News

Imagine if that rat-infested dilapidated house down the street — the one that’s littered with trash and mattresses — could instead become the future site for a Habitat for Humanity house. Or, maybe the property could be transformed into a ...
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By the time that readers pick up this week’s copy of The Laker/Lutz News on Nov. 4, the nation may know who won the presidential election — or not. It will depend on whether it’s a razor-thin result, or a ...
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Companies that remove vehicles from the scene of an accident in Pasco County must be sure to clear away the crash debris, too. That’s the word from the Pasco County Commission, which adopted an ordinance to that effect during the ...
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Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices are accepting donations during the month of November to help build the Pasco Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The memorial is planned to be located on the grounds of the Historic Pasco ...
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When the COVID-19 pandemic slammed the brakes on the local economy, Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano thought it would mean that he’d be able to return about half of the money that he typically returns to the county each ...
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Small teams made for mighty results during this year’s socially distanced version of the annual International Coastal Cleanup, presented by the Rotary Club of New Port Richey and Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, according to a Pasco County news release. Volunteers ...
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Pasco County’s Tourist Development Council (TDC) has an opening on its volunteer board for a representative or operator of a hotel, motel, RV park, or other tourist accommodation, according to a county news release. Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, which is ...
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Every year, right after Labor Day, Sid Simandl starts sorting out his Halloween décor. He begins early because it takes weeks for him and his wife, Kathy, to create a haunted attraction that will, well, raise people’s spirits. “It started ...
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A road project that’s expected to reduce congestion at the Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is running behind schedule, and Pasco County commissioners aren’t happy. Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore raised the issue during the board’s Oct. 20 ...
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Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells Jr., concluded his last meeting with the county board, on Oct. 20 with a playful gesture. He dropped the gavel. The action — which essentially means, ‘My work is done here’ — provided a glimpse ...
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Members of the Dade City Police Department are set to receive across-the-board salary increases, plus starting salary will be higher, too. Those are just two of the provisions in a 56-page collective bargaining agreement between the City of Dade City ...
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Elected leaders in Pasco and Hillsborough counties are still requiring masks to be worn indoors in their counties, as rates of COVID-19 remain concerning. Mike Napier, health officer for the Florida Department of Health – Pasco County, updated the Pasco ...
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The news could have been gloomy, because Pasco County — like everywhere else — is in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. But, as it turns out, the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s final report for last fiscal year ...
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The Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger (TBNEH) has launched a new Holidays On Wheels program, to deliver a full holiday meal and toys to transportation-disadvantaged and homebound families with children in Tampa Bay, during the months of November and ...
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Pasco County’s tourism marketing arm is trying a new approach — using a new brand of beer to market Florida’s Sports Coast. Florida’s Sports Coast is the name of the county’s destination management organization (DMO), which is in charge of ...
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You can indulge in locally baked goods and gourmet specialty items from the comfort of your car and help small businesses — during the drive-up SMARTstart Vendor Fair. The event will be on Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 ...
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Stories involving apples abound. Some say it was the forbidden fruit that Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge. An apple purportedly fell on Sir Isaac Newton’s head, inspiring him to discover the properties of gravity. And, did ...
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The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers to be on the lookout for scammers who are fooling people through websites that look like those used by state departments of motor vehicles. The scammers are exploiting the opportunity created by ...
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A modest schedule of trials is on the calendars at the courthouses in east and west Pasco beginning on Nov. 2, according to a news release from the Office of Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller. To optimize the safety of ...
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A cancer diagnosis has forced the retirement of one of the Zephyrhills Police Department’s police dogs. It was a somber moment inside the Zephyrhills City Hall chambers when Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer on Oct. 12 officially retired 4-year-old K9 ...
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The Pasco County Commission has approved spending $48,000 for an economic impact study related to tourism. During the board’s Oct. 6 meeting, commissioners approved a consulting services agreement with Downs & St. Germain Research Inc. (DSG), to perform the analysis ...
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People who enjoy viewing public art might want to check out six hay bales — painted by artists of various ages — that have been stationed around locations in Dade City. The display is the Dade City Center for the ...
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As Pasco County’s COVID-19’s positive cases surpassed the 10,000-mark, local officials continue to consider their best responses to the threats. The Pasco County Commission and the Pasco County School Board were both scheduled to take up the issue during their ...
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Impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic have forced businesses to shutter, and others to regroup — but activity continues to hum along at the Cypress Creek Town Center, near Wesley Chapel. Located at Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 56, the ...
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The COVID-19 virus era has changed the American workplace in the short term — and maybe in the long term, too. Safety precautions are paramount. Many employees are working remotely with new equipment, and a different process, overall. The upside, ...
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A congested roadway in Zephyrhills is set to receive some long-awaited and seemingly much-needed improvements to ease traffic patterns and enhance safety overall. The City of Zephyrhills and Pasco County have come to a cost-sharing agreement for upgrades to a ...
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The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce recently posted a notice on its website to clarify apparent myths regarding the Christmas Parade held in Dade City. “The chamber has withdrawn the application it submitted in May, to operate, staff and ...
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Matthew Maggard will continue serving as the city attorney for the City of Zephyrhills, for at least three more years. The Zephyrhills City Council unanimously renewed an independent contract agreement with Maggard, which is effective Nov. 1 and runs through ...
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Pasco County is embarking on its five-year strategic plan and is seeking feedback from its stakeholders and the public in general to help shape the plan. The county had planned to hold SWOT — Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats — ...
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A conversation Jessica Valentin had with her daughter, Isabella, inspired the Wesley Chapel woman to write her first children’s book. Jessica said they were in the car on the way to an appointment, when she was encouraging her daughter to ...
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Hillsborough County’s Office of Neighborhood Relations is now accepting applications for the 2021 Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program. During this application period, the program features new project categories that are aimed at bringing neighbors together and boosting community pride. The program provides ...
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The Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board has approved a budget of $578,244 for fiscal year 2020-2021 — and identified a number of priority projects. The project is an increase of $91,234 over last year’s $478,010 budget. The increase is ...
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The Pasco County Commission has granted an extension of 240 calendar days to D.A.B. Constructors Inc., to complete the construction of intersection improvements at State Road 54 and Morris Bridge Road and Eiland Boulevard. The project had been scheduled to ...
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Here’s a friendly reminder from the folks at Hillsborough County Public Utilities: Pay attention to the county’s watering restrictions. Residents living in unincorporated Hillsborough County are allowed to water their lawns twice a week, and those restrictions are effective throughout ...
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Dr. Timothy Bain dreamed of someday hoisting the NHL’s Stanley Cup, as he grew up in the Northeast and played and watched hockey. Little did he expect, however, to actually get that rare opportunity. “Who knew at 53 (years old) ...
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It’s no secret that Florida’s tourism economy has been decimated from impacts of COVID-19, and Dana Young, president and CEO of Visit Florida, recently detailed tourism losses the state has suffered during a Zoom breakfast meeting with the North Tampa ...
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A new kindergarten through eighth grade school that’s being constructed in the Starkey Ranch community now has an official name: Starkey Ranch K-8. The school is scheduled to open next fall, and will part of a complex that includes a ...
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When people arrive on the campus of Sunlake Academy of Math & Science, in Lutz, they are greeted by a place that sets a positive tone. “Welcome back Ravens, we missed you,” proclaims a sign near the school’s driveway. “We ...
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While it likely won’t generate quite the level of fanfare as Halloween Howl, Main Street Zephyrhills Inc., is working to salvage some type of celebration for the holiday. The full-on Halloween Howl has fallen victim to a concern for safety ...
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The Pasco County Commission has approved the purchase of 24.87 acres from Lennar Homes LLC, for $1.25 million, plus closing costs and $50,000 to be paid to Connerton Commercial Property Association, the closing agent. The property is part of the ...
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Vouchers for a new specialty license plate bearing the iconic 4-H clover will be available for purchase at all county tax collector offices and license plate agencies in Florida, starting Oct. 16. The license plate will go into production once ...
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