Citrus in brief

By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 15, 2001

Inverness Garden Club plans tree giveaway

INVERNESS -- The Inverness Garden Club will hold an Arbor Day Tree Giveaway beginning at noon Friday in front of three locations in Inverness: Publix on U.S. 41 N, Connor's Office Supplies on Tompkins Street, and in the parking lot of building 200 of the Withlacoochee Technical Institute. Seedlings are free. Donations will be accepted.

Veterans Information Day to be held Feb. 8

HOMOSASSA -- Disabled American Veterans Suncoast Chapter 139 will present a Veterans Information Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 8 at the chapter hall, 8940 W Veterans Drive, Homosassa, just off U.S. 19. Call 795-5155 on Mondays or Tuesdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Seminar on intangible tax set for Jan. 25

LECANTO -- A tax specialist from the Florida Department of Revenue will offer a free seminar on the Florida Intangible Tax at 1 p.m. Jan. 25 in the Crystal Oaks Clubhouse, 4958 W Crystal Oaks Drive, Lecanto. There will be a question and answer period. Seating is limited. For reservations, call Craig O'Dell at Edward D. Jones, 795-1811.

African American Club to present awards

LECANTO -- The African American Club of Citrus County will present the fifth annual African-American Achievement and Recognition Awards Program at 2 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Curtis Peterson Auditorium in Lecanto. This is an important multicultural community celebration of the achievements of outstanding students in the 4th through 12th grades, who will be rewarded for academic achievement. The program theme is "If you can dream it, you can achieve it".

Additionally, an Ethics Award will be given to the middle school student who exhibited, through word and deed, the highest ethical standards in his or her school and in the community.

Dr. Marvin Davies, President and CEO of the African American Action Alliance, will be the featured speaker. A civil rights and political activist, he worked and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was active in the civil rights movement in Florida from 1963 to 1972.

The program will recognize Black History Month, and will present an anti-tobacco visual message geared to everyone. The public is invited. Admission is free and there will be door prizes. For information, call 637-5650.

Salvation Army needs food to stock pantry

HOMOSASSA -- The Salvation Army is in need of non-perishable food items to stock its pantry to help the needy in Citrus County throughout the year. Donations may be taken to the Salvation Army, 3975 W Grover Cleveland Blvd. For information, call 621-5532.

Big Brothers program needs male mentors

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Citrus County has several young boys waiting for mentors. If you are a caring adult male and have a few hours to give, call Penny Johnson at 794-5414, ext. 221. Couples are welcome to act as mentors together.

Program for elderly needs volunteers to drive

Doctor Ride and Elder Helpers need volunteers in the Crystal River and Homosassa area to assist the elderly homebound when they need a ride to the doctor, groceries or a prescription picked up. A list of volunteers is kept and checked for who is available at a given time. For information or to volunteer, call Jim Pitts at 527-0523.

Historical society needs volunteers for office work

INVERNESS -- The Citrus County Historical Society needs volunteers to work 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays or Fridays in its office in the Old Courthouse. They will help with phones, mail and walk-ins. Volunteers also are needed to set up and run the museum gift shop. If you have experience running a gift shop or can volunteer other hours, call 341-6427.

Big Sisters program has mentors available

CRYSTAL RIVER -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Citrus County has announced that it has female mentors available to mentor girls ages 7 to 18, but there are no girls who have sought such services. Any Citrus resident who knows of a young girl who might benefit from the program may call 794-5414, ext. 221.

Volunteers needed to drive elderly to doctor visits

The Doctor Ride Program is in need of volunteers, especially in the Homosassa area. This program, organized by Jim Pitts, consists of a list of volunteers willing to drive elderly shut-ins to doctor appointments. When Pitts receives a call for assistance, he attempts to locate a volunteer close to the homebound person. Drivers are rotated to avoid burdening any individual. Call Pitts at 527-0523.

Home Delivered Meals program needs drivers

The Home Delivered Meals program needs permanent and substitute drivers. A route usually consists of delivering six to 10 meals (hot or frozen) to elderly shut-ins in one area of the county, once a week. Program volunteers submit travel vouchers to the county and are reimbursed at 29 cents per mile for using their vehicles. This program ensures that elderly shut-ins get at least one good meal five days a week and that someone has actually been by their house to make sure they are okay. For information, call 527-5426.

Retiree sought to teach independent living skills

The Center for Independent Living, a not-for-profit resource agency serving persons with disabilities in Citrus County, is looking for retired teachers willing to volunteer once or twice a week teaching independent living skills. If you can be of assistance, please call Alma Warren at 628-3600 or The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program at 527- 5424.

Citrus Memorial Hospital Auxiliary seeks members

INVERNESS -- The Citrus Memorial Hospital Auxiliary seeks members. For information, call the volunteer office at 344-6566 between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays or stop by for an application.

County offers health care; fee based on income

The Citrus County Health Department offers women of childbearing age who are need of health care a Women's Health Clinic at its three offices. Services include birth control, breast exam, pap smear, sexually transmitted disease screening and diet counseling. Fees are based on income and include all services provided at the visit. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

The department would like suggestions on how to best help women obtain these services. If you would like to see office hours extended or if you have other suggestions, call any of the following numbers. For an appointment, call: Lecanto, 527-0068; Inverness, 726-1731; or Crystal River, 795-6233.

Make-A-Wish Foundation chapter meets monthly

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central Florida meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the second Thursday each month in the Cypress Room of the Citrus Memorial Hospital administration building. The objective of the Make-A-Wish Foundation is to grant a wish to each child age 21/2 to 18 years who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. The objectives of the Citrus County chapter are to identify the children in our county who qualify for a wish and to raise funds to fulfill those wishes. For information, call Dr. Frank J. Vascimini, 621-5437.

Mental health resource guide available to public

CRYSTAL RIVER -- The Florida Consumer Guide to Mental Health Professionals and Services, written by Crystal River psychotherapist F. Douglas Stephenson, is available to the public. The booklet is a resource guide for people seeking mental health care.

To receive a copy, call 795-7070 or stop by Stephenson's Meadowcrest office. The address is 6212 W Corporate Oaks Drive, Suite A, Crystal River, FL 34429.

To receive a copy by mail, a $4 handling fee is requested.

Red Cross offers HIV/AIDS course

CRYSTAL RIVER -- The Florida Coast to Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross of Citrus County will conduct a course in HIV/AIDS education for anyone who needs this certification for their jobs or to satisfy the state or county probation and parole requirement. This course is recognized by the Florida state board of licenses. HIV/AIDS education includes information on the virus, the method of transmission, signs and symptoms, ways to avoid becoming infected, testing and other facts.

This class is on a first-come basis for 10 or more. Places and times are subject to change.

For information on the next course, call Health and Safety at 564-8455. Registration is at the Citrus/Hernando American Red Cross office, 7448 W Gulf to Lake Highway, Crystal River. The course fee is $15.

For information on this or other courses offered by the American Red Cross, call the above number in Citrus County or 799-3237 in Hernando County between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Visa and MasterCard accepted. No debit cards.

Boys and Girls Club needs volunteers

CRYSTAL RIVER -- The Boys and Girls Club of Citrus County is seeking volunteers to help in various projects and programs.

Volunteers are needed to assist on the fundraising committee, work at fundraising events, assist children in after-school enrichment programs and do various office tasks. All volunteers will undergo a background check and fingerprinting. Call 563-2005.

Health Department will help dispose of needles

LECANTO -- The Citrus County Health Department offers a needle- and syringe-disposal program. The department is selling "sharps" containers for $10 at its offices in Inverness, Lecanto and Crystal River. Patients can return filled containers to the offices, where the material will be disposed of properly.

In announcing the program, the department noted that more than 1,000 Citrus residents have medical conditions that require the use of injected medication. Improperly disposed sharps can clog sewage lift stations, be improperly dumped in recycling centers and present a risk of infection to anyone touching the needles and syringes.

The department offices are at 120 N Montgomery Ave., Inverness; 3700 W Sovereign Path, Lecanto; and 117 NW U.S. 19, behind City Hall, Crystal River.

Archaeology institute seeking new members

LECANTO -- The Gulf Archaeology Research Institute is looking for new members to help continue "Connecting the Past to Our Future."

GARI is a non-profit organization that conducts research in the areas of historic, prehistoric and underwater archaeology.

Members receive a certificate, newsletters and access to professional staff, library and field programs.

For information, call 746-4661.

CASA offers support, shelter for abused women

INVERNESS -- The Citrus Abuse Shelter Association offers a Women's Domestic Abuse Support Group for victims of abuse. The group meets during the morning and evening.

If your partner calls you names, constantly criticizes you, tries to control you, hits, slaps or pushes you, threatens, intimidates or frightens you or tries to hurt you in any other way, you are a victim of domestic abuse.

If you need help, shelter or want to register for the support groups, call CASA at 344-8111.

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