Author speaks at colleges 'Civic Leadership Day'

By DJ Mastroianni

ORLANDO, Fla- Top selling author and senior news analyst--Pat Duggins--spoke at Valencia, Tuesday. It was Civic Leadership Day at the college and Duggins came to speak about acting civil with the upcoming presidential election.

Gathered around the podium students listened to Duggins as he spoke about civil discussions and debates. “You don’t have to scream to have a civil discussion,” said Duggins in an interview.

“This was my first time seeing a public speaker and Pat Duggins is a very knowledgeable man who inspired me to vote,” student Lauren Barren of Oviedo said, “I very well may go out and buy his book too.”

Duggins works for WMFE and is nationally known as a resident 'NASA expert'. Over the years, Pat has covered 85 Space Shuttle missions. His top selling book is titled, "Final Countdown: NASA and the End of the Space Shuttle Program.”

Student Jason Hermits of Longwood said, “Pat seemed to really enjoy speaking to us. He had a smile on his face the whole time he spoke and everything he said made sense about having a civil political discussion.”

Civic Leadership Day comes once a year and is free to all Valencia students. Free food and drinks are offered to all that attend. The opportunity to register to vote is also available for students who attend.

For more information about Pat Duggins you may visit the website http://www.wmfe.org/.

Small town coffee shop gives big opportunities to musical group 'Yelm.'

By DJ Mastoroianni

Winter Park-A young group of college musicians, who refer to themselves as “Yelm,” performed at a small coffee shop this past Friday evening. A combination of experimental progressive, jazz, classic, and psychedelic rock was performed at Austin’s Coffee Shop in Winter Park by the names of Ryan Wagner, Anthony Mauro, Sean D’Souza and Daniel Henderson of Longwood.

There were approximately 15 people in the audience and it was the group’s first live performance. “Sometimes all it takes is a late night coffee shop, couches, and some great live music by college musicians to make a perfect evening,” stated by Stefanie Griffin of Winter Springs.

The performance lasted for 30 minutes, totaling five songs that the group played. “I really liked the show. I could see myself listening to them and buying a CD for sure,” stated DeAnna Hamoud of Lake Mary.

The audience gave an immense round of applause once the musicians were finished performing. Family members gathered congratulating their kids as the rest of the crowd walked out shaking hands with the members of the group.

“It’s so fun and easy to play with these guys. We all are friends and share the same like for music so getting together to practice is never a problem,” stated Wagner. “We had a few mistakes but overall we felt really good about the performance.”

The group said they will likely be performing at Austin’s Coffee shop again at a later date this year.

Austin’s Coffee shop is open Mon-Thurs: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m., Fri-Sat: 7 a.m. – 1 a.m., Sun: 8 a.m. – 12 a.m. and features live bands, art shows, independent films, live comedy, and poetry readings.

A Dear Friends Life

More and more everyday
Time goes on
My life keeps slipping away
I turn around and see what used to be
Then I look ahead
And I’m unsure of what I see
It was like yesterday when I was just a kid
Playing with my brothers
Not caring what we did
Mom and dad were making us snacks
While we ran around in the yard
Swimming in the pool and doing jumping jacks
Where did it all go?
I became an adult so fast
Yet, what do I know?
I feel so young
But I am twenty-one
Moving out, marriage, teaching
It’s all happening so fast
Soon enough I’m going to be preaching
To kids of my own
I barely even see my family now
As life is moving at its fast pace
I just sit back and think how?
How did I get here?
What do I do next?
There are so many things I fear
And I don’t want to have any regrets
Change: what a meaningful word
It can happen in a second, a day, a year
But it’s happening to me now, right here
I have my whole life ahead of me
So many different opportunities
So many different things to see
I can’t wait to experience all that life has to give
I don’t want to waste time being mad
I want a good life to live
And spend less time being sad
Life has a funny way of passing you by
Remember your past
And don’t leave yourself asking “why?”

Rush to the Heart

I hate that you’re all in my head
Taking over every inch of it
Like its sewing needle and thread
What the hell happened to me?
How did I get here?
Why did this have to be?
I’m not this weak
But you’re taking over me like a stampede
Ready to run me over again
You don’t even know it
It has been no longer then a week
And my hearts already showing it
I don’t even know what I like so much about you
It’s like starring at you
Brings me far to another place
But I feel like I’m in a chase
Running from the pain you’re bringing upon me
So fickle
So confusing
What do you want?
Is it me or not?
Stop playing games, I’m not a toy
You look like a man
But play like a boy
Stop hurting me
I’m worth more then this
You fooled me once
But this time I know the twist
I hear it loud and clear
Frowning from ear to ear
My heart beat drops
No more smiles
I feel like a stupid child
So young and naïve
Not sure what’s going to happen now
What trap I’m going to fall for this time
I just don't know how
You never manage to get what you want
I feel so foolish
I wish my heart didn’t hurt so badly
If you never came in I wouldn't feel this way
Mad at the world
I feel so lost and so not in control
Please take me away
Just like in my dreams
Stare into my eyes
Make me complete
Show me what lies
Deep beneath your heart
I want to get in your mind
You are what I want to find
Lying next to me each morning to come
I hate that it’s only a dream
When will my dreams ever come true?
You are something so fresh and new
Please sweep me off my feet
Sit me down in your driver seat
I’ll be there all the way
Just hold my hand…
And we will just find all the right things to say
And we will stay together from day to day
Night to night
Dusk to dawn
You are what I want in my sight
Forever will you be my guiding light.