The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Bolts Babies!

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AdventHealth is celebrating the 2021 Stanley Cup Champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, by welcoming “Bolts Babies” into the world. AdventHealth Wesley Chapel welcomed Baby Rodriguez and Baby Burford on game day. The parents are excited for their bundles of joy to share a birth date with the historic championship win for the Bolts. AdventHealth is the Official Health and Wellness Partner and the 2021 Playoff Sponsor of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Baby Rodriguez (Courtesy of AdventHealth West Florida Division)
Baby Burford

FiCare Federal Credit Union, Healthcare’s Financial Partner, Wins Credit Union of the Year

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FiCare Federal Credit Union (FCU), the only Florida credit union serving strictly healthcare professionals and their family members, received the Credit Union of the Year award in June from the League of Southeastern Credit Unions (LSCU) & Affiliates for its financial prowess, daily operations, and community outreach. The Tampa-based, member-owned credit union is in the LSCU category of credit unions having up to $100 million in assets, with FiCare just under $60 million.

Denelle Miller, FiCare FCU’s CEO

Denelle Miller, FiCare’s CEO and a Dade City resident, accepted the honor in Orlando.

“What FiCare offers is a benefit to healthcare professionals and their loved ones,” said Miller. “Our mission is to help individuals achieve their life needs, desires, and dreams by providing financial expertise and education. My team and I are committed to accomplishing this by offering members complete financial services, competitive rates, and exceptional personal service, every day.”

Miller joined what was originally known as St. Joseph’s FCU in 2008. After holding progressively responsible positions, she became CEO in 2015 and under her leadership, the credit union rebranded in 2018 from St. Joseph FCU to FiCare FCU, Healthcare’s Financial Partner. In January 2021, FiCare also expanded its membership to serve all Florida healthcare employees and has almost doubled its assets and members.

“I thought I wanted to be a nurse, but I found that my passion for serving others could also be used in the financial industry working alongside healthcare professionals. The credit union movement is “People helping People” and that is exactly what FiCare does,” Miller said.

Despite the global pandemic, FiCare has flourished thanks largely to its members, staff, and Board of Directors, according to Miller. “We discovered that most of our members don’t rely on our brick-and-mortar branches in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, but if they need to physically see someone, they can visit a branch or speak to a local FiCare representative by phone. And, with our CO-OP Shared Branching™ arrangement nationally and worldwide, FiCare members can literally access their benefits almost anywhere they travel.”

Members also have access to surcharge-free Presto! ATMs at any Publix in the United States.

If you are a Florida healthcare professional who is interested in learning about FiCare’s many services, visit FiCareFCU.org. Completing an online membership application is easy.

Celebrating freedom

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club met to plant rows of flags on the Old Lutz School property on U.S. 41, and hung their club banner in celebration of July 4th. The club is looking forward to its customary, old-fashioned small-town parade and celebration to return, bigger and better, for July 4, 2022. For information, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.

Land O’ Liberty Salute

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(Courtesy of Sandy Graves)
(Courtesy of Sandy Graves)

Thanks to all who came out in the rain to ‘paint’ Land O’ Lakes red, white and blue, for the Fourth of July. If you’d like to help remove the ribbons, meet at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., on July 11 at 1 p.m.

 

Don’t Miss All The 4th of July FUN At Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

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One of Wesley Chapel’s biggest events of the year is this Sunday’s 4th of July Celebration at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

The fun begins at 5 p.m., with a bike parade, bake-off, local musical groups, bounce park, exhibitors and vendors, and ends with a bang at 9 p.m., with one of the area’s largest fireworks displays.

“If you have not yet visited Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, our 4th of July celebration is a great way to experience the fun, family atmosphere we offer every day of the year,” says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for the Avalon Park Group. “Guests are also welcome to come by earlier in the day to visit our model homes and learn more about the big plans we have for our master-planned community.”

A New Hometown
Families choose to live in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel because it is so much more than just another subdivision with homes and amenities. “We are not just developers — we bring together everything a family needs to enjoy life today, and in the future,” said Lerret.

Established in 2012, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is conveniently located on State Road 54, just a few miles east of Interstate 75. Over 1,000 homes have been completed or are underway, and residents enjoy unique amenities, neighborhood schools, and a great location with easy access to Tampa, Lakeland and Orlando.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel offer homes for all demographics — from young families buying their first home, to folks looking to move up to a new home in an upscale community, to empty-nesters wanting the convenience of the no-fuss, townhome lifestyle.

“We have homes priced for all budgets and all times of life,” explains Lerret.

Two premier builders, Avex Homes and D.R. Horton, offer single-family and townhomes priced from the mid $200s to over $400s.

D.R. Horton is planning to build 30 new homes a month in its new community, Westgate at Avalon Park, which is located in the northwest section of the development. Its first homes will be ready for move-in later this year and in early 2022.

Avex Homes also is selling single-family homes and townhomes in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. It offers several single-family floor plans, and 3-bedroom, two-bath townhomes that include two-car garages and private alleys in the rear.

Few communities offer the recreational activities found at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. A second amenity center recently opened, and it includes a zero-entry pool, splash pad, spa, and picnic area.

Families also can enjoy a second swimming pool, tot lot, basketball courts, pocket parks with mini-libraries, dog park, and trails and walkways that will eventually interconnect with its planned downtown. Ongoing monthly events include Movies under the Stars, food trucks and large holiday celebrations.

Downtown Avalon Park
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will offer places to shop and work in its downtown hub that will be connected to its residential neighborhoods by tree-lined streets, walkways and bike paths.

“We are building a traditional downtown, with stores located inside of our community on the boulevard leading to our residences, parks and schools,” said Lerret.

The first phase of downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel breaks ground this fall, and includes a community park with amphitheater and five distinct buildings; an office building, two mixed-use buildings with apartments above the storefronts, and two multi-family apartment buildings.

“We are building beautiful, multi-story buildings with commercial space designed for businesses our residents want close to home — restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, bars and entertainment, hair and nail salons, as well as activities like dance, gymnastic and karate studios,” said Lerret.

At build out, Avalon Park’s downtown will have more than 400,000 square feet of retail and 100,000 square feet of office space. This 1,650-acre master-planned community is approved for 4,400 single and multi-family homes, and is projected to be home to 10,000 residents.

FREE 4th of July Celebration
Sunday, July 4
Begins at 5 p.m. – Fireworks at 9 p.m.
Bike Parade, Bake-Off, Local Musical Groups, Bounce Park, Exhibitors and Food Trucks

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

Published June 30, 2021

Beautiful New Homes At Shadow Wood Village

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Shadow Wood Village has spacious new manufactured homes for sale at very affordable prices, combined with a great location minute from the Gulf of Mexico in Hudson.

Some new amenities at Shadow Wood Village include a large shaded dog park, and a nature park with a gas fire pit and gazebo.

Located just 30 minutes from Land O’ Lakes, these homes feature open floor plans that boast front porches, great rooms, two bedrooms, two full baths, and a den perfect for an office or craft room. Every home has a covered carport with a large, secure storage area, and steps leading from the driveway to the laundry area and kitchen.

Floor plans range from 1,234 to 1,568 square feet, and feature the latest in home design trends. Kitchens offer lots of cabinets and a large island for bar stools and conversation. Quality blinds and appliances, including the refrigerator, are included.

Shadow Wood Village has 11 new homes coming on the market that are expected to sell quickly, to those age 55 and older. In addition, lot reservations are now being accepted for homesites in a new expansion section of the community, which are being readied for 45 new homes arriving in 2022.

With the 11 new homes, Shadow Wood Village is a robust community of 207 homes. Most residents live in the village year-round, which results in an exceptionally strong sense of community.

“Our residents have a sincere respect for others – it’s truly a caring culture,” says Community Manager Tabitha Klinakis. “When family visits, residents are proud to show them around and they are welcomed by the entire community. And when grandkids come to visit, they become everyone’s grandkids.”

The calendar at Shadow Wood is full of activities and social gatherings. Residents enjoy an array of amenities, including a heated pool, pickleball, bocce, horseshoes and shuffleboard. Its recently remodeled clubhouse has a fitness center, library, media room and game room.

The newest amenity is a nature park, located in a serene, wooded area with shady tree coverage and privacy. The park has an inviting gazebo, gas fire pit, winding brick paths and flower gardens.

A large dog park, complete with its own doggie water fountain, has lots of shade for both residents and pets. Shadow Wood welcomes dogs of all sizes, with some breed limitations.

Please call Tabitha to schedule your tour of Shadow Wood Village at 877-360-1124, or email .

Published June 30, 2021

Building A New Home Is The Best Option In A Seller’s Market

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If you’re looking to buy a home today, you know it is a very robust and competitive real estate market, especially here in Pasco County with its highly desirable master-planned communities, excellent schools and superior road network.

For ICI Homes, one of Florida’s most respected custom builders, Pasco is the hub of its Tampa Bay operations. Its team is dedicated to helping families find beautiful lots and select from a variety of floor plans in three of Pasco’s most prestigious— Asturia in Odessa, Persimmon Park in Wesley Chapel, and Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club in Dade City.

“While homes are selling quickly everywhere, we work closely with buyers to find the perfect homesite and floor plan in a community that is best suited for their lifestyle,” said Greg Jones, Tampa Division Manager for ICI Homes.

The amenity center at Persimmon Park in Wesley Chapel has a unique, T-shaped luxury pool, cabanas, grilling area and gated playground.

For those needing to relocate quickly, ICI Homes has showcase homes in each community that will be available for sale later this summer. “These move-in-ready homes are not yet being advertised, but we are inviting people to give us a call to learn more about them, so they are ready when they become available,” said Jones.

Fortunately, most families can plan ahead, and many are choosing ICI Homes as their builder because they are able to customize their home and have it ready in as little as eight months — the same length it takes most national production builders to complete a home.

“Building a new home gives you control — you can choose the community, homesite and floor plan best for you, rather than settling for someone else’s tastes,” said Jones. “Building new is really the best way to go today, instead of getting trapped in bidding wars and dealing with the uncertainty and hassles that come with a seller’s market.”

ICI Community Updates
ICI Homes has been building homes in Asturia since 2017, and is the exclusive builder in this development’s final phase.

“Asturia is such a great community to live that in just four months we have sold half of the 22 lots available in its final phase,” said Jones. “If you want to be close to the convenience of the Suncoast Parkway, and live in the vibrant Land O’ Lakes and Trinity area, please come by our sales center soon, while we still have lots available.”

Families wanting a Wesley Chapel address will fall in love with Persimmon Park, a unique community of less than 250 homes located in the Wiregrass Ranch master-planned community. ICI Homes has homes beginning in the $300s, and this affordability has moved sales along exceptionally well, with 80% of homesites sold. All homes have open floor plans with front porches, and garages and alleys at the back of the home.

Persimmon Park recently celebrated the grand opening of its amenity center, which includes a unique, T-shaped luxury pool with cabanas and grilling area. Coming soon will be dog parks for small and large breeds, and paved trails that connect to the Wiregrass recreational parkway system.

July is an exciting time for Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club in Dade City, when ICI Homes is opening its new model. Lake Jovita offers scenic views on 1,054 acres of rolling hills and beautiful lakes, winding through 36 holes of a nationally acclaimed championship golf course.

ICI Homes has chosen its most popular floor plans for Lake Jovita, all with family friendly layouts, where cooking, dining, relaxing and entertaining happen cohesively. Homes feature an abundance of windows that bring the outside in.

Start your search for a new home on the ICI Homes website, which is stocked with 3D virtual tours, photo galleries, interactive floor plans, and much more. Online sales staff can answer your questions, get you the information you need and connect you with an ICI Homes community sales associates.

Model homes in Asturia and Persimmon Park are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m., on Sunday. The Asturia model is at 2112 Secret Cove in Odessa, and the Persimmon Park model is at 3793 Lajuana Blvd., Wesley Chapel.

 Call 813-252-1108, or go to ICIHomes.com, to schedule a VIP appointment for a new homesite in the Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club in Dade City. The sales center there at 12330 Lake Jovita Blvd., in Dade City.

Published June 30, 2021

Worth The Trip

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Cross Creek: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ spiritual home
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings followed an unlikely path from Rochester, New York, to a rustic farmhouse in the woods of Cross Creek in rural central Florida.

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of ‘The Yearling,’ is seen here picking Gerbera daisies in her garden at Cross Creek. )Courtesy of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Papers, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville)

She went from writing unpopular Gothic stories to endearing tales of life at the Creek and catapulted to international fame as the author of “The Yearling,” a story of a boy, Jody, and his deer, Flag. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1939 and was made into a movie starring Gregory Peck.

Sight unseen, she and her then-husband, also a writer, took a risk in 1928 on an orange grove and farm with 1,635 fruit-bearing trees and 150 “good” chickens. There, she found her spiritual home and a sense of belonging.

A sandy path leads to her farmhouse, now the centerpiece of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park. Chickens roam the yard, pecking the dirt. Laundry flutters from a clothesline, near a kitchen garden and orange and grapefruit trees.

Guided tours start at a rustic barn. Otherwise, visitors can roam on their own to see a yellow 1940 Oldsmobile like the one Rawlings drove, or stroll on woodsy trails looping from farmhouse to tenant quarters.

Visitors sense what Rawlings felt about the place. “It’s what she writes about. It’s peaceful. It’s restorative. It’s Old Florida. It’s essentially the same as when she was here,” says tour guide Rick Mulligan.

Rawlings lived in the house 25 years. She died in 1953 at the age of 57 of an aneurysm. Now, 23,000 faithful visit each year. Some know bits about her life, gleaned from her books and movies. But some come as pilgrims to pay homage to a writer they have loved since childhood, when they first read “The Yearling,” and her other works.

Farmhouse furnishings are hers, and rooms look much like she just left them. So does her front porch, where she wrote on a Remington typewriter at a table with a palm base.

She loved to walk in her groves to watch sunlight streak through the shaded jade leaves. That vision, she wrote, “is the essence of an ancient and secret magic.”

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
Where: 18700 S. County Road 325, Cross Creek
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; guided farmhouse tours from October through July, Thursday through Sunday, except Christmas and Thanksgiving. Make a tour reservation at the barn. Due to Covid-19, at this time tours are limited to two groups of 10 people and masks are required inside the farmhouse. (Check before going to see if that has changed.)
Cost: $3 per group in one vehicle; tours, $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 6 to 12. Credit cards are not accepted and no change is given, so be sure to take exact cash.
Info: Visit FloridaStateParks.org, or call 352-466-3672.

By Kathy Steele
Note: This is a condensed and updated version of a story originally published in The Laker/Lutz News on June 1, 2016.

Visit the Green Swamp to glimpse Florida’s ancient past
Living on Florida’s overly populated coast, it’s hard to believe that a 37,350-acre wilderness exists an hour inland. Known as the West Tract of the 110,000-acre Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, this protected land offers glimpses of what Florida used to look like.

Everywhere you look along trails in the Green Swamp, you’ll likely see ponds and pools of water, some tea-colored and some brown. (Karen Haymon Long)

This natural treasure is a vital recharge area for the Florida Aquifer and contains the headwaters of four Florida rivers – the Hillsborough, Withlacoochee, Peace and a fraction of the Ocklawaha. It reaches into Pasco, Polk, Lake, Sumter and Hernando counties.

The west tract offers 65 miles of trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders. Visitors can walk a half-hour from the parking lot on an unpaved road to get to a section of the Florida National Scenic Trail, which traverses through dense woods overshadowed by giant oaks, soaring slash and longleaf pines, and mature magnolias.

Hikers may see deer, hogs, bobcats, turkeys, turtles or gators. Part of the trail is a section of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, so birds abound. So do cypress domes, grasses, palmettos and cabbage palms, Florida’s state tree.

The trail is easy to follow, thanks to orange slashes on trees. Just around every turn are ponds or pools of water.

The area’s watery beauty and magnificent oaks make it the perfect escape to “Real Florida.”

The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve West Tract
Where: 13347 Ranch Road (off U.S. 98 Bypass), about 5 miles from downtown Dade City.
Hours: Sunrise to sunset. Maps are on the above website and at the tract entrance.
Cost: Admission is free and trails are open daily, except when hunting is permitted. For hunting dates, see tinyurl.com/y6m2wtsa.
Details: Picnic tables, portable toilets and campsite also are in the West Tract. Kayakers and boaters can put into the Withlacoochee River down the road from the tract entrance.
Info: Visit the above website, or call 352-796-7211, ext. 4470.

By Karen Haymon Long
Note: This is a condensed and updated version of a story originally published in The Laker/Lutz News on Feb. 20, 2019.

Paynes Prairie: An awe-inspiring place for nature lovers
To see “Real Florida” at its best, visit Paynes Prairie, stretching 2 miles on both sides of U.S. 441 in Micanopy, a hamlet south of Gainesville.

The 50-square-mile prairie is protected within Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. Blue skies and billowy clouds arch high over tawny grasses swaying in the breeze. Fish leap from ponds. Shorebirds stand tall in swampy marshes.

A palm overlooks Paynes Prairie, formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock and the merging of sinkholes. (Karen Haymon Long)

The sun rises on one side of the prairie and sets on the other. If you are lucky, you may see migrating sandhill cranes, grazing bison and wild Spanish horses.

The 22,000-acre park offers a world of exploration, whether you hike, fish, bird-watch, horseback ride, camp or boat. It’s a photographer’s paradise, with 300 species of birds, river otters, bobcats, Florida black bears, wild pigs and hundreds of other critters.

Trails wend through forests of palms, giant oaks, pines, magnolias and palmettos bordering the prairie.

The great naturalist William Bartram, who visited in 1774 when it was called the Alachua Savanna, wrote about seeing those same types of trees. He said emerging from the dark forests to the wide open prairie made him feel “on the borders of a new world! On the first view of such an amazing display of the wisdom and power of the supreme author of nature, the mind for a moment seems suspended, and impressed with awe.”

The best way to see the prairie is to enter at the park’s main entrance at its southern end, where you’ll find the Visitor Center with exhibits and a video, an observation tower, hiking trails, the campground, picnic area, playground, boat ramp and Lake Wauberg.

Farther north, off U.S. 441, look for a sign for the 3-mile, roundtrip La Chua Trail, a boardwalk/grassy trail around the Alachua Sink and marshes to an observation platform. Some trails may be partially closed due to flooding.

The prairie is so vast and changing, you’ll likely want to spend a few days here, or plan a return trip. It’s a wondrous place to see some of the best views along U.S. 441 in Florida.

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
Where: 100 Savannah Blvd., Micanopy
Hours: 8 a.m. to sundown daily; Visitor Center open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily
Cost: $6 per car with two to eight passengers; $4 for one passenger, and $2 for walkers and bikers.
Info: FloridaStateParks.org, or call 352-466-3397.

By Karen Haymon Long
Note: This is a condensed and updated version of a story that first appeared in The Laker/Lutz News on March 24, 2020.

Published June 30, 2021

Pasco County offices closed July 5

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In observance of Independence Day (July 4), the Pasco Board of County Commissioners’ offices will be closed July 5. The offices will reopen on July 6.

The five Pasco County Tax Collector Offices also will be closed on July 5, and will reopen at 8:30 a.m., on July 6, for normal business.

The Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources offices, recreation complexes and community centers will be closed July 5; however, the parks and beaches will stay open to the public from dawn to dusk.

Pasco County Public Transportation will be closed, and bus and paratransit services will not run on July 5.

Other closures for July 5 include all Pasco County libraries, and the Pasco County Animal Services administration office, adoption center, intake/reclaim shelter, and its field services. An animal control officer will be available for emergencies only.

The Pasco County Resource Recovery Facility, West Pasco Class III, and the East Pasco Transfer Station also will be closed on July 5; however, both will be open to Pasco County licensed commercial haulers.

Published June 30, 2021

Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers Opens its Doors in Dade City

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Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers, a nonprofit that offers support to women experiencing a planned or unplanned pregnancy, recently has opened its fourth location in downtown Dade City.

Pete Castellani cuts the ribbon during the grand opening of the Dade City Oasis Pregnancy Care Center, standing between Lora Novak (left) and April Beck (right). They are joined by local Dade City residents and dignitaries. (Katie Fernandez)

The nonprofit, founded by Pete Castellani, got started in 2009 when it opened in Land O’ Lakes. Over the past 12 years, Oasis has successfully expanded into other areas like Wesley Chapel and Tampa.

In late 2020, Castellani got a call from two local Dade City figures about an opportunity for a fourth location.

Randy Huckabee, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dade City, and Larry Guilford, founder of Make A Difference, reached out to Castellani and suggested he take over a vacant center located at 37522 Meridian Ave.

“We brought the idea to our board, discussed it with the church, and low and behold we opened our fourth center on May 11,” says Castellani.

Castellani has been overwhelmed by the success and response he has received in Dade City.

“The whole community, including different organizations, churches, and political figures, has given us so much support. It’s been such a welcoming, friendly, great experience coming into this area,” said Castellani.

As of now, the center is only open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but Oasis Dade City Director Lora Novak hopes to expand those hours as more people take advantage of its services.

Every service that’s offered to mothers and their partners are completely free, including pregnancy tests, a free ultrasound at less than 22 weeks, and Bright Course lessons that are carried until the baby turns 1 year old.

Lora Novak and Pete Castellani (Nicole Sanchez)

Bright Course lessons, which are in both English and Spanish, educate mothers and their partners on what to expect in their pregnancy, labor and delivery, breastfeeding, and so much more.

Mothers earn points as they complete the different lessons, which can be redeemed at Oasis’ in-house baby boutique filled with new and gently used baby items.

“We provide bibs to cribs, and everything in between,” said Novak.

Oasis stresses the importance of mothers taking time to make their decision on childbirth.

“We always want them to choose life, but that’s ultimately their decision,” said Novak, “We would be there for them for counseling and services in the future, no matter what choice they decide to make.”

For more information on the Dade City center and its services, go to OasisPregnancyCenter.org, or to donate, visit HeartsForOasis.pronetwork.us.

By Nicole Sanchez