GFWC Lutz-Land O' Lakes Woman's Club

Health News 05/18/2022

May 17, 2022 By Mary Rathman

‘Pirates’ lead the way
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, together with its teen-sponsored club, GFWC Little Women of Lutz, participated in the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser. This year’s team theme was ‘Pirates of the Cure-ibbean.’ Despite torrential downpours during the event, more than $1,200 was raised to benefit reserarch to find a cure for cancer. For more information, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.

Thunderbug visit
The Tampa Bay Lightning recently celebrated with the nursing staff at AdventHealth Tampa during National Nurse’s Week. The team’s mascot, ThunderBug, stopped by the hospital ahead of a playoff game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, to cheer on the nurses and thank them for their ongoing care and compassion to the community.

The hospital spent the week highlighting the ongoing commitment of the nurses, as they work to care for patients who need them most.

AdventHealth is the Official Health and Wellness Partner of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Lutz Guv’na race is all about fun — and money

May 10, 2022 By Mike Camunas

The Guv’na is back.

The race for Lutz Guv’na, that is.

The campaign is a community tradition that was put on a two-year pause because of the pandemic.

That meant that current Guv’na Amy Lancaster became the first one-term Guv’na to serve beyond a single year.

From left, 2022 Lutz Guv’na candidates Atlas Cortecero, Stacee Campbell and David Penzer share a laugh, while making their outrageous campaign promises during the Lutz Guv’na debate on April 30 at the Old Lutz School House. (Mike Camunas)

Lancaster is eager to join others, to turn her sash over to whomever can claim the honorary title.

“I think that everyone is just ready to get back to it — it’s part of the community; its tradition!” said Stephanie Ensor, who serves on the Lutz Guv’na committee.

Ensor knows how it feels to hold the title.

She won it in 2010.

“It means a lot to a lot of people, and to the candidates, who do it to raise money for charities, nonprofits and the community,” Ensor said.

The whole process — the campaigns, the debates, the speeches and promises — is all tongue-in-cheek, mocking the real-life politics that often flood the news cycle. Even though it’s been going on since the 1950s, it’s only been more historically tracked since 1991 when the Lutz Civic Association took over. Each campaign season, which begins May 1, candidates raise several thousand dollars for about 20 Lutz nonprofit beneficiaries.

The campaign season culminates when the candidate who has raised the most money is announced and awarded a “sash” during the annual Lutz Fourth of July festivities.

The announcement takes place following the community’s annual parade. The Guv’na is sworn-in on the stage of the train depot building, at Lutz Lake Fern Road and U.S. 41.

“Couldn’t do it without the parade,” Ensor said. “People are so glad to get back out, to be able to contribute and, of course, celebrate it all with the parade. And let me tell you, we did not have to hunt to find candidates.”

This year’s contest features candidates Stacee Campbell, Atlas Cortecero and David Penzer. Whomever is crowned Guv’na gets to earmark 10% of the proceeds to a Lutz charitable organization of his or her choice.

“It’s been a crazy couple of years, so it’s great to do anything again, plus raise money for good causes,” said Penzer, wearing an American Flag shirt. “Let’s have some fun with it!”

“It’s so great to be able to do this again and raise money for local nonprofits,” Campbell said. “That’s what being Guv’na is all about!”

“It was frustrating not to be able to fundraise and raise money for charities,” Cortecero added. “It’s so good to be able to do this again.”

As for these candidates’ false promises and ridiculous rhetoric, they were able to put that on full display during the annual debate held on April 30 at the Old Lutz School House.

Over-the-top and somewhat topical questions were passed around to the crowd — friends, family and members of GFWC Lutz-Land O’Lakes Woman’s Club.

The questions are designed to elicit humorous responses and spoof actual politics.

There’s a talent portion, too, and this year’s included a cow patty toss — to see which candidate could fling the dried-out patty the farthest.

Donations and monetary prizes are awarded during the debate.

After the debate, the candidates raise campaign funds by having raffles, car washes, lunches or other events.

They can also “panhandle” in the parade, in a final push to cash in for the sash.

“Like real politics, the candidates will make promises they don’t intend to keep and they will tell other lies, as well,” said Guv’na Committee’s Marion Smith, who has been involved with this event for 20 years.

“Quite a few years ago, a candidate who was an Elvis impersonator was asked who he would make his assistant Guv’na. He named his mother and spoke fondly of her, just like the real Elvis would have responded!” Smith said.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Stacee Campbell
Bio: Campbell has been a Lutz resident since 2009 when her family moved to Florida from Indiana. She took right to the small town, especially because of close proximity to Tampa and the beaches. In 2014, Campbell opened Mascot Universe, which is a school spirit wear store that lets kids and parents try on apparel specially made for their schools. Not wanting to stop there, Campbell also opened Lutz Scoops, the small ice cream shop in the Lutz Lake Crossing Shopping Plaza.
Campaign Slogan: Make life in Lutz sweet!
Quotable: “It’s so nice to see people back out in the community and enjoying things, but I also do want that sash!”

Atlas Cortecero
Bio: Born and raised in São Paulo/Brazil with a Spanish/Portuguese family, Cortecero says it’s been a dream to live in America since childhood. He’s the lead singer in a country-rock band and a music producer. He also holds a degree in social work based on nonprofit organizations and office administration. As an entrepreneur, he and his wife, Michele Northrup (The Saucy Queen), sell a line of gourmet hot sauces locally.
Campaign Slogan: Keep Lutz saucy!
Quotable: “My beautiful wife was Guv’na in 2007, and I plan to bring home the sash once again.”

David Penzer
Bio: As a 20-year Lutz resident and a local Re/Max Capital Realty realtor, Penzer has been heavily involved in the community in many aspects. He’s been chairman of the Heritage Harbor Community Development District, and he and his wife have worked for years with the Lutz Chiefs and Steinbrenner Warrior sports organizations. Beyond that, Penzer also has been a longtime wrestling announcer. He worked a decade as ring announcer for World Championship Wrestling and worked with wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper and Jimmy Hart. He’s now the part-time ring announcer for Impact Wrestling on AXS TV.
Campaign Slogan: Free mortgages for everyone in Lutz!
Quotable: “As a wrestling announcer, I’ll moderate a match between my opponents, while I take the sash!”

Past Lutz Guv’nas
2019 – Amy Lancaster
2018 – Domenic Definite
2017 – Kori Rankin
2016 – Greg Gilbert
2015 – Jennifer Rankin
2014 – Dr. Cindy Perkins
2013 – Suzin Carr
2012 – Karen D’Amico
2011 – Kevin White
2010 – Stephanie Ensor
2009 – Suzin Carr
2008 – Teri Burgess
2007 – Michele Northrup
2006 – Edwina Kraemer
2005 – Liz Incorrenti
2004 – Dean Rivett
2003 – Joni Cagle
2002 – Brett Montegny
2001 – Helen Kinyon
2000 – Vince Arcuri
1999 – Danny Neeley
1998 – Sandy Ruberg
1997 – Earl Smith
1996 – Ben Nevel
1995 – Kay Dahman
1994 – Lorraine Dabney
1993 – Leslie Dennison
1992 – Betty Neeley
1991 – Jo Van Bebber

Published May 11, 2022

Chalk Talk 05/11/2022

May 10, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Showering teachers with tokens of appreciation
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has always prioritized education, and supports the local teachers and schools often. Club member Sabrina Scott, center, recently visited the Lutz K-8 School to deliver snacks and treats to PTA representatives, which were distributed to the teachers as small tokens of the club’s gratitude and in commemoration of Teacher Appreciation Week. Similar gifts of appreciation were delivered to the teachers at Connerton Elementary and Miles Elementary, as well. The woman’s club has supported these three schools for many years.

Eighth USF president named
Florida’s Board of Governors has confirmed Rhea Law as the University of South Florida’s (USF) eighth president. Law spent the past eight months serving as interim president, and is the first USF alum to fill the role, according to a University News post.

“Under her leadership, the university recently experienced the most transformational legislative session in USF history, with record-setting investments in operations on all three USF campuses. She also led the effort to complete USF’s new five-year strategic plan, created a collaborative working group to develop a more transparent budget model and has fostered greater communication and collaboration across campuses,” the post said.

Law also is a founding member of the Board of Directors of the USF Law Alumni Society, served as a member of the USF Research Foundation Board, and was named a 2018 Distinguished Alumna by the USF Alumni Association.

Planet Fitness offers pass
Planet Fitness will offer a High School Summer Pass program from May 16 through Aug. 31, for all high-schoolers ages 14 to 19.

Students will be able to work out at no cost, at any Planet Fitness location.

The fitness center aims to help teenagers stay physically and mentally fit over the summer, by providing a way to exercise for free while school is out.

The program, which used to be called the Teen Summer Challenge, first launched in 2019, and more than 900,000 teens signed up.

To encourage teens to take advantage of the program, all participants automatically will be entered into a sweepstakes awarding one person, in each state, with a $500 scholarship.

Additionally, one grand prize of a $5,000 scholarship will be awarded at the end of the summer.

The scholarships can be used for academic or athletic activities, or other programs.

Teens can preregister for the program online at PlanetFitness.com/summerpass.

Ukulele for home-schoolers
The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will host a Ukulele Basics class for home-schoolers on May 17 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Participants can learn the basics during this hands-on workshop, presented by Candy Otte of the Tampa Bay Ukulele Society.

Ukuleles will be provided, but home-schoolers can reserve a ukulele to play at home later.

Masks are recommended, but not required.

Registration is a must, online at PascoLibraries.org.

College prep seminar
The Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive in Odessa, will present “Preparing for College: Academically, Socially and Financially,” on May 17 at 4:30 p.m.

High school and middle school students and families can attend, to learn about the importance of preparing early for college. Topics also will include how to gain acceptance and how to fund the college of your choice.

Registration is online at PascoLibraries.org.

Free summer program
The City of Zephyrhills will present the 2022 Free Summer Recreation Program from May 31 to July 7, Mondays through Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to noon, at Stewart Middle School, 38505 10th Ave., in Zephyrhills.

The program is limited to 120 students who have completed any grade in kindergarten through fifth grade, in 2021-2022.

For information and to register, visit www.ci.zephyrhills.fl.us/225/Summer-Recreation-Information.

Citizens of the Month
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has named 13 students as Citizens of the Month, for March and April.

Students are chosen by the teachers and administrators of their individual schools for exemplary effort, achievement and contribution to their school, family and community.

These students received recognition: Ivani Sharrock and Nicholas Dester, Academy of Spectrum Diversity; Jordan Reed, The Broach School; Parker Dixon and James Spivey, Chester Taylor Elementary; Evelean Grantham and Lazaro Martin, Heritage Academy; Gissel Garcia-Romero and Lacy Ferris, West Zephyrhills Elementary; Mackenzie Gavin and Nathaniel Fuller, Woodland Elementary; and Annalyse Guash and Brooke Lea, Zephyrhills High.

Student inductions
Rebecca Moore, of Odessa, and Alex Kiester, of Lutz, have been inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Florida Southern College.

Saint Leo awards degrees
Saint Leo University will host a doctoral hooding ceremony on May 13, for more than 40 students receiving degrees in business administration, criminal justice, and education.

Two in-person commencement ceremonies will take place on May 14, at which time degrees (doctoral, master, bachelor and associate) will be awarded to more than 1,200 students.

Kylie Culver will be honored as the Class of 2022 valedictorian, and will deliver the official “farewell.” Culver will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in history, and minors in Spanish and world politics.

The salutatorian is David Pacheco, who will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in computer science, information assurance.

For details on the times and ceremony locations on campus, visit SaintLeo.edu.

To access a livestream, visit the school’s website, where a link will be posted the day of.

Best high schools ranked
U.S. News & World Report has named the best high schools in the Tampa area, as well as national rankings, according to its website, USnews.com.

The top 10 high schools were ranked as follows:

Plant High, No. 1 in Tampa; No. 632 in National Rankings
Steinbrenner High, No. 2 Tampa; No. 742 National
Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High, No. 3 Tampa; No. 790 National
Newsome High, No. 4 Tampa; No. 903 National
Palm Harbor University High, No. 5 Tampa; No. 985 National
Osceola Fundamental High, No. 6 Tampa; No. 1,326 National
Robinson High, No. 7 Tampa; No. 1,351 National
St. Petersburg Collegiate High, No. 8 Tampa; No. 1,354 National
Sickles High, No. 9 Tampa; No. 1,367 National
Land O’ Lakes High, No. 10 Tampa; No. 1,380 National

Other area school rankings in Tampa included Wiregrass Ranch High, No. 12; Mitchell High, No. 14; and Sunlake High, No. 15.

Hillsborough Virtual School came in at No. 19 in the Tampa area.

Health News 05/04/2022

May 3, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Helping to fill a need at Oasis
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club recently toured the Oasis Pregnancy Care Center in Land O’ Lakes. Dave Dorsey, Oasis development director, explained the center’s role in the community and how it serves expectant and new mothers. Within the center is a baby boutique to help new mothers stock up on baby items. The woman’s club donated a supply of maternity clothing, baby items, clothes, diapers and other needed equipment. From left: Pam Blumenthal, Dave Dorsey, Linda Mitchell and Joyce Humphrey. For information about the woman’s club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org. For more about Oasis, call 813-406-4965.

Donate to CARES
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices will feature CARES (Community Aging & Retirement Services) as its charitable organization for the month of May, and accept donations.

CARES provides services to vulnerable seniors who need meals, home health care, home maintenance, and help with pet care.

“Your kindness will help families in Pasco County who need in-home health services, adult day care and assistance for family members who need a break from the stressful demands of caregiving,” said Jemith Rosa, CARES president and CEO, in a news release.

“Your generosity will help frail elderly people in Pasco County, who are facing illness, hunger, and isolation. Additionally, the family members and caregivers need help as well,” said Rosa.

All proceeds from this promotional effort wil benefit the CARES We Help campaign.

For information about CARES and its services, call Jemith Rosa at 727-863-6868, or visit CARESFL.org.

For more about the promotional and charitable giving programs at the tax collector’s office, call Greg Giordano at 727-847-8179, or visit PascoTaxes.com.

(Courtesy of AdventHealth West Florida Division)

A little ‘elbow grease’ goes a long way
Nearly two dozen team members from AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills lent a helping hand to a single mom of four, to build her first home through the Habitat for Humanity Dream Builders Bash. Team members assisted first-time homebuyer Bellvis Hooks to install siding.

Health News 04/06/2022

April 5, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Doug Higgins, AdventHealth chaplain, left, blesses the hands of Alexandra Farias, graduate of the CNA program. (Courtesy of AdventHealth)

Graduates receive special blessing
AdventHealth Dade City hosted a Blessing of the Hands ceremony, at the Dade City hospital and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, for 19 employees who graduated from the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. The event signifies the beginning of the graduates’ clinical experience.

Training in the program is free of charge and open to the community.

In collaboration with Aguilas International Technical Instiute, students get paid to attend a five-week course and learn a clinical curriculum to prepare them for the CNA test.

Upon graduation, participants are hired by AdventHealth Dade City. Many of the graduates worked in other roles at the hospitals while completing their training.

The next CNA training opportunity will begin on May 9.

For information and to apply, visit Careers.adventhealth.com.

Lighthouse president speaks
Sheryl Brown, president of Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision, recently spoke to members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club about the services the organization provides.

Lighthouse guides the blind and vision-impaired with training to independence, through at-home living and navigating the present-day workplace.

Woman’s club member Marsha Gibson, who is legally blind, has long advocated for Lighthouse and is the club’s informal liaison.

Gibson demonstrated some of the new special aids and electronic devices now available and very specific to the needs of the blind and low-vision population.

Woman’s club president Elayne Bassinger honored Gibson for her participation in numerous club activities and particularly for her outreach on behalf of the blind over many years.

For information on the woman’s club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebok page.

Hospital gets state award
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz is the recipient of a 2021 Jean Byers Memorial Award for Excellence in Cancer Registration, according to a news release.

The award is given by the Florida Cancer Data System (FCDS) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to facilities that had 100% accuracy on data submission.

St. Joseph’s met or exceeded national quality standards for timeliness and completeness of cancer reporting over a defined, specific time period.

The FCDS is the statewide population-based cancer surveillance system under the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Data submitted by facilities is used to learn about cancer trends and causes; it can be used to identify cancer clusters.

At St. Joseph’s, cancer data submission is done through a centralized Cancer Data Registry team that provides specific information regarding cancer patients for all five St. Joseph’s Hospitals in Hillsborough County.

“This is the sixth Jean Byers Memorial Award received by St. Joseph’s Hospital-North,” said Tom Garthwaite, hospital president, in the release.

“The award demonstrates the commitment of the medical staff, nurses, imaging, pathology and surgical teams to continuing the ongoing fight against cancer,” said Garthwaite.

Published April 06, 2022

Health News 03/30/2022

March 29, 2022 By Mary Rathman

New patient services director
St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz has named Joanne McCarn, from San Antonio, its new patient services director, a role that McCarn started in February.

In the new role, McCarn is a member of the leadership team and participates in planning, organizing, policy development and priortity setting.

She works closely with nursing, clinical and medical teams in providing, monitoring and evaluating patient care and services.

McCarn oversees nursing personnel, and leads and evaluates the nursing team, and sets nursing objectives and long-term goals.

She has been with BayCare for more than 20 years starting as a mobile pool nurse providing coverage and filling in nursing shifts throughout BayCare hospitals.

She’s been a charge nurse, assistant nurse manager and nurse manager at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa.

McCarn is the recipient of both Nurse Manager Excellence and Clinical Nurse Excellence awards from the Tampa hospital.

“Being part of BayCare for over 20 years and having spent the last 15 years at St. Joseph’s Hospital Main (Tampa), I was somewhat apprehensive about leaving my St. Joseph’s Hospital Main family,” McCarn said in a news release.

“What has made this transition easy for me is the warm welcome I have received from everyone! I certainly feel the same family type atmosphere here at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, as well as the camaraderie shared among this awesome team,” McCarn said.

Delivering comfort for those in need
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club (in green shirts) donated and delivered hand-sewn comfort items to Moffitt Cancer Center and an AdventHealth hospital. The women also supplied hygiene items and clothing for residents of the Angel Senior Living assisted living facility. The club delivers items to various local facilities on a monthly basis. For information, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org.

Bargain hunters find deals, and help woman’s club’s efforts

March 8, 2022 By Mike Camunas

The rush to shop came early. The thrill of finding a hidden treasure among used items knew no alarm clock.

GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club member Barbara Booth packs up some purchased items during the group’s community flea market that was held over the weekend in front of the Lutz Branch Library. (Mike Camunas)

“I was like,” GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club chairwoman Kay Taylor exclaimed, “‘It’s not like its Black Friday!’”

While it was a Friday, Taylor and her fellow GFWC members were a little surprised to see such an initial rush at the start of their annual flea market the group held over the weekend in front of the Lutz Branch Library. However, that feeling turned to happiness with the turnout from the local communities who visited the booths set up to sell their used items.

“All of our ladies brought in their stuff (to sell), and we only had one drop-off from a church this year,” Taylor said. “It was just amazing how the community stepped up and helped us.”

Shopper Kelly Larochelle, of Lutz, does some shopping with her son, Landon, during the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club flea market the group held over the weekend in front of the Lutz Branch Library.

Like any other event or organization, COVID affected the GFWC club. Not only did membership decline to under 100 people, but Taylor said the group was unable to hold the flea market for some time. The group also had to move from its usual location — from the Old Lutz School building, where the booths could be in the classrooms — and then hold it outside with (luckily) favorable weather.

“The county only allows 10 people in a building at a time,” Taylor said, “so this allowed us to have a big open-air event and welcome all the people who were eager to get out here.”

GFWC members, donning their iconic green shirts, set up booths that were selling all kinds of items from clothes to jewelry to furniture to homewares — and slightly used items that made it look like an antique-store tent town.

Taylor estimates the GFWC, which was founded in 1960, will raise somewhere between $5,000 to $10,000.

The flea market is one of two major fundraisers the group hosts annually, the other being the arts and crafts fair around Christmas. The funds raised during those two events not only go to supporting the other philanthropic endeavors the GFWC club takes on, but also toward the scholarships they award to local high school students in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

“We’ll go to the homeless shelters and the nursing homes and help out Meals on Wheels,” Taylor said. “We have the laundromat program where we put books in the laundromats in needy areas. We help out with domestic violence organizations and we’re really big into recycling, as well, so as part of the largest women’s volunteer organization, we’re just trying to do our part.”

Published March 09, 2022

GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club member Beth Nevel-Rader hands over plates with a smile during the group’s community flea market that was held over the weekend in front of the Lutz Branch Library.

GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club members Marsha Gibson, left, and Renate Mast, go through some items during the group’s community flea market that was held over the weekend in front of the Lutz Branch Library.

Health News 02/09/2022

February 8, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Providing comfort for patient care
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club’s sewing team produced 40 comfort pillows, 10 baby blankets, numerous port protectors, hats and turbans, which were delivered to the Moffitt Cancer Center and an AdventHealth hospital. These handcrafted items are always enthusiastically received and usually requests are made for more because the need is so great. Woman’s club member Pam Blumenthal, left, makes a delivery to a staff member at Moffitt Cancer Center. For information, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org, or its Facebook page.

Girl Scout creates patch
Emma Wegener, a senior at Anclote High School and a member of Girl Scout Troop 1142, is the daughter of Sue Wegener, R.N., Medical Center of Trinity-Behavioral Health Center, and knows first-hand the importance of mental health, according to a news release.

Throughout her middle and high school years, Emma noticed there was no eduation being presented to students about mental health. She witnessed the misuse of terms, the suffering of individuals struggling with mental health issues, and the growing stigma surrounding this important subject, the release says.

To address this issue, Emma created a Girl Scout Patch Program — the Gold Award: The Mental Health Awareness Patch, For Girls by Girls.

The self-guided patch program is aimed at middle and high school Girl Scouts, to help provide an accurate education about mental health.

Throughout the program, the Scouts learn about negative stigma, how it persists and, most importantly, how to fight it.

The patch is an attempt to educate students about something that can affect everyone, and to normalize the information and produce conversations about it.

Two new home dedications

January 11, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Jimmie Mitchell stands in the kitchen of her new Habitat home. (Courtesy of Habitat Pasco)

Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County celebrated the recent holidays with a pair of new home dedications in Dade City, the first in-person dedications to be done in almost two years, due to the pandemic.

“We have been able to dedicate homes virtually during the pandemic, something that we were grateful for, since Habitat continued to build and sell affordable homes during the pandemic,” said CEO Crystal Lazar, in a news release.

“But to finally be able to see the faces of all those hands and hearts involved in the building of these new affordable homes, well, that can’t be replaced by a video,” Lazar said.

Besides the keys to their new homes, Jimmie Mitchell and Ashley Westberry also received gifts from the East Pasco Quilters Guild and the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County was founded in 1994 and has enabled 153 families to make a move from rental housing to owning a home of their own.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County and how to help families that are seeking the opportunity to build a better life, visit HabitatPasco.org.

Published January 12, 2022

Mike Mashke, executive vice president of First National Bank of Pasco, right, hands Ashley Westberry the keys to her new home.

Shoppers flock to the Lutz Arts & Crafts Show

December 7, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Barbara Karnay, of New Port Richey, waits for customers under the roof of the Nature Coast GFWC booth to buy her Christmas wreaths that were fashioned from clothespins. (Fred Bellet)

After calling off its biggest fundraiser of the year last year, the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club resumed its popular holiday shopping festival and art show over the weekend at Keystone Prep High, in Odessa.

The 42nd annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Show featured plenty of tasty treats to eat and myriad choices for shoppers looking for unique items for people on their holiday gift lists.

The annual arts and crafts show —now known throughout the region — started small, with a crafts show at the Old Lutz School.

It has been held in recent years at Keystone Prep High, 18105 Gunn Highway, in Odessa.

The event, geared with holiday shopping in mind, has been held without fail for decades, except for two years. It was canceled in 2015 because of a sinkhole in Lake Park, and it was called off last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It typically attracts between 20,000 and 30,000 over the course of the weekend, giving people a chance to shop, enjoy each other’s company, and take in the sights and sounds.

This year’s event featured more than 200 vendors. Santa was there and an orchestra played holiday tunes.

The woman’s club uses proceeds from the event to support scholarships and numerous community organizations and causes.

Published December 08, 2021