Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Hometown Hernando

What's happening

By Times Staff Writer
Published August 14, 2005

MILITARY NEWS

Marine Corps Cpl. Mitchell L. Archbell II, along with more than 2,100 Marines and sailors assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are in the middle of a scheduled deployment with the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group to the Mediterranean Sea.

During the deployment, Archbell's unit has participated in a number of exercises, including Eagle Resolve 2005, a joint exercise with the Israeli Defense Force, a one-day exercise in DiJibouti in support of the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, and a one-month live-fire exercise at Udairi Range, Kuwait. The unit also has participated in community outreach projects in Malta, Italy and Bahrain.

Archbell's unit is an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in virtually any environment.

Archbell joined the Marine Corps in January 2002. He is a 2001 graduate of Central High School and is the son of Mitchell and Sharon Archbell of Brooksville.

If you live in Florida, eventually you'll be visited by family members from up North, and the Karpinski family in Brooksville is no different.

During a recent visit, the Karpinskis took their guests to Hudson Beach, one of their favorite spots.

Lindsey Karpinski, 17, a budding photographer, brought along her camera. With a true artist's eye, she could see two pictures that she thought would be fun to take.

In the first picture she had her boyfriend, David Tuscany, hold his hand, palm side up, as he appears to be cradling the setting sun. She then posed her brother , Adam Karpinski, and David standing, facing each other, with their hands appearing to push against the sun.

All of the family members were impressed with Lindsey's pictures, especially her grandmother, Alyce Fensterer.

On June 21, members of the Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill welcomed Joseph Gatti as guest speaker for their weekly noon meeting at the Residence at Timber Pines.

Gatti is with the Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology in Spring Hill. The school, Hernando County's first charter school, has about 120 students in grades 6 to 8.

Gulf Coast has an experiential learning program that benefits the children because it is a hands-on participation-type program, Gatti said, and from those experiences the students derive discussions and write about their experiences.

According to Gatti, the students are learning while having fun and are incorporating everything into a learning plan: writing skills, problem solving, social studies, math, geography, history and other subjects. The hands-on approach takes them outside of the school on field trips for some of their learning activities.

Gatti pointed out that the school earned a state rating of A last year, and he said Gulf Coast maintains a disciplined learning environment. Anyone interested in learning more about the school may call 688-5092.

The Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill is always looking new members. For information, contact Beverly Reso, president, at 683-7668.

On June 21, the Tangerine Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association in Brooksville had its annual scholarship and awards event at Victoria's Steakhouse.

Guest speaker Jennene Norman presented her "Discover Teamwork" talk to those attending.

The scholarship recipients included: Georgia Hudson, who will attend Pasco-Hernando Community College and pursue an associate's degree in business; Krista Mattingly, who will attend PHCC and then a university to be a surgical nurse; Tara Allan, who will study to be a civil engineer at Embry Riddle University; Caroline Aldridge, who will attend the Ringling School of Art and Design to study graphic design and book illustration, and Renee Sacino, who will attend the University of South Florida and pursue a degree in finance.

The money to cover the scholarships is generated by fundraisers throughout the year. Chapter members are proud to assist in the furthering of education of local students as they attain their goals and return to the county to improve the lives of residents.

Each year, chapter members elect by secret ballot and present a Rookie of the Year award and a Member of the Year award. The recipients of the awards this year are Gail Patterson, Member of the Year, and Sandra Gosc, Rookie of the Year, both of whom gave their time and energy to chapter functions.

The Tangerine Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association in Brooksville named Tiffany Lyons as its 2005 Woman of the Year at the chapter's June 21 meeting.

Lyons has been an ABWA member for several years. Her commitment to the chapter has been shown through her work on various efforts.

Lyons has been chairwoman of the education/scholarship committee for two years. She designed the artwork for the car show T-shirts, an annual fundraiser. She also designed and hosted the chapter Web site, using her experience in graphic design. In addition, she helped at the Hernando County Rodeo for the past three years.

While being involved in ABWA, Lyons has been a full-time student at the Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa; she graduated with honors in June with a bachelor's degree in graphic design. In December 2003, she received an associate's degree in graphic design, graduating summa cum laude.

Lyons has her own business, Color Me Creative, working on a freelance basis for local companies. Some of her work will soon be published.

In addition to devoting time to ABWA, Lyons designed and hosted a Web site for Hernando County Habitat for Humanity, as well as raising a young family.

The Tangerine Charter Chapter of ABWA was founded in 1973 and is affiliated with the National Association, which has more than 100,000 members.

Re: Former Hernando High School Band Master Remembers

Slowly the old reel of tape began to turn. Suddenly 40 years of silence burst into sound. For all these years, I knew that they were in my collections, but never had I played them. The music that came from my speakers was a 1963 rehearsal of my Hernando High School symphonic band. The music I immediately remembered - along with many of the students.

Even though the recording was made under the worst of conditions and with inferior equipment, the overall sound was enjoyable.

I remember the 1963, 1964 and 1965 bands received excellent and superior ratings at both district and state contests.

It is with pride that I look back to having had the opportunity to start those many students from knowing nothing about music or their instruments - and watching them grow and mature into what my old tapes were giving out!

It was my pleasure to have taught band at Hernando from 1958 to 1965. I later went into private business. But I must say that there has been nothing so satisfying to me as holding my baton up before a "bunch of kids" whom I love, and with the downbeat hearing that fantastic sound that only a high school band can make.

I would love to hear from my former students. They may contact me at (727) 842-7403.

John Barrett, Port Richey

On July 5, U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Crystal River) presented four Hernando County veterans with medals honoring their military service at the Hernando County Commission chambers.

Reginald Bender of Spring Hill was presented with the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean War Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.

Howard Bennett of Spring Hill was presented the Korean War Service Medal.

George Tobin of Spring Hill was presented the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and its bronze star attachment, the WWII Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and its bronze star attachment, and the honorable service lapel button.

Ted Wilbanks of Spring Hill was presented the Korean War Service Medal.

[Last modified August 14, 2005, 00:53:19]