The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lutz News

New apartments and offices approved

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Brightworks Crossing — a mixed-use project calling for offices, self-storage units, apartments, and a hotel with up to 150 rooms, landed on the desks of Pasco County’s planners nearly a year ago.

And, on Aug. 9, the Pasco County Commission pushed the project along with a series of approvals.

Commissioners unanimously agreed to amend the county’s comprehensive land use plan and to rezone the land. They also approved an agreement for a land swap between the county, the landowners and the developers.

The land deal will give the county green space for its network of wildlife corridors, and room for a park-and-ride lot with 25 parking spaces for future transit commuters.

A car passes along Old State Road 54, at Old Cypress Creek Road. The route is a popular cut-through to avoid traffic at State Road 56. (File Photo)
A car passes along Old State Road 54, at Old Cypress Creek Road. The route is a popular cut-through to avoid traffic at State Road 56.
(File Photo)

The site is directly behind the Walgreen’s drug store, at Wesley Chapel Boulevard and the State Road 56/State Road 54 intersection.

The intersection is a high growth area populated by Tampa Premium Outlets and new restaurants on the south side of State Road 56, and on the north side of the road, the future Cypress Creek Town Center.

“It’s a major intersection. A lot of thought, evaluation and analysis has gone into this project and its impact on the intersection,” said Matt Armstrong, the county’s executive planner. “We’ve put together a package that actually improves this area and will help in the long run.”

Brightworks Crossing received approval for a maximum of 350 apartments, 250,000 square-feet of offices, and self-storage and the 150-room hotel.

A road redesign also is built into the project for Old State Road 54, which bisects the site. The short stretch of road is a popular cut-through for motorists coming down Wesley Chapel who want to avoid traffic at the State Road 56 intersection.

County commissioners agreed to close the existing cut-through to accommodate the land swap and allow developers to build a new road in its place. The new road will be open to the public.

Nearby, work is underway by Sierra Properties to build an entrance into Cypress Creek Town Center, a future mall at the northeast corner of State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard, also called County Road 54.

One of the mall entrances is across from Brightworks Crossing, on County Road 54.

In the long term, the county has plans to turn the two-lane stretch of Wesley Chapel Boulevard into a six-lane divided highway with sidewalks and a multi-use trail.

The impact of traffic and road redesigns raised concerns for Sierra Properties’ developers and John Narcisi, who owns JN Electric on Old Cypress Creek Road.

Narcisi is the only business on Old Cypress Creek, which also is off Wesley Chapel and intersects with Old State Road 54.

“Traffic will increase on Old Cypress Creek Road which runs in front of my property,” said Narcisi.

Attorney Clarke Hobby, representing Sierra Properties, said the proposed new road through the site should continue to function as a cut-through that can help ease traffic congestion.

“We think that’s an important issue, and the staff needs to look at that closely,” he said.

Published August 17, 2016

Rezoning approved for 320 new homes

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Homes by WestBay plans to build up to 320 single-family homes on a large swath of wooded land off Henley Road in Lutz.

The Pasco County Commission approved a rezoning for the project on Aug. 9

The 175-acre site is east of Long Lake Ranch, a master-planned community off State Road 54.

The newly approved residential project includes extending a one-lane, dead-end stretch of Leonard Road, at its intersection with Henley, as a two-lane road into the proposed development.

Homes by WestBay wants to build 320 homes on land off Henley Road. A dead-end section of Leonard Road would be extended into the proposed housing development. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Homes by WestBay wants to build 320 homes on land off Henley Road. A dead-end section of Leonard Road would be extended into the proposed housing development.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

During construction, truck traffic is scheduled to cut through Long Lake via Sunlake Boulevard, Long Lake Boulevard and Breynia Drive. Initially, about 120 homes will be built.

Some Long Lake residents expressed concerns about the construction route.

Long Lake resident Bill Cullen said he doesn’t oppose the rezoning, but he provided documents with more 70 signatures calling for an alternate construction route.

“There are a lot of children in this community,” Cullen said.

Residents are frequently out walking to the swimming pool, along trails or to other amenities within Long Lake, he said.

Trucks also would have to maneuver through two roundabouts, another resident said.

By the end of the public hearing on the rezoning, a developer’s representative said Henley and Leonard roads could be added as future truck routes.

Leonard Road residents also voiced objections, based on concerns about traffic from the new subdivision and potential flooding.

Seeking to improve safety, residents have lobbied for years to get sidewalks built along the two-lane winding road, between U.S. 41 and State Road 54.

John Foster presented county commissioners with letters and emails from about 20 Leonard Road residents against the rezoning.

The proposed homes will be built at a higher level than existing homes, Foster said. “We will be the low-lying area in comparison to everywhere else. We don’t want to be flooded out.”

Leonard Road resident Charlie McBride said WestBay representatives had done “as best as they could” on the project. But he added, “I realize there ain’t no way I’m going to stop the traffic coming from Long Lake. There are going to be a lot of traffic problems.”

Developers anticipate providing five entrances for the new subdivision.

The extension of Leonard, a re-alignment of Henley and Leonard, and paving Henley from State Road 54 to Leonard will improve traffic flow, said land use attorney Andrea Zelman.

“Leonard Road, as an east/west road, was always part of (the county’s) highway vision plan,” Zelman said. “It provides some of the connectivity that Pasco is looking for, as well as an alternative route.”

Revised August 22, 2016

Gluten-free café opens in Lutz

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A unique, gluten-free café has sprung up in Lutz.

Café Liberty & Bistro, 17695 N. Dale Mabry Highway, opened its doors in April, replacing Hattie’s Café and Beanery.

Café Liberty & Bistro, 17695 N. Dale Mabry Highway, opened in April. The breakfast and lunch dine-in restaurant features an all-natural menu, where more than 75 percent of offerings can be prepared gluten-free. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)
Café Liberty & Bistro, 17695 N. Dale Mabry Highway, opened in April. The breakfast and lunch dine-in restaurant features an all-natural menu, where more than 75 percent of offerings can be prepared gluten-free.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

Owned by James and Marni Frank, the breakfast and lunch dine-in restaurant features an all-natural menu, where more than 75 percent of offerings can be prepared gluten-free.

The menu, and ingredients used, are a far cry from that of a typical breakfast and lunch spot.

Breads and produce are sourced locally, and coffee is roasted daily, in-house. Moreover, the café uses cage-free eggs and non-GMO, organic sunflower oil.

“We saw the need (for gluten-free) in the market that we were in,” Marni Frank said. “I travel in a circle with people that have a lot of allergies and autoimmune diseases, and I think it’s a healthier way of living.

“Even our kid’s menu is the same way — we use the same all-natural chicken, the same gluten-free flour, the same oil,” she said.

Café Liberty — who’s moniker and logo comes from the Statue of Liberty in New York City — is open Monday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Beginning Aug. 25, it will also be open for dinner on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

In addition to the restaurant’s full breakfast and lunch offerings, additional items like Crab Cake Benedict, will be available for the evening crowd.

“Instead of changing up the whole menu, we’ll add in like two or three specials,” Frank said, noting salmon, steak and pasta dishes will likely be offered throughout the week.

Though the restaurant has only been open for about four months, the menu has already been altered three times: “You learn what works and what doesn’t work,” Frank said.

Owner Marni Frank preps a salad made from all-natural, gluten-free ingredients. (Courtesy of Cafe Liberty & Bistro)
Owner Marni Frank preps a salad made from all-natural, gluten-free ingredients.
(Courtesy of Cafe Liberty & Bistro)

In addition to standard breakfast and lunch fare, Café Liberty’s menu features several distinct waffle options, including a so-called “Baffle,” where bacon is added into the waffle batter; various waffle sandwiches, including ham and swiss, and turkey and cheddar.

There’s also a “Fry Bar,” where restaurant-goers can choose from a variety of waffle fry options: truffle parmesan garlic, Triple B (bacon, blue cheese and balsamic glaze), sweet potato and Cajun.

“We’re trying to be a little different, with a flair,” Frank said.

From 1992 to 2001, the Franks operated a New York City-based office coffee service, called “Café Liberty Coffee.” After 9/11, they sold the business and relocated to Tampa, starting a similar office coffee service, which they sold in October 2015.

“The city had changed,” Frank said about leaving New York City. “You had armed guards at every bridge; we lived 35 miles away from the city, and it took two hours each way to get to work, minimum.”

From New York to Florida, Café Liberty’s owners have always placed an emphasis on philanthropy, Frank said.

Prior to selling their Florida-based office coffee service business, which spanned 10 counties, they were finalists for the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Corporate Philanthropy Award.

They currently participate in several fundraisers and charities, such as The Arthritis Foundation, the American Breast Cancer Strides Against Cancer walk, and Metropolitan Ministries’ food and toy drives.

“I feel like being part of the community…is what it’s really about,” Frank said. “Why be in a community and not part of a community?”

“We enjoy talking to people, meeting people and being a part of people’s lives,” she added.

As another gesture of “giving back,” military veterans and first responders receive 10 percent discounts at the café.

“Really, our (focus) is family and community,” she said. “And because of that, it also dictates the products we’re providing.”

Café Liberty is approximately 3,000 square feet. It has 18 employees, including the Franks’ two daughters, Sabrina, 15, and Jessica, 19.

Breakfast and lunch menu items:
Breakfast sandwiches; twisted Benedicts and biscuits; various waffles; skillets, eggs and omelets; burgers and sandwiches; waffle fry bar; and, soups and salads.
Barista bar: in-house coffee blends roasted daily; espresso, cappuccinos, frappuccinos and lattes; blended smoothies, sorbets and milkshakes; bakery items including danishes, muffins and cookies

Published August 17, 2016

Hillsborough heads back to school this week

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Hillsborough County public school students are heading back to school this week, and their counterparts in Pasco County public schools begin next week.

Whether they’re streaming to Lutz Elementary School, Steinbrenner High, Liberty Middle, an area charter school or to a private school — the beginning of a new school is a time that’s always marked with fresh starts and new enthusiasm.

The Lutz Elementary School campus — quiet and calm in this photo — soon will be buzzing with activities, as a new school year begins.
The Lutz Elementary School campus soon will be buzzing with activities, as a new school year begins.

Motorists need to remember that area roads will be busy, as yellow buses hit the streets to pick up children, high school students drive themselves and parents drop off their kids.

Adding to the mix are teachers, administrators and other school staff members who will be back on the roads again, too.

To help keep things safe, AAA advises that motorists slow down, come to a complete stop at stop signs, eliminate distractions such as using a cellphone or eating while driving, be careful when backing up and to watch out for bicyclists.

The motor club also urges parents to talk with their teenage drivers about being safe behind the wheel.

“Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and nearly one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the afterschool hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.,” according to the motor club’s website. It offers tips to help teenage drivers on its website.

Steinbrenner High School is one of several public high schools serving Hillsborough County students living within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.
Steinbrenner High School is one of several public high schools serving Hillsborough County students living within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

Students arriving this fall at Wharton High School, 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., will find three new assistant principals, Principal Brad Woods announced in a letter to parents and students on the school’s website.

Changes also are in store for Denham Oaks Elementary, 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz.

This school, in Pasco County, draws students living on the Pasco side of the county line.

This year, the school also will be picking up some students from Wesley Chapel neighborhoods, who have been reassigned there because of the opening of Wiregrass Elementary.

As a result of the boundary change, Pasco County Schools has added gifted education services at Denham Oaks. Parents of the Wesley Chapel students had complained their children would be losing those services, so the Pasco County School Board added them.

For parents wanting more information about Hillsborough or Pasco county public schools, they can visit the Hillsborough district website at SDHC.k12.fl.us or the Pasco district website at Pasco.k12.fl.us.

Registration requirements
Students entering a Florida school for the first time at any grade level, will be asked to present the following items upon registration:

  • Current immunization records (vaccination requirements vary by grade level)
  • Proof of a physical examination dated and signed by a licensed health professional within the last 12 months
  • Proof of age, through a birth certificate or other acceptable documents
  • Social Security number, if one is available.
  • Proof of Florida residency, such as water, gas, electric or other utility bill; a properly executed lease agreement; or some other evidence
  • Copy of the student’s last report card, if applicable
  • Legal guardianship records, if applicable

Students entering kindergarten for the first time must be 5 years old before Sept. 1. Prekindergarten and Head Start/Early Start programs are available to students who are younger.

Help for parents
Useful information often can be found on the websites maintained by Pasco County Schools and Hillsborough County Schools. Local schools also often provide practical tips to help parents help their children succeed in school.

For instance, Connerton Elementary School, in Land O’ Lakes, offered these pointers for parents to help foster school success:

  • Ensure that your child is at school on time each day.
  • Attend parent/teacher conferences and school events.
  • Monitor your child’s homework daily.
  • Expect and support positive behavior at school.
  • Read with your child or encourage your child to read daily.

Published August 10, 2016

Preserving family history, one Bible at a time

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Andy Smith, who attends Van Dyke Church in Lutz, has an unusual hobby.

It began about eight years ago, sparked, in part, by the Bible he inherited from his grandmother.

The sacred text originally belonged to his great-great grandparents, dating back to the 1870s.

“I believe it was given to them as a wedding gift,” Smith said, and it was passed from generation to generation.

Andy Smith, who attends Van Dyke Church in Lutz, spends part of his free time trying to help reunite families with Bibles that were owned by their ancestors. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Andy Smith, who attends Van Dyke Church in Lutz, spends part of his free time trying to help reunite families with Bibles that were owned by their ancestors.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

“It is something I had seen in my grandparents’ house when I was a little boy. It was always opened to the family registry pages,” he said.

After inheriting the heirloom, Smith, a longtime newspaper professional, decided to see what he could learn about his own family’s history.

The more he delved into genealogy, the more fascinated he became.

His great-great grandfather, Smith said, had nine brothers and sisters.

“I’ve contacted descendants of every line of that family that had children — from those 10 siblings — and all of them had family Bibles,” Smith said. “I found one guy who had my great-great-great grandfather’s Bible. I went up to St. Louis and met him, and got to see his Bible.”

As Smith learned more about his relatives, he became more aware of how much personal information can be lost, when a Bible is separated from its family.

He decided to do something about that.

He began spending part of his free time helping to reunite family Bibles with their families.

“I look for the Bibles on eBay and, if they have family registry pages in them, I make a list of the names and dates provided, then match that with names and dates on family trees on Ancestry.com,” he explained.

Some Bibles sold on eBay date back to the 1700s. Some are ornately decorated. Others are plain. Some records are detailed in elegant handwriting. Many of the books develop a beautiful patina over time, Smith said. They can sell for anywhere from $50 to $350, or more.

If Smith finds a match, and if there’s contact information available on Ancestry.com, he sends off an email.

Family Bibles often contain hidden gems, notes Andy Smith. In this Bible dating to the 1870s, there’s a flower that pressed between its pages, at the marriage page
Family Bibles often contain hidden gems, notes Andy Smith. In this Bible dating to the 1870s, there’s a flower that pressed between its pages, at the marriage page

It goes something like this: “Greetings. No, we’re not related, but I’ve come across something that I think that might be of interest to you.”

Smith shares what he’s copied from the registry pages, and adds a disclaimer, such as: “I did the best I could, but I’m not 100 percent sure that this is 100 percent accurate.”

Smith makes it clear that he doesn’t own the Bible and doesn’t know the person selling it. He’s merely acting as conduit, passing along information that may be useful to the recipient.

“My primary goal is to salvage this information,” Smith said, noting a family Bible in some cases is the only repository for some records.

For instance, families typically were larger in previous generations, and there also were more childhood deaths from disease.

“A lot of these younger children never show up in censuses,” Smith explained. They may have been born after one census was taken and died before the next one came along.

It would be a shame to have this personal history lost to the ages, Smith said.

Bibles often contain other hidden gems, as well.

“There will be old letters. There may be old family pictures,” Smith said. “In my own Bible, on the marriage page, there’s a flower that’s pressed in there, between the pages. There’s a picture of my grandmother and of my great-grandmother in there.”

Of course, Smith has no way of knowing what Bibles will come up for sale, but when he scans eBay, he keeps an eye out for one that may have a connection to his family.

“For the number of years that I’ve been doing this, I’ve never found even a distant relative that I’m aware of, in any of these Bibles,” he said. “The chances of you finding anything from your own family are pretty close to zero.”

Over the years, he estimates he’s contacted thousands of people to alert them to a Bible that may interest them. Those emails have gone to people living at great distances, as well as people living nearby.

Smith doesn’t know how many Bibles he’s helped to get back to their families, but he guesses it’s between 100 and 150 — based on the emails he’s received.

His favorite response, so far, came from a woman who desperately wanted the family Bible, but said the price of $350 on eBay, was far beyond her family’s means.

She shared, with Smith, what happened next.

She told Smith that she told her husband: “I really, really, really want this Bible.”

Her husband told her: “OK, here’s the deal, I will get it for you, but this is for your birthday, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Mother’s Day. It covers everything for the next year. Are we good with that?”

It turns out, Smith said, “she was very good with that.”

It turns out that Smith was, too.

Published July 27, 2016

Open house set for watershed master plan

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People who want to learn more about the Cypress Creek Watershed Master Plan and drainage projects are invited to an open house on July 26 at 6:30 p.m., at the Lutz Civic Center, 98 First Ave., N.W., in Lutz.

This graphic illustrates the Cypress Creek Watershed, which lies in the northern portion of Hillsborough County and in the southern portion of Pasco County. The 33-square-mile section of the watershed located within Hillsborough County is generally bordered by U.S. 41 and Interstate 75. (Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County)
This graphic illustrates the Cypress Creek Watershed, which lies in the northern portion of Hillsborough County and in the southern portion of Pasco County. The 33-square-mile section of the watershed located within Hillsborough County is generally bordered by U.S. 41 and Interstate 75.
(Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County)

The meeting will include a brief presentation by representatives of the Hillsborough County Public Works department.

There also will be informative displays about the $290,000 master plan study.

Leland Dicus, a section engineering services manager for Hillsborough County, said the final plan will incorporate public input.

“We’re looking for feedback from the residents and the property owners within the watershed,” Dicus said. “What we’re showing in the master plan update will reflect what (residents) have seen as far as flooding in the area.

“We looked back at the flooding complaints we’ve received…and those were some of the areas that we took a look at in the master plan updates,” he said.

During the open house, residents will also be able to provide comments about proposed updates to the watershed’s hydrology and hydraulics (H&H) model, and conceptual recommended flood control projects.

Dicus said the public works department currently has identified seven potential watershed drainage projects to alleviate future flooding problems.

A watershed is considered to be an area of land where water flows across, as it moves toward a common body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast.

This is a portion of the Cypress Creek Watershed. A 2011 study by the Hillsborough County Public Works department shows the watershed has a history of flooding problems.
This is a portion of the Cypress Creek Watershed. A 2011 study by the Hillsborough County Public Works department shows the watershed has a history of flooding problems.

The Cypress Creek Watershed area, generally bordered by U.S. 41 and Interstate 75, drains an area of approximately 33 square miles in Hillsborough County. The watershed management plan was completed in 2000 by URS Corporation Southern.

The Cypress Creek Watershed master plan — part of the Countywide Watershed update —ultimately provides Hillsborough County with information on flooding within the area. The plan includes an updated H&H model that is used by the county, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and local developers for project analysis and permitting. It will also identify flood prone areas, and develop conceptual projects and cost estimates to solve flooding issues.

A 2011 study by the county’s public works department showed the watershed has a history of flooding problems, particularly during the 2004 hurricane season.

The study also indicated that residential development in northward rural portions of the watershed is impacting runoff and drainage patterns.

Hillsborough County is updating the master plan for the Cypress Creek Watershed; a final report is expected later this year.
Hillsborough County is updating the master plan for the Cypress Creek Watershed; a final report is expected later this year.

Dicus said information from the study has been used to calibrate an updated watershed model for the master plan.

“We compare the level of flooding to the model with what our standard is for street flooding, and that identifies the areas that don’t meet the county standards,” Dicus said. “We update these models on a routine basis, especially in areas where there’s development occurring, so we can ensure that the model currently reflects the land use and how the stormwater system works.”

The watershed master plan process began in late 2013; a final report with recommended flood relief projects is expected to be complete later this year.

This project is being funded through the Stormwater Fee Capital Improvement Program; the Southwest Florida Water Management District is cooperatively funding the project at 50 percent.

Questions about the meeting may be directed to the county’s Citizen Engagement office at (813) 272-5275.

Published July 20, 2016

Hillsborough County seeks input for parks and recreation

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At locations around Hillsborough County, officials from the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation department are meeting with residents to discuss future recreational plans for the county.

Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation director Doc Dougherty outlined the park-planning process at the Northdale Community Center on June 27. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)
Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation director Doc Dougherty outlined the park-planning process at the Northdale Community Center on June 27.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photo)

On June 27, the public input session was held at the Northdale Community Center. That was one of seven meetings in June to gather suggestions as the county creates its comprehensive plan for its parks system.

The goal is to have a final master plan in time for the county’s budget discussions in January, said Doc Dougherty, the county’s parks and recreation director.

Once it has been completed, the plan essentially will be a “wish book” of requests, upgrades and programming for the park system.

Ideas from residents and department staff are both being considered.

“It’s the involvement of everybody — it’s not just one person’s plan,” Dougherty said. “In the end, we can have a much more productive department and better quality of life through our parks overall,” he said.

The county’s parks and recreation system is large. It includes: More than 180 neighborhood parks, 118 playgrounds, 270 athletic fields and 53 community centers.

The county also oversees five dog parks and three skateparks.

At the Northdale session, an addendum survey indicated a strong preference for more senior-oriented programs, disc golf fields, and hiking and walking trails. There were also requests for more open green spaces with picnic areas and additional recreation centers.

“A big part of our discussion of the master plan is: Do we build new parks or do renovate old parks? When you start looking at the number of parks we already have, how about we invest into the older parks,” Dougherty said.

Ideally, the department would like to receive at least 50,000 responses from county residents, Dougherty said. That would present the department with a realistic view of upgrades and improvements needed for each neighborhood park.

“Our total (budget request) will be a large number,” he said. “Individually, there might be one park where it’s $200,000 to upgrade and another park might be $700,000,” he said.

“A lot of people just think about the big parks that we have, but we’ve got such small individual parks that just a little (upkeep) will go a long way,” he added.

If the Hillsborough County Commission approves the master plan’s budget, Dougherty said the department is facing at least another 100 meetings with various focus groups and individual communities before any systematic changes are made.

“It won’t be something where a budget passes and we’re ready,” he said. “It will take a little bit of time, but at least the focus and priority of where the money is going will be there.”

One possible alteration to the park system is the creation of specialty parks, such as tennis and basketball centers.

Adding specialty parks would eliminate the need to repair damaged tennis and basketball courts in each neighborhood park, Dougherty said.

“Do we continue fixing everything that’s in every park, or do we create what we call specialty parks? That’s one of the drastic changes when you start looking at creating the master plan,” Dougherty said.

The department also is looking into several technological upgrades, such as the addition of electronic charging stations (powered by solar energy) and wireless Internet access in certain designated areas within each park.

“Technology — we know that’s the future,” Dougherty said.

Enhanced safety and security measures, including solar-powered security cameras and emergency security call boxes, will likely be a significant focal point within the master plan.

Recreation ID membership passes are another safety measure the department has researched.

“This will take a little more time to implement, but we should have some kind of understanding and regulation of who’s coming and going,” Dougherty said.

“On the short end, it helps us to know who’s interested in what kind of (recreation) classes. To me, it’s strictly a security issue — no bad people want to let us know that they’re coming into the parks,” he said.

The public meetings in June followed up similar sessions held earlier in the year by the Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management department, which oversees 10 regional nature parks, including Lake Park and the Upper Tampa Bay Trail.

Its master plan will include specific recommendations on policies, procedures and practices as it relates to natural resource management, regional park facility uses and upgrades, and outdoor recreation.

Upgrading the park system has a significant effect on quality of life and property values, Dougherty said.

“When it comes to budget times, people see parks and recreation as not a necessity,” he said. “But, when you think about…what people take part in — youths in little league programs, having a picnic in the park — most people’s only connection to the local government is through parks and recreation.”

Share your thoughts
Do you have an opinion about future recreational priorities in Hillsborough County? An online survey is available for citizens to weigh in. Visit PlanYourParks.metroquest.com.

Published July 13, 2016

New yogurt shop coming to Lutz

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A new yogurt shop — sweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt — plans to open soon in a storefront in the Willow Bend Town Centre, at 22920 State Road 54, at Collier Parkway in Lutz.

The center’s anchor, Kmart, closed in mid-March.  Representatives of Sears Holdings said the Kmart closing would cut company expenses overall and speed up its efforts to recast Kmart’s business model.

sweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt will open a shop in August in the Willow Bend Town Centre, at Collier Parkway and State Road 54. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
sweetFrog Premium Frozen Yogurt will open a shop in August in the Willow Bend Town Centre, at Collier Parkway and State Road 54.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

No additional announcements on a prospective tenant to fill Kmart’s spot, as well as a handful of other vacant storefronts, are available yet, according to Courtney Bissett-Hayes of Bissett McGrath Properties.

The sweetFrog shop is expected to open in August next to South Beach Tanning, Bissett-Hayes said.

The franchise owner could not be reached for comment.

The sweetFrog brand began seven years ago in Richmond, Virginia, as a start-up business by South Korean immigrant Derek Cha and his wife, Annah, according to the yogurt shop’s website.

The company is operated on Christian principles, similar to the model of Chick-fil-A. The second part of its name —Frog —is an anagram for Fully Rely on God.

Company mascots are Scoop and Cookie. The shop is available for birthday parties and special events. A Leap Forward School program offers free frozen yogurt cards to schools as giveaways for students who are on the honor roll, have perfect attendance or are singled out for exceptional citizenship.

There is a sweetFrog location in Spring Hill.

Worldwide, the yogurt franchise has 350 locations. It has shops in 25 states across the country, and in the Dominican Republic, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, according to its website.

Published July 13, 2016

Lutz celebrates Independence Day

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Lutz was awash in red, white and blue, during the community’s Independence Day celebration.

Tributes to Old Glory showed up on T-shirts, hats, shorts and skirts. There were patriotic socks and headbands, too.

Runners took part in a 5K or a one-mile fun run, and bakers showed off their skills in a cake and pie contest.

From left, Debbie Sumbury, of Lutz, and her granddaughters, 2-year-old Amelia Donovan, and 3-year-old Stella Donovan, beckon for beads along the Lutz Fourth of July parade route. Hundreds turned out for the event, despite the blazing heat. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
From left, Debbie Sumbury, of Lutz, and her granddaughters, 2-year-old Amelia Donovan, and 3-year-old Stella Donovan, beckon for beads along the Lutz Fourth of July parade route. Hundreds turned out for the event, despite the blazing heat.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

Entries in the baking contest included cakes from 10-year-old Maddox Foreman, a veteran competitor and his 3-year-old sibling, Raider, entering for the first time. There was a Samoa cookie cake, too, baked to honor the late Ron Gashler.

Other points of interest included a flag raising, conducted by members of Boy Scout Troop 12, with a quartet of North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol marching in precision —lending a dignified air. Cristine Hundley added to the day’s patriotic theme through her rendition of The National Anthem. After the parade, Greg Gilbert was sworn in as the new Lutz Guv’na.

The real stars at this celebration were the people.

They put up with sweltering heat to march or ride in the parade, or lined the route to cheer them on and to chase after beads, candy and other swag tossed generously to the crowd.

They were there to enjoy an old-fashioned Fourth of July in Lutz, a community that takes the word “community” seriously — especially on Independence Day.

Published July 13, 2016

Wesley Chapel: No. 1 job market

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Wesley Chapel is at the top of the list for “best job market” in Florida, according to a report from WalletHub on 2016’s Best & Worst Florida Cities for Finding a Job.

The Washington D.C.-based financial website ranked 130 cities in the state in three categories: job market, socio-economic environment and overall.

While Wesley Chapel came in first, Lutz and Land O’ Lakes ranked 16 and 17, respectively, as best job markets.

In this category, reviewers looked at job opportunities, employment growth, starting salaries and unemployment rates.

In ranking for socio-economic environment, they considered median annual income, average commute times, employee benefits, housing and transportation costs, crime rates and social life, such as things to do and places to go.

Wesley Chapel scored second in affordable housing and third for lowest unemployment for high school graduates.

Overall, Wesley Chapel’s scores earned a fourth place finish behind Sarasota in first place, Jacksonville Beach in second place and Pensacola in third place.

Still, average workdays and commute times were factors working against Wesley Chapel, which mustered only a 66th place on socio-economic environment factors alone.

Lutz ranked 27th on the socio-economic score and 11th overall, while Land O’ Lakes languished in 113th place in socio-economic rankings and 46th overall.

Tampa ranked 15th in the job market, ninth in socio-economic environment and sixth overall. Brandon came in second behind Wesley Chapel in job market, 68th in socio-economic environment and fifth overall.

Spring Hill was 126th overall, 121st in the job market and 125th in socio-economic.

Miami Gardens sat at the bottom of the list overall and in job market, and rose only to 124th spot on the socio-economic

scale.

The full WalletHub report is available at WalletHub.com/edu/best-cities-in-florida-for-jobs/21610.

Published July 6, 2016