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Group Brings Grant To Table

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By ELIZABETH LEE BROWN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2007

LUTZ - The 160 families living around Lake Wilson and Little Lake Wilson share a few common bonds.

They love the environment and take great care in protecting and maintaining the lakes' water quality.

They live on the eight roads circling the two bodies of water.

And nearly everybody turns out for the community's three major gatherings - the Fourth of July parade and its fishing tournament, the October fall festival, and the Christmas boat parade where Santa Claus water skis.

The close-knit community recently received a financial boost that will help make those community events a little more comfortable.

The association received a $1,500 grant from Hillsborough County's Office of Neighborhood Relations to buy tables and chairs.

The stipend is part of the annual funding program available to neighborhoods to pay for community-building projects such as festivals, landscaping, and Web sites.

The tables and chairs are needed because residents were carting their own card tables and folding chairs to the community gatherings, said Cheryl Ayres, president of the Wilson Lakes Neighborhood Association.

The grant will pay for five 8-foot tables and 50 chairs from Sam's Club, she said.

Aside from the main events, the chairs and tables will be used when neighbors meet to discuss rezoning issues, she said.

Ayres said the county money comes in time for the fall festival, scheduled for Oct. 27. Organizers will charge a $5 admission. The family fun day will feature the Amazing Soccer Collies dog show, music, horse rides and a Bratwurst lunch.

The festival is the group's annual fundraiser.

'We're hoping, if necessary, we'll have a war chest to help educate people on issues that do impact our community,' Ayres said.

The minigrant is the third stipend for the group in as many years. Two years ago, the association created a cookbook with recipes from neighborhood families. Last year, a grant helped pay for a community cleanup day.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Wilson Lakes Neighborhood Association
WHERE: Homes around Lake Wilson and Little Lake Wilson, including Abbey Lane, Arbor Drive, Cedar Lane, North Dale Mabry Highway, Geraci Road, Griffith Road, Jean Street and Wilson Circle

MEMBERSHIP: 160 families

COST: $50 a year

WEB SITE: www.wilsonlakes .org

Reporter Elizabeth Lee Brown can be reached at (813) 865-1502 or ebrown@tampatrib.com.

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