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www.newsofkingspoint.com
January, 2012
Fantastic & Eclectic: The Cart Parade Rings in the Holidays
By NOKP Staff On December 10, 2011, gas and electric motors gave the reindeer a break as the SCC Christmas Cart Parade rolled through the streets. Festively decorated carts carried holiday cheer where they would normally store golf bags and groceries. Smiling faces sang carols and called out Christmas wishes as kids and Commissioners tossed candy to crowds of parade goers lining the streets. Since its triumphant return in 2009, the Sun City Center Holiday Cart Parade has continued to grow both in spirit and across geographic boundaries. Residents from Kings Point are getting increasingly involved in what is fast becoming a true community event. As warmfor-December tropical breezes played through the palm trees, clubs, groups and individuals all displayed their holiday cheer. This year, 40-plus carts were decked out for the event in
Best Original Design - Chris & Vickie Robinson (not pictured)
Best Anniversary Theme - Ernie & Jean Cuzzi
red and green…and pink and yellow and tie-dye too. As has become customary, several local and state dignitaries took part in the parade. Al Higginbotham, Kevin Beckner, Ken Hagan and Rhonda Storms greeted folks along the parade route, shaking hands and tossing out candy along with holiday wishes. HCSO Major Ron Hartley was greeted warmly, but the largest ovation from the crowd for the VIPs was offered to SCC Community Association President Ed Barnes. By far, the largest group represented in the parade was the all-volunteer Sun City Center Emergency Squad. Outgoing Chief, Mike Jackson, led a procession of holidaygarbed Squad volunteers who laughed, waved and sang, joking with each other and with the crowd as they passed. The Emergency Squad escorted one of their Continued on Page 3
Emergency Squad Elects New Leadership
By NOKP Staff This past December heralded more than angels singing “glory to the newborn king.” It also heralded a transition of leadership at one of Sun City Center’s premier volunteer organizations. The Sun City Center Emergency Squad is an all-volunteer first responder unit initially formed in 1964 as a team of Red Cross trained “first aiders.” Today the team consists of over 400 volunteers made up of licensed Emergency Medical Technicians, First Responders, First Responder Drivers and Dispatchers. The team also includes a vital support staff of receptionists, mechanics, washers, sanitizers, instructors, technicians, maintenance and administrative staff. According to the Emergency Squad website, www.scc-ems.us: “Your Sun City Center Emergency Squad is ready to help you in any medical emergency. We will respond to your call for emergency medical assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.” As you might imagine,
CARE....................................... 6 Spotlight with Brenda Wiseman................... 6 Debbie Caneen 33573 ........................ 8, 9 & 10 Deputy Chris ....................... 11
considering the tens of thousands of residents in 33573 and nearby areas, this is a tall order requiring exceptional dedication to e x c e l l e n c e Ken Wolfert and service. A tall order, says incoming Chief, Ken Wolfert, that the Squad’s newly elected team of executive and administrative leadership are well prepared to face. Candidates for the Squad’s leadership positions are put forth in November and elections are held in December by anonymous, secret ballot from among those nominated for the various positions. Newly elected leadership includes: Chief, Ken Wolfert. Secretary, Peg Noeltner Treasurer, Michael Schramm Director of Education, Diane Simon. Three “at large” board members were also elected, including:
SCC Emergency Squad volunteers wave to folks along the parade route at the recent Holiday Cart Parade.
Marty Mallak. A former Chief, who will also serve as Wolfert’s Deputy Chief. Sam Brandes Harold Kline With the exception of the Chief, who serves a 2-year term, each of these well-deserving individuals will serve in their elected capacity for one year. The 2-year Chief term is a fairly recent development. Says Wolfert, “It’s really necessary to serve two years, if you want to get anything done as Chief. Otherwise, just a few months after you begin your term, you are already having to think about re-election.”
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Golf............................... 12 & 13 Bulletin.............. 18, 19, 20 & 21 Faith Bulletin......................... 24 Dixon’s Destinations............ 27 Contract Bridge................... 29 Hard Knox............................. 28 Horoscopes.......................... 31 Crossword & Sudoku........... 29 Solutions to Puzzles.............. 31
Wolfert brings more than simply his two years as Deputy Chief to the position. He has volunteered with the Squad over six-and-ahalf years. “Until (outgoing Chief) Mike (Jackson) asked me to be his Deputy Chief, I was more than content to be a ‘worker bee’. Was never really interested in the politics side of it. But, because Mike asked, I agreed.” But, says Wolfert, the on-the-job experience he received serving as Deputy Chief changed his mind, particularly when Jackson took a leave of absence to recover from a medical Continued on Page 22
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