Your news

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 6, 2008

High Fives

Tiger Cub Scout Dakota Bennington of Pack 91 recently toured Spring Hill Fire Rescue Station 2, which fulfilled one of 15 achievements a boy must complete to earn the Tiger Cub rank.

The visit to the fire station was part of the "Where I Live: Go See It" activity. Dakota needed to ask a firefighter who works at the station how he or she helps people in the community.

Dakota received a tour, rode on a fire truck, was shown all of the equipment the firefighters use, and had all his questions answered by them.

Dakota is the son of Chandra Bennington of Spring Hill.

Clubs and Organizations

American Legion Post 186 color guard had its eighth annual Deep Fried Turkey Dinner on Nov. 17. Twenty-three turkeys were fried. Four were donated to the post to serve free turkey dinners on Thanksgiving Day. The remaining turkeys were served during the event.

Color guard and post members who helped cook includedBob Hamburger;Steve Small; color guard commander Lou Hernandez;Ray Guzman;Jimmy Schultz, past commander; Ed Lucas;John Rakucewicz;Bob Kozlowski;Bob Flaig;Rich Slajchert; and Charlie Haig.

Color guard members who set up the dining area, served and cleaned up after the dinner were: Monette Walker; Mary Straits; Maryann Slajchert; Judy McCutcheon; assistant commander Carol Thibert; and auxiliary color guard commander Nancy Sina. Member Judy Hulce decorated the hall.

Proceeds from the event are used to purchase uniforms and equipment for the color guard. In addition, flags are purchased to donate at memorial services for deceased veterans and flag dedication ceremonies, and awards are purchased to honor hospitalized veterans and those who are in area nursing homes.

*** 

Marsha Reiniers, long-term care specialist with Genworth Financial, accepted a resolution by the Hernando County Commission declaring the week of Nov. 5-9 as Long Term Care Awareness Week.

County Commissioner Chris Kingsley presented Reiniers with the proclamation, which was read aloud at the Nov. 6 County Commission meeting. The commissioners encouraged residents to learn more about the potential risks and costs associated with long-term care and the options available to help meet long-term care needs.

Notes of Thanks

The Spring Hill Garden Club held its first "Holiday in the Gardens" event on Dec. 1 at the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens. This event was an overwhelming success.

Garden club members planted evergreen trees throughout the gardens, and the following sponsors decorated the trees for the holidays: Hernando County Cooperative Extension Service;Kessel Tech Inc.;Rotary Club of Spring Hill Central;Jennifer and Co.;floridaFIN;Operation PRIDE;Girl Scout Troops 704, 909 and 1014;Gulf Coast Academy;M&L Accounting;Gulf Coast Surgery; Deltona Elementary School; Boys and Girls Club; New Beginnings Youth Shelter; Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill; Spring Hill Elementary School; Friendship Lodge; Timber Pines Garden Club; SunTrust Bank;A-1 Pets; Red Hot Flashes of Spring Hill; Gulf Coast Conservancy;Hernando County Parks and Recreation;Kathy Erickson; and the Spring Hill Garden Club.

Most of the organizations purchased the trees that they decorated, making a permanent donation to the gardens. We are deeply grateful to the members of all of these organizations for their support.

Entertainment was provided by harpist Maria Valentine, Lynn Brainard and Jeff Miller of Dixie Blue, and Yolanda Martinez and her Suncoast Elementary School chorus. Thank you all for donating your time and talents.

The Nature Coast Botanical Gardens are at 1489 Parker Ave., just past the firehouse, in Spring Hill. The gardens are open year-round from sunup to sundown. We invite the public to check out what has been called "the best-kept secret in Hernando County." For further information, call 683-9933 or visit our Web site at www.naturecoastbotanicalgardens.com.

Thanks again to everyone who made the Holiday in the Gardens such a success.

Doug Brainard, presidentSpring Hill Garden Club

***

On behalf of the American Cancer Society, I would like to thank the following drivers for their help and dedication in transporting patients to their treatments: Barbara Adams, Rita Ames, Claire Blust, Ruth Chacey, Maxine Clayton, Heloise Crowell, Nelson Crowell, Judith Gill, Muriel Hamm, Phyllis Jackson, Lou Lombardi, William McKlveen, Wanda Murphy, Jim Murphy, Thangam Nagarajan, Paul Neihaus, Lisa Paul, Trish Phillips, Ron Phillips, Paul Plantenberg, Charles Samson, Rena Shier and Sandy Winkles.

These drivers drove 34 patients a total of 371 trips. Thank you for all your help this past year.

Joan HenryHernando coordinator and driver trainer, American Cancer Society

We need your news!

[Last modified January 5, 2008, 20:45:47]