What's happening
By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published April 30, 2006
HIGH FIVES
Ridge Manor United Methodist Church recently had its "Little" Chili Cook-Off. The event helped support local and global ministries. It was also a practice run for a bigger cook-off planned for later in the year.
Chili winners included Diane Beuthe of Trilby, who took first place; Judy Hawkinson of Ridge Manor, second place, and Grady Cunningham of Dade City, third place.
A spaghetti dinner in February was also a success, according to finance chairwoman, Joanne Ritz. Church members donated the food and supplies. Proceeds benefited the same ministries.
The upper elementary school students at Wider Horizons School recently traveled to Nature's Lab, an outdoor education program at the McConnell YMCA Outdoor Center, north of Micanopy. Thirty-seven students in grades 4 through 6 spent three days at the camp.
Activities included team-building games, rope courses, athletic contests and an extensive amount of nature study. The trip also included a visit to the Florida Museum of Natural History in nearby Gainesville.
Hernando High School students recently competed in the District 11 Future Business Leaders of Americacompetition in Pasco County. District 11 covers Hernando and Pasco counties.
From Hernando High, five students participated in the written and skills events, placing in four categories.
Sam Gentile won first place in Word Processing I; Bianco Bonito received fifth place in Word Processing 2; Steven Ash and James Hein received fifth place in the Multi-Media Presentation category, and Lynnette LoBianco took home fifth place in Introduction to Business.
The students advanced to the state level.
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONSMembers of the Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill recently gathered to clean and refresh the Little Lighthouse playground at the Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind.
The club donated and built the playground in 2001. Since then, the club has maintained the playground as one of its community service projects.
Participating this year were Dave Spelts, Rose Milks, Mike Madden and Jean Madden. The club began discussing the playground project in 1989 and broke ground in May 2001. The playground, worth $10,000, was completed in August. The playground is designed for visually impaired children who cannot learn play skills from watching others. It is a tool used to help the children become more independent.
Club members had fundraisers to build the playground, and all of the members helped in its construction. To follow up, members visit the playground each month to ensure that it is maintained properly.
The playground is at 6492 California St., southwest of Brooksville.
A sold-out crowd of more than 380 attended "Fashion with the Stars," a luncheon and fashion show at the Palace Grand in Spring Hill that raised more than $5,300 to benefit Hernando-Pasco Hospice. Stacy Westbrook of Brooksville, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleader; Heather Piccinini, a Spring Hill singer/songwriter and 2004 American Idol hopeful; Dr. Kathy Johnson, Pasco-Hernando Community College president, and loyal Fine Lines' customers were among the more than 20 women who modeled fashions and accessories.
The Spring Hill boutique is owned by Janet Schuller, Lois Dias and Irene Adjan. Schuller, who had a personal experience with the local hospice when a loved one died, said "Hospice has done so much for so many of us in the community that this is our way of giving back."
Oak Hill Hospital was the event's gold sponsor. Dr. Brian Roebuck of Good Shepherd Medical Clinic, Dr. J.W. Gibney and Kanaar Financial were silver sponsors. Bronze sponsors were Al Isnetto of Palmwood Realty, Cindy McDonald of the Leopard Lily, Denise Foreman, Keller Williams Realty, SunTrust Bank, Centerstate Bank, David Craighead of Glen Lakes, Dr. Robert Blackburn, Whiting Insurance, Holly Price of Raymond James, August Dias, and Prestige Homes of the Suncoast. Entertainment was by the Antioch Fellowship Baptist Church Choir, D'Ana's Dance Express, and siblings Shawn and Jessica Doolittle of Spring Hill, who sang a duet. Many other individuals and businesses made up the "supporting cast" and donated raffle prizes and gave of their time and talents.
Kathy Butler, a hospice volunteer, won $350 from the 50/50 drawing, but donated it to hospice.
Hernando-Pasco Hospice is a nonprofit organization that provides care, comfort and support to individuals and families affected by a life-limiting illness regardless of their ability to pay in Hernando, Pasco and Citrus counties.
Sam's Club on Cortez Boulevard recently donated $1,000 to Habitat for Humanity from its community grant program.
The presentation was made at Sam's Club by general manager, Sam Seletos. Construction volunteer and Habitat for Humanity board member Bob Jillings accepted the check from Seletos and Kem Benny, community relations coordinator for Sam's Club.
Habitat, sustained by private donations, provides affordable housing to low-income families. At this time, only a few local businesses and churches support Habitat. To continue to meet the needs of the community, Habitat is seeking to secure additional partners such as Sam's Club/Wal-Mart. In addition, greater participation from local churches is needed in order to meet the needs of local families.
According to Jillings, the county offers no assistance to Habitat; in fact, the county's up-front impact fees increase by 20 percent the cost of Habitat's construction on each home.
VETERANSOn March 22, U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite presented 17 veterans from the 5th Congressional District with medals and commemorative coins honoring their military service. The ceremony was in the Hernando County Commission chambers in Brooksville.
Eugene David of Spring Hill was presented with the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Honorable Service lapel pin.
Francis Domick of Spring Hill was presented with the Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal and Honorable Service lapel pin.
Ralph D'Urso of Spring Hill was presented with the Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Honorable Service lapel pin and the Honorable Discharge button.
Raymond Goellner of Brooksville was presented with the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.
Ralph Heiden of Weeki Wachee was presented with the Air Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Honorable Service lapel pin.
Col. J. Peter Jacques of Spring Hill was presented the Combat Action ribbon.
Edward Jones of Brooksville was Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African Campaign Medal, and the Honorable Service lapel pin.
Puthy Lemonis of Spring Hill was presented with the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the Sharpshooter badge and rifle bar.
Harry Lowe of Spring Hill was presented the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Honorable Service lapel pin, and the Marksman badge and rifle bar.
James Marise of Brooksville received the Korean War Service Medal.
William McCarthy of Spring Hill was presented the Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Honorable Service lapel pin, and the Sharpshooter badge and carbine bar.
Robert Morgan of Spring Hill was presented the WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Honorable Service lapel pin, and the Honorable Discharge button.
Edward Moss of Brooksville was presented the Air Force Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal-Air Force, Good Conduct Medal-Army, National Defense Service Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign ribbon, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Longevity service ribbon, WWII Victory Medal, and the Honorable Service lapel pin.
James O'Reilly of Brooksville was presented the WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Honorable Service lapel pin, and the Honorable Discharge button.
Leonard Pecora of Spring Hill was presented the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the Honorable Service lapel pin.
George Peschen of Spring Hill was presented the Air Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.
Joseph Pitas of Weeki Wachee was presented the Bronze Star Medal.
NOTES OF THANKSRe: Passion in the Park at Hernando Park in Brooksville
This is a public "thank you" note to the Brooksville Assembly of God for making a Saturday afternoon, April 15, in Hernando Park such a memorable one.
A large crowd was at the Brooksville park witnessing a very dramatic presentation at Easter time. It was a powerful message presented by all ages.
We were all greeted so warmly as we entered the park. All ages made us feel welcome - even bringing refreshments to us. Our needs were met, both physically and spiritually.
Thank you, members of Assembly, for sharing the gospel with us so powerfully. It showed us once again not what is wrong with the world, but what is right. Thank you for portraying it so beautifully.
Julia Jinkens, Brooksville