Christine Holtzman

Making their voices heard in the Presidential Preference Primary

March 24, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Pasco County voters hit the polls on March 17 to make their vote count in the 2020 Presidential Preference Primary, despite threats posed by coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. For more coverage on this story, see full story.

Robert Blanchard, of Land O’ Lakes, a poll deputy for Precinct 35, speaks with voter Mary Bialkowski, as she exits the polls at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex. Blanchard has been a poll deputy since the 2014 cycle. He said his duties include guiding voters to the polls, keeping the peace and making sure no solicitation is done within 150 feet of the polling place entrance. (Christine Holtzman)

After exiting the polls, Reggie Satterwhite of Wesley Chapel, smiles outside of the Williamsburg Tanglewood Clubhouse, where voters from Precinct 24 and Precinct 99 voted in the Presidential Preference Primary. Satterwhite is a retired Major, from the U.S. Army.

Nineteen-year-old Lucas Zazulia, a first-time voter, from Wesley Chapel, waits for his Uber ride outside of the Williamsburg Tanglewood Clubhouse, in Wesley Chapel. He said it felt good to do his civic duty.

Zephyrhills Founder’s Day heads back to The Roaring ‘20s

March 18, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Thousands made their way to downtown Zephyrhills to honor the city during the 110th Founder’s Day Parade & Heritage Festival on March 7.

The Zephyrhills High School Marching Band was the first marching band featured in the 110th Founder’s Day Parade & Heritage Festival. Other marching bands included Land O’ Lakes High School and Stewart Middle School. (Christine Holtzman)

This year’s theme was “The Roaring ‘20s: Glitz, Glam and Tin Cans” – which celebrated the wild decade of gangsters, the Charleston and flappers.

The 1920s also marked the start of the tin can tourist trend in Zephyrhills.

People from all over would come to the area for the warm weather, in their homemade camping trailers.

One could say this was the early beginnings of the modern day ‘snowbird.’

The parade, which featured floats, marching bands, dignitaries and various vintage vehicles, kicked off the event at 10 a.m.

Riding in a red jeep, Zephyrhills Mayor Gene Whitfield and his wife, Ernestine, tossed candy into the crowd along the parade route.

Many riding on floats tossed out beads and candy to the crowds that lined up along the parade route.

One of the parade highlights was when Zephyrhills Mayor Gene Whitfield, who along with his wife, Ernestine, tossed candy from atop the red jeep they were riding in.

Over 80 vendors and food trucks lined Fifth Avenue and some side streets, offering an array of dining and shopping options.

Throughout the day, live music was performed on the Eiland Clock Stage. A storytelling series, called ‘Tales of the Hills,’ also entertained audiences from the Hopkins Family Porch, at the Jeffries House.

Rounding out the event – there was a kid zone, with a bounce house and inflatable slide. The Zephyrhills Police Department had a K-9 demonstration, and there was an old-fashion corn grinding presentation at the Woman’s Club.

The event was hosted by Main Street Zephyrhills, 38537 Fifth Ave.

After enjoying the parade, Payton Adams of Wesley Chapel, and her sibling, Declan Sanders, both 5, enjoy an ice treat, while seated on the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue. Payton enjoyed a rainbow flavored ice treat, while Declan dug into strawberry.

On the sidewalk near the Eiland Clock Stage, Michael Thomas Jr., of Zephyrhills, performs with his ‘juggle sticks,’ to the live music entertainment of Rusty Trumpet & The Music Makers. Thomas is a medically retired U.S. Army veteran who, during his military career, completed two tours of Afghanistan.

Mitchell Shirley, SSG, Retired, of Lakeland, right, takes a turn tossing a bean bag while playing the game of cornhole with his 16-year-old son, Sean. The pair was at the Founder’s Day Parade & Heritage Festival with Mitchell’s girlfriend, Ruth Larrett, of Zephyrhills.

Jacob Ozar, aka Captain America, bends down to pet Gizmo, an 8-year-old chocolate labrador retriever, owned by Jacqui Strickland, of Ontario, center, and her husband, Cliff.

Using string to create masterpieces

March 18, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

The Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, recently hosted a paint-by-string event, as part of its Try it Tuesday program. This was the library’s first time doing this particular craft. The craft involved placing pieces of string in each of six available watercolor paint colors. One color at a time, participants then placed the painted string in between two pieces of paper, allowing a small section of the string to hang out. To provide weight, a large text book was placed on top of the paper. The final step was to pull the string free from the paper. Each time the child repeated the process, the dragging effect of the string created unique shapes and patterns. Karen Allen is the library’s youth services librarian. The Try it Tuesday program meets every other Tuesday, and gives school-aged children a chance to try something new.

Rebecca Jackson, of Lutz, enjoys helping her children, 7-year-old Joel, left, and 3-year-old Hope, as they create their paint-by-string artwork. The family was creating masterpieces at a recent Try it Tuesday event at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library on Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes. (Christine Holtzman)

Nine-year-old Payton Burton, of Land O’ Lakes, pulls a string out of the orange watercolor paint, which will be used to make another design on her paint-by-string artwork. Her father, Daryl, left, said that they were enjoying the craft session together, as they waited for Payton’s sister, Ashlyn, who was attending a Girl Scouts meeting at the library.

Nine-year-old Victoria Matthews, of Land O’ Lakes, proudly shows off the paint-by-string masterpieces that she made during a recent Try it Tuesday event at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library. Matthews’ father, Tom, shared that in addition to enjoying art, Victoria is actively involved in Taekwondo and recently received her second-degree black belt.

The Roaring ‘20s return

March 18, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Downtown Zephyrhills transformed back into the wild decade of gangsters, flappers, sparkles, feathers – and tin can tourists. The 110th Founder’s Day Parade & Heritage Festival, on March 7, was themed ‘The Roaring ’20s: Glitz, Glam and Tin Cans.’ This year’s event featured over 80 vendors, a kid-friendly zone, live music, storytelling presentations, a police K-9 demonstration and, of course, the iconic parade. See full story below.

Jim Bliss, a bartender with Zephyrhills Elks Lodge 2731, portrays a bartender during the Prohibition era, as he rides in the Elk’s parade float during the 110th Founder’s Day Parade & Heritage Festival. This year’s festival theme was about the Roaring ’20s. Bliss is a snowbird from Michigan, who lives part-time in Zephyrhills. (Christine Holtzman)

Dressed appropriately for this year’s Founder’s Day Parade & Heritage Festival’s theme – ‘The Roaring ’20s: Glitz, Glam and Tin Cans,’ David Schall of Wesley Chapel, and his wife Nicole, share a moment on Fifth Avenue, as they make their way around the festival. Earlier, the Schalls were seen in the parade – in Nicole’s sublime green 1929 Ford Model A.

At her first Zephyrhills Founder’s Day Parade, Jacqueline Pruden, a snowbird from Michigan, who lives part-time in Zephyrhills, patiently awaits the arrival of the next parade float near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Seventh Street. She was enjoying herself as she collected beads and candy that were being tossed around. Pruden said that she was happy to finally attend the event, since first hearing about it several years ago.

History comes alive at Civil War reenactment

March 11, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Civil War buffs, area students and spectators had a chance to get a sense of what life was like during the U.S. Civil War era, at a three-day event at the Florida Pioneer Museum and Village in Dade City.

Inside their camp, the reenactors portraying the Confederate soldiers of the 37th Alabama Infantry pose for a picture, before heading into the battle reenactment. The men say that they are all close friends, and many of them have Union uniforms, so they can switch sides if there is a shortage of actors. (Christine Holtzman)

The event, held Feb. 28 through March 1, provided an opportunity for school field trips and for museum visitors to immerse themselves in living history displays.

Public school, private school and home-school students visited on Feb. 28, taking self-guided tours through camps and stations created to give a sense of what life was like in the 1860s.

The museum also offered guided tours of many of the museum buildings, including the 1860s-era Overstreet House.

On the weekend, several informational presentations led up to the big show, The Battle of Santa Rosa Island reenactment.

Other features of the day included a blacksmith and wood wright demonstration, live entertainment, food, and traditional crafters.

There also was a Time Period Fashion Show, on Feb. 29, on the porch of the Overstreet House. There was a Ladies Tea, too, which welcomed spectators, but required them to wear period dress to participate.

The Confederate soldiers line up to take aim with their rifles at the Union soldiers during the Battle of Santa Rosa reenactment, on Feb. 29, at the Florida Pioneer Museum and Village.

The Battle of Santa Rosa Island was conducted on both weekend days.

Audiences were encouraged to bring their lawn chairs or blankets to witness the great battle reenactment, as the Confederate and Union Soldiers battled for Santa Rosa Island, a 40-mile barrier island located in the Panhandle near Pensacola.

The historical Battle of Santa Rosa took place on Oct. 9, 1861, and was a victory for the Union. According to the website AmericanCivilWar.com, an estimated total of 154 men lost their lives that day.

The actors that participate in the Dade City Civil War reenactment usually arrive at the museum on the Thursday before the start of the event. These hobbyists pay for their own expenses out of their own wallets, and make or purchase their own costumes.

Many agree that it is a very expensive hobby.

Joe Kurtright, a musician with the live old-time musical act, ‘7lbs of Bacon,’ summed it up like this: “The reenactors do it for their history and their heritage, and for the deep love of their country.”

Published March 11, 2020

HK Edgerton, of Ashville, North Carolina, walks along the road, proudly carrying his Confederate battle flag. The Vietnam veteran and former president of the Ashville chapter of the NAACP, is a prominent African-American activist for Southern heritage, and is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Soldiers from the 5th Florida Company B await orders from their Colonel, before entering battle. From left: Nick Voss of Leesburg, Sheyenne McAlister of Webster, Kate-Nayeli Carvajal of Bushnell, Randy Watkins of Tampa, and Justin Kirby of Bushnell. Three years ago, Watkins was a spectator when, because of his authentic Civil War period look, he was recruited out of the crowd to participate in reenactments.

The Union soldiers pack their rifles and shoot at the Confederates, during the reenactment of The Battle of Santa Rosa on Feb. 29, at the Florida Pioneer Museum and Village.

Environmental day offers hands-on lessons

March 11, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Academy at the Lakes, an independent school in Land O’ Lakes, recently hosted its fourth annual Senior Kindergarten Environmental Science Habitat Celebration Day. During the day, students in the senior kindergarten class were paired with eighth-graders as they moved through several student-led activity stations. The stations — prepared by the school’s Upper Division environmental science class — included a water pollution activity, a decomposer/worm station, a bear hibernation activity, and a bird feeder craft. Students also took a ‘floating classroom’ boat tour of Lake Myrtle.

Nathan Metzger, right, a kindergartner at Academy at The Lakes, points out an alligator during environmental day near a dock on Lake Myrtle, as kindergarten teacher Lauren Braxton, left, eighth-grader Ethan Keys, and fellow kindergartener Brayden Do look on. The group took a trip on the ‘Floating Classroom,’ operated by U.S. Coastguard certified boat captain Sheri Mahoney, to observe birds and other wildlife along the lake. (Christine Holtzman)

Students participating in the pollution activity learned a lesson about the negative effects of water pollution on marine animals and the environment. During this sensory activity, students used nets to collect water beads and small toy animals that were contained in plastic totes. If an animal was collected along with a black water bead — which represented pollution — the animal had to be quarantined. The exercise prompted a discussion regarding what could have prevented the situation. From left: Rio Lemra, Emily Halfpenny, Summer Senior, Nicole Gilleland and Mandy Ling.

At the decomposer station, Piper Kienast, left, and Nathan Metzger make edible dirt cups. The treats consisted of pudding, crushed Oreos, chocolate chips, and gummy worms. Before making the ‘dirt cups,’ the students watched a PowerPoint lesson on dirt and worms. Kacey Akins, Jackie Laihinen and Andrey Chee led the exercise.

Traveling back in time to 1861

March 11, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

The thunderous sounds of canons and rifle fire filled the air at a recent Civil War reenactment at the Florida Pioneer Museum and Village, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City. The three-day event, which concluded March 1, gave those attending a chance to get a feel for what life was like in the 1860s. Actors, dressed in period clothing and uniforms, remained in character, as they mingled with visitors. They set up realistic campsites and gave informational talks — leading to the reenactment of the Battle of Santa Rosa Island, a Civil War battle that took place Oct. 9, 1861, on the barrier island near Pensacola. For more coverage, see full story below.

Al Stone, of Zephyrhills — portraying Gen. Robert E. Lee — gazes into the distance while observing actors playing Confederate soldiers, preparing for battle. Stone, who is semi-retired from his 25-year-long career of playing General Lee, studied Lee’s life for five years, before taking on the role. Over the years, he said he has been part of 30-plus documentaries and private projects for National Geographic, and the History and Discovery channels. (Christine Holtzman)

Actors portraying Union soldiers fire rifles and a large Gatling gun on wheels toward the incoming Confederate troops, during a reenactment of the Battle of Santa Rosa Island. This reenactment took place during the Civil War event at the Florida Pioneer Museum and Village in Dade City on Feb. 29.

Larry Fentriss, plays a fife, which is a flute-like musical instrument, for the 37th Alabama Infantry Confederate soldiers. The native of Williamsburg, Virginia said he started playing the fife in fifth grade. He began taking part in Civil War reenactments last year.

Simulation teaches a real-life history lesson

March 4, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Second-graders at McKitrick Elementary School had a chance to gain a greater understanding of what life was like for immigrants arriving at Ellis Island during the early 1900s.

The school, at 5503 Lutz Lake Fern Road, created an event that allowed children the chance to walk through the paces that immigrants faced when they arrived in America.

Volunteer Deanna Okun, left, administers a medical exam inside the Medical Detainment room, to student Jyles Morales. Students were asked such questions as, ‘Have you been sick lately? And, ‘Do you have any allergies?’ The exam and questions asked were the same ones used at Ellis Island in the early 1900s. (Christine Holtzman)

The Feb. 27 simulation involved 180 second-graders and 68 volunteers, many dressed in period clothing.

Bilingual volunteers spoke to the students in Turkish, Russian, Greek and Arabic, to show students how it would feel to arrive in a new country without knowing its language.

Students prepared for the experience by taking virtual trips to Ellis Island, where they listened to audio recordings of interviews from people who actually came through Ellis Island.

They also had a chance to video chat with a museum curator, via Skype.

To prepare for their trip, students were asked to construct a cardboard suitcase and use it to hold five prized possessions, such as family photos, a favorite book or other treasured items.

Each student remained in character as they completed the activity, which took two hours to three hours to complete. They carried out the steps that were taken by actual immigrants: They waited in long lines for customs, upon departure and arrival. They were crammed into a boat. They were sprayed with ocean mist and doused with water, to simulate delousing measures taken when immigrants arrived.

They provided fingerprints at the registry, were subjected to searches at baggage claim, and forced to undergo medical and psychological exams.

After arriving by boat, students are seen standing in the long line at the customs area of McKitrick Elementary School’s Ellis Island. The students had the chance to find out what it may have felt like for immigrants who experienced long waits just to gain entry into Ellis Island. From left: Wyatt Montgomery, Zion Karp, Eric Vargas and Ben Friedman.

They also participated in interviews and had to pass a citizenship test.

And, they faced real dilemmas, such as being separated from family members or having to pawn their possessions for money.

After each group finished, they were sworn in as American citizens — by a judge, portrayed by McKitrick Principal Allison Cline.

The event, now in its third year, is the brainchild of former second grade teacher Liisa DiTarando, who is now the school’s Social & Emotional Learning Resource teacher.

It takes about three months to organize the annual production.

In addition to great content, the activity teaches kids critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which allows them to rise to the occasion, DiTarando said.

Every year, she said, she receives emails from parents that tell her how their child could relate a connection in their own lives to the content that was taught in this program. Parents also share that it has given their child the ability to empathize with what their relatives may have gone through.

Published March 4, 2020

Volunteer Carine Pyree, left, administers a simulated medical exam to student Olivia Ebel. Using actual examples from Ellis Island, Pyree asked Ebel to walk in a circle with her eyes closed.

After waiting in a long line, second-grade students Gabriel Gonzalez, left, and Rosie Vona, arrive to the customs area, at McKitrick Elementary School’s simulated Ellis Island. The pair, along with all the other arrivals, had to present proper documents before being permitted inside the registry office.

Second-grade student Giulia Longo, left, comes to collect the baby (a doll) that is under her care, that was found unattended inside the Citizenship and Testing room, by Gary Camacho, the McKitrick Elementary School’s security officer. Longo played a young girl whose uncle forced her to come to America, so she could care for his child, because his wife died. The woman behind this event, Liisa DiTarando, is on the right.

Watercolor artist Joye Moon gives visual presentation

March 4, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Joye Moon, a watercolor artist and author, gave a free demonstration of her watercolor techniques during a Feb. 4 visit presented by the Pasco Fine Arts Council and Avalon Park West, at Avalon Park West’s Amenity Center in Wesley Chapel. During the 2-hour event, the award-winning artist offered a glimpse into her work flow and techniques. Besides explaining her techniques, she took questions from the audience. Moon is from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and has taught more than 200 workshops nationwide. She and her husband, Dave, are avid travelers and, to date, have organized 36 international artisan tours throughout Europe, Greece, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and Mexico.

After completing a detailed phase of one of her paintings, watercolor artist and author Joye Moon holds it up to show the audience the different elements she incorporated into the water, rocks and the trees of her landscape painting. Moon often uses items such as wax paper, plastic wrap, surgical gauze, sea salt, and alcohol drops to create interesting textures in her work. (Christine Holtzman)

Award-winning watercolor artist and author Joye Moon paints a landscape scene during a free watercolor demonstration, at the Avalon Park West’s Amenity Center in Wesley Chapel on Feb. 4. Moon hails from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and tours the country with her series of informative, workshop demonstrations.

After finishing the first phase of her painting, artist Joye Moon invites the audience to take a close-up look at her work. From left: Sue Ebert of Holiday, Rita Wilson of Land O’ Lakes, Martha Vee of Lutz, and Karen Mosakowski of Lutz.

Simulation teaches a real-life history lesson

March 4, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Second-grade students at McKitrick Elementary School, 5503 Lutz Lake Fern Road, went back in time, to the early 1900s, when the school had its third annual Ellis Island simulation on Feb. 27. Students and volunteers, many dressed in period clothing, were able to get a taste of the kind of experience endured by people arriving in America during that time. The program featured the different steps that immigrants had to complete in order to become American citizens. For more, see our feature story of the week.