The News of
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SUN CITY CENTER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Sun City Center
August 2022
CA SCHEDULE AUGUST 1
Board Workshop Rollins Theater – 9 a.m. Zoom ID: 839 0476 4701 Passcode: 286595 10 Board Meeting Rollins Theater – 9 a.m. Zoom ID: 872 4941 8163 Passcode: 238791 17 Bandstand Concert Screaming Luv 6:00 pm to 7:30 p.m. 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 (www.suncitycenter.org – under “Residents” – Upcoming Meeting Agendas). They will also be sent via “What’s New in the CA” email.
Celebrating a Hot, Fun 4th of July
By Kai Rambow “Can I get a hot dog?” excitedly asked one young child. It was 9 a.m., but the answer was, “Yes.” Enthusiasm was high for our nation’s birthday. Despite the heat and humidity people ventured out to celebrate the 4th. Since it was a Monday, many started their day just like any other Monday. The Aquasizers worked out early. The Lawn
July 4th continued on page CA3.
Lots of people showed up for the live entertainment.
CA Contact Information Administration Office 1009 N. Pebble Beach Blvd, SCC Phone: 813.633.3500 Hours – 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., M-F sccboard@suncitycenter.org Website: suncitycenter.org Information Center: 813.633.4670
Many people celebrated the 4th by wearing the stars and stripes.
Lawn bowling members held a fun competition to see who could bowl closest to the jack.
Ospreys Given New Nesting Pole
By Diane M. Loeffler On Monday, June 27, a very unique ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at 10 a.m. in the field in front of the Sun City Center Nature Trail, 1624 W Del Webb Boulevard. On hand were officers and members of the Sun City Center Audubon Club, three board members, and one reporter. There were no new buildings or businesses being commemorated. This ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the installation of a new home for ospreys, in a tall pole with a platform on top. Could other birds move in there this spring? Possibly. Ospreys tend to return to the same area every year, so it is highly likely they will take advantage of this new home. Also, owls don’t build nests, but they may move in after the ospreys leave. In previous years, ospreys nested atop a nearby utility pole next to the canal. In order to avoid damage to the power lines from bird waste, TECO put structures on top of the utility poles to keep the birds from nesting there. SCC Audubon Club Conservation Chair Peter Aluotto says, “Neighbors were alarmed to see the birds kicked out. I made some phone calls. TECO used to put up poles specifically for birds, but they don’t do it anymore. TECO said, "If you can get
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The pole and platform were erected on Thursday, June 23. Photo by Dennis Morris, SCC Audubon Club President.
someone else to install it, we will donate a pole and platform for free.” Audubon President, Dennis Morris says, “The pole was installed on Thursday, June 23, starting around 9:15 in the morning and ending about an hour and a half later at a cost of $775.” Dennis Morris points out, “The telephone pole was a recycled one, so there is less additional waste in the landfill.” Most of the money for the installation was raised by “passing the bucket” during the Audubon Club meetings. Some of the participants in the April 22 Earth Day celebration donated as well. There was NO COST to the Community Association or its members. Audubon President Dennis Morris says, “We would like to thank everybody who donated money so we could have a pole for ospreys installed. We would also like to thank the Community
Association for letting us put this on their property and TECO for donating the utility pole and the platform.” Recently, the club completed a major fire suppression project in the back part of the trails. Morris says, “This project makes the ecosystem healthier and makes it safer for residents near the park.” The Audubon Club recently worked with Hillsborough County to have 400 plugs of grass planted along the canal bank to prevent erosion. The group continues to work on the trails themselves. One of the future goals is to improve the signage on the trails and move one of the benches to a more useful location. In 2019 a study took place to determine the feasibility of having trails on the other side of the canal. These trails could possibly include wooden walkways. The Sun City Center Audubon Club
On Monday, June 27, members of the Audubon Club and the Community Association Board were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new osprey nest home. Photo by Diane Loeffler.
meets and holds programs from October through April every year. They also have field trips. Most of these are during the same time frame, but some occur during May through September as well. For more information on programs, field trips and membership, please go to www.sccaudubonclub.com . You may also wish to walk one or more of the loops of the Sun City Center Nature Trail. There is no cost involved in visiting. Cars park along the streets. Golf carts and bicycles can park in front of the wooded area or in a little parking area under the trees. Enjoy our little piece of “the real Florida.”