Ousted: Lecanto drops district opener /B1 0% 0% TUESDAY TODAY CITRUS COUNTY Financing & next morning 11 To Choose From HIGH SEE PAGE C12 FOR DETAILS 84 Partly cloudy. VILLAGE LOW PAGE A4 VILLAGE TOYOT TOYOTAA 000EP36 57 www.chronicleonline.com APRIL 23, 2013 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 118 ISSUE 259 Inverness to address recycling concerns Elderly and disabled residents worry that new waste receptacles might be too hard to move NANCY KENNEDY “I’m handicapped and use a “My driveway is on a slant,” also have similar fears, espe- dents, including age, mobility Staff writer cane, and I know my capabili- she said. “Even with my smaller cially because this program and dexterity. ties, and I know it’s not going to garbage can, I have trouble doesn’t have an opt-out “The program is used in hun- INVERNESS — Recycling in work,” she said concerning the pushing or pulling it. When I provision. dreds or thousands of large and Inverness hasn’t even started 96- and 64-gallon containers that have something that’s heavy, like “What are we supposed to small communities across Amer- and the program has already Waste Management will be de- kitty litter, I put it in my car and do?” she asked. ica, so it’s not new,” DiGiovanni raised concerns from elderly livering to every Inverness city drive to the end of my driveway Inverness City Manager Frank said. “We also expected to hear residents. resident beginning next week. to set out the bag.” DiGiovanni said prior to imple- that people have concerns. The Pauline Barber, who lives in Even though the containers She said if she and her elderly menting the new program, city carts are not cumbersome and the Inverness Highlands, is in have handles and wheels, Bar- neighbors are concerned, then staff and representatives from are designed for balance and to her 80s, as are several of her ber said she fears she won’t be there are certainly other elderly Waste Management discussed neighbors. able to maneuver them. or disabled city residents who the demographics of city resi- See RECYCLING/ Page A2 Let’s get active! United Way rolls out triathlon for youngsters BROOKE PERRY people to start exercising For the Chronicle in a fun way; triathlons are common fitness com- n an effort to pro- petitions for athletes of mote healthier all ages, so why not get an Ilifestyles in children, early start? the United Way of Citrus “We are all very ex- County is sponsoring a cited about this,” Kids Triathlon, open for VanAllen said. “We feel families with children like getting kids up and ages 5 to 15. out of the house to get United Way of Citrus moving is important to County board member work toward a healthier Linda VanAllen had the lifestyle.” idea to create the event in order to get younger See TRIATHLON/ Page A2 Seven-year-old can’t wait for challenge BROOKE PERRY going to be great for For the Chronicle her.” Mr. Duncan found out Now that her training about the race through wheels are off, 7-year- family friend Linda old Kayla Duncan is VanAllen and soon ready to take on her after, registered his first-ever triathlon. daughter for the event. The Inverness resi- Kayla loves being ac- dent will be competing tive. She’s been riding in the junior division of her four-wheeler since the Kids Triathlon at she was 5 and she just Whispering Pines Park started riding dirt bikes on May 11. at her grandmother’s “She’s very competi- house. Her interest in tive,” her father, Chris Duncan, said. “This is See KAYLA/Page A2 Kayla Duncan prepares for the Kids Triathlon, which will be May 11 at Whispering Pines Park in Inverness. Kayla will be swimming, biking and running and her father, Chris, will be participating as well. STEPHEN E. LASKO/For the Chronicle CMHS unveils revamped, mobile-friendly website MIKE WRIGHT it, go to www.citrusmh.com. “Our new website is mobile-friendly,” tion. It also includes photos of actual Staff writer Mehl told the Citrus Memorial Health she said. hospital staffers, such as doctors and Foundation at its meeting Monday that She said she received feedback and nurses. INVERNESS — Citrus Memorial research showed 80 percent of Internet suggestions from a focus group, which Another big change: The hospital’s Health System has rolled out a new web- users are looking for health care infor- pointed out the difficulty of going from phone number and directions are at the site that officials hope will expand the mation. Many people have a smartphone one department to another, and back to top of the home page rather than the hospital’s market share. that allows Internet access and the hos- the home page. bottom. CMHS spokeswoman Katie Mehl said pital’s old site wasn’t available by “They hated our navigation,” she said. Mehl said the hospital also has a pres- the new site updates the old one. To view smartphone. The new site allows for easier naviga- ence on Twitter and Facebook. Comics . .C8 Editorial . .A10 INDEX Lottery Payouts . .B3 Classifieds . .C9 Community . .C6 Entertainment . .A4 Movies . .C8 TV Listings . .C7 Crossword . .C7 Horoscope . .A4 Lottery Numbers . .B3 Obituaries . .A6 000EI0T A2 TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Fitness in Citrus marks another great year Communitywide fitness challenge took place over six weeks in February and March REBECCA MARTIN health and well-being benefits groups, as well as groups of make new friends; social activity Teams joined one of two Special to the Chronicle from participating in the Fitness friends, co-workers, club mem- is important, especially to wid- tracks, either step-counting or Challenge. bers and neighbors united by ows and others who are alone. minutes-of-activity, in one of Fitness Challengers this year ■ 87 percent said they im- hobbies. It’s better than TV or a bar.” three fitness level categories. said they were really motivated proved their overall health/ About 36 percent of this year’s The bottom line Congratulations to everyone, to get moving after the winter fitness. participants were ages 41 and especially to these high- months, and it turned out to be a ■ 52 percent said they lost through 60, consistent with the It’s clear from their evalua- point teams in each category: lot of fun. some weight (and others said nationwide baby-boomer con- tions that this year’s fitness chal- STEPS CHALLENGE The 2013 Community-Wide their weight stayed the same but cern about fitness and health. lengers considered their Fitness Challenge engaged 300 their clothes were looser). And reflecting the county’s ac- participation a positive experi- Just Getting Started 1. Fiscally Fit. participants on 40 teams. On ■ 27 percent said they low- tive, older demographic, more ence. Congratulations to every- 2. Almost There. post-Challenge evaluations, they ered their blood pressure than 48 percent of challengers one who took part. Thanks also 3. Step It Up. detailed achievements and ben- through exercise. were age 61 or older, including to the groups and organizations that supported this year’s activi- Getting There efits, including health improve- ■ 37 percent said they made 23 percent older than 70. ties in so many ways, including 1. Pets ’n’ Steps. ments and just plain having fun. new friends, up from last time. Comments support of workplace teams to 2. CRPS Accelerated More than 96 percent said they Interestingly, many reported These comments are typical of participate. Steppers. would participate again next improvements in sleep, stress the many seen on challengers’ A special thank-you goes to 3. Trinity Walkers. year. and mood due to exercise: The Challenge ran for six evaluations: the Citrus County Chronicle, Jocks ■ 40 percent said they were ■ weeks in February and March. “Enjoyed the jump start; the which published team scores CRPS Steppin’ Tweeners. able to sleep better. challenge is a great motivation each week during the Commu- Teams competed in different ■ 42 percent said they had MINUTES categories, choosing among a to get some exercise every day.” nity-Wide Fitness Challenge and lower stress level. ■ “I’m aware that the less I do, hosted a blog. CHALLENGE number of physical activities to ■ 44 percent reported im- the less I can do; and the more I Just Getting Started earn challenge points. Nearly all proved moods. Winners said they think the Fitness Chal- do, the more I can do.” 1. Biker Buddies. All these improvements are ■ lenge should be run again next “Accountability is the key: I Congratulations to the 40 2. Homosassa Hikers. key to lowering risk for heart didn’t want to let my team down, teams and 300 individuals who 3. Healthy Heroes. year, and most said they would disease, Citrus County’s No.1 participate again. and I didn’t let myself down.” participated in the Community- Getting There killer of both men and women. ■ Here are the highlights of “I had a barrel of fun, and Wide Fitness Challenge of 2013. 1. Pooch Walkers. their evaluations: The fitness always feel emotionally much They spent the six weeks of this 2. Early Birds. better after exercising.” year’s Challenge walking, jog- 3. Team Citrus 95. The personal benefits challengers ■ “Setting goals helped us all ging, swimming, biking, kayak- Jocks Most respondents indicated Participants this year were achieve more; this was a chal- ing, working out, skating, playing 1. Jazzercise Junkies. that, in addition to having fun, mostly female — 80 percent — lenge all levels could meet.” ball and more to improve their 2.