Grocery staples and canned goods will be distributed to low-income residents from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today at a variety of locations.
Those who have been accepted into the Department of Agriculture program can visit the following distribution points:
Osceola Agricultural Center in the “Red Barn,” 1901 E. Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee.
Buenaventura Lakes Community Center, 501 Florida Parkway, Kissimmee.
Intercession City Community Center, 1531 Immokalee St., Intercession City.
First Missionary Baptist Church of Kenansville, 760 S. Canoe Creek Road, Kenansville.
First-time participants can apply for eligibility today at the Osceola Agricultural Center.
For details, call Osceola Council on Aging at 407-846-8532.
AROUND OSCEOLA
HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS
Those who plan to be away from home this summer can find out how to prepare their houses through an Osceola County Extension program at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Central Library.
Extension Agent Mary Beth Salisbury will discuss how to close a Florida home during the summer months, what should and shouldn’t be left in a house, how to prevent mildew and how to keep bugs away.
The library is at 211 E. Dakin Ave. The event is free and open to the public.
For details, call 407-935-0777.
FOUR CORNERS
The fourth annual Free Community BBQ will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Four Corners residents are invited to attend the event at First National Bank of Polk County, 12600 U.S. Highway 27, a quarter mile south of U.S. Highway 192.
The barbecue will be catered by Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q and CitrusRidge Dairy Queen. There also will be live music and children’s activities. The event is sponsored by Community of Faith.
For more information, call 1-888-324-8457 or 863-424-8028.
HEALTHY COOKING
Recipe Magic, a cooking seminar on converting favorite recipes to your health needs, will be offered by the Diabetes Center at Florida Hospital Celebration Health.
The class is designed for those who need to adjust their eating plans because of diabetes, high cholesterol or similar problems. The class will meet on April 12 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The deadline to register is April 5.
Cost is $10 per person, which includes coupons and a cookbook.
Registration is required. For details, call 407-764-4280.
FREE TAX HELP
Residents can get free help with personal tax returns through an AARP Tax-Aide volunteer program at the following locations:
10 a.m. to noon, Mondays, First Baptist Church of Poinciana, 601 Walnut St., Poinciana. Noon to 4 p.m., Tuesdays, First Methodist Church, Ohio and 11th streets, St. Cloud; electronic filing is available.
9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Orange Gardens Civic Center, 1114 George St., Kissimmee.
Noon to 4 p.m., Wednesdays, Polo Park Community Center, Polo Park Boulevard and Hempstead, Davenport; electronic filing is available.
9 a.m. to noon, Thursdays, Knights of Columbus, 2000 Neptune Road, Kissimmee.
Noon to 4 p.m., Fridays, Good Samaritan Village, Palms Quad, Kissimmee; electronic filing is available.
Noon to 4 p.m., Fridays (except April 6), Osceola County Central Library, 211 E. Dakin St., Kissimmee; electronic filing is available.
12:30 to 4 p.m., Fridays, Buenaventura Lakes Community Center, 501 Florida Parkway, Kissimmee.
Appointments are not necessary.
LIBRARY HOURS TO EXPANDHours of operation will be expanded at St. Cloud and Poinciana public libraries as of Sunday.
They will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Buenaventura Lakes and Central libraries recently established those hours as well.
Items for this column may be sent to Community Notes, Osceola Sentinel, 804 W. Emmett St., Kissimmee, FL 34741. Phone, 407-931-5930. Fax, 407-931-5959. E-mail, Osceola@orlandosentinel.com.
GOOD SAMARITAN
LUNCHEONS
Residents of Luther Lane, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Florida Room of the Community Center. The Village Golf League, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in the east end of the Community Center
Methodist Fellowship, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday in the Florida Room of the Community Center.
MERRITONESThe Merritones Band will entertain Health Care Center residents at 2:30 p.m. Friday. The event will have a Mardi Gras theme with costumes and clowns.
LAST DANCE
The Village’s last dance of the season will be from 7 to 10:15 p.m. Thursday in the Community Center. Doin’ It Right will provide music. Admission is $3. Everyone is welcome.
FIELD TRIPS
Village residents will take a trip to Dairy Queen in St. Cloud on Friday. The bus will leave at 2:30 p.m.
A trip to Osceola Center for the Arts is scheduled for Sunday. Residents will see a performance of The Boys Next Door. The bus will leave at 1:15 p.m.
SPIRITUAL PROGRAMS
Trinity Lutheran prayer breakfast will be from 8 to 10 a.m. Thursday in the Florida Room of the Community Center.
A Bible class on the Old Testament and book of Leviticus, taught by Pastor Keith Copeland, will be at 8:30 a.m. Sunday in Good Samaritan Community Church. Everyone is welcome. TV-3 Bible study will be at 9:15 a.m. Monday in the Florida Room of the Community Center. Everyone is welcome. The program will be broadcast live on Village TV Channel 3 and will run again at 2:30 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Sarah Circle will have a Bible study from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday in Quad L-9.
ARTS AND CRAFTSPainting class will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday in Palms 3.
The Crafters will work on projects for health care center residents from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday in Quad U-14. New village members are welcome.
THE ACHIEVERS
The Achievers, a weight-control club, will weigh in from 7 to 8 a.m. Tuesday in the Community Center game room. A meeting will follow. All village residents and guests are welcome.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Resident Advisory Council will meet from 9:45 a.m. to noon Tuesday in the Florida Room. The meeting will be broadcast on Village TV Channel 3.
Items for this column may be sent to Adele Bishop, 4174-02 Northgate Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34746, or dropped in the box for news for the Osceola Sentinel in the community center in the village. Phone, 407-846-3002.
POINCIANA
CALLING ALL ARTISTS
Poinciana Community Center is recruiting local artists who would like their work displayed at the center. The center is at 395 Marigold Ave.
For details on the program and exhibition calendar, call recreation director Gladys Anson at 863-427-3417.
PANTHER SIGHTING
A Florida panther has been spotted near Poinciana at the Disney Wilderness Preserve, according to Nature Conservancy volunteers. State game officers say the panther might have migrated from South Florida.
Residents who see evidence of panther tracks can contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 352-732-1225.
ART CLUB
An art and sketching club is being formed in Poinciana for those who want to pursue creative arts as a hobby. For details, call 863-427-3417.
LEGAL DISCUSSION
In response to feedback from residents, Poinciana Homeowners Association has scheduled a discussion of legal issues affecting the community for 7:30 p.m. April 18 in the Community Center, 395 Marigold Ave.
A visiting attorney will present the program.
For details, call 863-427-3417.
Items for this column may be sent to Forrest Clark, 703 Duffer Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34759. Phone, 863-427-0371. E-mail, B24vet@aol.com.
ST. CLOUD
STUDENT SHOWCASE
St. Cloud High School dance students will team up with professional dancers for the “Dance Around the World” showcase at 7 p.m. Saturday. The event will be in the gym on campus, 2000 Bulldog Lane.
Swing, Latin, ballroom and country-western dance routines will be included in the program. The public is welcome to attend. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students.
For details, call 407-891-3100.
STORY TIME
Story time for children ages 3 to 5 will be at 11 a.m. today at St. Cloud Library, 810 13th St. The program is free and open to the public.
For details, call 407-892-6910.
LINE DANCERS
Dancers of all ages and experience levels are welcome to attend St. Cloud Line Dance Club meetings. Led by instructor Dot Wilkinson, sessions take place on Fridays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
Cost to attend is $3 per class. For details, call Pat Bond at 407-892-1896.
FASHION FUND-RAISER
A spring fashion show luncheon will be at noon Saturday at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, 900 Brown Chapel Road.
The event will include entertainment, lunch and a dessert buffet in the school’s cafeteria. Fashions will be provided by Beall’s and Shore’s Town and Country. It is sponsored by the Council of Catholic Women and the parish school’s Parents and Teachers Association.
Admission is a $15 donation. For tickets, call 407-957-1772.
COUNTRY DANCE
Ken Epperson will provide music at a country dance from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The event will be at St. Cloud Senior Center, 700 Indiana Ave. The program is open to the public.
For details, call Tom Barrows at 407-957-5309.
MONDAY NIGHT FUN
Doin’ It Right will provide music at the next event in the Monday Night Dance series at St. Cloud Senior Center, 700 Indiana Ave.
The event will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday. Couples and singles of all ages are welcome to attend. Admission is $2.50 per person.
For details, call Tom Barrows at 407-957-5309.
Items for this column may be sent to Mary Lynn Blandford, 417 Chestnut St., St. Cloud, FL 34769. Phone, 407-892-6916. E-mail, MaryLynnBl@aol.com.
