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Charity Ride Raises $2,500 For Veterans' Program

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 1, 2008

BRANDON - The AMVETS Riders of Brandon AMVETS Post 44 held a charity ride Sept. 13 from the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa to the post in Brandon. Entry fees raised about $2,500 for the hospital's Veterans Recreational Service Fund, said Richard Karczewski, president of the AMVETS Riders, who also served as chairman of the event.

Upon their return to the post, the 160 riders feasted at a pig roast, which was organized by Tim Winter, commander of the post's Sons of Veterans group. Four bands played during the day, and lucky winners won a booty of prizes.

For information about the post, call (813) 651-4444.

Author Talks About What It Means To Be Catholic

VALRICO - Scott Hahn, internationally known speaker and author of books on Catholicism, the Bible and Christianity, including "Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain and Defend the Catholic Faith," will speak about what it means to be Catholic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 25 at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 5049 Bell Shoals Road, Valrico. Lunch will be provided.

Hahn served as a Protestant minister for 10 years before joining the Catholic Church in 1986. He and his wife, Kimberly, have six children. Hahn teaches the Bible and theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.

Tickets are $25 per person and may be purchased from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at the church office and after weekend Masses. They also may be ordered by sending a check made out to St. Stephen Catholic Church and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to St. Stephen Catholic Church, Attn: Doug Tam, 5049 Bell Shoals Rd, Valrico, FL 33596.

For more information, contact the church office at (813) 689-4900.

Newcomers Announce New Officers

The Brandon Newcomers Club announces new officers for the new year. They are Miriam Smith, president; Hilda Hiner, vice president; Pat Fuller-Gardner, secretary; Esther Varon, treasurer; and Jessie Stanford, member-at-large. MaryLee Van Valkenburg will continue serving as historian.

The Brandon Newcomers Club connects longtime residents with new arrivals to help the newcomers learn their way around the area and create new friendships. They meet in small groups at various times for activities such as Bunco, book discussions, dining out, gourmet luncheons and gardening.

Rotarians, Cub Scouts Hit Historical Trail

Members of the Brandon '86 Rotary Club and more than 30 Scouts from Cub Scout Pack 61 hit the trail - the Brandon historical trail - Aug. 29.

They visited and learned about the old Brandon Family Cemetery, the Brandon family homestead - now Stowers Funeral Home, Limona Cemetery, Brandon School - now McLane Middle School, the Brandon plaque and the Brandon Masonic Lodge before ending their excursion at the Rotary's All-Person's Playground.

Honorary Brandon '86 Rotary member Latour "LT" Lafferty said the club "is committed to instilling stronger historical ethics in future generations," so members were pleased to travel with the pack.

For information about Rotary International, visit www.rotary.org. For information about the Brandon '86 Rotary Club, visit www.Brandon86 Rotary.com.

WAVES Unit To Meet Saturday

Tampa Bay WAVES Unit 55 will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at Piccadilly Cafeteria, 1025 State Road 60 W., Brandon. Active-duty and retired women of the military sea services are invited to attend and eligible for membership.

For information, call Jeannette Green, vice president, at (813) 657-9164.

Sponsors Needed For Kiwanis Tournament

The Greater Brandon Kiwanis Foundation invites local businesses and individuals to support the Kiwanis Terrific Kids program by becoming sponsors of the Terrific Kids Golf Tournament to be held beginning at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 30 at River Hills Country Club, 3943 New River Hills Pkwy., Valrico.

The Terrific Kids program presents awards to 800 children each month and conducts leadership development programs at 24 Brandon area schools.

The foundation will accept donations for door prizes, team awards, a silent auction and goodie bags.

Cost is $100 per person and includes lunch, dinner, greens fees, carts, awards, prizes and drinks. A $120 special player package includes additional contest opportunities.

The deadline for donations, sponsorships and tournament registration is Thursday.

For information, call Gena Schaffer at (813) 546-5043 or Wayne McKenney at (813) 767-4682.

Stagedoor Presents "The Taffetas"

Stagedoor Performing Arts will present "The Taffetas" at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday in the fellowship hall at Limona Village Chapel, 408 Limona Road, Brandon.

The story follows a fictitious 1950s-era musical group of four sisters from Muncie, Ind., who appear for the first time on television. Black-and-white television, of course. The music is reminiscent of girl groups like The McGuire Sisters.

Tickets are $12 per person, $10 for seniors and students. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at www.ticketleap.com.

Epilepsy Services Offers Family Retreat

TAMPA - Epilepsy Services of West Central Florida invites West Central Florida families affected by epilepsy to a family retreat weekend Nov. 14-16 at Camp Boggy Creek, 30500 Brantley Branch Road, Eustis.

"The weekend is designed to provide a therapeutic respite for the entire family while strengthening the physical, mental and social health of the children and family members," said Thomas Orth, executive director of Epilepsy Services of West Central Florida.

The camp is affiliated with Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for children with serious medical conditions.

Scholarship applications for the retreat weekend are available from Epilepsy Services. For information, call (813) 870-3414, ext. 5, or write to Orth at torth@epilepsyservices.com.For information about Camp Boggy Creek, visit www.boggycreek.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 @tampabay.rr.com or call (813) 657-4531.

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