Local News

New charter school won’t open until 2017

May 11, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

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.

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

May 11, 2016 By Kathy Steele

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

May 11, 2016 By Kathy Steele

‘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.

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

Tackling problems of opioid abuse

May 11, 2016 By B.C. Manion

A panel of local people working on the frontlines to reduce the problem of opioid drug abuse gained access to the nation’s drug czar last week in a Pasco County roundtable session initiated by Republican Congressman Gus Bilirakis, of Palm Harbor.

No certain solutions were offered during the May 3 discussion with for Michael Botticelli, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

But panelists and people in the audience identified several areas needing improvement

They said:

The stigma surrounding drug addiction must be reduced
Parents need education to help prevent their children from becoming addicts
More tools and better access to care are needed to help people overcome addiction
Residential treatment programs should not be limited to 28 days
Innovative and creative approaches should be encouraged and shared
More community support is needed to help those who have completed treatment programs to avoid a relapse

Panelists said they appreciated the opportunity to talk directly with Botticelli.

Doug Leonardo, executive director of BayCare Behavioral Health put it like this: “I feel like I’m sitting next to a rock star. For folks in the field, this is the individual who has the president’s ear on policies related to substance abuse for this country. So, it’s really a big deal.”

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that opioids – a class of drugs that includes heroin and prescription pain medications – were involved in 28,648 deaths in 2014.

“We don’t have our arms around addiction and it continues to get worse,” Leonardo said. “It feels like two steps forward, one step back, sometimes.”

Part of the answer lies in changing the perception about people with addiction problems, speakers said.

“We’re talking about a brain disease,” Leonardo said. “We don’t put people in jail for having diabetes.”

Reducing that stigma can help lead to earlier intervention.

“We all tend to look the other way,” said Kelly Mothershead, a panelist who lost her only son to a prescription pill overdose. “You don’t want people to think you have a child addicted to drugs.”

Decision-makers often don’t understand the scope of the problem, said Nancy Hamilton, president and CEO of Operation PAR, an agency that screens about 30,000 people a year in seven counties.

“We admit about 14,000 into our continuum of care and we have over 4,000 people who are medicated-assisted treatment,” she said.

She hears decision-makers say, “They had their chance at treatment.”

They don’t realize that people addicted to opioids relapse most often, Hamilton said. “So, they may need two or more bites of the apple to put all of their act together.”

Dr. Laura Bajor, a psychiatrist at North Tampa Behavioral Health, said she came to a clearer understanding of the problem when she was working in Boston.

“We had a lot of clean-cut kids coming back (from the war). Guys who had joined the Marine Corps out of Catholic school and had been Eagle Scouts and football players, coming back getting paper bags full of opioids at Walter Reed (National Military Medical Center), showing back up in Dorchester and Southie (South Boston) and as soon as they ran out of the opioids, were targeted by heroin dealers that they had gone to high school with.

“It was a bit of an eye-opener to see such clean-cut guys overdosing and seeing their boot camp pictures in their obits and at their funerals.

“It really taught me that this is not a character issue or a class issue, it’s a human issue,” Bajor said.

The problem must addressed through enforcement and treatment, Botticelli said.

The Pasco County’s Sheriff’s Office agrees.

The law enforcement agency takes aim at the supply side, but also recognizes that it can’t arrest its way out of the problem.

It deals daily with problems caused by addiction.

The county jail is “probably the largest detox facility in the county,” said Capt. Chris Beaman, of the sheriff’s office.

It is working with BayCare to increase intervention.

When responding to a call, sheriff’s deputies sometimes encounter people who have hit rock bottom, Beaman said. “Maybe, at that time, we can get them to make the decision to get treatment.”

Parents need to learn what to look for and need advice on prevention strategies, and it should be offered at work places, so parents have a chance to receive it, Mothershead said.

“We have to educate before it happens,” Mothershead said.

More education is needed, agreed Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco.

“Right now, if there is any parent who doesn’t understand what SPICE is, and they think it’s something in their cabinet, we’re in trouble,” Nocco said. Abuse of SPICE, which are synethetic drugs, is growing.

Botticelli asked Leonardo to describe what he sees “as critical ingredients to get people to long-term recovery.”

Leonardo said ingredients leading to long-term recovery include some element of support, either family or someone like family; access to appropriate type of treatment for the individual; and, a supportive environment after treatment, he said.

Botticelli agreed: “We want a continuum of care, not just short-term treatment. This is a chronic disease and people need long-term care

“We have to make our communities safe and supportive for people in recovery,” said Botticelli, who has been in recovery himself for more than two decades.

Innovation and creativity are important, too, Leonardo said.

“Creativity is key because nobody is going to throw money at this problem,” Bajor said.

Closer collaboration would help, Bajor said. “We would love to network with other providers in the area to close some of the gaps that our clients tend to fall into.”

Botticelli asked Judge Shawn Crane: “What do you see as kind of the unique needs of veterans?”

Crane replied: “What we have really learned is that veterans respond better in groups of veterans.”

That’s because veterans have a unique set of experiences and a lingo that’s all their own, Crane said.

“When you are a Marine recon sniper, there’s not much of a job for you when you come back out of the service,” the judge said.

“I took people who were in Drug Court and put them into Veterans Court and into Veterans groups and they just flourished. They just felt so much at ease,” Crane said.

“We do need to look at these guys as being a little bit unique,” agreed Bajor, who was a Navy pilot. The North Tampa Behavioral Center has a program designed specifically for veterans.

“They push each other more than we push them,” Bajor said.

Published May 11, 2016

Dim those lights — and sleep better at night

May 11, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Imagine creating a device that would help people sleep better at night.

A trio of local girls came up with a prototype for an invention that would do just that.

Their idea – and the entry it generated — garnered a second place prize in the the Bright Schools Competition, a national contest co-sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association.

Sarah Szymanski, a teacher at Pine View Middle School, left, coached Grace Nobles, Catie Tomasello and Sophia Nobles in the Bright Schools Competition. The team finished second in a competition that included students from across the U.S. and Canada. (Courtesy of Heather Tomasello) — Sarah Szymanski, a teacher at Pine View Middle School, left, coached Grace Nobles, Catie Tomasello and Sophia Nobles in the Bright Schools Competition. The team finished second in a competition that included students from across the U.S. and Canada.
(Courtesy of Heather Tomasello)

The team of middle schoolers, made up of Catie Tomasello, of Land O’ Lakes and Grace and Sophia Nobles, of New Tampa, called themselves Team iLUMENate and submitted a project called “The iLUMENate Prototype.”

In essence, the prototype uses a light tracker, a cell phone app and a Smart Home system to monitor the amount of light a user receives throughout the day. The device adjusts the user’s environment to provide the proper amount of blue light exposure, for optimum light and sleep.

Besides creating the prototype, the team wrote a brief research paper and created a video for their prototype.

“Blue light is essential for regulating your circadian rhythm. You get too much of it at night, it prevents the body’s producing of melatonin. It makes it hard to sleep,” 14-year-old Grace Nobles explained.

“They say an hour or two before bed to stop using your devices. Teenagers, especially, have an issue with getting enough sleep,” she added.

Twelve-year-old Sophia Nobles designed the virtual floor plan that was used to demonstrate the concept in the project.

Catie Tomasello created a video to show how their prototype would work. It shows a Smart House, where lights are dimmed to reduce light exposure.

The girls began working on their entry at the beginning of the school year and invested between 40 and 50 hours on the project, said Heather Tomasello, Catie’s mom.

They bounced their ideas off of Sarah Szymanski, a teacher at Pine View Middle School, who was their coach. She also reviewed their research and their video, Heather Tomasello said, noting Szymanski was Catie’s former teacher.

The girls, who are homeschooled, decided to enter the contest after Heather Tomasello saw it on a list of contests sponsored by the National Science Teachers Association.

The Bright Schools Competition was open to students in sixth- through eighth-grade in the United States and Canada.

For their second-place finish, the girls each earned a prize of $2,500.

Their coach will receive an all-expense paid trip to the NSTA conference and membership to the NSTA.

The moms were delighted with the contest results.

“I was very excited,” said Shawn Nobles, who is Grace and Sophia’s mom.

“I was blown away,” Heather Tomasello said.

These girls are no strangers to achievement in academic circles.

Sophia took part in the White House Science Fair last year.

And all three girls have been on successful teams in the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition.

Both Sophia and Grace have competed in ExploraVision three times and their teams have won honors twice. Catie competed on five teams and won honors four times. Last year, her team took the top national prize.

Published May 11, 2016

Weight loss clinic opening in Wesley Chapel

May 11, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

A new weight loss clinic is opening in Wesley Chapel this week.

Bayfront Health Medical Group will open a satellite office at 2718 Windguard Circle, Suite 101 in Wesley Chapel.

The weight loss clinic will allow Bayfront Health Dade City general surgeon Dr. Naga Thatimatla, also known as Dr. Thati, to consult with Wesley Chapel patients, and have one-night stays post-weight loss surgery. The actual surgeries will take place at Bayfront Health Dade City.

Dr. Thati will begin seeing patients on May 13.

He specializes in bariatric surgery, using a technique known as the gastric sleeve, which is a form of laparoscopic (minimal-invasive) surgery removing nearly 80 percent of the stomach.

Gail Burkett underwent a significant transformation after getting a sleeve gastrectomy, losing 179 pounds since January 2015. (Courtesy of Bayfront Health Dade City) — Gail Burkett underwent a significant transformation after getting a sleeve gastrectomy, losing 179 pounds since January 2015.
(Courtesy of Bayfront Health Dade City)

According to Bayfront Health’s website, the surgery takes out the portion of the stomach that curves outward, called the fundus. Once the fundus is taken out, the remainder of the stomach is closed into a tube shape, resembling a banana. With a much smaller stomach, patients fill up quickly at mealtimes, and ultimately, eat less.

“It makes it easier to lose weight after the surgery,” Dr. Thati said. “People are not struggling to lose weight. They don’t have the hunger, so they don’t have the temptation. A lot of people, when they look at the food, their preferences change.”

The surgeon noted the procedure has quickly become the most popular form of bariatric surgery, due to its simplicity to perform, and its long-term results.

“It has less complications compared to the other procedures like gastric bypass surgery and lap-band surgery. In terms of weight loss, it’s superior compared to the lap-band and comparable to gastric bypass surgery in terms of results,” the surgeon explained, adding it takes him about 40 minutes to perform the procedure.

“Overall, it creates a new life, basically,” he said.

The procedure in essence created a new life for one of his patients, Gail Burkett, a 57-year-old Dade City resident and Bayfront Health employee.

Since entering a six-month weight management program in January 2015 to having the operation in June 2015, Burkett has lost a total of 179 pounds.

“I had never had a ‘full’ feeling, until after I had the surgery. Then I knew what feeling full meant. But I had never had that before,” Burkett said, noting there’s significantly less stress on her knees.

“When I first came to work (at the hospital), I would park as close as I possibly could park to get into the building. Now, I park up on the hill and I walk down every day.”

Not only does Burkett look and feel healthier, but the surgery has also allowed her to discontinue medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes.

Dr. Naga Thatimatla will begin seeing patients at a weight loss clinic in Wesley Chapel on Friday, May 13. The surgeon specializes in sleeve gastrectomy, a form of bariatric weight-loss surgery.

“On average, people lose like 100 pounds four to six months after the procedure,” Dr. Thati said. “The basic aim behind this surgery is to improve the quality of life with this problem of obesity — in terms of medications they take before surgery…and the activity level of what they do.”

The surgery is typically reserved for adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater — categorized as “morbidly obese.” Patients with a BMI between 35 and 40 may qualify for the surgery if they are associated with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Nearly 35 percent (or nearly 79 million) of U.S. adults are obese, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s more than double the obesity rate in 1980, which hovered around 15 percent.

“Obesity is exponentially increasing, there’s no doubt about it,” Dr. Thati said.

The bariatric surgeon blames the American environment as one of the key factors for the disturbing obesity rates, in particularly, the omnipresence of unhealthy foods combined with stressful, more sedentary lifestyles.

“The food,” he said, “is the main culprit.”

The surgeon currently does not recommend the procedure for adolescents under 18 years old, since their bodies are still developing.

“We don’t have studies to show how they react, how the body changes…so we don’t want to change anything before their body is complete,” he said.

Though the procedure’s complications are minimal compared to other bariatric techniques, there is about a “2 (percent) to 3 percent chance” of developing blood clots or leaks, the surgeon acknowledged.

“Just like any other procedure, the operation has complications, but less compared to the other kinds of procedures,” he said.

Published May 11, 2016

Saint Leo offers new creative writing program

May 11, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Poet and soon-to-be-published novelist Steve Kistulentz is a man enjoying a year of firsts.

He is the director of Saint Leo University’s first low-residency graduate program in creative writing.

The launch begins with an eight-day residency from July 16 to July 23. Enrolled students will attend seminars and writing workshops. And, they will hear readings from awarding winning writers, Jesse Goolsby and Tom Piazza.

The program will offer a special track toward a graduate degree for students interested in war literature written for or by veterans.

Poet and novelist Steve Kistulentz is director of the graduate program in creative writing and associate professor of English at Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University) — Poet and novelist Steve Kistulentz is director of the graduate program in creative writing and associate professor of English at Saint Leo University.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

In 2017, the publishing house of Little & Brown will release the 50-year-old Kistulentz’s first novel, “Panorama,” which tells the story of a New Year’s Eve plane crash and what happens to its survivors.

Before that, he will launch the new writing program at Saint Leo.

“I want to show the non-traditional student that no matter who you are or where you are or what you are doing, there is a path to success and a way to be mentored there through this program,” said Kistulentz, who also is an associate professor of English at the university.

The program confers the Master of Arts degree and is intended for completion in two years. It includes 36 hours of graduate study in fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction.

Those who want to write about war can choose among those genres and take specific courses that tackle wartime or post-war experiences.

Following the initial residency, semester work will be done largely online, with mentoring from writers with national reputations. In total, students will complete four semesters of course work, three summer residencies, and submit a book-length thesis.

Tuition is $595 per credit hour for the 2016-17 academic year. Unsubsidized loans may be available. Accreditation for the program is pending with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The special track aimed at veterans who may want to write about their war experiences is unique to Saint Leo.

“We wanted to capitalize on Saint Leo’s long-time commitment with the men and women of our armed services,” Kistulentz said.

Saint Leo also continues its tradition of reaching out to nontraditional students.

Kistulentz took his own nontraditional path toward poetry and fiction writing.

He had a nearly 17-year career as a political consultant for national campaigns and wrote speeches, television commercials, promotional materials and magazine articles.

“I have written in just about every genre,” Kistulentz said.

He was director of a similar creative writing program at the University of Tampa.

But at Saint Leo he is building the program from scratch.

“I have always known that this is always what I wanted to do, a Saint Leo-type program,” he said.

Kistulentz is taking the best of what he learned from other creative writing programs including the Creative Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa. He was at the university from 2003 to 2005 and earned a Masters in Fine Arts.

His first book of poetry, “The Luckless Age,” won the 2010 Ben Saltman Award. His second poetry book, “Little Black Daydream,” came out in 2013.

The fact that he is a college professor is to him something of a miracle. He grew up in a family of sharecroppers and coal miners.

It was the GI bill that put his father through college, and set him on a path toward higher education.

“I was the first generation in my family expected to go to college, and then continue on with my education,” he said.

But he didn’t follow a traditional path toward a writing career.

That’s what is so satisfying to him about Saint Leo’s commitment to nontraditional ways to help its students.

“I think it’s important to note that Saint Leo is one of the real innovators in providing alternative learning solutions for people with careers and family commitments who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend a graduate program,” Kistulentz said.

For information, on the program and the application procedure, visit www.saintleo.edu/admissions/graduate/creative-writing.aspx.

Published May 11, 2016

These pint-size Olympians were a big hit

May 11, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

The Pee Wee Olympics, at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, was one of those events where everyone seemed to be having fun.

The competition, held on April 30, was geared toward children 5 and under.

Styrofoam weights on the end of a plastic barbell made a fun activity for John Potthast,4. His dad and mom, Paul and Lisa Potthast of Land O’ Lakes looked on as he hoists the weights overhead. John’s twin sister, Kathryn, 4, and brother, Ryan, 7, were present, too. (Fred Bellet/Photos) — Styrofoam weights on the end of a plastic barbell made a fun activity for John Potthast,4. His dad and mom, Paul and Lisa Potthast of Land O’ Lakes looked on as he hoists the weights overhead. John’s twin sister, Kathryn, 4, and brother, Ryan, 7, were present, too.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

It gave youngsters who are too young to compete in organized recreational sports a chance to test their skills in 12 Olympic-style events in the gym.

Of course, the events were scaled down to suit the toddlers and preschoolers that took part.

The ‘weightlifting’ station, for example, consisted of two Styrofoam plates attached to a plastic barbell.

Other popular stations included the tricycle race, soccer kicking and mini-hoop shooting.

While some events — such as the ‘fast dash’ race — were timed, they were all done for fun. It wasn’t about who was the best, it was more about being able to finish the course. Kids were allowed to do as many events as they wanted, in no particular order. Those that completed every event at least once were awarded a participation medal, and an opportunity to get their photo taken on the ‘winners’ stage.

Creating a list of events and configuring them to be suitable for such a young age range was a process that took several hours beforehand, according to Mandy Stephens, a recreation leader at the complex.

Eric Schaefer, right, stands near his son, 4-year-old Cole Schaefer, of Land O’ Lakes, as the little boy tries to decide what event he wants to start.

“We were just throwing ideas on what supplies we already have…and adapting it to the events,” she said. “We had to be creative.”

That creativity appealed to many parents and guardians, who expressed their pleasure with the event.

They obviously enjoyed the event’s atmosphere, which centered on positivity and excitement.

Having the activities organized inside the recreation center’s air-conditioned gymnasium was another plus, considering the humid weather outdoors.

“I think it’s really cute,” said Cindy Griffiths, the grandmother of 5-year-old Kent Craighead. “It’s nice for the younger kids to get out, and everything’s made for the kids. When they’re young like this, there’s not a lot (out there), so this was nice.”

Mike Phillips, of Land O’ Lakes, gave the event high marks, too. “It’s really cool, I like the idea,” said Phillips, who brought two children, Kori and Rilynn, to the event.

The recreation center regularly organized an annual Pee Wee Olympics, but stopped a few years ago.

Center leaders decided to restart the event again last year and attracted about 35 participants. This year, it drew 55.

Children line up for their turn on the tricycle course during the Pee Wee Olympics, at the Land O'Lakes Recreation Complex on Collier Parkway. — Children line up for their turn on the tricycle course during the Pee Wee Olympics, at the Land O’Lakes Recreation Complex on Collier Parkway.

“It’s just something for our toddlers, or for the younger kids who aren’t in youth sports yet,” said Cindy Szappan, the complex’s recreation supervisor. “It’s something for them because the parents are always looking for stuff for their younger kids to do.

“Most of our other (activities) starts at (age) 5, (or) 6,” Szappan added. “So, it’s hard because they have active kids, but there’s nothing…sports-wise for them to do.”

With a sizable climb in participation compared to last year, Szappan plans to organize two Pee Wee Olympics events each year — one in the fall and one in the summer. Having two competitions each year will require additional help from about around 15 volunteers, officials said.

This year, several volunteers from Sunlake High School, Weightmann Middle School and the Central Pasco Girl’s Academy helped make the nearly two-hour event run relatively seamlessly.

“It was really organized and it really worked well for the kids,” said Nicole Busha, a Sunlake High junior who volunteered on behalf of the school’s Key Club.

Pee Wee Olympics Stations
There were 12 events at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center’s Pee Wee Olympics:

Weightlifting
Tricycle Rally
Mini-Golf
Shot Put
High Jump
Long Jump
Hoop Shoot
Soccer Shoot
Javelin Toss
Discus Throw
Hurdles
Fast Dash

Published May 11, 2016

Knowledge is power in the war on sexual assault

May 4, 2016 By B.C. Manion

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.

“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

Fallen officers honored at memorial service

May 4, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Dozens of citizens, along with well over a hundred Pasco County law enforcement officers, joined together at the Historic Dade City Courthouse to honor fallen officers — both past and present.

Fallen officers, both locally and nationally, were honored during a 90-minute ceremony at the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service on April 29.

During the solemn occasion, several speakers — including Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera — discussed the importance of law enforcement, commemorating those that have fallen, and those who presently serve the community.

Lopez-Cantera highlighted the state’s 2015 crime rate dip, saying, “We talk about how great it is to live in Florida and we talk about how many people are moving to our state, but don’t think for one second that we don’t always remember and recognize that we would not have these communities, these businesses moving to Florida if we did not have a 44-year low in our crime rate.

Dade City Police Chief Ray Velboom addresses the crowd at the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Historic Courthouse in Dade City. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos) — Dade City Police Chief Ray Velboom addresses the crowd at the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service at the Historic Courthouse in Dade City.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

“We do not forget that these men and woman protect our families, protect our business and even protect those that level meritless criticism against them,” Lopez-Cantera added. “We say, ‘thank you’ to those that have served, currently serve and their families.”

Dade City Police Chief Ray Velboom told the crowd he hopes “some year we could come to these services to remember those that have only lost their lives in the line of duty in the past, and we would have no new names to add to the memorials here or across the country.”

The 35-year veteran of law enforcement pointed out nationwide increases in line-of-duty deaths by gunfire, with 17 incidents thus far in 2016.

“We wonder why this is going on and despite all the many changes we’ve made over the years, we still see the violence and the death,” Velboom said, noting there’s been a national upheaval in policing since the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014.

Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was killed by Darren Wilson, a white police officer. The shooting prompted protests for weeks in the city, a suburb of St. Louis.

“While it’s been proven the officer acted appropriately, the event cast a shadow over the department, its practices and cultures,” Velboom said, adding “and law enforcement all around the country is being painted with that same broad brush.”

Velboom acknowledged the importance of law enforcement officers to earn the trust and respect of the citizens they serve to prevent issues in the future.

“We must continue to work on building positive relationships with our community and be as transparent as we can,” he explained. “We must work on this every day, with every action.”

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco discussed the cultural significance of the “thin blue line,” a symbol of solidarity for police officers and their families.

More than 100 law enforcement officers and dozens of citizens were present for the memorial service.

“We sometimes hear a few people talk about the thin blue line in a negative manner — where they think the blue line represents a policy where law enforcement officers have a protocol…to protect criminals who wear a badge,” Nocco said.

But Nocco said, “We actually hold the greatest responsibility to hold up the integrity of the badge, especially to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while wearing it,” Nocco said.

Despite recent negativity and pessimism toward law enforcement nationwide, Nocco, Pasco’s sheriff since 2011, said, “our world consists of men and woman, and families who understand there is good and evil in this world and evil must be defeated, no matter how ugly that may look.”

The sheriff went on to say, “Most importantly, our world is made up with true heroes, who are filled with so much bravery and love that they’re willing to give up their earthly body to protect another human being.

“We honor their sacrifices — not just on one day, but every day,” Nocco said.

Pasco County fallen officers

• Lieutenant Charles A. “Bo” Harrison

End of Watch: June 1, 2003

Cause: Gunfire

• Deputy Sheriff John Herbert “Bert” McCabe

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office

End of Watch: June 26, 1948

Cause: Automobile accident

• Deputy Sheriff William Henry O’Berry

End of Watch: Jan. 1, 1926

Cause: Gunfire

Constable Arthur Fleece Crenshaw

End of Watch: Oct. 4, 1922

Cause: Gunfire

Deputy Sheriff Sheldon S. “Shelley” Nicks

End of Watch: May 8, 1909

Cause: Gunfire

Others honored:

• Deputy Sheriff John Charles Mecklenburg
Hernando County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: July 3, 2011
Cause: Vehicle pursuit

• Trooper James Bradford-Jean Crooks
Florida Highway Patrol
End of Watch: May 19, 1998
Cause: Gunfire

• Federal Prohibition Agent John Van Waters
United States Department of the Treasury – Internal Revenue Service – Prohibition Unit
End of Watch: Oct. 4, 1922
Cause: Gunfire