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Principal raises the roof to promote literacy

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Students at Wiregrass Elementary School have a summer tradition.

They take part, every year, in the Scholastic Book reading challenge.

Several students passing by the courtyard area wave excitedly at Steve Williams, the school principal, as he broadcasts on Facebook Live from on top of the school’s roof to fulfill a promise he made to his students, who logged more than 160,000 minutes in the nationwide Scholastic Book summer reading challenge. (Christine Holtzman)

Two years ago, the students logged in over 43,000 minutes, and came in eighth in the state.

But, Steve Williams, principal of the school at 29732 Wiregrass School Road in Wesley Chapel, knew they could do better.

So, he challenged them to log in more than 50,000 minutes.

If they could, he promised he would spend time reading to them from the school’s roof.

The students slayed the challenge — logging more than 160,000 minutes of reading.

And, the principal responded by spending a full day on the school’s roof — about 32 feet above ground — reading through a megaphone to the students below.

Steve Williams, principal of the Wiregrass Elementary School, reads a book into a megaphone, so the students seated in the courtyard below could hear. The top student readers from each group and their classmates earned the right to enjoy a story from the courtyard.

About every half-hour or so, the principal went on Facebook Live to connect with the community and with his students.

Teachers could log in and let their students watch.

The principal read a series of fiction and nonfiction books. He read newspapers and textbooks. He regaled the audience with his thoughts about the characters, plots and illustrators.

As a special treat, the top reader in every grade level was invited to come to the courtyard to listen to the principal read a book to them, from his high perch, through a megaphone.

Williams said that the kids love the fact that their principal is willing to do fun and extreme things.

He summed up the rooftop challenge like this: “Today is really all about supporting literacy.”

Published November 06, 2019

From approximately 32 feet above the ground, Steve Williams, the principal of the Wiregrass Elementary School, waves to passing students and staff members from the school’s roof. Williams spent the whole school day on the roof, reading books through a megaphone, as well as broadcasting on Facebook Live, to promote literacy and to fulfill a promise he made to his students during the summer reading challenge.
Steve Williams, principal of the Wiregrass Elementary School, holds up a book that he will read during one of his broadcasts via Facebook Live. Every half-hour or so, Williams went on Facebook Live to connect with the community and with the students. Throughout the campus, teachers were able to log in and let their students watch.

 

Rattlesnake Festival makes gains despite ‘Nestor’

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The Rattlesnake Festival had its biggest year since The Thomas Promise Foundation took over, despite the appearance of Tropical Storm Nestor, event organizers say.

“We’ll be able to provide 100,000 lunches as a result of this years’ Rattlesnake Festival,” Joe Simmons, executive director for The Thomas Promise Foundation, said in a news release.

“That’s more than the last two years. Imagine what we could do if the storm hadn’t come through,” Simmons added.

David and Howard Bellamy performed for a sold-out crowd on Oct. 18 at the Rattlesnake Festival. It was their first performance at the event since 1968. (Courtesy of The Thomas Promise Foundation)

According to long-held tradition, The Rattlesnake Festival was held on the third weekend of October, which this year fell on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20.

Having the festival that weekend was decided in 1967, based on research by a weatherman that historically that weekend had the best weather.

Indeed, over the years the festival has enjoyed dry weather most of the time, according to the release.

But, not this year.

Tropical Storm Nestor crossed the Florida Panhandle and sent waves of heavy rain and tornado warnings on down the West Coast, the release reports.

Still, the weekend got off to a great start, with a successful Bellamy Brothers concert on Oct. 18, despite threatening weather. The band played to a sold-out crowd in the Dan Cannon Auditorium at the Pasco County Fairgrounds.

It was the internationally known musicians’ first time back to the festival since 1968 when they performed their first musical gig with their father at the festival in San Antonio City Park, which hosted the event for a half-century before moving to the fairgrounds.

“We so appreciate the Bellamy Brothers coming to the Rattlesnake Festival this year,” Simmons said, in the release. “It was the success of their concert that offset the bad day we had on Saturday and enabled us to have our best year so far.”

Rattlesnake Run organizers had to cancel the 5-mile and 1-mile runs because of a tornado watch that was in effect at the time the race was set to begin.

The rain-or-shine festival opened on time Oct. 19 but, because of heavy rains, some vendors and entertainment groups did not set up that day.

Weather began to clear at about noon and some festival-goers turned out, but organizers realized that Nestor had put a damper on their event.

“We were hoping to exceed the 10,000 mark on visitors,” Simmons said. “I believe that if the weather had been as nice on Saturday as it was on Sunday, we may have done so.”

By the evening of Oct. 19, the rain had stopped and “Rattlesnake Festival After Dark,” an event planned with adults in mind featuring local bands, was well-attended for a first-time event.

The following day, the even opened with sunshine, and the event went well.

“The weather is the weather, that’s true everywhere, but sometimes it seems especially true in Florida,” Simmons said.

“This is our third year running the festival and our second year at the Pasco County Fairgrounds. We’re already on the schedule for next year, which is Oct. 17 and 18, by the way. We planned a great festival and we’re glad that we were still able to have a better year than last year because it’s all about raising money to buy food to feed hungry kids.”

The Thomas Promise Foundation is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing weekend meals to food-insecure students in Pasco County Schools when breakfast and lunch programs are not operating. For more information visit TheThomasPromise.org.

Published November 06, 2019

Screenwriter premiers film in Bay area

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When Andy Warrener went to Villagio Cinemas in Carrollwood last week, he wasn’t going merely as a movie patron.

He was there to see the Florida premier of “The Black String,” a movie which the Odessa native co-wrote and co-created.

For Warrener, the film’s Florida debut was a moment that was years in the making.

‘The Black String’ co-writer Andy Warrener, left, and its lead actor, Frankie Muniz, stand together at the horror film’s Florida premiere at Villagio Cinemas in Carrollwood, on Oct. 25. (Courtesy of Andy Warrener)

“I’ve been in the screenplay format since I was 19,” he said. “Screenplays became a creative outlet.”

A photojournalist by trade, Warrener made a transition into the film industry. His love for literature also compelled him into that line of work, he said.

He moved to Los Angeles in 2002, where he lived for almost seven years.

While there, he met director Brian Hanson, who introduced a screenplay idea that Warrener found intriguing.

The concept dealt with a psychiatric patient who couldn’t distinguish between delusions or reality.

“I’m like ‘I love it. Let’s talk more about it,’” Warrener said. “Subsequently, we had meetings and sessions, and we fleshed out the idea. Next thing you know, there was a script.”

However, the two screenwriters began to focus their attention elsewhere, putting the script aside.

It wasn’t until 2017 that producer Richard Handley read the script, found it interesting and wrote a newer version – ultimately becoming the film’s storyline.

Jonathan, the main character of “The Black String,” is played by Frankie Muniz.

Muniz rose to prominence as a child actor starring in the television series “Malcolm in the Middle,” as well as several movies.

Initially, the film premiered at the Austin Film Festival in 2018.

The film also has been released on DVD, Red Box and Google Play.

Warrener, who considers himself a “horror film buff” said “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity” are some of his favorites.

“What makes those movies so scary, to me personally, is that it’s something that could happen to anyone,” he said.

He thinks “The Black String” is a film that resonates with viewers.

Although this was Warrener’s first screenplay to become a film, he has written nine others.

He also noted that he’s teaming up with Hanson again, and this time they’ll be working on a mystery-thriller.

And, Warren, who lives in Odessa again, said he’s not ruling out using Tampa Bay as the setting for future projects.

Published November 06, 2019

Planning Commission supports requested changes

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has given its stamp of approval for a number of requests that would affect property use in the central and eastern portions of Pasco County.

The Planning Commission makes the final decision on special exception requests, but its decisions can be appealed to the Pasco County Commission. The County Commission has authority over other land use and zoning matters.

At its Oct. 10 public hearing in Dade City, the planning commission:

  • Approved a special exception request by Gianna Mari Siervo Fragoso for a kennel for dog training on a 1.08-acre site on the east side of Boyette Road, about 650 feet north of Clearview Drive. The kennel, at 7242 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel, will be used for dog training, boarding and breeding. Conditions limit use of the site to 30 dogs and specify that operating hours (open to the public) would be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
  • Approved a special exception request by Kelsey and Jeremy Whitmer to operate a bed and breakfast on a 10-acre site on the north side of Hanlon Terrace, about 1,100 feet west of Bellamy Brothers Boulevard. The site contains a two-story residence. The applicants propose to use the mother-in-law suite as their residence and to operate the bed and breakfast out of the remaining area of the existing structure. The applicants also wish to host events inside the bed and breakfast. The applicants note that the property can accommodate up to 10 guests at a time and the farmhouse provides a unique setting for nightly accommodations.
  • Recommended the County Commission approve a zoning request by Amanda M. Bray, aka Simmons, to change the zoning from a mobile home district to an agricultural residential district. The 3.78-acre property is at the southeast corner of the intersection of Hillbrook Avenue and Westbrook Street. The item now goes to the Pasco County Commission for a final vote, which is scheduled on Nov. 5 at 1:30 p.m., in Dade City.

Published October 30, 2019

Community rallies support for sick girl

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A barbecue fundraiser is planned to help the family of a 5-year-old girl who has been diagnosed with a terminal form of brain cancer.

The family of Baylor Nichols received word in April that the little girl, from Brooksville, has a form of brain cancer known as Diffuse Instrinsic Pontine Gliomas.

To add to that devastating news, the girl’s parents, Donnie and Carly, were informed that the cancer is life-threatening and they only may have one year left with their daughter.

Baylor has undergone radiation therapy and two surgeries. She also is participating in a clinical trial at Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C.

The community support has been strong, Carly said.

She said it provides “a great overwhelming sense of comfort to know that there’s so many wonderful people who care and are very selfless.”

Besides supporting the family emotionally, a barbecue is planned to generate some financial help for them, too.

The American Eagle Antique Mall is hosting the benefit on Nov. 3 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at 14232 Seventh St., in Dade City.

Patrons can purchase a meal for $10, consisting of barbecue or baked chicken, beans, coleslaw, bread and tea.

A silent auction and a raffle will be held, and bracelets in various sizes will be sold for $3 each.

There also will be live music from Those Unscrupulous Sunspots and Cold Iron.

To find out more, to volunteer or to make a donation to the silent auction, please contact Thalia Stilson at (352) 521-3361.

Barbecue fundraiser
When: Nov. 3 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: American Eagle Antique Mall, 14232 Seventh St., in Dade City
Cost: Free admission
Details: The benefit will help Donnie and Carly Nichols, whose daughter, Baylor, was diagnosed with brain cancer.
Info: To donate toward the silent auction, to volunteer or to find out more, call Thalia Stilson at (352) 521-3361.

Published October 30, 2019

Brewery aims to become Wesley Chapel ‘gem’

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If all goes according to plan, Florida Avenue Brewing will open in Wesley Chapel by next spring.

It aims to become “a destination, a gem,” said Anthony Derby, the Founder and CEO of Brew Bus Brewing, located in Seminole Heights.

Brew Bus Brewing and Florida Avenue Brewing are affiliated, but Florida Avenue Brewing is considered to be the company’s flagship brand.

Anthony Derby is the founder and CEO of Brew Bus Brewing. (File)

And, while operations will continue in Seminole Heights, the Wesley Chapel location will be called Florida Avenue Brewing and will be known as the company’s flagship location.

The goal for the new Pasco County location is to create a place that people refer to as “a cool brewery,” Derby told those attending the North Tampa Bay Chamber economic development luncheon last week.

“The project that we’re building now is going to be able to do 60,000 barrels (a year). It will be the largest locally owned brewery in the state of Florida,” Darby said.

The brewery wants to be a place where people gather to drink , to eat, to play games — such as  bocce ball and cornhole — to listen to music, to watch sports, to celebrate special events, or to just hang out in the beer garden, he added.

He’s excited about the possibilities.

The brewery will operate in a 32,000-square-foot building, formerly known as Sports + Field, at 2029 Arrowgrass Drive.

“For us, it’s kind of a blank slate. We’re going to be able to do a lot of really cool things,” Derby said, noting he wants to incorporate the best elements of what he’s seen at breweries across the United States.

The company is making a sizable investment.

“Before we open the doors, we’ll have spent about $10 million on the project,” Derby said. That includes land acquisition, new equipment and building improvements. Over the course of the next five years, he expects the company to invest another $2 million to $3 million.

There will be an open kitchen, and also a larger closed kitchen.

Part of the brewery will have community seating, on a first-come, first-served basis — promoting a come-and-go vibe. And, a small space will be devoted to a more formal dining setting.

There will be a private event space, too, accommodating about 100 seated guests, or between 150 to 200 standing, Derby said. That area will have three huge sliders that open to a private beer garden.

Plus, a 3,500-square-foot outdoor beer garden is planned, too.

“We’re not building any new structures, but a lot of internal modifications need to happen,” Derby said.

“We are painting the entire façade, almost a whitewash brick with a gray metal roof and then some red or burnt orange accents.”

The entrance to the building will be moved.

Glass is being installed, so guests will be able to see into the brewery from the outside, and also from the dining room.

“We’re upgrading our water line from a 2-inch to a 4-inch,” he said, to support brewing operations. Additional power is needed, too, so an additional transformer is being added.

To preserve parking, they’re paving a roadway to enable valet parking for the special events area.

On the brewery side, all of the equipment will be new, including its canning line, which will be imported from Italy. It will be able to do about 250 cans a minute, compared to the company’s current canning line that does 50 cans a minute.

A grain silo is planned, on the State Road 56 side, to allow the brewery to buy grain in bulk.

Besides getting the site ready for the business, the company also will be hiring about 50 employees. That’s in addition to its 53 current employees in Seminole Heights, Derby said.

Jobs will include such roles as a lab manager, a general manager, an assistant general manager, an event coordinator and hourly employees, such as bartenders and servers.

Plans call for being open daily, with doors opening at 11 a.m. Closing times will be set, as the business dictates.

Published October 30, 2019

New apartment project approved on State Road 54

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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

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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

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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

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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