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OCTOBER 14, 2015
Serving up fried chicken, nostalgia By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
They come to the Old Lutz Schoolhouse, on U.S. 41, bearing casserole dishes and memories to share. These are men and women who have deep roots in Lutz and Land O’ Lakes. Their families helped settle the area, and every year they come to celebrate the connections they feel to the community and each other. The size of the annual gathering has diminished over time, as people have died or can no longer attend. “We have some people who won’t be with us anymore, like Cliff Dennison, bless his heart. He used to do this with me. He’s in a nursing home now,” said Annie Fernandez, the event’s organizer. “This year, I pretty much did it myself,” said Fernandez, who was born in her grandmother’s front bedroom, off the edge of an orange grove, in 1942. The annual get-togethers with descendants of Lutz pioneers used to be organized by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus, a local historian, who co-authored with her daughter, Susan A. MacManus, an extensive history of the area called “Citrus, Sawmills, Critters and Crackers: Life in Early Lutz and Central Pasco County.”
B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTOS
Joe Strickland, Margie Strickland, Annie Fernandez and Bodde O’ Steen pose together at the annual gathering for the descendants of Lutz and Land O’ Lakes pioneers.
Elizabeth MacManus organized the event for 20 years but, after that, Dennison and Fernandez took over the duties. The group has met in three different locations over the years. First, they gathered at a church, then at the Lutz Community Center, and for the past few years, at the Old Lutz Schoolhouse.
“We have this event every year because everybody likes to get together and chitchat about things that happened to them a long time ago,” said Fernandez, whose family ties to Lutz date back to around 1920. It’s a true potluck, said Fernandez said, See NOSTALGIA, page15A
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The centerpiece of the new Tampa Premium Outlets is the rock-walled lagoon in its final stages of construction. Soon, the lagoon will be filled and the bridge will cross the water, linking the Market Hall to other shops along the tropical concourse.
Tampa Premium Outlets headed for its debut By Kathy Steele
A gaggle of media got an up-close tour of the site on Oct. 8, led by General Manager Stacy Nance. Cranes lift construction workers to the More than 90 percent of the mall is comtop of pastel-colored towers. pleted, leaving mostly interior details and Shelving and a few boxes filled with mer- landscaping as the finishing touches. Opening day has been all but set in stone chandise are stowed behind glass storefronts. A deck is being built around a lagoon that for months, in bold letters splashed across a soon will be filled with crystal clear water. banner in full view of motorists passing by The signs of construction, and a bit of on State Road 56. dust, are everywhere at the Tampa Premium “There has been such great planning Outlets. with this, that I know we can do it,” Nance But the airy, breezy vibe of Key West is said. evident as the outlet mall approaches openSpecial events and family friendly activiing day on Oct. 29. ties are scheduled from opening day
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
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Operations Director Dallas Stevens, left, was on hand with General Manager Stacey Nance to take questions during the tour of the new shopping outlet.
through Nov. 1. A special appearance by reality television star, Bethenny Frankel, is set for Oct. 31 from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. Frankel is founder of See OUTLETS, page15A
Sharing the healing power of music The Laker/Lutz News Staff Report
The Florida Orchestra performed free concerts at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North and Tampa General Hospital in October, to share the healing power of music. The orchestra, under the baton of its new Music Director Michael Francis, performed the program “The Lark Ascending” for patients and staff at both hospitals, according to a news release. Francis has a special connection to St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, in Lutz, because that’s where his daughter, Annabella Grace, was born nine months ago. Francis and his wife, Cindy, have their home in Lutz. Francis also has experienced the hospital’s medical care, as he had his appendix removed there a month ago.
COURTESY OF ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL-NORTH
The Florida Orchestra, under the direction of Michael Francis, performed a free concert in the atrium of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North to share the healing power of music.
At St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, the orchestra provided a free hour-long concert for patients, visitors and team members in the hospital’s atrium, according to a hospital news release.
Prior to the concert, a violinist played solo in the lobby, and a cello duet performed on the third floor of the hospital for patients who couldn’t attend the concert in the atrium.