The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Zephyrhills/East Pasco News

Construction to extend State Road 56

By

Contractors on the State Road 56 extension are cleared to begin turning dirt.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit for the roadwork on Feb. 2.

The extension is considered an important project by residents, commercial interests and government officials, because it provides an important link for motorists traveling east and west across Pasco County.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted a permit to allow construction to begin on the widening of State Road 56 between Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills. The project provides an important link for motorists.
(File)

“I’m excited,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore. “It will bring traffic relief…and economic development all along the corridor.”

An official groundbreaking is in the planning stages but Moore said Cone & Graham Inc., would begin work as soon as possible. “We don’t want to hold them up,” he added.

A previous groundbreaking had been targeted for late January, but it took longer than expected for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review additional information that had been requested.

The road project will provide a four-lane extension of State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

Initial plans called for a two-lane extension.

However, nearly two years ago residents lobbied hard during a town hall meeting in Zephyrhills for an expanded project.

Area residents and Zephyrhills’ officials see the road as a major factor in easing traffic bottlenecks and supporting greater economic development.

Money became an issue.

But, Pasco County qualified in 2016 for a state loan of nearly $23 million to finance the project.

A loan repayment schedule allows the county to collect funds from developers and landowners along the corridor through mobility surcharge fees, or special assessments, if needed.

Property owners and developers along the route provided rights of way to Pasco County.

About half of the 6.7-mile extension runs through Two Rivers Ranch.

Cone & Graham is expected to cover any shortfall in expenses, with the county and the city of Zephyrhills as fall back in the event the contractor is fired or a new contractor hired.

In that scenario, estimates peg the county’s responsibility at about $1.5 million with Zephyrhills contributing 10 percent, or $150,000 to that amount.

Published February 15, 2017

 

Drug store work left lasting impressions

By

Tom Touchton was only about 6 years old when he began working at Touchton Drug Store, in the heart of Dade City.

He went to work there because his brother, Charlie, who is 3 ½ years older, already was working there.

“I figured if he could work there, I could work there,” said Tom, who decades later would become a prime mover in the creation of the Tampa Bay History Center in downtown Tampa.

Charlie and Tom Touchton will share the experiences they had while working at Touchton Drug Store at a talk on Feb. 18 at 2 p.m., at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City.
(B.C. Manion)

When he started at the store, Tom was just tall enough to wash dishes.

“At some point, I was promoted to be permitted to clean tables. And then, at another point, I was promoted to be permitted to make sodas and sundaes,” he said.

Later on, he was given the privilege of making tuna salad, chicken salad and ham salad sandwiches, he said.

“Charlie had done all of these things before because he was older, and I was always trying to measure up to my older brother,” Tom said.

His brother, Charlie, has fond recollections of working in the store.

Both men will share their experiences, and what they gleaned from them, on Feb. 18 at 2 p.m., as part of a series of talks being offered by The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village. The talks coincide with the museum hosting a traveling Smithsonian Institution Exhibit called “The Way We Worked.”

Touchton Drug Store was a busy place, Charlie recalled.

Touchton Drug Store operated in the heart of Dade City, serving customers and providing valuable life lessons for Charlie and Tom Touchton, who worked there when they young.
(Courtesy of Madonna Wise)

At first, Charlie said, “I worked behind the soda fountain, and I washed dishes and I made cokes, and I made sundaes and I made sodas.

Coca-Colas were by far the most popular drink, he said.

“It was automatic, if it was Coca-Cola. You turned a handle. It fed the syrup. It fed the carbonated beverage,” he said. “If it was anything else, you had to squirt the syrup.”

People could buy cherry Cokes and lime Cokes, even ammonia Cokes, which were said to relieve headaches.

Charlie said he was taught early on not to mix ammonia with grape juice because that would create a poison.

Selling cosmetics was fun
“Not until I was about 12 or 13, did I really get on to the sundries and goods side,” Charlie added, noting he especially enjoyed selling cosmetics.

“It was a great place to flirt,” he explained. Revlon lipstick, at that time, sold for $2 a tube.

Both men credit their work at the drug store for teaching them important, lifelong lessons.

It taught them how to relate to people from all walks of life, and about the importance of customer service.

“The same things I learned in the drug store became relevant, whether you’re selling a product or you’re selling an idea,” Charlie said.

“In a small town, the customer is always right because your livelihood depended on those customers,” Tom said. “If they didn’t have a good experience at Touchton Drug Store, then they would go up the street to another drug store.”

He recalled a customer, named Mr. Ways, who refused to pay a newly instituted state sales tax.

“I went to my grandfather and said, ‘What do I do? Mr. Ways is going to leave if I charge him sales tax.’ My grandfather pulled two pennies out of his pocket and gave them to me, ‘You just ring up 52 cents, you take 50 cents from Mr. Ways and here’s the other two cents.’”

The store was learning how to deal with the new tax, and keeping that customer was important, Tom said.

Building relationships, in any kind of transactional business, is essential, said Charlie, noting that his drug store experiences came in handy when he worked for IBM.

Developing sales skills
At the drug store, Charlie learned about the art of subtle marketing and about the concept of upselling.

It was customary to keep items on the counter, such as toothbrushes and Whitman’s candy, within easy reach of customers, Charlie said. The idea was to give them a chance to see and touch items, he said.

Suggestive selling was a way to move products.

“When somebody was there to get something, (Charlie would say) ‘By the way, do you need a toothbrush?’

“If the person said, ‘As a matter of fact, I do,’” Charlie said, “you’d get out another one and say, ‘You’d better get two.’”

Or, he’d ask a customer: “Do you think you’d want a box of Whitman candy today?”

At that time, the candy was $2 a box, he said.

Customers could buy a Hershey bar or a single-scoop ice cream cone for a nickel, decades ago. Comic books were a dime. A pack of cigarettes went for 20 cents, Charlie said.

People would come to the drug store for prescriptions and nonprescription medicines. They’d pick up bandages, shoe polish, cosmetics and other personal needs items.

Tom said the strong work ethic he has subscribed to his entire life began when he was just 6, working in the drug store.

“I am 78 years old. If I have to work at night, or I need to come in here on Saturday to get things done because of other things that I did during the week, then you just do. There is no 9 to 5. “You stay up as late as you have to, to get it done, or you get to work as early as you have to, or you work on the weekends because it has to be done.

“You work when you need to, to get the job done,” Tom said.

Charlie said the lessons he learned at the drug store, about being trustworthy and having integrity, have stuck with him for life, too.

The Way We Worked lecture series
What: The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, in conjunction with the Florida Humanities Council, is presenting a series of lectures, in conjunction with the museum’s display of the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit, “The Way We Worked.”
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
Cost: Admission to the museum is $8 for adults; $6 for seniors; $4 for students, 6 through 18; and free for age 5 and younger.
Details: The speaker schedule is as follows:

  • Imani Asukile, “The Odell Mickens Story,” Feb. 16, 6 p.m.
  • Tom & Charlie Touchton, “Touchton Drug Store,” Feb. 18, 2 p.m.
  • Madonna Wise, “Women and Work,” March 2, 6 p.m.
  • Dr. Steven Noll, “The Way We Worked, FL,” March 4, 2 p.m.
  • Nancy Massey Perkins, “Hometown Barber,” March 7, 2 p.m.
  • Scott Black, “All the Live Long Day (Railroad),” March 9, 6 p.m.

“The Way We Worked” exhibit will be at the museum through March 18. The museum’s regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Info: PioneerFloridaMuseum.org

Revised February 27, 2017

 

 

Ranch Days offered many ways to have fun

By

Ranch Days offered a weekend of entertainment at the Little Everglades Ranch.

Wayne Waxing performs in the band Hymn for Her, at Ranch Days at Little Everglades Ranch.
(RIchard K. Riley)

There were tethered hot air balloon rides, tours of the ranch, a high-wire act, a snake show, live music, a petting zoo and other ways to have fun.

People could grab a bite to eat, and sit back and relax, or they could be more adventurous.

They could watch a chainsaw artist turn a piece of wood into a work of art, they could learn about birds of prey, and they could stick around to see a hot air balloon glow.

Over the years, people have visited the 2,100-acre ranch, owned by Bob and Sharon Blanchard, for all sorts of events, including Savage Races, Steeplechase Races, equine events, track meets and other activities.

This was first time that tours were offered of the property, at 17951 Hamilton Road in Dade City.

Published February 15, 2017

Tino Wallenda performed on the high-wire for four shows during the weekend. He reported that most of his family that were in the Sarasota Circus accident last week are in good shape, but some are still hospitalized.
A Hot Air Balloon Ride Co. of Orlando (yellow/blue balloon) and American Balloons of Wesley Chapel (red/white/blue balloon) provided tethered balloon views from the Ranch Day site on the Little Everglades Ranch.

 

Safeguarding seniors against scams

By

Awareness is key in protecting yourself against scams, according to Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater.

Atwater launched Operation SAFE (Stop Adult Financial Exploitation) in 2014 to help protect Florida’s elderly population from financial scams and fraud.

An Operation SAFE workshop, presented by the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, was held on Jan. 18 at Zephyrhills Cinema 10.

There, a group of mostly senior attendees learned about spotting fraudulent behavior, common scams that target seniors and ways to fight identity theft.

Savannah Sullivan, a communications specialist for the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), counseled the dozens in attendance to first be wary of odd behavior. She said seniors should tread carefully if someone is “becoming a little too friendly” or “shows up out of nowhere and wants to move in.”

During the presentation, Sullivan pointed out senior women, typically, are more vulnerable than their male counterparts to becoming a scam victim.

“A lot of women are a little more trusting, nurturing, caring, and may find themselves in a position where they want to help somebody more,” she explained.

Those attributes, Sullivan said, makes them particularly susceptible to what’s known as a romance scam.

In romance scams, a con artist pretends to have romantic intentions to gain affection and trust, often claiming to be from another country. The scam artist will then begin asking for money, claiming it’s for airplane tickets, medical bills or other expenses.

Those scams, Sullivan noted, are becoming more prevalent with the rise of online dating sites.

It’s also becoming one of the most costly.

Sullivan said romance scams wound up costing older Americans about $82 million in 2014; the average cost was over $100,000 per person.

“It really does wrap people in it,” Sullivan said, “because it uses that place where we are at our weakest — our hearts and our love connections.

“If they’re asking for money, and you haven’t met them, it’s a bad sign.”

The overall rate of scams against seniors is staggering.

According to the AARP, 80 percent of fraud victims are 50 and older.

Moreover, one out of every five adults, 65 years and older, has been the victim of a financial scam.

One explanation: seniors control about 70 percent of the disposable income in the United States.

“(Seniors) have so much control over the nation’s wealth,” Sullivan said, “and that is why scam artists are targeting them.”

Yet many scam artists, surprisingly, aren’t even strangers.

About 79 percent of scams against seniors over 65 occur by a family member, a DFS report shows.

“It’s important to keep in mind that sometimes it’s the people you least expect,” Sullivan explained. “It’s often the people who are closest around and may have access to personal financial information…”

Det. Bruce Cohen handles economic crimes for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

He said many scammers claim to be an authentic government agency, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and then proceed to ask for payment via a prepaid debit card.

Requests for green dot cards, he said, are one vital clue to filtering out a scam.

“No legitimate business or government agency will tell you fill out a green dot card; if you hear that, it’s a scam,” Cohen said.

Cohen also instructed seniors to never place mail in mailboxes for pickup.

Doing so creates an easy opportunity for criminals to access financial statements, like credit card accounts and bank statements.

“If you’re going to deal with mail, go to the post office and drop it off at the post office box inside,” Cohen said. “The red (mailbox) flag is just an indication to all the thieves to steal your stuff.”

Seniors, too, should be wary of various intimidation scams, like the jury duty scam.

Fraudsters, posing as courthouse officials or police, telephone in claims that jury duty was missed.

Because of that, scammers threaten you’re going to be arrested, unless a fine is immediately paid.

“It’s a doubly whammy,” said Zephyrhills Police Sgt. Reginald Roberts. “You’ve given them money and your (personal) information.”

Roberts noted those types of scams have also become more frequent because of spoofing, a technique where scammers manipulate the Caller ID feature to masquerade as courthouses or law enforcement agencies.

“They’ll use official names. They’ll use the names of judges, the sheriff, the police chief,” Roberts explained.

He continued: “Caller ID was the gospel at one time, but nowadays, there’s just too many spoofing apps that you really can’t trust that.”

If you suspect a sham call, Roberts advised, “hang up and call the jury clerk.”

Unfortunately, Roberts said, these types of scams, along with other fraud schemes, are constantly getting tweaked and fine-tuned by criminals.

It makes law enforcement’s job even tougher, he said.

“These scams are going to change daily,” Roberts said. “They’re going to try to find a way to get better.”

Yet, experts agreed that knowing the telltale signs of scams and applying common sense can help to avoid getting caught up in a money-draining plot.

“Scam artists are using information that you don’t know,” Sullivan said. “They’re banking on you not knowing something.”

For more information, visit MyFloridaCFO.com.

Common tactics used by scam artists

  • Phantom riches: The scam artist will dangle the prospect of wealth, perhaps a guaranteed monthly income, if you purchase a certain product.
  • Source credibility: The scam artist will make it appear that his or her company is reputable, or that they have special credentials or experience.
  • Social consensus: The scam artist will want you to believe that people you may know already have invested or purchased the product, such as your neighbors, or well-known community leaders.
  • False affiliation: Similar to source credibility, the scam artist works for a company whose name gives the appearance that they are a part of, or affiliated with a senior advocacy group, such as AARP, or a government agency to gain your trust.
  • Sense of urgency: The scam artist will try to get you to buy now by saying the offer is extended only to the next 10 people who purchase today.

Red Flags

  • The person uses broken English and/or poor grammar during the interaction.
  • The person requests money or personal information.
  • A stranger tells you that he or she knows you.
  • The person makes threats that you will be arrested or will be forced to pay a penalty, if you don’t pay a fee.

Ways to avoid being scammed

  • Practice safe internet use.
  • Protect your Social Security number.
  • Destroy private records.
  • Secure your mail.
  • Check your credit report for suspicious activity.

Published February 8, 2017

 

Pucker up for kumquats

By

Every year when the calendar rolls up against the Dade City Kumquat Festival, I can’t help thinking about a scene from “Doc Hollywood” — the Michael J. Fox movie in which an aspiring Beverly Hills plastic surgeon gets waylaid in tiny Grady, South Carolina (played convincingly by Micanopy, just up the road).

While he’s there waiting for repairs to his wrecked Porsche and serving community service hours in the local hospital, preparations are underway for the local Squash Festival, which prompts a rumination on timing by the mayor (David Ogden Stiers).

Skip Mize, the longtime kitchen boss at Williams Lunch on Limoges, says that kumquat season at his popular Seventh Street eatery is fleeting. But, during that period, the ambitious menu features kumquats in all of the various forms.
(Tom Jackson)

It seems the zucchini and the Grady squash were locked in a battle over which would be the nation’s preeminent gourd when a shipment of the town’s signature crop was swept away by a tornado that was otherwise “bound for … agricultural stardom at the [1933] Chicago World’s Fair.”

“If it had gone the other way,” the mayor says, “there’s no telling where this town would be today.”

The parallel is not exact, but when it comes to festivals surrounding local harvests, and towns that are making the most of close calls, I can’t help thinking about kumquats and Dade City. Not that there’s anything wrong with either, except that kumquats are not, to choose one regional delicacy, strawberries. Nor are they tangerines or oranges — although all these and kumquats are related taxonomically.

Generally, however, humans do not have to work their way up to strawberries or tangerines or oranges. Each can be enhanced, of course, and often are, but each also, when ripe, is tasty right off the bush or branch. Fresh-picked kumquats, however, are an acquired taste.

Yes, you’d say, and so are Spanish olives, champagne, golf and PBS’ “Masterpiece Classics.” And, I would not disagree. Each requires a mature palate, and rewards the effort.

But, in my experience, bright little kumquats, so lovely in aspect and mesmerizing in fragrance, will flat out produce a three-day pucker when eaten fresh-picked.

Yes, even if you follow, precisely, the recommended regimen, rolling the fruit firmly between your thumb and forefinger to release the sweet oil in the skin before popping the whole thing, grape-like, in your mouth, you will wind up resembling someone eager to be kissed.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Still, the resolute tartness of kumquat pulp makes the little fruits conveyances for the delivery of sugar, the more the better.

So, part of me can never anticipate the Kumquat Festival without wondering, like the Grady mayor, how the arc of Dade City’s history would have bent if it had been Florida’s first to celebrate the subtly sweet temple orange, the easily peeled and delicate tangerine, or even the bold pink grapefruit.

But, no. Instead, The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce decided to organize a festival in its honor. And, they have it on the last Saturday in January — the same day as Tampa’s annual Gasparilla pirate invasion.

A challenging date for a challenging fruit. Because that’s how Dade City, the little town that can, rolls.

If you were there last weekend, you may have discovered that once they have submitted to the culinary expert’s machinations, kumquat-centered dishes can be exquisite.

And so, we turn to the Skip Mize, the longtime kitchen boss at Williams Lunch on Limoges, who advises us at the top, kumquat season at his popular Seventh Street eatery is fleeting.

This has more to do with preparation, which is labor intensive, than harvest season, which extends from November through March.

“There are some things you get to eat only at Thanksgiving, and some things you get to eat only at Christmas,” Mize says, “and some things you get to eat only around the Kumquat Festival. It’s tradition.”

For Mize’s kitchen, that tradition extends “only about two weeks, two-and-a-half weeks, tops.” But, what a season it is. His ambitious menu abounds with dishes featuring kumquats in various forms: sauced, jellied, jammed, candied and glazed; kumquats reduced, through repeated boiling, to simple syrup; and, ladled onto pork, chicken or salmon, kumquat chutney.

Similarly, on festival day itself, nearby Kafe Kokopelli always features kumquats in various forms, infused into everything from appetizers and cocktails — kumquat sangria sounds zesty — to entrees (who’s up for kumquat meatloaf?).

Without a gate admission, organizers say it’s impossible to know how many people attend the festival in any given year, but with roughly tens of thousands each year, it’s fair to say the crowd is substantially more than turned out for the Grady Squash Festival.

Then again, the movie had a happy ending: The doc got the gal; the town got the doc; the mayor, presumably, went on to many reelection landslides.

It’s a similar joy that descends, each year, on Dade City as a result of its embrace of its tart natural treasure.

Tom Jackson, a resident of New Tampa, is interested in your ideas. To reach him, email .

(Published February 1, 2017)

Kumquat Festival traditions continue

By

Many came wearing sweaters, or jackets, or long-sleeved shirts — but they came just the same to enjoy the Kumquat Festival in Dade City.

Bruce Gode, of Kumquat Growers Inc., arranges a display of kumquats for sale at the festival. 
(Richard Riley)

“Tens of thousands of people came from all over the Tampa Bay region — residents, winter visitors and tourists joined in the fun,” according to an email from John Moors, executive director of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the annual event.

Generous sponsors and more than 200 volunteers helped pull off the event, which generated an estimated $800,000 in economic activity, Moors added.

There were the usual things that people find at festivals — funnel cakes and festival queens, live entertainment and plenty of stuff to buy.

There were pony rides, plants for sale, quilts on display and a car show, too.

Plus, there were all sorts of kumquat goodies to taste and to purchase.

With newly purchased plants over her back and in her arms, Stephanie Simpson, right, poses with Shirley Perez, both of Tampa. Simpson, a retired veteran with five tours in Afghanistan, was visiting her first Kumquat Festival.

The festival once again showcased the quaint nature of downtown Dade City’s historic core.

The 21st annual Kumquat Festival is planned for Jan. 27, 2018. Planning begins this month.

Anyone who would like to be involved as a volunteer, sponsor or vendor should email or . For more information about the festival, visit KumquatFestival.org.

Published February 1, 2017

Festival showcases quilts, horses

By

The Pioneer Florida Museum is hosting a festival that showcases the strength of draft horses, and the beauty and diversity of quilts.

Quilters can make intricate designs with their threads and fabrics, as shown here.
(Richard K. Riley)

The event is slated for Feb. 4 and Feb. 5.

The Southern Draft Horse Pulling Competition will be 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Feb. 4.

Other highlights include:

  • The Hoffman Challenge Quilt Collection on display
  • A show of dolls, quilts and clothing
  • A display of works by local quilters
  • A sale of quilts and supplies
  • A quilt appraisal and trunk show
  • Cane grinding and syrup making, Feb. 4
  • An arts and crafts show; traditional crafts
  • Festival vendors and a concession stand
  • Children’s activities

The museum is one mile north of downtown Dade City, off U.S. 301, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road.

Farm Festival & Quilt Show
Where: 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
When: Feb. 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Feb. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Draft Horse Pull competition on Feb. 4, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.)
Cost: $10 for adults on Saturday and $5 on Sunday; $5 admission for children (6-12), both days. Children age 5 and younger are admitted free.

Published February 1, 2017

Exhibit features North Tampa Arts League

By

Works done by nearly two dozen members of the North Tampa Arts League will be on display in February at Bug’s Splatter Gallery in Zephyrhills.

This acrylic on canvas, ‘Cruising the Channel,’ is by artist Joan Garcia.
(Image courtesy of Fran Byers)

The exhibit will showcase 57 works. It opens with a free reception Feb. 4, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the display will remain up through Feb. 24.

Fran Byers, owners of Bug’s Splatter Gallery, is pleased to be presenting the exhibit.

Besides running the gallery, she’s also a member of the arts league and is impressed by the caliber of the work its members do.

“I love these artists. There are some fabulous artists in that organization. I’m so pleased that they want to be here,” said Byers, who joined the arts league last fall.

The exhibit will cover the gallery’s walls, but Byers said her gallery also has other items, such as pottery, stained glass and jewelry.

Bug’s Splatter Gallery is at 5716 Sixth St., in Zephyrhills. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Byers, who is relatively new to the area, said she was impressed by the North Tampa Arts League from the very beginning.

She joined the group after attending one meeting. The annual dues are $35, which she described as “crazy cheap.”

The North Tampa Arts League dates back to June of 2005.

This watercolor and colored pencil, ‘Morning Vigil,’ is by artist Fran Byers.

It began when a call went out, inviting artists to gather at the New Tampa Regional Library. More than 30 people responded, leading to the league’s creation. The organization now has more than 50 members.

Byers, who opened her gallery last summer, said its mission is “to show local artists and make art available to everyone, at a reasonable price.”

Items at her gallery range from as low as $5 to around $1,500, she said.

An artist herself, Byers works in watercolor and pencil.

“It’s wonderful to create something and then have somebody appreciate it,” said Byers, who especially enjoys painting food, and items which depict texture and age.

For instance, she’d rather paint a portrait of an old woman, whose skin has a story to tell, than to create an image of an infant, whose story is not yet known, she said.

Featured pieces in the February exhibit will include works by Hernie Vann, Joan Garcia and Dorothy Bankers.

For information about the exhibit, contact Byers at (813) 355-4806 or .

For more information about the arts league, visit NorthTampa-arts.com.

North Tampa Arts League show
Where: Bug’s Splatter Gallery, 5716 Sixth St., Zephyrhills
When: Feb. 4 through Feb. 24. Opening reception is Feb. 4 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Normal gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
Details: Twenty-two artists will be exhibiting a total of 57 pieces of art. All works will be for sale through the gallery. The reception will include wine and finger foods.
Info: Call Fran Byers, (813) 355-4806, or email .

Published February 1, 2017

Kumquat Festival likely to attract thousands

By

In the beginning, there was the kumquat.

It’s a tiny fruit, with a slightly sweet and tangy, tangy taste.

And, it’s the centerpiece of an annual tradition that often introduces visitors to Dade City’s Old-Florida charm.

The Kumquat Festival in Dade City is an event that pays homage to what promoters call ‘the little gold gem’ of the citrus industry.
(File)

The festival that pays homage to the diminutive orange fruit began two decades ago, when Phyllis Smith, Roxanne Barthle and Carlene Ellberg were looking for a way to help inject new life into downtown Dade City. They put their heads together and decided to have a festival to honor the kumquat.

The inaugural festival was on the lawn of the historic Pasco County Courthouse. It included a few vendors, some food and some kumquat growers, from nearby St. Joseph, the Kumquat Capital of the World.

Described as the “little gold gem of the citrus industry” by kumquat promoters, the fruit can be found in virtually every form at the annual festival.

While the exact offerings change from year to year, there’s typically kumquat cookies and kumquat smoothies. Kumquat marmalade and kumquat salsa. Kumquat pie and kumquat all kinds of other stuff.

This year, more than 425 vendors and 40 sponsors are taking part in the festival organized by The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, said John Moors, the chamber’s executive director.

The festival is slated for Jan. 28, 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.

If you’ve been there before, you’ll know the basics. Admission is free. Parking is free. Entertainment is free. And, there are two satellite parking lots, with free shuttles, Moors said.

But, even if you’ve been there before, the experience won’t be the same, Moors said. There are always new vendors joining the lineup, and every year organizers aim to make the experience better than it was was before, he said.

Besides food trucks and other food vendors, local restaurants are open, too.

There is live entertainment, an antique car and truck show, a quilt challenge, arts and crafts, a health and wellness area, a farmer’s market, and activities for the kids.

There’s also plenty of shopping, with offerings from festival vendors and at local stores.

Those who would enjoy learning more about kumquats are welcome to attend grove and packing house tours offered by the Kumquat Growers on Jan. 26 and Jan. 27.

For times and more information, visit KumquatGrowers.com.

For more information about the festival, call the chamber office at (352) 567-3769.

Kumquat Festival
Where: Dade City’s historic downtown core
When: Jan. 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How much: Admission and parking are free
Details: Live entertainment, food vendors, arts and crafts, car and truck show, children’s activities, fine arts, health and wellness area, quilt challenge, kumquat pie and products.
For more information, visit KumquatFestival.org or DadeCityChamber.org, or call The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce at (352) 567-3769.

Published January 25, 2017

Master plan developing for Hercules Park

By

Hercules Park is still in line to become the property of the city of Zephyrhills. But, an agreement to transfer the parkland from the Pasco County School District to the city remains a work in progress.

“We’re still on track to turn it over, and we will do that,” said Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools.

The Zephyrhills City Council received an update on the matter on Jan. 10 from the city’s planning department.

Consulting firm Kimley-Horn completed a master plan for Hercules Park, including trails, an outdoor event center and a trailhead for bicyclists.
(Courtesy of Kimley-Horn)

Site approval is nearly complete for a WaWa convenience store and gas station at the corner of Eiland Boulevard and U.S. 301.

The city also is preparing a site, south of WaWa, for marketing to developers, possibly for a restaurant or retail.

A master plan for restoring and reopening Hercules Park also is on the drawing board.

The approximately 15-acre park site is a historic relic that once was part of about 80 acres owned by the Hercules Powder Co. The company, which converted pine stumps into resin and turpentine, had been the city’s largest employer.

The site also eventually became home to the park, Zephyrhills High School and Woodland Elementary School.

Based on an agreement with the school district, Pasco County operated the site as a park for several years. However, the county closed the park more than six years ago to save money, and returned the property to the school district.

The Pasco County School Board agreed last year to sell about 2.5 acres to GH & G Florida LLC. A second parcel, south of WaWa, also will be developed.

However, several acres of parkland will remain for transfer to the city of Zephyrhills.

Consulting firm Kimley-Horn has completed a master plan for Hercules Park. It includes trails, a picnic area, a trailhead for bicyclists, an outdoor center, playground area, and connecting sidewalks to area schools and neighborhoods.

“Mostly the interest is to keep it a passive park,” said Todd Vande Berg, the city’s planning director.

Preserving trees and low-impact activities are what people seemed to want as opposed to building tennis or basketball courts, he added.

No decisions have been made on the future of the park’s aquatic center and swimming pool, he said.

But, he said, “Everything is moving forward for transfer.”

Published January 25, 2017