From November’s meeting:

Click on image to enlarge

Click on image to enlarge

Speakers:   Louise Racine & John Megan of CORE.

The rocks under us are full of passageways that no one knows. A cut made into the aquifer in one place can cause problems many miles away. When water is pulled from the ground by mining companies, lakes, streams, wells and homes miles away can be affected rather than places close to the mine.

Deep pit mining must be eliminated. This will be aggressively fought by the mining companies.

CORE stopped the expansion of the Rinker mine this past spring but the results are being challenged. There will be a rehearing on Dec. 20, 2005.

Dave Starnes a member of the Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council remarked that the mines are responsible for the damage to the lake that is now costing 26 million dollars to try to repair. Blasting can be felt many miles from the mines.

Announcements

TOOFAR Pig Roast:
The 14th annual TOOFAR Pig Roast will be held Saturday, Dec. 3^rd 2005 in conjunction with Floral City Heritage Days.

It will be held at the Church of Christ Pavillion in the field on the North side of Hwy. 48 in Floral City. (You can’t miss it) We will begin arriving at about 5am to get the pig on the spit, over a fire of oak wood. In addition to the pig, which is mostly for show, we will be cooking about 280 lbs. of pork butts.

The menu includes Bar-b-que pork, Hoppin john* over rice, applesauce, corn muffin and cake. We expect to serve about 500 meals this year. Our members will be baking over 40 dozen corn muffins and 40 cakes. The meal will cost $6.00. This does not include drinks which are sold separately. (*Hoppin john is a traditional dish made with black eyed peas, diced ham and onions cooked together and served over rice)

Our committee members are currently canvassing area businesses for support. We get many of our supplies donated. This keeps our costs down. Last year our profit from this event was approx. $1,600.00. It is a very important event for this not-for-profit organization.

Please come have a delicious meal, at a very reasonable price. There will be lots of interesting things happening in the field besides our pig roast, as this is Floral City Heritage Days.

We still need lots of cakes and corn muffins...to volunteer, call the TOOFAR at (352) 726-5004 or by email: toofarinc@earthlink.net.

Our cookbooks, TOOFAR shirts and videos will also be available for purchases at the pig roast.

Newcomer Breakfast:
A newcomers breakfast is coming up January 2^nd, 2006 at the B&W. This will be hosted by Larry Hartman but is dutch treat. 1^st Monday of each month. Just a get acquainted time. Will last about 1 hour.

Boat Trips:
We are beginning to plan for boat trips to begin in January. The first trip is being planned for the Crystal River on Friday Jan. 27^th. We will be chartering a large boat which holds about 35 people. We will do 2 trips if needed. More information at the next meeting...

Yard Sale:
Keep bringing items for the yard sale which is being tentatively planned for a Saturday in February, at Adventureland on Hwy 41, South of the fairgrounds. For more info contact the office at 726-5004 or by email: toofarinc@earthlink.net.