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The pies have it: new festival draws thousands in Zephyrhills

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Chocolate cream, coconut cream, banana cream, apple, cherry, pumpkin, pecan, raspberry and key lime. If that sounds like a roll call of popular pies, that’s exactly what it is.

Those pies and more were on display Jan. 24 at the inaugural Zephyrhills Pie Festival & Community Bake Off at Zephyr Park, 38116 5th Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Orma Moon of Zephyrhills, right, took first place at the baking contest with her cranberry-apple pie. Wendy Orbeck and John Cadwell took second and third. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Orma Moon of Zephyrhills, right, took first place at the baking contest with her cranberry-apple pie. Wendy Orbeck and John Cadwell took second and third.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

If an entire day celebrating one specific dessert seems over the top, event coordinator Sonya Bradley said it’s actually an overdue tribute to a family favorite.

“It’s just fun,” she said. “Old school, traditional festivals are fun.” Bradley has fond memories of holidays when older family members would bake and bring pies to dinner, and she wanted to create a fun atmosphere for adults and children to sample a variety of pies.

And people were eager to do just that, with more than 2,000 in attendance to participate in different interactive events. There was a pie-baking contest, with winner Orma Moon taking home some money and a trophy thanks to her victorious cranberry-apple creation. There was also a pie buffet, where visitors could enjoy all the pie and ice cream they could eat for one set price. Those who didn’t want all pie all the time were able to sample more traditional carnival food at various stations.

The pie festival also included a live band and more than 50 vendors promoting crafts, jewelry, candles and even animal conservation. While the vendors offered a variety of products and information, Bradley said it was important for the festival, which featured free admission and parking, to be more than visiting booths and hearing music. The contest and buffet were important aspects in bringing people together.

“It forces interaction, which makes the festival so much fun,” she said. In a way, it was too much fun: A scheduled pie-eating contest had to be scrapped when the buffet proved to be so popular that they didn’t have enough pies.

Bradley’s Simply Events put the festival together, which is just one event the company has planned for Zephyr Park. They’ll also oversee the Snowbird Palooza event, geared toward residents who migrate downs to Zephyrhills for part of the year, at the same location next month.

According to Bradley, the turnout was so good that residents can probably expect another one next year, with more pies on hand to meet the large demand.

“It’s been crazy. It’s great,” she said as she was shuttling pies to eager judges. “We didn’t expect all this.”

New twist to holy wafer

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Our Lady of the Rosary offers low-gluten hosts

A pivotal moment during the celebration of the Catholic Mass occurs during communion, when believers come forward to receive the Body of Christ.

But some members of Our Lady of the Rosary were choosing to stay in their pews, because they have Celiac disease, which means they cannot ingest gluten, a protein found in wheat.

The Rev. Ron Aubin displays a silver ciborium and a gold ciborium. The silver one is used to hold the gluten-free communion hosts, and the gold one holds the traditional hosts. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
The Rev. Ron Aubin displays a silver ciborium and a gold ciborium. The silver one is used to hold the gluten-free communion hosts, and the gold one holds the traditional hosts.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“There are different levels of intolerance to gluten and wheat products,” said the Rev. Ron Aubin, pastor at Our Lady of the Rosary Church at 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. “Apparently, some people react severely and can be quite sick. So, they bypass the host — receiving the Body of Christ.”

When one woman asked if there anything the church could do about it, the church decided to look into the issue.

Church doctrine requires there be at least a trace of gluten, in order to be considered valid matter for the Eucharist, according to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“So, we did a little research and we discovered there are low-gluten hosts,” Aubin said.

The church is now using low-gluten wafers made by the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, in Clyde, Missouri. The sisters have been baking communion hosts for generations and spent 10 years working to develop a low-gluten host.

The host the sisters produce contains .01 percent gluten.

Our Lady of the Rosary began serving the hosts about a month ago.

“What we did, was, we have reserved one small part of the church — a small section. We’re calling that our low-gluten section,” Aubin said.

It uses slides on a giant screen to inform those attending its weekend services where to sit if they would like to receive a low-gluten host.

Anyone is welcome to sit in the section, Aubin said, but those sitting there will receive the low-gluten host during communion.

Aubin described what it’s like: “It’s a little smaller and thinner. It basically has no taste.”

“If you object to that,” the pastor said, “Go to the other line.”

The church also is taking care to avoid any cross-contamination when people drink from the chalice during communion.

“To help us not get them confused, we use a silver chalice (for the wine) and a silver ciborium for the low-gluten (hosts),” he said. In other sections, the church uses a gold chalice and gold ciborium.

Some people are now asking if they can have a smaller piece of the low-gluten host, Aubin said.

“The low-gluten hosts don’t break easy. I told the Sacristan to go buy a scissors and designate it for only cutting the low-gluten hosts,” he said.

The church wants to encourage participation in the Eucharist. It also wants to be as accommodating as possible.

“We’re responding,” he said.

Members of the congregation appreciate the effort, he added.

“Several people have come out of their way just to thank me. (They told me) ‘Thank you for considering us.’”

Published January 28, 2015

Court presence: Land O’ Lakes basketball preps another playoff run

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When the Land O’ Lakes girls’ basketball team bowed out of the Class 5A playoffs last year, they had many reasons to be proud. The Gators were beaten in the state semifinals by eventual-champion Southeast High School from Bradenton, and they completed their third-straight winning season under coach Phyllis Crain. Since they had gone farther than any girls’ basketball team in school history, students and fans might wonder if they could repeat that success and possibly claim a state title this year.

Land O' Lakes coach Phyllis Crain has guided the girls’ basketball team to another season with more than 20 wins. Now she'll try to guide them back to the state tournament, where they reached the semifinals last season. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Land O’ Lakes coach Phyllis Crain has guided the girls’ basketball team to another season with more than 20 wins. Now she’ll try to guide them back to the state tournament, where they reached the semifinals last season.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

But with the playoffs starting, the coach isn’t focused on anything but the next opponent.

“We don’t look any further than we have to. We look at one game at a time, and we take it from there,” Crain said. “If you overlook an opponent, they can sneak up behind you.”

Very few teams have snuck up on Land O’ Lakes this season. They finished their regular season campaign with just three losses, fewer than last year. They ran the table in Class 5A-8 with a perfect 14-0 record. And according to Crain, they enter the postseason with even more confidence after last season’s accomplishments.

While senior Jhade Hayes has paced the team as both leading scorer and rebounder, the coach believes it’s the other players doing their jobs and playing important roles that allow skilled players like Hayes to shine, and the team to succeed in each game.

“It’s teamwork, not an individual that’s going to win the championship. They really believe in each other,” she said.

The school has good reason to believe in Crain, who has built a strong program in her four seasons at the helm. After nine seasons as an assistant at the University of Tampa, she came to Land O’ Lakes High School wanting to create a team that consistently has both experienced players and younger talent who can contribute and take on leadership roles later in their careers. This season’s team has a good mix of returning starters and reserves (the starting five consists of three seniors and two juniors), as well as newer players who are looking to help continue the team’s forward progress.

As a result, Crain believes the team is at least as good as the one that was one step away from the state championship game.

“I would say as good, and maybe a little bit better,” Crain said. “We have a little bit more rebounding presence inside.” A lot of that increased presence can be attributed to junior Gabby Mills, which makes the team more dangerous when she’s on the court. But as they head to the playoffs, the coach wants to see better team rebounding and tighter defensive play from the Gators.

While Crain has created a perennial contender in just a few short years, it’s not her only goal when it comes to coaching. She’s aware that many of her players might not continue their basketball careers in college, so she wants them to get the most out of their high school experience.

“I went into it thinking that I really want to teach these girls the game of basketball, and I really want to teach them some life lessons, too,” Crain said. “Don’t get me wrong. We all want to win. But I really think it’s an experience.” The coach follows their academic progress and believes that learning lessons like not being late to practice, working hard and believing in yourself will help them off the court.

But the team is performing well on the court, too. Another season with more than 20 wins is already secured, and another playoff berth is looming. And while Crain believes the team has the ability to make another deep run, she doesn’t want players to think about anything but the hard work that got them this far, and about the next opponent they face.

“We want to win the district championship. We want to get back to Lakeland (where the state championships will be held). That’s our main focus,” she said “But to do that, we need to focus on the little things and take it game by game,” she said.

Published January 28, 2015

Despite objections, multifamily zoning gets OK

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Residents urged the Pasco County Commission to reject a request to allow multifamily zoning on a parcel on Clinton Avenue, but commissioners went along with the planning staff’s recommendation for approval.

The new zoning designation, requested under the name of Six Feet Under, LLC, will allow a maximum of 157 units, according to Carol Clarke, the county’s zoning administrator.

The 21.6-acre property is on the north side of Clinton Avenue, about 1,700 feet west of U.S. 301.

Opponents raised concerns about additional traffic that the project will create. They also said a multifamily project will change the character of the area.

“Please keep Dade City a small town,” said Abelardo Cruz, of 37451 Orange Blossom Lane. “We don’t have a problem with single-family.”

Dorothy Moore, president of The Ridge Homeowners Association, said her association is “very much against higher density.”

Donald Dempsey of 37510 Orange Blossom Lane, told commissioners: “We have enough problems with traffic.”

Another speaker told commissioners that he’s in the process of building a new home in the area, and he’s worried about his investment in the area and also concerned that others will be less likely to build a home there, if the multifamily project gained approval.

Allen Altman, one of the owners of the land up for rezoning, said he was approached by some people at his church about the possibility of creating some senior housing at the site.

“We don’t know exactly what’s going to be there,” he said, but he does know there’s a need for that kind of housing.

Altman also noted that he’d seen a petition submitted against the rezoning. The list contained several names of friends he has known for years.

They didn’t know who owned the land, Altman said. They were reacting to a rumor they heard that the multifamily housing was for low-income people.

Altman said his friends dropped their objections once they knew he was involved.

County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey noted that senior housing tends to be a wonderful addition to a community.

Commissioners approved the rezoning on a 5-0 vote, without debate.

Published January 21, 2015

 

Internships aim to offer new possibilities

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Brandon Butts got a break when he was 12 years old — working as an apprentice in a computer repair shop.

Months later, a promised job never materialized. But his experience at the repair shop set him on a path toward becoming a successful businessman with his own repair shop, Anything Computers, 38501 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Anything Computers intern, at left, Jesse McGee, 24, and former intern and now store technician Pierce McMenamin, 18, both of Zephyrhills, man the front end of the store and tackle technical issues for customers and stay busy resolving the computer issues of customers. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
Anything Computers intern, at left, Jesse McGee, 24, and former intern and now store technician Pierce McMenamin, 18, both of Zephyrhills, man the front end of the store and tackle technical issues for customers and stay busy resolving the computer issues of customers.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

Now, 16 years after his youthful apprenticeship, the 28-year-old Butts wants to pay it forward.

He wants to give other computer geeks an opportunity to learn skills to either land a job at his shop or to work somewhere else in the IT or technology industries.

At the very least, they’ll have a chance to walk away with a wealth of computer knowledge.

When Butts was an apprentice, he did everything from mopping floors to fixing computers. He didn’t get the job he had hoped for, but he said the experience was important.

“It kind of mapped what I am today. Without the apprenticeship, I wouldn’t be what I am today,” Butts said.

He wants to open a similar door of opportunity for today’s youth.

He’s reaching out to local high school students who want to become interns.

Butts and his employees will train the interns, who will provide free diagnosis and repairs on computers.

To build up an inventory of computers to use in the program, Butts invites people from the community to bring in computers that need a repair.

The labor to repair the computer is free, but patrons must pay for any necessary software or parts, Butts said.

Butts plans to take on about three interns at a time for 90 to 120 days of training.

He’s looking for interns who are at least 13 years old, but will consider younger applicants.

“I’ve known 10-year-olds who can build their own computer and are mature enough,” Butts said.

The first graduate of his training program — 18-year-old Pierce McMenamin — landed a part-time job at Anything Computers after learning the basics of computer repairs during a summer internship.

“I never knew how to do any of this stuff. Now it feels awesome because I have knowledge,” said McMenamin, a senior at Pasco High School.

Learning how to remove a computer virus or how to respond when a computer crashes weren’t part of the learning curve at high school, McMenamin said.

The 18-year-old said he wound up in the internship program partly because he was looking for a summer job and party because his dad and Butts are friends.

A little more than a week ago, a new intern arrived.

Zephyrhills resident Jesse McGee, 24, an engineering student at St. Petersburg College, said he’s a “little techie at heart.”

No matter what job he holds in the future, McGee said he knows that computer and technology skills are essential.

“This is how it’s going to be from here on out. I might as well learn.”

Schedules for interns can be flexible, as the students must juggle schoolwork and the apprenticeship.

Butt said almost 80 percent of computer troubles the shop encounters are related to viruses. Sometimes a computer needs a tune-up. Other times a system must be rebuilt from scratch.

“We’ve seen almost every problem under the sun,” Butts says. “I want to build up the interns and keep them here. But no matter what the job market, they’ll have a skill.”

As a youngster, Butts was interested in computers but wasn’t certain of a career. His apprenticeship led to a job at another computer repair shop and eventually working with computers became a full-time gig.

Butts opened his first shop in 2009 on Main Street in the midst of the country’s downward economic spiral. The shop survived, and three years later he relocated to Fifth Avenue.

“I wanted to be on Fifth Avenue, the main part of downtown,” Butts said. “It’s classic.”

While looking to give young people new opportunities, Butts also is looking toward expanding his shop in Zephyrhills into a franchise, and to market socially responsible mobile applications to a national audience.

One of his patented devices, known as Quiet Zone, is a mobile application marketed to establishments such as movie theaters, churches and schools that have a need to silence cellphones.

His other patented device, DriveTAB, can be installed in vehicles to prevent texting while driving.

Butts said he’s proud of his accomplishments, but he noted, “A lot of people weren’t as lucky as I was.”

He hopes his future graduates will find their own path to success with the skills they learn at Anything Computers.

For more information about this internship program, contact Anything Computers at (813) 364-1737, or visit MainStreetComputerShop.com.

Published January 21, 2015

Cycle of Life: Seniors stay fit on two wheels

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If you see Charlie Griffiths riding his bicycle in Zephyrhills, the 70-year-old might be on a little ride just to keep the blood pumping.

Or he just might be training for a 40K race.

Charlie Griffiths has won a number of medals and trophies for his cycling skills. But the awards are piling up even faster now that his wife Mary is competing as well. Both of them won medals at the recent Florida International Senior Games and State Championships. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Charlie Griffiths has won a number of medals and trophies for his cycling skills. But the awards are piling up even faster now that his wife Mary is competing as well. Both of them won medals at the recent Florida International Senior Games and State Championships.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“Charlie’s always been a cyclist,” said his wife, Mary Griffiths. The couple actually met online a few years ago on a special website for fitness-conscious singles. Now Mary, 63, does a bit of riding herself: Both of them won cycling medals at the recent Florida International Senior Games and State Championships in their respective age groups.

But while Mary has been more of a swimmer and even did some scuba diving, Charlie is the one who’s always preferred cycling. He joined a racing club at 16 in his native Liverpool, England, but had to give it up when family demands came first.

Later in life he got back into riding, and when he retired and moved to Florida 10 years ago, he saw an advertisement for local races. Being in good shape, he decided to join the 55-and-over age group and signed up for a race.

He finished last.

“They just killed me. I couldn’t believe what level these people were at in that age group,” Charlie recalled.

Not being one to back down from a challenge, he kept at it and eventually worked his way into the top half of the competitors. He began training regularly and improved his strength and skills. In addition to doing 20K and 40K road races at the Senior Games, Charlie also tackles other races, including 100-mile cycling events.

As a result, their living room is now filled with medals and trophies documenting his successful return to the sport he loved as a boy. But it’s the other rewards that motivate him to keep riding.

“Really, what keeps me going with this, is it’s keeping me from getting old,” Charlie said. Seventy was old 40 years ago, but I don’t feel any different.”

While they’ve both found success cycling, Mary is quick to point out that it’s not any one activity that holds a secret to feeling younger. It’s more about finding something you like to do and sticking with it.

“It’s activity,” she said. “Find something that you’re passionate about and you do it.” Some activities lend themselves to group participation, she said. Runners, for example, often go out together and keep each other motivated.

Even physical disabilities don’t have to keep seniors from staying active. The Senior Games also has competitions for activities like bean bag tossing and table tennis. Mary believes that even participating in non-strenuous games, which still challenge them mentally, can be good for seniors.

“They’ve got 40 different sports,” she said of the Senior Games. “What if you aren’t really physically able? That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be active.”

And Charlie agrees. He’d love to see more people out walking around, even in a casual setting. It’s become too common for seniors, and people in general, to settle into a sedentary lifestyle and miss out on the health, social and mental benefits of being more active.

“You look around these (communities) where we are here and it’s just incredible how people waste away. And some of them are younger than me,” he said. “It’s just a way of extending you’re life. That’s the way I see it. Stay active as long as you can.”

Charlie is encouraged by people who call him an inspiration, and he enjoys riding and keeping up with riders many years his junior. Neither has any plans to slow down or abandon their active lifestyle, and they hope people of all ages will find the motivation to begin improving their own lives with a little bit of activity.

“Find a friend, and set an appointment time and commit to meeting at that time every day and start walking,” Mary advises. “That’s the easiest thing, it doesn’t cost anything and if you did it, you don’t know what the next step will be.”

While the benefits can be realized by anyone, Charlie believes a lack of activity can especially hurt seniors who can’t afford to sit around and watch their golden years go by.

“If you’re used to a lethargic lifestyle, you need to change. When you’re younger, maybe people don’t feel it as badly. But life flashes by, and suddenly you are a potato,” he said. “Just get out and do something, whether it be walking, running; make the attempt. Make the effort and you’ll enjoy it. You’ll meet so many interesting people.”

Published January 21, 2015

Teaching the art of business through small transactions

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The children on the covered play court behind Chester Taylor Elementary School were having a blast.

They were learning the ins and outs of business without even realizing it.

As the kids made their way from station to station, they could earn money by asking questions.

Crystal Enger enjoyed showing off a sports car from Wesley Chapel Nissan to children at Chester Taylor Elementary in Zephyrhills. Enger said the kids seemed to enjoy asking her questions about the car, and she enjoyed seeing them have a chance to think about things they might not have considered before. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Crystal Enger enjoyed showing off a sports car from Wesley Chapel Nissan to children at Chester Taylor Elementary in Zephyrhills. Enger said the kids seemed to enjoy asking her questions about the car, and she enjoyed seeing them have a chance to think about things they might not have considered before.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

They could then spend their earnings on games of chance to win prizes.

Of course, the money was paper money, and the prizes were things like candy, tiny balls and pencils — but the experience gave kids a chance to interact with area businesses, learn a bit about their operations and have some fun at the same time.

The event’s main goal was to pave the way for elementary school children to develop a greater interest in business, said Rene Martinez, a teacher at Weightman Middle School in Wesley Chapel.

Martinez, Gregg Clapp and Ryan Prieto, all serve as advisors to the Future Business Leaders of America chapter, which meets as a club at Weightman Middle.

Chester Taylor Elementary, in Zephyrhills, was just one of the elementary schools included in the American Enterprise Project organized by the Weightman Middle School chapter.

Other schools they included were Wesley Chapel Elementary, Seven Oaks Elementary, Double Branch Elementary and New River Elementary.

By the time they’d finished their rounds, thousands of children in nearly 75 classes had the opportunity to learn about local businesses and have some fun.

“Every year, each FBLA chapter has to do something called the American Business Enterprise. And the kids have to come up with a theme and an idea and put it together and organize it,” Martinez said.

“Right now, Weightman Middle School is the only middle school in Pasco County that has an FBLA chapter. It’s our first year. We’re really small,” Martinez said.

Chapter members were wondering how they could expand, and they came up with the idea of reaching out to elementary schools, Martinez said.

Prieto, a student at Pasco-Hernando State College, was involved in FBLA at Wesley Chapel High and he saw the need to get more students involved at the middle school level, Martinez said.

The club came up with the idea of using the game Monopoly as a model, and filling each of the spaces with a local business.

The kids would make their way around the board, spending money at the various stops.

Their aims were a bit ambitious, Martinez said.

“There’s 22 squares on a Monopoly board. Do you what it’s like to get 22 businesses?” Martinez said.

But he admires their optimism.

“That’s the beauty of children. They reach for the moon. They really do.”

They didn’t get 22 business, but they did get Sagat Computer Inc., Parks Fiat of Wesley Chapel, Hyundai of Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel Nissan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, Busch Gardens, Pilote Bank and Bright House.

The FBLA members also experienced something that businesses encounter all of the time, Martinez said. If one plan doesn’t work, you come up with another one.

“This is real-world stuff,” said Martinez, who teaches sixth-grade World History.

Crystal Enger was there from Wesley Chapel Nissan, showing off a black 370Z Nissan.

The kids lined up for a turn to sit inside the car.

As they waited for their turn, they asked questions. “Does that have a lot of torque?” one student wanted to know. “How much horsepower does it have?” asked another.

Enger was clearly enjoying herself.

“I think it’s nice,” she said. It gives students a chance “to think about things they’ve never thought about before,” she said.

Seth Raigoza, a member of Weightman’s FBLA chapter, said he was having a good time.

“The kids get to play games and to hear about business.”

Published January 21, 2015

Welcome to Dade City, where kumquat is king

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Every year, as marauders take over Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa’s Gasparilla Parade, there’s another invasion of sorts— as thousands stream into downtown Dade City for the city’s annual Kumquat Festival.

“It’s a wonderful alternative (to Gasparilla),” said John Moors, executive director of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, said the 18th annual Kumquat Festival promises to be a fun and affordable event. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, said the 18th annual Kumquat Festival promises to be a fun and affordable event.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The Dade City event — which draws its name from a diminutive, tangy orange fruit — gives visitors a chance to experience a taste of old Florida in a family friendly atmosphere, Moors said.

With its free parking, free admission, free entertainment and assorted free activities, people can enjoy the day without having to spend a fortune, Moors said.

Of course, Moors said, the chamber would like to see festival-goers do a bit of spending on items sold by vendors, at area restaurants and in merchant’s stores.

The event, now in its 18th year, is expected to attract 30,000 to 40,000.

Event-goers come from as far north as The Villages, as far south as Sarasota, as far west as the beaches, and as far east as Orlando.

For some, it’s an annual tradition. For others, a reunion. And for still others, it’s an introduction to the East Pasco city with the historic courthouse and quaint shops.

The annual festival started simply.

It began when Phyllis Smith, Roxanne Barthle and Carlene Ellberg were looking for a way to help inject new life into downtown Dade City.

They decided to have a festival to honor the kumquat, and the first event was held on the lawn of the historic Pasco County Courthouse.

This year there will be 450 vendors, a car show, children’s activities, an enlarged health and wellness section, entertainment and, for the first time, several food trucks.

The food trucks are an additional component to the area’s restaurants and food vendors at the festival, Moors said.

Local restaurants are always swarmed on festival day, the chamber executive said, adding some restaurant owners have told him they do a week’s worth of business on that single day.

Of course, the kumquat is king at this event, and vendors offer it up in myriad forms. There’s kumquat pie, kumquat salsas, kumquat jam, kumquat jelly, kumquat preserves, and even kumquat lotions and soaps.

Over the years, the event has helped put Dade City on the map and has helped raise the community’s profile. It was heralded by the Pasco County Tourism Board as the Pasco County Event of the Year in 2012 and has enjoyed the distinction of being named a “Top 20 Event” by the Southeast Tourism Society, which selects premier events in 13 Southeastern states.

Offering the event without charging an admission means that organizers rely on the generosity of sponsors, income from vendor fees and support achieved through other fundraising efforts.

This year, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is the event’s headlining sponsor, Moors said.

Besides providing financial support, the hospital is a partner with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so the team will be sending its bus as well as cheerleaders and a player or two, Moors said.

The importance of the sponsors cannot be overstated, Moors said.

They make it possible for event organizers to stage the festival without admission or parking charges, Moors said.

“There’s a lot of expense in putting something like this on. Somebody has to pay for the buses and the Port-o-lets and the insurance and the volunteer expenses,” the chamber executive said.

To get the full enjoyment out of the event, Moors recommends that people arrive early.

“Get in and get settled and enjoy the day.”

The festival is held, rain or shine.

Moors is optimistic that the weather will cooperate.

“Bring an umbrella,” he said. “You can always leave it in the car.”

18th annual Kumquat Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jan. 31
Where: Downtown Dade City
How much: Admission is free, parking is free, entertainment is free, and many activities are free.
For more information, call (352) 567-3769, or visit DadeCityChamber.org or KumquatFestival.org.

Kumquat Festival Entertainment Schedule, Historic Courthouse Square
9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Saint Leo University SASS (Women’s a capella)
10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: First Baptist Church of Dade City (Christian blended music)
10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Strawberry Express Cloggers
11 a.m. to noon: Cypress Creek Dixieland Band (Seven-piece New Orleans-style jazz band)
Noon to 1 p.m.: Noah Gamer (Alabama male vocalist award in traditional country, in 17 to 20 age group)
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: Dean Johnson’s Music & Friends (Various styles)
2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Bailey Coats (Rhythm and blues and jazz)
2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Danielle Pacifico (Country)
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: This Train (’50s and ’60s pop and gospel)

O’Reilly Auto Parts Annual Kumquat Festival Car Show
Registration, 8 a.m.
Car show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dash plaque and specialty trophies will be awarded.
For more information contact Ronnie Setser, (813) 879-1616 or RonnieSetsers.com.

Would you like a slice of kumquat pie?
Ingredients:
1 9-inch baked pie crust
1 can condensed milk
1 8-ounce container of whipped topping
2/3 cup of Kumquat puree
1/2 cup of lemon juice

Directions:
Beat condensed milk with whipped topping. Add lemon juice and beat until thickened. Add Kumquat puree. Pour in pie crust and chill for several hours. Garnish with Kumquats and mint leaves.

What is a kumquat?
Kumquats have been called the little gold gems of the citrus family. They are believed to be native to China and have a very distinctive taste. Kumquats are the only citrus fruit that can be eaten whole. The peel is the sweetest part and can be eaten separately. The pulp contains seeds and juice, which is sour. Together, the taste is sweet and sour. The seeds contain pectin, which can be removed by boiling for use in jams and jellies.
— Kumquat Growers Inc.

How do you eat a kumquat?
—Kumquats taste best when they are gently rolled between the fingers before being eaten. The gentle rolling action releases the essential oils in the rind. Eat kumquats the same way you eat a grape — peel on.

—Kumquats can be candied or on a kabob with fruits, vegetables and meat, such as poultry, duck, pork or lamb.

—Kumquats are also a favorite for jelly, jam, marmalade, salsa or chutney.

Published January 21, 2015

Expert expects housing market to continue its recovery

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Most of the time when you hear what Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors has to say — it’s during a congressional hearing or on the national news.

But last week, Yun made an appearance before real estate professionals gathered for a meeting of the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors.

Lawrence Yun is the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. He’s predicting a continued recovery for two to three years, and then possibly an expansion. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Lawrence Yun is the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. He’s predicting a continued recovery for two to three years, and then possibly an expansion.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

He offered plenty of food for thought about the housing market’s condition.

“The bottom line is that we have encountered some degree of recovery. I think we will continue the recovery over the next two to three years, and then subsequently, the recovery may well change into expansion,” said Yun, who frequently speaks at conferences for real estate professionals around the country.

“Now, you are just trying to get back to the prior principal in terms of prices. It may take an additional two to three years to get to where it had been in 2005-2006,” Yun said.

When it comes to home prices, he said, Florida has a key advantage: Its warm winter weather.

Through the years, people have moved to Florida from colder climates in northern states.

“It sort of came to a halt during the housing market crash. People up North just could not sell their home, or they were somewhat underwater,” Yun said.

The market recovery has put them in a better position to move, which is good news for Florida, he said.

“So, you will regain that flow of new residents coming into Florida. Florida has been No 1, consistently, during normal years in attracting new residents,” Yun said.

The housing market had generally experienced a two-year recovery in 2012 and 2013, but then stalled in 2014, Yun said. So people are wondering what will happen next.

“A two-year-and-out situation would be highly unusual, if one looks at the past,” Yun said. He considers it an anomaly and predicts that there will be a continued recovery that may well lead to growth and higher prices in the market.

“One of the key reasons is pent-up demand, Yun said.

“We have 37 million additional people living in the country and yet we are essentially getting the same home sales,” he said.

“We have lower mortgage rates today,” Yun said, adding that he expects those to increase. But they’ll be at historically low levels.

He also expects the pool of buyers to increase because the tight credit market is easing.

There are also more buyers coming into the market, he noted.

“Many people who went through short sales, many people who went through foreclosures — they went into the penalty box. Now, they’re beginning to come out of the penalty box,” Yun said.

An improved job market is another part of the equation.

“There’s more people working in the Tampa region, so there’s more potential homebuyers,” Yun said.

But housing inventory is tight, which restricts the market, he explained.

The builders report that they don’t have trouble selling the houses they build, but not as many homes are being built, Yun said.

“When the housing market bust came, many went to Texas and North Dakota — oil drilling,” he said.

Another problem is the tight credit market for mom-and-pop builders, Yun said.

“New financial regulations have really made it difficult for the local community banks to make those construction loans,” he said.

“It was mom and pop who actually built more homes than the national builders, in total,” Yun said.

“Homebuilders who used to get loans to build 20 homes are now able to get loans to build one home. They build it, they sell it, and then they repay the bank the money and they can get a loan for one more. So, it’s one at a time, rather than getting 20 all at once.”

The lack of new housing has an impact on home sales, he said.

“We asked consumers, how many homes do you want to see before signing the contract? They will say they want to see 10 to 15 homes,” Yun said.

Besides creating forecasts for the National Association of Realtors, he also participates in many economic forecast panels, including The Blue Chip Council and the Harvard University Industrial Economists Council. In 2008, USA Today listed Yun as among the top 10 economic forecasters in the country.

Published January 21, 2015

Bishop to dedicate Saint Anthony’s new building

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Students, parents and staff from Saint Anthony Catholic School are looking forward to a Feb. 9 celebration, where the Rev. Robert N. Lynch, bishop of the St. Petersburg Diocese will bless the school’s new building.

A celebration of the Mass is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., and it will be followed by the blessing and dedication of the new building.

This photo was taken on the day ground was broken for the new school. The new facility can accommodate 270 students. (Courtesy of Saint Anthony School)
This photo was taken on the day ground was broken for the new school. The new facility can accommodate 270 students.
(Courtesy of Saint Anthony School)

Festivities also will include an open house and light refreshments.

The event marks the latest milestone in a history that dates back to 1883.

San Antonio was founded in 1882 as a Catholic colony. The following year, a widowed woman named Cecilia Morse moved into the community with her six children.

When she inquired about the school, she was told it could wait until there were more settlers. She reportedly responded that the “minds of the children now here, can’t wait.”

With that, the widow began teaching 14 children, including six of her own, in her kitchen.

Saint Anthony School officially was established in 1884.

It is the oldest parochial school in the diocese, as well as one of the oldest Catholic schools in Florida.

Generations of families have been educated in a three-story brick structure that was built in 1922.

That building will continue to be used for some functions.

The new 17,905-square-foot building is the fourth in the school’s history. The 1922 current building replaced a two-story structure built in 1899. The original building was a 12-by-24-foot structure constructed in November 1884.

Students and teachers are now situated in their new classrooms in the new school building.

There was a time, not so many years ago when the future was anything but certain for the school.

Attendance had dwindled to 153, and there was talk of closing Saint Anthony School.

But parents and other supporters rallied.

They used their ingenuity, coming up with various ways to spread the news about their school, including a 15-second spot shown at the Cobb Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel.

The school’s enrollment improved. It now has more than 200 kindergarten through eighth-graders coming from San Antonio, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Brooksville, Land O’ Lakes, New Tampa and other communities.

In a previous interview, School Principal Sister Alice Ottapurackal attributed the school’s increased enrollment to “God’s special blessing.”

“Truly, I believe, it’s the power of prayer,” she said at the time.

Much has changed on the campus, but the school’s core mission remains the same.

It continues to emphasize academic excellence while teaching the Catholic faith.

Published January 21, 2015