News of Sun City Center April 2024

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Agendas

The News of Sun City Center

13th Annual Stained Glass Club Show

Website:

By Kai Rambow

For some, it will be hard to believe it’s been 25 years. Some were experiencing FunFest for the first time. A good time was had by all.

We’ll take a look at some moments this year, and some fond memories from past years. There seemed to be an unofficial hat theme this year. People dressed up to promote their favorite club, while others simply took the opportunity to dress up.

It’s not possible to attend everything, which is why it is a good idea to plan on at least two hours to see it all. All it takes is one club putting on a good show, and time will add up.

By Paula Lickfeldt

Pat Alberti, chair of the show for the first time, said there were over a 100 entries for both beginner and advanced. To be considered advanced, you have to have been working for three years with a particular type of glass work—fusing, mosaic, or soldering, etc. Four members of the Kings Point Stained Glass Club were the judges. There are no names attached to the work during judging and the judges are not part of the SCC club so they do not know the members.

The judges were David Donley who has 47 years of experience with soldering, mosaics and fusing; Mary Donley who has been doing stained glass and fusing for nine years; Deborah Watson with 11 years’ experience in fusing; and Debra Smelt with five years’ experience with fusing.

Marilyn Finn was awarded Best of Show. Susie Brown won first place in Fusing. Charles Kennedy won first place in soldering, and Dennis Rosett won first place with mosaic.

25 Years of FunFest

Marilyn Finn Best of Show

Susie Brown, Memories of Tuscany, 1st place Fusing

Charles Kennedy, Flamingo, 1st place Soldering

The Front Porch Pickers drew their usual fans as they performed in the Collins Theater.

Drone photo credit John Wakeman

One of the smaller pleasures is seeing families enjoying themselves during FunFest.

Photo by Bob Sanchez

President’s Report

By Ron Clark, CA President

Excellent progress has been made on the Central Campus Upgrade project with the Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) and the Board working closely with Pi Architects (Project Design) and Appono Consulting (Construction Monitor). There will be a Referendum Vote on April 16 & 17 in which the Board is asking for the authority to expend from the Capital Fund an amount that does not exceed $4,200,000 for constructing Phase 1A and associated site work.

Here are the details:

In February, a Request for Proposal (RFP) and construction drawings were sent to five prequalified General Contractors. The RFP requested separate bids for Phase 1A (Applied Arts Building) and Phase 1B (New Rollins & New Pool).

Three bids were received by the March 15 deadline. The LRPC and the Board reviewed the bids with Pi and Appono and then interviewed the general contractors. After we receive membership approval for the construction funding, the Board will negotiate a contract with the successful bidder.

Shredding Day

Friday, April 12, from 9 to noon

Parking lot near north course lane (same as last year)

Do you have documents to shred? Bring your items to be shredded on the date, time and place noted above. There will be no charge for this service as this is being sponsored by the Community Association as a courtesy to its members. You will need to bring your current CA membership card with you as identification. We do ask that you bring your documents in either paper bags or boxes, no plastic bags.

Veterans Photo Project

April 20, 2024

The next photo shoot for the Veterans Wall of Honor Project as shown in the Atrium will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 10 to noon in the Photo Lab located in the multipurpose building at the corner of North Course Lane and N. Pebble Beach Blvd. This is available for all Community Association members who served honorably in any branch of the U.S. Military. Please call the CA office (813-633-3500) to register, along with your CA membership number, by 10 a.m. on Friday, April 19, and you will be assigned a specific time.

The Capital Fund does not have enough money to currently fund both Phase 1A and 1B. The Board is being financially prudent and will recommend building Phase 1B when sufficient funds are available. The Capital Fund receives $3,000 from buyers for each home sale and is not funded by membership dues. The Capital Fund had a balance of $5,656,000 as of 2/29/24. The Phase 1A project is estimated to take 18-months after contract signing including permitting and construction. Between 2/29/24 and 12/31/25, the Capital Fund is projected to grow by another $2,500,000 to have a total of $8,156,000 available to fund Phase 1A, other Capital Projects, and a balance to apply towards Phase 1B.

I hope you were able to attend our March 27 Membership meeting and saw the presentation on this

subject. We have to build the Applied Arts Building (Phase 1A) first, so that we have a club room ready for Weavers and Billiards who will be displaced by Phase 1B. (Ceramics, Stained Glass, and Pottery will also be relocated to the Applied Arts Building. Please see above). Once Phase 1A is complete, we can move on to Phase 1B and build our new pool and restaurant/bar. It is very exciting to take this first step to start building the Central Campus Upgrade project. We hope you will join the LRPC and the Board and vote YES. Besides enjoying these new facilities, we need to keep our campus modern and attractive to maintain the value of our homes. We are financially strong with a sound plan to improve our central campus. We have a lot to be thankful for. As always, let us all be respectful, positive, kind, and have fun in our senior years.

Table Tennis Tournament

By Mike Lee

The SCC Table Tennis Club recently held a tournament for its members. The tournament was played in a doubles format, with all players playing a game with each of the other players that entered.

Joe Petrick finished first, while close behind were Lauren Ning in second and Laura Day in third. After the competition, club members got together for a pizza lunch and some social time together.

The Table Tennis Club is very active, with regular play in Room 5 at the South Campus Community

Hall from 8 a.m. until noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Members also play from 6 p.m. until 8 on Tuesday evenings and 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday mornings. Players of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced players, regularly play. Beginners will be assisted in learning the game and developing skills. Anyone interested in participating in this fast paced sport are encouraged to stop by to get more information.

1A AND ASSOCIATED SITE WORK

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024, SANDPIPER ROOM, 8 AM TO 3 PM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2024, COMMUNITY HALL, 9 AM TO 5 PM

CA Membership Card or Photo ID required to vote. Absentee Ballots are available in this issue of The News and in the CA office

If you are not presently in Sun City Center, you can request via email to “secretary@suncitycenter.org” that an absentee ballot be mailed to you. Ballots will not be sent via email nor can they be returned via email. Absentee ballots must be either on a printed newspaper ballot or in an official absentee ballot envelope. No copies will be accepted.

Phase

Residents to Vote on Phase 1 in April

By Bob Sanchez

The Sun City Center Board of Directors held a brief monthly meeting in the Rollins Theater on March 13 and approved the following mission statement and vision statement for the SCC CA:

Mission statement

The mission of the Sun City Center Community Association is to serve the residents of our 55+ adult community by promoting recreational, cultural and educational activities and operating in lieu of a municipal government through the maximum use of volunteer services.

Vision statement

Our vision is to make the Sun City Center Community Association the most affordable and desirable community that offers all the amenities needed for our 55+ adult residents to enjoy a healthy and socially active lifestyle that encourages the spirit of volunteerism.

The Board also approved three hardship waivers for 2024 SCC CA dues, as well as replacing light fixtures for Tennis Courts #3 and #4.

Corporate Secretary Debbie Caneen acknowledged a $2,000 donation from Aquasizers. President Ron Clark said that Pi Architects will give a presentation at the March 27 general membership meeting. Community Association residents will be able to vote on whether to approve the Phase 1 proposal on April 16 and 17.

Treasurer Roger Zieg reported the following numbers:

Operations Fund: $3,938,817

Capital Fund: $5,656,058

Morse Endowment: $988,673

Replacement Fund: $1,686,982

Renovations Fund: $43,461

There were 33 home transfers in February.

Community Manager Lyn Reitz said that the next shredding day is Friday, April 12 in the parking lot adjacent to North Course Lane. If you are walking around the campus, please don’t cross into any areas surrounded by yellow tape. That’s for your own safety. The current resident count is 11,609, with 11,659 paid.

LRPC The Process Begins!

By Debbie Caneen, CA Director

We’ve come a long way since 2022! Future progress is in the hands of our members!

Our renovation journey began with input from members who participated in a number of surveys and focus groups. From that input, it was evident that we needed to create a path for another social gathering space, (dining/ bar venue) resort style pool and to reimagine Rollins.

Bringing our campus into the 21st century would take some juggling of used spaces to keep member disruption to a minimum and to cut costs along the way. With cost savings at the forefront, every move has been one to keep our membership dues low and to make the most of our Capital Fund.

Membership dues ($333 annually) pays for Operations such as the cost of electricity, paid staff, and insurance, while the $3,000 fee received from every home sale goes into our Capital Fund which pays for new projects such as our future campus renovation.

In order to get a new resort style pool and updated Rollins, we must first relocate clubs in the Rollins footprint. Step one of building the new Applied Arts Building accomplishes just that and creates the opportunity for more efficient operating costs with energy reduction by relocating clubs with high energy usage into a more efficient space. Once they are relocated, we are free to move forward with phase 1B (again, with member approval) which is the pool, dining, and bar.

Great care has been taken to work with

the architects in order to provide for our desires that were expressed during focus groups.

With a pay as you go approach, we will remain debt free and ensure our campus will be one for all 11,000+ members to enjoy. Our annual income from the Capital Fund (from an average of 35 home sales per month) is strong at $1,260,000 per year. As we build, our Capital Fund gets replenished, allowing us to move to the next step.

Our Long-Range Planning Committee has worked diligently, and we are grateful for the many members who provided thoughtful insight during this process.

The only way to move forward is for a favorable vote by our members so we can get shovels in the ground. With an exceptional team in place to watch over the process, there has never been a better time to execute this renovation.

I’m looking forward to meeting my neighbors in our soon to be updated campus.

I encourage you to vote yes as I will be!

Double the Fun Ice Cream Social

By Shawna Wainwright

What better way to celebrate spring than with a first annual Ice Cream Social on Friday, April 5, from 2 to 4 p.m.? The Security Patrol of Sun City Center and Par for the Chorus Men’s Quartet are sponsoring a dual fundraiser located at the SCC Atrium Florida Room. Enjoy ‘make your own’ sundaes while you listen to the Men’s Quartet perform and partake in raffles. Ice cream is being sponsored by CC’s Grill and Jack’s Shack. You can purchase tickets for $15 each which includes five opportunity coupons, Stop by the Security Patrol office at 1225 North Pebble Beach, Monday thru Friday, 9 to 3 p.m. For more information call Yvonne at 813-642-2020.

Sun City Center Travel Club

By Paula Lickfeldt

The SCC Travel Club has been in existence for 50 plus years. The office is located in the Community Hall building on the south campus. It is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. until noon and on Tuesday and Thursday from 1 until 3:00 p.m. All SCC residents, KP residents, Aston Gardens residents and Freedom Plaza residents are welcome to join. Membership dues are $15 per person per year. In the year 2023, there were 1754 members in the club.

Trips are arranged by the planner, JoAnne Diasparra. There is a continual flow of new trips. Four times a year a newsletter listing upcoming trips is mailed to all members with a Sun City Center address. The newsletter is not mailed to snowbirds when they are away. On Sunday an email blast is sent to every member telling of new trips, trips about to be closed and any trips that had to be canceled. The Travel Club goes to festivals, craft shows, the Florida Orchestra Pops Concerts, shopping trips, casinos, riverboat cruises, restaurants and many theaters.

The Sun City Center Travel Club goes to the Straz in Tampa, Van Wezel in Sarasota, the Suncoast Broadway Dinner Theatre in Hudson, Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, the Broadway Palms Dinner Theater in Ft. Meyers and many other theaters within the Tampa Bay Area. Last year the club started having overnight trips, and two are

scheduled for 2024. Most of the bus trips leave from the Community Hall but on occasion they leave from the North Campus by the Security Patrol Building.

The club is run by volunteers. Each shift has at least two volunteers on the desk that work a minimum of two shifts a month. Each shift is the two hours that the office is open plus one half hour before the office opens and one half hour after it closes. The club has a board of 10 members and a volunteer list of around 30. All volunteers go through a training period before working in the office. Every trip has an escort on the bus. The Travel Club is present at “Hi, Neighbor,” FunFest, and has been in the golf cart parade.

For further information about the club, you can find either Barbara Lewis, president or Kathie Garrand, secretary of the club at the office during the hours that it is open.

FunFest Photo, Fan Favorite

By Barbara Klimczak, SCC Photo Club

On March 9, during the annual FunFest, the SCC Photo Club displayed some of their work and asked the public to vote on their favorites. It was a hard decision, as there was such a great variety of photos. But the winner was Joe Scalfani with a gorgeous sunset photo. Second place went to Kathy Griffin with a lovely Iris photo, and Joe took third place with a fierce looking Sandhill Crane photo. Congratulations to the winners.

Photo of Applied Arts

SCC Softball Matchup

By Mike Lee

The SCC Men’s Softball team avenged a previous 11-3 loss to the Women’s Softball team, with a 6-4 victory at Don Senk Memorial Field recently. The game was a hard-fought battle in front of a very large crowd at the diamond.

In addition to the game, the crowd enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs at the field. A 50/50 was also held, and earned funds for the clubs. Another game is planned soon to determine the overall champs. The date and time had not been determined as of press time, but will be publicized in the community.

By Mike Lee

The Six Rivers Band took local residents on a journey through the history of rock and roll at the final Music on the Green concert for the winter season. The fundraiser, which raised more than $450 for the Emergency Squad, bought out the dancers. The band started with “Rock Around The Clock”, which was recorded by Bill Haley and His Comets in 1953, and is generally credited with being the song that ushered in the rock and roll era. In fact, at the time, disc jockey Alan Freed coined the term rock and roll while working at radio station WJW in Cleveland.

The band then took everyone on an

entertaining year to year history, from the mid 50’s through the 70’s.

The Music on the Green series, featuring local musicians, will be returning in the fall of 2024, with concerts at the SCC Gazebo.

SCC Audubon Club Features Details Of The Florida Wildlife Corridor

By John Perian

Only twelve states have created “wildlife corridors,” to allow a safe and unimpeded pathway for wild animals to use as they patrol their territories. Florida is only one of two states east of the Mississippi River that have adopted these wildlife thoroughfares, when the legislature enacted the Wildlife Corridor Act of 2021. The other state is Virginia.

As a result of that political foresight, more than 130 endangered animals and 69 imperiled plant species now have a second chance of surviving the onslaught of human development. Nearly 18 million acres of wilderness areas between the Florida Panhandle and the Everglades have been set aside for the state’s threatened panthers, black bears, otters, American alligators and crocodiles, sea turtles, birds and the

Florida manatee.

The Sun City Center Audubon Club will host the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation Director of Strategic Communications, Marly Fuller, at its Saturday, April 6, meeting in the Florida Room at the North Campus’s Atrium Building off of North Pebble Beach Boulevard. She will discuss what the Wildlife Corridor is, where it is and why it is so important to the state’s wildlife,

as well as its resident population of Floridians.

Fuller said that there are 10 million acres of public lands or easements that are listed as permanent conservation areas. However, she added, there are at least an additional 8 million acres of wilderness areas in Florida that still need protection.

Photos courtesy Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation

FunFest

Monday Movies Rollins Theater

Second and Fourth Monday, 1 p.m.

Movies are normally shown on the second (2nd) and fourth (4th) Monday of each month in the Rollins Theatre at 1p.m. Movie attendees must present a current SCCCA ID Badge, a SCCCA Guest Card or a Kings Point Usage Card to attend. Dates and time may be changed if necessary. Theater capacity is limited to 145 attendees per the Hillsborough County Fire Code.

April 8 – Retro Movie Monday

Field of Dreams 1 hour, 46 minutes

When Iowa farmer Ray hears a mysterious voice in his cornfield saying “If you build it, he will come,” he feels the need to act. Despite taunts of lunacy, Ray builds a baseball diamond on his land, supported by his wife, Annie. Afterward, the ghosts of great players emerge from the crops to play ball, led by “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. But, as Ray learns, this field of dreams is about much more than bringing former baseball greats out to play.

Starring: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster

Genre: Sports, Fantasy

Rating: PG

April 22 • Holdovers 2 hours, 14 minutes

A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them (a damaged, brainy troublemaker) and with the school’s head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam.

Starring: Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Dominic Sessa, Carrie Preston

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Rating: R (language, brief sexual material, some drug use)

Photo by Bob Sanchez

Photo by Bob Sanchez

Jazzmatazz always seem to have lots of fun demonstrating their club.

The model railroad club is always a hit at FunFest.

This hat certainly grabbed attention.

The art club also had artists demonstrating their skills.

Metaphysical Society Presentations

10 to 11:45a.m.

Heritage Room, at 951 N. Course Lane

April 3 • Zahid Hossain presents “Shamanic Astrology”.

April 10 • Robin Trotter brings us “Grief Yoga”

April 17 • Alexander Nemo presents “Aura”

CLUBS

NOTICE: Each community and club in Sun City Center and Kings Point has specific rules about membership and attendance. Unless specifically stated or posted, most venues, meetings and events hosted on the Community Association campus and in Kings Point require attendees to bring their SCC CA or KP ID or come with a resident member. When in doubt, contact the club in question - not the venue or association - prior to arrival. Thanks.

April 24 • Frank Valentin will share “Are you ready to Transcend?”. The mission of the Metaphysical Society is to inspire and empower others. For more information call: Nancy, Membership Director at 813-541-1945. Members’ Zoom link is available by email at: “metaphysicalsociety@gmail.com”.

New England Club Farewell Snowbirds Fun

Thursday, May 2, doors will open at 4:30 p.m.

SCC Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.

The SCC New England Club will be having its Farewell Snowbirds Event—pizza party, entertainment and door prizes.

Reservations are $10 per person, $15 per couple. RSVP must be received by Saturday, April 27, NO EXCEPTIONS. This is a member only event but anyone with a CA #, Freedom Plaza # or Kings Point Club Usage Card is eligible and welcome to join the New England Club in order to attend all of our functions. Annual club membership dues are $5 per person. Your ticket will be your name tag provided at the door upon your arrival.

Reservation forms with complete details and SCC New England Club membership forms are available on our website at “SCCNEC.net”. Please write separate checks made out to SCC New England Club for membership and dinner reservations. Reservation forms and details can be found on the website at “SCCNEC.NET”. Info: Dave Birkett with any questions at 609-304-9979.

Computer Club Monthly Meeting

Wednesday April 10, at 7 p.m., in the Florida room, Mark Shulman will present “Computers to the Moon” which tells the story of computers aboard early U.S. spacecraft. Mark’s chronicle will give you a glimpse of how the pioneering Apollo Guidance Computer and some ingenious, motivated and dedicated engineers and software developers managed the Apollo moon landings.

Computer Club Classes

The Computer Club Lab is open from 12:30 to 4:30, every day except Sunday. Sign up for classes can be done online. Students must be a member in good standing at Sun City Center or Kings Point. Tuition is payable upon registration. For additional information email: Judy Lee “education@scccomputerclub.org”.

Beginner Class I • Tuesday, April 2, and Thursday, April 4, from 10 to noon (2-day class).

Beginner Class 2 • Tuesday, April 9, from 10 to noon.

Ipad/iPhone for Seniors • Friday, April 5, from 9 to noon. How to buy a Computer • Monday, April 8, from 9 to 11 a.m.

Android Smartphones 1 & 2 • Wednesday, April 17, and Friday, April 19, from 10 to noon.

Beginning Genealogy • Tuesday, April 23, and Thursday, April 25, from 10 to noon.

Smartphone SIG • Wednesday, April 24, from 10 to noon.

Art Club News

The Art Gallery in the Sun City Center Art Club will be presenting the work of Harv Berman and his watercolor class. The class paintings will be on display in the Art Room April 3 thru the month of April. Please join us for the opening reception April 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Art Room for refreshments, all CA members, club members and their guests are invited to attend.

Fun Fest 2024 Celebration

The Latin Fitness Dance Club members showcased their Latin dance moves at the Sun City Center FunFest on Saturday, March 9. This exciting CA club was formed in 2013 under the instruction of Jan Ulics. The club meets in the Dance Studio in the Atrium near the walking pool every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1-2 p.m. Info: Deb Zieg, 434-409-9470.

SCC Sectional Tournament

The Duplicate Bridge Association of Sun City Center held its annual Sectional Tournament at the Community Hall in Sun City Center March 1 through 3, 2024. Qualified players throughout were welcomed to compete in the intermediate 0-499 masterpoints range and the advanced unlimited masterpoints range games. Friday, Saturday mornings and evenings sessions scheduled paired partnerships. Sunday’s Swiss game was the main attraction of the tournament.

Twenty-five teams competed in the Swiss game, team 12 of Rahn Smith of Riverview, Sharon Horton of Lakeland, Jack Browner of Palm Harbor and David Rogers of Clearwater emerged victorious with 9.63 Silver masterpoints.

Harv Berman was Born in New York City. He obtained an Associate of Arts Degree from the School of Visual Arts, NYC in Illustration and Commercial Art; a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education. His experiences include several years in advertising as an Assistant Art Director; as well as teaching various subjects in middle, high school and college. We are very fortunate to have him as an instructor in our club.

April 15 will be our next Demo. Katie White is a watercolor/meditation artist, something very unique to our craft. Each watercolor or acrylic collection was born from a place where she was seeking tranquility, peace and nature. We hope you will enjoy spending some time with Katie White Artist. Please join us for a truly unique experience. All CA members are invited to attend.

If you would like more information about the Art Club, you can check out our website at www.artclubinscc.org.

SCC Shuffleboard Club

By Mike Lee

The SCC Shuffleboard Club recently held their semi-annual turkey shoot, a fun event where players attempt a variety of trick shots for prizes. The winner was John Karg, followed by Jon Harnden in second place and Bob Hallman in third.

In addition to the competition, members and guests enjoyed lunch in Pineapple Plaza.

The club sponsors events such as this, as well as social events such as an annual dance.

Club play will move to summer hours on April 8, with sign in at 8:30 and play at 8:45 every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Free lessons are offered on Fridays at 8:30 a.m. Play provides a fun social atmosphere for club members. Community Association residents and their guests with daily guest passes are welcome to play when the club isn’t playing.

The club encourages residents to come join the fun! Anyone interested in more information is welcome to stop by the courts during normal club hours.

See What’s Blooming in Leu Gardens

By Bob Sanchez

If you’re looking for something to do in Orlando that doesn’t involve theme parks and mouse ears, you might consider a tranquil visit to Leu Gardens. My family and I went there recently and thoroughly enjoyed the meandering pathways and the seasonal colors. In March – before you get a chance to read this – camellias and

amaryllis take pride of place.

As spring arrives, expect abundant color with the jasmine, magnolias, and jacaranda strutting their stuff. The Rose Garden is cut back for now, but it will put on quite a display beginning in April and continuing through June. Also, there is an impressive outdoor sculpture exhibit of larger-thanlife flying insects and birds that

runs through May 5.

Perhaps you have grands or great-grands visiting and they’ve already done Disney. Show them the peaceful beauty of this 50-acre wonder, or simply go on your own.

General admission is $15 for adults, $10 for ages 4-17, and free for members, children under Gardens continued on page 2.

Strawberry Festival Flavor and Fun Going Strong For More Than 50 Years

By Gezil Andrews

When I found a parking space at the Strawberry Festival 2024 in Plant City, FL, it was at the One Accord Church where I also received a neighborly commercial from a member of the church on what to look for at the festival. Of course, both recommendations included food, so it was perfect!

Every street was packed with different foods and drinks blending in with booths for product sales! If you looked carefully, you could wrap up buying your gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, special events and Christmas! And you could find any kind of food that suits your fancy – special donuts, cookies, specialty coffees, beef, chicken, fish, etc. The food smells blended beautifully in with the strawberry shortcake, offered at about every corner.

The entertainment lineup is like New York City or Vegas only more moderately priced.

Major headlines include the

Oak Ridge Boys Farewell Tour, the Black-Eyed Peas, The Bellamy Brothers and ZZ Top. Some shows were free as part of the general admission such as Bill Haley Jr. & Haley & The Comets. The music soared, rumbled, and roared over the festival so whether you had a seat at a concert, you shared in the words and music!

What about contests? There are numerous livestock contests – including steers, sheep, poultry, and rabbit competitions. Food enters back into the competitive picture in Amish donut eating, spaghetti eating, corndog eating, and a strawberry ICEE throw down.

It’s just not easy to get

four pounds of shortcake, strawberries, and whipped cream down in under 10 minutes and keep it down! The person who finished the shortcake in record time gave up some of the shortcake to the garbage tin, passing the prize to another contestant!

Hillsborough County shines brightly in bringing the festival to the area. There are over 288 farms in Hillsborough County that produce fruit and vegetables with an annual volume of over $360 million, recognizing the county as one of the largest agricultural counties in the nation. Hillsborough County is considered an amazing leading

model with a deep agricultural legacy. And the ranking doesn’t stop there. The Strawberry Festival is one of the 40 Top Fairs in North America and one of the best festivals in the nation. The festival was founded in 1948, interrupted by World War II for six years and continuing its history going on 51 years!

The strawberry shortcake in the shortcake contest weighed in at four pounds of shortcake, strawberries, and whipped cream. There were numerous shortcake venues within the festival to whet the whistle of almost 500,000 annual visitors to the festival. In fact, people Strawberry continued on page 14.

The Editor’s Corner

Expanding Vistas

By E. Adam Porter Editor, News of SCC & South County

Tucked away in one of my faded and dog-eared Garfield comic compilation books is a panel in which the tubby orange tabby pats his tummy and says, “The holidays are finally over, and the ol’ waistline has explored new vistas…”

I had a similar realization recently, though the context was reversed. A holiday was on the horizon, and my bride was planning outfits for our annual family photos. I had been dispatched to the closet to find an outfit that would pass muster.

Like most guys, I have a handful of shirts and pants from previous holiday photo ops, many of them purchased in a previous decade. Dutifully, if not entirely enthusiastically, I tried each of the possible items on. Some fit pretty well. And there were a few that had been cut for a man who had enjoyed fewer Thanksgivings. I patted my stomach like the eponymous cat in the opening paragraph, and sighed. Standing in the closet, I promised my stomach we’d be seeing less of him this year. Maybe healthier snacks and a few more walks might push that

Gardens continued from page 1. 4, and active-duty military. We happened to get lucky, arriving on March 4, one of four free days this year. The others are April 1, May 6, and June 3. We needed a wheelchair, and we

particular vista back in time.

That got me thinking about growth in general, because life stretches us in all kinds of ways. Most of us start out “growing like weeds”—straight up—and somewhere along the way we start spreading out like puddles on the sidewalk. We grow in other ways as well: wisdom (hopefully), perspective (thankfully), and experience… though this last one tends to happen whether we want it or not.

In many ways, change is the most predictable aspect of life. Some change feels good, feels right, and we welcome it with open arms. A lot of change, though, feels intrusive, invasive… unwelcome. We try to fight back, to buy time, to push against the shifting sands of time and tide… even though we know Geof Chaucer was right: Neither will wait for us. Change happens…

We stay away from politics here in the pages of The News of SCC, but we all know this is an election year. And, here in Sun City Center, we’ve been doing a whole lot of voting lately. In fact, there’s another ballot in this issue—a very important one for the future of this community. Change is coming, and the members of the SCCCA have an opportunity to help shape that future. I hope every member takes advantage of that opportunity.

We all have similar opportunities to cast a vote about our own personal futures. Will we pat our stomachs and make peace with new pants? Will we eat fewer cookies and take more walks? Maybe both?

Either option will stretch us, and we may find that the idea or the

borrowed one for free.

For more information including what’s in bloom and when, visit their website: “https://www. leugardens.org/”.

process or the expectations feel a little off when we try them on. That’s okay. Doesn’t mean those changes are wrong—or that we are. Only that, sometimes, new opportunities fit better when we consider adjusting our perspectives. Or, as many people—from Napoleon Hill to Patricia Ryan to Rick Steves— have said: “If it’s not to your liking… change your liking.”

That’s not a hard and fast rule. Some things are nonnegotiable. But the temptation to have a much longer list of non-negotiables than we should have, is very, very strong. The truth is, we have more opportunities—and a whole lot more joy—when we take ourselves a bit less seriously. Because, when it comes to finding the fun in life, to learning or experiencing something worthwhile outside our comfort

zone, often the only thing standing in our way is… us Life is going to happen. And with life, change. It happens around us, and it happens to us. Sometimes change happens slowly, over the lifetime of a holiday outfit we bought years ago. Sometimes it happens fast. One feeling, one thought, one conversation, and life As We Know It is gone. We wake up to find Life As It Is Now is sleeping on our couch, and they plan to stay a while.

We all face “new normals” in life: Health issues, financial realities, time constraints, and… more often than we’d like, tighter pants. How we respond depends on how elastic our thinking is. How ready and willing we are to roll with all the expanding vistas in our lives. Because minds, like pants, sometimes need to stretch.

of SCC & South County

Submission Deadline: 15th of the month prior to publication.

ADVERTISING: Neither NOKPmedia, nor its representatives or publications are liable for errors in advertising. THE NEWS does not endorse and cannot verify the accuracy of claims or representations made by advertisers who are solely responsible for advertisement contents.

SUBMISSIONS: THE NEWS is proud to be the ONLY print media publication distributed to EVERY home and business in Greater Sun City Center, as well as several nearby communities in South Hillsborough County. We are dedicated to providing you a local paper with a “hometown” feel. Submissions we accept include: community events or business news, club or group announcements, stories and poems, as well as your favorite joke, song, photo, artwork, or travel story.

NOKP Media (Publisher) reserves the right to edit or otherwise refuse all submissions. Neither the publisher nor the editor assume any responsibility for the return of submitted items. Mailed submissions can ONLY be returned if a correctly sized SASE is included with the submission.

Basic paragraph format required for all submissions. Submissions including ALL CAPS, multiple colors, and other ‘flyer-type’ formatting will not be considered for publication.

Email submissions are preferred. Submit stories and photos to “editor@soco. news”. Place the content in the body of the email and attach pictures in .jpeg or .png format. Submissions may be submitted via the SUBMISSIONS link at www. soco.news

Mailed submissions should be sent to:

The News of Sun City Center & South County C/O NOKPmedia

PO Box 6212

Sun City Center, FL 33573-6212.

LETTERS: The News of Sun City Center & South County will not publish any political, proselytizing, or complaint letters. We will consider “thank you” notes for good service directed toward local people, organizations, or businesses.

DECLARATION: No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written consent of NOKPmedia. All editorial copy is strictly the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of this publication, its officers or employees, or the Sun City Center Community Association.

John

E. Adam Porter Editor in Chief 813.938.7441 editor@soco.news

Kai Rambow Reporter krambow@soco.news

Paula Lickfeldt Reporter plickfeldt@soco.news

Ilona Merritt Reporter imerritt@soco.news

Mike Lee Reporter mlee@soco.news

Judy Cesarski and Ron Clark. (CA President).

Whether you are traveling to your local farmer’s market or your favorite restaurant, accidents can occur at any time.

ER at Sun City Center, an extension of Manatee Memorial Hospital, is a full-service emergency department that provides care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

We are located at 16504 S. U.S. 301 in Wimauma, adjacent to Walmart®.

ER at Sun City Center features:

• Full-service laboratory and imaging services (X-ray, CT and ultrasound) (A physician order is required.)

• Care for all ages

• Access 24/7

• On-site physician 24/7

• Ten treatment areas, including seven exam rooms and three rapid medical exam spaces

• 10,884 square feet

South Shore SAR to Host Luncheon

Saturday, April 13, at 11:30 a.m.

The Plaza Club, 3932 Upper Creek Drive,

The South Shore Chapter Sons of the American Revolution will host a luncheon. All members, spouses, and guests are welcome to attend. For reservations, contact William Simms at “wmsimms1@ gmail.com” or call (309) 826-6554 text or leave a message.

The South Shore Chapter sponsored Jaxon Munroe in the Florida Society SAR George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest. Jaxon will receive his certificate of recognition and read his award winning essay, “The Scotsmen, an American Tale: The War for Freedom Begins.” Jaxon is homeschooled, active in 4-H Club and church youth band leadership. He is interested in pursuing a career as a Country Music and Christian artist.

The South Shore Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution (www.sssar.org) -- a patriotic organization of descendants of Revolutionary War Patriots -- welcomes visitors from southeastern Hillsborough and northern Manatee counties.

Caloosa Casual Party Club

The monthly Casual Party Club at Caloosa Golf and Country Club hosted an Irish dinner and dance evening. There were 15 tables of 8, including singles and couples, enjoying the evening from 5:30-8:30. Pictured are hosts for the evening Jerry and Roxie Gottsacker welcoming William Butler and Jacqueline Rice. (Photo

Eagle Audubon Society

April 15, doors open at 1 p.m.

St. Andrew Presbyterian, W. Del Webb

Ashley Waite of The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature will discuss some of Florida’s eco-engineers, plants and animals that impact their ecosystem and why our landscape wouldn’t be the same without them. All our meetings are free and open to all.

AAUW Explores Swedish Cleaning

The April 13 meeting of AAUW (American Association of University Women) is very interestingly titled “The Swedish Death Cleaning Process and Freedom of Time and Aggravation!”

What Is Swedish Death Cleaning? Swedish Death Cleaning is the brainchild of author Margareta Magnussen, who coined the term in her 2017 book “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter.” Magnussen asks her readers to consider the loved ones who must comb through your possessions after you’ve died, providing suggestions for making their experience as easy as possible.

Join our local Sun City Center AAUW branch as we explore these concepts with humor and serious intent. It is a life changing opportunity.

Community members are invited to hear about this current and interesting topic. Call Margie at 813-633-8253 for reservations. Like most monthly AAUW meetings it is the second Saturday of the month and takes place in the Florida Room on Sun City Center North Campus. The social and breakfast food part of the meeting is at 9:30 a.m. with the speaker at 10 a.m. Contact Gezil Andrews, Program Chair at 309-660-1091 or “gcw3934@yahoo.com” with questions.

Rotary Club Collects Food for Needy

SCC Rotary Club Wins International Awards

Mark Scolnick, District Rotary Foundation, presented the SCC Rotary Club with two awards for annual contributions to Rotary International. These awards recognize personal donations made by every member of the club to support the worldwide charitable efforts of Rotary. Shown are Doug Roderick, SCC Rotary Foundation representative, and Bill Cox, SCC club President. Rotary has clubs in over 200 countries around the world. Mark pointed out that only about 4,000 of the 64,000 worldwide clubs qualify for these awards. Info: Connie at 813-957-6482.

By Bob Monahan

Ann Hammond, Sun City Center Rotary Club member, spearheaded a food drive that featured only two items, peanut butter and cereal. The drive ended March 1, successfully collecting 285 boxes of cereal and the same amount of peanut butter jars.

When I asked Ann why these items only she said that peanut butter and cereal do not need refrigeration and contain sustainable nutrition.

The food items were distributed to benefit ECHO of Brandon (Emergency Care Help Organization). Residents of Riverview, Wimauma, Ruskin and Sun City Center were the beneficiaries. Clothes are also accepted as their Riverview resale store with monies going to help support emergency needs of impoverished families. The SCC Line Dance Club, Kings Point Sportsman Club, and the Rotary Club were major contributors to the food drive.

The Rotary Club meets at the Freedom Plaza Golf Club on Tuesdays from 11:30 to 1 p.m. for lunch and an informational meeting. Call 813-957-6482 for more information.

Community continued on page 5.

Coastal Eye Institute is pleased to welcome Dr.

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credit by Nancy Williams)

Community continued from page 4.

Charity Garage Sale for SCC Security Patrol

Saturday, April 13, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event is being sponsored and organized by Sun City Center Singles Group and will be held at the Security Patrol building at 1225 N. Pebble Beach in Sun City Center. Please park in the parking lot off N. Pebble Beach near the building. All types of gently used and some new items will be available. For any questions, contact Daryl at 773-771-4049.

South Bay Genealogical Society

Tuesday, April 16, at 10:30 a.m.

UMC of SCC, 1971 Haverford Ave.

Round Table Discussion, followed by a luncheon at noon. Following lunch, about 1 p.m., our guest speaker, Debbie Smyth will present “Befuddled by the Records.” The cost is $18 per person for the meal and presentation. For reservations and meal choice, call Vicki at 360-608-1647. Make your check payable to SBGS, and mail to South Bay Genealogical Society, PO Box 5202, Sun City Center, FL 33571. Your check must be received in our PO Box by April 4. Late reservations cannot be accepted.

CEO of TPA Speaks To SCC Men’s Club

By Jay Sparkman

Joe Lopano, Chief

Executive Officer of Tampa International Airport, was guest speaker at the February membership luncheon meeting of the Sun City Center Men’s Club. Mr. Lopano spoke of his history in the airline industry and more specifically his time as CEO of TPA. Appointed as CEO in 2011, Mr. Lopano traced the growth of TPA during his tenure and the projected growth in the future years.

The SCC Men’s Club does many things for the Sun City Center community such as Lifeline Services, Meals on Wheels, health support groups, seminars on health and security, donations to support organizations and is open to residents of Sun City Center and Kings Point. For more info about becoming a member please call Bruce Fraser, VP of Membership, at 813-4194013.

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including for any medical emergency.

Failure to use the Glucose Monitoring System and its components according to the instructions for use provided with your device and to properly consider all indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and cautions in those instructions for use may result in you missing a severe hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) or hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) occurrence and/or making a treatment decision that may result in injury. If readings do not match symptoms or expectations, use a fingerstick value from a blood glucose meter for treatment decisions. Seek medical attention when appropriate or contact Abbott at 855632-8658 or FreeStyleLibre.us for safety info.

Kindred

April 3,

April Meeting

Kings Point Banquet Room

It’s a baby shower and you are invited! Creating Abundant Life is a non profit dedicated to providing a safe haven where they walk alongside young pregnant women. Of course, we will play baby shower games! Recommended gifts are: diapers (sizes newborn 3, 4), wipes, toys, clothes (size newborn to one year), blankets, hats, socks, strollers, hand-held breast pumps. Info: Michelle Mason 813492-8920.

Jazzmatazz Performs for 2024 Follies

The Jazzmatazz Dance Club participated in the 2024 Vesta Follies at the King’s Point Veterans Theater on March 15 and 16. The Club performed a dance to the song, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” sung and popularized by Julie Andrews in the critically acclaimed 1967 musical of the same name. The dance was choreographed by Diane LeFrancois. Jazzmatazz members enjoy learning and performing jazz dance routines to support organizations and events that raise and donate funds to help meet community needs. For those interested in this type of activity, the Club offers a one-hour Beginner’s Class, which includes musical theater dance. Please contact Jazzmatazz President Connie Ray at (859) 494-5337 to inquire about a Jazzmatazz performance for your organization or event, or to inquire about registering for the Beginner’s Class (class open only to those with an SCC Card, Freedom Plaza ID, or KP Club Usage Card).

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you lived alone and there was an emergency? Or do you like to take your dog for a walk but are concerned about falling and no one being there to assist you? For Greater SCC residents who think they need a medical alert button and don't believe they can afford it, the Men's Club of Sun City Center would like for you to contact our office.

Because the Men's Club is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit club, we offer the Lifeline Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) at a more competitive rate than what Lifeline charges at the national level. Our pricing is comparable to other systems in the market as well – just compare systems with similar capabilities. Installation and all service calls are completed by Men's Club volunteers at no charge to the Subscriber.

The Men's Club was formed in the early 1960's. In 1991, the Men's Club decided to offer the Lifeline Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) to residents of Sun City Center and Kings Point with no annual contract.

The PERS offering began with the purchase of four units with installation provided by Men's Club volunteers. This offering continues today with multiple systems from which to choose - including one that will work anywhere in the U.S., a dedicated office staff, and over 25 trained Men's Club volunteers who provide personable and knowledgeable service for our Subscribers. Get prompt caring assistance at the push of a button, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

L to R: Ed Barnes, VP Programs, SCC Men’s Club; Joe Lopano, CEO of Tampa International Airport.

PERFORMINGARTS

NOTICE: Each community and club in Sun City Center and Kings Point has specific rules about membership and attendance. Unless specifically stated or posted, most venues, meetings and events hosted on the Community Association campus and in Kings Point require attendees to bring their SCC CA or KP ID or come with a resident member. When in doubt, contact the club in question - not the venue or association - prior to arrival. Thanks.

East Bay High Masterworks Concert

Tuesday April 9, at 7 p.m.

UMC of SCC, 1971 Haverford Ave.

The East Bay High School Choral Department presents its 10th Annual Masterworks Concert under the direction of Brian NeSmith. Mr. NeSmith is in his 25th year of directing the choirs at East Bay. This concert provides high school students the chance to perform with a professional chamber orchestra and brings classical music into our community, both rare occurrences. Hear Josef Rheinberger, Joseph Haydn, and Vivaldi.

Tickets are $15 Advance $20 at the door and are available at the Pages of Life Book Store Sun 9:30-12:30 and M-Th-10:00-2:00, Church Office M-Th 8:30-4:00 and online at www.sccumc.com/events.

Music Takes Flight With South Shore Concert Band

The 44-member band program includes famous Disney, Broadway, and patriotic music. Enjoy 10 different song collections. We will also have the Silver Moon Barbershop Quartet join us for a singalong. The concert is open to the public and a free will offering will be taken. Two local performances to choose from:

Monday, April 1, at 7 p.m.

Redeemer Lutheran, 701 Valley Forge Blvd.

Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m.

St. Andrew Presbyterian, 1239 W Del Webb Blvd.

Ballet Tap Club Performs

The Sun City Center Ballet/Tap Club performed at the annual FunFest on March 9. Pictured are dance instructor Cindy Rohr in the front row center. For more information about the club contact Cindy at 630-235-1277. (Photo by Nancy Williams)

As we wrapped up the SCCCA Entertainment Series this past March, we would like to thank you for all the support you showed, you made it a great successful season! We had a variety of performers from music to magic and comedy, and we look forward to bringing you great entertainment in the new 2024–2025 season that runs from November through March. Stay tuned for next year’s exciting schedule of shows that will be released over the summer.

Bandstand News and Pool Parties

Every Summer the CA hosts monthly Summer Bandstand Concerts at the Gazebo, 935 Cherry Hills Drive. Bandstand Concerts are a free event for SCCCA members, and guest passes can be purchased at the SCCCA office at 1009 North Pebble Beach Blvd., from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. More Information to come soon regarding these concerts. Keep a look out for announcements for upcoming pool parties this summer as well. Questions? Contact Judy Cesarski at 813-643-2001or “activities@suncitycenter.org”.

DANCING

Senior Social Dance

Thursday, April 4, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

St. John Divine, 1015 Del Webb East. Admission: $6 at the door. All are welcome. Come and enjoy music of the 50s & 60s with all types of dances featuring entertainer Thor Stevens and his keyboard & sax. Dressy/ casual attire, no shorts or jeans. BYOB, ice, set-ups and snacks/ munchies, nothing furnished. For more info call or text Judy Furman, 813-606-1233 or email “”judyannfurman@gmail.com”.

Kings Point Dance Club Presents

Black and White Dance

Wednesday, April 10, doors open 6:30 p.m.

Kings Point Veterans Theater 1900 Clubhouse Drive

Dancing from 7 to 9 p.m. Ballroom music by Dan Fugazzotto. All Kings Point, SCC, and guests are welcome. Dressy casual. BYOB. Members free, guests $5. Info: Eileen 813-296-4038.

Do You Wanna Dance Club

Saturday, April 6, at 6:30 p.m.

SCC Community Hall, S. Pebble Beach Firefly will provide the entertainment with their classic rock sounds. You can purchase the tickets at the Atrium Kiosk on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, April 1, 3, and 5, from 10am-12n. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the dance from 6:30 to 7:15. The cost is $5 for members/$10 for non-members. April 27, at 6:30 p.m.

SCC Community Hall, S. Pebble Beach Fulcos will provide the entertainment with their classic rock sounds. You can purchase the tickets at the Atrium Kiosk on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, April 22, 24, and 26, from 10am-12n. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the dance from 6:30 to 7:15. The cost is $5 for members/$10 for non-members.

Dances open to all SCCCA, Freedom Plaza card, Kings Point Club Usage Card, and SCCA Guest pass holders. Info: “jfkfunnsun@ yahoo.com” or “bgocek1@gmail.com”.

Come Dance With Us

April 13, doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Kings Point North Clubhouse

Performers: LB and Chloe. BYOB. Cost $5 at the door. Info: Ken at 513-582-8449 or Rosemary at 513-258-8238.

Dancing continued on page 8.

Dancing continued on page 7.

Hello Spring, Goodbye Snowbirds Dance

Saturday, April 13, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

SCC Community Hall, 1901 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.

Open to the public. Benefiting the Sun City Center Emergency Squad. Bring your friends and enjoy a free dance lesson by Cindy & Wayne Rohr of the Swing & Country Dance Club. Perhaps win a live plant as a door prize! Popular DJ couple Mike & Peg will play your favorite dance music. Club members free, guests $6. Come in a colorful spring outfit. BYOB. Info: Sue Hicks at 813-633-6682.

Come Dance With Us

Saturday April 13, Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Kings Point North Clubhouse Theater

Dancing from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Music by LB and Chloe with all genres of music. Cost $5. BYOB with water and ice provided. All are welcome. Info: Ken at 513-582-8449 or Rosemary at 513-258-8238.

Let’s Dance Ballroom Dance

Saturday, April 20, from 7 to 9 p.m.

SCC Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.

Live music by Daniel Fugozzatto. Casual dress but no shorts. BYOB and snacks. All are welcome. Club members are free; everyone else is $6. Info: Peter Steitz at 608-609-0309.

Moonglow Dance

April 25, dance from 7 to 9 p.m.

SCC Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.

Free dance lesson at 6:15 p.m. Country western theme night. Public welcome. Music presented by Cindy and Wayne Rohr. Members free, guests $6 at the door. Info: Sharon 918-845-7747.

Dance Lessons

Mondays: April 1, 8,15, 22

St. John the Divine Parish Hall 1015 East Del Webb Blvd.

4 p.m. – Intermediate/Advanced Rumba

Swing & Country Dance Club

Fridays in April

Free dance lessons for SCCCA members, Freedom Plaza residents, and Kings Point members with a Club Usage Card.

6 to 6:30 p.m. Beginner West Coast Swing

6:30 to 7 p.m. Intermediate West Coast Swing

The lessons will be held in Dance Studio 1. The studio is next to the walking pool in the Atrium. For more information contact Cindy Rohr at 630-235-1277.

5 p.m. – Intermediate 3 Nightclub 2 Step

6 p.m. – Intermediate 1 West Coast Swing

7 p.m. – Beginning Rumba

Contact: Bernice DuBro-Clark, 813-482-6784, dancewithbernice@ gmail.com. Cost: $30 for four weeks or $8 per lesson. All are welcome.

south County Events

Provided by Debbie Caneen, Director Admissions, Sun Towers

WED. APR 3, 10, 17, 24THERAPEUTIC TAI CHI FOR HEALTH 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Drive, Sun City Center. Our therapists have advanced training in therapeutic Tai Chi for Seniors and will provide guidance in this healthy exercise. Tai Chi has been proven to increase strength and balance! This class is offered every Wednesday. FYI, for more information, contact Debbie Caneen at 813-8922990.

THU. APR 4, 11, 18, 25BUSINESS REFERRAL MEETINGS

Every Thursday 8:30 – 9:30

a.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. Sun City Center. Partners in Network links professionals together to facilitate referralbased business growth. Our members develop strong longterm working relationships based on trust and proven results. PIN hosts weekly meetings where business professionals throughout the Tampa Bay

area get together, promote their businesses, and provide each other with quality business referrals. Join us! Questions? Call Debbie Caneen 813-892-2990.

THU. APR 4, 11, 18, 25OPTIMAL HEALTH CLASS 10:00

a.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr., SCC. Classes are free and the speaker does not sell anything. She is passionate about sharing knowledge with anyone who wants to live long and be healthy in this journey called life.

THU. APR 4 - CRAFT BEER & WINE CLUB OF SCC “Fermenting Fanatics” 1:30 p.m. Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. SCC. April showers bring images of crisp flavors. This month’s theme is to make it crisp and sharp. If you are interested in craft beer or wine and tasting local offerings, check us out “facebook.com/groups/ craftbeerandwineclub”. Info: Michelle Mason 813-492-8920 or “mmason@seniorsinservice. org”.

FRI. APR 12 - LOW VISION

SUPPORT GROUP 1:00 – 2:00

p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. SCC. This month we are hosting a workshop for Android phone users. Bring your phones and your questions as we explore apps and settings to make your phones more accessible. We are taking sign ups for a September trip to Lighthouse for the Blind. Questions? Contact Michelle Mason 813-492-8920 or “mmason@seniorsinservice. org”.

Choose from 9 floor plans

MON. APR 15 - PARKINSON’S

SUPPORT GROUP 1:30 at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. SCC. Does your Parkinson’s cause you hesitation about traveling? Join Jamie Santillo, MAM, Founder & CEO of Adventures by Jamie who is your top-rated, special needs certified travel agency! Follow along with her journey as a disabled woman traveling the world, one adventure at a time! If you have Parkinson’s, or are caring for someone with this disease, be sure to attend this support group! Questions? Call Debbie Caneen 813-892-2990.

TUE. APR 16 - ESSENTIAL TREMORS (ET) SUPPORT GROUP 2:30 - 3:30 pm. (3rd Tuesday of each month) at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. SCC. Gezil Andrews is the local coordinator for the group. Open to all the community, not just our local group members! Questions: Call Gezil Andrews at 309-660-

1091. Gezil also has a blog for all who deal with Essential Tremors: “Awomanandherstories.com”.

THU. APR 18- FREE BALANCE SCREENING TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF FALLS 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon – Sun Towers Outpatient Therapy Dept, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. SCC. Did you know one in four adults aged 65 and older falls each year? Are you at risk? Our therapists at Sun Towers Retirement Community are on a quest to reduce the risk of falls before they happen. Have your fall risk screened at no cost to you! This simple screening takes less than ten minutes. Call to schedule today, 813-331-3035.

THU. APR 18 - THE WELLNESS SEEKERS 1:30 p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. SCC. Shirley Sullivan, Nutritionist and founder of Southshore Wellness, integrates a holistic approach and love of healthy, simple living. For info, call Debbie Caneen 813-892-2990.

By Paula Lickfeldt

Bud flew transport planes, for the US Air Force, in the Pacific during WWII. Before coming to Florida, he was a pharmacist in New Jersey. He lived in a senior facility in Riverview before he moved to the Courtyards.

Bud’s two sons, David and Allen, were at Bud’s 100th Birthday party, which was at Aston Gardens Courtyards, along with friends and family from all over the U.S. A nephew came from California, friends and other family members came from New Jersey, Florida and Connecticut. His best friend, Richard Kimless, came from Sarasota to help Bud celebrate this milestone. Bud and Richard have been friends since the 1970s. Together with their wives they golfed and traveled.

Bud enjoys life and loves to meet new people. His son says that no one is a stranger to him, everyone is a friend and he always has a story to tell.

Fraud Seminar

By Mike Lee

Residents were advised how to avoid being scammed at a fraud seminar that was sponsored by the Men’s Club of Sun City Center. Seniors are especially vulnerable to being scammed, with losses by seniors totaling $28 billion in 2023, according to Master Deputy Jeff Merry of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

Merry stated that it is 2.2 miles from Publix to Home Depot. “There are 18 banks and investment houses along that 2.2 miles. There is no other accumulation of financial institutions like that in Hillsborough County,” Merry said. “Even downtown Tampa doesn’t have that many in that small of a geographic area. Why?” He went on to say that the seniors in this area have investments, savings, 401K’s and so on. Seniors have money, and they are vulnerable to scammers, making them an attractive target. “They want your hard-earned funds,” according to Merry.

Bob Busch, a volunteer with AARP, and a fraud specialist, asked “What do you think is the

best protection against fraud and scammers?” A variety of answers were provided by those in attendance. He indicated that the best protection is knowledge. “Being educated about fraud helps you be observant and watchful and helps you prevent being a victim of scammers,” he said.

He indicated that some other reasons that seniors are vulnerable are that they are trustworthy as a group, that seniors are polite people, dementia can make seniors easier targets and that seniors are much more likely to answer the phone when it rings. “One of the ways that you prevent being scammed is to not answer your phone.” He also advised, “Don’t open your door.” If you don’t know who is ringing the doorbell, don’t open it. They are not invited guests, and you have no need to answer your door when they call on you.

“If you live in Florida, and you are a senior, you’ve got a bullseye painted on your back,” he said. The areas for fraud most prevalent in Florida are the

Miami area, the I-4 corridor and Jacksonville. Some of the more common scams that impact seniors are imposter scams, lottery scams, and romance scams, he said. With the advent of artificial intelligence, imposter scams are easier for fraudsters to pull off. In today’s world, a voice can be cloned in five seconds. If a grandchild posts videos on social media, their voice can easily be cloned, and you can receive a phone call that appears to be from them. They can say I’m in trouble, or I’m in jail, and I need money now. Hang up, call them back, and that will help you determine if there is actually a problem. Another suggestion would be to create a family password. If they can’t specify the password, it is almost certainly a scam attempt.

Common threats include “calls” from the IRS or the Social Security Administration. Calls could indicate that if you don’t pay back taxes, you can lose your home, or bank accounts could be frozen. Or they can indicate that Social Security benefits are in jeopardy. These agencies only contact people through the

U.S. mail. They do not contact people by telephone or email. If you receive a call like this, hang up! If you receive emails, delete it! If you still have concerns, you can always contact the appropriate agency on your own by researching their correct website, physical address or phone number.

Many scammers will ask for gift cards, not credit card numbers. This is because gift cards are not traceable, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. If someone asks for a gift card for payment, that is an almost certain indicator that a scam attempt is being made.

Romance scams are another common, and very sad, type of scam. These scammers try to attack vulnerable people that might be lonely. If you meet someone online, and they don’t want to meet you in person, be wary. This is especially the case when money is requested, Don’t become a victim! Resources are available on the AARP website, and are also available from the sheriff’s office, which is located near the SCC Lawn Bowling Club.

Saucier Takes Gold

Lee Saucier of Sun City Center took all the gold medals at the Polk County Basketball Shooting Competition in his age division for the Senior Olympics. He won medals for foul shooting, spot shooting and timed spot shooting. Lee is also a member of the 2024 state 3-on-3 championship team and has been invited to play in the national championships in Pennsylvania this Spring.

SCC Lawn Bowling Leads Only Singles

By Garry Higgins

In team play, the lead rolls their bowls first and generally sets the tone for the end. Many consider the lead the most important player on the team and as such, good leads are always in high demand. After a series of singleknockout playdown games, it was Karen Turman defeating CJ Maier in the final playoff match. For more information about the club and the sport of lawn bowling, visit “suncitycenterlbc. com” or drop the club, located behind the library.

SPORTS

LAWN BOWLING • TENNIS • GOLF • SOFTBALL• PICKLEBALL & MORE!

Karen Turman,

winner of the Leads Only Tournament

2024 CWGA-18 Member-Guest Tournament

By Aileen Engel

The Caloosa Women’s Golf Association 18 hole league held their annual CWGA 18 Member Guest Tournament on Wednesday, March 6.

At the SCC Lawn Bowling Club, you are considered a “Junior” if you are aged 70 through 79. After you reach the age of 80 you join the “Senior” ranks. These two Singles Championships were a single knockout format that ran over several days. For the Juniors, it was Cindy Higgins winning against Wayne Christie. On the Senior side, it was Marge Lange over Barry Brown.

Lawn bowling is a sport that men and women of all ages can play together on an equal basis, and lawn bowling helps you stay young. You use your brain, get healthy exercise, stay sociable and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. For more information visit “suncitycenterlbc.com”. They welcome members of the Sun City Center Community Associations.

75 Plus Senior State Champs

The theme was “Red, White & Birdies” and all participants were encouraged to wear patriotic colors. Thanks to the Tournament Committee for a delightful and well run tournament: Judy Walters, Janet Luttrell, Karen Tromblee, Melissa Kohn, and Kim Roush.

3-on-3 Basketball Competition

This motley crew of players of all ages helped the age 60 team win a gold medal at the Polk County Games when star player Mike Lobosco injured his ankle in the first five minutes of play and another player was unable to play due to Covid. Members of the age 65 team were allowed to play with their younger teammates to beat Polk County’s 3-on-3 teams. This team, formerly the SCC Basketball Club, is now the South Shore Basketball Club out of Ruskin. Approximately 45 players of age 50 to 80 play for this club. Contact Bob Monahan at “SCCbasketballbob@yahoo.com” for more information. No one is turned away.

Gary Sutton, Sun City Center; Barry Ponds, Sarasota; Lee Saucier, Sun City Center; Jim Rogers, Ruskin; and Neal Westendforg, Sarasota, are the reigning state Senior 75-plus champions for 2024 and continued their winning ways at the Polk County 3-on3 competition. They represent the South Shore Basketball Club out of the Ruskin Recreation Center. Contact Bob Monahan at “SCCbasketballbob@yahoo.com” for more information.

“Junior” Champion, left, Cindy Higgins and “Senior” Champion Marge Lange

Low Gross winners for each of the 3 flights. L to R: Kim Roush & Jenice Taylor (guest), Carol Jager & Diane Gajor (guest), Jill Wright & Karen Buono (guest).

News of Freedom Plaza

By Peggy Burgess

February may be the shortest month on the calendar, but it was long on fun at Freedom Plaza: even the resident pooches had a party! Their resident owners were, of course, not neglected; they were treated to a variety of festivities appropriate for their species… not a dog biscuit in sight.

The month’s revelry began with a Mardi Gras “fais do do” (Cajun for “shindig”) in the Atrium and though it didn’t last far into the night, as happens in Louisiana, it was well-celebrated. There was music by a jazz trio so hot it prompted dancing by attendees, and taste buds were “blown away” by the tempting tidbits and Hurricane cocktails. Then it was Super Bowl time and football fans gathered in the Sports Bar (formerly the Pub) to watch the game on the 90-inch TV screen. Drinks and snacks were furnished, and a betting pool was set up by some enthusiastic residents. A doorprize drawing at half-time scored extra points to put the party over the goalpost for a win!

February included a bow to Black History Month with an encore performance by “O-TOWN”, a foursome of super entertainers. They recaptured the pleasant memories from their Freedom Plaza visit of last year with the music and mood of the motown era (‘60’s and ‘70’s) that they represent so well. The “O-TOWN” singers enlivened their show, as always, by involving their audience; singing directly to delighted individuals and even inspiring some to join in by demonstrating

Sports continued from page 11.

their “moves” in front of the stage!

The usual St. Valentine’s Day event was “kicked up a notch” this year—literally, up to the Auditorium—with a lavish celebration. There was a live band for dancing or just listening, plus an array of decadently delicious refreshments and specialty drinks. However, the “Dig-Dog” do at Freedom Plaza’s dog park probably outdid it for pure, tail-wagging pleasure. There, pampered pooches, many sporting party attire, led their owners through the gate to enjoy the sunny afternoon watching their furry friends frolic.

In retrospect, everyone, whether two-legged or fourlegged, agreed that February at Freedom Plaza was a doggone good month!

A Historic 3-on-3 Senior Basketball Match Up

By Bob Monahan

Saturday March 2 was the annual Polk County three on three senior basketball tournament in Lakeland.

One of the highlight games was the contest between the 50 year old South Shore Basketball Club and the 55-year-old Geezer Nation. The South Shore Basketball Club is the current State of Florida 50-year-old Champions playing out of Ruskin, Florida. The Geezer Nations 55-year-old team is the current world champions. In December the teams met and the Geezer Nation badly beat the South Shore Club.

Three months later it wasn’t so easy. The South Shore Club retooled its lineup. The team was coached by player/coach Chris Crusey who has high school coaching experience. Within a few minutes the South Shore Club showed improved rebounding, conditioning, and shooting. Up until the last few minutes the South Shore Club led or tied their opponents. In the end, the shots did not fall for the South Shore team, and they ended up losing by three points. With new found respect and confidence the South Shore 50-yearolds feel they can beat the world champs the next time they meet. This game will definitely be worth seeing.

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South Shore Basketball Club (l to r) Dean Walters, Chris Crusey, Rico Garriga, Bob Fulop.

Freedom Plaza resident Nanette Vuolo and friend, Lily, enjoyed the “Dig-Dog” party on St. Valentine’s Day.

TRAVEL

Sun ’n Fun Celebrates 50 Years

By Kai Rambow

The sheer size of this event is overwhelming. Sun ‘n Fun is the world’s second largest aviation event. We’re fortunate that this huge, week-long event is only a one-hour drive away.

Thunderbirds this Year

One of the most exciting air demonstration teams is anchoring the show this year. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be performing their close, high speed maneuvers for us.

Classic Aircraft

Sun ’n Fun is celebrating 50 years and some of the aircraft coming to the show will be older than 50. Two World War II bombers, the B-17 and B-29 are expected to be there. I believe it is the first time both will be at the show at the same time.

Classic fighters from the era will also be there: P-51 Mustang, Vought F4U Corsair, and many others. One of the most exciting teams will be “Tora, Tora, Tora” , a Pearl Harbor reenactment.

A surprise visitor will be a “Connie” or Constellation with its distinctive triple fin. Keep in mind that these older aircraft

sometimes have to be gently guided to the show. En route maintenance issues can delay an aircraft’s arrival. If there is a particular aircraft you’re looking for, ask one of the many volunteers where to find it.

What You May Not Know

Volunteers show up in midJanuary and help each week preparing for the big event. During show week, over 3,000 volunteers help with numerous activities. The volunteer efforts don’t just help put on a show, they contribute to a cause.

Sun’n Fun is a registered charitable event, using funds to help students with a keen interest in aviation. “We’re producing pilots, mechanics and sending kids to college,” shared the former CEO.

Arrive Early

It’s a good idea to arrive early. You won’t be rushed, you’ll be able to park closer and you’ll walk around in cooler temperatures.

While the airshows may be a highlight, the sheer number of things to see and do requires a little planning. When you

arrive, get a schedule and map and take a few minutes to decide what you’d like to check out. It’s also a good idea to confirm some basics. On one of the days last year, the airshow started one hour earlier than listed. Knowing this change ensured I was seated in time for the show. Smartphone users can download the Sun ’n Fun app with real-time updates and other features.

The mix of activities can make for an engaging and fun day. Remember to ask volunteers for help finding locations; they wear buttons asking “How may I help you?”

Nighttime Airshow

Nighttime airshow? How does that work? Taking over a year for most performers to plan, they now perform their routines at night enabling us to see them with lights, lasers and fireworks. The result is enthralling. Note: This special show is on Wednesday and Saturday night.

Tips for a Great Trip

Weather: Good weather is important to clearly see the airshow. Since this event is held

in April, the weather is usually very good—and can be toasty.

What to Wear: Sunscreen, sunglasses and sunhat are essential. The airshow takes several hours in the afternoon. Recommend you take your own lawn chairs or blanket.

Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes since everything is spread over several acres.

Consider taking a portable cooler for drinks and snacks. Several regulars had theirs on wheels and simply towed it behind them. There are plenty of food vendors and prices are pretty reasonable if you prefer to eat at the event.

Notes: Nighttime shows are Wednesday and Saturday; Thunderbirds Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Check the airshow schedule online.

Special thanks to Sun ’n Fun.

This year’s dates:

April 9-14, 2024

Sun ’n Fun

4175 Medulla Rd. Lakeland, FL 33811 (863) 644-2431 www.flysnf.org

One of only two flying B-29s will be at Sun ’n Fun this year.

Tora, Tora, Tora is an exciting demonstration of World War II aircraft duking it out.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will thrill audiences with their close, highspeed maneuvers.

This B-17 never failed to capture attention every time it was started for a flight.

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Military News

Attention all Military Veterans

Friday, April 26, at 9:30 a.m.

CA Community Hall, Room 3, 1910 South Pebble Beach Blvd.

The next meeting of the American Legion Post 246 will include District Commander, Randy Holeyfield. The program will include discussions on how to expand our Post activities to better support our community veterans. Coffee and donuts will be available at 9 a.m. All veterans and spouses are welcome. For information call Paul Wheat at 813-391-7309 or email at “pawheatjr@aol.com”.

are what drive the success of the festival. Guests come of all cultures and ages, throughout and outside of the United States attend and support the community through the festival.

If you went this year – great!

If not, be sure and check out “flstrawberryfestival.com” and mark your calendar for 2025.

I met a couple who visit fairs and festivals all throughout the country every year and they mentioned, “they always try to include the Strawberry Festival in Plant city.” After attending myself, I can see why. See you next year!

MOWW Youth Leadership Seminar

Chapter 226 of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) hosted a Youth Leadership Seminar that was held on February 17, 2024 in Sun City Center FL. The seminar was a huge success, with 44 students from eight high schools from Hillsborough County and one high school from Charlotte County participating. We also had 7 eager cadets from the Civil Air Patrol. We had four outstanding presenters: LTC Chris Shannon from Alabama, who spoke about “Tap Tap, Are You Ready?”; Ms. Sherill Farrell, who discussed “The Impact YOU Have, Why Character Matters”; CAPT Deborah Dombeck, who presented “A Lesson from ‘Message to Garcia’”; and COL DJ Reyes, who shared the “10 Commandments of Leadership.” We also had the honor of hosting a special guest, BG Victor Perez, the Commander of the Military Order of the World Wars.

Family Connections Photo ID Game Update

The SCC Family Connections

Photo ID Game is a fun way to learn more about Sun City Center families, past and present. The photos and entry form are found in the February, 2024, issue of the News of Sun City Center, on page 15. Because of the interest expressed through phone and

email contact with the History Society, we are extending the submission date for entries to April 30. For information about how to participate in the Family Connections Multi Generation Photo ID Game please contact the SCC History Society at: “scchistorysoc@gmail.com”.

Strawberry continued from page 1.

Eagle Audubon Photo Contest Winners

Eagle Audubon Society held our first annual photo contest this February, with the theme of Florida Birds. We had many beautiful entries, but the judges, all Eagle Audubon members, decided that four stood out. Here are the winners, each of whom was recognized at the February membership meeting and was awarded a year’s membership. Response to this first contest was so great that we’ll do it again next year. Stay tuned for the new theme!

Eagle Audubon is the South Hillsborough chapter of the National Audubon Society. We meet at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1239 West Del Webb Blvd, Sun City Center, on the third Monday of each month from October through

April. Join us for snacks at 1, with our program starting around 1:30. Everyone is

Second Place: Elizabeth Osmun, Sandhill crane with baby

First Place (tie): Geraldine Breen, cormorant with fish breakfast

First Place (tie): Ned Kuehn, nest bonding behavior in Florida scrub-jays

Third Place: Melanie Higgins, pine warbler

Kings Point Art League Art Show: What Excellence Looks Like

By Gezil Andrews

Local artists gathered for the annual Kings Point Art League (KPAL) Art Show, “the Magic of Color” February 22 and 23 at the Kings Point North Clubhouse. What a top notch show it was!

Of club membership of around 80, 62 members had art displayed in the show. Over 40 Art League members teamed up to put the show together, from staging, collecting artwork, and hanging it, providing refreshments, overseeing raffles, coordinating the peer award dinner, marketing, and publicity.

A total of 24 members made up the committees to pull this off.

Several members provided 5x7 art cards of their work for sale. It was amazing to see such impressive artwork reduced to a size that everyone could find a use for: tuck in a gift basket, share with a friend or family member, or to frame and hang in the office or home.

The shell work exhibition was especially top of the line. I was so impressed and captured by one of the shell pictures, that I bought one and hung it on our

lanai. The memory of the show will be with me every time I look at the framed shellwork.

The raffle of six pictures painted by local authors raised funds for several community nonprofits such as Moffitt Cancer Center and the Emergency Squad, all selected by the artist who painted the picture. Ninety percent of the profits went directly to the nonprofit entities.

The poster for the Art Show was designed by Bob Ewing, a local artist who donates his talent and his time in repeated efforts for the club.

Local vendors, Walmart, and Winn Dixie provided some of the food and dessert for the Peer Dinner Reception. The Manager at Winn Dixie, rather than providing a determined amount toward the dinner, simply said “Get what you want,” The cake from Walmart took two people to carry and there were leftovers to share on day two!” Art Club Chairperson, Janette Craig said “they were so gracious,” so we gave a shout out to the two primary vendor donors.

Two past club members, now

deceased, continue to support the club through their estates.

Bernadette Mueller (fund) provided the Best in Show gift certificate of $100 and other awards totaling around $1300.

Linda Bremmerman’s family provided the technology for the club’s art room, including an oversized TV for workshops. It’s this type of on-going support that makes such a difference to the community work done by the Art League.

Linda Garrison, Club President, said “the Art Club is a blessing to me. It gives me time and resources to express myself and relax.” Many other club members share that sentiment!

There were three award Categories: The “Peer Award” went to Rachel Flack. The “Best of show” was awarded to Terry Ann Mince, for “Waiting for my Portrait”. “The People’s Choice Award” went to Lori Konerza for her version of “Old Cowboy.”

There were three submissions of the cowboy that blossomed from a watercolor class taught by Dianne Simon.

The Kings Point Art League is

open to residents of Kings Point and Sun City Center. The annual fee is $15. Membership meetings are held monthly, September through May. A few workshops are open to the public each year.

Prudence Roche, Art League member, demonstrating her craft.

Peer Award “Bringing Spring Inside” by Rachel Flack

Best in Show “Blue on Blue” by Terry Ann Mince

Art Club Marketing & Publicity Artist, Bob Ewing.

Shows Art Gallery lane with photos mounted.

People’s Choice Award “Cowboy” by Lori Konerza

Let’s Give Credit Where Credit Is Due

By Andrea L.T. Peterson

The quote “Behind every great man there’s a great woman,” first found success in the 1940s. It was so successful that it became the slogan of the feminist movement in the 1960s and 70s. But the veracity of the sentiment has been a part of our cultural inheritance since time immemorial. I’m inclined to suggest that, often, behind every great man is an even greater woman.

Take “the other Einstein,” the wife of Albert. In her historical novel, “The Other Einstein,” author Marie Benedict outlines the genius and the gifts of Mileva “Mitza” Maric. As the 19th century was coming to a close, Mileva Maric was the only woman studying physics at the Polytechnic Institute of Zurich. Physics would have been her life had she not met and fallen in love with Albert Einstein. Despite his promise to treat her as an equal in their marriage and in their pursuits in physics, things didn’t turn out that way. Eventually they divorced, but not before a long, successful collaboration!

They collaborated on papers and in research, but published under his name only. Whether this was because she wanted to help her husband establish and confirm his place in the world of physics or if it was thought that collaboration with a woman would cause their work to be taken less seriously is unknown. What is known, is what Albert wrote to Mileva in one of his many letters to her: “How happy and proud I will be when the two of us together will have brought our work on relative motion to a victorious conclusion.”

It has been hotly debated over the years just what role she played in Einstein’s life and work. An emotional and intellectual supporter and a valued collaborator, it is lost to history that she was an accomplished physicist in her own right.

Benedict says in her Author’s Notes: “Her [Maric’s] story was, in many ways, the story of many intelligent, educated women whose own aspirations were marginalized in favor of their spouses.”

Then there was the “Obsessive Genius,” Marie Curie. In this

exploration of “The Inner World of Marie Curie,” author and historian Barbara Goldsmith shows how Curie’s work with radioactivity won her two Nobel Prizes [the first in Physics with her husband, Pierre, and Henri Becquerel for the discovery of radioactivity; and the second for the isolation of polonium and radium], but “it did not liberate her from the prejudices of either the male-dominated scientific community or society.”

It wasn’t until the end of the 20th century—nearly 50 years after her death—when France’s president, Francois Mitterrand, had the ashes of the Curies, Marie and husband, Pierre, transferred to the Pantheon in Paris that Madame Curie received the recognition due her. The interment of her ashes in the Pantheon made her the first woman to be buried there for her own accomplishments, rather than those of her husband!

As a result of this act by Mitterrand, “the Curies, especially Marie, had been deified. Madame Curie was now an icon for the ages and an inspiration to women who saw in her the fulfillment of their own dreams and aspirations, however vague.”

Practically contemporaries, she and Mileva Maric came up through hard childhoods in Poland and Serbia, respectively. Not Unlike Maric, who was the only woman at the Polytechnic Institute, Curie was the first woman to earn a degree at the Sorbonne in Paris.

It is noteworthy that the Curies’ daughter, Irene, along with her husband, was the next woman to win the Nobel Prize [for their discovery of artificial radioactivity]. In addition, their daughter Eve’s husband later won the Nobel Prize [for his work with UNICEF trying to improve the living conditions of children around the globe].

Perhaps the most underrated, ignored, and overlooked of the women geniuses whose lives I had occasion to examine is

Cecilia

Payne-Gaposchkin. Known as Cecilia Payne until her marriage much later in her life, I’ve chosen to drop her married name and shine a spotlight on the woman she was in her own right. She was an ambitious,

curious, driven woman who wanted nothing more than to be an astronomer.

Perhaps the greatest disservice done to her was the denial of her findings when she was researching “what stars are made of.” What she discovered was “in serious conflict with what was held to be the case by all senior astronomers... She was pinioned at the point where astronomy was meeting physics.” It was both unthinkable and unacceptable to question, to challenge the long held views of ‘the establishment,’—that is, the men—who came before her and those who were her contemporaries. Her life in astrophysics was an uphill battle. She was denied advances and titles she had clearly earned and deserved. In spite of the challenges, she

accomplished many firsts: she was the first woman to receive a PhD in Astronomy from Radcliffe College; the first woman promoted to full professor at Harvard; the first woman to head a department at Harvard; and the first man or woman to accurately describe what stars are actually made of. It wasn’t until nearly 50 years after her discovery that stars are not made of hydrogen, primarily, was acknowledged and long held, erroneous beliefs were corrected!

I must admit, the science made my head spin, but the story of her life told by Donovan Moore in “What Stars Are Made Of” was so familiar and so unfortunate that this book— that all three of these books-should resonate with women from all walks of life.

St. John the Divine Welcomes New Rector

On Sunday April 14, The Reverend Alexander Andujar will celebrate Sunday services at St. John’s. Our Church family is so excited to begin this new chapter in the history of our Church with Fr. Alex. There’s always something going on at St. John’s and this month our April 20 bake sale will be open to the community and of course our Divine Jewelry Thrift Shop welcomes our neighbors every Wednesday and Saturday 9-1. Our church is located at 1501 E Del Webb Blvd.

Pizza and a Movie

Thursday, April 18, at 5 p.m.

St. Andrew Presbyterian, 1239 Del Webb W.

All the pizza you can eat, soft drinks, and delicious homemade cakes for $8 a ticket plus a great, popular, recent movie. Serving starts at 5 p.m. with the movie at 6. For tickets and more information come to the church office open Monday through Thursday from 9 to 1 p.m. Info: 813-634-1252

Interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Service

May 5, at 7 p.m.

UMC of SCC, 1971 Haverford Ave.

Yom HaShoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, occurs on the 27th of Nissan. Shoah, which means catastrophe or utter destruction in Hebrew, refers to the atrocities that were committed against the Jewish people during World War II. This is a memorial day for those who died in the Shoah also known as the Holocaust, from a Greek word meaning “sacrifice by fire.” If you are interested in performing in the community choir or participating as a reader in the service, please contact Joanne Sudman “jsudman@ tampabay.rr.com”.

Pantry Looking for Volunteers With Business or Mechanical Background

Over the past 25 years, Our Lady’s Pantry has grown exponentially into what is now a big business. But, still, the Pantry is an all-volunteer charity, consumed by the laborious procedures and reports of any big business.

“We are hoping to identify volunteers comfortable with the latest technology, who can work alongside our managers,” says director Tom Bullaro. “Learn what each person does and serve as backup, lending a hand when needed. “Can you help in any of these areas?” he asks.

Diesel mechanics to serve in an advisory capacity, helping to keep our trucks on the road every week. Technical and administrative work. Computer specialists. Proficient in Excel, WordPress, Pages. Grant writers to raise money for food and other necessities. Journalists to write pantry stories for our Web site and newspapers. “If you wish more information, you can call me at: (813) 741-2000,” says Bullaro. “Leave a message and I will call you back. And thank you.”

FAITH &service

Beth Israel Sisterhood Event

Tuesday, April 2, at noon

1115 East Del Webb Blvd.

Beth Israel Sisterhood’s Women’s Seder. The event will be held in the social hall at Beth Israel which is located at Sun City Center. Cost is $5 per person. Members and their guests should RSVP at “Sisterhood2@jcscc.org”.

Annie Karto in Concert

Thursday, April 11, at 1 p.m. in Conesa Center

Tickets are still available for the concert featuring awardwinning singer, songwriter, and inspirational speaker Annie Karto on Thursday afternoon April 11 at 1 p.m. in Conesa Center at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Conesa Center is located at 720 Valley Forge Boulevard in Sun City Center.

Annie will share how she has learned to keep singing through her trials. She will encourage and inspire you to let your worries and your cares melt away.

This event is open to the public. Proceeds from the sale of tickets will be used by St. Vincent de Paul Society to benefit the homeless in our community. Dessert, coffee, and tea will be served. There will be a 50/50 raffle.

Tickets may be obtained for $20 and will be on sale in Conesa Center Lobby at 702 Valley Forge Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. April 3, April 5, and April 8. You will be inspired! For more information, go to “popcc.org/afternoon”.

By Jay Sparkman.

Malcolm Edwards, Deputy Director of Business Development at Seaport Manatee, was the guest speaker at the March luncheon meeting of the Sun City Center Men’s Club. Mr. Edwards told of the history of the port, the growth of business over the years, and the future plans now underway or in the planning stages. The port, formally known as Port Manatee, provides directly or indirectly 37,000 jobs in the Tampa Bay area, has Mexico as its largest business partner, imports 1.2 billion bananas a year, receives orange juice from Mexico and Brazil and petroleum products from various countries. For Men’s Club info call Bruce Fraser, VP of Membership, at 813-419-4013.

Denny Gray, SCC Men’s Club President, Malcolm Edwards, Seaport

Seaport