B.C. Manion

Creating art from life

October 28, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Land O’ Lakes watercolorist Bob McAnespie doesn’t like to refer to himself as an artist.

He calls himself a painter.

In his view, an artist is to a painter, what a chef is to a cook.

The Land O’ Lakes man teaches a watercolor class for beginners at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex. The three-hour sessions are held Thursdays and cost $10 each. Supplies for the class cost about $50.

McAnespie encourages anyone who is interested in creating watercolor paintings to give it a try.

“The only way you can fail in watercolor is if you quit. If you stick with it and have any talent at all, you’re going to get somewhere,” said McAnespie, who is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society and the Florida Watercolor Society.

He enjoys painting landscapes or cityscapes, particularly with people in them.

“A lot of painters, especially beginners, they avoid people because they’re afraid of them. I tell them: ‘Don’t be afraid. People aren’t hard, once you learn a few tricks.’

“You know, when you put a person in a painting, that becomes the center of interest,” said McAnespie, who is primarily self-taught.

Over the years, he’s honed his skills by taking classes and workshops, reading books and watching instructional art programs on television.

Bob McAnespie has spent decades refining his watercolor painting skills. He says the best results come from painting on location, at the right time of day. Courtesy of Bob McAnespie — Bob McAnespie has spent decades refining his watercolor painting skills. He says the best results come from painting on location, at the right time of day.
Courtesy of Bob McAnespie

“I own 126 books on watercolor. I’ve read some of them two or three times,” said McAnespie, the former president of the Brandon League of Fine Arts and a former member of the Zephyrhills Art Club.

After painting for decades, McAnespie decided to begin teaching several years ago. He said he saw that as a way to deepen his knowledge.

Creating watercolor paintings requires both patience and courage, he said.

It’s also good to relax a little, he said.

He said he tells his students: “Don’t try too hard.”

Being too obsessed about results can yield paintings that are tight and have hard edges, he explained.

He teaches his courses indoors, but he recommends going out on location to get superior results.

“Mother Nature is the best teacher of all,” he said.

“The light is better.

“If you paint from a photograph, there are a lot places on photographs, in fact, they look black. But inside that black, there are a lot of colors that you don’t see. But when you are on location, you can see them.”

Time of day is important, too.

“The best time is 10 in the morning, or 3 o’clock in the afternoon because the shadows are better. If you go at noontime, there’s not much shadow at all. The sun is right above your head,” he said.

Bob McAnespie has art works hanging in his home studio and in his living room. He enjoys creating landscapes and cityscapes, particularly scenes that feature people. Courtesy of Bob McAnespie — Bob McAnespie has art works hanging in his home studio and in his living room. He enjoys creating landscapes and cityscapes, particularly scenes that feature people.
Courtesy of Bob McAnespie

Developing a trained eye takes practice, he added.

“You have to work on your observation technique. There’s a difference between looking and observing,” he said.

During his classes, McAnespie brings in five paintings and students vote on which one they’d like to create.

He demonstrates, while students observe. Then they paint and he observes.

The back-and-forth process seems to work well, said McAnespie, who has shown at many local art shows and will have works on display at the upcoming Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival at Lake Park and at the Suncoast Arts Fest at The Shops at Wiregrass.

McAnespie said he typically paints for an hour, or a bit longer, each day. Then he relaxes by playing piano.

Music and art have many similarities, he said.

“They both contain the principles of design and composition — like repetition and variation, balance, contrast, gradation, harmony and unity,” McAnespie said.

Watercolor lessons

When: Thursdays, from 9 a.m. until noon

Where: Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes

How much: Classes are $10

Who: Bob McAnespie, a signature member of the National Watercolor Society and the Florida Watercolor Society, teaches the class. Beginners are welcome.

For information: Call (813) 388-2766.

Published October 28, 2015

Russian ballerina makes a stop in Lutz

October 28, 2015 By B.C. Manion

She’s graced stages in more than 30 countries, has danced many classic ballet roles and has offered private coaching and workshops.

But last week, Russian ballerina Zhanna Golubenko was in Lutz, posing for photos and autographing posters at Dance Gear, Etc., 1707 Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz.

Zoe Gallagher and Zhanna Golubenko pose for a photograph during Golubenko’s recent visit to Lutz. The Russian ballerina has been touring the Southeastern United States, to share her passion for ballet and to promote upcoming performances of Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Courtesy of Lynn Gonzalez

Golubenko has been traveling in recent months to cities throughout the Southeastern United States, sharing her passion for ballet and helping to promote upcoming performances of Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker.

That production will be performed in numerous cities, including St. Petersburg.

Besides letting people know about the upcoming show, she’s also putting the word out about audition opportunities, said Carolyn Jackson, owner of Dance Gear, Etc.

Jackson was pleased to host the ballerina’s visit.

“It was just a fabulous opportunity for the community. Everybody loves The Nutcracker,” Jackson said.

Golubenko, who was dressed in costume, said she began dancing when she was 6. That was two decades ago.

Being a ballerina requires a considerable amount of practice and can result in injuries, but for Golubenko, it’s a way of life.

“When you love it, you cannot live without it,” she said. “Even the injuries, they teach you something.”

The ballerina also noted: “Pain in your soul is much stronger than physical pain, so I prefer to have physical pain.”

Most of the people she’s met during her Southeastern tour have been interested in knowing why she became a ballet dancer, and about how to recover from an injury.

She said her parents introduced her to the theater when she was very young and by the time she was 6, she knew she wanted to become a ballet dancer.

As for injuries, she said it is best to try to avoid them. She advised warming up thoroughly before beginning any serious training.

“Most of the injuries we get, we get them on cold legs,” Golubenko said.

At the Lutz shop, there were girls and their moms who were eager to meet the Russian ballerina.

Twelve-year-old Zoe Gallagher was among those lining up to have her picture taken with Golubenko.

“I just really wanted to meet a prima ballerina,” said Gallagher, who herself aspires to become a professional ballerina.

Gallagher said dancing helps her to convey her emotions, and she enjoys stepping into the role of a character.

Dancing, she said, “allows me to transfer into somebody else for a just a little bit of time.”

Published October 28, 2015

Pasco’s tourism sets new record

October 28, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County has posted its best year in tourism, according to county officials.

“This last year has been one for the record books,” Ed Caum Tourism Manager for VisitPasco, said in a news release.

“We surpassed our prediction of 10 percent growth and are up 17 percent over last years collections,” he said.

Specifically, Pasco County posted $968,263 in Tourist Tax collections, in the period between October 2014 and the end of September 2015.

Pasco’s results are in keeping with record numbers of tourists visiting Florida.

That trend is expected to continue, according to VisitFlorida, which is predicting that tourism and the hospitality industries will continue to experience growth.

Counties surrounding Pasco County also have experienced record years in Tourist Tax collection.

“We have expanded our marketing reach in the last two years to reach out to international travelers, as well as North America,” Caum explained. “Last year we focused on Germany and this year we will be reaching out to the United Kingdom and into South America to the Spanish speaking countries.” VisitFlorida trends show that Florida is expected to attract tourists from the emerging markets of Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico.

The impact of tourism on Pasco County is captured in a report from the U.S. Travel Association:

Travel spending in Pasco was nearly $466 million, generated from more than 500,000 visitors
Travel created nearly 6,000 full-time employees, with an annual payroll in Pasco County of $106.2 million
Local sales tax generated from those visitors totaled more than $14.9 million

“Tourism continues to be an economic engine in Pasco County,” Caum said.

Caum offered additional details at an breakfast meeting of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

Caum also talked about bright prospects for a greater number of tourists, as attractions such as Tampa Premium Outlets and Florida Hospital Center Ice open in Wesley Chapel, and people take advantage of the newly opened Tree Hoppers in Dade City and Sunwest Park in Hudson.

The hospitality industry is gearing up for increased tourism.

Pasco County currently has 3,556 hotel rooms, according to Caum. He expects Pasco’s hotel stock to increase by 75 beds a year for the next five years.

Besides the growth generated by new attractions, Pasco has long been a magnet for skydivers and for visitors to the county’s nudist resorts, which attract visitors from throughout Florida and from around the globe.

Caum said healthy tourism figures bode well for people who work directly in the hospitality industry, as well as for all Pasco business owners and residents.

The taxes paid by tourists reduce the tax burden for Florida residents, tourism provides jobs, and the amenities that are created to attract visitors, Caum said, can be enjoyed year-round by local residents.

Published October 28, 2015

Kirk leaves his mark on Saint Leo

October 21, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Whenever students, faculty, staff and visitors walk across the campus of Saint Leo University, they’ll see a permanent reminder of Dr. Arthur Kirk.

Kirk Hall, dedicated in a ceremony on Oct. 15, is the kind of academic space that Kirk, who retired in the summer of 2015, thinks is important for teachers and students to have.

It is equipped with tools designed to prepare teachers to make maximum use of technology, and what’s known about how students learn.

For instance, there’s a lab where education students can interact with avatars, enabling them to practice teaching techniques and receive immediate feedback.

The building is far different than the facilities that Kirk encountered when he arrived 18½ years ago, on the university’s main campus on State Road 52.

Dr. Arthur Kirk speaks at the dedication of Kirk Hall on Oct. 15. (Photos courtesy of Saint Leo University) — Dr. Arthur Kirk speaks at the dedication of Kirk Hall on Oct. 15.
(Photos courtesy of Saint Leo University)

At that time, enrollment was in decline, there were leaking roofs, and air conditioning equipment that was expected to last 20 years, was 37 years old.

In short, the list of challenges was long.

Kirk took the job anyway.

He was attracted to the mission of leading a Catholic, student-centered, university.

And, he said, “I also saw enormous potential, because it had some exceptional people that believed passionately in the institution.

“It looked like the right set of ingredients,” he said.

Kirk Hall is just the latest new building erected during Kirk’s tenure.

All together, the university added more than 1 million square feet of space and completely renovated four buildings, Kirk said.

But, buildings are just one sign of the university’s progress.

“I had an expression that ‘the anthropology was more important than the economics’,” Kirk said.

In other words, “it’s a lot easier to reverse the enrollment problems and financial problems and so forth, than it is to change the culture and build a culture that sustains excellence and success,” he said.

Cindy Brannen, past chair of the Board of Trustees; Beverly Kirk; Dr. Arthur F. Kirk Jr., president emeritus; Dr. Maribeth Durst, retired vice president of Academic Affairs; Charles ‘Chuck’ Fisk, retired economics faculty member (husband of Dr. Durst); Dr. William J. Lennox Jr., president, Saint Leo University; and Dennis Mullen, chairman, Saint Leo University Board of Trustees.

Kirk said he stayed at the university because he enjoyed creating that culture, and he enjoyed working with the university’s staff.

But, as much as he enjoyed that, he also knew there would be a time when it was time to go.

“There is the potential of staying too long. That’s not good for the individual or the organization. That was something that was on my mind for several years,” he said.

Before he left, it was important to him to complete a number of priorities, including the academic building — now called Kirk Hall.

“I really felt that all of the students and all of the faculty deserved that kind of academic facility,” Kirk said.

Over the years, there have been many gratifying moments, Kirk said.

He’s pleased by the results of a survey of the Best Colleges to Work For, conducted by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

“They survey the faculty and staff randomly at the institutions,” he said. “And, if you score in the top 10 percent of more than one of their 12 categories, you are placed on the honor roll for Best Colleges to Work For.

“We scored in the top 10 percent of 10 of the 12 categories,” he said.

Those results are particularly meaningful, he said, because of the progress that has been made.

Kirk Hall, on the University of Saint Leo campus, will serve as a permanent reminder of Dr. Arthur Kirk’s contribution to the university.

“When we started, we had a fractured culture. So, to have that strength of culture, and organization and people that are very committed and happy to work there, was extremely important to me,” Kirk said.

Raising the university’s profile was important, too, Kirk said.

When he arrived at Saint Leo, he was surprised by how little people knew about the university.

“People who live in Dade City and drove by the campus all of the time didn’t know we were on 16 military bases in six states,” Kirk said.

“That was certainly a surprise and increased the challenge a little bit. Support follows understanding. If they don’t know who you are, where you are and what you do, they’re not going to give very much support,” Kirk said.

The retired university president said he would run into people in Tampa who would say: “Saint Leo, I’ve heard of it. Where is it?”

That has changed over time.

Now, for instance, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn mentions Saint Leo University in the same breath as the University of Tampa, the University of South Florida and Hillsborough Community College, Kirk said.

Kirk also is pleased that core values adopted by the university in 1998 have become part of the university’s way of life.

Those values — community, respect, responsible stewardship, excellence, personal development and integrity — are taken seriously, Kirk said.

“Each one is defined as a personal expectation of everyone,” he said. “One of those core values is taught very intentionally in every single course in the curriculum, at every level.

The core values, he said, “have become very much part of the (university’s) DNA.

“When I walk around and hear students and faculty talk about the core values, and how important they are, I feel really, really good about that.”

Perhaps one of his most special memories, though, will be the one where, surrounded by family, students, faculty and staff, Kirk saw an academic building named in his honor.

“It was a joyous occasion,” Kirk said.

Published October 21, 2015

Denham Oaks is celebrating 20 years

October 21, 2015 By B.C. Manion

The year was 1995.

Bill Clinton was in the White House.

Forrest Gump won Best Picture.

The San Francisco 49ers won the Super Bowl.

And, Denham Oaks Elementary School opened in Lutz.

The school, which will celebrate its 20th birthday on Oct. 30, has been the home of thousands of school children over the years — and has had six staff members since the beginning.

They stayed because they felt a sense of connection with the school, the staff and the students.

From left, Karen Anair, Kristen Eales, Shannon Presson, Mary Jane Kranendonk, Cathy Cohen and Susan Green have been on Denham Oaks Elementary School’s staff since it opened 20 years ago. The school plans a pep rally and birthday cake on Oct. 30 to celebrate. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — From left, Karen Anair, Kristen Eales, Shannon Presson, Mary Jane Kranendonk, Cathy Cohen and Susan Green have been on Denham Oaks Elementary School’s staff since it opened 20 years ago. The school plans a pep rally and birthday cake on Oct. 30 to celebrate.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“It’s a sense of family. I am comfortable here,” said Kristen Eales, a first-grade teacher, who spent most of her time at the school teaching kindergarten.

“It feels like home to me,” added Susan Green, who is now the school’s bookkeeper.

“I definitely feel a sense of ownership. We put the desks together here. We saw the walls. We came in construction. You always just felt like it was your school,” said Shannon Presson, who teaches fourth grade.

Mary Jane Kranendonk, the school’s physical education teacher, marvels at the beauty of the school’s setting.

“It’s a nature’s paradise out there. We’ve had owls, hawks,” she said.

Cathy Cohen, the school’s custodian, lives in Carpenter’s Run. She enjoys living near enough she can walk or bicycle to school.

“I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else,” said Karen Anair, who teaches children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

All of those staff members, except Green, have had their children educated at Denham Oaks Elementary, at 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz.

“Having my children go to school here, I always knew they were going to get phenomenal teachers,” Kranendonk said.

The elementary school began classes at its Lutz campus on Oct. 31, 1995.

Denham Oaks began the school year on double sessions with Lake Myrtle Elementary because of issues between the school and Mad Hatter Utilities.

The yearbook cover from Denham Oaks' first year, 1995. (Courtesy of Meagan Rathman) — The yearbook cover from Denham Oaks’ first year, 1995.
(Courtesy of Meagan Rathman)

The opening day at the new campus was particularly memorable for Cohen’s twin sons, who were 8 and were going into third grade.

“It was their birthday, Halloween,” she said.

The area around the school has changed enormously, the six women said.

State Road 54 was a two-lane road.

Oak Grove Boulevard didn’t exist.

And, there were no large commercial ventures anywhere nearby.

But, there were cow pastures and plenty of critters.

“The first year, the cows escaped, and they went across our whole campus. Cow poop everywhere!” Kranendonk said.

Snakes slithered into classrooms, and there was even a 5-foot alligator that got into a classroom.

“Not only did we stir up the wildlife with the school being built, but homes started being built,” Eales said.

Many other changes have occurred, as well.

In those early years, the majority of parents would pack their child’s lunch, Cohen recalled.

And Rosie Capehart, the lunchroom manager, was known for her tasty meals and for her bread, which not only tasted delicious, but also filled the campus with the aroma of freshly baked bread.

“I have great memories of Rosie’s lunches,” Kranendonk said.

Over the years, scores of happy memories have been made, the women said.

There have been field trips to Sea World and to the Ford/Edison Estates, and a Renaissance festival at the school.

There are also school traditions, including the annual Fall Festival and the Storybook Parade.

And, there have been changes, too.

The age of accountability has meant more structure and testing.

Technology has made impacts, too.

Now, the school can make automatic calls to parents, and can use Facebook, Twitter and its website to communicate what’s happening.

It was a lot different, when Green was working as a secretary in the school office.

“When there were notes going home, you’d have to make a 1,000 copies for these kids to take home,” she said.

Of course, many students have come and gone, and staff members have changed through the years, too.

When the school opened, Ruth (Biggs) Reilly was the principal.

And, she’s expected to attend the school’s celebration.

She’ll be among hundreds of students, staff members and invited guests for the festivities, which call for a pep rally, a birthday cake, a slide show and most likely, a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

It promises to be a big day.

Published October 21, 2015

Porter Campus hits 3,000-mark

October 21, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch has hit another milestone.

The campus hit the 3,000 mark for enrollment for the coming term. Stan Giannet, provost at Porter Campus, announced the milestone during a town hall session sponsored by the college and the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 14.

The campus opened two years ago, with 1,800, exceeding its expectations at that time, Giannet said, in an interview after the town hall session.

From the beginning, the campus has been entrepreneurial with its scheduling, he said.

Stan Giannet, the provost at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, is enthused about the growing development near the campus, which he sees as future job opportunities for students on his campus. (File Photo) — Stan Giannet, the provost at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, is enthused about the growing development near the campus, which he sees as future job opportunities for students on his campus.
(File Photo)

“We opened very aggressively, with an opportunity for students to take classes from 8 o’clock in the morning until 9:40 at night, Monday through Thursday, and from 8 o’clock until 4:30 on Friday, with a generous opportunity for online sections and hybrid sections,” Giannet said.

“We continued to build on that schedule, with community needs, student needs, student feedback and faculty feedback, of course, in our schedule building – and what our students are telling us they need,” he said.

The college keeps a close eye on projected work force needs, and offers courses designed to help students be prepared for those opportunities, Giannet said.

The college has added a program that helps licensed paramedics make the transition to becoming nurses.

It also is planning to add the CISCO Academy certification courses, a prestigious designation in the Information Technology field.

That program exists at PHSC’s West Campus, but is being brought to the Porter Campus as well, Giannet said. Wiregrass Ranch High School, which is right behind the Porter Campus, has an IT academy.

“You know, with the proliferation of new businesses coming to the Wesley Chapel area, that networking, IT, will be very fruitful for potential graduates,” Giannet said.

Giannet said the college is seeking to prepare students to take advantage of the new opportunities that are coming to Wesley Chapel.

“We’re excited about all these things that are happening – the expansion of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, (the opening of) Tampa Premium Outlets, more and more medical establishments coming to the area, the hotels and hospitality, the hockey rink, the schools, the new subdivisions and the development,” Giannet said.

“Those will just give opportunities for our students to be on the front line of employment opportunity.”

Published October 21, 2015

Gun issues dominate town hall session

October 21, 2015 By B.C. Manion

It was billed as a town hall session on economic development, but the gun issues facing the Florida Legislature dominated much of the discussion.

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch co-hosted a town hall on Oct. 14 featuring State Sen. John Legg and State Rep. Danny Burgess.

Eugene Williams, executive director for the Coalition for the Homeless, opened the questioning by addressing the issue of concealed weapons on campus.

State Sen. John Legg addressed questions from the audience. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — State Sen. John Legg addressed questions from the audience.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“I was recently in Tallahassee and attended the committee meeting for the bill for campus concealed weapons,” Williams said. “As a PHSC adjunct professor, I just want to let you know that I don’t think that’s a good idea.

“The committee almost voted unanimously to support the representative’s bill. And I just think that that’s just wrong for our schools. It’s scary for our teachers, and most importantly, it’s not going to bring safety, or better safety to our to, you know, our school children,” said Williams, asking legislators to comment on the issue.

Legg, whose district represents everything south of State Road 52 in Pasco County to north of Tampa International Airport in Hillsborough County, told Williams there are four bills facing the Legislature that deal with weapons.

“We have one that basically allows, if you will, concealed weapon permit holders to be on college campus.

“We have another one that says we should allow our teachers to be armed in the k-12 (kindergarten through 12th-grade) system.

“We have another one that has been filed for open carry (to allow people to carry their weapons in plain sight) around the state of Florida.

“You have a fourth one now that says you can bring weapons to political meetings,” Legg said.

The state senator said he believes that people have the right to protect themselves, but not other people.

“That’s why we have law enforcement. That’s why you have trained people to do that,” he said.

“I think universities should have the right to regulate the weapons that are on the campus, but have the caveat that you do have students living on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Legg said.

“I’m not in favor of arming our teachers,” Legg said. “I understand people’s fear,” he added, but noted that law enforcement officers are better trained.

Burgess, whose district covers Dade City, San Antonio, St. Leo and Zephyrhills, said the issues need discussion.

“What we’re doing is not working,” Burgess said. “What can we do?” he asked.

“The debate should be had.”

Legg said he opposes the proposal to allow people to openly carry their weapons.

“People garnishing their weapons is not something I want to be around,” Legg said.

Burgess, who has a concealed weapons permit, said he’s not sure if he would want to openly carry his weapon.”

The legislators also heard concerns from the crowd about growing congestion, particularly near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

More needs to be done to synchronize lights better, so traffic can flow more smoothly, an audience member suggested.

A former Florida teacher urged lawmakers to reduce the required amount of testing in schools, noting that current requirements are so restrictive that they stifle teachers from pursuing their passion for teaching and prevent them from doing the work they were trained to do.

Teachers are leaving the profession, the former teacher said, because “they’re frustrating out.”

Published October 21, 2015

Music, barrel train rides, food and fun

October 21, 2015 By B.C. Manion

The old phrase — ‘There’s something for everyone.’ — really rang true at the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run at San Antonio Park.

Betty Burke, the chairwoman of the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run, says the event’s T-shirt is one of its best advertisements. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Betty Burke, the chairwoman of the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run, says the event’s T-shirt is one of its best advertisements.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

There was a man who was eating fire, musicians keeping the crowds entertained, and children riding in a train fashioned from barrels.

Shoppers could peruse booths featuring everything from homemade soaps to honey, to paintings and horseshoe décor.

And, visitors could learn a thing or two, too, or grab a bite to eat.

There were pony rides, bounce houses, wooden gopher tortoises races, face painting and plenty of other options for children to enjoy.

Betty Burke, chairwoman of the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run, was pleased to see people streaming by — obviously enjoying themselves.

Burke was working in the Rattlesnake Festival T-shirt Tent, where patrons were picking up the signature souvenir of the event.

“The T-shirts are our best advertisement,” Burke declared.

Dolores Riego de Dios, of the Rotary Club of San Antonio, and Jack Thies, of the Rotary Club of Zephyrhills-Daybreak, were on hand helping out.

Noah (Royak) the Juggler demonstrates his fire eating and breathing skills in the middle of the San Antonio park during the festival. (Richard Riley/Photo) — Noah (Royak) the Juggler demonstrates his fire eating and breathing skills in the middle of the San Antonio park during the festival.
(Richard Riley/Photo)

Riego de Dios, who performed The National Anthem before the race began, said she’s glad her club decided to take over the event last year to keep it alive.

Next year, the event will be a two-day affair, as the festival marks its 50th anniversary.

“It’s great that it didn’t have to die,” Thies agreed.

He said he was there to help because that’s what Rotary Clubs do, they help each other.

Terrie Grissom also was happy to help, as was her sister, Donna Fichter, who was helping in the T-shirt tent.

Fichter marveled at the weather: “Gorgeous day! Could it not be better?”

Published October 21, 2015

Jim Mendenhall, of Squama Reptiles, who has had a venomous reptile show at the festival for years, is shown symbolically passing on the honors — in the form of a Gila Monster — to Gordon Cates, who will take over the show next year. (Richard Riley/Photo) — Jim Mendenhall, of Squama Reptiles, who has had a venomous reptile show at the festival for years, is shown symbolically passing on the honors — in the form of a Gila Monster — to Gordon Cates, who will take over the show next year.
(Richard Riley/Photo)

Joanna Esposito of Honey Bunch Face Painting, adds the final touches to the face of Leah Maher, of Spring Hill. (Richard Riley/Photo) — Joanna Esposito of Honey Bunch Face Painting, adds the final touches to the face of Leah Maher, of Spring Hill.
(Richard Riley/Photo)

Pasco’s tourism figures are rising

October 14, 2015 By B.C. Manion

When the final numbers are in, Pasco County’s tourism manager believes the county will be issuing a report on a record year for the county.

“I’m actually probably going to have a record year, once I see September’s numbers. The average daily room rate is up about 10 percent across the board,” said Ed Caum, tourism manager for Pasco County. “It’s pretty exciting.”

And, the prospects are bright for even more visitors in the coming year.

The county has several new attractions that will be opening soon, or have recently opened.

Among them:

Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 54, near Interstate 75: This 441,000-square-foot mall, featuring 110 retailers, is scheduled to open on Oct. 29.
Florida Hospital Center Ice, off State Road 56, parallel to Interstate 75, is set to open next spring. It is expected to attract tournaments, as well as thousands of local hockey players, skaters and other athletes.
Tree Hoppers, in Dade City, is a zipline course designed for aerial adventurers of all ability levels.
SunWest Park, in Hudson, is expected to attract worldwide attention for its beach volleyball courts and its wakeboard course.

These attractions will help draw more visitors, which will increase tourism — and that benefits the county, Caum said during the Oct. 6 breakfast meeting of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

Ed Caum, tourism manager for Pasco County, believes the county is heading toward a record year in terms of tourism. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Ed Caum, tourism manager for Pasco County, believes the county is heading toward a record year in terms of tourism.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Tourism figures matter — not only to people working directly in the hospitality industry, but to all of Pasco’s business owners and residents, Caum said.

Taxes paid by tourists reduce the tax burden for Florida residents, he said.

And, tourism provides jobs.

Across Florida, the state is projecting the need for 300,000 more hospitality employees by 2020, Caum told the breakfast crowd, gathered in the conference center at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

“A lot of people are thinking, well that’s not really a lot of high-paying jobs,” Caum said.

But he added: “We’re going to have to change our mentality about that a little bit.

“Actually, the median wage for someone who is in the hospitality business is about $45,000,” he said. “It’s not all people changing sheets.”

“Tourism is economic development,” Caum said.

“Everybody who runs a business in Florida is an ambassador for tourism. Because if you’re a car dealership, or a car repair or providing some kind of service, chances are you’re going to have a tourist that’s going to walk through your business,” he said.

In Pasco, County Administrator Michele Baker has realigned the tourism office so that it works with the county’s office of economic growth.

The shift was made because tourism is an economic generator, Caum said.

Tourism also helps the state to attract more businesses and residents.

Events like the mud run attract people to Pasco County, where the visitors spend money — boosting the local economy. (File Photo) — Events like the mud run attract people to Pasco County, where the visitors spend money — boosting the local economy.
(File Photo)

“A lot of the folks who have moved their businesses here, came here because they had a good experience in Florida and they decided they wanted to come down here to open a business,” Caum said.

Figures show that $500 million was spent by tourists in Pasco County.

“We’re generating right around 6,000 jobs, currently, here in Pasco County, which is tourism-related,” Caum said.

That’s not counting the car mechanic that fixes a traveling tourist’s car, or the car rental place that rents a car to someone who is coming from the airport to visit people or conduct business in Pasco.

Pasco County currently has 3,556 hotel rooms.

Caum expects the county’s hotel stock to increase by 75 beds a year for the next five years.

“I have to market what we are. Not what we think we are. Not what we want to be. We have to actually market and play to our strengths.

“So, what do we have? We have elbowroom. We have outdoors. We have nature.

“We don’t swim with the manatees here, but I’m constantly out there kayaking and they’re always coming out to see what that big green thing on the top of the water is, and it’s me, looking down at the manatees. That’s an experience that people love.

“I always see dolphins when I’m out kayaking,” he said.

Tree Hoppers is an aerial adventure park in Dade City, giving people of all ability levels the chance to experience ziplining. (File Photo) — Tree Hoppers is an aerial adventure park in Dade City, giving people of all ability levels the chance to experience ziplining.
(File Photo)

As the county invests in amenities to boost tourism, local residents benefit, too, Caum said.

Caum serves on two Visit Florida committees: The Cultural Heritage, Rural and Nature Committee and the Marketing Committee.

“I’m sitting around the table with the likes of Disney, Busch Gardens and some of the major, major players, to talk about marketing.

“The one thing that we’re going to try to do is to move people around Florida more.

“We’ve found that people that have gone back to the same destination over and over again are looking for other opportunities,” he said.

“I’m trying to position Pasco County as the place they maybe want to visit after they’ve seen The Mouse (Disneyworld).

“I’m trying to not be the anti-Mouse, but say, if you want to disconnect, bring your family someplace where you can go out and walk in the woods, paddle on the water — a different experience and a healthy experience, also,” Caum said.

The county also has a number of events that attract visitors, including the Bug Jam, the Savage Races and local festivals.

And, it is launching new initiatives, too.

“One of the things that we do have here is a lot of history,” he said, noting there are 93 cast iron historic signs around the county.

“I’m working right now to GPS all of them and put them into a map, where our visitors can follow them around,” he said.

European visitors, in particular, enjoy driving around to the various historic sites and getting out of the car to read about the area, Caum said.

Efforts are also underway to bring downtown districts back to life and to promote the county’s microbreweries and eclectic restaurants, Caum added.

When it comes to promoting the county, it’s everybody’s job, the tourism manager said.

He recounted overhearing a young waiter being asked by a visitor what there was to do around Pasco County.

The waiter replied: “I’ve lived here forever. There’s nothing to do in Pasco County.”

“There’s a missed opportunity,” Caum said.

Published October 14, 2015

Rattlesnake Festival features snakes, music, food and fun

October 14, 2015 By B.C. Manion

It’s a tradition that dates back 49 years, and it takes a community to stage it — but it’s worth the effort because people really seem to have a good time, said Betty Burke, chairwoman of the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run.

“Once those tents start going up, the atmosphere is charged all over town. Kids start getting excited. It’s a big event for San Antonio,” said Burke, who is a member of the Rotary Club of San Antonio.

The event nearly died three years ago, after the people who organized the festival for decades decided they couldn’t do it.

These children seem to be intrigued by the iguanas. This year’s San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run offers plenty of free activities for children and adults, too. (Photos courtesy of the Rattlesnake Festival & Run) — These children seem to be intrigued by the bearded dragon. This year’s San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run offers plenty of free activities for children and adults, too.
(Photos courtesy of Rattlesnake Festival & Run)

The seven Rotary Clubs of East Pasco took over the event to keep it going, and the Rotary Club of San Antonio took the reins last year, Burke said.

The festival is a community event, in the truest sense of the word, Burke said.

“The community is behind it. We could not do this without the community,” she said.

It’s an event that aims to provide affordable fun for people of all ages.

“Some of the people from other areas thought: ‘Well, rope off the park and charge admission,’ ” Burke said.

But she added: “That’s not the way it works here. You can do that somewhere else, but not in San Antonio.”

Admission and parking are free.

There are four parking lots and there’s a bus to provide rides for those parking in the lot that’s farthest away, because it’s on the other side of State Road 52.

“The entertainment is music all day long, from 10:15 (a.m.) until 5 o’clock. It’s mostly old-time and country music. We have a blue grass. We have an ’80s band,” she said.

“Food — we have quite a variety. We have food trucks and booths. We have hamburgers and cheeseburgers, and fries. We have pizza. Hot dogs. Pulled pork and chicken. We have Caribbean, Cuban, Cajun, churros and this — I can’t wait to see this — there is 30-foot inflatable ice cream cone, and it serves soft-serve ice cream,” she said.

And there’s more.

“We have kettle corn, boiled peanuts, lemonade and iced tea, and believe it or not, one of the big attractions is the fresh, boiled corn on the cob. People say to me, ‘Well, you’re going to have corn on the cob, aren’t you?’” Burke said.

In addition to plentiful food selections, there are scores of free activities.

Those attending the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run can buy a ticket to find out more about snakes at Jim Mendenhall’s Snake Show.

There are free games for children, free crafts run by the Future Teachers Association from Saint Leo University and demonstrations by Cowboy Tom and his horse, a retired rodeo man who does rope tricks.

“We have a pioneer village, with a blacksmith, a rope winder, a basket maker, a cane weaver. We have a juggler, who even juggles fire,” Burke said.

There’s also a small farm animal exhibit.

And, of course, there’s Jim Mendenhall’s Snake Show.

There is a charge, but it is less expensive than it was before, Burke said.

“We have reduced the (ticket) costs, because a lot of people said it was too expensive for families, and we try to make this affordable for families,” Burke said.

Tickets to the snake show are $5 for adults, and $3 for children 12 and under, except for those age 5 and younger, who get in for free.

Mendenhall’s show is educational, Burke said. He helps people gain a better understanding of snakes — helping them to have a healthy respect for the reptiles, but not to be afraid, she said.

Mendenhall also talks about the important roles that snakes and gopher tortoises have within the environment, Burke said.

The snake show is always popular, but so are the gopher tortoise races, she said.

There was a time when live gopher tortoises were raced at the festival, but those days are long gone. Now, wooden models race, and the races always draw a crowd.

“The kids absolutely love them,” Burke said.

The festival takes considerable effort to pull off.

A crew of roughly 200 volunteers is involved. Numerous groups and organizations play a role in the festival’s success, including the Town of St. Leo, The City of San Antonio, Saint Leo University, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Pasco High Interact Club and others.

Dan Devine has been a huge help in organizing the event, Burke said. “We couldn’t have done it without him,” she said.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Rotary Club of San Antonio. It’s the club’s largest fundraiser of the year. Last year, the club, which has 14 members, raised $10,000 for charitable projects, with most of the money spent on projects in Pasco County, Burke said.

The Rotary Club isn’t the only beneficiary from the event, she said.

Residents living near San Antonio take advantage of the crowd, by selling parking spots in their yards, or doing yard sales.

Local businesses also get a boost.

“I own the antique shop right next to the post office, and that’s the biggest day. We make more that day than we do in several months.

“The restaurants are slammed. All of them. It’s a real good boon to the businesses,” Burke added.

She expects a crowd of 5,000 to 6,000 people at the festival this year.

That’s quite a bit, Burke noted, “for the little town of San Antonio.”

For more information, visit RattlesnakeFestival.com, or call (352) 588-4444.

San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival & Run
Where: San Antonio City Park, 12202 Main St., San Antonio
When: Oct. 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (The 5-mile and 1-mile runs begin at 8 a.m. Races are for walkers, families, kids and dogs. The entry fee for both races is $25, and $5 for children who are younger than 10 who are accompanied by an adult.)
Highlights: Music, gopher tortoise races, handmade arts and crafts, children’s rides and games, pumpkin patch, farmer’s market, farm animals, food trucks, beer garden, pioneer village and more.
How much: Free admission and parking. Charges for snake show, food and vendor items.
For more information: Call (352) 588-4444, or visit RattlesnakeFestival.com.

Published October 14, 2015