The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Mike Camunas

For Halloween fun, check out this spooky trail

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Christine Lewis takes Halloween very seriously.

She’s so devoted to the holiday that she built a spooky, interactive trail in front of her Land O’ Lakes home in Wilderness Lake Preserve.

Wilderness Lake Preserve resident Karla Arita enjoys the spooky trail her neighbor, Christine Lewis, set up in front of her house. Lewis created the attraction for her neighbors and other nearby community residents to come by to enjoy, free of charge, from now until Halloween. Anyone can come walk the trail, at 7232 Night Heron Drive, in Land O’ Lakes. (Mike Camunas)

And someone special in her life inspired her.

“The grandbaby asked, ‘Grandma, are you going to decorate?’” Lewis said. “About five houses here (on her street) really do all the decorations, so it’s been on (like a competition) when it comes to Halloween.

“It just morphed into something that was made for my grandbaby, but now is shared with the community.”

It didn’t begin as an interactive trail. For Lewis, it was just decorating to the brim during October. She was happy her grandson, Logan, 4, and her autistic stepson, Hayden, 19, loved it.

Now, after a trial year in 2021, Lewis, with the help of her neighbor, Robert Kersey, may have just perfected the setup. This year’s display will allow residents and nearby visitors to enjoy the spooky trail that has photo ops and lights up at night.

Wilderness Lake Preserve resident Christine Lewis created a spooky trail in front of her house at 7232 Night Heron Drive, in Land O’ Lakes. She welcomes all neighbors — from her subdivision and nearby ones — to come check it out, until Halloween.

Lewis learned from last year to add a designated entrance and exit, but also to space out the trail so “anyone with a stroller or a walker” can easily walk through.

At the end, and on Halloween night, the Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood will be on a small stage and available for photos.

“Oh, we got well over 200 visitors last year — on Halloween alone,” said Lewis, who has lived in Wilderness Lake since 2015 and is also a Wiccan. “And we’ll get well over that this year, but it is a nice way to meet people in the community. And since I posted it on the (neighborhood) Facebook group, everyone asks about it and thanks me for doing it, and really appreciates it and embraces it.

“That really means a lot to me — really lifts my spirits,” the four-time cancer survivor added.

Lewis says everyone is welcome to see the trail, free of charge, in front of her house at 7232 Night Heron Drive — and not just residents of Wilderness Lake, but those from neighboring communities in Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, Wesley Chapel and beyond.

Anyone can come by for candy, photos and, of course, fun.

“It’s not just for kids,” she added. “An 84-year-old woman just stopped by with her husband and came to the door and asked, ‘Can I walk it?’ And I was like, ‘Of course!’ … Plus, on Halloween, we’ll have over 1,000 pieces of candy to hand out.

“And some beer for the adults,” she added, with a laugh.

Published October 26, 2022

Christine Lewis also has the spooky trail lit up at night, and on Halloween, will have Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf waiting for visitors at the end.

Hay, would you look at that?

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The hay bales are back.

The Dade City Center for the Arts announced the kickoff of its third annual Dade City Hale Bale Painting Project with six painted hay bales on display at varying parks and locations throughout the city through Nov. 12.

Six hay bales painted by local artists have been placed in parks around Dade City, as part of the Dade City Hay Bale Painting Project. This bale, painted by Olivia Balogh, is at Naomi Jones Park, 38122 Martin Luther King Blvd. (Mike Camunas)

This is the third consecutive year painted hay bales have been on display, but the second year the center was able to provide sponsorships for them.

Sponsors include Florida Cracker Lunch on Limoges, the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, Karatinos Law, PLLC RX Pharmacy, Schaper Roofing, Construction & Pools and VITIS Realty.

The hay bales were donated by Joey Wubbena of Sumner Knoll Farms.

Local artists expressed their creativity through their designs on the bales.

Most of them have a fall theme, but one painted by Kevin Taggerty maintained his American flag theme from last year.

In a piece published by The Laker/Lutz News in 2021, Taggerty, a U.S. Air Force veteran, explained: “Veterans Day is in November and it’s a tribute to them.”

Lucy Avila, vice president of the Dade City Center for the Arts, said the community response to the art work has been well-received and draws considerable interest each year.

For more information, visit DadeCityArts.com.

Third Annual Dade City Hale Bale Painting Project
Artists and locations
Curtis and Jasmine Wright — Agnes Lamb Park, 14200 Ninth St.
Kevin Taggerty — Hardy Trail at Church Avenue, in front of The Spoke, at 37800 Church Ave.
Olivia Balogh — Naomi Jones Park, 38122 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Patty Reese, Delanie Reese, Alissa Ross and Cassidy Welch — Polly Touchton Park, 13620 Seventh St.
Randy Hernandez — Price Park, 37415 Magnolia Ave.
Ryah Taggerty — Watson Park, next to the Community Garden, at North Avenue and Main Street, in Dade City.

Published October 26, 2022

Curtis and Jasmine Wright painted this hay bale that is at Agnes Lamb Park at 14200 Ninth St., in Dade City.
The hay bale at Polly Touchton Park, painted by the team of Patty Reese, Delanie Reese, Alissa Ross and Cassidy Welch, is on display at the park, 13620 Seventh St., in Dade City. It features a pumpkin theme.
Kevin Taggerty kept his American flag theme with his painted hay bale on the Hardy Trail at Church Avenue, just outside The Spoke at 37800 Church Ave.
This bale, painted by Randy Hernandez, features a pumpkin. The bale sits at Price Park, 37415 Magnolia Ave.
Ryah Taggert painted this bale, which celebrates the upcoming Thanksgiving season. It is next to the Watson Park Community Garden, at North Avenue and Main Street, in Dade City.

 

 

A glowing good time

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Katie Lee, of Land O’ Lakes, poses for a cute picture for her mom, Tran Cam, at the inaugural Jack-O’-Lantern Festival the Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources department hosted at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on Oct. 21. The event featured candy, bounce houses, a costume contest and a pumpkin-carving contest. (Mike Camunas)

The inaugural Jack-O’-Lantern Festival, held on a cool and breezy night at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, attracted hundreds of children, parents and adults dressed in all sorts of creative costumes.

The Oct. 21 event featured candy, bounce houses and scores of jack-o’-lanterns.

The event was hosted by the Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources department.

And, it was the idea of Lindsay Janssen, a recreation leader. She said her hometown in Connecticut had a similar event, so she wanted to get one started in Pasco County.

Several local vendors had small booths that passed out candy to children in costumes, as festival-workers collected about a dozen jack-o’-lanterns that were entered in the carving contest. They also rounded up those willing to compete in the costume contest.

The family of Mike, Michelle, Adalynn and Hasel Barthel won first prize in the costume contest thanks to their Game of Thrones-themed family costumes. They were awarded passes to the Great Explorations Children’s Museum in St. Petersburg.

The Del Valle family — Pablo, Lene and Riley — won the pumpkin-carving contest and received tickets to Busch Gardens.

“I was glad we were able to do something different here in Pasco and something for Halloween,” Janssen said of the event. “We had a great turnout and a great time, and we hope we can make it a yearly event.”

Published October 26, 2022

Land O’ Lakes resident Tori Hobbs, right, opens a peanut butter cup much to the delight of her daughter, Emmie, at the Jack-O’-Lantern Festival.
While at the Jack-O’-Lantern Festival, Wesley Chapel resident Adriana Aparicio gets her face painted for the activities that included trick-or-treating, bounce houses and a costume contest.
The winning jack-o’-lantern in the contest was this one from the Del Valle family, of a larger pumpkin devouring a smaller, frightened pumpkin.
The Joker, a.k.a. Caleb Cordeiro, swears he doesn’t know what happened to Batman to Robin, a.k.a. Michaela Cordeiro, while waiting to be judged during the costume contest at the Jack-O’-Lantern Festival. The pair came in second place in the contest.
Lucas Galan, left, and his brother, Elliot, make their way out of an inflatable bouncy maze at the Jack-O’-Lantern Festival at Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex.
Kristen Donley, of Land O’ Lakes, and her son, Parker, go full Star Wars as Rey and Boba Fett, respectively, at the Jack-O’-Lantern Festival.
A Game of Thrones-themed family — from left: Michelle Barthel, Mike, Adalynn and Hasel — were a hit at the Jack-O’-Lantern Festival at Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, taking home first place in the costume contest.
Land O’ Lakes trick-or-treater Olivia Rose takes some candy at the inaugural Jack-O’-Lantern Festival the Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources department hosted at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on Oct. 21.
Jace Craft, of Land O’ Lakes, and his young son, Cole, are ‘loveable losers,’ or Chicago Cubs fans, at the Jack-O’-Lantern Festival.
Little Lutz monkey Brayden Burney, front, gets candy during the Jack-O’-Lantern Festival, while his brother and fellow monkey, Blayne, looks on and their mom, Jessica Greir, is ‘going bananas’ with smiles and fun.

 

 Wild about reaching the state tournament

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They all wrote the same thing.

Before the season started, the Wesley Chapel High volleyball players had a meeting with their coach where they were asked their goals for the 2022 season. At the meeting, each player went to the whiteboard, took a dry erase marker and passionately wrote the same thing.

State tournament.

Wesley Chapel senior middle hitter and reigning Pasco County Player of the Year Chloe Danielson leads the team with 202 kills. She also has led Wildcats to back-to-back district titles. Danielson and the team have high expectations, as the squad is looking to make the program’s first state tournament appearance after falling a match short in 2021. (Mike Camunas)

Coming off the Wildcats’ best season in program history, in which the team nearly reached said state tournament, the players were anxious from Day One to get back on the court and wildly chase down that collective goal.

“When we met with coach, we all wrote on the board either states or state tournament,” said senior middle hitter Chloe Danielson, who leads the team with 202 kills. “That taste of getting so close, we want it again and we want to achieve our goal of getting to states.”

The Wildcats (20-5) were so close last season, falling just a match short of the state tournament in the final round of the regional tournament: a 3-1 loss to Ocala Vanguard. It was easily the best season in program history, but it left a resonating feeling the players have been chasing for a year now.

“We did all write it down on that board because no matter what, we wanted to make it further than last season,” junior outside hitter Grace Korta said. “We’re all super eager to even just get to states — it’s been the goal from Day One.”

Junior outside hitter Grace Korta is third on the team in kills (154).

“Of course everyone starts writing down states,” sixth-year coach Brittany Collison added. “I had to stop them and take the marker away, because look, we have to win districts first, then we have to win regionals, where it gets much harder from there.”

Wesley Chapel is off to a good start, having secured its second-straight district title with a 3-0 win over nearby rival Cypress Creek (16-7) on Oct. 20 at Fivay High. The Class 5A-District 6 title secures the Wildcats home-court advantage, which is always beneficial; however, the team has been dominant all season.

Danielson, the 6-foot reigning Pasco County Volleyball Player of the Year, may not have as impressive stats as 2021 when she had a team-record 375 kills, but she’s had help.

Korta and fellow junior Lizzy Ekechi are third (154) and second (160), respectively, on the team in kills, while senior Jenna Ly has a team-high 46 aces. Adding to the fray has been Pasco High transfer Emma Letourneau, a 5-foot-11 junior who led the Pirates with 198 kills, only to turn around and be fourth best on the Wildcats (133).

This has all led to an incredible stat: the Wildcats were undefeated in regular season matches, with their five losses all coming in tournaments.

Sixth-year Wildcats coach Brittany Collison proudly displays the team’s second-straight district championship trophy to the team. It has bigger aspirations as it heads into the regional tournament.

“I think we’ve had big expectations for this season because of how we did last year and (because we returned eight of the 12 players) from last season,” Collison said. “Getting (Letourneau) from Pasco gave us a lot of versatility on the team.

“But (the tournament losses) were a big wake-up call,” she added. “They understood that we’re good, but we can be better — we’re not perfect and always have stuff to work on.”

“I was very confident coming into the season knowing who was back and who came to the team,” Korta said, “and I’m super excited to see how far we can go.”

Danielson agreed, adding the returners stayed cohesive the whole offseason.

“We were able to gel right away — get on our A game right away,” Danielson said. “We all know each other, so we were ready to go right from the start.”

Now, it’s the start of a postseason run that the players are hoping ends at the place they all wrote down.

“This year,” Danielson said, “we all had the same mindset because we all went through it together, we all went through getting so close and not getting our goal, which was to go to states.

“The talent is all there, but to finish it off, we just have to stay focused as a team and keep up the team camaraderie. If we can, I think we can get to where we want to be.”

Regional Tournament games
Classes 2A-4A, Oct. 25
Classes 5A-7A, Oct. 26
All games are at 7 p.m.

Class 7A
No. 8 Steinbrenner (18-8) at No. 1 Venice (17-4)

Class 6A
No. 7 Fort Myers (10-8) at No. 2 Land O’ Lakes (21-7)
No. 6 Sunlake (13-9) at No. 3 Bloomingdale (14-4)
No. 5 Springstead (22-4) at No. 4 Mitchell (18-5)
No. 8 Wharton (15-9) at No. 1 Punta Gorda Charlotte (17-1)

Class 5A
No. 8 Fivay (12-14) at No. 1 Wesley Chapel (20-5)
No. 3 Cypress Creek (16-7) at No. 6 Lake Wales (14-4)
No. 8 Freedom (10-4) at No. 1 Naples Barron Collier (15-5)

Class 4A
No. 6 Anclote (12-15) at No. 6 Lemon Bay (11-9)

Class 3A
No. 2 Tampa Prep (15-7) at No. 7 Carrollwood Day (20-6)

State tournament
Host: Polk County Public Schools
When: Nov. 11-12
Where: Polk State College – Winter Haven Health Center, 999 Ave H N.E., Winter Haven

Info: Visit FHSAA.com/sports/gvb.

Published October 26, 2022

Gators volleyball wins first district title in 33 years

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Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes Volleyball

The Land O’ Lakes volleyball team (21-7) topped Mitchell (18-5) for the Class 6A-District 9 title on Oct. 20, edging out the Mustangs 3-2 and securing the Gators first district title in 33 years. Junior Izabella Horruitiner led Land O’ Lakes with 16 kills, while senior Jaidynce Linduski added 11 and junior Carissa Mixon had 10 blocks.

Friday Night Lights Football Scoreboard (Oct. 21)

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On Oct. 21, Pasco High senior running back Tayshaun Balmir set the program record for most rushing yards in a season after a 158-yard, two-TD performance in the Pirates win over Crystal River. Balmir, who leads the state with 1,665 rushing yards, surpassed Jamal Haynes, who rushed for 1,612 in 2008. (Courtesy of Pasco Pirates Football)

Pasco County
Land O’ Lakes 23,Sunlake 8
Pasco 14,Crystal River 6
Cypress Creek 30, Parrish Community 27
Zephyrhills 48, Lakeland Kathleen 0
Lecanto 37, Wesley Chapel 0
Four Corners 41, Academy at the Lakes 14
St. Petersburg Catholic 46, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic 14

Hillsborough County
Wharton 35, Bloomingdale 8
Plant 47, Steinbrenner 14
Gaither 41, Durant 35
Clearwater Central Catholic 33, Carrollwood Day 6 (Oct. 20)

Oct. 28 Football Schedule

Pasco County
Wesley Chapel at Pasco
Land O’ Lakes at Wiregrass Ranch
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic at Victory Christian
Cypress Creek at Zephyrhills|
Mitchell at Sunlake
Northside Christian at Zephyrhills Christian
Academy at the Lakes at Lakeside Christian

Hillsborough County
Gaither at Leto
Steinbrenner at Sickles
Wharton at Freedom
Carrollwood Day at Cambridge Christian

*All games start at 7:30 p.m.

Published October 26, 2022

Disability Awareness Week a hit

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From left: Lions baseball coach Rick O’Dette along with Special Olympics athlete Matt Paoletti and Savannah Rock, Area 5 community engagement manager for the Special Olympics Florida. (Courtesy of Hailey Latlief, Saint Leo University)

Saint Leo University’s baseball and softball teams and Campus Recreation joined the Office of Accessibility Services for the annual beep baseball game on Oct. 13, at the university’s Turf Stadium on campus.

Part of Disability Awareness Week activities at Saint Leo, the annual game is a

favorite for competitors and spectators. During the game, the baseball and softball teams and others learn what it’s like to play this adaptive sport for the blind and visually impaired by putting on blindfolds and having to keep their ear on the beeping ball and bases. The softball team won 8-7 on a walk-off hit.

Area 5 serves those in Pasco, Hillsborough, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando and Pinellas counties.

Land O’ Lakes Branch Library nearing reopening

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Closed for more than a year already, the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, at 2818 Collier Parkway, is inching toward the finish line of its massive renovation.

The Land O’ Lakes Branch Library at 2818 Collier Parkway is nearly ready to open after its year-plus 4.75-million renovation that included new furnishings, lighting, computer, printers and even faster broadband in the 31-year-old facility. (Mike Camunas)

Pasco County Library Cooperative officials do not have a firm reopening date set, but hope to have one soon.

“There’s still some work to be done,” Bob Harrison, marketing program manager for the Pasco County Library Cooperative, told The Laker/Lutz News. “Plus, we’ll need time to move in the furniture, install the computers, transfer the book collection and more, to ensure the library is a vibrant, welcoming place for everyone.

“We know (people) are as anxious as we are to get back in there!”

When the 18,169-square-foot branch closed Aug. 14 for a $4.75-million renovation, completion was tentatively set for late 2022. And there is still time, as this branch has not been hit with supply chain issue delays, such as its sister branch — Dade City’s Hugh Embry Branch Library — has, according to Cooperative officials.

That branch, with its $2-million renovation, has no tentative completion or reopen date, either.

In early- to mid-2021, the Land O’ Lakes Branch was cleared of its contents and fenced off, with some of its books and services moving next door to the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, at 3032 Collier Parkway.

The Land O’ Lakes Branch Library’s makeover will be a floor-to-ceiling remodel, and will include new furnishings, updated technology, faster broadband and other improvements. (Courtesy of Pasco County Library Cooperative)

The renovation includes a complete overhaul and remodel of the branch, including new furnishings, lighting, computer, printers and even faster broadband.

It’s the second time the branch has undergone construction, with the last being a two-year expansion project, which began in 2005.

“It’s a top-to-bottom remodel. Floor-to-ceiling,” Harrison told this publication in July 2021. “Everything is brand new. Literally, from the floor coverings to the wall, to the ceiling treatments.”

Funding for the library renovation is coming from proceeds of general obligation bonds that were approved through a referendum in 2018, with a 66% approval rating from voters, Harrison added.

The Land O’ Lakes Branch is one of three Pasco County libraries currently closed for remodeling: the aforementioned Hugh Embry, at 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, and the South Holiday Branch Library, at 4649 Mile Stretch Drive, are the other two.

The Land O’ Lakes Branch began as a small section of a county building on U.S. 41, but was later moved to a larger location because of its increase in use. In 1980, it became an official part of the Pasco County Library Collective and moved into a Land O’ Lakes plaza storefront in 1988.

The branch at its current location was built through a $10-million bond referendum passed by Pasco County voters in 1986 to improve public library services and build new parks countywide.

The Land O’ Lakes Branch Library opened to the public on Dec. 12, 1991.

Published October 19, 2022

Delays slowing down Hugh Embry Library renovation

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Closed for more than a year already, Dade City’s Hugh Embry Branch Library, at 14215 Fourth St., has been hit by unexpected delays.

A tentative reopening date is unscheduled, according to Pasco County Library Cooperative officials.

The problem is supply chain issues, which has shown to be a huge factor with construction projects, both public and private.

Hugh Embry Branch Library, at 14215 Fourth St. in Dade City, is well underway on its $2-million renovation that started more than a year ago, but supply chain issues has delayed completion and Pasco County Library Cooperative officials are unsure of when reopening will occur. (Mike Camunas)

“The Hugh Embry Library Renovation Project remains a top priority for Pasco County’s Facilities Management team. Libraries are an important part of our community, and the work being done at Hugh Embry will ensure the library is a vibrant, welcoming place for everyone,” Pasco County Library Cooperative said in a statement to The Laker/Lutz News.

“Unfortunately, key pieces of critical equipment are on backorder, and we’ve experienced several major construction delays due to supply chain issues. This situation is not unique to Pasco.”

Library officials wanted to address the community, as well, understanding citizens’ desire to return to the library and enjoy its services.

“While these delays are frustrating for our customers and team members,” the statement added, “please understand, we’re doing everything we can to expedite this work — and all work that can be done, has been done. Once the necessary supplies arrive, we anticipate finalizing the project in a matter of weeks.

“We apologize these ongoing delays are keeping you out of your local library. We’re working as hard as we can to open Hugh Embry Library’s doors as soon as possible.”

In early to mid-2021, Hugh Embry was cleared of its contents for the $2-million renovation to begin, with completion by mid-2022. The renovation is to include a complete overhaul and remodel of the branch, including new furnishings, lighting, computer, printers and even faster broadband.

It was the first time the branch received renovation work since 1991, when the library was expanded through a $10-million bond referendum passed by Pasco County voters in 1986 to improve public library services and build new parks countywide.

The Hugh Embry Library’s makeover will be a floor-to-ceiling remodel, and will include new furnishings, updated technology, faster broadband and other improvements. (Courtesy of Pasco County Library Cooperative)

“It’s a top-to-bottom remodel. Floor-to-ceiling,” Bob Harrison, marketing program manager for the Pasco County Library Cooperative, told this publication in July 2021. “Everything is brand new. Literally, from the floor coverings to the wall, to the ceiling treatments.” Funding for the library renovation is coming from proceeds of general obligation bonds that were approved through a referendum in 2018, with a 66% approval rating from voters, Harrison added.

Hugh Embry is one of three Pasco County libraries currently closed for remodeling. The Land O’Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, is in its final stages of renovation, but also does not have a reopening date.

Also under renovation is the South Holiday Branch Library, at 4649 Mile Stretch Drive.

Founded in 1904, the Hugh Embry Library is the oldest in Pasco County. Its namesake, the then 25-year-old Embry, had exhausted books he could borrow from friends. He raised $50 to start a library and called it the Shakespeare Club. He chose books and ran the library out of his family home until his death from tuberculosis in 1907.

The Pasco Library Association was established to manage the library, and aided by The Dade City Woman’s Club. In 1927, the woman’s club began loaning books to the general population for free, out of a room in the Herbert Massey Building. Within a month of its opening, the library had attracted 440 registered borrowers.

For years, the library was unincorporated, though it continued to grow. It wasn’t until 1952 that Dade City gave property across the street from City Hall for a library building, and in 1953, the City took over responsibility for the library.

It would take another 10 years before the library finally moved to its current location.

After the Pasco County Library Cooperative was founded in 1980, it began operating and maintaining the Hugh Embry Branch under a no-cost lease. In 1988, the City Commission of Dade City sold the library to Pasco County for $150,000.

Published October 19, 2022           

Dade City approves nearly $41 million budget

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The City of Dade City approved a budget of nearly $41 million for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

The new spending plan represents a 64% increase over last year’s budget, which approached $25 million, and was adopted unanimously during an Oct. 4 meeting.

This is a significantly large increase from the previous budget, accounting for 64% higher than the $24,961,790 budget for last fiscal year.

Dade City Commissioners voted on Oct. 4 to approve the 2022-2023 budget of $40,994,350. The city covers 7.5 square miles and was incorporated in 1889. It has an estimated population of 7,888 in 3,029 households. (Mike Camunas)

The new budget is $40,994,350.

The substantial percentage of the increase comes from capital projects, while other costs are the addition of personnel and inflationary impacts.

Personnel costs are expected to be slightly more than $7.7 million, representing about 19% of the budget. That’s an increase of more than $1.3 million over last year.

The increase is due to new positions, increased health care premiums, salary increases and associated retirement costs.

Inflation also had a significant impact on the budget.

The city’s millage rate of 7.14 remained unchanged. The city’s property values came in at $403,362,761. That’s more than $63 million higher than the value in 2021, which was $339,633,298.

The general fund budget is expected to increase by almost $5.2 million.

Operating costs have increased by nearly $360,000.

Overall, departments continue to look for ways to improve operating efficiencies in the face of rising costs. Inflation and supply chain delays continue to impact operating costs.

Major projects include construction of the Dade Oaks retention pond, Morningside Drive Extension, design of the wastewater treatment plant, wastewater force main and lift station projects, utility relocation projects, splash pad, Irvin Center, playground equipment and sidewalk/road improvements. This amount includes $1.75 million collected from impact fees and system development charges that will be held in reserve for future capital projects, and $430,500 that will be deposited into the renewal and replacement fund for public utilities.

Capital expenditures increased by nearly $3.9 million, primarily due to the Morningside Drive Extension, splash pad, Irvin Center, road improvements and the purchase of police vehicles.

The Dade City Commission consists of Mayor James Shive, Mayor Pro Tem Knute Nathe, and Commissioners Scott Black, Ann Cosentino and Normita Woodard.

Published October 19, 2022