Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Molly McGowan

Imagine the excitement of a beginning writer finding out her work is being published in the quintessential children’s magazine, Highlights for Children. Now picture her realization that her track record for publication is already better than most authors, since the story appearing in Highlights was the first one she ever submitted.
Lutz author Susan Banghart is already off to a promising start, as one of three 2010 Highlights for Children’s annual fiction contest winners.

Banghart’s short story, “The Fog Lifts,” is based on a family tale and focuses on a young girl who moves with her family from the city to Florida’s countryside and struggles to adjust to rural living.
The young protagonist’s daily obstacle is steering herself and her younger brother through a maze of cows to get to the school bus stop. In the story, the girl bravely pushes through her fear of the cows, but in reality, Banghart said it was her brother who was the bravest one.
Banghart said that when she was about 12, she and her family moved from St. Petersburg to her grandfather’s old Florida farmhouse in Bushnell. His “cracker house,” as Banghart called it, “butted up against a huge cattle ranch” through which she and her younger brother had to navigate.
“It was intimidating walking through those cows every morning,” Banghart said of the large Brahma cattle. “We walked through them as quietly as we could. And sometimes they’d be there in the afternoon, too.”
A relatively new author, Banghart feels very fortunate to have achieved success after only two and a half years of writing. With a bachelor’s degree in studio art from the University of South Florida, she originally focused her creative energy on artwork and did portrait work for 15 years, but when Banghart and her husband adopted two rescue dogs, their rambunctious nature made it difficult for her to continue painting.
Banghart said that she still had ideas and stories tumbling around in her head and said, “Out of frustration I just put them down.”
From there, she began writing stories set in Florida and gained inspiration from other local authors. Banghart has lived in Lutz off and on since 1996 and said, “I’m a fourth-generation Floridian. I’m really partial to Florida writers, Southern tradition … and the way Southern authors draw you in.”
Banghart’s pride for her state is reflected in what she writes, and hopes that her readers – including the children who will read her winning story – will be inspired to learn more about Florida.
“Aside from the message of ‘we all have fears to conquer and we have those times when we feel like we don’t fit in,’” Banghart said she hopes young readers will be encouraged to learn more about their own states and their histories.
In addition to having her story published, Banghart had the choice between a prize of $1,000 or tuition to the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop. According to Highlights Fiction Editor Joelle Dujardin, the weeklong conferences in Chautauqua, N.Y. draws people from all across the United States, and even a few from out of the country.
Banghart said she chose the prize money because the timing of the workshop just didn’t work out for her this year, though she will attend the retreat eventually. “I’ve heard so many good things [about it],” she said.
Due to planning issues far in advance, “The Fog Lifts” will remain in Highlights’ story inventory and, according to Dujardin, would be published in 2011 at the earliest.
Meanwhile, Banghart has a book for young adults in its final revision stage and is preparing to submit it to agents. The book is about a 15-year-old girl who lives in a world of her own imagination and who becomes immersed in the lives of a recluse and his Irish Wolfhounds. Banghart said that being a new writer can be daunting in today’s world.
“It’s very scary, especially now that there are publishing houses closing right and left,” Banghart said. “But I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
For more on Susan Banghart’s writing, artwork and photography, visit her website at www.susanbanghart.com.

Excerpt from “The Fog Lifts”

Sarah scanned the fog-shrouded pasture.
“Are they out there?” Ethan’s voice shook.
“I can’t see anything in this fog,” Sarah grumbled. The rusty hinges on the wire gate creaked as she stepped from the safety of their yard. She strained her ears, but the fog muffled sound. Sarah and her little brother crept through the grass to the dirt road fifty feet ahead.
Suddenly a huge gray shape lumbered out of the mist.

By Suzanne Schmidt

The Garden Café in Dade City is a quaint place to enjoy a lunch of made-to-order salads, soups and sandwiches.
Melanie Yates opened the restaurant two years ago in what was once a car garage. She said she tries to keep that authentic charm while making it a nice dining experience.
“I started using the phrase ‘it is more than just lunch,’” Yates said. “We have china and linen napkins. It is a nice classy atmosphere.”

The focus is on quality of food and service.
“We make sure people get friendly service and that the food gets out on time,” Yates said. “We make everything fresh to order, but we also make the effort to get people in and back out so they can get back to work on time.”
She said she loves coming up with creative new dishes.
“I am very passionate,” Yates said. “I have a lot of ideas I am still working on. Right now the menu is pretty basic with homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. I try to revamp the menu every six months. I add a lot of things to the menu when I get a lot of customer requests for it.”
Yates said she also tries to cater to people with special needs.
“I try to have a vegetarian soup every day and we also have vegetarian items on the menu,” Yates said. “We don’t have a gluten-free menu, but we do have lots of items that are gluten free and we are working on getting more. We also try to accommodate customer’s requests like if someone has a food allergy.”
For people with pets, the outside seating area is dog friendly. The restaurant has dog treats and water bowls for the dogs.
One of the things Yates is hoping to do something about is Dade City’s lack of entertainment options. She said she already has a violin player on Friday at lunchtime. Currently she is only open at lunchtime, but she is hoping to start serving dinner with entertainment soon.

“There is not a lot to do in Dade City in the evening,” Yates said. “It is my goal to come up with different dinner events like jazz nights. I want to have something for people to do. I am hoping to get more musicians and maybe do wine tastings or that sort of thing.”
Amy Costigan works at Wells Fargo across the street from the restaurant. She said she likes to eat the restaurant once a week.
“I like the variety and the freshness of the food,” Costigan said. “I like the atmosphere; it has an eclectic, warm feel.”
Scott Daigle also works at Wells Fargo. He likes to go to the restaurant once a month because it is convenient.
“I think it is cute and the food is always good,” Daigle said. “I always get something different and I haven’t been disappointed yet.”
It was the first time visiting the restaurant for friends Betty Kunkel of San Antonio, Sue Woods of San Antonio and Jo-Ann Markwis, a former Dade City resident. All three women said they loved it and would definitely be back.
“The flowering tea is fascinating,” Markwis said. “Everything looks so good, I just want to try it all. Everybody here is so friendly and the service has been wonderful.”
Sue Woods of San Antonio said she loved the food and the atmosphere.
“The fried green tomatoes were delicious,” Woods said. “Being here makes me think back to when this used to be a thriving garage. I like places like this.”
Kunkel said she cannot wait to come back and try more of the food.
“I think it is adorable,” Kunkel said. “I really love it.”
The restaurant is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and Sunday. The café also offers catering and free delivery to downtown Dade City businesses. For more information, call (352) 567-7277 or visit www.dineinthegarden.com.

Rice and Black Bean Salad

Prepare 3 cups of Uncle Ben’s Rice or preferred long grain rice according to package directions.  Rice should be soft and fluffy.  Let rice cool.

Finely chop following ingredients:
1 green bell pepper
1 large red tomato
1 medium red onion
1/3 bunch cilantro

Additional Ingredients:
¾ cup of crumbled feta cheese
2 cups of favorite dressing, preferably a vinaigrette or Italian

Add all of the above ingredients to cooled rice. Stir together and refrigerate.

By Maggie Schiller

The tanning industry has recently become the latest target of government regulation, as a 10 percent sales tax has been administered on all indoor tanning services.
Effective July 1, this initiative is part of the funding for the $940 billion health care overhaul, and is projected to earn $2.7 billion over the next 10 years, as reported by the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.
Those new tax dollars, though are taking their toll on profits at area salons.
“Has it affected me? You bet it has, a bunch,” said Rocky Sellers, owner of Tropic Tan in Lutz. “High school and college kids that were my regulars, coming in three times a week, I don’t see anymore.”

Originally, this 10 percent “vanity tax” was accompanied by a 5 percent tax on cosmetic surgery. However, after heavy lobbying from the medical and dermatology industries, the “bo-tax” which would have included Botox injections, breast implants among other elective surgeries, was nixed from the plan.
Rebecca Herman, owner of Tan Lines in Wesley Chapel, said the tax is unfair to those working in the industry.
“Everyone is unhappy. It was supposed to be 5 percent, but the cosmetic industry is a billion-dollar industry and they fought against it,” she said. “Many salons are owned by working-class women who are trying to make ends meet.”
According to the guidelines from the IRS, the tax will apply to electronic products designed for tanning that use one or more ultraviolet lamps with wavelengths between 200 and 400 nanometers. Other tanning methods, such as spray tan, will not be subject to the tax.
At Tan Lines, Herman said that one tan in the basic bed costs $8. With the new tax, the price is $8.80. A basic monthly-unlimited package is $45 dollars, with the increase pushing it to the brink of $50, Herman said.
In a statement by the Indoor Tanning Association, it is reported that the tax will jeopardize thousands of jobs at the nations 18,000 tanning salons, as well as the 10 percent of the population that indoor tans.
Sellers said that nearly 60 percent of his clientele cannot afford the extra 10 percent.
“When you are selling a basic $45 a month package, it is now going to become $45, plus 10 percent more,” he said. “My clients range from high school and college kids to retirees in their mid 80s. The tax hits college kids who are trying to pay their tuition and work two jobs and just want to look good and feel good.”
But who are among some of his other patients?
“I’ve got doctors and nurses from the medical field that come in here,” he said. “Yet, that is where we capture the misconstrued facts.”

Along with doctors putting out false information to clients, Sellers said the notion that indoor tanning is unhealthy is not based strictly on scientific research, but influenced by the media pushing the idea into everyone’s head.
“There is an incredible percent of people that don’t know the answer,” he said. “This tanning tax is based on the fact that indoor tanning is not safe and should be penalized.”
As far as the effects on her business, Herman said she is going to have to wait it out.
“We will see overtime. Hopefully it won’t scare anyone away,” she said. “People are more scared of what the media says than the tax.”
However, while tanning salons across the country are outraged, dermatologists anticipate the beginning of the regulation of tanning.
Dr. Sandy Martin, M.D. from the Center For Dermatology and Skin Surgery in Tampa, said that while the concept to dissuade usage of tanning beds is a good one, it is not enough.
“I am not sure if 10 percent tax is enough to dissuade young patients that are eager to appear bronzed,” he said. “The tax is a step in the right direction in trying to cut down tanning. Will it be effective? I am not really sure.”
Martin said the amount of patients he sees that admit to having gone indoor tanning is “frightening.”
Dr. Rick L. Moore of the Watson Clinic Dermatology at Zephyrhills said that according to the questionnaire he hands out to patients, more than 50 percent of female patients admit to having indoor tanned at least once in their life.
Moore said tanning should become better regulated in the future.
“My hope is that the tax will make people stop and think before using a bed,” he said.
For Sellers, banning indoor tanning altogether isn’t the answer. As a sign says on the front counter of his salon – it is about “tanning responsibly.”
“Indoor tanning is completely monitored by certified experts,” he said. “We consult patients for selective lotions and moisturizers, things you don’t have outside that nurture your skin in a nutritious way. Most people don’t understand how lotions work and how to apply them. Our job as consultants is to make sure we are helping people. They aren’t burning in our beds – it doesn’t happen.”
“It couldn’t be more healthy for you to use indoor tanning,” he added.

By Kyle LoJacono

Andrea Mason has been a member of the Rotary Club of Dade City Sunrise for five years and recently became the president of the group. She has also been in charge of the club’s membership and public relations.
She is married to Richard Mason, who is also a Rotarian. The club meets at 7 a.m. each Thursday. The Laker talked with Mason about her new role with the club.

Q: Why did you join Rotary?
A: The fellowship of Rotarians is something I witnessed and wanted to know more about. Seeing Rotarians hammering nails at a Habitat for Humanity house or packing food bags for needy children at schools were some of the notable places for me to see this camaraderie. Now staying up late at Relay For Life events or hawking peanuts at fundraisers are more places I get to enjoy Rotarian friends and families working together in service to our community…It is a privilege and honor to be a member of Rotary and to be able to make a difference in our world.

Q: What do you think of your past club president Karen Streaker?
A: Karen Streaker is a role model of tireless energy and service work productivity. She is always there to help and gives all of herself to the project or person who needs her. Karen is always positive, energized and always presents a “we can get it done” approach — and she does. If I can be half the president she is, I will be satisfied.

Q: What do you think of the Eastside 8 food program that combines the eight Rotary Club’s in central and east Pasco to help needy children?
A: What a great project. It fulfills a community need for people less fortunate than ourselves. It provides a place to bring family members along to help and begin to plant the seed of service in our youth. Best of all we join together to make more friends and enlarge the role of service in our community

Q: What are your plans for the next year?
A: Foster Rotarian friendships within our community, the Eastside 8 and the district. Increase membership so others may have the opportunity to have community friends and build greater service project…To increase funding and grant venture in order to grow the work of the club.

Rotary Club of Dade City Sunrise
Meeting time: 7 a.m.
When: each Thursday
Where: Kafe Kokopelli at the corner of Sixth Street and Meridian Avenue in Dade City
Phone: (352) 797-0638
Email:
Web site: www.dadecitysunriserotary.org
Anyone interested in helping with community service in the Dade City area is encouraged to attend.

By Kyle LoJacono

Cliff Martin has been in the Dade City Rotary Club for more than five years and he recently took over as the group’s president for the next year. He has also been a member of the Rotary’s board of directors for the last two years.
Martin is the vice president/general manager of Jarrett Ford Lincoln Mercury in Dade City. He is married to Joan Martin and the two have three children, Jackie, Chris and Craig.

The Laker talked with Martin about his new position with the club.

Q: Why did you join Rotary?
A: I joined because the great reputation Rotary has in our community and worldwide for service.

Q: What do you think of outgoing president Anita Howard?
A: Our immediate past president, Anita Howard, did a very good job during her year of service and will be a valuable member of my board of directors.

Q: What is your plan for the next year?
A: We are finalizing plans for the 2010-2011 year and have a number of exciting opportunities. We plan to grow our club, continue to support the scholarships as well as the numerous service projects we have been involved in for many years.

Q: Last year the club took part in several projects with the other eight Rotary clubs in east and central Pasco. Why does the Rotary Club of Dade City participate in Eastside 8 projects?
A: The Eastside 8 occasionally combines their people and resources to accomplish good things in our community.  There is always power in numbers and this is a good example of implementing this concept.

Q: How can people join the club?
A: New membership is a critical part of any organization and of course we are always looking for new members to continue to grow our club. We encourage anyone interested in joining to contact any member or e-mail me at .

Rotary Club of Dade City
Meeting time: 12:15 p.m.
When: each Monday
Where: Dade City Business Center’s John Hornbuckle Meeting Room, 14950 US 301 in Dade City
Phone: (352) 567-6254
E-mail:
Anyone interested in helping with community service in the Dade City area is encouraged to attend.