Some people know when to listen, know when to help and know when a great big hug is precisely what’s needed. That was Kelly Boyd. […]
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This Week
Moffitt and Pasco Schools have big plans
Pasco County Schools and Moffitt Cancer Center envision great possibilities of working together when the school district builds its planned 6-12 magnet STEAM school on land near Moffitt’s planned campus in Land O’ Lakes. Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, recently updated the school board about a meeting between school district and Moffitt […]
Interstate 75 traffic to be detoured, Oct. 15 through Oct. 17
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 […]
Zephyrhills woman is showcased on the TODAY show
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 […]
Pasco School Board wants in on redistricting talks
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 […]
Retired Land O’ Lakes pastor receives special diocesan honor
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 […]
Zephyrhills passes $75.3 million budget
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 […]
Dade City seeks public feedback on Seventh Street improvements
The City of Dade City is accepting public comments and ideas for conceptual traffic and beautification improvement plans for Seventh Street. 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 […]
Dade City wants your junk
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 […]
Traffic concerns cause rezoning delay
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 […]
This festival scares up a good, old-fashioned time
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, […]
Ornament features garden club’s ‘front porch’
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” […]
Public service campaign targets human trafficking
Law enforcement agencies and the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking have teamed up to launch a public awareness campaign to target human trafficking. Three public service announcement videos highlight aspects of the problem. One video focuses on traffickers; another, on sex buyers; and the third, on human trafficking victims. The five law enforcement agencies […]
Photo of the Week
A mighty load, for this little one
Four-year-old Lincoln Hollingsworth, decked out in his skeleton costume, carried the scarecrow that he and his parents, Scott and Lindsey Hollingsworth, made at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village’s Scarecrow Festival. Lincoln’s 1-year-old sister, Nora, helped, too. For more photos from the festival, see full story below.
This Week (cont)
Ray Gadd named to state task force
Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, has been named to a state task force seeking solutions to address mental health and substance abuse issues. Gadd told members of the Pasco County School Board, at their Oct. 5 meeting, that he had been appointed by Senate President Wilton Simpson to serve on the Senate […]
New camping rules in effect on SWFMD properties
New camping rules are now being enforced on lands within the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (SWFMD) jurisdiction. The rules became effective on June 23, but were not enforced until Oct. 1. The updated rules provide more fair opportunities for all users and create greater consistency with the other water management districts, according to a […]
Take a fantastical trip into the surreal, at the Dali
Few art museums in Florida – or most anywhere outside of New York City – rival the allure of the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. On the southern end of downtown, on the waterfront, it boasts the largest collection of Dali’s art outside of a museum he founded himself in his hometown of Figueres, […]
Pasco wins prestigious tourism marketing honor
Pasco County’s Destination Management Organization, known as Florida’s Sports Coast, won a 2021 Flagler Award at the annual Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism, held by Visit Florida. The honor came in the Resource/Promotional Material-Consumer category for development and marketing of the Sports Coast Pilsner with Escape Brewing. In an appearance before the Pasco County Commission […]
Starkey named state committee chair on federal issues
The Florida Association of Counties (FAC) has reappointed Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey to serve as the chairwoman of the organization’s Federal Policy Committee, according to a county news release. The appointment is for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. “It is my honor to serve another term as chair of the federal policy committee,” Starkey said, […]
Local Sports
Stanley Cup visit scores big in Wesley Chapel
The Stanley Cup trophy has made countless appearances across the region since the Tampa Bay Lightning have won back-to-back National Hockey League (NHL) titles. It’s been on display for area police and fire departments, county commissions, mayor’s offices, hospitals, colleges, and nonprofit organizations, to name a few. It was at one of its final stops […]
Midseason review of area prep football
It’s about the midway point for the 2021 Florida high school football regular season. Here’s a closer look at some of the developing storylines involving teams and players from schools in The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area, within Hillsborough and Pasco counties: Zephyrhills continues dominant ways The Zephyrhills High Bulldogs have once again solidified the team’s […]
Sports – Check This Out
Executive director to retire
Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) executive director George Tomyn has announced that he plans to retire following the 2021-2022 school year. Tomyn has spent the past four years in the top leadership role for the FHSAA, which is headquartered in Gainesville and serves as the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida. Before […]
YMCA Corporate Challenge
The Tampa Bay Area YMCA’s annual Corporate Cup Challenge is scheduled for Oct. 16 at the James P Gills YMCA, at 8411 Photonics Drive in New Port Richey. Check-in begins at 8 a.m., with the event running from 9 a.m. to noon. The Olympics-style coed competition — described as an adult field day — invites […]
Reasons To Smile
A new addition to the family
In late July, my mom came across a post on Facebook about an adoptable 8-year-old Rottweiler at Pasco County Animal Services named Bear. Without any hesitation, she brought up the conversation into our family group chat about adopting him. Even though it was an easy yes for my mom, simply because she’s wanted a Rottweiler for […]
