Robert Sting "Bob" who resided in #34 in the RV Park died on July 21, 2015, he was 81 years old. There has been no announcement about services for Bob.
Robert Clark "Bob" who resided in #17 in the RV Park died earlier in the month at the age of 75, he had been in the hospital for several weeks prior to his death. No details are available regarding a memorial service.
We also lost a long time friend of Aripeka in May. Roy Rogers had operated the vegetable stand on the corner on US 19 and Aripeka Road off and on for years. He was there every weekend until he became ill a couple of years ago and in the past year was only there when he felt good. He died on May 23, 2015.
As the "Season" approaches...
The busy season is coming soon to Aripeka West and by the middle of September the first Winter Guests will start arriving. It is important that all guests keep the personal property on their site. Our guests arrive at all hours and we need to make sure that the site they have rented for the season is cleared and ready.
SunWest Park...
The grand opening of our newest Pasco County Park went smoothly on July 4th. The park is now open daily for 10AM til 9PM, 7 days a week. While there is still a few projects to complete, there is plenty for you and your family to do, some things do cost extra, but swimming is always FREE. Parking is $5. Noodles are allowed, but rafts and other floats are not, umbrellas are allowed but must not advertise businesses or have product logos (colleges teams and logos are okay) . There is food and drinks available at he park, but you may also bring you picnic. Alcohol and smoking are NOT allowed in SunWest Park. There are kayaks and paddle boards for rent at the park, but you may NOT bring your own kayak, paddle board or canoe.To report a problem...
Weeki Wachee Springs...
The Florida State Park at Weeki Springs continues to be a favorite place to visit this summer. Whether you go to swim, see the shows or float the river in a canoe or kayak, get there early because when the lot is full, there will be no place for you to park. Parking on the street is NOT allowed and the Hernando County Sheriff WILL ticket you. Admission is $13 for adults, $8 for kids 6-12 and free for kids 5 and under. You can buy a yearly pass for $60 per person, this yearly pass will allow you free admission to Weeki Wachee Springs & Buccaneer Bay plus all other Florida State Parks
Aripeka West's dumpster...
Please remember the the dumpster located in the Park is only for you household trash. Please do not place furniture, TV's, old toilets and sinks, tires and other unwanted items from your home in this dumpster. Do not place any items beside the dumpster. If you have an item to dispose of that others might want, please donate the item to The Salvation Army or other charity organization. The Pasco County Dump is located at 14230 Hayes Road, please take you unwanted items there for disposal. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Pine Island Beach...
This is another great place to check out this summer, build sand castles or just jump in the Gulf to cool off. Have lunch at Willy's, at nice little restaurant located within the park. Parking is $5 per vehicle, admission to the beach is free. The Pine Island Drum Circle meets at the beach every Sunday in August 3 hours before sunset, your will be entertained and as a bonus you will enjoy a beautiful Sunset!
10 MPH and other vehicle rules...
Planting gardens...
Everyone likes to look at planted gardens, pretty flowers, nicely trimmed shrubs, but if you plant a garden is your responsibility to care for it. Please do your best to keep them weeded, trimmed and looking nice. If you have a garden and do not want to plant it and take care of it, please let us know so that we can remove it and mow. Also if you find downed palm fronds or tree limbs, it will be a big help is you can move them to the street for pick up. We check the park for these everyday. If a large limb falls and you cannot move it don't worry, we will get it for you. We have been trimming trees in the park, but our reach is limited, so there will still be those pesky palm fronds falling for sure.Just the facts...
Here are 9 summer fun facts to ponder when you slather on
that sunscreen to have some fun in the sun.
1. The first day of summer is called the summer solstice.
The term solstice is Latin for sun stand still. The sun is higher in the sky
throughout the day, and its rays beam on the Earth at a more direct angle,
causing the hotter temperatures we associate with summer.
2. While we try to beat the heat in the northern hemisphere,
it's winter in the southern hemisphere. It's also the longest day of sunlight
for places in the northern hemisphere and the shortest day for cities south of
the equator.
3. You'll hear the term "The Dog Days of summer"
very often, but the real "dog days" refers to the weeks between July
3 and August 11. They are named after the Dog Star (Sirius) in the
constellation of Canis Major.
4. Here's a fun experiment to try if you want to find out
what the temperature is and don't have a thermometer. The frequency of a
cricket's chirps fluctuates with the temperature, so if you count a cricket's
chirps for 15 seconds and add 37, you will have the approximate outdoor
temperature (in Fahrenheit).
5. France's Eiffel Tower grows by more than six inches in
summer due to the expansion of the iron on hot days.
6. The higher summer temperatures make July the most popular
month for ice cream. In July, Americans celebrate National Ice Cream Month.
U.S. citizens consume about 5.5 gallons per year (on average.)
7. Watermelon is the summer's favorite vegetable. Yes,
vegetable and not a fruit. It is part of the cucumber, pumpkin, and squash
family. Fruit or veggie, this juicy favorite is 92 percent water and the
average American eats 15 pounds of watermelon a year.
8. Seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit is the perfect
temperature for pools in the summer time. Any temperature over 90 degrees
Fahrenheit is too hot and any temperature under 70 Fahrenheit degrees is too
cold.
9. The last day of summer is September 20. The first day of
autumn begins on September 21. So enjoy the summer solstice while it lasts!
Looking for adventure...
Look no father than Dade City!
There’s a considerable difference between a park that offers
zip lining and what’s planned for 60 acres in east Pasco County.
Benjamin Nagengast, CEO of TreeHoppers in Pasco and its
Indiana-based parent, White River Zip Lines, says it’s like comparing a golf
course to ski slopes.
“In a golf course, everything is linear,” says Nagengast,
who lives in the Clearwater area. “You have to start at the first hole, and
continue all the way through No. 18. But at a ski resort, you take a lift to
the top of the mountain, and then decide from there how difficult of a course
you want to ski.”
TreeHoppers, with plans to open on August 6th on Saint Joe
Road, just outside Dade City, will be the ski resort. The outdoor recreation
park will offer eight courses at various degrees of difficulty, all suspended
from treetops on a portion of the previously undeveloped land. It’s a style of
attraction that’s popular in Europe, and starting to get a foothold in the
United States.
Nagengast chose the more advanced offerings from the two
concepts, despite the higher upfront capital cost. His hope is to not only
complement offerings from places like TreeUmph Adventure Course in east Manatee
County, but to attract more daring adventure-seekers. Visitors will pay up to
$50 for three hours suspended in air.
“It’s a mixture of a rope and zip line park,” says
Nagengast, who operates a similar park near Indianapolis. “There are so many
different elements that anyone who buys a three-hour ticket is not going to be
able to complete the entire park, and they’ll want to come back for more.”
Nagengast depends on the repeat visit model. While he will
focus on group sales, from corporate outings to birthday parties,
Nagengast hopes TreeHoppers could become a regular stop for visitors, just like
a ski slope.
Nagengast has invested $4.5 million into TreeHoppers and a
second seasonal attraction he has planned for the site, a series of “haunted”
scare attractions he calls Screamageddon.
Although that side will compete with high-profile Halloween-themed events like those at Busch Gardens in Tampa and Universal Orlando, Nagengast plans a more intimate feel — with far less restrictions than the more family-friendly theme parks.
Although that side will compete with high-profile Halloween-themed events like those at Busch Gardens in Tampa and Universal Orlando, Nagengast plans a more intimate feel — with far less restrictions than the more family-friendly theme parks.
“We’re not going to have those congo lines through the
attraction like you have in other places,” Nagengast says. “When you have so
many people, it really degrades the experience. Our intent is to put on a
premium show, and that’s not cheap for us to do, but it’s how we built our
reputation in doing this in Indianapolis.”
School Daze...
Here are some of the most important dates for Pasco County Schools:
- First day of school – Aug. 24, 2015
- Labor Day holiday – Sept. 7
- Progress reports – Sept. 25
- End of 1st quarter – Oct. 23
- Teacher planning day – Oct. 26
- Report cards – Nov. 2
- Veteran’s Day – Nov. 11
- Progress reports – Nov. 20
- Thanksgiving break – Nov. 23-27
- Possible hurricane makeup days – Nov. 23-24
- Winter break – Dec. 21-Jan. 4, 2016
- End of semester – Jan. 14
- Teacher planning day – Jan. 15
- Martin Luther King Day holiday – Jan. 18
- Report cards – Jan. 25
- Presidents’ Day holiday – Feb. 15
- Progress reports – Feb. 19
- End of 3rd quarter – March 18
- Spring break – March 21-25
- Teacher planning day – March 28
- Report cards – April 4
- Progress reports – May 6
- Senior’s last day – May 25
- Memorial Day holiday – May 30
- Graduation – June 305
- Student’s last day – June 8
