Photos of the Week

An event that was both sweet and spicy

January 15, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Hundreds gathered at Raising Cane, A Sweet and Spicy Event on Jan. 11 at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City. The event featured a chili cook-off sanctioned by the International Chili Society, a cane syrup tasting competition, a People’s Choice chili and salsa competition, live music throughout the day, a beer garden, and vendors. Guests also could visit the sugar cane mill, to watch how volunteers manufacture a batch of sugar cane syrup from start to finish. Sugar cane syrup was the staple sweetener more than 100 years ago, but declined in popularity over time because of the amount of labor required to produce the sweetener.

John Falls, left, and Marcus Copeland, use a large wooden filter to catch any impurities floating around the kettle as they boil sugar cane juice. Around 80 gallons boil in the kettle, and when the labor-intensive process is over several hours later, the Dade City men will have approximately 9 gallons of viable syrup ready for bottling. (Christine Holtzman)

Buddy Hale, of Zephyrhills, and Kathy, his wife of 11 years, listen to The Hummingbirds, one of the musical acts at Raising Cane. Other entertainers included The Cadillac Cowboys and the old-time music of San Antonio’s The Barking Dogs.

Four-year-old Hutson Borders, of Dade City, carefully keeps his balance, as he walks along a log at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village. He was at Raising Cane, A Sweet and Spicy Event with his parents, Jenny and Josh; his brother, Jackson; and, his sisters, Emma and Susannah.

Bethany Morales, of Winter Garden, left, and her friend Lisa Powell, of Riverview, taste the many different syrups that were entered into the syrup tasting competition at Raising Cane, A Sweet and Spicy Event at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village. Morales was attracted to the event by the chili cookoff.

Lighting up the New Year

January 8, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

When the clock struck midnight on Dec. 31, thousands of people gathered together at the Lights Festival, to set free lanterns on which they had written their goals, dreams, hopes and wishes for the New Year. The festival — which also featured food trucks, music, dancing and games for children — took place at Little Everglades Ranch, a 2,050-acre working ranch in Dade City.

At midnight, thousands of lanterns lit up the chilly night sky to signify a new beginning, for the New Year, during the Lights Festival at the Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City. Using the markers provided in their light kits, attendees were encouraged to write messages of their goals, hopes, dreams and wishes on their biodegradable lanterns before setting them aloft. (Christine Holtzman)

Melanie O’ Brien, of Trinity, lights her lantern with a message of hope before setting it free. She said this New Year’s celebration was special because she just completed treatment for breast cancer and is in remission. Her friend Nicole Sims, also of Trinity, celebrated with her.

Sending hopes aloft

January 8, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Karthik Mj, of Tampa, center, along with his wife, Preethi, right, and brother, Rithwik Manne, also of Tampa, jointly prepare to release a lantern, that includes their wish for the New Year. The handwritten message is: ‘Let the world stay in harmony.’

Enjoying outdoor family time, during the holiday break

January 2, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

With schools on holiday break, many families chose to visit area parks, to have an afternoon full of outdoor family fun. From bike riding to playing at playgrounds, or on fields or courts, children and adults found plenty of ways to have fun.

Curtis Marrow, of Wesley Chapel, lifts his 7-year-old niece Laila Brown, so she can slam dunk the basketball that was being passed to her from her 12-year-old brother, Jason Jr. The children’s father, Jason Sr., said that the big plan over the holiday break was to enjoy family time. (Christine Holtzman)

Eleven-year-old Jamari Walls, of Lutz, left, and his 13-year-old sister, Makiya, both climbed to the top of the jungle gym at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, to check out the view of the nearby pond. The children were at the playground with their grandmother, Terri Tripp. Tripp said that over the holiday break, her grandchildren plan to spend their time attending church and baking cookies with their great-grandmother.

Holiday break offers plenty of fun

January 2, 2020 By Christine Holtzman

Victor Jaime, of Wesley Chapel, gives his 6-year-old daughter, Aly, a push as she rides one of the swings at the Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road. Aly is looking forward to celebrating her seventh birthday with her family during the holiday break. The father-daughter duo visited the park with Aly’s mom Bri, her sisters Julia and Aubry, brother Victor Jr., and grandfather Jorge. (Christine Holtzman)

Janelle Keller, of Wesley Chapel, left, watches as her husband, Jordan, guides their 2-year-old son Dalton’s golf swing, while having an afternoon of family fun near the universally inclusive playground at the Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road. The Kellers were also at the park with their other children – Canon, Masyn and Brooklyn. Their daughter, Brooklyn, has Down Syndrome, and they said that the fact this local park has an all-inclusive playground is wonderful, because it is for all children, including those with mobility issues or disabilities.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

December 24, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Holiday scenes abound throughout The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. Whether it’s an iconic community landmark, a street scene, a subdivision entrance or a single string of lights along a roof line — signs of good cheer are evident everywhere. Here’s wishing our readers a safe, enjoyable and festive season. Happy 2020!

Passersby of the LakeShore Ranch community, off of U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes, can experience a touch of Florida, with this cluster of palm trees dressed up for the holidays. (Christine Holtzman)

Large wooden holiday postcards welcome visitors to the iconic Old Lutz School, 18819 N. U.S. 41. Beyond sharing season’s greetings, the cards convey a sense of the tradition and civic pride that persists in this community, north of Tampa.

Signs of good cheer

December 24, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

The Historic Pasco County Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave., in Dade City, is an impressive structure any day of the year — but during the holidays, it gets dressed up — with bows and wreaths, and a tree out front — to express a message of seasonal cheer. (Christine Holtzman)

The historic Capt. H.B. Jeffries House, 38537 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills, features candy canes, poinsettias and a giant Christmas tree in its holiday display.

This view of a stretch of Fifth Avenue offers a sense of the holiday spirit on display at the shops in downtown Zephyrhills.

Veterans group dedicates new flagpoles at Zephyr Park

December 18, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Three flagpoles were dedicated in honor of veterans who have received Purple Hearts, during a ceremony at Zephyr Park on Dec. 15. The lighted flagpoles will be part of the permanent memorial at the park, located at 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills. Efforts for a permanent memorial devoted to Purple Heart recipients began around five years ago, with the addition of a monument and two benches. Guy Patterson, of Dade City, commander of the East Pasco Chapter 705 of The Military Order of the Purple Heart group, headed the ceremony. The event included the dedication and a flag ceremony, led by the Zephyrhills High School JROTC. Patterson also presented a special recognition award to John Daff, the president of the Eagle Riders Group and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aeries 3752. These two organizations were instrumental in raising thousands of dollars for the project.

Seventeen-year-old Zephyrhills High School JROTC Captain Carmelo Mendoza, left, and his second in command, 15-year-old Sgt. 1st Class James Laferriere, are seen raising the Purple Heart flag during the flag ceremony on Dec. 15. Three flagpoles were dedicated during the ceremony, with this one being dedicated to World War II veterans and Purple Heart recipients Mel Cunningham, Earl Angel and Ronald Bohm. The men were honored for their efforts with this project. (Christine Holtzman)

East Pasco Chapter 705 Military Order of the Purple Heart members James Baldree of Zephyrhills, left, and Ernie Rice, also of Zephyrhills, salute the American Flag that was being raised on the center pole. Both Baldree and Rice are Vietnam War Veterans and Purple Heart recipients. This pole was dedicated to all the Patriots of Chapter 705. A third pole, flying a POW flag, was dedicated to Louis Colandria.

John Daff, president of the Eagle Riders Group and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aeries 3752, left, receives a special recognition award from Guy Patterson, the commander of the East Pasco Chapter 705 of The Military Order of the Purple Heart group and the recipient of three Purple Hearts. Daff’s organizations were instrumental with raising thousands of dollars for the project.

Learning survival skills

December 18, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

After reading the wilderness survival novel, ‘Hatchet,’ by Gary Paulsen, and preparing ahead of time in class, fourth-graders at the Academy at the Lakes in Land O’ Lakes got to experience what it might take to survive a simulated plane crash in the wilderness. They conducted the survival exercise on vacant land owned by the school off of 20 Mile Level Road in Land O’ Lakes. The program was the brainchild of teacher Steph Huff, who teaches reading and writing at the independent private school.

Nine-year-old Flynn Cummings, of Land O’ Lakes, feels his way around the shelter building module, while suffering from a simulated eye injury. Cummings and his classmates were building a shelter that would keep them dry, by gathering pine needles, grass and sticks, to create an overhang under an uprooted tree. (Christine Holtzman)

Ten-year-old Raelynn Wornor, of Wesley Chapel, searches through bags of supplies that survived the simulated plane crash, looking for items that could be helpful to start a fire. The bags contained items that would typically be found packed in suitcases. Among the items used to try to build a fire: magnifying glasses, batteries, paper cups, Spanish moss, grass, tissues and sticks.

Using an old water bottle, paper towels, dead leaves, fresh grass and charcoal, students were able to filter dirty, murky water into drinkable water. Lisa Picard’s science class prepared the students ahead of time in the process of water filtration. During this exercise, she provided PH level test strips so that the students could test the safety of their water.

Groovin’ in Land O’ Lakes

December 11, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Thousands recently had a groovy time at the Peace, Love & Funk Festival, at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The event featured music from three acts: George Pennington & The Odyssey, American Idol contestant Shevonne Philidor (with her band The Force), and the Black Honkeys. The event also hosted a Bizarre Bazaar, which offered a wide variety of rare and unique items. Proceeds from the event will benefit the nonprofit Armed Forces and veteran support group, the Stano Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Land O’ Lakes.