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WAVES Installs Officers, Changes Meeting Date, Place

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 3, 2008

BRANDON - The Tampa Bay WAVES Unit 55 has a new meeting day and venue. The group will meet the first Saturday of each month at Piccadilly Cafeteria, 1025 Brandon Blvd., W.

All women who serve or have served in any of the military sea services are invited to the next meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday.

New officers were elected in May and installed June 14 at a luncheon celebrating the 20th anniversary of the unit, which was chartered in the spring of 1988, said Jeannette Green of Brandon, the unit's new vice president.

Other new officers are Barbara J. McGuire of Brandon, president; Catherine Gerolimatos of Riverview, treasurer; and Ruby Homick of Apollo Beach, secretary.

At the installation meeting, member Joanne Nesmith received an award for her service as a Veterans Administration volunteer services representative.

McGuire introduced the Rev. Merle Strickland, whose stint as a sailor in the U.S. Navy was interrupted by a call to seminary, after which he returned to serve 20 years as chaplain. He came "with a story of special interest to these Navy women veterans," Green wrote in a recent e-mail.

In 1972, Strickland was serving at the Naval Officer Training Center in Newport, R.I., and was asked to write four lines for the Navy hymn "Eternal Father, Strong to Save." The original verses were written in 1860 by William Whiting, and other authors augmented the hymn in later years.

Strickland's lines, which honor past, present and future women of the sea services, read: "O God, protect the women who, in service, faith in thee renew; O guide devoted hands of skill, and bless their work within thy will."

For information about the unit, call Green at (813) 657-9164 or McGuire at (813) 571-2098.

Center Changes Name, Plans Gala

BRANDON - The Brandon Care Pregnancy Center is now LifeCare of Brandon, "reflecting the growth of the ministry," said Karen Brooks, a center counselor.

The center, which helps women facing unplanned pregnancies and works to prevent such pregnancies and help women heal after abortions, will hold a fundraising banquet called Gala of Hope from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 Franklin St. S., Tampa.

Author Scott Klusendorf, president of the Life Training Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo., will be the guest speaker. He has been a radio broadcast guest on James Dobson's "Focus on the Family" and on Billy Graham's "Hour of Decision."

Christian music recording artist Steve Green of Nashville will perform. He has sold more than 3 million albums; recorded more than a dozen Christian songs that climbed to the top of the music charts; received seven Dove awards, which honor Christian and gospel artists; and been nominated for four Grammy awards.

Green met his wife, Marijean, who grew up in Brandon, while both were singing in Roger Breland's band, Truth, in the late 1970s. When Steve Green joined the Gaither Vocal Band, Marijean sang backup.

Marijean Green graduated from Brandon High School, was Miss Brandon in 1976 and taught music at Buchanan Middle School in Tampa. Her parents, Jim and Mary McCarty, live in Brandon and work at ReMax Unlimited Realty.

Marijean Green will join her husband on stage at the banquet "to sing at least one song," Mary McCarty said. "It will be so wonderful! God has just been wonderful to them. Steve is a faithful servant and a wonderful artist."

"There is no charge for the banquet; it is completely underwritten," said Brooks, the banquet coordinator. But since the gala is a fundraiser, an appeal will be made and guests may donate any amount of money to help the center.

The staff at LifeCare helps mothers and fathers during pregnancy and after their children are born. Services include pregnancy testing, adoption support, post-abortion support groups and help healing from other traumas. The Tender Loving Care Program gives women and couples the option to earn "mommy dollars" to purchase baby items in exchange for participating in counseling sessions, Bible studies or classes in childbirth, infant care and creating a family.

For information about the banquet or making a donation, contact Brooks at (813) 654-0491 or kbrookscpc@yahoo.com. For information about available services, e-mail BCPC@tampabay.rr.com, call (813) 654-0491 or go to www.brandoncpc.com.

Brandon Youth Theatre Offers Two Fall Shows

VALRICO - Brandon Youth Theatre will hold auditions Sept. 11 at New Life Church, 2802 State Road 60 E. Auditions for the scholastic version of "Charlotte's Web" for students in first through sixth grade will take place at 5 p.m.; auditions for "Disney's Aladdin Jr." for students in seventh through 12th grades will be at 6:30 p.m.

Karen Kimbro will direct both casts' rehearsals every Thursday evening. The shows will be performed Nov. 21 and 22.

Brandon Youth Theatre, founded in 1991 by Carolyn Scheuer of Riverview, focuses "not only on theater education, but also on building character and values in the students," said Karis Denhoff of Plant City, president of the Brandon Youth Theatre board of directors. "Brandon Youth Theatre strives to offer a quality product without compromising a wholesome environment."

The board of directors includes Brandon residents Angie Reid, vice president; Carole Bradley, secretary; Sarah Dimonaco, treasurer; and Becky Morton, Ruth Dobler, Doreen Reysen and Phylis McBride.

Each child who participates will have a role based his or her experience and skills.

Tuition is $175 per student for either play. Sibling discounts are available.

To register, contact Denhoff at (813) 781-3842 or Denhoff @hotmail.com. Visit www.brandonyouththeatre .org for details.

It's Cool To Learn To Square Dance

BRANDON - Modern Square Dance lessons for singles, couples and families will be offered by the Bay Area Twirlers Square and Round Dance Club from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays beginning Sept. 11 at the Brandon Community Center, 502 Sadie St. E. The teacher will be Van Coble.

The first lesson is free; cost after that is $4 per person.

For information, call Bob Dehnbostel at (813) 689-5897 or Nancy Smik at (813) 754-8366.

Getting It Together After Age 55

BRANDON - St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, 3315 Bryan Road, will present a nine-week class called "Getting Your Life Together after 55" beginning at 7 p.m. Sept. 10.

Each week, speakers will discuss subjects such as health, finance, insurance, travel, safety and mental health.

An optional dinner at 6 p.m. costs $6 for adults, $4 for children or the salad bar only. Dinner is free for children under age 3. Child care is available by request.

For reservations or information, call the church office at (813) 689-6849 or go to www.StAndrewsBrandon.org.

Adult Education Class Addresses Anti-Semitism

BRANDON - Rabbi Betsy Torop of Congregation Beth Shalom of Brandon will teach an adult education course exploring the roots and modern manifestations of anti-Semitism from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Sept. 16 and 23 at Beth Shalom, 706 Bryan Road, Brandon. She will lead a discussion about the Jewish community's response to anti-Semitism.

Preregistration is required. Nonmembers and members are welcome to attend.

To register or for information, call the synagogue at (813) 681-6547.

Snippets

BRANDON - The Riverview Garden Club will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Riverview Civic Center, 11020 Park Drive, Riverview. For information, call Marlene Kirst, president, at (813) 653-1459. ... H2U Health, Happiness 2 You will hold a fashion show featuring attire from Bon Worth of Sun City Center modeled by chapter members at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Classroom B at 260 Oakfield Medical Plaza, Brandon. For information, call H2U at (813) 684-3316. ... Adam Buzbee, Joe Desmarais and Bo Hurley, members of the Brandon Lions Club, along with 13-year-old Derrick Delgado of Brandon, gathered and organized school supplies and backpacks Aug. 13 at the Brandon Lions Clubhouse. A $500 donation from Office Depot funded the purchase of the supplies, which will be given to five local schools.

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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