Advertisement

Hernando County briefs

 
Published Oct. 1, 2013

ELECTIONS OFFICE REOPENS: Hernando County Supervisor of Elections Shirley Anderson has announced that the westside elections office, at 7443 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill, will reopen today. The office will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. The main office is in Room 165 at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 N Main St., Brooksville. That office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. For information, call (352) 754-4125.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT: A National Night Out celebration will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday in the Target parking lot, 3101 Aerial Way, east of Spring Hill.

The event will feature free activities for children and adults, food and displays by local law enforcement and fire departments. There will be a bounce house, balloons, photos, arts and crafts, face painting and numerous games.

The event is a collaboration between Target, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, Hernando County Fire Rescue, Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport, the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce, Chick-fil-A, Papa John's, Starbucks and other businesses and organizations.

For information, call (352) 593-2168 or send email to shawn.rigney@target.com.

PETS TO BE BLESSED: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church will host its annual blessing of pets at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the church, 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. Pets of all kind are welcome. For information, call (352) 683-2010.

WATCH MOVIE ON FRACKING: The Unitarian Universalist Church will kick off its 2013-14 movie series with the film Gasland at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Brooksville Woman's Club, 131 S Main St., Brooksville.

In the movie, a permit is in the final stages of approval by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for drilling a well for gas in a residential area 1,000 feet from homes near Naples. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2011, it focuses on the "fracking" method of extracting natural gas and its impact on the land and communities around the drilling sight.

A discussion will follow. For information, call (352) 346-1516.

LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MEETING: The Hernando County Legislative Delegation will hold a public meeting from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 14 at Brooksville City Hall, 201 Howell Ave., Brooksville.

The purpose of the meeting is to receive comments from other elected officials, organizations and the general public on issues related to the 2014 legislative session. All proposals for local bills will be presented at the hearing, accompanied by a resolution of the local government supporting the legislation. This information must be submitted to the office of the delegation chairman, Sen. Wilton Simpson, P.O. Box 938, Brooksville, FL, 34605, by noon Monday.

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter

We’ll deliver the latest news and information you need to know every morning.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

To be placed on the printed agenda, contact Simpson's office at harrison.patty@flsenate.gov or call (352) 540-6074 by Monday. Residents may also fill out a speaker's form on the day of the meeting. Those who plan to distribute handouts must bring four copies. For information, call Patty Harrison at (352) 540-6074 or contact Judy Parker at parker.judy@flsenate.gov or (727) 816-1120.

RECEPTION FOR SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE: A fundraising reception for Beth Narverud, a candidate for Hernando County School Board in District 3, will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane, Spring Hill.

There will be hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. All donations welcome, but $50 is suggested ($500 maximum). For information or to RSVP, call (352) 279-7284 or email to enarverud@gmail.com.

ANIMAL SERVICES OPEN HOUSE: Hernando County Animal Services will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the shelter, 19450 Oliver St., Brooksville.

Visitors will be introduced to the new cat adoption rooms and veterinary medical/surgical room. There will be educational and informational tables staffed by the Hillsborough Community College veterinary technician program, the Hernando County Health Department and several volunteers and students. All pets at the shelter will be available for a $1 adoption fee. For information, call (352) 796-5062.

MPO COMMITTEE POSITIONS AVAILABLE: The Hernando County Metropolitan Planning Organization is accepting applications from individuals interested in serving on the following committees:

• The Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee has an opening for one disabled individual representative. The committee meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month, October through April. It provides a continuing forum to analyze and promote bicycle and pedestrian issues.

• The Citizens Advisory Committee has vacancies for one County Commission District 1 representative and two minority representatives. The committee meets, on average, about six times a year, at 4 p.m. on Thursdays. The committee provides a formal framework for public input and solutions from a citizen's perspective concerning alternative transportation proposals and critical issues regarding the transportation planning process.

• The Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board has a vacancy for a citizen representative for the disabled. The board meets on a quarterly basis, at 10 a.m., typically on the fourth Wednesday of the month. It oversees the activities of the community transportation coordinator and the transportation disadvantaged service program.

All positions are volunteer. Those interested in filling any of the vacancies should contact Steve Diez, Hernando County Metropolitan Planning Organization, Room 262, 20 N Main St., Brooksville FL, 34601; call (352) 754-4057, or send email to stevend@hernandocounty.us. Applications are also available online at hernandocounty.us/mpo/pdf/appregular.pdf.

CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE: A Rummage to Treasures sale will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11 and 12 at St. Mary Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 18810 Broad St., Masaryktown. For information, call (352) 796-2792.

OCTOBER CELEBRATION FOR PETS AND OWNERS: The Rotary Club of Spring Hill Central will host its annual Barktober Fest in the Park from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 19 at Rotary Centennial Park, 10375 Sandlor St., Spring Hill.

There will be various contests, including a dog talent contest at 1 p.m., a cutest/ugliest dog contest at 2 p.m. and a doggie costume contest at 3 p.m. Hot dogs, snacks, soft drinks, beer and wine will be available for purchase.

Admission is free for dogs and their owners. Parking is $1.

The contest entry fee is $2. Proceeds will benefit the club's programs, including the dog park and local charities.

For information, send email to rotarySHC@hotmail.com.

ROTARY SELLING WREATHS FOR THE HOLIDAYS: The Rotary Club of Spring Hill is taking orders through Oct. 31 for its holiday wreath fundraiser.

The wreaths are a 22-inch round mix of noble fir, incense cedar and berried juniper. They come decorated with a plaid bow and pinecones.

Orders can be shipped anywhere in the continental United States with a gift message. The cost is $39 each and includes shipping. The wreaths will be delivered to recipients the first week of December.

Proceeds support scholarships and youth programs. To place an order or for information, call Carol McElroy at (352) 684-6840.

MAKE AN ANGEL FOR HOLIDAY EVENT: The Spring Hill Community Association will host its annual Angels on High holiday event Dec. 13 to 15 on the Lake House grounds, 1202 Kenlake Ave., Spring Hill.

Individuals, clubs, churches, schools and nonprofit organizations are invited to create and showcase an angel. Angel kits are available for $40. The event will include holiday music, refreshments and entertainment on the outdoor pavilion. Craft vendor spaces are available. For details, call (352) 666-4746.

MINI MARATHON BENEFIT: The Junior Service League of Brooksville will host a Masquerade Mini Marathon on Oct. 12 starting at the Good Neighbor Trail head at Russell Street Park, at Russell and Main streets, Brooksville.

The event includes a 5K, 10K and 1-mile fun run, with a post-race pancake breakfast in the park. Runners are encouraged, but not required, to run in costume.

Prizes will be awarded for the best race times and best costumes. Check-in for the 5K and 10K races will begin at 7 a.m., with the races starting at 8 a.m. Check-in for the fun run begins at 8:30 a.m., with the run starting at 10 a.m.

Prices vary from $15 to $30. The cost for the pancake breakfast is $6; nonrunners welcome. For details and to register, visit active.com/brooksville-fl/running/races/masquerade-mini-marathon-2013.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES: Hernando High School will host its Sports Hall of Fame banquet at 6 p.m. Oct. 17 in the school's Michael Imhoff Gymnasium, 700 Bell Ave., Brooksville. This year's inductees include: Earl Deen, Grover Ellis, Phillip Jones, Dee Brown, Chrissy Hartley DuShane, Monica Hysell Lovett, Tim Sims and Mike Walker. Tickets for the banquet are $25 and available at the school. Photos of the inductees will be on display in the foyer of the gymnasium. Also, the inductees will be introduced during halftime at the varsity football game against Pasco High on Oct. 18. For information or to purchase tickets, call Joy Nagy at (352) 797-7015, ext. 410.

BOOK SIGNING WITH NOTED DOCTOR: A book signing with Dr. M.P. Ravindra Nathan will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Crescent Community Clinic, 5244 Commercial Way, Spring Hill. Nathan, a cardiologist, is retired after more than 50 years of medical service in India, England and Hernando County. He recently had his first book published, Stories From My Heart: A Cardiologist's Reflections on the Gift of Life. He currently volunteers weekly at the nonprofit Crescent Community Clinic, which provides, at no cost, primary medical, dental and mental health services to uninsured adults ages 18 to 64 who meet the federal poverty guidelines. Light refreshments will be served. Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by Saturday to bls471986@gmail.com or (352) 610-9916, ext. 105. Copies of Nathan's book are available at createspace.com/4230283 and on Amazon.com.

HUMANE SOCIETY CALENDAR PHOTO CONTEST: The Humane Society of the Nature Coast is hosting an online pet photo calendar contest to raise funds for the pets at its shelter. Photos are being accepted through Oct. 14. Votes will be accepted through Oct. 20. Votes are $1 each, with a minimum of five votes per transaction. The top vote-getter will be on the cover of the organization's 2014 pet photo calendar. The next 12 top finishers will be pets of the month. There will be additional honorable mention photographs selected by a panel of judges. Winners will be notified the week of Nov. 1 by email or phone. Winners may need to resubmit their photos to the Humane Society as a high-resolution, print-quality image. Winners will be notified where to send photos. For information and complete rules and guidelines, visit the website at humanerescue.org.

MODEL AIRPLANES SHOW FOR CHARITY: The Hernando Aero Modelers will host a charity air show on Oct. 12 at the club field at the Cemex Entrance Road, 16301 Ponce De Leon Blvd., north of Brooksville. Gates open at 8 a.m. The event features a high-speed delta demonstration, a pattern demo, combat flying, a pylon racing demo, aircraft displays, scale aircraft and various skilled flying events. Also featured will be a 3D helicopter demonstration by Rolando Perrez. Spectator admission is $3 per person or $5 per carload. Food and drinks will be available. Proceeds benefit the Hernando Cattlemen's Association scholarship fund. For information, call Bill Panzeter at (352) 346-9948.

SCARECROWS WANTED: Entries are still being accepted for the Scarecrows in the Gardens fundraising event that will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens, 1489 Parker Ave., Spring Hill. Hosted by the Spring Hill Garden Club, the event will showcase scarecrows created by individuals, clubs, organizations and other groups. Entertainment will be provided by country music singer George Marshall. There will be activities and games for children such as face painting, pumpkin painting and a scavenger hunt. Also, Tony the Balloon Guy will entertain from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Numerous gifts and services will be raffled; tickets are $1 each or six for $5. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free, though donations are appreciated. There are a few costs, such as $1 for the pumpkin painting. Also, visitors can vote for their favorite scarecrows for $1 per vote. Voting will continue through Nov. 15. The cost for scarecrow entries is $10. For rules and entry forms, visit naturecoastgardens.com or call (352) 683-9933. Proceeds will benefit the landmark Spring Hill waterfall entrance at Commercial Way and Spring Hill Drive. In conjunction with the event, the garden club will have its fall plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 11 and 12 at its plant nursery, which is adjacent to the botanical gardens. Members will be on hand to assist customers in choosing the right plant for the right location. For information, call the number above.