Hometown Happenings 0909

Computer Club

Hernando Computer Club will present "What's New in Windows 7," part two of four, by Ron Purkhiser at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, in the North Room of the Education B building at Grace Presbyterian Church, 8375 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. "Introduction to Computers with Windows 7," part two of four, at 10 a.m. and "Get Started with your Computer," part two of two, by Joann Frucchione at 1 p.m., both Friday, Sept. 10, 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 information, visit the club's Web site at www.hcc.org or call the club at 352-684-7171.

Library Programs

Hernando County Public Library System will show a movie at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team to help unite their country. The movie is rated PG-13 and runs 133 minutes. The program is free of charge, and registration is not required. Light refreshments will be provided. The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hernando County. For the movie title or more information, call the library at 352-540-6391.

Hernando County Public Library System will offer a preschool program at three of its branches - East Hernando, Spring Hill, and West Hernando. The programs offered will include Toddler Time (18-35 months old) and Storytime (3-5 years old). The session began the week of Aug. 30 and will conclude the week of Oct. 18. The schedule will be as follows: Toddler Time at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at the East Hernando Branch Library, 6457 Windmere Road, Brooksville; Toddler Time at 10 a.m. and Storytime at 11 a.m. Thursdays at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill; and Toddler Time at 10:15 a.m. and Storytime at 11:15 a.m. Fridays at the West Hernando Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., off State Road 50, near Weeki Wachee. The program will feature age-appropriate stories, fingerplays, songs and more. The program is free of charge, and registration is not required. For more information, call the library at 352-540-6391.

Social

Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) will hold a luncheon meeting at noon Thursday, Sept. 9, at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane, off Barclay Avenue, Brooksville. All active duty, retired, reserve, National Guard and former commissioned officers and guests are welcome. Monthly luncheon meetings of MOAA are held the second Thursday of each month at Silverthorn Country Club. Reservations are required. For reservations or information, call LTC Mel Sweat at 352-666-9244.
Elks Lodge 2582 will offer Motown music from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Lodge located at 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Special guest Bobby Hendricks of the original Drifters will perform. Members and guests are welcome. For information, call the Lodge at 352-596-2582.

Long Island Club will meet at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, at St. Stephen's Parish Hall, 5326 Charles St., New Port Richey. Coffee and cake will be served. The public is welcome. For information, call Vinny Scatturo at 727-869-0043.

Sons of Italy, Nature Coast Lodge 2502, Order of Italy of America, will hold a picnic Saturday, Sept. 18, at The Heather community located at 9100 Nakoma Way, Weeki Wachee. Coffee and doughnuts will be served at 9 a.m., and picnic food will be served at 12:30 p.m. Bingo (bring markers), horseshoes, shuffle board, bocce, nine holes of golf, and horse racing will be featured. BYOB - beer and wine only. Ticket cost is $6 per person for members and $8 per person for guests. Tickets will not be sold at the door. For tickets or information, call Mary Ann at 352-688-1889.

Botanical

Hernando Chapter of Florida Native Plant Society will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, at the American Legion hall located at 208 East Fort Dade Ave., Brooksville. The program will be "Orchids and other Interesting Flora of the Tsala Apopka Region of Citrus County" by Joel P. DeAngelis, senior land management specialist of Southwest Florida Water Management District. Refreshments will be available. Admission is free of charge, and the public is welcome. For more information, call Miki at 352-799-4839 or Brooke at 352-583-5085, contact the Hernando Chapter Board at hcfnps@gmail.com or visit its Web site at www.hcfnps.org.

Spring Hill Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Forest Oaks Lutheran Church, 8555 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. Dennis Gretton, of D&D Growers, will speak on herbs. 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 information, call 352-683-9933 or visit its website at www.naturecoastbotanicalgardens.com.

Political Club

Hernando County Democratic Club will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at Southern Pines Condos Clubhouse, 8075 Southern Pines Drive, Brooksville. Speaker will be Ashley Garcia. For information, call Harvey Martin at 352-686-0686 or visit its website at www.hernandocountydemocrats.com.

Genealogy

Genealogy Interest Group will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, at the West Hernando Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., off State Road 50, near Weeki Wachee. For information, call Kathleen Marsh at 352-796-1623.

Arts/Crafts

Suncoast Ship Model Society will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, 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.

Seniors

Hernando County AARP Chapter 1026 invites members and guests to its regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 30, at The Outlet Mall (south entrance), 3021 U.S. 19, Spring Hill. Attendees are requested to arrive by 11:30 a.m.; the meeting will begin at noon. Speaker will be David Lambert of WREC on the topic, "Electrical Concerns...Economy...Safety...Lightning!" The cost for the "meet and eat" will be $8.50 per person, which includes a $1 hall fee. Since seating is limited, reservations are required. For reservations or information, call Bob at 352-596-0722.

Music

Spring Hill Acoustic Guitar Club meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of every month for a jam and song circle. All styles are welcome at all playing levels. The club's goal is to play together, have fun doing it and to provide encouragement and support for each other in an effort to become better players. Also, the club is available to perform at nonprofit and social club events. For information, call Curt at 352-666-3951 or Ken at 352-684-6789.

Hernando Hills Hi-Lites will meet at 7 p.m. every Monday at Mariner United Methodist Church, 7079 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. The women's chorus invites women of all races and creeds who can carry a tune and love to sing. The chorus sings a cappella, four-part harmony. All are invited to rehearse Christmas music for the chorus' annual Christmas show in December. The Hi-Lites perform at many community functions, as well as private celebrations and are members of Harmony, Inc., an organization of over 20,000 outstanding women, and compete at area and international levels. For information, call Tessie at 352-686-4122.

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, or visit its website at www.HernandoHarmonizers.org.

Community Outreach

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church will conduct a free bread and pastries giveaway for those in need from 9 to 10 a.m. every Saturday in the Parish Hall (side entrance) of the church located at 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. For information, call the church office at 352-683-2010.

Botanical

Buttonwood Bonsai Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at The Key Center, 130 Heights St., Inverness. Club member "Bonsai Bob" Eskeitz will be the highlight demonstrator. Tentative plans, which are subject to change, will be for Eskeitz to create a miniature forest planting. 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.

Recreation

West Hernando Coin Club will meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, at the Community Center of The Heather located on U.S. 19, two miles north of State Road 50, Weeki Wachee. Educational speaker will be Jack Iaci on the topic of "Error Coins and Varieties." Refreshments, educational speakers, door prizes and auctions will be featured. Children and beginning collectors are welcome. For information, contact Vincent at 352-678-7769.

The $50 Investment Club will meet at 8:30 a.m. the first Thursday of each month at the Edward Jones office, 3296 U.S. 19, Spring Hill. New members are invited to attend. For information, call Ross or Wynn Keith at 352-596-2649.

Fraternal

Elks Lodge 2582 holds bingo from 4:30 to 10 p.m. every Thursday at the Lodge located at 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Food will be available which will include pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, coffee and soda. The event is open to the public. For information, call bingo chairman Joe Damroth at 352-442-3664 or the Lodge at 352-596-2582. Also, pizza and wings will be offered at 6 p.m. in the lounge. A slice of cheese pizza will be $1.25, a slice of pepperoni pizza will be $1.50 and a full pie will be $10. Jumbo wings will be 50 cents. This will be available to members and guests. For information, call the Lodge.

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.

Military/Veterans

Marine Corps League, Spring Hill Detachment 708, holds a steak shoot from 1 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday at the Detachment located at 8405 Sunshine Grove Road, off State Road 50, Brooksville. The Leatherneck Lounge and Gunny's Galley will be open for the purchase of food and beverages. 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. 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. Daily specials are available from the Galley and the Lounge. The Detachment is open to all veterans and the public seven days a week. For information, call 352-597-7979 and ask for the lounge.

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.

Thrift Shops

Karen's Kit 'n Kaboodle (St. Andrew's Thrift 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. The boutique-style shop is located at 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill, and 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.

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.

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.

Also, the SPCA is seeking volunteers to provide companionship and assist in the care of the dogs and cats at the shelter. Day and hours are flexible. For more information, call the shelter at 352-596-7000. 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.

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.

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 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.

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.