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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CEREMONY CELEBRATES ADOPTION DAY ON NOVEMBER 17

(TAMPA, FLORIDA - 11/16/2006) - On Friday, November 17, 2006, beginning at 9:00 a.m., Judge Martha Cook, Judge Jack Espinosa, Judge Frank Gomez and Judge Katherine Essrig will take the bench and preside over more than 50 adoptions, in recognition of National Adoption Day. "We are so pleased to be able to bring children, who currently don't have families, together with families who are looking to adopt a child," Judge Essrig voiced when preparing the docket, which is part of an effort to set aside a day of recognition in bringing these families together. Judge Essrig, Administrative Judge of the Dependency Division, who has been working in a pilot division which focuses on adoption cases, said that she and her colleagues in the 13th Judicial Circuit are honored to have a role in this very special day. Before the judges begin finalizing the adoptions in court proceedings, Marty Matthews, WTSP Channel 10, Wednesday's Child, will serve as Master of Ceremony for the fourth annual celebration in the circuit, which will take place in the George Edgecomb Courthouse, in Courtroom 1. David Penn will be the keynote speaker. David and his wife, Robin, have adopted three children in the past decade. David is spearheading art from the Heart Gallery, a project that enables foster children to create works of art and journal writing and convert them into a museum-quality exhibit.

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