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Couple Mark 60th Anniversary

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By BARBARA ROUTEN, Tribune correspondent

Published: January 2, 2008

BRANDON - Congratulations to Alex Jr. and Dolores Santana Martinez of Brandon, who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Dec. 21. Both were born in Tampa and met while attending George Washington Junior High School in Tampa.

They both also attended Hillsborough High School in Tampa, and Dolores graduated with the Class of 1944. Instead of finishing school and receiving a diploma, Alex answered the call of duty to his country and joined the Marines.

Upon his return in December 1946, they began dating and were married a year later at First Methodist Church in Tampa. Alex's brother, Richard Martinez, was best man; Robert Garcia and Jerry Garcia were groomsmen.

Olga Salgado was the matron of honor. Mary Lodato and Eva Acosta were bridesmaids. Acosta, a "friend of my mom and cousin of my dad, along with her husband, Ernest Rodriguez, still visit my parents every weekend," said Debra Rosenau, the Martinezes' only child.

Rosenau, her husband, Larry, and their two children, David and Laura, live in Brandon, around the corner from her parents.

After the Martinezes' wedding, they honeymooned in St. Augustine and Daytona Beach and then went to work at the American Can Company in Tampa.

"My dad worked there until the company closed in the early 1970s," Rosenau said. "My mom quit work when I was 5 to be a stay-at-home mom. ... I also attended George Washington Junior High and graduated from Hillsborough High."
Epilepsy Foundation Offers Scholarships

TAMPA - The Epilepsy Services Foundation is offering at least four scholarships to college, two for $500 and two for $1,000, to selected individuals. Applicants must have epilepsy or another disability, be a high school senior or college student and meet other requirements.

"The individuals will participate in a two-hour competition program in which they will be asked to develop a plan to solve a problem and present their solutions to a panel of judges," said Tom Orth, executive director of the foundation. "The judges will select the scholarship winners."

March 1 is the application deadline. For details, contact Orth at (813) 870-3414 or torth@epilepsyservices.com.

Scholarships Available For Amputees

RUSKIN - Ye Notorious Krewe of the Peg Leg Pirate has dug up another treasure - scholarships to help amputees who wish to attend college or trade or technical schools. Details and applications are available at www .peglegpirate.org.

The krewe's purpose is to help amputees, their families and organizations that assist amputees. Members provide services and equipment that can enhance the lives of amputees of any age.

For information, e-mail info@peglegpirate.org.

Council Provides Music, Meeting, Activities

BRANDON - The public is invited to the next meeting of the Greater Brandon Arts Council at 6:15 p.m. Jan. 14 at 322 W. Robertson St. A social at 6:15 p.m. will precede the 6:45 p.m. business meeting.

The council also will sponsor a gathering from 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 27 at Port City Java, 3330 Lithia-Pinecrest Road, Valrico. Roseville Fair, the husband and wife duo made up of Ron Gilbert and Jenny James of Brandon, will provide musical entertainment. Other activities also are being planned.

For information, e-mail info@brandonarts.org.

Bereavement Group To Start This Week

RUSKIN - St. Anne Catholic Church, 106 11th Ave., N.E., is forming a weekly bereavement group called Grief Share. The 13-week series will begin at 7 p.m. Monday in the Religious Education Building. Although it will be a Christian-oriented series, participants need not be Catholic.

Facilitators will start the evenings by showing videos featuring interviews with grief and recovery experts, dramatic re-enactments and personal stories about people grieving the death of someone they love. After watching the film, participants will discuss what they saw and their experiences.

For information about Grief Share, visit www.griefshare .org/about/. To register, call the parish office at (813) 645-1714.

Snippets

The public is invited to AARP Brandon Chapter 4442's meeting at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Brandon Recreation Center, 510 Sadie St. E., Brandon. The guest speaker will be criminal lawyer William R. Mumbauer. For information, call Mary Starling (813) 689-2890.

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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