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We pause, and remember (Part Two)

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Watching the Twin Towers, from across the Hudson
On Sept. 11, 2001, I was on the 26th floor of my office building on the Jersey side of the Hudson River, right across from the World Trade Center.

Linda Hyer’s husband, William Hyer, captured this image of a cross formed by steel beams at the World Trade Center site, within months of the terrorist attacks. (Courtesy of William Hyer)

I was aware, from a phone call, of the first plane hitting the Tower, coming from the East Side of New York.

I couldn’t see that side of the tower, so I went back to work.

Shortly thereafter, my office mate got up and looked out the window and said, “I see a ring of fire.”

I couldn’t imagine what she meant, so I got up and looked.

Literally a ring of fire encased the tower on the upper floors.

By this time, word had spread throughout our floor and everyone came to the bank of windows on the Hudson River side of the building.

Suddenly a deafening roar was heard coming from around the area of the Statue of Liberty.

As we watched, stunned, the second plane came around and banked it wings and slammed into the second tower.

Fire balls and debris erupted from the tower and our building shook on its foundation.

For months after the attack, I witnessed smoke and fire coming from the pit where the Twin Towers once stood.

-Linda Hyer, Land O Lakes

He was safe, but what about his sister?
I was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, a crew chief on the C130Es at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, at the time.

I was on the flight line, with my rear-end hanging out of the side window of a C130, sitting on the ledge leaning out and over — cleaning windows for that morning’s sortie when the expeditor truck pulls up.

He yells out of his truck, “SHUT ‘ER DOWN, GET INSIDE ASAP!”

After hearing the command, the launch crew and I looked at each other puzzled that we should get a flight crew showing up soon. He yelled again. So we did.

We gathered our tools, made it inside and saw a crowd gathered around the breakroom television.

Almost immediately, I felt tension in the room.

I quickly learned why.

After watching for a few minutes, many of us were released to go home on stand-by.

After the initial shock, my thoughts turned to my sister.

She had been working in the CIA as an analyst for many years.

At the time I did not know exactly what she was doing, only that it had to do with terrorism.

I was getting concerned that the CIA headquarters building might be next.

After the fact, I learned that my sister and some of her coworkers had been tracking the rise of Bin Laden and al-Qaida as a terrorist organization.

The warnings were sent up about a possible attack, but were ignored because they could not get the specifics. Bin Laden had a good grip on keeping his plans secret.

I was safe. My sister though — I was fearful.

As I watched the second tower get hit on television, I was still thinking of my sister.

I am sure she had watched it, too.

Thinking back now and knowing much more, I cannot fathom the emotions she must have felt at the time.

I really had no fear of our base coming under attack, but the CIA headquarters, certainly.

I obviously never got through to her that day. There was no communication from her for a couple of days.

I have no lasting effects, such as PTSD.

My deployments were easy because of my job.

My sister, however, left the agency and now teaches, lectures on terrorism and extremism.

I retired after 24 years and am now working on a master’s degree for clinical mental health counseling.

I want to help those who did go through that which I escaped.

-Patrick Storer, Land O’ Lakes

At the heart doctor’s office
We were living in Fort Lauderdale at the time, the home of many New York transplants.

That morning, while in my husband Dave’s cardiologist’s office, we saw the news about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. Our eyes were still glued to the TV when the second plane hit.

Firefighter Michael Paul Ragusa, who perished on Sept. 11, 2001, was the brother of Lillian Cucuzza’s colleague. She and some business colleagues paid tribute to him and others, at the memorials. (Courtesy of Lillian Cucuzza)

Everyone gasped.

We knew, immediately, that we were under attack.

I asked the receptionist to turn the TV off so that their patients would not have heart events right there — because many had relatives still living and working in Manhattan.

When we got home from the doctor’s office, we were horrified and fell to our knees crying and praying as we watched the Twin Towers collapse.

One of my associate company’s buildings, 7 World Trade Center, also collapsed a few hours later — as collateral damage from the towers falling.

Many of my friends who worked there literally had to carry some employees to safety because they were frozen, in shock, under their desks because of what happened next door at the Twin Towers.

We later learned that the brother of one of those employees, Michael Ragusa, was among the firefighters who perished that day.

In March 2002, I had the opportunity to visit New York City on a business trip.

My business colleagues and I went to the site of the memorial pool and the new One World Trade Center that was being built.

It was a somber and humble visit.

I cried all day after seeing the name of Michael Ragusa at the memorial pool. He had been a firefighter in Engine Company 279.

Sept. 11, 2001 was one of America’s saddest days.

We have mourned for 20 years, and we will never forget that day.

-Lillian Cucuzza, Land O’ Lakes

Taking in 9/11 events, from Japan
On Sept. 11, 2001, my husband, John, and I were working in Japan as part of a Sister City program.

Because of the time difference, we watched events unfold in the evening, live on television.

I remember turning on the television and watching the replay of the first tower being hit, and thinking it looked like a Bruce Willis movie. And then the extraordinary shock of what was happening washed over us, while watching the second tower hit in real time.

The next morning, we went to work, representing the United States, on a paddlewheel, called the Michigan Boat.

We’re musicians who worked alongside U.S. students, representing the American experience. As we walked there, we were first afraid to set out on a boat that now felt like a target.

Then, we were both relieved, and upset, to see that the company had removed all of the American flags.

I can’t imagine ever feeling as patriotic or American as one does when representing their country abroad.

We stood on a stage, while the students lined up in front of us to greet the now nonexistent guests.

They had fear clearly etched on their faces and waited for us to start.

And so, we sang a song out of character for us.

John Denver and patriotic music wasn’t what felt right.

Instead, we played, “I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down” (Tubthumping by the British band Chumbawamba).

And, we saw the Americans we knew again, as the fear left their faces and we all rallied defiantly.

The show began an hour into the cruise and, as we stepped onto the stage, we saw the only guests on the boat, and they all appeared to be from the Middle East.

You can imagine how long that 30-minute show felt, and also our relief when afterward we met the United Nations ambassadors who had come on the boat as a show of support for our country.

It was an immediate reminder that the world is a community — and not everyone is suspect, even in what feels like the worst of times.

-Sheri Thrasher, Wesley Chapel

That’s strange, no calls are coming in
I was working at the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) headquarters in Brooklyn on 9/11/01, as a desktop technician, and living in Bayport, Long Island.

My job was to take calls and assist the firefighters in the firehouses with any computer issues they were having.

On a typical day, the calls came in almost constantly.

Most of the firefighters weren’t very tech-savvy.

Tania Marziano holds a photograph of her friend Deanna Micciulli Galante, who was eight months pregnant when she perished during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. She worked at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 106th floor. (Courtesy of Tania Marziano)

On 9/11/01, I took the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to work, and I remember it being a nice Tuesday morning.

When I got to the office, there were no calls coming in, which was very odd.

I asked my coworker Keith if he knew if we were having phone issues.

We started calling around to other departments.

That’s when we found out that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center buildings.

We looked online and we saw what looked like a small commuter plane had hit one of the buildings.

I said to Keith, “I hope nobody died in the building.”

Little did I know what was to come.

After the second plane hit, it became clear we were under attack.

We realized the reason our phones weren’t ringing was because every firefighter we worked with was at the Trade Center.

We were evacuated from our building because “911” calls came into that building and officials felt that if we were under attack, and terrorists wanted to immobilize the city, the building where all the “911” calls came in might be a target.

I couldn’t go home because all trains were stopped.

My coworkers and I found a restaurant where we could sit and watch the news.

That’s when I found out about the Pentagon and Pennsylvania attacks.

I was afraid I was never going home. I thought: “I might die today.”

Hours had passed, and we watched people coming into the restaurant that had just walked over from Manhattan on the Brooklyn Bridge.

They were covered in debris and they all looked shocked.

Many were crying.

When train service was finally restored, I rode on the train with these people.

They were crying because they couldn’t reach their family, friends and/or coworkers.

It was complete devastation.

When I got home, I called my mom to ask her if all of our family members that worked in Manhattan were accounted for and when she said, yes, I was so relieved.

A couple days later I found out that my friend — Deanna Micciulli Galante — who I had grown up with, was missing.

She worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 106th floor. She was eight months pregnant with her first baby (Matthew) and was two weeks away from maternity leave.

-Tania Marziano, Land O’ Lakes

Juan Bonilla and his coworkers were watching when an airplane struck the second tower of the World Trade Center. (Courtesy of Juan Bonilla)

New Jersey HUD workers ordered to evacuate their building
On 9/11, 2001, I was working at the office of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, at One Newark Center Building in Newark, New Jersey.

About 9:10 a.m., a commotion started on the 12th floor.

Several coworkers started to run toward the windows to watch one of the World Trade towers being destroyed by the fire.

When I asked a coworker what was going on, he told me that he’d heard on the radio that a tower at the World Trade Center was accidentally hit by an airplane.

After watching the fire at the first tower for a while, with several coworkers, we saw an airplane coming around the second tower and hitting it — causing an explosion and another fire.

Immediately we determined that the striking of both towers by planes was no accident.

I called administration for instructions on how to handle this emergency.

They instructed me that I had to immediately leave the building, with all my coworkers and wait for instructions for when to return to work.

–Juan Bonilla, Zephyrhills

News announced on Navy ship’s PA system
I was in the Navy, on the way to the Persian Gulf.

I had a late watch, so I was trying to get some sleep.

But the captain kept coming over the PA system, talking about a plane hitting the World Trade Center.

When I went on watch at 12:45 in the morning, I asked what was this about a plane hitting the World Trade Center.

They showed me the pictures. The next day we topped off our gas tanks. And, as we pulled away from the replenishment ship, we played “We’re Not Gonna Take It” — which I had provided for the occasion.

-Paul Snider, Land O’ Lakes

Published September 15, 2021

Honoring the 20th anniversary of a tragic day in America

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Thirty-two-year-old Tim Read, of Wesley Chapel, is flanked by his black Labrador retriever, Shadow, and his wife, Anhdu Read. The veteran served in Afghanistan twice and received two Purple Hearts after losing his leg to an improvised explosive device, while on patrol. Shadow is a retired bomb dog the Reads adopted. (Fred Bellet)

Hundreds turned out for a special event held to honor those who perished on Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes, leading to the deaths of 2,977 killed in the attacks, as well as the 19 hijackers.

The planes were crashed into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center, and into the Pentagon. A fourth was headed toward Washington D.C., when passengers on the airplane overtook the hijackers, crashing the plane into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon’s 1-mile Memorial Run/Walk was held on the morning of Sept. 11, at the Tampa Premium Outlets. It was followed by a ceremony, which began at 8:46 a.m. — memorializing the time when the North Tower of the World Trade Center was struck.

Two plaques also were unveiled that day, recognizing the sacrifices of Deputy Michael Magli, of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and Master Police Officer Jesse Madsen, of the Tampa Police Department, who both died in the line of duty. The officers were Pasco residents.

The event also included the unveiling of a new wall to remember those who have served and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the nation’s armed forces.

Proceeds raised by the walk/run go to support scholarships for graduates from Pasco County high-schoolers, who intend to pursue careers as first responders.

To see the video of the full ceremony, visit https://www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofwesleychapel/videos/203479018382523

Published September 15, 2021

Diana Marcum, of Wesley Chapel, holds her hand over her heart, as she holds her 5-month-old dachshund, Chikuis, during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner. Diana was there with her husband, Reyes Marcum.
Looking over the new mural dedicated to our fallen heroes, U.S. Army Colonel Peter Quinn, left, shows it to World War II Veteran, Tom Dempsey, right. The new unveiled mural was dedicated to the memories of those who gave some and some who gave all. It’s in the food court area at Tampa Premium Outlets.
There were many somber moments during the 9/11 Memorial held at The Tampa Premium Outlets. Here, from left, are Fainery Spelman, 12-year-old Matthew Spelman, 9/11 responder Stephen Spelman (a former New York City fire department EMT) and Chris Casella (a former police officer with the Queen’s South Taskforce). Casella, a witness to the 9/11 tragedy, was emcee at a 20th anniversary remembrance event on the morning of Sept. 11, at Tampa Premium Outlets.

 

Marine Cpl. Ryan King, of Tampa, taps the bell signifying times on 9/11 when America was attacked. Chris Casella assists in the task. The bell was tapped once at various times for a moment of silence, for those who gave their lives to save others.
Some walkers and runners begin their trek outdoors, at the Tampa Premium Outlets. There were 240 registered participants.
Madison Lembo, of Land O’ Lakes, listens to Gary Bradford, of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, during remarks by dignitaries and guest speakers.
Pasco County Fire Rescue provided a 15-by-30 American flag for the event.
Looking over the new mural dedicated to our fallen heroes, U.S. Army Colonel Peter Quinn, left, shows it to World War II Veteran, Tom Dempsey, right. The new unveiled mural was dedicated to the memories of those who gave some and some who gave all. It’s in the food court area at Tampa Premium Outlets.

Crews getting back at it, on Diverging Diamond interchange

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Work on the diverging diamond project at State Road 56 and Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel was set to resume on Sept. 13, according to officials from the Florida Department of Transportation.

That news was part of an update released by Kris Carson, department spokeswoman for FDOT’S District 7 office.

Work was halted in June, when D.A.B. Constructors notified FDOT that it was demobilizing from the project. The state transportation department then defaulted D.A.B., on July 1.

D.A.B. Contractors had seven projects in FDOT District 7, including three in Pasco County. After D.A.B. was defaulted on the diverging diamond project, it self-defaulted on the other Pasco projects, which are on State Road 52 and State Road 54.

The surety company must now complete those projects.

Carson provided a Sept. 10 update regarding the status of the projects.

Diverging Diamond
The completion contract has been executed by Superior Construction and is with the surety for final signatures.

Superior Construction has been given a Notice to Proceed from the surety, and contract work is expected to recommence on Sept. 13.

Surveyors have been onsite gathering survey information to support the proposed Sept. 13 start date.

The interim maintenance contractor (DBI) performed mowing in the two ponds on the south side of State Road 56. Slope mowing was completed on the northeast quadrant adjacent to the northbound Interstate 75 on-ramp.

Slope mowing is currently underway on the interior slopes of the southbound on- and off-ramps.

A project-wide litter pickup cycle was completed.

State Road 52, from Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41
The surety received bids from prospective completion contractors on Sept. 9, and the bids are being evaluated.

The FDOT performed pothole and silt fence repairs, to address urgent needs.

An upcoming mowing cycle is planned to start in two weeks.

State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road
The surety put out an advertisement for bids on Sept. 9, with bids expected to be received the week of Sept. 23.

The FDOT’s maintenance crews have repaired potholes throughout the project and at the following side streets and driveways: McDonald’s driveway, Lado Drive, Loury Drive, Ashton Oaks Boulevard and Foxwood Boulevard.

Drop-offs have been addressed project-wide by inspection staff and maintenance crews.

The FDOT’s asphalt maintenance contractor is schedule to pave the previously listed side streets and driveways beginning Sept. 16.

Traffic markings maintenance has been completed at Meadow Pointe Boulevard and State Road 54.

Concrete barriers were adjusted at New River Road and State Road 54 and the Morris Bridge Road intersection, in front of CVS.

Emerald Striping is being scheduled to install flashing beacon ‘school ahead’ signs at New River Academy.

While the FDOT continues to address the state road projects that are behind schedule, State Sen. Danny Burgess told members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce that the state is seeing what it can do to streamline, in some way, the process of road contracting.

That way, if something like this happens again, the DOT would have additional options, such as going to with Bidder No. 2 on a project, he said.

“We’re going to look at some outside-the-box opportunities,” Burgess said.

Published September 15, 2021

Busy intersection subject of public meeting

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Those interested in the future of the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54 are invited to attend a public meeting this week to discuss possible options for improvement.

The Florida Department of Transportation’s District Seven is hosting the meeting, which is set for Sept. 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54, in Lutz.

Virtual attendance also is available, but registration is required to participate online.

To register, visit the project’s website: https://active.fdotd7studies.com/sr54/us41-at-sr54/.

This aerial view shows the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54. During morning and afternoon rush hours, there are significant backups at the busy intersection in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

The FDOT is holding the workshop to give people who are interested the opportunity to provide comments concerning the traffic patterns, design, and social, economic and environmental effects of the proposed improvements.

In addition to the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41, the project study will include areas adjacent to the intersection along the two major roads, according to FDOT materials.

State Road 54 is one of two existing major east-west arterials connecting eastern Pasco County to western Pasco County.

The need for this project has been established based on future traffic demands, future population and employment growth in the area, according to FDOT materials.

Improvements at the U.S. 41/State Road 54 intersection are included in the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 2035 Cost Affordable Long Range Transportation Plan, as well as the 2035 Regional Long Range Transportation Plan Needs Assessment, which was developed by the West Central Florida MPO’s Chairs Coordinating Committee.

The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate various alternatives for the U.S. 41/State Road 54 intersection, which will improve the flow of people and goods through the project area by increasing roadway capacity and reducing traffic congestion.

The study will compare the effects each alternative may have on the environment and the surrounding communities, as well as the traveling public, according to FDOT materials.

Across Pasco County, State Road 54 provides connections to several regional north-south routes including U.S. 19, the Suncoast Parkway, U.S. 41, Interstate 75, U.S. 301 and U.S. 98, the FDOT materials note.

“The proposed improvements at the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54 will enhance the overall transportation network linking Pasco County with the Tampa Bay region,” according to FDOT materials.

The options being considered are:

  • Alternative 1: A single-point urban intersection (SPUI), providing an interchange with State Road 54, elevated over U.S. 41.
  • Alternative 2: A parallel flow intersection (PFI), providing displaced left-turns, in all four approaches at grade.
  • Alternative 3: A continuous flow intersection (CFI), with elevated lanes of State Road 54 over U.S. 41, providing displaced left-turns in all four approaches.

There also is a no-build alternative.

Department representatives will be available at the in-person public workshop beginning at 5:30 p.m., to answer questions and discuss the project informally.

Draft project documents and other project-related materials also will be displayed, and a PowerPoint video presentation will run continuously during the workshop.

State Road 54 runs east-west, and had an average daily traffic count of 63,000 in 2019, according to FDOT figures; U.S. 41 runs north-south, and had average daily traffic counts of 69,000 in 2019.

In addition to existing traffic, there’s significant growth underway in Central Pasco, with more on the way. Plus, State Road 54 is an evacuation route when hurricanes threaten.

In evaluating alternatives, the state looks at the improvements based on such issues as traffic operations, safety, right of way needs and environmental impacts, among others.

Once a build alternative is selected, the next phase is the Project Design & Environmental (PD&E) Study phase, and then the design phase.

The PD&E would be conducted in 2021 to 2022; design, from 2022 to 2024; right of way acquisition from 2025 to 2026.

Construction of this project is not yet funded, according to the project web page.

For more information or to comment, please contact Kirk Bogen, an environmental management engineer for FDOT, at 813-975-6448, 800-226-7220 or .

Published September 15, 2021

Dade City author writes a chilling account of serial killers

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Dade City author Mary Brett spent four years researching and writing her latest book, “Out Of The Mouths Of Serial Killers’’ (WildBlue Press, 362 pages).

It clinically examines 75 psychopathic killers — chapter by chapter — and provides chilling insight. Her work revolves around a basic question.

Why?

Why did you kill?

Dade City author Mary Brett has written four books. (Courtesy of Mary Brett)

When Brett, a retired medical recruiter, moved to Dade City in 2016, she remembered watching a television documentary about Gary Ray Bowles. He was on Death Row in Starke after being convicted of murdering five gay men in a pattern of winning their trust, then beating and strangling them. Brett got hooked into the story, but left unsatisfied.

“It was a good interview, but I kept waiting for the woman (interviewer) to ask, ‘Why?’” Brett said. “I knew the story and why he was on Death Row. But she never asked, ‘Why?’

“For me, that’s where this all started.’’

Brett wrote to Bowles in prison and asked that same question: Why?

She also sent a flurry of letters to other serial killers with this premise: She was planning a book. Responses would be used in their entirety with nothing changed or redacted.

Brett’s son was skeptical, saying there was no way Bowles would participate.

“What else does he have to do?’’ Brett said.

Bowles responded almost immediately.

“He was a charmer and knew what to say,’’ Brett said. “He wrote, ‘You’re writing your fourth book? Congratulations. You’re so smart.’ And on and on.

“He wanted me to come up and see him. While I thought that might be an interesting life experience, I was not going to do that. I was not looking for friendship with these people. They are psychopaths. They don’t form friendships. So I thought maybe this book isn’t going anywhere.’’

A few weeks passed and Brett got a second letter from Bowles. This one was more raw, more honest, although it still didn’t completely answer that basic question: Why?

“It was a light-bulb moment, though, so I kept writing the letters and kept seeking responses,’’ Brett said.

In all, Brett said she wrote to about 100 serial killers. She received 30 responses. Some were vulgar. One included an order form for her to purchase a television and VCR for the prison. Others delved into their childhoods and backgrounds. Many clung to their innocence.

“I wasn’t looking to sensationalize the crime,’’ Brett said. “I just presented them and used their exact quotes. Bowles said he had been a victim of sexual abuse as a child. He had a horrible life. He saw himself ridding society of evil (through his murders).

The cover of ‘Out Of The Mouths Of Serial Killers’ by Mary Brett, a Dade City author.

“I tried to take the letters and tie it in to their background and the crime. I went through media accounts, interrogations and parole hearings to find the direct quotes, anything that might give some insight into why these serial killers did these things.’’

Brett also included accounts of the high-profile serial killers — the “rock stars,’’ as she called them — because “you can’t do a book about serial killers without them,’’ referring to the likes of Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer.

Trying to tie it all together, Brett interviewed psychiatrists and psychologists about potential motivations.

“I don’t know if all the questions get completely answered,’’ Brett said. “You look at nature/nurture and such. There are so many variables and you can boil it down to one commonality. It’s just a piece of humanity that is not normal … and thank goodness for that.

“But the psychologists suggested that these people will never stop killing until they are caught. And the reason is because they liked to do it.’’

Brett said she was “changed’’ by the researching and writing process. Before, she didn’t have a strong opinion about the death penalty. Now she’s a strong proponent.

“These people don’t stop killing,’’ Brett said. “Bundy escaped jail twice and the second time, his last victim was a 12 year old. When they kill multiple people just for the sheer joy of it, I don’t see any reason they should have anything but the death penalty.’’

Asked why she chose to wrote about a macabre subject, Brett said she was always fascinated by the popularity of serial killers as a storyline for books and documentaries.

“You might pick up a novel in the bookstore and have no idea what it’s about,’’ Brett said. “It’s obvious what this book is about. It’s targeted to a market. Nobody is going to pick this up when they’d rather be reading a gardening book.

“This genre and the true crime genre, it just flies off the shelf. You can hardly find a Netflix documentary that’s not about serial killers. People just have a curiosity and fascination with the subject. I did, too, and that led me to pursue this book. There are many things I’m curious about.’’

Brett is nothing but an eclectic author. She has written books about vintage toys, the lives of sideshow freaks, and Victorian mourning customs. She’s currently working on a book about religious cults.

In her hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia, Brett worked on her high school’s newspaper, magazine and yearbook. In passing, her senior English teacher told her she was a good writer. Brett never forgot that. In time, after having some articles about antiques and collectibles published in national magazines, she began pursuing books.

She has been a teacher and a medical recruiter, while also spending time learning how to flip houses for profit. Writing is more of a hobby. But it’s also a passion.

So is the Florida lifestyle.

During a particularly bleak 2016 winter in Virginia, Brett was reading “Bloody Mary,’’ a fiction novel about a female detective. There was a reference about her mother living in Dade City, Florida, a place that “had so many antique stores, you could throw a rock and hit one.’’

That’s how Brett decided to move to Dade City, a place that has fulfilled all her expectations and now serves as the backdrop for her writing. Brett, the mother of two adult sons, lives with her partner, Steve, and their three cats, a dog and a bird.

“I’ve never regretted it, not one day,’’ Brett said. “I love it here.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published September 15, 2021

Dade City was stop for troop trains heading to war

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The former Tampa Bay Hotel, now the University of Tampa — was erected as a winter retreat for the wealthy by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant.

During the Spanish-American War, however, it housed officers, including Col. Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, before they departed for Cuba.

Dade City also served a role during that 1898 military conflict, which is sometimes referred to as “The Forgotten War” or that “Splendid Little War.”

President William McKinley’s call for troops to invade Cuba in 1898 prompted soldiers from Maine to California to arrive in large contingents in Florida, as shown in this photograph taken at the Port of Tampa. (Courtesy of “Photographic History of the Spanish-American War, 1898,” The Pearson Publishing Company (The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village owns a copy of this antique book.)

Regiments from across the country made their way to the point of debarkation, in Tampa.

A nearly endless parade of troop trains passed through Dade City, as the soldiers headed to war.

“They made little stops along the way like they did in Dade City,” Joe Blunt said, during a recent presentation at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City.

It was obvious to those troops arriving in Tampa that preparations for war against Spain had overwhelmed the city of 15,000 residents.

Historian Gary R. Mormino, in a story published by The Tampa Tribune, offered this perspective: “It was the equivalent of 10 Super Bowls.”

The city, “had days, not years, to prepare for an avalanche of soldiers, horses, mules, equipment and ships,” according to Mormino’s account.

As the conflict with Spain was looming in 1898, Congress authorized the construction of coastal batteries under the $50 million Harbor Fortification Defense Act.

The U.S. government previously had convened the Endicott Board in 1885 to upgrade old Civil War forts at every major harbor in the United States.

The nation was armed and ready for the Spanish-American War with rapid-fire guns, submarine nets, underwater mines, searchlights, concrete and electricity.

Col. Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt and his Rough Riders fought in the most famous land engagement of the war during the Battle of San Juan Hill. Roosevelt went on to become the nation’s 26th president.

Cavalry units were used, Blunt says, but many horses drowned when swimming to the shores.

No American Navy ships were damaged or sunk during the conflict.

Spain didn’t have any battleships, but the U.S. had four new ones, including the “Iowa.” That ship was described, by the U.S. War Department in 1898, “as nearly invulnerable as scientific naval architecture can make her.”

The Iowa was manned with 36 officers and 450 sailors.

It fired the first shot in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898.

Iowa’s firepower — which had never been seen in the world before — destroyed two Spanish cruisers and ran them aground within 20 minutes.

The U.S. landed 15,000 soldiers, southeast of Santiago de Cuba, including the 10th Cavalry from Montana under John J. Pershing.

That calvary, nicknamed the Buffalo Soldiers, was an African-American unit.

Pershing expressed his respect and admiration for the Buffalo Soldiers’ bravery and courage. Pershing would later serve as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.

During the Spanish-American War, U.S. soldiers used smokeless rifles — which unlike the black powder ones used during the Civil War did not give away their positions.

Troop trains, including the 157th Indiana Volunteers, passed through Dade City on the Old Florida Southern Railroad as the main transportation route on land to Tampa. The trains carried field-artillery carriages and ammunition wagons, as well.

“The Spanish could not easily see where the shooting was coming from,” Blunt said, during his talk. “But they could hear what sounded like someone punching a cardboard box when one of their men was hit and suddenly fell to the ground.”

The German Mauser was a popular bolt-action rifle used by American soldiers during the Spanish-American War. It later was the primary German combat rifle at the outbreak of World War I.

After the fall of the Third Reich at the end of World War II, the Soviet Union captured millions of Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles.

From the beginning of his administration, President William McKinley was concerned about the growing insurrection in Cuba. The national security was at stake, much like it was during the Cuban Missile Crisis, in 1962, under President John F. Kennedy.

For Kennedy, it was threat of a nuclear attack from missiles based in Cuba by the Soviet Union.

In 1898, it was the last remnants of a 300-year-old Spanish Empire that remained a threat to the United States.

Joe Blunt gave a talk about the Spanish-American War at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, and briefly touched on the role that Dade City played during that war. (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

On Feb. 15, 1898, the U.S.S. Maine was sunk while on an official visit to Havana.

With headlines including “Who Destroyed the Maine? $50,000 Reward,” “Invasion!” and “Spanish Treachery,” America’s two leading newspaper publishers, Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, played off the growing tensions between the two countries and drummed up public opinion to go to war with Spain.

“Remember the Maine,” was the battle cry — still widely recognized today, Blunt says.

The cause of the Maine’s destruction, leading to the deaths of 266 officers and sailors, remains a mystery.

The Spanish-American War was waged in the Spanish colonies of the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Spain couldn’t afford the conflict on three fronts.

Under a peace treaty signed in Paris on Dec. 10, 1889, Spain relinquished title to Cuba, and ceded Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines to the United States.

By Doug Sanders

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

Published September 15, 2021

Pandemic puts us in ‘strange time,’ State Sen. Danny Burgess says

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With chairs socially distanced at tables, breakfast guests masked up, and servers dishing up food at the breakfast buffet — the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce resumed in-person business breakfast meetings in September.

State Sen. Danny Burgess, a Republican from Zephyrhills, was the featured speaker.

“It’s good to be here,” Burgess told the crowd. “Obviously, this is your first time back in a long time.”

It’s no secret that the impacts of COVID-19 have rippled throughout society, and Burgess addressed them head-on.

State Sen. Danny Burgess talked about COVID-19’s myriad impacts and applauded the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce for finding a safe way to hold its in-person breakfast meeting. (B.C. Manion)

“We all have felt that separation, that isolation,” Burgess said.

“I think we’ve all realized just how significant the second- and third-order effects of COVID-19 can be, not just from the physical virus itself and its manifestations, but what it’s like to not be able to interact,” he said.

“It’s in our nature to want to get out and interact and socialize.

“So I think this has taken a huge toll on us,” the state lawmaker added.

The pandemic affects everyone, he said, “whether you’re a parent, or whether you’re taking care of your parents, as they get older.”

For employers, the question is: How do I keep my employees safe?

“We’re kind of in a strange time where some people are policing other people. We’re policing each other: ‘Oh, that guy just sneezed.’

“These are weird times. I think it’s just good to take a step back and kind of have a breath of humility, and understand that we’re all, literally in this, together. We’re all trying to figure this out the best way possible.

“Think of some of the most contentious things that are out there, right now.

“Masks in schools.

“That’s probably about as controversial as it gets right now. That’s got to be No. 1 on the list.

“I’m not here to talk about my position on it.

“I’m just saying, no matter where you fall on that issue, I firmly believe, at the end of the day, we’re all just trying to navigate this the best way possible.

“And, if you believe that masks are detrimental to students in school, I think that’s coming from a pure place.

“If you think that masks should be in school, I think that’s coming from a pure place.

“We can have those disagreements.

“Again, there is no playbook for this.

“So, at the end of the day, we have to get back to that humanity. We all know that we’re trying to find the right answer. We’re all trying to get through this together, we just may have different ways of doing it,” Burgess said.

He said he’s glad that groups like the North Tampa Bay Chamber are taking precautions and meeting in person again.

“It’s good to be back out in public because these are the kinds of messages that I don’t think we get enough of — it’s the kind of messaging that I want to put out there.

“I don’t know what one state senator can do, you know, but I think if we all started to speak a little bit more in that tone and a little less of the rhetoric you see on whatever your preferred television station is, you know, maybe we could really start to come together and find some of these mutual solutions, to just getting over the hump here.”

“This is likely an endemic virus. We get the flu shot every year. It didn’t eradicate the flu. It just helps us to deal with the flu.

“I think more and more, as time goes on, thank God for the vaccine,” Burgess said.

“I think the reality is, it helps keep us healthy and safe,” he said.

“But at the end of the day, this could be something that we live with for the rest of our lives,” Burgess said.

So, in addition to being grateful for vaccinations, he’s also grateful for monoclonal antibodies that can help people who have become infected to avoid serious illness and hospitalization.

And, he expressed gratitude for those working in the trenches, in the battle against COVID-19.

“Thank God for our health care workers and everybody that’s on the front lines, doing so much every day. They didn’t have yesterday (Labor Day) off,” he said.

Navigating the pandemic requires flexibility
“I think we’ve come to that realization that this is a new normal, and that we can live with this. “We just have to do the right things and take the right steps.

“We’ve got to balance the safety and the need to make a living.”

One way the Florida Legislature has stepped in to support that was through legislation involving COVID liability.

“In order for you all to get your business doors back open, you needed to know that you didn’t have to be looking over your shoulder, every single day, and wondering when that litigation might start,” Burgess said.

He said Florida’s approach to reopening received rave reviews from people around the country that he and his family met, while vacationing over the summer at national parks.

Burgess said they told him they wished they lived in Florida.

He attributed their attitude to the way Florida has responded to the pandemic.

“We are open for business,” Burgess said. “In a lot of ways, we’ve trusted Floridians to make the right decisions.”

Florida also has led the way in making monoclonal antibodies available, Burgess said.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has done something that no other state has done, by creating mobile labs, where people can get the treatments.

“It’s something that we need to make readily available to the public,” he said, but like many issues, it has become hyper-political.

“They’re actually wonderful. Nobody is promoting them as an alternative to vaccination. That’s the spin. The monoclonal antibodies are almost like miracle treatments. We’re promoting tools in the toolbelt and we want people to have access to a lot of things,” Burgess said.

He also addressed some big issues that will be addressed in the 2022 legislative session, including redistricting, which he described as a once-in-a-decade process.

“I got the opportunity to chair the legislative portion of that for the Senate and House maps.

“We will have a constitutional map. No question about it. We’re going to do this above-board and absolutely right,” Burgess said.

“As you can imagine, it’s going to be very controversial, no matter what we do,” he said.

But he pledged: “We are going to follow the letter of the law in doing so.

“If there is spin out there, just trust me, we’re going to do this right,” Burgess said.

Published September 15, 2021

Pasco County is adding two new elementary magnets

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During the past few years, Pasco County Schools has been adding to its slate of educational choices for parents and students, and two new options will become available in the 2022-2023 school year.

Centennial Elementary in Dade City and James M. Marlowe Elementary in New Port Richey are slated to become STEAM magnet schools.

The acronym STEAM means the schools will have an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

As magnet schools, Centennial and Marlowe will not have traditional boundaries.

The school district will use its school choice program, known as Pasco Pathways, to assign students to the schools.

Parent meetings will be held in October, to provide additional information.

Centennial’s meeting is set for Oct. 12 and Marlowe’s is set for Oct. 5. (Check with schools for additional details.)

As a result of dropping their traditional boundaries, the geographic areas currently zoned to the schools must be absorbed by other schools.

The Pasco County School Board will have public hearings on the proposed boundary changes for the schools on Nov. 16 and on Dec. 14.

Centennial and Marlowe will pattern themselves after Sanders Memorial Elementary, at 5126 School Road, in Land O’ Lakes.

Sanders Elementary recently was named a nationally certified magnet school by Magnet Schools of America. The distinction signifies that Sanders meets rigorous standards that define high-quality schools, according to a school district news release.

Centennial Middle and Bayonet Point Middle, which are middle magnet schools focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, also were named nationally certified magnet schools by the same organization.

In general, magnet schools feature themes and courses that are designed to attract students from outside traditional school boundaries.

Sanders Elementary became the district’s first magnet school in 2015, when it reopened, following a massive renovation. Most of the students attending Sanders live in the central part of Pasco County.

Centennial Elementary will provide a convenient option for students and families in East Pasco, to explore the same educational opportunities as those offered at Sanders. Marlowe will do the same in West Pasco.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning briefed the school board members at their Sept. 7 morning meeting, on the process the district will use, leading up to the switch. He said communications would be sent to families later in the day.

Centennial Elementary Principal Gretchen Rudolph-Fladd explained how the transition will work in a letter to parents, posted on the school’s website.

In part, she told parents: “Making a transition like this requires several steps. Some are significant, while others are formalities that have no impact on students.”

She posted some frequently asked questions and answers to those queries, too.

Here’s an excerpt of those FAQs. (To see the FAQs in their entirety, visit the school’s website at https://cenes.pasco.k12.fl.us).

Will our school have to close?
Technically, it will, but it will not impact students because it will close at the end of the 2021-2022 school year and will reopen at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.

Will parents have to apply to have their student remain at the school?
Yes, parents will need to make that desire known by applying via School Choice. Children currently attending the school will have “preferred” status and there is every expectation they will be able to remain at the school.

Why is a rezoning necessary?
Magnet schools do not have traditional zones, so nearby attendance zones will expand to include Centennial’s current attendance zone.

Will the current teachers lose their jobs?
No one will lose their job as a result of the transition to a STEAM magnet. However, staff changes will result. The expectation is that most teachers will remain, but others have opted to pursue a teaching position at a different school. Teachers wishing to transfer to a more traditional position will be able to do so.

Published September 15, 2021

Hardware company investing $7.5 million at business industrial park

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Harney Hardware, a logistics and distribution company, is setting up shop at ComPark 75, off Wesley Chapel Boulevard, according to a news release from the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

The company is investing $7.5 million in a 45,000-square-foot facility.

It is expected to hire 20 employees, with salaries exceeding 198% of the average Pasco County wage, the release added.

ComPark 75 is an industrial business park in Lutz, on 106 acres, between Interstate 75 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard. It’s situated in an area where Lutz, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel come together.

Harney Hardware is a supplier of residential and commercial door and bathroom hardware, and direct ships to customers in all 50 states, the release said.

Harney Hardware has experienced growth in its hardware business, especially in the home improvement sector and demand for products shipped directly to the company’s customers, the release added.

“I want to thank the Pasco EDC for their assistance in the site selection and permitting process,” Preston Copenhaver, CEO, Harney Hardware, said in the release.

”We distribute over 75% of our products outside of Florida, and the majority of our workforce lives in Pasco County, I am looking forward to growing my business here,” Copenhaver added.

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC, noted: “Harney Hardware is a great example of the target industries we are trying to strategically attract to Pasco County.

“They are in logistics and distribution, offer great wages, and they already knew we had the quality workforce they needed since many of their staff are already residents,” Cronin added, in the release.

Published September 15, 2021

Women’s Hall of Fame finalists named

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Susan A. MacManus, of Land O’ Lakes, is among the list of 10 finalists for the 2021 Florida Women’s Hall of Fame. (File)

Susan A. MacManus, of Land O’ Lakes, is among the list of 10 finalists selected by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women for the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame, according to a news release.

The list has been sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who soon will select up to three women to be the 2021 inductees.

The distinction recognizes and honors women “who, through their works and lives, have made significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and for all citizens of the state of Florida,” the news release says.

The nominees “exemplify the great diversity of women’s contributions to Florida life,” the release says.

MacManus is a political scientist and distinguished professor emeritus from the University of South Florida.

Other nominees are:

  • Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, of Tampa
  • Mayor Jane Castor, of Tampa
  • Judge Virginia Covington, of Tampa
  • May Mann Jennings, formerly of Brooksville
  • Sen. Arthenia Joyner, of Tampa
  • Barbara Nicklaus, of Palm Beach
  • Senator Kathleen Passidomo, of Naples
  • Lilly Pulitzer, of Palm Beach
  • Beverly White Yeager, of Palm Beach

“Each year it is more difficult to choose 10 finalists to send to the governor because of the many superb nominations we receive,” Commission Chair Karin Hoffman said, in the release.

This year’s inductees will be honored at a ceremony on Oct. 19.

Published September 15, 2021