tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66878410647857028632024-03-05T06:30:18.283-08:00Visit Pasco County Floridavisitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-18274032772930892302013-07-03T07:05:00.004-07:002013-07-03T07:05:45.530-07:00Celebrate America, Celebrate Pasco
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69ZmJVAahwLKvseJ0v_8ERfxwNKSQtsHoqSwHtcxvoLMqWr4QVFLJEKc8-oZ49vCqF3Q20oLS1Wz5EBAW7y2XWGLDsxmsoi3Xj4WsiDZjnTVbVi5sd7rPVu2ntyYX4Yz7mMMdJqpgcBM/s225/SamuelPasco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69ZmJVAahwLKvseJ0v_8ERfxwNKSQtsHoqSwHtcxvoLMqWr4QVFLJEKc8-oZ49vCqF3Q20oLS1Wz5EBAW7y2XWGLDsxmsoi3Xj4WsiDZjnTVbVi5sd7rPVu2ntyYX4Yz7mMMdJqpgcBM/s225/SamuelPasco.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lee Greenwood wrote a song about it- <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Proud to be an American</i>. On July 4, what are you proud of? In tourism
and Visit Pasco, we are proud of this destination’s growth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since 2006, the numbers of quality events,
parks and partners have grown and have assisted in more visitors to Pasco County.
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On July 4, we are also thankful for our freedom. At Visit Pasco we are also
thankful for June 28, 1834. That’s the date Samuel Pasco was born. We would be remised
for not mentioning the Harvard grad’s namesake to the County. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday Sam! Happy Birthday USA! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Remember to leave some room in the tummy after the barbequing
and cake for great fun at <a href="http://www.sparklebration.com/" target="_blank">Sparklebration</a>! Dade City and the Pasco County
Fairgrounds are proud of their firework extravaganza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be safe and send your firework pics to our
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/VisitPasco?ref=hl" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page. Be proud Pasco!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-24041706903150235992013-05-10T06:24:00.003-07:002013-05-10T06:24:22.663-07:00Celebrate your County<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzL9CJ15ZTQG_lj8M_Nnfz_HBBBdKEMc5k6MGygY9o7cLgWVIVf5pTCg_B6orGT9E47GUpyPUEyrdGP5fGYG6rxJHP2iR_4uL0dXg4Hq8Gsesre7nBSG8GWNTOXD6W3a_wMkGbjUMIY0g/s1600/Swoop+2013+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzL9CJ15ZTQG_lj8M_Nnfz_HBBBdKEMc5k6MGygY9o7cLgWVIVf5pTCg_B6orGT9E47GUpyPUEyrdGP5fGYG6rxJHP2iR_4uL0dXg4Hq8Gsesre7nBSG8GWNTOXD6W3a_wMkGbjUMIY0g/s1600/Swoop+2013+009.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The USPA Nationals was a great event during Tourism Week 2013!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Once
again Pasco County joined the celebration and honored National Travel and
Tourism Week from May 4-12.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Travel
and tourism is one of America’s largest industries and it’s Florida’s number
one industry. In 2012, the tourism-related spending in Florida contributed more
than $60 billion, while collecting more than $4 billion in total sales tax
revenue. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Without travel and tourism’s contribution to the tax base, each
household could owe up to an additional $1,000 per year in taxes.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">How
do those numbers relate to Pasco County? More travel means more sales tax is
pumped into our local businesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
sales and tourist tax revenues contribute to a more vibrant Pasco. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In
fact the County’s tourism revenues in the Fiscal Year 11/12 increased nearly
20% than the previous year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tourist
tax revenue is collected from overnight accommodations. Visitors also eat in
our restaurants, shop, buy gas, rent cars, buy groceries and visit local
attractions like the Giraffe Ranch and Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
County’s Tourist Development Plan 2010-2014 still focuses on creating a tourist
experience based on promoting our natural attractions, cultural programs and
creating new sports business. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pasco
County is a premier sports and travel destination thanks to the number of
sports tournaments, special events, outdoor recreation and ecotourism. “It’s
Only Natural” has been our brand for decades. But sports, art, festivals and
culture are “our nature” as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
efforts of County leadership to promote Pasco as a sports destination are
paying off. Major field and lacrosse events contribute an annual estimated
economic impact of more than $4 million.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is why Pasco County is pursuing a multi-sports facility on the Wiregrass
Development. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Our
private venue partners, like the Little Everglades Ranch, continue to lure
adventure races. On any given weekend the ranch can host nearly 20,000 visitors
who like to play in the mud and then spend their money in downtown Dade City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This
past week Skydive City once again proved its economic impact to Zephyrhills by
hosting the USPA Canopy Piloting National Championships. The event should
return next year and Skydive City may host the world championships. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So
invite your friends and family from other parts of the state or country to
promote Pasco County. As our State partner Visit Florida says “Share a Little
Sunshine.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">For more information on Pasco County tourism, visit <a href="http://www.visitpasco.net/"><span style="color: blue;">www.visitpasco.net</span></a> and join us on Facebook
at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VisitPasco?ref=tn_tnmn" target="_blank">Visit Pasco County Tourism</a>.</span>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-90828720446491077542013-01-10T12:46:00.000-08:002013-01-10T12:46:12.135-08:00What the Auk? Razorbills in Florida<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>By Ed Caum (Photos courtesy of Joe
Colontonio)<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In an interesting turn of events, Razorbills
have recently been seen in Florida waters in astounding numbers. This cold-water
bird is normally found offshore in the northern Atlantic with <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>jaunts as far south as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New Jersey and Virginia.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This medium-sized water bird has a black
uppers with a white under parts. Its bill is stout and deep in adults and
thinner in immatures. It resembles a penguin at first glance, except it flies. Experts<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>call these birds alcids, or the auk family,
and there are several species - like puffins - that are referred to in that manner.
Local birding expert Bill Pranty*, an editor with American Birding Association,
and author of A Birder’s Guide to Florida, has viewed Razorbills off of Anclote
Gulf Park, Green Key, and Hudson Beach. “There has also been a sighting at Gulf
Harbors,” he said. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Local birder, Joe Colontonio was able
to get photos of some of them just off the Hudson shoreline. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“You need to look
for them at high tide,” Colontonio said. “I haven’t heard of people seeing them
during the low.” </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">What brings them to Pasco’s coastline?
Pranty says there may be several factors. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Super Storm Sandy did major damage
to the estuaries up north and may have spread pollution into areas that the Razorbills
would find food,” he explained. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“ Razorbills also had an had unusually high
population growth this last nesting season and the waters off the North Atlantic
have gone up several degrees [relating to climate change] so this could also be
factors in why they are so far south searching for food.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Razorbills are from the bird family
Alcidae and take three years to reach maturity. Most of the reported sightings
in Florida are of immatures; this may be their first migration, which means,
with more competition for food along the East Coast, they had to keep moving
south to find fish to eat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“The reports I have heard is the birds
are feeding on glass minnows in Florida waters,” said Pranty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In northern waters, sand eels are one of the
food sources available to the Razorbills and the glass minnows in Florida
waters are similar in shape and size. Razorbills are powerful swimmers and can
dive to considerable depths to capture prey. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">“Razorbills literately fly
underwater,” said Pranty. “They flap the wings for propulsion and are very
agile.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the timing of past migrations holds
true, (not this one to Florida), then the Razorbills should be around until
March.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s when they head back north
for their nesting season on the cliffs of the cold water islands in the North
Atlantic. Because there have never been so many this far south, it will be
interesting to see if they all head back or if part of the population remains
in Florida waters. These birds are rarely seen on land and rely on the safety
of tall cliffs to safely rear their offspring. Florida’s coastline is a far cry
from Iceland and Newfoundland terrain.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In the past 120 years of recorded
birding history, only 14 razorbills have been recorded in Florida waters,
according to Pranty. This current irruption [that’s the technical birding term]
is a highly unusual turn of events but the local birders are enjoying being
able to check another bird of their life list.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">*Bill has been a
resident of central Florida since 1978, when he and his parents moved from
their native Pittsburgh. </span></em></strong></span><strong><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He has been
birding since <span class="googqs-tidbit1">age 14 and joined both the American
Birding Association (ABA) and Florida</span> Ornithological Society (FOS) in
1984. </span></span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">He has compiled
bird sightings statewide for the FOS Field Observations Committee since 1992
and is a former member of the FOS Records Committee.</span></span></em></strong></div>
visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-66454589897656822832012-10-31T08:18:00.002-07:002012-10-31T08:20:42.240-07:00From Mud to Main street to Mobile<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAXJk8LVAY0ddSAf-4T8Z4dN4E-W-vk3v5p8UL7dMmM5xYKR-YRVbMyx_EkA8iE7hnAsHc_yp8VIdIUbxbnKVU7scDotmOCbIiH5ssCkzpIzXqXZk2UOy8OfAoJ2-ojGGaYJyIrwyHws/s1600/Run+Mud.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAXJk8LVAY0ddSAf-4T8Z4dN4E-W-vk3v5p8UL7dMmM5xYKR-YRVbMyx_EkA8iE7hnAsHc_yp8VIdIUbxbnKVU7scDotmOCbIiH5ssCkzpIzXqXZk2UOy8OfAoJ2-ojGGaYJyIrwyHws/s1600/Run+Mud.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAXJk8LVAY0ddSAf-4T8Z4dN4E-W-vk3v5p8UL7dMmM5xYKR-YRVbMyx_EkA8iE7hnAsHc_yp8VIdIUbxbnKVU7scDotmOCbIiH5ssCkzpIzXqXZk2UOy8OfAoJ2-ojGGaYJyIrwyHws/s320/Run+Mud.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If there is an asset Pasco County has it's land! Private ranches, environmental lands and our parks naturally promote Pasco County as an ecotourism destination. The number of mud, obstacle and adventure events the County is drawing is mind numbing like some of the "ice-cold" obstacle dips promoted by Savage Race and Tough Mudder. However, October and November kickoff the festival season that highlight many main streets from New Port Richey to Zephyrhills.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In case you missed all the fun of events like the </span><a href="http://www.savagerace.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Savage Race</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> at the Little Everglades Ranch, make sure to check our sports and events </span><a href="http://www.visitpasco.net/SpecialEvents.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">calendar</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> for upcoming events like the </span><a href="http://www.prettymuddywomensrun.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Pretty Muddy</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> on November 10. In addition, a </span><a href="http://www.the5kzombierun.com/#!home/mainPage" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">5k Zombie Run</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> will be lurking at the Little Everglades Ranch on Saturday, December 22. That's if we make it past the Mayan Apocalypse on Friday, Dec. 21.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now for those of you looking to stay clean I suggest you hit the many main streets and fairgrounds for some great events in November. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Pasco County Fairgrounds hosts the largest Volkswagon show in the Southeast. The Bug Jam traditionally draws more than 600 VWs entered in 59 classes of air- and water-cooled classes. More information is available at </span><a href="http://www.pascobugjam.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">www.pascobugjam.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;">The Pasco Ecofest
returns with a <em>New Focus on Nature. </em></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;">The
EcoFest, Nov. 9 -12,includes six parks, the New Port Richey Recreation &
Aquatic Center, Peace Hall, at Sims Park, the New Port Richey Public Library
and Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve. </span>
Starkey Park will be home base, with other activities all across west Pasco
County - for more
information visit </span><a href="http://www.pascoecofest.com/"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">www.pascoecofest.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.6pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><o:p>In addition, the </o:p>Greater
New Port Richey Main Street is currently planning for the Harvest Fest
– Bluegrass and Bar-B-Q on that same Ecofest weekend of November 9-11 in Sims Park. Harvest Fest is one of eight
locations in West Pasco for this year’s Eco-Fest. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">More information is available at<span style="color: #0070c0;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.nprmainstreet.com/"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">www.nprmainstreet.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Finally, you can keep up with all these events in and out of the mud on visitpasco.net's new mobile site. Just type in visitpasco.net on your cell/mobile device and surf. It's free and mud free!</span></div>
visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-69892014385990979392012-07-25T13:26:00.000-07:002012-07-25T13:26:00.927-07:00Eco Ed on the water with the Don of Chicago Fishing <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqW3ZV5_HxNAY_G7wGNiCZZw12td_iVp9i7sgR1EwU2PYco0jEK2s4mSI8g_k2fNTepDnLe8TbuAj_X8rc3RBQ8vmSCRi7gh1IQ_HdutWHk_MDki9Slb2Sj__YleIqNdGET6wZFpN27w/s1600/WB+Fishing+7-15-2012+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqW3ZV5_HxNAY_G7wGNiCZZw12td_iVp9i7sgR1EwU2PYco0jEK2s4mSI8g_k2fNTepDnLe8TbuAj_X8rc3RBQ8vmSCRi7gh1IQ_HdutWHk_MDki9Slb2Sj__YleIqNdGET6wZFpN27w/s320/WB+Fishing+7-15-2012+013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/illinois-outdoors/2012/07/gulf-of-mexico-fishing-for-redfish-in-pasco-county-florida/" target="_blank">Don Dziedzina of Illinois Outdoors Inc</a> shows off a perfect tournament catch</td></tr>
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Watching fishing television shows are at times not realistic. I'm sure you know the feeling when the professional is reeling the fish on the boat. It's a 30 minute program and they have caught dozens of fish. Next week you hit the same fishing hole and nothing. <br />
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Pasco County's ecotourism expert "Eco" Ed Caum was thinking the same thing. Except this time he was not only fishing, he was also hosting <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/illinois-outdoors/2012/07/gulf-of-mexico-fishing-for-redfish-in-pasco-county-florida/" target="_blank">Don Dziedzina of Illinois Outdoors Inc</a>., on a mini media tour. Fortunately, the video below proves that you can get out on the water (Ed and Don were with Captain Randy Schone of <a href="http://www.pasco-gulf-fishing.com/" target="_blank">Barefoot Bandit Charters</a>) and witness a real fish story. That's when they are biting for the angling pro and the ecotourism expert. Check out the video blog on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMyR4EQ87ZU" target="_blank">You Tube</a> and <a href="http://visitpasco.net/">visitpasco.net</a>.<br />
<a name='more'></a>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-68742911431191471922012-04-13T12:21:00.001-07:002012-04-13T12:21:56.374-07:00Brenda's Berry Farm<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4G1eRiCc21hJB71CqbGXIGgeN7ZuzRnPU3KovoOtaC7YyVAkHk-7MmYsauyc1-svuxG2vSZ4HrcMJsHtDV4LhFKKXM9nyVYoosSPjGOQA-uz7H5h_im9SXimxEMJBavLJKgMbCEB7Xo/s1600/Blueberry+Two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4G1eRiCc21hJB71CqbGXIGgeN7ZuzRnPU3KovoOtaC7YyVAkHk-7MmYsauyc1-svuxG2vSZ4HrcMJsHtDV4LhFKKXM9nyVYoosSPjGOQA-uz7H5h_im9SXimxEMJBavLJKgMbCEB7Xo/s200/Blueberry+Two.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">April in Florida means the season is ripe for picking a dark blue commodity that used to be associated with colder north climates, blueberries. This sweet little berry, rich with fiber and full of anti-oxidants, has moved south.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The </span><a href="http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_blueberry"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">University of Florida</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> launched a blueberry breeding program in 1976 and it produced three strains of southern highbush blueberries developed for Florida’s mild climate. Thirty years later these efforts have bloomed, so to speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Pasco County now boasts numerous commercial blueberry farms and several of them are you U-Pick patches. One is </span><a href="http://brendasberrybarn.tripod.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Brenda’s Berry Barn</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">. Located on Hudson Road three miles east of little Road. The Short family has a U-Pick farm which backs up to Brenda’s son Brad’s commercial farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s the difference? Brad’s produces more than 80,000 pounds of berries while Brenda’s hosts people from around the world who pick the 30,000 pounds her farm produces.</span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMnQ67GL4W9YOfVRGiAMc17eR2G0-0VZVOzJCUtkBDkb6OnBcLksa1XE3MpBtfCU0iicOH8dXcraXawIlOpxJZrfhTdi-TN8sfWX92Ccb6H-Gr3l-yG9p1aw-Sj8DOCKorDvQKZ4NdvY/s1600/Blueberry+Three+Brenda+Short.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMnQ67GL4W9YOfVRGiAMc17eR2G0-0VZVOzJCUtkBDkb6OnBcLksa1XE3MpBtfCU0iicOH8dXcraXawIlOpxJZrfhTdi-TN8sfWX92Ccb6H-Gr3l-yG9p1aw-Sj8DOCKorDvQKZ4NdvY/s320/Blueberry+Three+Brenda+Short.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brenda Short </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBdLXque5aOfiu8ReOEvfmyifVN_ZiGQssFEePbAk_7tuxzvuEGJU4heh64-nNWt7xAzH4joe6ZnvowNIMh4jueey5WxFQNQ8DQMsU7Yn_fZfzabvbKMxCj9fws7dqSfu8A_nvxW45wE/s1600/Blueberry+One.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBdLXque5aOfiu8ReOEvfmyifVN_ZiGQssFEePbAk_7tuxzvuEGJU4heh64-nNWt7xAzH4joe6ZnvowNIMh4jueey5WxFQNQ8DQMsU7Yn_fZfzabvbKMxCj9fws7dqSfu8A_nvxW45wE/s200/Blueberry+One.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">International you say? Yes, on a recent morning the Gottwald Family from Berlin, Germany stopped by and harvested ten pounds of berries to enjoy while on vacation here in Pasco. Later that day tourists from </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Virginia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia stopped by to pick a few pounds, according to Brenda.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can also purchase fresh berries that Brenda has ready for you. Visitors can also pick up a bottle of blueberry syrup or jam to satisfy their sweet tooth. Brenda has also written a children’s story about her berry farm and it makes a nice memento for time spent in the patch picking our own dark blueberries full of bliss with your family.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In an effort to increase the knowledge of blueberry farms in Pasco, local farmers have put to together the </span><a href="http://www.pascoblueberryfestival.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blueberry Jerry Jamboree</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> in memory of Brenda’s husband Jerry and there son Justin she lost several years ago. The jamboree on April 27-29, features none other than a blueberry pancake breakfast (Sat & Sunday), puppet shows, a ham dinner, face-painting, balloons and music and lots of blueberries.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you want to strike up a conversation with Brenda when you visit ask her about her Blueberry Cobbler.</span></div>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-48895554161573712562012-02-13T13:27:00.000-08:002012-02-13T13:27:07.804-08:00New twists rekindle Suncoast Arts Fest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIELEYpCsByoCPIrcm_6aNEa96GKptZiy6fHs6GvCcgVEfLBf60qRrEnvrTAb44RB9UYigiXw4pINEkxrRMExBDMnhCkm6VES5LdGyDJHKpPXC2PrPmf6ntCrPC6aeD_CgadT0ScZXdE/s1600/Suncoast+Arts+Fest+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIELEYpCsByoCPIrcm_6aNEa96GKptZiy6fHs6GvCcgVEfLBf60qRrEnvrTAb44RB9UYigiXw4pINEkxrRMExBDMnhCkm6VES5LdGyDJHKpPXC2PrPmf6ntCrPC6aeD_CgadT0ScZXdE/s320/Suncoast+Arts+Fest+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wesley Chapel -- This year’s Suncoast Arts Fest at the Shoppes at Wiregrass drew crowds in excess of 100,000 in late January and added a few new aspects to what many consider one of the fastest growing art festivals in Central Florida. For the seventh year in a row the show continued to grow and draw talented artists from across the region.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A 5k run was added to raise money directly for area schools’ art classes and chalk artists were dotted through the hundreds of vendors. Fantastic food was featured and there was a Flash Mob Dance on Sunday. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The dance group was excellent,” said Pam Marron, co-chair of the Suncoast Arts Fest. “It was kind of a surprise because normally Wiregrass doesn’t allow flash mobs, in-line with a lot of other area malls. So it was a neat one-time event.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The two-day festival featured 85 artists displaying and selling their work. There were also ten vendors offering a variety of goods. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We had people from around the region come to this event to display their wares and art,” explained Marron. “I also had 21 other artists come to the event to see it first-hand and they decided to sign up for next year.” The dates for next year are already set for Jan 19-20, 2013. Artists came from the local area plus, Orlando, Punta Gorda and Sarasota. “Each year we draw artists and visitors in from further and further distances,” said Marron.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As in the past the Fest used smart phone technology to push out the information on the musical performances, as well as specials offered around the Shoppes of Wiregrass. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“We worked hard this year to make the event more interactive,” Marron said. “We used QR codes, Facebook and twitter to keep our visitors aware of the events as they happened.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The School District played and even larger part in the festival this year according to Marron. Art teachers and their students made up a bulk of the volunteer force. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Marron said that a number of the sponsors were extremely happy with the turn out and one boasted a 40% increase in sales over the previous year. What will they think of next as they continue to grow what has become a featured art festival in the region?</span></div>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-18486935823111466552012-01-12T09:02:00.000-08:002012-01-12T09:02:59.113-08:00Pasco EcoFest Photo Competition<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3X2ABjTfW9Es-6AobyI1mkVDdkMS0W5q2MDoiR-5tTZk2poCMnMSfBo2K_C83Kgp-SRAhxEGZzcYNbPRnIvs1OIxK2RNvhGS-haefOlePqMi_b4V8SIDE-iK6RlVvSek0oJAx7ELxY5Y/s1600/Eagle+Cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3X2ABjTfW9Es-6AobyI1mkVDdkMS0W5q2MDoiR-5tTZk2poCMnMSfBo2K_C83Kgp-SRAhxEGZzcYNbPRnIvs1OIxK2RNvhGS-haefOlePqMi_b4V8SIDE-iK6RlVvSek0oJAx7ELxY5Y/s320/Eagle+Cover.JPG" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Andrea Webb</td></tr>
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<span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Chasco Camera Club, Progress Energy Art Gallery and the West Pasco Arts Guild hosted the inaugural Pasco EcoFest Photographic Competition as one of the outdoor opportunities during the three-day festival last November. The photos from that forum are being displayed at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey for the month of January. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Camera Club has been around since 1973, currently has 42 members and holds two meetings a month; on the first and third Tuesdays at the Hudson Library. Throughout the year the Club sponsors around ten exhibits, according to Charlie Srsich, a long-time member. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“I think the EcoFest was great overall,” said Srsich. “I think that next year people will have a better idea of what to expect and even more will participate in all the activities, especially photography.” A photographer since the 1950, Srsich lamented about the challenge of nature photography. </span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“You can be one place, one day at a certain time and you will have wildlife all around you. Next visit there may not be any. It takes a lot of patience to capture a great photograph.”</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Srsich knows that people who participated in this competition enjoyed it and the fact there were 11 winners, five from the Chasco Camera Club, will bring even more submissions next year.</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Club information and membership, events and competitions is available at </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/chascocameraclub.org"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">chascocameraclub.org</span></a></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Winners from the competition are:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>First Place</span></b><span> – Cheryl Molennor for “Elegance and Grace”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>Second Place</span></b><span> – Joan Bold for “Five Sandpipers”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span>Third Place</span></b><span> – Steward Harrison for “Flight”</span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The photos can be viewed from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at the West Pasco Government Center, 8731 Citizen’s Drive, New Port Richey.</span></span></div>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-10048022221021790812011-12-19T13:33:00.000-08:002011-12-19T13:33:17.714-08:00Lacrosse Anyone?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Will the Krunch repeat? </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 6th Annual <personname w:st="on">Dick</personname>’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions, the boys’ club lacrosse national championships, returns to Wesley Chapel District Park and Wesley Chapel High School December 30, 2011 - January 1, 2012. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This marks the fifth consecutive year the tournament has returned to Pasco County. The three day event is estimated to bring in an economic impact to the area of more than $2 million. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year’s tournament has expanded to five divisions totaling 80 teams. Last year’s elite champion the Kanienkehaka Krunch (New York) returns as well as the two-time runner-up Road Warriors from North Carolina. The Krunch were the first US team to win the elite trophy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sport of lacrosse was created by Native American tribes and the Kanienkehaka Krunch are from the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation. In the tournament's previous five elite finals, a team from the lacrosse rich nation of Canada took home the coveted Dick's trophy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twenty states will be represented, along with six clubs from Canada and 16 teams from Florida. Teams will compete in pool play on Friday, and will then be seeded for the championship brackets based on pool play results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The five national championship games will be held on Sunday, January 1 starting at 8 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. at Wesley Chapel District Park. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a complete list of the teams and brackets in the <personname w:st="on">Dick</personname>’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions presented by Pasco County log onto <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><a href="http://www.laxtoc.com/">http://www.laxtoc.com/</a>.</u></b> For more on Pasco County go to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><a href="http://www.visitpasco.net/"><span style="color: purple;">www.visitpasco.net</span></a>.</u></b></span></span></div>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-56392966877819866902011-10-25T12:20:00.000-07:002011-10-25T12:20:10.494-07:00Happy Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of Pasco County's own, Lawrence Feeney, filmed a short screen story just for Halloween. The short film industry and New Port Richey's past has been buzzing since Feeney and his partners entered the <strong><em><span style="color: red;">PRISONER 34655</span></em></strong> into the Producer's Guild Weekend Shorts Contest at the end of September. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Log on to <strong><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi3920863001/">VIMEO</a></span></strong> to take a peak at Feeney's film. I'm sure you will see some of Pasco County's finest venues in the flick.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since we are days away from Halloween we can thank our friends from the <em>Patch</em> at discovering what haunts Pasco County. Please stop there is no inside joke or pun. Keeping with the last blog about the former silent movie stars that graced New Port Richey there's tales of the </span></span><a href="http://newportrichey.patch.com/listings/richey-suncrest-theatre"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #0044aa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Richey Suncoast Theater </span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and of past president and patron Willard Clark's spirit roaming the balcony.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Check out the <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://newportrichey.patch.com/articles/ghostly-stories-of-pasco-county&ct=ga&cad=CAcQARgAIAAoATAAOABAtJ2a9QRIAVAAWABiBWVuLVVT&cd=RYwXu4taBU4&usg=AFQjCNEPv-EZs6LHd1x6jdkIvDiLyBqPeQ">story here. </a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy Halloween Pasco County! </span></span><br /><br />
</div>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-62945683862837182242011-09-21T06:45:00.000-07:002011-09-21T06:45:09.675-07:00Hello Everybody I'm Pasco County!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are back! Our destination is always boasting about taking a vacation and sometimes the destination's blog takes a vacation. For this post we'll focus on film. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celebrities began flocking to New Port Richey in the roaring 1920s, when New Port Richey residents Mr. and Mrs. George Sims invited friends to visit from Great Neck, <state w:st="on"><place w:st="on">New York</place></state>—a prominent movie and stage colony in the north. <placename w:st="on">Sims</placename> <placetype w:st="on">Park</placetype>, along the <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Pithlachascotee</placename> <placetype w:st="on">River</placetype></place> on the edge of downtown, is named for this couple who introduced so many to the area and truly encouraged the city’s growth. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cash's former home on the Cotee</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">Soon after the incorporation of the City of New Port Richey in 1924, Warren E. Burns of <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">New York City</place></city> began to develop his extensive holdings here. Lots were sold to silent screen idol Thomas Meighan, renowned comedian Ed Wynn, theatrical stars Raymond Hitchcock and his wife Flora Zabelle, movie stars Gloria Swanson and Leon Errol, jazz musician Paul Whiteman, and grand slam champion golfer Gene Sarazen. Meighan was among the first to build a home along the river. Today, boaters can view Meighan’s gatehouse, Swanson’s home, and Sarazen’s riverside residence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">While many expected New Port Richey to flourish as a movie and stage colony in the 1920s, the city never reached this destiny. The 1929 stock market crash and untimely death of Thomas Meighan in 1936 brought an end to such dreams. Nevertheless, </span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif";">New Port Richey did not develop into the Hollywood destination. However, it did lure a music legend like Johnny Cash. Our friends at the PATCH have the story <a href="http://bit.ly/py4fO4">http://bit.ly/py4fO4</a>. <br /><br />Lawrence Feeney has a short screen story to tell and you can be a part of it. Feeney is an actor, producer and director that is part of this upcoming weekend's <em><strong><span style="color: blue;">Producers Guild Weekend Shorts Contest</span></strong></em>. Feeney is filming a documentary on Pasco County and how the area can be used for all kinds of film projects. Plus, he's producing a short film for the contest that will feature Pasco County actors and destinations. Contact him <a href="mailto:attheatrainplays@yahoo.com">attheatrainplays@yahoo.com</a>. You never now you could be the next Thomas Meighan or Johnny Depp. </span></div>
</span></span></span>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-76752685875680282822011-07-15T12:14:00.000-07:002011-07-15T12:14:37.444-07:00Wild Thing’s Eco-Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV7kcySmFAd5ODIh0TE3QVGlytn9VU8yQnVDV2LRjNH4tRHq-OTMHva17kNC2NA3pQzXOTCW0WFZwqVr91C_4QvQ4invFtpUEqa6ATF9PL0waeG9eNO7X_aiJXnxtyjNaTraYcWGGqzM/s1600/Tour+Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV7kcySmFAd5ODIh0TE3QVGlytn9VU8yQnVDV2LRjNH4tRHq-OTMHva17kNC2NA3pQzXOTCW0WFZwqVr91C_4QvQ4invFtpUEqa6ATF9PL0waeG9eNO7X_aiJXnxtyjNaTraYcWGGqzM/s200/Tour+Group.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” We are not in Oz, but in Dade City on Pasco County’s east side. The yellow brick road leads to Dade City’s Wild Things Zoo. It’s a path winding under a magnificent tree canopy and though a spacious garden on the Stearns’ property. A two mile trolley ride from the gift shop on Meridian Avenue begins your adventure.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Kathy Stearns is your host and she has developed an ecotour that allows hands-on encounters with many of the zoo’s 170 residents. That path winds past various types of monkeys, black bears, tiger and lions. The tour consists of explanations of their various habits and information about their behaviors in the wild. Many of the animals on the property have been rescued or recovered from people who could no longer care for them. Kathy has developed a close bond with each of her residents and it amazing how they respond to her and her staff.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwy31YCzE-1PiL_kpNgcwchFWhuNaM5puhZJrRUG7dJbOAP0qzRoYvb-sLQuwd5rlDR-Kp9JYUVVvRYdPE1fCYBpZjrzJ6lRBBT3zv9HQGigz6GfA2-gIj5UfYehmSM9nR7BBo46W9dA/s1600/Tiger+Encounter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwy31YCzE-1PiL_kpNgcwchFWhuNaM5puhZJrRUG7dJbOAP0qzRoYvb-sLQuwd5rlDR-Kp9JYUVVvRYdPE1fCYBpZjrzJ6lRBBT3zv9HQGigz6GfA2-gIj5UfYehmSM9nR7BBo46W9dA/s200/Tiger+Encounter.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The most popular part of the tour is the one-on-one encounters with some of the zoo’s infant animals. Following the guided tour, you can arrange to have s sit down session with <span style="color: black;">tiger cubs Rajah or Ruari, the shy little foxes, Tippy Cooper and Billy Blue, pet the Roe Deer fawn Buckwheat, or pose for photos with the ever </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">rambunctious </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">snow monkey, JaJay.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">One of the newest encounters available is swimming with the tiger cubs. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“This is the only place I know in the world where you can actually get in the water and swim with tigers,” said Kathy. Another idea being developed is opening up the property to tours and events in the vast </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">natural botanical garden. There is room for social events including weddings with tours of the animals as an additional amenity.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Photos of your encounter are available upon return to the gift store. Dade City’s Wild Things is located at </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Meridian Avenue & 17th Street, 37245 Meridian Avenue, Dade City, FL, <strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">352-567-WILD (9453). Their website is </span></strong></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.dadecityswildthings.com"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">www.dadecityswildthings.com</span></a><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></span></strong></div>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-34959930373082921362011-06-15T13:26:00.000-07:002011-06-15T13:26:02.902-07:00Paddling at Two MPH <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pasco's Parks and Rec Director Rick Buckman</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A recent planned day-paddle turned out to be both breathtaking and productive. Launching kayaks just south of Aripeka, on Filman’s Bayou the day’s route would take us down Pasco County’s shoreline marking waypoints and points of interest with a global positioning system (GPS). </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The intent of the trip was to put eyes on the scenic parts of our coastline and record the information to put in a blueways brochure. Paddlers visiting Pasco could use it to navigate the pristine coastline in a modern fashion. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
With our own laminated maps and paddles in hand the modern day Lewis and Clark (Buckman and Caum) set out to cover as much coastline as we could before becoming worn out or blown in. The wind did get the better part of us later in the trip.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the amazing things about kayaking or paddle boarding is life moves along at a pace where you can enjoy the sights and sounds around you. Being on the water doing 40 miles an hour is thrilling, but at two miles an hour, it puts things into a different perspective. As our ancestors explored the coast and rivers of the New World from paddle driven craft, they had an insight into the “real” experience.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpWF0NiYN1UAmx9FC3O9kHv1n5WRoH6NTHLfVItwPln9AG3siDcmgNfBW7IDKX-bKaQnY2IweAP4i7EBT3rCSr_-pMI784jhvwCpmgVzX0io8pVbhWlUCsIa3os45eWeDQxGs0Dc9QNo/s1600/Horseshoe+Crab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpWF0NiYN1UAmx9FC3O9kHv1n5WRoH6NTHLfVItwPln9AG3siDcmgNfBW7IDKX-bKaQnY2IweAP4i7EBT3rCSr_-pMI784jhvwCpmgVzX0io8pVbhWlUCsIa3os45eWeDQxGs0Dc9QNo/s200/Horseshoe+Crab.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This paddle was the same kind of experience for us, except for the hand held Garmin GPS. Paddling this piece of the Nature Coast is the “real” Florida coastline. The area from Filman’s Bayou to Sea Pines Channel and down to Hudson Beach was great for viewing bottom dwellers, rays, shovel-nosed sharks, horseshoe crabs, and large variety of baitfish. We left the bayou on a low slack tide, so we figured we would have to walk across a couple of the spits and we did. We hit <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No Name Channel</i> ninety minutes after we set out. That put us 4.38 miles into the paddle. We determined the time and the coordinates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We pulled onto Hudson Beach to stretch at Robert Strickland Memorial Park. This stop was right at two hours into the paddle and had we left at 10 a.m. (instead of 8 a.m.) we could have walked into Sam’s for lunch before re-launching. Day paddlers take note, after a two-hour paddle, a break for refreshments and two more hours would be a perfect paddling day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just shy of seven miles into the trip, we headed to mark <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Signal Cove Channel</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that, we came to the north border to Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, at N28 degrees 20.567 minutes/West 082 degrees, 43.100 minutes, just a 38-minute paddle from Hudson Beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then proceeded to mark each of the fresh water exits from the park that are navigable from the Gulf. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These will be key features on the blueways brochure once we get it into production.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We continued down the coast, jotting down waypoints on the maps on our laps. Four hours into the adventure, we hit the entrance to Salt Springs Bayou the main water entrance point to the pristine park. The coordinates for the mouth of the entrance are North 28 degrees 17.600 minutes/West 082 degrees 44.182 minutes. The mouth of the entrance, six miles from Hudson Beach, is dotted with oysters beds, so do not attempt this on a low or extreme low tide. Paddling into the park is easiest if you have an incoming tide.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the remainder of the endeavor we worked our way down to Brasher Park in Port Richey (N28 degrees, 17.166 minutes/West 082 degrees, 44.182 minutes) to stop for the day. The wind had picked up from the northwest and was making it difficult to stay offshore and on course. Brasher Park has an easy launch and take-out point and it’s just a mile from the entrance to the Salt Springs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the course of the day, we paddled more than four hours <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(we were on the water for 5 hours and 22 minutes total), covered 12.5 miles of coastline at an average speed of 2.2 miles per hour. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Next trip for the dynamic duo</b>: The remaining eight miles of the Pasco coastline and more information for our blueways brochure.</span></div>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-85087468908945836592011-05-27T07:47:00.000-07:002011-05-27T07:47:58.284-07:00Anclote Lighthouse Tour and History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrBOmt8ZiyAuO6kLZrAcmZY2KGmF-nXnHbj2gXPGORSLVg_lV2aItiXpFFEVyPQ-l_CWfj70amw0j_MyLAmJErTHQ5Ivm_f82Dl_IkcT8gDlu-5alXyqEzits1wrQu5lbp4hN409Wzco/s1600/IMG_2985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrBOmt8ZiyAuO6kLZrAcmZY2KGmF-nXnHbj2gXPGORSLVg_lV2aItiXpFFEVyPQ-l_CWfj70amw0j_MyLAmJErTHQ5Ivm_f82Dl_IkcT8gDlu-5alXyqEzits1wrQu5lbp4hN409Wzco/s200/IMG_2985.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last week during our Pasco County Outdoor FAM Tour we visited Anclote Key and the lighthouse. The lighthouse sits on the southern tip of Anclote Key, at the mouth of the Anclote River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Historically, it is known for its sponges which are found on the bottom of the Anclote River and other places. Currently the State is revitalizing the area. But you can still make your way to island by boat and explore the beautiful surroundings. </span></div><div class="bodytext" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="bodytext" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you head out this Memorial Day weekend here is a little refresher on the history. Anclote Key is a pristine slice of the Florida's yesteryear. The word Anclote is a Spanish word meaning anchor. The island is about 180 acres and around four miles long, and almost a mile wide. </span></div><div class="bodytext" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="bodytext" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The park is actually made up of four islands and continues to grow as sand accumulates along its length.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The islands are Anclote Key, North Anclote Bar, South Anclote bar and Three Rooker Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anclote Key is the northernmost island of the 320-mile chain or barrier islands which protect much of Florida’s Gulf Coast.</span></div><div class="bodytext" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="bodytext" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anclote Key Preserve State park has been preserved in a primitive state. Since it is accessible only by boat and is remote, the island attracts many birds that tend to avoid human contact, making the park a key destination for bird watchers. The park is home to at least 43 species of birds, including the American oystercatcher, bald eagle and piping plover.</span></div><div class="bodytext" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="bodytext" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Camping is available on the North end of the island along with picnic pavilions and grills. Visitors must bring water and supplies as there are no provisions on the island. Plenty of sunscreen and bug spray is also recommended. Camping is free but before you go call 727-469-5942 and check in. </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #515151; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></div><div class="bodytext" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="bodytext" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anclote Key is very damp and marshy, which makes it hard to travel around unless you walk along the sand beaches. Barefoot is best! The color of the water resembles that of the Florida Keys because it is a turquoise-color. The island's eastern side has no beach. Instead, it has mangroves and mud, almost like quicksand. <br />
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The western side, however, has a beautiful white sand beach and is a popular place for locals to sunbath and enjoy water sports. We hope to see you there!</span></div>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-34109248578862101142011-05-16T12:26:00.000-07:002011-05-16T12:26:31.845-07:00Pasco County FAM Tour This Week<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-SnBpg0R0WCA8F6bYBjUS9nfaYoYBa8vifm9D_xzJdgwJyRXA6eDZtJGB-CkDY9ZSxrazCfE7xqp0aZAxWMssXaHoJafiy4tICJAzgoYmacsJRLt5Oh0ofJxRINjXopfCRrt7t-6ZC8/s1600/Van+Wrap+2011+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 132px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 201px;"><img border="0" height="132" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-SnBpg0R0WCA8F6bYBjUS9nfaYoYBa8vifm9D_xzJdgwJyRXA6eDZtJGB-CkDY9ZSxrazCfE7xqp0aZAxWMssXaHoJafiy4tICJAzgoYmacsJRLt5Oh0ofJxRINjXopfCRrt7t-6ZC8/s200/Van+Wrap+2011+003.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Office of Tourism Development is promoting Pasco County the old fashioned way this week, by word-of-mouth. A four-day trip from <strong>May 17-20</strong>, called the “Outdoor” FAM Tour, for travel writers will promote and allow the journalists to experience some of the County’s best attractions. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the first tour Pasco County has conducted in six years and the itinerary planned will showcase Pasco's brand as an outdoor sports and travel destination. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The FAM Tour participants are traveling from as far away as <strong>North Carolina</strong>, <strong>Utah</strong> and <strong>Tennessee </strong>to experience Pasco County. Two are in-state residents and one, Terry Tomalin, is an outdoors writer for the St. Petersburg Times, but he also contributes as a <strong>Visit Florida Insider</strong> in many online and print publications. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A total of five writers and photo journalists have been published in many notable publications including Adventure World Magazine, Explore Compete Live Website, Outdoor Sport Guide Magazine, The Travelling Adventurer Magazine and SpottedTail.com.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The tour will help promote all of the great outdoor Pasco adventures, accommodations and dining experiences we have here.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The FAM Tour will show off attractions such as J.B. Starkey Park, Saddlebrook Resort, Florida Backwater Charters (flats fishing), Giraffe Ranch, Werner-Boyce Salt Springs Park, Red Balloon Adventures, Miss Daisy Boat Tours and Skydive City. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Traveling all over the county, participants will eat at fine establishments including Kafe Kokopelli, Lonzalo’s Pizzeria and Ristorante, Havana Dreamer, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dempsey’s Too, Pappas Ranch and a visit to Florida Estates Winery. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Accommodations are being provided by Homewood Suites, Saddlebrook Resort and Pasco County Parks and Recreation rustic Starkey Cabins. So if you see the Pasco County Tourism Van traveling about you know that there are tourists and journalists on board.</span></div>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687841064785702863.post-16394432267954989572011-05-05T12:21:00.000-07:002011-05-05T12:21:46.904-07:00National Tourism Week in Pasco County<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GUGnhdVRg8DNr4PBNAJzY3O6WY4R_yWaZwKTp0sBhvjoKYJkhkXSwC8GhyphenhyphenKrf2ynBn39LRAHBKlzFRn_FHQ4XlmwIz0dcr5Voiqp5OyPk5VSujzlquA6KbA948uYWZTS00onQBd4y8o/s1600/Tourism+Week+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GUGnhdVRg8DNr4PBNAJzY3O6WY4R_yWaZwKTp0sBhvjoKYJkhkXSwC8GhyphenhyphenKrf2ynBn39LRAHBKlzFRn_FHQ4XlmwIz0dcr5Voiqp5OyPk5VSujzlquA6KbA948uYWZTS00onQBd4y8o/s200/Tourism+Week+2011.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">Pasco County has planned activities to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, May 7-15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The schedule includes festivals, recognition, a Travel</span> Expo visit and a Promote Pasco Workshop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Culminating the week of events is the Blueberry Jerry Jamboree and the Cotee River Seafood Festival and Boat Show, May 13-15. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The week begins on May 9, with the unveiling of the new van wrap as part of the County’s Tourist Development Plan 2010-2014 marketing initiatives. The Board of County Commissioners will sign a resolution on Tuesday, May 10, declaring May 7-15, Pasco County Tourism Week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the recognition the Office of Tourism Development will head north to the Visitors’ Center on I-75 to promote Pasco County and welcome visitors to Florida.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Thursday, May 12, is the highlight of the week when the Special Event Grant application process for Fiscal Year 2011/12 is launched. The kickoff coincides with the Promote Pasco Workshop at the Hampton Inn & Suites, in Wesley Chapel. The free workshop is designed to assist event planners and tourism stakeholders in marketing Pasco County as a travel and sports destination. Topics will include mobile marketing, websites, social media, video and print advertising. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To reserve a space at the workshop or receive a Special Event Grant application package, including all requirements, call (727) 847-8129.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">On Friday, it’s a visit to the Villages Travel Expo in Ocala to promote Pasco County. In addition, the inaugural Blueberry Jerry Jamboree begins as well as the traditional Cotee River Seafood Festival and Boat Show. For more information on these events please go to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>visitpasco.net</u></b> or follow Pasco County Tourism on Facebook. </span></div><span style="background-color: lime;"></span>visitpascohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17979610562442565429noreply@blogger.com0