News

Perhaps someday a future hockey star will be able to say he or she first learned to play hockey on the streets of Wesley Chapel and Holiday. Pasco County has added to its assorted sports and recreational profile with yet ...
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The City of Dade City has finally gotten around to revising its Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) plan —  a document which hadn’t been updated since its original formation back in 1998. The Dade City Commission in December unanimously approved a ...
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In society’s modern parlance, it’s called “food insecurity.’’ In simple terms, it’s hunger. And, it’s a big problem in Pasco County, particularly in the COVID-19 era. Christine Bright, Pasco Unit chair for the League of Women Voters, recently gathered officials ...
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The East Pasco municipalities of Dade City and Zephyrhills are poised for a busy 2021 in terms of infrastructure, development and other community programs. Here’s a closer look at some of the highlights in the new year: Dade City Let’s ...
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The Zephyrhills Police Department has added a new member to its force — recently swearing in 21-year-old Gabriella Slater as a patrol officer. Slater was officially introduced to the East Pasco community and took an oath during a Zephyrhills City ...
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On the whole, this year’s Gallup Survey results in Pasco County Schools are slightly better than they were last year. But, when Dr. Peggy Jones — the school district’s director of the office of accountability, research and measurement — discussed ...
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The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center has only been open since September, but it has quickly shown to be a hit among Zephyrhills residents and outsiders alike. The $4.9 million complex at 6585 Simons Road has already begun ...
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Sometimes, a picture really is worth a thousand words. Here’s an array of images that help tell the story of the year 2020 in The Laker/Lutz News region. The photos were captured by Fred Bellet, Kelli Carmack, Christine Holtzman, B.C ...
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The Dade City Commission has approved a landscaping contract, after grievances aired in recent months about the upkeep of the Dade City Cemetery. Commissioners have approved a contract with a landscaping company to maintain the grounds of the 17-acre cemetery, ...
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The COVID-19 pandemic aside, the year 2020 brought myriad new developments and occurrences within the cities of Dade City and Zephyrhills. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from the past year: Dade City Medical marijuana dispensaries allowed Medical ...
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One of Dade City’s most popular parks, Price Park, is set to have fence repairs to its two enclosed multi-use outdoor tennis courts, located at 37415 Magnolia Ave. City officials have received several complaints because the courts’ existing fence has ...
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Like every business and organization, the North Tampa Bay Chamber has faced challenges and unpredictability — in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic. A public health crisis, government shutdowns and a flattened economy caused the chamber to pivot, and ...
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If ever there was a time when joy was needed, 2020 was the year. Here’s a look, in condensed form, at some of the stories revealing big moments and happy times in The Laker/Lutz News region, during the year that ...
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Pasco County’s Bell Lake Road Improvement Project in Land O’ Lakes is scheduled to begin on Jan. 4, and run through spring 2022. The year-plus project will consist of extensive infrastructure and safety improvements — including road reconstruction, stormwater modifications, ...
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The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel sponsored a Stuff Your Stocking Drive Thru event on Dec. 20, at Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Road. Families were encouraged to wear their pajamas and bring their stockings to drive through a ...
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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a conditional use permit to allow an apartment development on the west side of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, south of Eagleston Boulevard. The request, submitted by Adventist Health System Sunbelt Healthcare ...
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During the year, our newspaper published some sage advice from Peggy Oakes, who was celebrating her 100th birthday, in Lutz, and we published an inspirational poem by Steve Melton, a cowboy poet. We share them again, here, to help ring ...
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Shopping centers along State Road 54 and State Road 56 are continuing to attract more new stores and restaurants. The Cypress Creek Town Center, Tampa Premium Outlets, The Preserve Marketplace, the Shoppes at Crossings Boulevard, Starkey Ranch Town Square, Starkey ...
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Some churches are issuing tickets for admission. Many are limiting seating. At least one is offering drive-in services, and many places of worship plan to conduct candlelight services. And, based on internet searches, it appears the vast majority have some ...
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Even when life is ‘normal’ — it’s not always easy to find the time, energy or resources to help others who are struggling to get by, or whose spirits need a lift. During a pandemic when people are feeling pressures ...
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The Pasco County School Board has set boundaries for the new Starkey Ranch K-8 school under construction in the Starkey Ranch development. The school — part of a complex that includes a theater, library and cultural center — is scheduled ...
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Those looking to do their holiday shopping while enjoying the fresh country air, all while supporting local artisans and businesses, were in luck. The Country Christmas & Vintage Market, a family friendly event, was held at the Pioneer Florida Museum ...
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Premier Community Health Care Group Inc., will share clinic space with the Florida Department of Health in New Port Richey, and will provide dental services to insured and uninsured children throughout Pasco County. The Pasco County Commission approved a lease ...
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The Pasco County Commission has appointed four new members to the Food Policy Advisory Council. The action came during the board’s Nov. 17 meeting. New members are Caitlyn Peacock and Dan Mitchell, both at-large; Sanithpriya Pedamella, a certified nutritionist; and ...
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If ever there was a year when suggestions from an emotional intelligence coach might come in handy, 2020 would be it. It’s not every year, after all, that a global pandemic causes a public health crisis that triggers an economic ...
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At 6 feet and weighing less than 140 pounds, Jim Rossman was 20 years old in 1944, when he nearly lost his life over the English Channel in World War II. A copilot of a B-24 heavy bomber, Rossman would ...
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Pasco County scored two big wins last week. First, it sealed a deal with Santander Consumer USA to set up shop in the county, and to create 875 new job opportunities in Pasco. Second, it found a way to give ...
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The Pasco County Commission has removed the county’s ban on the Sunday morning sales of alcoholic beverages. Now, alcohol sales on Sunday will be treated like alcohol sales on any other day of the week in the county, said County ...
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Pasco County has allocated $1 million for design work for a new public library near Seven Oaks Elementary School. Commissioners approved the allocation as part of the board’s consent agenda — meaning it was approved along with a number of ...
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Since its October grand opening ceremony, the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center in Zephyrhills has garnered widespread recognition for its breadth of racquet sports and other amenities. The 10-acre athletic complex, located off Simons Road, is owned by the City ...
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Pasco County commissioners granted a conditional permit to Sierra Farms Inc., and Royal Auction Group for a public auction venue in Zephyrhills. The venue will occupy about 23 acres in the southwest corner of a larger parcel at the intersection ...
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As the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths continue to rise, health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending against travel during the Christmas holidays. The CDC’s website warns: “Travel can increase your chance of spreading ...
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At one point, it appeared that Pasco County might be on the verge of dropping its mask mandate — but that looks unlikely for at least the foreseeable future. “When I stood before you in September, we were looking at ...
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Pasco County will pay about $2.7 million to buy wetland mitigation credits related to construction of the Ridge Road extension. The Pasco County Commission approved a resolution for the payment to EIP (Ecosystem Investment Partners LLC) and the Old Florida ...
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Pasco County commissioners approved the appointment of Paula Baracaldo for the newly created position of director of support services, effective Jan. 1. Baracaldo will receive an annual salary of $105,000. The position results from a county departmental reorganization, prompted by ...
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A great way to get into the holiday spirit is to enjoy holiday lights from your car, while maintaining social distance. As you visit a community display or check out decorations in your neighborhood, though, remember to stay safe on ...
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The Pasco County Commission has re-established and expanded the functions of the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking to “more robustly serve the community,” based on an action at the board’s Nov. 17 meeting. Since 2014, the human trafficking commission ...
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The Southwest Florida Water Management District plans to set some fires deliberately to reduce the risk of fires getting out of control, according to a district news release. The technique, known as setting prescribed fires controlled settings, reduces the chance ...
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Parents will continue to have the choice of keeping their children at home for remote learning through the second semester of the school year. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran made that announcement during a joint news conference ...
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The Pasco County Commission recently approved the expenditure of $125,000 to support AmSkills Inc., a youth and adult workforce training program. Plus, commissioners kept the door open for additional funding in future years for the organization — at the urging ...
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If 2020 demonstrated anything, it was the necessity for area communities to have economic resiliency — that is, the ability to prevent, withstand and quickly recover from shocks to its economic base, whether that’s in response to a pandemic, natural ...
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