The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Reasons To Smile

A hero on a mission, for children

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(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

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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

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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

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(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

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(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

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(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

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

Clearing a path for golfers

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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

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(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

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(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.)