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Land O' Lakes Saturday Market - In The News
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The future park plans here:
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Members of the Heritage Park Foundation haven’t given up on their dream of seeing renovations completed at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center.
For now, however, they’re setting their sights on more pressing business — the upcoming holidays.
The fall and winter seasons are busy times for the foundation, which was established to support the community center
and help stage events for area families, said Sandy Graves, president.
In October, the group plays host to Scarecrows N Stuff, an event for small children that takes place during the community center’s annual haunted house.
December is the month for Traditions on the Green, and then there’s the Al & Ida Silver Memorial Classic Car Show to think about, Graves said.
With so much coming up in the weeks and months ahead, Graves wants area residents to know they’re always welcome to come out to meetings,
volunteer to help with events or even to make donations toward them.
While members of the group have been busy in recent months trying to get the county to move forward with renovation plans at the park,
Graves said the organization remains dedicated to creating fun, community events the entire family can enjoy. To do so, it does need support.
“What we need is more volunteers and more manpower,” Graves said.
The foundation’s next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15. The group meets at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center and welcomes anyone to attend.
The petition drive to urge the Pasco County Commission to move ahead with renovation plans is still under way. To take part in the petition drive, just print out
the PDF attached to this story. Once a sheet is filled out with signatures of Pasco County residents, it can be mailed to the foundation at PO Box 1473, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639.
For more information about the foundation, visit the organization's website.
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The Laker Article - January 12, 2011
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Video's Produced by www.OurTownFLA.com on opening day
Opening of the Land O'Lakes Saturday Farmers Market - Video 1 - includes theme song by Aaron Cuttoff
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The Laker article - May 19, 2010
WHAT'S HAPPENING in RECREATION
Land O'Lakes Saturday Market only has two weeks left. Have fun with face painting and a bounce house May 22, then celebrate the final day May 29. The market us at the Land O'Lakes Community Center on Land O'Lakes Community Center on Land O'Lakes Blvd (US 41). There will be live music and of course, fresh produce. Visit www.LOLSaturdayMkt.com
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St Pete Times article - April 11, 2010
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The Laker article - "Egg" Citing events planned for Easter Weekend - March 31, 2010
written by Sarah Whitman - senior staff writer
Close by on US 41, families are invited to a jelly bean jamboree and spring harvest from 10 am to noon at the Land O'Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O'Lakes Blvd. There will be an egg scramble for children 10 and under, children's games, a moonwalk and a visit from the Easter Bunny. The spring harvest will feature vendors from the Land O'Lakes Saturday Market, craft vendors and other booths. Admission is free. "This is our first year combining our farmer's market and the jellybean jamboree." said Mike Walcott, recreation supervisor at the community center. "There will be lots of things to do and see. The vendors will have games for the kids and be handing out candy. There will be things for the adults too."
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The Laker article - What's Happening February 24, 2010
Saturday Market
Land O Lakes Saturday Market is held every Saturday 9am to 2 pm at the Community Center, 5401 Land O'Lakes Blvd just 3 1/2 miles north of the intersection of US 41 and 54. For information contact Pam St.Mary, 813-731-5168, LOLSaturdayMkt@aol.com or go to the website at www.LOLSaturdayMkt.com
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The Laker article - It's music to Fluffy's ears January 27, 2010
Lutz composer markets CD to pets - author Sarah Whitman
Dottie Pino tried everything to relax her dog Bandit, a Lhasa Apsos she rescued from an abusive home two years ago. She gave him long walks. Still, Bandit was always a little bit on the edge. At a loss, Pino decided to try something unusual. She purchased Animal Therapy Edition, a CD of songs to ease pet stress. Composed by Connie Girard, the CD is a mix of soothing instrumentals and natural sounds. Girard believes animal experience stress in a way similar to humans. "Their brains respond to calming effects," she said. Pino agrees. "I put the music on late afternoon and at night," she said. "I cuddle Bandit and he goes to sleep. I'd recommend the CD to anyone with a pet who has been abused. Animal Therapy Edition is currently for sale online at www.animalmusictherapy.com. The cost is $19.95. Girard is marketing it to stores and hopes veterinarians in the area will carry it as well. To get the word out. Girard will play the CD from 9am to noon at the Land O'Lakes Saturday Market located at the Land O'Lakes Community Center on US 41 across the street from the Land O''Lakes Post Office
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The Laker article - LOL Saturday Market had kids' bounce house January 9, 2010
In addition to fresh produce and local arts and crafts, the Land O'Lakes Saturday Market will feature a bounce house for kids on Jan. 9. "We are very excited to bring this fun for local kids free of charge courtesy of Victorious Life Church," said Pam St.Mary, market manager. "Victorious Life Church believes in the mission of the Land O'Lakes Saturday Market promoting local, green and sustainable culture in Pasco and surrounding counties. The church is generously supplying the bounce house to help the Saturday Market grow and raise funds for the Suncoast Harvest Food Bank and the Heritage Park Foundation." The market is working with Sunset Produce and Pettijohn Plants and Produce to expand its produce offerings. It has had locally harvested oranges available since in December. The Saturday Market Free Box, a place where people can drop off excess clothing and household items is off to a great start, St.Mary said. "Our hearts are warmed by this exchange, and our spirits high despite the cool temperatures of the last few weeks," she said. The market is organized every Saturday through May 29 at the Land O'Lakes Community Center, three miles north of SR 54 across from the Land O'Lakes Post Office.
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The Tampa Tribune December 16, 2009
Celebrating Traditions
Pasco residents came together
Saturday for the Heritage Park Foundation's second Traditions on the Green
celebration in Land O' Lakes.
Music, dancing, games and Santa
on a Harley were highlights of the free community holiday celebration at the
Land O' Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd.
"It's important for the community to
have central traditions going on," said Sandy Graves, president of the
Heritage Park Foundation. "We want Land O' Lakes to keep its community
feel."
Traditions on the Green also was a collection site for a canned food drive.
All donations will go to the Joining Hands Mission, a branch of Metropolitan
Ministries, in Holiday.
Traditions on the Green kicked off with a free breakfast with Santa.
A staff report
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Land O' Lakes Saturday Market was held from 9 to 2 at the Land O' Lakes Community Center from October 3, 2009 to May 29, 2010.
Land O’Lakes Saturday Market had a wonderful 2009-2010 season, with lots of fun,
food, music, and vendors. We are looking for a group of vendors interested in
committing to a two-month trial basis for the 2010-2011 season. We need at least
two produce vendors, one of whom is a local grower. Non-profits will no longer
be free, but will be half price. Payment will be required in advance for the
eight week period from October 2 through November 20. After that, we will decide
as a group if and how to proceed.
Stats for first season:
Two market times appeared with over 500 people in attendance and four times with over 300 people. Our market was available to open for 45 weeks and did open 42 of those weeks (we closed twice for rain and once for snow!). We made 233 vendor contacts of which 79 vendors appeared at our market. Seven farmers showed up to our market with their local produce. We made 19 signs, had 15 articles in 4 newspapers of which two were front page articles. We made it to BayNews9 and many local websites. Our own website had over 35,000 hits. We hosted 23 different musical acts and only had 8 weeks with no music. We hosted many children's games and fun things to do here in Pasco County!
We are open to suggestions – for instance – would we rather do a monthly market?
Produce vendors are the key to the market. Our opening day October 3, 2009 was
extremely well attended, and demonstrated a huge degree of local interest in a
real farmer’s market. The fact that we only had one produce vendor, and they ran
out of produce mid-morning, (and another one who did not show up), dealt a huge
blow to the market. We believe we need to wait to start the market again until
we have at least two produce vendors really interested in developing a local
Saturday market.
We will purchase and post a sign on Rt. 41 for the duration of the market to
build local recognition for the Land O’Lakes Saturday Market. Let us know if you
are interested in being part of the start up group. Rates will be $160 for the
eight weeks, $80 for produce and non-profits. Additional people who do not book
for the eight weeks will pay $25 per week per space.
We are very interested in your comments, feedback, and opinions.
Land O’ Lakes Saturday Market evolved from a vision dedicated to promoting
local, green and sustainable culture in Pasco and surrounding counties. We
want to encourage the production of fresh, local food, providing our customers
with the superior nutrition and taste that can only be provided by locally
harvested foods. It is also our intention to provide a venue for local artists
and craftsmen to display their wares in a fun and convenient atmosphere where
our community may become acquainted with them and the wealth of creative talent
in our area. In addition, we have a mission to facilitate the growth of local
and service businesses, especially green enterprises. We believe that this
endeavor will be beneficial in stimulating our local economy while invigorating
a sense of community and cooperation while listening to great local musicians.
The Laker article - Land O'Lakes Saturday Market features World Vision musician Published Nov 25, 2009
Sean Currier, a World Vision musician, will be playing at the Land O'Lakes Saturday Market from 10 a.m. to noon at the Land O'Lakes Community Center across from the post office on US 41. All proceeds benefit orphans in Africa. There will also be a yard sale booth from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. hosted by a mother and her 6 year old daughter. All proceeds will benefit the Kids Caring 4 Kids organization, an outreach that is for Kids helping orphans.
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The Laker article - Land O'Lakes Saturday Market organizer thanks community Published Oct 21, 2009
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The Land O'Lakes Saturday Market started on Oct. 3. It featured fresh produce from the Heirloom Vegetable Gardeners: Rick and Joyce Fritz, who also had fresh, raw honey. Vegetable plants and decorative plants were provided by Pettijohn Nursery. Music was provided by Jim Cummins and Aaron Cuttoff. There were also performances by the Hoola Monsters, a hula hoop troop. Food was provided by Culinary Delights. Featured artists, crafters and non profit groups included: Our Sweet Whimsy, functional art; Baskets by Francis, Custom Wire Wrap jewelry, Victorious Life Church, Master Gardeners. Film makers Sir Rebel Films, Resorce Recycling, Bernie's Woodcarvings, Ray Mason's chairs and Connie G's music. The market will be set up every Saturday 9-2 through the end of May at the Land O'Lakes Community Center, located on US 41 across from the post office.
Over 500 people attended this opening day event !!!!
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Looking for locally grown produce and handmade arts and crafts? The Land O'Lakes Saturday Market is having its grand opening from 9am to 2pm Saturday at the Land O'Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O'Lakes Blvd. The event also will feature food vendors, music and performances by the Hoola Monsters.
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'Saturday Market' will provide fresh, local produce
If Pam St.Mary wants fresh, home-grown produce, she has to drive more than 20 miles from her Lutz home to Masarytown in Hernando County. She, her husband and members of the Heritage Park Foundation hope to change that in October when they plan to open the Land O'Lakes Saturday Market at Heritage Park, three miles north of State Road 54 at the Land O'Lakes Community Center across from the post office. The goal is to encourage people to grow their own food and sell it locally to help support sustainable practices in the community, St.Mary said. Locally grown produce available at a community market is usually picked the day before it's sold, she said. "It tastes a lot better and that's neck and neck with the fact that it's more nutritious," she said. "You're lucky if you get it two weeks (after it's harvested) if you get it at a grocery store." Buying fruits and vegetables locally also decreases our carbon footprint, St.Mary said, because it cuts down on transportation and fuel usage associated with the distribution of produce found in large supermarkets. And, eating local foods helps boost your immune system to local allergens, she said. Plus, the market should stimulate the local economy. St.Mary and her husband, who grow their own vegetables and raise rabbits, have been working for months to start up the Land O'Lakes Saturday Market. Their first order of business was finding a space, and they got in touch with the Heritage Park Foundation, a group whose goal is to turn the Land O'Lakes Community Center Park into a historical park and center where the community can gather for events, public forums and recreation. Together, and with the help of Suncoast Harvest Food Bank, the groups have been striving to make the Land O'Lakes Saturday Market a reality. It's scheduled to be held from 9 am to 2 pm each Saturday from Oct. 3 to May 29, 2010. St.Mary who is serving as market manager, is now looking for vendors. Those who apply will be screened for type and quality of product and presentation. Preference will be given to farmers who provide fresh, healthy foods that customers can take home or enjoy at the market on picnic tables that will be provided. Fresh produce vendors can participate for free during the month of October. Those who would like to sell Florida native plants and hand-made arts and crafts are also welcome, as are businesses that are environmentally friendly. The cost for these vendors is $25 per 12-foot-by-12-foot space. Nonprofit organizations in the community can participate for free. St.Mary said she hopes to draw vendors and consumers from throughout Pasco County. "Producing food locally - it's the best thing for us, and it's the best thing for our planet," she said. For more information about the Land O'Lakes Saturday Market, visit www.lolsaturdaymkt.com.
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St Pete Times - Pasco Times - Saturday, August 15, 2009 - by Camille C. Spencer - photo by Keri Wiginton
Market goes fresh, green
The soon-to-open Land O'Lakes market will promote local goods.
Pam St.Mary and her husband, Lee St.Mary discuss layout options for the farmers market they plan to setup behind the Land O'Lakes Community Center.
Behind the Land O'Lakes Community Center off busy U.S. 41 sits an empty
2-acre plot of grass. But starting Oct. 3, Pam St. Mary envisions the area
bustling with vendors selling fresh, locally grown produce, arts and crafts and
organic sandwiches at the Land O'Lakes Saturday Market. "We're trying to
encourage the primary consumption of local food," said St. Mary, 57. "The
average farmers market has things fresh-picked the day before, so there's great
nutritional value." St. Mary, a special education teacher from Lutz, has been
frequenting farmers markets for decades. She wanted to start one in a centrally
located area in Pasco. Her goal: to encourage people to buy fresh and local, to
promote local "green" businesses, artists and musicians, and to create
networking and fun in a relaxed atmosphere. To get the ball rolling, St. Mary
and husband, Lee, a computer software engineer, began looking for locations for
the market a few months back. They stumbled across the county-owned land behind
the community center and figured it was perfect for the market. St. Mary began
spending her spare time talking to local farmers, artists and "green" businesses
in the area - companies selling solar-powered water heaters and other
eco-friendly products - to drum up interested vendors for the market. Then, St.
Mary formed a partnership with the Heritage Park Foundation, a member of the
community center's "Friends of the Park." Through her affiliation with that
group, she won the county's blessing to use the land at no cost. Once the market
begins operating, St. Mary plans to donate 20 percent of the proceeds to the
foundation to improve the park. An additional 20 percent of the market's
proceeds will be donated to the Suncoast Harvest Food Bank. St. Mary hopes the
food bank will use the money to develop a "food self-sufficiency program" so
families can grow their own produce. "That way, they can grow their own food,
instead of getting it at the food bank," St. Mary said. Elizabeth Fields,
executive director of the food bank, said she supports St. Mary's idea to
promote healthy eating in Pasco by starting a farmers market. "It will take
awhile to catch on because it's a re-education of people," Fields said. "They
are used to buying cheap food (at the store). When people realize they don't
have to, they will see it's more cheap and beneficial to them" to buy from the
farmers market. The market would join a dozen others in the Tampa Bay area that
are open from Thursdays to Sundays selling fresh fruits and vegetables. In
Pasco, the New Port Richey farmers market opened in April 2008, running each
weekend through April of this year. Now, the market is open once a month. Judy
DeBella Thomas, executive director of the Main Street organization, said it's
challenging to start a farmers market from scratch, but worth the effort in the
long run. "Because it's an outdoor venue, you wonder, 'Is it too hot, cold or
windy?'" she said. "Each time, we've come against those problems." Until her
market opens in October, St. Mary's to-do list includes looking for banners and
directional signs to place near the market, checking costs of liability
insurance and finding people and organizations willing to donate money to
support the market. "It takes a lot of dedication to find people who can bring
in produce," St. Mary said. "But, we're willing to put in the work." The Land O'Lakes Saturday
Market will run from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturdays from Oct. 3 through May 29 at
5401 Land O'Lakes Blvd. Food vendors will pay $20 per week to rent a
space. The cost will be $10 for smaller food vendors, and $25 for non-food
vendors. For information, or to sign up as a vendor, go to
www.lolsaturdaymkt.com.
Send mail to LOLSaturdayMkt@aol.com with
questions or comments about www.LOLSaturdayMkt.com or call (813) 731-5168.
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