Zephyrhills/East Pasco News

Voters decide outcome in municipal races

April 19, 2022 By Mike Camunas

There will be mostly familiar faces on elected city government boards in East Pasco, following the April 12 municipal elections.

Dade City Commissioner Scott Black held onto his seat by defeating challenger Kelly Smith. Black received 471 votes to Smith’s 259.

Joining Black on that board will be Ann Cosentino, who was elected to fill an opening created by Mayor Camille Hernandez, who retired from her seat on the board.

Commission Group 2 winner Ann Cosentino and her supporters wave to passing cars on Meridian Avenue on April 12, as the newly elected official defeated opponent Keeley Karatinos. (Mike Camunas)

Cosentino received 432 votes; Keeley Karatinos received 285.

Cosentino was impressed by the turnout.

“There was a rolling amount of people coming in and it felt like record numbers to me,” she said.

The candidate had placed signs up and down Meridian Avenue and pitched a tent with her supporters at 6:30 a.m., in front of Precinct OO1, at the First Baptist Church of Dade City, at 37511 Church Ave.

Karatinos did the same thing.

Commission Group 1 winner Scott Black retained his seat by receiving 64% of 730 votes over opponent Kelly Smith on April 12.

Both candidates were out waving as drivers passed — with some motorists responding by honking their horns.

Before the votes were tallied, Cosentino was ready for whatever the outcome would be.

“I’ve always been surrounded by people and a team that really support me and believe in me, and that has made running really worth it,” Cosentino said. “I’ve done all the hard work and I’ve worked as hard as I possibly can, so I’ve been at peace no matter what the result will be.”

Incumbent Black also was at Precinct 001, waving to passersby, on Election Day.

Precinct 001 Supervisor Robert McConathy said the enthusiastic voter turnout is a sign of the pivotal time that Dade City is experiencing.

“Lots of things have been taking place in the city and a lot of people want to see change.

“When that happens, you see high voter turnout.”

The Town of St. Leo also had a contested seat, where voters selected William Hamilton to fill Seat 5 on its commission. Hamilton secured 30 votes; opponent Susan Lashlee received 9.

Some municipal leaders were reelected without challenge.

Winning their seats unopposed were Alison R. Cagle, Sarah E. Schrader and John T. Vogel, in the City of San Antonio; Donna H. DeWitt and James E. Hallett, in the Town of St. Leo; and, Lance Smith and Ken Burgess, in the City of Zephyrhills.

Dade City Commission

Group 1 results
Scott Black: 471
Kelly Smith: 259

Group 2 results
Ann Cosentino: 432
Keeley Karatinos: 285

St. Leo Town Commission
Seat 5
William Hamilton: 30
Susan Lashlee: 9

UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES

San Antonio City Commission
Alison R. Cable
Sarah E. Schrader
John T. Vogel

Saint Leo Town Commission
Seat 1: Donna H. DeWitt
Seat 3: James E. Hallett

Zephyrhills City Council
Seat 1: Lance Smith
Seat 4: Ken Burgess

Published April 20, 2022

Lighthouse Books shines on, in Dade City

March 29, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Step inside Lighthouse Books in downtown Dade City, and you might feel like you’ve entered an oversized time capsule – but one that encases memorabilia from far more than a single moment in history.

Shelves and tables inside the store display eclectic collections of books, periodicals, how-to manuals, and even vintage brochures that document humanity’s literary musings through the ages.

In a sense, Lighthouse Books is the quintessential used-book store, though most of its hand-me-downs are anything but mass-produced reprints.

Lighthouse Books founder Michael Slicker sits at his desk surrounded by scores of vintage books waiting to be cataloged into the store’s inventory. (Courtesy of Susan Green)

Proprietor Michael Slicker reflects on that, as he handles a 1478 edition of “Commentaries on Juvenal’s Satires,” one of the oldest and rarest artifacts available for purchase at the store.

“It was used back when Columbus got here,” he quips.

Slicker is an antiquarian bookseller, one of only about 450 members of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America. Born in St. Petersburg, he founded his store there in 1977 and chose the name, in part, for its original location overlooking the water.

In 2019, after being twice cramped by encroaching development, he relocated Lighthouse Books to Dade City, where his daughter, Sarah Smith, had already put down roots. Together, father and daughter run the business, which includes appraisals, purchases and sales of thousands of yesteryear’s treasures.

Specialties include books chronicling Florida and Caribbean history, as well as many works related to military histories. But Lighthouse offers collectible books, maps, and print materials from all over the world and just about every time period.

“We have a niche. We don’t have to compete with all the paperback sellers,” Slicker says.

He doesn’t count online booksellers such as Amazon as competitors, either, even though most of Lighthouse’s sales these days are made online through the company’s website.

Mainstream booksellers generally don’t handle books published before the 1970s because they don’t have ISBN numbers, Slicker explains. Without those unique identifiers, book vendors can’t easily enter books into a computerized inventory system.

At Lighthouse, each of the thousands of vintage materials that enter the store’s inventory must be cataloged by hand – a task that falls mostly to Smith.

Sarah Smith displays a vintage marketing brochure for Appleton Manufacturing Co., which crafted windmills and farm implements in the early to mid-1900s.

“It’s definitely something we work on constantly,” she says.

Judging books by their covers
Slicker’s expertise as an antiquarian book appraiser has been sought by universities, private collectors and estate sellers. And when it comes to antique book valuations, the old adage against judging a book by its cover doesn’t apply. Slicker notes that a book’s artwork and binding materials play a significant role in valuations, and they tell tales about the people of yesteryear, just as the written words do.

For example, take the 1854 volume titled “The Poetical Works of Thomas Gray.” As Slicker bends the Moroccan leather binding slightly and thumbs across the pages’ gilded edges, a portrait of the author against a churchyard backdrop appears. It’s a hidden flourish known as a fore-edge painting that sets the scene for the poet’s best-known poem, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,” before the first page is turned.

Or take the American decorative binding trends of the early 20th century. Lighthouse is home to quite a few examples of books with elaborate artwork gracing the covers, usually the handiwork of women.

Grace Smith, 9, daughter of Sarah Smith and granddaughter of Michael Slicker, finds plenty to ways to while away the time in the kids’ section at Lighthouse Books.

“Since women were kind of shut out of all the fine arts, they did these decorative bindings,” Slicker says.

Slicker’s appraisal talents have put him in touch with the past in a way that few people ever experience. For example, one of his assignments was to appraise a log book that the famous pilot Amelia Earhart carried with her on one of her transatlantic flights. To him, the entries read like letters to her parents in the event she didn’t return.

“You have to picture that she’s writing in her log as she’s soloing across the Atlantic,” Slicker says. “And she writes that there’s an 8-foot wave and her right engine is going out.”

As much as he loves books, Slicker doesn’t collect them himself. It’s not a good idea for an antiquarian bookseller to compete with his customers, he explains.

“I tell people I got into the business because of the books, but I stayed because of the people,” Slicker says. “It’s a joy when an enthusiastic person comes in and says, ‘Oh, I’ve been looking for this for a long time.’”

Tina Ross, of Dade City, is just such a customer. Recently, she came to Lighthouse Books looking for a specialty craft book.

“I’m like in heaven here,” she said. “I like bookstores, but they have all the new titles everywhere — nothing juicy.”

A perfect fit
Margaret Angell, a 20-year downtown business owner who chairs the Dade City Merchants Association, says Lighthouse Books is a welcome addition to a historic commercial district that draws visitors to its antique stores, specialty shops and restaurants.

“We’re delighted to have them,” she says. “They bring a whole new element to our downtown with their historic books and maps.”

Slicker and Smith say they’ve been happy with the move.

“I think it’s definitely a more leisurely pace than we experienced in St. Petersburg,” Smith says. “People come and spend the day, and they’re glad to be out and about. … I think it’s easier to be kind when they’re less stressed.”

Lighthouse Books in Dade City advertises collectible ‘books, maps, prints and ephemera,’ the latter being vintage advertisements, magazines, brochures, and other ‘throwaway’ literature of the past.

If you go
Lighthouse Books, ABAA
Where: 14046 Fifth St., Dade City
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday
Contact: 727-822-3278 or
Info: OldFloridaBookstore.com

Calling old book lovers
What: 39th Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair
When: April 1 to April 3
Where: The Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N., St Petersburg
Cost: Admission $10 for the entire event
Info: FloridaAntiquarianBookFair.com

By Susan Green

Published March 30, 2022

A day for dogs, and their owners, in Dade City

March 29, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Friendly pups were out in full force, from big breeds to little leapers and every furry, four-legged dog in between, at the 12th annual Dogs’ Day in Dade City.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez poses with this year’s Dog Mayor, Abby, during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park. (Mike Camunas)

It really was a dogs’ day afternoon on March 19, at Agnes Lamb Park, just off Meridian Avenue, the city’s downtown.

“Today really is about the dogs,” Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez told the crowd of dozens of dogs accompanied by their humans. The mayor added: “But today is really about the people, too, and this great community.”

Dogs’ Day has been going on ever since Lucy Avila, along with the Dade City Youth Council, organized it with local animal-based businesses from Dade City.

With downtown businesses such as Dog-Mania & Cats, Dade City Animal Clinic and Nutrena Farmers Feed Depot, Dogs’ Day hosts a variety of activities. They include costume contests, dog parade, talent portions and even an ice-cream eating contest that pairs the dogs with the humans (who eat yogurt).

“It’s a great day for the dog and the human to come together and expose them to a fun environment,” Avila said. “This lets the dogs interact, while their owners can do some local vendor shopping that’s dog-related.”

Avila was especially proud of her own dog, Abby, a Schnauzer Terrier that became the inaugural Dog Mayor of Dade City.

Selecting a Dog Mayor is a new contest introduced this year. The person who raises the most money for the fundraiser has the honor of having his or her dog named the Dog Mayor for a year.

A dog parade was among the many fun activities during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City, held on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park.

“I’m glad she’s the first Dog Mayor of Dade City,” Avila said, with a laugh.

Also on hand were several dog adoption groups with available good boys and good girls to take home.

A K-9 Challenge was held, with the sheriff’s unit showing off its canine officers and their talents.

Proceeds from this year’s event benefit the city’s K-9 program, the veteran’s K-9 program and several other adoption programs, as well as the Pasco County Animal Shelter in Land O’ Lakes.

Over the years, proceeds from Dogs’ Day also has helped to support and maintain the Dade City Dog Park, which is just down the street from where the event was held.

Avila said she thinks the event represents Dade City and what the town is all about.

“We’re a very dog/pet-friendly town and we have dog stations all around town, which some of our proceeds go to (maintaining) those.”

Avila continued: “I thought today was a great turnout because every year it’s just great to see this community come together by one thing: their love of dogs and their pets.”

Sponsors for this year’s event were The New Barker, an online dog magazine; the Green Door on 8th; and Granny’s Animal Camp.

Published March 30, 2022

This ‘Starbucks’ couple, Ocean Wolf, left, and Maddie Sparks, plus Daisy, attended the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park. They won for Most Creative Costume.

Dallas enjoys a shady spot with owner Nikita Hickey during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park.

Winter gladly takes a drink served by owner, Rick Chyzzewzki, during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City.

Darla Belevich and Honey Bee take a little break during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park.

Ebony and Diane Krug won Cutest Costume at the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City.

Kevin Taggerty sits on stage with Hamlet, left, and CJ, right, at the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City.

Marley looks up at its owners while sporting a comfy red hoodie during the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City.

Rebecca Workman holds Khloe, a three-month old Frenchie, at the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park. Frenchie tired early.

Robie Ward, along with Yoda and Daly, enjoys the 12th annual Dogs’ Days in Dade City on March 19 at Agnes Lamb Park.

Zephyrhills librarian captures award-winning image

March 22, 2022 By Mike Camunas

The timing could not have been better.

“On that particular night, the moon was perfect,” Lori Brightwell, Zephyrhills librarian, said about her prize-winning photograph.

The former professional photographer also noted: “With the right lighting and cropping, basically anyone can have equally good pictures.”
She used her iPhone to capture the moon shining through clouds, above Zephyrhills City Hall, with a fountain lit up in the foreground.

Lori Brightwell, a Zephyrhills librarian, captured this image she calls ‘City Hall at Night.’ Brightwell placed third in the Florida Cities and County Management Association’s Membership Directory Photo Contest. The image will be featured on the association’s homepage for three months. Brightwell was a professional photographer for 22 years. (Courtesy of Lori Brightwell)

She knew it was a great photo, but was totally unaware of the photo contest.

It turns out that Kevin Weiss, the city’s public information officer, submitted the image as an entry in the Florida Cities and County Management (FCCMA) 2022-23 Membership Directory Photo Contest.

It was one of 47 submissions from jurisdictions across Florida that generated more than 25,000 views.

Brightwell’s photo garnered 360 votes, which yielded her third place in the competition.

Her photo now will be featured on the FCCMA home page from Jan. 1, 2023 to March 1, 2023.

“I’m very happy people voted for it,” Brightwell said.

She said it didn’t matter that her photo didn’t capture first place.

“I’m glad it’ll be on the cover, so everyone can see a part of this town that I just think is beautiful,” Brightwell said.

Before “accidentally becoming a librarian,” Brightwell worked as a professional photographer in the Temple Terrace area for more than two decades.

She graduated from the University of South Florida with a major in photography; she specialized in shooting weddings and national horse shows. In those days, Brightwell shot film and developed it in a darkroom at her house.

“I was told I would never get a job in photography,” she said, noting at that time, “there weren’t many women in photography either.”

But she worked as a photographer for 22 years.

When photography turned digital, it was harder to find work, Brightwell said.

That’s when she bought a horse from a principal, who helped her get a job as a school’s media specialist for a year while she also taught photography as an online class.

Shortly after, she became a librarian in downtown Zephyrhills and never looked back at photography — except when she has some free time.

“Honestly, this city is really a gem of a city,” she said.” There are so many little places that I wish I could do nothing but take pictures, if I weren’t always in the library. The snapshots that tell the story of Zephyrhills — the little details. That’s how you see the whole story of this town, which, in my opinion, is really beautiful.”

Especially late at night.

“I sent it to the city, just joking about how late us librarians leave, and I thought they might not think it was funny,” she said. “They loved the picture.”

“So, sometimes,” Brightwell said, “it’s worth it to leave that late.”

Published March 23, 2022

Local projects receive federal funds

March 22, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Ten community project funding requests submitted this year by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis were approved and will bring a total of $13.79 million in federal funding to the Tampa Bay area, according to a news release from the congressman’s office.

Bilirakis received dozens of proposals seeking federal funding from local governments, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations throughout Florida, the release said.

Three of the projects receiving funding will have a direct impact on areas within East Pasco County. Those projects are:

Rural Northeast Pasco Community Park Site Acquisition: $1 million
Provides funding to allow Pasco County to plan, identify, and buy the new community park site, including appraisals, boundary surveys, closing costs, insurance and so on. In other parts of the county, impact fees support the purchase of parkland and developing of parks, but in rural northeast Pasco, less land is being developed resulting in less impact fees.

The Dade City Wastewater Treatment Plant: $1.75 million
This project involves the design and permitting of the city’s wastewater treatment plant relocation and upgrade.

The Zephyrhills Lift Station and Force Main Project: $1.5 million
This provides matching funds to the City of Zephyrhills to assist with wastewater system improvement that will allow the city to balance wastewater flow, provide water quality protection and support water supply needs in the Hillsborough River Basin.

The other seven projects submitted by Bilirakis that received funding will have direct impacts in West Pasco, in Pinellas County or across Pinellas and Pasco counties.

In the news release, Bilirakis, who represents Florida’s 12th congressional district, said: “While I am no proponent of big government spending, I have a duty to ensure my community receives its fair share of allocated federal resources and to be transparent about my efforts to prioritize these important projects. These projects will help strengthen our local infrastructure, benefit our community and assist local residents.”

Published March 23, 2022

Museum presents an homage to the cowboy way of life

March 22, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Sounds of cracking whips and old-time music filled the air at Cracker Cowboy Day at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road.

The event was held for its first time on March 5, on the property in Dade City.

As her proud father, Evan, looks on, 3-year-old Savannah Feller, of Lake Wales, achieves a decent lasso spin during calf roping at Cracker Cowboy Day at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village on March 5. Her mom, Rachel, and little sister Addison cheer from the sidelines. (Christine Holtzma)

Dade City Candy, Comics, and Collectibles presented the event, which took folks back to a bygone era of Florida’s early settlers.

It was a time that was rich with cowboys and cattle.

Many of the interactive demonstrations featured activities that actually would have taken place on the range.

Both children and adults could try their hand at whip-cracking, cow-whip braiding, roping, axe-throwing and wood plank branding.

Numerous speakers wore period clothing – many of whom were stationed inside authentic-styled cow camps. The speakers and their backdrops helped to create a feel for an earlier era, as they provided lessons about Florida’s pioneer days.

There was a petting zoo, a blacksmith exhibition and vendors catering to cowboys, as well as offering farm goods.

Cowboy poetry in the Mabel Jordan Barn rounded out the day.

Dade City rancher and cowboy poet Steve Melton spearheaded the one-of-a-kind event.

When friends urged him to do poetry at the museum, he didn’t think poetry was enough of a draw to attract crowds.

So, instead, he arranged an event that not only showcased, but celebrated the Florida cow hunter’s (knowns as the ‘Crackers’) way of life.

Melton said the need to share that history helped to inspire the event.

“No one has pulled out the true history of the cowboy story, so that is what we are trying to introduce and preserve,” Melton said.

By Christine Holtzman

Published March 23, 2022

Susan Krusee, of Plant City, straightens up a display of goods that she is selling inside the Country Store booth during the inaugural Cracker Cowboy Day event. Krusee is a historical seamstress that strives for historical accuracy with all the clothing and items that she makes by hand and collects.

Steve Melton, a Dade City rancher and cowboy poet, recites a poem he calls, ‘The Rain at Billy Goat Sink.’ Melton shared about a dozen poems and stories with the audience inside the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village’s Mabel Jordan Barn, during the inaugural Cracker Cowboy Day event.

David Riker, of Hawthorne, has a seat inside the replica cattle camp that he and his group set up during the inaugural Cracker Cowboy Day event at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village. Riker, along with his wife Lori, longtime friend Jim McAlister, and McAlister’s daughter Sheyenne, dressed in pioneer-era clothing and educated audiences on what life was like as a cattle farmer for the early Florida settlers.

Ed Collins, of Collins Cattle and Grove LLC, sits atop a wagon being pulled by his two Belgian Draft horses. The horses — 16-year-old Doug, left, and, 15-year-old Barney — were a big hit with the crowd. Some lucky guests got to go for a wagon ride, too.

Brenda Anderson, of Dade City, pets Sadie, a Charolais-Cross cow, who is more interested in the hay that Anderson had in her hand. Anderson, a fifth-generation Floridian, is a docent at the Cracker Country Museum – located at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Jeanette Figueroa, of Tampa, helps with her 9-year-old daughter Madison’s wood plank branding. For a small fee, guests could create their own art, using real cattle brands.

Zephyrhills High ushers in a brand-new look

March 15, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Like many in this small town, it’s a longtime resident.

Zephyrhills High School.

The second-oldest school in Pasco County recently celebrated the end of a two-year, $33-million renovation.

The $33-million renovation at Zephyrhills High included adding a two-story, 17-classroom building, increasing the school’s capacity to about 1,950 students. (Mike Camunas)

Now, the school is practically unrecognizable to even deeply-rooted alumni and members of the community.

“My parents went here,” said senior athlete and student council vice president Kamil Mehrab.

He remembers how the school looked, not only since arriving there as a freshman, but from his growing-up years, near the school.

Long-timers reminisce about what it used to look like and are just like, ‘Nothing’s there anymore’, he said.

Overall, the campus remains the same — but it has been updated, relocated or improved, and in some cases, there have been additions.

The main entrance, for example, has changed drastically. The School Resource Officer’s office has been moved. And, the school’s massive trophy case now is in the main commons area — creating a visually stunning display.

“The eye is really drawn to that right away,” said principal Dr. Christina Stanley, in her third year at the school’s helm.

Zephyrhills High underwent a two-year, $33-million renovation, which included redesigning the common area to make it more spacious and to provide a prominent location for the school’s massive trophy case.

“And this city — it loves this school. Many of the residents and community leaders are deeply invested in it because many of them either went here, too, or their children now go here.

“And there’s been a lot of feedback in the form of questions of where everything is now or how it can look so different. Once they get over that and realize just how great everything is and its importance, they fall in love with it all over again,” the principal said.

The high school also added a new two-story, 17-classroom building, bringing its capacity to about 1,950 students.

The media center was remodeled, too. It now features small group conference rooms, circulation desks, flat-screen technology, and numerous outlets.

It has the feel of a university’s collaborative space.

“It’s all state-of-the-art,” Mehrab said. “It definitely doesn’t look like a high school because it’s so sleek and modern, but it’s very impressive, too.”

A redesign of the media center was part of the $33-million renovation at Zephyrhills High.

The classrooms and school have been equipped with enhanced safety measures to meet requirements in a “post-Parkland era,” Stanley said.

It also offers career and technical education opportunities.

The school’s criminal justice program features a 911 communications center, while the health occupation classroom resembles a hospital wing, equipped with multiple beds, sinks and curtains.

The school’s science, agriculture and building construction technology programs now have enlarged spaces for better hands-on learning, and the JROTC program has an indoor firing range in a classroom that includes a large garage door for easy trailer access.

Other improvements include a larger cafeteria area, additional restrooms, upgrades to the commons area, and an updated teacher’s lounge and administration suites.

Tampa-based Peter Hepner Architects and Clearwater-based Creative Contractors completed the project. They took feedback from staff and administration, and incorporated many suggestions into the plans.

“They gave me everything,” said Cat Burgess, a longtime fine arts teacher. “I asked for electric to come from the ceiling, and they came back and did that. I made out great, and with much more space. It’s so great that we were able to get this kind of update to everything.”

Buildings also were overhauled with a new air conditioning system, fire sprinkler system and energy-efficient LED lighting.

Plus, Stanley said, “there’s new windows everywhere letting in more light.

“I even have one in my office now.”

One difference, though, raised eyebrows of alumni, students, staff and community residents, alike.

“Where is Gus?!” they wanted to know.

There’s no need to worry: The school’s 500-pound brass bulldog, donated by Fred Gore from the Class of 1948, isn’t missing or gone.

Gus has just been moved.

He used to stand in the commons area: Now, he’s in the gym lobby.

Principal Stanley had this message for the Zephyrhills High faithful: “Gus isn’t going anywhere — he’s staying right here.

“We just need to find the right spot for him,” Stanley said with a laugh. “Gus is family.”

Published March 13, 2022

Festival offers fun for kids, and adults, too

March 15, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The 12th annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival had a new feature this year: Friday night festivities.

Lamar Marshall, of Lakeland, pit master for the Smoke Shack BBQ team prepares ribs and sausage to feed hungry patrons at the festival. (Fred Bellet)

Activities at the festival included a Kidz Grillin’ competition for fun and a more serious contest among adult pit masters, competing in the Florida Barbecue State Championship.

The event was held on the evening of March 4 and during the day on March 5.

Both days featured a chance to enjoy some succulent barbecue, to listen to blues music, to do some shopping, and to just hang out.

The Friday night activities were a big hit, said Melonie Monson, executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

The Kidz Grillin’ contest drew 25 contestants, who were split into five teams.

“They (the kids) had the time of their lives. We had five of our pit masters that mentored them,” Monson said.

“And, it was just fun for the parents, the siblings, the staff — everybody had a great time on Friday night with that,” she said.

It was all about the ribs for Gary White, of Dade City, as he chows down, under the dining tent, at the 2022 Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival. As he enjoyed his ribs, his wife, Lana White, sat nearby.

The bands draw a big crowd, too, she said.

The Friday festivities were “a real positive thing and probably something that we’ll continue doing,” Monson said.

The turnout the next day, however, was less than organizers had hoped for, Monson said. She noted the event was competing with the Florida Strawberry Festival, the boat show, the seafood festival and other events that day.

Still, Monson remained upbeat.

“We had a great day. The weather was beautiful,” she said.

She also said this year’s festival had some of the best bands that have played in the event’s history.

“They were just amazing,” Monson said.

Overall, the chamber executive said, “everybody seemed to have a great time. Our vendors did really well.”

Published March 13, 2022

Ed Wright opened the entertainment the morning of March 5, with his brand of blues at the 12th annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival. Performing from the AdventHealth Zephyrhills stage, other entertainers included Jimmy Griswold, The Kid Royal Band and Memphis Lightning.

Patrons patiently waited in line to pick up some ribs, chicken and sausage from the ‘Off the Bone’ vendor’s tent. The grilling crew was one of many vendors serving up barbecue during the Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival. The tent is adorned with flags from some of the team’s past BBQ competition wins.

Lovey, a 5-pound Toy Poodle, may be overwhelmed by the aroma of barbecue, but can simply look on while being carried in Vonna Carmickle’s purse. The Poinciana woman said it was their second visit to Pigz in Z’Hills.

Shawn Smith, right, of Land O’ Lakes, and his opponent Drake Denny, of Brandon, take turns testing their skills during the Corn Hole Tournament.

Scotty Claus, of Zephyrhills, usually stays busy around Christmastime. But the Santa look-alike was asked to help judge the Kidz Grillin’ contest. Before judging began, Claus said he would look for good taste, good presentation and tender meat.

Having a royal time at the Renaissance Festival

March 8, 2022 By Kelli Carmack

Joe Monach and Andrea Meythaler proudly show off their renaissance festival outfits. Meythaler worked for the festival a couple years ago. ‘I’ll go wherever they go,’ said Meythaler. (Kelli Carmack)

The 43rd Bay Area Renaissance Festival features jugglers and full-armored jousting, men and women wearing Medieval styles, and plenty to eat, drink, buy and see.

There’s a marketplace, where more than 100 artisans display and sell handcrafted goods such as crowns, corsets, mugs and other items. Plus, there are 15 stages of entertainment, showcasing such acts as clowns, acrobats, musicians and magicians.

Each festival weekend has a different theme, such as Barbarian Brew Fest; Shamrocks & Shenanigans; and High Seas Adventure.

The event, being held at 12838 Auton Road in Dade City, runs rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on weekends through April 3.

Parking is free.

For ticket information and additional details, go to BayAreaRenFest.com.

Published March 09, 2022

One of the vendors at the festival was Fairydust Images. The owner, Charity Dauenhauer, creates original fantasy artwork, prints and collectibles. (Nicole Sanchez)

Ichabod Wainwright puts on quite a show with his Wheel of Death, a 30-foot tall wooden wheel. This is his 10th year participating in the Bay Area Renaissance Festival. (Kelli Carmack)

This fair delivered heaping helpings of fun

March 8, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Pirate Dan Man, right, also known as Daniel Jolley of Groton, Vermont, performed daily from his strolling mobile ship, at the fair. Here, he introduces 3-year-old Mayer Henry, of Dade City, as his assistant. Mayer was enjoying the fair with his dad, Jamie Floyd, of Dade City. (Fred Bellet)

From the joy that comes from hearing children laugh with delight, to the aroma of fried foods filling the air, to the spectacle of contestants gorging themselves with spaghetti — the 75th annual Pasco County Fair had myriad opportunities for people to have a good time.

A giant talking robot strolled through the fairgrounds cracking jokes.

Rides offered speed, thrills and dazzling lights.

Gospel singers and karaoke performers entertained the crowds.

And, of course, there were chances to compete in home craft categories, and at livestock shows.

For some, the trip to the fair, at 36722 State Road 52, in Dade City, was a pleasant way to spend time with family and catch up with old friends.

The theme of this year’s fair, from Feb. 21 to Feb. 27, was “Memories Made New.”

There were plenty of chances to do that — to make new memories, that is.

Published March 09, 2022