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Son makes father’s dream come true
This act of selflessness did not go unnoticed by John. He graduated college at 21 years of age in 2001, and began what has turned out to be a successful career with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. To help keep him motivated in his highly competitive and difficult line of work, John composed a 20-year plan with both short- and long-term goals to achieve along the way. One of his long-term goals was to purchase a Ford Mustang in 2010 for his father’s 65th birthday as a thank-you for the sacrifice he made.
Jerry turned 65 on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Since John and his wife Liz, live in Chattanooga, Tenn., they flew to Tampa on Friday, Jan. 29, to help Jerry celebrate his birthday a few days early. That evening John and Liz took Jerry and Martha to dinner at the renowned Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa. Unbeknownst to Jerry, John and Cliff Martin, vice president and general manager of Jarrett Ford Lincoln-Mercury, Dade City, had arranged a special surprise with the restaurant’s valet service.
After a wonderful meal, Jerry presented his ticket to the valet, expecting him to deliver his Honda. But to his surprise and amazement what pulled up to the front of the restaurant was the perfect birthday gift--a brand new, black Mustang GT convertible, just like he had wished for. This birthday surprise was the fulfillment of both John and his dad's dreams.
Jerry Sterner retired from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills in 2009 following several years of service as the hospital’s spokesman.
Rain fails to dampen success
of Kumquat Festival
of Kumquat Festival
News Reporter
The umbrellas came out Saturday at the Kumquat Festival as the rain began to come down.
The Chamber organizes the event. Pasco Regional Medical Center was the largest sponsor for this year’s festival.
National recording artist Michael Ray performed from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. This is the first time the festival has drawn a national artist. Ray was scheduled to perform from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. but the festival was stopped an hour early due to inclement weather, Beckwith said.
The festival was sold out with 380 vendors renting spaces on the Historic Pasco County Courthouse Square and surrounding streets in downtown Dade City. There were a wide variety of vendors, ranging from those selling food – kumquat pie was a favorite – to those selling clothing items, license plates, yard decorations, decorated gourds and other items. There were so many vendors it was impossible to categorize them accurately, Beckwith said. There were more vendors for the 2010 Kumquat Festival than there were for the 2009 festival, Beckwith continued...for more on this story subscribe
order for 5th Avenue building
News Reporter
The building is just east of the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce office.
City Building Inspector Bill Burgess said in the demolition order, dated Jan. 28, the building was in too poor condition to make repairs practical. Also, Burgess’ order said, the building is a public nuisance and a threat to public health, safety and welfare. The building has been unsecured and transients have been observed in the building, the demolition order said.
The owners of the building, Guerryson Torres and Marcus A. Velez, have 60 days from notification of the demolition order to obtain a demolition permit. The building must be demolished within 60 days after the owners receive the demolition permit. The owners have 20 days to appeal the demolition order, city records said.
The concrete or cinder brick building contains 2,400-square-feet of living area on the ground floor and an additional 2,400-square-feet of finished space on the upper floor, according to Pasco County Property Appraiser’s records...for more on this story subscribe
105th birthday
News Reporter
Among those attending the party was Humphries’ son, Robert "Bob" Clayton of Birmingham, Ala. Her other child, daughter Anita Conti, lives in Brighton, Sussex, England.
She has six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
His mother attributes her longevity to exercising and maintaining a good diet, Bob Clayton said.
"She is very grateful for her long life and she has had a good, healthy life," Bob Clayton said.
She was born Feb. 1, 1905 in Ontario, Canada to Alvin and Lydia Sternell and was the oldest of seven children, said a proclamation by the City of Zephyrhills.
She moved from Canada to Buffalo, N.Y. to attend nursing school, resulting in her immigration to the United States, said the proclamation presented by Zephyrhills Mayor W. Cliff McDuffie on Feb. 1, 2010 upon Humphries attaining the age of 105 years...for more on this story subscribe
Nina Humphries sits with her birthday cake on Monday, Feb. 1, her 105th birthday, as Joyce Kelley of Heartlands of Zephyrhills looks on.