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HIGH FIVES

The Rev. Andrew Beaudoin, with the order of the Society of the Blessed Sacrament, was ordained a priest in the Catholic church 50 years ago. To celebrate his golden jubilee of ordination, Beaudoin celebrated Mass with his brother priests at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Spring Hill recently.

"Father Andy," as he was known to parishioners, came to St. Frances Cabrini from St. Jean's Roman Catholic Church in New York, invited by the Rev. David Banks, the church's first pastor.

Beaudoin spent 14 years at St. Frances Cabrini. He was known for his homilies and how he could relate the Gospels to stories from his personal life. He kept his congregation's attention with some laughter. Today, the Rev. John Cippel is the pastor at St. Frances Cabrini.

Celebrating the special Mass with Beaudoin were: the Revs. Mario Marzocchi, Julian Rousseau and Edward Stapleton, all from the Society of the Blessed Sacrament, and all of the priests and deacons from St. Frances Cabrini.

Also attending were Beaudoin's two sisters, Terry Desousey and Delores Mattingly, and more than 1,200 parishioners filled the church to capacity. A reception in Xavier Hall followed the Mass.

On Sept. 18, the Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill had its officer installation ceremony and annual awards banquet at St. Sebastiaan Belgian Microbrewery Restaurant in Spring Hill. Presiding over the installation was Kiwanis Lt. Gov. Lyman O'Neil.

The new officers include: Dr. Brent Novak, president; Michael Jackson, vice president; Dave Spelts, secretary, and Michael Vassay, treasurer. Members of the board of directors include: Tom Foster, Donna Gaula and Walter Goodseal.

Members were given a choice of meal: Spring Hill sirloin, blue bird chicken or grouper pompadour.

Following the meal, outgoing president Ken Kral presented the annual awards. Ray Jones received the Kiwanian of the Year award; Clint Patterson was recognized for publishing the club's newsletter, The Kiwanian; and Rich Boothby was recognized for his commitment to the BUG program, which stands for Bringing Up Grades.

Jim Aten was honored for securing a $1,000 sponsorship for the club's inaugural Music Fest by the Lake, and Eddie Lawrence, Bev Reso and Donna and Don Gaula were recognized for their extra efforts with the event. Katarine Wise and Donna Gaula were honored for their work with the annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa.

Members who headed programs were thanked, including: Stan Antanoff and Walter Goodseal for their work with the sponsored youth and Key Club; Rich Boothby for youth services; Curt Krabel for community services; Bev Reso and Julia DeCamp for fundraising; Ray Jones, Bruce Gresh and Tom Foster, meetings and administration; Don Creedman, membership and education; Clint Patterson, newsletter editor, and Kurt Hornung, public relations.

Kral thanked members Brent Novak, Mike Vassay, Dave Spelts, Stan Antanoff, Don Creedman, Julia DeCamp, Bruce Gresh and Barney Mancuso for their efforts during his year as president.

Projects and programs completed under Kral's leadership included: helping the Hernando County Recreation Department with its 14th annual Haunted House and Halloween Bash and Easter Egg Hunt; the club's quarterly Forest Oaks Boulevard cleanup; the Pancake Breakfast with Santa; holiday shopping for St. Vincent De Paul; Salvation Army bell ringing; the Christmas party social; Somebody Cares Hernando's Valentine's Day event; Bowl for Kid's Sake-Big Brothers Big Sisters; the club picnic social; Music Fest by the Lake; Division 8 prayer breakfast; the accelerated reading store support at Spring Hill Elementary School; the BUG program; Key Club at Springstead High School; members attending 11 interclub meetings, and acquiring five new members.

Barney Mancuso, a member of the Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill, was presented with a 50-year membership award by outgoing president Ken Kral at the club's annual awards banquet.

Kral said presenting the award to Mancuso was a "once in a lifetime" honor for him.

Mancuso began his membership in Kiwanis in 1954 as a member of the Kiwanis Club of East Meadows, N.Y. He moved up through the ranks and served as president. In addition, Mancuso served as an umpire and coached a Little League team. He started two Cub Scout packs as well.

After 25 years, he transferred to the Kiwanis Club of Long Beach, where he served as president and was active in the club's Toys for Tots and interfaith programs. He received about 25 citations from Long Beach and Nassau County officials for being an outstanding citizen.

On Oct. 15, 2000, more than 200 Kiwanians gathered to congratulate Mancuso when he was presented with the Anton J. Kaiser Foundation Fellowship award, which was presented to him by the New York district governor of Kiwanis.

In 2001, Mancuso and his wife, Fran, moved to Florida and transferred to the Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill.

Every other month, several members of the Timber Pines Tennis Club's Adopt-A-Road crew volunteer to pick up trash along Deltona Boulevard. This month, two days were needed for the cleanup.

On Sept. 15, members Bob Powell and Ed Gersbeck volunteered, and on Sept. 16, Don DeLisi did his part. The cleanup area is from Clipper Court by Deltona Elementary School north 2 miles to Sewell Lane, across from Dad's Diner. The volunteers enjoy being able to do something that helps make the community look better.

The Humane Society of Hernando County has announced the appointment of George Zoettlein, Hernando County's budget director, as the new treasurer for the Humane Society.

Zoettlein agreed to fill the post and offer his expertise for the benefit of homeless pets in the community.

Zoettlein worked for a gas and electric utility for 13 years before moving to Florida. He then worked for Pasco County until July 1990 as a budget analyst in the office of management and budget and as an accountant in Pasco's parks and recreation department.

He also served as finance director for the city of Crystal River until June 1999 before joining Hernando County government as director of the office of management and budget.

Zoettlein holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is a certified government finance officer and certified governmental financial manager.

Zoettlein and his wife, Donna, were born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Florida in August 1985. The couple are dedicated animal lovers, sharing their home with 29 cats, one kitten and four dogs. The cats have their own living quarters and play area, while the dogs have their run of the house and yard.

The Zoettleins celebrated their 30th anniversary Sept. 21 and have one daughter, April. The entire family will serve as volunteers at the shelter.

American Legion Post 186 recently sent five delegates to the Florida American Legion Boys State 61st session in Tallahassee. Boys State is the most widely recognized youth leadership program in Florida. This year's program was in session from June 20-26 at Florida State University.

Organizing the program for Post 186 was Charlie Murray, Boys State chairman. After reviewing many applications and interviewing the candidates, Christopher Donegan, Ryan Misener, Kyle Nugent, Joseph Fleschner and Adam Myers were chosen to attend.

The awards dinner was Sept. 18 at the post home to congratulate the boys. Murray presented them with their Boys State certificates.

Donegan, Misener and Fleschner are students at Central High School; Nugent and Myers are students at Springstead High School.

Program organizers accept only 525 of the state's top high school seniors to travel to the state capital each summer to attend an intense week of instruction on the workings and procedures of government, and at the same time organize their own model government.

The students make several trips to the Capitol, where the young men meet Florida's leaders and hold mock government sessions. Delegates can earn three hours of college credit from Tallahassee Community College and compete for scholarships to attend American Legion Boys Nation program in Washington, D.C.

John L. Heron Jr. of Timber Pines recently won a silver medal as a member of the Delaware 70+

Four boxers from the Ambassador Boxing Club of Spring Hill took part in the "Going the Distance to Make a Difference" USA Boxing competition on Sept. 25 at the Jerome Brown Community Center in Brooksville. There were 11 bouts.

Jacob Bolen, 11, showed courage in his bout with Sammy "hurricane" Valentine from Tampa, but came up short and lost by decision.

Giovanni Galloza, 14, won a unanimous decision over Alex Diaz from the Fourth Street Boxing Gym in St. Petersburg.

Will Mirabal, 14, lost a close decision to Jonathan Moss from the Warriors for Christ Boxing Gym in Orlando.

Rafael Seda, 28, was ahead on points when coach Cecil Lalas stopped his bout in the last round due to a severe shoulder injury he sustained in the second round. Seda's bout was against Cesar Serra Jr. from Heart and Soul Boxing Gym in Orlando.