Prediction: I predict that Olive Garden will open up a restaurant in Hernando County.
— Sarah Nachin
Evaluation: She is correct.
Prediction: Space Aliens and Their Space Craft will return to Hernando County looking for their Friend John Reeves from 1965.
— Joe Solomon
Evaluation: We do have drones in New Jersey and elsewhere.
Prediction: The Hernando Beach boat parade will have 30 participants.
— Dr. Jason Ledger
Evaluation: There are usually at least two boat parades in Hernando beach. There is the Fourth of July and the Christmas boat parade. After the hurricane damage this year, the Christmas boat parade was canceled. There were 19 participants in the Fourth of July Parade
Prediction: I predict we will have one or two pickleball courts in our Anderson snow park in 2024.
— Dr. Mary Li
Evaluation: It does not appear that pickleball courts have been added to Anderson Snow Park. There are pickleball courts at several other parks in the county.
Prediction: We predict that The Arc Nature Coast’s new Life Skills Development Center at our Neff Lake Campus will be completed in 2024! Happy New Year!
— Nancy Stubbs
Evaluation: The Arc Nature Coast is a valuable resource to the community and we wish them continued success. (Nancy Stubbs will be sending us an update on this project.)
Prediction: Hernando County will get a local Hispanic supermarket in 2024! Hernando County will get a local shopping mall in 2024!
— Joseline Stocker
Evaluation: We are not aware of a new Hispanic supermarket in the county. There are several Latin markets: Fiesta Foods Market, Miguel’s Latin Market, La Plazita, Bodega Latina and Latinos Meat Market & Deli. There is still no local shopping mall (Place where you walk inside).
Prediction: Predicts Hernando High School Football team will win the County Championship
Predicts that Edward Summerlin, Dennis Raines, and Richard Marcus will be inducted into the Hernando High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Predicts a legitimate soul food restaurant will open in Brooksville in 2024
Predicts President Joe Biden will win Hernando County in the 2024 Elections
Predicts the Florida Legislature will approve the establishment of a Smithsonian-style Black History Museum in the State of Florida.
I wish everyone a Happy Productive New Year!
— Imani Asukile
Evaluation: Hernando High had a winning record, which was an improvement over last year. This year’s Hernando High School Sports Hall of Fame inductees were Tim Jinkens, Tara Edwards (Class of 1985 — track and volleyball), Genard Hudson (1987 — wrestling, football and track), Brad Kuhl (1992 — wrestling), Anthony Roberts (2005 — weightlifting and football), Daniel Pritz (2010 — wrestling), Matilda “Tillie” Warren Holland (1959 — basketball and softball) and the entire 2024 state championship girls wrestling team. We are not aware of a soul food restaurant that opened in 2024. Joe Biden did not win Hernando County and was not on the ballot. There is a task force to provide recommendations for the planning, construction, and operation of a Florida Museum of Black History.
Prediction: Gopher Tortoises are going to get tired of getting pushed around. They may start hanging out in parking lots to bully people and impede traffic.
— Lisa MacNeil
Evaluation: The reports of this happening have been limited.
Prediction: Hernando County grows as a community AND The Hernando County Hawks bring home a EAFL Championship to Brooksville!!!
— Austin Webster
Evaluation: It does not appear that the Hernando County Hawks won the EAFL Championship.
Prediction: God will bless South Brooksville to prosper in the revitalization of the community. The Tax Redevelopment Advisory Committee (TRAC) will be blessed to get the ok to proceed with the building of a community center in South Brooksville.
–Connie Green
Evaluation: It appears the project is still in the planning phase.
Ms. Green provided the following update, “The South Brooksville CRA Steering Committee has included the community center in the CRA Development Plan for South Brooksville. The Committee is currently meeting monthly to develop the CRA Development Plan which is an Interlocal Agreement between Hernando County and the City of Brooksville. The committee members are Commissioner Steve Champion, Vice-Mayor Thomas Bronson, School Board member Susan Duval, John Mitten, Charles Burnette, Delores Haygood Williams, Angelina Philanders, Keisha Cason, and Connie Green.
“The community center is also included in the Hernando County Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The County Administrator, Jeff Rogers and Hernando County Community Service Director, Chris Linsbeck met with me and other South Brooksville community residents and are open to building the community center at Coach Lorenzo Hamilton Sr Park in South Brooksville.
“A Space and Usage Analysis Report for the community center has already been prepared and submitted to the Board of County Commissioners and the Hernando County Parks and Recreation Master Plan Committee for review.
“There has been no final decision made from either Committee at this time. Plans and meetings are still ongoing.”
