by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
The City of Mascotte celebrated its last Centennial celebration on Saturday, November 8th, with a hometown festival at 219 West Myers Boulevard.
Guests enjoyed plenty of good food from local vendors while a wide variety of entertainment took place in the center of the celebration. Mascotte Mayor Steven Sheffield opened the ceremonies with a word of encouragement for both the future and the present. “Incorporated in 1925, the city has seen positive growth over the years and continues to plan for a bright future for generations to come,” says Mayor Sheffield.
Mascotte inherited its name in memory of a ship that transported tobacco from Cuba during the Spanish-American War, owned by Tampa civic booster Henry B. Plant. The Mascotte vessel appears on the city seals of both Tampa and Mascotte. The town that began in 1925 with a mere population of 260, according to the 1930 census, has grown to an estimated population of 7,000 currently.
With much to celebrate, some of the highlights of the day included a reptile exhibit hosted by Gatorland. Curious onlookers had an opportunity to hold an alligator, a snake, and other species that are often seen in Florida’s waters and wildlife areas. Music group Fancy Reagan offered a dose of high-energy music to the mix while the American Legion Post #239 provided an enthusiastic Bingo match with a minimum $100.00 payout.
One of the crowd-drawing events of the day was, without a doubt, a staged housefire-controlled demonstration provided by Wayne Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Inc. and the National Fire Sprinkler Association. A model, specially outfitted with fire safety in mind, provided a real-time demonstration in homes protected with fire sprinklers and smoke alarms versus unprotected homes.
The demonstration of actual fire revealed the short time, within two minutes on average, that it takes for fire to completely engulf a room. With the national average of a 7-minute response time for most fire departments to arrive on an active scene, the display revealed how important it is for residents to arm themselves with current, working smoke alarms in their places of residence.
The City of Mascotte is taking positive strides in strengthening its community partnerships and reinforcing the city’s public relations efforts with its citizenry. A noticeable increase in the number of public events that are family-friendly reflects a city that is preparing to enter the next phase of its history with hope, vigor, and enthusiasm.
Visit www.CityofMascotte.com or the Facebook page “City of Mascotte Government” for more information and a full listing of city-related activities.
