Sun City Center resident Tal Keenan is having his blood pressure taken by Tina Drury, EMR, at the Sun City Center Emergency Squad booth. Tom Murphy, assistant chief, observes. Lia Martin photo.
As part of “Active Aging Week 2014,” the 2014 Kings Point Fall Expo event this past Friday showcased local businesses and service organizations bringing information on medical, insurance, financial and practical concerns. Earlier in the week, there had been seminars on: home health care; how to manage your financial assets; the flu and its vaccine options; and retirement legal options such as durable powers of attorney, health-care surrogates and the ins and outs of the last will and testament, all reviewed by an attorney.
Matthew Permuth, general manager of Vesta property services at Kings Point in Sun City Center, said there had been no additional booth spaces available in the Borini Theatre. All had sold out for the event, which pointed to the involvement showed by local businesspeople in the community.
“This year we were sold out because of our relationship with the business community,” Permuth said about the event Vesta hosts locally and its dedication to bringing quality of life to Sun City Center residents. “We want to enhance their lifestyle.”
It is evident that the local partnership between residents and businesses has been a strong one.
From banks to financial services, Tampa General and South Bay hospitals, legal services, churches, chiropractors, design and service contractors, insurance companies, home health and assisted-living facility representatives were on hand to answer questions.
Residents carrying goodie bags packed full of products and marketing fliers crowded the floor, and not for the first time. One couple said they had been coming to the Fall Expo at Kings Point for the past five years. This is the first year they will be full-time SCC residents, they said, and they are most happy about it.
“We sold our home up north in July,” Norman and Patti White said. “We love to come here to talk to people, learning what their business is. We talked to financial advisors and scheduled a health screening. Tonight, we will have pizza with friends.”
Sherill Shelley of Champion Self Storage said that they come for the community and the other vendors.
“It is the best way to get out information in this community,” Shelley said.
Danielle Budzinsy, also with Champion, said she had not stopped working and talking to people all day. The event opened at 10 a.m., and there was no sign of it slowing down by late afternoon.
Payant Financial Services has been serving Sun City Center residents for the past 30 years. Robyn Payant has just added an insurance component to their business. She hired Marcie Maisonet, who has been an insurance agent for 10 years, to help people with their Medicare supplement insurance.
Patricia Robison of the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa demonstrates the robot solving a problem at the Kings Point 2014 Fall Expo. The robot was designed by middle-school students. Kings Point residents Al and Joyce Zugay watch the robotics demonstration. Lia Martin Photo.
“I am here to educate them about the options they have with Medicare supplement insurance policies,” Maisonet said.
