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Hometown Citrus

What's happening

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 25, 2005

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

On Dec. 3, members of the Crystal River Rotary Club held its annual Children's Christmas Shopping event at the Crystal River Kmart store. The children were referred through the county school system's guidance departments or through Ginger West at the Family Resource Center.

Chaperones for the event included 38 Rotarians; their spouses; and other volunteers including 25 student volunteers from the three local Interact clubs and Crystal River High's Honor Society.

More than 60 children received $100 from the Rotary and a 10-percent discount from Kmart. They used the money to purchase gifts for themselves and their families. Kmart provided milk, juice, donuts, cookies, and coffee for the adults.

As a special surprise, Santa put in an appearance with holiday wishes for everyone.

After shopping the group proceeded to the Plantation Inn to wrap presents and enjoy Christmas cookies and punch while listening to Reggie Thurlow play Christmas carols on his electric guitar. Wrapping paper, ribbon, bows and boxes were supplied by Sears, Bealls and Belk department stores.

After the gift wrapping, a pizza lunch was served. More than $7,000 dollars in contributions were collected through the Rotarians and the community.

Special thanks for supporting this event goes to Max Barnes from Barnes, Cohen and Jones, CPAs; Dr. Leonard Calodney, Crystal River Anesthesia, PA; Dr. Daceline St. Martin, PedI.M. Healthcare; Tina Hamer, Naturecoast Research Inc.; Rachel and Bill Benoist; Larry Dvorscak; Rotary Club of Kings Bay; Rotary Club of Inverness and Rotary International.

The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church's Madonna Cafehad a brunch and holiday program, Christmas with the Children on Dec. 18. Entering the Cafe, the guests saw twinkling lights and other beautiful holiday decorations that transformed the parish center into a fairyland. John Valentino's huge train set added to the festivities.

Bill Butrym and his tenor saxophone entertained with several Christmas selections. Chef Mike Marino assisted by Mike Garner and other members of the Youth Group served brunch.

Father Eric Peters, pastor of St. Elizabeth's, welcomed everyone and invited them to witness the grand opening of the Madonna Gift Shop. Ribbon-cutting honors were shared by Carol Gauthier, who was instrumental in setting up the shop, and Gordon Champeau, who built it in a corner of the parish center.

Father Eric thanked a number of people who helped with decorating the cafe, including Mike Garner, Trich Schult, Charlotte and Richard Croteau, Marie Boros, and Bill Gauthier.

With the help of Beth Stone and Marie Korsiak, the C.C.D. children presented a number of skits and musical selections. A beautiful surprise followed as Chef Marino and Mike Garner presented the children with two lighted "Happy Birthday to Jesus" cakes and the children blew out the candles. The program ended with everyone joining the children in Christmas caroling.

Father Eric gave special recognition to the family of John Valentino for helping with the train setup and a special thanks to Bill Butrym, Beth Stone, and Marie Korsiak.

John Valentino's train set was on an 8-foot by 12-foot table. It had two engines on two separate tracks go through a town, complete with a school, church, Victorian houses, a 76 Gas Station, dispatch station, an overpass for pedestrians, a firehouse, McDonald's, a working ferris wheel, carousel, warehouses, and an iceskating rink. With a flip of a switch, some of the places lit up and moved. There was a talking McDonald's, as well as a talking gas station.

Unfortunately, Valentino was unable to be present, but everyone enjoyed his fabulous train set.

Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center volunteers Alice Gaunt and Louise Ozee particularly enjoy their role in decorating the hospital for the holidays. For almost as many years as one can remember, Alice and Louise have been on hand to start the holiday season off at the hospital by decorating with not just one, but often up to eight trees, as well as wreaths, poinsettias and other holiday greenery.

This year, there are four trees - each with a different and lovely look. They recently put the finishing touches on the 10-foot lobby tree.

If you ask them, however, they'll tell you their favorite is the second floor tree near the Women's & Family Center, which is decorated with 6-inch stuffed animals and a Santa Claus. It is a favorite of many of our visitors as well.

Other volunteers assisting with the project this year were Pam Hoover and Vicki Iozzia, along with Volunteer Coordinator Marge Maszota.

On Dec. 10 members of Rolling Thunder Florida Chapter 7 in Citrus County had a Christmas party for the residents of the Veterans Home in Fort McCoy. At this time there are approximately 40 residents at the home.

Rolling Thunder is a nationally chartered POW/MIA awareness organization. Locally there are 65 members. One of the missions of Rolling Thunder is to help veterans in need and there can be no greater pleasure at this time of the year than saying thanks to our veterans. These individuals that have done so much for our country and often at great sacrifice to themselves and their families need to know that people still care. A lot of these folks have no family and the group wanted to give them a feeling that they have a family in all of us.

More than 40 members from Chapter 7 along with members from several other chapters participated. There were stockings provided for all the residents. Santa and his elf distributed the gifts. Food and refreshments were provided by the home.

The Joe Nic Barco VFW Post 7122 in Floral City adopted the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O'Lakes as its Christmas project this year. They allocated $1,500 to buy Christmas gifts for the 115 veterans in this beautiful, state run facility.

On Dec. 3, several members of Post 7122 arrived with 115 gift bags stuffed with items from their wish lists: socks, cigarettes for the smokers, deodorant, shaving cream, razors, shampoo, conditioner, Christmas trinkets and some quarters to put in their Christmas stocking.

Everyone came to the dining room to receive their gift and to have cake and coffee. They were excited and appreciative to get their gifts, and it was especially rewarding for all of the VFW members that were there to share it with them.

Post members taking part in this event were: Bill Shaw, commander; Ellen Sherrod, Ladies Auxiliary president; Cindy Shaw, Ladies Auxiliary senior vice commander; Jack Ziemendorf, Men's Auxiliary president and Laci Snyder, Janice Alvarez, and Shawn Webster from the auxiliaries.

Citrus County Parks and Recreation is proud to announce the 2005 Home Holiday Decorating Contest winners:

First Place: Baxter family, 4450 S Halo Hills Ter., Lecanto.

Second Place: Sojka family, 2791 E Mary Lue St., Inverness.

Third Place: Tovig family, 4743 W Phoenix Drive, Beverly Hills.

Fourth Place: Kennedy family, 3863 E Perry St., Inverness.

Parks and Recreation would like to thank all of the participants and sponsors for participating in this year's contest. Also, we would like to thank our volunteers who assisted us in judging the contestants.

If you are interested in participating in next year's contest, call 527-7677.

[Last modified December 24, 2005, 23:42:16]