Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Hometown Pasco

What's happening

The Tap 'N Dolls senior tap dancers performed various shows at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities during the holiday season.

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 13, 2005

Betsey Keys, activity director at Atria Evergreen Woods, welcomed the dancers to the Spring Hill facility. According to Keys, the dancers brought joy to the residents. The dancers also performed at Forest Oaks Care Center in Spring Hill.

The dancers' ages range from 45-79, which, according to Darlene Myers, instructor and choreographer, makes them easily relate to the residents in these types of facilities. The dancers travel from Pasco and Hernando County to participate in the group.

The Tap 'N Dolls specialize in active adult Broadway tap dancing. The group has won six first place gold medals at the Lakeland Convention Center and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Instructor and choreographer Darlene Myers, a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette, teaches tap at all levels. Connie Reeds is the costume seamstress for the group.

For information about booking the group, call 684-9975.

The Land O' Lakes High School acting students, under the guidance of teacher Ramona Quave, recently presented five one act plays at the Land O' Lakes High School Mini-Theater .

The night began with People in the Wind, by William Inge. Set at midnight in a rural Kansas bus station, the classic play featured a mixed bag of passengers, all victims of differing fates.

This created a scene of comedy and pathos. Student Brittany Wood directed and performed in this play, along with Kelley O'Brien who performed as the waitress in the diner. Austin Lynn was the bus driver and Josh Peterson played a deteriorating professor plagued by alcoholism. Matt Whitlock and Elle Agosta took the roles of young lovers and Fatima Salinas and Amy Traydon played disapproving spinsters.

The romantic comedy, Pizza, A Love Story, by Julianne Bernstein, focused on marriage and commitment, hunger and delivery boys, and sibling support. The play starred Stacy Everhart who was afraid her boyfriend, played by Martin Hagar, was about to propose marriage. Zach Garza was the unsuspecting pizza deliverer, and Amanda Moeller was the supportive but very hungry sister. Manny Sanfeliz appeared in the role of a police officer. Alicia Seymour directed the play.

Joy Ride saw Brad Slaight, Megan McKee, Sarah Yawn, Megan Cannon and Kelly Kroeger, play four high school girls who embark on a risky journey when one of the girls borrows a drivers education car for a very important reason and her friends tag along.

An old-fashioned mystery, Fog on the Mountain, by Tim Kelly came next. Sarah Adams played Susanna, a hapless ward of the witch-woman, played by Lindsey Turnbull. Susanna's friends, played by Ryan Krofssik and Lauren Prater, try to help her escape. Plans are foiled by an evil entity played by Craig Lawson.

In the intensely dramatic, Booby in the Trap by Ed Monk, a soldier played by Jesse Hutson, sat in a combat zone, trapped by a land mine. Waiting to see what will happen to him, scenes from his past, present and future unfold around him. Cast member include d Josh Peterson, Jamie Spinella, Biana Nobel, Kevin Kerr, an d Manny Sanfeliz. Other cast members included Natasha Thill, as the wife and Katie Stevens as her mother. Alicia Seymour was the soldier's mother; Amanda Blanco, Jessica Retzlaff, Brandi May were friends; and Austin Lynn and Nicole Ketz took roles as a son and his girlfriend.

Students were selected to perform, based on a vote by their peers designating the five one-act plays as the best for presentation.

For information about other presentations by the acting students, call teacher Ramona Quave at (813)794-9526.

Daybreak Rotary of Zephyrhills met recently and had as a featured guest speaker, Robyn Kirk, school resource officer at Stewart Middle School in Zephyrhills.

Prior to Kirk's speech, it was announced that past presidents of Daybreak Richard Deighton and Dennis Alfonso attended the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. Rotarian Terry Mears gave the club an update on his wife, who is with United States troops assisting tsunami victims.

Kirk was introduced by program chairwoman Anita Howard. Kirk gave a presentation on the GREAT program, a gang-resistance education program that is offered for sixth graders. The program is a 13-week school-based program taught by a law enforcement officer. The program's primary purpose is to prevent delinquency, youth violence and gang membership.

Kirk walked the club members through the curriculum components of the GREAT program, which include goal setting, conflict resolution/anger management, effective communication and school enhancement.

The program's first graduation with 195 sixth-graders took place recently at Zephyrhills City Hall. Kirk is now continuing the program with an additional 150 students. Students report that the program is extremely hands on and offers kids the skills to resist temptations when they are being recruited or enticed into illegal or inappropriate activities.

Kirk teaches the students how to develop and use verbal and nonverbal skills necessary to refuse involvement.

A culminating activity of the program is one in which students design a project for "Making My School a GREAT Place." To date, students have conducted environmental cleanup projects, gardening and painting projects. Kirk concluded her presentation by inviting Rotarians to the next graduation ceremony in late spring.

Madonna Wise, president of Daybreak, recognized Kirk as a "home grown gal" who was involved in the Zephyrhills schools and served as an exemplary student and citizen and is now giving back to her community.

Kirk graduated from high school and earned an associate's degree through the dual enrollment program with Pasco-Hernando Community College. She has since earned her bachelor's degree and is working toward her master's degree at Saint Leo Univeristy.

Kirk expressed gratitude for the school resource officers at four schools, funded by the city of Zephyrhills, and also praised Buddy Foster Chevrolet for donating the use of two vehicles for the program.

The Dade City Garden Club and the city government cosponsored the annual Arbor Day program recently at the Dade City Garden Club's Garden Center at 13630 Fifth Street. The event was open to the public and was well attended by those dedicating trees, those being honored and friends who were there to share the event with their loved ones. Representatives from the city participated in the program and helped plant trees.

The Arbor Day celebration is a time when all of the memorial trees that have been dedicated in the past year, since the last Arbor Day, are recognized. The Garden Club processes all of the applications for dedications to the memory or in honor of loved ones and procures the trees.

The city plants and maintains the trees for the first six months. The Garden Club takes care of ordering the plaques. The city places the plaques on wooden posts and locates them by the trees.

Trees are planted recognizing friends, special occasions, as tokens of appreciation and in memory of loved ones. Anyone interested in planting a Memorial Tree may do so at any point during the year by contacting Carolyn Griffin of the Garden Club by calling (352) 567-6204.

Vickie West, Arbor Day chairperson, gave the welcome and acknowledged some of the guests present. The invocation was given by Dade City Commissione r Scott Black. Black also read and presented a proclamation from the city commissioners, proclaiming Jan. 21 as Arbor Day in Dade City.

Garden Club Presiden t Sheryl Little led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and the conservation pledge.

Dade City Manage r Harold Sample talked about the city's plans and activities. Virginia Geiger, grounds chairwoman for the garden club, worked closely with the city groundskeepers in placing the trees in specific locations.

Virginia Geiger and Marilyn Graves, grounds co-chairwomen for Magnolia Circle, were honored by Pat Carver in appreciation for all they have done to develop Magnolia's area. A Walter's viburnum was planted in their honor.

A chickasaw plum was planted in the native plant garden at the garden center in memory of Vida K. Kendrick by Ed and Robin Carver and George and Pat Carver. Bill Kendrick and Kathy Phillips were present to receive the tree.

A camellia was planted in the Camellia Garden at the Garden Center in memory of Ed McNally by George and Pat Carver. Maggie McNally and her sister, Vivian Sparkman, were present for the ceremony.

Another camellia was planted in the camellia garden honoring Catherine Deal's 80th birthday. Ms. Deal was honored b y George and Pat Carver.

An East Palatka Holly was planted on Church Avenue in memory of Tom Ed Oakley by Marty and Patti Salzgeber and George and Pat Carver.

The Salzgebers also planted a Crape Myrtle in Price Park in memory of Gretchen Salzgeber, Marty Salzgeber's mother.

Poinsettia Circle planted a red bud tree in their circle's garden on the grounds of the garden center in memory of Betty DeWitt, who was president of their circle.

Bernadette Seme was honored by her children, Sheila Seme and Gordon Page, with the planting of a crape myrtle in the Dogwood Circle's garden.

Dogwood Circle also planted a dahoon holly at the Pasco County Fair Association Grounds in memory of Vivienne Harris, former County Extension director. Jeanie Hayes from the Extension Department was present for the dedication.

A dogwood tree was planted in Azalea Circle's garden in memory of Roger Frese by the Frese and Taylor families.

Donald and Johnette Chandeler honored their parents, John and Margaret Haynie and Willis and Annie Roth Chandler with the planting of a cooks pine at the garden center.

The family of Becky Jennings planted a dogwood tree in her memory. Sharon Grossenbacher was present for the dedication.

Kathy Reynolds gave a live oak tree in honor of her parents, Marjorie and Jack Goodman.

Ruth Anderson dedicated a crape myrtle in honor of Ken and Shirley Albright. It was planted in Agnes Lamb Park.

The Musselman family gave another crape myrtle was given in memory of Winifred King . Lee Musselman dedicated the tree.

The Musselmans also gave a crape myrtle in memory of Jack and Betty Minard.

Will and Karen Moriaty dedicated a tulip poplar in honor of Wyatt Frontiero, their nephew.

Virginia Geiger and Magnolia Circle planted a fruit salad tree at the garden center in honor of Pat Carver. The fruit salad tree is an unusual tree with six types of citrus grafted onto one tree. This tree was chosen because Carver wanted to see fruit trees planted at the garden center.

Eight trees have been planted at Habitat for Humanity homes in memory of Barbara Mercer. They were given by the Dade City Garden Club and the Barbara Mercer Habitat for Humanity Landscaping Fund and Habitat for Humanity.

The Cares 2005 Phil Mishkin Award, which recognizes an individual living or working in Pasco County who has demonstrated an outstanding personal commitment to improving the lives of Florida's elders, was presented to the Rev. J. Stephen Wright at the CARES Annual Benefit Dinner held recently at Heritage Springs Country Club in New Port Richey. The award posthumously honors State Rep. Phil Mishkin was was a tireless advocate for the elderly.

Wright was nominated for the award by First Baptist Church of Dade City. In the nomination letter, the church's representative advised that Wright is the minister of senior adults and pastoral care. He spearheads all spiritual and physical outreach for their senior adult group, the Prime Timers. He periodically visits group members to make sure that needed repairs to their homes are made and that food is available in time of need. He arranges transportation for medical appointments.

In 2001, he started a Prime Timer Choir, which sings at senior gatherings throughout the area. The choir also visits area nursing homes.

During the 2004 hurricanes, many nursing home residents from South Florida were evacuated to the central part of the state. Wright volunteered to transport them back home in church vehicles. He helped them relax and enjoy the ride by talking and singing with them.

The Little Women of Lutz will meet at the Lutz Library, 102W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz, Monday, at 7 p.m. After a brief business meeting members will work on making the table decorations for their lasagna fundraising dinner set for March 18 at the First United Methodist Church of Lutz.

The Little Women of Lutz is a service organization for girls ages 13-18. Service projects completed through the organization qualify as service hours needed for high school graduation.

Little Women of Lutz meet the second Monday of each month at the Lutz Library and have a variety of speakers and programs. For more information call sponsors Pat Serio at (813) 948-4752 or Marilyn Wannamaker at (813)949-1482.

Alexandria Art Gallery is holding the second local artist show beginning Feb. 27, with a reception for the artists and the community. The exhibit will run through March 5.

The gallery is limiting the show to the first 50 local artists. Each artist may display three pieces of work. Completed applications and a $25 entry fee must be submitted to the gallery by 7 p.m., Friday The show will be professionally judged in three categories: painting, mixed media, and photography. Best of show will receive $200.

Applications are available at Alexandria Art Gallery, 2149 Collier Parkway, in the new Publix Shoppiong Center at State Road 54 and Collier Parkway.

For more information call Genia Ward at (813)948-4447.

[Last modified February 13, 2005, 01:07:16]