What's happening
By Times Staff Writer
Published March 12, 2006
HIGH FIVES
MEDALS AND COINS AWARDED: U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite recently presented five veterans with medals and 31 veterans with coins at a ceremony at VFW Post 4283 in Dade City.
After a welcome by U.S. Rep. Brown-Waite and the posting of colors by VFW Post 4283 Color Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited and Chaplain John Heufel presented an invocation followed by a moment of silence.
Presentations were made to these veterans: Wilmer Blevins of Dade City received the World War II Victory Medal and Honorable Service Lapel Button of World War II.
William F. Chisenhall of Dade City received the World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Mention Lapel Button of World War II and a Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar.
John Johns of San Antonio received the Honorable Service Lapel Button of World War II, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, an Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal.
Robert F. Velten of Saint Leo received the Honorable Service Lapel Button of World War II, an Air Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Army Loops Good Conduct Medal.
Herbert E. Zachow Jr., of Zephyrhills received the World War II Victory Medal.
World War II Commemorative Coins were presented to Angelo Bastoni, James DeLillo, Harold Hallam, and Ellis Southward all of Zephyrhills; Raymond Bolton, Dade City ; Peter Giannotta, New Port Richey; and Francis LaJoie, Land O'Lakes. Vietnam Commemorative Coins were presented to Si Azar and Gene Sarcinello of Hudson; Paul Boetcher, John Bushell, William Glatfelter, Franklin Smith and Donnie Straughn of Dade City; Louis Colandria Jr., Herbert Evans Sr., Dale Johnson, William Moore, Willie Pinkston Sr., and Roy Smith of Zephyrhills; Ronald Davis of New Port Richey; Phillip Gordon, Phoenix Link, Herman Muller, and Thomas Sacher-Brown or Land O'Lakes; Edwin Kirby of Ridge Manor; Noel Muskett and John Zamrycki of Lutz; Robert Williams of Wesley Chapel; Tommy Robertson and Jose Rodriguez. DOG GONE GOOD DOG SHOW: The 2006 Pasco County Fair featured for the first time the Dog Gone Good Dog Show. A variety of dogs and their owners showed up to compete for prizes and titles in 15 categories.
Best of Show went to Shoshana and owner Lauren Britt. In the Smallest Dog Category, the winner was Cupid and Tony Bodamer; first runnerup was Buddie and Babs Bodamer; second runnerup went to Dasher and Carolin Martini; and third runnerup was claimed by Maggie and Michelle McDonald.
In the Largest Dog Category, the winner was Cooper and Chianna Beckett; first runnerup was Chance and Ashton Olney; second runnerup was Rusty and Donna Gordon; and third runnerup was Bud and Tanner McKendree. In the interesting category of Fastest Eater, the winner was Sadie and Morgan Mander; first runnerup was Bud and Tanner McKendree; second runnerup was Daisy and Hannah Frum; and third runnerup was Chance and Ashton Olney.
In the Best Wag category, the winner was Shoshana and Lauren Britt; first runnerup was Baby Girl and Jessica Converse; second runnerup was Sadie and Morgan Mander; and third runnerup was Chance and Ashton Olney.
The Most Ear-ristible Ears category saw a winning title go to Monty and Tim McDonald. First runnerup was Tank and Julie Byrne; second runnerup was Daisy and Hannah Grace and third runnerup went to Oscar and Summer McClelland.
In the Best Trick Category, the winner was Dylan and Kieran Gillooly; first runnerup was Sadie and Emily Hooker; second runnerup was Angel and Chloe Mansell; and third runnerup was Oscar and Summer McClelland. In the Most Obedient category, the winner was Sadie and Emily Hooker ; first runnerup was Tank and Julie Byrne; second runnerup was Oscar and Summer McClelland; and third runnerup was Dylan and Kieran Gillooly.
In the Best Smile category the winner was Rusty and Donna Gordon; first runnerup was Dylan and Kieran Gillooly; second runnerup was Sandy and Corey Andrew; and third runnerup was Maggie and Michelle McDonald.
Winner of the Most Vocal category was Tank and Julie Byrne; first runnerup was Shoshana and Lauren Britt; and second runnerup was Dasher and Carolin Martin.
Taking home the winner's title for Best Costume was Chance and Ashton Olney; first runnerup was Sadie and Emily Hooker; second runnerup was Mugsy and Morgan Mander; and third runnerup was Sadie and Morgan Mander.
In the Best Costume Duo category, the winner was Daisy and Hannah Frum; first runnerup was Sadie and Emily Hooker; second runnerup was Maggie and Michelle McDonald; and third runnerup was Dylan and Kieran Gillooly.
In the Best Resemblance category, the winner was Sandy and Corey Andrew; first runnerup was Oscar and Summer McClelland; and second runnerup was Dasher and Carolin Martin.
In the Longest Tail Category, the winner was Tank and Julie Byrne; first runnerup was Cooper and Chiana Beckett; second runnerup was Daisy and Hannah Frum and third runnerup was Monty and Michelle McDonald.
Winner in the Shortest Tail category was Dylan and Kieran Gillooly; first runnerup Sadie and Emily Hooker; second runnerup was Mugsy and Morgan Mander; and third runnerup was Sadie and Morgan Mander.
BACK PORCH WINNERS: The Pasco County Fair Back Porch Heirloom Arts awards were recently presented. Taking home awards were: Linda Dilks of Dade City received Grand Champion for small crochet; and Patricia Parsons of Zephyrhills received Reserve Grand Champion for small crochet.
Linda Smith of Dade City captured Grand Champion in large crochet and Ruby Busser of Port Richey took home the Grand Champion for knitting.
Joan Rydell of Bayonet Point captured Grand Champion in canvas work embroidery and Grand Champion in counted cross stitch embroidery.
Barbara Whetsone of Spring Hill received an Award of Excellence in pulled thread embroidery.
Joyce Burdick of Dade City was awarded Grand Champion for machine pieced quilts and an Award of Excellence for hand appliqued quilts.
Tammie Fanucci of Spring Hill was awarded Reserve Grand Champion for machine pieced quilts.
Susan Schmitz of Dade City received Grand Champion for machine appliqued quilts with Denise Reittinger of Wesley Chapel taking the Reserve Grand Champion award.
Margie Denney of Dade City was awarded Grand Champion in mixed techniques in quilts and Darlene Leosh of Dade City captured Reserve Grand Champion.
Continuing with the Back Porch awards in Heritage Arts, Dorothy Bornneman of Bayonet Point was named Grand Champion in carving, and Crystal Griffin of Zephyrhills received an Award of Excellence in ceramics.
Barbara Shultz of Hudson received and Award of Excellence for china painting. The Award of Excellence in Pottery went to Randy Goodwin of Zephyrhills.
Donna Beall of San Antonio picked up a Grand Champion award for her work in baskets. Wayne Howard of Dade City was named Grand Champion in woodwork and Vance Wilson of Dade City received an Award of Excellence in the same category.
In the Creative Arts category, an Award of Excellence went to Leonard Dundore of Dade City.
The Home Arts category saw six winners in three categories. Baked Goods Grand Champion went to Jan Rodgers of Zephyrhills; Reserve Grand Champion was presented to Carol Reeves of Zephyrhills and an Award of Excellence went to Brenda Rubio of Dade City.
In the Wine category, Leo Cotter of San Antonio captured Grand Champion; John Ballard of Dade City collected the Reserve Grand Champion title and Crystal Griffin of Zephyrhills was presented an Award of Excellence.
UPCOMING EVENTSATHLETES WHO CARE TEAM WITH SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR RUN: Athletes Who Care will once again team up with the Pasco County Sheriff's Office for the annual Torch Run for the Special Olympics. The 2006 Florida Department of Law Enforcement run will take place April 27 in Land O'Lakes.
Each year more than 3,000 law enforcement officers join Special Olympics athletes to carry the torch on a 1,500 mile relay through more than 60 counties in Florida to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is held each year before the State Summer Games, which will be April 28-30 at the University of South Florida, Tampa. The intrastate torch run will last through April and culminate at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics. More than 200 law enforcement officers will join to bring the Flame of Hope into the stadium.
The Torch Run raises money and awareness for the Special Olympics. Last year, Florida's Torch Run was recognized nationally for highest grossing program, largest increase in gross revenue and was given the Diamond Award for revenue of $1.2-million.
The Torch Run will take place in Pasco County. It will begin at the sheriff's substation near U.S. 41 and State Road 54 (behind CVS pharmacy), heads north on U.S. 41 to School Road, then runs the length of School Road past Sanders Memorial Elementary School to the Land O'Lakes Community Center. The route length is about 3.5 miles.
Participants in the run will meet at the substation between 8:30 and 9 a.m. After the run, a reception will be at the community center on U.S. 41.
Athletes Who Care is featuring a float to celebrate several elementary school Special Olympians. The youths will ride with their parents and teachers along the torch run route, accompanied by runners and law enforcement officers.
As in the past, the student body of Sanders Memorial will line School Road near the finish line to cheer on participants. As the float nears the school, it will pause, allowing Special Olympians to disembark and run with the torch bearer past the Sanders students so they can be "high-fived" and celebrated by their schoolmates.
Those not wishing to run but wanting to help will be needed at the community center to cheer the incoming runners and Special Olympians. A finish line, refreshments and music will be provided.
The torch run is open to the public. All run participants must be able to cover the 3.5 mile distance at a pace of 10 minutes per mile.
Money for the Special Olympics is generated through contributions from individuals and businesses along the way and through the sale of Torch Run T-shirts. Each year more than 2,000 T-shirts are sold throughout the state by law enforcement officers. Shirts are $12. Hats are also available at $10. To buy a Torch Run T-shirt or hat, call Officer Travis Gondek at 813 996-6982, ext. 7757 or e-mail Gondek at gondekt@flcjn.net Orders must be placed by Wednesday to ensure availability of sizes.
For information about the Torch Run call Val Thomopalos at (813) 833-7518.