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‘Prom Promise’ drama aims to save lives

May 25, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The crushed beer cans on the grass help to set the scene at this assembly for students at Wiregrass Ranch High School.

As students pack the stands on one side of the school’s football stadium, they can see a giant black tarp — hiding a scene behind it.

Then, they begin to hear voices.

During the dramatization of a drunk driving accident, a Pasco County firefighter prevents Olivia Speer, 14, left and Vanessa Reyes, 16, from approaching the ‘dead girl’ lying on the hood of the opposing car. The dead passenger played by classmate, Emily Snider, 15, a sophomore, is sprawled on the hood of the car, ejected through the windshield because she did not buckle up. (Fred Bellet/Photos) — During the dramatization of a drunk driving accident, a Pasco County firefighter prevents Olivia Speer, 14, left and Vanessa Reyes, 16, from approaching the ‘dead girl’ lying on the hood of the opposing car. The dead passenger played by classmate, Emily Snider, 15, a sophomore, is sprawled on the hood of the car, ejected through the windshield because she did not buckle up.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

“St. Paul, I can’t believe you’re still drinking beer. How many beers have you had tonight?” his prom date asks. “I thought I was going to drive, if you were going to drink.”

“Babe, I only had a couple in the last hour or so. I’ll be able to drive,” St. Paul responds.

“I think maybe you should let me drive. You’re going a little fast. You’re starting to scare me,” his date continues.

“I’ll get us home fine,” he says. “If you’re so worried, why don’t you wear your seatbelt?”

“We’re almost home,” she responds, “and I didn’t want to get my dress wrinkled by wearing my seatbelt.

“Look out! There’s a car,” she shouts, and then begins screaming.

There are sounds of a collision, and the tarp is removed to reveal two smashed cars.

The drunk driver, bloodied, steps out of the car looking dazed.

Emerging dazed and confused from the crash, the drunk driver (left) St. Paul Allen, 17, a junior, and two occupants of the other vehicle try to make sense of what had happened during Prom Promise, a dramatization of a drunk driving accident.

The windshield of his car has been broken and his date is sprawled across the hood of the car.

She’s not moving.

The driver of the other car is trapped in her seat. Passengers in her car get out, their dresses spattered in blood.

As the scene plays out, Marianella Campos, a rescue training officer for Pasco County Fire Rescue, narrates what’s happening.

Calls go into 911 and emergency crews from Pasco County Fire Rescue, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol, respond to the scene.

While a law enforcement officer administers a field sobriety test to the drunk driver, emergency crews use the Jaws of Life to free the other driver from her car.

A helicopter from Bayflite swoops in to airlift another victim to the hospital.

The deceased girl is covered with a sheet, on the hood of the car.

The stands on one side of Wiregrass Ranch High School’s stadium are packed with students watching Prom Promise, the dramatization of a head-on fatal drunk driving collision involving students attending prom.

Meanwhile, the deceased girl’s mother, performed by Enid Fernandez, has been frantically looking for her daughter. When she arrives at the scene, she’s told by the passengers of the other car that her daughter is beneath the sheet. At first, she refuses to believe it could be her daughter. When reality sinks in, she’s inconsolable.

As the helicopter lifts off, another crew places the deceased girl in a body bag. She’s then moved into an ambulance, which represents a hearse.

Ten students, wearing prom attire and white face makeup, walk silently behind the ‘hearse’ as it rolls away. They represent those who have died from drunk or distracted driver incidents. They will remain silent throughout the day — to emphasize the losses that can occur because of careless behaviors.

The event, called “Prom Promise” aims to heighten awareness of the potentially deadly results of driving while impaired.

The timing was excellent because it was held on May 20, the day before Wiregrass Ranch High’s prom, said Greg Finkel, facilitator of the school’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club.

“It’s going to hit home,” he predicted.

Students who helped to organize the event agreed.

A Bayflite helicopter assisted the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and Pasco County Fire Rescue to simulate the reality of ‘what happens’ at an alcohol-related, crash scene.

“We’re using people that are well-known,” said Beliz Esen, a leader in the SADD club. “They’ll be able to empathize more, with someone they know, rather than someone they don’t know. As in, this is actually something that could actually happen to me,” she said.

Alexia Diamond, another SADD leader, said: “This actually happens every day. It’s not just in movies and TV shows.”

Jonathan Jerez, 17, also a leader of SADD, said the event will make a difference: “Being able to see the scenario, with people they do know, I think is going to change their decision making.”

Seventeen-year-old St. Paul Allen played the role of the drunk driver.

“This is such a serious thing,” he said. The event may not get through to some kids, but it will to others, he said.

The message is important, said 15-year-old Emily Snider, who played the role of the deceased prom date.

“A lot of people are lost. A lot of people die every year, just from regular car accidents. Coming home from prom, while drinking, it’s even more devastating,” she said. “They’re kids. They’re just kids.”

Victoria Stitcher, who played the role of the driver whose car was hit, said she knows that people will likely drink regardless of the dramatization, but she added: “I’m hoping that they’ll think twice and not drive.”

Olivia Speer, who played the role of a passenger in Stitcher’s car, said people tend to forget that those drinking and driving aren’t the only ones at risk.

“This can happen to absolutely anyone. It doesn’t necessarily have to be them that’s in the car drinking. It can be anyone,” she said.

Vanessa Reyes, another passenger in the car, agreed: “They think it won’t happen to them, but it happens so much. They need to see that.”

Kailee Barboza, another passenger, was glad to take part. “If at least one person decides that they’re not going to drink or text, while driving, we made a huge difference.”

The school’s two school resource officers, Cpl. Anthony Justice and Cpl. Patrick Cottrell, think the event will have an impact.

“If you have a real serious crash, this is actually what happens,” Cottrell said. “There may be somebody that does die. There are people that are flown out.”

Teenagers tend to think they’re invincible, Cottrell added. “They don’t understand how fragile life is.”

Published May 25, 2016

Local artist is making some noise

May 18, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Eden Shireen is making a name for herself in the local music scene.

Thousands of YouTube views for her cover songs and the March release of her five-song ‘Shadows’ EP (Extended Play) have made the 20-year-old Land O’ Lakes singer-songwriter an up-and-coming artist.

Her popularity has been steadily increasing since she became a 2015 Florida GRAMMY Showcase semifinalist, that helped to propel her career.

Local artist Eden Shireen has made a name for herself since she became a 2015 Florida GRAMMY Showcase semifinalist. (Photos courtesy of Eden Shireen) — Local artist Eden Shireen has made a name for herself since she became a 2015 Florida GRAMMY Showcase semifinalist.
(Photos courtesy of Eden Shireen)

Shireen, a 2014 graduate of Land O’ Lakes High School, describes her musical style as a “clash between pop, indie and folk.”

That unique style was formed during her high school years, when she was heavily involved in her school’s choir and theater programs.

“I was about 14 or 15 when I started to write short stories and poems, and then I got involved in musical theater…and I was like, ‘Oh, my poems are literally just songs.’ Then I started the whole writing process, and it was great,” Shireen said. “I really found my voice through acting and realized, ‘Wow, I love doing this.’”

Listening to alternative bands like Bleachers, Of Monsters and Men, The 1975 and First Aid Kit were major influences during her formative high school years when she started creating music.

“I started to not just listen to what was on the radio,” she said. “Being a musician, you want to find what’s going to inspire you the most, so I really just dove into Pandora (Internet Radio) and Spotify, and any different kind of playlists I could find.”

She continued, “I always grew up listening to great music in my house with my family. I knew who The Sundays and The Cranberries were before anybody else.”

As she manages her burgeoning music career, Shireen is working toward an associate degree at Pasco-Hernando State College, before she relocates to Orlando to enroll in the University of Central Florida’s Entertainment Management degree program.

She plays a lot of shows in Tampa, including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, but Orlando appears to be more ideal location for generating more buzz about her work.

“Land O’ Lakes and Tampa do not have the kind of music scene that I knew how to jump into when I first started getting into music, and the Orlando music scene is much younger—the teen crowd, teen bands, early 20s bands,” she said.

Meanwhile, Shireen is working with local venues on an EP release show around mid-June, and then plans to embark on a music tour throughout the state.

Someday, Shireen hopes to be able to create a full-length album. For the time being, though, she’s content with sharing her music through short EPs.

Eden Shireen is a 2014 graduate of Land O’ Lakes High School. She’s currently a business major at Pasco-Hernando State College.

“The cool thing about writing EPs is you’re really developing your sound, developing stories that you want to tell,” Shireen explained. “You’re building an audience and you kind of create a feeling on longing — people want more, people are going to connect with you on one level. Writing a record is financially a little bit of a hit with studio time, and I want to find the right people that can really help me craft my sound even more.”

Jotting down lyrics and creating music is a constant for the young artist, whether she’s in the recording studio, relaxing at home, or even out shopping with friends.

“Making music for me is a relief of some kind. It’s the most satisfying feeling once you finish a song and you’re like, ‘Wow, I really believe in this’…and other people are going to relate to this. It’s a very powerful feeling knowing that you can impact people in what hopes to be a very positive way.”

Despite Shireen’s eclectic sound and her growing popularity locally, she still feels that one of the biggest challenges ahead is developing more of a widespread audience.

“There’s a lot of music out there, there’s a lot of talented musicians, and there’s a lot of very powerful people who have the power to change your life if they hear you. But, having those people hear you, and having people really turn their heads and look at you, sometimes it can be the biggest challenge, because there is so much music all over the Internet.

“It is just a challenge being heard.”

Land O’ Lakes singer-songwriter Eden Shireen released her five-song ‘Shadows’ EP on March 25.

But, that challenge doesn’t discourage her from living out her dream, and encouraging other aspiring artists to do the same.

“Never discredit that little voice inside of you that says to do it,” she said. “Believe in what you write…and don’t let anybody else diminish what you created.

“If you want to become an artist, just have that self-belief and that passion in knowing whatever you create is original, and you have the power to make it something.”

“Shadows” is available for download and streaming on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music.

For more information on Eden Shireen, visit EdenShireen.com.

A closer look at Eden Shireen
In this conversation with Eden Shireen, the singer-songwriter from Land O’ Lakes:

Shares how her interest developed in singing and songwriting
“I think that always being an avid reader and always knowing that stories were a place where magic kind of happens. I always loved reading other people’s stories, and feeling a little bit like an outsider in school…I was just kind of in my own world, and from there I wrote. It was a place where I could find my own solace and I found myself.”

Describes her musical style
“I think it’s definitely eclectic. Kind of every song is going to have a different undertone to it, but I’m definitely pop. I like to say I’m a little bit indie and folk because my voice isn’t all completely pop — with the way the inflections are in some of the songs, so I think it’s a clash between pop, indie and folk.”

Explains what inspires her song ideas
“I think there’s a story within everything, whether it’s a little bird that we see taking a bath in a puddle, or the wind blowing in a certain way. …I just enjoy believing in something that’s so much bigger than myself that isn’t exactly tangible. It’s the idea I can grow it into whatever I choose…and I have the power to manifest it in a way where other people are going to understand.”

Shares her writing process for her ‘Shadows’ EP
“I started writing it in the end of 2013 and I finished the record in June 2015, but I took a little time to figure out how I wanted to come out with it — what the title track should be, how I wanted to structure the photo shoot, all of that. For all of the songs and the singles— and how am I going to work to design it — I really took my time on the after-effects of writing the EP. But, it did take about two years to write the record, and about six months after that to get to a good place to put my songs out there.”

Talks about ‘Stick Around,’ one of her favorites on ‘Shadows’ EP
“It’s a single from the record, and I like the message of the song. I had written the whole album from a sad place, and I was coming out of a very toxic situation with someone. For me, the whole idea of the record and the title being ‘Shadows’ is…the idea that it’s darkness, it’s hidden, you’re playing with shadows and you’re hiding — all of these different kind of themes are playing throughout the whole record. But, when you get to the song “Stick Around” at the very end, it’s about feeling empowered. …Ending with that song definitely leaves an impression on how you can develop, even in your darkest moments.”

Published May 18, 2016

He offers a ‘hypnotic’ form of entertainment

May 11, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Hypnotist Michael C. Anthony shares the stage with 30 or so people who don’t mind a bit of suggestive fun.

They might fall asleep. Or forget their names. Or break into dance. Or, they might even be convinced that a belt is a wriggling snake.

They might even find true love, of a most unusual kind.

Hypnotist Michael C. Anthony will perform at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. (Courtesy of Michael C. Anthony) — Hypnotist Michael C. Anthony will perform at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.
(Courtesy of Michael C. Anthony)

“I made a guy fall in love with a broom,” said Anthony, who will bring his Hypnotized Live! Show to Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts on May 20 and May 21.

He invites audience members to leave their seats and become part of his show. But, they have a choice.

They can “SEE the show or BE the show.”

“I don’t pressure anybody to come on the stage,” Anthony said.

There is never a problem of getting people to join in the act.

Anthony, who lives in Land O’ Lakes, starts his performances with a few minutes of stand up comedy so the audience knows “this is going to be fun. At the end of the show, you’ll be glad you did this.”

The full-time hypnotist has been performing for about 20 years displaying his skills in theaters, at corporate events and at colleges. He’s been to every state except Alaska and to several foreign countries, as well.

More than a year ago, Anthony joined The Illusionists as an entertainer with the group’s theatrical touring company. He works with six magicians when he does those shows.

“That’s a lot of fun,” he said. “We do huge theaters.”

Anthony has entertainment roots.

His great uncle, Joe LaMonico, performed as a hypnotist on cruise ships and at resorts in the Catskills Mountains in upstate New York. LaMonico lived in Buffalo most of his life, but Anthony said his uncle lived in Hudson for many years.

Though born in New York, Anthony moved with his mother to Canada when he was about 2. He’s been living in Land O’ Lakes for about 15 years.

“Most of my work is in the United States,” Anthony said. “I can live anywhere but thought ‘Let’s go somewhere warm.”’

As a youngster, Anthony performed magic tricks for friends. But magic soon morphed into a passion for hypnotism.

“I got fascinated with it all on my own,” Anthony said, though he did get encouragement from his uncle.

He is a board-certified hypnotherapist but Anthony said helping people quit smoking wasn’t nearly the fun of being a stage artist.

He began working as a hypnotist full time during his early 20s. Besides staging shows at colleges, universities and corporate events, he’s also played nightclubs and comedy shows.

More often, now he performs in theaters and at colleges around the country including New York University and Cornell University.

Anthony knows some people come to the theater as skeptics about hypnotism. But he said, “They leave as believers because I entertain the pants off them.”

Hypnotism has taught Anthony a few things about body language after years of observing his audience members who, in a hypnotic trance, can fall asleep and go limp with the snap of his finger.

Nearly two years ago he wrote “Body Language Secrets: How to Read minds by Reading bodies.”

He recently appeared on WFLA television station’s “Daytime” show to discuss body language of presidential candidates including Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Both have been guilty of jabbing their index finger into the air to emphasize a point, Anthony said.

“People don’t want that,” he said. “They feel they are being scolded.”

But Trump and Clinton appear to have followed advice from media experts. Now, Anthony said they do what he described as “modified” finger pointing, with the hand held up while the index finger touches the thumb.

At the Straz Center, Anthony will concentrate his thoughts, not on body language and politics, but on entertaining the crowd.

“I’m the director of a play with a cast of 30, who have never seen the script,” he said.

The audience can expect the unexpected, and at times, Anthony is just as surprised.

He watched one night as a young woman, in a trance, suddenly walked around a row of chairs heading toward the man amorously hugging the broom he loved so much.

“She got to the broom and just slapped it across the face,” Anthony said.

Turned out, she was the man’s girlfriend.

WHAT: Hypnotized Live!
WHERE: Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, in downtown Tampa
WHEN: May 20 and May 21 at 7:30 p.m.
COST: Tickets are $39.99 and $49.99
INFORMATION: Contact the ticket office at (813) 229-7827 or 1-800-955-1045

Published May 11, 2016

Local students shine at nationals

May 4, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Five students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School claimed national awards at the 39^th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition held at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina.

The contest, held from April 12 to April 14, drew approximately 1,800 competitors from 29 states. Participants earned the right to compete by capturing the top awards in their state contests.

The students represented nearly 200 Christian high schools. They competed in 76 categories in the areas of Bible, music, speech, art and academics.

Three students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School won first place awards in the competition and two others finished among the top five.

These five students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School were among the top five finishers at the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition. In descending order, they are: Tommy Campbell, Logan Juday, Paul Wei, Ruth Zhang and Emily Mengel. Campbell, Zhang and Mengel all brought home first place honors. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes Christian School) — These five students from Land O’ Lakes Christian School were among the top five finishers at the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition. In descending order, they are: Tommy Campbell, Logan Juday, Paul Wei, Ruth Zhang and Emily Mengel.
Campbell, Zhang and Mengel all brought home first place honors.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Christian School)

Tommy Campbell took first place in Topical Preaching and first place in Original Persuasive Oratory.

Ruth Zhang took first place in Calligraphy, third place in Algebra/Geometry and third place in Advanced Math.

Emily Mengel took first place in Printmaking.

Paul Wei took second place in Extemporaneous Speaking and Logan Juday took third place in Accounting.

The Bible competition included Bible quiz teams, preaching and teaching. The academic competition included academic testing and a science fair. The music students challenged each other in solo and group competitions, in both vocal and instrumental music.

Speech contestants competed in such categories as debate, dramatic interpretation, original oratory, acting and other categories.

Art students displayed their works for judging.

The Land O’ Lakes Christian School students were thrilled and surprised by their impressive showing.

“I was not expecting to win. The other people were extremely good. I thought I would be blessed just to place. Even at state I wasn’t expecting to win,” said Campbell, a senior.

In the Topical Preaching category, he preached about faith, with his remarks aimed at encouraging people to “have faith and trust God” in their decision-making.

Ruth Zhang demonstrated her considerable calligraphy and artistic skills in the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition, and she brought home a first place award to Land O’ Lakes Christian School. (B.C. Manion/Staff photos) — Ruth Zhang demonstrated her considerable calligraphy and artistic skills in the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition, and she brought home a first place award to Land O’ Lakes Christian School.
(B.C. Manion/Staff photos)

For Original Persuasive Oratory, he focused on generational values.

“It was about how the generation that our grandparents grew up (in), during their time, they were taught to have manners and people didn’t put so much value on material possessions and people valued the family unit, things like that — and how our generation lacks a lot of that today,” he said.

Campbell plans to attend Pensacola Christian College and to major in Bible Pastoral Ministries. He said he’ll go wherever God leads him, but he hopes that will be to be a pastor of a church.

Even though he claimed the top prize for in the preaching category, Campbell said he discovered something surprising.

“I’ve been working really hard at this for a few years now and I always thought that the ultimate joy and happiness would come from when I finally won. But now that I’ve actually won best in the nation … I realized that I’ve had the same happiness all along and that actually came from just being able to be used of God. I already had the ultimate happiness,” Campbell said.

Zhang, a junior, did an elaborate work to win the top prize in Calligraphy.

She’s interested in pursuing a degree in architecture and has identified Cornell University as her ideal school. A native of China, she has been living in the United States for two years.

She also placed in the top five in two mathematics categories. She noted that the mathematics exams at the national level were more difficult than those at the state competition.

Emily Mengel impressed the judges with her printmaking skills, capturing top honors at the 39th annual American Association of Christian Schools National Competition.

Mengel depicted a skyline in her Printmaking entry. “I love being up high because you see everything,” she said, explaining her fascination for skylines.

Like her school mates, the sophomore was delighted by her first-place finish. “I didn’t think I was even going to place, so it was a big shock,” she said.

Juday, a senior, said he previously competed in photography but decided to give accounting a try this year, after being encouraged by a teacher.

“I didn’t know I placed first until I got to the state competition and they called my name. I had no idea,” said Juday, who took third at nationals.

Paul Wei, a junior, won second in Extemporaneous Speaking. “I was very excited,” Wei said. It was his first competition and he plans to compete again, he said.

It was a great bonding experience for students, Wei said.

Published May 4, 2016

Crystal Lagoon start date coming soon

April 27, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Developers at Epperson Ranch anticipate a construction start in May on the “Crystal Lagoon” that will be a showpiece for their master-planned community, and the first of its kind in North America.

Model homes at Epperson could be under construction by summer.

Home prices will start in the mid-$200,000 range.

Metro Development Group is finalizing the permit process before digging dirt on a 7-acre manmade lagoon.

In this artist’s rendering, a sunbather enjoys the crystal lagoon at Cabo San Lucas. (Images courtesy of Crystal Lagoons Inc.) — In this artist’s rendering, a sunbather enjoys the crystal lagoon at Cabo San Lucas.
(Images courtesy of Crystal Lagoons Inc.)

The water body is designed with patented technology by Crystal Lagoons Inc., and the lagoon will be filled with about 16 million gallons of crystal blue water.

Construction could take a year.

The Epperson Ranch project is also the site for another first for Pasco with plans for creating a “Connected City” corridor with ultrafast Internet connections.

The project is a state-approved, 10-year pilot program that envisions state-of-the-art technology embedded in the design of residential and commercial development in a 7,800-acre special district. The district’s borders are Interstate 75, State Road 52, Curley and Overpass roads in east central Pasco.

Metro Development Group and Crystal Lagoons are partnering on the creation of several Crystal Lagoons’ communities, including a second location in Pasco, and in Fort Myers.

Pasco’s growth boom and the availability of such a large swath of vacant land were motivators for the companies’ partnership, according to an email from Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development.

“Our hope is that we are one part of a collective group of planners, thinkers, educators and others who see Pasco County as a destination for more jobs, top schools, premier shopping, dining and entertainment,” the email states.

Biochemist and real estate developer Fernando Fischmann created and built the first Crystal Lagoon at San Alfonso del Mar in Chile in 2006.

The lounge area at Cabo San Lucas overlooks the crystal lagoon in this artist’s rendering.

According to the company’s website, the lagoons are eco-friendly and need to be filled with water only once. They use 100 times less chemicals than a traditional swimming pool and more than 30 times less water than an 18-hole golf course, the website states.

Lagoons typically are deep enough to allow for a variety of water sports and recreational activities, including swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding.

In his email, Singleton said the lagoon will be in a gated community where the lagoon’s upkeep would be included in fees paid to a homeowner’s association.

There is potential for packages, day rates or memberships to the lagoon for nonresidents. However, Singleton in his email said, “Nothing has been outlined or finalized yet.”

Published April 27, 2016

Predatory towing under fire

April 20, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County commissioners want to put the brakes on predatory towing of vehicles.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore brought the matter up in February after receiving complaints from residents who chose to call a taxi or a friend for a ride home after an evening of drinks and dinner.

“Someone is being responsible,” said Moore, who discussed the problem again at the April 12 Pasco County Commission meeting. “They take Uber, or they ride home with a friend. They are not putting our citizens at risk on the road.”

But, Moore said some towing companies sweep through parking lots in the wee hours of the morning, especially on weekends, and haul off any vehicles they find.

Residents wind up paying hefty sums to get their cars back, even though they did the right thing by not driving, Moore said.

On April 26 at 1:30 p.m., a public hearing will be held to consider an amendment to the county’s towing ordinance. The hearing will be in the boardroom of the West Pasco Government Center, at 8731 Citizens Drive, in New Port Richey.

The City of Tampa and Hillsborough County have similar ordinances, and Pinellas County is considering one, county officials said.

The amendment would ban removal of a vehicle between 9 p.m. and noon when parked at an establishment licensed to sell beer, wine and alcohol for consumption on premises. The exception would be if the property owner signs an order permitting the removal of a particular vehicle.

A towing company would be required to have such an order prior to hauling off a vehicle.

“It sounds like a reasonable solution to predatory towing,” said Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader.

Published April 20, 2016

Native plants play starring role in this tour

April 13, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Organizers say this tour is first of its kind in Pasco County

When the Spitlers moved into their home in Land O’ Lakes, its landscape was devoid of native plants and wildlife.

That was before Jonnie Spitler joined the Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and began changing things up.

Jonnie Spitler loves spending time in her garden, because it offers an ever-changing nature show. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Jonnie Spitler loves spending time in her garden, because it offers an ever-changing nature show.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

Now, her yard is among seven sites included in what she calls Pasco County’s first Native Garden Tour.

The tour, organized by the Nature Coast Chapter, gives visitors a chance to see native plants in a variety of landscapes and to see how they support wildlife.

Spitler, president of the chapter, hopes the tour will increase her organization’s membership and will result in more native plants being added to the local landscape.

That’s important, Spitler said, because as more development occurs in Pasco County, steps must be taken to support bees, butterflies, birds and other creatures that rely on native plants.

The Land O’ Lakes woman is wild about her garden.

“When you have a native plant garden — and you walk through your garden — every single day is different. Something else is blooming. Something shows up in a place that you didn’t expect it to show up.

This rosin weed adds a splash of yellow color in Jonnie Spitler’s front yard. Her house is one of seven sites in an upcoming native plant society tour.

“There are native bees, there are some beautiful iridescent green bees that I’ve seen that I never saw before, that have shown up in the yard,” Spitler said.

A walk around her property offers gardening enthusiasts plenty of ideas.

Along the edge of her front yard, she’s planted flea bane, a plant some people view as a weed, while others see as a wildflower.

There’s rosin weed, sporting a bright yellow bloom.

She’s enthusiastic about rosin weed: “It’s a wonderful plant. It grows almost all year long, and it is native and it flowers almost all year.”

Other plants around her front, side and back yards include coontie, coreopsis, firebush, coral honeysuckle and passion vine, to name just a few. There’s a winged elm tree and a fringe tree, too.

Her coral honeysuckle is her pride and joy.

“It brings in the hummingbirds. It can be grown any way — on a pole, on a trellis, allowed to grow as ground cover.

“I think everyone should have a coral honeysuckle somewhere in their yard, on a little pole.”

She’s creative.

Instead of using mulch at the base of a tree, she’s planted wild petunia, a plant she describes as “a lovely, low-growing ground cover.”

Gardener Jonnie Spitler asks: Why put mulch around the base of a tree, when you can use a lovely ground cover such as wild petunia?

Her Simpson’s Stopper, she said, produces beautiful white, aromatic flowers.
“As soon as the white flowers bloom, the bees will be all over it. Then, it has red berries, and birds will land and eat all of the berries,” she said.

She also has a wild lime — a host plant for the giant swallowtail butterfly.

And, bees buzz happily around her sunshine mimosa.

The tour stops offer gardening enthusiasts a chance to see native plants in a variety of settings. One stop, in Odessa, features a wild habitat at a concrete company.

Another showcases a native plant garden in a gated subdivision.

Another is a hideaway location, off the south branch of the Anclote River, which includes a stand of cypress in a variety of woodsy landscapes.

A fourth site features a former orange grove that’s been replaced by 200 native trees.

The fifth site features a wildlife corridor, created in the midst of a subdivision.

Spitler’s garden is the sixth site on the tour.

At the last one is a wildflower nursery, where people can purchase some of the plants they’ve seen during the tour.

Native Garden Tour, presented by the Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society
April 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$10 per person; $20 per carload
Seven stops:

Site 1: Preferred Materials Inc., 11913 State Road 54, Odessa, 33556
Site 2: 1521 Westerham Loop, Trinity, 34655 (Get map from another location. Do not use GPS, it will take you to a residents’-only gate)
Site 3: 17157 Gunlock Road, Lutz, 33558
Site 4: 2133 Henley Road, Lutz, 33558
Site 5: 21006 Lake Thomas Road, Land O’ Lakes 34638
Site 6: 2435 Oasis Drive, Land O’ Lakes, 34639
Site 7: 21930 Carson Drive, Land O’ Lakes, 34639

Tickets can be purchased at any stop, but organizers would prefer them to be purchased at Site 1 on the tour. For more information, call Steve Joyce at (813) 767-3131.

Published April 13, 2016

Task forces consider road choices

April 6, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Two volunteer task forces recommend more in-depth review of a range of traffic solutions for State Road 54 and State Road 56 that include keeping redesigned roads at ground level, building flyovers or a no-build option.

The West Task Force and the East Task Force concluded the first phase of a vision study for the State Road 54 and State Road 56 corridor with meetings on March 28 and March 31, respectively. It was the third meeting for each group, which began working on the issue in September 2015.

Members of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization will review the recommendations from the task forces to determine where to focus their attention in coming months. Each group took 18 alternatives and whittled them to no more than six options, including the no-build choice. There also were add-on alternatives to the list that were considered, such as designs that used frontage and bypass roads.

Vehicles stack up along State Road 56 as they approach and pass by the Interstate 75 interchange, near Tampa Premium Outlets. A vision study is looking at ways to ease congestion as more development pops up along the east/west corridor. (File Photo) — Vehicles stack up along State Road 56 as they approach and pass by the Interstate 75 interchange, near Tampa Premium Outlets. A vision study is looking at ways to ease congestion as more development pops up along the east/west corridor.
(File Photo)

The next phase of a three-part study is expected to drill down on specific transportation alternatives, with greater detail on design and costs of future construction.

The study’s second phase could take months, probably not concluding until late 2017 or 2018.

“This is going to be a long process,” said James Edwards, the county’s transportation planning manager with the MPO. “Something has to be done,” he added.

In addition to overall concerns about the entire corridor, area residents and the East Task Force also concentrated on the State Road 54 and U.S. 41 intersection. About 100,000 vehicles travel through it daily.

A proposal from the Florida Department of Transportation would build a flyover that would be elevated over U.S. 41, and could include toll lanes. The issue has stirred controversy and worries that the Land O’ Lakes community could be split in half, with many businesses being closed or relocated.

State transportation officials recently have said they would wait for the county’s vision study before moving forward on the matter.

The entire State Road 54 and State Road 56 corridor is a high development area, with new homes, shops, restaurants, offices and hotels popping up. Congestion and traffic volume is increasing rapidly.

“Our models tell us we have a problem,” Edwards said. “It’s a corridor with issues. It’s not just one intersection.”

The West Task Force focused on State Road 54 from U.S. 19, in west Pasco, to U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes. The East Task Force reviewed State Road 54/State Road 56, from U.S. 41 to Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, east of Interstate 75.

Task force members were from the MPO’s Citizens Advisory Committee, local chambers of commerce, community leaders, developers or their representatives, and residents from East Pasco and West Pasco.

The groups, each with nine members, will remain in place to aid with upcoming reviews.

Officials, however might make some new appointments to the East Task Force based on spotty attendance by some members.

The task forces opted mostly for the same transportation alternatives, but varied in how they ranked their choices. Elevated express lanes, with public transit express lanes, ranked first in the West Task Force survey, but just barely based on a weighted score. Close behind were survey responses in favor of a modified alternative with at-grade express lanes and express transit lanes.

Most East Task force members wanted six at-grade lanes, with dedicated lanes for public buses and rail. That choice was followed by a preference for the no-build option. The top picks by east members were at the bottom of the west members recommended list.

Both groups also supported an add-on alternative that would consider frontage and bypass roads in intersection design.

“These are all going to be analyzed in phase two,” said Ali Atefi, a county transportation engineer.

The East Task Force meeting also heard a new presentation – not included in the survey – for an at-grade design for State Road 54 and U.S. 41, known as “parallel flow intersection.” Jacksonville-based engineer, Greg Parsons, had pitched his concept to state transportation officials previously. He has a patent on the design.

His specific road design to date has not been built in the United States, though Parsons said a few places, including Baton Rouge, have used partial versions of the design.

The design is based on allowing left turns onto a bypass road, before vehicles reach an intersection. Parson said that allows for a continual flow of traffic.

“I’m really confident my traffic option will work,” Parsons said.

He is equally certain the transportation department’s flyover, or any elevated design, won’t work.

With traffic volume increases, Parsons predicts that by 2040, an elevated roadway would see delays of up to an hour getting through traffic signals, with vehicles backed up for four miles.

According to Parsons, his proposed design would mean delays of one minute and minimum vehicle lineups.

Edwards said that Parson’s concept would be vetted by the state department of transportation.

“It’s a little premature. He’s introducing a concept out there,” he said. “There’s a lot of information that isn’t at the table yet and many issues to be vetted.”

For information about Mobility 2040: A Vision for the SR 54/56 Corridor Phase 1, visit PascoCountyFl.net.

To view Parson’s YouTube presentation, visit GFParsons.com/us41-sr54.

Published April 6, 2016

These women love to soar

March 30, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Whether they’re supporting young girls through scholarships to Space Camp, or honoring women pilots who served in World War II, there’s an organization of women that supports the joy of flying in all of its forms.

The group, which calls itself The Ninety-Nines Inc., got its start in 1929.

It began when some female aviators wanted to have to a long-distance race, said Marilyn Shafer, of Land O’ Lakes, who is a member of the Florida Suncoast Chapter of the group.

“It was supposed to start out in California and go over the mountains,” Shafer said.

Marilyn Shafer is enthralled by the joys of flight. The Land O’ Lakes woman belongs to The Ninety-Nines Inc., an organization that supports women and the joy of flying, in all of its forms. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Marilyn Shafer is enthralled by the joys of flight. The Land O’ Lakes woman belongs to The Ninety-Nines Inc., an organization that supports women and the joy of flying, in all of its forms.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“The men didn’t want the women doing that because it was too dangerous for women to be able to get over mountains safely,” Shafer said.

The women decided: “We’re going to do it anyway.”

Through the race, the women discovered how fantastic it was to have the support of each other, and they decided to form an organization of female aviators.

“They sent out formal letters to every licensed woman pilot in the United States. I want to say there was about 129, and 99 of them replied,” Shafer said.

They tossed around some names.

In the end, they chose to honor the women who wanted to be part of the new organization. So, they called themselves The Ninety-Nines.

Amelia Earhart was the group’s first president.

Over time, the group has spread its wings — substantially. It’s now an international organization with about 4,900 members, Shafer said.

“Our mission is advancement in aviation, through scholarship, education and support, while we keep in mind where we started — our history,” Shafer said.

The Suncoast chapter includes a wide swath of territory, including Pasco County and going from Crystal River to Sarasota, from Ocala over to Winter Haven.

The chapter has roughly 60 members, including commercial pilots, military pilots, general aviation pilots and student pilots.

The group sponsors two scholarships a year for girls, in grades four through six, who would like to attend Space Camp. This year’s deadline for applications is April 2.

The chapter also is involved in other educational activities.

“We just finished a Girl Scout Aviation Day over at Clearwater Air Park. Girl Scouts came in. We had different stations. They got to build an airplane. They got to set off rockets,” Shafer said.

The girls also had a chance to learn about experimental airplanes and to see how an airplane is built.

Besides all of that, they were able to climb into an airplane, put on the headphones and have their photo taken while they were sitting at the controls, Shafer said.

Every year, the chapter honors members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, also known as WASPs, at the annual Fun ‘n Sun International Fly-in & Expo, an event in Lakeland.

The number of WASPs is dwindling, Shafer said.

“They were the women who served during World War II. They flew airplanes, trailing a target for the men on the ground to practice live ammunition training in shooting things out of the sky,” she said.

They delivered newly built airplanes to the East Coast, so men there could use them in Europe,” she said.

“We have very few left. We try to bring each of them that are interested, and a companion, and put them on Sun ‘ N Fun Radio. We have a luncheon for them, where they field questions,” she said.

This year the luncheon is on April 7.

Besides supporting female aviators, members of The Ninety-Nines have been involved in creating air markings — to help pilots in the air to know where they are.

“They divided themselves up into different sections of the United States, and they would climb up on barn roofs and paint the name of the town on the barn roof.

“Or, they would put up something on the ground with a mark, to denote their location, if you saw it from the air,” she said.

They still do that kind of work at airports, she said.

“Our big thing is our compass rose. We will do (paint) a compass rose with the cardinal points, North, East, South and West. It’s painted to magnetic north. It has to be approved. It has to be gridded by the airport authority,” Shafer said.

Shafer’s own fascination with aviation began very early.

“My dad was a Navy pilot and was killed when I was 5. He was taking up a plane for a test, and it crashed on takeoff.

“I’ve always been enthralled with airplanes,” she said.

She wanted to learn how to fly, but usually she didn’t have the time or money, or both, to pursue it.

“It’s not cheap to get a pilot’s license. It’s $5,000 or $6,000, depending on how dedicated you are and how fast you want to get your hours in,” she said.

At age 50, though, she decided to go for it.

She’s delighted she did.

“It’s absolutely wonderful. When you fly, it’s so freeing. You have your headphones on, and yes, you have contact with the ground. But, you don’t have that cellphone ringing, and ‘Oh, I should be doing housework …

“All you do is think about flying,” she said.

She does regret one thing.

She wishes she had joined The Ninety-Nines sooner.

“I thought I had to have my pilot’s license first to be able to join. And, that’s wrong.

“You can join the Ninety-Nines as a student pilot, and there are scholarships available,” Shafer said. “The Amelia Earhart Scholarship from our International Office in Oklahoma — if you get that, it pays for everything.”

More information about The Ninety-Nines Inc., and the Space Camp scholarship, can be obtained on the chapter’s website.

Published March 30, 2016

Animal Services wants higher fees

March 23, 2016 By Kathy Steele

A program to spay and neuter pets, and to educate the public on the value of the surgeries, is facing a financial crunch.

Reserve funds to keep the program afloat could be depleted within three years — unless new revenues are found, and some expenses cut.

Pasco County Animal Services frequently seeks the community’s help to give pets at the shelter a permanent home. (File Photos) — Pasco County Animal Services frequently seeks the community’s help to give pets at the shelter a permanent home.
(File Photos)

Pasco County commissioners got a preview of recommendations to add money to the coffers of Pasco County Animal Services at a March 15 workshop.

Those recommendations include a mandatory $5 fee for a cat license, an increase in an unaltered dog license from $35 to $40, and adoption fees of $85 for small breed dogs and puppies. Kittens younger than four months could cost $55.

Other adoption fees would be unchanged, with dogs costing $70 and cats, $40.

No fee increases are anticipated for the county’s low-income program for reduced-cost sterilizations for qualified applicants. Those rates are $10 for cats and $20 for dogs.

No decisions were made.

Pasco County staff members are expected to bring the issue back to commissioners later.

In some ways, Animal Services is suffering from too much success.

Since 2012, more than 10,000 dogs and cats have been sterilized.

“That’s pretty significant,” said Mike Shumate, the county’s animal services manager.

The county currently contracts with the nonprofit Spay Pasco to manage the spay and education program, as well as the trap-neuter-return program to sterilize feral cats.

That contract expires in February 2017.

Animal services is recommending that the county takes over the programs, estimating potential savings of $18,000 annually.

Over the years, the growing demands for sterilization, and for educational presentations at schools and elsewhere, have strained finances, and drained reserve funds.

Deficit spending for the program is ongoing annually, and the coffers could be empty by 2019.

As an example, the trap-neuter-return program cost about $48,000 in 2013, but two years later cost more than $136,000.

One solution would be to renegotiate contracts Pasco has with area cities, and increase fees for the surgeries.

The current contracts are with Dade City, Zephyrhills, New Port Richey, Port Richey, San Antonio, the town of Saint Leo and Safety Harbor.

Animal services also is recommending that the county adopt an ordinance to codify rules for trap-neuter-return programs.

“We want to make sure people participating in community cat programs have some standards,” Shumate said.

The cat licenses could add about $68,000 to the department’s revenues, based on an estimate of cat-owner households of more than 13,600.

Cat owners can get a license currently, but it is offered by local veterinarians to clients on a voluntary basis.

“We’ve always had the voluntary cat license program,” said Shumate. “It just really hasn’t taken off.”

Pasco is one of only a few counties that doesn’t have mandatory cat licenses.

Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader wondered how the license would be enforced.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano said raising fees too much could have consequences.

“If you do this, are people going to get rid of the cats?” he asked.

It would be a gamble, Shumate said. But, he added, “We’re really asking those of us who can afford it to give the $5.”

Published March 23, 2016