The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Welcome to the Family

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General manager Aya Burkhart (center, in white) and her entire Zephyrhills Under Par family.

By Will Plazewski

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Since it opened in 1957, the course itself has been known by many names — Airport Links, Zephyrhills Municipal Golf Links and City Course.

While its official name is actually Zephyrhills Under Par, as far as the course’s staff is concerned, it could just as easily be called Family Links, because that’s how they view each other and their guests.

Ask Course Manager Craig Sexton about the numerous leagues he hosts, and he gets off topic boasting about the weekly lunch specials prepared by Denise McKillip and her kitchen staff.

McKillip is just as likely to talk about the wonderful job that Course Superintendent John Husar does keeping the course in excellent shape, as she is to boast about the restaurant’s variety of tasty soups and tasty specials.

And, so it goes.

Everyone on General Manager Aya Burkhart’s staff works very hard, and it’s no secret they’re very proud of each other’s efforts to create a great experience for their guests.

“We really are like a family, and that family includes our golfers,” said Burkhart. “Most everyone is on a first-name basis around here.”

That says a lot, because during the winter season, Zephyrhills Under Par hosts many weekly golf leagues from the area’s numerous adult-living communities. Plus, its 35-seat banquet room is frequently used for various HOA meetings and private parties.

Expanding on their family theme, Sexton talks about what a great place the 60-year-old, city-owned course is for beginners and junior golfers. During the summer, golfers age 12 and younger play for free, when accompanied by a paying adult golfer.

“The course is very forgiving for those still learning the game,” said Sexton. “Plus, golf is an excellent way for kids and parents to unplug from all their digital media, get off the couch, and get some fresh air.”

Zephyrhills Under Par is located just west of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport and Skydive City. Local pilots and parachutists enjoy the birds-eye view they get of the scenic course.

In fact, Husar recalled one jumper in particular who had the best view ever when he drifted off course and onto the links. “There he was, dangling from one of the trees near (holes) 13 and 14,” he said with a grin.

813-782-0714 • zephyrhillsgolf.com

39248 B Ave. • Zephyrhills, FL 33542

(next to the airport)

Tee-times daily between 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Expert, professional service

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Owners, Marius & Angelina Ferezan

Owning their own business is a dream Marius and Angelina Ferezan have shared since they married six years ago. They wanted a business where they could offer excellent customer service and give back to their community.

The couple researched many franchise opportunities, but when they discovered The Flying Locksmith, they knew it fit their goals perfectly.

“The Flying Locksmith is a 70-year-old company with an outstanding customer service reputation,” said Marius. “When we saw it was offering franchise operations outside of its home base in Boston, we jumped at the opportunity to become one of its first locations in Florida.”

Because family was close-by, the couple chose Tampa as the location for their Flying Locksmith franchise, and opened their company last August. It serves families and businesses in central Tampa, and the northern suburbs of Lutz, Land O’Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

“It’s great to finally be open and helping people with their locksmith and security needs,” said Angelina.

The Flying Locksmiths began in Boston 70 years ago by a WWII veteran and pilot, who handed it down to his sons. The sons, and now a third generation, run the company with a synergistic combination of old world locksmith experience and new world technology.

The company has grown to become the largest locksmith service in the northeast, and only recently began franchising its successful formula to other areas of the country.

Customers value The Flying Locksmith because of the expertise and reliability and its technicians, and for its extensive inventory of parts and accessories. They especially like that technicians undergo a security background check, wear professional uniforms and always present identification.

“When you allow a service person into your home or business, you want to be sure there are no security concerns,” said Marius.

When customers call The Flying Locksmiths, there is always a live operator who answers and quickly dispatches technicians when needed.

“The company has over 100 years of combined experience in the field. If one tech hasn’t seen a particular lock, it’s highly likely someone else has,” said Marius.

“Focusing on the needs of our clients, and exceeding their expectations, is our primary goal,” said Angelina. “We also want to educate our customers and our communities about the importance of physical security.”

Be sure to call The Flying Locksmiths for all your security needs. Services include home and vehicle lock outs; deadbolt lock rekeying; master key systems; keyless entry solutions; safes and filing cabinet locks; door repair and replacement; and alarm and surveillance systems.

813-377-3674 • flying locksmiths.com/tampa-central

Busy hands make quilts, play games

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There is one activity that has been going on for some time that I never mentioned, for the simple fact that I never attended it and I am not creative like the women that go to this on a regular basis. But, I must say that it is a great group who do wonderful and thoughtful things.

It is the Grand Horizons Quilters Club, and they meet every Friday at 9 a.m., in the community center.

I spoke to Pat Mengel, and she was nice enough to give me the following information.

Members of the Grand Horizons Quilters Club are, standing from left: Pat Mengel, Pat Otto, Pattie Molnar, Joyce Billig, Betty Ball and Carolyn Ray; and, sitting is Jeanice Dalman.
(Courtesy of Helene Rubenstein)

She told me that it is a very easy-going group of 12 women quilters who like to share ideas, learn new techniques and do several projects.

Most of the quilters in this group have had many years of experience, but still enjoy learning from each other.

She went on to say that it is always nice when they have a show, and talk about their completed bed quilts, lap quilts, bags, table runners and whatever they have made.

Pat ended by saying that some of the lap quilts they have made together have been donated to Moffett Cancer Center, Dade City Hospice, and Heartland of Zephyrhills.

I must state that they are doing superb things. I am sure everything is more than appreciated.

We had our weekly game of Mexican Train on Jan. 30. Attendance had picked up from previous weeks, as people had come back from their various trips.

We had a nice gathering of residents, and we ended up having several tables of four to five people at each table.

Of course, once the game starts, you can hear bits of conversation from each table, plus friendly bantering.

One game usually lasts between 2 hours to 2½ hours. It is a fun night.

On the afternoon of Jan. 31, a friendly game of pinochle was played in the community center.

I wasn’t here on this particular day, as I had a previous engagement, but I can truthfully say that pinochle is a fun and lively game.

It is usually played men against the women, but it can differ depending on the number of people that play.

If you have never tried pinochle before, you may want to give it a try. It is loads of fun.

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published February 8, 2017

Gem Estates is planning lots of events

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Recent euchre champs were Joan Wight and Charlie Strum. And, Bruce Hudson and Sy Budzinski each won three games at a Wednesday morning shuffleboard session.

Lois Sprague talks to customers interested in her jewelry at a clubhouse sale. The sale was well-attended and appeared to be very successful.
(Courtesy of Mabel Budzinski)

Thursday morning coffee hour drew our biggest crowd ever with 145 people in attendance.

My choice of volunteers to spotlight this week are Bill and Tes Stacy.

Bill works on the maintenance committee, entertainment committee and also never turns anyone down who asks for help with a project.

Tes takes care of keeping our marquee updated and also is on the entertainment committee.

Upcoming events include a new quilting group starting Feb. 9, the Debbie Myers concert Feb. 10, a potluck dinner Feb. 14, pancakes for dinner Feb. 17, and a New England Bean Supper on Feb. 25.

By Mabel Budzinski
Gem Estates

Published February 8, 2017

 

Taco bowls, pancakes and dancing

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Andy and Margaret Castonguay hosted a Taco Bowl Dinner at the community center on Jan. 19.

Eugene and Nancy Martin take advantage of the music. (Courtesy of Ed Goldstein)

They always put out a great meal, and this is one of the favorites at Grand Horizons. There were approximately 120 people who attended this scrumptious dinner.

There were volunteers to help them out and, once again, everything ran smoothly. The helpers were Carol and Clayton George, Linda Rogers, and Fred and Pat Mengel.

Margaret made the shells herself and, from what I heard, she did a magnificent job.

We weren’t there to experience it, but from what I understand, they were all deep fried and delicious.

The condiments were on a separate table, so you could add them to your taco and meat, according to your taste. There were diced tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, salsa, sour cream, olives and onions. The meal also included a dessert.

Before the meal even started, Galen Parker said grace and did a fine job.

Everyone had a good time along with a great meal and went home very satisfied.

The following day, there were more than 70 people at the community center for an evening of entertainment and dancing with The Good Stuff Band, featuring rock-and-roll legend Ken Brady, of The Casinos. Tony, Jen, Tricia and Ken Brady made up The Good Stuff Band. The event was hosted by Gary Wilcox.

From left: Andy Castonguay, Carol and Clayton George, Linda Rogers and Margaret Castonguay with the many handmade taco bowls.
(Courtesy of Tom Carter)

A wonderful variety of music was performed, including The Casinos’ big hit, “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye.” This song was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, as one of the top 100 songs of all time. Brady, now 72, performed this wonderful tune perfectly to a standing ovation of the crowd.

In addition to the dancing and the music, there was a prize-in-an-ice cream theme that consisted of certificates to Publix (for ice cream), plus individual jars of toppings that included chocolate syrup, nuts, whipped topping, etc., in a basket.

Our monthly pancake breakfast was hosted on Jan. 21 by Dave and Mary Heim. You could get all the pancakes, sausage and/or French toast with coffee that you wanted. It is a great way to start off the morning, and people always look forward to it.

There were several volunteers to help out during this breakfast, and they were Pat Bond, Tom Carter, Bill Donlon, Dave and Mary Heim, Linda Rogers and Rosemary Semian.

Volunteers help keep different activities running for Grand Horizons, and they certainly are appreciated.

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published February 1, 2017

An afternoon, and cruise, to remember

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Rich and Chris Fulton don’t seem to mind their empty plates.
(Courtesy of Adrianne Ayres)

Because Marty and I were away, Sandy Lindke was nice enough to tell me about their outing. She told me that a nice size group of residents showed up for a late lunch at the Zephyrhills Golden Corral on Jan. 13. She went on to mention that there were 46 people who attended and left stuffed. This was a nice time for chats and laughs, and it was hosted by Sandy. From what Sandy mentioned, there was a door prize won by Bill Elliott. It was a voucher to the next visit to Golden Corral, and it was picked by Mr. Tuttle from the signup sheet (The Tuttle family owns Golden Corral).

I am sure that most people thoroughly enjoyed themselves and found that time just flew by. If you have never gone to a Golden Corral, let me tell you that anything you could possibly think of is on this buffet.

Eileen and Ed Goldstein at the Golden Corral luncheon.

In the meantime, while this lovely outing was going on, Marty and I went on a mini cruise to the Bahamas.

We had a lovely time aboard the cruise ship, and on the very first day after attending a mandatory fire drill, the ship hosted a sail away party.

Everyone mingled and got to know one another. There was much music and loads of conversation.

Later that night, we saw a comedy show which had everyone in stitches.

The following day, we attended many a trivia contest. They were so much fun, and I realized there was a lot we didn’t know.

The ship made a stop at Nassau, but since we were here before, we stayed onboard.

The Atlantis Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas.(Courtesy of Marty Rubenstein)

There was also an International Parade of Flags aboard the cruise line, where they celebrated the many nations represented by their crew onboard.

There was another comedy show that was entirely different than the first. Again, it was an absolute delight.

Later that night, there was the Love and Marriage game. This was a cute show and had some audience participation.

On the very last day, beside some more games, our travel agent (B & D Travel) hosted a show that was fabulous. It consisted of different types of music and songs, and there was quite a bit of dancing going on. There was also a hilarious special treat.

We were, at this time, also treated to some cocktails.

The very next day we made a stop at CocoCay, a private island, where they had vendors and swimming.

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published January 25, 2017

 

Recognizing our volunteers

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The recent Monday euchre champs were Mae Slipp and Roger Ward.

Also, Dave Roberts was a three-game shuffleboard winner.

Dan Bluhm, with his wife, Vicki, is a volunteer who gives a lot to the community.
(Courtesy of Mabel Budzinski)

Eighty-two residents came to our best potluck dinner ever. Many thanks to Paula Beck and Mary Kay Lynch for their efforts in making this so special.

Alan Bennett opened Thursday morning coffee hour by giving the invocation and leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Linda Files moderated the conversation. In attendance were 142 residents and guests.

My pick for volunteer of the week is Dan Bluhm. Dan quietly does so much for our community. He works with the maintenance committee, summer committee, and watches for issues and handles them before they become problems. Dan, with the help of his wife, Vicki, is responsible for the beautiful butterflies that have come to Gem Estates. Shirley Czysz was the lucky person to find one this week.

By Mabel Budzinski
Gem Estates

Published January 25, 2017

 

Grand Horizon residents enjoy food, glorious food

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Grand Horizons held its first egg n’ bag of the New Year on Jan. 7, with 95 people in attendance and several first-timers, including guests.

Joyce Bell offers a bite of one of the desserts at the Olive Garden.
(Courtesy of Joyce Bell)

If you have never been to an egg n’ bag, let me explain it to you. It is a very different way to serve an omelet. People pick their own ingredients from an assortment including bacon, ham, cheese, onions, mushrooms, green peppers and Jalapeno peppers. Besides the omelet, there are hash-brown potatoes, sausage gravy and biscuits, plus coffee and orange juice.

The event was hosted by Jim and Judi Leitzke, plus many helpers, including Sue and George Richardson, Joan and Dave Lawrence, Sue and Galen Parker, and Clayton and Carol George.

There was much socializing and catching up on past news.

Galen Parker said grace before the tables were called forward to make their omelet. The entire community was quiet while grace was being said, and Galen did a very nice job.

A waiter at the Olive Garden offers up a couple of cheesecake selections.

As always, the breakfast ran smoothly, as each person had a specific job to do.

On Jan. 10, we had our Lunch Bunch. It was a little different than the past lunches, as the women met at an Olive Garden where they had a lovely time. The only difference was there was a misunderstanding and, for some reason, they met at two completely different Olive Gardens.

There was still a nice gathering of approximately 20 women who got together and went shopping or directly home after a terrific lunch.

I didn’t go that day, but I am sure different dishes and cheesecakes (which they known for) were served and taken home for a remembrance of a delightful, but hectic, day.

I recall, too well, the different cheesecakes that were brought out last year. The array of colors was breathtaking. I am sure the same goes for this year as well.

This lunch was hosted by Joyce Bell.

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published January 18, 2017

 

Neighbors helping neighbors

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Gem Estates’ residents recently were treated to some fabulous music of “our era” performed by the Sugarbear Band. Those in attendance were pleased to find two members of the band outside relaxing on a bench greeting folks as they arrived.

Dick Thompson volunteers to help anyone with computer issues, whether it is setup, repairs, or learning how to use one. (Courtesy of Mabel Budzinski)

Lee Heffelfinger introduced the band, and the music was delightful.

Ellie Brookins and Larry Sharp were the recent Monday evening euchre champs, and

Sy Budzinski was a three-game winner in Wednesday morning shuffleboard.

I would like to thank Dick Thompson who volunteers to teach a computer class, repairs computers and sets up equipment for those of us who need his help. This electronic whiz also is a block captain and works with the maintenance committee.

On Jan. 12, the big red bus was here for our blood drive. That same evening, Jim Nagle’s group served a pancake supper for $4.

On Jan. 31, 24 of our residents will attend a Neighbors Helping Neighbors class presented by Bayfront Health Dade City.

Debbie Myers will present her country music show on Feb. 10.

On a more somber note, Gem Estates residents are deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and neighbor Edward Morehouse.

Recently, we have seen a variety of weather, but I won’t complain about our weather —  they had snow in Jefferson, Texas!

By Mabel Budzinski
Gem Estates

Published January 18, 2017

 

Grand Horizons rings in the New Year

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Nearly 80 people attended a New Year’s Eve celebration on Dec. 31, with music, dancing and games. The party was hosted by Gary Wilcox, and from what I heard, he did a marvelous job.

Joan and Ed Fisher celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary and stepped in time to the first song they ever danced to.
(Courtesy of Ed Goldstein)

The band, Gears 1 Music Explosion, played a variety of music, which consisted of oldies, rock n’ roll and country. The band also took requests.

There was music trivia, karaoke and cash prizes awarded to 10 attendees. The prizes that were awarded were such things as a free egg n’ bag, a free pancake breakfast and so much more. From what I heard, there was a movie basket, too.

I spoke to Eileen Goldstein, and she said that the movie basket included four movie tickets, cash and candy. Barb Livingston made up the basket, and she did a lovely job.

When the people first entered the community center, they saw it was decorated beautifully with top hats (for the men), tiaras (for the women), and noise makers at each individual place setting, plus beads and confetti on the tables.

Gary Wilcox, host of the New Year’s Eve party, dances with his wife, Carol.

The tables were set up with silver and white tablecloths, along with black seat coverings.

Many pictures were taken, and Gary Wilcox and Ed Goldstein provided information about the party and some pictures of the fun time.

A special presentation was made to Joan and Ed Fisher on their 67th anniversary. The presentation was made by Gary Wilcox. This was truly special to the wonderful couple.

The band went on to play the song, “I Wonder Who is Kissing Her Now,” which was a song that the Fishers danced to when they first met.

Gary Wilcox was the disc jockey, and Chick Shackewyc was in charge of the engineering and setup.

Our thanks go out to Gary and all the other volunteers in making this celebration a success.

By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons

Published January 11, 2017