The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mike Camunas

Winter never seems to come to King’s Landing

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At King’s Landing, there are two ways to paddle.

And no, this is not located in Westeros, nor has very little relation to the (spoiler alert) fictional city that was destroyed in the last season of HBO’s megahit, “Game of Thrones.”

It is, however, one of the most popular paddle launch spots in Central Florida, and it allows adventurers, day-trippers, tourists and even weekend warriors to take two very distinctly different trips — while allowing for hours and hours of water exploration.

King’s Landing — in Apopka, not Westeros — is located on Rock Springs Run, which is part of the Wekiva River. It offers miles of exploration of lush Florida tropical hammocks and wildlife, plus paddling upstream to Emerald Cut, known for its clear water and jungle-like surroundings. (Mike Camunas)

So load up your dragon — er, paddleboard or kayak, and get ready to set sail on one of the most beautiful destinations in Florida that’s free of any Lannisters and Targaryens, as well as the Iron Throne. It’s definitely worth the trip.

You know nothing
Most likely, one has heard a lot of talk or hype about King’s Landing. Especially if you’re an avid paddler. It truly is high on the list of places to launch and visit and explore.

In fact, King’s Landing is just the launch area, which offers an easily accessible dock, self-guided tours, kayak and paddleboard rentals and guided tours, too.

There is a small shop with some snacks and drinks, plus souvenirs or necessities, but bringing a lunch is recommended. Also, pets and tubes are not allowed.

However, once out on the water, King’s Landing allows access to Rock Springs Run, which is part of the Wekiva River — and its crystal clear, 72-degree, gorgeous freshwater, with 26,000 gallons pumped out of the ground every minute.

After a short paddle to Rock Springs Run, paddlers can take one of the two trips.

On the Rock Springs Run part of the Wekiva River in Apopka, paddleboarding is a prominent activity year-round, allowing visitors and tourists to explore the miles of crystal clear water, lush vegetation and Florida wildlife.

They can go left, which will take them 8 ½ miles on a self-guided day adventure, exploring the scenic turns and lush Florida tropical hammocks and wildlife. A shuttle will bring them back to King’s Landing.

Or they can turn right, which is going upstream, but well worth the effort because it takes you through the Emerald Cut on Rock Springs Run.

Blue meets bluer with this water, and it’s about 45 minutes upstream until a bridge barrier at nearby Kelly Park stops you.

After that, and enjoying the hangout area at the Emerald Cut, all one has to do is sit back and take the 30-minute natural lazy river all the way back to King’s Landing.

The things you’ll do for love
Rock Springs Run, with its Emerald Cut, is an incredible, but also incredibly popular destination because of its beauty, serenity and, of course, its location in regards to Orlando (less than 30 minutes) and the Disney World area (less than an hour).

So expect tourists, even in large groups. Which is not a knock on King’s Landing. Nor the tranquility and exceptional time one will have on the water.

King’s Landing has a small tortoise habitat for visitors to see before or after paddling on Rock Springs Run and the Emerald Cut.

It’s just a fair warning, as they’re open daily, even during the rainy season that sees the river rise quite high. And over time, some of the hurricanes that have hit Florida have made certain parts of the river inaccessible, especially on the 8-mile run downstream.

That, however, has helped to protect some wildlife, especially the fish.

As Littlefinger said on Game of Thrones, “Chaos isn’t a pit — it’s a ladder,” and the chaos of water levels and some weather destruction has only helped King’s Landing, Rock Springs Run and Emerald Cut climb that ladder.

Play this game and win
All television show references aside, King’s Landing is a must-see, and launch destination for any and all avid paddleboarders and kayakers. 

It is on par with several other freshwater, spring-fed destinations, such as Weeki Wachee State Park, Three Sisters Springs, Seven Sisters Springs, Ginnie Springs and more.

However, King’s Landing has something that those don’t — more seclusion and less property intrusion, meaning through all those miles of serene paddling, lazy river floating and quiet isolation, there won’t be any structures or backyards and motor boats to ruin it.

It truly is a pristine destination, as if built for kings — and queens.

King’s Landing
Where: 5722 Baptist Camp Road, Apopka
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
Details: Considered one of the top paddling destinations in Florida, King’s Landing, located on Rock Springs Run, is part of the Wekiva River. It offers activities including self-guided rentals, adventure tours and nightly escapes. Paddleboarding and kayaking are common on the water, camping at the Eagle Boy Scout Camp and Wekiva State Park are options, too.
Info: Visit KingsLandingFl.com.

Published March 15, 2023

King’s Landing offers camping at the Eagle Boy Scout Retreat Campground, which is just steps away from Rock Springs Run and the launch site.
Kelly Park is just south of King’s Landing and also is situated on Rock Springs Run. It offers swimming, trails, paddling and a launch site.

 

King’s Landing in Apopka provides a docking area for those who bring their own paddleboards or kayaks, but also offers guided tours and rentals.

 

 

R.B. Cox Elementary celebrates Black History and diversity

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The faculty and staff at R.B. Cox Elementary celebrates diversity throughout the school year.

“Our population of the community we serve here is very diverse,” Principal Kimberly Natal said. “Most of our students are Hispanic and African American, so it’s important to the community and it’s important to celebrate that diversity we have here at R.B. Cox and our community we serve.

“So, through committees, we plan this every year — we have a Hispanic Heritage and Black History celebration every year.”

The school held a Black Heritage Celebration on March 3, complete with educational and entertaining performances, readings and presentations.

Angela Theodore, from Hugh Embry Library in Dade City, tells the story ‘Anansi Does the Impossible!’ on March 3 during Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary in Dade City. Students, families and community members attended the event to watch presentations and performances about Black Heritage and to see part of the Rosewood Traveling Museum. (Mike Camunas)

It ended with a traditional soul food dinner. 

“We celebrate diversity a lot at this school,” said secretary Monica Russ, who heads up the Black History Month Committee at the school. “At R.B. Cox, this is one of the times we do that, where we invite everyone out to come join and celebrate and learn about Black history and diversity.

“And everyone is welcome.”

Faces in the crowd proved that people of all races came together for the celebration — a fact that pleased the R.B. Cox event organizers.

“We have Black families, Hispanic families, even some white families and part of our police department is here, too,” Russ said. “Anyone that just wants to come out and be a part of us and part of this community — and we’re very pleased with how it turned out. Whenever you can get parents in the doors with kids and they learn something, come together as a community and enjoy time together, we’ll take it.

“The free soul food was a great draw, too,” she said, with a laugh.

The Rosewood Traveling Museum was a new highlight this year.

The Black Heritage Celebration, on March 3 at R.B. Cox Elementary, attracted a diverse crowd to enjoy educational and entertaining performances, as well as a soul food dinner.

The museum, and its foundation, is dedicated to remembering the town of Rosewood, which, in January 1923, underwent a racially motivated massacre of Black people and the destruction of the Black town in Levy County, Florida.

At least six Black people were killed, but eyewitness accounts suggested a death toll of 27 to 150.

The museum had about 10% of its collection on display, but the exhibit will be available to see at Pioneer Florida Museum & Village starting on Juneteenth (June 19).

Representatives from the Rosewood Family were on hand at R.B. Cox to tell about the museum and its causes and share some history of the massacre. Its choir also performed.

Harriet Clemons dances to music performed by the Rosewood Choir on March 3, during a Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary, in Dade City.

“I’m connected to the (Rosewood) group through marriage,” Russ said. “It touched my family, so that’s what I think about when I think about Black History. … (Rosewood) is honoring 100 years, so (when) given the opportunity for them to come and share it with us, I jumped at it.

“Because I think it’s a great way to let people know who aren’t aware of that history, and we want to share our history,” she said.

Natal said she was pleased with the turnout, and the message for honoring “Bridge Builders, Obstacle Movers, World Changers” at the celebration. She also said the Black Heritage event, and the Hispanic Heritage one the school held in the fall, were the first ones held, post-COVID restrictions. 

She said it was uplifting to see the enthusiasm for the event’s return — from both staff and students.

“This year, we wanted to do it big since we hadn’t done it in a while,” Natal said. “It was a real grassroots effort from the staff to really bring in the community and celebrate the culture, and I think we’ll see even more people next time,” she said.

It’s important, the principal said, “for the kids to celebrate their heritages.”

Remember Rosewood – Centennial: 100 Years of History
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
When: Starting June 19
Details: The Rosewood Traveling Museum will be on display at Pioneer Village starting the week of Juneteenth (June 19), at no charge.
The Rosewood Museum is dedicated to remembering the town of Rosewood, which, in January 1923, underwent a racially motivated massacre of black people and the destruction of the black town in Levy County, Florida. At least six black people were killed, but eyewitness accounts have suggested a death toll of 27 to 150.
Info: Visit RememberingRosewood.com or PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Published March 15, 2023

Jada McClendon, of Dade City, performs on the drums on March 3, during a musical number at the Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary.
The Rosewood Choir performed on March 3, during the Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary, in Dade City.
R.B. Cox Elementary staff members wore shirts emphasizing such ideals as empowerment, education, inspiration and celebration, during the school’s Black Heritage Celebration on March 3.

Founder’s Day not lost, returns after two-year hiatus

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It’s been more than two years, but the Annual Founder’s Day Festival, Celebration and Parade returned to historic downtown Zephyrhills on March 4, ushering in some changes, but ones that were greatly welcomed.

The 112th edition of Founder’s Day Festival kicked off on March 4, returning after a two-year hiatus due to COVID and scheduling conflicts. Dozens of vendors set up shop, up and down Main Street in historic downtown Zephyrhills, with a handful of booths dedicated to the three mayoral candidates and two more for the city council seat up for election on April 11. (Mike Camunas)

For starters, the parade and festivities, which were canceled last May due to weather and held off in 2021 due to COVID, returned, not only in a big way, but at a time change.

While there were activities all day long throughout Zephyrhills, dozens of vendors set up at 4 p.m. to welcome residents and shoppers up and down Main Street. Included in those were booths dedicated to the two running for the City Council Seat 2, up for election on April 11. Incumbent Alan Knight had a booth and was shaking hands, while his challenger, Steve Spina — a former Zephyrhills City Manager — also had a booth.

The three mayoral candidates — Nick Deford, Melanie Bahr Monson and Martin Harm — vying for the position relinquished by exiting mayor, Gene Whitfield, also had booths and greeted potential voters through the late afternoon and evening.

The parade, also returning, was pushed into the evening, a departure from years past when it was held in the early afternoon.

Main Street Zephyrhills Director Erin Beasley said moving the parade to the evening was a change welcomed by most.

Although the attendance was not as large as in previous years, the parade will remain in the evening and the festival will add more things, she said.

Those could include adding ”a 5K or getting booths and other exhibits to the other historical sites around town,” Beasley said. “It’s special, it’s a community and it’s the hometown experience. People come out and they value where they live.”

Parade judges Madonna Wise, Erica Freeman and Amanda Eskelund picked the winner of this year’s parade, with Kids Corner winning Best of Show. Rounding out the other parade awards were Zephyrhills High School Marching Band for Best Walking Unit; Zephyrhills Little League, Best Costume; Zephyrhills Sanitation and Utilities, Best Vehicles; Zephyr Airport Cadet Squadron of the Florida Wing, Civil Air Patrol, Best Club; and West Zephyrhills Elementary won Best Theme.

Candidates vying in the municipal election also took part in the parade, on car or truck floats, tossing beads and other trinkets. Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley was there, too.

AdventHealth, Shireman Pest Control, Red Feather Home Group, the City of Zephyrhills and Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency sponsored the event.

Published March 15, 2023

A Zephyrhills couple dances at the Clock Plaza in historic downtown on Fifth Avenue, to the sounds of the Time Travelers during the Annual Founder’s Day Celebration on March 4. Festivities ran all day, with vendors up and down Main Street and a parade later in the evening.
The color guard team of the Zephyrhills High Marching Band leads the way down Main Street during the Founder’s Day Celebration Parade on the evening of March 4.
Sandra Vogelpohl, a member of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, has a good laugh while in full costume prior to the Founder’s Day Festival Parade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Spina rides in a car float to promote his bid for the Zephyrhills City Council Seat 2, which he is challenging Alan Knight for in the municipal elections being held April 11.
The Zephyrhills High Marching Band made its way down Fifth Avenue, playing music and performing with its color guard unit during the 112th Founder’s Day Festival Parade on March 4.
Andres Mujica, of Tampa, sends a big shot during a life-sized game of beer pong outside of A.O.K. arcade on Fifth Street in historic downtown Zephyrhills during the Founder’s Day Festival on March 4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zephyrhills resident Josh Larramore dances with his daughter, Bellamie, while listening to the Time Travelers during the 112th Founder’s Day Festival on March 4.
A Zephyrhills couple dances at the Clock Plaza in historic downtown on Fifth Avenue, to the sounds of the Time Travelers during the Annual Founder’s Day Celebration on March 4. Festivities ran all day, with vendors up and down Main Street and a parade later in the evening.
Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer tosses beads to spectators while walking in the Founder’s Day Festival Parade on March 4.

Working in tandem for 40 years

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Bill Morissey is the mayor of Skydive City.

He doesn’t wear a sash to that effect, but it’s evident when the longtime, now retired, skydiving instructor walks the grounds at the adventure-seeking staple in East Pasco.

Even with an 82 Airborne hat pulled down low, and large Aviator sunglasses covering his face and distracting from his large, gray handlebar mustache —  everyone at Skydive City recognizes this 84-year-old Zephyrhills man.

Zephyrhills resident Bill Morissey isn’t just a fixture at the world-famous Skydive City — he’s a legend in the world of skydiving. He helped to develop tandem skydiving, a technique that allows an experienced skydiver to jump out of a plane, strapped to an inexperienced diver throughout the jump. Now, tandem skydiving, the standard for the recreational skydiving experience for novices, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. (Mike Camunas)

They stop what they’re doing — packing shoots or watching jumpers land — to greet a living legend.

Humbly, Morissey shakes their hands, or high fives them before a quick chat.

“Not a lot of people can say they’ve jumped with a legend,” said Chelsea Hylton, of Tampa, whom Morissey has taken a shine to. “And, when he does talk to me, it’s not even about jumps — it’s about what’s going on in my life. That means a lot that someone like him takes the time to ask.”

“I mean, I’ve known Bill since I was 6 years old,” said Cam King, manager of Skydive City. “To me, he’s just Bill, but, yeah, he’s a legend and he’s walking around here in Zephyrhills. It’s hard to put into words what he did for the sport.”

That’s because Morissey is one of the “fathers” of tandem skydiving.

An idea from the sky
It was 1975 and Morissey was talking to his friends, Gloria and Pete Chace.

They were recounting how they tried a tandem jump — a skydive from 15,000 feet out of a Cessna 206, with the two strapped together.

Bill Morissey, 84, stands in the landing field at Skydive City in Zephyrhills, watching as divers come in from a jump. Morissey, a resident of Zephyrhills, helped develop the tandem skydiving technique in 1983. He’s a retired longtime tandem instructor, but he still makes jumps and has tallied more than 7,300 jumps so far. (Mike Camunas)

Gloria wanted to jump, but had no experience. Pete didn’t have much more experience, but agreed to it by sharing the harness and Jerry-rigged a chest strap extender by cutting out a seatbelt from the plane.

It wasn’t the most pleasant of jumps, but the couple survived.

Gloria told Morissey all about it.

“I got so excited about (a two-person parachute apparatus) and I wanted to tell someone about it,” Morissey said. “Luckily, I knew Ted Strong.”

Strong was a parachute manufacturer and owner of Strong Parachutes Inc., based out of Orlando.

It would be seven years before the two friends would get together, after Morissey’s marriage ended in New York, in the early ’80s.

The two friends met at Chi-Chi’s Restaurant in Orlando, with Strong sketching an idea of the two-harness tandem system on the back of a placemat. The idea was to have an experienced instructor attached to a student jumper.

“He said, ‘As long as we have an instructor with a student in the harness, we’ll never lose another jumper,’” Morissey recalled. “And then he gave me a big hug because he was so excited.”

Strong, who Morissey called “a real genius” when it came to building rigs, put together the new harness.

Bill Morissey, left, and Ted Strong, right, gear up and strap together in one of the early tests of tandem skydiving in 1983. (Courtesy of Jen Sharp)

On Jan. 15, 1983 in Eustis, Florida, Strong completed a tandem skydive with Ricky Meadows, who helped sew together the parachute.

In October 1983, Strong took Morissey out on a couple jumps in his tandem rig, which was a work in progress. Strong then hired Morissey to be the first-ever tandem instructor and examiner — just after two tandem jumps.

“I really had to figure this (new system) out — on how we were going to do it,” Morissey said. “Because it was not as smooth (a jump) then as it is now, for pretty obvious reasons.”

Coming in drogues
Morissey learned the hard way that the tandem system still needed perfecting.

In November 1983, while at the Turkey Meet at Skydive City, in front of hundreds of other skydivers, Morissey made his third tandem jump, this time with Anibel Dowd, a licensed jumper

However, in the early days of the tandem rig, parachute openings were extremely hard due to the extra weight of the jumpers and faster freefall speeds. On this jump, Morissey and Dowd saw significant damage to the parachute, with all but two of the lines to the canopy breaking and attachment rings stretched into an oval shape.

Morissey had to pull the ripcord to the reserve chute.

“I’m not a religious person, even though I was raised Catholic, but here we are and the parachute exploded. So, I looked up to God and said, ‘If you get me out of this one, I promise to be a good boy,” he said.

Bill Morissey coming in from a jump at Skydive City in Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of Jen Sharp)

A higher power must have been listening, because the reserve opened and both jumpers, while injured, still walked away from the hard landing.

“After that, Ted started putting drogues on the tandem rigs,” Morissey said.

A drogue parachute is designed to deploy from a fast-moving object, similar to what is seen to slow down large planes. Adding this to the tandem system proved to be another one of Strong’s genius moves.

In late 1984, after test after test now employing the drogue, Morissey did a test tandem jump with Jon Stark, another experienced jumper, who is now the director of aviation maintenance at Skydive City.

Jumping from 14,000 feet, Morissey and Stark had a freefall that felt as natural as it would be for a single jumper.

“We were blowing parachutes up and hurting people and it really wasn’t pleasant,” Stark said: “It was exciting, trying new things, but we didn’t know what was going to hurt us or kill us. It was all experimental at that time, but the drogue experiment proved to be the right one.”

Bill Morissey, center in black cap, stands with Skydive City crew and jumpers on Jan. 15, when the center celebrated the 40th anniversary of the tandem skydiving technique. (Courtesy of Brina Berge)

Jumping around the world
After other modifications, such as moving the handles for better access to the instructors, tandem skydiving was invented and, by 1986, it was gaining popularity.

Morissey became the go-to instructor for tandem. He traveled the world demonstrating and teaching it. He even became the person who decided that for someone to become a tandem instructor, it would require a 10-jump certification though the U.S. Parachute Association (USPA), the governing body that issues skydiving licenses.

“We would have discussions about how we should teach (tandem), and I’m not saying we just made it up as we went along, but thought that was a good number (of jumps) and that’s what USPA approved,” Morissey said.

Tandem skydiving would be a game changer in the industry. It would bring in hundreds of thousands of people to the sport, allowing an adventure seeker to jump from 13,500 feet, just like the many of the annual visitors at Skydive City.

Morissey would be one of the foremost tandem instructors until he retired from Strong Enterprises Tandem Jumping in 2000. During that time, he taught more than 650 tandem instructors and 113 tandem examiners, and made more than 3,300 tandem jumps.

Zephyrhills resident and retired tandem jump instructor Bill Morissey looks over a jump pack that is designed for a tandem jump, allowing for two jumpers to be strapped to each other for the entire descent. Morissey helped develop the technique 40 years ago. (Mike Camunas)

“Ted Strong deserves every bit of the credit,” Morissey said humbly. “But, yeah, I guess we did (change skydiving) to, a little bit, of what it is today and what you see here (at Skydive City). Certainly, when we started doing it back (in 1983), we weren’t thinking about how it would.”

Legend of the freefall
Tragically, Strong died in a skydiving accident in 2011.

When Morissey recalls his longtime, dearest friend, tears well up in his eyes behind those Aviator sunglasses.

“He was a beautiful, wonderful man,” Morissey says in a low, mournful voice.

However, nothing — not his friend’s death, retirement or age — has stopped Morissey from jumping out of planes.

With more than 7,300 jumps under his chute, Morissey jumped at Skydive City about a month ago and doesn’t plan to stop ever since getting hooked on it as an Army paratrooper in 1959.

Morissey, or D-516 — which is a skydiver’s license level and call number — estimates he still does nearly 100 jumps a year.

So, the 2016 International Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame inductee will continue to be mayor of Skydive City, for as long as he can pack his own chute and get on a plane to take him thousands of feet above Zephyrhills.

“I can remember my first jump like it was yesterday,” Morissey said. “I still get a thrill out of (skydiving). A jump last week or last month is still as exciting as it was in 1959 or in 1983. I know that’s never going to go away.”

Published March 08, 2023

A budding business on the grow

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Chris Fennell is a kid who actually likes to eat his vegetables.

The 11-year-old enjoys growing his vegetables, too.

“I like these vegetables!” the sixth-grader at Pine View Middle admitted freely. “They just taste great and they were pretty easy to grow — so I like eating these ones.”

Land O’ Lakes resident Chris Fennell, 11, tends to his crops of microgreens, as he sells them roadside in his neighborhood, Wilderness Lake Preserve. Fennell, a sixth-grader at Pine View Middle, decided to start growing microgreens as a do-it-yourself project, especially since he liked how these vegetables taste. Then, he decided to create a small business, BabyGreens. With his entrepreneurial spirit, he’s thought of everything — from creating a website, to promoting the business on social media. (Mike Camunas)

He also loves selling the microgreens he grew himself for his now budding business, BabyGreens. It started as just a do-it-yourself project thanks to YouTube videos. But Fennell, who lives in Land O’ Lakes, turned it into a small business — complete with a website, a logo, business cards and even promoting himself on social media.

“Before this,” his mom, Amber, said, “I didn’t even know what a microgreen was, so I had to do a little research of my own, and then come to find out they’re easy to grow and very healthy and surprisingly tasty.”

Selling the veggies was her son’s idea.

“But we were very surprised by him coming to us with the whole business plan,” she added. “He made a website, business cards, a logo, had a business plan, wanting to get a credit card machine that worked on the phone — he had everything done and ready, like he was pitching it to an investor.

“And he figured that out all on his own.”

Microgreens are “baby” versions of certain vegetables and contain 40% more nutrients. Not to be confused with sprouts or shoots, they are harvested very soon after sprouting, rather than after the plant has matured to produce multiple leaves.

Chris Fennell grows all the microgreens himself, out on the patio of his Wilderness Lake Preserve home in Land O’ Lakes (Courtesy of Chris Fennell)

They are used as a nutrition supplement, a visual enhancement, and a flavor and texture addition. Microgreens are used to add sweetness and spiciness to foods, such as salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers and pizza.

Fennell grew microgreens of broccoli, radish and sunflower, then set up shop in the back of Wilderness Lake Preserve for potential customers to sample and buy.

Using a two-tray watering and growing system, it took Fennell about two weeks to grow his first batch.

“I saw some videos about growing them and thought it was really cool, and I knew they tasted really good, so I was thinking about growing them just to eat them,” he said. “But I also saw that people were selling them and making a lot of money, so I came up with the idea and asked my mom and started a business.”

The sixth-grader is a straight-A student, interested in science (he’s thinking about becoming a marine biologist, one day), so he’s always looking to experiment with new projects. He’s even in accelerated science classes, so when he starts high school, he’ll already have a high school credit.

Chris Fennell, 11, meticulously trims the microgreens he grew himself. He then weighs them and packages for the small business he established, by himself. It’s called BabyGreens. (Mike Camunas)

He embraces the healthy lifestyle, especially as a kid who has undergone two major surgeries before he was even 5 years old. He had open-heart surgery at age 2 and brain stem surgery at age 3.

“He’s more into books and science and learning and always has been,” Amber said. “As an A student in advanced classes, he’s just killing it and absolutely making his mother proud.”

Fennell’s first business display on Feb. 18 went well, with several residents stopping by to taste samples and some purchasing a container of BabyGreens. 

“People are really interested,” he said, “and a lot of people want to know what they are and how they taste on certain things.

“Everyone definitely likes trying them!”

People can give the tiny veggies a taste on April 1, when Fennell will be one of the vendors at Rosebud Continuum’s Spring Plant Sale. Fennell says there are more than 100 microgreens that can be cultivated. His next crop will include corn, peas, salad mix, arugula and wheatgrass.

He expects them to be a hit.

“I think once people try them, they’ll like them,” he said.

“It just takes one sample.”

BabyGreens
Where: Wilderness Lake Preserve neighborhood in Land O’ Lakes
Details: Chris Fennell grows microgreens sprouts and sells them out of his house or on special side-of-the-road displays on the weekends. Fennell, 11, next will be at the Rosebud Continuum’s Spring Plant Sale, 22843 Hale Road, in Land O’ Lakes, April 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring various local vendors.
Info: Visit BabyGreens.my.canva.site, call 727-687-0753, or email . Follow BabyGreens on social media on TikTok: @BabyGreens_business or on YouTube: @BabyGreens5.

Rosebud Continuum’s Spring Plant Sale
When: April 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: 22843 Hale Road, in Land O’ Lakes
Details: Fruit trees, fresh herbs and vegetables, local honey produced by bees at Rosebud, free tree grafting demos and more will all be on sale and display at this event featuring various local vendors.
Vendor space still available.
Info: Email or visit the Facebook event page at www.facebook.com/events/595648001932925.

Published March 08, 2023

Single-handedly throwing her own way

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Dani Kanas only needs the one arm.

To throw the javelin, to train, to drive a car, to go to school.

This is how she lives her life.

Dani Kanas is a senior javelin thrower for the Steinbrenner High in Lutz, but her journey started on the other side of the world. Kanas, 17, was abandoned at a train station as a baby, then taken to an orphanage, where an infection required the amputation of her arm. After being adopted and brought stateside, she took up field events at age 8 and it spurred a love for the sport. In November, she competed in the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) World Games in Portugal, where she won a gold medal in javelin. (Mike Camunas)

“I just feel like an athlete,” the 17-year-old Steinbrenner High track and field thrower said. “There are times where I’m thinking I’m not able to do this or do certain workouts, but I am able to adapt — because you don’t always have to do it like everyone else. There’s a way to do it that works for you.

“I was able to find this sport and I’m so glad I did.”

She’s been successful in throwing the javelin, the discus and shot put.

Kanas has been so successful, she was selected as one of 30 athletes to represent Team USA in the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) World Games. And on that world stage in November, in Portugal, Kanas did not disappoint.

She brought home three medals — a gold in javelin, a silver in discus and a bronze in shot put.

“It was a different experience because I’m used to being in the states,” Kanas said. “It was such a cool experience to see what it was like competing against people from different countries, and I enjoyed meeting other adaptive athletes from the states there, so it was a great experience to get to travel there and compete.

Dani Kanas also competes in the shot put and the discus. She brought home a silver in discus and a bronze in shot put from the IWAS games.

“Bringing back a medal was great, too!”

Javelin to the top
When Kanas was just a baby, she was abandoned at a train station in China.

She was rescued and taken to an orphanage, but an infection developed in her left arm, requiring amputation for her to survive.

She was adopted and brought to the states when she was about 18 months old.

As she grew older, she joined in all of the same games and activities as her able-bodied peers. She tried various sports, such as soccer, that didn’t require the use of both arms, but then attended an adaptive track and field camp until she was 8.

Once she had the chance to throw a javelin, the rest was history.

Dani Kanas hasn’t decided which college she will be attending, however, will go on a scholarship to programs such as Michigan or Alabama, both of which have adaptive sports and athletes.

“When I was younger, I thought my amputation was going to limit me, but as I started to compete, you learn that as an adaptive athlete, you kind of learn that it’s just another competition — no matter what.

“I was playing soccer at the time and just saw all these people at my school doing those things and I just thought that I would never be able to do certain things that other kids were doing,” she added.

“But now I’ve grown used to competing with able-bodied athletes.”

Besides competing in adaptive track and field competitions, she also competes for Steinbrenner against able-bodied student athletes from neighboring schools and teams. She is given no advantage, yet still holds her own, including taking the javelin event in the Steinbrenner Invitational this season.

Dani Kanas, a senior javelin thrower at Steinbrenner High, says she always wears her prosthetic while competing, as it helps with balance. She hopes to advance out of the district tournament in her final high school season.

“It takes a tough mindset to shrug all that off and compete against regular kids,” said Steinbrenner’s throwing coach Andre Washington, a 2016 grad and former thrower himself. “You see that in Dani, that there’s the want — it’s a want mindset — ‘I’m not going to let this one arm take anything away from me. I’m going to go out there and give it my all and win.’ … She thinks of herself as a regular person — which she is — and it’s her determination to be great that has gotten her to where she is today.

“(Her throwing with one arm) — blows my mind. It’s an incredible thing to watch.”

Ably determined
It’s hard not to notice Kanas’ determination, her drive, her desire to compete at the level she knows she’s capable of. It’s also hard not to notice that a one-arm thrower — wearing a prosthetic for some balance — is out there competing at a high level, already carrying around international medals.

“She’s one of our top throwers — obviously,” Steinbrenner’s longtime track and field coach Ladd Baldwin said. “She can throw for her size, too, because you’re not going to be wowed by her size — she’s not a big kid, at all, but her form is incredible and that’s what helps her to compete.

“She’s been wonderful here (at Steinbrenner) and she’s a great thrower — she’s just one of those kids who loves it and gets it.”

Her passion to compete is creating new opportunities, as collegiate adaptive sports programs in Michigan and Southern California have offered her scholarships. Kanas, however, is leaning toward an offer from Alabama.

“I never thought that would be a possibility,” Kanas added.

The possibilities are endless for this determined, yet still fully abled thrower, who can reach all those, and her goals, even with just the one arm.

“My goal is to show others — who may have a similar story to mine, who may be in a similar situation as me — that they shouldn’t let their disability stop them.

“I want to, and hope,” she continued, “I inspire them to go out and compete. I want them to know that this community (of adaptive athletes) exists and they shouldn’t just assume they can’t do it because they’re not able-bodied.”

Published March 08, 2023

Local youth track stars shine at championships

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Seth Williamson, of Tampa Christian School, was crowned state champion in the 200 meter and long jump and finished second in the 60 meter. (Courtesy of B.B. Roberts)

Numerous athletes from Speed Starz Track Club — a track speed, agility and training academy in Wesley Chapel — qualified for the Florida Indoor Championships and competed at Alachua Sports Complex, a new indoor track facility in Gainesville. The event was held Feb. 11 and Feb. 12.

Several athletes from Wesley Chapel performed well, with some winning medals.

Wesley Chapel Elementary athlete Aiden Amaya was state champion for the 60 meter and the 200 meter, in the division for athletes age 6 and under.

Seth Williamson, of Tampa Christian School, was crowned state champion in the 200 meter and long jump. He finished second in the 60 meter.

Wesley Chapel High athletes Adriana Rodriguez (qualified for finals in the 600 meter), Tessa Bray (eighth in the 400 meter) and Georgina Amaya (ninth in the 400 meter). Wiregrass Ranch High’s Victoria Flemming placed 13th in the 60-meter hurdles.

Tiffany Colin, also from Wiregrass High, qualified for finals in the 60-meter dash with seventh overall fastest time.

Freedom High’s Jaya Harrigan placed 19th in the 60-meter dash, while 12-year-old Ethan Rosson, of North Tampa Christian Academy, placed third in the 3,000-meter run.

“I was very impressed with the outcome and I believe all of our athletes competed well,” said B.B. Roberts, the club’s coach, in a news release. “Congrats to Tiffany Collin and Adriana Rodriguez for making it to finals in a very competitive high school division. Tiffany has proven to be one of the fastest athletes in Florida. Special congratulations to Aiden Amaya and Seth Williamson for (becoming) state champion in their age group.”

For more information on Speed Starz Track Club, visit SpeedStarz.webflow.io.

Aiden Amaya, of Wesley Chapel Elementary, was crowned state champion in the 60 meter and 200 meter.
Adriana Rodriguez, of Wesley Chapel High, qualified for finals in the 600 meter.
Victoria Fleming placed 13th in the 60-meter hurdles.
Tiffany Colin, of Wiregrass Ranch High, qualified for finals in the 60-meter dash with the seventh overall fastest time.

Chasco golf tourney 

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The annual Chasco Fiesta Golf Tournament is set for March 30 at 2 p.m., at Seven Springs Golf & Country Club, 3535 Trophy Blvd., Trinity. Cost is $550 per foursome, and the tournament will include raffles, contests, dinner and more. To register, visit tinyurl.com/4cjzsak5. For more information, contact 727-842-7651 or .

Autism virtual event

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The Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources department encourages county-wide residents to lace up their sneakers and commit to move 42 miles during Autism Awareness Month, which is April. The idea is to raise awareness about autism and to foster acceptance, and inclusion to persons living with autism.

The charge for the virtual event is $20. Participants sign up just walk, run, cycle — just move — for 42 miles during April.

To participate, register online at secure.rec1.com/FL/pasco-county-fl (Look for the P.A.I.R. tab), log the distance and then submit the Google form by May 6. A finisher’s award will be mailed to those who meet the criteria. 

For questions, call 727-494-4878.

Turtle Trot 

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Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources department will host Angela’s Turtle Trot, an event dedicated to those that have been impacted by COVID-19, on April 22 at 8 a.m., at Anclote Gulf Park, at 2305 Bailies Bluff Road in Holiday. The race is dedicated to Angela Fagan, whose life was cut short due to complications of the virus. Fagan was the Communications and Outreach Program manager for the department and played a key role in numerous community projects.

There will be a 10K, 5K and 1-mile trail run/walk, with the 10K being $40, the 5K is $25 and the mile run is $15. To guarantee a race medal and T-shirt, register by April 4; there is a price increase March 18. The course will take runners down Coastal Anclote Trail, through the trails of Key Vista Nature Park,and over boardwalks that offer a view of the Gulf of Mexico. It is 85% paved trails/boardwalks and 15% hiking trails.

Proceeds of this event will benefit the Angela Fagan Memorial Fund for adaptive and inclusive recreation (PAIR) and the Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center.

To register, visit tinyurl.com/5n6ennyt. For more information or any questions, email or call 727-494-4878.