Together With

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Good Morning!

Brace for the cold weather. Yesterday slowly drifted towards our low for the day (one long hour at a time). And now that we’re here for the long haul, maybe grab some of that firewood they line up on the fence on Lutz Lake Fern.

As a reminder: Check out our recent updates to the Community Calendar. You’ll notice more links sprinkled throughout too. If anything feels off or sends you somewhere unexpected, please tell us. And if you’re looking for just a list of everything happening around town, the full events list (the correct link this time) lives in a separate post and on the website.

One last thing before we dive in. We’ve officially launched our Community Events Facebook Group to make it even easier to share what’s happening locally. If you haven’t joined yet, click below and come hang out with us.

Alright, let’s get to it.

-Mike

In this edition of the North Tampa Buzz:

🍺 Local brewery launches beverage incubator
🍽️ The Hub restaurants opening soon
🥞 Eight Turn Crêpe grand opening
🍊 Kumquat Festival takes over Dade City

…and more!

Feel free to follow us on Instagram for more local updates.

Share this with someone that always hits the line dancing spots around town!

Check out our community calendar and leave some feedback. We’d love to hear from you 👇

There are plenty of real estate options out there, but working with Yael Hatfield means having an agent who truly puts people first.

Yael is known for her patience, market expertise, and clear communication. Clients consistently share how she takes the time to educate, guide, and advocate for them, especially during big, emotional decisions. From first-time buyers to relocations and long-distance purchases, her approach is steady, thoughtful, and relationship-driven.

One example of her work is this beautifully maintained home at 6606 Terrapin Court, offered at $500,000, featuring:

Curious what it’s like to work with Yael? Check out what people are saying about her.

Yael Hatfield, Realtor®
Keller Williams Tampa Properties
📞 727.771.5474
📧 [email protected]
🌐 YaelHatfield.kw.com
📍 5020 W. Linebaugh Ave #100, Tampa, FL 33624

Big Property Tax Change Proposed

I just want to keep you up to date on this one as it impacts approximately 80% of the readers of North Tampa Buzz. A proposal in Tallahassee that could dramatically change property taxes has now been approved by a Florida House committee and is headed to the full House for a vote. The plan would gradually increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes over 10 years, which supporters say would bring relief to homeowners, but local leaders, including Pasco County officials, warn it could severely cut funding for things like parks, libraries, roads, and public services. It is still unclear if this will even make it onto the November ballot since the Senate has not taken it up yet, but if it does, it would require a 60% statewide vote to pass.

A New Beverage Incubator Opens

Thirsty Buffalo Brewing Company is growing in an exciting new way with the launch of its sister company, Craftek Beverages, right here in Odessa. Craftek is a boutique beverage co-packer designed to help small and emerging drink brands turn ideas into real products, from wellness drinks to energy beverages and specialty seltzers. It’s all operating out of Thirsty Buffalo’s Brew Factory, keeping the heart of the business rooted in the community.

Their former Bexley taproom space is now Spanky’s Taproom, while Thirsty Buffalo has fully consolidated at the Odessa location, where the taproom, kitchen, and events continue daily. This new chapter creates a wonderful community opportunity for Thirsty Buffalo to support other small businesses while still being a gathering place for neighbors. It’s the kind of local growth that lifts everyone up together.

The Hub Is Almost Ready

The Hub at Lexington in Wesley Chapel is officially in the home stretch, with buildings now completed and turned over to tenants. While it may look ready to open, most businesses are still finishing their buildouts, with the first openings expected later this quarter and a full rollout taking several more months. Big thanks to our friends at Neighborhood News for sharing the latest details and keeping our community in the loop.

Highlights

Here’s a goofy little reel I did.

New Daycare Centers Coming Our Way

Some of you have already been asking and posting photos in our community Facebook groups. It turns out some of those new signs and construction spots are part of a larger plan to bring more childcare options to Zephyrhills, Lutz, and Land O’ Lakes.

The Learning Experience is one of the companies behind it, and they’re planning multiple new locations across our region. It’s encouraging to see growth that directly supports parents and young children.

A Huge Thank You to our wonderful local partners!

Pasco County Animal Services Presents: Apache

Apache (A040850) is a senior fellow who lost his person & his home and deserves a fresh start. Apache’s dad passed away. A kind neighbor stepped in to feed and care for Apache for a couple of weeks but was unable to continue. Apache is a real people person. He is social, knows commands, and takes treats gently. He’s a 9yo black pittie mix weighing 80lbs. Apache is a larger size and can pull on leash from time to time when he’s excited to go out. Even though he’s a senior, he has good strength and energy, so we recommend an adopter who can handle this big love.

Pasco County Animal Services
19640 Dogpatch Lane
Land O Lakes, FL 34638
Tues - Thurs 12-5:30pm
Fri - Sat 12-6:30pm
(813) 929-1212
MyPasco.net/PAS

Cold Weather Shelters Open This Week

With cold nights expected, local partners are opening warming shelters to make sure everyone has a safe place to go. If you or someone you know may need a warm place to sleep, these shelters will be open for the next two nights. Please feel free to share this with anyone who might benefit.

Pasco County
Open Monday and Tuesday from 6 PM to 10 AM the following morning

Hillsborough County
Open Monday and Tuesday from 6 PM to 8 AM

If you’re unsure where to go, call 211 for help finding the closest shelter. Please stay safe and warm.

A Signature Community Favorite Returns

The Annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Festival is the Greater East Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s signature event, and it’s one of those days that truly brings the whole community together. From live blues and smoky barbecue to kids activities and local vendors, there is something happening in every corner of the festival. It’s a feel-good day that mixes great food, music, and family fun right in the heart of Zephyrhills.

Highlights

I hope this answers the question, “What is there to do around town without having to drive down to Tampa?”

Instead of listing every single event here, I’m going to start highlighting/featuring a few things each day to keep this section easy to scan. So these are just some standouts.

If you’re looking for everything happening around town, the full Community Calendar is still the best place to go. Or, you can find the full list here.

Line Dancing with Simone

Looking for a fun midweek plan? Line Dancing with Simone is happening this Wednesday at Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar in Wesley Chapel, and it’s a great way to get out, move, and have some laughs. Whether you’re brand new or already love to dance, this is a relaxed, welcoming night where everyone can jump in.

Wednesday | 7–9 PM
📍 Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar, 6034 Wesley Grove Blvd, Wesley Chapel

Simone teaches on the 1st and 4th Wednesdays each month, and you can reserve a table for $10, which comes back to you as a food or drink credit with $10 spent. Grab your boots and bring a friend!

Eight Turn Crêpe Grand Opening

Eight Turn Crêpe is opening in Wesley Chapel with a full weekend of sweet deals and beautiful crepes. If you’ve been waiting to try them, this is the perfect time to go and bring a friend. Wesley Chapel Local was already there for the soft opening!

Opening Weekend: Jan 31–Feb 1 | 9 AM–6 PM
📍 2653 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Wesley Chapel

Specials

Line Info

Kumquat Festival Takes Over Dade City

This Saturday, Dade City will be full of energy as the 29th Annual Kumquat Festival returns to downtown. With food, music, vendors, classic cars, kids activities, and all things kumquat, it’s one of the biggest and most loved events of the year. If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, this is a great place to start.

Saturday, January 31 | 9 AM–5 PM
📍 14112 8th Street, Dade City
🎟️ Admission is FREE

We’ll be on Instagram with updates wherever we end up. Feel free to slide into our DM’s.

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