Local News

Museum seeks help for maintenance costs

May 25, 2021 By Mary Rathman

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village’s Blanton Packing House has termites and will have to be tented in the coming weeks to resolve the issue. The nonprofit is asking for donations to help cover the cost.

The open-air museum in Dade City includes Overstreet House, a one-room schoolhouse, a church, a train depot, a train engine, and a museum exhibition of tools, household items, antiques and farm equipment.

The museum hopes to show that “the men and women who were here before us, struggled, made do, and sometimes won and sometimes lost their battles with nature. In essence, they were people much like us,” according to its website.

Donations can be made online through PayPal at tinyurl.com/ypywc8ns, or by mailing a check to Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, P.O. Box 335, Dade City, FL 33526-0335.

Published May 26, 2021

Pasco board considers road priorities

May 18, 2021 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will be identifying its list of priority projects at its June 10 meeting.

The list includes projects that are included on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) from 2022 to 2027, which includes projects that are funded and those not yet funded.

The list also includes projects that are not part of the TIP, but are considered to be priorities by the MPO, which is responsible for updating the priority list, which in turns provides guidance to the Florida Department of Transportation, in developing its developing its tentative work program.

During a workshop session, MPO Executive Director Carl Mikyska explained: “The first year of the TIP is actually part of the proposed budget. That means the Legislature has actually adopted the list of projects.

“At this point, the budget has been passed by the Legislature. I do not believe it has been signed by the governor.

“While years two through five are considered for planning purposes, you can consider them to be fairly solid planning. A project in year two is likely to then advance next year into the first year and be part of the proposed budget. DOT has to work on a cash flow basis. If their cash flow rises or falls, due to fluctuations in the economy, you may see minor changes to it.

“DOT does not put projects in year two, year three, etc., that they do not intend to advance forward,” he said.

“Projects in the TIP include Florida DOT projects, as well as our local projects, and this is a federal requirement.

“The projects cover the whole gamut from safety, all of the way down to capacity improvements,” Mikyska said.

“Those projects are based on our priorities here at the MPO, as well as the ones for the region,” he said.

Mikyska identified some of the significant projects that are included in the five-year plan.

Within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, these include:

Significant projects

State Road 52, from east of U.S. 41 to Ehren Cutoff

“Construction is scheduled in 2026. Right of way is in there from Ehren Cutoff to Bellamy Brothers Road, and while we do note that construction is not funded, I do note for our board that the DOT does not purchase right of way for projects they have no intention of building.

“I would anticipate that that would appear as a construction project in one of future TIPs.

State Road 52, at North 21st Street, from Church Avenue to Suwannee, in Dade City

A roundabout is scheduled for construction in 2026.

State Road 52, at College Avenue/Pompanic

A roundabout is scheduled for design/build in 2023.

Resurfacing projects

State Road 52 from Meridian Avenue, from west of Storch Lane to U.S. 98/U.S. 301, in 2022
U.S. 301 to Hillsborough County line, south of State Road 39, in 2023
State Road 54, from U.S. 41 to Knights Road, in 2023.
U.S. 41, from the Hillsborough County line to Bell Lake Road, in 2023

Lighting projects

U.S. 301, from Tucker Road to Pretty Pond Road, in 2024
State Road 56, Willow Oak Drive to The Shops at Wiregrass mall entrance, 2023
State Road 56, at The Shops at Wiregrass entrance to Meadow Pointe Boulevard, 2023

Pedestrian and bicycle projects

State Road 54, from west of Mitchell Place Plaza entrance to Marathon Drive — a complete streets project, in 2023
School Road, from Community Center to U.S. 41 — a multi-use path, 2026
Orange Belt, in 2025

Those were just some of the highlights, Mikyska said, noting the projects range from aviation to planning.

MPO board members raised some questions about projects that are part of the list, but not necessarily in the order they’d like to see them in.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said she’s disappointed that the roundabout planned in Dade City is not expected to be constructed until 2026.

“We were told, not too long ago, that we were looking at a 2024 date.

“I just found out from staff yesterday that it was moved from 2024 to 2026 for construction,” Hernandez said.

The planned roundabout in St. Leo/San Antonio is equally needed, Hernandez said; she just wishes the one in her community had not been pushed back.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey asked if it would make sense to do the Meridian roundabout sooner than the one at College Avenue and Pompanic, which is slated for 2023.

However, a staff member of the DOT told the MPO that the shift to 2026 was related to design and right of way issues.

Starkey offered an optimistic thought: “When the Clinton Avenue extension opens, maybe we’ll see a drop in the traffic there. So, maybe that will help a little bit.”

Starkey also asked: “Did you show the 54/41 (State Road 54/U.S. 41) fix anywhere on here?”

Jensen Hackett, of FDOT, told Starkey the project is partially funded for right of way through 2025.

It is not yet clear how FDOT will proceed at that intersection, he added.

“I believe that they’re waiting for a couple of the traffic data to come in,” he said.

Starkey said that intersection needs to be addressed.

“That’s of great interest to everybody in the county,” she said.

Starkey added: “Of course, we think that when Ridge Road opens up, that will eliminate some of the suffering down there.”

Starkey also asked about the status of the design for an overpass that is planned at State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway.

Tina Russo, of the MPO’s staff, told Starkey: “We’re finishing up the preliminary design.”

In addition to the TIP, there’s also a long list of priority projects that do not yet have an identified source of funding.

Published May 19, 2021

Hillsborough Schools avoid state takeover

May 18, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Hillsborough County Schools will avoid a state takeover of its finances through the state’s agreement to provide a lump sum payment of $101 million in federal relief dollars.

Hillsborough Schools Superintendent Addison Davis and School Board Chair Lynn Gray held a joint news conference to announce the news and to talk about how the school district goes forward from here.

Hillsborough County Schools Superintendent Addison Davis

Davis said the release of the Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) II funds, coupled with district cost control strategies, create an opportunity to move forward on solid financial footing.

He said the lump sum payment will allow the district to transfer some of its COVID-19 expenses — to free up some of its general fund dollars.

It also has allowed the district to meet the state’s fund balance requirement to avoid a financial takeover by the state — a prospect that has loomed large in recent months.

“This year has caused a lot of angst,” Davis said, noting that feeling of unease has been pervasive throughout the district at all levels, and within the community.

The district’s dire financial prospects prompted massive cuts.

“We started out around 1,600 positions that we thought we were going to have to cut in the spring. But after working with our school leaders, looking at master schedules, we drilled that all of the way down to around 715 positions that we had to cut,” Davis said.

While the district is trimming a sizable number of positions, the vast majority of employees will be retained — through attrition, retirement or transfers to new assignments.

As of last week, there were still 95 individuals who had not been placed, but the district continues to look for potential opportunities, Davis said.

“I do believe that the 95 number will potentially go away,” he said.

Besides reducing positions, Davis said the district has taken other cost-cutting measures.

For instance, it has sought ways to leverage federal funds, reduced overtime and renegotiated contracts, he said. Through its steps, it has recouped $55 million since January.

The district needs to make sure it has systemic reviews looking forward and uses organizational controls to ensure it doesn’t face the same financial problems in the future, the superintendent said.

Board Chair Gray put it this way: “Now, with the ESSER II dollars, we can stabilize our fund balance. We want to assure our community that the district is taking swift action to solve this financial emergency.

“Our goal is to be transparent throughout the entire process, with all of our stakeholders.

“To this end, we will be forming a financial advisory committee,” she said.

Davis said he and his staff and cabinet will take furlough days, but said district administrators — unlike previously planned — will not be furloughed this year or next.

While reducing expenses, the district also needs to boost revenue, Davis said.

To that end, it intends to ramp up its marketing — particularly of the district’s magnet programs — to entice more students to take advantage of the district’s offerings.

Increased support is essential, too, he said.

“We have to continue to galvanize as a community to push our local legislators, and also legislators throughout the state. We’ve got to continue to ask for additional funding in education,” Davis said.

Published May 19, 2021

Pasco seeing tourism gains, road improvements

May 18, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

Tourism is ramping up in Pasco County and considerable roadwork is underway, too, to make it easier for motorists to get around.

Those were the main messages delivered by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore at a meeting of the East Pasco Networking Group.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore was a featured guest speaker during an April 27 East Pasco Networking Group meeting at IHOP in Dade City. (Kevin Weiss)

Moore, chairman of the Pasco County Tourist Development Council, described how well the 98,000-square-foot Wiregrass Sports Campus of Pasco County has been performing, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sports complex, at 3211 Lajuana Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, has been attracting youth and amateur sporting events year-round since its August 2020 opening.

The indoor space can accommodate up to 17 different sports — including basketball, volleyball and cheerleading, or pickleball, futsal, wrestling, mixed martial arts, karate and others.

This widespread flexibility has seemingly been put to good use, with weekdays set aside for residents and weekends generally reserved for large-scale tournaments that can become family affairs, as parents and siblings road trip together.

Moore observed the complex is “constantly full.”

“Every single weekend there is a tournament there where people are coming from somewhere else,” he said. “There’s weekends where we get over 2,000 room nights for those tournaments. So, what happens? Hoteliers are obviously happy, supplying those jobs for our hotels. Those small businesses, restaurants, retail, gas pumps – everybody’s benefiting when you bring those people here.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore expressed optimism about the county’s tourism future, given amenities such as the 98,000-square-foot Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, in Wesley Chapel. (File)

Moore also pointed to AdventHealth Center Ice, which has continued to be a major draw since opening in January 2017, at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

At 150,000 square feet, it’s the largest ice sports facility in the southeastern United States, with four full-size rinks and one kid-size rink.

It’s regarded for being the training grounds of the 2018 U.S. women’s national hockey team that went on to win an Olympic gold medal in PyeongChang, South Korea.

“The ice rink is incredible,” Moore said. “They have tournaments on the weekends, international tournaments, and people coming from Canada, South America, people coming from over in Europe to literally play hockey right here at Center Ice.”

Moore posited that such youth, amateur and community-focused facilities can yield very similar — if not greater — economic impact as a major professional sports franchise, such as the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which plays eight regular season home games, plus a few preseason and postseason contests.

“Those (facilities) have just as large of an impact as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing on Sunday, when you think about how many people are (cumulatively) traveling for those events, and especially when they’re every single weekend.

“Personally I think it’s so much better to have these types of facilities than a pro sports team, because it’s a year-round benefit for the businesses in Pasco County, not just eight times a year or 10 times a year.

“These people, they’re traveling with their families, too. These kids aren’t typically driving on their own, their whole family’s coming (to Pasco).”

Moore addressed a number of roadway infrastructure projects, like the State Road 54 widening from east of Curley Road to east of Morris Bridge Road in the Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills areas. (File)

Moore addressed other recreational and tourism developments, as well, such as the ongoing construction of a visitor’s center/bike hub in the heart of downtown Dade City, across from the Roy T. Hardy trailhead, at the corner of Church Avenue and Eighth Street.

The $250,000 project — expected to be complete in June — was funded by the county’s tourist development tax dollars.

The amenity is set to further motivate beginner and avid cyclists alike to stop in Dade City.

It also may serve as a driver for more organized road cycling races to the surrounding East Pasco area, too.

“We know how big biking is in this area,” Moore said. “You’ve got people coming from all over the country to Dade City, to ride those hills.”

Further on the tourism and recreation front, Moore mentioned an 18,000-square-foot indoor recreation center at Wesley Chapel District Park will be complete in July. The public-use facility will offer programming for basketball, volleyball and other activities for all ages. There’s meeting room space for clubs and other organizations, also. “That’s going to be beautiful,” Moore said of the forthcoming center.

Regarding road construction, Moore pointed out that many of the roads that traverse the county are state roads — and a considerable amount of work is being done to improve those roads.

Among them are construction projects on State Road 52, State Road 54, and an interchange improvement at State Road 56 and Interstate 75.

There’s also a new diamond interchange that will include a flyover ramp for westbound Overpass Road access onto southbound I-75.

To accommodate the new interchange, Overpass Road will be widened from two lanes to four lanes between the interstate and Old Pasco Road, and six lanes between the interstate and Boyette Road. Blair Drive will be realigned to connect with Old Pasco Road. McKendree Road will be realigned to connect with Boyette Road.

The $64 million design-built project aims to provide more relief to other exits off I-75, Moore said.

“When you think about people living in Dade City and San Antonio, and coming and living in that area, they’ll be able to get off that new overpass interchange and go right through Epperson Ranch and Connected City, and get right into Dade City, if they don’t want to take the next Dade City exit.”

Moore added the project’s contractor, The Middlesex Corporation, “is moving really fast,” with an estimated completion of summer 2023.

Meanwhile, the commissioner mentioned the county has another $6 million in state funds to support connection and widening projects along the U.S. 98/U.S. 301 corridor.

These “important” roadway upgrades should help alleviate freight truck traffic and allow for the movement of goods without jumping major highways, he explained.

Combined with the proximity to the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, CSX Transportation Railroad, and an emerging light industrial manufacturing hub, the roadway plan “really helps when you think about the economy in this area,” he said.

Published May 19, 2021

New 122-unit subdivision proposed off Old Pasco Road

May 18, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Victorious Life Assembly of God Inc., is seeking a rezoning that would allow 122 single-family homes on 41.80 acres on the east side of Old Pasco Road, about 250 feet south of Overpass Road, in Wesley Chapel.

The request seeks to change the zoning from agricultural to a master-planned unit development.

Both the Pasco County Planning Commission and county planners have recommended approval of the request during the planning board’s April 22 meeting.

As part of the rezoning request, the applicant asked for variations from the county’s land development code.

The applicant is seeking a variation of a requirement to landscape the neighborhood park according to the county’s landscaping and screening requirements. Instead of placing a buffer around the perimeter of the park, as required, the applicant has suggested planting landscaping with the park.

The park, according to information in the planning board’s agenda packet, “will be designed to have an open feel and be visible from the residential development across the streets for safety purposes and aesthetics. The design will create an open feel so that it brings the community together and provides greater safety for the residents.”

The applicant also asked to decrease the required size of the park from 1.20 acres to 0.70 acres. That request is tied to a negotiation with the county for a smaller park, in exchange for dedicating an additional 1.23 acres of right of way needed for the future widening of Old Pasco Road, noted Tammy Snyder, a county planner.

She also noted that Wesley Chapel District Park is a large park, within walking distance from the proposed subdivision.

However, Planning Commissioner Peter Hanzel took issue with the request for a smaller park — noting that would shortchange residents within the subdivision. He also disputed the rationale citing the location of Wesley Chapel District Park as a justification for creating a smaller park within the neighborhood.

“How does that benefit the residents that are going to live there? It doesn’t,” Hanzel said.

He also questioned the notion of people from the neighborhood walking to Wesley Chapel District Park. He cited distance and safety concerns.

“I find it difficult to have adults or children walking Old Pasco Road, especially in the future, because it’s going to become a four-lane road eventually,” Hanzel said.

Hanzel also said fencing is needed to separate the neighborhood park and the pond on the site.

“This size park, which I would refer to as a kiddie park, you would assume there would be some type of barrier between the park and the pond,” he said.

It’s needed to keep young children, who are often attracted to water, from getting into the pond, he said.

Representatives for the applicant agreed to add fencing, to increase the park size from 0.70 acres to 0.90 acres and to add an amenity package at the park.

With those added conditions, Hanzel made a motion for approval, which was seconded, and the board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the rezoning and conditions.

The request was next scheduled to be heard at the Pasco County Commission’s meeting on May 18, which was after The Laker/Lutz News went to press.

Published May 19, 2021

Solar farm proposed in Zephyrhills

May 18, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Tampa Electric Company is seeking permission to proceed with a 74.5 megawatt solar farm and substation, north of County Line Road and east of Paul S. Buchman Highway.

The request is part of the company’s long-term strategy to build a grid that is reliable and meets its customer’s needs, according to a March 20 letter the utility company sent to some Pasco residents.

The letter is among materials in the agenda packet for the May 6 meeting of the Pasco County Commission.

Tampa Electric, otherwise known as TECO, is seeking a special exception from the planning board to proceed with its plans.

Planning commissioners opened the hearing on the request, but continued it after the representative for the utility company had technical problems in making a remote connection.

One couple, who live in an area surrounded by the proposed solar farm, voiced opposition to the project. They said they’re concerned about potential — as yet unknown — impacts the solar farm could have on their health.

In its letter, TECO officials said “If all goes well, we hope the solar facility is complete and producing energy from the sun in 2023.”

The county allows solar farms as a special exception in some agricultural districts.

The proposed solar farm would be located on a 576-acre site that now contains the Palm River Dairy Farm and some single-family dwellings, according to materials in the agenda packet.

The site is in the southeastern portion of unincorporated Pasco County.

The future land use designation on the site is for residential and light industrial uses.

The current use of the site is for an active dairy farm, and as pasture for dairy cows and cattle.

The proposed solar farm will use film photovoltaic (PV) panels that absorb sunlight and directly produce electricity, the agenda materials say.

The solar farm will encompass approximately 95 acres of the total site, but the panels will be situated at different locations on the land, according to maps in the file and meeting testimony.

Access to the property is from Bay Avenue.

The subject site is located next to Martin Marietta Materials, which uses are aggregate transfer facility, asphalt plant, rail spur, aggregate sorting and conveyance system, storage yard, sales and operational offices.

The solar farm will be unmanned and will be remotely monitored.

The maximum structure of the photovoltaic panels, supports, substation building, and any other structures shall be 15 feet. A lightning mast and the utility equipment located totally within the substation site may exceed this height, provided they comply with the additional setbacks of the county’s land development code.

Conditions for approval, contained in the agenda packet, spell out minimum setbacks, buffering requirements and noise regulations.

Also, before approval of the preliminary development plan and/or preliminary site plan, the applicant shall provide a decommission plan for the site, which may be reviewed and approved by the county administrator or his designee.

If the applicant ceases operations or the solar farm no longer works properly or is abandoned, the applicant is responsible for decommissioning the solar farm within 180 days.

The decommissioning shall include the removal and disposal of all material and equipment, in a manner that is consistent with industry standards and practices.

The site also shall be restored to the condition that existed immediately following the initial site clearing and grading, the agenda materials say.

Published May 19, 2021

Those fully vaccinated rarely need masks, CDC says

May 18, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

President Joe Biden announced last week that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had issued new guidance on the wearing of masks, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Biden said those who have been fully vaccinated, in most cases won’t need to wear masks — whether indoors or out, in large crowds or small.

Specifically, the CDC’s updated guidance says:

Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
Fully vaccinated people can refrain from testing following a known exposure unless they are residents or employees of a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter.

CDC prevention measures continue to apply to all travelers, including those who are vaccinated. All travelers are required to wear a mask on all planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations, the CDC’s website says.

Those who are not fully vaccinated are encouraged to continue wearing masks, to avoid becoming infected by COVID-19, or spreading it to others, CDC officials add.

While there has been a downturn in the daily number of people getting vaccinated, use of the Pfizer vaccine has been granted emergency authorization for those ages 12 to 15.

The CDC’s latest guidance comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order lifting restrictions imposed by local governments, with the exception of school districts.

The public schools districts in Pasco and Hillsborough counties both announced they would keep the mask mandate until the end of the school year.

Private businesses can decide whether to retain or drop their mask requirements, and so far, the response has been varied.

Also, while the pace of vaccinations for adults has declined, efforts continue to reach out to those who are hesitant about being vaccinated to answer their questions and address their concerns.

While fewer children have been infected by COVID-19, the CDC does recommend vaccination for everyone age 12 and older to help protect against COVID-19.

Published May 19, 2021

Request seeks mixed-use project in Land O’ Lakes

May 18, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Efforts are underway to obtain regulatory approvals to proceed with a mixed-use development at the southwest corner of Roaches Run and Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, which also is known as U.S. 41.

The request calls for changing the land use designation from commercial to planned development on approximately 35 acres.

It also calls for a text amendment to the long-range plan.

The master-planned unit development for the property is proposed to have a Land Use Equivalency Matrix (LUEM) to allow the exchange of the approved retail for the other approved land uses, according to agenda background materials.

The use of the matrix will ensure there is no increase in the project traffic with the exchange of land uses.

The requested land use change calls for allowing up to 275,000 square feet of retail, as well as these uses: office/medical office; health care-related uses; light industrial; distribution; multifamily; single-family attached residential; senior retirement/assisted living; aggregate home and public/institutional uses.

As part of its request, the applicant has agreed to establish a minimum development potential for non-residential uses along U.S. 41 to ensure non-residential uses are protected. These are not permitted to be exchanged for other uses, within the proposed LUEM.

Surrounding uses to the site are Walgreen’s to the north; a vacant office to the south; The Groves, San Jose restaurant and Publix to the east; and wetlands and agriculture to the west.

There also is an existing trail along the east side of Land O’ Lakes Blvd, extending from Tower Road to Connerton Boulevard.

The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of the requested land use change and text amendment.

The request was set for consideration on May 18 by the Pasco County Commission, which is after The Laker/Lutz News went to press. The county board has the final jurisdiction on land use and zoning issues.

A companion rezoning request also has been filed, which also must be considered by the planning board and also gain approval from the county board before it could take effect.

Published May 19, 2021

Local photographers win big at state fair

May 18, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Members of the Land O’ Lakes Photography Club claimed a half-dozen awards in the Florida State Fair’s annual contest.

This photo, by Lillian Cucuzza, won first place in the Color-Animals (Wildlife) category. She calls it ‘Sunrise Dip’ because the photo captures an American Avocet taking a drink in the early morning sunrise.

The prize-winning photographers shared their photos with The Laker/Lutz News.

Creative competitions have been part of the fabric of the fair since its beginning in 1904, according to the fair’s website.

“Competitors from every corner of the state have pushed the boundaries of innovation as they battled it out for the blue-ribbon prize in quilting, baking, painting, or other skills. That tradition continues today as our youth and adult artists & crafters, bakers, woodworkers, horticulturalists, needle artists, photographers, and more bring their best work to be judged at the fair,” the website adds.

This year’s fair was held April 22 through May 2 — delayed year because of concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published May 19, 2021

This image of a colorful array of umbrellas by Velma Herrig captured an honorable mention in the category of Color-Still Life & Things. It was taken in a Safety Harbor art shop that had decorated its ceiling with colorful umbrellas.

This photo, by Allen Craley, won first place in the Color-Scene (Land, Sea, Sky-scapes) category. It depicts a dramatic scene at an agricultural landscape off Route U.S. 301, in rural southern Maryland. The photo was taken last summer.

This photo, by Susan Hill, took home the first place award in the Color: Pets & Farm Animals category. It shows two canine brothers, Charlie, on the left, and Buster, demonstrating some good old-fashioned sibling rivalry as they spar over a toy.

Velma Herrig won an honorable mention in the Black&White-Scene (Architecture & City Scapes) for this photograph of Egg Rock Lighthouse. It was taken at Bar Harbor, Maine, during a boat tour around the bay and Acadia National Park.

George Capaz captured this image of the Amargosa Opera House Hotel, in Death Valley Junction, California. Capaz won third place in the Color-Scene (Land, Sea, Sky-scapes) category.

These gentle alpacas seem to enjoy posing for pictures

May 18, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Those traveling to the Sweet Blossom Alpacas open house in Dade City, had plenty of chances to be photographed with alpacas and take photos of the animals, too.

Just to prove that alpacas only have bottom teeth, Ms. Helen, left, a 15-year-old Huacaya, shows off her bottom occlusion, while standing with Cali, an 8-year-old Suri alpaca. (Fred Bellet)

There were also chances to feed and pet the alpacas, and go shopping for yarn, roving, hats, scarves, gloves, shawls, slippers and other items made from alpaca fiber.

People of all ages seemed to be having fun, while getting a look at quite a collection of alpacas and llamas at Sweet Blossom Alpacas, 37543 Pappy Road in Dade City.

Those gathered could also learn about the animals, could treat themselves to a wide assortment of sandwiches from a food truck, and simply enjoy an outing with the family.

Admission was free, but donations were welcome.

For more information about the farm, visit SweetBlossomAlpacas.com.

Published May 19, 2021