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Good Deeds Begin With Bagels

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 7, 2008

BRANDON - After munching a bagel breakfast at Congregation Beth Shalom in Brandon, more than 90 members and their families spent Mitzvah Day on March 30 helping people, organizations and animals throughout Brandon and South Shore.

Mitzvah Day is observed annually nationwide by people with a desire to make a difference in their communities. Dale Kahn of Valrico organized the event at Congregation Beth Shalom.

Many people told him how wonderful it felt to give something back to the community.

"It's great to see participants of all ages, including whole families, work on a project together," Kahn said.

Some were assigned to serve lunch to children, others performed landscaping magic or made cards for seniors and shut-ins. Some volunteers helped four-legged friends by cleaning up yards or playing with cats and dogs at Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort in Ruskin.

The congregation's rabbi, Betsy Torop, said, "As Jews, we feel a strong sense of responsibility to be actively engaged in helping the community in which we live, and Mitzvah Day is a wonderful way to put that belief into action."

Jeffrey and Lauren Shaw of Lithia and sons Jordan and Justin; Roberta Peterson of Brandon and children Allyson and Jared; Carolyn Miller of Brandon; and Jeffrey Goodman of Lithia worked at the CARE event.

"It makes me feel good to be able to help the dogs and cats at the shelter," said Justin Shaw, a fourth-grader at Congregation Beth Shalom's religious school. "I definitely will do this again next year."

For information about joining this and other social activities at Congregation Beth Shalom, call the synagogue at (813) 681-6547.

Paratrooper Drops In For Son's Football Game

BRANDON - As about 350 fans and players eagerly awaited the start of the April 17 Brandon Academy football game against LLT Academy, three members of the U.S. Special Operations Command parachute team from MacDill Air Force Base dropped in.

Literally.

Col. Vincent Savino, a U.S. Air Force combat rescue officer and father of Brandon Academy varsity football player Zach Savino; Col. Hans Bush of U.S. Army Special Forces; and Cmdr. David Culpepper, a U.S. Navy fighter pilot, jumped from about 12,500 feet, free-falling at more than 120 mph before deploying parachutes and completing maneuvers and landing on Brandon Academy's athletic field.

Zach's mother, Maria Savino, who helped arrange the event, "narrated each step of the way," said Brandon Academy lower-school Principal Sondra Cliggitt.

"As they were doing certain maneuvers, she would describe what was happening."

Cliggitt said Bush and Culpepper carried American and POW-MIA flags as they dropped in, and Savino brought a football.

The Brandon Academy Scorpions junior varsity and varsity football season began April 1. The teams compete in the Brandon-Christian Athletic League against teams from local schools, including St. Stephen Catholic School in Riverview, Florida College Academy in Temple Terrace and Bell Shoals Baptist Academy in Brandon.

Students Present Junior 'Alice in Wonderland'

VALRICO - Fifth-graders in Lithia Springs Elementary School's Musical Drama Club will

Disney's "Alice in Wonderland Junior" at 6:45 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and May 15 and 16 in the school's multipurpose room, 4332 Lynx Paw Trail, Valrico.

"This is a play that is an annual tradition here at Lithia Springs Elementary School," said Deanne Waite, publicity coordinator for the show. "Only fifth-graders are allowed to participate. They work hard all year long after school, beginning in September, and it is always a wonderful show."

Lecia McCarty, fifth-grade language arts teacher, and Orin Linder, music teacher, have volunteered their time after school to direct the show, with the support of Principal MaryAnn Keene.

"It really is a great experience for the kids," Waite said. "The shows have amazing costumes, sets and special effects. This particular play promises to be very funny."

Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at 6 p.m. before showtime. For information, call the school office at (813) 744-8016.

Master Gardener To Address Garden Club

RIVERVIEW - The Riverview Garden Club invites people with gardens of every size and variety to a presentation by a Hillsborough County master gardener at 10 a.m. May 14 at the Riverview Civic Center, 11020 Park Drive, Riverview.

Guests are asked to bring a dish to share at a potluck lunch after the meeting.

For information, call Gale Lee, the club's president, at (813) 685-3988.

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

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