Citrus slices

A motion for David 'Don't Call Me Madam' Hickey

One time each year, the school superintendent gets to fill the job of School Board chairman until a new chairman is elected.

Last week, David Hickey had that honor. But board members were joking with him. "We're so used to saying Madam Chairman, you're not going to be offended, are you?" asked board member Sandra "Sam" Himmel.

Hickey just grinned.

"You always wanted to be one of the girls," quipped board member Pat Deutschman.

DIVINE INTERVENTION NEEDED: At a recent Sunday morning Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, the Rev. James Johnson was reporting the annual state of the parish. Although he cautioned there were challenges ahead, the church budget was in the black during the five years he has been there.

Then he told the congregation that a church council member had suggested that since he did such a good job with the church budget, maybe he could help the Citrus County Commission and the School Board with theirs. Sure he would, he said. "I'll pray for them."

A NEW MURPHY'S LAW: School administrator Ed Murphy often ends his official memos with various inspirations and sayings. One recent memo concluded: "Remember: A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the other one."

CRINGING FROM THE BLACK LAGOONS: David Duke (a pilot for the Aeromed medical helicopter, not that other guy) was speaking at a luncheon recently at the Crown Hotel on his company's services. After telling the audience how thrilled he and the other pilots are to be serving the community, he mentioned one of the sidelights of his job.

Flying low over homes from Citrus County to Tampa General Hospital, he said, the pilots get a chance to look into tens of thousands of back yards. One thing stands out: There is a crying need for swimming pool maintenance.

"A lot of pools look like biological experiments gone bad," he said.

SO MUCH FOR STEALTH: Seen on a sedan traveling through Inverness: a vanity Florida license plate reading PRVT EYE.

That could pose a problem during stakeouts.

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