Christine Holtzman

Storytime offers fun for preschoolers and toddlers

January 29, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

The Hugh Embry Branch Library, at 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, hosts two 45-minute programs every Wednesday morning for toddlers and preschoolers. The Toddler Storytime is for children up to age 2, and the Preschool Storytime, ages 3 through 5. Each session mixes playtime, stories, songs and crafts to provide a learning experience for kids. Shaina Smith, the library’s youth service provider, leads the programs. She focuses on a theme, and selects books and fun activities to convey that theme. To find out more, call (352) 567-3576.

Candice Kyle, of Dade City, helps Kaizer, her 4-year-old son, to build a tower out of blocks. The mother and son were bonding during the playtime portion of the Preschool Storytime program at the Hugh Embry Branch Library in Dade City. The Kyles moved to the area from Georgia in September and are regulars at the library program. (Christine Holtzman)

Three-year-old Reese Frassrand, of Dade City, hugs her mother, Jennifer, before a recent Preschool Storytime at the Hugh Embry Branch Library. Jennifer said her daughter tends to seek out hugs when she’s feeling shy.

Shaina Smith, Hugh Embry Branch Library’s youth service provider, reads a book called, ‘Wild About Us’ by author Karen Beaumont, at a recent Preschool Storytime at the library. The program focused on the themes of having self-confidence and loving yourself.

A passport to learning about cultures

January 29, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

A new program at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library allows children to travel around the world -without leaving the Collier Parkway location. During the Jan. 21 session, The Around the World program centered on the world’s largest island: Greenland. Children could do crafts and activities aimed at teaching the kindergartners through fifth-graders about Greenland’s culture, language and food. The program, led by library associates Kerry Peters and Jayde Archbold, meets on the third Tuesday of each month.

As his dad, Chris, lends a hand, 5-year-old Harrison Symons, of Land O’ Lakes, left, uses his crafting skills to make a clay Narwhal, which is a unicorn-like whale found in the Arctic waters surrounding Greenland. This was one of the activities available during the Passport to Greenland event. Harrison’s 2-year-old brother, Greyson, is shown on right. (Christine Holtzman)

Five-year-old Arya Beck, of Land O’ Lakes, paints her depiction of the Northern Lights at one of the activity stations available during the Passport to Greenland event at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library. Her father, Bob, encourages her.

Six-year-old Aliyah Martinez, of Land O’ Lakes, left, 6-year-old Chael Williams, of Wesley Chapel, and 5-year-old Charlotte Maldonado, of Lutz, play at the sensory activity station that houses play ‘snow’ and toy animals. The ‘snow’ was made from baking soda and hair conditioner.

A sizzlin’, smokin’ and searin’ good time

January 22, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Thousands of people headed out to the 10th annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival for a common reason – to listen to live Blues music, while enjoying barbeque chicken, pork and brisket.

With a loaded baked potato from Sadie’s Roasted Corn LTD in hand, Michael Harper, of Hudson, feeds a bite to Leslie, his wife of eight years. The duo also tried out the corn on the cob, which they both said was delicious. (Christine Holtzman)

The event, presented by The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, took place on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 at the Zephyrhills Community Venue, 5200 Airport Road.

The People’s Choice dessert competition was held on Jan. 17. A steak competition and kid’s grilling competition, both sanctioned by the Steak Cookoff Association, also were held that evening. A cornhole tournament with a $500 purse and the music of live, local bands rounded out the evening.

The Smoke Shack’s John Caldwell uses a large knife to chop up some brisket that has been slow cooking for 18 hours. Caldwell, who travels all over the country competing in barbeque events, spends his time between his homes in Lakeland, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and, Columbus, Ohio.

The main event on Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., featured the delicious food offerings of 60 professional and backyard barbeque teams. They were competing for a share of the $10,000 in cash prizes and bragging rights. The competition is approved by the Florida BBQ Association.

While tucking into their delicious plates of barbeque, attendees were entertained by some top Blues musical acts, including The Sauce Boss, Chris Walker Band, Sean Chambers, and Chuck Riley’s All Stars.

Besides sampling the barbeque, event-goers could visit the Kids Zone, complete with games, bounce houses and a rock-climbing tower. Those attending also could check out a Business Expo, which featured numerous local businesses and vendors with products available for sale. Other options included a Swine & Shine Car Show, access to the Zephyrhills Military History Museum, and another cornhole tournament with a $1,000 purse.

Published January 22, 2020

Twelve-year-old Erin Potter, left, presses lemons, while 7-year-old Aspen Bahr takes orders for cups of freshly squeezed lemonade. The girls are both from Zephyrhills and are helping out at Aspen’s Uncle Kevin’s business, Bahr’s Smokin Butts. Potter estimates that she has squeezed over 100 lemons in a three-hour span.

Deb Cadieux, of Zephyrhills, left, and her husband, Doug, clap at the end of Sean Chambers’ performance of his original song, ‘Red Hot Mama.’ The duo, both dressed in tie-dye T-shirts, were dancing in the special area in front of the stage that was reserved for dancing.

Billboard charting artist and Florida native Sean Chambers, left, jams out on stage with his band.

Five-year-old Xander Tombillo, of Wesley Chapel, zooms down a giant, inflatable slide inside the Kids Zone area of the festival. The youngster was at the event with his parents Kate and Matt, who estimated Xander had gone down the slide at least 20 times already.

Proudly wearing the iconic Pigz in Z’Hills hat, James Messer, of Dade City, enjoys a cold brew while smiling at his wife, Erica, who was shopping at the vendor booths inside of the Business Expo area.

Celebrating Florida Arbor Day

January 22, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

The Florida Forest Service, partnered with Gro Inc., for a celebration on Jan. 18 at Drexel Farms in Land O’ Lakes. The event celebrated Florida Arbor Day, which is the third Friday in January. The public was invited to the celebration, which featured presentations given by the Florida Forest Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Nature Coast Cooperative Invasive Species Management. Free food and refreshments were provided, and the Florida Forest Service gave out potted 1-gallon shade trees to the first 100 people. The event was held on the property owned by Jason “Jake” English. The aim of the celebration was to showcase the importance of trees and natural resources.

Five-year-old Josiah Larson, of Lutz, holds the Long Leaf Pine seedling that he will plant on the Drexel Farms property. His father, Josh, assisted him. (Christine Holtzman)

Ethan Greene, a biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, right, speaks to the crowd about the importance of wildlife management for landowners. Also seen from left: Mona Neville, Florida Forest Service Pasco County Forester; Jason “Jake” English, Drexel Farms landowner; and, Emmett Calhoun.

A recently planted Long Leaf Pine seedling grows on the property of Drexel Farms. Drexel Farms is a tree farm that has been certified with the Florida Forestry Association. This seedling is one of the 5,600 that have been planted on the 30-acre property.

Story time is a tail-wagging time

January 22, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

To promote literacy to young children in a fun way, the Hugh Embry Branch Library’s Read to Rover program pairs storybooks with man’s best friend, for a tail-wagging time. Toddlers and preschoolers are encouraged to read a book (or show the illustrations) to a trained, certified support animal, who patiently sits by the child during their time together. The nonjudgmental environment, along with the calming influence of the support dog, helps promote the development of reading skills, in an exciting manner. For more information on this bi-monthly program, call (352) 567-3576.

Four-year-old Wren Demaree, of Dade City, shows certified support dog Marley Beans the illustrations of a book by author Maddie Frost. The little girl and the dog were at a recent Read to Rover event at the Hugh Embry Branch Library. Marley Beans, a 7 ½ year-old yellow lab, recently graduated from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs training program. (Christine Holtzman)

Two-year-old Dominque McKnight, of Dade City, reacts, when support dog Marley Beans gives him a kiss. Amber Elder, McKnight’s mother, said that her son loves cats, but is very shy around dogs. Instead of books, McKnight opted to show Marley Beans some Legos after their initial meeting.

Cheryl Snider, of Zephyrhills, praises her certified support dog, Marley Beans, during a recent Read to Rover event at the Hugh Embry Branch Library. Snider is a retired Disneyland executive administrator. The pup was just 7 months old when she rescued him. She knew the dog’s friendly and social nature would make him a great support dog. The two share a special bond. Snider sums it this way: ‘It’s Marley’s world, I just live in it.’

Big band orchestra draws big crowd at the library

January 15, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

So many people turned out to listen to the Florida Jazz Express that there was standing room only at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, in late December. The big band orchestra’s two-hour show featured 18 players, and its appearance was made possible by the Friends of the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library. The concert featured holiday music, standards, Latin music and modern tunes. Sarasota-based jazz vocalist Synia Carroll joined the band to belt out a few numbers, including one that she told the audience was her favorite – “I Love You Porgy,” a song originally from the 1935 production of “Porgy and Bess.”

Jazz vocalist Synia Carroll, of Sarasota, belts out the number, ‘I Love You Porgy,’ from the 1935 production of ‘Porgy and Bess.’ Over the years, the song was notably covered by popular jazz singers Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. (Christine Holtzman)

The Florida Jazz Express, an 18-member contemporary big band orchestra, delights audiences at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library in late December. The two-hour show was made possible by the Friends of the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library.

The Florida Jazz Express entertains audiences at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library during its recent two-hour show, with the sounds of holiday music, as well as standards, Latin and modern music.

An event that was both sweet and spicy

January 15, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Hundreds gathered at Raising Cane, A Sweet and Spicy Event on Jan. 11 at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City. The event featured a chili cook-off sanctioned by the International Chili Society, a cane syrup tasting competition, a People’s Choice chili and salsa competition, live music throughout the day, a beer garden, and vendors. Guests also could visit the sugar cane mill, to watch how volunteers manufacture a batch of sugar cane syrup from start to finish. Sugar cane syrup was the staple sweetener more than 100 years ago, but declined in popularity over time because of the amount of labor required to produce the sweetener.

John Falls, left, and Marcus Copeland, use a large wooden filter to catch any impurities floating around the kettle as they boil sugar cane juice. Around 80 gallons boil in the kettle, and when the labor-intensive process is over several hours later, the Dade City men will have approximately 9 gallons of viable syrup ready for bottling. (Christine Holtzman)

Buddy Hale, of Zephyrhills, and Kathy, his wife of 11 years, listen to The Hummingbirds, one of the musical acts at Raising Cane. Other entertainers included The Cadillac Cowboys and the old-time music of San Antonio’s The Barking Dogs.

Four-year-old Hutson Borders, of Dade City, carefully keeps his balance, as he walks along a log at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village. He was at Raising Cane, A Sweet and Spicy Event with his parents, Jenny and Josh; his brother, Jackson; and, his sisters, Emma and Susannah.

Bethany Morales, of Winter Garden, left, and her friend Lisa Powell, of Riverview, taste the many different syrups that were entered into the syrup tasting competition at Raising Cane, A Sweet and Spicy Event at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village. Morales was attracted to the event by the chili cookoff.

Lighting up the New Year

January 8, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

When the clock struck midnight on Dec. 31, thousands of people gathered together at the Lights Festival, to set free lanterns on which they had written their goals, dreams, hopes and wishes for the New Year. The festival — which also featured food trucks, music, dancing and games for children — took place at Little Everglades Ranch, a 2,050-acre working ranch in Dade City.

At midnight, thousands of lanterns lit up the chilly night sky to signify a new beginning, for the New Year, during the Lights Festival at the Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City. Using the markers provided in their light kits, attendees were encouraged to write messages of their goals, hopes, dreams and wishes on their biodegradable lanterns before setting them aloft. (Christine Holtzman)

Melanie O’ Brien, of Trinity, lights her lantern with a message of hope before setting it free. She said this New Year’s celebration was special because she just completed treatment for breast cancer and is in remission. Her friend Nicole Sims, also of Trinity, celebrated with her.

Sending hopes aloft

January 8, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Karthik Mj, of Tampa, center, along with his wife, Preethi, right, and brother, Rithwik Manne, also of Tampa, jointly prepare to release a lantern, that includes their wish for the New Year. The handwritten message is: ‘Let the world stay in harmony.’

Enjoying outdoor family time, during the holiday break

January 2, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

With schools on holiday break, many families chose to visit area parks, to have an afternoon full of outdoor family fun. From bike riding to playing at playgrounds, or on fields or courts, children and adults found plenty of ways to have fun.