Two new links have been added:

1. Monthly Tide Charts will display the tide in a printable format for the entire current month.

2. Any Date - click the link directly below the chart or even the displayed tide chart itself to display a form which will allow you to select any date and even customize the tide chart format!

These features were added after feedback from our readers. Please keep your input and great ideas coming! Just click on the "Feedback" link in the left column to let us know what enhancements you would like to see on GulfHarborsLife.com!

Thank You,

- Your GHL Team

This fine young Olympian will highlight his achievements and experiences while competing for the USA in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing China. The GHYC is thrilled to sponsor this event to give Zach a platform to appeal for support for the upcoming 2012 Olympics in England.

Mr. Railey’s challenge is to raise approximately $160,000 to support his dream of Olympic Gold in 2012, in addition to the commercial sponsorships already on board, no small task!

Mr. Railey won the silver medal in the Finn class sailing event for our country. For those of you who are sailors, or would be sailors, the Finn class is a cat rigged open vessel of approximately 15’ in length.

Those attending the luncheon are sure to enjoy this personable young athlete with his tales of preparation and trials in competition in the many challenging sailing venues around the world. Zach will bring his stunning 2008 silver Olympic medal to be exhibited during his presentation.

A Question & Answer and photo session will follow the luncheon. Zach recently competed in the Delta Lloyd Regatta 2010, Medemblik, Netherlands, May 26 - 30th. His next competition will be the Kieler Woche 2010, June 19 - 27, 2010, Venue: Kiel, Germany.

This event will be a ticketed luncheon, open to the public. Ticket prices will be around $15 and will include a soup and sandwich buffet menu. The Gulf Harbors Yacht Club is located at 3926 Marine Parkway, New Port Richey, FL 34652. For tickets and information please call 727-432-0728

Sheriff Marine Patrol Enforcing Waterway Rules

Sheriff's Deputy Corporal Mike LaRoche reported on Marine Patrol activities over the Memorial Day weekend:
"Deputy Lawless and I have been aggressively enforcing waterway rules in the Gulf Harbors and other waterfront communities and made several solid marine resource cases in addition to boating safety violations," he reported. On Saturday (Memorial Day), Marine Deputy Lawless stopped a personal watercraft coming into the Gulf Harbors community. Upon contacting the male operator, Dep. Lawless immediately detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on the person. He conducted a dockside boarding of the vessel and after performing standard field sobriety tasks, the subject was subsequently arrested for Boating Under the Influence and transported to Land O' Lakes jail. The vessel was secured for a short time at the Gulf Harbors Yacht Club until the defendant's family could retrieve it."

GULF WATER TEST AS BASELINE

We thank Pasco Sheriff's Deputy James Lawless, Special Operations--Marine Unit & Special Weapons and Tactics, for this firsthand report.

The Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico has raises many concerns for not only residents of Texas and Louisiana, but also for residents of Florida.

Recently it was brought to my attention there would be initial water sampling done here on the West coast of Florida in an attempt to detect any oil that may have came from the northern Gulf area. On Wednesday (6-16-2010), I transported four representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, and another representative from a private company to test the water and sediments of the earth in three separate locations. These locations were carefully picked by these two separate departments as places where they believe the oil would first land should we receive any.

UPDATE

FGUA Lindrick Utility System

FGUA Lindrick Utility System

Thursday, June 10, 12 Midnight-4AM
Advanced Service and Boil Water Advisory

Mandatory service interruption will repair key valves serving community

 The Florida Governmental Utility Authority (FGUA) is issuing an advanced service interruption advisory for required service repairs in the FGUA Lindrick Utility System. Service will be interrupted for customers west of U.S. 19 in New Port Richey effective Thursday morning, June 10 from midnight to 4 a.m. The FGUA will be replacing two key valves serving the major water mains serving the FGUA Lindrick Utility System.

Customers are being advised of the interruption in advance, using electronic billboards posted on U.S. 19 at the intersections of Floramar Terrace, Marine Parkway, Cross Bayou and Main Street and through distribution of this advisory to Home Owners’ Associations in the community. A media advisory has also been provided to local media outlets.

 As a precautionary measure, immediately following completion of the repairs, we advise that all water used for drinking or cooking be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used.

The Precautionary Boil Water Notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink. A boil water rescission notice will be distributed pending the satisfactory completion of the survey. The FGUA anticipates the boil water notice will be rescinded by Friday afternoon, June 11.

If you have any questions, you may contact the FGUA Pasco Utility System Office at (727) 372-0115.

Interagency Meeting at St. Petersburg Coast Guard Station
Deepwater Horizon Oil spill - Gulf of Mexico
 May 4, 2010

[Marianne Korosy provided these meeting notes.]

About 40 agency and organization representatives attended the meeting including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), DEP, FWCC, Hillsborough EPC, City of Tampa, Clearwater Marine Aquarium,Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council's Agency on Bay Mgmt, Pinellas Environmental Mgmt, Pinellas Emergency Mgmt, Manatee County, SWFWMD, Friends of Tampa Bay NWR, Audubon, and Sierra Club. USCG is setting up Incident Command post on May 5th at the St. Petersburg USCG station to govern all oil-spill related activities in the area from the Fenholloway River (Taylor County) southward.

Up to date information can be viewed on this website: www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com 

The form of crude oil that makes landfall on Florida's SW Gulf coast is unknown at this point and may range from floating oil to "weathered" crude oil. "Weathered" crude oil has lost the volatile components and because of mixing with water and suspended solids (sediment, algae, and also water) it becomes entrained as tar balls. The tar balls may have a coherent, globular, dense consistency or may be gelatinous, poorly-formed "patties". Form affects cleanup methods and efficacy. Tar balls will continue to come ashore over a timeframe that cannot be predicted but may be as long as two years or longer. 

Special Needs Fishing Day 2010

Once again and for the sixth year in a row, GHCA and the Fishing Club hosted the annual Day of Fun and Fishing for young adults with very special needs. 

Everything was taken care of:
-busses to bring the new fishing crew to the boat ramp,
-fellows with muscles to hoist the wheelchairs on board,
-fishing tackle baited and ready to go,
-marine escorts by the Sheriff and USCG Auxiliary,
-Tow Boat US emergency vessel,
-seaplane flyover
-plenty of sun and good weather
-a terrific buffet lunch to feed 100
-and even Santa Claus in his summer boating attire!

After a few hours on the water, the fleet returned to port for a terrific lunch and awards ceremony.

Special Thanks to Kathy and Richard Trentch for their unending efforts to make this event such a success!

This picture really says it all but if you want to see more please visit our Photo Gallery.  Use the hot link near the top of the homepage for easy access.

FGUA PURCHASE OF LINDRICK:  UPDATE No.7

This is the seventh in a  series of periodic reports that FGUA Counsel, Brian Armstrong, has offered to give us. Check back regularly for the next update.

              March 10, 2010

IT'S DONE!!

FGUA now owns the Lindrick Water System. 

We once again thank Brian Armstrong for his continued assistance in keeping us informed.

NEW TO BOATING?
KNOW THE BOATING "RULES OF THE ROAD"?
COMFORTABLE HANDLING YOUR BOAT IF YOU HAD TO?

The Anclote Key Sail and Power Squadron, which covers the area from Dunedin to Hudson, will offer  the 8 hour "America's Boating Course" at 7:00PM on Tuesdays starting Mar. 23, for 5 consecutive weeks.  This 8 hour course, plus 2 hour review and exam, will be held at the Gulf Harbors Civic Center, 4610 Floramar Terrace, in New Port Richey.

The cost is $35.00 for the student manual. It  covers Rules of the Road, Boat Handling, Seamanship, Needed Equipment, Lines and Knots, Aids to Navigation, Trailering, and Adverse Conditions. 

A "safe boating" class is a simple way to learn the basics of boating for you, your kids, and other family members who want to better understand the rules of boating or be better equipped if called upon to help should the need arise.

The course is approved by the State of Florida and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NSABLA) National Boating Education Standards.  After passing the final exam you will be issued a certificate and your results sent to Tallahassee for a State card, indicating that you have passed a State approved Course in safe boating.  

Preregistration is required since there is limited space.

Call or email Howard Mielke, 727-785-7923, omielke@aol.com   for information and registration.

For more information check out the Squadron website at www.usps.org/localusps/anclote.

UNITED STATES POWER SQUADRONS
Dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

FGUA PURCHASE OF LINDRICK:  UPDATE No. 6

This is the sixth in a  series of periodic reports that FGUA Counsel, Brian Armstrong, has offered to give us. Check back regularly for the next update.

               Feb. 26, 2010
FGUA is just about set to issue 30 year bonds to close on the purchase of the Lindrick System during the week of March 8, 2010.

They are pleased that 30 year bonds are available instead of a short term bank loan given the volatility of interest rates and other factors being experienced in the financial markets.

We once again thank Brian Armstrong for his continued assistance in keeping us informed.