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R.B. Cox Elementary celebrates 90 years

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A lot of notable things happened during 1926.

Queen Elizabeth was born. A.A. Milne published Winnie-the-Pooh, and Tampa Theatre opened Tampa’s first air-conditioned building, in downtown Tampa.

Calvin Coolidge was in the White House at the time, and people could buy a dozen of eggs for 56 cents, a dozen oranges for 34 cents, or a porterhouse steak for 29 cents a pound.

It’s also the year that Dade City Grammar School opened.

The structure, built in the Collegiate Gothic style of architecture, was later renamed to honor Superintendent R.B. Cox, a former principal, who lost his battle with cancer in 1973.

With its Collegiate Gothic architectural style, R.B. Cox Elementary has offered a dignified presence in Dade City for nine decades.
(B.C. Manion)

The school, at 37615 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in Dade City, is hosting a 90th birthday celebration on March 5.

The event features a dinner of baked ziti, salad and dessert, with tickets selling for $7 each.

Besides the meal, there will be music by the Pasco County High School jazz band, and a video of interviews of students and teachers, with connections to the elementary school, said Principal Claudia Steinacker.

Visitors also will be able to walk down memory lane, perusing historic photographs and reading “Did you know?” factoids, gathered from people associated with the school through the years.

The event will serve as a fundraiser to help pay for some projects at the school, which serves 465 children from Early Head Start through fifth grade.

For instance, the school would like to makeover a space between the main building and the media center — converting it into a courtyard where students and families can gather, Steinacker said. Other ideas include purchasing picnic tables, to give visiting parents a place to eat lunch, and buddy benches out near the playground.

The school also would like to turn a space near the primary classrooms into a play area for the children.

“We’ll prioritize what we want to start with, based upon the funds, and then we’ll just continue moving forward as we try to raise those funds,” the principal said.

Besides the dinner, the school will be raising money through a baked goods auction, and it has sold vendor spaces to vendors who will be selling items at the event.

“We chose to do it on a Sunday, so we could make it a little bit special,” Steinacker said, noting she didn’t want people to feel rushed.

The idea is to give people a chance to gather, to reminisce and to recognize the school’s special role in the community — where it has been the focus of education for generations of children, she said.

“Even if they don’t want to come necessarily to eat, even if they just want to come to be able to walk, and see and visit — we just really want everyone to have the opportunity to see our amazing school and learn about the history that this school has,” Steinacker said.

“It’s a great opportunity to say, ‘Come celebrate.’

“If you have time and you want to support us, you want to volunteer, the door is open. We need that.”

“This is a special place. We want people to be able to celebrate what a special place it is,” Steinacker said.

Dade City’s motto is “Proud Heritage, Promising Future,” the principal said.  “We definitely are striving to give our kids that promising future,” she added.

This will be the school’s second celebration to mark its ninth decade of operation. It had a celebration in the beginning of the school year, and it plans to have another one at the end of the school year, when it plans to bury a time capsule.

R.B. Cox Elementary 90th birthday party
Where: 37615 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dade City
When: March 5, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $7 per plate for lunch of baked ziti, salad and dessert (To-go containers will be available)
Details: R.B. Cox Elementary is hosting a party to celebrate the school’s rich heritage in Dade City. The event includes a luncheon, music, a baked goods auction and a chance to see historic photographs,
More information: Call (352) 524-5100, or visit the school’s website, RBCES.Pasco.k12.Fl.us.

Published March 1, 2017

 

Female firefighter inspires superhero comic

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Larry Jarrell was so captivated when he learned of Stephanie Sorensen’s story that he created a web comic heroine based on the Wesley Chapel woman’s life.

This isn’t the first time that Sorensen has attracted attention.

The volunteer at Fire Station 28 in Land O’ Lakes, placed second in a national campaign to raise awareness of the need for volunteer firefighters.

Besides volunteering at the fire station, she also is a teacher, mother and actress.

The Firegirl web comic is slated to be released in April by Crushed Ego Studios, an Orlando-based comic development company.
(Courtesy of Stephanie Sorensen)

Sorensen’s distinct daily life left an impression on Jarrell, president of Crushed Ego Studios, an Orlando-based comic development company.

Jarrell was particularly “moved” by Sorensen’s background as both a female firefighter and an elementary teacher to autistic children.

That sparked an idea for a web comic heroine, aptly named Firegirl.

“It’s just an amplification and just an inspiration for what (Sorensen’s) already doing, but just making it kind of more of a superhero kind of thing,” said Jarrell, who has worked in the comic industry for more than 20 years.

Though Sorensen acknowledged she’s never been a comic buff, she was intrigued by the proposition.

“I had never really thought about it from a comic book standpoint, but when (Jarrell) presented the idea…to take an everyday woman and turn her into a hero, I just thought that was an amazing idea,” Sorensen said.

For her, the project creates an opportunity to teach life lessons, in an exciting, positive manner: “I feel like it’s another avenue for me to be an inspiration to people, and help them; it’s not just for entertainment.”

In real life, Sorensen remains a busy woman.

Typically, she undergoes Wednesday night fire training sessions, and often picks up weekend shifts, as her schedule permits, at the fire station, which is located at 21709 Hale Road.

She’s also a full-time Autism Spectrum Disorder teacher at Clark Elementary in New Tampa.

Stephanie Sorensen is the inspiration for a web comic superhero, called Firegirl. Sorensen, who volunteers at Fire Station 28 in Land O’ Lakes, placed second in a national campaign to bring awareness to the need for volunteer firefighters.
(File)

Sorensen balances her volunteer firefighter schedule with her primary responsibilities as a teacher and a mother to an autistic son.

Plus, she’s an actress on the side. She was cast in the 2015 film “The Inevitable,” and she has made an uncredited appearance in Netflix’s “Bloodline.”

Last year, Sorensen competed in “Step Up and Stand Out,” a national campaign sponsored by Kidde —  a leading manufacturer of residential fire safety product— to increase awareness of the ongoing need for volunteer firefighters.  The national contest was launched to recognize volunteers who have “gone above and beyond in their community.”

Sorensen was one of five finalists (and the lone female) selected from video nominations for volunteers “who represent the best of the fire service.” She placed second in the contest, which ended in September.

Though she didn’t win, she said it was a gratifying experience.

“I couldn’t believe how many people, especially young girls, were inspired by me coming in second,” Sorensen said. “I ended up with a lot of followers on Instagram, just for being a teacher and a firefighter.”

Meanwhile, Sorensen worked closely with the comic studio, over a period of several weeks, to help develop Firegirl’s image and primary qualities.

“I wanted it to be more of like an athletic character and a strong female character,” Sorensen said.

One distinguishing feature is the superhero’s hair, which resembles a blaze of flames.

“We worked back and forth with her in development, to come up with a different image,” Jarrell said. “We also wanted to make sure it wasn’t overly racy-looking or anything; we kept it more modest.

Sorensen will have input into Firegirl’s storylines and plot development. She also was involved with the character’s image and qualities.
(Courtesy of Stephanie Sorensen)

He added: “The build of the character is…not exaggerating like a lot of comic book characters are — they’re always bigger and badder and more giant; it’s just not very realistic of what you see.”

As the project moves forward, Sorensen will have input on the comic’s plot development.

“There will be portions where it’s out of the firehouse or out of the schoolhouse,” Sorensen said. “The idea is that it’s something I can be proud of my students reading, but also still appeals to everybody, that everyone could enjoy reading it.

“Ultimately, it’s important for me that the storyline does have teachable moments.”

While a story arc is still being hashed out, Jarrell did offer a sneak preview, of sorts.

He said Firegirl will initially square off against three terroristic villains — Vapor, Volt and Pyroclast.

“There’s a storyline that deals with…a villain starting a fire, and other issues going on with the school where she teaches,” Jarrell explained. “The villain has no idea Firegirl is there…and it just winds up that it works out, in a roundabout way.”

“The story itself,” he added, “is she gains these abilities and actually uses them to kind of put the smackdown on…fear and terror.”

The web comic likely will be released online (FiregirlWebComic.com) sometime in April. It may later be published in print form, too.

Once released, Sorensen said she hopes to share the comic with her students either on Club Days or during the Great American Teach-In.

Published February 22, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Crowd gives Bilirakis an earful

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A crowd — that sometimes became raucous — turned out to a listening session held by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis on the issue of health care reform.

Bilirakis billed the session as an opportunity to receive feedback and ideas from constituents on the future direction of the nation’s health care system, including the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act.

Many people brought signs to help communicate their views on the health care issue.
(B.C. Manion)

People filled every seat of the Pasco County Commission’s chambers at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey during the Feb. 11 session.

They stood in the back of the chamber, and along both walls, and the overflow spilled into government center’s lobby and down a hallway corridor.

The crowd was made up of men and women, of all ages and ethnicities. Some came in wheelchairs. Some used walkers or canes.

Some carried signs proclaiming such messages such as: “Repair, not repeal.” “The ACA is pro life” and “Health Care is a Human Right.”

Television reports on the event aired on local and national networks, and excerpts of speakers streamed on social media.

The vast majority of speakers protested repealing and replacing the ACA.

Speakers told Bilirakis that repealing the ACA will cause chaos.

Some told Bilirakis that keeping the ACA, for them, or their loved ones, is truly a matter of life or death.

The crowd jeered in reaction to comments by Bill Akins, secretary of the executive committee of the Republican Party of Pasco County, who said: “There is a provision in there (the ACA) that anyone over the age of 74 has to go before what is effectively a death panel.”

As the crowd booed and shouted “no,” Akins insisted he was right. “The provision is in there.”

As speakers took their turn at the microphone, some folks in the lobby occasionally chanted, “Medicare for all. Medicare for all.”

In response, one man counter-chanted: “Make someone else pay. Make someone else pay.”

One speaker told Bilirakis that the ACA had not really worked because it was too expensive, and another said he preferred keeping the government out of his back pocket.

But, most of the speakers, including Ivana Sheppard, a member of Action Together Tampa Bay, want to see Obamacare improved — not repealed and replaced.

“Your job as a congressman is to fix it,” Sheppard told Bilirakis.

Insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies should not be involved in reform efforts, she added. “Take their seat from the table. The insurance companies, the pharmaceutical companies should not be at the table,” she said.

“We are actively searching for (U.S. Sen.) Marco Rubio,” Sheppard added.

Beverly Ledbetter, active in Pasco County Democratic politics, reminded Bilirakis: “Affordable health care is more than being able to go to the doctor. It’s peace of mind. It’s the ability to know that you can be treated when you have an illness.

“I taught at Pasco High School, and I would have students who would come in that would be very upset. When I talked to them, I found out that mom had Stage IV breast cancer, or dad had lung cancer … They had to balance between paying their mortgage or getting health care.

“In East Pasco County, we have a 33 percent poverty level. Having access to affordable health care is important. We need a commitment that these people are not going to be left behind. We need a commitment that you’re going to listen and you’re going to act on our behalf.

“We ask that you not make America sick again,” Ledbetter said.

Other speakers told Bilirakis that repealing the ACA will cause people with pre-existing conditions to lose their access to health care. They said medicines will be too expensive, and they said without subsidies, people won’t be able to afford insurance.

Two doctors told Bilirakis that the ACA has resulted in people getting medical treatment sooner, before their conditions worsened.

In response to comments about Medicare, Bilirakis assured the crowd that Medicare will stay the same.

“Medicare will not be affected. Medicare is the greatest program in the history of the United States, and we’re going to keep it,” Bilirakis said.

He also said he knows that health care reforms are needed.

“Premiums are very, very high. We have to fix that,” said.

He said that increased competition between pharmaceutical companies will reduce prescription drug prices.

As speakers continued to share their opinions and experiences, Bilirakis told them: “We are taking notes, and I know this is being recorded. So, I’m going to take all of these stories with me to Washington.”

Published February 15, 2017

‘Ranch Days’ debuts this weekend

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Little Everglades Ranch is rolling out the welcome mat this weekend for a new event called “Ranch Days.”

Slated for Feb. 11, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Feb. 12, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the event features live music, tethered hot air balloon rides, hiking tours, tram tours, a balloon glow and exhibitions, including high-wiring walking, indigenous snakes and birds of prey.

Visitors will have a chance to get a close up look at the beauty of Little Everglades Ranch during a two-day event that’s debuting this year. It offers fun activities and a chance to tour portions of the 2,100-acre ranch.
(Courtesy of Kevin Campbell)

“The property is just such a stunner, we think it makes a great backdrop for an event like this,” said Kevin Campbell, facility event manager.

Over the years, people have visited the 2,100-acre ranch, owned by Bob and Sharon Blanchard, for all sorts of events, Campbell said. Little Everglades Ranch is at 17951 Hamilton Road in Dade City.

Visitors have come for Savage Races, Steeplechase Races, equine events, track meets and other activities.

“People always ask us if we do tours,” Campbell said. With “Ranch Days,” the ranch finally will.

“The Boys Scouts are leading a mile-and-a-tenth hiking tour,” Campbell said. There also will be tram tours and rides available in the LARC, an aluminum-hulled amphibious cargo vehicle.

Tino Wallenda, of the famed Wallenda family, will do the high-wire act. The indigenous snake show features Jim Mendenhall, of Rattlesnake Festival fame, and the birds of prey will be shown by Lady Kitty.

Live music — with styles ranging from country to bluegrass to jazz and others — will be offered on two stages, throughout both days

Andie and Kevin Campbell, are shown here at the Little Everglades Ranch events office, with their pal, Moo. They look relaxed, but are actually very busy preparing for ‘Ranch Days’ which will take place Feb. 11 and Feb. 12.

“All of the entertainment is free,” Campbell said. There also will be a free balloon glow at dusk on Feb. 11.

American Balloon Company will offer tethered balloon rides for a fee, and LARC rides also will be available for a fee, Campbell said.

Those attending the event will be able to purchase food, with offerings ranging from barbecue to Mexican, from Cuban to Cajun, to typical fair foods, as well as snacks and drinks.

No coolers, outside food or beverages, or pets are allowed.

Campbell said organizers are hoping for an attendance of around 5,000 people, but can handle a much larger crowd.

Organizers hope “Ranch Days” becomes an annual event, but will see how it goes this year before making future plans, Campbell said.

Besides the rides and tours, there’s also plenty for kids to do, as well as a wide array of artisans and crafters, too, including a world-renown chainsaw artist, Campbell said.

Admission is free, but parking is $10 for cars, and $25 for buses and RVs.

For more information, visit RanchDays.com.

Published February 8, 2017

Mettler Toledo breaks ground for new plant

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Swiss manufacturer, Mettler Toledo, broke ground on a 250,000-square-foot manufacturing plant that will bring about 185 new jobs to Pasco County.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey was among dignitaries who attended the groundbreaking for Mettler Toledo’s 250,000-square-foot plant in North Pointe Village, off State Road 54 at Suncoast Parkway.
(Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

More than 300 people attended the ceremony on Jan. 14. Among those present were Viggo Nielsen, general manager of Mettler Toledo Safeline; Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey; Pasco County Planning and Development Administrator Richard Gehring; and, Bill Cronin, president of Pasco Economic Development Council.

Mettler Toledo is relocating its current facility from Town ‘N Country, in Hillsborough County, to Northpointe Village, off State Road 54 at the Suncoast Parkway.

The company is a global supplier of precision scales and services used in research, and the packaging and production of food and pharmaceuticals.

The new facility will be part of the product inspection division for Mettler Toledo Safeline.

Gehring said a substantial amount of work from Mettler Toledo and county staff members preceded the groundbreaking.

He updated the Pasco County Commission on the project at the commissioners’ Jan. 24 meeting in Dade City.

“It was a great performance to see the result and to see $25 million in (investment) is going into the ground,” he said.  “It’s a major, major, major effort. When you walk out there, and see smiling faces and kids of families who will work there, it’s a very positive reinforcement to that effort.”

In addition to the new jobs, the company anticipates about 320 current employees will transfer to the new site. Besides closing the Town ‘N Country location, Metter Toledo also will close a plant in Ithaca, New York.

Annual average salaries for all jobs created at Mettler Toledo are pegged at more than $51,000.

Dignitaries use golden shovels at the groundbreaking for Mettler Toledo’s new plant at North Pointe Village.

Gehring said Pasco officials rolled out a welcome mat recently for some of Mettler Toledo’s employees who plan to relocate.

Pasco EDC staff members organized guided tours, with introductions to community leaders at area chambers of commerce and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, as well as school district employees.

The county previously rolled out its own financial welcome mat to the company itself.

Pasco County commissioners approved a $7.6 million incentive package in September that includes a payout of about $1.9 million for creating nearly 500 jobs.

Mettler Toledo also will get a property tax break of about $1.7 million for 10 years, if 80 percent of its jobs are retained annually.

Pasco County will contribute about $3.5 million to build an extension of Northpointe Village Drive, through its Penny for Pasco program.

A reimbursement of about $1.2 million will be sought from state road funds. If that’s approved, the county’s incentive package then would be reduced to about $6.4 million.

Published February 1, 2017

Monologue honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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What would Dr. Martin Luther King have to say if he was alive today?

One distinguished scholar has a theory.

Saint Leo University hosted Dr. T. Leon Williams on Jan. 16 for a presentation he called: “The View from the Mountaintop: What Would Dr. King Say Today?”

Williams is a North Carolina minister and former multicultural affairs director at Elon University.

On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Saint Leo University hosted Dr. T. Leon Williams, who presented ‘The View from the Mountaintop: What Would Dr. King Say Today?’ In his speech, Williams said America is still struggling with many of the same issues that confronted the nation decades ago. He referenced racial tension, gun violence, black-on-black crime, police brutality and poverty, among other systemic problems.
(Courtesy of Amanda Topper, Saint Leo University)

He began a series of monologues in 1999, in the vein of MLK — with the hope of educating students on the life and legacy of the celebrated civil rights leader.

Though it’s been nearly 50 years since King’s assassination in 1968, Williams said America is still struggling with many of the same issues that confronted the nation a half-century ago.

Williams cited numerous systemic problems, including racial tension, gun violence, black-on-black crime, police brutality, and poverty.

Because of the continuing issues, Williams said the country is still in the midst of the civil rights movement.

“If (King) was here today — based on what we see today on TV — I think he would just be devastated,” Williams said. “I think Dr. King would be saying, ‘America, we have fallen apart, and we’ve got to get it together.”

During his hour-long presentation, Williams assumed the persona of King, reflecting on the historical relevance of America’s progress on race divisions.

During the talk, Williams claimed injustice and inequality has drawn a line of division in race relations and the distribution of wealth in America.

The speaker later challenged the audience to accept a moral and social responsibility for promoting peace and harmony.

He urged them: “Ask ‘What is my responsibility in reshaping the world?’”

The biggest challenge, however, is for members of the audience to love another — regardless of race or class.

“The problem in our world today is that we have very little remembrance of what love is,” Williams said. “Love is caring for homeless and those less fortunate. Love is feeding the hungry. Love is obedience over sacrifice. Love neutralizes the weapons of hate.”

Williams, too, advised the audience to open themselves up to new ideas. He encouraged them to read information that might differ from their current point-of-view.

In studying King’s legacy, Williams said he was inspired by King’s internal struggle of “loving a country that intentionally — publicly — didn’t love him.”

“It had to be very troubling for King to love on America, ask supporters to stand with him, and be attacked daily,” Williams explained.

Since embarking on a nationwide speaking tour over 15 years ago, Williams said race issues have experienced numerous “peaks and valleys.”

He believes the country, unfortunately, is currently in a one of those “valleys.”

Williams pointed to rampant gun violence, particular in cities like Chicago, which experienced 762 murders in 2016. He also noted the rise of ambush killings of police officers, which rose to 21 last year, up from six in 2015.

“There are a lot of shining moments, then last year was a horrible year. It was just a rough time,” said Williams.

“Even after having a black president elected, we still have a ton of issues.”

Williams said he remains uncertain about the direction of race relations under the presidency of newly-elected Donald Trump.

“I don’t see a strong presence of a civil rights mindset; it is a corporate mindset,” Williams said, referencing Trump and his Cabinet nominees. “There’s…some energy and hostility from his campaign already generated. We don’t know where this is going now.”

Notable quotes Dr. T. Leon Williams’ monologue

  • “I believe this generation, unlike no other generation, is prepared and ready to lead the nation toward freedom every day. You’ve labored in love instead of malice; concern instead of resentment.”
  • “This generation, unlike the former, is willing to be on the receiving end of the water hose. This generation…is willing to contest police brutality by standing between the billy club and the usual suspects. This generation…is prepared to heal itself.”
  • “It is my belief that one of the reasons why America has failed to reconcile racial tension is because America has coerced the victims of racism and discrimination to view brokenness as life.”
  • “In order for this nation to take the next step toward greatness, reconciliation must be the first order of business for the oppressor.”
  • “When I think back to the ’60s, fiery eyes and frown brows reflected courage and hope. Since then, many of us have campaigned for reconciliation, despite truth. And as a result, our courage and hope has turned into anger and hopelessness.”
  • “Nonviolence is not a retreat from confrontation, but rather a confrontation in the form of disobedience.”

Published January 25, 2017

Sunlake student earns college degree

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Technically, Madison Riggle is still a high school student — but she’s a college graduate, too.

The 17-year-old received her Associates of Art degree from Pasco-Hernando State College on Dec. 13, while still enrolled at Sunlake High School.

The feat was made possible through the Collegiate High School program, a partnership between PHSC and Pasco County Schools.

Riggle has been accepted to several universities, and is still deciding where she wants to attend. She plans to become a pharmacist. (Courtesy of Aileen Gocek)

Riggle was one of the first students chosen for the dual-enrollment initiative, which began during the 2015-2016 school year.

A lottery process is now used each year to select students to fill up to 60 available seats.

To qualify, junior and senior-level students must meet several criteria, including traditional Dual Enrollment participation requirements — 3.0 GPA and College Ready PERT (Postsecondary Education Readiness Test) assessment scores in all areas.

For Riggle, the achievement was a long time coming.

In seventh grade, she drew up several long-term goals.

One was to earn an Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree prior to graduating high school.

Mission accomplished.

In fact, Riggle accumulated enough credit hours  — at least 60 — to graduate a semester early, another notable achievement.

According to the school district’s website, the Collegiate High School program allows students to earn an AA/AS Degree or a Cape Certification while also earning their Standard High School Diploma. Students in the program attend class full-time at PHSC campuses, and don’t take any courses on the high school campus. However, they are still considered a student of their zoned school, and are able to participate in their zoned school athletics, student activities and graduation ceremonies.

For Riggle, it “was a great opportunity.”

“The great thing about this program,” she said, “is that…it pays for your college, it pays for your books, it pays for your lab fees, and everything else that comes with college.”

Riggle attended Sunlake High School for her freshman and sophomore years. In the summer leading up to her junior year, however, she exclusively took classes at PHSC.

She was just 15.

Elder PHSC classmates, unsurprisingly, were dumbfounded once they discovered Riggle was just a teenager.

“They were all amazed,” Riggle said, with a chuckle. “Most people actually thought I was a lot older than I was.”

Even so, she was ready for the challenges higher education entails.

At 17 years old, Melanie Riggle earned an Associate in Arts degree from Pasco-Hernando State College. It was made possible through the Collegiate High School program, a joint partnership between PHSC and the Pasco County school district.
(Courtesy of Melanie Riggle)

“You definitely have to be a lot more independent and more mature than in high school,” Riggle explained. “You have to designate your own study time, because you might not get all the information in class. You just had to work harder and study more for those classes than high school.”

That’s not the only key difference from high school, though.

“The thing that amazes me the most, was that you can just get up and leave out of class. You don’t have to ask to go to the bathroom or anything,” Riggle said.

She added there’s also less “busy work” than in typical high school classes.

“I like college a lot; I will say that.”

While she favors the college atmosphere, Riggle acknowledged she occasionally misses seeing friends roam the halls at Sunlake.

“I don’t really get to see them as much,” Riggle said, “because when they’re in school, I’m either working, or when they’re out of school, I’m working or in school.”

Nevertheless, the aspiring pharmacist said she couldn’t pass up the prospect of getting a jump on her postsecondary education.

Riggle, who’s still taking classes at PHSC, figures it’ll take somewhere between two to three years to earn her bachelor’s degree, prior to enrolling in pharmacy school.

“It definitely gave me a major head start, because I don’t have to take all basic classes that everyone else has to take,” Riggle said.

For her associate degree, Riggle took a combination of introductory classes — religion, humanities — alongside “upper level” math and science courses.

“I really liked anatomy,” she said. “I just found it really interesting how the human body works.

“I also really liked biology a lot.”

To Riggle, participating in the program was preferable to simply graduating from high school early.

Yet, she cautioned the program “isn’t for everyone.”

“I completely recommend it, if you are ready to be a bit more independent while still being in high school,” she said. “If you like the high school environment, enjoy the four years of high school, by all means. But, for me, I was just ready to expand myself…and be more independent.”

Though she no longer attends Sunlake, Riggle still makes it a point to partake in school-related activities, like prom and Homecoming Week.

She’ll also walk across the graduation stage, come May.

“I did powder puff and skit, and all that fun stuff,” Riggle said, “so I definitely try to stay involved in high school — I just don’t have any classes on campus.”

Meantime, Riggle is considering several universities — the University of South Florida, Palm Beach Atlantic University and Florida Gulf Coast University.

She admits she still has “no clue” where she’ll wind up.

“I’m still trying to figure out how my cards will play out over the next couple of months,” Riggle said.

Published January 18, 2017

 

Raising awareness about human trafficking

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A spotlight is being cast on the issue of human trafficking this week in Wesley Chapel.

A symposium, co-hosted by Pasco-Hernando State College and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, is set for Jan. 12.

Two days later, a 5k and 1-mile walk/jog, followed by a concert, are scheduled for Jan. 14.

Edie Rhea said she spent several years of her life as a victim of human trafficking, being sold for sex, from the time she was 10 until she was 17. She now leads Healing Root Ministry, which aims to help victims of human trafficking restore their lives. Rhea will be speaking at a symposium on human trafficking on Jan. 12 in Wesley Chapel.
(File)

The symposium will be held on Jan. 12, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at PHSC’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass, 2727 Mansfield Blvd. The gathering will be in the Conference Center, building B, room 303.

The symposium will feature Cpl. Alan T. Wilkett, of the Sheriff’s Office and Edie Rhea, of Healing Root Ministry.

Wilkett will cover the criminal enforcement aspects of the issue, and Rhea will share her personal story of being trafficked.

Wilkett has served as a chief deputy, captain, commander, and director of public safety in a public service career that spans 22 years.

During his career, he has handled a wide array of positions and developed specialties in such areas as property crimes, major crimes, cold case, narcotics, child abuse and more.

Rhea works to help restore the lives of fellow survivors. She works in crisis intervention for children and women going through the aftermath of sexual abuse and human trafficking.

She is the founder of Healing Root Ministry, a nonprofit organization advocating for victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse.

Those attending the symposium will be able to obtain information from a number of agencies that provide services involving this issue.

The event is part of the state college’s ongoing Community Awareness Series, and is open to students, faculty, staff and the general public.

Human Trafficking Symposium
What: Pasco-Hernando State College and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office are co-hosting a Human Trafficking Symposium in Wesley Chapel.
When: Jan. 12, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Porter Campus at Wiregrass, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in the Conference Center, Building B, room 303.

What: Light Up the Night Radiant 5k and 1-mile race
When: Jan. 14 at 4 p.m.
Where: The race, which aims to shine the light on the problem of human trafficking, will start at 4 p.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.
The race will be followed by a concert, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Shops of Wiregrass and will feature Shalyah Fearing of NBC’s The Voice 2016.
The 5k and 1-mile jog/walk are family friendly. Dogs are welcome, too. Strollers also are welcome.

Published January 11, 2017

There’s no such thing as ‘managing’ time

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Maybe you’ve decided that this is the year that you’re going to do a better job of ‘managing’ your time.

But, if you listen to Richard Dutton, a retired professor of Managerial Behavior & Organization Studies from the University of South Florida, it is impossible to “manage” time.

“Time cannot be managed. It is completely independent of us,” Dutton said.

“We can use time. We can’t replace time,” said Dutton, formerly of the Muma College of Business at USF.

Richard E. Dutton, a retired professor of Managerial Behavior & Organization Studies in the Muma College of Business at the University of South Florida, recently spent a little of his time talking about the value of time. He presented a free lecture through the university’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, known as OLLI for short.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

It’s also impossible to “save time,” added Dutton, during remarks he delivered as part of a free lecture series offered through the university’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, also known as OLLI.

When people — especially college students — think about their personal resources, they tend to consider money to be their scarcest resource, Dutton said.

But, he said, that’s not true.

“Time is your scarcest resource. Today will never ever happen again. So, how you use your time today is critical. You can make more money. You can work more hours. You can’t make more time,” he said.

There are, however, ways to be more efficient and to make better use of your time, Dutton said, during his talk at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library.

Here are some ways Dutton suggests to help you make better use of your time:

  • List your objectives
  • Rank the objectives based on importance
  • List actions that you need to take to achieve your objectives
  • Prioritize those actions
  • Schedule your time based on your priorities.

It’s important to have a manageable list, Dutton said. He suggests a list averaging five items. Avoid making lists that have more than nine items, he said.

It’s also important to know when you are most effective, Dutton said. Be aware of your personal productivity cycle. Some people wake up raring to go; others fare better later in the day.

It’s also important to discern the difference between being busy and being effective, Dutton said.

“We need more focused thinking,” he said.  “When we prioritize things well, we do the right things, not just the obvious things.

Schedule your most difficult tasks during your peak productivity periods, Dutton said.

Be sure to protect yourself from interruptions when you are doing your most difficult work, he said.

“Our mind is not good at solving problems that are complicated or difficult when we only have little splinters of time to work with,” he said. “We need chunks of time to solve complicated problems.”

When people are zoned in on a problem, their concentration can be broken by an alert they receive on their Smartphone, he said.

So, be sure to minimize disruptions by insulating yourself from telephone calls or people popping by for a chat, he said.

He also recommends grouping less important tasks together and doing them at the same time. That may mean reading through emails, returning telephone calls or doing busy work that has to be done but is not as important as other work you need to accomplish, he said.

Technology is useful, but needs to be used wisely, Dutton added.

“Sometimes we make ourselves busier than we should be. When you send out an email, you get an email back, right?

“Now you have to send another email.

“This is a never-ending cycle.

“Can’t we just talk?” Dutton asked.

One of the downsides of technology is the constant interruptions it creates, he said.

“I want to be the master of that phone. I don’t want it to interrupt me,” he said. “It’s my phone. I turn it on when I think I need it.”

Another way to accomplish more with our time is to master the art of delegation, Dutton said.

“Multiple yourself by letting other people have a part of the project, have a part of the action. You can help develop them, and, in the future they may be more and more and more helpful,” Dutton said.

Tips for having effective meetings:

  • Have a time limit
  • Have a written agenda
  • Consider conducting the meeting in a room without chairs — that tends to speeds things up.

 

Tips for choosing which line to wait in:

  • Get behind a single shopper with a full cart, rather than several shoppers who have fewer items.
  • When there are a series of lines, choose lines to the left. People tend to choose lines to their dominant side, so be sure you are giving all lines a fair shot.
  • Look for female cashiers, they tend to be faster in processing details.
  • Avoid chatty cashiers, regardless of gender.
  • Look at what people have in their carts. Don’t get behind people who have items that can complicate the transaction, such as someone who has lots of produce that must be weighed, or someone who has lots of coupons.
  • When there is a choice between a single line that leads to one cashier, or a line that leads to several cashiers, choose the one that has more cashiers. People tend to be more concerned about how long the line is than they are about how fast it is moving.

Published January 4, 2017

 

 

Sugarcane festival adds spicy twist

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For the seventh straight year, the Raising Cane Festival returns to the Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City.

The sweet celebration, however, now comes with a spicy twist.

The one-day festival, which highlights the traditional method of milling sugarcane into syrup, will include its first-ever chili cook-off.

The event is set for Jan. 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road.

A flat-belt tractor with steel rollers is another way sugarcane stalk is transformed into cane juice. One is shown here during a previous Raising Cane Festival.
(Courtesy or Richard Riley)

The International Chili Society (ICS), an organization that sanctions nearly 200 chili cook-offs worldwide each year, will sanction the cook-off, expected to feature at least 10 professional chili competitors.

The contest was added, in part, to help boost attendance, said event coordinator Brenda Minton.

“I was always looking for something else to add to it that might bring in a different crowd — along with the ones that we had,” Minton said.

Furthermore, she said the cook-off “adds credibility” to the annual Raising Cane Festival.

“People come from all over to participate in it,” Minton said, referring to the chili cook-off competitors. They do that, she said, “because they want to get points, so that at the end of the year they can win prizes from ICS.”

The ICS cook-off includes three categories: Chili Verde, Salsa and Traditional Red Chili. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in each category.

Local chili-makers, too, will get a chance to display their culinary talents.

They’ll compete in a separate cook-off, battling for the Steve Otto’s People’s Choice Award, where festivalgoers cast votes for their favorite recipes.

Meanwhile, the staples of the sugarcane festival remain.

In addition to a homemade cane syrup breakfast, attendees can partake in a syrup-tasting contest, where samples from 24 different manufacturers are judged on taste, color, pour and clarity.

Other planned activities barrel train rides and a petting zoo, as well as cane pole and iron skillet tossin’.

Also, live entertainment will be provided by the Crackerbillys, the Sara Rose Band and Those Unscrupulous Sunspots.

Yet, the event’s main course is still the old-timey cane-making demonstration, hosted by museum experts.

Wilbur Dew, who’s produced cane syrup for more than 20 years, is one of the scheduled demonstrators.

The 83-year-old said sugarcane is often cut this time of year, because “cool weather causes it to sweeten up.”

Using a technique that dates back several hundred years, the entire syrup-making process takes about six hours to complete, he said.

Sugarcane is first grinded into cane juice, using either a mule or tractor-powered mill.

“We have a mill that looks a little bit like a washing machine ringer,” Dew said. “It’s two or three steel rollers that the cane stalk is pushed through.

“The mill may be a vertical mill that’s powered by a mule walking around in a circle, or it may be a horizontal mill that’s powered by a flat-belt tractor.”

Once squeezed, cane juice is then boiled in the museum’s 80-gallon kettle.

The process usually yields 8 gallons to 9 gallons of syrup, Dew said.

To create a desired texture, Dew noted the ideal boiling temperature is around 227 degrees Fahrenheit.

“The temperature determines viscosity,” he explained. “Whereas maple syrup pours real thin, we want cane syrup to be a little thicker. Some would say: ‘We want it to stand up as tall as a biscuit on a plate.’”

And, unlike some other sugary substances, Dew said cane syrup is “an all-around good sweetener.”

“I much prefer it to maple syrup,” he said. “You can put it on pancakes, your biscuits. It’s really anything that you would use brown sugar on — some people use it in their ham preserving process.”
Museum experts say cane syrup was a routine part of pioneers’ diets, especially those settled in southern states, like Florida.

“In the Deep South, sugar was a commodity that you had to buy,” Dew said, “but you could make syrup and it would sweeten your coffee, or your tea.”

“It was just, in general, a common sweetener,” he added.

Event admission is $5 per person, with free admission for children age 5 and younger.

The Pioneer Florida Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Florida’s pioneer heritage. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the event, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org., or call Brenda Minton at (352) 206-8889.

Published December 28, 2016