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Dade City

A grand, grand opening

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Mary Katherine Mason, also known as Lanky Lassie, is in her new storefront in downtown Dade City. (Courtesy of Mary Katherine Mason)

The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., helped Mary Katherine Mason celebrate the grand opening of Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread, at 37845 Meridian Ave., in downtown Dade City.

Two days of festivities included a ribbon-cutting attended by area dignitaries, a performance by bagpiper Gemma Briggs, a parade, cookie-decorating for kids, and shortbread paired with various libations, for adults.

Mason, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, launched her business after being furloughed from her design career in the hotel industry, during the pandemic.

Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread has been a member of the Pasco EDC SMARTstart program since it began using the East Pasco Incubator Kitchen in Dade City to help its business grow, Dan Mitchell, SMARTstart program director, said in a news release.

Mason used many of the tools that SMARTstart has to offer, and she grew from a cottage food business to opening her own shop, Mitchell added.

County board takes action on land use issues

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The Pasco County Commission has awarded a $1.5 million contract for renovations at Hugh Embry Branch Library, in Dade City.

Commissioners selected Blackwater Construction Services LLC to do the work, out of nine responses received.

In other action, at the board’s May 18 meeting, commissioners:

  • Approved a rezoning to allow Cypress Ridge Professional Office Center on a 9.1-acre site on the west side of Wesley Chapel Boulevard, north of State Road 54/State Road 56
  • Approved a rezoning to allow a light industrial park district on a 5-acre site in East Central Pasco County, on the west side of Old Lakeland Highway, north of Townsend Road
  • Forwarded a land use request for state review involving a proposal to allow a mixed-use development on a 35-acre site at the southwest corner of Roaches Run and Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, also known as U.S. 41. Once the state review is done, it will come back for a final vote by the county board, which is scheduled for July 6. A companion rezoning also must be approved before the development could proceed.

The proposed development would include retail, as well as a number of other uses that could include office/medical office; health care-related uses; light industrial; distribution; multifamily; single-family attached residential; senior retirement/assisted living; aggregate home and public/institutional uses.

Board members also continued:

  • A rezoning request by Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers on the south side of Parkway Boulevard, about ½-mile east of Ehren Cutoff, in Land O’ Lakes, for a residential subdivision on 75.15 acres.
  • Continued to a date uncertain a request by Kiddie Campus University Inc., for a rezoning to allow a general commercial use at the southwest corner of the intersection of State Road 54 and Meadowbrook Drive. County commissioners recently rejected a request to change the land use designation on the land from a residential designation to one that would allow commercial use. Area residents strenuously objected to the proposal because the potential buyer of the site wanted to build a gas station there. Neighbors said they don’t oppose the use of the site for a non-residential use, but they want one that is less intense, such as a professional office development.

Published May 26, 2021

Museum seeks help for maintenance costs

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The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village’s Blanton Packing House has termites and will have to be tented in the coming weeks to resolve the issue. The nonprofit is asking for donations to help cover the cost.

The open-air museum in Dade City includes Overstreet House, a one-room schoolhouse, a church, a train depot, a train engine, and a museum exhibition of tools, household items, antiques and farm equipment.

The museum hopes to show that “the men and women who were here before us, struggled, made do, and sometimes won and sometimes lost their battles with nature. In essence, they were people much like us,” according to its website.

Donations can be made online through PayPal at tinyurl.com/ypywc8ns, or by mailing a check to Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, P.O. Box 335, Dade City, FL 33526-0335.

Published May 26, 2021

These gentle alpacas seem to enjoy posing for pictures

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Those traveling to the Sweet Blossom Alpacas open house in Dade City, had plenty of chances to be photographed with alpacas and take photos of the animals, too.

Just to prove that alpacas only have bottom teeth, Ms. Helen, left, a 15-year-old Huacaya, shows off her bottom occlusion, while standing with Cali, an 8-year-old Suri alpaca. (Fred Bellet)

There were also chances to feed and pet the alpacas, and go shopping for yarn, roving, hats, scarves, gloves, shawls, slippers and other items made from alpaca fiber.

People of all ages seemed to be having fun, while getting a look at quite a collection of alpacas and llamas at Sweet Blossom Alpacas, 37543 Pappy Road in Dade City.

Those gathered could also learn about the animals, could treat themselves to a wide assortment of sandwiches from a food truck, and simply enjoy an outing with the family.

Admission was free, but donations were welcome.

For more information about the farm, visit SweetBlossomAlpacas.com.

Published May 19, 2021

Brian Kauffman, of Sarasota, gets a snapshot of the artwork on display at the Sweet Blossom Alpacas farm.
Ten-year-old Mason Powell watches as Lyric Bellows, 11, reaches over the petting area fence to touch a male alpaca. They were at the open house with their mom, Charli Bellows, their brother Sawyer Bellows, 11, and their grandmother, Anne Weddel. They all live in Wesley Chapel.
One year-old Uvel Lane finds a safe spot on his aunt Desiree Peterson’s shoulder — preferring not to interact with the alpacas like the rest of the Wesley Chapel family.
Richelle Jones, 20, shows off her new T-shirt she bought in the gift area at Sweet Blossom Alpacas. She and her mom, Tonya Jones, drove up from Riverview to attend the open house. They also checked out the gloves, slippers, hats and other alpaca products.
Nine-year-old Sarah Witforth, right, of Spring Hill, chuckles as a llama nestles its head on her cousin, 6-year-old Lane Exum, also of Spring Hill. The animal had its sights on a bag of snacks slung over Exum’s shoulder. They were at the open house with their parents, Kim and Mike Witforth, and their grandmother, Linda Carter of Spring Hill.

 

Stepping back in time, to World War II

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Reenactors created quite a spectacle, as they created battle scenes at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village during a living history event, in Dade City.

U.S. Army Infantry make an advance on the ground as they prepare to battle German forces during the Raid on Renault II. (Fred Bellet)

Donning military uniforms and carrying World War II-era weapons, soldiers simulated scenes from the Raid on Renault II.

Others offered living history lessons on such things as the French Resistance during the war, a German POW camp that was in Dade City, or vignettes from radio programs.

Besides watching the battle reenactment, those visiting also could get a close look at the weapons, ammunition and other artifacts from that era, and could grab a bite to eat.

Hundreds came to the two-day event, including some traveling great distances to either play an active role in the reenactments, or to watch them.

Published May 05, 2021

Looking like a politician of the day, Kirk Slater sports his straw hat, wearing early 40’s garb, the Tampa resident speaks with German soldier reenactor, Charles Smith of Ft. Myers, after the Allied forces stormed the Germans at Renault.
A variety of World War II artifacts are showcased in Keith and Frances Faulkner’s display at the living history event. The Naylor, Georgia couple had cameras, radios, machine gun rounds and a sextant. While holding one, Keith Faulkner said with a smile that ‘the sextant is the predecessor of the GPS.’
Portraying an Army Technical Sgt., Tom Oliver, of Otway, Ohio, sits with a display he and his brother, Greg Oliver, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, brought to the living history event.
Charles Smith is taken prisoner, as the Raid on Renault II ends, during a living history event at the Florida Pioneer Museum & Village, in Dade City.
Gregory Cardinal drove over to Dade City from Hudson to attend the World War II Living History Event. Cardinal served as an MP during the early days of the Vietnam War.
German soldiers make their way across the battlefield, as nearby spectators watch.
French Resistance reenactor Richard Reaume, of Brooksville, reports to the American encampment prior to the start of the Raid on Renault II.

 

The Bay Area Renaissance Fest sets up in Pasco

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The 43rd annual Bay Area Renaissance Festival has moved to a new location this year, operating at Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City.

Festival-goers can travel back to a 16th century European Village, where they can join the Villages of Fittleworth, and Queen Katherine Parr and her court.

A knight and rook battle it out on a large chessboard during one of the human chess match events at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival, when the event was held at MOSI. The event has changed locations this year. It will now take place at Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City. (File)

There will be more than 100 artisans selling their goods in the market, people will be able to interact with memorable characters, and spectators will be able to watch full-contact, live armored jousting, according to the festival’s website.

All stage shows and other entertainment are included with admission, while games, rides, food, and beverages are available at additional charges.

The festival operates on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine, according to its website. Tickets are non-refundable.

At the gate, tickets are $22.95 for adults, and $14.95 for children ages 5 through 12. Children age 4 and under can attend for free. There’s no charge for parking.

This year, the festival is partnering with Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources — an arrangement applauded by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, during an April 7 board meeting.

“The Bay Area Renaissance Festival has been a mainstay at MOSI for a number of years, and the parks team did an excellent job of bringing that here to Pasco County,” said Moore, who is chairman of the Tourism Development Council, an advisory board to the Pasco County Commission.

The annual festival is big for tourism, Moore said.

“People actually travel from outside of the state of Florida to come to this,” Moore said.

Plus, he added: “It’s a pretty neat experience. It’s a lot of fun.

“They’re going to have four stages,” Moore said, with magicians, musicians, mimes and jugglers. There also will be food, drink available, and vendors, too.

“We’re happy to have it here in Pasco County,” the commissioner added.

The event has a theme each weekend. This year’s remaining theme weekends are: Pirates & Pups, Barbarian Brew, Shamrocks & Shenanigans, High Seas Adventure, and Wonders of the World.

As a precaution against the potential spread of COVID-19, masks are recommended for all guests and will be worn by all participants — employees or volunteers — who over age 5, when social distancing cannot be maintained, the website says.

Physical distancing is encouraged and temporary adjustments are in place to promote physical distancing, the website adds.

For additional information, call 800-601-4848, or visit BayAreaRenFest.com/faq.

Bay Area Renaissance Festival
Where: Withlacoochee River Park, 12449 Withlacoochee Blvd., in Dade City
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., through May 23
Cost: At the gate, tickets are $22.95 for adults, and $14.95 for children ages 5 through 12. Children 4 and under can attend for free. There’s no charge for parking.
Details: Event-goers can step back in time to a 16th century European Village, joining the villagers of Fittleworth, and Queen Katherine Parr and her court. There will be more than 100 artisans selling their goods, people will be able to interact with memorable characters, and watch various acts and entertainers.
Info: Call 800-601-4848, or visit BayAreaRenFest.com.

Published April 21, 2021

June opening anticipated for Dade City bike hub

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Bicyclists and fellow exercisers alike will soon have an idyllic spot in Dade City to relax and take a breather — thanks to a new visitor’s information welcome center and bike hub that’ll help anchor a forthcoming downtown park site.

The visitor’s information welcome center/bike hub concept — aptly referred to as “Spoke” or “Hub” — will be situated in the heart of downtown Dade City, across from the Roy T. Hardy trailhead, at the corner of Church Avenue and Eighth Street.

The visitor’s center/bike hub is just one aspect of a grander 2-acre-plus downtown park site in Dade City, to eventually include an inclusive/ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible playground, amphitheater for outdoor venues and children’s splash pad, among other amenities. (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

Project construction officially kicked off following a March 10 groundbreaking ceremony. Since then, footers have since been set and concrete poured.

Dade City officials anticipate a June grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a presentation from the city’s community and economic development director Melanie Romagnoli, during a March 24 Pasco County Tourist Development Council meeting.

The tourist-friendly project is multi-faceted.

The roughly 1,500 square-foot welcome center takes on an open space interior concept that will house brochure kiosks for other countywide tourism partners to promote upcoming activities and attractions, museums, art exhibits and places of interest.

The city also is seeking sponsorships to incorporate digital displays, additional outlets and internet connectivity capabilities at the center.

Romagnoli explained of the concept: “We want to be able to have a mobile area for our partners in the tourism industry to be able to display what’s going on in their areas, so it can be anything from, let’s say, like the Dade City Heritage (and Cultural) Museum, or even the West Pasco (Historical Society) Museum, if they want to bring something over and put it in.”

The facility also will include two outdoor covered porch areas with seating options, as well as an exterior bike shelter, with parking stations and repair stands for traveling bicyclists. Two public restrooms also will be included.

The welcome center/bike hub is being funded with the help of a $250,000 grant from the Pasco County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and its official destination marketing organization, Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, which promotes Pasco’s varied outdoor and recreational offerings.

Pasco County TDC chairman Mike Moore during the meeting said the welcome center/bike hub will be “a great addition to the community and county, as a whole.”

The facility is a corner part of the quaint East Pasco town’s multi-use downtown park concept —  to eventually feature an inclusive/ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible playground, amphitheater for outdoor venues, and children’s splash pad and other amenities.

The city originally purchased a 2.23-acre property for the park site in December 2019 for $800,000 from the family of local businessman Otto Weitzenkorn.

From there, the bidding process, construction contracts and permitting on the visitor’s center/bike hub alone wrapped up in February.

Other elements of the planned park may not come to fruition for some time, as the city collects public input, and establishes specific design and engineered plans.

Total investment of the entire downtown park could exceed $3 million, officials previously have estimated.

The city is seeking grant opportunities and other funding sources to help pay for the multi-use park.

Dade City leaders have said the park project is designed to help revitalize the downtown business district, while also offering another recreational outlet for local youth, residents and visitors.

Officials also say that the park fits with the city’s vision of fostering a healthy and age-friendly community.

Published April 14, 2021

Pasco board approves nearly $200,000 for design work

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The Pasco County Commission has approved $198,500 for design and permitting work for site refurbishment of the East Pasco Transfer Station.

The task order will be accomplished by JMG Engineering Inc., according to agenda background materials for the county board’s March 23 meeting.

The East Pasco Transfer Station, at 9626 Handcart Road, in Dade City, was constructed in 1991 to support the transfer of municipal solid waste from the east side of the county to the county’s Waste-to-Energy Facility located at 14230 Hays Road, in Spring Hill.

The county began expanding the East Pasco Transfer Station in 2017, to increase the overall size of the facility to support the rapid volume of waste growth, driven by development, on the eastern side of Pasco County, the background materials say.

For instance, in fiscal year 2020, the transfer station processed more than 92,800 tons of garbage, up over 25% from the 74,000 tons it processed in fiscal year 2015.

The expanded transfer station enables the facility to handle the increase in tonnage, but the facility also needs to be refurbished, according to county documents.

The structure has experienced wear and deterioration through its many years of operation, and

its refurbishment must meet current codes and operational standards.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requires that the proposed improvement design work be under the direction of a licensed professional engineer.

JMG will perform the design and permitting work necessary to allow the county to put out public bids to refurbish the facility.

Improvements to the site and facility will include:

  • Constructing a new access road that will reduce queuing of vehicles on Handcart Road, which services the transfer station
  • Modifying the stormwater system to support the proposed roadway changes and improve the overall site drainage
  • Designing drawings and specifications to replace the tipping floor pit and metal framing
  • Evaluating the facility roof and exterior walls
  • Designing drawings and specifications for repair and/or replacement, modification, and permitting of the facility’s leachate collection system
  • Evaluating the fire system and developing specifications needed to update the system to the current Florida Building Codes

The scope of work also includes obtaining all applicable permitting and handling any zoning modification that are required.

The refurbishment will allow additional area to handle waste and will provide space for recyclables collection, increasing the efficiency of the county’s collection of recyclables by allowing waste haulers to deliver recycling to the eastern side of the county.

JMG is expected to begin the task this winter and complete it within a year.

Construction is expected to begin in the Spring of 2022 and be completed in Winter 2023. Funds for the construction will be included in the 2022 budget year.

Published April 07, 2021

Plenty of ways to get a kumquat fix at this festival

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If you love kumquats, the 24th annual Kumquat Festival in downtown Dade City, was like a little slice of heaven.

Various types of honey are reflected in Matt Smith’s sunglasses, at a booth operated by Brocks Bees, at the kumquat festival. Brocks Bees is based in Brooksville. (Fred Bellet)

Festival-goers could taste kumquat ice cream or kumquat pie.

They could pick up bags of the tiny, orange citrus fruit, sometimes called the “little gold gem of the citrus family.”

Festival-goers could stock up on kumquat marmalade, kumquat jelly, kumquat chutney, kumquat pepper jelly, kumquat marinade or kumquat vinaigrette.

They could get kumquat preserves.

They could buy kumquat barbecue sauce — sweet or spicy, or kumquat salsa, regular or hot.

And, who can forget the kumquat wine?

But, even those who aren’t particularly enamored with kumquats — there were plenty of other ways to enjoy the festival.

There was a quilt show, a car show, lots of vendor booths and a chance to be out and about — during an event that was delayed and scaled-back this year, to reduce potential risks from the  COVID-19 pandemic.

Published April 07, 2021

Barbara Mallory arranges bottles of Kumquat wine available under the tent from Sunrise Rotary Club of Dade City. Mallory, the club’s past president, was among eight club members selling the 750-milliliter bottles. The wine is 20% kumquat and 80% white grape, according to Mallory, selling for $15 per bottle.
Four-year-old Chloe Barner looks approvingly at the handiwork of Melissa Perez, an artist from Spring Hill. The little girl was at the Kumquat Festival with her 8-year-old sister, Khalani Colbert-Belle, and with her grandmother, Andrea Colbert. They live in Dade City.
Eighty-six-year-old Frank Gude is Mr. Kumquat. The St. Joe man has been around kumquat trees since he was a kid and can tell you anything you want to know about the tiny citrus fruit. Citrus greening had an impact on the crop this year, he said. ‘Only 60 bushels made it to the Kumquat Festival this year. That’s roughly 3,000 pounds.’
Brock Smith was 7 years old when he began developing an interest in bees, hives and honey. Now, he sells orange, kumquat and wildflower honey.
Plastic safety sheathing separates the public from the Kumquat Growers’ workers. Joe Gude, left, and Mike Liptak, right, both of Dade City, fill bags of Nagami-type kumquats for festival-goers who want to take some home.

Efforts set to begin to address flooding problems at intersection

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Stormwater drainage improvements are coming to the intersection of 15th Street and Main Avenue in Dade City — an area officials say has been long plagued by flooding problems.

Long-awaited stormwater issues will soon be resolved at the 15th Street and Main Avenue intersection in Dade City. (Courtesy of Dade City Public Works Director Bryan Holmes)

The intersection runs between Cox Elementary School and Watson Park. It also is near the future site of The Cove, a 10-unit Habitat for Humanity residential development.

Dade City Commissioners on March 9 voted unanimously to award the construction project to Tampa-based Kamminga & Roodvoets Inc. The company’s bid of $94,753 was the lowest of four submitted. Others came in at $122,460.25, $125,750 and $147,130.

The project scope calls for installing curb inlets and storm pipe at the intersection; constructing concrete curb; installing pavement and an asphalt wing; installing a ditch bottom inlet and constructing ditch pavement to match the street’s existing ditch grade, among other improvements. The contractor has 100 calendar days to achieve substantial completion.

The project was originally budgeted for $95,000, from the Penny for Pasco local government infrastructure surtax fund.

The city, in 2019, obtained engineering design services of Wood Environmental and Infrastructure Inc., to prepare bid-ready construction drawings for the drainage improvements. The engineer’s cost estimate at the time was $89,120.

Mayor Camille Hernandez described the project as “long-needed” and “overdue.”

“I’m very pleased to see this and happy that we awarded that (bid),” Hernandez said. “The folks (in the neighborhood) we have met at different times and stages are looking forward to that, and there’s a lot of development happening with The Cove and other things.”

Kamminga & Roodvoets also was the contractor on the city’s recent multimillion downtown stormwater piping system spanning Seventh Street, Pasco Avenue, Third Street, Meridian Avenue and other areas.

Published March 24, 2021