Hometown happenings

Music

Opera Lovers Club will meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Forest Glen Retirement Community Center, 1431 Friar Tuck Lane, off Osowaw Boulevard, Spring Hill. The program will be "Before the Curtain Rises" by Nicole Benson, opera club member and soprano. Benson has studied vocal performance, with an emphasis in opera, at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and will be presenting a backstage look at what is involved with an opera - from the lighting man to the set designers to the singers themselves. The club is a group of opera lovers who want to learn more about opera and enjoy the fellowship of kindred spirits. For more 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.

Sales/Flea Markets

American Legion Post 99 and Love Your Neighbor, the group that feeds the homeless and needy, will host 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. The next sale will be held Jan. 19, and the American Legion will sell beverages and grilled hot dogs. Vendors can rent a 10-foot by 10-foot space at a cost of $10 each; bring own tables and pay at the market. Donations for the flea market can be dropped off between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Rising Sun Cafe, 10 South Main St., Brooksville, or at the American Legion on Sunday afternoons. Funds raised will benefit Love Your Neighbor's outreach to the less fortunate and American Legion service projects. To reserve a space or for more information, call Kit Raymond at 352-796-5448.

Hernando County Fairgrounds will hold a flea market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday at the fairgrounds located at 6436 Broad St. (U.S. 41), Brooksville. Approximately 20 vendors will be indoors and an outdoor market will also be featured. For more information, call 352-796-4552.

St. Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 8064 Weeping Willow St., off State Road 50, Brooksville, has suspended its perogi and bake sales until Jan. 16. For more information, call Alyce at 352-688-1839.

Social

Italian American Club will meet at noon Saturday, Jan. 19, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. The object of the club is for fellowship, social activities, trips, picnics, games as well as interesting speakers plus occasional entertainers at its meetings. Dues are $20 per year, and it is not necessary to be Italian to join the club. Complimentary coffee and dessert will be served to club members and guests. If interested in attending as a visitor, call Doreen at 352-686-7479, Nancy at 799-5214 or Theresa at 683-6712.

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 7 p.m. the third Monday of each month at the Java Bean in the Coastal Way shopping center, 13157 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Come join the group at 6:30 p.m. any Tuesday at the Java Bean for coffee, pastries and camaraderie. For information, call 352-797-6116.

Botanical

Buttonwood Bonsai Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at First Presbyterian Church, 1501 S.E. Highway 19, Crystal River. A demonstration by longtime member and Cypress expert Darwin Mounsey will be featured. Mounsey will be repotting two large, locally collected Bald Cypress, explaining procedures that this species will tolerate during the narrow window of time - January and February. The club is dedicated to enjoying, learning and expanding the art of growing and training bonsai. The club meets at 9:30 a.m. the second Saturday of each month. Meetings are open to the public, and visitors are welcome. For more information, call Clay at 352-563-2156.

Fantasy African Violet Club meets at 1 p.m. the second Saturday of the month at the Spring Hill Enrichment Center located behind Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd. The club's objective is to learn about the propagation of African Violet species. All guests are welcome to attend a meeting. For more information, call Thad Scaggs at 352-398-1679.

Orchid Lovers Club meets at 1 p.m. the third Saturday of each month at the Enrichment Center in the rear of Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. The club usually has an informative speaker at its meetings and a show table of orchids grown by its members. A raffle is also held at each meeting. The Newcomers are welcome, and it is not necessary to grow orchids to attend. For more information, call 352-585-7109 in Hernando County, 352-563-2288 in Citrus and 727-856-3485 in Pasco.

Spring Hill Garden Club's nursery is open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays and Saturdays at 1489 Parker Ave., off Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. For more information, call Gloria Nadeau, manager, at 352-597-1415.

Military/Veterans

U.S. Navy Seabee Veterans of America, Island X-6, Spring Hill meets at 10:30 a.m. the third Saturday of each month at VFW Post 9236 located at 3435 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach. A social breakfast is held at 9 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month. Spouses are encouraged to attend all meetings. For more information, call 727-488-0153.

VFW Post 8713 and Ladies Auxiliary holds bingo at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, except holidays; karaoke at 7 p.m. every Thursday and at 6 p.m. every Saturday; Golden Country Band will be featured from 6 to 10 p.m. every Friday, and Country Pride Band from 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday at the Post located at 1686 E. Jefferson St., Brooksville. For more information, call the Post 352-796-4449.

VFW Post 8681 holds steak night from 5 to 7 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at the Post located at 18940 Drayton, corner of County Line Road. Spaghetti dinner is held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and bar bingo is held beginning at 7 p.m. Fish night is held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays. Bingo is held Fridays; doors open at 4:30 p.m. Early birds are at 6:15 p.m., and regular games begin at 6:45 p.m. The public is welcome. For more information, call the Post at 727-856-1860.

Marine Corps League, Detachment 708, 8405 Sunshine Grove Road, off State Road 50, Brooksville, is open to all active and former military personnel, as well as the general public. The Leatherneck Lounge is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Check with the bartender for drink specials. Gunny's Galley will serve lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday from a menu selection, along with occasional daily specials. Finger food will be featured from noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and breakfast will be available from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sundays. The charge for Sunday breakfast will vary by menu selection. A special feature of Gunny's Galley will be the Wednesday Pasta Night from 4 to 7 p.m. at a cost of $6 per person, and Friday Fish Night from 4 to 7 p.m. at a cost of $7.50 per person. In addition to regular beverage and food activities, the Leatherneck Lounge, Gunny's Galley and Detachment 708's Jude Hallare equipped to host group meetings, luncheon, dinner or special event. For more information, call 352-597-7979 and ask for the lounge. For special event listings, visit the detachment's Web site at www.mcl708.org.

VFW Post 9236, 3435 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach, has breakfast and lunch available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Dinner will be served until 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. For information, call the Post at 352-596-9236.

Seniors Activities

Senior Citizens Club of Hernando County offers the following activities at the hall located at 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill: cards from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Thursday, and from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday. For information, call Barbara at 352-683-2440. For information regarding crafts and line dancing classes, call the club. Bingo will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Group road trips such as Biloxi, Sterling and Hard Rock plus cruises are periodically arranged for members and their guests. Club membership is $10 annually. For more information, call the club at 352-596-1095.

Seniors Programs

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) welcomes all volunteers age 55 years of age and older. Numerous volunteer opportunities are available, and the program will match your skills to the needs of the community. For more information, call 796-8117 or visit the RSVP Welcome Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at Mid Florida Community Services, Unit No. 3, located at 820 Kennedy Blvd., Brooksville.

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.