Hometown

By Times Staff Writer
Published November 7, 2007

High Fives

Students from across Hernando County entered compositions and artwork depicting and describing what makes Spring Hill a great place to live in the Art and Composition Contest that was part of the Spring Hill Community Association's 40th Birthday Celebration.

In the art competition, winners in the kindergarten-to-third-grade category were: Emily Kolbasiuk, first place; Rebecca Corbin, second place; and Samantha Johnson, third place, all from Suncoast Elementary School.

Winners in the category for grades four and five were: Justin McClure, first place; Alexa Siskos, second place; and Angelo Adele, third place, all from Suncoast Elementary.

In the category for grades six to eight, the winners were: Jack Sigismondi, first place; Cody Graham, second place; and Ebonyeve Hutchinson, third place, all from West Hernando Middle School.

In the composition contest, in the category for kindergarten through grade four, the winners were: Arianna Garguilo, first place; Melanie Hilson, second place; and Cayla Karran, third place, all from Suncoast Elementary School.

In the category for grades four to eight, winners were: Shelby Ludwig, Suncoast Elementary, first place; Jessica Arcarola, Fox Chapel Middle School, second place; and Casandra Gilmore, Suncoast Elementary, third place.

In the high school category, Brandon Forman from Nature Coast Technical High School was the first-place winner.

Clubs and Organizations

The National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employeescelebrated its 70th year in existence Sept. 6, and the Hernando County NARVRE group, Unit 87, recently celebrated its own milestone.

On Oct. 10, Unit 87, along with special guests, celebrated the unit's 20th anniversary. Invited to the luncheon meeting at the Wellington at Seven Hills clubhouse in Spring Hill were Ruth Willoughby, the Florida state NARVRE president, and Ed Irwin, Area I director. Many members brought along memorabilia from their days on the railroad, including an antique lantern.

On Sept. 6, 1937, J.L. Stark founded NARVRE with a vision to protect the rights of railroad retirees as granted by the Railroad Retirement Act of 1937. Since that time, NARVRE has fought numerous battles against government encroachment and the dismantling of the railroad retirement system. It is the only federally chartered organization whose sole purpose is the protection and preservation of the Railroad Retirement System.

On Oct. 9, 1987, the charter for Unit 87 was approved. Henry Proctor served as the unit's first president. As the unit continues to grow, and as members come and go, only one couple, Edward and Doris Caton, are charter members of the unit.

Officers this year include: Gerry Olesen, president; Alan Fontana, first vice president; Evelyn Halvorsen, second vice president; Joyce Frustaci, secretary; Harriett Miller, treasurer; Fred Lenz, legislative representative; and Louise Olesen, sunshine chairwoman. Elections will be held at the end of the year. New members are welcome.

* * *

At the Oct. 2 Hernando County Commission meeting, members of the Nature Coast Community Health Center's board of directors were recognized.

The board, made up of nine community members, has been instrumental in planning and guiding the development of the federally funded center. Board members include: Darlene Worley, chairwoman; Brenda Frazier, vice chairwoman; Reta McCoy; Viennesse Black; Debbie Daniel; Marla Banta; Tom Birol; Jeff Kirk; and Luis Figueroa.

The health center promotes personal, family and community health care and provides primary care services to anyone regardless of ability to pay. The program provides free immunizations to children through age 18.

Its family planning program provides yearly exams and birth control to women of all ages. The teen clinic is free for all teenagers with concerns. The Women Infant and Children program provides vouchers based on income to pregnant women and families with children age 5 and under to buy nutritious foods

The Nature Coast Community Health Center is a collaborative project with the Hernando County Health Department. Established in 2005, the center operates from three sites in the county and works in tandem with community partners to achieve Healthy People 2010 goals to increase quality and years of healthy life, and eliminate health disparities.

For information on the center, call 540-6800 or visit the Web site: www.hernandohealth.org.

Notes of Thanks

Officers and members of the Hernando County Branch of the NAACP would like to express sincere gratitude to those who supported and helped make our 2007 annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet a tremendous success.

First, thanks to Brooksville Elks Lodge 2582 for donating the use of their facility to us for the banquet.

We express our deepest gratitude to Ralph Risley, past exalted ruler, for helping us carry out the successful event. The Elks organization's support for diversity in our community is commendable.

In addition, we'd like to thank the Wal-Mart Supercenter and Regions Bank for being sponsors, and Cortez Community Bank and J.C. Yant Insurance Agency Inc. (State Farm) for being primary sponsors for our souvenir journal.

We also thank the Brooksville City Council, Hernando County Commission and many other businesses, organizations and churches that purchased ads or provided door prizes for the event.

We also thank the many individuals in Brooksville and Spring Hill who supported our event. All of you helped make our event successful.

John and Virginia Cox, banquet chairpersons

Gloria Arthur, banquet honorary vice chairwoman

Wayman T. Boggs, Hernando County Branch NAACP president

We need your news!

[Last modified November 6, 2007, 20:10:45]