Letters to the Editors

Ridgewood appreciative of business partners' help

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 9, 2000

Re: Ridgewood graduation and scholarship banquet

We would like to publicly thank Phillip Poquette, Lowe's Home Improvement Center and Brian Consela of their Garden Center for generously loaning the beautiful plants to Ridgewood High School for our graduation.

We also would like to thank Tom Leonard, manager of the Kash n' Karry on Little Road in New Port Richey, for assisting us with decorations for graduation and our scholarship banquet.

We are very fortunate to have helpful and caring business partners that celebrate our student successes with us. Their contributions made our events memorable.
-- Dr. Arthur O'Donnell, principal, Christine Kalil, career specialist

Teenagers helped make Memorial Day special

I would like to recognize the hard work of some of our area teens, the Navy Junior ROTC from Gulf High School.

These young people, in spite of the terrible heat, helped Veterans Village American Legion Post 343 put up and take down the American flags over the Memorial Day holiday.

Carrying heavy metal poles, which had to be very hot, from the building to Seven Springs Boulevard had to be extremely hard, but they didn't complain. Lt. Wysocki, their leader, worked right along with the boys, and two of the legionnaires, Fred Hammond and Bill Taylor, in spite of being older and not in good health, helped.

The finished scene on Seven Springs Boulevard really made the people cheer.

If it wasn't for these fine young men, Post 343 would never have been able to keep the Avenue of Remembrance on display.

Thank you, guys.
-- Kathryn L. Robinson, commander Veterans Village American Legion Post 343

Many contributed to walk's success

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for assigning Michelle Miller to again write a story about our second annual A-T Walk for a Cure. She did an outstanding job and somehow is able to capture the essence of a story. More importantly, she has the ability to have it come across the page.

Our second annual A-T Walk for a Cure was a resounding success, raising twice what we raised last year for a total of $32,000! We couldn't have done it without the support of our walkers, volunteers and of course the business community. Jack and Kristie Grossman won first prize for most money raised (a home stereo system donated by Circuit City) raising $1,800. Larry and Laura Kemp won second prize (a 19-inch color TV donated by Circuit City), raising $730, and Tammy and Scott Disbro won third prize (a Sony Play Station donated by Wal-Mart Distribution Center), raising $550.

I'd also like to thank our T-shirt and sponsor brochure advertisers including Tampa Bay Machine, Benco Insurance Planners, Bob Evans of Port Richey, R.J. Kielty Plumbing, Pit Boss BBQ, Bayonet Point Regional Medical Center, Rustic Acres Mobile Home Park, ZTime Inc., Custom Mobility, Special Touch Hair Design, Mia's Therapeutic Massage and Rainbow Video. Of course, our post walk party wouldn't have been possible without Papa John's Pizza, Pizza Hut, CiCi's Pizza, Hooter's of Port Richey, Beef O'Brady's, Pit Boss BBQ, Zephyrhills Spring Water and Winn-Dixie for providing the beverages.

I know that the money raised will go toward first-rate research aimed at finding a cure for Ataxia-Telangiectasia.
-- Adrienne Zampella, Port Richey

Many letters to the editor we receive at the Pasco Times are expressions of gratitude and do not belong on the editorial page, where our goal is to foster discussion of issues and news events. Letters of thanks is an occasional column to accommodate such letters. Please mail to 11321 U.S. 19, Port Richey, FL 34668, or e-mail to Pasco@sptimes.com.
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