18
The News of Sun City Center
Military Affairs
September 2013
Interfaith Council/ Nearly New Shop Accepting Grant Requests
PHOTO BY FRANK KEPLEY
CBP officer Addresses Border Security Issues
Officer Joe Smagowicz, CBP officer, and Tom Kilbourn, president, SCC MOAA Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer Joe Smagowicz was the featured speaker at the Military Officers Association of America monthly luncheon on August 7. Officer Smagowicz began his federal law enforcement career with the U.S. Customs Service in October of 1991 in the Port of Tampa. He spent six years in Tampa, with almost five years of service on the Contraband Enforcement Team and the Passenger Analytical Unit. The highlight of his career during this time was a 5,400-pound seizure of cocaine off a ship in the Port of Tampa in 1994. He subsequently transferred to the U.S. Customs Service Headquarters in Washington, DC; to the Port of St. Louis, MO, where he created a passenger enforcement team that initiated the first six cocaine seizures in the history of that port; and to Ottawa, Canada, where he was selected as the Port Director for the CBP preclearance station. In March of 2005, he returned to the Port of Tampa as a Supervisory CBP Officer and managed trade operations at the CBP Air Cargo office at Tampa International Airport as well as passenger processing activities at the Federal Inspection Station at Tampa International Airport. He now oversees the Airport Security and Military Customs Inspector programs at Tampa International Airport. Officer Smagowicz discussed ports of entry security and overall border protection and answered questions on the various aspects of those two critical U.S. objectives. —B. Frank Kepley, CAPT, USN, (Ret)
SUN CITY CENTER’S CHAPTER OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NAVAL AVIATION (ANA) ANNOUNCES 2013-2014 LUNCHEON SPEAKERS. C D R R o g e r Ke n n i c u t t , U S N ( r e t ) , Commanding Officer of the Silver Osprey Squadron #64 of the ANA, announced today that the organization will hold seven monthly luncheon meetings this year beginning in October and ending in May with no meeting in December. The luncheons will be held on the second Friday of the month at the Plaza Club, located at the Freedom Plaza complex here in Sun City Center. CDR Kennicutt indicated that, along with his XO, Tom Harding and ADMIN Officer, LT Barry Dyer, USN(ret), the group has put together an exciting array of speakers on a number of different and current topics. October 11, 2013: COL John Robinson, USA USCENTCOM briefing November 8, 2013: CAPT Fred Stankovich, USMC(ret) Former Blue Angels pilot January 10, 2014: CAPT Frank Naylor, III JSF-35 Simulator Training Program February 14, 2014: CAPT Richard Petucci, USN(ret) JSF-35 Deployment Status Update March 14, 2014: COL Scott DeThomas, USAF Base C.O., MacDill AFB April 11, 2014: COMMAND REPRESENTATIVE USCG Air Station, Clearwater May 9, 2014: SP. Agent Robert Robbins D.E.A., Air Operations, Tampa Membership in the Association of Naval Aviation and Silver Osprey Squadron is open to any person, former military or civilian, who shares an interest in military aviation. While luncheons are open to the public on a space available basis, membership has its own rewards. Our local membership dues are $20 per year and members receive a discount on meals at our monthly meetings. If you would like to receive more information about our chapter of the Association of Naval Aviation please email us at silverosprey@yahoo. com or call Roger Kennicutt at 813-260-3221. You can also visit our web page at suncitycenter.org, Click on Activities and then on Veterans.
The NEWS of SCC Needs Reporters
With all of the upgrades happening here due to the new Master Plan, there is a lot happening in and around Sun City Center. The staff of The NEWS could use your help in reporting on these or any other topics that might be of interest to you and to our community. If you are interested in becoming a member of the News Staff, please contact Karen Jones, editor-in-chief, via email at newsofscc@gmail.com or at the newsroom by phone at 642-2070. As you know, this is a monthly paper that goes out to all CA members via mail. It can also be read online at suncitycenter.org.
The Interfaith Council/Nearly New Shop of Sun City Center will be accepting grant applications from September 1 through September 30, 2013. All applications for the fall grants cycle must be postmarked by that time. The two-page grant application forms and additional information about the Sun City Center Interfaith Council and the Nearly New Shop may be found at the website: www. interfaithcouncilofsuncitycenter.com. Applications with appropriate federal ID numbers and budget information may be mailed to The Interfaith Council of Sun City Center, P.O. Box 5342, Zip code 33573. You may also call 6337217 for additional information. The Interfaith Council of Sun City Center is entirely funded by profits from The Nearly New Shop, located in back of the Sun City Center Plaza. Last year, IFC/NNS donated $130,500 to local organizations that support Health, Human Services and Education in the South County area. In addition, they awarded $166,000 in scholarships to students at East Bay High School, Lennard High School and South County Career Center. IFC member houses of worship are: Beth Israel, Prince of Peace, Redeemer Lutheran, St. Andrews Presbyterian, St. John the Divine, Trinity Baptist, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, United Community United Church of Christ and United Methodist. —Roselyn Cruthis, 633-7217
THE PELICAN PLAYERS: A COMMUNITY THEATRE HERE FOR YOU This summer was a busy time for the Pelican Players. Its production The Nest and The Birdcage, an original play written and directed by Andries Oosthuizen, received kudos from appreciative audiences. Comments ranged from “very good performances” and “we liked the twists and turns in the play” to “I’m new to the area and can’t wait to see the next play.” Speaking of what’s next, the Pelican Players are busy preparing for their fall season. Auditions for “Don’t Dress for Dinner” will take place on September 10 and 12 (please see website if interested). The play calls for six actors: three women and three men. Written by Marc Camoletti, the playwright who also wrote “Boeing, Boeing,” this riotous comedy was originally produced in France. Dealing with themes of illicit romance and questionable cuisine, the characters in this naughty farce are challenged to concoct one lie after another in order to prevent the truth about who’s romancing whom from slipping out. The play will be performed on December 6 and 7 in the Borini Theatre. Rehearsals are now underway for An Evening with Joe. Joe Birnbaum, for those who do not know him, is a talented actor, playwright, jokester and story-teller who lives in Freedom Plaza with his devoted wife Pearl. Pearl Birnbaum is on the Board of Directors and treasurer of The Pelican Players. An Evening with Joe features two of Joe’s one-act plays and a conversation with the author. It will be presented on October 14 at 7 p.m. in the Banquet Room in Kings Point. Due to limited seating, tickets are on sale only in the North Club House Lobby in late September through early October. Come be a part of the action here in Sun City Center. Visit our website: www.PelicanPlayers.org. —Linda Halperin