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Hometown Pasco

What's happening

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 29, 2006

HIGH FIVES

Central Pasco County resident s Linda Jacobsen and Stefanie Schatzman were two of 3,000 people that achieved recognition at the inaugural Walt Disney World Goofy Challenge held recently in Orlando.

The challenge is a half marathon on Jan. 7 and a full marathon on Jan. 8, and a pace of no more than 16 minutes per mile. Microchips were used to electronically monitor participants' pace. After completing the half marathon, Goofy Challengers reported to a designated area to verify their qualifying completion of the first part of the challenge and to replace an orange wristband with a blue wristband identifying them as Goofy participants.

After completing the marathon, Goofy Challengers again reported to the designated area to verify final qualifications for the Goofy Challenge medal.

According to Schatzman, this was Jacobsen's first marathon and neither of them had ran that many miles in a single weekend. Schatzman said, "The goal was to run comfortably, take pictures with the Disney characters, and to finish (while) still managing to walk."

Schatzman and Jacobsen each earned the Donald Duck medal for the half marathon, the Mickey award for the full marathon and the Goofy Challenge medal for completing the entire event.

The annual Miss Kumquat Festival was Jan. 21 at Pasco Middle School with more than 45 contestants vying for titles in nine categories.

The Miss Kumquat Festival pageant came with a new twist the year.

Judges awarded two crowns, one for Miss Kumquat Festival and the second for Miss Orange Blossom. Winners are eligible to compete in the Miss Florida Scholarship Pageant in June.

Melissa Marcus, Miss Kumquat Festival 2005, a doctoral candidate at the University of Miami, found it difficult to make all local appearances during the past year. In response to that concern, organizers devised the two-crown competition as a solution. Contestants from Pasco, Polk, Hillsborough, Hernando and Sumter counties were eligible for both titles. The Miss Orange Blossom title was open to entrants statewide.

To compete for Miss Kumquat Festival and Miss Orange Blossom, women ages 17-24 were required to meet the residency requirements and are either high school seniors or graduates. Each contestant had a 10 minutes private interview before the final competition. The Saturday pageant included onstage questions, evening wear, swim wear, and talent.

Aubrey Teston, daughter of Suzanne and Robert Douglas was crowned Miss Kumquat Festival. First runner-up went to Stephanie Hoy, daughter of Rita and Stephen Hoy. Second runner-up was Ashley Hayden, daughter of Norma and Albert Hayden. Other contestants were Gentry Mander, daughter of Deanna and Chip Mander; and Kate Roberts, daughter of Gerry and Jeff Roberts.

Erica Raulerson, daughter of Sherrie and Eric Raulerson, was named Miss Orange Blossom. First-runner up went t o Lisa Van Alstine, daughter of Sharon an d Eric Van Alstine. Second-runner was Andrea Apple, daughter of Neoka and Dennis Apple. Other contestants for Miss Orange Blossom were Vanji Grbic, daughter of Munira and Djoko Grbic; Allyson Tolbert, daughter of Pamela and Paul Jahn; Jessica Minch, daughter of Claudia and Michael Minch; Nichole McPherson, daughter of Lois and Hector McPherson; and Tara Szcaepanski, daughter of Myrna and Marian Szcaepanski.

The Miss Teen Kumquat and Miss Teen Orange Blossom contestants were ages 13-17 and competed in the same categories as Miss Kumquat and Miss Orange Blossom.

Capturing the Miss Teen Kumquat title was Rhiannon Roberts, daughter of Shari and Ryan Roberts. First runner-up was Angela Lynne Bott, daughter of Cheryl and Robert Bott. Second runner-up was Marissa Collier, daughter of Carla and Gregory Collier. Third runner-up went to Rachel Shields, daughter of Pam and John Shields.

The Teen Miss Orange Blossom title went to Lauran Simpson, daughter of Debbie Felts and Wilton Simpson. First runner-up was Briana Birmingham, daughter of Barbara and Matthew Birmingham. Second runner-up went to Amanda Morris, daughter of Cynthia and Patrick Morris.

The Little Miss Kumquat contestants appeared in casual wear and gowns. Winners were named in five categories.

The Miss Kumquat Bud title went to Chloe Spitzer, daughter of Elizabeth and Stanley Spitzer. First runner-up was Loren Gadden, daughter of Amanda and Christopher Gadden. Second runner-up was Makayla Smith, daughter of Meagan Smith and George Reyes. Other contestants were Lindsey Spitzer, daughter of Elizabeth and Stanley Spitzer and Jadyn Anne Mills, daughter of Stacy and Jamie Mills.

In the Miss Kumquat Bloom division, Courtney Graham, daughter of Shawn and Del Graham was crowned the winner. First runner-up was Kayla Ortiz, daughter of Ashley and Jose Ortiz. Second runner-up was Destiny Grannis, daughter of Tammy and Timothy Grannis.

The Miss Kumquat Blossom title went to Alani Simmons, daughter of Beverly and Theo Simmons. First runner-up was Brittany Gray, daughter of Gaye and Dean Gray. Second runner-up went to Keziah Flores, daughter of Yvonne and David Flores. Other contestants in this category were Morgan Langston, daughter of Morgan an d Eric Langston; Jade Rene Beck, daughter of Julie Beck; and Molly Verrill daughter of Tracy and Tom Verrill.

Named Miss Kumquat Maiden was Devon Firestone, daughter of Rickie Firestone. First runner-up was Summer Anderson, daughter of Colleen and Son Anderson. Second runner-up was Rachel Jardine, daughter of Karen and Bryce Jardine. Other Miss Kumquat Maiden contestants were Jentry Nobles, daughter of Lisa and Michael Nobles; Amber Caudill, daughter of Dawn and David Caudill; Cheyenne Gordon, daughter o f Patty and Ben Gordon; Vanessa Bratcher, daughter of Melissa Sholler and Bruce Bratcher; and Stormy Knight, daughter of A. Gae and Keith Knight.

Earning the title of Miss Kumquat Princess was Samantha Blackman, daughter o f Susan and Scott Blackman. First runner-up was Sarah Lightfoot, daughter of Kelly Porterfield and Scott Helms. Second runner-up was Brittany Martin, daughter of Selena and Rick Springer. Lindsay Ingram, daughter of Lori Ann and Shawn Ingram was also a contestant for Miss Kumquat Princess.

For information or questions about the Kumquat pageant, call the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce at (352) 567-3769.

Time is fast approaching for the ninth-annual Moonlight and Ivory concert sponsored by the Heritage Arts Association. The concert, a well-known event in the Dade City area, will be Saturday with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. and an evening performance at 7. Both performances will be in the historic Dade City Woman's Club building.

Alison Graham, producer of the event, anticipates a large turnout and recommends purchasing tickets well in advance. Tickets for the performances are $15 for matinee and $25 for the evening show and may be purchased at the Dade City Chamber of Commerce, from any Heritage Arts Board Member, or by calling (352) 523-0305 or (352) 567-3460. Money earned from this year's concert will support the arts in the local area.

Originally conceived as a one-time fundraising effort to purchase a grand piano for community use, the concert has become a popular local event. Moonlight and Ivory is an exhibition of local visual arts and a musical presentation featuring a variety of styles including jazz, classical, sacred and Broadway. Gourmet coffee and desserts by Vickie West's Celebrate Catering are a special part of the intermission.

This year's Moonlight and Ivory features young adults who have grown up in the Dade City area and performed through the years in Spotlight on Talent, the annual competition for young people also sponsored by Heritage Arts. Gentry Mander, a 2005 graduate of Land O'Lakes High School's International Baccalaureate Program, is a student in the honors program of Stetson University. Mander was the winner of the senior category of Spotlight on Talent in 2004. She is a former student of Alison Graham.

Tony Mercer is a piano performance major at Florida Southern studying with Robert McDonald. He is the pianist at First Baptist Church in Dade City and was a finalist and winner in the Spotlight on Talent Competition. He is a former student of Karen DeLong and Barbara Friedman.

Becky Lane graduated from University of Central Florida with an honors degree in fine arts. She is with Michelee Puppets doing educational/theatrical performances in schools. Lane was a finalist and winner in Spotlight on Talent for several years and is a former student of Graham.

Heritage Arts extends its appreciation to Tampa Electric Co. for its corporate sponsorship of Moonlight and Ivory.

The Pioneer Florida Museum and Village will be the host of the Farm Festival and 16th-Annual Quilt Show on Saturday and Sunday. The festival will include the third-annual Horse Pulling Contest by the Southern Draft Horse Association on Saturday, a Garden Tractor Pull contest on Sunday, an Arts and Craft Show, cane grinding and syrup making demonstrations, living history demonstrations, children's activities and community exhibitors.

The 16th-Annual Quilt Show will highlight the traveling quilt displays of Hoffman Collections and Kaufman Traveling Collection, as well as many local quilters. A quilt donated by Cole Classic Quilts will be raffled on Sunday.

Entertainmentwill include Homeward Bound, True Gospel and the comedic styling of Johnny Roberts, Southern Fried Comedian.

The Pioneer Florida Museum and Village is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Florida's pioneer heritage. Admission of the festival is $6 for adults, $2 for children and children ages 5 and younger are free. The museum is a mile north of downtown Dade City, off U.S. 301. For information, call 352 567-0262 or visit www.pioneerfloridamuseum.org

The Health and Wealth Expo, sponsored by Women N Charge and presented by the St. Petersburg Times will be from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Saturday at Sports and Field at Seven Oaks, State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel. The free event will have 60 exhibitors and 12 seminars on topics relating to women and their families. University Community Hospital will offer low-cost screenings. The mission of the expo is to promote the health and financial independence of women and their families. Money earned from the event will establish a scholarship fund to help local women gain financial independence and pursue successful businesses.

County Commissioner Pat Mulieri will be the guest speaker. Women N Charge is an organization of women who own and operate businesses. Steering Committee for the group includes Chris Cooper of Cooper Financial Services; Carol Roth of Ace Services; Karen Wesler of the Scooter Store; Roberta White of Cruise Planners; Cathy Bennick of Merrill Gardens Retirement Community; Sandra Miniere, a Life Coach; Brenda Cassato of Financial Freedom; and Saralee Squires, Ann Colling and Mary Beth Mignerey of the Times.

For information about the Health and Wealth Expo call Chris Cooper at (813) 948-3143 or the Times at (813)909-4603.

Michael Kane, professor of environmental horticulture at the University of Florida, will share his expertise in creating and maintaining water gardens at a seminar from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday in Clayton Hall at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36702 State Road 54, Dade City.

Kane's presentation is part of the Pasco Master Gardeners' Saturday Seminars presented the first Saturday of each month. There will not be a presentation in March because of the special plant sale at hospice in New Port Richey, but activities will return to the Extension Office on April 1 with a presentation, "Bugs: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!" May's presentation will be on "Pest Control: Those Terrible Termites" and June's presentation will be of "Fertilizers and Mulches."

Admission is free for the presentations, but advance registration helps for planning.

For information on these programs and other services offered by the Extension Office call (352) 521-4288; (727) 847-8177; or (813) 996-7341, ext. 4288.

Kiefer Village Jewels announced recently that the store, once again, raised money for the Roy Hardy Benevolent Fund through its Giving Tree program at the Dade City location. An $800 check was presented to Hardy and Foundation Board member, Jim Tabb.

The Roy Hardy Benevolent Fund provides support to local families who have been devastated by medical illness. The foundation helps pay medical bills not covered by insurance.

"(My wife) Wendy and I are always so thankful for the blessings of family and health," store owner David Hevia said in a news release. "This foundation shares our personal mission to help those in our community who are not as fortunate. We look forward to the opportunity every year to raise money for the Hardy Fund."

The Giving Tree is a charity project supported by Kiefer Village Jewels' employees and customers. The entire cost of every watch battery replacement and watch band adjustment are placed on the Giving Tree for donation to the charity of the month. In addition, anyone regardless of whether they are shopping, can place a donation on the Giving Tree. The idea for the Giving Tree is based on a book by the same name by Shel Silverstein.

Kiefer Village Jewels is at 37850 Meridian Ave., Dade City, and in the Willow Bend Towne Center, 23022 State Road 54 in Land O'Lakes. For information about the Giving Tree or to make a contribution call 352 567-2378, (813) 909-2393 or visit www.kvjewels.co m