Hometown

By Times Staff Writer
Published March 9, 2008

Upcoming Events

Cheerleading squads tops in competition
 

The Dade City Garden Club is celebrating its 60th anniversary this club year and will host a special event, beginning with an opening ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Friday on the front steps of the Garden Center, 13630 Fifth St., Dade City. Recognition of the 60th anniversary will be held and flower show awards will be presented. This celebration will lead into the club's annual flower show from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The focus of the programs and activities this year has been "60 Years and Still Growing, Still Beautifying, Still Showing, and Still Sharing and Protecting." Programs have been presented on the history of the club and the clubhouse, beautification projects and flower shows through the years and club projects that involved sharing with the community and protecting the environment.

The purpose of the annual flower show is to educate members and the public on floral design and horticulture. The show will feature six different classes of four floral design entries each.

Featured items in the horticulture division will be begonias, ferns, bromeliads, hanging baskets and many varieties of foliage or blooming plants. The public is invited to enter plants in the horticulture division of the flower show and may do so by calling Michele Sutton at (352) 523-0798.

There will be four educational exhibits. One of the special exhibits is a tour of "The Botanical Gardens of the Dade City Garden Club."

High Fives

The recent Pasco County Fair produced winners in several areas. In the Back Porch Entries, awards went to the following: Heirloom Arts, needlework: Linda Smith, grand champion, large crochet; Patsy Howie, grand champion, small crochet; Ida Floyd, reserve grand champion, small crochet; Janet Slanec, grand champion, knitting; Sandra Pompa, reserve grand champion, knitting; Melodee Dinwiddee, grand champion, embroidery; Barbara Kolodziez, grand champion, counted thread; and Joyce Focht, award of excellent, hardanger.

In Heirloom Arts, quilts winners were: Sara Ross, grand champion, machine pieced; Darlene Leosh, grand champion, machine quilted; and Susan Schmitz, grand champion, wall hangings.

In Heritage Arts, woodwork awards went to: Tanner McKendree, grand champion, furniture; Dennis Henry, reserve grand champion, furniture; Raymond Skinner, award of excellence, furniture; and Dorothy Borneman, award of excellence, carving.

In Heritage Arts, textile arts, the winner was Cheryl Futrell, award of excellence for sewing.

In Home Arts, baked goods, awards went to Margie Goodwin, grand champion, cakes; Paula Baxendale, grand champion, pies; Gerry Bright, grand champion, cookies; and Brenda Rubio, grand champion, candy.

In Home Arts, canning, prizes went to Cheryl Futrell, grand champion, jams/preserves; and Virginia McKendree, reserve grand champion, jams/preserves;

Three awards were presented in Home Arts, wines to Vern Schnieder, grand champion; John Ballard, reserve grand champion; and Norm Mashburn, award of excellence.

In Creative Arts, winners were Marie Lovelace, grand champion, painted articles; Marian Riopelle, grand champion, wreaths; Carrie Flis, reserve grand champion, wreaths; Harriet Neil, grand champion, baskets; Kay Ables, grand champion, gourds and grand champion, miniatures.

In Hobby Arts, prizes were claimed by Ruth Danger, grand champion, pine needles; and Manual Martinez, award of excellence, toys.

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The Pasco Showcase of Talent that took place at the recent Pasco County Fair saw winners emerge in several categories. Kayla Pate was named Overall Individual Grand Champion, followed by Shelby Martin, first runner-up, individual overall; Elizabeth LaRue, second runner-up, individual overall; Jordan Evans, third runner-up, individual overall; Courtney Ricardo, fourth runner-up, individual overall; and Abby Vincent, Kailey Holyoke, Rachel Graham, Matthew Baker and Lauren Pashley, Overall Individual Honorable Mentions.

In the Groups Division, Suncoast School of Arts was the Overall Group Grand Champion, followed by Jordan Evans and Shelby Martin, first runner-up, group overall; and Matthew Baker and Julie Baker, second runner-up, group overall.

Individual competition was broken down into 10 divisions by age brackets. Lauren Pashley was the winner in the age 7 and 8 group, with Jessica Twitmeyer, first runner-up; Allyson Worthy, second runner-up; Maria Hernandez, third runner-up; Katie Cianese, fourth runner-up; and Megan Phillips and Shelby Surrat, honorable mentions.

Individual Competition, Dancers in the age 7-10 division recognized Rachel Graham as winner; Nicole Lee Sargent, second runner-up; and Christina Shudra, third runner-up.

Taking prizes in the Individual Competition for ages 9 and 10 were Kailey Holyoke, winner; Courtney Nathe, first runner-up; Shelby Loyd, second runner-up; Allie Felts, third runner-up; Yelissa Tipton, fourth runner-up; and Natalie White and Erin Hayden, honorable mentions.

Winners in the Individual Competition Ages 11 and 12 were: Matthew Baker, winner; Catharina Chipman, first runner-up; Molly Verrill, second runner-up; and Alissa Evans, third runner-up.

In Individual Competition, Dancers, ages 11-13, prizes went to Shelby Martin, winner; Katie Ruffell, first runner-up; and Kaitlyn Greenough second runner-up.

Awards in the Individual Competition for ages 13 and 14 went to Jordan Evans, winner; Amanda Dempsey, first runner-up; and Monica Cesa, second runner-up.

Winners in the Individual Competition, Dancers ages 14-16 were Abby Vincent, winner; Lindsay Arnold, first runner-up; Sarah Lukackik, second runner-up; Allie Parrish, third runner-up; and Veronica Boise, fourth runner-up.

Individual Competition winners in the ages 15 and 16 category were Elizabeth LaRue, winner; Kathleen White, first runner-up; Maggie Sutton, second runner-up; Stephanie Bires, third runner-up; Adriana Brown, fourth runner-up; and Lindsay Kelly and Alys Perkins, honorable mentions.

Winners in the Individual Competition for ages 17 and 18 were Courtney Ricardo, winner; Lauran Simpson, first runner-up; Kristen Arnold, second runner-up; Brandon Rathbone, third runner-up; and Taylor McKell and Weston Johnson, fourth runners-up.

In the Individual Competition in the Adult group, awards went to Kayla Pate, winner; Lisa Calton, first runner-up and Sylvia Russell, second runner-up.

Winners of the Group Competition in the 9-11 age group were Suncoast School of Arts, winner; Catharina Chipman and Kailey Holyoke, first runners-up; Showoffs, second runner-up; POP Princess Duet, third runner-up; and Twirl!Baton Show Team, fourth runner-up.

In Group Competition for ages 12-16 prizes went to Jordan Evans and Shelby Martin, winners; Suncoast School of Arts, first runner-up; Showtime, second runner-up; Dance Experience, third runner-up; and Saralen Gude, Kiersten Lingo and Josie Tomkow, fourth runner-up.

In the Group Competition for 17 and older awards went to Matthew Baker and Julie Baker, winners; Lauran Simpson and Zak Faza, first runner-up; and Rhythm "N" Motion Cloggers, second runner-up.

High Fives

The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life is a series of events designed to bring together people who have been touched by cancer in our community. People who attend events celebrate surviving and raise money to help the ACS in its mission to save lives and empower individuals to fight back. Jo Ann Kelly, a breast cancer survivor who has received good health reports for three years now, was astonished Feb. 23 when her husband, Nick, told her there was a bunch of strange birds in their yard. The yard was filled with beautiful plastic pink flamingos, a special treat he ordered for her from "You've Been Flocked," a Relay for Life fundraiser in which people pay to send the plastic birds to someone's yard. Jo Ann said that the faith and support of family and friends and this simple act of love are the bright lights that lift up those who are in this battle with cancer.

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Members of the Veterans Village American Legion Post 343 volunteered at the Feb. 21 Special Olympics competition at River Ridge High School. More than 200 youngsters competed. Bert Christiansen, Walter Hartshorne, Patti Penta and Paul Silvage represented the post, which is the smallest in west Pasco. Post 343 is well known for participating in local parades, the Christmas Parade in downtown New Port Richey and the up-coming Chasco Fiesta Parade. The members have made these events special by handing out treasured American flags to all who look forward to receiving one instead of beads.

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Nicole Cashen of New Port Richey was named to the Maryville College Dean's List for the 2007 fall semester. Cashen graduated from River Ridge High School in 2006 and is majoring in religion at the college, located in Maryville, Tenn. She is the daughter of Bret and Donna Cashen of New Port Richey. Founded in 1819, the college is the 12th oldest institution of learning in the South and is situated between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Knoxville. For information visit www.maryvillecollege.edu.

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At a health seminar last month, Pasco County seniors got their blood pressure checked and also learned about heart disease and preventive steps they can take, including getting regular exercise and cooking healthy, nutritious meals. These steps are necessary to improve health and wellness. Humana Active Outlook sponsored the free health education seminar on Valentine's Day at the Madison Square Special Events Center in New Port Richey. More than 65 Pasco seniors attended the health information program.

Hometown Pasco is now more than news about your clubs, events and milestones. We want your sports and recreation photos, too. We are publishing a special page each Thursday devoted solely to sports and recreation. So whether it's a Little League game, soccer, bowling, golf or similar recreation. 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.

[Last modified March 8, 2008, 21:44:01]