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Good Morning From Lutz,

We’ve got one of those classic spring weekends setting up, cool mornings in the 60s, warming up into the 80s with a good mix of sun and a little cloud cover. Hard to complain about that. Hope you had a great Easter, and if not, there are still a few chances to get out for egg hunts and enjoy the weekend with family.

Also kind of wild to think about those four astronauts currently up there circling the moon. Not something you hear every day, but pretty cool knowing we could actually look up earlier this week and see a piece of that from right here. Many people took a video from the plane above takeoff.

Plenty happening around our area as things keep picking up this time of year, so let’s get into it.

-Mike

Access local events three different ways:

Community Calendar
Full List of Events w/Links
Join our Facebook Events Group

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

Easter Festival at Raprager Farm
Raprager Farms, Odessa
April 3–5 | 9:00 AM–7:00 PM

If you’re looking for something a little more hands-on this weekend, this one’s worth a look. Raprager Farm is running its annual Easter Festival with a mix of activities, from egg hunts and meeting the Easter Bunny to hay rides, animals, and a full day of things for kids to do.

It leans more toward a full outing than a quick stop. There are food trucks, a sweet shop, and plenty of space to hang out, but tickets do need to be purchased in advance and entry times are scheduled to help with parking and crowds.

Historic Downtown Dade City Farmers Market
Agnes Lamb Park, Dade City
Saturday, April 4 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

This is one of those easy, laid-back markets that just feels like Dade City. You’ve got fresh produce, local honey, baked goods, meats, and a mix of artisan vendors, all set under the oak trees at Agnes Lamb Park.

It’s a good one to take your time with. Walk it, grab a few things, and just enjoy a slower Saturday morning in one of the more charming spots in Pasco.

Fresh Market at Wiregrass
The Shops at Wiregrass, Wesley Chapel
Saturday, April 4 | 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

This is one of the easier markets to swing by if you’re already out and about. You’ll find a mix of fresh produce, baked goods, handmade items, and local vendors set up right in the middle of Wiregrass.

It’s a good “walk and browse” kind of stop. Grab a bite, check out a few vendors, and keep it moving, or hang around and make a morning of it.

Trinity Farmers Market + Kids Market
Generations at Trinity, Trinity
Saturday, April 4 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM

This one’s already a solid weekend market, but the Kids Market piece is what really makes it stand out. Alongside the usual mix of produce, food vendors, and local goods, there’s a dedicated section where kids are actually running their own small businesses.

It’s a fun setup to walk through, especially if you’ve got kids with you. You get the full market experience, plus a chance to support some young entrepreneurs doing their thing.

SR 52 Expansion Work Finally Moving Forward

With the growth north and east in Pasco, and the stress it’s putting on State Road 52, especially with just two lanes in key stretches, this one’s been building for a while. More traffic, more development, and not much room to breathe at that I-75 interchange.

Construction is set to begin this month and run through fall 2026. FDOT is adding lanes to the on and off ramps for both northbound and southbound I-75, aiming to move traffic through the interchange more efficiently as the area continues to grow.

It won’t fix everything just yet. A traffic light near the intersection, something neighbors say could help with long waits and difficult turns, is planned for the future but not included in this phase.

Another Healthy Spot Coming to 54

The Lutz and Wesley Chapel stretch along 54 really has just about everything at this point, and it looks like it’s adding one more. Plans have been filed for a Kaia Bowls location near Collier Parkway and SR 54, right by the Sprouts plaza.

If it moves forward, it’ll join their growing Tampa Bay presence, with locations already in Tampa, St. Pete, and Clearwater. Expect a mix of poke bowls, açaí bowls, and build-your-own options, another quick, lighter meal choice in an area that keeps filling in fast.

New Italian Spot Opens in Lutz

Feels like Lutz has been quietly stacking new restaurant openings lately, and this one’s a bit more of a full sit-down experience. Scarpino’s Classic Italian just opened on Van Dyke Road, bringing a Northern Italy–trained pizzaiolo and a pretty deep menu with it.

They’re serving up 40+ pizza options and a wide range of pasta dishes, along with seafood, salads, and even tableside dishes like cacio e pepe. It’s open daily from 11 to 9, with indoor dining, takeout, and delivery, plus live music and a full wine list if you’re looking to make a night out of it.

A Huge Thank You to our wonderful local partners!

Rocket Launch Lights Up Tampa Sky

If you caught the sky Wednesday evening, that bright streak wasn’t your imagination. The Artemis II rocket launched from Cape Canaveral just after 6:24 PM, and it was visible across parts of Florida, including here in the Tampa area about 30 to 40 seconds after liftoff.

The mission is a big one. It’s the first crewed trip toward the moon in decades, sending four astronauts on a 10-day flyby. And if you missed it, there are already plenty of videos floating around, including some wild views from people who saw it mid-flight from airplanes.

Rays Stadium Talks Hit Critical Stretch

The Rays stadium talks are getting closer, but there’s still a lot unresolved. Officials say they’re about “80% there,” but April is shaping up to be a critical month to figure out whether this actually happens.

There are still big questions on cost, funding, and logistics. Leaders are debating whether to use Community Investment Tax dollars, there’s concern about a roughly 3,000-space parking gap, and the team still needs to show it has financing lined up for its share of what’s estimated to be a $2.3 billion project.

On top of that, key reports and agreements are expected in the next couple of weeks, with votes planned for mid-April. The timeline is tight, especially with the Rays’ current lease in St. Pete ending in 2028 and other cities keeping an eye on the situation.

Pasco Newborn Already Turning Heads

A Land O’ Lakes family just welcomed a baby girl who’s already getting a lot of attention, and not just from proud parents. Lucy Nonnenberg measured 23 inches at birth, which doctors say is unusually long, especially for a newborn.

She was born at HCA Florida Trinity Hospital weighing just under 10 pounds and has already skipped past newborn clothing sizes entirely. Hospital staff are now reviewing records to see how her measurements stack up against other births.

New Resource Hub for Local Youth

There’s a new effort out of Temple Terrace focused on helping younger residents find their footing a little easier. Launch Hub Tampa is a new website that pulls together local resources for people ages 14 to 25, everything from jobs and internships to housing, food, and transportation support.

The idea is simple. Instead of scattered resources, everything lives in one place, with real local contacts tied to each opportunity. There’s also a launch event planned for April 9 at Mid-Florida Credit Union in Temple Terrace to introduce the platform and connect it with the community.

New Tax Office Planned for Growth Area

That stretch of Pasco along 52 and Suncoast is growing fast, and the county is trying to keep up. A new full-service tax collector office is planned for Sunlake Boulevard, aimed right at serving the northwest corridor around Angeline and Shady Hills.

The location will add to existing offices in places like Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel, giving residents another option as more homes and apartments continue popping up nearby. There’s no official opening date yet, but the goal is clearly to get ahead of the growth rather than chase it.

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

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