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Hometown Pasco

What's happening

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 1, 2006

HIGH FIVES

The Tri-Community Girl Scouts held their first ever awards ceremony on Dec. 15 at Trilby United Methodist Church community hall. More than 100 people attended. Troops recognized were Daisy Troop 714, Brownie Troop 883, and Junior Troop 1161.

Opening the ceremony were Junior Patrol leaders, Hannah Linville of Lacoochee, Kayla Mihalinec of Old Trilby and Debra Fowler of Trilacoochee. The three troops joined in the singing of Christmas songs for the guests. The girls were then presented with their sashes and pins.

Words of appreciation were extended to many who helped to make the event possible. Ergles Christmas Tree farm donated an 8-foot Douglas Fir tree for the event. Thanks also went to Trilby United Methodist Church for the use of its facility, to Denny Mihalinec for volunteering and participating in the ceremony and to the parents who provided chili, snacks and drinks for the scouts.

Special thanks went to Brandy Linville, co-leader and community activist in Lacoochee. Linville plans to use her military and college background experience in working with the girls in the coming months. Thanks were extended also to Hope Fowler, scout leader, who hopes to make the group stronger each year. She also hopes to see the Tri-Community Scouts become a model for others. Fowler requested that parents support the girls in their work to become a diverse and strong group of leaders.

A welcome is extended to anyone who would like to become involved, as scouts or leaders. Daisies meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the church. Brownies and the Juniors meet 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays at the same location.

For information about any of the scouting activities call Fowler at (352) 583-3645.

The Federal Aviation Administration recently honored 25 Florida pilots who have been licensed for more than 50 years and presented each with a Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. The event took place at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Among the recipients was Maxie D. Holmes of Dade City. Holmes was recognized for 55 years as a pilot. Another Pasco resident, H. Finley Downes, of New Port Richey was recognized for his 61 years as a pilot.

The award recognizes pilots who have maintained safe flight operations for 50 or more consecutive years. The award is named for Wilbur and Orville Wright who made the first successful powered flight on Dec. 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, N.C.

The San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival appreciation dinner was held recently at the Knights of Columbus Hall in San Antonio. The prestigious Joe and Rose Herrmann Community Service Award was give to Roy and the lat e Martha Hardy. Accepting the award on the Hardy's behalf was their daughter, Ann Roberts, granddaughter and her husband, Heidi and Jonny Cross; and great-granddaughter, Allie Cross.

The Hardys are well known for their involvement in the community and their assistance when a need arises.

Plaques of appreciation were also given t o Robert Beck, Stephanie Stephenson, Michele Hicks and Ted Stephens. The Above and Beyond Award went to Brenda Rubio. The president plaque was presented t o Gloria Bohannon.

A spaghetti dinner was enjoyed by those attending the event and door prizes were awarded. Entertainment was provided by the Rattlesnake Queens and directors.

Members of RAGE (Rattlesnake and Gopher Enthusiasts) expressed appreciation for all who contributed their hard work during the year. Receiving benefits from the October festival were 44 charities.

For information about RAGE, call Bohannon at (352) 588-5937.

Kathleen Ure, sixth-grader from Stewart Middle School, took a traditional tale about three little pigs, gave it a new twist and turned it into captivating storytelling. Performing before a gallery of peers as well as adults, Kathleen used just the right gestures to indicate key points and held her audience's undivided attention. When the judges' decisions were final, Kathleen walked away with a first-place win in the annual Story Tell-Abration for sixth-graders held recently at the Pasco County School District Office. Sponsored jointly by the Pasco County schools and the Pasco County 4-H program, the storytelling event featured 16 students spinning yarns in a competition to take home the winning trophy to keep at their school for the next year. Kathleen, as first place winner, also received a savings bond provided by the Pasco County Schools Media Association.

Central and East Pasco County students excelled in the storytelling competition, taking home four of the five awards presented. One award went to a student from the west side of the county.

Dillon Barker from Thomas E. Weightman Middle School was awarded second place with a story titled Arthur Writes a Story. Angelina Parrino from Centennial Middle School and Amanda Smith from Stewart Middle tied for honorable mention slots. Parrino told a story about how a zebra got its stripes and Smith offered a modernized version of Cinderella.

Third place went to Jeff Kruse from Seven Springs Middle School.

Other students from central and east Pasco who participated at the district level event were Isabela Gray, Centennial Middle; Adrian Cameron, Pine View Middle; Jose Lopez, Thomas E. Weightman Middle; Sergio Serafin, Pasco Middle; Taylor Grybeck, Pine View Middle; and Kris Gordon, Pasco Middle School.

All district participants were winners of school-based competitions. The contest is open to any student who wishes to participate, and students are encouraged to try their skill with a familiar story. Authentic storytelling is encouraged without the use of props, puppets, music or costume. Strict guidelines, including an adherence to time limit, are used for judging of the storytelling. Each participant is recognized with a certificate.

Judges for this year's sixth grade event were Ann Still-Chapman, supervisor of secondary language arts for Pasco County Schools; Christine Schimpf, supervisor for secondary reading for Pasco County Schools; and Gail Diederich, reading specialist, Longleaf Elementary School and Times community news coordinator.

Four Land O'Lakes High cheerleaders will be headed to Hawaii this summer. Thia Pinchiotti, Nicky Newman, Ann Marie Priest, and Lizzy Piurowski were recently selected to attend the Fifth-annual Invitational Cheer Camp, June 28-July 5, at the University of Hawaii on the island of Oahu.

The cheer camp is geared especially for sophomores and juniors. Each cheerleader must be nominated by his or her coach based on good cheer skills, leadership abilities, desire to learn and improve, excellence in academics and positive attitude.

Participants have the opportunity to experience college life while they live in university dormitories and eat in the university cafeteria. Cheerleaders attending the camp also can learn what college cheer coaches are looking for, how to get scholarships and how to interview and try out for college cheerleading spots.

The Land O'Lakes cheerleaders also plan to bring back new material for the school's cheerleading team.

"I am very excited for them," said Pennye Garcia, coach of the award-winning Land O'Lakes High cheerleaders.

Kiefer Village Jewels recently presented a $1,000 check to Toys for Tots of East Pasco. The money was raised from donations to The Giving Tree in the Dade City and Land O'Lakes stores. The money was used to help buy Christmas presents for needy children in central and east Pasco, with a specific focus on infants and teens.

The mission of Toys for Tots is to help needy children experience the joy of Christmas and to play an active role in the development of children.

"We are very happy to have raised such a large amount for Toys for Tots," Kiefer Village owne r David Hevia said in a news release. "To be able to share the joy of Christmas with the young people of our community is a tremendous pleasure."

Speaking in reference to the donation by Hevia and his wife, Wendy, director of East Pasco Toys for Tots Bob Loring, said, "David and Wendy have always taken the lead in assisting children's charities throughout our community. This handsome donation will allow us to purchase a number of additional gifts for the tots we serve."

The Giving Tree is a charity 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 the selected charity. The idea is based on the children's book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

Kiefer Village Jewels is at 37850 Meridian Ave. in Dade City and at 23022 State Road 54 and Collier Parkway in the Willow Bend Towne Center, Lutz/Land O'Lakes. For information call 352 567-2378 or (813) 909-2393 or visit Web site www.kvjewels.com

Central and East Pasco Toys for Tots enjoyed a successful season of giving according to Loring, executive director of the program for the local area. More than 3,000 needy children received free toys for Christmas. In order to accomplish the task of collecting and distributing toys, several steps were taken. Toy Drop Boxes were placed throughout the community. Mail carriers collected and stored toys until more than 200 volunteers could sort and distribute the collected toys to five convenient locations throughout east Pasco. Additionally, food and other necessities were provided to about 1,000 needy families.

Though Dec. 17 is designated as toy distribution day, the Zephyrhills Marine Corps League and their family members arranged to keep their toy distribution site open to service many additional families that had missed the official day.

The list of businesses, churches, service organizations and individuals involved in the multi-community effort is extensive and can be viewed by visiting the Toys for Tots Web site at www.toysfortotspasco.org

John Leggio's Center for the Performing Arts recently announced registration for the winter/spring session. Beginning Wednesday, John Leggio's celebrates its second anniversary by offering all new students one class in singing, dancing or acting throughout January. Registration fees also will be waived.

Classes include hip hop, jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, musical theater dance, boys' hip hop, acting, singing, adult tap and jazz, triple threat for ages 3 to 6, and private lessons in dance and voice.

At the conclusion of the winter/spring session, John Leggio's Center for the Performing Arts will present its year-end production, Meet Me In Manhattan, on June 9-10.

The Center is at 10451 County Line Road (near Mariner Boulevard), Spring Hill. For information call (352) 683-8395.

Alexandria's Gallery Co-op will have a Winter Art Festival from 5 to 8 p.m. Jan. 20 at Alexandria Art Gallery. More than 20 local artists will display their work, and refreshments will be served. The theme of the festival is winter. Award-winning artist Kathleen Robinson is the featured artist this month. Robinson paints in several media with watercolor being her favorite. Her style is realistic with the soft touches of watercolor. Robinson plans to be present at the gallery several Saturdays in January, demonstrating her style.

Alexandria Art Gallery is at Collier Commons, off State Road 54 on Collier Parkway. For information call Genia Ward at the art gallery at (813) 948-4447.

[Last modified January 1, 2006, 00:28:15]