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Pioneer Museum Road

If you enjoy quilts, you’ll love this gathering

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If you’ve ever wondered what that family heirloom quilt is worth, you can find out at the 30th annual Farm Fest and Quilt Show in Dade City.

Those attending the event can find out the value of their quilt from Brenda Grampsas, a quilt historian. Verbal appraisals cost $20 and written ones cost $50.

But, that’s just one of the activities planned for the show set for Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.

Visitors also can bring in quilts to put on display.

And, they can purchase a ticket to take part in a chance drawing to win a quilt, too.

At noon, spectators can see a demonstration of strength, as teams of draft horses compete to see which can pull the heaviest weight.

And, of course, there will be opportunities to buy items from numerous vendors, offering crafted items and food.

There also will be demonstrations of doll-making, and of the process of turning sugar cane into syrup.

The event also features plenty of ways for kids to have fun, including face painting and barrel train rides.

Live music will be offered by The Barking Dogs and the Dulcimer Connection, and for those who want to check out the museum, tour guides will be there to share their knowledge.

Parking is free and guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs for the horse competition.

Admission is $10 for age 13 and up; $5 for ages 5 to 12; and free for those under 5. Admission includes the museum tour.

For more information, call (352) 567-0262, or visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Farm Fest and Quilt Show
When: Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City
Cost: $10 for age 13 and up; $5 for ages 5 to 12; free for those under 5
Details: This Dade City event features the handiwork of quilters and the strength of draft horses.
Info: Call (352) 567-0262, or visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Published January 29, 2020

New game celebrates Dade City

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(Courtesy of Florida Pioneer Museum & Village)

Still looking for a unique Christmas gift for someone who likes board games? Check this out — Dade City Opoly.

The game features local Dade City businesses, and is being sold as a fundraiser for the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, at the price of $40 each.

Over the next few months, the museum also will be raffling off 10 games autographed by The Bellamy Brothers, who have a spot on the game’s board.

Raffle tickets are sold at the museum, 25602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.

To order Dade City Opoly online, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Or, to pick up a game, stop by one of these Dade City businesses: Lori Anne’s, The Book Shack, Flint Creek Outfitters, The Garden of Eden Spa, Quilts on Plum Lane, or the museum itself.

Published December 11, 2019

A blast to the Civil War past

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Get ready to travel back in time with the Civil War reenactment, “Raid on the Salt Works.”

The three-day event will be held at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.

Actors will re-live the events of the Civil War and the 19th century, at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village on Nov. 22, Nov. 23 and Nov. 24. (File)

A school field trip will take place on Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Students and their chaperones can take a self-guided tour at numerous stations, depicting the Civil War.

These stations include reenactments, time-period music, medical units and narrations.

Those attending the field trip event can either purchase food on the premises, or bring outside lunch, for that day only.

The Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 events will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Both days will consist of live musical performances and food concession stands, as well as woodworking and syrup-making sessions.

Patrons are welcome to bring lawn chairs and relax while watching actors play out battle scenes.

On Nov. 23 there will be a women’s tea gathering at 10 a.m. Ladies are encouraged to wear 19th century attire.

A fashion show will follow, highlighting the clothing of that era.

On Nov. 24 , there will be a Sunday church service at 10 a.m.

The Nov. 22 field trip admission will be $4 for preregistration and $5 at the entrance, for each student and chaperone.

Admission for Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 events will be accepted the day of, at $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for those age 5 and under.

Parking is free, but pets, coolers and outside food are prohibited.

The deadline for preregistration is Nov. 21.

For further information or to preregister, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org, or call (352) 567-0262.

Raid on the Salt Works Civil War reenactment
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
When: Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: Nov. 22 admission is a $4 preregistration or $5 at the entrance; Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for those age 5 and under
Details: Patrons will get to experience a glimpse of life during the Civil War through attire of the time, music and battle reenactments.
Info: For further inquiries or preregistration, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org, or call (352) 567-0262.

Published November 20, 2019

Pioneer Museum gets new exhibits

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Visitors to the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village now will be able to see an up-close look at how blacksmiths and woodworkers mastered their crafts as settlers back in the 1800s and 1900s.

Guests will be able to glimpse the tools used back then — whether the craftsmen were pulling forge bellows and shaping hot steel, or operating a foot-powered treadle lathe and turning wood.

The ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication took place outside the new Paul Rhinesmith Wood Wright shop. (Christine Holtzman)

The museum, located at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, recently added a full-fledged blacksmith shop and wood wright shop to its extensive collection of reenactment building exhibits.

The new shops were officially unveiled at a dedication ceremony last month at the museum property.

Materials and hand tools for both shops were donated by Paul Rhinesmith, a longtime museum demonstrator and trustee. Both exhibits were named for him.

The new additions took about a year to complete and furnish — as well as replicate something seen at the turn of the century, said Pioneer Museum board president Seth Mann.

Wood Wright Bill Holmes, of San Antonio, demonstrates how he uses a ripping saw to cut reclaimed lumber that will be used to make wood boxes. The wood for this project comes from the porch of a historic log cabin in Lacoochee, that will soon be moved to the museum property.

Previously, the museum didn’t have any actual working forge or wood wright shop, so smaller blacksmith and woodsmith demonstrations would take place at the museum’s Mabel Jordan Barn, which houses collections of early farm equipment, vintage buggies and carriages.

So, for Mann and other trustees, the new shops make for “a beautiful addition” to the 20-acre museum property that houses an old schoolhouse, a church, an original settler’s home, a general store, a shoe repair shop, a citrus packing house, a train depot and more.

The blacksmith shop measures 24-by-24 feet and the wood wright shop is 24-by-32 feet.

The museum acquired Dade City road bricks to put in the floor of the blacksmith shop, and used beams from one of the railroads, in the building.

Blacksmith Lewis Riggleman bangs on a piece of hot, mild steel, in order to shape it into a nail. The steel becomes malleable at 1,000 degrees, allowing Riggleman to pound it into shape.

The wood wright shop, meanwhile, contains cypress wood from the porch of a historic log cabin in Lacoochee, that soon will be moved to the museum property.

“We try to show people what the businesses looked like,” Mann said. “In historic Pasco, the carpentry shop and the blacksmith shop would’ve been major businesses downtown.”

The museum couldn’t survive without donations from community members, such as the Rhinesmith family, Mann said.

“Most of the buildings and exhibits we have here are contributed, even the land was contributed,” the museum board president said. “It takes the volunteers to come out here and work, the board members, the trustees — we all have to work to try to make the museum a success.”

Marilynn Ory, of Wesley Chapel, left, and her husband, Richard, admire the handmade wooden boxes and tools on display in the new wood wright shop. The Orys are both volunteers with the museum.

Rhinesmith, 86, suffers from a rare eye disease and lives in an assisted living facility in Zephyrhills.

But, he and his family were at the dedication ceremony.

His son, Phillip Rhinesmith, said the longtime volunteer dreamed of the museum having standalone blacksmith and woodworking shops when he did demonstrations in the 1990s and the 2000s, up until he began losing his eyesight.

“He knew he wouldn’t be able to demonstrate but still wanted to be able to show his support and donate to the museum,” Phillip Rhinesmith said.

Phillip Rhinesmith said boxes upon boxes of hand tools donated were collected or handmade by his father over many decades.

That includes an extensive collection of rare, vintage Stanley woodworking planes the elder Rhinesmith crafted himself for various projects.

The Paul Rhinesmith Wood Wright Shop

“Everything he built, there were no power tools, no sandpaper, no nails. Everything was friction fit together,” Phillip Rhinesmith said. “He knew if he needed a specific tool for a job, he would copy old designs out of old books and build the planes himself. It’s pretty incredible.”

The son added, “The legacy that he leaves with his tools here, most his collection, it means a lot to the family to be a part of this community.”

Bill Holmes is a new volunteer docent at the wood wright shop and a veteran carpenter.

The Paul Rhinesmith Blacksmith Shop

He said many of Rhinesmith’s donated tools, like a foot-powered treadle lathe, are so rare that he’s only seen them in books or on television.

“The guy was such a craftsman to get this together, to be able to use this stuff,” Holmes said. “All these tools, they’re still in impeccable shape. I can still use them today. A lot of times when you see these tools they’re so beat up, but these are impeccable working pieces.”

Fellow volunteer docent Steve Melton, who helps operate the blacksmith shop, was likewise impressed with Rhinesmith’s collection of donated hand tools, calling them “the real deal.”

Melton added both shops — and the many the items in them — are important for educating schoolchildren that visit the museum each year.

“This introduces to them a lot of the heritage arts,” Melton said, “and so it is just a remarkable addition to this community.”

To learn more about the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Published June 19, 2019

Jelly Bean Fling ushers in Spring

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It’s time to grab those Easter egg baskets for the annual Jelly Bean Fling in Dade City.

The event, now in its third year, will be on April 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kids will be provided baskets for an all-day egg hunt. Each plastic egg will contain sweet treats inside.

The Jelly Bean Fling just isn’t complete without a special visit from Jasper, the Easter bunny. He will be one of the event’s attractions on April 6. (File)

Other activities offered through the day include a barrel train ride with Conductor Joe at the helm, and a chance to explore the interior of various vehicles with Touch-a-Truck.

A bounce house with a slide will be available, as well as pony rides.

Other animals will be there, too, as the Blake Veterinary Hospital will be offering a petting zoo.

There will be carnival attractions inside the Mabel Jordan Barn, which kids can enjoy with five free tickets they receive at admission.

Face painting, rock painting, hat decorating and making tulip crafts will be the featured activities there.

Everyone’s favorite bunny, Jasper, will make an appearance – posing for free snapshots with guests from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Food trucks will be on site, for those who want to grab a bite to eat, and there will be vendors offering wreaths, clothing, soaps, honey, jewelry and other items.

The event also features live music from Mr. Tommy, who will encourage guests to sing along at his shows, scheduled for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The function will be at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.

Parking is free, while admission will be $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for those under age 5.

Additional tickets for the barn games can be purchased at 50 cents each.

For more information, contact Brenda Minton at (352) 567-0262 or at .

Jelly Bean Fling
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
When: April 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for those under age 5
Details: The public is invited to attend an Easter-themed event with an egg hunt, petting zoo, kids’ rides, games and a visit from the Easter bunny.
Info: Contact Brenda Minton at (352) 567-0262 or at .

Published March 27, 2019

Pace of Pasco’s road construction picking up in 2019

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It’s no secret that dealing with traffic congestion is a way of life for Pasco County residents.

Whether they’re commuting to work, taking the kids to school, going grocery shopping, heading to a doctor’s appointment or taking care of myriad daily needs, there’s good chance motorists will get stuck in traffic and have to wait for traffic lights to cycle at intersections.

Traffic is backed up, on the access road from Interstate 75, heading to State Road 56. (Fred Bellet)

Getting anywhere can be a hassle at peak traffic hours — regardless of the direction drivers are going.

The good news is that 2019 is likely to go down as a banner year with respect to the number of projects aimed at improving traffic flow.

Here’s a look at what is underway, planned for construction, or under study for possible improvements, based on presentations by Florida Department of Transportation officials, transportation department fact sheets and previous reporting by The Laker/Lutz News.

The Diverging Diamond
One massive project, set to get underway this month, is called the Diverging Diamond Interchange.

It aims to reduce congestion at the Interstate 75-State Road 56 interchange, through a reconfiguration of the intersection, in an area between County Road 54 and Cypress Ridge Boulevard.

Eastbound traffic on State Road 54 at the Interstate 75 underpass.

The new design is expected to improve traffic flow, thus reducing travel time for motorists.

The estimated construction cost is $33 million, and the project is expected to take three years to complete.

Extension of State Road 56
Another significant project involves the extension of State Road 56, beginning at Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel and ending at U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

Work on this 6-mile extension began in 2017. It has an estimated construction cost of $59.1 million.

Initially expected to be completed in the fall, the road could open as early as this spring, David Gwynn, secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation District 7, said during the Discover Dade City symposium in November.

The project includes a four-lane road, with a 10-foot multi-use trail on the south side of the road and a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side. There will be 7-foot bicycle lanes on the shoulders, in each direction.

Northbound traffic on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, also known as U.S. 41, stacks up and waits for the traffic light to turn green.

New signalized intersections also are being built on Morris Bridge Road, where the new State Road 56 crosses it, and on U.S. 301, where the new State Road 56 ties into it.

Also, the City of Zephyrhills requested a study to evaluate extending State Road 56 from U.S. 301 to State Road 39 with a connection to U.S. 98.

And, another study is looking into realigning U.S. 98, where U.S. 301 intersects with Clinton Avenue.

The Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization also has requested a study to evaluate the potential for the realignment of U.S. 98 at the U.S. 301, in the area of Clinton Avenue (new State Road 52).

U.S. 41 and State Road 54
While the need for a solution to daily traffic jams at U.S. 41 and State Road 54 is widely known, it is not yet clear how the issue will be addressed. Here are alternatives that have been identified, according to a state transportation department document:

  • Elevated express lanes at major intersections; express lanes on the ground for the remainder; and bus services in express lanes.
  • Parallel flow intersection.
  • Elevated lanes at major intersections; bus or rail in separate lanes, combined with a continuous flow intersection.
  • No Build: Maintaining six lanes on the ground and current transit services.
Motorists heading north on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, also known as U.S. 41, wait in the daily backup, just south of State Road 54.

State Road 52 improvements
Projects are in various stages along the State Road 52 corridor. Here’s a synopsis:

  • Suncoast Parkway to east of U.S. 41: This project will widen a 3.8-mile stretch from two lanes to six lanes, with a 12-foot multi-use trail to be built on the north side of State Road 52. The project also includes a 1-mile widening of U.S. 41, approaching the intersection with State Road 52. Construction is expected to begin in 2019.
  • East of U.S. 41 to County Road 581 (Bellamy Brothers Boulevard): Calls for widening the two-lane road to a four-lane divided road. The 8.5-mile improvement also includes a 12-foot multi-use trail on the north side of the road. The project is under design, but there is no construction funding at this time.
  • County Road 581 (Bellamy Brothers Boulevard) to Old Pasco Road: Widening the two-lane road to a four-lane road, with a median. The 1.5-mile project has an estimated cost of $13.4 million and is scheduled to be completed this spring.
  • State Road 52 widening and new alignment, from Uradco Place to west of Fort King Road.

Between Uradco Place and Bayou Branch Canal, the existing road will be widened to a four-lane divided highway.

East of Bayou Branch Canal, the new alignment will be a four-lane, divided State Road 52, built south of the existing State Road 52, tying into Clinton Avenue.

Heading east, past Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, barricades guide motorists through ongoing widening construction.

Clinton Avenue, between County Road 579 and Fort King Road, will be a widened to a four-lane divided road.

Clinton Avenue, between Pasadena Avenue and U.S. 301, will be designated County Road 52, after the construction of the new State Road 52 is complete.

Construction is expected to begin in late 2019.

 

Other projects
Interstate 75 interchange at Overpass Road
Pasco County is building a future interchange at I-75 and Pasco Road. The project is scheduled for letting in 2020.

U.S. 301/U.S. 98
Resurfacing/bike lanes

An eastbound school bus turns south on to Old Pasco Road, an area where road construction continues.

Project limits: Pond Avenue to north of Long Avenue/Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City

is in design. Construction is expected to begin in 2019.

Wesley Chapel Intermodal Center Study
This study, expected to be completed in late summer, will identify the needs and location of an intermodal center that will serve as a hub for local and regional transit. It includes the analysis of facility needs, location, cost, funding, connectivity and conceptual design.

Proposed U.S. 301 widening
Another project calls for widening U.S. 301, from a four-lane road to six lanes, from County Road 54/Eiland Boulevard to north of Kossik Road, in Zephyrhills. That construction is not yet funded.

Brian Fernandes contributed to this report.

Published January 9, 2019

Dade City event offers sweet and spicy treats

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The community is invited to bring an appetite for the annual Raising Cane: A Sweet and Spicy Event, on Jan. 12.

The function will be held at the Pioneer Florida Museum from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A hot Kiwanis pancake breakfast will usher in the event at opening time for $3.

Most folk-oriented events at the Pioneer Florida Museum encourage musical jam sessions. This one, with a variety of strings, performed in the cool weather at last year’s function. (File)

It will also give patrons the opportunity to try free samples for the cane syrup tasting contest.

Throughout the day, vendors will offer arts and crafts, as well as foods consisting of chili dogs, chili nachos and chili cheese fries.

At 11:15 a.m., the venue will be livened with performances from The Sara Rose Band, The Sandy Back Porch and The Barking Dogs.

Attendees will be able to sample various chili from two challenges – one held by city officials and another by local residents.

Ten tickets can be purchased for $5 with a sampling cup – one ticket per sample.

Three free voting tickets will be granted to guests to decide on their favorite chilis.

Cash and trophy prizes will be awarded to those in first, second and third place at 4:30 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Stephanie Black, director at the museum. “It’s a great food event.”

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and free entry for those under age 5.

Patrons are asked to only bring service dogs with a vest and proper documentation.

For more information or applications, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org, or email .

Raising Cane: A Sweet and Spicy Event
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
When: Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $10 for adults; $5 for students; free admission for those under age 5.
Details: The event will offer a pancake breakfast, a cane syrup tasting contest, chili tasting contests and numerous vendors.
Info: Visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org, or email .

Published January 2, 2019

Dade City set to give locals a ‘Spook-tacular’ time

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The Dade City Woman’s Club will host its first ‘Spook-tacular’ on the evenings of Oct. 26 and Oct. 27.

The event will be held on the grounds of the Pioneer Florida Museum, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.

The public event will take place from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., each day, with an admission charge of $8 and free parking.

Guests can attend in costume, and will be greeted with concession stands offering such foods as candy apples, popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones.

Attendees will be able to walk through a haunted cemetery, as well as an Indian corn maze and may bump into a variety of zombies.

A “Hocus Pocus” segment will be offered for those under age 12, with a guided tour and history of the Salem witches.

Those age 12 and over can attend the “Jeepers Creepers” area where they can rock around in the Haunted Hayride.

“We’re hoping that this is something they anticipate for years to come,” said Laurie Padavan, president of Dade City’s Woman’s Club.

Proceeds will help support restoration work at the historic woman’s club building in Dade City.

Attendees are asked to bring only service pets.

For more information, contact Laurie Padavan at (352) 457-1409 or .

Spook-tacular
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City
When: Oct. 26 and Oct. 27, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Cost: $8 admission
Details: This Halloween-themed event allows visitors to roam through a corn maze, go on a hayride, visit a cemetery and enjoy some food.
Info: Contact Laurie Padavan at (352) 457-1409 or .

Published October 24, 2018

Big things are in store for Pioneer Florida Museum and Village

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For the second year in a row, the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City will be hosting a traveling Smithsonian Exhibition.

This year, it will be presenting “Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America,” from March 17 through April 28.

A young woman competes in a high school rodeo in 2011. (Courtesy of National High School Rodeo Association/David Jennings Media Group)

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, in cooperation with Florida Humanities Council, will be presenting the program, which is part of the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program.

The exhibit will feature a variety of sports, said Stephanie Black, the museum’s executive director.

The Smithsonian does one traveling exhibition a year that travels to six different place in the state, Black said.

“Out of the group from last time, we’re the only ones who got it for a second time in a row,” she said.

The exhibition also will arrive at the Dade City museum first, which helps because the Smithsonian and the other museums all come to help set it up, Black said.

The Florida Humanities also is involved with a family reading project leading up to the exhibition, Black said.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum receives grant money and must meet certain requirements, Black said. One of those things is to help a home team in the area, she said.

“We’re looking at Dade City Little League. We’re going to sponsor a team this year,” Black said.

Stephanie Black, executive director of the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village in Dade City, is excited about upcoming events and improvements at the museum. (B.C. Manion)

“Hometown Teams” will capture the stories that unfold on the neighborhood fields and courts, and the underdog heroics, larger-than-life legends, fierce rivalries and gut-wrenching defeats. For more than 100 years, sports have reflected the trials and triumphs of the American experience and helped shape the national character. Whether it is professional sports or those played on the collegiate or scholastic level, amateur sports or sports played by kids on the local playground, sports are everywhere in America, according to a news release about the exhibition.

Black said she’s still working on the details regarding what will be part of the exhibit at her museum.

In other news, the museum is working on improvement projects and additional events.

It is using a state grant to pay for the construction of eight new bathrooms.

“Those will help us when we have events here, we don’t have to rent port-a-lets. Nobody likes those anyway,” Black said.

The permanent restrooms will provide more comfort for guests and eliminate the rental costs, she said.

“The grant was for $53,500,” Black said, so the museum just needs to chip in a few hundred dollars to cover the remaining cost.

The museum is also adding a new blacksmith’s shop and a new carpenter’s shop. The blacksmith shop is 24 by 24 and the carpenter’s shop is 24 by 32.

In the blacksmith’s shop, the museum acquired Dade City road bricks to put in the floor.

There are also beams from one of the railroads, to put in the buildings, Black said. Since the buildings weren’t moved there, the staff still wanted it to be full of Dade City history, she said.

In another project, the community is trying to organize a room that will feature an exhibit focusing on black churches and black businesses.

“There’s a woman from Saint Leo University who is doing a lot of work on black history that’s involved with this,” Black said.

The museum also is planning some additional events this year.

The Living History & Civil War Re-Enactments will be on the museum grounds on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a special school day planned for Feb. 24.

“We’re very excited about it,” Black said.

The event had been held at the museum years ago, but it was in September, which was the wrong time of the year.  “It was just way too hot for them.”

The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village is at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with general admission of $10 for adults; $8 for seniors and $5 for students. Children under age 5 are free.

Revised February 15, 2018

Raising Cane fest offers sweet and savory flavors

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The annual Raising Cane event held Jan. 13 at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, gave visitors a chance to purchase homemade cane syrup, taste some chili, see cane grinding and enjoy live entertainment. Musicians who enjoy jamming had a chance to do that, too, and there was even a miniature donkey at the event.

Published January 24, 2018

Six-year-old Sofia Quintero, of Clearwater, samples some chili on tostados prepared by Deana Mazurkiewicz, of Zephyrhills. (Richard K. Riley)
Six-year-old Sofia Quintero, of Clearwater, samples some chili on tostados prepared by Deana Mazurkiewicz, of Zephyrhills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This miniature donkey was part of the Raising Cane festival.
Dade City Manager Billy Poe won first place with his chicken chili in the People’s Choice competition.