Train Hits Bus in Lutz

According to the Tribune, today at 4:04 P.M., a freight train clipped the rear bumper of a magnet school bus at the corner of 41 and Chapman Road. No injuries.

So exactly how did this occur?

Happy To Be Moving To Lutz

I'm the wife of this blogger. This move has seemed to take forever, but we are so happy to be coming here. It started last June when we found a home we liked in the Barrington subdivisison. We were ready to relocate and knew Lutz was where we wanted to be. The house we found motivated us to do the last bit of repairwork to our current house, so we could put it on the market. A book could be written about why it took four months to accomplish that. Finally, November 7 we stuck that "For Sale" sign out front. We were told to not expect much traffic until the holidays were over, especially given the slump in the housing market. Boy, were we surprised when the first week we had eight showings and three offers on the house. All three deals fell through, then we sat on our hands until two weeks ago when a couple made us a reasonable offer and we accepted.

Of course, while we were dealing with handymen who didn't show up, and repairwork that snowballed, the house we wanted in Barrington was taken off the market. We watched two more houses that we liked be sold, before we found one we fell in love with. That house, is in the Windemere subdivision and if all goes well, it will be ours the first week in March.

Now, we are preparing for the final step in this journey, the actual move. We are coming to Lutz from the historic neighborhood of Seminole Heights in Tampa. We live in an old 1920's bungalow with a wide front porch and two grandfather oaks out front. We've been here almost seven years and it has been a great experience. Our neighbors are hard to leave. People in this community form lasting bonds and are always eager to lend a helping hand. Folks out walking often stop at the fence or come up on the porch for a visit. There are porch parties once a month and events throughout the year. We hope to find some of this community spirit in Lutz.

We've already been to a dogpark meeting at the Lutz Community Center. We were very interested in that endeavor, having two dogs ourselves. We have a dogpark in Seminole Heights and it's a very popular hangout for canine types. We were impressed with the Lutz Elementary school teacher and her class who promoted this idea to the County Commissioners. We're looking forward to getting involved in more Lutz activities and getting to know our new neighbors.

Finding Your Homeowners/Neighborhood Association

So, you live in an subdivision or neighborhood and want to connect with the homeowners or neighborhood or civic association. Where can you get contact information?

Two options:
Go to the Hillsborough County Neighborhood Relations website and search their listings by using the map.

Or try the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Corporation Inquiry website. http://ccfcorp.dos.state.fl.us/corpweb/inquiry/corinam.html
Type in part of the name, in case you have it wrong. Ie Windemere for Windemere Neighborhood Association. Which in this case, I did have it wrong, as is listed as Windemere Homeowners Association of Lutz. Click on the name and you will find information about the organizations address and info about its board of directors. In this case I found out it was inactive.

Unfortunantely, Pasco County does not seem to have a listing for its associations so you are stuck with having to use the Division of Corporations.

Dog Park In Lutz

According to the Tribune, the Hillsborough County's parks department "is holding a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (1/16/07) to discuss the dog park planned on the west side of U.S. 41, just south of Lutz-Lake Fern Road.

The idea for a dog park came from students at Lutz Elementary School. The children presented the proposal to county commissioners, who set aside $150,000 for the park."

The meeting is being held at the Lutz Community Center next to the Lutz Library.

This is a great idea. The dog park we have in Seminole Heights is small but very well used. It is nice to have a place to let your dog off the leash and meet other dogs.

According to the BOCC summary of minutes from the 5/17/06 BOCC meeting: "Ms. Kelsey Leggett and Mr. Zachary Bess-Lima, members of Earth Force, Lutz Elementary School, explained the group had initiated a community project to create a dog park . . . Vice Chairman Hagan offered comments in support, confirmed staff was providing assistance, and referred the issue to the County Administrator."

In the 8/16/06 meeting it was noted that the unofficial dog park at Lake Park is being closed due to concerns about the effect on the underground water supply. The Lutz Park will be one of the two dogs parks created to replace it. The other is at Logan Gate Village Park.

Starbucks coming to Lutz?

Well, the rumors going around is that Starbucks is coming to Lutz. If so where?

I would venture one of three places. In the new Target shopping center. Else on the west side of Dale Mabry or US 41 to capture the morning commute crowd. I can guarantee you it will be a drive-thru Starbucks. I'll bet the only reason it is getting built in Lutz is the large volume of traffic it will get because of the drive-thru. The Seminole Heights Starbucks drive through is always busy.

If this is true, that Starbucks is coming, then the next store we need is a Panera's!

City of Tampa Real Estate Division

Poking around TampaGov.Net, I discovered the City of Tampa Real Estate Division.

"The Real Estate Division also sells properties which are considered surplus and are not needed by the City. These properties are available for sale to the general public. The City Land For Sale Report is available at the Division's office or can be downloaded under Available Property Report. "

When I click on that link, what do I find?

"The City of Tampa Real Estate Division has no available properties at this time. Please check back periodically for updates."

Oh. I forget. They have not been able to foreclose on anything.