The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Interstate 75 traffic to be detoured, Oct. 15 through Oct. 17

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One direction of Interstate 75 traffic in the Wesley Chapel area of Pasco County will be detoured to local roads each night between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m., beginning on Oct. 15 and finishing up on the morning of Oct. 17, according to officials from the Florida Department of Transportation.

The detours are needed to set concrete beams for one of two new Overpass Road bridges, FDOT officials say.

Southbound traffic will be detoured Friday night, Oct. 15, and northbound traffic will be detoured Saturday night, Oct. 16. Here are the details and detour routes:

  • Southbound I-75 traffic will be detoured off the interstate between State Road 52 (Exit 285) and State Road 54/County Road 54 (Exit 279) between 9 p.m. Oct. 15 and 9 a.m. Oct. 16.

Detour route for southbound I-75: Traffic will be directed off at Exit 285. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto State Road 52 and continue for approximately one-half mile. At the next traffic signal, which is Old Pasco Road, turn left and go south on Old Pasco Road for approximately 6.75 miles to County Road 54/State Road 54. Turn left at the traffic signal onto State Road 54/County Road 54 (which also is known as Wesley Chapel Boulevard) and continue east about seven-tenths of a mile to re-enter southbound I-75.

  • Northbound I-75 traffic will be detoured off the interstate between State Road 54/County Road 54 (Exit 279) and State Road 52 (Exit 285) between 9 p.m. Oct. 16 and 9 a.m. Oct. 17.

Detour route for northbound I-75: Traffic will be directed off northbound I-75 at Exit 279. At the bottom of the ramp, turn left onto State Road 54/County Road 54/Wesley Chapel Boulevard and continue west about eight-tenths of a mile to Old Pasco Road. At the traffic signal for Old Pasco Road, turn right and go north for approximately 6.75 miles to State Road 52. Turn right at the traffic signal onto State Road 52 and go east about three-quarters of a mile. After passing under I-75, turn left onto the entrance ramp to re-enter northbound I-75.

Motorists should be aware that Old Pasco Road is a two-lane road — with one lane in each direction. It is expected to be very congested during the hours of the detour. The posted speed limit along Old Pasco Road must be observed.

Motorists are urged to plan plenty of extra time to drive the detour and return to the interstate, or to consider alternate routes.

Law enforcement officers and traffic management personnel will be active along the detour route to assist with traffic flow.

Detour signs and message boards will be placed along the detour route for guidance.

Detour maps and directions are posted on the project web page, tinyurl.com/usysjbx6.

Published October 13, 2021

Zephyrhills woman is showcased on the TODAY show

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When Shannon Brennan heard the promo for “Flip your Fall,” a new TODAY Show segment, she immediately knew who to nominate.

The show was looking to shine the spotlight on someone who goes out of their way for others, and Shannon knew that her co-worker Leondra Thomas-Robinson was perfect for that honor.

So, Shannon, who happened to be in Syracuse, New York, visiting her mother, immediately filled out a nomination on TODAY’s website.

And, the television show responded quickly, choosing Leondra, to be featured in the segment.

Behind the scenes, the TODAY team conspired with Shannon and her boss, Betsy Strickland, to pull off the surprise.

As Leondra was going about an apparently normal Sept. 16 morning at the Postal Authority in Zephyrhills, Betsy took a call in the back room.

From left: Shannon Brennan, Leondra Thomas-Robinson and Betsy Strickland all work at the Postal Authority in Zephyrhills. Shannon and Betsy pulled off a big surprise for Leondra, who was spotlighted for going the extra mile, during a segment of the TODAY show. (B.C. Manion)

Moments later, Betsy came out, holding her cellphone up in the air, while two voices were talking to Leondra.

Leondra didn’t have a clue what was going on.

It became clear soon enough.

“Leondra, it’s Hoda (Kotb) and Jenna (Bush).

“We’re from the TODAY show. We know you’re working usually during this hour, but we have a live television show that you’re on, right now,” Hoda said, asking Leondra if it was OK to record her.

“Here’s what happened,” Hoda continued. “Your boss and your co-worker, Shannon, nominated you for a Flip your Fall.

“Basically what this is, is we are honoring you because you are so nice. You are so kind to all of the people you meet. So, we thought, you know, maybe it’s a good time that someone said ‘Thank you’ and showed you appreciation.”

Jenna told Leondra that her co-workers said “you make coming to work a delight — that your positivity, your energy — makes everybody around you feel great.

Hoda: “First we just want to say ‘Thank you.’”

Then she asked Leondra: “How do you feel in this moment?”

Leondra responded: “I don’t even know,” tearing up with emotion.

Then, Jenna asked: “Betsy, do you have something?”

Betsy responded: “I do. I have flowers for you (Leondra) and I have some chocolates for you,” handing them to her. Leondra laughed with delight.

Then Hoda said, “Hey Leondra, we like flowers and we liked chocolates, but we do have one more thing for you.”

Then Jenna said: “You know what we have for you? The Terranea Resort is treating you and a guest to three nights, with airfare, in Ranchos Pallos Verde in Southern California. Luxury amenities. Sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.”

Hoda added: “Leondra, it’s the vacation you have deserved for a long time.

“What do you think?”

Leondra answered:  “I’m overwhelmed. Thank you so much.”

It was a big moment for Leondra, and for Betsy and Shannon, too — because her friends were equally thrilled she had been chosen to be showcased.

All three are women of faith and all three believe that God had a hand in Leondra’s selection.

For her part, Shannon said if she hadn’t been visiting her mom, she wouldn’t have been watching the show and would not have nominated Leondra.

And, Leondra said she never would have been working at Postal Authority, in the first place, without divine intervention.

She explained that before she began working there she was employed at a bread store that closed down due to COVID.

A bread store customer asked her what she was going to do.

Leondra responded: “I’m going to trust in God. He’s always taken good care of me. He will continue.”

Long story short, the customer — who turned out to be Betsy’s acupuncturist — got involved and Leondra wound up going to work for Betsy.

That, Leondra said, was God.

The store, at 32789 Eiland Blvd., in Zephyrhills, doesn’t just ship packages. It has mailbox rentals, provides notary services, shreds documents, handles certified mail, completes fingerprinting and provides a variety of other services.

People arriving there are often in some sort of transition.

“We have two or three criers a week,” Shannon said. “We fax a lot of stuff, so there’s a lot of death certificates going out. We have a lot of Powers of Attorney that we notarize, and wills and end-of-life instructions, and a lot of times when we’re shipping, we’re shipping people’s valuables that they pack up from their parents’ house, who just passed away.

“They’re really at a crossroads.

“It’s hard for them, so it just can’t be business as usual. It’s not business as usual,” Shannon said.

Leondra tunes into those needs and responds, her co-workers said.

The store has lots of repeat customers, too.

Leondra remembers their names and faces, and details of their story, Shannon said.

“I think it’s a great avenue to minister to people,” Leondra said.

“They come in. They’re sending packages,” Leondra said. “But sometimes they just need a word of encouragement. Or, they need a smile. Or, they just need somebody to reassure them. ‘Yeah, you’re going through something right now, but it’s not the end of the world, and you’re not alone.

“I hear everything that people say, but I also hear what they don’t say,” said Leondra, who is taking her mother along for her resort vacation.

Published October 13, 2021

Pasco School Board wants in on redistricting talks

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Pasco County is in the midst of its redistricting process and the school board is interested in being involved.

On Oct. 5, the school board asked its attorney, Dennis Alfonso, to reach out to the county to let them know of their interest.

The request came after Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent, said he’d had some discussions with members of the Pasco County Commission and learned “they are actively involved in redrawing those boundaries.”

Redistricting occurs every 10 years, following the completion of the United States decennial census.

Changes to district maps are made based on changes to the population, but the way the lines are drawn in redistricting can have a significant influence regarding whom is elected to a particular office. So, those interested in the political process tend to keep a close eye on redistricting.

When the redistricting issue surfaced at the school board meeting, Alfonso noted: “Just to remind the board that we’re not bound by whatever redistricting is done by the county, but as a historical practice, it’s been practical for the board to just accept those districts.

“It’s not required by law, so the board, could in fact, draw its own boundaries, if it chose to do that.

“Either way, I’ll at least reach out and speak with the county attorney’s office to say, ‘Hey, we’re aware of this and we want to know whether or not we’re invited to participate in the discussions,’” Alfonso said.

School board chairman Allen Altman responded: “We went through that process 10 years ago. We cooperated together,” and noted that historically that’s been the case.

Altman told Alfonso: “If you would reach out to them on behalf of the board, let them know that we’d like to see what they are working on and participate in the process.

“My understanding is that they are the recipient of the (U.S. Census) information, and that it flows through them. And, we have heard nothing, so communication would be appreciated,” Altman said.

School board member Alison Crumbley added: “As I recall, 10 years ago, we had a co-meeting with them.”

Altman responded: “We did. So, we will go to work on that.”

Superintendent Kurt Browning announced that the district just completed its reaccreditation process, which occurs every five years.

It will be receiving the full report in coming weeks, but the district has been informed that it will recommend a continued system accreditation, Browning said.

“It is all about continuous improvement, how we become a better district,” he added.

In his remarks to the school board, Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, noted that negotiations continue between the union and the district.

“We are hoping to be able to finalize the $1,000 payments to those employees who are not covered by the state (Gov. Ron DeSantis’ COVID-19 bonus plan) very soon,”  Peace said.

The union also hopes that negotiations will include how the district can move toward “addressing longtime teachers and raising the ceiling on teacher salaries, as these are the leaders and role models we desire to keep in front of our students.”

The union also is interested in lessening the amount of required paperwork.

“Let’s work together to streamline data where we can,” Peace said.

On another topic, the board approved additional spending for extra instructional time to help close achievement gaps for students and to help support students who are below grade level.

In keeping with the grant requirements, the program targets students who are performing below grade level in one or more academic areas, according to agenda background materials.

The extra instruction will be provided from Oct. 18 to March 11.

The elementary extended school day program will focus on reading and mathematics. The secondary extended day program will focus on core content courses.

A total of 11,500 instructional hours will be devoted to elementary students; 2,628 for middle school students and 9,824 hours for high school students.

On another issue, board member Colleen Beaudoin reminded parents that the district’s school choice program, known as Pasco Pathways, will be hosting virtual expos soon to familiarize parents with the various education options available in the district.

The virtual expo for West Pasco is scheduled for Nov. 15 and the virtual expo for East Pasco is set for Nov. 18. Each expo is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Beaudoin said she wanted to draw attention to the expos, to help ensure parents will be able to take advantage of them.

“I frequently have parents say they didn’t know there were certain programs available at schools,” she said.

“I would like to encourage parents to please attend the (virtual) expos and then you’ll learn all of the things that are offered at the different schools, and then you make informed decisions for your students for the year.

“Pasco Pathways is talking about all of the different pathways that your students can take to go through our schools, pre-k through 12. That is school choice.

“That’s a chance to learn about the programs, the opportunities that we have.

“And then, the window to apply for school choice, is Jan. 6, 2022 to Jan. 20,2022, which will be here before you know,” Beaudoin said.

The expos provide a tremendous opportunity for parents to find out about their options, Altman agreed.

“They (school district staff) did an outstanding job putting it (expos) together last year,” Altman said.

The notification and acceptance window for the district’s choice program is Feb. 23 to March 4.

For more information, visit the school district’s website and then go to the Pasco Pathways page.

Published October 13, 2021

Retired Land O’ Lakes pastor receives special diocesan honor

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Monsignor Ron Aubin, retired pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, has received the 2021 Father Luis de Cancer Distinguished Priestly Service Award.

The distinction was presented by Bishop Gregory Parkes during the annual convocation for priestly renewal, according to an item published by Gulf Coast Catholic.

Every year, since 1998, the Diocese of St. Petersburg, has honored one priest who best exemplifies selfless and dedicated service to the people of God.

Retired pastor Monsignor Ronald Aubin — or Father Ron, as he was known around Our Lady of the Rosary parish — recently received a special distinction from Bishop Gregory Parkes, of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. This photo shows Aubin celebrating mass to mark his 40th anniversary. Aubin said he was raised in an environment ‘where Christ was the center of our lives.’ (Courtesy of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church)

This year, Aubin’s service was singled out.

During his active ministry in the St. Petersburg diocese, Aubin served as Parochial Vicar of Corpus Christi Parish, Temple Terrace (from 1986 to 1987); St. Jude Cathedral Parish, St. Petersburg (1987 to 1990); and Light of Christ Parish, Clearwater (1990 to 1994).

He was appointed pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, in Land O’ Lakes, on July 1, 1994, according to the Gulf Coast Catholic report.

He served at Our Lady of the Rosary for 27 years, until his retirement on July 1, according to a profile about the pastor published by The Laker/Lutz News shortly before Aubin retired.

In that story, the pastor talked about his time in the parish, which he led through two relocations, construction projects, rapid growth, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.

During Aubin’s time there, Our Lady of the Rosary grew from about 830 families to more than 3,000. It reached its peak in membership before the Great Recession, when many families were forced to relocate to find work.

Beyond high-profile events, Aubin tended to the more intimate — and more regular rituals — of being a parish pastor.

The First Communions he distributed. The homilies he delivered. The marriages and funerals that he officiated.

There were the visits, too, to nursing homes, hospitals and to the jail — where Aubin offered words of comfort and spiritual guidance to others, in a time of need.

He also was involved in a variety of roles in the diocese.

Aubin told The Laker/Lutz News, shortly before his retirement, that his moments of greatest personal joy as a pastor came when three of his parishioners — Israel Hernandez, Kyle Smith and Bill Wilson — were ordained into the priesthood.

Apparently, based on the recent recognition bestowed by Bishop Parkes, Aubin’s work did not go unnoticed.

Published October 13, 2021

Zephyrhills passes $75.3 million budget

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The City of Zephyrhills has adopted a budget of nearly $75.3 million for fiscal year 2021-2022.

The figure represents about a 24.5% increase over this past year’s budget, which was roughly $60.5 million.

The newest budget also comes in significantly higher than the 2019-2020 and 2018-2019 fiscal years, which were approximately $66.3 million and $59.4 million, respectively.

The Zephyrhills City Council unanimously approved the 2021-2022 budget at the second and final reading during its Sept. 27 meeting.

No citizens spoke during a public hearing on the matter.

The city’s balanced budget is based on a rate of 6.35 mills, which will generate about $5.7 million in ad valorem taxes based on a citywide property valuation of nearly $946.7 million.

The city’s millage rate has been the same since 2016, according to Zephyrhills Finance Director Ted Beason.

The 54-page budget is broken down into the following categories:

  • General fund: $15,655,783
  • Special revenue fund: $13,154,724
  • Community Redevelopment Agency fund: $879, 814
  • Impact fee fund: $6,143,835
  • Utility impact fee fund: $6,292,000
  • Utility fund: $22,766,563
  • Airport fund: $8,440,931
  • Sanitation fund: $1,963,030

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe highlighted major projects in the upcoming fiscal year in a memo to council members. The fiscal year runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

Notable projects include:

  • Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center multi-purpose indoor facility: $4.655 million, with 100% of the funding coming from the state
  • Simons Road Phase II: $2.3 million, funded by transportation impact fee
  • Park improvements: $1.1 million, funded by Penny for Pasco
  • Sidewalks: $1 million, funded by Penny for Pasco
  • Eiland Boulevard/Simons Road intersection: $800,000, funded by transportation impact fee
  • Dairy Road/Kossik Road extension: $800,000, funded by transportation impact fee
  • County Road 54 improvements, east of Hercules Park: $581,907, funded by Penny for Pasco
  • Seventh Street milling and restoration: $575,000, funded by Penny for Pasco
  • City yard design: $350,000, funded by Penny for Pasco
  • Gateway development project: $350,000, funded by transportation impact fee
  • Hercules Park design: $300,000, funded by Penny for Pasco
  • Jennifer Lane design and construction: $120,000, funded by transportation impact fee

Meanwhile, the new budget calls for several additional personnel, including three police officers (detective, patrol officer, K-9), a human resources specialist, senior maintenance mechanic, water utilities service worker and wastewater utilities service worker.

Also on the city staffing front:

  • Total employee health care costs increased 1.4%
  • Pay increase of 3% for employees and 41 cents per hour to work toward the upcoming $15 state-mandated minimum wage increase by September 2026

Poe shared other citywide updates in his city manager’s report:

  • The 2021 Zephyrhills Economic Summit is scheduled for Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St. Featured presentations will take a look at an aviation cluster study, growth, expansion and development, workforce initiatives, and various updates throughout the state and Pasco County.

• The City of Zephyrhills will host a stormwater master plan public workshop on Nov. 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall. “It’ll be a workshop where citizens can come in, look at a map, and have a conversation about their property or their areas of concern,” Poe said.

City of Zephyrhills fiscal year 2021-2022 budget
Total balanced budget: $75,296,680

  • General fund: $15,655,783
  • Special revenue fund: $13,154,724
  • Community Redevelopment Agency fund: $879, 814
  • Impact fee fund: $6,143,835
  • Utility impact fee fund: $6,292,000
  • Utility fund: $22,766,563
  • Airport fund: $8,440,931
  • Sanitation fund: $1,963,030

Published October 13, 2021

Dade City seeks public feedback on Seventh Street improvements

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The City of Dade City is accepting public comments and ideas for conceptual traffic and beautification improvement plans for Seventh Street.

The City of Dade City is seeking public feedback on traffic and beautification improvements along Seventh Street. Shown here is a rendering of alternatives for a section on Seventh Street from Church Avenue to Meridian Avenue. (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

City officials seek to create a downtown area that’s attractive, walkable and bikeable, and will appeal to everyone visiting it.

To that end, the municipality has obtained the professional services of Johnson Engineering to develop a streetscape improvement conceptual plan along Seventh Street, from Pond Avenue to Florida Avenue. The type of improvements being considered along the corridor involve a complete street concept — including reconfiguring the sections for traffic calming, and to accommodate sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping and lighting.

Johnson Engineering has prepared first-draft renderings of the possible configurations of each typical section of the corridor.

They have been broken down into four sections:

  • Florida Avenue to Church Avenue
  • Church Avenue to Meridian Avenue
  • Meridian Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard
  • Martin Luther King Boulevard to Pond Avenue

To provide feedback on the streetscape strategy and view renderings, visit DadeCityFl.com/news_detail_T1_R37.php.

For more information, call project manager Tina Mauriello at 352-523-5050, ext. 420.

Published October 13, 2021

Dade City wants your junk

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The City of Dade City is providing trash trucks to help residents dispose of household waste on Neighborhood Cleanup Day on Oct. 16, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Residents are asked to clean up their properties, and to remove junk and/or debris from their yards.

Then, residents can take the unwanted items to one of these four dumpster locations:

  • 10th Street and Whitehouse, behind Bravo’s
  • North Seventh Street parking lot, behind Del Carmen’s
  • Watson Park on North Avenue, on the basketball courtside
  • Watson Park on Main Avenue, parking lot

Tires and household hazardous waste cannot be dropped off.

Acceptable materials include glass, wood (8 feet or less), fence, carpet, household trash, furniture, mattresses, and plywood.

For information, call Dade City Public Works at 352-523-5050.

Published October 13, 2021

Traffic concerns cause rezoning delay

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Saying they want to make sure they get the planning right, the Pasco County Planning Commission continued a rezoning request by Darrell A. and Karen Renner for a proposed 108-home development in Land O’ Lakes.

The request was continued until Nov. 4, when the planning board is scheduled to also consider another nearby rezoning request known as the Clark master-planned unit development (MPUD).

There’s a connection between the two because some right of way is available in the Clark MPUD that could help resolve a traffic circulation concern.

The Renners have requested a rezoning that would allow a new subdivision on 50 acres, on the south side of Bexley Road, about 1 mile west of U.S. 41 and Wisteria Loop.

The site presently is occupied by a residence and some agricultural pursuits, and its current zoning allows a maximum of 19 residences, according to the county’s planning staff.

County planners have recommended approval of the Renner’s request.

They said the proposed density is in keeping with the county’s future land use designations for the area. They also recommend a number of conditions. One condition requires improvements on Bexley Road and Wisteria Loop — to bring both of these substandard roads up to the county’s standards.

Under those conditions, the improvements would be required on Bexley Road, from the project driveway to Wisteria Loop, and on Wisteria Loop, from Bexley Road east to U.S. 41.

Area residents, however, urged the planning board to require a different solution to traffic issues.

They want a realignment of Wisteria Loop, which they say is part of the county’s vision road map.

Ray Gadd, who lives on Wisteria Loop, explained the current scenario to the planning board and what area residents would like to see.

“As it stands now, they (motorists) come to the curve in Wisteria (Loop), and they can go right to Tower (Road) or out to Wisteria Loop,” Gadd said.

If the realignment is constructed, the traffic flow would change.

“What it (vision road) accomplishes is that it essentially makes Bexley a continuous road. So that people coming from the applicant’s property, people coming from the Bexley property, or the future Angeline property would hit Bexley and have a continuous route, without a stop sign, until they hit (U.S.) 41, where they would make a right turn,” Gadd said.

Requiring that approach would be “effective planning,” Gadd contends.

If the planning commission wants to recommend approval of the Renner request, it should require the developer to acquire the right of way needed to make that improvement, Gadd said.

That land is within the proposed Clark MPUD.

Gadd is deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, but made it a point to announce that his appearance was as a private citizen, not in his official capacity.

Jeremy Couch, another Wisteria Road resident, told the planning board: “I feel that the staff’s conditions are completely inadequate for what they want to do.”

He characterized the Renner’s requested development as being “premature.”

Chris Nocco, Pasco County’s sheriff, also spoke at the public hearing. Like Gadd, he announced he was there as a private citizen, not in his official capacity.

Nocco urged the planning board to take a long view when considering the application.

“We want the community, Land O’ Lakes to grow, but to grow smartly,” Nocco said.

“Start those vision roads,” he said, because without them, existing communities are at risk.

“As we start building out Angeline (a massive development planned in Land O’ Lakes), let’s start seeing how it’s going to affect everything else because we don’t want to destroy the communities that are already in place,” Nocco said.

Matthew McClain, who lives on a 3.5-acre property just east of the proposed rezoning, raised issues regarding compatibility.

“My concern is, this will destroy that rural nature. Everything around it is large lots,” he said.

With the proposed rezoning, McClain said, “You’re going to cram 100-plus homes on 34 (upland) acres, in an area where there’s 3-, 5-, 10-acre plots of land. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

Shelly Johnson, the attorney representing the applicant, said her client can make the improvements required in the conditions, or can complete the realignment that’s being proposed.

But it can’t do both, she said.

Johnson asked the planning board to recommend approval and to send the request to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on land use and zoning issues.

“From our perspective, we’re doing everything that we’re required to do that other developments do. When you have a road that’s substandard, you bring it up to standard, and that’s what my client agreed to do,” Johnson said.

“We are absolutely doing everything that we can, and that the code requires us to do, in terms of doing improvements to Wisteria Loop, which right now is our access. That’s our way in and out to (U.S.) 41.”

Planning Commission Chairman Charles Grey told his colleagues, the board needs to be sure “that when we do this, we do it right — we have the proper things in place.

“We can’t let an artificial date define how we handle these neighborhoods. I think traffic flow here, is extremely important,” Grey said.

Planning Commissioner Chris Poole agreed.

“We need to get the planning right on this. This is a particularly difficult area that we’re dealing with here,” Poole said.

After additional discussion, the board voted to continue the request until Nov. 4, the same day it is scheduled to consider the rezoning request for the Clark MPUD.

Published October 13, 2021

This festival scares up a good, old-fashioned time

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Hundreds of kids and adults used hay, old clothing and imagination to create scarecrows during The Florida Pioneer Village & Museum’s annual Scarecrow Festival.

Besides making their own seasonal Halloween decorations, event-goers could compete in costume contests, grab a bite to eat, watch blacksmith demonstrations, and do a bit of shopping, too.

Blaise Bubble Magic, of America’s Got Talent fame, put on a show, too.

The museum is located at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, in Dade City.

Published October 13, 2021

One year-old Vivienne McAleenan notices as her mom, Ariana McAleenan, take her and her 4-year-old brother Declan’s photo. They’re sitting on a bale of hay that soon would become scarecrow stuffing. They were in Dade City, visiting their grandmother, Lisa Simon. (Fred Bellet)
Isabell Ayala, of Dade City, center, gets three bags of scarecrow wardrobe for her 13-year-old son, Ruben, left, and her 7-year-old daughter, Benito.
Pioneer Florida Museum & Village volunteer Alex Larkin, of Dade City, replenishes piles of hay for those making scarecrows.
Christofher Perez, of San Antonio, and Rosa Salgado, of Dade City, work together to create a scarecrow for Perez’s yard.
Thirteen-year-old Kenli Sparrow, of Ridge Manor, gets comfortable, using her scarecrow as a cushion, while waiting for her aunt, Paula Lasher, of Zephyrhills. Her twin brother, Kyle Sparrow, and Lasher’s great-granddaughter, 2-year-old Jacqueline Rene, were at the event, too.
After the children stuffed scarecrows with hay, they also could enjoy bubbles and suds filling the air at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village’s Scarecrow Festival.
Four-year-old Aaron Griffin, of Plant City, stuffs his scarecrow’s pants, one leg at a time. He and his grandfather, Randy Kreg, of Lithia, had fun at the festival.
With a serving of cotton candy that’s the size of a basketball, 11 year-old Lauren Kohl, of Riverview, prepares to enjoy it, one lick at a time. She came to the festival with her 9-year-old brother, Gavin. Their grandfather, George Wiggins, of Sun City Center, was treating them to a day of fun.
Six-year-old Myles Daley, of Zephyrhills, fervently gathers hay to stuff the pants of a scarecrow that’s being held by his dad, Alfred Daley. The pair was there with Myles’ older brother, 8-year-old Nolan, and the boys’ mom, Michele Daley. Myles named the scarecrow Gooseberg.
Scott Quick, owner of Cotton Kraze and maker of gourmet cotton candy, winds a cone with a huge globe of sweet stuff for a waiting customer.
Former Dade City resident, Nala Tookes, left, who now lives in Tampa, brought her 4-year-old daughter, Harmony Sylvester, “back home” to enjoy a Dade City seasonal celebration.
Four-year-old Aiden Trader patiently waits for a cup of lemonade, as his mom, Sabrienna Weldon, and friend Raymond Bouffier get beverages. They came to the festival from Inverness, to have some fun in the sun.
Dom Maug (in black T-shirt), of Dade City, stuffs the upper body of a scarecrow-to-be, as Billy Doty (grey T-shirt), of Zephyrhills, stuffs the head. The men planned to make scarecrows for their nieces and nephew.

 

Ornament features garden club’s ‘front porch’

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The 2021 Dade City Garden Club annual ornament, entitled ‘Front Porch.’ (Courtesy of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce)

The Dade City Garden Club has released its 2021 Christmas ornament, entitled “Front Porch.”

The ‘porch’ featured in the historic-themed ornament leads to the inside of the club’s building — the original St. Rita’s Church, which was built in 1913 and purchased by the garden club in 1976 for $1.

The design of “Front Porch” exhibits various symbols that are meaningful to the garden club.

The camellia flower represents love, affection and admiration. The wildflower and phlox point to sweet dreams and harmony.

Colorful monarch butterflies support the club’s belief in life, change and endurance.

And, the bluebirds are a symbol of the essence of life and beauty. The birds hold a “Welcome” sign to signify that all are invited to join the garden club.

The cost of the Christmas ornament is $22, payable only by check to the Dade City Garden Club.

For information, contact Jo Uber at 352-567-3769 or .

Published October 13, 2021