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Tag: Pasco County

  • Access to fresh produce helping stop food insecurity across Pasco County

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    ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. — The signs of urban sprawl are apparent across Pasco County. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Following the government shutdown and the pause in SNAP benefits, several schools in Pasco County reached out to the nonprofit Access to Fresh to help feed their students whose parents were struggling

    • In the four weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday break, Access to Fresh delivered fresh produce and other food to 15 elementary schools, two low-income senior housing facilities, two Boys & Girls Clubs, and the Food Pantry Thanksgiving Distribution at Life Church

    • To fund this effort, AdventHealth, along with other major hospital systems across the Tampa Bay area, supported the four-week effort

    • AdventHealth said in total, the effort reached 3,700 families. They estimate 63,000 pounds of food or 160,000 servings were distributed


    The growing pains of development in some areas are leading to loud stomach pains for low-income families. 

    That is one reason why an assembly line of volunteers spent four weeks packing fresh food to help 15 elementary schools, along with two Boys & Girls Clubs and some senior living facilities.

    The organizers of the food drive say the Zephyrhills community faces a big problem: food insecurity. 

    “We’re rural America and we’re a small but very close community,” said Leortha Lloyd, social worker at West Zephyrhills Elementary School.

    Lloyd says the bags of fresh food packed up will help feed students at the Title I school she works at, where she says 70% are low income. 

    She shared one story of a family receiving a bag of fresh food.

    “A dad looked and he actually saw that it was fresh produce, he turned away from me and there was a tear in his eye,” said Lloyd. “Because he said he was trying to remember the last time they added fresh produce to their groceries.”

    The food drive is spearheaded by the nonprofit Access to Fresh. 

    A few area schools called them asking for help when SNAP benefits were paused during the government shutdown. 

    “Especially Dade City, Lacoochee, Zephyrhills, those are all very rural areas. Even though Pasco County is developing kind of more of that center of the county, these outskirts are still in dire need of support and help,” said Nichole Dube, the Executive Director of Access to Fresh. 

    When she got the call, she made two more calls of her own. The first was to area hospital systems, like AdventHealth, to fund this massive food distribution mission. 

    “Advent Health — they said yes, I called Orlando Health, and they said yes, and then I called Johns Hopkins and they said yes,” said Dube. 

    BayCare also gave money too in support. 

    Dube’s next call was to enlist local farmers to provide the fresh produce needed. 

    “This is going to affect so many people. But then to also be able to pull in farmers that are local as it’s a big deal,” said Alicen Morency, a local farmer.

    She and her husband Jesse Morency are co-owners of Shady Oaks, a hydroponic lettuce farm in nearby Dade City. 

    They provided 3,500 heads of lettuce. To these local farmers, this food drive hit close to home. 

    “Being able to get back is something huge for us,” said Morency with tears in her eyes. 

    The tears are memories from her childhood. She and Jesse both grew up in rural Illinois and also did not have access to fresh produce often as a kid. 

    “We grew up, both of us kind of on boxed dinners and a bag of potatoes, and that’s the best that our moms could do. I was raised by a single mother,” said Alicen. 

    “It was hard growing up underserved when it comes to food,” said Jesse. “I was at food pantries. I don’t ever remember getting anything fresh.”

    It is this pipeline of local volunteers, local farmers, funded by local hospitals that is starting to chip away at the very large issue of food insecurity in this area. 

    In total over four weeks, they helped roughly 3,700 families. 

    The kids these bags of fresh produce were given to had big reactions. 

    “I’ve had students say, Mr. Lloyd, these are so fresh, these carrots and cucumbers are so big,” said Lloyd. 

    “So the kids are used to seeing us, so they trust us. They tell us what they like, they tell us what they dislike. So then we know what to put in the bags. But we’re creating relationships and our mission is to build community through food,” said Dube.

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    Erin Murray

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  • Wesley Chapel Black Chamber of Commerce helping minority business owners

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    WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A new chamber of commerce in Pasco County is helping minority business owners get their name out.

    What You Need To Know

    • A new chamber of commerce in Wesley Chapel is helping minority business owners get their name and branding out

    • The Wesley Chapel Black Chamber of Commerce is coming at a crucial time when the area is experiencing rapid growth
    • Helping minority business owners, like those with Craving Donuts, find resources and make connections across the community
    • The chamber is finalizing its organizational setup, with plans to officially launch in the beginning of the new year


    The Wesley Chapel Black Chamber of Commerce is still finding a permanent home, but already it is providing resources and making connections across the community. It comes at a time when the area is experiencing rapid growth.

    The new chamber is stepping in to ensure minority-owned business owners aren’t left behind.

    Hard at work inside their food truck are husband and wife duo Vanzelle and Debbie Nibbs, co-owners of Craving Donuts.

    “My wife is a pastry chef, so that’s where the magic began,” said Vanzelle Nibbs. “We made it happen and 10 years later, we’re still doing it.”

    For a decade, the two have been perfecting their craft in frying delicious golden-brown donuts.

    But just like baking, starting their business took plenty of patience, with a few bumps along the way.

    “Two of the main challenges that we face were, one, financing and two, marketing,” said Vanzelle. “Financing, just getting an available credit line that was big enough to take care of what we needed to do. And marketing, being able to have a marketing budget to constantly have our name out there.”

    What helped the Nibbs’ was making a connection with the local chamber. Times have changed in the 10 years since they first started. Now, there’s a chamber dedicated to helping minority business owners.

    “We decided that there were some gaps in some opportunities and some things — some services — that we could make available to business owners in the community,” said Chad Cooper, founding board member of Wesley Chapel Black Chamber of Commerce. 

    Though they don’t have a physical location just yet, Cooper said they have hit the ground running. He said it’s a crucial time with development happening in Wesley Chapel.

    “It’s critical to have an organization like ours that’s out here looking out for the best interest of those Black businesses in the community,” said Cooper. “That’s not to say that only Black businesses are able to join the organization, but it’s critical to make sure that when opportunities arise that those Black businesses in the community have a seat at the table.”

    Their work is starting to pay off, like helping Nibbs and his wife, and those minority-owned businesses that are yet to come.

    “Be passionate about whatever it is you want to go into business with because it’s going to be difficult, and the passion is going to help you get over the hump,” said Vanzelle. “But also do your research.”

    That passion can be a recipe for success.

    Cooper says the chamber is finalizing the organizational setup, and he expects to officially launch in the beginning of the new year.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Seeing those black lines in the road? It’s microsurfacing

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — If you’re seeing some mysterious black lines or circles on Pasco County roads — they are there for a reason.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco County is now using a process called microsurfacing to repair roads

    • It’s a quicker and cheaper process than full repaving

    • To see if your street is on the list, visit the Pasco County website


    It’s part of a process called microsurfacing, which Pasco County is now using to repair roads.

    “Our strategy in the past is we would mill and pave and then we’d wait 20 to 25 years and then come back and start the process,” said Ainsley Caldwell, a project manager with Pasco County Public Works.

    But now his crew can repair roads faster through a process called microsurfacing.

    “Typically it’s a road that was paved 8 to 10 years ago. And the cracks are beginning to show up,” Caldwell said.

    It starts with crews applying an asphalt sealer into cracks in the roads. That’s those black lines drivers will see.

    Then about 30 days later, crews return to put a new thin layer of asphalt on the road.

    “We have an average of about half an inch thickness. This is why it’s called microsurfacing. It’s not your typical mill and pave, which is usually an inch or inch and a half thick,” Caldwell said.

    Last, the road would be smoothed out, making the road look brand new.

    “We bring in a roller in and smooth everything. It will almost look like it’s paved but it’s not paved,” Caldwell said.

    It all adds up to a quicker and cheaper process than full repaving.

    Caldwell says it can also extend the life of a road five to 10 years.

    To see if your street is on the list, visit the Pasco County website.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • Pasco Fire Rescue among first in Tampa Bay to offer prehospital blood program

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    LAND O LAKES, Fla. — Pasco County Fire Rescue launched its prehospital blood transfusion program on Dec. 17. The department said its emergency medical service is among the first in Tampa Bay to carry equipment on its ambulances that will allow paramedics to perform transfusions on trauma patients. Chief Ryan Guynn said medical calls make up 83% of incidents PCFR crews respond to, and he expects the kits to be used regularly.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco County Fire Rescue’s prehospital blood transfusion program launched Dec. 17 

    • The program will allow paramedics to give transfusions to trauma patients before they get to the hospital

    • Chief Ryan Guynn said the program can increase survival rates for patients in need

    • One set of transfusion equipment will be on hand in each of the county’s four zones


    “If you think of any traumatic injury where there’s a significant blood loss, whether it’s a penetrating wound, a car accident, lacerations or medically induced bleeding incidences,” Guynn said of situations where the equipment will be useful. “So, we anticipate using the program quite frequently.”

    EMS Supervisor Justin Crook said it’s been a long time coming.

    “It sounds like kind of a nerdy thing to say, but we were definitely so stoked to hear about it, and we cannot wait to actually help our citizens with it,” said Crook.

    That’s why Crook said he got into EMS nearly 30 years ago — to help people. He’s now one of those trained to give transfusions through the new program. 

    “Blood goes through the life gun,” Crook said, referring to a device that resembles a water pistol with tubing connected to it. “It will actually go from the bag into the life gun and into the warmer. That warmer will actually bring that cold blood closer to a body temperature so that the blood is actually readily absorbed.”

    Pasco County Fire Rescue launched its prehospital blood transfusion program. (Spectrum News/Sarah Blazonis)

    Crook said one kit will be on hand in each of the county’s four zones.

    “It’s something that we, as field medics, have always wanted to see to get and increase that survival time for our patients, especially the injured, until we can get them to a surgeon,” said Crook.

    A study published this year in the journal “Transfusion” says that getting blood before getting to the hospital significantly lowered mortality risk for patients in hemorrhagic shock. It found the procedure could’ve potentially saved more than 21,000 lives nationwide from 2020 to 2023 if it was widely available. According to the study, about one percent of EMS services around the country have prehospital blood programs. The Prehospital Blood Transfusion Coalition lists reimbursement limitations and local regulations that vary from state to state as some of the barriers to making the initiative more widespread. Guynn said the costs for Pasco’s program fits within its operating budget. In Tampa Bay, Manatee County EMS and the Sarasota County Fire Department have similar programs.

    “It’s life-saving,” said Guynn. “So, with our new medical direction and with our new EMS team, we’ve realized that we need to be on the forefront of new technology and new resources that are available to us.”

    Guynn said PCFR will be supplied with blood through a partnership with Tampa General Hospital’s AeroMed.

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    Sarah Blazonis

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  • Holiday shipping deadlines quickly approaching

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The holiday shipping rush is officially underway as USPS, UPS, and other carriers announce their final deadlines to ensure packages arrive on time for Christmas.

    Postal and shipping offices are already seeing longer lines as those cutoff dates approach, so waiting much longer could mean delayed gifts.

    USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines

    If you’re using the United States Postal Service, the most affordable options have the earliest deadlines:

    • Today is the last day to ship First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage for Christmas delivery.
    • Thursday, December 18 is the deadline for USPS Priority Mail.
    • Saturday, December 20 is the final day to ship using Priority Mail Express to guarantee on-time arrival.
    •  

    UPS Offers a Few Extra Days

    If you need more time, UPS may be the better option, as their deadlines extend a few days later than USPS.

    At a UPS location in St. Petersburg, manager Tony Morcos says stores are busy, with trucks picking up packages nightly after 6 p.m. UPS locations are also operating with extended holiday hours.

    “The UPS Store is very convenient. We have 5,400 locations, and one of the biggest aspects of our stores is extended hours during the holidays. For example, we’re open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, and we’re open Saturday and Sunday,” Morcos said.

    UPS Shipping Deadlines

    • December 19: Deadline for 3-Day Select
    • December 22: Deadline for 2nd Day Air
    • December 23: Final deadline for Next Day Air deliveries

    Skip the Lines by Shipping Online

    More customers are choosing to set up shipping online, which can help avoid long lines at local post offices and shipping centers.

    For a full breakdown of holiday shipping options and deadlines, visit United States Postal Service or UPS Holiday Schedule.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Crews battle 10-acre wildfire in Pasco County; structures threatened

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    Withlacoochee Forestry Center and Pasco County Fire Rescue responded to the scene.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Drivers frustrated over ongoing Morris Bridge Road closure in Pasco County

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    UPDATE: After the story aired, Pasco County officials told Spectrum Bay News 9 Real Time Traffic Expert Tim Wronka that the road is now expected to open in the next couple of weeks, before the end of the year. 


    PREVIOUS STORY:

    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The ongoing road closure at Morris Bridge Road and Chancey Road in Pasco County continues to frustrate drivers.

    What You Need To Know

    • Morris Bridge Road and Chancey Road is still closed in Pasco County

    • It was originally set to open in September

    • Officials say a water main break there needs to be replaced

    • Officials say there is currently no date set to reopen  


    When Spectrum Bay News 9 last covered the issue, Pasco County officials said the road would be open in mid-September. As of Dec. 15, it’s still closed.

    “It’s been terrible,” said Zephyrhills resident Karol McGinn. “And you just can’t predict how long it’s going to take you to get anyplace these days. So have a 15-minute drive? Count on at least 30. So it’s more than annoying.”

    The road closed in June for repair work. Officials say a further evaluation showed that the water main there needs to be replaced. That’s what is causing the extra delay.

    “It was supposed to be a couple months. Then it was a couple more months. Then a couple more months,” McGinn said.

    Closing off this intersection has only increased congestion in east Pasco County, where there has been a lot of new development in places like Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel.

    The work at Morris Bridge and Chancey Roads has led to even more traffic on surrounding roads like Coats Road and U.S. 301.

    “It’s a miserable situation that has gone on way too long,” McGinn said.

    Officials say there is no set timeline on when the repairs will be done. They say they will update the community when they know more. 

    In addition, there’s now another closure on Morris Bridge Road. This one is in Hillsborough County, just south of Cross Creek Boulevard. That is set to reopen on Dec. 23.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • Aripeka Post Office remains closed one year after Hurricane Helene

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    ARIPEKA, Fla. — Residents in a small Pasco County community say they are having difficulty receiving their mail.

    What You Need To Know

    • Homeowners on the Pasco County side of Aripeka are having difficulty receiving their mail

    • The Aripeka Post Office has stood empty since Hurricane Helene flooded the area last year, changing the way mail gets delivered
    • Residents have to drive roughly seven miles to the post office in Hudson, where P.O. boxes have been set up
    • The current owner of the building says they would like to work on an agreement with the Postal Service to bring back the post office


    The small town of Aripeka sits between Pasco and Hernando counties. Those who live on the Hernando County side have their mail delivered, but those who live on the Pasco County side do not.

    The issue has been ongoing since Hurricane Helene flooded the small community last year.

    “We have no kind of mail access here at all,” said resident Lauri Marcum. “Can’t mail, can’t do anything with mail here.”

    For a year, the Aripeka Post Office has stood empty, closed since Hurricane Helene flooded the area last year.

    “I only go when I have a delivery come in or if there’s something important in the mail,” said Marcum. “So it’s like, if I can help it, once a month maybe.”

    Marcum lives in the small town and has been affected. She said in order to get her mail, she has to drive roughly seven miles to the post office in Hudson, where P.O. boxes have been set up. But there have been issues, Marcum said.

    “Gotta make sure you put your box number after your address so that they will know to put it in your box, and they’ve been putting the wrong mail in boxes,” Marcum said. “All of these are checks for somebody else in the wrong box, just from yesterday.”

    “The structure is sound. It’s solid.”

    Meridy Norfleet is the owner of the building in Aripeka, leasing it to the post office. She inherited ownership after her father passed away three years ago. But communication over what to do next, she said, has been tricky.

    “When they pulled out, it kind of had us stranded,” said Norfleet. “Now that it is in my name, the building, we’re just kind of waiting to see if they want to come back or put boxes or home deliveries — something to where we don’t have to go to Hudson.”

    Norfleet said repairing the building will depend on an agreement to bring back the post office to Aripeka. It’s something she’d like to see happen.

    “Definitely. That’s really what it’s for. It really should not be anything but the post office. We’ve had a post office since the town was in the beginning.”

    A tradition — and some say a necessity — the town would like to see once more.

    Spectrum News reached out to the Postal Service. They provided us with a statement, saying: “The postal service continues to explore all possibilities regarding this matter. At this time, there is no firm timeline for resumption of services at Aripeka, but the goal is to do so as quickly as possible. We appreciate the patience of our valued customers and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”

    They also say customers can continue to use the post office in Hudson on Big Bend Drive.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Odessa church hosts Blue Christmas service for those who are suffering

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    ODESSA, Fla. — At Keystone United Methodist Church, Christmas joy is everywhere. But on this day, Pastor Pamela Bowden is lighting candles for those who are in pain.

    What You Need To Know

    • Keystone United Methodist Church is hosting its first Blue Christmas Service

    • The Blue Christmas Service is for those who have lost a loved one or are experiencing some sort of sadness this holiday season

    • The pastor said there will be music, prayer and candle lighting

    • The service will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20 at Keystone United Methodist Church in Odessa


    “These are folks that really are not feeling the joy of Christmas. They’re not feeling the ‘Fa la La La La,’ and their hearts are heavy,” Bowden said.

    Maureen Hames understands how hard it can be. She has lost two children — one to brain cancer, and the other to drugs. And in August, her best friend, Von Evert, passed away.

    “That was difficult because she was who I could confide in,” Hames said. “So I don’t have that anymore.”

    For 43 years, Von Evert was part of Hames’ family.

    “The loss is harder now because the holidays are starting to come up a little bit, and I would normally spend a lot of time with her,” Hames said.

    That sort of loss is why Bowden decided to hold a special Saturday service, a way to comfort those who were hurting.

    “It is OK,” Bowden said. “They don’t have to be jolly. They don’t have to smile and laugh with other family members. They can really be sad. And this particular service, they are actually given permission to be whoever in this moment they wanna be.”

    It’s called a Blue Christmas service. And this is the first time they’re having one at Keystone United Methodist Church. There will be music and prayer. And Bowden said they will light candles in memory of loved ones.

    “There’s something about lighting the candle and looking at the candle and then seeing all the other people come and light candles,” Bowden said. “That we’re in this grief together.”

    Bowden knows how it feels to lose someone special. She lost her first husband. She lost her dog. And last year, her sister passed away.

    “That one hasn’t truly hit,” Bowden said. 

    But she said it’s important for people to know they are not alone. The Blue Christmas service brings them together.

    Hames believes that will help.

    “Oh, I know it will,” she said.

    Because even through grief, there’s hope.

    The Blue Christmas service will be held at 5 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Keystone United Methodist Church at 16301 Race Track Rd. in Odessa.

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    Dalia Dangerfield

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  • Ancient artifacts at MAPS Museum getting immortal lease on life with 3D scanning

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Ancient artifacts on display at the New Port Richey MAPS Museum are getting a new immortal lease on life.

    What You Need To Know

    • New Port Richey’s MAPS Museum is using 3D technology to scan those ancient artifacts on display in the museum

    • Every single artifact on display in the museum is being scanned, creating a 3D, digital twin that will then live in a digital database accessible worldwide

    • A team of research scientists with Global Digital Heritage are performing the scans

    • Those behind the work say they anticipate the work to take three years to finish


    The Museum of Archaeology, Paleontology and Science — or MAPS Museum — is using 3D technology to scan these historical artifacts. It’s creating a digital library and making the collection accessible worldwide. This endeavor is helping protect these rare and fragile pieces for future generations.

    “We normally do, probably, around six to ten positions per object,” said Bart Mcleod, research scientist with Global Digital Heritage.

    Set up in a backroom of the museum, the camera snaps away.

    “Basically, what this does is we use photographs to recreate objects in 3D,” said Mcleod.

    Every single artifact on display in the museum is being scanned, creating a 3D digital twin that will then live in a digital database.

    “We have a three-year agreement with MAPS, and I think it’s going to take every bit of three years to digitize everything that we can,” Mcleod said. “There’s a huge collection of objects and pretty impressive broad range of things, so it’s pretty exciting to work here.”

    Mcleod is part of a two-man team, which includes deputy chief scientist Jeffrey Du Vernay.

    “We’re working primarily with different-sized objects,” said Du Vernay. “For the handheld scanner, which I primarily use, we’ll do slightly larger objects. In the photogrammetry, we’ll do more smaller objects typically.”

    The handheld scanner Du Vernay uses records the surface of the object he’s scanning, and it also records the color.

    “It captures everything within its line of sight,” he said. “And this is what we will have.”

    Creating a raw, 3D scan of data. Once that’s done, the final product is put together and uploaded online.

    “What we’re really doing is creating a 3D digital library of the objects that we’re scanning,” says Du Vernay. “That has advantages not only for documenting the current state of the preservation of the objects, but also making them available online to researchers, educators, students, who maybe aren’t able to come to the museum.”

    It takes hours of work to scan thousands of objects. It’s work that museum director Charles Zidar says makes the art more shareable.

    “It’s really important that other individuals and scholars from around the world can access the collections online,” said Zidar. “So it’s been really helpful to have them here.”

    Helping pique the interest of a new generation of scientists.

    “After seeing them online, maybe they would be more motivated to come and explore what MAPS has to offer,” Du Vernay said.

    Preserving these once forgotten artifacts and helping them live forever in the digital realm.

    Du Vernay says that in between scanning objects at the MAPS Museum, they will be doing other projects around the world. This project with the MAPS Museum will take three more years to finish.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Massullo rolls to State Senate District 11 seat

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    HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – Republican Ralph Massullo Jr. has captured the State Senate District 11 seat.

    Massullo saw resistance from Democrat Ash Marwah, but he ultimately came out on top. District 11 covers Hernando, Sumter, Citrus and a small section of northwest Pasco County.


    Massullo, a Lecanto physician who previously served four terms in the Florida House of Representatives since 2016, will replace Blaise Ingoglia in District 11. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Ingoglia to replace Jimmy Patronis as the state’s Chief Financial Officer, opening the seat.

    DeSantis expressed his support for Massullo early in the race.

    Massullo stressed during his campaign that his experience made him right for the seat.

    He said his platform is highlighted with his work toward protecting families, strengthening Florida’s economy and keeping children safe.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Voters head to polls Tuesday in State Senate District 11 Special Election

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    HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. – Voters are heading to the polls today to decide the Florida Senate District 11 Special Election.

    Republican Ralph Massullo Jr. is running against Democrat Ash Marwah for the seat, which became vacant when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Blaise Ingoglia to replace Jimmy Patronis as the state’s Chief Financial Officer. Patronis vacated that office after his election to Congress.

    Special Election Day is Tuesday, Dec. 9 and voting is open to residents in the district, which covers Hernando, Sumter, Citrus and a small section of northwest Pasco County.


    Massullo is a Lecanto physician who served four terms in the Florida House of Representatives since 2016. DeSantis has expressed his support for Massullo.

    Marwah is a Democrat from The Villages and is originally from India.

    He is an engineer by trade, and his background includes being an entrepreneur in the Pittsburgh area.

    Marwah and his wife retired to The Villages in 2016. Since moving to the area, he has been affiliated with the Democratic Party of Sumter County, Tutors for Kids, and The Villages Democratic Club.

    Republican Ralph Massullo Jr. (right) is running against Democrat Ash Marwah for the State Senate District 11 seat. (FILE IMAGES)

    He previously ran for the Florida House of Representatives District 52 seat in 2024, where he lost to incumbent John Temple, a Republican.

    In a recent appearance before the League of Women’s Voters, where he took questions along with Massullo, Marwah reiterated his stances in favor of affordable housing, addressing healthcare and increased funding for education.

    Massullo, meanwhile, has stressed during this campaign that his experience makes him right for the seat. He has highlighted his work toward protecting families, strengthening Florida’s economy and keeping children safe. 

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Online holiday sales surge as local malls create new ways to draw foot traffic

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    WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — Online spending surged to more than $14 billion on Cyber Monday, a 7% increase over last year, according to new data from Adobe Analytics. 

    But despite the jump in e-commerce activity, overall holiday spending is expected to soften as many families navigate tighter budgets.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Shops at Wiregrass is hosting its annual Symphony in Lights nightly through New Years Eve

    • Special events are helping local malls draw foot traffic, even as online sales surge

    • Retailers are taking advantage of a new sale called BOPIS – Buy Online, Pickup in Store to offer shoppers special sales and deeper discounts for entering the store

    • For a complete breakdown of holiday shopping sales to date, visit https://business.adobe.com/resources/holiday-shopping-report.html


    That shift has brick-and-mortar stores — especially shopping malls — searching for new ways to bring people through their doors.

    At The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, efforts to boost foot traffic include festive events and in-person shopping incentives. 

    One of the biggest draws is the Symphony in Lights presented by AdventHealth, a choreographed light show set to music and capped off with artificial snowfall. 

    The event runs hourly from 6–9 p.m. each night through New Year’s Eve and has become a popular holiday tradition for families in the area.

    Also, retailers at the mall are also rolling out exclusive in-store pickup promotions to encourage shoppers to visit in person.

    Alexis Muellner, editor of the Tampa Bay Business Journal, said many retailers are now leaning into a strategy known as BOPIS — Buy Online, Pick Up In Store.

    “The notion that we will shop online and then go pick it up — there are opportunities for retailers in that situation to activate people on site with special deals, deep discounting, and experiences, which they are really leaning into,” Muellner said.

    He expects these types of hybrid shopping incentives to expand in the near future.

    Even with creative strategies, malls continue to face steep competition from online retailers. 

    Adobe Analytics reports that shoppers spent more than $40 billion online in just the first week of the holiday shopping season, and over half of those purchases were made on mobile devices.

    As retailers balance tightening consumer budgets with the convenience of online shopping, many brick-and-mortar stores are betting that unique experiences — and a few special deals — will help keep customers coming through their doors this holiday season.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Annual Celebration of Lights brings holiday spirit to Shady Hills

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The Pasco County community of Shady Hills is holding its annual Celebration of Lights at The Concourse.

    The light display is thanks to a former resident who didn’t get to live to see it come to pass.

    The Celebration of Light display was the dream of local businessman Dave Parris, who wanted something for Pasco County like there was in his hometown of Altoona, Penn.

    “So he started that in 2012. Unfortunately, a couple of months before it opened, Dave passed away from cancer,” said event director Justina Giglio. “So we opened it in his name, and we took over as a nonprofit.”

    It has a mile and a half of light displays, including a huge Christmas tree and a giant flag.

    You can even take a ride on a miniature train. You can either walk the course or drive.

    For more information including the remaining dates for this year, click here.

    Use the video link above for the On The Town report by Spectrum Bay News 9’s Rick Elmhorst.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Big book donation in Pasco County for Giving Tuesday

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The spirit of Giving Tuesday is alive in Pasco County as the Pasco County Library System teams up with Friends of the Library to support local schools with a major book donation effort.

    This year, hundreds of children’s books are being delivered to schools across the county — an initiative that began with a simple request from Chester Taylor Elementary School in Zephyrhills.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco County Libraries donating books to local schools for Giving Tuesday 

    • Effort to collect books started over the summer after a request to help restock books at Chester Taylor Elementary School in Zephyrhills 

    •  Hundreds of books will be donated at events across the county on Tuesday

    • For more information on helping with the book donation, visit Pasco County Libraries


    The school was working to restock its library to boost reading scores on state assessments. 

    That request quickly turned into a large-scale collaboration spanning multiple schools.

    According to Pasco County Public Library System Director Sean McGarvey, the idea gained momentum quickly.

    “The school board had reached out to us as perhaps we could help restock. We talked to them, and the Friends of the Libraries jumped on this — they thought this was an amazing idea, and all eight of our libraries pitched in to collect these books.”

    On Tuesday morning, the donation effort kicks off at Chester Taylor Elementary School, where the first batch of books will be delivered. From there, additional Pasco County schools will receive donated materials throughout the day.

    While Tuesday’s library donations are making a big impact, residents across Tampa Bay can also participate in Giving Tuesday in a variety of ways.

    Local nonprofits accepting donations include:

    • Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
    • Feeding Tampa Bay
    • Metropolitan Ministries

    Feeding Tampa Bay announced that all donations made Tuesday will be matched, doubling the number of meals provided to families in need this holiday season. Community members can also give back by volunteering their time.

    For more information on how to help, visit Feeding Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries and Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

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    Jason Lanning

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  • Pasco County Schools offering pay incentives to attract more school bus drivers

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Pasco County schools are in need of school bus drivers.

    What You Need To Know

    • 49 of the district’s 297 bus routes do not have permanent coverage, meaning students are showing up to school after class has begun
    • The district says it will pay drivers who have limited absences $500 per quarter, and those who take designated high-need routes will earn another $250 per quarter


    Dozens of bus routes do not have permanent coverage, meaning some students are showing up late to class. So now, Pasco County Schools is offering new incentives to get more drivers on board.

    The district says it will pay drivers who have limited absences $500 per quarter. Those who take designated high-need routes will earn another $250 per quarter.

    Behind the wheel of one Pasco County school bus, bus driver Lynn Zion-Weick has her eyes on the road.

    “I’m pretty good with kids and I decided to give it a shot,” she said.

    “The bus is so easy to drive. A lot of times that scares a person, you know, with such a big vehicle. But the way buses are now, they’re just like driving a nice car.”

    Zion-Weick has been a bus driver here for the last four years. Originally retired, she wanted to get behind the wheel after seeing an ad for the role.

    “I kept seeing it and kept thinking, ‘You know, I like to drive and they need drivers,’” said Zion-Weick. “So I said let me give it a shot. I think the hardest part of it was learning the engine. You had to learn at that time and the parts of the engine of the bus.”

    But times have changed and so too has the need for school bus drivers in Pasco. Forty-nine of the district’s 297 bus routes do not have permanent coverage.

    “Our goal is to ensure that every student gets to school on time so that learning can occur,” says Superintendent Dr. John Legg.

    Legg says the school district has developed a plan, offering pay incentives to bring in more school bus drivers.

    “If our bus drivers are in attendance and are able to drive the routes, they get a quarterly bonus,” said Legg. “And if they take on our more challenging routes, they get a bonus as well.”

    Those challenging routes are the more remote areas of the county, such as Zephyrhills. But for someone who grew up in Port Richey, like Zion-Weick, driving the next generation of Pasco County students means a little more.

    “It’s really, pretty nice because some of the kids, actually, I went to school with their grandparents,” she says. “More than likely grandparents.”

    Pasco County Schools will be hosting a bus driver recruitment event on Dec. 11 in Land O’ Lakes.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Pasco County entrepreneur opens new spa after turning her life around

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    LUTZ, Fla. — A new business owner is grateful for a new beginning as her dreams of opening a spa come true.

    What You Need To Know

    • Elizabeth Remis is opening Creations Med Aesthetics and Wellness Spa in Lutz

    • Remis overcame addiction and served a year in state prison before turning her life around

    • Only 1.5% of U.S. small business owners have a felony record, according to RAND Corporation

    • Remis hopes to help others find their best selves through her new business

    “It’s very empowering. Like this is really happening for me,” said Elizabeth Remis. “Like, wow.”

    The empowered entrepreneur is getting Creations Med Aesthetics and Wellness Spa ready to open at the beginning of the new year.

    Remis is focusing on rebirth as she continues a 26-year recovery journey.

    “When those steel doors closed in on me in prison, that was like an aha awakening for me that life has to change,” said Remis. “I need to do something different, this is not working out for me.”

    Remis was in and out of the Hillsborough County Jail and served a year in state prison on a felony charge.

    She says she turned to drugs after the deaths of several relatives and surviving sexual assault.

    “(I was) using substances to cope with life and became a very unhealthy individual and did some very unhealthy things,” said Remis.

    She got healthy, got clean behind bars and started concentrating on therapy and healing.

    “There was a time that I would never anticipate that I would have or own a spa,” said Remis.

    This entrepreneur has beat the odds. Just 1.5% of U.S. small business owners have a felony record, that’s according to RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization.

    Allie Markham and Abe Brown Ministries serve up to 350 clients coming out of incarceration. Their job placement program InspHire helps employ people with a history of criminal charges.

    “Breaking down those barriers is a challenge, trying to get employment, housing, a lot don’t even have credit when they come out, so establishing all of that takes time,” said Markham, who is the program manager.

    Time and faith are what Remis has relied on.

    She hopes to help others find their best selves, and she’s getting used to being called an entrepreneur.

    “I’m just really filled with a lot of gratitude today, you know, because life could have been really different for me,” said Remis.

    Grateful for a new beginning in her new spa and safe haven.

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    Melissa Eichman

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  • Wesley Chapel family seeks answers after fatal hit and run

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    WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — A family in Wesley Chapel is pleading for answers in a deadly hit and run that took the life of their loved one.

    Daniel Avena was hit while walking on Boyette Road in Pasco County on Nov. 16.

    What You Need To Know

    • Daniel Avena was killed in a hit and run on Nov. 16 in Wesley Chapel

    • The driver of a dark-colored Toyota Forerunner is sought by authorities

    • Avena’s family has posted signs urging community help and awareness

    • Florida Highway Patrol has released surveillance photos of the suspect vehicle


    Daniel Avena was hit while walking on Boyette Road in Pasco County on Nov. 16.

    Florida Highway Patrol is investigating after they say the driver who hit him took off, leaving Avena to be found by someone driving by the next morning.

    Avena’s family is devastated, but they say the way the community has rallied around them is comforting. They’ve posted signs all over the area, warning everyone to be on the lookout for the dark-colored Toyota Forerunner that’s believed to have hit Avena.

    “He was the most amazing person. Anybody who knew him knew he was so infectious. He had the best laugh, the best smile, the best sense of humor,” said Erin Day.

    Day is the mother of two of Avena’s children. She says Avena was better known as Bernie Mac, though, because of his funny, outgoing personality. Day says that on Nov. 16, all of their lives changed.

    “Around 6 o’clock he was hit by what they assume is a Toyota Forerunner, dark color, they hit him and then proceeded to stop right here and check their vehicle, and not call 911 and not go to make sure it wasn’t an animal or a human being at first, you know, they just left him there,” she said.

    Florida Highway Patrol recently released pictures from a surveillance camera at a RaceTrack gas station less than a quarter mile from where Daniel’s body was found. Troopers are looking for the driver of the Toyota Forerunner in these photos.

    “We have to get the word out so everybody can see this car, we have to find these people,” said Day. “My kids, that’s the only Christmas present they need is to find the person that did this.”

    Avena’s kids, Daniel and Lyric, say their dad deserves justice, and they deserve peace to grieve, because now all they have are memories.

    “One thing I’m really grateful for is he gave us the same smile, that gummy smile he had, just that fills a room, fills the world honestly, that’s something I won’t ever forget and when I wake up and look in the mirror, that’s what I still see and I’m so grateful for that,” said Avena’s son Daniel.

    “I know him, he wouldn’t want us to stay sad all the time, he’d want us to laugh and he’s probably sitting up there laughing about how much attention he’s getting,” said Lyric.

    Erin says she’ll keep fighting for Bernie, and as for whoever is responsible for his death, “I know they’re watching. I know they see these posters. I know they know what they did now, turn yourself in, give us some peace please.”

    If you have any information about this investigation, you can call *FHP or Crime Stoppers.

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    Fallon Silcox

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  • Pasco County launching new hurricane relief assistance program

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    DADE CITY, Fla. — Pasco County is preparing to roll out a major relief program funded by a $585 million federal Community Development Block Grant, which was awarded following last year’s hurricane season. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Pasco County is launching a new hurricane relief assistance program using $585 million from the federal Community Development Block Grant Program targets low- to moderate-income families 
    • The application period opens in December 
    • Funding will help cover past hurricane-related expenses or repairs, and the cost to make new repairs 
    • There is also the Better Future Individual Housing Program, which is designed for residents of Pasco County


    More than half of that funding will go directly to homeowners who have been unable to make essential storm-related repairs.

    For residents like Christopher Rosakranse, the assistance cannot come soon enough. Hurricanes Helene and Milton tore through his property, downing 15 trees, damaging fences, and flooding his yard.

    “The water got so high,” he recalled. “One tree landed on our little mother-in-law suite, and the flooding pulled up our septic a bit.”

    Rosakranse had purchased the home just two months before the storms hit and was left with thousands of dollars in damage. To make matters worse, he says he was unable to secure help from FEMA.

    “I kept getting the runaround,” he said. “It was really hard to get through that system.”

    Pasco County officials say homeowners like Rosakranse are exactly who the county hopes to help through its new Better Future Housing Program.

    “We are trying to explain the opportunity to the public — how we can help them, how they can get involved,” said Chuck Lane, the county’s director of Disaster Recovery Resources. Lane and his team are hosting informational meetings this week to outline eligibility requirements and the types of expenses the program can cover.

    “We really saw devastation county-wide,” Lane said. “We are still seeing a lot of people who are displaced, and those are the people we are going to try to prioritize and get help to more quickly.”

    The Better Future Individual Housing Program is a program designed for residents of Pasco County. It is scheduled to open for applications in December. Qualified homeowners may receive funding for repairs that have already been completed, repairs that are still needed, or other storm-related expenses.

    For details on this week’s public meetings or the application process, go right visit here. 

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    Jason Lanning

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  • New Empowerment Room offering strength to survivors of domestic violence

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    NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — A new resource is helping survivors of domestic violence in Pasco County.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Empowerment Room, recently opened and founded by Pasco County Clerk of Circuit Court Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, offers counseling, shelter or even legal help
    • Other emergency filings can be made in private inside the Empowerment Room, such as those related to drug abuse or elder abuse


    It’s called the Empowerment Room. Just as its name implies — the Empowerment Room serves as a safe space for survivors to receive aid, like shelter or legal help. The room is changing the perception of asking for help when it’s needed the most.

    “I hope that it provides a sense of calmness, peace and healing,” says Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco County Clerk of Circuit Court.

    Inside the West Pasco Judicial Center, the room stands for strength.

    “To be able to come through our front doors, go through security and then walk that lonely path to help themselves — it took a lot of courage for them to do that,” says Alvarez-Sowles. “I just wanted them to feel safe when they were here.”

    The Empowerment Room was recently opened and founded by Alvarez-Sowles.

    “Knowing they’re in a room that is secured and that they have individuals here that can help them,” said Alvarez-Sowles. “It means everything for them to be able to get the services they need and be able to get to a better day, to get to a safe place.”

    Alvarez-Sowles says more than 3,000 domestic violent injunctions are expected to be filed in Pasco County this year. This Empowerment Room is now the second in the county, with the other in Dade City. Inside are the Salvation Army and Sunrise of Pasco, offering counseling, shelter or even legal help.

    “They’ll help them with the processing of paperwork,” Alvarez-Sowles said. “Then if it’s something where they need something more, they need legal advocacy, they need shelter, they need some counseling — then we would utilize the services of Salvation Army or Sunrise of Pasco.”

    “It was the first time, even though I was breaking down inside at that point, that I was starting to kind of see the light of getting out,” said Dana Rutherford, who is a domestic abuse survivor. Though the Empowerment Room did not exist when she sought help, she knows the power it has for those now.

    “The emotional toll it takes to have to do a restraining order and then you have to go and stand in front of your abuser in court, which is very difficult,” says Rutherford. “So to have that advocate or somebody to support you means the world.”

    Rutherford says it was difficult to reach out for help. But a path, she says, that can start with the room in a time of need.

    “You are worth and deserve to have boundaries that are healthy and safe for you,” said Rutherford. “Make sure that you do what you say you’re going to do and — I promise you — it seems like it’s devastating in the moment and there are things that you may face, but it is totally worth it in the end. You can survive but also thrive after abuse and have a beautiful life without it.”

    So they too can feel safe and strong.

    Other emergency filings can be made in private inside the Empowerment Room, such as those related to drug abuse or elder abuse. The Empowerment Room is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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    Calvin Lewis

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