Veterans Fair Draws Tremendous Response

Veterans Fair Draws Tremendous Response

Veterans Fair Draws Tremendous Response

By Kai Rambow

 

“I went all the way around, and I probably stopped at ninety percent of the tables,” commented wheelchair-bound veteran, Patrick Clarahan.  “Just about every table, people were very easy to talk to.  There were a few tables at which I had to wait, but it wasn’t that bad.”

The wait was due to the tremendous response from community veterans. Hundreds showed up to learn about services available to them. Pam Smith-Beatty, a 21-year veteran herself, is the Women Veterans Program Manager with the VA.  When asked about the focus on women, Smith-Beatty illuminated: “A lot of times they don’t think of themselves as veterans. Women do so many things, they often push their service to the side and we don’t think about it. In reality, that service means that you’re eligible for health benefits, care, loans and the GI bill. If you’ve ever served in any service, you should look and see what you’re benefits might be.”

Not knowing what is available was a common theme. Manuel Guevara with The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay shared how very few veterans knew about their center. “It is the epicenter for crises or referral.  We answer the 211 calls, the substance abuse hotline, and the suicide prevention line.” Just about any question related to mental health and well-being can probably be answered by this center.  More importantly, they can let veterans know where to find help.

Clarahan was enthused to learn about some extracurricular activities that should help him get out of the house more.  “Because of my disabilities, I spend a lot of my time watching TV.”  This well attended event was clearly helpful to many veterans.

 

In the photo: Bud Brubaker and Bill McKiernan volunteered to let Marine veterans know about the Leathernecks club.

The December 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS

The December 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS

In this issue… Save the date for the Holiday Breakfast and Walk (Dec. 7), as well as the Holiday Cart Parade (Dec. 14). Find holiday lights to see in SCC, meet some local woodcarvers, potters, and bird watchers; find out what happened at “Hi,...

55 Years of Service: Our Amazing Emergency Squad   

55 Years of Service: Our Amazing Emergency Squad   

55 Years of Service: Our Amazing Emergency SquadBy Diane M. Loeffler On the afternoon of September 25, the SCC Emergency Squad held a party with cake and coffee to celebrate 55 years of helping others. What an accomplishment!Did you know that our Emergency...

The Florida Aquarium Releases Sea Turtles

The Florida Aquarium Releases Sea Turtles

The Florida Aquarium’s Animal Response Team successfully released two green sea turtles back into the Atlantic Ocean at Matanzas Inlet. “It’s always a great day when you get to see turtles go back into the wild after being rehabilitated. Izar holds a...

Blossoms of Asia at Selby Gardens

Blossoms of Asia at Selby Gardens

Blossoms of Asia at Selby GardensBy Kai Rambow Stunningly beautiful with seemingly infinite varieties, orchids fascinate even people who don’t pay much attention to flowers.  Selby Gardens does a tremendous job of creating thematic displays showcasing...

SouthShore Poets Display at Library

SouthShore Poets Display at Library

The SouthShore Regional Library will unveil a special display of poetry during February, National Library Lovers Month. The library is coordinating with the Southshore Poets, a group of local educators and writers, to display poems relating to libraries or...

The February 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The February 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…The Veterans Memorial is unveiled, take a ride on a Murder Mystery Train, enjoy the Valencia Lakes Cart Parade, learn about some changes coming to the community, celebrate with residents deserving of recognition, learn what you need to know...

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train Ride

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train Ride

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train RideBy Kai Rambow If you love the detective genre, then taking the murder mystery train ride just might be the ticket for you. If you have anger issues, sorry, you can’t participate in the murder.During the first...

Amazon Hosts Party for Local Kids

Amazon Hosts Party for Local Kids

December 14, Amazon hosted a holiday party for 250 local children and donated $15,000 in in-kind gifts for families and children at the Vinik Family Boys & Girls Club at Winston Park. The online retailer also presented a donation of $60,000 to Feeding...

The January 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The January 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…Get to know the new SCCCA Directors, see how your friends and neighbors celebrated the holiday season, review who donated or invested in the community in the past year, learn about the ongoing county golf cart mobility study, meet the US lawn...

The December 2018 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The December 2018 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…Don’t forget to vote for CA Board candidates, relive the fun of “Hi, Neighbor!” Say farewell to a friend, recall winter events in SCC’s past, discover a delicious place to eat fresh for less, and see how the SCC Emergency Squad and...

Chalk Festival: Art on the Street, Literally!

Chalk Festival: Art on the Street, Literally!

Chalk Festival: Art on the Street, Literally!

By Diane M. Loeffler

 

Florida loves to throw a party. There are festivals and expos somewhere in central Florida nearly every weekend. The Chalk Festival may well be one of the most visually pleasing of all them. This year’s Chalk Festival theme was “The Chalk of the Town.” The event is usually held in Venice, but this year it was on the streets of Sarasota.

Getting there was an easy drive by car, but you could also hop on the bus provided by Glory Tours and let them drop you off right at one of the entrances.

Artists sat on the pavement and completed their masterpieces under a bright, Florida sun. Signs listed their names and the state or country from which they came. Some artists came from as far away as Mexico, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.

Lines crept past the works of art. Some onlookers asked the artists about their creations. A handful of the chalk drawings needed to be viewed from a specific place to see the 3D effect. A few artists set up lenses mounted so that observers could get the full effect.

If you would like to visit the Chalk Festival next year, you may wish to check their website, “chalkfestival.org”, or check the schedules provided by the local travel groups to see if they will have a bus going there. The two local bus options are Glory Tours, Kings Point North Clubhouse, and Sun City Travel Club, Community Hall, 1910 South Pebble Beach Road.  

Waste Management Meeting — Important Change

Waste Management Meeting — Important Change

Your Hillsborough County Office of Neighborhood Relations is reaching out to SCC neighborhood residents to join the kick-off for residential solid waste customers in the unincorporated areas. Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management is hosting a meeting...

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

SCC and KP Amateur Radio ClubsReady to Help in a Community EmergencyBy Paula Lickfeldt Five days a week, Monday through Friday you can find members of the Sun City Center Amateur Radio Club in their "club room," which is in the hurricane resistant...

Puffins Amongst the Scenery

Puffins Amongst the Scenery

Puffins Amongst the SceneryBy Kai Rambow “Heading up to see the puffins, are you?” asked the construction worker.  She continued with a strong Newfoundland accent, “I’ve lived all my 61 years in this bay area, never knew about the puffins.  I kept...

Bob’s Vets

Bob’s Vets

Bob’s VetsA Breakfast Get Together for All Veterans, Their Spouses and Their FriendsBy Diane M. Loeffler Thursday mornings are special for veterans who are within driving distance of the Ruskin Bob Evans restaurant. A large area is set aside for veterans...

Veterans Pay Tribute to Departed Comrades

Veterans Pay Tribute to Departed Comrades

Veterans Pay Tribute to Departed Comrades By Frank Kepley, CAPT USN (Ret.), News Military Correspondent   The Military Veterans Organization of Sun City Center sponsored a Memorial Day Tribute to deceased veterans on Monday Morning at 10 a.m. at the...

SouthShore Poets Display at Library

SouthShore Poets Display at Library

The SouthShore Regional Library will unveil a special display of poetry during February, National Library Lovers Month. The library is coordinating with the Southshore Poets, a group of local educators and writers, to display poems relating to libraries or...

The February 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The February 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…The Veterans Memorial is unveiled, take a ride on a Murder Mystery Train, enjoy the Valencia Lakes Cart Parade, learn about some changes coming to the community, celebrate with residents deserving of recognition, learn what you need to know...

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train Ride

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train Ride

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train RideBy Kai Rambow If you love the detective genre, then taking the murder mystery train ride just might be the ticket for you. If you have anger issues, sorry, you can’t participate in the murder.During the first...

Amazon Hosts Party for Local Kids

Amazon Hosts Party for Local Kids

December 14, Amazon hosted a holiday party for 250 local children and donated $15,000 in in-kind gifts for families and children at the Vinik Family Boys & Girls Club at Winston Park. The online retailer also presented a donation of $60,000 to Feeding...

The January 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The January 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…Get to know the new SCCCA Directors, see how your friends and neighbors celebrated the holiday season, review who donated or invested in the community in the past year, learn about the ongoing county golf cart mobility study, meet the US lawn...

The December 2018 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The December 2018 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…Don’t forget to vote for CA Board candidates, relive the fun of “Hi, Neighbor!” Say farewell to a friend, recall winter events in SCC’s past, discover a delicious place to eat fresh for less, and see how the SCC Emergency Squad and...

South Hillsborough Veterans Clinic to Open May 21

South Hillsborough Veterans Clinic to Open May 21

The highly-anticipated VA South Hillsborough Outpatient Clinic is scheduled to open May 21. Located at 12920 Summerfield Crossing Boulevard, at the corner of US-301, the 50,000-square-foot clinic expects to serve more than 10,000 Veterans residing in Riverview, Ruskin, Sun City Center, Gibsonton, Wimauma, and Apollo Beach.

Open House May 14

The medical team will be led by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patricia Mossop; and the services provided will include: primary care including women’s primary care, radiology, audiology, dietary and mental health counseling, laboratory, pharmacy, physical medicine and rehab, respiratory therapy, social work, prosthetics, telehealth, podiatry, and patient advocacy.

While there are no geographical restrictions on where Veterans may receive care, patients of providers moving from the Primary Care Annex to the new South Hillsborough clinic and existing Haley patients will be given priority. Patients who wish to have their care transferred to the new clinic should discuss this with their Primary Care Physician.

Veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA health care should contact the VA’s Enrollment & Eligibility Office at 813.972.2000 ext. 1710, or visit “www.tampa.va.gov/patients/eligibility.asp” for further information. An open house is scheduled for May 14. The first patient day will be May 21.

 

Note: Some facts provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

 

JANUARY 2022 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

JANUARY 2022 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue… Relive the festive fun of the Holiday Cart Parade, cruise SCC to find colorful lights and holiday decorations, swing by St. Andrew for Rock ‘n’ Roll Crafts and Cars, meet the new SCCCA Board members, check in with the Security...

Welcome Aboard America’s Tall Ship

Welcome Aboard America’s Tall Ship

Welcome Aboard America’s Tall Ship By Ilona Merritt Welcome aboard! You are invited to visit “America’s Tall Ship.” Since 1946, every new Coast Guard cadet undergoing officer training has begun their career by learning to sail on Eagle – the...

SouthShore Poets Display at Library

SouthShore Poets Display at Library

The SouthShore Regional Library will unveil a special display of poetry during February, National Library Lovers Month. The library is coordinating with the Southshore Poets, a group of local educators and writers, to display poems relating to libraries or...

The February 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The February 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…The Veterans Memorial is unveiled, take a ride on a Murder Mystery Train, enjoy the Valencia Lakes Cart Parade, learn about some changes coming to the community, celebrate with residents deserving of recognition, learn what you need to know...

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train Ride

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train Ride

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train RideBy Kai Rambow If you love the detective genre, then taking the murder mystery train ride just might be the ticket for you. If you have anger issues, sorry, you can’t participate in the murder.During the first...

Amazon Hosts Party for Local Kids

Amazon Hosts Party for Local Kids

December 14, Amazon hosted a holiday party for 250 local children and donated $15,000 in in-kind gifts for families and children at the Vinik Family Boys & Girls Club at Winston Park. The online retailer also presented a donation of $60,000 to Feeding...

The January 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The January 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…Get to know the new SCCCA Directors, see how your friends and neighbors celebrated the holiday season, review who donated or invested in the community in the past year, learn about the ongoing county golf cart mobility study, meet the US lawn...

The December 2018 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The December 2018 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…Don’t forget to vote for CA Board candidates, relive the fun of “Hi, Neighbor!” Say farewell to a friend, recall winter events in SCC’s past, discover a delicious place to eat fresh for less, and see how the SCC Emergency Squad and...

The Comics Club Celebrates 30 Years

The Comics Club Celebrates 30 Years

When it comes to fun businesses, selling comic books, games and toys ranks up there with the best of them. That’s exactly what The Comics Club in Brandon, Fla., has been doing for since 1989. For D.J. Stamper, owner of The Comics Club, it just gets better and better with each passing year.

“It’s a golden age for comic books, comic book-related movies and television shows, and for entertainment retailers like me who get to be at the center of it all at our comic shops,” said Stamper.

According to Stamper, it was in early 1989 that he made the decision to start a mail-order business selling comic books to fans and collectors. Starting with 3,000 comic books from his own collection, Stamper grew the business year-by-year, accumulating an ever-growing inventory of comic books and other collectibles. When his inventory reached 20,000 comics, in 1994, he launched The Comics Club into the retail world with a brick and mortar store. Today, his inventory has expanded to more than 120,000 comic books, plus thousands of graphic novels, as well as hundreds of games and toys.

“My love of comic books, especially the amazing artwork that the medium is known for, has been part of my life since I was a child growing up in Michigan. I have spent my adult life as a self-professed comic book pusher, trying to get as many people as possible involved in this great fun hobby,” says Stamper.

In celebration of its 30 years in business, The Comics Club has been offering monthly discounts on selected merchandise at 30 percent off, the sale changing to offer different items from different categories of merchandise (comics, games and toys) each month. But the first big event of the year, Free Comic Book Day on May 4, will be extra special this year.

“We’ve been helping fans enjoy their hobby for three decades now. It’s always brought me great joy to see a fan get that hard-to-find comic that fills out a collection, or to listen to them talk about their favorite games. It’s just that kind of business – much more fun than it is work.”

The Comics Club is located at 714 W. Lumsden Rd, Brandon, FL. 33511, For hours and other information, call 813-653-4111.

The December 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS

The December 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS

In this issue… Save the date for the Holiday Breakfast and Walk (Dec. 7), as well as the Holiday Cart Parade (Dec. 14). Find holiday lights to see in SCC, meet some local woodcarvers, potters, and bird watchers; find out what happened at “Hi,...

55 Years of Service: Our Amazing Emergency Squad   

55 Years of Service: Our Amazing Emergency Squad   

55 Years of Service: Our Amazing Emergency SquadBy Diane M. Loeffler On the afternoon of September 25, the SCC Emergency Squad held a party with cake and coffee to celebrate 55 years of helping others. What an accomplishment!Did you know that our Emergency...

The Florida Aquarium Releases Sea Turtles

The Florida Aquarium Releases Sea Turtles

The Florida Aquarium’s Animal Response Team successfully released two green sea turtles back into the Atlantic Ocean at Matanzas Inlet. “It’s always a great day when you get to see turtles go back into the wild after being rehabilitated. Izar holds a...

Blossoms of Asia at Selby Gardens

Blossoms of Asia at Selby Gardens

Blossoms of Asia at Selby GardensBy Kai Rambow Stunningly beautiful with seemingly infinite varieties, orchids fascinate even people who don’t pay much attention to flowers.  Selby Gardens does a tremendous job of creating thematic displays showcasing...

SouthShore Poets Display at Library

SouthShore Poets Display at Library

The SouthShore Regional Library will unveil a special display of poetry during February, National Library Lovers Month. The library is coordinating with the Southshore Poets, a group of local educators and writers, to display poems relating to libraries or...

The February 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The February 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…The Veterans Memorial is unveiled, take a ride on a Murder Mystery Train, enjoy the Valencia Lakes Cart Parade, learn about some changes coming to the community, celebrate with residents deserving of recognition, learn what you need to know...

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train Ride

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train Ride

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train RideBy Kai Rambow If you love the detective genre, then taking the murder mystery train ride just might be the ticket for you. If you have anger issues, sorry, you can’t participate in the murder.During the first...

Amazon Hosts Party for Local Kids

Amazon Hosts Party for Local Kids

December 14, Amazon hosted a holiday party for 250 local children and donated $15,000 in in-kind gifts for families and children at the Vinik Family Boys & Girls Club at Winston Park. The online retailer also presented a donation of $60,000 to Feeding...

The January 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The January 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…Get to know the new SCCCA Directors, see how your friends and neighbors celebrated the holiday season, review who donated or invested in the community in the past year, learn about the ongoing county golf cart mobility study, meet the US lawn...

The December 2018 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The December 2018 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…Don’t forget to vote for CA Board candidates, relive the fun of “Hi, Neighbor!” Say farewell to a friend, recall winter events in SCC’s past, discover a delicious place to eat fresh for less, and see how the SCC Emergency Squad and...

The May 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The May 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…

Discover some beautiful art that tricks your senses; learn what happened when Governor Ron DeSantis came to town; save the date for the new Riverview VA Clinic Open House and Grand Opening, as well as the annual Memorial Day Ceremony. Get the scoop on some grant funds available for community beautification projects; view some gorgeous award-winning photographs; meet a local creative person; get to know the Multi-Cultural Heritage Club; find out who mans the phones for the SCC Emergency Squad; celebrate 30 years of ‘Marvel’ous imagination with The Comics Club; learn about local bus tours, and cruise through Chicago to explore some stunning architecture.

 

And be sure to…

Check out the SCC Bulletin, Kings Point, Community News, Dance, Military News, Faith & Service, Arts, Sports, Travel, and South County Events sections to help you plan your month. And travel with your friends and neighbors who took The News around the world.

 

Read the May 2019 Issue of The News

 

SouthShore Poets Display at Library

SouthShore Poets Display at Library

The SouthShore Regional Library will unveil a special display of poetry during February, National Library Lovers Month. The library is coordinating with the Southshore Poets, a group of local educators and writers, to display poems relating to libraries or...

The February 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The February 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…The Veterans Memorial is unveiled, take a ride on a Murder Mystery Train, enjoy the Valencia Lakes Cart Parade, learn about some changes coming to the community, celebrate with residents deserving of recognition, learn what you need to know...

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train Ride

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train Ride

Play Detective on the Murder Mystery Train RideBy Kai Rambow If you love the detective genre, then taking the murder mystery train ride just might be the ticket for you. If you have anger issues, sorry, you can’t participate in the murder.During the first...

Amazon Hosts Party for Local Kids

Amazon Hosts Party for Local Kids

December 14, Amazon hosted a holiday party for 250 local children and donated $15,000 in in-kind gifts for families and children at the Vinik Family Boys & Girls Club at Winston Park. The online retailer also presented a donation of $60,000 to Feeding...

The January 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The January 2019 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…Get to know the new SCCCA Directors, see how your friends and neighbors celebrated the holiday season, review who donated or invested in the community in the past year, learn about the ongoing county golf cart mobility study, meet the US lawn...

The December 2018 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The December 2018 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue…Don’t forget to vote for CA Board candidates, relive the fun of “Hi, Neighbor!” Say farewell to a friend, recall winter events in SCC’s past, discover a delicious place to eat fresh for less, and see how the SCC Emergency Squad and...