Gionet named Volunteer of the Year
The GFWC Wewahitchka Woman’s Club is thrilled to announce Michele Gionet as our Volunteer of the Year! Michele was recognized for her outstanding dedication and service at the District 2 Arts & Crafts Meeting on Saturday.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Michele has brought her passion for volunteering and love for the outdoors to Wewahitchka, where she has become an invaluable member of our club. She and her husband, Ray Gionet, have embraced the community, and we are so thankful that Michele found her way to us. One of Michele’s most notable contributions has been her vision and execution of the Duck Derby community event. She initially brought the idea before our executive board, presenting it with enthusiasm and passion. Thanks to her determination and commitment, our first annual Duck Derby took place in March 2024, and it was one of our largest fundraisers and has been busy this year donning the duck costume to promote this year’s Duck Derby to be held at Lake Alice on March 8. She truly embodies the GFWC motto of Living the Volunteer Spirit!
The District 2 Arts & Crafts Meeting was a wonderful gathering of club members from across the Panhandle, celebrating volunteerism and creativity. Along with honoring Michele, we congratulate all the clubs’ Volunteers of the Year, including Janet Pattison of the Gulf Coast Woman’s Club, who was named District Volunteer of the Year. Janet will proudly represent District 2 at the GFWC Florida Annual Convention in Orlando this April.
In addition to the Volunteer of the Year recognitions, the Arts & Crafts judging took place, showcasing the incredible talents of our members. The GFWC Wewahitchka Woman’s Club had an outstanding showing, bringing home six first-place awards for various crafts and photography. A special congratulations to Dana Montenieri, who received the District Director’s Choice Award for her stunning floral painting. All first-place winners will advance to the GFWC Florida Annual Convention, where they will compete against the top entries from across the state.
We are incredibly proud of Michele and all our members who make a difference through their dedication, creativity, and service. Congratulations to all!
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.