Community Calendar

All month

Gallery show

The Cedar Keyhole Gallery is proud to announce Artist of the Month for January 2010 is Russel Raethka.Russel (Russ) Raethka challenges the standards normally attributed to watercolor paintings. Whereas a watercolor is usually expected to present a soft, muted representation, Russ depicts his scenes in sharp, crisp definitions that could easily be assigned to a real-time sighting.

January 28

Rowdy Rootin’ Tootin’ Relay round up!

Bring your 10-gallon hats and team members to earn extra spirit points when the Relay for Life participants meet  at  5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Trenton Community Center. Every team member who attends earns an extra point for the team and those in Western cowboy an extra point for the team. Every team that registers on-line at  www.relayforlife/gilchristlevycountiesfl before the meeting will be entered for a drawing for a folding chair. Every team that brings their $100 registration fee will be entered for a chance drawing to win a cooler. Exciting things happening at this event include a themed laps announcement, campsite selection, food and activities selection, chance drawings, spirit points and prizes. For any questions, please call Natasha Allen 352-356-2456.

Tourist development Council meeting

The Levy County Tourist Development Council will hold its bi-monthly meeting Thursday, Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. in the Levy County Road Department Office Building on SR 27A, 620 N. Hathaway Ave., Bronson.

If you have any questions call 352-486-3396.

January 30

SHARE distribution

Distribution for the Chiefland Area SHARE will take place on Saturday, Jan. 30. All pre-ordered,prepaid orders can be picked up the morning from 9 am. to 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in Chiefland. If you would like to get more information about SHARE-a food-buying service that uses volunteer help to build community-come to the SHARE site or call 352-463-8804.

Manatee rescue talk and presentation

 Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge will bring their mobile dark room and show photographic slides of a variety of manatee rescues and transports from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

February  all month long

FHP vehicle and ID inspections

The Florida Highway Patrol will be conducting driver license and vehicle inspection checkpoints during daylight hours, Feb. 1-28.  These checkpoints will be held at the following locations in the following counties:

Dixie; Chavous Rd, CR-55A, Sr-349, CR-349, CR-351, CR 358, Willow Hole Rd.

Gilchrist; SR-26, SR-49, SR-47, CR-138, SE-70th Ave, CR-232, CR-340, CR-341

Levy; SR-24, SR-45, SR-49, SR-121, SR-500, CR-320, CR-339, CR-341, CR-345, CR-337, CR-335, CR-316, CR-464, CR-323, CR-326

Troopers will focus on vehicles that are being operated with defects and violations such as; worn / unsafe tires, bad brakes, improper window tinting, cracked / broken windshields, unsecured loads and defective lighting. In addition, attention will be directed to violations of; driver license laws, motor vehicle registration laws, non-use of seatbelts and motor vehicle insurance requirements.

The Florida Highway Patrol has found these checkpoints to be an effective method of enforcing state laws, which relate to the safe and legal operation of motor vehicles.

February 1

Free tax prep for seniors by AARP

Free tax preparation and E-file begins with AARP Tax-Aide. Sites will be open at libraries in Trenton on Mondays fro 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Cross City on Tuesdays from noon to 3:30 p.m.; Williston on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Chiefland on Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout the tax season.Visit or call your library for an appointment. Guidelines are posted at all sites.

February 6

Williston Friends hold book fair

The next "Friends" Book Fair will be held Saturday, February 6 from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. It will be held in  Williston at the City Hall Community Center.Volunteers are asked to help begin sorting books Thursday night at 6 p.m. and continue Friday morning at 9 a.m. Helpers are also needed for the sale itself on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Please call Mary McDaniell, 528-5972 if you can help at any of the times above.This is the first book fair for "Friends" since December and the donation of books has been plentiful the past two months.Prices are: Hardbacks, $1; softbacks, 50 cents; paperbacks, 25 cents; childrens’books and magazines, 10 cents; tapes and CDs are $1. All monies collected are used for the betterment of the Williston Public Library. The books are all clean and in good condition and can give years of enjoyment or information.For more information, call Mary Mcdaniell, 528-5972

Amvets host fundraising dinner

The Amvets William Crow Post #447, 33 Risher Avenue, Inglis, will be having a fund raiser dinner which will include fried pork chops smothered in onion and mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet carrots,  bread, and dessert for a $7 donation.

The public is invited. For to go orders, please call 447-4473. 

February 5,6,7

Stock dog trials

The Suwannee River Stock Dog Trials will be held at “Culleymont in Dixie” farm on Rt. 349 in the northeast corner of Dixie County on Feb. 5, 6, & 7 for the third year.

These trials are qualifying trials for the United States Border Collie Handlers Association and The Georgia Stock Dog Association.

The festive nature of the trial will bring many spectators. The handlers and spectators are housed in the same areas to allow communication between them and programs with the order of running are provided for ease of following the action.

Many local competitors are expected from the state of Florida as well as many other states.

If you have any questions, please call Cheryl Williams at 352-542-0347.

February 9

Chiefland Home and Community Education Club meeting

The Chiefland Home and Community Education Club’s February meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 9 at the Hide-a-Spring’s clubhouse. Lunch is at noon, meeting to follow. Several members attend the Annual District meeting in Capps, Jefferson County hosting. Next year Levy County will host the District meeting.

Levy County has 79 members with clubs in Bronson, Williston and Chiefland. For information contact Caroline Norton 352-490-5437.

February 8-13

                                   Valentine’s Book Sale     

Friends of the Dunnellon Public Library Book Store, located inside the library, at 20351 Robinson Road (just behind Superior Bank) in Dunnellon, announces a one week Valentine’s “Book-Lover’s” Book Sale - all Hardcover Books $1 - starting Monday Feb. 8 thru  Sat. Feb. 13, 2010.  Store hours are Daily 10am-4pm; Saturday 10:30am-2pm. All sales benefit the Dunnellon Public Library.  Library phone:  438-2520 for additional information.

February 18

Fanning and Manatee Springs Working Group

There will be a meeting at Fanning Springs City Hall Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.It will include a discussion of constructed treatment wetlands as a tool to protect groundwater in the springshed from excess nitrate.Join businesses, organizations, governments, and individuals interested in learning about the health of Fanning and Manatee Springs and working together to better protect these springs.For more information please contact Working Group Coordinator Carol Lippincott at (352) 377-8693 or Carol_Lippincott@cox.net.

February 20

Cruzin’ for Kidz

2nd Annual Williston Elementary School Safety Patrol “Cruzin’ for Kidz” will be held Saturday, Feb. 20, 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at Williston Elementary School, 801 S. Main Street, Williston. Kickstands go up at 10 a.m. Law enforcement escort provided. Lunch will be served after ride for $7.

No fee but donations will be accepted. All proceeds go toward the Safety Patrol trip to Washington, D.C.

For information go to  www.wessafetypatrol.org, www.wessafetypatrol.org or  wescruzinforkidz@yahoo.com.

April 2

Ron White coming to Gainesville

Comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White, best known as the cigar smoking, scotch drinking, funnyman from the “Blue Collar Comedy” phenomenon returns to Gainesville Friday, April 2 at 8 p.m. at the O’Connell Center, for mature audiences, with his new stand-up show Behavioral Problems.

With two Grammy nominations, a Gold Record, two of the top rated one-hour specials in Comedy Central history, a book that appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List, and CD and DVD sales of over 10 million units, tickets expect to go quickly.

Tickets are $39.75 ($25 for students) and available at the University Box Office, Reitz Union,  HYPERLINK "http://www.ticketmaster.com" www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Ongoing

Guardian ad litem program

Volunteer to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children in the court system.  In Levy County, there are about 80 children in the child welfare system.  Help ensure these children are heard and not forgotten. No legal background is necessary.   Next training class starts Oct. 20.  Call 352-486-3308 or go to www.guardianadlitem.org.

American Legion Post 383 karaoke

on SaturdaysAmerican Legion Post 383 in Old Town has karaoke with Stacy every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Prospective members and volunteers are also welcome. Post 383 is for veterans and their families.

Boys & Girls Clubs want clunkers

Florida Boys and Girls Clubs are looking for “Clunker Cars” to be donated as a way of raising funds. The benefits offered for donating include a tax write off for the donors and knowledge that the old clunker is helping a “Positive Place for Kids”. If you want to donate a car, the Florida Clubs can be reached by calling 1-800-246-0493.

TOPS meeting

The Chiefland TOPS group meets at St. Albans Church on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Both  men and women are welcome

.Rotary Clubs

Chiefland Rotary meets at noon on Wednesdays at BubbaQue’s, Main Street, Chiefland.Williston Rotary meets at 11:45 a.m. on Tuesdays at the First Presbyterian Church, 247 NE 1st Street

Grand Slam Bridge on Monday

Grand Slam Bridge, with two tables in play, is held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Chiefland on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those interested in participating are asked to call Joan at 493-0279.Both weekly and substitute players are needed.