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Hernando Today

0612 Hometown Happenings

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Hernando Today

Published: June 11, 2009

Botanical

Spring Hill Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at Forest Oaks Lutheran Church, 8555 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. Members of the club maintain the plant nursery located at 1489 Parker Ave., off Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill, and the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens adjacent the nursery. Visit the gardens anytime during daylight hours. For information, call 352-683-9933 or visit online at www.naturecoastbotanicalgardens.com

Buttonwood Bonsai Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 13, at First Presbyterian Church, 1501 S.E. Highway 19, Crystal River. A demonstration by member artist Melanie White will be featured. She will create a Chinese tray landscape (Penjing). The club meets at 9:30 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at the church. The club is dedicated to enjoying, learning and expanding the art of growing and training bonsai. Meetings are open to the public, and visitors are welcome. For information, call Sandi at 352-563-0221 or Clay at 352-563-2156.

Military/Veterans

VFW Post 9236 will hold its monthly steak night from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at the Post located at 3435 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach. Steaks are a 10-ounce or larger New York strip/rib eye with all the trimmings. The cost is $10 per person, and live music will be provided in the canteen. For information, call the Post at 352-596-9236.

In addition, the Post will conduct a flag-burning ceremony at 1 p.m. on Flag Day, Sunday, June 14, at the Post. The ritual is the prescribed manner in which to dispose of worn flags. The public is welcome to attend. For information, call the VFW at 352-596-9236 or visit the Post.

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.

Community Outreach

"Saturday at the Market" farmers market will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday in front of the Hernando County Courthouse on Main Street in downtown Brooksville. The event is sponsored by Love Your Neighbor. A new addition is the Love Your Neighbor table featuring cookbooks and fresh lemonade for a donation. New or used cookbooks will also be accepted as a donation. Proceeds from the cookbooks and lemonade will be used to help the needy of the county. Also new is an entertaining guitarist, Papa Kurt, providing easy listening sounds of the '60s, '70s and '80s. Vendor inquiries for the farmer's market are welcome. Spaces are available for nonprofit organizations to be used for exposure and fundraising. For information, call Lisa Callea at 352-428-4275.

In addition, Love Your Neighbor provides a free community dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. every Sunday at American Legion Post 99 located at 208 East Fort Dade Ave., Brooksville. A food pantry, bread table, toiletries table, and clothing distribution will also be provided. Everyone is welcome. For information, call Lisa at 352-428-4275.

American Legion Post 99 and Love Your Neighbor, the group that feeds the homeless and needy, hosts a Third Saturday Flea Market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the American Legion, 208 East Fort Dade Ave, in downtown Brooksville. Clothing, household items, furniture and toys are featured. Funds raised will benefit Love Your Neighbor's outreach to the less fortunate and American Legion service projects. To donate items or for more information, call John Rudny at 352-573-8756 or e-mail at jpr777@hotmail.com.

Arts/Crafts

Spring Hill Art League and Nanette's Spirit of the Hand Gallery will co-host a complimentary wine and cheese reception for local artist, Jana Withers, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 26, at Nanette's Gallery located in the Coastal Way shopping center at 13157 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Withers is an award-winning artist; and while her primary medium of choice is oil, her works also include pencil, pastel, watercolor and acrylic. The artist's work will be displayed through the end of July. For information, call Spirit of the Hand at 352-597-7391 or visit www.spiritofthehand.com.

Suncoast Ship Model Society will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the Weeki Wachee Senior Citizens Club located at the corner of Toucan Trail and Susan Drive in Spring Hill. All modelers interested in building model ships and boats are invited. For information, call Jim at 352-592-6419 or visit www.geocities.com/suncoastshipmodelsociety/

Business

Ali Lassen's Spring Hill Professionals' Leads Club will meet from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at the Boston Cooker Restaurant, 5375 Spring Hill Drive, just east of U.S. 19, Spring Hill. The cost for lunch is $13 per person, to be paid at the meeting. The restaurant will not accept personal checks. Speakers will be Ayasha Teague, licensed agent for Great American Senior Benefits, who will talk about how savings and retirement funds can still earn in this economy; and Lois Bleicher, owner/designer of The Right Connection for Graphics. In addition, the club will conduct a "Night of Networking" from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, at the AAA Auto Club office located at 1410 Pinehurst Drive, in the Hernando West Plaza located at the intersection of U.S. 19 and Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The event is free of charge. Light hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be available. At club meetings, members describe their businesses and what they do to help their clients. Word-of-mouth advertising, positive referrals and networking are marketing tools to expand a business. Ali Lassen's Leads Club is open to business owners, professionals, salespersons, managers, etc. A membership fee is required to join the club. To attend a meeting, the "Night of Networking" or for information, call Lois Bleicher at 352-200-4809 or visit www.leadsfl.com

Library Programs

Book Discussion Group will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, June 15, at the Main Branch Public Library, 238 Howell Ave, Brooksville. The group will be discussing "Cold Mountain" by Charles Frazier. Based on local history and family stories passed down from the author's great-great-grandfather, "Cold Mountain" is the tale of a wounded solider, Inman, who walks away from the ravages of the war and back home to his pre-war sweetheart, Ada. Registration is not required, but copies of the book are limited. Check out a copy at the Main Library to join the informal discussion. For information, call 352-754-4043.

Hernando County Public Library System will offer the Florida Library Youth Program as follows: "Jiggleman" at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, June 23, at the West Hernando Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., off State Road 50, near Weeki Wachee; and at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, at the East Hernando Branch Library, 6457 Windmere Road, Brooksville. The Jiggleman show involves high energy, audience participation, juggling and more. "Balloon Storyteller" at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, June 25, at the Main Library, 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville. The Balloon Storyteller is an interactive show featuring stories, comedy and balloon props. "Didgeridoo Down Under" at 10:15 a.m. Friday, June 26, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Didgeridoo is an Australia-themed presentation that combines music, art, social studies, environmental education, character building and audience participation. Programs are for children ages 5-12. Registration is not required, but parents/guardians must remain on library premises. For best seating and parking, plan to arrive early. Programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hernando County. For information, call the Library Program staff at 352-540-6391.

Music

Opera Lovers Club will meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at the Forest Glenn Retirement Community Center, 1431 Friar Tuck Lane, off Osowaw Boulevard, Spring Hill. Joe Tomaselli will be presenting the program. His guest will be Grace Desenos, who sang in the Metropolitan Chorus for many years. Desenos will talk about some of her experiences "backstage at the Met." New members and visitors are welcome. For information, call Kathy at 352-688-4741, e-mail nsauer@tampabay.rr.com or visit the club's Web site at www.naturecoastwebsites.com/opera.htm.

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.

Seniors

Hernando County AARP Chapter 1026 invites its members and guest to its monthly meeting at noon Thursday, June 25, in the Great Room at Atria Evergreen Woods located at 7030 Evergreen Woods Trail, off State Road 50, Spring Hill. A selected menu prepared under the direction of executive chef, Steven Westhoff, will be served. A speaker from Moffitt Medical Center will present "Sleep Disorders," and a speaker from Select Comfort will offer a presentation on the Sleep Number ® mattress. For reservations or information, call Bob at 352-596-0722 or Joyce at 352-688-6910.

Community Outreach

People Helping People of Hernando is being formed to help feed the homeless and hungry on the west side of Hernando County. The interfaith group will serve food from 4 to 6 p.m. the second and fourth Sunday of each month, beginning June 28, at the Hernando County Senior Citizens Club, 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill. For information, call Cecil Bradley at 352-247-6748.

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, Public Works 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.

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.

Genealogy

West Pasco County Genealogical Society will offer a "Searching Courthouse Records" mini-seminar from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at the Life Point Christian Church, 6219 River Road, New Port Richey. The seminar fee is $5 per person. The six-hour program is open to the public, and preregistration is required. To register or for information, call Debbe at 727-271-0770.

State Clubs

Michigan Club will meet at 3:15 p.m. Friday, June 19, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. Dinner will follow at 4 p.m. at Chesapeake Bay Crab House, 3095 Anderson Snow Road, Spring Hill. For information, call Linda at 352-683-8883. Any former or current resident of Michigan is invited to join the club. For information, call Mary at 352-200-8072.

Wisconsin Club will hold its social outing and dinner at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, at the Bayport Inn located at 4825 Cortez Blvd., Spring Hill. The club has also planned a trip to the Hard Rock Casino on Sunday, June 28. The bus will leave from the Sweet Bay supermarket parking lot located at the intersection of Mariner and Northcliffe boulevards, Spring Hill. The bus will leave at 11 a.m. and return at 6 p.m. If interested in attending, call Carol Zellmer at 352-666-2974. Meetings will not be held during July and August, but the club will continue to have its social outings during the summer. Annual dues are $8 per person, and membership is open if either partner has lived in Wisconsin. For information, call Carol at 352-666-2974.

Social

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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