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Free Writing Workshops Are Set By Author

Hoganson Media Relations

Alyssa, Lauren, and Becka Barlow, left to right, will perform March 6 at St. Andrew's United Methodist Church.

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By BARBARA ROUTEN

Tribune correspondent

Published: March 4, 2009

BRANDON - Two free writers' workshops will be presented by inspirational author Debora M. Coty of Seffner in March.

A Young Writers Workshop for kids and teens ages 12 to 18 will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Barnes and Noble, 122 Brandon Town Center Drive.

A workshop for adults will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. March 14 at the new Seffner-Mango Library, 410 N. Kingsway Ave. Refreshments will be provided.

Coty's road to publication grew out of her childhood love of books, such as Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time" and Catherine Marshall's "Christy." As a grown-up, in the midst of a dual career as occupational therapist and piano teacher, she taught herself how to write by reading books about grammar, punctuation and writing styles.

Along her writing journey, she learned to wait, edit - a four-letter word, be a little different and be brave.

Details about Coty are available at www.DeboraCoty.com.

For information about the Young Writers Workshop, call Barnes and Noble at (813) 661-9883. For details about the workshop for adults, call the Seffner-Mango Library at (813) 273-3652.

BarlowGirl To Perform

BRANDON - The award-winning group of sisters known as BarlowGirl, immortalized by the Superchick song called "BarlowGirl," will perform at 7 p.m. Friday in the sanctuary of St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, 3315 Bryan Road.

The sisters back themselves up on guitars, keyboards and drums as they sing tight, modern harmonies. They call themselves "radical girls for God" and punch out a strong message of hope in God, purity and chaste love through their lyrics and the driving beats of their songs.

A Christian band from Oldsmar called Point 04, three guys and a girl ranging in age from 15 to 21, also will play.

The concert will benefit Steppin' Stone Farm in Lithia, a residential home for teenage girls who are learning personal responsibility and accountability to change their futures.

People who would like to donate something extra to Steppin' Stone Farm may bring gift cards in any denomination from Home Depot and Lowe's.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and may be purchased online at steppin

stonfarm.eventbrite.com.

For information about this or other youth programs at the church, call (813) 689-6849, Ext. 217, or visit www.StAndrewsBrandon.org.

Celebration Includes Carnival, Cowboy Play

BRANDON - Purim, a Jewish holiday about Queen Esther saving her people from the evil Haman, will be celebrated with a carnival and play at Congregation Beth Shalom, 706 Bryan Road.

The public is invited to the annual Purim carnival from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the synagogue, where there will be games, face painting, nail polishing, a moon walk, a hamantaschen-eating contest hamantaschen are tri-cornered, filled pastries, hot dogs, popcorn and prizes.

Advance admission is $5 per person, up to $20 maximum per family. Tickets may be purchased by calling the synagogue at (813) 681-6547 or from Greg and Carol Balent at monkeyandwife@yahoo.com. Ticket prices at the door are $6 per person, $22 per family.

Area residents also are invited to saddle up their proverbial horses and trot over to a free Purim commemoration at 7 p.m. Monday at the synagogue. Rabbi Betsy Torop will kick off the evening by reading the Megillah, the scroll that gives the traditional account of Queen Esther. The event will culminate with a presentation of "Chai Noon," a unique, original, western-style version of the story.

"Come and listen to the well-known story of Esther, Mordechai, Haman, King Ahashveros, Vashti and all the wonderful characters as they come to life before your eyes wearing cowboy hats and speaking with a delightful western twang," said Lauren Shaw, publicity director for the congregation. "Y'all don't want to miss this year's play!"

For information, call at (813) 681-6547.

School Choirs Celebrate America

BRANDON - Students in the choir programs of four local high schools recorded songs in November for composer Tim Janis' PBS special, "Celebrate America," which will be broadcast at 6 p.m. Sunday on WEDU during the station's fundraising telethon.

Viewers will see and hear students of Marilyn Nicholson, director of the Brandon High School choral program, singing Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," director Robert Knabel's students from East Lake High School crooning "Danny Boy," students of Elizabeth Stewart of Riverview High School performing Noel Paul Stookey's "The Wedding Song," and Newsome High School's students, under the direction of Jeffrey Bogue singing Samuel A. Ward's "America the Beautiful."

Riverview resident Eliza Nicholson, a Brandon High School choir member and the director's daughter, said, "It was really fun to see how a recording session works and how it starts and stops. It was so exciting. We thought Janis would be really hard to please, but he told us, 'That's great!'"

Andrea Prescott, public affairs director for the Tim Janis Ensemble, collected comments from four students. She said Andrew Holz of Brandon High School liked the experience and felt more a part of his country and more pride as an American.

Sunni Packard, another Brandon Eagle, said it "will make a huge difference for people to hear the youth of their community do a good thing as opposed to bad, for it will put them in a good light." Brandon High School's Deandre Jordan said "the theme is to celebrate America, to be proud to be an American, and that we have liberties that different countries don't have."

Sara Higger of East Lake High School added a different perspective. "This should bring everyone together despite their political views," she said, "because everyone likes music."

Scout Earns Eagle Rank

BRANDON - Local Boy Scout Luke Anthony Villareal, member of the Gulf Ridge Council Troop 267 - which meets as part of the Seffner Ward congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1412 John Moore Road - was officially recognized as an Eagle Scout at a court of honor Nov. 29.

"There's a lot that stands out about him," said Scoutmaster Chris Clayton. "He's confident, smart and knows how to take charge when needed. He has the ability to be a leader - all the boys in the troop look up to him. ... He has tons of talents and is an all-around good guy."

The service project Villareal chose was a cleanup of Rotary's All Person's Playground, 800 S. Parsons Ave., a park accessible to people of all abilities. Thirty-nine people turned out to help spruce up the play space.

Villareal, a senior at Durant High School, plans to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before attending college.

St. Patrick's Day Ribs For Kids

BRANDON - 'Tis fittin' to be servin' corned beef on St. Paddy's Day, but this year, why not support the Epilepsy Services Foundation and order a slab of barbecued ribs, instead?

Request any number of slabs on or before Monday and pick them up between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. March 14 in the COSTCO parking lot, 10921 Causeway Blvd.

Certified Master Barbecue Chef Tommy Pate and his assistants will grill the slabs on-site. Buyers may choose barbecue sauce or rub.

Proceeds from the St. Patrick's Day Ribs for Kids Fest will benefit the foundation, which helps people with epilepsy receive better care and treatment.

Each slab costs $20. To order, call Tom Orth, the foundation's executive director, at (813) 870-3414, Ext. 5, or e-mail him at torth@epilepsyservices.com.

StrawBerry Ridge Art Fair

VALRICO - The StrawBerry Ridge retirement community will hold its first-ever Art Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Activity Center, 509 StrawBerry Ridge Blvd.

The free show will feature pieces in varied media, including oils, watercolors and acrylics, created by StrawBerry Ridge residents. The public is invited to view the works of art.

For details, contact Wilma Hall at (813) 689-8788 or Carol Helmer at (813) 653-0151.

Sorority Holds Book Sale

BRANDON - More than 1,000 books will be available at the annual Alpha Delta Kappa honorary teachers' organization book sale from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 609 S. Sylvan Drive. Paperback books will be 50 cents each or three for $1; hardbacks, $1 each.

At noon, brown paper shopping bags donated by Publix Super Markets may be stuffed full of books and purchased for $2.

The book sale, held during the yearly Brandon Hills Neighborhood Yard Sale, helps fund a $1,000 college scholarship that Alpha Delta Kappa will award to a local high school senior with plans to become a teacher.

For details about the sale, scholarship requirements or book donations, call Judy Moore at (813) 685-3923.

Making Waves For Homeless Vets

TAMPA - Members of the Tampa Bay WAVES Unit 55, including President Barbara J. McGuire and Treasurer Cathy Gerolimatos, recently visited the Athena House in Ybor City with Betsy Waddell, the Florida State Director of WAVES National.

Athena House opened officially in January as part of the Athena Female Veteran Transitional Housing Program sponsored by Tampa Crossroads. The facility, which can accommodate 16 women, is home to residents who receive assistance readjusting to civilian life, including counseling and job coaching.

The WAVES unit also will hold a regular meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday at the AMVETS Post 44, 318 Pauls Drive, Brandon. Any woman who serves or served honorably in the Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Navy, Navy Nurse Corps, Maritime Service or reserve components is welcome to attend.

For information, contact Jeannette Green, publicity coordinator, at (813) 657-9164.

Student Excels At Oxford College

OXFORD - Congratulations to Tiffany Haynes of Riverview, daughter of Johnny Anthony Haynes of Riverview and Maj. Rochelle L. Haynes of D'Iberville, Miss. Tiffany, a student of Oxford College of Emory University in Oxford, Ga., achieved the distinction of being named to Oxford's Merit List for the 2008 fall semester.

Ballerina Princess For A Day

BRANDON - Some girls dream of being ballerina princesses. Here's a chance to do just that! Girls ages 4 through 7 are invited to the very first Be a Ballerina Princess from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Brandon Ballet, 161 Bloomingdale Ave., E.

Girls may arrive in their own princess costumes or put on real ballerina tutus and ballet slippers at the studio. They will be taught dance steps for a special ballet by professional ballerinas Shelby Fowler, Lisa Hunter and Yaima Franco, under the artistic direction of Alice Holden Bock and Claire Andrews. Parents may watch the girls' adventure through a viewing window.

The girls will make crafts, decorate cupcakes and have their faces painted. Each will take home a souvenir photo and treat bag.

"What a wonderful way to meet a ballerina up close in her pointe shoes," said Bock.

Tickets are $15 per child.

Call (813) 684-4282 or visit www.brandonballet.org.

Snippets

"Jewish Answers to Difficult Questions," presented by Rabbi Betsy Torop, will be held on four Tuesday evenings, Tuesday, and March 17, 24 and 31, at Congregation Beth Shalom, 706 Bryan Road, Brandon. Contact the synagogue office at (813) 681-6547 for details and reservations. ... Congratulations to Robert and Priscilla Brinkman for their 40 years of marriage.

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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