The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Photos of the Week

2020 MLB season is here, and so are these locals

By

The 2020 MLB (Major League Baseball) season will be unlike any other it has experienced,  thanks to COVID-19. A handful of players (and a manager) with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area look to take on prominent, even starring, roles with their respective MLB franchise this season. Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash grew up in Lutz, and played at Northside Little League and Gaither High School. Take a closer look at more locals to watch in the full Sports story.

(Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays communications department)

Memories are made, and honored here

By

The Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, a mile north of Dade City, has a collection of historic structures that help tell the story of Florida’s past. During non-COVID times, it’s also a place where lots of memories are made, during special community events, private events and school field trips. This photo captures one of those events. See the full story to learn more about the history of this East Pasco attraction.

The driver and hitchers of team Jason Abrell, of Russell Springs, Kentucky, try to calm their two horses, Dick and Cracker, during a Farm Festival and Quilt Show at the museum and pioneer village. (File)

A glimpse into the farming life

By

Three generations of Meltons have worked together to build a life around farming, ranching and family time on 1,500 acres in northeast Pasco County. Read more about the Melton farm operations in the full story this week.

Steve Melton, who has spent his life working the land, is retired now — and enjoys spending his time reciting poetry and doing heritage arts, such as making brooms and grinding sugar cane to make sugar cane syrup. (Christine Holtzman)

 

Getting a sneak preview of a coming attraction

By

Dozens of people had a chance to get an early look at The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center, which is expected to open in August in Zephyrhills. The facility will offer much more than tennis. To find out more about it, read this week’s sport story!

All racquet Sports USA’s Marcos del Pilar, second from left, is the promotions and sales manager for the center. He shows some of the features that are expected at the new tennis center. Looking over his shoulder is Ileana Figueroa, of Zephyrhills. Others pictured are Lawrence Popescu, of Wesley Chapel; Alan Secrest, of Zephyrhills; Marvin Tyler, of Land O’ Lakes; and Jet Hall, of Zephyrhills. (Fred Bellet)

This Lutz girl is wild about goats

By

Eleven-year-old Sophia Phillips first became acquainted with goats when she was just 2 years old, at the petting zoo at ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Now, she lives in Lutz and has three goats of her own and helps take care of 18 others. Find out more in our feature story of the week.

As her T-shirt says, Sophia Phillips, 11, is ‘Just a Girl Who Loves Goats.’ Lazar Wolf eyes Sophia, probably hoping for a snack. (Fred Bellet)

Prepare now for above-normal hurricane season

By

Experts are predicting an above-normal 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season — and you can reduce your risks by being prepared.

The following lists, compiled from disaster preparedness guides assembled by Hillsborough and Pasco counties, as well as other sources, are intended to help you prepare now to protect yourself and your property from destructive hurricane winds.

It’s a good idea to stay informed when a hurricane threatens. Both Pasco County and Hillsborough County have alert systems, which can keep you abreast of threats. To find out more, visit PascoCountyFl.net and HillsboroughCounty.org.

Annette Rogers, of Land O’ Lakes, shovels sand to fill several sandbags at the self-service station set up by Pasco County, in the parking lot of the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex. The government agency set up several stations throughout the county, offering free sand and sandbags. Two years ago, Rogers’ property experienced minimal flooding during Hurricane Irma and she was taking no chances for this storm. (File)
Plan how you will evacuate, in the event you are ordered to do so.

 

Community celebrates Juneteenth at gathering in Union Park

By

A community Juneteenth celebration was held last week in Wesley Chapel’s Union Park. The event, held on June 19, marked that historic day in 1865, when slaves in Texas learned they were free. This year’s celebrations across the nation have taken on a particular significance, in the aftermath of the May 25 death of  George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, who died in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck. The Juneteenth event at Union Park featured prayer, song, dance and mingling. Some black-owned businesses also offered items for sale, too. Organizers urged those attending to wear masks, to avoid the potential spread of COVID-19.

Carmel Friendship Church donated the signage used for the celebration. (Fred Bellet)
Alexandra Archibald, of Wesley Chapel, and others at the gathering wore Juneteenth T-shirts to mark the historic day of June 19, 1865, which was when slaves in Texas learned they were free.
Aniya Stratford of the Carmel Friendship Church sang ‘Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,’ at the first annual Juneteenth Family Day Celebration at Union Park, a community in Wesley Chapel.

Hitting the gyms…

By

As Florida reopens for business, lots of people have begun hitting the gyms and fitness facilities again. Whether it’s to take a dip, walk a treadmill, lift weights or work with ropes, gyms are beginning to see activity again. Unlike some businesses, they had been totally shut down in recent weeks, due to concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19.

Nancie Howley, 62, of Lutz, is working on her steps on the stairstep machine during a recent workout at Anytime Fitness, 1408 N. Dale Mabry in Lutz. She steps for about an hour, three times a week. (Randy Underhill)
Ron Emery, 55, of Wesley Chapel, is on the ropes — working on strength, endurance, and fat burning at Strive Athletic Club 2626 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel. He’s been a member for 11 years and is there Monday through Saturday, as a personal trainer.

 

Mandy Johnson, 43, of Land O’ Lakes, burns calories during her 30-minute to 45-minute workout on a recent Saturday afternoon at Anytime Fitness, at 1408 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz.
Twenty-three-old Gillian Sanfilippo uses the cable pulls to strengthen the abdominal area, chest and back, as she works out at Strive Athletic Club, 2626 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

…to make up for lost time

By

Seventy-year-old Carlos Sanchez takes laps at the Zephyrhills YMCA, at 37301 Chapel Hills Loop. He swims a mile daily. (Randy Underhill)
Gabe Marrero, 36, of Wesley Chapel, uses dumbbell curls to enhance the size of his biceps during a Saturday afternoon workout at Strive Athletic Club, 2626 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. He typically works out five days a week, doing cardio and strength-training exercises.
Sixty-eight-year-old Gary DeLong, of Dade City works out at the Dade City YMCA, at 3803 Meridian Ave., on a recent Friday afternoon. He works out five days a week, doing cardio and strength training.

Take a moment. Savor a beautiful sunset.

By

It’s no secret that the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has claimed lives, caused job losses, closed school campuses, canceled celebrations and caused anxiety — and yet, beauty still remains. This sunset was captured on a spring evening, over East Lake Ellis, in Land O’ Lakes. The lake is situated between Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, School Road and Hopson Road.

(Christine Holtzman)