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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Local dancer gets big break in ‘The Greatest Showman’

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When Chelsea Caso recently went to watch “The Greatest Showman” at Cobb Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel, she wasn’t going to watch just any movie.

She was going to watch a movie that she is in.

And, the young woman who grew up in Lutz, didn’t go to the viewing alone. She joined 115 of her favorite people for a private screening.

Her family was there.

Her neighbors were there.

Chelsea Caso hugs one of her supporters before a private screening of ‘The Greatest Showman’ begins at Cobb Grove 16. Caso plays the role of Dancer Oddity 5 in the film, which celebrates diversity and the vision of P.T. Barnum, of circus fame.

Dancing friends she’d made through the years were there.

Former teachers were there.

People from every part of her life were there — to share a moment with her that had been about 18 years in the making.

“We’re just bursting with pride,” her mother, Kim Caso said, adding that having a private screening with family and friends had been part of the plan ever since Chelsea landed the role.

Chelsea, who has been dancing since she was 2, is Dancer Oddity No. 5 in the film.

“I’m the tattoo lady,” she said.

It’s a nonspeaking role, but offered Chelsea the chance to dance — the thing that she loves best.

During the audition, she recalls thinking: “This is exactly what I want to do.”

The movie, which stars Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron, has already been nominated for a Golden Globe for best motion picture, musical or comedy. Hugh Jackman also has been nominated for best performance by an actor in that category.

Chelsea is still trying to take it all in.

“I don’t have words yet. I really don’t. It’s just so much to process,” she said, before joining her friends and family for the private screening.

“I took my grandma and my mom and my godparents this morning, and they were all crying,” Chelsea said.

“I was sitting there thinking, all of the hard work, all of the hours and all of the work that she’s put in — it makes it all worthwhile,” said Eileen Hoffman, of Lutz, who is Chelsea’s grandma.

“I am so thankful that she is part of something that is so amazing. To be in a movie of this caliber, with the actors that are in it — the music, the choreography, the songs — all, wonderful,” Hoffman said.  “It’s the most amazing feel-good movie that I’ve seen in a very long time.”

Local girl makes good
Chelsea attended Lutz Elementary, Martinez Middle School, and Steinbrenner High School for one year before transferring to Blake High School in Tampa, which has a performing arts magnet program.

“When she was at Blake High School, we took her every morning and picked her up every day. From Lutz, that’s a little ride,” Hoffman said.

Chelsea also studied dance at Karl & DiMarco in Tampa, where her mom worked before starting Next Step Dance Studio in Lutz.

Chelsea Caso and her mom, Kim, stand in front of a poster for ‘The Greatest Showman.’ Chelsea, who grew up in Lutz, has a dancing role in the film. Chelsea began dancing when she was 2 and her mom, who has a dance studio in Lutz, began dancing when she was 4. (B.C. Manion)

Kim said Chelsea has “worked so incredibly hard, sacrificed a lot, and just has done so very, very well.”

Chelsea was just 9 when her mom began taking her to New York for dance classes. And, when Chelsea was 14, she auditioned for The Ailey School Summer Intensive Program and was accepted.

“We stayed up there for six weeks with her every summer,” Kim said. “I was up there for two weeks. Her dad (Andy) was up there for two weeks, and my mom (Eileen Hoffman) was up there for two weeks. We did shifts,” Kim said, noting she also has a son, Carson, who is now 15 and attends Wharton High School.

After graduating from Blake, Chelsea moved to New York intending to pursue classical dance. But, she changed her mind and decided to explore commercial dance, which includes such things as television commercials, music videos and movies.

Chelsea attended Broadway Dance Center, where she took a program introducing her to the commercial dance world and then signed with an agency called MSA, which has offices in New York and Los Angeles.

She had been working at a fitness place for about a month, when her agent called her to go to an audition.

She needed to be at the audition in two hours, the agent told her. Chelsea said she was at work and couldn’t leave. The agent said she had to find a way.

The last fitness class was over, so Chelsea cleaned things up and asked her boss if she could go to the audition. The boss let her leave.

“I ran home, got ready, did my makeup on the way to this audition and didn’t really know what I was auditioning for. I just knew where I had to be and what the time was.

“I got there and I saw a couple of my friends and I said, ‘What is this? What are we auditioning for?

“They said, ‘It’s something to do with Zac Efron. We don’t really know,’” she said.

“During the audition, I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is what I want to do. This is awesome,’” Chelsea said.

She left feeling good about the audition, and an hour later her agent called to let her know she had a callback for the next day.

Chelsea called her boss to say she couldn’t come into work the next day, but fortunately there was someone who could cover for her, she said.

She went to the audition and danced again.

“They called people back in to start singing, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m cut. I don’t really sing.’

“They said, ‘OK, these are the people who we want to sing. I didn’t get called, so I’m like, ‘OK, I’m cut. Onto the next.’”

But then, as she was gathering her stuff, someone came and called her name, and a few others, too.

The person told them: “Not all of the parts in the movie are singing. Don’t book anything.”

Chelsea called her agent to find out what that meant, and her agent said she’d have to wait to hear from the casting agency.

That was in August of 2016.

Three weeks later, Chelsea found out that she’d landed the part.

A musical about dreaming, diversity, acceptance
“The Greatest Showman” is a musical inspired by P.T. Barnum. It celebrates the birth of show business and tells the story of a visionary who rose from poverty to create a worldwide sensation.

It’s also a story about diversity and acceptance, and about breaking down barriers based on race and social class.

It took four months of rehearsal and three months of filming to make the movie.

Every day, Chelsea spent four hours in hair and makeup.

“They just put the tattoos on with water. It’s like a transfer sheet. I used to have to go home with them on. It was too much to redo them every day,” she said.

Now that the film has been released, Chelsea is getting ready to move to Los Angeles.

“It’s going to be a brand-new world. I have to kind of start over, but I feel with this on my resume now, it might be a little easier to get my foot in the door,” Chelsea said.

And, maybe, just maybe, the movie’s cast will be able to make an appearance at the Academy Awards, her mom said. “There’s talk they’re going to dance at the Oscars. We’ll see. We’re hoping.”

While the future is full of possibilities, Chelsea, her friends and family are clearly enjoying her success to date.

Harriette Jackson, whose daughter, Crystal Jackson, danced with Chelsea at Blake High, was among those invited to the private screening.

She’s thrilled for Chelsea.

“I think it’s awesome to be two years out of high school, to have landed a movie role. I am so proud of her,” Jackson said, adding “hard work pays off.”

Chelsea’s grandma is delighted, too.

“She’s always wanted to dance. She was very set in her mind what she wanted to do. She went after it.

“It’s just a wonderful moment in time — and we’re so thankful to be able to be sharing it with her,” Hoffman said.

Published January 3, 2018

2017 had it all: A sinkhole, Hurricane Irma, wildfires and floods

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But, it also was a year of significant growth, notable achievements and touching moments, too.

It’s not often that Land O’ Lakes makes the international news, but it did just that in July when a massive sinkhole swallowed two homes in Lake Padgett Estates.

This is an aerial view of a giant sinkhole that developed in Lake Padgett Estates, swallowing two homes and causing several others to be condemned. (File)

Then, just a few months later in September, the world’s attention turned to Florida as a potential category 5 Hurricane Irma appeared heading straight toward Tampa Bay.

The year also was marked by severe flooding and wildfires in Pasco County.

It also was a year for the changing of the guard, as Dan Biles was named Pasco County’s administrator to replace Michele Baker, who retired.

Scores of headlines during 2017 involved stories about the area’s congested roadways — and projects that are planned, underway or being discussed to improve traffic flow.

Major road projects that have begun or are planned include improvements to Interstate 75 and state roads 54 and 52. A four-lane extension of State Road 56, between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, is also under construction.

With its sustained wind speeds of 185 mph, Hurricane Irma was deemed to be one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the Atlantic. At one point, forecasters said it appeared headed toward making a direct hit on the Tampa Bay region.

Another improvement, known as the diverging diamond, is planned to improve traffic flow at I-75 and State Road 56.

And, discussions continue over the best ways to reduce congestion at U.S. 41 and State Road 54, an intersection that handles roughly 100,000 vehicles per day.

The county also appears to be making progress in its quest to secure a permit for the extension of Ridge Road, a project it has been seeking for nearly two decades. While the project can’t come soon enough for supporters, its detractors remain steadfast in their opposition.

Increasing traffic is a symptom of Pasco’s robust growth
Housing developments, retail projects, restaurants, businesses and medical facilities are sprouting up on land previously occupied by citrus groves, farms and cattle ranches.

New schools continue to pop up, or expand, too.

Zephyrhills now has a permanent venue for community events, such as the Z’ Hills BBQ & Blues Fest, a popular event, which features blues bands and tasty barbecue.

In August, Pasco County Schools opened Bexley Elementary, in the Bexley subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes and Cypress Creek Middle High School, off Old Pasco Road, in Wesley Chapel. In the coming year, it plans to begin construction of Cypress Creek Middle School.

Also, on the same campus, the school district and Pasco-Hernando State College plan to operate a new performing arts center. That center will be built by the college with $15.5 million in state funds, but both the school district and the college will use it as a teaching facility.

Meanwhile, the school district continues massive renovation projects at Land O’ Lakes High School and at Woodland Elementary School in Zephyrhills.

More public school projects are expected, as funding for school construction gets a boost from increased school impacts fees adopted by the Pasco County Commission that will begin being phased in on Jan. 1.

On the private school front, North Tampa Christian Academy is expected to begin operations in Wesley Chapel in the fall of 2018.

Roy Hardy, of Dade City, who died this year, was known for his perfect Kiwanis attendance and his fish fry fundraisers for the Hardy Benevolent Fund to help cover medical costs for others in need.

And, a charter school also has announced its intentions to open in Wesley Chapel in 2019, but has not identified its location yet.

The year also signaled changes on the spiritual scene across the region, too.

Van Dyke Church in Lutz changed its name to Bay Hope and expanded the scope of its mission. North Pointe Church settled into its first permanent home in Lutz, and the Episcopal Church announced its intentions to branch into Wesley Chapel.

The region also added to its list of amenities during the past year.

In Wesley Chapel, the 150,000-square-foot Florida Hospital Center Ice opened in January, with its Olympic-size rink, three National Hockey League-size rinks and one junior rink. Several rinks can easily be converted to accommodate basketball, soccer, lacrosse, volleyball and events such as corporate meetings, and parties.

In Land O’ Lakes, the Heritage Park Stage opened, off of U.S. 41. The project, which was years in the making, has already become a popular gathering spot for community events.

Starkey Park District Park also opened in Land O’ Lakes, off State Road 54.

Meanwhile, across the county, Zephyrhills added a permanent venue for community events, such as Pigz in Z’Hills, a popular barbecue and blues event.

A time of milestones and transitions
While new construction made the news, 2017 was also a year of big milestones, including R.B. Cox Elementary School’s 90th birthday, in Dade City, and the Dade City Garden Club’s 70th anniversary.

Andre Pamplona, general manager for Royal Lanes, said the closing of a bowling alley has an impact on the community. Royal Lanes, which opened in the 1970s turned off the lights for the final time in May. Lots of memories were made in that building, known for its bowling leagues and birthday parties.

But, it was also the year that Royal Lanes, a community fixture in Lutz since the 1970s for bowling leagues and birthday parties, turned out the lights for the final time in May.

On a more personal level, the region mourned the loss of some of its biggest champions, including Eddie Herrmann of San Antonio, Roy T. Hardy of Dade City and Ray Mason of Land O’ Lakes. All three men were known for their deep commitment to civic causes.

Others — who captured headlines for their excellence — included Margaret Polk, the Odyssey of the Mind team from Wesley Chapel Elementary School, and Courtney Urban, a volunteer for Gulfside Hospice who received a national award for her volunteer work.

Polk, a school nurse at Pasco High School, was named the Florida Association of School Nurses’ 2017 School Nurse of the Year.

Elaine Pittman, a Lutz gardener in her 80s, grows plants and sells them to raise money for Christian Social Services. She chose that cause because it feeds people who are hungry.

Wesley Chapel Elementary School’s “Catch Us If You Can” team, finished first in the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals held in May at Michigan State University. Members of the team were Jake Piller, Sam Cappelluti, Isabell Barrios, Mina Melaika, Rowan Heyman, Jason Sherman and Justin Acosta. Teachers Veronica Acosta and Janet Heyman coached the team.

And, Urban, who initially began volunteering at Gulfside’s Thrift Shoppe in Lutz so she could hang out with her grandmother, went on to serve the organization in a variety of roles.

And then, there were the people who simply extended themselves to help others.

There was Elaine Pittman, a Lutz gardener in her 80s, who nurtures plant cuttings to create plants, which she sells to raise money for Christian Social Services, an organization that provides food for people who are hungry.

And, there was Whitney C. Elmore, who oversees Pasco County Extension.

Elmore reached out to help Frogmore Fresh Farm, outside of Dade City, after Hurricane Irma uprooted and toppled about 100,000 blueberry bushes. Elmore got the ball rolling, but hundreds of volunteers responded — stepping forward to help the farm.

Two Boy Scouts also made a difference in the communities where they live.

Michael Valenti of Lutz and Gabe Vega of Land O’ Lakes each spearheaded Eagle Scout projects.

Cypress Creek Middle High School students make their way to their second class the first day of school on the new campus in Wesley Chapel. Bexley Elementary School also opened for the first time in August, for the 2017-2018 school year.

Valenti spruced up the Lutz Memorial Park in Lutz, and Vega created a Rosary Garden at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes.

And, then, there was a trio of Wesley Chapel Girl Scouts in Troop 1263 who gave new life to Karina’s Garden, behind the administrative offices of Sunrise of Pasco County, in their quest to earn a Girl Scout Silver Award.

The girls — Paige and Kaitlin Trabouley and Alyssa Duran — added flowers, plants, butterflies and statuary to create a place of repose and refreshment in the garden which honors the late Karina Abdul, a former shelter director.

The garden now provides a place to take a break and enjoy nature, according to Vicki Wiggins, director of development for Sunrise, which is a domestic and sexual violence prevention and services organization.

The garden had been choked with weeds and had fallen into disrepair.

The girls and the volunteers they enlisted changed all that.

“It’s beautiful. I’m so happy they did this. They brought it back to life,” Wiggins told The Laker/Lutz News, when the project was completed.

Published December 27, 2017

Doggy dining now legal in Pasco County

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Pasco County now has an ordinance to permit doggy dining in outdoor areas of restaurants.

The Pasco County Commission adopted the new measure unanimously at its Nov. 28 meeting in New Port Richey.

A $50 permit fee was later approved on Dec. 12 in Dade City.

The commission’s action, however, is news to many area restaurants that already have been allowing patrons to enjoy a meal on their patios, with a tail-wagging companion lounging nearby.

It’s standard company policy at a number of restaurants. Yappy hours are popular as special events.

There are websites, too, that are devoted to marketing area restaurants that are dog-friendly, including BringFido.com and PascoPetFest.com.

BringFido provides information on dog-friendly hotels, as well as restaurants nationwide.

That site lists 17 Wesley Chapel restaurants that are dog-friendly, including Applebee’s, Moe’s Southwest Grill, PDQ, Texas Roadhouse, Tijuana Flats, GrillSmith, and Panera Bread.

Dog-friendly restaurants on PascoPetFest.com include The Breakfast Nook, The Garden Café, Crab Shack Port Richey, and Pinchers Crab Shack.

Patrons at doggy dining spots throughout the county didn’t know anything was amiss, including Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

“We’ve been taking our dog out for six months,” Starkey said, adding, “I’m glad to be legal.”

Melanie Armstrong, owner of The Garden Café in Dade City, is among those who hadn’t heard of the new rules put in place.

“I’d like to know the details on what I need to do to be compliant,” she said.

Her restaurant has a large outdoor patio. On average, Armstrong said one or two patrons a day dine with their dogs, and servers keep things sanitary.

The dogs have been well-behaved, and it’s never been a problem, she said. “We have such a big patio. We try to capitalize on that. We get regular customers that bring their dogs.”

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano initially raised the issue at the Aug. 15 commission meeting in Dade City. He said a couple of restaurant owners in Port Richey had inquired about doggy dining, and about getting a permit.

Now, those who are adding doggy dining and those who have already been offering it, must get the required $50 permit or face fines.

During the August discussion, Mike Moore, who was commission chairman at the time, called for a low fee.

“We don’t want to overcharge for a permit they’re going to hang on their wall,” Moore said.

Paperwork for the permit requires a drawing of where the doggy dining will take place, though it doesn’t have to be professionally done.

Commission members gladly approved the new ordinance.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Moore said. “You see it in a lot of cities and surrounding counties. It’s about time we get in the game.”

Just one person spoke against the ordinance during the public comment portion of the hearing.

“You have servers who are busy. They pick up dishes. The family has allowed the dog to eat off the dish,” said Port Richey resident Richard Wilkey.

The dogs could have fleas, and they might urinate or defecate, he said. “It’s just totally unacceptable.”

That prompted Mariano to ask an assistant county attorney for a recitation on the regulations in place to address Wilkey’s concerns.

The county’s permit follows the state’s lead on the issue. The state requires:

  • Servers who touch or pet a dog to wash their hands
  • Dogs to stay at ground level and be on a leash
  • Dogs to stay off chairs and tables, and to refrain from eating off plates
  • Provision of a sanitizer station, and cleanup kit for dog waste
  • Posting of the permit and explanatory signs in a public place

Commissioner Mariano also noted: “Food establishments have a choice to allow it or not.”

Published December 20, 2017

Academy at the Lakes wins state football title

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They reached their goal.

Academy at the Lakes weathered chilly conditions and an undefeated opponent from Jacksonville to capture the school’s first-ever eight-man state football championship.

Offensive coordinator Landon Smith, a former National Football League player, was as happy as the team, as he holds the trophy bringing bragging rights to the school after winning the 2017 Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) state championship. (Fred Bellet)

An unwavering defensive performance — along with four combined touchdowns from freshman quarterback Jalen Brown and senior running back/linebacker Daniel Gonzalez — propelled the Wildcats to a 30-9 victory over the Old Plank Christian Academy Defenders in the Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) state championship on Dec. 9, at Southeastern University in Lakeland.

It was evident early, the Wildcats were the better team.

Academy at the Lakes scored on its first offensive possession —a 30-yard touchdown pass from Brown to freshman Jordan Oladokun, less than 7 minutes into the first quarter.

Brown added to the Wildcats lead late in the second quarter, diving into the end zone on a one-yard quarterback sneak — set up by his own 30-yard improvised run just a few plays earlier.

The team’s second scoring drive marked the “turning point” of the game, Wildcats head coach Shawn Brown said.

Academy at the Lakes head football coach Shawn Brown holds both trophies that he and his team won after defeating Jacksonville’s Old Plank Defenders at Victory Field in Lakeland.

“I think things were kind of going back and forth, then (Jalen) made that big run,” he said. “It was 8-0, then he kind of made that big run. I think it changed the whole momentum at that point.”

Old Plank had chances to narrow the gap, but was continuously plagued by its own mistakes in the form of penalties and turnovers, giving the Wildcats solid field position and extra offensive possessions.

A prime example: with the clock winding down in the second quarter, Old Plank quarterback Daniel Bosque fumbled just short of the end zone as time expired, preserving the Wildcats 16-0 lead at the half.

A costly turnover early in the second half made matters worse for the visiting Defenders, who entered the game 8-0.

Old Plank’s John Kilpatrick fumbled a punt return at the 25-yard line that was recovered by the Wildcats. The ensuing drive led to a 16-yard rushing touchdown by Gonzalez, just minutes into the third quarter.

Old Plank’s undisciplined play became chippy at times; the team was flagged for multiple late hits and facemasks.

Players, coaches and managers pose for a quick group shot after beating Old Plank. It’s the team’s first eight-man state title.

The Wildcats didn’t let some heated moments affect them, however.

“It could’ve gotten bad, and we could’ve lost our composure, and I think if we lose our composure, we lose that game,” Shawn Brown said. “We stayed true to what we do, kept the kids positive, and tried to walk away without losing their temper, and I think if we lose our temper, then we lose that game.”

Up 22-0, the Wildcats held the Defenders scoreless into the fourth quarter, until 244-pound fullback Quinton Sterling rushed two yards for a touchdown at the 9:22 mark.

“I think our defense, inevitably, is what won us this game, no doubt,” Gonzalez said. “We got some really key interceptions and really key three-and-outs, and that’s what won us this game. It wasn’t just the offense this game; we came together as a team.”

Gonzalez, named the game’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), for extra measure scored his second rushing touchdown of the night with less than 5 minutes left, all but sealing the win.

The two schools last met during the 2016 regular season, where Old Plank defeated Academy at the Lakes in that matchup, 41-20.

Academy at the Lakes head football coach Shawn Brown gets a second drenching by his son and team quarterback, No. 2 Jalen Brown.

Even with the three-score margin, the state championship was closer than most Wildcats games this season; they won their first two playoff games by 48 and 40 points, respectively.

“This is the best defensive team we’ve ever played this season,” Gonzalez said of Old Plank. “I’ve got to give them credit, but in the end we were the better team.”

And, despite making monumental plays on offense and defense, Gonzalez credited younger teammates for the team’s historic victory.

“It’s really interesting because the players that stepped up were all the young guys,” said Gonzalez, a senior team captain.

“We got the corner, Jordan Oladokun. We got Jalen Brown. And, those were the two people that really stepped up on offense and defense. They stepped up on both sides of the ball, and that’s the coolest part. It was the young people that stepped up.”

Brown, who took several big hits at quarterback, said the team never gave up.

“When we got knocked down, we got back up,” the freshman quarterback said. “The game started off a little tough, but we pushed through it, and our momentum carried us to this good victory.”

Chilly weather did not stop the Academy at the Lakes fans, as the bleachers were filled with supporters who found it was worth the drive to Lakeland to watch their Wildcats.

Gonzalez, who sported a ‘victory cigar’ after the game, was one of many players overwhelmed with excitement and joy in postgame festivities.

“I can’t even describe the feeling right now. I got the MVP. I got it all right now. I wouldn’t want anything more,” he said. “This is the best way to end my year. This is the best way to end a football season.”

He is one of the nine seniors on the roster and one of a handful who’ve been with the program since their freshman year.

The other seniors are: Thomas Kramer, Joel Eason, Evan Lutz, Tanner Bianchi, Isaiah Smith, Zachary Moore, Jack Passero and Cooper Weber.

Some, including Gonzalez, had never played organized football before joining the Wildcats program.

Academy at the Lakes No. 7 Daniel Gonzalez had no problem getting by the Old Plank Defenders. Gonzalez was the game’s most valuable player. The game is part of the 2017 Florida High School Football Playoff Brackets – FCSA 8-Man tournament.

“It’s awesome, because that’s my first true graduating class. They’ve come a long way,” said Shawn Brown, who’s in his fourth season as head coach.

The 2017 campaign signaled a complete turnaround for the Wildcats football program.

Academy at the Lakes went 2-8 in 2016, after finishing 4-7 and 3-5 the prior two seasons.

Coach Brown added: “To watch these kids as freshman, and some of them not knowing anything at all with football, to being like that doormat and getting pounded on. There are no words I’ve got to explain it. I’m speechless. I thought I’d have more to say. We reached our goal.”

The football program’s last state title came in 2006, when Academy at the Lakes played in the six-man ranks.

Academy at the Lakes athletic director Tom Haslam underscored the importance of the state title for the Land O’ Lakes private school.

“It’s great for everybody across the board, not just sports, but it transcends everything,” Haslam said. “So much dedication and hard work goes into it, and other kids see that and other kids want to be a part of that, whether it’s football, basketball or chorus, or whatever. And, it’s just kind of contagious.”

Academy at the Lakes Wildcats 2017 roster (By jersey number)
1—Jordan Oladokun, freshman

2—Jalen Brown, freshman

3—Tioma Stepanets, junior

4—Isaiah Smith, senior

5—Jamaal Johnson, junior

7—Daniel Gonzalez, senior

8—Jack O’ Malley, senior

9—Caleb Yann, freshman

10—Thomas Kramer, senior

11—Cole Lallanilla, sophomore

12—Denzyl Downing, sophomore

13—Anthony Quintana, sophomore

15—Joel Eason, senior

17—Zachary Moore, senior

18—Elijah Freedman, sophomore

22—Dylan Price, junior

23—Jack Passero, senior

47—Tanner Bianchi, senior

48—Andrew Kilfoyl, freshman

52—Matthew Martin, sophomore

54—Cooper Weber, senior

55—Jordan Witt, sophomore

60—Evan Lutz, senior

98—Jacon Ayoub, freshman

99—Dwight Downing, freshman

Inactives:
8—Jack O’ Malley, senior

20—A.J. Panepinto, eighth grade

81—Terrell Woods, eighth grade

87—James Elverson, eighth grade

Coaches:
Shawn Brown, head coach/defensive coordinator

Kevin Barrett, assistant coach/offensive & defensive line

Ben Donatelli, assistant coach/ line coach

Kirk Downing, assistant coach/stats

Steve Hagenau, assistant coach/trainer

Landon Smith, assistant coach/offensive coordinator

Jesus Solar, assistant coach/quarterbacks

Henry Oladokun, assistant coach/defensive backs

Troy Williams, assistant coach

Manager(s): A.J. Panepinto, Hunter Price

Ball Boy/Girl: Payton Williams, Katie Erin McCormick

 

Game-by-game results:
Aug. 25: at Citi Christian Academy (40-22 win)
Sept 7: Eastland Christian (50-35 loss)
Sept. 22: Canterbury (48-16 win)
Sept. 28: Solid Rock Community (80-0 win)
Oct. 2: at Saint Lucie Christian (49-12 win)
Oct. 13: Lakeside Christian (40-21 win)
Oct. 20: at Donahue Catholic (36-0 win)
Oct. 27: Seacoast Christian Academy (68-7 win)
Nov. 3: at Hernando Christian Academy (57-29 win)
Nov. 17: Canterbury (54-6 win)
Dec. 1: Eastland Christian (46-6 win)
Dec. 9: Old Plank Christian Academy (30-9 win)

 

Scoring Plays
First quarter
(5:35) — Academy at the Lakes (AATL) quarterback Jalen Brown completes a 30-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jordan Oladokun; two-point conversion good (8-0, AATL leads)

Second quarter
(2:51) — Brown rushes one yard for a touchdown; two-point conversion good (16-0, AATL leads)

Third quarter
(7:52)— AATL running back Daniel Gonzalez rushes 16 yards for a touchdown; extra point no good (22-0, AATL leads)

Fourth quarter
(9:22)— Old Plank Christian Academy fullback Quinton Sterling rushed two yards for a touchdown; two-point conversion attempt no good (22-7, AATL leads)

(4:40) — Gonzalez rushed three yards for a touchdown; two-point conversion good (30-7, AATL leads)

(1:10) – Old Plank credited for a safety (30-9, AATL leads)

Final: 30-9, AATL wins

Published December 13, 2017

Holidays can be sorrowful for some

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Seasonal carols, tinsel-draped trees and jolly Old St. Nick convey a time of merriment and joy, but the holidays can be difficult for those grieving a significant loss.

To help people to cope with their sadness, Gulfside Hospice is offering free holiday grief support workshops on Dec. 7 in Zephyrhills and Dec. 12 in New Port Richey.

Kelly Cavagnetto, a bereavement counselor, will be conducting the sessions, which will last about 90 minutes and will be the same in both places. They aim to provide some strategies to help people trying to navigate what can become an especially challenging emotional time.

“The first holidays after somebody passes, there can be a lot of anxiety about the upcoming holiday,” Cavagnetto said. “There’s a lot of feeling unsure: ‘I don’t want to decorate, but do I have to decorate? Should I decorate?’”

Those who are grieving often worry whether familiar traditions or foods will trigger a greater sense of sadness for them, the counselor said. Someone might say: “I don’t know if I can cook the same meal they enjoyed eating.”

The grief session aims to give those grieving some tools, she said.

“Our main goal is to sort of brace them for that, and help give them some of the coping skills to kind of get through the day,” she said.

It’s a good idea to begin preparing, Cavagnetto said, because “Christmas, Hanukkah — those winter holidays are coming whether we want them to, or not. We can’t really avoid them.”

In her session, she talks about the importance of “self-care.”

Find ways to help reduce stress, she suggested, which can include listening to music, meditating, drawing or other techniques.

It’s a good idea to have a family meeting to talk about expectations and needs, she said.

The meeting can start something like this, she said: “We’ve had some big changes this year. This is how I’m feeling about it. What do you guys expect from me? What do you expect from the season? How can we pull this off? Can we pull this off?

“We really encourage our families to talk it out amongst themselves, because everyone has different expectations and different needs,” the counselor said.

“Maybe if there’s a young child in the home, they expect a tree to go up. But, maybe that’s not something we’re going to do. So, if they can come up to some type of a compromise where they have a small tree in their room, where somehow everyone’s needs are fulfilled, she said.

Consider creating new traditions, Cavagnetto said.

“Sometime we can’t do the same old thing, there’s too much emotion attached to it. So, if your family always cooked at home, and your spouse was a big part of cooking that meal, or your parent was a big part of cooking that meal, it’s OK to think about going out this year,” she said.

Another strategy involves finding a way to memorialize your loved one.

“Maybe there was a special decoration that mom always had to have out on the tree, or displayed somewhere special,” she said.

Or, maybe you want to make a new ornament, or set a place at the table for your loved one, or find another way to honor the loved one’s memory, she said.

Some people light a candle in the loved one’s favorite scent.

“You can even do that year-round, when you’re having a rough day, thinking of them,” she said.

It’s also important to realize that emotional triggers often occur unexpectedly, the counselor added.

For instance, lately she’s been hearing a lot about people being upset about memories popping up on Facebook.

“Those pictures are coming back up for people, and they might not expect them to be there,” she said.

People who are grieving often don’t know if they can handle attending a holiday gathering, Cavagnetto said.

“I tell my clients: ‘Always have an escape plan.’

“If you typically carpooled to a holiday party, maybe this year you want to drive by yourself.

“You always want to able to exit, when you’re ready to exit,” she said.

She also tells them to be aware of their emotional levels.

“It’s OK if you’re only there for 15 minutes, and you get your hellos and your happy holidays in, and make a break for it,” she said.

It’s also important for those who are grieving to identify where they can turn for support, whether it’s a counselor, or family member or friend.

For those wanting to show support to someone who is suffering a loss, it’s a good idea to check with them to be sure they’re OK.

“See if they have any holiday plans. If they say they don’t want to do anything this year, just let them know what you’re doing, and let them know that they’re invited. They might change their mind, day of. Or, they might get to that point where they’re really lonely, and they might need somebody to reach out, so it’s important to know who’s there,” Cavagnetto said.

“People can feel really alone. If it has been a few months, they feel that other people have settled back into their routine and don’t even talk about their loved one anymore, their spouse or their parent, or their child, whoever it was,” she said.

Sometimes, they’ll want to talk about their loved one, other times they won’t, she said. The important thing is to be willing to listen, to talk and to share memories, if they’d like to.

When it comes to grieving a loved one, Cavagnetto said, “there is no cookie-cutter answer.”

Holiday Grief Support Workshops
Where: Gulfside Center for Hospice Care, 5760 Dean Dairy Road, Zephyrhills
When: Dec. 7 at 4 p.m.
Or: Gulfside Bereavement and Community Outreach Center, 6230 Lafayette St., Dec. 12 at 4 p.m.
Both of these sessions will be free, and those attending will talk about techniques to help them cope with their grief during the holidays. Both sessions are expected to last about 90 minutes and will cover the same content.

Information: Call Kelly Cavagnetto at (727) 845-5707.

Published December 6, 2017

Sex-trafficked girls will soon have a sanctuary

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The Tampa charity Bridging Freedom, which helps child victims of human trafficking, is developing a therapeutic safe house campus community at an undisclosed location in Pasco County.

It will begin to accept girls this spring, once its first safe house is completed.

Laura Hamilton is the president of Bridging Freedom. She founded the organization in 2011 after working for a time with the Clearwater/Tampa Bay Area Task Force on Human Trafficking. (Kevin Weiss)

The Bridging Freedom campus— situated on nearly 100 acres of donated land—will ultimately encompass seven homes, a lodge and a chapel. It will serve dozens of female victims under the age of 18 from Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, by providing long-term, comprehensive survivor care.

The concept marks the first of its kind serving female minors in the Tampa area.

Construction of infrastructure at the campus site began in 2016. Assistance for the project has come from state funding, corporations, local law enforcement and other stakeholders.

Two homes have since been sponsored and are currently being built.

The first therapeutic home—funded by Sykes Enterprises—will feature eight individual bedrooms and bathrooms, plus an educational room, counseling room, and a staff and nurse office.

A second four-bedroom home — funded by Lazydays R.V. Center Inc. — will serve as the intake home for girls rescued from sex trafficking.

Bridging Freedom is seeking sponsors to build the five remaining homes, either from corporate or philanthropic organizations.

Girls will be referred to the property mainly through rescues by law enforcement and the Florida Department of Children and Families, said Laura Hamilton, president of Bridging Freedom.

There’s no doubt about the need.

Florida reports as the third-largest state for human trafficking, with 329 reported cases in 2017, according to the Polaris Project and National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Locally, the Tampa FBI rescues approximately 50 or more child sex-trafficking victims per year; most of them are girls.

The nearly 100-acre Bridging Freedom campus will encompass seven homes, a lodge and a chapel. It will serve dozens of female victims under the age of 18 from Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, by providing long-term, comprehensive survivor care. (Courtesy of Bridging Freedom)

Few rehabilitative facilities are available to place them, however.

Rescued girls are either placed in runaway shelters, domestic violence shelters or foster care — with little to no rehabilitative treatment.

Hamilton founded Bridging Freedom in 2011 after working for a time with the Clearwater/Tampa Bay Area Task Force on Human Trafficking.

There she discovered when children and teens were rescued from the street, there were no places for them to go for treatment and counseling, to ease their transition to normal lives.

“I started doing research, and that’s when I realized (child sex trafficking) wasn’t in just India, Cambodia, Thailand, Russia. It was here in the United States, it was here in Florida and here in my own backyard,” Hamilton said.

“We thought we were just bringing awareness to the community; we never thought we’d be doing this,” she added.

Bridging Freedom will specifically address what’s called ‘traumatic bonding,’ where children have bonded with their trafficker or abuser.

Victim’s stays could last anywhere from six months to two years, as they get treatment one-on-one from professionally trained psychologists and social workers. Recurring funds already in place will be used to hire those direct service providers.

“It takes a whole program for these girls to find healing from the trauma they enforced,” Hamilton said.

“If she’s wanting to run, if she’s had a trigger, goes into some crisis mode, she gets scared or she becomes angry, we’re there, right there, one-on-one to track her. That’s what’s working in other parts of the country, and we need to bring that here to Florida.”

At the therapeutic safe home campus, survivors will also receive the following services:

  • Medical care from a clinical director, clinical therapists and licensed nurses
  • Alcohol and drug rehabilitation from licensed medical professionals
  • Therapeutic recreation, such as equine and art therapy, and gardening
  • Education from teachers board-certified through the Florida Department of Education
  • Life skills to help survivors adjust to life outside of the home
  • Career development and shadowing to prepare teen survivors to be independent adults
  • Transitional mentorship to provide support for survivors after they leave the home

Hamilton said Bridging Freedom’s safe house program is modeled after Wellspring Living, an Atlanta-based group founded in 2001. According to its website, Wellspring Living “provides trauma-informed care to survivors of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in the service of physical, emotional and spiritual restoration.”

Details on the progress of Bridging Freedom and its sanctuary campus were revealed at a Nov. 16 joint press conference at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office in New Port Richey. Guest speakers, among others, included attorney general Pam Bondi, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco, Pasco Sheriff Cpl. Alan Wilkett and Irene Sullivan, a retired Florida circuit court judge.

Each praised the organization and the need for more safe house campuses.

“The demand is great for these homes; the supply is scarce,” said Sullivan, who for 12 years handled delinquency, dependency and domestic violence cases until retiring in 2010.

She added: “It’s a wonderful, wonderful opportunity to take care of these girls. They need therapy, they need to talk to other girls, and they certainly need Bridging Freedom…”

Wilkett is the commander of the Pasco County Human Trafficking Task Force. He also serves as chairman of the Board of Directors for Bridging Freedom.

In October, Wilkett was recognized as the “Law Enforcement Official of the Year” at the 2017 Human Trafficking Summit, held in Orlando

For him, the safe house campus community “can’t come together fast enough.”

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, with this horrific crime of human trafficking,” Wilkett said.

“Whether they’re domestic minor sex trafficking victims or national sex trafficking victims, we have a responsibility…to restoring childhood opportunities, birthdays and freedoms to those that have had it stolen.”

Fighting human trafficking long-term starts with harsher prison sentences for its consumers, Wilkett said.

“The only way to impact this strategically and long-term is to take out the demand,” he said, “so we’ve got to enhance the penalties and go after the buyers.”

Experts say the Tampa Bay area’s tourism, adult entertainment, and international seaport and airport industries create a lucrative and highly accessible environment for sex-traffickers.

Minor victims of sex trafficking, meanwhile, are typically kidnapped or have run away from home.

Florida has approximately 30,000 to 40,000 teenage runaways and throwaways each year, some being abused by a family member or forced out of their homes. In the Tampa Bay area, 75 percent of trafficked children are runaways.

Solving that issue takes a community working together, unafraid to report suspicious activity, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said during the press conference.

“It has to be an all-hands on deck approach,” Bondi said. “We have to work together as a state, as a country, and transnationally as a world to stop this.”

For information, visit BridgingFreedom.org.

By the Numbers
300,000: On average, the number of children in the United States that are prostituted annually

12: The average age that a trafficked victim is first used for commercial sex

2,700: The number of child sex-trafficking victims rescued by the FBI in the U.S., the past 10 years

3: Florida’s rank for the number of calls received by the national human trafficking hotline

83 percent: The percentage of sex trafficking victims identified in the United States as U.S. citizens, according to a study of U.S. Department of Justice human trafficking task force cases

52: The approximate number of local child sex-trafficking victims rescued in 2015

Less than 250: How many shelter beds there are for commercially sexually exploited children in the U.S.

Source: Bridging Freedom

Published November 29, 2017

Seeking to remove hidden dangers

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Darrell Thompson is a citizen advocate on a mission to make Pasco County a safer place to live.

His quest started nearly a year ago when a motorist ran a stop sign and nearly hit him in his Union Park neighborhood.

“You get a wake-up call when a car goes through a stop sign, and you have to jump out of the way,” Thompson said.

Darrell Thompson stands by a sidewalk that dead-ends before it reaches Meadow Pointe Boulevard. A sidewalk ramp leaves pedestrians stranded beside a right-turn only lane. (Kathy Steele)

But, he didn’t immediately blame the motorist. The problem was obvious to Thompson, as he surveyed the intersection.

“He didn’t see the (stop) sign,” he said.

The sign was hidden behind branches from a tree planted too close to the sign, in violation of county code.

Since then, Thompson has documented multiple unsafe intersections within Union Park, as well as other area subdivisions.

He also has found examples of partially built sidewalks, roads that need crosswalks, and poor handicap access.

The issue, according to Thompson, is an inspection system that isn’t working and allows code violations to slip through.

He’s become a familiar figure at Pasco County Commission meetings, showing up every two weeks in Dade City to press his case. His goal is to head off similar problems with future development in a county that is in a building boom.

Thompson’s criticism proved timely.

An update of the county’s comprehensive land use plan and a complete rewrite of the land development codes already are in the works.

“We’ll be doing these in tandem and make them consistent with one another,” said Kris Hughes, Pasco’s planning director.

Thompson has been invited to participate on one of several “working teams” that will gather public input for a task that will begin in January. It is expected to take 18 months to two years to complete the work.

Hughes said the county wants “to get a very balanced input from the public and business-related entities.”

Thompson is eager to participate, and present the photos and documents he has gathered.

“I want to make Pasco better than it already is,” he said.

A stop sign is visible at Natural Bridge Road in Union Park before landscaping is planted.
(Courtesy of Darrell Thompson)

His first concern is taking care of the hidden stop signs. He put in a request to the county for trees to be cleared from the intersections he has identified. He got a work order number in response.

“I don’t want to wait until after someone dies,” he said.

Thompson also takes issue with partially built sidewalks and inadequate handicap accessibility.

His photo exhibits include snapshots of dead-end sidewalks on either side of Oldwoods Avenue, a main roadway leading to the Union Park, Windsor and Meridian subdivisions.

While entrances into Meridian and Windsor have a completed intersection, with crosswalk and handicap access, there is no crosswalk or continuous sidewalks for pedestrians outside Union Park.

Thompson said a curve in the road only adds to unsafe conditions.

“(People in wheelchairs) drive down the road because they can’t get to the sidewalk,” Thompson said.

Heading toward Meadow Pointe, the sidewalk on the Windsor side of the road abruptly stops several feet from the intersection.

Pedestrians are left to walk through the grassy right-of-way to the corner, but have no crosswalk to aid them when they get there.

Worse, Thompson pointed out, a short ramp off the sidewalk leads straight into a right-hand-only turn lane.

“How does this get by an inspector?” Thompson said.

He has met with Hughes, who says he agrees with some of Thompson’s complaints.

“He made a very, very effective presentation to the board (of county commissioners),” Hughes said.

The matter of where trees are planted is a valid issue, for one.

Inspectors appear to have counted the number of trees planted, but not noted their locations, Hughes said.

County code states that stop signs, for instance, must be a minimum of 30 feet from the face of the sign to the tree.

“They should be inspecting it better,” Hughes said.

But, part of the inspectors’ role is to make sure developers meet required goals in site plans that require an exact number of trees. It sometimes leads to trees planted illegally in county right-of-way, Hughes said.

The solution probably is additional training and cross-training for county employees, he added.

On other issues, Hughes said development is subject to many factors that change over time. The partial sidewalks, or “stranded paths,” can happen, he said.

Residential projects are planned and approved, but, over time, building standards change. Different projects are approved at different times. Anticipated new roads get shifted or older roads widened. Sidewalks might not be extended until decisions are made on when and where a school is built. Or, there might be right-of-way issues.

And, Hughes said growth patterns change.

“It’s part of the process we have to go through.

“You look at what went before and you try to make it fit,” Hughes said.

Published November 22, 2017

Pasco’s tourism director wants to take a new approach

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Adam Thomas envisions Pasco County becoming one of Florida’s “must-see” tourism destinations.

Aside from mostly pleasant weather, the county lays its claim to bountiful ecotourism, miles of bike trails, premier multipurpose sports facilities — as well as beaches and resorts.

“We have a lot of opportunities,” said Thomas, who is Pasco’s newest tourism director.

“Our destination is really primed for success in the future, and ready for success now. We have a lot of key attractions and key different segments in tourism right here…”

Thomas, 38, started his $82,000-a-year job in September.

New Pasco County tourism director Adam Thomas shared his vision during a Nov. 8 luncheon hosted by The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. He began the job in September. (Kevin Weiss)

He shared his vision for Pasco County’s Office of Tourism Development — which is known as Visit Pasco — during a Nov. 8 luncheon hosted by The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

He expressed confidence in the county’s tourism offerings, but he said the county’s current strategy “lacks an identity.”

“Not one person can identify what our brand is, as a tourism destination,” Thomas told chamber members and county stakeholders gathered at the Fox Hollow Golf Club.

Thomas needs to develop a brand strategy that highlights the county’s assets and create a business model that attracts not just locals, but also resonates with people “50 miles and beyond.”

He noted he has considerable work to do to attract visitors that will produce economic impact over the course of the year.

Most recently, Thomas served as director of the Citrus County Visitor’s Bureau, since 2013. Before that, he was a minor league baseball player, a career that spanned more than a decade, and took him to three continents and countless cities across the United States.

Thomas replaced Doug Traub, who left after just three months on the job as the county’s first tourism director. Traub arrived in Pasco from Lake Havasu, Arizona, where he was the chief executive officer of the visitor and tourism bureau.

Pasco County previously had a tourism manager position, but the director’s job expands on those duties to handle long-range strategic goals.

In Citrus County, Thomas said tourism generated $11.7 million in sales taxes in 2016, ultimately saving each county household about $197 on taxes that year.

“Something that I love about our industry is that it’s no tax burden on the citizens in their household, but it’s providing economic sustainability,” Thomas said.

Duplicating results for Pasco, he said, starts with auditing each event and festival coordinated by his office — to determine whether or not they drive hotel room nights and create an economic impact that “brings the highest yield of investment.”

Thomas noted Visit Pasco last year spent $285,000 on local events and festivals, and $160,000 on tourism advertising initiatives.

He questioned whether those local events — such as the Pasco County Fair in Dade City and the Chasco Fiesta in New Port Richey — actually entice tourists and nonresidents.

“On an annual basis, we’re spending more money on local events and festivals than we actually do marketing the destination,” he said. “We have to take a look at the bigger picture.”

The tourism director also panned the economic model for the Dick’s Sporting Good Tournament of Champions in Wesley Chapel, a youth lacrosse showcase that draws more than 50 teams from more than a dozen states, as well as Canada. The three-day event has been held in the county each year since 2008.

Thomas pointed out the county spent a combined $694,000 on the three-day event over the last seven years alone.

“That’s a $94,000 (annual) bill for us, with 80 percent of the rooms going to Tampa. Is that a good business decision?” he asked.

“It’s really not all about heads and beds. It’s about getting the right event or the right audience in our destination to create the highest economic impact and the highest visitor expenditure. That’s going to offset costs, again, to the local community in the sales tax,” he said.

He also detailed some of his long-term ideas.

He said he wants to lure more small conferences and trade associations — with various incentive packages — to places such as Saddlebrook Resort & Spa and the forthcoming Wiregrass Sports Complex, both of which offer thousands of square feet of meeting space, along with numerous recreation opportunities.

“These are small, little initiatives that can really make an impact to the entire community,” Thomas said.

He also wants to popularize scallop harvesting in west Pasco, with the approval of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Scalloping was a draw for traveling families in Citrus County between June and September, he said.

Drawing other profitable sporting events and fishing tournaments are definite possibilities, too.

Elsewhere, Thomas wants to furnish interactive kiosks and mobile video displays to promote the county at events and trade shows. He noted other communities have introduced digital billboards, videos and virtual reality to portray their respective various tourist attractions.

“There’s a lot of things our office hasn’t been doing in the past that we need to be doing moving forward,” he said. “We’re behind the eight-ball a little bit…”

Meanwhile, Thomas plans to completely rebrand “Visit Pasco” during the next several months.

He plans to have a consulting firm in place by January to help with new branding, as well as marketing efforts.

The process could take anywhere from six months to eight months, he said.

“We first have to identify who our target audience is…and we have to do that through a brand and research strategy where a firm comes in and works directly with our events holders, our properties, to actually find out who’s coming here and why,” he explained.

“We have some really key attractions, but it’s all going to be a part of the brand umbrella,” Thomas said.

Whatever slogan is selected, Thomas wants Pasco to identify as an entirely separate entity from Tampa — not merely an extension of it.

“We want to pull ourselves away from Tampa,” he said, “and the only way we’re going to be able to do that is with the brand strategy to be a standalone competing destination for it.

“We don’t want to be a room night, a day trip from Tampa into Pasco. We don’t want to be a bedroom community to Tampa,” Thomas said.

Thomas and his staff of two will have a budget based on the recent doubling of Pasco’s tourism tax, to 4 percent from 2 percent.

The surcharge on overnight hotel stays and other short-term rentals had remained at 2 percent for 26 years, until August.

Pasco officials estimate the additional 2 percent tourism tax will generate an additional $1.2 million in fiscal 2018, which began Oct. 11.

Published November 15, 2017

Learning the ins and outs of medical marijuana

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Medical marijuana is a fact in Florida.

Voters approved it in a 2016 referendum.

Lawmakers passed a law regulating it, effective January 2017.

Cities and counties generally are writing local ordinances in line with state law to permit dispensaries, but limit their locations.

Local governments, however, do have the option to ban them.

Pasco County commissioners are expected to vote on an ordinance in November that will treat medical marijuana dispensaries as pharmacies — and prohibit them from operating within 500 feet of public and private schools.

A display at a medical marijuana forum shows the many ways medical marijuana is delivered to patients. There are topical creams, vaporizers, oral syringes, tinctures and nasal sprays. (Kathy Steele)

The full impact of legalized medical marijuana, also known as medical cannabis, is a work-in-progress, with potential for legislators to tinker with the law in 2018.

A Community Awareness Series, hosted by the Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus, took on the issue at its “Medical Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Symposium” on Oct. 26.

About 100 people attended the seminar, which was open to students, faculty and the public.

The college wants “to bring dialogue and conversation to the issues that can affect our lives,” said Kevin O’ Farrell, provost at the Porter Campus.

Speakers included Keith Stolte, an ophthalmologist, who owns Stolte Eye Center in Spring Hill; and, Victoria Walker, media relations for Trulieve, one of 17 state approved dispensaries.

Stolte began treating patients with medical marijuana as soon as the state law took effect on Jan. 3.

He previously had researched medical marijuana and believed in its benefits for a host of ailments, in addition to glaucoma.

“We’re changing lives,” Stolte said. “If anybody told me we’d be getting the results we’re getting, I wouldn’t have believed them.”

His first patient was a teenage girl who was home-schooled due to a social anxiety disorder. “She couldn’t leave the house,” Stolte said.

Within a month of starting treatment, she enrolled in a local high school, and soon after, joined the cheerleading squad.

“That’s something else,” he said.

Laurie Oliver, practice manager at Stolte Eye Center, was a medical marijuana skeptic when she first learned of plans to see medical marijuana patients.

“I’m an old-fashioned Southern woman,” she said. “You were taught marijuana was awful.”

But, the patients changed her mind, including an elderly woman with tremors who shook so badly she couldn’t feed herself. The woman came by the office soon after starting medical marijuana to proudly display a blue shirt, without a food crumb or stain on it.

“She just wanted to feed herself before she dies,” said Oliver.

Patients’ success stories are starting to change everyone’s attitudes, Stolte said.

“We are starting to drift from demonization of marijuana, and this could be really good,” he said.

The stigma that attaches to marijuana use also leads to misconceptions about dispensaries, said Walker.

They aren’t “head” shops with hippies in sandals behind the counter selling weed and bongs. In fact, state law bans the sale of the whole marijuana plant, Walker said.

“There is no smoking,” Walker said, adding anyone who walks into a dispensary will find a professional, medical office environment.

Security measures are mandated by law.

Trulieve stores typically have about 40 cameras. The same tight security is maintained at its facility in Tallahassee, where the cannabis plants are grown and medical marijuana products are manufactured.

Engineers and scientists work in Trulieve’s laboratory to develop and test different strains of cannabis.

Plants are pesticide-free and are grown indoors.

Products are offered in a variety of forms, including vaporizers, nasal spray, tinctures, topical creams, oral syringes and capsules. They may contain two of the main ingredients found in marijuana plants – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD).

The more common ingredient is THC, which can produce the “high” associated with marijuana. But CBD, which can’t produce a high, is becoming more popular with doctors because it can produce fewer side effects, Stolte said.

Edibles are legal, but Walker said dispensaries are waiting on rules regarding packaging and size before introducing them.

When they come, she said, “It will be very anti-attractive to minor children.”

The state is closely monitoring this fledging medical marijuana industry.

Dispensaries are capped statewide at 17. Each one is allowed to own and operate 25 retail stores.

Trulieve has 10 locations, with stores opening soon in North Fort Myers and Orlando.

Stores are open seven days a week. “We treat them just like a pharmacy,” Walker said.

Because state law gives cities and counties the option to ban dispensaries, Walker said, “It’s really up to local communities and towns to let us in.”

Doctors and patients also have regulations.

Doctors aren’t permitted to dispense medical marijuana. Doctors are not allowed to write a prescription, either, because marijuana is considered a controlled substance under federal law.

Physicians also must take a state mandated two-hour course and register with the state before they are qualified to “recommend” medical marijuana.

With a recommendation letter in hand, patients visit a dispensary to receive their medication. Patients must register on a confidential state database, and they have to wait about 30 days to receive a card.

Medical marijuana is dispensed in 70-day increments. Once the 70 days expires, a patient can renew the recommendation for another 70 days. This can be done sometimes by phone but, about every six months, there must be a face-to-face visit with a doctor.

By law, 10 diseases are listed as eligible for medical marijuana including epilepsy, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder, Crohn’s and Parkinson’s.

But, the law also includes “medical conditions of the same kind or class as or comparable” to those specifically listed.

That gives doctors some discretion in approving patients who don’t neatly fit any of the approved categories, Stolte said.

He also noted that medical marijuana could play a role in addressing the opioid epidemic.

“You can kill yourself with opioids. You can’t kill yourself with marijuana,” Stolte said. “It (marijuana) is not a gateway drug. It’s an exit drug.”

Research is beginning to show that medical marijuana reduces opioid prescriptions and overdose deaths, he added.

“We’re treating people who have failed on everything else out there,” Stolte said.

The next event in the Community Awareness Series will be “DUI (Driving Under the Influence) Awareness Seminar” on Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. to noon. It will be at Pasco-Hernando State College, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, in the Conference Center, Building B, Room 303.

For information, visit PHSC.edu.

Published November 8, 2017

Local volunteer wins national award

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When Courtney Urban began volunteering at the Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppe, at 1930 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Lutz, it was just a way to spend some extra time with her grandmother.

“The big thing in the beginning was just going with her,” said Urban, who began her volunteer work in 2013.

Courtney Urban now volunteers at the front desk at Gulfside Center for Hospice Care in Zephyrhills. She used to volunteer at the Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppe in Lutz. Recently, she received a national honor for her volunteer work. (B.C. Manion)

“But then it became my own thing. I loved going there. When I got to be the cashier, it was fun to interact with all of the customers. I kind of took it into my own hands, rather than just to be there with grandma,” the now 19-year-old said.

Over the years, she has logged more than 800 volunteer hours, and recently, Urban was honored with the Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Award by the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, at a conference in San Diego. Urban was recognized in the Young Leaders category.

The University of South Florida student was both surprised and delighted to be singled out.

When she started her volunteer work, she was sorting clothes and having fun with her grandma. Then, she began cashiering and enjoyed interacting with customers, she said.

Most recently, she has been pitching in at Gulfside Center for Hospice Care, at 5760 Dean Dairy Road in Zephyrhills.

Initially, she served as a compassion companion volunteer, and now she’s helping at the front desk.

Her work as a volunteer has changed her.

“It’s helped me come out of my shell. I was very shy in high school. I was the kid that hated when I had to speak in front of the class. I wasn’t good at making friends.

“Now, I can walk into a room and instantly strike up a conversation with a patient or their family. I enjoy speaking with people, now. I feel like I opened up,” Urban said.

It also has broadened her perspective.

“I also didn’t realize how many different kinds of people are out there in the world. When I come here, I talk to all kinds of people, from different backgrounds,” she said.

She’s listened to patients reminisce, she said.

“Some patients can’t talk for an extended time, so I’ll tell my story to them. But most of them, they love talking about the good old days, when they were younger, what they used to do,” she said.

The volunteer work has influenced her career path.

She’s studying health science at USF, with plans to continue her education and pursue a career in hospice nursing.

“I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field,” said Urban, who attended Sunlake High School, Rushe Middle School and Lake Myrtle Elementary.

She had considered possible careers in anesthesiology or public health.

But, when she began volunteering at Gulfside, she realized she wanted to become a hospice nurse.

“I always knew I had a connection with elderly people. My time here, in just a few weeks I realized that I loved it here. I loved the atmosphere. I loved talking with the patients. I thought, ‘Hey, this is something I want to do.’,” she said.

“I come in here and I talk with the patients a lot. I just feel like I fit in.

“Yes, it is very sad, when I come back the next week and there isn’t a patient that I talked to, but I feel like I have a calling here. I can do the work here, so I need to be here,” she said.

She attended the conference in San Diego with her mom and her grandmother.

Her grandmother is Carol Antrim, of Lutz.

Her parents are Suzette Urban, the principal’s secretary at Sand Pine Elementary, and her dad, Joseph Urban, an electrical inspector for Pasco County. Urban lives with her parents in Land O’ Lakes.

The young woman encourages anyone who has ever considered volunteering, to give it a try. It doesn’t matter whether the volunteer is young or old, or what kind of work they do, she said.

“You could volunteer at the animal shelter, at the hospital, youth centers, rec centers, anywhere. “It really helps you find something that’s greater than yourself,” Urban said. “You get that satisfaction: You know you’ve helped somebody.”

Published November 1, 2017