The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Lutz

Lake Park closed until further notice

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Lake Park, a popular park in Lutz, has been closed until further notice because of a sinkhole.

At this time, the sinkhole is 6 feet across and approximately 90 feet deep, according to Michelle Van Dyke, a spokeswoman for Hillsborough County.

The county has closed the park, at 17302 N. Dale Mabry Highway, in an abundance of caution to protect public safety, Van Dyke said.

Lake Park, a popular regional park in Lutz, is closed until further notice. Hillsborough County, which operates the park, has confirmed the presence of a sinkhole and has closed the park as a matter of public safety. (Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County
Lake Park, a popular regional park in Lutz, is closed until further notice. Hillsborough County, which operates the park, has confirmed the presence of a sinkhole and has closed the park as a matter of public safety.
(Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County

The county hired a geotechnical firm to conduct soil borings after floodwaters receded about four weeks ago, revealing a depression on one of the main roads in the park, according to Van Dyke.

The county notified the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club about a possible sinkhole, which forced cancellation of the club’s annual arts and crafts festival at the park.

The two-day festival, held in early December, typically features around 300 vendors and attracts about 30,000 people. It’s the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and its cancellation will have a ripple effect on the various local organizations it supports.

Lake Park is a 589-acre sanctuary for birds and wildlife. It features five lakes, cypress swamps, pine flatwoods, and hardwood hammocks.

It also has an archery range, a BMX bicycle track, two equestrian arenas and a radio-controlled car track.

The county closed the park after receiving an engineering report on Dec. 1 confirming the presence of a sinkhole.

The immediate area affected looks like a dip in the road, but tests indicate a sinkhole beneath the surface. The exact footprint is not known, Van Dyke said.

Additional fencing has been installed on the park road leading to the affected area, she added.

County staff will be talking with the engineering firm and the City of St. Petersburg, which owns the land, to determine what the next steps will be. The county leases the property from the City of St. Petersburg.

County staff is contacting event organizers and groups that use the park, to notify them the park is closed until further notice.

Any park usage application fees for cancelled events will be refunded.

Published December 9, 2015

Getting up close and personal with potters

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If you’re curious about the art of pottery, you can satisfy your desire for knowledge during the 2015 Tampa Bay Tour de Clay.

This is the eighth Tour de Clay, which is always held during the second weekend in December. It’s an event that gives visitors a chance to see potters in action at four pottery studios and the opportunity to experience a kiln opening at each.

A couple of finished works by Jack Boyle, of San Antonio Pottery. Those who are curious about the art of pottery can attend the Tour de Clay on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 to learn more. (Photos courtesy of Tour De Clay)
A couple of finished works by Jack Boyle, of San Antonio Pottery. Those who are curious about the art of pottery can attend the Tour de Clay on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 to learn more.
(Photos courtesy of Tour de Clay)

“It creates a situation where people can come in and talk to the artist,” said Jack Boyle of San Antonio Pottery, owner of one of the studios on the tour.

All four of the studios are hosting their kiln opening on Dec. 12.

The first kiln opening is at 9 a.m., at Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogie Lane in Palm Harbor.

The next opening is at noon at Hidden Lake Pottery, 16705 Hutchison Road in Odessa.

Then, there will be an opening at 2 p.m., at Wellman & Welsch Pottery, 17202 Whirley Road in Lutz.

And, finally, there will be a 4 p.m. opening at San Antonio Pottery in San Antonio, at 11903 Curley Street.

“It is rare that people get a chance to see a kiln opening,” said Glenn Woods of Pottery Boys in Palm Harbor. “Potters work for weeks to create enough pieces to fill their kiln. When it’s finally time to open the kiln, after days of firing, it’s always exciting to see, because the artist never knows exactly how a piece will turn out, or how a glaze will look, until the kiln is opened.”

He likens the experience of opening a kiln to that of opening presents on Christmas morning.

“Sometimes you get a shiny new bike, and other times you get socks and underwear,” he said.

Glenn Woods demonstrates the skill involved in carving work on a piece of pottery.
Glenn Woods demonstrates the skill involved in carving work on a piece of pottery.

After a piece is taken from the kiln, it is passed around to those gathered, so they can see and feel it. Sometimes, the newly fired piece is still warm.

“We talk about the results,” Woods said. Sometimes, the effects are intentional; sometimes, they’re a surprise.

The tour gives people a greater understanding of the art of pottery, Woods said.

“I think it’s really important to see that a piece of handmade pottery isn’t just another pot sitting on a shelf, that’s been made in a factory. These are all individually made, hand-crafted items,” Woods said.

To encourage people to visit all four studios, visitors can pick up a Tour de Clay “Passport to Pottery” tour guide at each studio location, or download it from the event’s website at TampaTourDeClay.com.

As they make their way from studio to studio, they have their passport stamped. Those completing the tour are eligible for prizes.

Every stop on the Tour de Clay allows visitors to:
• Watch artists work in their studios

  • See pottery made by hand or by wheel
  • Learn about the many types of kilns and firing techniques
  • See examples of glazes and finishes for finely crafted decorative pieces, as well as functional vessels and dinnerware.

Participating artists are:

  • Pottery Boys Studios: Jennifer McCurdy, Fong Choo, Zan Barnes, Teresa Testa, and studio owners, Glenn Woods and Keith Herbrand.
  • Hidden Lake Pottery: Jonathan Barnes, Chuck McGee, LC McGee, McKenzie Smith, and studio owners, Kim Kirchman and Mark Fehl.
  • Wellman & Welsch Pottery: Kimberli Cummings, John Kellum, Laurie Landry, Katherine Mathisen, Charlie Parker, Matt Schiemann, and studio owners, Harry Welsch and Kim Wellman-Welsch.
  • San Antonio Pottery: Ira Burhans, Ken Jensen, William Kidd, Michele Ginouves, and studio owner, Jack Boyle.

Proceeds from Tour de Clay go to support local charities and community radio station WMNF.

What: Pottery demonstrations, kiln openings, sales, demos, raffles and refreshments. The event features 25 nationally known clay artists.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 12, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 13. (Note: San Antonio Pottery’s hours will be extended to 8 p.m. on Dec. 12, and there will be live performances there from “The Barking Dogs” and “Those Unscrupulous Sunspots.”
Where: The studios are in Palm Harbor, Odessa, Lutz and San Antonio. For specific locations, tour map, kiln openings and list of ceramic artists, visit TampaTourDeClay.com.
How much: The tour is free. Those taking the entire tour will be eligible to win prizes.

Published December 2, 2015

There’s plenty of cheer to spread around this season

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If you’re looking for a way to get into a festive mood, you won’t have to look very far.

There are loads of celebrations planned throughout The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area.

A familiar community landmark will be decked out again for the holidays for the 19th annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School.

Rooms are dressed up with holiday décor and community groups provide entertainment.

Visitors to the annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School always find plenty to look at, such as decorated trees, miniature train sets and nutcrackers. (File Photos)
Visitors to the annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School always find plenty to look at, such as decorated trees, miniature train sets and nutcrackers.
(File Photos)

Santa will be visiting on Dec. 12, between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., for a breakfast with Santa, at a $4 charge, which includes a variety of activities for children.

During the week, several local churches, schools and other groups are slated to perform at

The Christmas House, also known as The Old Lutz School, is at 18819 N. U.S. 41.

The Christmas House will be open for free tours on the evenings of Dec. 10, Dec. 12, Dec. 13, Dec. 15, Dec. 17, Dec. 19, Dec. 20, Dec. 22, Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Collection barrels will be there to collect nonperishable food items and toys for families needing help.

Heritage Church in Lutz is hosting “Miracle on Main Street,” a Christmas musical billed to be entertaining for people of all ages. The church at 1853 Oak Grove Blvd., will be staging the free event on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 13 at 11 a.m.

The Carrollwood Cultural Center, at 4537 Lowell Road, in Tampa, is hosting a series of events during December, including a Holiday Choral Tapestry with the Carrollwood Community Chorus, on Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m., with tickets ranging from $10 to $16. It also is hosting a Holiday Concert with the Carrollwood Winds, on Dec. 13 at 4 p.m., with tickets ranging from $10 to $16.

On Dec. 5, the community of Connerton will be having a holiday bazaar, with a variety of vendors offering holiday crafts, unique gifts and other items for purchase. Admission is free to the event, being held inside Club Connerton, at 21100 Fountain Garden Way in Land O’ Lakes.

train set rgbA family event called Traditions on the Green is planned for Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The event features a breakfast with Santa, face painting, a holiday bounce house, puppet shows, local band performances, crafts and other activities. Admission is free.

The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its 2015 “Magical Night Christmas Parade,” sponsored by Bayfront Health Dade City.

The parade will begin at 7 p.m., on Dec. 4, in historic downtown Dade City. It will feature dozens of floats, entertainment acts, bands, seasonal displays, and a visit from that jolly old elf, Santa Claus.

The following day, on Dec. 5, the downtown Dade City merchants will celebrate a Christmas Stroll from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Country Aire Village, in Zephyrhills, is scheduled to have its annual Holiday Bazaar on Dec. 5 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event, at 39333 Blue Skye Drive, includes coffee and donuts at 7 a.m., and a luncheon from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

nutcrackers rgbOther highlights include items for crafters, a clothing boutique, a Chinese auction, a three-wheel bike raffle, a bake sale and a cookie walk.

A Country Christmas Open House is planned for Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City. The event will feature crafters, cookies, punch, holiday music and more.

A Christmas in the Park is set for Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., at the San Antonio City Park, at 12202 Main St., San Antonio.

The Florida Orchestra is also planning a series of holiday concerts. On Dec. 4 through Dec. 6, the orchestra will present the “Hallelujah” chorus, and during the weekend of Dec. 11 through Dec. 13 it will perform a Holiday Pops. For more information about ticket prices and venues, visit FloridaOrchestra.org.

Published December 2, 2015

Toys for Tots delivers holiday cheer

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When a doctor told a mother that her son suffering from a muscular diseases needed a bicycle to keep his muscles moving, she turned to the Toys for Tots for help.

She couldn’t afford a bicycle, so she went to the organization’s toy distribution event a couple of years ago.

“When she got there, she was about the third to the last parent there, and we had one bike left. We handed that bike to her, and she crumbled right there in front of us,” recalled Herb Roshell, captain of the Toys for Tots efforts in Land O’ Lakes and part of Lutz.

“It’s those kinds of experiences that keep us empowered to do this,” he said.

The United States Marine Corps Reserve has been doing this for more than 65 years, creating a national program that distributes toys to needy children during the holidays.

In Roshell’s area alone, the program has distributed to more than 500 children from nearly 400 families last year.

Each child gets two to three toys, plus games for the family and stocking stuffers.

Toys are laid out so parents and guardians can go ‘shopping’ and choose the right toys for their children. They depend on drop-off boxes at local businesses and the Dec. 5 postal service pickup for the bulk of donations. (Photo courtesy of Bob Loring)
Toys are laid out so parents and guardians can go ‘shopping’ and choose the right toys for their children. They depend on drop-off boxes at local businesses and the Dec. 5 postal service pickup for the bulk of donations.
(Photo courtesy of Bob Loring)

To keep up with this year’s demand, the program is back with its familiar toy drop-off boxes in various businesses in the community.

Roshell estimates that around 100 locations will sign up for the boxes, and collect new, unwrapped toys for children of various ages.

The U.S. Postal Service also will collect toys that residents leave out by their mailboxes on Dec. 5.

Toys will be distributed Dec. 19 at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., beginning at 8 a.m.

Those toys might not seem like much in the big picture, but to a mother struggling to provide for her family or a child who sees their peers with gifts, it means a lot.

“If we didn’t have it, it would really hurt our community a lot,” Roshell said.

His wife, Stephanie, knows that firsthand. As a young single mother, she used Toys for Tots when she moved and found out her job had been eliminated. She now spends her time helping those in need, and recognizes the empowerment of simple kindnesses.

“I was homeless as a teenager and vowed that if I ever came out of my poverty state that I would never, ever forget about the children and the youth that are struggling,” Stephanie said. “I’ve stood in their shoes before, and I know personally how it made me feel, so I want them to feel that same sense of gratification that I felt.”

Parents or guardians who utilize Toys for Tots feel like they’re shopping when the toys are selected.

At the distribution center Dec. 19, they get assistance from “deputized elves” to help pick out just the right gift for their children. The “elves” are volunteers who meet with regional coordinator Bob Loring, and pledge to offer support and encouragement at the event to help parents choose gifts.

Just being able to provide some holiday cheer for their family boosts family bonds, according to the Roshells.

“It bridges that gap in the family, so the child is looking to that parent as still being that hero,” Stephanie said.

For those parents to remain heroes, the Roshells and many others in the Toys for Tots program work hard to make each year a success.

In the Land O’ Lakes area they expect to collect 1,700 to 2,000 items for distribution. And, unless there’s a large need elsewhere or they have a surplus, the toys donated within the community, stay here.

While individuals and businesses are generous with donations, there are specific needs each year that pose a challenge.

Children between 8 and 12, especially boys, usually receive the least donations, Herb Roshell said.

Boys that age like handheld games and girls enjoy makeup kits, and Toys for Tots wants to make sure there are enough to go around.

The postal service pickup is an important method of toy collection, but response has dropped off in recent years.

The postal service doesn’t cover the organization’s postage anymore, so it’s up to them to get the word out about the Dec. 5 collection date.

Helping those in need makes Dec. 19 a special day for families who wouldn’t otherwise have presents for their children.

And, it’s pretty special for the Toys for Tots family, too, since they get to see their efforts pay off with a bounty of gifts going to local homes, making families’ holidays a little brighter.

For people like Stephanie Roshell, who has been on both sides, it’s an important part of the holiday season.

For information about the Toys for Tots program, and to find out how to apply for assistance, contact the Roshells at or call (813) 713-5197.

Published November 25, 2015

Parents oppose proposed Elem W boundaries

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Scores of parents from the communities of Arbor Woods and Northwood are opposed to proposed school boundaries that would send their children from their Wesley Chapel community over to Denham Oaks Elementary, in Lutz.

About 100 people showed up at a community meeting on Nov. 19 to seek changes to the proposed boundaries for Elementary W, a new school being built off Mansfield Boulevard.

They told officials they understand that Seven Oaks Elementary needs relief from overcrowding, but they don’t want their children to be sent to a school in a different community.

They raised numerous concerns.

Vince Iglio, a parent from Arbor Woods, questioned the school district’s projections regarding future growth, particularly in the area of Denham Oaks Elementary. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Vince Iglio, a parent from Arbor Woods, questioned the school district’s projections regarding future growth, particularly in the area of Denham Oaks Elementary.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

They don’t want to contend with the traffic on State Road 56, particularly near Interstate 75.

They don’t want their children to leave an A-rated school to go to one with a lower grade.

They want their children to have access to the same programs and services that they now enjoy at their current school.

They’re concerned about how the shift will affect which middle school and high school their children will attend.

And, they question the accuracy of the district’s projections.

They want district officials to change the boundaries so children in Arbor Woods and Northwood can attend Sand Pine Elementary, which is closer to where they live.

Elementary School W, now under construction off Mansfield Boulevard, is intended to provide some relief for Seven Oaks and Double Branch elementary schools. It also has some space available to accommodate anticipated growth, said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools.

A boundary committee for Pasco County Schools has recommended a number of shifts that would affect the boundaries of Seven Oaks, Double Branch, Sand Pine and Denham Oaks.

Williams said the committee considers a number of factors when recommending school boundaries.

Those include school capacity, current enrollment and growth projections. The committee also attempts to avoid splitting subdivisions and considers traffic, he said.

Vince Iglio, representing Arbor Woods, said his neighborhood has just 25 students, which would have a negligible impact, if the students were assigned to Sand Pine.

Chris Williams, the director of planning for Pasco County Schools, explains the process used by a boundary committee to make recommendations regarding a school’s boundaries to the Pasco County School Board, which makes the final decision.
Chris Williams, the director of planning for Pasco County Schools, explains the process used by a boundary committee to make recommendations regarding a school’s boundaries to the Pasco County School Board, which makes the final decision.

But, Williams said, if Arbor Woods were assigned to Sand Pine, the district should also consider other parts of Northwood, which would yield an impact of roughly 200 students.

Iglio questioned the district’s projections for Denham Oaks. He said the school could become overcrowded as early as next year, given the development that’s springing up in the area.

Williams said he expects that all of the schools affected by Elementary W’s boundaries will continue to grow, but some areas are expecting greater growth pressures.

Jennifer Northey, president of the Parent Teacher Association at Denham Oaks, told parents gathered in her school’s cafeteria that she understood why they were fighting the move. She said she’d be doing the same thing if her school’s boundaries were being changed and her family was affected.

She said she came to the meeting to reassure the parents that good things are happening at Denham Oaks.

David Scanga, a district administrator who supervises numerous schools, including Denham Oaks, said he understands parent’s concerns. He told them that Denham Oaks has been making great strides in improving its performance.

Ali Soofi, a resident of Arbor Woods, detailed some of the concerns of the Arbor Woods community in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

“All of us knew that eventually we would be rezoned to a different school,” Soofi wrote. “However, none of us realized that we would be moved to a different city.

“Zero part of our rationale has to do with any school ratings,” Soofi added. “We just want to stay in Wesley Chapel, where we spend all our time, money, and worship.”

The Pasco County School Board has the final word on school boundaries, and it is slated to consider the boundaries at public hearings set for Dec. 1 and Dec. 15.

Elementary W boundary hearings
What: Public hearings for proposed boundaries for Elementary W, a new school which will open next school year in Wesley Chapel.
When: Dec. 1 at 9:30 a.m., and Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.
Where: Pasco County Schools district complex, Building No. 3 North, at 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Published November 25, 2015

 

Tampa Bay Lightning launches regional partnership

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A $6 million initiative to expand the game of hockey regionally in Tampa Bay is beginning to play out in local schools.

The Tampa Bay Lightning, the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association are collaborating on a five-year program that aims to develop hockey players and provide life skills lessons to area youth.

As part of that initiative, schools throughout the region are beginning to have street hockey clinics to teach children about the game.

Chester Taylor Elementary students learn about the game of hockey during a recent street hockey clinic led by personnel from Tampa Bay Lightning. (Photos courtesy of Pasco County Schools)
Chester Taylor Elementary students learn about the game of hockey during a recent street hockey clinic led by personnel from Tampa Bay Lightning.
(Photos courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Pasco County plans to offer the program to all of the district’s fourth- and fifth-graders, said Amy Lipovetsky, program coordinator for kindergarten through 12th grade physical education.

The school district was approached by Tampa Bay Lightning and was glad to participate, she said.

“It fits nicely with our standards in the physical education program,” Lipovetsky said.

There is a standard that calls for being able to strike with an implement, which you can do with a hockey stick.

“I know the teachers are excited, and the kids like something different,” said Lipovetsky, who also oversees Pasco’s athletic programs.

The Lightning plans to provide the street hockey clinics at 500 schools throughout the region.

“This semester they had openings for maybe 10 of our schools. And, we’re going to open up next semester for any remaining spots that they have,” Lipovetsky said.

Additional schools will participate as openings become available, she said.

Makenna Rice, of Chester Taylor Elementary School, focuses as she handles her hockey stick during a street hockey clinic at her school. The Tampa Bay Lightning is trying to increase awareness about the game of hockey through a partnership with Tampa Bay area schools.
Makenna Rice, of Chester Taylor Elementary School, focuses as she handles her hockey stick during a street hockey clinic at her school. The Tampa Bay Lightning is trying to increase awareness about the game of hockey through a partnership with Tampa Bay area schools.

When the clinics are held at a school, the Lightning sends in about five staff members to teach the game to the school’s fourth- and fifth-graders.

They come in for a day, and they work with all of our fourth- and fifth-graders. Generally, that takes five to six sessions.

“We want it to be effective. We don’t want any more than 60 kids out at one time, so that they can get the most out of the event,” Lipovetsky said.

Some former Lightning players are involved, and the school district’s physical education teachers are involved, too, she said.

“The cool thing is that each of these kids gets to walk away with a hockey stick and a voucher (for a game).”

The program is going an additional step at Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School, the district’s only magnet school.

Sanders students will learn about the concepts of geometric constructions, energy and force — through a computer game on the sport of hockey.

Schools that have participated in the street hockey clinics so far include Chester Taylor and San Antonio elementary schools.

Besides Sanders, other area Pasco schools scheduled to have clinics this semester are Seven Oaks Elementary in Wesley Chapel and Denham Oaks in Lutz.

The street hockey clinics also take place in other Tampa Bay area schools, including schools in Hillsborough County.

Published November 18, 2015

 

Elementary W causes boundary shifts

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The sight of a new elementary school under construction would seem to be a cause for celebration.

But, even when students can attend a new school, and even when the new school will reduce crowding at other area schools, the prospect of boundary changes for existing schools is often fraught with controversy.

“Folks don’t want to move. I can understand. Folks are loyal to their school,” said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools.

Elementary W, being built off Mansfield Boulevard in Wesley Chapel, is slated to open in August 2016.

A sign lets passersby know that the construction of Elementary School W is being supported by Pasco for Penny funding. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
A sign lets passersby know that the construction of Elementary School W is being supported by Pasco for Penny funding.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

It will affect the current boundaries for Seven Oaks, Double Branch, Sand Pine and Denham Oaks elementary schools — if the Pasco County School Board approves a plan recommended by a school boundary committee.

Those who are interested in learning more or weighing in on the proposed boundaries are invited to attend a community meeting set for Nov. 19 at 6 p.m., at Denham Oaks Elementary, 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz.

The proposed boundaries aim to reduce crowding and leave room for future growth in schools expected to experience the largest enrollment increases over the next few years, Williams said.

Under the proposal, students would be shifted out of Double Branch Elementary and Sand Pine Elementary into the new Elementary W, Williams said.

Then, some students from Seven Oaks would be assigned to Sand Pine, and others from Seven Oaks would be assigned to Denham Oaks, Williams said.

“Part of the rationale is that we don’t want to shift a whole huge amount of kids to Sand Pine and have to move a bunch of portables over there,” Williams explained.

The walls have gone up at Elementary School W, a new school being built off Mansfield in the Wiregrass area of Wesley Chapel.
The walls have gone up at Elementary School W, a new school being built off Mansfield in the Wiregrass area of Wesley Chapel.

“Denham Oaks has quite a bit of room now,” he added.

The boundary committee’s proposal is facing resistance, Williams said.

Although Williams was out of town recently, he said he’s heard that “the biggest opposition is coming from the Arbor Woods group. They’re the newest phase of the Northwood development. They don’t want to be zoned into Denham Oaks.”

Opponents would prefer to stay at Seven Oaks Elementary or move to Sand Pine Elementary, he said.

“Part of their rationale is that Denham Oaks is a lower-graded school. They’re concerned about that,” Williams said.

Opponents also are concerned about traffic through the interchange of State Road 56 and Interstate 75, especially with the recent opening of Tampa Premium Outlets, Williams said.

However, the committee has taken a look at the traffic issue, Williams said.

“They certainly have the ability to go down to County Line (Road) and traverse County Line (Road). By our measurement, so far, the drive times to get to Denham Oaks (Elementary School) from that area are not as bad as they made it out to be,” Williams said.

There’s no question that Seven Oaks Elementary needs relief, the planning director said.

“The car line at Seven Oaks is just madness because of how many kids we have there,” he said. “We just can’t continue to have that many kids at Seven Oaks Elementary.”

In addition to the upcoming community meeting, the public also can weigh in at two public hearings before the Pasco County School Board.

The first public hearing will be during the board’s 9:30 a.m. meeting on Dec. 1, and the second public hearing will be during the board’s 6 p.m. meeting on Dec. 15. The board meets at in the school district complex, Building No. 3 North, at 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Elementary W boundary meeting
What: Community meeting to discuss proposed boundaries for Elementary W, a school under construction in Wesley Chapel that’s expected to open in August 2016.
Where; Denham Oaks Elementary, 1422 Oak Grove Blvd., in Lutz
When: Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.
Who: All are welcome

Published November 18, 2105

 

 

A walk through history at Lutz Cemetery

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The first resident of the Lutz Cemetery is a man known only as Mr. Nims. His grave marker is gone and the burial plot nearly obliterated.

Local historians think he was buried there in 1914, and almost nothing is known of his personal history.

That is not the situation, however, for most of the people resting in peace at this hallowed ground, off U.S. 41 at Fifth Avenue.

Instead, their headstones and grave markers are a narrative of the history of Lutz from past to present.

The cemetery is more than 100 years old.

The Lutz Cemetery Association Inc., maintains the Lutz Cemetery. Vernon Wynn is the president of the association; Mary Lewis is vice president and also director of operations for the cemetery. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
The Lutz Cemetery Association Inc., maintains the Lutz Cemetery. Vernon Wynn is the president of the association; Mary Lewis is vice president and also director of operations for the cemetery.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

The original cemetery plot was 230 feet by 80 feet, in what today is the western portion of the cemetery, according to “Citrus, Sawmills, Critters, Crackers,” a history of Lutz by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus and her daughter, Susan MacManus.

Today, the site measures nearly 8 acres.

Early settlers who are buried include Fred Polen, a teacher at Myrtle School, and later a mail carrier; and Herbert Vernon, owner of Vernon & Land Co. Three generations of the Goheens can be found there, too.

Ira Goheen and his father, Alfred, made Mr. Nims’ coffin, according to the MacManus’ book.

Modern day community activists also are at the Lutz Cemetery including Oscar Cooler, a champion of Lutz youth sports. The Oscar Cooler Sports Complex is named for him. And Carolyn Meeker, former president of the Lutz Civic Association, is another activist buried there.

“This is a community cemetery,” said Mary Lewis, vice president of the Lutz Cemetery Association Inc., and the cemetery’s director of operations.

The cemetery is a legacy donated to Lutz residents by C. E. Thomas, president of the North Tampa Land Company. A group of Chicago investors bought about 32,000 acres, north of the city of Tampa. They called their proposed settlement “North Tampa.”

The company targeted its advertising to would-be farmers and settlers in the North and Midwest, especially in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

The first permanent settler was Mike Riegler, a 30-year-old German immigrant who later donated land for the Myrtle-Denham School.

A few years into the land sales, Thomas made an offer that anyone who bought 10 acres could have a free lot in town or a burial plot in the cemetery.

New signs display the rules of the Lutz Cemetery.
New signs display the rules of the Lutz Cemetery.

Residents cared for the cemetery in the days when activities, such as “barn raising” ceremonies, still thrived and brought families together for a common effort.

For many years, Lutz’ residents gathered once or twice a year to tend to the cemetery. According to the MacManus’ book, men would come with hoes and rakes; women would pack a picnic lunch.

Just when that practice ended isn’t clear but the Lutz Cemetery Association came together in the mid-1950s, said Vernon Wynn, the association’s current president.

“It goes waaaay back,” Wynn said.

But, the association has had a low profile within the community, he said.

Today, the association is taking a more activist role in bringing attention to the cemetery. Board members recently installed a Lutz Cemetery sign near the front of the cemetery facing U.S. 41. For years, motorists could zip past and not realize the cemetery was there.

“It’s really visible now, where before it wasn’t,” Wynn said.

Wynn can point in almost any direction at the cemetery and find a family member. He traces his roots to Lutz pioneers who were among the earliest to buy land and settle down.

He remembers a garage, close by the cemetery, owned by Bill and Mary Starkey.

“Everyone gathered there. It was the only automotive type garage out here,” Wynn said. “It was kind of like a meeting place.”

Today, a few shade trees and a brick utility building on cemetery property might catch someone’s eye, said Lewis, who more than 27 years ago began working with the association.

She takes care of the cemetery’s operations from cutting grass to selling burial plots.

To most people passing by, she said, “It’s just a piece of property with a little building on it.”

The sign isn’t the only new addition to the cemetery.

Decades ago, a metal archway covered the entrance into the cemetery. It long ago was taken down. But, a replica of the archway now stands in front of the small brick utility building.

For the first time, the association had a display table at this year’s traditional Lutz Fourth of July parade.

Association members handed out brochures and collected about $1,200 in donations.

The money is essential to maintaining and preserving the cemetery, Wynn said.

The contributions are needed, said Lewis, a Lutz transplant from Long Island, New York. “People think it survives on its own.”

A few months ago, several pine trees had to be removed at a cost of about $3,000. A new roof had to be put on the utility building.

“We just can’t continue taking care of this, unless donations are made to the association,” Wynn said.

More than 1,600 people are buried at Lutz Cemetery, Lewis said. Only about 100 gravesites remain.

The association is considering adding cremation sites, and potentially looking to add more land to the cemetery.

Lewis came to Lutz in 1973, for a weekend of fun with friends, and to attend the annual pirate fest and Gasparilla parade. She was 25 years old and newly widowed.

She and a friend thought the trip to Tampa would be a distraction.

“Before it was over, I’d bought a house,” Lewis said.

And she stayed.

“I’ve never had a desire to leave. I’ve always felt comfortable here,” she said.

The Lutz Cemetery will be her final resting place.

For information contact Lewis at (813) 310-6637, or write to Lutz Cemetery Association, P. O. Box 1353, Lutz, FL 33548.

Published November 11, 2015 

Opening day a hit

By

Shoppers flock to Tampa Premium Outlets

Margie Hamman was one of the earliest birds to land at the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Almost too early.

Her 5:30 a.m. arrival at the fog-shrouded parking lot, off State Road 56, surprised one parking lot attendant who said she should come back later.

After being first in line at Coach, Margie Hamman of Homosassa makes her way through the crowd en route to Gap at the grand opening of Tampa Premium Outlets. (Fred Bellet/Photos)
After being first in line at Coach, Margie Hamman of Homosassa makes her way through the crowd en route to Gap at the grand opening of Tampa Premium Outlets.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

As she began driving off, a man “in a suit and tie” flagged her down and ushered her back to the parking lot, she said.

She was rewarded for early arrival when she came away with a bag full of coveted handbags and the bragging right of being the first customer inside the Coach store when the mall opened at 10 a.m.

She got a steal for her 10 designer purses, and then she moved on over to Gap.

“I’ll be making a lot of trips to my car,” said Hamman, who drove from Homosassa to her daughter’s home in Odessa the night before. “I’m doing my Christmas shopping.”

She was among thousands who thronged the walkways on Oct. 29, the opening day for the highly anticipated outlet mall developed by Simon Property Group.

Hamman expects to be back, again and again.

The Ellenton Premium Outlets (also a Simon mall) is no longer her go-to destination, especially when she has a daughter living so close to Tampa Premium Outlets.

Fountains shoot water into the air as the Market Hall food court towers over the Lagoon Court at the Tampa Premium Outlets.
Fountains shoot water into the air as the Market Hall food court towers over the Lagoon Court at the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Like Hamman, there are others who will forego outlet malls in Ellenton and Orlando to jingle cash registers in Pasco County instead.

The outlet mall will be an economic shot in the arm, Pasco County Commissioner Chairman Ted Schrader, said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“We know it’s going to be a very big success, building on this momentum,” he said. “We are so looking forward to shoppers spending so much time in Pasco, maybe looking around, staying and living here.”

About 800 people gained full and part-time jobs at the outlet mall, and local labor hired about 500 people to help build it.

The outlet mall adds cache to the Tampa Bay region and will help boost tourism, said Ed Caum, Pasco’s tourism manager.

Visitors to the area can be expected to spend their money in more than one county and at more than one venue, he said.

“It will have a regional influence,” said Caum. “People will fly in to Tampa International Airport. They may stay in Clearwater, but eat at Ulele (in Tampa), and come here to the mall.”

Foreign visitors, especially from Canada and Brazil, are frequent shoppers at the Orlando Outlet Mall. And, Caum said Pasco plans to focus some of its marketing on Central and South American countries including Venezuela, Argentina and Mexico.

With counties sharing in the tourism pool, Hillsborough County’s tourism agency, Visit Tampa Bay, will include materials on the Tampa Premium Outlets in its marketing packages at an upcoming trade show in London.

“Everything that’s in Pasco, we’re going to be working very closely with them,” said Kevin Wiatrowski, regional media relations manager for Visit Tampa Bay. “All of our materials have this built into it along with our regular stuff. It’s an impressive time to be here.”

Wesley Chapel resident Rita Faddoul came from Lebanon more than 20 years ago. She remembers when the community had “one store, one light.”

Now, she says relatives coming from Europe will enjoy something unique in her neighborhood.

“It’s better than the International Mall,” Faddoul said. “I want to stay until midnight.”

Cool vibe and good deals

When all of its stores have opened, the 441,000-square-foot mall, with its “Key West” décor, will boast more than 100 designer brand shops selling top-line merchandise at 25 percent to 65 percent discounts daily.

Many stores sweetened the bargains with larger discounts, coupons and giveaways during the mall’s opening weekend from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1.

Karen Jenkins, and her mother, Beth McDonald, sat on a bench studying a brochure and a map of the outlet mall.

“I’m really just looking to see what they have,” said Jenkins. “If I see something I like, I’ll buy it.”

Tampa Premium Outlets has some stores that shoppers won’t find at Ellenton, including Naturalizer and The Limited.
The duo registered with the Tampa outlet’s VIP Shopper, and got a few coupons including a discount on Ralph Lauren merchandise.

“We’re thrilled we’re not driving to Ellenton,” said Jenkins who lives in Land O’ Lakes. But, she added: “My husband’s not happy about this.”

Kaiya Davis and her son, Jamal McIntosh, had a quick hop to the mall, from their new home in Lutz.

Davis took the day off to check out the shops.

Stephen Yalof, chief executive officer of Premium OUtlets for Simon, talks about the opening of Tampa Premium Outlets, located on State Road 56, near Interstate 75.
Stephen Yalof, chief executive officer of Premium OUtlets for Simon, talks about the opening of Tampa Premium Outlets, located on State Road 56, near Interstate 75.

McIntosh is starting a job with the Florida Department of Transportation and soon could be working on highway projects to ease traffic woes at the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

“Lots of new beginnings,” said Davis.

Besides a being new shopping venue, the new homeowner sees an added bonus from the mall.

“The price of property values are going to go up,” she said.

Another Lutz resident Karen Fortin, and her mother, Margaret Carreiro, left Columbia Sportswear, one of their favorite stores, carrying bags containing shoes and a fleece jacket.

The travel time to the shopping destination can’t be beat, they said.

“We’re right here, 2 minutes from home,” Fortin said.

Caralee and Charles Shapero had a longer trip, coming over from Clearwater. But, they might come back.

“We will see,” said Caralee Shapero. “It’s missing a Bath & Body Works, but it is closer. So far so good.”

They are Yankee Candle enthusiasts and were ready to snap up a deal – five candles for $50.

“We’ll be walking out with 10,” said Caralee Shapero.

Natalie Scheer and Blanca Jordan sat down on a bench with Disney Store Outlet bags at their feet. They rattled off stores they had been to and others they were ready to take on.

“We’re only halfway there,” said Scheer, who along with Jordan, works at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

They expected to spend two hours to three hours scouring the mall for bargains.

“We threw our bags in the car already,” said Jordan. “This is our second round. It’s wonderful. We don’t have to go all the way to Orlando.”

Jordan said she sometimes goes to Westfield Citrus Park. But, she added: “Outlets are much better. You get better deals.”

The women liked the setting, too.

Jordan held out her cellphone showing off a picture of the two framed in the background by the mall’s blue water lagoon and bridge.

“It looks like we’re on vacation,” said Scheer.

Published November 4, 2015

 

It’s a small world, after all

By

Richard and Juanita Wirth, of Lutz, have been traveling to Germany for years, to join in Oktoberfest festivities.

This year, though, when they stopped in Tutzing, Germany, they were surprised to find a butcher shop called Lutz, Metzgerie.

Juanita and Richard Wirth, at their comfortable home in Lutz, recount running across another place called Lutz during their recent visit to celebrate Oktoberfest in Germany. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Juanita and Richard Wirth, at their comfortable home in Lutz, recount running across another place called Lutz during their recent visit to celebrate Oktoberfest in Germany.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“We stopped and shared that we lived in Lutz, Florida,” Juanita Wirth said. “They were delighted to find the name had made it all of the way to Florida,” she said.

The shop is a popular place to eat lunch, and that’s where the Wirths grabbed a bite on their final day there.

They thought it was fun to find a place so far away, which shares the same name as the place that they call home.

Their Lutz got its name from two brothers, William and Charles Lutz, who both had connections with railroads that met and joined at Lutz Junction, according to research done by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus and Susan A. MacManus, co-authors of two local history books detailing the early days of Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

Richard Wirth poses with a sign for Lutz, Metzgerie, a butcher shop in Tutzing, Germany. The couple thought it was fun to come across a place that shares the same name as the place where they call home. The Germans they met there thought it was neat, too. (Courtesy of Juanita Wirth)
Richard Wirth poses with a sign for Lutz, Metzgerie, a butcher shop in Tutzing, Germany. The couple thought it was fun to come across a place that shares the same name as the place where they call home. The Germans they met there thought it was neat, too.
(Courtesy of Juanita Wirth)

And, the Oktoberfest that the couple so thoroughly enjoys has its roots in history, too.

The popular German festival traditionally starts in the third weekend of September. It began with the Royal Wedding, which took place on Oct. 12, 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.

As for Juanita, a retired teacher and Richard, a retired postal worker and former plant nursery owner, visiting Germany is all about enjoying the festivities, admiring the country’s beauty, interacting with its people — and, of course, having some beer.

Published November 4, 2015