The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Pasco wants you, to fight illegal dumping

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Pasco County is turning to a state law against littering — coupled with the help of its citizens — to get tougher on illegal dumping.

The targets of the get tough campaign are illegal dumping by individuals and blighted commercial properties.

Pasco County citizens will be enlisted in a social media blitz, dubbed #PascoProud, aimed at catching illegal dumpers in the act, and prosecuting them.

No changes to current county ordinances are planned.

A donation bin, off State Road 56, became a magnet for illegal dumping. County officials plan to use a state law, and #PascoProud campaign to get tougher on citizens and commercial haulers who illegally dump. (File)

Instead, county officials have created an email address —  — where citizens can report locations of illegal dumping, vehicle license plate numbers and, when possible, attach videos and photos of offenders.

People also can post locations and photos to social media with the hashtags – #PascoProud and #RIDPasco. On MyPasco mobile application, they can click the link, “Report Illegal Dumping.” And, they can visit a Report Illegal Dumping website at http://bit.ly/2Bj6CUz, or call (727) 847-2411.

This new program aims to make it possible to report illegal dumping in as many ways as possible.

Citizens are ready to join in the fight, said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who worked with county staff members to craft the proposal.

“They’re mad. They’re already out there taking pictures,” Moore said.

Pasco County relies on cameras placed in about a dozen locations. And, citizens routinely call in complaints to county staff and county commissioners.

But, greater citizen engagement in catching illegal dumpers, and boosting arrests and penalties, would be a “proactive, preventive measure,” said Marc Bellas, the county’s performance management director.

Bellas said county employees will conduct “triage” to prioritize the emails and other citizen-reported information. Part of their efforts will be to determine whether debris and trash are on public or private property.

There are limits to what county government can do when dumping is done on private property, Bellas said.

Emails and photos will be forwarded to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office to investigate.

Violators under the county’s ordinance can be fined up to $500 a day, per violation.

However, state law also can be applied. Pasco officials have their sights on blighted commercial properties.

Penalties under state law could mean fines, points against a driver’s license, community service, and jail time.

Haulers who work for profit could face forfeiture of trucks and other vehicles, if they are caught illegally dumping.

Penalties under state law are partly based on the amount of litter that is dumped, and partly based on who does the dumping.

Litter that is 15 pounds or less, or less than 27 cubic feet in volume, for instance, would carry a civil penalty of $100, under state law. However, violators could be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor for dumping more than 15 pounds, but less than 500 pounds, or an amount greater than 100 cubic feet in volume. This applies to illegal dumping not done for “commercial purposes.”

According to state law, convictions for first-degree misdemeanors carry stiff fines, and potentially could result in points on the violator’s driving record.

Violators who illegally dispose of more than 500 pounds or more than 100 cubic feet, or “any quantity for commercial purpose,” can be charged with a felony of the third degree. Penalties include jail time and forfeiture of vehicles used in the illegal dumping.

“We’re going to go stricter,” Moore said. “We’re not going to put up with this anymore.”

For more information, visit PascoCountyFl.net.

Published February 14, 2018

Learning how to ‘crisscross’ cookies with Grandma

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I am delighted that this column about love is being published on Valentine’s Day.

Let me begin by wishing you and all of your loved ones a lovely day.

When I was a young woman, I thought Valentine’s Day was just for couples. And, when there wasn’t someone special in my life, I pretty much ignored Feb. 14. I hadn’t yet figured out that romantic love is often the most tentative of all loves, and that other kinds of loves are equally worthy of recognition.

Zach, Grandma Diane and Connor take a little break from making some ‘crisscross’ cookies. (Diane Kortus)

Today, I celebrate Valentine’s Day to honor love of all kinds—my love for Vic, my family, friends, co-workers and even pets.

It’s the one day of the year that love is top of mind, and we take time to recognize those we love most with a phone call, a card and sometimes a gift.

I have loved many people in my life, but no love has been as endearing and long-lasting as the love I have for my children.

This past weekend, in fact, I celebrated my birthday by visiting my daughter, Rachel, in Tallahassee, where she is a graduate student at Florida State University.

When Andy and Rachel were born, I was surprised at the intensity of a mother’s unconditional love, and how much this love consumed most of my energy for the next 25 years.

When Andy became a father, he called me when Connor was just a few months old, marveling at how much he loved his boy, and how intense this love felt. He asked me if this was how I felt when he was born — and even seemed to doubt that I could have possibly loved him as much as he loved Connor.

That conversation made me smile, because I remember having the same talk with my dad after Andy was born. I, too, never understood the depth of a parent’s love, until I had children of my own.

My father died two years ago, and I greatly miss his love. But, I believe his unconditional love continues to flow through me to my children, and now my grandchildren.

One of my happiest memories of my father was at Connor’s baptism. Dad was so proud to witness his great grandson’s baptism, and I was even prouder to have him there to celebrate four generations of love.

When Connor’s brother Zachary was born this past June, it saddened me that I could not call my father with the good news. Zachary would have been Dad’s 10th great grandchild —a significant number, especially in our family, because my father also had 10 children.

I recently spent a week at Andy’s home outside of Louisville with his wife, Erin, and Connor and Zachary. I had forgotten how time consuming and exhausting it is to take care of a toddler and baby, and was astounded by my daughter-in-law’s energy, patience and ability to persevere with such a positive attitude.

I had it easy — mostly just playing cars and trucks with Connor, and then cuddling when it was time to settle down to read a book or play a matching game. It was wonderful to snuggle with 7-month-old Zachary, an exceptionally happy, inquisitive baby who already has a sense of humor.

I try to get to Kentucky every three or four months to visit Andy and Erin, and to enjoy my grandchildren’s amazing developmental changes. My last visit was in October, and a highlight was making chocolate chip cookies with Connor.

So, on this recent visit I wanted to continue our cookie-making tradition, and Connor and I spent an afternoon making peanut butter cookies.

Connor was so proud to learn how to crisscross the cookies before putting them in the oven. He couldn’t wait to plunk his fork into the bowl of flour before mashing a crisscross into the next cookie. Zach watched from his high chair as Connor spewed cookie dough and flour everywhere, and Patch, the family dog, happily cleaned up below.

I returned home from Kentucky on the second anniversary of my father’s death — a very sad day for me. But somehow the love for my grandchildren that was so fresh, helped me overcome my sadness.

My father would say that the world is designed so that new life and new love replace the pain of losing someone you love.

So, on this Valentine’s Day, I recognize the wisdom of my father’s words and feel truly grateful for having many people in my life to love, and for having many people who love me.

Published February 14, 2018

Land O’ Lakes students strive for ‘green’ community

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For several years the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library has been plagued with massive energy consumption and a sizable electric bill.

A group of high schoolers is looking to change that.

The Land O’ Lakes High School Green Club, which addresses environmental issues in the community, wants to help the library achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status — the most widely used ‘green’ building rating system in the world.

The Land O’ Lakes High School Green Club has started a fundraiser to help the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library to reach LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status and significantly reduce its utility bill. Among the desired upgrades are UV window shading, LED lighting, motion sensing light switches, and programmable timers, to help decrease the library’s carbon footprint. From left: Green Club co-founder Sparsha Muralidhara, Green Club founder Camellia Moors and faculty club sponsor Michelle Starr. (Kevin Weiss)

To do so, the Green Club has partnered with Friends of the Pasco Library System on a fundraiser to purchase and install several energy-saving capital improvements to reduce the library’s carbon footprint.

The library’s annual electric bill is $48,500, according to a Duke Energy audit performed last year.

The goal is to eventually cut that figure in half.

Initial desired upgrades include UV window shading, LED lighting, motion sensing light switches, and programmable timers.

The Green Club has set a fundraising goal of $25,000 by May 1. As of Feb. 9, $220 has been raised. In addition to organizing a GoFundMe page, the club also plans to apply for local, state and federal grants.

If enough cash is raised, the group will then look to tackle more expensive tasks such as air-conditioning upgrades, solar panels and added insulation at the library.

Duke Energy recommended many of those upgrades in its audit as a measure to improve the overall efficiency of the facility and decrease overall energy consumption.

County funds cover the library’s maintenance each year. However, there’s been little in the way of large-scale improvements to save on electricity since it opened on Collier Parkway in 1999.

Green Club founder and senior IB (International Baccalaureate) student Camellia Moors is the driving force behind the library energy-savings initiative.

She created the student organization during her junior year believing there wasn’t strong enough awareness on pressing environmental issues — including climate change and conservation — at the school or community level.

Moors decided a high-trafficked, public space — such as the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library — was the best place to start.

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. According to the United States Green Building Council, LEED ‘provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings.’ (Courtesy of the United States Green Building Council)

“I figured that if you were going to do some sort of environmental change where you wanted people to see the change, you need to do it where they’re going to see it,” Moors said.

A longtime patron of the library, Moors correctly guessed it had a sizable electricity bill after noticing its fluorescent lights, untinted windows and outdated air conditioning system. “If you walk in the library, it’s pretty evident…they’re constantly running and having a huge energy consumption rate,” Moors said.

The Green Club, which has a handful of active members, has facilitated other activities, including recycling drives and environment-based educational classes. They’ve also planted a garden in front of the high school’s Academy of Culinary Arts building.

Green Club co-founder and member Sparsha Muralidhara said every little bit helps when it comes to preserving the environment.

“Change doesn’t have to be a national sweeping movement in one go. You can start in your own backyard and then work it up to your neighbors, and then your communities and from there,” she said.

Muralidhara’s passion for environmentalism harkens back to her family’s Indian roots and learning about rapid urbanization of the South Asian country. “Seeing a lot of our own natural parks and everything torn down to make way for urban blight and development was always disheartening,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library ‘greening’ project was embraced by library officials from the start, said Bob Harrison, public communications specialist for the Pasco County libraries, adding he’s been impressed by Moors’ activism and involvement.

“Anything that we can come up with obviously to reduce not only our carbon footprint but also to get that electric bill down is a win-win for everybody. We try to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money, and if we can cut expenses on something like a giant utility bill then we’re definitely all for that,” Harrison said.

If the fundraiser’s successful, Land O’ Lakes would become the first Pasco branch library to earn LEED status. The county may also explore energy-saving upgrades to its six other branches, Harrison said.

Moors hopes the project will inspire other environmentalists at the grassroots level.

“It’s up to everybody who does have some basic awareness of the environment — and knows the importance of the environment — to continue that and stretch it out further and actually apply that knowledge more,” Moors said.

Want to help?
To donate, visit GoFundMe.com/land-o-lakes-library-greening. For information on the club, email .

Published February 14, 2018

Housing demand on rise in Florida, Pasco

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Construction sites along Pasco County’s major corridors are part of everyday landscape.

Bulldozers clear land and work crews move in with hammer and nails.

Pasco is awash in new single-family homes under construction, and to a lesser degree, apartment complexes.

Brad O’ Connor, chief economist for Florida Realtors (Courtesy of Brad O’ Connor)

But, market trends show that the supply of new homes is lagging behind demand. That’s a change from the housing bubble that burst in 2008 and sent the economy into a tailspin.

“This time, instead of building too much, we’re building too little,” said Brad O’ Connor, chief economist for Florida REALTORS.

But, there are solid reasons why demand is high.

“Right now, demand is being driven by population growth and economic growth,” O’ Connor said.

O’ Connor was keynote speaker at the Feb. 1 forum, Reshaping the Face of Pasco 2018 Economic Summit. Central Pasco Association of Realtors hosted the event at Pasco-Hernando State College Porter Campus at Wiregrass.

Other participants were David Gwynn, District 7 secretary at the Florida Department of Transportation; Tom Ryan, economic development manager for the Pasco Economic Development Council; Camille Hernandez, mayor of Dade City; Kathryn Starkey, Pasco County commissioner; Mary Yeargan, director of district management at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and Bob Thompson, program moderator of Thompson Event Partners.

Monthly supplies of single-family homes, as well as condominiums and townhouses, were down statewide in 2017, according to data from Florida Realtors.

Florida had slightly less than four months of inventory for single-family homes, down about 6.2 percent from the previous year. There was a six-month inventory of condos and townhouses, down about 1.5 percent.

Hillsborough County had a 2.6-month inventory of single-family homes, down 10 percent; and a two-month inventory of condos and townhouses, down almost 10 percent.

Pasco County also had a 2.6-month inventory in single-family homes, down 4.2 percent; and the same amount in condos and townhouses, down 19 percent.

In 2017, the biggest inventory of single-family homes in Pasco fell within the $200,000 to $250,000 range, followed by homes from $100,000 to $150,000, and $150,000 to $200,000. Those were increases from 2016.

But, there was a significant decline from 2016 to 2017 in homes selling from $50,000 to $100,000. “There is a scarcity in the low sales rage,” O’ Connor said.

Research found declines also in the monthly averages for the 2017 inventory of active listings of single-family homes, condominiums and townhouses.

Florida’s average monthly listings of single-family homes were nearly 89,000, down 4.6 percent. There were about 54,000 monthly listings on average for condos and townhouses, down about 1.2 percent.

Pasco had about 2,200 listings for single-family homes monthly, down about 2.2 percent. Condos and townhouses had about 420 listings a month, down about 16 percent.

With demand higher than supply, O’ Connor said housing prices are inflated.

However, data shows Pasco is still a bargain for homeowners, even as prices rise, compared to other Tampa Bay counties.

Statewide the median price for a single-family home in 2017 was $237,500, an 8 percent increase. In Hillsborough, the median price was $235,000, an increase of 6.8 percent.

Pasco’s median price was $200,000, an increase of 13 percent.

O’ Connor also noted one other housing trend.

In 2008, homeowners stayed in their homes on average seven years. Now they stay about 11 years.

It’s not clear why, though O’ Connor said people could still be feeling the effects of the economic recession.

For information, visit FloridaRealtors.org.

Published February 14, 2018

Del Webb moves into Bexley

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Pulte Group broke ground on an 850-home, age-restricted Del Webb Bexley community in Land O’ Lakes on Jan. 31.

The age 55 and older community is the first “active-adult” project built by Pulte in the Tampa Bay area since 1960, according to a press release from Pulte Group.

“We feel the Tampa area is underserved for baby boomers looking to live in a place that is designed specifically for them,” said Sean Strickler, in a written statement.

Strickler is division president for the west Florida region for Pulte Group.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, left, Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr., Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano, Hunter Booth, Toxey Hall, Aaron Baker, Kelli Bailey and Sean Strickler, division president for west Florida region for Pulte Group broke ground on the 850-home, age-restricted Del Webb Bexley community in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Boardroom PR)

Strickler attended the ground breaking along with executives from Pulte Group and Newland, Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr., and commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano.

The homes are under construction at Sunlake Boulevard and Tower Road on about 490 acres within the master-planned Bexley by Newland Communities, off State Road 54. The gated community will be built in four phases, with the first homes expected to be move-in ready by spring 2019.

In a telephone interview, Strickler reported a construction start on model homes in October, with completion in January or February, 2019.

Already, about 2000 people have expressed an interest in moving there, he said. Some homes could be sold before the model homes are finished, he added.

“Del Webb always has a high degree of interest,” Strickler said. “But, this has exceeded our expectations because we haven’t done much advertising, except on the website.”

Del Webb’s last active-adult community was built in the Ruskin area in the early 1960s. Plans were underway for a Wesley Chapel community before the housing bust in 2009. “Obviously the market got in the way,” Strickler said.

But, it’s a different market today, and the Tampa Bay area is a magnet for baby boomers, he added.

Pulte also is one of the builders at the master-planned community of Epperson, which features the Crystal Lagoon. There are no current plans to build a Del Webb community there. But, Pulte has about 250 lots available, and has sold 11 homes. “We anticipate them going quickly,” Strickler said.

The Del Webb Bexley community will offer six single-family home designs, of two- to four-bedrooms and two- to four-bath rooms. There will be two- to three-car garages.

Home prices will start in the low $200,000 range.

Residents will have a 17,000 square-foot, multimillion dollar clubhouse that features a large social room; a café with snacks, beer, coffee and wine; a fitness area; a resort-style swimming pool; and, recreational activities overseen by a full-time lifestyle director.

Del Webb residents also can enjoy a lakefront club and café as part of the larger Bexley community. And for an additional fee, they can purchase access to Bexley’s “all-ages” amenities, which include 10 miles of multi-use Avid Trails, parks and playgrounds, a soccer field, dog park, two resort-style pools, a bike park and many social events.

For information, call (866) 230-6089, or visit DelWebb.com/bexley.

Published February 14, 2018

New fees needed to help protect patients during hurricanes?

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Pasco County commissioners are discussing the possibility of imposing new fees to help protect patients in licensed health care facilities when hurricanes threaten or hit.

Although Hurricane Irma was a less destructive storm than many feared as it blew through the Tampa Bay region, it revealed potential problems in protecting, evacuating and sheltering patients in licensed health care facilities.

County staff provided a preview of a proposal to address those issues at a Jan. 30 workshop with commissioners in Dade City. Representatives of Florida Health Pasco County and Medical Center of Trinity attended, too.

Kevin Guthrie, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator for public safety

Recommendations include training exercises, drills and hiring a full-time operations coordinator.

And, there are ongoing discussions on how to fund all of this.

County officials favor collecting an annual fee per bed, ranging from just under $12 to slightly more than $14.

Preliminary estimates show the county has more than 6,200 beds. Most are in assisted living facilities, nursing homes and hospitals.

A second option would be an annual fee per facility ranging from about $864 to more than $914.

Pasco would like to hire the operations coordinator by this spring.

Initially, health care providers could be asked to make voluntary contributions until a fee schedule is approved.

The county’s operations coordinator would serve as liaison between Pasco, the state health department and licensed facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living establishments, hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.

“We have to have one person who is dedicated to this,” said Kevin Guthrie, Pasco’s assistant county administrator for public safety. “We just don’t have that.”

The county’s emergency management department reviews and approves emergency plans prepared by those facilities. There is much to consider.

State and federal laws apply to health care providers and their emergency readiness.

For example, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, set new rules for patient safety during emergencies for a list of 17 categories of Medicare and Medicaid providers. Those took effect in November 2017.

The list includes hospitals, hospices, transplant centers, home health agencies and community mental health centers.

The county also has other rules that come under review.

Gov. Rick Scott issued an emergency order after 14 nursing home patients in Hollywood died after a power failure at their nursing home. The governor’s order requires health care providers have generators and fuel to last four days.

The same rule applies whether the facility has six beds or 400.

“It’s going to be some of the smaller units that struggle and need help,” said Devin Sommise, director of engineering and facilities for the Medical Center of Trinity.

Pasco has as many as 26 shelters available for emergencies. Many are based in area high schools and middle schools.

As Hurricane Irma approached, some nursing homes evacuated patients to shelters.

But, there were problems.

According to Guthrie, 15-passenger vans would show up at a shelter “just dropping off people at the door step.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said at least one nursing home didn’t have enough staff to transport patients from a shelter back to the nursing home.

“It was disappointing they didn’t staff to get their patients back,” he said.

Pasco County Sheriff’s office stepped in and brought passenger vans to pick the patients up, Moore added.

“Somebody from the facility should have to stay with them,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

The county’s proposal would focus on developing a communication plan to prevent similar occurrences.

If the new job position is approved, duties would include reviewing, but not writing, emergency plans for health care facilities in Pasco, as well as facilitating eight exercise events and six training courses.

“Everyone has to have a plan. Everyone has to execute it,” said Sommise. “How are you getting these people out? Show me.”

Published February 14, 2018

Rotisserie chicken provides quick, easy meals

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When you are out shopping for groceries and looking for a quick and easy way to get dinner on the table after you get home, it is ever so tempting to take advantage of a hot rotisserie chicken.

The aroma alone will reel you in.

A rotisserie chicken is a whole hen that is cooked on a rotating spit, using direct heat (electric, gas, charcoal). You can usually find them in the deli section of your local grocery stores, big box chains, and buying clubs.

Not all rotisserie chickens are the same. They can vary in weight and price. Pay attention to the size and cost, while shopping, in order to get the best value. (Betsy Crisp)

The roasted birds also make a great meal to take to a sick friend. One of my dear neighbors heard that I had just returned home from the hospital and rushed one over to me, so I wouldn’t have to cook for my family that night. It was greatly appreciated.

She was surprised when I thanked her again a few days later and commented that I was able to get three meals out of that one hen: sliced meat, chicken salad and a soup!

I must admit, though, that I had never seen a bird that large before and came to the realization that all hens are not created equal when it comes to rotisserie chickens.

Since then, I have been searching the various markets to compare sizes and costs, bird by bird, determined to find the best buy.

Rotisserie chickens can vary greatly in size, flavor (traditional, barbecue, mojo, Mediterranean, lemon-pepper and more), and price (usually $5 to $9), depending on where you shop and are even more economical if you use some of the tips below to do it all at home.

You can save time, money, and calories – if you plan ahead.

Here are some nutritional facts worth sharing: A quarter-piece serving (breast and wing, or thigh and leg) of the average store-bought rotisserie chicken (with skin) contains approximately 300 calories; 42 grams of protein; 15 grams of fat, of which 5 grams is saturated; 160 milligrams of cholesterol; and 675 milligrams of sodium.

Try cooking your own hen in an electric slow cooker, or roast it in the oven, or poach skinless chicken breasts (reduces fat content) on top of the stove. You can store in the refrigerator or freeze it for use later in soups, chili, stews, pot pies, chicken salad, etc.

Betsy Crisp, MS, LD/N is a professor emeritus for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension – Family & Consumer Sciences

Slow-cooker lemon-pepper rotisserie chicken
Ingredients:
1 whole chicken of 4 pounds to 5 pounds

2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Rub:

2 teaspoons paprika

1 ½ teaspoons lemon-pepper seasoning

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:
In a small mixing bowl, add all rub ingredients and whisk together.

Remove giblets in the cavity of the chicken. (They are not used in this recipe)

Rub the outside of the hen with the olive oil and spice mixture.

Refrigerate for up to 24 hours, or place immediately in a large electric slow-cooker.

Cook on low for 6 hours to 8 hours, or on high for 3 hours to 4 hours. The internal temperature must reach at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Note: If oven cooking is preferred: After applying the spice mixture, bake in an uncovered casserole dish on the lowest rack at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour and 15 minutes, basting with juices collected in the dish about every 20 minutes. Bake until a food thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken registers at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Poached chicken breasts
Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)

2 low-sodium chicken bouillon cubes (granules or liquid can be used) with water to make 2 cups

Note: Additional seasonings such as bay leaves, carrots, celery, garlic, onions, parsley, peppercorns, thyme and salt may be added, but are optional, and will change flavor of meat (depends on intended use/particular recipe).

Instructions
Place chicken breasts in saucepan.

Add enough water with bouillon to cover by 1-inch.

Bring water to a boil (medium-high), reduce heat (medium-low) and cover.

Simmer approximately 10-15 minutes until minimal internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit is reached.

Strain the liquid and save broth for soup base.

Let breasts cool and then cut as desired (slice, shred, cube).

Refrigerate both until ready to use for up to three days, or freeze for later use.

Published February 14, 2018

Ranch Days offers ample servings of entertainment, fun

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Maggie Moore, Jerry Stacy and 2-year-old Nevaeh Dow, of Dade City, form a stack in the crowd, while watching The Rick & Jan Show with Snorkel the Pig in the event’s Midway. (Richard K. Riley)

Ranch Days gave visitors a chance to enjoy good music, watch entertaining acts, go for ranch tours and grab a bite to eat, said Kevin Campbell, who along with his wife, Andie, coordinates events at Little Everglades Ranch, 17951 Hamilton Road, north of Dade City.

The event was in its second year, and organizers plan to continue the event next year, because they believe it is an affordable way for families to have a good time, Campbell said.

“It was a beautiful weekend,” Campbell said. “It came off well. We had some great entertainment.”

The event offered everything from a birds of prey act, to a snake show; a tight wire act to live music; and, tours of the ranch.

“Some of the bluegrass and country acts were just amazing,” Campbell said.

Published February 14, 2018

 

Mean Mary, banjoist and song writer, opened the music portion of the 2018 Ranch Days at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City.
The sun sets behind the Little Everglades, showcasing Little Everglade Ranch’s iconic sculpture, on the evening of Feb. 10.

 

Local Boy Scouts and their parents help food pantry

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A group of men and women gathered recently at Harvester United Methodist Church, off Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, to lug bags and boxes of food from a room in the church to their SUVs and mini-vans in the church parking lot.

Megan Backhus, a sister of a scout, Kenneth Huffman, a Cub Scout with Pack 323 and Boy Scouts from Troop 707 Nikolaus Lappe, Jared Backhus, Owen Lowry, Sawyer Spiegel, Iain Lappe and Lawrence Huffman helped collect food during a recent food drive at Publix. (Courtesy of Boy Scout Troop 707)

They made numerous trips carrying all sorts of items, including potato chips, granola bars, Goldfish, pasta, Little Bites, pudding cups, bottled water, Gatorade, and canned fruits and vegetables, among other things.

The adult volunteers chatted and laughed, as they worked.

There was so much stuff that they found themselves putting down seats to make more room in their vehicles.

Ultimately there were enough groceries to fill five cars.

They never expected such a bounty from the two-day food collection campaign conducted by Boy Scout Troop 707, of Land O’ Lakes.

“We were flabbergasted,” said Kay Svendgard, a mom volunteer with the troop.

Jacquie Petet, executive director of Christian Social Services in Land O’ Lakes, was all smiles when the crew of adult volunteers for Boy Scout Troop 707 showed up with five vehicles full of food. (B.C. Manion)

The boys stood outside the Publix store at the Shoppes at New Tampa, off of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. They collected donations on a Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and a Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Others helped, including siblings of the scouts, their parents and some members of Cub Scout Pack 323, which feeds into Boy Scout Troop 707.

As shoppers walked into the store, the volunteers would hand them a Publix flyer and tell them they were collecting food for Christian Social Services, which has a food pantry in Land O’ Lakes, Svendgard said.

“They would point out some of the Buy One, Get One Free, and would ask them, if they would like to come out and give us food,” she added.

During the first shift alone, there was enough food donated to fill the back of a truck, Svendgard said.

Kay Svengard fills a grocery cart with some of the goods collected by Boy Scout Troop 707 in a food drive for Christian Social Services.

“I was like ‘Holy Moly, that’s unbelievable.’,” she added. “Every shift, we had the same result. Not only food, but cash donations.”

Troop 707 does a variety of community service projects each year, including the most recent food drive.

“One of the things that the boys learn from scouting is that you need to give back to your community,” Svendgard said.

“The church itself does not have a food pantry,” she added, so it supports Christian Social Services, which does help the hungry.

Troop 707 — which by the way signifies LOL (Land O’ Lakes) flipped upside down — is made up of 36 boys.

Christian Social Services has a good supply of food to help people in need because of generous holiday donations, said Jacquie Petet, the organization’s executive director. Come summer, it will be very grateful for the additional donations brought by Boy Scout Troop 707, she said.

The troop gets a lot of support from parents, Svendgard said.  “We have a great group of adults that help make Troop 707 great,” she said.

Some of them showed up to help deliver the groceries to Christian Social Services.

Among them were Dan Backhus and Steve Koenig, who are both assistant scout masters.

The two men have a couple of other things in common, too. For one thing, both of them are Eagle Scouts. For another, their sons, who are now freshmen in high school, have been scouts together since first grade.

Doreen Perez, who also is active with the troop, and Mike Thors, a volunteer parent, were also on hand to help deliver the groceries.

“I did not expect this much,” Perez said, surveying the room inside the church that was piled with bags and bags of groceries.

Steve Koenig, himself an Eagle Scout, enjoys being involved with Boy Scout Troop 707. He is an assistant scout master.

She was pleased by the kindness of strangers.

“On the first shift, there was a woman who came in. She was so excited she went in and bought an entire cart full of vegetables,” Perez said.

Backhus, who works at that Publix, also was delighted by the community’s generosity.

“I was just super-impressed. It was so uplifting. Everybody — they were so nice,” Backhus said.

When the volunteers arrived with their cars full of food, Jacquie Petet, executive director of Christian Social Services, offered this response: “Holy Cow! We are blessed.”

The charitable organization has food left from its holiday donations, but knows that the supplies will dwindle.

“Come summer, we’ll be so grateful,” Petet said. “This is wonderful.”

Published February 14, 2018

Big things are in store for Pioneer Florida Museum and Village

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For the second year in a row, the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City will be hosting a traveling Smithsonian Exhibition.

This year, it will be presenting “Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America,” from March 17 through April 28.

A young woman competes in a high school rodeo in 2011. (Courtesy of National High School Rodeo Association/David Jennings Media Group)

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, in cooperation with Florida Humanities Council, will be presenting the program, which is part of the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program.

The exhibit will feature a variety of sports, said Stephanie Black, the museum’s executive director.

The Smithsonian does one traveling exhibition a year that travels to six different place in the state, Black said.

“Out of the group from last time, we’re the only ones who got it for a second time in a row,” she said.

The exhibition also will arrive at the Dade City museum first, which helps because the Smithsonian and the other museums all come to help set it up, Black said.

The Florida Humanities also is involved with a family reading project leading up to the exhibition, Black said.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum receives grant money and must meet certain requirements, Black said. One of those things is to help a home team in the area, she said.

“We’re looking at Dade City Little League. We’re going to sponsor a team this year,” Black said.

Stephanie Black, executive director of the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village in Dade City, is excited about upcoming events and improvements at the museum. (B.C. Manion)

“Hometown Teams” will capture the stories that unfold on the neighborhood fields and courts, and the underdog heroics, larger-than-life legends, fierce rivalries and gut-wrenching defeats. For more than 100 years, sports have reflected the trials and triumphs of the American experience and helped shape the national character. Whether it is professional sports or those played on the collegiate or scholastic level, amateur sports or sports played by kids on the local playground, sports are everywhere in America, according to a news release about the exhibition.

Black said she’s still working on the details regarding what will be part of the exhibit at her museum.

In other news, the museum is working on improvement projects and additional events.

It is using a state grant to pay for the construction of eight new bathrooms.

“Those will help us when we have events here, we don’t have to rent port-a-lets. Nobody likes those anyway,” Black said.

The permanent restrooms will provide more comfort for guests and eliminate the rental costs, she said.

“The grant was for $53,500,” Black said, so the museum just needs to chip in a few hundred dollars to cover the remaining cost.

The museum is also adding a new blacksmith’s shop and a new carpenter’s shop. The blacksmith shop is 24 by 24 and the carpenter’s shop is 24 by 32.

In the blacksmith’s shop, the museum acquired Dade City road bricks to put in the floor.

There are also beams from one of the railroads, to put in the buildings, Black said. Since the buildings weren’t moved there, the staff still wanted it to be full of Dade City history, she said.

In another project, the community is trying to organize a room that will feature an exhibit focusing on black churches and black businesses.

“There’s a woman from Saint Leo University who is doing a lot of work on black history that’s involved with this,” Black said.

The museum also is planning some additional events this year.

The Living History & Civil War Re-Enactments will be on the museum grounds on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a special school day planned for Feb. 24.

“We’re very excited about it,” Black said.

The event had been held at the museum years ago, but it was in September, which was the wrong time of the year.  “It was just way too hot for them.”

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village is at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with general admission of $10 for adults; $8 for seniors and $5 for students. Children under age 5 are free.

Revised February 15, 2018