Community Corner

Temple Terrace Reads Set for Oct. 8

Temple Terrace Reads, the Woman's Club Book Exchange and the Fire Department Open House are joining for the sixth year.

In 2006, the Temple Terrace School Support Committee was looking for a way to pull all local schools together in a joint community event.

After meeting with school and community leaders, the committee decided the theme of the event should be literacy, and Temple Terrace Reads was born. Now, the family literacy festival is gearing up for its sixth annual celebration on Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place at 124 Flotto Ave., directly in front of and behind and the .

“Everything we do is focused on literacy and family involvement and how fun it is to read,” said Gwen Mora, event coordinator.

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The free event will feature interactive literacy booths, arts and crafts, musical performances, games, storytellers and face painting. Many area schools will be represented, with cheerleaders and student athletes on hand to lend support. Book authors and other special guests will be in attendance, too, and will put on a special performance, a first for the event.

Last year, hundreds of people attended the celebration, according to Mike Dunn, the city’s public information officer. He said organizers expect another big crowd this year.

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“It really has come together with the event taking place in conjunction with two others,” Mora said.

Those other two events are the GFWC Temple Terrace Junior Woman’s Club’s Book Exchange and the Temple Terrace Fire Department Open House.

Anita Long, a member of the Junior Woman’s Club, called the club’s Book Exchange “a really fun event.” Students take their gently used books to school and get vouchers for them, she explained. Then, they bring the vouchers to the Book Exchange and choose books they haven’t read yet.

“The kids are so excited,” she said. “It's like Christmas for them.”

The fire department’s Open House runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and takes place in recognition of National Fire Prevention Month each October.

“The fire department’s ‘Open House’ focuses on fire prevention and safety, but it’s also a lot of fun,” Dunn said. “There will be interactive exhibits and plenty of firefighting equipment on hand, including ladder trucks, pumpers and rescue vehicles. Youngsters will experience what it’s like to be a firefighter, putting out simulated house fires with water hoses. They’ll save a barn from burning down and learn how to safely escape a smoke-filled room.”

There will be a vehicle-extrication demonstration at noon, and a TECO Power City exhibit, Dunn said.

Firefighters also will set simulated residences on fire at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to demonstrate the effectiveness and importance of sprinklers in a residential setting. The fire department was able to add the “Built for Life” exhibit thanks to a $1,000 stipend from the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, said TTFD Division Chief Andy Muzzy.

The also will be on hand to offer child fingerprinting, and Temple Terrace Lodge 330 F&AM will conduct its free Masonic Child ID Program, Dunn said.

Free parking for the entire festival is available at Temple Terrace Elementary School and Terrace Plaza shopping center (Bullard Parkway and 56th Street).

Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Mora encouraged the community to come out and take part in the event.

“It’s a great, fun, family day,” she said.


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