In 2005 a Tampa developer, headed by Hal Flowers, purchased Three Sisters Springs in Citrus County with dreams of creating a large multi-family development in place of the surrounding land of the springs. Three Sisters, a popular “hot spot” for manatee enthusiasts was named in honor of the three vents that pump millions of fresh spring water into Kings Bay daily.

Over time, Flowers fell in love with Three Sisters and his need for the development all but diminished, while his need to save the springs heightened!  Flowers and his developing team made the decision to sell the land back to the city.  This prompted action from the Friends of the Chasshowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Inc., who sought funding from Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud), the Crystal River City County, Citrus County Commission, Citrus County Tourist Development Council as well as thousands of residents, in an effort to purchase the property from Flowers.

However, due to the many budget cuts, state funding fell short and it appeared that saving Three Sisters was just a pipe dream.  But Flowers and his team of developers lowered the price of the land, making the purchase a success! This transaction will ensure that the City of Crystal River and Swiftmud will own the land and the US Fish and Wildlife Service will manage it as part of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

According to Flowers, “Financially, it wasn’t a win for us, but it was the right thing to do.”

In honor of Independence Day, Citrus County Parks and Recreation will be presenting the Star Spangle Salute to America at the Citrus Springs Community Center on Saturday, July 3, 2010.  Dinner and live music will be the source of the entertainment. 

Dinner will run from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at which point the Nature Coast Community Band will commence.  For more information on the Star Spangle Salute to America please call 352-465-7007.

King’s Bay Park in Citrus County will be celebrating the Fourth of July a little early this year! The festivities will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 3, 2010, with the Patriotic Children’s Parade on Wheels, staring at Heritage Village across US 19 and continue on into King’s Bay Park.  Directly after the parade a birthday cake will be served in honor of the 107th Anniversary of the City of Crystal River.

Following the cutting of the cake, the park will be filled with children’s activities, food vendors, an Apple Pie Baking Contest and kayak games all of which are FREE up until 3:00 p.m. when the Scallop Jam will commence.

The Uncle Sam Scallop Jam and Road Rally, hosted by the Rotary Club of Crystal River, will include live bands, contests and of course a firework show put on by Dragonworks of Homosassa!  Beer and wine will be served throughout the evening as well as seafood and other types of food from the long list of food vendors throughout the festival.

There will also be a 5 mile run, benefitting the Dream Society, starting at 6::30 p.m.  The run will commence at the North Apopka trailhead and end at Liberty Park.  For our “little ones” that would like to run, a 1 mile run will take place at 6:35 p.m.  You must register before July 1 on the website or on the day of the event before 5:30.  Registration fee is $15.

All proceeds will benefit projects supported in part by the Rotary Club of Crystal River.

Admission into the Uncle Sam Scallop Jam and Road Rally is $5.  For more information, feel free to call 352-417-1160 or visit the website.

It’s time again for the 11th Annual Homosassa River Fireworks Festival and Poker Run!  Come join us Saturday, June 26, 2010, along the beautiful Homosassa River in Citrus County, Florida to celebrate a day of fun family activities, contests and of course, a fantastic fireworks display at the end of the evening!

Registration for the Poker Run will run from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Mac Rae’s of Homosassa and the run itself will begin at 1:00 p.m.  Free boat shuttles will be provided all day to the activities.

Proceeds are to benefit CASA as well as the Homosassa Food Pantry.

During the Spring and Summers seasons, Citrus County Parks and Recreation is hosting Movies in the Park, a family friendly way to spend a Saturday evening.  Funding is provided by the Florida Department of Health Tobacco Prevention Program as well as Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center, Citrus County Chamber of Commerce and Citrus Memorial Health System.

All movies are rated PG and shown at different parks, on specific Saturday’s, from May through August throughout Citrus County.  This Saturday on May 8th the movie will be run at Central Ridge District Park located at 6905 N. Lecanto Hwy in Beverly Hills.

All movies are FREE and held outside underneath the stars, so bring a blanket, something to eat, the park will supply the popcorn!

For more information, feel free to contact Debra Burden at 352-527-7540 or visit the website for showtimes.

It’s time again to tantalize your taste buds at Taste of Inverness!  This weekend on May 1, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Main Street will be full of Live Music for your listening enjoyment while sampling some of the finest food Citrus County has to offer!  A Sports Car Show, Silent Auction and an Art Exhibit will also be available to help enhance your evening.

Tickets are $20 if purchased in advance at the Finance Department in the Government Center or at any Boys and Girls Club location. If purchased at the gate, tickets are $30; proceeds will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Citrus County.

For more information, feel free to visit the City of Inverness website.

This weekend, April 23-25 2010 the Crystal River Boat Builders will be hosting the Crystal River Boat Bash at the Crystal River Preserve State Park in Citrus County, Florida. The Bash will bring owners of small crafts, sail boats, paddle boats and row boats, from around the nation to celebrate the fun that the waters of the Nature Coast bring.

Come join in the celebration for a weekend of music, entertainment, food, Civil War Re-enactors providing information on the maritime heritage of the Nature Coast and the ‘unveiling’ of the 14ft Chesapeake Sharpie Skiff completed by the Crystal River Boat Builders.

For more information on the Crystal River Boat Bash feel free to visit the Crystal River Boat Builders website.

Just like many of our winter friends that reside in the Florida’s Nature Coast during season, the whooping cranes began their migration back to Wisconsin this week.

There was once nearly 1,400 whooping cranes that existed, however, between being hunted and the large loss of habitat the whooping crane dwindled down to a mere 15 birds by 1941. With the help of many organizations dedicated to the survival of the whooping crane, including Operation Migration, the population has increased to over 100 birds.

Establishing a whooping crane flock, consisted of taking cranes that have been hatched in captivity and teaching them a migration route with the use of ultra light aircraft! This system has been successful since 1993. 

There were 20 cranes that hatched last year in the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin and migrated to Florida, behind the ultra light plane, in January of this year.  Out of these 20 intriguing birds, 10 of them were left at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in the panhandle and the other 10 made a home for themselves in Chasshowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, right here in Citrus County.

But it is time again for these whoopers to head to the north, back to Wisconsin to start the circle of life once again.

Tonight, March 26th, The American Cancer Society will be hosting its Relay for Life at Crystal River High School in Citrus County.  Opening Ceremonies will begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by the 1st lap around the track; the Survivor Lap.

Relay For Life is an incredible event celebrating the lives of those that have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost to cancer and an opportunity to fight back against the disease. Teams of people will be camping out at Crystal River High School, taking turns walking or running around the track at all times during the 18 hour event.

For more information about the Relay for Life at Crystal River High School tonight, please visit the Relay for Life website.