The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Developers detour elevated road after concerns raised

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Plans to build a 33-mile elevated highway across Pasco County hit its first roadblock last week after the developer of the project reportedly asked for more time.

The Florida Department of Transportation agreed to leave open its request for other competing proposals until December, six weeks after its original deadline of Oct. 23. Wayne Middleton, a partner with International Infrastructure Partners LLC — the company that is looking to build the road — said a recent report from the Urban Land Institute, as well as a recommendation to build a managed bus line along the route, instead prompted their request for a delay.

If an elevated road like this one near downtown Tampa is ever built in Pasco County, it will take a little longer. International Infrastructure Partners, which proposed the privately funded project, has received a six-week extension from state transportation officials as it possibly rethinks its strategy. (File photo)
If an elevated road like this one near downtown Tampa is ever built in Pasco County, it will take a little longer. International Infrastructure Partners, which proposed the privately funded project, has received a six-week extension from state transportation officials as it possibly rethinks its strategy. (File photo)

“Given these reasons and the anticipated additional cost to build, IIP and its partners need more time and clarity from all parties affected as well as those parties that will benefit from our proposal,” Middleton said in a letter to the FDOT.

That delay will give other groups until Dec. 9 to submit their proposals and pay the $10,000 application fee, according to FDOT spokeswoman Kris Carson.

The Urban Land Institute has yet to provide a detailed report of its findings studying growth issues in Pasco County. However, in a presentation made to Pasco County Commissioners earlier this month, the independent growth and development analytical group did express concern about plans to build the elevated toll road.

Charles Long, a consultant from Oakland, Calif., who addressed transportation issues in the county on behalf of ULI, said the biggest problem about the elevated road proposal was the speed of which it was coming together.

“We think it would be important to step back and have a regional discussion about all the options and all the funding choices before you actually move ahead with that project,” he said. “That project is going to have very, very significant negative impacts, and that is not something you want to rush into.”

John Knott Jr., of CityCraft Ventures LLC of Charleston, S.C., who also joined in the ULI presentation, quoted what he said was an old saying in the business: “If you’re a hammer, you’re always looking for the nail.”

“If you plan for transportation, you will get more transit, and you will get more traffic,” he said. “If you get more quality of life, and look at the underlying issues and attack them, you can generally end up with multiple solutions that are generally less costly and create a high quality of life.”

IIP proposed the elevated road in June, requesting the state give up median right of way along the State Road 54/56 corridor so that such a privately funded road could be built. The developers didn’t offer cost estimates, but using the six-mile elevated portion of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway as a model from 2004, it could cost at least $70 million per mile to build, or a total price tag of $2.3 billion.

Although FDOT answered various questions about its request for proposals believed to be from various groups interested, Carson said no other bids were received by the Oct. 23 deadline. If the same happens by the December deadline, IIP could be the only private builder standing.

The road has met some opposition in the county, primarily from businesses afraid of potential customers bypassing them on an elevated road. John Hagen, president and chief executive of the Pasco Economic Development Council, however, told The Laker/Lutz News last week that the only people planning to take the road were those likely not going to stop at local businesses along the way anyway.

“The idea that you’re going to attract more business somehow as we turn the place into a parking lot is something to rethink here,” Hagen said. “A way for local businesses to get more business is to separate out the people who are not planning to stop anyway — who are just wanting to get across the county — and opening up the surface roads to local traffic.”

Classical Prep will extend beyond reading, writing, arithmetic

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When Berean Academy closed its doors in Lutz in 2011, it left many families wondering where their children would get the classical brand of education the school offered.

It was a difficult time for families, but it spurred one parent, Anne Corcoran, to begin investigating what it would take to set up a school that would offer that style of education to any child.

Next school year, Classical Preparatory — a new charter school offering a liberal arts education — will open near State Road 52 at the edge of Land O’ Lakes. It will be the first public school in Florida to offer a classical education, said Corcoran, the new school’s board president.

The acquisition of the school site is nearly complete, and the school itself is in the design stage, but Corcoran is confident that classes for kindergarten through eighth-graders will begin in the fall of 2014.

The Pasco County School Board approved the charter school for five years last year, but agreed to delay opening of the school for a year to give its board more time to finalize plans.

The curriculum will emphasize writing, public speaking, character, leadership and critical and analytical thinking. It’s a style of education that dates back to Plato and Socrates, Corcoran said.

“The point is training the mind,” she said. “And training the mind includes the virtues of a classical education. If you can’t exercise self-control, if you can’t exercise responsibility and can’t have respect for others or be trustworthy, you’re not going to be a very good citizen.”

The school will emphasize seven character traits: humility, perseverance, responsibility, respect, self-control, citizenship and trustworthiness. It is important that students learn how to think things through and learn how to make good choices, Corcoran said.

“If you don’t know how to make good choices in life, then other people are going to be making choices for you,” she said.

When Classical Prep opens, it is expected to have 342 lottery-selected students in kindergarten through eighth-grade. The school will add a grade each year after that until it has a senior class, Corcoran said.

At its maximum under the current charter, the school will have 518 students.

A lottery will fill the school the first year as well as open slots in later years. Students already enrolled will earn automatic admission for the siblings without having to go through the lottery.

The school will have rigorous academic expectations, Corcoran said.

Students in middle school will be required to take two logic courses. High school students will be required to take four years of math, science, English and history, along with classes in the fine arts and humanities. Latin will start in third grade and go through eighth, also required.

Students will be expected to deliver oral presentations, even when they are quite young, Corcoran said.

“Learning to speak well, that is teaching you how to think because you have to memorize. You have to be able to say something cogently. You have to use certain vocabulary. Learning to speak teaches you to think,” she said.

Learning how to write well also builds thinking skills, she added.

The school’s board looked at four models of classical schools while laying the groundwork for Classical Preparatory in Land O’ Lakes, Corcoran said. They were found in Brooklyn, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.; Phoenix; and Fort Collins, Colo.

The school they’ve worked with most is Ridge View Classical in Fort Collins. It’s a charter school serving about 900 children in a community similar to Land O’ Lakes.

While many charter schools are established to promote study in a particular area, such as dramatic arts, engineering or other specialty areas, classical education is intended to train students how to be critical and analytical thinkers.

The school won’t begin accepting applications until January and the lottery won’t be until early March. However, the school is accepting letters of application and has launched a website.

The school will use information collected from the letters of interest to keep parents informed of specific deadlines for submitting an application to enter the lottery and other types of information, Corcoran said. It will also help the school’s board with its planning.

For more information about the school, visit www.ClassicalPrep.org.

Young robotics pioneers finish second in X Prize competition

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While being No. 2 doesn’t have quite the same cache as taking home top honors, it’s not such a bad consolation prize when the contest pits creative kids from across the world.

At least, that’s how Ray Carr is looking at the second-place finish his son’s team achieved in the X Prize “After Earth” competition.

Shown here, left to right, are Sean Carr, R.J. Walters and Ross Edwards, who placed second in an international competition that aimed to encourage young people to think about ecology and robotic design. (File photo)
Shown here, left to right, are Sean Carr, R.J. Walters and Ross Edwards, who placed second in an international competition that aimed to encourage young people to think about ecology and robotic design. (File photo)

Sean Carr and his teammates, Ross Edwards and R.J. Walters, finished second to a team from Missouri in the competition, which drew entries from young pioneers spanning four continents. Other countries competing included Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Poland, India, Egypt, Hungary, Singapore and Oman.

The trio of local 14-year-olds would have preferred to win, of course, but they’re taking a philosophical attitude. They said they had fun rising to the challenge and learned how to be better teammates.

The contest was based on the movie “After Earth,” starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith. The sponsor, X Prize Foundation, uses competitions to address “the world’s grand challenges,” according to its website.

In this case, the teams explored ways to make Earth more sustainable and how to use robotics to investigate the potential for a new settlement for humans.

Ray Carr coached the young men, who are also members of the Trinity Dragons robotics team.

As part of the competition, the team designed and built a robot that can scoot across a surface, lift small buckets and deliver them to where they need to go, and then return to its base.

While the robot seemingly acts on its own, it actually completes its work through computer programming and infrared sensors. It carries out its tasks in a fictitious place, called Nova Prime.

The team also produced a video that tells the story of their imaginary world. It opens with images of what’s going wrong with Earth — traffic jams, billowing smokestacks, parched earth, landfills and a dead bird. It then pans to a view of Carr’s backyard in Lutz, where fish thrive in water tanks, which provide water and nutrients to a flower and vegetable garden in a system. That in turn produces fish and organic vegetables, using very little water.

The video features a lively musical soundtrack and an entertaining look at the steps the team followed to create and program the robot.

Other portions of the video show the rover coming together and the construction of Nova Prime.

Ray Carr said that even though they placed second, the team is included in a montage on the recently released “After Earth” DVD.

For making it to the final round, the team received a Lego Mindstorms robotic kit and a Sony Handycam video camera.

Competing in these kinds of contests is a great way to learn, Ray Carr said.

“Edison said he learned 3,000 ways not to make a lightbulb,” he said. “That’s what they did, too.”

Riders revved up to fight diabetes at Cycle-a-Thon

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Pura Cycling Studio is taking aim in the fight against diabetes by hosting a Cycle-a-Thon on Nov. 9.

The ride will take place from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., with giveaways every hour.

Riders will participate in 45-minute heart-pumping rides to do their bit in the movement to stop diabetes, said Stephanie Farquhar, who co-owns the cycling studio along with Alfio Carroccetto.

The event, being held in conjunction with the cycling studio’s first anniversary, will feature chance drawings, goodie bags and T-shirts, and will offer information to help reduce the risk of diabetes.

Fresh Healthy Café At Wiregrass will cater the event, and chance tickets will be sold on prizes donated by Nutrition S’Mart of Wesley Chapel, Massage Envy Wesley Chapel, Tampa Bay MatchMakers, Polar USA, Fitniche Wiregrass and others.

Those taking part in the fundraiser will donate $25 for each session on the stationery bicycles at the studio. Some of the studio’s regulars have already signed up to do two sessions, Farquhar said.

All of the proceeds from the event will benefit the American Diabetes Association.

The business was motivated to do the fundraiser because the diabetes organization reached out, asking for help and because the owners know people who have the disease. Farquhar said she was surprised to learn that the disease affects so many people and that it has such far-reaching health and medical cost implications.

Nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, and another 79 million are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Recent estimates project that as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes by 2050 unless steps are taken to stop the disease, the organization said.

Two out of three people who have diabetes die from heart disease or stroke, according to the diabetes association. It is also the leading cause of new blindness among adults, and people who have the disease are 10 times more likely to undergo an amputation than those without it.

It’s also a very expensive health problem, with the average medical expenditure for people with diabetes being 2.3 times higher than without it, the association reports.

Anyone wishing to participate in the fundraiser can reserve a spot, call (813) 501-2124.

Dale Mabry roadwork comes with new sidewalks

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There typically aren’t a lot of pedestrians making their way along North Dale Mabry Highway just south of County Line Road. But that doesn’t mean there might not be someday.

Work is starting to wrap up on a sidewalk construction project along both sides of the highway between Van Dyke and County Line roads that has created delays on North Dale Mabry for weeks. It’s part of an overall road-resurfacing project designed to make the drive smoother for traffic coming into — and out of — Pasco County.

The new sidewalks and boardwalks along North Dale Mabry Highway will span nearly four miles on both sides, and should help lower pedestrian accidents in the area. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
The new sidewalks and boardwalks along North Dale Mabry Highway will span nearly four miles on both sides, and should help lower pedestrian accidents in the area. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

“It’s pretty much our policy that when we go in and resurface a road, where applicable, we’ll put in sidewalks and we’ll put in bike lanes where needed,” said Florida Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kris Carson. “The Florida area, especially Tampa Bay, has been hit really hard with pedestrian fatalities and bicycle fatalities. This is one way to help prevent that.”

The overall project costs $5 million over 3.6 miles. The sidewalks account for $590,000 of that total, while boardwalks in certain places are just under $390,000.

Although some subdivisions exist along North Dale Mabry, the primary residents along the road are actually businesses. That includes a shopping center on the corner of North Dale Mabry and Lutz Lake Fern Road.

The businesses along the route typically have their own parking, and pedestrian traffic isn’t exactly encouraged. But building sidewalks might attract more people to go by foot, especially now that there’s solid ground away from fast-moving traffic, Carson said.

In 2011, 4,432 pedestrians and 677 cyclists were killed across the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The numbers are slowly dropping, thanks in part to a bigger focus on pedestrian safety along roads, Carson said. That’s especially true for cyclists, where annual fatalities were well more than 800 during the 1990s.

In a nine-year span last decade, cars and trucks in the Tampa Bay area killed more than 900 pedestrians and cyclists, according to a 2011 study from the group Transportation for America. The region trailed only Orlando in total deaths during that time.

The North Dale Mabry project started in July, and should be done by spring. For more information on the project, call (813) 612-3300, or email .

County must find ways to work with cities, ULI says

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“Just say no” is the mantra Pasco County officials have been told to adopt when it comes to new development. That is, until they get to the eastern side of the county.

Often overlooked in favor of the coastal side of the county, and more recently the southern tier, Zephyrhills and Dade City have a lot going for them. And county commissioners need to pay close attention to make it work right.

That was the advice of the Urban Land Institute, the independent growth and development analytical group that have explored the ins and outs of the county. Experts from the group made their first major presentation to commissioners earlier this month, telling them they have to work much closer with the communities, both incorporated and not.

“The regional plan of the county and the plans of the towns need to be bought forward and aligned,” said Dan Slone, a ULI representative from Richmond, Va. “Towns need to participate. They need to develop standards that align with the surrounding area.”

That means even cities like Zephyrhills and Dade City will have to plan not just for the growth of those in those municipalities, but also for the county as a whole. County commissioners and city leaders have to work together as one team to promote progress in Pasco.

Ways to do that include matching design standards, for instance. Right now, Zephyrhills may prefer new buildings constructed in one way that’s different from Dade City, which in turn may be different from Port Richey. And all may be much different from what Pasco County is doing.

Both the towns and the county need to find common ground on areas that could affect overall growth, and then stay on that same page moving forward.

“You can’t separate the towns from your development area, but they will have to harmonize,” Slone said. “They don’t have to say the same thing, as with any song, you’re weaker if everyone is the same. They need to be different notes, but they need to work together.”

That would then expand city issues into countywide ones. Like how Zephyrhills may deal with brownfields, for example. Brownfields are open land that was once used for something else, typically contaminating the soil underneath.

Yet, while many think of chemical contamination from factories and the like, Zephyrhills City Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson says her community deals more with contamination caused by high-density agriculture. And now, Zephyrhills is looking at how they can convert that land for future use.

“There are several thousand acres that are assembled in this corridor around the Zephyrhills industrial area,” Wilkeson said, pointing out the city’s municipal airport area off Chancey Road. “There really is a very focused target there for big users, but there is going to need to be some incentives available to get those big users.”

City officials already are working on a plan to widen runways at the Zephyrhills airport to 100 feet from the current 75, which they hope will accommodate larger planes. And while they may have missed out on opportunities to lure in companies like Amazon.com in recent months, there could be other possibilities.

Michele Baker, Pasco’s county administrator, agrees that more collaboration is needed.

“We cannot do it alone,” she said. “It requires better dialogue between us and the cities, and us and the development community to seek out the opportunities for us to take advantage of.”

Obstacles facing Pasco County
The Urban Land Institute outlined the key areas that are holding Pasco County back. They include:
• Absorption and Projections — Approved growth far exceeds the county’s absorption capacity, meaning it will take decades for all the approved developments to actually be built.
• Sustainable Site Systems — Pasco needs to increase the priority for quality of life services, like affordable housing and transportation.
• Transportation Planning and Funding — Pasco needs to collaborate on regional transportation services, working with other counties to make everything connect.
• Economic Development — The biggest focus here must be on the medical industry as well as ecotourism.
• Shaping Strategies — County planners have to think further out with more effective plans to make future growth work.
• Leadership — Get rid of old habits. It’s holding the county back.
• Fiscal — The overall vision needs funding. That means reconsidering the gas tax, and possibly increasing the tourism room tax.

Kids rise to challenge: Former principal gets slimed

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Dallas Jackson, the former principal at Martinez Middle School in Lutz, recently got his just desserts when two teachers poured 12 gallons of slime onto the administrator — soaking him with the sticky green Jell-O substance.

Chorus teacher Chad DeLoach and civics teacher Michael Carballo had the honors of sliming Jackson because their homerooms sold the most discount cards in a school fundraiser to generate money for covered walkways.

Dallas Jackson, former principal at Martinez Middle School, gets slimed in a school event to celebrate surpassing a fundraising goal at the Lutz school. (Photos courtesy of the Martinez Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association)
Dallas Jackson, former principal at Martinez Middle School, gets slimed in a school event to celebrate surpassing a fundraising goal at the Lutz school. (Photos courtesy of the Martinez Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association)

The school’s Parent Teacher Student Association took the lead on the moneymaking quest by devising a card with 40 discount stickers that can be redeemed at local businesses. The goal was to raise $22,500 this year, with $10,000 going toward the covered walkway project.

Jackson, who was recently promoted to a district position outside the school, promised he would allow himself to be slimed and would give students an upside-down uniform day if they exceeded the $22,500 fundraising goal. In the upside-down uniform day, teachers and staff wore school uniforms, while kids dressed in regular attire.

Apparently, the idea of seeing the principal slimed proved motivational. The PTSA raised nearly $30,000 through the discount card sales.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that the cards, which sold for $20, had a wide variety of discounts on local goods and services. There are discounts on frozen yogurt, cupcakes, pizza, hot dogs, restaurant meals, Sunday brunch, pet grooming, tutoring, car washes, golf outings, personal training and other deals.

This year’s discount card was an expanded version of a fundraiser the school had last year, which they called “Pizza Palooza.” That promotion was so successful the pizza places said they couldn’t afford to offer such deep discounts again, said PTSA president Monique Dailey.

So, the PTSA came up with a new plan. Fellow PTSA member Charmane DelBrocco suggested they expand on the theme.

In the words of Dailey: “They decided to take it and 2.0 it.”

“It definitely took hard work. There was a lot of cold calling,” said Dailey, crediting DelBrocco and Terri Ansel, another PTSA member, for hitting the pavement and using persistence to secure 40 discount deals.

By putting together their own discount card, the PTSA is able to direct the money to school projects and activities instead of paying a professional fundraising company, Dailey noted. Some of those companies want at least 60 percent of the proceeds.

Dailey said she’s not surprised by the generosity of area businesses, but she is gratified.

“It’s reassuring because we stepped out on faith that they would be there, that we would be able to fill 40 coupons,” she said.

To help entice students to sell the discount cards, the PTSA offered a $250 prize to the top seller. Seventh-grader Jordyn Schramm, who sold 18 discount cards, took home that reward.

Schramm said she walked around her Lutz neighborhood, pitching the discount cards to friends and neighbors.

“All I did was put a smile on my face and ask for their help,” she said.

It helped that the discount card had lots of good deals at nearby businesses, she said. “It’s for all of the places around our local neighborhood.”

Raising money to help the school provide more covered walkways is a good cause, Dailey said.

It’s a definite need, Schramm agreed, noting on rainy days all of the school’s 1,000-plus students use the same hallway.

“It’s almost like human bumper-to-bumper traffic,” she said.

By next year, the PTSA ladies said, they hope more kids will be able to walk under covered walkways across campus.

And, in the end, the former principal took a soaking — so students at the middle school won’t have to, on those rainy days.

‘Li’l Abner’ brings comic strip laughs to local stage

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Musical theater lovers are invited to take a trip back in comic strip time as a group of young performers bring the antics of Dogpatch, Ark. to life on the Pasco Middle School stage.

Arts in Motion’s production of the musical comedy “Li’l Abner” begins its run Nov. 8, featuring a cast of student performers from all over central and eastern Pasco County.

‘Li’l Abner’ director Capria Pichette, left, reads through some lines with actors in the play set to premiere Nov. 8 at Pasco Middle School. (Photo courtesy of Arts in Motion)
‘Li’l Abner’ director Capria Pichette, left, reads through some lines with actors in the play set to premiere Nov. 8 at Pasco Middle School. (Photo courtesy of Arts in Motion)

Inspired by Al Capp’s famous comic strip that was syndicated throughout the United States from 1934 to 1977, the musical comedy is focused on the lives of Li’l Abner Yokum, Daisy Mae Scragg Yokum, and other residents of the fictional mountain town of Dogpatch.

Two Pasco teens are sharing the responsibility of portraying Daisy Mae in the Arts in Motion production. Kailey Holyoke, 16, a junior at Wiregrass Ranch High School, and Melanie Kender, 17, a junior at Pasco High School, will take turns on the stage during the show’s two-week run.

Sharing a leading role can be tricky, the girls said. But, split time in the spotlight does have its perks.

“We help each other learn lines and get to work on teamwork skills,” Holyoke said.

“When you share a lead role, you get different perspectives,” Kender added.

Theater is a passion for both girls. Holyoke, who has been performing with Arts In Motion off and on since she was in elementary school, hopes to pursue the arts as a career.

Kender began working with the nonprofit youth community theater group in 2009, and has been involved in every production ever since. She hopes to become a linguist down the road, but says theater will remain a part of her life.

As for “Li’l Abner,” both girls say the show is a “must-see.”

“It’s fabulous,” Holyoke said. “It’s a really fun show. It’s catchy and it has really great dance numbers.”

Director Capria Pichette agrees, and points out those who attend the show not only get to enjoy live theater, but they gain an additional benefit as well.

“It’s a great way to support your local community as well as support children and the arts,” she said.

Arts in Motion provides students in kindergarten through 12th grade an opportunity to learn about the performing arts. Its mission is to make sure youngsters have access to the educational opportunities theater can provide, said the group’s president, Patti Corjay.

The nonprofit got its start back in 1995 as public schools began to cut arts funding. Since it’s geared toward theater education, Arts in Motion makes sure every child who auditions for a production receives a role, Corjay said.

Donations, sponsors, ticket sales and a small fee charged for participation funds the group. Children whose families cannot afford the fees are provided with scholarships.

The next production for Arts in Motion is “High School Musical,” with auditions for the spring show set to begin in January, Corjay said.

For more information on how to join Arts in Motion, and how adults can support the mission, visit the group’s website at ArtsInMotionPasco.com. The group stages two productions each year, one in the spring and the other in the fall.

If you go
Arts in Motion will present ‘Li’l Abner’ at Pasco Middle School, 37350 Florida Ave., Dade City.
Shows are at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8, Nov. 9, Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 10 and Nov. 17.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens, and $7 for students.
For tickets and more information, visit ArtsInMotionPasco.com.

By Sherri Lonon

Returning to Grand Horizons in November with a bang

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The month of October rolled on at Grand Horizons with new activities and old. This community certainly can keep people busy as much they want to be.

We have our old reliable fun things to do like card playing, mahjong, shuffleboard, exercises, bingo, dominoes and so much more. That’s in addition to new and exciting things like the movies that Rich Wagner is showing in his home and other things to come.

A train rolls through on the Essex Steam Railroad. (Photo by Marty Rubenstein)
A train rolls through on the Essex Steam Railroad. (Photo by Marty Rubenstein)

From what I understand, “Fun with Art” with Luella Wheeling, and other activities that were put on hold during the summer, will start shortly.

In the meantime, Grand Horizons had its monthly connoisseur luncheon on Oct. 11. This month the connoisseur lunch was at Golden Corral.

“We had 50 people and we filled the Tuttle Room,” said Sandy Lindke, who hosted this event along with her husband, Al Lindke. “It took us a good hour to get our fill of food and friendship.”

Denise Stewart and Pidge Elliott found smiley face stickers on their chairs, indicating that they had won the thank you prizes of $10 gift cards for Walmart. After the luncheon, about 20 people gathered together in the Lindke carport to spend the rest of the afternoon with drinks and laughter.

There also was something that we never had before, and it was taco night on Oct. 16 in the community center. It was hosted by Andy and Margaret Castonguay. Helping out in the kitchen to do the cooking and serving were Annmarie and Chick Shackewyc. There was additional help, as almost everyone helped out in several different ways.

I spoke to Andy and he told me that they served 91 people and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. They had taco bowls with toppings made from scratch.

These bowls were made in a deep fryer and for toppings they had lettuce, diced tomatoes and onions, salsa, cheese, black olives, and sour cream. The toppings on the meat created a nice meal.

After the main meal, they had cake and coffee or iced tea. Later in the evening they had poker, plus hand and foot. So it was a day to be remembered.

Marty and I will join our friends at Grand Horizon shortly, but in the meantime, on Oct. 13, we took a day trip which was a 1.5-hour cruise from Haddam, Conn. We took this ride on the River Quest and experienced the lower Connecticut River.

It was a lovely crisp day, and we passed by the Goodspeed Opera House that was built in 1870 and has terrific plays and musicals like “Annie” and “The Sound of Music,” and so much more. We saw a swinging bridge that is 100 years old and is the fifth oldest swing bridge. We also saw on this trip the Gillette Castle and several yacht clubs.

On the river we saw many canoes and speedboats with people fishing, and we saw some beautiful homes and some schools, plus some inns that were converted into apartment buildings.

At one point on our cruise we observed, from the water, the Essex Steam Railroad. This was a beauty of a train with many cars.

We also saw the Chester Ferry that took passengers across the river, and we actually got to see another tour boat called the Betty Thatcher. We just waved and hooted to one another as we passed. We observed many birds such as the tree swallows and several nests being built by the birds. Some were completed, and we actually saw a bald eagle in one.

One thing in particular that was something to see was a helicopter taking off. It was some site, and the airport had several more planes and gliders.

We enjoyed the ride and that it was fully narrated. All in all, it was a relaxing day.

By Helene Rubenstein

Swamp Fest gears up, still needs volunteers

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Organizers of the Land O’ Lakes Swamp Fest have a mantra: “It takes a community to make a festival.”

In keeping with that theme, Swamp Fest 2013 welcomes additional volunteers to step forward and help with the variety of chores that have to be done to make any festival a success, Swamp Fest coordinator Doug Hutchinson said.

Students who are older than 16 can pitch in at the event to earn some community service hours, Hutchinson said, and any other civic-minded volunteer who wants to help out would be appreciated.

Cheryl Carreno and her grandson, Colton Bettis, ride the carousel at the Swamp Fest last year. (File photo)
Cheryl Carreno and her grandson, Colton Bettis, ride the carousel at the Swamp Fest last year. (File photo)

The annual festival — Friday through Sunday this year — will be in its usual place at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

The Land O’ Lakes High School Booster Club hosts the event, which aims to bring the community together for a good time, while raising money for area schools, nonprofit organizations, community groups and area businesses.

The event generally attracts around 5,000 to 6,000 people, Hutchinson said.

Tickets purchased in advance are $15, a sizable discount from the $22 ticket price at the event, Hutchinson said. Various ticket outlets help sell the tickets and receive a portion of the proceeds, he said. Event parking is $5.

The midway is handled by W.G. Wade Shows, the same company that has participated since the festival’s inception five years ago.

The midway will feature up to 25 rides. Stands will be selling food and candy, and soft drinks will be available from local groups.

The event also features a Miss and Mr. Swampfest pageant, which will be on Saturday.

Swamp Fest began as a fundraiser at Land O’ Lakes High School, home of the Gators, and that’s what inspired the festival’s name. It is always on the first weekend of November.

Besides rides, games and food, the event also features live performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Anyone who would like to volunteer at the event should call Hutchinson at (813) 293-3684, or sign up on the festival’s website, www.LOLSwampFest.com.

If you go
Land O’ Lakes Swamp Fest 2013
When: Nov. 1-3, Friday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
What: Rides, games, entertainment, food, business and community organization booths
For more information, visit www.LOLSwampFest.com

 

Buy your tickets
These are the presale ticket outlets:
• Connerton Elementary School, 9300 Flourish Drive in Land O’ Lakes
• Lake Myrtle Elementary School, 22844 Weeks Blvd. in Land O’ Lakes
• Rushe Middle School, 18654 Mentmore Blvd. in Land O’ Lakes
• Land O’ Lakes High School, 20325 Gator Lane in Land O’ Lakes
• Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd. in Land O’ Lakes
• Kids Stuff Daycare, 21360 Lake Floyd Drive in Land O’ Lakes
• Sugar & Spice, 3508 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. in Land O’ Lakes
• All Kids Academy, 1910 Livingston Road in Lutz
• Beef O’ Brady’s — Wilderness, 7040 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite 108 in Land O’ Lakes; Sunlake, 18835 State Road 54 in Lutz; and Village Lakes, 21539 Village Lakes Shopping Center Drive in Land O’ Lakes.