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Michele Miller - Pasco Features Reporter
Michele Miller

Pasco Features Reporter

I’m jack-of-all-trades of sorts, working for the Pasco regional section of the Tampa Bay Times. I plan local education and entertainment coverage and write a fair share of human interest stories. I always have my camera handy because I enjoy taking pictures. I’m passionate about bringing you local news that you won't get anywhere else. I’m a northern transplant who’s been working for the Times for over 20 years, so you could say, I’ve settled in. Your community is my community. Call me any time with a story idea.

  1. Feeling the holiday letdown? Pasco/Hernando festival season to the rescue
    Jan. 9• Pasco
    Raising Cane — A Sweet and Spice Event will be held Jan. 11 at the Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City.
    Day trip or camp out. There’s plenty to choose from in the months to come.
  2. Pasco kids enjoy winter break, Florida-style
    Jan. 2• Pasco
    Myrah Almestica, 4, (left) and Alexandra Evelyn, 4, (right) make miniature snowmen out of a mixture of baking soda and hair conditioner during a special winter activity held over winter break at the Fox Hollow Elementary PLACE program.
  3. Volunteers honor fallen vets one wreath at a time at Florida National Cemetery
    Dec. 17, 2019• Pasco
    Ashley Durand of Tampa and her children, Vianne, 6, (foreground) and Ciaran, 3, say a prayer during the annual Wreaths Across America event held on Dec. 14 at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
  4. Dreams fulfilled, goals met at Pasco-Hernando State College commencement
    Dec. 16, 2019• Pasco
    More than 1,300 summer and fall graduates were eligible to participate in the morning or afternoon commencement ceremonies Dec. 11 at the Pasco-Hernando State College New Port Richey campus. Approximately 345 degrees and certificates were conferred.
    Two ceremonies were held at the New Port Richey campus.
  5. New Port Richey coffee shop thrives in unlikely spot.
    Dec. 11, 2019• Pasco
    Brett Griest, 61, and his wife, Shannon, are the proprietors of the East Main Street Coffee Shop & Sandwich Shop in New Port Richey. The coffee, specialty sandwiches and a neighborly feel keep customers coming back.
    Three years in, the East Main Street Coffee and Sandwich Shop is making a go of it.
  6. Brooksville mural tour offers low-key stroll through local history
    Dec. 9, 2019• Hernando
    Jan Knowles is the tour guide of a new walking Murals Tour in downtown Brooksville. The one-hour tour is sponsored by the Hernando County Fine Arts Council and features eight murals, including this one painted on the Historic Woman's Club on Main Street.
    Projects coordinator Jan Knowles is bringing attention to the downtown mural scene
  7. Tampa Bay potters throw open their studios for 12th-annual Tour de Clay
    Dec. 5, 2019• Pasco
    Glenn Woods, 62, shapes a decorative bottle made with a blend of porcelain clays at Pottery Boys Clay Studios on Nov. 18 in Palm Harbor. Woods and his partner, Keith Herbrand, 56, have created dozens of pieces, including holiday decorations, vases, coffee cups, bowls and platters for the Tour de Clay, a progressive tour of five pottery studios in the Tampa Bay area featuring the work of 33 artists from near and far.
    The annual effort supports working artists and benefits charity.
  8. Holiday Hopes: A family reunited
    Dec. 4, 2019• Pasco
    After a series of hard knocks, Ryan Clark (center) is working to rebuild with the help of Metropolitan Ministries. Pictured, (left to right) is Clarke's mom, Maria Johnson, Clarke holding their son, Christopher, and fiance, Kristi Agnew. The family is hoping to reunite soon with Agnew's two sons, who are living temporarily with family in Louisiana.
    A series of hard knocks led to tough times for Ryan Clarke and his family
  9. Read-to-a-dog programs a new thing at Hernando County libraries
    Nov. 28, 2019• Hernando
    Ari Shipley, 5, (left) reads to a golden retriever named Turbo, while her brother, Jett, 3, looks on. Reading to Turbo is a new program at the Spring Hill/Harold G. Zopp Memorial Library.
    Specially trained therapy dogs help youngsters grow their reading skills.
  10. For Thanksgiving, a Dade City church gives back
    Nov. 27, 2019• Pasco
    Volunteers from Renovate Church in Dade City serve a Thanksgiving meal to members of the community at Farmers Self-Help on Nov. 23. This is the third year the church has hosted the meal, which is funded by community and business donations.
    Members of the Renovate Church venture into the community to host a Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings.