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Eastern Michigan University

Seniors keep active at East Pasco Family YMCA

February 9, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

The East Pasco YMCA in Zephyrhills is a welcoming community center for all ages — but some of its most robust activities are designed with the region’s ever-growing senior population in mind.

Helen Spearman of Wesley Chapel has been working out for the past 5 1/2 years at the East Pasco Family YMCA taking part in water aerobics as well. (Fred Bellet)

Step into the facility any weekday mid-morning and you’re bound to find dozens upon dozens of seniors getting fit — and enjoying themselves, too — simultaneously, through pickleball, Silver Sneakers and water aerobics classes.

Pickleball is by far the most popular activity among seniors, East Pasco YMCA officials say. At any given time, three dozen players or more are competing in the indoor gymnasium, at 37301 Chapel Hill Loop.

Pickleball is a paddleball sport combining many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong.

Jane French spends part of the year living in Florida, and she spends some of that time taking part in the Silver Sneakers program at the East Pasco Family YMCA.

Using a smaller badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net, players use a paddle and a plastic ball with holes, in either singles and doubles format.

Compared to conventional tennis, pickleball players serve underhanded, the ball has less bounce and there’s no double alleys — whereby singles and doubles players are played on the same-size court. Moreover, there’s a 7-foot no-volley zone on each side of the net to prevent spiking.

In simpler terms, pickleball represents a relatively seamless transition for aging tennis players who maintain hand-eye coordination and competitive drive, but no longer have quite the footspeed to cover as much ground as they could in their younger years.

Gregory Bartlett, of Zephyrhills, credits the water aerobics class for helping to keep him alive. He has several medical conditions. He’s been a member of the water aerobics class for nearly nine years.

Like many of her elder peers, San Antonio resident Carol Hatfield can be found playing pickleball at the YMCA at least five days a week.

The 74-year-old enjoys the fitness and fellowship components of the sport, playing alongside locals and snowbirds alike.

“It’s just good exercise,” said Hatfield, who picked up the game about five years ago.

“I’m a tennis player, too, but I enjoy the exercise and friendly people. We’ve met a lot of people from the north.

“I think the older I’ve gotten, I play more pickleball than tennis. I just enjoy the pickleball. The game’s quick,” she said.

Pickelball enthusiast Rodger Brown, of Dade City, says he’s been playing pickleball for a year. Here, the winter resident from Michigan returns a shot to the opposing team of Joyce Fisher and Shirley Burnham.

East Pasco Family YMCA membership and wellness experience director Ryan Pratt is regularly awestruck in the way the center’s aging players get after it on the court, demonstrating their mastery of the fast-paced game.

“It’s quite impressive,” said Pratt, himself a former Division I college football player at Eastern Michigan University, during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“You see the way they move in there, the agility that some of these seniors are displaying. They keep begging me, ‘You gotta come in and play with us,’ and I think they’ll put to shame if I were to go in there,” he said.

Like other Florida-based gyms and fitness centers, the local YMCA was shut down from about mid-March through mid-May due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It was during that period Pratt realized the significance of social interaction for all members, seniors included.

“We’re so focused on health and wellness and getting your exercise in, but most people said they missed seeing their friends. I think we really downplayed the effect of social isolation that’s going on right now still,” he said.

The YMCA administrator jested when the recreation facility finally reopened to members, “I think we had more conversations than exercise going on, but that tells you what was needed, besides the exercise. They just needed to get back and see each other, and have a conversation.”

Kim Womack, who teaches the water aerobics class, shows participants how they should be moving their immersed bodies in the water of the East Pasco Family YMCA pool. The class size varies from eight participants to 30 participants. Womack has been with the Y for 13 years.

Seventy-five-year-old Dade City resident Barb Gerrish, for one, was chomping at the bit to resume her daily Silver Sneakers classes amid the COVID-19 shutdown.

The facility’s Silver Sneakers program offers a variety of full-body exercises for seniors designed to increase muscular strength and motion. Handheld weights, elastic tubing, a ball and chair are used for resistance.

In lieu of these organized classes, Gerrish opted to walk in her neighborhood after every meal to keep active.

But, Silver Sneakers offers more apt movements to help her arthritis — also in a fun, socially distanced setting.

“I like the whole thing,” Gerrish said of Silver Sneakers, noting the Y has multiple instructors who each bring their own flair to classes.

A social butterfly herself, Gerrish makes a point to greet every participant either before or after class. “I have a lot of friends here, and I like it that way,” she said.

She also encourages others in her age range to partake in Silver Sneakers programming, no matter their fitness level or physical limitations: “Anything’s better than nothing. Just give it a try. You don’t know until you’ve tried.”

Glenda Iliev, of Wesley Chapel, right, makes some waves in the water aerobics class at the East Pasco Family YMCA. Cindy Daigler, of Zephyrhills, far left, and Annie Hermecz, of Dade City, center, follow along as instructor Kim Womack leads the class.

Other seniors like Greg Bartlett can be found getting their fitness fix in the local Y’s seven-lane heated outdoor pool.

The 62-year-old Zephyrhills resident has been a regular in the facility’s water aerobics classes for nearly a decade.

He joined the water exercise program to get healthy and to keep his weight in check.

A diabetic on disability with back and neck ailments, Bartlett is unable to partake in traditional cardiovascular exercises on land, he said.

Instead, the water is his safe haven for a fulfilling yet low-impact workout.

“To do things like the treadmills and stuff is just too rough on me. Here, you don’t have all the impact, and I can exercise hard in the water,” explained Bartlett.

The aqua classes have been a lifesaver for Bartlett, literally.

“I really, honestly believe I wouldn’t be alive today if I wasn’t doing this, because I’ve got so many health conditions, and my weight and all that,” he said.

When the YMCA closed in the spring, Bartlett was at a loss for what to do and how to cope.

“I put on weight during the pandemic and it really hurt,” he said. “I think they should’ve never closed down this type of stuff. Lack of exercise, for people like me, you start reversing and getting back where you have problems breathing and stuff like that. I mean, it’s easy enough to keep separated, in the pool especially, and you’re also in chlorinated water.”

Rosey Ward, of Zephyrhills, returns the ball in a game of pickleball, to Ron Enriquez, a newcomer to the game. Ward has been playing the game for three years at the East Pasco Family YMCA.

Bartlett likewise missed having a place to go and hobnob with his aqua classmates. “I consider all these people my friends down here,” he said.

Exercise classes are energizing
Keeping Bartlett and many other seniors in shape is Kim Womack, a longtime exercise instructor who’s worked at the East Pasco YMCA for going on 14 years.

The experienced fitness teacher brings an upbeat and energetic attitude as she organizes water aerobics, Silver Sneakers and other group exercises.

Womack gets a kick out of seeing her elder pupils complete a fulfilling workout session — and seeing their enjoyment through it all.

Womack put it like this: “I just love the way that it makes the members feel. They feel good, they feel energized.”

It’s satisfying, she said, to know “that they’re getting a good workout, they’re enjoying it and they’re having fun. It’s just nice seeing them being so active.”

When the pandemic initially touched down, Womack worried for her older clientele, not just for traditional health reasons, but the possible effects of social isolation and inactivity.

“A majority of the people who love doing group exercise classes kind of need those people around, and it just makes the day a lot easier for them,” Womack said. “It was quite a shock to see how you miss being around people and talking to them, and seeing how they’re doing.”

For more information, call 813-780-9622 or visit TampaYmca.org/east-pasco-family-ymca/about.

Published February 10, 2021

Locals make impact in college football ranks

December 5, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

The college football regular season has come to a close, and dozens of players with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area showcased their skills on Saturdays in the fall.

More than 100 players from the area are a part of various programs at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Series (FCS) levels, as well as Division II, Division III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Here’s a closer look at a few of the top performers from the 2018 season:

Amani Oruwariye

Amani Oruwariye—Penn State University, redshirt senior cornerback
High School/Hometown: Gaither High School/Tampa

The former Gaither standout earned first-team All-Big 10 honors, finishing the season with three interceptions, 12 pass breakups and 48 tackles — part of a secondary that allowed 186.5 yards through the air per game, a number that ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten Conference.

Some outlets, including Pro Football Focus and CBS Sports, project the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Oruwariye as a possible first-round talent in the 2019 NFL Draft, for his ideal size, ball skills and man-to-man coverage responsibilities.

Oruwariye is one of several Gaither alums playing at the Division I football ranks. Others include DeCalon Brooks (Florida State, redshirt freshman linebacker), Estefano Feliciano (Old Dominion, redshirt freshman linebacker), Donovan Jennings (South Florida, freshman offensive lineman), Cayden Jordan (Charleston Southern, freshman wide receiver), Shane McGough (Florida International, redshirt sophomore center) and Matthew Wood (Holy Cross, freshman linebacker).

Jaylen Pickett

Jaylen Pickett—Eastern Michigan University, senior linebacker
High School/Hometown: Zephyrhills High School/Zephyrhills

After playing in just six contests last season, the Zephyrhills High product bounced back for a productive senior campaign — registering 72 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and two sacks; and, helping Eastern Michigan (7-5) become bowl eligible for the second time in three years. Should Eastern Michigan earn a bowl bid, the 6-foot-1, 224-pound Pickett will suit up one final time as a Division I FBS football player.

Pickett also happens to be college teammates with another athlete with local ties — sophomore running back Willie Parker, who attended Carrollwood Day School.

The Pickett name is a familiar one in Zephyrhills — Jaylen’s father, Damian Pickett, and his  uncle, Ryan Pickett (13-year NFL veteran) are both former Bulldogs greats from the 1990s.

Scott Patchan

Scott Patchan—University of Miami, redshirt junior defensive end
High School/Hometown: IMG Academy/Freedom High School/New Tampa

Coming out of Freedom High (and transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton for his senior year), Patchan was one of the state’s most highly rated prospects in the 2015 recruiting class.

He’s finally starting to live up to the hype of being a four-star recruit who was once courted by blue blood programs like Florida State, Ohio State, Notre Dame and others.

After playing tight end for Miami last season, he moved back to his more natural position of defensive end, posting 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble in 11 games. He played in just five games the last two seasons combined.

Provided he stays healthy, look for the 6-foot-6, 255-pound Patchan to be one of Miami’s top defensive players next season.

Patchan is something of a Miami legacy, as his father Matt Patchan III won national titles with the Canes in 1983 and 1987.

DeCalon Brooks

DeCalon Brooks—Florida State University, redshirt freshman linebacker
High School/Hometown: Gaither High School/Tampa

The son of NFL Hall of Famer/Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Florida State legend Derrick Brooks appears set on paving his own legacy at the same institution his father once starred.

After logging repetitions on the Seminoles’ scout team last season—and dealing with a nagging knee injury throughout — the younger Brooks emerged to become one of the Seminoles’ more productive defensive players in 2018 — registering 46 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and forced fumble in 11 contests.

Moving forward, the undersized, yet speedy 5-foot-11, 211-pound backer looks to be a building block for a Seminoles program, which just suffered its first losing season (5-7) since 1976, under first-year head coach Willie Taggart.

Brooks is one of several young Seminoles with ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, joining freshman defensive back Isaiah Bolden (Wesley Chapel High School), sophomore tight end Tre’ McKitty (Wesley Chapel native/Wesley Chapel High/IMG Academy) and freshman offensive lineman Chaz Neal (Wesley Chapel High).

Chris Faddoul

Chris Faddoul—Florida A&M University, sophomore punter
High School/Hometown: Wiregrass Ranch High School/Wesley Chapel

The former Wiregrass Ranch multi-sport star emerged as one of the nation’s premier specialists this season, earning first team All-MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) honors and leading the Division I FCS ranks in punting average (47.0 yards per punt) — up from 39.4 yards per punt he posted as a true freshman in 2017.

As a further show of Faddoul’s leg strength, 14 of 41 punts were 50 or more yards, including a long of 67 yards. He also tallied seven touchbacks, nine fair catches, and 17 punts inside the 20-yard line.

While at Wiregrass Ranch, it seemed as though no sport was off limits for Faddoul. He played football, soccer, tennis, and also competed in track & field.

Also noteworthy, Florida A&M has another Wesley Chapel native on its roster — sophomore safety Ellrie Allen, who prepped at Wesley Chapel High School.

Other news and notes on locals in college football:

—Former Zephyrhills High record-setting running back Antwione Sims made solid contributions in his freshman season at Samford University, tallying 150 rushing yards on 35 carries; also added 10 receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown.

—Before he suffered a torn ACL in late October, Dade City native/Pasco High/Tampa Bay Tech alum Mike Penix Jr., saw some action throughout his freshman season at Indiana University, completing 21 of 34 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown in three appearances.

—Wesley Chapel native/ Wesley Chapel High/IMG Academy product Tre’ McKitty had a strong sophomore campaign at the tight end spot for Florida State University, catching 26 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games.

— Former Wiregrass Ranch High standouts Jordan Miner (Penn State) and Daniel Biglow (Florida Atlantic University) were forced to retire from football before their college freshman seasons due to similar cardiovascular conditions. (Physicals revealed the sport would put too much stress on their hearts.) Miner and Biglow, who are cousins, helped Wiregrass Ranch to two straight playoff appearances in 2016 and 2017.

—Wesley Chapel High product Isaiah Bolden had his freshman season at Florida State University cut short when he suffered season-ending shoulder injury in September. Since Bolden played in only one game this season, NCAA rules allowed him to redshirt this season and have four more years of eligibility.

— Dade City natives and half-brothers Nate Craig-Myers (Pasco High/Tampa Catholic) and Jayvaughn Myers (Pasco High) both left the Auburn University football team in September.

Craig-Myers, a junior receiver, and Myers, a redshirt sophomore defensive back, both have two years of eligibility remaining at the program they transfer to. (The NCAA’s new redshirt rules allow players to play in up to four games before losing the ability to redshirt and preserve a season of eligibility.)

Published December 5, 2018

Pasco-Hernando State College issues first four-year degree

January 6, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

For one former football star, the opportunity to witness palm trees and visit family was simply too great to pass up.

Jamal Roberts recently became the first student to graduate from Pasco-Hernando State College with a bachelor of applied science in supervision and management, taking advantage of one of PHSC’s two four-year programs.

Jamal Roberts converses with other Pasco-Hernando State College graduates after the college’s winter commencement. (Photos courtesy of Jamal Roberts)
Jamal Roberts converses with other Pasco-Hernando State College graduates after the college’s winter commencement.
(Photos courtesy of Jamal Roberts)

“It was an accomplishment,” said Roberts, 21, who graduated in December. “It was a milestone for me, and it was a milestone for the college as well. It’s wonderful.”

While primarily a two-year college, PHSC began offering four-year programs in 2014, starting with the supervision and management program, as well as offering a bachelor of science in nursing. Formerly known as Pasco-Hernando Community College, the institution changed its name to reflect its broader program offerings.

Wasting no time after graduation, the Dade City native has already lined up a job as an administrative assistant at Irvin & Petty, a St. Petersburg-based law firm that primarily focuses on personal injury cases.

“I just want to be able to get dressed up nice for work every day,” Roberts quipped.

While still unsure what career path he wants to follow for the next 30-plus years, Roberts hopes to work for a company that features a positive work environment where fellow co-workers get along.

Former Zephyrhills’ football star Jamal Roberts in action at a Kent State football practice.
Former Zephyrhills’ football star Jamal Roberts in action at a Kent State football practice.

“I can have the best (job) or the easiest job duties, but if I’m in a terrible place, then I’m not going to like that job,” he elaborated. “But, if I have hard duties and everyone around me is friendly, and we’re all working together, then that’s going to be somewhere where I can stay.”

Prior to graduating from PHSC, Roberts was a standout athlete at Zephyrhills High School, where he shined as a dual-threat quarterback on the football team, was an All-Conference sprinter on the track team and also lettered in baseball.

Showcasing extraordinary athleticism, Division I football scholarships rolled in from several out-of-state programs, including Ball State, University of Massachusetts and Eastern Michigan. However, Roberts opted to attend Kent State in Ohio in 2012, where he suited up to play defensive back.

“Honestly, it was probably the best time of my life,” said Roberts, who spent three years on the Kent State Golden Flashes football team. “I had so much fun. I met a whole a bunch of people that I can call real friends.”

His most memorable experience at Kent State occurred in 2012, when he was redshirting as a freshman, the Golden Flashes finished 11-3 and earned a berth to the GoDaddy.com Bowl game.

“It was just unbelievable,” Roberts reminisced. “Just the way everybody played together, it was crazy.”

Jamal Roberts (right) is presented with his diploma from Pasco-Hernando State College from Dr. Timothy Beard, the college’s president.
Jamal Roberts (right) is presented with his diploma from Pasco-Hernando State College from Dr. Timothy Beard, the college’s president.

While Roberts enjoyed his college experience, the bone-chilling Midwest winters in northeast Ohio started to become unbearable. “It was terrible,” he stated.

The opportunity to move back to the Sunshine State arose when his mother, Pamela, who works at PHSC as a student development assistant, told him the college offered four-year programs.

It became a seamless transition for Roberts, where most of his college credits at Kent State transferred and applied to the new bachelor’s degree program.

“Honestly, I did miss my family,” he said about moving back to Florida. “So, after some thinking and some consideration, and given the opportunity, I thought it’d be best if I was back at home and I finished up (at PHSC).”

While his football-playing career is over, Roberts hasn’t forgotten about the lessons he learned from the sport, which he uses in his everyday life.

“One of the first things I learned about football in high school, one of my coaches said, ‘you wake up and you get better, or you wake up and you get worse,’ and that’s what I stick by with absolutely everything,” he explained. “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse and there’s no in between.

“That’s my mentality going towards things in life.”

With the burden of attending classes and studying on the weekends no longer tying up his time, Roberts plans to stay involved with the game he loves by getting into coaching youth football.

“I definitely see coaching as an opportunity for me to get out and teach young kids the game,” he said.

Published January 6, 2016

Gators’ goal: A return to its winning ways in football

August 26, 2015 By Michael Murillo

The Land O’ Lakes High School football team dipped to 4-6 record last year, after posting an 8-2 record the year before.

Head coach Brian Wachtel doesn’t blame bad luck or a lack of talent for the decline. He said it came down to execution.

Senior safety Colton Smith is ready for a leadership role this season.

“I don’t think we reached our potential last year,” Wachtel said. “There were a couple games that were close, but we just didn’t execute well in a half of that game, and that put us in the position that we were in at the end of the game.”

Half of the team’s six losses last year were by a touchdown or less, and only two were by more than 10 points.

The Gators also suffered some injuries last season, but Wachtel isn’t interested in excuses. He preaches a “next man up” philosophy, with the next player expected to contribute when the starter is unavailable.

And that philosophy will be put to the test this season at the most prominent position on offense.

James Pensyl, the standout lefty who helped Land O’ Lakes rank No. 1 in the district in passing yardage last season, graduated and signed on to play for Eastern Michigan University. That leaves Spencer Childress as the next man up, and Wachtel understands that means changes for his offense.

“As a coach you’d better adjust, and we’ve adjusted offensively,” Wachtel said. “We want to put our kids in a position to be successful. We’re going to put in our quarterback this year and play to his strengths.”

Land O’ Lakes coach Brian Wachtel focuses on limiting mistakes when his team suits up, including during hard-hitting practice drills. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photos)

While he doesn’t have Pensyl’s name recognition, the coach said Childress is an effective runner, which adds another dimension to his skill set.

Wachtel expects Childress to manage the game effectively, and they’re looking for a high completion percentage to keep the offense on the field.

The coaching staff also will rely on the team’s returning players to provide leadership.

Seniors, like Colton Smith, feel up to the task.

“The maturity level has risen for all of us, especially the seniors who have been here for day one of freshman year,” Smith said.

Being a leader for Smith means holding players accountable but not having a negative attitude toward his teammates. The safety and the rest of the players will depend on each other to get through the season successfully, and he wants to do that by staying positive and helping raise the bar for everyone.

“You see some people who just yell, yell, yell. And sometimes that doesn’t fix it. You’ve got to give them some confidence,” Smith said. “It’s all about making sure that they’re going to do what it takes, and not get them more angry with themselves so that they do worse.”

Now entering his fifth season as head coach for the Gators — and around 11 years in coaching overall — Wachtel still has the enthusiasm of a newer coach.

The offseason, the game film, the seven-on-seven practices and the daily drills still keep him engaged and eager to see his younger players develop, and his older players execute and reach their potential.

“I love doing it. It’s exciting to me. I love seeing the guys be successful. You get them for four years, and it’s fun to watch them grow,” he said.

Sometimes the progress is dramatic.

Wachtel singled out Jordan Ferrante, a defensive end who graduated last season, as an example of watching a player develop into something special.

When he entered the program, Ferrante weighed 130 pounds. But hard work and a lot of time in the weight room became a ticket to continuing his football career.

Ferrante will suit up for William Jewell College this fall, a school with a Division II football program in Missouri.

Wachtel’s current team might have other players who follow that path, but he isn’t letting them think about it just yet. They aren’t thinking about the playoffs, either. He wants them focused only on what’s ahead of them each week, so they can limit mistakes and realize their full potential this season.

“We’re just going to take it one game at a time, because we know where we want to be when it’s all said and done. But we also understand what we have to do to reach that, and its all about the process and taking the little steps to reach the end goal,” Wachtel said.

Land O’ Lakes Gators regular season schedule
(all times at 7:30 p.m.)

Aug. 28 at Wesley Chapel

Sept. 4 vs. River Ridge

Sept. 11 at Anclote

Sept. 18 at Sunlake

Oct. 2 at Lakeland Christian

Oct. 9 at Tampa Catholic

Oct. 16 at Springstead

Oct. 23 vs. Pasco

Oct. 30 vs. Mitchell

Nov. 6 vs. Fivay

Published August 26, 2015

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05/26/2022 – Food distribution

Farm Share, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Pasco Sheriff Charities, the Pasco County NAACP, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay will partner for a free food distribution on May 26 starting at 9 a.m., at the Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee, 38724 Mudcat Grant Blvd., in Dade City. Food will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. The event is a drive-thru, rain or shine. … [Read More...] about 05/26/2022 – Food distribution

05/26/2022 – Lawn fertilization

Keep Pasco Beautiful will host a workshop for HOAs, homeowners and anyone who wants to learn how to properly maintain their lawn, on May 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Patel College of Global Sustainability, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Room 136, in Tampa. Panelists will include members from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the University of Florida Pasco Extension Office, who will explore a range of fertilization topics. For information and to register, visit EventBrite.com. … [Read More...] about 05/26/2022 – Lawn fertilization

05/28/2022 – Memorial Day Concert

The “Let’s Do Good Memorial Day Concert” is scheduled for May 28 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., to benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Tunnel to Towers provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children, and builds custom-designed smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. The foundation is committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and aiding the victims of major U.S. disasters. The event will include vendors, gifts, a Forget-Me-Not Garden, and more. Entertainment will be provided by Fred Chandler, Charles Goodwin, Cruz Er Mac, Mike Henderson, and Travis White. Special guests include Congressman Gus Bilirakis and State Sen. Danny Burgess. Rain date is Sept. 10. … [Read More...] about 05/28/2022 – Memorial Day Concert

05/28/2022 – Pet supply drive

Munchies Natural Pet Foods, 1722 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will host a Pet Supply Drive on May 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to benefit the Pet Peace of Mind Program at Gulfside Hospice. Gulfside team members will be on site to offer information about the program and to collect donated supplies, such as pet food, cat litter, treats, basic supplies and other items. The donations will be distributed to hospice patients, to help provide care for their pets. For information about the Peace of Mind program, visit Gulfside.org, or call 727-845-5707. … [Read More...] about 05/28/2022 – Pet supply drive

05/28/2022 – Seafood Festival-CANCELLED

The North Tampa Bay Chamber’s Summer Seafood Festival is scheduled for May 28 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz, between the outlets and At Home. There will be seafood, crab races, a kids zone, live bands, craft beer, a local market, a Nautical Art Show, and a crab claw-eating contest. For information, call 727-674-1464. … [Read More...] about 05/28/2022 – Seafood Festival-CANCELLED

05/30/2022 – Memorial Day Ceremony

Lexington Oaks Community Center, 26304 Lexington Oaks Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will host a Memorial Day Ceremony on May 30 from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., in front of the big flag. There will be patriotic songs and readings, and the playing of "Taps."  The event is weather permitting. … [Read More...] about 05/30/2022 – Memorial Day Ceremony

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FEATURED STORY of the week! 🗞️ Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles is leaving the top job in the county, after five years of serving at the helm. He and his wife, Mandy, are moving overseas to be involved in church development work. https://lakerlutznews.com/lln/2022/05/101809/

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LakerLutzNewsThe Laker/Lutz News@LakerLutzNews·
15h

"It's not Wednesday until you read The Laker!" This week's stories are in! https://lakerlutznews.com/lln/

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