The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Photos of the Week

New school year, smooth start

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At Cypress Creek Middle High in Wesley Chapel, students streamed on to campus, where they were greeted by staff members, who directed traffic and answered questions. As the bell rings, signaling the start of first period, students rush to their destinations, as school counselor, Kristine Fewox, center, helps two students find their class schedule.

Note: First day of school student photos can be found in our e-edition!

(Christine Holtzman)

Putting on a puppet show

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Four-year-old Evan Pilcher, of Lutz, and his 7-year-old brother, Eli, put on a puppet show for their dad, Eric and infant brother, Easton. The boys were spending a rainy morning recently at the Lutz Branch Library, 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road. The boys were using a new puppet stage that was made possible by the nonprofit group, ‘Friends of the Lutz Branch Library.’ The stage features a plaque, dedicating it to Anne Emme, a ‘Friend’ that passed away in 2018. The friends organization continues to seek new members and financial contributions to support programs at the library. For more information, visit FOLTampa.org, or call (813) 273-3652 and ask for the Lutz Branch Library.

(Christine Holtzman)

Reptiles put on quite a show at the library

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During a recent show at the Hugh Embry Branch Library in Dade City, Bruce Shwedick, owner of Reptile Discovery, a mobile, live reptile show based in Plant City, shows off a corn snake to 12-year-old Isaac Dawkins, of Dade City, left, and 8-year-old Soren Wallace, of Dade City.

(Christine Holtzman)

Sunday is a fun day at Zephyr Park

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Dozens of families braved the heat and humidity on a recent Sunday afternoon to have some fun at Zephyr Park, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills. The vast 34-acre venue features a waterpark, walking trails, a lake for fishing, tennis courts, picnic shelters and playground equipment. Many areas of the park are shaded by large, Civil War-era oak trees.

Brooke Vanderhoeven, of Zephyrhills, center, sits on top of the jungle gym with her two daughters, 13-year-old Chloe Castleberry, left, and 6-year-old Emma Braddam, during a recent family outing at Zephyr Park. Their afternoon of fun began at the waterpark, before they made their way to the playground. (Christine Holtzman)
After getting the courage to stand on the top of the spiral ladder, 4-year-old Siyanni Alexander, of Dade City, holds on tight as she looks down at her grandfather, Brian Hecker, for encouragement. The pair was enjoying the day at the park, while Siyanni’s mother was at home, recovering from a recent surgery.
After an afternoon of splashing around the waterpark, Cindy Reeves, of Zephyrhills, center, shares a picnic snack with four of her 14 grandchildren. From left: 2-year-old Talon Bowman, 6-year-old Wyatt Gillman, 1-year-old Emma Bowman, Cindy Reeves and 4-year-old Weston Bowman.

Library gets by, with a little help from its ‘Friends’

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A group that is passionate about broadening the offerings at the Lutz Branch Library is trying to bolster its numbers. The nonprofit group, the Friends of the Lutz Branch Library, is looking for a few new members that share a passion for books and the betterment of their local community. Volunteers meet nearly every Wednesday morning at the library to do work in the Book Depot. The group also welcomes monetary support to help pay for programs, such as ‘Tricky Dogs,’ a drum circle and puppet-making workshops. The organization also provides crafting supplies and snacks for various programs. For more information, visit FOLTampa.org, or call (813) 273-3652 and ask for the Lutz Branch Library.

Inside the book depot, the Friends of the Lutz Branch Library’s secretary, Ann Marks, of Wesley Chapel, uses a stepstool to reach the higher shelves, as Barbara Fite, of Lutz, the group’s treasurer, puts books on the lower shelves. The women are organizing and placing recently donated books. They also will pull books that haven’t sold, and donate to agencies like VA hospitals, nursing homes and the Joshua House, a haven for abused children. (Christine Holtzman)
Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Fisher, of Lutz, left, and his mother, Ariana, thumb through a couple of books in the home-school section, located inside the book depot. Ariana, who has home-schooled all four of her sons, is grateful for the selection of books that this section offers, calling it ‘a blessing.’
Friends of the Lutz Branch Library book depot manager Pete Michel, of Lutz (seated), and vice president Davis Gandees, also of Lutz, appraise donated books online, before making them available for sale in the store. Proceeds from the book sales are used to fund the library’s programs and events.

Helping to create a community display

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Artists of all ages are invited to take part in the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library’s special community ceramic tile painting summer program, being held at the library every Monday at 3 p.m., until Aug. 5. There is no cost to take part and all of the materials are provided. Participants are encouraged to use their favorite book to inspire their work of art. The tiles will be used to make a mosaic art display, that will be hung in the library, to be enjoyed by library patrons.

Eleven-year-old Bronx Murray, of Wesley Chapel, and his 9-year-old sister, Mia, show their completed masterpieces to their father, Nathaniel. Bronx created a Pokémon drawing and Mia painted her last name encompassed in stars. (Christine Holtzman)
Ten-year-old Silas Rogers, of Land O’ Lakes, paints a scene on his ceramic tile from his favorite book, ‘Little House on the Prairie.’ His mother, Angela, said her son likes to learn about the American Wild West, and recently discovered the television show on Amazon Prime.
A close-up look of a dragon tile painted by 11-year-old Diya Patel, of Odessa. Dragons are her favorite thing to draw.

Zany science show offers fun way to learn

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Professor Gazoontite’s science was zany, fun and chock-full of interesting facts. The professor, also known as Tim Falter, performed his show at Zephyrhills City Hall on July 17. His appearance, made possible by the Friends of the  Zephyrhills Public Library, was tied into the theme of “A Universe of Stories.” The free show featured experiments and entertaining ways for the crowd to get involved.

Tim Falter, also known as Professor Gazoontite, right, and volunteer 6-year-old Audney LaPoint, of Zephyrhills, perform a balloon experiment that demonstrates how the potential air in the balloon changes into kinetic energy (the energy of motion) when the air in the balloon is released. (Christine Holtzman)
In an experiment that simulates the space shuttle re-entering the atmosphere, volunteer Leslie Nowicki, of Zephyrhills, left, uses a blow torch to heat one side of a thermal block. Professor Gazoontite holds 9-year-old Kiley Weitzel’s hand to the block, to show that the extreme temperature in the front does not affect the back, replicating the protection that the space shuttle tiles provide to the astronauts.
In a propulsion experiment, Professor Gazoontite, portrayed by Tim Falter of Plant City, right, uses a bicycle pump to inflate approximately 70 psi of air into a recycled soda bottle. The bottle will shoot like a rocket along the safety line after the cord, being held by volunteer 7-year-old Ella Van Holten, of Wesley Chapel, is released. Ella’s mother, Natalie, is seen holding the tower.

Showing off their horticultural expertise

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The Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society recently had a “Propagation Show and Tell” presented by master gardener Eileen Hart and native plant nursery owner David Barnard. Hart demonstrated the technique of air-layering, as a propagation method for woody shrubs and trees. Barnard, owner of Cypress Acres Nursery, in Land O’ Lakes, shared his knowledge of plant propagation and germination. Both experts have more than 30 years of experience. The chapter meets at the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Meetings are free and open to the public.

David Barnard, owner of Cypress Acres Nursery in Land O’ Lakes, explains his method of plant propagation and germination, using a tray of seedlings as an example. Barnard has been growing native plants for 30 years. (Christine Holtzman)
Joel Jackson, of Land O’ Lakes, a 39-year member of the Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, auctions off several plants before the meeting, including this Trumpet Creeper Vine. Jackson is a former manager for Park Planning, Design and Conservation in Hillsborough County. Carl Waldron, of San Antonio, is behind Jackson. 
During the hands-on portion of the meeting, master gardener Eileen Hart, left, shows 10-year-old Lily Cochran, of Odessa, center, and her 8-year-old sister Violet, the proper way to cut into the bark, to begin the air layering propagation process. Carl Waldron, of San Antonio, watches from the back.

Dade City family event helps those in need

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The Pioneer Florida Museum, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, hosted its third annual Family Field Day event last month. The free, family event featured many classic field day games, such as relay races, tug of war, and barrow races. Other attractions included bounce houses, water games, face painting, Karaoke, music, food, games and a giant slip-and-slide. There also were numerous drawings with prizes donated by local businesses and sponsors, including the Tampa Bay Rays and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In lieu of admission, organizers accepted monetary donations, as well as unused socks, toiletries, and nonperishable food that will benefit Friends of Joshua’s House (a safe haven for abused children) and Bright Hopes (a homeless resource organization).

The Field Day was presented by Color me Abstract, a nonprofit organization that helps families balance their lives through education, art and service to their community.

Playing a friendly game of Tug of War against friends, 3-year-old Liam O’ Connor, of Wesley Chapel, left, and his neighbors, 9-year-old Chloe Zeledon, center, and her 6-year-old sister, Sophie, demonstrate a determination to win. (Christine Holtzman)
Five-year-old Hannah Johnson, of Dade City, enjoys a trip down the giant slip-and-slide at the third annual Family Field Day event.
Felecia Harvey, of Dade City, reacts, after a water balloon exploded above her head. Her 6-year-old daughter, Serenity, threw a ball that hit the target, which triggered the device to pop the balloon.
Ten-year-old Blake Kongmanichanh, of Wesley Chapel, left, and his 8-year-old brother, Cameron, hop in sacks toward the finish line, during the last leg of a relay race. The brothers raced each other twice, and each took a win.