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Brandon briefs: Candidates forum Oct. 20 at Balm Civic Center

By Times Staff Writer
In print: Friday, October 10, 2008

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BALM

Candidates invited to forum Oct. 20

The Balm Civic Association is sponsoring a candidates forum on Oct. 20. Candidates for county commissioner (Districts 4 and 6), U.S. representative (District 12), school board and county offices (supervisor of elections and property appraiser) have been invited. The forum is at 7 p.m. at the Balm Civic Center, 14747 Balm Wimauma Road.

The format will consist of statements from candidates, questions from the audience and candidates' closing remarks. Balm residents and people from surrounding areas are invited.

BRANDON & Ruskin

Family centers plan open house, festivals

The focus of the nonprofit Family Support & Resource Centers in Brandon and Ruskin is on the family with each offering community outreach, including tutoring, car seat safety and parent-child play groups.

The centers are run by the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County.

The Brandon center is at 1277 Kingsway Road.

Events there this month include an open house from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday with games, activities, refreshments and information on the center and other local agencies. Other events include story time from 11 a.m. to noon every Friday and a fall festival from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 25.

Call 740-4634 for more information.

The Ruskin center is at 201 14th Ave. SE and offers similar programs.

The schedule includes a bilingual playgroup at 10 a.m. Oct. 14, college and financial aid planning for eighth-graders and high school students from 2 to 4 p.m. every Thursday starting Oct. 16 and an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 25.

RIVERVIEW

Volunteers needed for cemetery cleanup

Have some time to lend a helping hand? Then Florence Sikes wants you.

Sikes has been busy planning the annual Hackney Cemetery cleanup, scheduled for 8 a.m. Nov. 1. The 31/2-acre cemetery is at 11020 Hackney Drive in Riverview. One of the oldest graves dates to 1886.

Sikes, 73, needs help weeding and mowing the grass, cleaning gravestones and picking up trash.

"I want people to know, because I can't do it all by myself," Sikes said. "And it sure does help."

For more information, call Sikes at 677-7606.

Donations can be sent to the Hackney Cemetery Trust, 8844 Bliss Road, Gibsonton, FL 33534.

SUN CITY CENTER

Hospice House celebrates 2 years

After serving more than 2,300 patients in its first two years, the Sun City Center Hospice House celebrates its anniversary from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Oct. 24.

The 24-bed center cares for patients with pain-management or symptom-control issues. The homelike setting includes private rooms, wood-frame beds, cable television and sleeper sofas for family members. Other amenities include a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, cafe, library, chapel and play area for children.

The celebration will include music, refreshments and tours of the house. Guests are encouraged to make a donation to LifePath.

Register by Oct. 20 by calling 871-8431.