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Hometwon Hernando

What's happening

By Times Staff Writer
Published March 13, 2005

HIGH FIVES

Haley Margaret Sasser, 141/2, competed in the 2005 Miss Junior Teen Tampa/St. Petersburg Pageant competition Feb. 19.

This year's pageant coordinator, Patty Neidert, conducted the interview sessions. Sasser competed in the teen division, one of three divisions for girls between the ages of 10 and 19.

The competition includes modeling routines in casual wear and formal wear. The girls display their personality and interviewing skills while interviewing with the judging panel. Personality is the No. 1 aspect on which each contestant is judged.

Haley's sponsors included David Shrader-State Farm, Johnston & Sasser PA, Touch of Quality Cleaners, Jean Marie Griffin, Your Hair Fashion, Lee Pontaic, the George P. Wood family, Haircrafters and Paff Landscape. Haley is an eighth-grade student at Hernando Christian Academy and the daughter of Ronna and David Sasser of Brooksville.

Melissa Nadine Shaw, 17, and Lakota Sue Kauth, 17, competed in National's 2005 Miss Teen Tampa/St. Petersburg Pageant competition Feb. 20.

Melissa was sponsored by her parents and Basil's Gourmet Italian Deli & Catering. She is home-schooled and the daughter of Sue and Joe Shaw of Spring Hill.

Lakota's sponsors included Car Tune Automotive, Athens Gifts, Five Fish-Fresh Produce, Fantasea cq Gifts, Southwest & Tropical, More-N-More, Opa's Family Restaurant, Ray's Pawn Gallup, Katarina's Mart, Southwest Connection, the Esperdy family, Ryan Wynand, Tim Wiedman, Rayni McFadden, Marilou Condrey and C.K. and Co.

Lakota is home-schooled and the daughter of Ivy and John Kauth of Spring Hill. For the past two years, she has been a hair model for Paul Mitchell. Two years ago, she and her mom partnered in an online travel agency business, yourTravelBiz. They can be contacted at www.ytbnet.com/5713

Although Sasser, Shaw and Kauth did not place in the top 10 of their divisions to advance to the Cities of America National Competition, they all gained valuable experience.

Members of the Springstead High School chapter of the Beta Club recently presented Sheriff Richard Nugent with about 30 cell phones for the sheriff's Safety Phones for Seniors program. Club members started collecting the phones from fellow students and teachers in early December as part of a community service project.

The Springstead chapter is associated with the National Beta Club and stresses academic achievement, character and leadership. Math teacher Lorna Toole serves as adviser to the 30-member club, assisted by student officers Pamela Arnold, president; Danny Fierro, vice president; Krystal Newman, secretary, and Kevin Murray, treasurer. Members of Beta Club must maintain a good grade-point average and be of high moral character.

The St. Frances Cabrini Council of Catholic Women had its annual luncheon and fashion show, "Elegance," at the Palace Grand on Feb. 8.

Committee members for the show got together for their last rehearsal Feb. 2, putting the finishing touches on the show.

According to fashion show chairwoman Florence D'Urso and co-chairwoman Evelyn Cody, it took many hands to make a show like this happen, including models, a raffle ticket committee, a profit sharing ticket committee, and a program and decorations committee.

Fashions modeled at the event were from Patricia's Boutique in Brooksville.

Members of Preceptor Delta Iota Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority International, recently met at the home of Beverly Russell. The program was given by Marcia Hood. Her topic was "Things to be Grateful and Thankful For," including health, family and friends. A pledge ritual was given for new members Jackie Sims and Taylor Theodore.

Another meeting took place at Brooksville Natural Foods, hosted by Beverly Lewis. Natural foods were served for refreshments. The program was presented by store owners Laura DeWitt and Karen Greenway, who spoke about nutritious foods, vitamins and minerals.

Spring Hill Hadassah had its annual Election Day on Jan. 24, with more than 70 Hernando County residents and several county commissioners attending. The theme was "Today's Youth and Crime," and legal views and compassion were the topics of discussion.

The morning speakers were John Heyne and Nicole Klapka. Heyne is the Teen Court coordinator. He spoke about the Teen Court and how one in 20 teens are eligible for it. The prosecuting attorney, defending attorney and jury are teens supervised by a real judge. Heyne shared how 90 percent of the teens sentenced by their peers do not commit more crimes.

Klapka is an assistant state attorney. She explained how and when juveniles are prosecuted as adults. She said she believes that sometimes the courts are too lenient with juveniles, as some of them commit the same types of crimes repeatedly without going to prison or jail.

Following lunch, Tracey DiMuro from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office spoke about the preventative crime programs the Sheriff's Office offers at different grade levels in the schools. The programs deal with topics ranging from drug use to reacting to strangers.

Chaplain James MacDonald from the Hernando County Jail shared several stories concerning inmates, emphasizing that the community volunteers try to help inmates keep from repeating crimes. Volunteers can help the various ways, such as reading, assisting inmates with their high school diplomas or just listening.

Monsignor John Cippel from St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church summed up the day's program by saying adults should become more involved with youth by watching the movies they like, listening to the music they like, learning about their interests, but most importantly listening to their opinions.

By becoming involved with youth, adults can prevent some youths from becoming involved with crime, he said.

Hernando County Clerk of Courts Office activities committee, a five-person committee that plans events and activities for employees, recently had a bake sale to raise funds for victims of the Asian tsunami.

Baked goods were provided by employees of the clerk's office, many of whom worked half-hour shifts throughout the day to sell the goodies. The money was later donated to the United Way of Hernando County for the United Way's tsunami relief fund.

Melinda Jennings is the activities committee chairwoman. Other committee members include: Jeremiah Wiltberger, Nicole Noreen, Erika Asbel and Melinda Marcelle. The committee thanked their boss, Karen Nicolai, clerk of the courts, for allowing the bake sale, and Deborah Marenco, who came up with the idea.

The activities committee raised $336.98. A check was presented to Valerie Orshal-Hunt, executive director of the local United Way.

On behalf of our board of directors, staff and, most of all, our clients, the Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Spring Hill Moose Lodge 521 and Thrivent Financial Institution for their generous donations.

The lodge had its fourth annual benefit breakfast, with proceeds going to the Lighthouse. We are extremely grateful for this community support as it allows us to continue offering much-needed services to the visually impaired and blind of Hernando County, free of charge.

Thank you for making a difference.

Marian Robinson, Lighthouse director of operations

The Ouellette family would like to say thank you to everyone who has helped since the loss of our dear pets and home in the fire Dec. 1. So many people came forward to help that it is impossible to list everyone by name.

We also received donations anonymously. To whoever paid for the hotel, thank you. Thank you, Reba and Chuck Merkle, for the beautiful home. My best friend, Mary Peter of Stillwater Dog Training, and Gayle Guthman, for the many hours answering phones and taking messages and collecting donations for us, thank you.

We want to thank the Pastore family for their compassion and support. You are both very special people. We want to thank the clients from Stillwater Dog Training, the residents of the Gardens and residents of GlenLakes, our neighbors Ray and Vicky Johnson and Roberta Honeycutt (we miss having you as neighbors), and all of the businesses and individuals who made donations.

To th e Hernando County Sheriff's Office, Pasco County Sheriff's Office and the St. Petersburg detectives: Thank you all for making Christmas for my children. The owners and staff from The Restaurant fed us and also collected donations for our family. You really all are like family.

Also thanks to the Elks Club for sharing your Christmas party with our family and collecting so many donations for our family, and to Animal Health Association and Midway Animal Hospital for caring for our two surviving dogs. A special thank you to Hernando County Aminal Services for all your help the day of the fire. And, finally, thanks to the reporters for taking the time to tell our story with such compassion.

We will never be able to thank everyone for everything they have done for us. But please know you will never be forgotten in our hearts.

The Ouellette family, Spring Hill

[Last modified March 13, 2005, 00:22:15]