The North side of the hotel. This is the side that faces Sims Park…This view was hidden for decades by a structural addition that housed a lounge and restaurant.

The current state of the view shown above…With the addition torn down. That work was completed earlier this year

A few short months ago, this was the north side of the hotel

Same view, August 14th.

The Friends of the Hacienda and Historic New Port Richey reached out to us, this week, via our friend Laura Sherrod Pence.  With changes in how the restoration was going, I think the city wanted a chance to explain why they’ve made changes in how things were going to get done, and who was going to do them.

While I am not a native, I consider New Port Richey my hometown.  The Hacienda Hotel, on Main Street, is one of West Pasco County’s most iconic structures…Perhaps only our offshore stilt houses are more iconic. The Hacienda has been a hotel, a boarding house, a senior living facility, and empty.  The goal, now, is to restore her to her former glory, and create, once again a living structure, that is part of our social lives, not just a landmark.

The recent overhaul of Sims Park directly north of the hotel seemed to give a sense of urgency to having the Hacienda functional, and occupied.  Downtown New Port Richey is having a renaissance, and it won’t seem complete until the Hacienda is done.

The recent departure of the group contracted happened because the vision of the city, and the vision of the developers, began to separate. The developers were more interested in occupancy than in accuracy of restoration…And the city wants both.  It’s a bold move to demand that.

The north view is most impressive! You can see the original ‘bones’ of the hotel, before all the additions and changes were made.

Mario Iezzoni, New Port Richey’s Economic Development Director, gave us some excellent insight into why the historic preservation is important…And how the city expects to recoup the expense of renovation.  It’s an enormous project, and enormously important that it be completed in such a way that the historicity in play is not lost.  There are legends about the Hacienda…But it is important for the reality of the building be preserved.  Why it was built, how it was built, and the manner in which it was designed to account for our climate, and suit the needs of a blossoming small city, in 1925 is paramount.

Mario Iezzoni (right) explains the depth of the project for our podcast.

Bert Bender, the project architect,  gave us an update on the nuts and bolts…Telling us about the next step, and when we can expect to have public access to the hotel.  I liked hearing that he is sensitive to that as a NEED for the project:  That in order to keep the public interested, and invested, they’ll need to see what they are paying for.  Of course, there are safety concerns, and that is the next step:  Making the building safe for visitors (the floors are soft, and there are a TON of dark uneven spaces on the floors inside).

Project Architect Bert Bender helps us un...

The musician’s corner at Spare Room Studio.

One of the things I set out to do was show that we had the potential for a vibrant, varied local music scene.  We do!  Even before we started, I knew there were a few songwriters, around.

I’m very proud of this podcast, today.  A few reasons:

1) It represents my learning curve in recording live performances by acoustic musicians (and even a few more technical tricks, as well).

2) Almost all of these tracks were recorded on two microphones, feeding signal to a simple analog mixer, and then onto recording media.  In this case, direct to PC hard drive.  For the most part, these are recordings YOU could make, in YOUR home, with minimal gear.  That should encourage you to make your OWN show.

3) All of these are original songs!  Are you kidding?  Do you know that most bar owners discourage original songs?  They want it to be soothing background music for your drinking.  The OPPOSITE of what has always made live music great.  Think about the LEGENDARY music bars, even just a couple in L.A.  I don’t think anybody ever went to the Troubador to hear James Taylor play cover tunes.  I don’t think anybody ever said, “Let’s go to the Whiskey (a gogo), and see that band the Doors do Bill Haley covers!”

NOPE.

The one thing I want for us is to have venues that support ORIGINAL local music projects, at a rate of more than “You can slip an original in if it’s quiet.”  Screw that.  Sorry, bar owners.  You’ve lulled yourselves into that placid sleep that pretends it knows.  We are WAITING for a break out venue that encourages original music!

Contact the artists in this podcast!

Ian Doubt

Danielle Mohr

Alex Centeno

Dave Eichenberger

Athan Monk

Dino DiBernardinis went on a rant about “humanizing”, this week.  Not really a rant, just a reminder that we should do that.  I complimented him, saying I shared his view.  He replied that he was thinking about it because of what I’ve been writing.  Yay, great minds, yada yada.

Then, again, on Thursday, I was given a chance to sit with folks and help them humanize a group they hadn’t been thinking much about…medical cannabis patients, and were in turn able to GIVE understanding about the people they serve directly…The homeless.

I see individuals, even groups, striving for that conversation.  Good job, individuals and groups!

I like that my show attracts a certain kind of mind…An empathic, open, questing crowd, mostly.  Of course, I’m a fairly skeptical and cautious thinker…But I do like to find the boundaries of my acceptance, and streeeetch them a little bit.

Keep your mind flexible, and your heart light.  It’s a long way to where we’re going.

A sermon from Brother Gregorius of the Pastafari Order.

 

Also, I’ve been collecting thunderstorms since May.  You’re welcome!

~Greg

 

Much more relaxed feeling, tonight.  We’ll talk a little about the extraordinary Port Richey City Council Meeting, Tuesday…And what makes it extraordinary.

But just a little.  In fact, not much to write about here, on the blog.  I’ll provide a couple of info links, below.  Have a great Thursday…Come out and see me at Gill Dawg!  If you check in on Facebook when you arrive, you get a free drink!

Night in the Tropics Info Flyer:

We’ll be downtown early, catching a few interviews.

Our friends Travis Morehead and Shannon Hernandez will be hosting their first EVER event, out at Great Spirit Farm Healing and Retreat Center, this Sunday…A wild edible and medicinal plant walk, with Andy Firk! Click the image below for a link to the event listing on Facebook…

We’re very excited about participating in events at this magnificent farm and retreat!

That’s all for today!  Catch you out and about!

~Greg

 

Check in at Gill Dawg on Facebook, get a free drink!

 

A lot of important and meaningful things happened for me, Tuesday.  I overdid it, for sure.  I had important conversations with several people, from 10am to around 10pm.  I like using that term, conversations, because sometimes the important conversations don’t turn out to be interviews.  Sometimes, it’s enough for me to come to an understanding of the other person’s goals and values.  I have to tell you, there are a ton of people in our community with great goals and values, and we are lucky that they are working every day to reach understanding, and act to make our lives better.

Messengers of Hope Mission distributes food, water, clothing, and other assistance items to the homeless in our community. They use their own resources, and donated items and money to support the work. They have no facility, and and work from their homes, in their personal vehicles.

But everything that happened had to be held up, perspective wise, against the very first conversation I had, today…With Bob Gardner and Tim Duerksen from Messengers of Hope Mission.  Now, we’ve had Bob on, before.  In early June, he moved me to tears, talking about the deep value in helping people.  Just…feeding them.  Giving them water, and hope, and prayers.  Where they are, as they are.

Unconditional service to the abject poor.

Young people, doing hard community service work.

The helper needs our help.

Tim pointed out, today, that there is a Bible passage that addresses “compassion fatigue”.  That’s what happens when you serve so much that you exhaust yourself.  Sometimes, it is mental and spiritual, sometimes we literally give til we hurt ourselves.

New Living Translation

“You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.”

Tim explained that it means it’s okay for the helper to feed himself, while helping. While doing the work.  That we must practice self care, as we care for others.

I am proud to support Messengers of Hope in any way I can. Please consider making a donation, especially now, to keep their kitchens working!

That’s all I’ll say, please listen to the podcast.  Link below goes to the Messengers of Hope Website.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE NEEDED ITEMS LIST AT WWW.MESSENGERSOFHOPEMISSION.ORG

Video of my Facebook Live broadcast with Bob, Tuesday:

Live from West Side Deli, Tuesday morning. Click to watch video.

If we don’t hear from the Mayor of City Manager by Friday, we’ll be asking some much tougher questions. We may do that anyway.

I think we’ve waited long enough.  I had really hoped to have a talk with Port Richey Mayor Dale Massad, and air another podcast with him.  I wanted to do that before I laid out the last two interviews…Rich Melton and Kristin Tonkin differ a little in their opinion of what the city is doing, and should do, about the WOD and Restore Act Funding.  But not by much.  Both do think the Mayor is embarked on a huge error:  That he either doesn’t understand or won’t listen to the folks around him…That there can be a boat ramp in Waterfront Park. That not acting can cost the city the Restore Act Money to begin developing the WOD.

I am not the only person that was confused by the Mayor’s rambling ‘presentation’ at the recent county sponsored workshop.  I asked two questions while he was at the podium.  I asked those questions to have a clear, concise picture of what was going on:

1) Would the FCT and Restore Act Committee entertain changing the allowance for Waterfront Park, allowing for a boat ramp there, as is represented in the City’s own Restore Act request?

The Restore Act Committee Chair said yes.  On today’s podcast, Kristin Tonkin verifies that the Florida Communities Trust also says yes.

2) Could the city lose that $650+ thousand dollars if they do not act in accordance with the plan already approved?

The Restore Act Committee Chair said yes to this, as well…While Mayor Dale Massad stood next to him.

There are only so many conclusions to reach:

1) The Mayor is confused, and not understanding the situation.

2) The Mayor knows full well what he is doing, and believes the Restore Act Committee and Florida Communities Trust will see the error of their ways, and allow the Mayor and council to radically modify the existing plan for Waterfront Park, and the other approved items.

3) The Mayor knows full well what he is doing, and is trying to torpedo the project, and cost Port Richey  the Restore Act funds.

4) The Mayor simply doesn’t want a boat ramp next door, and is acting out of naked self interest.

I can’t think of what else he might be doing…And he certainly isn’t stepping up to talk about it.  We went from an informal phone interview, to his request for an off the record chat before appearing, to complete radio silence.

About the idea of a ramp and park above the bridge:

The black spear shape at the right of the image is where the Mayor wants to put a boat ramp.

There’s a problem with this that everybody who operates boats here will recognize:  The under bridge channel  itself, and the channel just downstream from the bridge, are extremely narrow.  There is zero margin for operator error between Whiskey River and the old bridge pier there, and Catches.  Additionally, commercial vessels…large ones, use that same area.  This would create a massive increase in traffic in a narrow, and potentially dangerously congested area. It’s also going to get more congested, when Whiskey Joe’s is built.

Waterfront Park is a FAR better option to relieve the pressure on Nick’s Park.  TRIPLE the trailer parking, and much more navigable than the upriver site.  Look, I am all for developing that site, later.  But it is NOT part of the plan already approved and in place.

Below, look at the map of Waterfront Park and the WOD:

Look at the area on the water where the (now gone) pier was: Look at the ...

Today’s podcast guest is Rich Melton, the Vice President of the Bayou Business Association.  The BBA has been a topic on our podcast before, long before the current brouhaha over the code problems with music, parking, and other stuff in the Waterfront Overlay District.  It’s worth considering that MANY Waterfront businesses exist in Port Richey outside the WOD.

The Waterfront Overlay District is just a small part of Port Richey’s business community. The Bayou Business Association represents businesses in ALL of Port Richey.

One of the channels that borders Waterfront Park, the center of some controversy in Port Richey.

I visit Waterfront Park at least twice a week, now. I see very few park visitors.

Their concerns, however, are much the same:  Maintaining and improving the relationship of businesses with the City of Port Richey…A relationship that is strained, currently.  On more than one occasion, the Mayor has discounted to contribution to the tax base by businesses, and said he is unclear on whether they contribute enough to warrant consideration.

Rich joined us to talk about that, and how the BBA can help improve life in Port Richey.

For More information on the Bayou Business Association, please visit their website by clicking the green text!

Later this week, we’ll be interviewing Gary Gann for a status update on the Hacienda Hotel Restoration Project…We might even get a chance to look around inside the hotel!

~Greg

I cannot believe I forgot to take a picture of Don Anderson, Director of Strategy and Development at Youth and Family Alternatives. *Sigh* Good thing I found one on the internet!

Don stopped by at the behest of Colleen and Erik Soujanen, to tell us about what sounds like a big fun event, coming up the first of October.  From 2 to 6pm, on that day, you can join Gill Dawg and YFA for “Brews and Wine on the Bayou”. Thirty craft beers, thirty wines…Admission gets you a lanyard for ALL of that, plus live entertainment and some great tapas style food…Check out the food!

So…Get your tickets today, and help support Youth and Family Alternatives, as they work to help at risk kids and families, right here in So Local Pasco territory!

Click on the poster to get info and tickets…

YFA Brews (and wine) on the Bayou..Click poster for tickets!

Here’s the poster for  “Let’s Fill the Pet Bowl”ing, Suday, noon to 4, at Hudson Bowl!

Our friend and former guest Lisa Bekarias and Raffle Rescue, Hudson, are at it again…They put the FUN in FUNdraiser!

Come on out Sunday, raise some money for a program designed to keep pets WITH owners who are having financial difficulties.

Thanks for another great week, and thanks for all your generous support!  Back Monday….

~Greg

A Lot Going On, Out There!

We start tonight’s show with a rundown of some fun upcoming events…Music, street parties, and art showings.  Good times!

As many of you know, I’ve been spending Tuesdays at the West Side Deli in Counsel Square, across from the government center on Little Road…Where I meet and interview guests for the show.  Last Tuesday, we had TWO artists drop in…Dino DeBernardinis, who makes tank drums…You heard his interview last week.  The other artist is a photographer and painter I’ve been bumping into for several months…We first met at the Relay For Life Concert in Sims Park.

Edison is originally from near Clarksdale, Mississippi…Those of you who are fans of blues music and folk art will know that Clarksdale is where the infamous “Crossroads” is, where Robert Johnson allegedly made his deal with the devil for fortune and fame.  Edison’s journey took him from there to New Orleans, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and now, here.  I’ve been enjoying his photography for months, and he gave me a really nice photo enlargement to hang here in the Spare Room…Very proud to have it!

Here’s a peek at some of his work:

Coming up NEXT Friday, “A Night in the Tropics”, downtown New Port Richey!

We’ll be downtown early, catching a few interviews.

 

Yes, But Did We Win?

So…Long, long day.  I forgot to say in the podcast.  But, yes, I think we did.  I think the Pasco Board of County Commissioners was moved, Tuesday, by the patients and caregivers who testified.  I think they spent the week scrambling to verify the ‘facts’ presented by the PCSO and staff…And found there was a lot of information they were not given.  That some of what they were given was flawed, or incomplete, or even incoherent.  I certainly found that in a two hour Google frenzy last week, when I was given the Sheriff’s report, so I could check citations.

Now What?

I’m glad you asked.  Here’s what happens next:  The County Commission meets on August 23rd, in New Port Richey, to vote on extending the moratorium on cannabis dispensaries through December 31st, 2016.  And they may extend it…But it was pretty clear, Tuesday that the ‘moratorium’ was never intended to be a way for the BOCC to avoid making a decision on dispensaries…It was intended to give the staff, the board, code enforcement and law enforcement time to make a plan to implement medical cannabis dispensaries.

The Tuesday hearing clearly showed there is broad support among residents to end the moratorium, and begin planning on how to permit dispensaries.  Which still may not happen.

Here’s a link to a Facebook video of all the testimony, captured by Garyn Angel’s video guys…Sorry it’s only one audio channel.

But WHAT Did We Win?

The Board still has the option of denying medical cannabis dispensaries in Pasco County.  Even if they do that, medical cannabis patients will simply have to get their medicine delivered from counties that made a plan, thought ahead, and allowed dispensaries.  Those counties will benefit by creating new jobs, serving citizens, and helping medical cannabis patients feel less like junkies and freaks.

So we won a little time to show the board how to say yes.  That’s a good start.

This will be my last word on this for a few days…Because I am passionate about this issue, and have a personal stake, it risks becoming some sort of obsessive mission, and I really don’t want that.  If something earth shaking happens, or a super compelling story comes up, we’ll cover it…But expect our friend Corey at The Baboon Room to carry more interviews than we do hear, at So Local Pasco.

I’m very tired. I’m off to bed.  More good stuff on So Local Pasco, tomorrow.

Thanks to all you warriors fighting the good fight.  Thanks for showing me how to help humanized medical cannabis patients.

A very tire So Local Pasco Podcast Guy, celebrating a feeling of accomplishment. Still awake, 12 hours after this photo.