Wallace Johnston was recently awarded life membership in the National Society of Professional Engineers. The society recently presented him with a life member certificate for 40 consecutive years of membership.
Johnston is a licensed engineer in Florida and a member of the board of directors for the Florida Engineering Society. He was twice elected president of the society's Nature Coast Chapter.
For 30 years, Johnston was proprietor of Wallace Johnston Engineers in New York City. He holds a Library of Congress copyright for an electric multi-lamp design.
Johnston once received a thank-you letter from R.F. Longo, line cargo manager of American Airlines, for his unique air curtain design created for LaGuardia Airport in New York City. He wrote a technical paper on the design, which was published in a national engineering journal.
Johnston served for two years as a director for the New York City Association of Consulting Engineers. He received a certificate of merit for excellence in design for his work on the Riverside Convention Center in Rochester, N.Y.
An Air Force veteran, Johnston was awarded the Korean War Service Medal by the Republic of South Korea in 2000. In 1982, he was listed in Who's Who in Engineering.
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Proclamations from the city of Brooksville and the Hernando County Commission were presented to the Tangerine Charter Chapter of th e American Business Women's Association on Sept. 13 and Sept. 21, respectively, declaring Sept. 22 as National American Business Women's Day.
Both proclamations were accepted by Donna Lyons, chapter president.
The Tangerine Charter Chapter was founded in 1973 by local business women in affiliation with the national association, which has more than 100,000 members. Its mission is to bring together business women of diverse backgrounds, providing opportunities for them to help themselves and others through leadership, education, networking, support and national recognition.
The chapter raises money through various events during the year to provide scholarships for qualified applicants.
Meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month at Victoria's Steakhouse and Lounge on U.S. 41, north of Brooksville. Networking begins at 5:30 p.m., with the dinner meeting at 6:30 p.m. Guests are welcome. For information, contact Gail Patterson at 596-7364 or Carole Brantley at 796-4095.
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The Rotary Club of Spring Hill Central recently had an officer training program for all the Interact clubs in Rotary District 6950. Interact is a high school service club, based on the principles of Rotary service.
The all-day workshop was sponsored and staffed by members of the Rotary Club of Spring Hill Central, under the direction of Josh Kelly, who is the district Interact co-chairman.
Trainers for the program included: Andy Gutierrez, club president; Brooks Edwards, membership chairman; Bill Newell, past president; Josh Kelly, district co-chairman, and Barbara Sweinberg, aspiring Rotarian who works with Habitat for Humanity.
The workshop was attended by Interact officers from all over District 6950, including three clubs from Hernando County - at Central, Springstead and Hernando high schools.
Plans were discussed for districtwide events for the coming months.
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President Brent Novak of the Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill, recently announced the return of Al Johnson, a former longtime member of the club, who has transferred from Owego, N.Y. He became the club's first new member of the 2004-05 year.
Johnson has been a Kiwanis member for 26 years, with 18 years of perfect attendance. A past distinguished president (1988-89) and a George Hixson Award winner (2000), Johnson has served on the board of directors for a total of 21 years.
Johnson was a former secretary to the lieutenant governor of the Susquehanna, N.Y., Division of Kiwanis. He has also sponsored 13 new members for Kiwanis.
Johnson's will be working with two other members of the club as advisers to the Key Club at Springstead High School, and he will be involved with the BUG (Bring Up Grades) program at the elementary schools in Hernando County, as well as other club projects.
Johnson is employed by State Farm Insurance.
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Members of Holy Angels Contemporary Catholic Church recently assisted members of the Spring Hill Community Association in cleaning up debris from the recent hurricanes to prepare for the fourth annual Angels On High holiday display.
Several loads of branches and sticks were gathered, and the beginning of the Angels path was cleared.
Holy Angels Contemporary Catholic Church meets at 10 a.m. every Sunday at the Spring Hill Community Association's Lake House at the end of Kenlake Avenue. When members of the church saw the debris covering the grounds where the Angels on High display is held, they offered assistance to the association.
Members of both groups worked for several hours and plan to meet every other Saturday until the job is completed. More volunteers are welcome to join. For information, call 666-4746.
MILITARY NEWS
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nicholas A. Cisek, along with Marines and sailors of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iraqi security forces, recently captured four suspected anti-Iraqi militants in northern Babil province.
The forces also provided assistance from the unit's force reconnaissance platoon to Iraqi special weapons and tactics members as well as Iraqi national guardsmen to help capture a former Baath Party leader and apprehend two men suspected of firing on Marines.
Since assuming operational control of northern Babil on July 29, Cisek's unit has worked closely with Iraqi security forces to disrupt criminal and other anti-Iraqi activity in the area.
To date, they have captured more than 160 individuals throughout the province. Their mission is to assist Iraqi authorities in fostering security and stability for the nearly 900,000 residents of the province.
Cisek is a 2001 graduate of Hernando High School and the son of Dennis and Fran Cisek of Brooksville.
RECREATION AND SPORTS
The West Hernando Athletic Club Seniors is a softball league for individuals over 55 years old. The 60-game schedule runs through April. The playoffs are in May. Larry Wagner umpires all games.
The 2004-05 teams include: Casablanca Pub, American Legion Post 186, Moose Lodge 521, Elks Lodge 2582, Suncoast Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center/Dr. Fady Zeidan, Ron Fee and Chaney Chiropractic Clinic. The commissioner is Sal Ficarra.
On Oct. 18, Suncoast Orthopedics won the first game over Casablanca by a score of 21-13. In the second game, the Elks pounded Chaney Chiropractic, 29-16.
On Oct. 20, the Moose Lodge defeated the American Legion, 23-14. Suncoast Orthopedics beat the Elks, 13-12.
On Oct. 22, Chaney Chiropratic pummeled the American Legion, 23-3. Ron Fee beat the Moose Lodge, 10-5.
To date, the wins and losses are:
Chaney Chiropractic Clinic 7-1
Suncoast Orthopedics 7-2
Casablanca Pub 5-3
Moose Lodge 521 4-5
Elks Lodge 2582 3-6
Ron Fee 2-6
American Legion Post 186 2-7
In addition to weekly games, the league has weekly and monthly social events and activities. Games are at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Veterans Memorial Park in Spring Hill. For information, contact Lloyd Rogers, league secretary, at 596-7412.
Hometown Hernando welcomes reports on recreational and sports activities, both youth and adult, that do not normally run on the Sports pages. Send your news and results to: Jean Hayes, Hernando Times, 15365 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613-6174.
