Hospital names Wilson Physician of the Quarter
NEW PORT RICHEY — Morton Plant North Bay Hospital has named psychiatrist Dr. Crystal Wilson its Physician of the Quarter.
Wilson has worked at the hospital’s North Bay Recovery Center since July 2018, building a reputation for clinical skill and compassionate care.
She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of South Florida and a medical degree from the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. She completed her residency and fellowship at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Wilson is board certified in general psychiatry and in child and adolescent psychiatry through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
The award draws on comments from peers, team members and patients. One nominator wrote that Wilson goes above and beyond for patients and their families every day, supports her staff and listens — and sometimes buys lunch for her team.
Another called her an outstanding psychiatrist whose patient-centered care and steady professionalism deserve recognition. Team members described her as supportive, intentional, poised, knowledgeable and caring.
Pasco Schools win two Telly Awards
Pasco County Schools won two bronze Telly Awards in the program’s 47th annual competition, the district’s first wins in its first year entering.
The district earned a bronze in the general educational institution category for a video on work-based learning, and a second bronze in the accessibility and inclusion category for “Communicating the Vision,” a piece spotlighting student Kiley Griggs.
The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens and are judged by a council of more than 250 industry professionals. This year’s competition drew more than 13,000 entries worldwide, with other winners including ABC News, the Mayo Clinic, Harvard Business School and Paramount.
Toni Zetzsche, the district’s chief communications and community engagement officer, said the honor reflects the work of the schools’ communications team and the district’s belief that storytelling matters.
The full list of winners is at tellyawards.com.
New Port Richey Main Street earns top national accreditation
NEW PORT RICHEY — New Port Richey Main Street has been named a 2026 Accredited Main Street America program, the network’s highest national designation.
The accreditation recognizes downtown revitalization groups that meet rigorous performance standards in areas such as community commitment, leadership, funding and historic preservation. New Port Richey is one of 838 accredited programs nationwide and part of a network of more than 1,600 communities. The local program’s performance was evaluated by Florida Main Street, which partners with the national organization.
Over the past year, the group expanded events meant to draw people downtown, including Fourth Friday, Downtown Dine Out and Summer in the City, and advanced the Tides of Time public art project celebrating the district’s history.
Executive Director Nathan Ward said the designation reflects the work of the program’s board, volunteers, partners and businesses, and that the group is proud of its 2025 progress and eager to build on it.
Nationally, Main Street America programs generated $9.4 billion in local reinvestment in 2025 and helped create more than 36,000 jobs.
Pasco students earn record number of Associate Degrees
Pasco County Schools students earned a record 115 Associate in Arts degrees during the 2025-26 school year, the most the district has recorded.
The total marks a 36.9% increase over the previous year, which the district credited to growing dual enrollment and college readiness programs. Three schools — Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Sunlake High School and Zephyrhills High School — more than doubled their totals from the year before.
Students can earn the two-year degree while still in high school, cutting college costs and shortening the time to a bachelor’s degree. The district said it is working to make more families aware of those benefits and recently held office hours for dual enrollment staff and counselors, with a second session planned.
For inquiries, contact public information officer Jessica Meek at jsmeek@pasco.k12.fl.us.
County cleanups haul away 280 tons of trash
Pasco County crews removed 280 tons of trash and debris from three West Pasco neighborhoods in the latest round of community cleanups.
Teams from the county’s Solid Waste, Public Works and Code Compliance departments hauled away 212 tons from Moon Lake, 42 tons from Gulf Highlands and 26 tons from Holiday Lake Estates.
“These are incredible results for District 4 and the Moon Lake area,” Commissioner Lisa Yeager said. “It really shows how much we can accomplish when we work together to improve our community.”
Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said the annual cleanups help keep Pasco cleaner and safer, and Commissioner Jack Mariano said they give residents a convenient way to get rid of items they’ve long wanted to discard.
Residents can report trash or debris through the MyPasco app, by emailing RIDPasco@mypasco.net or by calling 727-847-2411.
New Port Richey adds free summer event series downtown
NEW PORT RICHEY — New Port Richey is launching two free summer event series aimed at drawing people downtown with music, dancing and wellness activities.
Sunshine Sessions, a daytime dance party set to house music, runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month at Cavalaire Square, on June 14, July 12, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13. Curated by Heather Effie, the all-ages event features dancing, bubble machines, giveaways and wellness activities.
Motion on the Square takes place every other Thursday in June and July at Railroad Square, on June 4, June 18, July 16 and July 30. Led by Coach Q of the Million Dollar Divas Dance Company, it offers youth and teen sessions at 6 p.m. and beginner-friendly line dancing for all ages at 7 p.m.
Both series are free, with free parking downtown. City Manager Debbie Manns said the events help activate public spaces and support local businesses.
For more information, contact Jesse Tamme at TammeJ@cityofnewportrichey.com.
Developer buys New Port Richey site for 270-unit apartment project
NEW PORT RICHEY — A multifamily developer has paid $5 million for nearly 14 acres in New Port Richey to build a 270-unit apartment community.
Aventon Companies bought the site at 8620 Decubellis Road from the Little family and has broken ground on the project, called Aventon Eva. Leasing is expected to begin in July 2027. The brokerage Colliers represented the buyer.
The community will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in three-story garden-style buildings, with amenities including a resort-style pool, a clubhouse, a pet spa and a fitness center. It will sit within New Port Corners, a roughly 1,000-acre master-planned community being developed by Lennar.
It is Aventon’s third project in the Tampa Bay area. The developer cited the region’s growth, including the Moffitt Cancer Center campus rising about 8 miles away, which is expected to generate more than 45,000 jobs.