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Mildred Cooper of Palm Harbor was honored by the Central Gulf Coast Lodge, Order Sons of Italy in America during the Fest Italia dinner Oct. 4. Cooper is the president of the Palm Harbor Lodge and was recognized for her 20 years of service. She was presented a framed copy of the Florida State Senate proclamation declaring October as Italian Heritage Month. Italy's Consul General Adolfo Barattolo was also inducted into the Sons of Italy Palm Harbor Lodge as an honorary member. More than 80 guests were treated to an Italian buffet dinner. This annual event at the Clearwater Country Club kicks of a month-long series of events celebrating Italian Heritage Month.
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Fifty volunteers were recognized by the Abilities Foundation for their support of the Abilities Guild Veterans Mall. The group was recognized for its exemplary work in supporting veterans and the Veterans Mall, which is a storeroom of kitchen, bed and bath essentials and clothing. The products are given to veterans who were referred from the Bill Young and James A. Haley VA Medical Centers and are transitioning from homelessness to apartment life. Mall founder Virginia Meyer earned the Henry Viscardi Jr. Distinguished Service Award. Former Guild presidents Gloria and Bill Hollingsworth received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and past presidents Dan and Sonja Mettee were presented with the Mall Hall of Fame President's Award. The luncheon also featured testimonials from former homeless Army and Air Force veterans Willie Mallard and Dayna Gomez. Others recognized for their continuous support of veterans are Frank Essex and Joe Lombardi from the Home Depot; Joe Mobley, general contractor; Bill and Marsha Uhler of Mr. Bill's Fine Foods and Cassi & Company; Bill Bragg; T. J. Maxx and the TJX Foundation; Mardy and Charlene Gordon; Kim Kasper and Greg Ward from the Suncoast Osteopathic Foundation; Deb Jordan; JoAnn Catanzaro and Fred Day from GE Aviation; Niki Wilson, Spindora Bender and Howard Sachs from Raymond James; Peter Drouin of Paradise Palms; and Norm and Jane Belson.
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Martha Thorn and her team at the Thorn Collection of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate joined several children at a lemonade stand fundraising event Sept. 16. Thorn and the children raised more than $4,500 for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation at the stand in Belleair Bluffs. The Pediatric Cancer Foundation in Tampa is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research.
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The Tarpon Springs Area Historical Society received a $1,000 grant from Caladesi Questers Chapter No. 816 for the society's 1926 Jitney restoration project. Nine members of the Questers applied for a $500 grant, then applied and were approved for a matching Quester State Grant to restore the society's 1926 Chevrolet Jitney bus and its essential engine block. When restored, the bus will be used in community events, parades and passenger rides around town. The vehicle was donated to the society by Hercule Ypsilantis, whose father ran a Jitney business in Tarpon Springs almost a century ago. More funds are still needed to complete the approximately $35,000 restoration.