Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NASCAR: Keselowski claims Coca-Cola 600 late Sunday /B1 TUESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 87 Partly cloudy with LOW scattered storms. 69 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MAY 26, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 125 ISSUE 231 COVID-19 numbers improving Officials cautiously optimistic about new virus cases in Citrus County Local demand for Mike Wright home order that closed all but essential Staff writer Brian Coleman businesses for a month. Restaurants can DOH testing down “I’m actually feeling now operate at 50% capacity, short-term Fred Hiers vacation rentals may now start leasing Be it through social distancing, the ar- pretty good about it Staff writer rival of hot weather or mysteries that lie right now. The numbers units and, on Friday, the governor are better than I thought announced he was giving the green light within the virus, but Citrus County’s As the coronavirus spread un- they would be.” to summer camps and youth leagues. COVID-19 numbers are improving. abated through the nation and Citrus On Tuesday, Citrus County commis- Through Memorial Day weekend, Cit- County residents worried their com- sioners are expected to discuss the man- rus reported 19 new cases since May 1, munity would be the next inundated ner to open ballfields at county parks. less than one a day, and officials are cau- Capt. David DeCarlo, director of Citrus with infections, ever more local resi- “I’m actually feeling pretty good about tiously optimistic that things will con- County Emergency Management. “As dents clamored for fast, curbside test- it right now,” county commission Chair- tinue to get better. people start to move about, we’ll have to ing. Now, not so much. man Brian Coleman said. “The numbers “Between our effort and the efforts in wait and see.” By late March, the Department of other counties, hopefully we won’t see a Gov. Ron DeSantis started phase one are better than I thought they would be. rise, won’t see a spike,” said sheriff ’s of the state’s reopening after a stay-at- See COVID-19/Page A5 See TESTING/Page A2 NEWS BRIEFS Memorial Day 2020 Citrus COVID-19 information Scouts honor fallen heroes No new positive cases were reported in Citrus County since the latest FDOH update. No new deaths were reported. To date in the county, 119 people have tested posi- tive and 12 have died. For more information, see Sunday’s edition. Spotlight on local business The Chronicle is coor- dinating spotlights on local businesses that are adapting to the coronavi- rus. To submit your own business spotlight, visit https://bit.ly/2LsNIhU. Visit Page A3 to see to- day’s business spotlight. Chronicle hosts virtual graduation The Citrus County Chronicle is hosting a vir- tual graduation page that includes photos and per- sonal information provided by graduates. Family and friends of each graduate are encouraged to visit JEFF BRYAN/Chronicle their graduate and con- Zeke Lambright walks Monday along gravesites at Hills of Rest in search of markers noting those who served in the U.S. armed services. gratulate them with a per- sonal message under their photos. ith traditional Memo- Graduates can also rial Day ceremonies upload profiles to their Wcanceled due to coro- photos. navirus pandemic, Boy Scouts from Troop No. 457 in Inver- Visit www.chronicle ness and Cub Scouts from online.com/virtual_ Pack No. 462 in Citrus Springs graduations to take part performed their patriotic mis- in the Chronicle’s virtual sion Monday by placing flags graduation. at the gravesites of those who Baseball stadium served in the U.S. armed forces. listed on AirBnB Large-scale plans for the PENSACOLA — A 46th annual Herbert Surber Florida team is selling American Legion Post 225 Me- people the “ultimate morial Day ceremony at Hills of Rest Cemetery on South baseball experience” by U.S. 41 across from Ferris putting their oceanview Farms were canceled. In addi- stadium up for rent on tion to the ceremony at Hills of AirBnB for $1,500 a night. Rest being canceled, so was The Pensacola Blue the Memorial Day ceremony, Jed Lambright on Monday adjusts an American flag after plac- Wahoos said guests will co-hosted by Beverly Hills ing at the gravesite of a U.S. veteran. have access to the club- members of the American Le- house, a large bedroom, gion Post 237 and the Veterans the batting cage and the of Foreign Wars Post 10087, Fred Daniels, the adjutant and service officer for Herbert field. along with Fero Memorial Surber American Legion Post No. 225, on Monday raises the “Guests are welcome to Gardens & Funeral Home’s, at American and POW/MIA flag, at the gravesite of Surber, a pri- hit from home plate, play Fero Memorial Gardens in vate first class who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was catch in the outfield, run Beverly Hills. killed in action during the Vietnam War. the bases, enjoy a picnic in the outfield, or find other creative uses for the field,” the listing said. And although the listing had no reviews, the sta- CR to host first in-person meeting since COVID-19 lockdown dium has been fully GoToWebinar, visit gotomeeting. booked through July. Buster Thompson CRYSTAL RIVER COUNCIL MEETING Staff writer com/webinar/join-webinar and The team said on a n To hear over the phone, dial 415-655-0052 and enter the access use Webinar ID 649-298-555. Facebook post that it was After tackling business for code 642-291-282 . Using GoToWebinar also allows waiting to hear more on users to comment. roughly two months away from n To sign into the meeting via GoToWebinar, visit gotomeeting .com/ the schedule for the 2020 During council’s meeting, City city hall because of COVID-19, webinar/join-webinar and use Webinar ID 649-298-555 . Using season from league offi- Manager Ken Frink will give offi- Crystal River City Council is re- GoToWebinar also allows users to comment . cials before opening more turning to its chambers to host an cials an update about how the dates for vacation rentals in-person meeting. virus is impacting Crystal River. between July and October. With Memorial Day on Monday, contactless temperature check There is an option for the pub- COVID-19 could determine Minor League Baseball council members will meet at before entering city hall. lic to listen to council’s meeting whether the city will host its delayed the start of the 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at city hall, Wearing masks is not required, outside city hall. Old-Fashioned Fourth of July 2020 season as a result 123 N.W. U.S. 19, Crystal River. but encouraged. To hear over the phone, dial event and fireworks show, a topic of the coronavirus pan- Attendance, because of state Anyone showing signs or symp- 415-655-0052 and enter the access council is going to discuss demic. directives, will be limited to 68 toms of the novel coronavirus are code 642-291-282. Tuesday. — From staff and wire reports people, who must undergo a being asked to stay home. To sign into the meeting via See MEETING/Page A5 Classifieds . .B6 Crossword . .B8 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .A7 Obituaries . none Comics . B5. Editorial . A6 Lottery Payouts . .A7 TV Listings . .B4 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . .A4 Movies . .B5 A2 Tuesday, May 26, 2020 Citrus County (FL) ChroniCLe A2 TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE AGENTI MEDIA SERVICES NO OBITS art#: 000YGE2 After nearly 45 years, order#: 000YGE2 3 X 21.5 Little Italy closing Black Michael D. Bates closed since around manage the restaurant. March 25 and had been of- Rosario came to help in Staff writer fering takeout and curb- 1999, fell in love with In- side service during the verness. He met Patricia Little Italy Deli & Bak- worst of the coronavirus at Little Italy in 2012. ery has been an Inverness crisis. It reopened May 12 Dinners were prepared institution and family-run with special guidelines from scratch at Little Italy affair for almost 45 years. with limited capacity. and folks needed a reser- Located at 124 N. Some outdoor seating had vation. There was no Apopka Ave., near the been added. menu. Care was given to county courthouse, it was Little Italy was truly a people’s special dietary a place known for friendly family affair. needs. storytelling and singing as Owners Alfredo and There was also a variety much as its Italian food, Donna Cali took over Lit- of meats, cheeses, coffees with recipes handed down tle Italy in 1993. For 17 and teas. for 100 years. years before that, it was Facebook was alive with But the business has an- run by Donna’s uncle and comments, all lamenting nounced on its Facebook aunt, Josephine and Vito the imminent closing. Some page it is closing and will Masellis. samples: “So sad to hear only be open for two weeks Although they maintain this.” “We will miss you. “to sell whatever food and full ownership of Little You’ve been here for so beverage remains” in- Italy, Alfredo and Donna long.” “Inverness will not house with discount.” Cali now live in California, be the same without you.” Little Italy was closed where they run another One commentor said it Memorial Day and the Italian restaurant, accord- is “extremely hard” for a managers could not be ing to their website. small business to survive reached for comment.