Family fun is part of Play it Safe Day

A bicycle safety obstacle course, food and more will be part of The Network of East Hillsborough Neighborhoods' Play it Safe Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 20.Bicycle helmets will be given to the first 100 children, and blood sugar/blood pressure checks will be offered for adults. Children will learn about fire safety as they crawl through a miniature smoke filled house.

Several agencies will be on hand to provide information and answer questions about Florida KidCare, food stamps, Medicaid, mobile medical services and more. Pizza, chips, cookies and drinks will be served.

The fun-filled family event is free at the network offices, 639 E. Alexander St. in the Alexander Crossings plaza near the Walmart.

Participating agencies include The Children's Board of Hillsborough County, Bright Beginnings, Inc., St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, South Florida Baptist Hospital, Plant City Fire Rescue, Florida KidCare, Florida ACCESS, Child Abuse Council, Bruton Memorial Library, Kiwanis Club of Plant City and Sunset Heights Ministry Center.

For information call (813) 752-8700.

The network is funded by the children's board.

Stock up on books

The Friends of the Bruton Memorial Library will hold their annual holiday book sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 20 at the library's Mary Noel Moody Community Room, 302 W. McLendon St.

The sale will feature new and nearly new books which have been donated to the Friends organization. The books, which will be offered at bargain prices, have been especially selected for the holiday sale by members of the library bookstore team. They are in like new condition and will make perfect holiday gifts.

The Friends' book store is open during library hours.

Money raised from the sales support library programs and other extras such as the children's aquarium and the recent remodeling of the library.

For information, call Library Director Anne Haywood at (813) 757-9215.

Dinosaur replicas

Two juvenile and three baby Maiasaurus dinosaur replicas have joined Florida Dinosaur World, 5145 Harvey Tew Road.

Maiasaurus are considered the "good mother" dinosaurs because fossils have been found with eggs and babies, making paleontologists think they were more involved mothers than most dinosaurs.

The tourist attraction will honor grandparents Sunday and Nov. 21 with a free admission offer. Up to six children, ages 3 to 12, will be admitted free with their grandparent's paid admission.

For information, call (813) 717-9865.

Strike a chord

An old time sing-along for senior adults will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at Eastside Baptist Church, 1318 E. Calhoun St.

There is no admission charge, but participants are asked to bring finger foods, organizer Hazel Smith said. Participants are asked to call the church office at (813) 754-2681 to say how many will be attending the event.

"We have so much fun singing the old songs, eating and fellowshipping with the many seniors in our area," Smith said.

For information, call (813) 752-8631.

Plans under way

Two local bands will perform Nov. 20 at the eighth annual Plant City Pig Jam State BBQ Championship.

The Jason Young Band will play from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Candy Greene Band from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Top teams of devoted and elaborately equipped cooks will come from all over the Southeast to compete at the jam, which will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex, 1500 S. Park Road, near Plant City Stadium.

There will be a kid's play area, as well as live telecasts of all football rivalries in the beer tent. Pig Jam guests will be able to buy samples of some of the country's best barbecue ribs, pork, brisket and chicken. In addition to the good eats, there will be a rock-climbing wall, moon walk and other activities, and snow-cones, cookies, beer and refreshments will be for sale.

Admission is free, and parking is $5 per vehicle. Pig Jam is hosted by the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and is a Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned event.

For information, contact the chamber at (813) 754-3707 or go to www.plantcity.org.

Guild's art work on display at pet hospital

Members of the East Hillsborough Art Guild exhibit their artwork in Plant City businesses every month. Look for November's exhibit at Timberlane Pet Hospital, 1704 Walden Village Court.

Lessons teach kids how to juggle

Children ages 6 to 12 can learn to juggle at 2:30 p.m. today at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St.

Space is limited to 15 children.

For information, call Children's Librarian Carol Lane at (813) 757-9217.

Dance festival set

Donna Garzone's Autumn Dance Festival will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Stardust Dance Center, 1405 S. Collins St.

Music will be provided by Mike Johnson and dances will include waltz, foxtrot, rumba and more. Singles and couples welcome. Tickets are $10 per person.

For information, call Garzone at (813) 671-3009.

Air Force commander featured at service

Air Force Col. Lenny J. Richoux, commander of the 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, will be the guest speaker at a Veterans Day ceremony at the Veteran's Memorial Park and Museum, 3602 U.S. 301 N., Tampa.The Veterans Council of Hillsborough County, Inc. in partnership with the Hillsborough County School's JROTC, will conduct the ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday.

The ceremony will honor those returning veterans who have served in all of the branches of the military during times of war or peace.

There will be a pass in review by several area high school Junior ROTC cadets, a POW/MIA tribute conducted by the Scottish American Military Society, the laying of a wreath by the Gold Star Wives and a rifle salute and the playing of taps by the Riverview Detachment of the Marine Corps League.

There will be tented seating available and refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the ceremony.

For information, contact Veterans Council President Leonard Black at (813) 949-6192 or lblack1927@aol.com, or Walter Raysick at (813) 653-4924 or wraysick@verizon.net.

Company gets new marketing director

Erin Dempsey has joined DocuLex Inc. in Winter Haven as director of marketing dealers and partners.She has more than 20 years experience in marketing communications, strategic planning and creation of educational programs for hardware and software developers, distributors and dealers in the document management market.