The Laker/Lutz News

Washington D.C.

Pasco Sheriff named to Homeland Security advisory role

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Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco has added another leadership responsibility to his plate —an advisory role with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The Pasco Sheriff is one of seven new members named to the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) by acting secretary Chad Wolf. The announcement came from the federal agency last month.

The HSAC is a Department of Homeland Security federal advisory committee that provides the secretary with independent, informed recommendations, and advice on a variety of homeland security issues. It’s comprised of national policy makers, representatives from state, local, and tribal governments, emergency, and first responder communities, academia, and the private sector. The 35-member council is chaired by former CIA and FBI Director Judge William Webster.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco was recently appointed to the Homeland Security Advisory Council. The role provides the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with independent, informed recommendations, and advice on a variety of homeland security issues. (File)

With the appointment, Nocco becomes the only elected official from Florida to serve on the council.

In an interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Nocco called the selection “a humbling honor,” that will give the area “a seat at the table” when it comes to providing and receiving input on homeland security-related matters — such as a hurricane, cyberattack, power grid shutdown and so on.

“For the whole Tampa Bay region and the state of Florida, I’m very fortunate to be in this position to help out and have our voices heard,” said Nocco, noting the role goes beyond law enforcement issues. “With Homeland Security, it is a very large and very broad organization. When you dig down into it, you realize, from transportation, to communications, to energy, this is a very large organization.”

Nocco added it’s likewise beneficial to now have a direct line to “the highest levels” of Homeland Security if a crisis arises regionally or statewide. “It’s not like I call the secretary of Homeland Security every night, but at the same time, there is that openness of if I need to get a message across, we’re able to connect through staff to the secretary very quickly,” he said.

In addition to participating in full HSAC committee meetings, Nocco is serving on an HSAC subcommittee that focuses on countering violent extremism groups, particularly in exposure to American youth. Some examples include white supremacy groups, terrorist organizations, cults “or any other ideology that promotes hate and disconnect,” said Nocco.

The subcommittee, meeting roughly every two or three weeks, is “basically going all the way upstream to prevent these kids form getting involved in these groups,” Nocco said.

One way to do that, the sheriff said, is ensuring parents and guardians warn their children about what is on the Internet and on social media. He indicated the issue is more important now, as kids are out of school for the summer and possibly stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, Nocco  acknowledged the recent HSAC appointment ties in well with forthcoming developments at the forensics research and training center project in Land O’ Lakes known as FIRST, Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security and Tactics.

With that project, the sheriff explained there’s an opportunity for more partnerships with Homeland Security in the way of innovation, technology and instructional programs. “I think it’s just going to strengthen what we’re doing here in Pasco County,” he said.

Nocco has been Pasco Sheriff since 2011, when he was appointed by then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Nocco was elected to the position in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. He just won another term.

Previously, he served with the Philadelphia Public School Police, the Fairfax County Police Department, and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, he was a first responder to the attacks of 9/11 and the Washington D.C. sniper incident.

Other HSAC appointed members include James Carafano, vice president of The Heritage Foundation’s Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy; James Fuller, executive vice president of Hill + Knowlton Strategies; Hans Miller, CEO and co-founder of Airside; Cynthia Renaud, chief of police for the city of Santa Monica; Mark Weatherford, founding partner at Aspen Chartered; and Brian White, global security practice head for DBO Partners.

Published June 24, 2020

North Tampa Bay Chamber wins top state award

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The North Tampa Bay Chamber recently was named the 2019 Chamber of the Year for the state of Florida during the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals annual conference in Daytona Beach.

The chamber was honored for its accomplishments, including its acquisition of two chambers within the past five years that led to its official name change and logo, as well as its involvement in numerous initiatives.

Hope Allen, president/CEO of the chamber said the award is a testament to the chamber’s board, its ambassadors, its staff and the area’s vibrant business community.

Hope Allen is the president/CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber, which recently was named the 2019 Chamber of the Year by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals. Allen also received an individual award for her 15 years of service as a chamber professional. (File)

“This is something we’ve been working toward since I took over the organization,” said Allen, who joined the chamber seven years ago, when it was known as the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. “We had not been ready in the past because we did not have a strategic plan and we did not have an audit.”

But the organization achieved those goals and was able to apply for the honor this year, and proceeded to take home the top prize.

“We, essentially, as chamber professionals, build communities. This is validation that we are going, not only in the right direction, but we’re doing it extraordinarily well,” Allen said.

The application has nine different components, including such things as accomplishments, financial stability, governmental relations, membership, strategic planning, communications and special events.

In the area of governmental relations, for instance, the chamber had to describe its activity at the local, state and federal level, Allen said.

“We were able to speak to all of that,” Allen said, noting that she went to Washington, D.C., with the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.

“What I took away from that summit is, ‘global is very local.’ As leader of this chamber, we need to make sure we understand that.”

It’s important, for example, to realize that tariffs have a local impact, she said.

At the local level, the chamber has advocated for increased transportation options, and at the state level, it has pushed for lower business rent taxes.

“We have an issue filter, here. If it doesn’t align with pro-business legislation, we are not dealing with it,” Allen said.

Only chambers that have been audited can apply for the chamber of the year award, which, of course, requires a financial investment, Allen said.

“We came back with a clean audit,” the chamber executive said, noting  that the audit covered not only budgetary issues, but also looked at employee records, crisis management, separation of duties, job descriptions and other organizational categories.

The state judges also consider a chamber’s strategic plan, its technology plan and its communications plan.

In the communications arena, the North Tampa Bay Chamber issues news releases, maintains a website, announces events, uses newsletters and varies its communications, based on the audience, Allen said.

For instance, “we have different messaging for potential members” than for existing members, she said.

The state honor also considers special events that are presented by chambers. That counts for 5% of the score, Allen said.

For much of its history, the chamber was “ very, very dependent on event income,” Allen said.

But in 2013, the board of directors decided to switch the chamber’s focus from presenting parties, pageants and parades’ to becoming the area’s connector, convener and catalyst, Allen said, during a recent talk about the chamber’s 20-year history.

That shift was a risk because it relied on investment by members, Allen said, but the organization was thinking ahead.

Now, the chamber focuses its energy on serving the business needs of its 739 members.

“We don’t sell the chamber,” she said. “The chamber is not something we feel is a widget. It’s an investment in your business. It’s a different pot of money from your branding and your marketing. It’s a business expense, in our opinion.

“Do you know who does sell the chamber? Our members. They sell it for us because they can see the return on their investment,” Allen said.

Published October 2, 2019

Sunlake High teacher lands geography fellowship

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In her AP Human Geography classes, Sunlake High School teacher Anne Cullison strives to “lift the veil” on what the world is really like.

She often tells her students: “Everything is geography, and geography is everything.”

The local educator soon will get a chance to broaden her knowledge and add to her kit of tools for teaching.

She is one of just 50 teachers nationwide selected as a 2019 American Geographical Society (AGS) Teacher Fellow. This is the second time she has been selected for the honor. The first time was in 2016.

Sunlake High School social studies teacher Anne Cullison was recently named a 2019 American Geographical Society (AGS) Teacher Fellow. She is one of just 50 teachers nationwide selected to the year-long fellowship program. (File)

The AGS fellowship is a year-long professional development opportunity that enables geography teachers to incorporate open source mapping into their classrooms. It also provides supplementary resources and materials.

As part of this year’s fellowship, Cullison will attend the AGS Fall Symposium in Nov. 21 and Nov. 22, at Columbia University in New York City.

The symposium, titled “Geography 2050: Borders and a Borderless World,” gives the fellows an opportunity to interact with geography and geospatial leaders from across the country. They also receive professional training in open source mapping.

Samantha Power, U.S Ambassador to the United Nations under President Barack Obama (2013-17), will be the keynote speaker.

Other scheduled speakers include National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency director Robert Sharp and Nada Bakos, a former CIA analyst and targeting officer who was instrumental in tracking down Osama bin Laden and other terrorist figures.

Cullison, in her seventh year at Sunlake, is eager to learn and network with fellow educators and professionals “who actually work in the field that I’m teaching about.

“I really enjoy getting to listen to people who are so incredibly knowledgeable of that real-world application side of what we actually do — what I spend my days talking about,” Cullison said.

She also appreciates being selected for the honor.

“It feels great. It’s a great way to feel recognized for working hard with kids to get them to see the world in a different way,” Cullison said.

She now teaches about 170 students across five AP Human Geography classes.

Coursework in her class goes far beyond simply labeling areas on a map and learning the basics of other cultures, she explained. It attempts to answer the what, where and why of human patterns, and the social and environmental consequences of that.

She put it like this: “It’s more about, ‘Why are some countries successful and others aren’t? Why are there people starving in some places and some places aren’t? Why do some people practice one religion and then others something else, and how does that affect the politics, the culture and languages they speak and everything?’”

In essence, she said, it enables her students “to see the world in a different way.”

Before arriving at Sunlake, Cullison taught social studies at Rushe and Pine View middle schools, in Land O’ Lakes.

Cullison studied political science at the University of Central Florida and University of South Florida.

Her first teaching experience came during an internship with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies in Washington D.C.

There, she was tasked with educating Middle Eastern government and military officials on American foreign policy in that region.

The experience, she said, “gave me the first touch of, ‘I really like teaching. I want to be able to help people understand where (other) people are coming from.’”

She said it also helped her to gain insight on why other peoples’ perspectives are sometimes different.

Cullison is eager to use the fellowship to introduce more open source mapping tools in her classroom.

Open source mapping is a collaborative volunteer project to create better, digital maps available of an area, specifically in less developed nations.

Cullison said the program is particularly useful for search and recovery efforts after natural disasters.

It allows first responders “to see what something is or was” in destroyed areas — whether it be schools, homes, buildings, roads and so on, she said.

“It’s really all about being able to identify and locate, and mark what computers can’t do,” the educator said.

Two years ago, her classes utilized the mapping program to aid humanitarians and first responders in Puerto Rico, in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

It helped in the search and recovery efforts to find people who had been injured by the natural disaster, or those who had not survived, she said.

Published Oct. 2, 2019

Advocates address legislators to reduce veteran homelessness

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Local agency officials recently addressed an array of issues facing homeless veterans, before members of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, at a session in New Port Richey.

U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, chairman of the subcommittee, and U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, ranking member of the committee, listened to suggestions on reducing veteran homelessness from a group panel, to relay back to the U.S. Congress.

Levin, a Democrat, represents California’s 49th congressional district, and Bilirakis, a Republican, represents Florida’s 12th congressional district.

Mary White was one of several panelists urging an expansion of services for homeless veterans, during a Sept. 16 meeting of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. The meeting was at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey. (Brian Fernandes)

Panelists were Joe Battle, director of the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital; Danny Burgess, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs;

David Lambert, chairman of the Pasco County Housing Authority; Michael Raposa, CEO of St. Vincent DePaul Cares; Brian Anderson, CEO and founder of Veterans Alternative; and Mary White, a former homeless veteran.

“Today we’re here to examine and highlight programs and benefits to help combat veteran homelessness,” Bilirakis said, in his opening statement. “There’s been a significant amount of progress made nationwide in reducing homelessness among veterans, but we still have much more work to do.”

Burgess noted that Florida’s VA department implemented the Forward March initiative throughout the state earlier this year. This program teams state agencies with various grassroots organizations to find ways to deal with the crisis.

The executive director told the congressmen that strategies need to be in place to integrate servicemen and servicewomen back into civilian life.

Burgess also advised that the government should make the first initiative, approaching veterans with beneficial opportunities, as opposed to them seeking it out themselves.

“We have about an estimated 2,543 homeless veterans in Florida that we know about,” he said, adding that five counties have already been successful in ending this issue.

Burgess suggested that other regions of the nation could follow their example by having more community-based organizations invested in veterans’ welfare, while working alongside state government.

“As of 2018, Point-in-Time count reveals Pasco (County) and Pinellas County are leading in several homeless statistics, including veteran homelessness,” said Anderson, the Veterans Alternative CEO. “We lack the number of beds needed, and unfortunately cannot build and fund fast enough to keep up with the demand.”

Like Burgess, he emphasized the importance of community involvement backed by government support – especially as it relates to mental health.

More resources should be allocated to wellness programs in addressing the psycho-social needs of veterans, Anderson said.

“Homelessness is not the root cause – rather is a byproduct of several contributing factors, including mental health, medical and economic hardship,” he said.

Levin noted that earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would provide grants in helping states collaborate with veteran organizations to address psychiatric needs for those coming out of service.

The pivotal role of HUD-VASH vouchers
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher program, also was a topic of discussion.

The federal government issues the vouchers to provide suitable housing for low-income people, the elderly and even veterans.

Bilirakis asked Battle: “What is the one message or need that I need to take back to Washington (D.C.) with me, that would make your job easier, or would reduce homelessness among veterans?”

Battle’s response: “How can we adjust HUD vouchers to be able to accommodate for rising rents in different areas.”

The VA hospital director stated that the program has been key in putting veterans into homes, and has seen its benefits.

“At (James A.) Haley, we have 1,060 HUD-VASH vouchers available for use and currently 119 veterans are permanently housed using these vouchers,” Battle explained.

However, as the cost of living continues to escalate, this has been a challenge, he noted.

In addition, Pasco County doesn’t have a sufficient number of homes to put these vouchers toward, said Lambert, chairman of the Pasco County Housing Authority.

The authority recently purchased property to build a 78-unit veterans housing community. But this, too, was a dilemma for the housing authority because various banks refused to lend the necessary funds.

Addressing the congressmen, Lambert said: “We respectfully request the federal government create regulations to do what you have already done in the housing arena – to allow banks to fund our projects.”

A first-hand account
White was one panelist who could attest to the importance of the voucher system.

“The program that probably helped me the most would be HUD-VASH and the housing voucher,” she said. “Without that, I would probably be couch-surfing with my son.”

As a U.S. Army veteran, White found herself as a single mother with an infant, when she became homeless.

With the HUD-VASH voucher, she was able to get herself and her child into an apartment, and various organizations donated furniture and food, she recalled.

White was able to go back to school with the help of the GI Bill, and the VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program.

She also was granted a voucher to offset costs for child care while working and in school.

She currently holds a master’s degree and works for the Department of Economic Opportunity.

At the hearing, she took the time to address the transportation barriers that prevent veterans from sustaining a job, as well as their need for proper dental care.

St. Vincent DePaul Cares also was instrumental in helping White get proper housing.

“Since 2012, St. Vincent DePaul Cares has been a leader in many of the areas toward the end of veteran homelessness – including the counties of Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Polk,” said Raposa, the organization’s CEO.

Since the institution began, it has shortened the time it takes for veterans to transition from the street into a home — from 180 days initially to 60 days now, Raposa said.

He implored the congressmen to help expand Florida’s affordable-housing trust fund. Under the Sadowski Coalition, various organizations have pressed lawmakers in putting housing trust funds toward the state’s housing programs.

Raposa noted: “2019 was the first time in many years that we saw the governor’s office and the Senate on the same page to release a historic portion of that money, but the House did not support it. We desperately need your help with that.”

The Sept. 16 hearing was held at the West Pasco Government Center.

Published September 25, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

Florida Hospital CEO settling into new role

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It’s been a busy time for Amanda Maggard, since being appointed Florida Hospital Zephyrhills CEO more than a month ago.

Her first week on the job presented a unique and challenging experience, navigating the 149-bed regional medical center in the wake of Hurricane Irma, to ensure patients could be cared for at any time.

Amanda Maggard was appointed Florida Hospital Zephyrhills CEO on Sept. 4, replacing Randy Surber, who was promoted to CEO for Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center in Sebring. Maggard previously oversaw the strategic development and operations for Florida Hospital Winter Garden, an outpatient facility. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills)

But Maggard came prepared, considering she’s dealt with four other hurricanes throughout her career in hospital administration.

“Our team here did a great job. Overall it went very, very well,” said Maggard, when she sat down for an interview with The Laker/Lutz News. “The main thing is we were ready to care for all the patients and we got the team members here to do it.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, it’s my fifth hurricane that I’ve been through,” she said.

Since that whirlwind of a week, Maggard has turned her attention to hospital operations.

She’s focused on “listening and learning,” building relationships with hospital staff, patients and members of the east Pasco community.

“I’m kind of in that road show of just meeting a lot of people, both inside and outside the hospital,” Maggard said.

Aside from attending various events and functions citywide, Maggard has been shadowing key departments within the hospital, working shifts in the operating and emergency rooms, and observing surgeries and other medical procedures.

“I just enjoy being on the frontline and learning as much as I can,” the new hospital CEO said. “If you don’t have that connection point, you’re not always able to see and hear what our patients are experiencing or what our team is working through.”

Maggard was appointed Florida Hospital Zephyrhills’ new CEO on Sept. 4, replacing Randy Surber, who, after nearly four years, was promoted to CEO for Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center in Sebring.

An award-winning hospital, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills offers the only comprehensive cardiovascular program in east and central Pasco County, including open-heart surgery and valve repair. Equipped with eight technologically advanced surgical suites, the hospital provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient surgical services, including, orthopedic, endoscopic, gynecology, urology, cardiovascular and robotic procedures. Also, the hospital’s newly-renovated emergency room that delivers emergency medical care 24/7 with a fast track suite for minor emergencies.

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is an award-winning 149-bed regional medical center located in east Pasco County. It is a member of the Adventist Health System, which operates 45 hospital campuses across nine states.
(File)

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills presently offers services for the following: breast health, cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, gastroenterology, general surgery, obstectrics, orthopedics, outpatient rehabilitation, urology, wellness center and spa, and wound care

During her first three months on the job, Maggard said one of her goals is to take a deep look at the hospital’s key service lines and facilities to determine possible improvements, based on the needs of the Zephyrhills community.

“What are the service lines that the community needs? What are those services that we could provide here that there’s enough of a need and a demand and that we can perform with great clinical quality?”

Finding ways to enhance the patient experience is another objective of Maggard’s, whether it’s through more personalized care or finding ways to reduce medical costs.

Said Maggard, “I feel very strongly that we’re here to serve the community and serve the patients. Our (Adventist Health System) mission is to extend the healing ministry of Christ, and I think if we’re not creating a great experience for our patients, we’re really not holding true to that mission. And if we’re not constantly looking for how we can do that better, we’re not living out our mission.”

Maggard, who comes from a family of nurses and healthcare professionals, also hopes to develop a culture at the hospital centering on responsibility, accountability and positive relationships, among others.

“I think some of the important elements of creating that ‘right’ culture are ownership,” Maggard said. “You’ve got to have a team that understands that they own their results, and they own their experience. It’s not someone else’s responsibility; it’s all of our responsibility. Part of that’s accountability, too. And it’s got to be accountability, from the bottom up and the top down.”

She continued: “I’m also a firm believer in, ‘life’s too short not to love your job’, so you’ve got to have a little fun in there, too. Patients feel that. I’m a big fan of Southwest Airlines and the culture they’ve built over the years, and they have a way to inject just a little bit of fun and personality into what they do.”

Steady community involvement also will be critical for Maggard, as the hospital is the city’s largest employer with more than 900 employees and 360 active physicians.

“I think its really important to be connected with the community because the community has a sense for what the needs. Typically, the hospital is one of the largest employers in the community, so it’s important that we’re looking for ways to give back and that we’re aware of the issues and how we can be involved with the community to improve it,” Maggard said.

Though just 34 years old, Maggard’s experience in healthcare administration is vast.

She’s worked for Adventist Health System—which operates Florida Hospital Zephyrhills and 44 other medical facilities — since 2004.

Prior to being named CEO of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Maggard oversaw the strategic development and operations for Florida Hospital Winter Garden, an outpatient facility. In advance of its opening in 2016, she led the facility’s design and construction, operational planning, community and physician engagement and team onboarding. Maggard’s responsibilities later expanded to include senior leadership for Florida Hospital Apopka’s ancillary and support services.

Her other stops include Winter Park Memorial Hospital, as assistant administrator and chief operating officer, and Florida Hospital Altamonte, as director or operations.

She also served as manager for training and consulting for the health system, as well as a marketing and foundation coordinator Florida Hospital Apopka.

In a release, Adventist Health System president/CEO Terry Shaw called Maggard “an effective and mission-focused leader who has excelled in engaging physicians, team members and the community in providing exceptional, whole-person care.”

Amanda Maggard, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills CEO

  • Master’s degree in business administration from Webster University
  • Bachelor’s degrees in business administration and communication from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska
  • 2015 graduate of the Florida Hospital Physician Leadership Development Program
  • American Society of Training and Development certifications in training, instructional design and organizational change
  • American College of Healthcare executives member
  • In 2015, was named Orlando Business Journal’s “40 under 40”

Some additional thoughts from Amanda Maggard, new CEO for Florida Hospital Zephyrhills

Q: Long-term, for you, what are some of some of the most important aspects of the hospital CEO position?

A: “I think, for me, it’s a few things. Absolutely you’ve got to have great relationships with your physicians, because they’re also closest to the patient and they understand what the patients’ needs are for care and experience. You’ve got to create the right culture for your team. I am a firm believer in life is too short not to love your job and if you’re team doesn’t enjoy what you’re doing then the patients aren’t going to feel that and have a great experience, so we’ve got to set the right culture here for the team, and that has a trickle-down impact for everyone.
… I think getting out there rounding with the team, spending time with them, and really, we are a faith-based organization, and one piece of advice that I received before is to look at the role, not just as a CEO, but you’re really the Chief Spiritual Officer for your hospital, so I think that’s another aspect as well, looking at the spiritual health of the team.”

Q: Which aspects healthcare administration/operations do you most enjoy?

A: “I do really enjoy building that culture with the team. It’s very rewarding to me when we have a culture where employees enjoy what they do, including our physicians and where patients feel that difference when we’re involved with the community. We have a great reputation in the community and I enjoy improving results, so I do really love that you that you get to create that right culture, that culture has to then translate into better outcomes for our patients and a better experience. I really love being able to see that — what are the metrics that we’re using to monitor that performance and then how are we improving them.”

Q: What is the most challenging aspect of healthcare administration?
A: “I do think one thing that is challenging for us is how do we reduce costs. The healthcare environment’s payment models don’t fully reflect that you always get rewarded for that, but we still have to do the right thing for the patient, no matter what. But, figuring out how to reduce costs is a challenge.”

Q: Have you been monitoring potential healthcare legislation and how it might affect the hospital?

A: “The bottom-line is what happens in Washington D.C. is very important and will have a significant impact on us as much as what happens in Tallahassee. We have to figure out how to create great clinical quality for our patients, a great experience at a reduced cost to them, and I think those elements aren’t going to change, no matter what happens with some of the legislation. It’s kind of that triple gain that you hear about: better quality, better experience and lower costs; so I try to stay connected with that and try to learn, but I also try to buffer my team a little bit, because it can be easy to be distracted. I think those three things have to be our key focus, no matter what happens with the healthcare bill.”

 

They’re off to learn the ins and outs of leadership

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While some kids are heading to the beach or to a theme park this summer, a trio of girls who just wrapped up fifth grade at Lutz Elementary are gearing up for a trip to Washington D.C.

Kylie Flynn, Kaitlyn Britton and Alice Mooneyham will be participating in the Junior National Young Leaders Conference.

The students were nominated by their former teacher, Cindy Morrissey.

The girls can’t wait to check out the nation’s capital.

This trio of girls are heading to Washington D.C., to find out a few things about leadership. They are, from left, Alice Mooneyham, Kaitlyn Britton and Kylie Flynn. They’ll be participating in the Junior National Young Leaders Conference. (B.C. Manion)

“I’ve never been to Washington D.C., and I’ve wanted to go there,” said Alice, who is 11. “I think it’s going to be a really cool experience.”

Eleven-year-old Kaitlynn shares her enthusiasm.

“It’s going to be fun. My sister went in eighth grade. She got a lot of really cool photos. It was really pretty there.”

Plus, Kaitlyn added: “It will be fun to learn all about the statues.”

Ten-year-old Kylie is eager to make the trip, too.

“I can’t wait for the experiences to go to the different places,” she said. “I was really happy that I was nominated.”

Alice is particularly interested in visiting the Lincoln Memorial, while Kylie is looking forward to visiting Harper’s Ferry. Kaitlyn is looking forward to an activity-packed schedule.

“There’s going to be a lot of stuff to do in the day,” Kaitlyn said. “You’ll get to learn the history behind the monuments.”

The conference includes sessions on leadership traits and historic topics, as well as visits to national memorials, museums and a sleepover at the Maryland Science Center, amid mummies, dinosaurs and space exhibits.

Kaitlyn thinks the conference will be a good experience, but she’s not sure if it will help her with her future career. She wants to be a chiropractor when she grows up.

Alice wants to be a teacher.

Kylie wants to be a teacher, too. But, she said: “If that doesn’t work out, I want to be a lawyer. I want to be a lawyer that helps people get custody of their kids.”

Both Kylie and Kaitlyn live in Lutz, and Alice just moved from Lutz to Land O’ Lakes.

Kaitlyn will be attending Terrace Community Middle School in Temple Terrace. Kylie will be attending Buchanan Middle School in Tampa, and Alice will be attending Cypress Creek Middle High in Wesley Chapel.

Alice’s mom, Michelle Milone, is thrilled that Alice was nominated for the program.

“All three of you should be so super-duper proud of yourselves,” Milone told the girls, during a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

“I think it’s really, really great,” Milone said.

“When I was in high school, I went to something called GHP, the governor’s honors program. It was paid for by the state. It was a big deal. I learned a lot.

“I went to law camp, one year,” she added. “I went to Spanish camp.”

“I met people. I learned things,” Milone said. She’s glad the girls can take advantage of this opportunity.

Like Milone, Andrea and Kiel Flynn are delighted that the girls were nominated.

They estimated the conference cost for each of the girls to be around $3,000, and that doesn’t count the expenses that Flynn, Milone or Dave and Melissa Britton will incur because they’ll be on their own.

While it’s pricey, Milone and Flynn think its worthwhile because they believe the experience will have a lasting impression.

Published June 14, 2017

Local youth attends Trump’s address to Congress

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Like millions of other Americans, Colin Cagle viewed President Donald Trump’s first speech to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 28.

Unlike most, the 13-year-old Odessa resident, attended Trump’s speech in Washington D.C.

He was the invited guest of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

Colin Cagle, left, was an invited guest of Rep. Gus Bilirakis during President Donald Trump’s first speech to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 28 in Washington D.C. The 13-year old Odessa resident is in seventh grade at Martinez Middle School.
(Courtesy of Sharri and Bill Cagle)

That fact is even more impressive, considering each member of congress was allotted just one extra ticket for Trump’s address.

Cagle, a seventh-grader at Martinez Middle School, was thrilled to receive the rare invitation.

“I was just extremely thankful, and I was in shock. I was so surprised,” Cagle, said.

Bilirakis first became aware of Cagle when his family requested tickets for President Trump’s Inauguration on Jan. 20. (Though Bilirakis’ office was out of tickets, Rep. Dennis Ross was able to pitch in.)

Cagle and Bilirakis have remained in touch, and the congressman became enthralled by the youth’s keen passion for politics.

That was furthered once Bilirakis’ office came across a 6 ½-minute NBC News feature on Cagle’s political interests and ideology.

Cagle, an unabashed Trump supporter, left the address content with the president’s remarks on strengthening the military and unifying the country.

“He put out plans that I know that both Democrats and Republicans can all stand behind,” Cagle said. “Overall, it was very presidential, and it was an amazing experience.”

The teenager’s visit to Washington D.C. also included tours of the U.S. Capitol Building, the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress. “It was really awesome,” he said.

Though Cagle always has had an interest in politics, his curiosity peaked following the Feb. 2016 death of his 75-year-old grandfather, Lyndon Hooper.

During his visit to Washington D.C., 13-year-old Colin Cagle received tours of the U.S. Capitol Building, the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress.

According to Cagle’s mother, Sharri, the youth’s grandfather was “extremely involved” in politics, assisting with numerous campaigns, including former Republican Congresswoman Katherine Harris.

Following his grandfather’s death, Cagle closely monitored the 2016 presidential race, heavily researching the hot-button issues.

Trump’s position on health care reform and immigration were two of many Cagle agreed with.

“I kind of formed my own opinions, and they happened to match up with President Trump’s,” Cagle explained.

He then put his conservative principles in action.

Prior to the election of the 45th president, Cagle volunteered at Republican call centers in Carrollwood, Brandon and Orlando.

He also attended three of President Trump’s campaign rallies in Tampa, Lakeland and Ocala.

Being such an open Trump supporter has come with some challenges, however.

Cagle’s mother acknowledged her son has received “a lot of backlash.”

Yet, he’s stood firm in his viewpoints.

“I’m proud of him,” she said. “I think that’s important to stand with your convictions, and not waver when you believe in something, and not change who you are depending on who you’re with,” he said.

She added: “I know how ugly politics can be. So, we try to use things as a learning experience for him, and he’s seen the good and the bad.”

Cagle said he hopes one day to make a difference in politics, perhaps as a senator or congressman.

“I’d like to work for a congressman when I’m in college, so that way I can get some hands-on experience,” he said. “I just like how all the congressman and senators are running to make a difference, to help our country be better.”

With plans to start a Young Republicans Club at Martinez Middle, his passion for government and politics doesn’t appear to be waning anytime soon.

“He spends so much time and effort learning the issues at hand, and trying to base his opinion on facts,” his mother said. “We just tell him to be open-minded, listen to both sides, and base your opinion on facts, and try not to engage in ugliness.”

Meanwhile, the young conservative remains pleased with President Trump, less than two months in office.

“Everything he’s said he’s going to do, he’s doing it,” Cagle said. “He’s not really backtracking. Obviously, he’s going to have to make some compromises, which is what he’s saying. But, he’s still sticking to the main principles of what he said he’s going to be doing.”

Published March 8, 2017

Local women join Women’s March on Washington

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When they set out for the 13-hour trek from Lutz to the nation’s capital, the women weren’t sure what to expect.

These women drove from Lutz to take part in the Women’s March in Washington D.C. They are, from left, Kathy Abrams, Betsy Murdock, Ivana Sheppard, Ana Torres and Katherine Pogorzelski.
(Courtesy of Betsy Murdock)

Betsy Murdock, Ivana Sheppard, Ana Torres, Kathy Abrams and Katherine Pogorzelski shared a van to make the trip.

Along the way, they wondered how big the crowd would be and how diverse.

When they arrived to join the Women’s March on Washington, on Jan. 21, the experience vastly exceeded their expectations.

The crowd was huge, and diverse.

They saw women pushing strollers. Women walking with walkers. Women in wheelchairs. They saw young men holding signs, dads with kids on their shoulders, old men taking the Metro to be part of the march.

One woman climbed a post to get a better view. Betsy Murdock could relate: She said she had to hold her cellphone high over her head to get photos of the crowd.

“It was an awe-inspiring experience for us all,” Sheppard said.

“The march breathed life into our belief in the common good that binds people of different races, genders, nationalities, sexualities, and all walks of life,” she said.

It was important to join the march, Torres said. “There were so many different issues that were affected by the election of Donald Trump that I was concerned about the vision that he represented … I didn’t want history to be written that said that we didn’t try to resist the vision that basically won the election.”

Abrams agrees it’s important to be involved: “I have never been active politically before. Now, I am.’”

Participating in the Women’s March was just the beginning, they said.

The March, Murdock said, was Day 1.

“It’s not ending at Day 1,” Murdock said.

Published February 1, 2017

Local 9/11 service honors and celebrates first responders

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As the nation paused to remember the lives lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks 15 years ago this year, Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel had a special service to celebrate and honor the community’s first responders.

Pastor Scott Lindner presents Pasco County Sheriff’s Deputy Sarah Walker and Sgt. Sam Pepenella to the congregation at the end of the service. They are assigned to District 2, which includes Wesley Chapel, Lutz and Land O'Lakes. (Richard K. Riley/Photos)
Pastor Scott Lindner presents Pasco County Sheriff’s Deputy Sarah Walker and Sgt. Sam Pepenella to the congregation at the end of the service. They are assigned to District 2, which includes Wesley Chapel, Lutz and Land O’Lakes.
(Richard K. Riley/Photos)

The church, at 29617 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, held a 10 a.m. service to celebrate and honor the community’s local police officers, fire and rescue first responders.

The church also provided a meal for all guests, and took its hospitality a step further by delivering meals to first responders on duty at area fire stations and sheriff’s department stations serving Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City, Land O’ Lakes and Lutz.

The church also remembered four-legged first responders by providing special treats for them.

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks. Two of the planes were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania.

The attacks resulted in more than 3,000 deaths, including more than 400 police officers and firefighters.

The special service at Atonement Lutheran Church was an expression of gratitude for the work that first responders do every day to serve the community, according to a release announcing the event.

Published September 14, 2016

This sign in the church lobby, created by young Sunday School students at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, expresses gratitude for first responders. It was posted to welcome members of the local fire and police stations to a special 9/11 service at the church.
This sign in the church lobby, created by young Sunday School students at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, expresses gratitude for first responders. It was posted to welcome members of the local fire and police stations to a special 9/11 service at the church.
These Boy Scouts, listening here, served as an honor guard — posting the American Flag — before and after the service.
These Boy Scouts, listening here, served as an honor guard — posting the American Flag — before and after the service.

 

 

Wesley Chapel: No. 1 job market

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Wesley Chapel is at the top of the list for “best job market” in Florida, according to a report from WalletHub on 2016’s Best & Worst Florida Cities for Finding a Job.

The Washington D.C.-based financial website ranked 130 cities in the state in three categories: job market, socio-economic environment and overall.

While Wesley Chapel came in first, Lutz and Land O’ Lakes ranked 16 and 17, respectively, as best job markets.

In this category, reviewers looked at job opportunities, employment growth, starting salaries and unemployment rates.

In ranking for socio-economic environment, they considered median annual income, average commute times, employee benefits, housing and transportation costs, crime rates and social life, such as things to do and places to go.

Wesley Chapel scored second in affordable housing and third for lowest unemployment for high school graduates.

Overall, Wesley Chapel’s scores earned a fourth place finish behind Sarasota in first place, Jacksonville Beach in second place and Pensacola in third place.

Still, average workdays and commute times were factors working against Wesley Chapel, which mustered only a 66th place on socio-economic environment factors alone.

Lutz ranked 27th on the socio-economic score and 11th overall, while Land O’ Lakes languished in 113th place in socio-economic rankings and 46th overall.

Tampa ranked 15th in the job market, ninth in socio-economic environment and sixth overall. Brandon came in second behind Wesley Chapel in job market, 68th in socio-economic environment and fifth overall.

Spring Hill was 126th overall, 121st in the job market and 125th in socio-economic.

Miami Gardens sat at the bottom of the list overall and in job market, and rose only to 124th spot on the socio-economic

scale.

The full WalletHub report is available at WalletHub.com/edu/best-cities-in-florida-for-jobs/21610.

Published July 6, 2016