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Hometown Hernando

What's happening

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 23, 2005

HIGH FIVES

Before winter break, Springstead High School's varsity football team had a fundraiser for Tom Chiarello, a Springstead graduate who was paralyzed from the waist down after being thrown machinery while working to clean up damage from Hurricane Jeanne. He fractured his right arm and broke his neck.

Jennifer Grispo, a sophomore at Springstead and team manager of the varsity cheerleading squad, was the winner of the grand prize. Grispo is the daughter of Nat and Anna Grispo of Spring Hill.

The team sold raffle tickets for the winning game ball from the team's first playoff game, Nov. 12 against Belleview. The Eagles won 43-32.

The football was signed by the entire varsity football team, and chances sold for $1 each at school and during the second playoff game.

After the winning ticket was announced, Grispo was offered Disney tickets or cash for the football, but she wouldn't part with it. And for good reason.

"I'm giving it to my sister, Christina. It's her senior year, and it was her friends who signed the ball and won the playoff game," said Grispo.

Christina is captain of the varsity cheerleaders.

Profits from the fundraiser were given to the family of Chiarello to help with mounting medical costs.

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite recently sponsored a districtwide competition to win tickets to the presidential inauguration. More than 30 students submitted essays, and Brown-Waite selected five winners.

The competition was open to all students under age 18 living in the 5th Congressional District. Applicants submitted essays titled, "Why I Want to Attend the Presidential Inauguration."

The essays were judged on content, creativity, grammar, spelling and style. The students' ages were taken into account.

"I was very impressed by the quantity and quality of the essays that I received," Brown-Waite said. "All participants demonstrated an enthusiastic passion for President Bush and for their country. I look forward to meeting the winners on inauguration day."

The five winners were: Brandon Barrett, 9, a fourth-grade student at Deltona Elementary School in Spring Hill; Caity Bryant, a fifth-grade student at Inverness Primary School; Mitchell Case, 5, a home-schooled student in Crystal River; Alise D. Morris, 11, who attends Treadway Elementary School in Leesburg, and Cami Plaisted, 15, a home-schooled high school sophomore in Inverness.

The five winners met Brown-Waite in her Washington, D.C. office and received three tickets each to Thursday's inauguration.

The Scottish Club of West Cental Florida recently had a ceildih (Scottish party), which was attended by more than 60 members and guests.

One of the highlights of the evening was the "Bonnie Knees" contest with 10 kilted men competing for the honor, which was rewarded with a trophy.

The winner was J. Dobbs of New York, who was visiting in Hernando County.

The group of 10 were judged by three blindfolded women who chose the best knees by touch. The three agreed they had a difficult decision.

The Hernando Emergency Animal Response Team elected officers for 2005 on Dec. 12. Officers include: Tom Austin, president; John Edmond, vice president; Becky Baker, secretary, and Terry Sessions, treasurer.

The response team is a nonprofit volunteer corporation that functions as an extension of Hernando County Animal Services during natural or man-made disasters. Recently, the group was asked to assist in Hardee County with hurricane recovery. Those who participated included: Ann Keyser, Terry Sessions, Bonnie Hardy, Janet Hobson, John Edmond, Kathrine Glover and Rob Robison.

The goals of HEART include educating residents on the need of making disaster plans for their animals and helping the county carry out the animal issues section of the county's emergency plan, which assumes that after a disaster there will be many loose and injured animals, which could result in public health and safety problems.

After a major disaster, HEART will assist in the rescue, treatment and reuniting of animals with their owners. Volunteer teams are also available, on a limited basis, to respond to other local animal-related incidents.

The concept of HEART began in June 1996 when a group of Hernando County horse people learned that the county emergency plan had no provisions for horses. HEART was originally intended to respond solely to the disaster needs of the county's large horse population.

Today, HEART has expanded its services to all animals. For information, call Tom Austin, at 799-2672.

The Rotary Club of Brooksville had its 20th annual Elected Officials Recognition Day on Dec. 7 at the Brooksville Country Club at Majestic Oaks.

The annual event give Rotarians a chance to recognize and show their appreciation to all Hernando County officials, as well as those state and federal officials who represent Hernando County. Almost 90 Rotarians and officials attended.

Following lunch, Circuit Judge Bud Hallman, a Rotarian, introduced the attending officials: state Sen. Mike Fasano; State Rep. David Russell; State Attorney Brad King; Public Defender Howard Babb; Tax Collector and Rotarian Juanita Sikes; Clerk of Court and Rotarian Karen Nicolai; Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams; commissioners Nancy Robinson, Tom Mylander (retired), Robert Schenck, Diane Rowden, Chris Kingsley and Jeff Stabins; County Administrator Gary Adams; Brooksville City Council members Mary Staib, Ernie Wever, Joe Johnston III, Frankie Burnett and David Pugh Jr.; City Administrator Richard Anderson, and School Board members Jim Malcolm, Sandra Nicholson and John Druzbick and Pat Fagan.

Russell talked about issues of concern to Hernando County residents, including transportation management, growth management, tourism, technology and progress, budget constraints and funding of programs, and the evolution of the state's new prekindergarten program.

On Dec. 17, Arc Nature Coast had its annual holiday open house at the center on Neff Lake Road, east of Brooksville.

Arc customers Iassic Vickers, Jasper Dutton and John Lynch participated in the equestrian exercise, showcasing the newest Arc program: POSSE (Promoting Opportunities and Skills with Special Equestrians).

Others in attendance included Arc Nature Coast staffers, customers, families, volunteers and members of the community.

The POSSE program was spearheaded by volunteer Robert Higgins; Carol Hughes, Arc equestrian coordinator; Theresa Smith, North American Riding for the Handicapped Association certified riding instructor; and Cathy Osborne, volunteer coordinator.

Currently, there are about a dozen Arc customers participating in the POSSE program. At the holiday event, customers proudly rode the horses about the riding ring and did exercises such as the bean bag toss, roping the stationary wooden horse, checking the mail and independent riding.

The program teaches Arc customers balance, coordination and other skills necessary for riding and competing. In the coming months, POSSE members will be participating in horse shows at the Hernando County Fairgrounds and with Special Olympics.

Arc is in need of volunteers to assist with the program. No experience is needed. If interested, call Theresa Smith at 544-2322, ext. 122.

Darrell Oppedal, parade chairman for the Kiwanis Club of Brooksville, announced the winners from this year's Brooksville Christmas Parade, which took place on Dec. 11. The parade had a record turnout. The judges said they had a difficult time selecting the winners.

The grand champion prize was awarded to the Methodist School Center.

In the youth category, the Central High Raging Bear Brigade took first place; the Jolly Ranchers 4-H Club, second place, and Hernando Christian Academy, third place.

In the adult category, Spring Lake United Methodist Church won first place; Brooksville Junior Service League, second place, and Habitat for Humanity, third place.

In the commercial category, Brooksville Dance Academy took first place; Hernando Pasco Hospice, second place, and DiAna's Dance Express, third place.

In the horse category, the Croom Trail Horse Rider's Club won first place; Katie's Riders took second place, and Triple B Riding Club received third place.

[Last modified January 23, 2005, 00:13:14]