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Hometown Pasco

What's happening

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 11, 2005

Brownie Girl Scout Troop 1308 recently took field trip to Beautify the Beast, a grooming and boarding business for pets. Owner Cindy Cook demonstrated how to groom pets. The scouts watched as Cook groomed, Buster, a Pekingese. Buster got a hair cut, topped off with a lion cut tail and yellow bandanna around his neck. All of the girls got to give Buster a treat.

The scouts toured the facility and saw dogs and cats that were being boarded. The 10 scouts asked questions that helped them earn their Animals Try-it badge. They discovered that the largest animal Cook has groomed was an Irish Wolfhound and that the business can board almost any animal, including fish and rabbits.

Each scout left the business with a poultry flavored doggie toothbrush and doggie treats. Members of Troop 1308 are: Kayla Duell, Makenzie Dison, Ashley Ensor, Hailey Ensor, Hannah Garcia, Kara Hart, Kaitlyn Killian, Micah McCoole, Amanda Suits, Katie VonBraunsberg and Krissy VonBraunsberg. Troop leader is Tracey Suits and assistant leader is Kelly VonBraunsberg.

Beautify the Beast is in the Francisco Plaza shopping center at 1900 Land O'Lakes Blvd. The business has operated seven years and is open seven days a week.

The Song and Dance Acrobatic Competition Team, under the direction of Pennye Garcia of Land O'Lakes, recently competed at Tremaine Dance Convention and Competitions. This convention/competition is held throughout the United States and is run by Joe Tremaine and his staff from Los Angeles, Calif. Tremaine brings with him a professional staff who teach new and innovation techniques in Los Angeles and around the world.

The local acrobatic team from Song and Dance placed second in its division, earning the invitation to compete at the national competition this summer in Orlando. The coming year will mark the 25th anniversary of Tremaine conventions and will prove to be an exciting time for competitors. Song and Dance students already have had the opportunity to learn from such dancers as Savion Glover, tap dancer ; Wade Robson, hip hop dancer and choreographer; and others.

Members of Song and Dance who will be competing at Nationals in Orlando are: Stephanie Waywood, Amanda Sammons, Caitlin Haley, Katie Savedge, Lauren Bednar, Caroline McCaffrey, Angelica Mendoza, Marissa Tucker and Darcy McPheron.

Garcia, teacher for Song and Dance, is known in the Land O'Lakes for her coaching of the award-winning Land O'Lakes High School cheerleaders.

The grand reopening of Creation Station took place Dec. 1. Located in Building No. 5 at the District School Board of Pasco County complex in Land O'Lakes, Creation Station is a re-use center that provides free recyclable materials to School Board employees and nonprofit groups. Materials are to be used for student art and craft projects.

Art students from Dayspring Academy in New Port Richey, under the direction of art teacher, Marie Pelonero, volunteered to paint murals at Creation Station.

"Creation Station is a win-win for our students and the community. Local businesses can save money by donating their recyclable materials to us instead of paying to dispose of them," says Karen Bryant, recycling coordinator for Pasco County Schools. "Our re-use center is teaching students the importance of recycling and conservation."

For information call Bryant at (813) 794-2752.

The Dade City Garden Club's newest historical ornament features the National Guard Armory of Dade City. This ornament is the 13th in a series of brass ornaments featuring historic buildings in Dade City.

The Armory was chosen this year in recognition and honor of Battery B of the 2nd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery of the 53rd Infantry Brigade. This unit is Pasco County's only National Guard Unit and was recently deployed to Afghanistan.

Dade City Mayor Hutch Brock declared Saturday, April 2, 2005, National Guard Day during the send-off dinner at the Armory.

The Dade City Armory has served the community in many ways. In addition to being the home for the National Guard Unit, local citizens have attended many basketball games at the Armory and danced to the music of Big Bands, Charlie Spivak and Tex Beneke at the Armory.

Saturday night wrestling at the Armory was also a regular feature. It has also been the site of Pasco High School proms, Dade City Garden Club flower shows and fashion shows and many "Roy Hardy Benefits."

A statement from the Dade City Garden Club says, "This ornament is dedicated to those men and women who are serving our country now, to those who have served in the past, and the ones who will safeguard our future."

The ornament is available at the Dade City Chamber of Commerce or from any member of the Dade City Garden Club. Garden Club Sheryl Little is the ornament chairman. For information about purchasing an ornament, call Little at (352) 521-0835.

Limited ornaments from recent years are available if they are needed to complete an total collection. Some of the historic buildings represented in the past are the Dade City Historic Pasco County Courthouse, Cox Elementary School, Dade City Garden Club, First Presbyterian Church, the Woman's Club, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Saint Leo Abbey Church, the Pioneer Museum, and the Edwinola.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Dance Workshop, under the direction of Gloria Tyndall will present Nutcracker All Jazzed Up, at Bishop McLaughlin High School on Saturday. Tickets are $12. The production is an upbeat version of Tchaikovsky's classical score. The classical version of The Nutcracker has only classical ballet while Nutcracker All Jazzed Up has, in addition to ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, and musical comedy. Also in Nutcracker All Jazzed Up, all main characters are played by amateur children. A few secondary characters with no dancing roles are adults.

Cast member for All Jazzed Up are Jaime Moschiano, Michael Jones, Aimee McKinney, Fred Jones, Nicole John, Brittany Mattix, Brittani Tyndall, Nicole Vaporis, Kristin Giannas, Elise Nigro, Joseph Akin, Nicole Partlow, Victoria Niessen, Ricca Corbeil, Bridget Carpinone, Danielle Winkler, Noel Cooper, Kirsten Winship, Kaylee Winship, Mallory Norton, Kiara Beard, Leah Slane, Jesenia Giambrone, Kimmie McKinney, Ashlyn Gray, Kristen Gray, Makayla Smith, Amanda Bumbala, Breanna Gordon, Kendyl Schol, Taylor Carr, Kristin South, Rachel Groudas, Hannah Groudas, Kaitlyn Fraize, Ashley Coppin, Michaela Diperna, Mandy Jones, Chelsea Porter, Kate Bontrager an d Taylor Gunter.

Scenery and sets were built b y Billie McKinney and Don Tyndall. McKinney and Tyndall are parents of children in the production.

Gloria Tyndall is the owner of The Dance Workshop, 6822 Ridge Road, Port Richey. She has been in business in Florida for 24 years. Along with her assistant, Nicole Vaporis, Tyndall has directed and choreographed other musicals including Fame, Grease, and West Side Story. She also wrote and produced another Christmas story, What Will the Toys Say?

For information about The Dance Workshop or for information about the performance call The Dance Workshop at (727) 207-5025.

The Zephyrhills Senior Center is sponsoring the AARP Driver Safety Course on Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Senior Center, 4645 Airport Road, Zephyrhills. The course was formerly called "55 Alive."

This course offers the opportunity for anyone older than 50 to learn such skills as how to compensate for changes in vision, hearing and reaction time, what to do when confronted by an aggressive driver and how medications may affect driving. Students will learn defensive driving techniques and become eligible for insurance discounts.

The course consists of two four-hour classroom session and costs $10 for materials. Attendees are required to complete the full eight hour course, by attending both days, to receive a completion certificate.

For information about the course or to register for the course call John Wheeler at (813) 788-7408.

Kiefer Village Jewels presented checks to two local charities as part of its charitable giving programs. Checks were presented to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation for their Breast Cancer programs and to Sunrise of Pasco County.

The Moffitt Foundation received $2,100 for Breast Cancer Awareness Month held annually in October . The money was raised through the Dade City Giving Tree; a special fundraiser, Martini's & Massages; and proceeds from the sale of pink gemstones and jewelry .

A check for $520 was presented to Sunrise of Pasco County for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The money was raised through the Land O' Lakes Giving Tree. Domestic Violence Awareness Month is also in October .

"It is wonderful to have the opportunity to support such great causes,' ' Nikki Gulvin, assistant manager of the Dade City store, said in a news release. "The October fundraisers gave us a chance to support organizations that provide tremendous education and resources to our community and we are proud to be affiliated with them."

The Giving Tree is a community project supported by Kiefer Village Jewels employees and customers. The entire cost of every watch battery replacement and watch band adjustment are placed on the Giving Tree for donation to a local charity. The idea is based on the children's book by Shel Silverstein. Kiefer Village Jewels is at 37850 Meridian Ave. in Dade City and at Willow Bend Towne Centre at State Road 54 and Collier Parkway in Land O'Lakes. For information, contact Kiefer Village Jewels at 352 567-2378 or (813) 909-2393 or visit www.kvjewels.com

Hometown Pasco is the reader's page where all special events and celebrations are noted. Whether it is the events of a club or organization, a musical or drama event, sports accomplishment, a milestone anniversary or birthday, or a person's accomplishments in anything from Scouts to school to military, we want to recognize that achievement. Please remember to include a phone number where you can be reached and when scanning photos please use "jpeg' form. Your Hometown Pasco coordinator is Gail Diederich at:

PHONE: (813) 909-4614

FAX: (813) 909-4611

E-MAIL: gdiederich@sptimes.com

MAIL: 24038 State Road 54, Lutz, FL 33559

[Last modified December 11, 2005, 02:15:36]