Volume 4, Number 1 March/April 2008
FISH FRY
Trilby United Methodist held a down-home country Fish
Fry, February 28th. You could smell somethin’ in the air as you pulled up to
the church to park. There were cars everywhere- folks from all over
Trilby/Lacoochee/Trilacoochee and even Dade City came to enjoy the grits,
slaw, tea, dessert and of course the headliner… FISH!!! Louie King, the Lay
Speaker of TUMC, and the Trilby Masonic Lodge members provided some of the
delicious food. When asked what makes these dinners special, Pastor Dave
Huff said, “This is a great opportunity to meet so many of the area’s
residents and to have fellowship with them”.
Shirley Huff, Pastor Dave’s wife, added,” with crowds this big we
need to have one in April”! To
learn more about Trilby United Methodist and their events, log-on to www.trilbyunitedmethodist.org
or call the church at (352) 583-2577.
The
Greater Trilby News
“Serving
the Tri-community area”
Publisher:
The Greater Trilby Community Association, (GTCA)
Herb
Green -- daddyherb2@earthlink.net
352-583-5936
Editor:
Jennifer Mihalinec – greatertrilbynews@gmail.com
352-583-4375
The Greater Trilby News is a
monthly publication of The Greater Trilby Community Association, Inc., and
serves the tri-community area consisting of Lacoochee, Trilacoochee, and
Trilby. This newsletter accepts
articles concerning the association’s activities and articles of interest
to the area.
TRI-COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR A WITHLACOOCHEE STATE TRAIL EXTENSION
What do you think about extending the Withlacoochee State
Trail from Trilby to Dade City? In
the quest to find out the opinions of local residents and business owners in
the Tri-community area, positive support for a possible extension was
discovered. Traci Alford, whose family has owned and operated the world famous
George and Gladys Restaurant for fifty years, stated:
“If the county extends the trail from Trilby to Dade City, this would
bring more business to us here at George and Gladys’.”
Traci also felt that the extension of the trail would be a much safer
option than going down Hwy 301 to Dade City.
Dade City residents, Ray and Pat Smith, also feel that an extension
from Trilby to Dade City would be a great idea.
Mel stated that he would “definitely ride from Dade City to Trilby”
if an extension was done.
Two of their friends visiting from New York, Mel and Barbara Reber,
were first-time riders to the trail and had nothing but positive remarks about
their bike ride. When asked what
they enjoyed most about the trail, they stated “the nature”!!!
They enjoyed spotting tortoises, various birds and the beautiful
wildflowers. Additionally, they
found the benches along the trail useful and liked the fact that the horse
trail was separate from the asphalt trail.
Ridge Manor residents, Bill Underhill and Tammy Wheeles,
favored a southern extension to the trail.
In regards to extending the trail, Bill stated, “the longer the
better”. He felt that there was
plenty of trail to ride North of Ridge Manor as opposed to the short ride
south.
If you want to potentially bike/walk/run to Dade City, call
District One Commissioner Ted Schrader at 521-4274 or e-mail him at
tschrader@pascocountyfl.net.
L to R:
T. Wheeles, B. Underhill, B. Reber, P. Smith, R. Smith, M. Reber
LACOOCHEE CHURCHES COME TOGETHER
Saturday, March 1st, several churches in Lacoochee
came together to have their first annual fundraiser benefiting the Lacoochee
Community Cemetery. Funds obtained from the fundraiser were to aid in the
upkeep of the cemetery. Pastor
Marvin Strickland of Oak Ridge Baptist church stated that the land was donated
by the Mills Family in 1898. The
first grave in the cemetery dates back to 1898. The fundraiser consisted of a
meal of pulled pork with side dishes and an auction. Several tents for the
event were provided by Withlacoochee River Electric.
Pastor Marvin said, “This
is our first year and we plan to do this every year from here on out”.
The
Greater Trilby Community Association was recently donated the use of three
acres and a double wide trailer off of Old Trilby Rd and Caboose. This
recreational center, when finished, will provide a host of activities such as
tennis, basketball, racquetball, football and a quarter-mile track to walk
around. The association will also utilize the center for office space and
youth/elderly activities. “The center is for everybody”, stated Herb
Green, the President of TGTCA. The
land will boast a pavilion and a custom grill for events such as family
reunions, community events, etc. Also there are plans to build a small stage
for community concerts.
We also are proud
of the partnerships we have with the area’s surrounding colleges. St.Leo
University students recently volunteered and cleaned up the whole property and
the inside of the double wide. There are plans for them to come back soon to
paint the outside green and gold (just like their school colors). If you want
to donate/volunteer please call President Herb at 583-5936 or Vice President
Denny 583-4375.
Automated Community Connection to Economic Self-Sufficiency
Apply
for Food Stamps, Temporary Cash Assistance or Medicaid.
Apply
for Food Stamps, Temporary Cash Assistance or Medicaid.
Report Changes
to your Food Stamps, Temporary Cash Assistance or Medicaid case.
Check Case Status or
Benefit Information.
Medicare
Prescription Drug Program - SSA's Low Income Subsidy application.
Information for Hurricane
Katrina Evacuees
These
services are available 10 am to 1 pm,
Tuesday through Saturday
at the Trilby House (Community Center),
37452 Trilby Road
Across from the Trilby Post Office
This service is provided by GTCA in cooperation with the Florida Department
of Children and Families
The
Greater Trilby News is always looking for information and articles of local
interest. If you have a story or
want us to write one for you, please contact Jennifer Mihalinec the News
Editor at:
352-583-4375
TRILBY COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION PARTNERS WITH WILD THINGS’ TROLLEY TOURS
Submitted
by: Denny Mihalinec
The Greater Trilby Community Association is a 501
(c) 3 Non-Profit Organization, which provides social programs and services in
the Tri-Community Area for its citizens, will be partnering with Wild
Things’ trolley tours. The
Greater Trilby Community Center will serve as the “pick up” spot for
visitors to the Tri-Community area. The Center’s location is 37452
Trilby Rd Trilby Fl, 33593. The
Greater Trilby Community Association is growing its many programs this year
and this is an example of a positive service to its residents and visitors. It will provide a way to promote the beautiful scenery and
mostly THE RICH HISTORY of the Trilby/Lacoochee/Trilacoochee area.
Tours will initiate late April as stated by Randy Stearns the director
of the tours. Contact Public Relations Director- Denny Mihalinec
(352-583-4375/dmihalinec@gmail.com) and Randy Stearns (813-714-2555) for
additional information.
Denny and
Jennifer Mihalinec with trolley similar to ones that will be used for the
tours
THIRD ANNUAL TRILBY HOMECOMING
Trilby
oldtimers and newcomers alike arrived at Charlotte Tomkow Whittington's Hunter
Hill property on Saturday morning, March 15, for the Third Annual Trilby
Homecoming. The weather cooperated well and everyone attending was able
to spend a pleasant day on the hill under the oaks.
The
group began arriving after 10:00 and a covered dish dinner was enjoyed by
everyone at noon. This year's head count numbered 107 in attendance.
Not
only were current Trilby residents present, but also former residents who were
able to come back "home" and spend the day with old friends in
Trilby. Several retirees of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad attended,
as well as descendents of old Trilby families who were learning more about
their genealogy by attending.
One
attendee, visiting Trilby for the first time, was Keith W. McMullen of Orange
Park. His grandfather was a dentist at Trilby from 1914 to 1916, whose office
was located on the second floor of the Trilby State Bank building.
Among
others coming back home to Trilby for the day was Omie Irene Worthington
McDaniel of Orlando. Now in her 90's, Mrs. McDaniel vividly remembers
the day in late May 1925 that downtown Trilby burned and how she helped carry
merchandise out of the Edwards store in a mostly unsuccessful effort to
save items from the approaching fire.
The
day was spent reminiscing and looking over old photos, making and
renewing acquaintances. Plans are already underway for next year's
Fourth Annual Trilby Homecoming, always the third Saturday in March.
Mrs. Tomkow
Whittington setting out desserts
HISTORICAL MARKER TO BE PLACED
Citizens of Pasco County are welcome to attend the
placing of a historical marker for the Owensboro Community. The
marker will be dedicated on Saturday, April 26 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at the
Historic Owensboro Park of Old Trilby, which is located just past George and
Glady's Barbeque Restaurant. The marker is being placed by the Pasco County
Historical Preservation Committee, under the auspices of the Pasco County
Board of County Commissioners. The marker will be a "blue
star" type historical marker, similar to the one located in front of the
Greater Trilby Community Center. Longtime Local Trilbian Denny Mihalinec and a
small group of Tri-Community residents set out in 2001 to provide a safe
place to park and access the Trailhead of the 47-mile Withlacoochee State
Trail. Denny placed a request to
Scott Black, a local Trilby Historian and a member of the Historical Committee
in Pasco County, for a historical marker to be placed in the park upon
its completion. The marker has since been obtained through Mr. Scott’s
efforts.
CHAIRMAN'S CORNER
By:
Scott Black
Wow!
I shook my head, rubbed my eyes, and re-read the notice several times...
Trilby is getting its very own Dollar General Store?!!!
Sure
enough, there it was on the government agenda for Pasco County with a staff
recommendation. What great news for our community!
To
be situated in the "apex" between U.S. Highways 98 and 301, just
north of the Cumberland Farms store and south of Tyer's Mobile Home Ranch,
with two entrances, the new stand-alone store will be accessible from both
highways. Arguably, I'm sure it will be called the
"Trilacoochee" store and for good reason, actually, and I'm all for
it in the spirit of good Tri-Community relations, but first a little
history...
For
background, you're going to have to "imagine" with me a little here,
but try to think of our community before U.S. Highway 98 and without a
four-lane U.S. Highway 301. It has only been in the past 50 years or so
that those modern highways have appeared, although there was the earlier Fort
King military road. But try
to erase these current roadways from your mind
and imagine an earlier Trilby. Try to imagine what we now call Old
Trilby Road as the main north-south " federal highway" through
Trilby...that stretch was once considered "modern" because it was
paved (or the "hard road" as oldtimers would call it).
Now
also picture the absence of fences, a period of time known as "open
range," when cows roamed freely (even in the roads). Without
fences, people would freely ride their horses and buggies and early
automobiles in all directions, not just where there were roads, and paths were
easily made across what we would now think of as "private property,"
but no one seemed to mind back then. You could really go somewhere
directly "as the crow flies" a lot more easily during that era.
Without
the modern highways bisecting our area and without fences in the way, I think
you can see how the proposed location for the Dollar General Store would have
once been considered Trilby, without any other considerations. Platted
streets (never built) for the town of Trilby were designed with this section
of land in mind. It was all just a short jaunt across the field from the
"hard road" (Old Trilby Road). Today, you have to drive up and
over and down, just to go what was once an even shorter "shouting"
distance.
The
late Una Mickler Dees described to me the very first Trilby school, which
would have been located roughly about where the new store is to be built.
It was called "Wake Forest Academy" in honor of a school in
North Carolina where her family and some other area pioneer families once
lived. It was a rather well built wood-frame building and was among the
earliest efforts to import "civilization and culture" to this area.
That namesake North Carolina school, by the way, is the same prestigious
institution now known as Wake Forest University. A later two-story red
brick school would later be built about a thousand feet west, across what is
now U.S. Highway 98, in the area now being considered for residential
development.
As I now bring you back to the future, I know you will join with me in welcoming Dollar General Store to the community and thank them for their efforts in helping small communities, like ours, enjoy a compatible new level of economic development. Yep, it will likely be called the "Trilacoochee" store, and I'm very happy with that, but now you know..."Long ago, not far away" was once a fair place in the making that we still call Trilby.
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
“Wow!
I mean Wow! We’re on the move!”, states Herb Green the Greater Trilby
Community Association President. Herb outlined many programs and projects
TGTCA is undertaking in 2008-2009 for you, the Tri-Community residents.
The exciting programs/projects are as listed:
1.
TGTCA will be expanding the services available through the Access Center.
The Access Center is where one can apply for Medicaid, food stamps and Pasco
211 services (social services). In
addition, the Pasco County Library System has agreed to provide additional
services to add to access such as employment assistance. They are offering a
representative from the library to be on hand the same days that Access is
open. The hours for both the
Access Center and employment assistance will be Tuesday-Saturday from 10 am-1
pm. Any questions, please contact
the Trilby Community Center at 352-583-4150.
Please leave a message if needed.
2.
Greenways and Trails donated a 1,400 sq. ft. building and three acres to use
for our planned recreational complex for use by families, the youth and
elderly of Tri-Community. Various
events, reunions and meetings can be held at the complex. Plans for the
complex call for amenities such as tennis and basketball courts, a field for
football and soccer, 1/4 length track, pavilion, amphitheatre for concerts,
areas for horshoes and badminton and much more!
The ongoing operations of the complex will require donations from the
community and volunteers-- we need your help!!!! It will also offer several offices for our already
established programs such as security patrol, a youth/teen room, senior
citizen room, arts/ crafts rooms and group meeting rooms for the community to
utilize. It will also have a
fully functional kitchen and two bathrooms. Contact Herb Green at
352-206-0444 or Denny Mihalinec at 352-583-4375 for additional
information and to get involved!!
3.
Our 2nd Annual Fourth of July family picnic will be held at Trilby Manor Park.
This event is for you, our
neighbors in Tri-Community. The Greater Trilby Community Association wants
families from all over Trilby, Lacoochee and Trilacoochee to come and meet
your neighbors and old friends to play, socialize and mingle.
Make sure to bring the kids and grandkids!! Our Committee Chair, Linda
Sherill, has big plans for this event.
If you want to help, please e-mail her at WSHERRILL7@aol.com.
Get
ready for food, games and prizes!!
4.
We now have the Trilby Association Beautification Program
(Garden Club). Shirley Huff
is the Chairman of the program. Shirley has already received two truckloads of
plants from the Blanchard Family Ranch where the annual Steeplechase is held.
The Association is looking into placing new “welcome” signs and
creating a new community sign for visitors to see all the organizations and
groups in the area. So many exciting things are happening in this committee.
To help, donate or volunteer… please call Shirley at 352-583-2577.
5.
Our 4th Annual Fall Festival and Safety Rally will be held September 27, 2008.
This event keeps getting bigger and bigger every year! We hope to serve
several hundred kids and families this year!
We also are adding our bi-annual Tour de Trilby ride/walk/run/skate to
this already impressive event for area families in Pasco County.
Please go to www.trilbyfl.com to pre-register and sign up. All proceeds go to help build The Wilton Simpson Recreational
Complex for Tri-Community families and kids right here in Trilby! To
help out, please call Kathy Riley at 352-583-4994.
6.
The Greater Trilby Newsletter Edition will be out for the March/April 2008 Edition
in local stores such as Farm Basket in Lacoochee, the Trilby Citgo, George
& Gladys Barbeque Restaurant, the Blanton Citgo, the Dade City Chamber of
Commerce and in the Trilby and Lacoochee Post offices.
Please support this newsletter as it provides you with your news
and event information. We are looking for business sponsorships with the
newsletter. It is a $25/month donation for a regular business card
space. Six and twelve-month specials are available.
Please call Reporter/Salesman Denny Mihalinec or The Editor-Jennifer
Mihalinec at 352-583-4375. If you have an event or special happening that you
would like to appear in the newsletter, please send an e-mail with
accompanying pictures to greatertrilbynews@gmail.com. Do you have a wedding
announcement, special recipe, or community project you want the area to know
about send them in no later than 1 week before the beginning of every
month......
7.
Trilby offers a Food Bank& Clothing Locker that is provided by Trilby
United Methodist Church in partnership with TGTCA’s Access program at the
Trilby Community Center. Call
352-583-4150 or 352-583-2577 for additional info.
8.
Coming Soon- Your Community Association is working hard for you, citizens of
Tri-Community! We are bringing back PAINT YOUR HEART OUT TRI-COMMUNITY. If
you know of an elderly person or family who needs a hand up, have them call us
to paint or clean up their yard. Our organization is going after a grant to help
with paint supplies and materials. We are working hard to form Tri-Community as
a Enterprise Zone for small businesses.
We have partnered with Pasco County to do a needs assessment for the
entire area. This will enable us to ask for Community Development Block Grant
funds in the near future. Our goal is to rebuild the area with its rich history
in mind. Yes, we plan to rebuild the area. We have also partnered with USDA
Rural Development/State Legislatures. We will have 100+ college students walking
the streets soon to ask what you think the Tri-Community needs are. If
you are interested in shaping the design and future of the area, we have a
Growth & Development Committee already formed making decisions for the
entire area. Another big project is getting the Withlacoochee State trail
extended from Trilby to Dade City. We are also working hard to bring industry to
the Lacoochee Industrial Park, improving roads and bringing multi-style housing
to the Tri-Community area. We are
encouraging East Pasco Habitat to work with us to build affordable housing in
Trilby/Lacoochee as well. If you want to donate or volunteer,
please
call Denny Mihalinec or Pastor Dave Raley at 352-583-4375.
9. TRI-COMMUNITY
HAS A GROWING SECURITY PATROL!! The
Greater Trilby Community Association, which started Trilby's first ever security
patrol, has fully grown into its own. The Program has expanded to
Trilacoochee/Lacoochee as one big force
of
citizens working together with help from the Sherriff’s Office. It is now
called THE TRI-COMMUNITY CRIME WATCH and SECURITY PATROL UNIT. Fifteen
members from Trilby, Lacoochee and Trilacoochee have the task of calling in
crime, reporting suspicious behavior and they are certified by The Pasco County
Sherriff’s Office. The Patrol has a police car and is very active at night and
during the day throughout Tri-Community. To learn more or to get involved call
Herb Green at 352-583-5936.
I
want you to know that you have some of the most dedicated group of pastors,
business leaders, community leaders and board members that I have ever seen
working for you the Citizens of Tri-Community. Everyone is a volunteer- no one
is paid. We you could use your donations, volunteerism and participation on the
many described committees. Also, if you see a need and want to provide it in the
community let us know. We can bring you on board in some capacity and help you
help the community.
We
are a Registered 501 (c)(3) Non-profit organization that means your donation is
tax deductible.
Come
join us!
President,TGTCA
Herb
Green
The
Greater Trilby News is always looking for information and articles of local
interest. If you have a story or
want us to write one for you, please contact Jennifer Mihalinec the News Editor
at:
352-583-4375