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Family wants others to get conference support

By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published July 9, 2006

Considering their successful business in Oldsmar, you might suppose that members of Vern Smith's family have led charmed lives.

You would be mistaken.

The family has lost three women to pulmonary hypertension, a rare blood vessel disorder. Now, to help families in similar situations, the Smiths have established scholarships so others can attend an annual conference at which they have found support.

In 1995, pulmonary hypertension took the life of Angela Smith-Kline, the daughter of S&S Electric Co. president Vern Smith.

Then, in October, the disease took his wife, Barbara Smith, who lost her sister the same way in 1994. Chris Smith, S&S executive vice president, and Shawn Smith, S&S vice president, lost an aunt, a sister and then their mother to the disorder.

Soon after her daughter's death, Barbara Smith was diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension and devoted much of the 10 years that followed to volunteering for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

One of the places in which Vern and Barbara Smith found comfort in fighting the disease was a yearly association conference. There, they learned the latest information and found a network of support with others facing the same challenges.

To help others find the support they found, the Smith family funded scholarships to attend the recent Pulmonary Hypertension Association conference in Minnesota and to fund attendance at future conferences. The scholarships are dedicated to Angela Smith-Kline and Barbara Smith.

Chris Smith said in an e-mail that he hopes that the scholarships will be his mother's legacy, continuing her mission to find a cure.

Fire Rescue needs supplies for backpacks

Oldsmar Fire Rescue hopes to fill 50 backpacks with school supplies for needy children with the help of city employees, businesses and residents.

Drop off donations at the station, 225 Pine Ave. N, through July 28. Items needed include backpacks, notebooks, folders, composition books, notebook paper, computer paper, index cards, rulers, pens, pencils, crayons, calculators, rulers, safety scissors and glue sticks. Cash will also be accepted.

Call Marty Forster at 813 749-1212 or Aaron Gonzalez at (813) 749-1205.

Tampa sculptor exhibits works at City Hall

Oldsmar is offering an exhibit of sculptures by Joseph Rotella of Tampa through August at City Hall, 100 State St. W.

Some of his sculptures are included in the Vatican collection. He finds the form in his organic sculptures partly through the materials he uses. A free artist's reception will be at 6 p.m. July 18 at City Hall. Call (813) 749-1260.

Soccer club seeks coaches and players

The Oldsmar Soccer Club is seeking coaches for several competitive teams, including boys under 12, girls under 9 and girls under 18. Call Jim Harte about coaching at (727) 786-3589.

The club also has space left on many of its teams, including boys under 10, under 13 and under 14, and girls under 9, under 12, under 15 and under 18/19. Call Mike Figgener about joining teams at (727) 946-2291.

For information, visit the team's Web site at www.oldsmarsoccer.org.

Cypress Forest center has fitness classes

Oldsmar Parks and Recreation is offering the following fitness classes weekly at the Cypress Forest Recreation Center, 650 Pine Ave. N:

- Strength/Body Sculpting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays for age 16 and older. The easy-to-follow class will use weights and floor exercises that finish with an abdominal focus. Bring a mat and weights. The cost is $20 monthly with a recreation card and $30 without.

- Pilates from 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays for age 16 and older. The exercise focuses on integrating parts of the body to tone, strengthen and stretch the whole body. The cost is $35 monthly with a recreation card and $52.50 without.

- Aerobics Mix from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. The cardio toning class includes basic step, kick boxing, high-low and strength training. The cost is $20 monthly with a recreation card and $30 without.

Call (813) 749-1260.

Youths get their own night every Friday

Oldsmar Parks and Recreation is offering Youth Night for ages 10 to 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays at the Bicentennial Recreation Center, 423 Lafayette Ave. The evening is free with a recreation card and $5.35 without. Call (813) 749-1290.

Ski team features show on superheroes

The Tampa Bay Water Ski Show Team will perform a free "Super Heroes Show" featuring such characters as Captain Planet, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern at 6 p.m. Saturdays this month on Tower Lake.

Tower Lake is behind the Oldsmar Flea Market. To get to the show from Tampa Road, go north on Race Track Road, left on Douglas Road and left at the small ski team sign. The show and parking are free, and there's a covered grandstand area. Call (727) 397-8904 or (813) 265-9685.

If you have news or photos about Oldsmar schools, churches, businesses, neighborhood groups, community organizations or people, call Theresa Blackwell at (727) 445-4170, fax it to her at (727) 445-4119, e-mail tblackwell@sptimes.com or mail material to her at the Clearwater Times, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756.

[Last modified July 8, 2006, 23:20:50]