'Newspg5.indd' by The Newscaster

Fort Cooper State Park Plan to attend this year's Annual Bluegrass Festival, Sat.,

April 16th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (rain or shine) at Fort Cooper State Park, 3100 S.

Telephone Reassurance Program Offered for Isolated Seniors

Old Floral City Road, Inverness. Hosted by the Friends of Fort Cooper, this year's Festival

The Nature Coast Volunteer Center and the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program

features five Bluegrass music groups, as well as food and craft vendors. Bring your lawn

(RSVP) are offering the Telephone Reassurance Program to isolated or elderly individuals.

chairs (no alcohol or coolers are allowed) and listen to some toe-tapping music under

This program is to create a sense of security through regular phone contact with one of our

our old Florida oak trees, draped with Spanish moss. Fun for the entire family! Advance

trained volunteers. This program confirms safety and imparts care and concern at no cost

tickets are $7/adults, children under 12, free and can be purchased at the Fort Cooper of-

to you. The Telephone Reassurance program will have a trained volunteer call you once a

fice or at the gate the day of the event for $10/adults, children under 12, free. The Festival

week or daily, Monday through Friday. Calling times vary from 8:00 am 4:00 p.m. If you

is coordinated by Tin Roof Shack Productions. This year's featured Bluegrass bands are:

think you could benefit from this program, or you would like more information, please call

"Sassafras", "Dim Lights", "Backwater", "Kentucky Sleepy Hollow" and "Sonya Stratton

Citrus County Genealogical Society

The Citrus County Genealogical Society will meet April 12 at 10:00 a.m. at the

K of C Council 6168 Blood Drive Notice

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3474 W. Southern St., Lecanto. The topic will

The next blood drive for Our Lady Of Grace, K of C Council 6168 is scheduled

be "Family Tree Maker in 2016 and Beyond." Rick Mau will talk about the changes in

for Saturday, April 16, 2016, the third Saturdayin April, from 8 AM to 1 PM in Our Lady of

the genealogy software program, Family Tree Maker, after it has gone out of business and

Grace Parish Life Center at 6 Roosevelt Blvd., Beverly Hills.

has been taken over by another company. Also he will describe the problems involved in

Springtime is a time of new life, so please consider giving the gift of life to your

transferring information from Family Tree Maker to another software program. Guests are

community, your family, friends, and neighbors. Participating in this spring drive has the

welcome to attend. For information call Mary Ann Machonkin at 382-5515.

dual benefit of providing a great feeling for the donor and a priceless, irreplaceable gift to

those in need. Please join us at this drive.

Speak Up for Solar Energy

In addition to receiving a mini-physical evaluation, there will be a complimentary continen-

The League of Women of Citrus County is joining the efforts of Floridians for

tal breakfast and tokens of appreciation for all donors. If there are any questions call Life

Solar Choice in conducting a petition drive for an amendment to the Florida Constitution

that would limit or prevent government and electric utility imposed barriers to supplying

local solar energy.This would appear on the 2016 election ballot. For more info please call

Extension Services Offering Workshop for Seasonal Residents

352-382-0032 or visit lwvcitrus.org.

The University of Florida/IFAS Citrus County Extension Service is providing a

Homeless in Paradise April 12th

free program on tips on leaving your home for extended periods. This is a program that will

On very cold nights, as you bring in the pets and cover the tender plants, do you

prepare your home inside and out, prevent mold & mildew, organize important papers, and

ever wonder if there are people sleeping out in the cold? Unfortunately, there are , and right

keep your home safe from disasters.

here in Citrus County.On Tuesday April 12 th, Barbara Wheeler , Citrus County Director of

The next class "Closing Your Seasonal Home" will be held on Friday, April 8,





the Mid Florida Homeless Coalition , will speak at the LWVCC meeting 10:15 AM . This

2016 at 2:00 pm. Pre-registration is appreciated. This free program is held at the Extension

Hometown News for the Nature Coast

will be held at the new League meeting location at the Coastal Region Library, 8619 Crystal

Services Office in Lecanto. For more information, call Sarah at the University of Florida/

Advertising at Reasonable Rates for S Levy, NE Citrus & SW Marion Counties

St., Crystal River. Barbara is a dedicated ally to the homeless and needy in our county.

IFAS Citrus County Extension office in Lecanto at 352-527-5713.

5093 S. Orwell Pt., Homosassa, Florida 34446

The League has also invited the beloved and colorful Jo Le Count, also known

Brendan McLaughlin to Speak at Annual FDR/JFK Dinner

Phone: (352) 489-4588 Fax: (727) 362-4788

as" Mama Jo, Queen of the Hobos" .Mama Jo has lead a very interesting life, committing

Brendan McLaughlin will be the guest speaker at the Citrus County Democratic

Email, Tom Russell, Publisher: thenewscaster1@gmail.com

decades of service to the homeless. She became a trusted advocate and voice for this aban-

Executive Committee's (DEC) Annual FDR/JFK Dinner Saturday, April 16. McLaughlin

Email, Debbie Russell, Editor: debbienewscaster@gmail.com

doned culture, in an unmapped territory, resulting in a cache of uncommon knowledge and

enewscaster.com · newscasterarchives.com · history.newscasterarchives.com · thehealthcaster.com news for Tampa's ABC affiliate for twenty-one years. The FDR/JFK

anchored the evening

dinner will be from 6-10 p.m. at the Inverness Golf and Country Club, 3150 S. Country

Club Drive in Inverness. Tickets are $60 per person and can be purchased by contacting



the Citrus County DEC Finance and Fundraising Committee Chair Pat Hanley at 352-726-



3898 by April 2. Brendan McLaughlin started his journalism career in San Francisco,

California. After spending time in California, McLaughlin's career took him to Austin,

  

Texas and then to Seattle, Washington before arriving in Tampa Florida. Brendan's report-

ing has earned him many awards over the years including two Emmy Awards. Brendan

and his wife, Sandy, have two grown children, a big dog (who still lives at home) and are





active members of their Tampa Heights neighborhood. Citrus County Democrats believe in

effective and quality 

efficient government that prioritizes  education, affordable health care,

healthy inwhich works cansucceed.

a environment and an economy   anyone who  hard  



more informationCountyWilliams, 

For  on Citrus  Democratic activities, call Wendy  Citrus

County DEC Chair, at 352-209-8651.





Win A 3-Day, 4-Night July 4 Holiday For 5 On The Withlacooche River



Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club, including Tri-County Working Group of Suwan-

♦  



nee-St. Johns Sierra Club, launch their online fundraiser, "WIN YOUR JULY 4 HOLIDAY

WEEKEND (and much more!) HERE!" at http://ssjsierraclub.eventbrite.com. Ticket sales



      

have begun, with thousands of dollars in prizes donated by area merchants. "Our top prize



is a 3-day, 4-night July 4th weekend holiday in beautiful, fully furnished cabin on the





Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon," said Whitey Markle, SSJ Fundraising Chair. For more

information contact Whitey Markle, 352.595.5131 Whmarkle@Gmail.Com.

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        

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

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