Our new officers that will take office at the March meeting are:
Officers:
President: Becky Card-Swerdloff; Vice-President: Donna Black; Secretary: Ann Hopta; Treasurer: Lorri Kindberg
· Board Members:
Donna Allen, Lee Adams, Martha Casisa and Charlie Kemp
NCBCH March News
Greetings Everyone,
Due to the positive feedback our next meeting will again be held at the Brooksville County Club located at 23446 Links Dr., Brooksville, FL 34601 on Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 5:30 p.m.There will again be a buffet that includes a non-alcoholic drink, salad, main course, dessert and tip included for the price of $15.00.We will collect the dinner fee when you arrive.Anyone desiring an alcoholic beverage must go to the bar to order and pay for their drink there.Please note that you can pay with cash or check.Credit cards will NOT be accepted for the $15.00 dinner fee.
Our topic for this meeting will be:Refuse to be a Victim; Here is How
Our speakers on this topic are a husband and wife team - Scott and Jackie Grant.
·Scott Grant is a semi-retired Law Enforcement Officer that worked for the Pasco Sheriff’s Department for 27 years.During this time he was a K9 Trainer and Handler as well as a firearms instructor.Scott made it a point upon retiring to create a class for ladies and couples to not only qualify for their concealed weapons license but to become more familiar with the laws in the State of Florida.
·To date Scott and his wife Jackie have taught over 2,000 people in small classes with under 20 participants.
·Today Scott still works a specialized K9 for Pasco County and continues training citizens.
·Scott and Jackie provide training to houses of worship for free.
We are pleased to report that Smith Prairie Trailhead parking area is complete with the exception of some signage. This is a one-way parking lot with the entrance coming off of Croom Road. Trucks and trailers can pull straight through with the exit being on the west side of the parking lot. Currently FFS has a limestone pile stockpiled at this west exit that they are using to repair many of the forest roads. They are currently opening this exit up for truck and trailer use when leaving the parking area.
We would like to thank the Sherman-Evans Fund from the Pittsburgh Foundation for providing the funding for this project. Thanks to Charlie Kemp for being the ‘architect’ and liaison with FFS and to all the volunteers that worked side-by-side to see this project through to completion. Bob Hopta, Bill Ehrlich, Fred Perry, Tom Calloway, Larry Briggs, Frank Godina, Jim Allen, Ann Hopta and Karen Kirby. We would also like to thank Bob Wilcox from the SWAMP bike riders group for working alongside us to complete this project. On that note we ask that all users respect other user’s trails. There are bike trails out of trailhead also - please use the equestrian trails or Forest Road 7 only when leaving this trailhead.
NCBCH’s election was held at the last meeting.Our new officers that will take office at the March meeting are:
Donna Allen, Lee Adams, Martha Casisa and Charlie Kemp
NCBCH is organizing a forest road cleanup for the Croom Tract on March 22 at 9:00 a.m at Tucker Hill Equestrian area.The jeep club and hiking club have agreed to join us in our efforts to keep our forest clean.Please keep this date open to participate and give back to FFS for all the beautiful riding that we have here.
Please keep Donna Allen and Richard Wilkerson in your thoughts and prayers.Donna recently had a riding accident and is currently out of the hospital and mending at home.Richard is continuing his recovery from a fall off a roof.
Continued happy trails to all!
Becky Card-Swerdloff
President, NCBCH
One Day Chainsaw Training
If anyone would like to take the new version of the Chainsaw Training which is a PowerPoint presentation, a video, and written exam which can all be completed in one day please let me know. We will also try and schedule some hands on training if the opportunity presents itself. We are tentatively planning to hold this training at Rock Lake Lodge and I am building a list of names currently. We will let you know when the class gets scheduled.
Mark Lewis
Recreation/Volunteer Coordinator
Florida Forest Service
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Lake Townsen Preserve by Becky Card-Swerdloff TOGETHER WE WON. This morning (May 15), the Hernando County Commissioners heard from all the emails you sent in, myself and other horse owners from NCBCH, the hikers, and local homeowners asking that Townsen Park remain as an equestrian and hiking park. We asked that the county continue with removing the dead trees but leave shade along the trails. Commissioner Dukes and Commissioner John Alloco made a motion that no more clearing be done on the trails at Townsen Park and to put hardwood trees back on the initial phase of clearing. The motion passed unanimously. The Tortoises will be able to be re-homed in the first phase of the restoration and on our trails we get shade! This is a win win for all! Thanks to everyone for participating with emails, speaking and attending. You made the difference!
Papa Joe’s
Italian Restaurant, River Ratz, Luigi's Pizza of Brooksville, Mykonos II, Beef O'Brady's, Mallie Kyla’s, Country Kitchen, Glory Days Grill, Publix
Florida Forest Service
Please patronize
these generous
donors that support our local community
Congratulations!
to
Volunteer of the Year 2020
Friends of Florida State Forests Annual Day Pass
Good for all Florida state forests that have fees at the trailheads. The day use fee at Croom's Tucker Hill trailhead is $2 per person. The annual pass is $45 which is good for any day of the year for up to 6 people. To order the annual pass on-line go to:
Read both pages, particularly the highlighted area, print, fill it out, make a check payable to Hernando Cnty Recreation Department, & mail to 205 E. Fort Dade St., Brooksville, FL 34601, or go to their office at same address to purchase one. Call 352-754-4027 for further info.
Equisure Liability Insurance is Now Available to BCHA Members!
Dear BCHA Member,
The Back Country Horsemen of American has added to its value to members by offering excess equestrian liability insurance through Equisure. The liability policy is available to current BCHA individual and family members in good standing and covers excess personal liability up to $1 million dollars! The cost for the policy through BCHA is $20 for individual BCHA members and $40 for family BCHA members.
