Melanie Casteel:  

Life Wow! Where do I begin! I have traveled so much in my youth and now I am a Navy Wife and Mother.... always on the go! Well, I was born and raised in Glens Falls, NY and around 1986 my family relocated to Central Florida after the passing of my father. I attended middle school and 9th grade in the Orlando area and then decided to homeschool. I completed high school in 2 1/2 years and went on to college. I obtained a Paralegal Degree and a Bachelors Degree in Business along with completing a Mortgage Broker course and attending Bible College for one year in Tennessee. During my teen years I became a Christian and a Gospel Singer. I have traveled to, performed and spoken in Guatemala, Italy, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Canada and almost all of the United States. During my childhood I was a dancer in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe and tumbling with The Dance Center, Warren County Fair, N.Y. State Fair, LARAC Festival and other local events. I belonged to the Cecchetti Council of America and The Adirondack Ballet Company. At age 9, I danced with The New York City Ballet. I have written a lot of poetry, mostly pertaining to my life's challenges and experiences as well as my love for my husband and the Lord. I have done some modeling to include being a top 10 finalist in The Miss T.E.E.N FL Pageant in 1992. I was one of the top "5" in talent; in which I sang. On September 7, 1996 I married my husband, ACC (AW/SW/FMF) Kevin E. Casteel (that's Navy Lingo for: Air Traffic Controller, Chief Petty Officer, with Air Warfare, Surface Warfare and Fleet Marine Force Qualifications)! I am a proud Navy Wife and Mother of four children! Two boys: Vince Edward, born December 21, 2000 and Roman Edward, born August 10, 2002; and two girls: Carmen DeLaMaria, born on February 12, 2004 and Ciera Grace, born January 12, 2008! My husband was deployed to Al Asad Airbase with The Navy in Iraq for almost the entire pregnancy with #4. He AND the baby arrived early, but at least Kevin was here one week to the day prior to her birth! Kevin is an Air Traffic Controller with over 20 years of active duty service. My husband celebrated his 45th birthday on July 11, 2008 and I turned 34 on March 10, 2008. We are very active at our church and in the community. I still sing solos as well as dance on our church praise dance team. Kevin teaches our sons' class at church on Wednesday nights. Our family and friends are very dear to us. I have many ties with old friends from grade schools and dance schools in NY, FL, past churches and military installations. It is my desire to regain contact with everyone who remembers me from "way back when" and get reacquainted. I hope to hear from you soon! Blessings to you! Melanie Leombruno-Casteel School Since I was born and raised in Glens Falls, NY, I attended Sanford Street Elementary from Kindergarten through 5th grade. My teachers were (in case you were wondering if I was in your class that year): K: Miss Hudnut, 1st: Miss Hagmeyer, 2nd: Mrs. Handen, 3rd: Mrs. Cappabianca, 4th: Miss Norton, 5th: Mrs. Dorvee. Wow... now that's quite a memory, huh?!!! In middle school I went to Glens Falls Middle School and was in Mr. Smith's homeroom class. Shortly into that year my dad passed away and we moved to Sacramento, CA. After only four months at Sutter Middle School there we went back to NY to finish my father's affairs. I was able to go back to Mr. Smith's classroom, but a few months later our house caught fire! Our new place was in Queensbury's school district and I ended up going to middle school there for the rest of 6th and beginning of 7th. A few months into 7th grade my mom (and the rest of my family) was kinda tired of upstate NY and all the memories haunting us so we relocated to sunny Florida! It was always my father's dream to go to Florida. Ironically, my mother flew with me to Orlando for The World Poetry Convention in Orlando in 1986 where I received The Golden Poet Award and met such accolades as Maya Angelou and Vincent Price. I was by far the youngest recipient at the convention. So anyways, we moved to the Orlando area because while at the poetry convention, My Aunt happened to be selling her home. We bought it and we moved in a few months later! Talk about Divine Intervention! I went to Tuskawilla Middle School for 7th and 8th grades where I was in the chorus and an Eagles cheerleader. I was a member of Solo & Ensemble and sang in the All-State Choir while also competing at Stetson University. All throughout my education I was always in the chorus. In the third grade I played the violin, in 4th-6th grades I played the clarinet. As stated in my "life bio" - part way through high school at Lake Howell ...Expand for more