The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Photos of the Week

Egg hunt delights kids of all ages

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Children race to collect colorful eggs during an Easter Egg Hunt at the Out & About Summer Expo. There were three egg hunts, divided by age group, and those finding eggs could redeem them for prizes. Children weren’t the only ones having fun at the event — adults had a chance to hunt for eggs, too. Plus, guests could pick up free swag and find out more about area attractions, shops, restaurants and businesses.

(Christine Holtzman)

 

A friendly game of volleyball

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Residents of Betmar Acres enjoy a series of friendly water volleyball games three times a week.
Playing the back row center position, 95-year-old Goldie Klebowski hits the ball back toward her opponents and is considered one of the best players in the pool.

(Christine Holtzman)

 

Spring fling …

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Guests to the fourth annual Jelly Bean Fling at The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15606 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, could enjoy an all-day Easter egg hunt, a bonnet parade, arts and crafts, a petting zoo, face painting, barrel train rides, the musical entertainment of Mr. Tommy, and photos with the Easter Bunny. For an additional fee, other options included a rock climbing experience, pony rides and a bounce house.

Sixteen-month-old Weston Elder, of Land O’ Lakes, is not sure what to think about the foam ears that he is wearing. The youngster attended the event with his brother, parents and grandparents. (Christine Holtzman)

…and jelly beans

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Six-year-old Harry Parker, right, shows off his plush bunny that he named ‘Alex,’ to Sara Oglesby, who is dressed up as the Easter Bunny. The Parker family was vacationing in the area from Hertfordshire, England. (Christine Holtzman)

The perfect assist

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J.T. Winborn carries his daughter, Liina, a Sunlake High School athlete, off the track after she finished in first place of the girls 1600-meter run. The athlete collapsed at the end of the race, having used up all of her energy. Her father picked her up and tended to her to keep her in top form for her other events. For more coverage of the 2019 Sunshine Athletic Conference East Track Championships, check out our Sports section.

(Christine Holtzman)

Saint Leo University offers clinic for girls

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Saint Leo University’s new acrobatics and tumbling program hosted its first cheerleading, acrobatics and tumbling clinic for girls ages 9 to 18 on March 23, at the Marion Bowman Activities Center, 33701 State Road 54 in St. Leo. The clinic was geared to all skill levels and focused on acrobatic, tumbling and cheerleading set skills and the proper techniques used in the sport.

Ten-year-old Samantha Alexander, of Wesley Chapel, center, receives pointers from 18-year-old Alexis Schlitt, left, and 18-year-old Carlie Whidden, right, while seated on a ‘Pac-Man,’ which is a device designed to help teach the user how to do a backhand spring. Schlitt and Whidden are both on the cheerleading squad at Saint Leo University. (Christine Holtzman)
Monica Shaw, an 18-year-old varsity cheerleader from Lakewood Ranch, performs a maneuver called a ‘standing back tuck.’ University coaches, Allie Williams, Haylee Monk and Megan Kraus, provided the instruction.
A member of the Saint Leo University cheerleading squad teaches clinic participants a new dance routine, one that is typically performed during a competition.

Sale promotes the importance of native plants

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The Florida Native Plant Society, Nature Coast Chapter, had its biannual native plant sale on March 23 at the Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. Jonnie Spitller, chapter president, said a Florida native plant by definition is a plant that was recorded at the time when Ponce De Leon explored Florida. She said native plants are important to the state’s environment and create habitat  for wildlife.

Customers at the plant sale could purchase plants grown in local native plant nurseries, which were accompanied by a plant profile to help them understand where to place in the yard and how to care for them. Chapter members and master gardeners also were there to answer gardening questions. Sale proceeds support the Florida Native Plant Society’s mission of preservation, conservation, and restoration of Florida’s native plants and the natural communities that support them.

Dwight Stempien, of Land O’ Lakes, left, takes a break along with his 9-year-old son, Mason. They have two Wild Coffee plants. Stempien’s wife, Jessica, was still busy shopping.
Terri Palmer, left, and John Pagan, of Land O’ Lakes, look over the assortment of bald Cypress trees. The pair was looking to add some native trees to their yard, and had already selected an Elderberry tree before stopping at the Cypress display. (Christine Holtzman)
A close-up look of a Pinxter Azalea bloom. According to the plant profile, the shrub blooms in the spring and flowers the best in full sun, is very showy and fragrant, has a long life, and is one of Florida’s most beautiful native azaleas.

YMCA offers ‘Safety Around Water’ Program

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The Florida Blue Foundation, the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA, and YMCA of the Suncoast joined forces to offer no-cost swim lessons to thousands of Tampa Bay area children, ages 3 through 12. Children were taught basic swimming skills and they practiced safety habits. The goal was to provide these lessons to 5,500 kids at more than 30 YMCA locations around Tampa Bay. The free four-day program will be offered again by the YMCA, May 28 through May 31 and Aug. 5 through Aug. 8.

New Tampa Family YMCA certified swim instructor Teddy Sandoval, left, and 6-year-old student Haya Autabachy, of New Tampa, warm up before Day 2 of water safety class. The children learned what to do if they see someone in the water that needs help. (Christine Holtzman)
Ten-year-old Ameer Autabachy, of New Tampa, right, utilizes a floating dumbbell, while swim instructor, Katherine Murashkina, looks on. This was Day 2 of the no-cost swim program taught during spring break at the New Tampa Family YMCA, 16221 Compton Drive in Tampa.
After completing an underwater activity, 5 1/2-year old Joshua Cheng, of New Tampa, clings to the pool wall. The youngster, who has taken lessons before, was attending the four-day session to brush up on his water safety skills.
Swim instructor Teddy Sandoval, left, assists 5-year-old Rylie McLaughlin, of New Tampa, as she gains confidence while doing a back float. This maneuver is part of the ‘swim-float-swim’ skill set taught during this program. The children learn two skill sets to use if they unexpectedly find themselves in water.

Lucky ducks race for causes at Duck Fest

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Hundreds attended the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon’s fourth annual Duck Fest at FOP Pasco Lodge 29, 21735 YMCA Camp Road in Land O’Lakes. The free family event, on March 10, featured a bounce house, games, a classic car show and the musical entertainment of Mr. Tommy. There was a duck derby where guests could ‘adopt’ a rubber duck to race in Bell Lake for a chance to win cash and prizes. Proceeds from the event will benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Tampa Bay and The Pasco Sheriff’s K-9 Association.

Eleven-year-old Nayeli Navarro, of Dade City, left, and 12-year-old Sai Mahati, of New Tampa, react as their Jenga tower collapses. The girls removed a block of wood with each turn, until the tower was too unstable to stand. (Christine Holtzman)
Eighteen-month-old Olivia Manzur, of Wesley Chapel, holds on to the duck that she adopted for a chance to win a prize during the duck derby. The youngster was at the event with her father, Danny, and her uncle, Alex.
The ‘Queen Duck,’ Duck Fest Chairman Jodie Sullivan, stands in the shallow water’s edge of Bell Lake as the first of the ducks make their way to the finish line. Sullivan will pluck several prize winners out of the water. The lucky first-place duck won $1,000.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a parade

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The Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club community in San Antonio had its first St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, with a 1-mile route beginning at the Community Center and heading down Old Tampa Bay Drive.

The parade featured dozens of residents in their decorated golf carts; the marching band talent of IMPACT Drum and Bugle Corp., based in Orlando; dancers from Nicole’s Dance Center; a Pasco County Fire Rescue truck; and, numerous scout troops.

Many parade participants passed out beads and candy to the audience.

After the parade, a celebration took place at the main clubhouse, complete with an Irish buffet and green beer.

Bill Sperry, a resident of the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club community in San Antonio, straightens up his inflatable pot of gold on top of his decorated golf cart, in preparation for the parade to begin. (Christine Holtzman)
Diane Talmadge, left, and her husband, Gary, both dressed appropriately for St. Patrick’s Day, were among those cheering on the parade of golf carts as they went by. The couple lives in the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club community.
Ron Davies, left, and his wife Julie, perform an Irish tune as they drive along the parade route in their decorated golf cart. Ron played the banjo and harmonica simultaneously, earning him the nickname, ‘The One-Man Band,’ from his wife, who played the tambourine.