Collards Festival supports local agriculture
NEW PORT RICHEY – The 11th annual New Port Richey Collards Festival & Winter Garden Expo brings together growers, gardeners and community partners to celebrate sustainable food and local agriculture.
The free event is presented by the Rotary Club of New Port Richey and New Port Richey FarmNet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 17 at Grand Gardens, 5721 Grand Blvd.
The festival will feature locally grown vegetable seedlings, cool-weather produce, bedding plants, organic and heirloom seeds, gardening materials, loquat fruit trees and sign-ups for garden plots at Grand Gardens.
Attendees can also enjoy tastings from restaurants and artisan-prepared collard dishes, plus festival shirts and collard greens cookbooks supporting local agriculture projects.
New Port Richey celebrates Arbor Day
NEW PORT RICHEY – The City of New Port Richey honors the role trees play in our community and our planet during the 37th annual Arbor Day Celebration.
The celebration starts at 10 a.m. Jan. 16 at Frances Avenue Park, 5580 Frances Ave.
Event highlights will include an Arbor Day Proclamation, “Trees of the Future” Arbor Day Address by Dell deChant of the Environmental Committee; a presentation by fourth-grade students from Genesis School and their teacher, Louisa Jaenichen; students helping plant new trees; and a ceremonial drumming honoring all trees.
New Port Richey is a National Arbor Day Foundation “Tree City USA” and a recognized leader in urban ecological regeneration. Since 1989, the city has planted and protected trees that enhance quality of life and strengthen the ecosystem.
St. Petersburg hosts MLK Parade
ST. PETERSBURG – The City of St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival are celebrating the life and legacy of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. with a parade.
The 39th annual St. Pete MLK Parade: “The Power of a Dream” will feature floats, marching bands and cultural performances from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 19.
The parade travels through downtown St. Petersburg on a route that will culminate at Tropicana Field. The route goes west on 1st Avenue South from 3rd Street South to 16th Street South, then south on 16th Street to 3rd Avenue South.
Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers has been named the grand marshal, honoring her leadership and longstanding commitment to service.
This year’s parade will feature two distinguished HBCU marching bands, Tuskegee University and Alabama A&M University. It will also include a special appearance by the Wendell Scott Foundation, showcasing a historic Wendell Scott race car honoring the legacy of the first African American NASCAR driver and team owner to win at the sport’s highest level.
On the web: stpetemlkparade.com
Regal Railways presents Model Train Show
BROOKSVILLE – Regal Railways will present a Model Train Show and Sale with more than 70 vendor tables offering model trains, toys and related items for sale.
The sale takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Hernando Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St.
Attendees can enjoy a running train layout, a test track experience and an interactive activity for children. A food vendor will be on site throughout the event.
Admission costs $6 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Credit cards are accepted. Prepaid admission is available at regalrailways.com.
Political groups to meet
WESLEY CHAPEL – Two area Democratic clubs will convene to discuss winning back the U.S. House.
The Central Pasco Democratic Club meets at 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at Meadow Pointe I Clubhouse, 28245 County Line Road, Wesley Chapel and on Zoom. Visit centralpascodems.com or call 813-453-1663 for details.
The East Pasco Democratic Club meets at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Genesis Center, 38112 15th Ave., Zephyrhills and on Zoom. Visit eastpascodems.com or call 813-383-8315 for details.
All friends of the Democratic Party are welcome.
