Hometown Happenings 0203

Community

Nature Coast Telecom Pioneers will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Mariner United Methodist Church located at 7079 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. Bingo with prizes will be featured. 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.

Education

Hernando County Cooperative Extension Service will conduct a training series entitled "Lawn and Landscape Maintenance on a Budget" from 8:30 a.m. to noon beginning Thursday, Feb. 4, and continuing every Thursday through Feb. 25 at the Extension Service's new office located at 1653 Blaise Drive, Brooksville. Practical knowledge from the University of Florida about proper care and money-saving techniques for a landscape by learning about insects, pesticides, pruning, fertilization, lawn care and citrus will be presented. The four-part series will be $20 per person and couples sharing books can attend at a cost of $30. The cost includes material and refreshments. Since space is limited, registration is required and will be accepted on a first-paid, first-registered basis. Registration will be completed when payment is received and will close when the class is full. The Extension Service is an educational program which exists to serve the educational needs of the community. For more information, call the Extension Service office at 352-754-4433 or visit its Web site at www.co.hernando.fl.us/County_Extension/

Botanical

Florida Native Plant Society, Nature Coast Chapter, will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, 7922 State Road 52, Hudson. The subject will be "Maintaining Your Native Plant Landscape," to be presented by Bill Bilodeau, past president of the Pinellas Chapter of FNPS. Bilodeau is a longtime professional gardener who designs and installs native plant landscapes. He will discuss important basics, tools needed, and will answer questions about how to keep native plants looking good all year round. Meetings are free of charge; and all interested parties are invited to attend, bring yard questions, and participate in the native plant drawing. For more information, call Mary at 727-849-2335.

Brooksville Garden Club will meet Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 250 Bell Ave., Brooksville. A light luncheon will be served at 12:30 p.m. The program will be presented by Stacy Strickland, director of the Hernando County Extension Service on the topic "Bugs, the Good, Bad and Beautiful." The club's purpose includes furthering the education of the public in horticulture, conservation and botany. For more information, call Nancy at 352-799-2042, Louise at 352-799-3160 and Lorraine at 352-397-3157.

Buttonwood Bonsai Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at First Presbyterian Church, 1501 S.E. Highway 19, Crystal River. Florida bonsai artist, Rob Kempinski, will be the headline presenter of the meeting. Kempinski is the author of "Introduction to "Bonsai." Meetings are open to the public, and visitors are welcome. For more information, call Clay Gratz at 352-563-2156 or Jim Stephens at 352-848-0102.

State Clubs

Illinois Club of Spring Hill will meet at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at Forest Oaks Lutheran Church, 8555 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. Entertainment will be provided by the Spring Hill Acoustic Guitar Club featuring "pickin' and grinnin' guitar renditions. Following the meeting, coffee and dessert will be served. 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.

Wisconsin Club will hold its social dinner Wednesday, Feb. 10, at Neon Leon's Zydeco Steak House, 10350 West Yulee Drive, Homosassa. The club will meet at 3 p.m. in the Hardee's parking lot located at State Road 50 and U.S. 19 in Weeki Wachee and will car pool/caravan to the restaurant. 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.

New Hampshire Club will meet at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at Buffet City Restaurant, 13235 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. New members are welcome. For more information, call Ed Van DeWalle at 352-683-5036.

Maine Club will meet at 12:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the Spring Hill Community Center, 1202 Kenlake Ave. A potluck dinner will be held, and everyone is requested 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.

Social

Brooksville Woman's Club will hold its monthly meeting and luncheon Wednesday, Feb. 3, at its clubhouse located at 131 South Main St., Brooksville. Luncheon will be held at noon, and the general meeting will be held at 1 p.m. The donation will be $5 per person. Guests are welcome. For membership information, call Cherry at 352-799-3801.

St. Frances Cabrini Council of Catholic Women will meet after the 8 a.m. Mass on Wednesday, Feb. 3, in Xavier Hall of the church located at 5030 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. Join the group for the Rosary at 7:30 a.m. in the church. Guest speaker will be Dr. Harris of Oak Hill Hospital. For more information, call the parish office at 352-683-9666.

Brooksville Elks Lodge 2582 will hold its monthly steak shoot from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, in the Lounge of the Lodge located at 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Members and guests will have the opportunity to win steaks by participating in a bingo-type card game. Bonus and grand bonus of various meats can be won. A spaghetti dinner will be served from 5 to 6 p.m. Dinner cost will be $5 per person. For more information, call the Lodge at 352-596-2582.

VFW Post 8713 and Ladies Auxiliary will meet at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at the Post located at 1681 East Jefferson St., Brooksville. House Committee will meet at 5 p.m., and Post meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. In addition, the Post will hold a fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 14, as follows: gourmet breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. for a donation of $5 per person; horse races game and bake sale at 11 a.m.; and games and potluck at 1 p.m. Also, bar bingo is held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. The public is welcome. The Post and Ladies Auxiliary are seeking new members, and prospective members are being sought for a Men's Auxiliary unit. For more information, call the Post at 352-796-4449.

NARVRE (Retired Railroad Workers) will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane, off Barclay Avenue, Spring Hill. Guest speaker will be Virginia Wallen of the Railroad Retirement Board of Tampa. NARVRE is dedicated to preserving the Railroad Retirement System. All retired and active railroad workers and their spouses are welcome. For information, call Lynn at 352-796-0477.

Vagabond Ladies Travel Club will hold its first meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The newly formed club is for women who want to travel, but either by choice or by circumstances, do not have a travel companion. The purpose of the club is for women to explore destinations and meet other like-minded women to share travel adventures. Single women or married women with a stay-at-home husband are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 352-212-0142.

Marine Corps League, Spring Hill Detachment 708, will hold steamed clams and "chowda" night from 4:30 to 7 p.m. every Tuesday at the Detachment located at 8405 Sunshine Grove Road, Brooksville. One dozen cherrystone clams with a cup of "chowda" will be served at a cost of $10 per person. The Leatherneck Lounge will be open for the purchase of beverages. For more information, call 352-597-7979.

Genealogy

Genealogy Interest Group will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the West Hernando Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., off State Road 50, near Weeki Wachee. For more information, call Kathleen Marsh at 352-796-1623.

Sales

Brooksville Regional Hospital Auxiliary will hold a gift fair from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the hospital located at 17240 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. A wide range of jewelry will be available.
In addition, the Auxiliary will sponsor a jewelry sale from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 11-12, in Conference Room 2 of the hospital. Precious and semi-precious stones set in rings, bracelets and necklaces of 10- 14- and 18-karat gold and sterling silver plus some gold-filled items will be featured. The Hospital Auxiliary is sponsoring both events to support its scholarship and charity fund. For more information, call pat at 352-666-8755.

Ethnic

Italian American Club will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. Newly elected officers for 2010-2011 will be sworn in at this meeting since the installation was not held at the January meeting due to illness. An installation luncheon will be held for the officers, and the luncheon will be free of charge for paid club members. Membership dues of $20 for 2010 will be collected at the meeting. 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 Theresa at 352-683-6712 or Cathy at 352-686-9526.

Political

Hernando County Democratic Club will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Southern Pines Condos Clubhouse, 8075 Southern Pines Drive, Brooksville. Guest speaker will be Ed Hobin of Swiftmud. Residents of Hernando County are invited. For more information, call Harvey Martin at 352-686-0686.
Hernando County Democratic Women's Club meets at noon the second Friday of each month at the West Hernando Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., off State Road 50, near Weeki Wachee. All Democratic women are welcome. For more information, call 352-686-6198.

Arts/Crafts

American Sewing Guild Neighborhood Group Sew Smart will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. Program presenter Carol Thibert will demonstrate several serger techniques featuring a "Silk Scarf" with other items. Bring a serger and a half yard of silk or rayon-like fabric to make a scarf. New members are welcome. For more information, call Pat Conkle at 352-293-3834.

Embroiders' Guild of America, Sandhill Crane Chapter, will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 200 Mt. Fair Ave., Brooksville. A class combining ribbons and embroidery will be featured. Kits for the project will be available to purchase. All types of needlework are covered including cross stitch, needlepoint, crewel, and surface embroidery. Donations of thread, fabric and embroidery supplies are always appreciated. Membership is open to anyone who is interested in stitching from experienced to those wanting to learn. Guests are welcome. For membership information, call 352-666-8350.

Suncoast Ship Model Society will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, 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 more information, call Jim at 352-592-6419.

Recreation

West Hernando Coin Club will meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, 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 352-678-7769.

Fraternal

Sun Viking Lodge 607 of the Sons of Norway will meet at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church located at 6193 Spring Hill Drive. Keith Lavin will present "Vikings and their Weaponry." Refreshments will be hors d'oeuvres and coffee. Sons of Norway is an international fraternal society open to persons of Scandinavian background, affiliation by marriage or anyone interested in Norwegian culture. The public is welcome. For more information, call Clair at 352-596-2171 or Gail at 727-863-3145.

History

Old Hernando History Roundtable will hold its quarterly meeting Thursday, Feb. 18, at John's Corner Family Restaurant, 711 South Broad St., Brooksville. The meeting will begin with lunch at 11:30 a.m., and Nicole Tumbleson will present a program at 12:30 p.m. on "Civil War Archaeology of Bayport." For more information, call Roger Landers at 352-796-5420.

Daughters of the American Revolution will meet at noon Thursday, Feb. 18, at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane, off Barclay Avenue, Spring Hill. American History Essay winners will be featured. Membership is open to women 18 years or older who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution. The group can help with your genealogy. For more information, call Sharon at 352-796-7996.

Dance

Brookridge Good Times Line Dance Social Club will hold a line dance social from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Brookridge Community located off State Road 50, just west of the Suncoast Parkway interchange, next to Register Chevrolet, Brooksville. Bring personal snacks, beverage and ice, if needed; and the club will provide a disc jockey for dancing. Requests are also welcome, and attendees can bring a CD. An on-site instructor will be available for those needing assistance; but there will not be any formal dance instruction, just dancing. The cost is $4 per person, and the social is open to the public. For more information, call Norma at 352-397-6088 or e-mail nerbrook@tampabay.rr.com.

Music

Hernando Harmonizers has openings for singers. Men who love to sing are invited to join the Hernando Harmonizers of the Barbershop Harmony Society from 6:45 to 9:15 p.m. every Monday at Nativity Lutheran Church, 6363 Commercial Way, just north of the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. 19, Weeki Wachee. Singers have an opportunity to participate in community performances, annual show, competitions, etc. For more information, call John at 352-666-0633 or George at 352-556-3936, e-mail BASSharmonySingR@aol.com or visit its Web site at www.HernandoHarmonizers.org.

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.

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.

Thrift Shops/Sales

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.

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.

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.

St. Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 8064 Weeping Willow St., off State Road 50, Brooksville, has resumed its perogi and bake sales from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesdays. 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.

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.

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.