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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Harvester United Methodist Church

‘Out & About 2019’ offers fun for the whole family

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The Out & About 2019 Expo invites families to find out more about what’s happening locally, and give kids a chance to have some Easter fun.

The event, presented by The Laker/Lutz News, is set for April 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

“The No. 1 reason why people read The Laker/Lutz News is because they’re looking for things to do locally,” said Diane Kortus, the newspaper’s publisher.

Four-year-old Brooklyn Holtzman is all smiles as she awaits Easter festivities. Children who find eggs at the Out and About 2019 Expo on April 20 will likely be all smiles, too. Besides an Easter egg hunt, the expo — being presented by The Laker/Lutz News — will give guests a chance to find out about fun stuff for kids and adults. (Christine Holtzman)

The expo will bring that concept to life — with people representing dozens of companies and organizations coming together to give visitors a chance to learn about local options for children and adults, alike.

Indoor booths will have representatives providing information about summer camp programs, museums, day trips, restaurants, specialty shops and area businesses.

Those visiting also will have a chance to take part in activities, and take home some swag.

Outdoors, kids will have a chance to hunt for Easter eggs at 10 a.m.

Once they find some eggs, kids will be able to exchange their eggs for “goodie bags” loaded with prizes.

But, kids won’t be the only ones having fun searching for eggs. There will be an egg hunt for adults, too, who will also have a chance to win prizes.

Other activities will include bowling and hockey games, as well.

The Easter Bunny is also expected to hop in, to pose for photos with guests throughout the event.

All of those activities will probably make people hungry, so guests will be able to partake of appetizers and other refreshments, and adult beverages will be available from Tropical Wine Shop.

The event is free and so is parking – yet limited.

Guests are encouraged to park at the Harvester United Methodist Church at 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. From there, shuttles will run throughout the event, escorting guests to and from the golf club premises.

For additional information, please contact Diane Kortus at (813) 909-2800 or  .

Jodie Sullivan, event coordinator, can also be contacted at (813) 927-2730 or .

Out and About 2019 Expo
Where: Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
When: April 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: An Easter-themed expo will grant guests the opportunity to learn about local attractions and summer camps. Games and egg hunts will be offered, as well as snapshots with the Easter Bunny.
Info: Contact Diane Kortus at (813) 909-2800 or at ; Jodie Sullivan at (813) 927-2730 or at .

Published April 10, 2019

Congressional aide offers dialogue on veteran issues

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Rob Fleege, veterans liaison for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, recently updated members of American Legion Post 108 and other veterans about what the congressman is doing to address issues facing former soldiers.

And, he gave the veterans a chance to share what was on their minds, during a Jan. 12 session at the Harvester United Methodist Church in Land O’ Lakes.

Fleege, a veteran himself, briefed his fellow comrades on a number of issues being tackled by Bilirakis.

Rob Fleege, veterans liaison for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, spoke to former servicemen on Jan. 12 at the Harvester United Methodist Church, in Land O’ Lakes. His talk covered what the congressman is doing to address veterans’ issues. (Brian Fernandes)

One of the congressman’s chief efforts involves finding ways to prevent veteran suicide, Fleege said.

“We’ve created a congressional working group whose sole purpose is to figure out veteran suicide,” he added.

The group is made up of mental health experts from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) who have served in the military and can understand those they treat.

The first part of the process is analyzing the Transition Assistance Program and what improvements could be made there.

The program’s goal is to help returning troops to reintegrate back into civilian life.

According to Veterans Affairs, anywhere from 11 percent to 20 percent of soldiers returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder during any given year.

Bilirakis wants to help these individuals, but his office is equally invested in those who served in conflicts decades past – such as the Vietnam War.

“Why are older veterans killing themselves?” Fleege asked.

The congressman also is making efforts to pass the Blue Water Navy Act.

The bill would grant health care and disability benefits to naval officers exposed to the Agent Orange toxin during the Vietnam War.

The bill passed in the House last year, but failed to pass in the Senate.

Bilirakis remains hopeful that there is bipartisan support to address veteran concerns, Fleege said.

Attendees also had the chance to comment or ask questions about issues important to them.

One issue that came up involved the current federal government shutdown.

Hunter Knight Anstine is a former member of the U.S. Coast Guard and current commanding officer of American Legion Post 108.

His son currently serves in the Coast Guard and is personally feeling the consequences of the shutdown.

“There’s something fundamentally wrong when the fifth branch of the military, people who can’t just call in sick, are not getting paid,” the veteran said.

Other members in the audience raised concerns about affordable housing and finding work.

Fleege said Bilirakis is working with the Department of Urban Development — to address the housing concerns through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.

This not only assists veterans in getting stable homes, but also pinpoints the issues that lead to homelessness, such as mental illness and substance abuse.

“We’re going to have another job fair,” Fleege added. “This is a continuing initiative we have every year to get all the veterans in one spot and get services with companies that are hiring.”

The liaison also noted that through a veteran advisory committee, Bilirakis is seeking jobs for veterans that offer livable wages.

When asked about the veterans who don’t qualify for VA services, Fleege mentioned the Mission Act.

The act, passed in 2018, assists veterans in getting adequate medical care through a civilian market when it is not provided by the VA.

Fleege’s passion for assisting fellow veterans stems partially from personal experience.

He served 18 months in Iraq as a sergeant, and has had personal experience with PTSD.

He went back to school and received a master’s degree in public health and a master’s degree in social work, specializing in mental health.

“I needed to figure out what happened to me,” Fleege said.

“Getting this background in mental health started to peel back the layers of why I was crying in inappropriate times,” he said.

Fleege decided to dedicate himself to working with other veterans to help them achieve a healthier life, and after he worked in Veterans Affairs for nine years, Bilirakis offered him the opportunity to advocate for former soldiers in the 12th congressional district.

As the meeting concluded, Fleege invited anyone with questions or concerns to reach back to him.

He also urged anyone struggling with PTSD to seek help from mental health organizations, such as the Veterans Alternative in Pasco County.

Finally, he reminded his comrades: “We have charged ourselves, as veterans, to take care of our brothers and sisters.”

Published January 23, 2019

Region offers Easter festivities

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Easter events are scheduled across the region this week, offering ways for families to have affordable fun, and opportunities for spiritual reflection and celebration.

The Easter Bunny is expected to make an appearance at various events during Easter weekend. He was at the Jelly Bean Fling last year at the Pioneer Florida Village & Museum. (File)

There are also a number of Passover events scheduled, which are included in an accompanying story.

Many churches offer Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday services, which is March 29 this year, as well as Good Friday services on March 30, Easter vigil services on March 31 and Easter services on April 1.

This list is just a sampling of the events and services being offered in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. Please check local church websites for more details.

LUTZ

  • All Saints Lutheran, 5315 Van Dyke Road, will have Maundy Thursday services at noon and 7:30 p.m.; Good Friday services at noon and 7:30 p.m.; Easter Vigil at 7:30 p.m.; and Easter services at 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., and an egg hunt at 9 a.m.
  • Bay Hope Church, 17030 Lakeshore Road, will have a new Good Friday Experience, which invites families to walk with Jesus during his final hours. The experience lasts about 30 minutes, and is offered between noon and 2 p.m., and 5 and 7 p.m., on Good Friday. Services will be on March 31 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., and on Easter at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
  • Crosspointe Church at 919 Debuel Road is hosting egg hunts for pre-kindergarten and elementary age children on March 31 at 5:30 p.m., and on Easter, which is April 1, at 10 a.m. There also will be opportunities to meet and greet the Easter Bunny at this free event.
  • First Baptist of Lutz, 18116 U.S. 41 N., will have Good Friday services at 7 p.m.; and Easter services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
  • First United Methodist Church of Lutz will present a Good Friday reenactment in downtown Tampa, beginning at Tampa City Hall steps at noon. It will present another reenactment in the church sanctuary, at 960 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, in the evening, at 7 p.m. Other events on the church’s Holy Week schedule include a Seder meal and Last Supper on Holy Thursday, the guarding of the tomb, from Good Friday until Easter; and Easter services at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. There also will be a Jelly Bean Jamboree on March 31, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 20735 Leonard Road, will have Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m.; Good Friday at noon and 7 p.m., and Easter services at 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.
  • Idlewild Baptist Church, at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., will have an Easter family festival from 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on March 31. That will include services at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., a barbecue, bounce houses, a giant slide and an egg drop, scheduled for 5 p.m. There will be an outdoor sunrise service on Easter at 7 a.m., and other services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
  • Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54, will host Good Friday services, 7 p.m.; Easter services, 8:30 and 11 a.m.; Easter breakfast, 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.; and an Easter egg hunt at 10:15 a.m.
  • NorthPointe Church, 19862 Amanda Park Drive, has Easter services at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
  • Tims Memorial Presbyterian Church, 601 Sunset Lane, has an Easter sunrise service at 7 a.m., and other Easter services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Land O’ Lakes

  • Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway: Maundy Thursday, 7 p.m.; Good Friday, 7 p.m.; Community Easter Egg Hunt, March 31, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (bounce house, face painting, refreshments, a goody bag for each child), Easter sunrise service, 7 a.m., and other Easter services, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
  • Our Lady of the Rosary, 2348 Collier Parkway: Holy Thursday at 7 p.m., Good Friday, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. (Spanish); Easter Vigil, 7:45 p.m., and sunrise on Easter Sunday at 6 a.m., 7:45 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. (bilingual). There also will be a blessing of Easter foods from noon to 1 p.m., on March 31.

Wesley Chapel

  • Avalon Park West, 5227 Autumn Ridge Drive: Easter egg hunt, face painting, food trucks, bounce park, March 31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The egg hunt is at 11 a.m.
  • Atonement Lutheran Church, 29617 State Road 54: Maundy Thursday service, 7 p.m.; Good Friday service, 7 p.m.; Easter sunrise service, 7:15 a.m.; other Easter services, 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Zephyrhills

  • The Zephyrhills-Wesley Chapel Ministerial Association will have its traditional Good Friday Walk of the Cross beginning at 5:30 p.m., outside of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 5316 11th St., Zephyrhills. Those who participate will take a pilgrimage with a cross through the streets of Zephyrhills marking the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Along the way, there will be seven stops at local churches to reflect on the last Seven Sayings of Christ on the Cross. The evening concludes about 6:45 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church, 38635 Fifth Ave.
  • Community Easter sunrise service on Easter at 7 a.m., at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, on the front lawn of the hospital at 7050 Gall Blvd. This service, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is presented by the hospital and the Zephyrhills-Wesley Chapel Ministerial Association. Those attending are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket because seating is limited. The service will include music, a special Easter message, and a dove release at the conclusion of the service.

DADE CITY

  • The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village is hosting its second annual Jelly Bean Fling on March 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5, and free for children under age 5. Parking is free. Admission includes rock painting, photos with the Easter Bunny, face painting, a petting zoo, an Easter bonnet parade with Mr. Tommy and other activities. For more information, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Published March 28, 2018

Local Boy Scouts and their parents help food pantry

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A group of men and women gathered recently at Harvester United Methodist Church, off Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, to lug bags and boxes of food from a room in the church to their SUVs and mini-vans in the church parking lot.

Megan Backhus, a sister of a scout, Kenneth Huffman, a Cub Scout with Pack 323 and Boy Scouts from Troop 707 Nikolaus Lappe, Jared Backhus, Owen Lowry, Sawyer Spiegel, Iain Lappe and Lawrence Huffman helped collect food during a recent food drive at Publix. (Courtesy of Boy Scout Troop 707)

They made numerous trips carrying all sorts of items, including potato chips, granola bars, Goldfish, pasta, Little Bites, pudding cups, bottled water, Gatorade, and canned fruits and vegetables, among other things.

The adult volunteers chatted and laughed, as they worked.

There was so much stuff that they found themselves putting down seats to make more room in their vehicles.

Ultimately there were enough groceries to fill five cars.

They never expected such a bounty from the two-day food collection campaign conducted by Boy Scout Troop 707, of Land O’ Lakes.

“We were flabbergasted,” said Kay Svendgard, a mom volunteer with the troop.

Jacquie Petet, executive director of Christian Social Services in Land O’ Lakes, was all smiles when the crew of adult volunteers for Boy Scout Troop 707 showed up with five vehicles full of food. (B.C. Manion)

The boys stood outside the Publix store at the Shoppes at New Tampa, off of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. They collected donations on a Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and a Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Others helped, including siblings of the scouts, their parents and some members of Cub Scout Pack 323, which feeds into Boy Scout Troop 707.

As shoppers walked into the store, the volunteers would hand them a Publix flyer and tell them they were collecting food for Christian Social Services, which has a food pantry in Land O’ Lakes, Svendgard said.

“They would point out some of the Buy One, Get One Free, and would ask them, if they would like to come out and give us food,” she added.

During the first shift alone, there was enough food donated to fill the back of a truck, Svendgard said.

Kay Svengard fills a grocery cart with some of the goods collected by Boy Scout Troop 707 in a food drive for Christian Social Services.

“I was like ‘Holy Moly, that’s unbelievable.’,” she added. “Every shift, we had the same result. Not only food, but cash donations.”

Troop 707 does a variety of community service projects each year, including the most recent food drive.

“One of the things that the boys learn from scouting is that you need to give back to your community,” Svendgard said.

“The church itself does not have a food pantry,” she added, so it supports Christian Social Services, which does help the hungry.

Troop 707 — which by the way signifies LOL (Land O’ Lakes) flipped upside down — is made up of 36 boys.

Christian Social Services has a good supply of food to help people in need because of generous holiday donations, said Jacquie Petet, the organization’s executive director. Come summer, it will be very grateful for the additional donations brought by Boy Scout Troop 707, she said.

The troop gets a lot of support from parents, Svendgard said.  “We have a great group of adults that help make Troop 707 great,” she said.

Some of them showed up to help deliver the groceries to Christian Social Services.

Among them were Dan Backhus and Steve Koenig, who are both assistant scout masters.

The two men have a couple of other things in common, too. For one thing, both of them are Eagle Scouts. For another, their sons, who are now freshmen in high school, have been scouts together since first grade.

Doreen Perez, who also is active with the troop, and Mike Thors, a volunteer parent, were also on hand to help deliver the groceries.

“I did not expect this much,” Perez said, surveying the room inside the church that was piled with bags and bags of groceries.

Steve Koenig, himself an Eagle Scout, enjoys being involved with Boy Scout Troop 707. He is an assistant scout master.

She was pleased by the kindness of strangers.

“On the first shift, there was a woman who came in. She was so excited she went in and bought an entire cart full of vegetables,” Perez said.

Backhus, who works at that Publix, also was delighted by the community’s generosity.

“I was just super-impressed. It was so uplifting. Everybody — they were so nice,” Backhus said.

When the volunteers arrived with their cars full of food, Jacquie Petet, executive director of Christian Social Services, offered this response: “Holy Cow! We are blessed.”

The charitable organization has food left from its holiday donations, but knows that the supplies will dwindle.

“Come summer, we’ll be so grateful,” Petet said. “This is wonderful.”

Published February 14, 2018

Helping Hurricane Harvey victims

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Area churches, and others, are getting involved to help raise money, or collect goods, to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Bishop Gregory Parkes has asked all 81 parishes and missions in the Diocese of St. Petersburg to hold a special collection the weekend of Sept. 2 and Sept. 3, or Sept. 9 and Sept. 10, for the needs of people affected by natural disasters, including Hurricane Harvey that is causing devastating damage to Texas and is expected to impact Louisiana.

Thousands of Texans are being rescued from the floodwaters of Hurricane Harvey.
(Courtesy of Army National Guard Lt. Zachary West)

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families that have lost loved ones and to all who have lost homes and businesses along with their sense of peace and normalcy,” Bishop Parkes said in a statement published on the Diocese’s website. “The prayerful and financial support of people from all around the country is urgently needed.”

First Baptist Dade City, at 37511 Church Ave., is collecting items to provide relief to Hurricane Harvey victims. The church is accepting bottled water, blankets, soap, shampoo, deodorant and toilet paper.

Donations are being accepted until Sept. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday and on Sunday morning.

Harvester United Methodist Church, at 2432 Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes, is also helping.

It planned to hold a second collection on Sept. 3 to help Hurricane Harvey victims.

And, it also planned to put together some hygiene kits and some 5-gallon flood buckets filled with cleaning and drying supplies, to help victims in the aftermath.

Harvester will have a special box located in the back of the sanctuary for the next couple of weeks for donations.

The church will be providing its help through the United Methodist Commission on Relief, or UMCOR, for short, said Gary Evans, of Harvester United.

“UMCOR is usually one of the first, second or third agencies to respond to emergencies around the world,” Evans said.

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast invited shoppers to round up their purchases, from Aug. 30 through Sept. 12, to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

Normally, the Round Up program supports the agency’s employment services, but this special Round Up collection will be donated to the American Red Cross to assist people affected by the devastating storm.

Cashiers at all 18 retail stores and three outlet stores operated by Goodwill-Suncoast will also accept hurricane relief donations from people who don’t make purchases, with all of these funds being forwarded to the Red Cross.

Goodwill-Suncoast stores are in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Highlands and Marion counties.

Published September 6, 2017

Lending sinkhole victims a hand

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Penny Foote felt the need to help families — after the largest sinkhole in Pasco County history opened July 14 on Ocean Pines Drive in Land O’ Lakes.

“When I saw the two homes go in, my heart hit the floor,” Foote said. “I knew we had to do something and try to pull people together because it could’ve happened to anybody, even me.”

That same day, Foote created the Lake Padgett Families Sinkhole Relief Facebook page.

Debris and water removal of the sinkhole wrapped up on Aug. 13. The next steps for remediating the 260-foot-wide hole will be discussed by the Pasco County Commission at a later date. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Through the group page, which now totals more than 2,200 members, Foote has coordinated the delivery of donations and supplies to displaced sinkhole families, and adjacent properties on Ocean Pines Drive and Canal Place.

Foote, who has partnered with United Way of Pasco and Pasco County Human Services, has met individually with each of the sinkhole victims, to inquire about various essentials — everything from food and clothing, to baby supplies and furniture.

Then, she posted to the Facebook page, soliciting needed items from group members and local businesses.

“Somebody comes and just brings it,” Foote said.  “The community’s just been donating tons and tons of stuff, and the families have been at my house multiple times getting everything they want.”

Besides donations, Foote also rallied numerous volunteers to assist displaced families in moving belongings from their condemned homes.

Including Land O’ Lakes residents, Footed said people from Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Odessa have all offered assistance, in some form or another.

The widespread community support, is “absolutely incredible,” she noted.

“There have been a lot of people pulling for them,” Foote said. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”

Now, Foote, with the help of Tampa-based realtor Danielle Sullivan, has organized an upcoming fundraiser benefiting families affected by the sinkhole.

The Lake Padgett Estates Sinkhole Family Day Fundraiser will be held Aug. 26, from noon to 5 p.m., at the Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

Besides numerous food trucks and local vendors, the event will feature a live band, yard sale, raffle and silent auction, and kid-friendly entertainment, such as a bounce house and face painting.

Foote hopes to raise at least $20,000. All of the proceeds will go to sinkhole victims shortly after the event.

It’s not the only sinkhole fundraiser going on this weekend.

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Skipper’s Smokehouse for a benefit concert on Aug. 27. The show, beginning at 5 p.m., will feature performances by several local acts, including, Stonegrey, Peace of Woodstock, Solar Exposure, and 4X.

And, other fundraisers have been held the past several weeks, including events hosted by Plantation Palms Golf & Country Club, Beef O’ Brady’s of Sunlake and In The Loop Brewing.

Foote, who runs a child day care business, lives about 1.5 miles from the actual sinkhole site.

She remains heartbroken by the sinkhole victims’ personal stories in the aftermath of the catastrophic event.

“These families are still struggling today, just like they were on Day 1. It’s still very difficult and very hard for them,” Foote said.

One of those affected is 77-year-old Emily Geldbaugh.

The retiree’s home was one of seven that’s been condemned, meeting the criteria for demolition.

The loss of her house, which she has owned for 14 years, was tough to grasp.

“It was shocking, and of course, sort of painful at the same time,” Geldbaugh said. “I felt pretty sad about it.”

Since the condemnation, Geldbaugh has been staying with her son’s family while she searches for an affordable rental home.
She noted the catastrophic event could have been worse.

“I’m just glad everybody got out, because if it happened earlier I don’t think they would’ve,” she said. “(My house) could’ve fallen in, too, who knows? I’m lucky that it’s still standing.”

The efforts of Foote and others have not been lost on Geldbaugh during this difficult time.

She is “totally amazed” by the community outreach received over the past several weeks.

“There’s a lot of wonderful people out there, and a lot of them came to help me move,” Geldbaugh said. “I mean, there’s been donations and a lot of good is going to come from all that.”

She continued: “(Penny’s) a wonderful lady. I know she can’t do it alone, but she’s been real gracious, and she’s really caring about all these people and their problems, and I think that’s wonderful. You don’t have very many people in the world like that.”

Terence Doohen, another sinkhole victim, expressed similar sentiments.

The 44-year-old also is “floored” by Foote’s efforts and the amount of donations others have provided, specifically mentioning nonperishable food, bottled water and toiletries.

“In my mind, it restores the idea that there is humanity left,” Doohen said. “At the end of the day, when something like this happens, and you see good people doing thoughtful things, it really restores your perspective on humanity once again.”

He added: “It’s eye-opening, and it really is heartwarming to know that people care out there.”

Doohen, along with his wife and 10-year-old son, were displaced over two weeks ago, when the Pasco County Building Inspectors Office red-tagged their lake house property — which they had owned for about two years.

The family is currently staying at a neighbor’s home, until they find a suitable rental.

“It kind of stinks in a way because that was our little house on the lake. When we bought it a couple of years ago, we put a lot of money into it — new kitchen, new windows, everything,” Doohen explained.

Doohen said his family — along with others affected by the sinkhole — will never be able to recover the full value of their house and property.

“Once that hole opened up — even if you’re living within five houses and didn’t have the condemnation letter — the value of your property just got slapped in half,” Doohen said. “At the end of the day, everyone (affected) is going to be worse off; that’s the sad part about it.”

A month later, he still recalls witnessing the sinkhole develop as he got ready for work that Friday morning in mid-July.

“It starts out as a 20-by-20 little puddle, and then all of a sudden it just starts opening up like a big reservoir and starts chasing the house next to it, and then the one on the other side of it,” he said.

“My blood pressure started rising when it started eating at the road,” Doohen said.

Upcoming fundraisers:
Lake Padgett Estates Sinkhole Family Day Fundraiser
Where: Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
When: Aug. 26, noon to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
Details: Food trucks, local vendors, live music, yard sale, raffle and silent auction, kid-friendly activities.
Information: email

Build it Back Sinkhole Relief
Where: Skipper’s Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa
When: Aug. 27, at 5 p.m.
Cost: Admission is $10 in advance, $15 at the door
Details: Benefit concert featuring local bands Stonegrey, Peace of Woodstock, Solar Exposure, and 4X
Information: SkippersSmokehouse.com

Published August 23, 2017

American Legion Post 108 marks 80th anniversary

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The group wants a home of its own

When American Legion Post 108 formed 80 years ago, it had its preliminary meeting in an old house on Denny Johnson’s old grove, on Lake Fern Road, according to club records.

About 10 veterans gathered for that initial 1937 meeting.

Next, they met in an old store building on U.S. 41, then known as Route 41, near the Superette.

After that, the group met for several years at the old Boy Scout Hall, with the Auxiliary members gathering in another room at that hall, according to an account published in a 1963 club newsletter.

From left are Joe Dilimone, Ray Mason, Lyle Watson and Hunter Arnstine, during the American Legion Post 108’s 80th birthday celebration. (Courtesy of American Legion Post 108)

Flash forward eight decades to the present: The group is still active, but is seeking a permanent home — and more members — to increase its vitality.

“We’re in a Catch-22. We need more members, and we need to meet in a place to get more members,” said Lyle Watson, the post’s adjutant. “We need fundraisers. We need a place to hold fundraisers. You can’t hold bingo if you don’t have a building to hold bingo in.”

The post currently meets monthly at Harvester United Methodist Church.

It would like to expand its activities, but it is difficult to fit into another organization’s schedule and it doesn’t have the financial means to purchase a permanent home.

Still, the post has a proud history.

When Post 108 was formed, it had 22 charter members. Over the years, membership has waxed and waned.

The post’s charter members must have been veterans of World War I, Watson observed.

Post chaplain Fred Wilsky has firsthand knowledge of how the post got started: “The guy who went out and recruited those members was my dad. He was a member of the Sulphur Springs Post.

It was during the Depression, he noted, “it was expensive for everybody to drive all of the way down there for a meeting, so they wanted to have a post out here,” said Wilsky, a member of the Army Air Corps who served in Guam.

N.B. Shewfelt, the post’s adjutant in 1963, offered a glimpse into the organization’s character in a February 1963 issue of the Lutz Legion News.

“Post No. 108 somehow keeps going right along doing their job of looking out for the interests of veterans, their widows and orphans,” Shewfelt wrote.

Over time, the name of the post was changed from Lutz Post 108 to Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Post 108. Post meetings now attract about 20 members.

Some members have been lost to death, said Post Commander Ray Mason. “We lost two veterans this year,” noted Mason, who served from 1962 to March 1968 in the Navy as a commissary store keeper.

One of those veterans who died was Granville Kinsman, a fighter pilot in World War II.

“He supported ground troops and escorted bombers to their destination,” Mason said.

“He was a paid-up lifetime member of Post 108. He was 95 years old,” Mason added.

The attendance at his funeral was gratifying, Mason said.

“Oh, my God, it was packed,” Mason said.

Post members say their experiences in the armed forces give them a particular kind of camaraderie with others who have shared the military life.

Currently, the post’s main activities are awarding school medals, providing an oratorical contest, supporting the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes and posting flags on veterans’ graves.

The organization presents two medals and two certificates at several local elementary and middle schools. The schools select the recipients. One medal goes to a boy and one goes to a girl. An honorable mention certificate also is awarded to a boy and to a girl.

“Sometimes we get invited,” Watson said. “The schools sometimes tell us what these kids have done to get selected. It is fantastic. It gives you a whole new perspective on public schools.”

At the high school level, there’s an oratorical contest, with cash awards.

The national winner gets an $18,000 scholarship, Mason said.

Presenting the awards has been a long tradition, Wilsky said.

“The post has been doing that since the beginning. My sister (Virginia) won it in 1939 or 1940,” he said. It was quite an honor, he said. It was “an affirmation of good character and studying hard and everything good about a person.”

The post needs more members so it can be of greater service, said Watson, who is retired Navy and who served from 1956 to 1974. The post could also participate in more programs that are available that are supported by the national organization.

Jim Evans said the post owes deep thanks to Vince Nasso, a former adjutant for the post.

“Without him, we probably wouldn’t have a post.

“When I joined here, I actually came from a Tampa post. There was probably no more than four or five active members. It was terrible,” said Evans, who was an Army intelligence analyst in France for three years, served in the Army Reserve for 15 years, then went back on active duty in the first Gulf War as a senior counterintelligence agent.

When Evans attended his first meeting, Nasso was the only one there. Nasso, who has since passed away, was determined to keep the post going, Evans said.

Belonging to the post is important, Evans said, because he wants to support the American Legion’s mission.

Plus, he enjoys reconnecting with people who served, he said.

“You live in communities that probably have veterans, but you may not even know it,” Evans said, adding he has a special affinity for veterans.

“I realize what most of them have been through,” he said.

Elaine Stoots, the post’s new historian, said she wants to help keep the organization alive because “we are losing some of the American ideals that founded this country.

“A lot of the rest of the world is looking to us for leadership and example. Who is going to provide it?” asked Stoots, who served from 1984 to 1990, stationed at Hahn Air Base Germany and at Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Want to help?
American Legion Post 108 is looking for a permanent home. Members believe that having a home of their own would help to increase membership, which, in turn, would bolster the group’s vitality. For more information, contact Lyle Watson at (813) 996-5917 or Ray Mason at (813) 994-1214.

Published June 28, 2017

Egg hunts and services planned to celebrate Easter

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If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Easter season, you’ll find plenty of options across the region.

There are fun events, such as Easter crafts and egg hunts, solemn Good Friday events and Easter service celebrations.

Here are few highlights from around the area covered by The Laker/Lutz News.

They are presented here, in chronological order.

  • The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City, has created a new event called the Jelly Bean Fling that will debut on April 8, and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $5 for anyone over 5 years old, and parking is free.

Natalie and Nolan Kassabaum pause for a photo op with Jasper the Easter Bunny, who will be one of the highlights at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village’s Jelly Bean Fling, set for April 8. The photo was taken at The Book Shack.
(Courtesy of Pioneer Florida Museum & Village)

The schedule begins with “Breakfast with Jasper, the Easter Bunny” at 9 a.m. A pancake breakfast, with bacon or sausage, will be served for $3 each. After breakfast, kids can make their own Easter bonnet, with hats provided to decorate, while supplies last. Then, they can march in the Easter Parade with Mr. Tommy.

There will be Easter egg hunts, with four different age groups, up to age 12, which will have staggered start times, beginning at noon.

Other highlights will include face painting, a petting zoo, touch a truck, a bounce house, a slide, train rides and many games to play. There also will be armbands for $5 each for unlimited selective activities. Individual pricing will be available as well.

Mr. Tommy will perform at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., at the Gazebo. The concession stand will be open with freshly made hamburgers and hot dogs. There also will be food trucks.

For information, call Brenda Minton at the Pioneer Florida Museum (352) 567-0262 or (352) 206-8889.

  • First United Methodist Church, 38635 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills, invites children through fifth grade to a free Easter egg hunt on April 8, from 10 a.m. to noon. To maximize fun and fairness for all, four separate hunts will take place. The groups are: Infants to 2-year-olds; 3- and 4-year olds; kindergarten through second-graders; and, third- through fifth-graders.

Additional activities will include a petting zoo, pony ride, jumpy house, games with small prizes, snacks and crafts. All activities are free and there is no event admission.

  • The San Antonio Farmers Market is offering a Spring Market on April 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at San Antonio City Park, 12202 Main St., in San Antonio.

The market will feature a basket chance drawing, with more than a dozen baskets containing everything from gift certificates to chocolates to Irish Coffee ingredients.

Vendors will sell fresh produce, free-range brown eggs, jams and jellies, wine, organic plants and seeds, old-fashioned roses, dried herbs and herbal oils, honey, jewelry, woodwork, dog treats, and several types of yard art. Jim’s Hot Dogs will offer hot dogs, coffee and sodas for sale, and there will be free Easter crafts and games for the kids. The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Antonio. For information about the Farmers Market or the Rotary Club of San Antonio, contact President Winnie Burke at (352) 437-5161 or .

  • Saint Leo University’s Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and the First Year Experience team are hosting Easter Eggstravaganza on April 9, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Children of all ages from the community, as well as faculty, staff, and students, are welcome to attend the free event, which will be in The Bowl, behind Saint Francis Hall and the Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library. The university is at 33701 State Road 52. Take Exit 285 off Interstate 75 and go 4 miles east.
This cross, shrouded in purple, is a sign of the Lenten season at Saint Leo University. Many area churches will be having Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter services, so check the local church’s bulletin or website for more information.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Activities will include an Easter egg hunt, egg toss, egg race, games, and more. Candy and snacks will be available. Tri Sigma also will have a tent where participants can make tie blankets for the March of Dimes. For information, contact .

  • Grace Community Church, in Wesley Chapel, is inviting area residents to celebrate Palm Sunday on April 9 at 10:30 a.m. Plans include an outdoor worship service on the church property, 7107 Boyette Road, with a large shade tent and comfortable church chairs. There will also be a full-length Grace Harbor program for kids from newborns to fifth-graders. After the service, there will be a hot dog lunch, bounce house and an egg hunt. For information, visit ExploreGrace.com.
  • The Tampa Bay Moms Group is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt and Craft event April 12, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Northdale Park, 15550 Spring Pine Drive in Tampa.
  • Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 20735 Leonard Road in Lutz, has scheduled Holy Week services, including Maundy Thursday on April 13 at 7 p.m.; Good Friday on April 14, at noon and 7 p.m.; and Easter Sunday on April 16, with a sunrise service at 7 a.m., and a worship service at 10 a.m. For information, call (813) 9494-7173, or visit HolyTrinityLutz.com.
  • Harvester United Methodist Church, at 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, has scheduled its Holy Week services, including Maundy Thursday on April 13 at 7 p.m.; Good Friday on April 14 at 7 p.m.; a community Easter egg hunt on April 15 from 10 a.m. until noon; and Easter services on April 16, at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. For information, call (813) 948-2311, or visit HarvesterUMC.com.
  • Heritage Church, 1854 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz, has schedule Easter weekend services for April 15 at 6 p.m., and April 16, at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11: 30 a.m. It will have a kids’ egg hunt after each service, so be sure to bring baskets for the kids. There also will be live music and a special message of “Hope and Purpose.” Also, there will be children’s classes for all ages. The atmosphere is casual, and there will be free refreshments. To find out more, call (813)909-4080, or visit YesHeritage.com.

Many area churches have special celebrations planned for Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter. Check their websites or church bulletins for more information.

Published April 5, 2017

There’s no shortage of holiday cheer here

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The Thanksgiving turkey and all of the fixins’ — and all of the leftovers — are gone.

The lighted entryway at the Florida Botanical Gardens sums up the sentiment of many holiday events in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area and the Tampa Bay region. (File Photo)
The lighted entryway at the Florida Botanical Gardens sums up the sentiment of many holiday events in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area and the Tampa Bay region.
(File Photo)

Lucky for you, you’ve got a whole month of holiday happenings available for your enjoyment.

Here’s a look at just some of the free and low-cost options being offered in the The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, with a few other regional events tossed in that we thought would give you some holiday pleasure.

 

Lutz

  • 37th annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Show, on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Keystone Preparatory High School, 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa. The event is free, but there will be a $5 parking charge to benefit the school. Event organizers expect about 355 vendors, and between 30,000 to 40,000 festival-goers.
  • 20th annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School, on select evenings from Dec. 8 through Dec. 27 at the school, 18819 N. US 41 in Lutz. Hours are 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., on Dec. 8, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 13, Dec. 15, Dec. 17, Dec. 18, Dec. 20, Dec. 22, Dec. 26 and Dec. 27. Admission is free, but there will be barrels to collect nonperishable food items and toys for families that are less fortunate. The building is decked out for the holidays, and there will be entertainment, too.
  • Breakfast with Santa at the Old Lutz School, on Dec. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the school, 18819 N. US 41. There is a $4 charge for breakfast, and a visit from Santa Claus.
  • Handbells & Friends, a free holiday concert on Dec. 14 from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., at First United Methodist of Lutz at 960 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road. The public is welcome to this concert which will feature handbells, vocals and other instruments.
  • Tampa Bay Tour De Clay, a free family friendly, self-guided tour of four local pottery studios, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour includes: Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogle Lane in Palm Harbor; Hidden Lake Pottery, 16705 Hutchinson Road in Odessa; Wellman & Welsch Pottery, 17202 Wirley Road in Lutz; and, San Antonio Pottery, 11903 Curley St., in San Antonio. (San Antonio Pottery will be open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 10). For more information, visit TampaTourDeClay.com.

North Tampa

  • CABA tree lighting, Dec. 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Elmcroft at Carrollwood, 2626 W. Bearss Ave.
  • Build a Toy with Santa at the Museum of Science & Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa. Children will be able to come to the museum’s Idea Zone creativity lab to make a toy to take home. Santa Claus will drop by the workshop to share pointers on holiday cheer. The workshop will be open through Jan. 3. It is included in the normal museum admission charge. For more information, visit MOSI.org.
  • Christmas in Song, free concert on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., in the sanctuary at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave., Tampa. This free, family friendly concert features the church’s chancel choir, orchestra and handbells.
  • “Simply Christmas,” Christmas Eve services at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave. The evening will include a Spontaneous Christmas Pageant at 5 p.m.; a contemporary Christmas service at 6:30 p.m.; lessons and carols at 8 p.m.; and, traditional communion services at 11 p.m.

Land O’ Lakes

  • Christmas Holiday Bazaar at Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free to this event, which features a free photo with Santa, a bounce house village, a candy trail, holiday shopping, food trucks, giveaways and games. Those attending also will have a chance to meet the Mascot “Blue” from the Tampa Yankees. Plus, there will be resources for families affected by autism, including sensory-friendly activities for children.
  • Heritage Holiday Card Walk, sponsored by the Wesley Chapel Land O’ Lakes Satellite Rotary, from Dec. 3 to Jan. 7 at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, at 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The event will have around 30 full-size cards on display, ranging in size from 6 feet by 4 feet to 8 feet by 4 feet. Cards can be placed on Dec. 3 between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. For information, call (813) 996-3011.

  • 23rd annual Flapjack 5k and 1-mile run, on Dec. 11, at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway. The 5k starts at 8 a.m., and the 1-mile starts at 8:45 a.m. A flapjack breakfast follows the race for each runner; non-runners can donate $5 for breakfast. Santa will be there for photos, too.

Wesley Chapel

  • CalAtlantic Homes presents Symphony in Lights, with shows on the hour between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., through Dec. 31 at The Shops at Wiregrass, at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in Wesley Chapel. The show features snow, sparkle and sounds of the season. For more information, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com.
  • Movies under the stars, Holiday Movie Marathon at Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz. See TampaPremiumOutlets.com for dates and times. The outlet center also will have community holiday entertainment, on select days and times through Dec. 24, and also will have a Community Gift Wrap through Dec. 24, with local organizations benefiting from donations.

Dade City

  • Country Christmas Open House, at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, on Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event offers free admission to the attraction, with the donation of an unwrapped toy that will be given to a local Dade City charity. The event starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. This is a great opportunity to come out and visit the museum’s charming history, do some holiday shopping with its vendors, listen to some Christmas music and hear the Solid Gold Barbershop Quartet. Bring the kiddos out to see Mr. Tommy Presents. He will have two performances at 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. Santa & Mrs. Claus will be here from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and we will offer complimentary photos by photographer Christina Strong. The barrel train also will give rides, and there will be a train show in the Mable Jordan Barn. The museum will serve punch and cookies, and hot dogs and hamburgers will be available at the concession stand. For more information, call (352) 567-0262 or (352) 206-8889, or visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.
  • Country Crafters third annual Arts and Crafts Fair, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Country Aire Manor Clubhouse, 10249 U.S. 19 in Dade City. This event features a wide assortment of locally produced items, which are available for purchase.
  • The Market Place, on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Seventh Street and Bougainvillea Avenue in downtown Dade City. The market will feature unique holiday presents, the jazz band from Pasco High School and musician Derrick Tucker. Vendors will be offer homemade cookies, honey, jams, handmade soaps, jewelry, garden accessories, fresh produce, Scentsy, Thirty-One, handmade baskets/gourds, hand-designed coasters, artwork and more. The Market Place is free and pet friendly. It is sponsored by the Dade City Youth Council.

Zephyrhills

•   Festival of Lights on Dec. 3 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., in downtown Zephyrhills. Free photos with Santa will be offered at 38439 Fifth Ave., courtesy of Goin’ Postal. Santa will take a brief break at 6 p.m., to appear in the lighted nighttime parade.

  • Jingle Bell Boutique & Bake Sale, on Dec. 3 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills Clubhouse, 38545 Fifth Ave., in downtown Zephyrhills. In addition to the customary bake sale, this will be the first year for the Jingle Bell Boutique, which will feature several women’s home-based businesses or showcase their handiwork of hobbies gone wild, and will give shoppers a chance to buy local. Proceeds from the bake sale and vendor fees will support the woman’s club’s projects.
  • Tampa Bay Tour De Clay, a free family friendly, self-guided tour of four local pottery studios, Dec. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour includes: Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogle Lane in Palm Harbor; Hidden Lake Pottery, 16705 Hutchinson Road in Odessa; Wellman & Welsch Pottery, 17202 Wirley Road in Lutz; and, San Antonio Pottery, 11903 Curley St., in San Antonio. (San Antonio Pottery will be open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 10). For more information, visit TampaTourDeClay.com.

Downtown Tampa

  • Free screening of the movie “Elf” at Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin St., in downtown Tampa on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6 p.m., for a cocoa and cookies social in the theater’s lobby. A big announcement will be made at 7 p.m., followed by the movie. Admission is free and open to the public; however, guests are asked to visit TampaTheatre.org/events/Elf and click on the “Buy Tickets” link to print their complimentary Eventbrite ticket for guaranteed entry.

West Pasco

  • River Lights Boat Parade and holiday festival. The West Pasco Business Association is joining New Port Richey Main Street on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3 in Sims Park, near downtown New Port Richey, for the free “River Lights Boat Parade” and a holiday festival. The movie “Polar Express” will be screened on Dec. 2 in the park. The boat parade begins at 7 p.m., on Dec. 3.
  • Sixth annual “How the Grinch Saved Christmas” will be on Dec. 9 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., at the Spartan Manor, 6121 Massachusetts Ave., in New Port Richey. The West Pasco Business Association is hosting this event, which includes members of the association and the community.

Tickets are available online at WPBA.biz for $45. For more information contact Maria Johnson at (727) 934-0940 or "> .

Largo
More than than 750,000 lights have transformed the Florida Botanical Gardens, at 1250 Ulmerton Road in Largo, into a holiday wonderland. Visitors can stroll through the gardens from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., nightly through Dec. 31. A donation of $4 is suggested for those 13 and older, while children 12 and under, and parking, are free.

For more information, call (727) 582-2117 or visit, FBG.Org.

Published November 30, 2016

Hundreds turn out to remember Laura Hauser

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Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel was packed for a service held to celebrate the life of Laura Hauser, who waged a six-year battle with cancer but succumbed to the disease on June 8.

There were probably 500 people at the service on the evening of June 13, according to Trish Trout, a long-time friend who described the event, via email.

Emma White enjoys swimming in a dunk tank during a fundraiser to benefit the Hauser family. Laura Hauser lost her six-year battle against cancer on June 8. (Courtesy of Penny Foote)
Emma White enjoys swimming in a dunk tank during a fundraiser to benefit the Hauser family. Laura Hauser lost her six-year battle against cancer on June 8.
(Courtesy of Penny Foote)

Most of the people at the memorial, deemed a celebration of life, wore blue, which is the color worn as a sign of support in the battle against colon cancer.

“There were tears, there was a lot of laughter. There was so much love and support in the church,” Trout added.

“And, of course, there was a PSA (public service announcement) to get tested for colon cancer. This is exactly what Laura would want,” added Trout, who accompanied Hauser on some of her appointments when she was initially diagnosed.

Penny Foote, another friend of Hauser, also attended the service.

She knew her friend was special but had no idea her sphere of influence had been so broad.

Speaker after speaker told story after story of the positive effect she’d had in their lives, Foote said.

“I don’t even know how one person can change so many lives for the better,” said Foote, who coordinated a fundraiser for the Hauser family on June 13 at Harvester United Methodist Church in Land O’ Lakes.

The benefit raised $3,285.65, and Foote is planning to organize another fundraiser in the future to provide additional help for the family.

Hauser is survived by her husband, Richard; her son, Noah, 14; and her daughter, Tatum, 12.

She was a warrior in her battle with cancer, friends said. She’d undergone more than 70 rounds of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries.

The disease began in her colon but had spread all over her body, including her liver, lungs, spine and brain, said Stephanie Hardy, a family friend for the past four years.

Hauser had been to Seattle for treatment but had returned to Wesley Chapel to attend Noah’s eighth-grade graduation and Tatum’s dance recitals.

She made it to the graduation, but wasn’t able to go to the recitals. She was able to watch one — that was livestreamed — from her bed, Richard Hauser said.

The family had thought that potential treatment in Seattle offered Hauser her best hope and she had planned to return there, but she died at home, under the care of hospice.

Her battle was personal, but she wasn’t alone.

Her fight inspired family, friends, colleagues and strangers to step forward to show their support.

The family also is being helped by a GoFundMe account, established by Pamela Maurer Fay on May 23, which attracted hundreds of donations and sentiments of support.

“You are strong and you are loved. Find strength in the amount of people who wish to help your beautiful family. You are in our prayers,” Rick and Susan Coder wrote, when making their donation.

Hauser worked at Wesley Chapel Elementary School before her illness caused her to leave the job.

While she was working there in 2012, she received the award for School-Related Personnel of the Year for Pasco County Schools. The distinction goes to a noninstructional employee who makes outstanding contributions.

At the time of the award, Hauser’s title was media and technology assistant, but both her colleagues and her boss said her influence was far broader.

She was the campus photographer. She handled lunch duty. She shelved books and checked them out. She had a photography club for kids, put together the school’s yearbook and helped teachers with technical issues.

Principal John Abernathy, described her this way: “Laura is hands-down the most reliable, the most efficient, the most dependable, the most sincere person that I can say that I’ve run across in a really long time.

“In terms of the lives that I would say that Laura has touched – I couldn’t even put a number to it,” he said.

After learning of Hauser’s death, Pasco County Schools tweeted out a message: “Rest in peace, Laura Hauser. A great educator, mom, wife and friend to many. You will be missed.”

Published June 17, 2015