Agendas for the monthly Board Meetings will be posted on the Official Bulletin Board in the Atrium the Friday before and on the CA website “suncitycenter.org” – under “Residents” – Upcoming Meeting Agendas. They will also be sent via “What’s New in the CA” email.
CA Contact Information Administration Office
1009 N. Pebble Beach Blvd, SCC 813.633.3500
Hours 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., M-F sccboard@suncitycenter.org Website: suncitycenter.org Information Center: 813.633.4670
Phase 1A Is Underway SCC Breaks Ground for a New Applied Arts Building
By Bob Sanchez
The official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Applied Arts Building attracted about 70 people on March 13. President Ron Clark, Long-Range Committee chair Debbie Caneen, and Darren Azdell of Pi Architects each delivered brief remarks. Clark acknowledged the hard work of both past and present directors and committee members. CA staff served light refreshments. The project represents Phase 1A of the campus upgrade and will be on Cherry Hills Drive, behind the CA offices.
SCC Stained Glass Show
By Paula Lickfeldt
The SCC Stained Glass Club had its annual show in February. The four judges of the pieces were all from the Kings Point Stained Glass Club. The judges were Sandra Ford, president and instructor in the KP club. Twenty years’ experience working with stained glass, Tom Van Nelson past president and instructor of the KP club. Fourteen years’ experience working with stained
Scan
glass, June Greene instructor and monitor in the KP club. Twelve years’ experience with fusing/stained glass. Deborah Watson instructor in the KP club. Twelve years’ experience in fusing. When a club member begins working with stained glass, they are considered a beginner for three years. After three years they are considered advanced. The categories of projects were: Soldering Large Panel, Soldering Medium Panel, Soldering Miscellaneous, Soldering/ Electric, Mosaic, Fused Large Project, Fused Small Project and Fused Tableware.
Two panels were raffled off. The club has been selling tickets for a time and they also sold them at FunFest. At the end of FunFest, the winning tickets were drawn. The 1st ticket drawn got their choice and the second ticket got the Glass continued on page CA-3
Raffle pieces
Pat Alberti
Darlene Baker and Jan Hulme
Shredding Day
Friday, April 11, from 9 to noon
Parking Lot Near North Course Lane (same as last year)
Do you have documents to shred? Please feel free to bring your items to be shredded on the date, time and place noted above. There will be no charge for this service as this is being sponsored by the Community Association as a courtesy to its members. You will need to bring your current CA membership card with you as identification with your current 2025 updated sticker. We do ask that you bring your documents in either paper bags or boxes, no plastic bags.
President’s Report
By Ron Clark, CA President
March brought lots of positive activities. Construction moved forward with the asphalt base poured for the two new solid surface Volleyball Courts in the south campus, we had a very successful FunFest event that highlighted our clubs and our facilities, the Board voted to build three new Bocce courts in the south campus, and we had a Groundbreaking ceremony and construction started for the new Applied Arts Building (Phase 1A of the Central Campus Upgrade project). In addition, we had our March annual meeting on the 19th.
Regarding the Central Campus Upgrade Project: We have received County approval for our site plan application to build both Phase 1A and Phase 1B (the new Rollins restaurant/bar and new resort style pool). This was quite the rigorous and lengthy process as it started in June and involved getting county approval for water, sewer, road connections, parking, natural resources, and other issues. The Building Permit has also been recently received and was a much easier process that we started last November.
Members have asked me when Phase 1A will be completed and when Phase 1B with its new restaurant, bar, and pool will be started. Phase 1A is planned to be completed in 12 months. We could easily roll into building Phase 1B in 2026 as the Board has received competitive bids, evaluated them, and developed a final design with the help of our consultants. Diaz Fritz Group was the low bidder for both 1A and 1B but at this time has only been awarded a contract for Phase 1A. The issue is lack of immediate funding for 1B. No dues money will be used to fund this project. All construction costs are being paid for from the Capital Fund which receives its money from the $3,000 fee that new residents pay when they purchase their home in the CA. After deducting expenses to build Phase 1A and other small capital projects, the Capital Fund will only have approximately 50% of the money needed to build 1B. It is estimated that at the current home sales rate, it will take 3-years after 1A is completed to replenish the Capital Fund to have enough money on hand to build Phase 1B.
So, the choice is do we wait until at least 2029 or perhaps beyond to start building 1B or do we start building 1B in 2026 by using alternative funding mechanisms? No one is suggesting using dues or increasing dues for construction expenses. However, there are alternative financing methods to examine and consider. More details on that later will be coming as we gather information on alternatives. Feel free to visit during office hours, or call, or email your thoughts to sccboard@suncitycenter.org
As always, let us be positive, respectful, and kind while having fun in our senior years.
Veterans Photo Shoot For SCCCA Members
Saturday, April 19, from 10 to noon
Photo Lab located in the multipurpose building at the corner of North Course Lane and N. Pebble Beach Blvd. The address for the Photo Lab is 1203 North Pebble Beach Blvd. This is available for all Community Association members who served honorably in any branch of the U.S. Military. Men should wear a shirt with a collar and women should not wear dangling earrings. Please call Alisha Marshall at the CA office (813-6333500) to register, along with your CA membership number, by 10 a.m. on Friday, April 18, and you will be assigned a specific time.
Board of Directors Meeting
By Bob Sanchez
The Community Association Board of Directors held its monthly meeting on March 12 in the Rollins Theater.
Debbie Caneen acknowledged donations from the Road Rally/Scavenger Hunt ($865), Senior Care ($100), CC’s Grille ($100) and Senior Idol ($180).
President Ron Clark noted the success of FunFest and congratulated co-chairs Carrie Blaylock and Arthur DeAngelis, as well as Community Manager Lyn Reitz and the CA employees who worked so hard on the event. He reviewed the status of CA facilities including the sports facilities on the South Campus. The County recently approved the CA’s site plan for Phase 1A (Applied Arts building) and Phase 1B (restaurant/bar and resort-style pool). The building permit is expected soon. Phase 1A is expected to be completed in 12 months, and Phase 1B could begin in 2026. All construction costs will come from the Capital Fund. He hopes that the Board will address “alternative funding options” (not dues) by the end of 2025. Otherwise, it might take until 2029 before work could begin on Phase 1B.
Treasurer Jim Collins reported the following balances as of the end of February:
Operations Fund $3,912,469.13
Capital Fund $6,904,443.45
Replacement Fund $1,375,295.21
Renovations Fund $64,150.68
There were 37 home transfers in February, adding $111,000 to the Capital Fund.
Lyn Reitz reported that the next shredding day will be April 11 from 9 until noon on North Pebble Beach Blvd adjacent to the Library. Up-to-date badges are mandatory, and don’t bring any plastic for disposal. Also, she asked that residents not disturb any of the temporary fencing on campus, or the chain link fencing around the construction of the bocce courts on the South Campus. Current resident count is 11,242, and total membership dues are 11,346.
In new business, the Board approved: Hardship waivers for four residents, based on the recommendation of the Hardship Panel.
Dissolution of the Scandinavian Club
Shuffleboard court resurfacing contract ($8,345) Bocce court on South Campus: engineering, permitting and construction ($166,720)
Repair of storm-damaged metal roof ($38,181.31) and replacement of all damaged shingles and roofs ($90,365.95). President Clark noted that these will be the final repairs from last year’s hurricane.
Purchase of new Fitness Center equipment ($88,094.39) and ($5,250) for a total of ($93,344.39)
Community Volunteers Honored
By Mike Lee
Community volunteers were recently honored with a luncheon in the Florida Room, which was the 17th year of the celebration. According to Lyn Reitz, Community Manager, “We wouldn’t have a community without our volunteers. We are a volunteer community.”
When asked about how people can volunteer, Reitz said, “There are forms in the CA office that list all of the different things that you can volunteer for. We have a form that you can fill out that tells us where you would like to volunteer, and we get that to the right person.”
Debbie Riley is one such volunteer, serving on the Budget Committee and working for the Security Patrol, among other things. When asked about why she feels it’s important to volunteer, Riley said, “It’s one community and one voice, and you have to participate.”
Volunteers provide valuable services that help make Sun City Center a great place to live. Anyone wishing to volunteer for the community can contact the Community Association as well as other support services such as the Security Patrol or the Emergency Squad.
SCC Woodcarvers Win Big
Celebrity Felines Nationwide Risk All To Tell All
By Andrea L.T. Peterson
In what can only be described as a bold and novel move, risking house and home, staff, and regular hot meals, felines nationwide have put aside their differences (age, gender, breed, and political affiliations) to collaborate on this massive, new, not-so-confidential tell-all, “Cat Tails of the City” (so named as a nod to the Tales of the City series author, Armistead Maupin).
the footage and obtaining additional documentation supporting the claim! We’re still waiting for it and the star couldn’t be reached for a comment! It’s suspected that he’s on the “other” coast getting his own “alone time.”
Ian Donnelly
By Paula Lickfeldt
SCC Woodcarvers Club has many talented carvers. The Woodcarvers club room is behind the Sawdust Engineers Club and next to the Model Railroad Club. The carvers are in one of four levels: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Master. All carvers begin in the novice group. When two ribbons are won at the level, the carver moves up to the next level.
The SW Florida Woodcarvers Art Expo in Punta Gorda was on January 10 and 11 of 2025 and the Florida State Fair was in February. The SCC carvers won four Best of Show ribbons at Punta Gorda and one at the Florida State Fair. This is a feat that has never been accomplished by any other club. The Best of Show ribbons won at the Punta Gorda show were won by Advanced carver David Brown’s large Santa, Advanced carver Jon Harnden’s Red Tail Hawk, Novice carver Edward Kotek’s walking stick and Fine Furniture carver Ian Donnelly’s cocktail table jewelry box. One Best of Show was won by Carolyn Siwinski for her Basket of Flowers-Pyrographic at the State Fair.
Punta Gorda show winners were; Master level, Bill Anderson honorable mention for Red Tail Hawk, Ralph Frenzilli first for Grateful Dead Relief and first for Lady Relief W/ octopus, Advanced level, David Brown for Large Santa, first for Irishman, second for Old Man and third for Mini Santa. Jon Harnden first, Best of Show and People’s Choice for Red Tail Hawk. Mark Vietzke first for Organ and Organist, Intermediate level, Charles Kennedy first for Couple and first for Fish. Elizabeth Torkington First for Hawk and second for Penguin and Baby, Novice level, Punky Fedora first for Wolf Pierced carving. Corky Grazankowski first for Flower and Second for Seal on a Rock, Ed Kotek first and Best of Show for Walking Stick, Jack Lyons second for Bellany Eagle and second for Flower. Randy McMillin second for Soapstone
and first for Magnolia Relief. Betty Newell first for Soapstone Manatee, Jesse Shrom third for Cowboy and first for Heart with Doves, Fine Furniture (accessory) Ian Donnelly first and Best of Show for Table and Woodturning Randy McMillan first for Segmented Bowl.
2025 Florida State Fair winners were: Advanced level, William Anderson second for Red Tailed Hawk; David Brown first for Large Santa, third for Irishman, third for Old Man, second for Ma and Pa, second for Mini Old Man, first for Mini Santa; Jon Harnden first for Red Tail Hawk and honorable mention for Waterfowl; Mark Vietzke second for Organ and Organist, Intermediate level; Joan Bartosiewicz second for Dog; Charles Kennedy third for Couple and first for Fish; Elizabeth Torkington second for Hawk and first for Lion Bust. Novice level, Punky Fedora third for Wolf Relief, Corky Grazankowski first for Flower, third for Seal on a Rock, and first for Soapstone Mouse; Ed Kotek first for Walking Stick, Jack Lyons second for flower and second for Bellany Eagle; Randy McMillan second for Soapstone, Bob Monahan second for Holiday Caricature, Larry Manship third for Country Church and second for Rustic Leaf Bowl; Betty Newell first for Manatees; Jesse Strom first for Cowboy and first for Heart and Dove; and Carolyn Siwinski first and Best of Show for Basket of Flowers-Pyrographic.
The Woodcarvers of SCC won a lot of ribbons at Punta Gorda and the State Fair! Congratulations to all of you. You make us proud!
Such a revealing volume of this magnitude has neither been published nor even imagined. Cat Tails is the brainchild of Calico, Callie; Siamese, Simon; and Tuxedo, Tux. It is suspected that the three collaborators decided that their unimaginative namers deserve to be outed for such creative, secret lifestyles and such mundane cat names. So, here goes: Bowtie, a mature and reliable Tuxedo, reported overhearing a conversation between his celebrity dad and the next door neighbor discussing the “alone time” they would finally get when their wives were away at their quilting convention. It sure sounded like these two were up to something. Eyes and ears will be kept on them!
Recently released video footage revealed that everyone’s favorite “Hollywood” idol is secretly bicoastal— yup you heard it here, BICOASTAL! The star, whom Tinseltown claims as its own, spends most of the year at the Cape— Cape Cod! Scandalous! When the magnificent Snowshoe down the street shared this news, we insisted on seeing
The next, truly scandalous scoop: of all the Collies who played Lassie over the years, only one was a girl! Vet records of “fixings” confirmed the claim. A quick look under the hood confirmed suspicions of the current stars playing the wonder dog in the soon-to-be released Adventures with Lassie.
A couple of neighborhood feline gadflies spied the co-stars of the most recent Star Wars movie doing more than sipping margaritas outside at a local watering hole. Upon seeing the two newshounds (sorry kitties) the pair took their drinks inside before paying their bill and leaving. The clever, fourfooted spies followed the pair discreetly but weren’t able to slip into the four-star hotel behind them. More on this in the next edition.
A dire warning from another feline fact-finder: AI WILL NOT REPLACE US! Join the 5,000,000 Ferals March in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (6925 Hollywood Blvd) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the 15th of this month! Whenever possible, claims have been verified with three sources and evidence has been collected to support the claims. One rather vocal Siamese, who insisted on being included pseudonymously, had this to say about the whole thing: APRIL FOOLS!!
Movies are normally shown on the second and fourth Monday of each month. Movie attendees must present a current SCCCA ID Badge, a SCCCA Guest Card or a Kings Point 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. April 14 • Retro Movie Monday • Miss Potter • 1 hour, 7 minutes Beatrix Potter (author of The Tale of Peter Rabbit) overcomes many obstacles in her quest to become a writer, including a domineering mother and the chauvinism prevalent in Victorian England. She falls in love with her publisher, Norman Warne, and his marriage proposal and a subsequent tragedy change her life forever.
Starring: Renee Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson, Barbara Flynn
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Rating: PG
April 28 • 2025 Oscars Best Picture Nominee • Conclave •2 hours
It follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events - selecting the new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the deceased Pope’s wake - secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Isabella Rossellini
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Rating: PG
Glass continued from page 1.
other panel. The winner of the “People’s Choice” award will be announced at the March 18 meeting.
The winner of “Best of Show” went to Darlene Baker and Jan Hulme for their piece “E Pluribus Unum” Out of many is one. They did sections of the piece at one time and then put it all together. First place for Soldering went to club president Pat Alberti. She said it took many months of work to finish the piece,
First place for Mosaic went to Shelby Wilson. She also worked on her piece for many months. First place for Fusing went to Bonnie Janson. Bonnie was on a cruise and did not know she had won. Pat Alberti said that most of the club members began working with stained glass after they retired and moved to Sun City Center. That is hard to believe when you see the incredible work they produce.
David Brown’s Santa Edward Kotek
Metaphysical Society Meetings
The Metaphysical Society meets at 10 a.m. in the SCCCA Heritage Room. Membership costs $10 annually. SCCCA residents are permitted one visit before joining. Kings Point residents may join after obtaining an active Club Card at the SCCCA office. Others may attend with approved guest passes obtained at the SCCCA office. The mission of society is to explore universal oneness, self-discovery, and infinite potential. Contact the club office at 813-398-7033 for more information.
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.
Art Club in Sun City Center
April 2 • “Mediumship-Connecting to its History and Hidden Meaning” Rose Claire returns today with an informative presentation.
April 9 • “The New Science and Spirituality” – Join Betty Martin-Lewis, founding minister of Unity Southshore Spiritual Center of Ruskin.
April 16 • “Qi Gong & Tai Chi -History, Health Benefits and Breathing exercises brought to you by Richard Beebee with his extensive background in Reiki, Munay Kay Shamanism, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Taoism, Buddhism and Theta Healing.
April 23 • “Aging as a Path to Transformation” Dr. Toni LaMotta, Keynote speaker, Author, and spiritual coach shows us how to embrace aging and transformation. April 30 • “A Mediums Tools”. Explore the rituals and tools used to receive messages today as duo presenters, Fran Grossman and Carolyn Seibert bring us a powerful presentation.
Special Presentation
April 27: Kevin J. Todeschi, former Executive Director and CEO of Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E., will present “Experiencing Your Personal Intuition” from 2-5 p.m. in the Florida Room. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased with a credit card by calling 727-656-7922. Contact the club office at 813-398-7033 for more information.
Cygnet Yacht Club Winter Series
By Glenn Surkont, CYC commodore
The Winter race series has begun with DF95 Sailboats. Favorable winds have moved in on Swan Lake where all our racing takes place. Pictured are skippers with their DF95 sailboats. EC12 racing held on Monday’s are bigger boats and replicas of the yachts that used to race for America’s Cup mostly out of Newport Rhode Island.
The Club members come from many different backgrounds with two things in common, comradery and a love for sailing. The Club promotes model sailing adventures to those who have never sailed. Competitive racing and good sportsmanship is what we strive for. Recently members have noted that they have seen an increase in the number of spectators that come to watch the racing. They are welcomed and encouraged to give model sailing a try if they wish, or just enjoy the excitement and shared adventures offered. The Club offers free sailing instruction and has extra boats for newcomers. We sail from our dock on Swan Lake in Sun City Center next to the craft shops. No sailing experience is required. If interested, call or text Cygnet YC 401-261-6907.
Computer Club Meeting
Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m.
Geeks on Tour will present “What’s this Button Do”? They will teach some basics like how to; know your phone’s make and model, organize your Apps and keep them up to date, display emergency contact info on the lock screen, take screenshots, read QR codes, use the flashlight and more.
Computer Club Classes
The Computer Club Lab is open from 12:30 to 4:30, every day except Sunday. Come into the Lab to register for a class. Students must be a member in good standing at Sun City Center or Kings Point. Tuition is payable, by cash or check, upon registration. Info: “education@scccomputerclub.org”.
• Excel for Beginners • Tuesday, April 15, 9 to noon
This class starts with a definition of spreadsheets, workbooks, formulas and functions.
• ipad/iPhone for Seniors • Thursday, April 17, 8:30 to 12:30 p.m.
The IPad and the IPhone function the same, in most cases.
• Computers for Beginners I, II, III • Tuesday, April 22, 9 to 11, Thursday, April 24, 9 to 11, Saturday, April 26, 9 to 11. The question to be answered is, “How do I use a computer?” ‘
• Cut the Cord & Stream • Wednesday, April 23, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
This course will focus on streaming as a replacement for Cable TV channels.
The Art Club in Sun City Center will be presenting the Work of Bruce Fallender in their Gallery Opening, Wednesday, April 2, in the Art Room on Cherry Hill Drive. Bruce Fallender is an award winning artist and a member of the Art Club. He has a unique one man show of his works of art on display in the Art Club Art Gallery during the month of April. “The Fine Art of Brass Rubbing” is a special feature of his talents and consists of brass rubbings from monumental brasses from England, as well as rubbings from brass replicas from the artist’s private art collection.
As an extra bonus, the artist is proud to present 15 works of art in various art mediums which won awards in four art shows in January and February of this year. You are cordially invited to an opening reception with refreshments on Wednesday, April 2, from 1-3 p.m. to meet the artist and enjoy his work.
Potter’s Wheel Donates to Samaritan Services
Potter’s Wheel Club of Sun City Center donates $150 to Samaritan Services. Samaritan Services, a 501(c)(3) charity, provides many support services needed by residents of Greater Sun City Center. We will transport ambulatory residents to medical appointments between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Brandon, Bradenton, and Tampa, with advance notice of 10 to 14 days. SCC Ride provides transportation for in-town appointments and shopping, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Samaritan Services also coordinate the Meals on Wheels program, and provide Alzheimer’s and Dementia respite care. For Samaritan Services information call 813-634-9283. For SCC Ride, call 813-633-6111.
Artists of the Month
Tom Haverfield is a retired art teacher of 30 years. He holds 2 art degrees, and has earned almost 200 awards. He has been teaching watercolor for over 60 years. His classes are great for beginners as they follow him step by step and have a finished piece to take home each day.
Anne Walker studied at the Philadelphia Museum College of Art, with Loran Percy in New Hampshire, and Joanna Coke in Florida. She started in oils, but now is primarily in acrylics and mixed media.
Harvey Berman was a commercial artist in New York City. He is also a multiple award winning watercolorist, who taught at the University of South Florida, and for the past 8 years has taught in Sun City Center. His works are sought after by collectors throughout the state of Florida.
Linda Scola, also a multiple award winning artist, describes her works best as New England oil paintings done in an impressionistic style. Her paintings of local scenes from Vermont farmhouses to Cape Cod beaches have been featured in one woman shows and in Galleries across the Northeast. She teaches in Sun City Center for 5 months every year. Margaret Carey is a New York City artist who studied under the watchful eye of Professor Chen of mainland China. The multi award winning artist has been teaching Chinese brush painting for 40 years. We are privileged to have her as one of our teachers.
Gloria Hosek earned her fine arts degree and teaching credential from California State University. After teaching high school art for 15 years, she retired and has been teaching oil painting and drawing to various adult education classes. Their artwork is on display in the Art Club room, and also in the main Atrium window near the Florida room.
L to R: standing Tom Haverfield, Anne Walker, and Harvey Berman. Seated are Linda Scola, Margaret Carey, and Gloria Hosek. Their combined work is on display in the Art Club Room on Cherry Hill Drive.
Bruce Fallender
L to R: Debe Allen (president of Potter’s Wheel & Pat Rapach (president of Samaritan Services).
SCC Crafters Rock the Florida State Fair FunFest Is a Hit
By Bob Sanchez
A lot of talented Sun City Center residents won ribbons at the Florida State Fair at the State Fairgrounds Florida State Fair this February, and CA Director Carrie Blaylock invited them to be congratulated at the Gazebo on Cherry Hills Drive on March 1. Prizewinners included William Anderson, David Brown, Bruce Crain, Pennie Lemley, Terrie McNamara, Michelle Miller, Linda Monahan, Marcia Morris, Betty Newell, Carol Scudder, Jesse Shrom, and Ellen Turner. Participants came from virtually every SCC arts and crafts club, and many won multiple ribbons.
By Bob Sanchez
FunFest happens every March, a definite sign that spring is here. Dozens of Sun City Center’s clubs put on displays to show residents what their organizations have to offer, and hundreds of residents strolled through the Atrium and the outdoor exhibits extending all the way across Cherry Hills Drive.
Not surprisingly, many State Fair ribbons were on display as well as a Best of Show ribbon awarded to David Brown from the Southwest Florida Wood Art Expo.
Photo by Bob Sanchez
Photo by Bob Sanchez
Par for the Chorus performing in the Florida Room. Photo by Paula Lickfeldt
Rhonda Altman demonstrates weaving. Photo by Paula Lickfeldt
Drone photo by John Wakeman
Susan and Millie from the SCC Cooking Demonstration Club.
Photo by Paula Lickfeldt
The Editor’s Corner
The Difference
By E. Adam Porter Editor, News of SCC & South County
I poured coffee into my favorite cup, inhaled the fragrant steam, and smiled. How often is it the little things that bring joy to life?
I’m not sure anyone’s done an accurate accounting, but I’d say “often” is answer enough. I turned, leaning against the counter and saw my wife enter the kitchen.
“I need a hug,” she said.
“Can do,” I replied, obliging. I asked what was up and felt her head shake against my neck. I didn’t press. Sometimes, you just need a hug. “All good?” I asked as she leaned away.
She smiled, taking a sip of coffee before showing me a new trick she had taught our old dog. The golden retriever did his thing, swallowed his treats without chewing, and flounced away to find one of the innumerable tennis balls he leaves stashed around the house. I sipped coffee, waiting to see if a clue might emerge as to the impetus for the hug.
It’s weird, I think, how sometimes just what someone else needs feels so inadequate. We wonder if there is more, or maybe worry that what we can do will not be enough. There are so many problems without fixes, troubles without solutions, and questions without answers…
That got me thinking about how easy it is to do nothing when we feel like we can’t solve a problem. Like something is too big, too complicated, or too beyond our influence or resources to even attempt addressing. And that reminded me of a question my son asked me a few weeks ago…
My son’s civics class hosts student discussions, curated by the teacher, a few times a week. I say this both as context for his question and also as a reality reset for the folks who have bought into the myth that American students no longer study government, society, and our relationship to it. “They” do in fact teach “that” in schools “these days…”
We were riding home from school, discussing his day. We had talked about what happened in team sports (his favorite class), as well as English and science, two of his best subjects, and we got to his history and government class this year. His class had been discussing current events, including the ongoing actions taken by the executive and judicial branches, as well as the apparent legislative reluctance to lean in one direction or the other.
My son expressed concern. His older brother is serving on active duty in the military. Amid news of military action across the globe, of government cuts and changes of leadership, and the daily barrage of headlines and half-reported stories, it’s tough to get a bead on What’s Really Happening. That was the gist of my son’s question. “I’m worried,” he said, “But I don’t know what to do about it.”
What a great question…
Because the reality is that a high school sophomore can’t do much of anything to solve the big problems he and his friends debate in class. They can study and consider what the adults around them are doing, and they can learn about how adults in decades past dealt with similar situations, but they can’t directly do much about the “big picture” things that have him worried.
So… I turned the question back around on him… “What can you do about it?”
“Nothing, I guess,” he mused. I repeated my question: “What can you do?”
There was a long pause. “I’d like to learn more about some of this stuff,” he said. “And I want to call my brother.”
I told him I thought those were great ideas. He was quiet for a bit, then asked me: “You were a reporter for a long time. You knew a lot about what was going on… Did you worry about stuff then?”
“Yeah…” I sighed. “I did.”
He was quiet for a while, and I watched the road, silently cussing the guy in front of me on his phone, driving erratically, weaving back and forth across the line. We both watched the guy for a while until he drifted into the center turn lane to further consult his GPS.
“Do you still worry about that stuff?” my son asked.
“Sometimes,” I admitted. “Probably more than I should. When I catch myself worrying
about it, I try to look for something I can do—not about that—but something that will help someone else.”
“And that helps?” he challenged, clearly unconvinced.
“It helps them… and, most of the time, it helps me too.”
“How do you know what to do?” He asked.
“I don’t, and I’ve learned not to assume. I ask the person I’m helping what they need.”
Flashing back to the present, I watched my wife puttering around the kitchen, humming snippets of songs to herself. Seems like it really was just a hug she needed. And, not for the first time, I reflected on how long it took this husband to learn that particular Truth.
As I watched my boys dig into heaping plates of maple syrup drenched waffles I wondered how much—or if—my son
thought about our conversation all those weeks back. Was he thinking about doing something good or helpful, especially when he felt powerless? I heard him ask his brother if he wanted the syrup and saw my youngest beam. He’s a big fan of maple syrup. Kid’s got his priorities right. Sometimes, it’s maple syrup, sometimes it’s a hug or brewing a new pot of coffee… Sometimes a little more, or a little less, I still don’t haven’t figured out the math on that one… but what I do know is that what we can do is enough. Taking that action creates a value much greater than the sum of its parts. There will still be reasons to worry… still times we all need a hug… and that’s okay. Better than okay, really… because every one of those times is another opportunity to make a difference.
SCC & South County
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Contributors: Frank Kepley, Garry Higgins, Bob Monahan, Peggy Burgess, Joanne Baskinger, Debbie Caneen, John Lampkin, Cathy Meyerhoff, Judy Cesarski and Ron Clark. (CA President). Stewart
All the Health Care You Need in One Location
Conveniently located off I-75 and Big Bend Road, BayCare’s St. Joseph’s Hospital-South has expertly cared for the community for 10 years. With a dedicated pediatric emergency center, we treat emergencies for all ages. And BayCare Urgent Care, labs, imaging and primary care offices are all located on the St. Joseph’s Hospital-South campus. You’ll find all the care you need, close to home, delivered by an expert, compassionate team that treats you like family.
Levels of Care
Tampa Bay’s leading multispecialty physician group including family, internal and pediatric medicine. To find a doctor, go to BayCare.org/Doctors.
When you or your child gets sick, schedule a virtual visit 24/7 for $69 using the BayCareAnywhere app.
BayCare Urgent Care 10125 Big Bend Road Riverview, FL 33578
For minor aches, pains, sprains and strains, we treat adults and children age 2 and older. Walk in or use the Save Your Spot® tool on BayCareUrgentCare.org.
For the most serious illnesses and injuries, we have an experienced, compassionate team of physicians and nurses who care for patients of all ages, along with private rooms and a dedicated pediatric emergency room. Emergency Room St. Joseph’s Hospital-South 6901 Simmons Loop Riverview, FL 33578
South Shore Democrats Club
Thursday, April 3,1-3 p.m.
St Andrews Presbyterian, 1239 W Del Webb Blvd
All like-minded people are welcome. Hear representatives from local, regional, state and national government and organizations speak on issues that affect our lives in Florida. “Politics is all local” This month we will hear from William Royal Gearhart of Mobility Migration. Light refreshments will be served. Help with voter registration and Vote By Mail renewals will be available. Info: “www. southshoredemocrats.org” or “SSDmembership@gmail.com”.
Lions 40th Anniversary Celebration
The date and time have been set for the Sun City Center/South Shore Lions 40th anniversary celebration. Please join us on Tuesday, April 15, at Kings Point South Clubhouse in the Jubilee Room. Social hour is 11 a.m. To 11:55 a.m. The meeting will be called to order at noon.
Guest speakers will be Past International Director Rod Wright and Past District Governor Paula Beach from the Zephyrhills Lions Club. Your meal can be ordered at the South Clubhouse Cafe from the menu. Questions or concerns may be directed to Lion Bob Jenkins at 586-295-5135 or “rwj045@gmail.com”.
Please RSVP no later than April 10 to the above email address, with the number attending, so there will be enough seating for everyone. We look forward to seeing you.
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
April 16, at 12:30 p.m. • North Pebble Beach Blvd.
The Colonel George Mercer Brooke Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will hold their next meeting here in Sun City. There will be light refreshments, immediately followed by the regular meeting. The special talk for April will be presented by Jennifer Torres, telling us about Inspira Tampa Bay, Inc. Our Chapter and the DAR in general continue to serve the community and as part of our responsibility, we reported the time we worked with in service. As we compiled the data across the National Society we see the official record. That record is then submitted annually to Congress through the Smithsonian Institute. This year just completed, we reported a new record of 7,405,634 hours reported in Service for America. If you are interested in further information on our meeting or on the organization, please contact DARcgmb@aol.com
Kitchen Masters Club
Deb Perian, a member of the Kitchen Masters club of SCC, was our March cooking club guest speaker. She and other members prepared a variety of Ashkenazi style Passover cuisine such as Gefilte fish, brisket, chicken and salmon. Vegetables included oven roasted potatoes and traditional Tzimmes, a stew of carrots, sweet potatoes and prunes. Yummy desserts were served including a traditional wine & nut flourless cake. During the Seder portion, Debbie explained the purpose, symbols and order of the Seder. We all learned something new. If you are interested in joining us at our next meeting on April 19 at 3 p.m., we will be focusing on family Easter traditions.
The Kitchen Masters club of SCC is open to all SCC members, Freedom Plaza members and Kings Point Members with a KP club usage card. Dues are $25 annually. Meetings are held from 3 - 6 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month in the Eberhardt room (North Campus next to the lawn bowling greens). For further information you can contact Maria Hodge at 856-981-9992 or reach out at Facebook (Kitchen Masters Of SCC).
COMMUNITY
Left Center Right Club
First and third Saturday, 2 to 4 p.m.
Kings Point East Social Room
Remember Left Center Right? That fun game in which 3 quarters and 3 dice can win you untold riches? Well it’s here at Kings Point! We offer both the traditional games as well as LCR Extreme! created by our own Rick Miles. BYOE snacks to share are always welcome. If you are coming in from outside Kings Point let the guard know you are here for LCR. Questions? Contact Michelle Mason 813-492-8920 or “mmason@seniorsinservice.org”.
Men’s Club Meeting
The guest speaker at this month’s April 16 meeting will be Patrick Alonso PharnD, CPh, who will provide a talk on preventing hospital admissions and the appropriate use of medications and techniques used to keep patients healthy and safe. His philosophy aligns perfectly with the Men’s Club of SCC. “Together, we can improve the health and well-being of our community”. Please join us for this meeting and lunch. Info: “davidlemley@bellsouth.net”.
CAHT Meeting
April 15 at 1 p.m.
Caper Room, SCC Atrium
Join the Campaign Against Human Trafficking - Southshore. Our speaker will be Kay Diaz from Created Women of Tampa. Created Tampa is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian organization committed to the restoration of vulnerable women involved in the sex industry to an understanding of their value, beauty, and dignity. She will discuss the program and steps they take to support and celebrate these survivors.
PACE Speaks To AAUW
Saturday, April 12, 9:30 a.m.
Florida Room, Atrium, 940 North Course Lane
The local Branch of American Association of University Women invites you to their April meeting to hear Bernadette Casey make a presentation regarding PACE of Hillsborough County. PACE was set up by the state years ago as a positive alternative for young women instead of entering the juvenile justice system. It is an organization that empowers change in their whole lifestyle with incredible success. Call Margie Castiglia at 813-633-8253 or email her at “margidee817@gmail.com” if you are coming.
Lady Elks Fashion Show & Luncheon
Monday, April 7 • 1630 US-41 S.
Spring is here! It’s time to think about your spring wardrobe and there is no better way than to view the newest fashions. Consider bringing your friends to the SouthShore Lady Elks #2672, of the South Hillsborough Elks Lodge#2672, Ruskin as they are hosting a Spring Charity Fashion Show & Luncheon with Janet Carr Accessories & More, benefiting the Elks Children’s Therapy Services.
Doors will open for viewing and shopping at 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; Registration is from 11 to 11:30 a.m., followed by a fashion show with local models showcasing moderately priced one-of-akind clothing for all styles and sizes and unique accessories, and a delicious luncheon catered by the Lodge Chef. The cost for the charity event is $30. The dress code is dressy casual. To purchase a ticket, please visit the South Hillsborough Elk Lodge #2672, on M-W-F from 2 p.m. to the closing or simply call Janet at 813 340-1516.
Community continued from page 4.
Keep the Flags Flying
Due to the damage of hurricane Milton in November, the U.S. flags did not fly on SR-674. This spring the flags will fly from Memorial Day until the 4th of July. Please help us “Keep the Flags Flying” with your donation to the S.R. 674 Flag Project. Make your checks payable to: CGMB Chapter, PO Box 6343, Sun City Center, FL 33571-6343.
South Bay Genealogical Society Meeting
Tuesday, April 22, at 10:30 a.m.
Elks Lodge 1630 S. US-41, Ruskin
Begins with a Round Table Discussion at 10:30 a.m., followed by a sit-down luncheon at noon. Following lunch at 1 p.m. our guest speaker Debbie Smyth will present “Digging in Dirt: Researching Land Records”. The cost is $18 per person for the meal and presentation. For reservations and meal choice, call Vicki at 360-608-1647. Make your check payable to SBGS, and mail to South Bay Genealogical Society, PO Box 5202, Sun City Center, FL 33571. Your check must be received in our PO Box by April 13. Allow 4-5 days for mailing.
Rotary/HCA Hospital Health Fair
Hundreds of guests and almost 50 vendors packed the fellowship hall at St Andrew Presbyterian Church Feb 21 to learn, up close and personal, how to get healthier. Good food, exercise and proper medical care were all covered as the Rotary Club of Sun City Center, partnering with HCA Florida South Shore Hospital, combined resources to provide education and promote healthy living. It was the first annual “South Shore Community Health Fair” and it went off without a hitch.
As title sponsor, HCA gave a total of $5,000 toward Rotary’s annual drive to provide college scholarships to students graduating from Lennard and East Bay high schools. Free to the public, the event provided information and advice about everything from CBD medicine and stretching to yoga and Medicare Advantage plans. HCA also brought in a series of doctors who spoke on their specialties, including cancer, joint replacement, diabetes, infectious diseases, wound care and more.
Galaxy Bridge Club Luncheon
April 3, at 12:30 p.m. • Caper Room, Atrium
For reservations or cancelations call Kathie at 410-375-6363. If you leave a voicemail she will call you back to confirm. Cancelation deadline is March 30. Our Club is opened to all women of Sun City Center, Freedom Plaza and Kings Point gold card members who are interested in social bridge.
German American Club of SCC Spring Dinner Dance
Thursday, May 1 • SCC Community Hall
Entertainment will be provided by the inimitable Eva Adams, with dinner orchestrated by community favorites Banquet Masters. Tickets for members will be $30, with a charge of $40 for nonmembers. Cut off dates for tickets will be Monday, April 28. There will be no refunds after that date. Checks made payable to the German American Club of SCC should be mailed to or dropped off at one of the following addresses: Robert Stubing 1214 Peridot Lane, SCC 973 670-2317, or Wolfgang Kesselring 2042 Grantham Greens Dr., SCC 860 307-3342.
Fermenting Fanatics is Moving
April 10, at 1:30 p.m. • Kings Point Waterside Room
Craft Beer and Wine Club meeting—new date and location! We gather to discuss craft beers and wines, enjoy tastings as a club and learn about the process of fermenting along with participating in field trips! Feel free to bring your own snacks. We provide cups and fun! If you are interested in craft beer or wine and tasting local offerings, check us out “facebook.com/groups/craftbeerandwineclub”. Members bring either a bottle of wine or two craft beers. We meet the second Thursday of every month and have a field trip to a local establishment. Questions? Contact Michelle Mason 813-492-8920 or “mmason@seniorsinservice.org”.
Rotary Club of Sun City Center meets Tuesdays at noon at Freedom Plaza’s Freedom Fairways golf clubhouse. For more information, contact Connie Huber at (813) 957-6482.
Edwin Gonzalez-Gertz, current senior minister at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and a member of the SCC Men’s Club, was guest speaker at the February members’ luncheon meeting of the Sun City Center Men’s Club. Rev. Gonzalez-Gertz spoke about aging and spirituality and the effect on the “Golden Years”, a subject most pertinent to residents of Sun City Center.
The Sun City Center Men’s Club is a leading service organization in SCC, sponsoring LifeLine Medical Alert System, a low vision group, automatic doors on almost all SCCCA buildings and many other community projects. The SCC Men’s Club is open to SCCCA residents and Kings Point residents. For more info call Bruce Fraser at 813 419-4013.
The monthly Caloosa Casual Party Club (CCPC) recent theme was “Shamrockin’ Our Green” hosted by Glenn Surkont and Lisa Slayton. It was a full house in the party room featuring an Irish buffet and dancing and listening to a variety of music. The evening always ends with a large circle of the members and guests singing “God Bless the USA.” The next CCPC will be April 6. For information on CCPC contact coordinators Ron and Nancy Clark at 508-667-3144.
Community continued on page 6.
L to R: Ed Barnes, VP of Programs, SCC Men’s Club, Rev. Edwin Gonzalez, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Elliott Bart, President, SCC Men’s Club.
At a recent Caloosa Casual Party Club, musician David Morris serenaded
By Ilona Merritt
Imagine the largest passenger ship in the world, a passenger ship as long as three football fields. Imagine a ship that embodied American ingenuity, technology, and artistic achievement, the fastest ship ever to cross the Atlantic both ways.
American naval architect William Francis Gibbs designed it to be an ocean liner which could easily be converted into a troopship, if required, by the United States Navy in time of war. The ship served as an icon for the nation, transporting celebrities and immigrants throughout her career between 1952 and 1969 between Europe to the United States.
Appropriately christened SS United States, it was built at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company built at the cost of $71.8 million ($676 million in 2023). Her design included innovations in steam propulsion, hull form, fire safety, and damage control. The design was so unique that while the hull was being laid it was covered to keep it from the prying eyes of the news media. This ship was his dream and he made his dream come true. It was built in this country and will remain, forever an important part of our history.
The ship became a floating time capsule of 1950s design, featuring fireproof aluminum furniture, sleek modernist décor, and cutting-edge technology of its time. She was made of steel and aluminum. No wood was included in her structural design, including the interior furnishings. The only wood used was in the Baldwin grand pianos built for her. The Baldwin Piano company would not build a stainless steel piano since only wood produces the beautiful music sounds. Baldwin had to visually prove to the ship builders that the wood used does not easily burn.
The SS United States will always be a sign of American ingenuity and pride. She was ordered in 1949 and commissioned in 1952. She set her speed record of 3 days and 10 hours on her maiden voyage from New York to Le Havre, France. There were many, many reasons why the ship was referred to as an American champion of the sea!
The ship was divided into three classes. First class, located at the front section of the ship, was for passengers who wished for the best services and locations the ship had to offer. Cabin class was aimed toward the American middle classes, striking a key balance between the affordability of tourists and the elegance of first class. Tourist class was aimed at those who were unable or unwilling to spend much on a ticket; it was often booked by migrants and students.
This ship was not a cruise ship, but an ocean liner. The amenities were wonderful. There were three libraries and several dining rooms, and the food for the cabin and first class came out of the same kitchen. The
American Champion of the Sea
wine list included wines from 171 countries. A swimming pool was available for first and cabin classes. Bingo games were well attended by the passengers. Horse races were offered as the action came from well-known race tracks that were sent to the ship by radio, and stewards moved wooden horses on the ship’s tracks by hand. It was almost like being there, and betting was part of the action. And much more was offered on the “Super liner at your service.” There was no limit on the amount of luggage. If you were going to Europe and wanted to take your own vehicle ... no problem, there was room. The ship had room for 48 vehicles. Luggage not needed while on board would be put into a nine-story high hold. If you needed dressing for the evening, a maid could be sent to your cabin. If you had to take care of some business, a secretary would come to your cabin with a typewriter and a teletype. Children were well cared for, and if your dog traveled with you, first-class accommodations were also available for Fido. The list goes on and on. It has often been said that it is difficult to explain the excitement of traveling on the SS United States; you had to experience it.
Almost one million passengers had that experience sailing to and from Europe. Many famous people were seen traveling on the SS United States, including President and Mrs. Eisenhower, and many more. The ship attracted frequent, repeat, celebrity passengers such as Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Cary Grant, Salvador Dalí, Duke Ellington, and Walt Disney, who featured the ship in the 1962 film Bon Voyage! April 2, 1954, was an exciting day for this writer. The ship’s port of call included a stop in Bremerhaven, Germany, where my mother, my sister, and I boarded to sail to America to start a new life. We had a distant cousin in Toledo, Ohio, who was our sponsor and also paid for the sailing. He arranged for us to travel in the cabin class. I was 14 at the time, and although 71 years have passed, my memory of that trip is still vivid. My sister and I did not speak English, but I could say “What time is it, please?” and “Thank You”. In roaming around I would ask anyone who looked like an American that question and everyone would graciously answer. Of course, I never understood what they replied. Speaking of time, I knew when it was 11 a.m. on the Aft deck. Stewards would walk around with a tray of broth filled cups offered to the passengers. Truly a lovely gesture.
The first evening we went to the beautiful dining room, our lack of English was a hindrance. Turkey was on the menu, and our delightful steward tried so hard, with physical action, to explain what a turkey was. We had lived in Hamburg, a large metropolitan city, and farm animals were not part of our life. I can still see the
steward hopping around saying “gobble, gobble, gobble’, to try and explain what dinner would be. I remember that incident every Thanksgiving. For me the most monumental event was sailing into New York Harbor. I will never forget standing at the railing of the aft deck and seeing the Statue of Liberty. The sight was so impressive and will never be forgotten!!! I remember the beautiful ship’s decor. While reviewing many of the articles written about the ship, I noted that the ship’s designer hired only women interior designers to create that very beautiful, modern, yet elegant look that the ship was known for. Interesting since, in the 50’s, men were still dominant in the working world.
Sadly, the SS United States, a mid-century modern luxury vessel, was doomed to extinction. A new generation was growing up and speed came to dominate world travel. The airplane and jumbo jets became the way to travel abroad. Society traded luxury travel for a small space, limited luggage allowance, and minimovie screens for entertainment for 6-hour flights instead of 3 days and 10 hours.
The SS United States was a floating time capsule of 1950s design, but where do you find space for such an icon? Instead of being properly maintained, she had been left in limbo, her interiors lost to time and scattered among collectors and warehouses. For many years a variety of plans to turn her into a museum or a hotel was thought to be a fitting honor to her legacy but it was not to be. She was docked in South Philadelphia for 30 years and last voyage was to Mobile, Alabama, our national pride is being readied to be the largest artificial reef in the world.
Community continued from page 5.
On the early morning of February 20, 2025, my son’s ‘Bon Voyage’ call marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey. As the SS United States set sail for Florida, I found myself awake, eagerly following the ship’s progress and reminiscing about past voyages. The sight of this colossal vessel being guided by a single tugboat and another at the aft was a testament to the power of human ingenuity.
As the SS United States embarked on its journey, it had to navigate under several bridges. To ensure a smooth passage, the Delaware River Port Authority took the proactive step of halting traffic on the Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry bridges as the ship passed through. This thoughtful gesture minimized driver distraction and allowed the ship to continue its historic journey without interruption.
Sailing past Miami, Florida, was challenging due to the many cruise and freight ships and the leisure boats all wanting to view the SS United States on her last journey. The ship was taken around Key West and into the Gulf to Mobile, Alabama, where she will be cleaned and readied for her final resting place 20 nautical miles off the coast of Ft. Walton Beach, where it will forever symbolize our nation’s strength, innovation, and resilience. During this period of intense political polarization, America’s Flagship, built through a public-private partnership as a luxury liner and a top-secret, high-speed, troop transport to protect our national interests overseas, illustrates the power and the promise of working together for a common cause. As a naturalized citizen, I can’t help but feel a surge of pride at having played a small part in this chapter of America’s history.
The SCC Rotary and the Sportsman’s Clubs held their spring peanut butter and cereal collection. These items are key food products in providing support to families in need. They are especially desirable due to both their nutritional value and ease of storage. During the February Sportsman Club meeting, 300 pounds of food items were collected. The resulting horde was delivered to the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) to assist local families. ECHO assists families in crisis with emergency food, as well as clothing and access to life-stabilizing programs, all at no charge. Cash donations were used to purchase pasta, which ECHO identified as an immediate need. Rotary also has an ongoing project to collect clothing in support of ECHO’s retail store.
The SCC Rotary Club meets each Tuesday for lunch with a topical speaker at Freedom Fairways. For more information visit its Facebook page at “facebook.com/RotarySCC” or call Bill (membership) at 813-634-3936.
Pet Salon & Spa
Quality, Convenient & Dependable Sun City
Photo Club Visits Bok Tower Gardens
By Bob Sanchez
In our February field trip, eight members of the Sun City Center Photo Club and three spouses visited Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales to stroll the verdant pathways and admire the season’s early blossoms. Camellias and azaleas were most abundant, and there was plenty of color to enjoy.
The centerpiece of the garden is of course the 205-foot Singing Tower, from which the carillon plays cheerful music and rings every half hour. By the time you read this article, gorgeous beds of roses will be beginning to bloom. Should you visit this marvelous garden in April or May, and I recommend that you do, you may well see some of us Photo Club members coming back for a return visit. The colors will be wonderful.
Field trips such as this are one of the many reasons to join the Sun City Center Photo Club. Don’t have a camera? Your phone camera will do just fine. Stop by
and say hello in the Caper Room at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of any month.
Where to Eat
Food is available on-site at the Blue Palmetto Café: salads, soups, sandwiches and wraps, fruit and specialty desserts as
well as beer, wine, and gourmet coffee. Inside and outside seating.
Need to Know 1151 Tower Boulevard
Lake Wales, Florida 33853
Phone: 863-676-1408
Website: boktowergardens.org
Bok Tower Gardens is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Adult Garden admission is $20, Children $10 (ages 6-17), children 5 and under are free. Dogs are $10. Garden admission includes single-day admission and access to the 3.5-mile Pine Ridge Preserve hiking trail.
Photo by Kim Jones
Photo by Sherry Kalczynski
Photo by Mike Maxwell
Photo by Robert Winch
Not Just Another “Girl and Her Dog” Story
An interview with Paula Munier
By Andrea L. T. Peterson
AP: With the many hats you have worn in the service of the written word, can you tell me which has been most rewarding and why?
PM: I tell and sell stories for a living—as a writer and editor and agent. Being an agent or an editor is like being the midwife, helping the writer bring a new story into the world. It’s an honor and a privilege to be there, assisting in any and every way possible. Being a writer is like being a mom, giving birth to a new story, which is harder yet even more fulfilling. Whether I’m the midwife or the mother, I get to be in the birthing room. I love being in the room!
AP: The Mercy/Elvis series is set in Vermont. Do you live there? Are you a native to New England?
PM: When I started writing the series, I lived on the South Shore between Boston and Cape Cod. Vermont was my happy place. By the time the series debuted, we’d moved to New Hampshire, about 40 miles from the Vermont border. While I’m not a native New Englander (I was an Army brat who lived everywhere and came from nowhere), I have lived here for more than 20 years, and have discovered that our family has deep roots here that go back to the 17th century. So, in a way, I have come home.
AP: How did the series come to be? Inspiration for the principal characters and the series? Is Mercy based on someone you know--not so much her murder-solving skills, but her strength, determinations, and persistence?
PM: Mercy is based on the women and men I’ve known in the military, and the strong women in my own family. I did not serve, but many of my friends and family have. Had I been born later I’m sure my father would have packed me off to West Point. (They didn’t accept
women at West Point at the time I graduated from high school.) Writing Mercy is also my way of exploring the road not taken…. AP: Can you state for me your mission and why?
PM: My mission, as a storyteller and story seller, is to tell great stories and to sell great stories. I believe that stories matter, that stories can save the world. Now more than ever, the world needs good stories.
AP: Five books in, each unique and with continually developing characters, what’s sixth in store for Mercy and Elvis? Is there another book (a sixth) in the works? Going to press? In the early stages, a seventh?
PM: The Night Woods, book six, debuted in October. It was great fun to write, my own humble homage to The Odyssey— complete with wild boar. I’m revising, The Snow Lies Deep, as we speak. It’s set during the holidays, and I get to explore all the December themes—from Christmas and Hanukkah to the Winter Solstice and The Snow Maiden. It comes out late next year.
AP: Are you, at this time, a fulltime writer or do you have other irons in the fire?
PM: I’m a literary agent by day. Official Title: Senior Agent & Director of Storytelling for Talcott Notch Literary. I also teach writing at retreats, workshops, and conferences. Like many of my clients, I’m a writer by night— or whenever I can squeeze it in.
AP: Favorite authors and why?
PM: I have so many favorite authors. I could go on and on. That said, I read for a living, so while I read everything, my favorites tend to be great storytellers with strong voices and a unique command of language. I adore crime fiction, book club fiction, literary fiction, memoir, poetry, and anything nature-related. And any and all fairy tales.
Past: These are the classic
storytellers I return to over and over again: Homer and Shakespeare and Louisa May Alcott and Jane Austen and Rilke. Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Georges Simenon and Colin Dexter.
Present: These are the writers I read for pleasure and instruction: Alice Hoffman (for her lyrical prose and lush storytelling), Richard Powers (for his prescience), Barbara Kingsolver (for her mastery), Ann Cleeves (for her iconic detectives Vera and Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn), Kate Atkinson (for Jackson Brodie and his evolution), Attica Locke (for her troubled heroes). Everyday Wisdom. Enough said: Anne Lamott, Mark Nepo, Abigail Thomas, Maya Angelou, Natalie Goldberg, Pema Chödrön, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Julia Cameron. Poetry. Emily Dickinson and Mary Oliver, Robert Frost and Wendell Berry, Donald Hall and Jane Kenyon, Joy Harjo and Maya Angelou, Bashō and Rumi.
Best books I’ve read in the past 60 days (I read a lot of books): Knife, by Salman Rushdie; You Could Make This Place
Beautiful, by Maggie Smith; The Collaborators, by Michael Idov; The Serviceberry, by Robin Wall Kimmerer; The Backyard Bird Chronicles, by Amy Tan, The Lost Words, by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, The Peace of Wild Things, by Wendell Berry.
AP: If given a megaphone to make any statement about anything of interest or import to you--about books, writing, life, any subject--what would you say?
PM: Copyright is under siege. We need to protect the rights of all artists, so we can continue to enjoy the stories, songs, poems, plays, and films that not only entertain us, but can also enlighten us.
AP: Final thought to share with my readers?
PM: It’s never too late. Ever since a British family friend gave me a book of Sherlock Holmes stories when I was 12 years old, I dreamed of being a mystery writer. Life got in the way—and it was a good life— but at 62, I finally realized that dream with the publication of A BORROWING OF BONES. I’m loving my third act! Write your third act your way!
Moffitt Forum
By Mike Lee
Moffitt Cancer Center opened their new facility in Ruskin on January 27, which will make cancer-related care much more convenient for local residents. A Moffitt community outreach representative, Jeannette Palencia, recently hosted a forum to introduce local residents to the facility.
Among other things, Palencia
recommended frequent screenings so that cancers can be detected early, which makes them far easier to treat. The new facility will offer many different types of screenings, including mammograms, lung cancer screenings, MRI’s and PET scans, among others. The facility also has 22 infusion stations for chemotherapy, as well as radiation oncology, which can eliminate the need for long commutes to their primary hospital in Tampa. They also have 18 clinical rooms with doctors on duty locally. Many types of cancer will be treated locally. The facility anticipates treating 9,000 different patients yearly.
Moffitt offers, in conjunction with Hillsborough County, free screening for county residents over the age of 40 that meet certain conditions. Additionally, Moffitt offers what they call “The Mole Patrol.” Doctors and nurses will staff these free events that offer screening for skin cancer. Details can be found on the Moffitt website, Moffitt.org. They also host multiple clinical trials to assist in research for advancements in medical care. Patients may qualify for these trials, depending on their condition, as well as being recommended by their doctor. Moffitt accepts new patients. Depending on one’s insurance plans, some people may be able to make appointments without a referral. Moffitt can also help navigate insurance issues to ensure that patients are covered, and under what circumstances.
FAITH &service
Community Holocaust Memorial Service
Wednesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. • UMC of SCC, 1971 Haverford Ave. Yom Hashoah service to remember the victims of the Holocaust. The service will include prayers, memorial candle lighting, and readings. Songs representing the faith at the time of the Holocaust will be sung by a community choir, led by Jeff Jordan, musical director at the Methodist Church. As a community we will come together to remember what happened to the victims of Hitler, and to remember the heroes who did not live to tell their stories. The community is encouraged to attend.
Bill Dougherty is Knight of the Month
At the Knights of Columbus monthly meeting in February, Bill Dougherty was recognized as the Knight of the Month. Over the past few months Bill has been providing extra help to Grand Knight Ron Shive as he guides the council in their charitable works following the principles of the first three degrees of Knighthood, Charity, Fraternity and Unity.
The Knights of Columbus is a brotherhood of Catholic men who each play a part in improving the world around them, one community at a time. They stand together in faith, dedicated to uphold the principles of Charity, Fraternity, Unity and Patriotism while lending their support and strength to parish, home and fellow Knights.
Easter Flower Sale
Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Annual Easter flower sale Saturday, April 5, before and after 4 p.m. Mass and Sunday, April 6, before and after all Sunday Masses 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday’s Sale will include a Bake Sale of home baked goodies and a craft table of beautiful handmade items by our Hibernian sisters. Craft items to be paid by cash or check only. Prince of Peace Church, 702 Valley Forge Blvd., Sun City Center. Come visit our sale of beautiful Easter flowers for your home or given as a gift to a family member or friend. Flowers are grown by a local family owned nursery, reasonably priced and are set in beautiful containers. Proceeds support local charities and other worthwhile causes in Sun City Center. Easter flowers include: Asiatic lilies 6” $ 13, Easter lilies 6” $14, hydrangeas 6” $ 15.
Beth Israel Sisterhood’s Women’s Seder
Tuesday, April 1, at 12 p.m.
Beth Israel’s Social Hall, 1115 Del Webb Blvd, E. Beth Israel Sisterhood is having a Women’s Passover Seder luncheon. The Women’s Seder has become immensely popular, offering women the opportunity to infuse the Passover narrative with a woman’s voice and experience. Come join us in this beautiful and spiritual event.
You don’t need to be a member of Beth Israel to join the Sisterhood. Sisterhood is a great way to meet other women and share fun times while watching, and participating in, interesting programs. In May, there will be Lunch/Installation of Officers and more exciting programs starting in the fall. To RSVP for the Seder, or to join Sisterhood, contact Donna at “sisterhood@jcscc.org”.
News of Freedom Plaza
By Peggy Burgess
Life at Freedom Plaza during the month of March was like selecting a single sweet treat in a large candy store—tempting, tantalizing, and making you long to sample all the flavors. Witness just one day’s offerings.
March 20 started with Freedom Plaza buses departing to St. Petersburg for a Florida Orchestra Morning Matinee. This was a service to our residents holding season tickets to these concerts. Concert-goers were not back from St. Pete in time to applaud the 1 p.m. tee-off of the Freedom Plaza Scholarship Fund’s Benefit Golf Scramble. The tournament marked that organization’s very first fund-raising effort of this sort and proved so successful and enjoyable it will likely become an annual event.
The day of March 20 continued its joyful agenda as residents who were neither attending the concert nor on the golf course were presented a delightful afternoon alternative: the Auditorium stage lights came on at 3 p.m. for another episode of, ”And the Rest of the Story”. These are real-life, entertaining dramatizations of Biblical personages, written and enacted by resident Peggy Dionne. As twilight fell on March 20 the Golf Scramble culminated in a celebratory Trophy Awards “Bash” at the Plaza Club, the gourmet dinner made even more festive by a bourbon tasting and a silent auction.
Meanwhile, back at the “Big House” (affectionate nickname for the main building), residents sipped their aperitifs at the bar or in one of the dining rooms. While dining they may have discussed the eventful day, or even the whole eventful month of March. They perhaps recalled the enjoyable St. Patty’s Day fete or how they appreciated the month’s Lifetime of Learning Series lecture as well as the various March musical programs. These included C&W/Gospel songs of “The Fifers” duo in the Atrium, plus operatic arias of “Tosca” at Opera & More. And who could forget March’s grand finale, the History Club’s ,“Avenging Persephone,” with residents personifying Greek mythological characters?!
The Freedom Plaza campus buildings are of various shapes and sizes: the main building even likened—alluding to its lifestyle— to a “land-locked cruise ship.” Yet regardless of any building design, it is certain that Freedom Plaza’s March events were, irrefutably ,“well-rounded”… and they rolled merrily along.
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.
Nashville Hall of Fame Tour
Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m.
UMC of SCC, 1971 Haverford Avenue
This group consists of some of Country’s favorite artists, Charlie McCoy, Rich and Denise Kiser, Jason Coleman. There are numerous super-session musicians in Nashville, but very few with the longevity of Charlie McCoy. In addition to being a fixture in Nashville studios for 60 years, he also has his own recording career going full tilt. (He has recorded 44 solo albums.) He served as the music director for eighteen years for the television series, “Hee Haw”. Charlie is also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Tickets are $20 advance $25 at the door and are available at the Pages of Life Book Store Sun 9:30-12:30 and M-Th-10:00-2:00, Church Office M-Th 8:30-4:00 and online at www.sccumc.com/events. For additional information about this and other concerts and recitals at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center, please contact Larry Hirchak, Concert Series Coordinator, at 646-831-4008.
South Shore Concert Band
Monday, April 7, at 7 p.m.
UMC of SCC, 1971 Haverford Avenue
Under the direction of Gene Bohland, the 40 member South Shore Concert Band will present their spring concert titled “American Way” for a special evening of Americana music!
The band will be playing selections from John Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Glenn Miller, Broadway Musicals by Rogers and Hamerstein, Disney Favorites and a special guest saxophone soloist Tim Hoffman performing Sammy Nestico’s Persuasion.
Come and enjoy this diverse community of instrumentalists as they share their musical talents in a beautiful presentation of diverse and well-known songs from years past!!
Tickets are $10 advance and at the door and are available at the Pages of Life Book Store Sun 9:30-12:30 and M-Th-10:00-2:00, Church Office M-Th 8:30-4:00 and online at www.sccumc.com/events. For additional information about this and other concerts and recitals, please contact Larry Hirchak, Concert Series Coordinator, at 646-831-4008.
By Judy Cesarski, SCCCA Activities Director
Now that the 2024–2025 Season has come to an end, I would like to thank you for your support. We had a great season with a variety of performers. I hope that you will enjoy the up-coming season of 2025-2026 that runs from November thru March. Stay tuned for the announcement of the new schedule of shows that will be released over the summer.
Once again, this year the CA will host the Summer Bandstand Concerts at the Gazebo, 958 Cherry Hills Drive. Bandstand Concerts are FREE to SCCCA members, guest passes can be purchased at the SCCCA Office at 1009 N. Pebble Beach Blvd., from 8 – 3 pm, Monday thru Friday. The first concert will be held on April 16 with the Rusty Trumpet Band beginning at 6 p.m. Keep an eye out for upcoming show announcements as well as Music at the Pool Events. For any questions about our Entertainment please call or email Judy Cesarski, Activities Director at “activities@suncitycenter.org” or 813-642-2001.
DANCING
New York Club Dinner Dance Monday, April 7, at 5 p.m.
Kings Point Veterans Theater
They will be having their next dinner dance. It will be a Rock N Roll Party with music by LB and Chloe. The delicious food is by Banquet Masters which consists of veggie lasagna, chicken teriyaki, meatloaf, salad and dessert bar, iced tea and coffee. We have a singles table. Everyone is invited even if you are not from New York. Please call Frank Gatto at (813) 633-8942 for further information.
Do You Wanna Dance Club
Saturday, April 12, from 7 to 10 p.m.
SCC Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach
Back by popular demand Tony Knight & Friends. Open to SCC CA, Kings Point activity card, Freedom Plaza access & guest pass holders. Tickets on sale at the Atrium Kiosk from 10 to 12, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, April 7, 9, 11 and at the door. Tables available for singles. Tickets $5 members, $10 non-members. Doors open at 6. Ticket sales will end promptly at 7. BYOB and Share the Wealth Raffle. Yearly memberships can be purchased for $35. Please bring non-perishable food items for Our Ladies Pantry. For ticket information contact Barbara “bgocek1@gmail.com” or Kathy “jfkfunnsun@yahoo.com”.
Hello Spring, Goodbye Snowbirds Dance
Saturday, April 19 from 7-9 p.m.
SCC Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.
The Sun City Center Dance Club is holding an open-to-the-public dance. We will be donating proceeds from the dance to the SCC Security Patrol in honor of all the volunteers for their service. The popular singing duo LB & Chloe will be providing all kinds of music, so you can do all your favorite dances including ballroom, swing and country, as well as a few fun line dances. Dance Club members attend free, all others only $6 at the door.
Come dressed in a flowery or colorful outfit--dressy or casual-to begin the spring season. BYOB to celebrate with your friends. And possibly go home with the door prize of a spring plant! For any questions or additional information, please contact Sue Hicks at 813-633-6682.
Moonglow Dance Club
Friday, April 25, doors open at 6:30 p.m.
SCC Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.
The dance is open to the public, and guest admittance is only $6 per person with members’ admission free. Dancing from 7 until 9. Singles and groups are welcome! Dressy casual attire; no shorts please. Music will be provided by the well-known DJ’s Mike and Peg, and cups, water, ice and napkins are provided. BYOB is permitted, so come and enjoy yourselves as we support one of your SCC clubs! Phone Michelle at 330-770-2733 for more information.
“Come Dance With Us” Club
May 4, from 6:30-9 p.m.
Kings Point Veterans Theater
Let’s celebrate the coming of summer. Casual dress with slacks and skirts recommended. Doors open at 6 p.m. with dancing to the music provided by LB & CHLOE with all genres of music. BYOB. Ice and water provided. Cost $5 pp. Questions? Call Ken at 513-5828449 or Rosemary 513-258-8238.
Location: St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Parish Hall, 1015 East Del Webb Blvd. Sun City Center. Contact: Bernice DuBro-Clark (dancewithbernice@gmail.com), cell: 813-482-6784. Cost: 4 weeks of classes for $30/person.All are invited to attend.
Dance continued on page 11.
Dance continued from page 10.
Come Dance With Us
April 13, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Kings Point Veterans Theater
Doors open at 6 p.m. with dancing. Music provided by LB & Chloe with all genres of music. All are welcome to attend. Come celebrate spring with us and others. BYOB with water and ice provided. Cost is $5 paid at the door. Questions? Call Ken 513-582-8449 or Rosemary 513--258-8238.
Kings Point Dance Club
“Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom Time“ Dance
Wednesday, April 02, doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Kings Point Veterans Theater, 1900 Clubhouse Drive
Dancing from 7 to 9 p.m. Ballroom music by Dan Fugazzotto. All KP, SCC, singles and guests are welcome. Dress code, dressy casual, no shorts. BYOB. Members free, guests $5. If you have questions call Eileen 813-296-4038.
Senior Social Dance Thursday, April 10, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
St. John Divine, 1015 Del Webb E.
Doors open at 6 p.m. These dances are always open to everyone and admission is $6, payable at the door. Come and enjoy music
Landsharks Concert
Kids
of the day included raffles for prizes donated by local vendors and SCC clubs, drawings for $50 worth of lottery tickets, and a
The Sun City Center Security Patrol provides a critical service in helping Sun City Center remain one of the safest communities in Hillsborough County. Volunteers are only asked to serve a minimum of three hours per month, and a variety of positions
If you would be interested in supporting the Patrol, please contact them at (813) 6422020 between 9 and 3 Monday through Friday, or visit the Patrol at 1225 N. Pebble Beach during the same hours.
Provided by Debbie Caneen
TUE. APR 8 - QUIT TOBACCO WITH GROUP QUIT 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. SCC. The Single-session program will provide you with the valuable tools you need to help you quit tobacco. These include: preparing to quit tobacco with a quit plan, learning strategies and skills to deal with nicotine cravings to remain tobacco free, dealing with slips, having the opportunity to share your experience with others in a friendly, respectful and supportive group setting, as well as free patches, gum, or lozenges, if medically appropriate. Registration is required. To register online: “tffact.com/c/kq3d4” or to register by phone, call: 813-9291000.
THU. APR 10 - CRAFT BEER & WINE CLUB OF SUN CITY CENTER 1:30 p.m. in the Kings Point Waterside Room. New date and location!! We gather to discuss craft beers and wines, enjoy tastings as a club
and learn about the process of fermenting along with participating in field trips! Feel free to bring your own snacks. We provide cups and fun! If you are interested in craft beer or wine and tasting local offerings, check us out “facebook.com/ groups/craftbeerandwineclub”. Members bring either a bottle of wine or two craft beers. We meet the second Thursday of every month and have a field trip to a local establishment. Questions? Contact Michelle Mason 813-492-8920 or “mmason@ seniorsinservice.org”.
FRI. APR 11 - LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP SUN TOWERS RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. SCC. Low Vision Support Group provides information and resources to the members of the low vision and blind community. With Dining in the Dark behind us we are hoping to focus this meeting on Meta glasses as a user group. If you have them, wear them and be prepared to talk about tricks of the trade. If you are interested in purchasing please attend as we will be spending some of our proceeds towards purchasing meta glasses. Questions? Contact Michelle Mason 813-492-8920 or “mmason@seniorsinservice.org”.
TUE. APR 15 - DITCH DIABETES AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
10:00 a.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. SCC. We will have active group discussions, mini-meditations or gratitudes,
breathwork, chair yoga and stretching, foodie games and a chance to win prizes!! Each month will touch base on healing foods, misconceptions etc. Join Shirley M. Sullivan, Nutritionist, who provides Holistic Wellness Education with Southshore Wellness and Shari Leitermann, Angel of Vitality, Raw/Vegan, Traveling Chef and Educator through fun, food, fitness and frequency. For info, call Debbie Caneen 813-892-2990.
MON. APR 21 - PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Dr. SCC in the Theater Room. Third Monday of every month is a group for Parkinson’s sufferers. We start each meeting with exercises and then have a discussion. This month will be so much fun! We are doing Brain Gym and fine motor movements which support activities of daily living.
Jill Mask is a fitness professional with over 10 years of experience in contributing to Parkinson’s Support groups and will have helpful hints for members! Her dedication to assisting group members in managing PD shines through! If you have Parkinson’s, or are caring for someone with this disease, be sure to attend this support group! Questions? Contact Michelle Mason 813-492-8920 or “mmason@ seniorsinservice.org”.
THU. APR 24 - GAME DAY 2:00 –4:00 p.m. Sun Towers Retirement Community Theater Room. Join the hottest new club that aims to get you playing those games you used to love but no longer have the eyes to do. Trivia, Bingo, Dominoes, Rummikub, and Left Center Right to name a few. Questions? Contact Michelle Mason 813-492-8920 or “mmason@seniorsinservice. org”.
Hanson Services
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 Lifeline Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) at a more competitive rate than what Lifeline 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 the 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.
Tuesday, April 8th • 1:00 p.m.
RSVP Required • Pizza & Drinks Provided St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Room 3/4
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By Kai Rambow
Want to experience Tampa from a view we rarely get to see?
The Pirate Water Taxi makes for a good time out.
There is a map that will help you. Park in the garage, step out and walk towards the water. If you head towards the bridge, you’re headed in the wrong direction. Once there you can hop on the boat. From this departure point, you have two choices.
Island Tour
For the next hour, you are entertained with information about Tampa you didn’t know. You might even spot some
TRAVEL
Tampa from the Water
dolphins.
The boat will make only stops that are requested. That meant we had very few stops. The narration proved to be the thing that kept us entertained.
The River Route
After an hour, you’ll be back where you started. Now is the time to switch. Line up, shortly, and you’ll be heading up the river. Same rules as before, you need to indicate where you like to stop.
Heading up the river there are plenty of places to see. The Straz Center, Tampa University all seen from the water. At stop 16, Armature Works, there are
plenty of places to eat. This is worth the stop.
Just checking out what to eat will be a challenge. It should be fun simply because of the choices. You may want to check out the return times, so you don’t have long to wait.
Then you take the boat back. Additions
If you’re up for it, you can take the free shuttle (tramline) to Ybor city, or take your car and repark it.
Tips for a Great Trip
This is an outdoor activity. Dress for the weather. Plan in advance for a great day. Earliest start is at 11:30. If you want to start at 11:30, remember to account for an hour before you get ready for lunch.
For your GPS, enter the Pam Iorio Garage to find your way to the dock.
Hop on Hop off Water Taxi Info@piratewatertaxi.com (813) 223-7999
There is always time for chess. Seen near Armature Works. The walk beside the river’s edge.
I Love Tennis Fun Day
SPORTS
Sun City Tennis Association board members organized a recent “I Love Tennis Fun Day.” This fun activity tied in with American heart month. There were tennis games, drills, rally competition & CPR/AED use. All ten courts were active with members switching through 6 sessions from 3-5. Food time following included a light dinner, fellowship & prizes (Photo by Wayne Keyes).
Ruskin Recreation Senior 3 on 3 Jimmy Knight of Ruskin Recreation Center awards first place medals to the winning team with a perfect record of 4 wins and zero losses in a tournament that features teams from 50 to 80 picked at the day of the tournament .The games were shorter than normal and was followed by a luncheon after the games . All participants were required to play in both halves with liberal substitutions and fair play featured.
L to R: Wayne Dersch, Mike Burlee, Jerry Landis and tournament MVP
2025 CWGA-18 Member-Guest Tournament
By Aileen Engel
The Caloosa Women’s Golf Association 18-hole league (CWGA18) held their annual Member-Guest tournament on Wednesday March 5th. Despite the wind and threat of rain, the Member-Guest Tournament went off without a hitch! We had a great tournament with 27 teams playing for low gross and low net. The wind certainly played havoc with our balls!
Below are the tournament results
Flight 1: Deb McCanna and Karen Wiles won Low Gross, 72; Barb Struble and Jenice Taylor won 1st Net, 64; Fe Rowe and Laurie Nadeau won 2nd Net, 65; Kim Moore and Janet Luttrell won 3rd NET, 65.
Flight 2: Carol Jager and Diane Gajor won Low Gross, 85; Kim Roush and Sharlene Peters won LOW NET, 64; Dianne Blackwell and Diane Williamson won 2nd NET, 69; Honey Jenks and Kathy Brantner won 3rd NET, 71.
Flight 3: Elaine Hoffman and Fran Wilson won Low Gross, 85; Lyn Urbina and Gloria Burmeister won Low Net, 65; Ellen Desisto and Jan Huber won 2nd Net, 66; Judy Peterson and Annetta Pucci won 3rd Net, 67. Member Guest Closest to the Pin Hole 3: Fe Rowe and Sharlene Peters; Longest Putt on Hole 12: Mary Ellen LaPrade and Karen Wiles; Longest Drive: Fe Rowe Jenice Taylor.
2025 CWGA-18 Member-Member Tournament
By Aileen Engel
The Caloosa Women’s Golf Association 18-hole league (CWGA-18) played their Member-Member Tournament on Monday, February 17, and Wednesday, February 19. Sixteen teams teed off for the 36-hole tournament.
The winners for Flight 1: Kim Roush and Fe Rowe won Low Gross with a score of 153; Elaine Hoffman and Nancy Sumpter won 1st net with a score of 134; Denise Berry and Barb Struble won 2nd net with a score of 135.
The winners for Flight 2: Aileen Engel and Akemi Schindler won Low Gross with a score of 171; Joyce Stafford and Judy Walters won 1st net with a score of 140; Lynn Noyes and Marcia Francis won 2nd net with a score of 142. The winners for Flight 3: Rose Bryan and Linda Suh won Low Gross with a score of 180; Dianne Blackwell and Lyn Urbina won 1st net with a score of 138; Mary Lou Anderson and Jana Roberts won 2nd net Net with a score of 140.
A big thank you to Deb McCanna, CWGA-18 Tournament Chair, Lynda Davies and Barb Struble for Golf Genius set up and scoring, and Karla Pia and Melissa Kohn for check-in and scoring assistance.
USTA Ladies
“The SCC Over 65 USTA ladies 7.0 tennis team won all three lines in their recent match against Plant City. From left to right are Yvonne Wigg, Captain Lorraine Yaghoobian, Linda Taylor, Nancy Clark, Deb Zieg, and Jeanne Crofton. Not pictured: Leslie Morgan and Barb Rusignuolo.”
3 Out of 4 Ain’t Bad
One quarter inch from perfection. Probably need one more free archery lesson. Current CA members and KP Activity Card holders are eligible to receive free archery lessons from the SCC Archery Club. Call club instructor Joe Mealey at 717-497-4639 to make arrangements for lessons. All the equipment is provided for you to use while taking your lessons. For archery club questions not instruction related, call Mark Erickson, club president at 810407-1768.
Senior Basketball Shooting Stars
Jim Rogers (left ) won a silver medal in timed spot shooting and a bronze in spot shooting and his teammate Lee Saucier won a silver in foul shooting and timed spot shooting plus a bronze in spot shooting. Both play for the Southshore Basketball Club out of Ruskin Recreation Center.
Sun City Center Pickleball Club
Here is the recent Sun City Center Pickleball Club Graduation Class. Left to right: Rusty Pontenberg, Ron Wiegman, Marcia Pontenberg, Val Poulos and Rick Parker.
Front: Judy Wagner, President; Deb McCanna, VP and Tournament Chair; Kim Moore, Secretary; Not pictured Judy Luce, Treasurer. Back: Chairladies: Judy Walters, Bylaws/Constitution/Rules; Aileen Engel, Publicity; Sue Daveler, Handicaps; Barb Struble, Yearbook; Mary Ellen Laprade, Membership/Sunshine.
CWGA-18 Board of Directors for 2025
Paul Williams
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Freedom Fairways, our premier executive golf course and clubhouse, pickle ball courts, tennis courts, and more!
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Fraud Forum
By Mike Lee
What would you do if you received a telephone call from one of your grandchildren and they told you that they were in jail and needed some money fast to be able to make bail? How about if it was a Facetime or Skype call where you could actually see them?
Most of us would want to help, because we love them, right? Well, that’s exactly what scammers are hoping for. A recent forum that was presented as a cooperative effort by the Men’s Club, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay showed just how advanced Artificial Intelligence has become, and how criminals and foreign governments are now able to easily and inexpensively utilize this technology to defraud people and get money from them.
According to Jeff Merry, Master Deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, “Once you’re over 65, 1 in 3 of you will financially lose out to a scam or a scheme. Once you’re over 75, it goes to 2 of 3. Why is that? You’ve worked all your life, and you have a 401k you can draw from. You’ve got a money market. You’ve got your financial advisor that you can call.”
Merry went on to say, “When we drive Sun City Center Boulevard, there’s 18 banks and investment houses.” The bad guys “want your retirement. And they get
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it from some of us. Some of our neighbors. Some of our friends. A lot of our residents. Daily, they come into my office, and they have been victimized.”
As it relates to Artificial Intelligence, Merry said, “If an Artificial Intelligence program only has 2 ½ minutes of your voice, it can then do a complete voice call with you. Only 4 minutes of video, and they can dump it into an AI program, and it can do a Facetime call with you. It can change the background to show that they’re in the Hillsborough County Jail. Think of some of those!”
Bob Busch, a fraud specialist with AARP, spoke to the audience. “AI is going to be as big of a deal as your cell phone is,” he said. “It’s going to change your life. What are the dangers and what are some of the implications? Scammers have locked onto AI as a cheap, inexpensive way to broaden their attacks on you.”
“There are a lot of positives about AI. It is here. It’s the wave of the future,” Busch said. He continued, “What’s going to happen with it? How will you interact with an AI world? More importantly, how are we going to stop AI attacks that will be coming in the future?” AI positives include enhanced education, with teaching being able to be tailored more effectively based on people’s specific learning abilities. Other positives include increased global productivity, instantaneous translation,
improved health care and advanced scientific research.
However, AI also comes with negatives. They include job displacement, loss of privacy, improved weapons of war and fraud. It also allows for easy dissemination of false information, which can become an issue with elections.
So what possible steps can residents take to reduce their risk of being a victim of fraud?
•Don’t answer the phone if you don’t know the number. If a legitimate caller wants to speak with you, they can leave a voicemail message.
•Vendors will generally not call your phone to demand payment. Law enforcement will not call you threatening arrest. You don’t need to send money to
be able to redeem prize money.
•Don’t click on links from emails or texts that come from unknown or untrusted sources.
•Some people choose not to answer their doors.
•Limit or eliminate social media usage. One of the easiest ways for criminals to engage in identity theft or fraud is through social media accounts.
The best advice for seniors is to stay vigilant and skeptical when dealing with people you don’t know. Don’t become a victim! Don’t lose your life’s savings! If you are concerned that someone is trying to defraud you, contact the sheriff’s office. Don’t assume that you can beat scammers at their game. It would likely be a losing proposition for you.
Attention all Military Veterans and Spouses
The next meeting of the Sun City Center American Legion Post 246 will be held on Friday, April 18, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 3, CA Community Hall,1910 South Pebble Beach Blvd., SCC. 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 e-mail at “pawheatjr@aol.com”.
MOWW Celebration Of 32 Years
Military Order of the World Wars Youth Leadership
By Thomas D. Hart, 1LT,
USA, FMR
Chapter 226 of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) hosted a Youth Leadership Seminar (YLS) that was held on February 22.
This year’s 32nd birthday dining out was a huge success! We were organized on February 22, 1993, as the Sun City Center Chapter Number 226. Our chapter has been very active over the past 32 years, winning many awards at each year’s National Convention. With the closure of the South Florida Chapter our chapter’s footprint and membership has grown to include a good portion of Florida and changed our status from a medium chapter to a large chapter. But we have always been an active contributing Chapter to the MOWW Community, no matter what our size in membership.
Over the years, we have sponsored National Conventions, annually hold 10 monthly luncheons with guest speakers, supported Hillsborough’s County 28 JROTC Programs and 6 Senior ROTC Detachments resulting in on average of bringing in 7 new Perpetual MOWW junior officer members each year to our MOWW rolls. Our very active JROTC outreach program includes nine companions who are former or active JROTC Instructors—two of which, Col Taylor and Col Tucker, oversaw the entire JOINT Service JROTC Program for Hillsborough County. LTC Gunn and I were JROTC Cadets here in Hillsborough County.
We support the Civil Air Patrol, the Sea Cadets, Girl Scouts, Scouting America (our Chairman-John Ingraham, himself is an Eagle Scout and a JROTC Instructor). Each winter we host an outstanding oneday Youth Leadership Seminar (YLS) and in the spring a four-day Youth Leadership Conference (YLC). We have supported the Wreaths Across America program and cleaned veteran cemetery headstones at several local cemeteries.
Hillsborough County’s nationally recognized Veterans Treatment Court Program has two of its primary leaders Perpetual Members along with several other Companions participating. We have recognized and supported local Police, County Sheriff’s, Emergency Medical Technicians with awards and gift baskets.
Many of our local MOWW chapter members are leaders in other veterans’ organizations, I can’t honestly keep up with it there’s so many! A couple of examples… LTC Charlie Conover is the President of the Hillsborough County overarching Veterans Council and oversees our outstanding Veterans Park hosting several veterans’ ceremonies throughout the year. Every week Steve Browning hosts a veteran’s break-fast, the military’s best meal, with Bob’s Restaurant serving over 90-100 veterans. Companions BG Hector Lopez, COL Jim Fletcher, and LtCol Joe Muhlberger are members of National MOWW committees.
Gold Star Mothers, Inc. First Vice President, Annette Kirk, is a Patriot member of our chapter along with Marilynn Winthrop who is the President of the Association of the United States Army Suncoast Chapter. Two of our newest members, Alicia Rossiter and Susan Prada-Watters, are key leaders in Veterans Medical Care and Wreaths Across America. We have three General Officers who are active members of our chapter. With the recent membership qualification changes, we have inducted three senior noncommissioned officers (NCOs) into our chapter. Our chapter is busy doing the MOWW’s work but also across many veterans’ groups and community organizations in the State of Florida, and because Florida is the third largest State with military veterans there are many opportunities and many needs.
We are very appreciative to the Commander in Chief (CINC) and CEO, LtCol David J Worley USAF (Retired), of MOWW, Inc. for being our honored guest and guest speaker for the evening. Additionally, thank all who helped make our Chapter and the Dining Out a huge success and to the Staff for pulling it all together especially LTC Bob Russell, LtCol Frank Zahrobsky, CPT Jim Williams, CW3 Edgar SmartHomer and of course my mentor, LTC Charlie Conover. Chapter 226 luncheon date is on March 13, 2025. Our Guest Speaker will be Mr. Justin Fox serves as the engineering & construction senior manager at Tampa Bay Water. He has worked in the water industry for more than 18 years on the design and construction of water projects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Florida State University and a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Florida. He is a member of the American Water Works Association’s technical committees on steel pipe and ductile iron pipe. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
Please come for some chapter fellowship. Hooah! “It is nobler to serve than be served”.
The seminar was a huge success, with 52 students from 11 high schools from Hillsborough County participating. We also had one eager cadet from the Civil Air Patrol. We had four outstanding presenters: LTC Dr. Chris Shannon from Alabama, who spoke about “Tap Tap, Are You Ready?”.
Ms. Sherill Farrell, who discussed “The Impact YOU Have, Why Character Matters”; CAPT Deborah Dombeck, who presented “A Lesson from ‘Message to Garcia’”; and Mrs. Ashley Torres who presented “A Study in Ethics”. We also had the honor of hosting a special guest, LTC David Worley, the Commander of the Military Order of the World Wars. The seminar was held at the SCC United Methodist Church.
The feedback from the students was very positive; they were enthusiastic and engaged the entire day. At the end of the youth leadership seminar, each student was presented with a certificate of completion. 1LT, USA, FMR Thomas D. Hart was the coordinator of this year’s outstanding youth development seminar through the 2025 YLS program.
The Silver Ospreys Squadron #64 had the privilege of hosting Ms. Dorothy Cochrane, Curator – Aeronautics, Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC as our first speaker for 2025. Ms. Cochrane specializes in topics related to Women in Aviation, and gave us a presentation, “The Enduring Mystery – What Happened to Amelia Earhart.”
The mysterious nature of Earhart’s disappearance has caused much public interest in her life. Her airplane has never been found, which has led to speculation and conspiracy theories about the outcome of the flight. The U.S. government investigated the aircraft’s disappearance and, in its report, concluded Earhart’s plane ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean. During the 1970s, retired United States Navy (USN) Captain Laurence Safford began a lengthy analysis of the flight. His research included intricate radiotransmission documentation. Safford concluded the flight had suffered from poor planning and worse execution.
The postscript of the story of this remarkable woman Amelia Earhart is that decades after her presumed death, Earhart was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1968 and the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1973. Earhart’s accomplishments in aviation inspired a generation of female aviators, including more-
Dorothy Cochrane, Curator, Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Smithsonian Institution Curator Speaks to Silver Ospreys
CINC Lt Col Worley and Lt Alec Dybiec Cutting Chapters celebration cake
Ms. SCC
By Gezil Andrews
Did you know that Bert Parks is most famous for hosting the Miss America telecast from 1955 to 1979; each telecast ended with Parks singing “There She Is, Miss America”. For many years Sun City Center (SCC) also crowned a local beauty, Ms. Sun City Center. Well, here’s some good news! Friday, November 21, is the return of the annual beauty and talent show to determine who will be crowned Ms. Sun City Center for 2025. Bert Parks won’t be the emcee, but I am confident the SCC Administrative staff will select a perfect person!
Let’s go back to our last Ms. SCC, in 2007, and introduce you to the winner: Laurie (Dimsdale) Klimeczko. This was the last year for the pageant in SCC. However, she went on to run for Ms. Sr. Florida in 2008. She received the honor for Ms. Congeniality in 2008. This choice was made by all the contestants! It takes grit, humor, and focus to win a beauty contest while life spurs on around you. She was saddened by the death of her mother a few days before the competition in 2008. She recalls her own 5x the normal chemo and radiation. She suffered damage to her vocal chords, but she persisted and won! Laurie shares that she is very spiritual, and this deep belief got her through her toughest moments.
Laurie is active every day of the week, not wanting to miss a moment! She is a member of Do You Wanna Dance and Rocking Through the Years and a member of the Metaphysical Society.
Laurie emphasized that she learned that talent and personality come before beauty. As you can see, however, she was quite the beauty when she won the crown, and she is still quite lovely today. Laurie is a formidable role model!
Laurie and her husband, Ed can often be found at the SCC Fitness Center in the morning, five days a week, working out— they don’t take anything for granted!
I asked a few questions of Laurie that helped me get to know her even better than a quick interview. Let’s explore the answers for some exceptional Ms. SCC wisdom. After all, Laurie will help judge and crown the new Ms. SCC in late fall this year! Laurie, what encouragement would you give to new contestants? “Be yourself, be friendly, congenial and exhibit your best talent.” What did you personally get out of the entire experience? “I was a member of The Cameo Club, a group of contestants who had competed together and who were chosen to put on talent shows in the Tampa Bay area. This went on for almost three years and still is close to my heart.”
What did Ed say when you first met him, and he learned you
were the former Ms. SCC? He said, “ I thought it was a great thing to happen to such a special lady.” I said it then and I’ll say it now… "WOW!” Laurie is a mother first and beauty contest winner second. She has two daughters and two grandchildren. I met one of her daughters, Deborah, at Laurie’s home recently, and she is as lovely and personable as her mother. I have not met her other daughter, Cheryl, but I understand she is as awesome. It takes a lot of work, planning and community support to bring the pageant back to SCC. I was delighted to have a few minutes to connect with SCCCA Board Member, Nancy McCall, who is working behind the scenes and around the edges to make this venue a success. Nancy is utilizing Laurie’s talent and experience to put the event on.
