The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Paulie Palooza rocks out at new venue

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When people gather this year to check out the music at the fifth annual Paulie Palooza, they’ll be arriving at a new event venue.

This year, the bands will be performing at the Zephyrhills Community Event Venue, at 5200 Airport Road.

Paulie Palooza will be playing at a new venue this year. The event is scheduled for March 18 at the Zephyrhills Community Event Venue. It will feature live bands, vendors, a silent auction and more. Proceeds benefit Gulfside Hospice.
(Courtesy of Gulfside Hospice)

The bands will start playing March 18 at 10 a.m., and performances will continue throughout the day, until 5 p.m.

The musical lineup includes:

  • Cold Iron
  • The Dade City Connection
  • David Teague
  • Backwaters Own
  • The Jase Randall Band
  • Ralph’s RV
  • White RV

But, there’s more than music at Paulie Palooza. The event also features local vendors, silent auctions, a car show, food and drawings, said Kirsty Churchill, of Gulfside Hospice.

The cost for admission is $5, and those attending are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.

Event proceeds support hospice patient care in Pasco County through Gulfside Hospice.

The event all began with Paul Correia’s desire to do something for Gulfside Hospice, which provided care for his father as he was approaching his death.

It started out as a birthday party, which has turned into an annual fundraiser, Churchill said.

Gulfside Hospice appreciates Correia’s work and generosity, Churchill said.

Paul Correia launched Paulie Palooza to raise money for Gulfside Hospice, who provided care to Correia’s father before his death. Since its inception in 2012, Paulie Palooza has raised more than $20,000 to support Gulfside Hospice.

Every penny helps, she said, noting that no patient is ever turned away from Gulfside Hospice because of an inability to pay.

Churchill said it’s not known yet how the new venue will affect attendance, but the venue is large — enabling the event to have more options for things to do for event-goers.

When the venue was used this year for the first time for the Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival, it drew an estimated 11,000 — the festival’s largest crowd ever.

The 14-acre site has a 20-by-40-foot stage and enough stalls, equipped with water and electricity, to accommodate 48 vendors.

Gulfside Hospice serves patients living in Pasco County who are facing end-of-life illnesses.

The interdisciplinary care team provides medical care focusing on symptom management and pain control. It also offers emotional and spiritual care from social workers, chaplains and volunteers.

For more information about Gulfside Hospice, call (800) 561-4883, or visit GHPPC.org.

Paulie Palooza
Where: Zephyrhills Community Event Venue, at 5200 Airport Road
When: March 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $5 admission, free parking; proceeds go to Gulfside Hospice
Details: Live music, local vendors, car show, food and more
Info: To find out more, contact Ashley Thibedeau, special events coordinator, at (727) 845-5707 or , or visit Facebook.com/GHPPC.

Published March 15, 2017

Land O’ Lakes festival offers music, car show, food

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Things didn’t go exactly as planned.

The permanent stage event organizers had hoped to use remains under construction.

Soul Circus Cowboys were the headline act at the second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival.
(Courtesy of Suzanne Beauchaine)

There were also some pre-event traffic snarls. And, electrical problems threw off the schedule, precluding Stonegrey, the first musical act, from being able to perform.

Those at the festival had the chance to hear performances by The Higgins Brothers, Shalyah Fearing, City Groove and Soul Circus Cowboys.

The event was presented by the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, as a way to give back to the community.

David Gainer, the event chairman and president-elect for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, was disappointed things didn’t go as smoothly as planned.

“With all the pre-planning and walk-through the day before, we somehow still had a couple of issues. It was disappointing not to have Stonegrey open the show.  We sincerely apologize to them and, more importantly, their fan base who came out to see them,” he said.

Overall, though, those attending the second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival seemed to be having a good time.

Gloria Dale and Rosie Heim were working a booth to try to drum up support for Heim, who is campaigning to become the new Honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes. Dale is the deputy honorary mayor a title she’s been given for life.
(B.C. Manion)

People were checking out the vintage Cadillac and old-school Nova, the Teslas, and the other vehicles that owners were showing off at the Al and Ida Silver Memorial Car Show.

Event-goers also were grabbing a bite to eat, including barbecued meals served by Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que, hot dogs from D&R Specialty Dogs, and food and drink from other vendors.

And, the mood was generally upbeat, as people strolled up and down vendor aisles, checking out displays and picking up freebies at the March 11 event at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center and Park.

“This is a great day,” said Phyllis Bross, who was working at the AARP Land O’ Lakes Chapter’s booth to raise awareness about the organization. “People seem happy, and I see children with balloons. Everyone loves the food.”

Rosie Heim was at the festival trying to garner support for her bid to be the next Land O’ Lakes Honorary Mayor. She wants to win the race so she can make more people aware of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, a volunteer organization involved in countless community causes and events.

Heim was there with her sidekick, Gloria Dale, who has been named the deputy honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes for life.

The two ladies were selling “I love Land O’ Lakes” buttons and chances for prizes, to help raise money for Heim’s campaign.

Shalyah Fearing, a performer whose familiar to fans of the television program ‘The Voice,’ performed at the second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival on March 11.

Tim Clayton Sr., and his son, Tim Clayton Jr., were there working the Knight Pest Control booth. The presence of a life-size replica of a knight in shining armor helped draw attention to their booth.

“We go to all of the chamber events,” said Tim Clayton Sr., whose company is a member of Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, and has offices in Pasco, Hernando and Pinellas counties.

He was particularly pleased that the event featured a car show, in addition to the music and vendors.

“There are a couple of Teslas over there,” he said. “They’re beautiful cars.”

There were scores of other businesses and organizations with booths at the event.

Lowe’s Home Improvement had a booth and so did Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Seal Swim School was there, and so was Connerton. The Laker/Lutz News had a booth, too.

Organizers estimate attendance at about 1,000. Admission was free, except for reserved seating at the concert. Parking was $10.

Gainer said the experience “was definitely a learning process for us (event organizers), but it will help us with the planning of our future events.

“Overall, we believe it was a success, and we can continue to build from this. We understand that it takes time to grow an event such as this, and we intend to see it become a signature event that the Land O’ Lakes community can look forward to annually,” he said.

Published March 15, 2017

Baking Irish soda bread for St. Paddy’s Day

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Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 is a tradition around the world.

You can serve it on a plate or in a basket, it really doesn’t matter how you deliver it — what matter is how it tastes!
(Courtesy of Betsy Crisp)

It’s a day when the Irish and the “Irish-at-heart” celebrate Irish culture with parades, dancing and special foods, as well as green everywhere — including turning rivers green and drinking green beer.

So, why all of the green?

In the beginning, green wasn’t the color associated with St. Patrick, it was blue. Over time, it changed because green represent the emerald isle, which refer to the beautiful green landscapes of Ireland.

At first, people put green shamrocks in their lapels, and later green showed up in clothing, to represent the day.

A typical St. Patrick’s Day meal consists of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and, of course, crusty Irish soda bread.

This recipe will help you bake the bread to enjoy at your St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Crusty Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients:

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon caraway seeds (optional)
  • 1 cup to 2 cups raisins (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup margarine/butter
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg

Plus: 2 Tablespoons melted butter/margarine mixed with 2 Tablespoons buttermilk to brush on top of loaf.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F.

Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and ½ cup softened margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of melted butter with 2 tablespoons of buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an ‘X’ into the top of the loaf.

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter-buttermilk mixture while it bakes.

Interesting note: John Gallagher, former administrator of Pasco County, is widely known for his family recipe for Irish Soda Bread. He would make the bread to bring it to the office during this time of year for his staff to enjoy.

Published March 15, 2017

Sunsets restaurant to replace Hot Rod’s BBQ

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A down-home, comfort-style restaurant – named Sunsets – is expected to open in May on the former site of Hot Rod’s Country BBQ.

The popular dining spot in Lutz, locally famous for selling what it claimed to be ‘swamp bat,’ closed in 2013.

Since then, rumors and speculation have swirled around just what would replace Hot Rod’s.

Sunsets restaurant, which will open in May, is under construction on Livingston Avenue on the former site of Hot Rod’s BBQ.
(Kathy Steele)

A wrecking crew took down the old restaurant in March, several months after Sunset Livingston LLC bought the property, at 18430 Livingston Ave., in Lutz.

Construction is well underway on Sunsets.

The restaurant will be the anchor for a small retail and entertainment plaza that will have an escape room, archery shop, consignment store, insurance agency and a barbecue food trailer, according to an email from real estate broker Jerry Shaw.

“The concept is simple, good food at an affordable price,” said Shaw in the email.

There will be a relaxed “sit down” atmosphere, screened porch, a drive-through window, and a menu with a variety of choices, he added.

The other shops, including Lost in Lutz, will occupy existing storefronts located on-site. Lost in Lutz should be open by late March or early April.

Lost in Lutz will be escape room entertainment, where game participants follow clues and solve puzzles in an interactive adventure. Escape rooms are a growing entertainment trend nationwide, according to co-owner Julie Woolary.

Players “crack the lock” and “beat the clock,” according to the website.

The first of three escape rooms to open will have a theme, “Stuck in the ‘70s”. Players will have 60 minutes to solve puzzles, riddles and clues to find their way back to the present.

“We are hoping that people will come out and test their skills and brainpower, and most importantly have fun,” said Woolary.

Hot Rods had been a dining staple in Lutz since the late 1990s. Then-owner, Rod Gaudin, started his restaurant with a barbecue pit and a converted wood-frame house next to a country store he operated.

In addition to barbecue and cornbread, it had an offbeat menu with specialty items such as ‘lizard tail’ and ‘armadillo eggs’. They were more commonly known as beef steak and cheddar cheese poppers.

And, despite the restaurant’s claims, the ‘swamp bat’ delicacy actually was quail, according to a published account by Sherri Ackerman, a reporter for The Tampa Tribune.

Published March 8, 2017

Growth continues to transform Wiregrass Ranch

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Once known for its cattle and citrus groves, the Wiregrass Ranch area of Wesley Chapel is now being viewed as a place where people can live, work, shop, learn and receive medical care.

During the past decade:

  • Pasco-Hernando State College opened Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, giving Wesley Chapel students their first opportunity to seek a four-year college degree in their own backyard.
  • Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel opened, and the demand was so great that the hospital expanded — well ahead of expectations.
  • Florida Medical Clinic opened, on land situated near the hospital.
  • North Tampa Behavioral Health opened, and has been so successful that it is already undergoing an expansion.
  • Financial services giant Raymond James closed on the purchase of 65 acres of land and is expected to break ground later this year on a satellite campus, across from the college.
J.D. Porter, president of sales and development for Wiregrass Ranch, talks over projects that have been completed, or are on the horizon — at Wiregrass Ranch, a development of regional impact that covers thousands of acres in Wesley Chapel.
(B.C. Manion)

And, that’s just part of the story, according to J.D. Porter, president of sales and development for Wiregrass Ranch, in Wesley Chapel.

Besides the health care, education and commercial projects, residential growth is going strong, too, Porter said.

Wiregrass Ranch — with 340 housing starts — was No. 1 in housing starts in the period ending Dec. 31, 2016, according to a report by MetroStudy.

FishHawk Ranch, in southern Hillsborough County, was second on the list with 324 starts.

Other Pasco County developments among the top five were Long Lake Ranch, at fourth place, with 227 starts; and, Starkey Ranch, at fifth place, with 219 starts.

Porter expects residential growth to continue to flourish in Wiregrass Ranch.

He pointed to a contract on a large tract of land for a new active adult community that’s expected to close this year.

The development, which will have around 1,000 units, will fill a niche in the market, Porter said. “Nowhere in Wesley Chapel is there really an age-restricted community,” he said.

It will be “highly amenitized,” he said, and will be designed for people who are 55 and older.

Another residential development will offer row houses, and will appeal to people who are looking for a maintenance-free lifestyle, he said.

More commercial growth is on the horizon, too, Porter said.

North Tampa Behavioral Health, on State Road 56, is in expansion mode.

A 15,000-square-foot medical office is going up next to Florida Medical Clinic, he said, noting the bottom floor will be occupied by an orthodontist.

He expects that to open within the next seven months to nine months.

“They’re turning dirt like crazy right now, which is fantastic,” Porter said.

The medical office market is hot, Porter added.

“We probably get five to 10 calls a day,” he said.

It’s possible that another 100,000 square feet to 150,000 square feet of medical office could be added, he said. “It’s going to be limited by size.”

Porter also noted that his family is actually doing a strip center of its own on State Road 54, which will include restaurants and businesses which cater to local needs.

And, while there’s been a considerable amount of interest about when Raymond James will break ground and bring new employment opportunities, Porter said other major players are also eyeing the Wiregrass Ranch area.

Wiregrass is also on the shortlist of a couple of other companies that have equal, if not greater, name recognition as Raymond James, Porter said.

“Now that we have these foundations, it just ramps up to a different level, which is exciting,” Porter said.

Published March 8, 2017

State funds sought for forensic training center

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State legislators will try to secure about $4.3 million in state funds to build a forensic anthropology training center – also known as a body farm – next to the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, off U.S. 41.

A local campaign also aims to raise about $200,000 for a tactical training program on-site for Pasco’s K-9 unit. Those efforts will be spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco outlined details for the Florida Forensic Institute for Research, Security & Tactical Training, or F.I.R.S.T., at a Feb. 27 press conference.

The campus has the potential of becoming the “Silicon Valley” of forensic anthropology research and an economic boost for Pasco, Nocco said.

“This is really going to be a forensics hub,” he said. “It is a unique opportunity.”

State Rep. Danny Burgess, Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, and Erin Kimmerle, associate professor of anthropology at the University of South Florida and director of the Florida Institute of Forensic Anthropology & Applied Science, were among those attending the press conference.

Burgess and State Sen. Wilton Simpson plan to request state funding for the project during the upcoming legislative session. The Pasco County Commission gave its approval to the project in January, and donated county land next to the jail.

The indoor and outdoor facility would be the seventh in the nation to study body decomposition as an aid in solving crimes, and identifying victims of murder or other trauma.

It also would bring together research and practical applications of crime solving, forensic anthropology and criminal prosecution in a single location.

Partners in the project are Pasco-Hernando State College and the IFAAS, with Kimmerle leading the anthropology team.

Kimmerle and USF are well-known for their work in identifying bodies found in unmarked graves at the former Dozier School for Boys in Marianna.

The campus in Pasco would include a laboratory for research and forensic casework, classrooms, a morgue and evidence storage. The educational focus would be on forensics, anthropology, geochemistry, legal medicine, forensic intelligence, aviation reconstruction and cyber forensics.

Technology will be a major part of the research, including virtual autopsies with 3-D scanning and chemical isotope analysis, Kimmerle said.

The K-9 portion of the project would be the first time Pasco has had a dedicated facility for tactical training for the K-9 unit, the Pasco Unified SWAT team, and sheriff’s deputies.

The new research center, called F.I.R.S.T. for short, would be a resource for universities, forensic scientists and law enforcement in the entire state. It can aid in tactical training and quick response to active shooter situations, missing person investigations, homicides and terrorist attacks.

Nocco said the recent attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando showed the need for greater preparedness and communications between local, state and federal law enforcement.

It also could help build a statewide database of an estimated 16,000 cold cases in Florida, Nocco said.

And, he added, it will provide career opportunities for college students through internships, as well as professional certificates and degrees.

The University of Tennessee in Knoxville was the first to establish a forensic training and research center in the 1970s. Others are at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Western Carolina University, Sam Houston State University, Texas State University in Carbondale, Southern Illinois University and Colorado Mesa University.

The “body farm” label came into use after crime novelist Patricia Cornwell wrote “The Body Farm” in 1994. Her protagonist, Kay Scarpetta, solves a child’s murder with help from a secretive research facility in Tennessee known as the Body Farm.

In 2015, USF proposed a forensic training center in Hillsborough County’s Lithia Springs. Nearby residents objected, and USF dropped the project.

Residents had concerns about safety and security with a “body farm” near their neighborhood.

The proposed site will be fenced off, and Moore said, “There’s no chance of anyone getting in here and disturbing the site. It’s a great opportunity not just for our people, but for people nationwide to come here and participate.”

Published March 8, 2017

Army vet gets big surprise: A mortgage-free home

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An unseasonably chilly and windy March morning wasn’t going to disrupt one family’s warm welcome to Land O’ Lakes.

Retired U.S. Army Sgt. David Roca and his three children were on their way to receiving a new home in Connerton, the 4,800-acre mixed-use, master-planned community in central Pasco County.

Yet, they had no idea.

Retired U.S. Army Sgt. David Roca and his three children received a new home in Connerton. The 2,065-square-foot, four-bedroom is mortgage-free. From left, Alex, 14; Amelie; 15; David Jr., 3; and, David.
(Courtesy of Grey Street Studios Inc.)

The Roca family, who currently live in Orlando, assumed they were just going through Operation Finally Home’s preliminary interview process on March 3.

Instead, they were treated like VIPs, as they received an escort by the Patriot Guard Riders, and were greeted at the site of their new Land O’ Lakes home by dozens of residents, dignitaries and fellow veterans.

The groundbreaking for the family’s new one-story, four-bedroom home was a patriotic celebration that left the 36-year-old single father smiling.

And, speechless.

“It’s a great feeling,” Roca said afterward. “It’s hard finding the words.”

Lennar Homes and Connerton partnered with Operation Finally Home to provide the custom-built, mortgage-free home to the army veteran and his children, Amelie, 15; Alex, 14; and, David Jr., 3.

Based in Texas, Operation Finally Home has provided more than 150 mortgage-free homes for veterans during the past 10 years.

The nonprofit was one of three organizations that MacDill Air Force Base recommended to Connerton officials.

Construction is already underway at 8743 Savory Walk Drive. The family of four is expected to move in on April 30, thanks to an expedited permitting and review process by Pasco County.

The ceremony marked the sixth home Lennar has provided to military families around the country, and the first in the Tampa Bay market.

Construction has already begun on the 2,065-square-foot home, at 8743 Savory Walk Drive.

The family of four is expected to move in on April 30, thanks to an expedited permitting and review process by Pasco County.

Like other recipients of Operation Finally Home, Roca’s background is honorable, yet heart-wrenching.

The native of Queens, New York, enlisted in August 2004 as a 13F Forward Observer.

During his deployment to Iraq, he sustained several traumatic brain injuries in combat, one of which occurred when an improvised explosive devise hit his vehicle.

Upon returning home, Roca’s injuries prevented him from performing in physical training.

He experienced mood swings and severe headaches, too.

After thorough evaluation, Roca medically retired in December 2008.

Dozens of residents, dignitaries and fellow veterans attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Roca family’s new home.

Today, Roca still suffers from several brain injuries, migraines, sprained ankles and post-traumatic stress disorder.

In service, Roca received numerous accolades, including the Valor Device, an award for saving his Commander’s life in battle. He has also received an Army Commendation Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award and Army Good Conduct Medal.

Rusty Carroll, executive director of Operation Finally Home, was particularly moved by Roca’s background.

“He suffered through countless incidents that nobody would want to go through,” Carroll said. “But, his courage and valor stood true, and he helped save lives.”

Upon retiring in 2008, Roca moved his family to Long Island, where he hoped to recover and continue his bachelor’s degree at Nassau Community College.

But, he struggled with concentration and memory due to his wartime injuries, and opted to focus on his mental and physical health before continuing school.

He and his three children moved to Florida for a “better life.”

“The thing that stood out to me when I first saw David’s story, was his commitment to his family,” Carroll said. “That certainly has shined through ever since I was able to know David and meet him.”

Operation Finally Home, Carroll noted, simply “connects the dots” among communities, builders and subcontractors, to honor veterans.

“David and others just like him don’t feel like they deserve it, but they do,” Carroll said. “He has paid for it. He’s paid it through his service and his sacrifice to this country, so he’s earned it.”

Once the family moves to Land O’ Lakes, Roca said he eventually wants to work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to find employment that suits his skills, and immerse his family into the community.

Published March 8, 2017

Bilirakis looking for ‘Heroes Among Us’

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U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis is looking for nominations for the second annual Heroes Among Us event.

Nine-year-old Selena Schulz wrote a book about helping shelter animals. She was honored by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis in his ‘Heroes Among Us’ program.
(Courtesy of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis)

The event honors men and women who make communities within Florida’s 12th congressional district special.

It aims to recognize those who are dedicated to good deeds, volunteerism and going above and beyond to serve others.

“We all know that the Tampa Bay Area is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. It’s time we recognize the individuals who help make our community so special. If you know somebody who makes a positive difference for others, I encourage you to nominate them to receive a Heroes Among Us award,” Bilirakis said, in a news release announcing the call for nominations.

Last year’s honorees included:

  • Selena Schulz: This 9-year-old author from Pasco County wrote “A Bed, a Buck, a Buddy” about helping shelter animals. She raised $1,500 in donations to the Pasco County Animal Shelter.
  • Bob O’Brien and Vince Blancato: These teachers at Gulfside Elementary School in Holiday help students understand the benefits of growing and eating vegetables.
  • Susan Traylor: This registered nurse in Pasco County founded Wellness Ministries, a charity that helps provide local homeless or vulnerable individuals with health care, transportation, clothing, and job resources.
  • Marie Whitney and Lee Pagill: These were the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit Volunteers of the Year in 2015
  • Paula and Barry Cohen: These are the founders of the PACK Camp, a nonprofit summer camp for special needs children in Pasco County.
  • Nancy Crane and Sarah Page: These women work at Quantum Leap Farm in Odessa, a nonprofit that provides therapeutic horseback riding for adults and children with mental/physical disabilities, including Veterans.

Nominations for this year’s award must be submitted by March 31.

Marie Whitney and Lee Pagill, who were the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit Volunteers of the Year in 2015, were also recognized for their contributions by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

Submissions can be emailed to Tucker O’Brien at .

They should include the nominee’s name, email address, phone number and reasons why he or she should be recognized.

Last year, about 100 citizens were honored with a Heroes Among Us award at a ceremony in the district. The congressman will host a ceremony recognizing nominees later this spring.

Published March 8, 2017

A breakfast sandwich, with a side of nostalgia

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When Laura Lewis saw the Dunkin’ Donuts going up on U.S. 41, in Lutz, she couldn’t wait until it opened,

She wanted to enjoy a bite to eat there, and to reminisce.

So, once the shop opened, at 17514 U.S. 41, she and her friend Carolyn Smith headed over there for breakfast.

Laura Lewis, left, and Carolyn Smith enjoy breakfast and share memories of Laura Lewis’ dad, who once operated a real estate office on the spot now occupied by a new Dunkin’ Donuts, on U.S. 41 in Lutz.
(B.C. Manion)

The shop serves hot coffee, iced coffee, hot tea, iced tea, espresso-based drinks, sandwiches, donuts and other bakery items.

Alex DaSilva, director of operations, said the shop chose that location because the area is experiencing residential and commercial growth, and Dunkin’ Donuts likes to get in on the front end of new development.

“It’s an up-and-coming market,” DaSilva said.

Lewis said she knows her dad, George M. Lewis, who spent his final years in Lutz, would be happy to see how the spot where he had his real estate office is being put to use.

He’d be glad to see that a family-oriented business is operating there, Lewis said.

Her dad was originally from the Kansas/Missouri area, she said.

He did various kinds of work through the years, said Smith, who has been a friend of Lewis’ for more than 30 years.

“He worked for the shipyard first,” Smith said.

“Then, from the shipyard, he did dredging,” she said. The dredging work involved area canals, and dredging for pipelines in South America, Smith added.

He also got into ranching and real estate.

At one point, he had 1,000 acres in Tarpon Springs, Lewis said. He also had 10 acres on Gunn Highway, in Citrus Park.

Lewis recalls helping her dad, when she was young.

“I used to trail my dad around all of the time, handing him tools and driving the tractor,” she said.

When she was older, she went to work for Maas Bros., earning $28 a week, but decided that wasn’t the life for her.

“I went out at lunchtime and joined the Army,” she said. She enlisted for three years, but had to stay longer because of the Korean War.

After that, she used her G.I. Bill to get her education and then became an industrial arts teacher, teaching woodshop in New Jersey for 35 years before retiring to Lutz.

Smith, whose mother was Lewis’ mother’s best friend, has been a close friend for more than three decades. The women share a home in Lutz.

Lewis’ mother, Smith said, “was like my mother’s sister.”

Both women were enjoying a trip down memory lane during their recent Dunkin’ Donuts visit.

At one point, Lewis’ dad had a huge sign in front of his real estate business on U.S 41, Smith recalled

People would pay him to use the sign for advertising.

“It was 20 (feet) to 30 feet high,” Smith said. “When they would come and put an advertisement on it, he would tell them: ‘No alcohol, no tobacco, nothing offensive,’” Smith said.

“He went to Lutz Baptist, right down the street, and he said, ‘My people see that and I want something nice on the sign,’” she explained. “One time they put up a cigarette ad. He called, and they came and took it down right away.”

When Dunkin’ Donuts was under construction, they had to keep the sign on the property — it was planted too deep into the ground for them to remove it, Smith said.

“I was here when they put it in. It has to be cemented in about 15 feet deep. It’ll never come out,” Smith said.

“They tried to get it out of the ground and they couldn’t, so they just built the Dunkin’ Donuts sign around it,” she said.

“A piece of him is always here,” Smith said.

Published March 8, 2017

Awards keep rolling in for Lutz robotics program

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The Lutz-based Trinity Dragons swept the Florida Vex Robotics State Championships last month, securing multiple bids to represent the state in April’s world championships.

On Feb. 17, Team 6430 outscored 56 other high school teams to claim both the Excellence Award and the Tournament Championship Award at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

The Trinity Dragons Team 6430 won last month’s state robotics championships, securing bids to compete in the 2017 Vex World Robotics Championships, in April. Last year, Team 6430 finished ninth among 500 teams at the world championships, which consisted of more than 16,000 participants from 37 nations.
(Courtesy of Ray Carr)

A week earlier, the Dragons’ elementary squad, Team 6430X, outscored 28 other teams in the Florida State Elementary School IQ Vex Challenge Championship; they were also recognized for winning the Robot Skills Champion Award.

The high school team, is ranked fourth internationally, of 8,500 teams worldwide, in autonomous programming skills; Team 6430 also went undefeated in each of its tournament championships.

The 2017 Vex World Robotics Championships, entering its 10th year, runs from April 19 to April 25 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, in Louisville, Kentucky.

This year’s Vex robotics challenge, titled “Starstruck,” is played on a 12-by-12 square field, in which two alliances consisting of two robotics teams each, compete in matches comprising of a 15-fifteen second autonomous period, followed by 1 minute and 45 seconds of driver-controlled play.

The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by having each robot place “stars” and “cubes” in designated zones, and remotely hanging robots onto a hanging pole.

In 2016, Team 6430 finished ninth among 500 teams at the world championships, which consisted of more than 16,000 participants from 37 nations.

Last year’s competition, called “Nothing But Net” required teams to construct robots that could essentially score as many balls into goals during a two-minute span.

The Trinity Dragons, coached by Ray Carr, was formed about five years ago.

Published March 8, 2017