The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Spreading holiday cheer

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club members recently formed assembly lines of crafters to put together Thanksgiving and Christmas treats and favors for Meals on Wheels homebound recipients. The women prepared hundreds of turkey cookie packets and elf candy canes to lend a festive surprise to the meal trays that seniors and shut-ins receive. From left: Sandi Giddens, Mary Anne Lykins, April Saland and Joan Young.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel supports local theater group

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Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is helping to bring theater back to the local community.

The residential community is collaborating with The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, a new group for Wesley Chapel residents that is banding together to create a community theater for adults.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is allowing the theater group to use its welcome center as its temporary home for all the group’s meetings and rehearsals.

“One of the most important parts of building a town is supporting the community it is comprised of,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for Avalon Park Group.

“It is our pleasure to support local, grass-roots organizations that build up the arts, especially when it provides opportunities to meet and build relationships with neighbors,” said Lerret.

One of those neighbors — and a resident of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel for the past five years— is Rodney Bueno, artistic director for The Wesley Chapel Theater Group.

Bueno explains how the group got started a couple months ago when one of its members started a Facebook page for theater lovers in the Wesley Chapel area.

“We were really looking to meet and just discuss our love for theater, and maybe get into some script readings and put on little skits for each other,” says Bueno.

“With COVID coming around, everyone re-evaluated their life and there was something missing and for us — it was performing again. We just wanted to bring that spark back to our lives and then bring it to the community.”

That love for the arts ended up turning the group into an official theater company.

The Wesley Chapel Theater Group is currently working on its first introduction performance, which consists of three short plays from local director/writer Marc Saunders.

Bueno says he’s extremely grateful for Lerret and her entire team at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel for allowing his group to use the welcome center for its meeting space.

“I’m very happy about it. It feels like home… It’s definitely nice to bring something that I love to the community I live in. I hope to do that for a long time because I plan on living here for a long time,” says Bueno.

“We were excited to learn about Rodney’s desire to bring community theater to our area and are more than thrilled to support it by providing a venue for practice, performances and also by promoting the group throughout our various avenues,” said Lerret.

Bueno says the local community can help support the theater group by following its Facebook page (The Wesley Chapel Theater Group). The group also is looking for behind-the-scenes volunteers who can help with stage work, as well as finding sponsorships.

For more information on The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, email .

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,” said 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 11-24-21

Bella Home Market is ready for the holidays

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By Trevor Lloyd

If you’re not already in the holiday spirit, give Bella Home Market in Lutz a visit.

As soon as you walk through the door, you’re greeted with an assortment of boxes, bells and bows meant for that perfect holiday gift. Unique seasonal finds stretch from front to back, and floor to ceiling, making it hard to leave empty-handed.

“Christmas is practically here, and there’s plenty more coming,” says owner Lou Malerba.

Throughout the year, Bella Home Market is known for its upscale décor and memorable merchandise. This specialty boutique is the only elite retailer of the popular DIY paint, Dixie Belle — which means it’s the only place in Lutz where you can find every line of Dixie Belle products.

Malerba has close ties with Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, too, so he’s honoring the season of giving with a great way to give back. Each donation of five dollars is sent to the Shula Fund at Moffitt. The fundraiser helps women with breast cancer find childcare and assists with medical bills. With each donation, you’re entered into a drawing at Bella Home for a one-of-a-kind Dixie Belle product.

For online orders and Dixie Belle class signups, visit BellaHomeMarket.com.

1532 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. • U.S. 41, across from Walmart • Lutz, FL 33549

813-345-8038

Published on 11-24-21

Cornerstone Protection Plan Will Save You Time And Money

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Autumn is a great time to have your home comfort systems serviced, and also to consider an annual protection plan to keep your home cool, and plumbing and electrical components in tip-top shape all year long.

When choosing a company to work on your home comfort systems, you will want an established company with a solid reputation to be around during the course of your plan and in business when you need them.

Many homeowners in Pasco, Hillsborough, Hernando and Pinellas counties count on Cornerstone Pros, one of the area’s largest and most established three-trade contractors. The family owned Land O’ Lakes company has provided air conditioning, plumbing and electrical services for over 15 years, and its reputation for quality and affordable work has allowed it to grow to employ close to 100 local people who provide exceptional customer service. This is evident in Cornerstone’s outstanding customer reviews, which show how the company builds long-term relationships in the communities where its staff lives and works.

Home Warranty vs. Cornerstone Protection Plan

While a home warranty can provide some cost savings and protection when failures arise, it does not guarantee that a homeowner will receive the best solution at the most cost-effective pricing. Often contractors that work for home warranty companies are looking for ways to make money above and beyond the pay structure of the home warranty company. This is typically a low flat rate; therefore, the contractor then looks to pass the cost onto the homeowner, potentially costing you more.

Essentially, it takes the homeowner out of the driver’s seat as far as being in control of who you choose to work in your home and prices you are willing to pay, because the contractor is assigned and you are at the mercy of their schedule, quality and ethics. Many times, a homeowner can go days waiting for a service call or repair to be done.

With the Cornerstone Protection Plan, you have chosen upfront the contractor you want to do business with, so when issues arise, you know who you can count on without a middle man to deal with for approvals on work. It’s just you (the homeowner) and the Cornerstone team. The protection plan also provides preventative maintenance as a part of the package that gives you regular maintenance visits that help to avoid failures during peak times. With a warranty company, the homeowner pays for this as an addition to the package.

A Cornerstone Protection Plan however, offers faster response times, saves you money and reduces headaches. Here are the top five benefits of a Cornerstone protection plan vs. a warranty company:

1.) AC & Heating Cleaning and Check-ups, Plumbing and Electrical Inspections

Semi-annual inspections ensure that your HVAC system is running properly, and also extends the life of your system with the performance of proper maintenance. Those services are not included in home warranties; but they are free every six months under a Cornerstone Pros protection plan. The Protection Plan also offers annual plumbing and electrical inspections.

If maintenance is not done, a home warranty company can deny any claims for repair work, stating the breakdown was due to poor maintenance. That will leave the repair up to you, the homeowner.

2. Discount on All Repairs and Service/Diagnostic Fees

A Cornerstone Protection Plan saves you money on the initial service/diagnostic call, and when work is needed, it provides discounts on repairs, parts and labor. Typically, home warranty companies place limits on what they will fix, and also require a deductible be paid prior to repairs being done.

3. Lower Utility Bills

While a home warranty is strictly focused on providing a homeowner with repair and replacement, a Cornerstone Protection plan maintains all your home comfort products and results in potential savings on your monthly electric bill. Studies show that with regular tune-ups, a unit will maintain up to 95% of its original efficiency.

4. Priority Scheduling for AC, Heating, Plumbing & Electrical

When you have an emergency, a Cornerstone Protection Plan means you don’t have to wait for days for someone to come out and look at the issue. You will be placed on a priority schedule and typically receive same-day service any time of the year.

5. Trustworthy & Local

With a Cornerstone Protection Plan, you are dealing with a company you already like and trust for all of your home comfort needs. With home warranties, the homeowner does not have the option of selecting the provider.

A Cornerstone Protection Plan is a low-cost, effective way to protect your home comfort products, compared to what you would pay for a traditional warranty company plan. Cornerstone Pros is currently offering its Protection Plan at just $9.95 a month for up to two AC units. Please call today or go to the website, CornerstonePros.com, to learn more and sign up for our cost savings plan.

Cornerstone Pros phones are answered 24/7, and technicians are available weekends and holidays. Call 813-990-0561 anytime. For more information, visit the website at CornerstonePros.com.

Published 11-24-21

Pasco’s growth fuels economy

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Apartment construction is dominating residential development along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor — a magnet for development in the midst of Pasco County’s surging growth.

As rooftops on luxury apartment homes pop up, retail is following, as evidenced by roadside signs and county permits.

Signs like these, east of Odessa, off State Road 54, are popping up on former pastureland up and down the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor. (Fred Bellet)

Former pastures along the heavily traveled road are occupied now with shops, restaurants, apartments, auto dealerships and Class A offices.

The Shops at Wiregrass, near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, in Wesley Chapel, has added Athleta; go! Calendars & games; and, siKicks (a footwear and collectibles shop); Charming Charlies; and, Hickory Farms. Coming soon are Body Details; JABZ Boxing; and The Living Room.

Besides expanding its retail, Cypress Creek Town Center, a massive development west of the Interstate 75/State Road 56 interchange, is jumpstarting its residential plans.

County building permits indicate that Garrett Apartments are coming to Grand Cypress Drive, and Silversaw at Wesley Chapel is rising along Garden Village Way and Citron Boulevard.

Valentino’s Fine Jewelers and The Good Feet Store have opened on Sierra Center Boulevard, the town center’s prime east-west road, and Carrabba’s Italian Grill is coming.

Construction on Miller’s Ale House, meanwhile, is ongoing at the Wesley Chapel Boulevard entry into Tampa Premium Outlets, on the south side of the highway.

Zaxby’s restaurant has opened on Sun Vista Drive near Costco. New offerings at Tampa Premium Outlets will include a Frosty Cart by Wendy’s and new jewelry selections with Banter at Piercing Pagoda.

BMW of Wesley Chapel is building a six-story building on State Road 56. (Fred Bellet)

Just west of Wesley Chapel Boulevard, on the north side of State Road 54, owners of El Dorado furniture store are laying groundwork for a 70,000-square-foot store.

When it opens, expected around June, shoppers will be able to stroll along a streetscape, enjoying more than 20 storefronts showcasing furniture styles from contemporary to traditional.

The Capo family, who is developing El Dorado, opened their first store in the late 1960s in Miami.

The family opened a store in St. Petersburg in late 2019, before the COVID shutdown and, despite the timing, it has fared well, according to Pedro Capo, chief operating officer at El Dorado.

Now, Capo said he expects to hire and train about 50 employees for the Pasco store, likely beginning in March or April.

Capo is optimistic about the Pasco store’s prospects, noting that the county’s residential growth bodes well for building a strong customer base.

El Dorado will join WaWa, Firestone and Burger King along State Road 54 frontage at the Brighthouse Crossings apartments.

Just west of Brighthouse, a Woodie’s Wash Shack has opened at the Shoppes at Cypress Creek. Fazoli’s Italian restaurant is another potential tenant for the new plaza.

More housing and dining options

In Land O’ Lakes, the Avidity Living apartment complex is being built off State Road 54 and Oak Grove Boulevard. The 252-unit development is scheduled to open in 2022.

Also, coming to this location, is EOS Fitness.

Willow Bend Town Centre, at State Road 54 and Collier Parkway, recently added Ayoki Japan restaurant. Esporta Fitness is a rebranding of the former LA Fitness. And a sign near the center’s entrance off the state road suggests Pasco will get another car wash – Vortex Express Car Wash.

A new apartment community, Avidity Living, is being built at State Road 54 and Oak Grove Boulevard, in Land O’ Lakes. EOS Fitness will be built at the intersection. (Fred Bellet)

West of U.S. 41, vacant land at Ballantrae and Cypress Ranch is sprouting “coming soon” signs as construction begins on apartment units, new retail, and a proposed Class A office complex, known as 54 Crossings.

On the south side opposite Ballantrae, the Cypress Ranch development includes Azora, a new apartment complex, with a spring 2022 opening. Signs in front of the complex show a cornucopia of proposed shops including ALDI grocery store, Chick-Fil-A, another EOS Fitness, Honest-1 Auto Care, and The Learning Experience.

“We are happy to confirm that we will open our newest Lutz, Florida location next year, with construction scheduled to begin soon,” according to Matt Thon in a statement provided by email. Thon is the Haines City division vice president for ALDI.

No further details were provided regarding the construction schedule or opening date.

A Circle K is under construction at this location, and a Woodie’s Wash Shack, is coming.

On the north side, 54 Crossings is a proposed 60,000-square-foot Class A office building, at Aprile Drive, adjacent to Ballantrae’s row of fast-food restaurants that includes Taco Bell and Dairy Queen Grill & Chill.

East of the Suncoast Parkway, the master-planned community of Bexley at Newland is moving dirt for a major retail and business center, off State Road 54 and Bexley Village Drive. Known as the Hub at Bexley, the commercial complex is scheduled for a summer 2022 opening.

Bexley’s website describes the Hub as a “retail and business destination,” with a summer 2022 opening. Bexley residents can walk or bike along connecting trails to enjoy dining, shopping, live concerts and family events. But it also is envisioned as an attraction for Tampa Bay residents with easy interstate access.

Construction continues at The Towns of Oakstead, on the north side of State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes. (Fred Bellet)

The Hub also includes a large outparcel on Bexley Village Drive, adjacent to the Springhill Suites hotel and opposite the delivery entrance into the Amazon warehouse. The site will become home to 4 & Co., with about 35,000 square feet of Class A offices and co-work spaces. Memberships and limited passes will be offered. Amenities will include a gym, yoga studio, sauna, a treatment room for acupuncture and massages, and conference rooms.

West of Suncoast Parkway, the Shoppes at Crossings Boulevard initially welcomed HotWorx and Jimmy John’s restaurant. New signs in the development indicate additional tenants will be there, including Beyond 2020 Vision Specialists, PTI Solutions, Touch Nail Spa, and Shauby Dental Institute.

Another apartment complex, Avilla Suncoast, is under construction at Redstone Way and Crossings Boulevard, immediately behind the new Hooters restaurant.

Next along the route, The Preserve Marketplace, off South Branch Road, is increasing its retail and business options with Caring Paws Animal Hospital, 100% Chiropractic, PostNet, Lin China restaurant, Papa Johns restaurant, Burger Fi, Chipotle, Panera Bread, and the USF Federal Credit Union. The shopping center is anchored by the Greenwise Publix grocery store.

Starkey Ranch Town Center, at Gunn Highway and State Road 54, is expanding, too. A shell building is under construction, but the new tenants are not yet identified.

Starkey Ranch Business Park on Heart Pine Avenue recently added Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop. Tropical Smoothie Café has a ‘coming soon’ sign. Butcher’s Mark Fresh Meats and Marinades is another shop on its way.

Clearly, there’s a lot going on, along State Road 54/State Road 56 — and there’s no indication that the pace of activity will slow anytime soon.

Published Nov. 24, 2021

By Kathy Steele

Covid-19 concerns cancel annual Tampa Tour de Clay

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Organizers of the annual Tampa Tour de Clay have announced that the event won’t be held this year.

Last year, the annual tour used a hybrid approach, allowing visitors to meet personally with artists and to also view pottery pieces virtually.

This 8-inch by 12-inch ash and rutile blue teapot, by Jack Boyle, sells for $125. (Courtesy of Deborah Gillars)

This year, the organizers decided it would be more prudent to postpone the event until December 2022.

The organizers explained why they would not be holding the annual Tampa Bay showcase for pottery and pottery artists.

“While we are encouraged to see the Covid-19 rate of infection continue to drop, our members felt it was still too risky to host a crowded indoor event, without the ability to require face coverings, putting you, our valued patrons and your families, at risk,” the news release says.

“The pandemic has been very challenging emotionally, economically and health-wise for so many, and the artists who make up the Tampa Bay Tour de Clay are no different. If anything, we are a microcosm of the struggles artists across the nation have faced,” the release adds.

The group’s 15 core members include those who earn their income and supported their families by traveling to juried outdoor festivals, showing their work in local galleries, working as graphic designers, owning galleries and art studios, and teaching.

Some of the members show their work only at Tampa Tour de Clay, the release adds.

“All the artists have struggled to create revenue when art festivals were cancelled, and galleries were shuttered. Each navigating the constantly changing rules, all the while taking into consideration the risks to their children, grandchildren and/or elderly parents in their care,” the release adds.

The group hopes to resume the annual event next year, on the weekend of Dec. 10 and Dec. 11, 2022.

While the pandemic goes on, the artists also have continued to create their works.

These pottery artists — William Kidd, Ira Burhans, Jack Boyle, Michel Ginouves and Glenn Woods —  will have a limited number of pieces available for purchase, at San Antonio Pottery, 11903 Curley St., in San Antonio.

To find out more about the Tampa Tour de Clay, visit TampaTourDeClay.com.

Published Nov. 24, 2021

Tips to help avoid holiday traffic jams near I-75/State Road 56

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Officials from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) have offered a bit of a playbook to help motorists avoid holiday traffic jams near the Interstate 75/State Road 56 interchange.

The interchange happens to be near Cypress Creek Town Center, which includes Tampa Premium Outlets, west of the intersection on State Road 56; and The Shops at Wiregrass, east of the interchange on State Road 56.

There also are myriad shops and restaurants in the general area — making the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor a busy area.

Add the holidays and a major construction project into the mix, and traffic jams could become a real source of frustration during the holidays.

So, the folks at FDOT’s District Seven office are offering some practical suggestions that could help during the holidays, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.

Their first word of advice? Avoid the area, when possible.

Instead of getting off at the State Road 56/I-75 exit, FDOT officials advise southbound motorists to get off at the State Road 54/I-75 exit. Those motorists can head west from that interchange and then take Wesley Chapel Boulevard south to State Road 56, to access the area on State Road 56, west of I-75.

At the same exit, head east over to Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and then south to State Road 56, to access the areas east of I-75.

Here are some other suggestions:

  • Use other roads to travel around the highly congested area of SR 56 at I-75, and also near shopping malls, especially if your destination is not actually on the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor.
  • Seek out alternate access points to shopping and dining destinations. (Remember many major shopping areas have multiple access points to and from parking areas.)
  • Shop or commute during off-peak hours, when possible. Congestion at SR 56/I-75 is at its worst between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., on weekdays, so try to avoid that area during those hours.

In addition to issuing this guidance, the FDOT “will adjust traffic signals for seasonal traffic patterns and the project team is working on other plans to help improve travel times,” according to a news release from Kris Carson, spokeswoman for FDOT’s District Seven office.

Published Nov. 24, 2021

New agreement aims to give EMS students practical experience

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a request for the Pasco County Fire Rescue Department and the School of EMS to pursue a contract to allow students to participate in patient care activities.

The agreement, approved last month, calls for students to gain experience in a prehospital setting through an established clinical program, when the students are enrolled in the paramedic program at the School of EMS.

Currently, students that are employed by Pasco County Fire Rescue and enrolled in the School of EMS program to obtain paramedic credentials are not able to practice and apply paramedic exercises toward their certification hour allotment requirement.

Firefighters hired by Pasco County Fire Rescue agree to a “Condition of Employment” to elevate their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) status to Paramedic (a medically advanced treatment designation in the emergency services field more appropriate for service delivery through a premier organization within three years of employment with Pasco County Fire Rescue).

Establishing this agreement is expected to provide students with the opportunity to apply skills mastered in the classroom within a “real-world” setting while under close supervision and mentorship from their colleagues, and substantially increase efficiency in the educational advancement path of the county’s firefighters, according to the Oct. 26 agenda materials.

Published Nov. 24, 2021

MPO advisory committee adds two members

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The board of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization has appointed Christie Zimmer and Jim Engelmann to serve on the organization’s Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).

The Pasco MPO is the lead transportation planning agency in Pasco County that serves unincorporated Pasco and the municipalities of Zephyrhills, San Antonio, St. Leo, New Port Richey, Port Richey and Dade City.

The board took the action at its October meeting.

The CAC advises the Pasco MPO board on various issues coming before the board.

Under state and federal laws, the Pasco County MPO is responsible for establishing a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive transportation planning process for Pasco County. Key responsibilities are the creation of the 20-year Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the five-year Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and the five-year Transportation Improvement program.

Published Nov. 24, 2021

Thousands of new socks and shoes collected for Pasco kids

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Here’s a look at the scores of shoes collected in the sixth annual Two Good Soles Shoes & Socks Drive, a partnership between Pasco County. Pasco Constitutional Offices and Pasco County Schools. The annual drive provides footwear for Pasco students in need. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The sixth annual Two Good Soles Shoes & Socks Drive yielded nearly 3,000 pairs of shoes and nearly 4,000 pairs of socks that will be given to kids in Pasco County Schools, according to a county news release.

The annual effort, which involves Pasco County government and the county’s Constitutional Offices, resulted in a bounty of new footwear that was delivered to Wendell Krinn Technical School in New Port Richey on Oct. 27.

Since 2016, the Two Good Soles Drive has collected 12,310 pairs of shoes and 34,457 pairs of socks. Social workers give the items to Pasco students, according to the release.

“This donation drive makes a huge difference for our students in Pasco,” Assistant County Administrator Cathy Pearson, said in the release.

Published Nov. 24, 2021