Page 14 - Martin Downs Bulletin - March '21

Page 14, Martin Downs

sChool happeNINGs

Four Events Salute EFMC
Teachers Of The Year

By Jackie Holfelder
The Education Foundation of Martin County (EFMC)
scored a four-base, four-night home run with its annual
Teacher of the Year celebration.
In years past, the event has been a fun-filled gala as
nominated teachers and their supporters pull out all the stops
for a costumed, theme-driven evening.
But this year, safety ruled as winners in three categories
were selected on consecutive evenings, with the grand
winner named on a fourth.
On Tuesday, Jan. 26, Kate Logan, fifth-grade teacher Leigh Anne Pike, EFMC High School Teacher of Kate Logan, EFMC Elementary Juanita Johnson, EFMC Middle
at Port Salerno Elementary was announced as EFMC the Year and Martin County Teacher of the Year School Teacher of the Year School Teacher of the Year
Elementary Teacher of the Year at Infiniti Stuart. The sponsor
of the EFMC Elementary Teacher division is Publix Super As John Millay, Superintendent of Martin County Infiniti Stuart and Audi Stuart are presenting sponsors
Markets Charities. School District was about to announce the name of the of the Education Foundation of Martin County “Teacher of
On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Juanita Johnson, English/ winner, the finalists were asked to push the start button the Year” program.
language arts teacher at Stuart Middle School was named in their vehicle. The engine purred on Pike’s Infiniti, For more about the Education Foundation of Martin
EFMC Middle School Teacher of the Year at a ceremony indicating that she was the winner while confetti cannons County, visit www.educationfoundationmc.org.
hosted by Alpha Romeo Stuart and Maserati Stuart. were launched into the air. Photos by Liz McKinley
On Thursday, Jan. 28, Leigh Anne
Pike, media specialist at Martin County
High School was named EFMC High
School Teacher of the Year at a ceremony
held on the campus of Keiser University,
which sponsors the category.
For the grand finale on Saturday,
Jan. 30, all three category winners were
invited to a ceremony at Audi Stuart,
where votes from community judges
were tallied and Angie Roberts, EFMC
2019/20 Martin County Teacher of the
Year, shared comments about the trio EFMC board president Tyson Waters; Leslie
that had been received during online Kristof, campus president of Keiser University;
voting. EFMC board members Arati Hammond, Devin Carlson (general manager of Audi Linda Fitzpatrick, EFMC board member and
Logan, Johnson and Pike were all Tyson Waters and Taryn Kryzda at the Stuart), Leigh Anne Pike, Alan Franciosi Keiser University’s director of strategic alliance;
asked to get behind the wheel of either EFMC Elementary Teacher of the Year (general manager of Infiniti Stuart), Martin and Lisa Rhodes, EFMC executive director at
an Infiniti, Audi or Alpha Romeo. ceremony County School Superintendent John D. Millay High School Teacher of the Year ceremony
Pet Matters

by Pat Deshong, President of Furry Friends with her unconditional love and resilience. Cat of the Week: Jackie
Adoption, Clinic & Ranch, March 2021 A few weeks later, Tracy Nemerofsky and her friend,
Anna, both animal lovers, were having a girls night at the Jackie is a very sweet girl, who
“ For the Love of Paws for Love event at Furry Friends when Tracy met Dory. is approximately 3 years old (as of
Animals” features real Tracy was mourning the loss of January 2021). She loves to be petted
stories happening at Furry Ponic, a dog who had lived at and be near you. She can be shy,
Friends in Jupiter. We are Furry Friends for 7 years before especially when approached from
The Humane Society of her right side where she is missing
Greater Jupiter/Tequesta Tracy and Anna opened their
and the only no-kill shelter homes to him before he passed her eye. She is great with other cats
open to the public in northern away last year. Tracy fell in love and is litter box trained as well.
Palm Beach County. We’ve with Dory and knew she would
been rescuing, rehabilitating, be a perfect fit with her family Dog of the Week: Buckwheat
and re-homing the homeless - unfortunately, another adopter
animals in our community had an appointment to meet her. Buckwheat is a big boy, but
for more than 30 years. That meet and greet was not a boy oh boy is he a big softy. He
Our not for profit 501c3 love connection, so within 3 was found tied to a fence, and
organization consists of our hours of Tracy getting the phone call, Dory was comfortably coaxed into the safety of Furry
Jupiter based adoption center, veterinary clinic (open to the snuggled up on her couch. “Not only has she added so much Friends by the Jupiter Police. He
public), thrift boutique, and Palm City Ranch.
to my life, my daughter has a great home school partner and enjoys getting all this great care
Dory’s Story my sons can’t wait to get up in the morning to see her!” and affection but is eager to meet
you and go to his forever home!
Dory’s sad, lonely
days of limping We estimate Buckwheat to be about 2 and 1/2 years old.
Timing is everything. Dory is around outside
a 9-year-old bully breed that had are long behind Pull for Paws
lived her days outside, limping her and she has
around in the harsh Florida found the home Land Rover Palm Beach Presents the Pull for Paws Clay
elements. A family member of she has always Shoot benefitting the Furry Friends Shelter to Service Dog
her owner couldn’t bear to watch deserved. Happy Program! Come out to South Florida Shooting Club on
her in pain and brought her to the Tails, Dory! March 26th and enjoy a fun filled day of clays, raffles, prizes
medical team of Furry Friends and lunch all to benefit Furry Friend’s Shelter to Service
where they determined Dory’s Dog Program which trains abandoned shelter dogs and
limp was due to a painful bone trains them to be service dogs for deserving veterans - We
cancer she had throughout her Are Saving Two Lives At A Time!
leg. She was surrendered to us
and our team went to work to
get Dory pain and cancer free
and into a home she deserved.
Dr. Katie, Furry Friend’s Shelter
Veterinarian determined that
amputating Dory’s leg would be
the best solution and Dory came
through the surgery beautifully!
Throughout her recovery, Dory
quickly became a staff favorite Paid Advertisement