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West Pasco Chamber Rewards Local Leaders

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The Suncoast News

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 16, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Lawyer Steve Booth, cardiologist Rao Musunuru and Publix store manager Brian Singletary earned some of the top honors during the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet Friday night.
Rotary Club of Trinity also took home the Outstanding Service Club Award, among many other accolades handed out at the 64th annual banquet.

In addition, the chamber installed its new board of directors, led by lawyer and New Port Richey Mayor Scott McPherson.

A 30-year Pasco resident, Booth got the Eminent Pioneer Acknowledgement Award, said Joe Alpine, chamber president.

A partner in the law firm of Booth and Cook, Booth has served 28 years on the West Pasco Little League board and has belonged to the Rotary Club of New Port Richey for 17 years. He also has served groups such as the chamber board of directors, Pasco County Junior Achievement, Safety Town and Pasco Sheriff's Charities. He is chairman of the board for The Angelus, a group home for severely disabled adults, and works on the executive committee for the Charlie Daniels Celebrity Golf Classic, which benefits the group home.

The Outstanding Community Service Award went to Singletary for 28 years of involvement. He arranged contributions and volunteers from the Southgate Publix staff to benefit Gulf and Ridgewood high schools, Mittye P. Locke Elementary School, Elfers First Baptist Christian School, Seven Springs Middle School, Chasco Fiesta, United Way, March of Dimes and the Special Olympics.

Musunuru was given the Outstanding Citizen Award for his efforts to build up the heart institute at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point. The hospital had only 50 beds when Musunuru moved to Hudson 27 years ago. The cardiologist has won three national awards in the past five years from the American Heart Association. He serves on the local boards of Pasco-Hernando Community College, the heart association and Community Aging and Retirement Services, among others.

The Outstanding Public Servant Award went to Capt. Edward Beckman, a 23-year veteran of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. He helped organize the evacuation of a Land O' Lakes Jail annex before a tornado destroyed it Dec. 16. Beckman is a 17-year adjunct instructor at the Law Enforcement Academy at Pasco-Hernando Community College and co-chairman for Leadership Pasco Criminal Justice Day, among other activities.

The Winner Awards went to Ridgewood High baseball coach Larry Beets and Ridgewood boys basketball coach Gary Anders, both of whom recently notched 500 career victories.

Trinity Rotary, honored as the top service club, has supported Radio Disney reading programs at elementary schools, free children's books at local coin laundries, Habitat for Humanity homebuilding projects and work on the home of former Deputy Josh Cooley, a Marine who suffered brain injuries in Iraq. The group was started 10 years ago and has 60 members.

Youth and Family Alternatives earned the Outstanding Area Youth Organization Award for reaching 175,000 children and families during its 38 years here. YFA sponsors programs such as substance abuse prevention, a RAP House shelter for runaways and family counseling.

Two groups received Special Recognition Awards: Hudson Teen Advisory Board for 12 years of service to the Hudson Regional Library, and the West Pasco Quilters Guild, which has donated some $200,000 to local charities the past 18 years.
Chasco Fiesta steering committee members who were honored include Peter Altman, Cami Austin, Sandy Brown, Chuck Grey, Ken Huber, Craig McCart, Roger Michels, Richard Ojeda and Shane Stambaugh.

Serving with McPherson on the chamber board are Robin Michels, chairman-elect; Margie Pagano, first vice chairman; Chris Dunning, second vice chairman; Jamie Mick, secretary; Phil Chesnut, treasurer; and Tom Kehoe, past chairman.

Board members are Kelly Armstrong, Austin, Tony Boula, Richard Bekesh, Doug Benjamin, Mary Crew, Candace Glewen, Frank Grey, Linda Hawkins, Bonnie Howard, Karen King, Karen MacDonald, Laura McFarland, Kathie Melanson, Bruce Mills, Evie Parks, David Parris, Jimmy Pritchard, Laurel Robinson and Luby Sidoff.

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