Saturday, January 22, 2011

County offers series on many ways to save

County offers series on many ways to save

An Economic Survival Series will be offered at 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 26-March 2, at the Hernando County Cooperative Extension Service, 1653 Blaise Drive.

Participants can attend the entire series or just pick ones they like. Topics include:

• Jan. 26, Debt Management

• Feb. 2, Growing a Vegetable Garden and Canning

• Feb. 9, Growing Fruit in Your Backyard

• Feb. 16, Saving Money at the Grocery Store

• Feb. 23, Low or No Cost Activities for Children

• March 2, Cutting Your Lawn Costs.

There is no cost to participate, but registration is required. Call (352) 754-4433.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Please Lock Your Vehicles in the Driveway

Report#: Report Date: Offense: From Date: To Date: Occured Location: City: Zone: Status:
2011-02119 01/18/2011 03:31 PM BURGLARY-CONVEYANCE 01/16/2011 01/17/2011 12300 WOODETTE CT SPRING HILL Dist 2-Zone 7 Arrest of Offender
2011-02039 01/18/2011 09:48 AM BURGLARY-CONVEYANCE 01/16/2011 01/17/2011 12300 WOODETTE CT SPRING HILL Dist 2-Zone 7 Arrest of Offender
2011-02036 01/18/2011 09:14 AM BURGLARY-CONVEYANCE 01/16/2011 01/17/2011 12300 WOODETTE CT SPRING HILL Dist 2-Zone 7 Arrest of Offender


There were three incidents of vehicles having items stolen from them on Woodette Court. Please take every precaution to keep yourself and your property safe.

Hernando County to Launch New Prescription Drug Savings Program

Hernando County to Launch New Prescription Drug Savings Program

Alexandra Miller
Director of Communications
Financial Marketing Concepts, Inc.
720-317-7280

Hernando County to Launch New Prescription Drug Savings Program

Brooksville, Florida – On January 14th at 10:30 AM Hernando County Board of Commissioners’ representative and Financial Marketing Concepts Inc., (FMC) will hold a press conference to launch a new prescription drug discount program at the Hernando County Government Center, Room 161, 20 North Main Street in Brooksville.

Once launched, the new Coast2Coast Rx card will allow all County residents, regardless of income, age, or health status to participate in the program and save on the cost of their medications. This program saved cardholders throughout the nation an average of 45% in 2010 on the cost of prescription drugs. Even pets and other people living outside the County are able to take part in the program. The Rx card will be distributed free of charge and may be used at all pharmacy chains and most independent pharmacies in Hernando County and includes over 60,000 drugs in its formulary.

“With healthcare costs on the rise, prescription drug discounts will help ease some of the financial burdens individuals and families are facing at a time when they need it the most,” said Chair of the Board of County Commissioners, John Druzbick. There are no eligibility requirements, so the Rx card is expected to have a sizeable impact on uninsured residents, residents facing high insurance deductibles and will allow savings for persons in need of prescriptions not covered by their current plans.

Providing savings for residents through the Rx program will come at no expense to the County. In fact, FMC will pay the County a royalty based on usage, and the royalty does not increase cardholder cost. Besides the discounts on prescriptions, the card also provides 50% to 80% discounts for lab and imaging tests, further helping residents save even more money on their healthcare costs for these services. The card is a replacement for the previous card endorsed by the County and those cardholders should switch their prescriptions to the new card.

Ed Rahn, President of Financial Marketing Concepts, Inc., of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, the issuer of the Coast2Coast Rx free discount card, says “we are pleased to work with the County to help individuals, their families and pets combat the rising cost of healthcare.” Rahn added “we appreciate all that the County and local pharmacies are doing to help those in need.”

The Coast2Coast Rx card will be available for residents at most participating pharmacies, governmental offices, libraries and County health facilities. Residents will also be able to print the Rx card, check their prescription prices and view the nearest participating locations at www.coast2coastrx.com.

The Coast2Coast Rx card will provide residents with a valuable tool to help maintain their health and wellbeing at an affordable cost.

2011 FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING™ (FFL) WORKSHOP

2011 FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING™ (FFL) WORKSHOP

Hernando County Utilities Department and the Southwest Florida Water Management District present the 2011 Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Workshop. Participants will learn about hardy plants for central Florida, irrigation methods for plant success and reduced costs, and turfgrass selection and maintenance. Presenters include John Korycki, Hernando County FFL Coordinator; Jim Davis, Sumter County FFL Coordinator; and Jack Tichenor, Manatee County Extension Agent.

The workshop will be held on Feb. 18, from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Hernando County Association of Realtors building, 7321 Sunshine Grove Rd., Brooksville. Cost for the workshop is $5 per person. Registration is required by Feb 14. Registration is limited and is accepted on a first-paid, first-registered basis.

For more information or to register, call John Korycki at (352) 540-6230. HCUD customers who prepay and attend the workshop are eligible for a $5 rebate. One rebate per household. Call (352) 540-4368, ext. 35139, for more information on the rebate.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Preston Hollow Membership Meeting

The next Preston Hollow Membership Meeting will be at Vice President Al Walkers House Tuesday January 18th at 7:00 P.M. Al's address is 86 Forest Wood Ct.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Two Shih-Tzu Dogs Remain to be Adopted

Two Shih-Tzu Dogs Remain to be Adopted
January 6, 2011

By the close of business on Thursday, January 6th, five more Shih-Tzu dogs had left the Hernando County Animal Services shelter with their new owners. Nine potential adopters arrived early on Thursday morning to look at the dogs that had been nursed back to health by Animal Services staff and volunteers since they were found abandoned and severely neglected in Spring Hill on November 18th. The turnout Thursday was lower than expected and left two male Shih-Tzus still waiting for their forever homes. Those two will have their chance on Friday, January 7th when the next group of applicants, who have been contacted by telephone, are scheduled to make their selection. “We are confident that we will be able to find homes for these last two Shih-Tzus” stated Liana Teague, Code & Animal Services Manger. “There are still a lot of applicants waiting for their chance to adopt.”

The Animal Services staff would like to remind everyone that there are many other very nice animals in need of homes at the shelter, and the public is encouraged to visit. Animal Services is located at 19450 Oliver Street, Brooksville, Florida. For more information, contact Animal Services at (352) 796-5062.

County Extension Offers Landscaping Classes

County Extension Offers Landscaping Classes
January 5, 2011

County Extension Offers Landscaping Classes

BRING COLOR INTO YOUR YARD AGAIN
A free class “Adding Color to Your Winter Landscape” will be offered by Urban Horticulture Agent Jim Moll on Wednesday, January 12th at 10:00am. Add a burst of color to your winter landscape. This class will teach you which plants will flower, even during frosty weather. The class will be offered at the Spring Hill Branch Library at 9220 Spring Hill Dr. No registration is required, first come, first seated.

FREE CLASSES ON FLORIDA-FRIENDLY GARDENING
The University of Florida/IFAS Hernando County Cooperative Extension Service will present free classes at the Spring Hill Library, 9220 Spring Hill, Dr, at 10:00am:

“Everything You Need to Know About Your Spring Landscape” – February 2nd
“Springtime Vegetable Gardening” – February 16th

The following classes will be presented at the Hernando County Cooperative Extension’s new location: 1653 Blaise Dr, Brooksville, at 5:30pm:

“Flowering Perennials” – February 7th
“Florida-Friendly Landscaping” – February 28th

Registration is not taken for any of the classes. First come, first seated.

The Extension Service is an educational program which exists to serve the educational needs of the local people. Extension Agents extend the resources of the University of Florida our land grant University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the following program areas: agriculture, horticulture, family and consumer sciences and 4-H.
Visit our web-site at http://extension.hernandocounty.us

Hernando County Extension Service extension.hernandocounty.us/

Comprehensive Plan Public Opinion Survey Now Available

Public Opinion Survey Now Available On-Line
January 4, 2011

Comprehensive Plan Public Opinion Survey Now Available

Hernando County wants your opinion on growth management issues. An on-line public opinion survey has been launched in anticipation of the upcoming final public workshop on the County’s Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) process. The purpose of the EAR process is to evaluate the performance of the County’s Comprehensive Growth Management Plan and update the plan where needed. The subject of the final Planning and Zoning Commission workshop is Hernando County’s Future Land Use Pattern. The workshop will be held on January 10, 2011 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the John Law Ayers County Commission Chambers located in the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main Street, Room 160, Brooksville, Florida.

The EAR Survey takes less than 15 minutes to complete and asks very specific questions about Hernando County’s future. Many of the questions were formulated based on suggestions and comments received at the first four EAR workshops held this past fall. “This survey will let the public know what’s being discussed at the workshops,” said Pat McNeese, Hernando County’s EAR Planner, “Once they take the survey, it will help them formulate additional comments they may have.”

To take the survey, simply open Hernando County web site’s home page at www.hernandocounty.us and select “Take Our EAR Survey.” Survey results will be presented at future Planning and Zoning Commission meetings on the EAR. The meetings will be held monthly through the end of the EAR process in July 2011. For more information, contact Pat McNeese at the Hernando County Planning Department (352-754-4057) or explore the EAR web page at www.hernandocounty.us/plan/EAR/

Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Appraisal Report www.hernandocounty.us/plan/EAR/

Monday, January 3, 2011

Important Information & Dates about your property taxes

From the Desk of John C. Emerson, Chief Deputy Property Appraiser

The Hernando County Property Appraiser's Office would like to provide residents in your community with property value information, important notices and deadline dates that may benefit them and educate them about our office and what we do.

March 1, 2011 is the deadline for all Hernando County residents to file for their property tax exemptions, including Homestead and Low Income Senior (for persons age 65 and older who meet specific financial criteria) applications. Don’t wait until the last minute to qualify for these valuable tax benefits.

* To qualify for the Homestead Exemption and the accompanying “Save Our Homes” Assessment Cap, the home must be the primary and permanent residence.

* If you have moved into the County and had a previous Homestead or are transferring from one home to another, you may qualify for Portability.

* Seniors (at least one owner must be age 65 or older prior to January 1) with a Total Household Adjusted Gross Income that does not exceed $25,780 who did not apply for the Low Income Senior Exemption last year, please submit your application by March 1.

* If you received the Low Income Senior Exemption for 2010, you do not need to file an application for 2011.

* An important reminder if you have a Homestead property in Hernando County and you have requested that your mail be forwarded to a different address temporarily (i.e., vacation, visiting family, medical issue, employment, military deployment, etc.), you must notify the Post Office when you return.

Please visit our website for Homestead, Other Exemptions, Low Income Senior and Portability information. www..hernandocounty.us/pa/exemptions.asp

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Crime Watch

Crime Watch

SHARP Crime Watch is seeking day and night patrollers and dispatchers. SHARP Crime Watch has been in existence for 28 years watching over the Spring Hill area. Patrollers are provided with radios and patrols his or her own area. Dispatchers keep close contact with the Sheriff's Department, Animal Services, Road Department, Code Enforcement, etc. SHARP makes daily calls to the elderly who live alone and will also watch someone's home when the residents are out of town. SHARP meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Senior Citizens Club of Hernando County, 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill. If interested in volunteering, attend the monthly meeting or call 352-683-5936.