December 2015 Newsletter

In the RV Park...


The RV Park is close to full, so please be a thoughtful neighbor!  Keep the noise to a minimum, especially after 9PM, do not leave your laundry in the washer or dryer after the cycle is complete, and pick up after your dog.  If you start a fire in the fire pit, please make sure it is completely out before you leave.  Limit your time in the showers as others may be waiting and do not leave your personal items behind when you leave.  If you wish to give things away, you can put them on the tables on Bathroom Pavilion, but they must not be left there for more than a day.  Quarters are available from the office.  Dogs must be walked on a leash and we must have a copy of their Rabies Vaccination records in the office.  All vehicles must be parked clear of the road.  We have RV's coming and going and they need the full width of the road to navigate the park.  Please report anything suspicious happenings to management. 

In the Mobile Home Park...

We will soon have a few more renters in the Park, please introduce yourself to your new neighbors.  We are making every effort to keep the Mobile Home lots looking neat and clean, you can help by doing your part to clean your own lot.  Go out the front and see what your neighbors and the visitors to the Park see, if your yard needs work, please take care of it.  It is important to keep everything picked up to keep mice and other rodents from making their home around your home.  Rodent are the favorite food of snakes and the snakes will be where the favorite dinner is being served.  In November we killed a 5 foot Cotton Mouth in the Mobile Home Park.  Those of you with children should pay close attention to where your children play and when it rains, do not let them play in any standing water.  It has also been noted that there are still some who are not picking up after their dogs, remember it is County Law that dogs must be walked on a leash and not allowed to roam freely.  We require a copy of your dog vaccination records in the office, if you have not supplied the records to the office, please do so at your earliest convenience.  Please report any suspicious activity to management or the proper authorities.   We try to keep up with any Street Lights that are not working, but if you notice one that is out or not working properly, please let us know.

Your Guests...

Many of you may be having guests for the holidays, please remember to register any overnight guests with the office.  You are responsible for the behavior of your guests, so please make sure they are aware of the Park Rules and that they follow them, even Santa and the Elves.

Aripeka Community Club Potluck Dinner...

The First Monday Potluck Dinner for December will be held at the Aripeka Community Club on Monday December 7th so please join your neighbors for a night of good food and conversation. The dinner start at 6 PM, please bring a dish to share.

Local Boat Parades...

The Hernando Beach Boat Parade will be on Friday December 4th, it will begin at 6 PM at the Hernando Beach Yacht Club on Shoal Line Road and make it's way through the canals of Hernando Beach finishing around 9PM.

Weeki Wachee River Boat Parade will be on Saturday December 5th. it will begin at 6:30 PM at Rogers Park and sail to the Bayport Pier.

The Boat Parades are fun to watch and FREE!
  
Thanksgiving Dinner was GREAT...

On Saturday November 21st we had Thanksgiving Dinner at Aripeka West.  Attendance was big, over 70 guests served!  The rain earlier in the afternoon did not damper on the event.  There was turkey, ham, smoked pork, shrimp, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, green bean casserole, waldorf salad, cheesy mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, fruit salad, baked beans, green beans, glazed carrots, asian salad, cranberry salad and other types of cranberries.  For desert there was apple pie, banana cream pie, chocolate cream pie, pumpkin pie, coconut cream pie, cookies and peanut butter dip, fudge, boston cream pie, cheese cake and then there were the Birthday cakes, yes, two Birthday cakes!  We sang Happy Birthday twice, once for each cake.  The Birthday people were Rob James and Keanna, the daughter of Bruce and Janet Alsup.  We did a Happy Birthday to all of those who were born in November, especially little Nicholas, the son of Kathy and Stephen Bostick!

Our Christmas "Soup Party"...

On Friday December 18th at 6 PM, we will have our Christmas Soup Party at Aripeka West.  For those of you who are new to the event, how it works is that each family brings a Soup in a pan that can be placed on the open fire at the fire pit and we all spend the evening sampling soups of all varieties.  it does not matter what kind of soup you bring, we have done this event for several years and had only a few duplicates and even the duplicates have the own distinct flavors, even chicken noodle and tomato soups taste a bit different depending on who makes them!  You do not have to RSVP for the Soup Party, but we are hoping everyone will come and bring their favorite soup to be enjoyed by all.  You do not have to bring a large quantity of your soup about a quart will be fine as there will be lots of soups available to sample. 

The Park will supply coffee, salad, bread, crackers and a few deserts.  You are welcome to bring a desert, cookies and candy would be great! 

At the Soup Party we will also do a Gift Exchange, if you want to be in the Gift Exchange, please bring a wrapped gift valued at around $10 and place it under our Christmas Tree when you arrive at the party. You will be given a number for the Gift Drawing.   We will do the drawing after we have eaten.

We are hoping for a cool (but not cold) dry night to enjoy by the fire, so hope that Mother Nature helps out!

New Year's Day at Aripeka West...


On New Year's Day will will celebrate the New Year with Food, Fun & Football!  Begins at 1 PM, bring a dish that will ensure Good Luck in 2016! Other local happenings...

The holidays could shine even brighter this year with the first Celebration of Lights, a winter wonderland attraction that organizers say will delight visitors and support local charities.

On select evenings from Nov. 27 through Jan. 3 at Safety Town at the Concourse, visitors can drive a one-mile trail through animated light displays, Kara Parris explained as a spokeswoman for the event. The Concourse is on S.R. 52, west of the Suncoast Parkway.

The “Where’s Rudolph” game challenges youngsters to spot the red-nosed reindeer. Spectators can surf along with Santa at the North Pole Beach Party as well. People can see the Twelve Days of Christmas as they sing along with holiday music that plays in their car.

The route leads to Jingle Bell Junction, a holiday village with 14 decorated buildings where visitors of all ages can enjoy entertainment, seasonal fare and photos with Santa. Don’t forget to say hello to Feather the Elf, who resides at Jingle Bell Junction. Gifts and concessions will be available.

Celebration of Lights is the vision of Dave Parris, a West Pasco community leader who passed away in August. He had worked tirelessly over the last five years to develop plans for what he dreamed would one day be a cherished holiday tradition for families along the Suncoast, while raising funds for charities. He was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus in 2012.

Proceeds will go to Angelus House, Good Samaritan Clinic, Haley House Fund, Metropolitan Ministries and Safety Town.

Celebration of Lights is open Nov. 27, 28, 29 and 30; Dec. 4, 5, 6 and 7; and Dec. 11 through Jan. 3. Weekday hours will be from dusk until 9 p.m. while weekends will be from dusk until 11 p.m. The Safety Town address is 15325 Alric Pottberg Road, Spring Hill.

Entrance fees are $20 per car and $40 for a 14-passenger van.

For more information go online to www.celebrationoflights.net, email to karaparris@celebrationoflights.net or call (727) 842-1913.

Favorite Christmas Movies...

See if your Favorite Christmas Movie made the list!!!

Hottest Selling Christmas Gifts...

Check them out!

Have you read these...

Favorite Christmas Stories

Calendar of Events...

November 2015 Newsletter

The RV Park...

The RV Park is filling up, we have a couple of sites left due to unexpected departures in early October, so if you know of anyone looking for a site please let them know.   Space is tight in the RV Park, please make sure that you do not place your belongs, including cars, trucks, trailers and boats on any of the vacant sites or on your neighbors site.

When you are out and about anywhere in the RV or Mobile Home Park, please respect the privacy of others by not walking or riding you bike through their yards.  Cars, trucks and motorcycles must not be driven though the fields, they are to remain on the roads at all times, except when parked at your site. Off Road vehicles may not be operated in Aripeka West at any time.

Remember that you are responsible for your guests, so don't forget to remind them of our Park Rules.



Coffee with Friends...

Our Breakfast continue each Wednesday morning at 9 AM through April 13, 2016.  The turnout for the first two breakfast of the Winter Season have been great.  Everyone seems to be enjoying the good food and good conversation.  If you have missed our October Breakfasts, please make plans to attend the next one on November 4th.  We appreciate your donations to our "Coffee Fund", these donations allow us to purchase different items each week, such as Bacon, Ham, Donuts and other good Breakfast/Brunch items.  Hope to see you each Wednesday!



Fall Back...

Don't forget to "set your clocks back" one hour at 2 AM on November 1st.  We will return to Eastern Standard Time, the sun will rise a little earlier but the down side is the sun will also set a little earlier.  For early risers, the change will be nice, but for those who love their evenings, darkness will fall way too early.  Don't be late on Sunday Morning, set your clocks back before you go to bed Halloween night!



Change those batteries...

Setting you clocks back, is also a reminder that it is time to change the batteries in you Smoke Detectors.  Mobile Home and RV fires can be very serious and your Smoke Detector may be the only alert you will get to a fire and give you the time to escape without bodily harm.  Those batteries are worth the investment to keep you and your family safe in the event of a fire.  



Fun Party...

Our Halloween Spooktacular on October 26th was great fun, some came in costumes, we had a Nurse with her Patient, a Vampire, a Groupie, Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh,  a Soldier and several more and some just came as their self, did matter as long as they were there!  
To eat. there was Witches Brew (a southwestern chicken stew) and Witches Brew 2 (red beans and rice), crunchy veggies with dip, homemade pickles, pasta salad, cupcakes, pie, candy, cookies, chips and dip and more.



Thanksgiving at Aripeka West...

We will celebrate Thanksgiving at Aripeka West on Saturday November 21st at 4PM with a Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings!  You will need to RSVP by Monday November 16th if you are planning to attend so that we can be sure we have enough Turkey and Stuffing for everyone. We are asking you to bring a dish to share.  Aripeka West will provide Turkey and Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Greenbean Casserole, Cranberry Sauce, Pumpkin Pie, Iced Tea and Coffee. What are you planing to bring? You will soon receive your RSVP, please complete it and drop it in our Drop Box at the office by November 16th.  


Restrooms & Laundry...

The Restrooms and Laundry facilities located in the RV Park are for RV Park Guests only.  When you use the Restrooms or Laundry machines, please make sure they are clean when you are finished.  

When you finish with the washer, wipe off the machine and make sure all of you items are removed.  When you use the dryer, please clean the lint filter after each load and wipe off the machine when you are finished drying your clothes.  Remember, these are NOT extra capacity machines.  Overloading the washer can damage the machines.  Overloading also causes your load not to spin properly resulting in very wet clothes that are probably not as clean as you think they should be after washing.  These very wet loads will not dry in one cycle in the dryer.  Remove all laundry from the machines immediately after the cycle is completed, check to make sure all items are removed and that the lint filter on the dryer is cleaned.  Please do not keep others waiting on you.

Please limit your showers to 15 minutes as there may be others waiting for the showers. Please remove all of your personal items from the restrooms when you leave.  Personal item left behind will be placed in the trash.  The restrooms are cleaned daily, but any help with keeping them looking fresh all day is appreciated.



November 11th...

Whether you call it Veteran's Day, Remembrance Day, Armistice Day or Poppy Day... This is the day we honor all veterans, those who fought for your freedom and returned home to their families and those who died fighting for your freedom.

Originally called Armistice Day, it marks the day World War One ended, at 11 AM on the 11th day of the 11th month, back in 1918.  Each year a two minutes of silence is held at 11 AM to remember the people who have died in wars.

In the United States, Veteran's Day is a Federal Holiday, but it is also celebrated by members of the Commonwealth.

To Quit or not to Quit...

The Great American Smoke Out takes place on November 19th this year.  Every year, on the third Thursday of November, smokers across the nation take part in the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout. They may use the date to make a plan to quit, or plan in advance and then quit smoking that day. The Great American Smokeout event challenges people to stop using tobacco and helps people know about the many tools they can use to help them quit and stay quit.

The Smoke Out event has helped dramatically change Americans’ attitudes about smoking. These changes have led to community programs and smoke-free laws that are now saving lives in many states. Annual Great American Smoke Out events began in the 1970s, when smoking and secondhand smoke were commonplace.

The idea for the Great American Smoke Out grew from a 1970 event in Randolph, Massachusetts, at which Arthur P. Mullaney asked people to give up cigarettes for a day and donate the money they would have spent on cigarettes to a high school scholarship fund. Then in 1974, Lynn R. Smith, editor of the Monticello Times in Minnesota, spearheaded the state’s first D-Day, or Don’t Smoke Day.

The idea caught on, and on November 18, 1976, the California Division of the American Cancer Society got nearly 1 million smokers to quit for the day. That California event marked the first Great American Smoke Out, and the Society took the program nationwide in 1977. Since then, there have been dramatic changes in the way society views tobacco advertising and tobacco use. Many public places and work areas are now smoke-free – this protects non-smokers and supports smokers who want to quit.

Only 28 days...

Black Friday is on November 27th, that will leave just 28 days til Santa arrives.

Calendar of Events...

October 2015 Newslatter

Fall in Florida...

The weather is cooler and our winter guests will be arriving daily.  The RV Park will be FULL very soon.  The arrival of more RV's means there will be more cars and trucks in the RV Park needing space to park.  Please do not park your vehicle on the empty sites.  Large trucks must be parked in the back of the RV Park across the road from the RV's.  Small boats on trailers, small utility trailers and tow dollies may also be stored in the RV Park if space is available.  Please be considerate when you park or place a vehicle in the RV Storage and do not block the exit for others.

Laundry...

With the arrival of new guests, our laundry facilities will be very busy.  When you place laundry in the washers and dryers, please make sure to remove it at the end of the cycle as other may be waiting.  Remember to clean the lint filter on the dryer after each load as it makes the dryer work more efficiently.  When you are finished using the laundry, please remove all of your laundry and laundry products and make sure the washer and dryer are clean and ready for the next guest. Report any malfunctions to the office.  All machines take quarters only, if you need quarters, they are available at the office.



"Coffee with Friends" is back...

Aripeka West's "Coffee with Friends" will begin on Wednesday October 21st at 9AM.  This event is open to everyone and you will find something different on the Buffet every week.  There is always coffee, juice and something good to eat.  Please remember that your "Coffee Donations" make this weekly event possible.  Prices of coffee, bacon, sausage and eggs have gone through the roof and to continue this event as it has been done for the last 5 years, we need your donations.



Columbus Day...

We all know about Christopher Columbus, heck, we learned it in school!  Remember this one?  

In fourteen hundred ninety-two

Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

He had three ships and left from Spain;

He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.

He sailed by night; he sailed by day;

He used the stars to find his way.

A compass also helped him know

How to find the way to go.

Ninety sailors were on board;

Some men worked while others snored.

Then the workers went to sleep;

And others watched the ocean deep.

Day after day they looked for land;

They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand.

October 12 their dream came true,

You never saw a happier crew!

"Indians!  Indians!"  Columbus cried;

His heart was filled with joyful pride.

But "India" the land was not;

It was the Bahamas, and it was hot.

The Arakawa natives were very nice;

They gave the sailors food and spice.

Columbus sailed on to find some gold

To bring back home, as he'd been told.

He made the trip again and again,

Trading gold to bring to Spain.

The first American?  No, not quite.

But Columbus was brave, and he was bright.

Corn Maze Fun...

Sound like some Fall fun?  There are two corn Mazes in Hernando County, one at Sweetfields Farm and one at Havestmoon Farm.  Addmission is between $10 and $12 depending on which Farm you choose. Harvestmoon Farm is even having a "Flashlight Maze" this year on a couple of Fridays if you are not scared of the dark! 

Visiting SunWest Park...

October might be a great time to visit Pasco's new SunWest Park!  The days are a little cooler and the crowds during the week should be light.  If you have been there tell others, if you have not been ask those who have.  Parking is $5 and swimming is free!  There are charges for other attractions in the park.

Halloween Spooktacular 2015...

On Monday October 26th at 7PM, all the witches, ghouls, ghosts and goblins will converge on Aripeka West for our 5th Annual Halloween Spooktacular!  We have always had a great time at this party in the past years. Get your costume ready, we will have a Costume Contest.  We will be serving Witches Brew Stew, so bring a plate of "finger food"  and join us.  We would love to see everyone in costume, but if you do not have a costume, please join us anyway!

Want to be SCARED???

You might want to try this attraction! 

 SCREAM-A-GEDDON

Help find a Cure...

Shine and Light on the Cure Fundraiser at SunWest Park Presented by R.J. Kielty Plumbing Heating and Cooling Benefiting Moffitt Cancer Center. October 3rd from 10am-2pm. $20.00 per car load and includes a door prize! The event will also include local vendors (contact us for information), raffles and a 50/50. Come out and see what everyone in our community is talking about at SunWest Park, for a great cause. SunWest is a spring fed freshwater lake with a white sandy beach. Activities include volleyball, paddleboarding, kayaking and aqua park! 

Limited to the first 250 tickets (cars) sold. Don't miss out, stop by R.J. Kielty Plumbing, Heating and Cooling's office 9507 State Rd. 52 Hudson or call (727) 863-5486 x2218 for tickets.

Fun in New Port Richey...

Cotee River Bike Fest

It says "Family Friendly"...

San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival and Run

Another Fall Fest...

2015 Fall Harvest Festival

Aripeka West October Events...

September 2015 Newsletter

We dodged a bullet...

Well, it looks like we got lucky this time, Erika just fell apart on the way to visit us!  A little rain was all she brought us.  Yes, we have had plenty of rain this summer and the ground is very saturated, the fact that there was little or no wind and especially no tidal surge was a blessing to all of us.

Just make sure not to become complacent, Tropical Storm Fred is churning it's way across the Atlantic Ocean at this very moment and more are sure to follow before the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season ends on November 30th.  Please stay ahead of the storms by keeping your yard clean, this will make getting ready should you need to evacuate, so much easier.  Storm winds will reek havoc, blowing anything that is loose in your yard or on your porch on to the homes of others, causing damage.

Some say that we are over due for a Hurricane in this area, so let's don't let one sneak up on us!

Installing vacuum breakers...

Some of you may have notice that there is a new vacuum breaker installed on your hose bib, it has been placed there because it is required by the Pasco County Health Department.  Vacuum breakers were being used on some units, but not all units.  The Pasco County Health Department made their semi-annual inspections and noted the missing vacuum breakers both in the Mobile Home and in the RV Park.  We have replaced all of the missing one's in the RV Park and are currently working our way through the Mobile Home Park.  All units will have a vacuum breaker install before Labor Day.  Please do not remove this vacuum breaker from your hose bib for any reason.  

Our Street Lights...

We have one street light that is out in the far back of the mobile home park, the rest of the street lights should be working at this time.  If you should notice a street light out anywhere in Aripeka West, please notify the office so we can call WREC to make repairs.  The street lights are the responsibility of WREC.  Aripeka West pays a monthly charge for each street light in the Park.

RV Park Storage...

RV Park Guests, please limit the storage in the small lot located in the RV Park to boats on trailers, small utility trailers and tow dollies.  No cars or trucks are to be stored in this area. 
These vehicles must be stored on your lot or placed in our field storage and must be registered to you.  Canoes and kayaks must be stored on your lot.

Anyone been to our new park...

If you have been to SunWest Park, please let us know how you liked it.  Post pictures on Aripeka West MH & RV Park Facebook Page too.  Those in Aripeka West who have not been and our winter guests will like hearing about the park and looking at your pictures.  What did you think, does it live up to the hype?

September Happenings...

Festival of Flight

Labor Day Trivia...

1. Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894 after a failed attempt to break-up a railroad strike.

2. At the height of the Industrial Revolution, the average American worked 12-hour days, seven days a week. During that same time, kids as young as 5 or 6 worked in mills, factories and mines across the country.

3. Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a holiday in 1887.

4. Peter McGuire, the founder of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, is credited with first proposing the idea of Labor Day in 1882. Matthew McGuire and Samuel Gompers have also been cited as the fathers of the holiday

5. In many other countries, May Day (May 1) is the day working people are honored.

6. The Labor Movement has called for 8-hour work days since 1836. The idea was first established by law though in 1916 with the passage of the Adamson Act, which is the first federal law regulating hours for workers in private companies.

7. The length of the average commute? The Bureau of Labor Statistics says around 24.3 minutes.

8. The first Labor Day actually wasn't celebrated on a Monday – it happened on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882 in New York City.

9/11 Remembered...

Patriots Day

Fall is coming...

Fall officially begins on September 23rd at 4:21 AM and ends on December 21st at 11:48 PM. Early Fall is one of the nicest times of the year at Aripeka West, the temperature moderates, especially at night and the days are still long thanks to Daylight Saving Time.  It is a great time to get outside, breathe fresh air and enjoy the weather.  

You can look forward to lower electric bills, something different on TV, the NFL and College Football games, sitting by the fire and the wonderful smell of apple and pumpkin pie at the bakery where you shop!

Soups, stews and hot chocolate taste great, even a cup of coffee seems like the right thing to drink when sitting outside in the afternoon.

And then there is the Halloween fun of carving your pumpkin and getting dressed up to enjoy the holiday.  And Thanksgiving and all the hustle and bustle that goes with it and leads up to the grand finale of the Traditional Turkey Dinner with all the Trimmings !

Yes, Fall will be so much FUN!

Tis' the season...

for the arrival of "Snow Birds", please remember to keep your personal belongs confined to your lot, so that they can pull in and set up without having to ask you to move anything.  

Our Weekly Breakfasts will start again in mid October, so plan to join us each Wednesday morning at 9 AM for your morning coffee and a bite to eat.

Events...