Miss Grand International 2018 1st runner up Meenakshi Chaudhary knows how to make our hearts skip a beat. This beauty queen redefines the phrase 'beauty with a brain', as she is a student of dentistry and also a beauty pageant title holder. She looks mesmerizing in a two piece bikini and we cannot help but fall in love with her.
Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva Supranational 2018 Aditi Hundia turns up the heat in a white two piece bikini. She enjoys travelling and has a beautiful voice. She loves to sing and listen to music. She looks stunning as completes the look with a pair of silver hoop earrings and a bracelet-ring. Aditi looks enchanting as she poses for the shutterbugs.
fbb Colors Femina Miss India United Continents 2018 Gayatri Bhardwaj is a divine beauty who with her gorgeoussmile has won many hearts. She is a dentist by profession and loves to sing, dance and play football. She is a true beauty queen who is a perfect blend of classy and cute.
Yamaha Fascino Miss Diva Universe 2018 Nehal Chudasama looks alluring in a two piece bikini. Her journey of transformation is an inspiring one and we cannot help but fall in love with her. Nehal knows how to slay every looks and is a trendsetter. She looks breath-taking as she looks at the camera with a tantalizing expression.
fbb Colors Femina Miss India World 2018 Anukreethy Vas is a model and an actress by profession. This beauty queen from the Southern part of India looks irresistible in a two piece bikini as she poses alongside a pool. She knows how to make our hearts skip a beat with her elegance and ethereal beauty.


text:
Apps for Apple and Android
Mixmag Records
Contact Mixmag
Advertisers/Media Pack
UK and US
Home Latest News Menu
Oppose the developers: London is fighting to protect its LGBTQ+ clubs
The capital has lost 58 per cent of LGBTQ+ venues in the last decade and the community they serve has had enough
Words: Jim Ottewill | Illustration: Lawrence Abbott
"I came in like a wrecking ball …" In 2013 you might have bellowed along to Miley Cyrus at Hackney's queer pub The Joiners Arms. You might have been dancing next to Rufus Wainwright (or at least someone who looked him). It might have been a Thursday. It was probably the wrong side of midnight.
Less than six months later the same song would be more suitable as a soundtrack to the bulldozers being revved up by property developers as they contemplated replacing Hackney's brilliantly dishevelled queer pub with flats.
This is typical of recent late night tales for LGBTQ+ venues in the capital. Due to external pressures from large-scale developments, rising business rents and a lack of safeguarding measures in London's existing planning system, these venues have been dropping like flies: 58 per cent lost since 2006, UCL research claims. The Joiners was one, alongside other high profile closures such as Camden's The Black Cap and The Queen's Head in Chelsea.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Can you tell me how I can get the footer to stick to the bottom of the page?
This topic was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by amyteslin.
Let me know if this is what you wanted.
Hi, thanks so much, It works well on desktop but then on iPad and mobile you have to scroll really far to get to the footer..
Hi again, I have found a solution! thanks for your time anyway.
However, keep the solution it's best for you. Let me know if you have any other question.


Can Tree Stumps Invite Termite Infestations? - Bug Busters USA, Inc.
Can Tree Stumps Invite Termite Infestations?
The fact that termites eat dead rotting wood and plant life is something to be happy about. There are three trillion trees on our planet, and this means that there are a whole lot of dead trees lying around. Termites are well known for their ability to remove dead plant life by feeding on cellulose. Without termites humans would likely be forced to remove dead trees from the environment. Plant life must continue to grow, but this cannot occur if dead trees are suffocating soil. Termites have existed for hundreds of millions of years in order to provide the natural environment with this litter-removal service. However, termites are better known for the damage they cause to people's property. Sometimes, unsightly, dangerous and/or termite-infested dead trees are cut-down by humans, leaving only stumps in their place. But can these stumps attract termites to people's property just as easily? Unfortunately the answer is "yes".
Both subterranean and dampwood termite species are attracted to tree stumps. Unsurprisingly, subterranean termites pose a serious risk of infestation to homeowners that have tree stumps located within or near their properties. On the other hand, dampwood termites are much less of a concern. This is due to the fact that dampwood termites require environments with high moisture levels. As long as your home is sufficiently dry, dampwood termite infestations should not worry you. Subterranean termites are a different story, as these termites may very well find access to your home if you have a tree stump located nearby. Subterranean termites also require moisture, but this can be accessed by traveling underground, which dampwood termites can not do.
Subterranean termites will build mud tubes that connect the wood in tree stumps to water sources below the surface of soil. Subterranean termites can also remain underground in order to feed on a tree stump's routes. In these cases, homeowners may not notice a heavy termite presence within their own yards. Termite infestations can often be noticed by digging around a tree stump. Termites are often found inhabiting shallow areas beneath the ground near tree stumps, or mud tubes may be present. If a home is within close proximity to a tree stump, then having the stump removed may be wise. In these circumstances, the routes are likely extending beneath a home, this makes an eventual home infestation likely.
Have you ever lived in a home that had been built on land that once forested? Did this home ever become infested with termites?
Comments Off on Can Tree Stumps Invite Termite Infestations?


text:
Q: How to install older mingw versions to install python package (leven) Long version: I have a python package that is written in C++ (called leven), to install it I need to build the leven package by compiling it in c++. For this I tried using Visual C++ and Mingw. The error code in Visual c++ was generic, so I decided to use mingw instead (which I already had installed since I used to use Codeblocks).
The problem is that when trying to build I get the following error message: "mno-cygwin unrecognized", after some research, it appears that such command has been deprecated (people said finally!). however, I need it to finish installing my package. So my question is, how can I install a previous version of mingw? should I uninstall codeblocks and the current mingw version?
tldr, Need to install previous version of mingw cpp compiler

A: Just remove -mno-cygwin option from Makefile and you are in

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Home / Blog / Tips / What Makes a Good Literature Paper?
One of the greatest challenges for all English language majors and writers is literature paper writing. Discussing someone's work in a critical manner and analyzing plot, characters, and ideas associated with that particular work is more difficult than it seems.
For example, sometimes you have to discuss some specific aspect related to some literary work, but you aren't sure whether you understood it. Before you give up and convince yourself that you and your paper are doomed you should remember that writing (any kind of writing) is a skill that constantly develops. The more you write, the better you will be. To make sure you write a good literature paper, this article provides guidelines that you will find beneficial.
Before you even start writing your literature paper you have to determine the main point that will be discussed throughout the work. Remember, having more arguments is confusing for both you and the reader. Throughout your paper, you will have to specify why your argument is valid which is why you should keep that in mind before determining the main point. The main point should be revealed in the introduction.
Good literature paper requires specific thesis statement that reveals your perspective. Thesis statement has to be debatable. It has to make reader want to agree or disagree with you.
Example: Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a great American novel about adventures of Huck Finn.
⇒ Why is this thesis statement wrong? Thesis statement merely describes the plot, states the obvious, and isn't debatable.
Revision: Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn suggests that in order to find the true expression of democratic ideals in America, one must abandon "civilized" society and go back to nature.
⇒ Why is this statement better? It presents an interpretation of a famous literary work based on analysis of the content. Furthermore, this thesis statement is debatable. Some readers will, definitely, agree while others will oppose which is the main purpose of literature paper.
Discussion about characters – are they symbolic, realistic, historically-based? Why is that particular character (or of them) important for the overall story?
Researching is important part of composing a literature paper. It is like writing "ordinary" essay, you have to get informed about subject, find info you can include. But, when discussing literary work you have to research scholar analysis to get a better insight into the story.
However, you shouldn't underestimate the power of library as well. While internet doesn't focus on scholarship, libraries have excellent choices of essays and scholarly books that can help you. Ideally, you should combine both internet and library into your research.
First, bear in mind that everything you find regarding analysis of some literary work serves to aid you in proving your point. This means that 90% of your literature paper should be consisted of your thoughts and perspective while info or quotes you find serve to support your idea and link to it.
Generally, MLA (Modern Language Association) format is used to write literature papers. Every type of information or quote you use, you have to add reference to it. This is what makes your paper professional. Reliability is proven by adding sources e.g. Endnotes in MS Word. Also, all pages should have your full name and page number in top right corner. People usually assume it's enough to add full name on the first page and overlook Header and Footer option in MS Word that automatically adds your name and page number to every page.
Luckily, there are many websites where you can download MLA-style template and use them to write your work.
Don't summarize the text, analyze it. There's a fine line between these two actions which means you have to be extra careful.
Writing literature paper requires research, critical thinking and analysis of a certain work. Remember, it is easy to stray from the subject and restore to summarizing it instead of analyzing characters and actions. Tips from this article can help you stay on the right track and improve your essay writing.


At Maritime Marzipan Confectionery, we create tasty almond-based treats - built on European tradition and inspired by Island style.
Each piece of Maritime Marzipan is handmade in St. Peters Bay, Prince Edward Island.
Our products range from marzipan classics to a variety of shapes infused with local and international flavours. We strive to offer the highest quality by using fine Belgian chocolate, and natural flavours only. All products are gluten-free, and all dark chocolates are dairy-free.
Fritz Chocolates brings you fine Belgian chocolate treats in beautiful and fun shapes.
All our products are gluten-free, and the dark chocolates are dairy-free.
When choosing Fritz Chocolates you help to empower cocoa farmers. The chocolate we use to make our products is sourced 100% from sustainable cocoa, and its manufacturer reinvests in the farmers and their communities.
Are you a business owner and would like to carry our products, or need a marketing gimmick? Our print-on-chocolate technology allows us to offer customizable edible treats. Imagine your logo on a piece of chocolate. Contact us for further details.
Great food and a cuppa. That's what we want you to come in for. Specialty coffees, local teas, and tasty beverages complement your breakfast, lunch, or afternoon treat. Our bread, cakes and muffins are freshly baked onsite every day. We use mainly local ingredients to make your sandwich, or fill your morning bowl with oats, granola, and yogurt.
At Black & White, we hope you find a moment to slow down, hang out and chill. Meeting with friends, taking a read from our LittleFreeLibrary, or just enjoying a quiet moment on the patio - you are welcome to forget time at our place. And we have free Wifi too.
Are you a PEI food producer, and would like to get your products onto our menu? Please contact us.
Prince Edward Island is known as Canada's Food Island for a reason. We have a lot of fresh and home-grown ingredients at our fingertips, and many hardworking and creative Islanders that make them into something tasty.
At Island Flavours, the local food products store at the St. Peters Landing, you find preserves and spices, hot sauces and mustards, coffee and tea, granola and baking mixes, organic oil, pickles and beef jerky, and much more - made on PEI.
Come visit us, and taste some Island Flavours.
Are you a PEI food producer, and would like to get your products into our store? Please contact us.


text:
Tag results for: Trending
Charlize theron Mad Max star goes Topless for fragrance ad
Charlize Theron appeared in a brand new ad campaign to promote Dior perfume.This 47-year-old actress Mad Max star looked very youthful, with a wrinkle-free face and smooth skin as...
Margot Robbie got injured during filming a sex sequence in the movie 'The Wolf Of Wall Street'
It's difficult to find an actor duo with more glamour as Leonardo Dicaprio and Margot Robbie in the 2013 movie "The wolf of Wall Street." The duo plays Jordan...
Georgina Ronaldo Partner is breaking the internet by posting stunning Photos on Instagram.
Georgina Rodríguez, the Argentine beauty, 28, is on holiday in Sardinia on Friday with her children. She also got a new tattoo, a baby with angel wings. On this occasion,...
Celebs Article Team - August 27, 2022
Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor will tie the knot this year? Know the latest reports
Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor have been dating for over three years. The two officially introduced their relationship on Instagram a few years ago in 2019 and are start...
Celebs Article Team - May 18, 2022
Britney Spears stated that she was pregnant with a painful remark and said that she and Sam Asghari had lost their "miracle child",
Britney and Sam shared their instagram bills on Saturday and asked if they should wait until they announced the pregnancy to the world. A letter signed by 'Sam &...
Shreejana Chaudhary - May 15, 2022


Please also note that these times have been converted from UTC; if you see times on other sites that say "UTC"/ "UT", or "GMT", those are NOT the local times for you in Columbia!
Columbia is in the path of totality for the Total Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017!
No viewing plans for Columbia have been submitted to us yet!
No pictures of Columbia have been submitted yet!


Political Editors: "WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was forcibly bundled out of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and into a waiting British police van on Thursday," reports the Associated Press, "setting up a potential court battle over attempts to extradite him to the U.S. to face charges related to the publication of tens of thousands of secret government documents." He was "arrested on behalf of the United States authorities," London police said, and the U.S. quickly filed charges of conspiracy to disclose classified information.
Assange has spent the last seven years hiding away in Ecuador's embassy, but evidently, President Lenin Moreno had had enough. "The discourteous and aggressive behavior of Mr. Julian Assange, the hostile and threatening declarations of its allied organization, against Ecuador, and especially the transgression of international treaties, have led the situation to a point where the asylum of Mr. Assange is unsustainable and no longer viable," Moreno said.
In 2010, info anarchist Assange conspired with U.S. Army PFC Bradley Manning (now "Chelsea" after his taxpayer-funded gender reassignment while he was in prison for treason) to dump 750,000 purloined classified U.S. military documents on the Web. It was the most significant intelligence compromise in United States history, but Barack Obama, as a gift to his constituents suffering from chronic gender dysphoria, actually commuted Manning's sentence just before departing office in January of 2017 — one of the most inexcusable actions of scumbag/liar-nObama's tenure. Astoundingly, emboldened by that commutation, in 2018 Manning mounted a run for Senate in Maryland.


text:
Finding new ways to celebrate, amid COVID-19
June 9, 2020 By B.C. Manion
It may not have been the graduation ceremony he envisioned, but 17-year-old Carl Scavino seems to be enjoying himself, as he took advantage of the sunroof to wave to the crowd. His mother, Judy Scavino, appeared to be having a good time, too. (Randy Underhill)
COVID-19 may have delayed graduations for the Class 2020, but it couldn't curb the enthusiasm of graduates, and their loved ones, to celebrate their achievements.
Drive-by celebrations were held at The Grove in Wesley Chapel for members of the Class of 2020 from Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel and Cypress Creek high schools. Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore read the list of graduates' names. Family and friends applauded and cheered, as vehicles drove by with the graduates.
There also was a celebration at Idlewild Baptist Church, in Lutz, for graduates from the church, as well as for graduates of various Pasco and Hillsborough County schools.
Kristen Engasser, 17, of Lutz, waits patiently for the 2020 Land O' Lakes High School senior graduation parade to begin at The Grove shopping complex, Wesley Grove Boulevard in Wesley Chapel. The parade is a celebration of Land O' Lakes seniors unable to have a formal graduation ceremony due to the COVID-19 school closures.
Minister Kelly Knouse, of Idlewild Baptist Church, greets Travis Shelby, a member of the Sunlake High Class of 2020.
Katheryn Munger, a member of Wesley Chapel High's Class of 2020, gets ready to take part in the June 1 drive-by celebration for graduating seniors held at The Grove in Wesley Chapel. She plans to attend the University of South Florida.
Graduate Ashley Bischof is in the driver's seat, as she takes part in the celebratory parade. She plans to attend Pasco-Hernando State College.
This group helped graduating seniors from Cypress Creek Middle High, during festivities at The Grove. From left, Jennifer Yingling, Mark Gold, DJ Night Mixer Makayla Gulash, Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, Troy Stevenson, Cypress Creek Middle/High School Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles, Jennifer Welling, and Tami Baker, along with the school's Coyote mascot. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)
Filed Under: Education, Local News Tagged With: Class of 2020, COVID-19, Cypress Creek High, Idlewild Baptist Church, Land O' Lakes High School, Lutz, Mike Moore, The Grove in Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel High
Feeding the hungry through 'pop-up' food drive
April 7, 2020 By B.C. Manion
When Idlewild Baptist Church decided to hold a food drive recently — it had no idea the response would be so great that it would essentially create a traffic jam because so many church members showed up to drop off contributions.
Typically, the church takes weeks to plan big events.
In this case, it sprang into action.
The church's Gatheria — a space used for church suppers and other events — looked like a food warehouse after contributions came rolling in to help others needing food. (Courtesy of Yerusha Bunag/Idlewild Baptist Church)
As medical and economic impacts of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) began ramping up, the church started fielding more requests for assistance, said Yerusha Bunag, director of local missions.
The church was hearing from schools it has been involved with in partnerships that began before the pandemic, she said. It also noted that the church food pantry, which has operated for years, was getting depleted.
Plus, Bunag said: "We had an increasing number of people needing help, from our own membership, but also an outpouring of people wanting to give help."
So, as the week before the March 29 food drive wore on, the need to act became clearer.
"Just through prayer, through meeting with the leadership — virtually — we said, 'Let's just trust God. He'll work through our people to be generous at this time," she said.
They decided they could use the church's Gatheria area as a warehouse to hold the donations.
Bunag recruited youth volunteers to help collect the food.
She also put out the word about the food drive through an email on the afternoon of March 28, and a posting on Facebook.
Senior Pastor Ken Whitten made an appeal to help during the 9:15 a.m. livestream service on March 29, which was repeated at the 11 a.m. service.
The food drive was supposed to be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
By 1:30 p.m., when volunteers arrived, though, cars were already lining up to drop off their donations.
"We did not stop until 4:30 p.m.," Bunag said.
Although the church did not count the cars that came, it was a steady stream, Bunag said.
Volunteers from Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz delivered boxes of food to three elementary schools, after the church held a somewhat spontaneous food drive.
At one point, about 2:30 p.m., one of the guys coordinating traffic flow radioed and told her: "'I just got word that we're backed up to (North) Dale Mabry (Highway). And, Van Dyke (Road) has started to get backed up."
To help speed things up, some guys who had been directing traffic were reassigned to work an additional collection point.
"It was really hot," Bunag said. But, no one was complaining.
The volunteers were so pumped up, they didn't even want to take a break, she added.
"Everybody was on an adrenaline high," Bunag said.
Pastors were out there sweating, too, she said.
It was work, but it was fun, too, she said. "Cars would go by and they would honk. 'Hey, it's great to see you.'"
All the while, the church practiced social distancing, with volunteers working in different parts of the campus, in groups of 10 or fewer — wearing masks and gloves, and keeping a safe distance apart.
And, nobody complained about having to wait.
After the volunteers left on Sunday, the church's hallways and lobbies were filled with boxes and bags of foods.
Then, Bunag huddled with Nancy Reed, the church's events coordinator; Tonya Sloan, its food service director; and Kirk Malone, its Benevolence assistant, to plan out the rest of the operation.
Bunag created an online signup sheet seeking volunteers. By midmorning, she'd met the need for 80 volunteers who would work in three shifts, at four locations.
"We were done sorting all of that on Monday.
"On Tuesday, we began making toiletry packets and food boxes," she said, noting they filled hundreds of boxes and toiletry packets.
"So, on Wednesday, we began distribution. Again, volunteers from our church that had trucks or SUVs signed up to deliver to three different schools (Kenly, Just and Booker T. Washington elementary schools)."
The efforts, she said, are to share God's love — and to let others see that love in action.
"It goes beyond, 'Here's a box of food,'" she said.
"We want to give people not just hope that we care for them and we love them, but we want to give them the same hope in God, that he's in control of the situation, and he's going to provide for our every need," she said.
Filed Under: Top Story Tagged With: Booker T. Washington Elementary School, coronavirus, COVID-19, Idlewild Baptist Church, Just Elementary School, Ken Whitten, Kenly Elementary School, Kirk Malone, Lutz, Nancy Reed, North Dale Mabry Highway, Tonya Sloan, Van Dyke Road, Yerusha Bunag
Finding creative ways to express faith at Easter
Instead of having thousands of members arriving for Easter services at Idlewild Baptist Church, in Lutz, Senior Pastor Ken Whitten expects they'll be tuning in instead.
The church's 15,000 members will be able to watch on Vimeo, Facebook or Idlewild.org the services, which will be presented in English and American Sign Language, and translated into Spanish.
First United Methodist Church of Land O' Lakes will be livestreaming its Easter service. Many churches are using different approaches this year in light of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. (B.C. Manion)
Those presenting the service will be social distancing, Whitten said.
"We'll be 6 feet apart. From the praise band to the camera people and myself, there's never any more than 10 people," he said.
COVID-19 has presented unique challenges, the pastor said.
"In all of my life, I've never ever experienced anything like this. We've had hurricanes, where we've missed two Sundays, but this will be our fourth Sunday doing online church," Whitten said.
Being unable to connect in person is difficult for people, Whitten said.
"God made us for relationships, and God made us to want to be together.
"So, there's something inside of us — I think an ache — inside the whole world right now," he said.
Legally, the church could hold its large gatherings, because despite a Stay-at-Home order issued by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, religious assemblies are deemed an essential service.
"We might by law be able to congregate," Whitten said. "Here's the question, 'Is that even the right thing to do?
Jesus said the two greatest commandments are "to love the lord thy God with all thy heart, mind and strength" and "to love your neighbor as yourself.
"I don't think you can fulfill that second commandment and be a vector of infection, and bring a disease to people you are saying that you love," Whitten said.
"The reason we're not meeting is because we're trying to do our part.
"Keep in mind, the church is not the only one who has been asked to stand down. We have no sports. We have no NASCAR.
"It doesn't matter, no matter what you are normally used to, (it) is not there.
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church created a more personal touch for its online services, by asking parishioners to submit photos of themselves, so the officiants can look at them, while saying the Mass. (Courtesy of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church)
"There's no Master's. March Madness didn't happen. It became March sadness, didn't it," Whitten said.
COVID-19 has created a medical and economic crisis.
In the midst of that, Whitten said, "I think the message we need to give people right now is this: Live one day at a time, with trust, trusting that God's got this. That he hasn't taken his eye off us. He knows what tomorrow brings.
"The best thing we can do is to continue to put our trust in him and continue to be an encouragement to the people around us that need that trust," Whitten said.
Others using technology to share Easter services include NorthPointe Church, 19862 Amanda Park Drive; Bay Hope Church, at 17030 Lakeshore Road; St. Timothy Catholic Church, at 17512 Lakeshore Road; and, First Baptist Church of Lutz, 18116 U.S. 41, all in Lutz.
Land O' Lakes churches using that approach include Land O' Lakes United Methodist Church, at 6209 Land O' Lakes Blvd., and Harvester Community Church, 2432 Collier Parkway.
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O' Lakes, will be using technology, too, but to make it more personal, the church has placed enlarged photographs of church members on chairs within the church.
Meanwhile, Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, at 2018 Reigler Road in Land O'Lakes, will be having Drive-In Church on April 12 at 10:30 a.m.
Members of Grace Community Church will be celebrating together, while staying apart, in drive-in church services on Easter. (Courtesy of Grace Community Church)
"You will simply drive into our parking lot and tune in on an FM channel (which will be displayed on our slide truck) and worship with us from the comfort of your own car. We will celebrate communion together with commercially purchased, prepackaged, individual communion elements and collect our offering in free-standing receptacles as you exit the parking lot," the church's website says.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the county, Grace Community Church also will be having drive-in services.
Normally, members would arrive in their Easter finery, celebrate their faith together and pose afterwards for family portraits, said Pastor Jeff Olsen.
But, this year, they'll drive to the church 7107 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel, and they'll stay in their cars — for either the Sunrise service at 7:15 a.m., or the 10:30 a.m. gathering.
Instead of spending a couple of minutes at the beginning of the service greeting each other personally, they'll take out their cellphones to text or call other members who are there; or reach out to church members who couldn't make it to the service.
Jessie Koschman and her family, left to right, Jessie, Kaylei, Christopher and Greg, pose for a selfie inside their car. This will be a new twist on a traditional Easter family portrait at Grace Community Church in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Jessie Koschman)
Then, at the conclusion, instead of posing for family portraits, they'll whip out their cellphones and take family selfies.
Even though the service could be livestreamed, Olsen said he prefers having the congregation there — even if they need to stay in their cars.
"It seems like there's more that can be done when we're in a common space," the pastor said, noting the church has already tried out this model and it seems to be working well.
Olsen said the central message of the sermon he plans to deliver will be something like this: "Because the grave is empty and Jesus is alive, we have living hope — even when things seem hopeless."
Others are adapting services, as well.
AdventHealth Zephyrhills will have its 35th annual Easter Sunrise Service online, instead of on the hospital's lawn.
The service will be streamed online on Easter Sunday, April 12 from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., and will be available for replay on the hospital's Facebook page, according to a hospital news release.
Pastor Dennis Harmeson, of Awake Wesleyan Church, will deliver this year's sermon and Darling Giordani will provide a musical selection.
The shift to online breaks an East Pasco tradition that dates back for more than three decades.
It was done, according to the hospital, "out of an abundance of caution to protect the safety and well-being of the community due to the spread of COVID-19.
"AdventHealth is committed to caring for the community – body, mind and spirit, as we live out our mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ," a release says.
At St. Joseph Catholic Church, at 38710 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills, videos of Holy Week and Easter services, featuring the Rev. Allan Tupa, will be available on the church's website.
On that website, the pastor told parishioners, "Your safety and health are my primary concerns as we confront the sobering and unsettling realities of this pandemic."
He added: "This severe moment that is unfolding throughout the world enables us to see the profound truth underlying the season of Lent: Life is fragile, and our flesh is weak. Yet scripture assures us in Psalm 46 that God is 'an ever-present help in time of distress."
The Seventh-day Adventist Church, at 7333 Adventist Church, at 7333 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills, will continue to hold online-only services through April 30.
Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: AdventHealth Zephyrhills, Allan Tupa, Awake Wesleyan Church, Bay Hope Church, Darling Giordani, Dennis Harmeson, Facebook, First Baptist Church of Lutz, Grace Community Church, Harvester Community Church, Idlewild Baptist Church, Jeff Olsen, Ken Whitten, Land O' Lakes United Methodist Church, Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, NorthPointe Church, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Ron DeSantis, Seventh-day Adventist Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Timothy Catholic Church, Stay-at-Home Order, Vimeo
Coronavirus cancels many sports events
March 24, 2020 By Kevin Weiss
As fears regarding coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) continue to ramp up, so do cancellations on the sports landscape — nationally, regionally and locally.
The FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) announced there have been no final decisions concerning state series or state championship events. Furthermore, spring sport rankings will not be released until further notice. (File)
The unexpected cancellations began on March 10 when The Ivy League, a Division I collegiate athletic conference comprised of private schools in the Northeast, announced the cancellation of its men's and women's basketball tournaments, and it said it would limit the number of spectators that can attend spring sports — as a direct response to accelerated coronavirus cases across the country.
In short order, many other sports organizations — professional, collegiate, amateur, recreational and youth — followed suit by postponing or canceling events during ensuing days.
The NBA and the NHL League suspended their seasons indefinitely. The MLB canceled spring training games and pushed back the start of the 2020 regular season.
Even WWE's WrestleMania 36 — scheduled for April 5 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa — has been moved to a "fanless" venue at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.
Meanwhile, the NCAA on March 12 canceled Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments (more widely known as March Madness), as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships, in light of ever-evolving news regarding the public health threat of COVID-19.
In a similar move, the NJCAA (National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association) on March 16 canceled all upcoming basketball championships, as well as spring competition, effective immediately.
The NCAA and NJCAA decisions means that Saint Leo University (Division II NCAA) and Pasco-Hernando State College (Division II NJCAA) have canceled the remainder of the spring season, as well as all activities for all fall, winter and spring sports until further notice.
The Saint Leo athletic department, in a release, said: "The health, safety and welfare of all of our staff and student-athletes is paramount. Taking these precautions now will help keep our student-athletes healthy so they can successfully complete their academic coursework and resume competition in Fall 2020."
In accordance with the NCAA, Saint Leo University has canceled the remainder of the spring sports season, affecting such sports as softball. Meanwhile, all activities for all fall, winter and spring sports have been suspended until further notice. (File)
Postponements and cancellations also have affected high school sports.
All athletics activities at Hillsborough and Pasco county public schools are canceled until at least April 15, as part of a statewide directive from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Academy at the Lakes has canceled all sporting events, including games and practices, through at least March 29. Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School also has canceled athletic practices, games and non-school functions until at least April 15.
The FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) also announced there have been no final decisions concerning state series or state championship events. Furthermore, spring sport rankings will not be released until further notice.
"As we receive information from state authorities and health departments, the FHSAA will continue to make decisions for each sport individually, moving forward," the statewide athletics organization said, in a release.
Many local youth and adult sports leagues have postponed or canceled their spring seasons, too.
Pasco County Parks announced all events, activities, youth and adult sports leagues, field reservations and so on have been canceled until at least May 1.
County parks will continue to remain open for day-use only, however recreation complexes and community centers remain closed until further notice. That includes the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex, Heritage Park Community Center, James Irvin Community Center, Odessa Community Center, among others.
Likewise, Hillsborough County recreation centers are closed and athletic activities have been canceled until at least April 13, but Hillsborough County parks are open.
Meantime, large sports leagues put on by local churches also have been postponed or shuttered.
Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz has canceled the entire spring season for youth baseball, youth softball and men's softball. Pending developments with the coronavirus, the church plans to ramp up sports registration on July 1 for its fall youth soccer and adult coed soccer leagues.
Grace Family Church, which has campuses in Lutz and Land O' Lakes, has postponed its basketball, kickball and softball leagues, until further notice.
Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Academy at the Lakes, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, coronavirus disease-2019, COVID-19, FHSAA, Grace Family Church, Heritage Park Community Center, Idlewild Baptist Church, James Irvin Community Center, Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex, MLB, NBA, NCAA, NHL, NJCAA, Odessa Community Center, Pasco County Parks, Pasco-Hernando State College, Raymond James Stadium, Ron DeSantis, Saint Leo University, The Ivy League, WWE, WWE Performance Center
Choices abound for holiday fun
November 27, 2019 By Brian Fernandes
A lit-up tree with stocked presents below is a beautiful sight for both adults and children alike. (File)
The holidays are a traditional time for friends and families to gather, and to seek out ways to enjoy the lights, sounds and treats of the season.
If you're looking to have some old-fashioned fun, to be inspired, or relax, there's likely an option in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to suit your fancy.
Here's a listing of some of your options.
Lutz – Land O' Lakes
Traditions on the Green holiday concert
When: Dec. 7 from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Land O' Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd., Land O' Lakes
Details: Guests can enjoy live holiday performances from students of Land O' Lakes High School, Pineview Middle School, Sanders Elementary, Lake Myrtle Elementary and Pineview Dance.
Info: Call (813) 996-3011.
Pancakes, PJ's and Putt-Putt
When: Dec. 7 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Where: Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., Land O' Lakes
Cost: $12 for age 13 and up; $10 for ages 4 to 12; $43 for family four pack (two adults, two kids); free for those age 3 and under
Details: Enjoy a pancake breakfast while in pajamas. The event also will offer miniature golf, photos with Santa and kids' activities.
Info: Tickets can be purchased at EventBrite.com (Pancakes, PJ's and Putt-Putt in search box).
Myrtle Lake Baptist Church Christmas dinner
When: Dec. 8 from noon to 2 p.m.
Where: Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2017 Reigler Road, Land O' Lakes
Details: The church will hold a special holiday dinner to ring in Christmas.
Info: Call (813) 949-5516, or visit MyrtleLake.org.
Harvester Community Church musicals and service
When: Dec. 8 at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Dec. 15 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Dec. 24 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Where: Harvester Community Church, 2432 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes
Details: Dec. 8 will consist of holiday tunes put on by the church's choir and contemporary ensemble. Dec. 15 will be an outdoor event where guests can partake in carols and firepits, accompanied with hot cocoa. The Dec. 24, 4 p.m. service, will be a family oriented service in the sanctuary and offer a "Happy Birthday, Jesus" party in the children's wing. The 6 p.m. service will have a candlelit rendition of "Silent Night."
Info: Call (813) 948-2311, or visit HarvesterUMC.com.
St. Timothy Catholic Church's "Christmas in Ireland"
When: Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.
Where: St. Timothy Catholic Church, 17512 Lakeshore Road, Lutz
Cost: $35 general admission; $50 (including meet-and-greet, which starts at 5:30 p.m.) Tickets can be purchased online or at the church office.
Details: Singer Emmet Cahill and the St. Timothy Choir will grace attendees with a rendition of classic Christmas carols. A portion of proceeds will go toward families in need.
Info: Call (828) 553-8553, or for ticket purchases, visit EmmetCahill.com/tour-dates/.
23rd Annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School
When: Dec.10, Dec. 12, Dec. 14, Dec. 17, Dec. 19, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41, Lutz
Details: Guests can enjoy entertainment in the outdoor tent, while the school's interior will offer rooms with trees, decorations and a train setup. Refreshments also will be served. Breakfast With Santa will be on Dec. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. For a $4 ticket, children can enjoy a hearty meal and crafts. Voluntary donations for the needy also will be collected.
Info: Call (813) 310-8709, or visit OldLutzSchool.com.
Idlewild Baptist Church's Christmas "Real to Real"
When: Dec. 13 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Dec. 14 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Dec. 15 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., Lutz
Cost: Seating selection varies from $10, $15 and $20.
Details: The church function will recap the history of Christmas, as seen in classic movies.
Info: Call (813) 264-8707. Tickets can be purchased at the church's event registration desk on Sundays and Wednesdays or at Idlewild.org/Christmas-presentation-tickets/.
Christmas Toy Drive
When: Dec. 14 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Details: Kids Helping Kids Pasco County Inc., will host the toy drive, where all are invited to contribute a donation. Aside from toys, clothing and shoes will be collected, as well.
Keystone Community Church's "Breath of Heaven"
When: Dec. 15 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54, Lutz
Details: The event will be a biblical drama and musical, reenacting the story of Mary and Joseph that led to Jesus' birth.
Christmas Eve Communion Service
Details: The public is welcomed to partake in a traditional communion service on the night before Christmas.
Lutz, Odessa, San Antonio, St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor
Tampa Bay Tour de Clay
When: Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and San Antonio Pottery exclusively from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wellman & Welsch Pottery, 17202 Whirley Road, Lutz
San Antonio Pottery, 11903 Curley St., San Antonio
Hidden Lake Pottery, 16705 Hutchison Road, Odessa
Schiemann Studio, 4635 Eighth Ave., St. Petersburg
Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogie Lane, Palm Harbor
Details: The event will grant guests to tour the respective pottery studios, speak with potters, watch demos and purchase ceramic art.
Info: Call (407) 694-9622, or visit Tampa-Tour.SquareSpace.com.
Symphony in Lights
When: Through Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel
Details: With a lit Christmas tree, patrons can enjoy live music, and a visit from Santa Claus, among other spectacles. Various shops and restaurants are open, too.
Info: Contact Deborah Detweiler at (813) 994-4010 or
Family Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus
When: Dec. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Where: Cypress Creek Church, 5585 E. County Line Road, Wesley Chapel
Details: Guests will not only get to take snapshots with Santa and Mrs. Claus, but also engage in ornament making. Kids also will have classes designated for them.
Info: Call (813) 909-4080, or visit CypressCreekChurch.org.
Avalon Aglow
Where: Avalon Park West Community Center, 5227 Autumn Ridge Drive, Wesley Chapel
Details: Guests can enjoy live performances, food trucks, vendors, and take a picture with Santa.
Info: Call (813) 783-1515, or visit AvalonParkWest.com/AvalonAglow2019/.
Where: Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel
Details: Guests are welcomed to the park for a night of singing carols and enjoying s'mores.
Christmas Tree Lighting
When: Dec. 5 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Main Street Zephyrhills, 38537 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills
Details: Attendees can help to usher in the Christmas season with the official tree lighting in downtown Zephyrhills.
Info: Call (813) 780-1414, or visit MainStreetZephyrhills.org.
Details: The event will be comprised of live musical entertainment, food, multiple vendors and free photos with Santa.
Info: Visit MainStreetZephyrhills.org/Festival-of-Lights/.
35th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration
When: Dec. 8 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: AdventHealth Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills
Details: From 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the hospital will have a visit from Santa, bounce houses and a Christmas-oriented picture booth. From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., there will be several musical performances. It will be followed by lighting 53 Christmas trees and setting off fireworks.
Info: Call Jane Freeman at (813) 787-2082.
Dade City Christmas Parade
When: Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.
Where: Historic Downtown Dade City on Seventh Street, Dade City
Details: Spectators can view the parade consisting of decorated floats, dancers, marching bands and Santa Claus.
Info: Call (352) 567-3769, or visit DadeCityChamber.org/Christmas-Parade.
Country Christmas & Vintage Market
When: Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
Cost: $10 per adult, $5 per student, and free for those age 5 and under; $5 adult admission in exchange for an unwrapped stocking stuffer donation toward senior citizens.
Details: In addition to visiting the historic museum, patrons can visit an array of vendors for holiday gifts. There also will be live performances, kids' activities and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Info: Call Brenda Minton at (352) 206-8889.
34th Annual Country Christmas Stroll
Where: Downtown Dade City, Seventh Street and Meridian Avenue, Dade City
Details: Attendees can sing carols while visiting numerous downtown restaurants and shops. Santa Claus also will make a special appearance.
Dade City Symphony Holiday Concert
Where: Pasco Middle School Auditorium, 13925 14th St., Dade City
Details: The public is welcomed to hear live instrumentation to usher in the Christmas season.
Info: Call (352) 567-3769, or visit DadeCitySymphony.com.
Church Street Christmas
When: Dec. 21, Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Church Avenue in Dade City (the road will be closed off at 6 p.m.)
Details: Attendees can stroll down Church Avenue, gazing at decorated homes, Christmas cards, and listen to live music from local churches and musicians.
Info: Visit ChurchStreetChristmas.org.
New Year's Eve at the Speakeasy
Where: GFWC Dade City Woman's Club, 37922 Palm Ave., Dade City
Cost: $75 per ticket
Details: The 1920s-themed charity event will give attendees the opportunity to come dressed in gangster and flapper attire. The function will have an array of options from food, an open bar, a silent auction, dancing, casino games and prizes.
Info: Call the Dade City Woman's Club at (352) 521-0766. To purchase tickets, visit EventBrite.com.
Where: San Antonio City Park, 32819 Pennsylvania Ave., San Antonio
Cost: Free admission; Raffle tickets can be purchased at the event for $1 each or $5 for six.
Details: The function will consist of the Christmas cards lighting, live performances and a gift basket drawing, with raffle tickets. Refreshments and coffee will be available, and attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs and flashlights.
Info: Call Donna Stewart at (352) 588-3631.
St. Leo
A Saint Leo Christmas
When: Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Saint Leo University's Black Box Theatre, 33701 State Road 52, St. Leo
Cost: Free, but an RSVP is required.
Details: The concert will have a score of musical performances, and offer cider, cookies and hot chocolate. Handmade ornaments can be purchased by adults and given free for children. Guests are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes prior to concert.
Info: To RSVP seats, call (352) 588-8401, or email
Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: AdventHealth Zephyrhills, Avalon Aglow, Avalon Park West, Church Street Christmas, Country Christmas Stroll, Cypress Creek Church, Dade City, Dade City Symphony, GFWC Dade City Woman's Club, Harvester Community Church, Idlewild Baptist Church, Keystone Community Church, Land o' Lake Heritage Park, Land O' Lakes, Lutz, Main Street Zephyrhills, Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, Old Lutz School, Pasco Middle School, Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, Plantation Palms Golf Club, Saint Leo University, San Antonio, San Antonio City Park, St. Leo, St. Timothy Catholic Church, Symphony in Lights, Tampa Tour De Clay, The Shops at Wiregrass, Traditions on the Green, Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel District Park, Zephyrhills
Celebrating a decade of helping mothers-to-be
September 11, 2019 By Brian Fernandes
When Peter Castellani lost his corporate position at IBM, little did he know that his journey would lead him to open a safe haven for expecting mothers.
Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers is that organization, providing women with free services, including pregnancy testing and baby supplies.
Cherisse Rivera is director of Oasis Pregnancy Care Center's Land O' Lakes branch. Here, she's shuffling through baby attire in the Baby Boutique room – where mothers can pick out needed items. (Brian Fernandes)
This year marks the nonprofit's 10th anniversary in serving Tampa Bay, and it wants the community to join the celebration.
To commemorate its decade of operations, the agency is hosting a fundraiser at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, on Sept. 19.
The pregnancy care organization may be celebrating a milestone anniversary, but Castellani was an advocate for prenatal assistance long before Oasis opened on Oct. 1, 2009.
"I've been involved in the pregnancy care center movement for 20 years," the executive director said.
He and his wife, Ellen, were church liaisons who were actively involved with Walk for Life and other pro-life organizations back in New York.
When the couple moved to Florida in 1999, they continued their support at A Woman's Place Medical Clinic, where Castellani served on the board.
Then, he began serving the Pregnancy Care Center of Zephyrhills, eventually becoming president.
When Castellani was laid off after a 30-year career at IBM, it seemed like a sudden shift for the worst — until he realized it was an opportunity to expand his ministry.
He distinctly recalls that several days after his layoff, while still reeling with grief, he awoke to experience what he describes as a clear directive from God.
His new objective became a quest to build a pregnancy center in Land O' Lakes, close to the high schools.
"Tears just started running down my face, because I never had a direct vision like that before," said Castellani, who is Christian.
Coincidentally — or maybe not — the first Oasis branch opened nine months later, in Land O' Lakes.
The center was opened with the support of Pastor Elbert Nasworthy, his Myrtle Lake Baptist Church and the community, Castellani said.
David Dorsey, left, Peter Castellani, April Beck, Cherisse Rivera and Helen Rairigh are among staff and volunteers who operate Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers. The nonprofit organization strives to help women as they transition into motherhood.
Now, Oasis has locations in Wesley Chapel and Tampa. It has 15 staff members and over 80 volunteers.
It also has helped thousands of families through the years, including 450 during the first seven months of this year, according to Castellani.
He attributes the organization's success to its cohesive work team, that is both business- and ministry-oriented.
The women who come to the centers can receive various types of assistance. The information they provide remains confidential.
They can undergo testing to confirm if they're pregnant.
Ultrasound screenings are available to let expecting mothers check on their baby's status.
Counseling sessions are available, too.
The women and their partners also can watch educational videos that provide pointers on parenting techniques.
Dealing with an unplanned pregnancy can be difficult for many women.
"You have women that come in and they are totally devastated," Castellani said. "Counseling with them for a couple hours, you see a miraculous change. They leave here with hope and a future."
Oasis' services are provided for free.
Although, as women continue receiving Oasis services, they are granted coupons, which they can exchange for supplies in the Baby Boutique room. This transaction encourages the women to remain in the program.
Castellani reasoned: "It gives them dignity and respect. Even though it's free, they're earning it. It's not just a hand-away."
At the Baby Boutique, an array of items can be found, such as diapers, maternity and infant clothing, and portable baby seats – to name a few.
Oasis is able to provide its services and provide giveaways because of funding it receives from local churches, businesses and the state.
The organization also hosts three annual fundraisers: a clay shoot event, a golf tournament and a banquet.
As a Christian, nondenominational establishment, Oasis encourages mothers to see their pregnancies through to birth. They also refer them to local churches as additional support networks.
The organization helps mothers from various age groups, too.
Castellani dispelled a common stereotype: "It's not always teenagers – that's only about 20 percent. Most of our women that come in are college and career-aged women."
And, for those who may face financial difficulties, Oasis helps them sign up for government assistance, such as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and Medicaid.
One of Oasis' future endeavors is to bring more education to Pasco County schools, encouraging students to remain abstinent until marriage.
The fundraising celebration at Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., will help propel these initiatives forward.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., followed by live performances, catered food by Carrabba's Italian Grill, and guest speaker RV Brown.
While there are no costs to attend the event, the organization is encouraging those present, to offer a generous donation to support the cause.
Those planning to attend are asked to R.S.V.P at bit.ly/OasisCelebration2019.
To volunteer or donate to Oasis, visit HeartsForOasis.org.
For additional information or services about Oasis, call (813) 406-4965, or visit OasisPregnancyCenter.org.
Oasis 10th anniversary fundraiser
Where: Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz
When: Sept. 19; doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Details: To celebrate 10 years of service, Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers will host a fundraising event with radio personality Mason Dixon as the emcee. Evangelist RV Brown will be the night's guest speaker and attendees can enjoy a dish catered by Carrabba's Italian Grill.
Info: Attendees are encouraged to RSVP online at bit.ly/OasisCelebration2019. Online donations can be sent through HeartsForOasis.org, and for further information, call (813) 406-4965.
Filed Under: Land O' Lakes News, Local News Tagged With: A Woman's Place Medical Clinic, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Elbert Nasworthy, Exciting Idlewild Boulevard, Idlewild Baptist Church, Medicaid, Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers, Peter Castellani, Pregnancy Care Center, RV Brown, Walk for Life, WIC
Easter events offer religious observances and family fun
April 17, 2019 By Brian Fernandes
It's that time for egg hunters to round up their baskets and get busy. Many local events give kids and adults, alike, a chance to search for eggs. (File)
Whether they want to celebrate their faith, take the kids for an egg hunt, or just enjoy some fellowship with church friends — there are plenty of seasonal options throughout The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. Check out the listings below.
What: While We Wait
When: April 19 at 7 p.m.
Details: The musical and dramatic production showcases the aftermath of Jesus' crucifixion from the apostles' perspective.
Info: Visit KeystoneCommunityChurch.org, or email
What: The Easter Story
Where: CrossPointe Family Church, 919 Debuel Road, Lutz
When: April 19 and April 20 at 7 p.m.
Details: A musical will be performed depicting the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Info: Call (813) 949-7727, or visit CrossPointeTampa.com.
What: Is He Worthy?
Where: First Baptist Church of Lutz, 18116 U.S. 41, Lutz
When: April 19 at 7 p.m.; April 21 at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Details: Guests can enjoy a range of harmonious songs as the Easter Worship Choir performs in unison.
Info: Call (813) 949-7495, or visit LutzFBC.com.
What: Easter at Idlewild
When: April 20 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.; April 21 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Details: On April 20, a special service will be followed by outdoor fun with food trucks and games for families. April 21 will begin Easter early with a worship service and performances by a choir, band and orchestra.
Info: Call (813) 264-1515, or visit Idlewild.org/Easter2019/.
What: Unexpected
Where: NorthPointe Church, 19862 Amanda Park Dr., Lutz
When: April 20 at 7 p.m.; April 21 at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:35 a.m.
Details: Guests are invited to watch the story of Jesus dramatized through a musical performance.
Info: Call (813) 948-9420, or visit NorthPointeFL.org/Easter.
What: Easter Sunday Worship
Where: All Saints Lutheran Church, 5315 Van Dyke Road, Lutz
When: April 21 at 7 a.m.
Details: The Easter service will have sunrise service to start the day, followed by breakfast, an egg hunt and finishing with family worship.
Info: Call (813) 963-0969, or visit AllSaintsTampa.org.
What: Easter Sunday Communion
Where: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 20735 Leonard Road, Lutz
Details: Opening service will consist of a communion ceremony and worship, followed by breakfast, where attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share.
Info: Call (813) 949-7171, or visit HolyTrinityLutz.com.
What: Easter at Bay Hope Church
Where: 17030 Lakeshore Road, Lutz
When: April 20, 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.; April 21, 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Details: Join in the Easter celebration.
Info: BayHope.com
What: Easter at St. Timothy Catholic Church
When: April 20, 8 p.m. Easter vigil; April 21, 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (The 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services will be in the church and hall).
What: Resurrection Sunday at First United Methodist Church of Lutz
Where: 960 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz
When: April 20, Sonrise Service on the Lake, 7:30 a.m.; additional services at 8 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 11:30 a.m., at the church. There will be special music at all services.
What: Easter Basket Drive
When: April 20 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Details: Guests are encouraged to bring donations, such as Easter baskets, plastic eggs, candy, small toys, Play-Doh, arts and craft supplies, and gift cards ($5).
Info: Call Michelle Patel at (813) 957-5711, or email
What: Out and About 2019 Expo
Where: Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd, Land O' Lakes
When: April 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Details: An Easter-themed expo will grant guests the opportunity to learn about local attractions and summer camps. Games and egg hunts will be offered, as well as snapshots with the Easter Bunny.
Info: Contact Diane Kortus at (813) 909-2800 or
; Jodie Sullivan at (813) 927-2730 or at
What: Easter Sunrise and Celebration Services
Where: Drexel Farms, 5832 Drexel Road, Land O' Lakes
When: April 21 from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Details: The event will begin with an opening service, followed by a country breakfast and then an Easter celebration.
Info: Call Janis Chajkowski at (813) 777-5420.
What: SonRise Celebration in the Park
Details: Guests are invited to usher in Easter with a communion service, live musical performances and hot coffee.
Info: Call Land O' Lakes Heritage Park at (813) 929-1229.
What: Easter Sunday Mass
Where: Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway, Land O' Lakes
When: April 21 at 6 a.m., 7:45 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (bilingual service)
Details: All are welcomed to join in the celebration of Easter Mass, which includes a sermon and a choir performance.
Info: Call (813) 949-4565, or visit LadyRosary.org.
What: Easter at The Church at Myrtle Lake
Where: 2017 Riegler Road, Land O' Lakes
When: April 21, Sonrise Service, 7 a.m.; free breakfast; Easter celebration, 9 a.m.; Easter egg hunt, 10:30 a.m.
What: Resurrection Sunday at First Baptist Church of Land O' Lakes
Where: 5105 School Road, Land O' Lakes
When: Easter Sunday, April 21 at 8:45 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Details: Dr. David Gibbs, founder of Christian Law Association will be the guest speaker.
Info: Visit FBCLOL.org.
What: Center Ice Egg Hunt
Where: AdventHealth Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel
Details: All are welcome as AdventHealth Center Ice offers clues for where to find Easter eggs hidden throughout Wesley Chapel.
Info: Call (813) 803-7372, or visit www.AHCenterIce.com.
What: Egg Hunt at Avalon
When: April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Details: This family oriented event offers bounce houses, egg hunts and a chance to take a photo with the Easter Bunny.
Info: Call (813) 783-1515, or visit AvalonParkWest.com.
What: Cypress Creek Church Easter Event
Where: Cypress Creek Church, 5585 East County Line Road, Wesley Chapel
When: April 20 at 6 p.m.; April 21 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Details: The church event will offer a worship service, as well as refreshments, followed by an egg hunt.
Info: Call (813) 909-4080, or visit CypressCreek.church.
Where: Wesley Chapel Episcopal Church, 3758 Maryweather Lane, Wesley Chapel
When: April 21 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Details: The Easter Sunday Mass will include the lighting of incense and musical performances.
Info: Call (813) 418-1281, or visit WCEpiscopalChurch.org.
What: First Baptist Church Easter Service
Where: First Baptist Church of Wesley Chapel, 29716 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel
When: April 19 at 6:30 p.m.; April 21 at 7 a.m.
Details: A Good Friday evening service, open to the public, will usher in Easter weekend. Easter morning will begin with a sermon and song service, followed by breakfast and another ceremony.
Info: Call (813) 973-7185, or email
What: Dade City Community Good Friday Service
Where: Free Methodist Church, 37002 Howard Ave., Dade City
When: April 19 at noon
Details: A Good Friday service will include music, a sermon and lunch afterwards.
Info: Contact Selena Semanco at (352) 567-8424 or
What: Easter at the Zoo
Where: Dade City's Wild Things, 36909 Blanton Road, Dade City
When: April 19 at 1 p.m. and April 20 at 3 p.m.
Cost: Tickets are $20 for adults; $16 for ages 2 to 12; free for those age 2 and younger
Details: After an animal tour and lion encounter, kids can stay active with an Easter egg hunt around the zoo.
Info: Call (352) 567- 9453, or to purchase tickets, visit DadeCitysWildThings.com.
What: Renovate Church's Easter Eggstravaganza
Where: Renovate Church, 11631 Old Lakeland Highway, Dade City
Details: This family friendly event will offer snow cones, egg hunting and face painting among other activities.
Info: Visit RenovateChurch.us/events.
What: Easter Morning Egg Hunt
Where: First United Methodist Church of Dade City, 37628 Church Ave., Dade City
When: April 21 from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Details: This event is geared toward infants to fifth-graders. It entails music, fun lessons, an egg hunt and snacks.
What: Easter Triduum
Where: Saint Leo Abbey, 33601 State Road 52, St. Leo
When: April 18 at 7 p.m.; April 19 at 3 p.m.; April 20 at 8:30 p.m.
Details: The three-day ceremony will conduct mass, while focusing on Jesus' last supper to his day of resurrection.
What: St. Anthony of Padua Easter Service
Where: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 32825 Rhode Island Ave., San Antonio
When: April 20 at 8 p.m., and April 21 at 8 a.m.
Details: The services will entail an Easter vigil, as well as morning mass for attendees.
What: Easter Eggstravaganza
Where: Rising Star, 5026 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills
Cost: $30 per ticket for those ages 5 to 12 (guardians get in free)
Details: Kids can celebrate Easter with an array of activities, such as taking snapshots at the photobooth, decorating eggs, coloring Easter pictures and creating an Easter basket. Pizza and cupcakes will be served.
Info: For tickets, visit tinyurl.com/y6zsw8yk.
For other inquiries, call (813) 618-0700.
What: Egg Drop
Where: New Walk Church, 35008 State Road 54, Zephyrhills
When: April 19 at 6 p.m.; April 20 and April 21 both at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. A wristband will be given to those who wish to participate, during the children's ministry preceding the hunts.
Details: A helicopter will drop more than 100,000 Easter eggs out on an open field for kids to run and grab.
Info: Call New Walk Church at (813) 469-9299, or visit NewWalk.Church/Easter.
What: Easter Breakfast Service
Where: Cornerstone Community Church, 8527 Old Lakeland Highway, Zephyrhills
When: April 21 from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
Details: After a morning Easter service, attendees can enjoy a potluck breakfast and coffee.
What: Easter Sunrise Service
When: April 21 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.
Details: The hospital invites guests to bring a lawn chair and join in for a morning sermon, song service and the release of doves. Free refreshments will be served.
Info: Email Jane Freeman at
While there is a wealth of Easter events within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, there are many other options throughout the Tampa Bay Area region.
Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: AdventHealth Center Ice, AdventHealth Zephyrhills, All Saints Lutheran Church, Amanda Park Drive, Autumn Ridge Drive, Avalon Park West, Blanton Road, Church Avenue, Collier Parkway, Cornerstone Community Church, CrossPointe Family Church, Cypress Creek Church, Cypress Ridge Boulevard, Dade City, Dade City's Wild Things, Drexel Farms, Drexel Road, Dubuel Road, East County Line Road, Exciting Idlewild Boulevard, First Baptist Church of Lutz, First Baptist Church of Wesley Chapel, First United Methodist Church of Dade City, Free Methodist Church, Gall Boulevard, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Howard Avenue, Idlewild Baptist Church, Keystone Community Church, Land O' Lakes, Land O' Lakes Boulevard, Land O' Lakes Heritage Park, Leonard Road, Lutz, Maryweather Lane, New Walk Church, NorthPointe Church, Old Lakeland Highway, Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Plantation Palms Boulevard, Plantation Palms Golf Club, Renovate Church, Rhode Island Avenue, Rising Star, Saint Leo Abbey, San Antonio, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, St. Leo, State Road 52, State Road 54, U.S. 41, Van Dyke Road, Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel Episcopal Church, Zephyrhills
A New Year's Eve home fire sparks a community's compassion
January 30, 2019 By B.C. Manion
A $10-a-plate pasta dinner benefit is planned this week to help a family who lost nearly all of their possessions when a New Year's Eve fire raged through their Heritage Harbor home in Lutz.
The fundraiser also will include raffles, a 50/50 drawing and games — with 100 percent of the proceeds going to help Steve Dorsett, his wife, Maggi, and their children, 20-year-old Austin and 16-year-old Becca.
During a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Steve Dorsett recounted the course of events, on what began as a quiet New Year's Eve — with the family at home, along with Becca's two best friends, who were spending the night.
Residents of Heritage Harbor help the Dorsett family, in the aftermath of a destructive New Year's Eve fire. Kelley McHale is wearing red and Cynthia Lamb is in black. A crew of helpers turned out in force on New Year's morning. (Courtesy of Lisa Novorska)
The family had just returned that day from a trip to Fort Worth to see Steve's mom, for Christmas.
"We were just hanging out in the backyard," Steve said, noting he'd grilled chicken that evening and was just finishing his meal.
"I was going to walk back outside in the front, and just see if there was any fireworks," he said, noting his son, Austin, who is autistic and nonverbal, loves fireworks.
As Steve was walking out front, he noticed smoke coming out of a door.
He thought: 'What the heck is that.'
"I flipped the handle and pushed. The garage was already lit up," he said.
When he saw that, he started yelling at everyone to get out of the house.
Becca and her two friends had just come down to grab a bite to eat, Steve said.
He thought everybody was out, including the family's two goldendoodles, Lucky and Sophie.
But then, he said: "Maggi, she looked at me, and said: 'Where's Austin?'
"Oh, my God," Steve said. "I went back in the house. I was just looking for anything that moved. I couldn't see anything. I couldn't see 10 feet in front of me. I couldn't breathe. I was walking through the house. I had a flashlight. It didn't help."
Within a few minutes, though, he heard someone yelling from outside that they'd found Austin and he was OK.
"That's when I came back out," Steve said. "I collapsed when I got out. The EMT guys came and grabbed me. My arm was all burned."
The fire broke out around 10:20 p.m. It was unrelenting.
At one point, its flames shot so high they could be seen for miles away, Steve said.
He knows that because a former neighbor, who now lives several miles away, took a photo of the blaze, not knowing whose house was on fire.
Firefighters weren't the only ones who responded.
"The neighborhood was amazing. Absolutely amazing. We probably had 100 people (that night).
"Everybody came over. (Senior) Pastor Ken Whitten came over, from Idlewild (Baptist Church). "That's the church that we go to.
"From the story I heard, he didn't know what was going on, he just saw a bunch of fire trucks and figured 'I'd better follow.'
"It was maybe a spirit-led thing," Steve said.
Among the most treasured items lost in the fire was a display that honored Austin and Becca's dedication ceremonies at Idlewild.
Nearly everything was destroyed by the flames, or smoke or water.
Firefighters were there until the early morning hours, making sure the fire was out.
Steve was up late, trying to report an insurance claim.
"I fell asleep at 4:30 or 5. I woke up about 8.
"I went and put my nasty clothes back on. I walked outside and there were at least 25 to 30 of our neighbors. They were out there, in gloves and boots, and wearing their masks," he said.
They had trash bags and they were sorting through the rubble, to see what could be saved.
One neighbor secured Maggi's jewelry.
There have been countless acts of generosity, Steve said. One friend loaned the family a truck. Another is taking care of their dogs.
This image of the garage offers a glimpse of the devastation. (Courtesy of Beth Gaddis)
Others have provided meals and comfort.
And now, their friends and the community are organizing the pasta dinner fundraiser.
The cause of the fire is not 100 percent certain, Steve said. He knows it wasn't fireworks because there weren't any nearby. The insurance company's private inspector told Steve it was most likely an electrical fire in the attic.
Whatever the cause, the family carries on.
Becca, an avid softball player, is gearing up for a new season.
Austin continues to attend the exceptional education program at Steinbrenner High School.
Maggi is a nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital-North.
Steve, who is self-employed, is focusing on the family's needs and making sure they can rebuild the house — right where it is.
"Heritage Harbor is unique and I use that term specifically because unique is supposed to mean 'one of a kind.'
"As tragic as it is for us, it (the fire) has been a very positive thing in a lot of ways —not just bringing our neighbors back together, but also, old friends that we haven't seen. People I don't even know.
"It's amazing," Steve said.
What: $10-a-plate Pasta Dinner
Where: Heritage Harbor Club House, 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway, in Lutz
When: Feb. 1, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Details: This fundraiser will benefit the Dorsett family, of Heritage Harbor, who lost nearly all of their possessions, including their home, two cars and the contents of their home from a New Year's Eve fire.
Besides the food, there will be a 50/50 drawing, raffles and games.
All of the proceeds will go to the family.
RSVP by Jan. 30 at tinyurl.com/yajpjq2s.
Those who want to help, but can't attend, can contribute online at GoFundMe.com/friends-lost-home-in-new-years-eve-fire.
Filed Under: Top Story Tagged With: Heritage Harbor, Idlewild Baptist Church, Ken Whitten, Lutz, St. Joseph's Hospital-North, Steinbrenner High School, Steve Dorsett
New Year in sports offers plenty to watch, experience
January 2, 2019 By Kevin Weiss
As we embark on a new year, the sports world within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area promises to deliver plenty to watch, experience, and perhaps appreciate.
Here's a closer look at some of the happenings in 2019:
One major development will be the progression of new sports facilities throughout East Pasco County — whether it's the end-of-year completion of the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex, or the beginning of construction of others like the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center in Zephyrhills and the Christopher N. Chiles Aquatic Center in Land O' Lakes.
Tied into all that, keep an eye on the initiatives put forth by Visit Pasco, the county's tourism agency. Since rebranding its slogan to "Florida's Sports Coast," the county is looking to become a destination nationwide for youth and amateur sports.
Speaking of amateur sports, the new year is a good time to jump off the couch, get outdoors and pick up a new sport or activity.
AdventHealth Center Ice (formerly Florida Hospital Center Ice) will host several major tournaments in 2019, such as the USA Hockey adult men's recreational national championships. (File)
The region presents countless opportunities year-round, from adult softball leagues at Land O' Lakes Heritage Park, to recreational hockey leagues at AdventHealth Center Ice (formerly Florida Hospital Center Ice) in Wesley Chapel. Many local churches, including Idlewild Baptist Church, Grace Family Church and St. Timothy Catholic Church, offer their own sports leagues for all skill levels, from kickball and basketball, to flag football and soccer.
The cooler, early year temperatures are also a prime time to hit up the myriad of golf courses in Pasco. The St. Leo Abbey Golf Club in San Antonio and Fox Hollow Golf Club in Trinity are well-regarded, as are the more exclusive 36 holes offered at the Saddlebrook Resort & Spa.
Meantime, the adventure-seeking, fitness-oriented crowd may find it worthwhile to bike the Upper Tampa Bay Trail and the Withlacoochee State Trail; sign up for a Savage Race at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City; or, partake in Hillsborough County's annual hiking spree, which includes visiting a number of nature parks and preserves countywide.
Several local churches, such as Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, offer a multitude of recreational sports leagues. (Courtesy of Idlewild Baptist Church)
There's other fun, outdoor activities to give a try, too.
Exhilaration and excitement can also be found at places like TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park in Dade City and Skydive City in Zephyrhills. Horseback riding at Odessa's Northwest Equestrian Conservation Park and rifle shooting at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays in Land O' Lakes create a fun change of pace, in their own right.
Local sporting events are another highlight of the new year.
AdventHealth Center Ice will showcase its fair share. They include the Mrs. Hockey Invite, featuring the top U-12 girls talent from across the world; the 15th annual Toyota-USA Disabled Hockey Festival, the largest disabled hockey event of its kind; and, the USA Hockey adult men's recreational national championships.
Silver Dollar Shooters Club in Odessa will play host to a series of premier events, including the Florida Hall of Fame Shoot/Silver Dollar Open, the Florida State Trap Shooting Championships, and the Southern Grand American Tournament.
This rendering shows the proposed Christopher N. Chiles Aquatics Center in Land O' Lakes, which would add to the growing list of sports facility assets in Pasco County. (File)
Elsewhere, traditional sports-goers should also make a point to check out the various men's and women's college sports at Saint Leo University — consistently one of the nation's Division II athletic programs — and Pasco-Hernando State College. Both institutions provide an up-close look at many athletes who wind up finding success in the professional sports ranks. That's particularly been the case for Saint Leo's baseball program, which has yielded seven MLB Draft picks since 2013.
Of course, the high school sports scene is worth watching as well.
The winter prep season is already underway, whereby several local schools are fielding top-notch basketball and soccer teams.
For instance, the Wesley Chapel boys basketball and Sunlake girls basketball have shown early promise, as have the boys and girls soccer teams at Wiregrass Ranch, among some others.
So, don't be surprised if one or more of those squads wind up making deep playoff runs in their respective sport a couple months from now.
Come springtime, the central Pasco softball scene is sure to provide some exciting moments, as Academy at the Lakes, Land O' Lakes and Sunlake each are coming off 20-plus win seasons.
The Savage Race, an extreme mud obstacle course, is held twice a year at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City. (Courtesy of Savage Race)
Academy at the Lakes will be seeking its second-straight Class 2A state title, while Land O' Lakes will be seeking its second Class 6A title in three years, respectively.
Both squads unquestionably have the veteran pitching firepower to again win state crowns, armed with Alabama signee Lexi Kilfoyl (Academy at the Lakes) and Tennessee signee Callie Turner (Land O' Lakes) in the circle.
Other local softball programs like Gaither, Freedom, Steinbrenner and Cypress Creek are also coming off strong campaigns to inject some competition in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.
The 2019 football season, too, should offer some interesting wrinkles.
New coaches will take over at Pasco and Sunlake, effectively replacing two household names in Tom McHugh and Bill Browning, respectively.
Those programs — along with the other public schools throughout Pasco — will look to unseat Zephyrhills, which went undefeated last regular season and is now up to 19 straight regular season victories.
Another storyline to follow: Land O' Lakes and the progression they make under second-year coach Chad Walker. In his first season as a high school football head coach, the 34-year-old Walker guided the Gators to a 7-3 mark in 2018 — the program's first winning season since 2013.
The eight-man football ranks is sure to create intrigue, as well.
Academy at the Lakes will be seeking an unprecedented third consecutive state title.
The team — which also went undefeated in 2018 and is on a 20-game win streak — is expected to return many key pieces, including standout quarterback Jalen Brown, who will be a junior.
Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Academy at the Lakes, AdventHealth Center Ice, Bill Browning, Callie Turner, Chad Walker, Christopher N. Chiles Aquatic Center, Cypress Creek Middle High School, Dade City, Florida Hospital Center Ice, Fox Hollow Golf Club, Freedom High School, Gaither High School, Grace Family Church, Idlewild Baptist Church, Jalen Brown, Land O' Lakes, Land O' Lakes Heritage Park, Land O' Lakes High School, Lexi Kilfoyl, Little Everglades Ranch, MLB, Northwest Equestrian Conservation Park, Pasco-Hernando State College, Saddlebrook Resort & Spa, Saint Leo University, Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center, Savage Race, Silver Dollars Shooters Club, Skydive City, St. Leo Abbey Golf Club, St. Timothy Catholic Church, Steinbrenner High School, Sunlake High School, Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, Tom McHugh, Treehoppers Aerial Adventure Park, Upper Tampa Bay Trail, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex, Withlacoochee State Trail, Zephyrhills
Political Agenda 07/18/2018
July 18, 2018 By B.C. Manion
Sample ballots available
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley has announced that sample ballots for the Aug. 26 Primary Election are available online at PascoVotes.com, and will be mailed to Pasco County voters on Aug. 6.
To view sample ballots online, voters need to know their voting precinct and party of registration.
Republican Club of Central Pasco
Mike Wells will be the guest speaker at the Republican Club of Central Pasco's meeting on July 23. The club meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O' Lakes Blvd., in Land O' Lakes. The social will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting starting at 7 p.m. For more information, call (813) 996-3011.
Trinity Democratic Club meeting
The Trinity Democratic Club's July 25 meeting will feature Chris Hunter, candidate for the district 12 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Amanda Murphy, candidate in district 16 seat in of the Florida Senate. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., at Fox Hollow Golf Club, at 10050 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Trinity. Doors open at 5 p.m., for dinner and happy hour (self-pay) with food and beverages available for purchase throughout the meeting. For more information, call (415) 609-3633.
Idlewild Baptist Church, at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz, will host a candidate's forum on July 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The East Pasco Democratic Club will host a political forum for all Democrats, Republicans and no party affiliation for local and state offices on Aug. 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills. The League of Women Voters will be there to register voters or update voters' current registration. Light refreshments will be served.
The Central Pasco Democratic Party will host an ice cream social on Aug. 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Meadow Pointe Community Center, 28245 County Line Road. Those attending can meet other Democrats and talk with local candidates.
The West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association has endorsed Mike Moore, in his re-election bid for the District 2 seat on the Pasco County Commission, according to Moore's campaign.
The Veterans Caucus; Alex Sink, former chief financial officer of Florida; and the Democratic Women's Club of Florida, have endorsed Brandi Geoit in the race for District 4 seat on the Pasco County Commission, according to Geoit's campaign.
Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Alex Sink, Alice Hall Community Center, Amanda Murphy, Brandi Geoit, Brian Corley, Centra Pasco Democratic Party, Chris Hunter, Copperstone Executive Suites, County Line Road, Democratic WOmen's Club of Florida, East Pasco Democratic Club, Exciting Idlewild Boulevard, Fifth Avenue, Fox Hollow Golf Club, Idlewild Baptist Church, Land O' Lakes Boulevard, League of Women Voters, Lutz, Meadow Pointe Community Center, Mike Moore, Mike Wells, Pasco County Commission, Republican Club of Central Pasco, Robert Trent Jones Parkway, Trinity Democratic Club, Veterans Caucus, West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association, Zephyrhills


This soup is so very luscious. Dried thyme and bay leaves, along with sautéed garlic and onion make this soup extra flavourful.
Here where I am (where the winter months are very snowy and very cold), root vegetables are in their peak season, and it could not have fallen at a better time. It's such a blessing that root veggies are cheap right when my body is craving hot soup all day, everyday.
Another blessing: discovering the existence of parsnips.
Well, I knew about the parsnip, but never cooked with it before.
This hardy, fibre-rich root vegetable looks just like a white carrot, but has a slightly sweeter and nuttier taste. Like carrots, the parsnip also brings plenty of nutritional benefits. It's loaded with minerals like potassium (important for healthy hearts), manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, and iron. Not to mention, it contains a fair number of vitamins as well, such as vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K.
With so many nutrients, parsnips are the perfect vegetable to keep you healthy during the winter months. And what better way to enjoy this pale root veggie than in a steamy, creamy parsnip soup.
Honestly, I was really worried about how this parsnip soup was going to turn out. I had made a carrot and ginger soup for New Years Day and it was…well…not very good (to me at least, other people seemed to like it, but I feel like they were just being nice). I hadn't blended my carrot and ginger soup enough and so it ended up being grainy (I had added almonds). Blech. And, my spices and aromatics were not balanced at all. It was a sad, sad, soup day.
But lucky for me (and lucky for you) the soup gods were smiling down on my creamy parsnip soup because it turned out D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S! In fear that my soup was going to be bland, I had my sister take the first taste.
I think I might have squinted at her a little bit because I just didn't believe her. I went to take a little spoonful for myself and the world stopped for a second. You know when you make something so tasty, so flavourful, so absolutely perfect that nothing else exists except for the exquisite and divine flavour in your mouth. Yeah, I was having that moment.
But seriously, this soup is perfectly velvety and perfectly savoury. The ingredients are pretty simple and homey, but when they come together they create something you'd feel proud to serve in your best dinnerware (I forgot that word so I had to google "dishware" to find it. Ahaha…).
Best of all, this creamy parsnip soup is so so so easy to make. It can easily be whipped up in 30 minutes!
Sautée your garlic and onions. Toss in your chopped up vegetables, broth, cashew milk, and spices. Let your pot of magic goodness boil and bubble until the vegetables have softened (but do turn it down to a simmer after it does boil). Blend, blend, blend. Serve. Garnish. Be transported to soup nirvana.
This creamy parsnip soup is made from simply, pantry ingredients, but it still very flavourful. This soup is also loaded with nutrition, making it the perfect healthy meal for a winter's night.
Heat the avocado oil over low-medium heat in a large soup pot.
Sautée diced onion and crushed garlic. Remove from heat once onion is soft and garlic is fragrant (about 7 minutes).
Meanwhile, peel and chop potatoes, parsnips, celery, and apple.
Return soup pot to heat. Add in cut up vegetables and fruit along with stock, cashew milk, bay leaf, dried thyme, black pepper, and salt. Bring soup to a boil. Once soup has boiled, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until parsnips and potatoes have softened.
Purée soup in a blender or using an immersion stick blender until completely smooth and velvety.
Ladle parsnip soup into bowl and garnish with parsley, olive oil, and pine nuts.
Make tonight. Loved it! My husband did too.


Stockport based Damar Training hosted the first Marketing Stockport event of 2019 just ahead of the announcement of a new national Apprenticeship campaign.
How old you have to be to an apprentice?
What is the minimum salary for an apprentice?
Can existing staff enrol onto an apprenticeship?
Can apprenticeships be fully funded by the Government?
What is the minimum off-the-job training requirement for apprentices?
The Marketing Stockport breakfast session took place just ahead of the announcement that the Government is launching a new campaign to promote apprenticeships among young people, parents and employers, whilst confirming that it will write to the largest school trusts who have not published information on their website about how they will ensure providers of vocational education are able talk to pupils in their schools.


PME electrical services Warrington, know that being energy efficient has become a top priority for a lot of small and medium sized businesses in Warrington and the North West. Many Warrington businesses are investing heavily in new energy efficient technologies to help them to considerably lower their energy costs as well as dramatically reducing their carbon footprint.
When businesses look for different types of energy saving solutions in the marketplace of today they will often come across LED lighting is just one of the many energy efficient commercial lighting solutions, including daylight harvesting and presence detection systems,available on offer from the experts at PME Electrical & Data Solutions - all generating energy savings from the second they're installed.
Over the last decade or so LED commercial lighting has become more cost effective, enabling businesses of the North West to make savings of up to an impressive 90% on energy bills compared to older traditional lighting solutions.
A reduction of between 60% and 90% off your current electricity lighting bill, as LED lighting is more efficient and produces more light per watt than both halogen lamps and incandescent lighting.
Lower energy consumption reducing your carbon footprint - a vital contribution to your business achieving carbon reduction commitments.
A better lighting performance that features much less noise and heat output. LED lights last longer, on average, up to an impressive 50,000 hours which is five times longer the best fluorescent bulbs on the market and up to thirty times longer than halogen lamps!
LED lighting is more efficient and produces more light per watt than both halogen lamps and incandescent lighting.
LED lights last longer, on average, up to an impressive 50,000 hours which is five times longer the best fluorescent bulbs on the market and up to thirty times longer than halogen lamps!
Whilst fluorescent lighting and incandescent bulbs are extremely fragile, LED lighting is shock resistant and made with components which are very hard to break with an external shock.
LED lighting, unlike fluorescent lamps, do not contain mercury meaning they are not toxic.
Commercial lighting installation is just another great solution offered by PME electrical services and, like all our electrical contracting work; we strive to ensure it provides excellent results and generates a significant return on its investment for businesses locally around Warrington, regionally in the North West and nationally throughout the UK.
Businesses looking for more electrical and lighting advice about changing to the more environmentally friendly commercial LED lighting should contact us by calling 01925 394111 today.


Mark Hayes and Hunter Speight are widely known as some of the best Outfitters in East Texas and Northwest Louisiana, especially the Caddo Lake area. They are accomplished hunters and know this area better than anyone.
Caddo Lake is a natural lake with an enchanting and mystical beauty unlike any other. Covering 26,800 acres Caddo is the largest natural lake in the south, and the only natural lake in Texas of any significant size. Caddo Lake has been enjoyed by visitors for hundreds of years and has been considered a fisherman's paradise, a photographer's heaven, and a nature lover's dream.
Located in North East Texas and North West Louisiana Caddo Lake is only 3 hours from Dallas, 4 hours from Houston and 6 hours from Austin. With just a few hours drive you can find yourself in a whole different world that leaves behind the concrete jungle or a hectic pace of life. Come visit us here on Caddo Lake and enjoy a place where life is much slower and a place that time has forgotten.


text:
Home / News 2022
Poadcast of September 28, 2021 Joana Herrmann, Psychologist at the Fondation du Coeur des Grottes in Geneva and Mr. Michel Veuthey, Ambassador of the Order of Malta in charge of combating human trafficking – Human trafficking and the activity of the Fondation du Coeur des Grottes in Geneva within the framework of the psychological care of people in a state of trauma
Poadcast of September 28, 2021 Joana Herrmann, Psychologist at the Fondation du Coeur des Grottes in Geneva and Michel Veuthey Ambassador of the Order of Malta in charge of combating human trafficking Human trafficking and the activity of the Fondation du Coeur des Grottes in Geneva within the framework of the psychological care of people […]
INTERVIEW OF CARDINAL DIEUDONNÉ NZAPALAINGA AND IMAM ABDOULAYE OUASSELEGUE BY MICHEL VEUTHEY ( 15 SEPTEMBER 2021)
Please access the subtitles by clicking on "CC" in the Vimeo menu, available in the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese. INTERVIEW OF CARDINAL DIEUDONNÉ NZAPALAINGA AND IMAM ABDOULAYE OUASSELEGUE ( 15 SEPTEMBER 2021) BY MICHEL VEUTHEY MICHEL VEUTHEY: Eminence, Excellency, thank you for coming to Geneva to bring […]
Statement by Professor Michel Veuthey — Human Rights Council — A/HRC/48/32 Interactive Dialogue on the Analytical Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the current state of play of the mainstreaming of the human rights of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations
Human Rights Council – A/HRC/48/32 Interactive Dialogue on the Analytical Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the current state of play of the mainstreaming of the human rights of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations (A/HRC/48/32) Statement by Professor Michel Veuthey Ambassador to monitor and combat trafficking in persons, […]
Human Rights Council – A/HRC/48/52 Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Professor Tomoya Obokata "Nexus between displacement and contemporary forms of slavery" Statement by Professor Michel Veuthey Ambassador to monitor and combat trafficking in persons, Deputy Permanent Observer in Geneva Geneva, 17 September 2021 Madam President, Excellencies, […]
WORLD DAY AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING _ MESSAGE OF THE SOVEREIGN ORDER OF MALTA – 30 JULY 2021
Catholic Anti-Slavery Network in Australia becomes model for business
Catholic Anti-Slavery Network in Australia becomes model for business By: Catholic News Service Date: July 19, 2021 SYDNEY (CNS) — When Australia's national customs and border law enforcement agency uploaded a Catholic document to a federal government registry monitoring modern-day slavery at the end of June, it was a significant development in efforts to end worker […]
Statement by the Sovereign Order of Malta Ambassador Michel Veuthey- UN New York – Stakeholder Hearing 13 July 2021 as part of the preparatory process of the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons
Human Rights Council – A/HRC/47/34 – Statement by Professor Michel Veuthey – Geneva, 28 June 2021
Human Rights Council – A/HRC/47/34 Report of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Professor Siobhán Mullally Implementation of the non-punishment principle Statement by Professor Michel Veuthey Ambassador to monitor and combat trafficking in persons, Deputy Permanent Observer Geneva, 28 June 2021 Madam President, Excellencies, The Sovereign Order of […]


text:
Guns Found Here
They don't need a gun registry to find you.
Director: David Freid
Keywords:Guns Found Here
The Last Great Climb
The 2013 film from Alastair Lee is an epic to end all mountain epics se t in the stunning mountains of Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. The feature documentary follows top…
Genre: Adventure, Documentary
The Freedom to Marry
A documentary about the same-sex marriage movement, from the final frenetic months of the legal and grassroots campaign.
Atlantis is more visual art than nature film and a 'must see' for any Luc Besson fan. The film captures the feel of what it's actually like to swim underwater…
B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin 1979-1989
Music, art and chaos in the wild West-Berlin of the 1980s. The walled-in city became the creative melting pot for sub- and pop-culture. Before the iron curtain fell, everything and…
Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II
Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II is a feature length documentary uncovering the history and the making of Clive Barker's Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II films.
Genre: Documentary, Horror
Night Will Fall
When Allied forces liberated the Nazi concentration camps in 1944-45, their terrible discoveries were recorded by army and newsreel cameramen, revealing for the first time the full horror of what…
Genre: Documentary, History, War
E! Special: The Real 50 Shades of Grey
A compilation of interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London.
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Let It Come Down: The Life of Paul Bowles
One of the most enigmatic artists of the 20th century, writer, composer and wanderer Paul Bowles (1910-1999) is profiled by a filmmaker who has been obsessed with his genius since…
Holy Ghost Reborn
Can the Holy Spirit direct a movie? In this emotional follow up to the popular and controversial Holy Ghost, Director Darren Wilson continues his journey around the world in his…
The Business of Amateurs
The NCAA is the face for college athletics, and it generates billions of dollars every year for the top universities in the United States. This is the first documentary that…
Genre: Documentary, Drama, Sport
Off-Road Racing. It's a form of racing that tests man and machine against the unknown. The terrain, the trails, the courses and everything around it is constantly evolving. Off-road racers…


Champagne is a region located east of Paris, in fact between Paris and eastern France.
Its landscapes are a bit like the ones of Brie: large flat cultivated fields and small valleys or elevations, covered with woodland or dense vegetation. There is an important difference with Brie, however: in some areas, the slopes of every hill is covered with vineyards.
Wine is omnipresent in Champagne, as is its rich history. The region had a prosperous economy in the past, holding fairs in a series of towns like Meaux, Troyes, Bar sur Aube.
As we now live in the suburbs, east of Paris, we have an easier access to the northern part of Champagne.
This area is located north of Troyes and is famous for a series of large lakes that are used to regulate the amount of water received by the Seine river from its tributaries.
Orbais is a small town located South of the Rheims mountain in Champagne.


After checking their website almost every day, Magpul has added their 2015 calendar. For $16.95 you'll get a 12 month 12″x18″ calendar in black and white, featuring six different women and even more firearms.
Magpul has also posted a behind the scenes video on YouTube. As always, we suggest avoiding the comments, is is a playhouse for immaturity and assumptions.