Breaking News: Christo’s Family Restaurant Sold!

16 Dec

According to a recent Facebook post by Christo’s Family Restaurant, they have sold the Trinity dining staple to local Starkey Ranch Resident Dan Zweifel. 

Dear Community,

As we celebrate 23 remarkable years of Christo’s Family Restaurant serving this amazing community, we want to express our deepest gratitude for your steadfast support, trust, and loyalty. Each interaction, shared story, and smile has made this journey truly unforgettable and profoundly fulfilling.

After thoughtful reflection, we’ve come to the decision that it’s time to turn the page to a new chapter. With our family growing older and our parents ready to embrace retirement, we’ve chosen to take this step toward cherishing more family moments together. Over the years, we have been incredibly blessed by your unwavering support. Some of our closest friendships have blossomed within the walls of this restaurant, and we cherish the relationships that have grown from friendship into family. The joy of watching so many children grow from babies to adults in our restaurant—it truly touches our hearts. Now, as a family, we’re ready to experience the simple pleasure of enjoying a meal together on the other side of the table.

We are excited to announce that Dan Zweifel with his wonderful wife Diana, children Madison, Evan, Isabel and Zaylee will be taking over the business. With their shared commitment to service and community values, we are confident the Zweifel family will carry forward our legacy of care and dedication. Dan’s passion and vision bring new ideas that will continue to grow and honor the foundation we’ve built together.

We are deeply grateful for the privilege of serving you over the years. As we pass the torch, we’re excited to see the business thrive under new leadership and hope you’ll extend the same warmth and support to Dan and his family that you’ve so generously given us.

With deepest gratitude,
The Papapanos Family – Christo, Roula, Kyriakos & Ellie, Theo & Lynette, and all five grandchildren – Christos, Dimitri, Maria, Aria and Alexander.

Lowe’s of Trinity – Opening November 1st

17 Oct
Lowe's in Trinity Florida

New Lowe’s Store Opening on November 1st at 2317 Gunn Highway in Odessa, Florida

ODESSA, FL — The Odessa community is about to welcome a brand-new Lowe’s store, conveniently located at 2317 Gunn Highway, on the corner of Gunn Highway and State Road 54. The official grand opening will take place on November 1st, 2024, providing residents with easy access to all the home improvement products and services they need. Situated directly across from the bustling Starkey Ranch Community, this new Lowe’s location is set to become a hub for both local homeowners and professionals alike.

About Lowe’s

Lowe’s, a Fortune 50 home improvement company, has been serving customers for over 100 years. Known for its wide array of products and services, Lowe’s offers everything from hardware, tools, and building materials to appliances, outdoor equipment, and home décor. With a strong reputation for customer service and DIY expertise, Lowe’s remains the go-to store for home improvement professionals and weekend project enthusiasts.

Lowe’s commitment to community engagement and sustainability is well-known, with initiatives to improve energy efficiency, promote eco-friendly products, and support local communities through job creation and charitable programs. The opening of this new location in Odessa underscores Lowe’s dedication to expanding its presence in Florida’s growing neighborhoods.

Convenient Location for the Odessa Community

The Odessa store’s prime location on the corner of Gunn Highway and State Road 54 is expected to be a major convenience for nearby residents. It’s located right across from Starkey Ranch Community, one of the fastest-growing master-planned developments in the area, known for its mix of residential homes, parks, and nature preserves. Homeowners and builders from the community will now have a shorter trip to access a wide variety of home improvement supplies, tools, and expert advice.

What to Expect from the New Store

Lowe’s Odessa store will offer a comprehensive shopping experience, with a variety of departments such as:

  • Lumber & Building Materials: Perfect for contractors and DIYers tackling construction projects.
  • Appliances: Featuring a selection of the latest energy-efficient models for kitchen and laundry upgrades.
  • Outdoor & Garden Center: Stocked with plants, patio furniture, and everything needed to create the perfect outdoor oasis.
  • Paint & Home Décor: A vast range of color options and design inspiration to refresh any room in your home.
  • Hardware & Tools: From hammers and drills to power tools, Lowe’s has everything you need to get the job done right.

Additionally, the store will include professional services such as key cutting, custom home installations, and in-store consultations for home projects big and small. With its dedicated team of knowledgeable associates, Lowe’s is ready to assist customers in finding solutions to their home improvement needs.

Community Impact

The opening of the Lowe’s Odessa store will not only make shopping more convenient for locals, but it will also contribute to the local economy by providing new job opportunities. The store is expected to employ over 150 associates, ranging from sales associates to specialists in departments such as electrical, plumbing, and kitchen remodeling. This addition to the community is likely to attract further development and increase business in the surrounding area.

Grand Opening Festivities

To celebrate its grand opening on November 1st, the Lowe’s Odessa store will host a series of events, including special discounts, product demonstrations, and family-friendly activities. Customers can expect exclusive promotions throughout the opening weekend. 

Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a professional contractor, this new Lowe’s location in Odessa will be the ultimate one-stop shop for all your home improvement needs. Be sure to mark your calendar for November 3rd and stop by to explore all that the new Lowe’s has to offer!

Store Details:

  • Location: 2317 Gunn Highway, Odessa, FL 33556
  • Opening Date: November 1st, 2024
  • Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

For more information, visit the Lowe’s website or contact the store directly by calling 813-547-7129.

Coming Soon: Lowe’s at Starkey Ranch

10 Aug
Lowe's in Trinity Florida

It appears the years long rumors are true, a new Lowe’s is coming to the Starkey Ranch community. Lowe’s has filed for permits to build a new 138,339 square foot Lowe’s Home Improvement Center to be built at 2317 Gunn Highway in Odessa. 

8/18/2022 Update: Official Lowe’s Site Plan for Trinity / Starkey Ranch

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. , often shortened to Lowe’s, is an American retail company specializing in home improvement. Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, the company operates a chain of retail stores in the United States and Canada. As of February 2021, Lowe’s and its related businesses operates 2,197 home improvement and hardware stores in North America.

Lowe’s is the second-largest hardware chain in the United States (previously the largest in the U.S. until surpassed by The Home Depot in 1989) behind rival The Home Depot and ahead of Menards. It is also the second-largest hardware chain in the world, also behind The Home Depot but ahead of European retailers Leroy Merlin, B&Q, and OBI.

News: Pasco County Schools To End mySchool Online

30 Mar

Parents/Guardians,

This email is an update on the school district’s status regarding COVID-19 and our plans for the future.

Based on recent trends and initial guidance from the state, we will not offer the mySchool Online option next school year. We expect the vast majority of our students to be back in the classroom for in-person learning, and for our employees to return to the classroom or office.

Below is a set of Frequently Asked Questions.

How did you reach this conclusion?

The number of positive COVID-19 cases involving our students or staff have decreased dramatically since the high marks of January. We have seen occasional spikes, yet the overall trends are clear and they are promising. We continue to monitor the numbers closely – both in our schools and in the community at large.

Recent vaccinations are another promising sign. Thanks to our partnership with the Health Department and the efforts of our own employees, we have been able to vaccinate thousands of our employees.

What learning options will be available next school year?

At the start of the pandemic, our school district offered three learning options for students: traditional in-person learning, mySchool Online, and Pasco eSchool. Going forward, we expect the vast majority of students to attend school in person.

Pasco eSchool will remain as an option. It has been a nationally recognized option for Pasco students for more than a decade, and we plan no changes to our successful Pasco eSchool.

mySchool Online will no longer be an option.

Why are you eliminating mySchool Online?

The mySchool Online option was created as a temporary option during the pandemic. The Florida Department of Education only authorized Florida school systems to offer mySchool Online type options for the 2020-2021 school year, and current indications are that such programs will not be authorized by the state for the 2021-2022 school year.

Also, despite our best efforts, our data show that many students who opted for mySchool Online are not succeeding academically and would benefit from a return to in-person learning. There is also a growing body of evidence regarding the mental health benefits of attending school in person with classmates.

Will masks be required in the fall?

No final decision has been made regarding masks. At this time, the county still has a mask order in place, and that could change in the coming months. However, at this time we cannot say with any certainty whether masks will be required or optional, or some other status.

What options are available for medically fragile children?

For a small number of students, Hospital/Homebound is a service to continue instruction at home or in the hospital. Hospital Homebound is not a school of choice and state criteria for eligibility must be met. It is for students who are medically diagnosed as too medically compromised to attend school. Additional information regarding Hospital/Homebound can be found at this link.

I have more questions. Where can I go for answers?

You can submit questions and comments via Let’s Talk. We have created a “Trending Topic” called Education Options for 21-22 in Let’s Talk.