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Small-Town Appeal Shines

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 7, 2009

Those of you who have been reading my column for a while know that I've called the Land O' Lakes area home for quite some time. When we moved to central Pasco County, McDonald's was the only fast-food place going, we had one grocery store and schools weren't overcrowded. My parents selected this area because of its small-town appeal. While I wasn't necessarily in love with it at the time, it grew on me through the years and has truly become my home.

Recently, a friend of mine asked why I've never picked up sticks and moved to "the big city" permanently. Sure, I've had plenty of opportunities to take jobs in more urbanized areas. I even lived in Temple Terrace and Carrollwood for a time, but I returned to Land O' Lakes when it was time to settle down, buy a home and start a family.

Why?

It all comes down to the small-town appeal that attracted my parents to Pasco County in the first place. Sure the region has grown in leaps and bounds through the years. We now have a mall, multiple shopping centers, a movie theater and McDonald's isn't the only game in town. Of course, we also have "urban" issues now like crime, traffic congestion and overcrowding in our schools. Still, at the heart of it all, Central Pasco's communities are still communities.

It's still possible to sit down in a restaurant and run into old friends. In most cases, if you patronize a store on a regular basis, the clerks will try to get to know you by name. Neighbors still watch out for neighbors and try to pitch in and lend a hand when it's needed.

If you doubt this, take a good look around. Examples of true community spirit abound. Take the Lexington Oaks neighborhood for example. This community is by far not Wesley Chapel's oldest, but it is pretty tight knit. Residents within the 1,509-home subdivision have turned it into a real community by reaching out and trying to keep each other safe from crime.

The spirit of giving here is also very much alive. While I was out shopping the other day, I ran into Jacquie Petet from Christian Social Services. (Yes, we're still a small enough town that it's possible and even probable to run into contacts at the grocery.) She happily reported that residents had been so generous to that group's Christmas food and toy drive that their own needs were met. Some 500 children obtained help and the overage of donations, which amounted to a lot, went to other organizations in need. Toys for Tots of East Pasco also met its lofty holiday goals, serving more than 4,000 children.

So, why haven't I picked up sticks for an exciting life in a bigger city?

It's pretty simple: central Pasco County isn't "the big city," but it is home. While it might never be Mayberry, with luck, we'll keep that small-town appeal alive.

Sherri Lonon is the editor of In The Loop.

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