Chris Nocco officially entered the race for Pasco County Sheriff. Nocco, a Republican, filed his paperwork with the Pasco County Supervisor of Election’s Office yesterday. Do you know who you will vote for in the November election? Is the Pasco school district's winter break too long, not long enough, poorly scheduled or just right? Share your thoughts. There are still a few days left in the final round of the Patch Deck the House contest. Our neighbors in Pinellas County have a shot at a $100,000 for their public schools. If you have a second to cast a vote, that would be swell. And very …

Woo-wee, it is cold outside! (You know you're a native Floridian when you get really excited about legitimate opportunities to wear boots and scarves.) The National Weather Service forecast calls for a sunny day, with a high near 49. Tonight will dip to a a low around 23. Make sure to bring in your pets, cover your plants and bundle up. This editor's forecast calls for a good book, a blanket and some hot chocolate. The kids are still out of school—is the break too long or not long enough? And since they are still out of school, if you're looking to get them out of the house, there are miles …

Don we now our new cold-weather apparel ... Today's high will reach 63 in Land O' Lakes, according to the National Weather Center forecast. The evening low will dip to around 32, with wind chill values as low as 23. Tuesday should be even cooler, with highs only reaching near 52. Have we told you lately that we love you? And because we love you, we want to know what your New Year's resolutions are for 2012. Lose weight? Gain weight? Learn a new language? Get outdoors? Eat more pizza? (If so, see below.) Email keli.sipperley@patch.com with your resolutions, and we'll report on ways to help you…

2011 will end with beautiful weather. Today's high near 71 will drop to a low of about 49 this evening, according to the National Weather Service forecast. Saturday and Sunday will have highs in the mid-70s, with lows around 50. Did you know Florida has the dismal distinction of being the deadliest state in the nation for law enforcement officers? What can we do as a community to help keep those who protect us safer while on the job? Love pizza? Have a favorite local pizza place? Cast your vote in our best pizza poll. (Did we make you hungry?) Looking for a place to take the kids and chill …

There's still time. Have you entered the Patch Deck Your House contest? It's not too late. It only takes a minute to enter and you could win $100,000 for Pasco County schools. Keep the kids happy. Wiregrass Wednesdays Kids Club is free every Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Center Court and includes live entertainment, face painting, activities, balloons and more. Light up your night!  There's still time to catch this holiday tradition.  Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass. Shows start at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Croissant, anyone?  On this day in 1895, the Grande Cafe in Paris …

Cooler weather is on the way. The National Weather Service forecast calls for possible afternoon thunderstorms, with a high near 75. The temperature will drop to a low around 50 this evening, leading into a cooler Wednesday, when the high is expected to reach 66. A Wine Tasting Benefit benefitting the City of Hope Orphanage will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. tonight. Tickets are $25 and the events include wine tasting, heavy hors d'ouvres, a classical piano performance and a silent auction. The Pasco Libraries Teen Advisory Board Meeting will start at 6 p.m. at the Land O'Lakes Branch Library.  …

Land O' Lakes Branch Library Teen New Year's Eve Lock-In registration opens today. Attendance is limited to the first 45 teens (ages 11-18) with a signed parental permission slip turned in to the information desk at the library. Little Jan for Big Mayor is hosting a casino party at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person, or $50 per couple and include  dinner, dessert, iced tea and funny money to play 6 or 7 casino games and 6 slot machines.  St. Joseph's Hospital-North offers an infant and child CPR class from 6 to 9 p.m. Learn how to perform lifesaving CPR and choking rescue techniques on both …

It will be a warm, "Patchy" day. The National Weather Service forecast calls for patchy fog before 8 a.m., then mostly sunny skies with a high near 83. Evening lows will be around 56. Honorary mayor candidate Rene Van Hout will host Bunco at 6 p.m. at Organic Life coffee shop. The fundraising event features food, beverages and prizes. Candlewood Community Church is still collecting new and gently used items for its Community Christmas Store, which will be open to the public Saturday, Dec. 10. There are several drop-off locations in Land O' Lakes. We need you! Have something to say? Blog with …

Pack a sweater. The National Weather forecast calls for sunny skies, with a daytime high near 70. Evenings lows will hover in the low 40s. Donate new or gently used items for the Community Christmas Store at Candlewood Community Church. Entertain the kids at The Shops of Wiregrass's Wednesday Kids' Club. The event begins at 10 a.m. and features live entertainment for kids, face painting, activities, balloons and more. Hear from a lawmaker. Senator Jim Norman (District 12) will speak to The Republican Club of Central Pasco.The meeting begins with dinner and a social hour at 6 p.m. at the …

It's beginning to feel a lot like, well, less hot. The National Weather Center forecast calls for a high near 70. Expect mostly cloudy skies, with a slight chance of sprinkles.  Looking for something to do? You can: Meet up and make new contacts. Preferred Referral Networking, Inc. of Central Pasco's networking event meets at 11:30 on Tuesdays at Elsa's Mexican Restaurant, 18450 US Hwy 41 North in Lutz.  Kids, get your game on. The Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex offers open table tennis every Tuesday from 2:30-5:30 p.m. for ages 12 and up. Send your tween to the movies. Kids ages 9-12 (or …

Bring your umbrella. The National Weather Service forecast calls for a 70% chance of rain today. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected with wind gusts up to 23 mph.  High temperatures are expected to be near 74. Stay dry: Take an auto repair class. Learn how to repair and perform general maintenance on vehicles and small engines. Class starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex. Cost is $8. Worship around the clock. Organic Life hosts Burn 24-7, a nonstop worship service that runs from 1 p.m. today through 1 p.m. Tuesday.  Brush up on your history: On this date in …

In November 1621, after the success of the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest, Governor William Bradford organized a feast and invited a group of the  colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as America’s first Thanksgiving, the festival lasted for three days. Because the Pilgrims had no oven and the Mayflower’s sugar supply had dwindled by the fall of 1621, the meal did not feature pies or other desserts.  In 1817, New York became the first of several states to officially adopt an annual Thanksgiving holiday. Each of those states celebrated it on a …

Here are a few ideas to get you out of the house—before it's destroyed. (Or does that only happen at my house?) Join the Wiregrass Wednesdays Kids Club at 10 a.m. in Center Court for live entertainment, face painting, activities, balloons and more. Visit Santa's workshop at Cobb Theatres. This special one-day event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. includes a viewing of “Arthur Christmas,” crafts, games and lunch. The cost is $20. To reserve a spot, call the box office at 813-746-1363. Drop off a letter at the North Pole mailbox. Cobb Theater has a special mailbox set up for express delivery to the …

Are you getting ready? Here are 5 things to help you get your holiday started. You can... Expect beautiful weather. The national Weather Service forecast calls for mostly sunny skies, with a high near 83. Drop off a turkey or canned foods at Keystone Community Church for Metropolitan Ministries Pasco. The collection tent will be open till 5 p.m. Donate new and gently used items to the Community Christmas Store at Candlewood Community Church. Check out the Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass. Shows and snow nightly at 6 p.m., 7p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. Burn some pre-holiday calories at…

 Need some ideas? You can... Get Fido's picture taken with Santa at The Shops at Wiregrass. Dogs and cats can share their holiday wish lists with the big guy at 4 p.m. A percentage of the proceeds go to local animal charities. Meet Tampa Bay Lightning players Eric Brewer, Ryan Malone, Brett Clark, Tom Pyatt and Nate Thompson will be on hand to accept donations from 1:30- 3 p.m. at Metropolitan Ministries, 2002 North Florida Ave. Feed the kids. Kids 10 and younger eat free at Pizza Villa, 21501 Village Lakes Shopping Ctr Dr. Have some fun! Join Rene Van Hout for a family fun night at …

There's beautiful weather in the weekend forecast, folks! Can I get a "Yay"? Light up the Night at The Shops at Wiregrass and support local charities. Buy a Star for $2 at Grillsmith or Customer Service. Check out the latest action in the Twilight Saga. Breaking Dawn Premieres today. Low impact, easy to follow classes are offered at the Land O'Lakes rec center for $6 per class.  Discount cards are also offered - $30 for six classes. On this day in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln boarded a train for Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to deliver a short speech at the dedication of a cemetery of soldiers…

It’s Thursday, Nov. 17, and there are plenty of things you might want to know about today. Here are five things you might want to consider: Rain is looking likely – It seems like all good things must come to an end. Today’s forecast calls for a 40 percent chance of rain in the daytime hours with a high around 83. Tonight should be partly cloudy with a low of 55 courtesy of a cold front that’s moving in. You can get free circus tickets – Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has stepped forward to help Metropolitan Ministries stock its pantry in advance of the holiday season. A donation of…

It’s Tuesday, Nov. 15, and there are plenty of things going on you might want to consider. Here are five to keep in mind as you go about your day: More fog is possible – While today’s high should read a warm 85, patchy fog is likely in the early morning and late evening hours. Take care out on the roads. You can network – The PRN networking group meets today at 11:30 a.m. Stop by if you’re interested in learning more about this group. You can enhance your holiday cooking – St. Joseph’s Hospital-North is offering a free holiday cooking class today. If you want to make sure your holiday meals …

Happy Monday everyone! Here are five things you might want to know about as we head into today, Nov. 14: It’s a good morning to be careful on the roads – Patchy fog is expected this morning and in the evening hours. With that in mind, you might want to be careful out there. The weather should be nice – Despite the fog, the National Weather Service’s Ruskin office is calling for a pretty good Monday in regards to weather. Expect a high around 82 and lows in the low 60s. Rain creeps into the forecast tomorrow, so enjoy the sunshine while you can. It’s a great day to start planning holiday …

On this Friday, Nov. 11, here are five things to know about the history of Veterans Day. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, World War I ended. At 5 a.m. that morning, Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car outside Compiégne, France. On this day in 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has …