The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Hobby Lobby opens at Cypress Creek Town Center

By

About two dozen shoppers were waiting when the Hobby Lobby Stores Inc., held its grand-opening celebration of its newest store, in Lutz.

They joined store employees and members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce for the 9 a.m., ribbon cutting ceremony on March 18.

Brooke Pancoast, manager of the new Hobby Lobby in Lutz, does the honors of cutting the ribbon during the grand opening festivities. (Diane Kortus)

The store, at 25675 Sierra Center Drive, is Hobby Lobby’s 865th store. It is located in the Cypress Creek Town Center, which is west of Interstate 75, off State Road 56.

Suzanne Beauchaine, executive director of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, welcomed Manager Brooke Pancoast and her team to the chamber, which has a 44-year history of promoting the interests of businesses and supporting community organizations.

“Our new location is great for many of our customers, who have been driving to our stores in Zephyrhills and New Port Richey,” Pancoast said.

“While we expect to keep many of our loyal store customers in Zephyrhills, many will now shop at the new Lutz store because it is closer and more convenient,” said Kevin Ross, Hobby Lobby’s Zephyrhills store manager.

Monica Salter, right, and her daughter-in-law, Jennifer Salter, measure a ‘distressed’ end table that caught their eye during Hobby Lobby’s grand opening in Lutz.

Shoppers were eager to check out the new store.

“We love the home accessories and art supply areas of the store,” said Monica Salter, who attended the Lutz grand opening with her daughter-in-law, Jennifer Salter. “Plus, Hobby Lobby has wonderful discounts on holiday items that we always appreciate.”

Both women reside in Wesley Chapel, and have also shopped Hobby Lobby stores in Zephyrhills, North Carolina and Colorado.

Shopper Lynn Eberhart said, “I’m learning to quilt, and we came by to see what Hobby Lobby has for quilters.”

She came to the grand opening with her  husband, Joey, who said he enjoys looking at the memorable and clever signs Hobby Lobby stocks.

Hobby Lobby is a privately held national retain chain of craft and home décor stores.

Each store offers more than 70,000 crafting and home décor products, including floral, fabric, needle art, custom framing, baskets, home accents, wearable art, arts and crafts, jewelry making, scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies, according to a company news release.

The Oklahoma City-based private corporation got its start in 1970 as Greco, a miniature picture frame company. Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The store is closed on Sundays.

Published March 20, 2019

Century-old bell stolen from Lutz church

By

Members of Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church are in disbelief as part of their identity has been stolen – a signature bell that has accompanied the church, throughout its history, as it moved from one location to the next.

The Lutz church became aware the bell was missing in mid-February, and officials still don’t know exactly which day the theft occurred.

This bell stand looks strange to members of the Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Lutz, who are accustomed to seeing it with the church’s 116-year-old bell. The historic bell was stolen in February. (Brian Fernandes)

“We were stunned,” said Penny Knight, the church secretary. “It was so heavy and so securely placed, that we couldn’t believe it.”

A bicyclist who frequently rides around the church’s neighborhood, first noticed the bell missing from its metal frame.

He brought it to the attention of the church maintenance man and the authorities were informed.

With the bell taken, the only remnants left behind were a wrench and a foam cushion.

“They took a long pipe wrench,” speculated Cumberland Elder Sidney Swindle. “They unscrewed some nuts up on the top that held it to the frame.”

Swindle added that he thinks the cushion may have been used to delicately lower the bell to the surface.

Given how heavy the bell is – several hundred pounds – the theft was likely a team effort, the church elder reasoned.

Knight, who has attended the church since age 12, said the iconic bell has “been a long part of our history.”

In the late 1950s, Christ Cumberland Presbyterian Church was relocated to the Seminole Heights community in Tampa. Outside the sanctuary, the church’s bell was displayed upon a pedestal. (Courtesy of Sidney Swindle)

The bell was created in 1903 and has been a trademark of the church ever since.

Christ Cumberland was first established in Lakeland. By the late 1950s, the church’s wooden structure was uprooted from its foundation and relocated to the Seminole Heights community in Tampa.

“It was literally moved here by trucks and trailers,” the secretary recalled – and so too moved the bell.

After the church was torn down and rebuilt, the bell was displayed outside on a pedestal.

By the early 1990s, both the church and bell moved to another area of Tampa before settling in Lutz in 2002.

There the bell hung from a frame, stationed on the ground, between the sanctuary and the church’s adjacent building.

“In order to preserve it, we had it mounted on a concrete slab,” Swindle explained. “It was welded to the point that it would not move.”

This was done, in part, as a precaution to prevent kids from swinging the heavy object.

The theory is that it may have been stolen because the thieves think it has value, but Swindle notes that there is an engraving on the bell that identifies its original  home at the Lakeland Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

“The bell is very sentimental to us,” Swindle said.

The church remains optimistic for its return — even hoping that those responsible will have second thoughts.

Anyone with pertinent information is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8000.

Published March 20, 2019

‘Biggest Little Train Show’ delights train enthusiasts

By

Hundreds of model train collectors and enthusiasts converged at the historic Zephyrhills Depot Museum, 39110 South Ave., over the weekend to attend the Zephyrhills Model Train Show & Swap Meet.

Zephyrhills Trainmen Association members Bill Craven, a snowbird from Albany who resides part-time in Zephyrhills, left, and Glenn Young, a snowbird from Canada who lives part-time in Dade City, discuss the train that Young powered using a Wi-Fi interface. The interface allows the user to operate the lights and horns by using a cellphone as a remote. (Christine Holtzman)

The restored 1927 Atlantic Coast Line railroad depot has been hosting the event every other year (on odd years) for the past decade.

The show, known as the ‘Biggest Little Train Show in Florida,’ attracted numerous vendors dealing in predominately HO scale and N scale trains.

The Zephyrhills Trainmen Association — a  volunteer, five-member group of train buffs — has organized the show since its inception.

The centerpiece of the show is a 8-foot by 17-foot interactive HO scale layout, built and maintained by the Trainmen, which is on permanent display at the museum.

One of the four train systems speeding along the tracks inside this impressive display is rigged with a tiny camera that broadcasts onto a television, allowing the user to enjoy the ride, as if they were the engineer.

Eleven-year-old Aidan LeVasseur, of Land O’ Lakes, is mesmerized by a small N scale train making its way around the track. The layout was up for auction, sold to the highest bidder at the end of the show.

All of the buildings in the display are to scale, and many represent actual buildings, landmarks and businesses in Zephyrhills.

Years ago, several of these businesses paid to have their replicas professionally made, but the most enduring are the ones that were constructed by members of a bygone era, who have since passed away.

Maintaining a large layout is a group effort.

Trainmen member Bill Craven, a snowbird from Albany who lives part-time in Zephyrhills, appreciates what each member has to offer.

“Different men in the group have different skills, each guy is good at something. We have an electrician, we have a guy that could put new paved roads down, another guy knows computer-driven design. I’m good at the landscaping, making sure that the trees are in top shape,” Craven said.

Danny Miller and his wife, Jo, watch the trains of the large layout zip around the tracks. Danny is a huge train enthusiast.

Operating on a shoe-string budget, the Trainmen, who belong to the nonprofit organization Main Street Zephyrhills Inc., rely heavily on donations from estates, and in exchange, the donors can receive a tax benefit.

Estates often will donate model train collections because the surviving family does not have any interest in the hobby, or the collection may take up too much space. Many people donate to keep the history alive and to give their trains new life, for another generation to appreciate.

The group spends the two years in-between the shows collecting donations, taking inventory, and doing any necessary repairs and cleaning to prep them for the next sale.

In addition to the Trainmen’s offerings, there were several local vendors on hand selling everything from antique pieces, individual cars and full sets, to starter sets for those that are just beginning their journey in the hobby of model trains.

By Christine Holtzman

Published March 20, 2019

A close-up look of various HO scale engines that were available for sale.
For sale, an antique Lionel train from 1936, featuring Donald Duck and Pluto. William ‘Murph’ Murphy, the owner of K&M Treasures and Antiques in Zephyrhills, said that this Disney-themed train is what saved Lionel from going out of business after the Depression.

Pasco poised to lift ban on dock roofs on lakes

By

The Pasco County Commission appears ready to allow boat docks on private lakes to have roofs over them.

Commissioners had a public hearing on March 12 regarding a proposal to amend the county’s land development code that currently prohibits the roofs.

No one from the public spoke for or against the proposed change during the public hearing.

This is a look at Bell Lake, which has some docks that have roofs. (File)

The change would apply only to inland water bodies, not coastal waters, according to Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder.

Commissioner Jack Mariano wanted to know if the county could allow the protection for boats on canals, if enough people in that particular neighborhood supported them.

Steinsnyder responded: “You really can’t legislate that way with your land development code.”

Commissioners are scheduled to have a final public hearing on the issue on March 26 at 1:30 p.m., in New Port Richey.

Though no one from the audience spoke during the commission’s recent meeting, three Land O’ Lakes residents previously spoke in support of the change at a Feb. 5 meeting.

Joe Steffens, Sandy Graves and Denise Brand, all of Land O’ Lakes, urged commissioners to allow the roofs over boat docks on private lakes.

Steffens, who is a marine contractor, has been pushing for a change — and has been discussing the issue with individual commissioners for the better part of a year to try to make that happen.

Both he and Graves told commissioners that the roofs over boat docks have been a way of life in Central Pasco, and asked them to drop the prohibition against them.

Brand, of Ukulele Brand’s restaurant in Land O’ Lakes, also requested the change noting that the restaurant would like to make changes to its dock and is worried that it wouldn’t be able to replace the roof.

Published March 20, 2019

Dade City picnic offers a taste of New York

By

About 80 people packed the clubhouse at Country Aire Manor recently for the annual Otsego County picnic.

Besides catching up with friends and making new acquaintances, those gathering enjoyed a potluck lunch, had a chance to reminisce, and share their East Coast and Southern cultures.

New Yorkers and Floridians alike gathered for the 2019 NY Otsego County Picnic on March 8, at Dade City’s County Aire Manor clubhouse. Guests got to meet up with both new and familiar faces, while eating various foods. (Brian Fernandes)

Sally Harrington, of Cooperstown, New York, said she was happy to run into old friends.

“I’ve seen a lot of people that I haven’t seen in years – which is very surprising to me,” said Harrington, a Florida snowbird, who made a point to attend the picnic before heading back up North.

She was invited to the Dade City get-together by her friend Ken Morris, an Otsego County native with strong ties to the yearly picnic. His grandfather, a New York transplant to Zephyrhills, was one of the event’s founders.

“I was a high-schooler when I use to visit him,” Morris recounted. “It was a great place to get out of the snow.”

Word of the picnic typically gets around either by email chain, telephone calls or word of mouth.

As this year’s host, Rex Yurenka personally helped to circulate invitations.

“Most of these people are from New York and they have houses down here,” said  Yurenka, a snowbird himself.

Those gathering had a chance to share special foods.

Joe Corraro, for instance, prepared his signature-style meatballs for the picnic. A native of Otsego County, he also is a former firefighter and former pizza parlor owner.

Now a resident of Zephyrhills, Corraro has been a regular at the picnic for nearly a decade.

When it comes to deli sandwiches, Corraro observed, the North beats the South.

But, the South has a real advantage on another front, he said. The warm weather is a whole lot nicer than shoveling snow, he said.

Besides Corraro’s meatballs, the buffet included pasta salad, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, goulash stew and fruit salad, to name just some of the items.

And, this year, for the first time, the event featured live entertainment.

Guitarist Jim Dorn took to the stage, playing songs dating back to the 1960s.

Another high point was the chance drawing: Sixteen guests won prizes to take home.

Yurenka said he had just two rules for the picnic’s guests:  “Go away full and have a good time.”

Published March 20, 2019

Zephyrhills Founder’s Day celebrates ‘Planes, Trains & Automobiles’

By

Thousands flocked to downtown Zephyrhills to celebrate the city during the 109th Founder’s Day Heritage Parade & Festival on March 9. This year’s theme was “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” — honoring the impact that transportation has had on the growth and success of the community. A parade, which featured vintage automobiles, kicked off the event in the morning.

Dozens of local vendors and food trucks lined Fifth Avenue, and some side streets, offering patrons various dining and shopping options. Live music was performed throughout the day and there was a K-9 demonstration by the Zephyrhills Police Department. This year’s festival also featured the second annual Beard & Mustache Competition, which awarded cash prizes to the men with the most impressive facial hair.

The event was hosted by Main Street Zephyrhills, 38537 Fifth Ave.

Keeping up with the theme of this year’s Founder’s Day festival, 15-year-old artist Kaylee Day, of Zephyrhills, puts the finishing touches on her chalk drawing, a 1962 Corvette. She chose this particular automobile because it is her grandfather’s favorite car. (Christine Holtzman)
Rodney Walker, CEO and barber of The Gentlemen’s Quarters, left, signals for the audience to cheer if they think Charles Vickery of Odessa should win first place in the Beard & Mustache Competition. Vickery, with his 16-inch beard won the title and $250. Also pictured are James Martinez, of Zephyrhills, second from left, and Chris Vickery, of Land O’Lakes.
While the ReNewed Life Church Worship Team performs on stage, 6-year-old Skylar Allison, left, 4-year-old Mackenzie Fleming, center, and 7-year-old Amaya Jordan sit on the stage steps and watch videos on a phone. Skylar and Amaya are sisters and Mackenzie is their cousin. The girls all reside in Zephyrhills.

 

Seminars aim to empower Pasco women

By

The first of a three-part series aimed to advance the interests of Pasco County women took place on March 4 at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, on Collier Parkway.

All of the meetings, being presented by the Pasco County Commission on the Status of Women and the Pasco County Commission, are being held at the library, and are free and open to the public.

The theme of the first part of the series was “Health and Wellness.”

Sarah Cobelli, of BayCare Behavioral Health, was one of the speakers who took part in a presentation on ‘Health and Wellness’ hosted by the Pasco County Commission on the Status of Women, on March 4 at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, on Collier Parkway. (Brian Fernandes)

Guest speakers Mike Napier, of the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County, and Sarah Cobelli, of BayCare Behavioral Health, shared pertinent information relating to women’s health issues.

“Virtually everything we do at the health department is in partnership with someone else,” explained Napier, administrator for the Florida Department of Health — Pasco County.

The department works with Moffitt Cancer Center, Premier Community Healthcare Group and other partners.

They work to bring awareness to issues such as cervical and breast cancer, and provide information about treatment options.

The department also receives government funding, which is used to provide screenings.

Efforts also are being made to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A, and the health department is receiving assistance in this effort from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Napier said.

Through this collaboration, vaccinations are offered in the jail system, Napier explained.

“The good news is, it’s almost 97 percent – after you’ve had those shots – that you’ll be immune to any Hepatitis A,” Napier said.

Napier also advocates child vaccination for Hepatitis A and for the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Napier dispelled the notion that HPV is always linked to physical intercourse, stating that the stigma makes parents hesitant about vaccinating their children.

Teenage pregnancy, however, is a reality that the department addresses through its family planning program.

“It’s very difficult when we see moms coming in at 16-17 [and] trying to get them to finish school,” Napier said. “We’ve got to do something about that.”

The program offers testing, counseling and various contraceptive methods.

It also works in conjunction with schools to make sure students are well-educated and have a resource to call for help.

Tobacco use is another area of local concern, Napier pointed out.

“Unfortunately, Pasco County continues to have some of the highest smoking rates in the state,” the administrator said.

As of last year, 21 percent of adult Pasco residents were chronic smokers, according to the health department.

It also noted in a 2013 study that 22 percent of women in the county were smokers – significantly in the 18 to 44 age range.

The health department is working with medical institutions to distribute and collect health surveys.

The effort allows hospitals and other health care facilities to share medical information, and to better identify health trends based on demographics.

“It’s going to be consistent with all the hospitals and the health industry, to be able to say, ‘We all see the same data and now we’re going to try to act on that data,’” Napier stated.

The administrator also noted that providing mental health care to women who need it remains challenging.

Cobelli provided a presentation focused on behavioral health and substance abuse among women.

As a program manager for BayCare, she oversees community-based services for both children and adults.

“One of the newer additions to BayCare – within the last couple of years – is behavioral health integration, that especially females find comfort in,” Cobelli said.

This program is a convenient means for women to see their primary care physician and speak with a mental health counselor within the same office.

Another outreach program allows nurses, with a mobile medical unit, to go outdoors informing the homeless about medical resources and housing that may be available to them.

There’s also outreach to teenage mothers.

With the help of case managers, another state-funded program provides intervention for pregnant or postpartum women struggling with substance abuse.

For the 2018 fiscal year, Cobelli stated: “About 65 percent of the women that are enrolled have a primary diagnosis of an opioid disorder.”

There are also services available to women outside the program to help with essentials, such as car seats, strollers and baby formula.

BayCare encourages women with substance abuse, who are coming out of jail, to attend its group meetings three times a week.

With the Alternatives to Incarceration Pasco program, BayCare works with the Sheriff’s Office to establish special services for those with substance disorders.

The second part of the series, focused on Economic Prosperity, will be held on April 8.

The third part of the series, focused on Safety and Access, will be presented on May 6.

For more information visit, PascoCountyFL.net/2662/Commission-on-Status-of-Women.

Women’s lecture series presented by the Pasco County Commission on the Status of Women and the Pasco County Commission
Where: Land O’ Lakes Library meeting room, 2818 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
When: Upcoming sessions are planned on Economic Prosperity on April 8 and Safety & Access on May 6. Both sessions start at 2:30 p.m.
Cost: Free to public
Details: A series of presentations from guest speakers will discuss educating and advancing Pasco County women
Info: Visit PascoCountyFL.net/2662/Commission-on-Status-of-Women. 

Published March 20, 2019

Work ethic pays off for Dade City native

By

Ryan Lowery, a Dade City native and 2008 graduate of Pasco High, is serving at the U.S. Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Lowery has served for six years and works as a Navy fire control technician. He is serving within the U.S. Pacific Fleet area of operations.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Lowery (Courtesy of Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rusty Pang)

As a fire control tech, Lowery is responsible for the weapon system onboard submarines and has the ability to work with sonar to track all contacts.

He credits his success in the Navy to many lessons learned in Dade City.

“From my hometown, I learned a good, hard work ethic, which leads me to successfully accomplishing my job on a day-to-day basis,” Lowery said, in a release.

Although there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Lowery noted he is most proud of advancing to the rank of petty officer second class because it is proof of his hard work and determination.

Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Lowery, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. His brother currently serves in the United States Army.

Lowery takes great pride in serving in the Navy.

“To wake up every morning, put on the uniform and go to work as a Navy sailor will forever have a great impact on my life. It means a lot to serve this country and to know that all of my loved ones are being protected,” he said, in the release.

Published March 20, 2019

Casino night will support Sunrise of Pasco

By

Sunrise of Pasco, Domestic & Sexual Violence Center will present a Casino Night on April 13 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at 4G Ranch, 22501 State Road 52 in Land O’ Lakes.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to benefit participants of Sunrise of Pasco.

The event will include a bourbon bar, appetizers, cigars, an open bar, blackjack, roulette, craps, bingo and slot machines.

Sponsorship opportunities are available ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Individual tickets are $150 and include the open bar, heavy appetizers, a free cigar or wine glass, live entertainment, casino games and $2,500 in ‘funny money’ to get you started.

To purchase tickets, call (352) 521-3358.

For more information about the fundraiser, visit SunrisePasco.org, or email .

Sponsorship forms also can be secured by calling the above number or using the website.

Published March 20, 2019

Chiselers Market: Find deals, support preservation

By

Elena Cifuentes sits at a table in a warehouse near downtown Tampa, painstakingly restoring a broken Hummel figurine.

Cifuentes, who teaches at the University of Tampa, leads a restoration team whose work offers a mere glimpse into the massive volunteer undertaking behind the annual Chiselers Market.

The market features thousands of items that are sold to support the restoration and preservation of Plant Hall at the University of Tampa.

These women are part of The Chiselers Inc., an organization that’s been putting on an annual market for decades, to benefit preservation of the University of Tampa’s Plant Hall. From left, front row: Cookie Ginex, Gail Dee Russ, Susanne Sanders and Beth Garcia. From left, back row: Esther Hammer, Elena Cifuentes and Teri Willis. (B.C. Manion)

This year’s market offers items ranging from the funky to the sublime.

Bargain-hunters can find linens, intricate lace, crystal chandeliers, kitchenware, collectibles and thousands of other items.

The Chiselers Inc. — celebrating its 60th anniversary — puts on the annual sale. The group is made up of women volunteers, primarily  from South Tampa, but also from Lutz, Wesley Chapel, West Chase, St. Petersburg, Sun City and other communities.

These women appear to have at least two things in common: A collective love for Plant Hall, and a true appreciation for the bond they have with each other.

The National Historic Landmark that their work benefits was completed in 1891.

In the beginning, it was an opulent hotel constructed by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant.

With European artworks and furnishings, it attracted wealthy and famous patrons to Tampa.

Its distinctive minarets, its chrysanthemum windows, its spacious veranda and its gingerbread woodwork make the building a true city of Tampa treasure.

The former Tampa Bay Hotel served as a command post in the Spanish-American War, and Teddy Roosevelt, Clara Barton, Stephen Crane and Frederic Remington stayed there.

This is one of the collectibles in the room where Terri Naylor volunteers. She helps price various items before the annual Chiselers Market.

Other famous guests have included Babe Ruth and Thomas Edison. John Phillip Sousa performed there, and Booker T. Washington spoke there, too.

The structure became home of the University of Tampa in 1933.

The Chiselers have the annual market down to a science.

Preparations begin months in advance.

Donations are brought to a warehouse near downtown Tampa, where they are sorted, repaired (if needed), priced and boxed — for delivery to the University of Tampa for a preview party and market day.

When donations initially arrive at the warehouse, they are divided into different sections. Furniture goes into one area. Collectibles into another. There are areas for books, for art, for  fine linens and bargains. There’s a silent auction area, too.

Teri Willis, third vice president of the Chiselers, is this year’s market chair.

A trip around the warehouse reveals a huge assortment of items awaiting this year’s shoppers.

If you need a picture frame, you’ll be able to choose from hundreds.

There’s interesting art, too.

“Much of it is collectible art, recognized artists,” Willis said.

On the day of the sale, the art is arranged out on Plant Hall’s veranda.

This cut glass bowl is among the thousands of items being sold at Chiselers Market.

“It’s a beautiful morning thing to do — to go out and buy art,” Willis said.

If you’re shopping for office supplies, Christmas décor or a dog bed — they’ll be at this year’s sale. There are lamps, sofas, chairs, planters and all sorts of other stuff, too.

The laces and linens are exquisite, Willis said. “Some of these laces have been passed down in families for generations.”

There’s a silver service section, too.

“It’s one of our highlights. When they light it up, it just sparkles,” Willis said. The gleam comes from the volunteers’ all-day silver polishing parties.

“That’s where I learned to really polish silver,” said Esther Hammer, this year’s president of The Chiselers.

Elena Cifuentes works painstakingly to repair this Hummel figurine.

Hammer has handled various chores through the years. Being president, she said, is easy because so many members step forward to help.

“I don’t really have to do anything because these people volunteer to do it, and they do such a great job,” Hammer said.

Moira Burke, who was at the warehouse sorting books said she enjoys having a hand in the preservation of Plant Hall — a building she considers to be an architectural gem.

Terri Naylor, who helps research and price collectibles, said being involved in Chiselers is right up her alley because she’s interested in art, architecture, history and preservation.

On market day, besides the sale items, there will be food trucks, Port-o-Potties, and a ‘Will Call’ area for shoppers who have found so many good deals that they need a temporary holding place while they go and shop for more.

They’ll have plenty of choices, Willis said.

“We take over the whole bottom floor (of Plant Hall). We fill it up.

“Outside, we have books, furniture, plants and art,” she said.

The bargain area is especially popular, Hammer said.

Plant Hall, on the University of Tampa campus, was originally the Tampa Bay Hotel. Built by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant, it was an opulent hotel with European furnishings, which drew wealthy and famous guests to Tampa.

Items are priced to sell quickly and market regulars know the drill.

“This is where people stampede,” Hammer said. “When the doors open at 9, you can hear the thunder of the feet, going down to the bargain section.”

Willis noted: “They get excited, and we get excited.”

The volunteer group is grateful for the generous donations it receives.

“We couldn’t do this without the community,” Willis said.

The market’s success also relies on a good turnout for the sale, Hammer said.

“We have so much to sell, we need people (to come to the market).”

Beyond helping to preserve a Tampa icon for future generations, Hammer derives great satisfaction from being involved with the Chiselers.

“I just love this, this whole operation, this whole organization,” Hammer said.

“The mission is the first thing that got me in here, and then working with the ladies is what kept me,” she said.

56th annual Chiselers Market
Where: Plant Hall at the University of Tampa, 401 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
When: March 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free admission; parking nearby
Details: Bargain-hunters can finds loads of good deals at this sale, which features plants, jewelry, kitchenware, books, art, electrical items, tools, china, crystal, silver, collectibles, lamps, lace, linens, furniture and other items.
Info: TheChiselersInc.com

The Chiselers
A group of friends with a strong interest in the preservation of the former Tampa Bay Hotel (now Plant Hall at the University of Tampa) met to chisel old mortar from important tiles salvaged from the original fireplaces in the hotel.

As a result, the “Chiselers” organization was founded with a mission to preserve and restore the former hotel, now a National Historic Landmark.

The Chiselers formed in 1959, and the group is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Since its founding, the organization has:

  • Raised $8.3 million for the restoration of Plant Hall
  • Supported the University of Tampa with an endowed scholarship that provides financial assistance each year to a deserving student
  • Contributes about 15,000 volunteer hours each year
  • Co-founded the Tampa Bay Hotel Advisory Council in 1996, charged with approving a master plan for restoration of the building and assuring that all work is done in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings.

For more information about the Chiselers, visit TheChiselersInc.com.

The Chiselers Inc.’s officers:
Esther Hammer, president
Karen Dalton, first vice president
Barbara Pennington, second vice president
Teri Willis, third vice president
Kathy Beeson, fourth vice president
Jane Hernandez, treasurer
Debbie Giglio, assistant treasurer
Dolly Fox, recording secretary
Barbara Stubbs, corresponding secretary
Audrie Ranon, parliamentarian

Published March 13, 2019