The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

Photos of the Week

Looking for a great catch

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Gary Owens snapped this incredible shot of an osprey on Lake Heron, where he lives. Ospreys search for fish by flying on steady wingbeats and bowed wings or circling high in the sky over relatively shallow water. This bird of prey often will hover briefly before diving, feet first, to grab a fish. An osprey’s wingspan is about 5 feet.

Clowning around at the circus

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Loomis Circus clown Sammy Marchant, of Dallas, left, sees eye-to-eye with 1-year old, Octavion Brown, of Tampa. It was Octavion’s first circus experience and he was checking things out. He was at the Grove with his mom, Maya Brown, older 5-year-old sister Justice Brown and 5-year-old Empress Moore, of Tampa. See more photos in story below. (Fred Bellet)

Friendly rivalry

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(Mary Rathman)

Ahead of Super Bowl LV, pitting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Kansas City Chiefs, Mary Eberhard of The Laker/Lutz News (left), and Karen Carr, building manager of Copperstone Executive Suites, support their favorite teams by wearing their respective game gear. Super Bowl Sunday is Feb. 7.

Sporting a bit of Spring

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(Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club celebrated National Hat Day on Jan. 15. The women sported a favorite or fun chapeau, choosing a variety of jaunty, floral, big brims and sporty hats to help to elevate their moods and bring a bit of cheer during the COVID-19 pandemic. The club has not been able to resume in-person meetings.

 

An iconic, vocal bird

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Nicole Magazu, of Land O’ Lakes, enjoys taking pictures of birds and she was thrilled to capture this Northern Mockingbird with a berry in its beak. The Northern Mockingbird is one of the most iconic birds of the South, and it is probably the bird that people see the most. It is also the state bird of Florida. The mockingbird is very vocal and can imitate the songs of at least 50 or 60 other species of Southern birds — they even mimic car horns and car alarms.

A wonderland of ‘snow’ and goodies

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Coupled with a light drizzle, Life Church’s booth generated bubbles that doubled as snowflakes and snow drifts. Hundreds of vehicles made their way along the line of vendor tents at the Stuff Your Stocking Drive Thru, hosted by Wesley Chapel Rotary at Wesley Chapel District Park. Natalie Dougherty (left), of Life Church, hands out gifts within the sudsy blizzard.

(Fred Bellet)

Seasonal sightings — with Santa, Frosty and happy kids

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Steve Vinik, a member of The Laker/Lutz News Readership Club, recently captured these photos during the Lexington Oaks Santa Parade on Dec. 12, and generously shared them with our readers. The images convey a sense of joy that’s often been in short supply this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please turn to Page 1B, to see more of our seasonal coverage, from a Country Christmas & Vintage Market held earlier this month at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, in Dade City.

Santa (also known as John Kostialik) hands out Christmas cheer. When he’s not busy during the holiday season, he’s the president of the Lexington Oaks security patrol. (Courtesy of Steve Vinik)
Frosty the Snowman (also known as Bill Tumelty) and his reindeer chauffeur (also known as Mat Jones) drive along the Santa Parade route inside the Lexington Oaks community, in Wesley Chapel.
Santa stops at each village entrance to greet children and parents.
Santa uses a modern device to alert his elves that he’s on the way to his next stop: The Lexington Oaks community room for a meet and greet (and hopefully some cookies?).

 

 

Tampa Tour de Clay showcases the artistry of pottery 

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Judy Bilek and Cindy Karafilis, both of Land O’ Lakes, browse Tampa Tour de Clay artist Ira Burhan’s work at Jack Boyle’s San Antonio Pottery studio. This was the first time the women had attended the tour, but after purchasing several pieces of pottery, it won’t be their last. (Kelli Carmack)

The annual tradition of the Tampa Tour de Clay — now in its 13th year — gave pottery lovers a chance to check out new pieces — either live or virtually in an event that adjusted, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gallery hoppers could check out pieces on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 at Jack Boyle’s San Antonio Pottery in San Antonio, Wellman and Welsch Pottery in Lutz, and Pottery Boys Clay Studios in Palm Harbor.

Those who didn’t feel comfortable visiting the studios in person could take a virtual tour option, instead.

One benefit of the virtual tour was that “attendees” could view and purchase work by some artists who were unable to attend the traditional tour, including Lynne Meade, Timothy Sullivan, Larry Allen, Jennifer McCurdy and Martha Grover.

Tampa Tour de Clay artist Kimberli Cummings puts the finishing touches on her booth at the 13th annual Tampa Tour de Clay. She was stationed at Wellman and Welsch’s Pottery studio in Lutz. Cummings specializes in majolica pottery, and many of her pieces depict Tampa landscapes, such as the University of Tampa.
Tampa Tour de Clay artist William ‘Bill’ Kidd shows off one of his latest pieces available for purchase at the 13th annual Tampa Tour de Clay. He was stationed at Jack Boyle’s San Antonio Pottery studio. His work consists of wheel-thrown and hand-built ceramic bowls, vessels, plates, jars and sculptures. He draws much of the inspiration for his work from ocean and sea creatures.

Bringing the blues to Wesley Chapel

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The Wesley Chapel Art & Blues Festival offered a weekend of family fun, art, food and live music, on Nov. 21 and Nov. 22, at the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

An artisan craft fair featured dozens of artists selling homemade items, such as artwork, candles, jewelry and clothing. Artisans created work while interacting with guests, and there were all sorts of fun activities, such as barrel painting and Nerf Wars, too.

Numerous food trucks and a beer garden rounded out the festival’s offerings.

Matthew Misener, shows off his impressive double axe throwing skills at the Molly’s Hatchet axe throwing experience at the Wesley Chapel Art & Blues Festival on Nov. 21. The Zephyrhills native is the operations manager and event coordinator for Molly’s Hatchet, a competitive axe throwing venue in downtown Zephyrhills. (Christine Holtzman)
Lena Blackwell of Lutz, works on an abstract painting that depicts the plight of the honey bee inside her booth at the Wesley Chapel Art & Blues Festival on Nov. 21. Blackwell said most of her art is inspired by nature.
Susan Gann, a school teacher from Eagle Lake in Polk County, paints a green metal barrel in a butterfly and vine motif at the barrel painting and maze exhibit.
During a friendly battle of Nerf Wars, Nathan Mueller of Odessa, jumps out from behind a metal barrel barricade to surprise his 9-year-old son Alex.