Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Golf: Thomas rallies to win The Players Championship /B1 MONDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 84 Warm with in- LOW creasing clouds and sea breeze. 54 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 15, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 158 COUNTY COVID-19 versus Biden UPATE COVID the Canyon Citrus County boosts passes 10,000 COVID cases According to the vaccine Florida Department of Health, 11 positive cases were reported surplus in Citrus County since the latest update. One new death was reported, for a total of for US 417. To date in the ZEKE MILLER county, 10,010 people Associated Press have tested positive (including 82 non- WASHINGTON — residents). President Joe Biden One new hospital- has directed his admin- ization was reported, istration to order an- other 100 million doses for a total of of the Johnson & John- 653 hospitalized. son coronavirus vac- Totals reflect prelim- cine, growing a likely inary reports received U.S. surplus of doses by the state, and are later this year while subject to later much of the rest of the revision. world struggles with deep shortages. DOH-Citrus Even before Wednes- vaccine day’s order, the U.S. was to have enough ap- registration proved vaccine deliv- system open Chronicle file ered by mid-May to Joe Cappuccuilli, president of Rock Crusher Canyon Pavilion and Amphitheater and vice president of Gulf to Lake DOH-Citrus’ prereg- cover every adult and Associates, a commercial real estate and development firm, stands before a 20,000-square-foot covered pavilion at enough for 400 million istration system to Rock Crusher Canyon. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the venue. Thus, Rock Crusher management is people total by the end schedule COVID-19 “exploring our options. We are deciding what to do with it,” said Cappuccilli. of July. Enough doses to vaccine appointments cover 200 million more for individuals 65 and people are on order older and frontline Pandemic delivers crushing blow to local entertainment venue should vaccines from health care workers is AstraZeneca and now available. Novavax receive ap- ARGO ILSON Thus, Rock Crusher management the property or developing portions Individuals can now M W proval from the Food is “exploring our options. We are de- of it for different uses. Cappuccilli be added to a waiting For the Chronicle and Drug Administra- ciding what to do with it,” said Joe said the land use for Rock Crusher tion. The new J&J list for vaccine ap- race Adkins, Vince Gill, Cappuccilli, manager of the Rock is considered “recreational,” which doses, which would pointments and be no- Faith Hill and Willie Nelson Crusher property and vice president allows everything from single family cover another 100 mil- tified when appoint- have performed there. of Gulf to Lake Associates, a com- residential use to an RV park. There lion people, are ex- ments are available in Name a country-western mercial real estate and develop- already is an RV park on the site. pected to be delivered Citrus County by visit- star and his or her tunes ment firm. Another option would be to stay in the latter half of the ing myvaccine.fl.gov Tprobably have reverberated off the He said he hopes there will be a the course and continue to subsidize year. or by calling 866-201- quarry walls of Rock Crusher Can- decision within the next couple the property until a full season of White House aides yon Amphitheater. months. events can be offered. Even then, 0442; TTY is said Biden’s first prior- Rock and folk groups like Her- The late Stan Olsen, an entrepre- some subsidization probably would 833-476-1036. ity is ensuring that man’s Hermits and the Kingston neur and philanthropist who devel- be needed. As part of the state- Americans are vacci- Trio also have found their way to the oped Citrus Hills, Meadowcrest and And it’s likely a season of events wide preregistration nated before consider- venue in Crystal River. Black Diamond, also had the vision couldn’t be held until 2022. Thus, system, each county ing distributing doses But COVID-19 has taken its toll on to turn a former limestone mine into maintaining the status quo seems has a designated elsewhere. the performance space, which in- the Rock Crusher performance site. less feasible with each passing day, number that individu- “We want to be over- cludes not only the amphitheater, But Olsen died Sept. 30, and he al- according to Cappuccilli, and for als can call and supplied and overpre- but the 20,000-square-foot, open-air ways had subsidized the venue, ac- several reasons. pared,” White House pre-register with if they pavilion, where many local nonprof- cording to Cappuccilli. For one thing, Rock Crusher didn’t press secretary Jen do not have internet its have hosted popular fundraising A Florida Limited Partnership seek government help under the Psaki said Wednesday, access. Citrus Coun- events and smaller concerts have Annual Report for 2021 lists Olsen CARES Act during the pandemic, saying Biden wanted ty’s designated num- been staged. Family Investments as the general because the site is so intertwined contingencies in the ber is 833-540-2058. The facility has been closed since partner operating through Gulf to with the real estate ventures that it event of any unforeseen Vaccine supply re- the pandemic settled in, and that Lake Associates. Cappuccilli said would be difficult to separate the issues with the existing mains limited and ap- means no revenue has been avail- that in deciding what to do with one from the others, Cappuccilli production timeline. able to offset the ongoing costs of Rock Crusher, estate issues also explained. pointments may not “We still don’t know be available. staff, utilities, maintenance, taxes need to be addressed. See CANYON/Page A7 — From staff reports and insurance. Possible options include selling See SURPLUS/Page A7 POLL WHAT DO YOU THINK? Impact fees are a one- time payment to offset Local nonprofit benefits from more square footage the financial impact of new development on public infrastructure. But Nature Coast Ministries still needs more volunteer dentists, hygienists Citrus County’s impact fee is currently 50% of NANCY KENNEDY plaza as Ollie’s, Hitchcock’s Mar- the full amount for Staff writer ket, an American Legion post and transportation and several restaurants, gets as many schools. Should county What a difference an extra as 120 customers a day. commissioners adopt a 10,000 square feet makes. “We get lots of traffic,” Edie consultant’s Nature Coast Ministries, the Rosio said. “And when people recommendation to nonprofit that, among other come here needing help, we help increase the fee? things, offers a no-cost dental them.” clinic to Citrus County residents McMullin said a man who had A. I am sick and tired of within 200% of federal poverty just gotten out of prison and was government fees. guideline, moved its thrift store staying with a friend came to the B. It would be counter- location from Sunny Days Plaza in Sunny Days Plaza store wearing productive to the Homosassa to Homosassa Square, shoes he had borrowed from his county’s building surge. at the corner of U.S. 19 and Yulee friend. C. Not when the Drive, also in Homosassa. “He had a job interview the economy is struggling They went from 1,000 square next day and didn’t have anything feet to 11,000 — more space, more to wear, so we found him two out- from the pandemic. merchandise, more foot traffic, fits and a really nice pair of D. New growth should which all equals more income to shoes,” McMullin said. “He sat pay for its infrastructure help more people in need. down and cried.” impact. “That’s what we’re here for, to She said in the past two years, E. We all have a stake in help our neighbors,” said Bonnie Nature Coast Ministries has accommodating future McMullin, Nature Coast Minis- helped eight homeless veterans growth. tries spokeswoman. and four women and their chil- To vote, visit www. The new thrift store, which dren from CASA by giving them chronicleonline.com. opened in November 2020, is the furniture and household items Scroll down the home brightly lit, clean and wheelchair- they needed to start a new life. accessible, which had been a “At the dental clinic, we had a page and look for the problem with the former location, veteran who lived at the shelter in poll box in the right- NANCY KENNEDY/Chronicle McMullin said. Inverness who had enough money Nature Coast Ministries recently moved its thrift store location from Sunny hand column. Thrift store managers, Kevin to get his own single-wide (trailer) Days Plaza in Homosassa to Homosassa Square, at the corner of U.S. 19 Results will appear and Edie Rosio, said the former but no money to furnish it,” she and Yulee Drive, also in Homosassa. Pictured are Bonnie McMullin, left, next Monday. Find last store had fewer than 20 customers said. “We said, ‘That’s what we Nature Coast Ministries spokeswoman, and thrift store manager Edie week’s online poll a day. do,’ and brought him to our Rosio. Revenue from the store helps fund the no-cost dental clinic in results./Page A3 This store, which is in the same See NONPROFIT/Page A5 Crystal River. Classifieds ............... B8 Editorial ....................A6 Horoscope ................A4 Movies ..................... B7 Comics .................... B7 Entertainment ...........A4 INDEX Lottery Numbers .....