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...

August 2015 Newsletter

Rest in Peace...

Recently two long time residents of Aripeka West MH & RV Park have pasted away, please keep their families in your prayers.

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...

Karl Osta resigned on July 21, 2015.  If you have a problem, please advise Karl or Gail Hosp. You can reach them at 727-868-9324. They will strive to keep Aripeka West running smooth and looking good.



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...

Remember 10 MPH is the Speed Limit in the Park and while most of our residents and their guests are obeying the rules, there are some that still think they can drive at any speed they like. Residents ARE responsible for their guests behavior while they are in the Park.  NO off road vehicles may be driven in the park at any time.  Only very minor vehicle maintenance is allowed in the park.  All vehicles, both your personal and those belonging to your guests must be parked on your lot.  NO ONE is to park on a vacant lot or at vacant mobile home in the Park without permission.



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.

“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

Calendar...