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Neighborhood Notebook
By BILL COATS, LOGAN MABE and MARLENE SOKOL Student's intro shows appreciation for teacherCARROLLWOOD -- In a sea of talent, an 8-year-old stole the show. Breawna Davis, a fourth-grader at Cannella Elementary School, wowed a crowd of 1,260 as she introduced music instructor Anita Hocker at last week's Teacher of the Year banquet. "The worst day of my life was when I had a substitute for music," Breawna began. Music rivals her passion for gymnastics, she said, thanks to a teacher who "makes my black-and-white music notes jump into color." Hocker was one of 10 finalists selected from 183 nominees. The Plantation youngster sings and plays handbells in two of Hocker's choral groups. "You know when you see her, you are going to have the best day ever," Breawna said. She confessed to being a bit nervous at the start of the speech. "Two percent out of a hundred," she explained. But, strangely, the large crowd calmed her. The award that evening went to Ronald Dyches, a social studies teacher at Bloomingdale High School. Three days later, Breawna won third place for her age group in the Gasparilla gymnastics competition. Northdale center to get third basketball courtNORTHDALE -- The nightly basketball games at the Northdale Community Center have become so popular, the county is building a third court there to handle the action. "It's a busy neighborhood that warrants three courts," said Joel Jackson, section manager of the Parks and Recreation department's construction division. "Generally, a neighborhood of this size, three is about right." Jackson said the new court, situated between two existing courts, should be completed in the next two weeks. The original plans for the community center included converting an old basketball court behind the building into a roller hockey rink. But Jackson said concerns from neighboring residents has recreation officials rethinking that idea. Lutz council offers to paint house for needyLUTZ -- For the fourth year, the Lutz Community Council plans in April to paint the home of someone who is financially or physically unable to do it for themselves. Last year the organization touched up and repainted the historic Old Lutz School and cleaned a private home on County Line Road. You can nominate your house, or someone else's, by calling Community Service Officer Barbara Hevel at 264-8950.
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From the Times |
