Hometown Happenings 0325
Community Event
Congressman Rich Nugent will host a Veterans Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at Nature Coast Technical High School, 4057 California St., Brooksville. The purpose of the resource fair is to provide information and assistance regarding veterans claims services, education benefits, employment services, housing/social services, medical and more. For more information, call Harrison Lewis at 202-225-1002.
Computer Club
Hernando Computer Club will present “Picasa, Import, Organize, and Improve your Photos,” part two of two, by Ron Purkhiser at 10 a.m. and “Transfer your VHS cassettes to DVDs and More” at 1 p.m., both Friday, March 25, 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.
Arts/Crafts
Spring Hill Art League, along with Polly Wogg Gallery and Labyrinth, will hold an artist’s reception for artist Virginia Phillips from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at the Polly Wogg Gallery located at 18522 U.S. 19, just south of County Line Road, Hudson. Refreshments will be served, and the public is welcome to attend. For information, call the Gallery at 352-577-8755 or visit its website at www.pollywogggallery.com.
Spring Hill Art League, along with Rising Sun Café, will hold an artist’s reception for artists Marilyn Clifford, Jacque Coffee and Muriel Prieto from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, at the Café located at 10 S. Main St., Brooksville. Refreshments will be served, and the public is welcome to attend. The artists’ artwork will be on display during March and April. For information, call 352-799-9690 or the Café at 352-848-0090.
Suncoast Ship Model Society will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 7, 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.
Education
Notre Dame Catholic School will host a workshop entitled “Brain-based Education, How the Brain Learns Best” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, at the school located at 1095 Commercial Way (U.S. 19), Spring Hill. The presenter will be Dr. Lou Whitaker, a professional with over 25 years experience in education. She has taken her personal experiences as a teacher and administrator, and she has combined them with her knowledge of brain-based education to become one of the foremost presenters of the subject of education, technology and brain-compatible learning. The workshop is free of charge, and the public is welcome. For information, call the school at 352-683-0755.
Temple Beth David will offer an adult education program at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, at the Temple located at 13158 Antelope St., Spring Hill. Professor Eliezer Rivkin of the Jewish Student Center at the University of South Florida in Tampa will be the featured speaker. Professor Rivkin is a noted scholar, lecturer and author. He will speak on the topic “A Sense of the Supernatural, Interpretation of Dreams, and Paranormal Experiences and Science Discovers the Bible.” The lecture will be free of charge, but reservations are required. The public is welcome. For reservations or more information, call Helene at 352-544-0212.
Community
United Communities of Hernando County will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, March 28, at the Silverthorn Community Center, 4400 Mallard Lake Drive, Spring Hill. Guest speaker will be Don Barbee of the State Attorney’s Office in Hernando County. Following his presentation, a question-and-answer session will be featured. All Hernando County residents are welcome. The Silverthorn community is located off Barclay Avenue, Brooksville. For information, call John Bloom at 352-686-1851.
Hernando County La Sertoma Club will meet at 11 a.m. Monday, April 4, at Guido’s Pizza Cafe, 7219 Forest Oaks Blvd., just off U.S. 19, Spring Hill. La Sertoma is dedicated to youth service recognition, fundraising for scholarships for needy and deserving college students, as well as special events for special needs children. Guests are always welcome. For information, call LaVerne at 352-796-4657.
Library Programs
Hernando County Public Library System will host a six-week session of Children’s Stories & Crafts Programs on Fridays beginning April 1 and continuing through May 13 at the West Hernando Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., off State Road 50, near Weeki Wachee. The programs will be presented by the Kiwanis Club of the Nature Coast. The themed programs will consist of a variety of stories, songs, games and crafts. The programs for children 18-35 months old will be held from 11 to 11:30 a.m., and the programs for children 3 to 5 years old will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration is not required. For information, call the library at 352-540-6391 or visit its website at www.hcpl.lib.fl.us.
Hernando County Public Library System will offer a “Writing your Personal History” workshop from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 7, in the meeting room at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive. The workshop will feature ideas and tips on how to get started in writing personal life experiences. The focus will be on writing for an individual’s own personal satisfaction or to share experiences with family or friends. Since seating is limited, preregistration is required. To register or for information, call the Reference Department at 352-540-6392.
Botanical
Hernando Herb Society will hold its annual plant exchange at 1 p.m. Monday, March 28, at Nativity Lutheran Church, 6363 Commercial Way, just north of State Road 50, Weeki Wachee. Members will bring plant cuttings to exchange with other members and guests. Guest speaker will be Dennis Gretton of D&D Growers. Gretton will bring herbs he grows and will explain how to grow and propagate them. He has a wide variety of herbs and will offer them for sale. Gretton will also offer ideas how to use the herbs in cooking and will share recipes. The Herb Society’s mission 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 information, call Mary at 352-799-5717.
Orchid Lovers of Spring Hill will meet at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at the Partner’s Club located behind Oak Hill Hospital, 11375 Cortez Blvd. Marian Twigg will speak on “Orchids from South America.” Refreshments will be served, and members will have plants for sale and a show table. Guests are welcome to attend free of charge. Annual membership is $17 per person or $25 per couple. For information, call Linda Roderick at 352-597-3736.
Spring Hill Garden Club members 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.
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. Competition night will be held March 28. 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.
Seniors
Nature Coast Telecom Pioneers will meet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at Mariner United Methodist Church, 7079 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. Guest speaker will be a representative from Metro Crime Prevention, and dessert will be served. Bring used stamps, community service hours, can tabs, ditty bag items, food for the needy, knitted baby caps, box tops for education, and Campbell soup labels. Membership is open to anyone interested in serving the community and fellowship. For information, call Bonnie at 352-592-9856.
State Clubs
Illinois Club of Spring Hill will meet at 1 p.m. Friday, April 1, in the fellowship hall of Forest Oaks Lutheran Church, 8555 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. The club will hold its annual white elephant sale, “No April Fools.” Members are requested to donate a wrapped, new or used, household item which will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the club’s treasury. 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 1 p.m. Monday, April 4, at Nativity Lutheran Church, 6363 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee. The speaker will be Jim Moll of the Hernando County Extension Service. Following the meeting, coffee and dessert will be served. The club dines out at a preselected restaurant for its social night; on Wednesday, April 20, social night will be held at 4 p.m. at Cody’s Roadhouse, 3101 Commercial Way, Spring Hill. The club also offers monthly travel opportunities. Annual dues are $10 per person, and anyone that has lived in Wisconsin at some time qualifies. For information, call Carolee at 352-666-2974.
New York State Club will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at the Knights of Columbus hall, 10470 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Dinner and dancing will follow a short meeting. Bowling is held at 11:30 a.m. every Monday at Spring Hill Lanes, 3447 U.S. 19, Spring Hill. For information, call Marge at 352-686-8015.
Social
St. Frances Cabrini Council of Catholic Women (CCW) will hold its general meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, in Xavier Hall of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 5030 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. Join the group at 7:30 a.m. for Mass and the Rosary. Following the business meeting, “A Day at the Races” will be featured. All are welcome; bring a friend. For information, call the parish office at 352-683-9666.
African American Club of Hernando County will meet at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at the Regency Oaks Club House, 4445 Breakwater Blvd., off U.S. 19, Spring Hill. The guest speaker will bring information on financial planning. In addition, tickets will be available for the club’s scholarship banquet to be held May 28 at Silverthorn Country Club. Ticket cost is $50 per person. For information, call 352-596-3694.
Latinos Unidos Social Club of Spring Hill opens at 7 p.m. every Wednesday, Fridays, Saturday and Sunday at its facility located in the Starck Plaza at 12528 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Bingo, dominos, cards, billiard table, music and a cash bar are featured. Membership is open to the public. For information, call Jenny Mojica at 352-688-1022.
Community Outreach
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church will offer an “In His Footsteps” soup-and-sandwich outreach program lunch for those in need from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in the Parish Hall of the church located at 13485 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The meal is free of charge. The church offers the lunch the second Thursday of every month. For information, call the church office at 352-688-0663.
Christ the King Full Gospel Worship Center will conduct a food and bread items giveaway for families in need from 10 a.m. to noon every Monday at the worship center located at 5111 U.S. 19, Spring Hill. No requirements, other than I.D. Tammy Bennett is in charge of the ministry. For information, call the church at 352-596-5366.
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.
Military/Veterans
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) will hold its monthly luncheon meeting at noon Thursday, April 14, at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane, off Barclay Avenue, Spring Hill. All active duty, reserve, National Guard, retired, and former commissioned officers and guests are welcome. For information, call LTC Mel Sweat at 352-666-9244.
Navy Seabee Veterans of America meets at 10 a.m. the third Saturday of every month at VFW Post 9236 located at 3435 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach. For more information, call 727-488-0153.
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.
Sales
Brooksville Farmers Market will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday along Main Street in front of the Hernando County Courthouse in downtown Brooksville. Local vendors, produce, crafts, food, dog treats, jewelry, honey and much more will be featured. If interested in becoming a vendor or for information, call Jodi at 352-232-4241.
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.
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.
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.
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 or e-mail [email protected]
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
Daystar Life Center Thrift Shop has announced the Thursday opening of its clothing thrift shop at its facility located at 7120 Hope Hill Road, off State Road 50, Brooksville. BOGO Day (buy one-get one free) will be featured, with the free clothing item being of equal or lesser value than the purchased clothing item. BOGO Day hours will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday. All of the Daystar Life Center thrift shops will be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon every Friday and Saturday including the clothing thrift shop. Furniture, housewares, books, small appliances, clothing, crafts, electrical items and a children’s toy shop will be featured. The Daystar facility is located one-quarter mile behind St. Anthony Catholic Church. To schedule a pickup or for information, call 352-799-5930 or visit its website at www.daystarlifecenter.org.
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.
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 [email protected].
