Hometown Happenings 1225

Community

Love Your Neighbor sponsors its "Saturday at the Market," a weekly farmer's market, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays on Main Street in front of the Hernando County Courthouse in downtown Brooksville. Note that the market will be closed on Dec. 26 so vendors can be with their families for the holiday season and will reopen Saturday, Jan. 2. For more information, call Lisa Callea at 352-428-4275.

Hernando County La Sertoma Club will meet at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, at Guido's Pizza Café located at 7219 Forest Oaks Blvd., just off U.S. 19, Spring Hill. The La Sertoma Club is dedicated to youth service recognition and fundraising for scholarships for needy and deserving college students, as well as holiday events for special needs children. Guests are welcome. For more information, call Cris at 352-397-4304.

Nature Coast Telecom Pioneers will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Mariner United Methodist Church located at 7079 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. Bring used stamps, community service hours, can tabs, ditty bag items, food for the needy, knitted baby caps, box tops for education, Campbell soup labels and used greeting cards. Membership is open to anyone interested in serving the community and enjoying fellowship. For more information, call John at 352-596-4802.

Social

VFW Post 10209 will hold a Christmas and New Year's Karaoke Bash at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, at the Post located at 14736 Edward R. Noll Drive, Spring Hill. Bring a covered dish. For more information, call the Post at 352-796-0398.

St. Frances Cabrini Council of Catholic Women will meet at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, in Xavier Hall of the church located at 5030 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. Join the group for Mass at 7:30 a.m. and the Rosary in the church. Following the meeting, a "Yankee Swap" will be featured. Bring a wrapped item of $1 for the swap. In addition, the Council will hold a card party at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, in Xavier Hall. Refreshments will be served, and admission will be $2 per person. All are invited. For more information, call the parish office at 352-683-9666.

Grace Presbyterian Women's Gathering will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, in Fellowship Hall of Grace Presbyterian Church, 8375 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The program will be "A" Special Occasions" flower arrangements. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 352-683-2082.

Marine Corps League Detachment 708 will hold a steak shoot from 1 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday, beginning Jan. 12, at the Detachment located at 8405 Sunshine Grove Road, Brooksville. The Leatherneck Lounge will be open for the purchase of beverages. For more information, call 352-597-7979.

Ethnic

Italian American Club will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. Newly elected officers for 2010-2011 will be sworn in at this meeting. An installation luncheon will be held for the officers, and the luncheon is free of charge for paid club members. Membership dues for 2010 will be collected. On Friday, Jan. 29, the club will carpool to the Greek Festival in Tarpon Springs. 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. If interested in attending as a visitor, call Joe at 352-799-5214 or Theresa at 683-6712.

German American Club will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Shriners Club of Hernando County, 13400 Montour St., off Sunshine Grove Road, Brooksville. For club information, call Jack Yaskulski at 352-688-3744 or visit its Web site at www.usaconx.com/germanclub/German-Club/germanclub.html

Arts/Crafts

American Sewing Guild Neighborhood Group Sew Smart will meet at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. Bring a sewing machine with quilting foot and material for a hands-on demonstration by Valerie Hanlon. For more information, call Pat Conkle at 352-293-3834.

Computer Club

Hernando Computer Club will present "Genealogy Workshop," by Margot Hayes at 1 p.m. in the South Room; "Basics: How to Use a Digital Camera" by Fred Wise at 1 p.m. in the North Room; and "Photography Workshop" by Fred Wise at 7 p.m. in the South Room, all Monday, Jan. 4, at the Education B building of Grace Presbyterian Church, 8375 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. In addition, the club will present "The Print Shop" by Mike and Nancy Sexton at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, in the North Room; and "Introduction to Computers with Windows Vista," part one of four, by Ron Purkhiser at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, in the North Room. The cost for lecture classes is $2 per person. Lecture classes do not require registration, but hands-on classes require preregistration. The public is welcome. For more information, visit the club's Web site at www.hcc.org or call the club at 352-684-7171.

Recreation

West Hernando Coin Club will meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at the Community Center of The Heather located on U.S. 19, two miles north of State Road 50, Weeki Wachee. Refreshments, educational speakers, door prizes and auctions will be featured. Children and beginning collectors are welcome. For more information, contact Vincent at westhernandocoinclub@live.com or at 352-428-4564.

Nature Coast Bridge Club holds duplicate bridge games Monday through Friday at the Senior Citizens Club of Hernando County, 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill. Bridge players of all levels are welcome. For more information, call Millie Dabbs at 352-666-5891.

State Clubs

Maine Club will meet at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, at the Spring Hill Community Center, 1202 Kenlake Ave. A potluck dinner will be held, and everyone is asked to bring a dish to share and own place setting. The club meets the second Friday of the month from November through April. All present and former residents of Maine are welcome. For more information, call 352-592-0741.

Wisconsin Club will meet at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. On Jan. 20, members will attend the Show Palace in Hudson to see "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." The club will attend the matinee which will include the Show Palace's buffet. Annual dues are $8 per person, and anyone that has lived in Wisconsin at some time qualifies. For more information, call Carol Zellmer at 352-666-2974.

Michigan Club women will meet at noon Thursday, Jan. 14, at La Iguana Loca Mexican Grill, 5399 Commercial Way, Spring Hill. For information, call Marti at 352-596-3044. The men will also meet at La Iguana Loca at noon. For information, call George at 688-4198. In addition, the club will meet at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, at Kally K's Restaurant, 3383 Commercial Way, Spring Hill. Club membership will meet from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. For information, call George at 688-4198. Any former or current resident of Michigan is invited to join the club. For membership information, call Mary at 352-200-8072.

Botanical

Spring Hill Garden Club's plant nursery will be closed until Jan. 4. The Nature Coast Botanical Gardens will continue to be open during daylight hours featuring 26 holiday trees decorated in various themes. Members of the club maintain the plant nursery located at 1489 Parker Ave., off Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill, the waterfall area at the entrance to Spring Hill on U.S. 19, and the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens adjacent the nursery. For more information, call 352-683-9933 or visit online at www.naturecoastbotanicalgardens.com.

Brooksville Garden Club will meet Wednesday, Jan. 13, at First Presbyterian Church, 250 Bell Ave., Brooksville. A light luncheon will be served at 12:30 p.m., followed by a program on "Trees, Trees & More Trees," presented by Jim Moll of the Extension Office. The club's field trip is planned for the end of January to Marie Selby Gardens. The club's purpose includes furthering the education of the public in horticulture, conservation and botany. Programs and field trips are planned for the upcoming months. For more information, call Mary at 352-345-8274, Louise at 352-799-3160 or Lorraine at 352-397-3157.

Florida Native Plant Society, Nature Coast Chapter, will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, 7922 State Road 52, Hudson. The subject will be "Florida Native Wildflowers, Vines & Groundcovers for Central Florida," a PowerPoint presentation by Peggy Gretchen, who is a Pasco Master Gardener and a volunteer with the Nature Coast Chapter. Meetings are free of charge; and all interested parties are invited to attend, bring yard questions, and participate in the native plant drawing. For information, call Mary at 727-849-2335.

Music/Dance

High Point Community ballroom dance lessons for beginners and intermediate dancers will be conducted from 2 to 3 p.m. every Wednesday, and the cost will be $5 per person per lesson. Practice and review will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, and the cost will be $4 per person. All classes will be held in the High Point Community Center, 12249 Club House Road, Brooksville. For more information, call instructors Ken and Margaret Hammond at 352-688-4867.

Education

HEART Literacy Adult Education Program is offering reading, math, language arts, free Pre-GED testing, Florida Ready to Work (work credentials for employment), and ESOL (English for Speakers of other languages). All classes are free of charge, and child care is also offered free of charge at most sites. An appointment is not necessary. To sign up, bring a Florida photo I.D. to any of the following sites: Career Central, 7361 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill, from 5:45 to 8:15 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; Northcliffe Baptist Church, 10515 Northcliffe Blvd., Spring Hill, from 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday and Wednesday; Grace World Outreach Church, 20366 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday; HEART Literacy, 801 North Broad St., Brooksville, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. For more information, call 352-797-7018.

Equine Rescue

Schatzan Ranch is a nonprofit horse rescue/rehab facility that is accepting donations of any kind, i.e. monies, time, supplies, or services. Donations are tax deductible and are all used for the horses. Appointments can be arranged to visit the ranch. For an appointment or more information, call John and Kathy Schatzan at 352-585-7014 or 352-263-4701, or e-mail Schatzan@aol.com.

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.

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.

Sales

St. Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 8064 Weeping Willow St., off State Road 50, Brooksville, holds perogi and bake sales from noon to 3 p.m. every Wednesday. Bapka, apricot, prune, poppy and nut rolls, cookies and perogi will be featured. Phone orders will not be accepted on day of sales. For more information, call Alyce at 352-688-1839 or the church at 352-597-5589.

Thrift Shops

Karen's Kit 'n Kaboodle (St. Andrew's Thrift Shop) announces a new feature - a small area known as La Boutique where unusual, trendy or special items will be available. The shop will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and is located at 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. The boutique-style shop features a $5 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 pick-up of large items, call 352-686-1114.

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.

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 352-540-5727.

Jericho Road Ministries has a 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. 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.

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.

Crime Watch

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.

Radio Clubs

Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club (SHARC) meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month at the Oak Hill Hospital Enrichment Center. 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 7:30 p.m. Anyone with a Ham Radio license is welcome to participate in both nets and attend monthly meetings. For club information, visit its 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.