News of Sun City Center March 2023

CA SCHEDULE

City Center

New Bluebird Houses on the Bluebird Trail

By Andrea L.T. Peterson

Audubon members and friends gathered together to dedicate 10 new bluebird houses along the North Golf Course. As reported earlier, the bluebird population, once in decline in the area, is growing, thanks to the efforts of the SCC Audubon Club.

There have been 10 boxes for a number of years, but of late, the houses are in disrepair. Thanks to the generous donation of Ed and Clara Clancy, the Sawdust Engineers were commissioned to build new boxes for the trail along the golf course.

An excited crowd of about 50 joined to dedicate the boxes and thank Clara

Art Show’s Resplendent Return

By Kai Rambow

The annual SCC Art Show returned in a big way, showcasing some of the talented artists we have in our community and an impressive array of their excellent work. What is always amazing is how some of the captivating works are often done by someone who just picked up painting after retiring. A few short years later, these artists are producing wonderful pieces.

The number of categories was amazing: collage, pastel, water media, acrylic, graphic art, and oil. Several members have their art on note cards. These were available for purchase at the show, but

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and Ed, who regrettably didn’t live to see the dedication, but whose 87th birthday was the day of the dedication, when a casual reception took place. Audubon Club President Dennis Morris addressed the crowd: “Our Club has been active for about 50 years,” he told the crowd, “due to a string of people who had the foresight to prepare the club for the future.” He also recognized and thanked the Clancy’s, longtime members.

“When Ed died,” Clara told the crowd at the reception, that she knew Ed would “want her to do something for the Audubon Club”. She approached Melanie Higgins to ask what she might do in her and Ed’s name. Melanie shared the need for new birdhouses for our precious bluebirds currently nesting in the boxed along the “Bluebird Trail.” No coincidences, just synchronicity!

In season, five teams of two club members each monitor the boxes and the bluebirds' activities. When are they nesting in each box, when and how many eggs are in the nest, when the eggs hatch, and when the fledglings fledge— all monitored throughout the season. Higgins said she was actually fortunate enough to see fledglings leave the nest on one occasion! Before and after the season, the teams clean out the boxes so they are ready for the next season.

“Ed would be honored by this,” Clara said, referring to the boxes and the dedication as well as recognizing his love of the bluebirds. “Up until the day he died,” she said, “Ed was looking for those bluebirds.”

Among those joining the club were not just Clara Clancy, but also Ed and Clara’s daughter, Mariclaire Jones and her husband.

Thank You, Claudia Hinson

By Paula Lickfeldt

Claudia Hinson has been the Event/ Room Reservation Director for the SCCCA for ten years. Her last day with us will be March 24. Having worked with her myself on many occasions, I must say that she did a wonderful job and will be missed greatly. She was always pleasant when people “dropped in her office” and listened to what they needed and did what she could do to help. She said that the people she works with are a great group of people and working with the residents of SCC makes her job enjoyable.

Claudia says she realized very soon that she could not please everyone all of the time, but if she could not accommodate their request she would always try to offer an alternative suggestion. Her job is massive, keeping track of all of

the clubs, all of the rooms where they meet, and the dates that they meet, and coordinating that with CA events.

Claudia and her husband came to SCC from Valencia Lakes and they moved to Valencia Lakes from Georgia. They will be moving back to Georgia to be closer to family. She says that she does not plan to retire. She will be working, just in a different place.

Lew Lewis, who will replace Claudia, served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. He spent five years as an electrician and fifteen years in command control. When Lew came to work at the CA nine years ago he was a maintenance associate on the South Campus. In 2017, he moved to the Central Campus as the event setup supervisor.

Although we will miss Claudia, Lew is going to do an excellent job.

Members and friends.

The box behind the Atrium Building.

This caught my attention, and I came back to look at it several times.

Breakfast Is Back!

The CA Board recently voted to resume the Community Breakfast to build community spirit and cooperation. It will take place Tuesday, July 4, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Community Hall and will be open to residents of ALL areas of SCC, so mark your calendars. Sam and Joanne Sudman have graciously agreed to Chair the event and their Co-Chairs are Frank and Linda Oddo. They will need 130 volunteers for the event. Please send an email to “sccboard@ suncitycenter.org” if you would like to volunteer.

2023 SCCCA Board Goals

1) Increased transparency on decision making.

2) Improve communications and Zoom.

3) Encourage more member volunteer involvement.

4) Complete facilities usage and needs assessment.

5) Develop a master plan for buildings and future use of undeveloped space.

6) Improve website.

7) Review Kings Point fee. What are 3-year results? Club feedback?

8) Review rules for facility usage. National vs. local, fundraiser vs. club activity, guest policy, etc.

9) Review policy for holiday use of facilities.

10) Review potential technology upgrades (swipe cards, security cameras, online room reservations, etc.)

11) Improve beauty of common areas.

12) Secure county improvement of road conditions.

13) Board review/education of 501(c)(3) requirements.

14) Review and pursue electronic voting.

Monday MOVIES at the Rollins Theater

Monday, March 27 at 1 p.m.

Movies are normally shown on the second (2nd) and fourth (4th) Monday of each month. Movie attendees must present a current SCCCA ID Badge or a SCCCA Guest Card or KP 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.

March 27 • The Phantom of The Open 1 hour, 46 minutes

The heartwarming true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a dreamer and unrelenting optimist. This humble crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness managed to gain entry to The British Open Golf Championship Qualifying in 1976, despite never playing a round of golf before. He shot the worst round in Open history and drew the ire of the golfing elite, but became a folk hero in the process.

Starring: Mark Rylance, Sally Hawkins, Rhys Ifans, Jake Davies, Christian Lees

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Rating: PG-13 for some strong language, smoking

SCCCA MEMBERSHIP MEETING

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023

3:00 PM – COMMUNITY HALL

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED AT 2:30 PM* ALSO VIA ZOOM Meeting ID: 814 2840 9247

Passcode: 306399

200 SCCCA members required for a Quorum CA Membership Cards are required for admittance -AGENDA-

I. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance

II. Approval of Minutes: January 4, 2023 Annual Membership Meeting

III. President’s Report

IV. Treasurer’s Report Carr, Riggs & Ingram, Certified Public Accountants Audit Report as of December 31, 2022

Financials as of February 28, 2023

V. Community Manager’s Report

VI. Long Range Planning Committee Report

VII. How we serve the CA – Mike Bardell, Chief Emergency Squad *

VIII. Electronic Voting Update

IX. SCC Historical Marker – History Society

X. Community Breakfast

XI. General Discussion by Members

XII. Adjournment

*CPR and AED demonstrations will be in room #3 before and after the meeting.

FunFest is Back on March 11

One of the biggest community events of the year is back in a big way! The Sun City Center Community Association and representatives of at least 60 CA clubs, and dozens of local businesses and civic organizations invite everyone to come out to the Central CA Campus for some “Fun” on March 11.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clubs of every description will be set up and ready to offer information and demonstrations of what makes them fun and interesting. Club rooms and Art rooms will be open for browsing, shopping, and instruction. Musicians and other performers will entertain, showcasing their talents, eight different clubs or groups will be selling delicious food and sweet treats, and local medical providers will be on hand offering health checks and other important information.

The event kicks off at 9 a.m. at the Gazebo with

opening remarks from CA President Ron Clark and FunFest Chair Kim Roush. Followed immediately by a flag raising courtesy of the American Legion and the singing of the National Anthem by Lily Meyers.

Be sure to stop by one of the four convenientlylocated information booths located on each side of the event to pick up a flier with the schedule of events. There is definitely something for everyone! And, if you would rather take it slow and easy, cruise by the club rooms and see what our incredible creators are up to.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Cherry Hills Drive will be closed adjacent to the Central CA Campus before and during the event. Car drivers should park in the Atrium parking lot. Golf cart drivers should park in the field north of North Course Lane.

Parking at Community Hall and shuttle service available.

Seniors In Service to Partner with SCC

News Staff Report

At the February SCCCA Board of Directors meeting, the Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Tampa-based nonprofit group, Seniors in Service. Founded in 1984, SIS “connects volunteers, age 55 and over, to meet the needs and challenges of at-risk seniors, veterans, and children in our community.”

The organization has a long, positive track record of connecting seniors interested in volunteering with affirming and valuable volunteer opportunities. SIS’s message for seniors is:

“Live your legacy now. Be a valued helper to a homebound senior, a cherished mentor to a struggling child or an appreciated companion to an at-risk veteran... You have unique skills, abilities and interests, and we strategically match you up to where you can most benefit and benefit your community.”

CA President Ron Clark says he is excited about the possibilities of this partnership. “The CA Board looks forward to working with Seniors in Service to find opportunities to utilize their expertise in providing volunteers and insurance coverage for CA activities and events. This complements the Board’s HUG (Help Us Govern)-SCC program to encourage more

volunteerism and to effectively use the incredible skill set and experience that CA members can provide.” CA Corporate Secretary Debbie Caneen has worked with Seniors in Service for several years on various projects. Caneen says she loves SIS.

“I was excited to make the motion to accept the memorandum of understanding between Seniors In Service and the SCCCA. Based on past partnerships with their organization, I have found their CEO, Robin Ingles, to be attentive to detail and willing to brainstorm to make things happen. I am looking forward to bringing back volunteerism in Sun City Center. Successful aging takes place when we have a purpose and volunteering is the best way to make that happen.”

Caneen says the Board plans to sit down with SIS soon to “brainstorm” ideas and see how the organization can best partner with the SCCCA to make a big impact in our community. To learn more and to volunteer, go online to “seniorsinservice.org” and click on the Volunteer dropdown.

And, if you have not yet signed up for the HUG-SCC program, contact the CA office to learn how you can contribute to making SCC the best it can be.

LRPC Update

LRPC started the year off with representatives from OutsideIn, the Community’s Land Designer Company, attending our January 4, 2023 meeting. Adam Fritz and Darren Azdell were introduced and presented to the community. Their presentation can be found on the LRPC website.

LRPC will be hosting additional Focus Groups on:

Tuesday, March 21, from 2 to 4 and 6:30 to 8:30 in the Rollins Theatre. The purpose of this Focus Group will be to garner information about timelines and costs. Each Focus Group will include the same information.

Wednesday April 12, from 2 to 4 and 6:30 to 8:30 in the SCC Community Hall. The purpose of this meeting will be the presentation of the Land Plan.

Volunteer Picnic

By Mike Lee and Andrea L.T. Peterson

The SCC Community Association held a Volunteer Picnic on February 15 in the Florida Room. According to Lyn Reitz, Community Manager, the picnic honored those who volunteer their skill and services to the Community Association, from the Board of Directors and its various committees, to entertainment volunteers, to the library, and to anyone else that volunteers and contributes to the community.

“It is very important that we have volunteers for Sun City Center,” said Ron Clark, President of the Community Association Board of Directors. “We are blessed with volunteers… As a 501(c)(3) [organization], in lieu of the municipal government, we use volunteers to support—not duplicate—county services… at no cost to members… We do that as a community.”

Clark thanked the volunteers for all that they do for the community. There are multiple opportunities to volunteer for the community with a wide range of skill sets needed to help the community prosper. There is an application on the Community Association website, as well as information about many of the opportunities to participate.

In addition to the Board of Directors, SCC has 24 committees. They, together with Samaritan Services, The Emergency Squad, and the Security Patrol, number well over 1,000 volunteers. Every club is also staffed and led by volunteers.

Veterans Photo Shoot For SCCCA Members

The next photo shoot for the Veterans Wall of Honor Project as shown in the Atrium will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2023 from 10 am to 12 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 Carol Donner in the CA office (813-633-3500) to register, along with your CA membership number, by noon on Thursday, March 16 and you will be assigned a specific time.

And the Bands Played On (The Green)

Bluewater Band hoping to deliver Music on the Green

By Ilona Merritt

After he retired, Scott Heims got a guitar, signed up for music lessons, and started learning how to play like one of his favorites, singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Scott bought a twintree home on Bluewater Drive and kept practicing, just enjoying the music. Sometime later, Jim McGuire bought the other half of that twin-tree on Bluewater. One day he heard Scott playing, and he went over and asked if he could play along.

Scott and Jim enjoyed playing together, so they kept it up, and the Bluewater Band was born. Neighbors came from up and down the Drive to hear them play. Word spread, and soon folks were coming in their golf carts to listen to the band. After all, who doesn’t love good entertainment— especially when it’s free!

Music, Breakfast, and More Ways to Connect

February CA Board meeting underscores communication and involvement

News Staff Report

SCC Community Association

President Ron Clark kicked off the February Board of Directors meeting by saying the CA’s new HUG program is off to a good start.

“The goal of HUG SCC is to encourage our members to volunteer… Since we announced this initiative last month, we have new volunteers on multiple CA committees, new clubs starting, and more people investing their talent in our community,” Clark said. “New committees will be starting soon, and we look forward to even more members volunteering.”

Three committees mentioned in the meeting received new chairs. These include the Beautification Committee (Chair is Virginia Bratt), the new Pool Committee (Chair is Director Carrie Blaylock), and the Decorating Committee (Chair is Renee Bray).

Clark added that the CA Board is actively looking for ways to reduce fees for members and to create more opportunities for members to enjoy living in SCC. “We are working on ways to improve the communication process, to improve the club experience, and we will be reviewing the Kings Point fee.”

Community Manager Lyn Reitz agreed that improved and streamlined communications was a top priority for CA leadership. “We’re trying to do more day-to-day updates through our email blasts… We want everyone to know what’s going on.”

Speaking of goings on, Reitz reminded residents to SAVE THE DATE for FunFest, which will be held on the Central CA Campus on Saturday, March 11. Look for more information on FunFest in this issue of The News

Reitz added that permitting delays have impeded construction of the new volleyball and pickleball courts. While work picked up again in late February, the project timeline has been extended into April. The Volleyball Club had been playing on a grass area while the project was in progress. At the February meeting, the Board approved an agreement with Kings Point to invite

the Club to play on Kings Point’s hard court until the CA’s new courts are completed.

Local musicians from The Bluewater Band received Board approval to create a CA club called Music on the Green. The club plans to organize live music concerts that showcase local talent. Organizers hope to host at least one concert later this spring. They will break for the summer, while the CA hosts the annual Bandstand Concert Series, and announce a new concert schedule in the fall. Club members are actively recruiting local talent to fill the fall concert schedule.

President Clark said he was excited to help promote some of the “hidden talent” in this community. For more information about Music on the Green, read Ilona Merritt’s article in this issue of The News

While you have your calendar out, it’s also time to SAVE THE DATE for the popular July 4 Community Breakfast, which will make its triumphant return in 2023. Sam and Joanne Sudman will chair this year’s event, which the CA hopes to continue on an annual basis going forward.

Board Vice President Jim Collins called the Community Breakfast “a great event,” and said the Sudmans are actively recruiting volunteers for the event. Collins added that he and his wife “would like to be the first to volunteer.”

The Board unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding with a Tampa-based nonprofit community organization, Seniors in Service. Board Secretary Debbie Caneen said the goal of the organization is to promote volunteerism.

“They’ve been working in our community since 2017, helping the Emergency Squad and Security Patrol recruit volunteers… They would love to help the CA develop our volunteer pool as well,” Caneen said.

Caneen added that Seniors in Service insures their volunteers, and they do Level 2 background checks to ensure that volunteers are vetted before they

go to work. Look for more information about Seniors in Service and other volunteer opportunities in this and later issues of The News

The Board also voted to revise and expand the CA’s reciprocal sports policy. This policy grants limited, inkind usage to outside teams that invite CA teams to use their facilities. So, if an outside organization invites a CA team to play a game or a match at their facility, that CA club reciprocates by inviting their team to play a game or match at a CA facility. The previous agreement limited this reciprocal arrangement to four events per year. The approved change increases that limit to 24 events per year.

Director Blaylock said the increase “gives a variety of members more of a chance to play” and “(greater) opportunities to participate” in team sports clubs.

Vice President Collins agreed, saying the increase would “enhance the membership experience” for CA sports club members who wish to have more opportunities to play.

Director Ron Matelski argued that there was “no justification for expanding the (previous) limit of four events…” adding, “Our facilities are for our members.”

Directors Jim Collins, Debbie Caneen, Roger Zieg, Carrie Blaylock, and Eric Porr voted in favor of the increase.

Directors Ron Matelski, Kim Roush, and Gary Bratt opposed the motion, which passed 5 to 3. President Clark did not have to vote.

CA Board Treasurer Roger Zeig said the 22 home transfers in January were “the lowest in about four years” but that things were looking up in February. “We already have two or three (in the first week of) this month.”

Zeig offered these current totals on CA funds: $4,025,004 (Operations), $4,947,579 (Capital Fund), $1,663,280 (Replacement), and $43,387 (Renovations).

As of the February Board meeting, there were 11,475 member residents in the SCCCA.

Word got around, and soon, Jim and Scott heard about several other local bands playing in cul-de-sacs, garages, and driveways all over town. Jim and Scott got the idea that they would like to play at the Bandstand, and members of the other bands liked that idea. Not for money, for the love of music and the enjoyment of their neighbors.

The Bluewater Band led the charge, asking the questions and making the plans. And, at the last SCCCA Board meeting, they achieved a significant milestone. The “Music on the Green” club was approved as an official CA club, with bands that plan to play on Saturdays. Scott and Jim expect to host a concert in the spring, then spend the summer lining up additional bands for a series of free concerts this fall.

President’s Report

By Ron Clark, CA President

In February, the Board continued to take action to focus on key areas to better serve CA members.

Volunteerism… The HUG-SCC program continues to attract new volunteers for our Committees. A Memorandum of Understanding was approved with Seniors in Service to allow them to provide volunteers and additional insurance coverage for certain upcoming events. A Beautification Committee was created to focus on making our campus even more beautiful.

Community Unity… A Community Breakfast will be held on July 4, 2023 and all SCC residents will be able to attend. Kings Point residents will now be able to attend CA Bingo on a reciprocal basis with both communities not requiring a guest pass or Gold Card. In March, the Board will review the Kings Point Gold Card fee as a recent survey of Club Presidents resulted in a significant number of clubs requesting a modification.

Strengthening our Club experience… The Board is working in multiple ways to achieve this ongoing goal. See the “Music, Breakfast, and More Ways to Connect” article in this issue of The News of Sun City Center to learn about specific club-related decisions made at the February Board meeting.

Lastly, please mark your calendars to attend the Wednesday March 22 Membership Meeting at 3 p.m. in Community Hall. The agenda is listed in this issue, but I would like to point out the presentation from the Emergency Squad about all the excellent services that they provide. There will be CPR and defibrillator demonstrations before and after the meeting, that could be lifesaving. Also, refreshments are back!

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.

Billiards Club Tournament Winners

Eight Ball: James Yonge (First Place), Bob Ingwalson (Second Place), and Robert Cutshall (Third Place). James Yonge claimed top honors in the Snooker contests. The SCCCA Billiards Club is open daily to SCCCA members and has over 200 members that play at their leisure from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

SCC Audubon March Program on Woodpeckers

March 4, doors open at 9:15 a.m. • Florida Room

Which birds can chisel through wood more effectively than a power tool? Woodpeckers, of course. Learn about the life of this keystone species in forest ecology. Club is open to SCCCA members, Freedom Plaza residents, eligible Aston Gardens residents and Kings Point Gold Card holders. Info: Dennis at 570-8142803.

Gone Stampin’ Club’s Semi-Annual Card Sale

March 10, from 9 to 1 p.m. • 1605 N. Pebble Beach Blvd., SCC

It’s time to stock up on your favorite handmade cards again. Sale will be held on. Cards are $2 for one or $1.50 each for multiples and include an envelope. Get there early!

New England Club Spring Fling

Get your tickets before March 30

Thursday, April 6, doors open at 5 p.m. • SCC Community Hall

Enjoy music by the Kegg, dancing, door prizes, and dinner by Banquet Masters. Paid RSVP only. $25 per person for NEC members, $30 for nonmembers. Your ticket will be your name tag provided at the door upon your arrival. Reservation forms and further info available online at www.sccnec.org or call Linda Anderson at 813-633-9643.

The Story of Sun City Center

The informational film produced by the History Society, “The Story of Sun City Center,” is now available on Facebook and YouTube by searching “The Story of Sun City Center.” A special book by John Bowker will also be available at FunFest. Bowker will be on hand from 10 to noon to sign books.

Bunka Club 2023 Board

The SCC Bunka Club recently elected a new board: Eileen Spector, Treasurer; Sandy Brundige, President; Linda Gagne, Vice President; Marlus Johns, Historian; Barb Carlini, Secretary and Publicity. Bunka meets in the Arts & Crafts Building, M-Th, from 9 to noon. The studio is next to the Stained Glass Club. Visitors welcome!

SCC Duplicate Bridge Club Mentoring

The Bridge Club launched a three-month mentoring program that pairs less experienced players with more experienced players so those who want to “up” their game can benefit from fellow members who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise. Once a month a special game is scheduled solely for mentors and mentees.

Cloggers Dance With Furry Friends

The SCC Cloggersizers recently participated in a benefit show at the Kings Point Theater, promoting Ruskin no-kill animal shelter, C.A.R.E. In the photo: Susan Roberts, Shonnee Conery, Joanne Kerr, Susie Keltz, Michelle Maloney, and Julie Chappel. Photo by Frank Maloney.

54th Annual Art Show Awards

Best in Show went to Joyce Nodland for “Regal Remy,” oil on canvas, and People’s Choice went to Lynda Aquilo for “Water Babies,” a watercolor.

Metaphysical Society Presentations

Wednesdays, from 10 to noon • Atrium Building, Heritage Room

March 8 • Cliff Kennedy will present, “Accessing the Akashic Records.”

March 15 • Lisa Kennedy will present, “What Are Chakras, How Do They Affect Us?”

March 22 • Todd Curran, Numerologist, will present, “Numbers In Your Life.”

March 29 • Dr. Patti Howell will present, “Jungian Psychology and Positive Affirmations.”

The presentations are open to SCC Metaphysical Society members with valid ID, Kings Point Gold Card members, Freedom Plaza card or guest pass members and SCCCA residents.

Free admission with a voluntary love offering requested. Info: Roger at 813-326-3697 or Patti at 813-263-4232. For membership information call Pennie 404-242-7586.

Ladies Wild Card Poker Club

Wednesday nights, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. • Atrium Building, Royal Room

Come join us for a wild night of poker fun as we play easy to learn card games with penny and nickel bets and all kinds of wild card entertainment. We start the night with a left, right and center dice game for a 75-cent buy in. We will teach you how to play poker and keep you laughing with delightful companionship. Info: Jan at 352-422-2918.

SCCCA Dog Park

Looking for a place to let your dog run free, make new friends, while you feel confident that all dogs are up to date on their vaccinations and are spayed/neutered? Sun City Center has a beautiful dog park on the South Campus that is open from dawn to dusk all year for members of the D.O.G. (Dog Owners Group) club.

The club keeps a record of all dogs to ensure that all dogs are up-to-date on vaccinations and are spayed or neutered. Cost to use the park is $30 a year per household for up to three dogs. Each dog in your household will receive a dog tag that has the SCC Security Patrol’s phone number on it. All visiting non-member dogs are also required to complete a non-membership application, with proof of up-to-date vaccinations, proof of spayed/neutered and send in a self-addressed stamped envelope to receive a black dog tag.

Proof of your SCC badge while on premises will be required, as only CA, Freedom Plaza or Aston Gardens residents are eligible. Info and forms available online at “sccdog.org” or on the CA website, “suncitycenter.org.” Info: “sccdogownersgroup@ qmail.com”.

Elegant Gardeners Perennials and Orchids Sale

March 11 at FunFest

healthy plants or lovely orchids, all propagated by local growers.

Robert Cutshall, James Yonge, and Bob Ingwalson.

Happy St Patrick's Day

Friday March 17, 2023

Senior and Community Health Centers Come to Wimauma

By Andrea L.T. Peterson

Just past Walmart and just before the entrance to The Lagoon (turn into The Lagoon and the center is on your right, 16621 Lagoon Shore Blvd), seniors 50+ will find the new Hillsborough County Senior Center where all services are free to county residents. The Active Senior Center is open 8-5 Monday through Friday, offering myriad activities (bingo, dominoes, and other games) and resources (a computer lab and a fitness center), as well as classes (on computers, photography, and jewelry making). There’s even an electric car charging station in the parking lot.

Free hot lunches are provided at noon (M-F) to seniors over 60. The center offers clients a box with seven days’ breakfast including cereal, juice, and some kind of yogurt for the week. Once a month all of those with a birthday are celebrated. In addition, there is a nurse onsite, and the center offers referrals for those with medical needs.

Anxious to take me on a tour of the facility, Solimar Garcia,

Supervisor of Hillsborough County Aging Services, showed me where the computer lab will be, what the fitness center offered, massage chairs, and the Memory unit which is part of the Wellness center for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or those in wheelchairs. In addition, for these clients, the center provides Senior Day Care where clients can play games or just “be.” Three meals are provided daily: breakfast at 9 a.m., lunch at noon, and a snack at 2 p.m. In the same complex, just across for the Senior Center

Manatee Viewing Center

is the Suncoast Community Health Center, a “state-of-theart facility (with bilingual staff) which has a list of offerings too long to include here, but among them are: adult and pediatric medical and dental needs including x-ray and lab services, optometry, women’s health services, and a pharmacy. Suncoast is open to all and they accept HMOs HCHCP, Medicare, and most health insurance plans.” Qualifying clients may receive discounts for services. How fortunate are we to

have such a resource just a stone’s throw away! For more information, contact the county Customer Care Team at 813272-5250.

South Shore Community Chorus Invites You To Join

Save the date for their Spring Concert on April 18

By Bob Sanchez

a boat launch for the boaters to get out into the Bay.

When people realized that during the cold weather the manatees were coming into the area because of the warm water produced by TECO they stopped the boat launching. People would stop on the road, get out of their cars, and stand by the fence to look at

the manatees. A walkway was built and the area was opened for the people to look at the manatees on the weekends. This was in December of 1986. The growth of the center and additions to the center have continued since then.

Jamie Woodlee, has been with the center for 21 years. She is now the Administrator of Operations. She told me that the viewing center is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. November 1 until April 15 with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter if it would fall during that time. The center closes at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve day. It is estimated that 7 to 10 thousand people visit the center each day. Jamie told me that it is fun to have people tell her that they visited as children and now they are bringing their children.

The South Shore Community Chorus welcomes singers to join in their Spring Concert to be held April 18. The chorus has a beautiful assortment of music planned, and they need many more singers. Anyone from age 17 and older, all voice parts, is welcome. “No tryouts — just go and add your voice! Let this be the thing you do for you,” said Community Chorus representative Jamie Torres. “We currently have just under 20 singers for this spring,” Torres said, “but we would LOVE to see double or even triple that number…”

Torres also shared some history of the Chorus: “We were established in 2016 under the vision of East Bay High’s choral director, Brian NeSmith, and we are now led by Kathryn Baldwin. The chorus’ purpose is to give adults who love to sing a community to sing with and sing for. There is truly a place for everyone - our current ages range from 30s to 90s; some members sing in other choirs and others have no formal experience, but we are all joined together by a love for music. The chorus offers an outlet for creative expression to singers in the South Shore area and beyond.”

The music will be quite a mix — several traditional choral tunes, a folk song (Shenandoah), an African spiritual piece (African Canticle), and even a pop

favorite (Hallelujah). New music is chosen each spring and fall. While song choices are both secular and religious, each piece is chosen strictly for its musical merit, as the chorus has no religious affiliation. All music pieces are arranged for SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) so every voice part is welcome.

The chorus meets every Monday at Sun City Center United Methodist Church, 1971 Haverford Ave from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This season’s fee is $45 per member and covers the cost of the sheet music and accompaniment tracks. Singers get to keep their music.

It’s not too late to join, but the spring cycle is already underway! For more information, email “aohara@ southshorecommunitychorus. org”, or visit “facebook.com/ southshorecommunitychorus”.

Manatees rarely surface completely, but they stick their noses above the water and love to float in tight-knit groups.

Suncoast Community Health Center

Hillsborough County Senior Center

Manatee continued on page 2.

The Editor’s Corner

The Same New

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

My notification bell blinked, triggering my Pavlovian response to tap the notice on my phone. What exciting new information was the inscrutable social media algorithm sharing with me this time? Turns out, my daughter-in-law had just posted a link to her baby shower registry. She and my eldest son, Captain America, are expecting their first child—and, more importantly, the first grandchild for me and my lovely bride.

The online registry is something new for us. When we were busy having our babies, online registries were not a thing. These days, “online” and “registry” are redundant. And it’s no big mystery why. Online registries are easy to start, easy to manage, and easy for giftgivers to access and browse. They handle all the work of tracking what has and has not been purchased in real time. Shoppers can filter the list for gift type or price range, making it super simple for everyone from grandpa to a distant cousin to find the appropriate gift from anywhere in the world and ship it right to the expectant parents. This last benefit is huge for my

Manatee continued from page 1.

son and his wife. He’s in the U.S. Army, and they are stationed a fair distance from family and friends. So, the convenience of the online registry also makes it possible for all those family members and friends to contribute to this new little one’s start—and to help the new parents get all the stuff they will actually need to welcome this bundle of joy into the world.

Because, while the way we shop for these items may be different, the items themselves don’t look all that different from what we bought for our kids, or from what my parents bought for me. Sure, some of the names have changed—blankets are “swaddle wraps” and pacifiers are “soothers”—but the stuff is familiar… and familiarly overwhelming. Marketing for baby stuff is aggressive, prolific, and inundating. There’s SO much stuff, and, as brand new parents, if you are trying to do it on your own, there’s no way to know what you will really need and what’s going to just sit there in the corner until you drop it off at the thrift shop in six months.

We’ve been through it a few different times, so, when looking at all the myriad options, it’s easy to parse what’s indispensable and what’s extraneous. I scrolled through a few times and saved the link in my favorites for my bride and I to peruse together later. Yes… I already put a couple things in the cart, but I know better than to click “BUY” before “Nana” gets a chance to choose a few things. Well… more than a few, if I’m being honest. We can’t wait to spoil this kid.

As I click away from the page,

I think about how easy it was to sort through hundreds of items. So simple to scroll and click… which was nice, because there was simply SO much. So many options and versions and brands… all of them proclaiming the dire necessity to the health and safety of the Coming Attraction. That’s one way they get new parents. The sheer weight of all the options on their already uncertain shoulders adds stress. It’s hard not to think, “Maybe I really DO need that…” Fortunately, those questions led them to pick up the phone and call—well, FaceTime—asking us “what do we really need?” I love that question, because it gives us a window into their world, their mind, their lives. What are their hopes, their worries, their dreams and fears? How can we reassure and encourage them? It’s an incredible privilege to have that opportunity. It’s one thing to hear from your adult

children, something else entirely when they ask, “what do you think about…”

The goal of that conversation— and the joy of it—is in the exchange of ideas. We don’t expect them to do things exactly like we did. They’re different people with different talents, personalities, and perspectives. As new parents, they will do things differently than we did when it was our turn. And that’s okay, because they love that baby, and they’re going to do a great job… even if, right now, it feels a little overwhelming. They’re going to get it right more than they get it wrong, and that little guy is going to thrive.

Of course, “Nana” and I will be there to advise and comfort and reassure… because as much as things change, a lot of things stay the same. It’s new, but it’s the same new… and this grandpa can’t wait to see it happen.

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Along with the walkway for Manatee viewing there is a pool with Rays swimming in it, a butterfly garden, a turtle hospital, a fish hatchery, several paths for hiking and a picnic area. There is also a building that houses an aquarium for growing coral with the hope of being able to plant it in the Bay and the Gulf.

Linda and John from Palm Harbor had brought their sister Pat and sister-in-law Pat to see the Manatees. They said that Manatee viewing is one of the things that they always do when they have company during the season. The Logan family from Toronto, Canada was visiting their family in Dunedin. None of them had ever been at the center and they were very impressed. Julie from Apollo Beach said that she comes several times every year just to look at the Manatees. She just loves them! Ralph and Lanie are traveling around the United States in their RV. They had heard about the viewing center and came to see it for themselves. They were very glad that they had made the stop.

If you have never been to the Manatee Viewing center it is worth your time to make a visit. Stand on the walkway to watch these magnificent endangered animals.

Ilona Merritt Reporter imerritt@soco.news

Mike Lee Reporter mlee@soco.news

Andrea L.T. Peterson Reporter apeterson@soco.news

Nancy Jean Design

art@soco.news

Kai Rambow Reporter krambow@soco.news

Bob Sanchez Reporter bsanchez@soco.news

Paula Lickfeldt Reporter plickfeldt@soco.news

Contributors: Frank Kepley, Garry Higgins, Bob Monahan, Peggy Burgess, Tiffany Rivers, Debbie Caneen, John Lampkin, Cathy Meyerhoff, and Ron Clark. (CA President).

and Layout

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2023 Vesta Follies

The Follies are coming... The Follies are coming… The turnout for the 2023 Vesta Follies auditions was plentiful with an assortment of excellent talent. The production of the 2023 Follies has begun. This is going to be a true Extravaganza event that you do not want to miss. Mark your calendar and set your alarm for March 10, at 7 p.m. and March 11, on 1:30 and 7:30 p.m., at the Kings Point Veterans Theater. Info: Linda Stone, “wapsigal@hotmail.com”.

Discussion of Senior Scams Protect Yourself And Your Money

Tuesday, March 7, at 1 p.m.

Beth Israel, 1115 Del Webb Blvd. E. Hillsborough County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Merry will present this seminar. There is no fee to attend this event and refreshments will be provided. The public is welcome to attend. Please pre-register by emailing “Sisterhood1@jcscc.org”.

SCC Bluebird Project

Monday, March 20, doors open at 12:30 p.m.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, 1239 West Del Webb Melanie Higgins, Project Manager of the Sun City Center Bluebird Project, will show how the public can participate in this rewarding endeavor. This project demonstrates the impact of providing nesting boxes to birds who have lost their traditional nesting habitat of natural cavities. Info: “eagleaudubonflorida.org”.

International Forum of SCC

“The Legacy of Saratoga: How This Battle Changed Diplomacy” March 17, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Atrium Building, Florida Room

All residents of SCC and residents of Kings Point with a Gold Pass are welcome. The discovery and release of new documents provides a fresher understanding of the 1777 Saratoga Campaign. Historian Dan Madden colorfully explains the ramifications in this presentation.

Pecans For Scholarships

The Rotary Club of Sun City Center, recently concluded their annual Pecans for Scholarships fundraising drive. Over the years, this project has generated more than $250,000 for scholarships for graduating seniors from East Bay and Lennard High Schools.

The Rotary Club of Sun City Center meets every Tuesday for lunch at noon at the Freedom Fairways Clubhouse, 3932 Upper Creek Drive. Info: Ray at 440-655-6469.

Kings Point Italian Club Western Days Party

Monday, March 20, Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

KP North Clubhouse Veterans Theater

“Good Stuff” will perform music to dance to. Food provided by Banquet Masters. BYOB. We supply coffee, tea, and soda. Members $25, guests $30. Tickets on sale March 14 and 15, from 9 to noon in the North Clubhouse Lobby. No tickets at the door. Info: Frank Oleskewicz 813-300-4010 or visit “www.kpitalianclub.com”.

Selah Freedom Receives Blankets

This highly modified 1949 Chevrolet sedan delivery is the Roamin’ Oldies February cruiser of the month.

Sleek, Low Custom Chevy Roamin’ Oldies Top Pick

A stunning 1949 Chevrolet sedan delivered by Danny Tarpley of Gibsonton is the Roamin’ Oldies Car Club’s cruiser of the month. Designed and built by noted customizer Mark Cummings, it campaigned as the “Widowmaker” for several years on national show circuits. Little remains of its working-class Chevy origins. Its Firebird front clip houses a turbo-charged 350 cubic-inch V8 engine. With a 5-inch chopped top and airbag suspension, it is low-slung, sleek and then some.

Danny, who has been a car buff since he was 15, was instantly smitten at the sign of the Widowmaker. He said, “As soon as I saw it, I told myself, ‘I gotta have this one.’” A week later, he did. Fellow enthusiasts agree, and the car drew a steady stream of admirers at the Sunday cruise-in.

The Roamin’ Oldies host a cruise-in from 1 to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of every month, with a rain date the following Sunday, at the Mira Bay Village Shopping Center on US-41 in Apollo Beach. For information, call Frank at 856-373-8497.

Jackie Corley, Awareness and Development Coordinator for Selah Freedom, receives colorful crocheted blankets from Shawna Wainright, and Norma Ebner (not in photo) both SCC Woman’s Club members. Selah Freedom is a faith-based, anti-human trafficking non-profit organization expanding into Hillsborough. For more info contact Jackie@ selahfreedom.com.

Security Patrol Service Recognition

By Mike Lee

The Sun City Center Patrol has recognized Reggie Lawrence for 15 years of service to the Patrol. Reggie’s service, along with everyone that volunteers to serve on the Patrol, is appreciated for helping keep our community a safe place to live. Anyone wishing to volunteer for the Security Patrol can call (813) 642-2020 between 9 and 3, Monday through Friday. Volunteers can work as few as three hours per month.

L to R: Reggie Lawrence and Bob Smith, Deputy Chief of the Security Patrol.

Cardiologists at Manatee Heart and Vascular Center Employ Heart Pump To Aid in Blood Flow

After a visit with his physician due to chest pain, Chuck Jenkins’ tests revealed that he had multiple blockages in the arteries of his heart. In fact, his left anterior descending artery (LAD) — commonly referred to as the “widow maker” — was 99% blocked in two places. His cardiologist was unable to remove the blockages, so Chuck was referred to Dr. Jeffrey Rossi, an interventional cardiologist at Bradenton Cardiology.

Dr. Rossi suggested a Protected Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) procedure using the Impella® heart pump. During the stenting procedure — which involves the placement of a small tube in the artery to keep it open — the pump is used to temporarily assist the pumping function of the heart to ensure blood flow is maintained to critical organs. The pump is inserted into the blocked arteries through a small incision in the chest. The procedure is minimally invasive, which can lessen bleeding and pain, and speed recovery time for the patient.

If not for the Impella heart pump and the Protected PCI procedure, many of these patients would begin treatment for palliative care and start taking medication that would be only partially effective. Chuck can now do anything a typical person his age can do.

The Manatee Heart and Vascular Center and the Valve Institute at Manatee Memorial Hospital provide patients with an individualized approach to heart care that includes assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and evaluation.

For more information, visit manateememorial.com/services/heart-and-vascular-center.

Community continued from page 4.

Spring Art & Craft Fair

April 1, from 10 to 2 p.m.

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church 1239 W. Del Webb

Heartland Social Club Comedian Night

March 21, Doors open at 5 p.m.

Kings Point Veterans Theater, 1900 Clubhouse Dr. Enjoy the comedy of Fasik Malik and Al Ernst as well as a catered dinner by St. Pete Catering. BYOB. Water and ice will be provided but don’t forget your beverage glass. All residents are Sun City Center residents and snowbirds are welcome! Tickets are $20/ members and $24 non-members. RSVP and mail check to Heartland Club, Cathy Maguire (Treasurer), 2238 Vista Greens Drive, Sun City Center, FL. 33573, postmarked by March 14, 2023. More info: Bev at 813.938.5433, “jbwohlrab@gmail.com”.

Star Samaritan

S-Selfless; T-Trustworthy; A-Accomplished; R- Reliable Meet Lee Leverett, the Star Samaritan for the 1st Quarter of 2023. Lee and her husband have been SCC residents for 23 years and has volunteered at Samaritans since 2002 when she retired from the Hillsborough County School System as an elementary school principal. Currently volunteering as a dispatcher, she has done it all at Samaritans: driver, receptionist, dispatcher, as well as being the president and past Board member.

Sweethearts From the SCC Woman’s Club

Some members from the Sun City Center Woman’s Club visited five senior living facilities throughout the week. They designed Valentine’s crafts and helped residents, ages 85 to 102, make Valentine cards for their family and friends. In the photo: Rosita, Shawna, Joanne, Norma, and Valesca. Not pictures: Marge and Virginia

Kings Point Krafters’ Club Donation

The Krafters donated $1,200 to the Emergency Squad. In the photo: Catherine Yevoli, Pres. presents a check to Eileen Peco, with Public Relations, Ted Adamczyk, Driver, & Darlene Brown, Dispatcher, along with ladies from Krafters.

to residents of Sun City Center and Kings Point. For more information call VP of Membership Jon Lehr at 813-260-3058.

South Bay Genealogy Society Half Day Seminar

Tuesday, March 21, doors open at 9:30 a.m. United Methodist Church, 1971 Haverford Ave.

Guest Speaker will be Annette Burke Lyttle presenting “Following Ancestral Migrations: Three Case Studies” at 10:30am. Lunch will be at noon, followed by the second presentation “Beyond the Records – Putting Flesh on the Bones of Your Civil War Ancestor” at 1 p.m. Cost is $18 per person for the meal and the presentations. For reservations and meal choice, call Dianna at 864-607-1330. Make your check payable to SBGS and mail it to South Bay Genealogical Society, PO Box 5202, Sun City Center, FL 33571. Your check must be received in our Post Office Box by March 9.

Cathy Edmisten, CEO of HCA Florida South Shore Hospital in Sun City Center, was the guest speaker at the January membership meeting of the Sun City Center Men’s Club. Ms. Edmisten was interim CEO of the hospital two years ago and when Sheldon Barr left to take another position. A Florida native from Dunedin, Ms. Edmisten and her husband Scott have returned to their home state and will be near their children and grandchildren. For more info about the SCC Men’s Club call Jon Lehr, Membership VP, at 813-260-3058.

Community continued on page 7.

Bob Sullivan, President, SCC Men’s Club; Betsy Moriarty, FBI Operational Support Technician; Ed Barnes, VP Programs, SCC Men’s Club.

Betsy Moriarty, an Operational Support Technician assigned to the Counterintelligence Squad of the Tampa FBI field office was the guest speaker at the February members meeting of the Sun City Center Men’s Club. The SCC Men’s Club is open

Attending were Pres. Vicki Kosin, V.P. Rosemary Watkins, Secretary Susanne Hicks, and Treasurer Joel Richmond. Committee members

Seated in the front left, Diane Lea, Alice Bunn, Kathie Bastion, Linda Charbonneau,

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.

South Shore Symphony Orchestra

Presents “America the Beautiful”

Sunday, March 26, at 2 p.m. St. Andrew Presbyterian, 1239 W Del Webb. Tickets can be purchased at the office or at the door. Cost is $20.

Clean Comedy Benefit Event

Sunday, March 19, at 1 p.m.

Rollins Theater

Tickets are $12 at the SCCCA ticket kiosk in the Atrium. Show features Perry Edenburn from the Branson Stage as “Harley Worthit.” Additional Donations to Moffitt Cancer Center accepted at the concert. Make checks payable to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation and all donations received prior to March 29 will be matched up to $50,000.

Kenny Evans Returning For Brooks & Dunn Tribute

Friday, March 10, at 7 p.m.

United Methodist Church, 1971 Haverford Ave.

Country music performer Kenny Evans is bringing his unique Brooks & Dunn tribute back to SCC for the fourth time. Advance tickets: $15 at the church bookstore or online at www.sccumc.com. Tickets at the door: $20, if available. Info: Kevin Goodenow, at 813-3620956.

Jazzmatazz to Perform at the KP Follies

Friday, March 10, at 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 11, at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at the Kings Point Box Office. This year’s show promises to be more fun and greater entertainment than ever before! Info: Susan Wright, Jazzmatazz President at 603-499-1733.

Out of the Blue Band

Bunker’s Bar, Outdoors, S. Pebble Beach Blvd.

Fridays, March 10 and 24, at 3 p.m.

Enjoy Out of the Blue with Don Becker on guitar, Harold Davis on harmonica, Tony Morgera on bass, Rick Lemieux on keyboards, Dano Luttrell on guitar, and Russell Pawlowski on the drums.

Concert for a Cause

Moffitt Expansion Kickoff at Kings Point

Wednesday, March 29, 11 to 1 p.m.

Kings Point North Clubhouse

Kings Point and SCCCA residents invited to join Moffitt Cancer Center for a special event including a panel discussion, information about the new Moffitt facility, and a concert by the Moffitt band, The eMissions. Band members include Moffitt physicians. Proceeds to benefit colorectal cancer research. Tickets: “signupgenius.com/ go/moffittfundraiser”.

Singers Welcome for South Shore Community Chorus

Americana Concert

Monday, March 13, at 7 p.m. St. Andrews Presbyterian, 1239 W Del Webb Blvd.

The 30-piece South Shore Concert Band will feature hits from classic productions such as “Paint Your Wagon”, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”, “Blazing Saddles”, “The Magnificent Seven” and “Hoe Down.” Also, enjoy a few classic marches, including “Star and Stripes Forever” and “National Emblem”. The concert is open to the public, and a free will offering will be accepted.

Join South Shore Community Chorus for its spring season! This is an intergenerational community chorus under the direction of Kathryn Baldwin, providing an outlet for creative expression to singers in the South Shore area and beyond. The chorus has a collection of beautiful assorted music for the April concert, and the group needs you to help the chorus grow. Anyone, 17 and up, all voice parts, is welcome. No tryouts — just go and add your voice! Let this be the thing you do for you. The chorus meets every Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Sun City Center United Methodist Church, 1971 Haverford Avenue. The fee is $45 per member and all singers can keep their music. An April 18 concert is planned. Info: “aohara@southshorecommunitychorus.org” or “facebook.com/ southshorecommunitychorus”.

60th Anniversary for the Diamond Girls

The Women’s Chorus is thrilled to announce their diamond year as they celebrate their 60th anniversary. Upcoming concert performances are entitled “You Must Remember This...The Women’s Chorus Goes to the Movies!” Innovative director Jeff Jordan brilliantly partners with the chorus’ accompanist Bill Greer and drummer Danny Chavez. As always, expect a few surprises and hidden gems. Concerts will be presented at two different locations: Saturday, March 25, at 2 p.m.

United Methodist of SCC, 1971 Haverford Ave. Monday, March 27, at 4 p.m.

St. Andrew Presbyterian, 1239 Del Webb Blvd West

We are now approaching the beautiful Florida springtime! SCCCA still has some awesome shows for you before we wrap up the season. It’s always a joy seeing everyone dancing and enjoying themselves, especially with the weather getting nicer. A few shows you have to look forward to:

Currently we are selling tickets for our March comedian Hypnotist show with Hypnolarryous. That show takes place on Wednesday, March 15, at Community Hall 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd and can be purchased for $15.

If you have not grabbed your tickets for our March entertainment series shows you still have time. Here is what you don’t want to miss!

Our Friday show with Rocky & The Rollers on March 10 at 7:30 p.m. for $20 and our Sunday show March 26 with Dolly Parton Tribute by Karen Hester for $20 at 2:30 p.m. All tickets can be purchased at the atrium kiosk off N. Course Drive Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 to noon. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call me at 813-642-2001.

The chorus gratefully accepts free-will donations to offset concert expenses. To inquire about adopting a song or to schedule a performance, call Jayann Michael at 813-645-2472.

The Sun City Center Men’s Chorus extends the welcome mat for new singers and returning alumni as rehearsals are underway for its spring concerts. Rehearsals are Thursdays, from 3 to 5 p.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian, 1229 W. Del Webb Blvd. Info: Peter Aloutto, “paluotto259@gmail.com”.

Tiffany Rivers

DANCING

Senior Social Dance Group

Tuesdays, March 7 and March 21, St. John Divine, 1015 Del Webb Blvd. E.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dancing from 6 to 9 p.m. $6, RSVP only, no walk-ins. These dances are always open to Sun City Center & Kings Point residents and their guests. Our entertainer is Thor Stevens and his sax. Dressy/casual attire, no shorts or jeans. BYOB, ice, set-ups, and snacks. Reservations: text Judy Furman, 425-2143996 or email “judyannfurman@gmail.com”.

Do You Wanna Dance Club

St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance

Friday, March 17, Doors open at 5 p.m.

SCC Community Hall located at 1910 South Pebble Beach Blvd. Southshore Cruisers will provide the dance music. Buffet dinner served at 5:30 p.m. Dancing from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets on sale M-W-F from 10 to noon through March 15. No tickets can be purchased at the door. Tickets: $30 members, guests $40. St. Patrick’s Day attire is recommended. BYOB and snacks. Info: “jkfunnsun@yahoo.com”, “bgocek1@gmail.com”.

Come Dance With Us

Saturday, March 18

Kings Point North Clubhouse, Veterans Theater

Doors open at 6 p.m. Free 30-minute dance lesson. Dancing from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Live music by LB & Chloe. All welcome. Cost $5 at the door. Call Rosemary 513-258-8238 to be placed on the visitor list. BYOB, water and ice provided. Info: Ken, 513-582-8449.

SCC Dance Club

Saturday, March 18, from 6:15 to 9 p.m.

SCC Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd

Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with the SCC Dance Club. Open to all residents of greater SCC, including Kings Point and nearby communities. Dance to your favorite music provided by Bernice Dubro. Bernice will also teach a free dance lesson (merengue) prior to the dance. Attire is smart casual. No shorts please. Members attend free and nonmembers pay $6 per person at the door. BYOB and snacks, the club provides water and ice. Info: 813-729-3911 or “cfmac2021@outlook.com”.

Moonglow Dance Country Western Night

March 23, from 7 to 9 p.m.

SCC Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.

Live music by LB & Chloe. BYOB and snacks. Ice, water, and cups will be provided. All SCC residents and Freedom Plaza residents with their card are invited, as well as Kings Point Gold Card or Dance Pass holders. Moonglow members free, guests $6 at the door.

Sun City Center Line Dance Club

Tuesdays, SCC Community Hall. Learn to line dance with the Sun City Center Line Dance Club. All SCC CA residents, Freedom Plaza and KP Gold Card members are invited to join the club. The first class is free with all others costing $2 per class. Become a member and pay only $20 per year for all classes. Beginners class is at 6:30 p.m. Beyond beginners class at 5:15 p.m. Friday, Atrium Building Dance Studio. Intermediate class at 2:15. Improver class at 3:15. Info: Tracey, “torresdwts@yahoo.com”.

Swing & Country Dance Club

Free dance lessons in March for SCCCA members, a Freedom Plaza ID, Kings Point Dance Club Card or a Kings Point Gold Card.

Every Friday 6 to 6:30 p.m. West Coast Swing 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Every Second and Fourth Sunday 6 to 6:30 p.m. Country Two-Step 6:30 to 8 p.m. Open dance and practice

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

Social Ballroom and Latin Dance Lessons

Monday, March 6, 13, 20, 27

4 PM - Intermediate Silver Bolero

5 PM - Intermediate 2 Rumba

6 PM - Beginning/Intermediate I Nightclub Two-Step

7 PM - Beginning Waltz

St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Parish Hall, 1015 East Del Webb Blvd. Contact: Bernice DuBro (dancewithbernice@gmail. com) 813-634-3205 or 813-482-6784. Cost $30 for a four-week month or $8 per lesson.

Essential Tremor Support Group

By Mike Lee

A new support group has been formed in Sun City Center for those affected by Essential Tremor, according to Gezil Andrews, who has been appointed as Support Group Leader by the International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF).

“Support groups are a big part of IETF,” Andrews said. The local group is only the fourth group to be formed in Florida, and is the first in the Tampa/Sarasota area. Essential Tremor is a neurological disorder that causes rhythmic shaking, particularly in the hands, head, and voice. This condition affects as many as 20% of seniors. Although age is a factor, the condition can strike anyone of any age. “In fact, about four scholarships a year are given to college students who have Essential Tremor,” Andrews said.

Essential Tremor is often confused with Parkinson’s Disease, but is a different condition, and is about eight times as common as Parkinson’s.

“One thing that has just overwhelmed me since I first had Essential Tremor is how little known Essential Tremor is,” she said. She has noticed blogs with people asking what their experiences have been and asking for treatment recommendations. “You can’t do that. We are all different in our size, our age, our weight, our nutrition, our activity, our heredity. You have to see a motion disorder specialist, be diagnosed, and then let them help walk you through it.”

When asked about her personal experience with Essential Tremor, Andrews said that she “was having difficulty swallowing, somewhere around seven years ago. An allergy doctor wanted to do a swallow test on me to see if I had any allergies that had damaged my throat. When he did the test, he saw my vocal cords trembling, and that’s when he diagnosed Essential Tremor.”

The condition can be emotionally draining. “If you

go out to eat and are dropping salad on the floor, or you can’t hold your coffee cup without two hands, people notice,” said Andrews. “People notice my lips moving a lot. In fact I had a little girl come up to me and she said ‘Are you whispering a secret to me.’ No honey, I’m not talking. She said ‘your lips are moving all the time.’ Well, that was embarrassing.”

Andrews noted the importance of exercise, “because there is more and more research coming out that physical activity will help offset the tremors. I think part of the reason is that it strengthens your body, so if you fall, you can catch yourself. I use little squeeze balls to keep my hands mobile and strong. I do a lot of light weights and core exercises.”

The support group will be meeting at Sun Towers the third Tuesday of every month at 2:30 p.m. In March, the meeting will take place on March 21. “Anyone is welcome, if they have Essential Tremor, are concerned they have Essential Tremor, or have a loved one with Essential Tremor. Some folks that have Parkinson’s that may wish to sit in because there is some overlap,” Andrews said. The support group is open to anyone.

Gezil Andrews, Support Group Leader.

Boots and Bling is Helping Kids

Join the Service Club of Manatee County for BOOTS & BLING, an evening of great food, live music and dancing, open saloon, silent and live auction and much more. The event will be held Saturday, March 25, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Manatee County Fairgrounds. For ticket information or to make a donation, please contact gala chair Marlo Lane at

941-465-9446 or visit www. manateeserviceclub.com.

Since 1927, the Service Club of Manatee County has been made up of a united group of women whose sole purpose is to support children who reside in Manatee County. Each year they raise money through private donations and their one and only fundraising event: For the Love of Children Gala (Boots & Bling).

Security Patrol Golf Cart Raffle Winners

By Mike Lee

The Sun City Center Security Patrol recently announced the winners of their annual golf cart raffle. Deputy Jeff Merry drew the winning ticket. The lucky winners this year were John and Linda Newbury. Tim Broad, Chief of Patrol, said, “I thank all those Patrol Members who worked so hard selling tickets and promoting this fundraiser, which continues to make a significant contribution to our funds each year.”

Strawberry Fields Forever

By Andrea L.T. Peterson

Their website wasn’t kidding. Of course, I hadn’t checked the website before heading out to Goodson Farms Strawberry Market one afternoon last week. And just as the website warned, we were arriving at the busiest time of day for the Market. There must have been more than 100 customers there—some of whom were in the line to order before us.

But Goodson’s has a system, perfected over more than four decades to become an area highlight! You can park your car and glance to the right of the Market itself, and see what appears to be strawberry fields, forever—to steal a phrase from the Beatles. Half of the ADA accessible market is for customers lining up with a good view of the menu board which lists the offerings from everything strawberry (shortcake, sundae, milkshake, strawberry pizza— yes, pizza, to an assortment of sandwiches (grilled cheese, hot

dog, BBQ pork, or a Cuban).

The other side of the interior is dedicated to flats of strawberries for sale and other things strawberry. Seating is all outside on either side of the building with plenty of picnic tables to accommodate a good-sized crowd.

Goodson’s started their market in 1979 in the white building at the north corner of CR-672 (Balm Road) and Balm Riverview Road just east of the current location and is still owned and operated by the third generation of the Goodson family.

12405 County Road 672, Wimauma, FL Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Closed Sunday

CARIBBEAN 8 Days / 7 Nights From $1399 pp Balcony

Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas

Miami • Perfect Day in Coco Cay • St Thomas • St Kitts

Fantastic !!

NORWEIGIAN GETAWAY 9 Days / 8 Nights From $1499 pp Balcony

Port Canaveral • Antigua • Dominican Republic and more!

INCLUDES PERKS !

A TRUE AFRICAN ADVENTURE 10 Days / 9 Nights

From $4657 pp plus airfare

Other dates too Salute Africa

Cape Town • Cape of Good Hope • Table Mountain • Cape Winelands

• Zimbabwe • Victoria Falls • Elephant Back Safari

• Botswana Game Viewing Safari • Tour of Namibian village

• Chobe River • Many Meals Included

• Super amazing small group experience Max group size is 8

SOUTHERN GALAPAGOS 8 Days / 7 Nights From $12999 pp Balcony

Celebrity Xpedition

Baltra • N Seymour Island • Santa Cruz • San Cristobal • Elizabeth Bay

• Gardner Bay and more! plus Low Cost Airfare !! Amazing !!

NORTHERN GALAPAGOS 8 Days / 7 Nights From $5499 pp

Baltra • Black Turtle Cove

Celebrity Xpedition

• Tagus Cove • Irvina Bay • Bartolome Island

• Darwin Bay and more! plus Low Cost Airfare !! Amazing !!

GREEK ISLES NEW SHIP 10 Days / 9 Nights From$3199 pp

Norwegian Viva

Athens • Istanbul • Santorini • Mykonos • Katakolon • Messina

• Naples • Livorno • Nice

INCLUDES PERKS!!!

JEWELS OF THE RHINE 8 Days / 7 Nights From $3399 pp

Emerald Waterways Emerald Sky

Basil to Amsterdam • Castles and more!! plus airfare !!!

ICELAND 14 Days / 13 Nights From $10399 pp

Seabourn Venture

Reykjavik • Iceland • Greenland • Norway and so much more

• too much to list plus airfare !!!

ITALIAN REVIERA & FRANCE 14 Days / 13 Nights From $3899 pp Verandas!

Celebrity Reflection

Barcelona • Provence • Nice • Florence • Sicily • Naples

KENYA & TANZANIA: THE SAFARI EXPERIENCE 15 DAYS/14 NIGHTS

From $9999 pp

Globus Tours Small Group Tours limited to 20 passengers Max.

Samburu National Reserve with 3 Game Drives • Ol Pejeta Conservatory

• Nyahururu Falls • Lake Nakuru National Park game drive • Maasai Mara National Reserve 3 Game Drives Bush Breakfast • Amboseli National Park 3

Game drives Sundowner drinks • Tloma Local family visit to learn about the local culture

• Ngorongoro Crater Full Day Game Drive • Serengeti National Park 3 game drives Farewell bush Dinner. So much more !!

Safari vehicle limited to 6 pax so you will always have a window seat! This is a bucket list not to be missed vacation experience. plus International Airfare

Tremendous Tiffany at Selby Gardens

By Kai Rambow

It’s not often this happens. Instead of a blue box from Tiffany’s with jewelry, you get to give yourself the gift of Tiffany at a fraction of the cost. Louis Comfort Tiffany was the son of the founder of Tiffany’s and became an artist in his own right. The work most of you will probably associate with Tiffany are Tiffany lamps. He is most renowned for his work with stained glass, but he had a wide range of artistic interest and works.

Winter Park

We have featured the Morse Museum in Winter Park before. The wide range of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s work can be seen here. This is not a huge museum, but the collection of work is breathtaking. You can do this as a day trip visiting the museum, taking a boat ride on the lakes and choosing from numerous restaurants.

Selby Gardens

Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature is Selby Gardens seventh featured artist. This annual exhibit featuring a different artist each year shows the artist’s works, Selby Gardens interpretations of the artist’s works and captures

our imaginations. I consider myself fortunate to have seen each one. The friends I traveled with believe this may be the best one to date.

So, what makes this exhibit so special? In the Payne Mansion, close to 40 Tiffany works from a private collection are on display. The colors in the works are gorgeous. This alone would be worth the price of admission. Also in the mansion, in the passageway, are “spirit” samples, lit subtly making something seemingly simple into an artistic display. Don’t get too excited, the “spirits” samples are flowers preserved in alcohol. Sorry, no drinking here.

The conservatory once again plunges you into the world of the exhibit. The large stained glass representations are offset by small orchids artistically merged into pieces of wood reminding one of driftwood. Large twodimensional flowers hang from the ceiling and masterfully seem to naturally blend with the real plant life. Recommend taking close up views and standing back for a more encompassing view.

Selby has taken advantage of their space with outdoor exhibits

spaced throughout the gardens. These are worth the walk. One display representing stained glass transformed the plants behind it creating a magical, other worldly look. My favorite is the gazebo designed to represent stained glass flowers, surrounded by real flowers. Walk around and enjoy the views. Tip: the water in the center has some stunning reflections of the gazebo.

I’m already planning to bring visitors to this exhibit, confident that they’ll enjoy this tremendous show.

Tips for a Great Trip

Timing: Recommend arriving for opening time at 10. The angle of light will provide some of the best views for certain outdoor displays.

Parking: The parking deck is being built. In the meantime, Selby has thoughtfully set up complimentary valet parking. An early start should be helpful here as well.

Seeing the show: Getting a map at the entrance should be helpful. The conservatory is a great way to start, walk through the outside exhibits and finish at the Payne Mansion. Take some time to recharge at the café on

site and/or revisit some of your favorites from the show.

Clothing: You’ll mostly be in the shade, but you may need sunscreen. Comfortable walking shoes, and of course, your camera.

Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature At Selby Gardens until June 25, 2023

The gazebo was a favorite with created flowers and real flowers. Check out the reflections in the water in the center.

The conservatory has a wonderful blend of created pieces and real plants. It magically works together.

Some of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s other works are on display. The photograph doesn’t capture the intensity of blues in this artwork.

Representative glass panels cast fabulous colors creating another world feeling to plants in the gardens.

SPORTS

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

Lawn Bowling Men’s Pairs Champions

By Garry Higgins

‘Suncoasters” Pairs Champions, Cindy Higgins and Connie Gilpin.

SCC Lawn Bowling Women’s Pairs Champions

By Garry Higgins

In the final match of the Suncoasters (women’s) Pairs Championship, it was the team of Cindy Higgins and Connie Gilpin winning over Donna Blaine and Carolyn Ray. Yet another exciting match that came down to the final shots in the final (16th) end. This contest was thoroughly enjoyed by the numerous spectators on hand. Info: www.suncitycenterlbc. com .

Thirty-eight of the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club’s best men’s bowlers started in this single-knock-out competition. Both Al Pelliccio and Sylvain Larocque had won four straight matches to make it to the final. After an exciting game to twenty-one shots, Sylvain Larocque was the winner and is the 2023 Pebble Beach Singles Champion.

The Pebble Beach (men’s) Division of the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club completed a weeklong playdown to determine the 2023 Men’s Pairs Champions. After the final 16 end game which was a battle of the leads (Rich and Dave), the new champions are Ken Martucci and Rich Maxedon winning over Garry Higgins and Dave Wilson.

SCC Ringers Tournaments

Four contests were held: Singles A Group; Single B Group; Doubles Picked Partner; Doubles Assigned Partner. This arrangement spread out the chances of winning a Top Stop.

Ringers encourages both women and men to come out, get some training and practice then join us. Free coffee, monthly lunch. free donuts on Board Meeting days, plenty of camaraderie, and fun. We play Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 8:30 to 10:15. Call Joe Epstein 575-361-5325.

Record Setting Senior Basketball Club

These six senior captains representing Hillsborough County Recreation Departments will play in the Polk County Games March 4 in Lakeland. They are the largest known contingent. Left to right: Ron Duncan age 50-55, Scott Stone Age 55-60, Mike Kern age 6065, Pete Mitchell age 65-70, Keith Oakley age 70-75, and Jim Rogers age 75-80. Visit SouthShoreBasketball.com for more information about joining.

The Caloosa Women’s Golf Association 18 hole league (CWGA18) met for our general meeting after playing an ABC Scramble on Wednesday, January 25. The general meeting covered current issues and a review of some Rules of Golf which have changed recently. Rose Bryan’s hospitality crew provided beautiful table decorations, dessert brownies and beverages to go with our brown bag lunch.

Prizes were awarded to the teams in 1st through 3rd places. The team of Elaine Hoffman, Barb Struble and Joyce Shade tied for 1st place with the team of Judy Wagner, Lynn Noyes, and Jana Roberts with a score of 68. The third place team was Kim Moore and Linda Suh with a score of 70.

Sports continued on page 13.

First place Singles A Group: Ray Codner.

First place Singles B Group: Rich Buplcavage.

First place Doubles Assigned Partner: Scott Wood and Jim Mitchell.

First place Doubles Picked Partner: Tim Baker and Rich Bulcavage.

2023 Men’s Champions, Ken Martucci and Rich Maxedon.

Sports continued from page

Fountain of Youth Is Lawn Bowling

At the age of 92, Glenn Bauman won our Thursday Night Marble Bowling Championship. Glenn was competing with players who were 55 to 75 years old. Glenn and his wife, Viola, joined the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club in 2002. They both were top notch bowlers leading their teams to many victories. We knew when Viola was bowling since she always wore beautiful hats. After Viola passed on, Glenn added a spindle to our flag pole in her memory. It is a fine tribute to a talented woman.

Glenn sought many ways to help the club. He was the first to suggest a little putting green cup that is used as a money maker during FunFest. He worked hard selling tickets when we had the spaghetti dinners in the Community Hall. Glenn and Viola enjoyed and excelled in the various steps as they danced around a room. Glenn still is a dancer and appreciates the number of women who add their name to his dance card at Aston Garden Courtyard. The Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club salutes Glenn Baumann, a senior gentleman in our club who is a role model to those who follow in his steps. Info: www.suncitycenterlbc.com.

On Saturday, February 18, $2,275.00 was raised for the Boys and Girls Club of Ruskin by 43 tennis players and other donors in our community. Sun City Center Tennis Association’s Teaching Pro, Michael Irving, organized the players in six rounds of play. Michael has collected 70+ vintage rackets for the players to use in this annual event. Everyone was encouraged to dress in vintage tennis attire. Prizes were awarded to Wayne Keyes and Yong Sun Hodge for their original vintage outfits.

“Junior” and “Senior” Champions

By Garry Higgins

At the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club, you are considered a “Junior” if you are a member aged 70 through 79. After you reach the age of 80, you join the “Senior” ranks. These two separate singles tournaments started with more than 30 entries and were played over the course of several days (single-knockout) to get to the Championship round. For the Juniors, it was Bob Fladung winning against and Garry Higgins while on the Senior side, it was Joe Mignogna over Paddy Lennon.

SCC Tennis Association Board

Meet the 2023 Tennis Association Board of Directors. L to R: Neal Peterson, Membership; Pat Iacurci, Social Director; John Milano, Treasurer; Billy White, President; Deb Zieg, Member at Large; Melody O’Sullivan, Vice President and Nancy Clark, Secretary.

SCC Volleyball Club Update

By Bob Monahan

Sun City Center’s Senior Volleyball Club is alive and well since the Volleyball and Pickleball courts were closed for reconstruction of those facilities. Credit our club president, Jodie Rector for finding alternatives in the interim. This is the new volleyball schedule:

Monday and Thursday: 8:3010:30 playing on the temporary grass court behind the security building off of North Pebble Beach Blvd.

Wednesday: sand volleyball is played in Apollo Beach. Meet at 8:15 a.m. sharp at the Community Hall to carpool to Apollo Beach Recreation Center or you can

drive to the court located at 664 Gulf and Sea Blvd, Apollo Beach by 8:30 a.m. This is open to the public for adult play and no club membership is required.

Saturday: playing at Kings Point Volleyball Court on KP South Campus from 9 to 11 a.m.

If you are new to volleyball it should be noted that this is competitive with a focus on fun and open to SCC residents and Gold Card members. Guests of SCC can play three times before deciding to join the club at a nominal yearly fee of $15. For more information contact the club president, Jodie Rector at: “volleyballclubofscc@gmail. com”.

“Junior” Champion, left, Bob Fladung and “Senior” Champion Joe Mignogna.

County Events

MON. MAR 6 - MONDAYS - PARKINSON’S BOXING

CLASSES 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. Sun City Center, FL Join Caroline Futch (Owner/Coach of Southshore PD Fitness & Rock Steady Boxing Southshore). These fitness classes improve quality-of-life as well as help make new friends in the Southshore community who support and understand each other and PD. Please call Caroline Futch for info and to schedule an evaluation prior to starting classes at 352.274.4883 or email: southshorepdfitness@ gmail.com – website: southshorefl.rsbaffiliate.com.

MON. MAR 6 - CENTER 4LIFE

LEARNING – Living With ADHD

Class Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Mar 6, at United Methodist Church of SCC, 1971 Haverford Ave, Sun City Center. To register for class: Living With ADHD, led by Nancy Starewicz, $10, register online www.sccumc. com/4lifelearning or at the Center 4Life Learning office, 1971 Haverford Ave, SCC, with cash, check or credit card. Office hours: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., (813) 634-8607.

TUE. MAR 7 - APR 11 - THE MAH JONGG CLUB OFFERS LESSONS

Classes are 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon and 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. for six weeks in the Sandpiper Room in the Atrium (North Campus) Must be a CA member please. Please call Eileen Spectrum at 813-4162926 or email Lois Berman at bermanlois@yahoo.com.

WED. MAR 8, 15, 22, 29 -

THERAPEUTIC 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, You will be required to wear a mask to protect our residents. For more information, contact Debbie Caneen at 813-892-2990.

THU. MAR 9 - PARTNERS IN NETWORK – BUSINESS 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 referral-based business growth. Our members develop strong long-term 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. MAR 9 - FREE BALANCE

SCREENING FOR KINGS POINT

RESIDENTS 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Main Clubhouse Lobby, Kings Point. Special event for fundraising on behalf of Moffitt Cancer Center. Join us for balance screenings and participate in a 50/50 raffle and a chance to win a Lotto Board! Our therapists from 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. See the results before your eyes through biofeedback. Free screening is offered the 2nd Thursday of each month 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Call to schedule today! (813) 331-3035.

FRI. MAR 10 - LOW VISION

SUPPORT GROUP 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. SCC. Join Seniors in Service for this monthly group which mixes Support Group with Community resources to improve the lives of blind and low vision individuals. While we will have a speaker, we encourage sharing among members. Questions? Contact Michelle Mason 813-492-8920.

SAT. MAR 11 - WELLNESS ON THE GO 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 1971 Haverford Avenue Rom 30, Sun City Center Florida. No cost. This two-hour orientation session is designed for advocates of victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, abuse, crime, and other traumas. It was created to help community service providers who found themselves needing help after a major crisis impacted them as well as their clients. Participants will learn how to apply a WRAP® - Wellness Recovery Action Plan to improve lives. A followup 16-hour certification course will be offered at no cost as part of the VOCA K05404 Award. Registration: “web.spcollege. edu/survey/34710” or 727-3448027.

TUE. MAR 14 - THE GREATER SUN CITY CENTER REGISTERED NURSES CLUB MEETS 10:00 a.m. for a field trip to Gannon University. All Registered Nurses are invited to attend. We are looking for ideas for the future of our club, so please bring suggestions to the meeting. Contact Vivian Hodgkin for details. 803-309-4392.

THU. MAR 16 - FREE BALANCE SCREENING FOR SCC RESIDENTS 10:00 - 12:00 noon at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Drive, Sun City Center. Special events for fundraising on behalf of Moffitt Cancer Center. Join us for balance screenings and participate in a 50/50 raffle and a chance to win a Lotto Board! Our therapists from 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. See the results before your eyes through biofeedback. Interested in

knowing more now? Free screening is offered the 2nd Thursday of each month 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Call to schedule today! (813) 331-3035.

THU. MAR 16 - VETERANS CLUB VALOR CAFE 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Drive, Sun City Center. Are you a Veteran or First Responder? A fresh take on our monthly meetings. Valor Cafes are social hours during which Veterans and First Responders find camaraderie. During this relaxed and comforting event, you can share stories and interact with others who share a common bond through shared experiences. We provide refreshments, coffee, soft drinks or adult beverages and you provide the conversation. This will be recurring the third Thursday of every month. Questions contact Michelle Mason 813-492-8920 or mmason@seniorsinservice.org.

MON. MAR 20 - PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SUN CITY CENTER 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community 101 Trinity Lakes Drive, Sun City Center in the theater. Our speaker will be William Parker, owner of DeliveRxd Pharmacy. DeliveRxd Pharmacy is an Independent Community Pharmacy servicing the needs of Sun City Center and provides free pharmacy delivery all over the State of Florida and excellent patient care. If you have had success with any treatment you have tried, please come to share! If you have Parkinson’s, or

are caring for someone with this disease, be sure to attend this support group! Complimentary valet parking available at entrance. For additional info, call Debbie Caneen 813-8922990.

TUE. MAR 21 - ESSENTIAL TREMOR (IETF) SUPPORT GROUP 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr, Sun City Center, FL 33573. The International Association of Essential Tremors (IETF) has appointed Gezil Andrews, Sun City Center resident as the Support Group Leader (SGL) for this new Sun City Center Support Group. Essential Tremor (ET) affects more than 10 million Americans. Typically diagnosed by a Neurologist, Essential Tremor causes rhythmic tremors of the hands, legs, head and voice. While ET is not fatal, it can severely affect a person’s quality of life. Support Groups help provide sharing and connection that can offset this distress. Questions? Call Debbie Caneen 813-892-2990.

THU. MAR 23 - YOU ARE INVITED! SUN TERRACE REHABILITATION OPEN HOUSE 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Sun Towers, 101 Trinity Lakes Drive, SCC. Free valet service at entrance. Join us as we celebrate our newly renovated therapy gym with state-of-the-art equipment. Enjoy hot appetizers, prizes, and raffles as we fundraise on behalf of Moffitt Cancer Center. For information, call Debbie Caneen 813-892-2990.

Provided by Debbie Caneen, Director Admissions, Sun Towers

FAITH &service

New Jewelry Thrift Shoppe

Divine Jewelry Thrift Shoppe opens March 8. Every Wednesday from 9 to 1 p.m. at St. John Divine Episcopal Church, 1015 E. Del Webb Blvd. Info: Barbara Gentry 813-367-7184 or Jackie Winder 813-633-3198.

Empty Bowls Project

March 8, from 11:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Kings Point North Clubhouse Veterans Theater

The Empty Bowls fundraiser will provide resources for families right here in our area. Calvary Lutheran Church and United Methodist Church of SCC are partnering with Kings Point Pottery Club and Kings Point Vesta to serve you soup, bread, and cookies for your $20 donation which will help so many others. You will be able to select a handcrafted empty pottery bowl. There will be spectacular silent auction baskets for bidding, wonderfully crafted items from clubs for sale, and a 50/50 raffle. Please come sometime between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to enjoy lunch with friends who want to help in this worthwhile project. Tickets may be purchased at the churches or Kings Point Box office. Info: Joanie Frantz 248-990-2105 or Shelly Brooks 248-505-8237.

Beth Israel Program

“Things That Go Bump In The Night”

Sunday, March 19, at 2 to 3:30 p.m. • Beth Israel, 1115 E Del Webb Ricki Bauman, a former Night Superintendent now retired from the New York City Transit on the former IRT Division of the Subway. Ricki oversaw the Lines 1-7 and the 42nd Street Shuttle. Accidents were her area of expertise. She will show us how actual accidents happened and what was done to make the system safer. This will be a slideshow with real artifacts to touch and see for this program. Free to the public. Please RSVP to “program1@jcscc.org” by Wednesday, March 15.

Wellness On The Go

March 11, from 9 to noon

United Methodist, 1971 Haverford Ave. Room 30

This two-hour orientation session is designed for advocates of victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, abuse, crime, and other traumas. It was created to help community service providers who found themselves needing help after a major crisis impacted them as well as their clients. Presented by St. Petersburg College, Center for Public Safety Innovation and Hosted by the Campaign Against Human Trafficking – South Shore. Free to attend. RSVP to 727-344-8027 or “web.spcollege.edu/survey/34710”.

Home Safety For Seniors

Thursday, March 16, at 10 a.m.

The Health Ministry at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, in cooperation with Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue is offering a free Senior Home Safety Course in POP’s Conesa Center located at 702 Valley Forge Blvd. Come learn how to make your home a safer place to live, including ways to prevent falling! Registration is required at www.popcc.org/senior-home-safety. Last day to register is Friday, March 10.

CAHT Meeting

March 21, at 6:30 p.m.

United Methodist, Room 30, 1971 Haverford Ave.

CAHT will introduce our Upstanders Puppeteers, directed by Jan Gurley, and show an excerpt from the video they are producing. Also, CAHT will present Social Media Safety 2.0, presented by our outreach chair Deb Petrocelli. We all need to learn what to watch for and how to avoid internet predators so we can stay safe with our technology. Info: 847-524-9215 “www.sccblueheart.org”.

Spring Art & Crafts Fair

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church

April 1, from 10 to 2 p.m.

St. Andrew Presbyterian, 1239 Del Webb W. Browse and enjoy 50 tables of wonderful art and crafts. Shop for your Easter presents. A grilled hotdog lunch can be purchased for $5. Then browse through the baked sale for a variety of homemade items. But wait, that’s not all. You can view the many Roamin’ Oldies cars on display in the front parking area.

St. Andrew Presbyterian Events

Qigong Classes

Mondays in March at 1 p.m.

$5 donation for each class

Info: Daline Dudley, 860-605-7868

Free Hot Lunch

Wednesdays from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m.

Meals are prepared by Metropolitan Ministries Pizza and a Movie

Thursday, March 16, at 5 p.m.

AYCE pizza, dessert, soft drink for $7 Church office is open Monday through Friday 10 to 1 p.m. More info: 813-634-1252. Location: 1239 W Del Webb.

Adogable Pets

Ron Clark’s Family Connection To Sun City Center

By Paula Lickfeldt

Before he was elected to the Board and named President, Ron Clark already had a Family Connection to SCC. Ron’s parents had a home built on the last lot on Winterbrook Way. They lived in Trumbull, Connecticut and became snowbirds in SCC in 1996. While living in SCC, Ron’s father was the irrigation specialist for the HOA and he played golf at Caloosa Golf and Country Club. Ron’s mother belonged to several of the arts and crafts clubs and she played golf at Caloosa as well.

Ron and his wife, Nancy,

were high school sweethearts and married after both had graduated from college. They have been married for 53 years and have two children, a son and a daughter, and they have four grandchildren.

Before they moved here, Ron, Nancy, and their kids would come to Florida twice a year to visit. Nancy was a schoolteacher, so they had to come around her vacations, usually Christmas and Spring Break.

Ron worked for General Electric in sales and marketing for 25 years in seven different locations. He decided to go

out on his own and started RM Clark Associates Inc., which sold electrical equipment in New England and upstate New York. He owned the company for 22 years before he sold it. The

company is still thriving today. Sun City Center offers many activities to participate in and Ron partakes in several of them. He is on a SCC softball team, he plays tennis with the Tennis Association’s Sundogs Men’s group, he plays golf at Caloosa Golf and Country Club and he enjoys spending time at the fitness center.

Through the years Ron’s family had a lot of fun coming to SCC to visit. He would tell his parents that they could sell the CT house but they could not sell the SCC home. Now, after many years of visiting, Ron and Nancy call SCC home too.

AAUW Honors Janet Smith as Woman of the Year

Every year the local SCC SouthShore Branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women) chooses a local woman to be honored as Woman of the Year for outstanding volunteer and/ or professional work. Join us Saturday, March 18, to honor Janet Smith. Come at 9:30 a.m for light brunch and social time and the program starts at 10 a.m. The meeting is in the Florida room where $10 will be collected at the door to offset the price of food.

Janet is one of those enterprising people who see a need and then work to overcome that need. After graduating Valedictorian from her high school class in Morristown, Indiana, she received a degree in Business Administration with a

minor in Religion. Her husband of 64 years is a retired Christian Church minister in several

Collector’s

By Francine Webb

Some people become fashion pioneers or are easily recognized by their unique style. What is a “Trademark Accessory”? A signature piece, a symbol, a distinctive hallmark? Let’s take the mustache for example. Who comes to mind when you think of an easily recognizable mustache? Clark Gable?

Dali? Hitler? Groucho Marx?

Tom Selleck? Charlie Chaplin?

Sam Elliott? Einstein? It may be that a person’s personality is embodied by a particular accessory, whether it’s a hat or a pearl necklace such as was worn by Queen Elizabeth

II or Barbara Bush. Today, let’s talk about a trailblazer in a traditionally male field.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second female to sit on the Supreme Court, along with Sandra Day O’Connor, decided it would be appropriate to include as part of their robe something typically feminine. Because the standard robe is made for a man, allowing the shirt and tie to show, Ginsburg and O’Connor felt it would be appropriate to jazz up their robes with a lace jabot. The idea was to claim what was a traditional male uniform and defiantly feminize it. This

Indiana cities. Janet served in every capacity including organist at the churches as well as raising three children--she also worked for Roche Diagnostics as a Documentation Consultant for 22 years. She traveled to Switzerland and Germany to teach Business Writing. They retired and have spent half a year in Sun City Center since 2007. Almost immediately she volunteered at Hillsborough Correctional Institute which has now been closed for years. While a mentor there she and other ladies saw that many of the women had no place to live after leaving prison so she started Haven of Hope—a nonprofit that rented a house in Ruskin that was a faith-based home for women as a transition. The Home closed in 2020 due

to Covid but the non-profit still exists to help women who are struggling with financial and other issues upon release from prison.

Recently she has traveled to Poland to help at a Church Camp where over 100 refugees from Ukraine were housed. She was there for two weeks doing various chores and games with the children. She raised funds to help with their food expenses and to provide toys and supplies. Janet is symbolic of so many women who see a desperate need ignored by government and other entities and then ‘Figure Out A Way’ to make it better!

If anyone has any questions regarding AAUW and this Branch please call President Susan Nasrani at 570-401-5346.

was a radical move on their part. In 1993, women in the workforce wore pantsuits to avoid looking too “girlie”, undermining the seriousness women received.

Eventually, Ginsburg branched out from lace, amassing an impressive collection of collars made of beads and shells in a wide range of styles and colors epitomizing a longoverdue feminine dynamism on the Supreme Court. The style of the collar mirrored the essence of her collar, providing a shield on those days when she rebelled.

In a 2014 interview with Katie

Couric, Ginsburg opened the stately wood doors of her wardrobe exposing the black robes on one side and her extensive assortment of elegant collars, taking up more than half the hangar space – one for every occasion and for every kind of opinion. For those inclined to read hidden messages, the collars became symbols signaling her positions before she even opened her mouth and they represented her distinctive role on the country’s highest court. They represented her toughness and her

disapproval

At the refugee camp in Poland: L to R: Luda Yatskovc with her baby boy, Janet Smith, and Galena Syrotiuk.

The Men's Club of SCC

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 Philips Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) at a more competitive rate than what Philips 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 Philips 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.

Call the Men’s Club 813-633-7091 or stop by our office 1002 Cherry Hills Drive,SCC

BOOK REVIEW

Inside the Mind of The Secret Life of Sunflowers

Author Marta Molnar

By Andrea L.T. Peterson

Over time, the papers, manuscripts, and other treasures of long-gone writers turn up somewhere and become public—or accessible to the public. Unfortunately, such was not the case with the papers of Johanna Bonger, Vincent Van Gogh’s sisterin-law. As a result, author Marta Molnar says, “I’m pretty sure I currently have the best Van Gogh library on the East Coast!”

Q: Why the title The Secret Life of Sunflowers?

A: I didn’t want to call it “Vincent Van Gogh’s Sister-inLaw.” It probably would have sold more copies since everyone loves Vincent, but I wanted to introduce Johanna as her own person. I thought The Secret Life of Sunflowers hinted at the art and suggested that readers will be discovering something new in the pages of the book that, perhaps, they didn’t know before. It was also important for me to have her portrait on the cover. I really wanted to honor her with this story.

Q: You said you saw a documentary on Johanna Bonger, who at 28 inherited all of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings. What impressed you so much you felt compelled to write about her, in spite of the fact you “don’t write historical fiction, women’s fiction, or stories based on true events.”

A: I’ve been thinking of writing something different from my usual books for a while. I normally write romantic suspense but, during COVID, watching people dying on TV every night, I found I didn’t want to write murder. I needed something different, something that would nourish my mind and my soul. So, I thought it might be the right

time to write about Johanna. She is so inspiring.

Q: What was the hardest part of your research for this book?

I don’t speak Dutch, for one. Also, her diaries were not made public at that time. I had to hunt down research materials. And then, during the writing phase, I had to figure out how to write historical fiction, and how to braid together different timelines.

Q: In what way does Johanna inspire you?

A: I absolutely loved how resilient she was. How she knew what the right thing to do was, and she just did it. She lived in a time when women had little agency. Middle-class women simply didn’t work. But then, how was she supposed to support herself? Yet she figured it out. She was a faithful guardian to Vincent’s legacy and a good mother to her fatherless son. She just kept going.

I thought of her often when I was getting rejection after rejection from publishers. How could I give up on a book written about a woman who never gave up?

Q: Why is Emsley, an auctioneer? Is she based on a real person?

A: Originally, she was a coder, but it just wasn’t right for the book. I thought she’d fit into the story better if she had a connection to the art world. So, I thought, maybe art auctions? That’s how she eventually became an auctioneer. She’s not based on a real person. I wanted a “modern-day” heroine to sort of be our travel guide to Johanna’s world.

I felt if I just said, “Hey who wants to read about a Dutch woman in the 1800s”, not many people would have been interested. I did some online research and found that most historical novels are either WWII novels or, if they are written for women, they are Regency romances. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find readers for this story.

Then, once I started writing a dual-timeline novel, I really liked how it was turning out. Johanna, Violet, and Emsley all faced

A small sampling of the volume of research Molnar undertook similar struggles. It drove home the point that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Q: Do you think you could line or stack the books you had to collect and take a picture and email it or text it to me? I think that might be interesting.

A: See the photo of some of the books, including The Most Powerful Woman in the Room, which is about a female auctioneer that helped me a lot with Emsley, and computer printouts. A lot of the books were library books and some of the books about Vincent are at my daughter’s house.

Q: What was your most fascinating discovery about Johanna or VVG and his brother?

A: Theo [Vincent’s brother] only met Johanna twice before he proposed! That surprised me. I guess he knew a good woman when he saw her. She was pretty stunned, too. Her reaction and the way she described the proposal in her diary just made her so real to me. Like a girlfriend saying, “You won’t believe what happened yesterday!”

Also, I loved the gossipy bits [like] how at an exhibition, artist Henry de Groux refused to let his paintings be hung next to Van Gogh’s because he considered Vincent’s inferior. On the spot, Toulouse-Lautrec, who was also there with his own art, challenged de Groux to a duel! Then impressionist

Paul Signac jumped in saying should Toulouse-Lautrec fall, he’d continue to fight to defend Vincent’s honor. It made me so happy that Vincent had friends like that who would stand up for him. I put as many details like this that I could in the book.

Q: Why write under a pseudonym for this book when you already write under your own name?

A: I thought my existing readers might be disappointed if they expected a romantic thriller and picked up historical fiction. A different name would be a clear indication that this is something different.

I’m still not sure if I made the right choice. Now I have two email addresses and two fb pages, two sets of direct messages to check. All online presence in duplicate. I doubled the work I have to do to keep up with everything.

Q: Related to this book or life in general, is there anything you would like to say to my readers?

A: I hope they read the book. I hope it inspires them to keep going with something they are trying to do. Also, Johanna was such an exceptional woman. She deserves to be known—her name and what she did.

All photos are courtesy of Marta Molnar.

The author dressed up as Violet in a Mondarian dress [as mentioned in the book], holding Violet’s favorite champagne.

Sun’n Fun: Mark Your Calendars

By Kai Rambow

Mark your calendars! Three very exciting events are taking place at this year’s Sun’n Fun. This is the world’s second largest aviation event and once again some exciting aviation acts will be participating.

First, the F-35A demo team will

show the capabilities of one of our newest jet fighters. Second, the F-35B demo team will also appear. What’s the difference?

The B version has the ability to hover just like the Harrier jump jet did. Should be exciting to see. Then to add frosting to a great cake the Blue Angels will once again demonstrate their fabulous skills.

Sun’n Fun starts on March 28 and wraps up on April 2. Check the schedule online to determine which day to go. Remember to wear sunscreen, sun glasses, hats and comfortable shoes. Plenty of water is a good idea as well.

Scam Alert Workshop

News of Freedom Plaza

By Peggy Burgess

Hall on March 9 at 10 a.m., with doors opening at 9:30 a.m. The workshop is being co-sponsored by the Hillsborough County Sheriff, The Men’s Club of Sun City Center, and The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. Experts in scams targeting seniors will be discussing the latest internet scams and frauds, and how they are targeted for exploitation.

We’re concerned about “scams that are hitting our seniors, because that’s what victimizes us the most,” according to Deputy Jeff Merry. “It’s not a burglary. We do have that, but it’s miniscule.” Merry went on to say that “a couple in Renaissance lost $1.7 million last summer. That’s victimization. I just sat down with a couple that, over the last two years, has sent $200,000 to Publisher’s Clearing House. That’s victimization.”

Speakers at the workshop will include a Department of State representative to talk about internet security, because tech support scams are common, an adult caregiver expert to discuss caregiver exploitation, and an AARP representative to discuss lottery and romance scams. “Romance scams start on social media. Our bad guys craft a friendship. They read through Facebook. They see what all we post; they see singles and widows that may be lonely. And they latch on,” Merry said. “One victim, in 2021, lost $895,000 on a romance scam,” he said.

Bob Sullivan, president of the Men’s Club, stated that “one of the main reasons that the Men’s Club is not only to have a little

fun, but we do things for the community. We have Lifeline that supports all the residents of Kings Point and Sun City Center. You can’t buy that unit cheaper anywhere but here.” Service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. “We install it, and provide ongoing service. It’s cheaper than you can get it from Humana,” he said. The Men’s Club provides additional services, such as lift chairs, and are looking to provide additional support to the Security Patrol and Samaritans.

Sullivan added, “One of the big things we’re doing is supporting this community, along with the Community Foundation and the Sheriff. This is a really worthy scenario because people are afraid to admit (they were scammed). Here, they get this information in a group where everybody is sitting there.”

Merry said that although scams are not being fully stemmed, due to the high turnover of the local population, they are getting more calls than they were several years ago. Citizens and banks can contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff with concerns about their neighbors and friends. “We are definitely doing a better job of reaching out,” he said.

Sullivan said, “having this office, and having Jeff located inside of our community really makes a good working relationship with the community.”

Admission to the workshop is free, and includes free refreshments and door prizes. There will also be 12 exhibitors there to provide information to attendees. Funding is provided by the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.

Freedom Plaza residents do enjoy art museum excursions, but they don’t have to wait for one to view some exceptional art: they need to travel only as far as their own fourth floor Auditorium. The walls there offer a fascinating array of art works covering a variety of mediums that include oil and watercolor paintings, photography, sketching and more. These works are made even more impressive and meaningful in that they are all creations of fellow residents, members of the Freedom Plaza Art League. This group recently hosted its annual Wine & Cheese Reception amidst the Auditorium’s display, inviting artists and viewers to mingle. The practice dates back to the founding of the Art League in 2006 with the creation of a spacious art studio where members (presently numbering 42) can work 24/7, at their leisure. All this is the legacy of a former resident, Ray Adams, an artist and a docent at the Sarasota Museum of Art. Adams served as the Art League’s founder, first president and initial instructor. The current instructor is Gloria Horek, a Sun City Center resident who graciously offers her time and talent to teach classes at Freedom Plaza. Horek, a retired high school art teacher with a degree in Art Education, also instructs at the Sun City Center Art Club.

Among the Freedom Plaza artists whose work was shown in this year’s exhibition was one familiar to art lovers at Freedom Plaza for the past decade. In fact, her work was recently on display in the Atrium as “Artist

of the Month”. This is Yoshimi Nixon. Born and raised in Fukuoka, Japan, she married (in 1958) a career U.S. Air Force officer, Paul Nixon, came to live in the U.S. and subsequently studied art/painting at New York’s Syracuse University. In 1960, upon the Nixon’s return to Japan when Paul was given an extended assignment there, Yoshimi studied the unique Oriental painting style of sumi-e under a renowned master of that ancient art form. She was awarded her own credentials as Master of Sumi-e in 1963. This honor is certified in the inscribed signature on her sumi-e paintings. Although sumi-e is traditionally done black-on-white, Yoshimi adds light touches of color, making her creations even more appealing to the American eye. They most certainly appeal to the eyes of residents of Freedom Plaza who are privileged to see them on a regular basis.

Congratulations to Yoshimi Nixon and all the other equally talented resident-artists of the Freedom Plaza Art League: they seem to have created their own Mini-Museum of Art!

Bay Renaissance Festival is Back

Magical fun for all ages, runs weekends through April 2

Join the Villagers of Fittleworth as they invite one and all to the magical 16th Century European village featuring 15 stages of exciting entertainment including: musicians, magicians, jugglers and jousting. Over 100 artisans will fill the Festival marketplace to display and sell their handcrafted goods for a truly fabulous and endless shopping experience. Patrons will interact with memorable characters and enjoy full-contact live armored jousting, seven theme weekends, and fabulous food fit for royalty.

Back this year: Full contact armored joust, incredible live shows, music, artisans, and a variety of food

New this year: Swordmaster Challenge, Petting Zoo, Children’s Realm Event location: 12838 Auton Road, Dade City, FL 33525

NOTE: Parts of Auton Road are unpaved. Take the northerly route via River Road for easier access. For tickets, directions, and other information, visit “bayarearenfest.com”.

Bob Sullivan, president of the SCC Men’s Club, Deputy Jeff Merry of HCSO.

Plenty of skills are demonstrated in the jousting arena.

Freedom Plaza resident Yoshimi Nixon with one of her sumi-e paintings. (Photo credit Tomi Renau).

Attention All Military Veterans

Friday, March 31, at 9:30 a.m.

SCC Community Hall, 1910 South Pebble Beach Blvd. Room 3 Guest speaker will be Mr. Richard Wallace, Director of the Sarasota National Cemetery. He will present facts about the National Cemetery Administration, explain a veteran’s (and spouse’s) burial rights, how to prepare for using those benefits, and actions required upon the death of either a veteran or spouse for burial in a National Cemetery, both casketed and cremated remains. 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 “pawheatjr@aol.com”.

Presidents Day Buses at SCC Community Hall

On the morning of February 20, Presidents Day, two buses met at SCC Community Hall and were headed for Sarasota National Cemetery and Patriot Plaza. Ninety-six Veterans, family members, and friends were honored by Seniors in Service members Marge Hartig-Specht, Shawna Wainright, and Kathy Luebkert before they departed. They were handed a ‘Star for our Troops’ keepsake which included an embroidered star and a ‘thank you for serving our country.

The Silver Ospreys Squadron #64 of the Association of Naval Aviation was honored to have Admiral Mark P. Fitzgerald, Chairman of the Association of Naval Aviation speak at its February meeting. Admiral Fitzgerald had a distinguished thirty-eight-year career that included being Commander of the United States Navy 2nd Fleet from 2004 to 2006, responsible for all Naval Operations, ships, aircraft, and sailors for half of the Atlantic Ocean from the tip of the North Atlantic to South America.

Very high priority has been placed on evolutionary upgrades to the existing F/A-18 Super Hornet and EF/A-18 Growler aircraft now in the fleet. Another important part of continuing evolution is the commitment of the Navy to long range unmanned aerial vehicles such as the MQ-4C Triton. Shore based crews that control these aircraft are a key part of the future of Naval Aviation and training them is critical.

Officers and Directors of the Sun City Center chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) recently attended a Leadership Training Seminar hosted by the MOAA Florida Council of Chapters. The chapter was presented with a Five-star Level of Excellence Award at the Seminar. Shown below is Chapter President COL Eunice Patxot, USA (Ret), receiving the award from National MOAA Board Chair Gen Gary L. North, USAF (Ret), and Florida Council President CDR Patrick Kluever, USN (Ret). The April 5 meeting of the chapter will have as its featured speaker, Kelly Kowall, Founding Owner of My Warrior’s Place, in Ruskin. The luncheon meeting will be held at 11 a.m. in the SCC Community Association’s Florida Room at 945 North Course Lane, Sun City Center, FL. If you wish to attend our meeting and hear Kelly’s presentation, please call our luncheon reservation line at 813-9241983 before 6 p.m. Sunday, April 2. The luncheon cost is $19. Info: Bill Kirkpatrick at 805-506-3269 or “ ualav8tor@yahoo.com”.

Kathy Luebkert, Damon Glisson, Marge Hartig-Specht, Shawna Wainright.

Oldest members of the Silver Ospreys RADM Larry Chambers and Seaman 3 Tom Bennis flank ADM Fitzgerald.

Admiral Mark Fitzgerald Speaks To Silver Ospreys

We’re a top-rated hospital named one of America’s best five years in a row.

It’s not all about winning awards. In addition to being named a 100 Top Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South is part of BayCare Health System, ranked one of the highestperforming health systems in the country by Fortune/ Merative.* St. Joseph’s Hospital-South is well known for its advanced medical technologies and outstanding patient care, with more than 70 specialties represented among our medical teams. And that includes doctors who can easily connect you with a top specialist if needed, plus access to the entire network of BayCare physicians, specialists and services. Just a few of the reasons why St. Joseph’s Hospital-South is the better choice for health care. Learn more: StJosephsSouth.org

Once again, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South has been named one of the 100 Top Hospitals® in the U.S. by Fortune®/Merative™.*

*Merative, formerly IBM Watson Health, is a trusted data, analytics and technology partner that performs a yearly study, ranking the top hospitals in the country based on clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, patient experience and financial health.

SOLUTIONS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE 17