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Zephyrhills/East Pasco News

Dade City attracts thousands to 22nd Kumquat Festival

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Thousands streamed to the 22nd annual Kumquat Festival in historic downtown Dade City on Jan. 26

Members of the Mexican dance troupe, the Folkloric Toltecatl, featured 11 Mexican folklore dancers. They are from Dade City. (Fred Bellet)

In an open letter, John Moors, executive director of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, recapped the event, and offered a heartfelt expression of gratitude for the army of volunteers who helped to pull it off.

“Over 400 vendors and sponsors sold and promoted their wares and services,” Moors said, in a news release.

“Our entertainment stage at the Historic Courthouse featured free live performances from wonderful local talent all day. Many of the shops and restaurants in Dade City, and the surrounding area, enjoyed their busiest day of the year,” Moors added.

A 10-year old Treeing Walker Coon Hound, named Zissou, waits patiently by his master, Nicholas Moo’s side, as Moo and his wife, Jenna, of Altamonte Springs, select bags of the Nagami-type kumquats to take home. It was the family’s first visit to the Kumquat Festival.

On behalf of the chamber, its board and its staff, Moors extended “heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors (especially our headlining sponsor, AdventHealth Dade City), vendors and supporters.”

The festival was supported by a $60,000 marketing campaign and, in conjunction with the City of Dade City, Pasco County Tourism and Visit Florida — which all promoted Dade City and the area as a unique place to visit, Moors noted.

He credited Bobby Van Allen and Jason Sasser, the festival co-chairs, for leading the efforts of more than 200  volunteers.

Moors estimated that the event generated more than $1 million in economic activity, based on calculations derived from the State of Florida Economic Impact Multipliers.

Zephyrhills winter resident Karen Bennett’s face says it all, as she discovers the taste of a very tart Nagami-type kumquat. She and fiance, Russ Spreeman hail from Houghton Lake, Michigan.

Moors also credited a number of others for making the festival a success.

Dade City Police Chief Jim Walters and Lt. Bill Rowe co-chaired the event’s safety and security team, including support from multiple agencies, Moors noted.

Others pitching in included the Pasco High School and the Saint Leo University ROTC, who helped with parking.

The Pasco-Hernando State College Fire Cadets helped with numerous tasks, and Joyce and Rick Dodd organized our “Welcoming Committee” for the early morning volunteers, Moors wrote.

Plans are already starting for next year’s event.

Published January 30, 2019

At the corner of Third Street and Church Avenue, 3-year-old Holly Reffuse and her cousin, Lisa Yawns, of Dade City, were selling parking spaces in Yawn’s yard during the Kumquat Festival. Cars would stop and they would be directed into their yard where Chris Yawns directed the parking.
Two-year-old Dixie Cross, of Brandon, discovered there’s nothing quite like a hot dog, after having her face painted. Her mom, Jamis Cross was ready with a napkin.
After waiting in a long line, Carolyn Bartow of Tampa, top center right, and her daughter, Alison Place, of Tampa, right, eat slices of Kumquat refrigerator pie, as Place’s 3-year-old daughter, Nora, waits from her stroller for a taste. They headed north to Dade City instead of attending Tampa’s Gasparilla, held the same day.

AdventHealth Dade City is getting a major makeover

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A hospital that has served Dade City for decades is undergoing a substantial renovation — which will give it a new look and allow it to expand the services that the health care facility offers.

The project carries a $22.2 million price tag, including $20 million provided by AdventHealth Dade City’s parent company and $2.2 million raised locally, according to Jason Newmyer, administrator/vice president for AdventHealth Dade City.

Jason Newmyer stands in the old lobby of AdventHealth Dade City. The hospital is getting a massive makeover, which will give it a fresh look and will enable it to expand its services. (B.C. Manion)

The hospital is at 13100 Fort King Road in Dade City.

The work, being done in four phases and expected to be completed by the end of this year, “is truly going to holistically change every aspect of this hospital,” the hospital administrator said.

The work ranges from new paint and flooring throughout the 100,000-square-foot facility, to new diagnostic equipment, to reopening two units in the hospital that were not operating when AdventHealth Dade City acquired it last April.

The new equipment includes a 128-slice CT scanner and a da Vinci surgical system.

The CT scanner will “do head and heart studies faster and more effective than anything we’ve ever had here at this hospital. And, as effective as anything that’s in the Tampa market,” Newmyer said.

“Strokes and heart attacks can be diagnosed here as fast and as accurate as any other facility — if not better,” he said.

The da Vinci surgical system allows physicians to perform minimally invasive surgeries robotically.

The hospital also plans to bring MRI equipment indoors, instead of having it outdoors in a truck, which is where it was when they acquired the hospital last year.

The changes are all in keeping with AdventHeath Dade City’s mission to be caretakers of health care in the community, Newmyer said.

The hospital’s staff realizes that patients want to feel cared for, want to feel safe, want to have their privacy protected and want to be able to trust that they are receiving a high quality of care, Newmyer said.

Comfort is important, too, he said.

“People now care about aesthetics and experience. We are very intentional about how we
redesign and build this space,” the hospital administrator said.

This is what the new interior of the lobby at AdventHealth Dade City will look like, once the renovation is completed. This view shows the interior, looking from the new chapel’s entry. (Courtesy of AdventHealth Dade City)

The upgrade involves taking advantage of the hospital’s existing capacity, Newmyer explained.

“When we purchased this hospital, two of the four units were dark — not being used,” he said.

One of those areas is being converted into a transitional care unit and the other will be used as a surgical unit.

The transitional care unit will enable the hospital to “take care of patients that are sicker and patients that have more physical needs, that need to be addressed from that post-acute care perspective in a way that this hospital and this community hasn’t been able to in the past,” Newmyer said.

The surgical unit will offer “a brand-new surgical experience for patients that come in here,” Newmyer added.

The pre-op unit will be vastly different, too. In the past, the area consisted of bays, separated by curtains. The new space will have individual rooms, which are larger than the previous bays — allowing privacy and the patient to have family wait there with them.

Other changes will be a new lobby, including a chapel, which will have a sliding door that resembles barn doors. That’s in keeping with Dade City’s agricultural roots, Newmyer said.

The cafeteria also is being overhauled. It will be larger, with indoor and outdoor seating, and will have a large table where families can sit together.

Besides having a fresh look and new equipment, the hospital expects to hire about three dozen new employees, Newmyer said, boosting its current staff of 300 by nearly 10 percent.

The hospital also is looking to bring on six more physicians this year, and is continuing to partner with local independent physicians, as well as large physician groups, he said.

The hospital is approved for 120 beds, but because two units have been turned off, it has only been using 60 beds.

Work is obviously underway at the hospital, with about half of its parking lot closed off.

Hospital operations continue, though, with people using different ways to get around the facility’s campus.

Efforts also are underway to secure the local contributions, Newmyer said, noting there will be naming opportunities for the operating room services, the chapel and the cafeteria.

The hospital welcomes community involvement — whether it be philanthropic support to friendship,” Newmyer said.

The hospital administrator invites anyone who would like to help, or even if they’d just like more information about the hospital’s renovation, to reach out to him.

Or, he said, you can just let him know that you’d like to visit for a cup of coffee and a tour.

He’s already given dozens.

Newmyer can be reached at

Published January 23, 2019

Kumquat Festival offers fun, Old Florida charm

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Susan Frimmel enjoys the social gathering — known as the Kumquat Festival — that brings all things kumquat to Downtown Dade City.

Taking part in the festival, known for its Old Florida charm, has been a tradition for her for 15 years, and this year promises to be no exception.

Frimmel, administrative director/marketing for AdventHealth Zephyrhills, said she’s looking forward to the event, set for Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Whether it’s kumquat marmalade, kumquat salsa or kumquat wine, chances are you’ll be able to find it in downtown Dade City, during the community’s annual Kumquat Festival. (File)

She is teaming up with AdventHealth Dade City staff to pitch their tent and give out 10,000 of the items they’re known for – tote bags.

“People will come back year after year to get the next edition,” Frimmel said, referring to the bags.

They come in handy for holding arts and crafts purchases from vendors, and, of course, kumquat treats.

For the 22nd year, vendors will offer pies, salsas, craft beer and wine – all flavored with the diminutive orange fruit described as the “little gem of the citrus industry.”

John Moors is the executive director of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, which leads an army of volunteers, organizes event vendors and solicits the support of scores of sponsors to pull off the annual event.

“It was first started by a group of folks here in town that put a little festival together on the courthouse lawn with a few dozen vendors,” Moore recalled.

Now, both vendors and visitors come from across the country to attend the festival, which showcases Old Florida’s charm in a quaint downtown that boasts a historic courthouse, shops and restaurants.

Frimmel said it took a trip out of state for her to realize that the Kumquat Festival is a nationally recognized event.

“It’s something that’s known in a broader sense than just our local community,” she said.

The crowds have increased through the years, and the festival has added more offerings for patrons, especially for the children, Frimmel said.

This year’s kids’ area will include bounce houses, pony rides, face painting and other activities.

There’s a $20 entry fee, for those wishing to register their car for the all-day car show contest.

Downtown restaurants will be open for business, and there will be food trucks at the event, too.

The musical lineup includes Melissa Lee Zenker, the Strawberry Express Cloggers and the Calvary Assembly of Dade City.

Besides doling out tote bags, AdventHealth will offer health information and pamphlets detailing upcoming hospital events.

“My team has a great time at the event interacting with the guests,” Frimmel said.

Besides greeting and meeting new visitors, Frimmel is ready to direct them to the various attractions the festival has to offer.

And, she’s looking forward to reuniting with friends that she’s come to know through festivals in the past, she said.

Festival admission and parking are free.

Shuttle buses will transport guests from the Pasco County Fairgrounds to Downtown Dade City – at no charge.

Proceeds from the festival benefit The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce and the nonprofit organizations that help put the event together.

Registration for the car show can be done at 8 a.m., in Downtown Dade City, or online at RonnieSetsers.com.

For additional information, call the chamber at (352) 567-3769, or email .

Kumquat Festival
Where: Downtown Dade City
When: Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: The event features live performances, an all-day car show, arts and crafts, activities for the kids, various vendors — and all things kumquat.
Info: Call (352) 567-3769, or email .

Published January 23, 2019

Festival offers heaping helpings of barbecue and blues

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People of all ages headed to the ninth annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival to sample some ribs, barbecue chicken or pulled pork — and get their fill of the blues.

Smoke emanates from the grill, as Edwin Alvarez, of Kissimmee, prepares chicken on a stick, which is called Pincho. Alvarez and his boss, Luis Merced, of Largo, were preparing food for patrons at the barbecue festival. (Fred Bellet)

The scent of barbecue filled the air, Benny the Pig made the rounds and people sported pig hats — as they strolled around the Zephyrhills Community Venue, at 5200 Airport Road.

Some barbecue chefs traveled from far-off places to take part in a competition involving about 60 teams who vied for bragging rights and prizes, and a chance to advance to the World Food Championship.

Besides being able to enjoy barbecue, event-goers could check out items being offered by various vendors and could listen to blues musicians.

There was a car show and an aviation show, too.

Proceeds benefit community organizations, such as the YMCA, and for scholarships for Zephyrhills High School students.

First-timers at the Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival, left, Coral Etshman, of Tampa, gives friend Reggie Bowers, of Tampa, a taste of pulled pork.
The Ellie Lee Band was among the lineup of bands performing at the ninth annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival. Other bands playing were the Dave Shepard Band, Chuck Riley’s All Stars, The Bird Tribe and headliner Damon Fowler.
Jerry Newell, of Zephyrhills, had his own pig hat, which he wore to the festival.

 

Pasco Fair marks 72nd year

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The annual Pasco County Fair has delivered a family fun-filled time to fairgoers for more than seven decades, and it promises to do the same this year.

The event’s 72nd year is set for Feb. 18 through Feb. 24, at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

The 72nd annual Pasco County Fair runs from Feb. 18 through Feb. 24. It’s expected to draw more than 50,000 attendees. (File)

“The Fair Association has been busy putting together what we feel like is the best fair that’s about to hit these grounds,” Tracy Thompson, the annual fair chairman and director, said, during a recent Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce business breakfast meeting.

The fair is expected to draw as many as 50,000 patrons this year.

Since the very beginning, the fair’s primary purpose has been to promote youth in agriculture, as they show their steers, hogs, plants and more.

Thompson noted the fair is particularly important to the community, as it teaches local kids responsibility, money management and other valuable lessons.

“It’s just a great, all-around experience for life,” Thompson said.

Aside from that, the fair offers plenty in the way of entertainment through one-of-a-kind shows and musical performances.

One highlight figures to be Stevie Starr, “The Professional Regurgitator,” known for appearances on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”

In his act, Starr, who’s from England, swallows coins, light bulbs, balloons, nails, billiard balls, dry sugar, lighter fluid and goldfish, and other items — and then, he regurgitates them.

The Pasco Fair will mark Starr’s first appearance at any county or state fair, and he will perform throughout the week, Thompson said.

“We’ve got some top-notch entertainment here…and (Starr’s) one that we’re really tickled over,” Thompson said.

(File)

The fair also features another “America’s Got Talent” participant in the Fearless Flores Family, a stunt motorbike family from South Florida that features five generations of family performers. The daredevil family, also making their first Pasco Fair appearance, will perform what’s known as the “Globe of Death.”

That stunt involves racing their motorcycles up, down and around a specially-built metal globe made of steel.

Meanwhile, the fair’s bluegrass and gospel nights are returning by popular demand.

The bluegrass show is headlined by Little Roy and Lizzie. They are scheduled to perform on Feb. 20 at 6 p.m., in the Dan Cannon Auditorium.

The gospel show is headlined by Jeff and Sheri Easter and The Down East Boys. That show will begin on Feb. 21 at 6 p.m., also in the Dan Cannon Auditorium.

Other staples of the fair are back, too, including the Miss Heart of Pasco County Pageant and baby pageant, rodeo, karaoke, midway rides and games, and more.

A brand-new twist is a kid’s karaoke contest, open to ages 8 to 17.

Cash prizes will be offered to the top three finishers in each group (8 to 12 years old; 13 to 17 years old). The kid’s karaoke will take place on Feb. 24 at 2 p.m., at the Dan Cannon Auditorium.

Elsewhere, the food court will be another draw for patrons throughout the week, with many longtime vendors returning to serve all types of cuisine.

Thompson noted the Pasco Fair prides itself on having one of the best food courts in the fair industry.

“We have the ‘best of the best.’ It’s not your run-of-the-mill food,” Thompson said.

The fair will officially kick off with a parade in downtown Dade City on Feb. 18 at 11:30 a.m. That afternoon will feature a celebrity milk-off at the fairgrounds between Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley and former Commissioner Sylvia Young.

Simply put, the event offers myriad options for fair-goers.

“There’s something for everybody,” Thompson said.

For more information about the fair, visit PascoCountyFair.com.

Pasco County Fair
When: Feb. 18 through Feb. 24 (Hours vary).
What: Rides, food, games, entertainment, livestock and exhibits.
Where: Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52
Cost: Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 through 12; parking is free. Wristbands are available for purchase for unlimited rides. Parking is free. (On Feb. 24, one child is admitted free with each adult)
Info: PascoCountyFair.com

Published January 23, 2019

Dade City to draw up ordinance allowing cannabis dispensaries

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Medical marijuana treatment centers soon could be allowed within some areas of Dade City.

At a Jan. 8 workshop, the Dade City Commission expressed consensus to have city staffers draft an ordinance that would permit cannabis dispensaries — but restrict their location to areas outside the boundaries of the city’s CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) districts, generally encompassing the downtown corridor.

The ordinance will come before the city’s planning board and will have two public hearings before a formal vote.

Dade City Commissioners expressed consensus to draft an ordinance that would permit medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits, with certain restrictions. The ordinance will come before the city’s planning board and will have two public hearings before the matter is formally voted upon. (Kevin Weiss)

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said an ordinance permitting medical marijuana dispensaries is “what’s in the best interest of the city.”

Hernandez noted Florida voters’ clear support of Amendment 2 in 2016.

“I do believe that the voters on medical marijuana were decisive in their vote. Over 71 percent (of Florida voters) voted in favor of medical marijuana dispensaries — and that is a big deal,” Hernandez said.

She continued: “I do believe it should be allowed within the municipal limits. I do believe it should be available for those that need it and are using it for the right reasons. I am concerned about having them right in our downtown corridor…but I do think we have a charge to make it accessible to those residents that have problems.”

Dade City has had a temporary ban on medical marijuana facilities since 2016, to study the potential impacts such facilities on the municipality.

That temporary moratorium followed the November 2016 amendment of Florida’s constitution to allow “the dispensing and use of marijuana for medical purposes by persons with debilitating diseases.”

The moratorium has been extended multiple times and is set to expire in March.

At the workshop, city attorney Nancy Stuparich advised the commission to take action instead of extending the moratorium again, which she said may create legal issues, as it creates a “de facto ban” on medical marijuana treatment centers.

The attorney also noted that letting the moratorium just expire would allow dispensaries throughout city limits, without certain zoning regulations set forth by the commission.

The mayor said it’s unfair to keep extending the moratorium.

“We’ve got to take a stand and say, ‘We’re going to go this way or that way.’ I think we owe it to the people in our community,” Hernandez said.

Other cities in Pasco County, including Zephyrhills and San Antonio, have passed ordinances establishing regulations to allow dispensaries. The county’s first medical marijuana dispensary opened last June in New Port Richey.

Commissioner Scott Black was the lone dissenter.

He favored banning the dispensaries altogether for the time being because of the shifting legal implications of marijuana laws. (Several states, including Florida have already legalized marijuana; federal law still prohibits the cultivation, distribution, possession of the substance.)

“Just because all the other cities are rushing out to do this doesn’t mean we have to join in there, too,” Black said.

“If we say, ‘Not at this time,’ we’re not saying no forever. It just seems like a wise thing, in my opinion, that we wait until all of this gets settled. I think if we can be patient, it will all work itself out.”

Black also pointed out that Dade City residents are able go to other nearby cities to access medical marijuana treatment, or can choose to have it ordered through the mail.

“I think that those that are suffering — and I feel for them — there are opportunities for them to get medication,” he said.

Residents and business owners express mixed feelings
“I’m really concerned if we’re not patient and we’re not careful, we’re going to end up with something that we don’t want,” said Margaret Angell, who chairs the Dade City Merchant’s Association. “I know that we all understand that we don’t want a dispensary in the CRA, but it sounds like it’s going to be pretty complicated as far as trying to navigate that and how to do that.

“I don’t mind if it’s out there somewhere else and has low impact. My concern is about the downtown and conserving the economic space there and the atmosphere that we depend on. I just would urge us to be very, very cautious.”

Lynette DiNova, who owns Tropical Wine Shop in Dade City, also echoed a wait-and-see approach before approving any cannabis dispensaries within city limits.

“I think to rush into it just to do something is not fair to anyone,” DiNova said. “I think (commissioner) Black should be listened to as far as waiting, finding out what the right thing is, to protect the people that (commissioners) are here to take care of.”

“Don’t do something just to do it,” she said.

Vance Scheer, a retired educator and Dade City resident, spoke in favor of allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in Dade City.

“We’re talking pain management for our residents,” Scheer said. “We have a big opioid crisis and many of them are finding relief in (medical marijuana). It’s not going to be downtown, but we have to have something for these people that are in this condition. “We’re servicing a lot of people, whether it’s vets or seniors or people that are suffering from cancer.

“We need to be offering these services for our residents,” Scheer added.

Another speaker, Janet Blackburn, who works at Tampa Bay Salvage in Dade City, said she wouldn’t oppose a cannabis dispensary, as long as it isn’t downtown.

“I have no problem with it on the outskirts of (U.S.) 301 or whatever,” she said, “but not in downtown.”

Published January 16, 2019

Zephyrhills gets ready for Pigz in Z’Hills

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The ninth annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival is set for Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Zephyrhills Community Venue, 5200 Airport Road, in Zephyrhills.

About 60 teams are expected to vie for bragging rights and prizes during the barbecue competition at the event.

Ed Wright, left, and Chuck Riley, of the Ed Wright Duo, were the opening act at last year’s Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival. Riley is set to liven the stage this year with his All-Stars band. (File)

The cooking showdown will determine who advances to the World Food Championship, with competitors testing their skills in preparing smoked chicken, pork, brisket and ribs.

In addition to enjoying barbecue foods, those attending can check out the offerings of various goods and craft vendors, and listen to blues performances throughout the day.

The musical lineup includes the Bird Tribe, the Ellie Lee Band, Chuck Riley’s All-Stars and the Dave Shepard Band.

A business expo also will be featured, and there’s a cornhole tournament with a chance to win a cash prize and a trophy.

Car enthusiasts are welcome to participate in the car show, or to simply check out the motorcycles and vehicles on display.

Visitors also can take a look at refurbished planes, and there’s a free tour of the Military History Museum.

Youths can have some fun, too, in the Kidz Zone, which will offer bounce houses and a climbing wall, and the chance to build birdhouses, or have their faces painted.

Proceeds benefit community organizations, such as the YMCA, and for scholarships for Zephyrhills High School students.

Admission is free and parking is $10.

No coolers or pets are allowed, but guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs.

For more information or to register for the barbecue competition, call (813) 782-1913, or visit ZephyrhillsChamber.org.

Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival
Where: Zephyrhills Community Venue, 5200 Airport Road, Zephyrhills
When: Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: Free admission; $10 for parking
Details: Guests can enjoy smoked barbecued foods right off the grill, listen to blues bands, and check out a car show and aviation show.
Info: Call (813) 782-1913, or visit ZephyrhillsChamber.org.

Published January 16, 2019

Pioneer Florida Museum hosts a sweet and spicy event

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Eleven-year-old Jonah Uilk, of Minnesota, enjoys a cotton candy treat. He was vacationing in Bushnell with his family. He and his mother, Heidi, and grandmother, Diana, were browsing the vendor booths. Ulik, who said he loves cotton candy, thought it was funny that the treat turned his mouth blue. (Christine Holtzman)

Whether they were tasting chili samples, watching syrup being made, or cuddling up with an animal at the petting zoo — there were lots of ways for people to enjoy themselves at Raising Cane, a Sweet and Spicy Event, held on Jan. 12 at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City.

There was a Chili, Chili Verde and Salsa Competition, sanctioned by the International Chili Society, which offered cash and trophies for the first, second and third place winners.

And, there were two local chili challenges, with the City Chili Challenge featuring police chiefs, chamber executives and other local dignitaries. Also, there was a local chili challenge, which was open to anyone who wanted to put their chili or salsa to the test.

Event-goers could pay $5 for a tasting cup to sample and vote on their favorites from the two local chili challenges.

Museum volunteer Marcus Copeland, of Dade City, skims out the impurities in the sugar cane juice that is boiling in a large kettle during the process to make sugar cane syrup. Around 80 gallons will boil for approximately 4 hours. When the process is finished — about 9 gallons of the sweet and sticky concoction will remain as viable syrup.

In addition, there was a Southern Syrup Makers Association Sugar Cane Competition, and there was a petting zoo, featuring baby chicks, rabbits, goats and a horse.

Those who enjoy music could listen to various bands, and could do a little dancing, too.

And, vendors offered a variety of goods.

In addition to the chili and syrup tasting, attendees could take a stroll through the Pioneer Museum to catch a glimpse of Florida life from a bygone era.

Chris LaBorde, director of research with the U.S. Sugar Corporation in Clewiston, and Wayne Davidson, an agronomist with the Florida Sugar Cane League, helped educate the crowd about sugar cane and passed out samples so people in the audience could compare texture and flavor.

Karen Brown-Blonigen, of Tampa, dressed in period clothing, plays a mountain tune on her Dulcimer inside the Pioneer Florida Museum.

Steve Melton, president of the Southern Syrup Makers Association, was there, sharing his knowledge about cane syrup.

Melton said that sugar cane syrup was the staple sweetener more than 100 years ago.

It was frequently used for cooking, and families usually kept a bottle on the table, he said. Its popularity waned over time because of the labor-intensive process needed to produce the finished product.

Perhaps the highlight of the day was a visit to the sugar cane mill to watch the labor-intensive process involved in making a batch of sugar cane syrup.

By Christine Holtzman

Published January 16, 2019

Nine-year-old Mariah Robinson, of Zephyrhills, gazes at a baby chick at the petting zoo. She was at the event with her grandmother, Anne Benedini, of Dade City.
Steve Melton, president of the Southern Syrup Makers Association, puts another log on the fire that is used to heat the large kettle, to boil the sugar cane juice into syrup.

 

Debbie Richter, of San Antonio, left, and Pamela Garrison, of Dade City, sample a taste of chili made by Veni Miller, of Bubba and Cha Cha’s Chili in Georgia. There was a professional chili cookoff and a local chili competition. Event-goers could purchase a sample cup and try up to 10 different types of chili.

Zephyrhills reopens program for senior citizens

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Margaret Dolly loves playing cards, while socializing with friends — and with the recent reopening of the Zephyrhills Senior Center, she can do that more often.

Pasco County rebooted its Senior Services Division within the city in December, after it had been dormant for a year.

The county and Saint Elizabeth Episcopal Church had a longstanding collaboration to serve seniors in the community, but that came to a close at the end of 2017, after it was determined the arrangement was no longer mutually beneficial, said Tom Snee, assistant manager of Pasco County Senior Services.

Christine Harden, left, Nina Bird, Margaret Dolly and Betty Walker enjoy a game of cards – one of several amenities offered by Pasco County’s Senior Program. The county recently reopened its Zephyrhills branch held at Saint Elizabeth Episcopal Church. (Brian Fernandes)

While the Zephyrhills center was closed, about one-third of Zephyrhills senior recipients began using services at the county’s Dade City branch.

When Diane Cunningham was named the new program director in early 2018, she reached out to Saint Elizabeth Episcopal Church in an effort to resume the services. Now, Zephyrhills has once again joined the ranks with the branches in Dade City, Port Richey, Land O’ Lakes, Shady Hills and New Port Richey, in having a local senior center.

The Zephyrhills program operates at the church’s dining hall, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. It offers a daily meal and social activities.

It’s free and there’s no waiting list. Participants must be at least 60 years old.

However, those younger than 60 can join, as long as their spouse meets the age requirement.

The senior program is a service with a well-documented need.

Florida, which has a population of 21 million, is the nation’s third-largest state and has the highest rate of senior citizens. More specifically, seniors make up 31 percent of Pasco residents.

Besides helping to meet seniors’ social needs, the county’s program also helps address their nutritional needs.

“A lot of times our seniors aren’t eating as healthy as they should,” explained Snee. “Our meals are designed specifically to cater to the nutritional aspects of a healthy senior diet.”

Participants are also kept engaged through various activities such as bingo, yoga, and music therapy.

There are also introductory courses to help familiarize seniors with technology, as well as social media.

Ninety-two-year-old Dolly looks forward to the daily events.

“You get to get out of the house and meet other people,” the former nurse said.

Square and ballroom dancing are also in the works — with the aim of giving seniors a chance to be more physically active, while having fun.

“We try to really put programs into place that get people out of their homes [and] reengaged with the community,” Snee said.

The overall goal is to keep seniors living independently for as long as possible, he added.

Nina Bird, 93, has been attending the nutrition center for two years and previously was a volunteer.

When comparing her working years to her retirement, she said: “I like this better.”

The Zephyrhills center does not deliver food to those who are homebound and those who cannot commute, like other branches do, but plans to expand its program in the future.

Snee attributes much of the program’s success to volunteers who help prepare meals and help with social activities.

“We have a very strong volunteer force,” he remarked, adding, “volunteers are a key part of our business.”

Providing resources to 800 Pasco seniors every weekday also requires sufficient funding.

In conjunction with the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas Inc., the Older Americans Act funds the majority of the program with grants. Pasco County also provides a portion of funds to keep it operational.

The Zephyrhills branch is building up its daily attendance. During December, it had 10 to 18 seniors attending daily — about one-third of what it was before the center closed in 2017.

The county and Saint Elizabeth Episcopal Church are working to put the word out about the center’s reopening. It is using door-to-door flyers, providing presentations at community centers and distributing brochures.

An open house also is planned at Saint Elizabeth Episcopal, 5855 16th St., on Jan. 18 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., complete with refreshments, music and door prizes. The event will give guests a glimpse of what the program offers for seniors.

Expanding more centers in Pasco County is a long-term goal, although finding locations willing to enter into a public-private partnership is key to making that happen.

Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and Shady Hills branches are partnerships with organizations, while the other Pasco branches are solely owned by the county.

For more information, contact the Pasco County Senior Services at (727)-834-3340.

To RSVP for the open house, call Carolyn Johnson at (352) 521-5151, by Jan. 15.

Zephyrhills Senior Center Open House
Where: Saint Elizabeth Episcopal Church, 5855 16th St., Zephyrhills
When: Jan. 18 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Open to the community, the event allows the word to get out about a place offering a nice social atmosphere and meal for senior citizens in the Zephyrhills area. Refreshments, music and door prizes will be available.
RSVP (optional) by calling Carolyn Johnson at (352) 521-5151, by Jan. 15.

Published January 9, 2019

Zephyrhills to provide new trash bins to residents

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Zephyrhills residents will be issued new trash bins in the middle of February, free of charge from the city.

The Zephyrhills carts, or z-carts, will be a new alternative to residents purchasing their own bins — as they have done in the past.

The project has been four years in the making, as city officials have strategized what’s best for the community.

Bobby Black, sanitation supervisor of Zephyrhills, shows off the new z-cart which will be issued to the city’s residents and businesses in February. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

The 95-gallon cart will run on two wheels and will have a bar code designated specifically for each address.

Instead of being lifted by garbage removal crews, these garbage carts will be picked up through an automated system, using a side-loader truck.

“The automation is the collection mechanism on the truck instead of manually lifting the cart as we do now,” explained Shane LeBlanc, public works director of Zephyrhills. “You let the truck do all the work.”

While the side-loader will be a new addition, the city did not discount using other trucks as backup plans – such as the front-loader truck.

Rear-loader trucks will accommodate areas with narrow spaces, such as alleys.

Z-carts will be primarily for residential use, although they will be added to some businesses.

The carts will be spacious, but residents are asked not to use them for electronic equipment, chemical products or sharp objects, such as needles or glass.

The new approach, LeBlanc said, is “safer for our employees – less on-the-job injuries. There’s all kinds of hazards involved in collecting trash.”

The new trucks require only a driver, but other trucks meant for alleys will still have two additional garbage men for pickup.

Leaves and brush may be put out beside the trash bin, but must be tied in bundles.

Aside from protection and convenience, the project also addresses sanitation.

Many Zephyrhills residents use trash bins, but some leave tied bags at the curb of the road — leaving garbage vulnerable to rodents and causing messes.

Those issues are expected to decrease, with the 8,000 carts the city has ordered, as well as 500 spares.

Pickups will occur twice weekly, and z-carts should be placed by the curb by 7 a.m. Once everything is finalized with contractors, the city will provide the specifics on pickup days.

Zephyrhills is the only municipality in Pasco County with its own sanitation service.

Funded solely by the city, the z-carts will cost an estimated $350,000, while the first side-loader truck this fiscal year will be $300,000.

Next fiscal year, the city plans to purchase another truck, as well as provide automated service for recyclables.

While public reception has been positive, LeBlanc said that one concern has been workers potentially losing their jobs to automation.

He offered this reassurance: “We’re not going to reduce our workforce because we’ll be doing special pickups, dumpster maintenance [and] truck maintenance.”

He also expects a few hiccups along the way, as the new service gets underway. But, he’s confident that the project will run smoothly in the long run.

For more information on the z-carts call (813) 780-0022, or visit ci.zephyrhills.fl.us.

Published January 9, 2019