There was free parking, no admission fee, a wide choice of food, creative arts and crafts and a place where even dogs were welcome. Blend all that with a chilly but sunny day and you get the ideal conditions for the Lutz/Land O'Lakes Woman's Club sponsored 26th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival. More than 250 artists exhibited their work at the festival recently at Lake Park, a few miles south of Land O'Lakes. There was room to roam or even sit by the lake, rest and read for a few minutes.
Susan Woolsey, a seasonal resident of Zephyrhills, brought along her supply of yarns and knitting needles and kept busy at her craft as visitors stopped to admire her handiwork. A table in front of her was covered with more than a dozen colorful, soft, handknit children's sweaters. Others hung beside and in back of Woolsey, who is from Michigan, where she says the sweaters sell quite readily. She wondered aloud whether Florida's fall weather was just too warm for a cozy sweater then reasoned there would be those who would buy for gifts to send outside the area. Woolsey's display was uncluttered and appealing. She said the festival was her first attempt to sell her work in Florida, though similar experiences in Michigan had proved successful.
Further along , Linda and Jim Smith of St. Petersburg displayed their exhibit of handturned wooden peppermills and finely crafted pens. The Smiths told of seeing a 90-year-old man on a televised cooking show presenting a hand turned peppermill to the show's host. From that an idea took birth and after two years, the Smiths are producing peppermills in a variety of common and sometimes exotic woods. Jim Smith explained that the peppermills are a functional art, serving as a useful and an expertly crafted artistic item.
The Smiths told of how, in the beginning, they tried different grinding parts, at first finding ones unreliable and breaking easily. Then they sought a higher quality mechanism that has proven to be highly reliable. "Now we guarantee our mills for life," Jim Smith said. These grinding parts are the best quality we have found anywhere."
Moving on through the exhibits, items ranged from handmade pottery items to tinkling wind chimes. At one end of the festival, a book sale drew a steady crowd.
Mollie Agnew, from the Woman's Club, was in charge of a display that sold crafts and baked goods for her club. One table was laden with sweet potato pie, pumpkin cranberry bread, sour cream pound cake and peanut butter bread. Agnew frequently stepped out of her display to hug and greet visitors as they came along. She readily encouraged shoppers to take home items from her display made by club members.
The morning warmed and the crowd grew steadily. Boy Scouts, pulling wagons loaded with water and carafes of coffee, wove through the crowd stopping frequently to serve visitors.
In addition to items for sale there were informational displays. Sandy Stack and Judy Sebastian from Christian Social Services had a large exhibit. Their information told that their group is a "specialized ministry of local churches which offers food, clothes, supportive services and Christian hospitality to people . . . in central Pasco and north Hillsborough counties." Christian Social Services is at 5514 Land O'Lakes Blvd. in Land O'Lakes. Sebastian said they are eager for the community to know of the services they provide to those in need.
Land O'Lakes Honorary Mayor Faith Jordan-Masella, Lutz Guv'na Liz Iaconetti, and local art teacher Pamela Kowzon judged the exhibits, a task that seemed daunting even with the artwork divided into numerous categories. In the end, Barry Schwartz of Lutz was awarded the best of show title for his work of creating pottery bowls shaped like tropical leaves. The bowls are functional as well as artistic. Schwartz also captured first place in the sculpture category.
Cheryl Benton, president of the Woman's Club, said she thought the club had another successful year with the festival. Many exhibitors are repeaters, showing up each year and some had even voiced their commitment to be back in 2006 for the 27th festival. The club estimated their fundraising efforts with the show to be about $15,000. The club donates continuously to a large number of causes and also awards several thousand dollars in scholarships each year to local students.
Tents with food vendors lined the end of the display aisles. The smell of kettle corn, funnel cakes, and hotdogs drifted over the festival. Woman's Club members manned one large tent. Marilyn Bedke, Pat Serio, Barbara Nicholson, and Jean Buffington, all in the highly recognized Woman's Club green shirts, kept busy helping customers. Serio said they arrived at their spot at 5 a.m. the morning of the festival, and Bedke said, "It couldn't have been a better day."
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Florida state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, spoke at a recent meeting of the East Pasco Political Club at Fung Garden Restaurant in Zephyrhills. Fasano talked on subjects including the reduced crime rate in Florida, the increase in school funding and emphasis on education and the state's low unemployment rate. He also reported on environmental issues in the state and answered questions on homeowners' insurance, the new proposed auto restricted license tags for DUI and the issue of eminent domain.
Bruce Jeffries, of Zephyrhills, was installed as a new member of the club. Jeffries is president of District 17 of the Federation of Manufactured Home Owners of Florida Inc.
Brian Diesselhorst, Southwest Florida field director for Tom Gallagher's gubernatorial campaign, gave a brief talk on Gallagher's accomplishments in public service and said arrangements are being made for Gallagher's visit to the club next year.
Club member Lowell Harris of Dade City was congratulated on his selection as the 2006 Lincoln Heritage Award recipient. Harris will be honored at the award dinner at Scotland Yard's Golf Club in February.
Dick Albrecht, club president, reported on the upcoming Christmas Party dinner on Monday at Hill's Restaurant in Zephyrhills. Tickets are $15 per person. The nominating committee has completed its 2006 officers nominations and the names will be announced at the Christmas dinner. The election for officers will be at the January meeting.
A donation was approved for the East Pasco Medical Center Foundation for the new Heart Institute. Members were encouraged to participate.
Information on the East Pasco Political Club can be obtained by visiting its new Web site, www.eastpascopolclub.com or by calling 813780-7328.
HIGH FIVES
The Central Pasco Board of Realtors presented its Bill Moorer Memorial Award for outstanding volunteer community service to non-member Harold Smith at its recent awards banquet at Saddlebrook Resort.
Smith, 81, came to Land O'Lakes in 1986 from Westchester County, N.Y., where he retired from public service as a councilman. After moving to Florida, Smith began volunteering with the Eagle Island Property Owner's Association and continues to serve that organization.
Smith became an active member of the Central Pasco Coalition. This group consisted of member representatives from 22 subdivisions. During the years he worked and held office with the Central Pasco Coalition, issues such as the proposed chlorine plant, incinerator expansion, medical waste incinerator and the natural gas transmission line were on the agenda.
Numerous other activities fill Smith's time. An active member of the local AARP, he works as a liaison with the AARP groups for five surrounding counties. Smith volunteers as a singer with a band called the Entertainers, a group that travels to different senior centers, affording the elderly an opportunity to dance and listen to music of their era. Smith also organizes an annual Naval Reunion for the USS Jobb, DE Unit.
Smith resides with his wife of 57 years, Evelyn. The couple have three children.
The annual award is named after former Board Member Bill Moorer who exemplified the word "volunteer."
Other awards presented during the awards ceremony were Realtor of the Year, Suzanna Madden; Affiliate of the Year, All Real Estate Title Services; and Juanita Dennis Memorial Award, Paul Madden.
New officers for the Board of Realtors for 2006 include Sherrie Mauzy, president; Christy Zimmer, president elect; Linda Calebro-Kuder, vice president; Terri Dansek, secretary; and Pam Smith, treasurer. Directors for the 2006 year are: Paul Madden, Marvin Cirks, Jo Easton, Jeani Chastain and Kathy Scruggs.
Officers ending their term for the 2005 year include: Patti Webster, Tom Chastain, Mauzy, Zimmer, and Calebro-Kuder.
A special note of recognition went to real estate title services for their continued support. All Real Estate Title Services Inc. was recognized in the platinum category. Recognized in the gold award was Best of the Bay Realty Inc. The silver category included F.R.O.G. Real Estate Inc., Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Vet Realty, Mortgage Brain Inc., and Christine Salemi and Market Street Mortgage. The bronze category included Chris Cooper at Cooper Financial Services, Stewart Title Company of Tampa, Prudential Tropical Realty, ERA Russell Adams Realty Inc., Peterman-Wall The Real Estate Firm an d Bright House Networks.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Pasco Education Foundation Inc. will hold its Annual Business Partner Appreciation Breakfast, presented by Bank of America at the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel on Tuesday . The Gold Level sponsor for the event this year is Creative Contractors Inc., and the awards sponsor for the event is Reynolds, Smith and Hills Inc.
In addition to honoring the many business partners of the Foundation, a special ceremony will honor this years's inductees into the Pasco Education Foundation Inc., Hall of Fame. The inductees this year include the late school superintendent, Dr. John Long,Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, Progress Energy, and Bright House Networks.
Criteria for selection to the Hall of Fame includes longevity of service and partnership throughout the public schools in Pasco County, financial support of the Foundation and its programs and outstanding in-kind or volunteer partnership with the Foundation.
Three special awards will be distributed at the breakfast. They include "Rookie Business Partner of the Year," Lee Roy Selmon's Restaurant; Individual Friend of the Foundation, Steve Athanassie of Trademark Capital; and Corporate Friend of the Foundation, NGI.
The Foundation expresses its pride of the many companies and individuals with which it has established successful partnerships. Through the efforts of all business partners, the Foundation continues to advance education in Pasco's public schools.
For information about the Pasco Education Foundation call Chip Wichmanowski at (813)794-2705; (727) 774-2705 or (352)524-2705.
