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Speech Contest Honors 4 Students

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 6, 2008

Updated:

BRANDON - Four students earned prize money in the Rotary Club's speech competition April 29 at the Rotary Club of Brandon meeting at Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association.

Kelsey Phillips of Brandon High School, representing the Brandon Rotary Club, won the $150 first prize; and Taylor Guinane of Spoto High School, representing the Brandon '86 Rotary Club, won the $100 second prize. Tied for third place, and earning $50 each, were Dayne Davis of Spoto High School, representing the Riverview Rotary Club; and Kadine Interval of East Bay High School, representing the Sun City Center Rotary Club.

Interval was the winner of the Sun City Center Rotary Club's competition, which was coordinated by Ed Knecht. The Sun City Center club's contest "almost didn't happen," wrote Rod Grant, editor of the Bulletin of the Sun City Center Rotary Club. "One of the three contestants had a medical emergency and couldn't make it." The other two, Interval and Justina Moccia, also a student at East Bay, arrived about 10 minutes late. "We didn't know if they were going to show up or not," Grant said.

Mary Taylor, English and speech teacher and coach of the speech team at the school, said Interval was delayed because of a prior commitment at Lennard High School before the contest. "She was helping finish up preparations for the American Cancer Society fundraiser Relay for Life there. She is a very involved student; she is the East Bay student body president and a senior who is going to Florida State" University, Taylor said.

"The contest has been conducted for the past 10 years and is based on the Rotary theme for the year, which this year is 'Rotary Shares,'" said Rod Grant of the Sun City Center Rotary Club. Usually the contestants are referred to the local Rotary Club event by their English or speech teachers. There are 45 Rotary Clubs in the district; each club judges local contestants and sends their best one to the district contest.

For information about next year's contest or about Rotary International, call Sun City Center Rotary Club President Branko Lobo at (813) 642-8531, or attend a meeting at noon Fridays at Freedom Plaza, 1010 American Eagle Blvd., Sun City Center.

Free Books Available For Infants, Toddlers

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY - The Imagination Library will deliver free, age-appropriate books to the homes of children living in Hillsborough County who were born on or after Sept. 1, 2006, regardless of income, up to their fifth birthdays.

The library was founded in 1996 by country singer Dolly Parton to encourage children and improve literacy in Sevier County, Tenn., where she grew up. More than 700 communities in 43 states, Canada and the United Kingdom participate in the program.

To register, visit www .unitedwaytampabay.com/imaginationlibrary, e-mail ilibrary@hcplc.org, apply at any Hillsborough County Public Library branch or call (813) 272-5017.

Free companion programs also are available for parents who need guidance regarding the best use of the books with their children. The next workshop will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 24 at the 78th Street Library, 7625 Palm River Road, Tampa.

Donations to the library may be made at www.united

waytampabay.com/ imaginationlibrary or by sending a check to United Way/Imagination Library, 5201 W. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 600, Tampa FL 33609.

Calling Old Cell Phones

RUSKIN - The Mary and Martha House receives several benefits from the donation of old cell phones.

"An organization called Shelter Alliance will recycle and refurbish old cell phones; many to be provided to victims of domestic abuse at no cost," said Jan Falcione, manager of the Mary and Martha House Thrift Store. "Others will be recycled for parts."

Shelter Alliance donates money to the Mary and Martha House, which offers women and their children emergency shelter, counseling, education and assistance finding employment.

Phones may be left at the Mary and Martha House administrative office, 1009 First St. S.W.

The thrift store, which benefits the shelter, is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.

For information, call Falcione at (813) 645-7874.

Democrats To Meet

SUN CITY CENTER - The SouthShore Democratic Club will get together at 1 p.m. for socializing and at 1:30 for the meeting Thursday in the North Clubhouse, 1900 Clubhouse Drive, Kings Point.

"All are welcome to attend," said Nate Bell, publicity chairman for the club.

The speaker, Allison Moreno, chairwoman of Pasco County Democrats, is a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. The convention, the role of superdelegates and the process by which she became a delegate will be in her presentation.

"Expectations are that the Florida and Michigan primary battles are to be resolved by the time of the meeting," Bell said.

For information, call Bell, (813) 642-8013.

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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