The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Making a difference through Special Olympics

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For these teachers, Special Olympics is a longtime passion.

With nearly 15 years combined as volunteer coaches, Connerton Elementary’s Jean Howey and Jenna Moore have experienced the positives of the world’s largest sports organization that serves people with intellectual disabilities, and strives to “transform lives through the joy of sport, training and competition.”

Together, the teachers run Connerton’s Special Olympics Unified sports program, which pairs special needs athletes with nondisabled peers, or ‘partners.’

Connerton Elementary School physical education teacher Jean Howey has been actively involved in Special Olympics since joining the school in 2014. She also helps facilitate various school inclusivity campaigns such as ‘Best Buddies’ and ‘Spread the Word to End the Word.’ Courtesy of Jenna Moore)

Athletes and partners compete year-round against other unified programs across Pasco County and Florida — in everything from basketball, bocce and bowling, to track and field and cycling, and more.

The Connerton educators estimate the school features about 40 coed athletes and “at least that many on campus who are partners.”

Howey, a physical education teacher, and Moore, who teaches special-needs students, coordinate times for the athletes and partners to practice together in gym class, at recess and other planned times at the end of the school day.

Beyond that, the educators help facilitate various school inclusivity campaigns such as “Best Buddies” and “Spread the Word to End the Word.”

“Best Buddies” pairs basic-education students and kids with disabilities. “Spread the Word to End the Word” aims to eliminate hurtful language when talking about people with disabilities.

The teachers even formed an afterschool running program for boys and girls.

In addition to the unified sports, these initiatives have helped eliminate misconceptions that some may have about students with physical or intellectual limitations, the teachers said.

Additionally, it has fostered tight-knit bonds and lasting friendships between basic-education student and their special-needs peers, from prekindergarten up through fifth grade.

“They see they’re more alike than different and they become friends. They want to come play with each other and visit with each other,” said Howey, who’s been at Connerton since 2014.

Moore added, “there’s just something so pure and natural about their friendship and how they care for each other.”

It shows up in different ways, the teacher added: “Just the little things that they do to encourage each other — it’s a really special thing.”

While Special Olympics offerings have been available at the Land O’ Lakes school since it opened in 2010, the more inclusive unified program was newly introduced this year.

New Port Richey’s Longleaf Elementary is the county’s only other elementary schools that also offers a unified program.

According to Special Olympics Florida’s website, unified programs enable Special Olympics athletes to not only learn and play new sports, but also experience meaningful inclusion. Each athlete is ensured of playing a valued role on the team.

Opening the door to new friendships, experiences
The teams also provide a forum for positive social interaction.

All participants are of similar age and ability, and unified teams are constructed to provide training and competition opportunities that meaningfully challenge and involve all athletes.

The educators advocate for more unified programs to be introduced at other elementary schools, suggesting it teaches kids at a younger age the importance of social inclusion and breaking down stereotypes about people with disabilities.

In some cases, the athletes prove better at a particular sport or activity than their unified partners, to their partners’ surprise.

That signals a pleasant moment for both the athletes and their partners alike, the educators said.

Connerton Elementary School teacher Jenna Moore has been a Special Olympics volunteer coach for more than a decade. 

Said Moore, “I think one of the cool things is (partners’) realization like, ‘They can do this! They can do it!’ They’re realizing like they have this preconceived notion about what someone can do and it’s like, ‘They’re blowing me away, they’re blowing me out of the water.’”

Added Howey: “You get partnered with someone who might be deemed ‘normal’ and you’re better at something than they are? That’s a really cool feeling.”

The program also creates opportunities for special experiences.

This coming weekend, Howey and Moore will be taking eight students (six athletes, two partners) to the Florida State Summer Games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, in Lake Buena Vista.

The event, which runs from May 18 to May 19, is the culmination of athletes’ training and competition cycle for a specific sports season. In order to compete in a State Championship event, athletes and teams must have completed eight weeks of training, and compete at county and area level competitions.

Connerton students will participate in such events as bocce, cycling, a unified relay, and soccer skills. (While all grade levels can compete in Special Olympics, children must be at least 8 years old to participate in area and state games.)

During the stay, students will also partake in a dance and pizza party, and other activities led by Special Olympics, such as a free health examination, and opening and closing ceremonies.

For some athletes, State Summer Games marks the first time they’ve ever stayed the night away from family.

In essence, the weekend is wholly dedicated to the kids.

“It’s really exciting for the kids,” said Moore.

“It’s a big deal, and you can’t go there and not be happy. It’s impossible to not be happy,” she said.

Published May 16, 2018

Pasco County’s outlook is bright, panel says

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Panelists speaking at a real estate conference in Wesley Chapel last week said Pasco County has been making strides and is expected to continue to do so.

For decades, Pasco County has been considered a bedroom community — with residents making a daily commute to jobs in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

That picture is changing, said Heidi Tuttle-Beisner, an expert in commercial real estate.

“The excellent thing for Pasco County is that we now have jobs being created right here. We have big national companies that have chosen to build their developments here and hire the people that we have living in our community.

“Whoever thought companies like Mettler Toledo would be here?” Tuttle-Beisner said.

“Lots of people are paying attention to Pasco County,” she said.

She also gave high marks to the Porter family for the work they’ve done to manage the development of Wiregrass Ranch, in Wesley Chapel.

“People like the Porters have really done an incredible job of keeping the quality up. I don’t think we’re ever going to see (State Road) 54 be (like) U.S. 19. They set the standard,” she said, noting they have been strategic not only in building relationships. But also “building buildings that are attractive.”

Mark Metheny, division president of Lennar, said he spends a lot of his time trying to find locations for new Lennar communities.

A good example of the range of Lennar’s offerings can be found in Wiregrass Ranch, he said. Estancia is a multigenerational community, with a number of product lines, he said. There are homes exceeding $1 million, but there are also high-end townhomes coming in, he said.

“It’s really exciting to see the growth that’s going on in Pasco County,” Metheny said.

Clarke Hobby, a land use attorney based in Dade City, said his family has deep roots in Pasco County.

“We are very interested in the long-view of the county — building a great community, great places to live for our families and for many generations beyond us,” Hobby said.

“We’ve watched the Porter family and have seen their vision play out. It’s a wonderful thing they’ve done at Wiregrass – more than anything else, they’ve tried to create a balanced community. It’s so easy to just focus on the residential.

“The harder part is to bring the employment side and the institutional side, making sure that places like the building we’re in today, are here. Without their guidance, that wouldn’t have happened,” Hobby said.

He’s optimistic about the outlook in Pasco County.

“There’s a bright, bright future ahead of the county,” said Hobby, who has been involved in the effort to extend State Road 56 from Wiregrass Ranch over to Zephyrhills.

The four-lane extension, which covers 6.7 miles, is expected to open up within a few months.

He expects that extension to generate new activity, leading eventually to the construction of about 10,000 houses and millions of square feet of development.

J.D. Porter, another panelist, told the crowd that he, too, anticipates continued growth — as well as new employment.

He expects the long-awaited Raymond James office park to “start turning dirt by the end of the year.”

“It’s very exciting to have one big user like that, and we are waiting for somebody to come out of the ground,” Porter said.

That being said, he noted, “we are talking to two names that are bigger than Raymond James right now, in the immediate area adjacent to that.”

“The Raymond James announcement, once they finally go, that will be a drop in the bucket versus what actually comes down the pipeline shortly after.”

Porter also noted the family wants to be sure to have a mix of development, so the community doesn’t become too reliant on big users.

Published May 16, 2018

Ending one chapter, starting a new one

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They are members of the Class of 2018, and they will be marching — by the thousands — into their futures.

Students from across Lutz, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, San Antonio and Saint Leo are donning caps and gowns, and are leaving their high schools behind.

These are students who have grown up in the age of technology. They’ve mastered Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. They’re experts at posting to Facebook and YouTube. Their Smartphones are their constant companions and texting comes second-nature to them. And, someday, perhaps not in the too distant future, they’ll be riding in driverless electric-powered cars.

They’ve been witnesses to history.

They’ve seen the election of Barack Obama, the nation’s first African-American president, and also of President Donald J. Trump, a real estate mogul and reality television celebrity.

They’ve seen activism grow, and in many cases, have been a part of it.

After the Feb. 14 slaying of students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, students — both locally and across the nation — organized demonstrations to pressure lawmakers to make changes to gun laws.

They’ve also seen or have played a role in other growing movements, including the #MeToo Movement, Black Lives Matter and the Women’s March on Washington.

Soon, these graduates will be assuming a larger role in making their own mark on history, both in their personal lives and in the world, at large.

Some will head off to the University of Florida, Emory University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Florida Institute of Technology, Boston College, New York University, Duke University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Central Florida and Florida State University.

Of course, others will be staying closer to home, attending Saint Leo University, the University of South Florida, Rasmussen College, Pasco-Hernando State College and Hillsborough Community College.

Their major fields of study include aerospace engineering, computer science, pre-medical, environmental engineering, biology, health science, nursing, biochemistry, engineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, chemistry, communication sciences and disorders, business administration, international business and Japanese.

Others will be studying to work in skilled trades, or heading directly to the workforce.

Before beginning a new chapter, though, these graduates are pausing to celebrate their accomplishments so far.

They will gather at events with friends and family to savor this milestone in life.

Some commencement ceremonies will be in intimate settings; others, in huge auditoriums.

And, while the world around them remains unpredictable, it’s likely most of these gatherings will include the time-honored traditions of pomp and circumstance, caps and gowns, speeches, music and photos.

Of course, the big moment comes, for all of those assembled, when the name of their particular graduate is announced.

After the ceremonies come the post-commencement celebrations — as unique and varied as the graduates themselves.

As they head in their myriad directions, to decide their own paths in life, please join The Laker/Lutz News in saluting members of the Class of 2018, and congratulating them on their accomplishments.

Published May 16, 2018

Pasco schools adopt new safety measures

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An initiative to place school safety guards into Pasco County’s elementary schools attracted 125 applicants for 53 job slots.

Training for the safety guards is scheduled to begin in June, with a goal of having the guards prepared for duties by August. Some applicants were retired law enforcement officers.

“We’re excited about the level of interest and the caliber of people who are interested,” said Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services with Pasco County Schools.

Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services at Pasco County Schools, standing, and Pasco County Superintendent Kurt Browning, sitting to the right, led discussion on school safety at Wiregrass High School. (Kathy Steele)

The update on hiring school safety guards was part of a broader presentation on school safety, hosted by the Pasco County Schools public school district on May 7, at the Wiregrass High School cafeteria.

About 100 people attended, including parents, teachers, school board members and school bus drivers.

The presentation highlighted the school district’s response to a new state law requiring elementary schools to have armed security. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act is a reaction to the Valentine’s Day school shooting in Parkland when 17 people were killed.

Lawmakers approved some financial assistance for boosting school safety, and for mental health care. But, school officials said funding is inadequate, and won’t pay to place School Resource Officers, who are certified law enforcement officers, at every school.

The school district now has SROs at its middle and high schools. The security guards that will provide protection at elementary schools are a less-expensive option.

Before being stationed at schools, the guards will go through 132 hours of training with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

Other topics discussed at the public meeting included the school district’s update to its Active Threat Plan; the highlights of the state’s new restriction on firearms; and mental health care services.

Making campuses safer
The school district began a review of its existing school safety plan in January. The updated version was implemented in August.

Priorities are on safety, prevention efforts and working collaboratively with the sheriff’s office.

An assessment of the district’s 90 facilities is underway. The final report will look at additional ways to eliminate vulnerabilities on campuses, Kuhn said.

“We want to make sure we remain vigilant as we get farther away from Parkland,” she said. “We’re looking at how we balance our facilities so they are welcoming to the community, but safe.”

That isn’t a balance everyone supported.

One woman during public comment said, “I don’t want my school open to the community. I want it closed.”

About a dozen people spoke during public comment. They talked about their fears, and those of their children or students. They also spoke about how the school district can improve safety, and do better at communicating to parents and school employees.

Rayomond Chinoy has two children who will attend high school next year. He has met privately with school officials about his concerns.

One issue he raised at the public meeting is how school officials would stop potential shooters from entering school buildings, once they have been identified as threats. He also worries about safety on school field trips.

“I don’t think they’ve figured out a balance yet,” said Chinoy, speaking after the meeting. “I want to know this is how we’re going to fix it. This is where the money is coming from.”

Some also wanted greater emphasis on prevention efforts, and mental health support.

Browning said, “This district works incredibly hard to identify those kids who need extra support.”

But, funding is an issue.

And, regarding the issue of identifying potential active shooters, Browning said, “I don’t know of anyone who is a clairvoyant who knows what’s in the head of every kid.”

Lt. Troy Ferguson, with the sheriff’s office, talked about law enforcement’s role in school safety.

“It’s a sad commentary on society that we have to have these types of meetings,” he said.

But, the sheriff’s office monitors threats on a daily basis.

Recently, a teenager who moved from Pasco to Ohio made a threat on social media. Ferguson said he was arrested in Ohio.

And, even if it means waking parents at 2 a.m., to ask about a tweet or Facebook post by their child, Ferguson said deputies will do what’s necessary for safety.

Active shooter situations generally last 6 minutes to 12 minutes, he said.

In those moments, response plans rely on a “mitigation strategy not a prevention strategy,” Ferguson said.

The goals are self-evacuation; communications and alerts for school lockdown and barricading classrooms; concealment; and, as a last resort, countering the attacker.
“It’s literally about defending your life and the life of a child, looking for a place to take refuge,” Ferguson said.

The sheriff’s office, similar to the school district, wants to strike a balance.

“We want to be inviting to the community,” said Ferguson. “We don’t want to think about building moats and putting in big dragons, just yet.”

There were divisions among those at the meeting on whether to arm school employees, including teachers, with firearms.

Browning said state lawmakers want SROs at every school, but they didn’t provide funding for that.

“We can’t afford true SROs on all of our campuses,” he said. But, he added, “I’m not ready to arm district personnel. I’m just not ready to do that.”

Browning said deputies responding to active shooters would have trouble distinguishing between school employees and the shooter.

One woman suggested that district personnel could wear badges or special vests, if they were armed.

Some parents spoke about building modifications that were needed. For example, they said many schools have doors with glass windows that can be broken for easy access into classrooms.

Once the campus assessment is done, Browning said the district will know more about additional expenses needed to boost safety measures. The next step would be to identify financial resources, which might involve local fundraising activities.

“This was an insightful evening,” Browning said. “We’re still working through the plan. We can do a better job of communicating. The conversation does not stop here.”

Published May 16, 2018

Cost rules out U.S. 41 underpass

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Even dropping the cost from more than half a billion to $250 million, an underpass at U.S. 41 and State Road 54 would be too pricey.

Members of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization have opted not to add the underpass – also called a tunnel – to a list of recommended road designs to ease traffic congestion at U.S. 41 and State Road 54.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said “it’s worth looking at everything.”

But, the tunnel option is “cost prohibitive.”

Pasco County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization decided against building an underpass at U.S. 41 and State Road 54. (File)

Finding a solution is important because the intersection is one of Pasco’s busiest with about 100,000 vehicles passing through daily.

Members of Pasco County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization in April got sticker shock from a study that estimated the underpass would cost $550 million.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano then persuaded the MPO board to delay its decision for more research.

He questioned the initial costs, suggesting that MPO staff search for existing, and shorter, underpasses in other municipalities.

“I don’t think they found what I was looking for,” Mariano said.

But, he added: “I feel better with these numbers as far as being realistic.”

The initial study considered an underpass of 6,000 linear feet.

The new data looked at costs for an underpass of 2,500 linear feet.

Building the tunnel would have used a technique known as “cut and cover.” This involves building a deep trench, with walls, and then covering over that.

Less expensive options for dealing with traffic at U.S. 41 and State Road 54 called for elevated lanes at the intersection. The most expensive of two alternatives presented to the MPO board cost about $159 million, including about $50 million for right of way purchases.

With the underpass eliminated, MPO board members approved four alternatives, including a no build solution, recommended by a volunteer task force.

The recommended alternatives include a flyover, express and toll lanes, an at-grade level system of parallel roads, and dedicated bus lanes.

Those recommendations came from the task force, after about two years of sifting through data and road designs.

The work of the task force is part of a three-phase study of the State Road 54 and State Road 56 corridor, from Bruce B. Downs Boulevard on the east to U.S. 19 on the west.

Most recently, the task force was asked to focus on two intersections: Little Road and State Road 54 in New Port Richey, and U.S. 41 and State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

For U.S. 41 and State Road 54, task force members whittled 18 alternatives, and no build, down to the four options approved by the MPO.

The next step is for the Florida Department of Transportation to dig deeper into the details, and costs of the recommended projects. That could take a year, according to MPO staff members.

Public comment also will be sought, but a time schedule hasn’t been determined yet.

Published May 16, 2018

Solar farm approval recommended

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Despite opposition from area residents, a proposed solar farm of Blanton Road in northeast Pasco County is a step closer to approval.

Pasco County’s Development Review Committee has recommended approval of an amended ordinance that opens the way for the project’s development.

Committee members agreed with the county’s planning department that the solar farm, located on agricultural land, would be consistent with Pasco’s land development code.

Pasco’s Planning Commission approved the project in April, in a 6-3 vote.

Tampa Electric operates a solar plant at Big Bend. The company is proposing to build a solar farm, on rural land, off Blanton Road, outside Dade City. (File)

The matter now goes before the Pasco County Commission for a public hearing in New Port Richey, set for May 22. The final vote on the issue is set for June 5 in Dade City.

Tampa Electric is proposing to install about 464,000 photovoltaic solar panels on about 350 acres, off Blanton Road and Frazee Hill.

The project is known as Mountain View Solar.

About a dozen people objected to the project during public comment at the development review committee’s May 10 hearing.

They cited the loss of scenic views in an area known for rolling hills and open spaces. They called for additional county study and workshops to give residents an opportunity for input regarding how and where solar farms should be approved.

County officials acknowledged that the code doesn’t specifically list where “solar electric power collection facilities” are permitted. Decisions were made based on a section dealing with uncertain classification rules.

As a result, solar farms were deemed suitable for agriculturally zoned areas, but they also need a special exemption permit. County officials said the approval process gives residents opportunities to raise objections and provide input on the project.

But, residents said the current process is insufficient.

“It’s almost a shotgun effect, instead of thinking and planning for it,” said resident Paul Boetcher.

Others agreed.

“This involves the whole county,” said resident Nancy Hazelwood. “It’s just not our area. How many solar farms are you going to put in each district? How are you going to control that?”

Resident Judy Geiger said the county seemed to be reacting, when there should be proactive measures.

“Hire a planner that knows solar,” she said. “Let’s do solar all at one time, instead of piecemeal.”

Electric company officials say, if approved, TECO plans to invest about $75 million in the solar farm, which is expected to produce about 53 megawatts of power.

Over the next decade, TECO plans to invest about $850 million in solar projects to produce energy for about 100,000 customers in Florida.

Revised May 17, 2018

Honoring our local graduates

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The Laker/Lutz News is once again honoring our local high school graduates by publishing their names in today’s newspaper.

Beginning on page 7A, we are recognizing more than 3,500 students from the 11 high schools in our distribution area. This is the 11th consecutive year we’ve published this edition, a popular keepsake for the families we serve.

It is an honor to acknowledge our community’s young people who have worked so hard to achieve this goal.

Graduating from high school is an accomplishment that sets our kids on a path to success as they enter adulthood, and one that is critical to their future.

We read and hear much today about how our youths are attached to their digital devices and out-of-touch with anything that does not directly involve them. But, I believe that perception is greatly exaggerated, and that today’s teens are no different in their interests, worries and aspirations than those of other generations.

Graduating from high school has always required commitment and perseverance. And, like the classes before them, the Class of 2018 consists of good kids who focused on their studies, listened to their teachers and parents, and worked hard to complete the many requirements needed for graduation. They dream, as other graduates before them — to live a fulfilling life and help make the world a better place.

High school graduation is also a testimony to parents, who kept their child focused on achieving this important goal. It was their support, encouragement and confidence in their son or daughter that kept their student going when they didn’t want to do their homework or go to school and, in some cases, had even considered dropping out.

Over the next few weeks, students will proudly walk across the stage and accept their diplomas as their parents watch from the stands. The emotional high both will experience is the culmination of 18 years of love between a parent and child, and the persistence, patience and prodding that comes with good parenting.

So, it will be with well-deserved pride that parents search the listings in our graduation section to find their child’s name. And, joining them in that search will be grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, friends, and, of course, the graduate, too.

For most members of the Class of 2018, this edition of The Laker/Lutz News will be the first time that the graduate will see his or her name in print. There is something innately exciting and very tangible about having your name printed in a newspaper that is also read by your family, friends, neighbors and people you know through church, community groups, and sports and recreational activities.

Many of you reading today’s newspaper will circle or highlight the names you recognize, and will proudly put the section aside to save with your most treasured items.

Offering public acknowledgement of each student’s achievement and providing families a keepsake of this important milestone, are among the reasons we continue our tradition of producing an annual graduation section.

The names of the graduates are listed by school, in alphabetical order, in our eight-page section. In Pasco County, graduates are from Land O’Lakes, Pasco, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass and Zephyrhills high schools. In Hillsborough County, graduates are from Steinbrenner and Freedom high schools.

In your edition of the paper, will find graduate names from the two high schools closest to where you live, and also the names of valedictorians and salutatorians from these schools. In addition to graduates from our public schools, we also publish the names of graduates from three private schools in our community — Academy at the Lakes, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic and Land O’ Lakes Christian high schools.

We are proud to contribute, in some small measure, to the emotional excitement that graduation brings.

We hope that one day the graduates listed in this section will pull it out to share with their children and grandchildren — so that future generations will be able to see a physical reminder of their loved one’s accomplishment, as printed proudly in their local community newspaper.

Published May 16, 2018

Multiple myeloma group aims to provide support, information

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Camille Wilson wasn’t sure what was wrong with her when she began experiencing pain in the front of her torso, and in her back.

She was sent to a spine surgeon, who did surgery, but also a biopsy, which revealed there was a problem with her blood.

Next, she saw a doctor who diagnosed her with lymphoma — but her son, who is a doctor, urged her to seek a second opinion, and when she did, she was diagnosed and treated for multiple myeloma.

She underwent stem cell transplant, using her own stem cells.

Jim and Camille Wilson host a monthly Multiple Myeloma support group in their home, to help patients who have been diagnosed with the disease. Their support group, which has members from Pasco and Hillsborough counties, is affiliated with the International Myeloma Foundation. (B.C. Manion)

“It was probably 85 percent satisfactory, for the remission,” she said.

She remains on a chemotherapy maintenance program, which does have side effects, she said.

“Sometimes they’re acute. Sometimes, they’re not so bad,” she said. The side effects include rash and itchiness, nausea, leg cramps and neuropathy.

She’s now a four-year survivor of multiple myeloma, a white blood cell cancer that is commonly found in the bone marrow.

“Having this disease is work — to try to keep yourself stable, to keep yourself on top of all of the new things coming out, drugs, therapies, who’s the best doctor to go to,” Camille said.

“I have a primary care physician. I have a primary oncologist, and then I have a myeloma specialist, and that’s what is recommended,” she said.

“The myeloma patient journey is very difficult and can be quite horrific at times,” she said, noting, because she has experienced the challenges, she and her husband, Jim, decided to set up a support group to help others fighting the battle.

“I’ve seen other patients, what they went through, and I felt it was time for me to give back, contribute,” Camille explained.

The group meets on the third Saturday of the month at the Wilsons’ home, 6520 Yellowhammer Ave., in Tampa. The meetings are in the dance studio, Floortime Studio, which is attached to the house.

Meetings generally feature a guest speaker, who addresses issues, such as latest medications, resources that are available and medical questions. Patients, caregivers, family and friends are welcome and there is generally a free lunch, provided by pharmaceutical partners, Camille Wilson said.

The group is affiliated with the International Myeloma Foundation, and the couple travels each year to an annual meeting where they are brought up to speed on the latest information about the disease, and spend time with other support group leaders, sharing what they’ve learned along the way.

“With almost every meeting (we host), we do go around the group and each person gets a chance to speak about their journey,” Camille said.

“We share our experiences,” she said.

They also share information, such as news on medications, clinical trials, sources of financial help and other relevant data.

Newly diagnosed patients often are afraid and overwhelmed by their lack of knowledge about the cancer.

They need a place where they can talk with others who can share what they’ve learned and can relate to their feelings, Jim said.

“They need someone to talk to,” said Jim, the support group’s co-leader.

“Generally, when they leave, they feel so much better. They know they’re not alone. The roundtable sharing part of it is very effective,” Camille said.

Danny Scott, who lives in Wesley Chapel, has been attending the meetings for just about as long as Jim and Camille have been holding them. He goes to two other support groups, as well.

“You’re seeing and talking to other patients with active myeloma,” he said. “Myeloma is a disease where no two patients react, or are treated the same way.”

“You find out things that work for people, which the MDs or the oncologists don’t really know about,” he said.

There are often practical tips that others have discovered, Scott said.

The support is a good source of information from other patients about various approaches that can be helpful, Scott said. They are also can provide useful information for caregivers.

“You at least have the opportunity to seek out and find different opportunities for dealing with your disease,” Scott said, which can include things such as nutritionists, psychiatrists, psychologists and other sources of help.

Much more is known about multiple myeloma than was in the past, Camille said.

“There’s a lot of hope,” Camille added, noting there are many new treatment advances.

The support group draws members from Pasco and Hillsborough counties, Camille said. At its last session, there were 17 people, including members from Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel and Lutz.

Eventually, Camille and Jim, would like to shift the meeting place to a new location — possibly to a meeting room at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.

“My husband and I have to set up all of our tables. We’re getting older,” she said. “There might come a day when it won’t be that easy for us to do all of this lugging.

“I’d like to get into a nice meeting room in a medical establishment because we are an educational group for multiple myeloma,” she said. St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is a good location, she said. It has meeting rooms and a restaurant.

Multiple Myeloma support group
When: Third Saturday of the month, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Floortime Studio, 6520 Yellowhammer Ave., Tampa
Cost: Free
Details: The North Tampa Multiple Myeloma Educational Group provides information and support to patients who have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Friends, family and caregivers are welcome. Generally, there is a program and a free lunch.
Info: Call Camille or Jim Wilson at (813) 624-3872, or email  .

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells, white blood cells that make antibodies. A cancerous or malignant plasma cell is called a myeloma cell. Myeloma is called ‘multiple’ because there are frequently multiple patches or areas in bone where it grows. It can appear as both a tumor and/or an area of bone loss, and it affects the places where bone marrow is active in an adult: the hollow area within the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, rib cage, and the areas around the shoulders and hips. -Source: International Myeloma Foundation

Symptoms and signs of Multiple Myeloma
Symptoms:

  • Persistent or worsening tiredness due to anemia or reduced kidney function
  • Sudden pain due to a broken bone in the spine, ribs or elsewhere
  • Recurrent unexplained infections, such as pneumonia, sinus or urinary infection

Signs

  • Pain with movement and/or at night/rest
  • Pain tenderness/swelling of bone areas
  • Swelling, shortness of breath or evidence of heart or kidney failure

Source: International Myeloma Foundation

Published May 16, 2018

Hitting all the right notes — together

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It’s a Monday evening at the Dade City Woman’s Club and vocal coach Alison Graham sits at a small round table, near a bank of windows.

Girls are sitting around her on the floor, listening as Graham reads through judges’ comments from their most recent competition.

It’s a routine the girls know well.

The singers, who are members of Graham Music Studios, are accustomed to performing, and also to being judged.

Alison Graham, of Graham Music Studios, uses a blend of constructive criticism, humor and kindness to help the singers under her direction to develop their voices. (B.C. Manion)

They make frequent appearances at local events, such as the Pasco County Fair, the Kumquat Festival, Church Street Christmas, the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival, the Dade City Christmas Stroll, and the holiday show at The Shops at Wiregrass.

They compete at Spotlight on Talent, a local showcase and also every year at Access Broadway in Orlando, which has regional and national contests.

Graham’s groups have been competing in Orlando for about 10 years.

Last summer, her middle group won the national competition and this spring, her oldest group took the top prize in regionals.

Graham’s groups compete in regionals every year in Orlando, and at nationals when they’re held there. The nationals rotate between Orlando, New York and Las Vegas.

While her groups and individual members in the groups have a good track record at competitions, Graham said that’s not her focus.

“It’s not about the trophy,” she said.

She’s far more interested in the individual development of each of her singers.

Amelia Collins awaits her part during a practice on a Monday evening at the Dade City Woman’s Club.

Her groups also aim to foster teamwork and camaraderie.

After a singer performs, Graham said she tries to talk to her before the awards are announced.

She wants to know how the singer felt about the performance. Sometimes the singer will acknowledge that she hadn’t prepared enough; other times, she’ll say she gave it her all.

“I don’t care what place you got. I care about: ‘Did you do well for you?’ Did you do your best?’,” said Graham, who has been coaching vocal groups and giving private voice lessons for more than 20 years.

Striving to reach their potential
She wants her singers to make the most of their ability and to continue the quest to improve.

“One of the things I say all of the time is, ‘Good is the enemy of great.’ If you’re OK with good, you are not going to be great,” she said.

Sometimes, the judges won’t see a performance the same way that Graham sees it.

When, for instance, the judge gets it wrong in Graham’s opinion, she’ll tell the singer: “We both know you got ripped off.”

Georgia Piersall dons an apron for a practice session of ‘Opening Up,’ from the Broadway show, ‘The Waitress.’

In the same breath, though, she’ll remind them: “You can’t control the judges. You have to focus on what you can control.”

Graham has three singing groups.

In general, Showtime is made up of elementary students; Showbiz is made up of middle school students; and Showstoppers is made up of high school students. Occasionally, a younger girl may be part of an older group.

And, because there are three different age groups, Graham has set up a system: “There’s a big sister, a middle sister and a little sister, and they look out for each other,” she said.

They bond with each other and validate each other, too, she said.

“If a girl kills it and still comes in fifth, the other girls will support her,” the vocal coach explained.

Graham’s weekly group lessons are 45 minutes long, beginning at 6 p.m., for the youngest singers; then at 7 p.m., for the middle group; and at 8 p.m., for the oldest group.

It costs $50 a month for the group lessons, but that doesn’t include expenses for costumes or entry fees for competitions. Most of her older singers also take private voice lessons with her.

Graham began her career as a music teacher at Hunter’s Green Elementary School, but decided to offer private lessons when her son was born, more than two decades ago.

The waiting list for her private lessons grew so long that she decided to form groups.

Most of the singers at Graham Music Studios come from Dade City, but some come from other areas, including Zephyrhills and Sumter County.

Graham said the success of her program is a result of the dedication of her singers, and the support of both their parents and the community, at large.

“I have a lot of people say, ‘Is your job like Dance Moms? I bet it is.’

“Honestly, it’s the opposite of Dance Moms.

“When I came to Access Broadway, one of the moms had Starbucks for me. Another mom ran and got my lunch for me.

Showbiz, the middle group from Graham Music Studio, rehearses a number from ‘Wicked.’

“They are just: ‘Whatever those girls need.’

“That’s why they’re successful,” Graham said.

Occasionally, though, something will come up, and she’ll have to have a chat with a parent.

She’ll say: “My job is to do what’s best for the group, and your job is to what’s best for your kid. Sometimes, those things don’t overlap.”

Ultimately, though, “they all have to understand that I’m the one who is going to pull the trigger in the end,” the vocal coach said.

The community of Dade City provides welcome support, Graham added.

“If we were from a large town, like Tampa, you just don’t know them. But in Dade City, people know these girls,” she said.

Having the girls look out for each other is essential when they are performing at a large event, Graham said.

At The Shops of Wiregrass, during the holidays, for instance, “when those little girls come off the stage, the big girls are waiting there for them,” she said.

The girls grow attached to each other and to Graham, and the vocal coach also bonds with the singers.

There’s a lot of affection and laughter, but a good deal of focus and effort, too.

Offering criticism and kindness
Catherine Beard, a relatively new singer in the oldest group, said belonging to the group requires commitment. “It takes a lot of hard work. We all have to practice over and over, until we get it right,” she said.

She thinks the singers are in good hands.

“Mrs. Alison is absolutely wonderful. She’s kind and supportive. She’s experienced. She knows what she’s doing,” Beard said.

Some girls in the oldest group have been singing with Graham for a dozen years.

Megan Phillips joined Graham’s group 11 years ago.

She was delighted when Showstoppers received the top honor at Access Broadway’s spring regional competition. The group put in extra practices to prepare and faced quality competitors, she said.

Phillips appreciates Graham.

Members of Showstoppers rehearse ‘Opening Up,’ a song from the Broadway show, ‘Waitress.’

“Mrs. Alison is a second mom. I’ve known her almost my entire life, and she’s a great person. She’s supportive and nice, but she’s not afraid to tell us what we’re doing wrong and what we need to improve ourselves,” Phillips said.

She values the other girls in her group, too.

“We really are a family here, and I love everything about Showstoppers,” Phillips said.

Mikayla Mauradian, a member in the middle group, appreciates Graham’s candor and high standards.

“Miss Allison is truly a great teacher and we love her, and she always pushes us to do better, no matter the rating,” Mauradian said.

Georgia Piersall, a member of the oldest group, said the bond between the singers helps them perform well together.

“It definitely helps to have a group of girls who are as close as sisters to work with,” Piersall said.

Plus, she added: “Mrs. Allison is so incredibly dedicated to what she does, it amazes me. She treats us like her own and is always proud of us, no matter what.”

Graham feels connected to the girls, too.

It’s always emotional when one of her singers graduates and moves on, Graham said. “I cry every year. I just sit there, and bawl and bawl.”

The girls may leave, but they tend to come back to visit.

Many show up at the end-of-year performance and pitch in backstage, Graham said.

The vocal coach believes that being part of the group gives the girls something they wouldn’t have independently.

“Something, at some point, is going to go wrong for you,” Graham said.

The friendship and support the girls get from one another, helps cushion them for life’s blows.

“It’s having a safe place to land,” Graham said.

Members of Showstoppers: Catherine Beard, Mackenzie Ferrell, Analiese Gallagher, Maitlin Hart, Chase Hemphill, Kiersten Herman, Megan Phillips, Georgia Piersall, Shelby Surratt and Haley Sanders.

 

Members of Showbiz: Bailey Bardin, Amelia Collins, Haley Collins, Isabella Como, Emma Crist, Lyndsey Furtado, Lyra Lacson, Emily Loyed, Mikayla Mauradian, Kassie Miller, Mackenzie Robinson, Payton Rodgers, Emma Shireman, Analee Tomkow, Marlee Tomkow and Macy Whisnant.

 

Members of Showtime: Carly Bowling, Katarina Carroll, Ellie DeLoyed, Sally Harper, Larkin Mainwaring, Lacey Miltner, Emeley Poblick, Sophia Poblick, Shyleigh Reeher, Mackenzie Trenkle and Keaton Ward.

Published May 16, 2018

Calls being made to widen Old Pasco Road

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Some Pasco County commissioners are now calling for the widening of Old Pasco Road before a proposed business park is built on the road.

“I don’t want to see anything built until the road is widened,” Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said during the board’s May 8 meeting.

“We need to make sure the entire road is widened. It will be a nightmare for a lot of residents who live across from the site or near it,” he said.

The intersection of Old Pasco Road and State Road 52 is scheduled for improvements. Some Pasco County commissioners want Old Pasco Road to be widened. (Kathy Steele)

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley also supported the road’s widening. “We realize…we have to look at the road and make sure (the widening) is built sooner rather than later,” he said.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano suggested that county officials apply for a federal transportation grant from the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) program.

Moore and Oakley revisited the issue on May 10, at Pasco County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting in Dade City.

Moore said the widening project was removed awhile ago from the county’s long range transportation plan and should be put back on the list.

Commissioners have already approved a plan to spend $2.2 million to improve the intersection at Old Pasco Road and State Road 52. That project is scheduled for completion in late 2019.

Work includes pavement reconstruction starting about 1,450 feet south of State Road 52, a sidewalk, storm water, pond construction, signage and turn lanes.

The Florida Department of Transportation currently is widening State Road 52, and installed a traffic signal at Old Pasco Road a few months ago.

When the business park proposal initially came up in March, area residents opposed the project. They said there were too many uncertainties about the businesses that would open there and how Old Pasco Road would handle the increased traffic.

County commissioners previously expressed general support for the business park, but have twice postponed a final vote. Initially named the Vibrant Sun Business Park, county commissioners asked for a name change to Overpass Business Park.

County officials cited the name change as reason for the most recent postponement. The public hearing will be re-advertised with the business park’s new name.

The new public hearing is set for May 22 at the board’s meeting room in New Port Richey. Board meetings begin at 10 a.m.

The Florida Department of Transportation currently is widening State Road 52, and installed a traffic signal at Old Pasco Road a few months ago.

Another project is slated for 2019 at Old Pasco Road and Quail Hollow Boulevard.

Published May 16, 2018