Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019

A very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year to all our readers!

THE

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019 Volume IV, Issue XXXIX

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N E W S PA P E R

Grading our 2018 predictions

BY ROCCO MAGLIO HERNANDO SUN WRITER

GOOFY STUFF Used to be 19 favorites

As we started the year of 2018, The Hernando Sun made six predictions. We are checking back to see how we did with the predictions.

PREDICTION 1:

Development is heating up again. We

expect more growth in 2018 than has been in any of the previous 5 years. This past year saw significantly more growth than previous years. The lack of subcontractors (plumbing, electrical, block, etc) is one of the limiting factors on growth in Hernando County. When speaking with contractors they are having to delay projects, because

they are not able to find subcontractors with availability in the near term. Many of the subcontractors are booked for months in the future. After the last housing crash, many of the subcontractors either found new careers or left the area.

See PREDICTIONS, Page 4

BY SUE QUIGLEY

Dawning of a New Year

Our prediction that Whole Foods, Costco or Trader Joe’s would announce a store location in Hernando County wasn’t accurate, but we’ll keep on predicting this until it happens!

Local teen raises nearly $10k for Dawn Center FURRY UNITS Our pets up for 13 adoption

CEMEX Supporting our local firefighters

16

April Johnson, left, the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Dawn Center with Alyssa Barocas, right, and donattions.

SEE STORY BY SARAH NACHIN ON PAGE 13

S P O R T S

Springstead cheerleaders head to FHSAA Regionals in January ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY

BY ALICE MARY HERDEN In recent years, high school competitive cheerleading in Hernando County hasn’t been very big. Hernando High School participated in the 2012-13 FHSAA State Competitive Cheerleading Series and Nature Coast Technical High School competed competitively from 2007 to 2011.

This year though, Springstead has a squad, bringing county representation for competitive cheerleading.

“No one was competing in Hernando County, and we felt this was a great opportunity for us,” said Shannon Herod. Herod is in her fourth year as cheerleading head coach at F.W. Springstead The Springstead Cheerleading squad on the mat during the Springstead See CHEERLEADING, Page 12 INDEX LOCAL & STATE 2 OUT & ABOUT 7 | SPORTS 11 BUSINESS & COMMUNITY 13 FUNNIES 18 | OPINION 19

Cheer Showcase competition on Dec. 21, 2018.

WEATHER: FRI

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International Perspective

Now that the Christmas excesses are over, people all around the world are preparing for their next big celebration — to welcome in the New Year 2019.

As we count down the minutes to midnight on New Year’s Eve, cultures from around the globe will be contemplating the advent of another spin around the sun with oodles of food, drink and unique customs.

Some of the first places to see the new dawn of 2019 include Samoa, Tonga and Kiritimati (Christmas Island), and part of Kiribati whereas the outlying islands of the US are among the last.

But, wherever you are in the world, celebrations will embrace and honor the passage of 2019 with a mixture of reverence and a lot of revelry that tends to go on through the night and well into New Year’s Day. Mostly, it’s all about eating symbolic treats to help you let go of the old year and usher in the new. The foods vary from culture to culture but all are believed to symbolize prosperity, good health, and influence what happens in the coming year.

Here are a few that may seem really odd, but remain integral to many countries’ annual New Year customs.

For most of us in the US, the traditional way to welcome in the New Year is with fireworks, a toast of Champagne and sharing kisses with loved ones.

Because of our multicultural citizenry, symbolic foods include blackeyed peas, pork, fish, sauerkraut and cornbread along with events like freezing your butt off in Times Square, championship sports games and TV shows.

In Japan and other Asian countries, long noodles is the favored custom. The long strands of toshikoshi soba - buckwheat noodles symbolize long life and are served in a sweet and savory broth to be slurped down without breaking the strands.

Also in Japan, a Buddhist ritual called Joya no Kane takes place at midnight on New Year’s Eve. It involves ringing a bell exactly 108 times.

Buddhists believe that humans are entrapped by 108 different desires that keep us suffering. The See QUIGLEY Page 17

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Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019

Dec. 11, 2018 BOCC run down

Hernando Sun Staff & Contributors

Notes and Articles from the Dec. 11, 2018 meeting: Part 2 by LISA MACNEIL Hernando Sun Writer

Julie B. Maglio: Editor, Publisher Rocco Maglio: Barrista, Publisher Sue Quigley: Layout and Writer Lisa MacNeil: Local Government and Community Cheryl Clanton: Photographer, Community and Sports Writer Andy Villamarzo: Sports Writer Melissa Fordyce: Community Writer Alice Mary Herden: Photographer, Community and Sports Writer Sarah Nachin: Community Writer Toby Benoit: Hunting Sports, Community Writer Kathryn Dentato: Government Writer Vincent Cardegin: Columnist Dr. Domenick Maglio, Columnist William Holland: Columnist Donna Snapp: Ad Sales Representative (352) 428-8419 Ellen Corsi Tutko: Ad Sales Representative (614) 208-2066 Dali Rivera: Ad Sales Representative (917) 604-5667 Sarah Nachin: Ad Sales Representative

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The Week of Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019 ID STATEMENT: Hernando Sun is published weekly, by Hernando Sun Publications, LLC at 13491 Simmons Lake Road, Brooksville, FL 34601.; Publication Title: The Hernando Sun; Publication number: 16590; Issue Date: Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019; Statement of Frequency: Weekly; Subscription Price: $31.50 annual, $18.90 semi-annual; Known Office of Publication: 13491 Simmons Lake Rd Brooksville, FL 34601; Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Approved at Tampa Bulk Mail Entry Unit (BMEU) 5433 W Sligh Ave Ste A Tampa, FL 33634-9651; POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Hernando Sun P.O. Box 12203 Brooksville, FL 34603

Hernando Beach Seafood denied rezoning that would facilitate relocating stone crab operation

The following article corresponds to Public Hearing Item 4: Rezoning Petition Submitted by Ronald Birren (H1813)

Hernando Beach Seafood would like to move their stone crab operation from Calienta St. to their property at Nature Coast Marina on Shoal Line Blvd. In order to do that they submitted the rezoning application to allow “seafood products to be taken off of the fishing vessels and to load ice and bait on said vessels.”

The rezoning was met with much opposition from the community and the P & Z Board recommended denial. The Board of County Commissioners followed the recommendation of denial at the regular BOCC meeting on Dec. 11.

The request was specifically to rezone from C2 (Commercial) and Planned Development Project / Commercial Marine to Planned Development Project / Commercial Marine. It would include all the permitted uses defined in “Light Marine District” and specific uses defined in “Heavy Marine District.”

The property is located at the east and west side of Shoal Line Boulevard approximately 460 feet south of Gulf View Drive. P&Z recommended denial of the request by a 4-1 vote.

Staff also recommended denial of the request due to inconsistency with the Comprehensive plan and items listed in the Staff Report.

Alan Sharrod addressed the board, representing the applicant. Sharrod presented a short history of commercial fishing to the board, and the petitioner’s argument for the approval of the rezoning. According to Sharrod, opponents “Believe the applicant is going to build some awful fish house processing plant.

Nothing could be further from the truth.” Sherrod displayed the applicant’s

Storage Yard Forklift T ravel Ro

ute

Nature Coast Marina Proposed Facility

Map of the proposed stone crab facility and the forklift route crossing over Shoal Line.

intentions to the public, which read, “Commercial fishing, land support but limited to: ice manufactor [sic], ice service to fishing boats, landing, icing, boxing and shipping fresh fin fish, shellfish and crustaceans.” He added that nothing would be added to the zoning change regarding processing.

Sherrod alleged that the county staff perpetuated a false narrative by calling the intended business “processing” and conjuring up images of a “slaughterhouse, blood and guts type of facility.”

BOCC Chairman Steve Champion asked the room by show of hands who was opposed to the petition.

After seeing a minority of proponents, Champion asked to hear their side.

Melody Craven read a letter for the wife of Alan Sherrod, further describing opponents forming their decisions on rumors.

Katherine Birren, co-owner of Hernando Beach Seafood, who also resides on Hernando Beach. Reading from a prepared statement, Birren illustrated the nature of fear, which she feels is driving the opposition to the rezoning petition. According to Birren, photos of foreign fish factories were posted on social media put fear into the people of Hernando Beach.

“We’re simply a family business that unloads fish

and crab claws, ices and boxes them. We unload fish that are cold and hard after being gutted and iced offshore.”

Birren went on to say that the intention is to operate out of an existing building. “Forklifts already cross the road, and trucks make pickups and deliveries here in Hernando Beach, so nothing will change.”

No one opposing the motion spoke during the meeting.

Commissioner Jeff Holcomb said, “We have residential, recreation and commercial all within a very tight area. One of the See HB SEAFOOD page 4

CORRESPONDENCE TO NOTE

CONSENT AGENDA No items were pulled or added to this week’s consent agenda.

1. Amendment to Client Agreement With ComPsych Corporation for Enhanced Employee Assistance Program Services 2. Annual Mosquito Control Contractual Services Agreement and Certified Budget With State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Related to FY 2018-19 Funding Request for Mosquito Control Operations 3. Appointment of Lynn Gruber - White to Planning and Zoning Commission Until December 31, 2022 4. Construction Drawings for Cortez Oaks Phase 1A Section 2 5.Construction Drawings for Cortez Oaks Phase 2A 6. Interlocal Agreement With Hillsborough County for Temporary Use of Portable Modular Fire Station for Fire Rescue Station No. 4 7. Letters to Department of State, Bureau of Historic Preservation Regarding Environmental Review for Small Cities Community Development Block Grant From State Department of Economic Opportunity for Housing Rehabilitation Funding 8.Professional Services Agreement With Unique Connect Consultants, Inc., to Provide Forensic Fit for Duty Services for Fire Rescue District Staff 9.Request Submitted by Brooksville Main Street Program for Use of Main Library Parking Lot to Facilitate Carriage Rides on December 12, 2018, December 13, 2018, December 19, 2018, and December 20, 2018 10. Transmittal of List of Accounts Payable Disbursements for Weeks Ended November 16, 2018, and November 23, 2018 11.Approval of Minutes for Regular Meeting November 27, 2018

1. Letter From Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Announcing Return of Excess Fees for FY 2017-18 Letter from Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller announcing the return of excess fees from Fiscal Year 2017-18. Pursuant to Florida Statute 218.36, the Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller transmitted excess fees in the amount of $297,036.32 to the Board of County Commissioners for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018.

2.Letter From State Department of Economic Opportunity Regarding Review of Comprehensive Plan Amendment Adopted

by Ordinance No. 2018-16 on September 25, 2018 Received the attached letter from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) advising that they have completed their review of the comprehensive plan amendment for Hernando County adopted by Ordinance No. 2018-16 on September 25, 2018 (Amendment No. 18-02ER), which was received and determined complete on October 3, 2018. The

Hernando County Crime Stoppers ll ! ase Ca

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Spring Hill

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If you recognize this subject or have any information, please call Crime Stoppers!

You will remain anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD...

CALL Hernando County Crime Stoppers Toll Free 1-866-990-TIPS (8477) or go to www.HernandoCountyCrimeStoppers.com Pd by CSTF

DEO reviewed the amendment in accordance with the state coordinated review process set forth in Sections 163.3184(2) and (4), Florida Statutes (F.S), and determined the adopted amendment meets the requirements of Chapter 163, Part II, F.S., for compliance, as defined in Section 163.3184(1)(b), F.S. The DEO issued a Notice of Intent to find the comprehensive plan amendment “In Compliance.”

A copy of the Notice of Intent is enclosed and was to be posted on the DEO’s website.

The DEO’s Notice of Intent to find a plan amendment “In Compliance” is deemed to be a final order if no timely petition challenging the amendment has been filed. If the plan amendment was challenged by an affected person, the amendment would not become effective until the DEO or the Administration Commission enters a final order determining the amendment to be “In Compliance.”

3. Letter From Tax Collector Announcing Return of Excess Funds for FY 2017-2018 Per Florida Statute 218.36, excess funds are to be proportionately returned to each governmental unit. For fiscal

year ended September 30, 2018, Sally L. Daniel, Hernando County Tax Collector, will return $1,899,801.89 to the Board of County Commissioners.

directly determine where the breakdown occurred, I find it very likely that it was influenced by the Chaos of the hurricane, combined with end of year transitioning.

4.Notice of Purchasing Policy Exceptions for October 2018

From Airport Operations, “The security card reader system at the Air Traffic Control Tower malfunctioned. As ACSI installed the system, we contacted them to repair without delay. We failed to confirm acceptance of credit card as payment method prior to repair being performed.”

From Animal Services, “Four unpaid invoices from FY 2017: 08-27-17 $40.54, 09-15-17 $208.65, 09-19-17 $1218.78, 09-28-17 $202.50.

Total $1670.47 Unpaid invoices were just recently brought to the attention of HCAS.” Animal Services Manager James Terry explained further, “I have not been able to determine the exact reason that the invoices were unpaid.

During this time, the procedure was that invoices were placed in a folder at animal services the contents of which were picked up weekly by staff from Hernando County Fire Rescue for processing. That process has since changed as I assumed the role of processing payments on October 1, 2017.

I did note that these invoices are from the time of Hurricane Irma, when animal services was completely overwhelmed with responsibilities for the event. Although I cannot

5.Transmittal by City of Brooksville of Resolution No. 2018-19 Renaming Portion of North Avenue East to Ernie Chatman Run

Correspondence from the City of Brooksville confirming action taken on November 5, 2018. The City Council has determined to rename a portion of North Avenue E. from its intersection with Howell Avenue to the east side of its intersection with Bell Avenue, to Ernie Chatman Run, to honor Mr. William “Ernie” Chatman and his legacy as a long-time educator, successful coach and friend of Hernando High School and the community.

County holiday office closures and trash collection

Hernando County government offices and transit services (TheBus) will be closed the following dates to observe the upcoming holidays: - Tuesday, January 1, 2019 in observance of New Year’s Day

picked up on Friday, January 4 (double pickup) - Both Christmas & New Year’s recycle will be picked up on Tuesday, January 8 (triple pickup)

Trash and recycling will be picked up on the next regularly scheduled service date as follows:

What to expect on double and triple pick up days: Due to the increased volume of trash and recycling following a holiday, Republic Services will be working extra hard to ensure that all customers are serviced. Please expect the following on the double and triple pick up days: - Your trash may be picked up earlier or later than the usual time so please set at curb before 6 a.m.

- Extra trucks may be working in your neighborhood - Trucks may run late into the evening beyond normal work hours - Holiday trash and recycling pickup may be delayed; in this event, this will also delay normal trash and recycling pickups for the week. Any missed pickups will be completed the next business day

- Christmas trash will be picked up on Friday, December 28 (double pickup) - New Year’s trash will be

Drop off available: All Hernando County Solid Waste facilities will be closed on December 25, 2018 and

Hernando County Animal Shelter: The Hernando County Animal Shelter will be closed on the following dates: - Tuesday, January 1, 2019 in observance of New Year’s Day - they will reopen with normal office hours on Wednesday January 2, 2019.

Hernando County Solid Waste facilities: The holiday trash collection schedule is as follows: There will be no trash or recycling picked up on: - New Year’s Day, Tuesday, January 1, 2019

January 1, 2019; however, these facilities will be open during normal business hours the remainder of these weeks for residents wishing to dispose of excess trash or recycling. Recycling drop off is available any time at the drop off centers located at the Walmart Supercenter on Cortez Boulevard and the Hernando County Government Center on East Jefferson Street. Go to http://www.hernandocounty. us/utils/SolidWaste_Recycling/ RecyclLoc.htm for more drop off locations.

Christmas tree disposal: Live Christmas trees may be disposed of on yard waste day, which is every Wednesday.

Trees must be cut to less than four-foot lengths and cleaned of all Christmas decorations, including tinsel. Artificial Christmas tree segments under four feet long and decorations may be disposed of on your regularly scheduled trash day through January 31, 2019.

Please contact Republic Services at (352) 540-6457 if you have questions.

LOCAL & STATE

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019 hernandosun.com

“Come on out for a good

time” Brooksville City Council Meeting Monday, January 07, 2019, 7:00PM Location 201 HOWELL AVENUE, BROOKSVILLE, FL - JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, III COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Hernadno County School District Meetings Jan. 8, 2019 11AM- Informal 2PM- Workshop 6PM- Regular District Office-Board Room 919 North Broad Street Brooksville, FL 34601 City of Brooksville Beautification Board Tues, Jan. 08, 2019, 5:30PM Location 201 HOWELL AVENUE, BROOKSVILLE, FL - JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, III COUNCIL CHAMBERS Contact City Clerk 352540-3810 Board of County Commissioners Workshop 1/11/2019 9:00 AM Government Center John Law Ayers Room 20 N. Main Street Brooksville, FL 34601 HC Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting 1/14/2019 9:00 AM Government Center John Law Ayers Room 20 N. Main Street Brooksville, FL 34601 BROOKSVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY Tuesday, January 15, 2019, 5:00PM - 6:00PM Location 201 Howell Av, Brooksville Florida Contact Ferrell B. Jenne, Lead Plan Administrator P. 239.333.

4872 Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting 1/15/2019 9:00 AM Government Center John Law Ayers Room 20 N. Main Street Brooksville, FL 34601

MAYNARD, LISA MARIE YOB: 1997 CHARGES: LOITERING / PROWLING, RESIST/OBSTR OFFICER W/O VIOL Arrested at: 10317 SEVENLEAF DR, SPRING HILL, FL, 34608 Arrest Summary: Upon my arrival I made contact with the homeowner of the aforementioned residence, Brian Dirkschneider. Brian stated that he was awoken by the sound of banging on his window. Brian stated that he observed an unknown young white female, later identified as the defendant via name, date of birth and social security number, at his window.

Brian stated that the defendant then said “come on out for a good time” and Brian stated the defendant began to lick her fingers.

Brian then called 911. Brian stated that he wanted the defendant trespassed from the property. Brian signed and completed a sworn written statement.

I then made contact Tracie Dirkschneider, Brian’s wife, who advised that she was sleeping when she was awoken by a loud banging sound. Tracie advised that she observed an unknown white female, who was later Identified as the defendant, to be at the window. Tracie signed and completed a sworn written statement.

During my interview with Brian, I observed movement in the bushes on the front side of the property.

I could then hear noises coming from the bushes which sounded like someone moving around Inside them. Upon my approach of the bushes I observed an unknown white female, later identified as the defendant, to be laid down in an attempt to conceal herself.

I then advised the defendant to come out of the bushes, at which point she continued to lay down, not following my lawful commands to exit the bushes.

I then approached the defendant and attempted to escort her out of the bushes, at which point she stood up and pulled away

from my hand aggressively as she attempted to walk away. After I gave the defendant several verbal commands to stop resisting she continued to attempt to walk away. I then placed the defendant into custody, at which point she forcefully pulled her wrist away from my grasp. After a few more seconds of struggle I was finally able to place the defendant into custody.

I read the defendant her Miranda Warning rights via my agency issued Miranda card. The defendant declined to speak to me any further.

Brian and Tracie ware both present during the detaining of the defendant and both parties advised they witnessed the defendant acting belligerent and resisting arrest.

The defendant and all of her personal items were taken Into custody and transported to the Hernando County Detention Center and released to detention staff.

The defendant was issued a court date of 01/16/2019 at 0900 hours in Courtroom “C” of the Hernando County Courthouse in Brooksville.

The defendant was issued a bond of $500.00 for the charge of loitering or prowling.

The defendant was Issued a bond of $1,000.00 for the charge of resisting an Officer without violence.

“The car is hot …”

ELLIOTT, MARK YOB: 1975 CHARGES: GRAND THEFT - AUTO Arrested at: 12120/2018 14:04 13004 DRYSDALE ST, SPRING HILL, FL, 34609 Arrest Summary: On 12/19/2019, the defendant Mark Elliot borrowed a vehicle from a friend (Francisco Armengol Ill) to use for the night. The car Is owned by the victim Helena McKee. The victim is Francisco’s mother. The vehicle is a black 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan bearing Florida tag EWWT54 (vln WVGAV7AX7BW521030).

The defendant was loaned the vehicle at 2100 hours,

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12/25/2018

and was told to return the vehicle by 2330 hours, to which he agreed to. The vehicle was loaned to the defendant at 5137 Montford Circle in Spring Hill, Hernando County, Florida. The defendant never returned the vehicle.

On 12120/2019, I responded to 5137 Montford Circle, to make contact with the victim about her vehicle being stolen. The victim advised that she and Francisco had been attempting to reach the defendant all day by telephone, and could not reach him. The victim advised that she had also driven by a house where the defendant stays, which is 13004 Drysdale Street in Spring Hill, Hernando County, Florida, to look for the vehicle and the defendant. The vehicle was not there, nor was the defendant. While I was on scene, another male named Kalen Slaughter called Francisco, stating that the vehicle was at his house. The victim provided me with a signed Affidavit of Stolen Vehicle.

I then responded to 13004 Drysdale Street. Upon arrival, I did observe the vehicle to ba parked in Iha grass, just to the west of the house. As I was pulling up, I observed a white male with a bald head run from the back of the car and Into the house. I then made contact at the front of the house with Kalen. Kalen advised that the male running was the defendant and that he said “the car is hot, cover for me” as he ran Inside.

Verbal commands were then used from outside of the house, and the defendant came outside.

As he was walking outside, I was able to identify the defendant from his prior booking photographs in the ACISS system. The defendant was Immediately placed Into handcuffs and Into the back of my patrol vehicle. Post Miranda, the defendant advised that he borrowed the car last night from Francisco. The defendant stated that he did not want to bring it back to him because ha “didn’t want a confrontation”. The defendant advised that he knew he had the car for too long.

The defendant was than placed under arrest and transported to the Hernando County Jail without incident where ha is being held on a $2,000 bond per the bond schedule. The defendant was Issued a court date of 01/1612019 In courtroom E of the Hernando County Courthouse at 0830 hours.

“Watch your back.”

and also the mother of his children. The victim advised there was a verbal altercation. The victim was emotional but then advised the Elisha did strike her against her will. The victim refused to go into further detail about the Incident.

The victim then refused to complete a sworn written statement.

The victim was provided a CORDLE, ELISHA victim services pamphlet YOB: 1989 which contained a state CHARGES: DOMESTIC attorney’s office intake BATTERY date of 1-7-19 at 1300 Arrested at: 12/19/2018 hours. Due to refusing to 00:52 LAUMER RD, DADE complete a statement, the CITY, FL, 33523 victim did not sign acArrest Summary: Upon knowledging she received arrival contact was made the pamphlet. Pictures were with Elisha Cordle (The taken of the victim defendant) who advised which showed a small nothing happened and It abrasion on her forehead as was a verbal disturbance. well as red marking.

Elisha refused to go into Elisha was than taken into detail about what the arcustody and transported gument was over and kept stating “it was only verbal”. to the Hernando County Jail without further inciElisha refused to complete dent. Elisha was provided a sworn written statement. a court date of 1/16/19 at Elisha advised he had no Injuries and that (the victim) 0900 hours In courtroom “C” ofthe Hernando County did not harm him.

Courthouse located In I did not observe there to be any marks or lacerations Brooksville, Florlda. Due to the domestic nature of the on Elisha’s person. Contact offense, Elisha was placed was then made with Frank on no bond.

Huggins (the defendant’s It should be noted, Elisha is stepfather) who advised currently out on bond for a while Elisha was working case out of Polk County. on a scooter outside in the yard, the victim was holding the flashlight for Elisha illu- Hairspray as a weapon mining the scooter. Frank HAYNICK, RICHARD ALAN advised Elisha became upset due to the victim not JR YOB: 1984 helping him. Frank then CHARGES: DOMESTIC observed Elisha to hit the BATTERY victim with an open hand Arrested at: 12/18/2018 against her face. Frank 19:39 POWELL RD, advised a verbal BROOKSVILLE, FL, 34601 argument began between Arrest Summary: On him and Elisha due to Elisha 12/1812018, the defendant was at his residence hitting the victim. Frank advised the argument then located at Powell Rd, in Hernando County, with went into the residence where Elisha then punched his live in girlfriend. The two became involved in the victim in the face with a verbal dispute over the a closed fist. Frank advised defendant talking to other ha continued to argue with woman. The altercation Elisha and Elisha stated to became physical when the defendant grabbed a bottle ‘’watch your back”. Frank of hair spray from the then completed a sworn bathroom. The defendant written statement that was then struck the victim sevlater placed into records. eral times on the left cheek Contact was then made against her will. The victim’s with Karen Huggins (the cheek was swollen and had defendant’s mother) who several scratches that were advised Elisha ceme Into bleeding. the residence yelling at The defendant was arrested and transported to the HerFrank. Karen advised she then had to get in between nando County Jail whara ha in an attempt to calm them is held on no bond status.

The defendant has a court down. Karen than advised date of 01//1112019 at the Elisha bagan to yell at the Hernando County Courtvictim and then he punched house In courtroom “B” at her In the face and began 1330 hours. threaten everyone In the The victim was provided a residence. Karen provided domestic violence Intake date of 01/04/2019 at 1100 a sworn written statement hours. that was later placed into records.

Contact was then made with the victim, the defendants live in girlfriend

HCSO ALERTS

Drug dealer sentenced to 25 years in prison and fined almost $2 million

ROCKY CR.,LITTLE PINE IS. BAY,, FL 8727122 Tidal Data Print View

In March of 2017, Hernando County Vice and Narcotics detectives Number of issues:______________ received information that Robert Moore of BrooksName (First, Last):_____________________________________ ville was selling large amounts of prescription NOAA/NOS/CO-OPS Delivery Address:_____________________________________ pills, out of his residence.

Tide Predictions at 8727122, ROCKY CR.,LITTLE PINE IS. BAY, FL An investigation was From 2018/12/28 12:00 AM LST/LDT to 2019/01/04 11:59 PM LST/LDT ________________________________________________________ Subordinate Station | Ref. Station (Cedar Key 8727520) | Time offsets (high: -20 min. low: 58 min.) | Height offsets (high: initiated. *0.83 ft. low: *0.83 ft.)

During the investiga3.0 3.0 tion, narcotics detectives Phone:_________________________________________________ 2.68 2.88 2.57 2.80 2.54 facilitated multiple hand-to2.43 2.37 2.35 2.29 purchashand, controlled 2.22 2.21 2.10 es, for pills and other2.0 E-mail:_________________________________________________ 1.97 1.96 1.89 2.0 controlled substances, from Robert Moore at his If this is a gift subscription would you like us to send residence.

1.04 1.01 0.96 As1.01 a result of the 0.90 1.0 1.0 recipient a notification via telephone the or email?

If investigation, detectives 0.69 0.67 0.60 0.47 so, please specify: obtained a search warrant 0.37 0.23 for Moore’s residence. In ________________________________________________________ -0.01 June of 2017, detectives, -0.08 0.0 0.0 Name of Person who recommended The Hernando Sun to you, or along with the HCSO -0.37 -0.58 SWAT team and other where did you find the newspaper...

-0.71 agency assets, executed a NOAA/NOS/Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and search warrant atServices Moore’s 12:00 AM 12:00 AM 12:00 AM AM 12:00 AM 12:00 AM 12:00 AM 12:00 AM 12:00 residence.

Subscriptions are non-refundable, but12:00 transferable reader.

12/28 12/29 12/30 12/31 1/1to another1/2 1/3 1/4 1/5 During the search Date:______________

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Disclaimer: These data are based upon the latest information available as of the date of your request, and may differ from the published tide tables.

TIDE CHART

High/Low Tide Prediction Data Listing Station Name: ROCKY CR.,LITTLE PINE IS. BAY,, FL Source: NOAA/NOS/CO-OPS Action: Daily Prediction Type: Subordinate Product: Tide Predictions Datum: MLLW Start Date & Time: 2018/12/28 12:00 AM Height Units: Feet End Date & Time: 2019/1/4 11:59 PM Time Zone: LST/LDT Date

Day

Time

Hgt

Time

Hgt

Time

Hgt

Time

Hgt

2018/12/28

Fri

12:38 AM

0.67 L

05:04 AM

2.57 H

1:10 PM

-0.01 L

6:16 PM

2.35 H

2018/12/29

Sat

01:43 AM

0.60 L

06:15 AM

2.22 H

2:03 PM

0.37 L

7:07 PM

2.37 H

2018/12/30

Sun

03:03 AM

0.47 L

07:49 AM

1.96 H

3:06 PM

0.69 L

8:06 PM

2.43 H

2018/12/31

Mon

04:27 AM

0.23 L

09:32 AM

1.89 H

4:13 PM

0.90 L

9:04 PM

2.54 H

2019/01/01

Tue

05:39 AM

-0.08 L

10:55 AM

1.97 H

5:14 PM

1.01 L

9:56 PM

2.68 H

2019/01/02

Wed

06:38 AM

-0.37 L

11:58 AM

2.10 H

6:10 PM

1.04 L

10:43 PM

2.80 H

2019/01/03

Thu

07:27 AM

-0.58 L

12:45 PM

2.21 H

7:01 PM

1.01 L

11:26 PM

2.88 H

2019/01/04

Fri

08:07 AM

-0.71 L

1:23 PM

2.29 H

7:45 PM

0.96 L

warrant, detectives located multiple pills, in prescription bottles without labels, firearms, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and U.S. currency (proceeds from previous drug sales).

Robert Moore was located inside the residence and subsequently placed under arrest.

The case investigation information and evidence was recently presented during a jury trial for Moore. The jury presented a GUILTY verdict, and Moore was sentenced as follows: Count 1 - Trafficking in Oxycodone more than 28 Grams but less than 30 Kilograms o 15 Years Minimum Mandatory Count 2 - Trafficking in Hydromorphone more than 28 Grams but less than 30 Kilograms o 25 Years Minimum Mandatory Count 3 - Trafficking in Oxymorphone more than 28 Grams but less than 30 Kilograms o 15 Years - Minimum Mandatory Count 4 - Firearms Charge - Dropped during trial Count 5 - Possession of Methadone o Sentenced to Time Served Count 6 - Possession of Alprazolam o Sentenced to Time Served

Count 7 - Possession of Cannabis o Sentenced to Time Served Count 8 - Possession of Paraphernalia o Sentenced to Time Served.

It should be noted that Moore received three different prison sentences, for counts one through three. The time will run concurrently; therefore, he will serve 25 years.

Additionally, Moore was fined almost two million dollars.

Again, in order to be most effective in prosecuting cases such as this, detectives must rely on support from and cooperation with the State Attorney’s Office. The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work hand-in-hand with the State Attorney’s Office of the Fifth Judicial Circuit to remove drugs and drug dealers from the streets of Hernando County.

Below: Robert Moore

4

HERNANDO SUN

hernandosun.com

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019

LOCAL & STATE

Looking back on the major stories of 2018

by ROCCO MAGLIO

City of Brooksville disbands police department On March 5, 2018 the City of Brooksville voted to seek an Interlocal Agreement with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. This effectively disbanded the Brooksville Police Department. The Sheriff’s Office started providing law enforcement services to the city on June 1, 2018. Nine officers of the former Brooksville Police Department (BPD) were sworn in as Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies on June 1, 2018.

amendment and rezoning At the regular Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on June 12, 2018 the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA), CPAM 1702 that will allow the Cemex Corporation to expand mining operations between Cortez Blvd and Fort Dade in Brooksville.

surrounded by multi- and single-family homes. The following day (August 14, 2018), the commissioners unanimously approved Spring Center’s amended comprehensive plan.

Spring Center will be located in the area between Mariner Blvd and Deltona Blvd that is south of Northcliff Blvd. Spring Center is expected to add around 3000 dwelling units.

investigation in relation to domestic disturbance arrests that occurred at Nicholson’s Spring Hill residence on Feb. 20, 2018.

Mr. Nicholson was not involved in the domestic disturbance. Gov. Scott

ordered Mr. Nicholson’s immediate suspension as a County Commissioner on April 26, 2018. On June 14, 2018, Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of John Mitten to the Hernando County

HB SEAFOOD

it’s packed, it’s taken off in a truck ... Why wouldn’t you all be able to take the trucks now and move that down?”

Sherrod returned to the podium and explained, “We will continue (the existing process). It just adds to the congestion. What we’re having to do now is drive boats almost four miles each way. We’re going to continue to fish … if we continue to do what we’re doing, the traffic on Callieta Street is going to multiply.” Sherrod said at some point, a new 40-foot tall building would need to be built on Callienta, which would contrast with the low-profile buildings that are currently there.

from page 2

things this board decides Commissioner Nicholson all the time, ‘Where can the commercial go, where can the residents go …’

County CommissionUnfortunately, the way this er Nick Nicholson was community was developed, On August 13, 2018 the arrested April 19, 2018 on they put the commercial in Hernando County Comcounts relating to owning, mission voted to approve maintaining or operating an a very difficult spot.”

Holcomb added, “I think the rezoning necessary to establishment of prostithe future of commerdevelop Spring Center, a tution and “purchasing cial fishing / seafood in Commissioners approve proposed 440-acre central the services of any person Hernando County has to CEMEX comp plan hub of retail stores, restau- engaged in prostitution.” be somewhere else. It’s a rants and office space, The arrest stems from an great economic thing for this county, but we’ve got to look at someplace else PUBLIC HEARINGS from BOCC RUN DOWN page 2 so this community can stay residential and recreationment. The property is located on the al. But we can create a 1. Rezoning Petition Submitted by east side of Commercial way, approxgreat hub for economic Ace Cortez Land, LLC (H1828) imately 620 feet south of Longlake Avenue. P&Z voted 5-0 to recommend development of the fishing, This request is to rezone from R1C approval. The board approved 5-0. crabbing and other things.

(Residential) to Planned Development I’m not sure what that Project / General Commercial. The 3. Rezoning Petition Submitted by could look like, but we’d property is located at the south side of Benn of Spring Hill, Inc. (H1831) have to take advantage NoddyTern, 460 feet north of Ovenbird road. Planning and Zoning CommisThis request is to rezone from Planned of where the water is the deepest.” sion (P&Z) voted 4-0 to recommend Development Project / General HighCommissioner John approval for Planned Development way / Commercial to Planned DevelMitten asked of the board Project / Office Professional with opment Project / Commercial, with modified performance conditions. This a specific C2 use for for automobile if there is an alternative parcel is planned to be a retention service establishment, . The properplan if the petition is pond. The board approved 5-0. ty is located at the northwest side of denied. “How do they Commercial Way, approximately 740 go forward, if at all, with 2. Rezoning Petition Submitted by feet southwest of Pacific Avenue. P&Z moving the ice and the fish Gold Star Equity, LLC (H1830) voted 5-0 to recommend approval. down to that new spot?

Presumably, right now, This request is to rezone from C1 4.Rezoning Petition Submitted by (the petitioner) wants to (Commercial) and R1A (Residential) to Ronald Birren (H1813) - See Top Story re-navigate to that new Planned Development Project / Gener- page 2 al Commercial, with a specific C2 use spot so that it’s easier to for automobile service establishment, get the fish to the potentialand an automotive dealer establishly rezoned property. Once

PREDICTIONS from page 1

How’d we do?

Development in Hernando County has shifted into high gear. The rate of building permits for single family homes increased substantially.

There are several large developments that are working though the process including: Milk-AWay Farms (999 dwelling units and commercial space) and Spring Center (3000 dwelling units and commercial space) are a couple of the larger developments. We were correct on this prediction.

PREDICTION 2: The City of Brooksville has had significant budget struggles. One of the issues that has been brought up is that the Sheriff’s Office provides services that overlap with the city police department. The taxpayers of Brooksville are paying for both the county and city for patrol and investigation services. There are several options that have been discussed. One option was opting out of the county provided services, but this would most likely require the Sheriff’s Office to have their funding source changed to a Municipal Service Taxation Unit (MSTU), rather than being funded directly from the county. The Sheriff opposes the MSTU and the political will to create

Spring Center comprehensive plan amendment and rezoning approved

an MSTU without the Sheriff’s blessing does not seem to exist. Another option would be to have the county provide the services for the city and for the city to stop providing these services. Even researching this option was quickly met with resistance from many Brooksville residents.

They felt that if Brooksville stopped providing these services, it would be only a matter of time until the city was no longer seen as necessary. Recall petitions were circulated, putting pressure on city council members to keep city police. It looks like next year the City of Brooksville will have another tough budget where they put off all but the most dire discretionary spending.

How’d we do?

The City of Brooksville has ceased operating their own police force, they have contracted with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office to supply policing services. The City of Brooksville made a tough choice to close their police department and contract with the Sheriff’s Office. Although, they still had a contentious budget with the city budget passing by a vote of 3-2. We were only half right on this as the city made a tough decision to use the County Sheriff for policing, but still had a difficult budget which dipped into the reserves.

~~

“You’re talking about a $30-million industry right there on that road. There isn’t another place. I fly over this area all the time. There isn’t another place along the Hernando coast to utilize this fishery.

You’re not going to put it in Weeki Wachee, you can’t do it at Aripeka.”

Board of County Commissioners to fill the vacant spot for the remainder of the term which ends November 16, 2020. Mr. Nicholson plead nolo conSee MAJOR STORIES page 5 - Alan Sherrod ~~ Mitten mentioned a 1966 book, The Zoning Game, explaining that zoning “is a protection to single-family residence developments.” He added that the two theories covered in the book are the “Property Value Theory” and the “Planning Theory.” Together, these act as frameworks while considering these types of questions.

“I think we had heard from every witness here today, you’d hear the ‘Property Value’ argument … with the noise and sound. Certainly, the county’s side presents that planning theory model.

Both of those models, as well as the authorities that we’ve placed in committees have recommended denial.” Mitten ended by saying, “It’s very hard to sit up here in a quasi-judicial fashion, look at the body of evidence, and see an overwhelming preponderance of evidence toward denial.”

Commissioner Wayne Dukes moved to deny the petition, which was seconded by Commissioner John Allocco. The motion to deny the rezoning petition passed 5-0.

Map showing the location and zoning of Milk-a-Way Farms property- city of Brooksville.

Dilapidated structure on Milk-a-Way Farms property that was once used as an animal feed store.

PREDICTION 3: After the Florida Blueberry Festival plans fell through, the former Quarry Golf Course property was left in limbo. As part of the Florida Blueberry Festival plans it was intended to be a venue for events. These plans were complicated by the lawsuit filed by the former lessee of the Quarry Golf Course. The Quarry is home to a frisbee golf course. We do not foresee development of the Quarry until after the lawsuit from the former lessee is adjudicated, so we predict nothing will happen with it this year. The first step will be the passing of a master plan for the Quar-

ry Golf Course which we do expect to happen this year.

How’d we do?

The Quarry Golf Course has been largely dormant in this year’s discussions. There was a closed session of the City Council in late 2017 to discuss the lawsuit. There does not appear to have been significant movement on future plans for the quarry. We are taking full credit on this prediction.

PREDICTION 4: The county government is working on the first major overhaul of the comprehensive plan, since 1990. It was not

Before and After: The city council made a tough decision in 2018- eliminating their police department and signing a contract with the Sheriff’s Office. This we did not predict.

passed in 2017, because of some objections of business leaders. We expect only minor changes to the comprehensive plan in 2018, with these changes passing.

How’d we do?

The County’s Comprehensive Plan updates passed in March. The major change was the approval of the land use change that will allow the expansion of the CEMEX mine on the property off of State Road 50 across from Bayfront Regional in Brooksville. We are taking full credit on this prediction.

PREDICTION 5: We do not expect Hernando County to be greatly affected by a hurricane in 2018. Last year, Hernando received a direct strike from Hurricane Irma. This caused a major disruption in electrical service that lasted more than a week and flooding along the Withlacoochee which lasted more than a month.

The previous year the coastal communities including Aripeka, Hernando Beach, Weeki Wachee, and Pine Island saw flooding levels from Hurricane Hermine that had not been seen since the No Name Storm of 1993. After two fairly active local hurricane years, we are optimistically predicting a quiet 2018.

How’d we do?

Hernando County was not majorly affected by a hurricane in 2018.

After two years in a row

of hurricane impacts we received a reprieve this year. We are taking full credit on this prediction.

PREDICTION 6: Over the past couple of years we have seen a number of new stores open their doors in Hernando. We are predicting that one of the following retailers will make plans to open in Hernando County: Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods.

The reason for this prediction is that we see these stores expanding their presence in the near future and we would love to have them.

How’d we do?

Costco is expanding out from the Tampa area with their new store in Wesley Chapel/Lutz.

Aldi’s which is a cousin store to Trader Joe’s recently opened in Hernando County. Whole Foods was recently purchased

by Amazon and this may lead to an expansion.

This was our wild prediction and not unexpectedly it was completely wrong. Although we do plan to continue predicting this until it actually happens. We were wrong for this year and will receive no credit.

Overall we managed a score of 4.5 correct out of 6 predictions or 75% correct. In school that would be a C, but in baseball that batting average would get you into the Hall of Fame.

Stay tuned for our 2019 predictions.

LOCAL & STATE

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019 hernandosun.com THE HERNANDO SUN

MAJOR STORIES from page 4

tendere (no contest) to the charges on November 16, 2018. Hitzemann formally withheld adjudication, and required Nicholson to pay $729 in court fees. All three charges were misdemeanors.

TreeUmph! opens Dec. 2017 then closes Aug. 2018

ABOVE: Flood waters halfway up trees near WPA Rd in Brooksville, this past summer. Photo by Cheryl Clanton.

The owners of TreeUmph! Adventure Course in Brooksville decided to close the park on Monday Aug. 20, 2018.

TreeUmph! off of Cedar Lane in Brooksville, got a rough start despite a healthy economic incentive package from the county. They were planning to open last summer, but plans were thwarted by hurricane Irma, which took down many trees on the property that were incorporated into the adventure course. TreeUmph’s $650,000 incentive package from the county included a rent payment of $1 for the first two years. The plan was for TreeUmph! to repay that $650,000 in incentive money via its lease. After they repaid the lease, they would be able to purchase the land, appraised at $306,447 (prior to the project buildout), for $100.

to the theatre company.

Live Oak Theatre company received substantial support from Mr. & Mrs. Morsani who made an initial donation of $100,000 to kick start the campaign and then awarded an additional matching grant of $100,000 after the theatre group successfully raised $100,000 on their own. The theatre group purchased the 11,500 square foot two-story building on Cortez Boulevard. The building itself once served as popular restaurants, then was purchased by the county for $500,000 to become the Utilities Department headquarters. With the Utilities Department now relocated to the former Tampa Bay Times building on Cortez Blvd, the building was placed on the county’s surplus properties list. The sale of the building to Live Oak Theatre for $500,000 was by the county commission.

do County School Board had approved a new 4 year contract with Superintendent Dr. Lori Romano on January 26, 2016. Dr. Romano’s most controversial action was the firing of 47 Moton Elementary School (MES) teachers in May 2018, which she defended as necessary to avoid another year of being classified as a ‘D’ school, and possibly resulting in closure of the school, or relinquishing control to an outside agency. This action seemed to be the impetus for the school board’s decision.

Election recounts, new and familiar faces

2018 was an election year. The two county commissioners Wayne Dukes and Jeff Holcomb both won re-election. The school board has two new members Jimmy Lodato and Catherine “Kay” Hatch. Even though Jimmy Live Oak Theatre gets a Superintendent Dr. Lori Lodato is new on the building Romano is fired. school board he is well known their as one of the The Live Oak Theatre On Tuesday, June 10, chief advocates of the half company took possession 2018, the Hernando County cent sales tax for schools of the former Hernando School Board voted 3-2 to which passed in 2015. In County Utilities Building terminate the contract of the statewide elections the on Friday, May 4. All Superintendent Dr. Lori Governor, Senator, and future events will now take Romano. The three board Agriculture Commissionplace at its new Center members who voted in er races were the subject for the Performing Arts. favor of ending the contract of a recount. Hernando’s Live Oak Theatre underwere Beth Narverud, smooth election could be took a capital campaign Susan Duval and Linda seen as a model for other to purchase a home of its Prescott. The two opposed parts of the state. own and on January 23, were Mark Johnson and 2018, the Hernando County Gus Guadagnino. Dr. Lori Flooding throughout the Board of County Commis- Romano’s last day was county sioners agreed to sell the June 30, 2018.The Hernanformer utilities building

This year saw significant rainfall for the county. One of the worst hit areas was around Mondon Hill. Cheryl Clanton wrote, “Bystre Lake overflows once again, flooding the pastures along Mondon Hill Rd, closing side street WPA. Typically, by the time the floodwaters of Bystre Lake reach WPA Rd, residents are already dealing with the flooding of their driveways, yards and homes. Flood waters are now creeping closer to Mondon Hill Rd.” WPA road was closed for several weeks until the flood waters receded. In other areas of the county water levels are at the highest level seen in decades.

HCA $78 million investment for Oak Hill A new set of multi-million dollar projects totaling more than $78 million are on the horizon for Oak Hill Hospital. Three major expansions are planned. The North Tower expansion is the first major project costing approximately $40 million and adding 48,000 square feet of patient care.

The second project will be the Emergency Room Expansion estimated to cost $23 million and take two to three years. It will increase the Emergency Department square footage by almost 50 percent adding 12,000

square feet. The third project is a new Medical Office Building which is expected to cost $13 million and add 42,000-square feet. A host of other infrastructure renovations are also planned.

Frigitek (Project Diamond) makes a $22 million investment

company headquartered in Georgia has agreed to build a 200,000 square foot warehouse on a 20 acre leased parcel at the airport and create at least 60 jobs with an average wage over $37,000. The construction of the 200,000 square foot facility represents a $22 million investment.

Frigitek a cold-storage

WPA Road closed due to flooding in August 2018. Photo by Cheryl Clanton.

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6

THE HERNANDO SUN

LOCAL & STATE

hernandosun.com Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019

Dec. 11, 2018 Hernando County School Board meeting run down The meeting opened with Vice-Chair Linda Prescott leading the invocation. Students from D.S. Parrott Middle School led the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was adopted with a 5-0 vote.

Student Representative Student Represenative Ryan Bradley Ryan Bradley, the Student Representative to the Board, was introduced. October is designated as Anti-Bullying Month. More than 30 students participated in a poster contest to combat bullying by encouraging kindness toward others. Several posters were displayed on the dais. Two students were invited to be recognized by the school board for the posters they created. The posters will be displayed at the schools as a reminder that it only takes one kind act to make a difference.

Presentations Item # 3502: WREC Capital Credits David Gonzales from Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative read a letter from General Manager Billy E. Brown. Because the company is a nonprofit cooperative, capital credits are returned to customers. It provides electricity to its Hernando County customers at an average of $.09 per kilowatt. Gonzales presented the school district with a check for $176,515.02.

Gus Guadagnino made the motion to accept the check. Kay Hatch seconded it. The motion passed 5-0.

Item # 3480: Principal of the Year Gina Michalicka, Executive Director of Academic Services, presented the 2018-2019 Principal of the Year award to Lisa Cropley, principal at Challenger K8 who has served the district for 16 years. Michalicka praised Cropley’s commitment to her family, students at the school and the staff she supervises.

Cropley uses data to improve the instruction at the school and shares that knowledge with students and their families.

Cropley meets with other elementary principals and is the lead principal for that group.

She is also a mentor to new middle school principals. Known as “the rule follower”, Cropley leads by example and has high ethics and expectations for herself, and therefore encourages others to reach their own goals.

Stating she does not like that kind of public recognition, Cropley thanked Michalicka for the award. She was hired as a paraprofessional 17 years ago and gave credit to the leaders she worked for along the way. Cropley thanked the Challenger K8 teachers and staff for their excellence in the classroom and for their encouragement and efforts to make her a better leader. “This is for you,” she said.

Item # 3431: Hernando Schools is Bronze Award Flag winner for Health and Food Services Lori Drenth, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, introduced Statewide Health Education Coordinator from FDOE’s Florida Partnership for Healthy Schools (FPHS), Rikita Patel. Districts complete self-assessments of both students and staff in the areas of physical, mental, and social health.

With 67 school districts, Patel said there is a large bank of data to draw from. She shared trends among middle and high school students. They include decreases in: The percentage of students who reported riding to or from school with a driver under the influence of alcohol The percentage of reported violence among students and their dates Alcohol and tobacco use in students Consumption of soda Patel said that those are all good, there is an upward trend in the percentage of students who report they have thought about, planned, or tried to commit suicide. Addressing this will require more mental health education and awareness and additional programs.

In addition to students struggling with mental health or suicide, more than 87% of high school and 92% of middle school students express concern over issues such as drug abuse, dating violence, and teen pregnancy.

Hernando County was awarded the Bronze Award Flag, showing a dedicated effort to meet those needs.

Patel identified Food and Nutrition Services Director Lori Drenth, Finance/Operations Specialist MaryAnne Lawson, and the School Health Advisory Council as having significant roles in bringing the award to Hernando County. The district scores reflect: 78% health services 73% nutrition services and education 67% family/community involvement As a Bronze Award winner, Hernando County gains access to professional development, resources and technical assistance. The district is eligible to participate in the Healthy District Collaborative that the FDOE and DOH facilitates. The award expires in April 2020, but the wellness efforts should continue.

Item # 3459 Bookkeeper Awards Joyce McIntyre, Director of Finance and Purchasing, presented awards to bookkeepers having 100% clean audit report the previous school year (2017-2018). A clean audit report means that the financial reports were examined for accuracy and no errors were found.

McIntyre states this shows transparency and financial stewardship. Plaques were donated by the Hernando County Education Foundation.

Scott Hagland – Suncoast Elementary School Ginny Dow – Powell Middle School Carmen Aquiar – West Hern. Middle School Tracy Ketchum – Hernando High School Diane Cermak – Springstead High School Jane Thomas – Weeki Wachee High School Two bookkeepers were recognized for having 100% clean audits for 2016-2017 and 2017-2018: Jennifer Vilardi – J.D. Floyd Elementary School Carla Newman – Spring Hill Elem. School Two bookkeepers were recognized for having 100% clean audits for three years in a row (2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018): Christine Brown – Challenger K8 Clara Verrelli – Winding Waters K8 Item # 3496 Half Cent Sales Tax Accountability Committee Update Lori Sowers presented the quarterly report from the Half Cent Sales Tax Accountability Committee. Because of the delay in receiving the sales tax from Tallahassee, the figures are available from the previous quarter. Sowers discussed the nearly $2.8 million received from July to September.

Citizens of the county passed the half cent sales tax in September 2015. Approximately $27 mill has been received, with an additional $111,000 in interest earned (total of $27.2 million). Purchase orders were issued in the summer against the expected revenue. The committee has paid $21.5 million for projects.

Gregg Laskoski asked to discuss the hardening of schools. Ideas are sent from each school district to the state, and from those ideas, the state will compile a list of best practices. Once that list is sent to the districts beginning in January 2019, it becomes a mandate. Laskoski said the concern is that these mandated best practices will be largely unfunded except for a projected amount of $800,000, or $38,000 per school.

Lodato thanked Laskoski and the committee. The next Half Cent Sales Tax Accountability Committee meeting is 02/06/18 at 8008 Mobley Road and is open to the public.

Item # 3495 Grant Approval Tammy Brinker, Executive Director of the Hernando County Education Foundation (HCEF), presented $41,268.80 in grants that required board approval.

Nature Coast Technical High School – Human Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystems - $1,160.00 Spring Hill Elementary School – The “A” in STEAM - $419.00 Challenger K8 – Flexible Seating for Classroom Success - $500.00 Nature Coast Technical High School – Digital Video Production - $2,500.00 Endeavor/Discovery Academies – Careers Making Educated Decisions - $2,000.00 Springs Coast Environmental Education Center – Dock - $5,475.00 Deltona Elementary School – Fit to Run Club - $500.00 Winding Waters K8 – Holocaust Historical Presentation - $1,500.00 Gulf Coast Academy – Robotic Reasoning $1,950.00 Chococatti Elementary School – Micro Society Sustainable Farm - $5,000.00 Moton Elementary School – Diamond Del’s Gem Mining Adventure - $1,672.00 Fox Chapel Middle School – Teen Leadership Hernando - $5,000.00 Challenger K8 – FSA/EOC Math Boot Camp $3,093.80 Duke Energy – zSpace Program (a Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality experimental learning program) - $10,000.00 – Joe Simpson, manager of Generation Engineering and a Springstead High School graduate, represented Duke Energy’s presentation of the grant.

Guadagnino made the motion to accept the grants, and Prescott seconded the motion. The item passed with a vote of 5-0.

Item # 3450 Minutes Approval There was no discussion for this item, as it was a simple approval of the minutes from meetings held on 10/23/18 and 11/20/18.

Hatch offered the motion to approve and Prescott provided the second. The item was approved 5-0.

Notes & Articles from the Dec. 11, 2018 Regular School Board meeting- Part 1

By Kathryn Dentato

PHSC articulation agreement places burden on high school guidance counselors Citizens Input (Agenda Items) Dec. 11 2018 School Board Meeting

Vicki Schlum-Hughes – Discussed dual enrollment (DE) and asked the board to refrain from accepting the articulation agreement with PHSC for now. For the last two years, enrolling students in the program is a paper/pen method which takes time from students requiring guidance or mental health assistance.

She illustrated the amount of work involved with a stack of papers about 12 inches high that had been recently completed, stating that this was only a portion of applications. “We are not employed by PHSC. We should not have to take away (from) our students to do their work.”

Stratton stated the articulation agreement had already been approved. The matter before the board was only the portion related to collegiate high school. Another meeting with PHSC is scheduled for January 2019. Stratton stated he would like to meet with Schlum-Hughes to discuss the paperwork so he can be prepared for the meeting in January.

Prescott asked how many students are dual enrolled, and the number of students represented by the stack of papers Schlum-Hughes shared. Of the 400 students

Schlum-Hughes assists, she said she the papers represented approximately 100 students. As the 11th grade guidance counselor, she has the majority of DE students.

Each of the multiple sessions she has with a student can take up to 45 minutes, Schlum-Hughes said. She has met with some students as many as seven times. The PHSC process is for a student to decide what classes he/she wants, which may or may not be available at the time the paperwork is completed and fill out the class request list for submission. If the class is full, or not available, the process begins again as if the student had never requested a class.

Previously, the student went to the campus in person and met with an advisor to select classes and enroll. It generally took one meeting since they could see all the available classes in real time. Since the burden has shifted to the guidance counselors at the high school level, traffic at the college on enrollment days is nonexistent for high school students. “Their ‘game changer’ has become our nightmare,” SchlumHughes said. She recom-

mended that PHSC follow the DE class registration format used by the University of Florida since test scores are online.

Stratton asked John Morris, Supervisor of Secondary Programs, for input on the agreement the board would discuss.

The collegiate articulation agreement would allow students to earn a Career and Professional Education (CAPE) certification or associate in arts/associate in science degree if they are dual enrolled full time as a high school student and fulfill the requirements for 30 college credit hours. The concerns raised by SchlumHughes will be part of a larger discussion with PHSC over the next few months, he said.

She said the guidance counselors are being forced to do work that was not written in a previous articulation agreement. They have no choice, she said, so the students can participate in the DE program. The new agreement contains the language that guidance counselors will shoulder the entire responsibility for enrollment.

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS Item # 3393 – Controlled Choice Plan for 2019-2020 No one from the public came forward to discuss this item.

Guadagnino made the motion to approve the Controlled Choice Plan that was offered at the 10/23/18 workshop. Hatch seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.

Item # 3340 – Addendum to the K-12 School Procedures Handbook for the current school year (2018-2019) No one approached the podium to speak about this item. This was discussed at the 10/09/18 workshop and the board gave tentative approval at that time.

Prescott motioned to approve, and Hatch seconded the motion.

The item was approved 5-0.

COVERAGE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK....

Hernando County Retired Educators Association Please join us if you are a former employee of any district or state school.

We meet the first Tuesday of every other month-Feb., Apr., June, Aug.,Oct., Dec. at 10:00 am in the Medical Arts Enrichment Center, next to the Bayfront Health Brooksville hospital on Cortez Blvd. We have interesting meetings with speakers on a variety of topics. We go on fun field trips, (like the Dali museum), during months in which we do not meet.

We monitor our FRS pension and support future teachers with scholarships.

Look us up on facebook or go to the HCREA unit of FREA website. http://www.frea.org.

Diane: 352-628-4681

Library Programs SH- Spring Hill Branch Library, located at 9220 Spring Hill Drive.

WH- West Hernando Branch Library located at 6335 Blackbird Ave, Weeki Wachee, FL 34613 BV- Brooksville/ Main Library located at 238 Howell Ave, Brooksville, FL 34601 EH- East Hernando Branch located at 6457 Windmere Rd, Brooksville, FL 34602

Dec. 31 Meditation Mondays - WH 12/31/2018 11AM - 12PM Make your Monday a more mindful Monday with us - meditation provides many health benefits for mind, body & spirit. First half discussion of resource followed by meditation.

Jan. 2 Financial Management Series WH 1/2/2019 2 - 4PM This month’s topic: “When Ho Ho Ho turns into No No No”. Credit Use and Debt Reduction using PowerPay. Florida 505 Book Discussions SH 1/2/2019 2 - 3:30 PM Spring Hill Branch holds monthly discussions of Florida-themed writings. Ask for a copy of the assigned reading & join in.

Medicare 101 - BV 1/2/2019 2 - 3PM For people new to Medicare or anyone who would like a better understanding of how the program works. A fun discussion with plenty of time for questions.

Medicare 101 - SH 1/3/2019 2 - 3PM For people new to Medicare or anyone who would like a better understanding of how the program works. A fun discussion with plenty of time for questions.

Understanding the Basics of Social Security Planning andLong Term Care Planning - BV 1/2/2019 3 - 4PM Understanding the latest strategies in protecting your retirement portfolio from catastrophic Long Term Care expenses.

Jan. 3

Understanding the Basics of Social Security Planning andLong Term Care Planning - SH 1/3/2019 3 - 4PM Understanding the latest strategies in protecting your retirement portfolio from catastrophic Long Term Care expenses.

Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program - WH 1/3/2019 10:30 AM - 12PM Topic: Winter Checklist for Your Landscape Signing for Everyday Living - EH 1/3/2019 11AM - 12:30 PM SEFL is a crash course in basic ASL for learners at any skill level.

Socrates Cafe - SH 1/3/2019 4:30 - 6PM Guaranteed to leave you with more questions than you came with! Socrates Cafe is an opportunity for amiable, open-minded discussion of profound issues.

Jan. 4 History and Biography Book discussion - BV 1/4/2019 11AM - 12PM Registration is not required, but copies of the book are limited. Please ask for a copy at the circulation desk.

Introduction to Ukulele - EH 1/4/2019 11AM - 12:30 PM Registration is open Join TBUS guest instructor Gayle Grindey as she leads students through the basics of playing the ukulele. Guaranteed to be a lot of fun. Bring your own instrument or use one of our class instruments.

Tech Tutors - SH 1/4/2019 2:30 - 4:30 PM Not quite sure how to use your device? Do you have any questions or concerns? Grab your gadget and stop by!

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019 hernandosun.com

THE HERNANDO SUN

IN, OUT & ABOUT

JOIN US! Students and Winding Waters staff take on HCSO during a charity basketball game Monday night Dec.17, 2018. Deputy Jake Gaustad attempting to retrieve the ball as he is surrounded by the Yellow Jackets

Charity Basketball Challenge Winding Waters staff and players from the boys and girls basketball team challenged staff from the Hernando County Sheriff 's Office Monday night on the Yellow Jackets’ home court. Winding Waters SRO Deputy Paul Smith coordinated the event as a charity food drive for those families that are in need during the holiday season. “It's a new perspective to show that the deputies are regular people,” Deputy Paul Smith said. The game was fun and entertaining as well as the opportunity to bring parents and students together with the members of the Hernando County Sheriff 's office that serve to protect them and to ensure their schools are safe.

Local New Year’s celebrations Strike City-Uptown Grill New Year’s Eve Time & Location Dec 31, 2018, 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM Strike City, 3544 Mariner Blvd, Spring Hill, FL 34609, USA New Years Party with The RockStreet Band Includes unlimited bowling, party favorites, midnight champagne toast and lots more. http://www.therockstreetband.com New Year’s Eve at Spring Hill Lanes 9PM- 12:30AM, doors open at 8:30PM Unlimited Cosmic style bowling and music video screens Shoe rental and party favors included Midnight champagne toast 4 to a lane minimum. $18 per person, buy tickets in advance 3447 US HWY 19 Call 683-7272 to buy tickets.

Dade City Woman’s Club 1920’s Speakeasy on New Year’s Eve Dec. 31, 2018 at 8 PM – 1 AM Dade City Woman’s Club 37922 Palm Ave, Dade City, Florida 33525 Come dressed in your 1920’s attire Dining, dancing, open bar, games, prizes, cigars and more Tickets $75 Inquiries call 352-4571409 www.dcwc.org https://www. facebook.com/ events/297391527649775/ Simple Holidays on the Hill- Jan. 2 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Chinsegut Hill Manor Museum 22495 Chinsegut Hill Road, Brooksville, Florida 34601 Enjoy a quick lunch from one of the tallest places in Florida, overlooking a marvelous vista. Stop up on “the Hill” and enjoy a quick soup, sandwich and maybe a bit of shopping – tour the Manor House – walk the grounds. Visit our new gift shop to find special items for those you love and benefit one of the Nature Coast’s finest treasures.

Only $12 for soup, sandwich and cookies. Manor House Museum self-tours available. https://www. facebook.com/ events/2283885875180499/ Papa Joe’s New Year’s Eve Dinner Special Opening 3:00 to 8:00pm

Reservations suggested Call 352-799-3904 Accommodating some Southern favorites with a Sicilian flair, our New Year’s Eve Dinner is sure to start your New Year out right! Rest assured, you won’t go away hungry from this Full 5 Course Meal.

While full menu will be available, the Special Featured Dinner will be a one time event for the evening.

RSVP now to reserve a plate for your palate!

Due to the limited hours of this event, Reservations are suggested.

Featured Special: Blackened Rib Eye Dinner

Southern Traditional cup of Black Eyed Peas Papa Joe’s Cheese Plate with Smoked Salmon Dip Lettuce Wrap with Italian Calamari Salad tucked inside Seasoned & Seared Blackened Ribeye served with our Signature Yukon Gold & Jewel Scalloped Potatoes Finish this array of yumminess with a slice of Bourbon Pecan Pie $32 per person, plus tax PAPA JOE’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 6244 SPRING LAKE HWY BROOKSVILLE FL

Kick-off Celebration Saturday, January 19, 2019 9:00 AM – noon

Hernando County Mining Association Enrichment Center at the Quarry 800 John Gary Grubbs Boulevard, Brooksville, Florida

At this event teams will get registered and participants will privately record their starting weight.

Wellness Professionals will be on hand to offer support and introduce you to local resources.

Enjoy a walk around the Quarry and groove to the sounds of PJ the DJ

Come be part of the Challenge!

For more information please call or email

352-540-6817 | greathernando@gmail.com or find us on www. Facebook.com/GHWLC

This is the third year of this grassroots campaign to encourage community members to work together to slim down and improve health. It's based on teams of 10 individuals who commit to lose 10 lbs. each over 10 weeks for an entry fee of only $10.00 per person. Activities, education, motivation, prizes, recognition and awards are all part of the fun. Proceeds help fund this event.

This advertisement paid courtesy of The Department of Health in Hernando County

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HERNANDO SUN

hernandosun.com

IN, OUT & ABOUT

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019

Upcoming Event Previews Everything that will get you out and about...

HERNANDO YOUTH ORCHESTRA - MUSIC TO SHARE SESSIONS EVERY SUNDAY 3:30 PM-5 PM. HEATHER COMMUNITY Instruments to loan (and learn), and Music to share!

Kids (ages 6-21): Want to play classical music, but lack an instrument? Need low-cost lessons? Check us out! HYO loans violins, cellos, trombones, and clarinets to our young musicians…and we give low-cost violin and guitar lessons, too!

If you already know how to play—even better! Join us; we want you. Rehearsals are every Sunday at 3:30 to 5 p.m. Visit www.hernandoyouthorchestra.org.

The Heather Community Center is located at 9100 Nakoma Way, Weeki Wachee.

THE HISTORIC DADE BATTLE REENACTMENT OF THE SECOND SEMINOLE WAR - JAN. 5-6, 2019 - BEGINS 9 AM BOTH DAYS Experience the Dade Battle Reenactment of the 2nd Seminole War on January 5-6, 2019 at the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell, Florida.

Each year, on the first full weekend (Saturday & Sunday) of January, the Dade Battlefield Society sponsors a re-enactment of the battle. Arrive early on re-enactment weekend. The park manager says Sunday is usually less crowded than Saturday.

The actual battle is at 2 p.m. each day, although there are activities all day. The Dade Battle Reenactment includes period soldier, Seminole and Civilian camps; a Sutler Trade Fair; historic arts and crafts demonstra-

tions; full scale cannon firing; tree cutting and barricade building; musket shooting; tomahawk throwing and primitive archery.

Step back in time with period soldier costumes, Seminole and Civilian camps, a sutler trade fair, historic arts and crafts demonstrations, full-scale cannon firing, musket shooting, tomahawk throwing and primitive archery.

Admission: $5 per person, children under 6 free, parking $2 per vehicle.

Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, 7200 County Road 603, Bushnell, Florida 33513

HERNANDO BEACH CLUB NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY WITH BIG DJ BIG DADDY 7 PM TILL MIDNIGHT There will be music featuring Big Daddy DJ. Doors open at 7pm, catered dinner, $55 per person. Champagne toast, fireworks at midnight and one free drink. Visit hernandobeachclub. com for updated details and menu.

Contact Lisa at 352.263.8168 for tickets and information.

HERNANDO BEACH CLUB is located at 3145 Flamingo Blvd, Hernando Beach, FL 34607.

Phone: 352.596.5878

THE HERNANDO

SpORTSmAN'S Club

Located 9 miles North of S.R. 50 on U.S. Hwy 19

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Cracovia Deli and Market now open, Restaurant coming soon Assorted deli selection at Cracovia

• 80 Acre shooting facility • Clubhouse •General Rifle/Pistol Range • IDPA • USPSA •Junior Programs & 4-H • IHMSA • Archery •Skeet, Trap & Five Stand Range • Cowboy SASS •Black Powder Rifle/Pistol • Bullseye • Steel • High Power • Rifle • Action Rifle • Fast Draw • Appleseed Rifle • Bowling Pin

HUNTERS Education Classes

RANGE HOURS

Monthly Firearms classes for CCW SAT. & SUN 9AM-3PM

The front entrance of Cracovia Deli, Market and Restaurant located on Commercial Way in Spring HIll.

Tues - Fri 9AM-2PM; Tues and Thurs Eve. 5PM - 7PM www.hernandosportsmansclub.com 352-597-9931

United Way Offering FREE Dementia Care Seminar Spring Hill, FL – United

Way of Hernando County will be hosting its annual Dementia Care Seminar for families and professional caregivers focusing on loved ones living with Dementia or Alzheimer’s. This free seminar is open to the community and offers educational and interactive discussions highlighting struggles, solutions, and the power of hope.

Gary LeBlanc, a local author and caregiver, and Linda Burhans, national speaker on caregiver advocacy, will be sharing their experience through the journey of caregiving.

There will be refreshments, helpful vendors, resources, and free memory screenings conducted by Renstar Medical Research.

Join us on Thursday, January 24th at 9:30am12:00pm at St. Frances Cabrini Church, Main Hall. 5030 Mariner Blvd. Spring Hill, FL 34609.

RSVP to the United Way office by calling 352-688-2026 or email outreach@ UnitedWayHernando.org.

by ROCCO MAGLIO

The long awaited opening of Cracovia's Deli and Market happened Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018 at 8am. Cracovia is located on US 19 in front of the Town Square Mall. The restaurant is not open yet, but they are hoping to open it around Christmas.

The Deli and Market is closed Monday and open 8am to 7pm the rest of the week.

The Deli and Market carries borscht, sauerkraut soup, stuffed cabbage, bread, assorted sausages, perogies, and many other polish favorites.

They are not currently serving sandwiches or ready made meals at the Deli and Market.

Cracovia is located at 3007 Commercial Way, Spring Hill

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019 hernandosun.com

Business & Community Briefs Coming Soon Live Oak Theatre to Offer Zumba Classes Brooksville, Florida (December 22, 2018) – Live Oak Theatre is pleased to announce that in response Soni Beaumont to many requests, its 2019 Conservatory season will now offer a Zumba class on Monday morning from 10 to 11 am, beginning January 7. The class will be conducted by Soni Beaumont, a certified Zumba instructor.

Zumba, a fitness program that incorporates interval training – alternating fast and slow rhythms – and resistance training, is what certified instructor Soni Beaumont credits for giving back her joy of living. After surgery for a broken neck, with resulting side effects that made her lethargic and depressed, and lack of feeling in her hands, her husband gave her a gym membership that offered Zumba classes.

She was hooked after her first class! After six months she was 40 pounds lighter and graceful as a gazelle.

Soni Beaumont, a native of Ohio, wanted to help other people – of all ages – to better health – and completed training for her certification as a Zumba instructor.

All Live Oak Conservatory classes are conducted at the Carol & Frank Morsani Center for the Arts, 21030 Cortez Boulevard, Brooksville, Florida. Tuition is $40 per month or $10 per class.

Tickets are now available for the 2019 Soup-a-Thon at St. Frances Cabrini on Saturday January 5, 2019.

The seating’s are 11:30 to 1:00, 1:30 to 3:00, 3:30 to 5:00 and 5:30 to 7:00. There will be a minimum of 20 soups available at all times as well as bread and butter on all tables. This is all you can eat, one cup at a time, no carry out event... This the 9th year for this event and we have sold out each year, so get your tickets early. All proceeds from this event are donated to charity. This year we have soup donated from approximately 63 restaurants, just to name a few of these wonderful restaurants, Carrabbas Italian Grill, Fish Bones, Argento’s, Kally K’s, Cody‘s Roadhouse, Ruby Tuesdays, Chili’s, Greek City, Beef o Brady’s and many many more. Tickets are $7.00 per person and available the Church Office 5030 Mariner Blvd, 352-683-9666. or call Jack Hauser 238-1878; John Moonan 352-397-5817; Billy Luecke 352-428-0052; Bob Jost 352-345-1826, John Mazzuca 352-238-8001,Bud Quehl 352-596-6111or Dom Cuomo 352-584-5239.

There are only 250 tickets for each seating, so get you tickets ASAP. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Up Town Art Gallery Exhibit - Paint that Tune From Sat, Jan 12, 2019 - 8:00AM To Sat, March 09, 2019 - 5:00PM This exciting new exhibit will be on display January 12, 2019 thru March 9, 2019 at the Uptown Gallery at the Brooksville City Hall. If you would like to submit artwork,

please visit the City Art Webpage and Download the Art Exhibit Form.

Location 201 Howell Av, Brooksville Fl Contact City Hall 352-5403810 Nature Coast Orchid Society meets the third Saturday of each month at the VFW Post 8681 located on the corner of Drayton St. and County Line Rd, Spring Hill. Join us Saturday January 19th at 1:00pm.

Our speaker will be Norman Fang, from California, of Orchids.com.

The topic will be growing better orchids. If you have questions about improving your methods, now is a great time to meet an international grower, see some beautiful examples of his orchids and learn. Also at the meeting will be a raffle table, where you could win something beautiful, a table full of orchids for sale, a “member show off table”, showing some of the gems grown by our members and refreshments. Guests are welcome! For more information www.naturecoastorchidsociety.com Or call Mary Lou at 218-556-1855.

Brooksville Garden Club welcomes Members and Guests to their Meeting, January 9th, 2019, at The Country Kitchen Restaurant, 20133 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville. Join us for an “off the menu” lunch at 11:30 OR just come for our Speaker at 12:30 PM, Master Gardener, Winn Miller. Plant propagating made easy. Meetings are Free and Open to Public.

Interested? Call Jan: 352-7994319 or Cathy, 352-585-6834 Sierra Club Adventure Coast Meet Up Wed., Jan. 10 Featuring Joyce Kleen on the “Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge: Habitat, Wildlife & Management” The next Sierra Club Adventure Coast Group meet up is Wednesday, January 10th, featuring Joyce Kleen.

Ms. Kleen holds a BS in Wildlife Biology from North Carolina State University, and has served for the last 28 years as Wildlife Biologist for the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Complex – which includes Chassahowitzka NWR, Crystal River NWR, Egmont Key NWR, Pinellas NWR, and Passage Key NWR. She also has experience with Loxahatchee NWR. She will speak on the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Refuge.

Join us at the Harvey Martin Democratic Center, 3432 Deltona Blvd in Spring Hill.

Social at 6:30 pm. Program at 7pm, followed by meeting.

THE HERNANDO SUN

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Health & Wellness Briefs Learn more on Facebook at Sierra Club Adventure Coast Committee, email dquirolo@ gmail.com or call 352 2773330. Public welcome.

Join Sierra Club! There’s no better time to Explore, Enjoy, Protect our natural world.

Oak Hill Hospital Welcomes Paul M. Evans, Jr., CEC, CPT as Its New Director of Food & Nutrition

Upcoming IFAS Extensions Classes University of Florida/IFAS Extension at Hernando County , Hernando County Utilities Florida-Friendly Landscaping and Hernando County Solid Waste present “My Florida Yard Class Series.” This free series classes will be offered from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at 16110 Aviation Loop Dr, Brooksville 34604. The dates and topics will include: January 10th - Florida Yards 101 January 24th – Learning About Lawns February 21st – Trash Talk and Compost Happens Workshop Compost bins will be given to Hernando County residents at the February 21st class.

One bin per household.

Participants are encouraged to attend all three classes in the series. Class size will be limited, so please sign up at https://myfloridayardseries. eventbrite.com or call 352-540-6230.

Air Potato Workshop and Roundup Friday, January 18, 2019 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Learn about the identification of air potato vine and control options, including the air potato beetle biological control program. Dr. Chris Kerr, who coordinates the air potato beetle biological control program for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), will be at the UF/ IFAS Hernando County Extension Office to discuss air potato updates and their new citizen science group “The Air Potato Patrol”. Anyone bringing in bulbils (the “potatoes” produced on the vines in the fall) will be eligible to win a free Air Potato Patrol T-Shirt.

Remove the aerial bulbils and drop them off at the extension office any time before the event to help support air potato beetle production for next season. Please be sure to properly package the bulbils to prevent accidental spread by double-bagging bulbils. Please register for free on Eventbrite or call 352-540-6230 so we will know how many people to expect- see you there!

UF/IFAS Extension Hernando County Office 16110 Aviation Loop Dr. Brooksville, FL 34604

Spring Hill, Florida (December 20, 2018) – Oak Hill Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Evans, Jr., CEC (Certified Executive Chef), CPT (Certified Personal Trainer) as its new Director of Food & Nutrition. Mr. Evans comes to Oak Hill Hospital from Doctor’s Hospital of Sarasota where he served as Director of Food & Nutrition Services and as Executive Chef.

Mr. Evans is a graduate of the Academy, American Culinary Arts in Lakeland, Florida, where he graduated top of his class with a 4.0 grade point average.

He holds an Associate of Science degree in Culinary Arts from Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) where he graduated with a 3.75 grade point average. He is currently enrolled at PHSC for a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Management.

Over the years Mr. Evans has been recognized for many achievements in the culinary arts. He was recognized as Tampa Bay Chef of the Year in 2004 and 2010. He was America’s Cup Champion in 2009 and 2010 and was considered to be one of the top 20 chefs in central Florida (2004), and has received many other awards. He is a member of the American Culinary Federation Tampa Bay Chapter, an advisory board member for the Art Institute of Tampa, and an advocacy board member for the Stavros Center for

Economic Enterprise at the University of South Florida.

Register Now for January Classes.

NAMI Hernando Peer to Peer Starts January 2019 Wednesday, January 16, 2019 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM It’s a 8 week FREE COURSE that is open to anyone that is interested in taking this class. This course is an educational 8 week program that helps anyone to understand, manage and give you the tools to help you along with your mental illness.. it explores the brain and how it works, gives you the understanding of how and why we struggle sometimes. The course explores dual diagnosis, PTSD, and all of the mental illnesses.

You will be receiving a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Medications are the most important tool to helping you maintain a balanced life but having the right tools and understanding and learning how to manage our illness on a daily basis is PRICELESS. Hope to see you there!

NAMI Hernando - Beautiful Mind Center 10554 Spring Hill Drive Spring Hill, FL 34608 “Get Out of Park and Don’t Reverse: Restart Your Engine and Go!” Spring Hill, Florida (December 20, 2018) – Access Health Care Physicians, LLC announces a lecture entitled “Get Out of Park and Don’t Reverse: Restart Your Engine and Go!” will be held on Thursday, January 10, 2019, from 5:30 pm to 7 pm.

The lecture will be held at Access Health Care’s main office at 5350 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill, Florida 34606 and is conducted

by Maria Scunziano-Singh, MD. For more information about additional lectures for the future and to register for one of her lectures call 352-688-8116 ext.

4344.

CryptoQuote answer on page 15

T V ’ S B EST B ETS D E C . 3 0 - J A N . 2 Sunday, Dec. 30 Martina’s Table: “New Mom Brunch Basket” Food Network, 12pm Martina McBride is putting together a basket of food, which includes hashbrown casserole and individual chocolate-cherry cheesecakes, for a family friend who just had her first baby.

The Orville FOX, 8pm Season Premiere!

This special episode airs immediately after FOX’s NFL football doubleheader. The scifi series, which follows the action of the humans and aliens aboard a mid-level exploratory spaceship, moves to Thursday nights beginning Jan. 3.

Escape at Dannemora Showtime, 10pm Series Finale!

Showtime’s limited series based on the stranger-than-fiction account of a prison break in upstate New York comes to its explosive end. Patricia Arquette was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in this series.

“The Twilight Zone” New Year’s Marathon Syfy, beginning at 10:54pm This year, Syfy’s popular annual programming event will give viewers 56 straight hours (running through early morning Jan. 2) of Rod Serling’s classic sci-fi/fantasy anthology series, including fan-favorite episodes airing in primetime on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Monday, Dec. 31 College Football ESPN, CBS, FOX & FS1, beginning at 12pm Live Get your New Year’s Eve celebration started early with a full day of college football bowl games: the Military Bowl (ESPN), Hyundai Sun Bowl (CBS), Redbox Bowl (FOX), AutoZone Liberty Bowl (ESPN), San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl (FS1) and TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (ESPN).

“The Simpsons” New Year’s Marathon FXX, beginning at 6pm “Welcome to T.G.I. McScratchy’s, where it’s constantly New Year’s Eve!” FXX

helps you ring in the new year with The Simpsons Movie, followed by a marathon of episodes running through New Year’s Day. Dick Clark’s New Year’s Primetime Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest ABC, 8pm & 11:30pm Live Let’s do the Time Zone again!

Host Ryan Seacrest drops the ball on the East Coast from Times Square with Jenny McCarthy, while Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars) does the Central countdown from New Orleans.

New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen CNN, 8pm Live Last year Andy Cohen went hatless in 9-degree temps and admittedly offended some guests with his questions. But he returns to Times Square to try, try again with pal Anderson Cooper. We can’t wait.

FOX’s New Year’s Eve With Steve Harvey: Live From Times Square FOX, 8pm & 11pm Live It’s an eclectic bunch at the Fox party: host Steve Harvey, the Fox NFL Sunday team and musical guests including Sting, Jason Aldean and Florence + the Machine.

A Toast to 2018!

NBC, 8pm Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb host this star-studded two-hour special that looks back at the year’s biggest pop-culture moments, videos and trends. An all-star cast of celebrities -- from Michael Bublé and Ellie Kemper to Kenan Thompson and Busy Philipps -- will dish on the most talked-about stories that made for an unforgettable 2018.

New Year’s Eve Entertainment Movie Marathon TCM, beginning at 8pm Ring in the new year by tapping your toes to a marathon of notable documentary films featuring compilations from classic Hollywood musicals.

TCM will air That’s Entertainment! (1974), That’s Entertainment! II (1976), That’s Entertainment! III (1994), That’s Dancing! (1985) and It’s Showtime (1976).

Live From Lincoln Center: “New York Philharmonic New Year’s Eve With Renée

Fleming” PBS, 9pm A New Year’s Eve tradition continues with the New York Philharmonic, led by new music director Jaap van Zweden, welcoming opera great Renée Fleming for an evening of elegance and sophistication celebrating the intersection of classical music and dance.

NBC’s New Year’s Eve NBC, 10pm & 11:30pm Live One year ago, a pregnant Chrissy Teigen didn’t even stay up until midnight to watch the ball drop on December 31. Now the model and Lip Sync Battle commentator is cohosting NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly from Times Square. Saturday Night Live’s Leslie Jones also lends a hand in New York City, with Keith Urban heading up the festivities in Nashville.

Tuesday, Jan. 1 A Series of Unfortunate Events Netflix Season Premiere!

The series based on the bestselling books by Lemony Snicket (a.k.a. Daniel Handler) launches its third and final season. After foiling the many dastardly plans and disguises of their evil relative Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris), the Baudelaire orphans -- Violet, Klaus and Sunny -- might finally discover the truth about their parents’ mysterious deaths while unraveling the layers of a clandestine organization and revealing the secrets of the coveted missing sugar bowl.

Comedians of the World Netflix New Series!

This global first-of-its-kind event brings together 47 comedians from 13 regions in eight languages for an unprecedented standup comedy series. The comedians are diverse in style, gender and ethnicity with performers from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, United Kingdom, France, the Middle East, Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands, Germany and India.

“The Walking Dead” New Year’s Marathon AMC, beginning at 9am AMC’s marathon of the hit postapocalyptic series continues with episodes from Seasons

8 and 9.

Countdown to the 130th Rose Parade Presented by Honda Hallmark Channel, 10am This one-hour special captures the excitement of last-minute activity from the Pasadena, Calif., parade site.

Abby Hatcher Nickelodeon, 10am New Series!

This bright and cheerful animated series follows 7-yearold Abby -- a little girl with a big heart -- as she helps her Fuzzly friends fix their mishaps, learn from their mistakes and negotiate their emotions.

In the series premiere, “When Abby Met Bozzly/Hair Flair Everywhere,” Abby meets her best Fuzzly friend Bozzly for the first time. Then, when the hotel’s salon owner Mrs. Melvin closes the salon for the day, Abby tries to help Harriet, a hair-obsessed Fuzzly, find a new hobby.

The 130th Rose Parade Presented by Honda Hallmark Channel, 11am Live Celebrate New Year’s Day with the 130th Tournament of Roses Parade. This year’s parade, themed “The Melody of Life,” celebrates the universal language of music and will be led by parade grand marshal Chaka Khan. Floral-covered floats, spirited marching bands and high-stepping equestrian units traverse a 5.5-mile route along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, Calif.

College Football ESPN2, ESPN & ABC, beginning at 12pm Live In the College Football Playoff era, New Year’s Day bowl games feel a little like consolation games for teams left out of the top four. Still, today’s games should be compelling with No. 18 Mississippi State vs. Iowa in the Outback Bowl (ESPN2), No. 11 LSU vs. No. 8 UCF in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl (ESPN), No. 14 Kentucky vs. No. 12 Penn State in the VRBO Citrus Bowl (ABC), No. 9 Washington vs. No. 6 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl (ESPN) and No. 15 Texas vs.

No. 5 Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl (ESPN).

NHL Winter Classic: Boston vs. Chicago NBC, 1pm Live David Pastrnak and the

Boston Bruins battle Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL Winter Classic outdoor game at Notre Dame Stadium.

It’s the first NHL game played at the iconic college football venue.

ID’s Premiere New Year Marathon Investigation Discovery, beginning at 4pm True-crime channel ID rings in 2019 with an eight-hour programming event that includes sneak peeks of its new series.

Making their premieres during the marathon are new programs Deadly Secrets, Killing Time, American Nightmare and Hometown Homicide.

Current series making their season premieres during the marathon include Your Worst Nightmare (which kicks off the marathon) and Evil Lives Here. Also featured are new episodes of Deadly Deception and Body Cam. AKC National Championship Dog Show Animal Planet, 6pm Find out who wins Best in Show in the 2018 installment of this renowned annual dog show, taped in December.

Doctor Who: “Resolution” BBC America, 8pm In this Doctor Who New Year’s Day special titled “Resolution,” a terrifying evil is stirring from across the centuries of Earth’s history. Will the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), Ryan (Tosin Cole), Graham (Bradley Walsh) and Yaz (Mandip Gill) be able to overcome this threat to the planet? Doctor Who will return to BBC America for a new season in early 2020.

Street Outlaws: Bristol: “Race to 200K” Discovery Channel, 8pm Season Premiere!

Thirty-two of the fastest male and female racers in Street Outlaws history compete at the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee with $200,000 on the line. The night of racing action is pre-

ceded by a one-hour special, Street Outlaws: Bristol Road to 200K. Lethal Weapon: “There Will Be Bud” FOX, 8pm It’s a new year and a new time slot. Cole (Seann William Scott) finds himself on the rebound and his new romantic interest, Julie (guest star Haley Strode), has an unexpected connection that complicates things at work.

Meanwhile, Murtaugh (Damon Wayans) worries about the connection between the murder he’s investigating and a new opportunity for Trish (Keesha Sharp) to serve as co-counsel on a high-profile lawsuit with Leo Getz (guest star Thomas Lennon).

Love, Gilda CNN, 9pm This intimate documentary shares the life of legendary comedian and entertainer Gilda Radner, presenting her successes and her struggles in her own words.

The Gifted: “eneMy of My eneMy” FOX, 9pm The winter premiere moves the series to a new time slot and finds the Mutant Underground and Inner Circle trying to put aside their differences in order to save John (Blair Redford) from the Purifiers.

Married at First Sight Lifetime, 9pm Season Premiere!

In back-to-back episodes, eight Philadelphia singles legally marry a stranger the moment they first meet at the altar, and then get to know each other as they navigate married life.

Great Performances: “From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2019” PBS, 9pm Ring in the new year with the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of conductor Christian CONTINUED ON Page 10

10

HERNANDO SUN

IN, OUT & ABOUT

hernandosun.com Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019

Calendar of Events Dec. 28 Beginning Birding Hike When: Fri, December 28, 8am – 11am Where: Chinsegut Conservation Center 23212 Lake Lindsey Road Brooksville, Florida 34601 Description: Take advantage of the weather by joining this guided birding stroll through Chinsegut. Hike begins at the center at 8 AM. Program offered through Hernando Audubon volunteers. 1-3 Hour program

Movie Times

this is an opportunity to become certified as a Basic Archery Instructor (BAI) through the largest standardized archery program offered for school aged children. Instructors certified at Chinsegut will have access to use of the center’s NASP equipment for programs for their group (additional requirements apply). The cost is $60.00 per person (ages 18+ only). Register

by December 30th at NASPBAI.org; Class length 7 hours Jan. 9

Nature Explorers, Bears When: Jan. 9, 2018 10:30 AM Dec. 29 Where: Chinsegut Conservation Center This mid-week, monthly program for ages 5-9 allows kids to Walking Sticks Hike; Chinsegut explore a variety of animals through games, activities and When: Sat, December 29, 8am – 10am occasional live animals. There is no fee for this program, regisWhere: Chinsegut Conservation Center 23212 Lake Lindsey tration is preferred. Older or younger siblings are welcomed to Road Brooksville, Florida 34601 Description: This monthly hiking club meets at a variety of FWC accompany parent. Program length 1.5 hours managed lands around Brooksville. This month we will hike the Teen Nature Lab Prairie to Pines connector from Chinsegut to Big Pine. Please call to register, parking is limited. (352) 754-6722. Hike approx. When: Jan. 9, 2018 1:00 PM Where: Chinsegut Conservation Center 2.0 miles. Can’t make this hike? No worries, join the First Day This new class for ages 14+ is designed to help students with hike January 1st. an interest in science learn through hands on experience how Dec. 30 to collect background information, design an experiment, collect data and organize findings. We will run two observation Brooksville Farmers’ Market experiments using wildlife monitoring equipment and other When: Sunday, December 30, 2018 at 10 AM – 4 PM tools to learn about wildlife at Chinsegut WEA. Group will meet Where: 615 Old Hospital Dr, Brooksville, FL 34601,Hosted by once a month for three hours January through May. Parents Hernando County Growers’ Association may drop-off or remain with students. Registration required at Fresh produce, meats and poultry, eggs and cheese, artisan (352) 754-6722. foods, handmade soaps, plants and flowers...

Come join us for fresh produce, cottage foods and crafts, and Jan. 10 delicious prepared food. Get a taste of what Brooksville has to offer and spend some time at the Brooksville Farmers’ Market.

The Brooksville Enrichment Center will be sponsoring a CPR/ Pet friendly.

AED class on Jan. 10 2019 starting at 6 p.m. and ending at approximately 10 p.m. These classes are held every second and fourth Thursday of the month.

Held at the Brooksville Hospital Medical Arts Building, Room Jan. 2 120 (Enrichment Center), this class is designed for the professional health care provider and meets the guide lines of the Holidays on the Hill American Heart Association. Non healthcare professionals are WHEN: Jan. 2 11:30AM - 1:30PM also welcome to attend. The total cost is $35. part of the proWHERE: Chinsegut Hill Manor Museum ceeds are donated to the Enrichment Center. A reservation is 22495 Chinsegut Hill Road, Brooksville, Florida 34601 required. To reserve a seat, call Bob Kanner at 352-597-8875.

Description: Ornaments, Arts & Crafts, Soaps, Honey & Jam Enjoy a quick lunch from one of the tallest places in Florida, Jan. 11 overlooking a marvelous vista. Stop up on “the Hill” and enjoy a quick soup, sandwich and maybe a bit of shopping – tour The Night Market/Friday Night Live the Manor House – walk the grounds. Visit our new gift shop to find special items for those you love and benefit one of the Hernando County Band Shell Pavilion at 205 E. Ft. Dade Ave, Brooksville, FL 34601 Nature Coast’s finest treasures.

What is Friday Night Live?

Only $12 for soup, sandwich and cookies. Manor House Friday Night Live is a live outdoor music concert series held Museum self-tours available. the 2nd Friday of each month at the beautiful Hernando County Band Shell Pavilion at 205 E. Ft. Dade Ave, Brooksville, FL 34601. The fun kicks off at 5:00pm and ends at approxiJan. 5 & 6 mately 10:00pm; This event is a community revitalization effort to regrow a connection to the Hernando County Community Dade’s Battle of 1835 to its only downtown - Historic Downtown Brooksville. High When: Jan. 5 and 6, Grounds Open 9 am ~~ Battle Reenactenergy bands are booked to play two music sets throughout ment 2 pm the evening. Food trucks will be parked along Ft. Dade Avenue Where: Dade Battlefield Historic State Park providing a wide variety of culinary treats. Games will be 7200 County Road 603, Bushnell, Florida 33513 Experience the Dade Battle Reenactment of the 2nd Seminole throughout the park for children and families to enjoy. There War on January 5-6, 2019 at the Dade Battlefield Historic State will also be a full selection of cocktails, beer and wine.

Beginning December 14th we will be adding a Night Market!

Park in Bushnell, Florida. Each year, on the first full weekend (Saturday & Sunday) of January, the Dade Battlefield Society Jan. 12 sponsors a re-enactment of the battle. Arrive early on re-enactment weekend. The park manager says Sunday is usually less crowded than Saturday. The actual battle is at 2 p.m. each 3-D Archery Shoot When: Jan. 12, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. day, although there are activities all day. The Dade Battle Where: Chinsegut Conservation Center Reenactment includes period soldier, Seminole and Civilian Each month a 3-D archery course is offered at Chinsegut. Join camps; a Sutler Trade Fair; historic arts and crafts demonus for this shoot to prepare for the upcoming ASA ‘tournastrations; full scale cannon firing; tree cutting and barricade ment’ shoot in April. Course is 15 lanes with 3-D target variety. building; musket shooting; tomahawk throwing and primiSight in your bow on our practice range. Small fee applies tive archery. Step back in time with period soldier costumes, to help us continue to maintain our equipment. Call (352) Seminole and Civilian camps, a sutler trade fair, historic arts 754-6722 for more information, no registration required. Join and crafts demonstrations, full-scale cannon firing, musket Drawn by Grace for provided lunch following shoot. Allow 3-4 shooting, tomahawk throwing and primitive archery.

Admission: $5 per person, children under 6 free, parking $2 per hours to participate fully. vehicle. • Period Soldier & Seminole Camps • Historic Arts & Jan. 18 - 20 Crafts • Tree Cutting and Barricade Building • Cannon Firing • Games and Activities for Children • Sutler Trade Fair Florida Agriculture and Wildlife Expo and Brooksville Rodeo NASP BAI Certification When: Jan 18, 2019 at 4 PM – Jan 20, 2019 at 5 PM When: Jan. 5th 9:00 AM Where: 16371 Runway Dr, Brooksville, Florida 34604 Where: Chinsegut Hill Conservation Center Description: Enjoy a weekend filled with shopping, educational If you teach physical education or run programs for an organized Co-op, scouting organization or other organized group experiences, horse and livestock shows, car show and don’t

2019

T V ’ S B EST B ETS J A N . 3 - 5 Thielemann at the Musikverein. Hosted by Hugh Bonneville and featuring favorite Strauss family waltzes accompanied by the dancing of the Vienna City Ballet.

Liz Fuentes are joined by comedian and viral sensation Jessie Woo and underground rapper/songwriter Khaotic as they strive to make their mark on Miami’s music scene.

a series of intense challenges, from creating high-end editorial looks to the latest red carpet beauty trends.

Bad Chad Customs Discovery Channel, 10pm New Series!

Car artist Chad Hiltz, a.k.a.

“Bad Chad,” runs a small, hand-built shop in a rural town and incorporates just about anything into his car builds -- parts from a boat, airplane, even an old locker.

SEAL Team: “Backwards in High Heels” CBS, 9pm Bravo Team partners with the British Special Air Service to rescue passengers on a hijacked plane who are taken hostage by terrorists in the new episode “Backwards in High Heels.”

The Big Bang Theory: “The Paintball Scattering” CBS, 8pm Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) organize a paintball game that results in mayhem in the new episode “The Paintball Scattering.”

Symphony for Nature: The Britt Orchestra at Crater Lake PBS, 10:30pm Join classical musicians and Klamath drummers for a performance inspired by Oregon’s breathtaking Crater Lake, forging deep connections among people, art and nature in an environment rich with historic and spiritual significance.

The Masked Singer FOX, 9pm New Series!

A dozen brave celebrities don outlandish costumes while trying to impress the audience and the celebrity judging panel of Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke with their best vocal performance.

Wednesday, Jan. 2

Project Runway All Stars Lifetime, 9pm Season Premiere!

In the final season of the Project Runway All Stars franchise, 14 designers and winners -- seven from the U.S. and seven who have won international versions of Project Runway from Australia, Brazil, the Netherlands, the U.K. and Canada

The Senate, Conflict and Compromise C-SPAN, 8pm This original production from C-SPAN uses original interviews, Peabody Award-winning video archives and unique access to the Senate chamber during a session to look at the history, traditions and roles of the United States Senate.

Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back FOX, 8pm Season Premiere!

Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant makeover series returns for a second helping. In each episode, Ramsay drives his state-of-the-art mobile kitchen and command center, Hell on Wheels, across the country to help bring a failing restaurant back from the brink of disaster. grown-ish Freeform, 8pm Season Premiere!

Last season, this black-ish spinoff followed Zoey (blackish star Yara Shahidi) and her friends (played by Trevor Jackson, Francia Raisa, Emily Arlook, Jordan Buhat, Luke Sabbat, and Chloe and Halle Bailey) as they experienced the wide-eyed firsts of their freshman year at Cal U.

MythBusters Jr. Science Channel, 9pm New Series!

Adam Savage returns to his myth-busting ways and is joined by six of the nation’s leading young “makers” to use STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) to test legends. In the series premiere, Savage and the junior MythBusters explore the many uses for duct tape Black Ink Crew: Chicago VH1, 9pm Season Premiere!

This season, new artists emerge and familiar faces return as the crew strives to salvage the true identity of 9Mag.

TCM, beginning at 8pm Tonight, Jan. 9 and Jan. 16, Turner Classic Movies remembers legendary director Elia Kazan with an evening of his classic films.

Criminal Minds: “Night Lights” CBS, 10pm A week after a D.C. couple is murdered in their home, someone is abducted in Portland, Ore. The Behavioral Analysis Unit heads west to investigate a possible link. If only they had this hint from the writers about tonight’s unsub: “He lets you go, you taste freedom -- but is it all a game?”

Love & Hip Hop: Miami VH1, 8pm Season Premiere!

Returning favorites including Trick Daddy, Keyara Stone, Young Hollywood, Jojo and

American Beauty Star Lifetime, 10pm Season Premiere!

The beauty competition series returns with 14 hair and makeup artists who will compete in

Thursday, Jan. 3

Gotham FOX, 8pm Season Premiere!

The 12-episode fifth and final season, dubbed “Legend of the Dark Knight,” will complete Bruce’s (David Mazouz) transformation into Batman. In the season opener, “Year Zero,” The Titan Games NBC, 8pm New Series!

Watch as The Titan Games puts both male and female athletes in physically and mentally taxing obstacles to prove that they have what it takes to be the next Titan and to potentially walk away with $100,000.

Young Sheldon: “A Race of Superhumans and a Letter to Alf” CBS, 8:30pm Sheldon (Iain Armitage) experiments on Missy (Raegan Revord), and Georgie (Montana Jordan) joins Mary’s (Zoe Perry) bible study to spend more time with his crush, Veronica (Isabel May), in the new episode “A Race of Superhumans and a Letter to Alf.” Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles Bravo, 9pm Season Premiere!

Powerhouse agents Josh Flagg, Josh Altman, Tracy Tutor, James Harris and David Parnes continue to navigate huge deals, huge homes and huge egos in one of the hottest real estate markets in the world.

The Orville FOX, 9pm After this past Sunday night’s post-football peek at Season 2, Seth MacFarlane’s sci-fi dramedy moves to its regular day and time period tonight.

Hitler’s Secret Tunnels History, 9pm Over 70 years after the end of World War II, hundreds of miles of tunnels built by the Nazis may still be protecting Adolf Hitler’s final secrets.

Surviving R. Kelly Lifetime, 9pm New Miniseries!

(continued

This three-night documentary event reveals the stories of women who have fallen under the spell of -- and fallen victim to -- R&B singer R. Kelly.

Impossible Engineering Science Channel, 9pm Season Premiere!

The 10 episodes of this series’ fourth season will again look into some of the world’s most exciting and innovative engineering creations.

Bringing Up Bates UP TV, 9pm Season Premiere!

America’s favorite super-sized family is back for Season 8 as the Bates family continues to grow through new relationships, weddings and babies.

60 Days In A&E, 10pm Season Premiere!

Seven innocent people, including a gang member turned minister, go undercover for two months in an Arizona jail.

When one goes rogue, will it blow their cover?

Music City CMT, 10pm Season Premiere!

The docuseries that follows a group of young adults chasing their Nashville dreams returns for Season 2.

The Blacklist: “Dr. Hans Koehler” NBC, 10pm Season Premiere!

The hit drama begins its two-day, two-part Season 6 premiere tonight. Following the revelation that Red (James Spader) isn’t who he says he is...

Friday, Jan. 4

GTC BEACON CINEMA 12961 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34613 We did not receive times this week due to holiday. miss the Rodeo Saturday night and Sunday afternoon!

Jan. 19 & 20 Brooksville Raid When: Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, 11am – Sun, January 20, 2019, Where: The location is on Hwy. 50 West at the Sand Hill Scout Reservation, Across from Oak Hill Hospital Description: The Hernando Historical Museum Assoc., Inc. and North Pinellas County Scout Sertoma Club, Inc. present the 39th Annual Brooksville Raid Reenactment, Jan 19 & 20, 2019. This reenactment is a re-creation of a Civil War battle that happened in Hernando County in July of l864. The Raid is held the 3rd weekend in January every year. We have become the largest Civil War reenactment in Florida with over 1500 reenactors and their families. We have 20 cannons, 20 horses, and over 50 sutlers. The public is invited to tour, at no additional charge, the authentic confederate and union camps and actually see how they lived and what it was like during the Civil War. We expect around 60 sutlers (Vendors), so you can purchase any Civil War items you might want. We also have kettle corn, old-time root beer and you can’t leave without having a FRY BREAD. All animals must be on a leash.

Admission Prices: $10 Adults; $5 Youth 6-12 Years old. FREE-5 & Under; $3 Scouts in uniform. For more information, http:// www.brooksvilleraidreenactment.com Jan. 24 Have a Chili Day with JSL When: Thursday, January 24, 2019 at 6 PM – 9 PM Join Junior Service League for our 2nd annual Chili Day fundraiser at Silverthorn Country Club on Thursday, January 24, 2019! $8 includes ALL YOU CAN EAT chili with a beverage choice of water, tea or lemonade. Delicious baked goods will be available for purchase! We will also have raffle baskets, 50/50, and of course voter’s choice for BEST chili with a fantastic TROPHY for our winner! As always, ALL proceeds raised go back to supporting our local community.

Jan. 25 Outdoor Laser Tag / Bumper Ball (Friday Night Done Right) WHEN: Friday, January 25, 2019 at 6 PM – 8 PM WHERE: The City of Brooksville Parks & Recreation 99 Jerome Brown Pl, Brooksville, Florida 34601 There is nothing more fun than a game of Laser Tag against your friends! Not your thing??? Then come for BUMPER BALL! FREE Bounce and roll down the field as we play a game of ball!! January’s AWESOME Friday Night Done Right through the City of Brooksville Parks & Recreation. January 25, 2019.

6-8pm. TOM VARN PARK. 301 Darby Lane Brooksville, FL 34601. For more information please call 352-540-3830 or email Jen @ JRaffaelli@cityofbrooksville.us February 14-16 Mulemanship Clinic For the 4th consecutive year, Spotted Dance Ranch in Brooksville, FL is honored to be the location of TS Mules’ only Florida clinics. The 2019 clinics will occur from February 14-16, 2019.

Ty Evans, along with his wife Skye, and daughters Ellie and Swayzee, travel all the way from Utah to hold these clinics.

These clinics are geared toward helping riders and their mules, horses, and donkeys get along a little better. Ty enjoys helping individuals establish a partnership with their animal and develop a clear communication line between one another. Horses, mules, and donkeys are welcome! Contact www.tsmules. com for clinic registration and information. Classes run from 8:00 am through 6:00 pm each day and include Foundation Mulemanship, Mulemanship 1, and Mulemanship 2. The cost for each class is $350 (the fee does not include camping, stalls, meals, etc.). For camping and stall/paddock reservations and hotel information, contact www.spotteddanceranch.com or kymrouse@att.net. Clinic participants must keep their animals at the ranch. Spectators are welcome for $25 per day on Feb. 14th and 15th. Private lessons with Ty Evans can also be arranged.

from page

9)

NBA Basketball ESPN, beginning at 8pm Live Friday’s NBA doubleheader on ESPN has the Dallas Mavericks in Boston to face the Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Pacific Northwest to battle the Portland Trail Blazers.

Last Man Standing: “Three for the Road” FOX, 8pm When Mike (Tim Allen) offers to take Boyd (Jet Jurgensmeyer) on a fishing trip, Ryan (Jordan Masterson) objects, as his plans interfere with an existing trip he made with his son.

Speechless: “J-A--JAVIER’S P-A-- PANTS” ABC, 8:30pm When Maya (Minnie Driver) lends a helping hand to frenemy Melanie (Sarah Chalke), she finds her life taking a surprising turn.

The Cool Kids: “Funeral Crashers” FOX, 8:30pm In the winter premiere, Hank (David Alan Grier) finds out his ex-wife will be at a mutual friend’s funeral, so Margaret (Vicki Lawrence) volunteers to be his “hype man” Hawaii Five-0: “Hala I Ke Ala O’i’ole Mai” CBS, 9pm Carl Weathers directed the new episode “Hala I Ke Ala O’i’ole Mai (Gone on the Road From Which There Is No Returning),” in which Catherine (returning guest star Michelle Borth) helps McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) with a very personal mission.

Beautiful Boy Amazon Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet star in the heartbreaking and inspiring story of a family as one member struggles with addiction. The film is based on the best-selling memoirs from David and Nic Sheff.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame Honors The CW, 9pm This special celebrates those awarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018 -- a long list of greats including Gillian Anderson, Minnie Mouse, Mark Hamill, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Zoe Saldana and ‘N Sync.

Fresh Off the Boat: “Just the Two of Us” ABC, 8pm Louis (Randall Park) and Jessica (Constance Wu) think they’ve won a posh weekend getaway.

Blue Bloods: “Disrupted” CBS, 10pm Frank (Tom Selleck) questions whether a run-in with community activists was an accident or a setup, in the new episode “Disrupted.”

MacGyver: “Mac + Fallout + Jack” CBS, 8pm In the new episode “Mac + Fallout + Jack,” Mac (Lucas Till) and Jack (George Eads) hit the road for a weekend of relaxation in Las Vegas, but their vacation is cut short when someone from their past abducts them and locks them in a concrete room.

Gold Rush: White Water Discovery Channel, 10pm Season Premiere!

The Gold Rush spinoff is back for Season 2 as Dakota Fred and his son Dustin are mining for nuggets in the raging torrents of glacier-fed McKinley Creek using heated wet suits to dive beneath the freezing plunge pools.

The Blacklist

NBC, 10pm Part 2 of the Season 6 premiere airs tonight. Starting Jan. 11, the series will settle into its regular Friday night time slot.

Saturday, Jan. 5

Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy Discovery Family Channel, 9am New Series!

This animated preschool series follows the first ever class of recruits as they arrive on Earth from their home planet of Cybertron and begin training at the Rescue Bots Academy.

College Basketball FOX, CBS, ESPN & ESPN2, beginning at 12pm Live Michigan State at Ohio State (FOX), St. John’s at Georgetown (CBS), Kentucky at Alabama (ESPN), Florida State at Virginia (ESPN2) and Kansas at Iowa State (ESPN2) are among the best games on Saturday’s college basketball slate.

NFL Football: AFC and NFC Wild Card Playoffs CBS & ABC/ESPN, beginning at 4:30pm Live The NFL playoffs begin with wild-card weekend as eight of the 12 teams in the hunt for Super Bowl LIII try to advance to next weekend’s Divisional Playoff round. CBS and ABC/ESPN air games today.

Tomorrow’s games air on NBC and FOX. Colombiana AMC, 8pm Olivier Megaton’s 2011 French film makes its network premiere. In Bogotá, Colombia, in 1992, a little girl (Amandla Stenberg) watches a crime lord and his henchman murder her parents. Fifteen years later, the now-grown Cataleya (Zoe Saldana) works as a contract killer for her Chicago-based uncle (Cliff Curtis) and dreams of avenging her family.

Winter Castle Hallmark Channel, 8pm Original Film!

When Jenny (Emilie Ullerup) attends a wedding at a magical ice hotel, she connects with the best man (Kevin McGarry) and his daughter.

Vanished History, 8pm Using seasoned investigation skills, cutting-edge technology and the help of non-traditional resources in the fields of science, anomaly and paranormal research,...

Cousins for Life Nickelodeon, 8:30pm New Series!

SPORTS

Recruiting from a college coach’s perspective ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALICE MARY HERDEN

High school basketball season began in November, and this is also the time of the year when scouts are looking for new talent on the court. Freelance correspondent and sports photographer for The Hernando Sun, Alice Mary Herden, conducted a one on one interview with Micheal Jones, Head Basketball Coach for Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC). This interview was to get more information about what he as a recruiter looks for and what he, as a coach does to prepare his players for potential recruitment.

First, what exactly is scouting?

Athletic scouts are recruiters, and their main job is to evaluate athletes to find the best talent, skills, and representation for their sports team.

Scouts may travel from school to school spectating potential athletes while attending pre-season or annual games and even tournaments.

Recruiters can have the opportunity to not only view senior prospects but to evaluate the growth of players that are still in their early years of high school.

Since PHSC is a twoyear college, the rotation of players can be demanding as well as challenging.

When players graduate, Jones is looking to replace those positions within his team. He also looks for athletes that want to go further not just in a career in basketball but pursuing their educational goals.

From the recruiter’s perspective “We look for things that are not coachable,” Jones said. “And you want to look for athletes that are the next best player that has potential.”

Natural athletic skills like speed, for instance, are incredibly beneficial for basketball, but recruiters also look at what a player’s potential is.

“What is he going to be like in two years,” Jones said, “You have to have some foresight.”

As Jones explained, some student-athletes maybe overlooked, they may have a specific skill that has yet to be defined but being a scout you look for those “diamonds in the rough.”

Here is a simplified platform Jones uses for recruitment: -Academics: Is that player going to graduate high school? For any student-athlete to be considered for recruiting, their grades must

Michael Jones be within or exceeding the recruitment guidelines.

-Game Speed: In basketball, performance speed is essential. How much energy does the player display in between field goals and is it consistent?

-Vertical Ability: How well does the player accomplish a vertical leap? Is the player quick to recover rebounds and demonstrates responsible blocks?

-High-Quality Defense: How fast can the player get back on defense, how quickly can he switch from offense to defense?

-Skill Shooters: Shooting guards’ main objective is to put points on the board, but also the ability to steal the ball on defense.

-Size and leadership: Depending on replacement factors, point guards are vital due to their strength and leadership abilities. Can that player be a leader?

-Self-Discipline: How much is the player going to put in of his own time? Is he going to work on his skills beyond scheduled practices? Will he continue challenging himself to work towards defining his goals?

-Sports Ethics: Does the player show integrity, fairness, respect, and responsibility on the court?

-After the Game: Professionalism after the game, how does the player respond to winning or losing?

From the Coach’s Perspective “It’s part of the coaches responsibility to identify talent and identify college-level talent,” said Jones.

The coach’s role plays the most crucial factor for any student-athlete. They are there to build a structure, athleticism and to discover any possible unsurfaced talent. Jones, is not only an athletic scout but a basketball coach and his job is to coach players athletically. He is also to instill the fundamentals, provide insight, set challenges, build-essentials as well as making those who would want to continue a career in basketball obtain a higher level of education to be recruitment ready.

Here are some important duties that a coach takes on: See SCOUTING, Page 12

Boys Basketball ranking week of Dec. 24 - 28

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019 hernandosun.com

THE HERNANDO SUN

Second half surge keeps Sharks’ unbeaten streak alive

BY JOE CARLINO PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALICE MARY HERDEN

Anybody in Hernando County knows the legacy and brutal history between the Springstead Eagles and the Nature Coast Sharks. Since NCT’s inception in August of 2003, the California Street and Mariner Boulevard-located schools have clashed with each other in all aspects, almost like a Romeo and Juliet play in real life. And with these kind of knockdown, drag-out rivalries, one can imagine they’re usually very close, since neither squad wants to lose.

And that was the case on the basketball courtTuesday night Dec. 18 in ‘The Stead.’

After a subpar first half by both sides (more to come below), the Sharks exploded in the third quarter to gain a decisive lead, which they held onto against Springstead, 57-47. The win ensures NCT’s undefeated streak stays alive, if not almost being lost at the hands of their mortal enemy.

Rebounding totals were very close between the two squads, with the Sharks finishing with a 31-28 advantage at the final buzzer.

“Every time we play them (Springstead), we know we’re getting a tough game”, explained Sharks head coach Dave Pisarcik afterwards.

“Whether it’s at our house or theirs, we know the crowd is going to be electric. We’re fortunate to have gotten the win, but we didn’t play as well as I would’ve wanted.”

For the Sharks as a unit, they shot 50% from the field (19 of 38), 25% from distance (3 of 12), and 71% from the line (10 of 14). Once again, the Sharks were led by dominant junior center Orien Adams, who scored 24 points and added 15 rebounds. He was assisted by senior guard Robert Gomez and junior forward Cai Teague, who each scored 13 points.

On Springstead’s side, the Eagles shot 39% from the field (17 of 44), a dismal 11% from distance (2 of 18), and 54% from the line (7 of 13). The Eagles were led once again by the dynamic duo of brothers Sincere and Unique Torain, who combined for 29 of the home team’s final score (Sincere: 12 points; Unique: a gamehigh 29).

The first quarter of this contest went about as perfect as many fans and

Eagles Unique Torain attempts a shot against Nature Coast's Robert Gomez Tuesday night.

players want a rivalry game to go: with a small 12-9 advantage in favor of NCT separating the two combatants. However, in the second quarter, something just wasn’t there on either side. Both schools together combined for six points (all free throws) and couldn’t stop giving the ball back to the other side, almost like they were playing a game of ‘Hot Potato.’

Both sides were crystal clear when saying it wasn’t a lack of execution on their parts. “Both teams were playing extremely hard, which is a great indication of this rivalry,” explained Eagles head coach Matt McGarry. “Sometimes, there’s sloppy games like that, especially with the talent each squad has, but I don’t think it was a lack of execution; rather, it was some early season nerves on both ends.”

Following the halftime intermission, whatever was said by Pisarcik in the visitor’s locker room apparently paid dividends, because they came out with more intensity than Springstead. Adams threw down a massive dunk, the Sharks raced out to a big lead, and Springstead couldn’t keep up. That said, one thing was clear about this contest when it was done: these two schools still have some of the best high school talent in the county, and maybe even the North Suncoast.

It just makes the rematch on Jan. 29, 2019 from the Shark Tank even more enticing to attend.

For Nature Coast and Springstead, both schools have Christmas tournaments- and both tourneys see some of the premier talent in the state and country come out for a three-day competition. When regarding the “country” moniker,

Springstead Head Basketball Coach Matthew McGarry. Eagles are at 4 wins and 4 losses for the 2018-2019 season.

Nature Coast Head Basketball Coach Dave Pisarcik leading the Sharks with a 6-0 season.

Sharks Robert Gomez and Eagles Sincere Torain on the court at Springstead home game competition against Nature Coast Tuesday night.

this is because in NCT’s tournament, they have a school which was in the “Fab 50” for high school basketball in the Midwest recently playing this year in the “A” bracket, Wesley Christian, so on paper they appear to be the heavy favorite. However,

No. 2 Springstead (4-4, 1-1): These Eagles have been inconsistent at best through eight games and as evident of their past two contests before the break. Springstead was able to cruise to a 67-19 throttling of Weeki Wachee before being upended

by Nature Coast. Next time the Eagles take the court will be in the Greg O’Connell’s Shootout to begin the year.

No. 3 Hernando (4-5, 2-1): Talk about a turnaround? After starting the 2018-2019 season off to a rough 1-5 start, the Leopards have put themselves in position to reach the .500 mark just before the new year. Wins coming against Lecanto, New Port Richey Gulf and Weeki Wachee are just what the doctor ordered.

the Sharks have a couple of loose ends to iron out first, as they have two games on Friday against Central and Saturday against Academy at the Lakes before they can focus on their tourney.

Springstead, meanwhile, is now on a well-deserved R&R break for practicing and celebrating the holidays with their loved ones before ringing in 2019 with their own tournament.

NCT CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT SLATED TO BEGIN ON 12/27 AND RUN THROUGH 12/29

by ANDY VILLAMARZO Hernando Sun Sports Writer No. 1 Nature Coast (8-0, 4-0): Wins have come in the bunches for Nature Coast and heading into the break, they spared no one. The Sharks have now run off right wins in a row, with victories in the last three coming against Springstead, Central and Academy at the Lakes. They start off their annual holiday tournament against Tampa Jefferson.

11

SHS HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT SLATED TO BEGIN ON 1/1/2019 AND RUN THROUGH 1/3/2019

Sharks Junior Cai Teague drills by Eagles defensive play during a packed house at Springstead Tuesday night.

No. 4 Central (3-6, 0-1): After a win against Weeki Wachee, something many around the county have been able to do, the Bears went on a bit of a slide before the break. The win over the Hornets was followed up by losses to Crystal River, Bishop McLaughlin and Nature Coast. Bears are on the court again on New Year’s in the Glory Days tournament at Springstead.

No. 5 Weeki Wachee (0-9, 0-0): It’s been a very rough go of it for Weeki Wachee and through nine games, the Hornets are still in search of their first win. The team’s closest chance to date was a 48-33 loss to rival Hernando.

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @avillamarzo.

12

HERNANDO SUN

hernandosun.com

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019

IN, OUT & ABOUT

Hunting

Toby Benoit is a best selling novelist and professional outdoorsman with thirty-five years of experience guiding and outfitting for big game all across America. Toby is a renowned archer and turkey hunting expert who manufactures custom game calls and is a regular judge at NWTF sanctioned turkey calling events across the Southeast.

Preserving the trophy

I’ve been in the field a lot lately, targeting small game for my family’s table. Mostly, I’ve been wandering the oak hammocks along the Withlacoochee River and searching the tree tops for squirrels. Over the last week, a dozen have rode home with me to rest comfortably in my freezer, awaiting their turn as guest of honor on the supper table.

My favorite way to prepare them is chicken fried and plated besides a pile of smashed taters with a wedge of cornbread. It’s a meal sure to make you happy you spent all of them hours in the woods! But, is the meat the only real trophy from the hunt? I don’t think so; which is why I save the pelts and preserve them for any number of craft ideas.

I prepare the pelt by scraping away as much visible meat and flesh as possible. A dull knife can be used, and is preferable as it will scrape the hide without nicking.

I then make a solution of five cups of salt to a single gallon of water in a five-gallon bucket. Submerse the pelt in the salt solution overnight then scrape away any remaining flesh and membrane after the soaking time.

Next step is to tan the pelt, so to make your tanning solution, begin with two pounds of salt to four gallons of water. Stir it until you dissolve the salt completely. Next, in a separate container, mix two pounds of alum in just enough water to dissolve it and then mix it thoroughly. Add this to the salt mixture.

Place the scraped pelt into the tanning solution. Allow it to sit for twenty-four hours, but stir it at least twice a day.

Remove your pelts from the tanning solution and rinse the entire pelt under clear water. Hang the pelt, fur side up over a banister or railing out of direct sunlight and let it hang for several days.

Roll up the hide, by folding flesh sides together and let it sit overnight.

After this drying period, our pelt will be shrunken and hard, you’ll have to flex and stretch and work the pelt vigorously to limber it up. One way to work the hide is to rub back and forth, over a straight edge to soften the leather. Patio railings or table edges work well for this process.

Rub Neat’s Foot Oil or other leather lubricants into the leather with your fingers; this insures the tanned hide is both soft and pliable. Use a dog brush or other comb to work out any mats or tangles on the fur side of the hide, especially the tail.

Now, your pelt should be ready for display in your home, or used in any number of outdoor crafts.

Now, small game isn’t all I’ve been targeting lately as Deer season

Shannon Herod is on her fourth year as cheerleading coach at Springstead High, this is her first year coaching FHSAA competitive cheerleading.

school has grown CHEERLEADING to “Our love our cheerleading from page 1

High in Spring Hill.

Competitive cheer is more than just sideline cheerleading, and there are higher demands in dynamics and ingenuity. Teams are scored by category performances like cheer, pace, volume, motion technique, tumbling, dance skills, the use of signs, poms, total execution/ technique and overall all cheer impression. Each team has to bring a unique style to every competition.

On Friday, Dec. 21, 2018 Eagles cheerleaders hosted the Springstead Cheer Showcase to compete against Anclote, Wesley Chapel and Cypress Creek for the Class 1A - Region R2 conference.

Unfortunately Anclote and Wesley Chapel canceled, which gave Springstead just one team to challenge: Cypress Creek.

Springstead Eagles came out on top with a score of 67.5 to Cypress Creeks 61.5.

Herod explained that these head to head competitions are more for the judges to give coaches feedback on their performance and to prepare them for the FHSAA Regionals in January.

SCOUTING from page 11

-Academics: Education is a top priority. Ensuring grade standards and even disciplining game time if grades are low.

-Sports Performance: Having players contribute 100% to the game regardless of what level of competition.

-In-depth Game Knowledge: Training in all aspects of the game, fundamentals, and keep up-to-date on rules and regulations.

-Courtside Discipline: Displaying courtside professionalism.

-Recruiter Relationship: Building professional relationships with recruiters.

-Media: Prepping players about media and how to respond to interviewer questions effectively.

program because we make it exciting,” Herod said. “ I have high standards for them, and they are more than just a uniform.

They really set it; attitude, grades, leadership. I mean they have changed the way the school has looked at the cheerleading program.”

“Our goal is to set the bar and and we want to keep raising it.”

— Shannon Herod Coach Previous showcases: Nov. 16 Hudson Showcase Dec. 1 UCA Regionals: The Eagles placed in the top 10 out of 15 squads earning them a bid to Nationals in February.

Springstead is the only school in Hernando County that is actively involved in competitive cheerleading.

Upcoming for the Eagles Cheer Squad: January 5: Xcel 360 USF Showcase in Odessa January 18: FHSAA Regionals at Hudson High “It really has grown into such a great sport,” said Herod.

you represent your team and represent yourself well,” said Jones.

Jones explained that getting your High School Diploma is the number one goal for any high school athlete. It is not how many points you put on the scoreboard or how many blocks you achieve during your season; it’s that you are taking your education seriously.

The following points are important for the student-athlete to consider: -Education: Keeping grades up, as well as being able to deter from distractions.

-Self Discipline: You have a love of the game, but how much do you go beyond practice.

-Court Discipline: Self-control and focus, always be in the game. Controlling knee-jerk reactions to situations that are out of your control.

-Interviews: Know how to handle and respond to questions reporters ask you.

-Social Media: Social Media is a way to get noticed. Be selective when publishing any posts on your social media sites. Sharing photos, video, and articles not only about you but also your team.

-Go to PHSC games: This is an excellent opportunity to see different levels of competition and may help choose a future challenge.

Media interaction is a subject not usually discussed with players; however, coaches can help by explaining the importance of having successful interviews. Offer players an outlet on how to be approachable, how to be interviewed and know how to respond to questions.

“I would work with the players, even create a template; these are the things you can say, and talk about things you shouldn’t say,” Jones said. “You’re still representing yourself, The role of parents representing the school, representing the coaches, A parent’s job is hard, you also have to be cogbut essential to building nizant of what you say.” communication and trust towards their child’s Recommendations for coach. Parents should be the Student-Athlete comfortable in knowing that their child’s coach can “You want to make sure identify if the athlete can is still very much active.

I had an opportunity recently to spend a few days on the Alston Ranch in Zephyrhills where I was fortunate enough to bring home a pair of fine hogs, which are now entirely ground into sausage. This coming weekend, I’ll be taking advantage of the last deer hunt of the season on the Citrus Wildlife Management Area, just north of our county line.

For any others fortunate enough to have a permit for this weekend’s hunt,

Arianna Garguilo, Julia Jurgensmeyer and Tami Nelson perform during the Springstead Cheer Showcase at home on Friday Dec.21.

focus on the foods. We’re in a pretty defined period between the cycles of the rut with a moon just leaving full. Late morning and mid-afternoon feeds are to be expected and it’d be best to try to locate the feeding grounds. The bucks will be most active racking on as much weight as they can to recover from the last rut cycle and to prepare their bodies for the rigors of the next.

There have been some tremendous bucks taken off of this property so

Competitive cheer is more than just sideline cheerleading, and there are higher demands in dynamics and ingenuity.

his court, and parents can learn about the college as well as ask questions relating to the technical side of recruiting.

“College is a make or break you type environment, and it’s supposed to be challenging,” Jones said, “Can they take what they have, transform it and enhance it to higher levels.”

Many athletes in high school sports have dreams of playing for the NBA and follow the footsteps of pros like Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan and more. However, the reality is there is more competition out there every year. The main priority, if you want to go further, is to be prepared on the court and put education on the top of your list.

“Basketball could be a tool for athletes to get a college education,” Jones stated. “That is the main goal.”

Senior Basketball Showcases are January 5, and March 30 at 9 am - 11:30 am at the PHSC West Campus 10230 Ridge Road New Port Richey, FL For more information contact Micheal Jones at jonesm@phsc.edu

far this year, including a handful qualifying for the book. Not a real surprise as this particular WMA has a reputation for bucks harvested there which have met the minimum standard for entry into the Florida Buck Registry.

As always, I’d love to hear about your adventures and maybe see a photo or two of your successes at Toby@ HernandoSun.com. God Bless and Good Hunting!

Hernando Sportsman’s Club Calendar 16121 Commercial Way, Brooksville, FL 34614 (352) 597-9931

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Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019 hernandosun.com

THE HERNANDO SUN

Business & Community

Teen raises nearly $10k for Dawn Center ARTICLE BY SARAH NACHIN PHOTOS COURTESY OF Stephen Barocas

D#10311563 “Jack” Terrier mix, white with brown spots, neutered male, adult, approx. 55lbs. This dog was adopted out of the shelter on 1-30-18 and was rehomed to a citizen June of 2018. Unfortunately, the new owner could not financially support Jack, so he was returned to the shelter yesterday.

Jack needs a home with no cats. Jack is a good boy and went through the heel-heal program at the woman’s correctional facility. Jack is available now to a forever home. Hernando Animal Services,19450 Oliver St. Brooksville, FL 352-7965062

RESCUED 12/22/2018 10316970 - Bam Bam is one of the dog’s we received from Hillsborough County as part of our exchange program.

He is a senior who prefers to be an only animal but as far as people are concerned, he LOVES them. I mean... he’s wearing a hat in hopes of making himself more endearing. How cute is he??? Please help us find Bam Bam a home for Christmas!! Hernando Animal Services,19450 Oliver St. Brooksville, FL 352-796-5062

When meeting Alyssa Barocas you would never guess that the shy, soft-spoken thirteenyear-old is a powerhouse of fundraising and public relations.

However, the eighth grade student at Gulf Coast Academy raised almost $10,000 for the Dawn Center (a shelter for victims of domestic and sexual violence).

The project started as an assignment given to her Social Studies class by their teacher, Sandra Brown. The purpose of the ‘Pay it Forward’ project was to teach the students something about social responsibility and to let them put the skills they learned in their other classes to practical use.

To get the project off the ground, representatives from several local not-for profit organizations came to speak to all 8th grade classes in her school.

Then the students chose an organization to help. The next step was to come up with a fundraising idea, write a letter to the organization, and get the group’s approval for the fundraiser.

The goal of each student was to raise $100 for their particular non-profit.

“I chose the Dawn Center because I wanted to help those who were affected by sexual and domestic violence because I feel this is an important issue,” Alyssa stated.

She decided to organize “Ride for the Dawn.” Her father, Stephen, rides a Harley, so he enlisted the help of his biker pals to support the fundraiser. Then

Alyssa Barocas counting monies collected during the event.

Blue is vetted and ready to go! He’s playful and entertaining! He loves the water!

A real Florida boy. Help make his Christmas wish come true. The shelter is open until 3 pm. Come out and save Blue. Hernando Animal Services,19450 Oliver St. Brooksville, Florida 352-796-5062.

he contacted his friends, John and Dori Dolci who own the Drunken Mullet on Hernando Beach to have the event at their restaurant. They even donated some of the food and prepared it with their staff. Alyssa and other volunteers served the food and collected money.

In the course of the three months that she spent from start to finish on the project, Alyssa estimates she put in over fifty hours. She also utilized many skills that she had learned in school. Ms. Brown taught the students how to put together a PowerPoint presentation.

In Tech class they composed the email to the charity for its approval of the project. She put

Volunteers serve up some food at the Ride for The Dawn event in October.

into practice the writing and grammar instruction she learned in Language Arts. The pupils learned how to do spreadsheets to track their expenses and the amount of money they collected. Alyssa even hand-wrote thank you notes to everyone that helped with the event. They were required to put together a binder with photos and copies of all the correspondence and other materials. Two weeks ago, because of the astounding amount of money she raised, Ms. Brown asked Alyssa to give an oral presentation about her charity event.

To get more people involved, From left to right: Paige Burkhardt, Sue Krenitsky, Dori Dolci, Alyssa Alyssa decided to open it up Barocas, Stephen Barocas, John Dolci, James (JR) O’Hara, Corey to everyone, not just bikers.

Watson Anyone could drive up to the restaurant, buy a meal and seven years that I’ve been doing drinks. Alyssa, Stephen and Ste- Mullet to enjoy pulled-pork the Pay it Forward Project, phen’s girlfriend, Sue Krenitsky sandwiches and fixings. By the end of the day, the amount of the Alyssa’s project has raised the passed out flyers at restaurants food sales totaled $360, bringing most funds.” and other businesses, posted on the final tally for the fundraiser Alyssa would like to thank social media sites, put donation to $9,652.75 – far surpassing the publicly the countless people for jars in a couple of places and original $100 goal. the help they gave. She espeused good old fashioned “word Ms. Johnson stated, “Alyssa cially wants to thank John and of mouth” to get the word out.

Dori Dolci, the owners at The She also got people to donate and her family have been such great supporters of Dawn Center Drunken Mullet for providing clothing, toiletries and other programs and survivors in our the location, the food and their items for the residents of the community. The majority of staff who helped cook; Josh Dawn Center. Before long, the money she raised will go Hanoud Realty Team, who donations were piling up in directly into our program budget donated part of his real estate their garage. In fact there were to be used for the programs commission to match funds that so many that April Johnson, that support survivors. With an two clients donated to the cause Community Engagement Coor($700 total); Leslie Neumann dinator at the Dawn Center, had admin rate of less than 5% and supporting almost 2000 people a who donated a painting valued to take the seats out of a van to year in our programs, it will go at $350; and Sue Krenitsky for haul them back to the shelter. so far.” donating a wedding dress worth The final monetary value of the In fact, the Dawn Center was $450. donations, including a wedding Alyssa is modest about her dress and an original painting by so impressed by her results, that they have asked her to make achievement.

When asked if she a local artist came to $6,480.75.

Cash and checks from individu- this an annual fundraising event. wanted to say anything about Next year, because this will not her accomplishment, she stated als and businesses amounted to simply, “I feel happy that I was another $2,067. The food, bever- be part of a school project in which she was required to do all able to raise the money I did ages, plates and other supplies, the work herself, Alyssa will be and I hope it helps. I want to tell along with the costs of printing able to ask for help from other them [victims of sexual and doup the flyers were all donated people. There’s no telling how mestic violence] to stay strong to the cause, so everything was much money will be raised. and it will get better.” pure profit.

Ms. Brown, Alyssa’s teacher, On the day of the actual commented, “I’m very proud For more information on the Ride-In/Drive-In, October 20, of Alyssa and all the students in Dawn Center go to https://www. approximately fifty bikers and their efforts to help the hungry, dawncenter.org/ or call (352) many people in other vehicles homeless and needy. In the 684-7191 showed up at the Drunken

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HERNANDO SUN

hernandosun.com

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019

Business & Community

Six of our favorite covers of 2018 A WALK THROUGH THE HERITAGE FESTIVAL Page 20

We’ve narrowed down the list of favorite covers from 2018. A good cover should have strong stories, eye-catching photography and solid design. With the help of our talented contributors here are some covers that we can be proud of.

THE

March 2 - 8, 2018

Volume III, Issue XLVIII

Y O U R

Opiate effects on the ones you love

THE

Hernando Sun Y O U R

Opal an

by Jani

e Lanc

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L O C rA L

Chapte r GOING One: ON TRIP WIT A H PA

N EcrWetScoPde A P E R

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OPAL AND THE SECRET CODE

FROM OUR TABLE TO YOURS

Homemade chicken soup

W E E K LY

A Newspaper in Education series starts today.

12

7

I alway some s seemed to be in without kind of My olderreally know trouble, ing why. Pa didn’ to pull brother often t know me me off other one of had becauwhere we how to tell point kids were knockdown ed out durin the way se I am deaf. going to Pa That’s drag-out g they say.

Born that house and a every how I saw along every of schoo got kicke fight. hear a word I never did the way.animal I Pa I was l. The teach d out noise every —just a loud were so many and sheep horses, There handle too much for er told was the greatnow and then. cows scatte even thoug est thrill It the her to lightning, tiny, scraw to see neverOklahoma red across to feel h I was prair ny, seven the groun old girl. a rumble unde seen d and anima so many ie. I’d year every now r my feet the sound and then and Not even ls in all houses All my when Pa my life. of thund hear the old did me crying and took er. no good relatives wagon to visit us in kicking Soon we and sister . My got to afar off.

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-in-hand, close travel a Pa sat down the narrow r I wond As we quietly. got sad, ered He looke on their path day afterdusty taking me his on that was Pa somewher Could d way to mind kept it be! school. day train? excite e was a Ma careful tight grip ment off from the eye on changing and a Then we of me. walked view. I the everiron steps what right didn’ But today of that up the that Pa was think t know leaped was just was differ it must ing, train. into the be some just I important me and ent. It tapped made thing Pa. We myself, Pa, pointair and something . Mayb dusty our way down ed to would then to to worry e even that the train.

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Often overlooked talks by Martin Luther King

T

BY ADON TAFT

Second: While his calming demeanor and non-violent advocacy probably will be mentioned, little if anything will be said of his calling to be a minister of the gospel and his stirring, Bible-based sermons.

It certainly is appropriate that Dr. King be remembered for his oratory.

His “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial during the August, 1963, March on Washington had historic

consequences. Capping years of peaceful protest marches (though often met with violence) throughout the South, the result was Congress passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Adon Taft Dr. King’s leadership in those marches and his vocalizing the message behind them earned him the

Nobel Peace Prize at age 35, making him the youngest recipient ever to receive the prestigious honor.

While I can’t say that I knew Dr. King well, I had occasion to interview him half a dozen times, was present during the marches he led in Selma, Al, and St. Augustine, FL, and saw him in action at a Miami meeting of the Southern Chris-

SAR008210

wo things you can count on for the national holiday Monday (Jan. 15th) celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.: First: In addition to parades and rallies with all the political trimmings, much will be said about the famous civil rights leader and his mesmerizing and memorable oratory calling for racial justice.

See TAFT, page 2

We all hear about the opiate epidemic that affects our beloved country and towns. The news never mentions the “behind the scenes” affects to the family and friends and many times, it goes unspoken. Drugs tend to leave a trail of emotional and mental tolls on the friends and family, and even though I don’t know how to begin to prevent the addictions, I personally have found myself, too, reminiscing on the memories that I buried for so long.

Often, it begins as simple as distancing themselves from others.

When I was a child, I bleakly recall very few occasions where I could look out into the audience of ceremonies and see my mother’s face. Everyone else would have both of their parents, despite many broken households, for support and I would have to try and excuse my mother for neglecting to come. It started with excuses as simple as; “I don’t feel well,” or, “prior arrangements” interfered, but eventually they were just that, excuses.

Many times, I would

The Dade Massacre

by ROCCO MAGLIO HERNANDO SUN STAFF

I

BY ROCCO MAGLIO HERNANDO SUN STAFF

t is being widely reported that the Republicans in the Florida house blocked debate on banning weapons. This is a very misleading claim that we rate mostly false. The legislators voted to not debate then vote on a bill that they had not read.

The legislature was working

Deputies avert shoot-outs, arrest 2 in separate barricade incidents

By Stephen Flanagan Jackson The Hernando County Sheriff's Office recently defused two domestic violence cases in two separate incidents in Brooksville.

On Jan. 6, two HCSO deputies responded to a victim's call for police at 6223 California St. about 4 pm and confronted the subject, John Digangi outside the residence. According to Lieutenant John Cameron, the deputies retreated after they saw Mr. Digangi pull a what appeared to be a firearm, “putting them in fear that there was going to be an exchange of gunfire.”

The subject then ducked back into the house where he barricaded himself until giving up a few hours later with no further injuries or incidents.

He was charged with a felony assault with firearms on the two deputies.

Another stand-off or barricade incident on Royal Drive in Brooksville, which started as a domestic dispute involving alcohol, ended peacefully when the suspect was taken into custody at 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 9.

No victims, deputies or the suspect were injured during the incident that was first reported

Quad Race WInner James Hayes

And They’re Off! 2018 Coyote Hare Scrambles Article and Photography

by CHERYL CLANTON HERNANDO SUN STAFF

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Catching air in the Junior and Adult race

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Florida Sea Grant, a coastal and marine extension program within the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, (UF/ IFAS) conducts science-based outreach programs designed to conserve and sustain Florida’s precious coastal and ocean resources.

“Healthy oceans and coastlines provide essential nursery grounds for fish, and homes for manatees, wading birds, and other wildlife,” said Brittany HallScharf, a Florida Sea Grant Extension

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By ROCCO MAGLIO STAFF WRITER

For a long time Flamingos have been considered exotic in Florida. This had real world consequences since many of Florida former roadside attractions have become part of the Florida State Parks. The Florida State Parks are only allowed to have native animals to Florida.

The requirement for the state parks to only display native animals led to the Governor declaring the hippopotamus (Lucifer “Lue”) at the Homosassa Springs State Park as a

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James Audubon print of the flamingo- drawn from a flock observed near Indian Key.

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native of Florida. This was necessary since they could not find a new home for the beloved elderly hippopotamus and since they were only allowed to display native Florida animals, it was the easiest way to keep Lue in the park.

In 1832, none other than John James Audubon (famed ornithologist and namesake of the Audubon society) reported spotting a flock (of Flamingos) near Indian Key. He wrote “On

8

N E W S PA P E R

8

Dogs and cats looking for a "forever" home.

10

School Board terminates Superintendent's contract

The forgotten town of 'Sicily'

HOMAGE TO THE TOMATO Round and plump and very good for your health.

13

BY ROCCO MAGLIO HERNANDO SUN WRITER

BY ROCCO MAGLIO HERNANDO SUN WRITER

See SICILY, Page 15

The Centipede Bay location was chosen because conditions tested seem favorable.

Additionally, this Bay does not have much structure needed for oyster growth and is actually void of structure for fish. The oyster reef will increase both habitat and foraging area for fish and wading birds.

The bagging of the shell was accomplished

to the Hernando Sun and we'll send

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LOCAL HISTORY

There have been a number of towns that have come and gone in Hernando County, among them are Augusta, Pemberton Ferry/ Croom, Oriole and Sicily. The town of Sicily was briefly mentioned around 1900.

The Hernando County Superintendent’s Report for 1900 mentions that there are 24 schools. It lists the locations of the eighteen white schools: "Hammock Hills, Lake Lindsey, Istachatta, Rock Hill, Providence, Oriole, Ayers, Irwin Lakes, Cedar Tree, Sicily, Rural, New Harmony (Garden Grove), Spring Lake, Bay City, Riverland, Kayton, Withlacoochee and Brooksville." There were also six Black Schools: “Brooksville, Mundon Hill, Hannibal, Bay Springs, Blue Sink, and Wiscon.”

The town of Sicily is also shown in 'A Map of Hernando County, Florida.' The map says it was Approved by the County Commissioners

i n C e n t i p e d e B ay

By LESLIE STEIN HERNANDO SUN STAFF WRITER

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Building an oyster reef

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more because of the winning,” Weeki Wachee coach Mike Munroe said. “We’re starting to get some respect. No one is overlooking us anymore. We have to be prepared to get everyone’s best shot. This year we are being circled as a team that people want to beat.”

The Hornets in the last two seasons previous to this 2017-2018 campaign, the team has steadily improved from 15-11 in 2015-2016 and 21-9 last year. Weeki Wachee’s impressive turnaround stumps what once was a 50game losing streak which the program went through during its 5-84 stretch during the first few seasons.

L O C A L

University of Florida, Hernando County, visiting James Madison Univeristy students, and community volunteers constructed the first artificial oyster reef in Hernando on April 14, 2018. Photo courtesy of Keith Kolasa.

The first man-made oyster reef was built with the help of numerous volunteers and boat captains on April 14, 2018 in Centipede Bay off the coast of Hernando County. Throughout the day a total of 98 volunteers and 12 boat captains helped to build the reef. Eighty percent of the reef was built with over 2400 bags of oyster shell placed. Hernando County, Aquatic Services Manager, Keith Kolosa, reports they are in the process of scheduling when the remainder of the work will be completed.

The mesh bags will help to create a substrate for the oysters to grow on. The spat (oyster larvae) settle on the shells and will grow into full-size oysters if conditions are right (salinity, temperature, depth). The timing of the reef deployment coincided with April oyster spawning. A preliminary project using recruitment tiles led by Brittany HallScharf, Hernando County Sea Grant agent indicated that natural oyster spawning would be a sufficient method to populate the oyster shell substrate. Hall-Scharf explained that if natural recruitment isn’t as effective as hoped, then they will look into other methods of populating the reef such as hatchery-reared spat, or oyster larvae, to seed the site.

See SEA GRANT, Page 13

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See HB219, page 4

Subscribers: Refer a friend

Hernando Sun Y O U R

School in Parkland, Florida were in the gallery when this happened and their agony has been widely shown. The students were unaware that what was going on

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LOCAL & STATE OUT & ABOUT | SPORTS BUSINESS & COMMUNITY | OPINION FUNNIES

THE

Volume IV, Issue XI

Hernando County is the home of several forgotten forts: Fort Cross, Fort Annutteliga, and Fort De Soto. The purpose of these forts was to protect the early settlers from Indian attacks and to provide a base from which the army could operate.

agent affiliated with the University of Florida. “It’s vital that we educate Floridians and visitors about protecting and restoring our natural marine habitats.”

Scharf is a fisheries biologist and also an adjunct professor at the University of Tampa. Her mission is to conserve the coastal and marine resources and enhance economic opportunities in the county.

One of Scharf’s many remits has been to train residents in Hernando County to sample and test the waters along our coastline through a new

COUNTY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR RED, WHITE AND BREWS CELEBRATION — Page 20

June 22- 28, 2018

13

WEATHER Above: March 2 - 8, 2018.

We noticed that this particular Above: April 27, 2018. This cover features drone INDEX WEATHER INDEX issue sold a lot of copies in the stores. There was a lot of 2 photography of the oyster reef in Centipede Bay off the 2 6 11 interest generated by the Fact Sue Quigley 11 12Check story. coast of Hernando County.6 13 18 19 79 feature 54 wrote a great on Hernando County’s SeaGrant 18 19 80 61 program.

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Above: Jan. 12- 18, 2018. There is a lot going on here!

The mid-air74 photograph of a rider in the 2018 Coyote 58 Hare Scrambles by Cheryl Clanton rocks.

M U C H WA R M E R

Serving our Veterans and the community.

BY ROCCO MAGLIO HERNANDO SUN

courtesy Sturm, Ruger & Co. Firearms

See FORTS, Page 14

BY SUE QUIGLEY HERNANDO SUN STAFF

Subscribers: Refer a friend

LOCAL & STATE 2 OUT & ABOUT 6 | SPORTS 12 BUSINESS & COMMUNITY 13 FUNNIES 18 | OPINION 19

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE

The lost forts of Hernando County

Ruger SR-556 Rifle - 5.56 NATO - Standard,

“While this is an extraordinary procedural move, the shooting in Parkland demands extraordinary action.”

Some students from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High

12

75¢

hernandosun.com

Fort Cross

The climate and scenery of the “Sunshine State” has made Florida a very desirable place to live and attracts an enormous number of tourists each year.

Most of Florida’s nearly 20 million residents live close to its 1,800 miles of coastline and another 100 million tour-

Weeki Wachee girls basketball starting to peak

WEATHER

on their normal business and Rep. Kionne McGhee a Democratic Representative from Miami and an attorney used a procedural rule that allows any member to make a motion to bring House Bill 219 (HB-219) out of committee and bring it to the floor. This motion is rarely used, members could only recall it being used twice in the last 12 years. Rep. McGhee said

Sea Grant and volunteers sampling, testing local waters through community-based outreach program.

S P O R T S

Weeki Wachee’s Halie Bondulich scans the court earlier this season

District Prep Baseball Preview

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A LETTER FROM BARBARA BUSH 6

SPORTS

BLUEGRASS MUSICIANS DO THEIR STUFF AT FLORIDA CLASSIC PARK

Keeping tabs on our ecosystem

See DADE, Page 17

(WEEKI WACHEE) — In the first 89 games of Weeki Wachee’s girls basketball program history starting in 2012, the team was everyone’s circled win on the schedule.

When you faced the Hornets, you could almost with certainty walk in the gymnasium knowing your club would likely be coming away with a victory. These are not your same old Weeki Wachee girls, though, as the program has completed a turnaround the last three seasons in becoming a club not many want to face.

“Support has definitely been there a lot

Y O U R

Florida Sea Grant Agent Brittany Hall-Scharf heading out to the Gulf to take monthly water samples to measure salinity, dissolved oxygen and clarity.

Photos by SUE QUIGLEY

See STANDOFFS Page 3

See SCRAMBLE, Page 13

By ANDY VILLAMARZO HERNANDO SUN STAFF Photography by CHERYL CLANTON

Volume IV, Issue IV

Fort Cross was established around 1839 and closed in 1840. It was reopened a short while later to provide supplies to the settlers. The fort was said to be made of logs laid on an earthen embankment. The fort was maintained by a detachment of soldiers from "Company F, 4th Infantry."

There does not appear to be an agreed upon location of where the fort resided.

Different historians have suggested locations for the fort along State Road 50. Roger Landers suggested it was located near the present day Bayfront Hospital. Other historians place its location near the Suncoast Expressway or a couple miles to east of the Suncoast Expressway.

The General Land Office (GLO) map of the area

By STEPHEN FLANAGAN JACKSON HERNANDO SUN STAFF

eekend fun for the whole family. Off-road motorcycles and ATV quads took to the tracks off Mondon Hill in Brooksville on Jan. 6, 2018.

“The Coyote Hare Scrambles have been going on for years at this location; it's one of the best tracks,” said Rob Swann with the Nature Coast Trail Blazers. “It challenges the riders with hills, turns, just about everything a rider will encounter is on this track.”

All ages ride in this event, guys and gals. There was a 71-year-old rider that I was not able to catch up with, but his wife told me he's never grown up.

hernandosun.com

FACT CHECK: Florida House Republicans blocked debate on banning assault rifles

Shoot-outs averted in 2 unrelated incidences

any areas in Florida are named after Major Francis L. Dade: Fort Dade (Dade City and Egmont Key), Dade City, Miami-Dade and several other counties and cities in the United States. He and all but 2 of the 110 soldiers he was leading were killed in an ambush by the Seminoles on December 28,1835.

Major Dade had been in the military more than 20 years at his death, joining up during the War of 1812.

He has served extensively in Florida making the march from Fort Dade to Fort King twice before.

Major Dade set out on his final journey leading the soldiers from Fort Brooke which was located near present day Amalie Arena in Tampa to Fort King in present day Ocala.

On the first day of the journey the soldiers were joined by Captain George Gardiner and an African American guide-interpreter Pacheco. Captain Gardiner was originally supposed to lead the march, but because his wife was very ill, Major Dade offered to take his place. Captain Gardiner discovered there was a ship heading to Key West where his wife’s family was located and sent her there. He then managed to join Major Dade on the trek.

The trek was delayed because the Seminoles led

by Osceola and Micano-

April 27 - May 3, 2018

BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

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Brawl USA team up with Ability Tree Florida.

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Florida History

M

W E E K LY

BODYSLAMS FOR CHARITY

Basketball Roundup

TOBY BENOIT ON CHASSAHOWITZKA PORK PAGE 16

Jan. 12 - 18, 2018

Hernando Sun

SPORTS

BY CHEYENNE GEER SPECIAL TO HERNANDO SUN

Volume III, Issue XLI

WALK-A-THON IN MEMORY OF SPRINGSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER — Page 14

Rocco and Julie Maglio with The Hernando Sun at Selinunte in front of Temple E. Selinunte, considered to be one of the most prosperous and important of Greek colonies in Sicily was sacked by the Carthaginians in 409 BC led by Hannibal, leaving only women and children. Temple E is the best preserved in the archeological park, but is located outside of the acropolis.

Where in the world is The Hernando Sun?

Summer is an opportunity to travel. The kids are out of school. Recently the publishers of The Hernando Sun newspaper Rocco, Julie Maglio and their children traveled to Italy. They flew to Milan and then Naples. Just outside of Naples, they visited the town where part of their family originates. After spending a day there, they traveled to Sicily to visit the other town where they have family members. If you find yourself traveling this summer, bring along The Hernando Sun and take a photo of it on your journey. If you prefer, take a photo of the local newspaper of the place where you traveled. Let’s see how far The Hernando Sun can travel! Email your photos to: editor@hernandosun.com.

Buon Viaggio!

S E E PA G E 20 F O R M O R E P H O TO S

The Hernando County School Board voted 3-2 to terminate the contract of Superintendent Dr. Lori Romano on June 12, 2018 during the regularly scheduled school board meeting. The three board members who voted in favor of ending the contract were Beth Narverud, Susan Duval and Linda Prescott.

The two opposed were Mark Johnson and Gus Guadagnino. Dr. Lori Romano's last day is June 30, 2018. She is entitled to appeal the termination as she was terminated for cause.

The Hernando County School Board approved a new 4 year contract with Superintendent Dr. Lori Romano on January 26, 2016. The motion to approve Dr. Romano's contract passed Romano 3-2 at the meeting on January 26, 2016 with Ms. Duval and Ms. Naverud voting against it. At the time the position currently held by Linda Prescott was held by Matt Foreman.

A week prior to the contract renewal in 2016, Dr. Romano was a finalist in Osceola County, vying for the Superintendent position with a salary range of $185,000 to $225,000. She was not chosen for the job and then was able to negotiate a salary increase as Hernando County School District Superintendent. Prior to the 2016 See ROMANO, Page 2

S P O R T S

Hernando tabs Rob Kazmier as school’s next head coach

BY ANDY VILLAMARZO HERNANDO SUN WRITER PHOTOGRAPHY CHERYL CLANTON

Coach Robert “Kaz” Kazmier

BROOKSVILLE- Hernando High School has found its next head football coach and they didn’t have to look too far to find him.

The Leopards have promoted assistant coach Rob Kazmier to the position of head coach after serving the last three seasons under the watch of former Hernando coach Bill Vonada, who abruptly

resigned from his role in the spring.

Kazmier becomes the school’s 31st head coach in program history and is inheriting a team with high expectations following a district championship and playoff berth in 2017.

“Hernando has been an intriguing program to be apart of,” Kazmier said.

“It just has this mystique about it and driving by the school. It’s definitely the tradition that gets you.

See KAZMIER, Page 12

Above: June 22-WEATHER 28. This issue is a true testament to our team’s As the center INDEX Subscribers: Refer atalent. friend to thewere Hernando in Sun and we'll send story indicates- the publishers RoccoLOCAL and Julie Maglio Italy when this issue & STATE 2 you a Hernando Sun bumper 6 | SPORTS 11 OUT & ABOUT came out, but theHIGH paperLOWhit the stores and mailboxes on schedulewith a rocking covmagnet as a token of our BUSINESS & COMMUNITY 13 er. Look at Coach Kaz’s expressionthat is intense! appreciation!

FUNNIES 18 | OPINION 19

89 78

From left to right: Rachel Farrar (10), Sienna Heiligen (10) and Angela Kwarren (10) attempt some complicated moves in Double Dutch jump roping.

Local kids learn Double Dutch jump rope SEE STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY ON PAGE 20

S P O R T S

Above: July 20- 26, 2018.

HYL Ponytails will represent Florida Who doesn’t love flamingos and jump roping kids?

World Series

at

from July 27 through August 1, 2018.

In the State Finals they defeated the home team Lake Placid. They played Lake Placid twice at State winning both times. In fact they are undefeated so far at both the district and state tournaments.

It took lots of hard-

BY ROCCO MAGLIO HERNANDO SUN WRITER

BROOKSVILLEThe Hernando Youth League Girls Softball Ponytails (under 13) are headed to the World Series representing Florida.

The 2018 Dixie Softball World Series is being held in Alexandria, Louisiana

UNIQUE SHOPPING NATURAL FOOD STORE & REMEDY

See CHAMPS, Page 12

INDEX

WEATHER: FRI

LOCAL & STATE 2 OUT & ABOUT 6 | SPORTS 11 BUSINESS & COMMUNITY 13 FUNNIES 18 | OPINION 19

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THE HERNANDO SUN

15

LEGAL NOTICES IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR HERNANDO COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 272018CP001230CPAXMX IN RE: THE ESTATE OF JULIANNE C. CORBIT A/K/A JULIANNE CORBIT, Deceased.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR HERNANDO COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

IN RE: ESTATE OF JOHN R. HAND, Deceased.

The administration of the estate of JULIANNE C. CORBIT A/K/A JULIANNE CORBIT, deceased, whose date of death was February 20, 2018, is pending in the Circuit Court for Hernando County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 20 N. Main Street, Brooksville, Florida 34601. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this Notice is December 28, 2018.

Attorney for Personal Representative: /s/ GLEN C. ABBOTT Email: glen@glenabbottlaw.com Florida Bar No. 235911 109 N.E. 4th St. Crystal River, Florida 34429 Telephone: (352) 795-5699 Personal Representative: /s/ EDWARD F. CORBIT EDWARD F. CORBIT 7505 Hawthorne Drive Port Richey, Florida 34668 (12/28/2018), (01/04/2019)

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE Notice is hereby given that Eric Johnson, owner, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of "Odd Jobs Eric" located in Hernando County, Florida, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations, Florida Department of State, pursuant to section 865.09 of the Florida Statutes.

(12/28/2018)

Notice of Self Storage Sale Please take notice Hide-Away Storage – Spring Hill located at 1000 Commercial Way, Spring Hill FL 34606 intends to hold a sale to sell the property stored at the Facility by the below Occupants whom are in default at an Auction. The sale will occur as an online auction via www. storagetreasures.com on 1/9/2019 at 10:00AM. Unless stated otherwise the description of the contents are household goods and furnishings.

Dennis Wayne Parsons unit #1018; Patrick Edward Bastien unit #1074; Jessica Lambert unit #2034. All property is being stored at the above self-storage facility. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice.

Certain terms and conditions apply.

See manager for details.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR HERNANDO COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

File No.: 18-CP-1324

CASE NO.: 2018-CP-1309 Division

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

(12/21/2018), (12/28/2018)

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, IN AND FOR HERNANDO COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS OR DEMANDS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE:

The administration of the Estate of JOHN R. HAND, deceased, whose date of death was August 17, 2018, is pending in the Circuit Court for Hernando County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 20 North Main Street, Brooksville, Florida 34601. The names and addresses of the Personal Representative and the Personal Representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the Decedent and other persons having claims or demands against Decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the Decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN THREE (3) MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Lillian S. Rodenburg aka Lillian Carol Rodenburg, deceased, whose date of death was November 13, 2018, is pending in the Circuit Court for Hernando County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 20 N. Main Street, Brooksville, FL 34601. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

You are hereby notified that an Order of Summary Administration has been entered in the estate of RICHARD E. ALBERTSON, deceased, File Number 18-CP-1324, by the Circuit Court for Hernando County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 20 N. Main Street, Brooksville, Florida 34601; that the decedent’s date of death was March 14, 2018; that the total value of the estate is $47,705.18, and that the names and addresses of those to whom it has been assigned by such order are: Name Dorothy T. Albertson, Trustee of THE RICHARD E. ALBERTSON AND DOROTHY T. ALBERTSON TRUST AGREEMENT dated September 10, 1998 Address 8250 Joel Street Spring Hill, FL 34606 ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE NOTIFIED THAT: All creditors of the estate of the decedent and persons having claims or demands against the estate of the decedent other than those for whom provision for full payment was made in the Order of Summary Administration must file their claims with this court WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702. ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS NOT SO FILED WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

The date of first publication of this notice is 12-21-2018.

Attorney for Personal Representative: /s/ Coren J. Meeks, Esq. Florida Bar Number: 091856 MEEKS AND CEELY, P.L. 311 East Rich Avenue DeLand, Florida 32724 Telephone: (386) 734-0199 Fax: (386) 469-0091 E-Mail: coren@meeksandceely.com Secondary: denise@meeksandceely.com

The date of first publication of this notice is December 21, 2018.

Attorney for Personal Representative s/ James Barrow, Esq. Attorney Florida Bar Number: 048150 BARROW LAW FIRM, P.A. 2202 N. West Shore Blvd., Ste. 200 Tampa, FL 33607 Telephone: (813) 282-7257 Fax: (813) 639-7501 E-Mail: jbarrow927@tampalawgroup.com Secondary E-Mail: none

The date of first publication of this Notice is December 21, 2018.

Person Giving Notice: Dorothy Albertson 8250 Joel Street Spring Hill, FL 34606

Personal Representative: /s/ John T. Hand 1378 Swiss Lane Deltona, Florida 32738

Attorney for Person Giving Notice: Lani Candelora, Esq., Florida Bar No.: 0121790 5329 Commercial Way, Suite 102 Spring Hill, FL 34606 Email: lani@lanicandeloralaw.com Telephone: (352)835-3223

(12/21/2018), (12/28/2018)

File No. 2018-1379-CP

Name Paris Mary Powell

Case No. 18JC000291 Year of Birth 2004 A Female

IN RE: ESTATE OF

LILLIAN S. RODENBURG AKA LILLIAN CAROL RODENBURG, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS (summary administration)

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR HERNANDO COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION

IN THE INTEREST OF

File No. 18 CP 1426 Division

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF RICHARD E. ALBERTSON, Deceased.

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF SHAWNEE COUNTY, KANSAS

Personal Representative Mark Rodenburg 86 Clinton St. #4 Hoboken, New Jersey 07030

IN RE: THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY G. MORRIS, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE OF PRE-TRIAL/ ADJUDICATION HEARING Publication Pursuant to K.S.A. 38-2237

The administration of the estate of SHIRLEY G. MORRIS, deceased, whose date of death was October 17, 2018, is pending in the Circuit Court for Hernando County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 20 N. Main Street, Brooksville, FL 34601. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served, must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

TO: Daniel Gordon Powell: You are hereby notified that a first amended petition has been filed in this court alleging that the child named above is a Child in Need of Care. The Court may find that the parents are unfit by reason or conduct or condition which renders the parents unable to care properly for a child, the conduct or condition is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, the parental rights of the parent should be terminated, and a permanent custodian should be appointed for the child.

A hearing on the petition is scheduled for the 4th day of February, 2019 at 3:45PM in Division 8. At the hearing the Court may issue orders relating to the care, custody and control of the child. The hearing will determine if the parents should be deprived of their parental rights and the right to custody of the child.

The parent(s), and any other person having legal custody are required to appear before this Court on the date and time shown, or to file your written response to the petition with the Clerk of the District Court prior to that time.

Failure to respond or to appear before the Court at the time shown will not prevent the Court from entering judgment as requested in the petition, finding that the child is a Child in Need of Care, removing the child from the custody of parent, parents or any other present legal custodian until further order of the Court, or finding the parents unfit, and entering an order permanently terminating the parents’ parental rights.

An attorney has been appointed as guardian ad litem for the child: Kansas Legal Services. You have the right to appear before the Court and be heard personally, either with or without an attorney. The Court will appoint an attorney for any parent who desires an attorney but is financially unable to hire one. The Court may order one or both parents to pay child support.

The date of first publication of this notice is: December 21, 2018.

Signed on this 13th day of December 2018. /s/ Gideon I. Alper Gideon I. Alper, Esq. Attorney for Personal Representative Florida Bar No. 95874 Alper Law, PLLC 2572 West SR 426, Suite 1024 Oviedo, FL 32765 Telephone: 407-444-0404 Email: galper@alperlaw.com Secondary Email: jroyal@alperlaw.com

Date and time of hearing: February 4, 2019 at 3:45PM

/s/ Susan L. Presing SUSAN L. PRESING Personal Representative 14241 Cascora Court Spring Hill, FL 34609

Place of hearing: Division 8, Courtroom #B10 of the Shawnee County Courthouse in the city of Topeka, Kansas.

(12/21/2018), (12/28/2018)

(12/21/2018), (12/28/2018)

(12/21/2018), (12/28/2018)

(12/21/2018), (12/28/2018) FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Suni Skyz Farm LLC, owner, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of "Suni Skyz Farm Handcrafted Soaps" located in Hernando County, Florida, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations, Florida Department of State, pursuant to section 865.09 of the Florida Statutes.

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that Eric Klee, John Miller, William Nelson, Donald Whiting, co-owners, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of "Sonerai Club of Hernando" located in Hernando County, Florida, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations, Florida Department of State, pursuant to section 865.09 of the Florida Statutes.

Notice is hereby given that MARILYN GERARDO, owner, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of "ANGEL’S HANDS MASSAGE THERAPY SERVICES" located in Hernando County, Florida, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations, Florida Department of State, pursuant to section 865.09 of the Florida Statutes.

(12/28/2018)

(12/28/2018)

(12/28/2018) FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE

NOTICE OF THE JANUARY 8, 2019 SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS Notice is hereby given that the School Board of Hernando County, Florida will hold the following meetings on January 8, 2019 in the School Board Room, 919 N. Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34601:

FICTITIOUS NAME NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that BETTY BULLIS and RAYMOND BULLIS, co-owners, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of "SPRING HILL CURBING" located in Hernando County, Florida, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations, Florida Department of State, pursuant to section 865.09 of the Florida Statutes.

Notice is hereby given that Suni Skyz Farm LLC, owner, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of "The Well Dressed Door and More" located in Hernando County, Florida, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations, Florida Department of State, pursuant to section 865.09 of the Florida Statutes.

(12/28/2018)

Informal at 11:00 A.M. Workshop at 2:00 P.M. Regular Meeting at 6:00 P.M. Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting is asked to advise the agency at least five (5) days before the meeting by contacting Kelly Pogue at (352) 7977000. If you are hearing impaired, please contact the agency by calling (352) 797-7202.

(12/28/2018)

If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the School Board with respect to any matter considered at such meeting or hearing, he/she will need a copy of the official record of the meeting. The official record of any School Board meeting consists of the official minutes approved by the Board including any back-up materials or documents submitted to it and a transcript of the audio and/or visual recording of the meeting if any made and maintained by the District.

It is the responsibility of the party requesting a copy of audio/visual recording to have it transcribed for appellate purposes.

(puzzle on page 9)

Solution to Sudoku from p 18:

Originated by Susan Duval, Chairperson of The School Board of Hernando County, Florida

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR HERNANDO COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION Probate File Number: 2018CP001054CPAXMX IN RE: THE ESTATE OF GAIL E. THEISEN, Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The administration of the estate of Gail E. Theisen, deceased whose date of death was July 23, 2018, Probate File Number 2018CP001054CPAXMX is pending in the Circuit Court for Hernando County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 20 North Main St., Brooksville, Florida 34601. The name and address of the personal representatives and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below.

All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate, including unmatured, contingent or unliquidated claims, on whom a copy of this notice is served must file their claims with this Court including: (1) All claims against the estate and (2) Any objection by an interested person to whom notice is served that challenges the validity of the will, the qualifications of the personal representative, venue, or jurisdiction of the court.

SUCH REQUIRED WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. ALL CLAIMS NOT SO FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN SECTION 733.702 OF THE FLORIDA PROBATE CODE WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED.

JOIN THE HERNANDO SUN TEAM! CALL (352) 238-5454 to learn about what positions are available.

Publication of this notice has begun on December 28, 2018.

Bernard A. Theisen, III Personal Representative 1396 E. Trail 28, Brooksville, Florida 34601 Dravin Dixon, Attorney for Personal Representative Florida Bar No. 0952620 Post Office Box 696 Brooksville, Florida 34605 352-442-6770

By: Mr. John Stratton, Ex-Officio Secretary and Superintendent of Schools (12/28/2018)

(12/28/2018), (01/04/2019)

Solution to Crossword on page 18

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10441Quality Drive Spring Hill, Florida 34609 Medical Arts Building Suite #105 Located on the campus of Bayfront Health Spring Hill

CPR Training available! Call 597.8875

MONDAY

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SPRING HILL ENRICHMENT CENTER CALENDAR; 10441Quality Drive Spring Hill, SHINE-593.0705 Florida 34609 Medical Arts Building Suite #105; Located 684.7568 on the campus of Bayfront Health Spring Hill

WEDNESDAY

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THURSDAY

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8-4 Cards, Board Games & 8-4 Cards, Board Games & 8-4 Cards, Games & Puzzles 8:30-9:00 Weights & Squats The Quarry Mining Association 8:30-9:00 Weights & Squats Enrichment Center CALENDAR; 800 John Grubbs 9 Puzzles Chair Gary Exercise 8 10 9:00-10:00 11 9:00-9:40 2 mile walk 9:00-9:40 2 mile walk Walking in the CourtyardBlvd; Brooksville 9:00-10:00 Chair Exercise 9-11 Sharein Athe Craft Walking in the CourtyardWalking in the CourtyardWalking Courtyard9:40-10:00 Tai Chi 9:40-10:00 Tai Chi 8-4 Cards, Games & Puzzles anytime anytime anytime Crochet Classes 10-2 Vocational Rehab 10-11:30 9-11 Share A Craft 9-11 Craft & Puzzles 8:30-9:30 Exercise 8-4 Cards, Games & Puzzles 8-4 Share Cards,AGames 8-4 Cards, Games & Puzzles 10-12 Ceramics 10-11 YOGA 1 10:30-11:30 9-4 SHINE by Appt Only 9-12 Crocheting & Knitting 8-12 Crafts YOGA 8-12 Crafts 8-12 Crafts 10-11 BINGO 10:30 Music with Gale 11-12 Social Seniors HC Quilt Guild Call 593-0705 9-410-3 Cards & Games 8:30-9:30 Exercise 8-3 Sewing Group 8-3 Sewing Group 1-4 Advanced Mah Jongg 12:30-4 8:00 United Way 9-4 CardsMah-Jongg & Board 11:30-12:30 Blood Pressure 9-4:00 10:30Hospital Volunteers Puzzles 1:00-Chewin’ the Fat! 10-12:00 HC Quilt Guild 9-5 SHINE BY APPT 8:30-10:30 Nature Coast HR 9-4 Cards & Games 12:30-4 Advanced 1:00-Chewin’ the Fat! Games checks

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TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

2

FRIDAY

3

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16

HERNANDO SUN

OBITUARIES Baker Arthur H., passed away on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. He was a United States Army Veteran. He is survived by his children, Karen (Larry), Hope (Kenny), Vickie (Jason), Ryan (Cassandra), Steven, Brandon, Austin, Kaitlyn; and 8 grandchildren. Src; Merritt

hernandosun.com

CEMEX Brooksville supports local firefighters, hosts rescue training

In November, CEMEX hosted more than 30 area firefighters at its Brooksville South Cement Plant to provide first responders Roush Lynn, age 65, of the opportunity to conduct Brooksville, passed away on Tuesday, December 18, high-angle rescue training 2018. and practice operating at She is survived by her heights. daughter Krista (Marcus) The firefighters from and 1 grand daughter.

Hernando County, Pasco Src; Merritt County and Tampa’s Fire Ballo William E. Jr, age Department visited the 85, of Brooksville passed CEMEX facility Novemaway on Wednesday, ber 8 for the specialized December 19, 2018. He training where first is survived by his daughter; Theresa (Scott), son; responders simulated resWilliam (Devora), and 4 cue operations using the grandchildren. Src; Brewer height of two clinker silos Daigle Gerald “Gary” A., at the cement plant. age 70 passed away on During the exercise, Thursday, December 20, firefighters were tasked 2018. He was a United States Army Veteran. Src; with rescuing a mannequin that mimicked a Merritt patient that was injured Byam Susan Ellen, age nearly 200 feet above 55, passed away on Thurs- the ground. Firefighters day, December 20, 2018. climbed the silo to where She is survived by her the mannequin was locatchildren: Mark, Meredith (Tommy); and 2 grandchil- ed, loaded it into a rescue dren. Src; Merritt basket, then ziplined down a rope to an adjaSokolowski Edward R., cent silo to complete the “Ed” age 85, of Spring rescue. Firefighters also Hill, passed away on Thursday, December 20, received additional prac2018. He was a United States Navy Veteran. He is survived by his wife Bridget “Chris”; children: Edward, Dawn, and 1 grandchild. Src; Merritt

Hairston David, age 23 of Hudson, passed away on Friday, December 21, 2018. He is survived by his son Savion, mother Juanita, and father David.

A gathering will be held at the Turner Funeral Home Spring Hill, on Friday December 28, 2018 from 6 to 8 PM. A celebration of life will be held during the gathering. Src; Turner Bogacz Leonard F., passed away on Saturday, December 22, 2018. Src; Turner Miller Charles, passed away on Saturday, December 22, 2018. Src; Turner

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019

tice on rappelling down the sides of buildings by climbing down the side of one of the silos.

“CEMEX has been a part of Hernando County for decades, and we are proud to support our local first responders by providing them a training ground where they can practice unique rescues,” said CEMEX USA Brooksville South Cement Plant Manager Alberto Calleros. “This training strengthens the abilities of the firefighters as they serve our communities in extraordinary scenarios.”

CEMEX Brooksville South Cement Plant hosted the firefighters for an elevator rescue training drill earlier this year.

“CEMEX has always been a great community partner with Hernando County Fire Rescue, and they are also tremendous advocates for public safety in general,” said Hernando County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Kevin Carroll. “We are extreme-

ly grateful for CEMEX’s support in helping us achieve our training goals and objectives, especially when it comes to our specialty rescue teams.

We truly appreciate their longstanding commitment to Hernando County and Hernando County Fire Rescue.”

In January, Hernando County first responders are scheduled to visit the plant again to hold classes alerting CEMEX employees of the risks of confined spaces as part of CEMEX’s annual Safety Week.

(Submitted by CEMEX, edited for content) Right: Firefighter trains at the CEMEX Brooksville plant silo. The firefighter has loaded a manequin into the rescue basket and then ziplines down a rope to an adjacent silo to complete the rescue.

Below: The men and women of local fire rescue agencies.

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019

hernandosun.com THE HERNANDO SUN

17

OPINION The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

By Sarah Nachin Being a staff writer for the Hernando Sun, I eagerly await the arrival of my newspaper in my mailbox every Thursday.

I enjoy seeing the articles I work so hard on appear in print. I also gasp with chagrin when I catch a mistake that I had overlooked when I proofed my work.

However, I also enjoy reading the other articles and features in the paper – the comics, the editorials, etc. I like to do the crossword puzzles because they aren’t as difficult and frustrating to solve as the Sunday New York Times’ ones, yet aren’t so easy that they don’t offer a challenge to me.

Reading last week’s edition, I came across three different items and I decided to entitle them “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”

First of all, the Good.

Kudos to Live Oak Conservatory student Elyck Walters for being chosen to perform in New York City with the Camp Broadway Kids Ensemble. The group will be the opening act for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. For those of you that aren’t familiar with Live Oak Theatre Company, it is a local group of professional and amateur actors, singers and dancers. Their accomplishments and successes are phenomenal.

For a county that doesn’t particularly support the Arts (some people may not agree with me on this point), the organization has received a tremendous amount of support.

Now to the Bad. In reading about the recent school board meeting, I was dismayed to hear about the challenges our county is facing with the shortage of teachers. They have even gone to the extreme of using long-term substitute teachers in place of regular credentialed teachers. These substitute teachers are paid the insultingly low sum of $9.00 per hour. In this same issue of the paper, I read a help-wanted ad offering $11.00 per hour for solderers.

The teaching profession is one of the most challenging...and one of the most underpaid.

Florida ranks 45th among the states in teacher salaries. The silver lining behind this cloud (and See NACHIN, Page 18

Better Days Ahead for FL Education and the Hernando School District?

A

recently-elected governor and education commissioner with no education experience say we have a “worldclass” education system in Florida. Many of us, along with the Florida Supreme Court, know that’s nonsense.

The Florida Supreme Court has been listening carefully to reach a decision in Citizens for Strong Schools v. Florida State Board of Education.

The plaintiffs have been battling for nine years to convince the Florida Dept. of Education that it’s obligated to deliver the “high-quality” system of education it promises four times in the State’s Constitution (Article IX).

Here’s the gist of it: The Dept. of Education maintains that where the Constitution says it must provide a “uniform, efficient and high-quality

QUIGLEY from front page

chimes symbolize purification from the accumulation of these passions over the previous year.

In the Netherlands, the Dutch love deep fried Oliebollen — delicious, small doughnuts filled with raisins and currants.

The Portuguese and Spanish will eat precisely 12 grapes at midnight.

Each grape represents a month of the year and depending on the sweetness or sourness of each grape, dictates how the future will develop. If, for example, the seventh grape is sour, then July might not be a good month.

In Denmark, people jump off of their chairs in unison at midnight. This gesture means leaping unhesitatingly into the new year and leaving bad things behind.

Staying in Europe, other countries like Germany and Ireland eat green leafy veggies like kale, spinach and cabbage. The color resembles paper money. The more you eat, the more wealthier (and healthier) you’ll allegedly become.

Germans, along with the Scandinavians, will also eat briny fish like pickled herring. The silvery color reminds them of coins for prosperity.

Any kind of ‘round’ fruit is also a common food to eat at New Year. Oranges

By Gregg Laskoski Chairman of the Half-Cent Sales Tax Accountability Committee and a SAC Committee member at Nature Coast Technical H.S.

system of education,” that language was simply aspirational. The state never intended to do that. C’mon now.

But the plaintiffs say that the issue is justiciable and is asking the Supreme Court for a declaration that the state has not complied with its Constitutional duty to provide that “high-quality” education, nor has it made the opportunity for one equally accessible to all children. They want the court to order a remedial plan too.

(That would likely require a new funding formula that would spread more dollars with greater equity and transparency.

To be clear, Florida needs to spend more on education. According to Gov-

erning magazine’s analysis of Education Spending Per Student per State, Florida’s investment in education rivals Mississippi. Florida’s Spending per Student and Support Services per Student: $11,904. Mississippi: $11,892. The national average is $15,869 and 44 states invest more in education than Florida. http://www.governing.com/ gov-data/education-data/ state-education-spending-per-pupil-data.html ) To date, the FL Supreme Court has not yet reached its decision following oral arguments last presented by both sides on November 8.

Plaintiff’s Attorney Jodi Siegel told the court: “Florida has 670,000 students who are failing reading so this is not a child or two…

and apples, for example, are the shape of coins. A gift of 12 pieces of fruit is considered a lucky number, again representing the months in the New Year.

Pomegranates are customarily smashed to the floor in Turkey. Their color and the bursting open of the seeds represents health and prosperity.

In the outerlying islands of Scotland and Scandinavia, ‘Up Helly Aa’ is celebrated — a fire festival that marks the end of the Yule season. Following a costumed torchlit procession, the torches are then thrown into a replica Viking longship until it’s burned to a crisp.

And let’s not forget to thank Robert Burns, Scotland’s Poet Laureate, for “Auld Lang Syne.”

It’s sung around the world at the stroke of midnight every year. The tune is so well known, it was used by the Maldives and South Korea for their national anthems and Japanese department stores use it at closing times to remind customers it’s time to leave.

Not all New Year celebrations take place on Dec. 31. Chinese New Year is celebrated usually in February around the globe — from China to cities around the globe that are home to a Chinese population. You don’t have to be Chinese to enjoy the feasting, fireworks and dragon dances of this holiday.

I’m not sure where it all

started but making New Year resolutions has also become a tradition to make all sorts of ridiculous promises to yourself about what you’ll do in the coming year. .Whichever way you welcome in the New Year, there’s a sense of renewal, of rebirth, of new opportunities to come. It’s a time for us to realize how unique we all are.

It’s a time to pause and take stock of yesteryear.

A time to reflect on what transpired, what successes, if any, we achieved and how many of last New Year resolutions we managed to keep.

It’s a time for me to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous 2019.

this is a systemic failure.”

She added that 42 percent of students statewide are not reading at grade level.

Siegel said: ”Schools are held accountable. School districts are held accountable. So the state needs to be held accountable to the same information; the same data, to show that the state is not providing a uniform, efficient and high-quality system. The ultimate responsibility in the Constitution is on the state. You can’t pass the Constitutional buck to the (local) school board.”

While the Supreme Court decision could truly be a catalyst for a shift to substantive state support for education in Florida, any change is likely to crawl rather than sprint to its arrival.

Here in Hernando County our School Board faces its own critical decision.

Especially at times like these it must play its best hand. I’m referring to the School Board’s opportunity now to make John Stratton the District’s permanent School Superintendent.

Why? Because there’s a palpable improvement in the morale of our district’s teachers, principals and administrators from one end of the county to the other.

Parents are regaining confidence in the district and it’s largely because of the interim superintendent and the calm he brings. You see it and hear it at the school board meetings.

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Even some of the district’s most vocal critics have expressed gratitude to Stratton for his direct involvement and communication to help their cause.

He may not always have the solution they want, but he listens earnestly, communicates thoughtfully and follows through. There’s a positive attitude here and it’s contagious. You hear it from parents in the school parking lots. And in Walmart and the deli section at Publix.

Stratton’s first-hand understanding of the complexity of Hernando County’s funding challenges; the distinct communities that support our schools; the institutional history that unites us; and the key players who are essential to implement the board’s goals; make him the best choice, by far, to take the helm as superintendent.

From his 25+ years of administrative responsibilities he has the respect of parents, teachers, district staff and board members because he’s earned it; long before the summer of 2018.

And for the past six months the board has seen this highly respected professional lead the Hernando School District with genuine care, commitment and distinction. Let’s confirm Mr. Stratton as the Hernando County School Superintendent without delay.

He’s had our back. It’s time we had his.

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Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019

MARRIAGES Bliss Richard Scott and Delaney Alicia Annmarie 12/19/18

Wellings Alexander James and Gargano Alexandra 12/20/18

Batista Vital Amir De Jesus and Pankow Jamie Deann 12/19/18

Garcia Xavier Julian and Nixon Emily Amber 12/21/18

Foster Shawn Michael and Hornsby Misty Lynn 12/20/18

Britt Kaleb Lewis Paul and Lezcano Victoria Yvellisse 12/21/18

Leslie Michael Emery and Nichols Martyne Dugger 12/20/18

Blum John Raymond and Plyler Loretta Ann 12/21/18

Young Connor Jordan and Larson Tiffany Michelle 12/20/18

Schmucker Jonathan David and Rogers Lauren Jade 12/21/18

Ortiz Robbie Jaye and Hackler Micah Gabrielle 12/20/18

Mason Tonya Meganne and Lorentsen Billielee 12/21/18

Hanstein Andrew Clinton and Blaney Brittany Michelle 12/20/18

Sessa Frank and Black Tiffany Lynnann 12/21/18

Solution to Soduku on page 15

NACHIN from page 17

I’m speaking somewhat tongue-in-cheek here) is that among sixty-seven counties in the state, Hernando ranks among the top half in salaries.

According to the Florida Department of Education’s 2017/2018 Final Survey, teachers in forty-four out of sixty-seven counties make less than our local teachers do. Unfortunately, that’s faint praise.

Hernando County needs to do something about this situation. Of course, it will mean raising property taxes. I personally would not mind paying an extra $100 a year in

OPINION

taxes if it meant paying teachers a living wage.

Maybe it’s because I used to be a teacher and I have several friends that are teachers. Each property owner could be taxed proportionately. I believe we should also start taxing the first $10,000 in assessed value on a home and then apply the Homestead Exemption.

There are property owners in Hernando County who pay little or no taxes.

Maybe we should institute a ½ percent sales tax increase. All I know is that something must be done to address this issue.

To conclude my article, I’d like to end on a humorous note. This is where I come to the Ugly. I have

Phone call to the Editor Last week I received a call from Maryanne in Spring Hill. She found out about the gentleman in Miramar Beach, FL who began a gofundme campaign for the border wall. His name is Brian Kolfage and he is a former Air Force Security Forces senior airman. He lost three limbs while serving in Iraq on Sept.11, 2004. She thought that this was newsworthy and asked us provide information about this effort.

On the gofundme page Kolfage writes,

never been arrested.

There are several factors that have contributed to this. The two major ones are that I do not photograph well, even in the best of circumstances and orange is not my color.

Reading the Hernando County Arrest Summaries gives me a chuckle, albeit at someone else’s expense. First of all, the pictures. I thought driver’s license photos or Sam’s Club membership ID pictures were pretty unflattering, but mug shots top these. Just the fear of having one’s picture printed in the paper, sans make-up or sporting an unintentional five o’clock shadow and disheveled hair should be enough of

“As a veteran who has given so much, 3 limbs, I feel deeply invested to this nation to ensure future generations have everything we have today. Too many Americans have been murdered by illegal aliens and too many illegals are taking advantage of the United States taxpayers with no means of ever contributing to our society.

“I have grandparents who immigrated to America legally, they did it the correct way and it’s time we uphold our laws, and get this wall BUILT! It’s up to Americans to help out and pitch in to get this project rolling.

“If the 63 million people who voted

a deterrent to keep one on the “straight and narrow.” Then there are the remarks that people make to the arresting officer. A comedy writer couldn’t make some of this stuff up. “I was just trying to party” and “S***, I forgot about that. It’s ecstasy” are just some of the things that people say when confronted with their crimes.

Anyway, I hope I have put a smile on your face and have given you some food for thought. Let’s make 2019 a better year - more success stories like Live Oak Theatre Company, a solution to our teaching crisis and less crime for our amazing Hernando County Sheriff’s Office to deal with.

for Trump each pledge $80, we can build the wall. That equates to roughly 5Billion Dollars, even if we get half, that’s half the wall. We can do this.”

As of Dec. 25, 2018, $17,065,626 of the $1.0B goal had been raised by 280,906 people within 8 days.

Maryanne was moved when she heard about this young man who began the fundraiser. Referring to the wall she said, “We need it, no two ways about it. Something has to be done. The president is trying to do what he promised, trying to keep his country safe. I will do what I can to help. If we don’t have a border, we don’t have a country.”

FUNNIES

5. In which month of the religious calendar did the new year begin in the Bible? 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th 6. From James 1:5, what may one lack, and if they ask God, it shall be given? Love, Wisdom, Truth, Goals

King Features Weekly Service

1. Is the book of 2 Thessalonians in the Old or New Testament or neither?

12.. For possible new2:1, the In Song of Solomon Shulamite calls herself two kinds of year’s resolutions, flowers, the rose and the ...? Daisy, Proverbs 16:3 says, Lily, Cinnamon, Sage “Commit thy 3. From Titus 1, Paulworks wrote, “Unto the pure all things are ...”?and Gold,thy Righunto the Lord, teous, Worthy, Pure thoughts shallis mentioned be ...”? by 4. What archangel name in the book of Jude? Gabriel, Resolved, Established, Silas, Michael, Melchizedek Directed, 5. In 1 KingsBountiful 21, who forbade Naboth to give his vineyard to Ahab?

The Lord, Jezebel, Absalom, Balaam 2.

37:5what instructs 6. InPsalm Psalm 103:5, bird’s youth to, “Commit thyRaven, isus renewable?

Dove, Eagle, Swallow way unto the Lord; ANSWERS: 1) New; 2) Lily; 3) trust also in him; and Pure; 4) Michael; 5) The Lord; 6) he shall bring it to ...”?

Eagle “Test Your Bible Knowledge,” Nurture, Pass, Action,featuring 1,206 multiple-choice quesLight tions by columnist Wilson Casey, is now available in stores and online.

October 15, 2018

4. 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 2:20 are among the verses to focus on what in a new year? Blessings, Moving forward, Grace, Church attendance

ANSWERS: 1) Established; 2) Pass; 3) Leviticus; 4) Moving forward; 5) 7th; 6) Wisdom Visit Wilson Casey’s new Trivia Fan Site at www.patreon.com/triviaguy.

© 2018 King book Features Synd., Inc. 3. Which proclaims the first day of the new year is for resting and a memorial sounding the trumpet? (c) 2018 King Features Genesis, Exodus, Levit- Synd., Inc. icus, Numbers

(puzzle on page 15)

DOMENICK J. MAGLIO, PH.D.

Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019 hernandosun.com

OPINION

LETTER TO T H E E D ITOR

THE HERNANDO SUN

19

WILLIAM F. HOLLAND

Letters to the Editor: We welcome your comments which may be published in the newspaper and online. They should be no longer than 400 words and include the name, daytime phone number and email address of the author for verification purposes if necessary. Your submission may be edited prior to publication. Only your name and town will be published. For more information, contact Julie Maglio at 352.238.5454.

Email your letters to editor@hernandosun.com

Traditional Realist

MINISTER / CHAPLAIN

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

Free government handouts will poison the land of opportunity Many nations of the world are exotic or at least interesting to visit. The food, architecture, language and history are wonderful to see and experience first hand. Not only is it intellectually stimulating but it is an eye opener as to what is different from your country. There are rich and poor in every nation.

Being rich in most countries is a very comfortable situation. Most of this upper class can afford to have house servants that few middleclass Americans can employ but at times may want.

In other nations the upper class people’s wealth allows them to purchase individual services more cheaply. These servants receive insignificant compensation for their services although they work hard but have little opportunity or real hope of bettering their status. They live hand-to-mouth.

This is not the case in the USA. The United States is still the land of opportunity for class advancement. Anyone who is committed to obtain middle or upper class status has to do only two things here: work hard and sacrifice pleasures to build up their assets. Depending on the level of persistence and perseverance a person will reach his goal over time. This can be accomplished within our current tax system but will come to a screeching halt if we move into a socialist welfare state.

There are many socialist/progressives and communists who have come out of the closet to openly announce that they want free university education, free health care, guaranteed income for all citizens with livable income paid by the government who hires everyone. These policies would destroy America’s economy.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s surprise election by winning only a small percentage of democrat votes is making Bernie Sanders look conservative. Even though she was raised in a wealthy Westchester town her supporters claim she was “a poor Puerto Rican person from the Bronx.”

Her father was an architect, not a welfare recipient. Her policies, like all socialist/communist proponents, sound great but have not worked in reality.

This question of where the money will come from is never answered honestly. The reason is the government would have to rob (confiscate) from others to give the goodies to the slackers.

This would be more than objectionable to the average American.

The only way socialist/communist policies can be adopted is through public ignorance or charismatic lying thugs like Stalin, Castro or Chavez forcing socialism down the throats of the people.

Obviously, once the money is stolen from hard working people they cease to be hard workers.

Merit is thrown out the window.

This poison spreads until a rich country like Venezuela plummets through hyperinflation and turns into a pathetic, poor nation where citizens are fleeing in droves to more stable countries.

Under President Obama’s eightyear administration we received a “socialist-light” taste of redistribution of wealth. This was done under cover by changing bureaucratic regulations to ease the ability for people to receive government assistance. The unemployment compensation was extended to 96 weeks. The SNAP program expanded the number of participants as well as the list of products recipients were entitled to receive. The free phone program was expanded and student loans were federalized. The big enchilada was the administration ramming the Obamacare program through the legislative process.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/ director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio has a new book, available on Amazon and other sites, entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.

Used to be favorites The thing I most dreaded during the holidays at Exwork was not the destruction of the Garden Center: replacing hoses, sprinklers, and tools on the shelves and hooks inside with inflatable yard art, fake trees, and ornaments, or abolishing our tables of live plants on the patio for pallet-stalls of “fresh cut” fir trees, or putting in and pulling out tons of products over and over from the many trailers rented for Black Friday and beyond that were positioned along the curb of the left and back sides of the store.

Nope, all that was fun and even an adventure. What I dreaded was the music.

Exwork started playing December songs in October.

There is Halloween music of sorts: Monster Mash and I Put A Spell On You, and the many collections of scary movie themes and haunted house sounds, and I thought Exwork should play those during that month, but they didn’t.

And there are no tunes for Thanksgiving at all. I always listen to one of my favorite albums around that time, Celtic Odyssey, which I think is excellent Turkey Day music; every track has a sense of falling leaves of many colors in the cooling days before snow. I think that kind of music should be official for November.

I like my Christmas music in the evening while sipping eggnog, or a hot toddy if I have the sniffles, and there’s nothing on TV. What none of us at Exwork cared for was listening to it twenty or more hours a week.

By the end of November, we part-timers were sure those 40-hour employees were showing signs of madness, something akin to the thousand-yard stare. Yeah, yeah, it’s for the customers, but I’m not clear how such music is supposed to sway them to buy more holiday products.

Are the warblings of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and even Elvis Presley going to stop a shopper in his tracks while down the chips aisle and move him to rush his cart over to Seasonal or to Garden/Christmas?

The “new normal” was a 1.8% economic growth over the eight-years of the Obama administration, high unemployment, declining average wages, large increases in potential workers dropping out of the labor market. The stagnant economy was constantly rationalized as the “new normal.” The results of these socialistic policies were a stagnant economy.

President Trump implemented conservative ideas into his administration. The US economy took off like a rocket. He backed off government regulations, freeing businesses to gain autonomy over their own

GOOFY STUFF

By VINCENT CARDEGIN Pretty sure not. All it does is annoy and exasperate the workers. I think there should be a compromise: only one festive song an hour, and never the same song in a week.

And it wasn’t just the associates who objected.

Many customers complained to me over the years.

My last Christmas there, now two years ago, a greybeard pushing a cart full of holiday food and decorations glared at me in passing and said, “Boy, am I getting tired of this music.”

I didn’t remember seeing him shopping in my store before, but apparently he had been exposed to the droning of holiday cheer just like me and was likewise sickened of it. I replied, “I know. I’ve shredded all my Christmas CDs.” He laughed. I didn’t really do that, but I felt like doing so by then.

Oh my aching brain stem and cortexes, I was so burned out on those tunes,

operations. He obtained a significant tax cut for businesses and individuals and brought many corporations back from abroad.

These measures stimulated the free market increasing the economic pie. This increased job opportunity and through competition increased employment wages.

Illegal immigrants are attempting to invade the United States’ borders to become part of our prosperous economy.

Destroying the work ethic by imposing socialistic/ communistic utopian ideas of free everything will not be imposed on our citizens without destroying

ten years of hearing them— that’s 3,300 hours that decade, compared to 60 the decade before, and about the same for all decades previous—mainly the classics from WW2. I no longer want to hear about chestnuts or sleigh bells or a white Christmas or a drummer boy or mommy kissing dad dressed as Santa Clause, or even the later songs of rocking jingle bells and blues.

I still like “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Mele Kalikimaka” (MEL-uh ka-LEE-kee-MUH-kuh) since work didn’t play those much, and I like the more recent what’s-her-name’s version of what’s-his-name’s song about Last Christmas.

The only holiday music I can now fully tolerate is from the movie Scrooge, starring Albert Finney. But that’s because Exwork never played those songs, and we only watch it once a year.

I think it’s still going to be awhile before I can get back to my used-to-be favorites.

our economy. These seekers of a better life are the best indicators that the US capitalist system is the best economy in the world.

Abandoning the principles of free market capitalism would be irrational. It would crush the greatest economy on earth. Destruction of the world’s beacon of freedom and prosperity would leave the world clueless as to what the possibility of a free and prosperous nation is.

Everyone on earth would be losers for its demise.

Christ is called Emanuel, which means, “God is with us” and we are so grateful that he came to save us. Yes, we enjoy the nativity and he was once a baby, but he’s not a baby today. He was born, lived, and was willing to be crucified because he loved us more than anything in the world. Whatever you are going through today, be encouraged to know that God wants to be with you and is more than able to take care of you. He is El Shaddai, God Almighty, The All Sufficient One! Here are seven attributes of our creator that remind us why we celebrate the incarnation and sing, “O come let us adore him.”

1. God knows: God is Omniscient and is fully aware when we are going through difficult times, our worries and fears and even what we are thinking. Actually, He is the only one who really knows how we feel and we can always trust that He has the perfect plan to help us. There are three answers to our prayers; yes, no, and keep waiting, so whatever the situation we can know that he is in total control and always has our best interest in mind.

2. God loves: The love and grace of God is greater than all of our sin. Jesus died a cruel and painful death in order to save us from ourselves. The good news today, is that whoever embraces this gospel about God’s love and receives it into their life by faith, can obtain his mercy and be redeemed and transformed into a child of our heavenly Father. Read Romans 8:37-39.

3. God cares: He sees every tear and knows all about the problems we are going through. God wants everyone to believe that he cares about them and desires to be a part of their life. His word promises that his eye is watching every sparrow which allows us to realize how much more he is watching over us. He is sensitive and compassionate about our circumstances and longs to have a close personal relationship with us.

“Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you” I Peter 5:7.

4. God provides: The Lord always supplies peace, comfort, joy, or whatever we need, whenever we need it. Jesus can bring what no one else can give and he is always more than enough! We can place all of our trust in God and believe with all of our heart that he will do above and beyond all that we could ask or imagine. Philippians 4:19 declares, “But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

5. God desires: What is God’s desire? For us to love him and follow his voice. He also wants us to succeed, to be an overcomer and to live an abundant life. When we were born, he designed our personal blueprint and within this wonderful plan includes a possible destiny of victory and joy!

He created us to be filled with his power and intended for us to walk confidently in his love and peace.

Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

6. God heals: Jesus is the great physician and has all power and authority in heaven and earth.

He gives instruction and wisdom to doctors; He creates medicines and knows the solutions to every problem. God has the miracle power to take care of all of all our needs including physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. Whether in this life or in heaven, we can know that God will eventually heal his children perfectly and completely.

In Exodus 15:26 God declares, “I am the Lord that heals you.”

7. God delivers: Whatever the bondage, temptation, crisis, or fear, the King of kings can lift you out of your anxiety and set your feet upon a solid rock. Believe his promises and allow his truth to set you free! Psalm 18:2-3 reminds us, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so, shall I be saved from my enemies.”

To read more visit: billyhollandministries.com

William F. Holland Jr., DD., C.ED.D. is a Christian minister, chaplain, and author. Discover more about his ministry at billyhollandministries.com can be contacted at P.O. Box 1394, Nicholasville, KY 40340

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hernandosun.com Dec. 28, 2018 - Jan. 3, 2019 BUSINESS & COMMUNITY

HERNANDO SUN

COVERS from page 14

MORE GENERAL ELECTION COVERAGE pages 2 & 4

THE

Hernando Sun

Oct. 26- Nov. 1, 2018 Volume IV, Issue XXX

Y O U R

AWA R D

W I N N I N G

W E E K LY

L O C A L

effect since January 2017 within the city. Hernando County commissioners repealed an ordinance regulating medical marijuana dispensing Even former skeptics spoke to facilities in late 2017, but the city had the Brooksville City Council at the remained a ‘hold-out’ until the Oct. October 15, 2018 meeting, urging 15 meeting. the council to vote against an ordiThe official discussion and vote ocnance that bans medical marijuana curred later in the meeting, Citizen’s dispensaries within the city. The Comments was the unofficial opener. board voted unanimously against the ordinance, allowing dispensaries Two residents counted themselves as “once-skeptical,” including to be established and operate within Brooksville doctor Scott Gebhardt, Brooksville city limits. An ordinance D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy). Gebplacing a moratorium on medical hardt once considered those seeking marijuana dispensaries had been in

NEW WALL OF HONOR at Forest Oaks of Spring Hill.

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Medical marijuana dispensaries no longer banned in city of Brooksville

BY LISA MACNEIL HERNANDO SUN WRITER

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medical cannabis as “a bunch of stoners … looking for an excuse to make cannabis legal.”

After noticing that numerous patients in his practice reported they were using cannabis with good results, Gebhardt’s perspective changed and he is now one of seventeen medical providers in the county who is licensed to recommend cannabis.

“We’ve got over 150 veterans that all come to us for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and it helps See DISPENSARIES, Page 6

Up close and Purr...sonal

Local author pays homage to Brooksville

nd

182 Anniversa

Eddie Dexter Stewart's debut graphic novellette spotlights Brooksville

The carolers of Live Oak Theatre were asked to pose for a group photo as they visited one of the floors in the South Tower.

DADE’S BAT

HALLOWEEN CANDY 14 SHAKE

BY SARAH NACHIN HERNANDO SUN WRITER

Eddie Dexter Stewart is a local writer and illustrator who has just published his first in a series of books. It’s entitled Noelle (Chapter 1.0, Welcome to Sunrise). This manga/graphic novelette is about a world famous teen supermodel from Japan whose family moves to the fictional town of Sunrise which is based on Brooksville.

Although manga is not well-known in the United States, it is very popular in Japan and dates back to the late nineteenth century. Unlike comic books and graphic novels, manga’s illustrations are usually in black and white.

Stewart who grew up in Brooksville and graduated from Hernando High School and Pasco-Hernando Community College ( PHCC - now Pasco-Hernando State College), describes his manga as a “Coming of Age story that eventually turns into a story of love and adventure.”

He mentions and illustrates many familiar Hernando County landmarks (although under different names) in his novelette. For example, Coney Island Hot Dogs becomes Big Dawgs and Hernando High School becomes Sunrise High School. Stewart includes the stereotypical high school students – the jock, the geek, the new girl in town, along with many others. However, it’s important for his characters to be multi-dimensional and to undergo a change, even a somewhat unexpected one, during the course of the story.

Eddie Dexter Stewart was born in Philadelphia, but his dad, James Carl Stewart, a police officer moved his family back to his hometown of Brooksville because of the increasing crime in Philly.

The Dexter Family of six children, father James and mother, Earlene, lived on a farm on Byster Lake.

“When I was a kid we grew up basically poor. For me, reading, writing and drawing were a means of adventure and escape. Sometimes when I was feeling sad I would write some poetry or

Carolers bring Christmas cheer to patients at Oak Hill Hospital

Beginning of The Second Sem HARVEST MOON HALLOWEEN FUN

Seth is one of the tigers that Big Cat Rescue rescued from another sanctuary. He is 14 years old and weighs over 500lbs. If he was released into the wild, he would not survive. Photo by ALICE MARY HERDEN.

14

The world is on the verge of losing this beautiful and iconic species and its survival is critical. Many countries have now banned the exploitation of exotic animals but, unfortunately, the United States is not yet one of those nations. Read about The Big Cat Public Safety Act H.R.1818 / S.2990 — a federal bill that would end cub petting, ban most private ownership, and would greatly restrict the breeding of big cats.

BY SUE QUIGLEY HERNANDO SUN WRITER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALICE MARY HERDEN

Nat is a 17-year- old female leopard named from Omaha’s AZA-accredited Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska

INDEX

In the midst of the hustle ’n bustle of Tampa Bay lies a peaceful oasis under a 70-acre canopy of shady oaks and palm trees. It’s a place where there is comfort and love and a forever home for tigers and other big cats that have been rescued from horrific conditions.

Big Cat Rescue, a nonprofit organization founded by Carole Baskin in 1992, also rehabilitates injured or orphaned native wild Florida bobcats and is particularly devoted to ending the private trade and ownership of exotic felines by way of educational outreach and legislation.

Public Relations Director Susan Bass, who has been with Big Cat See BIG CATS, Page 13

WEATHER: FRI

See AUTHOR, Page 16

ABOVE: to the Hernando Sun and we'll send you a Hernando Sun bumper Oct. 26- Nov. 1, 2018 - Sue HQuigley and Alice Mary Herden delivered a IGH LOW magnet as a token of our appreciation! fabulous front page story 82 on 68the Big Cat Sanctuary in Tampa.

Alice’s photos are simply gorgeous.

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LOCAL & STATE 2 OUT & ABOUT 7 | SPORTS 11 BUSINESS & COMMUNITY 14 FUNNIES 18 | OPINION 19

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On Dec. 18 the carolers of Live Oak Theatre visited the patients of Oak Hill Hospital. Donned in 17th Century (Dickens era) attire, the carolers strolled through every accessible area of the facility spreading Christmas cheer to patients, families, associates and doctors.

Everyone was treated to a combination of standard Christmas carols such as Silent Night as well as modern traditional Christmas songs such as White Christmas sung in a variety of harmonies.

Both patients and associates expressed a great deal of gratitude to the carolers encouraging them to “stay awhile,” suggesting various carols and joining in the singing.

The carolers of Live Oak Theatre were invited by the public relations and communications department of Oak Hill Hospital. “We were deeply moved by the experience and especially in everyone’s reaction to the experience,” said Vince Vanni, vice president of Live Oak Theatre. “We are also grateful for the gracious donation made by Oak Hill Hospital to Live Oak Theatre’s scholarship fund for its conservatory,” he added.

Live Oak Theatre’s Conservatory offers approximately 25 group classes in all performing arts as well as private music, vocal, dance and acting lessons.

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Bushnell, Florida (352) 793-4781 www.dadebattlefield.com T his event has been funded in part by a T ourist D evelopm ent T ax G This event has been funded by a Touristin Development Tax Grantwfrom C om in mpart issioners conjunction ith the S um ter C ounty T This event has been funded in part by a Tourist Development Tax Grant from the Sumter County Board of the Sumter County Board of Commissioners in conjunction with the Sumter County Tourist Development Council.

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