The News of
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SUN CITY CENTER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Sun City Center
...an official publication of the Sun City Center Community Association
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION SCHEDULE
DECEMBER 3 Holiday Walk - 9 a.m. to noon Breakfast in the Florida Room 7:30 to 11:30 am 6 Membership Vote Sandpiper Room – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 7 Membership Vote Community Hall – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 10 Holiday Golf Cart Parade – 10 a.m. WinterFest, Central Campus – 11 a.m. 14 Board Meeting Rollins Theater - 9 a.m. 20 Community Leaders Meeting Florida Room - 9 a.m. 24 Christmas Eve Facilities close at 1 p.m. 25 Christmas – All facilities closed 26 Office/Library closed No Bingo 31 New Year’s Eve Facilities close at 1 p.m. JANUARY 1 New Year’s Day – All facilities closed 2 Office/Library closed No Bingo 4 Annual Membership Meeting Community Hall – 7 p.m. 11 Board Meeting Rollins Theater - 9 a.m. 17 Community Leaders Meeting Florida Room - 9 a.m. 23 CO-AP Meeting Caper Room – 2 p.m. Agendas for the monthly Board Meetings will be posted on Official Bulletin Boards the Friday before and on the CA web site ( www. suncitycenter.org – under “Association”). They will also be sent via “What’s New in the CA” email. Every Wednesday Orientation for new members in the Board Room starting at 1 p.m.
CA Contact Information Phone: 633-3500 sccboard@suncitycenter.org Website: suncitycenter.org Information Center 813-633-4670
Temporary Coffee Shop
While the cafe expansion is under construction, CA members can still purchase coffee and other items at this temporary kiosk near the information desk.
December 2016
“Hi, Neighbor!”
Story by Diane M. Loeffler, Photos by Calvin Johnson This year’s “Hi, Neighbor!” began at 6:30 p.m. A constant stream of people walked through the lobby, some looking at the map to locate a particular club or activity, others opting to walk up and down all the aisles in the combined space of Community Hall’s main lobby and rooms four and five. Members of the Organ and Keyboard club provided music in the lobby. Smiling greeters handed out name tags. Just inside the door of the main hall, the Elegant Gardeners Club offered free chances to win beautiful flower arrangements. Tables were covered with brochures, pamphlets, food, photos and samples of items created by members. Many club representatives wore distinctive clothing such as the Community Emergency Response team’s red shirts, the neon orange shirts of the amateur radio club, the distinctive hats of the Shriners, the uniforms of organizations affiliated with the military, traditional German clothing for the German Club, old fashioned dresses for DAR, and shirts with the names and logos of other groups. Scrabble boards, cards, chess men and tiles were laid out on the tables of clubs for those games, but everyone was
too busy greeting others and sharing information to actually play games. Near the yoga table and Nia tables, Phyllis Laufer was talking to interested cyclists about the possibility of restarting the bicycle club. The Bible Club, a non-denominational group, was among the new clubs at the gathering. CA members were welcome to play a little croquet and were given brochures about the new croquet club that Lawn Bowling club is starting. Its members also talked about SCC being one of the venues where representatives from 14
Photo by News Staff
countries will play the 13th US Open Lawn Bowling Tournament hosted by the Sarasota Club. One woman walked around the hall carrying a much-larger-than-life, black pickleball racket with “Pickleball, Sports Complex, 1p.m. Tuesdays” in white lettering. The Amateur Radio club demonstrated a camera-equipped drone that was safely setting at their booth. They also displayed HAM radio equipment including a radio costing less than $40.
Hi Neighbor cont. on pg. 8
Santa’s Secret Workshop Here Uncovered
By Kai Rambow “We use leftover wood,” enthuses Glenn Smith, “it’s fun to do.” He works on four or five projects at the same time, which take about a week to complete, if he’s not at Disney World. (When Santa’s away . . .) Only an elf, ah member of Sawdust Engineers, for the past four years, Smith is one of the most prolific toy builders. He likes working on complicated and detailed projects such as a dump truck, fire truck and excavator. Simpler but very popular toys include barns, dollhouses and bean bag toss. These and other toys are very popular gifts at Christmas for grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sawdust Engineers has a gift shop, and Mitzi Smith, no relation to Glenn Smith, volunteers in the gift shop. “My husband joined and loves coming here,” shares Mitzi, “I came one day, was awed by what I saw and decided to help out.” Mitzi’s work enables other members to concentrate on building. The money raised from sales funds Sawdust Engineers’ favorite ongoing projects of building educational tools for elementary teachers. “The teachers can come in here, view our catalog, and
Elf Dan Tanner working on the lathe at Sawdust Engineers a.k.a. Santa’s secret workshop.
choose up to five items,” says Ed Klein. “They love being able to choose and we love being able to help our larger community.” So far this year, 43 teachers from Bradenton to Temple Terrace have acquired educational items from the club. Sawdust Engineers is one of the oldest and largest clubs here in Sun City Center
and began with members contributing their own tools. Half of the members have never worked with wood before joining. To see the elves in action and visit the gift shop, come during club hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or Wednesday nights during the holiday season from 6 to 8 p.m.
Leftover wood transformed into a creative and fun toy.
One of the educational tools the Sawdust Engineers build throughout the year for local schools.
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Annette Smith painting educational wheels, (personally think they’re mini Wheels of Fortune), and Lisa Rudloff painting the very popular barns.