if they see a male approaching, O’Brien added. It can be “the nicest guy in the world” but most women view him “as a potential threat,” she said.

Such concerns, however, pale in comparison to the trauma that occurs to someone who is sexually assaulted, the experts at the seminar said.

“It changes their entire lives,” said Clarice Freese, a Sunrise counselor who has worked with survivors of sexual violence for 40 years.

The impact of sexual violence affects survivors, loved ones, the community and society, O’Brien said.

“Sexual violence is any type of unwanted sexual contact,” O’Brien said.

“It’s (sexual assault) not about sex. It’s about power, control and anger,” Freese said.

There are lots of ways to pressure people to have unwanted sex, O’Brien said, asking members to offer their thoughts on some of the possibilities.

“Guilt,” one suggested – “Don’t you love me?”

“Blackmail,” said another – “I’m going to out you.”

“Abuse of authority” and ”physical dominance” were other responses offered.

Sexual assault is a hard topic to talk about, Freese said, especially for survivors.

“You’re terrified that you’re going to be blamed,” she said.

When someone is assaulted, it is common to feel numb, she said.

But as those feelings wear off, a rape survivor often feels the need to talk about it.

For those who don’t know where to turn, the rape crisis hotline is a good place to start, Freese said.

“When you call a 1-800 number, wherever you’re calling from, you will be connected to the closest available rape crisis center, automatically connected,” she said.

“When I make that call, I begin to connect with someone that is going to listen through my experience. They will not judge me. They will not make demands of me. They will not say I have to, or I should. They will give me concrete, good information,” Freese said.

“What is information? Information is power,” Freese said.

Clarice Freese, a counselor to survivors of sexual violence, said unfortunately not enough has changed in the 40 years she’s been working the in field.
Clarice Freese, a counselor to survivors of sexual violence, said unfortunately not enough has changed in the 40 years she’s been working the in field.

“I’m going to be given enough information to make a good choice for myself.

“Rape is a crisis. It’s a big one,” Freese said.

But survivors can find their way back from it and they don’t have to do that alone, she said.

What you can do:

  • Call the hotline at (352) 521-3120 or call 911, if you choose to report
  • If reporting, consider not washing or changing clothes. Important evidence may be collected.
  • You have a right to a free exam, whether you report or not.

• If you are unsure of what to do, consider speaking to a rape crisis counselor or someone you trust. Sunrise of Pasco County, Inc. Domestic & Sexual Violence Center, provides services free of charge. For more information, visit SunrisePasco.Org or call (352) 567-1681.

Published May 4, 2016

Papal honors bestowed during special ceremony

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The pastors of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes and Saint Peter the Apostle in Trinity have received honors bestowed by Pope Francis.

The Rev. Ron Aubin and the Rev. Dennis Hughes now have an additional title, besides pastor and father — they now also bear the title of monsignor, a designation that is bestowed on those who have been named a Chaplain of His Holiness.

The Rev. Ron Aubin, left, of Our Lady of the Rosary, has received the title of monsignor. He is shown here with the Most Rev. Robert Lynch, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. (Courtesy of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church)
The Rev. Ron Aubin, left, of Our Lady of the Rosary, has received the title of monsignor. He is shown here with the Most Rev. Robert Lynch, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
(Courtesy of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church)

The Most Rev. Robert Lynch, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, nominated the men for the honor, which was officially conferred during a special ceremony on April 17 at the diocese’s Bethany Center in Lutz.

The evening also included the award of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal to 14 recipients. One person also received the Benemerenti Medal.

To be nominated to be designated as a monsignor, one must be at least 65 years old, Aubin said.

It’s typically a recognition for efforts made over a lifetime of ministry, said Aubin, who said he grew up in Catholic family, attending Catholic schools and felt called early on to be a priest.

He was surprised when he got the call from the bishop, informing him he was being nominated for the honor.

“It’s nice to be recognized,” Aubin said, adding that he thinks the older parishioners at Our Lady of the Rosary were more excited than he was by the honor.

While he is grateful to Bishop Lynch and Pope Francis for the designation, he said, “As far as I’m concerned, there’s no better title than Father.”

Aubin also noted: “when the kids started calling me Papa Ron, that was the best honorific.”

“I’m just a pastor. That’s all I am. It’s all I wanted to be,” Aubin said.

The Rev. Dennis Hughes, pastor of Saint Peter the Apostle Church in Trinity, also has received the title of monsignor. (File photo)
The Rev. Dennis Hughes, pastor of Saint Peter the Apostle Church in Trinity, also has received the title of monsignor.
(File photo)

The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal, considered the highest honor which the church awards to its lay and religious members, is granted by the Pope following the nomination of a bishop, who provides a case statement regarding the nominee’s worthiness for the designation.

Including those designated during the ceremony, only 62 men and women in the diocese of St. Petersburg have received this distinction in the past 20 years.

Local recipients of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal were: Gerald Phillip Giglia, of St. Timothy Church in Lutz and,  Arthur Francis Kirk, former president of Saint Leo University, of St. Leo Abbey/St. Rita Catholic Church, Dade City.

Published on May 4, 2016

 

Putting the spotlight on substance abuse

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Taking aim at substance abuse requires a new mindset, if efforts are to succeed, speakers said at the fifth annual Substance Abuse Prevention Conference on April 29.

The biggest crisis hitting Florida today is the heroin and opioid epidemic, but the issue isn’t treated that way, said Mark Fontaine, executive director of Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association.

“We have 13 cases of Zika virus and we write all about the 13 cases of Zika virus.

“We have people dying every day in this state from heroin and from other drugs — we have more deaths in Florida than from auto accidents or from firearms, from addiction. That is not on the front page every day.

“In the city of Delray, there were 163 overdoses from January through the end of March,” Fontaine added. “We need a higher profile around this issue.”

His remarks came during a panel discussion at a conference that drew about 400 people to the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel. The conference was presented by BayCare Behavioral Health and the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP).

The panel was just one of many ways that conference-goers could learn more about substance abuse issues and ways to tackle the problem. There were vendors there and numerous breakout sessions during the afternoon.

During the panel discussion, Fontaine said it’s not enough to merely focus attention on the problem of substance abuse, there’s also a need to shift society’s attitude about addressing it.

“This is a health condition. This is not a criminal justice condition. People have drug problems and they are addicted to drugs. We need to change the conversation to this being a condition that needs help, it needs assistance, it needs information, we need to make treatment available,” Fontaine said.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco characterized the issue as a community problem, requiring a united response.

“Our jail is probably the largest hospital in the county because we’re dealing with so much addiction,” Nocco said.
“Our role is to break up the criminal enterprise. But law enforcement alone cannot win the war on drugs,” he said.

People with substance abuse will find a way to fuel their addiction, he said. “That’s a mental health issue. That’s a healthcare issue.”

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said the issue hits close to home because she has a relative who has struggled. She said the county has taken aim at drug houses, through the county’s code enforcement efforts.

Michael J. Napier, administrator for the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County, said a more coordinated approach is needed, tied to specific goals.

“We’re really at a point where we need to be able to do an assessment of — what is the status of Pasco County?” Napier said.

He suggests that it’s time to “put a stake in the ground, set some measures and then hold ourselves each accountable that we accomplish that measure.

“It isn’t always about dollars. It’s about organizations and aligning resources,” Napier said.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning agreed with both Nocco and Napier.

““It is a community problem. We are in this together. We have to get it fixed together,” Browning said. “We need to have a coordinated effort. We need to have a plan. We need to be committed to it.”

The substance abuse problem is widespread, Browning said. “We deal with affluent families and we deal with families in poverty. What I find is that substance abuse issues cut across all socioeconomics.”

It’s a problem that can affect any family, agreed Kelly Mothershead, owner of A Focus on Fitness, based in Wesley Chapel.

“I’m actually a parent of an only child who died from a prescription drug overdose five years ago. It was devastating,” Mothershead said. “None of us thinks our child will be a prescription drug addict.”

Her son was in culinary school and was injured at work. He was prescribed Oxycontin, and it snowballed from there. He went through rehab, was injured at work again, and once again received a prescription for Oxycontin – despite Motherhead’s objections. He died of an overdose three days later.

She decided to get involved.

“We need to talk about it. We don’t talk about drug addiction because there’s a stigma attached to it. We don’t want anyone to know that our child is addicted to drugs. We don’t want anyone to know that there’s someone in our family that’s a recovering addict,” Mothershead said.

That has to change, she added.

“It’s a disease and we need to come together to fix it.

“We have to educate ourselves, our businesses, our communities — not just our kids,” Mothershead said. She suggests delivering some of this education in the work place, to give working parents access to the information.

Involvement is exactly what’s needed, said Lt. Commander Michael Muni, who served on President Barack Obama’s National Heroin Task Force and was one of the event’s keynote speakers.

It’s difficult work, Muni said.

“There’s not very much recognition for doing this work. There is no fame. There is no fortune in this work,” he said.

But it’s essential to have goals, in order to make progress, he said.

He encouraged conference-goers to be inspired and to step up their efforts.

“The time will never be right. The place will never be right. The situation will never be right. You have to make the opportunity. You have to make the conscious decision that you want to do something great.

“Greatness is a lot of small things, done well. And, it’s done at a local level,” Muni said.

 

Published on May 5, 2016

 

 

Panhandling off-limits in Pasco

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Pasco County commissioners have approved a ban aimed at preventing street-corner panhandling in the county.

That action came despite pleas from those who had been selling newspapers in the county on Sundays.

By adopting a total ban, the county would cost workers’ wages and jobs, opponents said.

“I’m begging you, please understand you are affecting so many people,” said Renee Contreras, who oversees workers who sell newspapers on Sundays in the Wesley Chapel area.

Commissioners were unmoved, and on April 26 unanimously approved the total ban.

The ordinance is similar to ones in Hillsborough County and the City of St. Petersburg.

It bans “soliciting or attempts to solicit employment, business, contributions, donations, or sales or exchanges, of any kind from the driver or an occupant of a motor vehicle, or distributing or attempting to distribute any goods or materials to the driver or an occupant” of the motor vehicle.

Data presented to commissioners reported 173 pedestrian-related crashes in 2015, with 13 fatalities. The highest volume of fatal crashes happened on Saturday and Sunday, and occurred more often in daylight than evening.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco also said that people were taking advantage of the Sunday exception to the ordinance.

“They are switching over from selling newspapers to panhandling,” he said. “By afternoon, they switch out signs. It goes back to — there is a public safety issue.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells brought up the issue in March after hearing about a veteran who was killed while selling newspapers along U.S. 19.

Commissioners then directed staff members to draft the new ordinance.

“It’s an unsafe practice for all involved,” Wells said, adding that he believes Pasco does everything possible to help residents in need.

While Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano sympathized with those selling newspapers, he said, “It’s just not working out. It’s unfortunate we have to take this strong step.”

Hugh Townsend, of the Hunter’s Ridge homeowners’ association, said panhandling “is of grave concern.”

Residents have dealt with litter, broken lights around the community’s monument sign and destruction to landscaping.

“I’d rather see them set up in a parking lot,” Townsend said.

From his wheelchair, Clifton Levigne told commissioners that he and others need the money they earn from selling Sunday newspapers.

“We have to count on selling newspapers, or else we can’t have enough to get through the week,” he said. “We’re not panhandlers.”

Contreras said the ordinance would hurt people trying to work for a living, but probably won’t stop panhandling.

“They (panhandlers) just cost us all our jobs,” she said.

Published on May 4, 2016