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JUNE 10, 2015
Goodbye, Mrs. Fernandez By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
In her 38 years as an educator, Mary Fernandez relied on this simple guiding principle: Is it what’s best for children? In sorting through the myriad issues and competing interests that a principal faces in the day-to-day work of running a school, that principle provided clarity when making decisions, Fernandez said. Fernandez joined Lutz Elementary School’s staff in 1993, as an assistant principal. She took over the school’s top post 11 years ago, becoming only just the third principal to lead the school during the past 40 years.
Fernandez took the reins from Gloria Kolka, who succeeded Eulah McWilliams. The decision to become an educator came early for Fernandez. She vividly recalls sitting in her fourthgrade classroom at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in South Tampa, looking at her teacher Rebecca Thomas, and thinking: “I want to be her.” She never wavered from that desire. Fernandez attended the University of South Florida, graduating in three years, and began her teaching career at St. Lawrence Catholic School, when she was 21. B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO “I worked there for seven years. It is abMary Fernandez, principal at Lutz solutely amazing the number of children, See FERNANDEZ, page 9A
Elementary for the past 11 years, retired this week. She was an educator for 38 years.
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COURTESY OF MIKE RITCHIE
Troop 12 often does community projects, including this cleanup at Lutz Elementary School.
Troop 12 needs growing room By Kathy Steele
“From its inception (the troop) has been involved in the community in many ways,” said Scoutmaster Jeff Potvin. The Boy Scouts of America Troop 12 is In recent years, the troop has experiknown in Lutz for its many good deeds. enced a spurt in membership and has Every year, troop members are highly vis- outgrown its scout “hut,” near Lutz Lake ible at the Fourth of July parade in Lutz, an Fern Road, off U.S. 41. event that draws thousands of spectators. “If you’re having a regular meeting, it fits But well before the parade begins, troop everything. But when they have ceremonies members are doing work behind the where parents come, it doesn’t,” said Bill scenes. Anderson, whose 14-year-old son, Jackson, is They stay overnight on the eve of the pa- a member of Troop 12. rade, near the Lutz Branch Library, so they The troop has 57 members, including can keep an eye on the vendor and ex- about 25 who joined just this year. hibitor displays. Part of the troop’s growth is due to Cub And, hours before the parade begins, the Scouts moving up. Despite that, memberscouts help the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes ship ranks exceeded expectations, said Woman’s Club prepare for the festivities. Anderson, a former Cub Scout master. They also post dozens of American flags To address the space shortage, the scouts to help celebrate the nation’s Independence hope to add a new room to the existing Day. structure that was built in 1997. Pitching in for the Fourth of July celebraThe expansion would provide additional tion is just one example of the helpful storage space and a meeting room for troop nature of this group. leaders. It also would free up space for activThe troop’s community roots go deep. ities in the main room. Founded in 1933, the troop is one of the The estimated cost of the addition is oldest in the country. $12,000 to $14,000,Anderson said.
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U.S. Boy Scouts of America Troop 12 have outgrown the existing scout ‘hut’ at 205 Second Ave., S.E., off U.S. 41, and want to add a new room.
The boys are working to raise money. They have collected more than $1,000 from a “buy a brick” program and sales of popcorn at community events. Those efforts will continue. This year the troop also will sell food at the July 4 celebration, Anderson said. To help raise more money, Anderson has launched a “Give ‘Em Room to Grow” fundraising campaign. He started things off with a $250 personal donation. The hope is that local residents and businesses will join the effort, Anderson said. See TROOP 12, page 9A
Ayres aims for the Lutz Guv’na sash By Michael Murillo
several groups and associations, including serving on the board of directors for the Cheryl Lynn Ayres decided to Wilson Lakes Neighborhood pursue the ceremonial title of Lutz Association. She doesn’t want Guv’na in a very modern way. to be the neighbor who sits She was on Facebook. back and waits for other peoShe is friends with previous ple to get things done, Ayres Lutz Guv’nas on the social media said. She wants to be involved. website, and a few of them were And with the Guv’na’s discussing their efforts to recruit race, she has plenty of opporcandidates for this year’s camtunities to be involved in paign. Ayres posted that it might raising money for Lutz. be time for her to give it a shot. She kicked things off at the And that was about all it took. debate at the Old Lutz School “Within 30 minutes, I had a by singing— what else— the couple of phone calls saying yes, Star Spangled Banner. And you should do that,” Ayres recalled. she’s got a slate of fundraisers “If things happened this fast in real scheduled to bring in the politics, stuff would get done.” cash. The Guv’na race isn’t real poliOn June 11, starting at 5 tics, of course. It’s a lighthearted p.m., she’ll receive a portion PHOTO COURTESY OF CHERYL LYNN AYRES of the sales from those who fundraiser for local organizations. Cheryl Lynn Ayres isn’t afraid of donning a costume, as she proved The person who raises the most mention her name at money during the campaign, at a western-themed client appreciation picnic earlier this year with BrewTown Burgers, 19255 N. which runs until the Fourth of July her husband, Kris. And if she wins the race for Lutz Guv’na, she’ll Dale Mabry Highway. On June weekend, is declared the winner have a sash to wear as well. 18, she’ll benefit from a trivia and receives the coveted Guv’na night at Jan’s Wine & Boos II at sash. celebration, Ayres found herself near the li- 19233 N. Dale Mabry Highway. And on June And after nearly 30 years in Lutz, Ayres is brary with the Boy Scouts. A few 24, from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m., she’ll get a finally throwing her hat in the ring. minutes later, she felt like she was home. portion of the sales for those who declare A native of Minnesota, Ayres moved to “As a community, we said the Pledge of their support for her campaign at Elsa’s Florida in the early ’80s, and settled in Lutz Allegiance together, and then we sang the Mexican Restaurant, 18450 U.S. 41. in 1987. Star Spangled Banner. And at that moment, I If those (and other) fundraising efforts It didn’t take long for her to feel comfort- said I am part of this community. And what- get her the Guv’na title, she’s earmarked a able here. ever it needs, I will do what I can to help.” See AYRES, page 9A At the community’s annual Fourth of July Ayres has kept her word, participating in
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