About the Town

Vern & Elysa Hendricks

49 episodes listed below

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Sun City Center, explained neighbor to neighbor.

The gist

About the Town keeps Sun City Center residents current through easygoing interviews about community life. The show moves from FunFest parking rules and entertainment bookings to security patrol history, local leadership, and serious public-safety concerns.

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About About the Town

About the Town is built for Sun City Center, Florida, and it rarely pretends otherwise. That is its strength. Lisa and Vern Hendricks use the show as a neighborly clearinghouse for community life, bringing in guests who can explain what is happening, who is responsible, and what residents should remember. The conversations are relaxed, but the information is specific. FunFest is not just announced; it is sorted through in terms of parking, road closures, dogs, bicycles, scooters, private residences, and the practical reasons rules exist. Judy Cesarski's episode turns community entertainment into a behind-the-scenes look at showcases, ratings cards, tribute bands, food trucks, and the decisions that shape a season. Ron Clark's visit gives the Community Association a practical frame, including property responsibilities, building values, construction delays, drainage work, county permits, and the familiar question of what the CA can and cannot fix. The show is also interested in local memory. Its four-part tribute to John Bowker treats community history as living infrastructure, not decoration. Through archived material and reflection, it connects Bowker to Sun Radio, the History Society, High Neighbor, Meals on Wheels, the Information Center, and security patrol. The hosts keep correcting, clarifying, and rephrasing details as they go. That conversational looseness makes the show feel more like a table in a community room than a formal bulletin. It can be funny in small, dry bursts, especially when the topic turns to free lunch, unruly event logistics, or the predictable person who ignores a rule. It can also become sober. The discussion with LouAnne Rossdeutscher and Barry Tollenger from the Campaign Against Human Trafficking explains sex and labor trafficking, online grooming, coercion, lost identification, and prevention without making the language ornate. About the Town suits residents who want useful local context rather than polished civic branding. It is strongest when details matter. Hours, costs, routes, offices, responsibilities, and names are treated as community knowledge worth repeating. The show is not slick. It is attentive, local, and comfortable with the ordinary business of helping people know their town.

Made for: For Sun City Center residents and people who want practical updates on local services, events, leadership, and history. It especially suits listeners who value plain explanations over polished civic messaging.

What sets it apart: About the Town stands out by treating everyday logistics as important community knowledge. It blends event reminders, institutional memory, guest interviews, and lightly comic host exchanges without losing sight of what residents actually need to know.

In their own words

A podcast for and about the residents and friends of Sun City Center, Florida, designed to spotlight the many services and events of our vibrant, 55+ retirement community.

As heard by us

Based on 5 episodes we listened to · September 2026

About the Town turns the services, decisions, and events of Sun City Center into clear conversations with the people responsible for them.

Lisa and Vern Hendricks make local life legible by asking who keeps Sun City Center running, what residents can use, and how it all works. About the Town builds episodes around conversations with the people responsible for community services and events.

Read our full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Sun City Center's fine print gets a coffee-table hearing, so you know whom to call.

Press play if you want

  • local answers that include the phone number, the parking rule, and the missing storm drain
  • Lisa and Vern Hendricks asking what community organizations can actually do for you, not merely what they are called
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Sun City Center eventsCommunity Association servicesFunFest logisticslocal historysecurity patrolHistory Society workresident serviceshuman trafficking awareness

Talks about

Best episodes of About the Town

Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.

LouAnne Rossdeutscher and Barry Tollenger from the Campaign Against Human TraffickingApr 15, 2026

A grounded local discussion that makes human trafficking feel immediate, clear, and worth hearing.

About the Town turns a local conversation into a plainspoken look at human trafficking in and around Sun City Center. Vern and Lisa speak with Luann Ross-Deutscher and Barry Tollinger from the Campaign Against Human Trafficking, and the discussion keeps coming back to concrete…

Judy Cesarski, Sun City Center Community Association Activities DirectorMar 4, 2026

A practical look at how Sun City Center's local entertainment gets organized.

About the Town follows the moving parts of local programming in Sun City Center, with Judy Cesarski laying out the concert series, the entertainment series, the bandstand shows, and the food trucks that help pull it all together.

It's almost March and almost time for Fun FestFeb 25, 2026

A practical community update that turns FunFest rules into clear, usable guidance.

FunFest is framed as a practical community briefing rather than a polished announcement. Lisa and Vern stick to the details that matter for a once-a-year event: when it happens, where to park, and what to leave at home.

Ron Clark, president of the Sun City Center Community AssociationFeb 18, 2026

A clear look at what the Community Association handles and how the new building project is moving.

This episode gives a clear run-through of what the Sun City Center Community Association actually covers, with Ron Clark spelling out the board's role and where its responsibilities stop.

The services of Sun City Center Samaritan Services with Larry SmithDec 29, 2025

A neighborly walkthrough of a local service many residents see, but may not fully understand.

Samaritan Services gets a clear, practical spotlight, centered on a local ride service that many residents may know by sight before they know the full shape of it.

Podcasts like About the Town

Episodes

  1. 1

    Kit Hoffman for the Community Association 2026 Holiday Market

    Sep 30, 2026·22m
  2. 2

    Sam and JoAnn Sudman: The community says farewell to two great friends.

    Sep 23, 2026·29m
  3. 3

    Judy Cesarski, Sun City Center Activities Director and the CA Fall Entertainment Series

    Sep 16, 2026·31m
  4. 4

    Connie Lesko, Organizer, 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer's - SouthShore, FL

    Sep 9, 2026·28m
  5. 5

    Nancy McCall, chairman of the Sun City Center Community Association Fundraising Committee

    Sep 2, 2026·33m
  6. 6

    Steve Shiveley, Meterologist at the National Weather Service office in Ruskin, FL

    Aug 26, 2026·37m
  7. 7

    Guy Bailey, President of the Pelican Players

    Aug 19, 2026·28m
  8. 8

    Bob Jenkins, President of the Sun City Center chapter of Lions, International

    Aug 12, 2026·24m
  9. 9

    Lifeline with Elliott Bart, President of the Sun City Center Men's Club

    Aug 5, 2026·25m
  10. 10

    Mike Bardell and Dorothy DeCoux for the Sun City Center Emergency Squad

    Jul 29, 2026·37m
  11. 11

    Master Deputy Jeff Merry, HCSO. Second quarter 2026 Law Enforcement Wrap-Up

    Jul 22, 2026·42m
  12. 12

    Bob Smith, Chief of the Sun City Center Security Patrol, semi-annual patrol update

    Jul 15, 2026·40m
  13. 13

    Kevin Steinke and Gwen Brown for the Pelican Players production of "Let's Murder Marsha"

    Jul 8, 2026·32m
  14. 14

    Cheri Schumacher, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, C.A.R.E. The Critter Adoption & Rescue Effort

    Jun 24, 2026·38m
  15. 15

    Dee Kelly. The Sun City Center History Society.

    Jun 17, 2026·25m
  16. 16

    Lyn Reitz. SCC Community Association Operations Manager

    Jun 10, 2026·26m
  17. 17

    Cindi Malin and Len Lewinski. The Sun City Center July 4 Pancake Breakfast.

    Jun 3, 2026·24m
  18. 18

    Vincente Lopez, Jr, President, SCC Multicultural Heritage Club. Juneteenth Celebration

    May 26, 2026·26m
  19. 19

    Larry Hirchak, Concert Series Coordinator, United Methodist Church of Sun City Center.

    May 20, 2026·24m
  20. 20

    Sarah Baez, Senior Living Placement Specialist, Care Patrol

    May 13, 2026·26m
  21. 21

    Master Deputy Jeff Merry, HCSO. First quarter 2026 Law Enforcement Wrap-Up

    May 6, 2026·44m
  22. 22

    Pat Masterson, Member of the Executive Board of the Roamin' Oldies Car Club

    Apr 29, 2026·29m
  23. 23

    Pat Masterson, President of the Florida Railroad Museum

    Apr 22, 2026·35m
  24. 24

    LouAnne Rossdeutscher and Barry Tollenger from the Campaign Against Human Trafficking

    Hidden gem

    Lisa and Vern start from a simple surprise.

    Apr 15, 2026·39m·3 clips
  25. 25

    Tribute to the memory of Sun City Center legend, John Bowker (Part 4)

    This episode is part four of a tribute to John Bowker, featuring a 2021 interview where he and Bob Lochte discuss their book on Sun City Center's history.

    Apr 8, 2026·27m
  26. 26

    Tribute to the memory of Sun City Center legend, John Bowker (Part 3)

    Vern and Lisa pay tribute to John Bowker, a community legend, discussing his contributions to security patrol and Meals on Wheels.

    Apr 1, 2026·21m
  27. 27

    Tribute to the memory of Sun City Center legend, John Bowker (Part 2)

    A tribute to John Bowker, a beloved community figure in Sun City Center, focusing on his contributions to the History Society and Information Center.

    Mar 25, 2026·22m
  28. 28

    Tribute to the memory of Sun City Center legend, John Bowker (Part 1)

    Vern and Lisa honor the memory of John Bowker, a community legend who helped start their radio station.

    Mar 19, 2026·23m
  29. 29

    Judy Cesarski, Sun City Center Community Association Activities Director

    Hidden gem

    Judy Cesarski joins Lisa and Vern for a relaxed community update.

    Mar 4, 2026·21m·2 clips
  30. 30

    It's almost March and almost time for Fun Fest

    Hidden gem

    About the Town turns its focus to FunFest, one of Sun City Center's once-a-year community staples.

    Feb 25, 2026·32m·3 clips
  31. 31

    Ron Clark, president of the Sun City Center Community Association

    Hidden gem

    Lisa and Vern welcome Ron Clark, president of the Sun City Center Community Association, and spend the episode sorting out what the CA owns, what it is responsible for, and what it does not handle.

    Feb 18, 2026·31m·3 clips
  32. 32

    Dee Kelly introduces you to the Nearly New Thrift Store

    Feb 11, 2026·29m
  33. 33

    Joanne Gilray presents the Sun City Center Community Library

    Feb 4, 2026·25m
  34. 34

    St. John the Divine Thrift Store with Barbara Gentry

    Vern and Lisa interview Barbara Gentry about the St.

    Jan 28, 2026·22m
  35. 35

    2025 Law Enforcement Wrap-Up with Master Deputy Jeff Merry, HCSO

    Jan 21, 2026·40m
  36. 36

    Elliott Bart, president of the Sun City Center Men's Club.

    Jan 14, 2026·26m
  37. 37

    The Sun City Center Information Center with Janet Dittmore

    Jan 7, 2026·31m
  38. 38

    The services of Sun City Center Samaritan Services with Larry Smith

    Hidden gem

    Vern and Lisa sit down with Larry Smith to talk about Samaritan Services and what it does for Sun City Center.

    Dec 29, 2025·38m·2 clips
  39. 39

    Golf Cart Rules of the Road with HCSO Master Deputy Jeff Merry

    Dec 5, 2025·38m
  40. 40

    Master Plan Phase 1B with Katie Shultz from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay

    This episode introduces candidates for the CA Board of Directors and discusses proposed financing for Phase 1B of the NASCAR with Katie Shultz from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.

    Nov 15, 2025·30m
  41. 41

    Meet the Candidate - Jeffrey Wright

    Nov 15, 2025·27m
  42. 42

    Community Association Board Candidate Mary Ann Rowe

    Nov 15, 2025·25m
  43. 43

    Meet the Candidate - Greg Eisman

    Nov 15, 2025·28m
  44. 44

    Meet the Candidate - Carrie Blaylock

    Nov 15, 2025·22m
  45. 45

    Meet the Candidate - Wayne Keyes

    Nov 15, 2025·26m
  46. 46

    Robin Watt and Mike Bardell from the Sun City Center Emergency Squad

    Oct 31, 2025·51m
  47. 47

    The Sun City Center Security Patrol with Chief Bob Smith

    Vern and Lisa interview Chief Bob Smith about the Sun City Center Security Patrol in this community podcast episode.

    Oct 29, 2025·48m
  48. 48

    Information about the upcoming 2025 Sun City Center Golf Cart Parade

    Vern and Lisa preview the upcoming 2025 Sun City Center Christmas Golf Cart Parade, sharing their personal history with the event.

    Oct 25, 2025·24m
  49. 49

    Introduction to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

    Oct 20, 2025·25m