The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Putt-putt golf course opens at the Grove

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Though it took a little while longer than expected, the Grove at Wesley Chapel now has a new attraction to play through.

Grove Mini Golf, 6201 Wesley Grove Blvd., is the newest attraction to come to the Grove at Wesley Chapel and features a traditional, 18-hole putt-putt course with a tropical feel and is family friendly. (Mike Camunas)

Grove Mini Golf finally opened its doors on April 15, with a soft opening for the 18-hole mini golf course located near the B&B Theatres Wesley Chapel.

Opening on the heels of PopStroke — the two 18-hole putting and entertainment attraction co-owned by Tiger Woods now in Lutz — Grove Mini Golf is a family owned and family friendly amenity.

The golfing attraction’s completion was delayed by supply chain and permitting issues, among other things, according to Ryan Mortti, its owner.

However, it opened to light crowds over its first weekend and during the Chalk Art Festival and Market on April 16.

While PopStroke and Grove Mini Golf aren’t too far from each other, the courses are quite different.

Grove Mini Golf is a more traditional course, but with a tropical feel of volcanoes, lots of fountains and waterfalls, sea creature statues and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant bridges and paths. Each hole also has LED strips that light up each hole with different programming.

Grove Mini Golf also is available for parties and fundraising and corporate events, and has a small snack bar at the front desk.

Prices per golfer start at $16.99 for adults and $13.99 for children under age 10, military and seniors over age 60. There also is an unlimited play option for $24.99.

The attraction is located at 6201 Wesley Grove Blvd. 

For more information, call 813-815-7888, or visit GroveMiniGolf.com.

Published April 26, 2023

Splash Pad, new park coming to Dade City

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A ceremonial groundbreaking marked the beginning of a new project aimed at giving Dade City children a new place to play, as well as more park space in the city’s downtown. (Mike Camunas)

Dade City officials, staff members and even kids from local elementary schools took part in a ceremonial groundbreaking on April 10, kicking off the construction of a family-friendly splash pad and park.

The new amenities are coming to downtown Dade City, next to the beginning of the Hardy Trail, near the town’s visitor center at 37800 Church Ave.

The new park also will include some new trails, restrooms and an amphitheater.

The project will be built by Borregard Construction.

The 2,500-square-foot splash pad will include an Aqua Dumping Bucket, Aqua Water Castle, aqua features such as jellyfish, a crab and butterfly, and even an Aqua Kumquat Tree, as a nod to the city’s fruit — which is celebrated in an annual festival. 

The $1.2 million project has been allocated through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The splash pad cost is estimated at $800,000. The adjoining restroom and mechanical room is estimated at $557,720.16.

The splash pad is expected to be done in the latter part of January next year.

Published April 26, 2023

Pasco County breaks ground for new fire station

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This sign proclaims the latest Fire Rescue project being paid for through general obligation bonds approved by Pasco voters. (Courtesy of Pasco Fire Rescue)

Pasco County Fire Rescue broke ground on April 6, on a new fire station coming to Zephyrhills. 

County officials and representatives were on hand for the late morning ceremony. Station No. 18 will be located at Chancey Road and Yonkers Boulevard, just across the street from the Samuel Pasco Recreation Complex.

The state-of-the-art, four-bay fire station is designed with firefighter health, safety and wellness in mind, and includes hot, warm and cold zones designed to help reduce firefighter cancer rates by allowing firefighters to clean carcinogens off their bodies before entering the fire station’s living quarters. 

The station also will include larger bays to accommodate specialty apparatus, a built-in 16-member training classroom to support multi-station training, a flex room to house additional firefighters during a significant emergency, and advanced station alerting to improve firefighter health and wellness.

The groundbreaking marks the fifth new station to be paid for by the G.O. (general obligation) bond approved by Pasco voters to pay for fire rescue improvements.

Published April 26, 2023

Dade City has commission opening

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Dade City Commissioner Knute Nathe has resigned from his Group 4 position to serve as a Pasco County Judge, according to an announcement from the city.

The city is now accepting applications to fill the vacancy created by Nathe’s departure.

(Mike Camunas)

Nathe, a longtime Dade City resident, was elected as the Group 4 commissioner for Dade City on June 30, 2020 for the term ending in April 2024.

He was unanimously elected Mayor Pro Tem by his fellow commissioners in April 2022.

According to the city charter, the office of a commission member shall become vacant upon the member’s death, resignation, or removal from office or forfeiture of office in any manner authorized by law.

The charter also states that if the vacancy occurs with 60 days or less left in the member’s term, then no appointment shall be made until the next regular municipal election.

However, should a vacancy occur with more than 60 days left in the unexpired term, that vacancy shall be filled by the City Commission within 30 days of the date of the vacancy with any qualified resident so appointed to serve until a successor is elected at the next regular municipal election.

Additionally, if a vacancy is not filled by the City Commission within 30 days after the vacancy occurs, a special election shall be held within 60 days after the vacancy and the person elected shall serve the remaining unexpired term.

According to the City of Dade City website, Nathe is a descendant of Casper Joseph “C.J.” Nathe, who moved the Nathe family to St. Joe in the late 1800s and Nathe’s family has been designated a Founding Family of Pasco County. After working for the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office as a County Court prosecutor, Commissioner Nathe joined the firm of McClain Alfonso, P.A. as an associate attorney in Nov. 2014.

Applications can be filled on the City of Dade City website at www.dadecityfl.com. Applications are due before 5 p.m. on May 1.

For more information, call the City Clerk at 352-523-5052.

Published April 26, 2023

Pasco granted longer scallop season for 2023

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has temporarily modified the 2023 open season for the harvest of bay scallops within the Pasco Zone, extending the 10-day season to 37 days on a trial basis, according to a Pasco County news release.

The recreational bay scallop season for this area opens July 1 and closes Aug. 6, allowing harvest to begin during the weekend in advance of the Fourth of July holiday. These season dates also support a fun recreational opportunity for families as they occur before students return to Pasco County schools for the 2023-2024 school year, the release notes.

Pasco County has been angling for a longer scallop season for some time and this year, the county got it — albeit on a trial basis. (File)

“Extending the season will increase the economic benefits from this popular recreational fishery to local communities in the region,” Jessica McCawley, director of the Division of Marine Fisheries Management, said in the release.

“We will continue these efforts by exploring long-term season options for future years via the formal rulemaking process,” McCawley added.

Between 2017 and 2020, FWC took a pilot approach to establish regionally specific bay scallop regulations while also maintaining the sustainability of local scallop populations. As part of this effort, the allowable harvest area for scallops was extended to include Pasco County waters starting in 2018, the release says.

The Pasco Zone for bay scallop management includes all Florida waters south of the Pasco-Hernando county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse (approximately 0.37 miles south of the Pasco-Pinellas county line).

The daily bag limit in this area is 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of shucked bay scallop meat per person, with no more than a total of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1/2 gallon (4 pints) shucked bay scallop meat per vessel, the release says.

Throughout the season and region-wide, vessel limits do not allow an individual to exceed their personal bag limit.

It is important to note that scallops may be collected by hand or with a landing or dip net, and no commercial harvest allowed for bay scallops in Florida.

For information on bay scallop regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Bay Scallops” under the “Crabs, Lobster and other Shellfish” tab.

Published April 26, 2023

A basket full of treats

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Tanya Highnote, center, presents a basket to staff at the Lutz Library. (Courtesy of Patricia Serio)
Lucy Albury, right, presents a basket to a Land O’Lakes Library staff member.

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club delivered Easter gift baskets filled with treats to the libraries the club supports, in Land O’ Lakes and Lutz. The women wanted to express their appreciation of the libraries’ service and contributions to the community, especially during Library Workers’ Month. To learn more about the club, visit GFWCLutzLandOLakesWomansClub.org or its Facebook page.

 

Getting an early start on disaster preparedness

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Are you ready for the 2023 hurricane season?

It’s important to know if you live in an evacuation zone and, if you do, what route you will use if evacuation becomes necessary. Make a plan in advance. (File)

It’s never too early to start getting ready for hurricanes and other potential disasters, including flooding, tornadoes and wildfires.

Pasco’s 2023 Disaster Expo offers a convenient way for residents and business owners to find out how they can protect themselves from potential disasters and how to respond if a disaster threatens or strikes, according to a news release from Pasco County.

Pasco County Emergency Management will host the family friendly expo on April 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The event will be held at Veterans Memorial Park, at 14333 Hicks Road, in Hudson.

Pasco Emergency Management Director Andy Fossa is inviting the community to the event to help those attending learn important ways to keep themselves safe and to protect their property.

“We encourage you to join us on April 29 for this free, interactive event, so you can prepare now,” he said in the release.

Pasco’s 2023 Disaster Expo will help you: 

  • Plan for Evacuations
  • Register for Special Needs Assistance
  • Protect Your Home or Business
  • Learn How to Get Involved
  • Prepare Go-Kits for People and Pets

Those attending can pick up the 2023 Pasco County Disaster Preparedness Guide, too.

Kids will be able to create go-kits, visit the touch-a-truck display and play in a bounce house.

Adults will be able to speak with emergency management experts.

Food trucks also will be there, so those attending can grab a bite to eat.

To find out more about preparing for disasters, visit the county’s Department of Emergency Management at bit.ly/PascoEM.

Published April 19, 2023

Pasco County under Emergency Burn Ban

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A burn ban is in effect in Pasco County to reduce the risk of brush fires due to the extremely dry conditions. (Mike Camunas)

All areas of Pasco County are under an Emergency Burn Ban because of extremely dry conditions, according to a county news release.

The mandatory ban is in effect until conditions improve.

The extremely dry conditions are a result of a prolonged lack of rainfall and the conditions create an increased risk of brush fires, the release said.

The ban prohibits:

  • Open burning
  • Campfires/bonfires
  • Burning yard waste/garbage

Also, remember that a simple action, such as tossing a lit cigarette into the grass, can easily ignite brush fires that can quickly spread out of control – putting people in danger and threatening homes and businesses, the release said.

Outdoor cooking in grills or smokers that can contain the fire, flame and heat is acceptable, however Pasco Fire Rescue encourages you to make sure the coals in your grill are extinguished when you finish cooking.

Pasco County will send out a notification when it is safe to resume open burning.

To report a Burn Ban violation, call the county’s Emergency Communications Center at 727-847-8102.

Published April 19, 2023

Republican meeting ‘going to the dogs’

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(Courtesy of Sandra Graves)

Cpl. Art Madden and his dog Woodie will headline the April 24 meeting of The Republican Club of Central Pasco, at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Madden will speak to the club about the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) K-9 charity and the club will present a $250 donation to the corporal.

The PSO K-9 Unit is one of the largest and most diversely skilled K-9 units in Florida. It is comprised of multiple handler and K-9 teams, all serving a specific purpose. 

These teams use their skills in various ways including tracking missing people; finding drugs, explosives or accelerants; locating human remains; and, providing comfort for those in crisis.

The K-9s are vital to the PSO — they can perform tasks that humans cannot or that would take significant manpower and time to achieve the same result. There is a social at 6 p.m., followed by the business meeting at 6:30 p.m. For information, call 813-996-3011.

Published April 19, 2023

Sheriff’s Office welcomes K-9 Hondo

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(Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) has announced its newest member — K-9 Hondo, a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois cross, born on March 1, 2021. Hondo has completed certification for patrol work and also will be a member of the SWAT team. Deputy Alex Mason, who also is new to the K-9 unit,  is Hondo’s partner.