High fives

After 16 years with Autoway Ford Lincoln Mercury in Brooksville, Larry Martin, the general manager, has retired. Under Martin's direction, Autoway was an early achiever of several honors -- the Ford Blue Oval, Lincoln Premier Experience and Mercury Advantage, a benchmark of excellence in quality and customer service.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Martin moved to Florida with his family at the age of 7. He graduated from Manatee High School and then continued his education at Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta.

In 1974, he went to work for Royal Buick in Tampa, where he often received salesman of the month honors. In 1976, Martin began working for Jim Quinlan Chevrolet in Clearwater, where he was quickly promoted to new car sales manager. In 1986, he was invited by the Quinlans to join them in a partnership to buy the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury dealership in Brooksville.

Over the years, Martin has received many awards, including the distinguished achievement award for quality in 1994, the spirit of excellence award, the top-volume Lincoln-Mercury dual dealer for 14 years, and excellence in service satisfaction in 2001.

Martin and his wife, Sandra, lived in Brooksville for 15 years and recently moved to Tarpon Springs to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Retirement will be short-lived for Martin, who plans to join his son, Tom, in their new business, Coastal Produce in Tampa.

More than 1,800 elementary school students recently were entertained with a production of The Ugly Duckling, starring Pinky Flamingo, at the Hernando High School Performing Arts Center in Brooksville.

The original musical features towering 9-foot-tall puppets from the Bits 'N Pieces Puppet Theatre of Tampa and is based on the classic story of Hans Christian Andersen. The program was sponsored in part by the Performing Arts Center Guild, the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and the Arts Council of Hillsborough County.

This was the third year the guild has sponsored one of the giant puppet shows, each with a different theme. The presentation becomes personal when four students are selected from the audience to participate in the show and given a guided backstage tour.

The schools that attended the production included: Westside, Moton, Pine Grove, Brooksville and Spring Hill elementary Schools, the Methodist School Center and Hernando Christian Academy.

A night show was given this year for the first time for students, younger children, parents, grandparents and the general public. The night audience was offered the chance to visit with the puppets in the lobby following the show and have pictures taken with them.

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