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Pasco municipal elections set for June 30

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Municipal elections for the cities of Dade City and San Antonio are scheduled for June 30.

The local elections — which will decide various city commission seats — originally were  scheduled for April, but were delayed due to COVID-19.

The Dade City voting precinct is at First Baptist Church Dade City, 37511 Church Ave., in Dade City.

San Antonio’s precinct is at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 12110 Main St., in San Antonio.

Municipal elections in Dade City and San Antonio are scheduled for June 30. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (File)

Polls for both races will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Poll workers at each precinct will be following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines of social distancing, mask-wearing and sanitation, Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley told The Laker/Lutz News.

“Anyone that does show up for election day voting, there will be those safety precautions in place. We’re not expecting a huge turnout, but for voters that do show up, they can expect to get out of there rather quickly, and we’ll take care of them,” Corley said.

For those cautious about heading to the polls amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the elections supervisor suggests voting by mail instead. Request a vote-by-mail ballot by calling (800) 851-8754, or in writing to P.O. Box 300, Dade City, FL 33526. Vote-by-mail ballots are due back in the elections’ office by 7 p.m., election day.

Whether it’s a polling place or via mail, Corley emphasized the importance for city residents to cast a ballot in the local elections.

“These municipal offices are the closest to the people and traditionally have the lowest turnout, and it should be the opposite,” Corley said. “It’s the old adage, ‘If you don’t vote, you can’t complain,’ so I would encourage all voters to come out and get their voice heard.”

Here is a closer look at the elections:

Dade City
Six candidates are running for three open seats on the Dade City Commission — for Groups 3, 4 and 5.

In Group 3, two-term incumbent Jim Shive is facing challenger Matthew Wilson. Shive is a retired government employee. Wilson is a data entry clerk for the United Parcel Service.

Groups 4 and 5 seats will see fresh faces, as Nicole Deese Newlon and Eunice Penix are not seeking re-election. Newlon served one four-year term after she won in 2016, while Penix has held her seat since 1993.

Vying for Newlon’s Group 4 seat are Ann Cosentino and Knute Nathe.

Cosentino owns a communications/branding consulting firm. Nathe is an attorney with McCLain Alfonso P.A.

Christopher King and Normita Woodard are facing off for Penix’s Group 5 seat. King is the founder of The Gentleman’s Course Inc., a local youth mentorship charity. Woodard is a secretary at Lacoochee Elementary School.

San Antonio
Five candidates are vying to fill three open seats on the San Antonio City Commission.

Incumbents Elayne Bassinger and Sarah Schrader are running and Joseph Couture, John Vogel and Dacia Wadsworth Mitchell fill out the field.

Unlike the head-to-head matchups of other municipalities, the top three overall vote-getters earn commission seats. San Antonio commissioners serve two-year terms.

For more voting information, call the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections office at (800) 851-8754 or (352) 521-4302, or visit PascoVotes.gov.

Published June 24, 2020

Dipping into serenity, beauty and fun

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Science tells us if you want to live a longer, healthier life, get out into nature.

Take a walk, watch birds fly, reduce your stress by kayaking in tranquil waters – and leave your phone at home.

For a great escape, take off in one of many waterways in a kayak. (Karen Haymon Long)

Kayaking, even more so than walking, helps you escape, takes you into watery worlds – worlds far away from highways, noise and worries.

Take a kayak trip around here and you’ll likely see majestic great blue herons, bubblegum pink roseate spoonbills, cackling kingfishers, leaping dolphins and beauty beyond anything you normally see day to day.

We’re lucky, this part of Florida has it all – the salty Gulf of Mexico, mostly shallow and calm Tampa Bay, lakes galore, sounds, marshes and bayous.

If you don’t have your own kayak, you can rent one from local outfitters. And, you can choose from one-person or tandem varieties, use paddles or your feet on the increasing popular pedal kayaks.

You can fish, race or coast. You can explore canopied mangroves. Or, you can paddle along marked trails.

No matter which way you float, you’ll be exercising and mentally decompressing – far from phones, politics, crazy drivers and information overload.

Here is a look at five local places sure to be worth a kayak trip:

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, 8737 U.S. 19 N., Port Richey
This park offers 4 miles of Gulf coastline, inlets and bayous and many springs, including Salt Springs, where you can view dolphins, bald eagles, roseate spoonbills, red-tailed hawks, and all sorts of shorebirds and songbirds.

From the parking lot, a lengthy boardwalk leads to the kayak launch, so you must carry your own, which could be a hardship for some. The park does not rent kayaks.

Ranger-led tours are given the first Saturday of the month, starting at 10 a.m., at the kayak launch. You must have your own kayak and make reservations by calling (727) 816-1890.

This park also has picnic tables, restrooms, and nature trails through pine woods to springs. The trail to Salt Spring is a quarter of a mile long and is highlighted by a waterfall created by a spring that’s 351 feet deep.

Park hours are 8 a.m. to sunset daily; fee is $3 per car with up to eight people, and $2 for bikers and pedestrians.

For more information about the park, call (727) 816-1890, or email .

If you worked up an appetite kayaking or hiking and didn’t bring a picnic lunch, a variety of restaurants line U.S. 19. We like Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill, 7835 Bayview St., Port Richey, on the Pithlachascotee River, called “the Cotee” by locals. Call (727) 815-1178, or visit WhiskeyJoePortRichey.com, where you can make reservations.

Anclote Gulf Park, 2305 Baillies Bluff Road, Holiday
This 23-acre park straddles the Anclote River and the Gulf of Mexico, so it offers lots of watery beauty. You can launch a kayak from a sandy spot next to a fishing pier that’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and paddle the river and Gulf.

The park itself is open from dawn to dusk daily. On a recent visit, anglers caught mangrove snappers, a night heron stood guard next to the pier and chattering kingfishers dove into the Gulf. Two men said they had just spotted three dolphins in the Anclote.

For more information about this Pasco County Park, call (727) 942-4030, or visit PascoCountyFl.net.

Historic Tarpon Springs is close-by and offers many good places for lunch. Our favorites are Tarpon Tavern, at 21 N. Safford Ave., for pub food. Call (727) 945-1000, or visit TarponTavern.com; and Mykonos, at 628 Dodecanese Blvd., for Greek specialties. Call (727) 934-4306.

Dunedin Causeway, Pinellas County
Take Florida 586 (Curlew Road) west to Causeway Boulevard
You can drop a kayak just about anywhere into St. Joseph Sound from the causeway to see dolphins, shorebirds and manatees in the warmer months. People who fish from kayaks tend to stay on the more tranquil north side of the causeway, but others try their luck on the south side near a small bridge leading to Honeymoon Island State Park.

A woman kayaks back to shore after paddling in St. Joseph Sound.

Skilled kayakers can go farther afloat into the Gulf, or stay in the sound and paddle to Caladesi Island State Park, a barrier island in the Gulf that  has a marina and kayak trails. Kayak rentals are available for $25 for one hour to three hours, at the park’s cafe.

Sail Honeymoon on the south side of the causeway rents kayaks for $35 for two hours, $45 for four hours, or $60 all day. The outfitter also rents fishing kayaks and tandems. For details, visit SailHoneymoon.com/kayak-rentals, or call (727) 734-0392.

A word of caution: On weekends, the sound can be crowded with boats and big yachts, whose captains don’t always see kayaks, so wear bright colored lifejackets, carry a whistle, keep close watch and wave your paddle in the air if you face danger.

For good food and good vibes, eat lunch at Frenchy’s Outpost Bar & Grill, at 466 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin. Call (727) 286-6139, or visit FrenchysOnline.com.

Philippe Park, 2525 Philippe Parkway, Safety Harbor; and, Safety Harbor City Marina Area, 110 Veterans Memorial Lane, Safety Harbor
This Pinellas County park has a boat launch and lots of grassy, low-lying spots in picnic areas where it’s easy to slip a kayak into Old Tampa Bay.

A Roseate Spoonbill stands in the shallow waters off Old Tampa Bay, at the south end of Philippe Park in Safety Harbor. The Pinellas County park is a popular place to kayak.

You can tool around the bay as far as you’d like. Much of it is shallow and safe, and within sight of land. We’ve seen beautiful birds along the shore – spoonbills, herons, egrets, pelicans and even flamingos. Once, a huge manatee scared us by popping up for breath right next to our kayak.

Park hours are 7 a.m. to dusk; admission is free.

You can also launch kayaks into the bay at the city marina and, on weekends, you can rent them from Tocobaga Tours, across the parking lot from the marina. Ken Bambery, a teacher who owns the company, charges $20 per hour, $25 for two hours, or $45 for a full day. He’s not always there, so call (727) 389-8687 for reservations.

Just across the street from the marina, Barfly Saltwater Grill, at 100 Main St., has tasty Caribbean seafood and other fare. Call (727) 400-4790, or visit BarflySafetyHarbor.com.

Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park, 8001 Double Branch Road, Tampa
This park has one of the best kayak launches in the bay area. It’s a floating dock with bars you can hold onto to glide yourself into waterways that lead to Tampa Bay. Along the way, you’ll pass dense mangroves, salt marshes, pinewoods and thick hammocks.

Marked kayak trails lead the way to all sorts of wondrous sights. We once saw a dozen dolphins frolicking in the waters between the kayak launch and bay. Another time, we counted 27 roseate spoonbills in mangroves off the bay. It’s a wonderful place to see butterflies, and mullet, snook and red drum. Best of all, the waters here aren’t usually very crowded with boats, since it’s so shallow in most places.

The park rents kayaks for $25 for up to four hours. Other amenities include picnic areas, nature trails, a fishing pier and a nature center, closed now for renovations. Park hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fee is $2 a car.

For more information about this park, call (813) 855-1765, or visit HillsboroughCounty.org.

For a tasty lunch and good craft beer, head to nearby Tampa Bay Brewing Co., at 13937 Monroes Business Park, Tampa (off Race Track Road, south of Tampa Bay Downs). Call (813) 247-1422, or visit TBBC.beer.

These suggestions are just a small sampling of places for kayaking in the Tampa Bay area. So grab a paddle, launch away, and savor the silence.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published January 08, 2020

San Antonio welcomes back outdoor market

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The San Antonio Farmers Market is set to return with an array of unique merchandise, starting on Sept. 14.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., patrons can visit numerous vendors offering produce, bath and body products, honey, jams and plants, among other things.

A local winery also will offer samples of fruit-flavored wines to entice potential buyers.

Multiple park benches will be available for relaxation and to enjoy food, including Mr. Jim’s Famous Hot Dogs.

Also, kids can be dropped off at their own station where they can create free crafts.

For a $1-ticket, visitors can enter a drawing to win a gift basket.

The Barking Dogs will perform, too.

Admission and parking are free, and the event is pet-friendly.

Proceeds will support future projects of the San Antonio Rotary Club.

The function will be held at the San Antonio City Park at 12202 Main St., in San Antonio.

The market will take place the second Saturday of each month from September through May 2020.

For additional information, please call Winnie Burke at (352) 437-5161.

San Antonio Farmers Market
When: Starting Sept. 14 and continuing every second Saturday of each month through May 2020. The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., each time
Where: San Antonio City Park, 12202 Main St., San Antonio
Cost: Free
Details: Patrons can shop for various products in an outdoor setting. There also will be music and activities for kids.
Info: Call Winnie Burke at (352) 437-5161.

Published September 11, 2019

Central and West Pasco chambers plan to join forces

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The boards for the Central Pasco and West Pasco chambers of commerce have voted to become a single chamber, effective July 1, pending due diligence by both chambers’ boards.

Leadership from both groups said they’re excited by the prospects.

The new chamber — which has yet to be named — will have more than 1,000 members. Its membership will reach from around Interstate 75, to the western edge of Pasco County.

“There are advantages for both the chambers and for the chamber members,” said Greg Armstrong, chairman of the board for the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

“For the chambers, it means more services for less money. In today’s competitive environment that’s what you have to do.

“As for the members, the advantages are measured a little bit differently.

“They’ll have more marketing opportunities — to reach a larger market, which is the trend today.

“They’ll have more networking opportunities, in a larger area.

“And, quite frankly, they’ll get more bang for their buck.

“In the growth area of (State Road) 54, they won’t have to wonder: ‘Should I join this one? Or, should I join that one?’ As a result, a lot of people didn’t join either.

“Now, they just join THE chamber. We take that problem out of it,” Armstrong said.

“That is one of the two best growth areas in the United States right now, for business, and there was no reason to spend our time fighting over the members. We want to spend our time working for the members,” Armstrong added.

Les Saland, president of the board for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, said, “we want this to happen because it really is a good deal for the members.

“We’re going to be splitting the board, initially, for the first two years. It’s going to be seven members of the West Pasco board and seven members of the Central Pasco board to comprise the board of directors.

“The chairman of the board for the first year will be the incoming chairman of the board from West Pasco Chamber, and then the second year, the chairman of the board will be our current incoming president.

“Then, after that, it will be by nomination of the board.

“We wanted to make sure that our members have equal representation. This is not a takeover or anything like that. It had to work for everybody,” Saland said.

Both offices will remain open, and staff members will be retained, Saland said.

“If we move the office into their (West Pasco Chamber) current office, which is on Main Street in New Port Richey, that doesn’t work well for the current members who are in Central Pasco, or in Land O’ Lakes, or even possibly on the eastern side of Trinity/Odessa. That’s a long drive,” Saland said.

The combined chamber will have more political clout, both leaders said.

“Let’s face it, government has to do what it does and sometimes it’s not in the best interest of business,” Armstrong said. “If we’re speaking for more than a 1,000 members, they (political leaders) sit on the edge of the chair. If you’re a smaller chamber, they might sit back in their chair.

Having such representation is especially important for chamber members, Armstrong added.

“Eighty-five percent of our members, in both chambers, are very small businesses. Having been that most of my life, I can tell you, there’s a lot of times, you have to snorkel to get air — because you’re working that many hours.

“They don’t have time to even know that a problem is coming, much less figure out a way to deal with it, or make it not happen.

“As a chamber, we can impact those things,” he said.

Organizing a unified chamber will take a concerted effort and involves working out myriad details, both leaders said.

“I think we have a lot of work ahead of us, but I’m excited,” Armstrong said. “We have a chance to clean the chalkboard and set us up for the next decade. I really think we’re going to benefit all of the communities. You’ve got Land O’ Lakes, Lutz (the Pasco part of Lutz). You’ve got Odessa, Trinity, Holiday, New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson. Now we’re talking about almost 250,000 people that we represent.”

Published March 13, 2019

San Antonio set to repair water leak

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The City of San Antonio will take another stab at fixing an ongoing water leak along Pennsylvania Avenue.

The San Antonio City Commission recently approved additional funds to repair a water leak at Pennsylvania Avenue. The work is scheduled for Feb. 25. (Kevin Weiss)

City commissioners approved $10,000 in additional funds with contractors Superior Siteworks and EA Tapping Services. Of that, $6,000 will go for tapping services and $4,000 will go for excavation work.

The action came during a special commission meeting on Feb. 6, and the repairs are scheduled for Feb. 25.

A road closure will be in effect for a portion of Pennsylvania Avenue between Curley Street and Main Street, for the duration of repairs, which are expected to be complete that same day.

City officials anticipate the following dwellings will be without water during the scheduled repairs, and will be placed under a 48-hour boil water notice:

  • Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 27
  • Businesses on Pennsylvania Avenue east of Curley Street
  • A residential home on Curley Street

The total allocation for the water leak project now totals $22,500.

Commissioners initially awarded a $12,500 bid to Superior Siteworks in December.

The contractor attempted to make repairs on Jan. 28.

But, the project’s scope proved larger than anticipated, officials explained, requiring more funds for a water line stop, and, possibly a water valve replacement.

The water leak was first observed by city officials after Thanksgiving Day, according to Will Plazewski, the town’s water clerk.

The cause of the leak isn’t known, but water started flowing out of the valve rise, Plazewski said.

The city presently has barricades set up along Pennsylvania Avenue, roughly between the City Hall building and Poncho’s Villa Mexican Restaurant, blocking off some adjacent parking spaces and a portion of the roadway that was cut out during the first attempt to repair the leak.

“We need to get this fixed; it’s not getting any better,” waterworks commissioner Eric Stallworth said, at the meeting. “We talked about the budget earlier in the fall, and we knew we were going to have to be making some repairs to our water system.”

In other action, the commission issued a request for proposals for trash collection services; the city’s contract with Waste Connections is expiring.

Published February 13, 2019

Political Agenda 10/10/2018

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Wesley Chapel Republicans
The Wesley Chapel Republican Club will meet Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m., at Lexus of Wesley Chapel, 5350 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. Numerous candidates will be featured. Admission is free, all are welcome, and coffee and homemade desserts will be served. For more information, contact Peter Cracchiolo at (813) 360-9813 or at .  

Candidate forums
There are three upcoming candidate forums, according to the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections’ website.

They are:

  • The American Association of University Women on Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the New Port Richey Library, 5939 Main St., New Port Richey. The forum will feature all candidates running for U.S. Congress, the Florida Legislature and Pasco County School Board.
  • The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce and The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 15, at the East Pasco Adventist Academy, 38434 Centennial Road in Dade City. A meet and greet begins at 6 p.m., with the forum starting at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend the event and will have the opportunity to submit questions to the moderators for consideration.
  • The League of Women Voters-Pasco on Oct. 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The forum will feature all candidates running.

East Pasco Democrats
The East Pasco Democratic Club will meet Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m., at Omari’s Grill at Scotland Yard Golf Club, 9424 U.S. 301, in Dade City. The meeting will end at 6 p.m., and will reconvene at 6:30 p.m., at the Dade/Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum at East Pasco Adventist Academy, 38434 Centennial Road in Dade City. For more information, visit EastPascoDems.com, or call (813) 383-8315.

San Antonio gardening fest offers lessons, vendors and fun

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“Come one, come all – it’s a family event,” said Dorothy Moore, issuing an invitation to the upcoming Gardening 365 event at San Antonio Park.

At last year’s garden festival, visitor Hailey Ferrel, left, received help with her take-home plant from Pasco County Master Gardener Pam St. Louis. (Courtesy of Pasco County Master Gardeners)

Pasco County Master Gardeners, who are part of the University of Florida/Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences, are hosting the festival slated for Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Now in its second year, the festival’s theme this year is “Edibles.”

Those attending the event will have a chance to learn how to cultivate and maintain healthy organic foods year-round.

Multiple seminars will be offered, tackling such topics as: How to prune trees for hurricane season; How to grow Asian vegetables; Proper water conservation; and, Lasagna Gardening – layering your home garden.

Last year’s vendor, 3 Seasons Growers, provided the festival with a variety of flowers and plants for visitors to choose from.

“If they’re [visitors] looking at growing pesticide-free plants, this is the perfect way to learn,” Moore said.

The rain barrel seminar is the only course that has a fee, but it also includes a rain barrel that participants get to take home.

Vendors will set up throughout the park, offering shoppers a chance to buy a variety of plants and landscaping accessories.

The Kids’ Zone will be available for young ones to engage in free activities. And, there will be a food court and picnic benches.

Parking is available, and festival-goers are asked to bring only service animals, as needed.

For more information, contact Dorothy Moore at (352) 518-0156 or .

Gardening 365 Event
Where: San Antonio Park, 12200 Main St., in San Antonio
When: Oct. 6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Pasco County Master Gardeners will present courses on planting and organic food alternatives. There also will be vendors and a Kids’ Zone.
Info: Call Dorothy Moore at (352) 518-0156, or email  .

Published October 3, 2018

 

Political Agenda 09/12/2018

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Political season is heating up in Pasco County

Wesley Chapel Republican Club
The Wesley Chapel Republican Club will meet Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m., at Lexus of Wesley Chapel, 5350 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. Guest speaker will be Florida State Rep. Danny Burgess, who also is the newly appointed manager for future operations for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.

Admission is free, and all are welcome. Coffee and homemade desserts will be served.

For more information, contact Peter Cracchiolo at (813) 360-9813 or .

Republican Club of Central Pasco
The Republican Club of Central Pasco will celebrate the party’s primary midterm election victories at its Sept. 24 meeting. Primary winners will be on hand with information on their campaigns and their positions on issues facing Pasco County and the state of Florida. 

The meeting is open to the public.

The club meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The social begins at 6:30 p.m., and business meeting starts at 7 p.m.

For more information, call (813) 996-3011.

Candidate forums set for October
There are three candidate forums scheduled in October, according to the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections’ website.

The scheduled forums, as of now, are:

  • The American Association of University Women on Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the New Port Richey Library, 5939 Main St., New Port Richey. The forum will feature all candidates running for U.S. Congress, the Florida Legislature and Pasco County School Board.
  • The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce and The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 15, at the East Pasco Adventist Academy, 38434 Centennial Road in Dade City. A meet and greet begins at 6 p.m., with the forum starting at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend the event and will have the opportunity to submit questions to the moderators for consideration.
  • The League of Women Voters-Pasco on Oct. 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The forum will feature all candidates running for U.S. Congress, the Florida State Legislature and Pasco County School Board.

Endorsement
Pasco County Tax Collector has endorsed U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis in Bilirakis’ bid for re-election to Florida’s 12th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to Bilirakis’ campaign.

San Antonio Farmers Market makes its return

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The San Antonio Farmers Market is making its return, for its second year, beginning on Sept. 8.

The event runs on the second Saturday of the month, from September through May, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at San Antonio City Park, 12202 Main St., San Antonio.

The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Antonio.

The market features vendors who set up around the park, offering a variety of products, including jams and jellies, honey, produce, jewelry and quilts.

San Antonio Rotary Club’s Terrie Grissom, left, and Winnie Burke are helping to host the San Antonio Farmers Market. Now in its second year, the monthly event begins this year on Sept. 8. (Brian Fernandes)

One highlight this year will be live music by the Tampa Bay Ukulele Society.

Those wishing to donate blood also will be able to do so, at OneBlood’s Big Red Bus that will be parked at the site to accept donations. Donors will receive both a free T-shirt and a checkup.

Mr. Jim’s hot dog stand is returning to the market this year.

A table also will be set up for kids to give them a chance to create a craft, at no charge. A Rotary Club member will oversee that activity.

“That’s a part of doing what we can for kids,” said Terrie Grissom, treasurer of San Antonio’s Rotary Club. “We are very much a community-focused club, serving the San Antonio area the best we can.”

The park has a playground for children and numerous picnic tables for dining.

In addition to exploring the vendors, patrons are welcome to volunteer their voices for singing performances.

The event is free of charge, and pets are welcome, too.

Proceeds benefit causes supported by the Rotary Club of San Antonio. The club supports scholarships for students and donates food bags to the San Antonio Elementary School, among other things.

“One main thing is to try and improve education and the life of people,” said Winnie Burke, chairwoman of the Rotary Club.

Club members also will be on hand to help vendors set up tents.

San Antonio Farmers Market
Where: San Antonio City Park, 12202 Main St., in San Antonio
When: The second Saturday of the month, September through May, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
Details: The event will hold various vendors, food, live music and a blood drive. Pets are welcome, too.
Info: Contact Winnie Burke at (352) 437-5161 or .

Published September 5, 2018

Celebrating a day to honor trees

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Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care.

As a formal holiday, it was first observed in 1872, in Nebraska, but tree planting festivals are as old as civilization. The tree has appeared throughout history and literature as the symbol of life.

The idea for Arbor Day in the United States originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Among the pioneers moving into the Nebraska Territory in 1854 was Julius Sterling Morton from Detroit. He and his wife, Caroline, were lovers of nature, and the home they established in Nebraska was planted with trees, shrubs and flowers.

In 1872, the State Board of Agriculture accepted a resolution by Julius Morton “to set aside one day to plant trees, both forest and fruit.”

The trees planted on Arbor Day show a concern for future generations. The simple act of planting a tree represents a belief that the tree will grow and provide wood products, wildlife habitat, erosion control, shelter from the wind and sun, beauty and inspiration, for everyone.

By 1920, more than 45 states and territorial possessions were celebrating Arbor Day. Today, it is commemorated in all 50 states.

For many years, Arbor Day was observed on Julius Morton’s birthday, April 22, but today, National Arbor Day is usually celebrated on the last Friday in April.

Many states and municipalities have implemented state or locally recognized Arbor Days that reflect the best time for planting in their region. Florida celebrates Arbor Day the third Friday in January — a tradition that began in 1886.

Visit ArborDay.org to learn when Arbor Day is recognized in each of the states.

Pasco County celebrates Arbor Day

What: Memorial Tree Celebration
When: The Dade City Garden Club and the City of Dade City will host an Arbor Day Memorial Tree Celebration Jan. 19 at 10 a.m., at the garden club, at 13630 Fifth St.
Details: Dade City is an official “Tree City,” which means it has a tree ordinance in place, maintains core standards of sound urban tree management, contributes funding, and celebrates Arbor Day.
Memorial trees, dedicated in memory or in honor of a special person or occasion, will be recognized by Deborah Garnett Parks, president, and Gail Stout, chairperson.
Trees will be planted by city staff at the Garden Center and the Hardy Trail at Church Avenue and Ninth Street, and a small memorial plaque is placed in front of the tree.
The program also will feature a Proclamation from the City of Dade City to be read by Mayor Camille Hernandez, and speakers from the Florida Forest Service, University of Florida IFAS Extension.
The event is open to the public.
Info: Call Gail Stout at (352) 567-0607.

What: Arbor Day Celebration
When: Jan. 19 starting at 11 a.m. at Frances Avenue Park, 5580 Frances Ave., New Port Richey
Details: Trees, free seedling will be available, while supplies last. Seedling species will include Pawpaw, redbud maple, sycamore, wild black cherry, hoptree and sassafras.
There will be a children’s program about trees, the city’s Public Works department and the children will plant trees as part of the celebration and the city’s designation as a National Tree City USA.
Free seedlings also will be available at Tasty Tuesdays on Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon, at the New Port Richey City Library on Main Street.
Approximately 600 seedlings will be handed out to the community during the week of Arbor Day.
Info: KeepPascoBeautiful.org

Published January 17, 2018