Christine Holtzman

Making a mess, to learn

September 25, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

The Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, recently hosted a food-themed sensory playtime geared toward toddlers and preschoolers, where playing with food and making a mess was encouraged. The event, ‘Food, Glorious Food!’ is part of the library’s ‘Play, Make Discover!’ program, which encourages learning through playing. Karen Allen, the library’s youth services librarian, spearheaded the program three years ago. as a way for children to indulge in their senses, by touching, feeling, smelling — and sometimes tasting— different types of foods and textures. It also allowed experimentation with materials and activities that perhaps would not be allowed at home. About 200 people took part in the hour-long program that featured 18 different food stations. Participants, who were encouraged to ‘dress for a mess,’ had plenty of activities to experience, such as grinding coffee beans, sifting flour, playing with pasta and smashing Cheerios with a mallet. The library also gave away a packet, filled with ideas and instructions on how to create your own food discovery stations at home.

Using materials such as funnels, sifters, measuring cups and whisks, four children get messy while playing in a bin of flour. From left: 7-year-old Yana Miller, of Land O’ Lakes; 4-year-old John Anamuah-Mensah, of Land O’ Lakes; 2-year-old Jordyn Reindl, of Land O ’Lakes, and her 9-year-old sister, Taylor.
(Christine Holtzman)

At the ‘Hammering Cereal’ station, 3-year-old Gianna Perez, of Land O’ Lakes, smashes handfuls of Cheerios with a wooden mallet. This activity aims to boost fine motor skills, as well as sight and touch.

Two-year-old Dylan Neeson, of Land O’ Lakes, is all smiles, as he fills a mixing bowl full of colored cereal. His father, Brendan, said that they often participate in the fun programs that are held at the library.

Collecting litter to help keep Pasco clean

September 25, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

About 340 volunteers fanned out across Land O’ Lakes to pick up litter and trash along the area’s roads, public lands and waterways.

In their first year volunteering for the Coastal Cleanup event, the Dana family, from Wesley Chapel, work together to pick up trash that was discarded along Collier Parkway, north of Hale Road. From left: 7-year-old Peyton, Cliff, 10-year-old Ethan, and Lydia. (Christine Holtzman)

They were among the thousands who took part in Pasco County, as part of the annual International Coastal Cleanup event on Sept. 21.

Volunteers in Dade City, Lacoochee, New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson and Holiday also joined in the efforts that were organized by Pasco County and the not-for-profit environmental organization, Keep Pasco Beautiful.

Those pitching in on the Land O’ Lakes effort met around 8 a.m., at the community center at Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., to pick up gloves, trash bags, safety vests and bottles of water.

Event sponsors paid for the supplies, and volunteers who had registered received a keepsake bag and an event T-shirt.

Some of the volunteers have been helping out for decades, including 84-year-old Gloria Dale, of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, who worked at the registration table. She’s been pitching in for 26 years.

Eleven-year old Olivia O’Malley, of Land O’ Lakes, holds a trash bag open, as her father, Michael, throws away a decaying trash bag that was found on the side of Parkway Boulevard. O’Malley, a member of Boy Scouts Troop 34, and her dad also found a piece of a car bumper earlier in the morning.

Lottie Kelley, another longtime volunteer, has helped for 24 years.

She works for Covanta, one of the event sponsors, and was the Land O’ Lakes site captain.

Helping to keep Pasco clean and green is what makes the event important, Kelley said.

“Litter is very unsightly, and it’s not good for the county,” Kelley said.

Besides being unattractive, roadway trash can be dangerous for wildlife, she said.

“We need to keep the litter off the roadways, so the animals don’t eat it. They can end up being in a terrible situation,” Kelley said.

She said this year’s effort focused on roadways in Land O’ Lakes, including Ehren Cutoff, Collier Parkway, Parkway Boulevard, Hale Road, Bell Lake Road and Carson Drive.

Boy Scout troops 33 and 34, and Cub Scout Pack 33 from Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Land O’ Lakes, collected trash along large stretches of Collier Parkway and Parkway Boulevard.

Twelve-year-old Wesley Swank, of Land O’ Lakes, emerges from the bushes with a large Styrofoam cup, that was discarded along Parkway Blvd, near Paw Place. Swank is a member of Boy Scout Troop 33, which is based out of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Land O’ Lakes.

The troops have been participating in this event for approximately 15 years and, over the years, have picked up all sorts of items, including a glass table, a microwave, beer bottles and even a device that looked like a pipe bomb.

The idea is to remove every piece of trash discarded on the roadways to prevent it from ending up in waterways, and eventually into oceans.

As each piece trash is picked up, it is recorded on sheets, or on a downloadable app provided by the nonprofit organization Ocean Conservancy.

The ocean-advocacy group is on a mission to tackle the greatest global challenges facing the ocean.

By recording the types of trash and the amounts, the group can establish a snapshot and a state-by-state index of the problem of marine debris.

Last year, 1,823 volunteers picked up 11.94 tons of trash throughout Pasco County, according to the Keep Pasco Beautiful website.

Published September 25, 2019

Five-year-old Aliya Goodwin, of Lutz, left, and 9-year-old Caleb MacKenzie, also of Lutz, take a break from picking up trash, and sit on the bumper of an SUV. The kids were volunteering their time by collecting trash along Parkway Boulevard in Land O’ Lakes with Cub Scout Pack 33.

Seven-year-old Brendan Pratt, of Land O’ Lakes, left, and his father, Michael, stand on the corner of Parkway Boulevard and Collier Parkway. To stay hydrated, Brendan is drinking water from a hose, that is connected to the backpack full of water that he is wearing.

Cub Scout Pack 33, based out of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Land O’ Lakes, picks up trash along Parkway Boulevard, near the corner of Collier Parkway.

Main Street roars with music & motorcycles

September 18, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

The distinct roar of motorcycle engines and live rock ‘n’ roll music filled the air around downtown Zephyrhills during the 15th annual Music & Motorcycles on Sept. 14.

Tony Cianci, the owner of Full Throttle Magazine, inspects a 1950 Harley Davidson Panhead motorcycle that has been entered into the ‘Ten-Class Bike Show.’ He is evaluating the bikes in several areas, including paint, seats, wiring, engine and drive train, as well as the overall look and theme. (Christine Holtzman)

The Main Street Zephyrhills bike night was blessed with perfect weather, and attracted hundreds — from far and wide — looking to have some fun.

Within the event boundaries, Fifth Avenue and several of its cross streets were reserved for use by motorcycles only.

Dozens of vendors peddled everything from motorcycle-inspired clothing and gear, to jewelry. Food trucks lined Fifth Avenue, complementing downtown eateries, to provide many options for hungry patrons.

Adults over age 21 could purchase ice cold Budweiser at the Main Street Zephyrhills beer tent, which came with special permit to drink throughout the event perimeter.

Kelly Madix, of Spring Hill, gives two thumbs up to the shoppers who approved of her decision to buy a black Harley Davidson designed headband at the ‘Sue’s Do it in Denim’ shop.

‘Bearded Brothers,’ a band based in New Port Richey, was rocking and rolling all night long.

They played southern rock, classic rock and country music hits, and Bluetooth speakers made it possible to hear their jams throughout Main Street.

There was a “10-Class Ride-In Bike Show,” judged by Tony Cianci, the owner of Full Throttle Magazine.

Cianci was looking for bikes that stood out in areas such as paint, seats, wiring, engine and drive train, as well as the overall look and theme.

Competitors were vying for trophies and bragging rights.

Published September 18, 2019

The 15th annual Music & Motorcycles event in downtown Zephyrhills attracted an abundance of motorcycles, and motorcycle and music enthusiasts. These are some of the bikes that rolled into town, from left, a Harley Davidson, a Triumph, a Harley Davidson Deluxe, and a Honda Shadow.

Margaret Medrano, of Brandon, feels the beat, as she dances to a performance of the ‘Bearded Brothers,’ a New Port Richey-based band. They were playing a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1977 hit, ‘What’s Your Name.’

Bill Criscuolo, of Holiday, sits on his Harley Davidson, while listening to the band. He has been riding motorcycles for 40 years and has owned a total of eight bikes.

While sitting near the stage listening to the music, Sharon Bergeron, of Zephyrhills, left, shares a tender moment with her husband, Paul, by laying her head on his shoulder. The former snowbirds now call Zephyrhills their permanent home.

Brent ‘Breaker’ Price, of Valrico, rests on his bike, as he watches the world around him. He is part of the ‘Iron Legacy’ motorcycle club, that has a presence is 48 states and seven countries.

Rev up the motorcycles and crank up the music

September 18, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Mainstreet Zephyrhills attracted a crowd to the 15th annual Music & Motorcycles in downtown Zephyrhills on Sept. 14. People who like riding motorcycles, and those who simply admire them were joined by people who enjoy live music. More photos in story!

A group of motorcycles cruise down Fifth Avenue in downtown Zephyrhills during the 15th annual Music & Motorcycles event. Only motorcycles were allowed to use this stretch of road during the event. (Christine Holtzman)

Three-year-old Ava Antoinette, of Plant City, enjoys a lollipop, as she stands near the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Eighth Street in downtown Zephyrhills. Her parents, Colleen and Brian, said Ava loves motorcycles. Her father happens to own two of them.

Susie Moore, right, encourages her boyfriend, Michael Skrivanie, to get a little closer, while she takes a selfie with her phone. The Spring Hill residents are both motorcycle enthusiasts, and Skrivanie is a retired motorcycle cop from Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Library offers monthly jewelry making class

September 18, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Those looking to make jewelry with a flair — while using crochet stitches — recently had the chance to do so at a crochet jewelry class at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway. The program is part of the library’s Foundry Makerspace, which offers free classes and workshops on various subjects. The free class meets the third Tuesday of each month, and is open to all skill levels. All of the materials are supplied. For more information, call (813) 929-1214.

While her class is busy at work, volunteer instructor Chrissy White, of Land O’ Lakes, shows off the inspiration for this month’s class. She created a necklace, complete with decorative beads and a tassel. (Christine Holtzman)

Wanting to make a bracelet, Andrea Scheidt, of Land O’ Lakes, adds small beads to her yarn. For her creation, she chose her favorite color, purple.

Using a large threading needle, Shannon Custin, of Lutz, applies a variety of beads, in different shapes and colors, to her yarn. Custin will use approximately 120 beads to complete her jewelry masterpiece.

Chance conversation leads to permanent memorial

September 11, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

What began as an idea to host a 9/11 Memorial Mile, quickly turned into something bigger because of a chance conversation.

Penelope Bastidas, the widow of 9/11 first responder Lt. Mario Bastidas, uses large scissors during the ribbon cutting to unveil the first permanent 9/11 memorial in Pasco County. Bastidas flew in from New York to attend the event. (Christine Holtzman)

In recent years, the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel has been honoring the anniversary of Sept. 11 by serving breakfasts to area first responders and by passing out American flags at Tampa Premium Outlets.

This year, the club decided to stage its first run to commemorate Sept. 11.

But, that idea morphed into something bigger during planning stages for that run.

Chris Casella, president of the Rotary Club, recalled that during a discussion, Rhonda Clark, the mall’s director of marketing and business development, mentioned that a guy had dropped by Tampa Premium Outlets recently, wanting to donate a piece of metal from a New York Fire Department truck destroyed in the terror attacks.

Rotarian Arlene Brooks belts out her rendition of the National Anthem before the start of the inaugural 9/11 Memorial Mile. (Christine Holtzman)

Casella asked Clark: “Is his name Steve?”

Clark answered yes.

“That’s my old partner!” Casella exclaimed.

From that point on, the conversation shifted beyond discussing the run.

The mall offered to donate 25 linear feet of wall space inside the food court for the first permanent 9/11 memorial site in Pasco County.

And, the event expanded to include a dedication ceremony for the new memorial.

The memorial commemorates a day that is seared into the nation’s collective memory.

Penelope Bastidas, of New York, left, and Stephen Spelman, of Wesley Chapel, support each other with a hug, during a moment of silence before the ceremony to unveil a permanent 9/11 memorial at the Tampa Premium Outlets. Bastidas’ husband, Lt. Mario Bastidas, was a paramedic with the New York Fire Department. He passed away in 2017 from a 9/11-related cancer. Spelman was an EMT with the NYFD and is a 9/11 survivor. Also pictured: Spelman’s 10-year-old son, Mathew, second from right, and Rotarian Eric Johnson. (Christine Holtzman)

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners — resulting in 2,977 deaths in New York City, Washington D.C., and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Remembering the day is deeply personal for Casella.

When terrorists flew into New York’s Twin Towers, Casella was an officer with the New York Police Department.

Because of a work-related injury, he was on limited duty that day, so wasn’t part of the chaos at Ground Zero, he said. He has, however, suffered deep personal losses.

On the day of the attacks, he lost his friend, Brian McDonald, a fellow officer who dressed just three lockers down from him.

Now, 18 years later, he has lost several friends who died from cancer — resulting from exposure to hazardous conditions at Ground Zero.

The permanent display at the mall includes a piece of metal salvaged from the New York Fire Department’s Ladder Truck 18. (Mary Rathman)

The permanent display at the mall includes a piece of metal salvaged from the New York Fire Department’s Ladder Truck 18. The truck became known as Fort Pitt because its entire crew survived by diving beneath it during the North Tower’s collapse.

Metal from the truck was donated by Stephen Spelman, whom Casella met during the late 1980s, when they worked as EMTs on an ambulance in New York.

Spelman, now retired, lives in Wesley Chapel.

He narrowly escaped death, when the North Tower began collapsing. He ran one way, while others ran another — and he never saw them again.

Spelman was invited to the Motts Military Museum in Groveport, Ohio, to share his story of survival. But, with Hurricane Irma in the forecast, he wasn’t able to make it.

Even though he didn’t make the appearance, the museum gave him the piece of metal that’s now on display at the mall.

Spelman said he tried for two years to find a permanent home to display the piece, until someone suggested that he approach Tampa Premium Outlets. As a result, he said, what initially felt like a burden, has turned out to be a great gift.

Last weekend’s event began with a memorial run, but there were a great number of walkers, too.

When a Pasco County Fire Rescue Truck blew its horn, signifying the start of the run,
participants raced off in high gear from the starting line. (Christine Holtzman)

There was a moment of silence before Stephen Spelman’s 10-year-old son, Mathew, rang a bell, at 8:46 a.m., to mark the time when the North Tower was struck.

Another high point of the day was a “Missing Man” flyby maneuver performed by a Pasco Sheriff’s Office helicopter.

Scores of Rotarians, elected leaders and members of the public attended the memorial dedication.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, Pasco County commissioners Mike Moore, Jack Mariano and Mike Wells, and other speakers, including Casella, offered remarks.

Seven-year-old Cole Roberge Pierce (in blue shirt), a member of Cub Scouts Pack 149, hands out flags to runners, as they cross the finish line. Boy Scouts Troop 149 members also were passing out flags. (Christine Holtzman)

“As a New York City Police officer, I feel it’s my obligation,” Casella began, before being overcome with emotion. He composed himself, then added, in a softer voice, “to keep their memories live.”

Others were at the event, to pay tribute to the fallen, including several family members of New York City first responders.

Penelope Bastidas, the widow of Lt. Mario Bastidas (a paramedic with the New York Fire Department), flew in from New York to cut the ribbon at the ceremony. Her husband passed away in 2017 from a 9/11-related illness.

Now that the permanent memorial is in place, the Rotary Club plans to create a perpetual wall of heroes, each year honoring a local hero from the community.

Published September 11, 2019

Pasco County unveils first permanent 9/11 memorial

September 11, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Hundreds turned out to Tampa Premium Outlets on Sept. 7, to an event to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The event included the Memorial Mile, which attracted both runners and walkers; the unveiling of Pasco County’s first permanent 9/11 memorial; and other special moments.

Dignitaries, first responders and Rotarians pose for a group photo under the large American Flag that is being displayed on the ladder of Pasco County Fire Rescue Truck 1. (Christine Holtzman)

Aleyda Gonzalez, left, smiles at her boyfriend, Paul Faris, after completing the 9/11 Memorial Mile. The Wesley Chapel residents were there to honor Faris’ friend, Rocco ‘Nino’ Gargano (photo seen pinned to Faris’ shirt), who worked for the financial service firm Cantor Fitzgerald, on the 104th floor of the North Tower. Gargano was one of the 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees who died in the terrorist attack.

After coming in first place at the inaugural 9/11 Memorial Mile, 15-year-old Jeremiah Loo, of Wesley Chapel, catches his breath, before heading to the refreshment area. Those taking part were welcome to refuel their energy with fruit, water, bagels, croissants, muffins and more.

Inaugural Memorial Mile draws all ages

September 11, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Holding several American flags, 3-year-old James McLeod, of Lutz, smiles at his mother, Jeanine, before the start of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel’s inaugural 9/11 Memorial Mile at the Tampa Premium Outlets. The McLeods were walking in the event to honor some of their first responder family members that survived the terror attacks. (Christine Holtzman)

Bracing for Hurricane Dorian

September 4, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

With Hurricane Irma still fresh on their minds, many Pasco County residents were taking no chances as Hurricane Dorian approaches Florida. To help residents, Pasco County set up free, 24-hour self-service sandbag sites at several locations. The sandbags were available, as long as supplies lasted. For the most effective results, the Pasco County Division of Emergency Management recommends placing sandbags at the entry and exit points of a home.

Alejandro Meneses, a volunteer with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Jeep Unit, left, assists Wesley Chapel resident Tom Fiksdal by loading sandbags into Fiksdal’s truck. Meneses was volunteering his time at the San Antonio site, helping people with filling bags, as well as loading them in vehicles. (Christine Holtzman)

At the self-serve sandbag site outside of the Pasco County Public Works building in San Antonio, Byron Gaskin, of Zephyrhills, left, shovels sand into a bag held by his friend Betty Border. The two were filling 10 bags, the maximum allowed, to help prevent flood water in an area on their property that is prone to flooding.

Casey Van Wyk, of Dade City, carries a sandbag to her car. With Hurricane Irma still fresh in their minds, Casey and her husband Daniel started prepping from the moment that this storm was first reported. With Irma, they had lots of flooding and tree damage at their Lake Pasadena home, resulting in a loss of electricity for over three weeks.

Bracing for Hurricane Dorian

September 4, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Teri Hardy, of Land O’ Lakes, pushes sand through a funnel that helps fill the sandbags more efficiently. Hardy, a lifelong resident of Land O’ Lakes, hopes to fill 10 bags, the maximum allowed. She wants to prevent flooding through the entryways of her newly built home. (Christine Holtzman)