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Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

Michele Miller is a Tampa Bay Times writer in Pasco County. Miller coordinates and provides stories and photographs for Pasco entertainment features as well as the Top of the Class education feature.

Phone: (727) 869-6251

Email: miller@tampabay.com

  1. Show Palace kicks off one-night stands

    06/18/13StageBy Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    The Show Palace kicks off a season of One-Night Specials with an overload of panache and a lot of laughs as a Dame Edna act takes the stage Saturday night, donning her trademark rhinestone cat-eye glasses, glittery gowns and swirly, lilac-colored bouffant.

    "A Royal Audience With Michael L. Walters as Dame Edna" pays tribute to the Tony Award-winning Broadway production "Dame Edna: The Royal Tour." That production featured the original Dame Edna Everage, a fictional outlandish Melbourne housewife, investigative reporter and talk show host, created and portrayed by Australian comedian Barry Humphries. Before his retirement in 2012, Humphries performed before the royal family, on the London stage and on the book and talk-show circuits....

  2. Pasco children can get free meals this summer

    06/15/13K12By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    When it comes to learning, hunger is a common roadblock for far too many children. It's an issue addressed in part by the federally funded free and reduced-priced meal program and weekend outreach programs supported by local organizations, churches and civic groups.

    "We know that during the school year the breakfast and lunch that kids eat at school are often the only meals they eat all day," said Cindy Norvell, area specialist for the food and nutrition program....

  3. Meet Elfers Christian School's valedictorian and salutatorian

    06/12/13K12By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    Caleb Dinsmore | valedictorian

    Parents: Jeffrey and Marilou Dinsmore

    GPA: 4.04

    Future school: Taylor University

    Ideal career: Become a coder/programmer for Google. I'm also considering going into video game development.

    Most influential or best teacher: Doug Nightingale. He has helped prepare me for college academically, apologetically and spiritually. And he gave me some good laughs....

    Salutatorian Lyndsea Smith advises never settling for mediocrity.

  4. Gatsby dance night kicks off Tarpon Springs summer entertainment

    06/11/13EventsBy Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    The Tarpon Springs Rhythm Kings are an eclectic bunch, hailing from places near and far, each drawn by a fondness for a kick-up-your heels genre and a call sent out last fall to form a community jazz band.

    "We have quite a range of musicians. The youngest people in the band are in their early 20s and the oldest are in their 80s. We have men and women and a few high-powered players," said bandleader Dan Fox, 81, a retired professional composer-arranger....

  5. Pasco County class notes

    06/08/13K12By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    Briefly

    The Pasco County School Board is hosting a Together We Stand — Pasco Youth & Community Summit, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 27, at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel High, 30651 Wells Road. The summit will involve strategic planning, networking and information sharing to build resilience and reduce youth violence, including bullying. The keynote speaker is Roy Kaplan. High school students, parents, educators, local government agencies and faith-based and community leaders will gather to address these issues with the goal of making Pasco County a place where students exist in a nonhostile environment and accept each other's differences. Register atsurveymonkey.com/s/Z6KJL7K. Deadline is June 20. Space is limited. For information, contact the district's Office for Student Support Programs and Services at (813) 794-2362....

  6. Genesis Preparatory School Class of 2013 valedictorian and salutatorian

    06/07/13K12By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    Alfred Jennett | valedictorian

    Parents: Ralph and Aleta Jennett.

    GPA: 3.95 Weighted: 4.37

    Future school: University of Florida Honors College

    Ideal career: scientist

    Most influential/best teacher: Farhad Azar

    Favorite quote

    "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you."...

    Alfred Jennett is heading to the University of Florida Honors College. If he could, he’d increase salaries in an effort to retain good teachers.

  7. From orienteering to hiking trails, June 8 is Get Outdoors Day

    06/04/13EventsBy Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    School's out for the summer and the kids are already getting antsy. Or maybe you're looking to unplug from whatever technology you're typically tethered to — even if it's just for a few hours. Go for it.

    Cast a fishing line from the river's edge. Go for a walk through the woods. Get that heart pumping with a jog around the bases, or simply kick back on an open blanket and relax.

    This weekend presents the opportunity to do all that and more, as three Pasco County parks invite all to join in an array of fun and educational activities meant to suit almost anyone's style....

    Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park is one of the Pasco County destinations hosting activities for National Get Outdoors Day Saturday. The national event, in its fifth year, marks the first time that Pasco parks have been included.

  8. Land O'Lakes High Valedictorians and Salutatorians of 2013

    05/31/13K12By Michele Miller, Times Staff

    Brooke Gonzalez | valedictorian (traditional)

    Parents: Lori and Mike Gonzalez

    GPA: 3.8 Weighted: 4.6086

    Future School: University of South Florida or the University of Miami

    Ideal Career: Research in biomedical engineering

    Most influential/best teacher: Jasalyn Gerazounis and Dr. Frank Pfost from Pasco-Hernando Community College...

    Land O’Lakes High School valedictorians Grace Chow, 18, left, International Baccalaureate program, and Brooke Gonzalez, 18, traditional program.

  9. Veteran New Port Richey saddle maker grooms apprentice

    05/31/13 Human Interest By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    NEW PORT RICHEY

    Start to finish, it takes about six hours to build a saddle that's light yet sturdy and a good fit for a 115-pound jockey and a 1,000-pound thoroughbred clocking it down the stretch.

    When it comes to getting that saddle out the door, "too little time" is the nature of the business — particularly when live racing wraps up in Tampa and jockeys head to tracks such as Presque Isle Downs in Eerie, Pa., and Thistle Downs in Cleveland. In those paddocks and other local haunts around the circuit, the name Keith Beeson is an easy roll off the tongue....

    Saddles are under construction at Beeson’s workshop, where he also makes other items: wallets, gun holsters, belts, guitar straps, trick saddles. “And the repairs,” he says. “It’s never ending.”

  10. Gulf High Valedictorians and Salutatorians for 2013

    05/24/13K12By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    Courtney Flor valedictorian, traditional

    Parent: Anne Flor

    GPA: 3.86; Weighted: 4.54

    Future school: University of Florida

    Ideal career: Physician or surgeon

    Most influential/best teacher: Ann Donlon and Erika Pugh

    Hardships overcome: My dad died when I was in eighth grade. It's a little annoying because I'm trying to work hard and accomplish all of these things and he's not even here to see it. His death has somewhat shaped my career goal of working in the medical field and being an author, though....

    Gulf High School IB co-valedictorians Christina Engler, 17, left, and Brittney Gervasi, 17, center, with traditional valedictorian Courtney Flor, 18, right.

  11. J.W. Mitchell High Valedictorian and Salutatorian of 2013

    05/18/13K12By Michele Miller, Times Staff

    Paige DePagter | valedictorian

    Parent's names: Chad DePagter, Jane DePagter

    GPA: 3.9795; Weighted: 4.6136

    Future school: University of South Florida

    Most influential or best teacher: Ed Braddy

    Hardships overcome: My brother's battle with lymphoma last year definitely impacted my life tremendously. I spent a lot of time with him in the hospital and had to work harder at things that had previously been so easy. ...

    J.W. Mitchell High valedictorian Paige DePagter

  12. Anclote High's Valedictorian and Salutatorian of 2013

    05/18/13K12By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    Anclote High School, Holiday

    Valedictorian: Violetta Klepatski

    Parents: Vera and Vitaliy Klepatski

    GPA: 3.9 Weighted: 4.6136

    Future School: University of South Florida, hopefully to go on to a graduate degree at MIT or other out-of-state university.

    Ideal Career: Architecture.

    Most influential/best teacher: Matt Kingsley....

    Anclote High valedictorian Violetta Klepatski

  13. Hummingbird Festival set for Pioneer Florida Museum

    05/14/13EventsBy Michele Miller, Times Staff

    There's something intriguing about the hummingbird. Perhaps it's the size of the miniature flier that can weigh as little as a Lincoln penny. Maybe it's the bird's seemingly frantic flight, fueled by a voracious appetite and accented by humming wings that can beat 200 times per second during courtship flights. Or perhaps it's the impressive fortitude that carries some migrating species on journeys from Florida to Canada, across the Gulf of Mexico or from Tallahassee to Alaska, where the orange-colored Rufous Hummingbird regularly breeds during milder seasons. ...

  14. Here are Sunlake High's 2013 valedictorian and salutatorian

    05/11/13K12By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    Ashelynne Hanold | valedictorian

    Parents: Lori and Troy Antalek, Butch Hanold

    GPA/weighted: 4.56

    Future school: University of Florida

    Ideal career: I would like to be involved in the medical field

    Most influential/best teacher: Mr. Colin Taylor, everything that left his mouth was brilliant.

    Favorite quote:

    " 'The bitterness of studying is far sweeter than the bitterness of failing.' I have no idea who said this."...

    Ashelynne Hanold is heading to the University of Florida.

  15. Here are the top grads from Wesley Chapel's Class of 2013

    05/11/13K12By Michele Miller, Times Staff Writer

    Mario "Michael" Giannazzo | valedictorian

    Parents: Alexandra Giannazzo and Thomas Giannazzo

    GPA: 3.96; weighted: 4.62

    Future school: Brown University

    Ideal career: Lead video game designer

    Most influential/best teacher: Kyle Weber, social studies

    Favorite quote:

    "The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it."...

    Mario Giannazzo says more attention should be paid to teachers’ pay.