Hernando briefs

By Times Staff Writer
Published November 21, 2007

SPRING HILL

Join the traditional Polish Christmas Party

The Polish Legion of American Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary, Walter Weiss Memorial Post 196 will host the annual Oplatek traditional Polish Christmas Party on Dec. 15 at the new VFW Post 10209 facility on Edward R. Noll Drive, off Anderson Snow Road.

Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. A Polish dinner will be served at 3:30 p.m. and will include a herring appetizer, golabi pierogi, kielbasa and sauerkraut, fresh rye bread, complimentary wine, and kryszcziki and poppy seed cake for dessert.

The Bee-Sharps will entertain with Polish and American dance music from 5 to 8 p.m.

While partygoers will be able to bring their own snacks for the cocktail hour, no beverages will be allowed to be brought in. A full cash bar will be available throughout the event.

The event will also include a communal tree decoration, the singing of Polish and American Christmas carols, a visit by St. Nick and the traditional sharing of the Oplatek.

Children are welcome at this event. Tickets are $15 for adults and youths; free for 11 and younger but their complimentary tickets must be requested in advance when purchasing adult tickets.

All those attending are asked to bring a small gift-wrapped Christmas present for a hospitalized veteran, which will be donated to patients at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center in St. Petersburg or Baldomero Lopez State Veterans' Nursing Home in Land O'Lakes. Since most veterans at the two facilities are men, gifts should be for men or nongender-specific; gifts should be marked whether they are appropriate for men or either gender.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. For information or tickets, call Frank Makosiej at 796-1923 or Ann Rakucewicz at 796-0111, or e-mail to john@kcontrols.com

Music and cheer with Christian Women

The Christian Women's Club will host a "Musical Sounds and Christmas Cheer" luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane. Doors open at 11 a.m.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Mike and Lori Hafter. The speaker will be Dorothy Morse, who will share her "trip on the Yellow Brick Road, and how her red slippers took her to the end of the rainbow."

The cost is $12.50, all inclusive. Free nursery care is provided with reservations. For information, call 799-3735.

Sponsors needed for Angels on High event

The Spring Hill Community Association needs a snow sponsor for the upcoming Angels on High event, which will be Dec. 13-16 at the Lake House grounds, 1202 Kenlake Ave.

Other sponsors are also needed and participants are needed to decorate an angel for the outdoor display and contest. There is no cost to enter an angel. The deadline to reserve an angel spot along the path is Saturday.

The event includes a tree-lighting each night, entertainment, baked goods and, possibly, real snow.

For information, call Cara at 666-4746.

Dinner, New Year's Eve bash at VFW post

VFW Post 10209 will host the following events at the new post home at 14736 Edward R. Noll Drive, off Anderson Snow Road:

- Honor Guard Dinner, 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 13. The dinner entree choice is chicken or roast beef. Tickets are $9.50 each.

- New Year's Eve Bash, Dec. 31. Tickets are $37.50 each ($75 per couple) and include a roast beef or chicken dinner, an open bar from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., champagne toast, music by All Star Entertainment, hat and noisemakers and a continental breakfast from 1 to 2 a.m. Reservations required for parties of eight or more.

For tickets for either event, or for information, call the post at 796-0398.

COUNTYWIDE

Postal carriers will pick up toys for tots

Hernando County residents are reminded that the U.S. Postal Service letter carriers will be collecting new, unwrapped toys Dec. 1 for the Toys for Tots program in Hernando County.

On Dec. 1, residents may leave toys in bags or boxes by their mailboxes.

To learn more about the local Toys for Tots program, call 796-3666.

Volunteer to help elderly with taxes

AARP Tax-Aid/Hernando County District is seeking volunteers to learn how to prepare tax returns for elderly and low-to-middle income taxpayers in Hernando County during the upcoming tax season.

In January, volunteers attend a free, weeklong training course sponsored by the AARP and Internal Revenue Service. Volunteers must pass a written exam and commit to work a minimum of four hours a week from Feb. 1 to April 15 at one of the various tax assistance sites throughout the county.

Individuals of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels are encouraged to apply. The deadline to enter is Dec. 10. Call Joseph Centineo at 683-3769.

BROOKSVILLE

Elks to host Christmas dinner, dance Dec. 15

Brooksville Elks Lodge 2582 will host a Christmas Dinner Dance on Dec. 15 at the lodge, 14494 Cortez Blvd.

Cocktail hour will start at 4 p.m. with dinner served at 5 p.m. and dancing until 8:30 p.m. Menu choice is roast turkey or roast beef. Music will be provided by Take Two.

Tickets are $12 and must be purchased by Dec. 7. For information or tickets, call Doris Cloman at 796-9784.

Holiday celebration to help youth shelter

The Hernando County Alliance Members and Friends of Alliance Members will host a Holiday Celebration and Benefit Brunch from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 3 at the New Beginning Youth Shelter, 18377 Clinton Road, off Truck Bypass 50 (behind the Sheriff's Office).

Those attending are asked to bring a donation for the shelter's youth. Gift suggestions include gift certificates to the Beacon movie theater or pizza or bowling certificates.

The shelter houses youth from ages 10 to 17. Good, used clothing for children in this age range are appreciated.

Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by Nov. 29. Call Susan at 238-0625 or Maureen at 650-9006, or e-mail to hernandomedicalalliance@yahoo.com

Toy Run open to all bikers and clubs

The 18th annual Toy Run for Shriners Hospital for Children will leave from the southeast parking lot of Truck Bypass 50 and Broad Street at 11:29 a.m. sharp Dec. 8.

The run is open to all bikers and clubs. Participants are to bring a new toy for a kid, either wrapped or unwrapped.

Call Hop Artman at 597-2369 or Fred Wolcott at 684-7251.

SPRING HILL

Visit Santa, watch a movie at library

The Hernando County Public Library System invites children of all ages to watch a classic holiday movie and a visit with Santa at 10 a.m. Dec. 1 at the Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive.

Caregivers are encouraged to bring cameras while children visit with Santa.

Following the visit, children will watch the animated film, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, narrated by Boris Karloff. The 1966 film of the Dr. Seuss classic is rated G.

There is no cost to attend and no registration required. Caregivers must remain on library premises.

For information, call 540-6391 or visit the Web site at www.hcpl.lib.fl.us.

BROOKSVILLE/SPRING HILL

County recreation offers classes, lessons

Hernando County Recreation offers the following:

- Intermediate/advanced acting and drama classes, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, Delta Woods Park, 3400 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. The classes are for youth ages 9-16. The cost is $35 per four-week session.

- Baton lessons: 45-minute sessions for various skill levels are from 4:45 through 7 p.m. Thursdays at Hernando Park, 205 E Fort Dade Ave., Brooksville, and from 4:45 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Delta Woods Park, 3400 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. The cost is $6 per class. Lessons are for ages 4 and older.

- Cartoon drawing, 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Delta Woods Park. Classes are for children ages 6 to 12. The cost is $35 per four-week session (supplies included).

- "Come and Get Your Groove On" cheerleading program: 45-minute sessions for various age groups (ages 5 and older) are from 6 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesdays at the Community Activity Center, 205 E Fort Dade Ave., Brooksville, and from 6 to 8:45 p.m. Thursdays at Delta Woods Park in Spring Hill. The cost is $6 per class. Uniforms are purchased separately through All American Youth Activities.

- Tae Kwon Do for ages 6-60 from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. at three locations: Mondays at Delta Woods Park; Wednesdays at Deltona Elementary School, 2055 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill; and Fridays at the Community Activity Center in Brooksville. The first lesson is free; the first month is $30 and additional months are $40.

- Tennis: one-hour sessions for ages 6 through adult are from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Hernando Park in Brooksville and Thursdays at Delta Woods Park in Spring Hill. The cost is $42 for six one-hour sessions.

For information or to register for any of the programs offered, call Hernando County Recreation at 754-4031.

WEEKI WACHEE

Christmas pageant to help Toys for Tots

A Nature Coast Merry Christmas Christmas Pageant, Model Search and Baby Contest will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Weeki Wachee Resort, 6172 Commercial Way.

The event is sponsored by Star Search Pageants and will benefit Toys for Tots. Participants and spectators are asked to bring a new toy.

The event is open to newborns through young adult and will include trophies and prizes for all contestants and an after-party with Santa.

For details on entering the pageant or for other information, call Stephanie Sims at 678-9588 or visit the Web site at www.starsearchpageants.com.

LAKE PANASOFFKEE

Ombudsman council to meet Nov. 29

The Withlacoochee Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council will meet at 10 a.m. Nov. 29 at the Lake Panasoffkee Parks and Recreation, 1582 County Road 459.

The meeting will include training in infection control.

The council is made up of local ombudsmen whose goal is to improve the quality of life and care of residents of long-term care facilities. An ombudsman is a specially trained and certified volunteer approved by the governor and given authority under federal and state law to identify, investigate and resolve complaints.

For information, call (352) 620-3088 or visit http://ombudsman.myflorida.com.

[Last modified November 20, 2007, 21:13:18]