November 2016 Newsletter

Aripeka Post Office...

We are sorry to report that there is no new "news" on when or even if the Aripeka Post Office will reopen.  The last information came from Carl Norfleet on October 20th that "inspections" were completed and they were awaiting the reports due in on Saturday the 22nd or Sunday the 23rd, (imagine the USPS working on a Sunday).

Hopefully, this is not just a way to finish the job they started a couple of years ago to PERMANENTLY CLOSE our Post Office.  There has been a lot of speculation that this may in fact, be the case.  When we go to the Post Office in Hudson to pick up our mail and ask about when Aripeka Post Office will reopen, all of the employees just respond with "I don't know".  It seems if plans were in the works to reopen, they might have some information since they are the front line for the questions from customers!

The USPS owes us an explanation about the Aripeka Post Office, since it is us who must make special trips of around 8 miles each way during only "OPEN" Post Office hours.  This is inconvenient for people who work days and have no way to pick up their mail.

It seems the simplest way to get our mail would be for the USPS to let us put up individual Mail Boxes, like the ones used almost everywhere else in the United States and then the USPS would delivery our mail to the box (as specified by the USPS) that we purchase and place (as specified by the USPS).  We are not talking about thousands of homes added to the mail routes out of the Hudson Post Office, there are only a few hundred homes in Aripeka on the Pasco side of the bridge.  Those living in Aripeka on the Hernando side of the bridge already get home delivery of their mail. 

Those of us living in Aripeka on what is obviously the "WRONG side of the bridge" would just like to receive the same services from the United States Postal Service as our neighbors who apparently live on the "RIGHT side of the bridge"!  Since both the Hernando side of Aripeka and the Pasco side of Aripeka are both located in the United States it is the only fair way for the USPS to solve this ongoing problem, or the USPS could simply reopen the Aripeka Post Office.

Wouldn't it be nice?

Aripeka Community Club...

Aripeka Community Club will hold its monthly Potluck Dinner on Monday November 7th at 6PM.  Bring a dish and meet your neighbors for some great food and conversation!


Aripeka West Storage...

Guests who have items in the storage area at Aripeka West, need to check on their property. Some of the stored property is in very bad condition and the storage fees are not up to date, this property needs to be removed or repaired and brought current on storage fees.  Also for those of you who have not completed the proper paperwork for storage, please do so immediately.  Plans are being made to dispose of property placed in the Storage Area at Aripeka West that is abandoned, without paperwork completed or that the storage fees are not paid up to date.  

Do not place any property in the storage area at Aripeka West without completing the required paperwork and paying the storage fees.  There is NO free storage available on the property at Aripeka West.

54 Christmas Shopping Days left...

Get ready... only 54 Shopping Days till Christmas!!  Wow how time flies by!  Time to start thinking about your "White Elephant" gift for our Annual Soup Party.  You know something that really gets the gift "stealing" going.  Seems like last years hot items were flash lights of every variety and other cool little lights.  A couple of years ago it was "throws" to keep you warm that were all the rage.  So what will it be this year?  Remember $10 gift limit, so you have to be on the lookout for the real bargains!

Election Day...

Tuesday November 8th, get out there and vote if you have not already participated in either Early Voting or Voting by Mail.  Every vote counts and there are many things on the ballot other than the Presidential candidates.  Everyone knows about Hillary and Trump, but do you know who's running for Senator or for Congress in your district?  How about the Amendments Solar Energy and Medical Marijuana?  How about the Local seats that are up for grabs or the judges?  Sample Ballot for Aripeka West Residents.  Make sure you can say ...

I am a good citizen!

Veteran's Day...

On Friday November 11th we will celebrate to honor all our Veteran's.  Please remember to say "thank you" to our veteran's, the one's who are currently serving and those that have served in the past.  Veteran's Day is a great day to show your patriotism and to give thanks to those who have afforded us the way of life we enjoy in this country.

Fall Back...

Remember to set your clock's back one hour on Sunday Morning November 6th at 2 AM or if you don't want to get up at 2 AM,  you can just do it before you go to bed on Saturday night.  This is also a great time to change the battery in your Smoke Detectors, even if they work, better to be safe and change them than to take a chance that they may fail when you need them!

The Great American Smoke Out...

If you have been thinking about quitting there is help!  

The American Cancer Society holds the Great American Smokeout® every year on the third Thursday in November.   This year the Great American Smokeout® will take place on 

November 17,  2016.   The purpose of the event is to set aside a day to help smokers quit smoking, quit using tobacco products, for at least one day, with the hope that they will quit completely.

Not only does the event challenge people to stop using tobacco, it helps to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking and the many effective ways available to quit smoking permanently.

Research shows that smokers are most successful in kicking the habit when they have some means of support, such as nicotine replacement products, counseling, prescription medicine to lessen cravings, guide books, and the encouragement of friends and family members.

Thanksgiving Dinner 2016...

Aripeka West will host a Thanksgiving Dinner for our residents and their invited guests on Sunday November 20th at 3 PM in the RV Park.  In order for the Park to have the right amount of food, not too much, not too little, but just the right amount, you must RSVP for the dinner by Tuesday November 15th at 5 PM.  Dinner this year will be $5 per person for residents and $8 per person for invited guests.  You will receive your RSVP sometime this week, so you will have plenty of time to return it to the office.  This year there is no need for you to bring a dish to share, the Park will prepare the dinner.  It will include Turkey, Stuffing, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Corn, Carrots, Cranberry Sauce, Bread and Desserts.  There may also be some surprise menu items.  Tom Reed has been invited and we have asked him to bring his "Award Winning Sweet Potatoes"  but just in case he is unable to attend, there will still be Sweet Potatoes even if they are not Award Winning!  Hoping to have a big crowd for this dinner!

And...

Black Friday November 25th

Small Business Saturday November 26th

Cyber Monday November 28th


Aripeka West Halloween Party...

Our 2016 Halloween Spooktacular was a great success!  We had a witch, a cat, two pandas, superman, batman, Peter Pan, Pocahontas, a few other costumed folks and many who just came to the party dressed as themselves!  The RV Park was decorated for the occasion, thanks to Nancy Arnold.  Karl set up the lights, Heather kept the popcorn popping, the ladies helped with clean up and Tom Reed did the dishes when the fun was ending, we had a good time and plenty of food to eat!

Please watch out...

We have many pedestrians and bicyclists in Aripeka West, so as you drive through the park be very careful.  Some are walking dogs along side of them, others are out for the exercise and still others may be making their way to a destination outside the park, but drivers need to watch carefully and those on bikes and walking need to be mindful that they are walking on the roads and it is quite likely there might also be cars on the road!  Basic Rules are pedestrians walk facing the traffic and bicyclist ride with the flow of traffic.  Aripeka Road can be very busy at times and it is also narrow without a sidewalk or bike path, walkers, runners and bikers need to keep a close watch on the cars, trucks and motorcycles they are sharing the road with every day. 

MYTH #1: Pedestrians always have the right-of-way. REALITY: No, not always. Legally, pedestrians have the right-of-way at controlled intersections and in marked crosswalks; but the law also states that "no pedestrian shall unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk."  (Also not on long, narrow, winding roads like Aripeka Road.)

Generally, bicyclists and other operators of human powered vehicles have the same rights and responsibilities as their counterparts driving motor vehicles, obeying the laws of the road, except for speed, if bicycle lanes or paths are available they must be used by the cyclists.

Littering...

Lately Aripeka West yards, fields and roads seems to be littered with soda cans, beer cans, take out drink cups, wrappers from all kind of food, cigarette butts, not to mention paper towels and such. Some people in the park recycle aluminum cans and that is great, but if you choose not to recycle them, please do not throw them on the park grounds.  If you are putting your trash in the dumpster and it spills, please be a good neighbor and clean it up. If you clean out your car, do not allow the trash to end up in your yard or worse someone else's yard.  Help us keep the trash off the grounds at Aripeka West.

If you have "trash" that is not allowed in the dumpster, such as furniture, please take it to the dump.  Do not put these items on the grounds at Aripeka West.

Things to do in Pasco...

From Hudson to Zephyrhills, here's the scoop on some area attractions.

And if you can venture farther for home, say within 60 miles you can see these. 

Coming in December...

Get ready for our Annual Soup Party and White Elephant Gift Exchange!  We always have a lot of fun at this event!

Calendar of Events...