Pasco County’s Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) was recently told the county has a very evident need for more affordable housing. One of the reasons […]
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This Week
Animal services suspended due to canine influenza
By Mary Rathman
Pasco County Animal Services (PCAS), 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes, is suspending dog adoptions, intakes, surgeries and rescue transfers for at least the next four weeks due to the presence of canine influenza — a highly contagious virus that causes respiratory disease in dogs, according to a news release. Normal operations are expected […]
Dade City’s Splashpad is now open
By Joe Potter
A ribbon-cutting and grand opening were held on May 23 for the long-awaited Splashpad in Dade City. And the more than 50 youngsters who were able to use it for the first time seemed like they couldn’t have been happier. The Splashpad and accompanying community playground are on approximately 2.23 acres at the intersection of […]
Zephyrhills fields public input for Parks and Recreation amenities
By Joe Potter
Numerous residents and business people made suggestions about adding to and improving the offerings of Zephyrhills’ Parks and Recreation Department while attending a community workshop on May 23 at City Hall. GAI Consultants oversaw the 90-minute-long event regarding proposed changes to the city’s master plan. There wasn’t any formal presentation during the open-house style workshop, […]
Deadliest days for teen drivers have begun
By Mary Rathman
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and a period known as the “100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers,” which runs through Labor Day weekend, according to an AAA-The Auto Club Group news release. “The risk gets higher during the summer for teen drivers and everyone else they share the road with,” said Mark […]
Stacks of bills by Florida lawmakers await decisions by DeSantis
(The Center Square) — The Florida Legislature finished a busy lawmaking season this year, and while a barrage of bills were signed, some are still awaiting a signature or a possible veto by the governor. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 10 bills in the last week and has until June 5 to act on another 27 […]
TV reviews: ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Doctor Who’ finally return
By Erin Maxwell
New seasons of the two popular shows, which put their fandoms to the test with lengthy hiatuses, are now available on TV and streaming services. Bridgerton (Season 3, Part 1; Netflix) It’s been a while since the bodice-clad antics of Netflix’s Bridgerton graced small screens, making romance fans and Regency-era aficionados swoon with delight. In […]
Serve up summer food, safely
By Mary Rathman
As the weather heats up, so do the number of meals that will be served outside, whether with friends at the pool or family at a backyard cookout. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service offers tips to safely serve food to avoid foodborne illnesses. “The bacteria that causes foodborne illnesses […]
A tailored prom for teens
By Mary Rathman
The Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind (LVIB) hosted its annual prom on May 4 for about 50 youth — from five vision rehabilitation agencies — so they could experience an event tailored to their needs. Days before the prom, some of the teens visited Marjorie’s Hope for dresses and suits, and on prom […]
This Week (cont)
Florida regulators hold hearing on Duke’s request for storm recovery costs
(The Center Square) — The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) held a hearing this week to oversee Duke Energy Florida’s storm recovery costs but didn’t issue an order. Docket intervenor Walmart opted out of closing arguments on Tuesday and will instead submit a brief due June 14. Duke Energy Florida (DEF) serves approximately 2 million […]
Pasco County issues Emergency Burn Ban
By Mary Rathman
Pasco County is under an Emergency Burn Ban for all areas of the county, effective immediately, and will not expire until conditions improve, according to a news release. The county is experiencing extremely dry conditions due to a prolonged lack of rainfall, resulting in an increased risk of brush fires. Everyone living in unincorporated areas […]
City of Zephyrhills starts new recycling pickup schedule
By Mary Rathman
The City of Zephyrhills is notifying municipal residents of a new recycling pickup schedule due to the increasing population within the city limits. The updated schedule aims to better serve the community’s needs and ensure efficient recycling management, according to a news release. The new pickup schedule is: June 5: Recycling will be picked up […]
Local Sports & Rec
Hillsborough County is finalist for top Gold Medal Award
By Mary Rathman
Hillsborough County for the third year in a row has been honored as having one of the top parks and recreation programs in the country. Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation is one of four national finalists in the Class 1 category for the 2024 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, […]
10 great summer sports and recreation activities
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a variety of sports and recreational activities. Whether you’re looking to stay active, enjoy the outdoors, or try something new, there are plenty of options to make the most of the sunny season. Here are the top 10 summer sports and recreation activities to consider: Swimming Why it’s […]
Sports & Rec – Check This Out
Tampa Bay Sun home opener
The Tampa Bay Sun FC will host the home opener of its first USL Super League season on Aug. 18, at the Riverfront Stadium in Tampa, against the newly formed Dallas Trinity FC, according to a news release. Kickoff time and the full season schedule will be announced in the near future. Five members of […]
Florida best for golfers
A golf shipping service called My Baggage has named Florida the best state for golfers, based on a study that “analyzed the distribution of golf courses, driving ranges, tournaments, and golf coaches per 100,000 residents in every state, alongside the number of platinum clubs,” according to a news release. The study reports Florida has the […]
Tampa a top hockey city
The personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on the Best Cities for Hockey Fans in 2024, comparing 76 U.S. cities across 31 key metrics, including performance level of the city’s professional and college teams, minimum season ticket prices and stadium capacity, according to a news release. Here are the top 20 cities: Boston, Massachusetts Pittsburgh, […]
Reasons To Smile
A long-awaited return to the ocean
After five months of care at The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, a juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtle named Sergeant is ready to return to its ocean home. Sergeant was stranded in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, and suffered from cold stunning — prolonged exposure to the cold that left the turtle with a serious […]