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Health & Fitness

Two Weeks on the Guv'na Campaign Trail

A tale of the times. Local matters, and we need to stand up for it while and when we can.

It simply is not easy for me to write this essay. Four years ago in 2009, I ran and won the Lutz Guv'na sash. At that time, our business, Illuminated Publishing, was in the running for www.localshops1.com's "Most Community-Minded" business award. It was a long shot, but we won it. During and after my Guv'na run, I supported and connected more than 65 local businesses with one another. It was a time when the economy was so sour that many folks just didn't know how long they would continue to get a paycheck. With a little ingenuity and some silliness, former Guv'na Michele Northrup and I set out to illuminate the business community with the "Lutz Shop and Stroll". We had two events, one more successful than the last. People were excited to be a part of it, both store owners and shoppers alike. It was fun and it was different, and it kept some money close-by in the Lutz community. Some of the proceeds from those events went to supply new windows at the Old Lutz School, a symbolic icon on Hwy 41 and a piece of Lutz history.Fast forward four years, and I find myself running again. It is the Centennial of Lutz. A simple, kind-hearted, generous and spirited town. It is now also handfuls short of those same businesses that we once celebrated. Doors closed for one reason or another. An instant reminder that it takes all of us to make a community. During the last two weeks as I began fundraising for my Campaign, I've heard an almost constant "Welcome back!! We're so glad you're doing this again. How can we support you?" I am thankful for that, but also mindful of the huge hopes and responsibility that those sentiments are attached to. As I schedule events across this town, please notice how many are with the "mom and pops" of Lutz in an effort to highlight the character of this small, but growing area. Places like Marchellos Pizzeria with owner Lisa saying, "Yes, I will do it! I am glad to help out. I want to be a part of this town in a big way." Then there is Denise of Scraporium, a specialty store of scrap-booking and craft supplies, who generously gave a huge basket of goodies for me to turn creatively into cash. There's also Carla and Jim of Carlita's Bowl Veggie Co-op, recently starting out and doing their best for their family with a fresh veggie and fruit co-op.To date, and in just a short while, dozens and dozens of businesses from Dumas Tires to Independent Tree Service to Flip Flop Embroidery Shoppe and Intensity Academy have stepped up to say "Yes, we can do this together!". Unfortunately, today a local favorite, Splash/an Ocean Grille, shut it's doors. All of those folks are now without jobs. They are our community.I hope that in this wonderful town of Lutz and during it's Centennial year, you will stop to get your car washed from a scout troop or a Guv'na candidate. That you will make an effort to come to a yoga class at the Old Lutz School or pop in on one of many of the fine and fun events happening between now and July 4th that will bring awareness to this charming southern town. I urge you to say, "Yes!" to Lutz, so that when the race is over the local businesses who supported it can be supported right back. This is your call to action. I hope that you will choose well. Please visit us at www.illuminatedpublishing.com (I Choose Lutz Too!") for event info and updates. Peace.

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