Hometown
By TIMES STAFF
Published July 1, 2007
High Fives
A group of volunteers from Spring Hill gets together monthly to ship home-baked cookies to soldiers stationed overseas, along with notes of encouragement and support from the volunteers and local children.
Since becoming involved with Treat the Troops in December, the local group has baked and shipped more than 10, 000 cookies to soldiers, including their latest record-breaking shipment in May of 3, 330 cookies.
With desert temperatures climbing, the group also included cooling headbands made by some of the volunteers. To help defray postage expenses, which run hundreds of dollars per month, the volunteers accept monetary donations.
To make a tax-deductible contribution, contact Barbara Newlin at 799-9750.
Clubs and Organizations
The Boys and Girls Club of Hernando County recently received support for some needed repairs from the Rotary Club of Spring Hill Central.
At a Rotary meeting, Yvonne Kracjovik, Boys and Girls Club director, spoke about the need for a new roof on the club's classroom building, along with treatment of a threatening condition of mold and mildew from the leaky roof.
The Rotary club presented a donation of $150 to Kracjovik.
Member Bill Newell, who conducts a trumpet class at the Boys and Girls Club, confirmed the needed repairs and explained how some classes had been discontinued due to the conditions.
Support from the community is sought to alleviate poor conditions at the club. To make a contribution of services or funds, contact Kracjovik at 666-0068.
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The Volunteer Auxiliary of Spring Hill Regional Hospital recently presented three high school seniors with college scholarships.
Aleyse Horn and Michelle Sullivan, both from Central High School, and Teresa Chimienti from Springstead High School each received a scholarship worth $750 per semester, or $6, 000 for four years.
The scholarship recipients must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average and continue their studies in the human medical field. At the present time, the auxiliary has 10 recipients in the scholarship program.
Money for the scholarships is provided through the sales in the hospital's volunteer gift shop.
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The veterans committee of Brooksville Elks Lodge 2582 provided a free luncheon to 29 veterans on May 21 at the lodge. The event was to honor World War II veterans who had served in the Battle of the Bulge.
A total of 50 attended, including the veterans, their spouses and other guests. Upon arrival, each veteran was presented with a red boutonniere.
The meal included salad, home-made beef stew and biscuits, and cake and ice cream. Past exalted rulers Joe Morrow and Ralph Risley prepared the meal.
Gail Cleaves, chairman of the veterans committee, was assisted by members of the committee. Cleaves introduced Paul Stark, exalted ruler, who commented that only two hours earlier he had donated blood at LifeSouth Community Blood Center, and, coincidently, he received a T-shirt that depicted an eagle and the words: "Armed Forces Blood Donor in Honor of Those Who Served."
Stark welcomed the veterans and spoke about how proud he was of what the veterans had done for all of us. Up next was Shirley Anderson from U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's office, who read a certificate honoring the veterans. Each veteran received a personalized certificate.
Anderson then passed out free Chick-fil-A coupons to each of the veterans.
Following the talks, the microphone was made available for comments from the audience, and many veterans expressed their appreciation to the Elks.
Other events honoring veterans will be held by the lodge in the future.
Two certificates that were presented to Jim McDonald of Brooksville, who served in the Battle of the Bulge, were displayed.
In closing, Cleaves addressed the honored veterans by stating, "It is our honor to be in your presence today."
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