The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Christine Holtzman

Supporting Pasco families at Thanksgiving

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Michelle Patel, of Land O’ Lakes, is a mom on a mission. She is the founder of the nonprofit organization, Kids Helping Kids Pasco County Inc. For several years, she and her 8-year-old son, Kyran, packaged meals for a few food insecure families that they encountered online or in their neighborhood. A year ago, Patel decided to share her vision on Facebook, in hopes of helping more families in need at Thanksgiving. She was astonished at the community’s overwhelming response, which this year led to helping 89 families — totaling 451 people — across Pasco County. In addition to the Thanksgiving food drive, the organization also hosts a Christmas toy and clothing drive.

Josh Zappe, of Land O’ Lakes, left, and his 13-year-old daughter, Jamie, sort through donated food items, for baskets for Dade City families. After they finish helping at the park, they will be delivering baskets to New Port Richey families. (Christine Holtzman)
Michelle Patel, the founder of Kids Helping Kids Pasco County Inc., left, and her partner Dara Dimeler watch over what they call the ‘organized chaos’ of the Thanksgiving food drive last weekend at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. The women were part of a contingent of 82 volunteers who organized, packaged and delivered food baskets to 89 families throughout Pasco County.
Jen Abreut, of Land O’ Lakes, right, watches carefully as her 9-year-old daughter, Layla, picks up a heavy bird. Layla’s older brother, 10-year-old Brody, looks on. The Abreuts were heading out the door, on their way to deliver the turkeys and food baskets to four families in New Port Richey.

Helping others, not only at Thanksgiving

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Jackie Smack, a five-year volunteer with the Neighborhood Care Center, 5140 Sixth St., Zephyrhills, sorts through a large donated pile of clothing, carefully inspecting each piece for defects, such as rips or stains. The center prides itself on making sure that decent quality items are available for their recipients. For more than 25 years, the Neighborhood Care Center has been helping Zephyrhills residents in need by providing free food, clothing, hygiene products, kitchen supplies, furniture and other items.

(Christine Holtzman)

Principal raises the roof to promote literacy

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Students at Wiregrass Elementary School have a summer tradition.

They take part, every year, in the Scholastic Book reading challenge.

Several students passing by the courtyard area wave excitedly at Steve Williams, the school principal, as he broadcasts on Facebook Live from on top of the school’s roof to fulfill a promise he made to his students, who logged more than 160,000 minutes in the nationwide Scholastic Book summer reading challenge. (Christine Holtzman)

Two years ago, the students logged in over 43,000 minutes, and came in eighth in the state.

But, Steve Williams, principal of the school at 29732 Wiregrass School Road in Wesley Chapel, knew they could do better.

So, he challenged them to log in more than 50,000 minutes.

If they could, he promised he would spend time reading to them from the school’s roof.

The students slayed the challenge — logging more than 160,000 minutes of reading.

And, the principal responded by spending a full day on the school’s roof — about 32 feet above ground — reading through a megaphone to the students below.

Steve Williams, principal of the Wiregrass Elementary School, reads a book into a megaphone, so the students seated in the courtyard below could hear. The top student readers from each group and their classmates earned the right to enjoy a story from the courtyard.

About every half-hour or so, the principal went on Facebook Live to connect with the community and with his students.

Teachers could log in and let their students watch.

The principal read a series of fiction and nonfiction books. He read newspapers and textbooks. He regaled the audience with his thoughts about the characters, plots and illustrators.

As a special treat, the top reader in every grade level was invited to come to the courtyard to listen to the principal read a book to them, from his high perch, through a megaphone.

Williams said that the kids love the fact that their principal is willing to do fun and extreme things.

He summed up the rooftop challenge like this: “Today is really all about supporting literacy.”

Published November 06, 2019

From approximately 32 feet above the ground, Steve Williams, the principal of the Wiregrass Elementary School, waves to passing students and staff members from the school’s roof. Williams spent the whole school day on the roof, reading books through a megaphone, as well as broadcasting on Facebook Live, to promote literacy and to fulfill a promise he made to his students during the summer reading challenge.
Steve Williams, principal of the Wiregrass Elementary School, holds up a book that he will read during one of his broadcasts via Facebook Live. Every half-hour or so, Williams went on Facebook Live to connect with the community and with the students. Throughout the campus, teachers were able to log in and let their students watch.

 

Halloween traditions have an ancient past

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It’s that time again this year when many pumpkins are mutilated into grotesque-looking faces.

It’s the season of black cats, bats and skeleton decorations.

And, it’s that time when little kids, and some adults, too, get dressed in costumes to go trick-or-treating in neighborhoods, or go trunk-or-treating at Halloween events.

Eleven-year-old Vanessa Vanhoose, left, and her twin sister, Jasmine, hang out with their 9-year-old friend, Alexa Contreras, all from San Antonio, at the Trunk or Treat event, at San Antonio Elementary School on Oct. 25. The girls dressed up as an angel, a bumblebee and a cat. (Christine Holtzman)

It’s a night of monsters and princesses, athletes and nuns.

It’s a night to pretend, and of course, to collect candy.

Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, is observed in many countries each year on Oct. 31.

It is the day before the Christian holiday, All Saints Day (All Hallows’ Day).

Early origins of Halloween are believed to date back to the ancient Celtic people living in present day Ireland, Scotland and England, according to the History Channel’s website, History.com.

Articles on the website detail how the Halloween season have evolved over time.

The Celts celebrated ‘Samhain,’ which signified the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, the website says. The ancient Samhain festivities included community bonfires with Druid priests, cattle sacrifice and fortune-telling.

Seven-year-old Jillian Massa, of Land O’ Lakes, scoops out the guts of a pumpkin, as her mother, Carly, reacts. The duo was working together on carving and designing a traditional jack o’ lantern at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library’s Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 26.

It was also believed during Samhain that the barrier between the physical world and the spiritual world was thin, and that the dead would be able to cross over to visit. They would leave food around the home, and in the fields, as an offering for these unworldly guests.

The Celts also believed that evil spirits were able to walk among the living during this time, so they would dress up as animals and monsters, as a way to keep these spirits away, the website reports.

As time went on, another way to scare off malevolent entities became increasingly popular.

Even though the practice of carving vegetables is known throughout time in many cultures around the world, the earliest form of the Halloween jack o’ lantern began popping up outside of homes in Ireland and Scotland in the early 19th century.

While History.com reports that jack o’ lanterns from this era were made from turnips, other websites report that they were also made from potatoes, rutabagas and beets, as well.

Frightening faces would be carved into these vegetables, and small coals or candles were placed inside. They were placed inside windows and around the home in hopes to keep the wicked spirits at bay.

The name jack o’ lantern or ‘jack of the lantern’ originates from the Irish folklore story, ‘The Legend of Stingy Jack.’ The story is about a man named Jack, who after being banished from both Heaven and Hell, began to roam the Earth with just a burning coal that he placed inside of a turnip as he searches for a place to rest, according to History.com.

Joe Massa, of Land O’ Lakes, left, watches as his 8-year-old son, Joey, helps use a power tool to cut open the top of their pumpkin, with Land O’ Lakes Branch Library volunteer, Fred Hoffman. Joey was hoping to make a ghost or a ghoulish-looking jack o’ lantern during the library’s Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 26.

In the mid-1880s, the Irish and Scottish began settling in North America, bringing along their Halloween traditions.

And, it was here in America, that the pumpkin was first used to create their jack o’ lanterns — now the iconic symbol of Halloween.

Halloween became a major holiday in North America during the early part of the 20th century, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that going door-to-door in costumes became known as trick-or-treating.

Trick-or-treating also has an interesting history.

In his book, “Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night,” Nicholas Rogers explains that it evolved from the ancient practices of “mumming,” “guising” and “souling.”

Early “mumming” and “guising” involved going door-to-door in costume, to recite a poem, perform a song, a joke, a skit, or some kind of ‘trick,’ in exchange for food or drink.

In later years, poor people would visit wealthy homes to pray for the souls of the homeowner’s dead relatives, in exchange for pastries called ‘soul cakes’ and money. That practice was called “souling.”

History.com reports that it wasn’t until after World War II that the candy bar replaced the coins and cakes, becoming a popular reward for trick-or-treaters.

By Christine Holtzman

Dressed as a lady bug, 4-year-old Marianna Hudgins, of Land O’ Lakes, paints on the finishing glittery touches of her scary pumpkin. The youngster attended the Pumpkin Fest at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library with her ‘Yia Yia’ and ‘Papou’ (Greek for grandmother and grandfather), Katherine and Robert Frank.

Witches and goblins, and candy galore
It’s a season for trips to the pumpkin patch, kids dressing to go trick-or-treating and families passing out candy from their front porch, or from the trunk of their car.

Local churches, libraries and schools got in on the act, and offered a variety of activities for all ages.

In Land O’ Lakes, Harvester Community Church hosted its annual pumpkin patch for kids to play in, and choose their favorite pumpkin to take home.

San Antonio Elementary School in Dade City drew a crowd of people to its Trunk or Treat, where costumed kids got to trick-or-treat among Halloween-themed cars.

And, at the Land O’ Lakes Library, families could carve, decorate and paint pumpkins, to celebrate the holiday.

By Mary Rathman

Published October 30, 2019

Two-year-old Rhyler Mauer, of Dade City, picks out his favorite pumpkin from the pumpkin patch at the Harvester Community Church, 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. Rhyler was there with his mother Aubrie, his friend Payton Cruz, and her mother, Emily.
After making their selections at the Harvester Community Church pumpkin patch, a group of kids from Land O’ Lakes carry their pumpkins back to their cars. From left: 11-year-old Bailie Yarbrough, 9-year-old Steven Yarbrough, 9-year-old Jacob Casillas, 6-year-old Mason Casillas and his twin brother, Jackson.
Steve Yarbrough, left, and his friend, Javier Casillas, both from Land O’ Lakes, each hold a large pumpkin that they bought for their families. Both families met up at Harvester Community Church on Collier Parkway to purchase pumpkins for upcoming fall festivities.

Fall fun at the pumpkin patch

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Seven-year-old Elizabeth Gordon, left, hugs her 3-year-old cousin, Montana Graham, in the pumpkin patch at the St. Joe Fall Festival, that was held earlier this month. The event took place at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Saint Joseph, 32145 St. Joe Road in Dade City. The girls are both from Dade City.

(Christine Holtzman)

Getting pumpkins ready for Halloween

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Dressed up as a flower skeleton, 9-year-old Alina Zhussupova, of Lutz, admires her pumpkin that she decorated as an angel. She was taking part in the Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 26 at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway. Alina said that she will be dressed as Wednesday Addams when she goes trick-or-treating on Halloween night.

(Christine Holtzman)

This year’s Rattlesnake Festival is one for the books

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This year’s Rattlesnake Festival started off with a bang.

That is because Darby’s own musical siblings, The Bellamy Brothers, kicked off the 53rd annual festival off with a very special, Oct. 18 evening concert, marking the first time the musicians played the festival in decades.

Darby’s own, Howard Bellamy, left, and his brother, David, take the stage on Oct. 18 to kick off the Rattlesnake Festival weekend. They played their first gig at the Rattlesnake Festival in 1968, and this concert marked the first time in decades that the brothers performed at the festival. (Christine Holtzman)

Hundreds packed the Dan Cannon Auditorium at the Pasco County Fairgrounds to hear Howard Bellamy and his brother, David, perform some of their biggest hits including, “Redneck Girl,” “If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body,” and, of course, their signature song, “Let Your Love Flow.”  They also mixed in some tracks off of their newest album, “Over the Moon,” released earlier this year.

The brothers got their first taste in performing in front of an audience at the 1968 festival, then known as the ‘Rattlesnake Roundup,’ when they performed on stage, for free, with their father.

This year, the sold-out concert raised money for the festival’s host, The Thomas Promise Foundation.

After the concert, the regular festival days were Oct. 19 and Oct. 20 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

Over the course of the weekend, thousands flocked to the site to enjoy a wide array of activities, wildlife shows, exhibits, bounce houses and other attractions.

There were carnival rides and games, and the chance to hold a real, live alligator.

After watching a presentation given by the nonprofit organization, The Rattlesnake Conservancy, onlookers rush over for a chance to pet ‘Stripe,’ a female canebrake rattlesnake. Handler Chase Pirtle is holding the snake.

Vendors were there selling handmade crafts, and businesses were there touting their products and services.

Hungry festival-goers also had plenty of choices at the food court area, including corn dogs, soft pretzels, gyros, pizza, funnel cakes and fresh lemonade.

Of course, the weekend wouldn’t be complete without watching the traditional Eddie Herrmann Wooden Gopher Tortoise Races, geared toward kids, 12 and under.

The races, which use mechanical wooden gopher tortoises, were held throughout each day, for age groups 7 and under, and 8 through 12.

First-, second- and third-place winners from each race earned a ribbon, and the first-place winners were eligible to compete for a trophy in the championship games.

The races were named after Eddie Herrmann, one of the festival’s founders, who passed away hours after the close of the first day of the 51st festival in 2017.

Published October 23, 2019

Perry Haley, of Wesley Chapel, dips his wife, Christi, while dancing to a song at the Bellamy Brothers concert. Originally from Texas, the Haleys said that dancing is a way of life in the Lone Star State.
Inside the Croc Encounters attraction, 10-year-old Kinnley Reeves, of Lutz, pets ‘Smiley,’ a 3-foot gator, held by zoo keeper Lou Coticchio, of Largo. The Croc Encounters group had several alligators, turtles and snakes in their exhibit, and for a small fee, people could hand feed several large tortoises or even hold a live alligator.
Four-year-old Harleigh Sexton, of Dade City, takes aim at shooting some tin cans, with a little help from her mother’s boyfriend, Jesse Larkin. The two were playing the Wild West Cork Gun Game. LeBaron Concessions worker Richard Landers is looking on.
Jim Smalley, of Dade City, holds his hat over his heart, during the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner, before the start of the Bellamy Brothers concert. Smalley is a retired staff sergeant from the U.S. Army.

 

One-man band delights a young audience

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Brad Myers, of Clearwater, also known as Mr. Brad, delighted a preschool-age audience during his recent performance at the Lutz Branch Library, 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road. Myers is known as the one-man band for kids. His half-hour performance was filled with his renditions of many classic children’s songs, such as ‘The Wheels on the Bus,’ ‘You Are My Sunshine,’ and ‘The Ants Go Marching.’ The highlight of his unique show is his ability to play multiple musical instruments, while using clever ways (such as a tambourine fastened to his foot) to play many at once. Marci Krekorian, the supervisory librarian for the Lutz Branch, said that the library has plans to bring Mr. Brad’s show back quarterly, for 2020. Funding for this program was provided by the nonprofit group Friends of the Lutz Branch Library.

Brad Myers, of Clearwater, also known as Mr. Brad, the one-man band for kids, has the ability to sing and play multiple musical instruments, often at the same time. During his recent musical performance at the Lutz Branch Library, he played the guitar, the mandolin, the piano, the drums, the tambourine, the flute and the kazoo. (Christine Holtzman)
Two-year-old Brooks Vernon, of Lutz, center, listens to Mr. Brad’s rendition of ‘The Wheels on the Bus,’ while his mother, Liz, moves his arms to the music. From far left: 3-year-old Emma Palver, of Lutz, with her mom, Hani; and 2-year-old Leah Castillo, of Lutz, with her grandmother, Cris.
Three-year-old Emma Palver, of Lutz, acts out the song, ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,’ as she sits on the floor with her mother, Hani. The pair was enjoying the musical performance of Mr. Brad at a recent show at the Lutz Branch Library.

Rattlesnake Festival continues crowd-pleasing ways

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Thousands headed to the Pasco County Fairgrounds over the weekend to take part in the 53rd annual Rattlesnake Festival. This year’s event began with a special Bellamy Brothers Concert, on the evening of Oct. 18, followed by two days of activities over the weekend. As always, The Eddie Herrmann Wooden Gopher Tortoise Race drew lots of competitors. The races were held on both weekend festival days, geared toward children ages 12 and under.

(Christine Holtzman)

86-year-old woman scratches skydiving off her bucket list

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Gerry Austin is a spry woman.

And, she’s a busy one, too.

She is a regular church-goer. She volunteers at Pregnancy Care Center in Zephyrhills. She belongs to a group that sews items for the homeless. And, she crochets hats for village children in Papua, New Guinea.

Gerry Austin jokes around with a group of her supporters in the waiting area of Sky Dive City. (Christine Holtzman)

But, all that seems rather low-key compared to what she did recently.

The 86-year-old just skydived for the first time.

It was a feat that fulfilled a promise she’d made to herself decades ago.

The Wesley Chapel woman got the idea during the 1990s, while working for the Pasco News. She’d heard some ladies from Zephyrhills say they would be jumping for their 80th birthday.

It sounded fun, she thought, and promised herself that she’d skydive at 80, too.

But, one thing led to another, and time slipped away — and the opportunity never arose.

Until earlier this month, that is.

With her instructor Paul Wolfe’s help, Gerry Austin enters the plane that she will soon jump from, at an altitude of 13,500 feet.

While she had never jumped out of an airplane before, Gerry said her fascination with flying is nothing new.

Her husband, Richard, was completing his courses to become a pilot, before he passed away 25 years ago. She, too, had taken lessons — completing 40 minutes in the air.

She had no desire to become a pilot. She just wanted to be able to land the plane, in case of an emergency.

Gerry’s confident that if Richard could see her now, he’d applaud her decision to skydive. And, if he were still here, he’d probably go along for the jump, she said.

When Gerry made up her mind to skydive, she heard a mixture of reactions.

She shared the news with members at Charity Baptist Church, in Wesley Chapel, where she attends.

In a purple and pink parachute, Gerry Austin soars through the clouds with her tandem instructor, Paul Wolfe.

One response: “You’re crazy.”

Another: “Why do you want to do that?”

Her answer: “You know everyone has a bucket list. Well, this was on my bucket list, and I decided because I’m getting older, I need to start completing my bucket list.”

Others in her circle thought it was a fabulous idea.

In fact, Betsy Strickland, of Zephyrhills, and Alvin Davis, of Wesley Chapel, had their own skydiving ambitions.

Betsy always wanted to try it and figured now was as good a time as any.

Alvin, a former pilot and cancer survivor, wanted to cross off skydiving on his own list.

They asked Gerry if they could join her, and she was delighted.

After getting their gear on, Betsy Strickland, right, sneaks up behind Gerry Austin, to give her a hug.

Their original jump date was set for Aug. 11, but a thunderstorm thwarted that plan.

They jumped, instead, on Oct. 5.

The trio of friends and dozens of supporters, were at Skydive City, 4241 Sky Dive Lane in Zephyrhills, for the big day.

Cam King, Skydive City’s operations manager, explained that the group would do a tandem jump out of the plane at 13,500 feet.

He told them they would complete a 60-second free-fall, reaching speeds ranging from 110 mph to 120 mph. The parachute would be deployed at 8,000 feet, giving them a 5- to 7-minute ride back to the ground.

Gerry was visibly excited, as she waited for her group to be called.

She was surrounded by dozens who had come to witness her big moment.

Her tandem instructor, Paul Wolfe, came over to give her some pointers on what to expect, and as he headed off to another group, he told her: “It’s going to be exciting, it’s going to be a good day.”

After their first skydiving adventure together, the trio hold hands in celebration, as they walk back to the staging area. From left: Alvin Davis, Gerry Austin and Betsy Strickland.

Minutes ticked away in what seemed like an eternity.

Finally, it was time for Gerry and her group to get strapped into their gear.

Their church pastor, A. C. Bryant, led the group in a prayer, before the trio of jumpers headed to a small plane that would lift them up beyond the clouds.

Gerry’s friends looked up, shielding their eyes from the sun, to watch Gerry sail in the sky. She moved gracefully, in her bright pink and purple parachute.

From the ground, Gerry appeared to have a nice, long ride down to earth.

Once she landed, she was quick to tell others, it was more than just a jump and descent.

Her instructor turned them around several times, she said, pointing out places of interest — including a view of Tampa, from thousands of feet above the ground.

As she and the others made their way back to the staging area, they held hands, savoring their shared experience.

When Gerry reached the staging area, she was swarmed by her supporters, wanting her to share her take on skydiving.

As adrenalin coursed through her body, she told them: “It was breathtaking. I’m speechless. You just got to do it. No words.”

Published October 16, 2019