Winter 2024
The Beacon Gazette A fun and informative newsletter for the Beacon Groves and Orangepointe community.
NEW EXHIBIT OPENING Victorian global celebrities, The Duke of Sutherland and his second wife, Mary Caroline Blair, Duchess of Sutherland, embroiled themselves, Pinellas County, and the state of Florida into the eye of British controversy! Traveling to Florida from England in 1888, the were married by the Bishop of Florida. built a home in Sutherland (today’s Palm Harbor), and became local residents. This exhibit opens to members on February 14th and to the public on February 17th, discover why they came to Florida and how their actions here began one of the biggest scandals in British society, rocking the establishment and upsetting Queen Victoria herself.
HELP SAVE OUR SIGN We have a wonderfully large sign at our front entrance. However, over the years, it’s developed a leak and it’s time to invest some money in repairs and a little face-lift. In addition, the lights out front are old. Each year they need repairs. And, not far into the future, they’ll need replacing. Unfortunately, after Covid, our membership numbers dropped significantly and construction costs have risen. Presently, we only have approximately 25% of the neighborhood as members. The sole purpose of the BCC is to maintain the entrances to our neighborhoods. All membership fees go directly to maintaining those entrances: paying our monthly power bill, maintaining the sprinkler system, maintaining the landscaping, and trimming the palm trees. Our goal is to increase membership from 25% to 50%. That’s only half our neighborhood. This would allow us to repair and paint the front entrance sign. It would also allow to start saving funds for the lights out front. Please help our neighborhood and save our sign by talking with your neighbors.
DONATIONS ARE ALSO WELCOME!
Who Invented Popcorn? What to Know About America’s Favorite Movie Snack. Popcorn is a staple snack that will forever be paired with the concept of moviegoing. But, how exactly did we come to regard the popped corn kernel snack as required eating during a visit to the theater? Who invented popcorn, and when? It turns out that the history of popcorn goes way, way further back than the concession stand. The story of popcorn begins approximately 10,000 years ago in Mesoamerica (modern-day Mexico), where corn was first cultivated domestically. Popcorn refers specifically to the variety of corn that is heated and then popped. The popped version of the cereal grain, also known as maize, was integral to the indigenous Aztec people as a food. Fast-forward to the mid-1800s, the invention of the mould-board plow revolutionized industrial crop cultivation and led to large-scale corn planting around the United States, especially in the Midwest. Simultaneously, homemade popcorn was gaining popularity as both a snack and holiday decoration. The late 19th century brought with it two vital popcorn technological innovations. In 1885, store owner Charles Cretors invented the electric popping machine. It was Cretors’ machine which ushered in the now well-known combination of popcorn, butter, and salt. As Cretors and other commercial popcorn entrepreneurs gained steam, new methods for preparing popcorn — such as coating kernels with a thin layer of sugar syrup to prevent sogginess — led to one of America’s most enduring popcorn varieties: Cracker Jack. The snack was invented in 1896 by German American immigrants Frederick and Louis Rueckheim. Although movies and movie-going became increasingly popular throughout the 1920s and ‘30s (as many as 85 million people attended movies weekly at the height of the Great Depression), most movie houses banned the snack because they wanted to theater to be a more refined and sophisticated place. But, as the Great Depression spread, movie theater operators found that selling bags of popcorn for 5 or 10 cents each could help theaters thrive financially. The snack was an accessible luxury that Americans were willing to indulge in despite financial hardship. In 1938, a movie operator named Glen W. Dickinson Sr. installed popcorn machines in the lobbies of his theaters, and soon, other vendors followed suit. The bet paid off, and theaters around the country adapted to relying on concession sales as their primary source of profit. (Source: thekitchn.com)
, shake vigorously to make sure Peanut Butter Popcorn popping the kernels are distributed evenly. When (makes about 8 cups) INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup popcorn kernels Vegetable oil Fine salt 1/2 cup honey 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 teaspoon vanilla INSTRUCTIONS Have a clean paper shopping bag or oversized mixing bowl ready. Heat a 4-quart heavy pan over medium heat and film the bottom with vegetable oil. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add the popcorn, shake to distribute, then put a lid on the pan, leaving a small crack for steam to escape. When the first kernel pops, put the lid on all the way. As the popcorn starts
the popping slows to a few seconds between pops, take the pan off the heat. Pour the popcorn into the paper bag or bowl to cool, and attempt to leave any unpopped kernels behind in the pan. (Coated with peanut butter caramel, the unpopped kernels are a serious tooth hazard). Lightly salt the popcorn to taste. Mix the honey and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for about 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and add the peanut butter. Stir vigorously until all the peanut butter is melted, then mix in the vanilla. Immediately pour the peanut butter caramel over the popcorn and stir with a long-handled wooden spoon until it’s all coated. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
local markets Zone
Shop Local in this incredible outdoor markets that bring together our local communities and local businesses. Dunedin Downtown Market John L. Lawrence Pioneer Park 422 Main St., Dunedin Friday and Saturdays | 9am – 2pm Tarpon Springs 2nd Saturday Market 44 E Tarpon Ave Tarpon Springs 2nd Saturday | 9am – 2pm Second Friday at Downtown Oldsmar City Hall East Lot 100 State Street West, Oldsmar 2nd Friday | 6pm – 9pm Safety Harbor’s Market on Main John Wilson Park, 353 Main St, Safety Harbor Sundays | 10am – 3pm Keystone Farmers Market in Odessa 12615 Tarpon Springs Road, Odessa Open daily | 8am - 7pm The Market Marie at Coachman Park 300 Cleveland St, Clearwater, FL 33755 2nd Saturdays | 10am – 3pm St. Petersburg Saturday Morning Market Al Lang Stadium Parking Lot Saturdays | 9am – 2pm Fresh Market Hyde Park Village 742 South Village Circle, Tampa 1st Sunday | 10am – 2pm Heights Market Armature Works 1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa 2nd Wednesday | 5:30pm – 9:30pm Second Sunday Armature Works Armature Works 1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa 2nd Sunday of the month | 11am – 3pm Market on Water Street Tampa Water St, Tampa 3rd Sunday | 10am–3pm
KNOW YOUR LOCAL PARKS John Chesnut Sr. Park 2200 East Lake Road South Palm Harbor, Florida 34685
John Chesnut Sr. Park is 255 acres of multiple nature trails that sits adjacent to Lake Tarpon in Palm Harbor. Lake Tarpon can accommodate boats with combustion engines. This park is home to a variety of wildlife. The canoe trail is a landlocked waterway connected to an interior lake, but can only accommodate noncombustion engines. AMENITIES • 13 Picnic Shelters with Grills • Boat Ramp (Fee Charged) • Two Playgrounds • Horseshoe Pits • Softball Field • Water Fountains • Restrooms • Dog Park Lake Tarpon, Pinellas County: Open to Fishing • Trotlines may be used from sunset until 9 am Sunday through Thursday • No Bag Limit for Channel Catfish
Humor Corner
HOURS Open 7 days a week, 7 am to sunset
Cleaning Hacks
Good Neighbor Corner Questions about neighborhood parking? Here are a few answers from Pinellas County Code Enforcement
How to Clean the Kitchen with Vinegar Refrigerator: To properly clean your fridge, consider skipping the toxic chemicals where you store your food. Instead, try distilled white vinegar cleaning on refrigerator surfaces. Wipe up spills using a cloth dampened with a vinegar cleaning solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Drain: Pour vinegar onto a scrub brush small enough to get inside the disposal. Sprinkle the brush with baking soda, then scrub to remove odors and built-up grime. Countertops: Cleaning kitchen countertops with white vinegar is simple: Just spray vinegar onto the surface and wipe it away with a warm, wet rag. However, you should avoid cleaning countertops with vinegar if you have a granite or marble surface. Cutting boards: Try white vinegar to clean cutting boards. Spray the surface with straight vinegar, then rinse to clean. Microwave: Cleaning with vinegar isn’t limited to countertops. Remove hard-to-clean microwave splatters and stains by placing 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a glass bowl. Microwave for two to three minutes, or until it boils, then easily wipe away the buildup. Stained plastic containers: Coat plastic containers in vinegar, let sit for a few minutes, then wash as usual. (Source: Better Home & Gardens)
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come without leaving happier.” —Mother Teresa
Is it legal to park in the grass between the street and the sidewalk? Yes, Pinellas County Code Enforcement says it is legal to park in the median between the grass and the sidewalk. This is not private property such as your driveway or your lawn. This is owned by the county, but maintained by the homeowner. However, you may not block the driveway or impede the mailman from pulling up to the mailbox. Is it illegal to park across the street from a driveway in Florida? Florida statue 316.1945 addresses stopping, standing or parking in specified places. Subsection 12-B goes into detail, saying, “No vehicle shall park in front of a public or private driveway at any time”. Mar 14, 2022. So, basically, you can’t block someone’s driveway or any part of their driveway by parking in front of it, but you can park across the street from your neighbor’s driveway. It might be a good way to get your car hit by someone backing out of their driveway, but it’s not illegal. Can I park my RV on my property or reside in my RV in my back yard? Travel trailers and motor homes are limited to 40 feet, must be operational and must have a valid tag and registration. Yes, living in a camper in your backyard in Florida is legal. Connection to utilities as an accessory dwelling and/or prolonged habitation is prohibited. And, you will need to ensure that you have the proper permits and licenses. Check with your local zoning office to see what is required. Can my neighbor park across the sidewalk? No. Your neighbor cannot park his vehicle so that is hangs onto the sidewalk. The sidewalk is for pedestrians. In addition, handicapped individuals need to be able to traverse the sidewalk. It is illegal to park across, to block, or partially block the sidewalk. Can my neighbor park his commercial vehicle in our neighborhood? Statute 122-37. You are not permitted to park commercial vehicles within residential areas. The type of vehicle, not how it’s used, determines whether or not it’s commercial. Cars, motorcycles, RVs, passenger vans, work vans and pick-up trucks are exempt. Can I park on the street facing the wrong direction? It is illegal to park on the side of the road facing against the flow of traffic. Is it illegal to park so that the street is blocked for larger emergency vehicles? Yes, this is illegal. Emergency vehicles should be able to maneuver through the streets in your neighborhood. If you feel this is occurring in your neighborhood, first, talk to your neighbors. If no solution can be reached, call the police to seek advice.
Neighbors, please thank our advertisers by choosing to give them the opportunity to gain your business! Your club fees and our advertisers give us the means to keep our front and back entrance maintained and our lights on out front. So, let’s show our appreciation by giving them first chance at obtaining your business. Give one of them a call!
Michael Urbanski Financial Advisor The Fountains Plaza 34650 U S Highway 19 N • Suite 204 Palm Harbor, FL 34684
Bus. 727-784-1952 • Cell 727-729-9667 Fax 888-404-7048 • TF 888-784-2010 michael.urbanski@edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com/michael-urbanski
Local Pharmacist Owned Business Dedicated to Your Health Rx’s • Compounding • Medical Supplies • Immunizations • Wellness Testing • CBD • Fast Friendly Drive Thru 34650 US HWY 19 N. • Ste 101 Palm Harbor, FL 34684
Phone: (727) 787-2273 Fax: (727) 787-0044
The Fountains Plaza 34720 US Hwy 19 N Palm Harbor, FL 34683 (727)408-5425 E-mail: info@fatjaxs.com Web: www.fatjaxs.com OPEN DAILY 10am - 9pm @ FatJaxsSandwichShop
Advertise Your Business Here for $25.00
Business Advertisement Includes:
• Business Card Sized Ad in our Quarterly Newsletter • Facebook BCC Business Directory Listing & Group Access • Brochure or Flyer included in New Member Welcome packets Please email BeaconClubLLC@gmail for Business Advertisement Application or call 727-314-3116 for more details. All applications are subject to approval by the Beacon Community Club Board of Directors.