0615 kingsweb

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Flag Day June 14,2015

News of

FATHER'S DAY 6.21.2015

www.newsofkingspoint.com

Disaster Council Meets

By John Bowker EachyearinMay,representatives of all the emergency response organizations in and around Sun City Center assemble to tell of their capabilities during and after a local disaster. The timing of the meeting is just in advance of the publicized “hurricane season” but the range of calamities that can befall a community extend well beyond a mere storm. The SCC-Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) organization has hosted this meeting for the past several years with participation from some two-dozen organized activities checking in so everyone hears what everyone else will be doing. This eliminates any ‘holes’ in the coverage, identifies who is in charge at each point in a recovery effort, while reducing the duplication of programs between volunteer and professional groups. The website www.w1wab.com is constantly updated with local emergency plans. SCC-CERT President, Bill Barron,

opened the meeting in the Atrium Caper Room with an introduction of each person and group, and then turned the discussion over to the SCC-CERT Vice President, Jim Frasier, who prompted each group leader to outline the specific tasks that group would be undertaking. Hillsborough County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Merry will be our first point of contact in the Sun City Center area; his telephone number is 813-2425525. The continuing role of the County Sheriff’s office is

explained in their website, www.HCSO.Tampa.FL.US. Communications among the groups and between residents during times of strife are essential. Members of the Sun City Center Amateur Radio Club will be assigned to key emergency responder locations in town – the hospital, Emergency Squad, Security Patrol, Sheriff’s Office and County Fire Rescue stations. Those organizations all operate with different radio systems and only the Hams can provide the Disaster continued on page 3

June 2015

Are You Ready for Hurricane Season?

By Kai Rambow While Christopher Columbus may have been lost, he was at least smart enough to pay attention to the natives’ warnings of huge storms. On his fourth voyage, Columbus noticed the signs of an impending hurricane. He warned Governor de Orvando not to let the fleet sail to Spain. Columbus sought shelter for his four ships and rode out the hurricane with moderate damage. De Orvando let the fleet sail; 25 ships and 500 men were lost. As the Spanish learned more about hurricanes, they still ran into major fleet losses mainly due to poor scheduling practices. Weather forecasts today give us a major advantage, however, most people still miss out on some basics. “You should prepare at the beginning of hurricane season. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for a week,” advises ABC’s (WWSB Sarasota Hurricane continued on page 10

THE HOPE FUND...What is it?

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID MANASOTA FL PERMIT NO 157 ECRWSS ******ECRWSSEDDM****** Postal Customer Sun City Center FL 33573

By Uta Kuhn Founded by Carla Miles, a member of the GFWC Womans Club of Sun City Center in 1995, The Hope Fund is a non profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to helping children in Wimauma learn and have fun in a safe and nurturing environment. All Hope Fund personnel are volunteers who give their time and energy selflessly and with lots of love and compassion. The Hope Fund is in partnership with RCMA at Bethune Park in Wimauma. RMCA provides paid tutors for the children 5 days a week. The function of the HOPE FUND is to raise funds to provide financial assistance for children who could otherwise not afford to participate in the after school programs being offered. A short list of things being offered through fundraising efforts of the Hope Fund are: recreational programs, purchase of school/craft supplies, purchase of books, a fifteen-passenger van and tuition assistance Ninety men and women, provide one on one mentoring, tutoring and reading for children who need help. Other programs included are a health program, which counsels children on drugs, nutrition, family life, first aid and human sexuality. A Kids Cafe offers healthy after school snacks. Children also learn through indoor/ outdoor activities, field trips, concerts, speakers and other special activities. The Fund has also financed a pavilion at Bethune Park where children can enjoy a shaded place to work and play. The members of the Hope Fund help raise funds for all of the worthwhile activities by sponsoring Breakfast and Bingo twice a year. You can also make donations to this great cause by mailing a check to The Hope Fund, Carla Miles, 2105 New Bedford Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573. Or you can call Carla at 813-634-4268. If you would like more information regarding The Hope Fund please visit their website at www.the-hope-fund.org. There you will find absolutely everything you would ever want to know about the wonderful work being done by the members who run this great organization. Scan the code with your Smart Phone to find us online at www. NewsOfKingsPoint.com

Sun City Center CERT volunteers activated and reported to South Bay Hospital for the annual Mass Casualty Incident drill. Standing L to R: M Jenkins, H Scheetz, R Troutman, D Cannistra, L Lloyd, J O’Connor, L O’Connor, R Brown, B Barron, L Kjollesdal, D Peterson, D Ferron, W Conklin, F Burns, J Kjollesdal, R Engles, D Frappier, J Frasier. Seated L toR: S Jenkins, M Hirsch, P Brown, J Lloyd, M Thibault, N DeWilde, L Conklin.

CERT Plays A Key Role In County Disaster Drill

By Bill Barron w/Kai Rambow Because preparedness can be the key to survival and assistance when a major disaster strikes, Hillsborough County conducts a rehearsal for catastrophe once a year. In Sun City Center, a key component is the 225-member Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). This year’s March 26 Mass Casualty Incident drill called for treatment in county hospitals of 400 injured victims of massive earthquakes in Georgia. South Bay Hospital was tasked with receiving and treating 18 of the injured (roles filled by University of South Florida students). The event tested South Bay’s

liaisons with community partners and CERT’s ability to activate, according to president Bill Barron. Members of the cooperating Sun City Center Radio Club set up their equipment beside the hospital incident command center to provide communication between other area hospitals, CERT and the County Emergency Management Center. “We’ve done this every year since 2004. It’s to help hospitals prepare for a mass disaster. There’s been a different scenario every year. This year was a first coordinating with South Bay Hospital to see how we could help them. People were excited CERT continued on page 10

Inside

Editor’s Corner........................ 2 Golf................................ 20 - 22 WITW........................................ 5 Care ..................................... 23 33573................................. 6 - 8 Arts & Entertainment.... 24 & 25 Club News..................... 12 - 17 Faith.............................. 26 & 27 Travel ................................... 18 Military.......................... 27 & 28 Contract Bridge................... 29 Sports.................................... 19 Crossword & Sudoku........... 29 Solutions to Puzzles.............. 31


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