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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Village Lakes Shopping Center

Shoe Carnival steps into Land O’ Lakes

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Shoe Carnival will host a grand opening in the Village Lakes Shopping Center on April 1, real estate officials with the shoe company have announced.

That’s no April Fool’s Day joke.

The store is planning a soft opening a few days before, on March 27.

The new shoe shop will be located in a suite next door to Ross Dress for Less.

Shoe Carnival is planning a grand opening in a storefront next to Ross Dress for Less, at the Village Lakes Shopping Center in Land O’ Lakes.
(Kathy Steele)

Construction workers are busy getting the approximately 7,800-square-foot store ready for its debut.

Village Lakes Shopping Center opened in the 1980s.

Former occupants in the center included Walmart and Sweetbay Supermarket, which formerly was Kash n Karry.

Center tenants now include Ross Dress for Less, Marshalls, You Fit Health Club, Dollar Tree and Beef O’ Brady’s.

The national chain shoe store conducts research to determine locations, largely zeroing in on “underserved” markets, said Jeff Fink, vice president of Shoe Carnival’s real estate department.

“We liked the shopping center, and we liked the community,” Fink said.

Other Shoe Carnival stores in the region operate in Tampa, Bradenton, Brandon, Largo, St. Petersburg and Spring Hill.

Published March 29, 2017

Marine Corps League Detachment forms in Land O’ Lakes

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A new Marine Corps League Detachment has formed in Land O’ Lakes.

The Marine Forever Detachment No. 1440 has received its official charter, and the organization now meets on the third Monday of the month, at 7 p.m. at the Beef O’ Brady’s in the Village Lakes Shopping Center, 21539 Village Lakes Shopping Center Drive in Land O’ Lakes.

The formal presentation of the detachment’s official charter took place at the Beef O’ Brady’s on Sept. 26.

The League detachment is open to active duty, reserve and honorable discharged veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy FMF Corpsmen and Chaplains who live in Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Odessa, Wesley Chapel and surrounding areas.

  1. David Kirk, of Lutz, the commandant of the new detachment, led the quest for its formation.

He also organized the Marine Forever Veterans Group LLC, a social group of Marine Corps veterans and their wives, that has been meeting at the same Beef O’ Brady’s for dinner for the past four years. That group, which is primarily social in nature, will continue to meet for dinner on Monday evenings at 6 p.m., Kirk said.

Florida Commandant Ron Ashley holds charter document, while L. David Kirk, commandant of the newly formed Marine Corps League Detachment No. 1440 looks on.
Courtesy of L. David Kirk      Florida Commandant Ron Ashley holds charter document, while L. David Kirk, commandant of the newly formed Marine Corps League Detachment No. 1440 looks on.

Unlike the social group, the League detachment will have a 501-c4 status, meaning it can raise money for charitable causes, such as helping veterans in need, providing money for education and other endeavors, Kirk said.

The Land O’ Lakes detachment was needed because the closest one was 15 miles away, or more, Kirk explained, in a previous story published in The Laker.

Besides being more convenient, it’s also less expensive to belong because it doesn’t take as much gas to get to meetings, Kirk said.

Now that the new detachment is established, existing league members can transfer their membership.

So far, the detachment has 24 members, but Kirk expects about a half-dozen new members to join this month.

This isn’t the first time that Kirk has served as commandant. He previously served in that capacity at the Angus R. Goss Detachment in Tampa.

The Marine Corps League was founded in 1923 by World War I hero Major Gen. Commandant John A. Lejeune, and its congressional charter was approved by an act of the 75th Congress, which was signed and approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Aug. 4, 1937.

The league’s mission calls for its members to “join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps and those that have been honorably discharged from that service that they may effectively promote the ideas of American freedom and democracy.”

The league’s mission also calls for “voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines and former Marines and to their widows, and orphans; and to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.”

For more information on becoming a charter member of the new detachment and to receive updates on upcoming meetings, email Kirk at

For more information about the Marine Corps League, visit http://mclnational.org//

For more information about Marine Forever Veteran Group, LLC, visit Marine4Ever.com

and Facebook.com/MarineForeverVeteransGroup.

Published Oct. 19, 2016

Spooky Tails: All treats, no tricks for K-9s

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Gail Cooper loves dogs.

She is quick to share photos of her favorite four-legged members of the family.

More than 10 years ago, her doggie love and a photo swap session with a friend produced a spur-of-the-moment idea for a Halloween party for dogs.

Spooky Tails is an annual Halloween party and pet costume contest to benefit Pasco County Sheriff’s K-9 unit, especially its retired dogs. (Courtesy of Parwick Kennels)
Spooky Tails is an annual Halloween party and pet costume contest to benefit Pasco County Sheriff’s K-9 unit, especially its retired dogs.
(Courtesy of Parwick Kennels)

Cooper quickly gave the party – dubbed Spooky Tails – a community purpose. She made the event a fundraiser for the Pasco County Sheriff’s K-9 unit.

The 10th annual Spooky Tails will take place Oct. 8 at Cooper’s Parwick Kennels at 22129 Carson Drive in Land O’ Lakes. Co-sponsor of the Halloween party and pet costume contest is Benedetto’s Ristorante Italiano.

From noon to 4 p.m., the public is invited to enjoy an afternoon of food, music, games and prizes.

“It’s a good family event,” Cooper said.

Parking is available across the street from Parwick Kennels. Golf carts will ferry individuals, families and their dogs to the party site.

Texas Roadhouse and Uptown Pizza are the food vendors. Other vendors will have displays and booths, with dog and pet items for sale.

Participating businesses and community agencies include Busy Bee Crafts, Lutz Animal Hospital, The Spring of Tampa Bay, Ierna’s Heating and Cooling, and Pet City.

Past events have collected money to buy a Bite Suit to help train K-9 dogs or other training equipment. This year, donations will go toward the retirement fund which helps to pay for medical care for the dogs. The event also will honor the memories of K-9 Sam, K-9 Pete and K-9 Bud.

Texas Roadhouse and Benedetto’s also are hosting special events where people can meet a retired K-9.

On Sept. 28, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., the K-9 will be at Texas Roadhouse at 26409 Silver Maple Parkway in Wesley Chapel. On Sept. 29, at the same hours, a K-9 will be at Benedetto’s, at 21529 Village Lakes Shopping Center, off State Road 54.

The number of dog retirees is increasing each year, and so is the need to provide financial support for these dogs, said Cooper.

Many of the vendors are dedicated, repeat supporters of Spooky Tails. There have been instances where a vendor changed a vacation day to be sure and make the party, Cooper said.

“It’s a community event where everybody steps forward and helps.”

Entry fees for the costume contest are $10 per animal or $20 for three animals. All pets in the contest or attending the event must be on a leash.

Display booths for Spooky Tails are still available, and more sponsors are needed.

For information, call Cooper at (813) 480-0811.

Published September 28, 2016

 

Making life easier for local Marines

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Seventy-seven-year-old L. David Kirk lives by the U.S. Marine Corps’ motto, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

He served in the Marine Corps from 1956 to 1964, completing two tours of duty in the Mediterranean, two tours of duty in Okinawa, and serving in Southeast Asia and California, as well.

“It was the best eight years I ever spent, because it took me from teenager to man,” said the retired Lutz business man. “I can never thank the Marine Corps more, for giving me the discipline to make it where I am today.”

L. David Kirk, of Lutz, is spearheading an effort to establish a Marine Corps League Detachment in Land O’ Lakes. He wants to make it more convenient for those who are serving and those who have served to get involved in the league’s activities. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
L. David Kirk, of Lutz, is spearheading an effort to establish a Marine Corps League Detachment in Land O’ Lakes. He wants to make it more convenient for those who are serving and those who have served to get involved in the league’s activities.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Even though he completed his service more than half-century ago, Kirk’s fidelity to the U.S. Marine Corps remains robust.

“Three years ago, two other Marines and myself, and our wives, we got together and we thought it would be a good idea if we started a Marine group in Land O’ Lakes,” Kirk said.

That group, named Marine Forever Veterans Group LLC, meets on Monday evenings at the Beef O’ Brady’s in the Village Lakes Shopping Center, 21539 Village Lakes Shopping Center Drive in Land O’ Lakes. The shopping center is on the north side of State Road 54, slightly east of U.S. 41.

Kirk now is accepting applications from those wishing to join a new Marine Corps League Detachment that likely would meet at the same Beef O’ Brady’s restaurant.

The league is open to active duty, reserve and honorable discharged veterans of Marine Corps and Navy FMF Corpsmen and Chaplains who live in Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Odessa, Wesley Chapel and surrounding areas.

There’s a need for the new detachment because there isn’t one nearby, Kirk said.

“We’ve got Marines here that travel 15 and 20 miles to belong to the League. Think how many more that would join, if they didn’t have to travel that far. And, there’s a lot of Marines that live in this area.”

Besides being more convenient, it would be less expensive to attend meetings in Land O’ Lakes, because it wouldn’t take as much gas to get to meetings, Kirk added.

To launch a new charter, the group needs at least 20 members that do not belong to an existing detachment, Kirk said. Once the new detachment is established, existing league members can transfer, he added.

A meeting has been scheduled for June 25 at 2 p.m., at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, in the Village Lakes Shopping Center, to answer questions about the proposed new detachment, the annual dues, uniforms, meeting dates, mission of the group and so on.

Anyone who would qualify to join and would like more information is encouraged to attend, said Kirk, past commandant of the Angus R. Goss Detachment in Tampa.

The Marine Corps League was founded in 1923 by World War I hero Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune, and its congressional charter was approved by an act of the 75th Congress, which was signed and approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Aug. 4, 1937.

The league’s mission calls for its members to “join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps and those that have been honorably discharged from that service that they may effectively promote the ideas of American freedom and democracy.”

The league’s mission also calls for “voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines and former Marines and to their widows, and orphans; and to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.”

Kirk said he’s confident that a new detachment will be formed, noting he already has commitments from 10 potential members. But, he would like to form this new detachment as soon as possible.

For more information on becoming a charter member of the new detachment and to receive updates on upcoming meetings, email Kirk at .

For more information about the Marine Corps League, visit http://mclnational.org//

For more information about Marine Forever Veteran Group, LLC, visit Marine4Ever.com

and Facebook.com/MarineForeverVeteransGroup.

Published June 22, 2016

Development is heating up in Land O’ Lakes

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Recent rezoning applications suggest that Land O’ Lakes is on the radar for new development.

Potential projects on tap are a craft brewery, new retail and townhomes —all along a single stretch of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, north of State Road 54.

Each project received a recommendation of approval on Jan. 13, from the Pasco County Planning Commission, a voluntary group that advises the Pasco County Commission, after reviewing recommendations from the county’s planning staff.

The Pasco County Commission is scheduled to consider the three proposals at its Jan. 26 meeting.

Imperial Buffet is applying for a license to sell beer and wine at its location in the Village Lakes Shopping Center, off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
Imperial Buffet is applying for a license to sell beer and wine at its location in the Village Lakes Shopping Center, off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

Representatives of Interior Elegance Inc., and In the Loop Brewing have applied for a beer and wine license at a building located at 3338 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

County records show plans call for a 540-square-foot brewery, a 2,800-square-foot tap and tasting room, and an outdoor beer garden of nearly 6,800 square feet.

Just south of the proposed brewery, owners of E List Properties are proposing to build about 7,500 square feet of retail, and five townhomes with a boat dock fronting Lake Padgett.

That nearly two-acre site is at 3300 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., north of Stiverson Road.

Real estate broker Jim O’ Brien represented E List Properties at the planning commission meeting.

O’ Brien told planning commissioners that no decisions had been made yet on the type of retail the project would include.

E List Properties is seeking to rezone a vacant lot on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard for townhomes and retail development.
E List Properties is seeking to rezone a vacant lot on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard for townhomes and retail development.

After the meeting, O’ Brien said it is not surprising to see new interest in the Land O’ Lakes area based on residential development on U.S. 41, given the county’s new growth spurt. “It’s going to create more opportunities,” O’ Brien said. “People want to work where they live.”

He doesn’t anticipate a quick start to construction by E List, but he said, “Everything north of State Road 54 is booming.”

Brother Investments Inc., rounded out the three proposals, with a plan to build a contractor’s office, with storage, at 3228 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The zoning, if approved, would change from residential to commercial and light manufacturing.

In other rezoning requests in Land O’ Lakes, Imperial Buffet in the Village Lakes Shopping Center, off State Road 54, is seeking a beer and wine license. The restaurant opened Jan. 15 at the former location of Ichiban Buffet.

In another request, John D. Jones is seeking to rezone property at 7329 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., north of Gator Lane, from general commercial to commercial and light manufacturing. He proposes to remodel an existing building as a contractor’s office, with storage space.

Published January 20, 2016

 

Tampa homebuilder plans luxury homes on Lake Padgett

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It’s a grassy tract with trees now, but luxury homes are slated for construction on more than 9 acres on Carson Drive, east of U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

Tampa homebuilder Timothy Mobley of Mobley Homes wants to build the Manors on Lake Padgett, a gated enclave of eight homes on waterfront lots.

A vacant parcel off Carson Drive is the proposed site for eight luxury houses that will be sold and built by Tampa-based Mobley Homes. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
A vacant parcel off Carson Drive is the proposed site for eight luxury houses that will be sold and built by Tampa-based Mobley Homes.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

The project is in early stages, with plans to file for approvals with Pasco County, likely by the end of summer, said Renee Riordan, sales agent with Mobley Homes.

“They are beautiful lake frontage,” said Riordan. “You can’t always find sites like this.”

The lots are priced at about $200,000 each. The website for Mobley Homes, MobleyHousing.com, pegs home prices as starting in the upper $500,000 range. Mobley Homes would have several design plans available for houses of about 3,000 square feet, according to the website.

Riordan said Mobley Homes is fielding inquiries from prospective homebuyers.

The site is located across from the Countryside Montessori Academy on Carson Drive. The road is north of the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. It dead-ends behind the Village Lakes Shopping Center.

Carson Drive is a two-lane roadway and a frequent cut-through for motorists who want to avoid the busy intersection at State Road 54 and U.S. 41.

Pasco County records list the taxable value of the property as about $852,000. Mobley is a partner in BCL Florida LLC, which owns the property.

Published July 15, 2015

 

Lowe’s celebrates Land O’ Lakes opening

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Lowe’s, of Land O’ Lakes, is ready to throw open the doors to its new home improvement store on State Road 54. Work crews busied themselves last week with last-minute details to spruce up the landscaping and sweep clean what has been an active construction site.

The Lowe’s home improvement store at 21500 State Road 54 has scheduled a host of activities to celebrate its opening, beginning with a Pro Services Day set for April 16, which will also serve as the store’s ‘soft opening.’ (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
The Lowe’s home improvement store at 21500 State Road 54 has scheduled a host of activities to celebrate its opening, beginning with a Pro Services Day set for April 16, which will also serve as the store’s ‘soft opening.’
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

A week of celebrations will kick off with a Pro Services Day on April 16, to highlight the services and products that Lowe’s can provide business owners and their field representatives.

The community also is welcome to this “soft opening,” with store hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Food, demonstrations and a mystery gift card giveaway will be featured during the day.

“It’s a great opportunity for business owners to learn about the options Lowe’s has,” said Meredith Kleker, president of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a gracious way to extend the opportunities to help the business community feel part of the growth of this area.”

The 152,000-square-foot store is located at 21500 State Road 54, across from the Village Lakes Shopping Center. It is Pasco County’s third Lowe’s location.

Motorists will find new traffic signals at the entrance to Lowe’s that are meant to ease traffic in and out of the home improvement store, and the shopping center, as well.

Ongoing festivities will include a preview night on April 22, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with giveaways, a scavenger hunt, guided tours and refreshments from Benedetto’s.

A grand opening on April 23 will feature dignitaries from county government, the honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes and representatives of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

The more traditional ribbon cutting will be given over to a “board cutting.”

“We’re really, really excited about the partnership (with Lowe’s),” said Kleker. “They’ve made a concerted effort to partner with businesses in our community.”

A Lowe’s Fest on April 25 will be an “all-out celebration,” according to a Lowe’s press release announcing the special opening events.

Marco’s Pizza, Pepe’s Cuban Café, Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que, and a dessert truck will provide food. Activities include interactive demonstrations, giveaways, a photo booth, a magician, a children’s craft station, a community hand print banner and a petting zoo.

There also will be a special safety demonstration.

Store hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with festivities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The regular store hours for this Lowe’s location will be Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lowe’s opening events

Pro Services Day
Where: Lowe’s, 21500 State Road 54
When: April 16, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
What: Pro Services Day is dedicated to business owners and their field representatives, but anyone is welcome.

Breakfast will be provided by Panera Bread at 7 a.m. Lunch will be from Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Manufacturing representatives will do product demonstrations, there will be giveaways and Lowe’s in-house specialists can help set up business accounts. Giveaways include mystery gift cards ranging from $5 to $500.

From here on, the store will be “soft opened.”

Regular store hours for this Lowe’s location will be Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Preview Night
When: April 22, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
What: A scavenger hunt, project starter giveaways, guided tours and refreshments by Benedetto’s.

Formal grand opening ceremony
When: April 23, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Who: Dignitaries from Pasco County, the honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes and members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the store’s opening.

Lowe’s Fest
When: April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What: An all-out celebration featuring food from Marco’s pizza, Pepe’s Cuban Cafe, Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que and a dessert truck. Activities will include interactive manufacturing demonstrations, giveaways, a photo booth, a magician, balloon art, face painting, a Build & Grow workshop, mystery gift card giveaways, a kids’ craft station, community hand print banner, a petting zoo and a demonstration by a fire safety inspector.

Published April 15, 2015

Traffic signals by Lowe’s ready for action

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Traffic signals outside the new Lowe’s Home Improvement store on State Road 54 are expected to be operational within two to three weeks, according to officials with the Florida Department of Transportation.

The addition of stop lights and turn lanes that will help get motorists in and out of Lowe’s and the Village Lakes Shopping Center is welcome news to area residents and business owners.

Cars and trucks attempting to make a left-hand turn off of State Road 54 into the Village Lakes Shopping Center, east of the intersection of U.S. 41, will find it much easier once a new set of traffic signals are activated. The lights have been installed near the Lowe’s store, on State Road 54, expected to open in April. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Cars and trucks attempting to make a left-hand turn off of State Road 54 into the Village Lakes Shopping Center, east of the intersection of U.S. 41, will find it much easier once a new set of traffic signals are activated. The lights have been installed near the Lowe’s store, on State Road 54, expected to open in April.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Billy Fotopoulos, owner of Pizza Villa, remembers when the shopping center and his restaurant were under construction three decades ago.

“We needed the light there 30 years ago,” Fotopoulos said. But he said state highway officials turned down a request for a traffic signal from Fotopoulos and other business owners.

“Without the light there, you can’t get out of (the parking lot) to go east or even going west, you’re taking your life in your hands,” he said.

Charlene Wingo agreed. She and some friends were leaving the shopping center last week, laden with their purchases. “The light will make it a lot easier to head east on State Road 54,” she said. “I was just thinking now, ‘How am I going to get out of the parking lot?’ ”

Fotopoulos said he loses business due to the lack of traffic signals. Residents living on State Road 54, southeast of the shopping center, are reluctant to try and cross over, he said.

“It will save businesses. It will save lives there,” Fotopoulos said.

The signal will give motorists a green light to turn left, going east on State Road 54. Motorists also can cross over the road to access entrances to either Lowe’s or the Village Lakes Shopping Center.

When the traffic signals are activated, highway officials say they will be synced with signals at the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41 to help ease traffic flow. The signals will be the only ones between U.S. 41 and Collier Parkway about 2 miles away.

The half-mile distance between the signals at the intersection and those by Lowe’s are standard, highway officials said.

The 152,000 square-foot Lowe’s, at 21500 State Road 54, is expected to open in April.

Published March 25, 2015

Lowe’s is hiring workers for new Land O’ Lakes store

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Construction is down to the wire at the new Lowe’s Home Improvement warehouse on State Road 54, east of U.S. 41.

Job training for new hires is in full swing and applications are being accepted online for up to 160 job openings anticipated by company officials.

A pedestrian makes her way past the safety fence in front of the new Lowe's store that is aiming to open in April. (Fred Bellet/Photo)
A pedestrian makes her way past the safety fence in front of the new Lowe’s store that is aiming to open in April.
(Fred Bellet/Photo)

The store is aiming for an April opening is expected this spring.

“Everybody, everybody is asking ‘when are you going to open the doors?’” said Steve Petrone, Lowe’s pro services specialist.

When the store does open area residents in Land O’ Lakes will have a hometown, one-stop Lowe’s warehouse for their do-it-yourself projects, Petrone said.

The 152,000-square-foot store is across from the Village Lakes Shopping Center. It is Pasco County’s third Lowe’s location.

The other stores are in Zephyrhills and New Port Richey.

Lowe’s began accepting job applications in October.

Some of the employees opening the new store worked at other Lowe’s locations and competed for openings because they wanted to work in Land O’ Lakes, closer to their homes, Petrone said.

Those who are interested in applying should visit Lowe’s website, Careers.lowes.com, to find job postings and submit separate applications for each job the applicant would like to pursue.

The job list changes, so repeat visits to the site are useful, Petrone said.

Recent job listings were for delivery driver and seasonal inside garden customer service associate.

Before it has its soft opening, Lowe’s will be making its local presence felt by being the principal sponsor for Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Community Fun Day and Business Expo.

The two-day event is free and open to the public. It will highlight businesses and service providers in the northern area of Hillsborough and the central area of Pasco counties.

Hours for that event are March 6 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and March 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The expo will be at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

Lowe’s associates will be on hand to answer questions about indoor and outdoor repairs or remodeling chores. They can help with items such as paint choices and color schemes, Petrone said.

For gardeners, there will be experts who can give helpful tips on how to grow healthy lawns and get rid of pesky insects.

There will be an activity that gives families a chance to grow, build and bond, too, on March 7.

Lowe’s is enthused about its new Land O’ Lakes location.

“We’re chomping at the bit to get started,” Petrone said.

Published February 11, 2015

New Lowe’s means new traffic light on State Road 54

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The newest Lowe’s in Pasco County is set to open its doors in March. But how traffic will be handled in and out of the new store on State Road 54 is still being worked out.

The project’s engineer, David Desilet of Lincks & Associates Inc., has requested another meeting with county officials, trying to work out some last-minute details of what will be a new intersection just east of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

When the new Lowe’s opens in Land O’ Lakes next March, it will add the first traffic light along State Road 54 between U.S. 41 and Collier Parkway. At the same time, it will give customers at the neighboring Village Lakes Shopping Center the opportunity to make a left turn out of that strip mall, something that is very difficult to do right now because there is no signal. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
When the new Lowe’s opens in Land O’ Lakes next March, it will add the first traffic light along State Road 54 between U.S. 41 and Collier Parkway. At the same time, it will give customers at the neighboring Village Lakes Shopping Center the opportunity to make a left turn out of that strip mall, something that is very difficult to do right now because there is no signal. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

For now, the Florida Department of Transportation has permitted a traffic signal in front of Lowe’s that would help customers visiting not only the new hardware and building supply store, but also the Village Lakes Shopping Center across the street. That would provide a right turn lane into Lowe’s for traffic heading east on State Road 54, county traffic operations manager Robert Reck said, while extending left turn lanes heading westbound that right now lead to U.S. 41.

Lowe’s is building a road on the east side of its store, located at 21500 State Road 54 in Lutz, that would connect with Village Lakes’ west side entrance, according to development plans filed with the county.

To do that, however, Village Lakes would have to remove 27 parking spots between the outparceled restaurants Pizza Villa and Benedetto’s, to create a new through path for customers trying to make their way across the shopping center’s parking lot. That would shift such traffic to the north side of Benedetto’s, giving shoppers a straight line to drive through, and removing a partial travel lane on the south side of the restaurant.

The shopping center would replace some of those lost parking spaces on the southern-most portion of the Village Lakes property along State Road 54 by removing an existing through road, and constructing 14 new spaces.

In return, Village Lakes will get a new entrance and exit that will allow customers to turn left or right in separate lanes, or travel straight across State Road 54 to Lowe’s. Customers also can choose to walk between the centers with the construction of crosswalks as part of the new intersection.

When the traffic light goes into operation, it could potentially add some commute time for drivers making their way down State Road 54. Right now, there are no traffic lights along the nearly two-mile stretch between U.S. 41 and Collier Parkway, allowing vehicles to flow through unimpeded.

It also would put two traffic lights within a half-mile of each other, the busy U.S. 41 intersection just blocks away. It’s not clear if the traffic lights for Lowe’s would be synched with the operation of the U.S. 41 signals to help keep traffic flowing through both intersections. A request to FDOT officials for details on the new traffic signal was not returned by presstime.

Lowe’s told The Laker/Lutz News last week it plans to open the 152,000-square-foot store during the last week in March. It’s being built on a 42-acre tract of land that is expected to bring 125 jobs to the area.

The new store will have a 103,000-square-foot sales floor, and a 31,300-square-foot garden center, according to site plans submitted to Pasco County officials, along with enough parking for nearly 525 cars.

The North Carolina-based Lowe’s company purchased the land between Winter Quarters Pasco RV Park and a Pasco County fire station there in 2005 for $2.7 million, and originally had hoped to open the store by 2009. However, Lowe’s abandoned those plans in 2011, with reports at the time the company would try to sell the land.

Instead, Lowe’s kept the property and broke ground on construction earlier this year.

The Land O’ Lakes location is the third Lowe’s in Pasco, joining a store at 7921 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills, and 8312 Little Road in Port Richey.

Published December 3, 2014

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