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One-Man Show Portrays Civil Rights Leader

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By BARBARA ROUTEN, Tribune correspondent

Published: January 9, 2008

Updated: 01/07/2008 09:55 pm

BRANDON - The public is invited to a free one-man show by writer, director and performer Bob Devin Jones of St. Petersburg at 2 p.m. Sunday at Brandon Regional Library, 619 Vonderburg Drive. Jones will portray Harry T. Moore, generally considered the first civil rights martyr in America, the night before he was killed and his wife, Harriette, was fatally injured by a bomb exploding under the floor of their bedroom on Christmas Day 1951, in Mims.

Moore, a schoolteacher and principal of the Titusville Colored School in Brevard County, pursued equal pay for teachers regardless of skin color. He worked for the Progressive Voters League and led voter registration drives that greatly increased the number of eligible black voters in the state.

Moore founded a Brevard County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1934 and became a full-time activist for the civil rights organization. He researched crimes and accusations against blacks and called for federal investigations. He fought against lynchings, police brutality and inequities in the criminal justice system and supported the right of blacks to vote in primary elections.

These activities led to a conspiracy and the ultimate crime against the Moores, according to the results of a 2005-06 inquiry ordered by then-Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist.

Jones graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and studied at the American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art of London. His shows have been performed throughout Europe and the United States. He serves as artistic director of Studio @ 620 in St. Petersburg, and he is resident director of the Lowcountry Shakespeare Festival in Beaufort, S.C.

For information about the show, sponsored by the Friends of the Brandon Library, call Jim Graves, senior librarian for adult programming, at (813) 744-5352.
WAVES Unit To Hold Elections

BRANDON - Members of the Tampa Bay WAVES Unit 55 will vote for officers and revise bylaws at the group's monthly meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Golden Corral restaurant, 815 Providence Road. Any woman who serves or served honorably in military sea services - Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, Maritime Service or their reserves - is invited to attend.

"Come join a group dedicated to honoring our country and our military veterans," said Jeannette Green, secretary and unit publicity chairwoman.

For information, call Green at (813) 657-9164 or Barbara J. McGuire at (813) 571-2098.

Coffee, Restaurants Topics Of Meeting

BRANDON - The Brandon Newcomers Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 16 at Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association, 619 Vonderburg Drive. Robert C. McEachnie will speak about coffee and restaurant trends in the United States. McEachnie recently sold Valrico Bros. Coffee Company and became the chief executive officer of Hungry Planet, "a cozy, classy new restaurant concept being launched across the U.S. It's Starbucks meets Panera Bread gone gourmet," says the club's newsletter.

Also to be featured at the meeting will be member Hazel Petrick, who worked for the American Red Cross while on active duty in the Army, serving in North Africa and Italy in the 1940s.

"She is also going to teach us the etiquette of the American flag," said Miriam L. Smith, club vice president.

The club's Opinionated Ladies will meet at 10 a.m. Jan. 23 at a member's home. For details, call Miriam Smith at (813) 624-4949. Gals' Night Out will include a meal and begin at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 24 at Cody's Original Roadhouse, 1414 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon.

The Gardening Group will attend the Pinellas Folk Festival on Jan. 26.

"We will see the Shirley McPherson Nature Trail, 28 historic structures and a great outdoor living history museum on 21 acres in Largo," said Marcia Hunter, group chairwoman.

For details, attend the club meeting Jan. 16 or call Hunter at (813) 657-2305.

The Newcomers Club's book club will read and review Richard Russo's "Bridge of Sighs" Jan. 30.

"It is a novel filled with vivid characters and mysteries of the human heart," said Betty Cocchiola, club chairwoman. Call Anna Hensley at (813) 654-2029 for information, location and directions.

Dinner Dance Features Mystery Door Prizes

LITHIA - The public is invited to St. Stephen Catholic Church's 20th Anniversary Dinner Dance from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Palmetto Club at FishHawk Ranch, 17004 Dorman Road, Lithia. Outback Steakhouse will serve dinner, which will be followed by music, dancing and mystery door prizes.

Tickets are $60 per person. Reservations may be made for tables of eight. For tickets, contact Rick Hughes at (813) 657-0343 or r.hughes@ieee .org, or John Laughman at (813) 661-3987 or john.laughman @verizon.net.

Snippets

South Shore Sound Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, is seeking new members. Rehearsals are at 7 p.m. Mondays at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1239 Del Webb Blvd. W., Sun City Center. Visit www.southshoresound.org or call Terry Cox, public relations chairwoman, at (813) 786-9418.

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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