Recent guest speaker at Daybreak Rotary of Zephyrhills was Elizabeth Helms, public relations manager from Health Resource Alliance, who talked about the health services the organization provides in the community.
Founded in July 1979, the Premier Community Health Care Group, Inc., formerly known as East Pasco Health Center, Health Resource Alliance of Pasco, began in a small store in Dade City. In need of additional space, the center moved to a 5,000 square foot warehouse in 1986.
Health Resource Alliance (HRA) is a non-profit migrant/community health center serving eastern Pasco County. The county, with a population of more than 300,000, is urban/suburban on the west side and rural on the east side. HRA is the corporate entity, administering to three service centers in the Dade City/Zephyrhills area.
HRA serves a cross-section of the population on the east side of the county. Many residents of this area work in service sector jobs with no health care coverage. More than half of HRA patients are children and adolescents, and most are covered for health care needs by Florida's Medicaid program. Patient income levels include 87 percent at or below the federal poverty guidelines.
During the Daybreak meeting, Madonna Wise, president of the Rotary group, announced upcoming events. The group continues with their industrious work but, due to the recent hurricane related weather conditions, the annual and major fundraiser of the year, the Breakaway Golf Tournament, was rescheduled for Nov. 5. The Tournament will take place at Scotland Yards Golf course in Zephyrhills. Chris Robin is the chairperson for this event.
Wise also announced that Manny Funes, president elect of Daybreak, is serving as a judge for the district art contest project. Daybreak is partnering with Woodland Elementary art teacher, Barbara Moore, for student creations of art work on the anniversary theme of Rotary.
Daybreak Rotary of Zephyrhills meets at 7 a.m. Tuesdays at First Baptist Church in Zephyrhills. Guests are always welcome. To learn more about the Daybreak group go to www.zephyrhillsrotary.org
Land O'Lakes High School Advisory Council elected
The Land O'Lakes High School Advisory Council has been announced for the 2004-2005 school year. Serving on the council this year are student representatives , Sadie Molinet and Molly Sasker. Parent representatives are: Tonia Condor, Celisa Cook, Robin Gibson, Barbara Hayes, Missy Henk, Karen Hoge, Tammy Kimpland, Terri O'Brien, Lynn Pabst, Connie Parrish and Candace Roberts. Liz Cooper represents the District School Board, and the Land O'Lakes faculty and staff are represented b y Pat Connolly, Barbara Long, Sherry Murray, Orlando Saavedra and Theresa Wright. Nancy Johanson an d Meredith Klekker represent the Business /Community Partners.
The SAC committee serves to improve and enhance the school for the 2004-2005 school year. All Land O' Lakes High School parents are invited to attend and participate in the SAC meetings that are held in the media center of the school, at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. For information, call (813) 794-9400.
Fashion Show at Solutions Thrift Store
Mallori Overcash timidly climbed the stage steps, turned and shyly faced the several dozen audience people in the audience. As Rita Ciccarello, WQYK-FM 99.5 morning show personality and master of ceremonies for the event, described the long formal dark blue dress that the 4-year-old wore, "oohs"' and "aahs" responded. Finally, Mallori spotted someone in the audience she knew, perhaps her dad Kirby Overcash, and a smile broke across her face. She waved happily and the audience broke into applause.
Mallori served as one of the models in the Fourth Annual Darla Goodrich Fashion show recently held at Solutions Thrift Store in Dade City. About a dozen people of all ages modeled clothing that is available for purchase at the store where all profits benefit Sunrise of Pasco County, Inc.
Sunrise was founded in 1982 by a formerly battered woman. Her goal was to provide services to victims of domestic violence who live in east Pasco County. The original program provided counseling and advocacy services to women in crisis. Within a short time, following its beginning, the program was packed with those in need of services.
Since its founding in 1982, Sunrise's services have continued to expand with the mission "to provide protection, sustenance and a healing environment to those persons who have suffered physical or emotional abuse or sexual assault."
The annual fashion show is named for Darla Goodrich, who was Sunrise shelter manager for many years. It was her idea to establish a thrift store where the excess items donated to the shelter could be sold with the money going to help clients with other needs.
Penny Morrill, executive director and CEO of Sunrise, opened the fashion show with a remembrance of Goodrich, who died in 2002.
"Darla was no bigger than a minute in body, but her strength, stamina and generous heart could outweigh anyone," she said. "Her professionalism was second only to her good will to clients, customers, and staff of Sunrise. Darla, advocate to the cause, was a co-worker and a friend to all."
Following the words of tribute to Darla, entertainer of the evening, Rick Chapman wasintroduced. Chapman, a celebrity impressionist, amused the audience with the likenesses of many familiar faces from Dean Martin to Ed Sullivan to Willie Nelson.
Chapman roamed through the crowd crooning favorite "oldies," grasping a hand here and there, kneeling and singing to first one and then another. His antics were met with giggles. He rounded out his performance asking the audience to join in singing You Are My Sunshine.
The main event of the evening, the fashion show, provided a glimpse of many items of clothing that can be bought at the store. Ciccarello kept the audience chuckling as she checked size tags for herself and express personal interest in clothes, challenging audience members to "race" her for shoes. Ciccarello would break frequently from describing fashions to draw a number for a variety of door prizes.
Trish Clay, Sunrise staff member, closed the program with a round of thanks to many who worked to make the show a success. She especially acknowledged the work of Bonnie Campbell and Connie Baker, who styled models' hair.
The evening concluded with a variety of refreshments including wings donated by Kafe Kokopelli of Dade City and cake donated by Publix.
The Darla Good Fashion Show is staged each October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For more information about the show or for information about Sunrise of Pasco County, Inc. or Solutions Thrift Store visit www.sunrisepasco.org or call 352 521-3358.
Dade City Woman's Club plans speakeasy fundraiser
The Dade City Woman's Club, 37922 Palm Avenue, Dade City, will be transformed into a speakeasy from 7-11 p.m. Saturday. This event is an annual fundraiser for the Dade City Woman's Club.
Guests are encouraged to wear 1920s attire and will enjoy dancing, sampling the open bar and catered buffet. They may participate in silent and live auctions.
The cost of the event is $50 per person or 12 tickets for $500.
Proceeds from this event will support numerous local charities and help fund the Woman's Club project,"Shoes for Children."
For more information or to buy tickets, call the Dade City Woman's Club at (352) 521-0766.
Chamber of Commerce 2005 Flapjack Festival Pageants
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the 2005 Flapjack Festival Pageants on Oct. 24 at the Groves Golf and Country Club, located six miles north of State Road 54.
Events include crownings for the following age divisions and titles at these times:
noon - Baby boy and Baby girl Flapjack, 6-11 months
12:15 p.m Pee Wee Boy and Baby Girl Flapjack, 12-23 months
12:45 p.m. Lil'Master and Lil' Petite Flapjack, 24-36 months
1:15 p.m Lil'Mr. and Miss Flapjack, 4-6 years
1:30 p.m. Junior Mister and Junior Miss Flapjack, 7-9 years
2 p.m. Miss Flapjack, 10-12 years (girls only)
All contestants must be residents of a central Pasco County community.
There will be optional competitions for talent and photogenic winners. In talent competition, which starts at 3 p.m., each contestant may perform a 3-minute routine of their choice. The photogenic competition requires submission of an unframed 8-by10-inch black and white photo. Fees are $5 per competition.
Chamber of Commerce sponsors Scholarship Pageants
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the 2005 Miss Central Pasco County Scholarship Pageant and the Junior Miss Central Pasco County Scholarship Pageant on Saturday, at the Groves Golf and Country Club on U.S. 41, 6 miles north of State Road 54.
The pageant is a non-profit organization that awards scholarships to the queen and runners-up. The pageant is scored based on community involvement and the areas of competition of interview, sportswear and evening wear.
Kiefer's Giving Tree supports breast cancer research
Kiefer Village Jewels will recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month by donating all October Giving Tree funds to the Breast Cancer Programs at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. In addition, 15 percent of the purchase of any pink merchandise in the local jewelry stores will be donated to the cancer center.
The Giving Tree is a community project supported by Kiefer Village Jewels employees and customers. The entire cost of every watch battery replacement and watch band adjustment are placed on the Giving Tree for donation to a local charity. The idea is based on the children's book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Customers can also help contribute to the Giving Tree by buying pink merchandise such as pink sapphires, pink tourmaline, rose gold or pink millennium beads. There are also special items available such as rose gold or pink sapphire breast cancer ribbons and pink teddy bears.
"We decided to really focus on Breast Cancer Programs this month to recognize National Breast Cancer Awareness month," said Nikki Gulvin, assistant manager of Kiefer Village Jewels Dade City store. "Early detection can be life-saving and research is making great strides in finding a cure. We want to do our part in helping to make that happen."
Kiefer Village Jewels is at 37850 Meridian Avenue in Dade City and in the Willow Bend Towne Centre at State Road 54 and Collier Parkway in Land O' Lakes. For information, call 352 567-2378 or (813) 909-2393 or visit www kvjewels.com
HIGH FIVES
Commissioners congratulate wheelchair athletes
Pasco County commisioners recently recognized and congratulated National Junior Disability Championship athletes Joey Chiavaroli, Scarlett Lawhorne and Heather Haynie. The three Pasco county young people are the only Florida residents who qualified for the national championships held this summer in Mesa, Ariz.
Joey Chiavaroli, 8, is the son of Randy and Pam Chiavaroli of Hudson, and Leslie and Warren Richardson of Rotunda. Joey, born with spina bifida, which affects the development of the spinal cord before birth and causes permanent damage to certain nerves, began racing in 2002. In the 2004 national championships he won nine medals for track, discus, shotput, softball and swimming.
Scarlett Lawhorne, 8, is the daughter of Steve and Scarlett Lawhorne of Zephyrhills. Scarlett, also born with spina bifida, began track and field in 2003 and in the 2004 national championships won five medals in discus, javelin and softball.
Heather Haynie, 13, is the daughter of Phil and Connie Haynie of Zephyrhills. Heather, a double amputee from an accident as a young child, started racing in 2003 and in the 2004 national championships won seven medals for track, javelin, discus and shotput.
The National Junior Disability Championships began in 1984 sanctioned by Wheelchair Sports, USA for wheelchair athletes ages 6 to 19 and has more than 250 athletes with cerebral palsy, visual impairments, amputation and limb deficiencies from the United States and several foreign countries.
The intent of the local organizing committee is to provide athletes, coaches and parents of the Junior Championships with an unforgettable experience by providing an avenue of success to show their abilities and strengths.
The three Pasco County athletes train at Blaze Sports Tampa Bay under the coaching guidance of Andy Chasanoff.
U.S. Rep. Brown-Waite Honored
U. S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite recently was honored by the National Federation of Independent Business the nation's largest small-business group, for her outstanding voting record on behalf of American's small-business owners.
Federation president and CEO Jack Faris praised Rep. Brown-Waite for "taking a stand" for small business, citing Brown-Waite's 100 percent voting record.
Faris presented her with the group's "Guardian of Small Business" award.
"Small business owners pay close attention to how their elected representatives vote on the issues affecting their businesses and stand by those who stand by them," said Faris.
In all, the Federation presented Guardian awards to 48 senators and 232 representatives who voted favorably on key small-business issues at least 70 percent of the time during the 108th Congress.
