Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NFL Playoffs: Bucs bounce Saints, on to NFC title game / B1 MONDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 63 Sunshine returns LOW early; mainly light winds. 34 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JANUARY 18, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 102 MLK Jr. Day events to be scaled back FRED HIERS Staff writer Commemorations for Martin Lu- ther King Jr. Day will be modest ones Monday as officials continue to take precautions during the pandemic. Inverness’ celebration today, Jan. 18, is organized by the New Church Without Walls and will be a short walk beginning at 8:45 a.m. and will start at the Valerie The- NEWS atre, 207 Courthouse Square, and continue along North Apopka Ave- BRIEFS nue to the Depot District for a short program and light COVID-19 refreshments. UPDATE “It is definitely going to have precautions in place ... to deal with According to the the concerns of COVID-19,” said Florida Department Inverness City Manager Eric of Health, 58 positive Williams. cases were reported During previous MLK celebra- in Citrus County tions, the city ended their parades JEFF BRYAN/Chronicle file since the latest up- at the Valerie Theatre and hosted In this January 2020 file photo, Inverness City Councilman Dave Ryan, left, County Commission Chairman Brian date. No new deaths speakers indoors. Coleman and the Rev. Doug Alexander share a laugh during The New Church Without Walls International and the were reported, for a city of Inverness’ unity walk and presentation at the Valerie Theatre in Inverness. This year’s event is promoting See EVENTS/Page A7 the use of facemasks and social distancing amid the pandemic. total of 310. To date in the county, 8,013 people have tested positive (including 56 non- residents). No new hospital- izations were re- ported, for a total of 556 hospitalized. ‘One cup of coffee at a time’ Cold Weather Shelter open in Lecanto The Salvation Army will have its Cold Weather Shelter open at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, at 712 S. School Avenue, Le- canto. The shelter will close at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Face masks are re- quired to be worn while at the shelter. The pickup/drop-off location for those needing transportation is at the Family Re- source at Connec- tions, 3848 E. Parsons Point Road, Her- nando. Pickup is at 5:30 p.m. Monday. The driver will drop off people at The Sal- vation Army Cold Weather Shelter at no cost. People will be picked up at The Sal- MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle vation Army the follow- Robyn Kish briskly walks toward a customer Tuesday, Jan. 12, at Journey's Special Brew Café, ing morning and taken delivering a bacon, egg and cheese bagel and a piping-hot cup of fresh coffee. back to the same area. For information or questions, call the Sal- Special Brew Café brewing self-esteem, confidence vation Army at 352-513-4960. NANCY KENNEDY coffee and a muffin. umbrella organization that Staff writer If Cassie Lowe takes your provides a broad range of pro- — From staff reports order, she will input it in the grams for developmentally hen you walk into computerized point-of-sale and intellectual disabled POLL Journey’s Special system, and after Chef Ryan adults, encouraging the devel- Brew Café in In- Hooper prepares your food, opment of independence, con- ONLINE POLL: verness, you’re someone — perhaps Robyn fidence and self-esteem. Wgreeted at the front door with Kish — will deliver it to you Painted on one of the café’s What do a friendly hello, maybe by with smiling eyes peeking windows is the mission you think? Desiree Felver. over her face mask. statement: The smile from Robyn Kish You’ll be asked how they The café, which had its “Our Mission at Journey’s shines through her mask as she How well do you think may help you, and if you say grand opening Monday, Special Brew Café is to em- enthusiastically claps after Florida’s rollout of the you’re there for something Jan. 11, is the micro-business power individuals with successfully delivering an order COVID-19 vaccine is tasty to eat, they may suggest a endeavor of Journey to Suc- to a customer. Her boss added, being accomplished?? turkey sandwich or a cup of cess Foundation, the nonprofit See CUP/Page A7 “You rocked that, girl!” A. It’s like a precision military operation. B. It is being done as well as can be expected. C. It’s better than nothing. Board to consider boat fees, Cardinal plan D. I could do it better with one hand tied MIKE WRIGHT allows for discounts — $25 annual and the ordinance says the fees classification to encourage combi- behind my back. Staff writer pass for veterans, anyone over are aimed at any boat launched nations of development that could E. It’s worse than the 65 and can be purchased during a from a trailer. result in “walking” communities disease. Boat-launching fees and the fu- one-day half-price sale. The board meets at 1 p.m. Tues- where homes, shopping and trails To vote, visit www. ture of one of Citrus County’s Commissioners have discussed day, Jan. 19 at the county court- are all compacted. chronicleonline.com. more rural areas top a busy boat launch fees for nearly two house, 110 N. Apopka Ave., I Recommended approval of Scroll down the home county commission agenda for years. Saying they need the funds Inverness. contract with Citrus County page and look for the Tuesday. to improve parking at the county’s The agenda includes: Chamber of Commerce for Commissioners are expected to more popular ramps, a divided I 5:20 p.m. public hearing on $800,000 in CARES Act grant poll box in the right- set a public hearing for 2 p.m. board in August decided to move the Cardinal Street interchange funds. The chamber will disburse hand column. Feb. 9 to consider an ordinance ahead with the plan. management plan. The plan, in those funds to businesses suffer- Results will appear setting fees to launch boats that The proposed ordinance makes anticipation of the Suncoast Park- ing economic hardship from next Monday. Find last are transported by trailer. no distinction for motorized boats. way interchange expected to open COVID-19. week’s online poll Fees would be $10 per day or Commissioners in August said the in early 2022, also creates a Cardi- results./Page A3 $50 annual pass. The proposal fees should cover kayaks as well nal Mixed-Use (CMU) zoning See BOARD/Page A7 Classifieds ............... B8 Crossword .............. B10 INDEX Horoscope ................A4 Movies ..................... B7 Comics .................... B7 Editorial ....................A6 Lottery Numbers ...... B3 TV Listings ............... B6 Extra Puzzles . .B5 Entertainment ...........A4 Lottery Payouts ........ B3 A2 MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Food PROGRAMS Obituary FOOD PANTRIES I Living Water Ministries I Homosassa First United 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Inverness hosts a soup — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Methodist Church Bread of church is located on U.S. 19, kitchen from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dorothy I Daystar Life Center — 4021 N. Lecanto Highway, in Life Pantry — 8 to 11 a.m. approximately 1/2 mile south every Thursday, at 960 S. McHarg, 78 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday the Beverly Plaza. Call Thursdays in fellowship hall. of the Cardinal Street inter- U.S. 41. All are welcome. The HOMOSASSA through Friday (excluding hol- 352-270-8886. Bag of groceries with bread, section. The pantry provides meal includes soup, bread Dorothy Jane McHarg, idays), 6751 W. Gulf-to-Lake I Our Lady of Fatima — meat and produce available bagged canned goods, and dessert. For information, Highway, Crystal River. 352- 78, passed away on Janu- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday for Homosassa residents non-perishable food items call 352-726-1480. ary 11, 2021, at her home 795-8668. Food for dogs and I through Friday, 604 U.S. 41 once a month. Call and food staples for people Our Father’s Table — in Homosassa, Florida. cats may also be available. S., open to needy residents of 352-628-4083. facing temporary hardship 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the Jane lived with abundant Other assistance available. A Floral City, Hernando and In- I Serving our Savior and living within parish bound- second, third, fourth and fifth kindness and open-heart- community service resource. verness. Call 352-726-1707. (SOS) — 8:30 to 11 a.m. aries. To be eligible, clients Saturdays monthly at St. edness. She cared untir- I First Baptist Church of I Saint Margaret’s Episco- Thursdays at Good Shepherd must present photo ID. Call Anne’s Episcopal Church, one ingly for family and Homosassa Life Care Center pal Church hosts a food pan- Lutheran Church, 439 E. Nor- 352-628-3366. Emergency mile west of the Plantation Inn friends, and her friend- — 9 to 10:30 a.m. Mondays try from 9:30 a.m. to vell Bryant Highway, Her- help with utility shut-offs, pre- on West Fort Island Trail. Call ships endured through and Thursdays for bread dis- 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and nando. This is a drive-thru scriptions and other emer- 352-795-2176. the years and over the tribution at 10540 W. Yulee Wednesdays at 114 N. Osce- food pantry. Clients are al- gency services are provided.