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EAST PASCO EDITION
NOVEMBER 9, 2016
Bug Jam on tap this weekend
By Kevin Weiss
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
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One of the area’s largest car shows kicks off this weekend. The 28th annual Florida Bug Jam is slated for Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City. The two-day event is regarded as the Southeast’s largest Volkswagen (VW) car show. More than 720 VW entries, 200 vendors and about 12,000 spectators are expected. Saturday’s highlights include a 40-mile poker run through the back roads and rolling hills of Pasco County, as well as a traditional VW Pre-Jam Parade through
FILE PHOTO
The 28th annual Florida Bug Jam is set for Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 at the Pasco County Fairgrounds.
downtown Dade City. “The parade that goes downtown has over 200 cars,” said Randy Yoho, owner and
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“I do consider that there undoubtedly have been great improvements, but...dialogue depends on individuals. It’s not just a movement, but it depends on a great measure on the doing of individuals,” Skorka said. He added:“If, in the future, we have people who have a great commitment in the concept of dialogue, then yes, we will go ahead.” He added that Catholic-Jewish relations in the United States are “at a very good level. “You already have organizations working on the theme,” he said,“and this is very important.” However, Skorka said he’s witnessed a recent decrease in people practicing what he calls real faith, or living a “deep, religious life.” He asked:“How many people are really living in a deep sense of religiosity?” “We don’t really have great models — religious teachers.We are in need of them,” he said. During his visit, Skorka was honored with the Eternal Light Award, which recognizes those who have made “outstanding contributions” to Catholic-Jewish relations. He was the award’s 13th recipient, presented by the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University. Matthew Tapie, the center’s director, also believes the relationship between Catholics
Pasco County is exploring a new program to address the needs of the homeless population. It would provide a one-stop location to provide shelter, and an array of services and resources for homeless individuals. County officials are proposing to remodel two vacant buildings at 8239 Youth Lane in Port Richey, formerly the home of a Boys & Girls Club. Described as a “navigation center,” the site would be able to house up to 100 homeless people at a time, and be a central location for nonprofits and other agencies to provide “wraparound services.” County officials provided Pasco County commissioners with a presentation on the program at the Oct. 24 meeting in New Port Richey. In a 4-1 vote, commissioners agreed to pursue the program, potentially as a 2018 budget item. “It’s a chance to take a step forward. It’s a chance to give these people a hand up,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore. “One of the things you don’t see is a facility like this in Pasco County.We’ve got to move forward on this.” The commissioner serves as chairman of a citizen’s advisory board with the Coalition for Homeless in Pasco County. Estimates put remodeling costs for the vacant buildings at about $1 million. County officials plan to pursue state funding. Annual operating cost would be about $600,000, with funds from public and private resources. The program is modeled after one adopted in San Francisco. County officials also are looking at other programs, including ones in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. About 4,500 people are homeless in Pasco, with about 800 chronically homeless. According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, there are more than 100 homeless camps countywide. Individuals stake out camps often in wooded areas all over the county, including west Pasco, Zephyrhills and Dade City, sheriff’s data shows.
See RABBI, page 13A
See HOMELESS, page 13A
Get all your favorite local news stories Distinguished rabbi speaks on interfaith relations online.
COURTESY OF AMANDA TOPPER
Rabbi Abraham Skorka, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, visited Saint Leo University on Nov. 1 for a series of speaking engagements on interfaith dialogue.
By Kevin Weiss
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
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See BUG JAM, page 13A
Pasco to help homeless ‘navigate’ to better lives
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promoter of the Florida Bug Jam.“We pretty much do a mini car show there, with some music.” Another activity —“Bugs on the Track”— is also on the Saturday schedule. It allows VW enthusiasts to ride through a dune-style, off-road course that consists of multiple obstacles and rhythm sections. Meanwhile, live music from the likes of the Caribbean Chillers and the Boogie Brothers will be featured at the fairgrounds throughout the day. The Bug Jam’s main event — the VW Car Show and Swap Meet — begins on Sunday. Over 60 different classes of Volkswagens will be viewed and judged throughout the
A renowned rabbi, known affectionately as “the Pope’s rabbi,” thinks significant improvements have been made on the relationship between Catholics and Jews. That religious leader — Rabbi Abraham Skorka, of Buenos Aires,Argentina — visited Saint Leo University on Nov. 1 for a series of public discussions on interreligious dialogue. Skorka cultivated a friendship with Pope Francis in the mid-1990s, when Pope Francis was known as Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio. Together, the men wrote the book, “On Heaven and Earth,” published in 2010. The book is based on more than 30 TV shows they co-hosted in Argentina. The 66-year-old Skorka described his association with Pope Francis as “a real friendship.” “The relationship between us is not a political relationship,” Skorka said.“We share a common value — we speak openly from one to another.” During the speaking engagement, Skorka heaped praise on Pope Francis, calling him an “extraordinary personality.” “He tries to perform a real change in humanity,” he said.“He has spiritual courage.” Deep dialogue, the rabbi said, is crucial to continuing to cultivate positive relationships between Christians and Jews.
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ELECTION
2016
Staff writers with The Laker/Lutz News will be out and about at polling sites on Nov. 8, finding out what’s on the minds of voters as they cast ballots in a momentous presidential election, and also make choices in state and local elections. A story on the election will be published in the Nov. 16 edition of The Laker/Lutz News.
Lutz Arts & Crafts Show set for Dec. 3-4 By Kevin Weiss
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
With a new venue in place, the 37th annual GFWC Lutz Arts & Crafts Show promises to be “bigger and better than ever.” The show — one of the most popular events in Hillsborough County — will be on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 at Keystone Prep High School, 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa. After last year’s show was cancelled due to a sinkhole at Lake Park, the GFWC LutzLand O’ Lakes Woman’s Club scrambled for about three months to find a new permanent venue location. The club signed a five-year contract with Keystone Prep to hold the festival on the school’s property, which spans over 60 acres. “We’ve got a lot more room,” said club chairwoman Faith Sincich. Other possible venues — Land O’ Lakes Community Center and the Florida State Fairgrounds — were also explored. “Our club really banded together,” said Kay Taylor, art show director.“We have 100 members, and we had people from the whole club check out venues.” The club is hoping for a “smooth transition” in the show’s first year at Keystone Prep. “We’re trying to anticipate every single hiccup that can happen,” Sincich said.
FILE PHOTO
The 37th annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Show will be held on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 at Keystone Preparatory High School in Odessa.
The show director agreed. “We know we have more to address,” Taylor said, “because the county provided things like dumpsters and electricity.” After the show’s cancellation in 2015, this year’s event may prove to be one of the largest ever. The club expects to have 355 vendors — about 50 more than two years ago — and anywhere from 30,000 to 40,000 attendees. “We’ve never been this full at this time,” Taylor said.“We have a lot of new vendors.” Additionally, existing vendors,Taylor said,
will have more distinctive offerings compared to previous shows. “What they did 10 years ago isn’t what they’re doing today,”Taylor explained.“The crafts are more sophisticated and evolving. It is a perfect place to go Christmas shopping.” Attendees can expect to see a wide assortment of items, including paintings and photography, jewelry, plants, and various forms of art — metal art, wood art, yard art. “If it’s a craft, we have it,” Taylor said. “We’ve got some really unique items coming in this year. There’s a guy that makes lamps out of musical instruments.” There will also be an eclectic offering of soap crafts, club members said. “One lady makes hers in the shape of desserts, so her display looks like a bakery,” Sincich said.“It’s really a cool display.” The show’s food offerings have expanded, too. The club expects 14 food booths, which will be arranged in a U-shape, resembling a makeshift food court. “We bumped up our food vendors,” Sincich said.“We have a cake vendor coming in, as well as an award-winning barbecue guy.” The arts & crafts show is the largest yearSee CRAFTS, page 13A