FEATURED STORY
Pasco tax collector’s office receives ‘Heart of Pasco’ award
Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and the Land O’ Lakes Tax Collector’s Office recently accepted the Heart of Pasco Award for the office’s exemplary customer service and outstanding community outreach efforts. Sandy Graves, the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s chairwoman for community affairs, bestowed the award to Fasano, during a Jan. 10 ceremony outside […]
This Week
Cypress Creek Town Center wants more retail, residential
The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a request that would allow an increase in commercial square footage and more multifamily units on 490 acres at the northwest and southwest quadrants of State Road 56 and Interstate 75. Planning commissioners joined with Pasco County’s planning staff in recommending approval of the request to […]
Pasco animal shelter gets creative with names
Pet owners have various reasons for naming their animals and so does the Pasco County Animal Shelter when it takes in a dog or cat. Coming up with creative names at the shelter is one way to ease a sad situation when strays come in lost. “We like to have some fun with the whole […]
Dade City to draw up ordinance allowing cannabis dispensaries
Medical marijuana treatment centers soon could be allowed within some areas of Dade City. At a Jan. 8 workshop, the Dade City Commission expressed consensus to have city staffers draft an ordinance that would permit cannabis dispensaries — but restrict their location to areas outside the boundaries of the city’s CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) districts, […]
Political Agenda 01/16/2019
Candidates vying to fill District 38 vacancy Democrat Kathy Lynn Lewis and Republican Randy Maggard have pre-filed to seek the seat expected to be vacated by Danny Burgess, who was selected by Gov. Ron DeSantis to serve as executive director of the state Department of Veterans Affairs. Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley said […]
Use precautions to prevent crimes
If you want to avoid becoming a victim of crime — you can never be too careful. At least that’s how Bryan Roquemore, a retired criminal justice professor, sees it. Roquemore now leads the Crime Prevention Task Force of Florida, a community service organization developed by former law enforcement officers. The group seeks to expand […]
Zephyrhills gets ready for Pigz in Z’Hills
The ninth annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival is set for Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Zephyrhills Community Venue, 5200 Airport Road, in Zephyrhills. About 60 teams are expected to vie for bragging rights and prizes during the barbecue competition at the event. The cooking showdown will determine […]
Deadline approaching for Spotlight on Talent entries
Young performers who are looking for an audience can audition for a chance to show off their singing and dancing skills in this year’s 36th annual “Spotlight on Talent.” Winners of this talent show don’t walk away with giant cash prizes, but the regional competition does award $4,000 in cash prizes and trophies in several […]
Pioneer Florida Museum hosts a sweet and spicy event
Whether they were tasting chili samples, watching syrup being made, or cuddling up with an animal at the petting zoo — there were lots of ways for people to enjoy themselves at Raising Cane, a Sweet and Spicy Event, held on Jan. 12 at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City. There was […]
Front Page Photos
Creating art, using everyday objects
A class at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, recently had a chance to learn how to transform an ordinary wine glass or bottle into a work of art. Helen McDaniel, who taught the class, demonstrated how to paint designs on glass. The teacher, who is a snowbird from Ohio and a […]
A sweet and spicy event
The Pioneer Florida Museum & Village hosted Raising Cane, a Sweet and Spicy Event, held on Jan. 12 — offering event-goers a chance to watch syrup being made, to sample chili and to check out goods offered by a variety of vendors. Shown here, George Craciun, of Thonotosassa, center, plays banjo with some members of the […]
This Week (cont)
Become a mentor, make life better for a child
The oldest and largest youth-mentoring organization in the nation, Big Brothers Big Sisters Tampa Bay, has launched a recruiting campaign in Pasco County to find caring adult volunteer mentors who want to change the life of a child for the better. Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) boasts great success with the youth in its programs. […]
Building a foundation for economic growth
Bill Cronin, the president/CEO of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., has no shortage of ideas when it comes to pursuing ways to strengthen Pasco County’s economy. He shared a few of those thoughts during a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News. Cronin is entering his third year at the helm of the Pasco EDC, and […]
Local Sports
Pasco High gets new football coach
Pasco High School will have a new head football coach roaming the sidelines, for the first time in more than a decade. The school recently announced its next head coach is Jason Stokes — a coaching mainstay in the Tampa Bay area, most notably at Gaither High School. Stokes, 43, replaces longtime Pasco coach Tom […]
All-Pasco County fall awards announced
High school coaches from the Pasco County School District recently announced Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) All-Conference Teams, Athletes of the Year and Coaches of the Year, for the 2018-2019 fall sports season. Selections were made for both the East and West division. The following high schools from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area were represented in […]
Sports – Check This Out
Conference champs
The Pine View Middle School boys soccer team was recently crowned Eastside Athletic Conference champions after going a perfect 8-0 during the 2018-2019 regular season. It marked the program’s first championship since 2006. The team is coached by Robert Craven.
Wiregrass Ranch football product named All-American
Former Wiregrass Ranch football star Chris Faddoul, now a sophomore punter at Florida A&M University, recently picked up first-team AP FCS All-American honors for the 2018-2019 season. Faddoul led the nation (Division I FCS) — and set a school record — in punting average at 46.8 yards per kick. Of his 41 punts, 16 were […]
Local football signings
A handful of athletes from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area participated in early national signing day for Division I football for the class of 2019: Carrollwood Day School senior quarterback Chris Butash signed with Division I FCS Holy Cross. Pasco High School/Auburn University transfer wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers signed with Division I Colorado State University. […]
