Camp Bayou gets ready for summer!

Camp Bayou gets ready for summer!

by | May 22, 2019 | Features

Camp Bayou Gets Ready for Summer!

By Dolly Cummings, Director Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center

 

There’s lots of sun and fun this season as Camp Bayou gets ready for summer! Saturday, June 1 is National Trails Day. There will be cart tours, scavenger hunts, and other activities. New this year is our guided Fern Walk, starting at 9 a.m. Explore the wild west side of Camp Bayou, for a trail that is less traveled. No registration necessary. An 8 a.m. Fun Run will hit the trails for an easy 5K. Those who complete the run will be treated to ice cold watermelon slices as a reward. Register here.

The Third Saturday Paddle Tours continue through the summer, as weather conditions allow. Be sure to reserve your space if you wish to join the group. Call 813-641-8545. You can rent a canoe or kayak for just $25 or bring your own for a $5 donation. Please arrive by 9 a.m. for a 90-minute tour. 

Save the Date: Saturday, August 3, 2019 is our annual Back to School-Back to Nature event, 9 – noon. Kids visit various nature stations and get a free school supply item, plus raffles for backpacks, binders and more!

Teachers: the school year may be just about over but it’s never too early to book your field trips for the fall. Fill out this request form to secure your preferred day.

Camp Bayou is always looking for a few good volunteers to help with youth programs, plus other tasks that keep the Center running smoothly. If you are interested in volunteering, fill out this volunteer form.

The Center is open from Thursday – Saturday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. for passive recreational pursuits such as wildlife watching, nature photography and trail walks. General admission is still free.

The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center is a public- private partnership between Bayou Outdoor Learning and Discovery, Inc. (B.O.L.D.), and Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management. Camp Bayou is located three miles south of SR-674 at the end of 24th St SE in Ruskin. Visit the website.

 

In the photo: Kids enjoy discovering critters at Camp Bayou! (Photo courtesy Camp Bayou)

New Freestanding ER in SCC

New Freestanding ER in SCC

New Freestanding ER in SCC On May 11, Manatee Memorial Hospital debuted a new freestanding emergency room in our community: The ER at Sun City Center. The new ER, located in front of Walmart at 16504 S. U.S. 301, will expand access to emergency...

Cygnet Yacht Club Awards

Cygnet Yacht Club Awards

Cygnet Yacht Club AwardsBy Paula Lickfeldt, Photo by Rich Link On May 3, the members of the Cygnet Yacht Club had dinner at Club Renaissance. They had a night of socializing and awarded the trophies that the members had won the month before....

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

Jul 17, 2019 |

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...

Bob’s Vets

Bob’s Vets

Jul 10, 2019 |

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

Jul 9, 2019 |

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...

Celebrating Independence Together

Celebrating Independence Together

Jul 4, 2019 |

Celebrating Independence TogetherBy E. Adam Porter The first week in July, every year, my extended family gathers at the beach in my hometown for a weeklong reunion. It’s a wonderful, relaxing time of sharing life together, filled with the familiar aromas...

The July NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The July NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

Jun 28, 2019 | ,

In this issue… SCC honors its veterans, especially those comrades we lost in the past year. We get to know Bob’s Vets, meet the Pickleball players who did SCC proud in international competition, and hang out with puffins in Newfoundland. Find...

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Jun 26, 2019 |

Back 2 School Supply Drive The Boys and Girls Club needs your help!   Supplies Needed Black pens, blue pens, red pens, blunt-tip scissors, bottled glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, disinfectant wipes, dry erase markers, erasers, hand sanitizer,...

Amsterdam Newest Non-stop Service

Amsterdam Newest Non-stop Service

by | May 17, 2019 | News

Amsterdam Newest Non-stop Service

By Kai Rambow

 

Delta Airlines recently celebrated their inauguration of non-stop service from Tampa to Amsterdam. The following non-stop options are now available to us:  British Airways and Norwegian to London Gatwick; Edelweiss to Zurich; Icelandair to Reykjavik; and Lufthansa to Frankfurt.

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

Jul 17, 2019 |

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...

Bob’s Vets

Bob’s Vets

Jul 10, 2019 |

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

Jul 9, 2019 |

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...

Celebrating Independence Together

Celebrating Independence Together

Jul 4, 2019 |

Celebrating Independence TogetherBy E. Adam Porter The first week in July, every year, my extended family gathers at the beach in my hometown for a weeklong reunion. It’s a wonderful, relaxing time of sharing life together, filled with the familiar aromas...

The July NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The July NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

Jun 28, 2019 | ,

In this issue… SCC honors its veterans, especially those comrades we lost in the past year. We get to know Bob’s Vets, meet the Pickleball players who did SCC proud in international competition, and hang out with puffins in Newfoundland. Find...

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Jun 26, 2019 |

Back 2 School Supply Drive The Boys and Girls Club needs your help!   Supplies Needed Black pens, blue pens, red pens, blunt-tip scissors, bottled glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, disinfectant wipes, dry erase markers, erasers, hand sanitizer,...

Coffee with a Cop June 25

Coffee with a Cop June 25

by | May 16, 2019 | News

Deputy Jeffrey Merry would like to invite you to join your neighbors and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies for “Coffee with a Cop” on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, 8 to 9 a.m., at the Ruskin Dunkin Donuts location, 717 Cypress Creek Blvd.

Deputy Merry says this is an opportunity to have a conversation with your local patrol deputies and detectives. He has invited Sheriff Chronister to attend.

 

JUNE 2024 NEWS is HOT off the Press!

JUNE 2024 NEWS is HOT off the Press!

In this issue… Meet the SCC History Contest winner, enjoy Coffee and Conversation, save the date for the July 4 Pancake Breakfast, get to know Executive Secretary Alisha Marshall, commiserate at the Rainbow Bridge, honor our Veterans, get a...

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

Jul 17, 2019 |

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...

Bob’s Vets

Bob’s Vets

Jul 10, 2019 |

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

Jul 9, 2019 |

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...

Celebrating Independence Together

Celebrating Independence Together

Jul 4, 2019 |

Celebrating Independence TogetherBy E. Adam Porter The first week in July, every year, my extended family gathers at the beach in my hometown for a weeklong reunion. It’s a wonderful, relaxing time of sharing life together, filled with the familiar aromas...

The July NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The July NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

Jun 28, 2019 | ,

In this issue… SCC honors its veterans, especially those comrades we lost in the past year. We get to know Bob’s Vets, meet the Pickleball players who did SCC proud in international competition, and hang out with puffins in Newfoundland. Find...

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Jun 26, 2019 |

Back 2 School Supply Drive The Boys and Girls Club needs your help!   Supplies Needed Black pens, blue pens, red pens, blunt-tip scissors, bottled glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, disinfectant wipes, dry erase markers, erasers, hand sanitizer,...

Veterans Fair Draws Tremendous Response

Veterans Fair Draws Tremendous Response

by | May 15, 2019 | Features

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 January 2021 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The January 2021 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue… Get to know the members of the Cygnet Yacht Club, meet the candidates in the SCCCA Board run-off election to be held February 3, explore the history of Old Town Hall, see how the Holiday Spirit is alive and well in SCC &...

Space at the table

Space at the table

Space at the tableBy E. Adam PorterEditor, News of SCC & South County I love Christmas, the entire holiday season. From the moment the turkey comes out of the oven on Thanksgiving until we toast the new year, my spirits are up, and there’s a gleam in...

The December 2020 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The December 2020 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue… We share the holiday spirit of giving with Toys For Tots, see how the Shriners plan to “Save the Day” for some deserving local kids, relive the scary fun of the Ghoulish Golf Cart Parade, explore the holiday gifts and decorations...

Saluting Our Veterans

Saluting Our Veterans

Saluting Our Veterans By E. Adam Porter, Editor, and the News Team This month, I asked our reporters to join me in the Editor’s Corner to share about some of the veterans who have made a difference in their lives. If you are a veteran, thank you for your...

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

Jul 17, 2019 |

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...

Bob’s Vets

Bob’s Vets

Jul 10, 2019 |

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

Jul 9, 2019 |

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...

Celebrating Independence Together

Celebrating Independence Together

Jul 4, 2019 |

Celebrating Independence TogetherBy E. Adam Porter The first week in July, every year, my extended family gathers at the beach in my hometown for a weeklong reunion. It’s a wonderful, relaxing time of sharing life together, filled with the familiar aromas...

The July NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The July NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

Jun 28, 2019 | ,

In this issue… SCC honors its veterans, especially those comrades we lost in the past year. We get to know Bob’s Vets, meet the Pickleball players who did SCC proud in international competition, and hang out with puffins in Newfoundland. Find...

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Jun 26, 2019 |

Back 2 School Supply Drive The Boys and Girls Club needs your help!   Supplies Needed Black pens, blue pens, red pens, blunt-tip scissors, bottled glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, disinfectant wipes, dry erase markers, erasers, hand sanitizer,...

Chalk Festival: Art on the Street, Literally!

Chalk Festival: Art on the Street, Literally!

by | May 13, 2019 | Features

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.  

Go “Home for the Holidays” with the 2019 Golf Cart Parade

Go “Home for the Holidays” with the 2019 Golf Cart Parade

The “Home for the Holidays” Holiday Golf Cart Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 14. Residents, businesses, HOAs, service organizations, and clubs from across the communitywill come together to celebrate the season with festive and creative...

Don’t Miss the Holiday Breakfast & Walk

Don’t Miss the Holiday Breakfast & Walk

Mark your calendars for festive holiday fun on December 7. Plan to start your day with a delicious breakfast for only $5! The committee members have been busy planning the gathering, which will be held in Community Hall from 7:30 until 11:30 a.m. The...

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...

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

SCC and KP Amateur Radio Clubs

Jul 17, 2019 |

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...

Bob’s Vets

Bob’s Vets

Jul 10, 2019 |

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

Jul 9, 2019 |

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...

Celebrating Independence Together

Celebrating Independence Together

Jul 4, 2019 |

Celebrating Independence TogetherBy E. Adam Porter The first week in July, every year, my extended family gathers at the beach in my hometown for a weeklong reunion. It’s a wonderful, relaxing time of sharing life together, filled with the familiar aromas...

The July NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

The July NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

Jun 28, 2019 | ,

In this issue… SCC honors its veterans, especially those comrades we lost in the past year. We get to know Bob’s Vets, meet the Pickleball players who did SCC proud in international competition, and hang out with puffins in Newfoundland. Find...

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Back 2 School Supply Drive

Jun 26, 2019 |

Back 2 School Supply Drive The Boys and Girls Club needs your help!   Supplies Needed Black pens, blue pens, red pens, blunt-tip scissors, bottled glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, disinfectant wipes, dry erase markers, erasers, hand sanitizer,...