News

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco discussed a number of other ongoing efforts by his agency to bolster community connection and engagement, during a Zoom breakfast meeting of the East Pasco Networking Group. For instance, the law enforcement agency partners with ...
Read More

Zephyrhills City councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson has closely observed the evolution of the small-town East Pasco community over the past three decades. The elected official and longtime resident is pleased, overall, with the current situation in the municipality — amid a ...
Read More

Vaccine supplies, vaccine eligibility and vaccination sites have increased in recent weeks — as efforts continue to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and restore a sense of normalcy. The availability of vaccine supplies and vaccination sites continues to change, so it’s ...
Read More

Bicyclists and fellow exercisers alike will soon have an idyllic spot in Dade City to relax and take a breather — thanks to a new visitor’s information welcome center and bike hub that’ll help anchor a forthcoming downtown park site ...
Read More

The Pasco County School Board has refused a 5-year extension of Union Park Charter Academy’s contract, instead granting it a one-year term. The decision came during the board’s April 6 meeting, at the recommendation of Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning ...
Read More

The Pasco County school district plans to close Centennial Elementary School in Dade City and Marlowe Elementary School in New Port Richey, and reopen them as STEAM magnet schools. The acronym STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics ...
Read More

Volunteers fanned across Pasco County collecting trash during the 2021 Great American Cleanup in early March. All in all, the 659 volunteers collected 36,920 pounds of trash — from public spaces, roadsides and waterways, according to a county news release ...
Read More

The Pasco County Commission voted 3-2 to approve a request for a conditional use to allow a maximum of 248 apartments on the west side of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, south of Eagleston Boulevard. Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, and commissioners ...
Read More

Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Javier Torres and his family have been selected to receive a new mortgage-free home from PulteGroup, through the company’s Built to Honor program, in partnership with the nonprofit Operation Finally Home. Ground recently was broken for ...
Read More

The annual Arbor Day and Memorial Celebration is set for April 30 at 10 a.m., at the Dade City Garden Club, 13630 Fifth St., in Dade City. The event marks the 26th year that the City of Dade City and ...
Read More

The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club offered a variety of good deals at its annual Spring Flea Market fundraiser, attracting a steady crowd of bargain-hunters to the sale, held at the Boy Scout Pack 12 property, at 205 Second ...
Read More

The Pasco County Planning Commission has granted a special exception request by Amber Thomas to allow a nail salon, as a home-based business, on the north side of Carr Road, about 280 feet east of Arms Drive, in Zephyrhills. Thomas ...
Read More

The Pasco County Planning Commission is recommending approval of a six-month moratorium on new applications for multifamily development in a portion of the county. Planning commissioners also think the land development code should be changed to limit the ability to ...
Read More

Activity is on the rise in the City of Zephyrhills — from multiple new housing developments, to myriad airport and roadway improvements, to the prospect of wholesale changes to its local 911 communication operations. Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe offered ...
Read More

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has announced that the school district is dropping its mySchool Online option in the fall. Browning explained the district’s decision in a video and the district issued a news release, as well, to explain ...
Read More

During a recent breakfast meeting with the East Pasco Networking Group, Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe briefed those gathered on the city’s current consideration of combining its  911 police communications system with the Pasco County Department of Emergency Services in ...
Read More

The Pasco County Commission has approved $198,500 for design and permitting work for site refurbishment of the East Pasco Transfer Station. The task order will be accomplished by JMG Engineering Inc., according to agenda background materials for the county board’s ...
Read More

Leadership Pasco is accepting applications for the Class of 2022. The organization is seeking emerging and existing community leaders who live or work in Pasco County, according to a news release. Applications, which are due by May 15, can be ...
Read More

Pasco County residents experiencing economic hardship because of COVID-19 now have an additional application option for people needing help. The county is providing help through a program called H.E.A.R.T., which stands for Help with Emergency Assistance Relief for Tenants. The ...
Read More

If you love kumquats, the 24th annual Kumquat Festival in downtown Dade City, was like a little slice of heaven. Festival-goers could taste kumquat ice cream or kumquat pie. They could pick up bags of the tiny, orange citrus fruit, ...
Read More

Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s five offices will be collecting donations in April for the Special Olympics of Pasco County, according to a news release from the tax collector’s office. Special Olympics is a sports and training program for ...
Read More

Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources (PRNR) is planning to host a modified 2021 Summer Day Camp program due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release. Registration is online only and Pasco County residents can register for ...
Read More

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) has launched a statewide art contest, inviting kids and teens to submit their visions on the theme, “What does home mean to you?” The contest aims to increase awareness of the importance of ...
Read More

The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County is reaching out to physicians and pharmacists to help provide COVID-19 vaccine to eligible Florida residents. "As more COVID-19 vaccine becomes available and more people become eligible to receive it, more people ...
Read More

There were times when it wasn’t certain if the 38th annual Spotlight on Talent would take place at all, but the producers of the annual showcase pushed ahead, to make it happen — despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, as a ...
Read More

In its continued efforts to improve access to mental health services, the BayCare Health System recently awarded a $100,000 grant to the four National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) affiliates in the Tampa Bay area. The grant allows the chapters ...
Read More

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has set up a new substation at the Grove in Wesley Chapel. Patrol deputies now will work out of this substation and desk officers will join them once lobbies reopen, according to a sheriff’s office ...
Read More

The City of Dade City is taking actionable steps to strengthen IT security protocols to prevent future data breaches and hacks. Dade City Commissioners on March 9 voted unanimously to purchase cybersecurity services from Arctic Wolf Networks Inc., to provide ...
Read More

A pair of Dade City Police Department employees have achieved the distinction of earning an advanced firearms certification. Dade City Police Detective Amanda Chambers and Investigator Diana Surratt completed a local three-day certified firearms specialty class, organized by the International ...
Read More

A plan for a downtown in Connerton — that’s been decades in the making — is moving closer to coming to fruition. The Pasco County Planning Commission, and the county’s planners, are recommending approval of a change that would set ...
Read More

The Jewish holiday of Pesach, or Passover, is an eight-day festival celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan. This year, it runs from March 27 through April 4. Passover celebrates ...
Read More

There was so much uncertainty last year about COVID-19 that many churches changed up their Easter celebrations, to reduce potential spread of the disease. A year later, many churches across the region continue to use a variety of approaches in ...
Read More

Pasco County’s offices will be closed on April 2, in observance of Good Friday, and government offices will reopen on April 5. The county’s parks, recreation and natural resources’ offices, recreation complexes and community centers will be closed on Friday, ...
Read More

The Pasco County Commission has delayed a decision regarding a controversial request that would clear the way to consider commercial uses at the southwest corner of State Road 54 and Meadowbrook Estates. The request is being vigorously contested by residents ...
Read More

Hundreds turned out to the Jelly Bean Fling at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village to take advantage of festivities that included free family photos, an Easter egg hunt, a petting zoo, live entertainment, games and crafts. Event-goers could make ...
Read More

The Pasco County Commission has approved the establishment of the Northeast Pasco Rural Advisory Committee. The advisory committee’s role will be to recommend nonresidential design standards to the county board for commercial development located within the boundaries of the Northeast ...
Read More

Wesley Chapel native Zach D’Onofrio made his first brief appearance on ABC’s hit reality television show “American Idol” back in 2018. Then he was a timid 17-year-old Wiregrass Ranch High School student who perhaps came away best known for his ...
Read More

The Pasco County Commission has approved a task order for CPH Inc., to handle road design and permitting for an access road between Central Boulevard and Symphony Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes. The cost of the work is not to ...
Read More

Like everyone, Dr. Timothy Bain, a chiropractor from Wesley Chapel, has had to adapt due to concerns about COVID-19. Unlike the vast majority of people, though, Bain’s adjustments have been more extreme. As the Tampa Bay Lightning’s team chiropractor, he ...
Read More

The Pasco County Commission has approved a change to the county’s land use plan to set the stage for additional residential development on the south side of Tower Road, south of Bexley Village Drive. Board members voted on March 9 ...
Read More

The Pasco County Commission has approved spending $1,650,000 to purchase 3.25 acres from SR 54 Land Associates for Fire Station No. 45. The land is located on State Road 54. The new fire station is intended to service Trinity, Starkey ...
Read More