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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lutz News

Giving the gift of vision, one pair of eyeglasses at a time

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Charley Chaney has been an optician for decades, helping others get a clearer view of the world.

Besides providing services to local customers, the owner of The Optical Shop and Showroom at 24444 State Road 54 in Lutz, also volunteers his skills to Living in Faith Ministry.

Lutz optician Charley Chaney has fabricated thousands of pairs of eyeglasses for poor people living in Haiti and Cuba. He volunteers his skills to a ministry called Living in Faith, based in North Tampa. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Lutz optician Charley Chaney has fabricated thousands of pairs of eyeglasses for poor people living in Haiti and Cuba. He volunteers his skills to a ministry called Living in Faith, based in North Tampa.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Rev. Russ Montgomery, president of Living in Faith Ministry, also is an optician. He met Chaney in 2006 through Professional Opticians of Florida.

Montgomery said Living in Faith began after he had visited Cuba in the mid-1990s and was handed some eyeglass prescriptions and asked if he could help.

“So, I went and paid full retail price to have the glasses made, and I said, ‘Lord, if this is what you want me to do, make it affordable,’” he said. “About six phone calls later, I was in touch with an optician up in Maryland and we started making glasses through him.”

During the past two decades, the ministry has branched into Haiti and has conducted eye exams and distributed more than 20,000 pairs of eyeglasses.

The ministry also tests for glaucoma and arranges cataract surgeries to be done by volunteer American-trained ophthalmologists. Montgomery trained so he could conduct eye exams and do glaucoma testing.

“When my friend in Maryland passed away, we used few other people (to make glasses), but our volume was too high for them,” he said. “And then I met Charley, and he’s been a huge blessing.”

When Chaney found out what Montgomery was doing, he got involved.

“It seemed worthwhile,” Chaney said. “When you hear the stories about how people can’t afford glasses, and you hear that they are sometimes led in by their arms. They’re 50 years old and they haven’t had an eye exam in their whole lives. Some of these people literally cannot see their hand in front of their face.”

The Lutz optician does the lab work, fabricating glasses from the orders Montgomery delivers.

“Out of all of the optical shops in the (Tampa) Bay area, this is the only one that’s helped us consistently,” Montgomery said. “We had one in Pinellas County that maybe made 20 glasses and they said, ‘That’s it.’ A couple of other ones might make 10 or 12 and that’s it.”

But Chaney will stay after hours to work on the ministry’s glasses, Montgomery added. Chaney’s experience and technical skills enable him to resolve difficult cases.

The ministry uses frames that are donated by various distributors, Montgomery said, noting, “we’ll get frames with price tags on them anywhere from $200 to $500.”

The ministry sells its eyeglasses in Haiti for $30 a pair, but will provide eyeglasses for free when someone simply has no means of paying, Montgomery said.

“We’re trying to give them something that’s functional and practical at a reasonable price,” Chaney said.

The need for vision assistance is enormous, Montgomery said.

“We’re seeing people who have extremely strong prescriptions. We’re getting a lot of people in that are 20/200,” he said, compared to normal vision, which is 20/20.

“We have people in Haiti that have not seen the night stars for years. With their glasses, they can see the beauty,” Montgomery said. “We’re a mile away from a mountain down there. We’ve got people who haven’t seen the mountain for years.”

Montgomery plans to travel to the mountains of Haiti, at 5,300 feet, specifically searching for people who have mature cataracts.

“We know they’re there. They’re probably stuck in their homes,” he said. “They can’t get out. Cataract surgery is a 20-minute surgery and it gives them new life.”

He believes Living in Faith is a ministry that offers people a chance to see God’s love in action.

“In the book of John, it talks about the blind man,” Montgomery said. “He’s been blind since birth. The Pharisees were asking, ‘Whose sin was it, the man or the parents?’

“Jesus said, ‘Neither, but his condition was such that when he was healed, the people would see the hand of God at work,” Montgomery said.

Published July 16, 2014

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Pass the Sash: Perkins named Lutz Guv’na

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The doctor is in.

Cindy Perkins, a chiropractor who lives and works in Lutz, won the annual Lutz Guv’na race, a campaign for the ceremonial title where all the money raised goes to local organizations.

Cindy Perkins was declared the new Lutz Guv’na on July 4 at the community’s Independence Day celebration. (Courtesy of Suzin Carr)
Cindy Perkins was declared the new Lutz Guv’na on July 4 at the community’s Independence Day celebration.
(Courtesy of Suzin Carr)

Perkins claimed the Guv’na sash by raising the most money during her campaign.

“I was very excited, and I still am. I was very shocked, actually,” said Perkins, owner of Back in Health Wellness Center on North Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz.

Her campaign win was no landslide victory, however. According to Eleanor Cecil, a member of the Lutz Civic Association, the race went down to the wire.

“It was very close. I really think it was the closest we’ve ever had,” she said.

In a campaign season where the five candidates raised almost $9,500, Perkins edged “Papa” Jay Muffly by less than $10. The totals were counted multiple times to ensure they were correct.

The funds raised by all the candidates will be distributed to local organizations. In the past, recipients have included Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Friends of the Lutz Branch Library, the Old Lutz School, the Civil Air Patrol, and the Lutz Patriots. Between 15 and 20 different groups will receive grants from the Guv’na race in a typical year.

Cecil, who has been involved with the race for about 13 years, said the money is only part of what makes the Lutz Guv’na race special. The entire event is supposed to be fun, and the candidates are expected to enjoy themselves while they work for the title.

And from what she saw, all five candidates — Perkins, Muffly, Liane Caruso, Jerome Smalls and Susan Gulash — did just that.

“I went to many of their events and I really think they had a good time with it, and they put in a lot of effort,” Cecil said.

She noted they also worked well as a group, hosting joint events to raise money and supporting each other throughout the race.

Perkins said she enjoyed meeting the candidates she didn’t know, and making stronger friendships with the ones she had already met. Her campaign raised more than $4,000 of the total, and said the money brought in shows the positive impact of the campaign on the community.

“To come close to raising $10,000 that’s all going to go back to different local schools and other nonprofits and charities, that’s fantastic,” Perkins said. “It really shows how a few people can kind of pull a community together.”

Even though the title has been passed, Cecil said that the previous Guv’na left some pretty big shoes to fill. Suzin Carr, who has been Guv’na twice, was very active in the role and even helped recruit the new batch of candidates to replace her.

“She did more than just be Guv’na. She helped us out a lot and took the lead in a lot of things,” Cecil said. ”She’s really a phenomenal lady.”

Perkins not only is ready to fulfill her traditional Guv’na duties, such as attending Lutz events, she’s taken Carr’s lead and started the recruitment process for the next batch of candidates.

“I’ve already started trying to talk some people into doing it next year,” she said.

Businesses or organizations in the Lutz community are welcome to apply for a grant as long as they are designated as a nonprofit and are not affiliated with a religious organization.

For more information on how to apply, e-mail Eleanor Cecil at .

Published July 16, 2014

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Pies, cakes raise $1,100 for local Lutz charities

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Picture, if you will, patriotic table settings spread neatly beneath rows of baked pies and cakes in the Lutz Senior Center.

The scent of these treats permeates the building as the contest’s judges and former Lutz Guv’na Suzin Carr bite into the delicious array of desserts.

This pie, baked by Tracy Gaschler, is a 5-pound apple pie from last year’s Centennial celebration in Lutz. She was back again this year, with another 5-pound apple pie. (File Photo)
This pie, baked by Tracy Gaschler, is a 5-pound apple pie from last year’s Centennial celebration in Lutz. She was back again this year, with another 5-pound apple pie.
(File Photo)

That was the scene on the Fourth of July as 44 entries competed in the annual cake and pie contest during the community’s Independence Day celebration.

This year, the auction for the culinary delights raised $1,100 — more than in recent years, said contest coordinator Marilyn Wannamaker.

“I think the contest this year was a success,” Wannamaker said.

Danny Neeley, winner of the men’s only category in the adult division, baked a pineapple upside down cake to honor his father.

Wannamaker didn’t sample any of the sweets, but she had her eye on a couple.

“I would’ve wanted to take a bite out of the chocolate cake or Tracy Gaschler’s apple pie,” Wannamaker said.

She was impressed by the detail of some of the entries. Cate Hancock used white Kit Kats, ribbons and sparklers to create an effect that captured the most patriotic category in the youth division. She also was the Guv’na’s and judge’s favorite.

Wannamaker believes a change this year to create a new category to split younger kids from older kids gave the younger kids a better chance to capture a ribbon.

Wannamaker, who plans to step down from her role as contest coordinator, said she enjoyed this year’s competition.

“I was very honored to have hosted the contest this year,” she said. But Wannamaker hinted that while she may be stepping away for now, it might not be forever.

And the winners are …

Adult Division
Debbie May, best decorated
Wilma Lewis, most patriotic
Shirley Simmons, best tasting
Danny Neeley, men’s only
Tracy Gaschler, best pie tasting
Sharon Brant, Guv’na’s favorite
Wilma Lewis, judge’s favorite

Youth Division
Abigail Brazier, best decorated
Catelyn Payne, best tasting
Cate Hancock, Guv’na’s favorite, judge’s favorite, most patriotic

Children’s Division
Sarah Robison, best decorated, judge’s favorite
Alexander Pramsberger, most patriotic
Lucy Bazin, best tasting

– Ashley Schrader

Published July 16, 2014

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County approves middle school site for Learning Gate

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Learning Gate Community School has received Hillsborough County’s blessing to locate its classes for seventh- and eighth-graders in the former Hand-in-Hand Academy building near downtown Lutz.

Learning Gate Community School has gained approval for using buildings located at 207 Lutz Lake Fern Road to house its seventh- and eighth-graders. Even though that hurdle has been cleared, no details are available yet on when or whether the school will make the move to the site. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Learning Gate Community School has gained approval for using buildings located at 207 Lutz Lake Fern Road to house its seventh- and eighth-graders. Even though that hurdle has been cleared, no details are available yet on when or whether the school will make the move to the site.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Land use hearing officer James Scarola approved Learning Gate’s request to use the location at 207 Lutz Lake Fern Road for its middle school-level students. The approval, issued June 29, limits the enrollment, however, at the Lutz Lake Fern Road location to 205 students.

That’s 45 fewer students than the school initially requested. The school agreed to reduce its request after Mike White, president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, objected to the higher number.

At a June 2 public hearing, White told Scarola the site was not conducive for that many students. White also said the community has no problems with the school, simply with the proposed enrollment, according to the hearing officer’s June 29 ruling.

During a recent interview, White said the school also agreed to sign a private agreement with the Lutz Citizens Coalition pledging that it would never ask for a variance to allow more students at the site.

The 4-acre site previously had been approved for 175 kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Of those, up to 85 were allowed to be in child care.

The property, which is included in Hillsborough County’s Landmark and Historic Archeological Resources Inventory, contains a church that was built in the 1940s and two educational buildings that were constructed during the 1960s.

No additions or expansions are requested in Learning Gate’s application.

The county’s transportation department reviewed the request and concluded the school will not impact traffic on nearby roads. The school is expected to generate 225 trips during the peak morning hours, and 151 during the afternoon peak hours.

However, the transportation department has determined that a detailed traffic study will be needed and it may show the need for such improvements as paving, widening and construction of a turn lane.

Learning Gate is a nationally recognized charter school that operates at two locations in Tampa. Its campus for kindergarten through sixth grade is at 16215 Hanna Road, and its campus for seventh and eighth grade is at 15316 N. Florida Avenue.

Even though Learning Gate applied for permission to operate a school at the Lutz Lake Fern location, no additional information is available about Learning Gate’s plans.

Brian Erickson, president of Learning Gate’s board, said in an email that “at this time, it would be inappropriate for anyone to comment.

“There are many unanswered questions. We are having ongoing communications with the bank who holds the note, but we are still doing our due diligence on the property,” Erickson wrote.

Published July 9, 2014

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Little Women take home big service awards

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The Little Women aren’t so little anymore when it comes to statewide awards.

The GFWC Little Women of Lutz, a club for girls ages 12 through 18 sponsored by the GWFC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, earned multiple awards at their Juniorette Annual State Meeting in Lakeland.

The Little Women of Lutz came home from their statewide meeting last month with a number of awards, including Club of the Year. (Courtesy of Janet Hardy)
The Little Women of Lutz came home from their statewide meeting last month with a number of awards, including Club of the Year.
(Courtesy of Janet Hardy)

The event, held June 12-14, is an annual gathering of Florida’s General Federation of Women’s Clubs Junior Clubs.

The Lutz group earned four first-place awards and five second-place awards for its work in the community, taking home Club of the Year honors. In addition, the Little Women won for the second consecutive year the Marcia Bright Award, given to the club that interacts most with its GFWC Woman’s Club sponsor.

Club advisor Janet Hardy said her first interactions with the Little Women of Lutz revealed how organized they were.

“I went to one of their board meetings, and was just shocked at how many events they had scheduled,” she said. “It was really amazing. It really impressed me, honestly.”

While the club collected many awards in the span of a couple of days, they represent a year’s worth of work in the community, both with their sponsors and on their own. In addition to helping clean up Lutz Lake Fern Road three times a year, the Little Women collect books to be placed at laundromats, play bingo at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home, and host fundraisers for breast cancer awareness.

They also pack boxes to send to overseas troops, collect cans for Metropolitan Ministries, and work with both the Ronald McDonald House and the Special Olympics.

Bethany Hanson is president of the Little Women of Lutz. The 15-year-old believes that the hard work of the members pays off both for the club and the area in which they live.

“I think it’s important to be active in the community because it helps so much,” Hanson said. “Even if you do a little bit of work, it makes a big impact. Whenever we volunteer, we get a sense of accomplishment, like we did something great. I always come back smiling because I know I helped someone, and that’s a feeling you can’t beat.”

The Little Women aren’t the only ones smiling. The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club remains proud of their junior club’s accomplishments, and feels very close to its members.

“It’s almost like they’re family members,” said Pat Serio, a woman’s club member and an early advisor to the Little Women more than a decade ago. “We see them as daughters and granddaughters.”

In addition to helping their mentors on a variety of projects, the Little Women are learning valuable skills they can use later in life, Serio said. They get experience in public speaking and organizational leadership, handle funds through their treasury, and gain confidence from taking a hands-on approach to their work at a young age.

She also credits Hardy with encouraging them to implement new ideas and get the word out regarding their activities, making the group stronger and more effective.

“She’s doing a fabulous job,” Serio said of Hardy.

While the Little Women of Lutz boast just 17 members — with nearly half of them set to leave because of age limits — the group beat larger chapters, including some with multiple sponsoring clubs to support them. Hanson attributes their success to working as a group and finding ways to accomplish their tasks on their own, allowing them to grow and succeed together.

“I think our chapter is different because even though we’re small, we do a lot,” she said. “Unlike many of the large chapters, the members do the work themselves and the advisors don’t. The secret to being successful is jut working together, as a team.”

For more information about the Little Women of Lutz, call Hardy at (813) 758-0979.

Published July 9, 2014

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Lutz cake and pie contest features new twists

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The annual Fourth of July cake and pie contest in Lutz this year will have a few new ingredients.

One change attempts to level the playing field.

Sarah Robison gave her cake a festive feel, attracting the highest bid from Mark Carnes, who posed with her after the auction. (File Photo)
Sarah Robison gave her cake a festive feel, attracting the highest bid from Mark Carnes, who posed with her after the auction.
(File Photo)

From past experiences, contest coordinator Marilyn Wannamaker said she has observed that it was not fair to have a 4-year-old compete against a 20-year-old. That inspired the addition of a new category.

Now there will be three categories instead of two. It will break up adults 18 and older in their own group, with teens between 12 and 17 competing against each other, and children from 4 through 11 in their own category.

Also new this year, the contest will be move to the Lutz Senior Center. Previously, it was at the Lutz Fire Department building, but the volunteer fire department has since been replaced with a county crew and the building sold.

This year will be Wannamaker’s “last hurrah,” as the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club member plans to turn over the task of organizing the event to someone new next year. At age 83 and after running the contest for 12 years, Wannamaker said it’s time to give someone else a turn.

The Lutz woman said she originally found herself interested in the annual contest because she enjoys the opportunity to meet people in the community. Some competitors are new to the contest every year, while others enter each year.

Wilma Lewis typically enters four or five decorated cakes each year and is expected to do the same this year, Wannamaker said. The Gaschlers like to make it a family affair. Last year, Ron baked a hummingbird cake, Rebecca entered a chocolate chip confection, and Tracy made her famous five-pound apple pie.

The pie fetched $85, the highest price in the cake and pie auction, which follows the parade each year.

Adults and children entered about five-dozen pies and cakes last year. This year, Wannamaker hopes to attract more entries, as the theme of the Independence Day celebration is a salute to the volunteer firefighters who served the community for decades.

Those wishing to enter the contest should remember to think about the type of icing they use because there is no refrigeration in the judging areas, Wannamaker said.

“We had one little boy who baked a large cake that was a house and a village, and he used blueberry Jell-O for the lake,” Wannamaker said. “Well, his lake became an ocean.”

Winners in each category will receive a blue ribbon.

Size matters, too, according to the contest organizer. The entries must be no larger than 9-by-13 inches.

Once the contest is over, all pies and cakes will be carried over to the front of the train station for the auction.  The money raised by the sales go to different charities in the Lutz area.

Besides generating money for good causes, the cake and pie auction can be entertaining. Auctioneer Bob Moore will encourage bidders, while Cheryl Benton carries the sweets around to give the crowd a good look at them.

Sometimes, Wannamaker said, the best bidding wars involve parents and grandparents.

Fourth of July cake and pie contest
There are now three age groups for the Lutz Fourth of July cake and pie contest. They are adults, ages 18 and older; teens, between 12 and 17; and children, from 4 through 11.

The contest categories are the same for each group, with the exception of an additional category for men in the adult age group, and for boys in the other two age groups. The idea is to get the boys and men into the kitchen, said Marilyn Wannamaker, contest coordinator.

Categories include best-decorated, most patriotic, best cake tasting, best pie tasting, judge’s favorite, and Guv’na’s favorite.

Those wishing to enter the contest must deliver their entries to the Lutz Senior Center, 112 First Ave. N.W., between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., on July 3, or between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., on July 4.

– Ashley Schrader

Published July 2, 2014

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Liane Caruso working to brand herself Lutz Guv’na

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Liane Caruso runs Limelight Marketing Consultants, a full-service marketing firm she started in 2009.

When she’s working, Caruso always is thinking about how to make something better known, bigger and more successful.

Lutz Guv’na candidate Liane Caruso has plenty of support for her campaign, including her sister-in-law, Dr. Dae Sheridan, right, and her daughter, Lila. (Courtesy of Liane Caruso)
Lutz Guv’na candidate Liane Caruso has plenty of support for her campaign, including her sister-in-law, Dr. Dae Sheridan, right, and her daughter, Lila.
(Courtesy of Liane Caruso)

Even as a candidate for Lutz Guv’na, she can’t take off her marketing hat.

“I would hope that one day this Guv’na thing could be a really big deal,” she said. “I know there’s a lot of people who know about it, but I’m finding that there a lot of people who don’t know about it, and I think what a great way to bring attention to Lutz and the businesses of Lutz.

“It’s a great concept, and I hope that it only continues to grow.”

Caruso decided to help it grow by signing up as a candidate for the ceremonial title, given to the person who raises the most money during the campaign. The winner will be announced during Lutz’ annual Fourth of July celebration, and all monies raised go to local organizations.

To help add a little marketing savvy to the race, Caruso launched ILoveLutz.com, which provides fundraising opportunities for her campaign. But once the race ends, she wants to see it grow into a site for local businesses to make their presence known to visitors and increase visibility for the community in general with news releases, business reviews, and a calendar of upcoming events.

Caruso is from Jacksonville, but spent time in Key West, where she met her husband Larry. They decided that it wasn’t the ideal place to raise children, so they moved to the area to be closer to family and enjoy the strong community presence. They have two children, Kyle, 5, and Lila, 2.

Caruso lives in Land O’ Lakes and moved her business to Lutz last year, and is happy to have the important things in her life close to each other.

“I’ve built my entire life within a 5-mile radius, which I absolutely love,” Caruso said. “I love the community and how supportive they are of each other.”

Philanthropy was another aspect about the race that drew her in, and with some experience in community races — she helped others campaign for king and queen of Fantasy Fest, a 10-day celebration in Key West — she felt it was a good time to take a shot at being Guv’na.

In addition to helping local organizations with much-needed funds, Caruso wants her campaign to also focus on helping local businesses expand their opportunities on the Internet. In conjunction with her ILoveLutz website, Caruso believes companies can utilize a strong Internet presence in conjunction with the face-to-face, personal relationships they’ve built over the years in Lutz.

“Our entire world has shifted to technology and online awareness. It’s great those people that have built their business off word of mouth and the good old-fashioned way,” she said. “So many other businesses don’t have that luxury, and their website and how they’re found online is a first impression, or their first chance. If they’re not found online they’re essentially missing opportunity.”

Local businesses that don’t have a brick-and-mortar location, but are still owned and run by people in the community, need a strong online presence to gain exposure they might not get otherwise, she said.

Caruso’s campaign has gone well, she said, with plenty of fundraising efforts such as raffles, themed parties and workshops, as well as combined events with multiple Guv’na candidates.

One of the fun things about the race is how supportive and friendly the candidates are with each other, she said.

With her constant focus on branding, marketing and social media for clients — and a Guv’na campaign to run — Caruso doesn’t make much room for idle time. But the Carusos enjoy local and state attractions (she admits to being “theme park junkies”) and spending time with local family.

While she sometimes travels out of the state for business and has lived throughout Florida, it’s Land O’ Lakes and Lutz, where Caruso lives and works, that feels like home.

“I wouldn’t move back to Jacksonville, I probably wouldn’t really live in Tallahassee although I loved it while I was there,” Caruso said. “Orlando and Tampa, to me, are pretty comparable, but Key West is very different. This is exactly the right place.”

For more information about Caruso’s Lutz Guv’na campaign, visit ILoveLutz.com or search “Liane for Guv’na” on Facebook.

For more information about Limelight Marketing Consultants, call (813) 419-3777 or visit LimelightConsultants.com.

Published July 2, 2014

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Three days of fireworks: Local events display patriotic spirit

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Local residents wanting to see fireworks to celebrate the Fourth of July can enjoy them before, during and after the actual holiday.

The third annual Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival at The Shops at Wiregrass features a fireworks display on July 3 at 9 p.m. (Courtesy of Tony Masella/OurTownFla.com)
The third annual Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival at The Shops at Wiregrass features a fireworks display on July 3 at 9 p.m.
(Courtesy of Tony Masella/OurTownFla.com)

Multiple venues will host fireworks shows as part of special holiday celebrations July 3-5, along with a number of other activities to help celebrate Independence Day in Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes.

Those who want to celebrate early can visit The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel, on July 3. The shopping complex, home to around 100 different retailers, is the site of the third annual Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival. Last year’s event drew around 30,000 people.

The free event begins at 5 p.m., and includes a watermelon-eating contest and a bicycle-decorating contest. But one of the highlights is a patriotic-themed pageant to crown Little Miss and Mr. Firecracker across several age groups.

The pageant was a favorite in 2013, and should be bigger this year, said Debbie Detweiler, director of marketing for The Shops.

“It’s grown so much that we’re having it hosted up on the center court stage this year,” she said. “It was a really popular part of the event last year, and we want to make more room for it.”

Winners will be announced for participants in three separate categories: Ages 3 months to 1, ages 2 to 4, and ages 5 to 8.

The fireworks show begins at 9 p.m., with approximately $9,000 worth of pyrotechnics on display.

On July 4, the annual Sparklebration event will be held at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City. It includes a watermelon-eating contest, a hot dog-eating contest and bounce houses.

Gates open at 3 p.m.  The fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m. The cost is $5 per person, with children younger than 12 admitted free. Parking also is $5.

For anyone who missed the events on July 3 and July 4, or wants to celebrate a little longer, there are a couple of local options the following day. Avalon Park West, 5227 Autumn Ridge Drive in Wesley Chapel, will host its free Independence Day Festival on July 5.

According to Kristin Muslin, marketing and events coordinator for Avalon Park West, it’s more important for the community to schedule an event when people can attend than to make sure it falls on the Fourth of July.

“Having an event during the week is a little bit more difficult for a lot of people to attend,” Muslin said, noting that July 4 falls on a Friday this year. “So it’s kind of important for us to make it a little bit easier for families to be able to spend time together on the weekend.”

Avalon Park West also wants to use the event as an opportunity to showcase its neighborhood, which has around 70 occupied homes. With future planning allowing for 4,800 homes to be built, the Independence Day Festival allows the community to learn a bit more about them, Muslin said.

Avalon Park West’s town center will serve as the focal point of the festival.

The event includes bounce houses, giveaways, community performances and food trucks. More than 50 vendors are expected to be in attendance. A bicycle parade starts at 5:30 p.m., and the fireworks begin at 9 p.m.

That same day, Connerton, a community located on U.S. 41 about seven miles north of State Road 54, will host a free Fifth of July event starting at 5 p.m. Its celebration also is a chance to show off the 8,000-acre community, which includes a 3,000-acre nature preserve.

The celebration includes live music, games, prizes, and bounce houses. Food trucks and refreshments will be available, and guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets. The fireworks start at 9 p.m.

For more information about the Freedom Festival at The Shops at Wiregrass, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com.

For more information about Sparklebration at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, call (352) 567-6678, or visit www.pascocountyfair.com.

For more information about Avalon Park West’s Independence Day Festival, call (813) 482-5361.

For more information about Connerton’s Fifth of July event, visit Connerton.com.

Published July 2, 2014

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Trip to Thailand yields insights for Lutz college student

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When Hunter Rasmussen was a 10th grader at Berean Academy in Lutz, he began learning biblical Greek — and that changed his life.

“I just loved it. I thought it was the most incredible thing,” said Rasmussen, now a 20-year-old student at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. “That made me excited not just about biblical languages, but language in general. I just felt so convinced that this is what I am supposed to do.

Hunter Rasmussen’s village ‘sister’ Khwan presents him with some traditional fabric that was woven by hand. (Courtesy of Hunter Rasmussen)
Hunter Rasmussen’s village ‘sister’ Khwan presents him with some traditional fabric that was woven by hand.
(Courtesy of Hunter Rasmussen)

Rasmussen now takes linguistics classes at Covenant, where he majors in biblical studies with minors in missions and linguistics.

He began looking around last year for an opportunity to do a mission trip, an internship or to take linguistics classes during the summer. When representatives from Wycliffe Bible Translators USA came to Covenant to talk to students about an opportunity to work in Thailand, Rasmussen felt called to pursue it.

Wycliffe is an international organization that has worked for more than 70 years to translate the Bible into every language in the world. This Orlando-based nonprofit organization is named after John Wycliffe, who first translated the Bible into English in the late 1300s.

After hearing about Wycliffe’s Get Global program for college students, Rasmussen began seeking contributions to help him come up with the $4,000 he needed for the trip.

“I just shared with people in different communities that I’m associated with and in my churches, both home and here, and with people at school,” said Rasmussen, who is a member of First United Methodist Church of Lutz. “Lots of family and lots of church members and even some of my peers provided for me.”

Rasmussen spent three weeks in May in Thailand. He seized the opportunity to go to the Asian country, and said the trip yielded valuable insights.

“I think I got the affirmation out of it that God can use me in cross-cultural ministry,” he said. “It’s something I’m able to do.”

Rasmussen spent much of his time immersing himself in the culture of a Thailand village that’s so small, the people there go only by their first names.

When he and his team arrived to the rural village in a pickup truck, Rasmussen noticed many traditional wood homes built on stilts. There were more modern ones, too, with concrete foundations, such as the one where he stayed.

The food was spicy.

“The people group that we stayed with is known for having food that’s even spicier than Thai food (is generally). It was pretty hot, but it was also delicious,” he said. “I loved the food. God really blessed us because nobody on the team got sick at all, or were unable to handle it.”

The villagers there abide by the concept of eating locally produced foods.

“When it’s dinnertime, they’ll go and pick some mangoes from a tree, or grab some leaves from a bush, or pick off some roots, and you have dinner right there,” Rasmussen said. “There was a lot of fish and a lot of chicken.”

They also often gave people nicknames that were associated with food, added Rasmussen, who was given the nickname “Sticky Rice.”

“They named somebody else in our group, ‘Watermelon,’” Rasmussen added.

He noticed a big difference between the American way of life and the village culture when it came to how work is completed.

“They would definitely do work, and we helped them plow fields and catch fish and do things,” Rasmussen said. “But they do them as they need to be done. They don’t follow a strict work schedule.”

In general, he found the people of the village to be laid back and to esteem the values of comfort, convenience and fun.

As a student of linguistics, Rasmussen was fascinated by the fact that the villagers spoke a different language than mainland Thailand.

“Part of the trip is learning and realizing that language-learning and cultural-learning is not only foundational for Bible translations and foundational of ministry, but that language learning is itself a ministry,” he said.

Minority languages often are considered inferior by the nation at large, he explained. “So, by learning their language we show that their language is valuable and created by God,” Rasmussen said. “To be able to do Bible translation, you have to know a tongue.”

The college student said his trip to Thailand didn’t shatter any previously held misconceptions. He had been prepped well by the team leading the trip, he said, where they were told, “When you’re doing cross-cultural living and ministry, don’t expect anything.”

He followed their advice.

“I really tried not to expect anything and just to learn,” he said.

Rasmussen is interested in pursuing a future involved in Bible translation.

“Bible translation is what enables any other ministry,” he said. “That involves not only church planting, but literacy work. Then that opens the way for people to be able to improve their situation, like know more about health care and know more how to nourish themselves correctly and how to do agriculture better.

“Bible translation is also again affirming that God knows even these little languages that are only spoken by a few thousand people, and he values them as much as English, spoken by millions upon millions, or Thai, that’s spoken by the nation at large.”

Rasmussen intends to complete his degree at Covenant and pursue a master’s in linguistics, although he’s not sure where.

“I thought that I would be going to the Graduate Institute for Applied Linguistics, which is in Dallas, part of the International Linguistics Center,” he said.

That path is less certain now.

“Through this trip, I’ve learned there are other ways you can do linguistics schooling and also transition onto the field,” Rasmussen said.

He plans to find out more about those possibilities.

Published June 25, 2014

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Lutz to sparkle for this year’s July 4 celebration

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Nobody can say Lutz ignores the Fourth of July.

A cake decorating contest, 5-kilometer run and a new Guv’na inauguration are just some of the events scheduled for July 4.

Jake Gemmill, 8, of Lutz, enjoys an imaginary ride on a tractor during last year’s Lutz Fourth of July celebration. (File Photo)
Jake Gemmill, 8, of Lutz, enjoys an imaginary ride on a tractor during last year’s Lutz Fourth of July celebration.
(File Photo)

The Independence Day celebration also includes the annual parade, and this year’s theme is a tribute to the Lutz Volunteer Fire Association, which ceased operations last year and officially went out of business in January. Hillsborough County now handles fire rescue services.

It was important to honor the fire association, said Phyllis Hoedt, who chairs the Fourth of July events. The group served the community for more than six decades.

“They’re no longer in existence, and we wanted to honor them,” Hoedt said. “They were very good to our community.”

The Fourth of July work actually begins on July 3, when volunteers set up for the parade from 10 a.m. until noon by the train depot, located at U.S. 41 and Lutz Lake Fern Road. While some people already are scheduled to be on-hand, more volunteers are needed to set up chairs, trashcans and other items for the expected crowd. Volunteers also will be needed for breakdown after the parade.

Participants in the cake and pie contest can drop off their entries on Thursday between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., at the Lutz Senior Center, 112 First Ave. N.W. The final cake registration opportunity is July 4 between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.

On Friday, the 5K and one-mile runs kick off the festivities at the Lutz Community Center, 101 First Ave. N. The 5K begins at 8 a.m., with the fun run and family walk starting at 8:45 a.m.

Male and female awards will be given out for the 5K run in overall categories as well as age groups. The one-mile event will recognize overall male and female winners, and all finishers will receive a ribbon.

Following the races, a flag-raising ceremony with the Boy Scouts and the Civil Air Patrol will commence at the front of the Lutz Branch Library, 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road.

After the flag raising is completed, the various 5K and fun run race winners across age and gender categories will receive trophies. Then the parade starts, with around 100 floats, cars and pedestrians taking part in the route, which begins near Lutz Lake Fern Road and ends on First Avenue S.W.

While participants don’t need to do anything fancy for the parade — which is free to enter — there always are a number of them who turn heads with their eye-catching floats, said Shirley Simmons, one of the parade organizers.

“I think that, for the most part, they’re very original. They spend lots of time thinking about it and putting it together,” Simmons said. “It’s just amazing to me how original some of them are.”

When the parade concludes around 11 a.m., float winners will receive their awards and the cake auction will begin. The money raised, which is usually several hundred dollars, will help fund next year’s event. The cake and pie competition is sponsored by the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

Finally, the new Lutz Guv’na will be inaugurated, concluding several weeks of “campaigning,” where each candidate raises money for local organizations. The candidate who raises the most money earns the ceremonial title.

Five candidates are vying to replace current Guv’na Suzin Carr: Jerome Smalls, Cindy Perkins, Susan Gulash, “Papa” Jay Muffly and Liane Caruso.

Throughout the morning, the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, the Boy Scouts and a variety of other vendors will sell food, arts and crafts and other items. Around 45 vendor booths are expected for the event, and will be accessible near the train depot and the dog park.

Booths will cost $20, or $25 with access to electricity.

To participate in the 5K or one-mile events, preregistration forms are available by e-mailing and placing “Lutz I-Day Run Reg Form” in the subject line. Participants also can pick up registration forms in person by visiting Big Fred’s Auto Repair, 19301 U.S. 41 in Lutz Monday through Friday during the day.

Until June 30, the cost for the 5K race is $20, the one-mile event is $10, and registration for both is $22. After June 30, the cost increases to $25, $15 and $27, respectively.

Same-day registration is available at the Lutz Community Center beginning at 6:30 a.m. All preregistered runners will receive a T-shirt, and later registrants will receive any remaining shirts on a first-come basis.

Attendees are encouraged not to park near the Lutz Community Center, as cars might not be able to leave before the end of the parade. Recommended parking areas include south of Lutz Lake Fern Road or east of U.S. 41. Those parking west of U.S. 41 are encouraged to park near the dog park instead of the community center.

For volunteer information, call Suzin Carr at (813) 453-5256. For general parade information, call Phyllis Hoedt at (813) 949-1937. For float information, call Shirley Simmons at (813) 949-7060.

For sponsorship and entry information for the 5K race, call Terry Donovan at (813) 949-6659.

For cake decorating contest information, call Terri Burgess at (813) 690-5790 or Marilyn Wannamaker at (813) 949-1482. For booth rental information, call Annie Fernandez at (813) 784-4471.

Published June 25, 2014

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