Feral Cats & other Kritters...
Tis' the season for the "wildlife" at Aripeka West to give birth to their young, so expect to see the young families out and about soon. While these little ones are just as cute as can be, please do not feed them. It is important for them to learn to hunt their food so they can continue to live in the wild.
If you are feeding a stray or feral cat in Florida, you are considered to be the owner, harborer, or keeper. As such you must comply with laws requiring rabies vaccinations and to provide medical care if the animals become sick or injured.
Intentionally placing food or offering food in such a manner that it attracts black bears, foxes, raccoons, or sandhill cranes and thereby creates a public nuisance is prohibited.
SunWest Park...
Beautiful white sugar sand and sparkling blue spring water, it is a welcome sight to those of us in northern Pasco County. SunWest Park is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend, will you be there? A white sandy beach near Aripeka West is pretty exciting. If you plan to go, get there early, the parking lot will fill quickly only about 250 spaces available. There must certainly be provisions for walk-ins and for those on motorcycles and bicycles, but there is nothing in the news release that explains that or the cost of admission or parking. It is a shame that Old Dixie Hwy is closed from the Aripeka Road entrance, but it is and it looks like it is a permanent closure. A determined walker could still get through, but it is blocked by a dune and the road is very rugged with many potholes that quickly fill with water with even a little bit of rain. The main entrance is off US 19 across the street from Venom's, the road winds back and crosses Old Dixie at the lake. For those of you who went last year to the park for their weekend special events, a lot has changed, all for the good to the beach and the amenities! It is very pretty, with paved parking, restrooms, palm trees and a beautiful white sandy beach! The sand has been trucked in, it is not sand and limestone from the mine.
RVer's...
There are vacancies in the RV Park at this time, but please refrain from parking your cars or placing your belongings on these sites. During the summer months we have many RVer's that stop only for a night or so and they will be unable to get into a vacant site if your belongings are there. If you have guests, please have them park on your site or in the park where their vehicle does not interfere with other sites, whether vacant or occupied. Overnight guests must be registered with the office and there is a $5/person/day charge for these guests. Children and Grandchildren (under age 12) may stay FREE for a visit, but must be registered. Children or Grandchildren who stay longer than a week or become full time residents will be added to the site and there will be a $5/person/day or a $50/person/month charge for any persons exceeding the 2 person limit. Our RV Site Rentals are based on 2 persons /site.
Mobile Home Residents...
Please do not park your vehicles or place your belongings on any adjacent sites. The MH sites are 50 feet wide and 100 feet deep. Please respect those boundaries. Clothes lines must be either retracted when not in use or be the "umbrella style". Under no conditions may they be strung between trees. If you have any questions about what is allowed and what is not, please contact the office. If you have guests, please make sure that they are parked on your lot. Overnight guests must be registered in the office, extra person charges may apply.
Aripeka Community Club...
The Aripeka Community Club Pot Luck Dinner will be on May 4th at 6PM. Please bring a dish to share and enjoy spending some time with your neighbors. Catch up on what's happening in Aripeka!
Mother's Day...
Mother's Day is Sunday May 10th, so don't forget your Mom! Make her dinner, take her to dinner, buy her flowers or candy or jewelry if you want, but the most important thing you can do for your Mom is to spend the day with her, she will like this so much more than any gift you can buy! If she is far away, call her and talk. By the way, don't forget the Mother's Day Card, they don't cost much and Mom's really love them!
What do people do on Mother’s Day?
Many people send cards or gifts to their mother
or mother figure or make a special effort to visit her. Common Mother's Day
gifts are flowers, chocolate, candy, clothing, jewelry and treats, such as a
beauty treatment or trip to a spa. Some families organize an outing for all of
their members or hold a special meal at home or in a restaurant. In the days
and weeks before Mother's Day, many schools help their pupils to prepare a
handmade card or small gift for their mothers.
Public life
Mother's Day is not a federal holiday.
Organizations, businesses and stores are open or closed, just as they are on
any other Sunday in the year. Public transit systems run to their normal Sunday
schedules. Restaurants may be busier than usual, as some people take their mothers
out for a treat.
Background
The origins of Mother's Day are attributed to different people.
Many believe that two women, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis were important in
establishing the tradition of Mother's Day in the United States. Other sources
say that Juliet Calhoun Blakely initiated Mother’s Day in Albion, Michigan, in
the late 1800s. Her sons paid tribute to her each year and urged others to
honor their mothers.
Around 1870, Julia Ward Howe called for Mother's Day to be
celebrated each year to encourage pacifism and disarmament amongst women. It
continued to be held in Boston for about ten years under her sponsorship, but
died out after that.
In 1907, Anna Jarvis held a private Mother's Day celebration in
memory of her mother, Ann Jarvis, in Grafton, West Virginia. Ann Jarvis had
organized "Mother's Day Work Clubs" to improve health and cleanliness
in the area where she lived. Anna Jarvis launched a quest for Mother's Day to
be more widely recognized. Her campaign was later financially supported by John
Wanamaker, a clothing merchant from Philadelphia.
In 1908, she was instrumental in arranging a service in the
Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, which was
attended by 407 children and their mothers. The church has now become the
International Mother's Day Shrine. It is a tribute to all mothers and has been
designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Mother's Day has become a day that focuses on generally
recognizing mothers' and mother figures' roles. Mother's Day has also become an
increasingly important event for businesses in recent years. This is
particularly true of restaurants and businesses manufacturing and selling cards
and gift items.
Cinco de Mayo...
What
is Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de
Mayo is a Mexican holiday full of rich history and Mexican pride. This day
commemorates the Mexican Army’s astonishing triumph over the French that took
place on May 5, 1862. The Mexican Army was greatly outnumbered by the French,
who had also not lost a battle in over fifty years!
In hopes
of slowing the French’s advancement toward Mexico City, General Ignacio
Zaragoza and his troops attacked the French Army in the small village of
Puebla. This attack resulted in the unlikely victory for the Mexican Army. On
September 16, 1862, President Juarez declared that the date of the Battle of
Puebla would be made an annual holiday. Hence, Cinco de Mayo became a popular
holiday in Mexico and in areas where there is a large Mexican population.
How
Do People Celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
There
are various Cinco de Mayo traditions that are celebrated around the world. In
Mexico, most of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations that take place occur in the
town of Puebla (where the battle took place). There are large parades that
feature people dressed up as Mexican and French soldiers. Vendors sell
traditional Mexican foods as well as patriotic clothing and accessories for
people to wear during the celebration. There is also sometimes a reenactment of
the Mexican’s victory over the French troops that takes place in Puebla for
visitors and residents to attend.
In the
United States and some parts of Canada, people often host Cinco de Mayo parties
with their friends and family. The colors of the Mexican flag (red, white, and
green) often appear in costumes and party decorations. People decorate for
Cinco de Mayo with balloons, streamers, and flowers. Mariachi bands or other
Mexican folk music is also played at these celebrations and there is often
traditional Mexican dancing. Another common Cinco de Mayo tradition that takes
place is a feast of traditional Mexican dishes such as tacos, enchiladas, and
salsa and tortilla chips.
Other
parts of the world also have their own Cinco de Mayo traditions, though they
are not as notable as the traditions in Mexico and the United States. In
Vancouver, Canada there is an annual skydiving event and in the Cayman Islands
there is an air guitar competition that takes each year on May 5. Furthermore,
residents of the island of Malta in the Mediterrranean Sea are encouraged to
drink Mexican beer on Cinco de Mayo.
Memorial Day ~ May 25th...
Memorial Day History
Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868,
the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic
(GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the
graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that
Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was
chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.
The first large observance was held that year at
Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.
The ceremonies centered around the mourning-draped
veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various
Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over
the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan
Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing
flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing
hymns.
Local Observances Claim To Be First
Local springtime tributes to the Civil War dead already
had been held in various places. One of the first occurred in Columbus, Miss.,
April 25, 1866, when a group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the graves
of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh. Nearby were the
graves of Union soldiers, neglected because they were the enemy. Disturbed at
the sight of the bare graves, the women placed some of their flowers on those
graves, as well.
Today, cities in the North and the South claim to be the
birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Both Macon and Columbus, Ga., claim the
title, as well as Richmond, Va. The village of Boalsburg, Pa., claims it began
there two years earlier. A stone in a Carbondale, Ill., cemetery carries the
statement that the first Decoration Day ceremony took place there on April 29,
1866. Carbondale was the wartime home of Gen. Logan. Approximately 25 places
have been named in connection with the origin of Memorial Day, many of them in
the South where most of the war dead were buried.
Official Birthplace Declared
In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared
Waterloo, N.Y., the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5,
1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed
and residents flew flags at half-staff. Supporters of Waterloo’s claim say
earlier observances in other places were either informal, not community-wide or
one-time events.
By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies
were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. State legislatures passed
proclamations designating the day, and the Army and Navy adopted regulations
for proper observance at their facilities.
It was not until after World War I, however, that the day
was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971,
Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it
is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last
Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays.
Some States Have Confederate Observances
Many Southern states also have their own days for
honoring the Confederate dead. Mississippi celebrates Confederate Memorial Day
on the last Monday of April, Alabama on the fourth Monday of April, and Georgia
on April 26. North and South Carolina observe it on May 10, Louisiana on June 3
and Tennessee calls that date Confederate Decoration Day. Texas celebrates
Confederate Heroes Day January 19 and Virginia calls the last Monday in May
Confederate Memorial Day.
Gen. Logan’s order for his posts to decorate graves in
1868 “with the choicest flowers of springtime” urged: “We should guard their
graves with sacred vigilance. ... Let pleasant paths invite the coming and
going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of
time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have
forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.”
The crowd attending the first Memorial Day ceremony at
Arlington National Cemetery was approximately the same size as those that
attend today’s observance, about 5,000 people. Then, as now, small American
flags were placed on each grave — a tradition followed at many national
cemeteries today. In recent years, the custom has grown in many families to
decorate the graves of all departed loved ones.
The origins of special services to honor those who die in
war can be found in antiquity. The Athenian leader Pericles offered a tribute
to the fallen heroes of the Peloponnesian War over 24 centuries ago that could
be applied today to the 1.1 million Americans who have died in the nation’s
wars: “Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there
dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the
hearts of men.”
To ensure the sacrifices of America ’s fallen heroes are
never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president
signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” P.L. 106-579,
creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The
commission’s charter is to “encourage the people of the United States to give
something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and
opportunity” by encouraging and coordinating commemorations in the United
States of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance.
The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all
Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a
minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.
As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: “It’s a way we can
all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.”
Armed Forces Day ~ May 16th...
Many Americans
celebrate Armed Forces Day annually on the third Saturday of May. It is a day
to pay tribute to men and women who serve the United States’ armed forces.
Armed Forces Day is also part of Armed Forces Week, which begins on the second
Saturday of May.
What do people do?
Many
events across the United States take place on Armed Forces Day to honor
Americans in uniform who served their country in times of war and peace. Those
who are honored on this day include people who serve the Army, Navy, Marines,
Air Force and Coast Guard. National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed
Forces Day/Week over any period in May because of their unique training
schedules. Events and activities may include:
Multi-service
military displays in areas open for the public.
Various
educational activities that teach children about the armed forces.
“Support
the Troops” themed motorcycle rides.
Large
parades and other local celebrations.
Certain
types of music are also played at Armed Forces Day events, including at
memorials and at cemeteries, as a way to respect those in the armed forces who
died for their country. For example, buglers have played a bugle call, known
simply as Taps, on Armed Forces Day in recent years. Taps is
usually sounded by the United States military at events such as flag
ceremonies, memorial services and funerals.
Background
On August 31, 1949, Louis Johnson, who was the United States’
Secretary of Defense, announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace
separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days. The event stemmed from the armed
forces’ unification under one department – the Department of Defense. The Army,
Navy and Air Force leagues adopted the newly formed day. The Marine Corps
League declined to drop support for Marine Corps Day but supports Armed Forces
Day too.
The first Armed Forces Day was celebrated on Saturday, May 20,
1950. The theme for that day was “Teamed for Defense”, which expressed the
unification of all military forces under one government department. According
to the U.S. Department of Defense, the day was designed to expand public
understanding of what type of job was performed and the role of the military in
civilian life.
Armed Forces Day was a day for the military to show
"state-of-the-art" equipment to Americans. It was also a day to honor
and acknowledge Americans in the armed forces. Parades, open houses, receptions
and air shows were held at the inaugural Armed Forces Day. Armed Forces
Day is still celebrated nationwide today and is part of Armed Forces Week.
The most common method is to don a mask and snorkel and either wade out to a grassy flat from the beach, or boat to a shallow spot offshore. If you snorkel along the top of the water and look down in the grass, you will notice scallops by the blue eyes that seem to be peering from a tiny opening in the shell.
Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative has just completed replacing all of the transformers in Aripeka West. They have been busy the last few months making upgrades to the electrical service in the Aripeka area. Though you may have been little inconvenienced by power outages while they were making the changes to each transformer, the newer equipment should make your service better. 
