A festival by any other name

Wednesday, August 4, 2004

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Cooter Pond in Citrus County
When a city's image is at stake, the name cooter could have damning implications.

But Citrus County officials realize a festival by any other name wouldn't be the same. So the county's first Cooter Festival is planned for October, weird name and all.

The idea of branding the town around the Florida Cooter is a bit unique because there's confusion about the word. But the name cooter isn't new to the area. In fact, just down the street sits Cooter's Pond.

"That name was given to that body of water about 100 years ago from the first inhabitants of Inverness,'' City Manager Frank DiGiovanni said.

Mayor Bob Plaisted said some day he'd like the Cooter Festival to be the biggest event on the west coast of Florida.

But some residents are still having trouble with that name.

"It doesn't sound like a proper name to put with a festival,'' said Winston Perry, an Inverness business owner. "Why would anyone use a name like that?''

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A cooter is a freshwater turtle.

So what does cooter mean?

It's a freshwater turtle. Not exciting, perhaps, but it will be the festival's mascot nonetheless.

"We in small town America will rise above this,'' DiGiovanni said. "We know that the Florida turtle is part of our history. We know that cooter, the water turtle, gave birth to the name Cooter Pond.''

The Cooter Festival will feature art shows, barbecues, entertainment and other activities like the Beat the Sheriff competition.

Information from Bay News 9's partner, the Citrus County Chronicle, was used in this report.