Sun City Center Group Attends Drum Workshop

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By BARBARA ROUTEN Tribune correspondent

Published: May 5, 2007

SUN CITY CENTER - Thanks to a Community Engagement Grant from the College Music Society and a loan of authentic South African djembe drums from the University of South Florida Music Education Department in Tampa, 12 members of the Sun City Center United Methodist Church were able to attend a Kaleidoscope Drum Jam at the church.

The group attended the six one-hour workshop sessions led by Lisa and Lance Lehmberg. Lisa is a doctoral student and graduate assistant in music education at USF. Lance is an adjunct professor of music education at USF and also director of music ministry at the church.

Attendees Diane Alexander, Ed and Pat Annable, Shirley Bengston, the Rev. Betty and Delford Connell, Eleanor Crossley, Sally Fay, Pat Johnson, Shirley Walker, Linda Whitt and Judy Vallely performed during the contemporary New Life and the traditional services April 15.

"This was a truly exciting event," Bengston said. "The drumming was great fun. We, on the African drums, accompanied a lovely piece entitled 'Sow It on the Mountain,' written by the Carter family. Sure was different for our services, but the congregation loved it."

BRANDON - The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 74, Brandon, will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Brandon Community Center, 502 E. Sadie St. Any woman or man 18 or older may attend.

The auxiliary is a 31,000-member, volunteer, uniformed component of Team Coast Guard, which was formed in 1939 to help active-duty guardsmen in all missions except military and direct law enforcement. Members perform vessel safety checks, participate in Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, assemble safety patrols and provide public education. It actually took an Act of Congress to create what was called the Coast Guard Reserve in 1939 and renamed the Coast Guard Auxiliary in 1941.

The flotilla commander of the local Brandon unit is Larry Neu of Lakeland; Ron Matz of Seffner is the vice flotilla commander. Staff officers are Lee Feiler of Auburndale, Terry Modica and Harry Austin of Valrico, Bob Easterday and Chris Anastasiou of Tampa, Jerry Routt of Gibsonton, Kerry Saruwatari and Gilbert Thomas of Lakeland, James Mulligan of Haines City, Wally Lowry, Conrad Palermo and Elaine Nabach of Brandon, Pat Kurtz of Winter Haven and Bill Jacobson of Riverview.

For information, go to http://cgaux74.org/ or call 1-800-704-4216.

PLANT CITY - The director of communications of the East Hillsborough County Democratic Club, Rosalind Moffett, has founded an offshoot called the Democratic Divas.

The diverse group, which meets to develop friendships and share experiences, is open to any Democratic women. They will meet from noon to 2 p.m. June 3 at Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant, 2613 Thonotosassa Road. The program theme is Financial Planning for Women.

Appetizers, soft drinks and tea will be provided by the club, but donations to the club to offset costs are welcome, Moffett said. Attendees may choose to purchase lunch while at the restaurant meeting.

For information, contact Moffett via e-mail at EastHillsboroughDemocrat@gmail .com or call (813) 263-9381 or (813) 684-8706.

RUSKIN - Jim McCallister of Ruskin has been appointed by county commissioners to the Hillsborough County Human Relations Board for a three-year term. This is his second term; he served on the board in 1996.

McCallister retired from the Navy after 27 years in the military, including stints in the Air Force and Army. He was a news reporter for the U.S. Department of Agriculture until 1992.

For the past 15 years he has worked as a consultant to the U.S. Government Foreign Agriculture Service and Economical Research Service. This has taken him to Russia, Siberia, Serbia, Nigeria and Montenegro to design public information systems.

He is commander-elect of the Ruskin Veteran of Foreign Wars post in Ruskin.

BRANDON - The public is invited to the first Las Vegas Night at Congregation Beth Shalom, 706 Bryan Road, at 6:30 p.m. May 12.

"The event is sure to be a winner," committee Chairman Joel Edelson said.

Florida Casino Parties will provide professional dealers and equipment. They "host approximately 400 parties a year throughout Florida," he said. Admission is $30 in advance or $35 at the door. In addition to the usual games of skill and chance, there will be a Texas Hold 'em Poker Tournament for 30 lucky participants. The entry fee for the tournament is $50.

Jeffrey Shaw, a FishHawk Ranch resident and temple member, said, "Prizes! Food! Drink! Live entertainment! Fun! What better way to spend an evening with friends? I will definitely be there."

Prizes include golf for four at Summerfield Golf Club, a will legal package, a full-week timeshare at Ormond Beach and a professionally hosted poker party.

Advance ticket sales and table sponsorship opportunities for businesses are available by e-mailing laurenrs @tampabay.rr.com or by contacting the temple office at (813) 681-6547.

BRANDON - The national organization H2U, which stands for Health, Happiness, You and was formerly known as Senior Friends of Brandon, will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Classroom B, 260 S. Moon Ave. (in the strip mall across the street from Brandon Regional Hospital). The group is sponsored by the hospital.

The speaker will be Lee Newey, who is a floral art design specialist with The English Rose florist shop, 232 Oakfield Drive. She will demonstrate the art of flower arranging.

There are hundreds of members in the Brandon chapter of H2U. They participate in activities such as trips, meet-and-eat luncheons and breakfasts at local restaurants, armchair aerobics and craft classes. Anyone age 50 or older is invited to participate.

For information, go to www.brandonregional hospital.com/SeniorFriends .asp or call (813) 684-3316.

The Writers and Poets Association of the South Shore will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the South Shore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin. Annie Hunter, president, will preside. Published authors and aspiring writers are welcome to attend. … The East Bay Christian Women's Club will meet at 11 a.m. Thursday at Club Renaissance, 2121 S. Pebble Beach Blvd., Sun City Center. A luncheon and program will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Marie Goodsell, the guest speaker, will ask, "If freedom is priceless, why did it cost so much?" Origins, of the Westfield Brandon mall, will present skin products. The cost is $17. Reservations or cancellations are due before noon Monday by calling Linda Corbin, (813) 633-8415, or Tara Flood, (813) 383-7540, or via e-mail at godluvsme40 @gmail.com.

Send news of community interest to Barbara Routen at The Tampa Tribune, 505 W. Robertson St., Brandon FL 33511, e-mail neighbors@tampabay.rr.com or call (813) 657-4531.

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