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Hooters coming to Land O’ Lakes? No By Michael Hinman mhinman@lakerlutznews.com
Could it be a little wishful thinking? Drivers heading north on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard saw a surprise announcement on the sign that once shared dinner specials at the old Mosquito Grill & Bar: the long-rumored Hooters chain was coming to that location next year. The problem, however, is it’s not true.At least for now. “I’ve called it one of Land O’ Lakes’ biggest urban legends,” said Meredith Kleker, executive director of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.“All I’ve ever heard about that is rumors, and we’ve been hearing them for years.” In fact, Hooters was rumored to be com-
ing to Land O’ Lakes in 2012 when Rapscallions was still open at 4422 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The owner of the restaurant, however, told an online publication at the time that it wasn’t true, nor were reports that Rapscallions was closing. Rapscallions did indeed close a short time later, but Hooters didn’t swoop in to take over the lakeside property. Mosquito Grill & Bar opened there instead. That restaurant shut down last spring, once again opening the rumor floodgates that included the Atlanta-based chain. And since Centennial Bank claimed ownership of the 2 acres of land that covers the two lakeside lots along U.S. 41, the sign announcing the new Hooters was even more See HOOTERS, page 7A
MICHAEL HINMAN/STAFF PHOTOS
A sign in front for the former Mosquito Grill & Bar on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard touts a new Hooters restaurant taking over the lakeside property.
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Fifteen veterans were honored during a Quilts of Valor ceremony at Harvey’s Hardware on Nov. 8. Rusty Huff, 91, left, of Land O’ Lakes and other Quilts of Valor recipients beam with pride in their new quilts made possible by the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Huff is a World War II veteran and served in the U.S. Navy.
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World War II veteran Granville Kinsman, 93, has seen war up close.
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Before he received one of the Quilts of Valor, Rick McLendon, right, of Land O’ Lakes pinned a 100,000th stitched pin on his wife, Margie McLendon. Rick McLendon served in Vietnam and retired from the U.S. Army. He also was in the Army Reserve for 29 years.
Granville Kinsman, 93, of Land O’ Lakes, a veteran of World War II. He received a quilt from Anne Mixon, the Quilts of Valor Foundation coordinator. The foundation provides the quilts as a means to cover those who served in wartime.
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Retired woman writes a new chapter in life By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
After spending a career in the high-pressure arena of hospital risk management, Linda Pollock retired a couple of years ago and promptly immersed herself into a new full-time endeavor. The Land O’ Lakes woman, who turns 70 this month, often devotes 10 hours or more a day B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO to writing. She finished her first book, a Linda Pollock, who writes under the name Linda J. Pifer, memoir called “Ohio Girl,” in holds two of her finished works.
2013. Just a few weeks ago, she published a novel called “Windows,” which is available through print-by-demand on Amazon. She’s also done the writing for “Daniel Smith,” a second novel that continues the story she began in “Windows.” But she still needs to edit “Daniel Smith” before she can publish it. Then, she expects to follow that with “Copper Swift,” which will either round out the trilogy, or set the stage for a fourth book in the series. She’s aiming for a 2015 release date for “Daniel Smith,” and a 2016 publication date for “Copper Swift.” See CHAPTER, page 7A