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Sorority Takes A Look Back, Ahead

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 17, 2008

BRANDON - As the Laureate Epsilon Beta Brandon Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi started its new year at the annual Beginning Day luncheon Aug. 23, members reflected on the accomplishments of the past year and plans for the future.

Members present included Jeannette Wentworth, Babs Prudente, Amelia Pounds, Carol Fezzey, President Sue Vaughn, Jule Simmons, Mary Lee Bentley, Vice President Hilda Hiner, Jessie Stanford, Liz Blyth, Marjorie Jirovec, Jo Anderson, Phyllis Gavlek and Rose McGrath.

At a dinner June 24 at Hiner's house, three new members, Jirovec, Stanford and McGrath, received a symbolic yellow rose and a Ritual of Jewel pin.

This year, Fezzey was awarded the Order of the Rose and chosen Sweetheart Queen. Hiner achieved the Laureate Degree; and Vaughn was selected Woman of the Year.

The chapter helped host the 2008 Beta Sigma Phi Florida State Convention in Tampa. About 500 members from around the state attended the weekend.

The chapter also donated school supplies to Seffner Elementary School, food to the Nativity Outreach Food Pantry and Food Bank and baby supplies to the Brandon Care Pregnancy Center, now called LifeCare of Brandon.

"Rekindle the Torch of Friendship" is the theme for the chapter for 2008-09. The women plan to send care packages to soldiers abroad, donate to area women's and homeless shelters, make Thanksgiving dinner for a local family and offer support for the family of sisters Heaven and Trinity McIntyre of Seffner. They are living with Leigh's disease, a genetic disorder that involves nervous-system degeneration.

For information about the service-oriented sorority, visit www.betasigmaphi.org.

1st Letter Carrier, Wife Celebrate Milestone

Brandon's first letter carrier, Luther Sands, a native of Tampa, and Irene Tanner, who grew up in Sydney, recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 11, 1946, at Broadway Baptist Church in Tampa.

Luther Sands attended Franklin Junior High School and Brandon High School when E.F. McLane was principal. He left high school halfway through his senior year to go to work, but he went to night school and completed his degree in 1965. That was the same year his firstborn daughter, Sharon Sands Bitetto, graduated from Brandon High School.

He met his future wife at the Box Factory in Tampa, where his parents and her mother worked. It was the same place Luther Sands' parents and grandparents met their spouses. He proposed to Irene at the Million Dollar Pier in St. Petersburg, a popular gathering spot in the early- to mid-20th century that had a large, Spanish-style activities building that housed, among other things, a ballroom and drive-in hamburger joint.

The couple was active in the Brandon Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, Southside Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Brandon, where Luther was in charge of the Royal Ambassadors and Irene volunteered in the nursery. They still enjoy participating in the Brandon Old Timers Association's reunions with friends such as Nate Storms and Dick Stowers.

Luther Sands retired from the U.S. Post Office in 1978. He lives with his wife in Bushnell with four of their five children: Bitetto, Virginia Sands, Ronald Sands and Robert Sands. Another son, George Sands, lives in Seffner.

"They have a great devotion to each other," said Bitetto, musing about her folks' long-lasting marriage. "They're very loving, and we're a united, close-knit family. Everyone's always there for each other."

The Simple Life Topic Of Services

VALRICO - Everyone is invited to learn how to live the Simple Life at worship services at 9:15 and 10:45 a.m. every Sunday in October and November at South Brandon Worship Center, 4929 Bell Shoals Road. The services are part of the celebration of the church's 20th anniversary.

The services will offer tips on getting and staying out of debt, staying healthy, living married happily, simple parenting and time management. Visitors will have a chance to enjoy music, dramatic performances, free food and gifts.

For information, call the church office at (813) 661-2273, ext. 221, or visit www.southbrandon.org.

Tribute Planned By Veterans Council

TAMPA - The Veterans Council of Hillsborough County invites the public to a tribute to American prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Veterans Memorial Park and Museum, 3602 U.S. 301 N.

Tents and cold drinks will be provided. For details, call Dave Braun at (813) 310-8513.

Food To Be Distributed To Poor, Hungry

SEFFNER - Cynthia Pinckney Ministries will offer free food and clothing to the area's poor and homeless from noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Able Body Labor, 12006 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd..

During the last such outreach Aug. 16, volunteers served hot meals to 47 men, 25 women and 15 children and distributed clothes, shoes, toiletries, canned goods and 38 bags of groceries.

"Many people are in a greater need now," Pinckney said in a recent e-mail. "We are seeing more family units come out than ever before."

She said the ministry, with help from another local ministry, "was able to rescue a mother and son from sleeping on the streets and put them in a motel until permanent housing is found through the Homeless Recovery Program."

That program, part of the Division of Social Services of Hillsborough County, provides shelter, food, bus passes, utilities and help job hunting for people who are able and willing to work toward becoming independent.

The ministry's fifth annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, at the Boys and Girls Club Bill Carey Brandon Unit, 213 Knights Ave., N.,

Donations are needed to buy food for the dinner and may be mailed to Cynthia Pinckney Ministries, P.O. Box 1079, Seffner FL 33583. A local caterer will prepare the meals free of charge.

For those who wish to donate food instead of money, a full list of items needed can be found at www.cynthia pinckneyministries.org. \

Items on that list may be dropped off at Music Showcase, 402 Oakfield Drive, Brandon, or the Brandon Regional Hospital marketing department, 286 Moon Ave. S.

People who wish to serve Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners must attend a training class. So far, 110 volunteers have been trained. Pinckney hopes another 150 people will volunteer.

The last two training sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 27 and Oct. 25 in the fellowship hall at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 402 Lumsden Road E., Brandon. Lunch and drinks will be provided.

Preregister by calling (813) 571-1556 or e-mailing cp@cynthiapinckney ministries.org.

Hundreds of people helped out last year, Pinckney said.

"We were so blessed. There has been such an outpouring of the community by different groups, organizations and individuals. ... For some it was their first time having a direct conversation with someone who is homeless," she said.

Feeding and clothing the destitute is helpful, she said, but "their emotional needs tend to be much greater. I want our volunteers to know what to expect and how to respond, making it a more enjoyable experience for our volunteers and guests.

"If people can't make it to the training classes, there are plenty of other ways they can help out," Pinckney said. "They can help set up for the dinners the night before or break down. They can come to the storage to help sort and pack.

" They just need to call me at (813) 571-1556."

American Legion Hosts Golf Tourney

DOVER - The Alafia American Legion Post 148 in Riverview invites area golfers to its annual golf tournament Oct. 4 at Diamond Hill Golf and Country Club, 13115 Sydney Road.

Sign up is at 7:30 a.m. A shotgun start is at 8 a.m.

There will be cash prizes for first, second, third and last places.

The cost is $50 per player; proceeds will benefit American Legion charity programs.

To sign up, visit the post or call (813) 677-6529.

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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