The Glen Lakes community through Glen Lakes Veterans and Friends, Inc. (GLVF) awarded grants to numerous local veteran organizations recently and presented checks to representatives of these organizations. The following veterans’ groups were recipients:
VFW Post 10209 - $5,500
Eric Riggins, Sr. is just one of many successful entrepreneurs in Hernando County. He established his catering business, Smoking Good BBQ, in March of 2017 and officially launched his “brick and mortar” restaurant last April.
Opening up a restaurant in the midst of a pandemic was a gutsy move for Riggins, but in the past ten months he has built up a loyal clientele.
Greater Love Outreach Ministries, a non-denominational church on Yontz Road in Brooksville reaches into the entire community to help people in their daily lives. Reverend Yvonne Woods is the pastor to the approximately 75-member congregation.
On Saturday, January 30, The Veterans’ HEAT Factory (VHF) held a fun-filled evening of comedy at the VFW Post 10209 in Spring Hill. The purpose was to raise money for its mission to help veterans and first responders who suffer from Post- Traumatic Stress. Approximately 100 people (socially-distanced and masked) turned out to watch local professional magician, Elliott Smith, perform his comedy magic and to view a multi-media presentation of the history of comedy presented by Tony Belmont of the Comedy Hall of Fame Museum.
Mrs. Joan Henry is another example of how people have remained resilient throughout this past trying year. Mrs. Henry is eighty-two years old, a widow, and has lived in Hernando County for twenty-four years. Prior to coming to the Sunshine State, she lived in New Jersey and raised her one child, a son there. Now he lives in Georgia, along with her grandchildren.
On Friday, January 15, 2021 a group of local citizens, along with city and county officials gathered at the courthouse for the unveiling of a monument dedicated to five Hernando County men who gave their lives in service to our country. The monument was donated by members of the Lowman Family Foundation.
On January 15, Martin Luther King would have been ninety-two years old – if he were alive. Sadly, he was assassinated before his 40th birthday on April 4, 1968. He spearheaded the Civil Rights movement with his tactics of non-violence and has inspired three generations.
A number of local African-Americans were involved in the Civil Rights movement.
Dozens of local people were saddened to hear the news that beloved author, actor, playwright, blogger, and storyteller Jerry Cowling passed away on December 26, 2020, after a brief hospital stay. The cause of death was sepsis as a result of a gastrointestinal infection. Cowling is survived by his son, Joshua of Spring Hill; his daughter, Heather Cowling Dobkowski; son-in-law Anthony and grandchildren Olivia and Liam Dobkowski of Wappingers Falls, New York. He was pre-deceased by his wife of 44 years, Janet.
On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, members of the Rotary Club of Spring Hill paid a visit to the PAW Warriors cat shelter to present two checks to Tracie Steger, founder of the organization. One check was for $400 from the Rotary Club itself. The other was a check for $100 from the Interact Club, under the direction of Ms. Ronica Guerrier, at Springstead High School, which the Rotary Club of Spring Hill sponsors.
