Hometown Happenings 0210

Botanical

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.

Hernando Herb Society will hold its annual soup and bread meeting at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at 7070 Daffodil Drive, Brooksville. A tasting of soups and breads created by Herb Society members with fresh herbs and spices will be featured. Reservations are required. The Herb Society's missions is to provide education and opportunities to share with other herbal enthusiasts through programs, field trips and hands-on experience. Meetings are held the fourth Monday of the month September through May. Annual dues are $10 per person. For more information or reservations, call Mary Ann St. Arnaud at 352-442-6523 or Mary Repper at 352-799-5717.

Spring Hill Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, at Forest Oaks Lutheran Church, 8555 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. 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. The nursery is open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays and Saturdays. Visit the gardens anytime during daylight hours. For more information, call 352-683-9933 or visit its Web site at www.naturecoastbotanicalgardens.com

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.

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.

Arts/Crafts

Spring Hill Art League will hold its meeting and demo Monday, Feb. 15, at the United Church of Christ, 4244 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. A short business meeting will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a demonstration by Regine Dossche of "Sculptures with Power Tex." New members and guests are welcome. For more information, call Esther Pohl at 352-398-1532 or visit www.springhillartleague.com.

Hernando Porcelain Artists will meet at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15, at the LifeSouth Community Blood Center located at 12395 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Pat Dummit, a porcelain art demonstrator from New Port Richey, will teach wet grounding and baby roses. For the grounding, Dummit suggests bringing a small jewelry disk glued to a holder such as the unglazed side of a tile, which will serve as a base. Also bring a small box on which to paint baby roses plus a tote to transport items. The group meets the third Monday of each month September through May. Visitors are welcome. For information, call Judy at 352-592-4814.

Community Event

Rising Sun Café will host internationally acclaimed author and raw food chef, Paul Nison, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the café located at 10 South Main St. in downtown Brooksville. Nison will be presenting what the Bible says about health and diet. If interested in attending, RSVP to Ruth Gavish at 352-398-7755.

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.

Education

Hernando County Cooperative Extension Service will offer "The Florida-Friendly Landscaping Workshop" from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the Realtors Association Building, 7231 Sunshine Grove Road, Brooksville. The keynote speaker will be Pam Brown, who was featured in "Yard Work" programs on WTSP-TV/CBS for seven years and "Pinellas Planting" for the Pinellas County Communications cable network for three years. The cost is $5 per person. Since class size is limited, registration will be taken on a first-paid, first-registered basis. 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/

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.

Library Programs

Main Branch of the Hernando County Public Library will hold its next monthly book discussion meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at the library located at 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville. "Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan will be discussed. 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 the library at 352-754-4043.

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.

Seniors

Hernando County AARP Chapter 1026 invites members to its meeting at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, in the Great Room at The Atria of Evergreen Woods located at 7030 Evergreen Woods Trail, off State Road 50, Spring Hill. A special meal will be prepared by executive chef Stephen Westoff. There will be a nominal charge for the all-you-can-eat buffet meal, and the ticket for same will later be used for a door prize. The topics will be "Crime Prevention for Seniors" by David Michalicka of the Crime Prevention Task Force and "Fire Prevention for Seniors" by Jim Aikman of the Hernando County Fire Rescue District. Firm registration is required and must be on a first-come, first-served basis. For reservations or more information, call Bob at 352-596-0722, Joyce at 352-688-6910 or Rose Deorie at 352-688-5606.

Social

Long Island Club will meet at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, at St. Stephen's Parish Hall, 5326 Charles St., New Port Richey. Coffee and cake will be served before the meeting. Prospective members are welcome. For more information, call 352-683-3019.

Elks Lodge 2582 will offer breakfast from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at the Lodge located at 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. The menu include French toast, eggs to your liking, omelets, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage and coffee, tea and juice. The cost will range from $3.25 to $5.25, and members and guests are welcome. For more information, call the Lodge at 352-596-2582.

In addition, the Lodge will hold an Italian dinner-dance at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27. The menu will be a choice of chicken parmesan with linguine or shrimp scampi over linguine. The menu will include a tomato salad, garlic bread, dessert and coffee. Entertainment for dancing will be provided by Louis Fortunato from 7 to 10 p.m. The cost is $12 per person; and the deadline is Saturday, Feb. 20, to purchase tickets. For tickets or information, call 352-596-3201.

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.

State Clubs

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.

Political

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.

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 28 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.