Free admission to Saturday fun

Please excuse me if I’m more scattered today than usual.

We’ve got this party planning thing going on and it is consuming a significant amount of my brain. If all goes well, Saturday’s open house at the Just Wright Citrus World Headquarters on the shores of Big Lake Henderson should be lots of fun.

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Because I’m somewhat consumed with this as the week winds down, I’m gonna get 700 words out of it.

So, about Saturday:

— It’s Mike’s 65th and Bluegrass from 1 to 5 p.m. at the JWC World Headquarters. Providing an address would be useless as the driveway is a narrow quarter mile through the woods, so no vehicles on the property.

— Instead, set your GPS for Wallace Brooks Park in Inverness. There are other activities down here Saturday (I’ll get to that in a minute) so find a place to park.

— See today’s photo of me at the Inverness Boathouse? That’s your landmark. The JWC property is BEHIND the boathouse. I’ll have Just Wright Citrus yard signs pointing the way.

— Be prepared for a little walk, though it’s really about the same distance as what you’d expect in the Walmart parking lot at Christmastime.

— I get into this more below, but the Boathouse will be busy with participants in a regatta taking place at the same time. Please be mindful of that.

— I realize some friends have mobility issues. We have a golf cart, though we can’t take it out into the park. Message me and we’ll figure it out.

— The stated reason for the open house is my 65th birthday on Monday, Oct. 9. That said, no gifts, please. This party isn’t for me, it’s for you.

— It’s also alcohol-free. And, putting it out there now, no smoking. This is a family event.

— Don’t know how I made it this far without mentioning the bluegrass. Holy cow. Rekindled Bits of Grass, led by C.J. McClellan, will be performing in the front yard. That alone is worth the price of admission.

— (There is no admission price. Though I'm reminded years ago I wrote that the Chronicle political forum was free to attend. Except I didn’t write that. I said there was no admission. The crowd size was a little smaller than usual that year.)

— We’ll have hay bales but it’s not a bad idea to bring a lawn chair. 


— Chicken King is catering. Isn’t that cool? And we have other goodies.

— Mike Scott Plumbing, a Just Wright Citrus advertising sponsor, is donating five cases of bottled water. That’s what Mike Scott Plumbing does. Anyone who’s attended a charity event in Citrus County knows what I'm talking about.

— Along with a good time, we’re raising funds and awareness for Club Recovery of Citrus County, which hosts 12-step meetings and sober activities. I’m a Club Recovery trustee and our only aim is to be of service to the community.

That said, we’re also in need of a new home by January 2025. In lieu of old-guy birthday gifts, should your heart desire, please consider Club Recovery.

— Just Wright Citrus T-shirts go for $20, and proceeds benefit Club Recovery. I have several pre-orders, and feel free to do that before Saturday. My friends will also be selling Club Recovery T-shirts at the open house.

— This is a great day to spend along the Withlacoochee State Trail in Inverness. For one, the ROCCS crew has a regatta in Big Lake Henderson starting early Saturday morning till mid-afternoon.

ROCCS is Rowing Organization of Citrus County Students. Their boathouse is right off the property, as is their dock. I’ve enjoyed many a morning and afternoon watching these kids practicing and competing on the lake.

Just down the trail, Market at the Depot takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. And at 6 p.m., a free concert in Liberty Park as part of Cootertober.

The Depot and Liberty Park are a 5-minute walk from here.

I mention this for two reasons. One, Mike’s 65th and Bluegrass is the perfect addition to an already fun lineup along the Inverness lakeside parks. Two, know that we’re competing for parking spots, so Saturday is also a good time to leisurely savor the fresh October air.

— The aim: Enjoy our community and one another. Hope to see you there.

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