Most Talked-About Stories on Patch

A story that captivated the nation also had a tie to Palm Harbor-

•  Palm Harbor resident Dean Eckstadt speaks about his experience as an alternate juror during the Casey Anthony trial.

Some stories were just plain outrageous-

•  A camera records a pharmacy owner hitting a suspect with a baseball bat during an alleged robbery attempt.

A celebration turned tragic at a Palm Harbor restaurant-

•  Bananas Foster was being prepared at Ozona Blue Grilling Company when the flames spread burning 4 customers.
•  New Details About Accident, Palm Harbor Patch Obtains 911 Recordings.
•  A report released by Palm Harbor Fire Rescue reveals what witnesses told investigators shortly after flames from a dessert burned a group of diners.

A hero was praised, followed by an unusual twist-

•  John Thorington of Palm Harbor was visiting with a friend in the backyard of her Dunedin home when a car plunged into the water nearby.
•  The woman who was rescued by a Palm Harbor man after her SUV plunged into the water on Valentine's Day was arrested after the incident.

No doubt, people in Palm Harbor are passionate about local restaurants-

•  A customer at Leo's Italian Grill called authorities after someone in his dinner party claimed to have found a used bandage in her soup.
•  Andy Kern set out to find the best cup of coffee served in Palm Harbor. Where is YOUR favorite place in Palm Harbor to get a Cup O' Joe?
•  Five Palm Harbor Pizza restaurants serve up some fantastic pizza.
• The popular New York style restaurant opened Monday at a new location on U.S. 19.
•  The popular burger joint is losing its lease and will open at a new location in Largo.
•  Property owner Rick Clowes plans to open Grumpy’s Tap Room in the next few weeks. The restaurant will be located where Billy Jack's Burger Shack used to be.
•  After seven months, Grumpy’s Tap Room has a sign out front.

Sometimes we became star struck-

•  Star struck fans descended on Fred Howard Park Tuesday afternoon in hopes of catching a glimpse of hunky actors Matthew McConaughey, Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer. The actors appear in the Steven Soderbergh stripper movie "Magic Mike".

Some stories sparked passionate debates about loved ones lost-

•  Brandon Patrick Baker, 30, of Palm Harbor was shot dead in front of his twin brother during a confrontation that happened after three vehicles pulled off East Lake Rd. early Tuesday morning.
•  Palm Harbor resident Brandon Baker, 30, was shot and killed by another driver in March. Baker's family and friends are using the Internet to raise awareness about the shooting, with the hope that the State Attorney's Office will prosecute the shooter.
•  Family and friends shared songs and words in memory of Palm Harbor's Brandon Baker at a fundraiser Sunday in Largo.

People in Palm Harbor are patriotic-

•  Members of Palm Harbor Fire Rescue are among the North Pinellas Firefighters who are wearing shirts this weekend to honor their fallen comrades from FDNY who gave the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11.
•  Former NYPD Detective Gene Gentile lives in Palm Harbor, but still has a strong emotional tie to New York City and his brothers in blue, who continue to risk their lives to keep the city safe. A book was written about Gene and a fellow officer.
•  Vivian Baker lived in New Jersey on 9/11 and now lives in Altamonte, FL. She visits Palm Harbor frequently and reads Palm Harbor Patch.
•  David Waters is a Master Jeweler at Larisa Jewelers in Palm Harbor. He also lives in Palm Harbor.
•  Hundreds packed the St. Pete-Clearwater airport late Tuesday night to greet the 70 WWII vets who were honored with a free trip to Washington D.C.

Who doesn't love a great animal story?

•  The chimp, who starred in the 1932-34 Tarzan movies with Johnny Weissmuller, was one of the most popular residents at Palm Harbor's Suncoast Primate Sanctuary.
•  Saturday afternoon, fans of Cheetah the Chimp gathered to say goodbye to the longtime resident of the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary.
•  A car left running in the garage appears to be the cause.
•  How cool is this? Palm Harbor Firefighters helped two dogs this month, earning them a "Patch" on the back from us, and rock star status from their Facebook followers!
•  A Palm Harbor dog with an apparent case of wanderlust is safe at home again after she was rescued by a pet-loving teen in Dunedin.        

Did we miss your favorite story? Paste a link in the comments section below!