2024 at 7:45 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}If you need to make plans for Christmas dinner these restaurants in the New Port Richey area are accepting reservations for the holiday FL — Not everyone wants to cook Christmas Eve supper or Christmas Day dinner but there will be some places open in the New Port Richey area that will cook up something scrumptious for your group — if you get a reservation now before they’re snapped up According to the online reservation service Open Table Several national chains are also open on Christmas Eve Participation and hours may vary by location Applebee’s: The casual restaurant is usually open but closes early on Christmas Eve Arby’s: The fast-food chain is open on Christmas Eve but will be closed on Christmas Day Bob Evans: The casual chain is open on Christmas Day and offers a Farmhouse Feast menu Bonefish Grill: The seafood restaurant is open on Christmas Eve Buffalo Wild Wings: Restaurants are open on Christmas Eve but may close an hour or so earlier than usual Hours on Christmas Day vary by location and local regulations Burger King: The fast-food chain will be open for regular hours on Christmas Eve and some will be open for reduced hours on Christmas Day Carrabba’s Italian Grill: The restaurant is open on Christmas Eve Chili’s Bar & Grill: The restaurant is open on Christmas Eve (hours may vary by location) but is closed on Christmas Day Chipotle: The Mexican restaurant is open on Christmas Eve but not on Christmas Day Cracker Barrel: Restaurants are open until 2 p.m on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day Denny’s: The diner-style restaurant is open 24 hours a day Domino’s Pizza: Pizza deliveries will be made Christmas Day Fleming’s Fine Steakhouse & Wine Bar: This upscale steakhouse and restaurant is open from 11 a.m Golden Corral: The buffet-style restaurant is open on Christmas Eve Hard Rock Cafe: Most locations will be open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Hardee’s: The fast-food restaurant will be open on Christmas Eve but will be closed on Christmas Day Hooters: Locations will be open from 4 p.m Locations in Kansas City will be open from 11 a.m for the Chiefs game and close at 10:30 p.m IHOP: The casual breakfast chain will be open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but for limited hours at certain locations KFC: The fast-food restaurants will be open for regular hours on Christmas Eve but closed on Christmas Day Kona Grill: Restaurants are open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day McDonald’s: Many but not all locations of the fast-food restaurant will be open on Christmas Day Olive Garden: Some locations of the fast-casual Italian restaurant will be open on Christmas Eve but all locations will be closed on Christmas Day Outback Steakhouse: The Australian-inspired steakhouse is open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day P.F. Chang’s: The Asian bistro is open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Panda Express: The fast-casual Chinese restaurant is typically open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day although participation and hours may vary by location Perkins Restaurant and Bakery: Many locations will be open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Red Lobster: The seafood chain’s restaurants will be open from 11 a.m Ruth’s Chris Steak House: The upscale steakhouse is open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Sonic Drive-In: The fast-food restaurants close at 6 p.m on Christmas Eve and are closed on Christmas Day TGI Fridays: The casual restaurant will be open for regular hours on Christmas Eve but will be closed on Christmas Day Village Inn: The casual restaurant is open regular hours on Christmas Eve and until 4 p.m Waffle House: The fast food sit-down restaurant never closes meaning it will be open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Wendy’s: The fast-food restaurant will be open for regular hours on Christmas Eve and some may be open on Christmas Day Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. — New Port Richey may be turning 100 years old but Pasco County’s biggest city has made some major progress in the last 10 Maybe even a quarter because we have so many people coming in,” said New Port Richey Mayor Chopper Davis That includes many new businesses in a downtown that once didn’t have much to offer The centerpiece is the renovated Hacienda Hotel a destination for silent film stars in the 20s that helped give New Port Richey the nickname Hollywood of the East “Some of the structures are close to a hundred years old and they are something the other communities don’t have,” said Davis New Port Richey officially turns 100 on October 27th but the celebration begins Saturday with music and fireworks at Simms Park There will be dozens of events culminating with a drone show Kids can also get involved with an essay contest focused on the city’s past “It’s a great opportunity for our youth to learn about our richness and the history of New Port Richey and to really do a deep dive and to learn more about it so they appreciate where we’ve come from and be able to apply it to the future,” said New Port Richey Library Director Andi Figart The anniversary logo was picked as part of a contest The winning entry pays homage to some of the city’s landmarks and its place along the Cotee River New Port Richey also added a giant sign off U.S 19 to let people know there is a lot new to check out The city will continue to advance and it will advance at a much quicker pace than it has in history And I think that we will even surprise ourselves where we end up in New Port Richey," said City Manager Debbie Manns 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 Pasco County News from ABC Action News Report a typo Category 4 storm made landfall in Florida late on Thursday before weakening and moving through Georgia and the Carolinas Photograph: Dave Decker/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock Photograph: Miguel J Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Ken Ruinard/The Anderson Independent Mail/USA Today Network/Reuters Editor's Note: This is a developing story and will be frequently updated as new information becomes available The National Hurricane Center is warning that saltwater up to 15 feet deep could crash into Florida's Nature Coast this week, pushing up the Suwanee River, overtopping barrier islands and filling Tampa Bay as what is expected to be a Category 3 hurricane makes landfall late Thursday Heavily sheared and raggedy, the system struggled to organize early Tuesday but consolidated into Tropical Storm Helene before noon about 180 miles east-southeast of Cozumel it had sustained winds of 45 mph and was moving west at 12 mph Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 41 Florida counties including as far west as Escambia in the Panhandle to Monroe County at the southern tip of the state He expanded that Tuesday to 61 counties — nearly the entire state — to include more inland and east coast areas such as Glades Hendry and Highlands counties around the western edge of Lake Okeechobee Volusia and Flagler counties on the east coast "It's going to be a big storm," said NHC Deputy Director Jamie Rhome Helene is expected to gain hurricane strength Wednesday as it is unleashed into the deeply warm Gulf of Mexico It is forecast to ramp up to a 115-mph Category 3 hurricane as it approaches the Panhandle and Big Bend area of Florida with a potential landfall anywhere from just south of Cedar Key to just east of Panama City tropical storm-force winds extended 140 miles out on the east side of its center Fox Weather hurricane specialist Bryan Norcross said those could grow to 250 miles as Helene expands "Due to the forecast large size of this system and rainfall impacts will extend well away from the center particularly on the east side," wrote NHC senior hurricane specialist Eric Blake in a 5 a.m the fast forward speed while it crosses the coast will likely result in farther inland penetration of strong winds over parts of the southeastern United States after landfall." NWS meteorologists said the area could begin feeling the first touch of storminess Tuesday night into Wednesday as deep tropical moisture is pulled north upping rain chances and humidity Breezy wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph are expected Wednesday afternoon More: 2024 hurricane season may heat up after eerily quiet August amid unusual dampening factors Rain chances will stay high at 80% through Thursday with sustained winds of 24 to 30 mph and gusts as high as 41 mph but it is also forecast to be partly sunny allowing the temperature to soar into the low 90s Sustained winds will be 16 to 18 mph with gusts as high as 22 mph The Weather Prediction Center says up to four inches of rain could fall in some areas of coastal Palm Beach and Broward counties Widespread rainfall is expected to be about 2.5 inches uncertainty still remains and will depend on the exact track of the system," NWS Miami forecasters wrote hurricane and tropical storm watches and warnings were issued Tuesday for Florida's west coast from the Keys through Panama City with peak storm surge amounts of 15 feet possible from Chassahowitzka north of New Port Richey to the Ochlockonee River southwest of Tallahassee For specific watch and warning areas go to www.nhc.noaa.gov Areas from Tampa to Englewood could see a storm surge of five to eight feet with Charlotte Harbor and areas to its south experiencing an ocean incursion of three to five feet "I'm pretending it's Idalia all over again," said Debbie McDonald the manager of the Cedar Inn Motel on the banks of Waccasassa Bay Cedar Key, north of Crystal River, could get 10 to 15 feet of storm surge from the would-be Helene. Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida's Big Bend as a Category 3 storm in August 2023 It was the third strongest hurricane to affect the area in modern history and sent up to seven feet of storm surge into Cedar Key according to the National Hurricane Center's post-storm report McDonald said she used a common spray foam insulation to seal up the doors of her downstairs rooms before Idalia hit Although she had to replace her laminate floors because water seeped up through the concrete "I don't care if I have to peel it off afterward mini-fridges or dressers," McDonald said about the spray foam the water got into their rooms and it was a raging ocean inside." The forecast forward speed of Helene is expected to quicken in the Gulf of Mexico and landfall is expected late Thursday That gives people precious little time to prepare but don't let that fool you," wrote University of Miami senior researcher Brian McNoldy in a social media post early Tuesday said forecast tracks have remained largely consistent lending more confidence that Helene's path will stick to a landfall in the Panhandle or Big Bend area warning coordination meteorologist for the NHC said in a forecast Tuesday that people should prepare for the track to move around "Depending on exactly where the center forms it could end up shifting the entire guidance suite in future cycles so it is imperative to not focus on specific landfall locations this far in the future," Berg said The storm is forecast to get swept up by a dip in the jet stream that will take it north to north-eastward over the eastern Gulf of Mexico through Thursday Tonks said strong winds and torrential rains are going reach deep into the southeast after landfall Tropical storm-force gusts are possible all the way to Atlanta "It's also important to keep watching because we are several days out and the situation can still change," Tonks said "It's not completely out of the realm of possibility that it can completely explode." The forecast specifically refers to the potential for rapid intensification over the eastern Gulf of Mexico Rapid intensification is when a storm gains 35 mph or more in a 24-hour period It's a less predictable phenomenon and extremely dangerous when it occurs near landfall Florida has many years of experience with rapidly intensifying storms but it's the surprise element that is the most fearsome Category 5 Hurricane Andrew rapidly intensified in 1992 when it moved over the warm Gulf Stream current and closed in on Homestead Hurricane Charley in 2004 rapidly intensified to a Cat 4 and shifted to the right Hurricane Michael had at least two jolts of rapid intensification that are specifically mentioned in the post-mortem analysis of the 2018 storm The second took it from a Category 2 hurricane on Oct 9 to a Cat 4 and then a Cat 5 at landfall on Oct In 2022, Hurricane Ian underwent a rapid intensification that shot it from a minimal Category 3 hurricane to a high-end Cat 4 in just a few hours 19 hurricanes of Category 3 or higher have made landfall in Florida during the month of September according to NOAA's Historical Hurricane Tracks map Helene would be the fourth hurricane to make landfall this season following Beryl Colorado State University senior hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach said just three other years since 2000 have had four or more hurricane landfalls including 2004 2005 and 2020 — all hyperactive hurricane seasons Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome New Port Richey on Pasco County’s southern coast in Central West Florida is the place to go for spectacular sunsets and outdoor adventures that range from easy and relaxed to action-packed which has a full-service restaurant and bar The 40-room bubblegum-pink Mediterranean Revival building brings visitors stylishly back to the 1920s when the area was a haven and vacation spot for celebrities Grab a bite to eat at The Social NPR, which features a rooftop bar, Hershel’s Scratch Kitchen, or one of the area’s many popular restaurants. Finish with a craft beer at Cotee River Brewing Company or Ordinance One Plan your trip to Florida’s Sports Coast Family-friendly attractions include Treehoppers Aerial Adventure Park and the playground and splash pad at Sims Park See a theater performance and check out the local history museum and paddle at New Port Richey’s parks and nature preserves Take your dog along on outdoor adventures at New Port Richey’s dog-friendly parks Visitors will find ADA-accessible kayak launches at Sims Park and an ADA-accessible playground with access ramp at Frances Avenue Park or try an upbeat and trendy downtown eatery Browse the downtown shops of New Port Richey for art Golf on the Ron Garl-designed course at Timber Greens or at one of the area’s many hotels Virtually paddle the inlets and bayous of the Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park in Port Richey This popular location is the perfect place to explore the great outdoors enjoy the wilderness and experience Florida-only adventures By Diane Daniel Departing Port Richey’s waterfront district by boat you’ll pass working shrimp trawlers Copyright © document.write(new Date().getFullYear())2021 VISIT FLORIDA. All rights reserved. VISIT FLORIDA® is a service mark of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, d/b/a VISIT FLORIDA, registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. | Contact Us 2024 at 4:59 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Your guide to fireworks parades and other July 4 celebrations in and around Pasco County FL — Independence Day is fast approaching so it's time to find out where you can celebrate in and around New Port Richey To help you fit it all in on your 4th of July calendar Patch has put together a guide to what’s going on in New Port Richey and the surrounding areas What: SummerFest Zephyrhills Fireworks 2024 This Independence Day celebration offers a vendor market, pony rides and a petting zoo, food trucks, bounce houses, games and contests, live music, and fireworks at dark. More event info at: SummerFest Zephyrhills Fireworks 2024 There will be food trucks, local vendors, water fun, children’s activities and a fireworks show. More event info at: Dade City Farms Red, White & Boom 2024 What: New Port Richey 4th of July Hometown Extravaganza 2024 This July 4th celebration kicks off the city of New Port Richey’s year-long centennial celebration. There will be live music, food and a fireworks display. More event info: New Port Richey 4th of July Hometown Extravaganza 2024 What: Hudson Eagles 4th of July Picnic 2024 There will be food, live music by Hair of the Dog, a 50/50 raffle to benefit charities supported by the chapter and fireworks. More event info at: Hudson Eagles 4th of July Picnic 2024 What: 4th Of July Celebration at Avalon Park 2024 There will be a patriotic bake-off, a bike parade, vendors and food trucks, community performances, and a 9 p.m. fireworks display. More event info at:4th Of July Celebration at Avalon Park 2024 What: Starkey Market Fourth of July Family Fun Night 2024 There will be live music, water balloon fight, a 40-foot inflatable waterslide, lawn games, food and drink specials. There will be no fireworks. More event info at: Starkey Market Fourth of July Family Fun Night 2024 Americans celebrate the birth of a new nation with fireworks predate by centuries the designation of Independence Day as a federal holiday During the pivotal summer of 1776, the pre-Revolutionary celebrations honoring King George III’s birthday were replaced with mock funerals as a symbolic break from the crown It was an exciting time in Philadelphia — the Continental Congress voted to break from the crown and the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the original 13 colonies —New Hampshire South Carolina and Georgia — to adopt the Declaration of Independence The first annual commemoration of the nation’s independence was in Philadelphia on July 4 Fireworks have been part of Fourth of July festivities since the first celebration in Philadelphia Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Golf carts can now cross one of the busiest roads in the area: U.S The city of New Port Richey started allowing crossings in July on U.S The city made the change as many golf cart users were looking to get to and from downtown and other areas east of U.S The new crossing comes at a welcome time for Shaffer’s American Custom Golf Carts which is now expanding its business into New Port Richey Co-owner Raquel Gallo says many customers ask about crossing U.S “All of our customers on the other side of 19 want to venture into more of the small communities The state had to give permission to the city to allow the crossing after a traffic study Part of the approval process was the addition of golf cart signs to the intersection But it does come with some safety concerns due to the high speeds and amount of crashes on U.S We do recommend people use precaution when they cross I would ensure they use their seatbelts and their blinkers are fully functioning,” Gallo said New Port Richey is also planning a crossing at Marine Parkway which would let golf cart users from Gulf Harbors cross U.S The crash occurred at 10:06 p.m. at Tundra Drive and Brookridge Central Boulevard, troopers said in a news release. Troopers said a 17-year-old boy was driving an Infiniti Q50 east on Tundra Drive when he “failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway.” The car “entered the shoulder, rotated, overturned and came to rest upright in a retention pond,” the news release states. The woman who was killed was ejected from the car. She died after she was taken to a hospital, troopers said. In addition to the driver and the woman who was killed, three other teens were in the car: an 18-year-old man, a 19-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman. All those passengers and the driver had minor injuries, troopers said. All the teens in the car are from New Port Richey, troopers said. The agency did not immediately make their names public. Chris Tisch is the senior news editor overseeing breaking news, criminal justice, weather and environment. Reach him at tisch@tampabay.com. — A large piece of Pasco County has been picked for a substantial housing development and transformation — a development and transformation that now has the approval of county commissioners Just east of New Port Richey, near the intersection of Little and Decubellis Roads, Lennar Homes wants to build a new community called New Port Corners According to a brochure connected mixed-use community destination featuring neighborhood parks and conservation areas connected through pedestrian-focused and bicycle-friendly greenways.” It would contain 3,400 homes; a village center; space for restaurants and shops; trails and parks; and maybe even a charter school at some point “What we’re trying to do is take the last big hole in the doughnut and do a quality project that will complement all of West Pasco and downtown New Port Richey because it’s in close proximity to it,” explained Clarke Hobby They’re concerned about the loss of trees and green space They also worry about the addition of traffic on Little Road this is going to become Route 19 in the middle of the state “If you put another 3,400 homes right here — which could well be 7-8,000 people right here — hello!” exclaimed Robinson In a March 17 meeting of the county’s Planning Commission He said the project is designed to divert traffic onto major arteries “What we don’t want to do is overwhelm our neighbors,” he said Hobby said developers also don’t want to remove trees unnecessarily “We don’t want to start with just a bulldozed site,” he explained “It’s just going to be a nightmare,” she said the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners approved the rezoning required to advance the project As Tampa Bay continues to attract new residents and businesses the impact of living in paradise comes at a cost for all of us— from the increasing cost of housing and infrastructure to utilities and insurance ABC Action News is committed to helping you and your family make the most of your money and navigate through the Price of Paradise Thomas Meighan had a vision that New Port Richey would be the Hollywood of the East Meighan was an actor who starred in a lot of silent movies at the time Part of his vision included what is now named the Richey Suncoast Theatre The theatre was built in 1925 to show Meighan's work "Buildings like these need to be preserved because it's unusual to have a big cultural facility like this," Angela Sarabia President of the Board of Directors of the Richey Suncoast Theatre So you're not just coming down here to shop and you're coming down here to see art created by your neighbors." The Richey Suncoast Theatre is a nonprofit mostly run by volunteers They hold auditions for all of their shows which are open to anyone who wants to take part outside of the community is more than welcome," Kate Connolly board member for the Richey Suncoast Theatre "A lot of new people have joined our productions and enjoyed it a lot and got to learn a lot." begins on March 15 and highlights the work of women astronomers in the early 1900s — New Port Richey is preparing to celebrate 100 years in 2024 and so much of this area's history is being preserved at the West Pasco Historical Society you'll find exhibits highlighting the area's rich history There are artifacts dating back 2,000 years from Native Americans to original school desks used in their own building "People that come in here now that are even my age they look back on this stuff," Bob Langford president of the West Pasco Historical Society "It's really nice to see the people react to their history It's really a good thing to me that we preserve it." The Historical Society has been collecting these items to make sure they're preserved for years to come Each one of the artifacts is a piece of history that tells a story and we connect it to real people," Mario Caruso curator of the West Pasco Historical Society New Port Richey was once considered the Hollywood of the East and you'll find that story encapsulated here The Society is also trying to get caught up with technology: members are on a mission to convert much of the records into digital form taking photos of newspapers and other items to preserve for years to come "I think my most important piece is doing the digital archivist work committing the newspapers to digital form," Herman said "We have quite a number of high school yearbooks The Historical Society has two upcoming events the vice president of the Historical Society will take you through the city's 100 years those dressed from the 1920s will take you through New Port Richey 2020 at 4:33 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A driver accused of committing a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian on Jan 11 has turned himself into the Florida Highway Patrol FL — A driver accused of committing a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian on Jan of New Port Richey was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving a death a 27-year-old Anthony Talotta of New Port Richey was walking along the east shoulder of Little Road just south of the intersection of Heritage Lake Boulevard Altenhofen was driving on Little Road approaching the intersection of Heritage Lake Boulevard when another vehicle operated by Talotta's mother stopped in the northbound left-turn lane to give her son a ride Talotta began to walk across Little Road to his mother's vehicle when Altenhofen struck him and then kept driving Troopers found debris at the crash scene that indicated the vehicle involved was a 2002 Toyota Tacoma Troopers found the Tacoma the following day and identified Altenhofen as the driver DNA evidence found on the Tacoma later confirmed it was the vehicle that struck and killed the pedestrian Related story: 26-Year-Old NPR Pedestrian Killed By Hit-And-Run Driver — It's been just a year and a half since the Historic Hacienda Hotel reopened in New Port Richey The Hacienda is one of Tampa Bay's iconic original pink hotels until about four years ago when Jim Gunderson decided to take on the project Every inch of the beautiful 40-room hotel was revamped The Hacienda's history dates back to the 1920s when it was envisioned New Port Richey would become the Hollywood of the East the Hacienda has its own little walk of fame highlighting stars like Johnny Cash and June Carter "The Friends of the Hacienda really helped us gain the support of the community," Dylan Gamez Marketing and Public Relations Manager of the Hacienda Hotel "We see all these new businesses opening and bringing all different kinds of people downtown and someone who hasn't been here in just four to five years you're not even gonna believe it's the same place." The hotel features a bar and restaurant called Sasha's They also have private meeting spaces for bridal or baby showers or even weddings I had no idea what a charming downtown this was," Gamez said "So my advice would be if you haven't been to New Port Richey in a while you definitely need to come and check it out." 2022 at 6:28 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A 20-year-old woman died when the ​car she was a passenger in crashed FL — A 20-year-old woman died when the car she was a passenger in crashed a 25-year-old New Port Richey man was traveling east on State Road 54 approaching Country Place Boulevard when he lost control of his car Both the man and the woman were thrown out of the car They were taken to the hospital where the woman died and the man is in serious condition When Randy and Bernadette LaBonte decided three years ago to leave New Jersey for the Tampa Bay area, they rolled up their sleeves for some serious house-hunting. They figured there would be no looking at three homes and then picking the one they want like the buyers do on that popular television show. Nope. They knew it wasn't going to be easy. They didn't even know where they wanted to live. So, instead of just coming down for a long weekend or two to find a place, they came down for six months. They rented a house in Largo, then enlisted two real estate agents — one for south of Largo, one for north — and went looking. And looking. And looking. They looked at more than 100 houses. "Those Realtors earned their money," Randy, 63, said with a smile. They looked from Bradenton to Dunedin, from Valrico to New Tampa to New Port Richey. For eight to 12 hours a day, six days a week, they looked at houses. And then, three months into their search, they walked into a 2,500-square-foot pool home in Waters Edge, a gated community in New Port Richey "When we first drove into the community, we liked it. It was off the beaten path. We walked in the house and by the time we got to the back patio, we just looked at each other … we knew this was the one," Bernadette, 64, said. While it was the house they fell in love with, they have nothing but good things to say about the Waters Edge community itself. Located east of New Port Richey between U.S. 19 and the Suncoast Parkway, Waters Edge is a community of 879 single-family and patio homes and 58 townhouses built around 78-acre Little Moon (also called West Moon) Lake. "The development has five or six levels of homes," said Tom Russo, a neighbor of the LaBontes who is active in the community. "The two-story monsters with tile roofs are on the lake. They get smaller and smaller as you go out." The LaBontes found their house — in the middle level — by process of elimination. They have good friends in Dunedin and Bernadette is sweaty palm-terrified of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. That ruled out Bradenton or any other cities that would require crossing the bridge to see their friends. They wanted four bedrooms and a three-car garage. A pool with a spa. One story. And perhaps most importantly, the couple, who are Phillies fans, wanted to live within an easy drive of Clearwater, where their favorite baseball team has spring training. Bright House Field is 30 miles from their house. The Waters Edge/Moon Lake area has a storied past the couple is just beginning to learn about. It was part of the 9,000 acres on which the Moon Lake Gardens and Dude Ranch was built in the 1930s. Billing itself as a "Sportsman's Paradise and Show Place for All Lovers of Outdoor Life in Florida," it attracted famous and not-so-famous tenderfoots from all over the country. Al Capone is said to have stayed there. Its developer, Ed Haley, a Clearwater financier who owned the Fort Harrison Hotel, built a sprawling rustic lodge out of the cypress trees that grew there. Then he fenced 5,000 acres and made that a hunter's paradise by stocking it with deer, wild turkeys, quail and pheasants. There was a fish hatchery in the lake. It opened in 1937 and was lavish. Dotted with blooming roses and azaleas, there were dozens of rustic cabins and a dance hall. Electric lights were strung around Moon Lake. And, if you believe the stories, there was also much gambling and drinking going on. Then came World War II and the place closed down. It was destroyed by fire in 1996. Reading about their neighborhood's past seems to make the LaBontes even more convinced they picked the right place to retire. "Randy keeps yearning for a hall closet," Bernadette said. "But, we have no coats, I tell him," she laughed. Contact Patti Ewald at pagewald@hotmail.com. “Six days a week, this is my front porch,” he said. “I like the coffee. I like the fresh air. I like meeting people.” Kushner doesn’t go to the counter to order. He simply pokes his head in the door, gives the owner a wave, then returns to his spot out front. Owner Brett Griest knows the drill and walks a mug of Americana coffee outdoors. “It’s basically a shot of espresso with boiled water poured over it,” Kushner said, with a chuckle. It’s the first of two he will down during his morning stay and the closest thing to the espresso served by his Lebanese friends. Whether it’s a simple pour over, cold brew, a chocolate covered espresso bean milk shake, or caramel latte, he knows his customers’ preferences. Griest is making a go of it in an unlikely spot. His coffee shop is in a near-empty strip mall on the corner of Main Street and Congress, next to the Post Office and just inside the city limits. There’s a working barber shop next door and a food pantry around the corner, but store signs and vacant windows are all that’s left of businesses that have closed. East Main Street Coffee & Sandwich Shop is in a near-empty strip mall at Main Street and Congress, next to the Post Office and just inside the city limits. [ Michele Miller ]“If you told me three years ago this place would be empty, I never would have signed the lease,” Griest said. “But I’m doing okay. Business is up 30 to 40 percent from last year. I’m not going anywhere.” On a typical weekday morning, customers congregate at the East Main Street Coffee & Sandwich Shop in New Port Richey. [ Michele Miller ]Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlinesSubscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. conversational nature and a neighborly atmosphere have something to do with his success She was Griest’s first customer and stops most mornings for a drip pour on her way to work “It’s the kind of business you want to have in your neighborhood — one of those places you look forward to going to,” she said "The blackberry jam and bacon grilled cheese is like the most amazing thing I’ve had and I’ve had a lot of grilled cheeses in my life.” The coffee shop is a later-life venture for Griest and his wife who moved from Minnesota to Florida for the birth of their first grandchild Coffee - including this caramel latte - is the main attraction at the East Main Street Coffee & Sandwich Shop in New Port Richey [ Michele Miller ]For 20 years he worked in the automobile service industry “I always had an espresso machine,” he said He tested the waters with a $300 roaster in an incubator kitchen in Minnesota and started selling online Shannon were planning to hit the festival circuit in a specialty food truck “It was supposed to be one of those exit strategies,” said Griest “We moved to Florida instead and canceled the food truck.” He had a booth in the now defunct USA Flea Market in Hudson and moved to East Main in April of 2017 “I looked at downtown New Port Richey," he said 9 in the morning and saw that there was really nothing going on there then The new location might have been a blessing adding that loyal flea-market customers followed him there I really had time to perfect my recipes and learn what I was doing." Griest honed his baking skills with the help of a fellow vendor at the flea market cookies and perhaps a loaf of tomato basil bread owner of East Main Street Coffee & Sandwich Shop in New Port Richey [ Michele Miller ]“I don’t want to tell you how much bread I threw away because it didn’t rise or I wasn’t happy with it," he said The specialty grilled cheese and pressed panini sandwiches are good sellers “This is in the top 10 percent as far as quality goes He sells mostly organic/fair trade coffee harvested in third-world countries Small samples are available for those who want a taste before committing Beans are roasted on demand at East Main Street Coffee & Sandwich Shop in New Port Richey [ Michele Miller ]Regulars like Ron and Shirley Segal said they chat Griest up when they stop for their monthly order — maybe a bag of Sumatra Mandheilig or the Kona variety Ron took a shine to when he was stationed in Hawaii so this is one of our luxuries," Shirley Segal said Note: East Main Street Coffee and Sandwich Shop is at 6526 Main St. in New Port Richey. Call (727) 232-2311 or go to www.emscs.net Michele MillerFormer Times staffer — First responders rescued 150 people across Pasco County as communities from Elfers to Zephyrhills saw what the county referred to in media alerts and on social media as "historical flooding." "It's unbelievable," said Nick Burgess who lives in the Silver Oaks community in Zephyrhills Nick and his family said they woke up Thursday morning thinking they'd made it through Hurricane Milton mostly unscathed and a large tree Nick's grandfather planted in the front yard of his home — which was once owned by his grandparents — was uprooted Burgess pointed out a bench he put in the yard in honor of them wasn't damaged "We've never seen anything like this before," said Nick's father spreading from the front entrance on Eiland Boulevard The Burgesses said the only water in the immediate area is a large pond in the neighborhood and the water levels keep rising further into the neighborhood He used sandbags and plastic to seal off his front entrance "It was actually given to me by one of my wonderful neighbors who 'I don't have any need for this because the water's waist high in my house,'" Nick said A Pasco County spokesperson said the Hillsborough River to the south of the city is in major flood stage Zephyrhills got a huge amount of rain from Milton According to Spectrum News Meteorologist Brian McClure the city was in a heavy rain band to the north of Milton's eye and saw 14 inches fall That's an amount the area would normally see throughout several days — not all at once The west side of the county saw unprecedented flooding Water covered the parking lot of the Wyndlake plaza on Old County Road 54 near the intersection of State Road 54 in New Port Richey Friday afternoon the Seven Springs Travel Park RV Resort and Best Treatment Network were also surrounded by water The county is recommending voluntary evacuations for Elfers and anyone in low-lying areas prone to flooding A spokesperson said flooding in these communities was caused by the overflowing of the Anclote River Nick said he's hopeful things don't get worse in Silver Oaks "We thank God we have our health and our life and we made it through the storm this is just material items," he said Brian McClure said the Hillsborough River crested Friday night at 16.6 ft flood stage and is expected to go down through the weekend and into next week He said the Anclote also crested Friday at 26.3 feet and would drop in the coming days.  that water levels in neighborhoods were expected to continue to rise People are reminded not to drive through flood waters and to be prepared to leave their home if they live in an impacted area A new shelter for flood victims was opened at the Wesley Chapel Recreation Complex at 7727 Boyette Creek Road. A full list of shelters can be found here An official website of the United States government VA|News HealthVets Experience Florida will soon have access to a brand new 14,000 square foot VA clinic replacing the existing 4,500 square foot community based outpatient clinic (CBOC) A ground breaking ceremony took place in Zephyrhills 2019 with community Veterans and advocates in attendance The former Mayor of Zephyrhills, Florida and now Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Army Reserve Captain Danny Burgess spoke at the event, noting that Zephyrhills was originally founded by an Union Army Captain as a civil war Veteran retirement community “As the State Department of Veterans Affairs and look forward to working with the VA in any way possible,” Burgess said Florida CBOC was established in April 2006 and then relocated into a newly constructed facility adjacent to the local Florida Hospital The new CBOC will be located less than a mile from the existing one with many additional exam rooms in the 14,000 square foot facility Florida CBOC will serve Veterans in East Pasco County Tampa VA Medical Center’s Director Joe Battle said, “We are excited for this new clinic to provide additional services to Veterans in this community, versus going somewhere else.” Mr. Battle also mentioned this and other new clinics in the area compliments the newly implemented MISSION Act “MISSION Act is positing us to put the Veteran at the center of their healthcare journey,” he said It will have 96 medical-surgical beds and 40 ICU beds and is expected to open by 2023 VA has 1,241 Community Based Outpatient Sites and Clinics across the country. To find one nearest you, use the VA Facility Locator CBOCTampa VA The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA or call 1-800-698-2411 never put personally identifiable information (SSAN etc.) or protected health information into the form — it will be deleted for your protection Who do you appreciate in your life and who appreciates you Social connection is good for your Whole Health and it makes life more enjoyable VA apps can help Veterans who want to kick their smoking habit and improve their health and well-being this Veteran chose to stay in residential treatment longer than she expected Get more resources at VeteransCrisisLine.net An official website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Looking for U.S. government information and services?  Visit USA.gov This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page 2024 at 12:07 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}An employee of a Christian school in New Port Richey was arrested on child pornography possession charges (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff's Office)NEW PORT RICHEY FL — An employee of a Christian school in New Port Richey was arrested on child pornography possession charges the Pasco Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post of New Port Richey is a third-grade science teacher at Beacon Christian Academy The investigation found that he possessed two photos and three videos featuring child pornography He also had “child erotica” generated by an artificial intelligence computer program He used yearbook photos of three students to create the images Anyone who believes they or a loved one might have been a victim of Houser is asked to contact the PSO Crime Tips Line at 1-800-706-2488, or report tips online at PascoSheriff.com/tips — The Ridge Road Extension is moving forward in Pasco County The project is set to give families another much-needed hurricane evacuation route and way to get more easily from New Port Richey to Land O’Lakes The construction on the first phase of the extension began in 2019 told us he remembers hearing talk of extending Ridge Road when he was in high school CONTINUING COVERAGE | Pasco County's Ridge Road Extension Project finally starting “I was completely shocked and surprised after so many years it was such a relief that 'hey this thing is going to go through,'” Becwar said in 2019 Becwar is part of the Citizens for The Ridge Road Extension group that pushed for the project for so long Army Corps of Engineers finally issued the project permits and construction started It will take Ridge Road in New Port Richey and extend it east to the Suncoast Parkway and eventually all the way U.S LEARN MORE | Ridge Road Extension Project The first phase started at the intersection of Moon Lake Road and Ridge Road and extends into and past the Rosewood community While much of Ridge Road remains blocked off to traffic because of construction paving nearly all the way to the Suncoast Parkway Part of the reason the project took decades to become a reality were environmental concerns about what would happen to Pasco’s wetlands Officials say the four-lane roadway will have 16 bridges designed to maintain the habitat below Supporters of the project say extending Ridge Road gives the county another much-needed hurricane evacuation route reducing evacuation times by nearly 30 percent connecting New Port Richey to Land O’ Lakes and the booming Connerton area Quality of life matters to our citizens and this is going to help make their daily commutes a little bit easier,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore in 2019 FDOT is also in the process of constructing a new interchange onto the Suncoast Parkway from Ridge Road The full interchange will provide both northbound and southbound access onto the Suncoast Parkway providing another hurricane evacuation route There's a recipe for fueling an urban renaissance, and real estate developer Frank Starkey is betting the city of New Port Richey has the ingredients. He is backing it up with a big investment in three downtown projects. "New Port Richey has the bones in place. It has the synergy and structure to allow anything to happen," said Starkey, 48, an avid advocate of new urbanism. The city is in a prime location, he points out, nestled along the Pithlachascotee River, which winds through the James E. Grey Preserve, by the newly renovated Sims Park and into the Gulf of Mexico. There's a walkable grid, a quaint downtown and picturesque Orange Lake. Even the shabby outskirts and empty storefronts have appeal, according to Starkey, because, "Every urban redevelopment story starts out that way." Golfing great Gene Sarazan invented the modern sand wedge here in 1931 and designed a golf course along the banks of the Pithlachascotee. Silent film star Thomas Meighan fostered a notion to develop the "Hollywood of the East" during the 1920s in New Port Richey, giving rise to two crown jewels of the jazz age — the Hacienda Hotel and the Meighan Theatre, now Richey Suncoast Theatre. That hopeful era fizzled with the Great Depression. There is a growing sense the tide is turning. And Starkey, fueled by a residential trend toward walkable communities and a supportive City Council, is diving in. Starkey also partnered with designer Jose Cardenas to refurbish a 9,600-square-foot retail space at 5800 Main St. Wright's Natural Market, a 23-year-old mom-and-pop business currently on U.S. 19, will be the anchor tenant. Other expected businesses will include a jewelry store, a music store and a microbrewery. "One of our goals is to revitalize active retail on Main Street," Starkey said. "It helps to prime the pump and is mutually supportive of (The Central)." Starkey is also the financial backer for a duplex renovation project on Florida Avenue undertaken by Andy Mikulski, a project manager at People Places LLC, and Lia Gallegos of Rock the Boat Productions, an event company Starkey uses. That project is over budget, largely because the house had not been updated since it was built in 1947, said Mikulski, "and because Frank insists on doing it right." Starkey chalks it up as a learning experience — one that aligns with his belief that locals with modest means and developers like himself can be part of authentic urban redevelopment, similar to what has taken place in Seminole Heights in Tampa, Dunedin, Largo and Safety Harbor. Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter "On the map, they are tiny, little dots," he said. "New Port Richey is one of those dots that has had some degree of renaissance." The redevelopment of Sims Park has brought steady traffic to the city. Improvements to the adjacent Hacienda Hotel are chugging along. Construction is under way again at Main Street Landing, a promised blend of retail and residential space that stalled to the dismay of many during the economic downturn of 2007. It is now projected to open next summer. Downtown stalwarts have been joined by newer endeavors such as Sugar Darlings cupcake store, Ottaway's Parkside Ice Cream Parlor, the White Heron Tea Room, Sip Wine Bar, Beef 'O' Brady's, the Gateway Gallery and Emporium and a technology company called MyNetworkOne. "I feel like we're in the center of an upper renaissance in the New Port Richey area," said Lisa Bolster, who owns Sip with her husband, Kris. "The architecture is what stole our hearts. But the promise that the city showed with the new park, and projects like Frank's, gave us the reassurance to come here." Businesses are driven to the city by a growing residential base, said city economic development director Mario Iezzoni. "They see these other cities and how their urban cores have developed. People must be there to support the businesses," Iezzoni said. "That's why Frank's vision is so important. That's why his projects are so important." Jeff and Kathy Wright are moving their natural food store downtown, lured in part by the location, the promise of new residents and a $250,000 commercial real estate development grant from the city, split between Starkey ($150,000) and the Wrights ($100,000). "I think the new location will make it easier for people to find us, but I'm still a little nervous," said Jeff Wright, who hopes to open before the winter holidays. "We are taking a big step of faith. The city is taking a big step of faith. And Frank and his partners are taking a big step of faith. We are all in it. It's sort of sink or swim." City Council members who support The Central, as well as Main Street Landing, point to a 2015 study conducted by Zimmerman Volk, a marketing strategy firm in New Jersey. Among the findings: a need for an additional 500 residential units to support local businesses, with 375 of those being rentals. "The Zimmerman Volk study was a real eye opener. Once we saw that, (Starkey) had the green light," said Deputy Mayor Jeff Starkey, who is no relation to Frank Starkey. "Once it's done, it's a real game changer. We're going to turn this to more of a walkable community where you can get out of your car and you won't need your car till you leave downtown. I think it's the way to go." "There are going to be a bunch of changes that are going to happen, and Frank's getting out in front of it," said Mayor Rob Marlowe, who predicts a waiting list of apartment applicants. The site of the old Community Hospital in New Port Richey is one of 14 locations being considered for a VA outpatient clinic, Marlowe noted, adding that employees of the clinic might want to live nearby. "We're going to make this place a wonderful place to live," Marlowe said. "Frank is a visionary when it comes to that, and I think what he's reading in the tea leaves might be spot on." Among residents, opinions vary on the projects. The vision appeals to Annie Roesler and her husband, Brian, both 30. They grew up in New Port Richey, left for college, and now rent a house in downtown for $800 a month. "We were able to find something nicer, but most rentals are kind of rundown — kind of sad," said Annie Roesler, who telecommutes for an educational technology company in Boston. "I like the idea of having more nice housing with character, the ability to live in downtown and walk to places. I cannot afford to buy a house right now, but I would like to live somewhere nice." While excited about the prospect of a nearby grocery store, neighbors Rex Phelps and Jennifer Melton, who own homes on Central Avenue, behind where the apartments will be built, aren't enthused about The Central. The primary concern: parking. Plans call for 97 on-site spaces for Central residents. There will be 49 public street parking spaces available, of which 16 are new, according to Starkey. "That's not enough," said Melton. "Eighty-five units times two people, that's 170 people." Apartments dwellers will take street parking spaces that current residents use, Melton said. It will strain the city's infrastructure. Construction will be disruptive. The buildings are too tall. She will lose her view of the lake. Phelps, who purchased his house for the front porch, thinks local demographics won't support rents expected to start at $1,100 a month. The bull market could plummet. The upscale apartments could turn into low-income housing. And there's enough of that already, he said. That won't happen, Starkey said. The first phase of The Central will start with 23 apartments, allowing investors to regroup if rentals don't move. Presently, parking is only a problem during special events, he said, and the city is reviewing sites for a parking garage to help deal with that. Car-to-go services like Uber and Lyft are changing the need to own a car, and driverless cars are on the horizon, he added. "We don't have good public transportation here," he said. "People buy cars. People like their cars, and if you don't believe that you need to talk to the guy at Friendly Kia." Even so, he said, "I'm not against what (Starkey) is doing. I think what he's doing is great as long as it gets done right. There's the trick. The devil is in the details." Starkey's name carries weight. But so, he figures, should his reputation. His grandfather was cattle rancher Jay B. Starkey. His grandmother was Blanche M. Straub, daughter of William Straub, a former publisher of the St. Petersburg Times. His parents, Jay B. Starkey Jr., and Marsha (Miller) Starkey, raised four children on the family's Pasco ranch, bordering a park named for their grandfather. "My dad was more motivated by stature than status. Grandad was the same way," he said. "He was concerned with leading with character." Starkey attended Gulf High, Gulf Junior High and Elfers Elementary when Mittye P. Locke, for whom the school was later named, was principal. His family shopped at the IGA Potter Brothers grocery store, on the Main Street site he is redeveloping. He studied architecture at Rice University and cut his teeth developing the upscale Longleaf community in Trinity with his brother, Trey, who raises blueberries and is married to county Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. He served on the Rollins College Masters of Planning in Civic Urbanism Advisory Board. He is a past president of the National Town Builders Association, former chairman of the Seaside Institute and was the first developer in residence at the University of Miami's Masters in Real Estate + Urbanism program. When the family sold its 2,300-acre ranch for $54 million in 2013, Starkey went looking for projects. He honed in on his hometown. In 2015, he moved his business, People Places LLC, from the home he shares with his husband in Trinity to Main Street in New Port Richey. Soon after that, he began hosting "Talk About Town" public forums to educate and encourage dialogue, with a focus on urban development and his local projects. Other topics included human trafficking, the local music scene, the work of the Humane Society and the advent of medical marijuana. While currently invested in an urban redevelopment project in Winter Garden and a vacation property in Wilton Manors in South Florida, Starkey figures 90 percent of his business is wrapped up in New Port Richey. "Our desire is for New Port Richey to do well. The challenge is to grow in a way that is appropriate, that takes it to the next level in a way that will not overwhelm it — does not push it beyond what the current fabric would support," he said, noting that Manhattan in New York City was once farmland and that cows used to graze around New Port Richey's Orange Lake. "The long view is that the way a place is built initially — it doesn't stay that way. That's what's cool about cities. They have multiple lives." Contact Michele Miller at mmiller@tampabay.com. Follow @MicheleMiller52. 2022 at 1:58 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The path along Grand Boulevard like the finished path along Marine Parkway FL — Saying it will be a major improvement to the city's walkability the New Port Richey City Council gave planners a unanimous go-ahead to continue designing a multi-use path along Grand Boulevard The council approved $159,370 for architectural and engineering services with Halff Associates Inc According to Public Works Director Robert Rivera the city will reduce Grand Boulevard from Gulf Drive and Delaware Avenue from four lanes to two lanes and increase the width of sidewalks along the east side of the road to 10 feet wide to accommodate bicycles and groups of pedestrians The new multi-use path will connect to the city's existing path multi-use path a 2,000-foot-long trail running along Marine Parkway from U.S The ultimate vision is to have a continuous bike-pedestrian connection from the Pinellas Trail through downtown New Port Richey to the Starkey Trail The Grand Boulevard path will connect with the city’s existing path to the south at Marine Parkway and Grand Boulevard and to the north at Madison Street and Main Street decorative street lighting and stormwater drainage improvements Funds for this project will come from the Penny for Pasco tax and possibly from a Regional Project Assistance grant through the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization the path will be extended to allow residents to leave their cars at home and bike or walk to downtown New Port Richey we are on the cusp of a resurgence in the use of bikes," said Deputy Mayor Mike Peters "This will help give people in the southern part of the city access to downtown and provide a way for folks who don't have a car to get downtown It supports cultural activities and physical activities." it's going to be a huge addition to our downtown," said councilman Matt Murphy Councilwoman Kelly Mothershead "When I was campaigning I saw a lot of families that couldn't walk together on a sidewalk because it was too narrow," said councilwoman Kelly Mothershead Noting that there are a number of historic sites along the pathway Mayor Rob Marlowe suggested incorporating historic markers along the trail The path passes by a former blackberry farm that was donated to the city in 1969 to develop as a park Marlowe said this may be the right time to finally develop the property as a park It also passes by the old Clemie Butler House built from native rock from the Cotee River which has been designated a historic landmark and the former machine shop of Gene Sarazen considered one of the greatest golfers in history Sarazen invented what is considered to be the first true sand wedge to allow golfers to get out of sand traps The New Port Richey City Council has approved an ordinance that will allow downtown eateries to cook food in front of their restaurant during special events restaurants in the city's downtown district will be allowed to obtain permits for a sidewalk or street cafe for events food trucks are permitted to cook food for special events putting the downtown restaurants that depend on the special events to attract business at a disadvantage would put downtown restaurants on equal footing to participate in outdoor events The council's next meeting will take place Tuesday at 7 p.m 2022NEW PORT RICHEY — When a Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services worker knocked on Jay Pasqua’s door three weeks ago talking about an infestation of giant snails Then the state worker took Pasqua to the yard next to his lawn mower repair shop on Massachusetts Avenue she pointed out a giant African land snail A giant African land snail rests on a machine cart after it was collected from land adjacent to the workshop behind Jay Pasqua’s East Richey Lawn Mower and Equipment business on Monday in Pasco County The property has become the epicenter of the snail invasion CLIFFORD | Times ]“There’s a big one right there,” she said As Pasqua recounted seeing the four-inch snail He brought both his thumbs and pointer fingers together the state has cordoned off several miles — it’s unlawful to remove snails or soil — and the exotic pests have made headlines around the world “Calamitous snails that spew parasitic brain worms” and “Dangerous African snails in Florida spark quarantines,” they declare who keeps finding the slimy mollusks in his machine yard “They’re telling me that I’m right in the middle of a target zone,” he said a Department of Agriculture worker in a face mask and black chemical gloves ambled through the yard where Pasqua first saw the giant snail She turned the handle of a hand-held spreader filled with metaldehyde a pesticide that overthrows the snails’ mucus production and triggers lethal dehydration A slight smile came over his face as he listed the media outlets that have stopped by his East Richey Lawn Mower and Equipment business He estimates he’s caught 100 or so of the snails alive The carcass of a giant African land snails is found in the back yard July 8 at East Richey Lawn Mower and Equipment where the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Division of Plant Industry has applied poison twice CLIFFORD | Times ]So why all the fuss since the outbreak was detected in late June The snails can grow up to eight inches long about the size of a brick or the length of a man’s hand These hermaphroditic creatures also reproduce prolifically — one can lay up to 2,500 eggs a year. Described as “one of the most damaging snails in the world” by the Department of Agriculture, they eat hundreds of types of plants. When those aren’t available, they feast on stucco or plaster on buildings. And the giant snails present a more direct threat to humans — some carry rat lungworm a parasite that can burrow into brains and cause meningitis None of the snails captured in Pasco have carried the parasite Theories abound of how more than 1,000 of these pests wound up in New Port Richey. Illicit pet traders? Cult members drinking their juices? A new market for snail mucus facials? Florida can’t seem to shake the pests. It’s now the state’s third battle against them, with the last infestation in Miami-Dade County spanning 10 years. The state only declared the snails eradicated last year, after workers tracked down and destroyed 168,000 snails at a cost of $23 million. Jay Pasqua, owner of East Richey Lawn Mower and Equipment in New Port Richey, collects a trio of living giant African land snails which he discovered roaming on property bordering his workshop on Monday. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]Nothing to see hereLess than a mile away from Pasqua’s shop, Robin Cahalane said she hasn’t seen a single giant African land snail. Since she heard about them, she’s been on the lookout. “Here we go again,” Cahalane said. “We got COVID and now we’ve got snails.” She noticed tiny snails latching onto the stucco exterior of her house, so she sent pictures to the Department of Agriculture. Staff replied that they weren’t the invasive ones, but she was concerned that they didn’t ask for further information, including her address. Cahalane’s home is within the state’s quarantine area. The zone stretches from the northwest corner of the U.S. 19-Ridge Road intersection, east to Little Road and south to Trouble Creek Road. A sign informs residents of the giant African land snails (GALS) eradication program on July 8 on Congress Street at Char Lane in New Port Richey. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]She’s worried about her dogs biting the snails or her grandkids, ages 10 and 6, who often play outside in the yard, touching them. Cahalane said she hasn’t seen any state workers in her neighborhood. “I’ve been waiting to see if someone will be here,” she said. Five blocks north, Bill and Sue Lindfors sat on their porch in the afternoon July 13. Barefoot and eating sandwiches, they said they hadn’t seen any snails or Department of Agriculture workers. They said they aren’t concerned about the pests, and won’t be until they see one in real life. But after 21 years of living in Florida, they were still surprised to hear about them. Bill’s first question: Where’d they come from? U.S. Department of Agriculture workers, along with state officials, are investigating if the giant African land snails were illegally bred and sold as pets, according to Richard Miranda, a state plant health director with the agency. It’s illegal to import or keep the snails as pets without a permit. But authorities have caught people trying to bring them into Florida, including some that look like the snails they’re now finding in Pasco, according to state officials. Workers will also contact landscapers to trace any host material that could have traveled out of a contaminated area before the snails were found, according to Miranda. State officials say the snails could have reached Pasco a year ago or earlier, given how many have been caught. On Wednesday afternoon, a man walked into Pasqua’s shop with a lawn mower that wouldn’t start. “Have you checked for snails in your carburetor?” Pasqua said, deadpan. After a pause, the customer nervously chuckled as he pulled the mower out of his truck. A crushed shell of a giant African land snail in the back yard at East Richey Lawn Mower and Equipment on July 8. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]Pasqua was only partly joking — he now checks each repaired mower for snails before handing them back to his customers. Some have delayed picking their lawn mowers up because he’s “in that snail area.” Pasqua tied a tag on the man’s lawn mower and said he would give him a call when he was done with repairs. He began to wheel the mower into the shop. “If you find any snails,” the man called out behind him, “they’re yours.” Milla SurjadiFormer Times Staffer 2017 at 10:32 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}HOLIDAY FL — The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a Thursday night crash on East Lake Road that left a 24-year-old Holiday man dead Tyler Christian Noble was riding a 2006 Kawasaki north on East Lake Road around 11:30 p.m As Noble was approaching the Trinity Boulevard intersection “at a high rate of speed,” Myles Owen Megna of Trinity was heading south in the left turn lane on East Lake Road Get the New Port Richey Patch newsletter and alerts in your inbox. Troopers say Megna turned his Honda CR-V into the path of the oncoming motorcycle The front of the motorcycle hit the rear passenger side of the Honda Noble was thrown from his motorcycle and died at the scene of the crash The crash remains under investigation with charges pending its outcome No further information is available at this time Keep up with what’s happening by following New Port Richey Patch on Facebook. Photo courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol 2023 at 11:11 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Pasco County Public Transportation (GoPasco) is offering the Summer Haul Pass to students to ride buses all summer for $20 FL — Students can spend the summer hanging out with friends at the beach and they don’t have to spend a lot of money getting there Pasco County Public Transportation (GoPasco) is offering the Summer Haul Pass to students to ride buses all summer for $20 This special student rate is effective from June 1 to Aug For more information about the student Summer Haul Pass, Travel Training or GoPasco bus routes and schedules, click here. Gus Bilirakis checks out the progress of the new veterans health clinic in New Port Richey Gus Bilirakis)Services will include primary care minor surgery and mental health along with a prosthetics lab canteen and eligibility and enrollment services (VA)An artist's rending shows the lobby of the new veterans clinic in New Port Richey FL — After touring the facility under construction on Little Road in New Port Richey said the new Veterans Administration outpatient health clinic is on track for a fall 2022 opening Bilirakis held a town hall forum to update veterans on the progress of the much-anticipated new facility at 7932 Little Road which will merge five separate veterans clinics into one and provide expanded services for veterans of Pasco Department of Veterans Affairs said more than 100,000 veterans make their home in Tampa Bay the 27th largest population of veterans in the country according to the Pasco County Division of Veterans Services With the growing number of veterans in the area in 2018 Bilirakis secured federal funding and approval for the Veterans Administration to build a 114,000-square-foot veterans clinic that will provide expanded services "I am glad to see us moving a step closer to our veterans finally being able to access these new services right here in our community," he said "This means west Pasco veterans will no longer have to travel to Tampa for these enhanced services." The clinic will consolidate the Port Richey Satellite Outpatient Clinic New Port Richey Mental Health Center and the New Port Richey Dental Clinic It will be equipped with magnetic resonance imaging ultrasound and computerized tomography machines to provide diagnostic radiology services the clinic will have a laboratory to draw blood nutritional counseling and nursing services and a pharmacy to process routine prescriptions east Pasco veterans are awaiting the opening of another new VA clinic in Zephyrhills some time this year the 14,000-square-foot clinic will replace the Zephyrhills Community-Based Outpatient Clinic at 6937 Medical View Lane The new clinic will add podiatry and physical therapy services and expand primary care services from seven to 10 exam rooms and mental health services from five to six rooms It also will include anticoagulation pharmacy services 2018 at 12:05 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}HUDSON FL – Pasco County deputies have a 45-year-old New Port Richey man in custody after they say he tried to elude them in a pickup truck hauling a boat trailer deputies were called to State Road 52 and Hays Road after a caller complained there was an obstruction in the road they found that a boat had fallen off the trailer of a 2010 Toyota Tundra that was heading east on SR 52 was in the process of turning around to retrieve the boat when deputies spotted him Painter tried to evade deputies by driving west on SR 52 south on Moon Lake Road and south on Ridge Road where Deputy Robert Wilkins caught up with him Wilkens tried to pull the pickup over but Painter continued for three more miles before stopping at Little Road and Decubellis Road he discovered a supply of oxycodone that had not been prescribed to Painter Painter was charged with driving under the influence fleeing to elude and possession of an illegal drug 2020 at 6:55 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Pasco County is encouraging residents to check the maps and learn how the changes could affect their properties FL — Pasco County has adopted new FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps and is encouraging residents to check the maps and learn how the changes could affect their properties and flood insurance premiums The new Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Insurance Rate Maps will go into effect June 5 Pasco County is also recommending that all new construction and substantial improvements meet the higher Base Flood Elevation shown on the preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map and Flood Insurance Study report FL — While most Tampa Bay area residents escaped the wrath of Thursday morning’s storms some in the Port Richey and New Port Richey areas weren’t so lucky The strong line of thunderstorms that moved through the area caused damage at multiple locations on both sides of U.S Suspicions that a tornado might be to blame for the damage reported was confirmed Thursday morning by the National Weather Service County spokesman Doug Tobin reported at 10:40 a.m that the initial assessment from the weather service's Daniel Noah indicates an EF 0 tornado touched down in Pasco County "He said the damage appears to be in a narrow line from the Gulf of Mexico to just east of U.S A final assessment report from the weather service is expected later on Thursday. An EF 0 tornado can produce wind gusts of 65-85 mph, according to the weather service As of 8:20 a.m., Tobin said damage had been reported at 24 homes and businesses along U.S The county released photos of some of the damage it found during a Thursday morning tour of the affected areas on its Facebook page. Pasco County residents with damage to report are asked to call 727-847-2411 Sign up for the New Port Richey Patch newsletter and alerts! Be sure to follow us on Facebook He wanted to help save the lives of the men and women who were putting themselves in harm’s way for America's freedom upon graduating from River Ridge High School in New Port Richey in 2008 Richard (Rick) Benson enlisted in the Army as a combat medic and was soon deployed to Afghanistan to tend to the wounded and dying while dodging the deadly crossfire of Taliban and Al-Qaeda bullets the man who returned home to New Port Richey following his tour of duty in the Middle East wasn’t the same man who eagerly signed up to serve his country all those years ago Richard Benson was nearly incapacitated with severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder “He was still the brother who was always kind and generous who would literally take the shirt off his back if someone needed it,” she said the uncle who attended his nieces and nephews’ ball games taught them to play guitar and flew to California just to meet his newborn nephew Although he tried to return to his old life even attending college to become a certified nurse Cooke said he was haunted by what he’d seen and experienced in Afghanistan He exhibited classic symptoms of PTSD – anxiety Cooke can’t say for sure that’s the reason for her brother’s death Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, Benson was driving his 2015 Chevrolet Sonic west on State Road 52 near Emmaus Cemetery Road in Pasco County when his car veered across the center line into the path of a 1999 Ford SUV driven by Bobbie L. Pavy, 37, of San Antonio (see related story). Benson’s car swiveled around when it struck the left front of the Ford and collided with a guardrail of New Port Richey sustained minor injuries Benson was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center in critical condition He died of his injuries late Thursday night The Florida Highway Patrol ruled out alcohol and drugs as a cause Investigators have no explanation why Benson’s car meandered into the oncoming lane of traffic “He suffered so much from PTSD,” said Cooke unable to hold back her tears as she talked about her little brother it’s a comfort to know that his suffering is over.” While the military will pay for the cost of his grave marker and a 21-gun salute for Benson’s service it falls to his family to fund his funeral Cooke, therefore, has set up a YouCaring Fund an online crowd-funding website similar to Go Fund Me to raise $7,000 for a Catholic funeral and burial Any remaining funds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, said Cooke Cooke has contacted a medical facility in Boston to donate his brain and spine for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy His other organs have been matched to those in need of transplants Arrangements for his funeral and burial have not been scheduled at this time Rick Benson served as an Army combat medic in Afghanistan Positioned just east of booming, unincorporated Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills has edged out New Port Richey as Pasco County’s largest city in the new population count. What does that earn Zephyrhills, once known mostly for its snowbird retirees, its water bottling plant and Skydive City? “Bragging rights is what we get,” City Manager Billy Poe said. “We know we’ve made it, because we have a Chick-fil-A.” City and business leaders have been focused on growth for awhile, and many of those initiatives are beginning to bear fruit, including improvements to the municipal airport and development for the nearby industrial corridor. The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center, which opened last year, is already slated for expansion. While the 2019 population estimates still had New Port Richey on top, the official census numbers released this summer turned the tables. That formal count put Zephyrhills at 17,194 residents, a 29 percent jump from 2010. New Port Richey grew to 16,728, a 10 percent increase. Pasco County’s population grew to 561,891, a 20.9 percent jump from 2010. The Captain H.B. Jeffries House, which is on the National Register, was built in 1910 for Captain Jeffries, founder of Zephyrhills, and remains at 38537 Fifth Ave., in historic downtown Zephyrhills. Jeffries was known for bringing many Union Civil War Veterans into this area. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]Zephyrhills leaders have not been touting their new place in the Pasco pecking order, but have instead laid the groundwork for growing the city’s economy. “All you need to do is look around or drive through our city to see the amazing growth that is going on,” said Melonie Monson, chief executive officer for the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce. “Our community is no longer the sleepy little town east of Wesley Chapel.” Business growth and diversity also have continued in Zephyrhills, she said. Bailey Lyon, 27, left, of Tampa, and Daniel MacGregor, 27, of Tampa, play a round of Disney’s Villainous card game while visiting the Your Turn Board Game Cafe in the Fifth Avenue business district last week in historic downtown Zephyrhills. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]“We have some of the most eclectic restaurants around,” Monson said, adding that many were able to hang on and thrive despite the challenges of the pandemic. local business leaders gathered for the Fifth Annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit They talked about recent economic advancements business growth and results from their detailed BizWalk survey of local businesses they discussed the need to better prepare future job applicants for available opportunities That need for qualified employees has been a recurring theme chairman of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce A retired provost at Pasco-Hernando State College Stovall is excited to see a new tool in job preparation on the horizon the Pasco County School District will open its new magnet program the school will offer core academics and job training programs Traffic streams into the Fifth Avenue business district last week in historic downtown Zephyrhills CLIFFORD | Times ]Zephyrhills’ population growth isn’t a big surprise to Stovall who has been active in various local chambers of commerce over the years Because of the big influx of Northerners each winter Zephyrhills historically created an attractive market big retailers caught on early to the community’s potential Stovall said the Chick-fil-A was a welcome addition “I still think it’s basically a friendly town I think city government still wants people here to have good quality of life,” Stovall said City officials also have been discussing issues typical of a growing community: residential growth road and other infrastructure projects and new ways to market and promote what the city has to offer visitors Zephyrhills City Hall, at 5335 Eighth St., in downtown Zephyrhills. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]Earlier this month, the City Council approved an architect and engineer for the next phase of the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center and moved to bring the 10-acre parcel inside the city limits for that expansion A state legislative allocation of $4,665,000 provided to the city earlier this year will pay for the project the details of which have not yet been determined The site will be a public/private partnership which has until June 2023 to spend the state money has not worked out all the details yet with the project developer Poe said the tennis center has garnered the city some attention despite the pandemic canceling some events one participant sported a Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center T-shirt works on his backhand while instructor Naoufal Elidrissi supervises the session last week at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center in Zephyrhills CLIFFORD | Times ]“It’s done its job,” Poe said “The center was built to be an economic driver and a catalyst for the city Work also continues on improving the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. Work is underway on extending the runway to more than 6,000 feet and should be done in early 2022, Poe said. A new jet parking area is also in the works, as well as plans for a taxiway rehabilitation project, updated fuel farm and maybe a terminal in the future, if the state will provide added funding. While the industrial corridor along Chauncey Road near the airport hasn’t taken off as much as the city might have hoped, Poe said, officials continue to work with both local and county economic development experts to keep that a priority. “I’ve lived in Florida all my life and I’ve watched the growth,” said Zephyrhills Mayor Gene Whitfield. “Our greatest challenge is to manage that growth into the future with a mindset of trying to maintain that small community feeling.” Shannon Bresnen, of Wesley Chapel, leaves Memorial Hall, home of the American Legion's Zephyr Post 118, after bartending at the post near Zephyrhills' historic downtown business district last week. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]A third-generation East Pasco resident and owner of Whitfield Funeral Home, the mayor said he wants the area’s new additions to fit in with the more rural nature of that portion of Pasco County. That means not wiping out all of the green spaces as businesses and residential communities sprout up on the city’s landscape, he said. “I have children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who live in this community. I want to be very cautious about how we manage the growth.” Barbara BehrendtPasco County Reporter 2021 at 10:06 am ETPasco-Hernando State College Bobcat mascot joins athletes in trying out the new Physical Fitness Center (PHSC)Pasco-Hernando State College Bobcat mascot joins athletes in trying out the new Physical Fitness Center FL — The new state-of-the-art Pasco-Hernando State College Cardio and Physical Fitness Centers will be dedicated at the basketball season opener against Trinity College Nov A brief half-time presentation will dedicate the Rao Musunuru M.D named respectively for PHSC's district board of trustees vice chair and the college president The Bobcats will face off against Trinity at 7 p.m. followed by the half-time ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony at 7:30 p.m PHSC swag will be available and guests will be eligible to win prizes during the half-time ceremony "Exercise supports the academic success of students and is important to the health and wellbeing of our college community," said Beard "I am honored to have the physical fitness center dedicated in my name Musunuru's23 years of service as a trustee Musunuru's generous contributions to the PHSC Foundation have had an immeasurably positive impact on PHSC students and the community." are equipped with up-to-date equipment and large-screen monitors PHSC's competitive intercollegiate athletics programs include women's cross-country Most of the college's 115 student-athletes are supported by PHSC Foundation scholarships and many advance to university-level play after graduation from PHSC Admission is free to all PHSC athletic events county commissioners heard a pitch for developing 40 single-family homes on a 30-acre parcel just east of Old Lakeland Highway near Dade City But that wasn’t what the developer really wanted a dense development in a rural area that could not be built without water and sewer lines Those were things neither the county nor the city had available Commissioners were divided on what belonged there both inside and outside the city limits of Dade City and Zephyrhills has seen keen interest by developers but is facing the same utility constraints the county needs new sources of drinking water Last month, Zephyrhills had to extend its yearlong moratorium on new projects and annexations for another 12 months. Dade City, which has been annexing and approving new construction, has had to slow down because it can’t yet provide water and sewer service to all of the property it has added within its city limits. While the city of Zephyrhills is working with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to resolve its water needs, the regional water supply wholesaler is looking to new water sources. On July 26, Tampa Bay Water sent out notices to some east Pasco residents seeking their input on a plan to develop a new east Pasco well site. “The utility is mandated to meet the current and future drinking water needs of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa,” the letter said. “Tampa Bay Water estimates that the region will need an additional 25 million gallons per day of drinking water by 2043, with 10-20 million gallons per day needed as early as 2033.” Last year a corner of the designated protected area, land that had among its owners Florida State Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson was lifted out of the rural zone so that a residential community of 117 homes could be built on 39 acres Beyond the fears of rural land disappearing if more water and sewer capacity is added east Pasco residents who got the notice from Tampa Bay Water also are worried about another aspect of the wholesaler’s plan: the part about using “brackish” water a county commission candidate running without party affiliation who has been an advocate for protecting the rural area raised concerns about what she believes could be afoot She worries that it might be a first step toward the practice used elsewhere in which treated wastewater is refined to a level allowing it to be used as drinking water something critics have labeled “toilet to tap.” public communications manager for Tampa Bay Water said that is not the plan for the east Pasco well field Tampa Bay Water has no connection with any use of or disposal of wastewater the plan would be to install test wells and study how the underground water supply would respond to pumping Barbara Behrendt is a reporter covering Pasco County. She can be reached at bbehrendt@tampabay.com. 2015 at 10:49 am ETA friend who answered a Sunday morning call for help found himself the target of a brutal attack in Hudson after Pasco County deputies say that call was meant to lure him in for what would become a multi-hour ordeal that spanned two locations “They then bound the victim’s hands and placed tape over his mouth so he could not escape.” the man was taken to a second location in New Port Richey where he was again beaten the man was able to escape and notify law enforcement Deputies were able to locate Petty on Monday and brought him into custody on charges of aggravated battery and kidnapping Edelman is still wanted on conspiracy to kidnap charges Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Batta, Alexander or Edleman is asked to contact 911 immediately. Anonymous tips may also be submitted by calling 1-800-706-2488 or visiting https://www.tipsubmit.com/WebTips.aspx?AgencyID=615 Petty remained in the Land O’ Lakes Jail Tuesday in lieu of more than $550,000 bond All photos courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office: Joseph Alexander The photos of guns were taken during Joshua Petty’s Monday arrest 2012 at 3:46 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Port Richey and New Port Richey are neighboring cities Both have well-known histories and changing demographics A survey shows West Pasco residents are less pleased in general with quality of life than our counterparts in Central and East Pasco, according to the Tampa Bay Times What do you think the quality of life is like in the Western side of 's only two cities A New Port Richey city survey also showed that people We'd like to know which is a better place to live and do business in Now's your chance to express what works in your town and what's broken and what you like about your area and what you don't Best comments might get featured by Patch in a separate article 2024 at 7:45 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A La Niña​ climate pattern should bring a wet What is the forecast for Florida during winter 2024-25 (Shutterstock)FLORIDA — A La Niña climate pattern is expected to bring wet but mild-feeling weather to Florida this coming winter Overall, The Farmers’ Almanac winter 2025 forecast calls for “a season of rapid-fire storms that will bring both rain and snow a term that describes the periodic cooling of surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific is expected to develop and continue to bring wet cold weather to most of the country throughout winter which begins with the winter solstice on Dec In Florida — which the Almanac includes in its zone forecast for the Southeast — the winter of 2024-25 is expected to be stormy with above-normal precipitation and near-to-above-normal temperatures the Southern Plains and across the Southeast and Atlantic Coast The season’s coldest temperatures will be found from the Northern Plains to the Great Lakes region But areas east of the Rockies into the Appalachians will also experience many periods of cold conditions The outlook comes with a “red flag” advisory for Jan when forecasters expect an active storm track to deliver frequent bouts of heavy precipitation a snowstorm at the beginning of February could bring at least 6 inches of snow to Texas and double that amount in the Bitterroot Mountain range of Idaho Wet conditions are expected to prevail across the eastern third of the country The Southwest and South Central states are on track for a winter with average to below-average precipitation The Northern Plains and Great Lakes regions are expected to experience the coldest temperatures of winter and areas east of the Rockies and the Appalachians could see periods of cold weather A blast of frigid Arctic air is expected to plunge temperatures nationwide the final week of January and early February The Great Lakes area could see heavy snow showers and snow squalls The forecast also calls for average winter temperatures in the Southwest and an unseasonably chilly winter in the Pacific Northwest of New Port Richey was driving her 2003 Toyota Matrix east on SR 54 west of CR 1 when she turned left into the path of a motorcycle driven by Aaron Scott Barnhouse Barnhouse’s motorcycle collided with the right front side of the Matrix and he was pronounced dead at the scene Coulmas was taken to Morton Plant North Bay with minor injuries Those wishing to help the Barnhouse family can visit the GoFundMe site. 2025 at 1:04 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}GL Homes donated $90,000 worth of furniture and fixtures to Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County FL — Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County received its largest furniture donation of the year so far from a top ReStore donor A longstanding supporter of the organization appliances and office furniture totaling $90,000 from its Winding Ridge community in Wesley Chapel GL Homes has donated $200,000 in furniture and building supplies to Habitat's ReStore in Pasco County The sales from donated items help Habitat for Humanity partner with local families to build and repair safe and affordable homes in local communities and around the world “GL Homes donated everything and the kitchen sink decor and home improvement goods will be sold at a fraction of the retail price at our Zephyrhills ReStore,” Melissa Parks Habitat for Humanity of East and Central Pasco County operations and compliance manager “This … donation is the largest one we've received this year the money from the sale of these high-quality items will allow us to build more affordable homes in Pasco County.” Habitat ReStores accept new and gently used home improvement goods and furniture and sell a constantly changing inventory to the public at a fraction of the retail price "Our strong relationship with Habitat for Humanity comes full circle we're keeping quality materials out of landfills and expanding Habitat's ability to build homes for deserving families,” sStephanie Patterson GL Homes vice president and project manager The response was swift — Gunderson is well known in historic hotel circles for restoring Mount Dora’s Lakeside Inn. Might he want to do the same with the Hacienda, a Jazz Age relic that once hosted the likes of Joseph Kennedy, Gloria Swanson and Charlie Chaplin? From that email grew talks with city officials and Gunderson’s ultimate purchase of the decrepit city-owned hotel. Now, after a multiyear, multimillion-dollar restoration, it is again ready to welcome guests. “We took it back to the original layout,” Gunderson says of the 40-room hotel that first opened in 1927. “We’ve completely rebuilt it. Eighty to 85 percent of the internal structure is new.” The Hacienda is among the smallest of Florida’s famed “pink” hotels — others include the Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach, the Vinoy in St. Petersburg and the Breakers in Palm Beach — that drew tourists and celebrities during the boom era of the 1920s. New Port Richey was then known as the “Hollywood of the East” because of its popularity with silent movie makers, and the Hacienda catered to a glamorous crowd. Over time the hotel’s allure faded, and starting in 1985 it was used to house people with special needs. The city bought it in 2003, closed it three years later and, with the help of state grants and other funds, stabilized the vacant building. Then city officials began looking for an investment partner to reopen it as a hotel. The Hacienda Hotel, the 1920s-era Spanish-Mediterranean revival-style hotel being renovated in downtown New Port Richey, has 40 rooms. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]Explore Tampa Bay’s sights and bitesSubscribe to our free Do & Dine newsletter The restoration of the Hacienda, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, has generated the same type of excitement in New Port Richey that the restoration of the Vinoy did in St. Petersburg three decades ago. “It’s certainly a catalyst for downtown businesses along with the work we’ve done in Sims Park and other initiatives,” Manns said. “People already are clamoring to hold events there. There are two restaurants that are in renovation to open in October that would not be downtown if not for the fact we could tout that the Hacienda was coming.” Gunderson said he was drawn in part to the Hacienda because it is in a pretty, tree-lined downtown that gives New Port Richey, Pasco’s second largest city, the potential to be as alluring to visitors as Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and other small cities on Florida’s west coast. “A property like this would not survive as well on U.S. 19,” he said. “It needs to be in a historical setting in a historic downtown with older buildings.” Luckily for New Port Richey, the Hacienda is in just such a place. Susan Taylor MartinBay Magazine Correspondent 2011 at 6:29 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}If you were a tourist driving east on Main Street toward the bridge over the Pithlachascotee River before last week you would be forgiven for thinking you were about to enter “ ew Po t  ichey.” The monument sign that welcomes people to the city from the landscaped traffic median just west of the Cotee River is supposed to read "New Port Richey--Sister City of Cavalaire sur Mer the missing consonants had been replaced with temporary substitutes the city is waiting on a custom order of permanent letters that will spell out a welcome to travelers and residents The consonants went missing from the sign 4-6 weeks ago said Robert Rivera assistant director of the city’s public works department “We couldn’t find the letters,” Rivera said a Port Richey company that erected and installed the sign originally cut and installed the temporary substitutes for free hand-cut letters as permanent replacements for those lost “Those molds don’t exist anymore,” Rupp said "…We have to create the letters from scratch.” 2020 at 10:39 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Beginning Saturday Pasco County will be limiting access to the West Pasco Resource Recovery and the East Pasco Transfer Station Pasco County Solid Waste will be limiting access to both the West Pasco Resource Recovery and the East Pasco Transfer Station Only commercial vendors and customers with bagged household waste will be able to drop off trash Both locations will only accept the following: The following noncommercial deliveries will not be accepted: Both the West Pasco Resource Recovery Facility at 14606 Hays Road in Spring Hill and the East Pasco Transfer Station at 9626 Handcart Road presenting an increased risk of coronavirus exposure for employees and customers alike The county ask all customers to store loose household items at home for the time being For questions or more information about these changes