Hometown happenings

Community Outreach

Compassion Food Outreach will be sponsored Saturday, Jan. 26, at Grace World Outreach Church, 20366 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Food will be distributed at 8 a.m. for clients with I.D. cards; photo identification will be required. For more information, call 352-796-3685.

Arts/Crafts

Nature Coast Decorative Artists will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Weeki Wachee Senior Citizens Club, 3357 Susan Drive, Spring Hill. The feature of the month will be a "Gold Embossed Floral Clock" design taught by Mayumi Cook. Monthly projects are designed for all skill levels with an array of mediums and surfaces. A brief meeting, skill building demo and monthly project are featured. The artists are affiliated with The Society of Decorative Painters. At its monthly meetings, the artists collaborate on philanthropic projects as well as projects to improve their painting skills. The meetings are held the first Saturday of each month and several other workshops are held throughout the year. For information, call Ellen at 352-688-6875 or Andi at 666-9091.

Book Discussion

Hernando County Public Library System will hold a book discussion at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Main Library located at 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville. The title is "The Samurai's Garden" by Gail Tsukiyama. The Japanese invasion of China during the late 1930s is the backdrop for an unusual story about a 20-year-old Chinese painter named Stephen who is sent to his family's summer home in a Japanese coastal village to recover from a bout with tuberculosis. He is cared for by a housekeeper and a master gardener named Matsu. Over the course of a year, Stephen learns Matsu's secret and gains not only physical strength, but also profound spiritual insight. Matsu is a samurai of the soul, a man devoted to doing good and finding beauty in a cruel and arbitrary world; and Stephen is a noble student, learning to appreciate Matsu's generous and nurturing way of life. 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 more information, call 352-754-4043.

Ethnic Clubs

Hungarian American Club will meet from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Senior Citizens Club of Hernando County, 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill. A dinner with live music will be featured instead of the monthly luncheon, and homemade Hungarian food will be served. Following the dinner, a Carnival Ball will be held. New members are welcome. For more information, call Eszter Marosy at 352-666-7507.

Botanical

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.

Buttonwood Bonsai Club meets at 9:30 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at First Presbyterian Church, 1501 S.E. Highway 19, Crystal River. 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 more information, call Clay at 352-563-2156.

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.

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 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.

Military/Veterans

VFW Post 8713 and Ladies Auxiliary will host a breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Post located at 1686 E. Jefferson St., Brooksville. Also, the Post 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; and Country Pride Band will be featured from 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday at the Post. For more information, call the Post 352-796-4449.

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 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.