Still time to be a christmas angel for kids

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 23, 2007

COUNTYWIDE

It's not too late to help needy Hernando County children and teenagers. The Christmas Angel Program of Hernando County needs help to fulfill Christmas wish lists, particularly for teenagers. The organization has trees with wish lists for children from infancy through 18 at Beall's Department Store, 13190 Cortez Blvd., and at the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 1485 Commercial Way, Spring Hill. The trees will be up through Monday. For information, call 596-1552.

Dec. 31 last day to register for primary

Hernando County Supervisor of Elections Annie Williams reminds voters that 5 p.m. Dec. 31 is the deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation for the presidential preference primary, which will be Jan. 29. Absentee ballot requests are now being accepted between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays; the deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Jan. 23. Early voting will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, Jan. 14-26, and can be done at either elections office: 20 N Main St., Brooksville, or 7443 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. For information, call 754-4125 or visit the Web site at hernandovotes.com.

BROOKSVILLE

Chess tourney for kids in grades 1-7

A Christmas chess tournament for youth in first through seventh grades will be from 10:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Brooksville Church of the Nazarene, 19384 Ingram St. The tournament is provided by Championship Chess, a national chess teaching organization. The entry fee is $5. Trophies will be awarded to first- and second-place players. Registration will be accepted through Friday. To register or to learn about other chess activities, call coach Francis Croft at 799-6503 or send e-mail to jfcj@mindspring.com

See if Santa went to haunted house

The Hernando Heritage Museum offers Haunted Heritage Tours of the museum. The museum is a four-story home built in 1856 and is believed to have a resident ghost, Jessie May. Jessie May Saxon was the daughter of John and Marena Saxon. Marena died giving birth to Jessie May in the house. Jessie May died of unknown causes in the same house about 31/2 years later. Both Jessie and her mother are buried on the grounds of the museum. The ghost tours are 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and cost $20 per person. The tours are open to people age 16 and older. Reservations are required. Call the museum at 799-0129.

[Last modified December 22, 2007, 20:30:22]