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Saint Leo University

Safety, flexibility are the bywords as college students return

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With COVID-19 safety protocols in place and enrollments either declining or flat, Pasco County’s colleges and universities have welcomed back students for the fall semester.

Whether it was Saint Leo University or the campuses at Pasco-Hernando State College, most courses were offered online to keep class sizes small. Zoom video conferencing technology was utilized for full interactivity, while hybrid/in-person attendance demanded face masks, hand-sanitizing and social distancing.

Students gather with face masks at Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of Renee Gerstein/Saint Leo University)

Seat configurations were redone. Plexiglass shields were installed in high-transaction, high-touch point areas. Some student activities were abandoned, while others were offered virtually.

“The keyword for everyone these days is flexibility,’’ said Saint Leo Senior Vice President Melanie Storms. “Of course, there will be a learning curve. But we’re very comfortable with what we’re doing.’’

After a record-breaking 2019, which featured a 40% enrollment increase, Storms said Saint Leo will have the same number of new students (1,000) as last fall. There is a 30% reduction in new international students and a 10% decrease in students living on the main campus. Enrollment in Saint Leo’s online programs are up 16% over last year.

“We got out early with a plan and were very transparent with our students about what we were planning to do,’’ Storms said. “We often talk (in the administration) and wonder what our enrollment might have been had there not been COVID. We might have seen another pretty substantial increase. We believe the fact that we have held steady is a reflection of how strong our new class is and the flexibility we’re providing them.’’

Saint Leo students could choose their educational method — either hybrid (alternating in Group A and Group B between in-person and Zoom), connected (exclusive Zoom in a scheduled class period with other students) or online.

Regardless of the choice, all Saint Leo students are required to have at least one class fully online, so overall traffic at campus sites could be kept at acceptable levels (maximum 50% of the normal population, maximum of 15 students in all classes).

“It’s a lot to take in, but we have a team solely dedicated to analyzing this and manipulating the boxes,’’ Storms said. “We went through the classrooms and determined where we’d need to be for comfortable occupancy. We backed that into the scheduling software and worked to make sure students would have the right mix and be optimized in their educational experience.

Saint Leo University’s social distancing reminder.

“We’re all doing things we’ve never done before. Many students are just navigating their lives and saying, ‘Sometimes I’m on Zoom, sometimes I’m online, sometimes I’m in the classroom.’ It’s interesting that one-third of our students selected connected (Zoom), but our housing is only down 10%. So we anticipate a lot of students coming to live with us who are (solely) studying in the Zoom capacity. It’s a new world. We’re getting our feet wet and making adjustments on the fly.’’

At Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus, in Wesley Chapel, and its East Campus, in Dade City, course offerings will largely be online or Zoom. There are notable exceptions, particularly in the health sciences programs, where students need access to laboratories and specialized equipment or disciplines, such as welding or law enforcement.

Porter Campus Provost Kevin O’Farrell said his enrollment was down 24% from last fall during a recent snapshot, but he was optimistic about an upswing due to students making last-minute decisions.

“I know the word ‘unprecedented’ has probably been overused, but there’s no other way to describe the challenges faced by all levels of higher education,’’ O’Farrell said. “At the same time, I’ve been so heartened by the level of innovation and ingenuity everybody is using. I always say, ‘Don’t let a crisis go to waste,’ and by that I mean, it’s an opportunity to rethink all of our processes and problem-solving.

“We went to a virtual waiting room for students to utilize time with advisors. I think that’s going to become a standard now. When the pandemic goes away, I think people would rather wait at home to speak with an advisor instead of sitting in the lobby. We’ll go back to some things, but we’ve found better ways to do other things.’’

At the state college’s East Campus, Provost Ed Goolsby said his faculty has adapted well to working remotely, although some prefer occasionally utilizing their on-campus office.

“They can work from there, but they just won’t be teaching on campus for the most part,’’ Goolsby said. “There will always be a place for the face-to-face teaching and I know some students want that level of accountability. We’ll just have to see what the environment is moving forward to the spring semester and beyond.

“I think we have shown — and we have been forced to show — that education can adapt. We have seen the words ‘fluid’ and ‘pivot’ quite a bit, but those are words that describe what we need to do,” he said.

By Joey Johnston

Published August 26, 2020

This teen strikes out batters — and cancer

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Jack Teeter was well on his way to another standout baseball season for Academy at the Lakes (AATL), up until the COVID-19 pandemic canceled virtually all sporting events.

The All-State athlete was leading the team with a .500 batting average through nine games. He hadn’t allowed an earned run in 14 innings pitched.

In the de facto final game of the season on March 12, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound junior left-hander had a no-hitter through four innings in a mercy-rule victory against Lakeside Christian — a contest not officially documented in online stats.

But, before he was racking up extra-base hits and striking out batters this season, Teeter was up against tougher opponent — cancer.

Jack’s parents, Renee and Brian Teeter, made him a custom-made hat, with the phrase, ‘I Struck Out Cancer.’ Jack was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in late September. After five rounds of chemotherapy and 14 targeted doses of radiation, he was pronounced cancer-free in January. (Courtesy of Brian Teeter)

The athlete was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in late September, at 16 years old.

In the months preceding, he had been having ongoing breathing and coughing issues. He had trouble completing routine baseball workouts. Doctors presumed it was a case of allergies and sports-induced asthma.

The full scope of the health issue wasn’t realized until Teeter caught a parasite while volunteering at a church farm in Clearwater during the summer.

His parents initially thought it was a bout of food poisoning, until weight loss and stomach issues persisted for days.

Eventually, his family suspected something more was going on.

Teeter first was taken to urgent care, then St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital for a series of CAT scans and medical tests.

They showed lesions on his spleen and stage III lymphoma — meaning enlarged lymph nodes had spread on both sides of his diaphragm.

The teen immediately started treatment. After five rounds of chemotherapy and 14 targeted doses of radiation, he was pronounced cancer-free in January. He requires checkups every three months.

The initial shock of cancer didn’t fully hit Teeter until he awoke in a hospital bed about a week in.

“It’s surreal, if I had to describe it,” he said. “It was crazy to think that I was only 16 years old, being taken into a hospital because of cancer. It’s like, ‘Wow, this is really happening.’”

Motivation through baseball
As the Teeter family found out from doctors and nurses, Hodgkin lymphoma has a high treatable and survival rate in children.

It’s also something several pro athletes have overcome, including a pair of Chicago Cubs All-Stars in Jon Lester and Anthony Rizzo. Reading those stories helped fuel Teeter’s drive to get back on the field again: “I realized, ‘Oh, I can make it, I can get past this, and it’s something that I can overcome and still make it regardless of what I have.’”

While undergoing treatment, Teeter discovered just how much he cherished the game he began playing when he was just 4 years old.

Before the diagnosis, Teeter enjoyed a sophomore campaign that garnered him Class 2A Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-State honors after leading the Wildcats in hitting (.367 average, 18 hits, 11 RBIs) and pitching (1.48 ERA, 60 strikeouts in 42.2 innings).

He acknowledged that baseball is something he may have taken for granted previously, but now, he said he is “enjoying every moment” that he can.

He observed, “I didn’t realize how much I did miss it, how important it was to me because I kept getting calls from teammates and friends telling me that they miss me and hope I get through it OK. It just made me realize, ‘This is a real passion for me, I am important to the team, and I got to get through it all somehow.’”

In a way, baseball “brought him back to health,” said Renee Teeter, his mother.

“It’s given him motivation, excitement, something for him to look forward to and work toward,” she said.

Cancer also has given the teen a fresh perspective on life.

He makes a point to tell anyone who’ll listen to not take what they have for granted, particularly when it comes to health.

Teeter put it like this: “You never know how bad it can be until you’ve had something like I’ve have. It’s like sometimes when people complain about stupid stuff I just remind them, like, ‘C’mon, you have health, you have something that some people just don’t have and you just kind of need to appreciate it a bit more.’”

That newfound outlook is something his parents have picked up on, too.

“I think he got faced with his mortality a lot younger than most people do, and I think he appreciates what he has a lot more now,” said Brian Teeter, his father.

The experience also made Teeter’s parents even more aware of how capable their son is — in both fighting cancer and playing baseball at a high level again.

“I don’t know if he surprised me, because I always knew he was a very strong kid, but I’ve been impressed by him,” Renee said. “He’s handled this very well and dealt with a lot of things, but he doesn’t know any different.”

She added, “He’s done as best as he could be. He’s a trooper, not a complainer. He does what he has to do.”

Getting healthy, inning by inning
Since the diagnosis, Teeter’s first baseball outing came in mid-November, in a high school tournament at Saint Leo University.

The effects of ongoing treatment were evident. He was bald, thinner and noticeably weaker. His chemo port was still implanted, too.

Still, he mustered up the power to pitch one full inning, getting three outs on 25 or so pitches.

“I wasn’t 100% there,” Teeter said, “but, I was able to throw one inning and it was great to get back out there.”

His parents were emotional, as they watched their son back on the mound.

“I basically cried the entire time,” Teeter’s mother said.

After barely having the strength to walk, Teeter has progressed to running, weightlifting and taking part in regular baseball activities and drills.

Teeter pitched one inning during a fall baseball invitational, as he was still undergoing chemo treatments.

He’s happy to report that he can get through a 30-minute workout without feeling sick.

His hair, beard and strength are back, also.

Now cancer-free, he is focused on becoming a better ballplayer, with aspirations to pitch in college.

He’s leaned on the help and support of coaches like his father, as well as Academy at the Lakes’ pitching coach Tony Saccamanno, and Anthony Telford and Ruben Garcia, of the Florida Baseball Institute, in Tampa.

He’s working to perfect his pitch timing and mechanics, and notch his fastball up to 80 mph, adding to a repertoire that also includes a slider, curveball and changeup.

Teeter’s recovery brings a smile to the face of Academy at the Lakes’ head baseball coach Ken Akins.

“It’s just good to see him healthy — that’s the key,” said Akins. “I don’t think that I’ve ever seen him 100% healthy in the (two seasons) that I’ve been at the Academy, and that’s the part that I’m happy about, that’s the part I’m excited about, is to see him not have to battle anything, and really say, ‘OK, now’s the time to get at it.’”

When Akins first heard of Teeter’s Hodgkin lymphoma last fall, it brought back memories of another former player who had cancer.

“As a head coach, as a parent, as a person, you never want to hear that, especially that a young man at the age of 16 has to deal with something like that,” Akins said. “I think it opened up some eyes on some of the other boys.”

This summer, Teeter will be pitching from time to time for the Carrollwood Gators travel ball team. He’s also looking forward to his senior season because he believes he’ll finally be able to showcase his true skills and best self.

“I just a want a shot to have people see what I can be like when I’m actually healthy,” Teeter said.

He also hopes to inspire other youths battling cancer.

“There is a light at the end of the tunnel,” Teeter said. “You’re going to come back, and you’re going to come back better than you ever were before.”

Published June 03, 2020

Pasco County Schools hits million-meal mark

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Pasco County Schools has delivered more than a million meals to students since school campuses closed.

The district has been serving bagged meals at numerous sites and bus stops to provide meals to students who, in many cases, rely on schools for their only reliable source of food.

State Rep. Randy Maggard, left, and Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore worked with about 50 other volunteers to distribute 33,000 pounds of food at a Farm Share event on May 20 at The Shops at Wiregrass. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)

Since March 23, when the district began its remote feeding efforts, the district has served 1,095,537 meals, according to Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services.

The district has been serving 10 meals per student age 18 and under, at each of its locations, accounting for five days’ worth of meals, including a breakfast and lunch for each day.

Last week, it served an additional five meals because the operation is closed this week.

Next week, it reopens on June 2. Check the district’s website for locations because some of them have been closed and consolidated with other locations.

The district also had three Farm Fresh Pop-ups last week — at Cypress Creek Middle High, Anclote High and Centennial Middle School.

The district’s maintenance team served 2,300 boxes of vegetables, weighing 10 pounds each, at those three sites.

Those aren’t the only efforts to help provide food for children and families in need, during this coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic.

Sunlake High School and Land O’ Lakes High School collected more than 2,000 pounds of food for the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry, in their COVID-19 Quarantine Butterbowl.

An example of the fresh vegetable boxes being distributed through Farm Fresh Pop-ups organized by Pasco County Schools. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

“This week’s Butterbowl has ended, and the winner is the community,” tweeted Ric Mellin, principal at Land O’ Lakes High School. The donations exceeded expectations, he noted.

“Both schools should be proud of what they accomplished,” Mellin wrote.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, State Rep. Randy Maggard and more than 50 volunteers helped distribute 33,000 pounds of food to an estimated 700 cars on May 20 at The Shops at Wiregrass, according to Andy Taylor, Mike Moore’s aide.

A group of Saint Leo University students also were among the volunteers.

Meanwhile, food pantries are helping to put food on the tables of those in need, too.

Make a Difference Inc., will have a Mobile Food Pantry on May 28 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 37722 State Road 52. No identification is required, and the food is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Atonement Lutheran Church, at 29617 State Road 54, has reopened its Helping Hands Food Pantry, and is providing a drive-thru service on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The church is observing social distancing restrictions.

Father and Son Love Ministries, at 21418 Carson Drive in Land O’ Lakes, operates a food pantry on Tuesdays, from noon to 2 p.m.; Fridays, from noon to 3 p.m.; and on Sundays, starting at 12:30 p.m.

Pastor C.J. Johns Sr., stands outside the new location for the Father and Sons Love Ministries, at 21418 Carson Drive, in Land O’ Lakes. The church has a food pantry and has noticed a much broader range of people coming in to pick up food items to help their families during this time of pandemic. (B.C. Manion)

On one recent Friday afternoon, the Land O’ Lakes pantry served 174 people.

The ministry has marked its floor to guide people through its pantry, in order to practice social distancing.

Pastor C.J. Johns Sr., said the pantry is serving a broader range of people because of economic impacts caused by the pandemic. Before, about three-quarters using the food pantry were elderly, but now they make up just about half.

Besides offering the pantry, the church also will make deliveries to people who are unable to come there.

Also, the First Presbyterian Church, at 5510 19th St., in Zephyrhills, is serving a free take-out meal every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the church.

Before heading out to any food pantry, it’s a good idea to call ahead or check the website to get the latest information on the days and hours of operation.

Published May 27, 2020

Chambers adapt to new circumstances

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Small businesses are struggling to reopen amid the uncertainties wrought by the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Chambers of commerce are right there with them on the front line.

They are dealing with staff layoffs in some cases. They’ve been working from home. They have fewer resources.

And, even as chambers begin reopening their offices, the priority is the economic recovery of member businesses.

Ribbon cuttings, for a while, are on hold.

“We had to pivot,” said Hope Kennedy, president of The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

From Day One of the shutdown, there was an urgency to how chambers should respond. They had to rethink what it means to network and provide services that would help businesses stay solvent and resilient.

To be sure, there were phone calls. Lots of them.

But, the new virtual world meant rethinking social media and technology. Zoom meetings and virtual town halls blossomed.

Websites became clearinghouses for grants and forgivable loans, and the latest information businesses needed to survive, and now to reopen, safely.

“We’ve done a lot of individual communicating with our members,” Kennedy said.

Initially, the focus was on helping business owners apply for financial aid, either locally or from the federal Payroll Protection Program.

Chambers partnered with Pasco County and the Pasco Economic Development Council to coordinate efforts to deliver financial aid to distressed businesses and residents.

Kennedy heard from business owners who told her, “if we had not had all this information on our website, they wouldn’t have gotten them.”

As businesses reopen, she added, “We’ve turned into a repository for businesses that need to rehire.”

Chambers are taking one step at a time, as lights turn back on at businesses.

“Cautiously optimistic is what we are,” said Melanie Monson, executive director of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

She believes people are following the protocols to make sure the situation does not get worse.

As the shutdown approached, Monson said her staff checked in with business owners to prepare them.

About 100 business owners needed to create plans to get through the crisis and to guide them once reopened.

“Most are prepared and ready to jump back in,” Monson said. “Are there going to be some who don’t open doors? Absolutely.”

But, she added, “I feel like there is enough help that businesses will recover. It will take a while. We’re optimistic that we’ll make it through the process. It’s not a light switch. It’s going to take a little bit of a process. Businesses in it for the long haul will make it.”

Like the businesses they serve, chambers also are reopening —  slowly and with safety protocols.

The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce started with one person each day at the office, behind a locked door. Visitors needed to wear masks, as did employees. Social distancing was required. Within the next weeks, the chamber anticipates “ramping up a little,” said John Moors, chamber executive director.

During the shutdown, work continued from home to keep business owners up to date on available aid and resources.

Renewal rates on memberships were discounted, and e-blasts and advertising were provided free, Moors said.

“It’s important that we bring connectivity and continue to offer support for our businesses,” he said. “We are resilient, very creative. We’ll figure this thing out.”

Pasco County and cities, such as Dade City, did their part.

Dade City officials, for instance, sent out fliers to 6,000 households about products and services available from area businesses.

The city also relaxed requirements for outdoor seating to allow restaurants to serve more customers.

Dade City, and its chamber, thrive on annual events including a seminar at Saint Leo University and a golf tournament.

The fate of the chamber’s biggest event of the year – the Kumquat Festival – is unclear, even though it typically is held in February.

“We’re not sure it’s going on the same as it has been,” Moors said.

The festival is the chamber’s most reliable fundraising event, bringing thousands into downtown Dade City.

North Tampa Bay chamber scheduled a movie night for May 16, featuring “Jumanji – Next Level” at The Groves at Wesley Chapel. Sponsorships made the showing  possible.

Every chamber is facing budget losses. And, even as chambers helped its members file for financial aid, nothing similar was available for chambers.

If more aid is approved by Congress, Kennedy hopes to see the chambers included this time.

“We’ve been advocates for that from Day One,” she said. She has spoken with Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. “There’s been a little bit of traction the last couple of days,” she said.

Kelly Marsh, member care specialist for The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, agrees that chambers need help, too.

“Fingers crossed on that,” she said.

Last week, the chamber hosted a Zoom meeting for a Land O’ Lakes Brochure Exchange. Owners could virtually promote their services and find out what other owners are doing.

“It hasn’t been as easy to reach people,” said Marsh. Social media and technology are taking on larger roles in networking, she said.

There is a concern especially for the ‘mom and pop’ shops and restaurants, and the toll the long shutdown took on their incomes.

It appears that most people are just “trying to get through it (the pandemic),” she said.

Published May 20, 2020

Finding a way to shine a spotlight on seniors

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During normal times, Marie Joles is busy at her day job, working as a dental hygienist.

And, typically during this time of year, high school seniors are gearing up for their final festivities in high school — prom, awards ceremonies, graduation.

But, the threat of a highly contagious and deadly virus — the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic — has upended life’s ordinary routines.

So, instead of going to work, Joles has been at home. And, instead of gearing up for traditional celebrations and hanging out with friends, seniors have been spending their final school days distance learning.

(Courtesy of Marie Joles)

Joles hated the thought that their senior year would end that way. After all, she remembered how special it was for her family to go through the festivities when her daughter, Samantha, graduated last year.

So, Joles, who is a board member of the Wiregrass Ranch High School’s PTSA and in charge of that group’s social media efforts, asked PTSA president Jennifer Kanyok, if she could do Senior Spotlights on their social media.

Once she got the go-ahead, she began soliciting the spotlights on her personal Facebook page and on the Seven Oaks Facebook page.

Then she reached out by text and email to Robyn White, the school’s principal; David Wilson, the athletic director; and to all of the school coaches.

She also reached out to Bobbie Gebhart, the band booster president, and Jeni Wiseman, the football team mom — to spread the word about the profiles.

The parents submit the photos and blurbs, which Joles tweaks and posts.

In less than 24 hours, she had seven profiles ready.

Now, there are dozens posted.

They convey a sense of pride of the parents who submitted the blurbs about their children.

The profiles offer a glimpse of the lives these members of the Wiregrass Ranch High Class of 2020 have led, and offer insights about their personalities and aspirations.

Some have earned college credits, a college diploma or industry certifications while still in high school. Others have volunteered hundreds of hours.

They’ve been in theatrical performances, in marching band and orchestra, in color guard and cheerleading.

They’ve competed in lacrosse, soccer, swimming, football, track, basketball, weightlifting, basketball and other sports.

They’ve been members of the National Honor Society, the Key Club, and Health Occupations Students of America, to name just a few clubs.

And, they have wide-ranging ambitions.

Some plan to pursue traditional careers, such as nursing, law and business administration. Others aspire to less common paths, such as becoming a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, a makeup specialist or an animator.

Most graduates appear to be heading off to higher education in the Sunshine State, at such colleges as Pasco-Hernando State College, Saint Leo University, the University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida, Florida State University and Stetson University.

Regardless of what they’ve done, or where they’re going — they have made an impression.

One graduate is described as “a beautiful soul and a day of sunshine.”

Another is said to have “a musician’s heart.”

One “has a big heart, is a hard worker and knows how to live in the moment.”

Another has “a wicked sense of humor, amazing spirit and zeal for life.”

Joles said she wanted to do the spotlights because this is a special time for seniors and they deserve recognition.

“I wanted to let them know that we appreciate them,” she said.

Those wishing Joles to post a profile of a Wiregrass Ranch senior can reach out to her at  , or text her at (813) 830-8643.

How are you celebrating your graduating seniors?
The normal ceremonies that mark completion of high school are being postponed until later this year. Meanwhile, families and schools are getting creative in their efforts to help celebrate members of the Class of 2020.

What are you doing? We’d love to know. We’re planning to do a story sharing how families and schools within The Laker/Lutz News are rising to the occasion to make their high school seniors feel special.

Send your submissions to .

Thank you, in advance, for your help.

Published May 06, 2020

Coronavirus could ‘decimate’ state appropriations

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The recently passed $93 billon Florida state budget included some big wins for East Pasco, but District 38 state Rep. Randy Maggard isn’t ready to celebrate or take a victory lap just yet.

That’s because the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will force state lawmakers back to Tallahassee for a special session sometime this summer — and likely result in major spending cuts for budgeted programs and projects due to a shortfall in sales tax revenues.

“This virus, it’s just going to decimate our budget,” Maggard said, during an East Pasco Networking Group virtual conference meeting on April 13.

Randy Maggard represents District 38 in the State House of Representatives (Courtesy of Florida House of Representatives)

The Dade City Republican helped secure a total of $16.6 million in appropriations to be used in projects by Zephyrhills, Lacoochee, Pasco County and Saint Leo University. These projects include intersection improvements, establishing a new robotics program, and septic to sewage for a fast-growing part of our county.

But, the freshman lawmaker admitted he isn’t sure which, if any, of those projects could be on the chopping block a few months from now.

“The problem we’re in, we all don’t know what’s going to change on us,” Maggard said. “All the good things we accomplished may not last, so that’s what we are dealing with at the moment and just watching, because It’s unchartered waters for all of us.”

Aside from budgetary impacts, Maggard outlined other issues that have or could become the result of COVID-19.

One of the more well-documented issues surfaced is the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) having trouble managing the massive volume of people filing for unemployment benefit claims.

Maggard mostly defended the DEO — pointing out the system was never designed or could’ve anticipated such unemployment levels in a state with historically low unemployment.

The lawmaker explained the DEO would typically file more than 10,000 unemployment claims in a month. Now, the department is getting as many or more in a single day.

“I think you’ve gotta put it in perspective a little bit,” Maggard said. “Nobody expected this to happen and where it’s going. Nobody expected it in our unemployment part and in our small businesses and our restaurant businesses. I just feel so bad for them, because it’s devastating…so we’re working tirelessly to try to do the right things to get us through this as quick as possible.”

He added “99% of what I do daily now is trying to help people get unemployment claims and fight it through the system.”

Maggard touched on some other unintended consequences resulting from COVID-19.

He explained statewide stay-at-home orders have led to a rise in domestic violence, and strains on waste management, while consumer stockpiling has exposed a truck driver shortage and product supply chains.

Maggard also raised concerns of the risk of utility and electric companies being overwhelmed as “everybody’s staying home under A/C, 24/7…and we haven’t even hit the summer hot time yet.

“This virus has really compounded a lot of problems and shows us a lot of weaknesses and some of the things we thought we had set up and were foolproof,” he said, “but, the good thing is we’re learning from it, we’re going to get through it…and there’s a light at the end of the end of the tunnel.”

Maggard reflects on first year in office
Voters selected Maggard in a special election last June to become their next representative in District 38 of the Florida House of Representatives — filling the vacancy created by former Rep. Danny Burgess, who accepted an offer from Gov. Ron DeSantis to become the executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Participating in his first 60-day regular legislative session “was absolutely one of the biggest honors of my life,” Maggard said, adding, “to be able to walk out on that chamber floor and realize you’re one of 2,700 people that ever stepped there, it gives you chills.”

Maggard spent 30 years as vice president of Sonny’s Discount Appliances in Dade City. He is a Pasco County native, attended Zephyrhills High School and holds an Associate of Arts degree from Pasco-Hernando Community College (now known as Pasco-Hernando State College).

He underscored the significance of his new role.

“Every time we press a button, we affect 21 million people’s lives,” Maggard said, “and I take that very seriously.”

With that, stopping a bill is oftentimes more important than passing a bill, Maggard said, “because every time something is passed, something is taken away, there’s some kind of freedom affected.”

“I quickly learned that my job up there was to stop things — bad policies — more than it was trying to make good policy, so I did a lot of arguing, debating over that,” he said.

For Maggard, the job overall has been “like drinking from a fire hose”  — in terms of the volume of tasks and issues that come across his desk regularly.

“When you’re running for office, you can’t really get prepared for all the amount of information that you need to use, and the people you need to see, and the work you have to do to be able to vote the right way for your citizens in Pasco,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maggard commended fellow state lawmakers for working together and across the aisle, as both the House and Senate unanimously approved the $93 billion state budget in March.

He highlighted the procurement of $690 million for water protection and restoration of the Everglades; $1.7 billion dollars for hurricane response; and, $17 billion for PreK-12 education funding, including $500 million for teachers pay raises, among others.

“The Republicans and Dems, we do have some differences,” he said, “but, we can sit down and have a breakfast, both sides, and talk and work something out, and I think that’s what good government’s supposed to be.

“We were called not to be politicians, but to be statesmen. I’m arguing for East Pasco, but somewhere in the middle there, we’ve gotta do what’s best for 21 million people.”

Published April 22, 2020

Coronavirus cancels many sports events

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As fears regarding coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) continue to ramp up, so do cancellations on the sports landscape — nationally, regionally and locally.

The FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) announced there have been no final decisions concerning state series or state championship events. Furthermore, spring sport rankings will not be released until further notice. (File)

The unexpected cancellations began on March 10 when The Ivy League, a Division I collegiate athletic conference comprised of private schools in the Northeast, announced the cancellation of its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, and it said it would limit the number of spectators that can attend spring sports — as a direct response to accelerated coronavirus cases across the country.

In short order, many other sports organizations — professional, collegiate, amateur, recreational and youth — followed suit by postponing or canceling events during ensuing days.

The NBA and the NHL League suspended their seasons indefinitely. The MLB canceled spring training games and pushed back the start of the 2020 regular season.

Even WWE’s WrestleMania 36 — scheduled for April 5 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa — has been moved to a “fanless” venue at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

Meanwhile, the NCAA on March 12 canceled Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments (more widely known as March Madness), as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships, in light of ever-evolving news regarding the public health threat of COVID-19.

In a similar move, the NJCAA (National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association) on March 16 canceled all upcoming basketball championships, as well as spring competition, effective immediately.

The NCAA and NJCAA decisions means that Saint Leo University (Division II NCAA) and Pasco-Hernando State College (Division II NJCAA) have canceled the remainder of the spring season, as well as all activities for all fall, winter and spring sports until further notice.

The Saint Leo athletic department, in a release, said: “The health, safety and welfare of all of our staff and student-athletes is paramount. Taking these precautions now will help keep our student-athletes healthy so they can successfully complete their academic coursework and resume competition in Fall 2020.”

In accordance with the NCAA, Saint Leo University has canceled the remainder of the spring sports season, affecting such sports as softball. Meanwhile, all activities for all fall, winter and spring sports have been suspended until further notice. (File)

Postponements and cancellations also have affected high school sports.

All athletics activities at Hillsborough and Pasco county public schools are canceled until at least April 15, as part of a statewide directive from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Academy at the Lakes has canceled all sporting events, including games and practices, through at least March 29. Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School also has canceled athletic practices, games and non-school functions until at least April 15.

The FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) also announced there have been no final decisions concerning state series or state championship events. Furthermore, spring sport rankings will not be released until further notice.

“As we receive information from state authorities and health departments, the FHSAA will continue to make decisions for each sport individually, moving forward,” the statewide athletics organization said, in a release.

Many local youth and adult sports leagues have postponed or canceled their spring seasons, too.

Pasco County Parks announced all events, activities, youth and adult sports leagues, field reservations and so on have been canceled until at least May 1.

County parks will continue to remain open for day-use only, however recreation complexes and community centers remain closed until further notice. That includes the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, Heritage Park Community Center, James Irvin Community Center, Odessa Community Center, among others.

Likewise, Hillsborough County recreation centers are closed and athletic activities have been canceled until at least April 13, but Hillsborough County parks are open.

Meantime, large sports leagues put on by local churches also have been postponed or shuttered.

Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz has canceled the entire spring season for youth baseball, youth softball and men’s softball. Pending developments with the coronavirus, the church plans to ramp up sports registration on July 1 for its fall youth soccer and adult coed soccer leagues.

Grace Family Church, which has campuses in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, has postponed its basketball, kickball and softball leagues, until further notice.

Published March 25, 2020

Coronavirus poses dangers, disrupts daily life

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This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. (Courtesy of the CDC)

The ever-evolving threat posed by coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has forced schools across Florida to shut down, blocked visitors from nursing homes, caused wide-ranging travel and event cancellations, and stripped grocery aisles — especially of toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

Locally, parents of students in the Pasco and Hillsborough county school districts are bracing to prepare for an extended state-ordered spring break.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg also closed schools and early childhood centers through March 20. The diocese already had scheduled March 16 and March 17 as days off for students. Virtual learning will be conducted March 16 through March 20, according to a Diocese news release.

The additional school closures have left thousands of families scrambling to arrange child care, although the impact may be lessened to some degree as many companies are asking workers to work at home, if possible.

The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic; President Donald Trump has declared a national state of emergency. Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state emergency, and Hillsborough and Pasco counties have declared local states of emergency.

As of the morning of March 16, there had been four deaths reported in Florida linked to COVID-19, according to the Florida Health Department, which is the lead agency responding to the threat.

The health department also reported 684 negative test results and 514 pending tests. Also, there were 442 people being monitored for the virus and 1,573 had been monitored.

Health officials are trying to limit the spread of the virus — to avoid overloading hospitals — by urging people to avoid large crowds and wash their hands frequently.

The virus can spread person to person, through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when a person coughs or sneezes. The droplets may land on objects and surfaces.

Other people may contract COVID-19 by touching these objects or surface, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath — and may appear as early as two days or as many as 14 days after exposure.

Most people recover from COVID-19 without requiring special treatment, but people with underlying medical conditions are at greater risk.

Impacts from the virus are being felt from Wall Street to Main Street. The stock market has plunged repeatedly, and local businesses are losing revenues because of the uncertainty created by the pandemic.

Huge events have been cancelled or postponed.

On the local front, cancellations include:

  • The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s Land O’ Lakes Music Festival, March 21
  • Dog Days in Dade City, March 21
  • The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce/Pasco-Hernando State College Distinguished Women’s Leadership Breakfast, March 24
  • The fourth annual Family Friendly Summer Camp Expo (Pasco/New Tampa), March 28
  • The Taste of North Tampa Bay, March 29
  • The North Tampa Bay Chamber monthly membership breakfast, April 7
  • The North Tampa Bay Chamber membership luncheon, April 8
  • All SCORE chapters across the country have suspended in-person events, including mentoring sessions and workshops, until further notice.

Attractions also have temporarily ceased operations, including Disney World and a number of regional venues. They include:

  • ZooTampa, through March 29.
  • Tampa Museum of Art, through March 29
  • The Glazer Children’s Museum, through March 29
  • Henry B. Plant Museum, through March 29
  • The Florida Aquarium, through March 29
  • The Museum of Science and Industry, through March 29
  • Tampa Theatre, through March 31

The Knights of Columbus, at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, in Land O’ Lakes, have cancelled until further notice, their meetings, their Lenten Fish Frys, their doughnuts on Sunday and soccer, both games and concessions.

The Savage Race, which was set for March 14 and March 15, at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City, was postponed.

And, a Spring Market Day, planned for March 21 at the Old Lutz School, was cancelled because vendors were concerned about setting up, because of the threat of COVID-19.

Both the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce and North Tampa Chamber have announced they would be holding off on varied activities, pending future decisions, in light of the evolving nature of the coronavirus threat.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has been keeping parents and staff informed about the district’s response to the ever-changing landscape of the COVID-19 threat through a series of videos posted on the district’s website.

“I know that everyone remains concerned about the possibility of an outbreak,” Browning said, and the district is taking steps to attempt to limit the spread.

It also has conducted a brief phone survey to evaluate its capacity to provide distance learning, the superintendent said, noting the district needs to be prepared.

The district also has announced a plan to provide meals to students at seven designated sites, beginning on March 23. The food will be offered on a drive-thru basis at specific sites. The pre-packaged meals are for children under 18 years old and will include lunch as well as breakfast for the next day. Information about the program can be obtained by going to the school district’s website, Pasco.k12.fl.us, and click on the coronavirus information link.

Impacts also are being felt by colleges.

Schools within the state’s university system were instructed to make plans to transition to remote instruction as soon as possible.

Saint Leo University suspended classes for its university campus students, in St. Leo, from March 16 to March 20, to allow its faculty to prepare to deliver all classes online beginning March 23, according to a university news release.

All residential students are being asked to return to their permanent residence following spring break, rather than returning to campus and to remain at home during this period of online instruction.

The university also has suspended all fall and winter sports, indefinitely. And, is canceling all large, group events.

The virus is affecting churches, too.

Concerns about potential spread of the virus also prompted the Diocese of St. Petersburg to take these steps, effective March 12, until further notice:

  • End the distribution of communal wine from a common cup
  • Remove Holy Water fonts, including the baptismal font
  • Avoid physical contact, including during the Sign of Peace

Bishop Gregory Parkes also granted dispensation from Sunday Mass in the Saint Petersburg Diocese through the end of March, to those wishing to avoid large gatherings.

Prevent the spread
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

  • Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily.

Source: Florida Department of Health

For the latest updates on COVID-19, visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Published March 18, 2020

78 floors up, blind man and guide dog survive 9/11

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Michael Hingson felt a sense of calmness as he walked floor by floor — exiting the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

Hingson has been blind since birth and he, with his former guide dog, Roselle, had to work as a team to find their way to safety.

Hingson, the author of “Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog and the Triumph of Trust,” recently shared his story at Saint Leo University.

Michael Hingson has been blind all his life and is a 9/11 survivor. He shared his life story at Saint Leo University, on Feb. 19. (Mary Rathman)

He was accompanied by his current guide dog, Alamo.

During his talk, Hingson detailed what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, but also shared experiences from throughout his life that gave him the instincts to survive that devastating day.

On 9/11, Hingson said he and his business partner, David Frank, were working for the Artecon corporation on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower.

As they prepared for an important presentation, Hingson said, “suddenly we heard a muffled explosion, the building shook.

“Then it began to tip. We moved about 20 feet, I think,” he said.

Frank began shouting for everyone to leave the office, imploring Hingson to come along.

Hingson, and his guide dog, Roselle, evacuated with everyone.

Hingson remained calm and tried to assure Frank to do the same.

He said he was able to contain his emotions because he previously had developed a mindset that kicked in automatically.

Before the day of the attacks, he said: “I kept thinking almost every day I went in, ‘What if there’s an emergency today? What do I do?’

So, when he had to suddenly leave the building, he said, “I was prepared.”

As people descended the stairs, Hingson noticed a familiar smell – jet fuel.

He had not yet learned that a commercial airplane had slammed into the North Tower, just floors above his office.

The South Tower had already been hit by a second plane when Hingson and others exited from the North Tower.

Alamo is the guide dog for Michael Hingson, who is blind. The canine tagged along as Hingson shared his life story at Saint Leo University.

He and his business partner were still in the vicinity when the South Tower began collapsing.

“As I started to run, the first thought I had in my brain was: ‘God I can’t believe that you got us out of a building just to have it fall on us.’

“I heard a voice that said, ‘Don’t worry about what you can’t control. Focus on running with Roselle and the rest will take care of its self.’”

With the assistance of his guide dog, Hingson found shelter in a subway station — where he found others who had gone underground to keep safe.

They were escorted out by a police officer and Hingson was later reunited with his wife, Karen.

Hingson told the audience that his ability to navigate through the world — even though he is blind — began when he was just a little boy.

“I was born two months premature and was put in an incubator,” Hingson said, explaining that a pure oxygen environment can cause blindness.

When he was four months old, his aunt noticed he wasn’t reacting to sunlight.

The doctor confirmed the baby was blind and said nothing could be done.

The doctor went on to tell Hingson’s parents that the infant wouldn’t amount to anything and should be placed in a special home.

But, his parents didn’t accept that prediction.

They believed their son could live a productive and successful life.

Their attitude was: “Blindness isn’t going to be the problem,” Hingson said, and that made all of the difference.

Stephen Spelman, left, and Michael Hingson are 9/11 survivors who escaped Ground Zero in New York. As a blind man, Hingson was able to exit the North Tower of the World Trade Center with the help of his dog, Roselle.

When he was 5, the family moved from Chicago to California.

He began to learn braille in kindergarten and his parents got him a braille writing machine.

They also gave him freedom to go outdoors, like his older brother, Ellery.

Even though Hingson was blind, he frequently walked to the candy store, and rode his bike on his own, he recalled.

“It wasn’t even scary for me,” he said. “What it did teach me though, was how to be aware of my surroundings.”

Neighbors, however, would express concern about his safety.

But, Hingson said he didn’t want to be treated differently from other kids.

The issue, Hingson said, is people’s misconception that “eyesight is the only game in town.”

When he was 14, he received his first guide dog – a golden retriever.

He developed an interest for electronics and magnetism, which led to a master’s degree in physics, at the University of California-Irvine.

During his career, he sold machines that could read print to the blind.

He also sold data entry machines to companies, lawyers and banks, too.

He joined The National Federation of the Blind, advocating for civil rights.

And, he married.

While working for the Artecon corporation, Hingson was transferred to New York where he opened up another branch.

That is why he was working in the North Tower of the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, when it was struck by a commercial airliner that had been hijacked by terrorists.

The 9/11 terror attack involved a total of four commercial airliners. Two were crashed into the Twin Towers, another was crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth never reached its intended target because it was forced down by its crew and passengers in a field outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The 9/11 terrorist attacks caused a total of 2,977 fatalities.

But, Hingson and his guide dog, Roselle, made it out.

Hingson appreciates the teamwork between him and Roselle that led to their survival. He thinks so highly of Roselle, who has since died, that he dedicated his book to the dog.

“When I work with a guide dog, it’s all about creating a team. It’s all about all of us working together to accomplish a task,” said Hingson, who travels across the country, to share his experiences.

While he appreciates the bond that he has shared with his guide dogs, Hingson reminded the crowd that people can experience special bonds, too.

“We each have to show each other how we add value to what the other does,” Hingson said.

Published March 4, 2020

Saint Leo University to lease 176-unit apartment complex

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Since welcoming its largest incoming class ever last fall — and anticipating continued growth —Saint Leo University will lease the Sweetwater apartment complex in Dade City, to serve as residential housing for upperclassman and graduate level students.

In August, Saint Leo will begin leasing all 176 units on the property owned by Beachwold Residential LLC, which sits about 2 miles northeast of the main university campus along State Road 52. The planned agreement was first reported by Bay News 9.

Facing growing enrollment, Saint Leo University this fall will begin leasing the nearby 176-unit Sweetwater apartment complex in Dade City. Leases will not be renewed for Sweetwater’s non-student residents. (Kevin Weiss)

The university’s decision means that residents living at the property now — except for Saint Leo students — will need to move, and that has sparked criticism of the university by some of the current tenants.

When Saint Leo takes over, Sweetwater will become more than just run-of-the mill residence halls.

In an interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Saint Leo vice president of student affairs Dr. Jen Shaw said the property will be transformed into a “career-focused learning community,” whereby its clubhouse/community center will regularly host job fairs, workshops, alumni panels and so on. In addition to hosting employers to recruit Saint Leo students, workshops will have themes on job interviewing skills, salary negotiation, social media branding and more.

Shaw added that Saint Leo student activities staff will organize events at Sweetwater so students there “feel like they’re getting the same residential experience as students (on campus).”

Saint Leo will make a number of upgrades to the property, such as installing more security cameras, 24/7 security, card-only gate access, daily bus shuttles to campus, new, fully furnished living quarters and more.

“It’s a real neat, living, learning experience for students. We’re excited about it,” Shaw said.

The decision to lease the property comes as Saint Leo enters a student housing crunch.

The university this past fall welcomed its largest incoming group of students in the university’s 130-year history (1,001 new students). The school now has about 2,100 students on campus, plus more than 700 faculty and staff.

The record-breaking incoming class filled all of the university’s available on-campus housing this year, Shaw said. Since then, officials have scrambled to find more housing opportunities for students, looking at nearby hotels and other properties. She noted it takes about two years to build new on-campus residence halls, something she said the university plans to move forward with this summer.

After vetting several other housing options for the near-term, Shaw said leasing Sweetwater was “the best one for our students.”

“We can keep them safe and engaged, and it’s super close-by,” she said.

Sweetwater residents forced to move
As a result of Saint Leo’s action, apartment management will not renew leases for non-student residents.

Sweetwater resident Kori Warriner received a notice in her door a few weeks ago that informed her of the impending arrangement.

Warriner said she hadn’t intended to renew her lease, but she said many of her friends who have lived at Sweetwater for a long time did not plan to move, and there are others who are just starting families with newborns on the way — including one that just moved into the complex less than two months ago.

Warriner described the entire situation as “really rotten and wrong” and added that “a huge injustice (is) being done.”

“I can deal with it, but all these other people are going to be really, really put out,” she said.

That’s how Blane and Bronwyn McCullough feel. They’ve lived at the apartment complex almost six years and planned to stay a couple more years until retirement.

Instead, they have to move when their lease ends in September.

Bronwyn called that “really heinously unfair.”

“Everybody feels like the rug has been pulled out from under them,” she said. “I’m more disappointed than anything.”

Bronwyn said there’s a lack of available housing in Dade City, where her husband Blane works and where her mother is on home hospice care.

“Are we supposed to move to Wesley Chapel, New Tampa?,” Bronwyn questioned. “We’re Dade City people. There’s no other places in Dade City for us to rent from.”

Sweetwater residents question why Saint Leo had to take on such an influx of students, knowing it didn’t have sufficient available on-campus housing.

They suggest the university should have planned better — building additional student dorms before increasing enrollment.

Warriner put it like this: “They’ve got acres and acres and acres of land. They can wait two years (to enroll more students) for new dorms to be built. They do not need to kick a whole bunch of people out, with very little notice, that have lived (at Sweetwater) for years and planned to probably stay there forever.”

It’s a sentiment Saint Leo University sophomore Jalyssa Grajales sides with.

The student doesn’t live at Sweetwater, but thinks her university should have leased a portion of the Sweetwater complex to begin with, instead of the entire property.

Grajales said she feels bad for the families who live at the apartment complex, noting that’s their home and they don’t want to be “kicked out” to make room “for a bunch of students.”

Shaw said she understands Sweetwater residents’ frustration, but emphasized Saint Leo would not deny the opportunity to increase its enrollment like it has this year — which included a diverse population of different races, out-of-state and international students, first generation college students and so on.

“As an institution of higher learning and in the Benedictine tradition, we want to educate everybody that we can educate,” Shaw said.

She also observed: “I don’t know if we’d ever not grow if we had the opportunity to grow.”

The university official also said the leasing arrangement makes sense from a financial standpoint, pointing out some of Saint Leo’s values are “just to be fiscally responsible and just be smart about our students’ time and their safety.”

Shaw also said that Saint Leo’s growth has a positive impact on the area, as students commit to “hundreds of thousands of hours” of community service. There’s a lot of community people that come and benefit from our campus,” she said.

The university also has asked a Realtor it works with to assist Sweetwater residents to find new apartments or homes to rent in the area. Sweetwater’s community manager also has begun to assist with housing opportunities in Zephyrhills and along State Road 54, Shaw said.

Published February 26, 2020