A new development is coming to Zephyrhills bringing hundreds of jobs to the community Bauducco is the third largest cookie manufacturer in the U.S The international company broke ground on their property last month off Chancey Road Plans call for the company to invest $200 million in the city and create nearly 600 new jobs "In the midst of all this residential [development] that's occurring it's really refreshing in my position to see all this manufacturing that's coming where we're a little bit more land use balanced and creating good jobs for people who work here," said Todd Vande Berg Bauducco is widely known for its Panettones and wafer cookies The first phase of their manufacturing facility is expected to be complete by early 2026 Mi-Tek is also in the process of building a new plant here they're building a new 480,000-square-foot facility The company produces steel connector plates for the construction industry Mi-Tek will bring about 150 new jobs to Zephyrhills we've had an influx of industrial and not just light industrial types of development but manufacturers that we're really excited about trying to bring them in since I've been here we're really excited about the manufacturers that are coming employment to the community," Vande Berg said Report a typo If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below) so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue Bauducco Foods has broken ground on its newest production facility in Zephyrhills according to a release shared by the international baked goods manufacturer which produces more than 400,000 tons of baked goods per year The new facility is expected to cost the company more than $200 million to build and will produce Bauducco biscuits It also will house a distribution facility The development of the site is expected to be completed in three phases with the first anticipated to be operational by mid-2026 The company says about 600 new jobs will be created in the Tampa Bay area once all three phases are open — with Phase One offering about 120 full-time roles Bauducco also believes the advanced technology planned for the facility will give it even greater flexibility to explore new product offerings in the future The company was founded in 1952 by Italian immigrant Carlo Bauducco in São Paulo and today it is run by the third generation of Bauducco’s family where the brand is best known for its panettone bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety a food safety software and consulting company AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Zephyrhills receive ANCC Pathway to Excellence Designation(photo courtesy: AdventHealth) “We are honored to receive the Pathway to Excellence designation AdventHealth empowers our nurses by valuing their feedback and making them an integral part of the healthcare team while also promoting workplace well-being and safety leading to better patient care,” said AdventHealth Dade City Chief Nursing Officer Our website uses cookies. Please review our privacy policy to find out more about the cookies we use Browsing our website means you accept these terms one of the world's largest producers of baked goods expands US presence with $200 million facility in Pasco County ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla., March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, March 21, Bauducco Foods one of the fastest growing cookie companies in the world broke ground on their newest production and distribution facility in Zephyrhills Founded in 1952 by Italian immigrant Carlo Bauducco in São Paulo producing more than 400,000 tons of baked goods annually As a family business now in its third generation Bauducco is known for fostering The Feeling of Family with unforgettable moments and recipes crafted with innovation and passion "We conducted an extensive analysis of over 160 potential sites across seven states and Zephyrhills stood out as the ideal location," said Stefano Mozzi "From the business-friendly environment to the fantastic support from the business development teams in the State Located on 72 acres at the Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park Ready Site Bauducco expects to invest over $200 million into the facility which will be used to produce and distribute its products across the U.S The facility will produce a variety of Bauducco's signature products "The groundbreaking of Bauducco Foods marks an exciting new chapter for Zephyrhills Their investment not only brings hundreds of high-wage jobs and economic growth but also reinforces our city's reputation as a prime destination for business and industry We look forward to a prosperous partnership and the sweet success that lies ahead!" said Mayor Melonie Bahr Monson The Zephyrhills facility will be developed in three phases with the first phase expected to be operational by mid-2026 the second phase is expected to be operational by 2028 Bauducco anticipates creating approximately 600 new jobs in the Tampa Bay area of which 120 full-time positions will open in phase one "The arrival of Bauducco Foods in Zephyrhills is a testament to our city's business-friendly environment and commitment to economic development This groundbreaking represents new opportunities for our residents and strengthens our local economy We proudly support Bauducco Foods and eagerly anticipate their contributions to our community," said Billy Poe With advanced production technologies in place Bauducco will have greater flexibility to expand its product offerings "This is an exciting new chapter for Pasco County as we break ground on this incredible project with Bauducco Foods," said Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley "We're proud to welcome this global leader and the economic opportunities it brings to our community." Bauducco's presence in Pasco County is a committed to building lasting relationships and sharing the brand's passion for baking with even more people "We are grateful for the meaningful partnerships that Bauducco has already formed in our community and we are looking forward to seeing this project progress There will be many new jobs coming to Pasco County in the near future as a result of this investment in our community." said Bill Cronin President and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council For more information about Bauducco and the Zephyrhills facility, please visit www.bauducco.com Do not sell or share my personal information: An official website of the United States government Our outpatient clinic provides primary care and specialty health services and the other health services we offer at our Zephyrhills VA Clinic Select a service on this page to check the hours Wheelchair availability: Zephyrhills VA Clinic campus has wheelchairs upon arrival for patients who need them to access the building We work with Disabled American Veterans and county Veterans Affairs directors to provide transportation for Veterans and authorized caregivers to get to scheduled medical appointments Many localities in the region provide other van services to Veterans Learn more about DAV and the other van services available in your county Beneficiary travel benefits include round-trip transportation from your home to the medical center Find out if you qualify for beneficiary travel benefits We perform noninvasive and minimally invasive tests and procedures that check We’ll work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan and treat you with the most effective medications Our laboratories provide a full range of clinical and diagnostic testing services Our laboratory and pathology services include: Our medical center and clinics provide consultation and treatment for a range of issues that may impact your mental health or emotional well-being Our confidential outpatient services include individual and group therapy for: Learn more and connect with a care coordinator My HealtheVet is a web-based tool you can use to manage your care and improve your health from your computer or mobile device You can access your personal health records and use tools to manage your care through our My HealtheVet online system You can also use My HealtheVet to refill your prescriptions you can contact our coordinator by phone or in person Learn more and register for My HealtheVet Our pharmacy provides you and other Veterans with convenient efficient service to make it easy to get your medications and medical supplies Learn more about our pharmacy Your VA primary care provider will work closely with you to plan for all the care you need to stay healthy and well throughout your life They will also work with family members or caregivers who support you A strong network of family and internal medicine specialists and services can offer you the best possible care Internal medicine doctors (internists) prevent Doctors who specialize in family medicine provide primary health care to the entire family Your primary care team can coordinate the many services you receive such as: We use the latest in secure digital technology to set up remote visits with our health care providers and store-and-forward telehealth that lets you securely send your health information to experts at VA facilities We offer telehealth visits with providers in: Learn more about telehealth We offer women’s health services to meet your specific needs such as disease screenings maternity care and female-specific medical equipment The Women Veterans Program offers complete health care for women Veterans of all ages Our primary care providers specialize in women’s health They work closely with specialists in gynecology Learn more and connect with a Women Veterans Program Manager with new ideas and businesses looking towards the future of what the area could be Main Street has been their home for the past eight years but it's great to be around all the business owners and the residents here," Carlie Bronson said WATCH: Inside Gentlemen's Quarters Barber Shop Uptown Creamery is a newer business downtown The family-owned business specializes in homemade ice cream and waffle cones "I was trying to find something that the community can enjoy because they didn't really have a lot of ice cream out here so it's not like we're buying and reselling and the community seems to really like it," said owner Whitney Maxwell WATCH: Uptown Creamery serves up tasty ice cream Under new ownership since we last visited Zephyrhills is the Zephyrhills Brewing Company The Patel family has made some changes to the spot why in the world would you own this brewery And I always tell them that I own this brewery I have to make some money to run the business My intent is to—this city has given me so much in the last 20 years and that's what I'm doing," said owner Pranav Patel WATCH: New owners take over Zephyrhills Brewing Company The longest-owned business downtown is Chalet Flowers It's inside a chalet built from a Sears catalog more than 45 years ago This family-owned and operated florist is a local gem and many generations of people work here every day Everything's done very primitively," owner Kim Sanders said WATCH: Chalet Flowers makes beautiful floral arrangements You get to understand them on a different level than if you were just to order online with someone you didn't know," leader designer Kayla Glover said You get to meet them and really create a relationship with them Fla — Zephyrhills is known for its pure drinking water which is one of the main reasons why a local pilot with a passion for making premium spirits decided it was the perfect place to establish his dream distillery When Victor Young started Dunamis Premium Spirits in 2021 which means they strive for greatness in every product they make “Dunamis is an ancient Greek word and it’s the highest level of power and it also translates to greatness and so growing up and so my father would make sure everything we touched everything we did in life we did with excellence and greatness in mind,” said Young Young knew Zephyrhills would be the perfect place to open his own distillery ‘why is the pizza so good in New York,’ it’s the water right when you are making a spirit the quality of water you use to down proof and match in is very critical,” said Young Dunamis has gone on to bottle award-winning gin “It’s a special time to have a family business that we’re able to showcase local Tampa talent that not only services this community and the state of Florida but the entire country at this point,” said Young “Definitely not a lot of African American distillers in the country there is probably less than 20 out of the thousands that exist Young’s passion for aviation is evident in several of his spirits such as Zulu Hotel Airmen’s Gin and Aero Squadron Vodka “Every bottle of Aero Squadron we sell proceeds go back to Folds of Honor,” said Young Young has also been very instrumental in developing the next generation of pilots “We like to find people who want to be in aerospace and aviation who might not have the means to make it happen and we make it happen for them,” said Young Dunamis is even in the process of expanding its facility to include a helipad so they’ll get an aerial tour by helicopter and then they’ll get to go back to their homes,” said Young You could say Dunamis is soaring to new heights and we’ll be the first fly in distillery that I’ve been able to find around the world,” said Young and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Latest Hillsborough County News from ABC Action News — Eric Truluck has many questions but few answers Where will he store all of these belongings Truluck was living with his girlfriend at a Zephyrhills mobile home off 5th Avenue but they can live there no longer after a Monday night explosion “I thought somebody drove by and was doing a drive-by with big The explosion was the sound of an SUV crashing into the home at a high rate of speed Truluck says he was in the home's carport painting his motorcycle when it happened who was inside watching TV — in the living room — which is where the SUV stopped and I’m scared to death that I’m going to open this door and she’s going to be dead Zephyrhills Police Department identified the driver as 36-year-old Kyle Youngblood The department said Youngblood may have been driving under the influence It also said Youngblood ran away from the crash scene but was later caught and arrested And you took the coward way out and tried to run off," Truluck said He and his girlfriend may have survived the chaos but figuring out what to do next will mean a lot of hardship and a lot of questions Youngblood has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving injury and reckless driving The department asks anyone with information on the crash to contact them at 813-78-0500 option 1 Latest Pasco County News from ABC Action News — Jenna Crosley’s front and back yards are both great spots for birdwatching Her Zephyrhills home isn’t adjacent to a nature preserve an overflowing holding pond has turned her yard into a swampy mess popular with wading birds “Don’t even get me started,” Crosley’s mother The holding pond beside Crosley’s home on 9th Ave “I’d like to have them purchase that house from me and turn that into a retention pond because if it keeps filling up it’s not just going to be my house affected,” Crosley said she said the city has done little to fix to fix the problem even after the pond badly overflowed during Hurricane Milton “Had to put life vests on my dogs to get ‘em out of the house and the water was up to our waist,” she remembered And makes my front yard completely unusable,” Crosley said Who am I going to sell a flooded home to knowing it’s going to flood again next year?” she said A spokesperson for the City of Zephyrhills said city staff is aware of the problem since it has been reported to the city multiple times there is currently no fix for the flooding “The issue is due to the high water table and the lowest elevation in the area and the water seeped up through the ground,” the city spokesperson wrote in a statement to ABC Action News — Deputies released the name of a man who was found shot and killed in the middle of the road in Zephyrhills Thursday The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said the man was found shot in the area of Stillman Street and Calvin Avenue around 10:30 p.m The victim has been identified as Thomas Cook PCSO said that the family waived Marsy's Law protections that protect victims of crime names from being released publicly in hopes of finding the suspect who did this Deputies also located a motorized electric wheelchair scooter Anyone with information can report a tip to the Pasco Sheriff’s Crime Tips Line at 1-800-706-2488 and refer to case number 25005077 “It is imperative that there is access to high-quality maternity care for women in our Pasco County community,” said Gwen Alonso Chief Nursing Officer for AdventHealth Zephyrhills and AdventHealth Dade City “We are honored to be recognized for our efforts in ensuring top-tier support is available to moms and families close to where they live.” U.S. News began evaluating maternity care hospitals in 2021, rating hospitals that provide labor and delivery services and submit detailed data to the publication for analysis. Best Hospitals for Maternity Care assists expectant parents in consultation with their prenatal care team in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity services that best meet their family’s needs AdventHealth Zephyrhills earned a High Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by factors such as severe unexpected newborn complication rates birthing-friendly practices and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities “This designation offers our patients a sense of reassurance in the quality of care they will receive from our well-trained compassionate medical team,” said Jenni Wolf director of women’s services at AdventHealth Zephyrhills “It demonstrates the commitment of AdventHealth Zephyrhills to provide critical support and the best health outcomes to women and mothers News evaluated 817 hospitals from across the United States Only half of all hospitals evaluated for U.S News’ 2025 ratings edition have been recognized as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care News as Best Hospitals for Maternity Care showcase exceptional care for expectant parents,” said Jennifer Winston “These hospitals demonstrate significantly lower C-section rates and severe unexpected newborn complications compared to hospitals not recognized by U.S News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies severe unexpected newborn complication rates birthing-friendly practices and reporting on racial/ethnic disparities U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education careers and consumer products and services — A 20-year-old man is in jail charged with battery and robbery after allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old student at Zephyrhills High School on Thursday Zephyrhills police said Gardner admitted going to the school to rob students Gardner hopped a fence to get on school property Police said he is seen on video walking around with a red hooded sweatshirt and a ski mask The 16-year-old victim talked to ABC Action News reporter JJ Burton He said that he walked his girlfriend to her class and then went to the bathroom He said Gardner was in there demanding students give them their "vapes then “he grabbed me and was like give me all your stuff He said he pushed Gardner off him and Gardner grabbed him again “He punched me in my face,” the victim said “My glasses came off and it escalated from there.“ “It made me sick to my stomach,” said Zeigler Alicia Hussey said they’re glad Gardner was arrested But they have a lot of questions for the district and school officials “how did a grown man get in the school and rob students so easily.” that made me more upset because that’s an adult,” she said He could have went into that school and shot people.” We reached out to Pasco County School District and they sent us this statement: “There was an incident at Zephyrhills High School last week involving an unauthorized individual on campus Thanks to the swift actions of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and there is no ongoing threat to the school or community The safety of our students and staff is our top priority there will be an increased law enforcement presence on campus today We appreciate the support of law enforcement and our school community as we work to ensure a secure learning environment Any additional questions or concerns should be directed to Law Enforcement.” The victim’s family and other parents who reached out to ABC Action News said they are still concerned and want more done to protect their kids at school “I want to drop my son off at school and for him to be safe,” Hussey said Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — A new park has opened in the city of Zephyrhills marking the city’s first public park to open in 40 years Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe takes in the view of the city’s newest addition “I think that this is the best park in east Pasco,” he said Hercules Park was opened in mid-February after five years of planning by the city The 12-acre park is designed to help meet the recreational needs of its residents while paving the way for other future developments From walking trails to a splash pad area for kids along with a jungle gym “There are other things that we hadn’t thought of that citizens ranked high,” Poe said “So we used that information to build a park that we’re standing in today.” Hercules Park is now one of nine parks located throughout Zephyrhills Poe said the city had been looking at building the park for the last five years “It’s all about creating amenities so that our residents want to stay here,” he said and so to be able to have a park like this so they don’t have to drive to Lakeland or Tampa to experience — a lot of families are just able to walk here.” The park is also honoring the city’s history including elements inspired by the Hercules Powder Company which once operated on the site more than 70 years ago “It’s just a great place with a lot of different opportunities for families to be able to come out and enjoy each other It is also inspiring talks for what else can be done “Now we’re looking at our entire park system and how we improve each of those parks to add that many more amenities for our citizens,” Poe said There are more plans on the way for parks throughout Zephyrhills A parks master plan workshop will take place to discuss improving the city’s park system The Mouratoglou Tennis Academy is bringing in big names to the Zephyrhills community Formerly the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center it's home to some elite tennis coaches and students from all over the world WATCH: Zephyrhills' Mouratoglou Tennis Academy brings talent from all over the world who coached talents like Pete Sampras and Jennifer Capriotti The facilities here are immaculate and include a school on the property with students from 22 different countries There's not too many indoor facilities with tennis around We're going to partner with Florida Premier which is the biggest soccer entity you can find and the best next to our apartment boarding complex that we have for the pro athletes," said Pascal Collard The indoor facility should be open this summer Hurricane Milton lashed the greater Tampa Bay region back in October some residents are still dealing with floodwaters and don't have running water or electricity in which he's lived for nearly two decades so he can walk to his front door by laying down wood planks so he doesn't slip on mud along the way the cars and motorcycles that he liked working on are still inaccessible He has a 1964 Triumph TR4 that he had just finished restoring He thinks they're lost causes at this point "I'm struggling mostly mentally,” Ferguson said Ferguson says he hasn’t received any help from FEMA “I told them how much flooding [I have],” Ferguson said And Ferguson might not even have it the worst on his block Richard Beckwith stands outside the fence of the property he’s owned for 11 years The entire place — front and back — is still surrounded by water Beckwith hasn't been able to go inside for weeks when you come back to it and actually see the devastation and what the water is capable of doing I've got a home here that's now not even sitting on its foundation correctly because of the water He points to where the roof is separating in the front He says he's lost over half a million dollars with the house and all the inventory he kept in it where he ran his own second-hand sales business And the flooding began a really unfortunate series of events in his life “The last few months have been devastating but it did overtake nearly his entire property "We're looking at Lake Fernandez,” he said while surveying his property He was in the process of creating a farm on the land PHOTOS: Hurricane Milton's devastation across the Tampa Bay area and I was going to do a fruit and vegetable garden on the side and have the water cycle back-and-forth,” Fernandez said “But my main goal was to have the property be self-sufficient … I wish something could be done about the drainage.” Some of the boxes that he kept his tools in are still filled to the brim with floodwaters All three houses on the block are still without water and electricity "I've been living with two-and-a-half gallon jugs in my kitchen and in my bathroom to wash my hands and stuff and going to Planet Fitness to take a shower every day,” Fernandez said His truck remained in floodwaters for nearly two months But he says dealing with the aftermath of the storm led to him losing his job and the hotels were an hour away,” Fernandez said and I ended up showing up to work late a couple times and that ended up with me getting into an argument because I gave my clients away and it just ended up being bad.” Fernandez said he’s trying to keep his spirits high “That's the only thing that keeps me sane right now and I've looked at this as if God's washing my property away," Fernandez said "He's washing all the bad energy off my property." Tankers from the state came to pump out some of the water but they left after a couple of weeks without finishing They say they're looking for more help from Pasco County who heads up the county's public works department That's because the men live on private property "That's not the county's charge to take someone who flooded and may have lost a car or their whole property is still under underwater or their driveway got washed out on their private property "Every one of these subdivisions that was built under the permitting rules .. has their own system that they manage as well So they have their own set of pipes and pumps and ponds and conveyance system and treatment systems that they're supposed to be managing They're supposed to be making sure that that is all operating properly.” ALSO READ: Pasco County officials call rising rivers a '200-year flood event' Mickel says the homeowner could get private pumping services although he knows that's not affordable for many The three men say they think recent developments around their neighborhood caused their street to act as a sort of bowl that holds the water from other nearby places with higher elevations But Mickel says the main factor that should be remembered is that the 2024 hurricane season was unprecedented "Twenty inches in October was about 400-500 times more rainfall than the state of Florida in that area gets at any given time,” Mickel said he says Pasco will try to improve water flow and drainage between the county's public drainage system A recent $585 million grant that the county received from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development will also help them identify and work on some of the most prominent stormwater issues for the region’s low-income communities anything where I can move water through a system some of that is just expensive … that's where this money will allow us to tackle some of those bigger projects,” Mickel said But that doesn't help Don Ferguson right now He just wants to know when things are going to get back to normal he and his two dogs are staying in a Florida room with a friend of his girlfriend and I had to keep her in a cage so she couldn't run and I just it was a terrible thing,” Ferguson said He's planning to park an RV in his front yard and live in it until the flooding recedes because the ground is still muddy from months of standing water Unlike most of his already-large contingent of regular customers — many of whom attended the Grand Opening and Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting event on Dec 12 — I first met owner Kruth (Kurt) Sombutmai and his beloved wife of 48 years as they were getting ready to open their 2&2 Restaurant on S.R less than a mile west of Morris Bridge Rd./Eiland Blvd.  who have been serving down-home food to the Zephyrhills community for 35 years and are now hoping to attract a lot of new customers in Wesley Chapel.  The ribbon-cutting event wasn’t your usual show-up-stay-for-a-bit-&-go-home affair stayed for at least a couple of hours to be regaled by stories of how Kurt moved from California purchased the Hills Grocery on the Zephyrhills side of the corner of Morris Bridge Rd 54 and became one of that community’s best-known restaurateurs they also hung around for the delicious free food buffet that followed the ceremony but there wasn’t a single long-time customer of Kurt and Suzie’s who didn’t have a story they wanted to share about them The event was indeed a beautiful tribute.  Zephyrhills Mayor Charlie Procter and former Pasco Clerk of the Court & Comptroller Paula O’Neil were in attendance for the ceremony and Paula said that Kurt and Suzie are among her best friends.  “Paula first announced she was running for the Clerk’s office at my restaurant,” Kurt recalled “She visited me in the hospital when I got sick a few years ago you’re probably wondering where the name “2 & 2” came from It’s basically a tribute to Kurt’s original restaurant which often had lines wrapped around it for Kurt’s $1.99 “Eye Opener” breakfast and “all you can eat” fried fish special on Fridays Whenever anyone asked Kurt how long the wait would be “Two minutes!” The saying became so popular that when Kurt sold his Hills Grocery coffee shop to CVS and opened his location on U.S he called the new restaurant “2 Minutes,” and he decided to call the new place “2 & 2,” meaning that he now has two restaurants with two-minute waits.  as well as Kurt and Suzie’s Best Thai & Sushi on S.R Whether you visit 2 & 2 Restaurant for breakfast not only are you likely to be greeted by Kurt you’re also guaranteed to see Kurt’s tribute to his idol You’ll also find homestyle cooking and always fair prices.  In the few short weeks since 2 & 2 opened I’ve been able to sample quite a bit of the menu you can only get breakfast at breakfast time and lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.  My favorite breakfast item so far is the cheese omelet which I got with large chunks of grilled ham and thick slices of crispy bacon inside if you order the hash browns (there’s also home fries and grits and sausage links or patties available as sides) extra crispy I also sampled Charmaine’s pancakes when she ordered the Kurtski Breakfast which you basically could call the “Kitchen Sink,” because it comes with 2 eggs The pancakes were light and fluffy and even though they’re not on the menu with blueberries the kitchen added fresh blueberries at Charmaine’s request and all I can say is that it should become part of the menu!  There also are veggie and western skillets (the western has ham hash browns or home fries and egg on top).  appetizers include everything from bacon-wrapped shrimp smothered in honey BBQ sauce and battered gator bites to soft pretzel bites and Philly egg rolls served with beer cheese Sandwich options include battered or grilled “2 Mins Fish,” a double decker turkey ham and roast beef club and “Suzie Spicy” chicken sandwich with melted cheddar Kurtski burger and you can sub a short rib My favorite lunch/ dinner entrée so far is the grilled garlic pork chops served with mashed potatoes (you also can choose baked potato or fries) breaded veal cutlet and fried chicken dinners on future visits There’s also seafood dinners (catfish or haddock fried clams or grilled salmon) for just $15.99 the All You Can Eat fish fry is available on Fridays only For info about 2 & 2 Restaurant (33835 S.R. 54), call (813) 355-4829, visit 2and2Restaurant.com or see the ad below You must be logged in to post a comment A new park in Zephyrhills is a welcome investment to the community The $7.5 million project (paid for by ARPA funds) brings a brand new playground WATCH: New Zephyrhills park brings welcome space for families The new features bring an opportunity for families to get together and enjoy the community just to be able to provide a space for families to come And to be able to provide this for the citizens to be able to have that family time that I think is so important The 12-acre park also pays homage to the city's history honoring the Hercules Powder Company that was located on Camp 39 many years ago And this pint-size weightlifter stands out 3-inch Zephyrhills High School senior feels most at home “It gives me the drive to want to always do better,” Woodard said That drive has produced two state championships And another one recently to cap off his high school career Woodard did more than bring home another title He set a new state record when he snatched 240 pounds “I had the vision of myself winning and I just had to make it come true,” he said I workout day in and day out and it motivates me to know that my hard work paid off and I ended off my senior year like this.” Woodard will continue to power lift in college He’s heading to Lidenwood University in Missouri This sport has literally taken him places and he’s going to use it to set himself up for the future “I plan on being a strength and conditioning coach in my near future so I can train professional athletes like the NFL and the NBA draft so they can prepare for their big event,” Woodard said broke ground on a new production and distribution facility in Zephyrhills Founded in 1952 by Italian immigrant Carlo Bauducco in São Paulo The family business is now in its third generation "We conducted an extensive analysis of over 160 potential sites across seven states and Zephyrhills stood out as the ideal location," said Stefano Mozzi "From the business-friendly environment to the fantastic support from the business development teams in the state we knew Zephyrhills was the right place." Situated on 72 acres at the Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park Ready Site Bauducco expects to invest more than $200 million into the facility which will be used to produce and distribute its products across the US The facility will produce a variety of Bauducco's signature products The Zephyrhills facility will be developed in three phases Bauducco anticipates creating approximately 600 new jobs in the Tampa Bay area Related:Conagra Brands to Sell Chef Boyardee for $600M Kristen also worked in television as the digital producer helping write scripts for advertiser spots and other consumer magazines owned by Petersen Publishing and Weider Publishing She also worked at a Microsoft partner magazine Redmond (formerly Microsoft Professional magazine) as the associate editor Kristen worked as the editorial assistant for a regional weekly newspaper while earning her B.A in journalism with a concentration in public relations from Central Michigan University ACC Reveals Thoughts on President Trump's First 100 Days Pliant Therapeutics Cuts Workforce by Nearly Half Chobani Breaks Ground on $1.2B Natural Foods Plant — Ferman Geiger’s cattle are running out of dry land Just a small corner of their once lush pasture is available for grazing That’s because much of his property just outside Zephyrhills city limits is now underwater Geiger lives off Simons Road just north of the Silverado Golf Course He says the flooding on his property is not an act of God but rather a man-made problem stormwater traditionally flowed from his property south through the neighboring Silver Oaks subdivision and Silverado Golf Course and then further south toward Lake Zephyr and the Hillsborough River a lot of the water isn’t draining from the area near Geiger’s property and the water that has drained into the golf course has flooded a wide swatch of it and is creeping closer and closer to houses along the fairways Local and state crews are trying to use a series of pumps and hoses to manually move the water along its natural path those crews have temporarily halted the pumps so as not to flood homes south of the golf course Geiger and others believe the area’s growth has disrupted the natural flow of stormwater with new housing developments adding to the problem Though the area has a long history of flooding Geiger said the current flood happened faster and the water now drains much slower or not at all “Most of what was a floodplain for the water to gently rise onto can’t because it’s now homes,” he said ABC Action News asked Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe if development is contributing to the area's flooding problem “I would say development probably plays into it Silver Oaks and to the north — have always flooded,” he said in conjunction with it being a low-lying area that has historically flooded it’s not a good combination,” Poe continued What he can say for sure is that a long-term fix is needed in the area of the golf course “We need to sit down after we get through this and figure out: Is there a solution where the funding for that solution comes from,” he said he isn’t sure local leaders will follow through once the imminent problem with flooding passes but Geiger believes the problem will not be going away and will only worsen over time having to pump the water from one place to another It would make a lot more sense to correct the situation and bring back the natural flow,” he said — The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) arrested a shooting suspect on Sunday who was accused of killing a man Deputies said the shooting happened at the 5000 block of Hill Drive in the Zephyrhills area PCSO said they believe that an argument between two adult men leading to one man to shoot the other at about 4:45 a.m The victim was taken for medical attention but was pronounced dead PCSO said Sunday evening that they arrested Joel Heredia for 2nd degree homicide and felony possession of a firearm in connection to the shooting and no additional information was made available Fla — Jamie Curtis’ Zephyrhills home is gutted but he still wanted to recognize Veterans Day I appreciate the sacrifice they made a lot more than what I’m going through,” said Curtis Curtis and his family have been through a lot when their house and several others in the Silver Oaks community were still under water I don’t know if I had a word for it to be honest with you,” Curtis said the water from the Withlacoochee River finally receded the golf course is still flooded as pumps work to drain it Curtis wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to live in his house again His main concern was the contamination from that flooding “I did not want to our family coming back in and a few months later be deathly sick,” Curtis said owner of 360 Restoration & Construction is working to get the Curtis family back into their home “You put it back together and ultimately take out all the materials that can't be dry insulation stuff like that that soaked up the flood mold and mildew and you know cat three bacteria water and you dry out your two by fours and you treat it with antimicrobial and get it back up and running and we'll start putting it back together here in the next couple weeks,” said Thompson Jamie says it could cost $200,000 to get his house back as it was He hopes insurance and FEMA grants will help pay for it But he says going through all this is worthless if bigger issues are not addressed to help prevent future flooding “It could have been avoided by the culverts down off Simon Road but I do want to point fingers but it’s very unsettling,” said Curtis The restoration company says they should be done here in six to eight months 9ZEPHYRHILLS — Former Zephyrhills High football coach Tom Fisher who spent the better part of two decades carving highly competitive Bulldogs teams from minimal rosters died Sunday morning at his Zephyrhills home Fisher had spent the last several years battling progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare brain disorder that impairs the ability to walk, balance, move your eyes and ultimately even swallow. Similar in nature to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), it afflicts 6-10 individuals per 100,000, with about 30,000 cases in the United States, according to psp.org. A married dad of three and grandfather of six Fisher had been confined to a wheelchair in recent years former Zephyrhills High football coach Tom Fisher performs the pregame coin toss prior to the Bulldogs' 2023 game against rival Pasco who battled a rare brain disorder called progressive supranuclear palsy [ DAVE WALTERS | Zephyrhills Free Press Fisher went 124-81 with eight playoff berths and three 10-win teams He remains Pasco County’s second-winningest coach behind Land O’Lakes' John Benedetto (196 career victories) “We lost a legend in the county,” veteran Wiregrass Ranch coach Mark Kantor said Sunday Fisher led the Bulldogs to a 9-2 record and the program’s first playoff appearance his teams averaged more than eight wins over the next five years reaching the postseason three times in that stretch The common denominator of his squads: grittiness fortitude and crafty schemes to atone for modest depth “I just think he was, like, a really hard-nosed, no-excuses (coach),” current Bulldogs coach Nick Carroll, who played for Fisher in the mid-1990s, said in a 2023 Tampa Bay Times story on his old coach and I think we just played hard and tough for him because that’s the only thing we knew.” Worn down by the job’s demands and the strain of consecutive subpar seasons Fisher announced his retirement at the team banquet shortly after the 2008 season He began showing symptoms of PSP roughy a half-dozen years ago Details are still being sorted out for a celebration of life for Fisher, with Tom Fisher Field the likely site. Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls Joey Knight is a sports reporter who helps cover all sports teams in Tampa Bay, from high school athletes to professionals. Reach him at jknight@tampabay.com. — A week after Hurricane Milton made landfall off Siesta Key Tampa Bay area residents are still feeling its impact One area in Zephyrhills near the Silverado Golf & Country Club has been flooded twice in a few months This area is no stranger when it comes to flooding. Just a few months ago Her backyard looks out on the Silverado Golf & Country Club which was left submerged underwater after Hurricane Milton.  “It actually stopped at about the oak tree here that’s kind of broken the sound of pumps can be heard draining flood waters “It is entering both ends of our neighborhood and kind of in the center A spokesperson with the city said pumping has started to Geiger Pond But knowing how long it took to pump water after Debby Rogers and others are wondering how long it will take for these waters to recede the city is still asking residents to limit flushing their toilets as they continue to make repairs to the sewer system 14Pasco deputies are investigating after a man was found fatally shot in Zephyrhills Thursday night Deputies responded about 10:30 p.m. to an area near the intersection of Stillman Street and Calvin Avenue and found Thomas Cook lying unresponsive in the road, according to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. deputies found a motorized electric wheelchair scooter that investigators believe belonged to Cook The Sheriff’s Office had not released Cook’s age as of Friday afternoon Tony Marrero is the criminal justice and breaking news reporter. Reach him at tmarrero@tampabay.com. — Business is booming in Pasco County is seeing a substantial amount of growth and resources Zephyrhills has been the hot spot for manufacturing businesses to set up shop It’s a trend that the city has been preparing for “They’re bringing 110 to 120 jobs here to Zephyrhills and Pasco,” said Zephyrhills city attorney Matthew Maggard Maggard goes for a stroll along what will soon be a crucial part of the city’s future “This site is the start of the industrial corridor here in Zephyrhills and it goes all the way around the city’s airport,” said Maggard What may look like wide-open land for now will soon become an industrial corridor Where businesses looking to plant their roots in Zephyrhills can do so “What ended up attracting them here is the ready sites program," said Maggard and the Pasco Economic Development Council work together to get these properties shovel ready and market them as industrial property to businesses all over the world.” The Ready Sites program has paved the way for companies to move to Zephyrhills at an affordable rate such as Brazilian baked goods company Bauducco and not just Zephyrhills but east Pasco," says Billy Poe "It’s just a short drive so I think these companies will do great with the workforce that’s here.” So what is it about the city that’s attracting new businesses incentives — like tax deductions — are provided for companies to build “We do have a lot of rapid growth that’s occurring but we are still pretty rural here and they have the space to grow," Poe said the accessibility to not just the state but the entire southeast.” Showing the city known for its natural spring and water is now expanding its horizons and we’re just excited to see how it continues to grow,” said Poe There is still plenty of land available through the Ready Sites program Poe says there is roughly 500 to 600 acres in the industrial corridor — It should have been a happy homecoming for Shelby Lovell after weeks spent mostly away from his Zephyrhills home the only thing on his mind should have been hugs and kisses from his wife and two boys when he returned to his home on Hazelwood Drive he found his home still surrounded by and inundated with flood water almost two weeks after Hurricane Milton “I would assess it as a total loss,” he said Why was Lovell away during and after Milton He’s among the many selfless linemen who helped restore power to Tampa Bay homes “I’ve put in a lot of time over the past four weeks but it’s a lot more than people would imagine,” he said and he feels he and his neighbors are not getting help from government officials “We are put at the bottom of the totem pole He and seven other neighbors who flooded live in an area of Zephyrhills that’s been plagued by drainage issues lately — issues Lovell’s wife believes are being exacerbated by rapid development in the area “It’s heartbreaking that everything we have worked for is gone,” she said through tears The issues are making her husband’s homecoming very bittersweet ABC Action News contacted Pasco County about the problem in the neighborhood A spokesperson said Public Works will visit the neighborhood with pumps to help alleviate the current flooding Volunteers from AdventHealth Zephyrhills distributed 100 cooked Thanksgiving meals featuring turkey mashed potatoes with gravy and cranberry sauce during the event and for those unable to leave their homes due to mobility or health challenges volunteers delivered meals directly to their doors Every attendee also had the opportunity to take food home “This is a reminder that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact on those who need it most especially during the holiday season,” Sequera said the meal also offered a sense of hope and connection That was the nicest Thanksgiving day meal I’ve ever had Just the camaraderie and all that as well.” has faced repeated hardships in the wake of Hurricane Milton and I’ve lost my food four times through no fault of my own,” she said The event also showcased the important role of partnerships in disaster recovery Chaplain Jan Martini of Fresh Start for Pasco who played a key role in organizing the event emphasized the importance of understanding the unique needs of the community “This is about more than food; it’s about bringing people together and reminding everyone that they are not alone,” Martini said With about 70% of the RV community still working to rebuild events like this Thanksgiving meal offer a sense of normalcy and hope AdventHealth Zephyrhills continues its mission to provide whole-person care standing alongside the residents of Pasco County in their recovery efforts “This meal was a tangible way to show care and compassion,” said Mike Murrill president and CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills “It’s a privilege to serve a community that continues to demonstrate such resilience.” — When Zephyrhills got four a half inches of rain Tuesday night it turned Shelby Lovell’s home off Geiger Road into an island “It happened within a matter of 30 to 40 minutes that my house was about to take on water,” he said And with the home’s septic system underwater too I only got about an hour and a half of sleep last night.” he says Pasco County has offered little help and City of Zephyrhills are addressing flooding issues elsewhere where Paul Gonnella says much of his backyard is underwater and his home is under threat and we’re trying to protect everything we own here recent rain events and rain from Hurricane Debby flooded the golf course and areas to the north so they are using pumps and miles of hoses to manage the flooding by carefully moving water south toward the Hillsborough River A spokesperson for Pasco County says a local "State of Emergency" remains in place Though some of the areas have flooded before neighbors like Gonnella say drainage problems are now apparent and fear infrastructure hasn’t kept up with the area’s explosive growth Lovell fears what a named storm would do to his home right now and it would just hurt my family so bad,” he said Both Pasco County and the City of Zephyrhills say they are working closely with the Florida Division of Emergency Management Below is the full statement from the City of Zephyrhills: This designation demonstrates that AdventHealth Zephyrhills is adhering to the highest standards of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies These standards are built on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding a set of evidence-based practices recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for optimal infant feeding support in the precious first days of a newborn’s life “AdventHealth Zephyrhills has long been a recognized leader in the care of women and newborns,” said Gwen Alonso Chief Nursing Officer of AdventHealth Zephyrhills “This designation shows our commitment to ensuring that every woman who delivers a baby at our facility is given the resources information and support needed to help her and her baby get the best The positive health effects of breastfeeding are well-documented and widely recognized by health authorities throughout the world the Surgeon General’s 2011 Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding stated that “Breast milk is uniquely suited to the human infant’s nutritional needs and is a live substance with unparalleled immunological and anti-inflammatory properties that protect against a host of illnesses and diseases for both mothers and children.” AdventHealth Zephyrhills joins AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and a growing list of more than 20,000 Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers throughout the world These facilities provide an environment that supports breastfeeding while respecting every woman’s right to make the best decision for herself and her family “This designation is the culmination of a lot of hard work and determination all with a goal of helping families get off to a good start,” said Jenni Wolf the Director of Women’s Services at AdventHealth Zephyrhills “We are honored to offer an environment that supports best practices shown to increase breastfeeding exclusivity and duration and are committed to give moms who choose to breastfeed the best chance for success.” Hospital leaders implemented a series of best practices to build a clinical infrastructure focused on safe and effective care to reach these top designations more than 4,500 hospitals were evaluated nationwide The rating system is based on safety of care “It is truly an honor for AdventHealth Zephyrhills to receive such high recognition for patient experience,” said Dr Chief Medical Officer for AdventHealth Zephyrhills AdventHealth Dade City and AdventHealth Connerton “We know that Pasco County has many options for care and this acknowledgment is a true testament to why providing exceptional and consistent service is so vital for patients who experience our brand of care.” we aim to inspire our team members to treat each patient with the utmost compassion From the first moment of admission to the final steps of discharge we ensure that every patient and their loved ones feel prioritized and cared for," said Mike Murrill "These CMS ratings highlight the dedication and excellence our team brings to the communities we serve." AdventHealth is committed to clinical excellence and providing the safest facilities for patients to receive care when they need it most The CMS Hospital Compare website represents data from July 1 For more information and to see how AdventHealth’s scores compare locally and nationally, visit the Hospital Compare website at Medicare.gov/HospitalCompare. Fla — Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Milton Laurie Burgess’ home is still surrounded by water— and to put it simply The mosquitoes are even worse than they were There’s been some animals that are getting sick around here,” Burgess said Jamie Curtis went into his house a couple of times to try to save some things “I couldn’t breathe and was advised not to go back in,” he said The flooding here reached record levels after the Withlacoochee River crested some of it from the overflowing sewage system got into several homes and still hasn’t left Laurie is worried it's contaminated with dangerous bacteria “I had a cut on my knee and I was in that nasty water So far I’m good so we will see what happens,” said Burgess Laurie was also concerned this weekend about workers in her neighborhood She sent me videos and pictures showing them in the water without any kind of protective gear “I asked some people who were in charge why not We need to do something about that and that’s when I kind of reached out to you,” said Burgess It appears her action helped because she says she has since seen the workers wearing more gear Doctor Eric Shamas with Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital says the potential bacteria in flood water can cause skin infections and they have seen more cases since the hurricanes “If you see that you’ve had an open wound and it’s been contaminated you want to wash it out with soap and water You ought to be watching that closely then you need to come in and see us,” said Shamus some wonder if they’ll ever be able to live in these homes again The bacteria in the walls now is…I don’t want to take that chance I don’t think no one else would either,” said Curtis