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Parade, Invasion Tradition At Cove

Photo from Ron Jeffries

Wally Helbig was awarded Best Bike, the first year a medical cart won that category.

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com

Published: February 11, 2009

REGENCY COVE - It has been an annual tradition since the mid-1980s at the Homes of Regency Cove to celebrate Gasparilla with an invasion and parade of its own

It seems appropriate, because centered in the community is a larger-than-life statue of Jose Gaspar, a fictional character who inspired the Tampa tradition of Gasparilla.

On Jan. 31, the residents of Regency Cove pulled out their pirate costumes, festooned their golf carts and tossed beads from their boats in the Regency Cove 2009 Gasparilla party.

About 200 people joined in the events, which included a concert from the Regency Ramblers, the highly-anticipated Sloppy Joe dinner and a dance with music provided by St. Petersburg musician Jerry Chase. Resident Ron Jeffries was this year's commodore, planning the event with co-chairman Mike Ross.

"We usually celebrate a week before or the week after Tampa's celebration, so residents can also participate there," said Sandy Ross. "The Olympics have their senior games. Regency Cove is Tampa's senior Gasparilla."

Jamie Pilarczyk

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