The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lutz Lake Fern Road

Charter school for 1,000 students proposed for Lutz

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A proposed charter school for up to 1,020 elementary school children in Lutz is drawing opposition from the Lutz Citizens Coalition and area residents.

Charter Schools Inc. of Boca Raton has filed a request with Hillsborough County for a special use permit to allow a school on 8.4 acres of agricultural land at the southwest quadrant of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard.

Charter Schools Inc. of Boca Raton has filed a request with Hillsborough County to use an 8.4-acre parcel at the southwest quadrant of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard for an elementary charter school that would accommodate up to 1,020 students. Opposition to that plan is mounting, said Michael White of the Lutz Citizens Coalition. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Charter Schools Inc. of Boca Raton has filed a request with Hillsborough County to use an 8.4-acre parcel at the southwest quadrant of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard for an elementary charter school that would accommodate up to 1,020 students. Opposition to that plan is mounting, said Michael White of the Lutz Citizens Coalition. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

A public hearing on the request has been delayed from Dec. 15 to Jan. 20.

Plans show a two-phase project. The first phase includes a two-story building with 33 classrooms for 650 students. The second phase calls for a two-story building, with 20 classrooms for 370 children. The school would serve kindergarten through eighth grade.

The plans also show a storm water pond, a playground, and areas for parking for both vehicles and bicycles. Plans also call for basketball courts.

The application notes that any spillage of light from recreational areas will be kept to a minimum.

Public water and sewer lines are located within the Sunlake Boulevard right of way, according to the application.

Mike White, president and founder of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, said opposition to the proposal is mounting.

“It’s an inappropriate location,” White said. “It’s cramming 10 pounds into a five-pound bag.”

The coalition is a volunteer organization that works with neighborhood and community groups on zoning, environmental and other issues. It played a leading role in fighting Learning Gate’s proposed use of a site near U.S. 41 and Sunset Lane for a middle and high school.

Much like the site at Sunset, the proposed site at Sunlake and Lutz Lake Fern is not a good choice for a school, White said. Both roads are two lanes, which are not equipped to handle the kind of traffic that the project would produce.

Beyond traffic, there are concerns about flooding and the other impacts that a school would have on nearby residential development, White said.

“There’s going to be a huge fight on this,” he said.

Despite their opposition to the Learning Gate proposal and to the proposed location of the charter elementary school, the coalition is not against schools in general, White said. If the applicant chose an appropriate spot for a school, they would wholeheartedly support it.

Representatives for the applicant did not respond to a request to comment as of press time.

Published December 10, 2014

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Holiday happenings abound: Prepare to have fun

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Whether it’s a stroll along Christmas Card Lane in Lutz, tree lighting festivities in Zephyrhills, synchronized tree lights and music at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, or a magical Christmas parade in Dade City — there are plenty of holiday events in coming weeks to put on your calendars.

Several events are planned in anticipation of the holidays in Lutz.

Here’s just one of the displays that visitors are likely to encounter if they visit the Old Lutz School during the holiday season. (File photo)
Here’s just one of the displays that visitors are likely to encounter if they visit the Old Lutz School during the holiday season. (File photo)

Shoppers looking for a unique gift may want to check out the 2014 Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival at Lake Park, 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway, on the weekend of Dec. 6-7.

The annual event attracts more than 250 vendors, offering a wide array of items including paintings, photography, jewelry, woodcarvings, ceramics and pottery, and stained glass.

The juried art show awards cash prizes as the year’s biggest fundraiser for the GFWC Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, and supports a multitude of community organizations and activities. The event also features various food selections, including the woman’s club’s famous peach cobbler.

The event’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 6, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 7. There is no admission charge, but parking costs $2.

The Lutz community also is planning a couple other events likely to appeal to those who enjoy old-fashioned holiday festivities. At the 18th annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 N., visitors can walk through rooms to enjoy holiday displays, listen to musical presentations, sip a cup of hot chocolate, and nibble on a cookie.

There is no admission charge, but donations are accepted. Proceeds are used for the Old Lutz School. Canned foods and new toys also are accepted to provide for those less fortunate.

It’s open this year from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 11, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 16, Dec. 18, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Dec. 28. For a nominal fee, children can enjoy breakfast with Santa from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 13.

For those who like entertainment, the heartwarming Christmas musical, “3 Wise Men and a Baby” may be just the ticket. Heritage Church, 1854 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz, is presenting free performances of the play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13, and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 14.

Lutz also is planning another community event beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16, when it will showcase its Christmas Card Lane.

The event features the displays of four-by-eight-foot illuminated holiday cards, along with performances by children from local schools, a visit by Santa, hot chocolate and cookies.

The event takes place at the corner of U.S. 41 and Lutz Lake Fern Road in the vicinity of the Lutz Train Depot near the library.

Those who enjoy holiday concerts may want to plan on attending one of two presentations of “A Saint Leo Christmas,” at Saint Leo University in the town of St. Leo. The free presentations are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Dec. 2 in the Greenfelder-Denlinger Boardrooms of the Student Community Center, 33701 State Road 52.

Although admission is free, those attending the 7 p.m. show must call to reserve tickets to be assured seating. To reserve a seat, call Tamra Hunt at (352) 588-8294.

The Founders Garden Club of San Antonio also is gearing up for its annual “Christmas in the Park,” held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 7 in the city park.

The event includes lighted Christmas cards placed around the park by area businesses and families. After the lighting, the Rev. Santiago Huron and his musical family from Heritage Bible Church of San Antonio will present a Christmas concert.

The event also includes refreshments, carol singing, and a Nativity blessing by the Rev. Edwin Palka.

Those who enjoy watching parades may want to mark their calendars for the 2014 Magical Night of Christmas Parade in Dade City at 7 p.m. on Dec. 5, and the parade planned for 6 p.m. on Dec. 6 during the Festival of Lights in Zephyrhills.

The Dade City parade, organized by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, will feature bands, floats and walking units.

In addition to the parade, the Festival of Lights, presented by Main Street Zephyrhills, has a theme this year of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Another event likely to draw a big crowd is the 30th annual Lighting of the Trees, hosted by Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 7, on the front lawn of the hospital, 7050 Gall Blvd.

The event includes decorating trees, entertainment, a live Nativity, Santa’s arrival, skydivers, and of course the tree lighting and some fireworks.

Forest Lake Estates, 6429 Forest Lake Drive in Zephyrhills, has its annual craft fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 6. It will feature handcrafted items including jewelry, jams, decorations and other goods.

Those who enjoy a lively Christmas lights show can swing by The Shops at Wiregrass to take in its seventh annual Symphony of Lights. The holiday light show features a 55-foot tall tree and more than 250,000 lights, synchronized to music by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Shows run nightly, on the hour, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., through Dec. 31 at 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel.

Wesley Chapel also has a new performing arts company presenting O. Henry’s heartwarming story “The Gift of the Magi.” Dreamhouse Theatre will present the play at 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 and at 2 p.m. on Dec. 6 at Bridgeway Church, 30660 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

Tickets at the door are $22 for adults, and $17 for students and kids 12 and younger. Tickets also are available at a discounted rate online at DreamhouseTheatre.com.

For those who don’t mind venturing out of the area to take in some holiday sights and sounds, there are a host of offerings that they may find enticing.

The Celebration of Lights is a new attraction in Tampa Bay, which features a mile-long route that motorists can drive along to see a dazzling display of animated lights.

The event was the vision of Dave Parrish, a community leader in West Pasco who died before his vision could come to life.

The event is open at dusk on Nov. 27-30, and Dec. 5-Jan. 4 at 15325 Alric Pottberg Road in Spring Hill. Entry fees are $20 per car and $40 for a 14-passenger van.

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Steinbrenner/Gaither game gets lesson in texting, driving

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It’s a rare time to have football and Halloween on the same night, but AAA is going to make the best of it by sharing a true fright: texting and driving.

AAA and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will attend Friday’s football game between Steinbrenner and Gaither high schools, where they hope to talk about the dangers teens face when they get behind the wheel. Of course, that becomes much more complicated when they decide to pull out their phone and text as well, according to a release.

The number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes by a distracted driver was 3,328, with another 421,000 people injured in 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

During the Steinbrenner/Gaither game, both AAA and the sheriff’s office will hand out “Don’t Txt n Drive” T-shirts, show a public service announcement about teen driver safety, and ask teens in attendance to make a voluntary pledge to not text and drive.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Steinbrenner, 5575 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, in Lutz, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.

Steinbrenner (3-4-1) is looking to play spoiler in the game as Gaither (5-3-0) is looking for a way to break the three-way tie at the top of the Class 7A-District 7 standings it shares with Sickles and Tampa Bay Tech. Steinbrenner edged Freedom last week 7-6 to take them out of the district championship race, and dropping them to 4-4-0.

 

Manors of Crystal Lakes to get new water source soon

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Residents of the Manors of Crystal Lakes are expected to connect to a new Hillsborough County water line within a month or so.

Work continues on installing pipeline along Lutz Lake Fern Road, with the road narrowed down to one lane near North Dale Mabry Highway while construction continues.

Crews are busy on Lutz Lake Fern Road putting in a 12-inch water pipe that will carry water into the Manors of Crystal Lakes. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Crews are busy on Lutz Lake Fern Road putting in a 12-inch water pipe that will carry water into the Manors of Crystal Lakes. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The county is completing the $5.4 million project to connect the Manors of Crystal Lakes to a new 12-inch water line. The goal is to improve the reliability of water supply for the subdivision, said Richard Kirby, section manager for Hillsborough County’s capital improvement program.

The project involves 4.5 miles of pipeline, Kirby said. It creates a looped system, giving Manors of Crystal Lake residents a backup in the event of any water line breaks or other disruptions.

The water flow also will be improved with the new line, bringing it up to the current standards for fire protection.

As work progresses, flagmen are directing traffic down to one lane on a portion of Lutz Lake Fern Road near North Dale Mabry Highway as crews work along the right of way of the narrow road. Installing the pipeline along that stretch is a challenge because of existing utilities in the area, Kirby said.

New water pipes already have been installed on U.S. 41 as part of the project.

Once the work on Lutz Lake Fern Road is completed between U.S. 41 and North Dale Mabry Highway, testing of the water line will begin.

The biggest change is that customers will receive water that uses chloramines in the final disinfection stages instead of chlorine, Kirby said.

“If anything, it’s an improvement in the smell and taste of the water because there’s less chemical in there,” he said.

Customers should be aware that water that contains chloramines should not be used in home aquariums, fishponds or home kidney dialysis, Kirby said. Water used for those purposes should be treated or filtered to remove the chloramines.

Chloramines have been used to disinfect water since the 1930s, Kirby said. They are used to disinfect water throughout the county’s water system.

So far, most of the calls coming into the county about the project have been inquiries about whether nearby properties can hook onto the system, Kirby said. Properties that are adjacent to the water pipe can hook in, but they must be directly next to it.

He does not expect any changes in water pressure for customers. The rates will not change either.

The Manors of Crystal Lakes already is a part of the county’s water system, but has been served by two wells. Those wells and a nearby chlorination plant will be shut down once the new waterline begins operation.

Published September 24, 2014

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Putting the ‘cool’ back in Oscar Cooler Sports Complex

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When it comes to baseball, a level playing field is crucial.

That’s one of the reasons a fundraising effort is under way to buy a better grade of clay for the baseball diamonds at the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex.

A player warms up in a batting cage at the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex. More batting cages are needed to meet the demand. (Courtesy of Lutz Baseball)
A player warms up in a batting cage at the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex. More batting cages are needed to meet the demand.
(Courtesy of Lutz Baseball)

Warming up properly is important, as well, to improve form and prevent injuries. And that explains the goal of building additional batting cages for the baseball teams that compete at the park, located at 766 E. Lutz Lake Fern Road.

The fundraising effort — which includes a baseball clinic, a golf tournament and an equipment drive — aims to raise money for improvements at the park, said Jeff Stanislow, a member of the Lutz Baseball board.

The organizers came up with a catchy name for their effort, asking people to “Put the Cool Back in Oscar Cooler Park.” They also enlisted the aid of Lou Piniella, whose career in Major League Baseball spanned a half-century, including stints as a player, manager, broadcaster and consultant.

The University of South Florida baseball program also is pitching in by hosting a clinic for players, to help them hone their skills. And Domingo Ayala — a baseball celebrity known for providing comic relief — will be there, too.

Piniella will be a keynote speaker at a banquet following a golf tournament that is at Avila Golf & Country Club on Sept. 15. Organizers hope to attract about 200 baseball players to the clinic and about 120 golfers to the golf tournament.

They want to raise enough money to pay for six new batting cages and some repairs to existing cages. The goal is to have the new baseball cages ready by next February, in time for the spring season.

Organizers also hope to purchase some clay to top dress the diamonds, to help prevent bad bounces and help prevent injuries to players.

“For years we’ve been using the less expensive clay because it’s $300 a truckload, and baseball clay is $1,500 a truckload,” Stanislow said.

Besides reducing bad ball hops and preventing injuries, the more expensive clay lasts longer, he said.

Piniella agreed to volunteer his time to help the cause because he has friends at Oscar Cooler park, Stanislow said, and he lives at Avila, where the golf tournament is being held.

About 300 players compete in the fall league, and about 400 play in the spring league, Stanislow said. About three-quarters come from Lutz, but there also are players from Odessa, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

The park hosts some practice sessions for travel ball teams during the off-season, as well.

“The park is an important place for kids. A place to build relationships. A place to build teamwork,” Stanislow said.

It also provides a healthy alternative to video games or other diversions, which can get them into trouble, he added.

Giving young people healthy diversions was exactly what the late Oscar Cooler had in mind when he pushed Hillsborough County commissioners to provide land for a baseball field in Lutz. When commissioners were dragging their heels about providing funding to build the baseball facility, Cooler recruited community volunteers to get the job done.

That was decades ago. Since then, thousands of youths have enjoyed a sports complex that has brought together generations of families to play and watch sports.

“When you have something of that kind of legacy, that’s been part of a community for so long, it’s really important to embrace that and have that story continue on,” Stanislow said.

Lutz Baseball is a nonprofit organization. For more information, visit LutzBaseball.com.

If you go …
WHAT: ‘Domingo’ Day at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex
WHEN: Sept. 14, with registration at 10:30 a.m., and event concluding with a 3 p.m. awards ceremony
DETAILS: Baseball clinics led by the University of South Florida baseball team, with visits from baseball celebrity Domingo
Ayala; a hit, run and throw contest; a keynote speech from Ayala; and an awards presentation.
COST: $25

VIP Tent Access
Those wanting more personal access to Domingo Ayala can have their pictures taken with him in a VIP tent. Cost is $50 per person, $150 per family

Play It Again Sports equipment drive:
Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at parking lot at Oscar Cooler Park, 766 E. Lutz Lake Fern Road

Play It Again Sports will purchase used sporting equipment from people who wish to donate. Proceeds will help improve the baseball facilities at Oscar Cooler Park. The company will purchase equipment used in all sorts of sports.

Charity Golf and Banquet:
WHERE: Avila Golf & Country Club, 943 Guisando De Avila in Tampa
WHO: Baseball legend Lou Piniella, keynote speaker
WHEN: Sept. 15, with golf tournament at 1 p.m. The banquet and silent auction is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
COST: Packages and sponsorships range from $75 to $5,000
INFO: LutzBaseball.com

Published September 3, 2014

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Dwindling ranks of golfers handicap golf courses

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Golf courses are in trouble, and Florida — which boasts more golf courses than any other state in the nation — could be hit the hardest.

The latest to experience trouble is Scotland Yards Golf Club on U.S. 301 in Dade City. The bank that holds the mortgage on the course, First National Bank of Pasco, started foreclosure proceedings against the 100-acre course last month. However, course owner David Rinaldo says those problems look worse than they actually are.

Golf courses are a favorite pastime of many older players, but have not really attracted the younger generation. For golfers like Richard Buddy of Wesley Chapel, it might be harder to find golf courses in the future. (Courtesy of Ron Ludwin)
Golf courses are a favorite pastime of many older players, but have not really attracted the younger generation. For golfers like Richard Buddy of Wesley Chapel, it might be harder to find golf courses in the future.
(Courtesy of Ron Ludwin)

“The course has financial issues like every golf course in America,” Rinaldo told The Laker/Lutz News in an email. “But it is not shutting down.”

Golf courses are suffering financially in different parts of the country, especially Florida, as interest in the sport wanes from its peak over the last few decades. Last year, 160 golf courses shut down in the nation, and 300 have closed in the last few years, the National Golf Foundation reported, according to published reports.

Florida has more than 1,200 courses, enough to have one course for every 16,000 people. That’s just too many for the market to sustain, one golf pro says, especially with other recreational activities that may be less time consuming and less expensive competing against the game.

“Golf was in its heyday 20 or 30 years ago, when that was the thing to do, both socially and sports wise,” said Laura Sanderson, a pro at Meadow Oaks Golf & Country Club in Hudson. “Everyone built a bunch of golf courses because, back then, we could keep them full. But now people’s interests have changed, especially the younger generation. People just have better things to do with their time and money.”

The summer season hasn’t helped, when many seasonal residents are in their northern homes, and those remaining finding it too hot to hit the links. Even Meadow Oaks, which averages 275 golfers a day during the peak season, is seeing just a little more than 100 during the summer months.

But getting through those times means knowing that it’s coming, and being ready for it. Quail Hollow Golf Course in Wesley Chapel, for example, has focused on attracting a lot of non-golf events like motorcycle shows and big band performances, Sanderson said.

“You just have to take care of where you’re at,” said Nic Kalojiannis, one of the people in the ownership group that leases and manages Heritage Harbor Golf and Country Club in Lutz. “We do a lot of weddings, sweet 16s, and golf tournaments. It’s a process as a whole that you need to have, just to try and get you through tough seasonal times. Like this year, it’s rained pretty much all day every day, it seems like.”

These events give exposure to the golf course, which is owned by the Heritage Harbor Community Development District.

“We’re out here on Lutz Lake Fern Road off of North Dale Mabry, and we have a beautiful sign and the upkeep is really nice,” Kalojiannis said. “But the clubhouse was built in the back, kind of off the beaten path. We always have people coming in to our events telling us they didn’t even know we were back here.”

Other courses, however, would likely struggle no matter what they tried to do. And all of that goes back to how golf courses were originally financed.

Mortgages — typically in the millions of dollars — were structured in a way that a course could pay its note and still make a profit by charging $70 a round, for example.

“People don’t have that kind of excess money anymore, or if they do, they are not really willing to put it toward golf,” Sanderson said.

Instead, many have to cut fees, and then find ways to save expenses. More often than not, golf courses choose to skimp on maintenance — which could drive away even more golfers, and make their financial situation worse.

Even after Plantation Palms Golf Club in Land O’ Lakes shut down in May, maintenance crews kept the course in mostly good shape. However, when the workers stopped coming, the course fell into disrepair.

“After a matter of a couple months of that, it becomes completely unplayable,” Sanderson said. “You’ll lose the greens, and it’s not that you can just go back and mow it. You’ll have to replace it, and that could cost you $1 million right there.”

Plantation Palms was put up for sale last month for $1.2 million, considerably down from the $2.2 million MJS Golf Club LLC paid for it in 2011.

Plantation Palms was one of many communities in the region, and in the country, anchored by golf courses. But that’s not happening anymore. Some homeowners in Plantation Palms complained about the loss of home value, and many golf course designers have turned to Europe and Asia to build new courses, not finding any market in the United States.

But is golf fighting for its life? Sanderson doesn’t think so. It’s more about “righting the ship.”

“Golf is still strong, we just have too much product out there, too many courses out there,” she said. “We definitely need to grow the industry from the standpoint of the younger generation, but we’re just shaking out some of the excess courses. The ones that survive are going to end up being good in the long run.”

Published September 3, 2014

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In Print: Don’t miss Fourth of July, we have pics

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What did you do on the Fourth of July? Well, hopefully you didn’t stay home, because there were plenty of options, which as a regular reader of The Laker/Lutz News, you already knew about.

Bridget Richwine, second from right, helped her sons get into the Fourth of July spirit with hats she made for C.J., 11, at right, and Ben, 5. Grandmother Chloie Adkins, far left, looks on. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Bridget Richwine, second from right, helped her sons get into the Fourth of July spirit with hats she made for C.J., 11, at right, and Ben, 5. Grandmother Chloie Adkins, far left, looks on. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

The Shops at Wiregrass kicked things off with its annual Fourth of July celebration July 3, complete with bicycle decorating contests, watermelon eating and Miss and Mr. Firecracker. It continued Friday morning in Lutz with its annual Fourth of July parade, which had large crowds lined up along Lutz Lake Fern Road leading into the Lutz Depot.

And if that wasn’t enough, the fun continued Saturday in places like Avalon West and Connerton, with booths, games and fireworks.

Want to see some of the great images from those events? Well, you can find them right now in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News. If you don’t have a newspaper in front of you, you can see all the picture in our free e-edition by clicking here.

Also, a Lutz News reader, Tracy Gaschler, submitted some of her own pictures from the Lutz parade. You can check those out on our Facebook page by clicking here.

If you were at any of those Fourth of July events, then there’s no doubt in your mind that we’re in the middle of summer, and it can be hot. But how do you enjoy the sun and fun, without ending up in the emergency room?

Three local doctors from places like Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and St. Joseph’s Hospital-North shared some advice on how to stay safe while celebrating summer whether it’s on the road, in the water, or in the outdoors.

But it’s not just about keeping yourself safe, but children, too. And they require constant vigilance, especially when they are in the water.

“Don’t take a break to get on the phone,” Dr. Javier Gonzalez, assistant medical director of the emergency department at the Zephyrhills hospital, told reporter B.C. Manion. “I hear that all the time, ‘I just went out for a second to speak to somebody or to  pick up the phone.’ Before they know it, two minutes have passed by and the child is dead at the bottom of the pool.”

Another key safety tip is to stay hydrated, and not just when you’re in the heat — but drinking plenty of water before you go out is essential too.

“You’re losing water with every breath you take, you’re losing water with the heat itself,” said Dr. Michael Longley, medical director of the emergency department at the Wesley Chapel hospital. “You’re losing water with sweating and you’re losing water with the activity that you’re doing. It’s compounded and there’s just no way to keep up if the tank isn’t full to being with.”

To see what else these doctors, along with Dr. Katrina Cordero, has to say about summertime protection, check out the print edition of this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, or you can read it for free in our e-edition by clicking here.

Finally, Pasco County sheriff Chris Nocco learned Tuesday that the first draft of the county’s budget for the next year will include more than $5 million he’s requested in additional funds to help stave off the departure of deputies to neighboring counties. But what is the long-term plan for the sheriff’s office?

Probably the biggest thing on the drawing board is creating a fourth district for deputies, based out of the Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel area.

“we are going to need many more deputies, and we’re going to need a fourth district in the (State Road) 54 corridor,” Nocco told reporter Michael Hinman. “We need to have a stronger presence in the Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel area. Deputies who serve that area right now are based out of Dade City, and there has to be something much closer to serve those needs.”

However, many of those plans will require money — something Nocco believes Pasco County commissioners are supportive, since public safety is a key factor to continued growth and happy residents.

“We are not wasting taxpayer dollars,” Nocco said. “Instead, we are very efficient. I know our commissioners are being pulled in a thousand different directions, but I also think they realize that public safety is a priority.”

You can read more about Nocco’s plans in the print edition of The Laker, or you can read our free e-edition by clicking here.

All of these stories and more can be found in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News, available in newsstands throughout east and central Pasco County as well as northern Hillsborough County. Find out what has your community talking this week by getting your local news straight from the only source you need.

If The Laker/Lutz News is not coming to your door, call us to see where you can get your copy at (813) 909-2800, or read our free e-edition by clicking here.

Lutz to sparkle for this year’s July 4 celebration

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Nobody can say Lutz ignores the Fourth of July.

A cake decorating contest, 5-kilometer run and a new Guv’na inauguration are just some of the events scheduled for July 4.

Jake Gemmill, 8, of Lutz, enjoys an imaginary ride on a tractor during last year’s Lutz Fourth of July celebration. (File Photo)
Jake Gemmill, 8, of Lutz, enjoys an imaginary ride on a tractor during last year’s Lutz Fourth of July celebration.
(File Photo)

The Independence Day celebration also includes the annual parade, and this year’s theme is a tribute to the Lutz Volunteer Fire Association, which ceased operations last year and officially went out of business in January. Hillsborough County now handles fire rescue services.

It was important to honor the fire association, said Phyllis Hoedt, who chairs the Fourth of July events. The group served the community for more than six decades.

“They’re no longer in existence, and we wanted to honor them,” Hoedt said. “They were very good to our community.”

The Fourth of July work actually begins on July 3, when volunteers set up for the parade from 10 a.m. until noon by the train depot, located at U.S. 41 and Lutz Lake Fern Road. While some people already are scheduled to be on-hand, more volunteers are needed to set up chairs, trashcans and other items for the expected crowd. Volunteers also will be needed for breakdown after the parade.

Participants in the cake and pie contest can drop off their entries on Thursday between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., at the Lutz Senior Center, 112 First Ave. N.W. The final cake registration opportunity is July 4 between 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.

On Friday, the 5K and one-mile runs kick off the festivities at the Lutz Community Center, 101 First Ave. N. The 5K begins at 8 a.m., with the fun run and family walk starting at 8:45 a.m.

Male and female awards will be given out for the 5K run in overall categories as well as age groups. The one-mile event will recognize overall male and female winners, and all finishers will receive a ribbon.

Following the races, a flag-raising ceremony with the Boy Scouts and the Civil Air Patrol will commence at the front of the Lutz Branch Library, 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road.

After the flag raising is completed, the various 5K and fun run race winners across age and gender categories will receive trophies. Then the parade starts, with around 100 floats, cars and pedestrians taking part in the route, which begins near Lutz Lake Fern Road and ends on First Avenue S.W.

While participants don’t need to do anything fancy for the parade — which is free to enter — there always are a number of them who turn heads with their eye-catching floats, said Shirley Simmons, one of the parade organizers.

“I think that, for the most part, they’re very original. They spend lots of time thinking about it and putting it together,” Simmons said. “It’s just amazing to me how original some of them are.”

When the parade concludes around 11 a.m., float winners will receive their awards and the cake auction will begin. The money raised, which is usually several hundred dollars, will help fund next year’s event. The cake and pie competition is sponsored by the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

Finally, the new Lutz Guv’na will be inaugurated, concluding several weeks of “campaigning,” where each candidate raises money for local organizations. The candidate who raises the most money earns the ceremonial title.

Five candidates are vying to replace current Guv’na Suzin Carr: Jerome Smalls, Cindy Perkins, Susan Gulash, “Papa” Jay Muffly and Liane Caruso.

Throughout the morning, the Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, the Boy Scouts and a variety of other vendors will sell food, arts and crafts and other items. Around 45 vendor booths are expected for the event, and will be accessible near the train depot and the dog park.

Booths will cost $20, or $25 with access to electricity.

To participate in the 5K or one-mile events, preregistration forms are available by e-mailing and placing “Lutz I-Day Run Reg Form” in the subject line. Participants also can pick up registration forms in person by visiting Big Fred’s Auto Repair, 19301 U.S. 41 in Lutz Monday through Friday during the day.

Until June 30, the cost for the 5K race is $20, the one-mile event is $10, and registration for both is $22. After June 30, the cost increases to $25, $15 and $27, respectively.

Same-day registration is available at the Lutz Community Center beginning at 6:30 a.m. All preregistered runners will receive a T-shirt, and later registrants will receive any remaining shirts on a first-come basis.

Attendees are encouraged not to park near the Lutz Community Center, as cars might not be able to leave before the end of the parade. Recommended parking areas include south of Lutz Lake Fern Road or east of U.S. 41. Those parking west of U.S. 41 are encouraged to park near the dog park instead of the community center.

For volunteer information, call Suzin Carr at (813) 453-5256. For general parade information, call Phyllis Hoedt at (813) 949-1937. For float information, call Shirley Simmons at (813) 949-7060.

For sponsorship and entry information for the 5K race, call Terry Donovan at (813) 949-6659.

For cake decorating contest information, call Terri Burgess at (813) 690-5790 or Marilyn Wannamaker at (813) 949-1482. For booth rental information, call Annie Fernandez at (813) 784-4471.

Published June 25, 2014

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