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Zephyrhills/East Pasco News

Riggleman benefit offers display of true community spirit

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Barbecue smoke wafted through the air, musicians sang on the stage, and women sold plants under the shade of an oak tree during a Feb. 1 fundraiser to benefit Lewis and Diane Riggleman of Dade City.

A fire swept through the couple’s home days before Christmas, causing damage that’s so severe the house cannot be repaired.

Donna Messenger and Susan Maesen were at the City of San Antonio Park bright and early on Feb. 1 to help sell plants at a community benefit for Diane and Lewis Riggleman. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Donna Messenger and Susan Maesen were at the City of San Antonio Park bright and early on Feb. 1 to help sell plants at a community benefit for Diane and Lewis Riggleman.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Fire and smoke damage ruined most of the couple’s other belongings, and their dog, Taz and cat, Christopher, perished in the blaze.

Lewis is an ornamental blacksmith and has been involved in blacksmithing in the local community for years. He has participated in many arts and crafts shows, as well as worked as a true crafts demonstrator. As owner and operator of the Ramshead Forge in San Antonio, he offers an introduction to blacksmithing as well as advanced training for more experienced students.

Diane is a storyteller and craftsperson who demonstrates broom making, rope making, and other traditional crafts throughout Florida and the Southeast.

The community event at the City of San Antonio Park was an incredible outpouring of love and generosity — and a bit overwhelming, Diane Riggleman said.

When she and Lewis arrived, they knew a benefit was being held in their honor, but they had no idea how many people would be there.

The crowd was so big that Diane thought there were two events going on at the park.

Diane Riggleman said she and her husband, initially, didn’t want people to go out of their way to help them. There are many other people who have gone through worse trials, she explained.

But many people pitching in at the benefit said it was a pleasure to help the couple.

In many ways, the community festival felt like a giant reunion, Diane Riggleman said.

People showed up that the couple hasn’t seen in years, she said.

She said she and Lewis don’t use the word “awesome” to describe things, but in this case the character of the event truly merits the description.

The benefit ran from noon to 5 p.m., but volunteers began assembling hours before festivities began. They set up folding chairs so spectators could enjoy the bands playing on stage. They lugged plants to sell under the shade tree. They arranged gift baskets and auction items on tables. They prepared food to sell.

Chet Taylor, owner of the Dade City Animal Clinic, spent hours slow-cooking the pulled pork that he transported to the event to be sold to help feed the hungry masses, while raising money to help the Rigglemans.

Once the event got under way, volunteers were busy selling and serving food, pouring beer and selling chances for the drawings.

Everyone seemed happy to be playing a part.

Donna Messenger, a native of Dade City who lives in North Carolina now, was there with Susan Maesen, selling plants.

Both women have known the Rigglemans for decades.

“They’re just a very neat couple,” Maesen said.

“They’re definitely people-people,” Messenger added.

“I think they’re astounded by people doing this.”

“My slogan has been: They need cash now,” Messenger said.

One of the event organizers, Dennis Devine, said he’s known the couple “forever.”

The couple didn’t have insurance, but the community is stepping up, Devine said.

“We’ve got thousands of dollars of donated stuff, beautiful items,” he said.

Wendy Clifford, from St. Joseph, was there helping, too.

Her husband, Joe Clifford, and the Rotary Club played a huge role in putting on the event.

“The both of them are really good people,” Wendy Clifford said. “So, now we’re trying to help them. This is all community.”

Besides helping them, the event was fun, Diane Riggleman said.

“There was great dancing. There was food. It was amazing,” she said.

“We slept last night, like babies.”

Want to help?
The Rotary Club of San Antonio is collecting donations through its 501(3)(c) nonprofit fund to qualify the donations as tax deductible.

Funds raised will be deposited in the Rotary Club of San Antonio, FL Fund Inc., account at the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union prior to full distribution to the Rigglemans.

Online donations may also be made through Go Fund Me at GoFundMe.com/jrxxpg.

Published February 4, 2015

Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest draws record crowd

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About 8,000 people attended the fifth annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest, breaking another record for the event founded in 2010 by the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

Besides attracting thousands to enjoy the barbecue and bands, the event on Jan. 17 at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, also lured 51 teams to compete to see who makes the best barbecue. Thirty-nine teams competed at the professional level, and there were 12 backyard barbecue teams, according to a news release issued by the chamber.

With limited room for dancing, Cindy Crismon of Zephyrhills, center, managed to strut her stuff in the crowd while jamming to the music of The Lauren Mitchell Band. This was her first Pigz In Z'Hills BBQ & Blues Fest. She is a winter resident from Lake Orion, Michigan. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
With limited room for dancing, Cindy Crismon of Zephyrhills, center, managed to strut her stuff in the crowd while jamming to the music of The Lauren Mitchell Band. This was her first Pigz In Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest. She is a winter resident from Lake Orion, Michigan.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

Figures have not been tallied, but organizers estimate the event exceeded last year’s proceeds of $30,000.

The money raised benefits local youth and education programs and community services of the Chamber of Commerce.

A crew of more than 100 volunteers pitched in to make the event a success. Many worked the entire week, some arriving at dawn and staying past sunset, to get things ready for the festival and to take it down and clean up the grounds.

“Beyond even our own optimistic projections, Pigz in Z’Hills belongs to Zephyrhills,” Vonnie Mikkelsen, executive director of the chamber, said in an email.

“I’m thrilled by the positive outcome and so very happy for the volunteers, the participants and the community who came together to make it happen,” she said.

There were thousands who arrived by car, and at least 26 private aircraft took advantage of the airport’s “Fly-in” option.

Besides enjoying barbecued foods of many styles, spectators had the chance to listen to music performed by TC Carr & Bolts of Blue, The Lauren Mitchell Band, Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones and Cold Iron.

The event venue was larger this year, too, to make room for increased demand for kids’ activities, vendors, a classic car show, and aviation and military history displays.

The Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ competition is sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association and is a qualifier for three prestigious championship contests: the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational in Lynchburg – considered the Superbowl of BBQ contests; American Royal World Series of BBQ in Kansas City – the world’s largest and oldest contest; and the Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown Invitational – the FBA’s newest contest.

Wink’s Barbecue led by Wink Yelverton of Fort Walton Beach, FL won Grand Champion Professional Division qualifying his team for all three prestigious contests. Peter Golob of Extra Mile BBQ from Loveland, Ohio took Reserve Champion. In the Backyard Division, Bettern Store Bot, Dave Grantham of Bushnell won Grand Champion while Bamboo Warrior, head cook Curley McKenzie of Thonotosassa took Reserve Champion.

Pigz In Z’Hills BBQ & Blues benefits local youth and education programs and community services of the Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, visit ZephyrhillsChamber.org, call (813) 782-1913, or visit the chamber’s Facebook Page.

Published January 28, 2015

The pies have it: new festival draws thousands in Zephyrhills

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Despite objections, multifamily zoning gets OK

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published January 21, 2015

 

Internships aim to offer new possibilities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published January 21, 2015

Cycle of Life: Seniors stay fit on two wheels

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

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

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

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

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

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

He finished last.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published January 21, 2015

Welcome to Dade City, where kumquat is king

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The annual festival started simply.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The festival is held, rain or shine.

Moors is optimistic that the weather will cooperate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published January 21, 2015

Holy Smoke! Blues, Barbecue in Zephyrhills

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The holidays are associated with great family, great friends and great food. In fact, sometimes the food is the best part: Turkey, ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and other dishes all make a welcomed appearance.

It’s all great, but something is missing. Where are the ribs? The chicken? The pulled pork? The sweet, tangy sauce that gets on your fingers? The baked beans and corn on the cob? The smoke from the grill that makes your mouth water?

Where’s the barbecue?

There will be plenty of vendors, but people will still line up for their favorites. (File Photo)
There will be plenty of vendors, but people will still line up for their favorites.
(File Photo)

You probably didn’t find it at the holiday dinner table, but you can make up for lost time on Jan. 17. That’s when the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will host the Fifth Annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, 39450 South Ave.

As the name implies, it’s a barbecue-themed event. Vendors offering a variety of meats and platters will be on hand, offering their own take on chicken, pork and other traditional courses. It’s all barbecue, but each one is a little different. The sauces, spices and sides make each one unique and worth trying. Whatever type of barbecue you prefer, you’re likely to find someone serving it hot.

They’re competing for prizes, too. Thousands of dollars’ worth. This is the Florida State Championship sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association. Did you even know there was a Florida BBQ Association? I didn’t, but I think I want to join it. Maybe they need taste-testers.

Anyway, the competitors are putting their best foot forward (or rib forward, I suppose) to create a variety of great tastes. You might not be an official judge, but you can pick your own winners from the competing vendors.

Now, you might have noticed that there’s more than barbecue happening in the name. It’s a blues fest as well, and music is a big part of the event. Cold Iron, Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones, The Lauren Mitchell Band and TC Carr & Bolts of Blue will all be performing. Just bring a lawn chair (no coolers or pets), find a nice spot and enjoy the show.

Rows of business vendors will be there, too, providing information about different services and offering some giveaways as well. If you’re the kind of person who goes through a lot of pens, I definitely recommend visiting this area. I can say from experience that this is a good way replenish your supply and support some local businesses at the same time. I know you’re not going there for pens, but this is “On the Cheap,” after all.

But wait; there’s more. Aircraft displays, a car and motorcycle show and the WWII Museum of Military History all add to the entertainment. There’s even a special area for children. There’s so much to do, I’m willing to make a pretty bold claim: You could be a vegetarian and still have a good time here. Even without the food there’s hours of fun and music to enjoy.

And, of course, it’s cheap. Admission to Pigs in Z’Hills is free. It costs $10 to park, but if you bring friends or family in one car, it’s a good deal. You do have to pay for food, beer and other drinks, of course. So your appetite might make this cheap event not so cheap. But I can’t advise you to skip the food, because it’s really good. So maybe eat breakfast first, so you can sample the best of the barbecue without eating your way around the airport. And you might be tempted. Like I said, the food is really good.

Pigs in Z’Hills runs from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. For more information, call (813) 782-1913 or visit ZephyrhillsChamber.org.

Schedule of events:
10 a.m. Pigz in Z’Hills opens (free admission, $10 to park)
10:30 a.m. Cold Iron performs
12:15 p.m. Jewel Tones performs
2 p.m. Lauren Mitchell Band performs
3:45 p.m. TC Carr and Bolts of Blue performs
6 p.m. event endsTwo Kidz Zones, concession vendors, business expo and military aircraft displays will be open throughout the day.

Published January 14, 2015

Keeping heritage alive in East Pasco

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Imani Asukile walks among the headstones at Indian Pond Cemetery in Dade City, looking at the writing on each one. He knows some names, knew some of the people personally and even has a relative buried there. But not every grave is clearly marked and some of the names are unknown.

What is known about the old graves is that those who were buried there long ago — some at the beginning of the 20th century — faced segregation and discrimination.

Imani Asukile and the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County have events at places like Indian Pond cemetery in Dade City. The group wants the people and places that make up the area's history remembered and honored. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Imani Asukile and the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County have events at places like Indian Pond cemetery in Dade City. The group wants the people and places that make up the area’s history remembered and honored.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“This was the premiere cemetery for blacks in this area. They only allowed blacks to be buried at the Dade City Cemetery in the early 1970s,” Asukile said. Now, as president of the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County, he wants to make sure the area isn’t forgotten, along with other important places, events and people in local history.

His group hosts military appreciation services at Indian Pond Cemetery each year to honor African American veterans. At a recent event, around 60 people gathered to honor World War II veterans. Their families received special congressional coins and certificates from the Wounded Warrior Project.

For the heritage society, those events create recognition for the veterans, and those buried at the cemetery where the events are held.

“You get inspiration from their stories when you understand their struggles, their victories, the hills they had to climb,” Asukile said. “We have to keep them alive.”

His group keeps those and other stories alive by hosting different events throughout the year. They have youth forums to inform young people and provide a platform for them to express their thoughts. And they have events to celebrate Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration of African-American culture held at the end of each calendar year.

Asukile said it’s the principles of Kwanzaa, including its focus on community support, interaction and problem solving, that guide the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County throughout the entire year.

“In everything that we do, Kwanzaa is the foundation of our existence, so to speak,” he said. “That’s where everything springs from.”

If community seems to be a big focus for the group, it’s by design. Asukile and the rest of the society take the “East Pasco” part of the organization’s name seriously. Local events attended by local residents are what keep the group motivated.

“In everything we do, we try to focus on local issues and individuals. Most black history programs are national or international, and we don’t have a problem with that,” he said. But we try to say ‘How can we take the same application and apply it here locally?'” The group recognizes local community members during Black History Month in February of each year. The 2015 focus will be on the founders of local community choirs, Asukile said.

But that doesn’t mean they restrict all their work to one small area. Asukile still considers Brooksville home, so he’ll often include that community. They also work with organizations or host events in other parts of the Tampa Bay area.

With a small core of dedicated members (the heritage society has around 10 active members) they provide a year’s worth of events to keep the community’s memories alive and honor those who came before them. He also sees areas for growth, and other communities that could form their own similar groups. Asukile mentioned Wesley Chapel as an area that has a lot of potential to form an organization in the future.

Wherever another group pops up in the future, Asukile and his group will be there to welcome them. As director of multicultural student affairs and equity services at Pasco-Hernando State College, he knows the importance of having a presence in the community and being a resource for those seeking information. And with the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County, he can put that into practice off campus, reminding residents of historic places, people and events so their stories won’t be forgotten.

“Every community has to have something or somebody who is a griot, a storyteller, a keeper of the history of the community, of the people. Every community has to do to it. otherwise you start losing the stories,” Asukile said.

For more information about the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County, e-mail Asukile at .

Contract proposal includes pay raises, more planning time

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Negotiators for Pasco County Schools and the United School Employees of Pasco have hammered out a deal that includes pay raises and increased instructional planning time. But it also calls for the end of smoking on all district properties and for the end of a district early retirement program.

Teachers and school-related employees, on average, would receive a 3 percent increase under the proposal, union president Kenny Blankenship said.

Kenny Blankenship (File Photo)
Kenny Blankenship says the pay raises in the proposed contract between Pasco County Schools and the United School Employees of Pasco are ‘among the best in the state.’ (File photo)

Kenny Blankenship says the pay raises in the proposed contract between Pasco County Schools and the United School Employees of Pasco are ‘among the best in the state.’

Kenny Blankenship says the pay raises in the proposed contract between Pasco County Schools and the United School Employees of Pasco are ‘among the best in the state.’

Kenny Blankenship says the pay raises in the proposed contract between Pasco County Schools and the United School Employees of Pasco are ‘among the best in the state.’

Kenny Blankenship says the pay raises in the proposed contract between Pasco County Schools and the United School Employees of Pasco are ‘among the best in the state.’

“That’s one of the best in the state,” he said.

The proposed contract also calls for increasing teachers’ instructional planning time from the current 100 minutes a day, to 150. The increased planning time probably is the most significant item in the agreement, Blankenship said.

“Our teachers really need it with all of the changes that we’ve been going through,” Blankenship said.

The proposed contract also calls for the end of smoking on district properties, effective July 1, 2016. It’s a provision Superintendent Kurt Browning says is important to the school district.

“We want a healthier work force, and we felt very strongly that that was a way to at least move in that direction,” Browning said.

There’s time between now and when the policy takes effect that will give employees a chance to participate in smoking cessation programs, the superintendent added. Beyond employee health, the district thought that allowing smoking at its sites sent a mixed message.

The ban on smoking is in keeping with similar bans in public places across the nation, Blankenship said.

“That’s probably an idea that’s come to its time,” he said.

Another portion of the proposed contract calls for eliminating new entrants to the district’s early retirement program, effective June 30, 2018.

By having that program phased out, Browning said, the district can use the $1.6 million typically spent there for other purposes.

The people currently participating in the program will not be affected,” Blankenship said. Those who qualify and opt to take advantage of the program still have some time to do so.

Both sides have agreed to create a compensation task force that will talk about proposed changes to how teachers are paid. The options being considered are teachers receiving 20 paychecks during the 10-month teacher work year, with five checks paid on the last teacher work day, and a last check two weeks later; or teachers receiving 26 equal paychecks, paid out every two weeks year round.

Another plus of the proposed contract, Blankenship said, is that there’s still a free health care plan option available for employees.

All together the district is providing almost $12 million of new funding toward employee compensation and benefits, according to a district news release.

A general settlement explanation meeting open to all bargaining unit members is scheduled for Jan. 13, where union building representatives will vote whether to recommend the settlement to the full bargaining unit. A ratification vote has been scheduled for Jan. 14.

Provided that the settlement is ratified, the Pasco County School Board is schedule to vote on Jan. 20.

Any applicable retroactive pay should be reflected in paychecks by the end of February.

Published December 17, 2014

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