Community Corner
What You Can Do This Weekend Around Land O' Lakes
The distinctly American celebration of Cinco de Mayo marks this weekend's activities with places where we drink to what's a pretty-much non-holiday in Mexico.
Friday, May 4
The end of the workweek starts with a memorial service for Pasco County law enforcement officers that will add a name to the somber list of officers who died in the line of duty in Pasco County.
This year a Hernando County deputy, John Charles Mecklenburg, will be honored. Mecklenburg died July 3, 2011, while pursuing a felon in a high-speed chase on U.S. 41 in Pasco County. A candle will be lit in his honor during the annual ceremony.
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The 35-year-old deputy is the eighth officer to die in Pasco County and their names will be read during the memorial. The earliest was in 1909
The memorial is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Dade City Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Ave. in Dade City.
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Saturday, May 5
It’s Cinco de Mayo, so you’ll find plenty of watering holes to celebrate the day when the Mexican army bloodied the nose of a French army in 1862.
According to History.com, a rag-tag force of about 2,000 Mexican fighters held off a trained army of 6,000 French troops assaulting the town of Puebla de Los Angeles during Mexico’s fight to rid itself of French rule.
It isn’t a huge holiday in Mexico with no federal offices closed or banks shutting down. It is not, the website notes, Mexico’s version of the 4th of July.
But in this country that’s no reason not to hoist a few cervezas or sip some margaritas, so here are a few places you can do just that.
, 6229 Grand Blvd, New Port Richey, will have the rock n’ roll band MACHINE performing starting at 9 p.m.
, 12950 Race Track Rd in Tampa, will have a Cinco De Mayo tent party with live music, drink specials and a DJ from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m.
, 8351 State Road 54, New Port Richey, will be painting "Margarita Time". Those who don a sombrero or bring a pair of maracas have a chance to win prizes. There will be complimentary chips, salsa, cerveza and margaritas. The Fiesta starts at 6:30, class begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35.
Sunday, May 6
If you're Cinco de Mayoed out, there are free starting at 1 p.m. at the Learning Garden at Peace Hall near Sims Park in New Port Richey. Volunteers will teach such topics as how to get free soil delivered to your home, make compost, to plan and organize your garden. It takes place at West Pasco Historical Society, 6431 Circle Blvd.