Hometown Happenings 0505

Arts/Crafts

Easy Street Home Décor will host an art reception for Lin Ruch from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, at its shop located at 100 N. Brooksville Ave., Brooksville. Ruch began painting murals in 1995 and has many murals on display in Indiana, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. Ruch's variety of acrylic and mixed media paintings and painted furniture will be on display at Easy Street through May. The public is invited to the reception. For information, call Easy Street Home Décor at 352-848-0177.

Embroiders' Guild of America, Sandhill Crane Chapter, will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, at Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 200 Mt. Fair Ave., Brooksville. A potluck luncheon and a class on making buttonhole tassels will be featured. 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, May 6, 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 information, call Jim at 352-592-6419.
Hernando Porcelain Artists will hold their spring luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 17, at the Boston Cooker Restaurant, 5375 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The group meets the third Monday of each month September through May. Visitors are welcome. Luncheon reservations are required by Thursday, May 13, by calling Judy at 352-592-4814.

Social

Brooksville Woman's Club will hold officers installation and luncheon Wednesday, May 5, at its clubhouse located at 131 South Main St., Brooksville. Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. The donation will be $15 per person. For luncheon reservations or information, call Mary Ann Peterson at 727-869-5937 or Mary Elizabeth Preston at 352-540-4756.

Grace Presbyterian Women's Gathering will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 10, in Fellowship Hall of Grace Presbyterian Church, 8375 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The program will be "Dealing with Stroke" by Terry Arison. The Birthday Offering will be received, and the Coordinating Team will serve refreshments. For information, call 352-683-2082.

Marine Corps League, Spring Hill Detachment 708, is open to all veterans and the public seven days a week at 8405 Sunshine Grove Road, Brooksville. The Leatherneck Lounge is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Gunny's Galley serves Sunday breakfast from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.; lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday (Fridays only until 2 p.m.), plus pasta night from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays; wing and basket night from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays; and seafood night from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays. Daily specials are available from the Galley and the Lounge. For information, call 352-597-7979 and ask for the lounge.

Seniors

Nature Coast Telecom Pioneers will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, at Mariner United Methodist Church, 7079 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. Hawaiian day 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 information, call John at 352-596-4802.

NARVRE (Retired Railroad Workers) will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 12, at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane, off Barclay Avenue, Spring Hill. Luncheon cost is $10 per person. NARVRE is dedicated to preserving the Railroad Retirement System. All retired and active railroad workers and their spouses are welcome. This is the last meeting until Sept. 8, and guests will not be permitted. For information, call Lynn at 352-796-0477.

Ethnic

German American Club will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 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 website at www.usaconx.com/germanclub/German-Club/germanclub.html

Recreation

West Hernando Coin Club will meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, May 10, 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 information, contact Vincent at 352-678-7769.

Political

First Hernando Republican Club will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, at the Deerfield Clubhouse, 15471 Atwater Drive, off Spring Hill Drive, Brooksville. A guest speaker will be featured, and refreshments will be served. For information, call Jack Wood at 352-666-5865.

State Clubs

Illinois Club of Spring Hill will meet at 1 p.m. Friday, May 7, in the fellowship hall of Forest Oaks Lutheran Church, 8555 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. Southwest Florida Water Management District will offer a double presentation. Jason Mickel will present Water101 and Dave Arnold will speak on sinkholes. 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 Pat Godfrey at 352-597-0346.

Wisconsin Club will meet at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, at the Spring Hill Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Featured speaker will be Ruth Savage of the Spring Oaks Retirement Center. Following the meeting, coffee and dessert will be served. On Wednesdays, the club dines out at a preselected restaurant for its social night. The club also offers monthly travel opportunities. Annual dues are $8 per person, and anyone that has lived in Wisconsin at some time qualifies. For information, call Bob Stirm at 352-573-7171.

Botanical

Orchid Lovers Club of Spring Hill will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at the Spring Hill Enrichment Center behind Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Show table of orchids and complimentary refreshments will be featured. Club membership is $17 per person or $25 per couple annually. For information, call 352-597-3736.

Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, in the Fellowship Hall at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, 7922 State Road 52, Hudson. "The Real Florida - Wild Beauty" will be presented by Katie MacMillen, recreation leader, environmental educator for Pasco County Environmental Lands Program. MacMillen will offer a slide show program of mostly native plant photos. The slide show will be accompanied by gentle Hawaiian slack-key guitar. Refreshments will be served. Meetings of the Chapter are free of charge, and interested parties are invited to attend. Bring questions about your yard and participate in the native plant drawing. For information, call Mary at 727-849-2335.

Community Outreach

Love Your Neighbor is seeking donations of new or used cookbooks for a display at its market which is held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday, weather permitting, in front of the courthouse on Main Street in downtown Brooksville. Cookbooks are made available to the public for a donation. To donate or for information, call Lisa Callea at 352-428-9275.

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 information, call John at 352-666-0633 or George at 352-556-3936, e-mail BASSharmonySingR@aol.com or visit its website at www.HernandoHarmonizers.org.

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.

Adult 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 information, call 352-797-7018.

Radio Clubs

Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club (SHARC) meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday 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 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 website 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 11 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 at 352-596-1095. 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/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.

In addition, the SPCA of Hernando County is seeking a clinical microscope in an effort to reduce operating costs of the no-kill animal shelter. To donate a microscope, call 352-596-7000.

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.

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 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.

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 information, call John and Kathy Schatzan at 352-585-7014 or 352-263-4701, or e-mail Schatzan@aol.com.