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Council nixes theater renovation
By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
The idea of breathing life back into the historic Zephyrhills Home Theatre is taking a backseat — at least for now. The Zephyrhills City Council on Oct. 25 voted to deny an appraisal of the dilapidated downtown building, located at 38521 Fifth Avenue. The $3,600 appraisal — if it had been ap-
proved during the regular council meeting — would’ve been performed by NewStream Companies in Tampa, and would have provided some clarity regarding a potential last-minute state appropriations request for the project. There have been conversations for several years about reviving the 500-seat twin theatre —perhaps transforming it into a playhouse or a venue to hold various community events. The theater was built in 1948 by lumber
magnate and former Zephyrhills Mayor I.A. Krusen. Back then, it was billed as one of the most modern movie theaters in the South, with comfortable seats, a wide stage, and a glass-enclosed “crying room” for babies. The movie house closed in 2007, but remained available for rent. It reopened in 2010, but was shuttered again. See THEATER, page 11A
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Zephyrhills approves street resurfacings By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Two dozen streets throughout the City of Zephyrhills are set to be improved this year. The Zephyrhills City Council on Oct. 25 unanimously approved a construction agreement with Zephyrhills-based Asphalt Paving Systems Inc., to resurface a total of 24 streets within the city limits. Total cost of the work is not to exceed $598,572, slightly under the city’s budgeted amount of $600,000 for the project. The streets will be repaired with either cape seal or double-micro surfacing, according to Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe. The agreement — part of a piggyback bid with Lee County in southwest Florida — calls for work to be fully completed within 45 calendar days of the notice of commencement. The action came following a staff recommendation from the city manager and Public Works Director Shane LeBlanc. The Zephyrhills streets to be resurfaced include: • 14th Avenue — First Street to DE West • Ninth Avenue — U.S. 301 to First Street • 10th Street — North Avenue to 12th Avenue • Lincoln Avenue — Airport Road to Parker Street • Parker Street — Lincoln Avenue to Kennedy Avenue • King Street — Lincoln Avenue to Kennedy Avenue • Freefall Avenue — Chancey Road to DE West • 13th Street — North Avenue to 16th Street • B Avenue — Eighth Street to 20th Street • 23rd Street — Sixth Avenue to Heights Avenue • Park Drive: This road is a loop that begins and ends at Fifth Avenue • Pretty Pond Road — Greenslope Drive to new construction match line • 17th Street — Fifth Avenue to North Avenue • Fort King Road — North Avenue to 15th Avenue right of way • 16th Avenue — U.S. 301 to Fort King Road • Airtime Avenue — Skydive Lane to DE East • Skydive Lane — Freefall Avenue to Gate South right of way • Sun Path Avenue — Skydive Lane to DE West • Flight Line Avenue — Skydive Lane to DE West • Greenslope Drive — Daughtery Road to Kossik Road • A Avenue — 20th Street to Eighth Street alley west • Ninth Street — South Avenue to C Avenue • 13th Avenue — 14th Street to Eighth Street • Zephyrhills Water Park north and south side parking area
FRED BELLET
Skaters show skills
Seven-year-old Jalen Diaz, of Tampa, watches skaters as they demonstrate their skills during the Skate Jam at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex. The young competitor said he’s been skateboarding for two years. His father, disc jockey Dondy Telesford, of Tampa, provided music for the event. See more photos, page 1B.
Gage Warner, of New Port Richey, positions his skateboard at the top of the starting ramp, as he prepares to start his three-minute run on the skateboard course.
Competing in the age 6 through 8 division, 8year-old Jude Crerand, of Dade City, gets set to take on the skateboard course.
Work resumes on State Pasco County Schools shifting Road 52 widening By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Construction has restarted on State Road 52, near the Suncoast Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes. A new contractor, PCS Civil Inc., began work on Oct. 25. The contractor is expected to spend a few weeks doing cleanup, surveying and other tasks necessary to safely resume operations, according to an update from the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) District Seven office. Work on the project stopped on July 28, 2021, when the original contractor notified FDOT that it was halting work on the project. The state transportation department declared the contractor in default on Aug. 3. The FDOT requires its contracts to have bonds issued by a surety company. The surety company was required to obtain a completion contractor and chose PCS Civil Inc. The State Road 52 project calls for widening the road to a six-lane divided high-
way from the Suncoast Parkway to east of U.S. 41. The contract also includes widening U.S. 41 for approximately 1 mile, approaching the State Road 52 intersection. A 12-foot wide multi-use trail — to be built along the north side of State Road 52 — is another element of the project. The estimated cost for the State Road 52 widening is $49.8 million, according to FDOT’s website. While work has resumed on State Road 52, it is expected to begin again soon on the State Road 54 widening, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road, according to the FDOT update. The prospective completion contractor is sending the surety company an updated price proposal. A completion contract is expected to be with the surety by Nov. 12, with execution of the contract to follow. Once that occurs, the contractor is expected to begin work within a week. See WIDENING, page 11A
start times
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Pasco County School Board has adopted a new schedule for school starting and ending times, effective in January. The board unanimously approved the shift, during its Nov. 2 meeting, knowing that the new scheduling will disrupt virtually every school and student throughout the district. They said a shortage of bus drivers forced their hand. Board members and Superintendent Kurt Browning said other options were explored, but, in the end, none of them could ensure the on-time arrival of students to school. “We are, and have been, very concerned about the loss of instructional time for our students,” Browning said.“We have had numbers of our students coming to our schools See TIMES, page 11A