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The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Reasons To Smile

A hero on a mission, for children

November 1, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

(Courtesy of Tampa Bay Lightning)

The Tampa Bay Lightning recently honored George Agovino as its Lightning Community Hero, making him the 505th hero recognized since the Lightning program was introduced in 2011-2012. During the first period of the Oct. 22 game, the Land O’ Lakes resident received a $50,000 donation from the Lighting Foundation and the Lightning Community Heroes program, presented by Jabil, and will donate the money to Fostering Change and Caterpillars to Butterflies. Agovino has strived to make the community better for more than 20 years. He is a foster father of four special-needs children and a retired law enforcement officer. Through the work with his nonprofit, Fostering Change Foster Closet, in Land O’ Lakes, he has become a trusted partner of the Pasco Sheriff’s Department, Division of Child Protective Services, and school social workers. Lightning player No. 38 Brandon Hagel presented the check to Agovino. For information on the nonprofit and how to donate, visit FosteringChangeCloset.com.

A pumpkin big enough for a carriage

October 25, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

A group of children from Steps to Maturity, an Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County provider, was the first to experience Florida’s largest pumpkin on Oct. 12, at Bearss Groves, 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd. The children watched as the 969-pound pumpkin was transported by tractor and placed in front of the farm stand. The children, ages 3 and 4, participated in an immersive sensory activity as they explored the insides of a pumpkin. (Courtesy of Bearss Groves)

Bearss Groves, a family run farmers market at 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd., has once again become home to Florida’s largest pumpkin.

Two years ago ,after putting a nearly 1,000-pound pumpkin on display right before Halloween, Bearss Groves welcomed a 969-pound pumpkin from Michigan on Oct. 12, encouraging locals and nearby residents to come gawk at and pose with the large fruit. The pumpkin display is in addition to the farmers market pumpkin patch, as well as its large Live Oak Tree that is estimated to be more than 400 years old.

Seeing the large pumpkin is free of charge, pets are welcome and the market is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Published October 26, 2022

A very happy reader

October 18, 2022 By Mary Rathman

The Laker/Lutz News recently received more than 50 submissions in its Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile coloring contest. One of the winners, Hunter Day, expressed his joy and sent this Thank You note to the newspaper staff.

Little efforts helping in a big way

October 11, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

(Courtesy of Judith Moore)

Students of Sunlake Academy Math and Science in Lutz collected dozens of donations and supplies through a weeklong drop-off during the school’s morning drive. See our full feature story on how the community pitched in to help the victims of Hurricane Ian.

Local youth create art for festival

October 4, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

(Courtesy of Dade City Garden Club)

The Youth Group from St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Dade City helped create some artwork that will be featured during the upcoming Monarch Butterfly Festival, hosted by the Dade City Garden Club and Dade City Youth Council. The festival will be held Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Polly Touchton Park, between Fifth Street and Seventh Street, and Bougainvillea Avenue and Southview Avenue, in Dade City. This art project was arranged by Lee Taylor out of Out of Our Hands Gallery, a home and garden gift store, at 14245 Seventh Ave., Dade City. For more information about the festival, visit tinyurl.com/3dmru69d.

Committed to keeping it clean

September 27, 2022 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Marie Ambrosino)

The GFWC Wesley Chapel Woman’s Club participated in the Adopt a Road project, in an effort to keep its community looking great. The club’s environment chair Cara Alberghina contacted Pasco County and received gloves and vests, and was assigned a street just outside the community’s district park. Seventeen participants helped to clean up the area, including club member’s families and friends. Drinks were provided for everyone. The women have committed to a cleanup four times a year.

Lazy days of summer

September 20, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Laurie Kimball caught these two baby raccoons resting in her backyard oak tree, in Land O’ Lakes.

Clearing a path for golfers

September 12, 2022 By Mike Camunas

These sandhill cranes seemed to have had enough of this little gator and banded together to drive the creature back into the lake. Donald Cera snapped the photo on the Lexington Golf Course in Wesley Chapel.

Everyone deserves some downtime

September 6, 2022 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club took some time off for a beach getaway at Treasure Island, after a very busy summer of projects. This summer respite was a well-deserved break for the ladies, before they dive into a new club year filled with a multitude of community service projects and volunteerism. For more information on the club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.

No creature sighting here

August 30, 2022 By Mary Rathman

(Courtesy of Angie Ng)

Wesley Chapel resident Angie Ng took a fun selfie after finding the Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie — a tiny stuffed animal she got while on her trip to Scotland. (See full story, A Monster Accomplishment, in Local Sports.)

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What’s Happening

03/29/2023 – Adult Tabletop Games

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host an Adult Tabletop Game Night on March 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., for ages 18 and older. Games will include: big Jenga, life-sized connect four, dominoes, playing cards, assorted board games, and more. For information, call 727-815-7126. … [Read More...] about 03/29/2023 – Adult Tabletop Games

03/30/2023 – Watercolor painting

The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host “Tween Hangout: Watercolor Painting” on March 30 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., for free after-school painting in the courtyard. For information, call 727-815-7126. … [Read More...] about 03/30/2023 – Watercolor painting

04/01/2023 – Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza

The Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, will host a Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza on April 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be bounce houses, games, music, food trucks, and scheduled egg scrambles. The event will be at the outside football fields and basketball court. Registration is required to participate in the egg scrambles. The cost is $3 per child. Children ages 2 to 10 can register with their age division and time frame at Secure.rec1.com/FL/pasco-county-fl/catalog. For questions, call 813-929-1220. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza

04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

Kessler’s Cacti and Things will host its annual Spring Plant Sale on April 1 and April 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at Bearss Grove, 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd., in Tampa. The event features thousands of plant varieties, and an assortment of specimen and collector’s plants. For information, email . For questions and directions, call 813-264-5614. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

04/01/2023 – Dade City Art Walk

The Downtown Dade City Art Walk will take place April 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be more than 20 art locations for guests to meet the artists and shop local artwork, as well as a little Pre-Casso Exhibit for young aspiring artists. There will be an opening ceremony at 5 p.m., along with a map distribution, at Florida Cracker Lunch on Limoges. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Dade City Art Walk

04/01/2023 – Easter Bash

Hope City Church, 5513 School Road in Land O’ Lakes, will host an Easter Bash on April 1, for the whole family. Admission is free. For information, call 813-948-7555. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Easter Bash

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