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Tarpon Springs: A way of life
By KATHERINE GAZELLA
© St. Petersburg Times,
That's the lesson learned after requesting that readers of the North Pinellas Times send in their thoughts about Tarpon Springs. The responses started in a slow trickle, then reached flood levels by midweek. Some readers chose specific memories about grade school and beach weddings; others gave an overall image of a town that some think is slightly decrepit, and some think is just reaching middle-age. A few readers sound as if they could easily write a book about the city. Lyn Tebrugge of Tarpon Springs suggests that the author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil take a look at her hometown. Savannah, Ga., may be interesting, she points out, but "Do old men play dominoes and icons weep" in Savannah? The entries illustrate the diversity of the city, from the African-American school that once served as the center of life in the Union Academy neighborhood to the thick accents of Greek men and women, some of whom came to town with nothing but a dream. The letters also represent a diversity of thought. Some readers think the town is a jewel, the greatest of treasures that Florida has to offer, with the glistening water of the gulf and the raging colors of sunsets at Howard Park. And some just want the sidewalks fixed. Here are North Pinellas Times readers' responses.
When I think of Tarpon Springs I think of . . . The Greek women with their dark cotton dresses, treating you like a beloved daughter-in-law, sharing secrets and advice with you. I think of the Greek men at the docks, tanned by the sun, with a wink and a story to tell. I think of the hidden jewel I call my home, rich with tradition and community. -- Denise Briese, Tarpon Springs I think of the first day we arrived in Tarpon Springs, 1944, from Indiana. The train reached the depot, and as we stepped down, I overheard Greek being spoken, coming from the direction of a few black porters. Communication back then between the Greeks and blacks was in Greek. -- Chryse Flowers, Tarpon Springs My thoughts of Tarpon Springs are forever tied to my childhood visit in 1953. Added to the wonder of all sizes of dried sponges everywhere was the brave man in his diving suit dropping into the water and coming up holding a fresh sponge. He seemed a hero to me. -- Alicyn M. Lopez, Oldsmar
I think of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and wish the author would discover a new muse. Savannah is beautiful, but does she speak Greek? Is she blessed with bayous and manatees? Smell of roasted lamb, lemon, oregano, almonds and cinnamon? Do old men play dominoes and icons weep? -- Lyn Tebrugge, Tarpon Springs When I think of Tarpon Springs, I think of Union Academy School. Every Friday was Assembly Day. We would stand and sing the national anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing, and recite the Lord's Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Union Academy was the center of our recreational activities and holiday celebrations. Everything we did revolved around our school and the church. We were not allowed at the city's recreational facilities, parks, beaches or the pier. Tarpon Springs has come a long way since my childhood. Much has been accomplished, but there is still room for improvements. -- Annie Doris Dabbs, Tarpon Springs A city in midlife. Recalling dreams and hopes unrealized from youth. Knowing there is still time to preserve a unique culture and historic structures but time is not unlimited anymore. Time to claim the river for everyone. Time to restore our downtown. Time to exploit our art, music and historic assets. Time to restore the sense of community from our childhood. Time is the ally and the enemy of middle age. -- Tony Leisner, Tarpon Springs All the flavor it has to offer. From antiques and artwork in the stores downtown, to the sponge divers and fresh smells of the sweet pastries at the Sponge Docks. Rich with its Greek culture, I'd say Tarpon Springs is a flavor that should be tasted worldwide. -- Ashley Coady, 17, Tarpon Springs Sponge docks and future leaders diving for the Epiphany cross. I also think of a small town with a rich heritage trying to preserve that heritage, and a way of life, while moving into the 21st century. -- Brad Neff, Tarpon Springs When I think of Tarpon Springs, there are the Sponge Docks, the antique stores, Howard Park, Craig Park, Sunset Beach, Epiphany, our churches, our great library, tennis courts, boat ramp, municipal building and post office. Best of all are the beautiful people who live in the jewel of the gulf. -- Arthur N. Stratis, Tarpon Springs
Tarpon Springs, a four-generation community where all nationalities join to celebrate the Greek festivities on Epiphany Day. . . . Howard Park's picnic groves lead to a causeway where an islandlike oasis appears. Spectacular sunsets end a perfect day at Sunset Beach. -- Dolores Wilson, Tarpon Springs Tarpon Springs is fun and friends, Greek food, folklore from foreign ports, fish and ethnic foods and fabulous views. Winding along curved, palm-lined streets, following the water's edge, past the bayous onto the gulf. But my favorite part is at the end of the road, I find home. -- Hela Crown-Tamir, Tarpon Spring (To the tune of My Favorite Things) Feta and moussaka washed down with Retsina, Sponge docks and Spring Bayou and girls named Elena, Bouzuki, Epiphany and calamari rings, These are my thoughts of quaint Tarpon Springs. -- Jerry Custin, Palm Harbor Manatees, relaxed and slow, as is all life on Spring Bayou. Sponge Docks tourists side by side, the smell of river at low tide. The beaches at dusk, in sunset hills. Coffee, guys, and their lies, at Mr. Bills. -- Don Campbell, Tarpon Springs
I think of diversity and character. Stroll the Sponge Docks or downtown area. Besides its ethnic background and down-home appeal, there's the added flavor of a fishing village. Sunsets at Fred Howard, an outdoor concert at Sunset Beach, or a casual drive along the bayous makes for a town that stands alone. -- Agnes Touris, Palm Harbor A nice small-town atmosphere, including a Greek culture. An economical place to live, not as commercialized or congested as nearby tourist areas. An area that impresses the friends and family who visit us. Historical sponge fishing tradition. Lots of water (river, lakes and gulf). Beautiful parks and recreation areas. -- Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. Moser, Tarpon Springs T -- The wonderful sunsets framed by fishing boats. A -- A hint of bouzouki music, lilting in the air. R -- Relaxing by strolling the quaint Greek shops. P -- Pita rolled around sizzling souvlaki, extra tzaziki, please. O -- One honey-drenched baklava, washed down with frappe. N -- Next weekend, we'll do it all over again! -- Jackie Campos, Palm Harbor A picnic and swim at Anderson Park A community concert at sunset on Sunset Beach A unique discovery strolling along Antique Row A sunset dinner on the Anclote River at Santorini's A mouth-watering baklava from a bakery at the Sponge Docks A superior craft and art show on Spring Bayou A classic display of classic cars along Pinellas Avenue A ministry of care by the faith community through the Shepherd Center A world-class presentation at the Cultural Arts Center A respite with mellow jazz at the Zone A community with historical homes and sites, cultural and racial diversity, with water and gracious people all around! -- Carl vom Eigen, pastor, Church on the Bayou When my family first came to Tarpon Springs, we visited Fred Howard Park. We had a barbecue and played on the swing sets and in the sand at the beach. This was before we lived here. My parents were so mesmerized by the city, that many years later, they decided to make it our home. -- Tanya Kazaleh, Tarpon Springs
Tarpon Springs very much reminds me of the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. I say that because both historic areas have slipped a bit, and need to be restored to their former glory. The worst thing Tarpon Springs could do is stand still on freshening up and improving itself. The area is a bit down at the heels and needs to be cleaner and fresher looking. -- Douglas Spangler, Palm Harbor I think of a place rich in history, tradition, and culture, where you can take a walk on the white beach sands, where you can take in the smells of delicious cuisine and then sit on a bench and enjoy the beauty of a seaside village. A place to live. -- Nikki M. Christu, Tarpon Springs When I think of Tarpon Springs, I think of the best Florida has to offer. A community so positively influenced by its Greek heritage, that people can close their eyes and almost feel the beauty and friendliness of a small European city. To live here is a unique experience. -- Kimberly Dickenson, Tarpon Springs Tarpon Springs is a most beautiful town and remains the same through the years, the sunsets, bayous, rivers, Gulf of Mexico, palm trees and most of all friendly folks from all walks of life. It is the most wonderful place to raise a family, a place to grow up and to grow "older" in. -- Chester Gillett, Tarpon Springs I think of David Letterman's Top 10 List of the 10 worst high school mascots. I was not surprised that my high school, Tarpon Springs, snatched third place with its bizarre mascot "The Spongers." I guess it's kind of funny in a way, that the whole nation remembers your high school, by laughing at it. -- Lori Fraclose, Palm Harbor Another sweet evening in Tarpon Sponges sitting in their stalls Sea shells strung or sprouting ferns. Taste of souvlaki freshly grilled, Gyros heaped with sauce. Pleasant evening strolls Seeking treasures from afar. Peaked cap perched upon his head, My husband smiles at me. Another sweet evening in Tarpon. -- Fern Gordon, Palm Harbor I think of the beauty of the bayous, the Anclote River and Lake Tarpon. I also think of Howard Park with its picnic facilities and expansive beach, though the municipal Sunset Beach is more intimate. For added color, there's the Greek Sponge Docks. -- Ruth Georgiou, Tarpon Springs Sponge Dock shops with Greek appeal Restaurants serving real Greek meals Ethnic festivals and parades The Bayou on Epiphany day Sunsets at Fred Howard Park Swimming at Sunset Beach till dark Antique shops with rings and things That's what I like about Tarpon Springs. -- Diane Radcliffe, Tarpon Springs I think of what can be done with the sidewalks along Tarpon Avenue, along S Walton Avenue, Huey Avenue by Kmart. There is no recreation or anything for older people, no movie house around here. Who can afford cabs? I can't. I don't drive. Also no local bus to come in to mobile home parks to take elderly people shopping. That's what I think of Tarpon Springs. -- Dorothy Rogers, Tarpon Springs I think of our beautiful wedding! My husband and I were married in March 13 years ago at Fred Howard Park. It was a wonderful day and setting. Family and friends called us for months afterward, raving about it being the most beautiful wedding they had ever attended. We had a local Tarpon Springs caterer, disc jockey and baker for the event. Rob and I had moved away for some years and returned two years ago. The first place we visited with our children was the wedding spot, which we will make sure to visit every anniversary to come. Two years will mark a time to renew the vows. . . . See you at Fred Howard! -- Diane and Rob Graff, Palm Harbor I think of a small oasis of beautiful parks, mixed backgrounds and unity. The combination of large historic homes, small cottages, history, a community working together keeping everyone happy in a pristine setting with harmony, greenery and bayous. An easy place to call home. -- rene George, Tarpon Springs Maybe there's something in the water: Fabulous Lake Tarpon on the east, scenic Anclote River on the north, bayous, estuaries and springs running through it, and the magnificent Gulf of Mexico on the western shore. -- Joe Ballard, Tarpon Springs I think of a quaint, eclectic town full of hidden treasures. I think of it as a place where folks are able to relish the simple things in life, a place full of natural beauty that I have come to know and love. -- Nancy Dively, Tarpon Springs I think of the city I have called home for the past 14 years. It is a warm, welcoming community. There is a wide spectrum of people living in Tarpon Springs, all of whom contribute to a unique living experience. Since coming here in 1987, I have found that the city has increased the cultural opportunities available and made them more easily accessed by all of its citizens. Tarpon Springs is a good place to live. -- Anne Mac Lean, Tarpon Springs I think of the large fleet of sponge boats lined up along the dock with their strings of sponges. Mothers and children excited to see their husbands and fathers after days, weeks at a time sponging in the Gulf of Mexico. The ol' "jitney bus," family gatherings at the pier, Epiphany and Easter. -- Penny K. Faison, Tarpon Springs I first think of the Anclote River that runs through town and gives shape to the city. The river creates the beautiful bayous that so many lovely neighborhoods border. The river provides the working waterfront that sustains fishing and sponge boats, and in turn an atmosphere for a terrific restaurant and gift shop district for locals as well as tourists. -- Pam Crane, Tarpon Springs When I think of Tarpon Springs I think of the Spring Bayou on crisp Epiphany days. It is a joy to watch family and friends sustain the tradition with their own children, celebrating the reverence, excitement and cultural traditions that differentiate Tarpon Springs from any other city in the United States -- and perhaps, the world. -- Cathie Zervos Koch, Palm Harbor Tarpon Springs, our town for 10 years. Great memories! A nostalgic drive past our former residence on Spring Bayou to the Sponge Docks to chat with old friend Ted Billiris. Then, a gyro or a Greek salad with a glass of retsina is always nice. Perceptions? Tarpon Springs is better than ever. -- Jim Pochurek, Palm Harbor I think of all the people from different cultures who live there. Out of the many cultures that live there, the Greeks mostly live there because it reminds them of their country. I also think of the Sponge Docks Tarpon Springs is known for. -- Maryann Touliatos, 13, Palm Harbor A bike ride down a 125-year-old cobblestone road. An invite from a neighborly yaya for Turkish coffee, biscotti and talk of old Tarpon. Sitting on crab traps watching spongers manicure the sponge with love and passion. Gyros, baklava and a family shrimp feast with my brothers returned from a three-month good catch. Most of all, sitting on the rocks of Fred Howard Park watching a sunset. -- Mark Hammond, Holiday, raised in Tarpon Springs When I think of Tarpon Springs, I think of narrow, brick-lined streets of antiquated houses, art festivals in Craig Park on Spring Bayou, breathtaking sunsets after storms, a rich cultural atmosphere, the Sponge Docks, and Greek seasonings that you can taste for two days. Tarpon Springs is HOME. -- Tara Hilderbrandt, Tarpon Springs I think the city did a wonderful job with new walkways, light poles, etc. I enjoy walking along the docks or sitting on the benches in the evenings, enjoying the sights of the shrimp and sponge boats. Also going to Hellas restaurant for coffee and dessert with my friend Liz. -- George Bonser, Palm Harbor I think of a lifelong friendship that developed during kindergarten at Tarpon Springs Elementary with my best friend, Eleni. For more than 12 years, we've shared unforgettable experiences of running away from the third grade boys in fear of their "cooties," to our recent graduations. Tarpon Springs, I don't have to think, I just smile. -- Gina Smith, Palm Harbor When I think of Tarpon Springs I think of a place where time is standing still, a great place to raise kids, a piece of paradise, a place where people attend church and most of all a place I will call home again. -- An'cel Davis, Riverdale, Ga.
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