Saturday, March 22, saw the spring kick-off for community events sponsored by Brooksville Main Street. Russell Street Park, home to Brooksville’s 1885 Train Depot Museum and One Room Schoolhouse, was bustling with community members eager to ride or walk the Good Neighbor Trail and check out the vendors present and nearby pedestrians who simply noticed an event and came to investigate.
Among the vendors present were Bike Florida and Swamp Mountain Bike Club, giving out maps of the numerous bike trails in the area, encouraging locals to get out and bike. At the same time, Florida’s Adventure Coast delighted visitors with a bicycle decoration station, complete with handlebar bells, streaming ribbons and spoke charms. Catrike, Trak, and Velotric vendors sported shiny new bikes with helmets, colorful biking jerseys, sunglasses and other gear for visitors to browse and purchase. And for hungry cyclists, plenty of food and drink offerings were available, including Sour Mouth Fresh Squeezed Lemonade.
Sitting in front of the One Room Schoolhouse donning her school colors, Moton High School Preservation Society member Angelina Philanders, class of 1963, displayed large framed posters teaching visitors about the history of black schools in Hernando County before Moton, Moton High School principles, and notable Moton HS alumni, including James H. McRae, Sr., Maulty Moore, and Judge Ralph Person. Moton HS was established in 1939 and closed in 1969.
Deputies Timothy Brian and Chris Marito from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office taught children bike safety, introduced them to Florida bicycle laws, and challenged their agility with an obstacle course of cones. Florida Department of Transportation was also present, reinforcing responsible and safe cycling: the slogan on their neon fanny packs, “Be safe, be seen, always arrive alive,” reinforced the sheriff’s office message to take responsibility for one’s own safety.
