We're Only Six Months Old

Remember the day we launched? It’s been six months since New Port Richey went live, the same day a student was fatally struck by a car. In that time, we’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of you and working closely with you to make Patch your hub for community news, information and discussion.

Have you not been along for the entire ride? for the entire ride, we have also welcomed many newcomers to the site in recent weeks and months. To recognize the milestone and properly introduce Patch to those newcomers, we thought it was worth reiterating a few things about ourselves.

As we said when we first launched, this site has been tailored especially for you. Simply putNew Port Richey Patch is all about you.

Patch is designed to make sure you have lots of opportunities to comment on the stories we write, share your opinions, post your own photos and announcements and even add events to the community calendar. It is our hope that Patch will strengthen the community, but we can't do it without you.

Here are 13 ways you can get more involved:

1. Comment on an Article

We subscribe to the idea that "news is a conversation." Much of our reporting emanates from what readers tell us in emails, comments on our site and in conversations around town. Share your thoughts and reactions to our articles by posting a comment directly below each story.  _

2. Ask a Question

So maybe you want to know why traffic has gotten worse along State Road 54, or when the Swamp Fest will return to town. Or perhaps you're an expert backyard gardening and can explain what plants are best to grow this time of year. Patch's Q&A section is the place for you to ask your questions  and show off your expertise, all while connecting with your neighbors. Check out the Q&A feature now.

3. Post an Event

Do you know of an upcoming craft show or a special event for neighborhood children? Is there a garage sale or Eagle Scout ceremony coming up? If it's not on our Patch calendar, it should be. Feel free to add events to our site by clicking here. 

4. Send a News Tip

At the bottom of the homepage, there's a link that says, "Send Us News Tips." Tell us about stories we should cover. Your tips will be sent straight to Alex Tiegen, New Port Richey Patch's (incredibly grateful) editor.

5. Post an Announcement

Post births, engagements and wedding announcements. Tell us who made the honor roll or share school awards, social notes and thank you shout outs. If you're looking for volunteers or searching for your lost dog, we welcome you to call on your community for help. Just remember, our Terms of Use say announcements should be for personal use and not for advertising. Post your announcement by clicking here

6. Sign Up for Newsletters

The daily New Port RicheyPatch newsletter brings you all articles and announcements that have been posted in the last 24 hours. It is delivered to your email every day. You can also sign up for the weekly newsletter, which shows a subset of the content created and featured on our site over the last few days. It is delivered every Thursday. Look for the Follow Us and Newsletter links in the right column of this and most every page.

7. Claim Your Directory Listing

Our business and organization listings are no joke. Our team of researchers actually hit the streets and visited hundreds of New Port Richeybusinesses, schools, parks, libraries and more so we can provide photos as well as detailed information such as products sold and hours of operation. To contact us about the listing for your business or organization, email us at directorysupport@patch.com. If you own or manage a business or organization in our directory, claim it by clicking here.

8. Shout It Out!

You now have a way to shout out on the site without having to add a comment to an existing article. You can tell us what you have to say right now by using the new shout box at the top of the Activity Stream on the homepage. Whatever you "shout" will go directly into the stream, right on the homepage.

9. Upload Your Photos and Video

Upload videos of dance school recitals or your neighborhood's block party. Post photos from local festivals, or send in a snapshot of your best holiday recipes. We invite you to share with the rest of the community the memories you've caught on camera.

10. Review Restaurants

Do you want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in town gets a thumbs-up? You can find reviews of our favorite (or not-so favorite) restaurants by Or, search to find what you're craving - you can filter results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations.

11. Social Media Engagement

You can "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Immerse yourself in our content and actively contribute and engage via social media. Let's start a conversation.

12. Send a Letter to the Editor

Patch invites every member of the West Pasco community to submit a letter to the editor. Express your thoughts or concerns about anything that might be stirring up conversation around town, and we'll post it. Make sure it's not longer than 300 words and email it to Editor Alex Tiegen at Alex.Tiegen@patch.com.

The more New Port RicheyPatch serves as on online space for community dialogue, the more useful our site will be. So next time you have something to share with your neighbors, consider taking a moment to send a letter to Patch. Chances are, you're not the only one who feels that way.

13. Start a Blog

This is a great new feature that rolled out after New Port Richey Patch had been online for a few months. Our readers today are invited to really get involved in Patch by sharing their insights, opinions and expertise as bloggers. To share your views, just email Alex.Tiegen@patch.com for details about becoming a blogger.

Thank you, West Pasco, for welcoming Patch into the community! It's been a great six months and we look forward to many, many more.