The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Reasons To Smile

A lofty memorial for Veterans Day

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(Courtesy of Stacey Catherwood)

Patrick Fortune, a military veteran and local, put on a demonstration skydive on Nov. 11 at Skydive City in Zephyrhills. Fortune added on to what he did last year, jumping with eight flags, 73 feet in length — U.S. flag, Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, and POW/MIA flags. Patrick dedicated one of his jumps to a close military friend who recently committed suicide, to honor him, his family, and friends.  Patrick began skydiving in 1998, and now has over 3,700 jumps to his name.

 

 

 

 

 

Another trick (and treat) in Land O’ Lakes

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(Mike Camunas)

Wesley Chapel resident Jeremey Molina performs a trick at the skate park at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, on the morning of Oct. 14. Molina took advantage of the full-sized skate park at the local complex, doing some kick flips and running up ramps as some music played from his bluetooth speaker nearby.

Those are some great pumpkins

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Pumpkin-picker Elliott Leung, of Land O’ Lakes, carries over the perfect gourd to give to her parents, Frank and Amy, on Oct. 16 at the pumpkin patch in front of Harvester Community Church, 2432 Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes. The Leung family lives in the nearby Valencia Gardens community and made the most of the Saturday morning errand of picking out a pumpkin for Halloween. (Mike Camunas)
Nathaniel Leung, a youngster from Land O’ Lakes, sits amongst a gaggle of gourds at the pumpkin patch in front of Harvester Community Church, 2432 Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes.
The Leung family — Frank, left; Elliott, center; and Amy holding Emma, right, discuss just which perfect pumpkin they’re going to take to their home in Valencia Gardens in Land O’ Lakes, from the patch in front of Harvester Community Church in Land O’ Lakes.

Giant Gourd back on display in Carrollwood

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(Mike Camunas)

Now a standing tradition at Bearss Groves, 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd., Tampa, the longtime fruit and vegetable market has once again put a giant pumpkin on display, with this year’s gourd weighing in at a whopping 1,500 pounds. Arriving by truck from Michigan on Oct. 12, it is the largest pumpkin the farm stand has ever displayed and currently holds the record for the largest pumpkin in Florida. Yearly, Bearss Groves owner Barry Lawrance combs the country to find an impressively sized pumpkin that customers and patrons can take a free photo with for a few weeks. The pumpkin, and Bearss Groves, which has been in business for more than 100 years, sits under a massive oak tree, estimated to be more than 400 years old. Bearss Groves is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A place to call home

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(Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County)

Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County hosted a new home dedication for future homebuyer Charity Sammons and her daughters. This is the first home dedicated in the new subdivision, The Cove, a 10-home neighborhood in Dade City. Sammons also received housewarming gifts, such as books, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a wreath from the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Women’s Club. The Steele Family Foundation presented a gift certificate to the Habitat ReStore, as well as a donation toward the payment of the mortgage. Jim Brown, owner of Jim Browne Automotive-Dade City, and son Joey Browne, presented Sammons with the key to her new home. For more information, visit HabitatPasco.org, or email .

Coffee and conversation

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(Courtesy of Deidra Shelley)

Sundance & Sun Communities of Zephyrhills recently hosted its first-ever Veterans Coffee Hour. Veterans who took part in the conversation and camaraderie were Wayne Sprague, Dave Jordan, Donald Connell, Richard Marquette, Jerry Burgoon and Fred Wadelin. For more information, call Deidra Shelley, community manager, at 813-779-3214. 

A home for the future

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(Courtesy of Tunnel to Towers Foundation)

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T) welcomed U.S. Army Specialist Jerome Rillera into his new smart home in the Do Good Village in Land O’ Lakes. The T2T program builds specially adapted, mortgage-free smart homes that help the most catastrophically injured veterans and first responders reclaim their day-to-day independence. Rillera served in the U.S. Army Signal Corp and during his military career earned numerous accolades including Soldier of the Month. While in combat in Vietnam, Rillera came into contact with Agent Orange, resulting in PTSD, almost complete vision loss, and hearing damage. In recognition of the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, T2T provided 22 mortgage-free homes to heroes nationwide. Rillera, left, stands alongside retired Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Lt. Peter Daniti.

Loud and proud

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Pasco Fire Rescue/EMT Station 22 receives treats from Dee Knerr (Courtesy of Patricia Serio)
Proudly waving their flags alongside U.S. 41.

Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club were out in force for their annual commemoration of 9/11, to wave flags along the highway. The club was loudly acknowledged by 18-wheeler air horns, and trucks and vehicles of every sort sounding their horns and giving the ‘thumbs up’ signal. The women also delivered gift baskets full of healthy treats to eight local Fire Rescue/EMT stations, to show their appreciation of their service.

Let it Shine!

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Out of Zion Inc., is a 501c3 nonprofit focused on providing creative arts programs to children with medical and special needs at no cost to the caregiver. The organization’s 2023 Summer Camp was a one-week intensive creative arts camp at the River of Life Church in Lutz, culminating in a stage show and event, which included drama, dance, drums and choir. The theme, SHINE: Surf’s Up! helped the children explore the sun, sand and ride the waves to discover music and arts. For more information, visit oozion.org.

(Courtesy of Stefanie Tagliaferro)