This weeks lowest gas prices in the area are listed below. Keep in mind that you might want to fill that tank up now if Tropical Storm Gustov continues on the same path it’s on, it could drive up the U.S. gas prices by 10 cents a gallon before this weekend.

Gas Stations in Citrus County

Sunoco
1211 N. Florida Ave.
Hernando, Fl. 34442
Regular $3.599 - Plus $3.559 - Diesel $4.359

Murphy USA
2419 E Gulf To Lake Hwy
Inverness, Fl. 34453
Regular $3.559 - Plus $3.659 - Premium $3.759 - Diesel $4.259

Unbranded
16 NE US Highway 19
Crystal River, Fl. 34429
Regular $3.559

Gas Stations in Hernando County

Hess
18635 Cortez Blvd.
Brooksville, FL, 34601
Regular $3.559 - Premium $3.759 - Plus $3.899 - Diesel - $4.069

Sunoco
571 Providence Blvd.
Brooksville, FL, 34601
Regular $3.419

Sunoco
18226 Powell Rd
Brooksville, FL, 34604
Regular $3.659 - Plus $3.659 - Premium $3.999 - Diesel $4.359

Close encounters with bears have become more frequent as the population in Florida increases. The increase in development lessens the availability for bear habitats. According to reports from the Citrus County Chronicle, a resident from Citrus Springs, Florida had an interaction with a Florida Black Bear recently. The bear was interested in the free breakfast provided from her garbage cans. Although the resident was successful in scaring off her guest, the bear returned the next morning looking for another free meal.

To avoid an interaction with a bear, keep your grills, smokers and trash cans in your garage. Bears have an incredible sense of smell and can smell food from more than a mile away. If you feed your pet outdoors, remember to bring their bowls in at night. Protect your livestock and gardens with an electric fence.

If become aware of a bear in your area make sure that you bring any of your wildlife feeders inside, eighty percent of a bear’s diet is acorns, berries and plants. Be sure to report any bear encounters that you have with the Florida Wildlife Commission. at (888)404-3922.

When moving to your new home in Hernando and Citrus County, Florida, one of the hardest things to leave behind is your garden! Especially, those beautiful roses that you spent so much time and effort into nurturing into a healthy rose bush.

Most roses are easily rooted from cuttings but since each variety is different, there is a plastic bag method that seems to work well every time! Take a gallon-size zip-lock bag, and put approximately three inches of a seed starting mixture in the bottom of the bag. To take a cutting from your rose bush, measure approximately three inches from the tip of the stem downward. Make sure that you remove any buds, flowers and all the lowest leaves. Dip the cut ends of the stems into a rooting powder than place the cutting in the seed starting mixture in the zip-lock bag. Fill the bag with air and seal it up, place in a warm spot but not in direct sunlight. Once you start to see the roots grow, add a little bit of water and let the cuttings grow for around another week or so. Once your cutting is ready to be potted, introduce sunlight to it gradually.

Viola! You have now successfully brought a little bit of your old home to mix with the new!

Due to Tropical Storm Fay, Citrus County Schools will be closed today, however, Hernando County Schools will remain open. Citrus County emergency management officials are saying that Fay will drop 4-8 inches of rain between Thurs and Sat. with up to 45 mph wind gusts. Citrus County and Hernando County remains under a flood watch through this evening. If you have any questions or concerns the number to call in the Citrus County area is (352)746-5470 or (352)527-2106 and for Hernando County the numbers to call are (352)754-4111 or call (352)754-4083. Sandbags will be given out at the Brooksville Fire Department, Hernando Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Spring Hill Fire Rescue, and Ridge Manor Community Center.

Stay Safe!

The gas prices continue to sky rocket. A list below will provide you with the lowest gas prices to date for Citrus and Hernando Counties

Gas Stations in Citrus County
Sunoco
3761 W. Homosassa Tr.
Lecanto, Fl. 34661
Regular $3.739 - Plus $3.649 - Premium $3.919 - Diesel $4.459

Chevron
8520 N. Carl G. Rose Hwy
Hernando, Fl. 34442
Regular $3.579 - Plus $3.779 - Premium $3.879

BP
6825 W. Gulf To Lake Hwy
Crystal River, Fl. 34429
Regular $3.769 - Premium $3.769 - Diesel $4.599

Sunoco
1017 SE Hwy 10
Crystal River, Fl. 34429
Regular $3.699 - Diesel $4.389

Gas Stations in Hernando County

7-Eleven
14333 Spring Hill Dr
Spring Hill, FL, 34609
Regular $3.589 - Premium $3.729 - Diesel $3.849

Racetrac
30480 Cortez Blvd
Brooksville, FL, 34602
Regular $3.619 - Premium $3.729

Sunoco
765 S Broad St
Brooksville, FL, 34601
Regular $3.619 - Plus $3.719 - Premium $3.819 - Diesel $4.169

Sunoco
18226 Powell Rd
Brooksville, FL, 34604
Regular $3.699 - Plus $3.649 - Premium $3.999 - Diesel $4.399

After six weeks of rehabilitation a mother manatee and her calf were released back into Crystal River, Florida. The two were named Mrs. Pete and Repeat during their short visit at Lowry Park Zoo, in Tampa.

Mrs. Pete was seen floating lopsided, which is sign of medical difficulties, she was breathing slow and had new scars on her back from boat propellers. After the test results came back, it was found that she had a bruised chest and possibly a bruised lung.

The workers from the manatee rescue team at the zoo, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service all met at the boat ramp at the Port Hotel and Marina in Crystal River, Florida. With a large tarp and nine strong people, Mrs. Pete and her baby were placed in the water and quickly swam into King’s Bay.

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As Summer comes to a close, now is the time to take advantage of the beauty of Citrus County. Listed below are five places that provide boat rentals in the area.

Chassahowitzka River Campground and Recreation Area - Provides access to the Chasohowitzka River and the breathtaking Gulf of Mexico. Take US Hwy 19 in Chassahowitzka, Florida head west onto W. Miss Maggie Drive (CR 480). The campground is located straight ahead about 1.8 miles.

Magic Manatee -Allows access to the Homosassa River. Take U.S. Highway 19 head west onto Halls River Rd. about 2.6 miles. Magic Manatee will be on the left.

Homosassa Riverside Marina -Allows access to Homosassa River. Take U.S Highway 19 and turn west onto Halls River Rd, a half of a mile down, take a left onto Fishbowl Dr. about another 2 miles down the road and the road will change to S. Cheroke Way. Take a right at stop sign.

Crystal Lodge Dive Center - Provides access to Crystal River. Take U.S. Highhway 19 north and turn left onto NW 6th St. Make a left onto NW 7th Ave. Located at 525 NW 7th Ave., Crystal River, Fl.

Crystal River Water Sports at the Days Inn - allows access to Crystal River. Located conveniently right behind the Days Inn at 2380 NW US Highway 19, Crystal River, Fl.

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9 Places to Launch your Boat into the Beauty of Citrus County, Florida

While staging your home for selling, bonsai trees are a great way to add beauty to both the inside and the outside of your home. Working with bonsai trees can also provide a wonderful new hobby. It’s the art of dwarfing, pruning and training trees to grow in trays or containers to accomplish the style that you desire. It’s really a form of horticultural art!

The word bonsai is a Japanese word meaning ‘pot plant’, it’s history dates back thousands of years. There are two types of bonsai trees, tropical and temperate. A tropical bonsai cannot withstand the cold temperatures and needs to be protected from the frost. Temperate bonsia’s can withstand the cold but they have shallow roots, so they do need to be somewhat protected.

Bonsai’s can be grown from either a cutting or from seed. No.. there is no such thing as a Bonsai seed! Bonsai is the name of the art, not the name of a tree. You can use any seed from any tree, however varieties with small leaves are the best suited for trays. These trees are kept small by training and pruning the branches into different styles. There are five common styles of bonsai trees, formal upright, informal upright, slanting style, cascade and semi-cascade.

Although, all styles are beautiful, my favorite is the informal upright. When looking at trees grown in nature, they tend to sway away from shade, buildings, or toward light. When growing an informal upright bonsai tree, the trunk will slightly bend and twist in one direction or the other, giving the tree a dramatic effect. Japanese Maples, Beech or any conifers will do well with this type of style.

Bonsai’s do require quite a bit of commitment, but if cared for properly, they can provide beauty in the home that can last for hundreds of years. They are something for your future generations to enjoy and continue to pass down to the next generations.

According to weather reports, Tropical Storm Fay could effect our area sometime this week. Now is the time to stock up on supplies, make sure your vehicle is full of gas, fill your prescriptions and keep your eye on the progression of the storm. When the possibility of a hurricane is coming to the area, time is of the essence.

The best way to remain safe during a hurricane or a tropical storm is to be prepared! Make a list of all the supplies that you will need and plan a shopping trip. Locate your flashlights, battery operated radios and make sure your gas grills are full. If you have pets, now the time to check on their supplies, as well. Get your pet carriers ready, stock up on dog food, prescriptions and locate any pet friendly shelters in the area. Look around your yard and see if there are any loose items that could be blown away during high winds and spend a few minutes picking them up.

Even if Tropical Storm Fay doesn’t head up this way, it never hurts to be prepared!

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Photo Credit: Jessica Gross

This weekend is the last weekend before school starts here in Hernando and Citrus Counties. An educational picnic would be a great way to kick of the new school year!

Situated in a quiet, wooded area near Homosassa, Florida stands the Yulee Sugar Mill, once owned and operated by David Levy Yulee. This sugar mill, once a thriving 5,100 acre sugar plantation, was used to supply sugar to the confederate troops during the Civil War. In 1864, the Union Naval force burned Yulee’s home down and although, the sugar mill escaped this catastrophe, it didn’t resume operation and eventually went to ruin. What is left of this once vibrant mill are still here today, and visitors can come visit them and learn its history free of charge and at your own pace. Across the street from the mill are pavilioins, picnic areas and grills.