Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Hometown Citrus

What's happening

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published April 23, 2006

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

TOPS 607 met at 9 a.m. April 12 at the Community Building in Floral City, next to the library. Eleven members weighed in.

Red strawberries for a 1-pound weight loss went to: Bettie Booth (1) and Norma Erickson (2). Norma was the top loser of the week.

A gold strawberry each went to Anne Smith and Donna Gray for being a KOPS in good standing. Charlotte Mohr, Rose Gleason and Donna Gray all maintained their weight from last week.

Donna won the card game. A new one began on Wednesday. Joyce Wolcott won tiki-tiki.

The program by Norma Erickson was on the benefits of potassium. Visitors are welcome. For information, call Donna at 726-8666.

Heather Foster, 15, is the winner of VFW Post 4252's Voice of Democracy Patriotic Speech Contest. Heather, who is in the ninth-grade at Vanguard High in Ocala, also received second place honors at district competition for her speech titled "America Gives Me Wings".

In addition, Heather's Patriotic Art "American Graffiti" won second place at the post's competition. She used original graffiti to "symbolize the heart and core of the American people".

Donovan Foster, 13, was the winner of the post's Patriot's Pens Patriotic Essay Contest with his speech titled, "Who Are Today's Patriots". Donovan is in seventh-grade at Citrus Spring Middle School.

He explains in his essay that a recent trip to Washington, D.C., "helped me to see . . . the patriots of the past are indelibly linked to the patriots of today."

The VFW Scholarship programs are designed to foster patriotism in today's youth. Every year, hundreds of thousands of students participate in the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition, the Patriot's Pen Essay Contest and the VFW Patriotic Art Contest, garnering more than $3.4-million in scholarships and incentives.

Hole-In-One: On March 24 Hernando resident Roy M. Koger had a hole-in-one on the 162 yard second hole of the Pine Ridge Golf Course. It was witnessed by Steve Emsley and Jake Gerring.

Oak Hill Hospital in Hernando County has announced its Star Associates of the Month for March. Each month hospital associates are chosen in a process that involves nominations and voting by their peers, patients, patient families, and physicians. Two of the chosen "stars" live in Homosassa.

Alexis Verhelle, health information management-cancer registry, joined Oak Hill Hospital on October 2002, and worked in the medical records coding department. She is now the cancer registry coordinator.

It is her responsibility to keep track of all patients who have been diagnosed with cancer at Oak Hill Hospital. She has a daughter, Kaitlen, 17, who will join the Marine Corps in January.

Verhelle's nomination states that she has a heart of gold as recently witnessed during the hospital's efforts to raise money for the Hurricane Katrina victims. Thanks to her and others, the hospital's yard sale raised more than $2,700 for these victims. On top of that the hospital matched the donations making the total contribution more than $5,500. Verhelle was instrumental and worked very hard in accomplishing this goal.

Verhelle says that she truly likes the people at Oak Hill.

"They are some of the best people I've met in a long time," she said.

Ann Runnells, RN third floor, joined Oak Hill Hospital in June 2000. Her primary responsibility is as a staff nurse but she also is a relief charge nurse on the third floor and in pediatrics.

Runnells moved to Homosassa from Maine in June 2000. She has two sons, Christopher, 15, and Nick, 14.

Runnells' nomination came from a co-worker who said, "One day I came in to a full census of pediatric patients. I called Ann at home and she changed her plans to come in and help. She was a life saver! I was drowning and she stayed long enough to help me get things done."

Runnells says that she likes the diversity of working charge as well as pediatrics.

"I love working with the children. It's a great feeling when the parents of sick children are so appreciative of what I do for them."

At the April 11 meeting of the County Commission, these employees were recognized for their years of service:

Five years: William Mclaughlin, graphics technician; Mary Glancy, public works executive secretary.

10 years: Kim Corbin, construction development license inspector; Cindy Jones, community development planner; Joe Monroe, housing services director; Mike Scalzi, case manager.

15 years: Gary Richardson, maintenance technician.

20 years: Amy Pace, community development coordinator.

[Last modified April 23, 2006, 00:49:08]