Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 MLB: Braves sweep Reds to advance to NLDS/B1 FRIDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 81 Partly cloudy and LOW comfortable. 61 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com OCTOBER 2, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 125 ISSUE 360 NEWS BRIEFS Arts feel pandemic pinch Citrus COVID-19 update Ten new positive cases were reported in Citrus County since the latest FDOH update. No new hospitalizations was re- ported; one new death was reported. To date in the county, 2,793 people have tested positive (including eight non-residents), 292 have been hospitalized and 107 have died. We Care adds distribution sites for Oct. During October, We Care will be receiving an additional 10 truckloads of food, which will bring an additional 300,000 lbs of food into Citrus County. In addition to our give- away and three existing mobile pantries, we STEVE LASKO/Chronicle file have arranged mobile Seven Rivers Christian School students, from left, Emily Ensing, Cassandra Arena, Lynn McNamee and Hunter Anderson create live sidewalk pantry partnerships art Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at the Festival of the Arts at the Inverness’ Courthouse Square. Their creation is a copy of Henri Matisse’s work around the county so “The Great Cat.” The Inverness event is one of the few art festivals putting on an event this fall. that we can reach as many areas as possible. COVID-19 worries force There will be no qualifi- cation necessary. All Scaled-back Inverness residents need to do is many festivals to cancel show up at the times and locations and we’ll MARGO WILSON For the Chronicle I Floral City art gallery take care of them. to close./Page A3 festival set for Nov. 7-8 The mobile pantry part- With the art festival ARGO ILSON Leo and Lea Bedinotti are two ners and schedule is as suit. The fall Ocala Arts M W season on the horizon, people who are bullish on The follows: Festival was the next to be For the Chronicle local art group organizers Depot as a festival site. They are I Tuesday, Oct. 6, 13, mothballed. have been facing tough Unlike other area arts festivals president and vice president, re- The Rainbow Springs 20 and 27: 10 a.m. to decisions about their that have been canceled this fall, the spectively, of the Citrus County gallery was monitoring noon at Beverly Hills events. Inverness Festival of the Arts will Craft Council. these and other festivals. Civic Association, Bridget Hanley, presi- carry on its annual tradition of sell- The Bedinottis helped arrange But what pushed Hanley 1 Civic Center Circle, dent of Rainbow Springs ing decorative items to the public. the council’s Harvest Moon Craft at Rainbow Springs per- Beverly Hills; 2 to 4 p.m. Art in Dunnellon, said her This year, the festival is from Show at The Depot on Sept. 12. Lea sonally over the edge was at Curry Roofing, artists’ gallery had been 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sun- Bedinotti said the vendors wore when her neighbor died planning for months for day, Nov. 7-8, at The Depot, 300 N. masks, the artists were socially dis- 4985 W. Gulf to Lake from the virus on July 29, the annual November Apopka Ave. in Inverness. tanced from each other at tables, Hwy., Lecanto. 2020. By Aug. 5, Hanley, Rainbow Springs Art Inverness City Manager Eric Wil- and many of the visitors wore I Wednesday, Oct. 7, her gallery’s board, and its Festival. liams said the city decided to go masks. The artists had hand sani- 14 and 12: 10 a.m. to 2 at members had voted to Because the festival was ahead with the event because tizer at their tables. Crystal River Church of cancel the fall Rainbow slated so late in the year “people are desirous to go to things Lea Bedinotti estimated maybe God, 2121 U.S. 19, Crys- Springs Art Festival. The — the weekend before in an appropriate setting. We have 400-500 visitors attended, but said tal River. group’s board recently Thanksgiving — “we were (people) who have volunteered for she’s no expert at estimating crowd I voted to hold a one-day Thursday, Oct. 8: hoping we’d be able to these events. We think the infra- size. festival on March 20, 2021. 9 to 11 a.m. in partner- have the festival. We took structure is already there.” All the artists made a profit, she The Rainbow Springs ship with the New Church all the steps to plan for the The show has moved to The said, and the Crafts Council earned gallery, like many area art- Without Walls at the Cit- festival,” Hanley said. Depot from Courthouse Square, enough money to be able to turn ists, galleries, festivals, rus County fairgrounds, But then, the Micanopy Williams said, because restaurants more than $300 over to its charity and arts organizations, has 3600 S. Florida Ave, Fall Festival, south of and bars have expanded service for the festival, Nature Coast Min- had to shut down, read- Gainesville, was canceled outside and “we felt there would istries of Crystal River. Inverness. just, and reconfigure itself I Thursday, Oct. 15 because of COVID-19. The be too many people in a small McIntosh 1890s Festival, because of the virus. and 22: Check our area.” See INVERNESS/Page A9 north of Ocala, followed See ARTS/Page A6 Facebook page or www. wecarefoodpantry2 for times and locations. Assistance with utility bills available Citrus County Housing Services continues to as- CR Council Seat 1 CR Council Seat 5 sist low-income residents with their utility bill payments, The Low-Income candidates address candidates discuss Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income families with political forum issues facing city home heating and cooling costs. LIHEAP is funded by the U.S. Department BUSTER THOMPSON BUSTER THOMPSON of Health and Human Staff writer Staff writer Services through the Flor- ida Department of Eco- Crystal River Council Seat 1 in- Crystal River Council Seat 5 nomic Opportunity, and cumbent Ken Brown and chal- incumbent Robert Holmes and lenger Scott Davis introduced challenger Terry Thompson has been established to themselves to city voters and an- showcased their campaign plat- help qualifying low-in- swered questions on issues during forms and policies during the come homeowners and the Chronicle’s political forum. Chronicle’s political forum. renters pay for a portion Here are some highlights from the Ken Brown Scott Davis Here are some highlights from the Robert Terry of their primary heating forum, held Wednesday, Sept. 30, In Davis’ opening statement, event, held Wednesday, Sept. 30, Holmes Thompson costs. 2020, at the George Washington the longtime city resident said he 2020, at the George Washington plumbing, erecting hot, red steel, LIHEAP is not de- Carver Community Center: is seeking join council now that Carver Community Center: building walls — the list goes signed to pay a house- Brown led off his opening state- his personal life gives him the Leading off the forum with on,” he said. “A community ei- hold’s total energy costs, ment talking about his personal and time to participate. opening statements was Holmes, ther worked on, or contributed to but to provide supple- political history with the city, adding He said the city isn’t “in a who introduced voters to his fam- this beautiful building.” mental assistance. Ordi- he’s “always represented the best doom-and-gloom situation” but ily history with Crystal River, Thompson, in his opening narily, applications for interests” of his constituents. “old issues” keep coming up, like where a young Holmes and his statement, said he and his wife LIHEAP are accepted by “All of us on council have boat mooring in King’s Bay, dere- relatives moved from Ocala in moved to the city five years ago worked on what’s best for the cit- lict buildings, water-bottling, 1968. from Ocala. appointment only due to izens of Crystal River,” the two- tourism and congestion on water- Of his 18 years total years on “We spent so many years and the demand for term councilman said. and roadways. council — served in split terms summers over here,” he said, assistance. Brown said he’ll continue to Davis said he has no problem — Holmes said he’s most amazed “but that’s not why I’m running For more information, advocate for “smart growth” if re- with city officials pursuing more by the city’s people and how they for office.” please call 352-527-7520 elected to council, protecting the funding to complete the long- unite to improve their city, like Thompson said he spent the between the hours of city’s natural resources while awaited Riverwalk along the building the community center. last 30 years being involved in re- 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mon- strengthening its revenue northern shores of King’s Bay. “I and some good friends spent alty planning, zoning and day through Friday. sources and securing safe devel- approximately two years of — From staff reports opment opportunities. See SEAT 1/Page A11 weekends cutting concrete, See SEAT 5/Page A11 Classifieds . .C6 Crossword . .C10 INDEX Scene . .C1 TV Listings. .C4 Comics . .C5 Editorial. 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