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New Foreign Exchange Students Arrive As Others Head Home

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 10, 2008

RIVERVIEW - New American Field Service foreign exchange students arrived Aug. 16 in the South Shore and greater Brandon areas.

Phonlawat "Nae" Wittayarungrote of Thailand is staying with Jane Gilblair and attending Riverview High School. Vida Triamraktakul of Thailand is going to Bloomingdale High School while living at the home of Peter and Paula Lena. Japan's Sho Hattori is residing with Charles and Loretta Lieble while going to Brandon High School.

Jessica Ramsdell, daughter of Gary and Lee Ann Ramsdell of Lithia, left Aug. 20 to spend a year studying in Japan as an exchange student with the AFS program.

AFS students, 2007-08, shared a final meal June 29 at Cracker Barrel in Valrico before saying their goodbyes and flying home.

They were Newsome High School's Sophie Voggenberger of Austria, who lived at the Ramsdells' home; Freedom High School's Laila Bramb Tonam of Brazil, who stayed with the family of Dan and Jenny Buffington; Armwood High School's Pattaraporn Miw Somsak of Thailand, who lived with the Mike and Melody Pumphrey family; Robinson High School's Lirjie Uruqi of Switzerland, who resided at the home of Chris and Sara Kay; and East Lake High School's Kwankaew Jung Kangwansurakry of Thailand, who lived in Tarpon Springs with Mike and Amy Patterson.

The AFS organization is seeking students who would like to study abroad and families that would care to host students arriving in January. For information, call Lee Ann Ramsdell, (813) 412-2257.

"It really is a wonderful program that will change a family's life forever," Ramsdell said. "I was an exchange student 30 years ago and I am still close with my AFS family in Guatemala."
Sun City Center Woman's Club To Meet
SUN CITY CENTER - All Kings Point and Sun City Center women are invited to a meeting of the Sun City Center Woman's Club at 1 p.m. Sept. 18 in Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.

Jean Rideout, the newly elected president, will lead the meeting.

Rideout retired to Sun City Center in 2003 from northern Indiana, where she was director of human resources for Bendix (now Honeywell) Corp. She has operated her own antique business and continues to sell fur teddy bears and beaded jewelry.

Rideout and her husband, Keith, have been married 57 years and have a son, Brian, and daughter-in-law, Ruby, who live in South Bend, Ind.

For information about the woman's club, call Monica McPhillips, publicity chairwoman, at (813) 642-9157.

Remember Victory Gardens?

RUSKIN - An introduction to a new twist on the self-supporting victory gardens of the World War II years - organic gardening - will be presented by Willow LaMonte from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, at the South Shore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way.

"People have a lot of misconceptions about what it means to grow foods organically," said LaMonte, who is a member of the Florida Herb Society, the Florida Native Plant Society, the American Herbalists Guild and United Plant Savers. "It's not just about the absence of using synthetic petrochemicals, but also the fullness of something - growing in fertile, living soil using nature's wisdom."

For information, call the library at (813) 273-3652.

Patriots Club Plans Flag Fundraiser
SUN CITY CENTER - The Patriots Club will celebrate its fifth anniversary with a fundraising concert featuring Par for the Chorus at 2 p.m. Saturday at Community Hall, 1910 Pebble Beach Blvd., S.

Proceeds will keep flags flying along State Road 674. Tickets are $10.

For information call Uta Kuhn, president, (813) 642-9555, or Don Renwick, vice president, (813) 634-1794.

U.S. Constitution Topic Of Meeting
SUN CITY CENTER - The Col. George Mercer Brooke Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will begin the 2008-09 season Sept. 17 in the Florida Room, 955 North Course Lane.

The corresponding secretary of the Florida State DAR, Pat Blaga, will talk about the U.S. Constitution.

Hostesses Catherine Goodrich, Dorothy Molnar and Mary McIntyre will serve refreshments starting at 1 p.m. The meeting will begin at 1:30.

Chapter members, DAR members of other chapters and women interested in joining the organization are welcome to attend.

For information, call Beverly Engles, vice regent, (813) 633-4059.

Center Changes Name, Holds Gala of Hope

BRANDON - The Brandon Care Pregnancy Center has changed its name to LifeCare of Brandon.

The center, which helps women in the greater Brandon area with unplanned pregnancies, is focused on prevention, intervention and restoration - helping women heal.

The facility will host a fundraising banquet, the Gala of Hope, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa.

Author Scott Klusendorf, president of the Life Training Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo., will be the guest speaker.

"There is no charge for the banquet; it is completely underwritten," said Karen Brooks, who also is the banquet coordinator. However, it is a fundraiser, so after the dinner and program, an appeal will be made and guests may donate whatever they want.

For information about the banquet or making a donation, call Brooks at (813) 654-0491 or e-mail kbrookscpc@yahoo.com.

For information about available services, e-mail BCPC@tampabay.rr.com, call (813) 654-0491 or go to www.brandoncpc.com.

Chorus Invites Men To Warm Those Vocal Cords
SUN CITY CENTER - South Shore area men are invited to join the Sun City Center Men's Chorus at rehearsals from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1239 W. Del Webb Blvd.

Chuck Wirick directs; Thelma Roggenkemper accompanies. No auditions are necessary.

The first concert will be 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Aston Gardens at Sun City Center, 1311 Aston Gardens Court, Sun City Center.

For information, call Dora Murray, (813) 634-7959.

Snippets

United Community Church, 1501 La Jolla Ave., Sun City Center, will present a free showing of the movie "A Beautiful Mind" at 1 p.m. today. For information, call Hazel Martin, (813) 642-9020. ... Members of Congregation Beth Shalom of Brandon, including Lithia residents Errol Fishman and Jordan Davis, set up a blue-and-white booth at the annual back-to-school event in August in FishHawk Ranch. They shared with attendees about the congregation and the services and programs it offers. Information about attendance at High Holy Day services and other upcoming activities is available by calling (813) 681-6547 or going to www .bethshalom-brandon.org.

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

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