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Preserving history, through Bibles By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Andy Smith, who attends Van Dyke Church in Lutz, has an unusual hobby. It began about eight years ago, sparked, in part, by the Bible he inherited from his grandmother. The sacred text originally belonged to his great-great grandparents, dating back to the 1870s. “I believe it was given to them as a wedding gift,” Smith said, and it was passed from generation to generation. “It is something I had seen in my grandparents’ house when I B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO was a little boy. It was always opened to the family registry Andy Smith, who attends Van Dyke Church in Lutz, spends part of his free time trying to help reunite fampages,” he said. After inheriting the heirloom, ilies with Bibles that were owned by their ancestors.
Smith, a longtime newspaper professional, decided to see what he could learn about his own family’s history. The more he delved into genealogy, the more fascinated he became. His great-great grandfather, Smith said, had nine brothers and sisters. “I’ve contacted descendants of every line of that family that had children — from those 10 siblings — and all of them had family Bibles,” Smith said.“I found one guy who had my great-great-great grandfather’s Bible. I went up to St. Louis and met him, and got to see his Bible.” As Smith learned more about his relatives, he became more aware of how much personal information can be lost, when a Bible is separated from its family. He decided to do something about that. He began spending part of his free time helping to reunite family Bibles with their See BIBLES, page 15A
A focus on Florida at the 2016 RNC in Cleveland By Dr. Susan A. MacManus Special to The Laker/Lutz News
By now, the Republican National Convention is “old news”—but to the 99 Florida delegates and their alternates—it will never be forgotten. To them, the convention was serious business, but a lot of fun, too. Here is a brief snapshot of their four days together.
LEAVING TAMPA: GOALS On the plane headed up to Cleveland, I asked some of the Tampa area delegates what they hoped would happen at the RNC. Leaving the convention as a united party topped their lists. They were well aware that a fractured party makes it difficult to win Florida, and that the presidential race in Florida is already projected to be very close (nothing new). They were hopeful that their nominee, Donald J.Trump, would project a more serious tone in his nationally televised acceptance speech to assure wavering Republicans and independents of his readiness to be president. Many also were anxious to learn more about Trump’s vice presidential pick—Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana—believing it would give them a good indication of the kind of governing team Trump would put in place, if elected. And, of course, they wanted to enjoy their time together in a city on the move — still high from the NBA Championship brought home by their beloved Cleveland Cavaliers. They knew attending breakfasts and events together throughout the week would be an important step toward creating a strong well-organized statewide network of party activists. It is essential for conducting effective voter registration drives and Get-Out-The-Vote efforts.
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Florida. It is the nation’s biggest swing state (29 Electoral College votes) and the most competitive. That status translates into some special opportunities: • Great seats on the convention floor: Florida delegates sat center-stage, right behind the New York delegation, offering a bird’s eye view of the speakers and terrific photo opportunities. It pays to be a big swing state and one of Trump’s two “home” From left, Steve Graves, Sandy Graves and Dr. Susan A. states! • The “A team” of speak- MacManus, chat during the Republican National ers at morning breakfast Convention in Cleveland. Steve Graves was an alternate events: Big names that spoke to Florida delegate, and Sandy Graves was a delegate. and mingled with Florida MacManus, is a political scientist who was at the conRepublicans included Newt vention as an analyst for ABC Action News. MacManus Gingrich, Rudi Giuliani, Sen. Jeff is a nationally known commentator, with deep knowlSessions, Col. Allen West, former edge of Florida politics. Ambassador John Bolton, pollster Frank Luntz, and former Clinton strategist REMEMBER THE BEST MOMENTS Dick Morris. My informal and unscientific “poll” of del• Prime time speaking slots for two egates headed home identified four “best state officials: Both Gov. Rick Scott and moments”: • Roll call of the states: Before officialAttorney General Pam Bondi got prime time speaking opportunities. Both endorsed Trump ly casting Florida’s 99 delegate votes for early on—and both are seen as having higher Donald J. Trump, state party chair Blaise political ambitions once termed out. Some Ingoglia reminded delegates of the fact that have even speculated they might get plum See RNC, page 15A appointments in a Trump administration.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF DR. SUSAN A. MACMANUS
A bird’s eye view of the convention hall during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Pam Ingram was admittedly nervous as she waited to toss out the first pitch at Tropicana Field, when the Tampa Bay Rays took on the Baltimore Orioles. After all, she knew a big crowd would be watching — including her family and friends, and colleagues from Wesley Chapel High School. And, the English teacher would be the first to tell you that she doesn’t have substantial experience in throwing baseballs. But, she was up for it. Excited even. After all, she won the Honorary Bat Girl contest sponsored by Major League Baseball, which led to royal treatment by the Tampa Bay Rays. She and her husband, Keith, and their daughter, Abby, had the chance to spend some time on the field before the 1:10 p.m. game on July 17. Keith even took a few swings in the batter’s on-deck circle, waving the pink baseball bat engraved with Pam’s name and bearing the signatures of quite a few Rays’ players. The family also had the chance to pose for photos with players.
The big moment came, when a video played, featuring photos of Pam, along with a narration of her prize-winning essay. Her name was emblazoned in giant letters on electronic billboards and, as she made her first pitch, she showed up — much larger than life — on the Jumbotron. And, that was just the beginning. Following the on-field festivities, Pam and her family went into the stands where they joined up with a crowd of 104 people who had come out to the game to show their support and celebrate with Pam. The Rays, who are struggling this year, even broke an eight-game losing streak to defeat the Baltimore Orioles. The whole experience was overwhelming, said Pam, currently in remission from the cancer that began in her breast and spread to her bone. Her heart is full of gratitude for her family, for her supporters from Wesley Chapel High School where she has taught since 2000, and for her doctors. She discovered she had breast cancer in 2014, before she turned 40 — the age at which women are recommended to begin breast cancer screenings. She’d been experiencing intermittent pain, and her husband advised her to get it
COURTESY OF PAM INGRAM
Alex Colome drops by to say hello to Pam Ingram before the game.
checked out. The visit to her doctor’s office led to a mammogram and an ultrasound, which then led to referrals for a surgeon. See CANCER, page 15A