FallFest October 16: Don’t miss it!

FallFest October 16: Don’t miss it!

FallFest October 16: Don’t miss it!

Entertainment, Food, Art, Shopping, and a Health Fair               

By Diane M. Loeffler

Rain or shine, FallFest will take place on October 16. The day will begin at the gazebo with opening remarks, the flag raising, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. The rest of the day will be similar to our traditional March FunFest with entertainment, food, club sales, vendors and a health fair. Participants include 74 clubs and organizations, 12 businesses, a bloodmobile, and health care services.

Where to Park

Car and golf cart drivers are encouraged to park by Community Hall (1910 S. Pebble Beach Boulevard). Aston Gardens will be providing three buses to take you from the Community Hall Parking Lot on South Pebble Beach to the Community Association Administration Building on North Pebble Beach.

Park at Community Hall and one of the three buses provided by Aston Gardens will take you to the parking lot in front of the Community Association Administration Building. Driver Jerry Crabb has driven buses for Aston Gardens for 20 years.

Three buses will run continuously from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. These buses are handicapped accessible. Each air conditioned bus has 24 comfortable seats plus two places for wheelchairs. Remember: the parking lots in and near North Pebble Beach and Cherry Hills will all be closed. There will be no car parking available near North Campus. For safety reasons, no one should park along the nearby streets.

Golf carts may also opt to park in the fields behind the Atrium Building’s parking lot. This is where the temporary offices once stood. Be sure to remember where you park.

Look For

Information booths will be set up at the CA Office where the buses drop you off, at the end of the Pottery Wheel Building, along Cherry Hills Drive, and inside the Atrium Building. Volunteers will give you maps with schedules and answer your questions. The booth near the Pottery Wheel Building will also be the lost and found (people and items) area during the festival.

You will see men and women wearing bright orange shirts or jackets. These HAM radio operators will help you if you are lost or if you are looking for someone who is lost.

What to Bring

Bring your appetite, your shopping list, some cash, masks, and your cell phone. The following items are on the menu: breakfast sandwiches, sloppy joe’s, hot dogs, Italian sausage, potato salad, beans, apple and cherry pies (with ice cream and toppings), BBQ chicken sandwiches, grilled pork chops, homemade cookies, homemade brownies, burgers, chips, beverages and popcorn. Just in case the menu changes or clubs run out of your favorites, have alternatives in mind. Popcorn will be sold near the gazebo, the other items in the parking areas near Rollins Theater.

FallFest will be an opportunity to buy some genuine “made in Sun City Center” items created by your talented friends and neighbors. You will also be able to buy gift baskets and other items. Shop locally to get great deals while supporting clubs. Many clubs donate all or a portion of their revenues to area charities. Feeling lucky? There will be many chances to purchase lottery tickets for all sorts of items.

Masks are requested for when you are inside buildings. When indoors, you may find you are rather close to other people, especially when you are at the health fair.

You might want to take photos of those in your party with your phone. Should one of you get lost or separated from the others, you can show your phone’s photos to the radio club men and women (wearing bright orange). It is much easier for them to reunite people when they can see exactly what the individual is wearing that day.

What NOT to bring

Leave your pets at home unless they are certified service dogs. Also, do not bring bicycles near the venue area. Leave them at home or near Community Hall.

Health Fair

Stop by the Horizon Room to talk to companies and individuals offering health care services. One new service is flu shots. Walgreens will be providing up to 100 of them. You can walk through the Horizon Room to the parking lot where a Bloodmobile will welcome anyone willing and able to donate blood.

Festival guests clapping and singing along with Bill “Elvis” Lindsay at a previous FunFest (News file photo).

Entertainment

There are six places providing entertainment. The gazebo will be the site for the opening ceremonies beginning at 9 a.m. Starting at 9:15, go to the Florida room for presentations or performances by Southeastern Guide Dogs, the Women’s Chorus, Par for the Chorus and Wonders of Nature.

The Dance Studio will start with Cloggersizers at 9:30 followed by Let’s Dance Ballroom Dancers, Jazzmatazz, and West Coast Swing and Country Dance. The Main Tent will be set up near the Arts and Crafts Building on Cherry Hills Drive. At 9:30, Razzmatazz (a ventriloquist) will perform as well as the Dukes, Bill “Elvis” Lindsay with Kevin Brooks, and Nunez at Night. The Rollins Theater will feature the Front Porch Pickers at 11 and 12. The Swim Dancers will perform at the indoor pool from 11:30 to 11:50.

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OCTOBER 2021 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

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In this issue…

Don’t miss FallFest on October 16, browse the Art Club’s latest creations, cruise the St. Johns River, sail on the Eagle, hit the target with a local Olympian, commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, discover some great places to eat Just Around the Bend, learn about the new Low Vision Club, ride to the rescue with the SCC Emergency Squad, get the facts on the Kings Point Master Association Board changes, trade serves with an athletic priest, read up on the Native History of North America, and tour the picturesque wonder of Sunsational Sedona, Arizona.

Then, be sure to check out the SCCCA Club News, Kings Point News, Military News, Sports, Arts, Faith & Service, and Community News sections to help you plan your month.

Read the October 2021 Issues of The News

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Info

Florida hospitals and county health departments have received hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses. More are coming. Learn how these will be distributed and get more information at the Florida Department of Health website, “floridahealth.gov.”

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Aquarium Releases Endangered Sea Turtles

Aquarium Releases Endangered Sea Turtles

The fruits of The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Conservation Program labor were realized with the release of five rehabbed sea turtles including two Kemp’s Ridley and three greens in North Ormond Beach. After months of specialized and compassionate care, the release was a triumphant celebration for turtle caretakers; especially during what has been a record-setting year for sea turtle stranding throughout the United States.

Rescued from a large cold-stunned event off the coast of New England, the Kemp’s were subsequently flown by Turtles Fly Too, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing together general aviation and sea turtle conservation, for long-term care at The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Conservation Center.

Cold-stunning occurs when cold-blooded animals, like sea turtles, are exposed to unusually cold water and/or air temperatures for an extended period of time; causing a hypothermic reaction that may include a lower heart rate, decreased circulation, lethargy, secondary infections including pneumonia and if left untreated, death.

The two Kemp’s received extended care for persistent symptoms of pneumonia before being released into the open ocean of the Atlantic.

While large stunning events are happening in other parts of the country, turtles in our own backyard are also affected by cold waters and changing conditions; making the efforts of The Florida Aquarium to not only to care for these endangered animals, but also to increase public awareness of the things that can be done to protect the natural environment, even more critical.

The three green sea turtles faced a similar fate off the East Coast of Florida in Volusia County. Rescued by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the turtles arrived at The Florida Aquarium on March 4. A duo was treated for pneumonia and other symptoms of cold-stunning. An additional green turtle was received as part of a record-setting date of March 23 when the team at The Florida Aquarium admitted 17 rescued turtles, the largest number the facility had ever received.

Text and photos courtesy The Florida Aquarium.

The Information Center

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99th Birthday Party at Bob’s VetsBy Diane M. Loeffler On the morning of December 16, a party was held at Bob Evans Restaurant for Maurice (Mo) Lanouette. Mo’s actual birthday was Saturday, but the Bob’s Vets group decided to honor Lanouette...

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January Membership Meeting By Diane M. Loeffler At 3 p.m. on January 5, 2022, 294 people attended the Sun City Center Community Association Membership Meeting in person and 89 virtually attended using Zoom. In order to meet quorum, two hundred...

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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...

Touring Ybor City’s Last Cigar Factory

Touring Ybor City’s Last Cigar Factory

Touring Ybor City’s Last Cigar Factory

By Bob Sanchez

In July, a small group from the Sun City Center Photo Club toured the J. C. Newman Cigar Company to see first-hand how cigars are still made in Ybor City. For the senior rate of $12 per person, company historian Holden Rasmussen served as our tour guide for about an hour to show the entire process, both for hand-made and machine-made cigars.

The building is called El Reloj, a three-story, block-long building that dates back to 1895 and is the only remaining cigar factory in Ybor City. There’s nothing modern about the process as workers either hand-roll cigars or operate antique machines that seem to operate as well today as they did a century ago. The main difference is in the workforce – an old photo from the 1920s shows a vast room filled with white men, elbow to elbow at work. What a difference a century makes!

The Newman Company promises that “this historic cigar factory will please cigar enthusiasts, history buffs, and those with interests in manufacturing and technology,” and the tour doesn’t disappoint. Photo Club member Christina Brittain said it was “amazing to witness every facet of production in this living, thriving factory/museum,” adding that the tour is “a truly memorable experience.”

The family-owned company clearly takes pride in its premium cigars and its employees. Rasmussen told us that every worker we saw on the floor has been employed there for around 20 years. Newman also has factories in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Their Cigar Family Charitable Foundation “supports low-income families in the Dominican Republic with education, health care, vocational training, and clean water.”

The cost for the tour is $15 for adults, and $12 for seniors, students, and veterans. All ages are welcome. The guide is knowledgeable, and the old factory is fascinating. By the way, there are elevators for those not inclined to climb stairs.

Visit “jcnewman.com” for their schedule and to book a guided tour.

IN THE TOP PHOTO: J. C. Newman’s company historian Holden Rasmussen talks tobacco with, from left to right, Nick Fader, Barbara Klimczak, Fran Beeson, and Christina Brittain.

The Information Center

The Information Center

The Information Center A Place for Prospective Buyers, New Residents and All of the Rest of Us    By Diane M. Loeffler The Information Center sits at the southeast corner of Cherry Hills and North Pebble Beach. Some people think of it as our...

99th Birthday Party at Bob’s Vets

99th Birthday Party at Bob’s Vets

99th Birthday Party at Bob’s VetsBy Diane M. Loeffler On the morning of December 16, a party was held at Bob Evans Restaurant for Maurice (Mo) Lanouette. Mo’s actual birthday was Saturday, but the Bob’s Vets group decided to honor Lanouette...

February 2022 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

February 2022 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue… Get to know SCC at the Information Center, read a recap of the January SCCCA membership and board meetings, learn how the SCC Beautification Corporation helps keep the community looking its best, show your gratitude for our First...

January Membership Meeting

January Membership Meeting

January Membership Meeting By Diane M. Loeffler At 3 p.m. on January 5, 2022, 294 people attended the Sun City Center Community Association Membership Meeting in person and 89 virtually attended using Zoom. In order to meet quorum, two hundred...

A Special “Thank You” for Our First Responders

A Special “Thank You” for Our First Responders

A Special “Thank You” for Our First Responders   By Diane M. Loeffler On Wednesday, December 22, a group of Kings Point and Sun City Center Community Association residents met in the lobby of South Bay Hospital to donate money to three groups...

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...

May the Bluebirds of Happiness Nest in Your Yard

May the Bluebirds of Happiness Nest in Your Yard

May the Bluebirds of Happiness Nest in Your Yard

By Andrea L.T. Peterson

It’s been about five years that the Audubon Club of Sun City Center has been aggressively monitoring the area’s bluebird population, which had been steadily declining. Master Naturalist and 12-year Sun City Center resident, Melanie Higgins, explained to me how and why the bluebird population matters and how and why the local Audubon club became involved. Bluebirds, she explained, “are secondary cavity nesters—unlike woodpeckers, for example, they don’t make or find holes in which to build their nests. Over the years, the National Audubon Society approved the design and recommended they be placed at least 300 feet apart with a view to an open field with some trees for cover when the babies fledged. Bluebirds,” she added, “have adapted to using boxes.”

“The club,” she explained, was looking for a way to become more involved in the local community, so they scouted around (pardon the pun) and found a local Eagle Scout group willing to take on the project. The scouts, she told me, “built the boxes. Then the Audubon club put out a call for 20 people who wanted the boxes in their yards. There was a small fee for the boxes (considered a donation to the club).” The hope was that people who spent money on the boxes would be invested in them, that they would help monitor the activity in the boxes, and help the club keep track of the population. It didn’t work out that way.

“While the people were enjoying the birds in their yards, they weren’t monitoring the boxes,” Higgins explained, “so for the first year there was no good data.” The second year, Higgins decided she would monitor the boxes every week herself, tracking nesting, hatching, and fledging numbers. That year, she said, “70 babies fledged.” It seems the primary goals of the Bluebird Box Project to increase awareness of the birds, garner interest in birding, and help increase the bluebird population were being achieved.

My own yard, not an approved space, according to the recommendations, has had success two seasons with bluebirds nesting and sending little ones out into the world! More and more people are seeing bluebirds in their yards or around town for the first time EVER!! It’s pretty exciting to see the spectacular males with their vibrant colors and the no nonsense females protecting and feeding their young.

There are 25 boxes in town now, producing, quite literally, 100-110 fledglings a year. A team of ten monitors the boxes through the summer, keeping track of and recording the numbers of nests, eggs, hatchlings, and presumed fledglings.

According to Higgins, about 30% of the fledglings will survive their first year. One of the greatest hazards, aside from hatchlings too young to fledge, falling out of the nest and becoming “fox food,” Higgins says, is sparrows. An invasive species, not native to the United States, “sparrows literally murder the bluebirds by pecking holes in their heads.”

 “‘The great thing about birding,’” says Higgins, quoting longtime friend and retired National Audubon Ornithologist, Ann Paul, “‘is you can do it any time, any place.’” Our Sun City lakes and ponds and the small islands within some of them provide hours of entertainment and an incredible number of species (ducks and birds) for our viewing pleasure. If you’re housebound you can watch the activity out your windows and enjoy the “sport” without even leaving your bed or your chair!

Take a lesson from the bluebird, whose lifespan is somewhere between six to 10 years: fly when you can, be free, and, says Higgins, “live in the moment!”

The Information Center

The Information Center

The Information Center A Place for Prospective Buyers, New Residents and All of the Rest of Us    By Diane M. Loeffler The Information Center sits at the southeast corner of Cherry Hills and North Pebble Beach. Some people think of it as our...

99th Birthday Party at Bob’s Vets

99th Birthday Party at Bob’s Vets

99th Birthday Party at Bob’s VetsBy Diane M. Loeffler On the morning of December 16, a party was held at Bob Evans Restaurant for Maurice (Mo) Lanouette. Mo’s actual birthday was Saturday, but the Bob’s Vets group decided to honor Lanouette...

February 2022 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

February 2022 NEWS is HOT off the PRESS!

In this issue… Get to know SCC at the Information Center, read a recap of the January SCCCA membership and board meetings, learn how the SCC Beautification Corporation helps keep the community looking its best, show your gratitude for our First...

January Membership Meeting

January Membership Meeting

January Membership Meeting By Diane M. Loeffler At 3 p.m. on January 5, 2022, 294 people attended the Sun City Center Community Association Membership Meeting in person and 89 virtually attended using Zoom. In order to meet quorum, two hundred...

A Special “Thank You” for Our First Responders

A Special “Thank You” for Our First Responders

A Special “Thank You” for Our First Responders   By Diane M. Loeffler On Wednesday, December 22, a group of Kings Point and Sun City Center Community Association residents met in the lobby of South Bay Hospital to donate money to three groups...

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...