CENTURY 21 Alliance Realty is holding a rummage sale to raise money for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. We would like to thank all of our Associates, and Customers for the wonderful donations, and invite the public to come shop for treasures. The sale will be Saturday, April 14th from 8 am till 3 pm at CENTURY 21 Alliance Realty, 5455 Spring Hill Drive 34606. For additional information, please call 352-683-5553.

The National Association of Home Builders recently published a study regarding life expectancy of a variety of common home components. We expect our houses to last for generations, but what about certain components that need replacement sooner? How many years of service can a home owner reasonably expect from a roof or a door, a window or a whirlpool tub, kitchen cabinets, or windows? Please visit to view the study.

Spring has arrived. Inexpensive touches like fresh paint, new throw pillows or front-entrance planters filled with colorful flowers can give your home that special touch. Here are several tips to give you the competitive edge.
1. Make your floors, windows, appliances and light
fixtures sparkle. Potential buyers feel more comfortable
when viewing a clean house.
2. Minimize clutter – “Less is more” when it comes
to staging your home for sale.
3. Organize closets - A well-organized closet will appear
roomier, which is what buyers want.
4. Paint - Fresh paint is usually the
least expensive way to transform a room.
5. Make a great first impression – Pretend that
you’re entering your home for the first time. Paint, and a fresh doormat make your home appear welcoming.
6. Flowers are friendly - Add container plantings
to your front entrance for a welcoming focal
point.
7. Fresh cut flowers – Fresh flowers bring the outdoors
inside, adding color and aroma.
8. Lighten Up - decorating
with throws and toss pillows that say “Spring”, enhances your home’s friendly feel.

Live and Let Die - One of the most well-known Beatles tribute groups in the Southeast!

Saturday April 14th 4pm to 8pm

Located at: 204 East Fort Dade Avenue in downtown Brooksville

Two techniques are used for pruning shrubs. These are called heading and thinning.
Heading — By this method, branches are cut back to healthy buds. This leaves a cut close to a bud from which new growth develops.

Thinning — By this process, a shoot or branch is completely removed either back to ground level or back to another main branch or trunk. No prominent stub remains.

Making the cut
When heading back, always make the cut above a healthy bud. A cut on a slight slant, 1/4 inch above the bud is the correct method. The top bud should be located on the side of the branch that faces the direction preferred for the new growth. Some plants will have two buds opposite each other on the stem. When such stems are cut, it is often desirable to remove one of the buds. If both are allowed to grow, a forked and often weak stem may develop.
Be sure to Mulch!

During dry weather it cannot be stressed enough how valuable mulch is. Six things that mulch does are:

Preserves moisture in the soil.
Protects the soil from the intense heat of the sun.
Provides a constant supply of organic material.
Prevents the quick drying of the soil during windy and dry periods.
Gives some protection to plants against root knot causing nematodes.
Improves soil texture.

Central Florida’s climate is a bit more mild than that of North Florida. Frosts and freezes during the winter are not as common as further north and the seasons tend to be a bit more sub-tropical (hot summers, warm falls and springs and mild winters). Seasonal changes tend to be less noticeable here. In the middle and southern areas of Central Florida, citrus grows extremely well and produces abundant harvests. Throughout the area avocados, carambolas, lemons, limes, pineapples, surinam cherries, papayas and tropical vegetables can be grown here if protected from occasional freezes. Apples, peaches, pears and temperate-zone vegetables can still be grown in most of this area if varieties designed to thrive here are planted.

Growing conditions in Florida:

The soil is composed mostly of sand and amendments are required.

The heat and humidity is relatively high during most of the year.

Watering is essential during Florida’s dry season.

Plants should be chosen based on their zonal requirements.

The plants you choose should be planted during the time of the season that they are the most comfortable with.

Floridians for Property Tax Reform will rally in Tallahassee on April 17. We must make sure our elected officials know that this crisis must be addressed before May 4. We cannot wait another year for real change. The most effective message will be delivered when a large assembly of citizens file into the courtyard at the Capitol, and announce to our Legislators that we mean business.

We are the voters, and we have the final say.

Where:
The front steps of Florida’s Old Capitol
Tallahassee, Fla.

When:
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
12:30 – 2:00 PM

Why:
Come out and join hundreds of Floridians, legislative leaders, and local elected officials in making our voices heard in the effort to get property tax relief accomplished in this legislative session.

For additional info visit their website at www.saveourhomesforever.com

A long awaited project in Hernando County will soon mean smooth sailing for local boaters.

The channel in and around Hernando Beach has been mentioned for several years as an area much in need of dredging.

The narrow and shallow channel can be dangerous for boaters to navigate, particularly during high tide. Now, county engineers have said they are only waiting for two more permits from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Once those are acquired, the work should begin. The job, which is expected to coast as much as $9 million, is projected to begin sometime this summer and take up to 10 months to complete. County officials said the channel was last dredged in 1984.

Childproofing Your Home - 12 Safety Devices to Protect Your Children

1. Use Safety Latches and Locks for cabinets and drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas to help prevent poisonings and other injuries. Safety latches and locks on cabinets and drawers can help prevent children from gaining access to medicines and household cleaners, as well as knives and other sharp objects.

2. Use Safety Gates to help prevent falls down stairs and to keep children away from dangerous areas. Safety gates can help keep children away from stairs or rooms that have hazards in them. Look for safety gates that children cannot dislodge easily, but that adults can open and close without difficulty. For the top of stairs, gates that screw to the wall are more secure than “pressure gates.”

3. Use Door Knob Covers and Door Locks to help prevent children from entering rooms and other areas with possible dangers. Door knob covers and door locks can help keep children away from places with hazards, including swimming pools.

4. Use Anti-Scald Devices for faucets and shower heads and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water. Anti-scald devices for regulating water temperature can help prevent burns.

5. Use Smoke Detectors on every level of your home and near bedrooms to alert you to fires. Smoke detectors are essential safety devices for protection against fire deaths and injuries.

6. Use Window Guards and Safety Netting to help prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks, and landings. Window guards and safety netting for balconies and decks can help prevent serious falls.

7 Use Corner and Edge Bumpers to help prevent injuries from falls against sharp edges of furniture and fireplaces. Corner and edge bumpers can be used with furniture and fireplace hearths to help prevent injuries from falls or to soften falls against sharp or rough edges.

8. Use Outlet Covers and Outlet Plates to help prevent electrocution. Outlet covers and outlet plates can help protect children from electrical shock and possible electrocution.

9. Use a Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector outside bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning. A carbon monoxide (CO) detector can help prevent CO poisoning. Consumers should install CO detectors near sleeping areas in their homes. Households that should use CO detectors include those with gas or oil heat or with attached garages.

10. Cut Window Blind Cords; use Safety Tassels and Inner Cord Stops to help prevent children from strangling in blind cord loops. Window blind cord safety tassels on miniblinds and tension devices on vertical blinds and drapery cords can help prevent deaths and injuries from strangulation in the loops of cords. Inner cord stops can help prevent strangulation in the inner cords of window blinds.

11. Use Door Stops and Door Holders to help prevent injuries to fingers and hands. Door stops and door holders on doors and door hinges can help prevent small fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed in doors and door hinges.

12. Use a Cordless Phone to make it easier to continuously watch young children, especially when they’re in bathtubs, swimming pools, or other potentially dangerous areas.

Since Brooksville Regional Hospital moved to its new location about a year ago, Hernando County taxpayers have had to spend considerable money to maintain a mostly vacant building.

But those days could be over because it the building has been sold.

County commissioners have officially signed a contract to sell the former hospital building for just over a million dollars. That’s good news for county taxpayers who have been paying roughly $50,000 a month for the building’s upkeep.

County commissioner David Russell said that’s money that can be used for other projects.

“That’s $50,000 a month that could be put towards our space needs for our judicial, and that’s something we’re investigating right now,” Russell said.

County officials said the buyer plans to fix up the building and use it to house an assisted living facility, medical offices and a restaurant.

County officials said the closing should take place in about 30 days.

Hernando County Fire Rescue is housed in the back of the building. A deal has been struck to allow the department to use the facility as long as needed.