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Scout Sets Eco-Friendly Seminar

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 17, 2008

RUSKIN - Janet Zicht, daughter of Bob and Karen Zicht of Tampa and an Ambassador Girl Scout in the Sunset ScoutsService Unit of the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Council, invites the public to a free workshop on Florida Eco-Friendly Landscaping related to her Girl Scout Gold Award project.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 27 at Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center, 4140 24th St., S.E., Ruskin.

Zicht has been in scouting 11 years and is a senior and member of the Future Farmers of America at Freedom High School. She chose the project after reading a newspaper article about the decline of monarch butterfly habitat that "suggested ways the public could make a difference," said Zicht.

"My Gold Award project will promote Florida eco-friendly landscaping techniques with the use of Florida native plants while conserving water. The project benefits the entire community, including animals and the earth."

She plans to attend a college close to home and major in environmental science.

Church Adds New Stephen Ministry Leader
SUN CITY CENTER - United Community Church member Muriel Warren became a Stephen Ministry Leader after completing a week-long Stephen Series Leaders' Training Course in Orlando. Warren, who was commissioned as a Stephen Minister in April, 2007, joins the two other leaders in the church, the Rev. Lou Leone and Hazel Martin. They help lead the church's 16 other active Stephen ministers.

Before moving to Sun City Center with her husband, George, in 2006, Warren was an elementary school teacher, worked in sales and worked with needy children, ages 3 and older, focusing on awareness and prevention of abuse.

"She knew that she wanted to continue giving of her heart and time," said Martin. "The Stephen Ministry was perfect, as she would be helping people and using prayer."
Stephen Ministry empowers lay people, that is, nonclergy, to care for hurting people in the congregation. After 50 hours of training, the lay ministers are equipped to meet with and listen to people and respect and not judge them. Most importantly, they keep details of conversations confidential.

"Everyone goes through difficult times," said Martin, "and having a caring, Christian friend who will respect you and not judge your words or feelings can be a great blessing in your life."

For information, call Leone at (813) 634-8306.

Anglican Church Ordains Priest

RIVERVIEW - The Rev. Leroy "Chris" Gardner was ordained to the priesthood Aug. 23 at St. Matthews Anglican Church in Riverview.

Bishop Walter Grundorf of the Diocese of the Eastern United States of the Anglican Province of America presided. Ten priests concelebrated, including the Rev. William Perkins of St. Matthews.

About 100 friends and family members attended the celebration, including Gardner's wife, Georgetta; daughter Tracy Wilkerson of Riverview and her husband, Robert, and their children Kyle and Aubrey; and daughter Krista Morrison of Hilton Head and her daughter, Madelinn.

When Gardner went to the airport to pick up his younger brother, Frank Paul Gardner of Liberty Township, Ohio, he was pleasantly surprised to find not only Frank but also his other brother, Maurice Lee Wiggins of Maple Heights, Ohio.

"I didn't know my older brother was coming," said Gardner. Wiggins had been surprised, too, by his son, who bought him the ticket to fly to Florida for the ordination.

Gardner was raised Roman Catholic but joined the Lutheran Church when he got married. "My wife said, 'I'm not going to a Catholic church,' and I said, 'I'm not going to a United Church of Christ church her denomination," said Gardner. "We were both comfortable with the Lutheran church and stayed there for 26 years." He became one of the first Synodical Deacons in the church.

As the Lutheran Church became more contemporary in its worship style, Gardner longed to go back to tradition. He found it at St. Matthews about five years ago. There he met Perkins. Not long after they met, Perkins asked him to send in the papers for Holy Orders.

"I saw he had suitable gifts for ministry," said Perkins. "He was ordained first a deacon and then to the priesthood."

"All along the way, I felt God working in my life and guiding me," said Gardner. "It was a feeling, like when we were in the Lutheran Church, I felt Him calling me someplace else, and then I found St. Matthews.

"When we moved to Riverview, my wife said, 'We're in Florida now; we're settled. We're never going to move again,'" said Gardner. And yet when he was asked to be the vicar of the Anglican Church of the Redeemer in Hilton Head, S.C., she "felt Hilton Head was where we needed to be."

He gave his first blessing as a priest to his family. "It was overpowering - it really felt good," he said.

"I did okay when I was saying my first Mass Aug. 24 at St. Matthews. I was overjoyed; it felt good. But when I turned around and looked at the congregation, I got choked up. I was so grateful they wanted me to come here for my ordination."

Republican Club To Mix And Mingle
SUN CITY CENTER - The Greater Sun City Center Republican Club invites all Republicans and Independents to a candidate mix and mingle at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 25 in the Banquet Room of the Sun City Center Chamber of Commerce, 1651 Sun City Center Plaza.

At the gathering, candidates or current elected officials, such as State Reps. Seth McKeel, District 63, and Ron Reagan, District 67, and Hillsborough County commissioners Al Higginbotham, District 4, and Brian Blair, District 6, will "give our members the opportunity to mingle with them and discuss one-on-one their issue or concern," said Dee Williams, club president.

For information, call Williams, (813) 633-1360.

Mayoral Candidate To Hold Regal Affair

APOLLO BEACH - Mary Ann Wilhelm, one of three candidates for honorary mayor of Ruskin, will hold a "Regal Affair," including fun, food, entertainment and an artful silent auction from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25, in the lobby of M&I Bank, 5461 U.S. 41 N.

Tickets are $10 per person and available at Wilhelm Heating and Air Conditioning, 802 4th Street, S.W., Ruskin, or at the bank.

For information, call Wilhelm Heating and Air Conditioning at (813) 641-1811 or e-mail amadden34@earth link.net.

South Shore, Brandon- YMCAs Topic At Meeting

APOLLO BEACH - The Apollo Beach Civic Association invites all Apollo Beach residents to a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Apollo Beach Recreation Center, 664 Golf and Sea Blvd. Guest speaker Cindy Sofarelli, group vice president for the YMCA, will describe what the YMCA offers in the South Shore and greater Brandon areas and the possibility of a South Shore facility.

Sofarelli oversees four YMCA branches: the YMCA Express at FishHawk Ranch, YMCA Camp Cristina in Riverview, the Campo Family YMCA in Valrico and the Brandon Family YMCA in Seffner. She began working for the YMCA 17 years ago in Mississippi and moved to Alabama and Georgia before coming to the Tampa area eight years ago.

The Apollo Beach Civic Association meets monthly on the third Thursday to help residents stay abreast of issues that affect their quality of life.

For information, e-mail apollobchcivicassoc@tampa bay.rr.com.

Kiwanis To Hold Sidewalk Sale
SUN CITY CENTER - The Sun City Center Kiwanis Club invites the public to a sidewalk sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Sun City Center Chamber of Commerce, 1651 Sun City Center Plaza.

Nine-foot by 18-foot booths are available for $15 per day or $25 for both days. Proceeds benefit local schools and students.

For information, call Marvin Petersen, (813) 633-0172.

Bookworms Discuss 'Duty and Honor'
SUN CITY CENTER - A Sun City Center book club, Bookworms, welcomed author Michael J. Deeb of Sun City Center and a discussion of his book, "Duty and Honor," at the Aug. 26 meeting at Plaza West .

Deeb's love of history was the inspiration for "Duty and Honor," about a man and his family during the Civil War, said Monica McPhillips, publicity chairwoman for the club.

He signed copies and "discussed the interaction with editors and marketing strategy....and hinted at the sequel, which will be released soon," said McPhillips.

Kings Point Chorus Seeks Singers

KINGS POINT - Anyone in the Sun City Center area who loves to sing is invited to join the Kings Point Chorus, which rehearses from 1:45 to 3:30 p.m. Mondays in the East-West Social Rooms of the Kings Point Main Clubhouse, 1900 Clubhouse Drive, Sun City Center.

There are no auditions. Board members in 1988 voted that because it was a community chorus, members who sang off key would not be banned. Ever since that ruling, "poor Chuck Wirick has been teased about conducting off-key singers," said Dora Murray, publicity chairwoman.

Dues are $5. For information, call Murray, (813) 634-7959.

American Legion Hosts Golf Tourney

DOVER - The Alafia American Legion Post 148 in Riverview invites area golfers to its annual golf tournament Oct. 4, at Diamond Hill Golf and Country Club, 13115 Sydney Road.

Sign up is at 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 8. There will be cash prizes for first, second, third and last places.

The cost is $50 per player; proceeds benefit the American Legion charity programs.

To sign up, visit or call the post at (813) 677-6529.

Social Singles Ask, 'May I Have This Dance?'
SUN CITY CENTER - The Social Singles Dance Club invites senior singles, especially men, from the South Shore area, Kings Point, Sun City Center and Valencia Lakes to attend its dances from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday, and every first and third Sunday in the Florida Room, 955 North Course Lane.

Light refreshments will be available, and dancers may bring their own drinks. Thor will provide music, including rock and roll, waltzes, foxtrot, disco and salsa.

The cost is $3 per member and $5 per guest.

For information, call Becky Auld, (813) 634-6137.

Macintosh Users Club Will Resume Meetings

SUN - CITY CENTER - The Sun City Center Macintosh Users Club will resume its meeting schedule at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Caper Room, 945 North Course Lane. A Q&A will begin at 3 p.m.

Any user of a Macintosh or Apple product, not only computers, in the Sun City Center area is welcome.

For information, call Dunham Swift, (813) 633-7262, or Don Rawlings, (813) 634-7607.

Club Chooses Artist For September
SUN CITY CENTER - The Art Club of Sun City Center chose Theresa Buck as its September Artist of the Month.

She was art and layout editor for the quarterly magazine of Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania and created logos for businesses and designed posters for churches in Maryland and Georgia.

When she arrived in Sun City Center in 2002, she joined the art club and took lessons from Art Sarlin, Roberta Snyder and Virginia Laudano.

Her works are on display through September at the Sun City Center Library, the chamber of commerce, A.G. Edwards, the Golf and Racquet Club, the Visitors Center and in the showcase in front of the Art Room.

Harvest Colors Square Dance Planned
SUN CITY CENTER - The Sun City Center Swingers Square Dance Club invites area dancers to its Harvest Colors plus/mainstream square dance with prerounds beginning at 7 p.m. and plus dance with rounds at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Community Hall, 1910 Pebble Beach Blvd. S.

Mary Wiewiora cues and Van Coble calls.

Coble teaches a mainstream and plus workshop from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays in Community Hall. Friday Plus Dances are held Fridays, at which Wiewiora cues and Coble calls prerounds from 7 to 7:30 p.m. and plus dance with rounds from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

For details, call Gail Bouverat (813) 633-1297 or Sue Lynch (813) 633-8780.

Snippets

The Laureate Zeta Kappa Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the home of Mable Hill in Sun City Center. Vice President Mary Burback, in the absence of President Ginny Burrows, will meet there with the board at 7 p.m. A program about bacteria will be presented by Sonja Davidson. For information about the chapter, call Burback, (813) 634-3334.

"What Dreams May Come" will be the featured movie at 1 p.m. Sept. 24 at United Community Church, 1501 La Jolla Ave. in Sun City Center. A discussion of the movie will follow.

For information, call (813) 634-1304.

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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