The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Pioneer Florida Museum will guide Dade City Christmas Parade

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Dade City kicks off its holiday season each year with the Magical Night Christmas Parade, an event that dates back to at least 1982.

It typically draws thousands of spectators, to see floats, entertainment acts, bands, vendors, seasonal displays and Santa Claus.

The annual Christmas shindig will press on, but under new guidance and leadership.

The Pioneer Florida Museum and Village now will host the downtown holiday event, instead of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

The parade is scheduled for Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., in downtown Dade City.

The Dade City chamber indicated it wanted to focus efforts on larger events, such as the signature Kumquat Festival, traditionally held the last Saturday in January, according to Pioneer Florida Museum executive director Stephanie Bracknell Black.

The decision to hand the Christmas parade off to the local museum came after Black recently met with Dade City Chamber executive director John Moors and city administration.

“It was just mentioned to us that the chamber was no longer looking to do the Christmas parade,” Black said.

“They were looking for someone else to take it over…and it just seemed like a good fit for the museum to go ahead and take it over,” she said.

The Christmas parade was canceled last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Attendees shouldn’t expect too much change from the typical holiday format, at least for this year, as the museum takes the reins so close to the date.

The announcement of the parade organization change came in an Oct. 20 press release from the museum.

Many volunteers who have previously worked on the parade with the chamber are expected to continue to assist the museum.

“We’re doing mostly everything pretty much the same,” Black said. “We’ve had the similar requirements and stuff that they had done in the past. It’s going to be the same. We’re going to try to keep it the same as it always has been. It’s worked in years past, so we’re going to go ahead and give it a try and keep everything pretty much the same.”

The official parade route will begin at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Fifth Street, head west on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/Seventh Street, south to Church Avenue, and then east to Fifth Street, in front of the local post office.

Simpson Lakes jumped aboard as the parade’s first sponsor and Grand Marshal.

Black, who lives in Zephyrhills, has brought her children and grandchildren to the event many times over, during the parade’s three-decade run.

She’s also been actively involved in the festivities, when she worked for Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County, which has had floats in the parade previously.

“I think everybody looks forward to the night parade,” she said. “It’s part of everyone’s Christmas tradition in this area.”

It’s customary for people to eat, shop and stroll the city’s downtown area hours before the event kicks off. Attendees also are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for the night’s showing.

Black acknowledged it’s tough to speculate about how many attendees are expected this year, with lingering pandemic issues, but she noted, “usually every year, it’s one of the bigger parades.”

The museum is currently accepting parade entry applications and other sponsors.

Parade entry applications are due by 5 p.m., Nov. 12.

Registration may close early if the parade entries reach the limited capacity of about 80 floats.

Black noted entries “seem to be coming in pretty quickly.”

The Pioneer Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the historic preservation and education of Florida’s pioneer heritage.

The museum is located a mile north of downtown Dade City, just off U.S. 301, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.

For more information, visit PioneerFloridaMusuem.org, or call 352-567-0262.

Dade City Christmas Parade
When: Dec. 10, at 7 p.m.
Where: Downtown Dade City

Published November 03, 2021

Warning to motorists: Watch out for loose cows

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Dr. Octavio Blanco has what may seem to sound like an unusual request.

He’s urging motorists who are traveling on State Road 54 — in the Lutz/Land O’ Lakes area — and along the Suncoast Parkway in that general area, to keep an eye out for loose cows.

Blanco is concerned that criminal activities on his property, 16543 State Road 54, in Lutz, could put drivers at risk.

His 100-acre property has been the target of thieves.

Stealing his things is one thing, Blanco said, but the criminals also are making it possible for his cows to get out — which could pose a hazard to unsuspecting passing motorists.

He’s got a herd of about 40 beef cows.

Blanco thinks it’s highly likely that if these crimes continue to happen, his cows will get loose and wander onto State Road 54 or the Suncoast Parkway.

And, if that occurs at night, it could prove deadly, Blanco said.

It’s not an imaginary fear, said Blanco, who recalls when he was a child he saw the aftermath of an accident when a Volkswagen ran into a cow and the people inside of the car were killed.

Blanco has alerted the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office about his concerns.

Amanda Hunter, public information manager for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, said, via email, that the law enforcement agency is continuing to investigate these cases.

It posted this information on the agency’s Facebook page on Sept. 21:

“Help Us Solve a Crime: On two separate days within the past two months, a suspect forced their way into a home and barn in the Land O’ Lakes area off SR 54 and stole the victim’s property.

“The pictured white male was seen leaving the victim’s property the day of first burglary and may have left with the dark colored minivan. The second burglary involved the black Ford truck with attached trailer. The male has a mullet hairstyle and a tattoo on left side of his chest.

“If you have any information on this case, or know the identity of the suspect, submit a tip to the Pasco Sheriff’s Crime Tips Line at 1-800-706-2488 and refer to case number 21027615 or 21033171. Please do not submit tips on social media.

On Oct. 13, it re-posted the original post, along with this additional information:

“PSO (Pasco Sheriff’s Office) detectives continue to investigate these incidents in the SR 54 area of Land O’ Lakes. This suspect also cut the victim’s fence which was holding in cattle. This crime is a felony under Florida statute. Livestock that escape can wander onto roadways and potentially cause crashes and endanger citizens.”

In her email to The Laker/Lutz News, Hunter also noted that the sheriff’s office has “spoken with the victim for these cases at length numerous times to address his concerns.

“The agency’s agricultural unit and its property crimes unit also has been in touch with him,” she said. They are working with him to install cameras to help solve the crimes, Hunter added.

While he would like to put an end to the burglaries, Blanco said his primary concern is to alert the public, to help avert a potential tragedy.

Published November 03, 2021

Zephyrhills festival celebrates fall

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Zachary Balogh, right, and his brother, drummer Caleb Balogh, left, make up the duo, ‘Kid Ambient Arcade.’ They played for a crowd at the Main Street stage at the Zephyrhills Harvest Festival. (Fred Bellet)

Throwing foam and Velcro hatchets, tossing bean bags, listening to music and enjoying refreshments were just some options available at the Zephyrhills Harvest Festival held on Oct. 23 in the East Pasco’s city downtown.

Three year-old Noah Sykes, of Wesley Chapel, dressed in a Chase Paw Patrol costume, seemed to get a kick out of an attraction that had festival-goers throwing foam and Velcro hatchets.

He accompanied his 4-year-old brother, Jayden Sykes, and their dad, Jason Sykes, the festivities.

Oscar Ramirez, of Wesley Chapel, was there, too, and he went home carrying a ukulele he bought from Giorgio Castaldi, of Lutz, one of festival’s many vendors.

Ramirez was with 4-year-old Valentino Neris, 14-year-old  Dereck Neris and 13-year-old Oscar Neris.

Numerous churches also were represented at the festival, which drew people from a wide variety of places, including Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lakeland, Zephyrhills, Odessa and Plant City.

Published November 03, 2021

A harvested pumpkin was among the seasonal decorations at the Church of The Nazarene booth, one of many churches represented at the Zephyrhills Harvest Festival. Grace Smith, top/right and her daughter, Bethany Smith, make their way down Main Street perusing booths.
Lining up some of his inventory of guitars is Giorgio Castaldi and his wife, Jackie Castaldi, of the Spanish Guitar Shop in Lutz. They brought a number of special guitars to the festival.
Five-year-old Alivia Parker, of Zephyrhills, is delighted with the balloon poodle made for her by Jan Monroe, a member of the Ladies Oriental Shrine.
Carolyn Krug, of Zephyrhills, shows off one of the many lighted glass blocks she crafted and filled with a string of LED lights, that are powered by a small battery.
Under the ‘Scentsy’ tent, stacks of scented wax await buyers, and 8-month-old Rasberri Harper keeps herself busy as her mother April Harper, her grandmother Virginia Anderson, and her aunt Ruth Clark serve customers.
Having their snapshot taken by Samantha Harmeson at the Zephyrhills Harvest Festival are Rosa, right, and Luz Trevino, of Zephyrhills. People who had their picture taken will find the photo in the email addresses they provided.
Lauren Masters, 3, of Plant City, sits on the lap of her great-grandmother, Lori Gay, as they make their way on Gay’s motorized chair, along booths situated on Main Street.
Three year-old Noah Sykes, of Wesley Chapel, dressed in a Chase Paw Patrol costume, admires the one (out of five) foam and Velcro hatchets that stuck to the target. He was at the Zephyrhills Harvest Festival with his 4-year-old brother, Jayden Sykes, and their dad, Jason Sykes.
Pete White, of Odessa, sits behind a sea of seasonal centerpieces on the table at Gigi’s Gifts, at the Zephyrhills Harvest Festival. White’s daughter, Gini Ruggiero, of Wesley Chapel, makes the home decor by hand.
Oscar Ramirez, of Wesley Chapel, carries a ukulele he bought from renown guitar-maker Giorgio Castaldi, of Lutz, one of many vendors at the harvest festival. Ramirez was with 4-year-old Valentino Neris, lower/center, and 14-year-old Dereck Neris, back/left, and 13-year-old Oscar Neris.
Barbara Stetson, of Zephyrhills, sets out a basket of Halloween candy under the tent of Marcie L. Baker, a Zephyrhills attorney — who also happens to be her daughter.

St. Leo commissioner recognized for 20 years of service

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From left, St. Leo Mayor Richard Christmas, St. Leo Commissioner Donna DeWitt, O.S.B., and St. Leo Mayor Pro Tem James Hallett, O.S.B. Each have been recognized with the Florida League of Cities’ Mayor John Land Years of Service Award, for at least 20 years of service to the Town of St. Leo. (Courtesy of Andrea Calvert)

St. Leo Mayor Pro Tem James Hallett, O.S.B., has been recognized by the Florida League of Cities for 20 years of service with the Town of St. Leo.

Florida League of Cities ambassador Eryn Russell presented Hallett with the organization’s Mayor John Land Years of Service Award, during an Oct. 11 St. Leo Town Commission meeting.

Named in honor of longtime Apopka Mayor John Land who served his city for more than 60 years, the award honors elected municipal officials for their extensive years of dedicated public service.

The award is presented to elected officials who have served for 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 years.

Elected officials are presented with a resolution and lapel pin recognizing their years of service.

Hallett marks the third currently serving St. Leo Commissioner to receive the award. Mayor Richard Christmas and Commissioner Donna DeWitt, O.S.B. were recipients in 2017, respectively.

Published November 03, 2021

Mixture of uses approved for intersections in Wesley Chapel Lakes

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a request for a mixture of uses at three intersections within the community of Wesley Chapel Lakes.

The project has been on the books for decades — and the board’s approval, during its Oct. 26 meeting, gives the developer the ability to pursue entitlements at the intersections of Meadow Pointe Boulevard and State Road 54; Meadow Pointe Boulevard and State Road 56; and Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Beardsley Drive.

The project is located south of, and adjacent to State Road 54, about 3.5 miles east of Interstate 75, and extending south to the Pasco County line.

The proposed uses will not generate more vehicle trips from the development than were previously approved and that have already been addressed through mitigation (which normally includes impact fees and/or transportation improvements), according to the agenda background materials.

Most of the residential component of the project has been developed.

The project originally was approved decades ago, as a Development of Regional Impact (DRI), which allowed an array of uses. In addition to agreeing to allow the developer to pursue entitlements, the county board also rescinded the original DRI.

The nodes had already been approved for commercial development; the change allows residential development, as well.

The property is not within the county’s current multifamily moratorium boundary.

The modification area includes about 166 acres. It calls for up to:

  • 850 single-family attached, townhome or apartment units
  • 420,000 square feet of commercial use
  • 150,000 square feet of office/light industrial
  • 700 hotel rooms

The request also seeks a variation from the county’s land development code to permit a reduction in the standard parking space size of 9-feet by 20-feet to a reduced size of 8-feet by 18-feet, with the condition that curbs and/or wheel stops will be required to prevent vehicles from overhanging required landscape buffers, or sidewalks, unless the sidewalk is 7-feet wide, to keep the sidewalk width at a minimum of 5 feet for pedestrians.

The request had received a recommendation for approval by county planners and from the Pasco County Planning Commission.

The county board approved the request as part of its consent agenda, meaning it was approved along with other items on a single vote, and there was no board discussion or public comment.

Published November 03, 2021

This Dade City festival paid homage to Monarch butterflies

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Cindy Smith, a recently retired Pasco County Schools art teacher and Land O’ Lakes resident, displays her craft business, Be Dazzled, at the festival. She specializes in handcrafted beaded and clay jewelry, as well as other unique items. (Kelli Carmack)

The Dade City Monarch Butterfly Festival celebrated a winged creature that is perhaps North America’s best-known butterfly.

The Dade City Garden Club and Dade City Youth Council teamed up to present the festivities, which took place on Oct. 23, at Hibiscus Park in Dade City.

Those wishing to do a little shopping could choose from native plants, handcrafted jewelry, pottery and other items.

There were educational displays and presentations on monarch butterflies, raffles and plenty of hands-on activities for the kids.

Dade City was proclaimed a “Monarch City USA” back in 2019. The designation refers to the city’s efforts to maintain the survival of monarch butterflies.

For more information about the Dade City Garden club, visit DadeCityGardenClub.com.

Note: See a short video with scenes from the festival at https://business.facebook.com/LakerLutzNews/videos/923321675272194/.

Published November 03, 2021

Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, a bakery in Dade City, was among many vendors at the festival. Owner Mary Katherine Mason offers free samples of some of her most popular flavors such as dark chocolate caramel pecan, chocolate chip and guava. Mason, a Dade City native, got into the spirit of the event by getting herself a butterfly face painting.
Betsy Krumsick is ecstatic getting her face painted by Gina Allison, owner of Gigi and Friends Entertainment, a party service that offered butterfly face paintings, complimentary of Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, at the festival.
A little girl pretends she’s a butterfly at the Dade City Monarch Butterfly Festival. The event had lots of opportunities, for young and old alike, to have a good time and appreciate the beauty of monarch butterflies.
Rebecca Norris, a teacher at Rodney B. Cox Elementary School in Dade City, volunteers as a stilt walker at the butterfly festival. She’s been experimenting in circus art for the past six years.

Pastor’s prayer request fails to gain traction

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Pastor Troy Peterson, who has been attending Pasco County Commission meetings regularly of late, asked the county board — at its meeting last week — to let him be in charge of the board’s invocations.

“Once again, I am here to address praying in Jesus’ name for the invocation,” Peterson said.

“I’ve been praying about this for quite some time,” said the Port Richey pastor, who also cited some scriptural verses at the podium.

“I don’t see any prayer or invocation with Jesus’ name in it. That’s why I’m here.

“What I’m asking is if the board would approve me, and a group of pastors that I would approve, if I could not make it, I would appoint somebody to come in that I know is going to pray according to the word of God,” Peterson said.

A couple of other speakers spoke in favor of Peterson’s request and another speaker spoke against it, noting that Pasco is a growing county, with Christian, Jewish, Muslim and people of other faiths.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder weighed in on Peterson’s request, by first providing some background on the issue.

“So, in September of 2003, the former county attorney was asked the question about invocations,” Steinsnyder said.

“That’s what led to what the clerk reads (at board meetings).

“The federal law, with regard to praying in county commission meetings, has not changed and in fact , one of your fellow counties on the East Coast has taken the case up. In 2019, the 11th Circuit affirmed all of the case law that basically says, you can’t have secular prayer.

“The Brevard County Commission was doing something very similar to what the pastor suggests, where they would have pastors, preachers, rabbis on call to come in and pray before the county commission.

“It was found to violate federal law.

“So, my advice to the board would be to continue the practice that you’ve adopted,” Steinsnyder said.

Since the speakers’ remarks came during the public comment portion of the meeting, the issue was not on the board’s advertised agenda.

Board members did not comment, and based on the county attorney’s recommendation, it appears that the board will not pursue the request.

Published November 03, 2021

Youths get a chance to learn about farm safety

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Youths gathered recently to learn more about farm safety, in a special Youth Farm Safety Day on Oct. 18, organized by the Pasco County CattleWomen’s Association. (Courtesy of Casie Holloway)

The Pasco County CattleWomen’s Association organized a Youth Farm Safety Day on Oct. 18, to gives youths a chance to learn about various aspects of farm safety.

Ninety-five youths from across Pasco County who are actively engaged in agricultural operations had a chance to learn more about safety relating to eight specific areas: animals, hand tools, wild animals, knives and machetes, tractors, lawn equipment, all-terrain vehicles and personal protection, according to Casie Holloway, president of the Pasco Cattlewomen’s Association.

Holloway provided information to The Laker/Lutz News regarding the CattleWomen’s special day.

Participating youths are involved in agricultural pursuits in a variety of ways, including FFA, 4-H, or by living on a farm or a ranch, according to Holloway’s submission.

The event was held at Bird Island Lake Ranch, in Dade City.

The Pasco County CattleWomen’s Association is grateful for supporters who made the event possible, Holloway noted.

The sponsors were Famous Tate Appliances; Pasco County Farm Bureau; Pasco County Cattlemen’s Association; Lowman Law Firm; Florida Wildlife Commission; and Everglades Tractor, in Odessa.

Published November 03, 2021

A large group of young people gathered recently to learn farm safety relating to several specific topics. The special day was organized by the Pasco County CattleWomen’s Association and was supported by a number of sponsors.

Internet outages are disrupting learning, union leader says

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The president of the United School Employees of Pasco (USEP) is calling upon the school district’s leadership to resolve internet outages.

“We’ve also been receiving numerous calls and emails regarding the district internet failures. Outages, many for long periods of time — sometimes daily — are occurring at schools, which have interfered with lesson delivery, data reporting and the printing of much-needed educational materials,” Don Peace, president of the union, told the Pasco County School Board at its Oct. 19 meeting.

“We have heard of a problem with the current provider and urge the district to make quick work of a solution, even if it means selecting a different provider,” Peace said.

“Internet disruptions do negatively impact learning in the classroom,” he added.

He also reiterated the need to reduce the amount of time teachers spend on data entry.

“As I’ve stated previously, USEP feels it is incumbent on district staff to look at ways to eliminate redundancy and paperwork — OK, data input — for our teachers.

“Where we can combine state and district mandates, we should.

“Teachers need not be clerical workers.

“We do understand the need for supportive data,” he said.

However, he added, “teachers are primarily tasked with delivering instruction to their students and that’s where the bulk of their time should be spent.”

Peace also touched on negotiations.

“Many significant decisions will be made in the upcoming weeks, including economic improvements,” he said. “USEP and district staff must be able to work together for the benefit of all.”

Published November 03, 2021

Pay early and save on taxes

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The Hillsborough County Tax Collector’s Office is reminding taxpayers to pay property taxes early to receive early payment discounts.

Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy C. Millan’s office issued a news release to remind property owners that discounts are available, when taxes are paid early.

Property tax notices were scheduled to be sent out on Nov. 1, according to the office.

“We encourage Hillsborough County property owners to take advantage of both the online payment options and early payment discounts,” Millan said, in the release.

“The earlier customers pay, the better the discount. If you pay by Nov. 30, you receive a 4% discount,” the release says.

It also notes that customers don’t have to visit an office to make payments. They can pay online and there are alternative payment options available.

If taxpayers choose to visit a branch to make a property tax payment, they will need to visit HillsTax.org, and click on ‘Save Your Spot In Line.’

Hillsborough County has over 560,000 parcels of property totaling about $2.4 billion in revenue for the 2021 tax season, according to the release.

Published November 03, 2021