The Laker/Lutz News

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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lakeshore Road

Lutz festival to offer selections of food and fun

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The community of Lutz is set to usher in the autumn season with food galore and activities at the St. Timothy Family Fall Festival.

The function will run from Oct. 24 to Oct. 26 at St. Timothy Catholic Church, at 17512 Lakeshore Road in Lutz.

The upcoming Family Fall Festival at St. Timothy Catholic Church will have a multitude of games and activities for families to enjoy. The event will be at the church from Oct. 24 to Oct. 26 (Courtesy of St. Timothy Catholic Church)

The Taste of St. Timothy will be on Oct. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. With a ticket, patrons can indulge in diverse foods from more than 40 different restaurants in the Bay area.

Early morning exercise will be offered on Oct. 25 with the Family Fun Run at 8 a.m. The run will be free to the public and T-shirts will be handed out at 7 a.m.

At 9 a.m., patrons can register for the free fishing derby, which will kick off at 10 a.m.

From noon to 7 p.m., a host of activities will be available, including a quad jumper, a rock wall, pony rides, a petting zoo and a 27-foot double slide, to name a few.

And, at 1 p.m., spectators can watch as the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office lands its own helicopter near the premises, weather permitting.

On Oct. 26, there will be pumpkin decorating, crafts, water coloring and balloon-making from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tickets for the Oct. 24 food tasting, can be purchased at the church’s parish office for $10 or online for $11. Admission is free for children ages 5 and under.

Tickets will not be sold the night of the event.

To purchase tickets online or for additional information, please visit SaintTims.org/news/taste-of-st-timothy/.

St. Timothy Family Fall Festival
Where: St. Timothy Catholic Church, 17512 Lakeshore Road in Lutz
When: Oct. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Oct. 25 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Oct. 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: Food tasting on Oct. 24 will be $10 when purchased at church’s parish office and $11 when purchased online. Admission is free for ages 5 and under. Tickets will not be sold the night of the event. There will be vendors selling food on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26, but the events are free.
Details: St. Timothy Catholic Church will host various restaurants’ food for patrons to partake in. The fest also will feature multiple activities and crafts.
Info: For tickets or information, visit SaintTims.org/news/taste-of-st-timothy/.

 

Published October 23, 2019

Mattamy Townhomes Feature Island Kitchens and Spacious Lanais

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Carmen Livingstone recently moved to her new townhome at Lakeview at Citrus Park and could not be happier with the quality of her new home, and the outstanding service she received from Mattamy’s staff.

“Everyone was so helpful, and just wonderful to work with,” said Livingstone, who downsized from a 4,000-square-foot home in a nearby community. “I love that everything is brand new, and that I do not have to worry about maintenance or upkeep. Plus, this is a gated community, so I feel very safe and secure.”

The Marianna floor plan has a beautiful island kitchen and an abundance of cabinets. (Randy Underhill)

Livingstone bought the Marianna floor plan which, at 1,660 square feet, is the smallest townhome of five floor plans available in this 124-townhome community.

“My home feels so spacious, with an amazing great room/kitchen/dining combination, three large bedrooms and two baths upstairs, plus a half bath down,” said Livingstone.

Livingston likes that all of her bedrooms are on the second floor.

“I like having the bedrooms upstairs for the privacy, and because it gives me so much room downstairs,” said Livingstone. “While I am retired, I am healthy and active, and going up and down the stairs is good for me because it gives me exercise and keeps me moving!”

Livingstone’s lanai, which stretches across the entire back of her home, is one of the favorite places in her new home.

“My lanai overlooks a stand of trees that is great for bird watching, plus they give me privacy,” said Livingstone. “I love to garden, and my lanai is the perfect amount of space for my plants and to enjoy the outdoors.”

Carmen Livingstone’s spacious lanai in her new Mattamy townhome is perfect for gardening and enjoying the outdoors.

Because Livingstone loves being outside, another big draw for Livingstone is the community’s access to tranquil Gant Lake, where residents share a community pier for fishing, kayaking and paddle-boarding.

“Just about every evening, I walk down to the lake and enjoy the magnificent sunsets from the pier,” said Livingstone. “And, in the morning, I enjoy coffee on my lanai — there is so much nature here to enjoy.”

Lakeview at Citrus Park has recently released a new building and has several quick inventory homes available beginning in the high $200s. Currently, Mattamy is offering an incentive of paid closing costs on select homes.

In addition to retirees like Livingstone, residents include young families, whose youngsters enjoy the community’s tot lot, and professionals looking for an easy commute to the airport, the Westshore business district and downtown Tampa.

Lakeview at Citrus Park offers one on the most convenient locations in the north Tampa area. It is adjacent to the Veterans Expressway, located just south of the Ehrlich Road exit at the end of Tom Fuller Road.

Avea Pointe In Lutz
Five miles north of Lakeview at Citrus Park, also located next to the Veterans Expressway, is Mattamy Homes’ Lutz community of Avea Pointe.

Located off Van Dyke Road, just west of Dale Mabry Highway, Avea Pointe is especially popular with families because of the excellent schools its children attend: Steinbrenner High, Martinez Middle and Schwarzkopf Elementary. Plus, Sunlake Academy of Math and Science, a charter school for grades K-8, is just a mile away on Dale Mabry Highway.

This gated community’s new amenity center just opened and features a resort-style pool and cabana with grill area.

Avea Pointe offers unique, open floor plans, all with 2-car garages. It will soon be introducing two additional floor plans with one-car garages, for those looking for smaller homes. Current base pricing for these smaller plans begin in the upper $200s. An array of quick move-in homes is available with special savings, with HOA fees paid on select homes for a limited time only.

Model homes are under construction and slated to be complete in October. The sales center is located onsite and is open daily. At 5653 Van Dyke Road in Lutz (Van Dyke Road, just West of Lakeshore Road).

Visit MattamyHomes.com, or call (813) 580-7303, to learn more about these communities. Buyers of quick move-in homes enjoy special savings and incentives. Please see a New Home Counselor for terms and conditions.

Published August 28, 2019

Hiking, Biking, Shopping and Dining – All Close To Mattamy Homes’ Townhome Communities

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Mattamy Homes’ two new townhome communities in Lutz and Citrus Park are selling fast because buyers love the fantastic assortment of close-by things to do, from recreational outings to fabulous shopping to an epicurean array of restaurants.

“Our buyers at Avea Pointe in Lutz and Lakeview at Citrus Park are active, engaged families who love being close to so many things to do,” said Kathleen Dec, marketing manager at Mattamy Homes. “These are perfect communities for people who want fun things to do with family and friends of all ages.”

The floor plan of the four-bedroom, three-bath Venice townhome with its gorgeous kitchen received a prestigious Silver Award during the recent Tampa Bay Parade of Homes Tampa.

Avea Pointe is five minutes away from Hillsborough County’s expansive Lake Park, with its non-motorized boat access, hiking trails, BMX track and multiple playgrounds. At Lakeview, its homes overlook tranquil Gant Lake at the end of Tom Fuller Road, where residents have a community pier for fishing, kayaking and paddle-boarding.

Both communities also are an easy drive to Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve, with its flats fishing, walking trails and observation tower. Plus, there are nearby golf courses and equestrian stables, ice skating in Wesley Chapel, and even hot air balloon rides when the weather is right.

When it comes to shopping, Avea Point is just 20 minutes to Tampa Premium Outlets in Lutz and The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, while Lakeview is minutes away to Westfield Citrus Park Mall, and a quick trip down the Veterans Expressway to International Plaza and Westshore Plaza in Tampa.

An array of well-appointed townhomes is now ready at both communities, with quick move-in homes available for families wanting to get settled before the 2019-2020 school year begins.

Avea Pointe In Lutz
Avea Pointe is located off Van Dyke Road on Lakeshore Road, directly across from Mattamy Homes’ Lakeshore Preserve community. It offers three unique floor plans designed to live like single-family homes.

All townhomes feature large open kitchens, optimized living spaces, covered lanais and 2-car garages.  The Santa Rosa is 1,913 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, with an owner’s suite on the first level; the Sebring is 2,230 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths; and the Venice is 2,574 square feet with 4 bedrooms (including a first-floor bedroom) and 3 baths. Prices begin in the low $300s.

“We offer some of the largest townhomes in the area,” said Dec. “Their unique designs are perfect for first-time homebuyers, families with children and empty-nesters.”

Avea Pointe is just minutes from St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, within 2 miles of the Veterans Expressway and an easy commute to Tampa, the airport and area beaches.

Excellent schools are another reason families move to Avea Pointe, whose children are zoned to Steinbrenner High, Martinez Middle and Schwarzkopf Elementary, all less than 3 miles away on Lutz Lake Fern Road.

Lakeview Already 30% Sold Out
Mattamy Homes has only been selling in Lakeview at Citrus Park since August, and already over 30 percent of its homes have sold. The community will have 124 townhomes when completed.

“Lakeview at Citrus Park is one of the prettiest and most convenient locations in the north Tampa area,” said Dec. “Our new models are beautifully decorated and furnished, and feel as spacious and private as single-family homes. Plus, prices in this community are very affordable, beginning in the mid $200s.”

Five floor plans are available. The Marianna (1,667 sq. ft.) and Ormond (1,888 sq. ft.) have 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and single garages. The Santa Rosa (1,928 sq. ft.) has 3 bedrooms, one of which is located downstairs, 2.5 baths, and a 2-car garage. The Sebring (2,230 sq. ft.) has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a 2-car garage. The Venice (2,574 sq. ft.) has 4 bedrooms, including one downstairs, 3 baths and a double garage.

 Visit MattamyHomes.com, or call (813) 580-7303, to learn more about these communities. Buyers of quick move-in homes enjoy special savings, including closing costs paid.

Published May 22, 2019

There’s So Much To Do Close-By Mattamy Homes New Townhomes

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Hiking, biking, shopping and epicurean delights!

Mattamy Homes two new townhome communities in Lutz and Citrus Park are selling fast because buyers love the fabulous assortment of close-by things to do, from recreational outings to fabulous shopping to an epicurean array of restaurants.

“Our buyers at Avea Pointe in Lutz and Lakeview at Citrus Park are active, engaged families who love being so close to so many things to do,” said Kathleen Dec, marketing manager at Mattamy Homes. “These are perfect communities for people who want fun things to do with family and friends of all ages.”

This fun and spacious loft in the Venice townhome won a Best Feature award at last month’s Tampa Bay Parade of Homes Awards Reception. The Venice’s whole floor plan, including this alluring kitchen, received an overall Silver Award.

Avea Pointe is five minutes away from the expansive Lake Park, with its non-motorized boat access, hiking trails, BMX track and multiple playgrounds. Over at Lakeview, its homes overlook tranquil Gant Lake at the end of Tom Fuller Road, where residents have a community pier for fishing, kayaking and paddle-boarding.

Both communities also are an easy drive to Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve, with its flats fishing, walking trails and observation tower. Plus, there are nearby golf courses and equestrian stables, ice skating in Wesley Chapel, and even hot air balloon rides in Lutz when the weather is right.

When it comes to shopping, Avea Point is just 20 minutes to Tampa Premium Outlets and The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, while Lakeview is minutes away to Westfield Citrus Park Mall, and a quick trip down the Veterans Expressway to International Plaza and Westshore Plaza in Tampa.

An array of well-appointed townhomes are ready this spring at both communities, with quick move-in homes available for families wanting to get settled before the 2019-20 school year begins.

Avea Pointe In Lutz
Avea Pointe is located off Van Dyke Road on Lakeshore Road , directly across from Mattamy Homes’ Lakeshore Preserve community, and offers three unique floor plans designed to live like single-family homes.

All townhomes feature large open kitchens, optimized living spaces, covered lanais and 2-car garages.  The Santa Rosa is 1,913 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, with an owner’s suite on the first level; the Sebring is 2,230 square feet with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths; and the Venice is 2,574 square feet with 4 bedrooms (including a first-floor bedroom) and 3 baths. Prices being in the low $300s.

“We offer some of the largest townhomes in the area,” said Dec. “Their unique designs meet the needs of first-time homebuyers, families with children and empty-nesters.”

Avea Pointe is just minutes from St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, within two miles of the Veterans Expressway and an easy commute to Tampa, the airport and area beaches.

Excellent schools are another reason families move to Avea Pointe, whose children are zoned to Steinbrenner High, Martinez Middle and Schwarzkopf Elementary, all less than three miles away on Lutz Lake Fern Road.

Lakeview Already 30% Sold Out
Mattamy Homes has only been selling in Lakeview at Citrus Park since August, and already over 30 percent of its homes have sold. The community will have 124 townhomes when completed.

“Lakeview at Citrus Park is one of the prettiest and most convenient locations in the north Tampa area,” said Dec. “Our new models are beautifully decorated and furnished, and feel as spacious and private as single-family homes.”

The Marianna (1,667 sq. ft.) and Ormond (1,888 sq. ft.) have 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and single garages. The Santa Rosa (1,928 sq. ft.) has 3 bedrooms, one of which is located downstairs, 2.5 baths, and a 2 car garage. The Sebring (2,230) has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a 2 car garage. The Venice (2,574 sq. ft.) has 4 bedrooms, including one downstairs, 3 baths and a double garage. Prices begin in the mid $200s.

Visit MattamyHomes.com, or call (813) 580-7303, to learn more about these communities, Mattamy Homes’ Spring Sales Event, or to schedule a VIP appointment.

Published April 24, 2019

Last Chance To Buy At Lakeshore Preserve

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If you’re looking for a beautiful, maintenance-free townhome in Lutz close to the Veterans Expressway, you need to move fast.

In less than a year, the Mattamy Homes community of Lakeshore Preserve has sold 75 percent of its townhomes in the 102-home community, located on Van Dyke Road and Lakeshore Road, just west of Dale Mabry Highway.

“We’re down to our last 25 homes, and expect all to sell by the end of the year,” said

Lakeshore Preserve

Kathleen Dec, marketing manager for Mattamy’s West Florida Division.

Dec said Lakeshore Preserve sold quickly since holding its grand opening last August because of its great Lutz location, and because homes offer optimized living spaces that fit an array of buyers’ needs.

“Our homeowners love being less than two miles from the Veterans Expressway and Dale Mabry Highway, and enjoy being close to all of the shopping and dining in Carrollwood and Wesley Chapel,” said Dec.  “Plus, our kids attend some of the best schools in all of Hillsborough County.”

Lakeshore Preserve students are zoned to Steinbrenner High, Martinez Middle and Schwarzkopf Elementary, all located less than three miles away at the public school complex on Lutz Lake Fern Road. In addition, charter school Sunlake Academy of Math and Science is less than a mile away.

This gated community offers a beautiful amenity center, the hub of its 13,672-square-foot outdoor activity area that incorporates a large resort-style pool, outdoor area equipped with a covered cabana and breeze fans, outdoor kitchen, hammocks, shaded seating areas and game area.

Lakeshore Preserve has three contemporary townhome designs still available that offer 2 to 4 bedrooms, 2.5 to 3 bathrooms and 1- or 2-car garages. Townhomes are larger than many single-family homes, ranging from 1,888 to 2,605 square feet, and priced starting from the mid $200,000s.

Four quick move-in homes are available now with special, limited timesavings in the spacious Sebring floor plan of 2,230 square feet. Downstairs features a two-car garage, island kitchen, large dining and great rooms, half bath and large, screened-in covered lanai. Upstairs is an open loft, private master suite and bath, two additional bedrooms, another bath and laundry room. Well-appointed, move-in-ready homes are priced from $307,000.

To learn more about Lakeshore Preserve, visit MattamyHomes.com, call Lisa Malone at (813) 477-6483, or email .

First Chance To Buy At Lakeview at Citrus Park
The overwhelming success of Lakeshore Preserve encouraged Mattamy Homes to explore a second townhome community in north Tampa — which will open soon as Lakeview at Citrus Park.

They found a perfect location that overlooks Gant Lake at the end of Tom Fuller Road, just south of Ehrlich Road and east of the Veterans Expressway.

“This is one of the prettiest and most convenient locations in the north Tampa area,” said Dec. “Our homeowners will enjoy living less than two miles from Westfield Citrus Park Mall, and will appreciate the easy access to Tampa via the Veterans Expressway.  Plus, Tampa International Airport is only 12 miles from the community.”

Lakeview at Citrus Park

In addition to its great location, this gated community will boast a community pier with resident access to Gant Lake for fishing, kayaking, and paddle boarding, and also a children’s playground.

Upon completion, Lakeview at Citrus Park will have 124 townhomes. Buyers will choose from five floor plans that are similar to the popular plans sold at Lakeside Preserve. Home sizes will range from 1,670 to 2,620-square-feet ,and offer 2 to 5 bedrooms, 2.5 to 4 baths, and 1- or 2-car garages.

VIP-only pre-sales are Aug. 3 to Aug. 5 for those who sign up on the community’s VIP List on Mattamy’s website at MattamyHomes.com/tampa. VIP List registration is being accepted now, and is required to qualify for all VIP benefits, including community updates, first selection of homes and VIP pricing and incentives. For those not on this list, public pre-sales will begin Aug. 6.

To learn more about Lakeview at Citrus Park, visit MattamyHomes.com, call Melanie Sikorski at (813) 278-1760, or email .

Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America, with a nearly 40-year history of operations across the United States and Canada. Every year, Mattamy helps 7,000 families realize their dream of home ownership.

Published July 25, 2018

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

Bay Hope Church plans big expansion

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When Van Dyke Church began in 1985, it met in the cafeteria at Claywell Elementary School in Northdale, and the church was named for its planned future location, on Van Dyke Road in Lutz.

It never did build on Van Dyke Road, though, because the land was taken through eminent domain for the Veterans Expressway project, said Matthew Hartsfield, the church’s pastor.

Instead, the church was established at 17030 Lakeshore Road, where it remains today.

So, in a sense, it never was accurately named.

When the church felt a calling to expand its role, it also decided to change its name to Bay Hope to reflect its new vision and mission.

Matthew Hartsfield is pastor of Bay Hope Church, at 17030 Lakeshore Road in Lutz. The church is planning a $6 million project to enhance its children and student ministries, and is planning to create satellite campuses around Tampa Bay.
(B.C. Manion)

Bay Hope wants to be involved in reaching out to people throughout the Tampa Bay area, to offer them a church home, Hartsfield said.

But, it isn’t trying to attract all of those new disciples to its Lutz location.

It doesn’t feel called to create a mega-church in Lutz, or on another campus. Hartsfield said.

Instead, he said, “We felt God impress upon our hearts that we needed to multiply well beyond this campus.”

So, Bay Hope wants to help to revive churches that are faltering, to reopen those that have closed and to plant new ones in areas experiencing population growth, Hartsfield said.

The goal is to “mobilize 30,000 disciples of Jesus Christ in Tampa Bay, by the year 2030, for the transformation of the world,” Hartsfield said.

First though, Bay Hope wants to maximize the use of its current property in Lutz.

It expects to have a groundbreaking this summer for a $6 million project.

“We’ve been working with our architect to renovate the campus to primarily create whole new, innovative spaces for children’s and student ministries,” he said.

The spaces will be bright and airy, he said.

“The goal is to make the campus a lot more functional for families with children and teenagers,” Hartsfield said. The project also includes additional children and nursery space, as well, and a larger, relocated coffee house.

“It’s basically a campus refresh,” Hartsfield said.

While making those improvements, Bay Hope is also making plans to extend its reach into other communities.

“We felt God calling us to multiply campuses of Bay Hope Church, across Tampa Bay, to reach every neighborhood with a vital, local congregation of Bay Hope Church,” Hartsfield said.

There are two primary ways that will happen, he said.

One approach calls for reviving faltering churches or reopening churches that have closed.

There are churches across the Tampa Bay area that have a great legacy, “but just due to some natural church lifecycles, they no longer have the resources, they no longer have the people, so they’re either in decline, or they’ve already closed,” he said.

“A good number of them will already be United Methodist Churches, so we’re working with the Florida Conference on their strategy to reach every neighborhood. We’ll partner with the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church to re-birth these legacy churches,” Hartsfield said.

The other approach calls for setting up new Bay Hope campuses in storefronts, schools, movie theaters or other locations, to provide a church home for people in growing communities.

“Some of these might be smaller, more targeted campuses in a small neighborhood. Some of them might be larger and more regionally connecting,” Hartsfield said.

“We want to be very open to the wind of the spirit, in terms of every geographic location in Tampa Bay, from urban to suburban to rural and to ethnically diverse campuses,” he added.

Bay Hope defines Tampa Bay as being Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. Those counties are projected to have a total population of 3 million by 2030, and the goal is engage at least 1 percent of that number, or 30,000, as disciples of Christ, within that time frame, Hartsfield said.

In one sense, Bay Hope’s quest is in keeping with how the United Methodist Church took root.

“Our Wesleyan Methodist heritage is a basically multi-site heritage, from back in the circuit-riding days of John Wesley,” Hartsfield said.

Bay Hope’s initiative comes at a time when national reports reveal a continuing slide in membership rates among traditional congregational churches.

Hartsfield is not dissuaded.

“We don’t have a single discouraged or pessimistic bone in our body about connecting people to Jesus. We are wildly optimistic about bringing the hope of Jesus to Tampa Bay,” Hartsfield said.

Published March 22, 2017

Finding hope, in the heart of darkness

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Immaculee Ilibagiza boards an airplane nearly every week to travel to a speaking engagement, where she shares her message of hope and forgiveness.

That’s the primary theme of her book, “Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust.”

Ilibagiza grew up in a small village of Rwanda and had been attending the National University of Rwanda to study electrical and mechanical engineering, when she came home during an Easter break.

Immaculee Ilibagiza survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and believes she was spared to share a message of faith, hope and forgiveness. (Courtesy of Immaculee Ilibagiza)
Immaculee Ilibagiza survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and believes she was spared to share a message of faith, hope and forgiveness.
(Courtesy of Immaculee Ilibagiza)

That’s when the April 1994 assassination of the Hutu president sparked months of massacres of Tutsi tribe members throughout the country.

To spare his daughter from rape and murder, Ilibagiza’s father told her to run to the home of a Hutu pastor, who was a family friend.

The pastor hid Ilibagiza and seven other women in a 3-foot-by-4-foot bathroom for 91 days.

“My faith was crushed and challenged, when I was in that bathroom,” said Ilibagiza, who will be giving two talks at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz this week.

“I felt there’s nothing out there. I’m dying and life is over, and how can this be?”

“Any tiny noise could have been the end of our life,” Ilibagiza said.

The Hutu killers heard that some Tutsi women had been seen near the pastor’s house, so they stormed in and searched through it.

“They went in the ceiling of that house. In the roof of the house. Under the beds.

“Every reasonable thing said, ‘It’s over,” Ilibagiza said.

She held onto the rosary her father had given her, and had her Bible, too.

As she feared for her life, she prayed God: “If there’s anything beyond this, please give me a sign. Don’t let them find the door, just today, in this house.”

In a 60 Minutes interview, the pastor said the intruders put his hand on the doorknob to the bathroom, but didn’t turn it.

Ilibagiza recalls that moment: “You are literally counting, on the grace of God, for them not to open that door,” she said.

She believes they were saved by God’s grace.

When she went into hiding, she weighed 115 pounds. When she emerged, she weighed 65. “We were like bones,” she said.

When she was able to escape, she learned that her family, with the exception of a brother who was abroad studying, had been murdered.

She said the faith that she discovered through prayer during her ordeal, enabled her to let go of the anger, resentment and hate, and to instead feel hope, forgiveness and peace.

She emigrated to the United States in 1998 and shared her story with some co-workers at the United Nations, who encouraged her to write it down, she said.

Just a few days later after she finished writing her story, she said she met internationally known Wayne Dyer at a conference and book signing.

That meeting led to Dyer’s involvement in the publication of her book.

The two became friends, frequently sharing the stage during Dyer’s inspirational talks.

The story of Ilibagiza’s life is expected to be made into a movie, with filming slated to begin this year.

“Realistically, my prayer has been, I hope they do a good job — something that will inspire people. I don’t just want a movie to make noise,” Ilibagiza said. Rather, she hopes the movie will help people to have better lives.

Her talks on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28 at St. Timothy Catholic Church, 17512 Lakeshore Road, will be “sharing from one human heart to another,” she said.

“I will share what I have lived,” she said. “I will speak about forgiveness.

“I want to share with people with the way I met God, how I came closer,” she said. She also wants to help people embrace “forgiveness, prayer and the power of prayer.”

She wants to encourage people to get closer to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

“Talk to her as a mother,” she said.

Ilibagiza said she also wants to share the lesson that her life and faith have taught her: “If you love one another, if you forgive one another, you will have peace.”

What: Immaculee Ilibagiza speaks on “Faith, Hope and Forgiveness.”
Where: St. Timothy Catholic Church, 17512 Lakeshore Road in Lutz
When: Jan. 27 at 7 p.m., and Jan. 28 at 10 a.m., a Mass will precede each talk
How much: Admission is free

Published January 27, 2016

New Catholic school opens in Lutz

By

Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School had its first day of classes in its new home on Aug. 17.

The school is operating in a new structure on the campus of St. Timothy Catholic Church, at 17524 Lakeshore Road in Lutz.

Most Holy Redeemer, which was founded in 1954, took on its new name last year, but didn’t move to its new campus until this academic year.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School had its first day of classes in its new home on the campus of Saint Timothy Catholic Church on Aug. 17. This photo was taken just days before classes began. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School had its first day of classes in its new home on the campus of Saint Timothy Catholic Church on Aug. 17. This photo was taken just days before classes began.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The school, for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, has an enrollment of 355 students, said Principal Johnnathan Combs.

That’s up from the enrollment at the Most Holy Redeemer campus last year, which finished out last school year with 239 students.

All but two of those students are attending classes on the new campus. The two that aren’t moved away to Orlando, Combs said.

The students are coming to the school from St. Timothy, St. Paul, Our Lady of the Rosary, St. Mary and Most Holy Redeemer parishes, he said.

Four classrooms at the school are still under construction, Combs said. But when they are finished, the school will have a capacity for 600 students.

Construction costs for the school are around $8 million, said Dr. Michael Tkacik, secretary for ministries for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

The school will be celebrating a mass and a dedication ceremony on Sept. 10 at 2 p.m., he said.

Tkacik said enrollment in the Diocese’s Catholic schools has been holding steady for the past couple of years.

As he looks to the future, Tkacik said he is “guardedly optimistic.”

He points to projects such as Tampa Premium Outlets and other construction activity as a sign that the economy — stalled for several years — is showing new signs of life.

The school on Saint Timothy’s campus is inspired by Mother Teresa of Calcutta and is rooted in the Catholic faith, according to its website. Its mission is “to develop young people who strive for academic excellence, recognize the dignity of each individual and foster service to others,” the website says.

Its fundamental reason for existence is to help children learn about Jesus and to develop their Catholic faith, Combs said. Of course, he added, academics are important.

The Pope John Paul II Youth Center, also on St. Timothy’s campus, has already opened.

The facility will be used by the school during the school day and also will be used for athletics.

Published August 19, 2015

Giving youths a healthy place to hang out

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It’s a Saturday morning and the sound of a basketball hitting the court reverberates throughout the gym in the Saint John Paul II Youth Center.

Sneakers squeak, as players race back and forth down the court in a pickup game during the center’s open gym.

It’s quiet outside of the St. John Paul II Youth Center now, but once programming gets into full swing, the foot traffic is expected to pick up. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
It’s quiet outside of the St. John Paul II Youth Center now, but once programming gets into full swing, the foot traffic is expected to pick up.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Located on the campus of St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz, the center officially opened on the Feast Day of Saint Timothy in late January.

The 18,000-square-foot facility was built with kids in mind.

Besides basketball, the court can be used for volleyball, kickball and other games.

The youth center also has a café, a recording center, a game room, multiple gathering spaces and a sound system that plays throughout the building.

There’s also a patio area and a green space for outdoor events.

While others were busy playing basketball, 9-year-old Gabe Linder and 10-year-old Aviva Banks were playing a game of Ladder Toss, which involves tossing two balls connected by a string to try to land them on the rung of a ladder.

The kids seemed to be having fun.

The two were good-natured competitors, with Linder coaching Banks, as they went along.

“Try it underhand,” he suggested.

Whenever one of them had a good shot, they were both enthusiastic.

In another room at the center, musicians have a chance to jam and, once it is soundproofed, to record music.

CJ Linder, 10, was in that room — banging out a drum solo.

He paused, briefly, to offer his assessment of the youth center. “I think it’s pretty cool,” he said.

In terms of programming, the center is in its infancy, said Judy Anderson, the youth ministry coordinator.

When its fully up and running, she envisions a place that is teeming with activity.

Besides offering places to play sports and make music, there are also places to play board games, to watch big-screen TVs, to grab a snack, just hang out and chat, or attend Faith Formation classes.

“This is a dream come true,” said Anderson, noting it has been one of St. Timothy’s goals for at least a decade. It’s just an answer to prayer, I tell you.

“We haven’t had a dedicated space for youth only. We’ve had to modify the adult space, over in the parish hall. Now, we have this dedicated space,” Anderson said.

The total cost of the center is about $2.3 million, including furnishings. The cost of the construction is being funded by St. Timothy parishioners via the Forward in Faith Campaign, which is also raising funds for Diocesan projects, including the Mother Teresa of Calcutta school and other projects.

The furnishings for the center have been funded, or donated, by parishioners and through fundraising activities such as the March Madness Auction Dinner and the Family Fall Festival.

The idea was to create a magnet for youths.

“Kids were going other places, and we wanted to figure out, ‘Well, how can we attract them?’ ” Anderson said.

Diane Elsen, a longtime church volunteer, believes the youth center will have a huge impact.

“I just think it’s going to transform youth ministry at St. Timothy’s,” Elsen said.

“It gives them (youths), just the ability to have somewhere to hang — because that is so important to people their age,” Elsen said.

Parents welcome the center, too, Elsen said.

“They know how important it is for kids to have a place to gather,” she said.

The youth center will help with the church’s outreach efforts, too, both Anderson and Elsen said.

“We want to make it available to our community at St. Timothy’s, and we want them to bring their friends,” Anderson said. “Our Pope Francis has made it very clear. We need to be welcoming to everybody.”

Elsen added: “It gives us a chance to evangelize others. Friends can come.”

The youth center’s décor includes posters of saints, so visitors can learn about them and, Anderson hopes, be influenced by their examples.

“We take the time, and we talk about Jesus, in between sports. It’s a great segue to learn about their faith and have fun at the same time in this space,” Anderson said.

The youth center also will provide an indoor gym for students attending the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School.

The school, formerly known as Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School is now located at 302 E. Linebaugh Ave., in Tampa, but is moving this fall to St. Tim’s campus at 17512 Lakeshore Road in Lutz.

Anderson coached at Most Holy Redeemer for 14 years.

She recalls practicing outdoors on 90-degree days, when her players could barely keep hydrated enough to have a decent workout.

There were other issues, too, such as highway noise and court conditions.

“We had to sweep the leaves and the nuts off each time we practiced. We had to haul water out there,” she said.

Anderson is pleased that Mother Teresa of Calcutta teams will have an indoor gym. It’ll also be nice for after-school sports and for indoor gym on rainy days, she said.

But that doesn’t mean the kids will play inside all of the time.

“We want them to still be outside for fresh air,” Anderson said.

Published May 20, 2015