News of Sun City Center January 2022 by The News of Sun City Center & South County

The News of

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SUN CITY CENTER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Sun City Center

January 2022

CA SCHEDULE

JANUARY 1 All Facilities Closed 3 Board Workshop Rollins Theater - 9 a.m. Zoom ID: 847 6996 6672 Passcode: 650937 5 Annual Membership Meeting Community Hall – 3 p.m. Zoom ID: 899 8809 5586 Passcode: 824217 12 Board Meeting Rollins Theater – 9 a.m. Zoom ID: 813 4578 0512 Passcode: 113919 18 Club Leaders Meeting Florida Room – 10 a.m. Zoom ID: 863 5596 5557 Passcode: 827986 31 Board Workshop Rollins Theater - 9 a.m. Zoom ID: 856 4846 5560 Passcode: 975378

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.

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

St. Andrew Rock ‘n’ Roll Car and Craft Show

Gary Johnson with his 1959 Olds Super 88, which required about a decade of work to restore.

By Andrea L. T. Peterson The Annual St. Andrew Craft Fair was a huge success! Nearly 50 vendors paid just $20 each for a booth and hundreds of optimistic shoppers came from all around the area to find holiday gifts for friends, family, and themselves. According to Nancy Metcalf, who has coordinated the event for about five years (with a hiatus for the COVID precautions taken last year), money from vendor booth fees “goes to the church’s ministries within our community.” This year, Metcalf asked her husband, Dean, to organize a classic car show to coincide with the Craft extravaganza. At least a dozen classic beauties were on display in front of the church for passers-by and shoppers to admire and discuss with the cars’ owners.

New Board Directors and New Officers

Although their official duties don’t begin until January 5, all three of the newly elected board members attended the December Board Meeting. They are (left to right) Ron Clark, Jim Collins, and Roger Zieg.

By Diane M. Loeffler There will be three new directors sworn in during the January 5 Membership Meeting. The meeting is at Community Hall and begins at 3 p.m. Ron Clark, Jim Collins, and Roger Zieg are ready to put their promises into action. Ron Clark says, “I hope to accomplish what I ran on. Increased transparency of the Board’s decision-making process, improved communication with the community, increased membership involvement in our government by

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implementing the HUG-SCC (Help Us Govern) program, and focus on ensuring SCC remains an attractive place for retirees to move to and enjoy. I’d also like to thank all the previous CA Board Directors for their hard work in making SCC a great place to live.” His email will be “rclark@suncitycenter.org”. Jim Collins says, “I hope to accomplish the three things I advocated for during my campaign. First, I will do my best to get a Sunshine Policy passed to open all board and committee meetings for attendance by all members of the Community Association. Second, I propose an annual survey of all members to get a sense of what the community wants the board to pursue on their behalf. Finally, I will work to establish a registry of talent of successful retirees in our community to help us with the issues our community faces.”

Board continued on page 2.

Dean Metcalf ’s 2017 Corvette Grand Sport proved a popular entry into the show.

Ed Whitehead’s fire-engine red Comet turned heads.

Nancy Metcalf presided over a very successful, and very busy, craft fair.

The Golf Cart Raffle

How It and Our Donations Help Fund the Security Patrol

Deputy Merry came in to draw the lucky ticket for the golf cart winner. Pictured are Chief of Patrol Tim Broad, Patrol Board President John Eramo, Board Vice President John Weaver, and HCSO Deputy Jeff Merry.

By Diane M. Loeffler For the last 40 years, the Security Patrol helps keep us safe. Their fleet of four cars patrol up and down our streets for twelve hours 363 days a year (plus one more day on leap years). The only days the volunteers get a vacation is Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Each of the Security Patrol’s 4 cars averages 26,000-27,000 miles a year. These miles are driven at an average speed of 15 miles an hour allowing drivers to keep a watchful eye on our neighborhoods. A car is driven for four years. Usually, one car is replaced a year. The Security Patrol (Patrol) is an all-volunteer organization of more than 600 with one paid employee. The Patrol budget includes expenditures on cars including maintenance, repairs, fuel and insurance. It also includes building costs, office administration expenses

and personnel equipment. For several years, the Patrol has purchased a golf cart in June or July. Chief of Patrol Tim Broad says, “Every year we get a golf cart from a different cart supplier. This year we bought this one from West Coast Golf Cars who gave us a generous discount.” The Patrol begins selling tickets in June or July and continues selling chances to win the cart until the drawing on the second Saturday of December. Until 2021, the second Saturday was also the day of the Golf Cart Parade. This year, the parade was the first Saturday of the month. Deputy Merry made a special trip to the Patrol to draw the winning ticket. This year’s winner was Anthony Montesano. Broad says, “Looking back at other years’ expenses, the profit from the golf cart drawing should pay our

Golf Cart continued on page 2.

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January 2022

The News of Sun City Center

SCCCA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING JANUARY 5, 2022 COMMUNITY HALL 3:00 PM

200 SCCCA members required for a Quorum CA Membership Cards are required for admittance Also via Zoom: ID: 899 8809 5586 Passcode: 824217

- AGENDA -

I. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance II. Approval of Minutes: January 2, 2020, April 28, 2020 and July 20, 2021 III. Treasurer’s Report IV. Community Manager’s Report V. Installation of newly-elected Directors VI. President’s Report VII. General Discussion by Members VIII. Adjournment

SCCCA Election Results BOD – Three Year Term Ron Clark – 1,473 Jim Collins – 1,418 Roger Zieg – 1,158 Larry Smith – 993 Mike Killian – 974 Vicente J. Lopez, Jr. – 864 Membership Dues for 2022 ($309.00) For – 1,571 Against – 910

HARDSHIP REQUESTS Due by March 1, 2022

Hardship financial relief for 2022 dues is available to Sun City Center members. The resident owner of the property applying for financial hardship assistance must have been a member of the community in good standing for a period of three years prior to applying for assistance. They must also complete a full financial disclosure. Applications for hardship must be submitted by March 1, 2022 to be considered for the current year. Please see Jodie Gross at the CA Office to pick up an application

Veterans Photo Shoot For SCCCA Members

The next photo shoot for the Veterans Wall of Honor Project as shown in the Atrium will be held on Saturday, January 15, from 10 to noon in the Photo Lab. This is available for all SCC Community

Association members who served honorably in any branch of the U.S. Military. Call Carol Donner at 813-633-3500 to register (have your CA membership number), by 1 p.m. on Thursday, January 13.

Board continued from page 1. His email will be “jcollins@suncitycenter.org”. Roger Zieg says, “I would like to thank everyone who voted for me. I think the election went well and the turnout was good. I am hoping to watch a little closer on the maintenance of buildings. I plan to work with the current board members on long-range planning. I would like to look into the Rollins Theater Building, a possible new building and maybe a pool. We need to find out what the membership really wants.” His email will be “rzieg@suncitycenter.org”.

Golf Cart continued from page 1.

THANK YOU TO ALL VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED ON COMMITTEES AND WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN 2021!

Newcomers

List prepared from CA staff data. Report corrections, additions to CA at 633-3500. 11/16 thru 12/15, 2021

Chief of the Security Patrol, Tim Broad, shows a no trespassing sign. For a donation of $1, you can have one of these. If a solicitor won’t leave and you have a sign posted, they can be charged with a criminal offense.

cars’ gas bill for about six months.” Broad says, “The Security Patrol relies on grants and donations. We are most grateful to the generosity of our residents.” Sometimes residents call because a person has wandered away from home. When this happens, the Patrol has a silver alert team that works with the Sheriff to find the missing person. Other calls to the Patrol are for lost pets. Also, the Patrol maintains a lost property section. A common complaint from residents is the unwelcome attention of solicitors selling various goods and services. In Florida, there is a long list of reasons why people are allowed to go door to door. Broad says, “If you wish to discourage solicitors, put ‘no trespassing’ signs in your yard. Then, if you ask someone to leave and they don’t, that is a criminal offense.” Since this is a concern for many residents, the Patrol has ‘No Trespassing’ signs for sale for a donation of $1. Stay safe, call the Security Patrol when needed, and keep on supporting this wonderful organization.

Catch The NEWS on the web at www.soco.news Statement of Purpose

The Sun City Center Community Association serves the residents of Sun City Center by providing assistance for the elderly, assistance and essential services to tax exempt entities, and operates in lieu of a municipal government, thereby lessening the burdens of government (Hillsborough County, Florida).

Local Adress 645 Allegheny Drive 514-951-1836 234 Amesbury Circle 1010 Andover Circle 718 Augusta Drive 1209 Bluewater Drive 1703 Bryn Mawr Avenue 710 Chipper Drive 1615 Cloister Drive 1809 Columbine Place 1744 Council Drive 259 Courtyards Blvd., Apt. 204 1002 Del Webb Blvd., E. 1834 Del Webb Blvd., E. 2302 Del Webb Blvd., W. 1616 Dower Way 1049 Emerald Dunes Drive 1362 Emerald Dunes Drive 1403 Emerald Dunes Drive 1005 Fordham Drive 1230 Fordham Drive 803 Fox Hills Drive 1205 Hacienda Drive 303 Linger Lane 705 Medina Way 2135 New Bedford Drive 1716 Pacific Dunes Drive 714 Plumbrook Road 2217 Preservation Green Court 2511 Runningbrooke Way 1304 Warwick Court 106 Wintersong Lane 1965 Wolf Laurel Drive

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Daniel Perry Sidney NY William & Tina Golden Carrollton TX Ian Jonas Los Angeles CA Robert & Lisa Jones St. Augustine FL Edwin & Pamela White Kewanna IN Patrick Keleher Orion IL Gezil Andrews Peoria IL Michael Reed Susan Meader Sacramento CA Daniel Schmitz Harrison Smith Fort Worth TX Lester Murphy Altamont KS Beverly Sieboldt Edwin List Concord NH Kenneth & Joyce Pollack Las Vegas NV Alvin Harris Boston MA Patricia Madore Booth Yorktown VA David Lake Shelby Township MI Larry & Joyce Lake Kirk & Katherine Bristol Syracuse NY Ellen Pitcher Bradenton FL Alexander & Kathleen Pushko Slippery Rock PA Rosemary Leist Shaletta Johnson New York NY William & Cynthia Glendon Dalton MA William McGrath Hagerstown MD David Lemley Atlanta GA James & Adda Farrar Modesto CA Robert Desisto Manchester NH Carlton & Virginia Nutt Port Arthur TX Alfred & Jennifer Romano Queens NY Linda Harbour Tilton NH Paul Roberts Nashville TN Ulrike Roberts Larry French Deerfield IL

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January 2022

President’s Report

By Bob Sullivan, CA President Welcome to the New Year! I hope that everyone had a safe and joyous Holiday Season. The Board and I thank the residents that applied to be directors on our Community Association board for 2022. Congratulations to Ron Clark, Jim Collins, and Roger Zieg who won the election. We will have a membership

meeting on January 5, where our newlyelected directors will be sworn into office. This meeting will be in the Community Hall (1910 S Pebble Beach Blvd. at 3 p.m.) The 2022 Board of Directors met on December 6, 2021 and elected the following officers for 2022. President Bob Sullivan, Vice President Kim Roush, Treasurer Dave Birkett (Non-Voting position), and Corporate Secretary Ron Matelski. Our Board and the Boards of all our Clubs are operated by many volunteers that give up their time and energy to ensure that we have the amenities that make our retirement here at Sun City Center Community Association enjoyable. We thank each and every one for their support and look forward to working together in this coming year.

Computer Club Talks About Senior Exploitation

By Ilona Merritt According to an FBI report released the week of December 13, 2021, senior citizens lost almost $1 billion in scams in 2020. A total of 105,301 people aged 65 were scammed, with an average loss of $9,175, and nearly 2,000 older Americans lost more than $100,000. By far, the elderly were being extorted the most, with just over 23,000 victims, the FBI found. The highest number of fraud cases occurred in California, Florida, and Texas. “Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and confidence,” the FBI said. “Often, the scammer will utilize religion to garner trust with the victim. The scammer uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate or steal from the victim. The criminals who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable.” The Government Accountability Office has estimated that seniors lose

an estimated $2.9 billion annually nationwide to an ever-growing array of financial exploitation schemes and scams. Many by computers and cell phones, and no one is safe from being a target. The Computer Club of SCC has arranged for Special Agent Phillip Chaves, from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), to be the speaker at our January 12 meeting. HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responsible for combating transnational criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which trade, travel, and finance move. Special Agent Chaves will discuss areas of interest to computer and smartphone users. This subject should be of interest to anyone who has a computer or smartphone. Every resident in SCC is invited to the Computer Club meeting on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at 7 p.m. in the Community Hall.

Donations to the Community Association from Members in 2021 (thru 12/15/21) Thank you all from the Board of Directors Axtell, Georgia Bassette, Beverly Bauer, Kenneth & Laura Beauvais, , Jean Bermingham, Phyllis Boyd, Vivian Bukowski, John & Barbara Bunn, Travis & Alice Burns, Leonard Callay, Brigitte Cantrell, Edward Chordas, David & Judy Coleman, Gerald Conway, Portia Cori, Robert & Joan Daane, Gail Dieden, Cornelia Dorsey, Nan Dowdy, Edward & Mae-Ellen Frercks, Elizabeth Friedenreich, Harry & Carole Haas, John Hall, Harriet Hawkins, Virginia Hiller, Margaret Johnson, Morris & Margaret Jozefak, Jan & Betty Kennedy, William & Susan Keyser, William Kimec-Wilhelm, Phyllis Ligotti, James & Maureen Lincicome, Robert Littrell, Paul & Kristine Lockte, Robert

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The News of Sun City Center

Lombardi, Paul & Margaret Marino, James Messina, Victoria Miller, Michael & Janet Muise, Susan Narten, Susan Newman, William & Nancy Panzer, Bill & Kathleen Perez, Rafael & Luz Pitts, James Rafferty-Miller, Carol Ransbury, David & Karen Robinson, Mary Rohr, Wayne & Cynthia Schofield, Monica Shanley, Paul & Maribeth Siola, Patricia Smiley, Dorothy Smith, Patricia Sobel, Peter & Bonnie Sudman, Sam & Joanne Sulzberger, Rolf & Patricia Swayze, Stuart & Kathleen Thibault, Paul & Michelle Treadwell, Anthony & Pamela Tuthill, Dallas & Norma Vesche, Nick & Dolores Weeks, Jo Ann Weisman, David & Rose Weisner, Alice Williams, Connie Wilson, Jane Wyrick, Donald Young, Harriet

December Board Meeting Report

By Diane M. Loeffler At the December 8 Board Meeting the Election Results were certified. The membership approved a new annual dues of $309 effective in 2022. As of the January 5 Membership Meeting, new Directors will be Roger Zieg, Jim Collins and Ron Clark. On December 6, the Board met and elected the following officers for 2022: President Bob Sullivan, Vice President Kim Roush, Corporate Secretary Ron Matelski, and Treasurer Dave Birkett. Birkett will be serving the Board on a one-year appointment. In the new phone book on page 21, Section 2, the Sun City Center bylaws read, “Only the President and Vice President must be directors; the Secretary and Treasurer need not be Directors, but must be members of the Association.” However, whenever someone who is not a director serves in one of these roles, that individual does not vote with the Board. Appointees have filled the roles of treasurer or secretary many times over the years. Recently, Sam Sudman and Neil Rothfeld did so. During 2020, a total of 505 homes changed ownership. As of December 7, 561 homes were sold in the Community Association so far for 2021. The Capital Improvement fund now has $3,489,810. After several months of discussions, the Board voted to approve a resolution for Online Voting as one more option for voting. Paper voting by mail and in person will still be available to anyone who prefers that option. The Becker Ballot Electronic Voting System was tried by some board members and a number of people throughout the community. Months ago, one resident voiced concerns about voting online. Kim Roush asked if she would want to be part of the group testing the online voting. She said yes. At the December Board Meeting she commented on the process saying she was now in favor of it. Among the thirty people who tested the system were board members, spouses of board members, individuals who voiced an interest in trying the online voting, and out-of-town residents including Manfred Stein who participated while

in Germany. After trying it out, all were in favor of adopting the Becker Ballot as an option for CA Members. Vice President Kim Roush says, “In the past months or so, your Board of Directors has been looking into electronic voting. We have checked with our attorneys, and they have highly recommended Becker Ballot. Each individual who wants to sign up for this electronic voting system will need to sign a consent form. You will not be added to the electronic voting roster until your consent form is received. If you do not want to use this system, you will still be able to vote with a paper ballot and / or in person.” If you are concerned about being on an electronic roster, you simply do not sign up, and your information will not be loaded into the system. If you do want to be able to vote online, you will need to complete a consent form and take it to the Community Association Administrative Office. The Board decided to add this method of voting as an option which would make voting easier for snowbirds and anyone out of the area when voting takes place. Any Community Association Member has the option of signing up to vote on the Becker Ballot system instead of using a paper ballot. According to the Election Committee, volunteers spent around 300 hours processing ballots. She believes that having some electronic votes would decrease the time needed to verify the votes. After the December 12 meeting, there is a time for members to voice their concerns and compliments to the board. During this time, one member submitted a list of thirty-three people who agreed with an online post saying the decision to add the option of online voting was premature. You will be receiving dues payment information in the mail this month. You can mail it or take it to the Suntrust in person. The address is 1525 Rickenbacker Drive. If you mail it in, wait seven to ten days before you come to the office for your sticker. If you pay at the bank, wait three to four days.

MOVIES

at the Rollins Theater Monday Movies

Movies are normally shown the second and fourth Monday each month in the Rollins Theater at 1 p.m. Dates and times may change as necessary. Seating is reserved for Sun City Center Community Association members/guests who present current cards or people with a KP ID badge. Capacity is limited to 145 attendees per the Hillsborough County Fire Code.

January 10: Free Guy

1 hour, 55 minutes In this action-packed comedy, a mild-mannered bank teller named Guy, learns he’s really a background character in an open-world video game. Teaming with a woman, who’s both a human and a player in the game, Guy decides to become the hero of his own story. Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Joe Keery Genre: Comedy, Action Adventure Rating: PG-13 for language, crude/suggestive references, strong fantasy violence

January 24: News Of The World

1 hour, 58 minutes Five years after the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a widower and veteran of three wars, moves from town to town as a non-fiction storyteller sharing news. In the Texas plains, he meets 10-year-old Johanna who was taken at age four by the Kiowa tribe and raised as one of their own. Traveling hundreds of miles in unforgiving wilderness, both face challenges from human and natural forces as they search for a place either can call home. Starring: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Mare Winningham, Elizabeth Marvel, Ray McKinnon Genre: Drama, Western, Adventure Rating: PG-13 for some language, disturbing images, thematic material, violence

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CLUBS

January 2022

The News of Sun City Center

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 Events in SCC

January 5 • Gallery Opening from 1-3 p.m. Featuring Gloria Hosek in the Art Room Gallery at 915 Cherry Hills Drive. January 17 • Demo by Kevin Tobin Golden Paints from A-Z from 1 – 3 p.m. in the Rollins Theater at 901 Cherry Hills Drive. January 28 and 29 • 54th Annual Art Show from 10 – 4 p.m. Florida in the Atrium Building North Course Lane.

Metaphysical Society Wednesday Presentations

10 to noon, Heritage Room, Atrium Building Open to Society members and SCCCA residents joining the Club. SCCCA ID is required. Free admission, with a love offering requested. Info: Karen at 830 832-7402. Those wishing to view via Zoom.com may send email to “metaphysicalsociety@ gmail.com” for instructions, before 5 p.m. on Tuesday evening prior. January 5 • “Sacred Toning” presented by Iris Cora. The prescribed tones are to help people align, raise the vibration, fortify the soul, etc. January 12 • “Guardian Angel” presented by Dr. Constance Johnson, a description of how guardian angels work with us, what they can and cannot do. January 19 • “Secrets of the Essenes” presentation by Ed Foote. This talk provides fascinating information about the lives of the Essenes, the real unsung heroes at the birth of Jesus. January 26 • “Jungian theories & positive affirmation” presented by Dr. Patricia Howe. We will study the dynamic interplay between this aspect in our quest for individuation and the power of the mandala and the archetype of the self in helping us create balance and well-being.

Computer Club Monthly Meeting Wednesday

January 12 at 7 p.m. Special speaker is Homeland Security Special Agent Phillip Chaves who will speak about scams targeting seniors who use computers and smartphones. Computer Club Classes Sign up for classes can be done online at www.scccomputerclub. org. Student must be a member in good standing at Sun City Center or Kings Point. Tuition is payable upon registration. Info: Pauline Baker, Education Director at “paulinebaker864@gmail.com”. iPad/iPhone for Seniors – Thursday, January 13, from 9 – noon Introduction to Excel – Tuesday, January 18, from 9 to noon Buying a Computer – Thursday, January 20, from 9 – 11 a.m. Beginners Semi-Private Tutoring – Wednesday, January 26 from 9 to 10 or 10:15 to 11:15

Elegant Garden Club Christmas Workshop

The Elegant Garden Club had a design workshop before they had lunch together. This was an annual Christmas event. The club has three design workshops per year. The members made beautiful floral arrangements to take home for the holidays.

Needlecrafters Club News

E a ch ye ar Su n C it y C e nte r’s Needlecrafters Club donates their earnings to charities and special groups. Pictured is Needlecrafters Club president, Debra Collins, handing checks to the Emergency Squad.

Wisconsin Club Annual Meeting

Thursday, January 20, at 5 p.m. Community Hall, SCC Annual meeting and board elections. Attendance limited to SCCCA club members only. Cost: $12. BYOB. Meal provided. Bring your own place settings for dinner. The club will provide coffee, and water. Entertainment, door prizes, fundraising. RSVP: Hede Horne by Monday, January 10, 1226 Caloosa Creek Court, SCC, FL 33573. Info: Kim Droege, President, at “krdroege@aol.com”.

Happy New Year From The Organ Keyboard Club

We meet every Thursday for a group lesson in the Armstrong Room. No reservation or instrument is needed for class. A short business meeting will begin at 9:45 with the class to start at 10-11am. Cost is $3. Kings Point residents are welcome with a gold card, we have plenty of room. New program beginning: Get help with chords, temp, whatever you need. Fridays in the Armstrong Room, 1 to 4 p.m. Free. Info: SCCOKC.org.

Scandinavian Club Meeting

SCC Latin Fitness Club

The Sun City Center Latin Fitness Club got together on December 10 to celebrate the holidays. There was a raffle drawing for prizes and members brought wrapped gifts to participate in the “Gift Swap” game. Suzy White provided the musical entertainment.

Wednesday, January 19, at 2 p.m. SCC Sandpiper Room Special presentation by club member Thomas Norstrand on Viking history, culture, and impact on the world. Club members are free; guests are welcome at $3 each. Club membership is open to all residents in good standing with the SCCCA or Freedom Plaza, including Kings Point gold card holders. Refreshments will be served.

New England Club Valentine Dinner Dance

Friday, February 11, from 5 to 9 p.m. Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd. Fundraising party open to the public. Music by The Kegg’s, Gary and Kelly offer oldies, pop and country. Catered buffet dinner. Door prizes. BYOB. Cost: $22 members, $25 nonmembers. Reservations must be received by February 3. Checks made payable to SCC New England Club, c/o Greg McKeown, 2124 New Bedford Drive, Sun City Center, FL 33573. Info: 813-633-9922.

Art Club 54th Annual Art Show

Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Atrium Building, Florida Room For over 50 years the Art Club has presented the yearly Art Show as a gift to the community. Tom Burchard, art director of Burchard’s Gallery and Auction House in St. Petersburg will judge this year’s exhibit. Admission is free and open to all SCC and KP residences, their guests and visitors. Come to the show and meet the resident artists and cast a vote for the People’s Choice. Info: artclubinsccfl@gmail. com.

Jazzmatazz Offers Beginners Class

Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Begins January 8 for six weeks, Atrium Dance Studio Dancer/Choreographer Diane LeFrancois, has developed a beginners program for anyone who loves to dance. The cost is $5 per class, and residents of Sun City Center, and Kings Point residents with Gold Card Access, are welcome. Wear yoga clothing; Jazz shoes are recommended. For more information or to register, call Susan Wright at 603-499-1733.

Happy New Year!

2022

of Sun City Center & South County News Line: 813.938.7441 • Ad Line: 813.938.8721 • www.soco.news • January 2022

SCC Comes “Together Again” at the Annual Holiday Golf Cart Parade

By Diane M. Loeffler “Together Again” was the theme of our December 4 golf cart parade. At 10 a.m. Florida Representatives Mike Beltran and Jim Boyd, the Emergency Squad, and about three dozen decorated carts began their parade route down the Security Patrol drive on to La Jolla and Cherry Hills before stopping at the gazebo for the awards ceremony. Afterwards, cookies and lemonade were served and CC’s Grill was opened with their regular menu plus a Parade Special. The holiday spirit was evident in each and every cart. Judge Vern Hendricks (Sun Radio, 96.3 FM) said, “This was the hardest year ever for judging!” The other judges were Don Graziano of WaWa and Jo Boggs of Boggs Jewelry. Jo Boggs has been a judge for each and every golf cart parade including the first one. Boggs said, “I love this community!” All of the carts were fun and festive. Perhaps the most striking was the Swim Dancers’ cart driven by Dorothy Blanchard

A bird’s eye view of the carts on parade. (Drone photo courtesy News Contributor, John Wakeman)

festooned with pink flamingos ranging from small to enormous. This cart earned first place in the group category. Tammy Johnson said, “This was a joint effort for the Swim Dancers. We are all blessed to be back together in this beautiful Sun City Center community.” Second was the Flintstone car with Fred Flintstone (Don Myers) and Barney Rubble (Michael Cox). Larry Vaughn and Ian Donne were the primary designers and builders of the prehistoric vehicle. When asked, “How do you feel about winning

second place?” Fred answered, “Yabba dabba doo!” Needlecrafters won third place for clubs. Claudia Gude and Pat Moore drove in the parade. The cart reflected the club’s activities: knitting and crocheting were represented by the enormous ball of yarn on top plus needles and hooks on their sign. Their very popular and affordable ‘scrubbies’ were repurposed into ornaments all around the float. Debra Collins, Joanne Moore, Diane Skinner, Belinda Carter, Laura Capano and Patricia Moore

put together the cart’s plywood sleigh. Patricia Moore said, “The club is excited to be one of the winners!” First place in the individual category was Snoopy and the Red Baron. Snoopy’s dog house covered the entire cart. On top of the dog house was Snoopy on his WWI bi-plane. The cart pulled a large bi-plane “driven” by the Red Baron (Kay Emigh) . Tom Emigh was Charlie Brown and Kathy Mitchell was Peppermint Patty. Afterwards, ‘Charlie Brown’ said, “We entered just to make people smile. Being a winner was just the icing on the cake.” Second place was The North Pole Express: Santa and the Elves Together Again. They say it was great to be together again as a family. Philips says, “We’re just a family having fun.” The cart was designed by David, Barbara, Nicole and Victoria Phillips with moral support from their fourlegged friend (and parade participant), Lexxie. Some carts really nailed it with their messages. Debbie Palladini-

Golf Cart continued on page 25.

Visiting the 2021 Gasparilla Concours d’Elegance

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department assisted with the December 4 Parade. (Photo by Diane Loeffler)

Several important individuals in running the parade include (L to R) Parade Director Larry Smith, CA Director Gary Bratt, Sun Radio’s Vern Hendricks, CA Treasurer Dave Birkett, CA President Bob Sullivan, and Community Manager Lyn Reitz.

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The Swim Dancers display their First Place Trophy. (Photo by Diane Loeffler)

By Bob Sanchez On December 4, friends and I attended the second annual Gasparilla Concours d’Elegance in Lutz to take photos for the exhibition’s organizers. There must have been 100 or more gorgeous vintage cars, all lovingly cared for down to the smallest details. Many of the owners were gussied up in period costumes, and most of them loved being photographed alongside their old cars, many in colors Henry Ford never imagined. One dapper gentleman invited me

to sit at the wheel of his car while he took my picture. Their cars, he said, (and note the plural) are meant to be driven and enjoyed. That was a pleasant surprise, and an exception in the exhibition.

January 2022

The News

The Editor’s Corner

Break a Leg

By E. Adam Porter Editor, News of SCC & South County This January marks a significant milestone for me. January 18 is exactly one year since I stepped through the rotting trunk of a tree and right into the Emergency Room. Later, my witty orthopedic surgeon would opine that I did “an exceptional job breaking that leg… Two bones in three places is an accomplishment.” In theater parlance, telling someone to “break a leg” is a wish of good luck for a great performance. The origin of this idiom is a bit murky, some suggesting it dates all the way back to ancient Greece. Other theories say that the phrase is an expression of irony, a blessing to ward off bad luck by wishing bad luck. Many accounts tie the blessing to whether or not the actor would be paid. In the nascent days of theater, the story goes, if you were part of an ensemble cast and kept “behind the leg line” don’t expect a paycheck. But, if you were fortunate enough to “break the leg line” you were part of the paid cast. Like many of our favorite figures of speech, the precise genesis of this well-wishing will continue to be up for debate. What’s definitely not up for debate is that breaking a leg metaphorically is a much happier prospect than breaking it actually. Though, after sufficient time has passed, both may make for fun stories…

Every year, on or around her birthday, we whisk my wife on an outdoors adventure. We hike, we point out all the critters we find, and we picnic in a pretty spot. Last year, on the way back from our hike and – as my middle son is fond of reminding me – before we ate, we spotted a fallen tree. This was a big ‘un. Not to the scale of the mammoths out west, but big by Florida standards. The trunk was big and round and begging to be crossed. So, we did. Or, at least, we tried. What happens next all falls under the heading, “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” My youngest son clambered up the ladder-like root structure and scampered halfway across the trunk. I followed, slower and without the rubbery grace enjoyed by nine-year-olds. About halfway across, we turned and my bride snapped a photo of us, standing atop the log like conquering heroes, surveying the world from two fathoms up. And then I took another step. The bark beneath my feet squished and sank. Uh-oh. Danger, Will Robinson. I turned, lifting my foot slowly and gingerly, feeling my balance shift. I would have the next several months to ponder the wisdom of what happened next. I looked down, calculated that the distance to the ground was about the same as my kids’ playset fort at home. A distance we jumped with some regularity. As I considered this option, partly by will and mostly by gravity, off the log I went. Crrraaaaaaack! Standing a good thirty yards away, my wife heard it. Twice that distance back up the trail, another group of hikers heard it. My bride said, “Did you step on a branch.” Here’s what I felt: My knee started to go, the same way it had when that tight end blocked down on me all those years ago, putting his helmet

against my patella. Stretch. Stretch. Sproiiinnggg! My knee snapped back into place. And then I felt the ankle pour me breakfast: snap, crackle, pop. Later, lying on the ground waiting for the paramedics, I would realize I had landed in a root system just below the soft earth under the fallen log. My foot had been stuck in the roots, so when the rest of me pitched forward, the foot stayed put. After that day on which we missed our picnic but got to ride on the flatbeds of the EMTs shiny new off-road rescue trucks, I faced six weeks of very limited movement and another several weeks scooting around on my knee scooter. For what it’s worth, that thing is more fun than is probably safe for a postop orthopedic patient. But you take your grins where you can get ‘em. Since our home is on the water, the first floor is actually a flight up, so my living room became my world. I could scoot or wheel myself back and forth the kitchen and the bathroom, and that was the extent of my domain. I won’t describe the particulars. I suspect a fair number of folks reading this have lived it. What I will say is that those lonely weeks offered a good deal of time for reflection.

Early on, I ordered a t-shirt. Silkscreened on the shirt is the silhouette of a hiker stepping into the woods with a quote from one of my favorite philosophers, John Muir: “Into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” I hung the shirt where I could see it from my home on the couch. Every time I saw the shirt, I thought about what I would do and where I would go when I was mobile again. Those aspirations powered me through rehab and, later, a visit from Covid, who camped out in our home for two months, hanging out with everyone before hitting the bricks. And, now, a year later, it’s time to plan our next annual birthday adventure. I’m still a bit wobbly, but I’ve been practicing: daily exercises, walking the dogs, shooting hoops with the kids, and I’m ready to try something new. I’m ready for my next adventure. If you, like many of us, have overcome some struggles this past year, I hope you’re excited to try something new as well. I hope all of us find something novel, exciting, and interesting to experience: a hobby to try, a place to explore, or a friendship to kindle. Whatever life has in store, I hope we all break a leg in 2022… just not literally.

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Contributors: Frank Kepley, Garry Higgins, Bob Monahan, Peggy Burgess, Renee Bray, Debbie Caneen, John Lampkin, Cathy Meyerhoff, and Bob Sullivan (CA President).

January 2022

The News

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COMMUNITY 4

January 2022

The News

Feline Folks Meow Mixer

January 6 at 3:30 p.m. Kings Point 2020 building culinary room With life almost back to normal they are seeing increased activity of loving, caring people feeding the community cats. This event is open to all Kings Point residents and renters. Information: “info@ felinefolks.us”.

Daughters of the American Revolution Meeting

January 19 at 12:30 p.m. Atrium Building Florida Room Guest speaker, Lt. Col. Michelle Schaefer, who served in Afghanistan. SCC and KP residents and anyone interested in joining DAR are invited. Info: Carol Acosta, “carol.r.acosta@gmail.com”.

Pelican Players Mystery Dinner Theater

Eagle Audubon Meeting

Monday, January 17, at 1:20 p.m. St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1239 W Del Webb Blvd. The speaker, Charles Fisher, coordinator of the Christmas Bird Count for the Alafia (River) region, will fill you in on what the Christmas Bird Count is, how to participate next year, and present the value of the information collected by over 81,000 volunteers in this long running citizen science project. Meetings are free and open to the public. Info: “eagleaudubonflorida.org”.

SCC Audubon Club’s January Meeting

Saturday, January 8, at 9:15 a.m. Community Hall, South Campus, SCC Featuring the Florida Conservation and Technology Center (FCTC) in Apollo Beach. Stanley Kroh, senior manager for Land and Stewardship Programs at TECO, will give a presentation on FCTC and its mission, programs and facilities. Refreshments, bring a coffee mug. Info: www. sccaudubonclub.com. Stanley Kroh

AAUW Meets the Chief

Saturday, January 8, at 9:30 a.m. The American Association of University Women of SCC SouthShore is delighted to announce that the speaker at our first in-person live meeting in the Florida Room of SCC is Chief Bardell of the SCC Emergency Squad. He will speak about the process of planning with local and state health officials to provide vaccination during this pandemic to SCC residents, caring for the community in general during Covid as well as interesting plans to make things even better for all in terms of health and wellness. RSVP to Margie Castiglia at 813-633-8253 by Monday, January 3 to say you are coming. Checks need not be sent ahead this month but donations of $5 to cover brunch expenses will be collected at the door.

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Friday, March 25, at 5 p.m. The entree will be a delicious lasagna with all the trimmings. Enjoy the dinner as you are trying to find out “Who Done It”. Tickets $20, available at the church office M-Th from 10 to 1 p.m. Info: 813-6341252.

Fundraiser to Benefit Samaritan Services

January 25 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Atrium Building Florida Room Have some fun and dessert. Bring your friends and your own game(s) and play by your rules. Table of 4 for $40; table of 6 for $50. Tickets are on sale at the Samaritan Services Office, 1207 North Pebble Beach Blvd. Water, cups and ice will be provided. BYOB. Raffle. Prize baskets.

Chico’s Fashion Show And Luncheon

Thursday, February 24 Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach The Art Club in Sun City Center will be hosting a Chico’s Fashion Show and Luncheon. Tickets may be purchased every Monday in the Atrium from 10 to noon beginning January 24 through February 21. Tickets are only $25. Info: Marsha Lucidi, 813-938-5100 or rmlucidi@yahoo.com.

SouthShore Christian Women’s Luncheon

January 12 at the UMC Life Enrichment Center Feature speaker is Ann Gilbert from Shapes. She has tips for every age and ability to get in shape for the new year. Guest speaker is Erv Smith, a former nightclub musician who overcame failure and found a new lease on life. RSVP: Rocky at 602-620-1785 or email “SSCWCFlorida@gmail. com”. Tickets $17, due by January 7. Checks payable to Stonecroft Ministries, 5203 Admiral Pointe Drive, Apollo Beach, FL 33572.

Crafting for Charity

The ladies of Nottingham Greens in Kings Point made 40 T-shirt totes filled with needed items that were all donated: toothpaste, brushes, socks, hand sanitizer, first aid kits, shampoo, soap and treats were just some of the items included in the bags. The finished totes plus boxes of extra supplies were all donated to New Beginnings of Tampa. The Program Director, Jeremy Bowen, was pleased to accept all the donations and said they will be passed out to the homeless in need.

Community continued on page 6.

We Welcome Selina J. Lin, M.D.

813-633-3065

Coastal Eye Institute is pleased to welcome Dr. Selina Lin to our Sun City Center office. Dr. Lin is a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist and Fellowship-Trained Retina Specialist with expertise in:

1515 Sun City Center Plaza CoastalEye.com

• Macular Degeneration • Diabetic Eye Care • Flashes & Floaters • Laser Surgery of the Retina

Dr. Lin is now accepting new patients!

January 2022

The News

Coming Soon!

ER at Sun City Center, an Extension of Manatee Memorial Hospital, will be a full-service emergency department that provides care to those in need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our new facility will be located at 16504 S. U.S. 301, Wimauma, FL 33598, adjacent to Walmart®. It is expected to open in the first half of 2022. ER at Sun City Center will feature: • Care for all ages • Access 24/7 • Onsite physician 24/7 • Six exam rooms, three rapid medical exam spaces and 12 treatment areas • Full-service laboratory and imaging services (X-ray, CT, and ultrasound) • 10,884 square feet

manateememorial.com This emergency department is part of Manatee Memorial Hospital. This is not an urgent care center. Its services and care are billed at hospital emergency department rates. Physicians are on the medical staff of Manatee Memorial Hospital, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Manatee Memorial Hospital. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website. 21456307-572539 12/21

January 2022

The News

Community continued from page 4.

KP Italian Club Black Tie White Diamonds Gala

Thursday, January 20, at 4:30 p.m. Food provided by Banquet Masters. Club supplies coffee, tea, and soda. BYOB. Music by Mike Russo. Semiformal attire. Tickets $25. On sale January 11 and 12 from 9 to noon in the KP North Clubhouse lobby. Info: May Fleming 813-419-4790 or John Saffran 262-758-2000. www.kpitalianclub.com.

South Bay Genealogy Society Meeting

January 18 at 10:30 a.m. UMC Life Enrichment Center (LEC), 1210 W. Del Webb Blvd. Speaker will be Karen Fortin, who will present “They Died of What?! Understanding Historical Causes of Death.” Cost is $15 for the meal and the presentation. For reservations and meal choice, call Dianna Loudermilk at 864-607-1330. Make your check payable to SBGS, and mail it to SBGS, P.O. Box 5202, SCC, FL 33571. Checks must be received by January 5.

DAR Volunteers

Three members of our Chapter helped at the registration table of the South Shore Golf Tournament on Saturday, November 20. The tournament was held by the Sons of the American Revolution at the Waterlefe Country Club. Participating members were left to right: Nancy Windsor, Kay Adkins and Barbara Hellner.

Security Patrol Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations to our Volunteer of the Month, Debbie Riley. Debbie volunteered for 51 hours of driving and dispatching in October. She is on four teams and fills in ad hoc on many occasions. Thank you for your dedication and support to the Security Patrol!

AAUW Cabaret Fundraiser

Saturday, February 12, at 11:30 a.m. SCC Community Hall, South Campus AAUW is pleased to present a live performance of the Pelican Player Cabaret Singers. Like in previous years, the show will begin after a meal from Banquet Masters and will include raffles and prizes. Tickets $30, call Patsie Ginley at 954-258-5714.

Community Cooperation At Its Best

On Friday, December 3, a group of community volunteers representing the local partnership to help fight COVID-19 and care for our community, gathered in the North Clubhouse of Kings Point. This partnership was begun in August 2020, to develop a plan for testing members of our community for the virus. By the end of December, this group had tested over 8000 residents for the coronavirus. This local partnership includes the following organizations: Community Emergency Response Team, Samaritans Services; Security Patrol, the Emergency Squad, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, South Bay Hospital, Vesta, United Methodist Church, the Kings Point Pickleball Club, First Service, and the Kings Point Master Association.

Scholarship for Veteran Service Dog Student

The Interfaith Social Action Council has provided a $4,100 grant to Southeastern Guide Dogs for a veteran service dog student scholarship. This scholarship will support the education of a veteran living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other disabilities during their on-campus instruction. United States Coast Guard Veteran Sara Faulkner knows firsthand how helpful a service dog can be. After 20 years of service and conducting numerous life-or-death rescues during Hurricane Katrina, Sara suffers from PTSD. She now relies on Easton, a yellow Labrador and a gift from Southeastern Guide Dogs. She shares, “When I was home a lot, I started to get really depressed. With Easton helping me get out, I don’t have those days anymore.”

Handsome ’50 Ford Pickup is Roamin’ Oldies Top Pick

A splendidly restored 1950 Ford F1 pickup, shown by Steve Parker and son Eathan, was selected as cruiser of the month at the Roamin’ Oldies Car Club’s 2021 holiday show. The show is conducted annually by the club to brighten the Christmas season for those who can use a helping hand, by collecting children’s toys for area children and providing support for local charities. This year’s event was the largest ever, attracting more than 150 antique and collectible vehicles. Steve and Eathan’s prize-winning pickup remains unmistakably a ’50 Ford F1 on the outside, but it is thoroughly modern inside and under the hood. It is powered by a 302 cubic-inch V8, coupled to an automatic transmission, and fitted with power disc brakes and air conditioning for capable and comfortable driving. The Roamin’ Oldies host a cruisein from 1 to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of every month, with a rain date the following Sunday, at the Mira Bay Village Shopping Center on US-41 in Apollo Beach. About This superbly restored (and 100 of the area’s finest antique seasonably accompanied) 1950 F1 and collectible cars often take Ford pickup shown by Steve Parker part, accompanied by classic and son Eathan of Bradenton is the oldies music played by DJ Joey Roamin’ Oldies December cruiser of the month. Ferrante.

SCC Security Patrol Grant Recipient

The Interfaith Social Action Council (ISAC) has awarded $5,700 to the Sun City Center Security Patrol. The grant will be used to pay for a portion of the upkeep and maintenance of the patrol’s vehicles. In the photo: (l tor) Chief of Patrol Tim Broad, Barb Caleca, ISAC Treasurer, and John Eramo, Security Patrol Board President.

The Men's Club of SCC Offers Peace of Mind!

At Affordable Prices! 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 Philips Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) at a more competitive rate than what Philips 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 Philips 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.

Call the Men’s Club

813-633-7091

or stop by our office 1002 Cherry Hills Drive,SCC

January 2022

The News

Military News Attention All Military Veterans

The next meeting of the American Legion Post 246 will be held on Friday, January 28, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 3, CA Community Hall,1910 South Pebble Beach Blvd., SCC. Included on the program will be a review of recent events and future Post programs and activities. Coffee and donuts will be available at 9 a.m. All veterans and spouses are welcome. For information call Paul Wheat at 813-3917309 or email at “pawheatjr@aol.com”. For any questions call Paul Wheat at 813-391-7309.

Left, Brigadier Colin Howgill RM (Ret), Chairman of MFST, presents checks to 1st Sergeants Council and families.

MFST Holds Annual Event to Assist Military Families at MacDill AFB

By B. Frank Kepley CAPT USN (Ret.) The Military Family Support Trust (MFST) recently held a collection for Operation Warm Heart, a program sponsored by the 1st Sergeant’s Council at MacDill AFB, to assist families during times of need. A Mix n’ Mingle party was held on Thursday, November 11 in the Atrium at Freedom Plaza to thank the Freedom Plaza residents for their generosity. Although 2021 was the year of rebounding from a shutdown, supporters of MFST came out in full swing. The 1st Sergeants Council and their families were on hand (see photo) to celebrate with MFST while receiving three checks totaling over $10,000. The 2021 drive was a resounding success. The annual drive held at Freedom Plaza focuses on helping families during the holiday season. The funds are used to purchase vouchers at the base commissary and PX and are distributed to needy base personnel for their use around the holidays. Info: “http://mfst.us” or email Lori Germain “germainmfst@gmail.com”.

Laying wreath at Tomb of Unknown Soldier.

LTC Charles Conover, USA (Ret), former Commander of local MOWW at Pershing gravesite.

MOWW Member Attends Wreath Laying Ceremony at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

By B. Frank Kepley CAPT USN (Ret.) LTC Charles Conover, USA (Ret), a former Commander of the local chapter of the Military Order of World Wars (MOWW) and one of the national MOWW top eight corporate officers attended a conference and Veterans Day observances in Alexandria, VA, on November 9. On Veterans Day, the officers traveled to Joint Base Ft. MyerHenderson Hall where they boarded buses to Arlington National Cemetery and the amphitheater where they had reserved seats. Music was provided by the U. S. Coast Guard Band and the United States Armed Forces Joint Chorus. After laying the wreath at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by President Joe Biden, the President returned to the amphitheater podium as the featured speaker. At the conclusion of the President’s remarks, representatives of Veteran Service Organizations in attendance presented their wreaths at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier. The MOWW wreath was presented by the MOWW Commander in Chief (CINC) LTC Michael Okin, MD, USA, SVCINC BG Victor Peres, The group then participated in a Memorial Service at the gravesite of General of the Armies John J. Pershing. The site is unique in that it only has the standard grave marker as General Pershing did not want any other type of recognition, but only to be buried next to his men. Participants included the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”; and the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard, Military District of Washington. The featured speaker was CINC Michael Okin. LTC Conover said “it was a real honor to have participated in the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”

MOAA Installs 2022 Board for SCC

Florida Council of Chapters President Michael Borders swore in the 2022 Sun City Center Chapter Board of Directors at its monthly luncheon on the first of December. In the photo: President Eunice Patxot COL USA (Ret.), 1st Vice President and Programs Chair Bob Pritcher, 2nd VP and Membership Chair Walt Cawein LTC USAF (Ret.), Treasurer Bob Cochran, Secretary and Publicity Ed Mooney LTC USA (Ret.), Past President Jim Haney MAJ USMC (Ret.), Chaplain Benny Blackshire LTC USA (Ret.), Newsletter Chair Cliff Korn CDR USNR (Ret.), Director Ferris Garrett LTC USAF (Ret.), and Surviving Spouse Chair Jean Stratis.

From left, Newsome Principal Katie Rocha; MFST Chairman, BG Colin Howgill, RM (Ret.); Newsome Battalion Commander Cadet/LTC Paris Graham; Newsome Senior Army Instructor LTC (R) Eric Deal.

MFST Receives Award From Newsome H.S.

By B. Frank Kepley CAPT USN (Ret.) Newsome Senior Army Instructor LTC (R) Eric Deal presented the Military Family Support Trust (MFST) an appreciation plaque for their support of the County JROTC programs for the past 15 years. The plaque was presented at Newsome High School on November 19, in recognition of their sustained financial awards and strong advocacy of JROTC. MFST is a 501(c)3 organization that supports through their grant programs military families, past and present. The beneficiaries include, but are not limited to: four-year scholarships for high school seniors; JROTC Honors Program; Homeless Women Veterans; MFST Fund for Veterans Scholarship at the University of South Florida; Operation Warm Heart; Veteran Guide Dog; SouthEastern Guide Dogs Paws for Patriots program; My Warriors Place; Operation Helping Hand and sponsoring ‘Guardians’ for the Honor Flight Support Program. Info: “http://mfst.us” or email Lori From left, MFST Chairman BG Colin Germain “germainmfst@gmail. Howgill, RM, (Ret); Newsome Senior Army Instructor LTC (R) Eric Deal. com”.

ARTS January 2022

The News

PERFORMING

SCC Front Porch Pickers

Every Wednesday, from 2 to 4 p.m. Rollins Theater, SCC The Pickers meet and play country, bluegrass, traditional and gospel music on acoustic guitar, violin, ukulele, bass, dobro, and banjo. Audience members with a CA ID and Kings Point Gold Card members are invited to join us for pickin’ and grinnin’. Call president David Lickfeldt 813-633-6739 for more information.

Nashville Duo Dave & Daphne

Friday, January 7, at 7 p.m. United Methodist Church, 1210 Del Webb Blvd. W. Dave and Daphne’s concerts have all the energy of a Las Vegas style show with solid country music roots, and they have appeared in such major venues as Nashville Now, the CMA Music Awards, The Grand Ole Opry and the Southern Gospel Music Conference. A donation of $10 is requested at the door.

Kings Point Chorus Returns

Registration: Monday, January 10, at 12 noon. East/West Social Room, Kings Point North Clubhouse Rehearsals will be held on Mondays at 12:30 p.m. Chorus will be directed by Sharon Henry. Due to venue constraints our number is limited to 60 singers who will be accepted on a first come/first serve basis. Membership is open to any South Shore area soprano, alto, tenor, and bass who can carry a tune. No audition is necessary. Bring your enthusiasm and love for singing. Spring Concert, “Disney Delight” Thursday, March 31, at 5 p.m. For more information, contact Stephanie Casey 813-634-4891 or “oldgolfers59@yahoo.com”, “kpchorus.org”.

By Renee Bray, SCCCA Entertainment Director The entertainment season is in full swing as we welcome back our snowbirds. There is no shortage of things to do this year, and entertainment is certainly a great choice. In January, we have 5 shows to pick from! We start out the month with a non-series show, Fleetwood Max tribute band on January 9 at 2:30 p.m. For just $15 you will hear spot on, note for note performances from David Epperson Renee Bray as Lindsey Buckingham, as well as the tribute performances of ‘Christine McVie’, ‘Mick Fleetwood’ and ‘ John McVie’. On January 16 at 2:30 p.m. SCC favorite Tony Pace returns. He brings hilarious musical comedy skills, dead-on impressions, crazy characters, an amazing endless supply of explosive raw energy and one of the most incredible serious voices to every stage around the world. Tickets are $18. The annual Showcase of Talent returns on Wednesday, January 19 at 2 p.m. Come see and hear a great variety of talent and help us by voting for your favorite. Tickets are $11 and this show is open to the public. Wise Guys Adult Comedy will take center stage on Wednesday, January 26 at 7 p.m. Come hear the funny antics of Frank Vignola and Mike Merino. Tickets are $15. Wrapping up the month is the ever-popular band Rocky and the Rollers. Dance the night away with a band known for taking fans back in time to the popular sounds of doo-wop and rock and roll from the 1950s through the ’70s. The BYOB event starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are $19. All performances are held at the SCC Community Hall at 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd. SCCCA members are welcome to purchase as many tickets as they like for themselves and their guests. Kings Point residents may purchase tickets for an additional $2. The Atrium Kiosk located on N. Course Drive, has hours on M-W-F from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. All ticket purchasers must bring with them either their CA or KP badge for proof of residency (except for the Showcase). Badges will not be required at the door, just a ticket. A complete lineup of all shows for the season is available at the kiosk, in the CA office on N. Pebble Beach Blvd or on our website at www.suncitycenter.org. Tickets to all shows will go on sale approximately five weeks prior to the show for SCCCA members and two weeks prior for Kings Point.

SCC Men’s Chorus Announces Their Spring Season

The Sun City Center Men’s Chorus began their Spring concert season with rehearsals starting December 16, 2021, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1239 W Del Webb Blvd, Sun City Center, FL. They meet weekly on Thursday afternoons from 3 to 5:00 p.m. Their Spring Concert will be on April 3, 2022, at St. Andrew. The Chorus sings four part harmony and welcomes men who are up for the challenge to do the same in rehearsals and performances. They are currently 30 members strong and always looking to add additional members. Membership is available to all men over the age of 18 within the greater Sun City Center surrounding communities. Info: Tom Hinkebein, 573-837-3041.

SCCCA Welcomes Tony Pace and Rocky and the Rollers

On Sunday, January 16, at 2:30 p.m., Sun City Center will welcome back Tony Pace. He’s live, electrifying and hailed as The Ultimate Performer and trademarked as The Man with the Voice who just happens to be funny. One reporter explained “if you put Andrea Bocelli, Billy Crystal and Sammy Davis Jr. together you get Tony Pace.” Tony Pace brings hilarious musical comedy skills, dead-on impressions, crazy characters, an amazing endless supply of explosive raw energy and one of the most incredible serious voices to every stage around the world. Tickets are $18. Dance the night away to the sounds of Rocky and the Rollers on Friday, January 28, at 7 p.m. Rocky and the Rollers Doo Wop N’ Rock show is one of the most exciting shows that take you back in time to the great sound of Doo Wop and Rock and Roll from the 1950’s thru the 1970’s. So whether you’re dancing or watching, everyone will enjoy Rocky and the Rollers, a show you will not want to miss! Tickets are $19. Tickets to both events are available M-W-F from 10 to 1 p..m at the Atrium Kiosk, located at N. Course Drive. The events are held at the SCCCA Community Hall at 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd. Kings Point residents pay an additional $2.

Women’s Chorus Begins a New Season

Preparations have begun for the spring 2022 season with registration at 9 a.m. on January 5 at The United Methodist Church of SCC. All songbirds who are able to read music are invited to come to registration, attend the first rehearsal, and audition for membership. Mark your calendars now for Sunday, March 27. At 3 p.m. The Women’s Chorus will have the pleasure of presenting their spring concert at the United Methodist Church of SCC. For more information on joining the chorus or to schedule a performance for your organization, contact Jayann Michael at 813-645-2472.

January 2022

The News

CAHT Fundraiser a Huge Success

DANCING SCC West Coast Dance Club Offers Free Lessons

Country Nightclub Two Step Four-week session beginning the second Sunday in January. Sundays, 7 p.m. Beginner West Coast Swing Dance Lessons Weekly through January. Fridays at 6 p.m. Beginner Hustle Dance Lessons Four-week session beginning the second Sunday in January. Sundays, 6 p.m. For couples who have a Sun City Center Community Association number, a Freedom Plaza ID or a Kings Point Gold Card., Dance Studio 1 (Atrium). Info: Cindy Rohr “Kidsmed80@gmail.com”.

Let’s Dance Ballroom Dance Club

Saturday, January 15, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd. Two-step lesson taught by Bernice DuBro at 6:30, then enjoy dancing to music provided by DJs Mike and Peg Johnston. Casual dress, but no shorts. BYOB and snacks. Cake, water, coffee and ice will be served. There is open seating (tables of 8) and a singles table is available. Members are free, guests are $5, but you must be a SCC card holder. Also, Kings Point residents with a 2021 Gold Card are welcome. Info: Bill Dean at 813-331-3536.

SCC Dance Club

Saturday, January 8, from 7 to 9 p.m. SCC Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd. Dance to the music of the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s with DJ Brian Ashley. Attire is holiday dressy casual, no shorts. Admission is open to SCC residents, Kings Point Gold Card holders, and Freedom Plaza residents with a Yellow Access Card. Members free. Nonmembers pay $6. Membership: $25 provides free entrance to all 2022 dances. Water and ice will be available upon request. BYOB, snacks, and refreshments. Info: Chuck MacDougall 978-995-6504.

Social Ballroom And Latin Dance Lessons

January 3, 10, 17, 24 4 p.m. - Silver 2 Waltz 5 p.m. - Beginning/Intermediate Salsa 6 p.m. - Intermediate 1 Bronze Waltz 7 p.m. - Beginning Cha-cha Social Dance on Monday, January 31, 6 to 8:30 p.m. $5. All are invited. Location: St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Parish Hall, 1015 East Del Webb Blvd. Sun City Center. Contact Bernice DuBro at “dancewithbernice@gmail.com” or 813-634-3205 or 813-4826784. Cost: $30/person for a four-week month or $8 per lesson. All are invited to attend.

Come Dance With Us

By Paula Lickfeldt The Campaign Against Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence held a fundraiser on Sunday December 5 at Caloosa Golf and Country Club. Over 160 people attended the event. The committee had to add extra tables to accommodate all of the guests. The party was a Jimmy Buffett style Tropical Paradise Party and silent auction. Event chair Helen DePinto did a great job and board member Bonnie Doll’s team did a wonderful job with the decorations on the tables and in the room. They truly turned Caloosa Golf and

Country Club into a tropical paradise. The silent auction featured over 60 items; some were original art from SCC artists, a stained glass piece from the SCC Stained Glass Club, a Christmas floral arrangement donated by the SCC Elegant Garden Club, handmade pottery and jewelry, Waterford crystal pieces, a two-night stay in Key West, dog and cat baskets, a basket full of liquor and cigars, a pleasure boat cruise, and much more. The committee wishes to thank the community guests who participated in the silent auction for their support.

Art Club in Sun City Center 54th Annual Art Show

Celebrating Art Renewal

From 6 to 9 p.m. Kings Point North Clubhouse Banquet Room Musicians will be LB and Chloe with all types of music. Cost is $5 at the door. BYOB and snacks. Water and ice will be provided. All welcome. Those not from KP and SCC may be asked to pay an additional $ 2.50 for use of the facility. Info: Ken at 513-582-8449.

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January 2022

The News

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Motown Magic

Motown Magic consists of four world class vocalists and six top notch musicians, performing some of the greatest music ever written, including all the biggest Motown hits! Motown Magic takes you back to great memories and good songs with songs from The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, The Jacksons, Lionel Richie, and many more.

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January 18, 2022

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Chris MacDonald has the ultimate honor of being the “Only Tribute Artist” hired by Elvis Presley Enterprises to perform at Graceland’s Heartbreak Hotel seven years in a row. MacDonald gives a truly dynamic performance complete with costumes, dancers and a high-energy band. Celebrating the life and music of one of the greatest entertainers and pop culture icons of our time.

This show is more than just a Queen Tribute band, the music and stage production will blow you away! Absolute Queen has spent hundreds of hours recreating the most authentic Queen experience. Hear the greatest hits such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock you,” and many others!

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February 15, 2022

January 27, 2022

January 25, 2022

Let Colin & Geoff take you on a journey down memory lane to rediscover the fabulous sound and look of the world’s most famous harmony duo. Packed with all their greatest hits, they seek to re-create The Everly Brothers Experience.

February 7, 2022

Three Dog Night ruled the airways between 1969 and 1975, with 21 consecutive Top 40 hits, seven going gold. This is not just a tribute to the iconic band, but rather an engaging and exciting concert experience that will have audiences feeling like they are spending an evening with Three Dog Night as never before.

California Surf, Incorporated is the only show in the world featuring former Beach Boys band members. Old favorites such as “Good Vibrations,” “I Get Around,” “Surfin’ USA,” and more will leave you dancing on your feet. They will definitely rock the house.

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February 2, 2022

February 21, 2022

Changes in Latitudes is the country’s premier tribute show to the Mayor of Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett. This nationally acclaimed band travels the country with beach balls and leis flying, dancing conga lines, and “Trop Rock” fun for all. It’s the ultimate beach party that’s good clean fun for all ages.

Tom Becker effortlessly embodies the warmth and humor of one of America’s best loved songwriters. From the foot-stomping fun of “Rocky Mountain High” - Tom and his band take you on a musical journey into the many facets of John Denver’s songwriting, the songs that defined his life, and his passion for preserving the environment.

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March 28, 2022

The Kingston Trio

Legendary folk icons, The Kingston Trio, bring their timeless music to fans across the USA. The performance takes the audience on an iconic musical journey to a time when folk music made its extraordinary ascent to the pinnacle of popular culture and the top of the music charts.

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Changes in Latitudes

March 1, 2022

Back Home Again, A Tribute to John Denver

March 24, 2022

Let’s Hang On

The nation’s premier Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons Tribute Show is a full blown state production complete with that Four Season’s sound, crisp choreography, and live band. What you get is a high-energy, great sounding production, sure to entertain every audience!

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The Music of “MAMMA MIA!” and voted “World’s Greatest Tribute Band” promises to continue the momentum. “Take a Chance on Me” and “Waterloo” will lift the audience out to their seats to dance! The show is authentic in music and dress and is performed to live music that will leave you excited and melancholy ... at the same time.

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Forever Orbison

Capturing the look and feel of a real Orbison show with arrangements, historically correct instruments, costumes, tempos, and acting put together by Alan James, Musical Director for Roy Orbison. Everyone at shows all over the country agrees that Jesse’s acclaimed voice hits all the high notes every time.

FAITH &service January 2022

The News

Tacos and Games

Tuesday, January 11, at noon. St. Andrew Presbyterian, 1239 Del Webb Blvd. W. Your $5 ticket will provide you with two tacos with all the trimmings and a beverage. You are invited to stay after for games. If you have a favorite game, bring it along or play one of many games set up for your enjoyment. Groups of four or more are encouraged. Tickets can be purchased at the church office Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call the church 813-634-1252.

Interfaith Social Action Council Grant Cycle Opening

The Interfaith Social Action Council of Sun City Center, (ISAC) would like to announce its Winter Grant cycle schedule will open February 1 through March 15. The Grant Committee will review all applications and make recommendations for approval to the ISAC Council in April 2022. To be eligible for consideration, an organization must have an approved 501(c)(3) designation, or a local school with 85-8012621971-C-8 designation. Application forms are online “interfaithcouncilofsuncitycenter.com”. Info: “isaccofscc@gmail. com”.

Redeemer Lutheran Church Donates to local DAV

Members of Redeemer Lutheran Church recently collected and donated funds to the local DAV Chapter. The congregation was grateful to be able to help support this very deserving group in their work of securing benefits and providing assistance to disabled veterans. Through funding L to R: Lois Hobratschk, Carolyn from Thrivent Financial, printer Cole, and Arlene Hansen from Redeemer, and Mike O’Dell and cartridges were also donated. Jim Fletcher from the DAV.

ISAC Grant Recipient: Kiwanis Club of South Shore

The Kiwanis Club of South Shore was a recent recipient of a grant from the Interfaith Social Action Council (ISAC) in the amount of $5,000. The funds will be used for its Service Leadership program. Pictured in the photo (L to R) are Suzi Bredbenner, President of Kiwanis South Shore; David Swaim, ISAC Grant Committee member; Kim Przekop, Kiwanis President-Elect. All funds for the ISAC grants are generated from the sales at the Nearly New Shop of Sun City Center, located at 1601 Sun City Center Blvd (back side of Sun City Center Shopping Plaza). Sale hours are 8 to 12 noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Southeastern Guide Dogs Grant Recipients

Recently, Southeastern Guide Dogs received a grant from the Interfaith Social Action Council (ISAC) in the amount of $4,100. The funds will be used for vet care, accommodations, and training associated with pairing a guide dog with a new client. From left to right is Nancy Sealey, a Nearly New volunteer, and Rachael Blaneo, Grant Assistant at SEGD. Info: 813-642-9099.

Woman of Distinction

Jewish organizations in the community are asked to nominate a woman who exemplifies the mission of their organization through her leadership and commitment. Awarded annually the ‘Women of Distinction’ Program honors exemplary volunteerism and leadership. Congratulations to Diane Posner, Beth Israel’s Woman of Distinction 2021, who was honored at a ceremony on Thursday, December 9. From the time Diane joined Beth Israel in 2014 she has been a valued member of the Temple leadership team. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Temple as well as Sisterhood. She has brought her financial acumen to the positions of Financial Secretary of the Temple as well as Treasurer of the Temple and Sisterhood and currently serves as membership Chair of Sisterhood. Her understanding of finances and attention to detail contributes to the successful financial operation of the Temple. Diane has two adult children, Hal and Robert Posner and two grandsons Andrew and Sean Posner. Diane is an invaluable member of the Beth Israel family, and her dedication and commitment makes her deserving of the title “Woman of Distinction.”

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January 2022

The News

The First Centenarian

Edwin G. Wensley is not the first person to reach 100 years old, but he is the first centenarian in the Wensley family. Born in Michigan on January 12, 1922, he was the first son of Edwin and Ethel Wensley. From age 4 to 33, Edwin was plagued with asthma, allergies and heart problems, in and out of doctors’ offices and hospitals more times than he can recount. In 1955, Edwin and a friend, who had throat cancer, decided to go to a healing service at Youth for Christ Chapel in Detroit. Both went forward for healing, and both were healed from their ailments. To this day Edwin has not had any problems with asthma, allergies, or heart problems. At age 21, Edwin began working for Cadillac Memorial Gardens cemetery. From 1943 until 1952, he was the number one salesman every year. An important thing to understand is that Edwin was the grandson of naturalized immigrants on one side and the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware on the other. One thing that disturbed Edwin was that up to this point all cemeteries in Michigan were segregated, based on race and religion. Edwin’s upbringing taught him that all people were equal in God’s sight. In 1953, Edwin purchased a neglected cemetery and its surrounding property, changed its name to United Memorial Gardens, and turned it into the first memorial gardens cemetery in Michigan open to all families, nationalities, and religions. Edwin taught Sunday school for over 21 years. During that time his 5th grade boy’s class built a miniature replication of Moses’ tabernacle from the Bible. After taking a trip to Israel in 1985 he had the idea to build the first-in-theworld, full-scale duplication of the tabernacle that was free of charge for anyone to experience. Church groups, bible study groups, Christian college groups, women’s clubs, and Sunday school classes received free tours and free study materials. During its first

five years, he averaged over 900 people weekly to see the tabernacle. During his years he continued to be creative and innovate the cemetery business, using his cemetery to provide educational, moral, and religious training in various ways. Edwin has always been innovative, creative, and a hard worker, providing for his seven children and blessing those around him. He didn’t officially retire until he was 91 years old. He and his wife, Lois, have been married over 63 years and currently live independently in their Florida home, surrounded by a loving, supportive family. Reflecting on his life, Edwin said, “In my daily life and business life, I tried to be the best man, husband, father, and business man I could be—not a hypocrite. My attitude was to live, speak, share, and show that our daily life is important to everyone I know and come into contact with. When you are active in the church of your choice and serving the Lord, we must be wise. We must be committed to honesty, integrity, and high morals in every phase of our living— at home and in the business world, with dealings with all our employees, employers, and the general public.” Edwin has accomplished many things and blessed many people in his long life besides being a great-greatgrandfather, but he attributes his success and longevity to his faith in Jesus Christ.

Santa Visited 200 First Graders in Wimauma

By Ilona Merritt In the past, the Ladies of the Shrine Club in Sun City Center have invited the first graders from Wimauma schools to come to our Community Hall for a fun Christmas party. However, Covid 19 came along, and the community hall was closed. Chairlady Janice DeCaluway did not want the children to be disappointed, so with the help of the schools, Reddick and Wimauma, Santa came to the schools and listened to the children’s Shrine Elves gave them a bag with gifts and goodies to eat and drink. The SCC Men’s Choral group came to sing for

this special occasion. The sparkle in their eyes and the big grins on their little faces made all the work worthwhile. Janice started to prepare for this party in August by contacting her volunteers, who arrived extra early to bag all the gifts. The bags are exceptional. Under the guidance of Sandy Lunn, the Ladies in SCC made the most colorful pillowcases to hold the toys Santa brought. The Sew’n Sews of SCC made a cute backpack for each child. Two hundred excited children went home happy thanks to the Ladies of the SCC Shrine Club who organize this party year after year.

Smallest Manatee Rescued

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By Kai Rambow She’s the smallest baby manatee ever rescued. Manatees are normally born with a weight of about 60 pounds. “Piccolina,” which means little one, was rescued weighing only 44 pounds. When I photographed her, she was 52 pounds. The calf was discovered orphaned near Venice, and Mote Aquarium along with Florida Fish and Wildlife rescued her. There are only two centers in Florida capable of handling baby manatees. Using a special formula created by a nutritionist, baby manatees are bottle fed every four hours, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The baby will eventually be moved into a larger space, then the newer public viewing pool before being released back into the wild. This process takes two years and the work is critical for the species. Almost 1,000 manatees have died in the wild this year. It is rare to be able to see the great rescue work being done by Zoo Tampa. Zoo Tampa is considered a world leader in wildlife conservation. They were kind enough to provide a glimpse for you.

TRAVEL January 2022

The News

Yellowstone Maxed Out

By Kai Rambow Bison could be seen all across the beautiful, expansive valley. It was enthralling to see that much wildlife. This part of Yellowstone is often called the Serengeti of North America. During the pandemic, our travels have been limited. Still wanting to travel, people have gravitated to our national parks. The result: parks like Yellowstone are maxed out. On a recent trip, a server told me attendance records were broken in 2020, and those records were all broken in 2021. If you still really want to go, it can be done. Most of this article will concentrate on how to plan for a successful trip. Tips for a Great Trip: Flexibility Wins: If you’d like to go during the summer months, you will encounter masses of people, no vacancy on hotel rooms or campsites, and really high prices on rooms. I tried to do this trip three times last year. No rooms were available or if they were, it was $400 a night. Late May, early June or late September, early October will enable you to find a room at a reasonable price and experience fewer people, more animals. You may also be able to get a really good airfare. Best Airport: If you’re flying, try for Bozeman, Montana. It’s only a 90-minute drive to Yellowstone. Be prepared to line up and wait to get your rental car. Tip: Have one person get the luggage, while the other one gets the rental car. Best Places to Stay: West Yellowstone is a favorite. Plenty of hotels, restaurants are located right outside the west entrance of the park. Gardiner (north entrance) is very similar, except you’ll encounter much more traffic trying to enter the park. Cooke City is often recommended because of its proximity to Lamar Valley. Good location, but extremely limited restaurant selections and acceptable hotel options. Jackson Hole and Cody are too far away to be practical. Best Spots for Wildlife: The local watering hole/bar has wildlife at night (just kidding!). Lamar Valley has really great vistas with numerous bison. You’ll be able to see them at a distance and up close. This is also the best place to see wolves, however, they’re usually well across the valley. A really good pair of binoculars will be helpful. Hayden Valley is not as well known, but can be really rewarding. If you’re staying in West Yellowstone, enter the park and head towards Madison Junction. At Madison, turn left towards Norris.

You’ll see plenty of bison, some of them quite close in the Lamar Valley.

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One of the herds in the Lamar Valley. One person counted over 200 bison in one of the herds.

At Norris, turn right towards Canyon Village. At Canyon Village, turn right, heading south. Shortly after passing the access roads for Yellowstone Falls, you’ll enter Hayden Valley. Drive Times: Yellowstone is deceptive. Distances are short, but take time. If the distance stated is 15 miles, count on at least 30 minutes of drive time. Speed limits are low and roads wind and twist. Slow down and enjoy the scenery and wildlife. Tip: Check before you book everything when roads are expected to open or close. It would be really disappointing to reach Yellowstone and discover a road is closed for the winter season. Be prepared to stop. When you see cars pulled over to the side of the road, they’re usually stopping because of wildlife. Dress: If you visit during the suggested season times, dress in layers. Mornings will be very chilly, but it could warm nicely during the day. Know the Rules: You’re required to maintain a distance of at least 25 yards for wildlife. Much more distance is required for bears. If a bison moves towards you, you are required to move and maintain the minimum distance. The increase in visitors makes seeing Yellowstone a bit more challenging. With some good planning you can have a wonderful time in this magnificent park.

A herd of elk like to hang out in Mammoth Springs near the north entrance. If you don’t spot them, stop and ask a ranger – they’re probably around the corner.

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SPORTS 14

January 2022

The News

LAWN BOWLING • TENNIS • GOLF • SOFTBALL• PICKLEBALL & MORE!

South Shore Basketball Club

Rich Shelley, principle operator of First Choice Realty, donated Basketball Shirts to members of the South Shore Basketball Club to Club President Bob Monahan. For more information about Senior Basketball played in Ruskin go to: Southshorebasketball.com

The Patriots Are Coming

By Jim Collins The USA Patriots (formerly the Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball team) team is coming to Sun City Center (SCC) to play a double header against the Sun City Center Softball teams on Sunday, January 16. First game is at 10:30 a.m. and the second is 1 p.m. The Patriot team is composed of young veterans who have lost a limb through combat or accident while serving on active duty. Patriot team members live all over the United States. The team spends part of January at the Tigers training facility in Lakeland for spring training to get ready for their season. The Patriots are a non-profit 501(c)(3)organization. All money raised by them goes to a kids camp for youngsters who have lost limbs. Team members attend the camp and help train kids who are adapting to the loss of a limb and a new prosthesis. The SCC Softball Club is treating this event as a fundraiser for the Patriots organization. Bring checks (made out to USA Patriots) and cash for donations. The Softball club will not accept direct donations. If you can’t make the game but still want to donate, we will accept checks made out to the “USA Patriots” and pass them along. The Patriots will also be selling merchandise with their logos on it, hats, jerseys, etc. You can learn more about the Patriots by visiting their website: “usapatriotsathletics.org”. The games will be played at the Don Senk Memorial Field located in the SCC Sports Complex at the corner of Ardmore Way and Weatherford Drive. The Softball Club will serve hamburgers, hot dogs, soft drinks, and snacks for a small donation.

Athlete of the Month: Lou Klusty

By Bob Monahan, Sports Writer When I discovered that Lou Klusty was one of fourteen children and started working at the age of six, I knew there was an interesting story to be told. Lou was born in Wadsworth, Ohio, the 13th of fourteen children. When he was an infant the family moved to a farm in Coshocton County. Through hard work and little play Lou became a physically fit athlete and his fitness continues to this day. He recalls when a neighboring farmer became ill and couldn’t bring in his bales of hay from the field. Lou and his siblings brought in the 1,200 bales in one day for the princely sum of four dollars each. This money was turned over to his family to help with expenses. With several brothers, Lou managed to play some basketball and baseball. In high school in West Lafayette, Ohio, Lou played basketball for four years. He was able to do this sport because it was off season on the farm. After graduation, Lou went right to work splitting his time working in manufacturing and at the Bexley Public Library. He settled in the Columbus, Ohio, area where he played softball on industrial and church co-ed leagues for forty years. “In the winter I bowled in men’s and mixed leagues,” Lou added. Lou came to my attention when I played against him in softball about six years ago. Then he appeared on the volleyball court. Next, I saw him playing table tennis at Kings Point as a member of their club. Finally, I

saw him zipping by my house on the way to the Caloosa Golf and Country Club for a weekly round of golf. He states that he will resume bowling this winter when Covid concerns are reduced. In all these sports Lou is an outstanding athlete. One attribute I admire in him is his humbleness. In his own words Lou tells why he came to Sun City Center: “I met my wife, Kim, in 1981. We knew we wanted to retire in Florida so we could play sports year round. So, while here for spring training we would look for potential retirement communities. After looking at places from Ocala to Fort Myers, we decided Sun City Center was the most affordable and had all the sports and amenities we were looking for. Sports have always been our source of enjoyment and for meeting other people.” Sun City Center is fortunate to have such a great couple as Lou and Kim and all they do for the community.

First place team: Doug Wilmar, Chris Wilmar, Dan Barker, Dollie Barker, and Gary Taylor, Mary Taylor.

Caloosa Sunday Mixer Winners

By Paula McGlothin 1st place with a 67 and won on a scorecard playoff: Gary Taylor, Mary Taylor, Doug Wilmar, Chris Wilmar, Dan Barker, Dollie Barker; 2nd place 67 Charles Schindler,Jr., Linda Suh, Mike Zwissler, Aileen Engel; 3rd 68 Lyle Wildrick, Mary Wildrick, Greg Abdian, FiFi Abdian, Richard Lanese, Lucille Lanese; 4th place with a 70 and won on a scorecard playoff: Jeff Fodor, Diana Fodor, Mark McGlothin, Paula McGlothin, Vince Coniglio, Shirley Coniglio and Robert Wyatt, Jean Wyatt, Joseph Pomponio, Betty Pomponio, Jim Monson, Dottie Morgan. For information about golf or social memberships, call 813-6346481 or go to “www.golfcaloosa.com”.

SCC Traveling Tennis Teams

Both the Sunsetters and Sun City 2 traveling teams celebrated the end of their fall traveling tennis season. The women’s doubles teams are part of a 24 team ALOT (A League of Our Own Tennis) League throughout Hillsborough County. The women travel weekly on Wednesday mornings and compete on five courts. Home games are played on Wednesday at 9 on the courts at the South Campus near the Community Hall. Visitors are welcome to watch on the bleachers near courts 1 to 4.

Sports continued on page 15.

January 2022

The News

Introduction to Pickleball

Sports continued from page 14.

The SCC Pickleball Club is offering free lessons. This opportunity is available only to Sun City Center Community Association members. Students must preregister at “sccpickleball002@ gmail.com”. Lessons are six weeks, Tuesday and Friday 1 to 2:30 p.m., start January 3 and end in May. Location is the pickleball courts, behind the Community Building on S. Pebble Beach. The Club will supply paddles and balls.

Demonstrating a serve is Helen Tavares, Students are Marsha Schools, Mark Schools, Ed Durkos, Terri Morris and Lynn Charlebois.

Lawn Bowling Fall League Finals

L to R: Sharon Woodruff and Mary Huntington, Rolande Poulin and Barbara Morris.

Mike Irving and Paul Shanley won gold in the 60-64 men’s doubles.

Sun City Center Tennis Players Win at States

Sun City Center tennis players have qualified for Nationals at Ft. Lauderdale. Over 65 Tampa Bay area tennis players competed in October for a chance to qualify for Florida State competition in December. Sun City Center had six doubles players qualify for the National Senior Games to be held in the Ft. Lauderdale area May 2022. Congratulations to these senior athletes.

Suncoasters Lawn Bowling Triples Championship

By Garry Higgins The women’s competitive division of the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club (“The Suncoasters”) recently held their Triples Championship. Coming out on top after a series of playdowns, and the final exciting match against Cassandra Congratulations to Cindy Higgins, Furlong, Karen Cooper and Donna Blaine and Pam Davis. Connie Gilpin, was the team of Cindy Higgins (Skip), Donna Blaine (Vice) and Pam Davis (Lead). Of note, Pam and Cindy were members of the winning team in 2019.

By Garry Higgins Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club’s “Fall League” concluded recently with a best-of-three series play-off. Congratulations to Fred Kalhammer, Diann Thomas and Ron Ridely (the “Rockin’ Da Jack” team) who defeated the “Band of Three” team (Bob Ferguson, Marge Lange and Howard Baker). Club info: “suncitycenterlbc.com.” Sun City 2021 Fall League Champions; Ron Center Community Association Ridely, Diann Thomas and Fred members are welcomed. Kalhammer.

Sun City 2 Tennis Team

The Sun City 2 competitive tennis team celebrated the end of their fall season with lunch by the pool at the Renaissance restaurant. They beat the Brandon 2 team 3-2 with a close tiebreaker game on Line 2. 1st row l to r - Sheryl Doom, team captain Jan Gurley Booker, Kathy Norton, 2nd row l to r - Melody Smith, sub Jeanne Crofton, Mary Huntington, Sharon Woodruff. Not pictured are Dee Kelly, Tina Nethers, Mary Taylor and Charlotte Wood. (Photo by Nancy Williams)

Joyce Stafford Wins the CWGA-18 President’s Cup

Roger Goding and Edna Carlin

Kathy Milano and Doug Roderick

Sadie Hawkins Tennis Mixed Doubles Tournament

The Sun City Center Tennis Association sponsored a unique Sadie Hawkins mixed doubles tournament recently. Ladies from each pool picked a man to be their partner from another pool. It was a creative meet new friends coordinated by their tennis pro Mike Irving. Taking first place were Roger Goding and Edna Carlin. Second place went to Kathy Milano and Doug Roderick. (Photos by Jackie Goding).

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By Aileen Engel The 2021 CWGA-18 President’s Cup was held Wednesday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 17. Joyce Stafford was the overall winner with a net score of 145. Other placing players included Paula McGlothin and Akemi Schindler tied for 2nd at 149; Barb Struble 4th (150); Denise Berry 5th (151); Mary Ellen Laprade 6th (152); Bobbie Cesarek 7th (153); Lynne Fandetti 8th (154); Barb Stebler and Karen Tromblee tied for 9th (155).

Bobbie Cesarek, Caloosa Golf and Country Club president, presents the crystal vase prize to Joyce Stafford.

Caloosa CWGA-18 Awards Luncheon

By Aileen Engel The Caloosa CWGA-18 held their annual on Wednesday, December 1. The luncheon and awards presentation followed an ABC golf scramble. It was a great day for golf fun and fellowship on the golf course and at the luncheon. Sue Daveler presented the 2021 Most Improved Golfer awards to those having the highest percentage of handicap improvement between December 1, 2020 and December 1, 2021: 1st Place Sharon Mathieu 14%, 2nd Place Melissa Kohn 11%, 3rd Place Sue Daveler 10%. Judy Peterson presented the following awards: First time “Break Pins” to Jean Wyatt; Eagle Award to Rose Bryan; Hole-in-One Award to Judy Walters. Bev Valentine Ringers: Green Flight 2 -1st Place Mary Lou Anderson 68, 2nd Place Judy Peterson 75, 3rd Place Joyce Shade 79, 4th Place Tie Lucille Lanese and Jodie Allison 82. Green Flight 1 1st Place Tie Akemi Schindler and Sharon Mathieu 72, 2nd Place Tie Rose Bryan and Joan Roberge 73. Blue Flight 2 1st Place Tie Lynn Noyes and Aileen Engel 69, 2nd Place Mary Ellen Laprade 71, 3rd Place Pearl Ashe 72, 4th Place Tie Joyce Stafford and Jean Wyatt 74. Blue Flight 1 1st Place Bobbie Cesarek 60, 2nd Place Judy Tickles 62, 3rd Place Tie Kim Moore and Kim Roush 68. ABC Scramble Winners: 1st Place Tie with 69 Bobbie Cesarek, Melissa Kohn and Linda Suh Kim Roush, Marcia Francis and Vicki Franks; 3rd Place with 71 Denise Berry, Akemi Schindler and Joan Lamar; 4th Place Tie with 72 Lynn Fandetti, Donna Rokowski and Lucille Lanese.

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January 2022

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BOOK REVIEW Getting Lucky Before Pigs Fly

By Andrea L.T. Peterson The author of three very different novels, Bob Sanchez, is a resident of Sun City Center who also happens to be a staff writer for The News. Sanchez spent most of his life in a small town near Lowell, MA, prior to moving to New Mexico when he and his wife—high school sweetheart, Nancy—retired. But, I’m getting ahead of myself! “In the late 70s,” Sanchez tells me, “Khmer Rouge, the violent communist regime, took over Cambodia. Millions were killed. It was like a black hole, No one knew what the hell was going on over there. People were degraded, teachers, educated people, anyone who was a threat to the regime was executed.” But, it wasn’t until the regime “ran afoul of the Vietnamese [and] Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1979 that refugees fled in droves. By 1980, thousands of Cambodian refugees were flooding camps in Thailand. Other nations wanted to help these people,” Sanchez says. Thousands were welcomed into the United States. It wasn’t long before more than 30,000 refugees were desperate to get settled in the United States. Sanchez had heard about the need for sponsorship and housing on public radio. There was a family that needed a place to go. “Nancy and I talked,” he said, “and we agreed to sponsor someone. It was a complex family,” he adds, “a couple, the wife’s sister, and a baby.” Likewise, it wasn’t long before “resentment set in. There was the impression that the government was favoring these people.” This was a time that Sanchez describes as “a big chapter in our family life,” and it had a significant influence on his writing. Both Little Mountain and Getting Lucky, two of Sanchez’s three books, reflect that influence. Little Mountain is a

murder mystery—cops and killers. Along with the story, readers will get a glimpse into Cambodian culture. Getting Lucky is also a missing person/ murder mystery, but with a private investigator who becomes embroiled in the story when the wife of the missing man, Lucky, hires him to find her husband. It is less culturally dense than Little Mountain and, perhaps, an easier read for those of us for whom Southeast Asian culture is so foreign. His third book is entirely different. “I wanted to write something whimsical,” he told me. The result was When Pigs Fly. “When Pigs Fly is a book you will either love or hate,” he says. It’s kind of a wacky story that takes the characters across the country in and out of each other’s peripheral vision until they collide. It begins with a simple robbery, but the attempt goes south. The homeowners are hurt and the stolen item has inside a winning lottery ticket. By the time he tried to market When Pigs Fly, he was living in New Mexico. He contacted the Alamogordo Library (among many local establishments) and offered to do a reading/signing. The woman he spoke with responded enthusiastically, “Oh, that’s great! What’s it about?” Defying description, he opted to mail her a copy. After weeks went by with no response, he contacted her. Her response was “We don’t want this kind of book. This isn’t for us! I don’t think I can recommend this to anyone. I can’t imagine anyone else who would like this book!” But, apparently when your book is basically banned by the local library, you sell more books! Eventually, a local used bookstore “that supports local authors” agreed to carry the book. Hopefully all three books will be available at our Sun City Center Library. They are definitely available online, so if you want to support a local author, you can order there.

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Horses and Riders Impress in Tampa

A rider and hunter horse clear a hurdle in a timed run. Hunter horses were prized in fox hunting for their fluid movement and jumping style, among other qualities.

By Bob Sanchez SCC friends enjoyed a fine day of watching expert horsemen and their well-trained mounts at Bob Thomas Equestrian Center in Tampa. The Central Florida Hunter Jumper Association organized the event.

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January 2022

The News

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January 2022

The News

By Paula Lickfeldt On January 18, eighty years ago, David and Gretchen Meixner were married. They were high school sweethearts in State College, PA. They met when they were both in a high school play. Neither of them remember the name of the play but David remembers that he was a gardener and Gretchen remembers that she was a maid in the kitchen. They found SCC by accident. David was an engineer in private practice, and they were in Florida where he was consulting on the construction of a golf course. They were on the road traveling from one prospective course to another when they saw a sign on the highway for Sun City Center. David wanted to take a look. Gretchen said OK, but we are not going to buy a home here. They looked around and before they left, Gretchen had decided that they should rent a home. They lived in that home for four months in 1987 and when the house across the street went up for sale, they bought it. They have lived in that home ever since they bought it 33 years ago. When they celebrated their 70th anniversary they decided to celebrate the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. That way the family would have an easier time visiting to help with the celebration. This year the big day was celebrated on the Wednesday after Christmas

80 Years Of Marital Bliss

David and Gretchen Meixner with their dog Wee Two.

with a party in the Florida Room. Each of the six children, ten grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren, with another on the way, were able to attend. The family attending the celebration came from all over the USA. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, only one of the three foreign exchange students that they had hosted and considered honorary members of the family, was able to attend, even though all three had intended to come. The party on December 29 started with a private family wedding for one of the grandsons who was married earlier in the year but David and Gretchen were unable to attend the ceremony. The couple shared their wedding

“re”vows, presided over by their Aunt Sue who is senior minister at All Paths to God church in SCC. This way grandma and grandpa could be a part of the wedding. After the wedding the party continued in the Florida Room which was overflowing with friends and family. There was a lot of hugging and memory sharing. They saw cousins that they had not seen in 40 years. It was a wonderful celebration. Gretchen said that she would love to hear from some of the people whom they have known through the years from all of the many activities that they both had participated in while being active in SCC. They still live independently in their home. In November, they

hired a live-in CNA who has become another member of the family. She is there to help whenever needed but David and Gretchen still live an active life. David does all of the grocery shopping and shares the meal preparation with the CNA. He works on the computer and loves to watch educational TV. Gretchen knits prayer shawls for the church ministry and listens to books on tape. She walks one mile every morning. David says they want to stay in their home because with Gretchen’s failing eyesight, she knows every nook and cranny of the house and can find anything that she needs. Each of the six children call their parents on a certain day of the week, so when the phone rings they know who is calling and the grandchildren and great grandchildren also touch base, some randomly and several like clockwork. On Monday and Wednesday Gretchen has friends that visit to have lunch together, on Tuesday and Friday another group of friends visit and their daughter Sue visits every day. Both David and Gretchen feel very lucky that they found SCC so many years ago. They have wonderful memories of all of the activities that they have taken part in over the years and all of the friends that they have made. They encourage everyone to take advantage of what SCC has to offer.

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January 2022

The News

south County Events

By Debbie Caneen South County Events is provided by Debbie Caneen, Director of Admissions, Sun Towers from items submitted for publication. To submit events for future publications, send them by the 15th of the prior month. Debbie also publishes Ads and Events, a weekly e-mail containing information about what’s happening in 33573. Your event will also appear in the weekly Ads and Events e-mail and on the website www.SCCAdsAndEvents.com. Send all events by e-mail to sccfreeads@tampabay.rr.com. You only need to submit your Event one time each month for it to appear in both The News of Kings Point and SCC Ads and Events. SPECIAL EVENTS Please include all basic information, especially Price (or list it’s Free) and Contact Information (phone, e-mail, or website). Six lines maximum. Send to: sccfreeads@tampabay.rr.com. As soon as space permits, we will put it in the weekly e-mail and it will run until event date passes. You do not need to submit it again. P L E A S E N O T E : Th is a r e a is f or SPECIAL EVENTS only. WEEKLY, MONTHLY, or ONGOING EVENTS are listed on our website under WEEKLY & MONTHLY MEETINGS at www.SCCAdsAndEvents.com which is updated every weekend.

THU. JAN 6 - VETERANS HISTORY PROJECT 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. by appointment only. The Veterans History Project, a program of the Library of Congress, is seeking Veterans to participate in this project. The program captures through a video interview, firsthand account of Veterans who served in any branch of the US military in any capacity, from World War I through the present, and are no longer serving are eligible to participate. Civilians who served in support of a US war effort in a professional capacity are also welcome to participate. If you are a Veteran or know Veterans that would like to share their stories, please call Sun Towers Retirement Community and ask for Chris Clermont to schedule your interview time at 813-634-3347. SUN. JAN 9 - BLACK TIE OPTIONAL STARING KERST LEHMANN AT THE FIREHOUSE! 3 – 5 p.m. at the Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave NE, Ruskin FL. Event type: Center Stage. Kerst Lehmann! This European Crooner is one not to pass up, his performances of timeless greats like Fly Me To The Moon, I’ve Got You Under My Skin or Unforgettable will have you swooning in your seat. Call in for tickets: 813-645-7651. WED. JAN 12, 19, 26 THERAPEUTIC TAI CHI FOR HEALTH 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Drive, Sun City Center. Our therapists have advanced training in therapeutic Tai Chi for Seniors and will provide guidance in this healthy exercise. This class is offered every Wednesday. For more information, contact Debbie Caneen at 813-8922990.

January 2022

The News THU. JAN 13 - FREE BALANCE SCREENING FOR KINGS POINT RESIDENTS 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. in the Culinary Room at the 2020 Centre, Kings Point. Are you at risk? Our therapists from Sun Towers Retirement Community are on a quest to reduce the risk of falls before they happen. This simple screening takes less than ten minutes. See the results before your eyes through biofeedback. Free screening is offered each month 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. - Call to schedule today 813-331-3035. FRI. JAN 14 - CENTER 4LIFE LEARNING - DAY TRIP: IMAGINE MUSEUM TOUR 8:30 a.m. at Sun City Center United Methodist Church, 1210 Del Webb Blvd West, Sun City Center. For reservation(s) for the day trip: Imagine Museum Tour, St. Petersburg, $36, order online “www.sccumc. com/4lifelearning” or at the Center 4Life Learning office, 1210 Del Webb Blvd West, Sun City Center with cash, check or credit card. Office hours: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 813-634-8607. FRI. JAN 14 - LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP 1 - 2:30 p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community 101 Trinity Lakes Drive. Do you wonder how others with Low Vision advance through their day? Do they receive care from outside sources? What adaptive vision devices successfully assist them? Each need is different but if we gather to share our resources, we all benefit! Be sure to bring your phones, tablets, and other devices for us to assist in using your services. If you have low vision, then this meeting is for you! Free valet parking available at entrance. Info call Debbie Caneen 813-892-2990. FRI. JAN 14 - COMEDY - MIKE RIVERA AT THE FIREHOUSE 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave NE, Ruskin FL. Come out and meet America’s Most Hilarious Teacher Mike Rivera. Book your tickets now! Call in for tickets: 813-645-7651. Ticket Prices: $23 members, $28 future members. All Reservations are in Advance. SAT. JAN 15 - EIREANN’S CALL AT THE FIREHOUSE 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Location: Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave NE, Ruskin FL. Eireann’s Call is a classy, powerful band. Their music spans the Celtic nations, with World Music influences from the Middle East, North Africa, Appalachia, Scandinavia and more. Instrumentation includes: bagpipes, accordion, keys, guitar, bass, drums and tight 3 and 4 part vocal harmonies. Book your tickets now. Call in for tickets: 813-645-7651. MON. JAN 17 - PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SUN CITY CENTER 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community 101 Trinity Lakes Drive, Sun City Center in the theater. Our speaker this month will be Dr. Arpit Patel who started Excel Pain and Spine in order to create a multidisciplinary, patientcentric practice to treat a wide range of acute and chronic pain syndromes. Dr. Patel is double board-certified in Interventional Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). If you have Parkinson’s, or are caring for someone with

this disease, be sure to attend this support group! Complimentary valet parking available at entrance. For additional info, call Debbie Caneen 813-892-2990. TUE. JAN 18 - HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA PRESENTATION 12:30 p.m. St Andrew Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall Presentation by HLAA National Executive Director Barbara Kelly, Maryland via Zoom. RSVP NOW: Debbe. Hagner@gmail.com or Text (727) 271-0770. Our Chapters are local and encourage meeting year round to provide information, education, support and advocacy. THU. JAN 20 - FREE BALANCE SCREENING TO TEST YOUR BALANCE 10 a.m. - noon at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity lakes Dr. Sun City Center. Are you at risk? Our therapists at Sun Towers Retirement Community are on a quest to reduce the risk of falls before they happen. Have your fall risk screened at no cost to you! This simple screening takes less than ten minutes. See the results before your eyes through biofeedback. Free screening each month 10 a.m. – 12 noon Call to schedule, 813-331-3035. THU. JAN 20 - GFWC SUN CITY CENTER WOMAN’S CLUB MEETING The doors open at 11 a.m. for sign in and meet and greet time at SCC Community Hall. Annie Garrison, Past President of Campaign Against Human Trafficking will speak about the battle to slow down human trafficking and domestic violence in our community. We will also have an Arts and Crafts

Expo showing the creativity of club members in many categories. All members attending the meeting need to make a reservation in advance by 11 a.m. on Monday, January 17. Please email “suncitywomansclub@gmail. com” if you will be attending and if you are planning to eat lunch, $16 per catered buffet lunch to be paid at check-in. MON. JAN 24 - WHY HEALTHY BONES MATTER FOR PEOPLE WITH BREAST CANCER 12 - 1 p.m. online - Breast cancer and some of its treatments can harm your bones. Bone health is important for your overall well-being during treatment and beyond. Whether you have just been diagnosed, you are currently undergoing treatment, or you are cancerfree, you need to take action to prevent bone loss and fractures. This free live virtual event brings insights and understanding into how cancer and cancer treatments affect bone health. Learn to take charge of your bone health so you can stay active and independent! Register Here: “am e ric anb one he a lth. org / whbmbc117”. TUE. JAN 25 - DO YOU QUALIFY FOR VETERANS TO PAY FOR ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES? 1 3 p.m. at Sun Towers Retirement Community, 101 Trinity Lakes Drive, Sun City Center, FL. Join Karen Powers, Veteran Service Officer with the Department of Consumer and Veterans Services as she explains details regarding the Veterans Aid and Attendance program that provides funds for veterans to receive financial assistance for

S. County continued on page 21.

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January 2022

The News

Be a Hero: Pay It Forward

By Diane M. Loeffler Our area has more than its fair share of heroes, and we are grateful to them. Not all heroes make the nightly news. Often, those who are still able to do things help those who no longer can. The individuals who are being helped often “paid it forward” by helping others years ago. Heroism may manifest itself in day-to-day actions of an individual or group. The person who picks up the groceries for someone who is homebound is a hero to them. The individual or free service providing transportation to an appointment is a lifesaver. Those instrumental in installing a hearing loop in meeting rooms greatly improve life for many. Services like Security Patrol help keep us all safe. We can all “pay it forward” and be heroes in one way or another. One of the most gratifying ways to be a hero is to volunteer for the Sun City Center Emergency Squad. Chief Mike Bardell says, “The best reward is the feeling you get from helping somebody else. People are going to want to see you there. They are always glad to see you. They are always thanking you.” Who Can Be a Volunteer If you are willing and able to donate some of your time, you can “pay it forward” and be a member of the Emergency Squad. You don’t need any medical background at all. Public Relations Assistant Patty Trela says, “I was an educator. Like me, many of our volunteers came with no medical background.” Squad Chief Mike Bardell says, “My wife, Shirley, was an emergency room nurse, but I had no medical background

at all. About a year and a half after she joined the Emergency Squad, I volunteered as well.” Deputy Chief Tina Drury says, “I got a new family. I came here all alone. Now I have a family of about 400 volunteers.” The volunteers at the Emergency Squad repeatedly say the Squad is like a second family.” If you are interested and able, you can work on ambulances or handicap vans. However, there are also opportunities to volunteer as support personnel in the building. Positions include front desk receptionists, drivers, maintenance (building and equipment), human resources, emergency responder, emergency medical technicians, technology, and others. The squad provides all training free of charge. Training includes the up-to-date skills and information you need for your role. It also reinforces the squad’s philosophy of treating everyone with respect. Bardell says, “We can identify with their situation. We give dignity to people. An example is when we responded to a woman who fell in the shower. Someone covered her with a sheet while helping her up.” We all may need the Emergency Squad’s help some day. Those needing them today may have volunteered for the Squad in the past. Those who volunteer now will need to depend on new volunteers to provide services to them in the future. Can you be a part of that future? Want to Learn More? Informational meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month in the Emergency Squad’s Training Facility at 124 South Pebble Beach. The building is across the street from CVS and next to West Coast Golf Carts. Attending the

At this time, both ambulances were out serving the community. Driver Betsy McGee and EMR Cricket Fraser were checking the van to make sure it was ready to be used. This van can be reserved to transport people in wheelchairs to their appointments. Be sure to contact the Emergency Squad at least 24 hours in advance.

meeting does not obligate you in any way. Current volunteers will be there to tell you why they volunteer and to answer your questions. You can also learn more about the Emergency Squad online at “sccems.com”. This easyto-navigate site will give you a description of roles within the Squad, services they provide, background of the group, and a rather comprehensive list of frequently asked questions. Squad History and Services The volunteers in the Sun City Center Emergency Squad are definitely heroes. For 57 years the Emergency Squad has provided free services to area residents. They have grown from an ambulance service to fulfilling a much larger role in keeping us safe.

In addition to providing emergency services, the Emergency Squad sponsors and participates in health training, health symposiums and COVID measures. They supply an ambulance and crew for many events. Ours is the only all-volunteer emergency squad in the entire state of Florida. There are no paid positions whatsoever and the squad receives no government monies. Thanks to grants and the generosity of area residents, the squad is able to train its volunteers, and to purchase and maintain supplies and equipment. Consider being a part of this great organization. You will be glad you did!

S.County continued from page 20. needed services. Please RSVP to Debbie Caneen at 813-892-2990. SAT. JAN 29 - ONA KIREI w LaLucha AT THE FIREHOUSE 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Location: Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave NE, Ruskin FL 33570. Ona Kirei with La Lucha is a Tampa Bay based trio of three best friends from

three different parts of the world: Colombia, Mexico, and the United States. Their repertoire is a diverse mixture of Latin-inspired rhythms with jazz standards, twisted arrangements of pop songs, and original compositions. Book your tickets now! Call in for tickets: 813-645-7651.

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The News

News of Freedom Plaza

By Peggy Burgess Lights up! Curtain open! The Plaza Players are back! After a long hiatus from the stage due to pandemic restrictions, Freedom Plaza’s drama group is preparing a new show. The production consists of four short acts, each a separate play, and will be presented in the “readers’ theater” mode where actors read from a script rather than recite memorized lines. The first act, a comedy written in rhyme from the pen of resident Joe Birnbaum, is “A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing”. The scenario: a courtroom where the Big Bad Wolf is on trial. Things do not bode well for him as the jury is made up of the three little pigs, but he has some tricks up his sleeve. Act Two is “It’s Hell Getting Old!” featuring three old codgers who meet each morning at Cracker Barrel. One is nearly blind; one is practically deaf and the other can’t remember what was said from moment to moment. Their problems in ordering breakfast provide a feast of belly-laughs with a sprinkle of chuckles on top. The script is from a website, and the computer also provided the basic script (from an old Abbott & Costello skit) for Act Three, “Vaccines”. In it we find two of the seven dwarves, Happy and Grumpy, in line for what they believe to be a casting-call for character

Members of the Plaza Players prepare a new show. Left to right: Charlene Roberts, Joe Birnbaum, Bobbie O’Neill, and Bill Turcotte, director.

actors. It is, in reality, a line to receive vaccinations. The conversation around them and especially what awaits them at the line’s destination is for sure a “shot in the arm” of hilarity. Act Four is based on a reallife episode. It happened some years ago on a “Dining Out” trip to a small restaurant in Sarasota. The Freedom Plaza group of 36 filled all the restaurant’s nine tables where they were serviced by only one cook, one dishwasher and one very harried waiter. The script for “Chez Marcel” will be easily improvised as several of the actors in the play were on that once-lamentable-nowlaughable excursion. The 15 resident actors participating in this Plaza Players production are enjoying their renewed comradery as they prepare to “tread the boards” once again to the delight of their fellow- resident audiences.

January 2022

What’s New at the Library?

By Joanne Gilray, SCC Library Administrator Happy New Year everyone! Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. Now it is time to settle into 2022. YES…2022! The BOOK SALE is coming! Our annual SCC Library book sale is going to be on Friday, January 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again on Saturday, January 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Caper Room. This is different from years past where it was typically held on a Saturday and Sunday, so please make note of the day changes. The book sale is open to the public

so please spread the word. Hope to see you all there! Dues season is upon us. For Kings Point patrons please make sure to have your $24 membership fee into us by January 15 so that we can get you updated in our system and give you your 2022 sticker. Sun City Center Community patrons, you have until February 15 to get your stickers and register with the library for another year. Just as a friendly reminder, the library is not a club and there has been no increase to library costs for any community members. Happy Reading!

Water Aerobics Teacher “Retires” After 18 Years

December 13 was Marilyn Hall’s last day teaching water aerobics. For 18 years, Hall (front row, wearing red visor) has taught the 10:00 class on Saturdays and Mondays. She says she plans to continue to participate in water aerobics, but not as a teacher.

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January 2022

Holiday Spirit in SCC

The News

The News asked our reporters to cruise around the community and find eye-catching holiday displays in and around their neighborhoods. Here are some of the wonderful photos they captured.

Photo by Diane M. Loeffler

Photo By Bob Sanchez

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Photo by Diane M. Loeffler

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January 2022

The News

Support Group for Those With Vision Loss

By Diane M. Loeffler The Blind and Low Vision Support Group meets in the Theater Room in Sun Towers at 1 p.m. on the second Friday of every month. Sun Towers rehabilitation staff members, Jennipher Lenoir (Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant) and Vicki Kosky (Director of Rehabilitation) facilitate the gathering. The group sits in a circle and shares information. There are many reasons for poor vision and blindness. Among the dozen participants on December 10, there were a variety of eye issues and causes. Diabetes, macular degeneration (dry and wet), and glaucoma were among the diagnoses. Many of them also had hearing problems. Kirsten Russel, Case Manager at the Lighthouse for the Blind and Low Vision (Lighthouse), used to facilitate the meetings. Currently, Lighthouse is understaffed, so Russel cannot come to Sun Towers on a regular basis. Kosky says, “We want to continue the group. We bring in speakers including specialized eye doctors. When participants bring up a problem or concern, we investigate and look for solutions.” The focus in December was technology. Sue Miller, a resident with no vision in one eye and impaired vision in

During the December meeting for the Blind and Low Vision Support group, Sue Miller showed specialized glasses she has used to help with her vision problems.

the other, demonstrated her phone application, Seeing AI, to the class. The program reads aloud short texts. One icon allows it to scan barcodes saying aloud exactly what the product is. Another announces the denomination of paper currency. Click on one of the program’s icons and your phone will “read” facial expressions of any person the camera views and tell you what it sees. Two other people talked about Blind Shell, a purpose-specific, fully vocalized and voice

controlled phone with 23 apps and free lifetime updates. Miller also showed everyone a pair of telescope glasses she was prescribed to enlarge what she sees. Miller talked about her eye exercises. For her they helped improve her vision, but they do not work for everyone. She also showed a pair of glasses whose lenses were blocked off except for a few slits. She says, “These train my eyes to look elsewhere besides straight ahead.” Also discussed in the December meeting were telephones that respond to voice commands, specialty doctors participants found to be helpful, and how iPhones and computers help the visually impaired gain freedom. Lenoir says, “If you want to use programs for the visually handicapped, first get a smart phone. Then get an app. We can help you install it and refer you to people who can help with the tutorial.” Smiling, Lenoir added, “You could also recruit a grandchild to help you.” One participant said there was a free service at the 2020 Building in Kings Point to help seniors learn to use Apple Products. Lenoir said, “We will call and get that information to you at the next meeting about what they offer and who can receive the assistance.” The group provides a valuable link to Lighthouse for the

Blind. Lighthouse’s website, lighthouseblv.org, says, “Our training programs are designed to help individuals who have recently lost part or all of their vision to gain the skills needed to perform daily living tasks independently and to maintain their employment.” They work with children and adults. One person in the group said, “They help you with things like operating a dryer and cooking.” There are eligibility requirements to receive Lighthouse’s training. The Sun Towers support group can help you navigate the guidelines. Lighthouse for the Blind is located at 1106 West Platt Street, Tampa, FL 33606. Their phone number is 813.251.2407. In addition to this support group, Peter Swartz is beginning a social group for the blind and visually impaired. Near the close of the meeting, Kosky announced, “We are in touch with Swartz and will be hosting a social event for the social group here in Sun Towers.” If you or someone you care for or about has vision problems, The Blind and Low Vision Support Group can provide assistance. To get on the mailing list, email Debbie Caneen at DCaneen@ SunTowersRetirement.com or call her at 813-634-3347. Tell her you are interested in The Blind and Low Vision Support Group.

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January 2022

The News

Golf Cart continued from page 1. DuRant’s and Rosemarie Durant’s cart had two large jig-saw puzzles on the sides. Debbie says, “Every single club is represented on one of these two puzzles. I call our cart, ‘Flamingoling’ for flamingo and mingling. We moved here last year from Tampa. Of course, last year there was no parade, so this is our first parade and we’re so excited. My father even came down here from Tampa to watch the parade.” The ‘Flamingoling’ cart won third place in the individual category. In the business category, Nearly New won first place. Wig wearing mannequins sat on top of a cart decorated entirely with donated items (all of which you can buy at their shop on Wednesday and Saturday mornings). Also receiving a ribbon was “CC’s Taxi” representing our oncampus eatery, C.C.’s Grill. Each cart participating in the event received a raffle ticket. Prizes included several pairs of tickets to Community Association shows and two fifty dollar gift certificates. CA Director Ken Bauer and his wife Laura were the parade’s official Mr. and Mrs. Claus, but several other Santa’s Helpers were seen in full costume including David Lemley with Mrs. Claus a.k.a. Nicole Lemley. There were a few children enjoying the parade as well. Among the grandchildren in attendance was Jaxen Fox with his grandmother, Tina Lee, and great-aunt, Trudy McClellan Decker. Ishmael and Minerva Reyna brought their preschoolers, Romale and Evoleht to the parade. Helping with parade safety were Corporal Julie Sterns and other deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department, The Sun City Center Radio Club, Security Patrol and CERT. Carrie Blaylock helped by transporting the judges. Near the close of the ceremony, Community Association President Bob Sullivan thanked Parade Director Larry Smith for his three years of service on the CA Board.

Jaxen Fox watched the parade with his grandmother and greataunt.

Ishmael and Minerva Reyna and their children Romale and Evoleht to watch the parade. The sun was very bright on this clear day.

Director Larry Smith hands out a raffle prize. He was also the parade coordinator.

The prehistoric Flintstone Mobile (Irish Connection) enters the parade route. This float won 2nd place for clubs. (Photo by John Loeffler)

(Photo by Paula Lickfeldt)

Mr. and Mrs. Claus (Director Ken Bauer and his wife Laura) are chauffeured by an elf (Community Manager Lyn Reitz)

First Place Individual Category

Patricia Moore accepts the third place award on behalf of the Needlecrafters Club.

All the items on Nearly New’s cart were donated to their shop and can be purchased there on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. (Photo by John Loeffler)

First Place Group Category

The first place winning Snoopy and the Red Baron entry begins the parade route. (Photo by John Loeffler)

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The Swim Dancers float enters the parade route. (Photo by John Loeffler)

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January 2022

The News SOLUTIONS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE 17

January 2022

The News

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