By B.C. Manion
In a community where residents cherish history and tradition, planning has begun to mark the 100th birthday of Lutz in a special way.
Organizers had their first planning session on Sept. 17 to begin brainstorming about ways to mark the major milestone. About two dozen people from various clubs and organizations were there to bounce around ideas.
Organizers are encouraging residents to get involved in the planning and in helping to pull off centennial events to bring the community together. And, they want residents to weigh in on the type of events they should have and when they should be.
Planners threw out a few suggestions at the initial meeting, but they left the door wide open to other ideas, and they welcome people who are interested in getting involved to attend future sessions to offer ideas.
Suzin Carr and Phyllis Hoedt headed up the initial meeting, but both women said they are looking for others to take the lead on organizing the 100th birthday events.
They hope the group will name a chairman, vice chairman, secretary and treasurer for the 100th Birthday Committee at the next session. They also are asking organizers to come up with ideas for a theme, or slogan, for the upcoming slate of events while identifying and scheduling activities people would enjoy.
Helen Cantrell, who works at Annie’s Garden Shed, just off US 41, thinks events should happen all year long to mark the community’s centennial.
“When I think of Lutz, it makes me think of downtown Americana,” Cantrell said.
Annie Fernandez, whose grandparents moved to the community in 1921, hopes to find a way to involve the community’s pioneer descendants.
Fernandez is co-chair of an annual event that brings families with deep roots in the community together to relax, enjoy a potluck, look at old pictures and reminisce.
Organizers at the meeting talked about various ways that Lutz could honor its centennial. It could have a picnic in the park, for instance, and old-fashioned games, such as sack races.
“Whatever events we have ought to culminate on the Fourth of July,” said Marion Smith.
A community movie night is one possibility, Carr said.
But William Westcott, a longtime leader of the North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron, noted having a movie outdoors would be a problem because of mosquitoes.
It may be possible to have the movie indoors if a church can be found to host it, Carr said.
Elizabeth Bergeron, who is affiliated with Tims Church on Sunset Lane, said that church could be a good venue for the movie night. It has the proper equipment and could accommodate moviegoers, she said.
Whatever the committee decides, there will be costs involved.
That prompted Lea Griffin to ask a practical question: “Where is the money coming from?”
Selling T-shirts is one way to raise money, Carr said.
Bergeron offered to design the T-shirt, and Carr said local businesses will be approached to see if they would like to be listed on the back of the T-shirts as sponsors.
The Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has set aside some money to support the centennial celebration, said the organization’s president Rosie Heim. She said she’d ask her board to approve covering the costs of the T-shirts so they can be produced in time to sell at an upcoming community event.
Along with events, those at the meeting discussed ways to bring attention to the anniversary.
Cantrell said she’d love to see a banner proclaiming the community’s centennial year and a list of events to mark the milestone. She can also picture a tower of cupcakes paying tribute to the big birthday, which would be handed out to those who gather to celebrate.
At this point, the planning is just getting started and all ideas are welcome, Hoedt and Carr said.
They’d love to hear ideas about potential celebrations from local businesses and organizations. It may be that some groups want to sponsor individual events, which could be tied to the overall theme and listed in a community banner.
As planning gets underway to celebrate the community’s centennial in 2013, there is some question about when Lutz actually turned 100.
Susan A. MacManus, who co-authored two local history books with her mother, the late Elizabeth Riegler MacManus, has said that Lutz was named in 1911, but the post office didn’t open until 1913.
Whatever the case, Lutz residents are getting ready to party.
The next planning session for the birthday festivities will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the Lutz Community Center, 101 First Ave. N. in Lutz. All are welcome to attend.
Have ideas?
If you have ideas for how to celebrate Lutz’s centennial, please call Suzin Carr at (813) 453-5256 or Phyllis Hoedt at (813) 949-1937.
