The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Stay Tuned For These Can’t-Miss Events At Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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At Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, a premier master-planned community in Pasco County, it’s all about community. As 2023 kicks off, here are some of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s top events – all of which
are always open and free to the public – to look forward to later this year.
Avalon Aglow

Absolutely Avalon
Absolutely Avalon is an event to celebrate everything that makes Avalon Park Wesley Chapel absolutely amazing. The event is filled with international food, music and vendors, activities for kids, community performances, and a fantastic laser light show. The event focuses on diversity and culture, which is some of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s core values. Absolutely Avalon will take place on Saturday, April 15 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.


4th of July Celebration
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel shows its patriotic colors at its annual 4th of July Celebration. There are community performances, food trucks, a bike parade, patriotic bake-off, bounce houses, and numerous exhibitors and vendors. The event always ends with a spectacular bang — an incredible fireworks show. The celebration will take place on Tuesday, July 4, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

 

Spooktacular

Spooktacular
It’s a spooky, fun-filled Halloween celebration at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s annual Spooktacular event. There’s a costume contest, a pumpkin patch, and plenty of candy for all to enjoy. Avalon Park Wesley Chapel also invites its residents to decorate their front porches as hauntingly as they can, and awards first-, second- and third-place prizes. Spooktacular will take place on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.


Avalon Aglow
Avalon Aglow allows families to celebrate the holiday season together by creating traditions and memories that they can share for a lifetime. Highlights of the event include pictures with Santa, “real” snow, train rides, and a spectacular fireworks show. Avalon Aglow will take place on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Why families choose Avalon Park
In addition to quality builders and frequent community events, families choose to live in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel because it offers so much more than just another subdivision with homes and amenities.

“We are not just developers — we are building a brand new town,” says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for Avalon Park Group. “We’re bringing together everything a family needs to enjoy
life today and in the future.”

Few communities offer the recreational activities found at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, including two amenity centers with a zero-entry pool, splash pad, spa, and picnic area, as well as a new amenity center
being built in the new Westgate Village, in the northwest section of the development.
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel has been welcoming families since 2012, when this community on State Road 54, a few miles east of Interstate 75, began building its first homes. Today, over 2,000 residents
enjoy unique amenities, neighborhood schools, and a convenient location with easy access to Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando.

For more information about Avalon Park, call 813-783-1515, email , or go to AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com.
Published January 25, 2023

Pasco brings home two awards from Gulf Coast summit

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Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Planner Tina Russo recently received awards at the Gulf Coast Safe Streets Summit for their work to keep the traveling public safe.

Gulf Coast Safe Streets is an organization that recognizes community leaders who go above and beyond in their commitment to improving driving, bicycling and walking safety, according to a Pasco County news release.

Starkey received the Vision Zero Hero Award for her unwavering dedication to the creation of trails and sidewalks to give walkers, runners and cyclists safe ways to get around.

Russo received the Bob the Builder Award for her devotion to bicyclist and pedestrian safety, according to the release. She’s known throughout the region for passion for keeping people safe, the release notes.

“This recognition means a lot to me,” said Starkey, in the release.

Russo noted: “Pasco County is on the move, and we’re always thinking of new ways to improve transportation.”

The summit is an educational event that brings together national speakers, public officials, technical staff, counties and community partners to highlight efforts on how to design and implement safe and equitable transportation.

Published January 25, 2023

Duke Energy is giving away free trees

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Duke Energy is celebrating Florida Arbor Day by giving away 1,200 trees to customers throughout Florida.

Florida Arbor Day is recognized on the third Friday in January, which was Jan. 20.

The company began giving out trees on Jan. 20, and will continue doing so until the supplies run out, according to a news release.

To request one, go to ArborDay.org/dukeenergy.

The one-gallon trees are shipped directly to customers’ homes with planting and care instructions. They are expected to be delivered in time for National Arbor Day on April 28.

Available tree species include the dahoon holly, sweetbay magnolia, baldcypress, crape myrtle (pink) and crape myrtle (red).

Duke Energy Florida is donating $50,000 to the Arbor Day Foundation to purchase and distribute the trees through its Energy-Saving Trees program.

The energy company gives the trees away to encourage tree planting to maximize environmental benefits and conserve energy, the release says.

Published January 25, 2023

Honoring the fallen, through a special jump

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Legacy Expeditions, a veteran-owned extreme expedition company, completed a celebratory jump at Skydive City in Zephyrhills on Jan. 18. )Courtesy of Kevin Weiss, City of Zephyrhills Public Information Office)

Legacy Expeditions, a veteran-owned extreme expedition company, completed a celebratory jump at Skydive City in Zephyrhills on Jan. 18 to honor 13 service members who died in Kabul Afghanistan during the American’s withdrawal in August of 2021.

The celebratory jump was part of their Triple 7 Expedition, involved nine former U.S. and Canadian military service members who broke three world records during the expedition and made  jumps in all seven continents in 6 days, 6 hours and 6 minutes.

Their first jump was Jan. 9 in Antarctica and the seventh jump was in Australia. They broke the six-continent team and tandem records on Jan. 14, in Abu Dhabi, in 4 days and 10 hours: a record set in 2008 with a time of 8 days and 7 hours.

Then, on Jan. 15, the team set the seven-continent team and tandem skydiving records, previously set in 2019 with a time of 6 months and 4 days.

The expedition was completed to raise 1,400 life-changing scholarships to support  families of fallen and disabled service members and first responders, through Folds of Honor Foundation.

Published January 25, 2023

Zephyrhills will make election decisions in April

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(Mike Camunas)

Residents of the City of Zephyrhills will be choosing a new mayor and selecting a representative for Seat 2 on City Council, during the Municipal Elections, set for April 11.

Here are the important election dates and information regarding the election.

Important Dates

  • Municipal Candidate Qualifying begins at noon on Feb. 7.
  • Municipal Candidate Qualifying ends at noon on Feb. 14.
  • Mayor’s Caucus is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Feb 17 in Council Chambers at City Hall, 5335 Eighth St.
  • Municipal Election: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., on April 11, at Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyr Park.

Candidate Requirements

  • All candidates must be a qualified and registered voter of the City of Zephyrhills and have been a resident of the city for a six-month period immediately preceding the next election to qualify for any City elective office.
  • The City Council may set filing fees to be paid by candidates at the time of qualifying to run for elective office.
  • The nomination of all candidates for elective offices shall be made by nominating petitions. The name of any elector of the City having the necessary qualifications to hold the office may be nominated for the election to such office when a petition shall be filed with the City Clerk, signed by not less than 25 registered voters of the City.

For additional information, please visit the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections website at PascoVotes.com.

Published January 18, 2023

Pasco Sheriff’s Office explorer post to offer drone program

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The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) Explorer Post 916 is offering a new program to introduce those ages 14 to 21 to the world of unmanned aerial systems, also known as drones, and also to forensics, according to a sheriff’s office posting.

These fields are integral to law enforcement operations and this program offers a science-based look at roles outside of what is traditionally thought of as a responsibility of a law enforcement officer, the posting says.

The program includes instruction from guest speakers from PSO’s Forensics and UAS/Drone units, as well as the PSO’s Florida’s Institute for Research, Security and Tactics (F1RST), and other experts.

The introductory meeting is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Feb. 15, at Safety Town, at 15362 Alric Pottberg Road, Shady Hills.

Registration is strongly encouraged and can be completed online. For more details about the Explorer Post 916 Drones/Forensics Program Informational Meeting, visit Community Events on the News.PascoSheriff.com website.

Published January 18, 2023

Nominations sought for environmental champion

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Hillsborough County is seeking nominations for its Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award, according to a county news release.

The honor, given annually, goes to an individual or a group whose efforts exemplify dedication to preserving the county’s natural resources.

The award is named after Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the 26th president of the United States and noted conservationist who placed more than 200 million acres under public protection.

Nominees must live or work in Hillsborough County and “be someone who shows persistence and dedication to long-term conservation of the county’s natural resources, demonstrates integrity in performance toward conservation goals, and displays attributes of true conservation stewardship,’’ according to the award criteria.

Nominations will go through the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program General Committee, which will send a recommendation to the Hillsborough County Commission for approval.

The board will have an award ceremony in the spring to coincide with National Arbor Day.

The deadline for nominations is Feb. 28, according to the release.

For more information, call 813-672-7876, or email Ross Dickerson.

Published January 18, 2023

Federal funding will benefit local projects

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Twelve of the 15 priority projects identified by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, in Florida’s 12th Congressional District, have received federal funding allocations.

The projects will bring a total of nearly $20.3 million to the Tampa Bay area, according to a news release from Bilirakis’ office.

Projects receiving allocations include:

  • $3 million for Moffitt’s Pasco County Expansion to build the Research and Life Science Facility that will serve as a regional hub for the delivery of high-quality health care, cancer research, education, and biotech business development
  • $2 million to help prevent flooding in north Pinellas and south Pasco counties through stormwater and roadway improvements
  • $800,000 for the Pasco County Alliance for Healthy Communities Substance Use Prevention Program to provide coordinated behavioral health services to reduce overdose deaths
  • $500,000 to support more than 300 at-risk middle and high school aged girls in Pasco and Hernando counties enrolled in the PACE Center for Girls program
  • $2.5 million to build a one-stop-shop senior center in Pasco County operated by CARES
  • $1.27 million to build new units of housing at the Vincent House for those struggling with mental illness
  • $600,000 for the Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired to assist older adults in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties by empowering these adults with disabilities to live more independently in their home and communities with a focus on improved mental health
  • $2.4 million to install ADA-compliant bus stops along Moon Lake Road in West Pasco
  • $2 million for the Pasco Sheriff’s Department to upgrade technology at its regional Center for the Recovery of Missing Persons
  • $2 million for renovation of the Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit operated by Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services
  • $2 million for the Craig Park/Spring Bayou Seawall Repair in Tarpon Springs
  • $1.2 million for a school readiness and early literacy program operated by the Pinellas County Education Foundation

In the release, Biliarkis said: “While I am no proponent of big government spending, I have a duty to ensure my community receives its fair share of allocated federal resources and to be transparent about my efforts to prioritize these important projects. Each of these good projects will help strengthen our local infrastructure, benefit our community, and assist local residents.”

Also, of note, the boundary lines for congressional districts changed as a result of the 2020 U.S. Census. Effective Jan. 3, the 12th district’s new boundaries include Hernando, Citrus and parts of Pasco, but no longer includes Pinellas County. Pinellas is now in the 13th district.

Published January 11, 2023

‘Pasco TC Gives’ tops $1 million in charitable donations

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When Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano took office, he created a charitable giving program aimed at helping local nonprofits and individuals in need.

In time, an entity called Pasco TC Gives was created to raise and disburse funds for charitable causes, according to a news release from Fasano’s office.

Mike Fasano has led charitable giving efforts through his office for nearly 10 years. The efforts have raised $1.26 million in assistance to more than 116 nonprofit organizations and to individuals in crisis needing immediate help. (Courtesy of Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office)

Since it began in 2013, the nonprofit has raised more than $1.26 million and has provided assistance to more than 116 nonprofit organizations in the community, as well as to individuals in crisis situations needing immediate help, the release says.

The funds are raised through the Charity of the Month Program and sales of advertising on in-house screens in each tax collector’s office in Pasco County.

“Without the hard work of our staff and a very generous community we would not have been able to support so many fine organizations that dedicate themselves to helping those in need,”  Tax Collector Mike Fasano said in the release. “Our Pasco TC Gives Board of Directors independently reviews every request for donations and approves them based on merit and need of the organization or individual. I am proud of the effort made by our employees who sit on this board and help steer funds to where they are needed most.”

Fasano added he’s “most grateful to the community organizations that see us as an important resource to help them and their membership” in times of special need.

Donations to Pasco TC Gives support such diverse programs as CARES Seniors Services, The Humane Society, Support Our Troops, The Volunteer Way, Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s Annual Holiday Food Giveaway that feeds families each holiday season, the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation, Special Olympics of Pasco, the Pasco Sheriff’s K-9 Foundation and more than 100 other charitable organizations.

Pasco TC Gives also has responded to crisis situations to help Hurricane Ian victims, Hurricane Irma relief efforts and by providing support to the families of the United States Coast Guard.

Additionally, one-time donations have been made to many nonprofits throughout Pasco County.

For more information about Pasco TC Gives, the organizations it supports and the charitable giving program in general, please contact Assistant Tax Collector and Board Chairman Greg Giordano at 727-847-8179.

Published January 11, 2023

She served her community in a multitude of ways

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Sister Dianne Wansley — a former spiritual director, a former town commissioner and a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida — has been laid to rest. (Courtesy of Benedictine Sisters of Florida)

Sister Dianne Wansley, O.S.B., a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida, passed away on Dec. 30.

She came to the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in January 1978 as a live-in volunteer and then joined the Benedictine Sisters in September 1978.

She served the community for 46 years, serving in numerous capacities including as an accomplished iconographer, an artist and a member of the liturgy committee. She also provided spiritual direction for retreatants and was the director of Postulants and Novices (sisters in discernment vow stages) for the Community. She was the organist and pianist for the community, according to a news release from the Benedictine Sisters of Florida.

She also was a music minister for student Masses at Saint Leo University.

Plus, she served as a member of the St. Leo Town Commission.

A Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Jan. 7.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Benedictine Sisters of Florida, P.O. Box 2450, St. Leo, FL 33574.

Published January 11, 2023