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Good Morning Neighbor,
Halloween activities are in full swing, and pumpkin patches are popping up all over town! We've got some nice weather ahead, with highs around 80 and lows in the low 60s. I'll definitely be opening the windows at night! The highs will creep up a bit, but those cooler nights should stick around.
First, we've got to get through today with highs near 90 and some good old-fashioned Florida storms.
Hope you have a great weekend!
-Mike
Extras:
Help the families of Cobalt Apartments
Check out the cheapest gas
In this edition of the North Tampa Buzz:
🎃 Fall Fun and Halloween Attractions
❤️ Pasco Mom Steps Up for Three Kids
👏 Hope Services Changing Lives
🚦 More Changes at SR 54 & US 41
And a bunch more!
Access local events in different ways:
Each newsletter includes the latest event information available at the time of publication.
Featured Events
Saturday @ Zephyr Market Sept., Oct, Nov., Dec. 2026
First Baptist Church of Zephyrhills, Zephyrhills
Saturday, October 17 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Saturday @ Zephyr Market features an outdoor market with local artisans, small businesses, food trucks, and community organizations. Visitors can browse handmade crafts, textiles, jewelry, candles, soaps, baked goods, and other locally made items while supporting area vendors.
Please note the new location! The market is now held at First Baptist Church of Zephyrhills, located at 38300 5th Avenue. Admission is free, and the event is family-friendly.
Lakeside Market: Spooky Edition
In The Loop Brewing, Land O’ Lakes
Saturday, October 17 | 6:00 PM–10:00 PM
Enjoy a Halloween-themed evening by the lake featuring local artisans, small businesses, delicious food, craft beer, wine, and mimosas. Browse vendor booths decorated for the season, shop handmade goods, and enjoy the festive lakeside atmosphere.
Vendors will compete for the best Halloween-decorated tent, with visitors helping choose the winner. Costumes are encouraged for all ages, including four-legged friends, making this a fun, family-friendly evening of shopping and seasonal festivities.
Highlights
Fall Fun and Frights Around Tampa Bay
The student-run Lions' Pride newspaper at Saint Leo University put together a nice little guide to fall attractions around Tampa Bay, with plenty of ideas for families and those looking for a good scare. I thought this was nice to include.
Closer to home, Dade City Farms has its Fall Festival every weekend in October, while the Antique Mall of Dade City hosts Trunk or Treat on October 24. For something scarier, Scream-A-Geddon runs through November 1. The article also highlights the Hyde Park Pumpkin Patch, Tampa Riverwalk Halloween festivities, Sparkman Wharf's Haunted Wharf, and Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream. Plenty of ways to enjoy the Halloween season!
Pasco Mom Steps Up For Three Children
Sometimes the kindness of a neighbor makes all the difference. Tampa Bay 28 shared the story of Jasmine Young, a Pasco County mother of five who opened her home to three girls, ages 9, 13, and 14, after learning they had been left alone without food, electricity, or running water. Despite already having five children of her own, Jasmine didn't hesitate to take them in for a couple of weeks.
The girls are now living with another family member out of state, and their mother faces three counts of child neglect. It's a heartbreaking situation, but Jasmine's willingness to step in and care for three children who needed help deserves some recognition.
Source: Tampa Bay 28
Together With Carlie Carter of C&H Co.
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Community
Hope Services Making a Difference Locally
Bay News 9 put together a great piece highlighting the work Hope Services continues to do in our community. The Land O' Lakes organization helps people with disabilities gain job skills, earn certifications, and find employment. They've already helped place more than 600 people into jobs this year, surpassing last year's total.
One of those success stories is Brendan Gillium, who has autism and a passion for technology. Through Hope Services, he's gaining hands-on experience at PCLand Network Services and hopes to pursue a career in cybersecurity. Hope Services is also planning a new center in Hudson, expected to open in spring 2027.
Source: Bay News 9
More Changes Planned For Busy Intersection
Anyone who regularly drives through SR 54 and US 41 in Land O' Lakes knows how frustrating that intersection can be. FDOT has proposed a $3.5 million project to add left-turn lanes and widen portions of the intersection, with construction expected to begin in fall 2027.
But this is really just a Band-Aid compared to what's planned down the road. FDOT is pursuing a much larger overhaul, estimated at more than $500 million, that would elevate US 41 over SR 54 and Dale Mabry Highway. There's still a long road ahead, but these smaller improvements are intended to help with traffic in the meantime.
Source: Tampa Bay Beacons
Historic Zephyrhills Theater Takes Next Step
New restaurants, new events, and all kinds of work being done in downtown Zephyrhills. Now, another piece of the area's history is getting some attention. Main Street Zephyrhills has selected Ovation Construction to begin demolition work at the historic Home Theater on 5th Avenue, which first opened in 1948 and closed in 2007.
The plan is to transform the property into the East Pasco Cultural Arts Center, complete with a renovated performance venue, indoor gathering spaces, and a rooftop event deck. Demolition is expected to begin in late fall, with crews removing unstable structures while preserving the historic main building.
What's Happening Around Wesley Chapel Lately?
There's certainly no shortage of new things happening in Wesley Chapel, and Tampa Bay Beacons put together a great roundup of some of the latest developments. Andy's Frozen Custard has received approval for a new location in Epperson, Bahama Breeze is closing November 7 to make way for Yard House on December 9, and Atty Bear's Playhouse, an indoor play space for kids under 10, is planning a spring 2027 opening.
And here's an interesting one. Tesla has filed plans for a private Robotaxi charging facility at its Wesley Chapel location. That doesn't necessarily mean Robotaxi service is headed to Wesley Chapel, but it's another development worth keeping an eye on.
New Tampa Park Plans Taking Shape
A pretty significant park project is moving forward in New Tampa. The city is planning to turn 56 acres of undeveloped land in K-Bar Ranch into a community park, and residents are being asked what they'd like to see. Ideas include athletic fields, pickleball courts, walking and exercise trails, and picnic areas.
The city also plans to preserve much of the natural environment, including protecting the local turtle population. More than 10,000 saplings have already been planted on the property. The final design, budget, and construction timeline are still being worked out.
A Huge Thank You to our wonderful local partners!
Lutz Whistle Stop Depot - Your go-to spot for gifts, vintage finds, home décor, antiques, handcrafted goods, plants, artwork, and general store treats. Come check us out!
FarmPixie - A simple way to buy fresh produce, eggs, honey, and more directly from local farmers and growers across Florida.
Gamer Events - Delivers fully hosted mobile gaming, laser tag, and VR experiences right to your location for easy, stress-free parties.
Revolution Catering & Meal Prep - Chef-driven catering, private dining, corporate events, and customized meal prep from a local family-owned business.
Carlie Carter of C&H Co. - Carlie Carter specializes in healthy hair, gray blending, color, and personalized styles from her private salon suite in Carrollwood. New clients receive 20% off their first appointment.
GrowerLive – Tampa Bay software that helps growers, greenhouses, and nurseries manage inventory, orders, production, and shipping in one place.
Ol’e Fellas Flooring - Your local family flooring experts—quality you can trust
EVENTS REMINDER:
We’ll be on Instagram with updates wherever we end up. Feel free to slide into our DM’s.
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