Lutz Centennial Plans Under Way, Volunteers Needed

About 30 people gathered at the community center Monday to put the wheels in motion for Lutz's 100th birthday celebration, and there were plenty of ideas tossed around.

Organizers hope that local organizations such as women's clubs, Scout troops and others will come together to produce the event, rather than creating smaller events to celebrate the 2013 centennial, Suzin Carr said.

Carr, who led Monday's meeting, said organizers "welcome as many ideas as we can."

So far, the actual date of the centenial celebration is up in the air. It may be tied into the annual Lutz fourth of July celebration, with events leading up to the parade, or it may be planned for the fall.

The 100th birthday event does not have to be in July, nothing is set in stone, organizer Phyllis Hoedt said.

And the county's parks and recreation department is stretched thin around the Fourth of July, Hoedt said.

Some attendees felt adding centennial events ahead of the Independence Day parade would leave volunteers exhausted by the Fourth. Others thought combining the two would take away from the significance of the 100th birthday.

"We will be whooped by the Fourth of July," one man said.

Suggestions ranged from spreading small events out throughout the year to planning a multi-day event that would include a family movie night and a full day festival at a park with sack races and other activities.

Monday's meeting got the creative juices flowing, but there is a lot left to discuss and decide. Organizers are looking for a volunteer to serve as the event chairperson.

Anyone interested in volunteering should plan to attend the next meeting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the Lutz Community Center.

"Like" the Centennial Celebration's Facebook page to stay up-to-date with planning.

For more information, contact Suzin Carr at suzin@illuminatedpublishing.com.

See also: Upcoming Events Slated to Help Raise Funds for Lutz Centennial