The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Newest Walmart opening May 21

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Walmart is set to open its newest store May 21 in northern Hillsborough County that will bring 300 jobs to the area.

Located at 15302 N. Nebraska Ave., it will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will include some of the common staples found in most Walmarts now, including groceries and a pharmacy.

“The new store builds upon the partnership Walmart has enjoyed with this community for more than 20 years,” Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist said, in a release. “I am also grateful for Walmart’s commitment tog giving back to the community, as demonstrated by the grants they will be presenting to local community groups.”

The grand opening celebration includes the presentation of $5,500 in grants to local community groups like the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries, Mort Elementary School, and the University Area Community Development Corp.

The store will be led by Arnetta Hill, who began her Walmart career in 2002 as an assistant manager trainee. She will be on hand during a family day event May 24 from noon to 3 p.m., that will include face painting, cupcake decorating, and free food samples.

Walmart has more than 11,300 stores in 27 counties with annual sales of $473 billion.

Spring is here, but so is Grand Horizons

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While most of our residents are either going back to their northern homes or taking motor trips, games and dinners still continue at Grand Horizons.

Chris and Rich Fulton check in hungry guests for Easter dinner. (Courtesy of Helene Rubenstein)
Chris and Rich Fulton check in hungry guests for Easter dinner.
(Courtesy of Helene Rubenstein)

There was an Easter dinner and potluck in our community center on April 20, and 56 residents and guests attended this outing hosted by Terry and Mim Gardner, Ken and Cheryl Leone, Carol George, and Rich and Chris Fulton. The social club provided the ham, and each couple brought a dish to complete the meal.

There was a great variety including pasta salad, coleslaw, potato salad, chicken salad, scalloped potatoes, vegetables, and so much more. In addition to these dishes, there were several desserts for the sweet tooth, and a lovely cake that was shaped like a lamb that was so moist.

Before tables were called, grace was given by Fred Sage. He did a lovely job of it and we thank him.

After dinner was complete, Ken Leone mentioned that there were two winners from each table. Each winner went home with a lovely handmade centerpiece.

We had a lovely time, and the potluck was done in very good taste.

Most of the activities that have been going on in the past several months are continuing.

They still have shuffleboard every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, which is loads of fun with friendly conversation among the players. Every Thursday they still have mah-jongg and euchre on Thursday night.

Dominoes are still played every Monday night, and bingo is every Tuesday night in our community center. There are these activities and so much more to keep a person busy and not wondering what to do next.

We had an ice cream social at our community center on May 4. Marty and I were not there as we traveled back to Connecticut. Wish we were back in Florida, as it is so cold here.

From what I understand, there were several toppings available. Many people attended and thoroughly enjoyed themselves creating sundaes that were beyond description.

The hosts for this special event were Dave and Linda Tutin, Bill and Karen Donlon, and Rich and Chris Fulton. Our thanks go out to them on arranging this function.

Before signing off on this write-up, I would like to add a little note for you music lovers. While Marty and I were going to our home up north, we made a little side trip to a museum that contained mementos, treasures, pictures, articles and movies on Patsy Cline. This museum was quite extensive and we spent several hours there.

By Helene Rubenstein

Published May 14, 2014

Flags flown at half-staff Thursday

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Gov. Rick Scott has ordered flags to be flown half-staff Thursday at all local and state buildings throughout Florida to honor law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty.

It’s a mark of respect, Scott said, for “all law enforcement officers who have heroically given their lives to protect and defend us.”

Thursday also is Peace Officers Memorial Day, which was first signed into law by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. As part of that observance, National Police Week continues in Washington D.C., which will includes tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world.

Part of that week long of events include a memorial service which first began in 1982 that features 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement.

The Officer Down Memorial Page reports that 105 officers were killed in the line of duty last year, including seven in Florida. So far this year, there have been 42 deaths nationwide, with three of them in Florida. That includes Florida Highway Patrol trooper Chelsea Richard, who was struck by a car on May 3.

Local communities come up big in Parade of Homes

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Home and community developers from Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties picked up 14 awards recently as the Tampa Bay Builders Association named its 2014 Parade of Homes winners.

The parade itself featured 143 model homes by 33 builders in more than 80 Tampa Bay area communities from Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Hernando counties.

Judging was done by a panel of independent homebuilding experts, according to a release, who considered site plan, curb appeal, design, materials, outdoor living spaces, architectural detailing and workmanship.

Among the local communities, Connerton was the biggest winner with two grand awards and two merit awards. Terra Bella in Land O’ Lakes earned a grand award and a merit award, as did Cordoba Estates in Lutz.

Local grand and merit award winners were:

• Ryland Homes, Frost II at Connerton — Grand award for homes priced $226,000 to $250,999
• Lennar, Sedgewick at Live Oak Preserve — Merit award for homes priced $251,000 to $275,999
• Taylor Morrison, Kentwood III at Connerton — Grand award for homes priced $276,000 to $300,999
• Ashton Woods Homes, Fairfax at Crenshaw Reserve — Grand award for homes prices $301,000 to $335,999
• D.R. Horton, The Surrey at Terra Bella — Grand award for homes priced $336,000 to $350,999
• Standard Pacific Homes, The Chelsea at Peregrina at Watergrass — Grand award for homes priced $351,000 to $400,999
• Standard Pacific Homes, the Castleberry in Crosswinds at Seven Oaks — Grand award for homes priced $401,000 to $425,9999
• Inland Homes, the Devonshire of Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club — Merit award for homes priced $401,000 to $425,999
• M/I Homes, Roxbury C at Connerton — Merit award for homes priced $426,999 to $450,999
• M/I Homes, Madison C at Trinity Preserve — Grand award for homes priced $451,999 to $474,999
• Homes by WestBay, the Verona at Terra Bella — Merit award for homes priced $451,999 to $474,999
• Homes by WestBay, the Key Largo II at Connerton — Merit award for homes priced $551,000 to $600,999
• Standard Pacific Homes, the Bellingham at Cordoba Estates — Grand award for homes priced $651,000 to $775,999
• Standard Pacific Homes, the Bristol at Cordoba Estates — Merit award for homes priced $976,000 to $1 million

Standard Pacific Homes also earned a Best Floor Plan award for its Castleberry in Crosswinds at Seven Oaks in Wesley Chapel.

 

In Print: It’s a week filled with art, roads and the Guv’na

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Trevor Nichols is heading to Washington, D.C. And it’s thanks to Coach Keppel.

That’s Land O’ Lakes High School cross-country coach Kris Keppel, of course, who served as the inspiration for a pencil drawing Nichols made that earned him accolades from U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ Congressional Art Competition.

“I really wanted to give my coach something as a gift, something he could have to remind him of me,” Nichols told reporter B.C. Manion.

Keppel is battling pancreatic cancer, which has inspired not just the athletes on his team, but the entire school as well.

Read what Coach Keppel had to say about the drawing, and check it out for yourself in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News. Or you can read it online by clicking here.

Anyone who has ever had to pull out onto Land O’ Lakes Boulevard knows that it’s not for the timid. And that’s why some residents in the community of Silver Lakes off Fletch and Barcellona roads are not too keen about a 100-home project proposed for Curve Lake that could make it even harder for people to get in and out of the neighborhood.

More agricultural land in northern Land O’ Lakes could be history if Pasco County approves the rezoning of more than 68 acres just off Fletch Road south of Caliente Boulevard. Southern Crafted Homes wants to build 100 homes there off Curve Lake. (Staff photo by Michael Hinman)
More agricultural land in northern Land O’ Lakes could be history if Pasco County approves the rezoning of more than 68 acres just off Fletch Road south of Caliente Boulevard. Southern Crafted Homes wants to build 100 homes there off Curve Lake. (Staff photo by Michael Hinman)

“The thing is truly the safety issue of getting in and getting out,” Silver Lakes homeowner Bobbi Smith told reporter Michael Hinman. “There’s no way you can have all those homes, and have just one road to get out.”

A recent Pasco County Development Review Committee meeting addressed some of the traffic issues, and liked the idea of eventually connecting the community with Caliente Boulevard in one direction, or Ehren Cutoff in the other. But there’s a big obstacle in the way of that, and you can read about it in this week’s The Laker, or read the e-edition right here.

Finally, it’s election time again, and some Lutz “politicians” are looking for voters willing to buy their candidate into victory. A debate among the Lutz Guv’na candidates May 10 looks to raise more than $10,000 for local charities.

“It’s a silly, community spirit, wonderful thing for Lutz,” current Guv’na Suzin Carr told reporter Michael Murillo. “It’s supposed to be tacky. It’s supposed to be off-the-cuff crazy.”

Who’s running? Find out in this week’s Lutz News, or read it online by clicking here.

All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.

If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.

Senior citizens ride Pasco buses for free Thursday

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May is Older American Month, and Pasco County Public Transportation is offering senior citizens a chance to ride for free on May 15.

Passengers 60 and older will be able to board a PCPT bus without having to pay a fare, provided they show a valid identification to prove their age, according to a release.

“This is a great opportunity to introduce bus ridership to our seniors,” said PCPT manager Mike Carroll, in a release. “I encourage seniors who may not have tried to ride the bus to give it a try. Take the bus to the mall and see if you like the experience.”

Buses operate throughout the county, including along State Road 54, which travels across the county. PCPT also operates the county’s para-transit service for those unable to access transit services because of a disability, environmental barrier, or distance from a route.

Route information can be accessed by clicking here.

For additional detail, call (813) 235-6073, or (352) 521-4587.

Pasco residents commute longer than Hillsborough drivers

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Pasco County residents take longer to get to work in the morning than their neighbors in Hillsborough County.

That’s according to numbers provided by the U.S. Census Bureau on its Census Explorer Map. Using 2012 data, the Census Bureau determined that the average Pasco County driver spends 30 minutes on the road commuting to work, compared to 26 minutes for residents living in Hillsborough County.

Those numbers are unchanged from more than a decade ago, but are quite different from the commute times tracked in 1990. Then, the average Pasco resident needed 24 minutes to get to work in the morning, while Hillsborough was just slightly less at 22 minutes. It shows a fundamental shift in where Pasco residents are choosing to work over the past nearly 25 years, as many continue to drive outside the county to collect their paycheck.

The counties with the longest commute, however, are not in Pinellas County (23 minutes) or even in South Florida (25 to 29 minutes). Instead, it’s to the north in Gilchrist and Clay counties, were the average commute is 32 minutes. But even in 1990, it took a while to travel those two counties, which are home to towns like Trenton and Orange Park. According to the Census, the commute times a quarter century ago were 28 minutes each, beaten only by Liberty County in the Panhandle at the time.

At 30 minutes a day, that means the average Pasco County worker spends 125 hours each year behind the wheel, or three full work weeks, and a little bit of overtime.

Florida drivers on average spend 26 minutes commuting to work, compared to 22 minutes in 1990. New York and Maryland have the worst commute times in the country at 32 minutes, while North Dakota has the best with 17 minutes.

Scott signs hurricane tax holiday bill into law

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Gov. Rick Scott signed H.B. 5601 into law May 12 that creates a nine-day sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies beginning May 31 and running through June 8.

“Hurricane season begins June 1, and Florida families need to get a plan,” Scott said, in a release. “While we always hope for the best, Florida families need to be prepared for anything.”

That includes having a family disaster kit with supplies and medications, being prepared to evacuate if advised, and knowing evacuation routes and where pets can be brought, Scott said.

During the holiday, shoppers will be able to purchase hurricane-related supplies like flashlights, batteries, weather radios and other essential items.

Among the items that are covered, according to the finalized bill sent to the governor:

• Portable, self-powered lights, selling for less than $20
• Portable self-powered radio, two-way radio, or weather band radio selling for less than $50
• Tarpaulin or other flexible waterproof sheeting selling for less than $50
• Self-contained first-aid kit selling for less than $30
• Ground anchor system or tie-down kit selling for less than $50
• Gas or diesel fuel tank selling for less than $25
• Batteries, excluding car and boat batteries, selling for less than $30
• Non-electric food storage cooler selling for less than $30
• Portable generator selling for less than $750
• Reusable ice selling for less than $10

The program overall will cost $3 million on the state level, and $700,000 locally, according to a Senate analysis of the bill last April. The back-to-school tax holiday has the biggest impact to the budget, costing the state $32.3 million in tax revenue, and local governments $7.3 million.

Local educators get year of MOSI for free

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The Museum of Science & Industry in Tampa is offering teachers and school district employees from three counties complimentary annual memberships.

The offer, MOSI officials said, was to thank teachers and school employees for “all they do,” according to a release. It will be open to those working in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Any employee can get free admission to more than 450 exhibits and displays focused on science, technology, engineering, art and math education, or STEAM. The memberships are valid for 12 months from the date of registration, and are valued at between $45 and $75 for an individual, according to the facility’s website.

To redeem their membership, school employees must visit MOSI in person at 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa, and present a valid identification and a recent pay stub.

“Teachers and school board employees are some of the hardest working people in the nation, and we wanted to show our incredible appreciation of them and their work,” said MOSI president Wit Ostrenko, in a release. “We believe it takes a village to educate the children in our community, and MOSI is an integral part of that village, as the only information educational institution in Tampa with the sole focus of STEAM learning. We want to make sure that MOSI’s resources are available to bay area teachers.”

Pasco County Schools superintendent Kurt Browning, in a release, praised MOSI’s recognition of “the important roles education professionals play in our community, and we appreciate this generous way of acknowledging their impact.”

The membership does not include IMAX Dome Theatre films, special engagement exhibitions, or specific rides.

The museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For information, call (813) 987-6000, or visit MOSI.org.

Humana offering up to $350,000 for nonprofits

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The Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the insurance company Humana Inc., has relaunched its signature Humana Communities Benefit program, which awards multi-year grants totaling $350,000 to eligible nonprofit companies.

The program is now underway in the Tampa Bay area, as well as Chicago and San Antonio, Texas, for organizations focused on promoting healthy behaviors and relationships.

But now Humana wants the online community to be involved, letting an online vote be a part of the overall judging process.

“This new approach with Humana Communities Benefit is a natural evolution for the program as Humana and the Humana Foundation work to improve the health of the communities we serve nationwide,” said Bruce Broussard, president and chief executive of Humana, in a release. “We have added several new features to the program, including the online vote, which provides an opportunity for each community to have a stake in which organization in each region is awarded our $350,000 grant.”

The new program will award nonprofits a three-year infusion of funds, enabling the winners to receive $200,000 the first year, $100,000 the second year, and $50,000 in the final year. The funds will be used to create new programs or enhance ongoing activities that have a positive, transformational impact on the organization and the community.

Tampa Bay was one of three locations chosen because it employs more than 3,500 employees here, more than in any other area outside of their Louisville, Kentucky, headquarters.

The foundation has given more than $8 million to nonprofits in 11 communities nationwide since starting in 2003. The previous program awarded one-time, $100,000 charitable grants, including one to Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful in 2013, which used the money to build the Humana Educational Pavilion at the Florida Learning Garden in Tampa.

Locally, the competition is open to local nonprofits in Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando and Pinellas counties. Applications can be submitted to Humana.com/hcb, but must be completed by June 30.

Judging, including an online component, begins in August.