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Neighborhood briefs

By ANDREW MEACHAM, HELEN ANNE TRAVIS, and SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
Published September 29, 2006

SUN CITY CENTER

The International Forum of Sun City Center will hold a panel discussion on Italy from 9:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 13. The program will be in the Florida Room of the Atrium Building off N Pebble Beach Boulevard.

The speakers include a former U.S. Army officer who was also a NATO logistics officer based in Verona; a former State Department officer who served in Venice, Rome and Milan; a former instructor at the University of Florence who now coordinates Italian studies at the University of South Florida; and a former employee of U.S. international agencies.

SEFFNER

A group of Seffner Elementary students can now mouth off to teachers more intelligently.

The Rotary Club of Tampa East gave each student in the school's fourth-grade classes a new dictionary. A Student's Dictionary and Gazeteer, 8th Edition, published by the Dictionary Project, comes with a map of the states and their capitals, and a list of U.S. presidents.

BRANDON

Sprouts, a dynamic early learning program for children 9 months to five years, celebrates its third anniversary with a performance by singer/songwriter Red Grammer. Grammer has been featured on Nickelodeon, the Disney Channel, Today and CBS This Morning.

Grammer will perform at 9 and 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. Sprouts is at Music Showcase, 402 Oakfield Drive. Tickets are $10. Call 393-9084.

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Shannon Greenland will sign copies of Descent Into Danger, her latest romantic suspense novel, from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble. The book centers on New Mexico hiking enthusiast Madeline Theros, who falls into a cave and makes a discovery that changes her life.

Greenland won a Reviewer's Choice Award for her first novel, Discovering Veronica, and was a finalist for the award with her second book, Laura's Secrets. She lives in Fernandina Beach.

Barnes & Noble is at 122 Brandon Town Center Drive.

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Need financial help for your nonprofit? The Greater Brandon Community Foundation stands ready to offer grants for health, human services or social organizations. Charities with tax-exempt classifications can apply through the foundation's Web site at www.brandon foundation.com, by calling 661-8683, or e-mailing Amy Carey Lee at Amy1004@aol.com.

VALRICO

Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church will bless animals Sunday in honor of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. The ceremony recognizes Francis' reputation for loving all creatures.

The church is inviting the public to bring pets on leashes, in cages or in crates to the church, 604 N Valrico Road, at 1 p.m. Call 689-3130.

LITHIA

To raise funds for homeless and displaced veterans, AMVETS Post 4 is sponsoring a band and raffle from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.

The action takes place at the Waterhole Sports Bar, 3503 Bell Shoals Road.

The group is requesting donations of cash and nonperishable foods such as canned goods and dry goods, snacks and sodas, and furniture and appliances.

Po Boy's and Golden Corral restaurants as well as Sweetbay Supermarkets have donated gift certificates for the raffle. Call 632-0819.

RIVERVIEW

Summerfield Crossings Golf Club hosts its 10th annual tournament Oct. 6 to benefit the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Research Center.

The Angela Mussette Russo Foundation is sponsoring the tournament, which begins at 8:30 a.m. at the club, 13050 Summerfield Blvd. Prizes to go to winners of putting and driving contests. Call 341-6925.

RUSKIN

This year, the 18th annual Ruskin Seafood Festival will feature a kids' costume contest in addition to its usual fare of entertainment and educational exhibits. The costume contest kicks off at 2 p.m. Nov. 4.

All costumes must have a marine theme. The festival will also feature a beachside playground, games, and activities for the little ones.

The Ruskin Seafood Festival is an alcohol-free, family-friendly event that promotes appreciation of the local environment.

The festival takes place 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 4 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 5 at E.G. Simmons Park, 2401 19th Ave NW.

Visit www.ruskinseafoodfestival.org.

[Last modified September 28, 2006, 08:14:28]