The LAKER
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EAST PASCO EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
OCTOBER 26, 2016
City seeks feedback from residents By Kevin Weiss
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
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SPECIAL SECTION inside this week
The City of Zephyrhills has launched a community opinion survey to identify the city’s key issues and opportunities across the next 15 years. The 20-question survey, which is open through Oct. 31, will be used to update the city’s long-range comprehensive plan, also called Zephyrhills 2030. The Zephyrhills Comprehensive Plan projects forward 15 years to envision where residents will “live, work, learn, play, socialize, maintain health, and preserve assets for benefits of current and future generations.” The plan — which should be complete by the end of 2017 — also seeks to address
the city’s growth and development priorities and opportunities. Per state law, comprehensive plans must be evaluated every seven years and updated as needed. Todd Vande Berg, planning director for the city of Zephyrhills, said he’s in the beginning stages of updating the comprehensive plan. He’s already received over 400 survey responses. “It’s just another way for us to gather input, data, comments, what people feel, what they like, dislike and ideas they have,” he said.“How can we improve quality of life of Zephyrhills?” See FEEDBACK, page 19A
FILE PHOTO
The City of Zephyrhills is seeking input from residents to update the city’s comprehensive plan.
Play offers insights about the life of nuns By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Step into a conversation and mention the word “nun,” and it’s not uncommon for someone to describe a stereotypical incident of a woman wearing a religious habit and wielding a ruler to inflict discipline. But, there is so much more to the story of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida, and a play to be presented this weekend at the Saint Leo Black Box Theatre in Benedictine Hall, provides a glimpse into those lives. Eight Saint Leo University students wrote the play,“Women on the Move:The Story of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida.” It shares the story of women who left their homes to join a new community in Florida, to carry out their faith through the work of their daily lives. At times, the dramatization is touching, said Alicia Corts, assistant professor of theatre at the university, and the play’s director. At other times, it’s amusing, she said. Corts, who arrived at the university last year, recalled the genesis of the play. “When I first arrived at Saint Leo, we were getting a brand new theater, which is a big thing for Saint Leo,” she said. The reason the university has the theater is because when the Sisters sold their old monastery building, the university had room to create the theater. It is housed in the space that had been occupied by the chapel in the former monastery. “I knew all of that coming into the job, but on my first day, I was going to get my keys,” Corts said.As a security guard was giv-
COURTESY OF SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY
This poster announces an original play, written by eight Saint Leo University students, about the lives of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida.
ing her a ride to pick up her keys, they stopped to wait for traffic. “I pointed to the theater and said,‘Well that’s my new home.That’s my new theater.’ “And, he said, ‘You know when they moved out of that place was the first time I saw those ladies cry.’ “I thought that’s really dramatic, that’s interesting. I didn’t know that part of that. “It got me to thinking about that idea of home, and leaving your home,” the play di-
rector said. Even though the nuns sold the building, Corts said, it still felt like they deserved an expression of gratitude. “So, I proposed that we write a play,” Corts said. And, that’s precisely what happened. The students went to work, researching the history of the Benedictine Sisters of See NUNS, page 19A
Halloween tricks, treats and traditions on tap By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Halloween, you’ll find plenty of options across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area. Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., is hosting a Family Fun Festival that it’s calling “Light the Night.” The event will be from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Oct. 31. Cars will be decorated with favorite kidfriendly themes and will line up on the Yellow parking lot and grounds outside the church’s Gatheria. The cars’ trunks will be full of candy for children through fifth grade. Each car also will provide a game, face painting, puppet show or other opportunity for fun. Other highlights will be inflatables, balloon animals and a hayride. Bring a camera to take advantage of photo opportunities. Admission is $3 per person, with a maximum charge of $15 per family. Children age 2 and under will be admitted without charge. Hungry Harry’s BBQ will be available for purchase for $5, and other food items also will be available through the church’s kitchen. The trunks will be open for children to pick up candy from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.The inflatables will be available the entire evening. Register by Oct. 30 at Idlewild.org/children, to avoid waiting in long lines.To find out more, call (813) 264-1515, ext. 1561. Meanwhile, in Pasco County, the 12th annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival & Carnival is set for Oct. 28 through Oct. 30, at 6105 Wesley Grove Blvd. This year, the event has added a day to give families more time to enjoy carnival food, midway games and rides. The festival will be from 5 p.m. to 10
University’s Office of Residence Life is inviting the community to Haunted Marmion, an event set for Oct. 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at MarmionSnyder Hall, 33701 State Road 52. All floors of the residence halls will be transformed into a themed haunted house. Trick-or-treating will occur on two floors of Snyder Hall. There will be games and other activities in the Lion’s Den (a common FILE PHOTO area for both halls) for those not participating in the Pumpkin patches are popping up all over Hillsborough and haunted house or trick-orPasco counties, as area residents prepare for Halloween treating. and fall festivals. The event is free; however, those attending are asked to donate one or more canned/nonperishFor additional Halloween able food items at check-in, which will be given to a local food bank for distribution to activities, see our What’s those in need in the community. Happening section on Page 4. In Land O’ Lakes, those who enjoy a good scare may want to drop by the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ p.m., on Oct. 28; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Oct. Lakes Blvd., to experience The Haunted 29; and, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Oct. 30. House on 41. Highlights on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 will inThe event, slated for Oct. 27 from 7:30 clude live music, a business expo, pumpkin p.m. to 9 p.m., and Oct. 28 and Oct. 29 from patch, petting zoo, pony rides, fall foods and 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., promises three nights beverages, food trucks, interactive craft ac- of bone-chilling terror. tivities, arts and crafts exhibitors, vendors, a Admission is $1 each. Some scenes, the doggie fun area and pet adoption event. organizers with Pasco County Parks, Kids can celebrate Halloween in a safe Recreation & Natural Resources say, may be environment on Oct. 29, from 4 p.m. to 6 too intense for young children. p.m., at the Trunk or Treat activity. For those who enjoy staying active, the For more information on the festival, a Northdale 5K Pumpkin Run & 1 Mile Family Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Run/Walk may be just the thing. Commerce event, visit GroveShopping.com. The event is set for Oct. 29, at the Bob Visit DreamlandAmusements.com for Sierra YMCA Youth & Family Center, 4015 coupon savings on ride wristbands, ride Ragg Road in Tampa. tickets and carnival food. See HALLOWEEN, page 19A Meanwhile, over in St. Leo, Saint Leo