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Hernando Today

0702 Hometown Happenings

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Hernando Today

Published: July 1, 2009

Community Events

Nature Coast Freedom Fest 2009 "For God and Country" will be held Friday, July 3, at the Florida Classic Park located at 5360 Lockhart Road, off State Road 50, just west of I-75, in Brooksville. Gates will open at 3 p.m. Activities and music will begin at 3:30 p.m. and will continue throughout the event including a special tribute to veterans. The family-oriented festival will feature country singer Rodney Atkins, local talent such as the Birdsong Family and Lindsay Taylor, a fireworks display, Kids' Fun Zone, games, food and more. Coolers will not be permitted. Admission will be $5 per person and $5 for parking. A limited number of "preferred seating" (chairs provided) will be available only by advance purchase at a cost of $25 per person and only online at www.naturecoastff.com. For information about the event, visit www.naturecoastff.com or call 352-799-0687.

Nature Coast HR Society will hold a meeting from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane, off Barclay Avenue, Brooksville. Representatives from Senator Bill Nelson's office, Florida Department of Financial Services, Florida DOT, Department of Energy, Small Business Association, Hernando County Government, and the City of Brooksville will be featured. Questions about the stimulus package, health care reform, and other issues will be addressed. The cost is $25 per person, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Reservations are required by Tuesday, July 7. For reservations or information, e-mail rsvp@nchrs.org or call 352-544-0123 or 352-540-0119.

Military/Veterans

VFW Post 8713 will hold its monthly fish and chips dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 3, at the Post located at 1681 East Jefferson St., Brooksville. The donation is $5 per person, and the dinner is open to the public. For information, call the Post at 352-796-4449 or Yvonne at 352-848-7988.

Elks Lodge 2582 will hold its monthly steak shoot from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at the Lodge located at 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Members and guests will have the opportunity to win one-pound steaks by participating in a bingo-like card game. Bonus and grand bonus of various meats can be won. The event will be followed by a spaghetti dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. The cost is $5 per person; add 50 cents for a carry-out box. For information, call the Lodge at 352-596-2582.

Marine Corps League, Detachment 708, will hold karaoke from 7 to 11 p.m. the third Saturday of every month at the Detachment located at 8405 Sunshine Grove Road, Brooksville. Dale and Nancy Shoemaker will be featured, and the Gunny's Galley will offer a menu of finger food plus the Leatherneck Lounge will be open for beverages. For information, call the Lounge at 352-597-7979.

Computer Club

Hernando Computer Club will present "Introduction to Computers with Windows Vista," part one of four, by Ron Purkhiser at 10 a.m.; and "Computer Clean-Up" by Mike Sexton at 1 p.m., both Friday, July 3, in the North Room of Education B building at Grace Presbyterian Church located at 8375 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Also, the club will present "Genealogy Workshop" by Teresa Rose at 1 p.m.; and "Photography Workshop" by Fred Wise at 7 p.m., both Monday, July 6, in the South Room. In addition, "Keep Your PC Safe" by Mike Sexton at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, in the North Room. Lecture classes do not require registration, but hands-on classes require preregistration. The public is welcome. For information, visit the club's Web site at www.hcc.org or call the club at 352-592-0070.

Arts/Crafts

Arts and Crafts Club of Hernando County is a newly formed club and is ready to start its shows. The club is seeking commercial locations to set up for its arts and crafts shows, which could possibly bring extra traffic to a business location. Membership is free of charge to anyone interested in joining the club. For information, call Louis Mlecka at 352-796-2089.

Spring Hill Art League meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the United Church of Christ, 4244 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. A short business meeting is followed by a live demonstration by an artist. Annual membership is $20 per single and $30 per family. The League offers monthly workshops, demos, opportunities for artists to display their work, field trips to museums, and exhibitor discounts for the annual Harvest of Art Show. For information, call Esther at 352-398-1532 or visit www.springhillartleague.com.

Hernando County Recreation Department is seeking instructors to provide art classes during the daytime beginning in September at Delta Woods Park, 3400 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. The Recreation Department is interested in providing a variety of art through various instructors, such as watercolor painting and/or other forms of painting, and exercise/dance classes. If interested or for information, call 352-540-6363.

Genealogy

Genealogy Interest Group will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, at the West Hernando Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., off State Road 50, Brooksville. For information, call Kathleen Marsh at 352-796-1623.

State Clubs

Illinois Club of Spring Hill will meet at 1 p.m. Friday, July 3, at Forest Oaks Lutheran Church, 8555 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. The annual red, white and blue potluck luncheon will be featured. Coffee will be available, but bring a beverage of choice and a dish to share. The object of the club is to promote fellowship, social and fraternal activities for former residents of Illinois. In addition to monthly meetings, activities include eating out at a local restaurant each month and group travel opportunities. Annual dues are $12 per person. All former Illinois residents and their partners are invited to join the club or to come as a guest prior to making a decision to join. For information, call Patricia Godfrey at 352-597-0346.

Michigan Club women will meet at noon Thursday, July 9, at the Boston Cooker Restaurant, 5375 Spring Hill Drive, just east of U.S. 19, Spring Hill. For information, call Barb at 352-592-9663. Also, at noon, the men will meet at the Upper Deck restaurant, 5386 Darlene St., off Shoal Line Boulevard, Weeki Wachee. For information, call George at 688-4198. The club will meet at 3:15 p.m. Friday, July 17, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. Dinner will follow at 4 p.m. at Inn on the Gulf, 6330 Clark St., Hudson. For information, call George at 688-4198. Any former or current resident of Michigan is invited to join the club. For information, call Mary at 352-200-8072.

New Jersey Club will meet Wednesday, July 15, at the Senior Citizens Club, 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill. Doors will open at 11 a.m., and the meeting will begin at 1 p.m. Game day/picture day will be featured, so bring old photos. Also bring own lunch. Bingo will be held following the meeting. For club information, call Mary at 352-666-0533; and for tickets and trip information, call Annette at 352-683-8752.

Library Program

Hernando County Public Library System will feature its movie program as follows: at 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, at the East Hernando Branch Library located at 6457 Windmere Road, Brooksville. Bruce Willis stars in a farce as a high-powered "image consultant" whose life is turned upside down when he magically comes face-to-face with the pudgy, precocious 8-year-old version of himself who is not happy with the adult he has become. The movie is rated PG and runs 102 minutes; and at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. A lonely doctor who once occupied an unusual lakeside home begins exchanging love letters with its newest resident, an architecture school dropout. Even though the two lived there several years apart, the letters seem to bridge time in this mysterious romance. The movie is rated PG and runs 105 minutes. The program is free of charge, and registration is not required. Light refreshments will be provided. For the movie title or information, call the Library Program staff at 352-540-6391.

Community

Hernando Beach Open Market is held every Saturday and Sunday at 3375 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach. The market is held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Farmers, musicians and artists are featured. The focus of the market is to support growth and embrace culture. Live music is featured at 6 p.m. Saturdays, and special events are planned for every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. including a monthly fine arts auction, antique road show, musician showcase, and executive chef demonstrations. The market is a place for artists to show and sell their work, musicians to play and meet other musicians, for farmers to sell their crops, and for local business people to network and introduce themselves to others in the community. For information, call Regina at 352-556-2639.

SHARP Crime Watch is seeking day and night patrollers and dispatchers. SHARP Crime Watch has been in existence for 27 years watching over the Spring Hill area. Patrollers are provided with radios and patrols his or her own area. Dispatchers keep close contact with the Sheriff's Department, Animal Services, Road Department, Code Enforcement, etc. SHARP makes daily calls to the elderly who live alone and will also watch someone's home when the residents are out of town. SHARP meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Senior Citizens Club of Hernando County, 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill. If interested in volunteering, attend the monthly meeting or call 352-683-5936.

Music

Rising Sun Cafe will hold a "Geezer Jam" from 6 to 9:30 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at the Café located at 10 South Main St. in downtown Brooksville. Seasoned "geezer" musicians from all areas of the county will gather to perform alongside one another in the remodeled 1890's era building. Music will range from Gospel to Pop, Rock to Blues. The Café requests that attendees bring a nonperishable food item to support the Love Your Neighbor Food Pantry. For information or reservations to perform, call William at 352-584-2760.

Social

Out n' About Singles meets at 7 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at St. Andrew's Church, 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. The club is a singles group for people 30-60 years of age living in the tri-county area of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties. The group offers dining, picnics, listening to music, biking, walking, boating, going to movies and visiting area attractions and parks as well as supporting community and charity events. The group also meets for a meeting/social at 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Dunkin' Donuts in the Coastal Way shopping center, 13179 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. For information, call 352-797-6116.

Hernando Beach Club offers the following weekly activities at the club located at 3145 Flamingo Blvd., Hernando Beach: game night on the first and third Monday of the month, starting at 6:30 p.m., with bar bingo at 4 p.m. on some Sundays. Regular dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. every Friday. The cost is $10 per person for members, $12 for guests, with a cash bar available. Nonmembers can participate in two dinners without joining the club. Reservations are required by Wednesday evening. For reservations or information, call Marie at 352-596-9708. Visit the club's Web site at www.hernandobeachclub.com.

Sons of Italy, Nature Coast Lodge 2502, Order of Italy of America, holds a monthly dinner/business meeting the third Wednesday; a "social night" at a local restaurant monthly on the first Wednesday; three yearly dinner-dances; scholarship, Columbus Day and Christmas. In March, the Lodge sponsors a St. Joseph Day community Mass and complimentary spaghetti dinner. In September, annual picnic. Membership is open to all; it is not necessary to be of Italian heritage. Dues are $40 per person, plus a one-time payment of $15 to the state lodge. For information, call Gene Gesselli at 352-596-9456.

Radio Clubs

Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club (SHARC) meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month in Cafeteria Room 2 at Oak Hill Hospital Building A located at 11375 Cortez Blvd. Anyone interested in Ham Radio is welcome to attend. Testing for an FCC license is conducted at 6:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the same location. The club operates a 2-meter repeater on 146.805 MHz (no tone). Every Tuesday except meeting night, the club conducts a Club net at 8 p.m. Anyone with a Ham Radio license is welcome to participate in both nets. For information, visit the club's Web site at www.kf4ixu.org or call Ed at 352-684-7623.

Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Club invites those interested in HAM radio to join the group on its radio net at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday nights on the club's repeater WA4GDN, 146.670 MHz and read the club's newsletter at www.gulfcoastarc.org. For information, call John at 727-848-7785.

Fraternal

Past Exalted Rulers Association of Aripeka Elks Lodge 2520 holds a breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to noon the first Sunday of each month at the Lodge located at 9135 Denton Ave., Hudson. The varied menu breakfast is cooked to order. The cost ranges from $2 to $4.50, and a bottomless pot of coffee is $1 each. In addition, the House Committee of the Lodge offers an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to noon the third Sunday of each month. The cost is $2 per person, with a varied menu at other prices with a special each month. Bottomless pot of coffee is also available at $1 each.
Also, the Lodge holds bingo every Sunday. Early bird is held at 4:30 p.m., with bingo at 5 p.m. Food is available for purchase. For information, call the Lodge at 727-863-2520.

Seniors Activities

Senior Citizens Club of Hernando County offers the following activities at the hall located at 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill: bingo will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday, and card games are held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday and Thursday. For information, call Barbara at 352-683-2440. For information regarding crafts, line dancing and Weight Watchers, call the club. Group road trips such as Biloxi, Sterling and Hard Rock plus cruises are periodically arranged for members and their guests. Club membership is $20 annually. For information, call the club at 352-596-1095.

Thrift Shops

Karen's Kit 'n Kaboodle (St. Andrew's Thrift Shop), 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill, has announced its summer hours as follows: from 9:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Monday through Friday. The boutique-style shop features a bag sale the second Tuesday of the month. Donations are appreciated and can be left in the shop during hours of operation or in the drop-off bin after hours. To volunteer or schedule pickup of large items, call 352-686-1114.

Jericho Road Ministries has a new thrift store in the Winchester Plaza located at 5260 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, in addition to its stores located at 16479 Wiscon Road, Brooksville, and in the Sunrise Plaza at 31170 Cortez Blvd., Ridge Manor. An expanded book department is featured at its thrift store located at 15319 Cortez Blvd. (State Road 50), Brooksville. All stores are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Clothing for adults and children, household items, furniture, kitchenware, toys, as well as numerous specialty items are available for sale. The Ministry has a women's shelter, Mary's House, which is located at 1163 Howell Ave., Brooksville. The thrift stores were established for the purpose of supporting the Jericho Road Men's Rescue Mission Shelter located at 1090 Mondon Hill Road, Brooksville. Donations are welcome and can be brought to any of the thrift stores during business hours or larger items can be scheduled for pick-up daily. For information or to schedule a pick-up, call 352-797-9009.

SPCA Thrift Shop, 9075 Grant St., adjacent to the shelter, Brooksville, is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Housewares, books, games, toys and clothing for the entire family are featured. All clothes are $5 a bag. All proceeds from the thrift shop benefit the care and upkeep of the animals at the shelter. Donations are welcome and can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays or Fridays, but large furniture or appliances cannot be accepted. To reach the SPCA shelter and thrift shop, take Sunshine Grove Road (off State Road 50) to Taylor Street, then turn left onto Grant Street. For information, call the thrift shop at 352-592-4709.

Daystar Lifecenter Thrift Store, 7120 Hope Hill Road, off State Road 50, Brooksville, is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon Fridays and Saturdays. Clothing, crafts, furniture, housewares, books, small appliances, electrical items and Christmas decorations are offered. The store is located one-quarter mile behind St. Anthony Catholic Church. To schedule a pickup or for information, call 352-799-5930.

Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store, 19450 Cortez Blvd., in the Brooksville Square Shopping Center, Brooksville, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Clothing for adults and children, furniture, household items, kitchenware, books and a holiday room are featured. Donations are welcome and can be delivered to the thrift store during business hours. Larger items can be picked up Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Volunteers are needed to work in the thrift store or on construction. Habitat established the thrift store to support the construction of decent and affordable Habitat houses for low-income eligible individuals who are willing to partner in the building of someone else's home and their home. For information, call 352-754-1159.

Seniors Programs

Mid-Florida Community Services provides nutritious meals year-round to seniors age 60 and over. Seniors are welcome to visit any one of its four dining sites within the county. In addition, the Meals on Wheels program provides nutritious lunches five days a week to seniors who are homebound. The daily contact by the program's volunteers ensures a visit by someone who provides companionship, while checking on the person's health and well being. Volunteers are welcome, and donations are appreciated. For more information, call 352-796-1425 or 352-796-0485.

Experience Works, a senior work force solution, provides information and assistance with employment and training to income eligible seniors age 55 and older. For information, call Amy at 352-200-3042.

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