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Party Celebrates 75 Years Times 2

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By BARBARA ROUTEN, Tribune correspondent

Published: December 19, 2007

Updated: 12/17/2007 07:44 pm

SUN CITY CENTER - Hazel and Tom Martin reached their 75th birthdays this year - Hazel on Sept. 8 and Tom on Dec. 5.

Their family and friends celebrated both at the halfway mark, Oct. 27, in the great hall of United Community Church.

Family began to trickle in Oct. 24. The couple's children arrived: Laura Martin of Sun City Center; daughter Lisa and her husband, Steve Balistreri, of Milwaukee; son Bill and his wife, Sue, of Milwaukee; and son Timm and his wife, Theresa, of Union, Ky.

Timm and Theresa told their parents, "Here we are - your hands and your feet!"

The Martins' eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren also came. By noon Friday the house was full, with family breaking bread there that evening.

On Oct. 27, 44 people came to the church's great hall to celebrate the couple's lives.

"We had a great time," Hazel said. "There were balloons and flowers at each table, and a white cake with lemon filling and coconut frosting. In the center of the cake, it said, 'Happy 75th Birthday, Tom and Hazel.'"

Tom's brother Michael Martin was the "hilarious" master of ceremonies, Hazel said.

Hazel painted and laminated place cards for each guest and assembled two boards of photos of the family.

"It was a joyous time," she said. "Sometimes giggles, sometimes tears.

"It's a joy to be together," Hazel said. "I'd have liked to invite more people to the party, but Tom wasn't up to it. He sat there, and it was grand and glorious. Bill brought him and took him home when he got tired, per prior planning. It was an 11:30 a.m. party, because Tom does best at noon. He loved every minute of it."

Months before the party, the children contacted family and friends asking for photos and letters of memories of the couple. Timm Martin compiled the mementos in a 157-page color, hardbound book, complete with a color glossy jacket sporting a photo of the couple and the title, "Tom and Hazel Martin 75 Years Young."

"Tom and I find ourselves enjoying the book on almost a daily basis," Hazel said. "Great fun."

Unity Community Of Joy Features Flute Event
SUN CITY CENTER - Lovers of music and fun are invited to an American Indian flute "playshop" (in contrast to a "workshop") and service that will be put on by Armand and Angelina at 10 a.m. Dec. 30 at Unity Community of Joy, 953 N. Course Lane.

The New Age performers, comedians and speakers will share a meditation, sing, play the flute and then teach flute playing. Flutes and instruction books will be available for purchase.

The suggested donation is $20 a person.

For information about Armand and Angelina, visit www.armandandangelina .com. For information about the event, call the Rev. Betty Martin-Lewis at (813) 298-7745.

Crime Prevention Seminar Planned
SUN CITY CENTER - Residents are invited to attend the Sun City Center Sheriff's Report event with Deputy Rob Thornton at 2 p.m. today at SunTrust Bank, 1525 Rickenbacker Drive.

Thornton will discuss recent criminal activity in the area and measures that may protect people and property, particularly during the holidays, when home burglaries and thefts may be more prevalent. A question-and-answer period will follow.

The sheriff's report is part of an ongoing series of community-information seminars sponsored by SunTrust Bank. The report is given at 2 p.m. the third Wednesday monthly.

Send news and photos 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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