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Aripeka West News
“Here’s what’s happening in our neck of the woods” December 2011
A Message from BJ...
First, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! November was busy month here at Aripeka West, our Veteran’s Day Hot-Dog Roast was a lot of fun and our Thanksgiving Dinner turned out great. So many people are participating this year and having a good time. December will be another month with some fun events, got to love the holidays, they al-ways bring people and families together!
The time to decorate is here, we will be decorating Aripeka West for the Holi-days and you are invited to decorate too. So many lights to display, we are only limited by the number of electrical outlets avail-able to us.

We have done some work on the Pavilion by the Campfire, painted, decked and added lights that will make getting together for a fire even more fun.

The walking path behind the RV Park has been leveled and mulched, so take a short walk and enjoy our “wilderness” and maybe even see some of our wildlife!

The Office Mobile Home has been painted white and it looks so nice with the hunter green win-dow shutters.

We hope to have our Neighborhood Watch Pro-gram completely setup by the end of January.
On Friday December 2 nd we will have a Fish Fry at 6PM. The fish is courtesy of Grant and Linda Weller, so many thanks to Linda and Grant! Vic Larson will be frying the fish. Along with the fish, we will have fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw and cheese grits. This is a great chance to eat fish caught in local wa-ters without going fish-ing! We will also have live music by Deuces Wild after dinner. Rob and Ali James have graciously agree to perform for us, so please stay and enjoy the music, in-cluding an original by Rob titled “Aripeka Sunset”. Oh and please don’t forget to say “thanks” to Rob and Ali!
Aripeka West Fish Fry...
Decking the Halls ...

Again this month, you are welcome to watch Monday Night Football in the Screen Room, please remember if you are the last to leave to turn off the light and the TV. Games begin at 8:30 PM every Monday this month.
Monday Night Football...
To Enter: You let the office know that you want to participate and then decorate your yard for the Holi-days. Please notify the office by De-cember 15 th , if you plan to partici-pate.
The Judging: On December 16th during our Christmas Party we will tour the park. We will provide you with a ballot and you just pick your favorite 2.
The Voting: Drop your ballots in the ballot box when we arrive back at the campfire. The WINNERS will be announced during the party.
1 st Prize: $25 off January 2012 Rent
2 nd Prize: $15 off January 2012 Rent
3 rd Prize: $10 off January 2012 Rent
Come on everybody, let’s get in the Holiday Spirit and do some awesome decorating! Use your imagination; this will be a lot of fun!
Holiday Decorating Contest...
Bicycling Fun...
The Aripeka Angels ride starting at 4:30PM Wednesdays. Meet in front of the office for a leisurely ride around Aripeka. Even if you have not been on a bike in years, it is something you never forget, so come on, give it a try, we promise you will have fun !
Like Playing Cards?
We have been asked about playing cards in the Screen Room. If you are interested in playing Poker or other card games, please let us know and we will schedule some Card Nights after the Holidays. For now, if you can put together a group, everything you need to play is located in the cabinet, there are chips, cards, even a Poker Table topper. Plus lots of other game too.
About Bingo…
We had to cancel BINGO in November because we did not had the correct supplies, but it seemed there was very little enthusiasm for BINGO at Aripeka West. We are hesitant to reschedule BINGO if there are so few who want to play. If you would like to play BINGO here at Aripeka West please tell us.

There are many places to play BINGO in Pasco and Hernando Counties, we will be happy to provide a list to any-one interested.
Going to the Dogs...
Bark Island at Pine Island
From 7:30-9:30AM Pine Island Beach!! Bring your “Furry Pal” for a great morning of romping in the sand and surf! Please remember to bring proof of current vaccinations, just in case they get rowdy… and please clean up after your pet. Admission is $7/car or walk up patron. 352-7540-4031

Aripeka West will host a Christmas Party on Friday December 16th by the Campfire. For this Party will are doing something a little dif-ferent, we are having a “Soup Party”. We are asking everyone to bring a pot of soup to share. It can be any kind of soup that you like or like to make. Please bring it in a pan and we will keep it warm over glowing coals. We will have bread, salad & desert to go along with the Soup Dinner. We are hoping for a wide variety of soups, so bring out your original best! Also that night we will tour the park
enjoying and judging the Holiday Decorations. When we return from our tour, we will vote for the winners. Each person will have two votes. WINNERS will be announced during the party!
Christmas at Aripeka West...
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Kryptic Trivia…
Can you figure them out?
Answers Page 4
WAY
The Hernando Beach Yacht Club will be sponsoring their an-nual Holiday Boat Parade on Saturday December 17th. There is a great place to view the Boat Parade on Gulfview Drive, if you are interesting in joining us, please contact the office for more details. There are usually quite a few boats dis-played in the Parade and it is fun to watch, we can take our chairs, drinks and snacks and just enjoy the evening. The Boat Parade usually starts a little after 6PM, but we will have more details soon.
A Little Ol’ Parade...
Our Thanksgiving Dinner was a great success, we had 50 people there for dinner! Turkey was great, “thank you”
Vic Larson for cooking the bird! Thanks to Karl Hosp for cooking the equally delicious ham. We had everything a Thanksgiving Dinner should have, great food, great friends, great weather and so very much to be thankful for this year. Hope everyone had a great time at the at the dinner and a very Happy Thanksgiving Day!
What A Thanksgiving Dinner...
Can Can

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is proud to announce its annual holiday festival, Winter Waterland. The event will take place De-cember 9 & 10 from 6-10 p.m. each night. Admission to the event is only $5 for adults and $3 for kids ages 6-12. Kids five and under are free. Activities will in-clude... ~ A Mermaid Christmas underwater show ~ Adventures in Candyland stage show ~ AK Dance Away presents "A Rockin' Christmas" stage show ~ Live Nativity scene ~ Photo opportunity with Santa ~ Christmas Lights
Winter Waterland Festival
Does your Dog have a Problem???
Ask yourself the following questions.
1. Does your dog know the spelling, Latin root and French translation of the word "walk," yet is unable to grasp the meaning of the word "come"?
2. Does your dog immediately leap on a cat, bunny rabbit, or child upon hearing the words "Don't worry he LOVES cats, bunny rabbits and children"?
3. Is your dog shameless, graceless, without dignity and extremely in touch with his inner puppy?
4. Does he wake you up in the middle of the night to warn you of the dangers of a kitchen chair, then sleep through the theft of all your valuable possessions?
5. Does he develop a tragic and profound deaf-ness at the sound of "It's time to go home," yet possess bionic hearing at the sound of a can opener? If you answered "yes" to most of these ques-tions.

Don’t worry, your dog is normal!!
Kryptic Trivia Answers
1. End over End 2. Belly Up 3. Toucan
4. Open and Shut Case 5. Tea for Two
6. Paradise 7. Way Over The Line
Aripeka West 727-868-9324
AripekaWest@Gmail.com
AripekaWest.Blogspot.com

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Aripeka West News
Here’s what’s happing in our neck of the woods… January 2012
A Message from BJ...
I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. 2012 is going to be a wonderful year here at Aripeka West. We have so many projects and events planned for the coming year. I hope you will be happy with the improvements when they are com-pleted. Also please join in the fun at the many events we will sponsor throughout the year.
In the works...
We are currently working on remodeling #164, #165, #188 and #197 in the Mobile Home Park and hope to have them rented soon. We have recently completed adding electricity to the Pavilion at the Campfire, this will make having parties and events at the Campfire much easier. Also in the works for the new year is re-modeling the restrooms in the RV Park, just waiting for a time when we can give our full attention to this project to minimize the down time.

Please take a walk on our trail in the RV Park, it is just a short , easy walk. We have been planting flowers along the way and will do more planting in the Spring.
We will have a “Pot Luck Supper” on Thursday January 19, 2012 . The fun be-gins at 6PM. This will be a “real” Pot Luck, just bring what-ever you like, anything at all. The last time we did this it the food was awesome and we didn’t have two the same. Please remember to bring whatever you need to serve your Pot Luck Dish . We will have soft drinks and plates, nap-kins ,etc. We will also have Karaoke! Come join in the fun!
Pot Luck Supper...

Be considerate…
It’s contagious!


Keep your music at a volume that does not disturb others.

If you smoke, dispose of cigarette butts properly and empty the ashtray when you are finished.

Remember that the restrooms are a “No Smoking Area”, it seems that some may not have noticed the signs.

Please DO NOT flush paper towels or sanitary products down the toilet in your RV, Mobile Home or the Public Restrooms, our sewer system can not handle them. Our sewer system is easily clogged and no one wants to have their toilet back up.

Please clean up after your dogs and remember they must be on a leash when they are outside and that the leash must have the dog’s Human on the other end, lately dogs have been ob-served on a leash, but apparently walking themselves, no hu-man involved. Your dog must be under your control at all times.

We all know that dogs bark, but please if your dog is on a lead outside, investigate what the barking is about and bring your dog inside so it does not disturb your neighbor with continued barking.

The speed limit in Aripeka West is 10 MPH, please do not ex-ceed the limit.

There is no feeding the wildlife, so please, no food is to be left on the Pavilions.

The RV Park is getting close to full , so now more than ever it is so important to follow the rules and use common courtesy.

Let’s make Aripeka West enjoyable for all!
Recipe for a Happy New Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous
Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.
Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.


Saturday, January 07, 2012 & Saturday January 21, 2012 BARK ISLAND at Pine Island

7:30-9:30am PINE ISLAND BEACH (Alfred McKethan Park), 10840 Pine Island Drive, Spring Hill. Bring your 'furry pal' for a great morning of romping in the sand and splashing in the water! Please remember to bring proof of current vaccinations, a leash "just in case" they get rowdy... and clean up after your pet! Admission: $7.00 per car or walk up patron. 352-754-4031
Dade City Cruise-In

Saturday, Jan 7, 2012
Downtown Dade City
Come out and enjoy a fun day filled with antique cars, vendor and music by DJ Eddy. 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm. For more information call (352) 567-3769
15TH Annual Kumquat Festival

Saturday, Jan 28, 2012
Downtown Dade City
A festival with arts and crafts, great food, kumquat products, farmer's market, live entertainment, children's activities and car show.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm. For more information call (352) 567-3769.
Wine Class - Florida Estates Winery

Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012
Florida Estates Winery - 25241 State Road 52, Land O'Lakes
Join Florida Estates Winemaker, Ron Hunt, as he shares his experi-ences and educational knowledge of wine in a detailed wine class. It's a lot of fun and a great way to learn something new about wine. Cost is $25 prepaid in advance or $30 at the door. Price includes wine tasting, snacks, dessert and logo wine glass. For more information call (813) 996-2113 or go to www.floridaestateswinery.com.
Florida Estates Winery - Wine & Fresh Market

Saturday Jan. 10th 10am - 3pm
Florida Estates Winery, located 4 miles west of I-75 on State Road 52 near Land O’Lakes, hosts Wine Tasting and Market Events, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. These free events include a variety of fresh produce, breads, cheeses, sauces, pickles, smoked seafood, kettle corn, BBQ sandwiches, food samples, plants, home-made crafts, live music, and an opportunity to sample the Winery’s offerings.

Recipe of the Month

Plant City Strawberries will soon be in our local markets and for sale along the roads, too. So let’s make some Strawberry Shortcake!

OLD FASHIONED STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
2 cups biscuit mix 2 tablespoons sugar 1/4 cup vegetable shortening 1 egg, slightly beaten 1/2 cup heavy cream 6 tablespoons butter, melted 4 cups strawberries, sliced and sweetened to taste Cool Whip (optional)

Combine biscuit mix and sugar then cut in shortening. Combine egg and heavy cream, add to biscuit mixture and stir with a fork until mixture forms a ball. Roll about 1/2 inch thick onto floured board. Cut with a 3 inch cutter and place rounds on a greased baking sheet. Brush top of each round with melted butter. Bake at 450oC for 12 to 14 minutes. Split and butter while still hot. Spoon the strawberries over rounds and top with whipped cream.
Yield 6 to 8 servings.
Nearby Restaurants
6438 Clark Street Hudson Beach FL 34667
Get Hooked
6438 Clark Street
Hudson Beach, FL 34667
727-862-8592
3383 Commercial Way (US 19) Spring Hill, Florida 34606 352-683-1364
7219 Forest Oaks Blvd
Spring Hill, Florida 34606
352-688-1018
Enjoy a night out!

Aripeka West News

“Here’s what’s happening in our neck of the woods”                  October 2011

A message from BJ…                               

I wanted everyone to know that the Pasco County Sheriff is actively working on the case regarding my Peddle Boat.  The Peddle Boat has been located!  I will not be able to get it back until those responsible for the thief have been arrested and prosecuted.  The Sheriff’s Dept. has assured me that they are close to making an arrest.

On the job with Karl & Gail…          

Okay, so it looks like we are on our own writing October’s Newsletter, I was sure hoping that someone would turn in a story to be published.  Remember, if you have something to add to next month’s Newsletter, please get it to us by the 20^th. 

This month we are working on the Screened Room in the RV Park.  We have painted it and are furnishing it for our future get-togethers.  We are also rebuilding the fireplace in the RV Park, this winter we plan to have parties by the fire.

 In the Mobile Home Park, we are in the process of removing unsightly sheds, decks and other structures.  We hope you are noticing our efforts.  The process is slow moving since there are only three of us and lots of work to be done.  We are also going to work on the front entry to the park this month, we are planning to install a small waterfall and surround it with some nice landscaping.  This will be a nice “welcome” for all who live at Aripeka West as well as visitors to our park.

Taco Tuesday…                         

Tuesday October 4th at 6PM we will be enjoying Tacos on the pavilion.  We will have all the toppings for the ‘build your own Taco”, plus chips and dips, sodas and tea and a few other surprise offerings!  We will be singing Happy Birthday to those born in the month of October and enjoying a Birthday Cake in their honor.  Please plan to attend our fiesta; you may bring your own “authentic or not so authentic Mexican Dish” if you would like to share it, but as usual, a dish is not required and all residents of the park are welcome.

Neighborhood Watch…                 

Please make plans to attend our meeting on October 12^th at 7PM.  This is an exploratory meeting to discover those who are interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch for Aripeka West.  Hope to see everyone there!

Sewer Smoke Testing…                 

We still do not have a date for the Sewer Smoke Test, we will update you as soon as we have a date for the test.  While this test is being performed, you will see “smoke” coming from the ground and even roofs vent, but remember this is “just a test” and the smoke is not “real smoke”. This test is to let us know where any repairs may be needed in the Sewer system.

Fall Yard Sale…                               

On Saturday October 8^th, let’s get ready to have some fun and make a little money at the same time.  Get all that “stuff” you never use that just sits in a drawer, closet, shed or even on your counter in the way and turn it into CASH at our Yard Sale!  The Sale will be from 8AM till 1PM, we will advertise the sale and you will have plenty of customers.  We are hoping to have everyone participate in this sale.  Remember the more Families that participate, the BIGGER the Sale, the more interest our sale will generate among those looking for GOOD Yard Sales.  Nothing like a HUGE YARD SALE to keep them pouring in to see what you got!  Let’s try to create a “traffic jam” on Elmira Avenue for our Yard Sale!

Halloween Spooktacular...    

Our Halloween Spooktacular Party will be on Thursday October 27^th at 7PM.  There will be “finger foods” and soft drinks served.  This will be a Costume Party, please try to come up with something to scare us or even make us laugh, we would loved to have everyone in costume, but if costumes are just not your thing, you are still welcome and we will scare YOU or make YOU laugh or maybe a little of both.  We have our costumes and are ready to “party”!!  We will play a few games and hopefully take a few pictures to remember our Spooktacular Party!                

Chili Cook-Off Update...                       

Due to the abundance of holiday’s and events in October, November and December, our Chili Cook-Off has been postponed. We will schedule it again after the 1^st of the year.

Please Welcome…                                 

Our new residents, Linda and Grant, they will be residing at Lot #54 in the Mobile Home Park, please give them a warm welcome.  They have been staying in the RV Park for the last month and have decided they like Aripeka West and want to make it “their home”.

In Sympathy…                           

Our hearts go out to Leslie Bunker, her twin sister Linda passed away in late August after a long illness.  Please remember Leslie and her family in your prayers.  Twins are very close, so this is especially hard for Leslie, her twin sister, gone too soon.  Leslie lives at Lot #135 in the Mobile Home Park.

Remembering Sadie…     

Bob Long’s beautiful Sheepdog Sadie past away unexpectedly in mid September; she became suddenly ill and was rushed to the vet, but the vet was unable to save her.  Sadie was 12 years old and moved to Florida with Bob several years ago, she was his constant companion and he misses her.  Bob lives at Lot #175 in the Mobile Home Park.

Coming in November…                 

Good Morning Coffee Hour, Movie Nights, Monday Night Football, Thanksgiving Dinner, Veteran’s Day Hot Dog Cook-Out and Bingo! 

Places of Interest…                  

The Weeki Wachee Preserve – Open daily, sunrise to sunset for hiking and biking, open to vehicles the 2^nd and 4^th Saturday of the month on paved road.  Osowaw Entrance only. Admission is FREE!   11,206 acres to explore!

http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/weekiwachee.html

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park – Hours are 8AM till sunset 365 days a year.  Admission is FREE!  A small park with a beautiful hiking trail, one of the newest additions to the Florida State Park System.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/wernerboyce/

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park - This is where the Mermaids Swim! See the show, swim in the spring, take the boat ride on the river, canoe or kayak down the river, whatever you do, you will have fun.  Admission Fees Apply.

http://weekiwachee.com/

The Suncoast Trail – Great place to ride your bicycle.  The 41+ mile trail travels through Hillsborough County, Pasco County and Hernando County.  It runs adjacent to the Suncoast Parkway, is paved and best of all, it is FREE!

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/westcentral/trails/suncoast.htm

Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park – Hiking, biking, horseback riding, inline skating, bird watching, picnicking, fishing, cabins and tent camping are all available at this park.  8000 acres, open Dawn to Dusk 7 days. $2 parking fee

http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/starkey-park.html#land

http://portal.pascocountyfl.net/portal/server.pt/community/parks/310/jay_starkey_page

More Places of Interest coming next month…

A Little Humor…                       

Well, duh!                                                   

 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is advising hikers, hunters, fishers, and golfers to take extra precautions and keep alert for alligators while in Osceola, Polk, Brevard and Orange Counties. They advise people to wear noise-producing devices; such as, little bells on their clothing, to alert, but not startle, the alligators unexpectedly.

 They also advise the carrying of pepper spray in case of an encounter with an alligator. It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of alligator activity.

 People should recognize the difference between small young alligator and large adult alligator droppings.

 Young alligator droppings are smaller and contain fish bones and possibly bird feathers.

 Adult alligators droppings have little bells in them and smell like pepper spray.

Think about this one!

I want to die while asleep like my grandfather,

Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car.

Kids are smarter than you think!

A nursery school driver was delivering a van full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past.  Sitting in the front seat of the truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog’s duties.

‘They use him to keep crowds back,’ said Tommy.

‘No,’ said Billy, ‘he’s just for good luck.’

Peter brought the argument to a close. ‘They use the dogs, he said firmly, to find the fire hydrants….'

AripekaWest@gmail.com

727.868.9324

Remember check us out at www.AripekaWest.Blogspot.com.  Read the Newsletter and more Aripeka West news and info online.