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Lutz pushes urban services south By Michael Hinman mhinman@lakerlutznews.com
Lutz has survived more than a century with no municipal water or sewer. And it might end up going another century without it as well. In a workshop Dec. 8, members of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission will hear something they may not like: Lutz residents are turning their backs on a proposed plan to extend the county’s urban service area up U.S. 41. Getting an urban service area designa-
tion is a significant step in helping to bring more business — and even more residents — to an area, planners say. In fact, 80 percent of all county growth would take place in those areas, countywide planning team leader Stephen Griffin told a small group of Lutz residents Nov. 18. “When you are inside that service area, you are going to see growth and development,” Griffin said. “But being in an urban service area doesn’t mean you can’t have other uses like agriculture.That would still be permitted inside the urban service area.” For decades, Lutz has maintained its inde-
pendence from the high population growth taking place in the rest of Hillsborough. Although six lanes of U.S. 41 were laid right through the heart of the downtown Lutz, existing water and sewer infrastructure along the way requires septic tanks and well access — both undesirable and even outright impossible for larger businesses to move in. But that’s exactly what many of the residents want there, said Mike White, president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition. See URBAN, page 11A
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Bob Loring will do whatever it takes to get the word out for his annual local Toys For Tots campaign.
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It’s crunch time for annual holiday toy drive By Michael Murillo mmurillo@lakerlutznews.com
Bob Loring isn’t Santa Claus.Yet he has some 250 elves at his disposal, and he seems pretty jolly about his job. “I’m the head elf,” Loring said.“It’s a thrill. Personally it’s so rewarding. I get to work with and be around the neatest people in Pasco County.” The retired Marine doesn’t look like Kris
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Kringle, either, but he does share a common goal with the Christmas character.With the help of elves (volunteers), he distributes toys to boys and girls during the holiday season. The difference is that Loring does it in real life. Loring heads up the local Toys For Tots chapter, part of a national program that distributes toys to needy children run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for more than 65
years. He took the helm back in 1999, and in his first year, the group distributed toys for nearly 400 children in the Dade City area. But he knew it wasn’t enough. To expand,Toys For Tots would have to increase the number of communities it serves. Most people who donate want the recipients to live in their area, Loring said.As a result, they’ve broadened their efforts to provide a happy holiday to children in Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel, as well. The donations have gone up, too. Loring expects to distribute toys to around 4,000 children this year.And the method of distributing them is almost as important as the donations themselves. See TOYS, page 11A
Trinity hospital planning $15M newborn expansion By Michael Hinman mhinman@lakerlutznews.com
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The population growth in Pasco County is not expected to end anytime soon, and Medical Center of Trinity is getting ready now — even if the hospital is just three years old. HCA West Florida, which owns both the Trinity hospital as well as Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson, is having its initial meetings with Pasco County officials ahead of a proposed $15 million expansion that could add or shift at least 50 beds. The primary target of the renovations is the hospital’s post-partum department as well as its neonatal intensive care unit, according to documents the hospital has filed with the county.The goal is to add 36 beds, relocate 17 beds in the post-partum unit, and renovate the NICU. Later phases would include building out an additional elevator shell as well as expand the suite for patients undergoing cesarean sections. Hospital spokeswoman Mary Sommise wouldn’t elaborate on those plans. But acSee EXPANSION, page 11A
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The hospital is just three years old, but Medical Center of Trinity already is thinking about expansion, focusing heavily on its neonatal and pregnancy services.