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Making A Sincere Effort

Photo by KELVIN MA/staff

Jeremiah Fallon, 3, goes in for a closer look at a baby alligator from Nature's Classroom, a Hillsborough County animal education contractor, at Sincerly, Santa's fundraiser "Sunday at the Park" at Woodmont Park on Nov. 4, 2007.

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By PAUL CATALA, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 10, 2007

Updated: 11/08/2007 07:11 pm

Additional Photos

TEMPLE TERRACE - While some stayed indoors to watch football on television, others took advantage of the bright sunshine and a comfortable breeze to enjoy Sunday in the Park.

About 400 visitors strolled the grounds of Woodmont Park, taking in exhibits, art and music during the event Sunday sponsored by the Temple Terrace Garden Club.

Proceeds from Sunday in the Park benefit Sincerely, Santa, a Hillsborough County organization that raises money to buy holiday presents for needy children. About $2,000 was raised through food sales, an auction and donations during Sunday in the Park; the garden club has raised nearly $6,500 for Sincerely, Santa this year.

"We like to help children, and Sincerely, Santa is an organization ... that helps needy children," said Al Latina, a member of the garden club. "It seems logical to us to give money to an organization that does worthwhile activities like that."

Spread around the lush park and gardens, which are cared for by the garden club, those staffing booths during Sunday in the Park invited guests to learn about their organizations.

Among the exhibitors were Hope and Lucy, Labrador retrievers that are up for adoption. While the dogs sat in the shade, Cheryl Stine and Susan Woolley, of Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, waited to answer questions. For the first time, the organization was present at Sunday in the Park, and volunteers hoped some of the approximately 75 Labs in the program would find homes.

"People stop by and want to pet the dogs," said Stine, organization president. "It's good to have the dogs here because people don't feel rushed and can find out about the organization. Plus, you can see, the dogs enjoy it."

As visitors passed by the dogs, Temple Crest artist Terry Klaaren painted images of his surroundings. Klaaren worked on two paintings, including a vibrant rendition of the park gazebo.

"I go to local parks, especially where the parks and Hillsborough river come together, and this is close," he said. "There's plenty of material to paint around here."

While Klaaren painted, a presentation by Sydney Park Brown, a former horticulture agent with the Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Service, made a presentation on local gardening.

Woodmont Park has about 100 plant varieties on its 1.8 acres, Latina said. He said that in addition to providing an entertaining Sunday, the event was designed to get people to visit the park and gardens more often.

"We want people to know what we have here. We want to educate the public about the outdoors, the environment and come and enjoy a beautiful park on a beautiful Sunday," he said.

The day also included a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, who arrived on a Temple Terrace firetruck.

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