Onward | Taking Stock and Bearing Down – For Now

October 1, 2026

Michele Miller
What’s What New Port Richey

Practicing morning tai chi in the Florida room is a thankful start to this day, and this new month I’m thinking, as I will myself into a steady yet pliable one-legged stance, all while honing in on the cranberry hibiscus bush in the back garden that’s waving back at me in the gentle breeze.

Steady now.

It’s a useful focus for both practice and nurture. These exercises are supposed to be good for my aging bones, and I’ll be plucking some of those maple-shaped leaves later on, lending to a colorful and tangy seasonal addition to tonight’s salad.

October’s start has us just on the other side of the autumnal equinox and September’s Harvest Moon. The changing season means our home vegetable plots are sprouting growth here in Florida, as I hear “tales from the northern garden” from my sister, who’s been busy pulling what’s left standing after reaping what’s been sown in preparation for the coming, harsh winter months.

“It was a good year,” she tells me in backyard farmer terms.

Whatever hemisphere or area we live in, no matter the season, I figure it’s always good to take stock from time to time. Of what’s been, of what’s to come – before getting back to trying to live in the moment.

Which leads to my thoughts on the direction of this online publication, which quietly entered its sixth year in June.

Yep, I’m still here. Not bad.

What’s What New Port Richey was born on the idea of filling a local need, connecting people to their community, and giving me something creative to do after being laid off from the Tampa Bay Times/St. Petersburg Times in the spring of 2020.

For about 25 years all told, I had the benefit of working for an area publication during what many former colleagues refer to as its “heyday.” Back then, much of the news and revenue was driven by regional sections such as the Pasco Times. Which no longer exists.

I parlayed the knowledge I gained during the newspaper’s boom and its sad contraction, when “taking on more duties for less money” became the working model as staffers dwindled with repeated layoffs. Funded by my stimulus checks and fueled by encouragement from my husband, family, and members of this community whom I shared the idea with, I decided to launch What’s What New Port Richey.

Over six years, the publication, with a mission to “Connect People to the Community They Live In” – whether it be through publishing calendars featuring local events, cutting and pasting local news briefs, writing feature stories, business profiles and directing people on where to vote, where to find a live music gig, and discover ways to get help, or give help – has seen steady growth in LOCAL readership, along with increasing queries from area organizations asking how to get their information on the website.

Local agencies such as Pasco County Government, the City of New Port Richey, the Florida Department of Health Pasco, Pasco Economic Development Council, as well as educational institutions such as Pasco Hernando State College and Saint Leo University submit press releases regularly to What’s What, along with area non-profits wanting to get the word out about stuff you might want to know.

A review of analytics shows that some website traffic is organic, with repeat customers. Some is spurred by distribution to new readers through referrers such as the NewsBreak website, an aggregator of local news stories that purports to serve over 40+ million Americans a month. Reader engagement on the What’s What New Port Richey website averages 90-100%.

Meta/Facebook is also sharing What’s What NPR posts more broadly across its platform and is now paying for content that I’m providing, citing the original content (versus AI) and the connections being forged in the local community.

Honestly, I had to research to make sure the offer wasn’t another scam. Over the last few months, FB followers have been growing at a fair pace, averaging about 100 new sign-ons every two weeks, give or take.

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Growth-wise, I think we’re doing pretty well for a publication with an uber-local focus and an owner/editor with a better talent for content than selling adverts. I’ve never been comfortable selling myself. Job interviews were always the worst. 🙁

So, revenue-wise, not so well.

While the site has been primarily funded by advertising spots placed by dedicated local businesses and organizations who see value in the publication and its service to the community, these past few years have been basically a break-even venture.

I don’t take a paycheck, which is okay at this stage of my life. I’m actually pretty jazzed about being able to do something creative and helpful on my own platform during my “retirement” years.

But as with many small business owners, I’m finding that things are getting more expensive. With the rising costs of computer software to run, protect, and promote the website, among other expenses, the website is sliding back into owner-financed territory.

I love what I’m doing here, but that business model is not sustainable long term.

Even so, after much thought and admittedly some consternation, I’ve decided to bear down. For now.

My main focus has been on providing good content; I plan to continue that. In addition, I’ll be spending some time ramping up advertising efforts while not ceding quality of the website by resorting to those awful pop-up ads that make reading a displeasure.

I hate that.

If you enjoy the publication and value its merit, I ask that business owners and organizations consider taking out an ad for as little as $25 a month | $10 for non-profits. If you know a business owner who might be interested in promoting their business to local customers, and is looking for platform other than social media, please put in a good word.

In a small sell here, I’ll point out that one ad gets your business logo on the site’s sponsor page and also includes coverage -weekly shoutouts – on social media pages and in the newsletter.

On that note, as of October 2026, the newsletter will be sent weekly rather than biweekly to subscribers. That way, readers will be better kept up-to-date with a concise wrap-up of the latest posts and news items, as well as highlights on local events happening over the coming week.

Consider it a Sunday or Monday must-read that will continue to be free for subscribers.

Given that, if you are a reader who would like to help promote and support the What’s What New Port Richey website and the mission to “Connect People to the Community They Live In,” I’ll gladly accept a donation.

Every little bit helps.

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Michele Miller is the creator, editor, and content creator for the What’s What New Port Richey community website and biweekly newsletter, which has been up and running since June of 2020. Prior to that, she wrote “good news” stories, features, and columns while working as a reporter and photographer for the St. Petersburg Times/Tampa Bay Times. She resides in New Port Richey. Contact her at mmiller@whatswhatnewportrichey.com. To read more of her essays, click here.

Onward | ‘The Launch’ and Starting this New Gig

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