Hometown Happenings 0216

Computer Club

Hernando Computer Club will present "Facebook" by Charleen Scime at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, in the North Room at the Education B building of Grace Presbyterian Church, 8375 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The cost for lecture classes of the club 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 website at www.hcc.org or call the club at 352-684-7171.

Social

Long Island Club will meet at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at St. Stephen's Parish Hall, 5326 Charles St., New Port Richey. Coffee and cake will be served prior to the meeting. All New Yorkers are welcome. For information, call Vinny Scatturo at 727-869-0043.

Elks Lodge 2582 will hold open mike karaoke at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, in the lounge of the Lodge located at 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Wings and things will be available. Members and guests are invited to attend. In addition, the Lodge will hold breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, at the Lodge. The menu will feature french toast, eggs any style, omelets, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, with coffee, tea and juice included. The cost will range from $3.75 to $5.75. For information, call the Lodge at 352-596-2582.

High Point Community will hold its monthly dance from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at the High Point Club House located at 12249 Club House Road, off Highpoint Boulevard, Brooksville. The High Point Community is located off State Road 50. Dance music will be provided by Steve Daniels. BYOB; coffee and ice will be available free of charge. Ticket cost is $5 per person and will be available for purchase at the door. Table reservations and tickets are also available by calling Laverne at 352-596-2827.

VFW Post 8713 will hold a spaghetti dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, at the Post located at 1681 E. Jefferson St., Brooksville. The donation will be $5 per person. For information, call 352-796-4449.

Education

Hernando County Cooperative Extension Service will offer a class entitled, "Springtime Vegetable Gardening" at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. The class will be presented by Jim Moll, urban horticulture agent; and participants will learn proper timing and care for homegrown vegetables. Since space is on a first-come-first-seated basis, preregistration will not be accepted. For information, call 352-754-4433.

Hernando County Extension Service will present a Financial Management class entitled "Developing an Effective Spending Plan" at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. For more information, contact the library program staff at 352-540-6391 or visit the library's website at www.hcpl.lib.fl.us.

Hernando County Extension Service will offer an "Economic Survival Series" to be presented by various Extension agents at 6 p.m. Wednesdays at the Extension Service office located at 1653 Blaise Drive, Brooksville. The series will teach how to save money and is open to county residents free of charge. Class dates and topics will be as follows: Feb. 16 - Saving Money at the Grocery Store; Feb. 23 - Low or No Cost Activities for Children; and March 2 - Cutting your Lawn Costs. Attendees may attend all classes or pick classes of interest only. To register or for more information, call 352-754-4433.

West Hernando Branch of the Hernando County Public Library will offer a Job Seekers class at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, at the library located at 6335 Blackbird Ave., off State Road 50, near Weeki Wachee. "Job Search Basics" will cover using the Internet to hunt for employment, locating books to help prepare for an interview, and writing resumes and cover letters using the library's computers. The class will also offer tips on filling out online applications, locating employment information on a webpage, and replying to a Craigslist want ad. Class registration is limited to 11 people; so sign up early either by visiting the West Hernando Branch or by calling the library at 352-540-6391.

Political

Hernando County Democratic Executive Committee will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at Temple Beth David, 13258 Antelope St., Spring Hill. The meeting is open to the public. For information, call the HCDEC office at 352-593-8220 or visit its website at www.hernandodemocrats.us.

Wellington Democrats will meet at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at the Wellington at Seven Hills Clubhouse, 400 Wexford Blvd., off Mariner Boulevard, Spring Hill. A discussion on "Government's role in our economy" will be featured. All residents of Hernando County are invited. For more information, contact Gene Erich at WellingtonDemocrats@gmail.com.

Arts/Crafts

Hernando Porcelain Artists will meet at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 21, at the LifeSouth Community Blood Center, 12395 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. The group will paint a pineapple, strawberries and a melon, so bring a 5- by 7-inch tile or similar size plate or tray. Visitors are welcome and anyone interested in learning the art of china painting. For more information, call Judy at 352-592-4814.

Spring Hill Art League, along with Cortez Community Bank, will host an artists' reception to showcase the artwork of Fred Mannarino and Susan Duda from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at the new Polly Wogg Gallery, 18522 U.S. 19, Hudson. Entertainment will be featured, and refreshments will be served. For information, call the Gallery at 352-577-8755 or visit its website at www.pollywogggallery.com. The public is welcome. For more information, call 352-799-9690.

Music

Opera Lovers Club will meet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, in the clubhouse of the Forest Glenn Retirement Village located at 1431 Friar Tuck Lane, off Osowaw Boulevard, Spring Hill. The topic will be Mascagni's opera, Cavalleria Rusticana, to be presented by Joseph Tomaselli. For information, visit http://naturecoastwebsites.com/opera.htm, e-mail jsquier1939@earthlink.net or call Kathy Hoover at 352-688-4741.

Accordion Adventure will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month at Elks Lodge 2582 located at 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. The informal group consists of accordionists that are enthusiasts of all levels of performance. For information, call Cathy at 352-686-0975 or Peg at 352-442-5574.

Library Programs

Brooksville Book Discussion Group will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, at the Main Library, 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville. February's selection will be "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, led by Mary Sciglia. Each month, the "no guilt" book discussion group holds an informal discussion at the Main Library. Registration is not required, so visit the front desk of the library for a copy of the book. For information, call Ronette at 352-544-5669.

Historical

Old Hernando Roundtable will hold its quarterly meeting Thursday, Feb. 17, at John's Corner Family Restaurant, 711 S. Broad St., Brooksville. The meeting will begin with lunch at 11:30 a.m., followed by Richard Cofer's program on Hernando bootleggers and moonshiners. Annual membership dues are $10 per couple, and visitors are welcome. For information, call Roger Landers at 352-848-0505 or Sid Taylor at 352-344-4705.

Daughters of the American Revolution will meet at noon Thursday, Feb. 17, at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane, off Barclay Avenue, Spring Hill. The meeting will feature the winners of the American History Essay. 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.

Botanical

Spring Hill Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, at Forest Oaks Lutheran Church, 8555 Forest Oaks Blvd., Brooke Burns, Extension Agent for Sumter County, will speak about container gardening. 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. To help "Save Our Waterfall" or for information, call 352-683-9933 or visit its website at www.naturecoastbotanicalgardens.com.

Youth

City of Brooksville's Recreation Department will offer a "Play to Learn" indoor toddler program from 10 to 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday at the Jerome Brown Community Center, 99 Jerome Brown Place, off Darby Lane, Brooksville. The cost is $3 per class and is for toddlers ages 1-5 and their moms. For more information, call the Recreation Department at 352-540-3835.

Boys and Girls Clubs are conducting a Car Campaign program to help underwrite its youth programs. Donations of unwanted cars are being sought, and cars do not need to be in running condition. To donate a car or for more information, call 800-246-0493.

Recreation

Spring Hill Camera Club meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month at the Brooksville Enrichment Center, which is located in the Medical Arts Building, Suite 120, of the Brooksville Regional Hospital campus, 17222 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Club business and an informative presentation are conducted on the second Monday, and a photo completion is judged each fourth Monday. Membership is open to all beginning and experienced film and digital photographers. For information, call Bill at 352-556-3708 or visit the club's website at www.springhillcameraclub.org.
Nature Coast Bridge Club will host a social bridge game from 12:30 to 3 p.m. every Thursday during February. The club has approximately 400 members in the Hernando, Pasco and Citrus area. The club plays duplicate bridge but is starting a new group for social bridge players. For more information, call Annabelle Hills at 352-597-5221 or e-mail hillsja@gate.net

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.

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. The club is for those 55 years of age and older, and club membership is $25 annually. For information, call the club at 352-596-1095.

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.

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church will offer an "In His Footsteps" soup-and-sandwich outreach program lunch from noon to 2 p.m. the second Thursday of every month in the Parish Hall of the church located at 13485 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The meal is free of charge. For information, call the church office at 352-688-0663.

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.

American Legion Post 186, its Auxiliary and Color Guard host a fish fry every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Post located at 12091 Cortez Blvd. Menu choices will include filet of fish, jumbo shrimp, chicken fingers, along with fries, cole slaw, and a roll. Combination plates can also be purchased. The price will range from $5.50 to $7. In addition, the Auxiliary will be selling items from a dessert table. Following the meal, karaoke will be provided from 7 to 11 p.m. The Post is open to members and their guests. For information, call the Post at 352-597-9995.

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 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.

Thrift Shops

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.

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.

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.

Karen's Kit 'n Kaboodle (St. Andrew's Thrift Shop) has a new furniture storage building offering a variety of furniture such as chairs, wall units, electric organs, artwork will be featured, including some sick room needs. The shop is 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.

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.

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.