Autobiography classes scheduled

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 19, 2008

BROOKSVILLE

The University of South Florida's Learning in Retirement will offer its Life Story Writing I and Life Story Writing II courses on Mondays, Jan. 28-March 24, at Southwest Florida Water Management District, 2379 Broad St., south of Brooksville.

The Life Story Writing I class will be from 1 to 3 p.m. This is a class for beginners. Participants will be guided on how to put their life stories on paper, first by listening to and reading published life stories, then begin working on writing their own. Study group sessions will focus on childhood, family history, relationships, children, work volunteer or paid, and personal sorrows and victories.

The Life Story Writing II class will meet from 10 a.m. to noon. It is for those who have taken a "sabbatical" from writing their life stories, or for those who wish to continue beyond what they have learned in the Life Story Writing I class. It offers new perspectives and approaches.

The cost for either course is $50 for Hernando County residents. Class sizes are limited. To register, call USF's toll-free number at 1-866-541-7124. For information about the courses, call Barbara at 597-1830.

BROOKSVILLE

Code compliance reviews begin Feb. 7

Hernando County Development Services will conduct code compliance reviews starting at9 a.m. Feb. 7 at Hernando County Engineering, 1525 E Jefferson St.

On the agenda: Composite Modules office building and hanger, 15446 Flight Path Drive, at 9 a.m.; Hernando Square Mini Storage, 4867 Commercial Way, at 9:30 a.m.; Mariner's Cay Apartments clubhouse, northwest intersection of Northcliffe Boulevard and Lamson Avenue, at 10 a.m.; and Mariner's Cay Apartments Building No. 7, at 10:30 a.m.

Those wishing to submit comments regarding any of the above projects must do so by Jan. 25. For information, call the Hernando County Building Department at 754-4165.

Scottish club dinner to honor Robert Burns

The Scottish Social Club of West Central Florida will present the annual Robert Burns Dinner Celebration at 1 p.m. Feb. 3 at American Legion Hall, 208 E Fort Dade Ave.

Entertainment will include highland dancers, bagpiping, reading of poems by Robert Burns and the traditional Salute to the Haggis.

Dinner will include steak and sausage pie, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, dessert and coffee, tea or ice tea.

Tickets are $12 per person. For reservations, call Bill Gilkison at 596-0513.

Gymnastics classes for kids begin Feb. 26

Brooksville Recreation will offer gymnastics for elementary- and middle school-age children,

Classes will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, starting Feb. 26, at the Jerome Brown Community Center, 99 Jerome Brown Place, off Darby Lane.

For prices and details, call JBCC at 544-5498 or Lisa Pitts at (813) 494 3066.

Chinsegut Centerseeking volunteers

Chinsegut Nature Center is in need of volunteers.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which operates the Chinsegut Nature Center, 23212 Lake Lindsey Road, will conduct a volunteer orientation session from9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the center, north of Brooksville.

Each Wednesday through April 23 after the orientation, a new topic will be presented to volunteers in training during a three- to four-hour session. Topics include ecology and mammal tracking, herpetology, birding, butterflies, natural plant communities, fire management, Chinsegut's cultural history, geomorphology of the area, map and compass usage and techniques of environmental education.

Volunteers present educational programs and help with the Chinsegut center's festivals, trail maintenance, non-native plant control, general grounds maintenance, office staffing and other projects.

The nature center also hosts public workshops and evening talks, and is open for hiking, birding and other types of recreation from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

For information on how to volunteer, contact Becky Brown at Rebecca.Brown@MyFWC.com or call 754-6722 for an application and to schedule an interview.

McCollum to speak at DAR luncheon meeting

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum will speak at the Annuttaliga Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution's luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m.Feb. 18 at the Brooksville Country Club at Majestic Oaks, 23446 Links Drive (off Croom Road).

McCollum will speak about the state Cyber Crime Unit, which targets child pornography and pedophile problems on the Internet.

A limited number of tickets will be available. The cost is $13 (with $1 benefiting the DAR's Hernando County Scholarship Fund).

The deadline to purchase tickets is Feb. 7. For tickets or information, call Lynette Grossenbacher at 544-8162.

BROOKSVILLE

Run and Fun Walksoon at Chinsegut

The 12th annual Chinsegut Run and Fun Walk will beFeb. 16 on the Chinsegut Nature Center grounds, 23212 Lake Lindsey Road, north of Brooksville.

Packet pickup and late registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. The 5K run will start at 8:30 a.m. and the 1-mile fun walk will start at 8:35 a.m.

For the 5K, handcrafted awards will be given to the overall male and female winners, top masters male and female and the top three finishers in each age division, male and female. For the fun walk, awards will be given to the top three people identifying the most flagged natural plants on the walk.

The entry fee is $12 for the 5K and $10 for the fun walk if paid by Feb. 8. The cost after Feb. 8 is $15 for the 5K and $12 for the walk. Checks are to be made payable to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida.

For an entry form or information, call 754-6722, e-mail kristin.wood@MyFWC.com or visit the Web site at www.MyFWC.com/Chinsegut.

SPRING HILL

Tribute to musicianat Horse & Crown Pub

A tribute to Mark Lokan, the original "Music Bum" will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Horse & Crown Pub, 5230 Commercial Way.

Many bands have signed up to perform during the concert fundraiser, including: Prospect, Recoil, Bullwinkle, Sunspot and Nothing in the Dark and others. Elvis will also entertain.

Raffle tickets will be sold for $5 each. A variety of prizes will be raffled off, such as an Ovation acoustic autographed by Zakk Wylde of Ozzie Osborne and Black Label Society, autographed memorabilia from Sister Hazel and more. Raffle tickets available at the Horse & Crown, Encore Music in Hudson and Quality Guitars in the Outlet Mall in Spring Hill.

The tribute will also include a potluck. Those attending are asked to bring a dish.

Lokan, who died Nov. 23, was a guitar player and lead singer for the bands Dog Leg Left and Soupstone. He was also the original owner of the Music Bum store in Spring Hill and organized benefits for local bands, called Bumfest.

The tribute will also feature food and raffles. For information or to donate, call Dave Kelly at 584-3607.

Ship modelers displaytheir small creations

The Suncoast Ship Model Society will present the annual ship model display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Weeki Wachee Senior Citizens Club, 3357 Susan Drive.

The show will include model ships from the 18th century through modern times. There will be ships in bottles, frigates, merchant ships, whalers, warships, riverboats, tugboats and fishing schooners, some that will be radio-controlled. There will also be ships under construction.

Modelers will be on hand to answer questions. The suggested admission will be $1. For information, call Jim at 592-6419.

SPRING HILL

Club dinner to benefitbi-county hospice

The General Federation of Women's Club, Spring Hill Service League, will host a spaghetti dinner to benefit Hernando-Pasco Hospice. It will be 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 10470 Spring Hill Drive.

The Mummers will entertain. The meal will include salad, spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, homemade desserts and coffee and tea.

Tickets are $10. For tickets or information, call Nancy Cannon at 596-9690 or Carol Smith at 596-9165.

HERNANDO BEACH

Coast Guard Auxiliary offers boating courses

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer the following programs at the facility at 4140 Calienta St.:

- Navigating with Global Positioning System, 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 26, and again from 7 to 9 p.m. March 29. Participants will learn how to use the GPS to get to a destination and back, how to program waypoints, develop routes and interface GPS routes with a nautical chart. The cost is $35, which includes a text on use of GPS.

- America's Boating Course,7 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 4, 5 11 and 12. Another class will be 7 to9:30 p.m. March 11-13. This class is an overview of boating and safety, and includes all information necessary to qualify for the Florida Boating Safety ID card. The cost is $30, which includes the text.

- How to Read a Nautical Chart, 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 9. Topics include types of charts, capabilities and limitations of charts, interpretation of symbols and how to select a chart to use. The cost is $35, which includes a text on chart nomenclature.

- Hernando Beach Coastal Navigation, 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 16. Participants will learn how to navigate the area through the use of charts, instruments used in plotting courses, and a compass. Practical exercises on development of routes along the Hernando Beach coast will be conducted. The cost is $15.

- Suddenly in Command, 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 19. This is a free class for boat passengers who are not familiar with driving a boat.

- Radio/Digital Selective Calling, 7 to 9 p.m. March 25. This free class will teach about this new technology for safety. Participants will learn about DSC radios, Rescue 21 and Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon.

- Boating Skills and Seamanship, 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, March 19 to May 7. This is the Coast Guard Auxiliary's premier boating program that includes safety, navigation and rules, radio, weather, Florida law and more. Completion of this course satisfies the requirements for the Florida Boating Safety ID. The cost is $50, which includes text material.

For information or to sign up for a class, call John at 573-8155 or visit the Web site at a0701508.uscgaux.info.

Recruiting class for Coast Guard Auxiliary

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will present "Who We Are and What We Do" at 7 p.m. Jan. 28. This is a free class for those interested in volunteering with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

It is an overview of what auxiliary members do, such as conduct safety patrols and search and rescue missions, assist the Coast Guard with homeland security duties, teach boating safety classes and conduct free vessel safety checks. Also available are a variety of training opportunities. Call Charlie at 597-8136.

Beach Club to hostdinner dance Feb. 8

The Hernando Beach Club will host a Winter Wonderland Dinner Dance Feb. 8 at the club, 3145 Flamingo Blvd.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. and a steak dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Just Us duo.

Tickets are $14 for members and $16 for nonmembers. For details, call Bunni at 688-4976.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Sweet Adelines singers will perform

Suncoast Harmony Chorus, the west-central Florida chapter of Sweet Adelines International, will present its 21st annual show, Sweet'n Swinging, at 2 p.m.Feb. 9 at the Center for the Arts at River Ridge, 11646 Town Center Road.

The show will include a variety of music from ballads to toe-tappers, gospel to comedy, as well as a patriotic segment. The Encore Swing Band will also perform.

Tickets are $12 and can be purchased in advance by sending a check to the chorus, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Cindy LaPorte, 14275 Brookridge Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613. There will also be a limited number of tickets at the box office on the day of the show. Seats are not reserved.

Suncoast Harmony Chorus, which is under the direction of certified director Amy Riddle, is a women's barbershop chorus that performs four-part harmony, a cappella style. For information, call Cindy at 597-4376.

[Last modified January 18, 2008, 20:26:18]