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Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Green Door on 8th

Dade City moves ahead on priority projects

June 16, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

Dade City is moving ahead on some city priority projects.

The city’s commissioners have authorized staff to enter into a design-build contract with Borregard Construction Inc., for a design-build of a visitor’s information welcome center, to be located on the south side of Church Avenue near the Hardy Trail multi-use trailhead.

Preliminary plans call for a building of 1,100 square feet to 1,500 square feet, with two family bathrooms that meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The center will feature an open floor plan — allowing for vendor operations, area attractions, museums and art exhibits to host mobile displays.

Officials said the visitor’s center will not exceed $250,000, which is funded through a grant from the Pasco County Tourist Development Council.

The facility will be part of a larger exterior space concept that will feature a bike-share hub with stations for parking, minor repairs, and public resting areas for cyclists and exercising pedestrians.

The public will be invited to provide input on the design of the building, in the coming months. The general idea is for the visitor’s center to help promote some of the city’s attraction to locals and out-of-town visitors, said Melanie Romagnoli, the city’s community and economic development director.

For example, Pioneer Florida Museum would be able to display items to help promote that attraction.

“We want to make sure that the building will fit into the context of the neighborhood, with a contemporary interior that will allow for modern amenities, such as digital display ads and a place for our nonprofit partners and our community partners to have mobile exhibits,” Romagnoli said.

The project passed by a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Nicole Deese Newlon dissenting.

Also, commissioners approved a motion allowing City Manager Leslie Porter to negotiate a contract with Wesley Chapel-based Magic Bubbles, to pressure wash sidewalks in the downtown area.

The company’s quote came in at $3,050 to pressure wash sidewalks from Church Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and Meridian Avenue from Eighth Street to Third Street. However, the commission also agreed to have the company clean other surrounding areas heavily trafficked downtown, including the sidewalks by Nancy’s Natural Foods, Lori Anne’s, Green Door on 8th, Magnolia Title Agency, and The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, among other businesses.

The request for additional cleaning services came from Commissioner Jim Shive. Given the added work will be at relatively minimal cost, commissioners directed the city manager to proceed without having to return for funding approval. The motion passed 4-1, with Newlon dissenting.

Published June 17, 2020

Filed Under: Local News, Zephyrhills/East Pasco News Tagged With: American with Disabilities Act, Borregard Construction, Church Avenue, Eighth Street, Green Door on 8th, Hardy Trail, Jim Shive, Leslie Porter, Lori Anne's, Magic Bubbles, Magnolia Title Agency, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Melanie Romagnoli, Meridian Avenue, Nancy's Natural Foods, Nicole Deese Newlon, Pasco County Tourism Development Council, Pioneer Florida Museum, The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, Third Street

Lifting spirits in all sorts of ways

April 28, 2020 By B.C. Manion

(Courtesy of Blaise Ryndes)

Spreading joy through bubbles
Blaise Ryndes, of Land O’ Lakes, attracted national attention when he took his bubble-making skills to America’s Got Talent.

Now, during a time of a global pandemic, the performer decided to take to his neighborhood streets, to help spread joy during a time of social isolation.

He recently put on a one-car bubble parade for his neighbors.

“To abide by social distancing, everyone stayed in their own yards and we went house to house spreading fun bubbles around, or as I like to call them, little orbs of happiness and cleanliness,” Ryndes reports, in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

He described his act as “an effort to relieve the angst of quarantine.”

And, based on the photos, it looks like his mobile “Spheres Bubble Show,” was a hit.

AdventHealth staff is joined by volunteers, including Pasco County School Board member Allen Altman, after the meals are delivered to the Dade City hospital. (Courtesy of Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey)

Helping two groups, at the same time
When Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey heard about an effort to show appreciation to front-line workers during the global pandemic, she latched onto it — immediately.

The initiative — launched by Liz Bernich, of Chatham, New Jersey, and Gina McGuire, of Madison, New Jersey – is called the Frontline Appreciation Group (FLAG) 2020.

They wanted to show appreciation to front-line workers, and help restaurants at the same time.

So, they began raising money that they spent to help feed front-line workers.

When Starkey heard about the initiative she launched a Pasco chapter, which is known as FLAG2020Pasco.

As of last week, a total of 105 meals had been delivered, with 64 going to AdventHealth Dade City, and 41 to BayCare’s North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey. Another delivery was planned for the evening of April 24 at AdventHealth Zephyrhills.

So far, restaurants that have participated include Boulevard Beef & Ale and Rose’s Bistro Off Main, both in downtown New Port Richey, which provided meals for North Bay Hospital; and, Green Door on 8th, which provided meals for AdventHealth Dade City.

Donations supporting the efforts so far have come from citizens, as well as county officials including Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley, Pasco County School Board member Allen Altman, Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning and former Pasco Clerk & Comptroller Paula O’Neil.

When she saw the initiative on the news, Starkey said she wanted to get involved because it is innovative and smart.

To help, send donations to:

Venmo: @FLAG2020Pasco

PayPal: PayPal.me/FLAG2020Pasco

Those donating $100 or more will get a sign to place in their yard, which Starkey has purchased as a show of appreciation to contributors.

Make a veteran’s day brighter!
As nursing homes remain off-limits to visitors, the Friends of the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home have launched a project aimed at brightening veterans’ days.

The project is called Operation FAV (For Any Veteran) and it seeks to enlist the help of anyone who wants to get involved to help overcome social distancing requirements by writing a note or sending a card to residents at the nursing home.

Organizers of the effort note, “this Land O’ Lakes nursing home has, like nursing homes throughout the world, been closed for visitors, leaving the residents there somewhat isolated.”

The great thing about this project is that anyone, of any age, can get involved.

All you have to do to is make up a card, note or letter, and address them:

For Any Veteran

Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home

6919 Parkway Blvd.

Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639

The staff will make sure your cards and notes are distributed to the veterans there who haven’t had visitors in a while. Cards also can be sent in bulk to the same address.

A unique way of reaching out
While acknowledging that a swimming pool is not the most important necessity in life, Glenn Simpson, of GPS Pool, is offering a free chemical pool service to those age 60 and older. For many people, swimming in their pool is the only activity they have during this time of pandemic, Simpson says, in a blurb about his offer. Call (813) 948-9091 for details.

Gerry Ackley and Yvonne Wassman stand on one side of the truck loaded with food, while Steve Graves and Sandy Graves stand on the other. The food goes to help the hungry and is being supported through a donation by the seniors at Sunlake High School. (Courtesy of Lisa Kamps)

Sunlake High seniors step up
When Pasco 2020 Grad Bash was canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors from Sunlake High School decided they wanted to do something worthwhile with the money they’d raised to pay for the event’s buses. They decided to make a big donation to Keystone Community Church’s Second Serving program. That program provides food for the homeless, operates a food pantry and helps people with other essentials, during their time of need.

The church is immensely grateful, said Lisa Kamps, of the Second Serving program.

“The most important thing, I think, for the senior class was to reach out in the Lutz, Land O’ Lakes area, because we don’t have as many opportunities here to assist families in need.

“They wanted to be sure that we were reaching people in this area,” Kamps said, noting that not all of the money will go for food. “We have to see what the need is, and meet it.”

Monica Isle, assistant superintendent of high schools for Pasco County Schools, gave kudos to the Sunlake seniors during the April 21 school board meeting.

“I think it just speaks to our graduating class that we have — of how much they’re thinking of how they can give back to the community,” Isle said.

Coty Darmoth is one of the chefs at Nabruzzi Trattoria. (Courtesy of Dana Nabruzzi)

Serving meals, in show of gratitude
It’s not uncommon for a restaurant to have a special, but Nabruzzi Trattoria has taken its Wednesday night specials to an entirely new level.

It is delivering free hot meals to people who serve the community.

“Every Wednesday we’re going to pick somebody in the area that has put themselves at risk, that are out there every day,” said Massimo Sabetti, the chef/owner of Nabruzzi Trattoria at 6062 Van Dyke Road in Lutz.

The restaurant was closed for about two weeks, before deciding to reopen for take-out and curbside, only.

When it reopened, Sabetti and his wife decided: “We have to do something for the community during this time,” he said.

After all, the community support is the reason the restaurant has done well.

So, on April 8, a meal was delivered to support the workers at Publix, and then another delivery was made that night to support the emergency room staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North.

On April 15, the restaurant delivered a meal to Hillsborough County Rescue Station 34, on Van Dyke Road, and then, on April 22, it delivered a meal for workers at Magnolia Manor Assisted Living Facility.

“We pick a place every week, I call, coordinate, what time is good for them? I get my chefs to make it and we bring it to them,” said Sabetti said.

He’s giving back to a community that has been very good to him, he said.

“The neighborhood has been very, very supportive. I’m very fortunate.”

Tell us about acts of kindness
If you know people who are going out of their way to make life easier for others during this time of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, please let us know by emailing .

Published April 29, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Zephyrhills, Allen Altman, America's Got Talent, Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home, Blaise Ryndes, Boulevard Beef & Ale, COVID-19, FLAG2020Pasco, Frontline Appreciation Group 2020, Gina McGuire, Glenn Simpson, GPS Pools, Green Door on 8th, Hillsborough County Rescue Station 34, Kathryn Starkey, Keystone Community Church, Kurt Browning, Land O' Lakes, Lisa Kamps, Liz Bernich, Magnolia Manor Assisted Living Facility, Massimo Sabetti, Nabruzzi Tattoria, North Bay Hospital, Operation FAV, Pasco County Schools, Paula O'Neil, Publix, Ron Oakley, Rose's Bistro Off Main, St. Joseph's Hospital-North, Sunlake High School, Van Dyke Road

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Avalon Applauds… Norah Catlin

February 23, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

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‘Aladdin jr.’

Live Oak Theatre is now selling tickets for its Acorn Theatre production of “Aladdin jr.” Performances will be March 18 through March 28, at the Carol and Frank Morsani Center for the Arts, 21030 Cortez Blvd., in Brooksville. Seats are $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 13 and younger, when accompanied by an adult. For show times and tickets, visit LiveOakTheatre.square.site, email , or call 352-593-0027. … [Read More...] about ‘Aladdin jr.’

02/24/2021 – ServSafe class/exam

The UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service will offer a ServSafe Manager Certification Class and Exam on Feb. 24, at the One Stop Shop Stallings Building, 15029 14th St., in Dade City. The class begins at 8:30 a.m., with a review of material from the textbook. The exam will follow lunch. To reserve a spot and order the textbook, register at bit.ly/SafeServFeb2021. Participants should pack a lunch or plan to purchase food during the lunch break. Face masks will be required in the classroom. … [Read More...] about 02/24/2021 – ServSafe class/exam

02/26/2021 – Girls Night Out

The Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, will present a “Girls Night Out Comedy Show” on Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. Performing comediennes will be Catherine Maloney, Tiffany Barbee and Angela Nacca. The show will be live-streamed through CarrollwoodCenter.org. Tickets to attend in person are $15 to $20. Online access admission is $10. There are limited seats available for in-person, to ensure social distancing. For information and tickets, visit CarrollwoodCenter.org, or call 813-922-8167. … [Read More...] about 02/26/2021 – Girls Night Out

02/26/2021 – Seafood festival

The sixth annual SunWest Crab & Shrimp Festival will take place Feb. 26 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Feb. 27 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Feb. 28 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at SunWest Park, 17362 Old Dixie Highway in Hudson. There will be live bands and entertainment, a stone crab claw eating contest, chainsaw carving, crab races and more. Admission is $10, with free entry on Feb. 26. Parking is $5, which supports SunWest Park Development. For information, call 727-674-1464, or visit FloridaPenguinProductions.com. … [Read More...] about 02/26/2021 – Seafood festival

02/27/2021 – Flea market

The Wesley Chapel Antique & Collectible Flea Market will take place on Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Grove at Wesley Chapel. There will be food trucks, inflatables, 100-plus vendors, and more. Admission is $5. Parking is free. … [Read More...] about 02/27/2021 – Flea market

02/27/2021 – JunkFest celebration

The Blooming House Junk Shop, 12409 Curley St., in San Antonio, will host a fifth anniversary JunkFest Celebration on Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be more than 40 vendors, food, live music, and tons of ‘junk.’ For information, call Laura Bloomer at 813-541-9234, or visit the shop on Facebook and click on the event tab. … [Read More...] about 02/27/2021 – JunkFest celebration

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