Citrus in brief

By JORGE SANCHEZ

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 22, 2001

LECANTO -- The musical Fiddler on the Roof will be performed at 7 p.m. March 31 and 2 p.m. April 1 at Curtis Peterson Auditorium. Herb Urbano directs. The play is sponsored by the Citrus Shrine Club, and proceeds will benefit the Egypt Shrine Patient Transportation Fund. Tickets are $10. Call 527-0698.

Canoe and kayak event appeals for paddlers

DUNNELLON -- A two-river paddling event for canoe and kayak paddlers is scheduled for April 28 for the Rainbow and Withlacoochee rivers.

The competition will be held at the Rainbow River at County Road 484. Parking will be at the County Road 484/Rainbow River tuber exit. A complimentary lunch is provided for competitors.

Registration will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on race day. The Competition Class race starts at 10 a.m., and the Recreational Class race begins at 10:30 a.m. There will be two categories in each class, junior (17 and younger) and combined adult and youth (18 and older with 17 and younger).

Course distance for the Competition Class will be 12 miles, and for the Recreation Class, 5 miles. The entry fee is $12.

To register by e-mail, send name, mailing address, phone, class and division to: thorfran@hotmail.com. To register by mail, send the same information to Thor and Fran Siegfried, 18337 SW 102 St. Road, Dunnellon, FL 34432.

Racers who register by April 15 will receive a complimentary Rainbow-Coochee Rivers Regatta T-shirt.

Call the Siegfrieds at (352) 465-4058. Boat rentals are available in Dunnellon at Anglers Resort, (352) 489-2397 (canoes); Dragonfly Watersports, (352) 489-3046 (kayaks and canoes); and Rainbow River Adventures (canoes), (352) 873-3233.

Bayfest will meld arts, heritage and environment

CRYSTAL RIVER -- Bayfest, a community celebration of heritage and Kings Bay, will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 7 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 8 in Crystal River. Events include an arts and craft show, heritage exhibits, wildlife exhibits and refreshments such as mullet dinner and corn on the cob. Entertainment will feature American Indian stories from the Red Turtle Lodge and performances of bluegrass, country, hometown folk and gospel singers at the Bayfest Bandstand at the old train depot. Visitors can listen to American Indian flute music and watch a flute being carved.

Craftsmen and artists from throughout the Southeast will have items for display and sale. Highlights will include the Quilts on the Bay show in the restored train depot.

Throughout Heritage Village, there will be wildlife exhibits focusing on the local environment. Experts will show visitors how to garden with xeriscape and will host a herb and garden workshop. To register, call Dot at 795-0060.

At Hunter Springs Park, visitors can paddle in Kings Bay in a demonstration kayak. There will be races on Saturday and Sunday. The Paddle the Bay Poker Run will take place on Saturday, with seven stops for participants. On Sunday, the Race the Bay event will feature several classes.

Bruce Hunt, Florida author and photographer, will exhibit his works and sign books at the Book Nook at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. April 7.

Bayfest 2001 is sponsored by the Crystal River Community Redevelopment Agency, the St. Petersburg Times, Waste Management, Superior Waste Services, Cottage Framer and Citrus Sheds.

Antique tractor show pulls into Homosassa

HOMOSASSA -- The fourth annual antique tractor show takes place April 1 and 2 at 6674 S Lewdingar Drive, Homosassa. The show features antiques, a tractor pull, plowing and sawing demonstrations and a potluck supper both days and entertainment. Free admission. Call Robert or Mary Ann DeSimone, 628-5606.

Order of Hibernians celebrates anniversary

HERNANDO -- On April 9, Brig. John Sullivan, Division 1, Citrus County, Florida, Ancient Order of Hibernians and Our Lady of Limerick, Division 1, Citrus County, Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians will be 9 years old. To celebrate this anniversary, the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians will host a luncheon at noon April 21, at Andre's of Citrus Hills Inc., 505 E Hartford St. Menu choices are roast sirloin of beef or lemon baked scrod. Tickets: $12. For information or tickets, call Mary 746-9642 or LaVerne 746-9546. The luncheon is open to all members, AOH and LAOH, and friends.

Tax collector reminds taxpayers of deadlines

CITRUS COUNTY -- Janice A. Warren, Citrus County tax collector, advises all taxpayers who wish to pay their 2000 real estate or tangible personal property taxes without interest that they must do so no later than March 31. A 3 percent interest will be charged as of April 1. All unpaid parcels will be advertised in the newspaper, and advertising charges will also be added. Payments postmarked before April 1 will avoid any added charges.

If you are the owner of property and did not receive a tax bill for 2000, contact the tax collector's office with your property description and verify that your taxes have been paid. If you have any questions, please call the Inverness office at 341-6509.

SHARE Tampa Bay food distribution sites

SHARE is a program by which participants can stretch their food dollars and help their community at the same time. One SHARE unit costs $14 in cash or food stamps, and two hours of volunteer community service.

For information call the church office at 746-1500 or 489-1688.

LECANTO: Sign-up for the April distribution of the SHARE Tampa Bay food program at Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church will be from 11:15-11:45 a.m., April 1; 10 -- 11 a.m., April 6; and 7-7:30 p.m., April 7, at the church, 2540 Norvell Bryant Highway (County Road 486), Lecanto. In addition to the basic package being offered for $14, there will be a Mega Meat Package for $14 and a Slab-O-Robs for $10. All are welcome to participate; two hours of volunteer service is the only requirement. For information, call Eleanor at 628-7536 or Ginny at 746-2824.

CITRUS SPRING: Registration for the April distribution of the SHARE Tampa Bay food program at North Oak Baptist Church will be taken from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays or on SHARE Distribution Day, 10-11 a.m., Saturday at the church office, 9324 Elkam Blvd., Citrus Springs. The cutoff date for April distribution is April 6.

HOMOSASSA: Distribution for the March SHARE Tampa Bay food program is 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 8831 W. Bradshaw St. Please bring a box or basket to pick up your order. For information, call 382-1034 or 628-1380.

Bike ride will pump funds into Lung Association

There is still time to register for the American Lung Association's fifth annual Clean Air Bike Ride along the Withlacoochee State Trail, which is listed in National Geographic's Top 20 Bike Trails. Participants will enjoy the atmosphere of the longest paved trail in Florida, with its wildlife and all the beauty of nature, while raising money for a good cause.

The ride will take place March 31, rain or shine. Riders may start between 7 and 9 a.m. The ride begins at the Ridge Manor Trailhead of the Withlacoochee State Trail and winds through Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. The trailhead is 1 mile east of Interstate 75 at State Road 50 (Exit 61) near Brooksville. Participants may choose a 12-, 20-, 48- or 100-mile route.

The entry fee is $20 ($10 for children 12 and under), which includes a T-shirt if available, continental breakfast, light lunch and SAG snacks. Walk-up registrations will be accepted the day of the event. Incentives are given for raising additional pledges. All registrants are entered in a drawing for a Schwinn mountain bike donated by Action Wheel Sport of St. Petersburg.

Proceeds benefit the American Lung Association of Gulfcoast Florida's local programs and patient services, including asthma education programs in schools, summer camp for kids with asthma, tobacco prevention education programs and emergency financial medical assistance.

For information or a registration form, call 1-800-771-5863 or download a registration form at www.tampacycle.com.

First-time home buyers can cover basics in classes

LECANTO -- The Citrus County Division of Housing Services is offering first-time home buyers classes. Two classroom sessions will be held at Central Florida Community College, 3800 S Lecanto Highway (County Road 491) in Multi-Purpose Room L2-103.

There is no charge for these classes. Those attending both sessions will receive a Certificate of Completion. Any person who requires a special accommodation for a disability must call 72 hours in advance.

Session 1, sponsored by Century 21/Alliance Realty will be 5:45 to 9 p.m., March 29 and will cover energy conservation, home security, homeowners insurance, landscaping, termite prevention, housekeeping, home maintenance, hazard prevention, personal safety and buying an existing home.

Session 2, sponsored by SunTrust Bank and the Escambia County Housing Finance Authority, will cover credit, family budget, fair housing, building a new home, applying and qualifying for a mortgage, the mortgage revenue bond program, and affordable mortgages. Other presenters will be the Florida Power Corp., the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, the Citrus County Cooperative Extension Service, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Mid-Florida and Rex Rusaw, the RRC, the Withlacoochee Area Legal Services, Maria Parker/Allstate Insurance. For information or to make a reservation, contact Lynne in the Citrus County Division of Housing Services at 527-5382. Limited seating.

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