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A half-century of old-fashioned fun

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A half-century ago, the San Antonio Jaycees got together and hatched a plan for a fun way to raise money to support local causes.

They figured they could hold a festival, with rattlesnakes as the centerpiece.

Cowboy Tom is a popular act at the annual San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival. The event is celebrating its half-century mark this year. ({Photos courtesy of San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival)
Cowboy Tom is a popular act at the annual San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival. The event is celebrating its half-century mark this year.
(Photos courtesy of San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival)

Over the decades, the leading organizers have changed — and so have some of the particulars — but the essence of the annual event remains the same: Every year, on the third weekend of October, residents and visitors flock to the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run in City Park.

This year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary, organizers have scheduled a two-day festival.

Organizers of the event have gone from the Jaycees, to R.A.G.E. (Rattlesnake and Gopher Enthusiasts), to a group of Rotary Clubs, to the Rotary Club of San Antonio, which has been the chief organizer for the past three years.

“We, of course, have help from the people who did it all of those years,” said Betty Burke, chairwoman of the current organizing committee.

“Dennis Devine, he’s been with it since the beginning, and he’s our music master.

“Jack Vogel is one of the people who started it. He was in the Jaycees,” Burke said. His son, Jay, is this year’s volunteer coordinator.

Betty’s daughter, Andrea Calvert, who works for the Town of St. Leo, is involved, too. The town sponsors a pumpkin patch, which is a popular place for people to take photos of their children, and to snap selfies, too.

Burke’s sister, Winnie, who is the president of the Rotary Club of San Antonio, is also involved. She’s in charge of the arts and crafts area.

Blacksmith demonstrations are among the highlights at the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival.
Blacksmith demonstrations are among the highlights at the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival.

Other members on the festival planning committee include Terri Grissom, Rick Behnke and Anne Kibbe.

Event highlights include 5-mile and 1-mile runs, a family bike ride, musical entertainment, a snake show, a cowboy show, crocodile demonstrations, mechanical gopher tortoise races, food booths, children’s rides and a pumpkin patch.

Other attractions include a butterfly exhibit, children’s crafts and games, a farm animal exhibit, M.A.D. Flames Fire Entertainment and Pioneer Village demonstrations.

Vendors will be selling a variety of items, there will be a farmer’s market, and there will be a pet corner, too.

Visitors also will have a chance to learn more about the festival’s history.

In the beginning, preparing for the event meant going out into the woods — equipped with a long pole with a hook on the end — and rounding up snakes.

Amateur and professional snake hunters would bring the snakes in, and organizers would pay for their snakes, according to published reports.

The gopher tortoise races used to feature live tortoises, too.

People would decorate the creatures with glitter and nontoxic paint, and pit them against each other.

The live gopher tortoise races ended after increasing development in Florida led to the state placing them on its protected species list.

Undaunted, organizers began using wooden replicas, operated by yanking ropes to pull them to the finish line.

Over the years, the festival has helped to create many fond memories.

Children enjoy riding around in a barrel train during a previous San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival.
Children enjoy riding around in a barrel train during a previous San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival.

“It is a fun thing. The kids have always had fun,” said Donna Swart, a former volunteer, who recalled how much her kids enjoyed the festival and racing live gopher tortoises.

Eric Herrmann, who has run the mechanical gopher tortoise race for years, said he’s been going to the festival his entire life.

“As the son of one of the founders, I’m very proud of it,” Herrmann said.

“It’s one of the last old-fashioned, hometown festivals,” Herrmann said, noting his dad, Eddie Herrmann, helped to design the mechanical gopher tortoises used in the races.

“It’s a very distinctive and unusual game, that’s pretty much singular to our festival,” he said.

He recalls one festival when a girl desperately wanted to win, but couldn’t, despite repeated attempts.

At the end of the second day, she still hadn’t won a race.

“I made a decision and I called her over, and we gave a one-time award for ‘Perseverance,’” he said.

Those kinds of things make all of the work worthwhile, he said.

“There are moments of pride,” Herrmann said.

One year, a Japanese television crew came to film the event, and the race they chose to cover included the young son of a Japanese-American family.

The boy’s grandmother still lived in Japan.

“The grandmother watched the show in Japan,” Herrmann said. “That was the first time she ever got to see her grandchild — other than in a picture.”

In another instance, a young man who had attended the snake show was bit by a snake after the festival had ended.

Because he’d gone to the show, he knew what to do and sought immediate medical attention, Herrmann said.

“The doctor said, ‘That festival probably saved his life,’” Herrmann said.

The event’s souvenir T-shirts have been wildly popular through the years, he noted, adding, “there are pictures of people all over the world, who are wearing the festival’s T-shirt.”

Kibbe, a volunteer who is handling the public relations for this year’s event, is fond of the festival.

She lives on Pennsylvania Avenue, across from City Park, and she lets musicians who are playing the event to park in her yard.

“I am front and center,” Kibbe said. “I like to tell people, ‘Yes, I’m having a festival this weekend in my front yard.’”

Kibbe appreciates the way the festival has evolved, and she thinks others admire that, too.

“As people became more ecologically and environmentally conscious, we stopped painting the turtles, and we stopped catching the snakes. And now, it’s educational,” she said.

Indeed, families who homeschool their children often show up because there are so many opportunities for learning, she said.

Socially, it’s a great time, too, Kibbe said.

“It’s like a big family reunion in a lot of ways,” she said, noting people who lived in San Antonio come back for the event.

“Folks come back from out-of-town. They moved to Saint Pete, or they moved to Orlando, but they come for the festival. So, that’s a big plus.”

This year’s event is being organized by the Rotary Club of San Antonio.

Proceeds from the event will support local educational programs, scholarships, community projects and international Rotary projects, such as Polio Plus.

The event is partially funded by Visit Pasco Tourism and Visit Florida, and is supported by numerous local sponsors, including The Laker/Lutz News.

San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run
Where: City Park, 12202 Main St., San Antonio, Florida, 33576
When: Oct. 15 and Oct. 16
How much: Parking, admission and most of the entertainment are free; there are nominal charges for the snake show. 

Festival schedule
Oct. 15
8 a.m.: Rattlesnake run begins; race winners are announced on main stage at 9:15 a.m.
10 a.m.: Festival opening ceremony

Musical lineup
10:15 a.m.: Graham Music Studio’s Showstoppers
11 a.m.: Crabgrass Cowboys
Noon: Beaumont!
1 p.m.: J2
3 p.m.: Jesse & Noah
4 p.m.: Those Unscrupulous Sunspots

Other highlights include:

  • Cates Educational Snake Lectures: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. (Free for those 5 and under, $3 for ages 6 through 12; $5 for those 13 and older)
  • Cowboy Tom’s Wild West Show: Performances throughout the day (Free)
  • Croc Encounters demonstrations: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. (Free)

5 p.m.: Festival closes for the day

Oct. 16
9:30 a.m.: Family bike ride
11 a.m.: Festival grounds open

Musical lineup
11 a.m. to noon: The band called 2 PM
Noon: Moon Dance
1 p.m.: Sassafras Bluegrass
2 p.m.: Mark Hannah & Major Dade’s Last Ride
3 p.m. Mary Smith with Dean Johnson

Other highlights include:

  • Cates Educational Snake Lectures: 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. (Free for those 5 and under, $3 for ages 6 through 12; $5 for those 13 and older)
  • Cowboy Tom’s Wild West Show: Performances throughout the day (Free)
  • Croc Encounters demonstrations: Noon, 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. (Free)

3:30 p.m.: Closing ceremony
4 p.m.: Festival ends

Published October 12, 2016

 

‘Dear World’ gives storytellers a voice

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Everyone has a story to tell.

Not everyone has a listener.

But, Dear World gives voice to the storyteller in each of us, with social media as the forum.

Black markers — which the nonprofit organization describes as “messages-on-skin” — open dialogues through personal stories that are universally shared.

Dear World brought its college tour to the campus of Saint Leo University on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22.

Lawson Jolly, left, director of counseling at Saint Leo University, writes a Biblical message on the arm of his daughter, freshman Justine Jolly. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Lawson Jolly, left, director of counseling at Saint Leo University, writes a Biblical message on the arm of his daughter, freshman Justine Jolly.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

More than 300 Saint Leo students and faculty picked up markers to write messages on their face, arms or other body parts. With a few words – less than a 149-character tweet – they defined the emotions and experiences in their lives.

In the next week, participants will receive emails with their portraits. Some have been posted onto Dear World’s Facebook page.

Collectively, all of the stories from the interactive portrait project touched on themes such as love, friendship, racism, bullying, depression, a lack of self-esteem and the death of family or friends.

There is greater understanding when stories are shared, said Katie Greenman, storyteller, photographer and facilitator with Dear World.

“They are speaking not just for themselves, but for others,” said Greenman. “You’ve got to know you are not alone.”

Words have meaning
Freshman Justine Jolly, 18, and her father, Lawson Jolly, shared similar messages of faith.

Across her arms, Justine Jolly chose the words “Forgiven/Romans 5:8.”

“God shows his ultimate love for us by sacrificing his life even when we are all sinners,” she said. “I feel God is the most important part of my life.”

Lawson Jolly, director of counseling at Saint Leo, made his message, “Love God, Love Others.”

“I think about maybe one of the most important beliefs I hold, it’s my faith,” he said. “Jesus asked, what is the greatest commitment? It was to love God and love thy neighbor as thy self. It sums up what I should be trying to do.”

Senior Baylie Cowart looked into the camera and held up her arms as Greenman snapped her portrait. Three words, one each on her arms and one at her throat, spoke for her – “I’m Not Broken.”

She didn’t give into depression, despite the trauma of losing her stepmother in a death by suicide.

“Instead of being held back by the past, I want to look to the future,” she said. “It inspires me every day.”

The Dear World project helps people be honest with themselves, Cowart said.

“It starts asking questions and it gets a dialogue going,” she said. “It helps the community.”

Dear World started as a nonprofit fundraising event in the destructive aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2009. Founder Robert X. Fogarty, then working in the New Orleans’s mayor’s office, asked residents to write a “love letter” to the city – Dear New Orleans.

Since then, Dear World has taken its portrait project worldwide, sharing 50,000 portraits in the languages of the world as of spring 2016. Stops have included Boston after the marathon bombing, India with victims of child slave trade, and a special project to ask people around the world, “How to Say I Love You.”

People are empowered by telling their stories, Greenman said.

“We don’t change the world,” she said. “We take the pictures of those who are.”

Storyteller session
Fostering understanding and common ground were among the goals of the visit to Saint Leo.

A special storytelling session on Sept. 22 highlighted five stories from students and faculty. In a press release, Greenman said, “They were chosen not because they were the best, but because they are reflective of others’ stories.”

Tessy K. Jacques performed “slam poetry” and recited “Midnight Rituals.” Others were Joseph D. Thompson III, a junior from New Jersey; Edson O’Neale, director of student activities; Jamilah Ray, a senior from Orlando; Tiffany Fettig, campus minister and Saint Leo Class of 2016; and Dean D. Everton, a sophomore from Brandon.

In middle school, Collin Valenti often played a game at Applebee’s Restaurant, known as “hoop jones.” Scoring a basketball hoop, brought cheers echoing the game’s name.

The moniker stuck and now as a freshman at Saint Leo, friends know him as Hoop Jones. And, the nickname suits his passion for making up rhymes.

In fun, he wrote #stophoopjones2016 across his arms.

“I’m going to own that (name),” he said. “It’s become such a thing. It’s fun to be the face of your own story.”

Freshman Fabiola Rosado thought about friendship when she wrote “I’ll Be There.”

“My friends come to me for advice,” she said. “I talk to them and give my best advice. I listen to them.”

Sophomore Michael Williams writes lyrics from phrases that pop into his mind. A failed romance, and a song he wrote, were his inspiration for “With Time, Comes Change.”

“I spiraled into a place I don’t want to be,” Williams said. “After the pity party, I tried to find out who I am and grew a lot. It’s nice to see (Dear World) does this.”

Junior Dallas Jasper liked the message that Dear World sends with its portraits.

“I kind of had to think about myself, for a few minutes,” she said.

She is on the Saint Leo volleyball team. One day aboard the team bus, the coach asked his players to pick words to describe how they want to be seen.

Jasper chose “confident,” and for Dear World, she stuck with that word as her message.

She sometimes didn’t feel sure of herself, but she said, “I’ve tried to work on that. I’ve become more competent with my self, embracing that.”

The Student Government Union, Campus Activities Board, Student Activities, Multicultural and International Services Office, Residence Life, and Counseling Services sponsored the event.

To see portrait photos, visit Facebook.com/dearworld/photos.

Published October 5, 2016

Country Jam benefits fine arts and other programs

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The second annual Dade City (DC) Country Jam promises to be bigger and better than last year’s.

The shindig, set for Oct. 8 from noon to midnight at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, will feature a bevy of musical performances, including the likes of Nashville-based country singer Dawn Beyer; Johnny Shelton, of America’s Got Talent fame; and country-duo Jesse & Noah Bellamy.

In all, there will be 14 bands in a quest aimed to help future musicians.

The Pasco Middle School band, which has about 110 members, needs new and refurbished instruments. (Photos courtesy of Kenny Mathis)
The Pasco Middle School band, which has about 110 members, needs new and refurbished instruments.
(Photos courtesy of Kenny Mathis)

The concert, organized by Pasco Middle School band director Kenny Mathis, seeks to raise funds for the school’s fine arts programs, plus other school organizations in need.

Last year’s musical bash was an instant success. About 1,000 people attended and $14,000 was raised.

“It has really taken off,” said Mathis, who’s been Pasco Middle’s band director since 2007. “We’ve got a great group of musicians coming down that are ready to help my kids.”

The goal for this year, Mathis said, is to raise at least $25,000.

The funds, he said, will go toward purchasing new band instruments and refurbishing older ones for both the middle school and Pasco High School.

“I’ve got instruments from the ‘50s and ‘60s that are still floating around in there,” the band director explained. “I’ve tried to go back and repair a lot of the instruments that needed repair, and I bought new mouthpieces. …We used some of the money last year…to try to get them up to par.”

With about 110 middle school band students, Mathis estimates he loans out upwards of 80 instruments.

Considering a new tuba may cost $5,000, and a new euphonium runs about $3,000, the costs add up rapidly.

Pasco Middle School band teacher Kenny Mathis started the DC Country Jam in 2015 to raise money for the school’s fine arts programs.
Pasco Middle School band teacher Kenny Mathis started the DC Country Jam in 2015 to raise money for the school’s fine arts programs.

“I’ve done many, many fundraisers— cheesecakes, magazines, candy — and you can’t get enough in one chunk in those types of sales to buy what you need,” explained Mathis.

“You can’t make enough from a cheesecake fundraiser to even buy a tuba,” he said.

Mathis noted the school district is sometimes able to provide enough funding for two or three instruments per school year.

But, that isn’t enough.

“If you’re only getting two or three instruments a year, but you’re gaining sometimes 10 to 15 students every year — you’re behind,” Mathis said.

The dearth of instruments, he said, has forced the middle school to share instruments with Pasco High School.

“We are constantly shifting instruments back and forth between the middle school and the high school,” said Mathis. “If (PHS band teacher Steve Herring) needs a tuba or a euphonium, he’ll come borrow from me. And, if I need a saxophone or a clarinet, I’ll borrow from him.”

Mathis said the concert will not only benefit the middle and high school bands, but several other school programs, too.

For instance, various Pasco High sports teams — girls soccer team, girls weightlifting, and Pasco Middle student organizations—FFA (Future Farmers of America), angler club—receive 50 percent of the revenue off every ticket they sell.

“We don’t charge them for booths, and they can sell their items and try to make money for their organizations,” said Mathis. “We didn’t want to feel narrow-minded just raising money for one organization.”

He added: “We have a lot of clubs and organizations that need money.”

Next year, Mathis hopes to turn the concert into a “full-fledged outdoor festival” that draws somewhere between 3,000 to 5,000 attendees.

“This thing’s definitely here to stay,” Mathis said. “Our goal next year is to have one major headliner, and then keep all the bands before it local.”

Tickets are $10. For more information, email Mathis at .

Published September 28, 2016

Raymond James closes land deal

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Raymond James Financial has purchased land from the Porter family, moving a step closer to building an office complex in Wesley Chapel.

The satellite campus could yield hundreds of new jobs for Pasco County.

The Fortune 500 financial company, with headquarters in St. Petersburg, could build as much as 1 million square feet of offices on about 65 acres near State Road 56 at Mansfield Boulevard, east of The Shops at Wiregrass.

J.D. Porter, an owner of Wiregrass Ranch, always knew that Raymond James Financial eventually would move forward with plans to build a satellite campus in Pasco County, across from Pasco-Hernando State College. The financial company bought about 65 acres for the project on Sept. 15. (File Photo)
J.D. Porter, an owner of Wiregrass Ranch, always knew that Raymond James Financial eventually would move forward with plans to build a satellite campus in Pasco County, across from Pasco-Hernando State College. The financial company bought about 65 acres for the project on Sept. 15.
(File Photo)

The land purchase had been anticipated since July, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved a permit for the project.

Over the years, there have been naysayers who never thought the project would get off the ground after the recession scuttled the project in 2011.

But, J.D. Porter, an owner of Wiregrass Ranch, never doubted that Raymond James believed in the project, and in Pasco.

In fact, Porter said, “Pasco County is in the best situation. It is a place that is built and made to grow in a big way. This really sets it up for leadership to take the bull by the horns. I feel a lot of people will follow suit.”

Nearly six years ago, the Pasco County Commission offered up about $10 million in roadwork and tax break incentives to lure Raymond James to the county. Raymond James had a target goal of bringing up to 750 new jobs to the county.

But by 2014, company officials said they would delay plans for up to five years. The land purchase is a project restart.

“Obviously, we don’t know when the project will go vertical,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore. “It will take some time. But, I think it’s going to be a trigger for other development. It’s going to be a draw and bring a lot of attention to our area.”

Wiregrass Ranch already is seeing new growth.

Forest City Enterprises plans to add more retail and residential next to The Shops at Wiregrass.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, which opened in 2012, is already deep into an expansion, adding three floors and nearly 112,000 square feet of medical space.

Porter said patience paid off with Raymond James. Company officials, county staff and Will Weatherford, who was then Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, worked to make the project happen.

“This was truly a team effort to get the deal done,” Porter said.

Now Raymond James is arriving in the midst of a post-recession boom for Pasco County and Tampa Bay.

“This is great for the region (of Tampa Bay),” Porter said.

Published September 21, 2016

Taking aim at traffic woes

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A transit study will take a regional approach in trying to identify a solution to unsnarl Tampa Bay’s traffic congestion, and, qualify for federal aid.

Jacob Engineering will conduct the 24-month study for Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. The approximately $1.5 million cost will be paid for by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, commonly called HART and the Florida Department of Transportation, called FDOT for short.

A transit study will seek solutions for congestion problems in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. One logjam motorists often face is at the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes. (File Photo)
A transit study will seek solutions for congestion problems in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. One logjam motorists often face is at the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.
(File Photo)

Consultants are expected to begin work on Oct. 1, following expected approval of the contract by HART on Sept. 12.

Commuter rail, light rail, bus rapid transit service and express bus service will be among transit alternatives reviewed in the study.

“Tampa Bay is one of the very few large regional areas that does not have premier transit service to connect its region,” said Steve Feigenbaum, HART’S director of service development. “This is a truly regional study, a three-county study, for transit options for our region.”

Feigenbaum made a presentation on the study to members of the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization’s board on Sept. 8 in Dade City.

About 50 percent of Pasco residents commute to jobs outside the county, he said. “Where are their transit options?”

In the past year, Pasco residents have been asked their views on a range of transportation issues, most often focused on traffic congestion in high growth areas such as State Road 54 and State Road 56.

A slew of road projects are under construction or under review to reconfigure or widen roads and highways throughout the county.

Commuters heading south on Interstate 275 daily confront road lanes jammed with motorists trying to get to work.

Recently, FDOT held public meetings to gain support for the Tampa Bay Express, a controversial road project to widen portions of I-275 and Interstate 4.

Only limited bus transit links Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.

Feigenbaum said the study will recommend a single project that is doable, links all three counties and would qualify for funding from the Federal Transit Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. Other options will be included in the study, along with reasons why they didn’t make the final cut.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano wondered about the feasibility of purchasing CSX rail lines for future passenger rail service.

The Land O’ Lakes area often is mentioned as an area where rail stops would boost local commercial and residential development. The area includes CSX rail lines crossing through the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54.

But, Feigenbaum cautioned against thinking that the study would focus on CSX.

“It’s not a CSX study,” he said. “That will be a component of it.”

The cost of buying the rail lines would only be a starting point, he said.

The rail lines were built for freight and would have to be upgraded to handle passenger service. “There’s still going to have to be some consideration of construction and cost. It’s an important component, but it will be included with everything else.”

Feigenbaum said the FTA looks to fund projects that boost economic development and show a return on investment.

“Without those particular elements, it becomes just another shelf piece,” he said. “Some (prior) studies have so much dust, they are growing corn. But, that’s another story.”

Initially, consultants will look at those previous studies, whether they produced transit projects or not, and compile them into a unified, coherent report.

“We don’t want to invent the wheel,” Feigenbaum said.

There also will be public outreach with town halls, telephone town halls and other events to gather community opinions.

Once the initial study is completed, environmental and design work will be done before an application can be submitted to the federal transit agency.

It could take up to five years to qualify for a fully funded grant, Feigenbaum said. “It’s an arduous process.”

Published September 14, 2016

Effects of Hurricane Hermine lash Tampa Bay area

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Recovering from the storm and bracing for the next one
Blasts of rain, high winds and flood waters hit the region last week as the effects of Hurricane Hermine swept in, causing Tampa Bay residents in many communities to retrieve what they could, and discard what was lost.

Trees crashed into roofs. Cars flooded. Water seeped into homes.

In some parts of the region, residents had to be rescued by boat.

Coastal areas often feel the greatest brunt from a hurricane, as walls of water crash into nearby structures and high winds carry debris — which in turn causes damage when it lands. (Courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net)
Coastal areas often feel the greatest brunt from a hurricane, as walls of water crash into nearby structures and high winds carry debris — which in turn causes damage when it lands.
(Courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net)

Patients at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson were evacuated on the evening of Aug. 31, after the hospital in Hudson experienced what it believes was a lightning strike on a main power feed on the hospital’s roof, disabling the hospital’s ability to run a safe switch for generator backup.

A brief fire broke out on the roofline, but no one was hurt.

The hospital evacuated all of its 209 patients to other hospitals in the region, through a cooperative effort that included its sister HCA West Florida Hospitals, 70 EMS ambulances, 10 engines companies, three ambulance buses, two task forces, 10 sheriff’s units and the Pasco Emergency Command, according to a statement issued by the hospital.

Hermine was still a tropical storm as it made its way toward Tampa Bay, but it was upgraded to Hurricane Hermine on the afternoon of Sept. 1 and made landfall at St. Marks on Sept. 2, becoming the first hurricane to make landfall in Florida in 11 years.

While it is obviously too late to prepare for the wrath of Hermine, this may be a good time to take stock of your preparations and fill any gaps before the next big storm hits.

Here are some pointers, gleaned from a plethora of sources, intended to help you to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property.

First things, first: Prepare
• Be sure to have an evacuation plan for your family. Everyone in your family should know the plan, and it’s a good idea to occasionally do practice drills, to avoid confusion if a time comes when you need to use it.

• Know your evacuation zone. Do you need to leave or can you shelter in place?

• Is there someone living nearby that you know will need assistance? Maybe you can help, or suggest another source of assistance.

• If you have a pet, have a plan for it. If you will need to evacuate, know where you can take your pet with you. Be sure to prepare a hurricane kit for your pet, including food, any medicines, toys, a bed and so on.

Stock up on water so you’ll be ready, if a big storm hits. (File Photos)
Stock up on water so you’ll be ready, if a big storm hits.
(File Photo)

• Prepare a hurricane kit for your family. It should include one gallon of water per person per day for several days; nonperishable food items including juices, crackers, breakfast and protein bars, canned and dried fruit, peanut butter and bread; utensils for eating, including paper cups and plates, plastic utensils. Plan to be able to eat and drink for several days without the use of electricity, in case power gets knocked out and roads are impassable.

• Stock up on hurricane supplies. These should include flashlights, batteries, self-powered portable lights, waterproof sheeting, a nonelectric food storage cooler, a portable generator and reusable ice.

• Have personal items readily available. These should include blankets and pillows; hygiene supplies, moisture wipes and toilet paper; waterproof and seasonal clothing; reliable shoes; a first-aid kit and special medications; tools; and, cameras.

• Protect your documents in a watertight plastic bag or waterproof container.

• Fill your gas tank and have plenty of cash on hand, in case the storm knocks out power from gas pumps and ATMs.

• Move your car as far inland as possible and on higher ground, to protect it from possible flooding, but do not park it next to a tree.

• Stay away from windows during the storm.

Protect your property
• Well before any major storm hits, be sure to review your insurance. Be sure you have the proper amount of coverage to protect your home, business and belongings.

• Use permanent storm shutters or plywood to protect your windows. Be sure the protection is securely fastened.

• Remove items around your home that could act as projectiles in high winds. Such objects include potted plants, barbecue grills, garden gnomes, chairs and garbage cans.

• Safeguard your boat: Strap down your boat, when ashore, with proper straps rated for the proper weight. If your boat is in the water, remove your boat from water and store it on high ground. If using a dry dock facility, be sure it was built after Hurricane Andrew.

If going anywhere after the storm, be safe
• Be sure to have an evacuation plan for your family.

• Learn the quickest evacuation route and shelters. Learn the quickest evacuation routes and shelters. Bring an emergency kit. Have mobile phones or radios to maintain communications.

Before a hurricane hits, it’s good to know if you live in an evacuation zone; and if so, what evacuation route you will take. (Courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net)
Before a hurricane hits, it’s good to know if you live in an evacuation zone; and if so, what evacuation route you will take.
(Courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net)

• Use caution when driving. Don’t drive through moving or standing water. Water that is 2 feet deep can disable most vehicles, and vehicles can be carried away.

• Observe detours and barricades. They are there for your protection.

• Be careful around downed power lines. Always assume they are live.

• When traffic lights aren’t working, treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

• If walking, avoid standing water. Floodwaters may contain fecal matter, bacteria and viruses.

• Be aware that metal fences, mailboxes, poles and even nonmetal objects, such as wood and standing water, become conduits for electrical lines, so use care when assessing damage to your home and car.

 Recovering from the storm
• Contact your insurance agent to report any covered damage to your home, apartment or vehicle.

• Take photographs because conditions sometimes change. Be sure to have detailed photographs, so you can submit them with your claims.

• Save receipts for all dining, hotel, medical, hygiene and even entertainment. Some of these items may be eligible for reimbursement. Save the receipts from the time you leave your home until you return to live in it.

• Remember that even spoiled food items, up to a limit, may be covered by your homeowner’s insurance.

• Be sure to use plastic sheeting to cover roof damage and/or broken windows, to keep water from entering your home or business.

• Before trimming trees, check to be sure there are no power lines nearby. If there are, hire a professional.

Don’t be scammed
• Watch out for scams and unlicensed contractors. Verify the contractor’s business license and insurance. Do not accept verbal quotes. Make them put it in writing.

• Hiring an unlicensed contractor can pose many dangers. An unlicensed contractor may be uninsured, may lack the proper qualifications, could do poor quality work or could leave before the work is finished.

• Hiring an unlicensed contractor can also put the homeowner on the hook for personal injury to others. Most homeowner insurance policies also require work to be performed by a licensed contractor and provide no coverage for work that is not.

• Consumers can verify professional licenses that fall under the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s jurisdiction by visiting MyFloridaLicense.com, calling (850) 487-1395, or downloading the free DBPR Mobile app available in the iTunes and Google Play app stores.

• Information on services requiring a state-issued professional license from DBPR and how to report suspected unlicensed activity is available online at tinyurl.com/zre9zky.

Sources: Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Boatsetter, and Tree Care Industry Association.

Published September 7, 2016

 

Costco will provide up to 275 jobs

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A February opening is planned

Blame the rainfall, but Costco Wholesale fans will have to enjoy the anticipation a bit longer.

The membership-only warehouse giant is expected to open the doors to the Costco experience in Wesley Chapel in early February.

The fall opening of Costco Wholesale, in front of Tampa Premium Outlets, will be delayed until early February due to rain delays to the construction schedule. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
The fall opening of Costco Wholesale, in front of Tampa Premium Outlets, will be delayed until early February due to rain delays to the construction schedule.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Company officials had hoped for a November opening, but this summer’s rainfall slowed down construction by a few weeks. And, Costco doesn’t open stores in December and January, choosing through the holidays to focus on sales and customer service at existing stores.

However, by November, Costco will begin hiring for about 275 positions. Some slots will be filled with Costco employees transferring from other stores, but most will be new hires, said Hector Mencia, Costco’s general manager in Clearwater.

“We are very excited to come into this area,” said Mencia, who spoke at the Aug. 25 economic briefing luncheon sponsored by The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. “It’s going to be a great location.”

Costco also will be opening a store in Citrus Park in Tampa about the same time. These are the first stores in the Tampa Bay area in about 15 years.

“It shows that the economic status over here is going very well,” said Mencia. “We’ve been trying to get in here for quite a bit in this market.”

Rosina Yeo will be the store’s general manager. She currently is assistant warehouse manager for Costco in Jacksonville.

The 184,000-square-foot warehouse is under construction in front of Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 56.
“It will have all the bells and whistles on it,” Mencia said.

Mencia began working at Costco while in college in 1989.

It’s a great place to work and has a low turnover rate among employees, he said.

Entry-level pay for hourly wage earners starts at $13 an hour, rising to $22 an hour on average over time. After six months, employees are eligible for benefits.

Mencia said the opening of an Indiana store attracted about 22,000 applicants.

By November, a storefront will be opened where people can file applications in person.

Memberships to Costco will be available about six weeks before the store’s opening date.

Mencia said on opening day about 2,000 shoppers are expected. Inside and outside the store, employees will be ready to process membership applications.

The store’s retail model is to price low and sell in very high volumes. Shoppers browse aisles filled on average with about 3,800 items, but on a regular basis about 1,500 of those items are rotated out.

“We create the treasure hunt atmosphere,” said Mencia. “They need to buy it then and not wait a week. It will be gone by then.”

In other words, as comedian Rosie O’ Donnell explained in a Costco video, you can walk in with a list but leave with a trampoline and a case of Corn Nuts.

Costco sells nearly everything: wine, clothes, groceries, gas, jewelry, electronics, tires, glasses, hearing aids, vacation packages, cars, home improvement services, hardware, pharmaceuticals, and since 1985, $1.50 hot dogs.

In fiscal year 2015, Costco sold 55 million wieners in a bun. Worldwide shoppers also bought $4.1 billion in produce; $4.2 billion in USDA inspected prime beef; and $888 million in pastries and breads from its bakeries.

Mencia said Costco has about 76.4 million Costco cardholders worldwide.

The wholesale warehouse club is the largest retailer in the world, behind Walmart.

But, its global reach doesn’t keep Costco from connecting locally with area businesses and the community.

Costco plans to join the Wesley Chapel chamber. And, chamber members are ready to pitch in and help as the company prepares for its opening.

“We’ll do anything we can to welcome them with a hug,” said Hope Allen, the chamber’s executive director. “It’s refreshing to hear that they are going to join the local business community, and they understand the importance of chambers.”

Mencia said Costco does a lot of outreach “behind the scenes” locally and worldwide.

For instance, bakery items, including bread, have short shelf lives in order to sell only the freshest. But, these and other food items not sold are donated.

“We give them to nonprofit organizations,” he said. “They pick it up every day.”

The company also donates school backpacks to area schools annually and, in May, collects donations for the Children’s Miracle Network.

About 2.5 million local farmers in Africa supply Costco with cashews. The farms typically are smaller than 2 acres and are family operated.

Costco also supports farmers’ training, donates school kits and provides AIDS awareness education.

In Mexico, a similar program employs fishermen, and in Mozambique, farmers supply vanilla.

“I’m very proud of what we do,” Mencia said.

Published August 31, 2016

Land O’ Lakes High will stay open during renovations

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Land O’ Lakes High School will remain open during a massive renovation project that is scheduled to begin next June.

Superintendent Kurt Browning had planned to shift the Land O’ Lakes High students to a new high school, known as “GGG”, being built on Old Pasco Road.

Land O’ Lakes High School will stay open during a massive renovation project that is set to begin next June. By keeping students on campus, the project will take two years to complete rather than one. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Land O’ Lakes High School will stay open during a massive renovation project that is set to begin next June. By keeping students on campus, the project will take two years to complete rather than one.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

But, he changed his mind after opening-day enrollment figures at Wiregrass Ranch High School revealed that 2,478 students showed up to a school built for 1,633 students. John Long Middle School’s opening enrollment was 1,810 students, at a school built for 1,327. Both school’s opening day enrollments exceeded district projections for the entire year.

Other schools in Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel also exceeded projections, Browning said, in an Aug. 16 letter sent to parents of Land O’ Lakes High and Pine View Middle students.

The district had been considering three options relating to the Land O’ Lakes makeover.

One option was for students to stay at Land O’ Lakes High, the second was to put Sunlake High School on double sessions and the third was to send the students to “GGG.”

Browning said he now believes “that the least disruptive solution is to keep students at Land O’ Lakes High School during the renovations.”

That being said, Browning noted “it still will not be ideal.”

Keeping Land O’ Lakes High open during renovations will delay the project’s completion by a year and will reduce the scope of work to account for the added cost of extending the length of the project by a year, Browning wrote.

The Land O’ Lakes High School Culinary Academy will be able to continue operations, while Land O’ Lakes High School undergoes a makeover. The massive remodeling project is set to begin next summer.
The Land O’ Lakes High School Culinary Academy will be able to continue operations, while Land O’ Lakes High School undergoes a makeover. The massive remodeling project is set to begin next summer.

“The school will be a construction zone, and we will have to place dozens of portable classrooms on and around the campus.  We won’t have practice fields and will reduce the number of parking spaces.  There will be utility disruptions and construction dust,” Browning added.

There are some bright spots, though, the superintendent noted.

The school’s students will stay together on one campus, culinary students will be able to use their culinary academy and agriculture students will be on the same campus as their animals, Browning wrote.

He also noted that sporting events will take place at the school.

Browning said the district “will take every precaution to ensure that the construction project does not impact student safety.”

The superintendent also assured parents “this decision was not made lightly and was not made without significant input from staff.”

Pasco County school board member Cynthia Armstrong said the decision to keep the students at Land O’ Lakes High School during construction is the best choice available to the district at this time.

“It’s not the ideal situation, but it seems like with the choices we had, it was just the best solution that we could come up with,” Armstrong said.

Wiregrass Ranch High School needs relief, and double sessions at Sunlake High was not a good option because the school day would have to start too early and end too late.

Armstrong also noted: “I think the community, the parents and the students are going to be happy with this solution.

“The Land O’ Lakes students are going to get to stay together as an intact unit. They’re going to get to be Gators their senior year. They are going to get to play in their own stadium. It’s not going to disrupt the culinary arts,” she said.

Plus, the school’s agriculture and child care programs will be able to continue, she noted.

To accommodate construction, half of the school will be in portables one year, and then half will be in portables the next year.

“That, at first was not a preferred method because essentially it was going to cost more money and more time. That wasn’t one that we were really excited about,” Armstrong said.

A parent meeting will be set this fall to discuss the details of the plan. Meanwhile, the district also will post updates at Pasco.k12.fl.us/renovations and on the district’s social media sites, and Land O’ Lakes High School will keep parents informed on its website and social media sites.

Published August 24, 2016

Sister Helen’s secrets to a good life: Work hard, love people

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Laurina Lange was still a teenager when she traveled by train from Texas to San Antonio to pursue the religious life — by joining the Benedictine Sisters of Florida.

The year was 1930, and she was accompanied by four of her cousins — Irma Multer, Pauline Block, and Rosaria and Rosanna Matthiesen. They, too, had decided to answer God’s call.

Now known as Sister Helen Lange, the 102-year-old recently shared a few of her memories during remarks at the 125th birthday celebration for the Town of St. Leo, held at Saint Leo University.

Sister Helen Lange, who turns 103 on Sept. 28, enjoys every minute of life. Many of the experiences of her life are conveyed in a memoir she wrote called ‘Kicking the Habit.’ (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Sister Helen Lange, who turns 103 on Sept. 28, enjoys every minute of life. Many of the experiences of her life are conveyed in a memoir she wrote called ‘Kicking the Habit.’
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She told the audience that despite her age, she still enjoys every minute. She also noted that while she began her religious vocation in San Antonio, she was fortunate to travel extensively and do many different kinds of work along life’s path.

She told the crowd about a memoir she wrote, called “Kicking the Habit.” It records experiences during her life, in 10-year increments.

The title of her memoir doesn’t refer to her kicking the habit of smoking — rather it relates to the time when the requirement was lifted for nuns to wear a style of dress, called a habit.

In her memoir, she describes growing up on a farm in Olfen, Texas.

Her parents, Joseph and Helena Matthiesen Lange, had five boys and three girls — and all of the children were born at home.

It was a family where faith and hard work were cherished values, she writes in her memoir.

“Living and growing up on a farm taught us to be very responsible,” the memoir says.  “We were taught to be independent and thrifty.”

She has many fond recollections about growing up in a family which prayed often, enjoyed making music, and had frequent gatherings with friends and relatives.

One of her favorite times of the year was Easter.

“Holy Week was truly Holy Week. There were no radios, no running around, no dancing or partying,” her memoir says.

“On Holy Saturday, all of us kids were sent out to pick flowers to build Easter nests for the bunny to come. While we were out hunting the flowers, little did we know that mom was busy dying the eggs — which we never saw until Easter morning.

“We made small nests with the wildflowers we picked out in the fields.

“On Easter Sunday morning, we all tumbled out of bed to see what the Easter bunny had brought. There were eggs of all colors neatly laying in our nest of flowers. What a beautiful day!”

The ‘Spirit’ calls in strange places
She enjoyed shopping days with her mother, her memoir reports.

Once the necessary items for the household were purchased, the two of them would stop by the drugstore for an ice cream soda.

“They only cost 25 cents back then,” her account says.

“Another favorite treat was a chocolate bar with marshmallows and nuts. This was called a Tango. It was only five cents,” the memoir adds.

Of course, living on a farm required hard work.

This photograph was taken on the 25th anniversary of these five nuns joining the Benedictine Sisters of Florida. They traveled together from Texas to begin their religious vocation in San Antonio. Back row: Sister Irma Multer and Sister Rosanna Matthiesen; and, front row: Sister Rosaria Matthiesen, Sister Helen Lange and Sister Pauline Block. (Courtesy of Holy Name Monastery)
This photograph was taken on the 25th anniversary of these five nuns joining the Benedictine Sisters of Florida. They traveled together from Texas to begin their religious vocation in San Antonio. Back row: Sister Irma Multer and Sister Rosanna Matthiesen; and, front row: Sister Rosaria Matthiesen, Sister Helen Lange and Sister Pauline Block.
(Courtesy of Holy Name Monastery)

There was “cotton to chop, cotton to pick, maize to head, tractors to run, cotton to haul to the gin, repairs to be done. Too many chores to mention,” the book recounts.

She believes her family’s deep faith influenced her decision to pursue the religious life.

“Family prayers and Sunday obligations, plus monthly confession and communion, were never neglected,” she said.

Her Catholic education played a role, too.

“I think the seeds of my vocation were planted in fifth grade,” she writes.

“The Mother Superior visited our school quarterly,” she adds.

As Mother Superior doled out report cards, she would ask the students: “How many of you are going to be priests or nuns when you grow up?”

While growing up, she also spent a fair amount of time in the church, putting her musical talents to use.

“I played (the children’s) daily mass when I was in in fifth grade,” she recalls in her memoir.

But, it wasn’t until she was older that she actually decided to become a nun.

“The Spirit does call in the strangest places,” she notes in her memoir. “We were at a dance when Sister Irma (Irma Multer) came dancing by and casually stated to me, ‘Guess what? I’m going to enter the convent in a short time.’ My surprise reply was, ‘Wait for me! I’m going with you!”’

So, that’s how she and her four companions wound up on that train to Florida.

A life on the move
Over the years, Sister Helen would be a teacher, a band director and a principal. She would oversee a hostel for visitors from other countries. And, later she would work in elder care.

She also moved around quite a bit. Her first assignment took her back to Texas, but she also worked in New Orleans and Slidell, Louisiana, and in various parts of Florida, including San Antonio, Venice, Sarasota, North Miami, Ocala and Jacksonville Beach.

Generally, she didn’t know where she would be teaching until shortly before the school year began, she said during a recent interview.

“We were given a little piece of paper in August,” she said, indicating where she would be going.

And, it wasn’t always easy to leave the place where she’d been living, she said.

“You become attached to the people, to the families,” she explained.

But, then she found that she would form the same kind of attachments at the next place she went, she said.

“I loved every one of them,” said the former educator who taught everything from kindergarten to sixth grade, and served as a principal, too.

“The sixth grade was the most joyful. There were a lot of boys in the class. I loved teaching boys,” she said.

She was a tomboy, at heart, she explained.

When she was asked,as a young girl, if she wanted a doll for Christmas, her response was: “No, I want a baseball and bat.”

Now approaching her 103rd birthday, which is on Sept. 28, Sister Helen still manages to find joy where she is.

As she walks down the corridors at Heritage Park Care and Rehabilitation Center in Dade City, she greets residents, asks how they are and takes time to listen.

As she reflects on her life, she said she “has no regrets whatsoever” about boarding that train to join the Benedictine Sisters of Florida more than eight decades ago — to follow her spiritual call where it led her.

“I’d do it all over again,” she said.

Published August 17, 2016

Wiregrass Elementary revving up for first day

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Crews are kicking it into high gear at Wiregrass Elementary School to ensure the school is ready to open for students on Aug. 15.

Music teacher Christine Reed is clearly excited about the musical tools that children at Wiregrass Elementary School will get to use. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Music teacher Christine Reed is clearly excited about the musical tools that children at Wiregrass Elementary School will get to use.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

The new school, at 29732 Wiregrass School Road in Wesley Chapel, will have its “first” first day of school, and Principal Steve Williams said he and his staff can’t wait.

“This is going to be a fantastic school. It’s going to be an outside-the-box kind of school. It’s going to be a school that doesn’t necessarily do things the way everybody else does, because we are pushing for incredible outcomes. Intentional outcomes,” Williams said.

The school was built to relieve crowding at other nearby schools. As of Aug. 4, its enrollment was 505 students, but that number has been increasing every day, the principal said.

“We certainly anticipate that this is going to be a growing school. There’s a lot of subdivisions being built,” he said.

Williams said the school has features he thinks will help to make it special.

There’s an area called Wiregrass Court, an inclusive play area for children and a park.

There are other differences, too.

Principal Steve Williams and teacher Maria Pita chat, while the teacher sets up her new classroom at Wiregrass Elementary School.
Principal Steve Williams and teacher Maria Pita chat, while the teacher sets up her new classroom at Wiregrass Elementary School.

“We’re trying to push what the definition of learning spaces look like. So, we don’t have a media center. We have what we call The Wiregrass Innovation Factory. That’s where you have the large space with technology and books, and opportunities to collaborate and create,” the principal said.

Each grade level team also has its own “Local innovation Factory,” tailored to each age group.

“It looks different. It feels different. It’s got great technology in it. In addition, it’s got some furniture. It’s got a maker space. It’s got some instructional materials. Ultimately, you’ll have two 65-inch TVs, plus an interactive whiteboard, all with wireless technology,” Williams said.

The school’s staff was set to report to work on Aug. 8, but some teachers dropped in earlier to unpack boxes and arrange their classrooms.

“We’ve opened these past two days — yesterday and today — for staff that wanted to move in,” Williams said on Aug. 4. “For most of them, this is their very first time being on this campus. They’re here to drink it all in and to move stuff,” he said.

Heather Crouch, music teacher at Wiregrass Elementary School, knows a thing or two about shaking a tambourine.
Heather Croucher, music teacher at Wiregrass Elementary School, knows a thing or two about shaking a tambourine.

“They’ve been very, very excited and I understand it, because I’ve been excited, too,” the principal added.

Robin Kestenbaum, who teaches first grade, loves the idea of helping to launch the new school.

“I honestly felt like a little first-grader, getting ready for the first day of the school,” she said.

Kestenbaum, a teacher for 17 years, said she has taught in Massachusetts and Tennessee, and on the east coast of Florida. Most recently, she taught at Pine View Elementary.

The beginning of every school year is exciting, she said, but that’s especially true this year.

“I have to be honest with you, this is one of the most exciting for me, personally,” Kestenbaum said.

Third-grade teacher Maria Pita brought a crew along to help her move in. Her husband was there, and so was her daughter and her daughter’s friend. And, another daughter was expected to arrive to join in, too.

The teacher previously taught at Pasco Elementary.

“It’s going to be a whole new adventure,” Pita said, who taught at Pasco Elementary last year.

Wiregrass Elementary is outfitted in all of the latest technology, but will also be using traditional teaching tools, too.
Wiregrass Elementary is outfitted in all of the latest technology, but will also be using traditional teaching tools, too.

Music teachers Heather Croucher and Christine Reed are also delighted to help open Wiregrass Elementary. Croucher, who taught at Denham Oaks Elementary, will be at Wiregrass Elementary five days a week. Reed will be Wiregrass Elementary for two days a week and Pine View Elementary for three days a week.

“We’re excited about all of the new stuff that we have,” Croucher said. The music department also has two rooms, she said. “This is our music suite.”

“That’s S-W-E-E-T,” Reed added.

“We’re looking forward to doing lots of musicals here,” Croucher said, including “maybe a xylophone group, and maybe even utilizing that outdoor area for some recitals.”

The school has four things it is focusing on, Williams said. Those are: Safety pursued. Learning focused. People valued. And, outcome driven.

“All of our conversations and all of our systems are all based around those four things,” he said.

First-grade teacher Robin Kestenbaum is sorting out some books for the bins in her classroom.
First-grade teacher Robin Kestenbaum is sorting out some books for the bins in her classroom.

In learning focused, for instance, “this first year we’re doing a lot of conversations about students owning their own learning and what does that look like?” the principal said.

“How do we help our student to own their own learning? Of course, that looks different at kindergarten than it does at fifth grade,” the principal said.

Helping kids “own” their own learning can mean that different kids will be doing different things in the room at the same time — aiming for the same learning goal, but coming at it from different paths, he explained.

The goal is to prepare students leaving the elementary school to be successful in middle school, said Williams, who previously was the director of teaching and learning for Pasco County Schools. Before that, he was the principal at Sunlake High School and worked in other roles.

When the opportunity to lead Wiregrass Elementary came along, Williams said he was pleased to accept the role.

“One of my professional goals was always to open a school as principal,” he said. “This has been the chance to cast a vision, to hire the staff, to buy the materials, to do everything from the ground up.”

Published August 10, 2016