0626 Hometown Happenings

Community Event

Hernando/Sumter Head Start will present "1-Man Rally2 - 1-Family @ A Time" from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at Kennedy Park field located at 875 Kennedy Blvd., Brooksville. Tug-of-war, softball, flag football, basketball, breakout sessions, free food, music, and guest speakers will be featured. Topics discussed will be "Older men train the younger men," "Nurturing fathers," "Men leaders," "Women-2-women," and "A man and his family." All ages are invited. For information, call C. Clark, L. Leon or Fabian Burnett at 352-796-5555, 352-754-2464 or 352-544-1055.

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.

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.

Business

Ali Lassen's Spring Hill Professionals' Leads Club will meet from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 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. 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 or for information, call Lois Bleicher at 352-200-4809 or visit www.leadsfl.com

Community

Nature Coast Freedom Fest 2009 "For God and Country" organizers are seeking volunteers to help with this year's July 3 event to be held 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. The event will feature country singer Rodney Atkins, local talent such as the Birdsong Family and Lindsay Taylor, a fireworks display, 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.
Volunteers are needed to help with the hospitality tent, admission gates, kids zone, set-up, and clean-up the next day. If interested in volunteering, call Brenda at 352-442-1673. For information about the event, visit www.naturecoastff.com or call 352-799-0687.

Nature Coast Knights (Travel Baseball AAU) is seeking skilled players for the fall season. The Knights play out of Spring Hill/Brooksville. If interested or for more information, call Stacy Rodriguez at 352-279-0700.

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.

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.

State Clubs

Wisconsin Club has 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.

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.

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.