By B.C. Manion
An organization that’s slogan is to “protect, serve, preserve” Lutz is staging a giant yard sale May 4 to raise money for its efforts.
The group, which calls itself the Lutz Citizen Coalition, began as a group of citizens concerned about the proposed location of a school for students in sixth through 12th grades.
Learning Gate Community School, a charter school in Lutz, wants to expand its brand of education by opening a second campus near the intersection of US 41 and Sunset Lane.
Area residents have banded together to fight the site, claiming that putting a school there would have too many negative impacts on the surrounding area.
That issue is now in the court system.
Sam Calco, one of the yard sale’s organizers, said the Lutz Citizens Coalition is not a single-issue group.
It also played a pivotal role in halting Hillsborough County’s plans to take out trees in the medians of US 41 running through the community.
Coalition members kicked up a storm of protest, and the county listened by putting those plans on hold until a solution can be found.
Now, the coalition has been soliciting area businesses and community residents in a quest to create what they’re billing as the Lutz Community Biggest Yard Sale.
The sale is set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with setup beginning at 6 a.m.
The event will be in the grassy area in front of the Lutz Train Depot, which is in front of the Lutz Branch Library, at US 41 and W. Lutz Lake Fern Road.
The group is asking for people to donate whatever they don’t need so they can sell it to raise money for their efforts.
They are also renting out spaces for people who want to sell items at the yard sale.
Those spaces range in size and price, going from $25 to $100 each. They are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
The event will also include live entertainment, a 50/50 chance drawing, a concession stand and a farmers market.
Lutz Community Biggest Yard Sale
8 a.m. to 3 p.m., May 4, on the grassy area in front of the Lutz Train Depot, US 41 and W. Lutz Lake Fern Road.
To rent a booth, contact Patrice Eveld at (813) 842-9111 or email at or Sam Calco at (813) 500-0202 or email
