Hometown

By Times Staff Writer
Published March 9, 2008

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Clubs and Organizations

During the month of January, Aripeka Elks Lodge 2520 in Hudson was busy with several events.

Frieda Deane, veterans chairman, presented the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa with $2,846 worth of items, including twin blankets, socks, combs, hair brushes, a wheelchair, playing cards and other sundries collected from members and others.

Lorriane Lovett, drug awareness chairman, visited Highlands Elementary School in Pasco to promote drug awareness and passed out 700 Elks bags and "Just Say No to Drugs" red ribbons. Later, Lovett presented about 100 of the red ribbons to Donna Zuk, deputy grand exalted ruler of the Central District.

Lodge member Wayne Getz, Hoop Shoot chairman for the Central District, organized the Hoop Shoot at Bayonet Point Middle School in Pasco. Following the competition, the contestants and their families returned to the lodge for presentation of the trophies and lunch.

Hoop Shoot first-place winners included: David Smeltz, representing Aripeka Elks Lodge 2520 in the 8- and 9-year-old boys category; Trey Thomas, representing Zephyrhills Elks Lodge 2731 in the 10- and 11-year-old boys category; Luke Calleja, representing Aripeka in the 12- and 13-year-old boys category; Erin Pennington, representing Zephyrhills in the 8- and 9-year-old girls category; Miranda Jones, representing Aripeka in the 10- and 11-year-old girls category; and Alyssa Mediavilla, representing Kissimmee Elks Lodge 1837 in the 12- and 13-year-old girls category.

Getz, the lodge's Bingo Charities chairman, presented the following checks: $250 to the Disabled Veterans Memorial Fund, $250 to Project Life Savers to purchase bracelets for Alzheimer's patients, $1,000 to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, $4,800 to the Harry Anna Trust Fund for Florida Elks' major project, and $5,700 to the Elks National Foundation.

Veterans

Front and center is where six members of Gulf Coast WAVES Unit 27 were seated during the 10th anniversary reunion of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial dedication. The memorial is at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Attending from Unit 27 were: Lee Lund, Marie Martin, Marie Van Landschoot, Theona "Tony" Mangano, Theresa Eichberger and Rita Wilson.

During their three-day visit, the six WAVES stayed at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C, sponsored by Corrine Robinson, a member of the WAVES unit in Washington.

While staying at the retirement home, the group met two guests who were staying on the same floor: Martha Alice Lovell from Colorado Springs, who had been in the Air Force, and her sister, Rose Marie Carter, from Conroe, Texas. Carter had arranged for a group-guided tour of the Hart Senate Building, courtesy of Sen. John Cornyn from Texas, and invited the six WAVES to tag along.

The first day's event was a black-tie gala dinner at the National Building Museum. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, president of the WIMSA Memorial Foundation, welcomed guests. Cokie Roberts was mistress of ceremonies.

On the second day, military women and guests were invited to a reunion dinner at the D.C. National Guard Armory.

The evening of the last day featured a candlelight march from the Lincoln Memorial across the Memorial Bridge to the women's memorial in Arlington. The march was followed by the service of remembrance.

During the service, occupants in the first 98 seats were given the name of one woman who lost her life in Iraq or Afghanistan. One by one, they went up on the stage, read the soldier's name, then tossed a petal into the pool in front of the stage. When all the names were read, it was announced that another unknown military woman had lost her life that day.

The ceremony ended with taps and the song Let There be Peace on Earth.

Notes of Thanks

The staff and residents at Forest Oaks assisted living facility would like to thank Louie Fortunato for performing for us on Feb. 7.

It's always a good time when Louie performs here. I believe that all of our residents were in attendance. Mr. Fortunato performs for Forest Oaks on a regular basis, and if anyone is interested in coming out to watch him, please call me at 683-3323 for his next performance date.

Once again, thank you, Louie.

Mona Herreid, Marketing director

Hometown is now more than news about your clubs, events and milestones. We want your sports and recreation photos, too. In fact, we are publishing a special page each Thursday devoted solely to sports and recreation. So whether it's a Little League game, soccer, bowling or golf, send us your pictures. E-mail the photos as jpeg attachments to: communitysports@tampabay.com or call Mike Camunas at (352) 544-9480 for other options. We need to know why the picture was taken, or at what event; who's in the picture; what town or city the person or group is from, and what's going on in the picture.

[Last modified March 8, 2008, 21:14:01]