We got an early present last week when the contractor filled in the big hole at the corner of Main and Grand. They were back out earlier this week finishing things up.
This isn’t the only project wrapping up a bit ahead of schedule. The portion of Grand Blvd that used to go through the heart of Sims Park is now sod.
The new playground will be spotted in the area formerly covered in asphalt, but that won’t happen until after next month’s Chasco Fiesta.
Assuming everything else falls into place, we should be on target to have all of the Sims Park improvements done by Christmas.
There will be a formal groundbreaking for the Sims Park improvements at noon on March 14th. The public is invited to attend and help us celebrate the start of a two million dollar effort to make Sims Park even better than it is today.
One of the fun benefits of being mayor is that I get invited to various ribbon cuttings and special events. I had the honor to serve as the commencement speaker for Southeastern College’s graduation ceremony Friday night. It was the first time in 37 years that I got to dress up in academic regalia. I can tell you from experience that it is a lot more enjoyable to give a commencement address than to listen to one. In deference to everyone in attendance, I kept my comments both light and short.
On Saturday, my company hosted a photography class in our store downtown. It was an opportunity to invite a dozen and a half folks to enjoy lunch from one of our downtown restaurants (Mezzaluna) and practice their camera skills on the bank of Orange Lake.
Sunday marked the 28th annual Festival of Choirs at First United Methodist Church of Hudson. The choirs of five local churches combined to perform an amazing concert.
New Port Richey is a great place to live. We had our two days of winter last week and March is right around the corner. Be sure to rub it in when you talk to your friends up north.
Rob Marlowe, Mayor
Joan Rees says
Showed here in Birmingham yesterday………still some on the ground………I didn’t go out the door.
Still a New Port Richey girl who loves the city and the weather.
Marilynn deChant says
Thanks for reminding us about the beauty of our fair city and its lovely, revitalizing downtown, Mayor Rob. I can see why visitors would find NPR idyllic.
Marilynn