During a century of living, Charles L. “Charley” Barr has created quite a collection of memorable moments. Thirty-six family members gathered to celebrate Charles L. Barr’s 100th birthday. They came from Florida, Oregon, Missouri and Indiana. (Courtesy of Linda Cobbe) Charley added to that list on Jan. 6, celebrating his 100th birthday at Chapman Manor in Lutz. He was surrounded by 36 family members – including his five children, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and four nieces. Several spouses of his children and grandchildren were there, too, according to his daughter, Linda Cob ..read more

The Magner family received a Smart Home from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Front row from left: Michael, Maia and Dustin. Back row: Rebecca and James. (Courtesy of Tunnel to Towers Foundation) The Tunnel to Towers (T2T) Foundation delivered a mortgage-free smart home to Army Sgt. 1st Class Dustin Magner, during a Dedication Ceremony on Dec. 20, according to a T2T news release. Magner entered the U.S. Army’s delayed entry program in 1995 and left for basic training a year later. Throughout his career, he served with the 5th Ranger Training Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Ba ..read more

A request for a 155-foot cell tower in an Odessa neighborhood has met with resistance from area residents and has received a recommendation for denial from a divided planning board. An attorney for the applicants, Joan E. Patterson/Anthemnet and Verizon Wireless, told the planning board that the request meets the requirements spelled out in county regulations and asked the board to agree with the planning staff’s recommendation for approval. The application called for a 155-foot pole, including a 150-foot monopine, which resembles a pine tree, as well as a 5-foot lightning rod on a property at ..read more

These youngsters are ready to dish, dish, dish. They, in no short order, have signed up at Young Chefs Academy, the new cooking school that provides weekly classes and workshops for kids, tweens and teens who are interested in developing and sharpening their culinary skills. Wesley Chapel young chef Axel Martinon happily seasons meat that will be put into a chili dish, during a class at Young Chefs Academy, a cooking and culinary school that opened in Lutz in October. Youthful and hopeful chefs can sign up for classes that teach them to prepare, cook and present meals and hone their culinary s ..read more

They’ve been prepared for this for 90 years. Scouts, and their leaders, of Boy Scout Troop 12 are celebrating the pack’s 90th anniversary in 2023, as the youth-based organization took time to reflect on its impact on the Lutz community. From left: Boy Scout Troop 12 members, Life Scout Gabe Luria, Life Scout Grayson Tibbett, Second Class Scout Nate Miller and Second Class Scout Gavin Miller look over a project at the troop’s Scout Hut, 205 Second Ave. S.E., in Lutz. The four young men are part of Troop 12’s nearly two dozen members. The troop, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary, has had ..read more

During her lifetime, Elizabeth Riegler MacManus got a thrill from gathering old photographs and tracking down facts about the people, places and institutions in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes. This poster captures the importance that citrus groves played in the development of Lutz and Central Pasco County. Elizabeth Riegler MacManus amassed a vast collection of historical artifacts and those are being shared through The Elizabeth Riegler MacManus Collection, which is being dedicated in a Sept. 20 ceremony at the Lutz Branch Library. (Courtesy of the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative) Over ..read more

(Mike Camunas) Boy Scout Troop 12 in Lutz is planning a gathering to celebrate its 90th anniversary. The event is set for Sept. 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Troop 12 is inviting the community to join them at a festival that will include food, activities, raffles, contests and more. The event will be held at the Troop 12 Scout Hut, 205 Second Ave. S.E., in Lutz. Attendance is free. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, email committee.chair@troop12lutz.org. Published September 06, 2023 ..read more

Emily Mains took inspiration from Tom & Jerry cartoons. The legendary cat and mouse duo inspired her to write, and illustrate, her children’s book “Arlo Helps A Friend.” “I’ve always wanted to be a writer, ever since fifth grade,” the Lutz native, who graduated from Steinbrenner High School in 2021, said in an interview with The Laker/Lutz News. “From there, I found my passion for writing. Emily Mains, a 20-year-old Lutz native, wrote and illustrated a children’s book called ‘Arlo Helps a Friend.’ The Steinbrenner High graduate is studying creative writing at Southeastern University. In he ..read more

The Friends of the Library Book Depot is located inside the Lutz Branch Library. (Courtesy of The Friends of the Lutz Branch Library) The Friends of the Lutz Branch Library have been active on and off — because of the COVID pandemic and plumbing repairs at the library. But now the group is active again and would love for patrons to come check out its selection of affordably priced books, according to a news release. The selection is diverse, offering books that can be enjoyed and informative for people of all ages. The Friends have organized and re-stocked the Book Depot with a diverse collect ..read more

The floats were patriotic and as hot as the sun. Nearly 50 entries, along with hundreds of Lutz residents and locals, made their way up Lutz Lake Fern Road for the annual Lutz Independence Day Parade. The much-anticipated event — held on the sweltering morning of the Fourth of July — brought together the best of the unincorporated community of more than 28,000 to celebrate the country’s birthday. Parade-goers out at the grandstand, near the library, jump and cheer as beads and trinkets are tossed from floats. (Mike Camunas) The parade route, which stretched more than a mile, started near the O ..read more