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Right Place At Kite Time

Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

Pat Lee prepares to launch her kite at the Dec. 7 kite festival at the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve. The festival capped a weekend celebration of Apollo Beach's 50 years.

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By LOIS KINDLE lkindle@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 17, 2008

APOLLO BEACH - Some children scampered effortlessly with their kites, sending them higher and higher.

Others saw theirs plummet and crash before they got the hang of things.

But it was all in good fun as flying objects - filled the sky above - Apollo Beach - Nature Preserve on Dec. 7. Fifty-two adults and children launched kites of all shapes and sizes, and just as many more were spectators.

The kite festival capped the community's two-day 50th anniversary celebration.

Although many of the adults flew kites they made themselves, most of the kids flew kites supplied by the Apollo Beach Beautification Committee, the festival's sponsor.

Joel Sherman and his wife, Karyn, launched a string of 24, 8-by-12-inch rice paper kites they brought home from China.

"I don't think this was designed for so much wind," Joel Sherman said, struggling a bit to get the kites aloft.

Standing next to Sherman was Terry McPherson, a professional kite flier who winters in Palmetto. McPherson suggested Sherman lengthen the tails of several of the kites at the end of the string, and up the entire assembly went.

McPherson gave a string of four larger kites he owned to Savannah Lee, 11, who was having trouble with the fishing line she was using as string for her kite. The child was delighted and handled her new gift with ease.

"I've flown kites for 28 years - in China, France, all over the United States," McPherson said. "It's good to see so many young people showing an interest today."

From the look of things, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"This is a great way to enjoy the park, get some fresh air and relax," Sherman said. "And it's nice to see the children having so much fun."

Committee Chairwoman Mary Lou Luce said a number of people told her they'd like to keep the event going.

"I'm thinking perhaps a couple times a year," she said, "maybe spring and fall. This was our maiden run, and even though everything was through trial and error, I don't think there's much we'd change. We want to keep it a low-key, family event."

Luce said the idea came from committee member Susan Veeder who owns a home in Cape Cod, Mass.

"One day, she was riding along the water and called to tell me there were kites flying everywhere," Luce said.

"We thought it would be a great way to celebrate Apollo Beach's 50th anniversary. And it was."

Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

To view more photos, go to southshore.tbo.com and search for "Apollo Beach Kite Fest."

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