The Laker/Lutz News

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Dale Mabry Highway

Lake Park closed until further notice

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Lake Park, a popular park in Lutz, has been closed until further notice because of a sinkhole.

At this time, the sinkhole is 6 feet across and approximately 90 feet deep, according to Michelle Van Dyke, a spokeswoman for Hillsborough County.

The county has closed the park, at 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway, in an abundance of caution to protect public safety, Van Dyke said.

Lake Park, a popular regional park in Lutz, is closed until further notice. Hillsborough County, which operates the park, has confirmed the presence of a sinkhole and has closed the park as a matter of public safety. (Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County
Lake Park, a popular regional park in Lutz, is closed until further notice. Hillsborough County, which operates the park, has confirmed the presence of a sinkhole and has closed the park as a matter of public safety.
(Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County

The county hired a geotechnical firm to conduct soil borings after floodwaters receded about four weeks ago, revealing a depression on one of the main roads in the park, according to Van Dyke.

The county notified the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club about a possible sinkhole, which forced cancellation of the club’s annual arts and crafts festival at the park.

The two-day festival, held in early December, typically features around 300 vendors and attracts about 30,000 people. It’s the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and its cancellation will have a ripple effect on the various local organizations it supports.

Lake Park is a 589-acre sanctuary for birds and wildlife. It features five lakes, cypress swamps, pine flatwoods, and hardwood hammocks.

It also has an archery range, a BMX bicycle track, two equestrian arenas and a radio-controlled car track.

The county closed the park after receiving an engineering report on Dec. 1 confirming the presence of a sinkhole.

The immediate area affected looks like a dip in the road, but tests indicate a sinkhole beneath the surface. The exact footprint is not known, Van Dyke said.

Additional fencing has been installed on the park road leading to the affected area, she added.

County staff will be talking with the engineering firm and the City of St. Petersburg, which owns the land, to determine what the next steps will be. The county leases the property from the City of St. Petersburg.

County staff is contacting event organizers and groups that use the park, to notify them the park is closed until further notice.

Any park usage application fees for cancelled events will be refunded.

Published December 9, 2015

Hanukkah combines history and Jewish holiday spirit

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Most people don’t know a lot about Hanukkah. They know it’s a Jewish holiday. They know that there are candles, and that it goes on for several days. They know it involves presents and usually occurs around Christmas.

But, it’s a lot more than that, said Mitchell Weiss, executive director for Congregation Kol Ami.

“It’s a story of miracle. It’s a story of survival,” he said.

It’s a story that dates back many centuries, when the Maccabees reclaimed a temple that had been defiled by the Syrian Greeks in Jerusalem. There was only one jar of oil, enough to keep the lamps lit for one day. Instead, the oil lasted for eight days, which was enough time to replenish the oil.

This event was hailed as a miracle, and Hanukkah, which can be spelled different ways, is celebrated as the “Festival of Lights.”

Jews acknowledge the holiday by lighting a menorah (a candelabrum, also called a Hanukkiah) for eight nights, adding a candle each day until all eight, plus a head candle, are lit together.

There are other traditions as well.

A spinning top called a dreidel is used to play a game, often with gelt, which are coin-shaped chocolates. Serving latkes, which are potato pancakes, is another tradition.

There are songs and melodies, prayers and a recounting of the miracle, as well.

The sharing of those activities is what makes Hanukkah special, Weiss explained.

“It’s all about the story, it’s all about remembering,” he said.

Hanukkah makes use of a menorah to light candles in observance of the ‘Festival of Lights.’ According to Mitchell Weiss from Congregation Kol Ami, they can be simple, elaborate, decorative or even homemade. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Hanukkah makes use of a menorah to light candles in observance of the ‘Festival of Lights.’ According to Mitchell Weiss from Congregation Kol Ami, they can be simple, elaborate, decorative or even homemade.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Weiss, now 58 and living in Wesley Chapel, has his own memories of Hanukkah. He grew up in Edison, New Jersey, in an area with a large Jewish community. So large, in fact, it was nicknamed “Hanukkah Hill.” Some of his fondest memories include when his grandmother (who was a Holocaust survivor) would make latkes. Hers were a bit different, being made with squash instead of potatoes. He also remembers using a special menorah that he made with his father and brother when he was 10.

Even though those celebrations occurred decades ago, the traditions survive in his family. He still has his grandmother’s recipe, and the Weiss’ enjoy squash latkes each year. And, the menorah he used as a child still resides in his parents’ home. Seeing it brings back special memories, he said.

It’s not unusual for adults to rekindle fond memories of Hanukkah from their own youth, Weiss said.

Kol Ami has a special Hanukkah celebration each year that’s open to the public, on the third night of the holiday. While it’s a time for celebration, it also conjures up a bit of nostalgia.

“We have a lot of seniors here that, in their past when they had their holidays, they remember the good times with their parents,” Weiss explained. “When we have the candle-lighting ceremony, sometimes there are tears, because they remember how good it was when they had Hanukkah.”

Today, children still have it pretty good, with presents usually opened on each of the eight nights. But, like Christmas, the holiday goes beyond material gifts. It’s about fond memories, continuing traditions and spending time with loved ones.

“All Jewish holidays are always about family. No matter what holiday it is, it’s all about family,” Weiss said.

Hanukkah events

Where: Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road, Tampa
What: Hanukkah Celebration, including a musical program, a pasta dinner, lighting of the Hanukkiah and games.
When: Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.
How much: The event is free and open to the public.
For more information or to RSVP, call (813) 962-6338, or email .

Where: Congregation Mekor Shalom, 14005A N. Dale Mabry Highway
What: Third Annual 4th Night, 3rd Light Hanukkah. The celebration will include latkes and lighting of menorahs. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own Hanukkiah to join in the celebration.
When: Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, call (813) 963-1818, or visit MekorShalom.org.

Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, in front of Dillard’s.
What: Chabad at Wiregrass will host its Chanukah Street Fair, which includes hot potato latkes, doughnuts and gelt, as well as live entertainment, face-painting, magic, games and a photo booth. They will also light the menorah.
When: Dec. 13 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Who: It’s free and open to the public. For more information, call (813) 642-3244, or visit ChabadatWiregrass.com.

Where: Chabad at Wiregrass, 2124 Ashley Oaks Circle
What: Chanukah bash and teen heritage night, which includes a limousine ride to Amalie Arena to see the Tampa Bay Lightning and a menorah lighting at Thunder Alley.
When: Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
For more information, call (813) 642-3244, or visit ChabadatWiregrass.com.

Published December 2, 2015

Jewish community reflects, atones on Yom Kippur

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Congregation Mekor Shalom, 14005A N. Dale Mabry Highway, has grown to more than 100 households since it was founded a little more than two years ago.

Members come from Lutz, from Land O’ Lakes, from Wesley Chapel, from Zephyrhills, and many other parts of Tampa Bay.

And most of those households, if not all, will be stopping in on Wednesday, during the one time on the calendar where everyone comes together.

“I call it tax season for clergy,” said Hazzan Jodi Sered-Lever.

As Hazzan, she’s Mekor Shalom’s clergy who leads them in prayer. She’s also their founding spiritual leader.

Hazzan Jodi Sered-Lever prepares Zachary Marlow for his Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Mekor Shalom. Like all Jewish synagogues, the congregation is also preparing for Yom Kippur services Sept. 23. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Hazzan Jodi Sered-Lever prepares Zachary Marlow for his Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Mekor Shalom. Like all Jewish synagogues, the congregation is also preparing for Yom Kippur services Sept. 23.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The occasion is Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, which is Sept. 23 this year. Part of the High Holy Days, along with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, it’s considered by many to be the most significant date on the Jewish calendar.

While it’s a time for reflection and forgiveness, it’s definitely not a time for judging the congregation at Mekor Shalom.

Sered-Lever knows the seats will be filled more than during the weekly Sabbath services on Friday nights and Saturday mornings. Whether it’s a treasured family tradition or a sense of obligation to participate in the High Holidays, many members who don’t attend services regularly are looking for a seat at Yom Kippur.

And that’s fine for Sered-Lever. Whether someone attends every weekend, or hasn’t been there since the last Yom Kippur service, she wants everyone to feel welcomed and valued.

“I don’t use guilt in any of my religious practices. I meet people where they’re at,” she said. “I’m glad to see you when you’re here. I’m glad to have your involvement; I’m glad to have your gifts. Because each person’s gifts are appreciated, and they’re not just monetary, and they’re not just numbers showing up.”

Those who do attend will arrive in a different state than usual. Yom Kippur observers fast from the previous sundown until that day’s sundown (with medical exceptions), refrain from working or wearing leather shoes, do not bathe and do not anoint themselves in perfume or cologne. They forego many daily comforts and rituals in order to focus more on asking for forgiveness, not only to God, but to other people their actions may have affected over the past year. Much of the day is spent in prayer and reflection.

And they’ll not only pray, but hear the Hazzan speak on a special topic. She didn’t reveal this year’s subject, but previously she’s focused on the concept of a proper apology. Instead of a half-hearted “I’m sorry you feel that way” statement, she encouraged her congregation to take ownership in their apologies, and to deliver them with authenticity.

Whether they come to pray on Yom Kippur out of a sense of tradition once a year, or always attend weekly services, Sered-Lever wants every member to get the most out of the experience. She believes that true reflection on actions and behaviors, and an earnest desire to improve oneself, can have great benefits for an individual even after Yom Kippur ends.

“You get out of it what you put into it,” Sered-Lever said. “If you take this time and really use it for this purpose, you have the greatest chance of being able to evolve as a person, and develop your relationships and connections, and be the best person you can be.”

While it might be the one time of year that every seat is filled (during some busy times, events might also be held at the nearby Carrollwood Country Club), Sered-Lever doesn’t approach her job differently because there might be more of the congregation listening. She’s still grateful for the attendees, appreciates their participation, and strives to give them a welcoming experience from the moment they walk in the door.

Her schedule doesn’t change much, either. In the days leading up to Yom Kippur, the Hazzan spent time instructing Zachary Marlow, 13, as he prepared for his Bar Mitzvah, the ceremony that celebrates a Jewish boy taking on the religious obligations and observances of a man. A Jewish girl taking part in the same ceremony is known as a Bat Mitzvah.

Zachary’s mother, Susan, serves on the congregation’s board of trustees. She believes that even in Jewish households where they don’t attend regular services, the need to connect with the community during the High Holidays is strong.

“Even if you weren’t in a religious household, you always went on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. You always do. That’s just what Jews do, for the most part. It’s a very cultural thing. It’s a way of life for us, and we take that into adulthood,” she said.

Both adults and children attend Mekor Shalom, ranging in ages from infants to those in their 90s. And whatever their reasons for attending Yom Kippur or any other service, Sered-Lever will keep working to make it a positive experience each time they step into the synagogue.

“It’s all about creating a safe and nurturing environment for people to be. This is a sanctuary,” she said. “It’s a safe community and people should feel comfortable, and people should feel that there is a message with which they can connect.”

The Yom Kippur service will begin at 9 a.m. The final service will begin at 6 p.m. For information, call (813) 963-1818 or visit MekorShalom.org.

Chabad at Wiregrass, 2124 Ashley Oaks Circle in Wesley Chapel, will also have Yom Kippur services. They begin with a morning service at 10 a.m., with the final service beginning at 6 p.m. For information, call (813) 642-3244 or visit ChabadAtWiregrass.com.

Published September 23, 2015

Fourth of July sparkles with patriotism

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Patriotism was on full display at the Independence Day festivities in Lutz.

Whether they were part of the parade, or on the sidelines watching, people came wearing red, white and blue — and were ready to celebrate.

The nation’s colors showed up everywhere.

Jennifer Rankin wins the honorary title of Lutz Guv’na 2015. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Jennifer Rankin wins the honorary title of Lutz Guv’na 2015.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

They were on flags, in hair ribbons, on cowboy boots and emblazoned on the front of semi-trucks.

The parade, a community tradition, included the usual suspects.

There were Boy Scout troops, Girl Scout troops, elementary school kids and military veterans, too.

The veterans arrived in Jeeps and trucks, on motorcycles and some, riding stylishly, in a motorcade of Corvettes.

Adults and kids rode on floats featuring local businesses and area churches and sports teams.

Belly dancers jiggled their way down the parade route, while dancers from Dancercise showed off smooth moves and kids from martial arts studios broke boards with their hands and feet.

There were even some inflatable characters, including one representing the Civil Air Patrol and the Michelin man, who was there to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Dumas Tire Pros, a Lutz tire and auto repair shop.

Boy Scout Troop 12 has been a mainstay at the Lutz Fourth of July parades for decades.
Boy Scout Troop 12 has been a mainstay at the Lutz Fourth of July parades for decades.

“We like to support our community,” said DeWitt Dumas, of Dumas Tire Pros, and the company appreciates the community’s support, he added.

Lots of spectators arrived early to get a nice, shady spot.

Sam Calco was there early, staking out a spot for his family.

“We’ve lived in Lutz since ’87. We’ve made it every year, except for when we were out of town,” said Calco, who found a choice spot, under an oak, next to the library.

Now, with 4-year-old grandson, Leo McCullers, the event is even more fun, Calco said, noting, “He enjoys the beads and the candy and the fire trucks and the police cars.”

Karen Lucchese, another Lutz resident, said the parade is a great way to start Independence Day.

“To me, this is what it’s about. It’s all about hometown America. It’s exactly what you’re supposed to do for the Fourth of July, and it gives you a real sense of community,” said Lucchese, who was at the parade with her husband, Phil, her son, Tyler, his girlfriend, Lexi Neth and some other friends.

Little kids and adults lined the parade route, vying to take home some swag. There were beads, of course, but all kinds of candy, too. Some people walking down the parade route were handing out sunscreen and cardboard fans — welcome gifts on a sunny, sweltering day.

The parade wasn’t the only attraction.

There were amusement games and pony rides for kids, a cake and pie auction.

The cake and pie contest drew 28 entries, including a 5-pound apple pie, a cake shaped like a fish and another with the look of the community’s iconic train depot.

Wilma Lewis had eight entries in the competition.

Military officers rode in style during the Fourth of July in Lutz.
Military officers rode in style during the Fourth of July in Lutz.

“I’m thinking she’s wanting one of those blue ribbons,” said Karen D’Amico, who coordinated the competition this year, under the tutelage of Marilyn Wannamaker.

Shirley Simmons entered her famous, made-from-scratch pound cake, which fetched $75 in the auction after the parade.

Another highlight of the day was the swearing-in of Jennifer Rankin, as the honorary Lutz Guv’na for 2015.

It was a moment that Rankin has desired since she was a student at Lutz Elementary School.

Of course, at that time, she thought it was a real political race.

Once she learned it was to raise money for community organizations, she was even more enthused, she said while on the campaign trail.

As a Lutz native who grew up in the family business, Al’s Lawn Care on North Dale Mabry Highway, Rankin said she was pleased to represent the family business which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

She thanked her family members for all of their hard work in helping her to win the race, and she thanked everyone who donated to the cause.

Others competing for the title were Cheryl Lynn Ayers and KarenSue Molis.

Ayers raised more than $2,800 in her bid for the title, Molis raised more than $7,300 and Rankin raised more than $9,200.

“These ladies are awesome,” said Suzin Carr, a two-time Guv’na, who announced the new Guv’na.

“Every penny, nickel, dime — counts,” Carr said. “Last year there were more than 20 local charities here that got a piece of this pie.”

Lutz wasn’t the only place hosting celebrations during Independence Day weekend. The Shops at Wiregrass and the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel hosted the fourth annual Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival, and the Pasco County Fairgrounds had its annual Sparklebration celebration.

Published July 8, 2015

Real swings on computer courses

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When Jeff Sproat was offered a chance to play a golf simulator a few years ago, he wasn’t interested. He was a real golfer who played real courses. What interest could he have in a simulation of the game he loved?

Then, he tried it.

“I ended up spending about three hours in there. I got hooked,” Sproat recalled.

Golfer's Grail owner Jeff Sproat works in Tampa, but he can take on a driving range, or even Augusta, anytime he wants. Golfers have 66 options on the simulators, plus putt-putt courses and other games. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Golfer’s Grail owner Jeff Sproat works in Tampa, but he can take on a driving range, or even Augusta, anytime he wants. Golfers have 66 options on the simulators, plus putt-putt courses and other games.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Years later, it’s become more than his hobby. It’s his business.

Sproat is the owner of Golfer’s Grail Indoor Golf & Tap, 10019 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 100, in Tampa.

With four simulators, he’s spent the past couple of years encouraging people who are skeptical of the concept, like he was, to give it a try.

There are many aspects of the indoor golfing simulation that mirror the outside game, Sproat said.

Customers bring their own golf clubs and use them for different shots, just like they would on any course. They use real balls. They swing as hard as they would outside. And they can play just about any game you’d find at a golf club or tournament, including driving contests, closest-to-the-pin competitions and even target golf games. And the game is scored the same way, too.

Still, there are important differences, he said.

Golfers are competing on simulations of real courses and some imagined ones — 66 in all, not counting five putt-putt courses and a program that lets players smash windows for fun.

When they hit the ball, it actually makes contact with a screen onto which the course is projected. While they’re playing, LED sensors track the club swing, and audible sensors track the ball. That data provides an estimate of the accuracy and power of the shot, and the results are displayed by showing the ball either landing in a preferred spot, or somewhere else that reveals flaws in the previous swing.

The simulator is accurate enough to make golfers better at the real game, said Sproat, who plays with a single-digit handicap. Since practice is what improves technique, the simulator allows players to get in extra rounds.

Golfer’s Grail isn’t designed to replace anyone’s outside golfing experience. It’s supposed to supplement those rounds and allow players to get in the practice time they might not get otherwise.

“Every golfer wants to be better. They know that they can be better,” Sproat said. “For the avid golfer, it’s more golf.”

It’s actually more golf with a few enhancements. If a player wants a mulligan, or just to replay a hole over and over, it can be done with a couple of buttons on the console. A round of golf that takes four or five hours outside can be done in less than an hour inside. There’s no dress code, they sell beer and wine a few steps from where players swing, and food can be delivered from neighboring restaurants.

And while you might only spend time with the people in your foursome during your round outside, everyone can be part of a gallery of sorts inside, socializing and watching all the participants.

“In here you can play at whatever pace you’re comfortable,” Sproat said. “The clubhouse and the golf course are together.”

The golf courses draw a lot of attention from customers, Sproat said.

The owner himself got in some real golf at Northdale last week, then took a few swings at the challenging 12th hole at the Augusta National Golf Club (home of the Masters Golf Tournament) on the simulator that afternoon.

It’s a day of golf that couldn’t be accomplished in real life, but pretty simple to manage with a program that stays loyal to the courses they’re modeled after.

Sproat has played a little from every course on the simulator, and said they’re accurate to the real-life counterparts he’s tried out in real life.

The most popular ones are Augusta, TPC Sawgrass in Ponta Vedra Beach and the Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.

And while the players aren’t actually at those locations, they won’t get any closer to the courses without airfare, time off from work and a hard-to-get tee time.

“It is the next best thing, because you actually are hitting the ball. You’re playing the shots. When it’s uphill, you have to hit it harder; when it’s downhill, you have to account for that,” Sproat said.

While regular golfers are a big part of his customer base, he particularly enjoys bringing the game to new people.

Sproat has been hitting the links for nearly 50 years, but he knows that many people who try out the simulators don’t play at all. Fathers with younger children can spend time trying out courses together, and disabled players can do things that wouldn’t be practical on a real course.

Golfer’s Grail works with veterans groups, and that sometimes includes amputees being able to get in a round or two.

Expanding the game to those who might not get to enjoy it otherwise is a big plus for a guy who’s been playing since he was 8 years old.

“I love it. That’s probably the best feeling you can have,” Sproat said.

An hour of golf at Golfer’s Grail costs between $27 and $37, depending on the time and day. That cost is split among all players.

The venue is available for individuals, groups and charity tournaments. For more information, call (813) 969-2100 or visit GolfersGrail.net.

Published June 24, 2015

Rankin hopes a lifetime in Lutz means a Guv’na win

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Jennifer Rankin was supposed to be a Lutz Guv’na candidate in 2014, but something came up.

It was her daughter, Abigail.

“I wanted to do it last year, and I got pregnant. She was born in August,” Rankin explained. “In July, I would have been eight months pregnant at the Fourth of July parade.” Since she would have spent her entire campaign in the latter stages of pregnancy, Rankin decided to wait a year before running for the ceremonial title, awarded to the candidate who raises the most money for local organizations. The current campaign runs through the Fourth of July, and the winner is announced at the annual festivities in Lutz.

Jennifer Rankin is looking to mow down the competition in the race for Lutz Guv'na. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Jennifer Rankin is looking to mow down the competition in the race for Lutz Guv’na.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Following her pregnancy, she spent 10 days in an intensive care unit with life-threatening hemorrhaging. Now that baby and mother are both healthy, and the Lutz Guv’na race has returned, Rankin is going for the winner’s sash with guns blazing. Literally.

One of her big campaign events is a clay pigeon tournament on June 27 at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, 10514 Ehren Cutoff in Land O’ Lakes. The cost is $130 per person, or $480 per team of four, with prizes for the top teams and shooters.

Rankin is hoping to have 10 teams in place when the tournament starts. If that seems ambitious, that’s the kind of person she is. But she also knows her supporters well, and chose an event she thought would be popular with them.

As a Lutz native who grew up in the family business, Al’s Lawn Care at 18905 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Rankin has a good feel for the area and its residents. She attended Lutz Elementary, and it was in those formative years she decided to be a Lutz Guv’na, even if she didn’t know exactly how it worked. At the time, she thought it was an actual political race instead of a fundraiser.

Now that she knows it’s all about the money, she’s even more determined to be a part of it.

“I think it’s the coolest thing,” Rankin said.

Unfortunately, not everybody knows about the Guv’na’s race. Even longtime residents don’t always understand her latest project, and she has to explain the race and where the money goes.

“It just surprises me how many people live here that don’t know anything about it,” she said.

Most people who run into Rankin learn about it, mostly because she’s always asking them for money. If she wins the title, she’ll direct a portion of the funds to the organization of her choice, and she’s already made that executive decision: The Steinbrenner High School cheer team. Her youngest stepdaughter, Kori, was a member, and Rankin saw how hard the team works with little fanfare.

And they’re working hard for her campaign as well. The team is helping out with her fundraisers, including the clay pigeon tournament.

Rankin is having fun with her candidacy so far. So much fun, in fact, that she said she’ll run again if she doesn’t win. But she’s doing everything she can to make her first campaign a winner, and with the support of husband Adrian, stepdaughters Kori and Klarissa — and Abigail, of course — she’s pulling out all the stops to take the title. That includes making sure everyone knows she’s running, and asking them to dig deep for the cause. And considering where the money goes, she’s not ashamed to have her hand out right up through the holiday weekend.

“I don’t mind asking anybody for any money, because I know it’s going back to where I live,” Rankin said. “Knowing that it’s just going right here, it’s some way, somehow going to better Lutz.”

For more information about Rankin’s events, call Al’s Lawn Care at (813) 949-1384, or visit Rankin’s Facebook page by searching for “Jennifer Silence Rankin” at Facebook.com.

Published June 17, 2015

Famous Tate plans new store in Lutz

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The Tampa-based appliance and mattress store Famous Tate is looking to build its 10th location in central Pasco County, within arm’s reach of Walmart along U.S. 41.

Executives of the small retail chain are scheduled to meet with county officials Dec. 16 to discuss opening a 14,000-square-foot store on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, in an outparcel just south of Walmart, not far from where Dale Mabry Highway begins. The 1.6-acre parcel is owned by Hagman Properties Inc. of Tarpon Springs, the land’s only deed-holder, according to Pasco County property records.

This would be Pasco’s third Famous Tate store. The closest current one is at 5419 Village Market in Wesley Chapel, and a second is located in Port Richey.

The company was founded in 1954, and employs more than 200 people in six counties, according to the company’s website. Aspire Engineering Inc. of Tampa will take the lead on the project.

Meeting with county officials is typically an early step in the development process, and no timetable on when construction might begin was released.

Holiday happenings abound: Prepare to have fun

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Whether it’s a stroll along Christmas Card Lane in Lutz, tree lighting festivities in Zephyrhills, synchronized tree lights and music at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, or a magical Christmas parade in Dade City — there are plenty of holiday events in coming weeks to put on your calendars.

Several events are planned in anticipation of the holidays in Lutz.

Here’s just one of the displays that visitors are likely to encounter if they visit the Old Lutz School during the holiday season. (File photo)
Here’s just one of the displays that visitors are likely to encounter if they visit the Old Lutz School during the holiday season. (File photo)

Shoppers looking for a unique gift may want to check out the 2014 Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival at Lake Park, 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway, on the weekend of Dec. 6-7.

The annual event attracts more than 250 vendors, offering a wide array of items including paintings, photography, jewelry, woodcarvings, ceramics and pottery, and stained glass.

The juried art show awards cash prizes as the year’s biggest fundraiser for the GFWC Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, and supports a multitude of community organizations and activities. The event also features various food selections, including the woman’s club’s famous peach cobbler.

The event’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 6, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 7. There is no admission charge, but parking costs $2.

The Lutz community also is planning a couple other events likely to appeal to those who enjoy old-fashioned holiday festivities. At the 18th annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 N., visitors can walk through rooms to enjoy holiday displays, listen to musical presentations, sip a cup of hot chocolate, and nibble on a cookie.

There is no admission charge, but donations are accepted. Proceeds are used for the Old Lutz School. Canned foods and new toys also are accepted to provide for those less fortunate.

It’s open this year from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 11, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 16, Dec. 18, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Dec. 28. For a nominal fee, children can enjoy breakfast with Santa from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 13.

For those who like entertainment, the heartwarming Christmas musical, “3 Wise Men and a Baby” may be just the ticket. Heritage Church, 1854 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz, is presenting free performances of the play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13, and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 14.

Lutz also is planning another community event beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16, when it will showcase its Christmas Card Lane.

The event features the displays of four-by-eight-foot illuminated holiday cards, along with performances by children from local schools, a visit by Santa, hot chocolate and cookies.

The event takes place at the corner of U.S. 41 and Lutz Lake Fern Road in the vicinity of the Lutz Train Depot near the library.

Those who enjoy holiday concerts may want to plan on attending one of two presentations of “A Saint Leo Christmas,” at Saint Leo University in the town of St. Leo. The free presentations are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 2 in the Greenfelder-Denlinger Boardrooms of the Student Community Center, 33701 State Road 52.

Although admission is free, those attending the 7 p.m. show must call to reserve tickets to be assured seating. To reserve a seat, call Tamra Hunt at (352) 588-8294.

The Founders Garden Club of San Antonio also is gearing up for its annual “Christmas in the Park,” held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 in the city park.

The event includes lighted Christmas cards placed around the park by area businesses and families. After the lighting, the Rev. Santiago Huron and his musical family from Heritage Bible Church of San Antonio will present a Christmas concert.

The event also includes refreshments, carol singing, and a Nativity blessing by the Rev. Edwin Palka.

Those who enjoy watching parades may want to mark their calendars for the 2014 Magical Night of Christmas Parade in Dade City at 7 p.m. on Dec. 5, and the parade planned for 6 p.m. on Dec. 6 during the Festival of Lights in Zephyrhills.

The Dade City parade, organized by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, will feature bands, floats and walking units.

In addition to the parade, the Festival of Lights, presented by Main Street Zephyrhills, has a theme this year of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Another event likely to draw a big crowd is the 30th annual Lighting of the Trees, hosted by Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 7, on the front lawn of the hospital, 7050 Gall Blvd.

The event includes decorating trees, entertainment, a live Nativity, Santa’s arrival, skydivers, and of course the tree lighting and some fireworks.

Forest Lake Estates, 6429 Forest Lake Drive in Zephyrhills, has its annual craft fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 6. It will feature handcrafted items including jewelry, jams, decorations and other goods.

Those who enjoy a lively Christmas lights show can swing by The Shops at Wiregrass to take in its seventh annual Symphony of Lights. The holiday light show features a 55-foot tall tree and more than 250,000 lights, synchronized to music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Shows run nightly, on the hour, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., through Dec. 31 at 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel.

Wesley Chapel also has a new performing arts company presenting O. Henry’s heartwarming story “The Gift of the Magi.” Dreamhouse Theatre will present the play at 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 6 at Bridgeway Church, 30660 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

Tickets at the door are $22 for adults, and $17 for students and kids 12 and younger. Tickets also are available at a discounted rate online at DreamhouseTheatre.com.

For those who don’t mind venturing out of the area to take in some holiday sights and sounds, there are a host of offerings that they may find enticing.

The Celebration of Lights is a new attraction in Tampa Bay, which features a mile-long route that motorists can drive along to see a dazzling display of animated lights.

The event was the vision of Dave Parrish, a community leader in West Pasco who died before his vision could come to life.

The event is open at dusk on Nov. 27-30, and Dec. 5-Jan. 4 at 15325 Alric Pottberg Road in Spring Hill. Entry fees are $20 per car and $40 for a 14-passenger van.

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Lutz pushes proposed urban service area south

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Lutz has survived more than a century with no municipal water or sewer. And it might end up going another century without it as well.

In a workshop Dec. 8, members of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission will hear something they may not like: Lutz residents are turning their backs on a proposed plan to extend the county’s urban service area up U.S. 41.

Getting an urban service area designation is a significant step in helping to bring more business — and even more residents — to an area, planners say. In fact, 80 percent of all county growth would take place in those areas, countywide planning team leader Stephen Griffin told a small group of Lutz residents Nov. 18.

“When you are inside that service area, you are going to see growth and development,” Griffin said. “But being in an urban service area doesn’t mean you can’t have other uses like agriculture. That would still be permitted inside the urban service area.”

For decades, Lutz has maintained its independence from the high population growth taking place in the rest of Hillsborough. Although six lanes of U.S. 41 were laid right through the heart of the downtown Lutz, existing water and sewer infrastructure along the way requires septic tanks and well access — both undesirable and even outright impossible for larger businesses to move in.

But that’s exactly what many of the residents want there, said Mike White, president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition.

“I’ve polled our members, and the resounding answer that has come back is that we don’t want water and septic,” White said. “We like our wells. We don’t want to take a chance of losing control of the rural character of Lutz.”

Community resistance means when the urban service area is expanded, it will stay south of the Lutz apex where U.S. 41 and North Florida Avenue split near the entrance to the Avila subdivision.

“We will conclude our expansion opportunity and leave it to that little area on the south,” Griffin said. “That is what we’re going to move forward with. We are going to leave it the way that it is.”

That’s not what one land and business owner in Lutz was hoping to hear. William Payne, the owner of the engineering firm WSP Consultants in Lutz, says it’s time the area moves forward and embraces some of the amenities their neighboring communities have.

“It is a real shame that the comments from non-commercial parcel owners could so easily sway the planning commission,” Payne said in an email to community planner Yeneka Mills before last week’s meeting. “I hope this decision is not final, and the planning commission will reconsider expanding the (urban service area) further north by meeting directly with commercial parcel owners.”

Payne owns two 1950s-era commercial buildings at 19006 N. U.S. 41 and 19008 N. U.S. 41 he purchased through his company, William & Mary Investment Group LLC, for $585,000 in 2006. He said he was the only person who attended an August meeting with planning commission officials who actually owned commercial property in the potential expansion area.

However, part of the appeal of Lutz is its unchanging nature, White said, despite the suburban growth that’s occurring around it, including Pasco County to the north. The fear is that Lutz would turn into another Dale Mabry Highway, with high commercial density and a lost community spirit.

“There are a lot of people whose kids move, and they will be gone for five or six years,” he said. “And then they come back. My daughter has been gone for 10 years, and she can’t wait to move out here.”

Upgrading infrastructure to help support a more suburban community does not mean it has to be developed that way, Griffin said.

“The county does not force you to hook into the system,” he said. “We wanted to help precipitate improvements so that more local and small businesses have the ability to tap into the water and sewer lines, if that is available.”

However, one older resident who didn’t identify himself felt it was still too much.

“The risk of changing to an urban service area far outweighs any benefits from it,” he said.

Once the planning commission decides how it wants to pursue an urban service area, it will hold another public meeting to discuss that plan with affected residents and business owners in the spring.

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Area events honor veterans on special day

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Veterans Day is Nov. 11, and those who have put on the uniform to serve this country have a full day ahead of them.

Saint Leo University and Two Men and a Truck will deliver items to veterans in local shelters throughout the day Tuesday. The donations will be from a collection drive the school hosted last month including items such as soap, shampoo, shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, towels, sheets, backpacks, blankets and more.

Saint Leo also will have a ceremony honoring veterans at 11 a.m., at the Greenfelder-Denlinger Boardrooms in the school’s student community center, 33701 State Road 52, in St. Leo.

The keynote speaker at that even is U.S. Army retired Col. K. Steven Collier, who founded a technology company in Dade City.

Bayfront Health Dade City and Gulfside Hospice will host a Senior Circle for Veterans Day at 10 a.m., at the hospital, 13100 Fort King Road in Dade City. It will include a pinning ceremony for all veterans in attendance. There also will be a moment of silence, followed by a complimentary lunch. To RSVP, call (877) 362-5321.

The Museum of Science & Industry at 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa, is offering $5 admission for all active and retired military personnel, emergency medical technicians, firefighters, first responders and police officers. For information, visit MOSI.org.

Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club will host an Armistice Day fundraiser to support troops and the community’s resident veterans. It will have a special recognition for World War II veterans, and include a dinner. For information, call John Benvengo at (917) 754-1726, or email .

Pasco-Hernando State College will host Honor Our Patriots Events on the Spring Hill campus, 450 Beverly Court, Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Military representatives will be on hand to talk about military life and resource groups, with a student veteran panel set for Nov. 12 at noon. All events are free, and information can be found at PHSC.edu/calendar.

Finally, Fifth Third Bank has partnered with the Folds of Honor Foundation to collect and match donations at all 48 of its Tampa Bay-area centers through Nov. 15. The foundation provides scholarships and other assistance to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or wounded in action. The bank will match up to $5,000 locally.

Local Fifth Third Banks are at 1122 Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz, and at 2022 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.