New Port Richey Patch is 1 Year Old

New Port Richey Patch launched Jan. 19, 2011. So I guess that makes this our birthday.

It’s been an exciting year. I’ve met the residents of New Port Richey and adjacent communities of West Pasco.and reported on the stories that I’ve hoped have given you valuable information or a new perspective on your community.

I thought I’d give y’all a look back at some of the stories from the last year. 

If I checked the site stats, I’d without a doubt find stories that were most read. But I’m more interested in going with the ones that meant the most to the community or me personally.

I couldn’t have lasted this long without the other Patch editors, supervisors or freelancers who assisted me when I was busy, stressed or too tired to see the computer screen, which was often early on. And the bloggers who lent their perspectiveon the site. Thanks to all of you.

My gratitude also to the residents who helped me learn about the area, to the people who let me write about their lives, to the criminals who always made life interesting, and to the public officials who responded to my e-mails and calls asking them to repeat information I had already been told.

And here’s to many more years of covering the community and, hopefully, providing the information it most needs.

Now here we go with a blast to the past. The stories were written by myself, other Patch editors or freelancers.

  Jan. 19

  Jan. 21, 2011

  Jan. 23, 2011

• Today is the first anniversary of Mitchell High School student Cierra Mamonoff’s death.

It happened on my site’s launch day. New Port Richey Patch was supposed to have launched that mornng but wasn’t due to a technical error. Then I got news that a student at Mitchell High School had been struck by a car and killed while crossing Little Road. So the first news readers saw when my site launched was that Cierra died. I couldn’t imagine the grief her classmates and family were facing. I could only hope to show how a community copes with loss and expresses support in tragedy’s wake.      

Jan. 27, 2011

• Shortly after launch, a freelancer and I were introduced to Sherry Stamback a longtime resident of New Port Richey who needed help raising funds to see her ailing father. who has been a big help in getting me acquainted with the town.

Feb. 22, 2011

• Learning about Surdarlings inspired to eat the first cupcake I’ve had since I was a child. And to my surprise, I liked it. I‘ve got to go back soon.

, Feb. 1, 2011

Feb. 9, 2011

Feb. 15, 2011

Jan 25, 2011

• In my first month on the job, major staffing and redevelopment issues arose in New Port Richey. Coming to a new beat and reporting on issues with a long history was tough. I made mistakes. But I think the stories helped me learn more about the city and the issues that are important to its residents and leaders. The City Council and .  They recently approved streetscaping at Main Street Landing, and the shell of the building has been progressing. The issue of a lack of redevelopment and funding for it continued to stubbornly stick around, but the city is seeking progress.

Feb 4, 2011

• It was a busy week following in the wake of a lot of other busy weeks. After I finished an initial draft of a story about a man who was found to have a large private armory in his home after he walked out into his neighborhood holding with guns in the air, a fellow Patch editor told me she had been reading the site and looking at all the breaking news, (there had been a school bus crash and drug sweep in the days before) and going “What the hell.” Then she offered help.

Mar 16, 2011

Apr 25, 2011

Jan 3, 2012

• Before I even got to meet him, Bob White resigned from his post as sheriff. Fun fact: I had already met Chris Nocco, the deputy who would be appointed to finish out White’s term and is now running a full four year term as sheriff.

Mar 27, 2011

• I got to experience my first Chasco Fiesta, which was mostly covered by freelancers. and I enjoyed it greatly.

May 17, 2011

• I met a Marine whose legs were destroyed, and his arm severely injured, in Afghanistan welcomed home to Trinity. I wasn’t the first to report on him. I haven’t reported as extensively as the Times. But I was glad I got to see him welcomed home.

Dec. 24, 2011

• And a New Port Richey resident who tries to keep the  Pithlachascotee River clean and decorates a tree with river treasures fr Chrostmas.

Jun 8, 2011

Oct. 11, 2011

Oct. 19 2011

• Faced with a dire budget, city officials proposed recovering the costs the city spends to support nonprofit events. The prospect wasn’t received too kindly. After it was reported that Chasco planners were looking at moving their festival to other venues, city council members agreed to deal to keep the festival in town.

June 23, 2011

Jul 20, 2011

Aug 18, 2011      

• A young activist appeared in New Port Richey and became embroiled in controversy. 

Nov 9, 2011

•  Pasco residents formed their off-shoot of Occupy Wall Street,

July 11, 2011

Oct. 5, 2011

Dec 6, 2011

• The police department created a special task force to crack down on crime. A veteran law enforcement officer who got his start in Clearwater was hired at the department and later appointed to become the police chief after Jeffrey Harrington took a job at the Sheriff’s Office.

Sep 6, 2011

Oct 7, 2011

Nov. 29, 2011

• I met parents who wished that their daughter, who has cerebral palsy, could learn to walk. And then got the means to pay for treatments would help her hopefully take steps toward that goal

Nov 12, 2011

Dec 13, 2011

Dec. 16, 2011

• New Port Richey is trying to pursue movement of the Hacienda Hotel redevelopment, Negotiations continue, on a proposed draft agreement to see the shuttered landmark cnverted into a modern hotel.

And now, .

It’s been a fun year. Drink up, and look forward to what’s to come with optimism. I know I am.