February 2016 Newsletter

Winter finally arrived...

We waited patiently through December, then into the New Year and still no "winter", then in January it arrived.  It was cold, wet and very windy, making it feel colder than it really was, but we could not really complain when less than 700 miles to the north, they had waist deep snow.  Yes the "winter" weather had arrived in the East.  At kick off for the AFC Championship Game on Sunday January 24th being played in Denver Colorado, the temperature was 48°F, meanwhile back at Aripeka West the thermometer was reading 47°F. Hey, doesn't seem fair!


On Monday morning January 25th if you were up early, you could see the frost on the grass in the fields, can't remember the last time there was frost here at Aripeka West.  We are so close to the Gulf of Mexico that frost rarely occurs.

And then there was the rain. While we do need the rain, since spring is right around the corner and soon it will be time to plant the flowers that make the garden so pretty, winter rain is not so much fun!

Superbowl time...

Peyton Manning and his Broncos defeated Tom Brady and his Patriots in the AFC Championship, while Cam Newton and his Panthers beat Carson Palmer and his Cardinals in the NFC Championship to reach the Superbowl to be played in Santa Clara, California at Levi Stadium on February 7th at 6:30 PM local time. 

The cheapest ticket available after the match up was known was around $3800.  Sitting on the 50 yard line would cost around $10,000 and a suite would be around $300,000.  And while this sounds like a lot of money it is nothing compared to the price tag for a 30 second commercial during the game coming in at a whopping $5 million.  Just where does all this money come from anyway?  

Make sure you enjoy the game, especially the commercials, these companies that spent their $5 Million need you to pay attention! These sponsors are betting the bank on it.  So what do avocados, cars, beer, candy bars, tooth paste, soft drinks, chips, ketchup, bookkeeping & taxes, TV's, online banking & finance, computer games, website design, software design, car floor mats and tacos have in common?  You guessed it, they all have commercials to be aired during the Super Bowl. Do you think this will affect the price of Tacos with Guacamole Dip and a Soda?

Oh, and just when everyone was ready and knew that "L" was the Roman Numeral for "50", the NFL changes from Roman Numerals to Arabic Numbers, what's up with that?

Just a Reminder...

The SPEED LIMIT in Aripeka West is 10 MPH!  Please, for the safety of everyone, do not  exceed the speed limit.  There are pedestrians walking, bikers riding, children playing and AM let's not forget about the animals, those that are pets and those that are wild.  We want it to be safe for everyone here at Aripeka West.  Also remember that the speed limit applies to your visitors and that YOU are responsible for them and their actions when they are in the Park.

Valentine's Day...

At Aripeka West, we will celebrate Valentine's Day with Wine or Something & Cheese Party from 2 til 4 on Sunday February 14th.  Please bring a bottle of wine (or your drink of choice) and something to share such as candy, cookies, cheese & crackers or chips & dip.   You only need to bring a small amount of goodies so as not to spoil our appetites for dinner with our Valentines!

Weather permitting we will set up outside in the RV Park otherwise we will be in the screen room. Here's hoping for a beautiful sunny & warm day!

Mardi Gras ...

On Wednesday February 10th our "Coffee with Friends Breakfast" will be inspired by Mardi Gras!  We will have food to celebrate the occasion, like King Cake, beignets & bread pudding, along with our other Breakfast fare!  Get yourself a Mardi Gras Mask and some beads and come join the fun. Breakfast starting at our usual time around  9 AM.

Ground Hog Day Fest...

So will he or won't he see his shadow?  Doesn't really matter what Punxsutawney Phil sees, we are going to celebrate anyway!  In the RV Park beginning at 4PM on Tuesday February 2, Deuces Wild will perform for us. In between songs we are looking for a little local talent, so feel free to get up on stage and tell a joke, sing a song, do a dance, play an instrument or any other little talent you might have!  This party is not a "park sponsored event" but instead the idea of Ali & Rob James (AKA Deuces Wild) and will be a Pot Luck Dinner, so everyone will need to bring something to the table. They will supply the music, napkins, forks, spoons and knives to eat with and plates to eat from, but the rest will be up to those attending!

In the past we have had a great time with this type of party, lots of participants, good food and some great talent!  Remember to bring your talent, something for the Pot Luck Dinner and whatever you are drinking, including the ice and cups if you need them.

Our Regular Breakfasts...

Hopefully in February we can get back to our regular breakfasts beginning February 3rd and each Wednesday Morning after that continuing through Wednesday April 13th.  Our breakfasts were derailed the last 2 weeks of January due to weather, so hoping for a nice February!

National Margarita Day...

Could hardly believe it, but it is true, must be it says so right there on the calendar!  Monday February 22nd is National Margarita Day!!  So in honor of such a momentous occasion, Aripeka West will again celebrate!  Everything goes good with Margaritas, but we are going to serve Tacos at our celebration. We are asking each family to bring a dish that compliments Tacos and their margaritas and join us in the RV Park on Monday February 22nd at 5PM for some fun and good food!  We could really use a head count for this one since we don't want leftover Tacos for a week!  There will be a sign up sheet on the board located by the laundry room, so if you plan to attend, please sign the sheet with your name and the number of guests.  We will have ice, salt for the rim and  limes available, but we won't have Margarita Glasses, Tequila, Triple Sec or Margarita Mix, these items you must bring for yourself.  Remember you can make Margaritas without liquor for those of you who do not drink alcohol, but here are a few Margarita Recipes that call for alcohol.

Deuces Wild...

Our very own Ali & Rob AKA Deuces Wild have a busy schedule for the month of February.  In addition to performing at Aripeka West on Groundhog Day, they have several performances this month.
  
February 6th from 6 PM - 9 PM  at American Legion Paradise Post #79 located at 5329 Legion Pl, New Port Richey, FL 34652  Not a member?  You can come as Deuces Wild Guests.


February 7th from 1 PM - 5 PM at Get Hooked Grill located at 14333 Crab Trap Court, Hudson, FL 34667

February 10th from 5 PM - 8 PM at Bolton Eagles located at 8517 Bolton Avenue Hudson, Florida 34667 

February 12th from 6 PM - 9 PM at Leisure Beach Moose Lodge located at 6825 Beach Blvd, Hudson, FL 34667

February 26th from 7 PM - 10 PM at Weeki Wachee Eagles located at 8263 Cortez Blvd, Weeki Wachee, FL 34607  

February 27th from 1 PM - 5 PM at Get Hooked Grill located at 14333 Crab Trap Court, Hudson, FL 34667

February 28th from 2 PM - 5 PM at Bolton Eagles located at 8517 Bolton Avenue Hudson, Florida 34667  This event is a Benefit for Ovarian Cancer, so please try to attend and wear your TEAL Ribbon!

Aripeka Community Club Potluck Dinner...

This month the Potluck Dinner will be on Monday February 1st.  The dinners start at around 6 PM at the Aripeka Community Club located at 1393 Osowaw Blvd.  Please bring a dish to share and meet your neighbors for some great food and conversation!

Pasco County Fair...

The Pasco County Fair will run February 15th through February 21st.  Discount tickets are available at all area Walgreen's through February 14th.  Fun for all ages!!

Florida Bluegrass Classic...

Florida Bluegrass Classic, 5 days of music and fun!  February 24 - 28, 2016!

Florida State Fair...

The Florida State Fair begins on February 4th and runs through February 15th at the Florida State Fairgrounds.  discount tickets are available at all area Walgreen's.

"Leaplings"...

Did you know that people born on February 29th, Leap Day, are called "leaplings"?  Leap Days occur only nearly every four years, but Leap Day babies still get to celebrate their birthdays in common years. As far as birthday presents and cakes are concerned, there are no set rules – some celebrate on February 28, some prefer March 1.

However, many countries have laws defining which date a person born on February 29 comes of age in legal terms. In some countries such as New Zealand, the official birthday falls on February 28 in common years; in other countries like the United Kingdom, Leap Year babies have to wait until March 1.

Calendar of Events... 

January 2016 Newsletter

On a sad note...
On December 22nd Aripeka West lost a long time resident and friend.  Mike Hohimer died in a tragic automobile accident.  Please keep his family in your prayers.

Warm & Wet 2015...

At Aripeka West we will remember 2015 as"warm" and "wet"!  Our normally dry "winter" was wet and our normally wet summer was even worse than normal.  For a while in July and August, we thought the rain would never end, but finally it did and our fall and early "winter" was a bit drier but unseasonably warm, with the last week of December high's in the mid 80's setting and tying records everyday!

As we begin a "New Year"...

We begin 2016 with hopes that the new year will bring peace and happiness in the world.  We look forward to many new and exciting experiences, to meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones, to sharing meals and great conversations and above all good health.  Wishing everyone a very happy and health new year! 

Aripeka Community Club...

Pot Luck Dinner on Monday January 4th at 6PM.   Bring a dish and join your neighbors for some great food and conversation!


To do in Pasco...

11th Annual Suncoast Arts Fest

January 16, 2016 | 10am-6pm and January 17, 2016 | 11am-6pm

At The Shops at Wiregrass; 28211 Paseo Drive • Wesley Chapel, Florida 33543

Suncoast Arts Fest is free to the public and features:

125+ Fine Artists and Craftsmen displaying their artwork along Paseo Drive

Live music and dance all weekend, including performances by local favorite, the De Lei’ed Parrots

“Emerging Artist” Exhibit featuring the work of talented high school artists

Chalk art sponsored by Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts

Art Maker Space where art, technology and education collide!

Duncan McClellan Glass Etching Experience, Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 5pm

Hands-on Kid’s Art Garden will provide interactive arts for youth on both days

Phoneography Competition sponsored by Rasmussen College; a competition for anyone who can take a picture on their phone.

Annual Kumquat Festival®

Eastern Pasco County's, Biggest Most Distinctive Event
January 30, 2016 • 9am-5pm 

As many as 40,000 people attend our one day event every year, with over 425 vendors and 40 sponsors participating, filling our historic Downtown core. Here, visitors can enjoy all kinds of tasty kumquat treats, from kumquat pie to kumquat cookies, smoothies, ice cream, marmalade, and even kumquat salsa.

DadeCity's Annual Kumquat Festival®, held the last Saturday in January each year, (Saturday, January 30, 2016 - 9am to 5pm) has become extremely popular for its homegrown, family-friendly entertainment. Visitors can listen to local entertainment, get their face painted, look at antique cars, and shop for arts and crafts.

Fun Activities to SEE & DO at the festival include:Arts & Crafts, Delicious Food, Car & Truck Show, Health & Wellness Area, Live Local Entertainment, Farmer's Market, Kumquat Kids Corral, Kumquats, Kumquat Pie & Products, Quilt Challenge and our wonderful Sponsors.

Admission is FREE, transportation from the satellite parking areas is FREE, city owned public parking downtown if FREE and the experience of a unique, authentic and fun filled festival is unforgettable.

Brooksville Raid 2016

New Year Resolutions...

If your New Year's resolutions from last year have gone unresolved, you're not alone. Now a new year offers another opportunity to achieve your goals, and these nine tips should help you keep to your New Year's resolutions.

1. Make it something you really want. Don't make it a resolution that you "should" want or what other people tell you to want. It has to fit with your own values.

"Put some thought into it," says Richard O'Connor, author of "Happy at Last: The Thinking Person's Guide to Finding Joy." And avoid knee-jerk New Year's resolutions, he says. "I encourage people not to make cheap resolutions, but to save it for something meaningful."

2. Limit your list to a number you can handle. "It's probably best to make two or three resolutions that you intend to keep," says O'Connor. That way, you're focusing your efforts on the goals you truly want.

3. Be specific. "To be effective, resolutions and goals need to be pretty specific," says O'Connor. Jettison the amorphous "exercise more," in favor of "I'm working out at the gym Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 p.m."

4. Automate. Automating financial goals can maximize your odds for success without you having to do anything, says Keith Ernst, director of research for the Center for Responsible Lending in Durham, N.C.

If your goal is to save $3,000 this year, calculate the amount out of each check, then arrange to have it automatically deposited into your savings account each time you get paid, says Ernst.

5. Make a plan. Rather than stating one daunting goal, create a series of smaller steps to reach it.

"Have an action plan," O'Connor says. "Figure out exactly what you want to do."

If you need immediate rewards, here's a suggestion. "Ask yourself: What are the short-term goodies?" says Susan Wilson, co-author of "Goal Setting: How to Create an Action Plan and Achieve Your Goals."

For example, if you want to exercise regularly and love spending time with your friends, getting the group together to walk regularly could give you a short-term payoff 

Deuces Wild...

Rob and Ali, AKA Deuces Wild have several shows scheduled for January.  If you would like more info on when and where they are performing this month, please call the office.

Calendar of Events...

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...