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Jan. 3- 9, 2020

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Hernando Sun 2019 Readers Choice Awards

The winners have been announced! See who they are HERE !
Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to everyone who voted! Winners: please email us at [email protected] to request your certificate or digital artwork.

Announcements

County offices closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

(Brooksville, FL) The following Hernando County offices/service will be closed on Monday,
January 20, 2020 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Normal business hours will
resume for these offices/services on Tuesday, January 21, 2020:
• All Hernando County Government offices
• Transit Services (TheBus)
• Library Services
Hernando County Animal Services will be closed on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. Normal
business hours will resume on Wednesday, January 22, 2020.
Republic Services will be providing trash and recycling services as normal.

Fertilizer ordinance in effect for Hernando County

(Brooksville, FL) Starting January 1, 2020, a fertilizer ordinance will be in effect for Hernando County through March 31, 2020. This ordinance regulates how, where and when fertilizers can be applied to grass. During this time period, only professional applicators who are trained, certified and registered according to the terms of the ordinance may apply fertilizer. The only forms of nitrogen fertilizer that may be applied during this period are those that are labeled as slow- or controlled-release. The applicator must be able to verify the fertilizer product used and provide the verification upon request.

Studies conducted by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have determined that one of the primary causes of water quality issues in Weeki Wachee Springs and the Weeki Wachee River comes from inappropriate fertilizer use. When applied incorrectly, excess nutrients wash off lawns into neighboring water bodies causing excessive algae growth and stressing aquatic insects, amphibians and fish.

Here are tips on how residents can help:
Do not fertilize your lawn from January 1 through March 31 unless you hire a certified landscape professional
Ask your fertilizer professional if he or she has a certificate of training through the Green IndustriesBest Management Practices Program
Watch the weather and don't fertilize when the National Weather Service calls for a heavy rain, flood, tropical storm or hurricane watch or warning, or when the soil is still saturated
Hold off fertilizing new plants, turf seeding or sod until at least 30 days after planting
Do not fertilize within 10 feet of a water body. It is recommended to use plants that don't require fertilizer for these areas
Immediately clean up fertilizer that spills on your driveway, sidewalk or street. Never allow fertilizer, grass clippings, pet waste, plant debris, gasoline or oil to be washed, swept or blown off sidewalks or roadways into stormwater drains, ditches, canals, water bodies or wetlands
Follow the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences best management practices for landscapes. For information, contact the Hernando County UF Extension office at (352) 754-4433 or visit fyn.ifas.ufl.edu

Important contact information:
Call the Hernando County UF/IFAS Extension office at (352) 754-4433 for more information about the ordinance
Visit http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/hernandoco/2018/02/01/hernando-countys-fertilizer-ordinance/ to read the full ordinance
Call the Hernando County Permitting office at (352) 754-4050 if you are a professional applicator who needs to register with the County

Sergeant Lea Mills Boulevard temporary road closure

(Brooksville, FL) The Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport will temporarily close Sergeant Lea Mills Boulevard in Brooksville from December 30, 2019 through January 17, 2020 for scheduled roadway repairs. The public is asked to use alternate routes during this time.

Contact the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport at (352) 754-4061 for additional information on this temporary road closure.