Englewood prepares for day of remembrance

SUN FILE PHOTO
Marcella Brown, 16, of Englewood, won Charlotte’s Got Talent in April. She will be singing at three events around the area this weekend, including performing the National Anthem at the Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at Gulf Pines Memorial Park, 2401 Englewood Road, in Englewood, at 9 a.m. Monday.

Marcella Brown will be performing three times over Memorial Day weekend, but the young singer, and winner of April’s Charlotte’s Got Talent competition, is most excited about paying tribute to the men and women who served in America’s armed forces.

“I like singing on Memorial Day because the veterans are important and I want to honor them,” Marcella said. “It brings me joy to honor those who have done so much for this country.”

Marcella, 16, will be performing the national anthem at the Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at Gulf Pines Memorial Park, 2401 Englewood Road in Englewood, at 9 a.m. Monday.

“Marcella loves doing it,” said Steve Brown, her father. “Memorial Day is one of the busiest days for her. She’s been (singing at the events) for three to four years. She’s been singing, acting and dancing since she was 5.”

Marcella will be performing once Saturday and once more on Memorial Day following the wreath-laying ceremony.

“There will be a wreath presentation to each branch of service,” said Stacy Jones, community relations director at Lemon Bay Funeral Home and Cremation Service. “Each branch served will have a hymn played during the ceremony.”

Retired Lt. Gen. Roland Watts of the U.S. Army will be the featured guest speaker.

The 9 a.m. ceremony will be preceded by a moment of silence followed bya remembrance of Loranda “Randy” Spence, local veteran who died Dec. 5. The 1.4-acre El Jobean Park on 4333 Kerrigan Circle will be renamed after Spence on May 25, according to Jones. Spence affectionately earned the nickname “Mr. El Jobean” for his years of advocacy.

Other groups in attendance include VFW Posts 10178 and 10476, American Legion Post 113, Rotonda Honor Guard, Lemon Bay High School Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and Vietnam Veterans of America.

Food will be served at the Clyde E. Lassen VFW Post 10178 on 550 N. McCall Road in Englewood from noon to 2 p.m. following the ceremony.

Also in recognition of those who have served, Emeritus at River Oaks on 925 S. River Road in Englewood, a senior living community, is providing care packages for senior veterans and veterans’ spouses from May 27 to May 31. The care packages contain pill boxes, first aid, snacks, night lights and other items of necessity. They will also get a “medal of honor” card with a pin thanking them.

“The packages are put together through various agencies like Omnicare, Caring.  com  , the Fischer Group, Life Care Funding Group, Gulf South, Kellogg’s and Campbell’s,” said Brenda Peckham, community relations director at Emeritus at River Oaks. “We currently have between 10-15 packages.”

Emeritus offers courtesy checkups on seniors outside of their community for those who inquire. The number of care packages distributed will depend on demand.

For more information on the wreath laying memorial, call 941-474-2413.

For more information on VFW Post 10178, call 941-474-7516.

For more information on Emeritus, call 941-474–8600.

Sun intern fundraising to attend college

SUN PHOTO BY MISSY MCDONOUGH
Sun intern Missy McDonough says this is one of her favorite shots to run in the Sun, because of the resemblance to the cover of the Beatle’s “Abbey Road” album.

Missy McDonough dreams of being a photographer for National Geographic, but the Englewood Sun intern, like many seeking a higher education, has a major obstacle to overcome. College is expensive.

“I wanted to be a photographer ever since I read about the (2004) tsunami in Thailand,” the recent Lemon Bay High School graduate said. “It impacted me to see the show of emotions.”

PHOTO PROVIDED
Missy McDonough

So much so that she raised $1,226 for the victims.

McDonough won a trip to Australia for National Geographic when she was in middle school. She described the experience as amazing and life-changing.

“I wanted to be part of National Geographic ever since the sixth grade,” she said.

When she visited the North American Nature Photography Association in Jacksonville in February, she met photographers Clyde Butcher and Art Wolfe, who were featured guests and her inspiration to get into nature photography.

“I taught myself photography,” she said. “I love how simplistic it is.”

McDonough joined the Sun as an intern in August, with the opportunity to explore different kinds of photography.

“Being a theater kid, looking at it from another perspective and shooting was a weird and different experience,” she said. “I liked being on the front page with photos for the school.”

Her last assignment was the LBHS production of “South Pacific.”

McDonough said her favorite shot was a photo of kids walking in front of the construction at LBHS.

“It reminded me of the Abbey Road cover of the Beatles,” she said.

McDonough graduated Friday night and has been accepted into Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota. She’s been awarded scholarships, but still needs to raise enough money to attend.

She uses her website, http://www.letmetakeyourpic.com, to take donations and attract new business.

“I do photo shoots for clients such as events, outdoor portraits, children, pets, etc.,” she said. “I sell some of my prints. I have matted 8x10s, some larger and framed.”

McDonough will continue her fundraising efforts on the streets of Englewood next month.

“I will most likely be standing on the corner of Dearborn and 776 in my cap and gown to try and raise awareness as I did when I was raising money to attend precollege at Ringling in summer 2011,” she said.

For more information or to make a donation, visit http://www.letmetakeyourpic.com  .

Honoring unsung heroes

PHOTO PROVIDED
Jack Perkins, formerly of NBC News and host of A&E’s Biography, will be the featured speaker at the Secret Society of Smoked Mullets on June 5. Perkins hosts WEDU’s “A Gulf Coast Journal,” which is funded by Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice.

The Secret Society of Smoked Mullets celebrates the unsung heroes of Englewood.

Former Englewood Chamber of Commerce president Nita Cole started the Smoked Mullets in 1996.

“The intention is to honor people who helped create the Englewood we have today — people who have probably never been recognized with an award for their hard work and dedication,” Cole said in a statement.

The Smoked Mullets will have its 16th annual luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 5 at the Fishery Restaurant, 13000 Fishery Road in Placida, where members will award a winner from 12 possible candidates: Bernie Nugent, Oz Davids, Diana Harris, Kathyn Roach, Mike Ross, Gary Schroeder, Charlie Hicks, Betty Nugent, Carolyn Pope, Jack Landis, Eric Fogo and Lou Long.    Winners are selected by the 14 past winners and their 14 secret members of the organization.

“The selection process is that names come up in conversations,” Cole said. “We want to create an award for those who haven’t received the strong recognition in the past. It’s based on what people remember in the committee.”

John Flower was the first award winner.

“We look for someone who’s made great contributions to the community in different areas,” Flower said.

Past winners include Flower, Mac Horton, Leah Lasbury, Pat Fitzgerald, Ferold Davis, Don Platt, Eunice Albritton, Tom Dignam, Billy Davis, David Dignam, Joe Czerwinski, Denny Girard, Bill Stiver Sr., and Larry Nicol.

The featured guest speaker will be Jack Perkins, a retired journalist whose career spans over 40 years, with 25 years at NBC News. Perkins was the host and narrator for many A&E’s programs, including the critically acclaimed show “Biography.”

Perkins, a resident of Casey Key, is an author and hosts PBS affiliate WEDU’s “A Gulf Coast Journal,” a monthly program focusing on Sarasota County. The show is funded by Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice and has been running for eight seasons. The program featured Tom Dignam in a June 2010 broadcast.

Cost for the luncheon is $25. Reservations are limited.

For more information, go to englewoodchamber.com  , or call 941-474-5511.

Vineland Elementary organizes formal wear clothing drive

ROTONDA WEST — Vineland Elementary School is organizing a formal clothing drive for their graduating fifth-graders.

“So far we have a few dresses in,” said Dawn Stephens, Vineland Elementary parent volunteer coordinator. “It’s just a few things.”

Vineland is now accepting formal footwear as donations. The school will offer gift cards to Bealls Outlet and Wal-Mart if they wish to shop for their kids. Acceptable formal wear must be within the school’s dress code policy.

“We don’t want parents to drive too far,” said Adrienne McElroy, assistant principal at Vineland.

Vineland has 125 graduating students with 50 percent expected to take part in the program, McElroy said.

“We’re taking donations of sizes 8-12,” she said. Vineland will be taking donations until Thursday with graduation the following day. For more information, call 941-697-6600.

 

Come sail away

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SUSAN SMITH
Samantha Smith and Abigail Smith are twin sisters are in the intermediate program with the Englewood Sailing Association. ESA is offering summer sailing camps through the Englewood YMCA on 701 Medical Blvd. for ages 9-15. Camps run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June17-21 and July 22-26. For more information, call 941-475-1234 or 941-257-8192.

School’s almost out for summer and Englewood Sailing Association is preparing it’s summer sailing camps.

ESA has been offering camps through the Englewood YMCA for six years.

“We have such a great synergy with the Y,” said Hugh Moore, ESA president.

As a nonprofit organization, ESA relies on students and volunteers to cover operating costs.

“It’s very expensive, what we do,” Moore said. “Everyone in this organization puts their own money into this.”

Marcia Ziegler, membership director of the Englewood Y, said demand for the courses is often capped a week prior to the course.

“We cap at 18 usually,” Ziegler said. “We normally max out. We have to have a waiting list, usually 2-3 per session. It fills out during the summer. It’s been a wonderful partnership.”

Cost for the courses are $120 for non-Y members and $110 for members. The courses are a week long.

ESA offers four classes — “Intro to sailing (for ages 9-15),” “Intermediate,” “Diva (for women)” and “Snowbirds Sailing Camp.” The snowbirds course was added last year, according to Ziegler.

While spaces are often limited, ESA is also limited by resources.

“We have a physical limitation with our current facilities and number of boats,” Moore said. “We’re trying to find sponsors.”

As successful as the program is, Moore is most proud of what the sailing program does for the children.

“This is a legacy that we pass onto our kids,” Moore said. “The kids will be better prepared in life. ESA produces kids with character. They don’t just come back, we continue to develop their leadership skills. We will have kids go through the junior instructor program.”

Moore said there is a need for adult instructors as well.

“It’s very demanding,” Moore said. “We have to have qualified and committed people to operate and run our programs.” The camps will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 17-21 and July 22-26 at Indian Mound Park in Englewood. The Englewood Y is located on 701 Medical Blvd., in Englewood. For more information call 941-475-1234 or 941-257-8192.

CCSO makes special delivery

SUN PHOTO BY TOM CHANG Cpl. Kristopher McRae and Lt. Darrell Caparo from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Oÿce greet Englewood residentWilliamWilliams at his home on Euston Avenue.The CCSO presentedWilliams with a motorized chair, donated anonymously, after his chair was stolen Monday. McRae is investigating the case.

ENGLEWOOD — Teri Hagerty still tears up when she thinks about the outpouring of support the Englewood community gave her father.

William “Doc” Williams was presented with a replacement motorized wheelchair courtesy of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office on Friday. His previous chair was stolen Monday.

“We were just overwhelmed at just the thought of goodness and charity in people’s hearts,” Hagerty said. “We actually had four people call and offer chairs.”

Hagerty had to leave the previous chair, valued at $6,000, at the corner of Edmonton and Euston avenues after its battery died while she was using it to walk her dog. Hagerty used the chair on occasion due to her back injuries.

An anonymous donor gave a chair to the CCSO after hearing about Williams.

“In this particular case, the donor’s daughter suffers from primary lateral sclerosis and it’s advanced to such a stage where she can no longer use the wheelchair,” said Sheriff Bill Prummell. “(The donor) was actually going to sell it at a garage sale,” but then saw the story.

Prummell read a statement from the donor.

“She wrote, ‘I felt it was the Lord sending me a message giving me an opportunity to pay it forward,’ Prummell said. “We thank her so much for what she did.”    Prummell said a deputy picked the chair up from the donor.

Williams said he was grateful for all the support. His letter of appreciation will be delivered through the CCSO to the donor.

“I see all these people here and everyone taking a little time to get the story out,” Williams said. “I think that it’s important that the sheriff’s department be recognized for what they do and for all of us. I want to thank Dale (Phillips, civilian crime prevention specialist) for her work. She’s called me several times and so has the detective. So I’m really thankful for all that. It’s not all about me.”

Williams said the new chair is more portable, less bulky, and lighter than his last one.

“I think it’s so wonderful and very generous and especially very touching, knowing a very little circumstances,” Hagerty said. “Knowing that she has a daughter with a degenerative disorder and to think that going through that personal trauma, she had the thought of someone else. That is very touching. If she was here, we’d hug her, bless her and thank her so much.”

Debbie Bowe, CCSO spokeswoman, said the case is still under investigation.

A witness reportedly saw a white pickup with three adult white males slow down near the chair, which is a Golden Technologies Compass model. The driver was described as having short dark hair, and his two younger passengers had blond hair, one dark and the other light.

Anyone with information is asked to call the CCSO at 941-639-2101, or Crime Stoppers at 800-780-TIPS (8477).

Myakka River Elementary student jumps to success

PHOTO PROVIDED
Cheyenne Burchell

ENGLEWOOD — Myakka River Elementary School student Cheyenne Burchell has reason to jump for joy.

Burchell, of Port Charlotte, was awarded top fundraising honors from the American Heart Association for “Jump Rope for Heart,” raising $150.

“‘Jump Rope for Heart’ is a fundraising program that helps the American Heart Association with research,” said James Hayes, a physical education teacher at Myakka River Elementary. “Participants talk to family members and neighbors and ask for donations. We do it as part of our P.E. program rather than outside pledge type of thing. Fundraising is strictly voluntary. The physical activity involves jumping and we do all sorts of aerobic activities like running. I keep it pretty relaxed. We do stations at the P.E. Class.”

Hayes has been involved with the program for nine years.    “(Cheyenne)’s grown by leaps and bounds this year helping the other students,” said Ann Brobst, fourth-grade teacher at Myakka River Elementary. “Cheyenne’s very active, an outstanding reader and very intelligent.”

Tammy Burchell, Cheyenne’s mother, said this is Cheyenne’s second time participating in the program.

“She wanted to raise a certain amount so she was very happy,” Tammy said. “This is the first time she’s been this productive. I’m not sure what she did different. I know she talked to more people.”

Burchell said Cheyenne takes after her father, Steve Burchell.

“I’m more the shy, hang-back kind of person,” Tammy said.

Cheyenne, 10, received a letter from the American Heart Association congratulating her efforts and was given recognition by the school.

“We honored her as part of the rising stars assembly on April 18,” said Sally Lutz, assistant principal at Myakka River Elementary. “It’s always an honor to see one of our students recognized for their accomplishments. It’s inspiring.”