SCC Rotary Welcomes New Members

SCC Rotary Welcomes New Members

by | Mar 21, 2019 | Features

In March the Sun City Center Rotary Club welcomed two new members to the club. In the photo: (l-r) are Brian Pawley, Rea Cantwell (President), Frank Slesnick, Steve Overton (Past President), Mike Binder (new member sponsor), Georgana Collins, Ron Banaszak, and Tony Badalamenti (all Past Presidents). The SCC Rotary Club meets each Tuesday for lunch at Freedom Fairways (membership – call Tony at 813.642.8715).

JULY 2021 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

JULY 2021 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

Jul 1, 2021 | ,

In this issue… Mark your calendars for the SCC 4th of July Fun Day, read about an Important Update from the SCCCA Board, learn What’s New at the SCC library, cookout with the Multi-Cultural Heritage Club, Get Off The Couch with the...

“Thanks, Dad”

“Thanks, Dad”

Jun 13, 2021 |

“Thanks, Dad” By E. Adam Porter Editor, News of SCC & South County There’s a picture on canvas, hanging over the stairwell to my bedroom. When I see it, I think, man, I look tired. And then I smile. Not because I look soggy, bedraggled, and...

A Groundbreaking Event

A Groundbreaking Event

Jun 2, 2021 |

A Groundbreaking EventBy Cathy Meyerhoff, SCC History Society Though May 10, 1961 may not ring any bells with most local residents, it is important.  On that day ground was broken for the retirement community of Sun City Center. Nothing is recorded about...

SCC Celebrates Earth Day

SCC Celebrates Earth Day

Jun 1, 2021 |

The Sun City Center Audubon Society celebrated the 51st anniversary of Earth Day on April 22 at the SCC Community Association’s West Campus Nature Trails. The weather cooperated beautifully with clear skies, a light breeze, low humidity and temperatures in...

For the Birds?

For the Birds?

May 31, 2021 |

For the Birds?Story by Ilona Merritt, Photography by Kai RambowSome information courtesy SCC History Society  When the greens of the North Courses were re-sodded in 1987-8, the chemicals used to fumigate the soil had been covered with plastic,...

Inspiring Our Future Leaders

Inspiring Our Future Leaders

May 30, 2021 |

Inspiring Our Future Leaders By Thomas D Hart, MOWW Sun City Center Chapter A  group of excited and curious students showed up at the Plaza Club in Sun City Center to attend a Youth Leadership Seminar.  Eight different high schools in Hillsborough...

Florida Aquarium Needs Your Help Naming New Sea Turtle

Florida Aquarium Needs Your Help Naming New Sea Turtle

by | Mar 20, 2019 | Features

The star of The Florida Aquarium’s newest exhibit, Heart of the Sea, is a juvenile male loggerhead sea turtle that was unable to return to the wild due to an injury. Since he was rescued from the frigid waters off the northeast coast the United States, he has been called Loggerhead Sea Turtle #263. Now that he is settled into his home at The Florida Aquarium, the Aquarium is teaming up with Florida Blue to ask Floridians to help select his name.

Beginning today, Floridians can visit THIS PAGE to view photos of the loggerhead sea turtle and vote for the name they think best fits him. All the names were contributed by Hillsborough County elementary school classes and then narrowed down by Aquarium staff. The class who suggested the winning name will win a field trip to The Florida Aquarium to meet the loggerhead sea turtle in person.

The names selected for the final public vote are:

  • Kekoa (which means ‘the warrior’ in Hawaiian)
  • Shelldon
  • Suds
  • Leonardo
  • Auggie
  • Lenny
  • Colson
  • Winston

 

Floridians may vote once per day. And, as an extra bonus, each day The Florida Aquarium will give away a family four pack of tickets to a random winner who voted that day. Voting will end on March 31, 2019, and the loggerhead sea turtle’s forever name will be announced the following week.

 

Photo courtesy of The Florida Aquarium

Enjoying Cars and Carts in Sun City Center

Enjoying Cars and Carts in Sun City Center

by | Mar 11, 2019 | Features

Enjoying Cars and Carts in Sun City Center

By Diane M. Loeffler

 

Although most residents of Sun City Center keep very, very busy with clubs, sports, activities, and volunteerism, we may move at a slower pace. This can take a little getting used to. Keep a watchful eye for pedestrians, wheelchairs, mobility scooters, bicycles, motorcycles, golf carts, and other cars. Also, be very sure not to exceed the speed limit since doing so may be extra-problematic with all of the different types of vehicles on the CA roads.

Remember that bicycles and golf carts are legally recognized as vehicles. Most of them will be courteous and stay on the right side of the road. However, they are legally allowed to use the car lane. As a matter of a fact, if a golf cart or a bicycle is planning to make a left-hand turn, they are actually supposed to move to the regular traffic lane before they do so. So, take your time, keep your eyes open, share the road, and enjoy life here at Sun City Center.

 

Golf Cart Tips & Rules of the Road

At least once each year, Deputy Merry holds a seminar on golf cart safety. Here are some things we learned.

According to FSS 320.01 (22) a golf cart is a motor vehicle that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 m.p.h. Golf carts are set for a maximum speed of 19.5 m.p.h. Larger tires might add 3 to 4 m.p.h. A low speed vehicle is one with a top speed between 20-25 m.p.h. Low speed vehicles must be tagged, registered, and titled. They should drive only on streets with limits of 35 m.p.h. or less.

Golf carts may only be driven on streets that have been officially approved by the state. This includes streets within the Community Association boundaries and privately owned streets. Carts must be equipped with efficient brakes, a reliable steering apparatus, safe tires, a rearview mirror and red reflector warning devices.

Golf carts may also travel on designated golf cart paths. These are located on the south side of SR 674, the north side of Upper Creek Drive and the west side of Cortaro Drive. Golf carts may cross State Road 674 at four intersections: Valley Forge / Kings Boulevard, SCC Plaza / Trinity Lakes Drive, North Pebble Beach Boulevard / South Pebble Beach Boulevard and El Rancho / Stoneham Drive.

If you are on an unapproved road, you can be fined over $160. The officer also has the option for charging you with lack of a title, lack of insurance, no seatbelt, no windshield wipers, and not having a glass windshield. Golf carts are allowed to cross 301 only at the designated path that runs between East Del Webb and Walmart. This is exclusively a path for golf carts. Pedestrians, bicycles, and other vehicles may not use this path.

Owners of private property make the decision of whether or not they allow golf carts on their roadways and parking lots. Kings Point, American Eagle Boulevard near Sun Towers, Valencia Lakes, and several businesses allow golf carts on their roadways and in their parking lots. You can tell if a street is a private road by the color of its sign. Private roads have blue signs. Public roads have green signs.

Golf carts must adhere to all Florida State Traffic Statutes including, but not limited to passing in a no passing zone, hand and / or electronic signaling when turning, coming to a full and complete stop at stop signs and red lights, driving the same direction as traffic, never driving on sidewalks, and not making illegal U-turns.

If you are on an approved road, golf carts are legally entitled to use the car lane. However, it is courteous and wise to stay in golf cart lanes when they are available and to stay near the right side of the lane when they are not unless you are planning to make a left-hand turn. Before turning left, you should be in the regular car lane.

Handicap parking placards go with the individual, not the vehicle. You are legally allowed to use them with your golf cart. Display the placard in a way that it is visible but unlikely to be stolen.  It is requested that if you park your golf cart in a handicapped space that you park in a way that allows a second golf cart to park next to you.

You may wish to go to one of the golf cart stores to purchase a one-of-a-kind key for your golf cart, especially if you store your cart in a car port. You may also wish to find a way to lock your golf cart. There are 5-10 golf carts stolen per year and occasionally a battery or charging cord is stolen. Statistically, this is a very low given the large number of golf carts in our community, but statistics don’t matter when you are the owner of a stolen golf cart.

 

Photo by Mark Erickson

The News Staff Spends a Day at the Circus

The News Staff Spends a Day at the Circus

by | Feb 27, 2019 | Features

The News Staff Spends a Day at the Circus

By Paula Lickfeldt

 

The staff of The News of Sun City Center & South County all revisited their childhood as they marveled at the array of acts presented at The Sarasota Circus.  Each of us was asked what our favorite act was: the horses, the silly clown, the acrobatic sisters, the juggler, the dogs, or maybe the daredevil in the “Wheel of Destiny.”  We had lots of discussion and decided that we really could not choose, because they were all wonderful.

Reporting the news in and around Sun City Center is an effort all four reporters finds very rewarding. We started out as coworkers and have become very good friends. We laugh and tease each other a lot, and we are always supportive of the work that each of us does.

Each of the reporters, when asked why they write for the paper, said volunteering with The News gives them the opportunity to meet new people and learn new things. Each reporter, however, put their own spin on the opportunity.

Diane Loeffler said she likes knowing what is going on and being able to meet the people who make things happen. Working for the paper gives her an appreciation for the many people in our community who are willing to give of their time and energy to keep all of the activities running.

Ilona Merritt said she enjoys the variety of things she gets to write about. The reporting is full of surprises and is never just routine. Being a part of the team has opened new horizons for her.

Kai Rambow said he gets the opportunity to ‘learn about so many different hobbies and activities’. When he meets someone who participates in an activity that he has reported on, he can talk to the person about that activity with knowledge of it.

For me, it feels good when I’m out and about in the community and someone recognizes me and says how much they enjoy reading my articles. If you think you might be interested in joining our fun team of hardworking, enthusiastic community reporters, contact the editor, Adam Porter, here.

 

In the feature photo: The staff of The News of Sun City Center & South County had so much fun at the Sarasota Circus. Pictured, L to R: Paula Lickfeldt, Ilona Merritt, John Wolf, Diane Loeffler, Adam Porter, and Kai Rambow.

Get to Know the Stained Glass Club

Get to Know the Stained Glass Club

by | Feb 23, 2019 | Features

Get to Know the Stained Glass Club

By Paula Lickfeldt

 

The Stained Glass Club was founded in 1991. The first president was Phyllis Colleran, who was president from 1991 until 1996. In the beginning, the Stained Glass Club shared a room with the Railroad Club. The Club had three tables, two grinders and a sink. The grinder could be filled at the sink but when the work was finisher, the grinder had to be carried outside and the water dumped into a nearby sewer.

During the early years, the members of the club did anything and everything to raise money.  If they were ever able to move to a larger space they would need more equipment.  In 2001, The Arts and Crafts building was going to become a reality. The Stained Glass Club had one member who had been in construction and knew what was needed to create the state of the art craft room that the club was looking for. In 2003, the new Stained Glass Club Room was opened.  Dave Tichey, donated the first kiln and that was the beginning of glass fusing for the club.

The art of glass fusing has grown in popularity over the years, and the equipment for use has expanded too. The club now has two large kilns, five small table top kilns and three medium kilns. Kay Bogart, a member of the club, liked glass fusing so much that she took it upon herself to learn everything that she could regarding kilns and fusing schedules.  She is now the kiln manager and is more than willing to share her knowledge to insure the end result of the project is what the artist intended.

Membership in the Sun City Center Stained Glass Club is open to all members of the SCC community association. The dues are $30 per year. When a person joins the club, however, they are required to take a series of classes that will familiarize them with all of the kilns, grinders and other machines available for use. The cost of the class is $30. Each member is asked to donate two projects to sell at FunFest or the Holiday Walk. With the money that is obtained from the yearly dues, new member classes, and sales, the club is able to maintain the equipment and replace equipment when necessary. With 184 club members, the equipment gets quite a workout.

Each year the Stained Glass Club has a juried Art Glass Show. The 2019 show will be in the Florida Room on Feb. 28 and March 1. This show has been very successful over the years as the community enjoys seeing what the members have created.

The Stained Glass Club also gives back to the community with donations to the CA Hardship Fund and the Mary Petro food and medicine fund for the residents of SCC and KP.

 

In the photo: Louis Salmorighi works on his design.

 

JULY 2021 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

JULY 2021 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

Jul 1, 2021 | ,

In this issue… Mark your calendars for the SCC 4th of July Fun Day, read about an Important Update from the SCCCA Board, learn What’s New at the SCC library, cookout with the Multi-Cultural Heritage Club, Get Off The Couch with the...

“Thanks, Dad”

“Thanks, Dad”

Jun 13, 2021 |

“Thanks, Dad” By E. Adam Porter Editor, News of SCC & South County There’s a picture on canvas, hanging over the stairwell to my bedroom. When I see it, I think, man, I look tired. And then I smile. Not because I look soggy, bedraggled, and...

A Groundbreaking Event

A Groundbreaking Event

Jun 2, 2021 |

A Groundbreaking EventBy Cathy Meyerhoff, SCC History Society Though May 10, 1961 may not ring any bells with most local residents, it is important.  On that day ground was broken for the retirement community of Sun City Center. Nothing is recorded about...

SCC Celebrates Earth Day

SCC Celebrates Earth Day

Jun 1, 2021 |

The Sun City Center Audubon Society celebrated the 51st anniversary of Earth Day on April 22 at the SCC Community Association’s West Campus Nature Trails. The weather cooperated beautifully with clear skies, a light breeze, low humidity and temperatures in...

For the Birds?

For the Birds?

May 31, 2021 |

For the Birds?Story by Ilona Merritt, Photography by Kai RambowSome information courtesy SCC History Society  When the greens of the North Courses were re-sodded in 1987-8, the chemicals used to fumigate the soil had been covered with plastic,...

Inspiring Our Future Leaders

Inspiring Our Future Leaders

May 30, 2021 |

Inspiring Our Future Leaders By Thomas D Hart, MOWW Sun City Center Chapter A  group of excited and curious students showed up at the Plaza Club in Sun City Center to attend a Youth Leadership Seminar.  Eight different high schools in Hillsborough...

Genealogy Club

Genealogy Club

by | Feb 22, 2019 | Features

Genealogy Club: Seminars, Individual Help, and Camaraderie

By Diane M. Loeffler, Photos by Bill Simmons

 

Do you want to delve into your family history for the first time? Have you been dabbling (or maybe even extensively searching) into your genealogy, but now you are stuck? Would like to talk to others about your adventures in genealogy? If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions, the South Bay Genealogy Society (SBGS) is the club for you.

What started as a computer club special interest idea, grew to twelve members meeting on April 18, 1991. President Bill Love says there are now over 130 household memberships in SBGS.

The club holds monthly meetings from September through May. They offer technology seminars at SouthShore Library from September through April. SBGS volunteers help in the SouthShore Library’s Genealogy room on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. until noon all year round. Also, members receive an electronic monthly newsletter, “The Links.”

Monthly meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center in their Life Enrichment Center. Vice-President, Dr. William Simmons, says, “The monthly meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. with the Round Table Discussions where members interact and try to overcome their ‘brick walls’ or barriers that have stumped them in trying to put together their family tree. Then at noon, the members gather for a luncheon, prepared by volunteers from the United Methodist Church. At 1 p.m., the guest speaker is given the floor. Each month an expert in their field presents a different topic.

Reservations and payment for meals need to be made two weeks before each luncheon. Memberships are $25 per year for each household. For further information, call Dotty Love at 813.634.2749. Membership forms can be found in the Genealogy Center at SouthShore Regional Library, on the corner of Beth Shields Way and 19th Avenue NE. Mailings should be sent to SBGS, P.O. Box 5202, Sun City Center, FL 33571.

 

PHOTO: SouthBay Genealogical Society Officers and the Speaker pose for a photo. Front row: (left to right) Vice President Bill Simmons, Director Dotty Love. Middle row: Director Beth Clarke, Past President and current Treasurer Terri Cardoza, Director Linda Vitale, Director Dru Thomas. Back row: Director Scott Niblick, President Bill Love, February 19 speaker Joanne Ryder, Secretary Lynne Freeland.