Land O' Lakes High School

Pasco homeowners to see slight dip in school taxes

August 17, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County School Board has given first-round approval to a proposed $1.2 billion budget that includes a slightly lower tax bill for homeowners.

Under the proposed rate, the owner of a $125,000 home, after deducting the homestead exemption, would pay $677.30 in taxes. That’s $33.60 lower than the homeowner paid last year.

Construction activity is well under way on a new high school on Old Pasco Road, which will open initially as a high school and a middle school in the 2017-2018 school year. It is one of the district’s biggest capital improvement projects this year. (Image courtesy of Pasco County Schools) — Construction activity is well under way on a new high school on Old Pasco Road, which will open initially as a high school and a middle school in the 2017-2018 school year. It is one of the district’s biggest capital improvement projects this year.
(Image courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

School board members voted unanimously for the proposed budget, but won’t take final action on the proposed rate until a second and final hearing, set for 6 p.m., on Sept. 13. That hearing will be in the School Board Meeting Room, at 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

While the budget has received first-round approval, school board members Steve Luikart and Alison Crumbley said there need to be some changes.

“It is a work in progress,” Luikart said.

“We’re identifying some of the areas that we have needs in,” he said, noting he was in a meeting with district staff to discuss how to move some funding to provide additional support for some of the district’s lower-functioning schools.

The district also needs to take action to address its graduation rate, which slipped, Luikart said.

“Those are two priorities,” he said. “We’ve got to do whatever it is that we have to change.”

It could mean adding more staff or providing some new curriculum to address the needs, he said.

“That’s something they’re looking into,” he said.

The board also has an executive session set for Aug. 16 to discuss collective bargaining.

“We’re still trying to get the highest percentage we can, for our employees,” he said. “We’re one of the only counties left in the state that has a total health package that the district picks up.”

Sometimes there’s a push for a bigger salary increase, but Luikart said he’d rather go with a lesser percent increase, in order to preserve the health benefits.

School Board member Alison Crumbley said it’s imperative that the district’s budget reflect the needs of the students within the classrooms of the district’s 21 D schools.

The school grades came out after much of the budget had already been put into place, so the district is now looking at things that need to be redirected, Crumbley said.

The budget’s proposed general fund is around $596 million. That’s $21.6 million more than it was last year, representing a 3.77 percent increase.

This school year, it opened Wiregrass Elementary in Wesley Chapel, and added two magnet programs at Centennial Middle and Bayonet Point Middle schools.

It also is opening two new special education centers, Achieve Center of Pasco and Achieve Center at Richey.

Other items included in the budget are a $1.6 million digital classroom allocation for computers, iPads and digital supports.

The district’s 2016-2017 budget for capital projects totals about $284 million, which is a decrease of $48.3 million, representing a drop of about 17.6 percent.

The capital project appropriations are for High School GGG, being built on Old Pasco Road, which is set to open next school year. It will open initially as a middle school and a high school on the same campus.

Elementary School B, in Bexley Ranch, is also under construction to help relieve overcrowding in Central Pasco schools.

Major remodeling also is planned at Land O’ Lakes High School, Woodland Elementary and Marchman Technical College.

The budget also includes scores of other improvement projects at schools around the district.

Published August 17, 2016

Bus riders will get new routes, shorter waits at bus stops

August 3, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Shorter wait times at bus stops on State Road 54 and a new Land O’ Lakes connector bus route are ready for a roll-out.

Effective Aug. 15, riders on Bus Route 54, known as the Cross County Connector, will have new Saturday service, a new route pattern with a bus stop on U.S. 19, and buses that run every hour, not every two hours.

The route will stretch from U.S. 19 to City Hall in Zephyrhills, with stops in between at The Shops at Wiregrass and Tampa Premium Outlets.

Pasco County will give bus riders an upgrade with two new buses that have plush seats, reading lights and luggage racks. (Courtesy of Pasco County) — Pasco County will give bus riders an upgrade with two new buses that have plush seats, reading lights and luggage racks.
(Courtesy of Pasco County)

To ensure the shorter waits, some bus stops with low ridership along Duck Slough Boulevard and within the Trinity area served by Bus Route 23-Little Road will be discontinued.

“It’s going to make our routes more efficient,” said Philip Pumphrey, Pasco County’s public transportation director.

Riders also will get an upgrade with two new 40-foot buses with plush seats, reading lights and luggage racks.

The goal is to give riders more commuting options and a better ride, Pumphrey said.

The Pasco County Commission approved the new service route on State Road 54 at its July 26 meeting in New Port Richey.

The Land O’ Lakes bus service is scheduled for March 18, pending approval of Pasco County’s proposed 2017 budget.

The route will move north on U.S. 41 with bus stops that include the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, post office, Land O’ Lakes High School and the detention center.

A loop eastward along State Road 54 will have stops at Collier Commons and the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library.

The new bus routes and shorter time waits were among recommendations in a report from Tindale Oliver & Associates. The consulting firm completed a study of the county’s transportation needs into 2040.

By extending Bus Route 54 to U.S. 19, county officials anticipate riders can transfer directly to Bus Route 14-Madison Street; Bus Route 18-Tarpon Springs/Grand Boulevard; Bus Route 25-Rowan Road, and Bus Route 23-Little Road.

There will be fewer transfers overall for riders trying to connect with the cross-county connector and destinations to the east or to board Bus Route 19 for destinations south, and from there to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority system (PSTA).

Future improvements recommended by Tindale Oliver’s consultants include bus service until 11 :30 p.m., cutting wait times to 30 minutes on all routes and adding Sunday service. The consultants also recommended adding 30-minute local and express bus routes in future, and providing a 15-minute rapid bus service.

Published August 3, 2016

Forester’s days are anything but routine

July 13, 2016 By B.C. Manion

One day, Mona Neville may be riding in an airplane over Pasco County searching for signs of Southern Pine Beetle infestations.

Another day, she may be talking to a homeowner who wants to create a stewardship plan for his property, or explaining a cost-share program aimed at encouraging healthier forests.

Jake English and Mona Neville discuss plans for managing English’s pine forest, and also talk over some cost-sharing programs available through Florida Forest Service. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Jake English and Mona Neville discuss plans for managing English’s pine forest, and also talk over some cost-sharing programs available through Florida Forest Service.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

Or, perhaps she’ll be providing technical advice on tree ordinances to local governments or guiding some scouts through some forested land — in their quest to earn a badge.

Neville’s job — as the forester for Pasco County — is anything but a 9-to-5 behind the desk routine.

In fact, if you call her, chances are she’ll be out in the field.

And that’s exactly how it should be, said Neville, who grew up in Wesley Chapel, graduated from Land O’ Lakes High School, and received her bachelor’s degree in forestry management from the University of Florida.

“We’re out of the office more than we’re in the office, or we try to be. That’s the whole goal, working with the landowners,” Neville said.

She began her career with the Florida Forest Service Withlacoochee Forestry Center, as a state lands forester. She was delighted when she had the chance to return to her roots. She became the forester for Pasco County in January and is stationed in the forest service’s Dade City office.

“As the county forester, we help any private landowner with any of their forest management needs,” Neville said.

She also can help local governments with urban forestry or parks forestry issues, she said, And, she can advise private landowners on urban landscape issues, she said.

“It may be somebody in a development that calls me and it looks like their tree is dying or declining, or they don’t know what type of tree it is, and they want to know more about it. I’ll go out and see them,” she said.

“It could be shade tree calls, or forest health calls,” Neville said.

Pasco County Forester Mona Neville uses a prism to help gauge the number of trees in an acre of pine forest.

“Some of the bigger developments, that do their own maintenance, will call when they have sick trees,” she said.

If a homeowner’s association needs technical advice, she’s happy to provide it.

The Withlacoochee District includes Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter and Lake counties, and each county has its own forester.

Neville said she’s noticed a growing interest in the preservation of forested lands.

“That whole sustainability concept is really starting to come back,” she said.

Recently, she made a visit to Jake English’s wooded property in Land O’ Lakes.

She was there to help English work on his stewardship plan and to explain some cost-share programs available through the Florida Forest Service.

There were cows grazing on the property.

“They go through the pine stand and chew up all of the grass, and mow it for him,” she said.

“Florida Forest Service offers several cost-shares, different times a year,” Neville said. Those include programs to prevent the spread of Southern Pine Beetles, to eradicate cogongrass, to thin out pine stands and to replant trees.

“This property is due for a thinning, because trees can only grow so much before they’re competing too much for nutrients,” Neville said.

“A healthy stand needs to be thinned, usually 15 (years) to 20 years after planting. And, then you go out another 15 (years) to 20 years and you start getting the bigger, more quality, better trees,” she said.

“The prescribed burning, a lot of people don’t realize, puts a bunch of the nutrients back into the ground.

“We will assist, when we can, to help landowners do a prescribed burn,” Neville said.

In addition to returning nutrients to the ground, a prescribed burn reduces fuel that can spread fires quickly when lightning sparks a blaze.

“Most of our wildfires are lightning strike-induced,” Neville said.

When a stand is thinned out, the remaining trees have a better chance to thrive.

The forest service will also cover a portion of the costs to eradicate cogongrass, which Neville describes as “a big invasive nightmare.”

“Cogongrass is an exotic, invasive, that was brought in originally to feed cattle, except they found that cows don’t like it,” she said.

“It usually takes two years, if not more, to kill a patch of cogongrass,” she said.

English grew up on his property, but his family later sold it for a planned subdivision. When the economy crashed, plans for the subdivision were dropped, and English was able to buy the property back four years ago.

“He has a stewardship plan written up, which is a 10-year plan that goes through and pretty much maps out what his goals are for his property,” Neville said.

“Normally, when we do the stewardship plan, they do the best management practices,” she added.

English appreciates Neville’s guidance.

“This is a huge help for me. Otherwise, I would be clueless as far as how to control invasive weeds and other issues,” English said.

After consulting with English, Neville will hop in her white truck and head off to her next assignment.

Her knowledge, coupled with her enthusiasm, conveys her passion for her work.

“I love the fact that it’s never the same,” Neville said.

Want to know more?
If you’d like to know more about cost-share programs through the Florida Forest Service or about services offered by the Pasco County Forester, contact Mona Neville at (352) 523-5101 or .

Published July 13, 2016

LOL High names new girls basketball coach

June 29, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Ed Mulliken has been named the new Land O’ Lakes High varsity girls basketball coach.

He replaces Phyllis Crain, who guided the Gators to regional championships in 2014 and 2015; Crain compiled an 85-50 in five seasons as head coach.

Mulliken, a longtime coach throughout Kentucky and Ohio, last coached girls basketball three years ago at Evangel Christian School in Louisville, Kentucky.

Ed Mulliken was named the new Land O’ Lakes varsity girls basketball coach. He replaces Phyllis Crain, who compiled an 85-50 mark in five seasons as head coach. (Courtesy of Ed Mulliken) — Ed Mulliken was named the new Land O’ Lakes varsity girls basketball coach. He replaces Phyllis Crain, who compiled an 85-50 mark in five seasons as head coach.
(Courtesy of Ed Mulliken)

With relatives moving to Pasco County, Mulliken sought out various head coaching opportunities throughout the area before getting in touch with Karen Coss, Land O’ Lakes High’s athletic director.

Mulliken was hired after several rounds of interviews with school officials.

Mulliken has retained Justin Dargahi as an assistant, and former Sunlake High basketball player Alison Washburn will also join the new coach’s staff.

As he transitions to his new coaching job, Mulliken has already met with several prospective players, and recently held three open gyms to evaluate the team’s initial strengths and weaknesses. (Due to FHSAA Bylaws, coaches cannot assign sport-specific drills or tasks during off-season open facilities sessions.)

Once sanctioned practices are in place, Mulliken plans to beef up the team’s conditioning efforts.

“By the time basketball season starts, these girls will probably be in the best shape they’ve ever been in,” he said. “That’s one thing we believe in and that’s one thing our coaches will believe in: the girls being in great shape and being super conditioned, so when they get into the ball game, they’ll know the game is going to be easier than what practice was.”

To do that, Mulliken will try to instill an unquestioned work ethic by pushing the players through rigorous workouts and training.

“You can’t make up for athletic ability, you can’t make up for size, but you can control how good of shape you’re in and how aggressive you are on the floor,” he said. “You come out and give it 100 percent, and you get out what you put in.”

Mulliken noted that teams he’s coached in the past have always had a “scrappy” identity.

“The one thing that I will have is…an aggressive team,” he said. …“We’ll push the ball and we’ll get after people. I don’t believe in playing a lot of zone — I want to try to control the tempo of the game.”

Land O’ Lakes is coming off a 14-11 (2-4 district) mark in 2016. The new coach will have to replace five seniors from last year’s squad, including top scorers Makela Canada (12.4 points per game) and Gabby Mills (11.4 points per game).

With the team in a rebuilding stage, Mulliken said his first year as Land O’ Lakes High’s coach will be a “learning experience” for both the players and coaches.

While it’s too soon to attach a win-loss goal for 2017, Mulliken is more focused on making sure the team just “gets better every day.”

“You can go all season and not win a single game, but you can have growth and learn a lot of things about yourself,” Mulliken said. “It’s really up to the girls and the coaching staff with what we’re going to do with this team.

“We’re going to put in a lot of work.”

Key Losses
Makala Canada (12.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.7 assists per game, 1.9 steals per game)
Gabby Mills (11.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 blocks per game)
Breana Barnes (5.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.9 assists per game)

Key Returnees
Lily Lazar (5.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG)

–Stats via Maxpreps.com

Published June 29, 2016

Making 3s with ease

June 15, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Justin Dargahi has a penchant for knocking down 3-point shots.

So much so that he holds the Guinness World Record for the most 3s made from NBA range (23 feet, 9 inches) in one minute.

Firing three after three inside the Land O’ Lakes High School gymnasium, Dargahi knocked down 26 treys in 60 seconds on Jan. 4, breaking the previous set mark of 25. His feat became an official Guinness World Record in early May.

Justin Dargahi broke the Guinness World Record for most 3-pointers made in one minute (26) on Jan. 4.
(Photos courtesy of Justin Dargahi)

“I’ve always been the best shooter on my team in school,” said Dargahi, the head JV (Junior Varsity) coach for the Land O’ Lakes girls basketball team and former basketball player at Cambridge Christian School. “Shooting was always easy to me.”

The skill comes so easily for Dargahi that he claims he makes anywhere from 75 percent to 80 percent of 3-pointers he attempts when he’s “just shooting around for fun.”

He figures he can make about 95 percent of his free throw attempts, too.

“Anytime I was on a (school) team, I would always be the technical free-throw shooter,” said Dargahi, who began playing organized hoops at 11 years old. “I had a green light to shoot 3s most of the time. It was always like, ‘If we need a three, let’s get (Dargahi) the ball or set a screen for him.’

“In games, I would show off sometimes shooting 10 feet behind the (3-point) line,” he said.

Out of curiosity, the JV coach decided to look into some of the timed 3-point records a few years ago. When he saw some of the record totals, he realized he might have a decent chance at knocking down some of them.

“When I saw that record of 25, I was like, ‘I could get that,’” Dargahi said, with an air of confidence in his voice.

On his first attempt at the record, he nailed 18 shots.

While impressive for most, Dargahi knew he could shoot at a much higher clip.

This is an image of the Guinness World Record certificate of Justin Dargahi’s feat.

“I had a lot of bad luck; I had one of my friends helping me, and we weren’t clicking,” Dargahi said. “It just wasn’t scripted too well.”

To better organize a record-breaking strategy, Dargahi reckoned his best chance was to enlist the help of some of his JV roster at Land O’ Lakes.

About eight or nine of his players aided Dargahi by fetching loose balls and rapidly handing them to him at the top of the three-point arc as he continually fired from deep range.

The strategy worked, as he eventually knocked down 26 shots after a January JV practice.

“It was still kind of shocking when he got it,” sophomore Land O’ Lakes JV captain Claire Valeski said.

“We were all happy and all thought he would get it, but then again, it’s one of those things that’s like the luck of the draw,” she said.

Dargahi’s shooting philosophy was fixated on conserving energy.

“If I’m not on a great pace, I would stop. If I only have five or six (made 3s) after 20 seconds, instead of consume all my energy, I would just stop,” he said.

He also uses his arms more than his legs.

Dargahi admits he wished he could’ve put the record out of reach — perhaps making 29 or 30 3-pointers — knowing full well he may have to attempt the endeavor all over again if someone surpasses his current mark of 26.

While a prolific shooter during his high school career at Cambridge Christian, Dargahi didn’t receive much interest from college coaches.

“It’s hard when you’re 6 feet to play big-time college basketball, even if you are the best shooter,” said Dargahi, a 2007 graduate of the University of South Florida (USF). “I probably should’ve practiced on other stuff like dribbling and my defense.”

Instead, Dargahi settled for playing intramurals at USF, and occasionally entered shooting contests — which he typically won.

The love of the game and high-pressure competition led him into coaching, where he said he enjoys watching his players mature and develop their skills over the course of a season.

Despite his proclivity for making shots, Dargahi said he doesn’t particularly work with his JV players on their shooting technique.

“It’s hard for me to see through their eyes, because to me, it’s so easy,” he said. “I can’t get along their thought process, so I’m probably not the best shooting teacher.”

But, that doesn’t stop him from giving his players a few tips along the way.

“I would tell people: ‘Don’t worry about your form.’ The best shooters — a lot of them have weird form,” Dargahi said, noting that former NBA great Reggie Miller would cross his arms during his 3-point attempts. “I think form is totally overrated; I think (setting your) feet is more important. Do whatever you’re comfortable with.”

Dargahi doesn’t plan to end his shooting record quest anytime soon. The Land O’ Lakes hoops coach also has his eyes set on breaking the record for most made free throws in one minute (52) and the most 3-pointers made in two minutes (44).

Published June 15, 2016

Land O’ Lakes’ Hall of Fame adds members

June 8, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

The Land O’ Lakes Gators Athletics Foundation inducted five new members to the school’s athletics Hall of Fame during a dinner ceremony on May 24.

The inductees for the 2016 class were: the 2002-2003 girls soccer team, which won a state title; Jerry English, a longtime varsity softball coach; Lt. Col. Rhett Hierlmeier, a standout dual-sport athlete; Dianne McClendon, a key member of the Land O’ Lakes softball team during the late ‘70s; and Phil Teston, the school’s first player drafted in to the Major League Baseball.

About 180 people attended the induction ceremony. Approximately $12,000 to $15,000 was raised — most of which will go toward the construction of an athletic field house. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo) — About 180 people attended the induction ceremony. Approximately $12,000 to $15,000 was raised — most of which will go toward the construction of an athletic field house.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

The ceremony marked the school’s fourth Hall of Fame induction class, which began in 2013 after the Gators Athletics Foundation was established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

The foundation’s purpose is to “raise funds through donations and fundraising events for the direct benefit of the athletic programs at Land O’ Lakes High School.”

Antonio Tarver, a former World Boxing Council light heavyweight champion, was the keynote speaker for the ceremony, which drew about 180 people.

Jerry Brewster, vice president of the Gators Athletics Foundation, estimates that $12,000 to $15,000 was raised, several thousand dollars less than in previous years.

“The first three years we raised about $20,000 per year and so now the foundation has over $60,000 in there, but this past year, we just didn’t get as many sponsors as we had in prior years so…it was a little light from what we would’ve liked to have,” Brewster said.

Funds raised through the foundation are currently being allocated to build an athletic field house at the school, perhaps within the next five years.

From left: Dianne McClendon, Jerry English, Lt. Col. Rhett Hierlmeier and Phil Teston. (Courtesy of Land O' Lakes Gators Athletics Foundation) — From left: Dianne McClendon, Jerry English, Lt. Col. Rhett Hierlmeier and Phil Teston.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Gators Athletics Foundation)

Likely a $1 million to $1.5 million project, a field house would be the first step in upgrading the school’s athletic facilities in an effort to put it on par with other large schools throughout Tampa area. Ideally, features inside the field house could include boys and girls locker rooms, coaches’ rooms and a training area, Brewster said.

“We’ve got a vision of what we’d want it to look like,” the foundation’s vice president said. “We want to put an actual Hall of Fame (in) the field house, so when kids walk to the gym everyday, they have to go through the Hall of Fame; we want it to be something where kids can be inspired.”

In addition to nearly $70,000 in the foundation’s coffers, there’s an additional $150,000 commitment from a few of the foundation’s board members to help facilitate a field house project.

The organization also is in discussions with the Pasco County School Board to possibly create a joint partnership to spearhead a new athletic facility.

Meanwhile, in the next few months, the athletics foundation will deliberate candidates for next year’s Hall of Fame class. Typically, each class features a coach or administrator, a lifetime achievement award, one female athlete and two male athletes.

Both athletic prowess and the individual’s character are taken into account in evaluating Hall of Fame candidates, Brewster said.

Hall of Fame bios
2002-2003 Girls Soccer team
The Lady Gators capped off a 26-3 record in 2003 by winning the Class 2A state championship after they defeated Riviera Beach Suncoast High School 1-0. The Gators’ Stacy Bishop became the county’s all-time leading scorer during that season, while goalkeeper Shannon Aitken set the county’s career shutout mark. After the season, longtime girls soccer coach Vicki King was awarded the National Soccer Coaches Association coach of the year award.

Jerry English
Jerry English was the Land O’ Lakes varsity softball coach for 26 years, and also spent many years as the school’s assistant and head JV football coach before his retirement in 2003. During his tenure, English amassed 462 wins, 11 district championships, five regional championships, three sectional championships, three state final four appearances and two state runner-ups. He was also a two-time Florida Coach of the Year.
English taught PE, Social Studies and Diversified Career Technology (DCT) throughout his coaching career.

Lt. Col. Rhett Hierlmeier
Lt. Col. Rhett Hierlmeier (Class of ’95) lettered in both football and baseball at Land O’ Lakes High. In 1994, he captained the football team, where he was an all-conference quarterback and defensive back.
Hierlmeier earned a four-year Air Force ROTC scholarship and completed his private pilot’s license before attending the University of Florida. Upon being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Hierlmeier attended Joint Undergraduate Pilot Training, where he was a distinguished graduate earning the Air Education and Training Command commander’s trophy. He also earned two master’s degrees and served as an Air Officer Commanding at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Diane McClendon
Diane McClendon (Class of ’79) was an integral part of the Land O’ Lakes softball team in the late ‘70s; her stellar play helped the Lady Gators finish state runner-up in both 1977 and in 1979. After graduation from high school, McClendon enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.

Phil Teston
Phil Teston (Class of ’78) was a dual-sport athlete at Land O’ Lakes, excelling at both baseball and football. He was nominated to the all-area baseball team three consecutive years, and was a member of the Gators’ first district champion baseball team. In his senior season, the right-handed pitcher compiled a 0.86 ERA with 170 strikeouts in 87 innings. His performance on the baseball diamond caught the eyes of pro baseball scouts, as he was drafted in the 25th round by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1978—making him the school’s first Major League Baseball draft pick. Following a brief minor league stint, Teston became a registered cardiovascular invasive specialist, where he’s performed over 3,000 abdominal and thoracic endografts.

2016 Land O’ Lakes Athletic Hall of Fame class

2002-2003 girls soccer team
Jerry English—coach/administrator
Col. Rhett Hierlmeier—Lifetime Achievement Award
Dianne McClendon-female athlete
Phil Teston-male athlete

Published June 8, 2016

Local history project heads to national competition

June 1, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Land O’ Lakes High School freshmen Isabella Torres and Lauren Pinero-Colon weren’t even sure if they could squeeze competing at the local History Fair into their crowded school schedule.

But, the pre-International Baccalaureate students decided to give it a shot, and even pulled an all-nighter to finish their exhibit on time.

The hard work paid off.

They came in first at the district competition and placed second at state.

Isabella Torres, of Wesley Chapel, and Lauren Pinero-Colon, of Land O’ Lakes, are traveling to College Park, Maryland, to competed in the National History Day competition. Their exhibit, behind them, has been selected to represent the state of Florida in a display at The Smithsonian. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Isabella Torres, of Wesley Chapel, and Lauren Pinero-Colon, of Land O’ Lakes, are traveling to College Park, Maryland, to competed in the National History Day competition. Their exhibit, behind them, has been selected to represent the state of Florida in a display at The Smithsonian.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

Soon, they’ll be traveling to College Park, Maryland, to be among more than 3,000 students from around the world competing at the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest. The event is being held June 12 through June 16.

No matter how that turns out, the teenagers already have one claim to fame.

Their exhibit, “Sacagawea: Cultural Exchange Through New Encounters,” has been selected to be part of a special display.

“Every state affiliate gets to choose one project to represent the state. The state affiliate has chosen their project, and their project is going to be featured in The Smithsonian Museum,” said Jennifer O’Connor, coordinator of Pasco County’s History Fair.

Torres, of Wesley Chapel, and Pinero-Colon, of Land O’ Lakes, are the only Pasco County students who have placed at the state competition, and just the top two in the state are selected to go to the national competition, O’Connor said.

Their project examines the role that Sacagawea played in the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition.

“We thought she was kind of the star of the expedition,” Pinero-Colon said.

Historians focus on Lewis and Clark, she said, noting they “don’t really show how much of an asset she was to the expedition. We wanted to show that.

“She basically administered all of the exchanges between the Native Americans they encountered. She made it a lot easier for them to travel,” Pinero-Colon said.

“She was passed around through tribes against her will, so she knew the land very well,” she added.

Isabella Torres and Lauren Pinero-Colon conducted thorough research to create an exhibit tracing the life of Sacagawea and her contributions to Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery.

Sacagawea’s knowledge of the land and tribal languages made her invaluable, the students said.

“She served as an interpreter,” Pinero-Colon said.

Without Sacagawea, she said, ““We think that they wouldn’t have made it to the Pacific.”

The students tell the story of the Native American woman’s contributions through an elaborate exhibit tracing her life.

“They spent a lot of time looking for primary sources, and pictures and artifacts, that they could use, so that would help them in telling their story,” O’Connor said.

What sets this project apart is the quality of the research the students have done, O’Connor said.

“I think a lot of students will fall short, in that, they spend a lot of time on secondary sources, with the Internet,” O’Connor said.

Torres and Pinero-Colon, on the other hand, found information through the Library of Congress and tracked down researchers who specifically knew about Sacagawea.

“We spent time researching and interviewing professors for it, so we could kind of cross-examine all of the research, for different points of view on it,” Pinero-Colon said.

They wanted to be sure they were thorough, and relied on credible and knowledgeable sources, Torres said.

While they’ve earned the right to compete at the national level, there’s no funding available to cover the costs, so O’Connor and the students will be traveling at their own expense. They estimate that it will cost around $3,000 to cover travel expenses and contest costs.

This is some of the details included in the exhibit created by Isabella Torres and Lauren Pinero-Colon. Their work captured second place in the state history fair.

The students have set up a Go Fund Me account, in hopes of attracting some community support.

O’Connor has been involved with the district’s History Fair for nine years. “It’s always interesting to see what students will come up with,” she said.

“Most of the students learn the process of putting together the History Fair project in middle school.

“At the high school level, if they’re going to do History Fair project, they have to do it on their own. It’s not like there’s class time devoted to this. They have to do it on top of their other classes, staying after school, doing research,” O’Connor said.

The annual theme is broad enough to permit a wide range of projects, O’Connor said.

“The NHD (National History Day) theme provides a focused way to increase students’ historical understanding by developing a lens to read history, an organizational structure that helps students place information in the correct context and finally, the ability to see connections over time,” according to the organization’s website.

Contests are held each spring in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, and at international schools in Central America, China, Korea and South Asia, the website says.

Students create historical projects in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website.

Torres said she and Pinero-Colon wanted to compete because they believed it could help them in their college applications.

Plus, Torres added: “We just wanted to do something different. We don’t really participate in sports. We’re academic people. We wanted to apply knowledge and make something cool out of it.”

As it turns out, they did.

State History Fair winners from Pasco
Forty-six Pasco County Schools students competed at the 2016 Florida National History Day competition in Tallahassee in May.
Lauren Pinero-Colon and Isabella Torres won second place in the Senior Group Exhibit and earned them a right to compete at the national level.
Other Pasco winners were:

Akshaya Venkata, Land O’ Lakes High School: Economic Freedom Award, Senior Individual Website – Comparative Advantage of the Potosi Silver Mines
Jacqueline Cupo, Ariella Meier and Emerson Parks, Pasco Middle School: Third place, Junior Group Documentary – Hurricane Andrew and the Encounter with Florida
Shelton Ried, Paul R. Smith Middle School: Spirit of 45 Award, Junior Individual Documentary – Nazi Invasion of Florida
Pierce Thomas, Paul R. Smith Middle School: Third Place, Junior Individual Performance – Marco Polo and the Silk Road
Hannah Mayer, River Ridge Middle School: Outstanding County Award, Junior Individual Exhibit – Jeff Corwin Gone Wild
Ronak Argawal, Charles S. Rushe Middle School: Mayflower Scholarship, Junior Paper – James Cook

Published June 1, 2016

Local artist is making some noise

May 18, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“It is just a challenge being heard.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published May 18, 2016

Land O’ Lakes state title bid falls short

May 18, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

The score wasn’t indicative of how closely the game was played. At least that’s the opinion of Land O’ Lakes varsity softball head coach Mitch Wilkins on his team’s 5-0 loss to Plantation American Heritage in the Class 6A FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) state semifinals on May 6 in Vero Beach.

“I thought we played right even with them,” Wilkins said with authority. “Their bloop hits fell in and ours didn’t.”

Four of the Gators’ top hitters return next season, including sophomore Brianna Lindner, who led the team in home runs (6) this season. (Photos courtesy of Land O' Lakes Softball) — Four of the Gators’ top hitters return next season, including sophomore Brianna Lindner, who led the team in home runs (6) this season.
(Photos courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Softball)

Missed opportunities to score runs in the second, fifth and seventh innings handcuffed the Gators (27-3-1) from mounting a rally against American Heritage (26-2), the eventual Class 6A state champs.

Though Wilkins believes his squad matched up well with the Patriots, he acknowledged American Heritage was likely the best all-around team the Gators faced all year.

“I’d say their pitching was pretty close to Springstead (High), but hitting wise, I thought they were a little bit better than anyone we’ve faced other than maybe River Ridge,” the third-year Gators coach said.

While the Gators fell short in their hopes of winning a state title, advancing to the semifinals, or “Final Four,” will motivate the team to achieve even more success next year, Wilkins said.

“Getting the girls together and making the trip, it put a taste in their mouth that I think they’re looking to get back there,” he said. “We’re disappointed for the outcome, but in the same respect, we’re really excited and really wanting to get at it again.

“The girls were really looking forward to this season, because they knew they weren’t going to stop in the district (playoffs). They knew they were going to get to the postseason this year. They couldn’t wait to get started, and I think we’ll have the same feeling coming into next year knowing there’s a little unfinished business there,” he said.

The Land O’ Lakes Gators lost to Plantation American Heritage 5-0 in the Class 6A state semifinals on May 6 in Vero Beach.

Reaching the state tournament again won’t be an easy undertaking, as the Gators will no longer be able to rely upon the dominant arm of ace pitcher Shannon Saile, arguably the best pitcher in Pasco County this season. Saile, a Florida International University softball signee, compiled a 0.78 ERA and 269 strikeouts in 134 2/3 innings in her senior year.

Handling the loss of Saile’s immense production in the circle is something the Land O’ Lakes coaching staff will address in the offseason and into fall ball.

The team’s No. 2 pitcher Callie Turner (0.46 ERA, 79 strikeouts in 46 innings) is likely to step into the starting role now vacated by Saile, assuming the freshman continues to show the promise she displayed in the circle this past season.

“She’s got all the tools that it’ll take to become as dominant as Shannon (Saile) was this year. She just probably needs a little more experience,” Wilkins said about the rising sophomore. “She just needs to mature a little bit and keep her emotions in check, and understand what her job is. She doesn’t have to do everything — we’ve got a solid defense behind us — and she doesn’t have to strike out every batter, she just has to keep the ball off the fat part of the bat.”

Finding quality pitching won’t be the only aspect the Gators’ head coach will focus on as he looks to build an even more successful squad next season. He also plans to tackle the hitting woes the Gators experienced down the stretch of the state playoffs. In their final three games, Land O’ Lakes scored a total of two runs — each scored in one-run victories over River Ridge High and Springstead High, before being shut out by American Heritage.

“In the last three games, we didn’t hit as well as we needed to,” Wilkins said, “so that’s something that we’ll definitely be working on.”

Luckily, the Gators’ top four hitters are returning in Ashley Smith (.449 avg.), Jessie McCallister (.442 avg.), Tia Williams (.433 avg., four home runs) and Brianna Lindner (.373 avg. six home runs.)

However, putting those hitters in the right spots in the batting order, as new faces are added to the lineup, is the challenge going forward.

“We have to figure out how we’re going to realign our lineup,” Wilkins said, “and figure out what the best combination is going to be…and what works best (to) score some more runs later in the season when it counts.”

Key Departures:

Pitcher Shannon Saile (0.78 ERA, 269 strikeouts)
Catcher Tayler Holt (.347 avg, 14 RBIs)
Infielder Kendall Tipton (.311 avg, 12 doubles, 15 RBIs)

Key Returnees:

Pitcher Callie Turner (0.46 ERA, 79 strikeouts)
Outfielder Jessie McCallister (.442 avg., 14 RBIs)
Third baseman Brianna Lindner (.373 avg., six home runs, 29 RBIs)
Utility player Ashley Smith (.449 avg., two home runs, 16 RBIs)
Shortstop Tia Williams (.433 avg., four home runs, 32 RBIs)

Published May 18, 2016

Area spring football preview: Pasco County

May 4, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Spring football practices are underway for high schools across the state. While the first games of the 2016 season are still several months away, Florida high schools are allowed a maximum of 20 practice sessions between April 25 to May 31, according to FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) guidelines.

Here’s a look at what schools in our coverage area are working with:

Land O’ Lakes High School
Coach: Brian Wachtel (6th year)
2015 Record: 3-7

The Land O' Lakes Gators are looking to avoid a third straight losing season. A more manageable season in 2016 should help. (File photos) — The Land O’ Lakes Gators are looking to avoid a third straight losing season. A more manageable season in 2016 should help.
(File photos)

Last season was rough for the Gators, who failed to win a home game at “The Swamp,” and were shutout by their primary rival in Sunlake High. Playing five consecutive road games didn’t help the cause, either. To relive their magical 8-2 season back in 2013, the Gators must find some consistent play at the quarterback position, whether that is from rising senior Spencer Childress or rising junior Jude May. Though the team loses their top two rushers from last season in Rashawn Kindell (526 yards rushing, 5.7 yards per carry) and Tommy Farmer (417 yards, 7 TDs), the Gators may have a breakout candidate in tailback Quintin Smith, who’ll be a senior. On defense, the Gators return standout safety Justin Kren, a capable tackler (51 solo tackles) and ballhawk (five interceptions).

Pasco County High School
Coach: Tom McHugh (9th year)
2015 Record: 4-6

A difficult schedule and some tough breaks steered the Pirates into a losing 2015 season. Despite starting the year 3-0, Pasco High ran into some tough competition in the middle of the season, losing four straight games to North Marion, Jesuit, Mitchell and Sunlake high schools. A heartbreaking 44-43 overtime loss to Springstead High added fuel to the fire. While the win-loss total doesn’t show it, the Pirates were loaded with talent, including cornerback Jayvauhn Myers (Auburn signee), offensive lineman Jamal Mention (Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College signee) and tight end Nick Bryant (Middle Tennessee signee). Coach McHugh must find a way to replace those productive players, and find a reliable quarterback after Michael Penix Jr. transferred to Tampa Bay Tech.

Sunlake High School
Coach: Bill Browning (9th year)
2015 Record: 8-3

The Sunlake Seahawks are looking to have their seventh straight winning season. To do so, Coach Bill Browning will have to replace several starters on the offensive line.

Another year, another terrific record. That’s been the narrative for the Seahawks over the past six seasons under the leadership of head coach Bill Browning. Since 2010, the team has a combined record of 53-13. Though the team returns several players at the skill positions, one of the big questions leading into the season is how the team will fare on the offensive line, with the departures of Bryce Cooley (Angelo State signee), Joe Russum (Black Hills State signee) and Leo Baez (Bluefield College). If the Seahawks can create cohesion and provide enough protection in the trenches for standout pro-style quarterback Justin Hall (1,729 yards, 17 TDs, 3 INTs), they should be in store for another winning season.

Wesley Chapel High School
Coach: Anthony Egan (1st year)
2015 record: 2-8

The Wildcats have suffered four straight losing seasons, and now it’s up to first-year head coach Anthony Egan — a former River Ridge High assistant — to turn the program around. Luckily for Egan, the cupboard isn’t bare. Signal-caller Jacob Thomas (44 percent completion, 1,825 yards, 17 TDs, 13 INTs) returns as well as pass-catchers Ben Goins (31 receptions, 403 yards) and Devin Singletary (23 receptions, 240 yards). On defense, the Wildcats return their top three tacklers in Marcus Gillott, Ellrie Allen and Christian Austin. To improve their record, the Wildcats must find a way to develop a consistent rushing attack (rushers averaged just 2.6 yards per carry) and they must win close games (the team lost three games by seven points or fewer in 2015.)

Wiregrass Ranch High School
Coach: Mark Kantor (2nd year)
2015 record: 2-8

Coach Mark Kantor embarks on year two of what is perhaps a long-term rebuilding job. Prior to Kantor’s hiring in 2015, the Bulls had three coaches in four years, combining for an 8-32 record during that span. To improve in 2016, the Bulls must find a way to stay healthy (19 season-ending injuries were suffered in 2015) and significantly improve on offense. The team averaged just 10.6 points per game in 2015, and was shutout in half of their games. If the Bulls can’t muster up better production from the quarterback position, it’ll be tough to secure a winning record.

Zephyrhills High School
Coach: Nick Carroll (1st year)
2015 record: 8-3

The Bulldogs notched their fourth straight winning season in 2015, but they’ll enter the 2016 season with a new head coach in Nick Carroll, a former Sunlake High assistant. Carroll will try to duplicate the success of former coach Reggie Roberts, but will have a challenge on his hands. Running back Antwione Sims, the team’s leading offensive playmaker, tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) over a month ago, and will likely miss several games in 2016. Additionally, Carroll must find a way to get Bulldogs players to gel, and learn the style of offense and defense he’s implementing. Carroll expects several incoming freshmen and sophomores to make an impact in his first season.

Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Coach: Mike Smith (2nd year, 11-man)
2015 Record: 4-4

The Warriors had a respectable 2015 season, if you consider it was their first season playing 11-man football after they dominated the 6-man ranks for several years. However, the team may be in for a setback in 2016, as they’ll be without their top offensive player, wide receiver Issac Johnson (62 receptions, 1,013 yards), and top defensive player, defensive lineman J’ Won Pickett. Both Johnson (Iowa Western Community College) and Pickett (Minnesota State Community College) are playing football at junior colleges next season. The Warriors will also have to develop a new quarterback with the impending graduation of Matthew Iovine, an accurate passer (67 percent completion, 1,475 yards). Being without last year’s quarterback and top receiver may open the door to additional carries for returning running backs such as John Emmanual, Dwight Thomas and Mykh’ael Chavis.

Published May 4, 2016