CAMERA CLUB By Larry Hillock LA BLACK HERITAGE CLUB By Charles Roland & Pamela June The April camera club meeting is Monday, April 14 at 10:30 am in the cinema. All LA residents with an interest in photography are welcome to attend. Last month we held a photo shoot at Lake Morton in Lakeland and at our March meeting Shelley Brodka spoke to us on portrait photography. This month we will welcome back professional photographer Reinier Munguia as our guest speaker. Club members are encouraged to bring along a few pictures on a USB drive to share with the group. Remember to visit the club’s Facebook page for further information, shared photos and club activities. This should be a good month to get outdoors and capture some great pictures. COMMUNITY GARDEN BUZZ: GROWTH, HARVEST AND MORE ! By Lynn Davis & Karen Macklemore Exciting things are happening at the Community Garden! With more raised beds in place, members have been busy planting and harvesting —our first crisp, homegrown lettuce was picked last month! A variety of veggies are thriving, and in March, we added beautiful pollinator beds to attract beneficial insects and create a peaceful space to relax. Want to get involved? Our next evening meeting on April 16 in the evening makes it easier for new and current members to participate. Whether you’re a gardening pro or just curious, stop by and see what we’re growing! Find us near the back exit onto Hwy. 653 and follow LA Community Garden Club on Facebook for updates. Come plant, learn, and connect with us! 34 One of the long-standing values of African Americans is the importance of family. Historically, Black families in America became grounded in taking care of extended family, distant relatives and family by association, not necessarily by blood. The historical and modern-day importance of the Black family is deeply rooted in resilience, unity, and community. This enduring sense of relatedness and mutual support has been crucial in overcoming the challenges of systemic racism and preserving cultural heritage. One aspect of Black family values is embracing each other despite shortcomings and recognizing the differences between our people. Today, the Black family remains a cornerstone of strength and identity in Black culture. Black family represents a community that fosters a sense of belonging and provides emotional and social support. By embracing our shared heritage, we continue to strengthen the bonds in our community and maintain unity and resilience for the future. LA SINGLES CLUB By Carol Corley The Lake Ashton Singles Club met last month to discuss activities. We also made a preliminary decision on adopting Senior Orphans in Polk County to provide Christmas in July — something we have been doing the past few years in addition to adopting some for Christmas. Our Single Orphans come from a list of Polk County elders who have no family and very little money. We provide gifts of things they request — and most are very simple and basic. We also discussed some fun activities that we could enjoy, such as a Bok Tower visit, or our Mingle, which takes place in the Pavilion from 4-6 p.m. the 4th Thursday of most months. And we learned about places to go strawberry and blueberry picking. Every Sunday at 2 p.m. we play cards (Five Crown) in the Clubhouse Ballroom, or the card room if the ballroom has been reserved, then it’s dinner out somewhere. Our next meeting will be Sunday, April 6 at 2 p.m., followed by cards. We hope you join us.
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