Local News

New apartment project approved on State Road 54

October 30, 2019 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Commission has approved a project with 280 apartments and 49,500 square feet of commercial, on the north side of State Road 54, between Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Collier Parkway.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning request, with Commissioner Mike Moore objecting vociferously.

Attorney Clarke Hobby said a market study shows that Pasco County is not overbuilt with apartments. (File)

Attorney Clarke Hobby represented the A.G. Spanos Companies and the Aiken Trust on the request, which involves a 25.4-acre site, about 2 miles west of the interchange of State Road 56 and Interstate 75.

Both county planners and the Pasco County Planning Commission had recommended approval of the request.

During the Planning Commission public hearing, Hobby told that board that A.G. Spanos Companies has built more than 100,000 multifamily Class A apartments across the United States during the past 50 years.

The main access to the site will be from the intersection of State Road 54 and Oak Grove Boulevard, an existing signalized intersection.

The commercial portion is planned near the front of the property, to take advantage of the traffic light.

Objections were raised to the proposed rezoning during the Planning Commission meeting by some neighbors in the Twin Lakes community, but no one objected during the County Commission’s hearing.

“We got the consent of the adjacent homeowners and we did that by working hard,” Hobby said.

The attorney said his client has been working with the neighborhood and with county staff to improve the project.

The applicants agreed to provide a long access road to improve interconnectivity in the project, they reduced the height of the apartments and they created a large setback, Hobby said.

The attorney also noted that the project fits in with the county’s vision for the South Market Area, which calls for higher density, mixed-use development clustered around existing arterial roadways.

The idea is to avoid spreading out density like peanut butter, and instead create a true urbanized area, Hobby said.

Planning expert Kelly Love, director of entitlement planning at Clearview Land Design in Tampa, also spoke on behalf of Hobby’s clients.

“The plan is for the South Market Area to evolve from a suburban bedroom community development pattern, with inefficient utilization of land, to one which incorporates verticality, density and urban form,” she said.

“The Aiken mixed-use amendment before you today, contributes to this land use evolution.

“We’re trying to put the density, the mixed-use and the connectivity in an infill development, which has transit right at its front door,” she said.

And, while Moore has consistently voiced opposition to the proliferation of apartments being developed in the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor, Hobby said that a market study was done and it shows that Pasco County’s multifamily is not overbuilt.

“Our overall renter percentage ownership compared to other suburban or urbanized areas is very low. We’re at roughly 22.5 percent; Manatee is at 27.8; Hillsborough is at 40.

“So, we are way below everyone else. We are in a healthy market. There’s a demand there. We’ve got a great project. We’ve got a great builder,” Hobby said.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore wants to stop continued approvals of new apartments in the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor.

But, Moore reiterated his objections.

“It’s no secret about my disdain for the amount of apartment complexes that are going up along the 54/56 corridor, especially east of Collier Parkway up to Bruce B. Downs,” Moore said.

“My concern is that what this board is doing and continuing to do, along with what previous staff members have done with the South Market Area, is you’re going to be very disappointed, 10, 15, 20 years down the road,” he said.

He then rattled off a list of 13 apartment developments within a 5-mile radius.

Moore also said the residents and business owners who live within the area “are sick and tired of apartments on (State Road) 54 and (State Road) 56. It’s a fact. I hear it all of the time.”

When people come to Pasco County and head on State Road 56, they see apartments, Moore said.

“The market might be good right now, but you’re saturating the market in that one small section. This county is big. It’s a very large county. If we keep putting them up in this area, we’re going to pay for it,” the commissioner predicted.

He asked his colleagues to take another look at the county’s comprehensive plan and policies in its South Market Area to address the issue.

“We’re rezoning and rezoning and rezoning, to allow MF (multifamily),” Moore said. “When is enough, enough?”

Other commissioners appeared open to having a workshop session to take a closer look at the issue, but when Moore mentioned the possibility of a temporary moratorium until that can be worked through, he found no support.

A temporary moratorium, Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said, would be “pretty drastic.”

“You’re seeing all of this density here because the market needs it. We have 100 people moving to Pasco a day. Where are they supposed to live?” Starkey said.

There are also people who are downsizing and people who can’t afford to buy a house, she said.

Still, she added, “I don’t mind taking a look at it to see, ‘What is that right number?’

“And, we purposely put density on the (State Road) 54 corridor to save us from sprawl, right, and to allow one day to support transit,” Starkey said..

Commissioner Mike Wells said he agrees that the board needs to take a look at the issue.

At the same time, however, Wells noted: “I think the market decides, not us.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano said, “We were trying to avoid sprawl. Do I think that we’re getting what we thought we’d get? I will say, no.“

He thinks there are “way too many apartments.

“I would much rather see us take another look at this. Condos would be a lot better. Fee-simple townhomes would be a lot better. I want people invested in their community,” Mariano said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley agreed that the board should hold a workshop to take a closer look.

At the same time, commissioners said they want to take a look at the county’s mobility fee incentives and discuss which categories should receive them.

No date has been set for that workshop yet.

Published October 30, 2019

Loving hands lift up men in need

October 30, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

When Gustavo Cabrera arrived at the Loving Hands Ministries campus in Dade City, he had no idea about the kind of impact it would have on his life.

His path to the ministry began while he was in Miami.

He had taken up with bad company there and was implicated in a robbery.

The staff and residents of the Loving Hands Ministries, in Dade City, stand in front of a portrait of the organization’s founders, Wendell and Nancy Wilson. The ministry also has another location in Palmetto. (Brian Fernandes)

After the incident, he began a spiritual quest to get his life in order and came across a pamphlet about Loving Hands Ministries – a program that relies on the study of Scripture, to help men get their lives back on track.

After his two-year stay on the Dade City campus, he went on to graduate from Southeastern University and is now a minister helping to build churches.

Loving Hands Ministries has two campuses. One is in Dade City and the other is in Palmetto.

Marshall Walker is program director for the Dade City campus.

He, too, went through the ministry’s two-year program.

“The reason it’s become successful for me — and I believe for all the men — is that it’s a spiritual regeneration,” Walker said.

The program requires the men to spend several hours each day studying the Bible.

Walker described himself as a struggling drug addict when he moved onto the Dade City campus.

Building a relationship with Jesus and getting away from worldly distractions changed him, Walker said.

“Sin is fun for a season, but then after a while, it’s not fun anymore,” Walker said.

Loving Hands Ministries was founded in the 1980s by Pastor Wendell Wilson and his wife, Nancy, who wanted to help men like Cabrera and Walker.

Pastor Wilson had led a number of different churches throughout Florida, but after ministering to men on the street and in jails, he felt compelled to do more, said Kim Dodson, his daughter and current president of the organization.

In 1982, the Wilsons opened their Bradenton home to men who were struggling with addiction or other issues — and encouraged them to redirect their lives.

The Wilsons opened the first campus of Loving Hands Ministries in 1984 in Bradenton. That ministry later relocated to Palmetto.

The Dade City campus opened in 1992. It now has five buildings for living quarters, a dining area, a gym and a food storage area. There’s also a recreational facility and a basketball court.

And, the foundation has been laid there for a new chapel. It will provide the men more room for their spiritual work.

Men come to the ministry in different ways.

Some are court-ordered; others join voluntarily.

Some travel from different parts of Florida. Others, from different states.

Some learn about the program when they’re in the hospital, or in jail, or at a church.

The two-year program keeps the men productive — with cooking, daily chores and several hours of Bible study daily.

Through such responsibilities, the men can discover their gifts, Dodson said.

She put it like this: “We teach these men that their life matters and they’re created by God for his purposes, and to be used daily to serve someone else.”

During the second year of the program, the men begin to learn how to minister to each other on campus.

They also visit churches to share their testimonies — hoping to reach others who can benefit from the ministry.

Occasionally, they get away, too, for deep sea fishing, to watch the Tampa Bay Rays, or to enjoy other outings.

Those who graduate from the program, like Walker, have the chance to build careers at their respective campuses.

Some have gone on to higher education. Some are now businessmen, or ministers.

Loving Hands Ministries relies on individual, community and church donations, and occasional fundraisers, such as yard sales, golf tournaments and banquets.

In fact, it is planning to celebrate its 35th anniversary with a banquet on Nov. 21, at the First Church of the Nazarene in Zephyrhills. David West, of Making a Difference Inc., will be the keynote speaker.

Dodson noted: “All these years we’ve never charged a man or their family.”

As her late father used to say: “You can’t put a price on a life.”

Even though her parents have passed away, Dodson wants to continue their vision, with plans to branch out to South Florida.

“Overall, we’re just so blessed with the success rate,” Dodson remarked.

“In the end, it’s the change that takes place in a man’s heart that really changes him,” she said.

To find out more about the organization, or the banquet, visit LovingHands.net or call Marshall Walker at (352) 523-1399.

Loving Hands Ministries banquet
When: Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: First Church of the Nazarene, 6155 12th St., Zephyrhills
Cost: Free admission, suggested minimum donation of $200 for a party of eight
Details: The organization is celebrating its 35th anniversary, with a fundraiser to support its work.
Info: To RSVP and donate online, visit LovingHands.net, or call Marshall Walker at (352) 523-1399.

Published October 30, 2019

Dade City has location for downtown splash park

October 30, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

The Dade City Commission has approved a land purchase that may finally bring a splash park/bike hub to the city’s downtown area.

The city has targeted a 2.23-acre parcel that borders the Hardy Trail on Eighth Street. The property, at 3772 Church St., is owned by local businessman Otto Weitzenkorn.

This is a preliminary concept plan for a splash park/bike hub in downtown Dade City. The recreation project calls for a multi-use water splash pad, bike-share shelter, amphitheater, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible playground, open space, and concession area and other amenities. (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

The real estate’s 2018 appraised value is $1.168 million, but city officials say the Weitzenkorn family is willing to sell it to the city for $800,000.

At their Oct. 22 meeting, commissioners voted 4-1 to proceed with the purchase. Commissioner Nicole Deese Newlon dissented.

The city has until the end of the year to close the transaction per terms of the presale agreement, according to City Attorney Thomas Thanas. An onsite inspection, suitability study and new appraisal will be needed, too, he said.

City leaders have discussed building a splash park/bike hub for the past few years.

Finding an ideal location had been another matter, until the Weitzenkorn family approached the city in August.

A preliminary concept plan for the recreation project calls for a multi-use water splash pad, bike-share shelter, amphitheater, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible playground, open space, and concession area and other amenities.

Dade City Manager Leslie Porter indicated during the meeting the city plans to use reserve funds and Penny for Pasco revenues for the land acquisition, then apply for a series of Community Development Blocks Grants (CDBG) to fund park amenities. Pasco County Tourist Development also has allocated $250,000 for the recreational project.

Porter said the splash park project “has a lot of possibilities to take Dade City to the next level.”

Commissioners concurred the initiative can help revitalize the downtown business district while offering another recreational outlet for local youth, residents and visitors.

Commissioner Jim Shive said “it’s time to start thinking outside the box, bringing some things here to make things lively for the downtown and help pick up things.”

Commissioner Scott Black called the project “a good investment.”

Black added: “I think it’s something that future generations will appreciate the foresight that we had in doing this. It will be a really nice complementary to our downtown area, and I think that’s going to be a great thing.”

Mayor Camille Hernandez likewise supported the project as a community asset and possible tourism draw.

Hernandez said the project falls in line with the city’s ethos of building a healthy and age-friendly community.

“This is huge for Dade City in so many ways,” she said. “This will definitely help us to promote our business district, to help our CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) and to do all those things that we need to do.

“I believe this is another thing that will help to bring people here for our festivals, for our downtown, our community markets and all those other events,” the mayor said.

In casting the sole negative vote, Newlon said she’s a proponent of a splash park, but she expressed several reservations about the discussed property and project in general.

Newlon said she was “very concerned” the city would be tapping into reserves to pay for the Weitzenkorn property. She also pointed out the parcel contains a house with asbestos, which the city would be responsible for removing — therefore increasing the project cost.

She estimated the splash park/bike hub project could cost more than $2.5 million to $3 million, and added “that’s probably a conservative number.”

“I’m a little concerned about where that money’s coming from at this point, and it makes me uncomfortable to rely on the prospect of grant monies, when we really don’t know,” she said.

The city commissioner also said she thinks the new park location might take away from nearby Price Park, which is about a block away on Magnolia Avenue and recently has undergone upgrades.

“I’m concerned that we’ve put a lot of money into Price Park, and that park is almost going to be kind of an afterthought,” she said.

Plus, she took issue with the preliminary rendering, which shows a smaller, scaled-down splash pad overshadowed by other amenities and features.

“It feels like to me, we’ve lost the point of this exercise, which was the splash park. The design to me lacks that appeal, beyond the pricing issue,” she said.

Published October 30, 2019

Swamp Fest returns with new rides, family fun

October 30, 2019 By B.C. Manion

The idea of bringing a community together to have fun, while raising money, is nothing new.

Swamp Fest, an annual event, has been doing that for 11 years, in Land O’ Lakes.

Eight-year-old Dalilah Pyles, of South Tampa, tests her skills at climbing the rope ladder during last year’s Swamp Fest at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. (File)

Festivities begin with a preview evening on Oct. 31. The festival runs through Nov. 3.

The event raises money for area schools, nonprofits and community, as well as benefiting businesses. It is hosted by the Land O’ Lakes High School Booster Club, and it is held at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

The booster club’s proceeds go for such things as new weights in weight room, a new sign for the high school off U.S. 41 and other items that are not part of the regular school budget, but benefit all of the school’s athletes, said Doug Hutchinson, Swamp Fest coordinator and former booster club president.

Highlights of the event include 24 rides, food, games and entertainment. There also will be a salute to veterans on Nov. 2 at 10 a.m.

This year, Hutchison said, the carnival operator will be bringing a few new rides.

It’s all smiles aboard the Magic Dragon at last year’s Swamp Fest. The Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Booster Club hosts the event, which benefits area schools, nonprofit groups and area businesses.

“We’re going to get a bigger Ferris wheel. We’re going to get what’s called a Mega Drop; it’s a ride you go up in and they drop you rapidly,” Hutchinson said.

Festival-goers also are in for a treat when it comes to the entertainment, Hutchinson added.

“On Friday night, we’ve got a group called The Big Bong Theory,” he said. The band played last year and were well-received.

“They play a nice mix of music,” Hutchinson said.

“On Saturday, we’ve got Stonegrey. Everybody loves Stonegrey. We weren’t able to get them last year because they had booked up before. This year, I called early, early, early,” Hutchinson said.

Other acts scheduled during the festival include performances by Show on the Road, Nicole’s Dance Academy, Suncoast Dance Academy, Karl and Dimarco Dance, Beyond Chaotic, and Pine View Dance & Cheer.

Pre-sale tickets for Swamp Fest, at a discounted price, are available now.

For details on the entertainment schedule and other information about the festival, visit LOLswampfest.com.

Rick Bartz, left, of Land O’ Lakes, and Mary Law, took advantage of food available for purchase at last year’s event.

11th annual Swamp Fest
When: Oct. 31, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Nov. 1, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Nov. 2, noon to 11 p.m., and Nov. 3, noon to 6 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
Cost: Pre-sale tickets are on sale now at these locations in Land O’ Lakes: Land O’ Lakes High School, 20325 Gator Lane (in the commons area during lunch); Sanders Elementary School, 5126 School Road; Pine View Middle School, 5334 Parkway Blvd.; and Sugar & Spice Daycare, 3508 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Tickets also can be purchased online, or on site. Tickets purchased online will be available at a will call booth.
Details: Swamp Fest features rides, games, food and live entertainment.
Info: Visit LOLswampfest.com to get entertainment lineup and other details.

Published October 30, 2019

Bilirakis helps Pasco secure $500,000 safe schools grant

October 30, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis has helped Pasco County Schools secure a $500,000 federal grant to help keep students and teachers safe.

The funding is part of the STOP School Violence Act, which Bilirakis supported and which became law last year.

Bilirakis advocated for Pasco to receive this grant after speaking with Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, members of the Pasco County School Board, teachers and parents, according to a news release from the congressman’s office.

The funds will be used to enable Pasco Schools, law enforcement partners, and mental health providers to facilitate multidisciplinary threat assessments while developing behavioral threat assessment teams to intervene and mitigate potential risks, the release says.

Funding will build on current community engagement by supporting a dedicated school threat assessment coordinator and certified juvenile criminal intelligence analyst.

Pasco County Schools is the 10th largest, among the state’s 67 school districts.

In the release, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said “we want to thank Congressman Bilirakis for his leadership in protecting our children in Pasco County.

“Funding for threat assessments is one of the best methods for prevention and to help a child in distress before they become a threat to others or themselves.

“We look forward to further partnering with Pasco County Schools and Superintendent Browning on this important initiative,” Nocco added.

Pasco County Schools is one of just eight school districts in the country to receive this competitive grant.

Bilirakis also is the author of the PROTECT KIDS Act, which would provide additional federal funding for School Resource Officers in the nation’s largest school districts, such as Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Published October 30, 2019

Halloween traditions have an ancient past

October 30, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

It’s that time again this year when many pumpkins are mutilated into grotesque-looking faces.

It’s the season of black cats, bats and skeleton decorations.

And, it’s that time when little kids, and some adults, too, get dressed in costumes to go trick-or-treating in neighborhoods, or go trunk-or-treating at Halloween events.

Eleven-year-old Vanessa Vanhoose, left, and her twin sister, Jasmine, hang out with their 9-year-old friend, Alexa Contreras, all from San Antonio, at the Trunk or Treat event, at San Antonio Elementary School on Oct. 25. The girls dressed up as an angel, a bumblebee and a cat. (Christine Holtzman)

It’s a night of monsters and princesses, athletes and nuns.

It’s a night to pretend, and of course, to collect candy.

Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, is observed in many countries each year on Oct. 31.

It is the day before the Christian holiday, All Saints Day (All Hallows’ Day).

Early origins of Halloween are believed to date back to the ancient Celtic people living in present day Ireland, Scotland and England, according to the History Channel’s website, History.com.

Articles on the website detail how the Halloween season have evolved over time.

The Celts celebrated ‘Samhain,’ which signified the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, the website says. The ancient Samhain festivities included community bonfires with Druid priests, cattle sacrifice and fortune-telling.

Seven-year-old Jillian Massa, of Land O’ Lakes, scoops out the guts of a pumpkin, as her mother, Carly, reacts. The duo was working together on carving and designing a traditional jack o’ lantern at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library’s Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 26.

It was also believed during Samhain that the barrier between the physical world and the spiritual world was thin, and that the dead would be able to cross over to visit. They would leave food around the home, and in the fields, as an offering for these unworldly guests.

The Celts also believed that evil spirits were able to walk among the living during this time, so they would dress up as animals and monsters, as a way to keep these spirits away, the website reports.

As time went on, another way to scare off malevolent entities became increasingly popular.

Even though the practice of carving vegetables is known throughout time in many cultures around the world, the earliest form of the Halloween jack o’ lantern began popping up outside of homes in Ireland and Scotland in the early 19th century.

While History.com reports that jack o’ lanterns from this era were made from turnips, other websites report that they were also made from potatoes, rutabagas and beets, as well.

Frightening faces would be carved into these vegetables, and small coals or candles were placed inside. They were placed inside windows and around the home in hopes to keep the wicked spirits at bay.

The name jack o’ lantern or ‘jack of the lantern’ originates from the Irish folklore story, ‘The Legend of Stingy Jack.’ The story is about a man named Jack, who after being banished from both Heaven and Hell, began to roam the Earth with just a burning coal that he placed inside of a turnip as he searches for a place to rest, according to History.com.

Joe Massa, of Land O’ Lakes, left, watches as his 8-year-old son, Joey, helps use a power tool to cut open the top of their pumpkin, with Land O’ Lakes Branch Library volunteer, Fred Hoffman. Joey was hoping to make a ghost or a ghoulish-looking jack o’ lantern during the library’s Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 26.

In the mid-1880s, the Irish and Scottish began settling in North America, bringing along their Halloween traditions.

And, it was here in America, that the pumpkin was first used to create their jack o’ lanterns — now the iconic symbol of Halloween.

Halloween became a major holiday in North America during the early part of the 20th century, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that going door-to-door in costumes became known as trick-or-treating.

Trick-or-treating also has an interesting history.

In his book, “Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night,” Nicholas Rogers explains that it evolved from the ancient practices of “mumming,” “guising” and “souling.”

Early “mumming” and “guising” involved going door-to-door in costume, to recite a poem, perform a song, a joke, a skit, or some kind of ‘trick,’ in exchange for food or drink.

In later years, poor people would visit wealthy homes to pray for the souls of the homeowner’s dead relatives, in exchange for pastries called ‘soul cakes’ and money. That practice was called “souling.”

History.com reports that it wasn’t until after World War II that the candy bar replaced the coins and cakes, becoming a popular reward for trick-or-treaters.

By Christine Holtzman

Dressed as a lady bug, 4-year-old Marianna Hudgins, of Land O’ Lakes, paints on the finishing glittery touches of her scary pumpkin. The youngster attended the Pumpkin Fest at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library with her ‘Yia Yia’ and ‘Papou’ (Greek for grandmother and grandfather), Katherine and Robert Frank.

Witches and goblins, and candy galore
It’s a season for trips to the pumpkin patch, kids dressing to go trick-or-treating and families passing out candy from their front porch, or from the trunk of their car.

Local churches, libraries and schools got in on the act, and offered a variety of activities for all ages.

In Land O’ Lakes, Harvester Community Church hosted its annual pumpkin patch for kids to play in, and choose their favorite pumpkin to take home.

San Antonio Elementary School in Dade City drew a crowd of people to its Trunk or Treat, where costumed kids got to trick-or-treat among Halloween-themed cars.

And, at the Land O’ Lakes Library, families could carve, decorate and paint pumpkins, to celebrate the holiday.

By Mary Rathman

Published October 30, 2019

Two-year-old Rhyler Mauer, of Dade City, picks out his favorite pumpkin from the pumpkin patch at the Harvester Community Church, 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. Rhyler was there with his mother Aubrie, his friend Payton Cruz, and her mother, Emily.

After making their selections at the Harvester Community Church pumpkin patch, a group of kids from Land O’ Lakes carry their pumpkins back to their cars. From left: 11-year-old Bailie Yarbrough, 9-year-old Steven Yarbrough, 9-year-old Jacob Casillas, 6-year-old Mason Casillas and his twin brother, Jackson.

Steve Yarbrough, left, and his friend, Javier Casillas, both from Land O’ Lakes, each hold a large pumpkin that they bought for their families. Both families met up at Harvester Community Church on Collier Parkway to purchase pumpkins for upcoming fall festivities.

It’s fall — that perfect time to enjoy squash

October 30, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pumpkins seems to get all of the attention each Autumn.

Pumpkin spice lattes. Pumpkin bread. Pumpkin pies. Jack-o’-lanterns.

But, remember, pumpkins are just one kind of winter squash.

You can also find many other varieties of winter squash in your garden or at your grocery store.

There’s butternut squash, acorn squash, delicata, spaghetti squash and others.

So, what are the characteristics of a summer squash versus a winter squash, besides the obvious fact that they are harvested at different times of the year?

As the website Harvest to Table explains, the winter squash has a hard outer shell and firm flesh — prolonging its storage life, so it can last throughout the winter.

Winter squash is best enjoyed roasted, stewed or baked.

Meanwhile, the summer squash, such as the well-known zucchini and yellow squash, has a soft skin and moist flesh and can be eaten raw, steamed or sautéed. They won’t hold up as long and should be eaten within a few days.

While the hard skin of the winter squash allows it to endure the cold, it makes it hard to cut.

So, here’s a tip: Microwave the squash first, to make it easier to slice in half, or peel.

First, wash the squash’s skin and dry it. Then, use a knife to carefully make a few slits down the middle of the squash, where you plan to cut it in half. Then, use a fork to poke some holes throughout to allow steam to escape.

Then microwave for about 5 minutes.

You’ll still need to put a little muscle into it, but it will help.

Winter squash is more than just a comfort food.

It is high in carotenoids, protein, vitamin C, vitamin B6, fiber, and the minerals magnesium and potassium, so enjoy the different types all throughout the season to reap the health benefits.

With the different types of winter squash and the different ways to cook it, you should have plenty of variety to enjoy throughout the season.

As a bonus, enjoy the seeds!

I admit, I didn’t think much of squash seeds.

When carving a pumpkin for Halloween, I always saved the seeds and then roasted them, but for some reason, I always discarded squash seeds up until recently, when I realized I was throwing away a perfectly good protein-filled snack.

They are smaller than pumpkin seeds and don’t need as long to roast (about 15-20 minutes baked at 275°, or until they start to “pop”).

And, get creative with them:

In a bowl, coat the seeds with a tablespoon of olive oil and, instead of salt, try ½ teaspoon of spices, such as red pepper flakes, cinnamon, or garlic powder.

By Shari Bresin

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

Here is a butternut squash soup recipe I’ve made that came from cooksmarts.com (https://www.cooksmarts.com/articles/butternut-squash-with-white-bean-soup/):

Butternut Squash with White Bean Soup
Serves: 6 (as a side), 3 (as a main)

Ingredients

1 butternut squash, chopped
1 medium to large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
2 to 3 thyme sprigs, leaves removed
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 to 3 sage leaves
1 (14.5 oz) can white beans, drained
1 quart broth (veggie or chicken) or water
1/4 tsp nutmeg (optional)
Maple syrup, to taste (optional)
Creme fraiche or sour cream, for serving (optional)

Instructions:

Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, then add the oil and then garlic.
Add the chopped onion, sage, and thyme leaves.
Sauté for about 3 minutes, tossing with a heat-safe spatula or wooden spoon a few times.
Add the butternut squash and drained beans, and pour enough stock /water to cover all the ingredients.
Cover pot with its lid and bring to a boil.
Once the soup boils, keep the lid on and lower heat to a simmer, and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove the pot from the stove and let the soup cool down, uncovered, for about 10 minutes.
Then place the immersion blender in the soup, tilt at about a 10 degree angle, and puree at a medium setting.
Season to taste with nutmeg and maple syrup for a bit of sweetness.
Ladle into bowls and swirl in a spoonful of creme fraiche.

Note: I also added kale (added last, not pureed) to give it more color.

Published October 30, 2019

Helping children to have a Happy Birthday

October 23, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

Birthday parties and children seem to go together naturally — but some children are in situations in which his or her birthday can be overlooked.

That’s where Celebrate Birthdays, a nonprofit organization, comes in.

It collaborates with organizations and agencies to find foster kids, other kids with certain needs or kids in clubs, to throw a birthday party for them.

The Celebrate Birthdays organization provides children throughout the Tampa Bay area with elaborate parties for their own birthdays. (Courtesy of Belinda Leto)

Belinda Leto and Celina Saunders founded Celebrate Birthdays.

They go to various locations and throw a monthly birthday party, for all of the children at that particular place celebrating a birthday that month.

The festivities include cake, ice cream, games, activities and presents for all the children at the party — whether they are celebrating their birthday or not, Leto said.

“We want every kid to feel special,” she said.

“It makes them look forward to when it’s their birthday, knowing we’ll show up consistently,” Saunders said. “We do not disappoint.”

The idea for creating Celebrate Birthdays came up two years ago, when Leto was involved in her church’s gift donation program.

She said she was approached by a grandmother who asked whether there were local services that provided birthday gifts for children.

Leto didn’t know, so she reached out to a friend who worked for Hillsborough County. She found out that the county wasn’t aware of such programs either.

So, Leto and Saunders set out to fill that gap.

“That was the initial spark and seed that really started the idea,” Leto said.

Celebrate Birthdays began serving children, and in March, it was officially recognized as a nonprofit organization.

News of the program’s existence has spread mostly through word of mouth and social media.

The organization also collaborates with organizations such as the Joshua House and the Boys & Girls Club, who refer children to Celebrate Birthdays.

Even a local Girl Scout troop has assisted the effort by collecting gifts and forming a bond with a “birthday buddy.”

“It’s kids helping kids,” Leto remarked. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Children who are not part of an organization are not overlooked, she said.

With “Birthday in a Box,” gifts and birthday supplies are stocked up in individual boxes to be sent to children’s homes.

However, community support is needed to keep spreading the joy.

The organization receives gift donations from individuals and various establishments.

Some local businesses accept toy donations on their premises for the organization.

And, Celebrate Birthdays hosts fundraisers and applies for grants, as well.

Volunteers pitch in, too, including high school students.

Leto and Saunders also have recruited their own children to help.

The organization currently covers Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, with intentions to branch out into Hardee and Highlands counties.

Being part of Celebrate Birthdays is rewarding, Saunders said.

“I think there’s a different feel when you are volunteering your time and not expecting anything in return,” she said.

Being in a position to help the children makes her appreciate her blessings all the more, she said.

“It’s such an overwhelming sense of gratitude. There’s not a price tag on that,” Saunders said.

To learn more about the nonprofit or to make an online donation, please visit CelebrateBirthdays.org.

Published October 23, 2019

Mayor delivers ‘State of Dade City’ address

October 23, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

A newly passed budget and some corresponding reorganization in city hall was a forefront topic for Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez in her annual “State of the City” address at The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce October breakfast meeting, at AdventHealth Dade City.

Dade City Commissioners last month passed a $19.3 million budget by 4-1 vote.

The 2019-2020 budget is based upon a 7.14 millage rate and represents a 17% increase ($2.8 million) from last fiscal year ($16.4 million).

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez covered a lot of talking points during her ‘State of the City’ address. (Kevin Weiss)

The budget covers 83 full-time staffers, including several newly funded positions — community and economic development director, associate planner, GIS analyst, another building inspector, and others.

Addressing a roomful of chamber members, Hernandez said this year’s budgetary process “was one of the most difficult for me, as a city commissioner, as a mayor.”

“It was tough, guys,” Hernandez said. “We’re heading in the right direction, but we had to make some tough choices for not only the city and the services, but also position us in a great place to move forward and to all of those people that are coming in, all those transportation (issues), all those businesses, to be able to accomplish that.

“It wasn’t unanimous, but I think the majority of the commission agreed that we had to prepare ourselves for challenges and opportunities moving forward, and how are we going to make Dade City the best it can be.”

With that, the mayor noted the city last year received 658 building permits for private construction and now has over 4,000 residential unit entitlements (either under construction or review).

That underscores the necessity, she said, for the city to create a new community and economic development department that encompasses community redevelopment, current and long-range planning, online permitting and customer service, and building and safety services.

“We have a bunch of homes that are on the books, and they’re going to start to be built sometime next year,” the mayor said. “There’s a lot of work being done by staff, so this is the reason we needed to reorganize, we needed to make those tough decisions to hire some staff to get those folks help, to continue to move us forward.”

In addition to the budget as a whole, Hernandez offered updates on various capital improvements projects.

She noted that paving has begun on the second phase of the Hardy Trail northern extension, from Church Avenue to Lock Street, and is expected to be complete around next spring. The extension is part of a larger trail network planned for the U.S. 301 corridor extending from south of Zephyrhills to north of Dade City. It ultimately will extend to the Withlacoochee State Trail trailhead.

“We’re really excited about that,” Hernandez said. “We’ll be getting into some healthy initiatives, hopefully working with the banks and hospitals, and other organizations.”

Hernandez also mentioned improvements are “finally” underway to the city’s downtown stormwater management system, which is slated to be finished by sometime next summer.

Hernandez quipped: “For those that have businesses in town, for those of you that love your shoes like me, you won’t have to take them off anymore and go into 6 inches of water on any stormy afternoon.”

Other forthcoming projects include Tank Hill water facility renovations (finalizing request for proposal documents) and Dade Oaks stormwater improvements (finalizing funding and bid documents); the city also has allocated $200,000 toward paving or repaving city maintained roads. “There’s a lot of dirt moving around. I always say that’s progress, and I kind of like having the dirt picked out,” Hernandez said.

The city’s demographic profile was another one of the mayor’s talking points.

Hernandez said of the city’s 7,240 residents, the median age is 35.5 years old, with a growing number of first-time householders, newer marriages and families.

The average household size is 2.51, median household income is about $40,000 and median home value is about $145,000.

That in mind, the mayor stressed the need for the municipality to “maintain youthful interests in style and fun, with lots of things to do.”

She noted several community events — namely the Dade City Heritage & Cultural Museum’s Masquerade Ball, Monarch Butterfly Festival, Scarecrow Festival and Dade City Symphony — all happened within a weekend of each other.

“We are a fun place with fun things happening, and we are going to continue to do that as we move forward,” Hernandez said. “We’re not a town that’s going to roll up.”

Elsewhere, the mayor made it a point to commend the Dade City Police Department’s ongoing efforts to boost its community outreach and advocacy programs, especially with local youth.

Some of the agency’s regular initiatives include Shop with a Cop, Cop-sicle Days, Back to School Bash, Explorer Scouts, Special Olympics, and Habitat for Humanity, among others.

Hernandez put it like this: “It’s not only about having these guys show up and protecting them or leading someone off in handcuffs, but it’s showing them that they are an integral part of our community. They are human, they go home to a family, and you couldn’t imagine the change in some of these children when they realize, ‘Hey, these aren’t bad guys, these are actually good guys that are here to help me.’”

She added: “You don’t know how wonderful of a group of guys we have in our community.”

Published October 23, 2019

This year’s Rattlesnake Festival is one for the books

October 23, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

This year’s Rattlesnake Festival started off with a bang.

That is because Darby’s own musical siblings, The Bellamy Brothers, kicked off the 53rd annual festival off with a very special, Oct. 18 evening concert, marking the first time the musicians played the festival in decades.

Darby’s own, Howard Bellamy, left, and his brother, David, take the stage on Oct. 18 to kick off the Rattlesnake Festival weekend. They played their first gig at the Rattlesnake Festival in 1968, and this concert marked the first time in decades that the brothers performed at the festival. (Christine Holtzman)

Hundreds packed the Dan Cannon Auditorium at the Pasco County Fairgrounds to hear Howard Bellamy and his brother, David, perform some of their biggest hits including, “Redneck Girl,” “If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body,” and, of course, their signature song, “Let Your Love Flow.” They also mixed in some tracks off of their newest album, “Over the Moon,” released earlier this year.

The brothers got their first taste in performing in front of an audience at the 1968 festival, then known as the ‘Rattlesnake Roundup,’ when they performed on stage, for free, with their father.

This year, the sold-out concert raised money for the festival’s host, The Thomas Promise Foundation.

After the concert, the regular festival days were Oct. 19 and Oct. 20 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

Over the course of the weekend, thousands flocked to the site to enjoy a wide array of activities, wildlife shows, exhibits, bounce houses and other attractions.

There were carnival rides and games, and the chance to hold a real, live alligator.

After watching a presentation given by the nonprofit organization, The Rattlesnake Conservancy, onlookers rush over for a chance to pet ‘Stripe,’ a female canebrake rattlesnake. Handler Chase Pirtle is holding the snake.

Vendors were there selling handmade crafts, and businesses were there touting their products and services.

Hungry festival-goers also had plenty of choices at the food court area, including corn dogs, soft pretzels, gyros, pizza, funnel cakes and fresh lemonade.

Of course, the weekend wouldn’t be complete without watching the traditional Eddie Herrmann Wooden Gopher Tortoise Races, geared toward kids, 12 and under.

The races, which use mechanical wooden gopher tortoises, were held throughout each day, for age groups 7 and under, and 8 through 12.

First-, second- and third-place winners from each race earned a ribbon, and the first-place winners were eligible to compete for a trophy in the championship games.

The races were named after Eddie Herrmann, one of the festival’s founders, who passed away hours after the close of the first day of the 51st festival in 2017.

Published October 23, 2019