The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Bug Jam is set for this weekend

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One of the area’s largest car shows kicks off this weekend.

The 28th annual Florida Bug Jam is slated for Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

The two-day event is regarded as the Southeast’s largest Volkswagen (VW) car show.

More than 720 VW entries, 200 vendors and about 12,000 spectators are expected.

The 28th annual Florida Bug Jam is set for Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds. Officials anticipate more than 720 Volkswagens, and nearly 12,000 spectators. (File Photo)
The 28th annual Florida Bug Jam is set for Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds. Officials anticipate more than 720 Volkswagens, and nearly 12,000 spectators.
(File Photo)

Saturday’s highlights include a 40-mile poker run through the back roads and rolling hills of Pasco County, as well as a traditional VW Pre-Jam Parade through downtown Dade City.

“The parade that goes downtown has over 200 cars,” said Randy Yoho, owner and promoter of the Florida Bug Jam. “We pretty much do a mini car show there, with some music.”

Another activity —“Bugs on the Track”— is also on the Saturday schedule. It allows VW enthusiasts to ride through a dune-style, off-road course that consists of multiple obstacles and rhythm sections.

Meanwhile, live music from the likes of the Caribbean Chillers and the Boogie Brothers will be featured at the fairgrounds throughout the day.

The Bug Jam’s main event — the VW Car Show and Swap Meet — begins on Sunday.

Over 60 different classes of Volkswagens will be viewed and judged throughout the show, Yoho said.

“We’ll have the Karmann Ghia, the Dune Buggy, the buses — everything Volkswagen,” Yoho said.

This year’s event theme is Marvel. Capitalizing on the popularity of the comic superhero franchise, the show will feature a Marvel character look-a-like contest.

“We try to pick a theme every year, and Marvel is seen to be kind of ‘in’ this year,” Yoho said.

The Bug Jam first began in 1989 in Land O’ Lakes. The event moved to Dade City in 1997.

Yoho, who also operates the Dade City Motocross at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, took over the car show two years ago from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Association.

“It basically just got to be too big of an event for their volunteer group to run,” Yoho explained. “It was kind of a perfect fit since we’re at the fairgrounds with the motorcycle track anyway.”

Gates open for spectators at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 per day, and $15 for both days if you have a car in the show.

Admission is free for children ages 10 and under who bring a can of food to benefit Feeding America Suncoast Food Bank. Parking fees are $5.

For information, visit FloridaBugJam.com.

Published November 9, 2016

Historic election comes to a close

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Yards and rights-of-way are filling up with Trump and Clinton for president signs. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Yards and rights-of-way are filling up with Trump and Clinton for president signs. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Votes will be counted on Nov. 8 to determine which candidate will be the next president of the Unites States – Donald J. Trump or Hillary Clinton.

But, voters also will choose candidates running for state and local office in Pasco and Hillsborough counties.

Absentee and early voting ballots already are being stockpiled in election offices. On election day, both counties will offer free bus rides to people who can show a valid voter information card.

In Pasco, early voting began on Oct. 29 at eight locations around the county. Voters can cast ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at any of those sites until early voting ends on Nov. 5 (Saturday) at 7 p.m.

“We’re seeing a good, strong turnout,” said Brian Corley, Pasco’s supervisor of elections. “We’re seeing a lot of energy and enthusiasm, which is what we expect in a presidential election.”

More than 336,000 people are registered voters in Pasco, with nearly 131,000 registered as Republicans, nearly 108,000 as Democrats, and nearly 98,000 as no party or minor party.

Voting is a “three-legged stool,” with options of casting a vote-by-mail ballot, early voting or day-of voting, Corley said.

More and more people at each election cycle are opting for vote-by-mail or early voting, he said.

But, that doesn’t mean significant increases in registered voters.

Instead, he said, “It spreads the vote around.”

As of Oct. 31, nearly 76,000 votes were cast by mail-in or early voting. Republicans accounted for more than 32,000 votes; Democrats, nearly 27,000, and others, more than 16,000.

Early voting in Hillsborough also is underway with 16 polling stations opening on Oct. 24. Voting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily until Nov. 6 (Sunday) at 7 p.m.

Nearly 845,000 people are registered voters in Hillsborough, with about 334,000 registered as Democrats, 267,000 as Republicans, and 244,000 as others.

Hillsborough’s election office mailed out more than 170,000 ballots. As of Oct. 31, more than 242,000 ballots had been cast, both mail-in and early voting. About 105,000 were from Democrats; nearly 90,000 from Republicans and about 48,000 from others.

“Right now, it looks like the turnout is tracking to what it was in 2012,” said Gerri Kramer, spokeswoman for the Hillsborough elections office.

In addition to the presidential vote, the election will decide representation for local offices including county commission, the Florida legislature and property appraiser.

There also are constitutional amendments on the ballot, including two controversial ones.

Amendment 1 deals with solar power. Supporters say it will boost the solar industry while also protecting the pocketbooks of people who opt not to use solar.

Opponents say the solar industry has crafted a deceptive amendment that appears friendly to solar but, in effect, will give existing utility companies veto power over rules governing alternative energy competitors.

Amendment 2, if approved, would expand the use of an existing law permitting medical marijuana. Supporters say it will help patients with chronic and debilitating illnesses, and provide tax revenues to state and local governments.

Opponents say the amendment would open the door to misuse of marijuana, recreational uses, and increase the crime rate.

For voting information from the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections, visit Pasco.electionsfl.org, or call (800) 851-8754.

For voting information from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, visit VoteHillsborough.org, or call (813) 272-5850.

Staff writers with The Laker/Lutz News will be out and about at polling sites on Nov. 8, finding out what’s on the minds of voters as they cast ballots in a momentous presidential election, and also make choices in state and local elections. A story on the election will be published in the Nov. 16 edition of The Laker/Lutz News.

Published November 2, 2016

Halloween tricks, treats and traditions on tap

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If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Halloween, you’ll find plenty of options across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., is hosting a Family Fun Festival that it’s calling “Light the Night.”

The event will be from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Oct. 31.

Pumpkin patches are popping up all over Hillsborough and Pasco counties, as area residents prepare for Halloween and fall festivals. (File Photos)
Pumpkin patches are popping up all over Hillsborough and Pasco counties, as area residents prepare for Halloween and fall festivals.
(File Photos)

Cars will be decorated with favorite kid-friendly themes and will line up on the Yellow parking lot and grounds outside the church’s Gatheria.

The cars’ trunks will be full of candy for children through fifth grade.

Each car also will provide a game, face painting, puppet show or other opportunity for fun.

Other highlights will be inflatables, balloon animals and a hayride.

Bring a camera to take advantage of photo opportunities.

Admission is $3 per person, with a maximum charge of $15 per family.

Children age 2 and under will be admitted without charge.

Hungry Harry’s BBQ will be available for purchase for $5, and other food items also will be available through the church’s kitchen.

The trunks will be open for children to pick up candy from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The inflatables will be available the entire evening.

Register by Oct. 30 at Idlewild.org/children, to avoid waiting in long lines. To find out more, call (813) 264-1515, ext. 1561.

Meanwhile, in Pasco County, the 12th annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival & Carnival is set for Oct. 28 through Oct. 30, at 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd.

This year, the event has added a day to give families more time to enjoy carnival food, midway games and rides.

These gourds add a splash of Halloween color.
These gourds add a splash of Halloween color.

The festival will be from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., on Oct. 28; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Oct. 29; and, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Oct. 30.

Highlights on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 will include live music, a business expo, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, pony rides, fall foods and beverages, food trucks, interactive craft activities, arts and crafts exhibitors, vendors, a doggie fun area and pet adoption event.

Kids can celebrate Halloween in a safe environment on Oct. 29, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Trunk or Treat activity.

For more information on the festival, a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce event, visit GroveShopping.com. Visit DreamlandAmusements.com for coupon savings on ride wristbands, ride tickets and carnival food.

Meanwhile, over in St. Leo, Saint Leo University’s Office of Residence Life is inviting the community to Haunted Marmion, an event set for Oct. 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Marmion-Snyder Hall, 33701 State Road 52.

All floors of the residence halls will be transformed into a themed haunted house. Trick-or-treating will occur on two floors of Snyder Hall. There will be games and other activities in the Lion’s Den (a common area for both halls) for those not participating in the haunted house or trick-or-treating.

The event is free; however, those attending are asked to donate one or more canned/nonperishable food items at check-in, which will be given to a local food bank for distribution to those in need in the community.

In Land O’ Lakes, those who enjoy a good scare may want to drop by the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., to experience The Haunted House on 41.

The event, slated for Oct. 27 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Oct. 28 and Oct. 29 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., promises three nights of bone-chilling terror.

Admission is $1 each. Some scenes, the organizers with Pasco County Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources say, may be too intense for young children.

For those who enjoy staying active, the Northdale 5K Pumpkin Run & 1 Mile Family Run/Walk may be just the thing.

The event is set for Oct. 29, at the Bob Sierra YMCA Youth & Family Center, 4015 Ragg Road in Tampa.

The chip-timed race will have a costume contest and is dog friendly. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Bob Sierra Y’s annual campaign to ensure the facility keeps its doors open to all, regardless of an individual’s financial hardship.

For more information, call (813) 962-3220.

Some area high schools are also hosting special events.

Sunlake High School, at 3203 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, is holding a “Trick or Treat Around the Track” on Oct. 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m.

Wesley Chapel High School, at 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel, is hosting a “Halloween Safe Zone,” on Oct. 29 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., in the school’s cafeteria and parking lot.

For more details about these events, contact Sunlake High and Wesley Chapel High.

Area libraries also are holding special events.

Land O’ Lakes Library, at 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, is hosting a Pumpkin Fest for all ages on Oct. 29 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event involves decorating pumpkins, using a wide variety of techniques.

New River Library, at 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, has three Halloween events planned.

On Oct. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the library is welcoming infants through 5-year-olds to wear their favorite costume to the library’s Costume Story Time.

The library also is hosting a Halloween Movie & S’Mores for fourth-graders and older on Oct. 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

And, on Oct. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., it’s hosting a Fall Family Night.  The evening will feature crafts, refreshments and a costume contest.

The Carrollwood Toastmasters are also getting into the Halloween spirit by hosting an open house on Oct. 26 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., in Tampa. There will be free food, fun and prizes. Feel free to wear a costume and bring a friend.

Published October 26, 2016

 

Cyber threats on the rise, expert says

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The global impact of cyber crimes is likely to skyrocket over the next several years, Sri Sridharan, a cyber security expert predicts.

Sridharan, managing director and chief executive officer of the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, was the keynote speaker during the Cybersecurity Symposium at Pasco-Hernando State College, on Oct. 11.

Hacking, he said, continues to be a “serious problem” in the realm of cyber security.

“It’s a huge crime that’s taking place on a daily basis,” Sridharan said. “There’s lots of people wanting to steal your personal information, and steal intellectual property.”

The latest statistics related to cyber crime are staggering.

According to a recent study by Juniper Research, the global impact on cyber crimes was about $400 billion in 2015. By 2019, the market research organization projects the impact will be approximately $2.1 trillion.

“In my opinion, that number is going to be even higher,” Sridharan said. “Every second, at least 22 records are breached. That’s about 2 million (records) per day.”

Courtesy of Florida Center for Cybersecurity Sri Sridharan, is the managing director and chief executive officer of the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida.
Courtesy of Florida Center for Cybersecurity
Sri Sridharan, is the managing director and chief executive officer of the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida.

Sridharan said hackers often focus on high-value industries — healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services — to access and modify information.

“No longer is this a backdoor problem,” he said. “It’s moved to boardrooms of corporations. Boards of directors now have a fiscal responsibility to make sure the information they have is well protected. Otherwise, they can get sued.”

Yet, many organizations haven’t put safety measures in place to protect against such threats.

A 2016 global economic crime survey by the consulting firm PricewaterHouseCooper (PwC) found that 32 percent of organizations were affected by cyber crime last year. Moreover, the survey found only 37 percent of organizations have a cohesive plan in response to cyber incident, or breach.

“Organizations need to have a plan. That’s extremely important,” Sridaran said.

That starts with practicing what Sridharan refers to as “good cyber hygiene.”

For businesses, that encompasses several steps: use a secure ecommerce platform; deploy SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption; and utilize firewalls, multi-factor authentication and site backups.

“Don’t just have (employees) use a password to get into the system. Have them go through one or two more steps to make…it very difficult for the bad guys to penetrate your system,” Sridharan explained.

In addition to using lengthy, complex passwords, Sridharan recommends individuals stay away from “unfamiliar websites.”

“If it’s not a site that you know, don’t click on it,” he said. “If you’re not careful about the website that you go to, you stand a serious risk of getting breached, or your information stolen.”

The same theory applies to suspicious emails.

“If you don’t know who it’s from, don’t touch it.”

Sridharan noted ransomware — a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid — is currently one of the most pervasive problems in cyber security.

A 2016 report by Cisco Systems Inc. found that approximately 9,500 people pay ransoms to hackers each month.

“This is very prevalent these days. The average target pays $300,” said Sridharan.

“The most important thing you can do is have backups of your system at all times.”

Perhaps a silver lining to the influx of cyber threats is in the job market.

According to Sridharan, there’s a significant demand for cyber security professionals.

He estimates there will be approximately 2.5 million jobs in cyber security over the next two years.

“It’s a hot job market,” he said, “and it’s not going to go away for a long time.”

“There is no comprehensive cyber security solution on the horizon for the next ten years,” he added.

The symposium also featured a presentation on human trafficking online.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Corporal Alan Wilkett, who’s served more than 22 years as a public service official in Indiana, Ohio and Florida, said human trafficking transactions are becoming increasingly prevalent online.

Human trafficking encompasses forced labor, involuntary servitude, and commercial sex.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are approximately 20.9 million victims of human trafficking.

“Selling and auctions are all taking place online,” said Wilkett, a member of the Tampa Bay Regional Human Trafficking Task Force.

The transactions, Wilkett said, are taking place in what’s commonly referred as the dark web, which is only accessible through specific software, called Tor (The Onion Router).

“When you get on there, that’s where (traffickers) hold the online markets,” explained Wilkett. “It’s one of the most diabolical things I’ve ever seen.”

According to Wilkett, the average price for a human being is going for about $90.

“You go to India and you can buy three boys for less than the price of a cow,” he said. “Many of them are bought as child soldiers; some of them are smuggled into the United States and other countries.”

Published Oct. 19, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

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