The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Little authors are celebrated in a big way

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It’s not every day that someone becomes a published writer — and that’s especially true of second-graders.

So, staff members at Land O’ Lakes Christian School weren’t about to let the moment pass by without a good bit of fanfare.

These second-graders in Christy Hoynoski’s class wrote a book called ‘If I Were An Animal.’ The children are, (front row, from left): Savannah Wrenn, Laurelai Marano, Kylie Matkin, Sarina King, Kinsley Wooles and Esteban Lowe. The others (back row, left to right) are Hadasa Smith, Keenan Morais-Silva, Maya Vidal, ErikSebastien Capellupo, Isabelle Loscalzo, Colin VanderVere and their teacher, Christy Hoynoski. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Christian School)

The children in Christy Hoynoski’s class were celebrated in a big way at a party in the school’s lunchroom on the day their book, “If I Were An Animal,” arrived at the school at 5105 School Road in Land O’ Lakes.

There were balloons and a red carpet that was bedazzled by stars — each bearing the name of a child author.

Each of the 7- and 8-year-olds stood at a podium, reading their stories and showing off their illustrations.

Parents and grandparents came to the school to honor the children’s accomplishment, and the party featured a book-shaped cake and snacks with literary themes.

It was a big day for the second-graders, and the glow was still showing weeks later, when they talked about the stories they wrote, with a visiting reporter.

Mrs. Hoynoski, as the children call her, came up with the idea of creating the book after hearing about a free publishing kit offered by Studentreasures Publishing.

This is the cover of the book written by students in Christy Hoynoski’s second grade class at Land O’ Lakes Christian School.

The idea was to make writing more fun, the teacher said.

The children considered a variety of possible books they could do, such as “Second Grade Inventions,” “If I were a President” and “When I Grow Up.”

In the end, they voted to create a book about animals.

Besides allowing the second-graders to practice their handwriting skills and showcase their artistic abilities, the project also gave them a chance to exercise their lively imaginations, too.

For instance, in this book, there’s a zebra with rainbow-colored stripes and a white bunny with black polka dots.

The animals have interesting diets, too. There’s a pig that eats candy, a whale that eats broccoli, a horse that eats grapes and an owl that eats ice cream.

Second-graders make their way into the school lunchroom at Land O’ Lakes Christian School to celebrate the publication of their book, ‘If I Were An Animal.’

The kids also thought outside of the box when naming their animals. There’s a wolf named Snowflake, a bird named Jewel, a bobcat named Rosie and a cobra named Cutey.

The students said they enjoyed writing their stories and drawing their pictures, and, of course, they were pleased to see their work in print.

It’s a project the second-grade teacher said she’d recommend to other teachers.

“It really got them excited about writing,” she said.

Writing is an important skill, the teacher added, because it’s a skill her students will need throughout their lives.

Published May 23, 2018

ErikSebastien Capellupo shows off his illustration of a story he wrote about a cheetah, named Lightning, that can run 1 million mph.
Hadasa Smith shows off one of the stories she wrote and illustrations she did for ‘If I Were An Animal.’ She wrote about a zebra with rainbow-colored stripes and a bobcat named Rosie.
Savannah Wrenn reads one of the stories she wrote for a book created by Christy Hoynoski’s second grade class at Land O’ Lakes Christian School.

 

Continued growth expected for Pasco’s housing market, expert says

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Pasco County is in a rapidly growing region, so more growth is expected, a national real estate expert said last week at an event organized by the Central Pasco Association of Realtors.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist and senior vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors, made his first visit to Pasco County, to address more than 150 real estate professionals gathered at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

Lawrence Yun
(Courtesy of National Association of Realtors)

Yun anticipates moderate growth in national home sales, forecasting 3 percent to 4 percent in most parts of the country, and slightly greater increases in Florida.

There are a number of factors contributing to Florida’s strong real estate market, and Pasco County, in particular, Yun said.

Florida continues to attract foreign investors, Yun said.

Canadians come to the Sunshine state to escape the cold. British are very dominant in purchasing property in Orlando. Germans like areas such as Fort Myers and Naples. And, Latin Americans are attracted to the Miami area.

“Many Puerto Rican residents are seeking better opportunities here in Florida,” he added.

“Greater Tampa, including Pasco, has not had a large global exposure, but you are getting more of it,” Yun said.

He predicts Florida will continue to see an acceleration in population growth, especially in light of recent changes to the tax code.

“The end result, it is an additional tax burden for people living in the New England states, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York,” he said.

“People will be seeking: ‘How do I lessen some of the burden?’ One way to do that is coming to Florida,” Yun said.

He also noted that the current housing recovery is on healthy footing.

The nation certainly doesn’t want what happened in 2005, when the housing market was hot: “Anyone with a heartbeat was somehow able to get a mortgage and buy a home,” he said.

“I’m fairly confident that this increase will not lead to another decline because the fundamental backdrop is different. We’re in a job-creating environment,” he said.

And, perhaps most importantly, underwriting standards are tough.

Much higher credit scores are required to get a mortgage, he said, noting that, if anything, underwriting standards may be too stringent, especially for people who are self-employed.

More residential construction activity is needed to boost housing inventory — which will moderate prices and attract more potential buyers into the market, said Lawrence Yun, chief economist and senior vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors. (B.C. Manion)

“Home sales are rising, but in a very moderate way,” he said. “We are nowhere back to the 2005 ‘easy lending’ days.

“There is no bubble, even with the strong price recovery, because we don’t have that easy subprime lending,” Yun said.

However, he noted that rising home prices are beginning to hurt affordability.

“We hope that price increases do not become 8 percent, 10 percent every year. Your clients will diminish, if this was to continue.

“The ideal solution in the future, in the upcoming years, price growth to match similarly to wage and income growth,” he said, noting a 3 percent to 4 percent annual price increase would be ideal.

A shortage of inventory is having a negative impact, he added.

“Contract signing appears to be flattening out,” he said.

Buyers want more choices when they are shopping for a home, Yun said.

“You need more inventory,” he said.

“We just don’t have enough inventory because homebuilders have not been building aggressively, or even (a) normal amount, for 10 straight years,” Yun said.

Yun said efforts are being made to provide regulatory relief to community banks, which have been a primary lending source for small homebuilders.

“For many years in America, most of the homebuilding was done by Mr. and Mrs. Jones Homebuilding Company. They’d do about 10 homes a year. They’re not in the game today. They have challenges entering the game,” Yun said, noting that’s because of regulatory restraints on small community banks.

Yun also urges local governments to do their part to get more housing permits approved.

When more houses are built, prices moderate and consumers have more options.

When prices moderate, “middle class families who want to own a home have a better chance to own a home,” he said.

Yun noted there’s a huge mismatch between the percentage of increase in home prices and percentage of increase in incomes.

“Home prices, ideally, should rise in relation to people’s income,” Yun said.

Published May 16, 2018

Dr. Susan A. MacManus retires from USF

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When Dr. Susan A. MacManus recently headed to the front of Room 128, in the Social Science Building on the University of South Florida campus — it was to deliver the final lecture of her 47-year teaching career.

Her regular students were there, but there were visitors, too — former students who wanted to be there to share the moment.

MacManus offered her thoughts about the coming Mid-Terms, and when she concluded, she announced: “That, my friends, is my last lecture ever,” with her voice cracking a bit.

One student immediately rushed forward to give MacManus a hug.

Dr. Susan A. MacManus, known nationally for her knowledge of Florida and national politics, stands near her home in Land O’ Lakes. (B.C.Manion)

Another declared: “You’re going to make me cry.”

Those gathered finished out the period eating pizza and cake, and picking up political buttons, reporters’ notebooks and additional trinkets MacManus had collected along the political trail.

Being a teacher was always part of the plan, said MacManus, who grew up in Land O’ Lakes.

“I knew very, very early that I was going to be a teacher. I loved school. I really enjoyed my teachers.

“Sanders (Memorial Elementary) had a lot of really good teachers,” MacManus said.

She graduated at 16 from Pasco High School and initially was a double major, in political science and physical education at Florida State University.

It didn’t take long, though, for MacManus to discover that politics were her true passion.

She graduated from FSU with a bachelor’s degree in political science and went straight to the University of Michigan for a master’s degree. She was attracted to its Survey Research Center, and it was there she developed an interest in polling.

After that, she landed her first job as an instructor at Valencia Community College.

She was 21.

An early interest in government financing
While teaching at Valencia, she took advantage of a program that allowed her to be paid to go

back to school to expand her expertise. She went to FSU where she studied urban planning and political science, under Thomas Dye, who ultimately turned out to be her major professor and mentor.

After returning to Valencia, Dye called her out of the blue and offered her the chance to become his research assistant, allowing her to pursue her doctorate at FSU.

For her dissertation, MacManus examined the revenue patterns of cities and suburbs across the United States. She coded data for multiple decades for 600-plus cities and suburbs across the country.

“From the beginning, understanding the financing of state and local governments has been a terrific asset to me as a political scientist,” she said.

Her first big university job was at the University of Houston, she said. “It just was the right fit for me. The city was exploding.”

Dr. Susan A. MacManus has amassed a large collection of political buttons while covering the campaign trail as a political analyst. Some were on display during her recent retirement reception. (B.C. Manion)

Next, she was recruited by Cleveland State, in Cleveland, Ohio, which also was a good fit professionally and personally.

Her sister, Lou, and her brother, Cameron, were both practicing medicine there and both had young children — allowing MacManus to bond with her nieces and nephews from their infancy.

After four years in Cleveland, she returned to Land O’ Lakes.

“I had left home when I was 16,” she said. “Basically, I hadn’t been able to experience rich time with my parents.”

Coming back to the community where she grew up gave her a chance to work at USF, learn about the family’s citrus business, and to help her mom write two local history books about Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

“I look back on it, and it all fits together,” she said.

Beyond her influence on students, MacManus also became widely known for her deep knowledge of Florida and national politics.

During the 1990s, she began providing political analysis for News Channel 8.

That started at the encouragement of Bill Ratliff, who had interviewed her for his political show and told her: “You ought to think about doing this. You’re good at it because you can talk to everyday people.”

MacManus replied: “Well, I’m a country girl, you know.”

She agreed to give it a try, if Ratliff would show her the ropes.

She went on to become part of the television station’s coverage team for national political conventions, presidential debates and inaugurations.

And, for decades, she has been a prolific speaker providing her insights to hundreds of civic groups, statewide associations, political and government groups.

Beyond that, she has frequently shared her knowledge in television, radio and newspaper interviews.

She also provided analysis of political conventions during the past two presidential elections, and coverage of the 2016 presidential election for The Laker/Lutz News.

Those experiences of providing political analysis for the media and speaking before myriad groups required her to stay informed, she said.

“It’s absolutely made me keep on top of things. It made me a far, far better teacher,” she said.

The connections she made were invaluable, too.

“I cannot tell you how many internships and jobs that my students have gotten as a consequence of people I have met, on both sides of the political aisle, at major political events,” she said. “You don’t get those kinds of opportunities for students, sitting in your office.”

Hashing out opposing views
MacManus believes her personal background prepared her for her future career.

“I grew up with differences of opinion about politics and lots of family bantering, especially at our large-extended family events.

“But, when it was time to eat and have fun, that was put aside.

Dr. Susan A. MacManus stands in front of a bus parked at the first 2016 presidential debate. The bus is touting CNN’s coverage of the 2016 race for president between Donald J. Trump and Hillary Rodham Clinton. (File)

“That has been one of the greatest gifts I was given — for being an analyst — was growing up in that kind of environment. I don’t get to the point where I can’t talk to somebody because they think differently,” she said.

She praised her last crop of students at USF for being able to hold widely divergent views, while maintaining civility.

It’s an art, she fears, that’s being lost in society today.

Communication has changed, too.

“Candidates and parties, and everyone else, you have to go to multiple platforms,” MacManus said. “You cannot any longer rely upon one source of information.”

As she was winding up her final class, she paused to thank her students.

“I’ve learned far more from you than you’ve learned from me. Your generation is the most interesting one we’ve had, in a very long time,” she said.

“Thank you for being a wonderful, wonderful class,” MacManus said. “I couldn’t ask for a better end to my career than you all. Thank you.”

What people are saying about Dr. Susan A. MacManus
Dr. Judy Genshaft, president of the University of South Florida, and Dr. Liana Fernandez Fox spoke during a retirement reception for Dr. Susan A. MacManus at the University Club of Tampa. During the event, sponsored by USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy, the women offered these comments — made by others — to honor MacManus:

  • “Besides my parents, no one has had as much impact on me as Dr. MacManus. She is an incredible teacher. She has a story about everything, and is so generously willing and giving of her time and knowledge to students who want to work.” — Anthony Cilluffo, former research assistant for MacManus and current research associate with the Pew Research Center in Washington D.C.
  • “Susan is as much of an institution in Florida politics, as ambitious candidates embarrassing themselves at the Possum Festival, or sipping Cuban coffee in Little Havana. Besides the sheer depth of her knowledge, she happens to be one of the nicest people on the political scene.” — Adam Smith, the Tampa Bay Times political editor
  • “The views of Susan MacManus have always been welcomed, eagerly sought — about both Florida politics and national politics. Susan is a gifted academic, whose work my own team has cited many times. What makes Susan even more special is her remarkable ability to translate her work, as well as her colleagues’ findings, for the benefit of the news media and the general public. A keen observer of the political scene for decades, Susan will, no doubt, be called upon frequently in retirement. We continue to need her voice.” — Dr. Larry Sabato, founder and director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Some 2018 Mid-Term insights
Dr. Susan A. MacManus, distinguished professor of political science, offered these observations during her final lecture at the University of South Florida:

  • Lawyers will be busy.

“This is going to be a very litigious, contentious election. Lawyers are going make a lot of money this election cycle because you’re going to have a lot of voting rights’ issues being litigated.”

  • The ballot will be crowded.

“We’ve got everything under the sun, up for election this time.”

Besides U.S. Senate and Governor, Floridians will be choosing congressional representatives, state lawmakers and local elected officials. There’s 13 proposed constitutional amendments, too.

  • Lots of new faces will be on the political scene.

“We’re already seeing a record number of new people who have never run before filing to run for office in Florida, at every level.”

  • A coming Blue Wave?

“As an analyst, I’m not seeing it yet. It could happen, but it’s not there yet.”

  • Expect a close finish.

“The last four elections, two governors, two presidential — 1 percent margin of victory for the winner. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Susan’s Four Fs
Dr. Susan A. MacManus never got an F in anything, except for Home Ec, according to her sister, Lou MacManus, who spoke at Susan’s retirement reception at the University Club of Tampa, on the 38th floor of One Tampa City Center.

She said these are the four Fs that have been a constant in Susan’s life: Family, friends, faith and fun.

The reception reflected that. Some former students drove down from Gainesville. Another former student flew in from Washington D.C. Her best friend traveled from Michigan. Her cousins came from Land O’ Lakes. And, scores of others were there, too, to celebrate Susan’s accomplishments.

Lou ribbed her older sister, sharing little-known details about her — including Susan’s fascination for insects when she was young and her runner-up finish a Pasco County beauty pageant. (Actually just in the top 10, Susan says).

University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft praised Susan’s academic contributions.  Genshaft also noted: “I would venture to say that Susan is among the most sought-after political analysts in the country.”

The room was decorated with photographs of Susan pictured with prominent political figures, and all sorts of political buttons on display. There was even a polling booth, from the 2000 presidential election — the year of the infamous “hanging chad.”

Susan’s long-time friend, Dr. Liana Fernandez Fox, said the party was exactly Susan’s kind of celebratory gathering.

“We filled this room with family and friends, good friends — and, with mementoes of Susan’s fabulous and fun career, of educating students, voters and the media,” Fox said.

Published May 9, 2018

Corley discusses voting system reliability, security

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With primary and general elections on tap later this year — and the recent completion of the municipal election — Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley wants local residents to know their vote always counts.

His message: “Sleep well at night; we’ve got it covered.”

Corley was the featured speaker at the Republican Club of Central Pasco’s recent monthly meeting, where he spoke extensively about the reliability and security of the county’s voting system.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley spoke extensively about the reliability and security of the county’s voting system during the Republican Club of Central Pasco’s monthly meeting. (Kevin Weiss)

Corley, who’s served as the county’s elections supervisor since 2007, explained the elections office has been working closely with the FBI, Homeland Security, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies to vet any potential threats, particularly of the cyber variety.

Additional security precautions have been taken since the 2016 Presidential Election and measures are in place for “every possible scenario,” Corley said.

In a worst-case scenario — such as the PascoVotes website getting compromised — Corley explained the county’s elections office would have the ability to recreate the election. That’s because its headquarters has “multiple redundancies” to preserve the county’s voter registration database.

“If there was any kind of issue, there’s backups of the voter data,” the elections supervisor said.

Corley referenced a website called Norsecorp.com, which analyzes real-time cyber  attempts to hack networks. To underscore the reinforced security of the county elections office, Corley made an analogy of would-be election hackers to a car thief attempting to unlock cars in a parking lot: “In our office, our doors are locked — and you can’t get to the car.”

Corley explained the Dade City-based elections service center “couldn’t be any more secure” should someone attempt to hack its internal servers, steal electronic poll books or other data.

The Category-5 hardened building is equipped with security cameras and multiple levels of physical access control systems, Corley said.

Furthermore, to even activate those voting machines or poll books, Corley said the elections office has multiple sets of unique passwords.

“You’d have to physically drive a Mack truck through the wall, and I don’t think a Mack truck can even get through that wall, to be honest,” he said.

Corley also said his office always conducts a post-election audit — physically counting ballots from a randomly selected race and a certain percentage of precincts, to be sure of factual results.

“We reconcile everything that we do,” Corley said. “We always have 100 percent accuracy,” Corley said.

The elections supervisor also addressed other voting-related matters, including voter fraud.

He acknowledged the existence of voter fraud in Florida and elsewhere, but doesn’t feel it’s as widespread as some believe.

“Respectfully, I don’t really think it’s as bad as the president says it was,” he said.

Corley suggested many fraud cases occur through voters registered in multiple states, such as Florida and New York. “When you vote in two states, that’s when it becomes problematic,” he said.

The dilemma may soon be alleviated once Florida and its 14 million voters officially join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), which is a nonpartisan, nonprofit consortium among 20 states and the District of Columbia. The consortium shares voter registration information to improve the accuracy and integrity of voter lists.

The consortium was designed to improve the integrity of voter rolls by matching millions of voter records from one state with those of other participating states. The data matches can identify voters that have registered in two states, voters that have moved between states, and those that have died.

“It’s an absolute no-brainer,” Corley said of the ERIC system. “We’re obviously very, very excited about that.”

Meanwhile, Corley shared some details about the upcoming Aug. 28 primary election.

He branded the one-page midterm ballot “very, very busy” with its Florida Constitution Revision Commission amendments, as well as several other state and county amendments.

“We’re going into a crazy midterm,” Corley said. “It’s like the election in 2016 never ended. It has that feel to it. It’s going to be a lengthy battle.”

He said the elections office is doing more to service absentee voters.

More voting days will be added to the schedule, and there will be three additional voting precincts — Pasco County Utilities building, in Land O’ Lakes; Alice Hall Community Center, in Zephyrhills; and Odessa Community Park, in Odessa.

With a population of nearly 500,000 and a voter registration roll of about 340,000, Pasco County is divided into 109 precincts.

Absentee or early voting accounted for about 60 percent of all votes cast in the 2016 election, Corley said.

“Early voting seems to kind of be the way to go,” he said. “We’re not expecting that to change.”

Published May 2, 2018

Browning reports on school issues

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Practically no education-related topic was off limits during Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning’s recent visit with The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

At a recent breakfast meeting at the The Edwinola, Browning touched on everything from teacher pay and performance standards, to acceleration programs and school safety.

“We live in a crazy day and time in education,” said Browning, addressing dozens of chamber members.

Browning praised the district’s teachers as a whole, saying they’re “busting their tail ends trying to educate the kids.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning was the featured guest speaker at The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce’s breakfast meeting, at The Edwinola. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

“Being a teacher today is tough, tough work, and it is patience, particularly when you look at the schools. Every district has schools that range on one end of the spectrum to the other — from the low socioeconomic to the very affluent schools,” Browning said.

The Pasco County school district encompasses about 73,000 students across 90 schools, making it the state’s 11th largest district. Its annual operational budget is about $1.2 billion.

A call for more state funding
Browning mentioned he’s been visiting schools throughout the county to gather input from educators on “what’s right, what’s not right, what needs to be fixed, what’s working.”

In the same breath, he said there won’t be salary increases for teachers and other school base staff next school year.

That’s because any additional state funding for education has already been earmarked for school safety, mental health services and classroom supplies, he said.

“Once you take those three things out of there, there’s not a lot of flexible spending. So, when you start talking about pay raises…I can’t do it. I can’t do that next year because there’s not the money there for us,” Browning said.

“You’ve seen the reports on the national news about teachers walking out of classrooms, demanding more money, and I can sympathize with them on what they’re doing. But…in Florida we can’t do that, and I will advocate that,” he said.

Related to teacher pay, Browning stressed the state legislature “has got to get serious about how we’re going to fund education to the levels that it needs, so that we can address all the issues that we’re having to face.”

Browning also blasted the Florida Standards Assessment, the state’s accountability system, and the idea of assigning grades to schools and districts.

Though Pasco is labeled a ‘B’ district, Browning acknowledged the school system “has a lot of ‘C’ schools, fewer ‘B’ schools and even fewer ‘A’ schools.

“I am not sold on the idea that we tag a school with an ‘A, B, C, D or F’ — and that is going to really set the course for that school,” Browning said.

“Realtors, they will sell property based on the grade that school is given. It’s grossly unfair. I’ve asked realtors, ‘Please do not sell homes to folks, No. 1, based upon a school grade; and secondly, they think that is the school they’re going to attend.’”

Browning also criticized the state’s evaluation system for teachers.

It doesn’t add up that approximately 98 percent of the district’s teachers are graded “effective or highly effective” yet the school district still has a ‘B’ grade, he said.

“A lot of it’s based on student outcomes, student data, which some of it should be. But, we’re still arguing about how we come up with a system that truly evaluates instructors, teachers and district staff for that matter,” Browning said.

Some type of measure is needed to truly delineate great teachers from subpar ones, Browning suggested.

“I want great teachers, and I want to keep great teachers in our schools.,” he said. “Our kids, our communities do not need mediocre teachers in our classrooms.”

Rigorous academies, technical programs
Meanwhile, Browning proudly discussed the district’s school acceleration and technical programs.

He highlighted the success of the “high rigor” Cambridge International Programme in place at five schools — Pasco Middle and Pasco High since 2014; and this year introduced at San Antonio Elementary, Paul R. Smith Middle and Anclote High.

Pasco County Schools was recently awarded the District of the Year — Medium Sized Cambridge District. The district was recognized for expanding access to Cambridge exams by more than 100 percent and achieving a pass rate of 76 percent. The district also had 31 students who received a Cambridge Learner Award.

The Cambridge curriculum can be compared to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate curricula, whereby students in the high school program can earn college credits and an international diploma. Those who earn the diploma also qualify for a Florida Bright Futures College scholarship.

“If you set the bar high, those kids will achieve it,” Browning said, later adding he will continue to “press hard” for more rigorous academic programs district-wide.

Additionally, Browning was upbeat about the many career and technical academies the district currently offers, such as Zephyrhills High’s aviation academy and Wesley Chapel High’s automotive technology academy, along with academies at other schools ranging from health to finance to robotics engineering, and more.

Said Browning, “We’ve just opened up a lot of choices for kids — getting kids the opportunity to get a taste of what it is in the real world, and make those connections about what they’re learning in the classroom and how that applies to real life.”

He also observed: “When you can make that connection of what it is and how does this really impact you as an adult, then they start seeing.”

Many graduates of Wesley Chapel High’s auto academy are making as much as $75,000 to $80,000 working at local car dealerships, Browning said.

“We know that not all kids in our system are college bound. Does that mean they shouldn’t be successful? No. Does that mean they shouldn’t make good salary? No,” the superintendent said.

The school superintendent also talked about the possibility of a technical high school in east Pasco, noting it’s on the district’s five-year facilities work program.

The district’s only two technical offerings — Marchman Technical College and Wendell Krinn Technical High School (replacing Ridgewood High in 2018-2019) — are located in New Port Richey.

He said plans call for another such school to be built on a 125-acre, district-owned tract of land on Handcart Road in the Dade City area — to serve students living in Dade City, Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel.

“We are trying our darnedest to find money to build that facility,” the school superintendent said.

Elsewhere, Browning spoke extensively about school safety measures, from the district’s active threat plan to beefing up school security.

He also noted that he’s staunchly opposed to arming teachers and other school personnel.

“There’s something inside me that tells me anytime I introduce a gun in a classroom, on a school campus, it’s just another opportunity for someone to get hurt or killed,” Browning said.

Published April 25, 2018

Helping a community to lift itself up

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Drive up to Life Community Center and you’ll find a crowded parking lot.

That’s because there’s a lot going on in the modular building, at 6542 Applewood Drive in Wesley Chapel, which is affiliated with Life Community Church, formerly known as Victorious Life Church.

Carol Smith, left, enjoys coming to the weekly luncheons. Carmen Robles, a volunteer at the center, helps Smith get settled. (B.C. Manion)

For instance, there’s a weekly community luncheon on Tuesdays in the modular building, and anyone is welcome to drop in for a hot meal and some fellowship.

During one of those recent luncheons, Riley Brannon greeted people as they entered the building. Later, as they prepared to eat, he offered a blessing.

Carol Smith, a regular at these gatherings, said she enjoys the food.

Carmen Robles, a volunteer, helped Smith settle in for a pasta lunch, prepared by Nancy Frankulin, of Bosco’s Italian-To-Go. On alternate weeks, the meals are prepared by Taco Sun.

The center also has a food pantry that operates on Friday afternoons, routinely providing food for 300 to 375 families.

The groceries are donated to the church by Costco and Feeding Tampa Bay, said Terence Gaston, the food ministry coordinator. “Our motto is nobody goes hungry,” he said.

Brannon said Life Community Center is doing important work.

“People are getting food that wouldn’t otherwise,” Brannon said, plus it helps in other ways.

One program, called “Raptime,” is aimed at keeping kids in school.

Fourteen children have been with the program since elementary school, and now they’re in middle school, said Robin Granger, director of Life Community Center.

The goal is to help them to graduate from high school.

Riley Brannon offers a blessing during a Tuesday afternoon lunch at Life Community Center, in the Angus Valley community of Wesley Chapel. The gathering, held each week, offers fellowship and a free hot meal to those who choose to attend.
(Courtesy of Life Community Center)

Angus Valley, where Life Community Center is located, has a high dropout rate, Granger explained. “It’s generational. Their parents didn’t graduate from high school. Their grandparents didn’t graduate from high school,” she said.

Because of that, when a problem arises at school, parents often feel intimidated when they are trying to stand up for their children, Granger said.

That’s where Life Community Center comes in. It provides guidance for parents to help them take the needed steps to support their children, Granger said.

“We’re not going to do the work for you, but we’ll walk beside you,” she said.

“When you’re not sure what to say to the social worker, or your kid is suspended, or your kid has to be transferred — what can we do to advocate for you? We coach parents. We don’t do it for them,” Granger said.

Helping people find gainful work
The center also has a program aimed at helping people to enter or re-enter the workforce.

Its Work Ready program helps people to put together their resumes, brush up on interview skills and to even learn skills that can help them land a job.

For instance, it provided scholarships for students to be trained to become certified nursing assistants. Seven of those people now have full-time jobs, Granger said.

The idea is to provide a hand up, not a handout, she said.

The center aims to help equip people who haven’t had the opportunity to be employed, or haven’t had the chance to understand what it takes to get a job, Granger said.

A big crowd gathered this spring for the ribbon cutting at the new modular building for Life Community Center. The center has been serving the community for years, but previously was operating out of a doublewide trailer. (Courtesy of Life Community Center)

There’s another program, called “Celebrate Recovery,” which focuses on assisting people who are in recovery.

“People are more willing to walk in a community center than they are a church,” Granger said.

At the church, about 10 people showed up to a recovery meeting; at the life center, about 30 did, Granger said.

The center helps in other, practical ways, too.

“We have a Back to School, where we help do socks, shoes and underwear,” she said, noting that those items are provided for families who need the help. And, there’s a program that supplies food for children who would otherwise go hungry over the weekend.

On top of all that, every fourth Friday of the month, Florida Hospital and Pioneer Medical Services bring a mobile unit to the center to see people who do not have insurance, Granger said.

The center aims to provide the kinds of services that people want and need, Granger said.

It also wants to be a source of information regarding programs it doesn’t directly provide, but that can be useful for community residents.

Creating a paradigm shift for helping others
At Life Community Center, people get help — but it’s not just a one-way street, Granger said.

The center has a program called Time Exchange.

It works like this: “If they need an electricity bill paid, or a water bill paid, we’ll partner with them to do it, but in return, they have to give us Time Exchange,” Granger said, meaning a number of service hours in exchange for the help.

“If they have $100 electric bill, we’ll work with them, but then I expect to see them here, whether it’s at the community lunches or at food ministry,” she said.

Nancy Frankulin shows off a big pot of pasta sauce served during a recent Tuesday afternoon lunch at Life Community Center, 6542 Applewood Drive in Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion)

And, at Christmas, they’ll help a family give their children nice presents, but they expect some hours of service at the center.

Again, the goal is to give a hand up, not a handout.

Time Exchange helps people see how they can contribute, and it fosters a way to connect to others, she said.

“Poverty isn’t about the lack of material things. Poverty is about broken relationships,” Granger said.

The lack of resources can be demoralizing.

“When we think about people who are living paycheck to paycheck, or they get behind in bills, they feel like there’s no light at the end of their tunnel.

“They’re just depressed. They’re feeling hopeless,” she said.

What the center has discovered is that people who began helping as part of Time Exchange often continue helping.

That’s because they feel welcome and appreciated, Granger said.

Besides, she added, “there’s a lot of laughter, and there’s a lot of fun.”

Want to help?
These are some items on Life Community Center’s wish list:

  • 10 Chrome Books/Laptops: to help job seekers and Stay in School programs
  • 1 printer
  • Books for teens
  • Do-it-yourself ideas/projects for children and teenagers
  • Board games for kids

For more information, call (813) 994-0685.

Ways that Life Community Center helps:

  • Celebrate Recovery: A 12-step program celebrating God’s healing power for any hurts, hang-ups and habits
  • Raptime: A stay in school program servings youths who live in Angus Valley
  • Community lunches: A free hot lunch on Tuesday for anyone who wishes to come
  • Food ministry: Families are welcome to pick up a box of fresh produce, meat, bread and groceries on Fridays between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
  • Little meals: A partnership with Quail Hollow Elementary School to provide nutritious supplements on the weekend for chronically hungry children in the community
  • Community Service House: Those needing to earn volunteer hours can do so at the Life Community Center.
  • Work Ready Services: Help is provided with resumes, interview skills and classes to help members in the community to obtain jobs
  • Grants: Help can be provided when someone encounters an unexpected hardship, but that help must be repaid through volunteer hours at the center.
  • Thanksgiving in a box: Life Church provides 500 families with the ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal, including a turkey.
  • Imagine Christmas: Parents complete 10 hours to 18 hours of community service in exchange for quality Christmas gifts for their children.

For more information, call (813) 994-0685.

Published April 18, 2018

State Road 54 West booming with development

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State Road 54, east of U.S. 41, tends to hog the spotlight on new development.

After all, it is home to premium commercial shopping meccas, including Tampa Premium Outlets and the now-rising star of Cypress Creek Town Center.

Brightworks Crossing, an apartment and retail project, is going up at Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 54. And, other area development includes Florida Hospital Center Ice, luxury car dealerships, a thriving Shops at Wiregrass, and commercial and residential expansions at Wiregrass Ranch.

The master-planned community of Asturia, off State Road 54, will have single-family homes, apartments, shops and a corporate center. (Kathy Steele)

But, west of U.S. 41, with its large parcels of open land, the game of catch-up is on.

Apartments, single-family homes, offices, hotels and shops are under construction, awaiting permits, or have just cleared the rezoning hurdle.

The mixed-use, master-planned community of Asturia is among many new developments that are reshaping Pasco County’s future. The changes are particularly noticeable in Land O’ Lakes, on the north side of the state road from U.S. 41 to Starkey Ranch.

Construction sites and new development pop up – boom, boom, boom.

The progression of development is taking a natural course of following where land is available, said Lars Kier, president of the Central Pasco Association of REALTORS.

“It’s moving away from Wesley Chapel and Tampa,” he said. “It’s just a natural growth that way.”

Also, the western side of Pasco County is largely developed, he added.

Central Pasco and East Pasco are more rural.

“Real estate is establishing itself where it’s easier to develop,” Kier said. “With all the growth in Pasco, I would definitely think all of it is going to be pretty well-developed.”

Occasionally, the county’s rural past meets up with its urban future.

Down the entrance drive into Asturia, a small herd of cows munches grass on an open field. Behind them, construction workers raise the roofs on new homes.

But, Asturia isn’t all that’s happening.

From U.S. 41, west, there are the Shoppes at Ballantrae Village; Mystic Pointe apartments; Bexley by Newland Communities; Florida Hospital Central Pasco ER; Asturia Corporate Center; South Branch Ranch; and, Publix at Gunn Highway and Starkey Ranch.

A drive into Bexley reveals the Spring Hills Suites Marriott hotel under construction, and the Lakeside Walk apartments, which are preleasing.

Other locations on State Road 54 are filled with clusters of housing frames or smoothed over plots of ground, waiting for a construction start. Or, motorists can spot a sign planted in the dirt, “The Preserve New Homes” coming.

On the south side, for sale signs offer up large swaths of vacant land, waiting on the next development wave. Some parcels are newly rezoned, and need site plans and permitting before more development sprouts.

Some small commercial projects are visible, as well.

The DCI Professional Center at State Road 54 and Ogden Loop has a sign heralding a fall 2017 opening for the 18,000-square- foot office complex, across from Asturia.

So far, all that is finished there is a paved parking lot.

Stanley Steemer is nearing completion on State Road 54, just west of U.S. 41.

Sienna Village II is planned as an expansion of the existing Sienna Village, a small office complex off State Road 54, also just west of U.S. 41.

The expansion, at State Road 54 and Sofia Drive, will have 150,000 square feet of offices, and 30,000 for commercial.

Highlights of new development on State Road 54, from U.S. 41 to Starkey Ranch, include:

  • Shoppes at Ballantrae Village

The shopping center outside the master-planned community of Ballantrae includes DQ Grill & Chill, Domino’s Pizza, Dunkin’ Donuts, T-Mobile, Hungry Greek, a dental office and a spa.

Circle K convenience store is adjacent to the shops, at the entrance into Ballantrae.

  • Mystic Pointe apartments

The upscale, gated apartment complex will have 252 apartments, and a Key West vibe when construction is complete. Preleasing on one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments is underway.

The complex is between Bexley by Newland Communities to the west and Ballantrae to the east, off State Road 54.

  • Bexley by Newland Communities

The master-planned community is under construction on more than 1,800 acres, off State Road 54, east of Suncoast Parkway. Newland Communities announced in March that more than 250 new homes have been sold.

On the entry drive into Bexley, Spring Hill Suites Marriott is being built. Lakeside Walk apartments are under construction, but are preleasing.

Bexley’s clubhouse is home to the Twisted Sprocket Café, which is open to the public for breakfast, lunch and happy hour.

  • Florida Hospital Central Pasco ER

The emergency room facility is open outside Bexley, providing medical care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  • South Branch Ranch

Sembler and Altman Development Corp., had March pre-application meetings scheduled with Pasco County planners for property rezoned in 2017 at the northwest corner of Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54.

Altman is proposing 16 buildings, including a clubhouse. There would be more than 350 apartments with one-, two-, and three-bedrooms.

Sembler is proposing a project with a grocery store, fitness center and shops. Outparcels facing State Road 54 could be future sites for restaurants, offices, shops and a gas station.

Both are part of South Branch Ranch, according to county records.

  • Land Investment Partners offices/apartments

The Atlanta-based investment company plans to build two, three-story premier office buildings of 75,000 square feet each, at the southeast corner of Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54.

The company also plans 300 apartments, with access off Northpointe Parkway in Northpointe Village.

The locations are part of the Suncoast Crossings development property, and adjacent to the newly opened manufacturing plant by Mettler Toledo.

  • Asturia Corporate Center

The Pasco County Commission approved a plan in 2017 to build up to 200,000 square feet of premier office space on the north side of State Road 54, west of Asturian Parkway. The business park will be part of the mixed-use, master-planned community of Asturia.

Harrod Properties Inc., is developing the project, which will be built in phases and without pre-signed tenants.

  • Publix at Starkey Ranch

A 45,000-square-foot Publix grocery store is expected to open in fall 2018 at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway. An additional 30,000 square feet will be available for more retail.

Published April 11, 2108

Crocheting kindness

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When nurse Doris Michel put the bunny ears cap on 1 ½-day-old Maksim Damjanovich’s head, the baby looked adorable, and the nurse beamed with joy.

Travis Drummond holds his 2-day-old baby, Aurora. She’s wearing a cap that was crocheted for her by Kelley Berens, night charge nurse in the Mom/Baby Unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North. (B.C. Manion)

This is the third time that a member of the Damjanovich family has received a crocheted cap after being born at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, at 4211 Van Dyke Road in Lutz.

“We think it’s really special,” said Alison Damjanovich, of Tampa Palms.

Her other two daughters, Genevieve, who is nearly 3, and Rosalie, who is about 20 months, also received the crocheted caps when they were born at the hospital.

“It’s nice to have a little keepsake to bring home and keep forever. It’s very special,” Damjanovich said.

Cherish and Travis Drummond were delighted, too, when night charge nurse Kelley Berens bestowed a yellow cap to their 2-day-old daughter, Aurora.

“I think it’s awesome,” Cherish Drummond said. “It’s very sweet.”

Night nurse Fritzie Plaras-Rooney went the extra, extra mile. She crocheted a cap and a cotton-tail diaper cover for a baby in the Mom/Baby Unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, where she works.

Travis, agreed: “I think it’s great. I have a disabled aunt. This is part of what she does to be able to active — makes hats for babies in her community.”

The tiny caps are just two of the thousands that nurses Michel, Berens and Fritzie Plaras-Rooney have made for babies under their care in the Mom/Baby Unit at the hospital.

Berens and Plaras-Rooney have been at the hospital since it opened in February 2010. Michel joined the staff a year later.

The nurses do this project on their own, selecting and paying for the yarn, and making the caps on their own time. Occasionally, though, they do receive donations of yarn or of caps others have made.

The idea for crocheting caps for the new arrivals likely came up in a conversation during a break, but it was so long ago she isn’t sure, Berens said.

From left, Kelley Berens, Fritzie Plaras-Rooney and Doris Michel enjoy crocheting caps as a welcome to the world gift for the babies under their care at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North. Nurse manager Nathalie Fetgatter, in the back row, is delighted by the nurses’ personal touch.

She does remember that at another place where she worked, people sent in caps of compassion for premature babies who did not survive.

“I guess that’s what sparked the idea,” Berens said. But, she had a variation on that theme: “Why not do it for every baby?”

Before she could start making caps, though, Berens had to watch some YouTube videos to refresh her crocheting skills.

The women said they make the caps all over the place.

Plaras-Rooney, of Wesley Chapel, likes to make them while watching HGTV programs.

Michel, of Spring Hill, gets a lot of crocheting done while waiting at her doctor’s office.

Berens, of Land O’ Lakes, makes good use of her time as she sits in the car line at her son’s school.

They also make them during their breaks at work.

It typically takes about a half-hour to crochet a cap.

They make them in various styles.

They’ll do holiday themes. Or, the colors of a favorite football team. Or, in a shade to match the baby’s nursery.

Three nurses at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North crochet caps of varied designs for babies arriving at the hospital. They say soft yarn is best for making the caps.

“The cool thing is that a lot of us (nurses) do three nights in a row, so we’ll have the same mom and baby,” Berens said.

That gives them a significant advantage: They know, precisely, how big the baby’s head is.

“So, we can really customize it (the cap) to the individual baby,” Berens said,

While it’s satisfying to create the caps, the nurses don’t always take credit for their work.

Plaras-Rooney said she likes to surprise families, by slipping the cap into a drawer where they will be sure to find it.

Berens can be stealth, as well. “Sometimes, I send it (the baby’s cap) in with someone else,” she said.

But, Michel said she enjoys presenting the baby — wearing the cap — to his or her mom, just before they’re leaving the hospital.

“Seeing the reactions is the best thing,” Michel said.

Doris Michel holds 1 ½-day-old Maksim Damjanovich, who is wearing a bunny ears cap that she crocheted for him. Three nurses at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North make the caps as a gesture of kindness.

All three women said it feels great to provide a personal touch with the families they serve.

“We make relationships with people,” Berens said, noting some of the moms have already given birth to three or four babies at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, even though it’s a relatively new hospital.

For Plaras-Rooney, the joy comes from treating the moms and babies like they were members of her own family. “I love my patients,” she said.

Michel gets a kick out of making the caps.

“It’s fun,” she said.

Nurse manager Nathalie Fetgatter, of Land O’ Lakes, is pleased that the nurses give of themselves to create stronger connections with families.

“I love that they do this,” she said.

Travis Drummond, baby Aurora’s dad, is impressed, too.

“I understand the time and effort that goes into that sort of thing — having gone and gotten the yarn for my aunt,” he said.

“At a time when everybody is looking to make a buck — to make something by hand, give it away — it’s very special. It does mean a lot, you know,” he said.

Published April 4, 2018

Renowned hiker to share his stories in Tampa

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Twenty years after he hiked the Appalachian Trail, Jeff Alt’s expedition lives on.

Alt hiked an average of 17 miles a day, for nearly five months in 1998, to walk 2,160 miles, from Springer Mountain, in Georgia, to Mount Kadahdin, in Maine.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail was not only a personal goal but also a way to support people with developmental disabilities, including Alt’s brother, Aaron, who has cerebral palsy.

It took Jeff Alt 147 days to trek the entirety of the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine and 12 other states in between. Relatives in Lutz and Carrollwood served as his support system along the way. (Courtesy of Jeff Alt)

Because of that commitment, as fellow hikers in his group quit, Alt persevered.

He made a trek of an estimated 5 million steps, overcoming everything from extreme weather and scary wildlife encounters, to persistent aches and pains.

The achievement since inspired the Sunshine 5K, Walk, Run and Roll which just celebrated its 20th annual event in Greenville, Ohio, and has raised more than $500,000 for people with developmental disabilities. It benefits the Ohio-based Sunshine Communities, which supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as they live, work and play on their terms. It’s also where Alt’s disabled brother lives.

Alt will be in town this week to share stories and sign the 20th anniversary edition of his best-selling memoir, “A Walk for Sunshine,” on March 29 at 7 p.m., at Barnes & Noble Carrollwood,11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa.

The renowned hiker shared a few of those stories and anecdotes from his long, arduous 147-day journey in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

Born, raised and still living in Ohio with his wife and two children, Alt has several familial ties to the Lutz and Carrollwood area. These family members served as his support system during the adventure.

His brother, Larry Alt, of Lutz, greeted him at the beginning and end of the Appalachian Trail.

His sister Stephanie Pitts, of Lutz, served as his “unofficial, official public relations person,” updating friends, relatives and media throughout the journey.

Her husband, Dan Pitts, of Lutz, joined Alt in hiking the final leg of the Appalachian Trail.

And, his stepfather, Ron Almendinger, of Northdale, often shipped supply boxes to Alt on the trail.

Each gesture kept him motivated and boosted morale, Alt said.

“Everybody played a role…so I could focus on the journey. They were like my cheerleading squad,” Alt said.

He recalled his adventure getting off to a shaky start.

On the very first day, Alt had to wrap his feet in duct tape, after several blisters formed on both feet, as a result of placing his boot orthotics on the wrong feet.

“One blister is extremely painful,” he said. “But, this was excruciating.”

Alt gave himself the self-deprecating nickname “Wrongfoot” to bring a bit of levity to his own error. “I just reminded myself that I just needed to laugh it off,” he said.

The next day, Alt was close and personal with a skunk on top of his sleeping bag. Luckily, he was able to shoo it away without getting sprayed.

That wasn’t the only “hair-raising” encounter with Mother Nature.

He was charged by a mama bear in Maine, before it abruptly dashed off into the woods with a pair of baby cubs.

Another stress-inducing — and painful — moment came while traversing the Great Smoky Mountains. That’s where Alt suffered a bad ankle sprain in the middle a 12-foot snowdrift, while trying to balance his 55-pound backpack on one leg.

“I thought at that moment, ‘My journey just ended.’ That was the only time that I didn’t think I was going to make it,” Alt said.

He took a few days off, to reduce the swelling, then resumed his journey.

Every day was painful, Alt said, joking that ibuprofen is referred to as as ‘Vitamin I’ in the hiker community.

“Literally, when you took your pack off at the end of the day, your body would say, ‘What did you just do to me? You’re going to feel this all night,’” Alt said.

Cold and hungry
The majority of fellow hikers that year quit because of frigid temperatures, which sometimes dropped to 20 below zero.

“It was so cold, at one point, if you took your boots off at night and didn’t put them in your sleeping bag, they would freeze in the position your foot was before you took it off, and then the leather would cut your feet open because it was still frozen in the morning,” Alt said.

He had never-ending food cravings.

“Your appetite quadruples,” Alt said. “I could eat a half gallon of ice cream as a snack. I could eat a whole pizza and then go eat dinner.”

Even so, he lost 30 pounds, which he refers to as “the Appalachian Diet Plan.”

He also has many positive experiences on his trek.

He marveled at the friendliness and kindness of people he met along the trail.

Complete strangers would invite him into their homes, and would offer something to eat and drink, and the use of their shower.

“It left a very warm feeling in my heart,” he said.

Along the way, he crossed paths with military folks, recent college graduates, a wealthy stock trader, to name a few.

He met a man who had abruptly quit his job to hike, and a fair number of homeless people, too.

“You meet all kinds of people. It’s America, really,” he said.

He also observed there was something to appreciate about each of the 14 states he walked through, including breathtaking views and varying geology.

Even after walking 5 million steps, Alt said the expedition wasn’t truly complete until he could share the news with his brother Aaron, back in Ohio.

His brother doesn’t speak, but he does communicate through gestures and smiles.

Seeing him, Alt said, ended his journey — “knowing that he understood and smiled.”

Jeff Alt book signing event
What: Jeff Alt will share stories about his Appalachian Trail journey and sign the anniversary edition of “A Walk for Sunshine.”
Where: Barnes & Noble Carrollwood, 11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa
When: March 29 at 7 p.m.
Info: (813) 962-6446

Appalachian Trail Facts

  • The Appalachian Trail spans 14 states, covering 2,190 miles, from Georgia to Maine.
  • The Appalachian Trail was inspired by Benton MacKaye in 1921.
  • Earl Shaffer became the first person to walk the Appalachian Trail from end to end in 1948.
  • Emma Rowena Gatewood, also known as “Grandma Gatewood,” became the first female solo thru-hiker at the age of 67 when she first hiked the trail in 1955. She hiked the trail three times.
  • Each year, an estimated 2,000 hikers to 3,000 hikers attempt to walk the entire Appalachian Trail in one season (during a four-month to six-month time frame). Just one in four succeed.
  • Hikers carry backpacks weighing 30 pounds to 75 pounds and supply in towns along the way.
  • Hikers burn 4,000 calories to 6,000 calories a day, comparable to running 2 marathons.

Jeff Alt’s Appalachian Trail statistics:

  • Carried a pack that weighed 50 pounds
  • Went through three pairs of boots
  • Averaged 17 miles a day
  • Had 22 boxes of supplies shipped to him along the way
  • Slept mostly in three-walled shelters, though did carry a tent
  • Completed the trek in 147 days (nearly five months)
  • Lost 30 pounds

Published March 28, 2018

Author recounts childhood in apartheid South Africa

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Rachel Odhner Longstaff’s earliest memory of South Africa is an engine fire and an aborted plane flight near the end of a long journey from Pennsylvania to the city of Durban in the KwaZulu Natal province.

Rachel Odhner Longstaff
(Courtesy Susan Foster)

“I remember being carried from the plane by a huge black man under an umbrella,” said Longstaff. “I think he was the first African I had seen.”

She was a 3-year-old.

Her father was a Swedenborgian minister sent to South Africa to establish a theological school for Africans.

The year was 1948, the year the white South African government voted to establish apartheid. The brutal system institutionalized discrimination against blacks, and the strict separation between the races.

For the next 12 years, Longstaff grew up in a divided world — one where she enjoyed a happy childhood amid white privileges, but also witnessed the harsh reality of apartheid.

Rachel Odhner Longstaff, far left, is seen with her family in a United States passport photo from 1956. (Courtesy of Rachel Odhner Longstaff)

As a child, she didn’t always understand what was happening. But, as an adult, Longstaff began exploring her feelings of guilt and shame for not being more aware.

The result is her book, “In the Shadow of the Dragon’s Back,” published in November by Culicidae Press. Its dedication is to the boys and girls of South Africa, and in memory of her older brother, Pehr Odhner.

“What I wanted to do was show the contrast that had always distinguished my life and Africans under apartheid,” Longstaff, a retired librarian, said of the first book she’s written.

“I think I wanted people to know what it was like. It was a unique slice of history,” she said.

She struggled with how to tell her story.

She didn’t feel qualified to write as an expert on history and politics.

So, she chose to share her experiences in South Africa through a series of personal vignettes — not always told in chronological order — and through family photographs.

Rachel Odhner Longstaff moved with her family to South Africa in 1948, where her father established a theological school for African ministers. She is seen here in her school uniform, and a Panama hat, in a 1958 photo.

Each vignette is followed by excerpts and references to news articles, interviews and commentary on laws and events that give context to the apartheid regime.

The book’s title refers to the Drakensberg, or the “Dragon mountains” of South Africa, which Longstaff describes as being wild and beautiful.

One of the mountains is known as the “Dragon’s Back.”

To her, a dragon is something to be afraid of and something that portends evil.

“As I thought about what happened, I grew up in the shadow, and it was apartheid,” she said. “I grew up in a police state. No wonder I was such a nervous creature.”

The government wasn’t alone in enforcing apartheid. Even neighbors could be watching for missteps.

There was a young boy, Victor, who was the grandson of the family’s cook, Miriam Nyandu.

Longstaff and an older brother often played with Victor. But, a neighbor complained to their mother.

“You have to go and play with him behind the fence,” Longstaff said her mother told them. “We thought it was because we made too much noise.”

The Odhner family lived in the ‘big house’ at 185 Sydenham Road in Durban, South Africa, from 1949 to 1960.

She realized later it was because the neighbor was offended that white and black children touched one another.

An older sister, Jeanette, walked to a bus stop for a ride on her first day of school. A sign at the bus stop’s bench said “Europeans Only,” but her sister didn’t think that applied to her, as an American. Another sign, saying “Whites Only” was written in Afrikaans, a language Jeannette didn’t speak.

So, she stood off to the side with the black maids, and servants, who traveled daily in and out of Durban.

Whites, Africans, Coloureds (mixed raced) and Indians lived in designated residential zones.

“They had to live outside the town because black people were separated,” Longstaff said.

Under apartheid, South Africa approved “pass” laws for nonwhites, requiring them to carry identity cards. They could be arrested for not producing them when asked.

“The police were pretty brutal,” Longstaff said.

Longstaff’s mother and father at times violated behavioral norms. Her mother would drive an African minister’s wife to the hospital, and allow the woman to sit next to her in the front seat.

African ministers gathered in 1960 to bid farewell to the Odhner family. Rachel Odhner Longstaff’s father established a theological school for African ministers.

She would be scolded and told that she “was giving them ideas,” Longstaff wrote.

Her father and his African secretary, Billy Khoza, once quietly tried to help someone escape from South Africa.

One day the South African secret police showed up at the house to search through her father’s office, looking for evidence of his support for the banned political party, the African National Congress.

They said Khoza was a “Communist” and an ANC party member. Her father reluctantly had to fire Khoza.

Years later, Longstaff’s mother invited Khoza (then a successful businessman) and his daughter to tea at their Pennsylvania home.

“It was quite nice,” said Longstaff because it would have been forbidden in apartheid South Africa.

Longstaff said her father had to learn to navigate through apartheid’s rigid rules. Otherwise the church and school could be shut down, and the Odhner family deported, she said.

‘In the Shadow of the Dragon’s Back,’ by Rachel Odhner Longstaff, tells the story of the author’s years in apartheid South Africa from 1948 to 1960.

When Longstaff was 16, her family returned to Pennsylvania.

It was difficult to adjust to an American culture that felt foreign to her in many ways, after being away for most of her childhood.

She is what is known as a “third culture” child, trying to straddle two separate cultures.

She went on to earn an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, and a master’s degree in library and information science from Drexel University.

For 20 years, she was an academic librarian at the Swedenborg Library in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania.

Later, she and her husband Alan moved to Florida where Longstaff joined the faculty at Saint Leo University. She is now retired.

It was an annual event at Saint Leo, “Focus the Nation,” that in part spurred Longstaff to think about writing a book. She and other faculty members organized the program, which invited students to explore environmental and social justice through art and literature.

But, she also reached out to her siblings to write about the family’s collective memories of their time in South Africa. One brother had about 300 photo negatives.

“At that point, I said I’m going to write the book myself,” Longstaff said.

She started her research with newspapers, including the London Times.

South African newspapers were so heavily censored they weren’t useful, Longstaff said.

“I learned a lot about apartheid that I didn’t know,” she said.

Longstaff hopes her book brings attention to press censorship especially as media reports now often are the targets of “fake news” charges.

That’s an uncomfortable reminder from the past, Longstaff said.

“In South Africa, they were only allowed to print the party line,” she said.

Revised March 21, 2018