The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lutz News

Lutz festival to offer selections of food and fun

By

The community of Lutz is set to usher in the autumn season with food galore and activities at the St. Timothy Family Fall Festival.

The function will run from Oct. 24 to Oct. 26 at St. Timothy Catholic Church, at 17512 Lakeshore Road in Lutz.

The upcoming Family Fall Festival at St. Timothy Catholic Church will have a multitude of games and activities for families to enjoy. The event will be at the church from Oct. 24 to Oct. 26 (Courtesy of St. Timothy Catholic Church)

The Taste of St. Timothy will be on Oct. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. With a ticket, patrons can indulge in diverse foods from more than 40 different restaurants in the Bay area.

Early morning exercise will be offered on Oct. 25 with the Family Fun Run at 8 a.m. The run will be free to the public and T-shirts will be handed out at 7 a.m.

At 9 a.m., patrons can register for the free fishing derby, which will kick off at 10 a.m.

From noon to 7 p.m., a host of activities will be available, including a quad jumper, a rock wall, pony rides, a petting zoo and a 27-foot double slide, to name a few.

And, at 1 p.m., spectators can watch as the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office lands its own helicopter near the premises, weather permitting.

On Oct. 26, there will be pumpkin decorating, crafts, water coloring and balloon-making from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tickets for the Oct. 24 food tasting, can be purchased at the church’s parish office for $10 or online for $11. Admission is free for children ages 5 and under.

Tickets will not be sold the night of the event.

To purchase tickets online or for additional information, please visit SaintTims.org/news/taste-of-st-timothy/.

St. Timothy Family Fall Festival
Where: St. Timothy Catholic Church, 17512 Lakeshore Road in Lutz
When: Oct. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Oct. 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: Food tasting on Oct. 24 will be $10 when purchased at church’s parish office and $11 when purchased online. Admission is free for ages 5 and under. Tickets will not be sold the night of the event. There will be vendors selling food on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26, but the events are free.
Details: St. Timothy Catholic Church will host various restaurants’ food for patrons to partake in. The fest also will feature multiple activities and crafts.
Info: For tickets or information, visit SaintTims.org/news/taste-of-st-timothy/.

 

Published October 23, 2019

Hillsborough holds neighborhoods conference

By

Registration has begun for Hillsborough County’s 16th annual Neighborhoods Conference.

The free event is set for Nov. 2 from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Sheraton Tampa East Hotel, 10221 Princess Palm Ave., in Sabal Park.

This year’s theme is “Reimagining Neighborhoods.”

Neighborhood and community leaders are invited to come to the conference to build on their leadership skills, hear new ways to make where they live safer, and learn how to navigate government processes and regulations.

Besides having a chance to learn, the event includes access to all exhibits, giveaways, the Neighborhood Recognition Awards luncheon, and conference workshops.

The workshop topics are:

  • Leadership development and techniques
  • Code enforcement: Questions and answers
  • NextDoor strategies, tips and tricks
  • How to write award-winning grant applications
  • Solutions to common challenges faced by neighborhood associations
  • Building resiliency within communities to help with disaster recovery
  • What neighborhoods can expect during the 2020 U.S. Census

For more information, or to register, call (813) 272-5860, or go to HCFLGov.net/Neighborhoods and click on 16th annual Neighborhoods Conference link.

Published October 23, 2019

Raising money to preserve the Old Lutz School

By

On the surface, it will appear like any typical fall festival.

Vendors will line up, selling a wide array of items — and visitors to the Autumn Day at the Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 in Lutz, will be able to stock up on all sorts of stuff.

There will be handmade soaps and scrubs. Salsas, jams and jellies. Wreaths. Terra cotta pots. Toys. Plants. Wooden signs and more.

The event will be on Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

This is what the Old Lutz School looked like decades ago — not much different from what it looks like today. (File)

Besides having the chance to check out scores of vendors, guests also can attend a free gardening workshop at 9:30 a.m.

Lynn Barber, from the University of Florida/IFAS-Hillsborough County Extension, will conduct the gardening workshop, which will focus on using high-color, low-maintenance and drought-tolerant plants in your home landscape.

On top of all that, people can tour the historic school building.

In a way, that’s what the event is all about — a method to raise money for the upkeep and preservation of a building that has played an important role in the life of the community of Lutz, said Stephanie Ensor, one of the organizers for this weekend’s event.

Ensor is a member of the Citizens for the Old Lutz School Building, a group formed in 1978 to preserve the building’s past and assure its future.

The group organizes an Autumn Market Day and a Spring Market Day each year, to raise money, she said.

The fundraisers are used to help make repairs, she said, and keep the school open for community events.

Upcoming repairs will include new front doors for the schoolhouse and treating for termites, she said.

“They’re repairing and rebuilding the existing windows. We can only do a few at a time because they’re really expensive,” Ensor said.

“We’re only doing three windows now. We’re going to get some new front doors because those have rotted out.”

The Old Lutz School is an important building in Lutz, Ensor said.

It is on both Hillsborough County’s Historic Landmark Registry and the National Register of Historic Places.

The old brick building, which has Colonial Revival architectural style, was designed by Frank A. Winn Jr. He also designed the Seminole Heights Methodist Church in Tampa, the Municipal Fishing Pier and Pavilion in Ballast Point Park and Tampa Heights Methodist Church, according to the Citizens for the Old Lutz School’s website.

Originally, the building had four rooms downstairs and a large auditorium upstairs. But, within a few years, the auditorium was divided into four rooms, plus a teacher’s room, the website adds.

The school educated generations of Lutz families, before closing decades ago. Volunteers now run the building, Ensor said.

And, each year, it is opened during the month of December, to welcome families to visit the school for several evenings of free community celebrations during the holiday season.

“This will be our 23rd year of hosting Christmas at the Old Lutz School.

“We host it for the whole month of December. It allows a place for the community to come together. It’s totally free. It just sort of gives back to the community, which has given to us,” Ensor said.

The building serves as a local gathering place, and helps to preserve “the small-town feel of our community,” Ensor said.

“We’ll get families that will meet up there with their little kids, and the kids are running around and playing, and watching a movie in the entertainment tent. It just gives everybody a real sense of community that is hard to come by these days.”

“It’s so genuine.

“We get so caught up in our day-to-day lives. It gives us a chance to slow down. And, that’s what we love about the schoolhouse,” Ensor said.

Autumn Day
Where: The Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 in Lutz
When: Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What: Autumn Day features a variety of vendors. A gardening workshop will be given on high-color, low-maintenance and drought-tolerant plants at 9:30 a.m.
Cost: Free
Info: Call Stephanie Ensor at (813) 244-2256, or email .

Published October 16, 2019

Having fun and helping others, at the same time

By

Laughter echoes throughout the Lutz Community Center, as women — some donning purple spray paint in their hair — settle in for some friendly games.

These women have come to a benefit, organized by the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, to support Sunrise of Pasco County, Inc., a domestic and sexual violence center.

Sunrise provides free counseling, advocacy, and support services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence. It also serves family or friends that have been affected by violence through its outreach program.

The ladies gathering for the event had fun playing games and socializing, while supporting an organization that helps survivors of domestic and sexual violence. (B.C. Manion)

Many of those attending the event came bearing bags of all shapes and sizes, filled with items intended to help those arriving at Sunrise’s shelter.

The donated goods included soaps, shampoos, hair products, lotions, fragrances, socks, toothpaste, cotton swabs, hand sanitizers and other items.

Annette Bellingar, first vice president of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, said some women brought in bags filled with stuff. Others just brought in items off the list, and there were others who donated money or gift cards, she said.

Amanda Markiewicz, chief programs officer for Sunrise of Pasco County, Inc., said “we’ve had collaboration with this club and a lot of the other GFWC clubs in the area for a long time. We appreciate the support.”

The event was timed to coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is in October.

“We have a 40-bed shelter,” Markiewicz said. “We provide them (people at the shelter) with anything you would think is in a household. Basic hygiene items. Clothing.

“We’re able to help them with support services, crisis counseling, advocacy, help with finding jobs or housing or any kind of case management.”

Nearly all of the ladies at the brunch wore purple, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

While raising $900 in contributions — including a $15 donation per person for the brunch, the ladies also donated enough items for the shelter to fill an SUV and another car.

Besides doing good, they had fun.

They played games and socialized. And, they dined on a homemade brunch buffet that included everything from French toast, to chicken salad sandwiches, to fresh fruit, hash browns, casserole dishes and more.

To learn more about Sunrise, call (352) 567-1681 or visit SunrisePasco.org.

Want to help? Here’s a list of items needed at Sunrise of Pasco County Inc.

Shelter items needed

Batteries

All-purpose cleaner

Foil

Baby formula

Body wash

Canned goods

Deodorant

Disposable gloves

Dryer sheets

Feminine pads

Forks, spoons, cups

Floor cleaner

Hair brushes

Hair ties

Hand soap

Headphones, ear buds

Ibuprofin (children and adult)

Pillows

Cushions

Lice treatments

Light bulbs

Long-handled dustpan

Mop

Pacificiers

Pepto Bismal

Petroleum Jelly

Phone chargers

Q Tips

Shampoo

Socks

Sponges

Stomach medicine

Tissues

Underwear

Vicks VapoRub

Ziploc bags

Published October 09, 2019

Cruise-in for a trip back in time

By

Strolling through this Dairy Queen parking lot is like journeying back to a bygone era.

Here, you can take a trip down Nostalgia Lane to a time when AM radio ruled the airwaves, and fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirror were all the rage.

Many car owners raised the hoods of their automobiles, to show off what’s underneath. Here, two classic American Muscle Cars are on display, showing off their large V-8 engines. From left, 1960s AMC AMX and a 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle 350. (Christine Holtzman)

That’s because dozens of cars, most of them American classics, are on display every Thursday evening at the Dairy Queen Grill & Chill Cruise-In, 23671 State Road 54 in Lutz.

Proud owners happily show of their rides.

They exchange stories with fellow gearheads and enthusiasts, alike.

Many of their tales center on the painstaking work it takes to restore these beauties, as well as the rigorous maintenance schedules needed to keep them in tip-top shape.

This show is just of one of several hosted in the Tampa area by Paul Figoni of Let’s Roll Promotions.

Vintage cars are lined up in the Dairy Queen parking lot for the weekly Cruise-In event that is held every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

He began his car show at the Dairy Queen in Citrus Park about 14 years ago.

When it started, it was geared toward American classic and muscle cars, but over the years it has evolved to include a wider array of styles — which, as a result, has captured the hearts of a diverse population of car enthusiasts.

As the sun was beginning to set on the last Thursday in September, the sounds of “Crossroads,” a Land O’ Lakes oldies band filled the air.

They provided the perfect soundtrack to this voyage back in time.

John Addison of Lutz, tinkers under the hood of his 1976 Chevy Corvette. Addison said that a wire had come loose.

Car enthusiasts visiting the show could drool over dozens of classic vehicles, including a 1960s Plymouth Sport Satellite, a couple of 1950s-era Ford Thunderbirds, an iconic 1954 Cadillac, a 1930s Ford Model A hotrod, a 1970s era Toyota Celica, a late 1960s model Chevrolet Chevelle, a 1968 Triumph TR250, a few vintage Corvettes, and a rare Studebaker Avanti.

And, it’s simple to participate. You just cruise in.

There are no fees to include your ride at the show. But those registering do get a chance to win the 50/50 drawing and door prizes.

Want to know more? Check out Let’s Roll Car Shows Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/letsrollcarshows.

Published October 09, 2019

Daniel Kester of Land O’ Lakes, left, and Dennis Whelan of Lutz, shoot the breeze in front of Kester’s 1954 Cadillac Series 62 car. Kester bought the classic car in 1996 for $900, and has been restoring it ever since. Whelan was at the show with his 1968 Triumph TR250.
A close-up look of the steering wheel of a 1963 Studebaker Avanti. The luxury coupe was produced from 1962 to 1963.

 

Under Construction 10/02/19

By

Motorists in Odessa will have another option for auto parts and equipment when the new AutoZone shop begins operation at 12090 State Road 54. It is expected to open in November. (Brian Fernandes)

AutoZone shop
Motorists will have another convenient spot to pick up automobile parts and accessories with the soon-to-come AutoZone shop. The 6,815-square-foot facility will be located at 12090 State Road 54 in Odessa. Construction began in September. The store is expected to open in November.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Checkers quick-stop restaurant, going up at 5505 Gall Blvd., is nearing completion in Zephyrhills.

Checkers restaurant
A Checkers fast-food hub is coming soon to serve hungry patrons in Zephyrhills. The 900-square-foot restaurant, at 5505 Gall Blvd., will have a single drive-thru lane and an outdoor patio. Construction began in August. An opening is expected in November.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Located in front of The Preserve residential community in Odessa, off State Road 54, a new Publix is emerging. Construction of the supermarket, at 2189 Sembler Drive, began in August.

Publix supermarket
A Publix grocery store is emerging at the front entrance of The Preserve residential community in Odessa. The store, approximately 27,600 square feet,  will be located at 2189 Sembler Drive, off State Road 54. Construction began in August.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grease Monkey- Oil Changes & More, will be a convenient spot for vehicle tune-ups at 5847 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

Oil change stop
Retail chain Grease Monkey – Oil Changes & More, is opening its sixth mechanic shop in Florida. The 1,300-square-foot facility is located at 5847 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. It will have three vehicle bays for basic auto oil change and maintenance. The shop is expected to open in October.

Motorists soon to have smoother ride on Willow Bend Parkway

By

Willow Bend Parkway in Lutz is set to undergo repaving starting the week of Sept. 9.

Willow Bend Parkway will undergo road modifications through the month of September. The work will be done during the evening to minimize disruptions. (Brian Fernandes)

Pasco County chose the modification as its program maintenance project, which will stretch from the road’s intersections with U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, to Collier Parkway.

Willow Bend Parkway’s eastbound and westbound lanes will be milled and resurfaced. The road also will be restriped, and new pavement markings will be added.

The work will be done between the hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., on Sundays through Thursdays, during which time there will be single-lane closures.

Message boards will be posted during work hours to guide traffic.

The project is estimated at $966,000, and is being paid for as part of the county’s budget.

The goal is to complete the work by Sept. 30, barring any weather disruptions.

The road is popular with motorists because it links to County Line Road, which connects to North Dale Mabry Highway, where there are a number of service providers and commercial businesses.

Published September 04, 2019

Improvements expected at U.S. 41-Sunset Lane intersection

By

Traffic heading west on Sunset Lane in Lutz often stacks up, as motorists who want to turn left onto U.S. 41 wait for their chance to do so.

Sometimes they’ll be stuck there for several light cycles, and the traffic behind them backs up on Sunset Lane.

Hillsborough County is addressing a need to improve traffic flow at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Sunset Lane in Lutz. (Brian Fernandes)

Hillsborough County and the Florida Department of Transportation have come up with some proposed improvements, and the county held an open house on July 31. There, the public could ask questions, as well as share concerns and ideas.

Plans call for rebuilding the traffic signals.

A second left-turn signal from Sunset Lane onto U.S. 41 also is being considered.

Currently, Sunset Lane has a left-turn lane, a through lane and a right-turn lane.

Sidewalk improvements also are being considered, including pavement markings and ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

On the opposite side of U.S. 41, Sunset Lane turns into Crystal Grove Boulevard, which is also expected to have some upgrades.

Design and construction costs for the improvements are estimated at more than $1 million.

Construction is set to begin in early 2021 and wrap up by early 2022.

Published August 21, 2019

Boy Scouts build a new pathway at Lutz Nature Park

By

It was the break of dawn, and while many were spending their Saturday sleeping in — members from Boy Scout Troop 12 were hard at work at Lutz Nature Park.

Equipped with rakes and shovels, the youths were building a new sidewalk, under the direction of Luke Romesburg, a 15-year-old leading the effort in his pursuit for the rank of Eagle Scout.

Luke Romesburg, of Lutz Boy Scout Troop 12, decided to give back to the community in an effort to obtain his Eagle Scout medallion. Romesburg and fellow scouts, on Aug. 3, helped construct a new sidewalk at the Lutz Nature Park. (Brian Fernandes)

The Lutz Nature Park recently had constructed a sidewalk connecting its pavilions, but there was no pathway leading to the parking lot. So, the teenager decided to address the need.

He reasoned: “Originally, they (patrons) could not get the wheelchairs out here to the existing sidewalk. If someone that was handicap came out here and wanted to go through the park, they would have to go through the grass – and that’s just not safe.”

Before the project began, the Boy Scout received the go-ahead from Terry Donovan of the Lutz Nature Park, as well as Travis Hancock of the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department.

After learning about the scout’s community efforts, Jeff Potvin of Coastal an Oldcastle Company, donated stacks of the concrete blocks for the project.

The county dug out the existing grass, going 4 inches deep, where the concrete blocks would be placed.

While this was Romesburg’s project, fellow troop members rallied around him to help out, donning their signature red shirts.

The boys came early on Aug. 3, unloading the blocks, one by one, and strategizing how to make them fit, stay level and have an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Troop members were sure to fill in the open crevices of the blocks with dirt and to pack down sod in the shoulders where the blocks meet the grass. They did that to  help ensure the new sidewalk will remain sturdy.

Lutz Boy Scout Troop 12 rallied around fellow member Luke Romesburg in developing a new sidewalk to help disabled people at Lutz Nature Park. The new pathway connects the pavilions to the parking lot.

Nicholas Evans, senior patrol leader for Troop 12, was one of the many, hard at work .

Romesburg and his dad recently helped him to complete his Eagle Scout project, and the patrol leader was eager to return the favor.

Evans noted: “I think that it’s good that it’s helping everybody. It’s just a really positive impact. Troop 12 has been here for over 85 years, and we’ve always given back to the community.”

The scouts have been a fixture in Lutz, contributing to its Fourth of July Parade festivities, assisting other organizations and helping at various community events.

They also pick up trash along U.S. 41 every month.

Paul Evans, Troop 12 scoutmaster, said in addition to benefiting the community, these projects also benefit the boys.

“There’s a lot of personal growth that the boys develop as they do outdoor activities,” he said.

“The boys are actually doing the work. It’s a legacy that we’re giving, and that will continue on for years and years,” the scoutmaster said.

Published August 21, 2019

Lutz teen selected as Shriners ambassador

By

Zoe Spanos doesn’t let her physical challenges define her, but manages to thrive instead.

The 15-year-old Lutz teenager, who has cerebral palsy, lives life like many teens.

The rising Steinbrenner High School sophomore is a straight A student and a dedicated member of JROTC and HOSA-Future Health Professionals.

Zoe Spanos (Courtesy of Shriners Hospitals for Children — Tampa)

She’s also a fitness buff — into cross training, weightlifting and nutrition.

Lately, she’s tried her hand at golf — a game introduced to her by her grandparents. She’s set her sights on making the Steinbrenner girls golf team this season.

Due to her physical limitations, Zoe employs an unconventional golf stance and swing, which focuses more on generating power from the right side of her body. She takes weekly lessons with local golf instructor Andrew Dawes.

“My follow-through sometimes may look a little different, but I mostly just change everything a little bit so that works for me,” Zoe said.

“I just try to push my mind and body as far as it can and see where that takes me,” Zoe said.

The method seems to work, as Zoe confidently says, “I definitely have more power than a lot of 15-year-old girls, even with my different things.”

Zoe appreciates golf’s psychological challenges.

“No matter the physical part of it, I think it’s definitely more mental than anything,” she said.

The young woman has a lifetime of experience of overcoming difficulties.

At only 10 days old, Zoe developed encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. The brain swelling resulted in seizures and two strokes, and she was technically diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

“There was a point (doctors) didn’t know if she was going to survive,” recalled her mother, Michelle Spanos. “I was always asking the specialists, ‘What can they expect?’ and they said they really don’t know…”

The cerebral palsy caused a loss of muscle control that affects the left side of Zoe’s body, mostly in her foot.

Lutz teenager Zoe Spanos, who has cerebral palsy, is an avid golfer. The 15-year-old Steinbrenner High School student has been named one of 22 patient ambassadors throughout the country to represent the Shriners Hospitals for Children at the 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, an official PGA Tour event in Las Vegas this October.

With her condition, Zoe wears a specially molded prosthetic AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) brace provided by Shriners Hospitals for Children — Tampa. It’s a necessity for her left foot and ankle when doing any type of physical activity.

“When I walk, my brain doesn’t tell my foot to lift up,” Zoe explained, “so this brace basically forces my foot to do something.”

She added of the brace, “It limits mobility a little bit, but I just walk around and it’ll tilt my foot in or out a different way or move it back a little bit; it definitely helps if you walk and run.”
The brace resembles something someone with a broken leg or fractured ankle might wear.

Zoe’s mother credits Shriners Hospitals for helping her daughter over the past decade, since 2008 to be exact.

For many years, Zoe would visit the hospital as many as three times a week, receiving physical, occupational and speech therapies, and providing custom braces as she’s grown up. Zoe now visits roughly every six months for checkups.

Zoe’s efforts have inspired her mom.

“She’s always just been really driven. She’s always been tough. Nothing ever stopped her. Ever. She’s really never complained,” her mom said.

Shriners has played a big role, too, she said.

“They’ve provided every brace she’s needed, every evaluation. They’ve actually really gone over and above with the brace,” Michelle said.

While  Zoe’s family appreciates what Shriners has done for Zoe, the organization thinks highly of Zoe, too.

She has been selected as one of 22 patient ambassadors throughout the country to represent the hospital network at the 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, an official PGA Tour event in Las Vegas this October.

During the Oct. 3 to Oct. 6 tournament at TPC Summerlin, Zoe will serve as a standard bearer throughout the weekend, carrying the scores of professional golfers as they compete in the tournament. It provides a rare inside-the-ropes opportunity at a PGA Tour event, as well as the chance to share how Shriners Hospitals have helped transform her life.

As part of her participation in the tournament, Zoe’s story and photo will appear in the tournament program, and her information will be shared with the Golf Channel, which will televise the tournament nationally, to be used during the broadcast.

The teen will also partake in a pro-am event the day before the PGA tournament officially begins, getting to spend the day with a PGA Tour pro, who hasn’t been announced yet.

Always looking to improve her game, Zoe said she wouldn’t mind picking up a tip or two from her pro golfing partner.

But, more importantly, she said, “I’m just excited to show what Shriners has done for, not really just me, but everyone in the country and people that have it way worse than me.”

For more information, visit ShrinersHospitalsOpen.com.

Published July 31, 2019