Florida's Hurricane Guide 2011

Here is a link to Florida's Hurricane Guide 2011 which is full of very important information. It answers many questions such as supplies you may need, evacuation routes along with how to prepare for a hurricane. I hope you find this information useful.

Hernando County Sheriff's Office has a Facebook and Twitter Page

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is wading into the age of electronic social networking with a Facebook page and a Twitter feed. "It's another avenue for us to stay in touch with the community," Sheriff Al Nienhuis said. The Sheriff's Office joined Facebook in February but just started this month to post content there. Facebook users can "like" the Sheriff's Office page and get reminders about coming events, news about kudos given to staffers and other "good things going on in the Sheriff's Office," Nienhuis said.

Visitors are welcome to leave comments on the Hernando Facebook page, but it's not the place to ask for service or lodge a complaint since it won't be monitored around the clock, Nienhuis said. If you need a timely response, call the office at (352) 754-6850.

On Facebook:
Log on to Facebook and search for "Hernando County Sheriff's Office."

On Twitter:
Log on and search for "HernandoSheriff."

Brooksville Farmers Market

Brooksville Farmers Market will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday along Main Street in front of the Hernando County Courthouse in downtown Brooksville. Local vendors, produce, crafts, food, dog treats, jewelry, honey and more will be featured. If interested in becoming a vendor or for information, call Jodi at 352-232-4241.

Hernando County Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) Committee

Hernando County Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) Committee will hold its first meeting at 10 a.m. June 9 at the Emergency Operations Center, 18900 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. The committee is coordinated by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management Section and is comprised of local citizens and government representatives. The LMS committee is responsible for developing and maintaining a community plan that promotes hazard mitigation and guides post-disaster recovery funding allocations.

Representatives will discuss the status of projects approved under state and federal grant programs, new projects and available grants. The LMS committee meets periodically, and all meetings are open to the public. For information, call Pamela Harris, mitigation and recovery, specialist III, at 352-754-4083.

New Exemption for Military Service Members

Alvin Mazourek, Hernando County Property Appraiser, is pleased to announce that an additional property tax exemption is now available for certain military service members.

A service member who currently receives a homestead exemption on their primary residence may receive an additional tax savings with the passage of this new bill.

The new exemption is available to service members who were deployed during the preceding calendar year on active duty outside the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii in support of:

· Operation Enduring Freedom
· Operation Iraqi Freedom
· Operation New Dawn

Proof of deployment, including dates, from the Veteran’s Administration or your military branch is required. The new exemption is not a fixed amount like the homestead exemption. Rather, it is based on the number of days the service member was deployed. For example, if the service member was deployed half the year, the exemption would be 50% of the home’s taxable value.

The State has provided an application for service members to file. The application is available on the Property Appraiser’s official website at www.hernandocounty.us/pa. or you may visit one of our offices at 20 N. Main St., Room 463, Brooksville, or 7525 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill.

Revised Watering Restrictions Update

The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners lifted the one day per week watering restrictions on May 10, 2011. As a result, the County began the watering restriction schedule set by the Southwest Florida Water Management District which is as follows:

• Addresses ending with an Even Number may water on Thursday and/or Sunday
• Addresses ending with an Odd Number may water on Wednesday and/or Saturday.
• Watering must be done before 10 a.m. OR after 4 p.m.

County Staff is working to remove/replace the watering restriction information that is not current on the County's website. The updates should be complete in the next couple of days. For all Hernando County Utilities customers--your next bill will have your watering day(s) listed and there will soon be a bill insert that will further detail these changes.

For additional information, call (352) 754-4749.

The Street Light on Forest Crest Court is out

Tonight I reported that the street light on Forest Crest Court was not working properly to WREC by computer. They should be out before this Friday to repair the street light. I keep trying to keep Preston Hollow Safe and Secure.

Become a member of the Preston Hollow Crime Watch

What is Neighborhood Watch?

Neighborhood Watch is simply "neighbor looking after neighbor." You watch out for your neighbors' homes while they are gone and they in return do the same for you. All suspicious activity is immediately reported to the Sheriff's Office.

Neighborhood Crime Watch is Free!

All too often, residents think it costs something to belong to the program. It doesn't cost a dime - just a little bit of your time. Any money collected from donations should be carefully accounted for and deposited in an account under the name of your Neighborhood Watch Program.

Neighborhood Watch Program

Neighborhood Watch Programs have become a highly successful crime prevention technique in the reduction of crime in many communities throughout the U.S. The major goal in the organization of the Neighborhood Watch is to change the ATTITUDES of the community members from apathy to concern and involvement. Next, invite the Sheriff's Office Community Coordinator to your first community meeting in order to establish leadership and guidance.

The first phase in the setup of your program will be to establish a communication system in order for community members to communicate with each other, as well as law enforcement. Remember law enforcement and the community will be working together more closely in order to maintain the success of the program.

The second phase is home security. Your Community Coordinator will assist you and the residents of your community with up to date information on "making your home safer."

The third phase is Operation Identification. Engravers are loaned to residents so they can mark their valuables. Window decals are also made available to provide a deterrent to potential burglars.

It is important to remember, Neighborhood Watch signs DO NOT prevent crime. Signs and decals act only as a notice to the potential criminal that "if you commit a crime in our neighborhood, the chances of being seen, reported and arrested are very good."

As your Community Coordinator how you can earn signs for your neighborhood.

Patrols

Patrolling the neighborhood in your personal vehicle is NOT a requirement to be recognized as a Neighborhood Watch area. Should your neighbors wish to start a patrol, then the Sheriff's Office Community Coordinator will discuss proper procedure and training in order to be officially recognized.

Neighborhood Watch is getting people involved in crime prevention, making the homes in your community less of a target and being good neighbors to one another.

Randy Haverstrom is Preston Hollow's Crime Watch Community Coordinator and can be contacted at 796-7016.

Local rules skirt ordinance for Florida-friendly grass

This was a good article about Florida Friendly landscaping ordinances that appeared in a guest column written by Charles Huhtanen in the St. Pete Times. In case you missed it here is a link for you to read this article.

Publix coupon policies to change May 23

Publix is about to tighten its rules on redeeming competitors' coupons at all of its stores. The move is part of the Lakeland-based supermarket chain's first company wide coupon policy, which it disclosed Wednesday and takes effect May 23. Publix, which said it is responding to customers who asked for more uniformity, still will have one of the more liberal policies for accepting manufacturers' printed and valid Internet coupons.

But it won't honor as many of its rivals' coupons as before. Click on this link to read the rest of the story.

Become a member of the Citizen Volunteer Corps for the Hernando County Sheriff's Office

In an effort to better serve the community and provide much needed resources to the Sheriff’s workforce, the Citizen Volunteer Corps began as a supplemental force to the existing services of the agency. With the creation of this program, the sheriff’s office is better able to make use of the volunteer services that have defined our agency through many different functions.

Click on this link here to see how you can volunteer for the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

Hernando County now allows lawns to be watered twice a week.

Hernando County has lifted the one day per week watering restriction for six (6) months and is now following the Southwest Florida Water Management District watering restriction schedule which as follows:

Lawn Water is limited to twice per week. Before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

• Even Addresses: May water on THURSDAY and/or SUNDAY

• Odd Addresses: May water on WEDNESDAY and/or SATURDAY


Locations without an address (such as common areas, rights-of-way) may water on Tuesday and/or Friday

Smoke Conditions

The State of Florida Division of Forestry has advised that the smoke some residents may have observed today in our area is coming from the Honey Prairie Fire in the Okefenokee Swamp in south Georgia. The brush fire has affected nearly 100,000 acres. This part of Florida is under a strong high pressure system, trapping the smoke and creating a thin to moderately dense layer of smoke over most of the state. Residents with asthma or respiratory conditions should stay indoors as much as possible.

For additional information or anyone needing more information about how to protect their homes from wildfires should contact the Division of Forestry at 352-754-6777

Preston Hollows' Annual Yard Sale Saturday May 14th, 2011

Preston Hollows' HOA annual yard sale will be held next Saturday May 14th from 9:00 AM till 2:00 PM. Everyone that would like to participate in this event is encouraged to do so. This event will be advertised in the paper. A sign was put up at the front entrance but might be in the County's right of way and may have to be moved. Good Luck to all that participate.

May is National Bike Month

With Spring in the air, Hernando County, the City of Brooksville, the Suncoast Trail Advisory Group and the Hernando Health Experience encourage everyone to participate in their own way. Since 1956, the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) has been celebrating Bike Month during the month of May.

Great article about Homeowners' Associations and Lawns

Preston Hollows' HOA has already addressed this issue by putting in Florida Friendly guidelines into their documents. But many HOA's still don't comply with the new laws. Here is a link to this article.

Public Hearing Scheduled for Sinkhole Ordinance

With the recent activity of sinkholes in our area people may be interested in this hearing.

The Hernando County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 10, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in the John Law Ayers Room, County Commission Chambers, Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main Street, Room 160, Hernando County, Brooksville, Florida, to consider an ordinance amending Chapter 8 of the Construction Code, Hernando County Code of Ordinances entitled “Sinkhole and Ground Settlement Claims, Investigation and Remediation Permits”.

The proposed ordinance may be inspected by the public at the Hernando County Development Department, 789 Providence Boulevard, Brooksville, Florida 34601, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, legal holidays excepted. For further information, please contact Jodi Singer, Operations Manager, at 352-754-4050, Extension 29103.

The public is invited to attend and be heard in regard to this proposed ordinance.

Hurricane & Safety Expo

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office will host a Hurricane & Safety Expo at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park on Saturday, May 7th. Gates open at 9 a.m. and the opening ceremony is at 10 a.m. Admission to the park will be free and half price for Buccaneer Bay.

Safety and hurricane preparedness vendors will be on hand to demonstrate their products and services. There will also be emergency vehicle displays, a 'Kids in Disaster Korner', mermaid shows, animal shows, games and face painting for kids, a free drawing to win a new generator and lots more!

Live entertainment by The Wiley Fox Band!

For general information about the Expo, call Emergency Management at (352) 754-4083 or visit hernandosheriff.org/em.