Tangerine drop gets squashed

Just like the once-thriving citrus industry, the annual Tangerine Time New Year's Eve celebration could be a thing of the past as organizers announce they are canceling the event.

Wayne Vutech, Tangerine Time committee chairman, said because of diminishing funds and a lack of volunteers, he has to cancel the event, which in the past included a 7-foot tall fiberglass tangerine that falls to ground in the last 10 seconds of the year.

The fruit theme was a spin on the New Year's ball drop in New York's Times Square and a way to honor Brooksville's past when it was known for its tangerine industry. The event was held in at the Jerome Brown Community Center and nearby Tom Varn Park.

However, this year he said only seven people volunteered to help with the event - too few to adequately work an event that offers family activities and music, free hot dogs, drinks and other refreshments - all for the price of a food item for the Salvation Army.

"This event just really grew to become known as a safe place people could bring their families," Vutech said. "But we can't do it with the same people working it every year because some of them are getting older, sick or they just can't do it anymore."

He added that with problems in today's economy, less people are able to give funding to help put on the event. There were also fewer items that could be donated to give away as door prizes.

Vutech said he would like to give more of his own money, but economic times have made that difficult as well.

In the past, the event offered three hours of performances by singers and other entertainers. Last year at least one competition was also geared toward teaching children the effects of drunken driving using glasses that distort their vision.

Whether the event will be revived is questionable, Vutech said. So far, he said he's a little disheartened by the lack of volunteers and doesn't know if the community wants to see the event return.

"It would be great to see someone come in and step up to the plate to help salvage this - but I doubt it'll happen," Vutech said. "Maybe it's just a sign of the times."

If anyone is interested in doing so or getting volunteers, contact Vutech at 352-799-7420.