Monday, December 31, 2012
We rounded up some of our favorite Land O' Lakes stories from 2012. What did you enjoy reading most this year?
As the countdown to 2013 began, we looked back on the stories of 2012, highlighting one of our favorites each day for 12 days. Care to reminisce with us? Here are the headline highlights: Best of 2012: Naturist Lives from the Heart Best of 2012: Teen's Struggles Lead Him to Polls Best of 2012: Leap of Faith Shows Signs of Success for Pasco Inmates Best of 2012: Relay for Life Raises $31,000 Best of 2012: From Darkness Came Light, New Life for Land O' Lakes Businesswoman Best of 2012: D & D Pressure Washing—A Love Story Best of 2012: Lessons from Tropical Storm Debby Best of 2012: Reporter Takes on Football Players, Questions Sanity Best of 2012: Vintage Treasures Find New Life at Shabby Abbie's Best of 2012: Marketing Guru Has Passion for …
The Jr. Bulls hockey organization gathered donations of basic toiletries, blankets and other items for Operation Unwrap a Smile.
As 2012 comes to a close, Land O' Lakes Patch is taking a look back at the year that was. In December, a Land O' Lakes nonprofit organization got a boost from a group of youth hockey players. "I was overwhelmed with joy! I really cried when (the organizer) called because it's just the help we needed at this time in this economy," Operation Unwrap a Smile co-founder Stephanie Roshell said. The hockey player outreach to support Roshell's efforts in the Bay area was organized by Deano Hoffberg, the mother of two Jr. Bull youth hockey players, a travel team based at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum, 10222 Elizabeth Place. Hoffberg launched "Youth Hockey Cares" in 2011 to encourage the youth hockey community to support local organizations. Last …
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Stephanie Chu opened Jocelyn Eve Events & Creations and set out to introduce children to the art of cake decorating, one party at a time.
As 2012 comes to a close, Land O' Lakes Patch is taking a look back at the year that was. In November, we featured a sweet new local business: Jocelyn Eve Events & Creations introduces the art—and fun—of cake decorating to kids all over the Bay area. Owner Stephanie Chu of Land O' Lakes combined her background in education and passion for baking to launch the mobile party company in August. Chu travels to the client’s location and provides two hours of cake decorating instruction, complete with aprons and chef hats for all to wear during their edible art adventure. If you want to read the full story, you'll find it here: New Business Introduces Cake Decorating Fun to Kids Stay tuned for more highlights from 2012 in the coming days.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
"Watching positivity prevail makes me feel like things are right in the world, " Loran Tripp says.
As 2012 comes to a close, Land O' Lakes Patch is taking a look back at the year that was. In October, we caught up with Loran Tripp, a longtime Land O' Lakes resident, business owner and community leader. The founder of Latitude 27 Marketing said she loves to travel, but its her hometown she's most passionate about. “It's amazing to me what opportunities lie within the local environment and the people who you can meet. It gives me great faith in humanity to watch people give back their time, energy, and money to charities and the organizations they are involved in. I am a big advocate of local charities. I understand there are global issues, but I believe in helping the people in our area first,” Tripp told Patch. If you want to read the …
Friday, December 28, 2012
Abbie is the store's "whimsical proprietress," owner Helen Kinyon says.
As 2012 comes to a close, Land O' Lakes Patch is taking a look back at the year that was. In September, we featured a story on Shabby Abbie's, a boutique that opened in Land O' Lakes earlier this year. Owner Helen Kinyon travels around the country to find the store’s treasures, in addition to the finds of her "Shabby Girls," local crafters who sell their pieces in the quant, chic boutique. The store's motto: Finding fabulous for less. Kinyon has an eye for antiques, and knows their value, she said, but the prices you find at Shabby Abbie’s won’t compare to those you see on Internet sites like eBay. She prices items to move, not to make a killing, she said. A vintage necklace that appraises for $400 was priced at about $100 in the store at …
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Devin Greene heads to Academy at the Lakes for the Iron Man Competition.
As 2012 comes to a close, Land O' Lakes Patch is taking a look back at the year that was. In August, Patch correspondent Devin Greene went to Academy at the Lakes to whoop up on some high school athletes. Not really. He went there hoping to survive the football team's annual Iron Man competition: ...I was dripping sweat the moment I walked out with the team for stretching, seeking water after the first event, on one knee after the second event, and then questioning myself for my participation after the third event— to be honest the question came up while I was stretching. If you want to read the full version (it's hilarious), you'll find it here: Reporter Takes on High School Athletes in Iron Man Competition Stay tuned for more highlights …
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
We caught up with the Salvation Army's director of Emergency Disaster Services in the aftermath of the storm.
As 2012 comes to a close, Land O' Lakes Patch is taking a look back at the year that was. After the havok wreaked by Tropical Storm Debby, we caught up with the director of Emergency Disaster Services for the Salvation Army, Kevin Smith. Smith, a Land O' Lakes resident, said Debby gave Bay area residents a good guage of the type of devestation that would occur if a major hurricane directly hit the area. “If you look at how Debby has impacted the Tampa Bay area, it’s very obvious that we would be in very big trouble,” he said. Smith offered advice for preparedness he hopes all residents will heed before the next tropical storm season is upon us. If you want to read the full version, you'll find it here: With Tropical Storm Debby as a …
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Sometimes the story you thought you would get isn't the best story there is to tell.
As 2012 comes to a close, Land O' Lakes Patch is taking a look back at the year that was. In June, I met with the owners of D & D Pressure Washing with every intention of writing a business story. Instead, it became a love story, with a twist of fate, a change of mind—and Beanie Babies. If you want to read the full version, you'll find it here: D & D Pressure Washing: A Love Story Stay tuned for more highlights from 2012 in the coming days.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Rene Van Hout tells us how she rallied from a dark time in her life to become the woman she is today, with the help of a special man.
As 2012 comes to a close, Land O' Lakes Patch is taking a look back at the year that was. In May, we featured a familiar face to many in the community, though despite the rumor, LOL Transport & Moving owner Rene Van Hout says she does not know everyone in Land O’ Lakes. The business owner and frequent volunteer for a variety of projects is known for giving out hugs. “I like that I’m making a difference in people’s lives and there are enough people out there that I’m going to meet someone new every day.” If you want to read the full version, you'll find it here: From Darkness Came Light, New Life for Land O' Lakes Businesswoman Stay tuned for more highlights from 2012 in the coming days.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
The community came together to support the American Cancer Society.
As 2012 comes to a close, Land O' Lakes Patch is taking a look back at the year that was. In April, the Land O' Lakes High Relay for Life raised nearly $31, 000 for The American Cancer Society. "Thanks to your commitment to the mission, ACS is able to provide much needed services right here in our own communities," American Cancer Society community representative Kristy Dalbec said. If you want to read the full version, you'll find it here: Land O' Lakes High Relay Raises Nearly $31,000 Stay tuned for more highlights from 2012 in the coming days.
ugh...
10:27 am on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Blech... more ›