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Digest
Hazardous waste collection day set
By TIMES STAFF
Published August 21, 2007
BROOKSVILLE
The Hernando County Commission, in conjunction with the Solid Waste and Recycling Division, will sponsor a household hazardous waste collection day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the south entrance to the Hernando County Fairgrounds, 6436 S Broad St.
EQ of Florida Inc. will accept household hazardous waste from Hernando County residents and small businesses. There is no charge to residents for disposal of their own waste.
The cost for businesses is at the same rate as the county's contract, with payment due to EQ at the time of service. Prices for hazardous chemical removal and disposal is available at the Solid Waste and Recycling Division at 14450 Landfill Road.
For information, call Jeff Howley at 754-4906.
COUNTYWIDE
County, court clerk install ethics hotline
The Hernando County Commission and Hernando County Clerk of Circuit Court Karen Nicolai have implemented Hernando County Government's Ethics Hotline.
The hotline is specifically designed to combat potential fraud, waste or abuse in county government. The hotline has a toll-free phone and fax number, coupled with an e-mail address that provides county employees, vendors, third-party service providers and Hernando County residents the ability to report concerns or suspicions anonymously.
Reports are then forwarded by an independent hotline facilitator to a response group composed of the county administrator, Hernando County sheriff, and audit services director, who will review the allegation.
If any member of the response group is specifically named in an allegation, that member will not receive notice of the allegation.
Acts that can be reported include, but are not limited to, theft or misappropriation of county resources, falsification of official documents or reports, corruption or official misconduct, including county buildings, vehicles, equipment or supplies; conducting personal business on county time, improper use or spending of county tax dollars, violations of procurement policies or contract fraud, tampering with government records, illegal acts such as theft, fraud, kickbacks, conflict of interest or price fixing by county employees and its contracts; or gross misconduct, incompetence or inefficiency by county employees.
The Hernando County Government Ethics Hotline can be reached by calling toll-free 1-866-842-1345, by faxing toll-free to 1-800-748-6159, e-mailing to reportline@tnwinc.com or visit the Web site at www.tnwinc.com/webreport.
SPRING HILL
YMCA's annual Run to Remember is Sept. 11
The Hernando County Family YMCA will host the annual September 11th Run to Remember at 6:30 a.m. Sept. 11 at the Y, 1300 Mariner Blvd.
The event will include a 5K memorial run or 1-mile walk, followed by a brief prayer service and continental breakfast.
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office will lead and Spring Hill Fire and Rescue will follow the runners from the YMCA into the Seven Hills subdivision and back to the finish line.
There is no cost to participate in the event. Those who register by Sept. 1 will receive a Run to Remember T-shirt. Also, childcare will be provided at the Y during the race for participants. Spectators are welcome.
The event is in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Registration forms are available at the front desk at the YMCA. Sponsorships are also available. For information, call Olivia Matles at 688-9622.
COUNTYWIDE
AAA offers free 'Back to School' notary service
AAA is offering free "Back to School" notary service for parents through Sept. 30. In Hernando County, the AAA office is at 1410 Pinehurst Drive, off Commercial Way and Spring Hill Drive, in Spring Hill.
Membership to AAA is not required for this free service.
Parents can bring in documentation for sports, functions, field trip permission slips and other school-related documents. For information, call 683-3446.
WEEKI WACHEE
Fine Arts Council gala seeks sponsors, artists
Sponsors are needed for the Hernando County Fine Arts Council's upcoming event, "A Taste of Jazz," which will be Nov. 3-4 at Weeki Wachee Springs, 6131 Commercial Way.
There will be more than 20 restaurants participating, as well as numerous artists selling "wearable" art.
Visitors will be able to purchase tickets for $1 each toward purchasing food "tastes". The event will include entertainment and music, as well as children's activities.
Admission to the event will be $3, which includes entry to Weeki Wachee Springs (children 2 and younger admitted free). Parking will be $1 per vehicle.
Spaces remains for restaurants, caterers and artists to participate. Corporate sponsorships are also available.
All net proceeds will be used to promote and support the creative arts in Hernando County, including, but not limited to, grants to local art organizations.
For information, call 754-4788 or e-mail hernandoarts
@aol.com. COUNTYWIDE
Preschool Storytime at library begins Sept.10
The Hernando County Public Library System will offer the Preschool Storytime program for children ages 3-5 from the week of Sept. 10 through the week of Oct. 15 at these locations:
- 11 a.m. Tuesdays, East Hernando Branch Library, 6457 Windmere Road, Ridge Manor West, east of Brooksville.
- 10 a.m. Thursdays, Spring Hill Branch/Harold G. Zopp Memorial Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill.
- 10 a.m. Fridays, West Hernando/Staffordene T. Foggia Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., Spring Hill.
This is a literature-based program filled with stories, fingerplays, crafts and songs. All programs run about 45 minutes.
For information, call 540-6391 or visit online at www.hcpl.lib.fl.us.
SPRING HILL
VFW Post 10209 invites veterans to join post
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10209 invites Hernando County veterans to join or visit the post home at 15166 Spring Hill Drive.
The Ladies Auxiliary also seeks new members and a men's auxiliary is being formed.
The post is in the process of building a new post home on Ed Noll Boulevard, off Anderson Snow Road.
Construction should end and the post should move into the new facility in November.
For information, call the post at 796-0398.
BROOKSVILLE
Register today for fall classes at adult school
The Hernando County Adult and Community Education Department at Nature Coast Technical High School is accepting registration for its fall classes.
Arts and leisure classes available include: acrylic and mixed medium painting, beginning and advanced basketry, bird watching/identification, basic drawing, fashion design, gemology, home improvement/basic repairs, oil painting (offered at Nature Coast and Central high schools), pine needle baskets, pottery (at Springstead High School), quilting, basic sewing, watercolor painting and woodworking.
Educational classes include: grant proposal writing, ACT math test preparation, ACT language test preparation, parenting, beginning and intermediate sign language, conversational Spanish, pre-GED and GED prep, beginning computers, basics of e-Bay buying and selling, digital photography, graphic design and front page Web design.
Exercise and fitness classes offered include: dance exercise, tai chi, beginning and advanced yoga.
Unless otherwise noted, classes are at Nature Coast Technical High School, 4057 California St.
For class schedules, costs and other information, call Joan or Harry at 797-7091.
[Last modified August 21, 2007, 07:11:12]
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