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Hometown Citrus

What's happening

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published April 30, 2006

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

TOPS 607 met at 9 a.m. April 19. Eleven members weighed in. Sue McClure was the best loser of the week.

Red strawberries, for a 1-pound weight loss, went to: Charlotte Mohr (1), Nancy Richards (1), Bettie Booth (1), Norma Erickson (2) and McClure (3).

A gold strawberry each went to Anne Smith and Donna Gray for being a KOPS in good standing.

Caroline Pratt won tiki-tiki. The program was on stress and ways to handle it.

Roberta Hall has a son in the Navy and she shared that she was recently awarded the "Blue Star Banner of Appreciation" that is given to a mother of an active service man. She brought the flag that will hang in her window. Some members remember seeing those flags in windows during World War II.

The group said goodbye to McClure and Joyce Wolcott as they won't be returning for several months.

Thought for the day by Roberta Hall was "Thunder and Lightening".

At a recent ceremony at Citrus Memorial Health Services, Inverness Mayor Bob Plaisted proclaimed the week of April 23-29 as Volunteer Week in Inverness.

Each year, Citrus Memorial celebrates Volunteer Week as a time to recognize the 400 individuals, who have made a difference in the lives of others by being CMH volunteers. Auxiliary members contributed more than 114,000 hours, $53,875 in much-needed patient care equipment, and $10,000 in scholarships for hospital employees wishing to further their education in the health-care field.

The volunteers leave warm and lasting impressions on the many lives they touch each year. For information on becoming a Citrus Memorial Auxiliary member, call Volunteer Services Manager Penny Zaphel at 344-6598.

Inverness resident Barb Pinkston received a first-place ribbon at the county fair for her hand crocheted afghan featuring cross stitched palm trees. The afghan brought her a Best of Show ribbon at the State Fair in February. Here is a little more about Pinkston, her afghan and her other interests.

Q. Is the afghan crocheted, knitted or quilted?

A. It is crocheted using a standard afghan stitch and then cross-stitched using tapestry yarn. The crocheting of the afghan took a year. This translates to 300 hours to complete the afghan and 200 hours for the cross-stitching. It was a labor of love.

For me crocheting is like breathing. It is a necessary part of my day. The inspiration for this afghan came from the southern life style with the palm trees and sunshiny beaches. I had to travel to a small shop on the border of Kansas and Missouri to find the necessary tapestry yarn.

Q. Is this the first award for your craft?

A. No, but this is the first Best Of Show I have achieved at Florida State Fair. I have won several Blue Ribbons at the state level previously. I have also won several Best of Shows and one Top of Division at the county level. It has always been a dream of mine to win a Best of Show at the state level and now I am excited and ready to try again.

Q. How long have you been doing this?

A. I have been crocheting for 40 years and am self-taught. My husband was in Korea and I was at home with two small babies and not much money. I found a "learn how to" book for 25 cents, a ball of crochet thread for 15 cents and a needle for a dime. After my babies were asleep at night, I would work on learning how to crochet. It was a long and frustrating road.

Q. Do you enjoy other crafts?

A. Over the years I have been involved with many other crafts such as building a dollhouse. I made a quilt and have done huck weaving. My husband and I used to make and sell angel ornaments for Christmas trees. I am currently working on a project with several other women of the First Lutheran Church of Inverness making attendance ledgers for each pew in the church. These are done on plastic canvas and have the appearance of a cross on stained glass.

Q. How old are you?

A. I am older than dirt, 61.

Q. Anything to add?

A. Interesting side note. In every afghan I have ever made I deliberately included a hidden mistake, as it is my belief nothing can be perfect except that made by God.

Editor:

With the theme "Fashion Cares", the Key Training Center's Eighth Annual Fashion Show Luncheon in March was a victory in many ways with the help of a caring and giving community.

First, the main event of the fashion show was 10 of the Key Center's program participants proudly modeling springtime fashions and being warmly received by more than 190 attendees. Each year Key Center participants look forward to this special day and we recognize them for doing a magnificent job: Fred Eiland, Mary Beth Hall, Jay Goldstein, Marian Pellgrin, Tiffany Sadler, Laurie Saler, Mary Ellen Schabruch, Mary Jo Sheehan, Aleene Weeks and Barbara Whelan. Second, more than $5,800 was raised through attendees, sponsors, and raffle ticket sales. A special recognition goes out to the businesses and individuals that signed-on as "Vogue Sponsors" including: Anne Thompson and Associates; B&W Rexall Drugs; Canada Drugs (D & M Enterprises); Circle of Fire; Collision Tech of Citrus County; Crystal Motor Car Co.; Donut Town; Emily's Restaurant; Gerry Schabruch, Remax; Huffman Health Foods; Pottery in the Works; Restoration Ministries; Sonshine Lighting and TTI Enterprises. Other supporters include: Accurate Computer Services; Alexander Real Estate; Como Auto Sales; Florida Pest Control; Haag, Friedrich & Blume, PA; Home Stuff Interiors; Key 1 Realty; Robert Christensen, Attorney at Law; Seabrook Industries; State Farm Insurance, Steve Barry; Sweetwater Homes and Wallpaper Warehouse Outlet. Thirdly, this event would not be successful each year without dedicated volunteers. This year's well-organized event is a reflection of a dynamite fashion committee with kudos going to Shirley Hartley, Paula Holtsclaw, Dot Mallock, Beverly O'Brien, Lorraine Tollefson and Roy Zachary. We also appreciate Vietta Noriega of the Key Center Thrift Stores and Cheryl Harris of La-Te-Da for providing entertaining fashions.

Of course there would not be a fashion show without the charming community models, so we sincerely thank the following individuals: Avis Craig, Kathi Cloer, Mary Fischer, Jessica Lambert, Rhonda Lestinsky, Torri Lilly, Shirley Shrader and Fancy Taylor. Lilly took her involvement one step further by graciously taking on the role of emcee at the last minute.

Our marvelous lunch was prepared by Gourmet Affair, and we would like to thank Kim Dillon for donating a significant portion of her services.

Lastly, a special thank you goes to West Citrus Elks Club for giving its time to help us with the table decorating needs.

The final triumph is that all the proceeds will benefit the Key Center to ensure that Citrus County residents who are mentally challenged will continue to have the opportunity to choose and realize their goals of learning, living, and working to their full potential.

The Key Training Center provides daily living and social skills, job training, life-sustaining care, and residential services to nearly 300 adults with developmental disabilities.

Melissa Walker, Key Center Foundation, Director of Development and Community Relations

Editor:

Citrus County Community Support Services Division wishes to thank Brentwood in the Meadow for allowing our Senior Dining Program to use its facility free of charge for the past 21 months. In June 2004, the Lecanto Senior Center was damaged by fire. Brentwood in the Meadow graciously offered Senior Dining Program a gathering room at its facility. Since then, many seniors in the Beverly Hills and surrounding areas have visited the facility on a regular basis Monday through Friday.

The staff of Brentwood in the Meadow has shown great compassion and warmth for the community by allowing this extended use of the facility. A Senior Dining facility allows many people, who would normally pass the day alone, a place to socialize and stay involved in the community along with a nutritional hot meal they may not have prepared for themselves.

Citrus County will celebrate the grand opening of its newest Community Center and Senior Dining facility on Thursday. The "Central Citrus Community Center" at the new Citrus County Resource Center, 2804 Marc Knighton Court, Lecanto, welcomes the public to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. that includes entertainment by Madolyn Crysler.

While we are excited about our new facility and the promise of new programs, entertainment and classes we will be able to offer, we are also thankful to our friends at Brentwood in the Meadow who helped us get through a period of transition. On behalf of our staff, volunteers and clients we extend our wholehearted "thank you".

For information about the Citrus County Senior Dining Program call 527-5975.

Pat Coles, Senior Programs supervisor, Lecanto

[Last modified April 30, 2006, 00:58:16]