Guinness World Records submitted for:

Largest Painted Sea Creature

Made of Recycled Aluminum

will be painted with the Withlacoochee theme and donated to a non profit who will place it near the trail.

 

The Creative Arts & Culture Alliance, a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting arts and culture in the region, is organizing what it hopes will become the world’s largest painted aluminum turtle. The project is a paint-by-numbers design created by artist Lena Walker Stoddart and conceptualized with Inverness City Council member and Alliance president Tom Craig. The massive turtle, donated by Paul Hertensen of Royal Grounds Nursery in Hernando, will be featured in its own booth at the festival on Nov. 15–16, alongside eight interactive art spaces along North Apopka Avenue. Once completed, the turtle will be installed near the historic caboose along the Withlacoochee State Trail.

The Alliance has submitted paperwork to Guinness World Records under the category “Largest Painted Sea Creature Made of Recycled Aluminum.” The organization has been entered into the record database and may be judged any time after Feb. 1, 2026. Craig said the record is secondary to the project’s purpose.

“It’s not about how many people paint it,” he said. “It’s about everyone being part of something that represents our city. The Cooter turtle is kind of our mascot – it’s here for us, and we can all share it.”

Craig said the idea grew out of conversations with Hertensen shortly after Craig assumed leadership of the newly renamed Creative Arts & Culture Alliance.

“When Paul approached me, after I took over and changed the name of the Alliance as the now board president and director of the Creative Arts & Culture Alliance,” Craig said, “he expressed a desire to donate a large turtle to the Alliance to help us get on our feet, but also to promote something that we felt was important for the arts and culture of the area.”

As president of both the Alliance and the Withlacoochee State Trail, Craig immediately envisioned a turtle that could celebrate the trail.

“I immediately thought we could do the turtle for the trail,” he said.

Hertensen suggested a paint-by-numbers approach, like the murals he had designed for the art festival in previous years. Craig then worked closely with Stoddart to translate his ideas about the trail into a paint-by-numbers design, and she created the artwork for the turtle.

“I’m the facilitator, make things happen and coordinate the effort,” Craig said.

The project also builds on Inverness’s existing public-art tradition. The city is known for its colorful “Cooter” turtle sculptures, which have become local landmarks and popular selfie spots.

“I think the community’s already involved in the fact that the turtles are here and present in Inverness,” Craig said. “You can’t go a day without seeing somebody taking a selfie in front of them or hearing people talk about the turtles. All of them have been painted by accomplished mural painters in the area, so this lets the public share in that process.”

Beyond the festival, the Alliance seeks to foster local arts and culture by providing a forum for professional artists who have retired in the area to gather, socialize, and give back through workshops and classes.

Plans include painting lessons for children in Whispering Pines Park, sculpture classes, pottery workshops and other hands-on activities led by experienced local artists. This year, interactive art at the festival will be led by schoolteacher Bonnie Anderson, who has coordinated similar projects in the past.

Mike Arnold can be reached at mike.arnold@chronicleonline.com or 352-564-2929, ext. 429.

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What We Are

    •    FOTWST is a Citizen Support Organization (CSO) for the Withlacoochee State Trail (WST).  

    •    We are a not-for-profit charitable organization qualified under IRS section 501(c)(3).  

    •    We work in conjunction with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) — specifically its parks/trails division.  

 

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Why This Matters for You Locally

    •    The Trail passes very near Inverness, your local community.

    •    By participating with FOTWST, you’re helping improve a facility that you likely use or could use for recreation, health, transportation, or community involvement.

    •    Your involvement means you can influence decisions (amenities, maintenance, interpretation) that directly affect your local trail experience.

    •    It’s a way to contribute to the community’s outdoor resources and network with like-minded neighbors.

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Key Details & Activities

    •    Membership & Funding:

    •    We accept membership dues (student, individual, family, business) and donations.  

    •    Funding sources: membership fees, merchandise sales, event registration, sponsorships.  

    •    We state that 100% of all monies collected go towards Trail maintenance and enhancements.  

    •    Volunteer & Project Work:

    •    FOTWST members volunteer for trail-amenities, maintenance, public education, interpretive signage, etc.  

    •    Example: We’re undertaking restoration of a 100-year-old wooden caboose at the Trail’s Inverness trailhead.  

    •    Events:

    •    Annual “Ride” event: a fundraising bike ride along the Trail. For example, the 28th Annual Ride in October 2025.  

    •    Meetings held four times a year: February, April, September, November.     •    Mailing address: P.O. Box 807, Inverness, FL 34451-0807.  

    •    Email: fotwst2@gmail.com.  

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How You Can Get Involved

 

Here are practical steps you could take to join or support:

    1.    Become a member

    •    Visit our website, pay membership dues (via PayPal or check).  

    •    Choose your level (student, individual, family, business).

    •    Be listed and involved in voting/advisory for the organization.  

    2.    Volunteer time or skills

    •    We need help for trail amenity installation, maintenance, signage, restoration projects (e.g., caboose).

    •    Attend one of our four meetings each year to learn upcoming volunteer opportunities.

    •    Contact us via email to express interest.

    3.    Support financially or via sponsorship

    •    Donate directly or sponsor events (especially if you know local businesses).  

    •    If you’re part of a local business, explore becoming an in-kind sponsor (We list many in our sponsor page).

    4.    Attend/support major events

    •    The Annual Ride is both a fundraiser and a community event — participating helps visibility and funds.

    •    Spread the word locally: social media, friends, local businesses.

    5.    Use the Trail & give feedback

    •    As a local resident, you can use the Withlacoochee State Trail and provide user feedback via the CSO/DEP partnership. This kind of engagement often helps guide future improvements.

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Upcoming / Regular Opportunities

    •    FOTWST holds membership / board meetings four times a year (2nd Thursday of February, April, September, November) where new volunteers can attend, get informed and sign up.  

    •    The organization invites volunteers for our big annual event: the “Annual Ride” on the trail. For example, the 28th Annual Ride on Sunday, October 5, 2025: volunteers needed for support, registrations, SAG stops, etc.  

    •    On the “Join” page, We describe general volunteer roles: building trail amenities, trail maintenance, fundraising, public education.  

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Major Project Underway

    •    One of our standout projects: restoring the historic wooden caboose (Caboose No. 5245) at the Inverness trailhead. The centenary 1925-2025 is being celebrated and funds are being raised for the interior restoration.  

    •    The Trail itself is always undergoing resurfacing in some sections: For example, a “$1.3 million project to resurface portions of the Withlacoochee State Trail in Citrus County” began August 2024.  

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How You Can Get Involved Right Now

    •    Attend the next meeting (check FOTWST website or Facebook for date/agenda) and say you’re interested in volunteering.

    •    Reach out to FOTWST (email via our website) and mention you’d like to help specifically with the caboose restoration project or trail maintenance.

    •    If you’re interested in events, volunteer roles for the Annual Ride (registration desk, SAG support, safety marshals) are a good fit.

    •    If you have skills (e.g., carpentry, painting, signage, fundraising, marketing), mention that — the caboose restoration and trail amenities need varied talents.

    •    Becoming a member supports us financially (even if you don’t immediately volunteer) so you’re “in the loop” for notifications.  

 

Yes, what are We doing and when are We meeting?

 

Here are the details for the next meeting of the Friends of the Withlacoochee State Trail, Inc. (FOTWST) that you can attend:

    •    Date & Time: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.  

    •    Location: Recreation Building by Fort Cooper State Park, 3100 S Old Floral City Rd., Inverness, FL 34450.  

    •    Agenda Highlights: Restoration of the historic caboose at the Trailhead, updates to the Friends newsletter, trail-improvement proposals.  

    •    RSVP / Contact: Email fotwst2@gmail.com to reserve your spot

(space is limited to ~45).  

    •    Email: fotwst2@gmail.com  

    •    Mailing Address: P.O. Box 807, Inverness, FL 34451-0807  

    •    Trail Management: Chris Raby (352-726-0315)         

                                christopher.raby@FloridaDEP.gov)