Senator Rubio Mobile Office in SCC on March 26

Senator Rubio Mobile Office in SCC on March 26

by | Mar 18, 2019 | News

The Gulf Coast Regional Office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio will be holding office hours in Sun City Center on Tuesday, March 26 from 2 – 5 p.m. in the Old Town Hall Ann Marie LeBlanc Room, 1002 Cherry Hills Drive. Meet your local staff and learn about the services Senator Rubio’s Office can offer his constituents, including:

 

 

For more information, call the Gulf Coast Regional Office at 813.853.1099 or email “Taylor_Sanchez@rubio.senate.gov”.

Veterans and Spouse Information Fair April 2

Veterans and Spouse Information Fair April 2

Mar 27, 2019 |

“Rules concerning veteran care change. That’s why we have invited all the federal, state and county agencies who provide veteran services to participate in a Veterans and Spouse Information Fair on April 2 in Sun City Center,” said Bill Hodges, member of...

A Special Interactive Arts Event for Young Children

A Special Interactive Arts Event for Young Children

Mar 22, 2019 |

Watch as Brother and Sister Bear experience a full year of glorious seasons. See a waterfall melt, meet a butterfly, chase an elusive fish, and skate on an icy pond. In this show, especially for the very young, children are invited to join the action with...

Operation Medicine Cabinet

Operation Medicine Cabinet

Mar 21, 2019 |

Help save Hillsborough Waterways! Bring Your expired or unused medications to South Bay Hospital, 4016 Sun City Center Blvd. on Friday, April 5, 2019, from 9 – 12 p.m. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Safety, expired or unwanted...

SCC Rotary Welcomes New Members

SCC Rotary Welcomes New Members

Mar 21, 2019 |

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,...

Project Aims to Enhance SCC Curb Appeal

Project Aims to Enhance SCC Curb Appeal

Mar 20, 2019 |

Project Begins to Enhance SCC Curb Appeal   The Sun City Center Charitable Foundation, Inc. is starting the Great Neighborhoods Project to enhance SCC neighborhoods’ common areas with aesthetic improvements to improve the pride, property values, and...

Florida Aquarium Needs Your Help Naming New Sea Turtle

Florida Aquarium Needs Your Help Naming New Sea Turtle

Mar 20, 2019 |

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...

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

Indulge in the South Pacific at Selby Gardens

Indulge in the South Pacific at Selby Gardens

by | Mar 10, 2019 | Travel

Indulge in the South Pacific at Selby Gardens

By Kai Rambow

 

Your sensory adventure to the South Pacific starts the moment you arrive.  Tikis, tapa cloth and a bamboo ceiling greet visitors at the entrance.  The primitive symbols are an inviting introduction celebrating Selby Gardens’ interdisciplinary exhibit featuring Gauguin.  Lovely surprises await, including seldom seen prints by Gauguin.

Displays are deceivingly simple in appearance; masterfully complex in design.  In the conservatory, dug-out canoes are symbolic of the main transportation for islanders in Tahiti and the Marquesas.  These canoes hold beautiful, tropical flowers and plants – and are the conduit for a waterfall.  If you look at this from different vantage points and distances, you’ll experience the same waterfall a few different ways.

Farther along you’ll spot red plants in a circle.  Use your imagination a little and you’ll see it represents a fire pit.  A giant tiki towards the end gives a different impression depending on where you stand.  Have fun looking at everything in the conservatory from different vantage points.

 

The Gardens

A garden map with tiki symbols will help you locate all the Gauguin related displays.  Some are immediately obvious; others require a little more observation.  The koi pond, one of the most serene places at Selby, at first looks the same but has a sizable canoe with flowers.

The fishing village looks like you’re in the South Pacific.  This iconic display was completely transformed with coconut trees and sugar-white sand.  Take your picture here and tell all your friends you’ve travelled to Tahiti.

 

Gauguin’s Prints

Gauguin paintings are rarely seen in a collective exhibition.  Owners are very reluctant to loan their work(s).  Selby Gardens has managed to pull together a dozen prints by Gauguin.

Sometimes sketches or prints feel like a semi-finished work.  Not so with Gauguin’s prints; many are as evocative as his paintings.  Take some time to really look at each print; spend more time with those that resonate with you.  You’ll find these at the Payne Mansion.

Selby Gardens has once again created an exhibit that is both thoughtful and fun.  Remember good walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses and your camera.  Gauguin runs until June 30.  Open 10 to 5 daily.  Plan on arriving early to get a parking spot and walk the grounds in good temperatures.

Michael’s on East has once again created a tasty menu inspired by Gauguin’s life and work.  The Café and a food truck have different selections, so you might want to check both menus before deciding where to refuel.

 

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

900 South Palm Avenue

Sarasota, Florida

(941) 366-5731

www.selby.org

Magritte & Dali

Magritte & Dali

by | Mar 4, 2019 | Travel

Magritte & Dali

By Kai Rambow

 

Two of the best known surrealist painters, side by side. Magritte and Dali, knew each other, shared ideas with each other, and painted with similar themes.

This thought-provoking exhibit is worth seeing – and experiencing (more on this in a bit).  The key, as always, is to get an audio guide.  It’s included with your admission and enables you to know what you’re looking at, and what to examine more closely.  This is particularly important since Dali painted many double images.

Dali paintings, part of the collection but not regularly displayed, are part of this exhibit.  Most of the Magritte paintings are on loan from Belgium.  At the end are two interactive displays.

In the Cloud Room, you’ll be surrounded by moving clouds all around you. It is a semi-surreal experience. Right after is an interactive surrealist art experience. A camera captures your image and then projects you into paintings by both artists.

This is a little tricky to do. Tip: Carefully read the instructions posted on the wall.  Next, watch others try to capture their image. When you think you know what to do, try it. The most challenging part is moving your hand over the camera icon to “click” the camera.  Once the numbers start to count down, you’ll have about two seconds to pose.  It is probably easier to have someone else take your photo in the painting as the image only pops up for about three seconds.  Most important: enjoy the art and have fun.

 

Magritte & Dali

Until May 19, 2019

Dali Museum

1 Dali Blvd.

St. Petersburg, FL  33701

(727) 823-3767

www.thedali.org

 

 

Photo: You can be a part of this exhibit. After taking a picture, your image will be projected into surrealist art.

Come to FunFest on March 16    

Come to FunFest on March 16    

by | Mar 2, 2019 | News

Come to FunFest on March 16       

By Diane M. Loeffler

 

Come to FunFest for a day of food, entertainment, shopping, prizes and a health fair! The day begins at 9 a.m. with the flag raising, Pledge, National Anthem, and opening remarks.

 

Getting There

Drive your car to Community Hall at 1910 South Pebble Beach Boulevard and take one of Aston Gardens comfortable, handicapped-accessible buses to north campus. Buses will begin running at 8:30 in the morning and run until 2:30 in the afternoon. The bus will get you closer to the action than you can get to any other way.

Prefer coming by cart or bike? Parking will be in the same place as last year, the fields behind the parking areas north of the Atrium Building. As always, there will be parking attendants. This year the rows will be labeled to make it easier to find your bike or cart afterwards.

Streets and parking lots will be blocked off beginning the evening of Friday, March 15. The parking lot that is reached via North Course Road will be reserved for the Eye Associates’ Eye Mobile Bus, One Blood and other vehicles associated with the festival. The Arts and Crafts parking lot will be for the use of the entertainers.

Have a pet? Unless your four-legged friend is a certified service animal, please leave him or her at home.

 

Entertainment

Stop by the information tables for the FunFest map and schedule. These tables will be located near the bus stop, next to the Pottery Wheel Club, along Cherry Hills, and at the Club Kiosk in the Atrium.

This year you can see the entertainers you have enjoyed in the past, and some new acts as well. Elvis, Kevin and the Dukes will be back. 3Dom will be there as well. If you have gone to Circles on Saturdays, you may have heard 3Dom perform at that restaurant. You may also have enjoyed 3Dom when they entertained at the CA Gazebo. The Wonders of Nature program is among those outside groups returning to inform and entertain us this year.

Fourteen CA clubs are providing entertainment this year including the Swim Dancers, many of our wonderful vocal groups, dance classes and exercise groups. See how talented your friends and neighbors are. Maybe you can even learn how to join their groups. Of course, it wouldn’t be an event without The Front Porch Pickers. You can count on them putting a smile on your face again this year.

 

Health Fair

Be sure to stop by the Health Fair. It will be located in the Caper and Horizon Rooms in the Atrium. You will learn so much about your health and what you can do to maintain it.

During the fair, you can receive a diabetes screening consisting of measuring your BMI (Body Mass Index) and blood draws for cholesterol screenings. You can have your blood pressure, your skin and your veins checked. You can find out about DNA cancer testing from one organization or have the test done (a mouth swab) from another. Proof of your Medicare card will be necessary before the swabbing.

Have your balance assessed and your walking assistance devices tested for safety. Learn about new hearing aid technology, insurance options, prostate cancer, Lifeline, hearing loss, as well as organ and tissue donations.  If you step outside you will see two buses. In one bus, vision screenings including distance and glaucoma checks will be offered at no cost. In the other bus, you will have the opportunity to donate blood.

 

Shopping and Prizes

Stop by the club rooms. These spaces will be full of items to purchase. Most clubs also sell chances to win some of their best and most unique creations. Many clubs will be demonstrating their craft. There will also be vendors selling their wares.

 

Food

If being out in the fresh air and taking part in all of the activities doesn’t make you hungry enough, the wonderful food aromas wafting around on March 16 certainly will. The assortment of foods available can allow you to eat breakfast, lunch and snacks without ever repeating a menu item. Menus are tentative at the time of publication, so decide on a few favorites to choose between. Here is the mouthwatering list: scrambled eggs, breakfast sandwiches, sausage, bacon, pretzels, Elite Donut donuts, brats, Italian sausage, beans, potato salad, hotdogs, cookies, apple pie, cherry pie, strawberry shortcake, pork chops, chicken sandwiches, Polish sausage with kraut, ice cream bars, popcorn, chips and beverages.

See you on March 16!