Hometown Hernando

By Jean Hayes, Times Staff Writer
Published March 12, 2008

High Fives

Hernando County Special Olympics athlete Mark Swiconek of Spring Hill recently returned from the third annual Special Olympics Florida Athlete Congress in Tallahassee. Twenty-six athlete delegates from 17 counties deliberated over four issues during the course of the three-day congress in the Senate chambers of the state Capitol.

On the final day, incumbent John Fitton of Palm Coast was re-elected to serve as chairman of the next athlete congress, currently slated for 2009.

The congress is a forum where delegates with intellectual disabilities from throughout Florida work to recommend policy and set direction for the Special Olympics movement. To attend the congress, delegates first had to receive training in governance. The also must actively participate in their local Special Olympics program's athlete input council or a similar athlete leadership program, and they must meet certain age and behavioral criteria.

This was the third athlete congress that Swiconek has participated in. Locally, he has participated in aquatics, basketball, bocce, bowling, soccer and softball.

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The Spring Hill Art League chose seven local artists as artists of the month for February. Their artwork was on display in Hernando County at the following locations:

Eugene Belknop Jr.'s oil maritime scenes were on display at the Bank of America in Spring Hill.

Margaret Messina's oil landscapes, seascapes and florals were on display at Cortez Community Bank in Brooksville.

Esther Pohl's oil and acrylic florals and wildlife were on display at Cortez Community Bank in Spring Hill.

Lynne Simone's pastel wildlife and landscapes were on display at the Denture Care Center in Brooksville.

Paul Shaskan's bold, colorful landscapes in oil were on display at Easy Street Home Decor in Brooksville and at the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative in Spring Hill.

Robert Hernaiz's graphite and pencil florals, still lifes and landscapes were on display at Summit Brokerage Services in Brooksville.

Emerson Barron's acrylic series of trees demonstrating the creative process were on display at the West Hernando/S.T. Foggia Branch Library in Spring Hill.

Clubs and Organizations

Brooksville Elks Lodge 2582 had its second annual Elks Idol Contest on three Saturday nights in January. The first night, contestants performed a song of their choice. On the second night, contestants had to sing a country song, and on the third night a song from the '50s to the '70s.

The event was headed by Angie Balderson and Kathy Minotti. Judges included Ed Galloway, who was last year's winner, and two Elks officers: Bill Woods, loyal knight, and Paul Stark, exalted ruler. Votes from the audience listening in the lounge were also counted to help select a winner.

Taking first place was Harold Walck of Brooksville, winning the $50 prize. Other participants who received token prizes, in winning order, were: Eileen Orrio, Mark Tebo, Bonnie Tebo and Velma Newberry.

Following the voting, Kathy Minotti entertained the crowd.

[Last modified March 12, 2008, 00:23:50]