The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Land O' Lakes News

New preschool opens in Land O’ Lakes

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The Harvester Sheffield Christian Preschool opened its doors on July 1 at 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. 

Harvester Sheffield Christian Preschool is located in a wing of Harvester Community Church located at 2432 Collier Parkway. (Courtesy of Harvester Sheffield Christian Preschool)

The preschool is named after the late Beverly Sheffield who retired from the U.S. Air Force after serving for many years as a nurse. She’s also being honored for having been a longtime member of Harvester Community Church and for providing funds to help establish the preschool following her death.

Jamilet “Milly” Rodriguez is program director of Harvester Sheffield Christian Preschool which recently opened in Land O’ Lakes.

The new preschool occupies an entire wing of the church that has Russ McKee as its pastor.

Jamilet “Milly” Rodriguez is program director of the preschool that has students who are between two and five years old. 

Rodriguez earned director credentials from Brewster Technical College in Tampa and she also has a Child Development Associate credential from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAYEC), a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.

There are currently two teachers at the preschool along with her as program director, Rodriguez said. Four students are currently enrolled there.  

Both of those numbers are anticipated to increase as more people become aware of the new preschool, Rodriguez said. The preschool will operate 12 months out of the year and will only be closed during holidays and in case of inclement weather.

Having a preschool there was a dream when the church first opened in December of 1995, McKee said. It took 29 years but that dream’s finally been realized according to Rodriguez and McKee.

Anyone desiring additional information about the preschool, including how much it will cost for a student to attend, can call Rodriguez at (813) 949-0096.

Published August 14, 2024

Animal services suspended due to canine influenza

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Pasco County Animal Services (PCAS), 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes, is suspending dog adoptions, intakes, surgeries and rescue transfers for at least the next four weeks due to the presence of canine influenza — a highly contagious virus that causes respiratory disease in dogs, according to a news release.

(File)

Normal operations are expected to resume when veterinarians determine the environment is safe for pets.

The shelter is taking these steps to care for all PCAS dogs: ongoing testing; supportive care; and contact with recent adopters/rescuers.

“The health and safety of the animals in our care, as well as people and pets in our community, is and will always be our top priority,” said PCAS Director Mike Shumate, in the release.

“We realize this suspension of services is an inconvenience for our customers, and we appreciate your understanding,” said Shumate.

Canine influenza is difficult to control in kennels and the virus is likely present in the community. If your pet is showing symptoms, such as sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose and coughing, contact your veterinarian immediately.

PCAS cat operations are not affected, including: adoptions, intakes, surgeries and rescue transfers.

Pet licensing and owner-requested euthanasia needs also remain open.

If you find a lost pet during this suspension, visit MyPasco.Net/PAS for tips on how to find the owner.

Community comes together for food drive

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The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Land O’ Lakes wants to extend its appreciation to the Lutz community for its generous donation of more than 16,000 pounds of food during the recent U.S. Postal Service letter carriers’ campaign, Stamp Out Hunger.

The pantry also extends its thanks to Boy Scout Troop 33, the Fraternity of Men and many other volunteers for boxing, weighing and storing the donations picked up by the letter carriers. 

(Joel Moysuh/Unsplash)

“Sixteen thousand pounds of food fills approximately 450 banana boxes. To store, box and store that amount of food for future distribution to the hungry is a massive undertaking. We couldn’t do it without their help,” said John Hofmann, council president, St. Vincent de Paul, in a note drafted to the community and sent to The Laker/Lutz News.

This year’s donations surpassed last year’s donations by 3,000 pounds. 

Former council president Sharon Turner added, “At a time when food insecurity is on the rise, it is a blessing that the community responded so generously.”

The Stamp Out Hunger campaign began in 1993 and is the country’s largest single-day food drive. It is held on the second Saturday in May and letter carriers in cities and towns across the United States collect donations of nonperishable food items left by residents near their mailboxes.

The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry is part of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, a voluntary international Catholic organization founded in 1833 in service to the poor.

The pantry at Our Lady of the Rosary, 2348 Collier Parkway, distributes food to families on Thursdays and Fridays.

For more about the food pantry, visit https://ladyrosary.org/svdp.

Published May 22, 2024

Tunnel to Towers breaks ground on amenity center

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The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which has been providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children since 9/11, broke ground on April 15 for the Let Us Do Good Village Amenity Center in Land O’ Lakes, according to a news release.

The Village is a first-of-its-kind community made up exclusively of fallen first responder families, Gold Star families, injured veterans and injured first responders.

The amenity center is set to be a world-class facility accessible to every Village resident. It will feature an indoor ADA-accessible fitness center, basketball court, movie theater, game room and business center, the release says. Its campus also will include a swimming pool, outdoor playgrounds, tennis and pickleball courts, an outdoor kitchen, picnic pavilion, and more.

Construction continues on the Village itself and two dozen specially adapted smart homes are expected to be completed  by the end of 2024.

To donate to the mission to provide these mortgage-free homes, visit T2T.org.

Published April 24, 2024

A rendering of the Let Us Do Good Village amenity center. (Courtesy of Tunnel to Towers Foundation)
An indoor portion of the Let Us Do Good Village amenity facility is shown in this rendering.

Father and Son Love Free Food Pantry in dire straits: ‘do or die’ time has arrived

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A food pantry that has provided for thousands of desperate people for nearly six years, itself is now in desperate need of financial assistance.

The monthly rent at the Father and Son Love Free Food Pantry doubled nine months ago, said its founder, Pastor C.J. Johns Sr. 

Ken Waters is associate pastor at the Father and Son Love Free Food Pantry. (Courtesy of Pastor C.J. Johns Sr.)

They now have to pay $6,000 a month for the space they rent at 21418 Carson Drive, Suite A, in Land O’ Lakes. The rent was $3,000 a month until its previous lease expired on April 30, 2023. 

And the rent could be even higher when the new lease is effective this coming May 1, Johns said. He added that he is praying the landlord will lower the rent to $5,500 a month, but he has no assurance that will happen.

The pastor believes the only other way the food pantry, which is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, will be able to stay in business is if five individual corporate sponsors each contribute $10,000 to $12,000, or one sponsor contributes $50,000 to $60,000 over the next year.

The situation is even worse than that — the pantry needs about $15,000 immediately, since it’s been struggling to pay its rent for the remainder of its current lease, Johns said. And a 10% penalty of $600 will be charged for each month in which a rent payment isn’t made on time.

The pantry supports the homeless, elderly, veterans and other people who are barely getting by on low incomes.

An area in the food pantry is decorated with an American flag and caps donated by
veterans of different branches of the United States armed forces. The flag was
actually flown in Vietnam during that war and was donated by a combat veteran.

“The time now is ‘do or die’ for this food pantry,” Johns said.

Applications have already been made for some grants, as the pantry is now in its fourth year of operating as a 501c3 organization. However, competition for those grants is fierce and there would probably be a six-month delay — or longer — in getting funds even if a grant was awarded, Johns said.

The cost to run the facility is an additional $2,000 a month. That extra money is needed to pay for insurance and utilities. Gasoline also must be bought for volunteers who use their own vehicles to pick up food and other necessities. And the electric bill has increased significantly during the summer because the facility must be kept cool so food won’t spoil, Johns added.

The pantry is the victim of a domino effect, said Angel Walker, one of several unpaid volunteer workers who donates time and energy to meet the needs of people who come in.

Walker gave the example of a group of eight people — three adults and five children — who had received groceries valued at $300 earlier on March 19. Several of those people had to move in with another family because they couldn’t afford to pay their own rent.

The food pantry is only able to pay its rent on a wing and a prayer, Johns said. And it won’t be able to pay even a slight amount more when the new lease becomes effective.

Several of the volunteers who donate their time and energy are shown in an area
where people visiting the pantry wait until it is time for them to pick up food
and other things they need.

“This area will be severely impacted if we have to close or to relocate,” Johns said.

A PayPal account is available through which contributions may be made at:

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=5BZJ5FSHQNUCN.

Any corporate sponsor or individual who contributes to this fundraising campaign will be making a significant investment in improving the lives of possibly thousands of people whom the food pantry will serve — not only in 2024, but possibly in years to come, according to Johns.

He said that the return on investment can’t be measured in dollars or cents because there’s no value that can be placed on helping people who are in need. “We keep fighting for people who nobody wants to talk about,” Johns said.

Pastor C.J. Johns Sr., left, and Ken Waters, associate pastor, head up the operations of the Father and Son Love Free Food Pantry.

He added he estimates more than 100 homeless people who had considered taking their own lives didn’t commit suicide due to the help they had received from the pantry.

The pantry offers a large variety of food, ranging from ready-to-cook meals, canned goods, cereal, pet food and everything in between, according to Walker. People who come in are able to take a cart around and select specific food items that are needed for themselves or for their family. The only restriction is on the amount of food they can take and that’s based on how many people for whom the food is needed, Walker said.

“This is a one-of-a-kind food pantry,” Johns said, adding he doubts any other food pantry in Florida has the products that are available at Father and Son.

And, it isn’t just about food. More than 250 gifts and several bicycles were given to children this past Christmas, Johns said.

Also, hundreds of toys are available at the pantry. A Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch in Brooksville donated the majority of them. Children who accompany their parents or guardians to the pantry are given toys.

A trailer in which people could take showers was set up at the pantry on March 12. Also, a hairdresser visits once a month and provides free cuts to people. 

Additional information about the pantry is on its website, at FatherAndSonFreeFoodPantry.org, or their Facebook page. It can be reached at  813-846-9993 and inquiries can be sent to fatherandsonffp@gmail.com.

Published March 27, 2024

Volunteers prepared the ShowerUp Trailer for use on March 12 when it was at the
food pantry. Many homeless people appreciate being able to have a safe place to
clean themselves.
Different types and brands of cereal are available free of charge at the food pantry.
The package of chicken wings shown here is just one of the many different types of
ready-to-cook meals offered by the pantry.
This poster from the pantry’s Facebook page describes its many available services.

Pasco County opens new Fire Rescue station

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Pasco County Fire Rescue celebrated its new Land O’ Lakes Fire Rescue Station 28 with a grand opening on Feb. 23. Fire Rescue leaders and Pasco County officials took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Pasco County officials and Fire Rescue leaders took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at new Fire Rescue Station 28 in Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The station, at 21709 Hale Road, is centrally located and will house EMS supervisors who will provide direction and oversight for field operations in emergency situations, according to a news release.

The station includes a “Decon Depo,” where firefighter gear and equipment are inspected and cleaned to get rid of cancer-causing carcinogens.

The facility also will be home to a fire engine providing advanced life support to the community, the release says.

The same morning, Pasco Fire Rescue hosted a push-in ceremony at Station 16, 35801 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills, to unveil its newest engine serving the Zephyrhills community. 

“The health and safety of our fire crews is the main focus of each new station we build,” said Pasco County Fire Rescue Chief Anthony Perez, in the release.

“And this location will help shorten response times in the Land O’ Lakes community, adding an extra layer of protection for the people who live here or come to visit,” said Perez.

Published March 27, 2024

 

New Everwell at Bexley offers new option in Land O’ Lakes

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The Spectrum Companies has begun pre-leasing its first multifamily development in Florida, with a 3,500-unit development known as Everwell at Bexley, according to a news release.

Everwell at Bexley is a new multifamily development that is part of the award-winning Bexley master-planned community off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes. It offers an array of amenities, a variety of floor plans, easy access to Tampa International Airport and is close to a significant amount of new development in Pasco County. (Courtesy of The Spectrum Companies)

Everwell at Bexley is close to State Road 54 and within easy access to Tampa International Airport. It is part of the award-winning Bexley master-planned community, the release notes.

“We are excited to introduce Everwell at Bexley, which represents a fusion of luxury, outdoor-focused lifestyle and community,” Craig Miller, senior managing director with The Spectrum Companies, said in the release.

Everwell at Bexley will offer floor plans ranging from one-bedroom apartments to townhomes with attached two-car garages.

Standard features include soft-close Shaker-style cabinets, expansive kitchen islands with quartz countertops, frameless glass walk-in showers, and screened patios or balconies. Design options include wraparound porches, built-in desks, unit entry drop zones, private garages and on-site storage options.

“Painstaking attention to detail and intentional sitewide community activation adds up to a remarkable living experience,” said Lane Stewart, director of development, who recently opened a Tampa office for Spectrum. 

To learn more about the development, visit EverwellBexley.com.

Published February 21, 2024

New projects proposed for Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of rezoning and land use changes proposed for potential projects in Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

The planning board’s action was part of its consent agenda, meaning there was no board discussion and no public comment. Items on this agenda are approved in a single motion, unless someone on the board or at the meeting asked for an item to have a presentation.

On Jan. 18, the planning board recommended approval of:

  • A request by Tibbetts Land at Gowers Corner to change a currently zoned master-planned unit development (MPUD) to an MPUD to allow for 300,000 square feet of retail and office, and up to 400 multifamily apartments on approximately 49 acres at the southwest corner of the intersection of State Road 52 and U.S. 41. The applicant has agreed to dedicate 10 units for affordable housing.
  • A request by EFH Holdings LLC/Elite Pavers to change zoning from agricultural and general commercial to general commercial, on the west side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, approximately 1,500 feet north of Gator Lane on approximately 3.8 acres. The site consists of Elite Pavers of Tampa Bay. The applicant proposes to develop the property in conformance with general commercial uses, and the applicant has agreed to a deed restriction to limit the uses to commercial uses.
  • A request by The Corwyn at Wesley Hills MPUD to rezone agricultural land to an MPUD zoning district to allow a maximum of 350 multifamily units, 7,500 square feet of office and 7,500 square feet of commercial on approximately 24.4 acres. The project is located north of State Road 54 and west of Eiland Boulevard, in Wesley Chapel. The rezoning is a companion of a comprehensive plan amendment request to change the future land use designation on the property from six residential units per acre to MPUD.

Published February 14, 2024

Clothing swap aims to help those less fortunate

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The GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club will host a free clothing swap on Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, in the front activity room.

(Courtesy of GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club)

The event began in 2018 and has become a standing activity in the community.

The swap gives individuals an opportunity to go through their closets and purge items that are still in great shape, but no longer wanted. Participants bring their clothes to the event and can look through the donations brought in by others to take something ‘new to you’ home. No money is exchanged.

Clothes and shoes of all shapes and sizes can be donated. Used socks and underwear will not be accepted.

All items left behind will be distributed to local charities such as Sunrise of Pasco, the Cinderella Project, local homeless support charities, and Title 1 schools.

Most needed items are formal wear for high school proms, winter wear of all sizes, and throw blankets.

In 2023, the Pasco Juniors hosted three swaps and collected more than 2,000 pieces of clothing, as well as shoes and other household items.

For information, visit Facebook.com/GFWCPascoJuniors.

Published February 14, 2024

Paving work on Mentmore Boulevard expected to take 30 days

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Construction work was slated to begin on Feb. 5 on Mentmore Boulevard, in Land O’ Lakes, from State Road 54 to Sunlake Boulevard, in both directions, according to a Pasco County news release.

Crews will be resurfacing the existing roadway and adding new pavement markings. Drivers should be prepared for minor delays, the release adds.

The work hours on the project are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Motorists should expect to encounter single-lane closures, with message boards directing traffic.

The project is expected to take 30 days to complete, depending on weather conditions, the news release says.

Asphalt Paving Systems is the contractor for this county public works project.

Published February 07, 2024