Community Q&A 12/23/04

* Name: Pete DeLuca

* Lives in: Cape Girardeau

* Family: Wife, Sarah; daughter, Alexa, 8 months old.

* Job: Marketing director at HealthSouth, a position that allows me to interact with and educate the community on benefits of outpatient and industrial rehabilitation in Southeast Missouri.

* What do you like most about the area? I like the small town with some of the big city amenities. I also like the fact that it only takes 10 minutes to get across town. It is much easier to spend time with friends and family when you live closer. I enjoy the various organizations that everyone can be a part of, such as the Cape Chamber of Commerce and the Jaycees.

* Favorite food: I have many favorites, but if I had to name one, it would be Milanesa. That is a Cuban dish which is served in many restaurants in Florida. My wife makes a great one too. It is a palomilla (sirloin or top round steak) cut very thin, breaded, fried and covered in a tomato and wine sauce. It is served with rice and Cuban bread.

* Favorite TV show: "24" or "The Apprentice"

* Best advice: Be yourself and have fun. When you stop having fun, you stop living.

* Person you most admire: Mickey Mouse -- no matter what, he's always smiling.

* What would you do if you won the lottery? I would take my family to Disney World or on the Disney Cruise for a few weeks, travel overseas, give some to charities and then spend the rest on Alexa, I'm sure.

* Pet peeve: Leaving hangers on random doorknobs throughout the house and toilet paper on the roll the wrong way.