Saturday, January 31, 2015

February 2015 Newsletter

Our Bridge is back...

Work has been completed and the Bridge re-opened on Monday January 26th!!!!  Sure did miss it when it was closed, so glad to be able to drive the "scenic route" to Walmart again!  Also nice to be able to get to Hernando Beach. 

February is our Month to Shine...


Yes, it is our Month to show Aripeka that the residents and guests of Aripeka West really care about of community!  When our wonderful little Post Office was threatened, we rallied together to save it, here is hoping that we can do the same for one of our very special resources, our Aripeka Community Club!

On Saturday February 21, 2015 we are holding a Fundraiser to help our Community Club afford a new roof.  The Aripeka Community Club is in desperate need of a new roof, it has been patched to stop leaks that have appeared over time, but now it is quite evident that a new roof is the only way to make sure that the Community Club will stay dry!!

We are holding a Raffle and tickets are now on sale, so if you would like to buy one please contact the office.  We are also looking for volunteers to help us on the day of the event and for businesses and individuals that would like to make donations of products, services and cash for our event.

During the Fundraiser will will be selling tickets to to raffle off the prizes donated by local businesses!  These will be separate raffles and these tickets must be purchased at the Fundraiser.

Aripeka West's very own Ali & Rob James, aka "DEUCES WILD" have graciously volunteered their time and talent to entertain us for the Fundraiser with some great music.  Aripeka native Meridy Norfleet-Mendoza will be entertaining us with Native Dancing and Katie Power will be our Mermaid for the day!

Cathy Jasper will be hosting a White Elephant Sale Table for donations to the "Raise the Roof Campaign", there will be something for everyone.  We are currently accepting donations of items for our "White Elephant Sale" so if you have something you would like to donate, please let Gail know.  (We will only be able to handle small, gently used items for this sale)

Currently, we have donations from these local merchants and will continue to seek Community Support until the day of the event!

Suncoast Automotive   Hudson, Florida
A Little Spa Spring Hill, Florida
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park  Weeki Wachee, Florida
The Cove Oyster Bar   Hudson, Florida
Gianni's Pizza  Hudson, Florida
Paddling Adventures  Weeki Wachee, Florida
Hudson Bowl  Hudson, Florida
Miss Daisy Tours  New Port Richey, Florida
Villa Pub  Hudson, Florida
Kally K's  Spring Hill, Florida
Breakfast & Lunch Nook  Spring Hill, Florida
Breakfast Station  All Locations
Advanced Craftsman Hudson Beach, Florida
Barrow LP Gas Service Hudson, Florida
The Cove Restaurant Hernando Beach, Florida
Brian's Place Hernando Beach, Florida
20th Hole Hudson, Florida
Get Hooked at Dockside Hudson, Florida

We are waiting on responses from several of the larger businesses in the area as these require corporate approval.

We will be serving food and soft drinks for a donation to the  "Raise the Roof Campaign". Plans are still in the works about what we will be serving, but it will be good!

There will be games to play, live music, good food and lots of fun, so make your plans to attend!   

 Please patronize our wonderful Sponsoring Businesses! 

Our Sponsors as of January 31, 2015...

The Cove Oyster Bar Hudson, Florida

Donated a Gift Certificate
 Weeki Wachee Springs State Park  Weeki Wachee, Florida
Donated TwoTickets to visit the Park and see the attractions
 The Cove Restaurant Hernando Beach, Florida

Donated a Gift Certificate
Villas Pub  Hudson, Florida
Donated a Gift Certificate
Suncoast Automotive
Donated a Certificate for a 4 Wheel Allignment
Kally K's Stealery & Fishery
Donated a Gift Certificate

 Missy Daisy Boat Tours New Port Richey, Florida
Donated a One Tour Pass
 Paddling Adventures Weeki Wachee, Florida
Donated One Tandum Kayak or Canoe Rental
Advanced Craftsman  Hudson Beach, Florida
Donated Two Pieces of Original Artwork
 Brian's Place  Hernando Beach, Florida
Donated a Gift Certificate
 A Little Spa  Spring Hill, Florida
Donated a Gift Certificate
Gianni's Pizza Restaurant  Hudson, Florida
Donated a Gift Certificate
Hudson Bowl  Hudson, Florida
Donated Bowling Passes
Breakfast & Lunch Nook  Spring Hill, Florida
Tires Plus  Spring Hill, Florida
20th Hole Hudson, Florida

We could use your help!
It is going to be FUN!

And now for a little Park Business...

Please remember to "Scoop the Poop"

The SPEED LIMIT in the Park is 10 MPH



February Calendar of Events...

Thursday, January 1, 2015

January 2015 Newsletter

A little inconvenienced...

The Aripeka Bridge is still out, but they are working on it daily.  While we had heard that they would be re-opening it on January 1st, that seemed like a bit of a stretch and now it appears it will be much longer before we can travel from Pasco County to Hernando County without having to get there via US 19.  I know it makes it harder for our small community to work as a team, but soon this will be over and things will return to normal and Aripeka will be reunited once again!

In the works...

We are planning a BIG EVENT for February 21, 2015...we will be raising money for the Aripeka Community Center.  The Aripeka Community Center Fund Raiser will be held here at Aripeka West.  We will be selling raffle tickets in January and February for a drawing to be held at the event, the tickets are $5 and are available at the office, funds raised from the sale of these tickets will go to much needed roof repairs at the Community Center.  At the event, there will be music by Deuces Wild, food, sodas, a 50/50 and other prize drawings all afternoon, all money collected will go to Aripeka Community Center for daily operating costs, new tables & chairs, new blinds for the windows and other needed improvements.  Please show your pride in Aripeka and attend, bring family and friends, there is plenty of available parking, for bikes, motorcycles, cars and pick-ups, but NO Off Road Vehicles will be allowed inside Aripeka West.

We are looking for donations of prizes to be raffled off at the event, so if you can help or know anyone who can, please contact Gail.  We are hoping to have lots of prizes to raffle off!  More news and info... COMING SOON!

January Night Out...

On Friday January 16th, we will be going to the Eagles Club for dinner and to watch Aripeka's favorite duo Deuces Wild perform.  Friday night at the Eagle's Club features their Fish Fry which is always good and priced right at $7.  You can also order your fish grilled or blackened if fried fish is not your thing.  They also serve fried shrimp and scallops ($9). 
They a great sirloin steak with shrimp is also served ($12). The meals come with coleslaw and either french fries or a baked potato.  Hush puppies are served with the seafood and a roll with the steak.  Each meal is cooked to order, this is NOT fast food.

Please plan to be there by 5PM so that you will be able to enjoy your meal before the show begins at 6PM.  Also if you are there by 5PM, there is a much better chance we will all be able to sit together, since there is usually a fairly large Friday Night crowd at the Eagles.

Deuces Wild, aka Rob & Ali, make their winter home with us here at Aripeka West, so come hear them sing about Aripeka and it beautiful sunsets in their original song titled, (you probably guessed it) "Aripeka Sunset"!  It is a nice tribute to our community!  They will sing several original songs and also do many covers of other groups and singers you are sure to recognize.  

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Eagle's, please let Karl or Rob know, the Eagle's are looking for new members and membership allows you to visit all locations throughout the United States.




Food & Football...
At 1 PM on January 1st, please join us in the RV Park for our New Year's Day Event!!  There will be food and football of course, but there will also be some other fun to to had!  We are planning to start 2015 right, by having fun and eating lucky!  Don't know if it really helps, but it sure will not hurt to try some of the foods that are said to bring good luck in the New Year!






Dade City Kumquat Festival...

The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce has established a flagship event that celebrates everything that makes the Dade City area unique, while encouraging visitors to participate in the fun! Since the nearby town of St. Joseph was already known as the Kumquat Capital of the World, the Chamber of Commerce decided that this little fruit with a funny name could be the focus of an annual festival.

The Kumquat Festival will take place on Saturday January 31st from 9AM to 5PM, but make sure to check out the other events leading up to the Festival taking place throughout the month of January!

Brooksville Raid...

The Raid is held the 3rd weekend in January every year.  We have become the largest Civil War reenactment in Florida with over 1500 reenactors and their families.  We have 28 cannons, 60 horses, and over 50 sutlers.

The public is invited to tour, at no additional charge, the authentic confederate and union camps and actually see how they lived and what it was like during the Civil War.  We expect around 60 sutlers (Vendors), so you can purchase any Civil War items you might want.  We also have kettle corn, old time root beer and you can't leave without having a FRY BREAD.   All animals must be on a leash.  The event location is Sandhill Scout Reserve (on 50 in Spring Hill) and the cost is $8 for Adults, $4 for Youths 6 - 12 (5 and under and Scouts in uniform are free).

Dog Day at the Beach...

Bring your dog for an enjoyable morning of play & fun on the beach this Saturday, January 3, 2015 from 8:30AM - 11:00AM at Robert K. Rees Memorial Park aka Green Key Beach. Please remember to provide proof of your dogs current vaccination record. Call (727) 942-7439 for more info.


1st Monday Dinner...

Don't forget, 1st Monday Dinner at the Aripeka Community Center will be on January 5, 2015 at 6PM.  There is always good food and conversation at these events.  Bring a dish or make a donation if you can, but all residents of Aripeka are welcome!  A wide variety of food is will be available for you to enjoy along with iced tea to wash it all down!  Please come and meet your neighbors.  We will have tickets for the Community Center Roofing Project Raffle and more info on the Fundraiser.



Did you know?...
January 4th is National Trivia Day!!

In the mid-1960s, Slumber Party Barbie came with a book called "How to Lose Weight." One of the tips was "Don’t eat."  Barbie say it isn't so!!!


Ben & Jerry originally considered getting into the bagel business, but the equipment was too expensive.  Lucky for us!!!!












The first webcam watched a coffee pot. It allowed researchers at Cambridge to monitor the coffee situation without leaving their desks. Guys with a lot of extra time I guess!!!


When asked if he knew the speed of sound, Einstein said he "didn't carry such information in my mind since it's readily available in books."  Guess he didn't really know, good cover!!!


The last time a Republican was elected president without a Nixon or Bush on the ticket was 1928. Are things about to repeated in 2016 or will the chain be broken???


When three-letter airport codes became standard, airports that had been using two letters simply added an X.  X makes the spot!!!


In 1979, Japan offered new British PM Margaret Thatcher 20 "karate ladies" for protection at an economic summit. She declined.  Probably wanted the Karate Kid!!!


Before Google launched Gmail, "G-Mail" was the name of a free email service offered by Garfield's website.  I want a Garfield Email, my Gmail is so boring!!!



When New Jersey's Action Park sent crash-test dummies down its looping waterslide, the dummies were allegedly dismembered.   So guess that makes the line longer in the summer!!!


In 1980, Detroit presented Saddam Hussein with a key to the city.  So that is what happened to Detroit!!!


The "Where's the Beef?" lady (Clara Peller) lost her job in 1985 after doing a Prego ad in which she "found the beef at somewhere other than Wendy's." So what was their "beef" with that???















Just before the Nazis invaded Paris, H.A. and Margret Rey fled on bicycles. They were carrying the manuscript for Curious George.  My heroes!!!!


In Super Mario Bros., the bushes are just clouds colored green.  No can't be, thought they were real!

In colonial America, lobster wasn't exactly a delicacy. It was so cheap and plentiful it was often served to prisoners.  Gives new meaning to prison food!!!

Crayola means "oily chalk." The name combines "craie" (French for "chalk") and "ola" (short for "oleaginous," or "oily"). Aww, so that is why you can't get that off the walls, no "oil based" over latex!

The Constitution does not require the Speaker of the House to be a member of the House. In 2013, Colin Powell got a vote.  Does John Boehner know about this?  No wonder he was upset!!!


Until coffee gained popularity, beer was the breakfast beverage of choice in some parts of the United States.  Too bad it went out of favor, never cared for coffee anyway!!!

In 1493, Columbus thought he saw mermaids. They were "not as pretty as they are depicted, for somehow in the face they look like men." (Probably manatees.)  Where were his glasses anyway???

When the Westboro Baptist Church protested a soldier's funeral in Oklahoma, their tires were slashed. People in town refused to repair them.  As it should have been!!


In 2007, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said there was "no chance the iPhone is going to get any significant market share." Hope he knows more about Basketball than Iphones!!!

An early ATM was deemed a failure because its only users were "prostitutes and gamblers who didn’t want to deal with tellers face to face."  They really had people you could talk to face to face back then???
Even Fidel Castro hated New Coke, calling it "a sign of American capitalist decadence." Where did Fidel get that New Coke? Thought there was an "embargo" back in 1985!!!

William McKinley was on the $500 bill, Grover Cleveland was on the $1,000, and James Madison was on the $5,000.  People must have been paid better back then to need such large bills!!!

Judge Judy reportedly makes $45 million a year.  We need those large bills back to pay Judge Judy!!!




Coming in February...

The Aripeka Community Center Fund Raiser, our Valentine's Day Wine and Cheese Party and our Super Bowl Party, as you can see that February is going to be a busy month around Aripeka West.

Calendar of Events...