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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

University of South Florida

Pasco Sheriff’s Office unveils app to help stress

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Pasco Sgt. Matt Rosenbloom has handled countless distressing calls throughout his 12 years in law enforcement.

“I’ve seen things that people shouldn’t see out there,” he said.

Sometimes it takes several days for him to get past a particular incident. Witnessing the death of a child, for instance, takes a heavy toll.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said post-traumatic stress is a ‘hidden secret’ in the law enforcement community. Along with the app, the Sheriff’s Office is working on several different projects to address the issue from both the member and the family side, which includes available training regarding emotional survival and coping techniques.
(Kevin Weiss)

It’s something many deputies aren’t mentally prepared for emotionally, the sergeant said.

“We’re trained to deal with the physical dangers and to anticipate knowing that there’s those physical dangers,” Rosenbloom said. “What we are not often aware of are the long-term emotional health dangers that come along with the job.”

To help its members cope with those psychological scars, the law enforcement agency has developed a new smartphone app called Pasco Sheriff’s Office PTS (Post-Traumatic Stress).

The app offers resources, including mental health tools and videos for those who may be suffering from post-traumatic stress.

The app features a stress assessment questionnaire and also provides contact information to those who can provide help, including community partners such as BayCare and the University of South Florida. Other crisis resources include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the National Law Enforcement Officers Hotline.

The tool was developed in-house with help from some outside contractors, as part of a $150,000 pilot program related to post traumatic stress in law enforcement and ways to address the issue.

The funding was included in last year’s state budget that was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, after Rep. Danny Burgess and Sen. Wilton Simpson submitted a budget request on behalf of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

Along with the app, funding has been spent on several different projects to address the issue from both the member and the family side, including offering training for its members and their families regarding emotional survival and coping techniques.

At a March 15 media conference, Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said post-traumatic stress is a “hidden secret” and “never really been spoken about” among law enforcement circles.

He said the disorder has led to broken families, alcoholism and other problems among deputies, because the issue wasn’t addressed head-on.

The current, sometimes volatile climate for law enforcement doesn’t help matters, Nocco said. This year, so far, more than 30 officers nationwide have been killed in the line of duty.

The sheriff elaborated: “For a law enforcement deputy…you’re going from one person’s worst moment of their life, continuous all day long and then you go home. “We’re called upon during people’s worst times, and then what’s going on more and more in society is — no matter what we do, it is never good enough.

“I can tell you that is overwhelmingly stressing our members now that they know no matter what decisions they make, it’s going to be second-guessed the following day,” he said.

Pasco Sheriff PTS is now available through the Google Play store and soon will be in the Apple store.

Rosenbloom said he has already utilized the tool on a few occasions and has found it helpful.

An app that’s easily accessible
“The quick access is great because I would say for some deputies that immediately after the incident that adrenaline dumps, and now all of a sudden they’re experiencing these feelings.

“They could go on the app right then and there, or it may come days later, where they may start reliving that experience and saying, ‘Is this normal?’ and go back on the app,” Rosenbloom said.

Meanwhile, it provides “a good foundation” for deputies unfamiliar with post-traumatic stress and its effects, Rosenbloom added.

“There may be newer officers…who are not sure whether they’re feeling the right thing or whether they should still be feeling what they’re feeling after a critical incident.

“This app breaks it down, asks questions and, in the end, it gives you an assessment of whether what you’re feeling is correct or not,” Rosenbloom explained.

The app is also meant for deputies’ families. Rosenbloom’s wife, Lena, has utilized the app to access support for herself and her children.

“You need just a couple of taps to get you help,” Lena said, noting its user-friendly capabilities.

“When you’re in a crisis, the last thing you want to do is try and find a phone number, pull out a card and (find) the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) number,” she said.

While mainly geared toward law enforcement and their families, the sheriff encourages anyone to use the tool, if he or she needs guidance or help.

The sheriff specifically mentioned the tool’s usefulness for other first responders, such as firefighters, as well as teenagers, parents and teachers.

“We want everybody to go on here and use this,” Nocco said. “We want to make sure they see it’s available, because the intent when we asked this of the Legislature was to say, ‘Look, we’re going to build it, we’ll develop it, but at the same time, it’s not solely for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It’s going to be used for everybody.’”

The Sheriff’s Office will not use the app to collect data or information on users, Nocco said.

The app also will be updated continuously as new strategies come along in dealing with post-traumatic stress.

The goal is to provide assistance in time of need, Nocco said.

“Everybody feels like they’re swimming out at sea, and there’s nobody to help them; here’s another life preserver that we’re throwing out there, to help them get help, to make them feel better and to realize that they’re not alone,” Nocco said.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.

Symptoms of PTSD:

  • Reliving the event, or having flashbacks in bad memories or nightmares
  • Avoiding situations that remind you of the traumatic event
  • Having contant negative beliefs and feelings, such as guilt and shame, or feeling the world is dangerous and can’t trust anyone
  • Feeling overly jittery and alert, and always on the lookout for danger

People with PTSD may also experience other problems. These include:

  • Feelings of hopelessness, shame, or despair
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Drinking or drug problems
  • Physical symptoms or chronic pain
  • Employment problems
  • Relationship problems, including divorce

–Information from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ National Center for PTSD

Published March 21, 2018

Bus rapid transit could be ride of the future

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A proposed bus rapid transit system is under scrutiny as a “catalyst” project to jump-start a long-range regional transit vision for residents in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.
It is getting mixed reviews from community leaders and elected officials in the Tampa Bay region.

While generally supportive of a proposed bus rapid transit system, Pasco County commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano want future transportation projects to focus on other areas within Pasco County, including western Pasco and the CSX rail lines that travel up U.S. 41 into Lutz and Land O’ Lakes. (File)

In the next weeks and months, representatives of Jacobs Engineering will gather public comments on the plan. The Tampa Bay Transportation Management Area Leadership Group, which includes Pasco County Commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano, will get a finalized plan by October.

The group also will consider a second project for an urban rail system running on about 9 miles of CSX rail lines between downtown Tampa and the University of South Florida.
In January, a study by Jacobs Engineering singled out the bus rapid transit system, or “rubber tires,” as a doable starter project that would lay a foundation for a long-range transit plan for the region.
“It’s not replacing anything in the vision,” said Scott Pringle, of Jacobs Engineering. “It’s just to get things started.”
It also would be something that can be built, if approved, within about five years, Pringle said. The CSX rail project would have a longer timeline of about 10 years, he added.
The bus rapid transit system isn’t the usual bus service offered by most local transit agencies, Pringle said.
“They look like a train,” he said. “They feel like a train.”
Pringle has made presentations on the study to the leadership group, and, also recently spoke to the Hillsborough County Young Democrats at their meeting in Ybor City.
The project’s public rollout through spring and summer of 2018 will include online data and surveys, and a speaker’s bureau.
The Florida Department of Transportation funded the study, with Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) as the study’s manager.
The 41-mile bus route would travel from Wesley Chapel to downtown St. Petersburg, with connections to downtown Tampa, the University of South Florida and the Westshore business district. Routes also would connect to Brandon and Clearwater.
Estimated capital costs would be between $380 million and $455 million, with an annual operating cost of about $7 million.
Projections are for about 3.3 million trips per year.

The estimated cost per trip for the bus option is $8 to $10 per trip; and $11 to $13 for the CSX option.
Costs would be shared with federal, state and local governments.
A total of 21 bus stations are proposed, with 19 being at ground level and two elevated. Sleek, train-style buses would ride in designated lanes, bypassing other traffic. For a large portion of the route, the lanes would run parallel to Interstate 275, built on widened shoulders of the highway.
Placing designated bus lanes in the median would cost more than $2 billion, according to the study.
No right-of-way would be needed for lanes on I-275 shoulder. Right- of-way would be needed for bus stations.
Starkey said she had seen examples of how transit stations in Miami spurred new development. That can happen here also, she said.
“We have the ability to start something here that we all can benefit from,” said Starkey, speaking at a January leadership meeting.
The estimated travel time for a full ride from Wesley Chapel to St. Petersburg would be about 80 minutes to 95 minutes, assuming the bus stops at every station on the route.
Two stations would be built in Wesley Chapel, along State Road 54 and State Road 56. “They would be geared toward park and ride,” said Pringle.
At leadership group meetings, Starkey and Mariano have been supportive but have raised questions about the need for additional financial information. They also want future projects to focus on more areas within Pasco, including western Pasco and the CSX rail lines that travel up U.S. 41 into Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.
“I support starting in Wesley Chapel,” said Starkey, but noted that heavily populated west Pasco needs transit, as well.
Long-range options in the transit vision include self-driving vehicles, light rail, and water-based ferries.
“We are certainly leap-frogging in technology,” she said. “I’m excited to be a part of this.”
Mariano isn’t convinced it would take as long as 10 years for the rail project to materialize. He also wanted information on land values along the rail line.
“I think also Hernando County, at some point, needs to come in, especially looking at U.S. 41,” Mariano said.
Pringle said a dialogue with CSX would be needed. He also stressed that the timelines for the projects are approximate because a lot depends on the final plan and available funding.
“Both of these (projects) are competitive for federal dollars,” he said.
The study looked at a range of options, but Pringle said it became clear some were very expensive. “The prices kept going up and up,” Pringle said. “We were pricing ourselves out of a project.”
Federal agencies like to see projects that cost about $10 a trip, he added. That influenced the decision to focus on the bus rapid transit as a first project, Pringle said.
“Funding is what kills transit 99 percent of the time,” he said.
For information, visit TBRegionalTransit.com.

Published March 7, 2018

Track and field standout leaps into nationals

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It didn’t take long for Keymo Pearson to realize Arielle Boone oozed potential when she joined his AAU track club last spring.

“Day 1, when I saw her…I said, ‘Hey, if this girl stays with the team, she’s going to be great.’ My exact words were, ‘She has the chance to be one of the best jumpers in Pasco County history,’” said Pearson, an assistant track coach at the Wesley Chapel-based Speed Starz Track Club.

Turns out the coach’s assessment is pretty spot on.

Sunlake High School senior Arielle Boone will compete at New Balance Indoor Nationals at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City, from March 9 to March 11. She will take part in the triple jump and high jump events. (Courtesy of Speed Starz Track Club)

Boone will compete this weekend in both the high jump and triple jump events in New Balance Indoor Nationals at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City.

A senior at Sunlake High School, Boone will join more than 3,500 of the country’s best track and field student-athletes, from more than 40 states and Canadian provinces — each looking to run, hurdle, jump, throw and walk their way to titles and All-American honors in 48 boys’ and girls’ championship events.

The event runs from March 9 through March 11.

Boone qualified for the prestigious competition after posting elite qualifying marks in triple jump (39’ 2.5) and long jump (18’ 2.5) at recent AAU meets in Orlando and Birmingham, Alabama.

She is believed to be just the second track and field athlete from Pasco County to ever compete in the national event. The other is former Pasco High star Alfreda Steele, who qualified in 2014. Steele now is a sprinter and jumper at the University of Miami.

Boone isn’t nervous about the big stage, despite squaring up alongside countless future Division I track starts and possibly some Olympians-in-the-making.

Instead, she’s poised to hold her own — especially after going toe-to-toe with such athletes at AAU meets throughout the summer and fall.

“I’m not worried about it. I’m just there to compete and to get my marks,” said Boone, who acknowledged she used to be intimidated, when she first began training for AAU meets in the spring and summer.

A former gymnast, Boone joined her high school track team as a freshman at the behest of former Sunlake track coach Nick Carroll, now the head football coach at Zephyrhills High School.

“Coach was like, ‘If you’re one of my fastest girls, you have to run for me, OK?’ Like, he really pursued me. He wanted me to run track. And, I was like, ‘You know what? My dad’s been telling me that for years, so I’ll try it,’ and I ended up being pretty decent, so I stuck with it,” Boone explained.

Early on in her high school career, Boone mainly competed in sprints, such as the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, and the 4×100 relay.

It wasn’t until last season she took field events seriously.

The leap into those events — especially the triple jump — was bred out of pure curiosity.

Said Boone, “Triple jump seemed so complicated and just difficult, which it is. It’s the hardest event track puts on your body. I just wanted to see how it works; I had no idea.”

Sunlake girls track coach Trey Burdick said Boone’s jumping numbers really took off toward the end the 2017 season.

“Something clicked at districts last year,” Burdick said.

All of sudden, Boone started hitting personal records of 2 feet, then 4 feet in the triple jump, and that’s something you don’t usually see, Burdick added.

Boone firmly solidified herself at the Class 3A state championships as one of the state’s top jumpers after securing a ninth-place finish in the triple jump (then a 36’ 11.25), just one spot away from podium honors.

She was also named named the Sunshine Athletic Conference’s Girls Field Athlete of the Year.

“I was just like, ‘Wow, I have been doing this event for not even six months, and I got this close. Next year I’m going to wreck it. That’s what I really want to do,’” Boone said.

After the season Boone joined Speed Starz to work one-on-one with Pearson, himself a former college track and field standout at Kansas-based Friends University and Independence Community College. He serves as an assistant with BB Roberts, who founded the AAU club in 2013.

Pearson trained Boone on core strength, plyometric movements, and shoring up her bounding technique to make her an even better jumper.

“I saw that she was very explosive, and that was really what drew my attention,” Pearson said.

“Just seeing the talent that she had without an offseason training, it just was like, ‘Wow, I know the drills that I’m going to give her is going to make her that much better as an athlete.’”

“I had to bound my way into becoming a really good triple-jumper,” Boone said. It’s a lot of training involved. It’s an event that you can’t play with it. You have to do a lot.”

After the national competition, Boone will go back to focusing on her final high school season.

In addition to Sunlake High records in the triple jump (38’ 9.5) and high jump (17’ 9.75), Boone also claims school records in the 200 meters (26.32 seconds) — which she’s owned since her freshman year — and as a leg on the 4×100 relay (49.55 seconds).

Burdick noted Boone could soon own the school record in the 100 meters, once she gets the chance to run the event. High school track athletes are allowed to compete in a maximum of four events per meet.

“She’s probably the reason why we’re the favorite to win conference this year,” Burdick said.

“She’s one of those athletes that if I could put her in six (events) I’d put her in six. She’s a guaranteed first place in at least three of her events every meet, and most of the times it’s four.”

Boone’s recent emergence, meanwhile, has the caught the eyes of multiple Division I college track programs statewide.

She’s picked up scholarship offers from South Florida, Central Florida, Florida Atlantic and Florida International universities.

Boone said she plans to spend the next month visiting colleges before making a decision by the time the spring singing period begins on April 11.

Whichever program Boone chooses, those coaches will be getting a dedicated and focused athlete.

“She catches on really fast — that’s what’s great about her. She listens, she’s disciplined, and she actually works on those things on her own so it makes it that much easier,” Pearson explained.

“Motivation’s never been an issue for her,” Burdick said. “She’s always came to practice everyday and is just like strictly business, ‘This is what we need to get done today’ and boom that’s what she’s doing.’”

“She knows (the) drills, she picks up on them, and she knows how to go out there and do it without me telling her,” he added.

Published March 7, 2018

Saint Leo University gets set for beach volleyball

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Brooke Turner had her fair share of options to play indoor volleyball coming out of Gaither High School.

But, none could match what Saint Leo University offered: an intercollegiate beach volleyball program.

“I wanted to come here to play both,” Turner said.

“And, it’s also close to home, too.”

The Saint Leo beach volleyball team began practices in January. The first game is March 17. (Kevin Weiss)

Turner, a freshman, is one of 16 players on Saint Leo’s inaugural beach volleyball team.

Like others, she is a crossover athlete who also plays for Saint Leo’s indoor team, as an outside hitter.

Also like her peers, she’s trying to learn the many nuances of the beach sport — from hitting and passing, to its tempo and rapid-fire decision-making.

“It’s just a lot different,” Turner said of beach volleyball, acknowledging she played some recreational matches throughout high school.

“I feel like there just needs to be a little bit more hustle on the beach. It’s harder to run on the sand than on the court with shoes,” she said.

Beach volleyball is also a new competitive realm for Jamee Townsend, who spent four years as a libero on Saint Leo’s indoor squad from 2013 to 2016.

Now a graduate student at Saint Leo, Townsend was able to join the beach team, as NCAA bylaws allow student-athletes to play a fifth year in a different sport.

“I’ve always had an interest in training for beach,” said Townsend, noting she casually played in some offseason beach tournaments, but never seriously trained for them.

“It’s something I feel like I can play forever, versus indoors, which is really hard to play when you’re older. There’s not as much availability in (indoor) pickup games and stuff, so I was interested, and it just worked out that I was able to join.”

For Townsend, “coming out of retirement” to play a new sport has been a challenge physically — but also an invigorating venture.

“It was really hard — still is hard to keep my endurance up — but being a libero in college I wasn’t allowed to hit, so now I’m getting to attack and do a lot more components of the game than I did in indoor, so that’s exciting for me. I’m learning how to block again and doing things that I didn’t get to do in indoor,” Townsend said.

Last May, the university announced the addition of beach volleyball as its 20th sport and 11th in women’s athletics, initially as a nonscholarship offering.

Erik Peterson is tasked with guiding Saint Leo’s beach volleyball program. The inaugural 16 players are crossing over from the university’s indoor team. (Courtesy of Saint Leo Athletics)

Following that was the completion of a five-court beach volleyball complex — believed to be the largest in Division II — on a portion of the intramural field, adjacent to the Saint Leo Tennis Center.

Beach practices began in January, led by assistant beach volleyball coach Erik Peterson.

The Lions’ first game is March 17 — a tri-match against Florida Southern College and Stevenson (Maryland) University, in Lakeland.

Slowly but surely the upstart program is coming along, the beach volleyball coach said.

“Sometimes we have some great practices, and then sometimes we forget how to do everything which is exactly part of it,” Peterson said.

“There’s some very different concepts and things that we’re trying to get them to comprehend and understand. It’s just a lot of the actual application takes some time and some reps.”

“Out here (on the beach), we don’t have the ability to hide all the deficiencies of indoor where you’re very specialized. For them, they have to pass, they have to set, they have to attack, they have to serve, they have to block, they have to defend, so they’re literally being asked to perform all of those skillsets fairly proficiently — and a lot of it’s new,” Peterson said.

Beach volleyball only calls for two players from one team to be on the court during matches. Both players must work together and become jack-of-all-trades and dominate on many fronts, including passing, setting and hitting. Indoor volleyball, however, calls for players to be much more specialized.

Even with a steep learning curve, Peterson said the team has maintained a positive attitude throughout lessons and practices.

“It’s very easy for indoor players to come out to the beach and get very frustrated because there are those significant speed bumps. They kind of just work through it, and they don’t let things weigh them down when they’re getting frustrated. They kind of bounce back pretty quick and always stay mentally dialed in,” Peterson said.

Players also are encouraged by strides made in the last several weeks.

“We’re just now getting to the point where we can be comfortable and be competitive when we play doubles. It was a lot of training and getting back to basics,” Townsend said.

“I think we’ve gotten a lot better, and everyone is ready everyday,” Turner said.

“Everyone enjoys coming to practice, and they’re just excited so it kind of shows, and we’ve gotten better already in a month just practicing.”

Saint Leo is one of four Sunshine State Conference institutions to now offer beach volleyball, joining the University of Tampa and Florida Southern University as the three newcomers. Eckerd College has a program, too.

Within Florida, a total of 10 institutions competed in beach volleyball during the 2017 season: Eckerd College, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Jacksonville, Stetson, North Florida, Webber International and Warner.

At the start of the 2016-17 academic year, a total of 66 NCAA member institutions had either added the sport or announced their intention to do so. The NCAA added a national collegiate championship for beach volleyball as its 90th championship in January 2015, after a target of 40 institutions had added the sport.

Peterson is no stranger to the sand-based sport. He’s been deeply involved with USA Sand Volleyball since 2007 and previously served as head coach for beach volleyball at Division I programs, such as Texas Christian University and the University of Central Florida. Other stops include the University of Oklahoma and the University of South Florida, as an indoor volleyball assistant coach.

With a schedule that includes fellow Sunshine State Conference foes and Division I programs, such as Florida International and Jacksonville University, Peterson said compiling a record of at least .500 in Year 1 “would be a nice measuring stick.”

“I think our biggest thing is trying to just get them to really buy into the process,” Peterson said.

“For this being such a new program and these being such new athletes, I think it’s really kind of hard to put a significant, quantifiable goal. It’s going to be more of just really looking at the growth, and each more individual and personal goals versus a team goal,” the coach added.

Cultivating an upbeat, energetic environment for home matches is another objective in Year 1, Peterson said.

It shouldn’t be too tough, as the Lions brand-new facilities — and imported bleachers — are squarely situated among other athletic complexes and provide for easy walking distance from one Saint Leo sport to the next.

“It’s such a unique type of atmosphere for beach volleyball versus a lot of these other sports that are very rigid in structure,” Peterson said.

“There’s communication, there’s heckling, the crowd can get involved. There are all these different exterior things that are happening — there’s music playing the whole time — so it’s just going to be a really cool atmosphere when we have the opportunity to host home matches, and get the fans and the students excited,” Peterson said.

2018 Saint Leo Beach Volleyball roster
Player                                              Hometown/School
Annabella Arcari, freshman        (Shelby Township, Michigan/Eisenhower High School)

Avery Bradshaw, sophomore      (Tampa/Steinbrenner High School)

Paloma Da Silva, senior              (Pocos De Caldas, Brazil/Park University Missouri)

Allie Daul, freshman                    (Grayslake, Illinois/Grayslake Central High School)

Anna Garrett, freshman              (Merritt Island, Florida/Merritt Island High School

Dallas Jasper, sophomore          (Annapolis, Maryland/Broadneck High School)

Jenya Kruglova, senior                (Moscow, Russia/St. Petersburg College)

Victoria Omoregie, freshman      (Tampa/Newsome High School)

Maddy Powell, senior                   (Tampa/ Steinbrenner High School)

Ashley Quero, freshman              (Hialeah, Florida/Palmer Trinity School)

Fabiola Rosado, freshman           (Lakeland/McKeel Academy of Technology)

Britt Sederholm, senior                (Ogden, Utah/Saint Joseph Catholic School)

Jamee Townsend, grad student (Plant City/Strawberry Crest High School)

Brooke Turner, freshman           (Tampa/Gaither High School)

Reggie Van Devender, sophomore       (Phoenix, Arizona/Seton Catholic Preparatory)

Nina Vattovaz, freshman            (Trieste, Italy/Liceo Artistico-Alessandro Vittoria)

Published February 28, 2018

‘Mr. Don’ provides safety and encouragement

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On weekday mornings and afternoons, Don Niles ushers students to safety at Double Branch Elementary School in Wesley Chapel.

Officially, Niles is the school’s crossing guard.

But, the 76-year-old is much, much more to students and faculty.

Known as ‘Mr. Don’ to the Double Branch community, Niles is known for going the extra mile to forge relationships and lend an ear to students.

Don Niles works his post intersection of Chancey Road and Meadow Point Boulevard in Wesley Chapel. Besides ushering students to safety each day, Niles also tries to serve as a mentor and encourager to the Double Branch community. (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

He’s been known to tell others that he has upwards of “900 grandkids” — a reference to the enrollment at Double Branch Elementary.

“I’m a BFF (Best Friend Forever). I’m a person that these kids can come and talk to about anything that’s bothering them,” Niles said.

“If there’s a bullying situation taking place, these kids can come talk to me,” he added.

Niles recently was named 2017 Florida School Crossing Guard of the Year by the Florida Department of Transportation.

He was chosen from 4,100 school crossing guards in Florida’s 67 counties.

Niles is humbled by the honor, especially for doing something he loves.

“I don’t do this for money or anything else,” Niles said. “I do it because I want to make a difference in these kids’ lives. I want to have an impact on them. I want to help build their self-esteem, their character. It’s all about the kids.”

Double Branch principal Vaughnette Chandler isn’t surprised that Niles was singled out.

She describes him as an “encourager,” who offers daily pep talks to students.

He views his role as going far beyond telling students to look both ways and helping them to negotiate a crossing, she explained.

“Don is a one-of-a kind,” Chandler said.

“He’s that guy that’s talking to the kids every day. He knows them by name, he knows what they like, what they’re doing — in a lot of cases what classroom they’re in — and he’s encouraging them to have a really great day and really just like reach for the stars,” she said.

Niles also makes it a point to reach out to students who may be experiencing personal troubles, the principal added.

“If a child looks like they need somebody to talk to, he’s going to take minute to check with them and see what’s going on,” Chandler said. “If it’s something we need to know about, he’s going to be right here in the school after the kids are on campus to let us know, ‘Hey, we need to check in with this student to see how things are going, or they might need an extra word of encouragement for the day.’”

Ken Mizerek, who is the crossing guard supervisor in District 2, has witnessed Niles’ caring and observant nature, when he has visited Niles’ post at the intersection of Chancey Road and Meadow Pointe Boulevard.

“All our crossing guards do a great job, but Don is the kind of person that goes beyond his schedule of hours,” Mizerek said.

“He shows a lot of interest in the children so they think, ‘Wow, somebody’s listening to me,’ and I think when somebody listens to them then they can them tell their problems; they open up to him,” Mizerek said.

The supervisor also noted Niles frequently introduces students to him, heaping praise on their respective accomplishments.

“He’ll go on and on about the child to me, and that child has got a gleam in his eye because now they feel important also. It’s really exciting to come out to this post and see what goes on here,” Mizerek said.

Niles has been a crossing guard for about eight years. Initially, he worked at Sand Pine Elementary and then moved to Double Branch Elementary seven years ago.

Before becoming a crossing guard, Niles was a probation officer with the Florida Department of Corrections. He handled pre-sentencing investigations for adult felony defenders throughout East Pasco and Central Pasco.

Niles grew up in a poor, single-parent home after his father abandoned him and his mother. He said his upbringing helps him understand the plight of some youths coming from challenging family situations.

He grew up in dangerous neighborhoods and often struggled to find a hearty meal.

“I know what it’s like to come from a defective home and life was not good. The circumstances were really trying at times,” Niles said.

But, despite those hardships, he understood the value of getting an education.

He graduated from Plant High School and went on to earn an honors diploma from the University of South Florida, in criminal justice.

He tries to mentor children in the same way that pastors, teachers and law enforcement officers did for him when he was young.

“These guys made a difference in my life,” Niles said of adult role models. “They were my surrogate parents in a sense. It really gave you a sense of security and safety, and I got a lot of attention from them.”

Besides his crossing guard duties, Niles sponsors four kindergarten classes each year, providing Double Branch teachers with an account to help them buy school supplies. He also donates gifts for Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Day.

“When I go through these classes,” Niles said, “it gives me a chance to talk to these kids: ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ Listen guys, I want you to work with your teachers. ‘The teachers are building a foundation for your life, and they need your cooperation,’” Niles said.

Published February 21, 2018

Local football players sign with colleges during early period

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Several of the area’s top football players took advantage of a new NCAA rule allowing prospective student-athletes to sign their National Letters of Intent (NLI) in December, rather than waiting until February to put pen to paper.

Approved in May, the college football early signing period created a 72-hour window for signings from Dec. 20 to Dec. 22.

The next opportunity to sign an NLI will be at any point between the first Wednesday in February (Feb. 7) and April 1—also known as the traditional signing period.

Here’s a look at a few of the top athletes in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area who participated in the first-ever early signing period for football:

Isaiah Bolden, cornerback, Wesley Chapel High School
College: Florida State University (Tallahassee)
The highest-rated football prospect in Pasco County waited until the third and final day of the early signing period to make his official announcement to Florida State.

But, it was hardly a surprise he was headed there.

Wesley Chapel’s Isaiah Bolden signed with Florida State University, despite being committed to the University of Oregon for several months. The four-star cornerback prospect is the highest rated recruit in Pasco County for the 2018 class. (File)

Bolden de-committed from the University of Oregon on Dec. 5—the same day head coach Willie Taggart left his post at the school to accept the Florida State job, replacing Jimbo Fisher.

Bolden had an in-home visit with Taggart on Dec. 10, then took an official visit to Florida State on Dec. 15 — before ultimately signing with the university a week later.

A consensus four-star prospect, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Bolden is ranked among the top 30 or so cornerbacks for the 2018 recruiting class.

His senior season ended prematurely, however, after he was kicked off Wesley Chapel’s football team in early October, playing in just three games.

The prior year he helped lead Wesley Chapel to a 7-2 record and near playoff appearance, after transferring from Bartram Trail in Jacksonville.

Bolden’s dismissal didn’t deter major college programs from pursuing him, however.

Besides Florida State and Oregon, the rangy athlete boasted about 30 offers from other major FBS programs, including Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma and Michigan, among others.

Local fans wanting to witness Bolden’s athletic prowess still can. He recently joined Wesley Chapel’s varsity basketball team, where he’s averaging about 11 points and eight rebounds per game as a forward.

Jordan Miner, cornerback, Wiregrass Ranch High School
College: Penn State University (State College, Pennsylvania)
Like Bolden, Miner opted to join one of college football’s blue chip programs at Penn State University — a school he verbally committed to back in July.

A four-star prospect ranked among the nation’s top 50 cornerbacks for the 2018 recruiting class, Miner also had offers from nearly 30 Division I programs, including the likes of Auburn, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Wiregrass Ranch’s Jordan Miner signed with Penn State University, a school he committed to in July. Miner was perhaps the most versatile player in Pasco County this season, making an impact on offense, defense and special teams. He’ll likely play defensive back at the next level.

Miner’s productive four-year varsity career at Wiregrass Ranch culminated in the football program’s best record ever (9-3) and first playoff win.

The 2017 Sunshine Athletic Conference East defensive player of the year proved to be a Swiss Army knife, of sorts, for the Bulls this season.

Besides tallying 39 tackles and four interceptions, Miner was an integral part of the team’s offense and special teams—racking up nearly 1,200 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns.

Various scouting reports laud the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Miner for his speed and fluidity, as well as his ball skills. His size as a defensive back is another noted plus.

Meanwhile, Miner is the second member of his family to play college football.

His older brother, Jaye, was an All-State linebacker at Wiregrass Ranch from 2011 to 2014. He later played college football at Florida Atlantic University, a Division I FBS program in Boca Raton.

Until his college gridiron career gets rolling, Miner can be found on the hardwood as an integral member of Wiregrass Ranch’s varsity basketball team, which currently stands at 10-3.

Its Feb. 9 matchup against Wesley Chapel—and Bolden—will certainly be one to watch.

Michael Penix Jr., quarterback, Tampa Bay Tech (Dade City native, Pasco High transfer)
College: Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana)
The Dade City native surprised many when he spurned major college programs in favor of Indiana University, a school that has struggled to win consistently in recent years.

The lanky 6-foot-3, left-handed signal-caller committed to the University of Tennessee in April, but de-committed in mid-December, after a coaching change.

Dade City native and Pasco High transfer Mike Penix Jr., is heading to Indiana University. A Pasco High transfer, the left-handed quarterback finished his career at Tampa Bay Tech, where he developed into one of the Bay Area’s most productive football players.

He also had scholarship offers from Florida State, Oregon, Arizona, South Florida and many others.

Though headed to the Midwest, Penix will be surrounded by Bay Area ties, as the Hoosiers’ 2018 roster is expected to include a dozen players from Tampa, Largo, Clearwater and Spring Hill.

Moreover, Indiana head football coach Tom Allen has several Tampa connections. He was defensive coordinator for the University of South Florida in 2015, and had coaching stints in the 1990s at Armwood High School and the now-defunct Temple Heights Christian School.

Hoosiers quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan also coached at USF in 2013.

Penix played his first two seasons at Pasco High School before transferring to Tampa Bay Tech, finishing his high school career with 6,986 total yards and 76 touchdowns.

He appeared destined for football and athletic success at early age.

His father and uncle both starred on Pasco High’s football team. Penix Sr., later played college football at Tennessee Tech University, where he met Penix’s mother—who was on the school’s track and field team.

Lavel Dumont, offensive tackle, Wharton High School
College: University of Toledo (Toledo, Ohio)
Dumont’s first season of organized football was in 2016.

Just two years later, he’s headed to the Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) ranks.

After verbally committing to Toledo in June, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive lineman didn’t change course, signing with the Ohio-based university on Dec. 20.

Wharton High offensive tackle Lavel Dumont (No. 75) signed with the University of Toledo during the early signing period. The three-star prospect is coveted for his size, athleticism, flexibility and potential to improve.

Dumont’ primary recruiter was Toledo running backs coach Marquel Blackwell—

a former standout quarterback at USF, who later coached at Freedom High School in Tampa.

A consensus three-star recruit, Dumont had close to 20 offers, mostly from mid-major schools like Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Central Michigan, Marshall, Tulane, Western Kentucky and others.

A basketball player by trade, Dumont began to take football seriously about two years ago, making significant strides in the weight room and with game fundamentals.

Dumont’s rare combination of size, flexibility, athleticism—and developmental potential — intrigued Division I programs early in the recruiting process.

He reportedly earned his first collegiate offer in June 2016 — from Florida A&M University—before ever playing in a varsity football game.

Meanwhile, Wharton teammate A.J. Hampton is also expected to sign with Toledo during the traditional February signing period; the 5-foot-11 cornerback verbally committed to the school in July.

Donovan Jennings, offensive tackle, Gaither High School
College: University of South Florida (Tampa)
Jennings, like Dumont, is a relative newcomer to organized football—first playing as a freshman in high school because he always exceeded the size limit for youth-league teams.

It’s not surprising why: Jennings stands at a towering 6-foot-5 and whopping 310 pounds.

Gaither High’s Donovan Jennings (No. 72) signed his national letter of intent to the University of South Florida. The jumbo 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive tackle paved the way for teammates to compile nearly 2,900 rushing yards this season.

After early struggles picking up the game, Jennings thrived as an upperclassman.

His blocking skills helped pave the way for Gaither running backs to rack up nearly 2,900 rushing yards this season, and more than 1,500 rushing yards the year before.

Uncommitted throughout the recruiting process, Jennings ultimately picked his hometown team for the next level.

A consensus three-star recruit, he also had offers from Marshall, Old Dominion, Toledo, Central Florida, Virginia and others.

Jennings now joins a long line of Gaither High products to play at the Division I FBS level. Some more recent Cowboys football alums include Decalon Brooks (Florida State University), Estafano Feliciano (Old Dominion University), Alex McGough (Florida International University), Shane McGough (Florida International University), Ernest Suttles (Memphis), Shug Oyegunle (Florida International University) and Amani Oruwariye (Penn State University).

Elsewhere, Jennings’ teammate Matthew Wood signed his national letter of intent to Holy Cross University, a Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) program in Worcester, Massachusetts. Wood tallied 261 tackles in three varsity seasons as a linebacker.

Published January 3, 2018

Legislative forum covers wide spectrum of issues

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Dozens of speakers signed up to draw attention to topics they think are important at Pasco County’s annual legislative delegation meeting.

The topics ranged from fracking to Medicaid; the opioid epidemic to immigration; medical marijuana to homelessness; and, scores of budget requests.

Some requests were for items vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott last year.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, for instance, asked legislators to renew his request for $4.3 million for the Thomas Varnadoe Forensic Center for Education and Research.

From left: State Sen. Tom Lee, Rep. Richard Corcoran, Rep. Danny Burgess, Sen. Wilton Simpson and Rep. Amber Mariano
attend the Pasco County legislative delegation’s annual meeting to hear from local constituents about issues they’d like lawmakers to address during the 2018 legislative session. (Kathy Steele)

The Adam Kennedy Forensics Field, also known as a “body farm,” opened in May on land next to the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, off U.S. 41. The facility is the seventh of its type in the nation.

Construction money is needed for the indoor forensic center. The complex is planned jointly with the sheriff’s office, Pasco County, Pasco-Hernando State College, and the University of South Florida’s Institute for Forensics and Applied Science.

“It is a critical piece for us,” Nocco said.

The sheriff also noted that there already are international inquiries regarding training opportunities.

The city of Zephyrhills also had a big-ticket request. It’s asking for $3.25 million to help build the Sarah Vande Berg Memorial Tennis Center.

The planned tennis center includes eight soft courts, two hard courts and nine pickle ball courts.

The city of Zephyrhills already has hired Pennsylvania-based Tennis P.R.O. LLC to operate and manage the complex.

A pro shop, a multipurpose community room and two offices also are planned.

“It’s gaining a lot of momentum,” said Todd Vande Berg, the city’s planning director. “It will bring in players from around the world, and Zephyrhills really will be a destination in the sports arena.”

The complex is named for Vande Berg’s daughter, a tennis scholarship student at University of South Carolina, who died in a car accident.

The annual legislative delegation meeting is a ritual that gives lawmakers a chance to find out what is on the minds of their constituents for the coming legislative year.

This year’s session was on Nov. 27 at the Wesley Chapel Center for the Arts, at Wesley Chapel High School.

More than 60 people signed up, with each allotted three minutes to address the legislators, who were seated at a table on the arts center’s stage.

Rep. Danny Burgess, the delegation’s chairman; Rep. Amber Mariano; and Sen. Wilton Simpson attended the entire meeting. Sen. Tom Lee and Rep. Richard Corcoran attended portions of the meeting. Sen. Jack Latvala was absent.

Afterward Burgess described the meeting as a fact-gathering session to help legislators deliberate on issues during the 2018 legislative session in Tallahassee.

“It’s important — with a state this big and statute books so voluminous —it’s impossible to know every issue,” Burgess said.

He also said people’s presence and participation are important.

“It’s a truly collaborative thing,” he said, noting, lawmakers will have more information “because people from our areas decided to take the time to come here.”

Along those lines, Debra Golinski asked lawmakers to provide funding for screening programs at Sertoma Speech & Hearing Foundation Inc.

She said about $750,000 is needed for a program to help hearing-impaired children, ages 3 to 6 years, “begin to listen and talk.”

Golinksi also asked legislators to support a bill to provide hearing aids for children.

Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, said the college is expanding rapidly and needs about $3.7 million in additional funding for operations.

He said school enrollment has increased from about 1,800 three years ago to about 4,000 students now.

“The growth there has really been phenomenal. We really, really need the dollars,” Beard said.

Other agencies and nonprofits seeking state funds included the Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services, the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Inc., the Reach program with Pasco’s PACE Center for Girls, and the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, or ASAP.

Hot button political issues also came up.

James Brown, of the nonprofit Farmworkers Self Help, sought support for “DACA kids”, the children who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The federal program could be ended soon, leaving these children subject to deportation. They and their families harvested crops for years, Brown said.

“They did nothing more than work hard. We need to give these longtime families a place in the county. We’re not asking for budgetary concerns. We’re just asking for your compassion,” Brown said.

Several people also spoke on fracking, asking legislators to ban the practice in Florida.

Fracking is a process for pumping chemically treated high pressure water into a drilled pipeline to break through rock formations to tap into oil or natural gas reserves.

“Our message is simple,” said Brooke Errett, of Food & Water Watch. “Fracking doesn’t make sense.”

Legislators also got updates on initiatives under review at the federal level by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

His aide, Summer Robertson, told them that Bilirakis is seeking

a balanced approach toward addressing the opioid crisis.

He wants an approach that helps people with opioid addiction but still gives people “with legitimate pain” access to medications, Robertson said.

Published December 6, 2017

Academy at the Lakes football relishes playoffs, breakout season

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Academy at the Lakes football head coach Shawn Brown anticipated a team turnaround before the season.

He was right.

After three consecutive losing seasons in the eight-man football ranks, the Wildcats are in the midst of one of its best in program history, with a state title in reach.

The team currently stands at 9-1, including a 7-0 mark in Florida Christian Region 2 — worthy enough for a No. 2 ranking in the state among all eight-man schools.

And, they’re just a win away from reaching the FCAPPS (Florida Christian Association of Private and Parochial Schools) championship game.

Most recently, the Wildcats downed Canterbury 54 to 6 in the state quarterfinals on Nov 17.

Academy at the Lakes’ offense is averaging a staggering 51 points per game this season, aiding the team during its eight-game winning streak. The Wildcats downed Canterbury 54 to 6 in the state quarterfinals on Nov 17.
(Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes)

The playoff blowout isn’t a shock. The Wildcats have scored an average of 51 points per game this season while allowing just 15.2 points per game.

That season-long dominance has allowed Brown and his coaching staff to build depth among its 24 active players — utilizing backups in place of starters during second-halves of several games.

“It’s been really neat to watch the whole dynamics of a true team, overall,” said Brown, who is in his fourth season as head coach. “Our starters giving up a lot of playing time for our backups to get in, and our backups this year have gotten a lot of playing time.

“Most teams don’t beat people like we have, where the backups get a lot of playing time.”

The team’s next game is Dec. 1 against Orlando’s Eastland Christian (10-1) — the only team to defeat the Wildcats this season, back on Sept. 7.

The Wildcats lost that matchup 50-35, despite entering halftime with a 28-14 lead. Brown explained dehydration and cramping issues among several starters stymied the team in the second half.

“We probably needed to be humbled,” Brown said, of the September loss. “We, as coaches, are reminding them that we’ve been on that losing side for so long, so we tell them to, ‘Respect the game.’”

Academy at the Lakes went 2-8 in 2016, after finishing 4-7 and 3-5 the prior two seasons.

Much of the past struggle can be credited to youth and inexperience.

This year’s team, however, is dotted with upperclassman and skill players.

Brown expected improvements this season, though not to this extent.

“Has it been a surprise to me to how we played? Absolutely. But, I can’t say we were going to come here and mop people like we have,” he said.

“At some point we were going to have a breakout season. It just happened to be this season,” he said.

Brown credits the team’s summer offseason program, which included weightlifting sessions three days a week, participating in Division I college camps, and competing in various seven-on-seven tournaments, sometimes facing 11-man schools from Classes 7A and 8A.

The work, Brown said, taught Wildcats “to be competitive.”

Pure talent and execution on offense is another key reason for the team’s historic run, added offensive coordinator Landon Smith.

Freshman quarterback Jalen Brown has displayed composure and maturity, throwing 11 touchdowns and just one interception.

Seniors Daniel Gonzalez (889 rushing yards, 19 touchdowns) and Isaiah Smith (17 receptions, 495 yards, 13 touchdowns) have been explosive playmakers, as has junior Jamaal Johnson (642 scrimmage yards, eight touchdowns).

“From one game to the next, we probably run about seven plays, and they just execute those plays very well. These kids are getting chunks of yards with the same play over and over,” Landon Smith explained.

“A lot of these kids have been here since eighth-graders, so at this point, they’ve had a number of years to learn this system. I like to think it’s the play calling, but I think it’s more of the kids and their talent and execution that’s making us, offensively, as good as we are,” he said.

The team’s defense likewise has flashed, posting a combined 59 sacks and 90 tackles for loss, 18 forced fumbles, and 13 interceptions — which includes 10 picks by freshman cornerback Jordan Oladokun, the younger brother of University of South Florida quarterback Chris Oladokun.

“I think what’s really leading to our success this year is we’re having fun,” said Jalen Brown, the son of head coach Shawn Brown.

“We’re winning, and starting new traditions and everything. The atmosphere is totally different this year than it was last year. We’ve got handshake celebrations and everything. Our defense cheers for our offense, and our offense cheers for defense.”

Seniors, too, are cherishing the 2017 campaign and what remains.

“It’s been an honor. It’s been an awesome ride,” Daniel Gonzalez said. “I wouldn’t want to end my senior year any other way. This is a heck of a ride. I’m having a lot of fun; all these guys are so into it, and everyone wants to win a state championship this year.”

Isaiah Smith defined this season as “awesome and inspiring.”

“Last year it was like having training wheels, and we were just getting our feet wet, to be honest. Now, this year, it’s kind of showing what we can do now,” Smith said.

“I think it’s just a statement of how far we can go to reach the top.”

Game-by-game results:
Aug. 25: at Citi Christian Academy (40-22 win)
Sept 7: Eastland Christian (50-35 loss)
Sept. 22: Canterbury (48-16 win)
Sept. 28: Solid Rock Community (80-0 win)
Oct. 2: at Saint Lucie Christian (49-12 win)
Oct. 13: Lakeside Christian (40-21 win)
Oct. 20: at Donahue Catholic (36-0 win)
Oct. 27: Seacoast Christian Academy (68-7 win)
Nov. 3: at Hernando Christian Academy (57-29 win)
Nov. 17: Canterbury (54-6 win)

Published November 22, 2017

Looking for sinkhole solutions

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Remedying a massive sinkhole in Land O’ Lakes has taken a minor step forward, four months after it opened and swallowed two homes on Ocean Pines Drive in Lake Padgett.

Residents of the Lake Padgett community were presented several preliminary solutions for fixing the sinkhole long-term, during a Nov. 8 meeting at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center.

The audience also had the opportunity to ask questions and offer input to county officials.

Kevin Guthrie, assistant county administrative of public safety, led the meeting.

He offered up three possible solutions for “success” in the sinkhole’s remediation:

  • Build a fence around the sinkhole with a cul de sac on each side (estimated cost of $1.7 million)
  • Connect the sinkhole to Lake Saxon while adding a cul de sac to each side of the lake (estimated cost of $2.5 million)
  • Rebuild the original road through the sinkhole (estimated cost of $800,000)

The first two options would require the county to purchase several properties, either to connect the sinkhole to Lake Saxon and/or develop a cul de sac.

The sinkhole opened on July 14 at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive, and swallowed two homes, a motorcycle and a boat. Five more houses on both sides of Ocean Pines have been condemned. Remediation costs are estimated anywhere from $800,000 to more than $2.5 million. (File)

The third option, meanwhile, requires the reconstruction of Ocean Pines Drive using a sheet piling methodology. Fences then would be placed around bodies of water on either side of the road — similar to how retention ponds have fences around them.

A fourth option consists of leaving the sinkhole “as is,” adding a chain-link fence and signage around its perimeter. The option would cost about $50,000.

The Pasco County Commission will have the final say on how to proceed with long-term recovery efforts at the sinkhole site.

The sinkhole opened on July 14 at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive, and swallowed two homes, a motorcycle and a boat. Five more houses on both sides of Ocean Pines have been condemned.

On July 31, the county approved $1.3 million for an initial cleanup of debris, and stabilization of the site. That work has been completed.

Guthrie said additional geotechnical investigation is required before any remediation can be done, which would cost an additional $100,000 to $200,000.

The University of South Florida also is recommending a resistivity survey be completed to determine how the sinkhole interacts with underground surrounding areas. The cost would be another $15,000.

Dr. Lori Collins is a research professor at USF, and is a part of the team of geologists and postgraduate students researching the sinkhole since Day 1.

She explained further testing is needed to truly understand how the sinkhole penetrates the Florida aquifer and connects to the lake system.

“We want to make sure science tells us what the alternates should be first. Right now, we don’t know…what’s going on underneath the ground,” Collins said.

The necessary prep work could take another 45 days, Guthrie said, before a final recommendation is presented to county commissioners.

“We want to do it right the first time and not keep coming back, time and time again,” Guthrie said.

Kevin Guthrie, assistant county administrative of public safety, served up three possible solutions for ‘success’ in the sinkhole’s remediation. (Kevin Weiss)

Since the sinkhole involves private property and a county road, the county is a stakeholder in the situation. Had the sinkhole never touched the roadway, it would’ve strictly been a private property issue, Guthrie said.

Regarding funding, Guthrie mentioned municipal service taxing units  (MSTU) or municipal services benefit unit (MSBU) as options that have been used in the past.

Utilizing the county’s general fund reserves is another possibility. However, the county is already “significantly dipping” into those reserves following Hurricane Irma, Guthrie said.

Assistance through grants and the state also will be vetted, he said.

“We’re trying to get whatever we can,” Guthrie said. “It’s going to be very difficult…to help pay for this.”

Terence Doohen was one of several sinkhole victims who attended the Nov. 8 meeting.

He said the public forum proved beneficial to affected homeowners and community members.

“I felt there was some good information there that had not been communicated to me,” he said, “so I thought it was well worth my time and some other people’s time.”

The 44-year-old, along with his wife and 10-year-old son, in August had their lakeside property red-tagged by the Pasco County Building Inspectors Office.

Doohen said he’s in favor of “whatever is the safest solution for everyone involved.”

“I would go to bat for long-term, whichever is the safest option,” he said.

Doohen also supports the county taking a thorough look at the sinkhole matter before making any major decisions.

“I’m fine with the time that’s gone by,” he said “I think it’s fine, if everybody’s dotting all the ‘i’s and crossing all the t’s, and if it moves at a little bit slower pace than one expected; I think you’ve just got to kind of live with it and roll with it.”

Several additional community meetings are expected over the next several months.

Guthrie acknowledged the sinkhole matter will be handled in a methodical fashion, likely extending well into 2018.

“We are at step one on a ladder that’s probably about 10 stories long,” Guthrie said.

Published November 15, 2017

Local volunteer wins national award

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When Courtney Urban began volunteering at the Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppe, at 1930 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Lutz, it was just a way to spend some extra time with her grandmother.

“The big thing in the beginning was just going with her,” said Urban, who began her volunteer work in 2013.

Courtney Urban now volunteers at the front desk at Gulfside Center for Hospice Care in Zephyrhills. She used to volunteer at the Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppe in Lutz. Recently, she received a national honor for her volunteer work. (B.C. Manion)

“But then it became my own thing. I loved going there. When I got to be the cashier, it was fun to interact with all of the customers. I kind of took it into my own hands, rather than just to be there with grandma,” the now 19-year-old said.

Over the years, she has logged more than 800 volunteer hours, and recently, Urban was honored with the Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Award by the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization, at a conference in San Diego. Urban was recognized in the Young Leaders category.

The University of South Florida student was both surprised and delighted to be singled out.

When she started her volunteer work, she was sorting clothes and having fun with her grandma. Then, she began cashiering and enjoyed interacting with customers, she said.

Most recently, she has been pitching in at Gulfside Center for Hospice Care, at 5760 Dean Dairy Road in Zephyrhills.

Initially, she served as a compassion companion volunteer, and now she’s helping at the front desk.

Her work as a volunteer has changed her.

“It’s helped me come out of my shell. I was very shy in high school. I was the kid that hated when I had to speak in front of the class. I wasn’t good at making friends.

“Now, I can walk into a room and instantly strike up a conversation with a patient or their family. I enjoy speaking with people, now. I feel like I opened up,” Urban said.

It also has broadened her perspective.

“I also didn’t realize how many different kinds of people are out there in the world. When I come here, I talk to all kinds of people, from different backgrounds,” she said.

She’s listened to patients reminisce, she said.

“Some patients can’t talk for an extended time, so I’ll tell my story to them. But most of them, they love talking about the good old days, when they were younger, what they used to do,” she said.

The volunteer work has influenced her career path.

She’s studying health science at USF, with plans to continue her education and pursue a career in hospice nursing.

“I always knew I wanted to be in the medical field,” said Urban, who attended Sunlake High School, Rushe Middle School and Lake Myrtle Elementary.

She had considered possible careers in anesthesiology or public health.

But, when she began volunteering at Gulfside, she realized she wanted to become a hospice nurse.

“I always knew I had a connection with elderly people. My time here, in just a few weeks I realized that I loved it here. I loved the atmosphere. I loved talking with the patients. I thought, ‘Hey, this is something I want to do.’,” she said.

“I come in here and I talk with the patients a lot. I just feel like I fit in.

“Yes, it is very sad, when I come back the next week and there isn’t a patient that I talked to, but I feel like I have a calling here. I can do the work here, so I need to be here,” she said.

She attended the conference in San Diego with her mom and her grandmother.

Her grandmother is Carol Antrim, of Lutz.

Her parents are Suzette Urban, the principal’s secretary at Sand Pine Elementary, and her dad, Joseph Urban, an electrical inspector for Pasco County. Urban lives with her parents in Land O’ Lakes.

The young woman encourages anyone who has ever considered volunteering, to give it a try. It doesn’t matter whether the volunteer is young or old, or what kind of work they do, she said.

“You could volunteer at the animal shelter, at the hospital, youth centers, rec centers, anywhere. “It really helps you find something that’s greater than yourself,” Urban said. “You get that satisfaction: You know you’ve helped somebody.”

Published November 1, 2017