Michele Miller
What’s What New Port Richey
September 2024
September just happens to be Library Card Sign-up month and what better time to get your kid or yourself on board? That would be just in time as Pasco County Libraries and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team up for the Buccaneers Book Blitz Reading Challenge.
Readers of all ages are encouraged to gear up and tackle their reading goals through September 30, 2024, for a chance to score Buccaneers-themed prizes. Just log 300 minutes and complete one activity on the Beanstack app. A special edition Pasco County Libraries and Tampa Bay Buccaneers branded library card will be available to all Pasco County residents. To learn more about the Buccaneers Book Blitz, visit bit.ly/PCLSChallenges.
Libraries will be closed on Monday, September 4, 2024, in observance of Labor Day
Scroll down to find a calendar of events, links to local branches, and more.
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- New Port Richey Public Library’s ongoing programs that are held regularly include Rhymes to Readers Story Times, Kids Yoga, Quigong, Medicare Basics with SHINE, Writers Workshop, Language Classes, Movies, ESOL Classes, Walking Club, and The Tasty Tuesday Community Market which is held each Tuesday in the Library/City Hall courtyard. To access the library calendar and for more info go to the NPR Library Calendar of Events at newportrichey.librarycalendar.com/events or nprlibrary.org
- Pasco County Library Branches ongoing programs include story times, book clubs, gaming, Quingong, craft classes, movies, Master Garden Programs, SHINE Programs, ESOL, Tech Help, and Photo Scanning. Listings here only include branches in West Pasco with a few Special Programs exceptions that might be worth taking the ride for. For information on Pasco County Libraries and events at all branches, visit pascolibraries.org.
Score a Free Pass to Area Museums
Pasco County Libraries are also offering a Discovery Pass to patrons who can enjoy free access (first-come, first-served) to the area museums and attractions such as the Glazer Children’s Museum, Florida Holocaust Museum, Imagine, Tampa Bay History Center, and the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Pete.
QUICK SEARCH
Library Branch Links
Special Events
Ongoing
Music | Art | Crafts | Writing
ESOL | Language Classes
Master Gardener Events
Give It A Whirl – Programs to Try
More What’s What NPR Calendars
LINK TO LIBRARY BRANCH CALENDARS
WEST PASCO LIBRARIES
Centennial Park Library
5740 Moog Road in Holiday
(727) 834-3204
Hudson Regional Library
8012 Library Road in Hudson.
New Port Richey Public Library
5939 Main St., New Port Richey
Regency Park Library
9701 Little Road, New Port Richey
(727) 861-3011
South Holiday Library
4649 Mile Stretch Dr., Holiday.
Starkey Ranch Library, Theatre, and Cultural Center
12118 Lake Blanche Dr., Odessa.
EAST & CENTRAL PASCO BRANCHES
Hugh Embry Library
14215 4th St, Dade City,
Land O’Lakes Library
2818 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes,
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel
Zephyrhills Library
5347 8th Street, Zephyrhills
Special Events
West Pasco Libraries
September 1 -7
9th Annual Okra Occasion, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, September 7 at the New Port Richey Library
Come learn about the magic of okra – one of Florida’s forgotten summer vegetable treasures. There will be samples of delicious okra dishes, okra recipe books, okra seeds, and maybe some fresh okra for sale by local growers. Come for the seasonal food and learn about sustainable living.
Recipe books for locally-grown produce, including okra recipe books, will be available for sale.
September 8 – 14
Conserving Water, 6 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 10 at the New Port Richey Public Library
Warren Hogg, chief science officer for Tampa Bay Water, provides an overview of Tampa Bay Water, the current state of water resources in Tampa Bay, and how Tampa Bay Water is working towards ensuring its wellness in the future. (Rescheduled from July.)
Friends of the Library Book Sale, September 12 – 14 at the Centennial Park Library in Holiday
Pick up a new read to keep and help support library programs with this fundraising book sale. Access the Centennial Park Library calendar.
September 15 -21
Goth Swap, 5 – 7 p.m. Thursday, September 19 at the New Port Richey Public Library on Main Street | Teens and adults
Shop and swap all things Goth, from clothes and accessories to decor and books. The library will provide a space to display your items and you have the opportunity to shop and swap with others.
NPR Library Riverside Concert Series with Yvonne Ramos, 6 p.m. Friday, September 20 at Sims Park in downtown NPR | All ages
Vocalist and entertainer Yvonne Ramos, originally from the Cape Verde Islands, brings a rich blend of cultural influences to her music. Her sound, deeply rooted in African traditions, incorporates elements of Latin, blues, Caribbean, and Flamenco styles. With her soulful voice and guitar, Yvonne creates music that crosses genres and delights audiences.
This performance will take place in the southwest corner of Sims Park, near the Grassin Bridge. Please feel free to bring your own camp chair or blanket for seating.
September 22 – 30
Weird Florida with author Eliot Kleinberg, 6 -7 p.m. Wednesday, September 25 at the New Port Richey Library
in 1998, the original Weird Florida posited that Florida was the wackiest state of all. That much weirdness called for a second volume in 2006: Weird Florida II: In a State of Shock. Now, more than two decades later, who can argue otherwise? This presentation by author and journalist, Eliot Kleinberg, includes a whirlwind tour of 500 years of Florida history, capped with a strong argument for Florida’s transplants to become Floridians.
ONGOING
New Port Richey Library Walk and Talk Club, 10 – 11 a.m. each Monday at the library in downtown NPR
Walk to different destinations around New Port Richey. Explore the city and make new friends, all while exercising. Walkers will be rewarded with NPR Public Library swag as they complete mileage milestones. The walk will begin and end at the New Port Richey Public Library courtyard.
Chess Club, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Mondays at the New Port Richey Public Library.
Tasty Tuesdays Community Market, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. each Tuesday at the New Port Richey Library in downtown New Port Richey
Find locally sourced foods, sustainably grown produce, cottage-industry baked goods and foods, unique, hand-made items, and more. Regular items include organic produce, plants, bread, honey, eggs, coffee, skincare, etc. Get to know your growers, ask questions, and learn from their experience.
The market is SNAP shopping friendly, so bring your EBT cards to use up to $40 in SNAP and get $40 in Fresh Access Bucks (FAB).
Friday Afternoon Films, 3 p.m. Fridays at the Regency Park Library in New Port Richey | Free
This month’s feature films include The Proposal, Split, Dead Poets Society and You’ve Got Mail.. Light refreshments will be served. Ages 18 +
Mark Your Calendar
- Pasco County Libraries presents “Saturday Sounds” Tribute Shows, October – January at the Starkey Ranch Library, Theatre, and Cultural Center in Odessa. Tickets are $13.
Master Gardener Programs and Seminars
Master Gardener programs are held at various locations – mostly libraries – in Pasco County. For more info visit sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/pasco
- Succulents 101, 6 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 4 at the Hudson Regional Library in Hudson. Learn about the care and propagation of succulents-not just cactus! Discussion on an array of varieties of succulents, to be grown indoors and out.
- House Plants, 2 – 3 p.m. Tuesday, September 10 at the New River Library in Wesley Chapel. Everyone loves to have beautiful plants inside their homes. To help with this mission, come learn helpful tips to make your houseplants happy and healthy.
- Ask a Master Gardener | Cooking With Herbs, 9 – 10: 30 a.m. Satruday, September 14 at the Zephyrhills Public Library.
- Horticulture in Arts and Crafts, 2 – 3 p.m. Monday, September 16 at the Centennial Park Library in Holiday. Fruits and vegetables, flowers, and leaves all offer wonderful possibilities for art. In this free seminar, you will have the opportunity to create a stamped tea towel from nature.
- Bromeliads in Florida, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 17 at the New Port Richey Public Library. Come discover the bromeliads that grow and thrive in our Florida climate. This presentation provides an overview of the plants found growing naturally on trees: Spanish moss, ball moss, and tillandsia air plants. Parasitic plants vs epiphytic plants, lichen, bromeliads as houseplants, and in landscaping including growing pineapple are also briefly explored.
- Beekeeping, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Wednesday, September 18 at the Starkey Ranch Library in Odessa. A sweet story of the process of a beekeeper tending to the bees as they collect nectar and pollinate flowers then collect the honey product.
- Compost Happens, 2 – 3 p.m. Thursday, September 26 at New River Library in Wesley Chapel. Turn your landscape debris into yard gold. Compost has many uses and benefits. It’s environmentally friendly, provides useful beneficial products to your yard, and is an excellent soil amendment. It can also be applied on top of soil as mulch. It’s easy for small and large landscapes.
- Pollinators, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. September 28 at the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City. A successful pollinator container may include a variety of flowering plants that bloom throughout the growing season. It is an excellent way to enjoy the fragrance and see the visiting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds up close as they visit. Learn about containers, soils, plants, and cultural requirements so you can create the garden in the afternoon.
ESOL & Foreign Language
- ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Tuesdays and 2-4 p.m. Fridays. English language tutoring is available one-on-one via ZOOM. 30-minute appointments are offered on Tuesday mornings and Friday afternoons. These lessons are intended for students with some prior experience learning English. Lessons are taught in English by a certified teacher. A group class for beginning speakers is offered on Saturday mornings on Zoom. Please email the South Holiday Library to sign up and for more information. Registration required.
- English Conversation Group, 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 10-11:30 a.m. most Fridays. Practice your English-speaking skills in a group on Zoom. This is a fun, casual atmosphere to practice and improve your English. Speakers of all levels are welcome. We have a new topic for every meeting. The class will be hosted by Claudia from the South Holiday Library. Please call or email the South Holiday Library for more information and to register. Registration required.
- English for Beginners, 10-11 a.m. Saturdays. This is a one-hour class for beginning English language learners who have little to no fluency in English. The class is taught online. Basic topics such as greetings, simple conversations, and basic grammar. This is an adult class. The class is held on Zoom. Please email the South Holiday Library to sign up. Registration required.
Learn a language or hone your skills…
- Fun French for Kids, 4 – 4:45 p.m. Mondays at the Regency Park Library in New Port Richey. Grades 3 -8.
- Mandarin Chinese Class, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Fridays at the New Port Richey Public Library. Practice your Mandarin Chinese language skills in an informal and friendly group setting. This group is self-led; class will be led via conversation practice and not with an instructor.
- Bonjour Mes Amis, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturdays at the New Port Richey Public Library. Practice your French language skills in an informal and friendly group setting. This group is self-led; class will be led via conversation practice and not with an instructor.
Art | Music | Writing | Photography
- Regency Parks Recycled Projects Cardboard Fidget Boards, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, September 7 at the Regency Park Library in New Port Richey. Recycled art is a great exercise in creativity as it provides a new purpose for objects that have satisfied their original use. Join us to turn cardboard and simple items into your favorite new toy.
- Paper Crafting for Adults, 2- 4 p.m. Wednesday, September 11 & 25 at the South Holiday Library.
- Pottery for Kids, Open Clay Workshops for Adults, Pottery for Beginners Clayworks DIY. These classes are held at various times on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at the Starkey Ranch Library in Odessa. Access the Starkey Ranch Library calendar for more info.
- Artist Series: Frida Kahlo, 10 to 11 a.m. and 12 to 1 p.m. Saturday, September 28 at the New Port Richey Public LibrariesFrida Kahlo was known for her many impassioned self-portraits and her depiction of Mexican nature and artifacts. Emulating Kahlo’s vivid colors, soft shapes, and fearless authenticity, you’ll be painting a self-portrait with an instructor to guide you through the process.
- Ukulele Social Hour, 10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Mondays at the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City. Join this informal, casual, and slow-paced get-together to strum on ukuleles. This group is designed for those with basic ukulele skills. For more information, contact the branch at 352 567-3576.
Novice Narrators, 5 – 6 p.m. Thursday, September 26 at the Centennial Park Library in Holiday. Do you want to delve into the field of writing? Want to write wacky stories? Come learn how to write your next novel or short story or just come to hang out with some like-minded teens
- Writers Workshop, 4-7 p.m. Mondays at the New Port Richey Public Library. Join other local writers to discuss ideas, read selections, and share feedback.
- Intro to Photography & Exposure, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, September 6 at the Starkey Ranch Library in Odessa. A hands-on class where you will learn how to use Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO to achieve correctly exposed photos. Ages 16+. Needed: Digital Camera w/ lens 50 mm focal length.
- Beginner Photo Scanning Tuesdays and Fridays at the Centennial Park Library in Holiday. Sessions are also held on different days for newcomers and seasoned patrons familiar with the use of the equipment. Access the Centennial Park calendar.
Health | Community Services at the Library
- Medicare Basics with SHINE is typically held on the first Thursday of the month at the New Port Richey Public Library. The Medicare 101 presentation conducted by the SHINE Program provides information on the basics of Medicare with coverage that falls into four different areas called “Parts”- Medicare Part A, B, C & D, and what they mean to you. A SHINE volunteer will be available to answer questions. Individual appointments are available.
- BayCare Health Screening for Adults, 1 – 4 p.m. Friday, September 6 at the Hudson Regional Library. Free. Includes lipid screenings with Blood Pressure, BMI, and Glucose checks (all done via finger sticks).
- Medicare & Social Security: What You Need to Know, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 24 at the Starkey Ranch Library in Odessa. Learn how to make informed decisions about your planning throughout retirement and maximize your benefits.
- SHINE Medicare Education, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Wednesday, September 25 at the Regency Park Library in New Port Richey.
