The News of July 2013 - ISSUE #60
...an official publication of the Community Association — Named Best Newsletter in Hillsborough County 2011
Proposed agendas for monthly Board Meetings are discussed at the Board Workshops and posted on Official Bulletin Boards the Friday before. They will also be posted on our website (suncitycenter.org – under “Association”). Every Wednesday: Orientation for new members in the Board Room at 1 p.m.
August Issue delivered to your mailbox on
August 3
SCC Community Association Postal Patron
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On the Inside CARE..................................... 23 Club Happenings.................... 8+ Consumer Affairs.................... 18 Crossword.............................. 23 CryptoQuote........................... 21 Deputy Jason......................... 30 Entertainment Corner............... 5 Golf....................................... 26+ Lifestyles.................................. 6 Meet your Neighbors................ 7 Military Affairs......................... 16 Movies.................................... 31 Newcomers.............................. 2 President’s Report.................... 3 Sports................................... 26+ Sudoku................................... 25
GOOGLE EARTH PHOTO
By John Bowker It was a strange day, June 6, 2013. My wife and I were awakened by a telephone call from our daughter in New Jersey around 8 a.m. asking if we were okay. We assured her all was well here while she told us of her hearing all about the tornado damage to homes in this “central Florida retirement community.” We really didn’t believe her. But ten minutes later one of our sons in the Chicago area called with the same message— and then the emails from snowbirds started to come in asking for details. Now, we live right in the middle of the Sun City Center / Kings Point complex. It had rained during the night and was still on and off during the morning. But no one in our neighborhood had heard any other noises such as the proverbial “roar like an oncoming train” we all hear about from witnesses in the midwest when tornados strike. It didn’t take long to grab a camera and get in the car headed for North Pebble Beach where we had been told some major damage had occurred. Indeed, just beyond the bridge across the spillway at the northern intersection with Cherry Hills Drive, there was litter all over the lawns and street—especially from one house. The whole back screen porch was gone and, with it, a portion of the back roof. By noon the house was covered with the all-too-familiar blue tarps we may remember from the damage caused by Hurricane Charley a few years back. One resident came over to the car as we circled around the North Lake area and then over along La Jolla Avenue —he recognized me and said he hoped I would point out that most of the trash that had littered the streets and lawns had been picked up just since dawn by helpful neighbors. “That’s what we’re all about,” he said. There were still two of the local TV stations news trucks (with those 100 foot towers) parked on North Pebble Beach. I asked what they had found and was a bit surprised when they more or less shrugged and said “not much.” To those who suffered damage to their properties, this was no small matter. After all, from out of nowhere comes a heavy hand to mess up years of savings and hard work. But still, even after inspecting the damage to a dozen homes, much of it probably not recoverable from insurance, the concentrated news coverage by the morning TV shows all over the country just has to be traced to the word “TORNADO” that had captivated the news headlines a week earlier from Oklahoma to Missouri and beyond.
The “Eye” of the tornado on June 6 was described as settling down in Bethany and then skimming northwest to Wimauma and entering Sun City Center just west of the McDonald’s restaurant on Rickenbacker Drive. It continued northwest bouncing with only occasional touches to earth across the “Ladder Streets” and then to North Pebble Beach at the northern intersection with Cherry Hills Drive. Apparently its final touchdown was on Fort Duquesna Drive, a sideswipe to rip out a tree at the corner with West Del Webb Boulevard, and then off into space.
Below are photos of three of the homes damaged on June 6.
PHOTO BY WILLIAM BARRON
The Community Leaders and COAP meetings will not be held in July or August.
Ready for the Fourth?
Tornado Rips through Sun City Center
PHOTO BY PAT MASTERSON
Board Workshop Board Room – 9 a.m. Holiday Breakfast Community Hall - 7 a.m. to noon Fireworks Central Campus - Dusk 10 Board Meeting Rollins Theater – 9 a.m. August 7 Board Workshop Board Room – 9 a.m. 14 Board Meeting Rollins Theater – 9 a.m.
Some residents awakened at 3:44 a.m. with the roar of a tornado...
PHOTO BY DON KERSTYN
July 3 4
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION SCHEDULE
Independence Day
Reminder:
The 4th of July Breakfast will be held at
Community Hall on South Pebble Beach, NOT in the Florida Room on Central Campus.
Happy 4th!
By Phyllis Hodges For a fun Fourth of July, plan to start the day with your friends at Community Hall on the SCC South Campus. Breakfast Committee Chairs Sam and Joanne Sudman have marshaled over 100 volunteers to serve the $5 “red, white & blue” pancakes, sausage, eggs, toast, coffee and juice from 7 a.m. to noon. It is not an all-you-can-eat buffet, but servings are ample, they say. The new location provides space to add a third food line which will streamline service. Over 1,000 people came last year, so they are preparing for more than that this year. They could use 10 more volunteers on the 6-9 shift and then a few to “pack up” at 11:30. If you can help, call 633-3106. Later in the day—after 4:30 p.m.—make your way to ClubLink’s former golf course property on N. Pebble Beach Boulevard. Sandpiper Grille (Nick Egarhos, owner) will be in the area outside the clubhouse serving barbeque fare. Dinners that include a hot dog or brat with coleslaw, baked beans and potato chips will be $5. A two-piece chicken dinner with the same sides will be $7. Hot dogs and brats without sides will be $3. Water and soft drinks will be available for $1. An ice cream truck will also be on the property this year. Egarhos is also arranging live and taped music by a dynamic duo—Tito and Debi, that the crowd so enjoyed last year. Fireworks Chair Al Alderman said that Minto Communities and Brandon Honda are again funding the fireworks display, and that this year will be even bigger than last year. This is Sun City Center’s third fireworks display. It began as part of our 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2011 and was such a hit that community leaders have made the effort to continue it. See Fireworks with map on page 5.
DID YOU KNOW?
Only 27% of CA members voted in the recent election about the parking lot changes and expressed an opinion about food in the café. Prior to that, the last six issues requiring a membership vote averaged about 24%. That means the board’s actions are being guided by about one-fourth of our membership. Editor’s Note: If you have a suggestion about something that would be useful to others for this column, send it to hodgespress@ gmail.com.