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In praise of the pancake, a party

There were rides, there were vendors, there was an honorary mayor. The annual Flapjack Festival in Land O'Lakes was a hit.

By MICHELLE JONES
Published November 7, 2005

LAND O'LAKES - A small town with a big heart was Betty Suarez's impression of Land O'Lakes and its Flapjack Festival.

"This is wonderful," she said while watching Saturday's Flapjack parade with her husband, Cef.

The Suarezes drove from Tampa to watch their granddaughter Sabrina Suarez march in the parade, but they stayed for the festivities and came early for the free flapjacks.

"They were delicious," she said.

The 28th annual Flapjack Festival took place Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Community Center on U.S. 41.

There were rides, food, vendors and a parade, all to celebrate the flapjack.

Leading the parade was Land O'Lakes' own Harry Wright. On Saturday he felt the love of the community that he provides for so unselfishly.

Wright, owner of Hungry Harry's Famous Bar-B-Que, is known for his contributions to the community. He served as grand marshal of the 39-unit parade.

Dressed in a top hat and tails, Wright greeted people along the route and received shouts of love in return. The theme of the parade was "What's Wright in Land O'Lakes," after the purveyor of pork. Floats touted what was right with banners and posters that had statements such as "Harry Wright is the Heart of Land O'Lakes" and "What's Wright with Land O'Lakes - Everything."

"I've always had a great time serving central Pasco," Wright said earlier. "This is a great place to have a business and raise your kids."

On Saturday, Wright just had fun. With a wide grin on his face, he greeted friends old and new after the parade.

Cub Scout Pack 3, from First United Methodist Church of Land O'Lakes, led the parade north on School Road. Before the parade, the Cubs received instructions from pack leader Tom Harrison.

"Look sharp, don't slouch and make sure the American flag is held the highest," he said.

From 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, complimentary flapjacks, butter, syrup, orange juice and coffee were given to all partakers.

Dru and Fred Allan brought friends from New Port Richey to attend the festivities.

"We come every year. We love to see old friends and have a good time," Dru Allan said.

Jennifer Crissey of Land O'Lakes and her 4-year-old son, Nathan, came Friday night for the rides and returned Saturday morning for the pancakes.

The best part of the event was not having to cook breakfast for her family, she said.

"We come every year," Crissey said as she kept in touch with her husband and her other children via cell phone. "There was such a long line we split up."

This year there were three places to partake of the pancakes.

Members of the Lutz-Land O'Lakes Woman's Club were cooking and serving the flapjacks in the Community Center building.

"We had so many people, we ran out of juice, syrup and butter," said Dora Bean, a member of the club.

She thought they served at least 1,000 people at her venue.

"Probably another thousand at the other two," she said.

The Land O'Lakes Lady Gators soccer team helped serve and clean up at the breakfast.

Kristina Moele, 16 and a sophomore, said that last year she cleaned up but this year she served.

"Serving is more fun. You get to talk to people," she said. "I'm coming back tonight to ride the rides." Soccer parents helped park cars, she said, and her folks, Val and Chuck, were among them.

Madison Traina, 9, thought about an adjective she could use to describe the pancakes she was eating.

"Amazing," she said as she finished eating and headed to the Ferris wheel.

On Friday night, Faith Jordan-Masella was named honorary mayor of Land O'Lakes. She ran unopposed and raised more than $2,000 for her community and for her favorite charity.

Tony Masella, her husband, said she got a sash "just like Miss America."

"I had to put her on an airplane this morning to Houston," he said. "She is in her cousin's wedding. They are like sisters."

Among the vendors was Ilene Levy, informing people about her product, Shure Pets.

"Have a pupperware party," she said to potential customers.

Her catalog offers lots of amenities for pets, such as shampoo and first-aid kits. But her best-selling product is canine breath mints, for doggie breath.

And of course there was food, everything from gyros to lemonade to black beans and rice to funnel cakes.

[Last modified November 7, 2005, 01:10:19]