The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Brian Fernandes

Playground aims to remove barriers for having fun

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Olivia Campbell, and her parents, were front and center at the future site of a play space that aims to give all children access to fun.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Sept. 20 at Wesley Chapel’s District Park for its new universally inclusive playground – the first in Pasco County.

The amenity will be designed to accommodate children who have special needs, such as Olivia, who has Down Syndrome.

“Inclusive playgrounds actually make a fundamental statement about how communities value meaningful play experiences for people of all ages and abilities,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who helped conceptualize the playground.

Pasco County Commissioners Jack Mariano and Kathryn Starkey, Erik Wangsness, Pasco County Commissioners Ron Oakley and Mike Moore, Mark Metheny, Eric Johnson and Keith Wiley officiate the groundbreaking of Wesley Chapel District Park’s new playground, on Sept. 20. (Brian Fernandes)

“We believe in creating play environments where everybody can play, focusing on both the physical and social aspects of inclusion,” Moore said at the gathering, which included Pasco County officials, local residents and representatives from organizations that provided financial support for the project.

Moore has spent a fair amount of time at the district park, while coaching teams there.

During those times at the park, Moore said he noticed that there were no suitable accommodations for children with disabilities.

Moore talked it over with Keith Wiley, director of Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, and together they began an initiative to create an inclusive playground.

In addition to researching other inclusive playgrounds, they spoke with special needs organizations for suggestions.

The new play space will be next to the park’s existing playground, with the two connected by sidewalks.

This will come in handy for Olivia, who frequents the park about four times a week to watch her sisters play soccer.

Her father, Stuart remarked: “We spend a lot of time at the park, so we’re absolutely ecstatic that they’re doing such a good project. To have a playground for all abilities will be absolutely amazing for her.”

Her mother, Tammy, said Olivia’s biggest challenge is climbing up the bars to reach other equipment on the current playground.

The new playground will have equipment stationed at a low level for easier access.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore gave opening remarks at the groundbreaking of Wesley Chapel District Park’s new playground, on Sept. 20. The new amenity will be Pasco County’s first handicap-accessible playground.

The 7,000-square-foot facility will include rubber flooring – for safety and a smoother ride for those in wheelchairs.

It also features canopy-shaded benches, and will be near a butterfly garden.

Donors that helped make the project possible are the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and the Lennar Foundation.

Representatives from each organization were present at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Their contributions, along with the county’s park impact fees, amounted to  $340,000 toward the project.

“[At] AdventHealth Wesley Chapel hospital, we take care of sick people every day,” said Erik Wangsness, the hospital’s CEO. “But, another part of our mission is to nurture the health of the community.”

Chris Casella, president of the local Rotary club, added that he and his members instantly knew the project would be worth taking on.

Pasco County Commissioners Kathryn Starkey, Jack Mariano, Ron Oakley and Mike Moore stepped onto the site’s barren ground with organization representatives.

With hard hats and shovels in hand, they posed for the customary groundbreaking snapshot.

Even Olivia got the opportunity to stand among the group.

“The good thing – I think – about this playground, is she’s actually going to meet children like her,” Olivia’s mother said.

The project is expected to be completed in November.

Published September 25, 2019

Monarch City art show

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The Dade City Monarch Project Art Show will soon display various art pieces from 30 artists.

Multiple pieces of artwork will be on display at the Dade City Monarch Project Art Show from Oct. 5 to Oct. 19. (Courtesy of Russ Taylor)

The public event is in recognition of Dade City being inducted as a Monarch City – tending to the survival of the monarch butterflies.

It will be held from Oct. 5 to Oct. 19 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., unveiling various paintings, photography and sculptures for sale.

Artwork also will be judged.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez will choose a piece worthy of a top award, as will the Dade City Garden Club.

And, first and second place winners, among three different categories, will walk away with ribbons and cash prizes.

Admission and parking will be free.

The function will be at the Out of Our Hands Gallery at 14245 Seventh St., in Dade City.

For further information, please contact the Out of Our Hands Gallery at (352) 437-3204 or by visiting OutOfOurHandsGallery.com.

What: Dade City Monarch Project Art Show

Where: Out of Our Hands Gallery, 14245 Seventh St., Dade City

When: Oct. 5 to Oct. 19 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost: Free

Details: An art show in honor of Dade City becoming a Monarch City, where various pieces will be on display and for purchase. The opening reception will be held on Oct. 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., offering refreshments.

Info: Call Out of Our Hands Gallery at (352) 437-3204, or visit OutOfOurHandsGallery.com.

Published September 25, 2019

 

 

9/11 responder shares his story and a gift

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Stephen Spelman rushed to Ground Zero as a first responder, but quickly found himself trying to outrun the overwhelming cloud of dust as The World Trade Center’s North Tower began to collapse.

Eighteen years later – to the day – Spelman shared the story of the daunting experience he had on Sept. 11, 2001.

Spelman, who now lives in Wesley Chapel, was the featured speaker at a North Tampa Bay Chamber luncheon on Sept. 11, at the Fox Hollow Golf Club in Trinity.

Stephen Spelman, left, his wife Fainery, and 10-year-old son, Mathew, pose for a picture before the start of the 9/11 Memorial dedication ceremony at the Tampa Premium Outlets. Spelman donated a piece of metal from a fire truck that was at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001. (Christine Holtzman)

The commemorative event was also an unprecedented moment for him.

“I’ve never spoken on 9/11,” he said. “I never thought my story was significant enough.”

For 24 years, Spelman worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and served the New York City Fire Department’s Battalion 46 in Queens.

In 1995, he became an instructor for the department – training firefighters, paramedics, EMTs and fire marshals.

On Sept. 11, 2001, he was teaching a class when he got word that a plane had crashed into The World Trade Center’s South Tower.

He recalled: “As we were watching it on TV, the second plane hit, and we knew it was definitely a terrorist act. We had to go.”

He grabbed his gear, including a bulletproof vest, and rushed out.

Spelman, another EMT and two paramedics, left their station in Queens and headed to lower Manhattan.

“Coming across the Kosciuszko Bridge from Queens into Brooklyn, we could see the South Tower and the North Tower burning – a very somber moment,” he said.

By the time they reached Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the South Tower had completely collapsed.

Before the tower tumbled down, first responders were heard on radios calling for help, Spelman said.

“It was just pretty horrifying, if you could imagine, knowing that your brothers and your sisters there are the ones being hurt, and they can’t get help,” he said.

Continuing toward Ground Zero, the crew made detours to get around heavy traffic congestion.

When they got there, Spelman and his partner headed toward the North Tower, tending first to those with the most severe medical needs.

Spelman joined other firefighters searching for survivors in debris-covered vehicles.

They had to proceed with caution, as people above were jumping out of the North Tower.

That search was cut short though, Spelman said, when “all of a sudden, we hear the rumble.

“Everything was shaking. I looked up and we heard the thumping – the boom, boom, boom. What we found out later, they were floors stacking on each other. It was surreal.”

The collapse of the North Tower sent those in the area running.

Spelman ran north, while several of his search crew headed east. He survived. They did not.

Later that evening, Spelman, along with 14 other firefighters, formed a search party to find comrades that they knew were missing. That search was cut short, however, because of the ongoing dangers.

As time went on, more of the deceased were found – sometimes only the remnants of firefighter gear.

“It was just unfathomable,” Spelman said. “You could not imagine that this would really [have] been a reality. We lost 343 firefighters, paramedics and a priest – Father Mychal Judge.”

Spelman told the audience that he struggled with survivor’s guilt for years.

He found solace, he said, in reuniting with the same 14 firefighters that he went on the search party with that Sept. 11 evening. All 15, later, got tattoos with the engraving: “The Band of Brothers.”

Even on that horrific day, Spelman said he witnessed the goodness of humanity.

“I’ve seen some heroic things there that were unbelievable by everybody – civilians alike,” he stated. “It was amazing to see all the civilians running back to help us. We were all a family that day.”

As a result of 9/11, Spelman said he had to endure health issues, including a pre-cancerous condition.

He commended comedian Jon Stewart’s advocacy for 9/11 responders to continue receiving coverage.

Legislation passed this summer, grants extended coverage to responders who became ill as a result of Sept. 11, 2001.

Spelman said he struggled to process the trauma of that day.

He said he finally decided that doing something positive for others was the only way he could.

Recently, he donated a gift that became part of Pasco County’s first permanent 9/11 memorial, that was unveiled on Sept. 7 at Tampa Premium Outlets in Wesley Chapel.

His gift was a fragment of Ladder 18, taken from a fire engine that was at Ground Zero.

Spelman said the piece is now displayed on a wall, which is situated near gum ball and soda machines.

It’s a convenient location, he said, for younger generations to view it, ask what it represents and gain a better understanding of the nation’s history.

Published September 18, 2019

Under Construction 09/18/2019

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The Watermark at Trinity independent living facility will be a new accommodation for retirees in Pasco County. (Brian Fernandes)

The Watermark at Trinity
The Watermark at Trinity is constructing an independent living facility adjacent to the company’s assisted living and memory care units. Located at 1900 Blue Fox Way in Trinity, the five-floor building will consist of 117 residences. Amenities include a pool in the courtyard, a gym, salon, spa, dining and therapy rooms, as well as a theater. Construction began in February of 2018, with completion expected in October. No opening date has been announced.

 

 

Wesley Chapel will have a new recreational center with the upcoming Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex. The facility will offer a gym, as well as numerous sports courts.

Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex
The RADDSports athletic company has partnered with Pasco County in constructing the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex. The recreational facility is located at 3211 Lajuana Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. The building will stand at approximately 100,000 square feet and one wing will be elevated to two floors. It will house multiple basketball and volleyball courts, a gymnasium, as well as a health and wellness center. And outdoors, there will be a field for soccer players. Construction is set for completion by July 2020.

 

 

The Land O’ Lakes Business Center will facilitate a warehouse and office space in Central Pasco County.

Land O’ Lakes Business Center
The Land O’ Lakes Business Center is being built at 7025 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The one-story building, containing 15,500 square feet, will be used as a warehouse and for office space. Construction began November 2018. The project completion date could be as early as the end of this year.

 

 

 

 

This building will be one of several plazas to make up the new Starkey Ranch Business Park. Its amenities will include multiple retail spaces, restaurants and a bank.

Starkey Ranch Business Park
A building that will be part of the Starkey Ranch Business Park is now going up.   The 9,000-square-foot building, at 12345 State Road 54 in Odessa, will consist of multiple retail spaces, several restaurants and a bank. Construction began in June. A completion date has not been determined.

New interchange expected to ease traffic on area roads

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Plans are underway to build an interchange connecting Overpass Road to Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel, and the project is expected to have a flyover ramp.

The ramp would grant access from westbound Overpass Road to southbound Interstate 75.

The Overpass Road bridge runs east-west above the interstate, which runs north-south.

Richard Moss is the director of transportation development for the Florida Department of Transportation District 7, who is overseeing the project.

Overpass Road, which runs above Interstate 75, will soon have a flyover ramp to connect the two roadways. (Brian Fernandes)

He was present at the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) board meeting to explain the development before board members, on Aug. 8.

“That flyover would process a lot more traffic going southbound (on Interstate 75), so it’s a much better design,” Moss said.

This in turn, would help alleviate congestion on main corridors, such as State Road 52 to the north and State Road 54 to the south, the director added.

Construction along Overpass Road would run from its intersections with Old Pasco Road and Boyette Road – a distance of roughly 1 mile.

Overpass Road bridge will need to be remodeled to accommodate the interchange.

“There’s an existing bridge out there,” Moss said. “We’re going to demolish that and it will be a full new interchange.”

Additional lanes are being added to Overpass Road, too.

The stretch from Old Pasco Road to I-75 will be expanded to four lanes; I-75 to Boyette Road, will be six lanes.

And, Blair Drive and McKendree Road, which both run off of Overpass Road, will undergo realignments.

Blair Drive will be disconnected from Overpass Road and will extend southwest to intersect with Old Pasco Road.

McKendree Road also will disconnect from Overpass Road. It will turn eastward, running parallel to Overpass Road before moving up northward and temporarily connecting with Boyette Road.

Future plans call for Boyette Road to extend north, where it will eventually intersect at another end of McKendree Road.

Pasco County and FDOT are operating under two agreements to acquire the necessary land for the project.

Right of way is being acquired for properties on both sides of Overpass Road, west of I-75. It also is being acquired along the west side of I-75, just south of Overpass Road.

A contractor will be selected for the project by Spring 2020, at which point the state transportation department will enter into a design-build contract.

“We anticipate that, being roughly about 800 days to construct,” Moss said. “You’re looking at probably about three years out and that interchange will be open.”

He also noted that there may be a six-month to eight-month gap between hiring the contractor and beginning construction.

The project will cost approximately $70 million and is expected to be completed by 2023.

Published September 18, 2019

Vanpooling service could be new option for Pasco’s workforce            

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Some private sector workers soon will have a new way to commute to their jobs throughout the Tampa Bay region – including Pasco County.

The Enterprise car company is collaborating with the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority to offer vanpooling services to companies and their employees.

Arlinda Karuli, Enterprise account executive, gave a presentation on the new service at the Smart Business Series on Sept. 10, at the Overnight Success Studios in Lutz.

Arlinda Karuli, Enterprise account executive, recently gave a presentation about the potential of vanpooling to help reduce traffic on the roads, while providing another option for workforce commuters. (Brian Fernandes)

“We want to be able to work with employers to be able to introduce this program to them,” Karuli explained. “We want to [give] employees another option to get to and from work.”

Tampa Bay’s continued growth has ramped up traffic — increasing the hassle of getting to work, Karuli said.

“Single-occupancy vehicles are really affecting traffic,” she said.

But, vanpooling is an option that can get workers to their jobs in a timely manner, she added.

Enterprise already has implemented this in some states, including California, and now is offering it to government employees within Tampa Bay.

After seeing its benefits, the Bay Area’s Transit Authority and Enterprise, are ready to open this service to private sector companies as well.

By riding to work in a van, passengers can take a nap, read a book, or take advantage of the commute time in different ways, Karuli noted.

“Then, they’re coming to work less stressed, and they’re ready to work,” she said.

Another advantage of vanpooling is that it broadens the pool of potential job candidates because they don’t need to have their own means of transportation, she added.

Other pluses: It allows employees to reduce the “wear and tear” and gasoline consumption of their personal vehicles, and it offers more available parking spaces for employers, she said.

Also, this service isn’t just limited to vans, she noted. There are more than 90 makes and models available to choose from.

Enterprise initially introduces the program to a company’s human resources department, and asks for the company to identify where employees live by zip code. It can then create a cluster map to see which people could benefit from the program, Karuli explained.

The map tracks at least four coworkers who live within a 3-mile radius of each other, who could potentially benefit from the service.

The vehicles then are rented out on a month-by-month basis, being prepaid before the month begins.

The employer can then allow one worker to hold on to the vehicle and pick up fellow coworkers at a central meeting place.

If rented by the company, payments are deducted out of those vanpoolers’ pay, but are not taxable.

Enterprise determines the prepaid cost by gauging the potential mileage, fuel and toll payments added up within that month.

However, the Transit Authority grants a $400 subsidy toward the costs, ultimately reducing the cost for commuters.

The transit agency also offers an Emergency Ride Home Program. In the instance that a rider who vanpooled gets sick and needs to go home early, he or she uses a voucher in exchange for a cab ride home.

Enterprise is looking into ways to implement the use of the voucher for the Emergency Ride Home Program for other driving services, such as Uber.

Enterprise also gives insurance coverage at no cost to the employer or employee.

Enterprise offers full-service maintenance, 24-hour roadside service, bumper-to-bumper collision with no deductible, and covers damages caused to another driver’s vehicle.

And, it replaces the vanpool vehicle in the event it is not suitable to drive.

Enterprise also can grant an additional 200 miles per month toward personal use, such as grocery shopping.

“We recently met with our economic development team in Pasco County and we were able to identify some manufacturing companies that can benefit from it,” Karuli mentioned.

Coworkers also can collectively rent out a vehicle without their company’s involvement.

And, families can vanpool, too.

Another benefit is a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, when people share a vehicle, rather than driving individually, she noted.

While timing of the program’s unveiling to the public has yet to be determined, several companies have already expressed interest, Karuli said.

Published September 18, 2019

Ridge Road Extension granted modifications, added funds

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a revision to the Ridge Road Extension project – to provide additional funding and services connected to the project.

The board approved a change order on Aug. 6 to pay for post-design assistance from the project engineer, and to analyze possible impacts to gopher tortoises.

The county also is allocating an additional $1.4 million toward the first phase of construction, which extends Ridge Road from Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey east to Suncoast Parkway. Phase one also includes modifications to the Parkway Interchange.

Plans are still underway to extend Ridge Road beyond its intersection with Moon Lake Road to U.S. 41. The new corridor will create a new east-west connection for motorists. (Brian Fernandes)

The second phase of the project extends Ridge Road from the Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes. That has not yet been funded for design or construction.

The revision approved in the change order requires that during the post-design phase, the engineer oversees any issues that arise with the construction plans or its documentation, while keeping the county informed of these matters.

The engineer also will be responsible for the project’s computer-aided design and drafting files. This software is vital to the construction phase and may be subject to changes, per county request.

The engineer also must address any changed conditions to construction in a “timely manner” and review changes proposed by the contractor, according to the county.

The change order also includes the surveying, permitting and possible relocation of gopher tortoises.

“The tortoises that are identified to be within the construction area, including those within the (Starkey Wilderness) Preserve, will be relocated based on guidance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,” said Sam Beneck, Pasco County project manager. “The tortoises must be relocated to an approved relocation site.”

These animals are protected by law and this process is usually included in the construction contract.

But, in an effort to accelerate the timetable for completing the extension, the process will be handled by the project’s design and permitting team.

However, the tortoises cannot be relocated until a permit has been obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Construction cannot commence, either, without clearance from the Army Corps.

“The funding has not been the holdup for the project,” Beneck explained. “It’s really been the permitting issues.”

Pasco County and the Army Corps have been trying to reach an agreement for years.

Various options have been considered and the one that has been selected calls for partially elevating the Ridge Road Extension, as well as adding 16 bridges, curbs, guardrails and fencing to protect wildlife.

Beneck estimated that these measures will reduce impacts by nearly 83 percent to the wetlands in the Serenova Tract of Starkey Wilderness Preserve.

Environmentalists have battled the road extension, citing the negative impacts it will have on the Serenova Tract.

The current design shows a two-lane road opening from Moon Lake Road to the Suncoast Parkway before the 2021 hurricane season.

The road would be expanded to four lanes the following year, and possibly to six lanes in the future, Beneck said.

When the Army Corps issues its permit for the project, it will be for both phases of the extension, Beneck said.

Published September 11, 2019

Celebrating a decade of helping mothers-to-be

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When Peter Castellani lost his corporate position at IBM, little did he know that his journey would lead him to open a safe haven for expecting mothers.

Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers is that organization, providing women with free services, including pregnancy testing and baby supplies.

Cherisse Rivera is director of Oasis Pregnancy Care Center’s Land O’ Lakes branch. Here, she’s shuffling through baby attire in the Baby Boutique room – where mothers can pick out needed items. (Brian Fernandes)

This year marks the nonprofit’s 10th anniversary in serving Tampa Bay, and it wants the community to join the celebration.

To commemorate its decade of operations, the agency is hosting a fundraiser at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, on Sept. 19.

The pregnancy care organization may be celebrating a milestone anniversary, but Castellani was an advocate for prenatal assistance long before Oasis opened on Oct. 1, 2009.

“I’ve been involved in the pregnancy care center movement for 20 years,” the executive director said.

He and his wife, Ellen, were church liaisons who were actively involved with Walk for Life and other pro-life organizations back in New York.

When the couple moved to Florida in 1999, they continued their support at A Woman’s Place Medical Clinic, where Castellani served on the board.

Then, he began serving the Pregnancy Care Center of Zephyrhills, eventually becoming president.

When Castellani was laid off after a 30-year career at IBM, it seemed like a sudden shift for the worst — until he realized it was an opportunity to expand his ministry.

He distinctly recalls that several days after his layoff, while still reeling with grief, he awoke to experience what he describes as a clear directive from God.

His new objective became a quest to build a pregnancy center in Land O’ Lakes, close to the high schools.

“Tears just started running down my face, because I never had a direct vision like that before,” said Castellani, who is Christian.

Coincidentally — or maybe not — the first Oasis branch opened nine months later, in Land O’ Lakes.

The center was opened with the support of Pastor Elbert Nasworthy, his Myrtle Lake Baptist Church and the community, Castellani said.

David Dorsey, left, Peter Castellani, April Beck, Cherisse Rivera and Helen Rairigh are among staff and volunteers who operate Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers. The nonprofit organization strives to help women as they transition into motherhood.

Now, Oasis has locations in Wesley Chapel and Tampa. It has 15 staff members and over 80 volunteers.

It also has helped thousands of families through the years, including 450 during the first seven months of this year, according to Castellani.

He attributes the organization’s success to its cohesive work team, that is both business- and ministry-oriented.

The women who come to the centers can receive various types of assistance. The information they provide remains confidential.

They can undergo testing to confirm if they’re pregnant.

Ultrasound screenings are available to let expecting mothers check on their baby’s status.

Counseling sessions are available, too.

The women and their partners also can watch educational videos that provide pointers on parenting techniques.

Dealing with an unplanned pregnancy can be difficult for many women.

“You have women that come in and they are totally devastated,” Castellani said. “Counseling with them for a couple hours, you see a miraculous change. They leave here with hope and a future.”

Oasis’ services are provided for free.

Although, as women continue receiving Oasis services, they are granted coupons, which they can exchange for supplies in the Baby Boutique room. This transaction encourages the women to remain in the program.

Castellani reasoned: “It gives them dignity and respect. Even though it’s free, they’re earning it. It’s not just a hand-away.”

At the Baby Boutique, an array of items can be found, such as diapers, maternity and infant clothing, and portable baby seats – to name a few.

Oasis is able to provide its services and provide giveaways because of funding it receives from local churches, businesses and the state.

The organization also hosts three annual fundraisers: a clay shoot event, a golf tournament and a banquet.

As a Christian, nondenominational establishment, Oasis encourages mothers to see their pregnancies through to birth. They also refer them to local churches as  additional support networks.

The organization helps mothers from various age groups, too.

Castellani dispelled a common stereotype: “It’s not always teenagers – that’s only about 20 percent. Most of our women that come in are college and career-aged women.”

And, for those who may face financial difficulties, Oasis helps them sign up for government assistance, such as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and Medicaid.

One of Oasis’ future endeavors is to bring more education to Pasco County schools, encouraging students to remain abstinent until marriage.

The fundraising celebration at Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., will help propel these initiatives forward.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., followed by live performances, catered food by Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and guest speaker RV Brown.

While there are no costs to attend the event, the organization is encouraging those present, to offer a generous donation to support the cause.

Those planning to attend are asked to R.S.V.P at bit.ly/OasisCelebration2019.

To volunteer or donate to Oasis, visit HeartsForOasis.org.

For additional information or services about Oasis, call (813) 406-4965, or visit OasisPregnancyCenter.org.

Oasis 10th anniversary fundraiser
Where: Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz
When: Sept. 19; doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: To celebrate 10 years of service, Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers will host a fundraising event with radio personality Mason Dixon as the emcee. Evangelist RV Brown will be the night’s guest speaker and attendees can enjoy a dish catered by Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
Info: Attendees are encouraged to RSVP online at bit.ly/OasisCelebration2019. Online donations can be sent through HeartsForOasis.org, and for further information, call (813) 406-4965.

Published September 11, 2019

Engines to roar in downtown Zephyrhills

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Get ready and get set for motorcycles to be on grand display in downtown Zephyrhills for the 15th annual Music & Motorcycles event on Sept. 14.

Bikers can show off their hot rides of various colors and sizes, along Fifth Avenue, between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

This aerial shot shows the lines of vendors, motorbikes and patrons that take up Downtown Zephyrhills for the Music & Motorcycles event. This year’s function on Sept. 14, will be no exception. (Courtesy of Anna Stutzriem, director at Main Street Zephyrhills)

With nearly 100 vendors on hand, visitors will be able to choose from a wide range of foods, crafts and merchandise.

Local shops will be open for business, too.

Those wishing to partake in adult beverages must stop at the check-in booth and show their ID to get a wristband and cup, then they can purchase drinks by presenting their ID, the wristband and the cup.

And, as patrons walk the strip, Bluetooth speakers will amplify the live performances of the returning Bearded Brothers band.

Also, anyone can register their motorcycle in the 10-Class, Ride-In Bike Show while at the event. First- and second-place winners will receive trophies.

Admission and parking are free.

Proceeds from the event will help support future Zephyrhills functions and art projects.

To find out more, please contact Main Street Zephyrhills at (813) 780-1414 or MainStreetZephyrhills.org.

15th annual Music & Motorcycles
Where: Downtown Zephyrhills along Fifth Avenue
When: Sept. 14 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Downtown shops and vendors will offer food, crafts and other items. The Bearded Brothers band will provide live music and the bike show will showcase unique motorcycles.
Info: Call Main Street Zephyrhills at (813) 780-1414, or visit MainStreetZephyrhills.org.

Published September 11, 2019

San Antonio welcomes back outdoor market

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The San Antonio Farmers Market is set to return with an array of unique merchandise, starting on Sept. 14.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., patrons can visit numerous vendors offering produce, bath and body products, honey, jams and plants, among other things.

A local winery also will offer samples of fruit-flavored wines to entice potential buyers.

Multiple park benches will be available for relaxation and to enjoy food, including Mr. Jim’s Famous Hot Dogs.

Also, kids can be dropped off at their own station where they can create free crafts.

For a $1-ticket, visitors can enter a drawing to win a gift basket.

The Barking Dogs will perform, too.

Admission and parking are free, and the event is pet-friendly.

Proceeds will support future projects of the San Antonio Rotary Club.

The function will be held at the San Antonio City Park at 12202 Main St., in San Antonio.

The market will take place the second Saturday of each month from September through May 2020.

For additional information, please call Winnie Burke at (352) 437-5161.

San Antonio Farmers Market
When: Starting Sept. 14 and continuing every second Saturday of each month through May 2020. The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., each time
Where: San Antonio City Park, 12202 Main St., San Antonio
Cost: Free
Details: Patrons can shop for various products in an outdoor setting. There also will be music and activities for kids.
Info: Call Winnie Burke at (352) 437-5161.

Published September 11, 2019