The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mary Rathman

HELP FEED AMERICA

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The Rotary Club of New Tampa is hosting “Rotary Feeds America” March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Freedom High School cafeteria, 17410 Commerce Park Blvd., in New Tampa. The club’s goal is to assemble 50,000 meal packets to be distributed within the Tampa Bay community by Feeding America Tampa Bay. For information, contact Gene Perez at (813) 956-6486 or .

COMMUNITY FLEA MARKET

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The Gulfside Hospice Thrift Shoppe, 36524 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, will host a community flea market March 21 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be vendors, yard sale items and a thrift shop sale. Vendor spots are available for $10. For information, call Jenny Lehmann at (813) 788-5461.

MASTERWORKS FOR KIDS

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The Florida Orchestra is offering free classical kids’ tickets for children 18 years and younger for the Tampa Bay Times Masterworks concerts, when one full-price adult ticket is purchased for the same concert. “Mahler’s Symphony No. 4” will be March 20 through March 22. For information, call (727) 892-3337.

CHURCH LENTEN FISH FRY

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Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 2348 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, will host its annual fish fry every Friday during Lent from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dinner costs $8 for adults and $4 for children, and includes fried or baked fish, macaroni and cheese, vegetables, coleslaw, bread and a drink. A fish sandwich also will be available. Dessert is an extra cost. Meals are dine-in or carryout. The next fish fry is March 20.

FREE PLANETARIUM SHOWS

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St. Petersburg College Planetarium and Observatory will host free shows on Friday nights at 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. The shows are first-come, first-served. Shows are 45 minutes long. Children ages 5 and older are welcome. The observatory and portable telescopes are available after the shows, weather permitting. The upcoming show “The Stars of Spring” will be March 20, March 27, April 10, April 17, April 24, May 1 and May 8. For information, call (727) 341-4772.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY MIXER

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The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day Mixer March 19 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Rosecastle of Zephyrhills, 37411 Eiland Blvd. There will be a ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m., and door prizes and a costume contest for best kilt. For information, call (813) 783-8100.

FOSSILFEST 2015

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The Tampa Bay Fossil Club will present the 27th annual “FossilFest 2015: Florida, 10,000 B.C.,” March 21 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and March 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 N. U.S. 301, in Tampa. There will be free workshops both days on how to legally hunt for fossils, and how to identify and preserve findings. For a small fee, children can dig through a sand pit at the Fossil Mine at Paleo Park. There also will be door prizes, kid’s games, silent auctions and raffles. The cost is $7 for adults. Children younger than 12 are free. Parking is $6 per car, or $12 per RV or bus, cash only. For information, call Michael Searle at (813) 909-9358, email , or visit TampaBayFossilClub.com.

Biloxi and birthdays rule Gem Estates

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It’s been a few weeks of extreme cold weather here at Gem Estates, and we certainly know why we come south for the winter. Looking at the streets, highways, stores and restaurants, we know people have figured this out. A bit of cold doesn’t faze a lot of people, because they are still doing the same things they came south for —socializing, playing games, attending parties and, of course, eating with friends and family.

Our recent bus trip with Road Ready Tours was a huge success. Fifty-three people got to see the Mardi Gras parade from the street in front of the Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, even though it was windy and bitter cold. They took advantage of scrounging for the many beads thrown to them, and there were hundreds of them. The streets were lined with people from everywhere in the States as well as foreign countries. The slot machines were kind to a lot of folks, and they brought home more than they left home with.

Here at Gem Estates, activities went on as usual: bingo, shuffleboard, bocce ball, euchre and marbles.

Bonnie Skidmore did an excellent job of bringing entertainment to the park. About 142 people attended, enjoyed Rich Wilson, and found him to be a delightful entertainer. He has a terrific voice and did great imitations of several singers. His rendition of Elvis was so perfect that with your eyes closed, you could almost believe it was Elvis. Thanks Bonnie and your helpers, too.

Richard and Dea-Ann Burgess had daughter Karen and Jeff Kerr visiting from Boston. With all the snow they are having there, they may have been forced to stay in Zephyrhills a bit longer. Bill and Donna Eastman have their son Bob and Carie, plus grandchildren Ella Rose and Wyett visiting, also. It sure keeps Donna hopping to keep up with the little ones. Such fun!

Monday night euchre game winners for the ladies was Diane Reglin, visiting daughter of Floyd and Beverly Becker.

Our Thursday Coffee and Doughnuts Social was well attended, with 132 people taking part in the gathering, Prayers were said for Joyce Plummer, recovering from surgery with hopefully a speedy recovery, also celebrating a birthday. Happy Birthday wishes go out to Joyce Knestaut, John Brogan, Ginnie Zepp, Gerri Shields, Ellie Brookins and Marlin Thomas.

Our president, Al Bennett, reminded everyone about the Pasco County Sheriff’s project “Operation Dark House,” a super program for the snowbirds as they leave their houses here in Zephyrhills to go north.

A member of the Sheriff’s Office will go around the park checking for unlocked windows and doors, and making sure everything is secured, alleviating a lot of worry of things left behind until their return in the fall. Everyone that wants to participate must fill out a new form each year.

About 118 people enjoyed the baked bean supper that Ruth Hudson reported on. Jim Nagle is back again doing the pancake supper and breakfasts and is planning a corned beef and cabbage dinner for March 17.

Carolyn Wagoner promoted the Thomas Promise Pledge of supplying much-needed breakfast and lunch packages for the schoolchildren that are in need of assistance.

By Lee Heffelfinger

Published March 11, 2015

LYMPHEDEMA SUPPORT GROUP

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The Medical Center of Trinity, 9330 State Road 54, will offer a lymphedema support group March 19 at 3 p.m. Lymphedema is a persistent swelling, usually affecting an arm or leg that sometimes occurs as a side effect of cancer treatment. For information and reservations, call (727) 834-5630.

MAN TO MAN GROUP

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Florida Cancer Affiliates will host the Man to Man prostate cancer support group meeting March 19 at 5 p.m., at its Trinity center, 3611 Little Road. For information, call (727) 808-4818.