What's happening
By JEAN HAYES
Published November 21, 2004
MILITARY NEWS
After a one-year deployment in Iraq, Army Spec. 4th Class Richard P. Dellasso recently returned to his base in Fort Lewis, Wash.
As part of Task Force Olympia, Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Dellasso was a soldier with the 114th Cavalry, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. This combat team was the Army's first brigade to take the eight-wheeled Stryker vehicles into combat.
Dellasso's deployment included missions in strife-ridden cities across Iraq, along with recovering and repairing downed vehicles.
Dellasso is a 2002 graduate of Springstead High School. He is the son of Sharon A. and Richard Dellasso and the brother of Elaina M. Dellasso, all of Spring Hill, and the grandson of Julia Dellasso and Raymond Pinto of Selden, N.Y.
HIGH FIVESPrudential CARES volunteer grants, administered by Prudenital's local initiatives division, recently recognized 720 Prudential associates and retirees nationally and 48 associates across Canada, Japan, Korea and the Philippines who excelled in volunteer commitment, leadership and service in their communities during 2003.
Tom Pepe of Brooksville, an agent emeritus and financial planner for Prudential Financial, received a Prudential CARES award of $250 for the Kiwanis Club of Brooksville Foundation.
In 2003, Pepe marked his 22nd year of volunteer service with Kiwanis. He was the Brooksville Kiwanis Club's Relay for Life team captain. He also taught Kiwanis members to make and sell pizza in conjunction with the Hernando High School Key Club.
In addition, Pepe delivered Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets and helped with the group's Easter egg hunt, Christmas parade, youth fun day and Key Club meetings.
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONSFawn Germer, four-time Pulitzer-nominated investigative reporter and bestselling author, was the speaker at the Scarlett Belles of GlenLakes monthly luncheon Nov. 3.
Prior to lunch, Germer chatted in the lobby of GlenLakes Country Club with members and guests while signing copies of her two books, Hard Won Wisdom and Mustang Sallies, available in hardcover and paperback.
Queen mum Sandra Klontz introduced the author to a sold-out crowd. In attendance were members of the Scarlett Belles and their guests, as well as members from three visiting Red Hat Society chapters, including the Wellington Crimson Glories, the Purple Butterflies of Brookridge and the Purple Passions.
Following a chicken dish, Germer shared with the crowd some inspiring and humorous stories about how she decided to quit her job as a journalist and jump blindly into an uncertain and not-so-glamorous future as an author.
Her words of wisdom included tips she picked up along the road, literally, as she traveled alone, driving a rented Ford Escort on her self-produced book tour.
"Don't worry about what others may say; do what you have to do to succeed. Dare to risk looking like an idiot," Germer said.
As she began researching her first book, she found herself at the library looking for self-help books for women. When she came up empty-handed, friends suggested she write a book herself. Knowing she didn't have all the answers, Germer started interviewing the women she felt could offer the guidance she needed and eventually would share with her readers.
Although her first book didn't take off immediately - it was rejected 15 times before being accepted by a publisher - her second book, Mustang Sallies: Success Secrets of Women Who Refuse to Run with the Herd, was easier to get started.
Once she could say that she had interviewed certain people for her first book, it was much easier to get interviews for the second.
"It's like throwing a party. Everyone wanted to know who else was coming," Germer said.
Germer's latest book teaches women to use power, not fear it. Mustang Sallies goes beyond the mentorship provided in her first book and shows women how to take charge, to articulate a vision and be effective without taking things so personally.
Germer has interviewed more than 200 world-famous leaders and icons about the hard lessons of success, including two U.S. presidents, numerous Fortune 500 CEOs, military leaders, athletes and scores of others.
Hard Won Wisdom became a national bestseller after it was featured, along with some of the famous trailblazing women Germer had interviewed, on Oprah.
"If you want to read a very inspiring book, read Hard Won Wisdom," said Oprah Winfrey.
The information Germer gained through the interviews helped her create her four key principles: take risks, live your truth, expect obstacles and stop throwing power away.
Members of the Hernando County Chapter of the Orange Blossom Country Music Association International participated in the association's state competition Oct. 16 and 17 in Mulberry. The top two winners in each category advanced to the national competition in March in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Orange Blossom is a nonprofit association with a mission to create and provide venues for local, statewide and national exposure for country and gospel music entertainers, artists, musicians and songwriters.
Fourteen Hernando County chapter members placed first or second in various categories at the state competition.
In the new country category, Kevin Longhorn took male vocalist of the year; Brian Chytka took most promising male entertainer of the year; Jenny Rimmer received most promising female vocalist of the year as well as female entertainer of the year; Terri Benoit was named female vocalist and entertainer of the year (age 13-16); Brian Chytka and Kevin Longhorn received the duo of the year award, and Dietra and Ron Green took the award for most promising duo of the year.
In the traditional country category: Pat Golden took male vocalist of the year and most promising male entertainer of the year, and Byron Conner and Steven Stephenson took the duo of the year award.
In bluegrass: Randy Lee received the male vocalist and entertainer of the year award; Michelle Triplett received the most promising female vocalist and entertainer of the year award, and Michelle Triplett and Buster Benoit took the most promising duo of the year award.
In new gospel: Buster Benoit was named most promising male vocalist of the year and male entertainer of the year; Shawn Doolittle took the male vocalist and entertainer of the year (age 13-16) awards; Jessica Doolittle was named female vocalist and entertainer of the year (age 7-12), and Shawn and Jessica took the mixed youth new gospel duo award.
In addition to singers, songwriters competed, In the new gospel category: Dietra Green received the songwriter of the year award for Angel in Every Tear; Dietra Green and Kevin Longhorn were named co-writers of the year for Angel on the Mountain.
In the new country songwriting category: Jenny Rimmer took the songwriter of the year award for Poison in the Bottle.
In the traditional songwriting category: Pat Golden received the songwriter of the year award for Wish I Was Willie and the most promising song of the year award for You've Always Been a Star.
In addition, Dietra Green is eligible to compete at nationals in the new country female entertainer of the year category; Byron Conner is eligible to compete in the traditional gospel male vocalist of the year category.
The Hernando Historical Museum Association recently announced that it has been awarded a grant from the Historic Preservation Grants-in-aid Program: Bureau of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State, for the restoration of the Brooksville train depot on Russell Street in Brooksville. The 1885 depot will be getting a new roof and a heating and air conditioning unit.
Association officials thanked everyone who sent letters to Tallahassee on behalf of the Hernando Historical Museum Association, an all-volunteer organization that works to help preserve the history, artifacts, genealogy and archaeology of Hernando County.
The association does not receive any funding for the operation of its two museums and continues to put on events to cover operating expenses. The Brooksville Raid Festival is the largest of these events, and the 2005 raid, in January, will mark the 25th anniversary of the event. The association's Heritage Day Festival will be in February.
When the notification from the state is received, the association will begin working on the train depot. At that time, volunteers will be needed to paint the building after the roof is completed. Anyone wishing to help may contact Virginia Jackson at 796-4260 or 799-0129.
On Oct. 14, Arc Nature Coast had a ribbon cutting with the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce at Arc's newest group home. The Gondolier Group Home, built specifically to accommodate four women, is on Gondolier Avenue in Spring Hill.
Mark Barry, Arc Nature Coast's executive director, presented plaques to those who contributed to the home: Kathleen Lonergan, patio furniture, chairs, tables, microwave, chest, shelves, toaster, blinds, artwork, trees, and cleaning and decorating help; Howard Dornfeld and Norman Lain of Accurate Aluminum & Additions, screen room; Bob and Elsie Taylor, living room furniture; Judy Kasper, Realtor, and Steve Pearson, broker, from ERA Pearson Realty, who donated their entire commission on the home; Pam Wolszan of Adams Homes, builder; Morris Porton, Community National Bank, banking services; and Michael Mazzuco of Linus Alarm Systems and Al's Lock & Key, fire alarm and safety system.
Barry also acknowledged Patricia Crowley of the chamber; Cara Cooper, owner of Flying Colors, who donated balloon designs for the event; Ken Coon, residential coordinator; Sherri Davis, Gondolier team leader; the residential staff, and the four residents who now call Gondolier home.