My Pasco County Woman

Posted Nov 22, 2006 by Jeff Scullin

Updated Nov 22, 2006 at 04:36 PM

Editor’s note: I received this link from a reader identifying himself as Aaron Cutoff - a play on Ehren Cutoff Road in central Pasco, I suspect. Anyway, follow the link below for a light-hearted musical salute to Pasco County.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hHyqtKAKUc

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Natural Beauty

Posted Nov 22, 2006 by Jeff Scullin

Updated Nov 22, 2006 at 04:31 PM

Watching the beautiful sunrises and sunsets behind the cypress and pine trees with no buildings to mar the view is great. Seeing the herons, cranes and other water birds enjoying our natural pond is wonderful. Taking our evening walk and seeing the wildlife back by the swamp is fun. Sometimes we see deer, and then we cut our route short so as not to frighten them away. After our walk, we have a nice drink by the pond and watch the freindly kois swim and jump about - the bass and brim join them, especially when it is feeding time.

Nona Evans
Land O’ Lakes

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Lots of Recreation in Pasco

Posted Nov 22, 2006 by Jeff Scullin

Updated Nov 22, 2006 at 04:26 PM

What makes Pasco great for me is the large number of recreational activities available to our residents and seasonal visitors as well, many free and others at a relatively modest cost.

(Some of my favorites are) golf courses (that) appeal to every skill level, such as Beacon Woods Golf Club in Bayonet Point, or Sea Pines in Hudson; fishing on the Gulf or on any of the hundreds of beautiful lakes in the county; swimming at any of the Gulf beaches or in community or private pools; theme parks within reasonable driving distance (Busch Gardens in Tampa or the Disney complex in Orlando); day trips to Fort DeSoto Beach, said to be one of the best in the country; day excursions (from Port Richey) to gambling ships in the Gulf; the USA Flea Market in Bayonet Point; several nature parks; the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village in Dade City.

Most of these, plus others, are described in free publications such as The Tampa Tribune’s 2006/2007 issue of its “Discover Tampa Bay.”

Joseph Baldyga
Hudson

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Freedom to Volunteer

Posted Nov 22, 2006 by Jeff Scullin

Updated Nov 22, 2006 at 04:23 PM

After 20 years of retirement in Pasco County, my church, my community and my homeowners association give me the freedom to volunteer as I choose, which gives me a feeling of self-worth and importance to my country.

John Roeske
Zephyrhills

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Friendly, Small-Town Dade City

Posted Nov 22, 2006 by Jeff Scullin

Updated Nov 22, 2006 at 04:23 PM

What is Special about Pasco County?
The friendly attitude of all the residents.
I started my business in downtown Dade City in 1997.  I was from Tampa and knew nothing of small rural towns. What I found to be incredible was the friendliness. I was always astounded by the hospitality and kindness of the local residents. From the day I opened, they came to visit and look around the store. They were eager to support my new local business. I felt like they were cheering for me. There were a few older couples that seemed to magically stop in to my store on slow days. They would talk and look around until they found something to buy. They asked me how things were, and if I told them it was slow, they would assure me that things would be all right. It felt like the community had a watchful eye on my store. They seemed to know when I was struggling and my business was slow. Then the alert would go out, and one of these couples would come visit me. I know it seems far-fetched, but I swear that when I would ask them if this was happening; they would just give a laugh and a little suspicious grin.

I experienced the most memorable moment of Americana on my tenth day of business in my new little jewelry store. The store was located on Seventh Avenue, the main street of the downtown. On this day, I happened to be on the phone with my wife, telling her about my day. It was around 3 in the afternoon. Looking out my glass storefront, I noticed that a few people had set up and sat in some lawn chairs. They were lining up on the sidewalk in front of my store.  I asked my one employee, who was a longtime local resident, what was going on. She said that the county fair opens today, and there is a parade to kick it off. Shortly after, I was witness to a scene from Norman Rockwell, as pickup trucks pulling trailers were parading in colorful and decorative fashion down the street – right out my front door. All the floats were, I guess you (would) say, home-made. From politicians to cheerleaders, mixed in with the high school and middle school marching bands, there was nothing fancy and expensive here. But it was so down-home and spoke to the culture of this small town. I folded my arms, leaned back with a big smile and felt all the years of stress from the big city just flow out from my body.

David Hevia, owner of Kiefer Village Jewels

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