Romantic Christmas Flowers Italy Gifts

 In the world as Christmas is one day that show the people how to care for their loved ones with beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree. For many couples, romantic Christmas gift exchange under the mistletoe is a tradition that makes the winter light. When it comes to romance, few countries have an incredible reputation as Italy.  Many couples buy Christmas romance of Italy Italy Simply add a christmas flowers italy blogs tree and often romantic.

Among wine lovers, Italyhas a reputation for producing some of the best wines of the world, comparable only with France, Napa Valley, and New Zealand. The old tradition of winemaking in Italy is taken very seriously, we expect only the best quality Italian wines found while browsing. A great way to enjoy a romantic dinner for Christmas is a bottle of Pinot Grigio to add to the card.On the other hand, is a bottle of wine, a romantic Christmas gift wrap is easy and can make a nice presentation for Christmas too.

Italian tradition of wine comes to food. People who really like to cook, you can always find a romantic cook book, or even a series of romantic kitchen to bring a light of joy in her eyes. Gift sets that include chocolate in Italy romantic gifts.Often inexpensive gifts this budget-friendly kitchen sure to add a delicious touch of Christmas usual.

Designers Dolce & Gabbana, and all hail, Moschino, Gucci and Italian fashionable cities Milanand Florence. A romantic gift for christmas flowers italy that received praise from all sides, buy a leather handbag or a designer clock is often just what the doctor ordered. If you are still out, and I want to give your girlfriend to remember a romantic gift for Christmas, a diamond ring for engagement to the jaw will drop your Italian.

Those who at Christmas parties or traditional Italian love dolciumi Carbon (carbon) to accept as a gift. These two gifts are gifts from a classic Italian was known as the "witch". If they were good, and dolciumi received as a gift. Coal, such as candy called Carbone (carbon), is given the disobedient children. With her lover, give them a small gift for a sassy but charming.

Another option is to buy jewelry from Murano glass jewelry fans a romantic gift for Christmas. Perfect for women who want a classic look, but avant-garde jewelry Murano has become a popular gift in Italy. Even better, is some parts can be quite affordable.

The Italians are known to have a great romantic gift for Christmas. Whether you want to buy jewelry, wines, cookbooks, or Pavarotti CD, you can be sure to buy send christmas flowers italy gifts romantic heart of Italy will make your lover melt.

A life in music: Antonio Pappano - Christmas Flowers Italy

This year's BBC christmas flowers italy treats for opera lovers will be prepared and hand-delivered by Antonio Pappano. On New Year's Day he will conduct a live radio broadcast from the Royal Opera House of Wagner's Meistersinger. But before then, on christmas flowers italy blogs Eve, he presents an hour long television introduction to Tosca, which will be followed by the recent Covent Garden production under his baton starring Angela Gheorghiu, Bryn Terfel and Jonas Kaufmann. Pappano, whose Opera Italia series aired last year, has rapidly become the television face of the art form and his introduction to Tosca sees him enthusiastically exploring the Roman sites utilised by Puccini as well as behind the scenes rehearsal footage.

"So there is plenty of Angela, Bryn and Jonas," Pappano explains. "And having those three together was quite something. They ensure the production is absolutely full of beans. But there does seem a need for a front man for opera and classical music at the moment, so I present the programme and do most of the yapping. To have the chance to get people excited about something you are excited about is a huge opportunity. We keep talking about opera as if everybody knows all about it. But not everybody does, so I think it is part of my job to tell them. Tosca might be a highly compelling story that almost anyone will instantly enjoy, but if you have just a little more historical background, a little more knowledge of what Puccini was trying to achieve, then you really do get so much more out of it."

Pappano, who comes from a southern Italian family and has been music director of the city's prestigious orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia since 2005, is an ideal choice to talk about a Rome-based opera. But he has an equally strong claim to be a local hero back at his Covent Garden base, where he will celebrate 10 years as music director early next year. He was brought up in 1960s London and even hazily remembers being taken to a Covent Garden Il Trovatore as a child. "It did make an impression in that the very dark staging of the gypsy fire scene has stayed with me. But it was a long time ago. A lot has happened in between."

The circuitous route he embarked upon before returning to Covent Garden to succeed Bernard Haitink as music director took in emigration to America, an education as a jobbing piano-player, and highly regarded behind the scenes work at some of the most prestigious opera houses in the world. But when he did return to London he was almost immediately reminded of his roots. Entering a backstage lift just after being appointed music director he vaguely recognised a stage hand. "We sort of looked at each other and then worked it out. We'd been to primary school together. He was now working in the flies. It was quite a reminder that essentially I was returning home."

Pappano says he can scarcely believe that he has now been in charge for 10 years. "I have to say it's been a wonderful journey, because there have been so many twists and turns. But we have managed to survive and even thrive and now we have an even stronger bond with the audience; we're a very tight-knit family within the house. The hope as a musician is always that you continue to develop and get better over time. That can only happen in an atmosphere of trust such as we have here."

Looking back over a decade of productions he, reluctantly, identifies some key works. He claims great affection for his first London opera, Ariadne auf Naxos, as well as citing a "not universally liked" Lulu, "that nevertheless was very important for us in terms of building teamwork", a "conventional" Marriage of Figaro that was "sort of perfect in its direction and bite", Richard Jones's controversial staging of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, a Wozzeck, Tristan and, this year, Mark-Anthony Turnage's Anna Nicole, which put drug abuse, boob jobs and octogenarian sex on the Covent Garden stage in recounting the rise and fall of the late playboy model. "There was an element of overcoming doubts and fears with Anna Nicole, but when we began work, it clearly meant everything to everybody. You should have seen the place during that period – everyone was on point and working very, very hard from the same page. But the thing about that list of productions, and many others I could have mentioned, is that they are all very different in style. And that has been a large part of the appeal for me – and, I hope, the audience."

Next week Pappano leads the company in a revival of their much-acclaimed Graham Vick-directed Meistersinger. "For a musician, there is no other piece that gives so much back. It is steeped in the history of German music and you have these two very different styles in a work that will always be somehow contemporary because it contains this conflict between new ideas and old traditions." In a way Meistersinger acts as an appetiser for next season's complete Ring cycle, directed by Jones, which Pappano will conduct for the second time. "It is wonderful to have the chance to bring it back. To develop it further and really work on it. Seeing it all together reveals the amazing logic and cohesion of the whole thing. And it is great to do a house piece in which everyone is involved. It is one of the most satisfying experiences and I'm delighted that we have several large-scale works coming up over the next few years." Pappano's current contract keeps him in London until 2014, but he has already scheduled work beyond then and talks enthusiastically about an upcoming Verdi's Sicilian Vespers, a new Parsifal and Berlioz's vast Trojans, which will form part of the the house's 2012 Olympic year celebrations. "People say it's a bit cheesy when I talk about working like a big family on some of these things. But it is true. And I know better than most what it's like to make music in a family."

Pappano was born in December 1959 in Essex. He and his younger brother were raised in Pimlico by his first-generation Italian immigrant parents, who had arrived in the UK in 1958. His parents worked at many jobs, most often in the restaurant world, but all were essentially in support of his father's ambition to be a singing teacher. "So our house was full of music," Pappano recalls. "Vocal exercises from tenors especially. And life was extremely busy. A little like my life is now, but then it was for survival and making ends meet. My parents are still my greatest inspiration. They left Italy with 10 quid in their pocket and they bettered their lives. The ingenuity and grit they displayed was astonishing. Their partnership was very tumultuous, the amount of stress in their lives was huge, but it was also very strong. And the indefatigable work ethic I am blessed with comes straight from them."

It was clear from the beginning that Pappano was a talented musician – "But I wasn't Mozart. I also liked football and things like that" – and he soon began to play for his father's voice students. "But it wasn't until we went to America that I made a big leap." The family moved to Connecticut when Pappano was 13. He continued to work with his father and got a new teacher himself, Norma Verrilli, whose own father had come from Pappano's parents' village in Italy. "She exposed this kid to all this new stuff; Bach, a lot of Mozart, Chopin, Brahms, and also a lot of early music, Monteverdi and so on. She also loved the great American songbook, so my head was whirling with all this music, and meanwhile I was getting jobs playing for a church choir, for my father's lessons, accompanying recitals, occasionally doing my own concerts as well as a bit of cocktail piano in a bar. In America I had a renaissance existence. There was a lot of running around, but it did give me great practical experience and a tremendously eclectic taste."

Despite his obvious facility, Pappano did not attend music school. "My father and I were very locked into this family teaching business. So whether it was guilt, or whether it was fear, leaving home wasn't right for me at that time." But he did take private lessons and studied composition. He acquired a taste for the theatre when an opera company was formed in Connecticut and he started to work for them as a rehearsal pianist and then choral master. And it was as a rehearsal pianist that he developed his professional career, first at the New York City Opera and then working at the Liceu in Barcelona, in Frankfurt and with the Chicago Lyric Opera. Then, after an audition with Daniel Barenboim, at age 26 Pappano moved to Bayreuth.

"Barenboim was a very intimidating presence. His fame, the sheer force of his intellect and musicianship. It was like being hit by a truck. Can you imagine playing piano for him? But it was a hugely important point of my development as I got an opportunity to observe him at work. When you are eventually offered six weeks of rehearsal you'd better know what to do with them. That's where I learnt how to develop a sense of inner timing to bring people and a production to a peak for the performances. And it was fascinating to be involved in something like putting on a Ring. You learn about scale and structure, and the whole psychological aspect of theatre. You also see the obstacles of dealing with such a huge masterpiece. For any re-creative artist, it is the greatest thrill to actually hold and shape and come to terms with masterpieces. But it's not all peachy. They can be full of conflict and challenge and people underestimate the struggles involved. It is possible to get things seriously wrong."

In the mid 80s Pappano moved on to Copenhagen to work with the Den Norske Opera, which was where he con ducted his first opera, La Bohème, in 1987. He says he had no strong desire to conduct as a career: "God forbid. I didn't think I would have the authority. But I did always have very strong ideas about how the music should go. Other people saw that and I was given opportunities here and there to conduct." While he had taken some lessons, when he first stood in front of an orchestra he did "all the traditional things a young conductor does: I talked too much and my arms didn't exactly do what I thought they were doing. But I had always been very vocal and interfering, and having that time in rehearsal and then performance, working with singers and players and having my say about the staging, I sort of realised this was where I belonged."

Pappano was appointed music director of the company in 1990, aged 30. The first benefit of his elevation was that it gave him a much wider choice of work. "So I didn't do only the Italian repertoire, which is always the danger when you have a name like mine. But while there was more freedom, there were also new responsibilities, for the development and continued growth of the orchestra. You have to work on intonation, you have to work on cohesion. It is now your orchestra. And the public has to see you as the face of the organisation. Audiences pay serious money, and we need to give something very special in return. We need to give of our hearts and souls and all our energy, enthusiasm and conviction. We have to convince them that it is worth the money."

He says it is a philosophy that has guided him ever since. In 1992 he was headhunted by La Monnaie, the Brussels opera house, where he began to build an international reputation. When he arrived at Covent Garden, by then married to Pamela Bullock, a repetiteur, he was one of the brightest stars on the world scene. "I did hit the ground running in that London knew I was coming two years previously. But you still have to pay your dues as the music director, you have to jump through a lot of hoops with the orchestra for them to feel that they know you, and you know them. It took several years to build confidence, but then something else kicks in, this sense of inevitability which is a wonderful thing and such a privilege to get when you have been long enough with one orchestra."

Observing Pappano last year on the Royal Opera House's tour of Japan – doling out champagne to crew members at an aftershow reception, cajoling people to pose for his personal holiday snaps – it is obvious that Tony, as he is universally known, is genuinely loved and admired by his colleagues. "I do have my moments," he confesses, "and I am aware that for some people it is possible to work well through conflict and struggle. But combativeness is not my style. And in a long process such as putting on an opera, that can sometimes take a couple of months from first rehearsal to closing night, I just don't want to live with additional stress for all that time."

He says Covent Garden falls somewhere between the ultra-traditional Met in New York and the determinedly avant-garde atmosphere of some European houses. "The London public love to hear beautiful voices and musical singing. And they are accustomed to seeing stars, but the stars don't just come here and do their turns. They have to be hooked in to what the whole evening is about. They work hard when they come here and sometimes you can see them at their very best because everything is lined up for a great production, not just a great performance. The only thing that matters is being true to live theatre. I want things to be absolutely convincing from first to last. It is not just an orchestra playing and singers singing. The whole thing must come together and the orchestra has certainly picked up on that. What do the notes mean? What are they supporting? What are they provoking?"

In Brussels Pappano oversaw a small symphonic programme alongside the operas and since he arrived in London has periodically taken opportunities to bring the Royal Opera orchestra out from the pit. "It's always a fantastic bonus to get a company orchestra on the stage every now and then." He says his work with the Santa Cecilia orchestra has provided him with the same benefits – as well as a clutch of recent awards for their recordings of Mahler, Rossini, Verdi and Puccini. "When I took the job I didn't quite realise what it would mean to me personally. Solely concentrating on the music, not working with voices, is something that I desperately needed to go forward in my own development. And my ear has changed and my insight has changed. So London and Rome are feeding into each other fantastically. And with my background the blending of the two cultures seems to suit me, and sort of define me, as well."

But whether in Rome or London, Pappano now finds himself confronted by political and financial anxieties around arts funding. "Let's not kid ourselves. The situation is precarious. In Italy there is a quite a push behind Rome at the moment, Roma Capitale, and as our orchestra is something Italy and its capital can be proud of there is some sense of us being on a firm footing. But everywhere there are difficulties." He says having worked to find additional private money to make up for state cuts, those potential private sponsors now find themselves under pressure. "So what you think is promised might not necessarily come your way. Things are quite a jumble at the moment and so we all have to work that bit harder to keep the programming intact. And we are being tested to the limit. That said, I have been very lucky. It has been a difficult period for recording, but I've never made so many records and DVDs. And now the TV thing has kicked in as a wonderful surprise. And it does show a certain vitality in the classical music world.

"We need to take advantage of that and become more tenacious in asserting the importance of this kind of music. Not to the exclusion of other music, but to tell people what a wonderful heritage they, and it, has. Things are going to be a lot tougher financially over coming years, but in an organisation that is well run, and Covent Garden is very well run, even when times are tough, we will find ways of doing what needs to be done."

Little Chicago review - Christmas Flowers Italy

As the holidays approach, I like to look into the history of our traditions and customs. I got to thinking about the christmas flowers italy tree as I had put mine up early this week. My granddaughters were anxious for it to be up, so Nona gave in and we put it up Saturday. Looks nice.

History of the

Christmas Tree -

where did it originate?

The history of the Christmas tree comes as a shock to many. This famous symbolism of Christmas is displayed in homes in the United States, Europe, and in many countries around the world.

There is no evidence that the modern custom of a Christmas tree originated in paganism. The Romans did decorate their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts.

Late in the Middle Ages, the Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees in their homes or outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. The modern-day Christmas tree evolved from these early German traditions.

The history of the Christmas tree in the United States dates back to the time of George Washington and his defeat of the German Hessians in the year 1776.

The war was during the Christmas season, which for the Germans was a time for food, songs, and decorated trees. In their celebration of the season, they paid little attention to their military duties and the German Hessians became easy prey for General Washington. His troops were able to sneak in and defeat the Hessians who were ill-prepared for the onslaught.

The picture of Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas Eve depicts the great victory for his troops.

After the war in 1776, many Germans stayed in the United States, introduced the Christmas tree to the newly formed United States

Why do we have a decorated Christmas Tree? In the 7th century a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, went to Germany to teach the Word of God.

Legend has it that he used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The converted people began to revere the Fir tree as God's Tree, as they had previously revered the Oak.

By the 12th century it was being hung, upside-down, from ceilings at Christmastime in Central Europe, as a symbol of Christianity.

The first decorated tree was at Riga in Latvia, in 1510. In the early 16th century, Martin Luther is said to have decorated a small Christmas Tree with candles, to show his children how the stars twinkled through the dark night.

In the mid 16th century, Christmas markets were set up in German towns, to provide everything from Christmas presents, food and more practical things such as a knife grinding to sharpening the knife to carve the Christmas Goose!

The first record there is of the Christmas tree is that of a visitor to Strasbourg in 1601. He records a tree decorated with "wafers and golden sugar-twists (Barleysugar) and paper flowers of all colors". The early trees were biblically symbolic of the Paradise Tree in the Garden of Eden. The many food items were symbols of plenty, the flowers, originally only red (for knowledge) and white (for innocence).

Tinsel was invented in Germany around 1610. At that time real silver was used, and machines were invented which pulled the silver out into the wafer thin strips for tinsel. Silver was durable, but tarnished quickly, especially with candlelight. Silver was used for tinsel right up to the mid-20th century.

The Christmas Tree first came to England with the Georgian kings who came from Germany. The British public was not fond of the German monarchy, so they did not copy the fashions at Court, which is why the Christmas Tree did not establish in Britain at that time.

The decorations were tinsels, silver wire ornaments, candles and small beads. All these had been manufactured in Germany and East Europe since the 17th century. The custom was to have several small trees on tables, one for each member of the family, with that person’s gifts stacked on the table under the tree.

In 1846, the popular Royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were pictured in the Illustrated London News. They were standing with their children around a Christmas Tree. Unlike the previous Royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at Court immediately became fashionable - not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The English Christmas Tree had arrived!

In 1850's Lauscha began to produce fancy shaped glass bead garlands for the trees, and short garlands made from necklace 'bugles' and beads. These were readily available in Germany but not produced in sufficient quantities to export to Britain.

The 1860's English Tree had become more innovative than the delicate trees of earlier decades. Small toys were popularly hung on the branches, but still most gifts were placed on the table under the tree.

Around this time, the Christmas tree was spreading into other parts of Europe. The Mediterranean countries were not too interested in the tree, preferring to display only a Creche scene. Italy had a wooden triangle platform tree called as 'CEPPO'. This had a Creche scene as well as decorations.

By the 1870's, Glass ornaments were being imported into Britain from Lauscha, in Thuringia. It became a status symbol to have glass ornaments on the tree, the more one had, the better one’s status! Still many home-made things were seen. The empire was growing, and the popular tree topper was the Nation's Flag. Sometimes there were flags of the Empire and flags of the allied countries. Trees got very patriotic.

They were imported into America around 1880, where they were sold through stores such as FW Woolworth. They were quickly followed by American patents for electric lights (1882), and metal hooks for safer hanging of decorations onto the trees (1892)

The 1880's saw a rise of the Aesthetic Movement. At this time Christmas Trees became a glorious hodgepodge of everything one could cram on or by complete contrast the aesthetic trees which were delicately balanced trees, with delicate colors, shapes and style. The limited availability of decorations in earlier decades had kept trees by necessity to, usually table trees.

Now with decorations as well as crafts more popular than ever, there was no excuse. Still a status symbol, the larger the tree - the more affluent the family which sported it.

The High Victorian of the 1890's was a child's joy to behold . . . as tall as the room, and crammed with glitter and tinsel and toys galore. Even the 'middle classes' managed to over-decorate their trees. It was a case of 'anything goes'. Everything that could possibly go on a tree went onto it.

In America, Christmas trees were introduced into several areas - the German Hessian soldiers took their tree customs in the 18th century. In Texas, cattle barons from Britain took their customs in the 19th century, and the East Coast Society copied the English Court tree customs.

Settlers from all over Europe took their customs also in the 19th century. Decorations were not easy to find in the old West, and people began to make their own decorations. Tin was pierced to create lights and lanterns to hold candles which could shine through the holes. Decorations of all kinds were cutout, stitched and glued. The general stores were hunting grounds for old magazines with pictures, rolls of cotton batting and tinsel, which was occasionally sent from Germany or brought in from the Eastern States. The Paper 'Putz' or Christmas Crib was a popular feature under the tree, especially in the Moravian Dutch communities which settled in Pennsylvania.

After 1918, because of licensing and export problems, Germany was not able to export its decorations easily. The market was quickly taken up by Japan and America, especially in Christmas tree lights.

In the 1930's there was a revival of Dickensian nostalgia, particularly in Britain. Christmas cards all sported ladies with muffs and bonnets popular in the 1840's.

Christmas trees became large, and real again, and were decorated with many bells, balls and tinsels, and with a beautiful golden haired angel at the top.

The mid-1960s saw another change. A new world was on the horizon, and modernist ideas were everywhere. Silver aluminum trees (I remember these trees - my Grandma had one) were imported from America. The 'Silver Pine' tree, patented in the 1950's, was designed to have a revolving light source under it, with colored gelatin 'windows, which allowed the light to shine in different shades as it revolved under the tree. No decorations were needed for this tree.

America made a return to Victorian nostalgia in the 1970's, and it was a good decade later that Britain followed the fashion. By the at first this was a refreshing look, and manufacturers realizing the potential created more and more fantastic decorations.

Real Christmas trees were popular, but many housewives preferred the convenience of the authentic looking artificial trees which were being manufactured. The late 1990s tree has taken the Victorian idea, but with new themes and designs.

Read more: Little Chicago Review - Oh christmas flowers italy blogs .

EURO GOVT-Spanish bonds extend post-auction rally - Christmas Flowers Italy

LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Spanish and Italian government bonds rallied on Friday one day after a strong Spanish auction helped sentiment for peripherals even as the threat of a downgrade from Standard & Poor's hung over euro zone sovereign debt.

S&P last week warned it could carry out a mass downgrade if the European Union summit disappointed. Given that the outcome has been insufficient to restore market confidence, most analysts are expecting an imminent move.

Fitch Ratings also downgraded a series of banks in Europe and in the United States late on Thursday.

Ahead of the European Central Bank's ultra-long 3-year financing operation next week, however, traders said peripheral bonds could find some support and price swings could be exacerbated by thin liquidity one week before christmas flowers italy .

"The Spanish auction yesterday was very strong, part of the explanation for that being that the paper was eligible to use at the ECB (European Central Bank) as collateral," one trader said.

"There's this talk about the 3-year LTRO, it's kind of like a QE (quantitative easing) backdoor, they can use the money to buy periphery. It's like a no-brainer, you take the money at 1 percent and you buy Spain at 6-7 percent. That keeps supporting the periphery."

Spanish 10-year government bonds jumped, with yields slumping 20 basis points to 5.24 percent, extending the previous day's decline after Spain surprised markets by selling far more than the amount targeted in its last bond sale of the year, though its borrowing costs remained high. Two-year Spanish yields shed 19 basis points to 3.62 percent.

Italian 10-year government bonds rose, pushing yields 15 basis points lower to 6.85 percent, and two-year yields were down 34 basis points at 5.41 percent.

Italy faces a vote of confidence on its austerity package, but with Mario Monti's government enjoying an overwhelming majority in both houses of parliament, the vote should easily pass in the Chamber of Deputies this afternoon before it moves to the Senate.

DOWNGRADE THREAT

The rise in Italian and Spanish bonds came despite the threat of a downgrade of Standard & Poor's, which last week warned it could cut the ratings of a series of euro zone sovereigns, including Germany and France.

Fitch Ratings, the third-biggest of the major credit rating agencies, on Thursday downgraded a series of large banks including Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs.

"I wouldn't be at all surprised seeing (sovereign) ratings getting adjusted to the downside," David Schnautz, strategist at Commerzbank said.

But analysts say a rating cut of German debt would unlikely have a long-term impact on Bunds, pointing to the United States which still enjoys safe-haven flows despite a downgrade to its ratings earlier in the year.

"As soon as we see a level shift for the triple-A's, that probably would not mean much for Bunds at all," he said. "The benchmark status for Bunds is without any question in the euro space."

The German Bund future was up 16 ticks on the day at 137.79 christmas flowers italy blogs .

"We are in 'buy the dip' mode right now and we suggested 137.33 as the level to attempt this yesterday," FuturesTechs said in a research note. "Nothing (has) changed and we (would) still be looking to play this to the long side, aiming for a retest of 139.58."

Italian financial markets jittery as unions strike against government’s austerity reforms - Christmas Flowers Italy

ROME — Italian financial market jitters worsened on Monday, as workers angry about government austerity reforms went on strike and held nationwide rallies while investors turned skeptical about an EU pact to save the euro.

Some Fiat’s auto plants were idled and a performance at La Scala opera house in Milan was canceled as unions kicked off the first of days of walkouts and demonstrations against the spending cuts and tax increases the government is seeking to restore investor confidence in the country’s financial future.

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( Fabio Ferrari, Lapresse / Associated Press ) - Metalworkers march through downtown Turin, Italy, Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. Union leaders in Italy are calling on workers to stage a three-hour strike to protest austerity measures that Premier Mario Monti hopes will save the country from financial ruin. The union leaders say the measures hit too hard at pensioners and workers and not hard enough at the wealthy

That confidence was eroding on Monday, with Milan’s stock index closing down 3.79 percent and the benchmark 10-year bond yield rising 0.52 of a percentage point to 6.76 percent.

Italy did manage to raise €7 billion ($9.4 billion) in a bond auction, though the relatively strong demand was boosted by a bank association promotion waiving fees to buy the bonds.

Investors remain worried about the future of both Italy and the wider 17-nation eurozone despite an EU deal last week to tighten controls on spending. While that deal will boost longer-term budget discipline, it does little to lower current debt and exposed deepening political division.

Britain’s decision not to sign on to the deal agreed in principle by the other 26 EU members also laid bare political rifts. It could prove costly to the other members because of Britain’s insistence that certain EU institutions cannot be used to enforce their new budget rules, Unicredit analyst Erik Nielsen said.

The Italian government’s efforts aimed at stabilizing Italy’s finances to boost growth and lower debt, which stands at 120 percent of GDP, were coming under fire from unions.

Workers joined rallies and a nationwide strike in several labor sectors to protest pension reforms. It was the first in a series of walkouts called over the emergency austerity measures which Premier Mario Monti insists are vital to avert financial disaster.

Metalworkers, including on assembly lines at Fiat’s auto factories, were staging an eight-hour strike, while others walked off the job three hours before the end of the shift.

Also on strike were workers at La Scala, the Milan opera house that was forced to cancel a concert, and typographers at Italian newspapers and web sites.

Public transport union leaders called walkouts for Thursday and Friday. Other public sector employees were set to walk off the job on Dec. 19, while bank workers have a strike called for Friday.

The union leaders say the government’s austerity measures hit too hard at pensioners and workers and not hard enough at the wealthy. A rally was held outside Parliament, which is expected to pass the measures by christmas flowers italy .

“Fairness, fairness,” shouted workers marching in Florence christmas flowers italy blogs .

In Genoa, hundreds of workers, joined by students protesting school budget cuts, were marching toward a rally site. Fiat workers joined hundreds of other blue-collar workers, students and youths in a march in Turin, hometown to the automaker, which is the country’s largest private sector employer.

Special Food Gifts Don't Have To Cost A Fortune - Christmas Flowers Italy

Still pondering distinctive gifts for that special person -- or is it special gifts for that distinctive person? Either way, these options will not break the bank:

Pittsburgh's own Penn Brewery offers the award-winning 2011 St. Nicholas Bock Brewer's Reserve (available in 25-ounce bottles in felt gift bags at local bottle shops for around $12). As a traditional German doppelbock lager, prodigious malty aromas and rich, sweet malty flavors balance with just the right touch of hops. Pair with sauerbraten. Highly recommended.

Fine chocolate and fortified, gently oxidized wines make superb gifts. Start with acclaimed French pastry chef Francois Payard's fabulous Grand Cru Chocolate Truffles ($22 for nine pieces at www.payard.com). Dusted with dark cocoa powder, these rich, smooth chocolates have a hint of saltiness from fleur de sel to balance the tantalizing sweetness. Pair with:

N.V. Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Tawny Porto, Portugal (4865; on sale: $24.99): Like most fine fortified wines, this tasty bottle's mild sweetness and rich, round flavors come from residual, natural grape sugars. The addition of spirit alcohol -- grape brandy, in this case -- before the completion of fermentation also accounts for the wine's potent 20-percent alcohol by volume.

As a tawny port, the wine aged in barrel for 10 years before bottling. The ruddy color offers wonderful nutty and raisin aromas and flavors through the honeyed finish. A delicious acidity streak creates refreshing balance. Highly recommended.

N.V. Warre's Otima 20 Year Tawny Porto, Portugal (Luxury 10381; $39.99 for 500 milliliters): Founded as the first British Port house in 1670, Warre's today falls under the Symington Family which continues the tradition of excellence with unstinting attention to detail. After aging 20 years in barrel, this lovely tawny delivers even more complex nutty, honeyed character with intriguing touches of orange rinds and spices. The ultra smooth texture and refreshing acidity create lovely balance. Recommended.

1995 Domaine Cazes Rivesaltes Tuilé, France (Special Liquor Order 62807; $42.09 -- order at 800-322-7522): Fortified sweet wines -- known as vin doux naturel in French -- actually started when Arnaud de Villeneuve perfected the process at the University of Montpellier in the 13th century. Fortification preserved the wines for easier shipping over long distances christmas flowers italy blogs .

Today, France's southern Roussillon region around the Catalan city of Perpignan accounts for over 80 percent of the country's tasty vin doux naturel. The Muscat de Rivesaltes appellation uses aromatic, fruity Muscat grapes, whereas Rivesaltes Ambré relies primarily on white-skinned grenache blanc. The Banyuls, Maury and Rivesaltes Tuilé appellations use mainly dark-skinned grenache noir.

This delicious Rivesaltes Tuilé comes from vines toiling in the arid foothills of the Corbières Mountains in northern Roussillon. Clay and limestone terroir covered with smooth pebbles helps the grapes retain vital acidity and mineral traits for freshness. Aging in oak casks created the ruddy color delivering nutty, caramel aromas and refreshing, fruity flavors though an elegant, nutty finish that lingers seductively. The wine carries relatively modest 16.5 percent alcohol. Highly recommended.

For a distinctive Italian-themed gift, put together this basket of goodies:

Start with Eugenio Ranchino's delicious, ultra-fresh, cold pressed olive oil, 2011 Canale 53 (available exclusively from Buon Sapore at SouthSide Works for $35 per 500 milliliters). "The olives were still on the trees in Umbria in the fall," says Buon Sapore owner Carlo Dozzi. The traditional olive varieties grow without pesticides on infertile volcanic soils.

After hand picking, Ranchino gently presses the crop without chemicals to enhance yields. The deep golden, green color unfolds subtle herbal and captivating, delicious fruity flavors. A zesty, peppery finish adds a bold touch.

To balance the savory olive oil, add the sweet, refined flavors of Villa Manodori Aceto Balsamico (available from Sur La Table also at Southside Works; 8.5 ounces for $44.95). This condimento-style balsamic vinegar delivers a glimpse of the glorious wonders of Modena's Aceto Tradizionale at a fraction of the cost. Its viscous consistency offers fruity flavors with lovely caramel notes and a refreshing finish.

Delallo's in Jeannette also offers a ready made, tempting Italian christmas flowers italy Basket ($59 at www.delallo.com). It includes a tasty chunk of aged Asiago cheese, thinly sliced prosciutto, garlicky pitted green olives, a pound of pasta and anchovies ready for making a sauce. For the sweet tooth, it also offers Italian sweet bread, Panettone, and a sampling of traditional Torrone almond candies.

Finally add a tasty Italian white wine. Try 2009 Arnaldo-Caprai, Grecante, Grechetto dei Colli Martani, Italy (Luxury 18902; $19.49) or 2009 Regaleali Bianco, Sicily (Luxury 18118; $13.99), two fruity, yet crisp, well-balanced wines. Highly recommended.

Activist Beaten Protesting Blackface Christmas Tradition - Christmas Flowers Italy

An activist was beaten and arrested at a Dutch christmas flowers italy celebration after attempting to call attention to the racist depiction of Zwarte Piet, a beloved Santa’s-helper folk character in the Netherlands.

SEE ALSO: Ed Lover to NFL Players: Chill With The Celebrating! christmas flowers italy blogs

For the last few years, activists have worked to reform or change Zwarte Piet. In 2007, Piet’s face was depicted as multicolored instead of black.

“I am afraid to say — and I know this will not go down well with many Dutch white people — that Black Pete is tainted beyond redemption,” Flavia Dzodan, a South American-born, Amsterdam-based activist said. “There is no redeemable quality in this character in its current incarnation. There is no going around the racist nature of a character that acts as a de facto slave for a white saint, who is portrayed as clumsy and mischievous, who is used as an instrument to instill fear in children who misbehave.”

Closed for business - eight Victor merchants shut their doors - Christmas Flowers Italy

For some local retailers, the sweet sound of “ka-ching” is the only christmas flowers italy present they’re hoping for this season. They know that with the holidays come shoppers — many armed with long lists, expensive tastes and gold cards. And for one glorious month, business might be good — it might be very good.

But as some merchants work to leverage the season, at least eight Victor mainstays are closing their doors and turning out the lights for good. Another four have changed hands and are moving ahead under new management.

Why? Was it the result of poor business decisions? A less than ideal location? The sagging economy? Big box store competition? Or was it simply the role of the dice? There may be no one-size-fits-all answer.

A stable business

One Victor closing in particular was a real stunner to its patrons — after 12 years of thriving business and heavy community investment, Trailblazers Bike Shop rang up its last sale in late October.

“It’s just been a whirlwind,” said owner Victor Gaspar. “Basically it has been about six weeks in the works. It’s a very complicated thing when you decide to do something like this.”

But he has no doubts about why it happened.

“Small business is just getting pinched out in America,” said Gaspar. “The small guy — it’s very  hard in the economic conditions that we are in. Look who’s surviving now — it’s your big guys. Walmart’s never, ever going out of business. K-Mart will always be in business. All those guys are taking a little bit away everyday from the small guy.”

A veteran owner

Nancy Noonan has a lavish display of antiques, collectibles and holiday decorations in the windows of Gatherings, her Main Street store. But on Jan. 13 when she closes up shop for good, they’ll be empty.

“We’ve struggled for two and a half years,” said Noonan. “Business was going like gangbusters at first, but from last christmas flowers italy blogs  until now it’s been terrible. The writing is on the wall. People aren’t supporting the little stores. They’re going to the malls and big box stores.”

Noonan is no rookie to retail, either — Gatherings is her second business. The first was Liberty Cottage which was open in Penfield, Honeoye Falls and Canandaigua for a total of about seven years. At Gatherings, she and her husband have done a lot of advertising. They even gave out over 300 coupons offering 15 percent off, but shoppers just aren’t biting.

“You can have wonderful stuff in your stores but if they’re not going to buy it, you can’t keep the store open,” said Noonan. “You can’t survive. And if you don’t make the money, you can’t pay your bills. I’ve got lots of people coming in but they are not spending money. They’re holding onto that dollar. At our house we’re doing the same thing — trying to cut back (and save on expenses). What are you going to do? It is what it is.”

Normal churn?

“I think some of the attrition — and addition — that we are seeing is normal churn in a market of this size,” said Mitch Donovan, president of the Victor Chamber of Commerce.

“While I’m disappointed that some of these businesses didn’t survive, I’m not alarmed,” he said. “I’m pleased to see that many of them have been replaced by other businesses, and I believe that Victor will continue to attract new businesses. I don’t expect any vacancies to stay vacant for long.”

Donovan spoke highly of several local treasures, such as the Chit Chat Cafe and Victor Coal and Lumber. He applauded the unequaled personal service that small business owners like these can offer — and Trailblazers was no exception.

“Every time you took your bike there, he knew your name and knew the size of your bike seat.”

Still, it wasn’t enough to bring in the sales and keep the doors open.

Advice to new business owners

“Retail is just a grind of a business,” said Donovan. “It’s very difficult for any small retailer to survive. You’re got to be willing to live through a period of time with little or no income.”

According to Donovan, a rock solid marketing plan,  business plan, and financial backing are critical. With those pieces in place, the small business survival rate goes up dramatically.

“And if you’re not willing to work evenings and weekends,  your chances of success dim considerably,” he added. “If you’re after the dual income/no kid demographic, you’ve got to be open when they want to shop.”

Collaboration

Donovan also underlined the importance of businesses working together to “cross promote and market” themselves, citing the value of organizations like the Chamber of Commerce and SCORE: Rochester.

“Utilizing every resource that’s available to a business person these days takes time,” said Donovan, “but it pays off in the long run.

Reinvention

Tim Maher, president of the Victor Downtown Merchants Association and owner of Apparel Printers Plus said longevity has a lot to do with the ability to adapt and change. Something he learned the hard way.

“In 2008 we were going gangbusters,” Maher said of his own business. “In 2009 we almost closed our doors. (At that time) my whole business was focused on large orders only. In 2010 we made some investments, expanded our business market and expanded our business model. We changed our pricing, equipment, locations, and now we do a quantity of one to where ever you want to go.”

Best practice, according to Maher, is to become diverse enough that if one market closes, another one opens up.

“The secret to a business is you have to make yourself recession-proof,” said Maher. “Some are able to do that and some aren’t, depending on what their product is and what they’re selling. Nobody ever opens a business with the idea that they are going to fail. You have constantly be looking at your business.”

Maher said he watches three to four webinars a week to stay on the leading edge of his business. But in the end, there are no magic solutions.

“What do you do? You get up in the morning. You put your best foot forward and look for ways to put yourself out in front of the competition,” he said.

Now what?

With Trailblazers newly closed, what’s next on the horizon for Victor Gaspar?

“I’m going to relax and probably sleep for two days,” he said. “Then I’m going to go out and try to get a job that’s not retail, because that’s all I’ve done since I was 16. I’ve never had a Saturday or a Sunday off in my life, unless I actually took a vacation day.

“I’ll be riding (my bike) a lot more,” he said, “so I’m happy about that. But first thing I have to do is, I do have to find work. I do need to work.”

Sage advice

Owners and employees of the former Historic Dryer House Emporium, Gatherings, Taste of Italy, Leo’s Pizza, Naked Pizza, Cafe 54 and Merle Norman cosmetics are facing changes as well.

And for now, the buildings that used to house their businesses await new entrepreneurs with a dream and enough financial backing to launch them forward.

In the mean time, a new game store has opened up next to the old Trailblazers and Historic Dryer House Emporium sites.

Gaspar’s advice to the Game Gamut’s young owner was clear and straightforward.

“Monitor (everything) and be really, really discriminating,” he said. “Don’t go too crazy. Grow, but also prepare for the worst. The good thing is, right now I think we are in the worst, so it’s only going to get better.”

Copyright 2011 MPNnow. Some rights reserved

Hometown Happenings 1209 - Christmas Flowers Italy

Brooksville Woman's Club will sponsor its 12th annual Historic Tour of Homes in downtown Brooksville Dec. 11. The tour will begin at the city parking lot on South Main Street, off Broad Street; and tours will be conducted at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Three homes will be shown, and hot apple cider and cookies will be served at the Woman's Club clubhouse. Ticket donation is $12 per person, and the public is welcome. For tickets or information, call Yvonne at (352) 796-6026.

AAA Auto Club South will offer free photos with Santa and a goody bag from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 16 at its office at 1410 Pinehurst Drive, in the Hernando West Plaza, intersection of Spring Hill Drive and U.S. 19, Spring Hill. The public is welcome. For information, call Allison Haygood, event coordinator, at (352) 683-3446, ext. 2236.

Jesus and Me Ministries (J.A.M.) will hold its "Gift of Love" christmas flowers italy Party from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Jerome Brown Community Center, 99 Jerome Brown Place, off Darby Lane, adjacent Tom Varn Park, Brooksville. To participate in the event, the deadline is Dec. 13 for parents to call (352) 345-7285 with the information for their child or children such as name, age, gender, and one gift each child wants for christmas flowers italy blogs .

To provide the party for 100-plus children of the community with a gift, food, music, Santa and more, the ministry is in need of gifts, wrapping paper, toys, clothing, bicycles, books, movie tickets, gift cards from Walmart and Game Stop – any gift that can be given to a boy or girl from newborn to age 17. "Gift of Love" donations can be dropped off at 419 Howell Ave., across from First Baptist Church, or at the community center; and the deadline is noon Dec. 22. The gifts will be wrapped from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day. The gift giver, the children and their family are invited to attend the event. If interested in donating a "Gift of Love," call the ministry at (352) 345-7285 on Dec. 14 to be matched with a child or family.

Monster Transmission is conducting a month-long promotion to help raise funds for Joseph's House in Brooksville. For every transmission that is sold within the state of Florida during December, Monster Transmission will donate $100 directly to the $10,000 renovation grant that Joseph's House is currently working toward completing. Their goal is to reach $10,000 by the deadline for the grant of Jan. 1, 2012. The grant will help with major renovations of Joseph's House, which deploys mobile units that provide hot meals, clothing, food and referrals to the needy in Brooksville. For information, call (800) 708-0087 or email nancy@monstertrans.com

The City of Brooksville Parks, Facilities and Recreation Department will conduct a Christmas Holiday Supplies Giveaway Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Jerome Brown Community Center, 99 Jerome Brown Place, off Darby Lane, adjacent Tom Varn Park, Brooksville. Since a local Walmart donated numerous supplies, in-need families will receive such items as tree stands, greeting cards, bows, wrapping paper and much more this holiday season. There will be a five-item limit for each family, and it is requested that only those in need take advantage of the giveaway. For information, call the recreation department at (352) 540-3835.

VFW Post 9236 Ladies Auxiliary will sponsor a bake sale and gift-wrapping session from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 17 at the post at 3435 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach. Games and entertainment for children will be featured. For information, call the post at (352) 596-9236.

High Point Community Christmas dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Dec. 17 at its clubhouse, 12249 Clubhouse Road, Brooksville. Music will be provided by Kevin and the Vocal Cords. BYOB, but coffee and ice will be complimentary. The cost is $5 per person, and tickets can be purchased at the door. For tickets and table reservations, call (352) 596-2827. In addition, the community will hold a New Year's event from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Dec. 31 at its clubhouse. Doors will open at 8:30 p.m. A hot snack tray will be served at each table and a bottle of champagne will be served at 10:30 p.m. coffee and sweets will also be available. The cost is $20 per person, and reservations are required. For tickets and table reservations, call (352) 596-6006.

Brooksville Regional Hospital Auxiliary will host a holiday clearance sale from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 19 in the cafeteria of the hospital at 17240 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Toys, books, games, small household and hardware items, educational items, outdoor activities, stationary and more will be featured. For information, call Pam at (352) 442-0169.

Computer club

Hernando Computer Club will present "Skyping for Christmas" by Brigitte Haag at 10 a.m. and "Using Email" by Joann Frucchione at 1 p.m., both Dec. 9 in the North Room at the Education B building of Grace Presbyterian Church, 8375 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Lecture classes do not require registration, but hands-on classes require preregistration. The cost for lecture classes of the club is $2 per person. The public is welcome. In addition, the club is offering one-to-one tutoring. Members wanting to learn a specific task can call the club with their request. Holger Bruning will then schedule an appointment for the desired topic. The cost is $10, and the session can be up to two hours. For information, visit www.hcc.org or call the club at (352) 684-7171.

Library programs

Brooksville Book Discussion Group will meet at 6 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Main Library, 238 Howell Ave., Brooksville. The topic of conversation will be "The House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton. The sad but brilliant commentary is on the closed, repressive society of the rich upper class – New York nobility – at the dawn of the 20th century. Registration is not required, but copies of the book are limited. Call your local library to reserve a copy. New members are welcome. For information, call (352) 540-6391.

Community

SHARP Crime Watch members will meet at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Senior Citizens Club of Hernando County, 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill. A Christmas dinner party will follow the meeting. Attendees are requested to bring a new-unwrapped toy for a boy or girl for the Marine Corp toy drive. For information, call (352) 683-5936.

Hernando County La Sertoma Club will meet at 11 a.m. Jan. 2 at Guido's Pizza Cafe, 7219 Forest Oaks Blvd., just off U.S. 19, Spring Hill. La Sertoma is dedicated to youth service recognition, fundraising for scholarships for needy and deserving college students, as well as special holiday events for special needs children. Guests are welcome. For information, call Laverne at (352) 796-4657.

Brooksville Rotary Club meets at noon every Tuesday at the Brooksville Country Club, 23446 Links Drive, off Croom Road, Brooksville. Members of Rotary are devoted to helping the local, national, and international community via charity events and volunteerism. Local organizations supported include New Beginnings Youth Shelter, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Hernando County Fair and more. For information, visit www.brooksvillerotary.org or call Terry Weaver at (352) 796-9891.

Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill meets from noon to 1 p.m. every Tuesday at the Atria Evergreen Woods pool house, 7030 Evergreen Woods Trail, off State Road 50, Spring Hill. For information on upcoming events and speaker opportunities, visit www.springhillkiwanis.org or call Dennis McKenna at (352) 584-7023.

Kiwanis Club of the Nature Coast meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of the month at IHOP, 3636 Commercial Way, Spring Hill. The event is a dinner meeting with meals ordered from the menu. For information, call Scott Edmisten at (352) 346-2515.

Arts/Crafts

Hernando County Fine Arts Council will host an exhibit reception at 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Mining Association Enrichment Center, 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd., Brooksville. The exhibit is entitled "Prints and Engravings, Arts for the Masses" and is a private collection of prints, lithographs and engravings from the 16th to 20th century including hand-colored engravings and lithographs of the works of Holbein from the Windsor Castle collection, Gould bird prints and many others. The collection is on loan from HCFAC board member Roger Sherman of Garden Grove and will be available for viewing through the Christmas season. For information, call Jerry Cowling, HCFAC chairman, at (352) 797-0984.

Spring Hill Art League will hold a reception for local artist Valdora Ward from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at Easy Street Home Decor, 100 N. Brooksville Ave., Brooksville. Refreshments will be served. The artist's work will be on display during December. The event is free, and the public is invited. For information, call Sandra LaValley at (352) 799-9690 or visit www.springhillartleague.com.

Suncoast Ship Model Society will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Weeki Wachee Senior Citizens Club, corner of Toucan Trail and Susan Drive, Spring Hill. All modelers interested in building model ships and boats are invited. For information, call Jim at (352) 592-6419.

Weeki Wachee Woodcarvers Association meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month at the Weeki Wachee Senior Center located at the corner of Susan Drive and Toucan Trail, Spring Hill. Demonstrations of all aspects of carving are presented, and the club consists of carvers from novice to master. Members share ideas and advice with whomever might need it; and socializing, dessert and coffee are also featured. Anyone interested in woodcarving or its related activities (painting, burning, mounting, environment, etc.) is invited to attend. Annual membership dues are $15 per person, and membership applications are available at club meetings. Guests are welcome, and all ages can participate. For information, call George Lytle at (352) 666-5092 or Mike Rice at (352) 683-9087.

Public meeting

South Brooksville Community Economic Development Commission will hold a community meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Fredrick Kelly Elks Lodge, 510 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Brooksville. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss economic development concerns, issues and opportunities. For information, call Richard Howell at (352) 476-7414.

Political

Wellington Democrats will meet at 2 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Wellington at Seven Hills Clubhouse, 400 Wexford Blvd., off Mariner Boulevard, Spring Hill. General meeting and planning discussion will be featured. For information, contact Gene Ehrich at WellingtonDemocrats@gmail.com.

State clubs

Maine Club will meet at noon Dec. 9 at the Spring Hill Community Center (Lake House), 1202 Kenlake Ave., Spring Hill. Those that signed up to bring something for the dinner are reminded to bring it; all others just need to bring own place setting. The club meets the second Friday of the month from November through April, and all current and former residents of Maine are welcome. For information, call (352) 592-0741.

Wisconsin Club will celebrate its annual Christmas party at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Sam Seltzer's Restaurant in Port Richey. Following the party, the club will enjoy a cruise on the Miss Daisy River Boat in New Port Richey to view Christmas lights. The club also offers monthly travel opportunities. On Jan. 23, the club has scheduled a four-day bus trip to Biloxi, Miss. Annual dues are $10 per person, and either spouse having lived in Wisconsin qualifies membership for both. For information or to book a trip, call Carolee at (352) 666-2974.

New York State Club will meet at 5 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Knights of Columbus, 10470 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Dinner will be served following the meeting. For dinner tickets, call Carolyn at (352) 684-6979. Bowling for fun is held at 11 a.m. every Monday at Spring Hill Lanes, 3447 U.S. 19, Spring Hill. For information, call Marge at (352) 686-8015.

Social

Elks Lodge 2582 will hold its steak shoot from 3 to 5 p.m. Dec. 10 in the lounge of the lodge, 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Members and guests will have the opportunity to win steaks by participating in a bingo-type card game. Bonus and grand bonus meats can be won. Karaoke will start at 5 p.m., and a spaghetti dinner will follow from 5 to 6 p.m. Also, the lodge serves lunch from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, with 11 items being offered which include fries. Take-out is available. Members and guests are welcome. For information, call the lodge at (352) 596-2582.

Grace Presbyterian Women's Gathering will be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 12 in the fellowship hall of Grace Presbyterian Church, 8375 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. A Christmas message will be given by Rev. Neil Spaulding, and Christmas music will be by the Dade City Children's Choir. The hostess will be the Naomi Circle. For information, call (352) 683-2082.

Long Island Club will meet at 11 a.m. Dec. 21 at St. Stephen's Parish Hall, 5326 Charles St., New Port Richey. Coffee and cake will be served prior to the meeting. For information, call Vinny Scatturo at (727) 869-0043.

Sons of Italy, Nature Coast Lodge 2502, Order of Italy of America, holds a monthly dinner/business meeting the third Thursday; a "social night" at a local restaurant monthly on the first Wednesday; three yearly dinner-dances; St. Joseph Day and an annual picnic. The lodge supports local charities and sponsors bowling, bocce, Italian culture and classes, and yearly trips. Membership is open to all; it is not necessary to be of Italian heritage. For information, call Eugene at (352) 684-7460 or Rose at (352) 796-7714.

Latinos Unidos Social Club of Spring Hill opens at 7 p.m. every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at its facility in the Starck Plaza, 12528 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. Bingo, dominos, cards, billiard table, music and a cash bar are featured. Membership is open to the public. For information, call Jenny Mojica at (352) 688-1022.

Seniors

AARP Chapter 5445, Hernando County West, will meet Dec. 12 at Nina's Cucina, 1427 Kass Circle, Spring Hill. The meeting will begin at noon, but plan to arrive at 11:30 a.m. Featured speaker will be Jeffris Livingston of the AARP Speakers Bureau on the topic "Protecting our Social Security – what's next?" In addition, identical meetings will be held Dec. 21 at IHOP, 3660 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, and Dec. 30 at Elks Lodge 2582, 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Since seating is limited, reservations are required. Members and newcomers are invited. For reservations or information, call Bob Williams at (352) 596-0722.

NARVRE (National Association for Retired Veteran Railroad Employees) will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 14 at Silverthorn Country Club, 4550 Golf Club Lane, off Barclay Avenue, Spring Hill. Speaker will be from Hospice on the topic of care for children who are ill. Lunch cost will be $10 per person. NARVRE is dedicated to preserving the Railroad Retirement System. All retired and active railroad workers and their spouses are welcome. For information, call Lynn at (352) 796-0477.

AARP Hernando County East Chapter 1026 will meet for its annual Christmas celebration/show at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 15 at Country Kitchen, 20133 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Chapter members Paul and Irene Griffin will perform. The Griffins were members of Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians. Paul Griffin played lead trumpet with the group along with Tom Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, Frankie Lane and many more. Reservations are required, and all seniors are welcome. For reservations or information, call Steve Mattingly at (352) 754-9404 or Kathy Casey at (352) 428-2368.

Genealogy

Genealogy Interest Group will meet at 10 a.m. Dec. 13 at the West Hernando Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., off State Road 50, Brooksville. For information, call Kathleen Marsh at (352) 796-1623.

Fraternal

St. Frances Cabrini Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Assembly 3022 will meet at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 in Xavier Hall of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 5030 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. All 4th Degree members of the Knights of Columbus possessing a current 4th Degree membership card are welcome. For information, call Jack Hauser at (352) 686-9767.

Ethnic

German American Club will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Shriners Club of Hernando County, 13400 Montour St., off Sunshine Grove Road, Brooksville. New members are welcome, and it is not necessary to be German to be a member or attend. For information, call Jack Yaskulski at (352) 688-3744 or visit www.germanclubspringhill.org In addition, the club will hold a New Year's Eve dinner-dance Dec. 31 at the Shriners Club. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with hors d'oeuvres from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. and dancing from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Music will be provided by Manni Daum, and required dress code will be semi-formal to formal attire. BYOB – a champagne toast and sandwiches will be featured at midnight. Ticket cost is $15 per person for members and $25 per person for guests, and tickets must be purchased in advance. For tickets or information, call Lisa Yaskulski at (352) 688-3744.

African American Club of Hernando County will hold a New Year's Eve party from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Dec. 31 at Regency Oaks Civic Association Center, 4445 Breakwater Blvd., off U.S. 19, Spring Hill. Hors d'oeuvres will be served as well as complimentary rum punch, ice, cups, party favors and champagne toast. Bring own drinks and New Year's food. Music will be provided by Mr. D, with photography by Darling & Darling Productions. Semi-formal attire is requested. Ticket cost will be $15 per person for members and $20 per person for non-members. For information, call Delores at (352) 799-7331, Ed at (352) 686-3284 or Sharon at (352) 683-7763.

Music/Dance

Spring Hill Domino Club will sponsor a singles dance party every Wednesday at its club, 15120 County Line Road, one-half mile west of Mariner Boulevard, Spring Hill. Free dance lessons will be held from 7 to 8 p.m., and open dancing with matching games and drawings will be held from 8 to 11 p.m. Music from the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s will be featured. Snacks will be available and/or bring own snacks. The cost is $5 per person at the door. For information, call Nancy, Domino Club secretary, at (352) 346-6337.

High Point Community Ballroom Dance classes will be held every Wednesday at the High Point Community Center, 12249 Clubhouse Road, Brooksville. Beginner lessons will be held from 2 to 3 p.m., with intermediate/advanced lessons from 3 to 4 p.m. Instructor Bonnie Jordan welcomes anyone interested in learning the basics, as well as advanced dance routines. For information, call Bonnie at (352) 683-3699.

Hernando County Recreation Department offers "Tribal Belly Dancing" from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays as follows: Tuesdays at Springstead High School, 3300 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill; and Thursdays at Kennedy Park, 895 Kennedy Blvd., Brooksville. Tribal belly dancing is a unique form of dance because of the dance steps and the ability to be improvisational. This form of dance is a melting pot of movements and attitudes taken from various dance cultures throughout the world. The instructor is Jayne Arrington, and prior dance experience is not necessary. The cost is $10 per class paid monthly or $9 per month for six weeks, or $15 for drop-ins. Advance registration is not required, and all ages are welcome. For information, call Jayne at (352) 540-1568 or the recreation department at (352) 754-4031 or visit www.hernandocounty.us/parks_rec.

Military/Veterans

VFW Post 9236 offers meals to the public at its post, 3435 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach, as follows: first Wednesday of the month, spaghetti is served from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at a cost of $6.50 per person; second Saturday of the month, steak, potato, veggie, salad bar, roll, coffee is served at a cost of $10 per person; third Friday of the month from 4 to 7 p.m.: fish $6, shrimp $6.50, combo $7.50; Sunday during football – the following will be served – wings 50 cents, hot dogs $1 and hamburgers $3.50; and last Sunday of the month, breakfast will be served from 9 to 11:30 a.m. for $7 per person. Featured entertainment will be as follows: Adrian Ray from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 10; and Southern Delight from 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 17. For information, call the Post at (352) 596-9236.

Navy Seabee Veterans of America meets at 10 a.m. the third Saturday of every month at VFW Post 9236 at 3435 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach. For information, call (727) 488-0153.

VFW Post 1681 and Ladies Auxiliary holds bar bingo at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday; door prizes and snacks every Sunday; play the wheel game at 1 p.m.; and a complete breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. the second Sunday of every month at the post, 1681 E. Jefferson St., Brooksville. For information, call the post at (352) 796-4449.

Marine Corps League, Spring Hill Detachment 708, holds a steak shoot from 1 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday at the Detachment located at 8405 Sunshine Grove Road, off State Road 50, Brooksville. The Leatherneck Lounge and Gunny's Galley will be open for the purchase of food and beverages. The Gunny's Galley serves Sunday breakfast from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.; lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday (Fridays only until 2 p.m.), plus pasta night from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays; wing and basket night from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays; and seafood night from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays. The Leatherneck Lounge is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Daily specials are available from the Galley and the Lounge. The Detachment is open to all veterans and the public seven days a week. For information, call 352-597-7979 and ask for the lounge.

Recreation

Nature Coast Bridge Club offers bridge games at 12:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday, and at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Senior Citizens Club, 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill. Games for all levels of players are offered as well as lessons for beginning to advanced players. Join the group for an afternoon or evening of competition and friendship. For a complete schedule of games and/or lessons, call Beverly Tillberry at (352) 556-3892 or Annabelle Hills at (352) 597-5221 or email hillsja@gate.net

Spring Hill Camera Club meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month at the Brooksville Enrichment Center, Medical Arts Building, Suite 120, of the Brooksville Regional Hospital campus, 17222 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Club business and an informative presentation are conducted on the second Monday, and a photo completion is judged each fourth Monday. Membership is open to all beginning and experienced film and digital photographers. For information, call Bill at (352) 556-3708 or visit www.springhillcameraclub.org.

Spring Hill Bocce Club meets at 7 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday at Delta Woods Park, 3400 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. The club is accepting new members. Annual membership dues are $5 per person, and the club holds a tournament once a year. For information, call Lucky Todaro, club president, at (352) 596-3503.

Public speaking

Nature Coast Orators Toastmasters Club, a member of Toastmaster International, meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Brooksville Regional Hospital's Enrichment Center in the Medical Arts Building, Room 120, 17222 Hospital Blvd., off State Road 50, Brooksville. Members learn communication skills by following a series of 10 self-paced speaking assignments designed to instill a basic foundation in public speaking. Participants learn skills related to the use of humor, gestures, eye contact, speech organization and overall delivery in addition to leadership skills. For information, call Terry Weaver at (352) 796-9891.

Volunteers

Humane Society of the Nature Coast is celebrating a 30 percent increase in adoptions over the last two years. The staff, volunteers and board of directors of the Humane Society attribute the increase to a special "Dedicated Dog Walker" program. The program is conducted by volunteers who visit the shelter and give the animals the opportunity to learn standard domesticated skills and habits. Anyone who would like to volunteer as a dedicated dog walker should call the Humane Society of the Nature Coast at (352) 796-2711 or visit www.HumaneRescue.org and click on "Volunteer."

Hernando County Animal Services is recruiting volunteers who are interested in helping to save the lives of animals. Openings are available for rescue coordinators, lost and found advocates, pet adoption advocates, and pet photographers. Anyone who loves animals and has time to donate should visit the county's web site at www.hernandocounty.us/code/animal/ to view job descriptions and complete a volunteer application. Volunteers might be subject to background checks and fingerprinting. For information, call (352) 796-5062.

Community outreach

DayStar Life Center food pantry will provide food to help families every month through Jan. 1, 2012 at its facility, 7120 Hope Hill Road, off State Road 50, behind St. Anthony Catholic Church, Brooksville. For example, the food pantry provides a family of four – meat, butter, bread, pastries and nonperishable items that equal 37 pounds of food. In addition, DayStar is seeking volunteers to donate a few hours a week. There are several different volunteer areas of the facility including the food pantry, clothing thrift store, and several other thrift store areas. DayStar is also in need of volunteers to drive its trucks and additional help for donation pick-up service. For information, call DayStar at (352) 799-5930 or visit www.daystarlifecenter.org

People Helping People is seeking groups, large or small, to prepare an entrée for one of its Sunday dinners. PHP will help volunteers through the process. Donations are also always needed. People Helping People serves a free meal to the homeless and the very needy in the community from 4 to 5:30 p.m. every Sunday at the Senior Citizens Center of Hernando County, 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill. In addition, PHP offers free bread and groceries, clothing and referrals to help other organizations. Its Blessings in a Backpack program provides food for 200 elementary students at four local schools for the entire school year. For information, call (352) 686-4466. To donate, send to People Helping People, P.O. Box 6182, Spring Hill, Fla. 34611 or visit www.phpinhc.org

Jericho Road Ministries is seeking volunteers to help provide food supplies to the poor, elderly and homeless people of Hernando County. Jericho is facing extra pressure because of the growing numbers of unemployed and homeless. Volunteer helpers are needed at its food distribution location at Mary's House in Brooksville. To be scheduled to help part time, once a week from 9 a.m. to noon, call Joe LaGuardia at (352) 593-7792 or (352) 799-2912 Ext. 104.

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church serves its "In His Footsteps" soup-and-sandwich outreach program lunch for those in need from noon to 2 p.m. the second Thursday of every month in the Parish Hall of the church, 13485 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. For information, call the church office at (352) 688-0663.

Donation Station, an outreach of Love Your Neighbor Christian Outreach, announces renovation and new hours. Donation Station is a "pay what you can" distribution center and food pantry organized to supplement the needs of the less fortunate in the community. The facility at 408 W. Jefferson St. has been recently renovated and will be open the following hours: from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. The organization welcomes donations and is currently in need of small appliances, dishes, bedding, towels, etc. Love Your Neighbor provides a free community dinner from 2 to 4 p.m. every Sunday at First United Methodist Church, 109 S. Broad St., Brooksville. For information, call Lisa at (352) 428-9275 or (352) 848-0090.

First United Methodist Church is starting a new soup kitchen serving a hot, nutritious meal from 4:30 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday at the church, 9344 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The meal is for all those in need. For information, call (352) 683-2600 Ext. 1.

Christian Life Assembly of God announces the opening of its food pantry to the community. Hours of operation will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday at the church, 13065 Jacqueline Road, Brooksville. The free program is offered to residents of the county who, whatever their circumstances, are in need of assistance with food. For information, call (352) 597-1139.

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church will conduct a free bread and pastries giveaway for those in need from 9 to 10 a.m. every Saturday in the Parish Hall (side entrance) of the church, 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill. For information, call (352) 683-2010.

Christ the King Full Gospel Worship Center will conduct a food and bread items giveaway for families in need from 10 a.m. to noon every Monday at the worship center, 5111 U.S. 19, Spring Hill. No requirements, other than I.D. Tammy Bennett is in charge of the ministry. For information, call (352) 596-5366.

Youth

Nature Coast Children's Chorale is gearing up for its fourth year in Hernando County. The chorale is open to children in grades 4-12 and meets weekly on Thursday evenings at Powell Middle School, 4100 Barclay Ave., Brooksville. The chorale has performed the last two years at Carnegie Hall in New York City and at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. If your child loves to sing, schedule an audition by calling (352) 403-8437 or emailing naturecoastcc@tampabay.rr.com

City of Brooksville's Recreation Department will offer a "Play to Learn" indoor toddler program from 10 to 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday at the Jerome Brown Community Center, 99 Jerome Brown Place, off Darby Lane, Brooksville. The cost is $3 per class and is for toddlers ages 1-5 and their moms. For information, call the Recreation Department at (352) 540-3835.

Boys & Girls Clubs are conducting a Car Campaign program to help underwrite its youth programs. Donations of unwanted cars are being sought, and cars do not need to be in running condition. To donate a car or for information, call 800-246-0493.

Sales/Flea markets

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 (352) 428-9275.

Coupon Swap is held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday during the flea market at the Hernando County Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St. (U.S. 41), Brooksville. Bring unwanted coupons and swap them for sought-after ones that might be available. If not interested in swapping but are willing to donate unwanted coupons, bring them to the flea market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday or Sunday. Also, expired coupons (up to two months) will be accepted to be mailed overseas to military families. For information, contact Angela via email at okrasin@tampabay.rr.com or call (352) 584-5773.

Music

Hernando Hills Hi-Lites will meet for rehearsal at 7 p.m. every Monday at Fellowship Community Church, 11250 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. The women's chorus invites women of all races and creeds who can carry a tune and love to sing. The chorus sings a cappella, four-part harmony. The Hi-Lites perform at many community functions, as well as private celebrations and are members of Harmony, Inc., an organization of over 20,000 outstanding women, and compete at area and international levels. For information, call Tessie at (352) 686-4122.

Hernando Harmonizers has openings for singers. Men who love to sing are invited to join the Hernando Harmonizers of the Barbershop Harmony Society every Monday at Nativity Lutheran Church, 6363 Commercial Way, just north of the intersection of State Road 50 and U.S. 19, Weeki Wachee. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and singing begins at 7 p.m. Singers have an opportunity to participate in community performances, annual show, competitions, etc. Guests are requested to call (352) 556-3936 prior to planning a visit. For information, visit its website at www.HernandoHarmonizers.org

Accordion Adventure will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month at Elks Lodge 2582, 14494 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. The informal group consists of accordionists that are enthusiasts of all levels of performance. Admission will be $2 per person, and the public is welcome. For information, call Cathy at (352) 686-0975 or Peg at (352) 442-5574.

Spring Hill Acoustic Guitar Club meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of every month for a jam and song circle. All styles are welcome at all playing levels. The club's goal is to play together, have fun doing it and to provide encouragement and support for each other in an effort to become better players. Also, the club is available to perform at nonprofit and social club events. For information, call Curt at (352) 666-3951 or Ken at (352) 684-6789.

Radio clubs

Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Club meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at the Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Club clubhouse, 6909 Tierra Verde St., Port Richey. All HAM radio operators and those interested in HAM radio and emergency communications are welcome and encouraged to attend. Join the group during its club radio net at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday nights on the club's repeater WA4GDN, 146.670 MHz. For information, call Bill at (727) 869-0784.

Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club (SHARC) meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of every month at the Oak Hill Hospital Partner's Club, 11375 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville. Anyone interested in Ham Radio is welcome to attend. Testing for an FCC license is conducted at 6:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the same location. The club operates a 2-meter repeater on 146.805 MHz (no tone). Every Tuesday the club conducts two nets: a SKYWARN Weather Net at 7:15 p.m. and a Club net at 7:30 p.m. Anyone with a Ham Radio license is welcome to participate in both nets and attend monthly meetings. For club information, visit www.kf4ixu.org or call Dave KB3GYN at (352) 684-3925.

Crime Watch

SHARP Crime Watch is seeking day and night dispatchers and patrollers. 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. If interested in volunteering, attend the monthly meeting at 7 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Senior Citizens Club of Hernando County, 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill or call (352) 683-5936 or email scrimewatch@tampabay.rr.com

Seniors activities

Senior Citizens Club of Hernando County offers the following activities at the hall located at 7925 Rhanbuoy Road, Spring Hill: bingo will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday, and card games are held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday and Thursday. For information, call Barbara at (352) 683-2440. For information regarding crafts, line dancing and Weight Watchers, call the club at (352) 596-1095. Group road trips such as Biloxi, Sterling and Hard Rock plus cruises are periodically arranged for members and their guests. The club is for those 55 years of age and older, and club membership is $25 annually. For information, call the club at (352) 596-1095.

Seniors programs

Mid-Florida Community Services provides nutritious meals year-round to seniors age 60 and over. Seniors are welcome to visit any one of its four dining sites within the county. In addition, the Meals on Wheels program provides nutritious lunches five days a week to seniors who are homebound. The daily contact by the program's volunteers ensures a visit by someone who provides companionship, while checking on the person's health and well being. Volunteers are welcome, and donations are appreciated. For information, call (352) 796-1425 or (352) 796-0485.

Experience Works, a senior work force solution, provides information and assistance with employment and training to income eligible seniors age 55 and older. For information, call Amy at (352) 200-3042.

Thrift shops

Jericho Road Ministries has a thrift store in the Winchester Plaza, 5260 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, in addition to its other stores, 16479 Wiscon Road, Brooksville, and in the Sunrise Plaza at 31170 Cortez Blvd., Ridge Manor. All stores are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Clothing for adults and children, household items, furniture, kitchenware, toys, as well as numerous specialty items are available for sale. The Ministry has a women's shelter, Mary's House, 1163 Howell Ave., Brooksville. The thrift stores were established for the purpose of supporting the Jericho Road Men's Rescue Mission Shelter, 1090 Mondon Hill Road, Brooksville. Donations are welcome and can be brought to any of the thrift stores during business hours or larger items can be scheduled for pick-up daily. For information or to schedule a pick-up, call (352) 797-9009.

SPCA Thrift Shop, 9075 Grant St., adjacent to the shelter, Brooksville, is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Housewares, books, games, toys and clothing for the entire family are featured. All clothes are $5 a bag. All proceeds from the thrift shop benefit the care and upkeep of the animals at the shelter. Donations are welcome and can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays or Fridays, but large furniture or appliances cannot be accepted. To reach the SPCA shelter and thrift shop, take Sunshine Grove Road (off State Road 50) to Taylor Street, then turn left onto Grant Street. For information, call the thrift shop at (352) 540-5727.

Also, the SPCA is seeking volunteers to provide companionship and assist in the care of the dogs and cats at the shelter. Day and hours are flexible. For information, call the shelter at (352) 596-7000. In addition, the SPCA of Hernando County is seeking a clinical microscope in an effort to reduce operating costs of the no-kill animal shelter. To donate a microscope, call (352) 596-7000.

Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store, 19450 Cortez Blvd., in the Brooksville Square Shopping Center, Brooksville, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Clothing for adults and children, furniture, household items, kitchenware, books and a holiday room are featured. Donations are welcome and can be delivered to the thrift store during business hours. Larger items can be picked up Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Volunteers are needed to work in the thrift store or on construction. Habitat established the thrift store to support the construction of decent and affordable Habitat houses for low-income eligible individuals who are willing to partner in the building of someone else's home and their home. For information, call (352) 754-1159.

Daystar Life Center Thrift Shop has announced the Thursday opening of its clothing thrift shop at its facility, 7120 Hope Hill Road, off State Road 50, Brooksville. BOGO Day (buy one-get one free) will be featured, with the free clothing item being of equal or lesser value than the purchased clothing item. BOGO Day hours will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday. All of the Daystar Life Center thrift shops will be open from 8:30 a.m. to noon every Friday and Saturday including the clothing thrift shop. Furniture, housewares, books, small appliances, clothing, crafts, electrical items and a children's toy shop will be featured. The Daystar facility is a quarter mile behind St. Anthony Catholic Church. To schedule a pickup or for information, call (352) 799-5930 or visit www.daystarlifecenter.org.

Karen's Kit 'n Kaboodle (St. Andrew's Thrift Shop), 2301 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill, has a new furniture storage building offering a variety of furniture such as chairs, wall units, electric organs, artwork will be featured, including some sick room needs. The boutique-style shop is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The shop features a $5 bag sale the second Tuesday of the month. Donations are appreciated and can be left in the shop during hours of operation or in the drop-off bin after hours. To volunteer or schedule pick-up of large items, call (352) 686-1114.