Parade Committee meeting scheduled for 8/4

Lydia Pisano, who is chairing PCPD's parade committee, has scheduled a meeting for this Wednesday, August 4th.

It will begin at 1:30 pm at Belle Isle City Hall (1600 Nela Avenue), immediately preceding our general planning session (which starts at 3).

For more information/directions, please email pinecastlepioneerdays@hotmail.com

Artist interprets historic Pine Castle for a new generation

Orlando, Florida -- Pine Castle Pioneer Days, Inc., recently announced its selection of a painting by local art student Charity Hill to promote its upcoming annual festival.

Hill used vintage photographs and sketches of poet Will Wallace Harney’s historic home on Lake Conway to render a unique composite of the original “Pine Castle.” Her preliminary version depicts Mr. Harney seated on the porch of his landmark 1870s residence, reading to his young son. She is currently completing final touch-up work on the 24” x 30” acrylic painting with gloss varnish.

Hill will publicly unveil the final version of her iconic image at a downtown Orlando fundraiser scheduled for November 4, 2010.

The original “Pine Castle” was destroyed by fire many years ago, though its name has been perpetuated by various churches, businesses, and civic organizations in the neighborhood south of Orlando. And, since the early 1970’s, a festival has celebrated the community spirit inspired by pioneer settlers like Harney.

The next Pioneer Days festival is scheduled for February 26 and 27, 2011, and will be held at 5933 Randolph Avenue, on grounds surrounded by a collection of other historic structures. Hill’s image will be featured on posters, t-shirts, and other items as part of organizers’ marketing efforts.

Charity Hill is a native of Orange City, Iowa, whose family moved to Orlando when she was just three years old. She was first inspired to paint professionally six years ago, when she was asked to help a friend decorate a beach condominium, and is currently pursuing a fine art degree at the University of Nebraska.

Join us 7/15/10 at these Chik-fil-A locations

PCPD welcomes its first corporate partner: Chik-fil-A!

Next Thursday, July 15th, we invite all supporters of Pioneer Days to visit one (or both!) of these Orlando locations between 5 and 8 pm:

2825 South Orange Avenue

AND/OR

7415 South Orange Blossom Trail

Remember to tell your order taker that you want the proceeds from your sale to go towards Pine Castle Pioneer Days!

Calling all Pine Castle AFB vets!

PCPD's publications committee is seeking veterans and spouses of veterans who served at Pine Castle Air Force Base.

They are particularly interested in any photos or other memorabilia for inclusion in our next event program, which will be dedicated to the history of the old base.

They are also interested in contacting any vets/spouses who are willing to be interviewed about their time at PCAFB.

For more information, please email: pinecastlepioneerdays@hotmail.com

Reminder - July general planning session tomorrow

PCPD will be holding its next general session tomorrow (Wed, 7/7/10), at Belle Isle City Hall (1600 Nela Avenue), at 3pm.

The agenda will include the regular officer reports and committee updates, including (but definitely not limited to!) the following:

* Status of 501(c)3 application.
* Fundraising event planning.
* Pre-sales of admission tickets.
* Final approval of arts/crafts vendor packages (to be distributed later this month).
* Establishing a more permanent/complete web presence.
* Informational brochures.
* Posters/notecards/t-shirts.
* Progress report on event program.
* Gazebo restoration budget/schedule.
* Discuss parade route.

For more information/directions, email: pinecastlepioneerdays@hotmail.com

Re-interpreting the old Pine Castle

Local art student Charity Hill is working on her interpretation of the original Pine Castle.

While it is still a work in progress, we welcome the public to view it in person at our next general planning session: Wednesday, July 7th, 3pm, at Belle Isle City Hall (1600 Nela Avenue).

For more information, email pincastlepioneerdays@hotmail.com