The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Walmart

Newest Walmart opening May 21

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Walmart is set to open its newest store May 21 in northern Hillsborough County that will bring 300 jobs to the area.

Located at 15302 N. Nebraska Ave., it will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will include some of the common staples found in most Walmarts now, including groceries and a pharmacy.

“The new store builds upon the partnership Walmart has enjoyed with this community for more than 20 years,” Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist said, in a release. “I am also grateful for Walmart’s commitment tog giving back to the community, as demonstrated by the grants they will be presenting to local community groups.”

The grand opening celebration includes the presentation of $5,500 in grants to local community groups like the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries, Mort Elementary School, and the University Area Community Development Corp.

The store will be led by Arnetta Hill, who began her Walmart career in 2002 as an assistant manager trainee. She will be on hand during a family day event May 24 from noon to 3 p.m., that will include face painting, cupcake decorating, and free food samples.

Walmart has more than 11,300 stores in 27 counties with annual sales of $473 billion.

In Print: It took long enough, but Lowe’s is coming

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The intersection of State Road 54 and Land O’ Lakes Boulevard already is a busy one. But it’s going to get even more crowded.

Work started last week on the new Lowe’s home improvement store between Winter Quarters RV Park and the Pasco County fire station, bringing more than 100,000 square feet of shopping space and some 125 jobs. And just across the street, Marshalls is getting set to open its doors at Village Lakes Shopping Center, helping a strip mall thrive just a few years after losing Walmart as an anchor.

Having Lowe’s finally start work is going to be a boon to the local economy, said Dennis Esber, president of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, and owner of Point to Point Printing.

“We’re excited as all get-up,” Esber told reporter Michael Hinman. “What’s happening is that people are starting to recognize that the Lutz and Land O’ Lakes area is a great area to be in.”

Getting Lowe’s to Land O’ Lakes was not an easy process. Find out why in this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News.

Bringing people and businesses to the area requires a lot of hard work from people who care about the community. And that includes Phyllis Hoedt.

Phyllis Hoedt uses her time and energy to help keep traditions alive in Lutz that cherishes its small-town feel. (Photo by B.C. Manion)
Phyllis Hoedt uses her time and energy to help keep traditions alive in Lutz that cherishes its small-town feel. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

It’s amazing how much time Hoedt spends with various projects in Lutz, helping with everything from the annual Christmas House to the annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival. But if you didn’t know Hoedt was so involved, then it’s probably exactly the way she wanted it.

“She has no expectation other than hoping that the people who come out enjoy themselves,” Lutz Guv’na Suzin Carr told reporter B.C. Manion.

“She doesn’t want any recognitions,” added longtime friend Shirley Simmons. “She doesn’t want any buttons.”

Despite those protestations, she is featured in this week’s Lutz News, so check it out.

And finally, speaking of Lutz, you’ve driven by it hundreds of times, and you may even know a lot about the Old Lutz School. But did you know that it almost became history in the 1970s after a new school was built right behind it?

Reporter Michael Murillo explores the history of the Old Lutz School in his latest installment of “Presenting the Past.”

“So why go to the trouble of saving an old school, anyway?” Murillo asks. “Schools pop up all the time. What’s one more or less?

“Well, it has to do with the school, but also the people who live here. Lutz is proud of its heritage. Its history means something, and it’s important to protect it. So with some effort and community support, that’s what they did.”

All of these complete 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.

Earth Day coming to Crews Lake Park

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Crews Lake Park will celebrate Earth Day April 26 with a day-long event featuring workshops, crafts and even a ladybug release.

The event is sponsored by Pasco County Parks & Recreation, Covanta Pasco, the University of Florida Pasco Cooperative Extension and Pasco County Utilities. It takes place at the park, located at 16739 Crews Lake Drive in Spring Hill, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Two workshops are scheduled, the first talking about rain water harvesting at both 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and a worm composting workshop at noon. There also are opportunities for attendees to bring in electronics for recycling, including televisions — although more than two televisions will cost $7.

The event also will accept any mercury-containing device, with each person bringing that receiving a $5 gift card from Walmart. Anyone with expired or unused medications can bring them to the event as well as part of its pill take-back program.

Crews Lake also will the the site Saturday for hazardous household waste collection from residential sources only. The utilities department will accept all kinds of waste, except explosives, biomedical, business, household trash, substances in containers greater than five gallons, radioactive materials, drums of any size, yard debris, carpet and padding, and construction demolition debris.

The event will include a native plant sale, as well as train rides from Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad.

For more information on the event, call (727) 856-2917, ext. 201.

Earth Day itself is celebrated April 22, calling attention to the need for environmental protection.

In Print: Beer, trains, and remembering a dark time

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What started as two guys and a micro-brewery in an Odessa industrial park has grown into a beer-making enterprise that is now looking for a home about half the size of Walmart.

Many who stop by Big Storm’s taproom are regulars, joining the ‘StormChaser’ mug club. The brewery already is looking for bigger space to help expand operations even more. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Many who stop by Big Storm’s taproom are regulars, joining the ‘StormChaser’ mug club. The brewery already is looking for bigger space to help expand operations even more. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

Big Storm Brewing Co. is just two years old, and already the company is pushing out 5,000 barrels of beer annually, and it hasn’t even started to offer Big Storm in cans yet.

“I never thought when we started that we would ever need anything more than this little shop,” Mike Bishop, Big Storm’s co-founder and head brewer, told reporter Michael Hinman. “We just thought we would make boutique beers, and make enough to pay the bills and give us a little money on the side. But that was not our destiny. People just wanted our beers.”

Big Storm has just expanded into South Florida, and is about to make its debut in bars in and around Orlando. Read the complete story in this week’s The Laker/Lutz News.

Reporter B.C. Manion got a good look at how far model train builders are willing to go with their creations during a recent visit to the Suncoast Center for Fine Scale Modeling.

As part of her regular Worth the Trip series, B.C. visited the Odessa center and had a chance to talk to the model-makers that turn these railroad dreams into a scale-model reality.

“There’s so many things in here for you to see,” said Dale MacKeown, a member of the Sundance Central team. “People who come in here typically spend two, two-and-a-half hours. We have people who come in here every time.”

Finally Philip Gans has a story that few are left to share about a terrible time in human history: the Holocaust.

“Your children will never have a chance to see a concentration camp survivor,” Gans told students at Land O’ Lakes High School.

The 86-year-old was forced to flee their home in Amsterdam when he was young, and avoided detection for more than a year before Nazi soldiers finally caught up to his family in 1943 when Gans was just 15.

His number, 139755, is still tattooed on his arm, being kept at Auschwitz III. But Gans considers himself one of the few lucky ones to come out of there.

“I survived,” he said. “There were many people who did not survive. My dad, for instance, he was the only (one) of the 21 members of his family that did not die in the gas chmabers. He died in a death march April 1945, a month before the liberation.”

All of these stories and more are 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.

Median trees are safe, but community help is needed

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A county official has assured residents of Lutz that Hillsborough County will remove just a few of the 135 trees in the medians of U.S. 41, as the highway runs through the community.

Rob Seuss, the county’s division director for public works operations, told residents “there are four live oaks that have become sight distance issues (for motorists) that must be removed.”

Officials says Hillsborough County no longer plans to rev up the chainsaws to take out more than 100 trees in the medians along U.S. 41 through Lutz. (file photo)
Officials says Hillsborough County no longer plans to rev up the chainsaws to take out more than 100 trees in the medians along U.S. 41 through Lutz. (file photo)

His remarks came during an evening meeting on Oct. 29 at the Lutz Community Center that was attended by about 50 people.

Walmart donated $5,000 to help cover tree maintenance costs, but the actual costs are about $11,000 a year, Seuss said. So, additional efforts are being made to find sponsorships from local businesses or community groups.

The preservation of the trees, however, does not hinge on raising private funds, Seuss said.

“The county is committed and we will continue to maintain this,” he said. “The trees will remain.”

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful has agreed to take on the task of seeking additional private sponsors and also managing the contract for crews to maintain the medians.

Professional help is needed because the trees are in the middle of a busy highway, said Daisy Packer, environmental program coordinator for Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful. Her group is also interested in working with groups or individuals that want to adopt a portion of the road — or the entire stretch — to pick up litter.

Road adopters commit to a two-year contract, which involves four cleanups a year, Packer said.

“We provide gloves, bags, garbage bags and safety training,” she added.

Besides keeping the area attractive, adopting a road is a great way to build a sense of community because it encourages neighbors to get out and meet each other, Packer said.

The Lutz Citizens Coalition recently signed on to adopt Sunset Lane. And, the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has been cleaning up Lutz Lake Fern Road for years.

While some groups are interested in adopting roads, others are more interested in doing community plantings, Packer said. That can be arranged.

Anyone who wants to help cover the costs of maintaining the trees in the U.S. 41 median, help keep area roads clean, or participate in community plantings should call Packer at (813) 221-8733.

 

Community to meet about trees Oct. 29

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When word got out about Hillsborough County’s plans to cut down trees in the U.S. 41 medians in Lutz, it took howls of protests to silence the chain saws.

Armed with promises from State Sen. Jon Legg, R-Lutz, and Hillsborough County officials to work with the community to find another solution, a meeting has been set for Oct. 29 to discuss what to do instead.

It took a partnership among several groups to work out a plan to prevent chain saws from taking down the trees in the medians along U.S. 41 in Lutz. Those who banded together to help protect the trees included, from left, Debra Evenson, executive director of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful; Chris Smith, assistant manager at the Walmart in Lutz; State Sen. John Legg; and Sam Calco, Louise Friar, and Mike White of the Lutz Citizens Coalition. (Photo courtesy of the Lutz Citizens Coalition)
It took a partnership among several groups to work out a plan to prevent chain saws from taking down the trees in the medians along U.S. 41 in Lutz. Those who banded together to help protect the trees included, from left, Debra Evenson, executive director of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful; Chris Smith, assistant manager at the Walmart in Lutz; State Sen. John Legg; and Sam Calco, Louise Friar, and Mike White of the Lutz Citizens Coalition. (Photo courtesy of the Lutz Citizens Coalition)

The county had planned to cut down the trees because it wanted to return maintenance of the medians to the Florida Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the highway. The state roads department would only take over if 91 of the 135 trees in the median were removed.

The trees slated for destruction were 64 crape myrtle, 14 wax myrtle, seven live oaks, three Shumard oaks and three red maple.

After a contentious community meeting on Jan. 24, however, the county put the brakes on that plan and agreed to return to the community for another meeting to discuss potential solutions.

Recently, the trees won a two-year reprieve, when Walmart stepped forward with a $5,000 check to cover maintenance costs. That solution resulted from a partnership between Legg, Hillsborough County, the Lutz Citizens Coalition and Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.

Walmart said it would revisit the matter in two years, Legg said. Meanwhile, efforts can be made to broaden support.

Now that a temporary solution has been found, another community meeting has been set for 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 at the Lutz Community Center, 98 First Ave., N.W.

The meeting is intended for volunteers in Lutz who may want to participate in the maintenance of the medians along U.S. 41.

Mike White, founder and president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, said he’s happy with efforts made to date to preserve the trees.

“I think it’s a win-win,” White said. “The voice of Lutz was heard loud and clear.”

He said the solution demonstrates great follow-through by Legg, the county, Walmart, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Hillsborough County and the Lutz Citizens Coalition.

“Everyone stepped up to the plate,” White said.

On another front, the Lutz Citizens Coalition recently received approval to adopt Sunset Lane, from U.S. 41 to Livingston Avenue.

White said he expects the cleanups to occur about a half-dozen times a year, followed by a social gathering of the volunteers.

 

Trees in Lutz get temporary reprieve from chainsaws

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Trees in medians on U.S. 41 in Lutz are being spared the ax – at least for now.

Walmart has agreed to donate $5,000 to pay for maintaining the trees, which should cover the cost for about two years, said State Sen. John Legg, R-Lutz.

The company said it would revisit the matter then, Legg said. Meanwhile, that provides time to seek other potential contributors to help cover the cost.

Trees marked with an orange ‘X’ in medians along U.S. 41 in Lutz would have been chopped down in January if Lutz residents had not kicked up a storm of protests. The trees are now safe, at least for a couple of years. (File photo)
Trees marked with an orange ‘X’ in medians along U.S. 41 in Lutz would have been chopped down in January if Lutz residents had not kicked up a storm of protests. The trees are now safe, at least for a couple of years. (File photo)

Hillsborough County should be credited for its cooperation, Legg said, which helped to ensure the trees were not cut down.

In January, the county marked 135 trees in the medians, either with a ribbon or an orange ‘X.’ The 44 trees with a ribbon would be saved; the 91 with an orange ‘X’ would be cut down.

Lutz resident Donald Hassinger spotted the markings on the trees and began making inquiries. When he learned the trees with the ‘X’ would be destroyed, he began rallying Lutz residents to mobilize on the issue.

After fielding protests from residents, the county put the brakes on the planned tree removals and called a community meeting.

The county had planned to cut down 64 crape myrtles, 14 wax myrtles, seven live oaks, three Shumard oaks and three red maples.

County officials told the crowd packed into the Lutz Community Center in January that it needed to remove the trees because the county didn’t have the money to maintain the medians. They had planned to turn the medians over to the Florida Department of Transportation, which has jurisdiction over U.S. 41.

The DOT, however, told the county it had to remove the designated trees first. Trees were selected for removal based on the tree’s type and condition.

Legg, who was present at the meeting, told the crowd he was confident a different solution could be found. He connected with Mike White, founder and president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition, who called around and found out how much the maintenance would cost.

Walmart has stepped forward to cover two years of maintenance costs, Legg said. Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful will administer the funds for the work.

This arrangement solves the immediate problem, Legg said.

“I think it’s a very good solution,” White said. “Walmart stepped up to the plate. Now, I think it’s time for the community to show its appreciation, by patronizing their store, by including them in the community.”

Solving the maintenance problem is more difficult than it might seem at first blush, Legg said.

“It appeared that there was a very simplistic solution,” Legg said. However, it’s not possible to merely get volunteers to do the work.

The trees are on islands in the middle of a busy highway. Anyone doing maintenance on the trees must carry a certain level of insurance, Legg said.

Legg said he’s happier with this short-term solution than with what could have happened.

“I thought it was a bone-headed move to cut down the trees,” Legg said.

The county may have been the one with the chainsaws, but it wasn’t the county’s idea to take down the trees, Legg said. That was the DOT’s call.

Walmart presented the $5,000 check during a ceremony on Sept. 30 at its 1575 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. location in Lutz. A release from Legg’s office said the solution came as a result of a partnership between Walmart, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Hillsborough County, multiple Lutz community civic associations, Legg, and Corcoran & Johnston Government Relations.

Being bald doesn’t stop Rusty Ludlow from loving to cut hair

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Rusty Ludlow is a bald man who loves hair — even though most of his receded during the 25 years he worked in hospital administration in Michigan.

Rusty Ludlow
Rusty Ludlow

Moving to Florida a decade ago gave Rusty the opportunity to launch a second career, and he chose hair styling.

“I’ve been interested in hair styling since I was young. And, I wanted to work closer to people with a more hands-on, personal touch,” says Rusty.

Being bald doesn’t concern his customers, and many have followed him from his prior salon to SmartStyle.

“My lack of hair can be a bit of an ice-breaker,” Rusty says while describing a teenage girl who sat in his chair unsure of how she wanted her hair styled.

“Would you like it longer than mine?” he asked. “The girl laughed and relaxed, which made it easier for me to offer suggestions based on my 10 years of experience.”

SmartStyle is a full-service salon located inside Wal-Mart in Lutz. It offers a complete range of services, including cuts, color, highlights and perms, in a warm and relaxing atmosphere.

Rusty was setting up his work station in preparation for his first customer the day I arrived to interview him for this story. He greeted me with a warm smile and confident handshake. As we spoke, whenever he saw a customer in the checkout line, he gave them a friendly wave. Whenever he can, he steps outside the salon to greet his clients in person.

How does SmartStyle compete with high-end salons?

“We don’t,” answered Rusty. “No appointment is needed at SmartStyle, and we’re not trying to be exclusive or upscale. We want to be affordable for the working men and women who shop at Walmart.”

“Many customers get their haircut while their spouse is shopping,” said Rusty. “You don’t need to make a special trip, and there is seldom a wait of more than 15 or 20 minutes.”

Rusty stays current with today’s hair styles and trends. Clients who are not sure what they want often ask Rusty for suggestions, and he recommends styles that best fit their lifestyles.

“My primary concern is to help people look their best,” said Rusty. “It’s not unusual for a customer to stop in and ask a ‘what do you think?’ when they’re considering a change in style.”

It’s apparent that Rusty thinks highly of the SmartStyle franchise.

“SmartStyle strives to keep its prices affordable because we want to be able to take care of the whole family,” said Rusty. “I recently was talking with a new customer who said she had called around and found that SmartStyle had the best pricing in the area.”

Hair cuts are $15.50 for men and women and include a shampoo. They have a Tuesday special for $12. Coloring starts at $45.

Rusty’s website www.hairbyrusty.com offers a coupon for $3.50 off any haircut. SmartStyle also has special discounts on its website www.smartstyle.com. In addition to discounted salon services, Rusty’s customers have access to a complete line of reasonably priced quality hair care products.

Rusty’s work schedule changes from week to week and is posted on his website. “I invite folks to give me a call or just stop by and discover what a quality haircut or other service you can get at the best prices in town,” said Rusty.

SmartStyle is located inside Walmart at 1575 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Lutz. They can be reached at (813) 909-7957.

– Mike Matthew

This story was written by the advertising department.

New Owner of Jan’s Wine & Boos II brings together great wines and neighbors

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After 35 years as a general manager of golf courses and country clubs, most recently at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor and the Belleview Biltmore in Belleair, Lutz resident Chuck Eade was looking for a change of pace.

Chuck Eade, new owner of Jan’s Wine & Boos at W. Lutz Lake Fern Road.
Chuck Eade, new owner of Jan’s Wine & Boos at W. Lutz Lake Fern Road.

When he learned that his favorite wine bar and package store in Lutz was for sale, he jumped at the opportunity to work close to home at something he loved — enjoying good wines and talking to friends and neighbors.

This past November, Chuck and Anita became owner of Jan’s Wine and Boos II, located in a retail center at Dale Mabry Highway and W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz. Previous owners, Dwayne and Jan Ingram, had opened the store next to Publix in 2000 and were selling to retire.

“My wife and I had been coming here for years and always enjoyed the atmos- phere and neighborhood camaraderie,” said Chuck. “Jan and Dwayne had built up a nice clientele of professional people who enjoy a good glass of wine, good company and good conversations. We’ve simply taken it from there.”

Since becoming owner, Chuck has opened up the front area of the store to make it brighter and less cluttered and has added more high-top seating next to the bar.

The new tables, along with a unique, custom-made bar, comfortably sit 35 to 40 people. The establishment’s most popular gathering is a weekly wine and cheese tasting every Friday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“It’s a great value, and we have a lot of fun,” said Chuck. “For just $10 per person, you get a sampling of four to six wines and a generous plate of cheese, crackers and fruit. It’s an inexpensive way to sample the premier wines we stock from smaller vineyards in California, Spain and Italy.”

Jan’s Wine and Boos II has an extensive collection of wines, said Chuck, who has been a wine enthusiast for 20 years. “We stock wines here that you do not find at grocery stores and Walmart,” he said.

Most of the wine Chuck sells is in the $10 to $20 range, although he does stock exclusive wines for special occasions that sell for more than $50.

“Anybody can buy a good bottle of wine if they want to spend $50,” said Chuck. “We specialize at helping people find a great bottle of wine for just $10 or $20.”

In addition to wine, the store has a full-service package store with beer, liquor and cordials. The store is popular with folks who shop at the Publix next door and want to pick up a good bottle of wine for dinner or to replenish their liquor cabinet.

Currently, Jan’s Wine & Boos II is fea- turing 10 percent off all wine. “Our prices are already competitive, but we’re offering another 10 percent off to encourage people to stop buy and see our selection and give us a try,” said Chuck.

Most of Chuck’s customers are professionals, 35 years and older, who live in the surrounding neighborhoods of Cheval, Villa Rosa, Heritage Harbor and The Lakes of Wellington, which is where Chuck and his wife Anita live with their 20-year-old daughter Keeton and 13-year- old son Logan.

Keeton, a 2010 graduate of Steinbrenner High and a college student, works alongside her dad at the store. Logan is a budding baseball player in Lutz Little League and at Reggie Williams’ Dawg Pound travel team. Anita, assistant director at a Lutz area preschool, also helps at the family business.

After six months of owning his business, what does Chuck think of running his own show?

“It’s certainly a more relaxing pace,” said Chuck. “I’m pleased that the business is steadily growing, and we’ve been able to add new events and expand our inventory of wines.”

The key to his success, Chuck says, is treating everyone who walks in the door as if they are his best customers. “It’s all about customer service,” said Chuck.

Jan’s Wine & Boos II is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday to 10 p.m.

This story is a feature of the advertising department.