TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Group Offering Sweet Valentine's Day Deal

ADVERTISEMENT

By MEGAN HUSSEY, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 9, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Pasco County residents seeking fun, affordable Valentine's Day celebrations have a variety of options this year.

For those seeking both a Valentine's luncheon and perhaps an elegant, last-minute gift for their sweetheart, the Community Service Council of West Pasco will host a luncheon and gift basket auction 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

"The Seven Springs Country Club will serve a nice meal in a large, decorated room there," said Becky Bennett, public relations representative of Community Service Council of West Pasco, a nonprofit professional networking and community service organization. "And we're expecting members to bring in 15 to 20 baskets for the auction."

The theme of the baskets will be "Treats for Your Sweetie." They likely will include items such as chocolates and other candy, wine and gift certificates.

"They can put in anything they want, including brochures and business cards to promote their business," said Bennett, also the program manager of Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando.

Proceeds from the gift basket auction will fund the broad range of community service projects CSC undertakes each year. These include high school and adult education scholarships, grants for nonprofit organizations, and Operation Shoebox packages for soldiers serving overseas.

"The CSC gave my agency Healthy Families a $500 grant, which we used toward the purchase of a $600 shaken baby simulator doll, used to educate new moms and families," Bennett said.

"These are just some of the wonderful things CSC does," she said.

On the east side of the county, the Zephyr Palms Events Centre will host a Sweetheart Dinner Dance 6 p.m. Thursday.

This event will feature music and entertainment, and a chicken bianco dinner courtesy of Catering by Natalie Mae. The facility, previously known as the CARES Zephyrhills Senior Center, has been newly decorated and designed.

"We've totally renovated the center and have hosted an Erie, Pennsylvania, reunion celebration and a 50th anniversary party," said Greg First, co-owner of the events center. "We're planning to do weddings, a bridal expo, a swing dance, and other events."

Music and dancing will be integral parts of the Sweetheart Dinner Dance. Music will be provided by Complete Music, a disc jockey team of husband and wife Robert and Lori Botelho.

"We're going to get as many people out on the dance floor as we can," Robert Botelho said. "We'll play love songs, since this is a sweetheart dance. We'll take requests, as married couples may want to hear the song they got married to, and can do popular dances like the electric slide, the cha-cha, and a new favorite called the cupid shuffle."

Also following the cupid theme, couples can have their photos taken beneath a floral arch and purchase them at the dance.

"For $20 a head, with everything we're packing into this event, this is not an expensive evening," Robert Botelho said.

Food will be another component of the evening's entertainment.

"My chicken bianco is a personal creation. It's a baked chicken covered with a sauce of pecorino cheese and white Parmesan," said Natalie Dougherty, owner of Natalie Mae Catering. "The dinner also will include a penne alla carbonara pasta and an Italian salad, and a dessert that will be fitting for Valentine's Day."

Dougherty said she's excited about the dinner dance, and about her role in the transformation of the CARES Zephyrhills Senior Center into the Zephyr Palms Events Centre.

"This is a chance to better the community and help local businesses," she said. "This will be a great addition to Zephyrhills and I'm so excited."

CELEBRATE YOUR LOVE

• A Sweetheart Dinner Dance will take place 6-9 p.m. Thursday, at the new Zephyr Palms Events Centre, formerly CARES Zephyrhills Senior Center, at 4645 Airport Road in Zephyrhills.

•Tickets are $20 a person and can be purchased by calling (813) 862-3770. A limited number of tickets will be available.

The Zephyr Palms Events Centre is co-owned by Greg and Jenny First and Gordon and Judy Hyde.

• The Community Service Council of West Pasco will host its monthly luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Seven Springs Golf and Country Club, 3535 Trophy Blvd. in New Port Richey. This nonprofit professional networking and community service meeting is open to the public and costs $11 a person.

For information about Community Service Council, call Becky Bennett at (727) 452-4693.

Linda Clements is the president of Community Service Council of West Pasco.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT