TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Tennis For Fun Athletes Win At State Summer Games

ADVERTISEMENT

By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune Correspondent

Published: July 2, 2008

ORLANDO - ORLANDO - Eleven athletes from the Tennis for Fun program at the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center qualified for and participated in the 36th annual Special Olympics Florida State Summer Games May 16-17 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

Nine competed in the tennis individual skills division, and two in singles matches. All eleven won gold, silver or bronze medals.

Twin brothers Bryan and Ryan Fisher of Riverview were in an eight-man draw, said Judy Moore, coordinator of the Brandon Tennis for Fun program. The organizers purposely started them in separate groups so they would not have to compete against each other to climb the ladder. However, each reached the finals, so the ultimate contest was brother against brother.

"How exciting to have our Riverview athletes win the gold Ryan and silver Bryan medals!" Moore said.

The other winners were: gold medalists Justin Carson and Alexis Councill; silver medalists Jessica Wetherington, Mary Slattery and Ashley Forcke; and bronze medalists Guillermo Rivera, Gage Whisenand, John Quinones and Ryan Rupp.

Quinones also received a special commendation at the closing ceremonies: Hillsborough County's Inspirational Athlete medal.

Tennis for Fun is free for special-needs athletes. It promotes exercise and socialization and teaches basic tennis skills. Court time is donated by the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center, 405 Beverly Blvd., Brandon. Teenage and adult volunteers are needed to help at clinics, which are offered from 4 to 5 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. Fridays from November through April.

To volunteer or for more information, call Moore at (813) 685-3923 or (813) 417-3751 or visit the Web site www.tennisforfun.org.
American Legion Post Elects Officers
SUN CITY CENTER - The American Legion Post 246 elected officers for the 2008-09 year at its May 30 meeting in Community Hall.

The installation will occur at the next meeting, which will be in September.

The new officers are: Blaine Brown, commander; Leonard Howard, first vice commander; Ron Engles, second vice commander; Ron Windsor, finance officer; Robert Foster, adjutant; Steve Molnar, service officer; Carl Nissen, chaplain; Wendell Fitts, judge advocate; Marshall Tharp, sergeant-at-arms; and Frank Kager, historian.

Frank Strom, manager of the Hillsborough County Veterans Affairs office, was the guest speaker at the meeting. He assumed that post this year after retiring from 20 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

"Strom is very pleased to be in a position to assist all veterans and their dependents and survivors without regard to their length of service," Engles said. "He knows this is what he wants to do with the rest of his life."

Strom said that anyone living in Hillsborough County who needs assistance with veterans' benefits or claims may call his office, (813) 975-2181. Home visits may be scheduled for homebound veterans or survivors.

The main office is at 1101 139th Ave. E., Tampa. Satellite offices in Ruskin and Plant City are available only by appointment by calling (813) 975-2181.

Consider Becoming A Teacher

TAMPA - Anyone with a bachelor's degree in any field who might consider becoming a teacher is invited to attend one of two free information sessions hosted by Hillsborough Community College's Educator Preparation Institute from 10 a.m. to noon July 19 or Aug. 16 in the Administration Center, rooms 116-117, on the Brandon campus, 10414 Columbus Drive E.

The college offers a 21-credit-hour Educator Preparation program that provides an alternative way of starting a teaching career. Information about course requirements, descriptions, schedules and fees for the program will be discussed at the information sessions and is available online at www.hccfl.edu/epi.

Hillsborough Community College, with campuses in Tampa, Ybor City and Plant City and with learning centers in Ruskin and on MacDill Air Force Base, serves more than 40,000 students. The college is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

For information, call (813) 253-7983 or (813) 253-7945 or e-mail twalker29@ hccfl.edu.

Hogans' First Social At Ozzie's In April

RUSKIN - The Hogans, a Sun City Center golf club that organizes an outing at public courses every Friday and the first Saturday monthly, hosted its first bi-annual social dinner April 26 at Ozzie's Buffet and Grill.

Ed Myers of the Organ and Keyboard Club of Sun City Center played old favorites and some contemporary show tunes on his keyboard throughout the evening.

Other attendees were Myers' son Bob and his guest MaryAnn Bushbaum, as well as club members Dennis and Lynn Freeland, Bill and Lee Guthrie, Ron and Evie Kingston, John and Nora Nelson, Pat and Elaine Patterson, Art (club president) and Gloria Swallow and Denny and Sue Wintersteen.

Any Sun City Center or Kings Point resident is welcome to join.

For information or an application, contact Swallow at artswallow @aol.com.

Garden Club Announces New Officers, Scholarship Winner

RIVERVIEW - The Riverview Garden Club swore in a new president, Marlene Kirst, and vice president, Nancy Dulin, at their club meeting June 11 at the Riverview Civic Center

Cathy McDaniel will continue serving as secretary and Mary Wilson as treasurer for another year.

The scholarship committee, which includes Eileen Foley, chairwoman; Gale Lee, retiring club president; Rose Gibson; Susan Miller; and Wilson, chose Alan Franck to receive the club's third annual scholarship award of $1,000.

Franck, who is majoring in botany, with special interest in cacti, at the University of South Florida, attended the luncheon meeting.

The club will enjoy a hiatus in July and August, then resume its regular routine beginning Sept. 10, meeting at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday monthly.

Call Kirst at (813) 653-1459.

Outreach Helps Homeless And Needy

SEFFNER - Cynthia Pinckney Ministries continues to serve the homeless and needy the third Saturday monthly.

A special guest, Hillsborough County Veterans Council President Dave Braun, spoke with participants at the May 17 gathering at Able Body Labor in Seffner. He distributed miniature flags and lapel pins and explained how he works with veterans.

"It was a great time of fellowship since there are many who are going through hard times and don't have anywhere to turn," said Pinckney in a recent e-mail. "We had requests for prayer from some of our participants, as they shared some of their sorrows and trials. We are happy we can affect the lives of God's people in a positive manner, and to also help with some of their immediate needs."

Clothing, toiletries, shoes, groceries, work boots, bread and pastries were given to 45 adults and eight children.

For information or to volunteer, contact Pinckney at cp@cynthiapinck neyministries.org or visit www .cynthiapinckneyministries.org.

Greyhounds, Firecrackers Topics Of Luncheon
SUN CITY CENTER - The East Bay Christian Women's Connection invites all area women to a luncheon and program from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 10 at Club Renaissance, 2121 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.

The program, by Eileen Shaw, will be about greyhound rescue, and inspirational speaker Carolyn Pruette will share a "Plain Vanilla Story with a Few Lit Firecrackers."

The cost is $17. Reservations or cancellations must be made before noon Monday by calling Linda Corbin at (813) 633-8415 or Tara Flood at (813) 383-7540 or by e-mailing godluvsme40@gmail.com.

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.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT