The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Adopt A Pet (12/04/24): Pirate would walk the plank for cuddles

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Meet Pirate, a 3-year-old cat on the lookout for his forever home! Pirate may have started off a little overwhelmed in the shelter, but he’s blossomed into a sweet, loving boy with a heart full of affection. His favorite thing in the world? Getting scratches! Pirate is so eager for attention that he’ll happily fall out of his kennel just to be close to you. With his soft white fur and a distinctive gray “hat” on his head, Pirate is as charming as he is adorable. If you’re looking for a loving companion who will shower you with affection, Pirate is your guy. He’s ready to share his cuddles and make your home a little brighter! Make an appointment to meet Pirate at Pasco County Animal Services today!

 

If you would like to adopt Pirate, be sure to make an appointment at Pasco County Animal Services at 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes, by calling 813-929-1212. The adoption center is open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6:30 p.m. All adoption fees include spay/neuter, microchip and vaccines. Email for more information.

 

Business Digest (10/04/24): Seats available on jobs committee

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Seats available on Jobs & Economic Opportunities Committee

PASCO COUNTY – The Jobs and Economic Opportunities Committee, which oversees the use of the Jobs and Economic Opportunities Trust Fund portion of Penny for Pasco, is looking for new volunteers.

Responsibilities of members include ensuring Penny for Pasco spending meets the requirements to promote projects creating new jobs and economic growth.  

There are two open seats: one available to any Pasco County resident and the other specifically designated for someone in the finance or banking industry.  

Applications are being accepted through Dec. 23. Return your application and resume to .

The committee consists of up to nine members, appointed by county commissioners. Members represent diverse knowledge and expertise from the following areas: agriculture, finance/banking, manufacturing, real estate and other private industries.

The committee meets at least quarterly and presents annual updates to commissioners.  Members will serve a two-year term, from March 2025 to March 2027.

 

Central Florida McDonald’s awards $33,000 to schools, nonprofits

Nine Central Florida educational organizations were selected as recipients of a 2024 McDonald’s Golden Grant. 

A total of $33,000 has been allocated to organizations, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of area children.

“We feel very honored we are able to help out organizations in our area,” said Kristina Ragatz, McDonald’s owner/operator. “On behalf of Central Florida owner/operators, we are honored to be a part of such tight-knit communities supporting children who need it most.”

Grants were awarded based on creativity, innovation, need and hands-on application of projects. Recipients were: 

  • $10,000 – Forever Outreach (Winter Haven).
  • $5,000 – Community Food Pantry (Tampa).
  • $5,000 – Steps Foundation (Saint Cloud).
  • $5,000 – Ayr’Reka’s Angels (Tampa).
  • $2,500 – FRC Team 801 Horsepower (Merritt Island).
  • $2,500 – Speak Up: Let’s Talk About Mental Health (Tarpon Springs).
  • $1,000 – Guardian Angels of SW Florida (Palmetto).
  • $1,000 – eSTEAMed Learning (Maitland).
  • $1,000 – UF/IFAS Extension Lake County (Tavares).

 

Greater Pasco Chamber happenings

NEW PORT RICHEY – The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce will hold a Medical Roundtable, ribbon cutting, brochure exchange and after-hours networking over the next several days. 

  • Adam Shoemaker facilitates the monthly Medical Roundtable from 8 to 9 a.m. Dec. 5 at Holiday Inn Express
    & Suites, 2125 Corporate Center Drive, Trinity. Register in advance. 
  • Members celebrate the grand opening of ElderClub Port Richey with a ribbon cutting from 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at 9735 U.S. 19, Port Richey. 
  • Members network during the Land O’ Lakes Brochure Exchange from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 12 at New Beginnings, 18935 Michigan Lane, Spring Hill. 
  • Young professionals engage in some after hour networking during a social from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at LaneGlo South, 8631 Old County Road 54, New Port Richey. 

Visit greaterpasco.com for details about the chamber and events. 

 

North Tampa Bay Chamber happenings

LAND O’ LAKES – The North Tampa Bay Chamber will cut some ribbons in celebration of member achievements in the coming days. 

  • Members celebrate the grand opening of 3Natives Wesley Chapel with a ribbon cutting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 5 at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel.
  • Members hold a ribbon cutting to celebrate Shields Accounting Services LLC from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the chamber’s Wiregrass Mall location, 28329 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel. 

Visit northtampabaychamber.com for details about the chamber and events. 

 

FEMA approves $1B for Florida homeowners, renters
TALLAHASSEE – FEMA has approved more than $1 billion in federal disaster assistance to help homeowners and renters recover from recent hurricanes. 

This includes $449.2 million for Hurricane Milton, $516.6 million for Hurricane Helene and $49.8 million for Hurricane Debby.

Under FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, homeowners and renters affected by Hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby may be eligible for assistance for basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses.

Floridians can still apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA App. You may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362. 

 

Florida awards bonuses for law enforcement recruits

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida is making 300 new bonus awards to Law Enforcement Officers and has reached a milestone of 6,400 bonuses awarded to new law enforcement recruits through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program. 

The latest 300 bonuses were awarded to officers serving in counties impacted by Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. This first-of-its-kind initiative, launched in 2022, constitutes a one-time, $5,000 bonus – after taxes – to newly employed officers in the state.

 

Quick Hits

  • Zachery Gibson and Carlos Lugo, of Weichert, Realtors – Florida Tropics, completed the Fast Track training program, according to Weichert Real Estate Affiliates. The training helps bring new and existing Weichert-affiliated agents up to speed on the latest information, resources and technology available to real estate professionals.

 

Tampa Bay Sun FC players assist with hunger relief

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Tampa Bay Sun FC players and coaches assist Feeding Tampa Bay. Mike Carlson/Tampa Bay Sun FC

TAMPA – Tampa Bay Sun FC players and coaches, along with dozens of community volunteers, sorted and packaged over 16,000 pounds of food, which will provide nearly 14,000 meals through Feeding Tampa Bay.

This initiative is part of the Sun’s ongoing Season of Giving campaign. The team wants to ensure families in need have access to nutritious food during the holiday season.

Defender Brooke Hendrix, who leads the player-led Servant Heart group, emphasized the team’s dedication to community service. 

“We all come together as players to determine how we can better serve our community and each other,” Hendrix said. “We wouldn’t be here without the community. It’s nice [that our supporters] give so much to us, so we want to pay it forward.”

To further support local hunger relief efforts, the Sun has partnered with Feeding Tampa Bay and Seeds of Hope to host donation boxes at Riverfront Stadium during recent home matches.

The team encourages fans and community members to continue their support by participating in Holidays in The Sun during the team’s next home match on Dec. 14. 

Winter Village returns to downtown Tampa

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Winter Village Tampa offers a chance to ice skate with special themed nights. Photo courtesy Of Tampa Downtown Partnership

 

TAMPA – Winter Village Tampa, presented by the Tampa Bay Lightning, kicked off Nov. 22 in Tampa’s Downtown and runs through Jan. 5 with new attractions for all ages.

The Tampa Downtown Partnership has transformed Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park into a cozy wonderland with entertainment, festive skating, shopping and treats.

 

Skate Under the Stars

Ice skating on real ice is a signature Winter Village experience, and this year brings even more fun to the rink. For $17, skaters enjoy 90 minutes of ice time and an included skate rental.

  • Theme Skate Tuesdays – New this year, skaters joining theme skate nights will be entered into a weekly raffle. Theme nights include Nov. 26 (Fall-la-la-la-la), Dec. 3 (The Nutcracker), Dec. 10 (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation), Dec. 17 (Lightning Bolts & Snowflakes), Dec. 24 (Ugly Holiday Sweater) and Dec. 31 (Holiday Shimmer).
  • Thunderstruck Thursdays – Embrace your Tampa Bay Lightning pride every Thursday with themed food and drink. 
  • Silent Disco Fridays – Dance under the stars with silent disco headphones every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Headphones are first-come, first-served.

Artistry meets athleticism as skilled skaters twirl, glide and leap on real ice during the Tampa Bay Ice Show. Catch the 10-minute shows at 7 p.m. Dec. 24 and 31 as well as Jan. 3, 4 and 5. 

 

Other attractions

  • Winter Village Shops – Stroll through the Shops of Winter Village, delivered by PODS Moving and Storage, where local businesses and boutiques offer hand-picked gifts. This year’s market is the biggest yet, brimming with unique finds to check off every name on your holiday list.
  • Winter Village Café – Enjoy seasonal flavors at the Winter Village Café with options like gourmet crepes, craft cocktails from Icicles, coffee from Mi Cafecito and sweet treats from Whatever Pops. 
  • Winter Village Express – Hop aboard the Winter Village Express and take a holiday trip on the TECO Line Streetcar. On select Sundays, this one-hour, round-trip ride from Downtown’s Whiting Station to historic Ybor City features holiday sing-a-longs, trivia, milk and cookies, and festive surprises for the family. Buy tickets for rides on Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 22.

 

Pasco leaders work toward regional solutions for traffic

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DADE CITY – The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization is laying the groundwork for a merger with similar groups in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties that may attract more federal funding for larger-scale transportation projects. 

Tania Gorman, executive director for Pasco County MPO, said state legislation asked the three MPOs about a year and a half ago to engage in an exercise on what a merger may look like. Pasco leaders agreed to a  scope of work Nov. 14 that involves hiring a consultant with legal expertise in how MPOs work to guide a merger by July 1, 2027. 

The consultant would deliver drafts for a Memorandum of Understanding, an apportionment plan, organizational structure, cost estimates and other details. 

Pasco County leaders have heard some pushback on the plan coming out of Hillsborough County. 

“We all work together and there’s the availability of having more funds for all of us,” Pasco Commissioner Ron Oakley said Nov. 14. “Because a lot of these roads and the widening of these roads help all of us that are in this region.”

Oakley pointed to the need to widen U.S. Route 301. Even though Hillsborough County has more of the highway on its side than Pasco County, Oakley said widening the route would help everybody.

Justin Hall, of the Florida Department of Transportation, told the Pasco County MPO that while there was a leader from Tampa that expressed an opinion regarding the merger, the City of Tampa had yet to do so. 

 Pasco Commissioner Kathryn Starkey encouraged colleagues not to be consumed by “us against them,”  

“What I want everyone to remember is the money that we get for our county is still coming to our county and same with all the other counties,” Starkey said. “The purpose of this regional MPO is to work together on large federally funded projects. The fact of the matter is those are probably going to start in Hillsborough because that’s where the issue is and then it’ll spoke out from there.”

 

Defining membership

The Regional MPO would consist of 25 voting members, including Port Tampa Bay and Tampa International Airport.  The other 23 voting seats would be determined by population, so Hillsborough County would get 11 seats, Pinellas County would get eight seats and Pasco County would get four seats. 

The Pasco County MPO discussed how small cities would be represented in the Regional MPO. Ultimately, members decided that one of the four seats on the Regional MPO would be devoted to someone representing the cities. The cities would pick their representative and a voting alternate. 

 

Y2K quilting project brought people together

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Rozanne Ritter, Judy Croucher and Christine Cruz-Cooper stand in front of a quilt put together by members of the East Pasco Quilt Guild. Photo courtesy of Joe Potter

DADE CITY – As fears of Y2K computer crashes spread leading up to the turn of the century, Kathleen Sullivan sought to connect quilters worldwide.

Sullivan, an avid quilter and officer with the Tampa Police Department, thought it would be fun to create a project with a Y2K theme. She encouraged other quilters online to exchange 25 2.5-inch fabric squares with one another. The idea was to incorporate 2,000 squares into each quilt in honor of the millennium. 

Sullivan received 250 envelopes filled with fabric blocks from throughout the United States, Canada and 27 other countries. Many envelopes included letters sharing personal stories about the senders’ lives and families. 

After Sullivan passed away in 2022, her family donated the fabric squares and letters to the East Pasco Quilt Guild.

Members of the guild incorporated these squares and letters into 10 quilts of different sizes for the  “Y2K Quilt Collection Exhibit,” currently on display at The Bike Spoke. The project took about a year and a half to complete. 

“We wanted to see Kathleen’s vision through,” \member Judy Croucher said. 

Each set of fabric squares came with a “siggie” block that included the sender’s name and hometown. 

“We have kept track of each block so it is kind of like the world came to Dade City,” President Rozanne Ritter said. “This is an opportunity for our community to see what people had sent from around the world.”

Some quilts in the collection are designated as “scavenger hunt quilts,” encouraging visitors – especially children – to search for specific things within the designs. 

“It’s a fun way for people to spend more time exploring the details,” Ritter said.

Since the Dade City Heritage Museum is being renovated, the exhibit will be displayed through Dec. 20 at The Bike Spoke, 37800 Church Ave., Dade City. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The guild will also display the quilts at Dade City events, such as Church Street Christmas, Kumquat Festival and Farm Festival & Quilt Show. 

Email for details about the quilts and the guild. 

Teen leads coalition of health-minded students

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Luiza Guryeva, of Active Hearts Association, holds a box of greeting cards that were distributed to hospital patients. Photo courtesy of Luiza Guryeva

WESLEY CHAPEL – Luiza Guryeva created an Active Hearts Association chapter in Florida this summer to help people in the community. 

Guryeva, a senior at Wesley Chapel High School, said the youth-led organization empowers “students to create lasting, meaningful change in their communities by leading impactful healthcare support initiatives.”

She is the executive of Florida AHA, which has chapters across the state, including Wesley Chapel High School, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation and The School of Advanced Studies in Miami. She leads a coalition of more than 100 students.

The chapter she founded was the first in the United States, Guryeva said. 

Active Hearts has chapters in Almaty, Kazakhstan – the founding chapter – Astana, Kazakhstan and Boston, Massachusetts. Plans are in the works to open new chapters in Shanghai and Bangkok, Guryeva said.  

The Active Hearts Association in all chapters across the world is a medical hub providing opportunities for healthcare enthusiasts and fundraising for hospitalized children, according to its website.

“I was drawn to the ethical and financial challenges within the healthcare industry and sought to create opportunities for meaningful community service for students, fostering greater hope for patients,” Guryeva said about why she started Florida’s AHA chapter. 

She formed the new chapter in Kazakhstan alongside her former classmates, Mereyli Baisariyeva and Almansur Samat, the founders. 

Luiza moved to the United States only three years ago from Kazakhstan. 

After graduating from Wesley Chapel High School next year, she plans to study business with a focus on finance, management and economics. She aims to use her education to create meaningful change in healthcare management and policy, particularly in addressing the influence of private equity firms.

Recently, Active Hearts Association prepared more than 300 “get well soon” cards that were delivered to patients in hospitals such as AdventHealth and Pruitt Health in Lutz. 

Each card was handmade with a handwritten message of encouragement inside, Guryeva said. This effort was intended to reduce feelings of loneliness and ensure recipients felt the personal touch and thoughtfulness behind each card, rather than receiving something mass-produced or printed by a computer, she added.

She personally took the cards to the hospitals and left them with the director of volunteers who distributed them to patients. 

At Pruitt Health, Luiza was able to organize a hospital visit for members of Active Hearts Association. They donated the cards and were given a tour of the hospital. 

In addition, Active Hearts Association members are organizing a talent show for nursing home residents, collecting Christmas cards for AdventHealth’s patients and developing wellness packets for women in Bangladesh.

Guryeva expressed hope that more high schools across Florida will establish Active Hearts Association chapters within their communities.  

Email or follow @activeheartsflorida and @activeheartsassociation on Instagram for details on how to open a chapter.

 

How the sweet potato casserole became such a staple

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While sweet potatoes are not as ubiquitous as pumpkin, this time of year (I have yet to see sweet potato coffee creamer and sweet potato oatmeal), the sweet potato deserves some spotlight, too.  

After all, you can do so much with them, not to mention their health benefits make them a superfood.  

They have high levels of Vitamin A (as beta-carotene), Vitamin C, several B vitamins, manganese, potassium (good for regulating blood pressure), while being low in fat and calories.  

They have anti-inflammatory elements, are good for digestion thanks to their high fiber content, and have a moderate glycemic index for managing blood sugar levels.  

As for their versatility, they can be enjoyed in a variety of ways for breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizers, side dishes and dessert: sweet potato pancakes, sweet potato soup, sweet potato and black bean tacos, sweet potato fries, sweet potato pie, and so on.  

Of course, the Thanksgiving meal is not complete unless there is sweet potato casserole on the table.  

But how did this naturally sweet root vegetable get paired with a sweet, processed treat?  

Marshmallows go hand-in-hand with desserts and campfires, not so much vegetables.  

But if you can’t picture a sweet potato casserole without marshmallows, you can thank marketing from over 100 years ago for that.

Sweet potato pudding was in America’s first cookbook, “American Cookery,” published in 1796.  

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, with more cookbooks coming out, there were other recipes for candied or glazed sweet potatoes that called for coating boiled sweet potatoes with sugar syrup, according to Smithsonian Magazine.  

Marshmallows weren’t around yet.

In 1907, the company Angelus Marshmallows (known as Campfire later on), who also made Cracker Jacks, began mass-producing marshmallows, but households didn’t see it as a common food item.  

So the company reached out to the founder of the Boston Cooking School Magazine, Janet McKenzie Hill, to develop recipes with marshmallows in them.  

It was in this cookbook, published in 1917, that the first sweet potato with marshmallow topping first appeared (as well as marshmallows in hot chocolate).  

It gained popularity, and became a staple on Thanksgiving by the mid-20th century.  

And so, thanks to a company trying to increase their sales, we have this standard Thanksgiving dish.  

While the marshmallows don’t offer much in nutritional benefits, the sweet potato casserole isn’t the most calorie-damaging dish you’ll have on the holiday (the buttered rolls, stuffing and mashed potatoes with gravy have more calories per serving than the sweet potato casserole).  

With the average person eating 3,000 calories on Thanksgiving just for the dinner (not including drinks, dessert, or appetizers), it’s usually not a day for calorie counting, but to indulge.  

Making a healthier version of this dish isn’t going to make a significant difference in total calories consumed on the holiday, but if you prefer marshmallows with dessert instead of the main course, try out this version from Nebraska Extension.

 

Sweet Potato and Apple Casserole

Yield: 4 servings

 

Ingredients

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed with a clean vegetable brush under running water, peeled, and cut into ½ inch cubes
  • 1 baking apple (Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, or Pink Lady are good for baking), gently rubbed under cold running water, sliced
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ⅓ cup dried cranberries or raisins

 

Directions

  • Wash hands with soap and water. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease or spray a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a small sauce pan over medium heat, mix together the orange juice, brown sugar, butter or margarine, cinnamon, and dried cranberries or raisins. Heat and continue to stir until the sugar is dissolved and the butter or margarine is melted.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, apples and orange juice mixture. Transfer to a casserole dish.
  • Bake covered for one hour or until the sweet potatoes are fork tender.
  • Stir the mixture before serving to coat the sweet potatoes and apples with the juices accumulated at the bottom of the dish before serving.
  • Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

 

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County, An Equal Opportunity Institution.

Adopt A Pet (11/20/24): Raven is a gentle soul

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Introducing Raven, a stunning little kitten with a striking white chest and face, and gorgeous brown stripes along her back. At just 3 months old, she’s got her whole life ahead of her, and she’s looking for a patient and loving home where she can blossom. Raven is a bit shy at first, so she’ll need a slow, gentle introduction to her new surroundings. But don’t let her quiet demeanor fool you – with time and trust, Raven will reveal her sweet, affectionate side. She’s a young kitten with so much love to give, and with a little patience, she’ll be a lifelong companion. If you’re looking for a kitten with a gentle soul who needs a patient family to help her grow, Raven might be the one for you. She’s ready to find a forever home where she can feel safe, loved and cherished. Come meet her at Pasco County Animal Services today!

If you would like to adopt Raven, be sure to make an appointment at Pasco County Animal Services at 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes, by calling 813-929-1212. The adoption center is open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6:30 p.m. All adoption fees include spay/neuter, microchip and vaccines. Email for more information.

 

Battle for Veterans features WWII vehicles, weapons

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Two reenactors stand beside a M4AE Sherman tank on the left and a M36 Jackson Tank on the right. Photo courtesy of Joe Potter
A reenactor prepares to demonstrate how the weapon he’s holding would sound when it’s discharged. Photo courtesy of Joe Potter

ZEPHYRHILLS – Thousands of people attended the Battle for Veterans from Nov. 8 to 11 in Zephyrhills.

The Zephyrhills Museum of Military History held the event at a 25-acre site owned by the City of Zephyrhills at 5200 Airport Road. The museum needed a space that was 12.5 times larger than its grounds. 

Hundreds of participants from throughout Florida enjoyed their roles while conducting what was billed as the state’s largest Veterans Day experience.

Several military vehicles of World War II vintage that had been used by Armed Forces of both the United States and Germany were displayed. These included Jeeps, staff cars, half-tracks, tanks and a tank destroyer.

People could also see firearms that had been used by the military during WWII. Handguns, rifles and a machine gun that had been used by members of the Russian military were on display. 

Bill Zukauskas, a member of the St. Augustine-based organization, Soviet Weapons of the Great Patriotic War, gave some interesting information about the weapons.

The one garnering the most attention from onlookers was a submachine gun that had been used by a Russian soldier on the war’s Eastern Front. A German soldier gained possession of the weapon after the Russian soldier’s capture. Eventually, an American serviceman on the war’s Western Front secured the submachine gun when the German soldier was captured. That soldier brought it back to the U.S. where it has remained since then.

Two M4AE Sherman tanks at the event were each armed with a 105-millimeter gun.  These medium-size tanks were the first the U.S. ever manufactured with this powerful gun inside a fully traversing turret. That heavily armored turret was large enough to accommodate three of the tank’s crewmembers.

Also on display was a M36 Jackson Tank, which was designed to ambush and destroy German Panther tanks from a safe distance. 

Several participants fired handguns, rifles and submachine guns loaded with blanks as the crowds looked on. The tanks fired several rounds of blanks while reenacting part of a battle. 

The noise was so great that it caused several people living nearby who weren’t aware of the event to call the Zephyrhills Police Department 

Plans are in the works, according to a museum spokesperson, for another Battle for Veterans in 2025.

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INFOBOX: Event presents awards

Two awards were granted during this year’s Battle for Veterans event.

  • Grenadier-Regiment 211 – Florida Reenacted was honored for having the Best Living History Display. That group is for representation of the 71st Infantry Division, 211th Grenadier Regiment of the German Army during WWII. 
  • A 1942 Humbler Light Reconnaissance Car, owned by Verne Jenkinson, was recognized as the Best Vehicle. The vehicle, also known as a Humberette or Ironside, was a British armored car produced during WWII.