Homestown

By Times Staff Writer
Published September 26, 2007

High Fives

A Weight-A-Thon benefit was sponsored recently at the Salon at the Residence at Timber Pines. Salon manager Debra Molinelli organized the event, which benefited the Humane Society of the Nature Coast.

Five employees of the Residence pledged to lose weight for a month. Residents at the assisted living facility sponsored the employees at 25 cents a pound. The event raised $111 for the Humane Society, and the employees lost unwanted weight in a fun way.

This was the second fundraiser sponsored by the Salon. During a Christmas gathering in December, photographs were taken of residents enjoying the event. In January, the photos were sold, and the Salon collected $126, which was also donated.

Molinelli thanked Terri Osteen, the executive director at the Residence, who gave permission to hold the two fundraisers, and Jim Bush, a chef at the Residence, who participated in the Weight-A-Thon.

Clubs and Organizations

The Hernando County Commission recently presented John G. Saittis with a resolution in support of his efforts on behalf of the marine industry.

The marine business is the third-largest industry in Hernando County, and Saittis was a co-founder and has held the position of chairman of the Hernando County Marine Industry Council since 1998.

Saittis was appointed to the Hernando County Port Authority board of directors in 1991, where as chairman he supervised the Marlin Canal dredge and initiated the Bayport dredge and the Hernando Beach dredge project in 1994. He has served on the Port Authority board since 2002, remaining a driving force in the Hernando Beach channel dredge project.

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Members of the Filipino-American Social Club will be volunteering at Hernando-Pasco Hospice now that they have completed training.

Members Suetlana White, Gigi Gerbolingo-Smith, Estrella Quaas and Jessica Siri attended the volunteer orientation and completed the training program. They were presented with certificates of completion.

One of the goals of the social club has been to support various community services, one of which is Hospice. Hospice, with locations in Hernando, Pasco and Citrus counties, provides medical, social and spiritual care with compassion to all those whom they serve - both adults and children.

Hospice care relies on volunteers for essential services, and social club members have found volunteering to be a worthy and rewarding experience. For information on volunteering at Hospice, contact Anne Clarke, volunteer coordinator, at 796-2611.

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The Guardian ad Litem Program of Hernando County utilizes volunteers to speak for the best interest of children whose parents are alleged to have abused, neglected or abandoned them.

This job often requires financial assistance to the children for a variety of things, ranging from dental work to school uniforms. All too often, the money is not available when needed by the children and their families.

In response to this need, the Guardian ad Litem program works with "Voices 4 Children," a nonprofit organization, that has the ability to accept donations and disburse them to those with the greatest needs.

On Aug. 3, Paula Mitcham, operation manager at Sam's Club in Brooksville, made a $250 donation on behalf of Sam's to Barbara Thompson, a program volunteer and employee. The Guardian ad Litem Program thanked Sam's Club for its generosity.

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[Last modified September 25, 2007, 20:16:52]