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.

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

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!

Other related topics that may be of interest

Are you prepared for hurricane season in West Central Florida?

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.

When planning to add new fruit trees to the curb appeal of your new Hernando or Citrus County home, adding Lychee trees are an ideal and simple addition to any garden. Since the Lychee tree requires very little besides full sun, regular mulching and some kind of wind protection, Florida offers the best climate for Lychee growing in the country. These trees grow to be 10-15 feet tall and make wonderful shade trees.

Ok..what’s a Lychee? I hear you.. A Lychee is a fruit with a bumpy rind a little smaller than an apricot, inside that rind is white or pink, sweet, juicy flesh that is an incredible add to a fruit cocktail, tea, marinade, salad or just by itself as a snack. The amount of recipes that include Lychees are endless. They are a great source of Vitamin C, calcium, potassium and phosphorus. In the herbology world, they are a used to cure a cough and for any digestive problems.

As the Lychee is not a citrus tree it is not susceptible to the diseases that attack citrus crops, and are a great replacement or an alternative to citrus. They do not have a limited lifespan, there are a few Lychee trees in China that are over 1000 years old, however they do tend to stop bearing fruit after 25-30 years. If grown organically, they will thrive for years to come. Keeping your tree mulched and composted will maintain the health of your tree. The fruit will not ripen after picked so make certain that you only take the ripe ones and use them quickly as they have a short shelf life.

Other related articles that might be of interest

Easy steps to creating compost for your garden in Hernando and Citrus County
Decorating your front yard in West Central Florida

Summer break is almost over, the kids go back to school on Monday, August 18, 2008. The first day back to school can be confusing for both the students and the parents. To lessen that confusion I have listed links to the school bus schedules for both Hernando and Citrus Counties below.

Hernando County School Bus Schedule
Citrus County School Bus Schedule

I hope that everyone had a great Summer!

A housing bill that intends to rescue about 15 percent of homeowners facing foreclosure, was signed by President Bush on Wednesday, July 30, 2008. According to the MSNBC Article written on July 30, 2008, President Bush signed this bill ‘Early in the morning and out of public view”. The House had passed the bill the week before and Senators had sent it to the president. Bush did not like what he saw from Congress and he vowed to veto it. He withdrew his threat within a few days stating that hurting homeowners could not wait for the outcome of the a veto showdown that would take weeks.

Under the legislation, homeowners that are having trouble with their mortgage payments could avoid foreclosure by trading their loans for different, more affordable loans through the Federal Housing Administration. The banks would have to agree and homeowners would have to be able to prove that they are paying more than 31 percent of their incomes towards their mortgages but would be able to afford to make the payments on a smaller loan.

It’s true! Weeki Wachee Springs located in Hernando County, Florida is the City of Live Mermaids. The Seminole Indians named the spring “Weeki Wachee,” which means “little spring” or “winding river.” The Weeki Wachee River winds 12 miles all the way to the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. On August 29, 2007 St. Pete Times announced that Weeki Wachee Springs is the deepest cave in the United States, going down a whopping 403 ft. however, 16 to 20 feet below the surface there are mermaids playing mermaid games! These mermaids perform daily shows through Sept. 7, 2008.

Aside from the mermaids, there is much more to be enjoyed at Weeki Wachee Springs, River Boat Cruises, Canoe and Kayak Rentals, Mermaid Camp and Junior Lifeguard Camp, Animal Educational Shows and Buccaneer Bay! Buccaneer Bay is Florida’s only spring-fed waterpark. With the springs staying at a consistant 72 degrees year round, water flume rides, kiddie pools and white sandy beaches are an excellent way to spend a hot summer day here in sunny West Central Florida.

Weeki Wachee Springs is located at the intersection of SR50 and Hwy 19. For more information, please feel free to call (352)596-2062

Other related articles that may be of some interest

Swim with the Manatees in Citrus County, Florida
A Great Way to Spend a Hot Day in Citrus County, Florida

Photo Credit: Norma Rans

When starting that garden for your new Hernando or Citrus County, Florida home, the best place to start is with composting. Composting can save on waste and provide a nutritious additive to your soil.

Pick a nice sunny spot away from the house to start your compost bin. You can build a pallet fence around the area so that your yard still looks nice and maintained. Make sure that your pile gets plenty of air, this helps in building up the heat to make your pile decompose quicker. Covering your compost bin also helps to break down your pile, by keeping some of the heat that your pile has generated contained. Lids will also aid in keeping the pile free from debris.

Start your bin by adding several inches of green materials, things like vegetable trimmings, weeds and grass clippings. Then add several inches of brown materials, like dry leaves and wood brush. Alternate layers of each types of material until your pile reaches 4-5 cubic feet. The brown material will add carbon to your compost, while the green material will add nitrogen. Nitrogen will help the pile heat up quickly. The hotter your pile gets, the faster it will break down into compost. The ideal temperature is between 110 and 140 degrees. Throw a scoop of garden soil in there too, this will aid in breaking down the compost. You can safely add any plant based materials to your compost bin. Add things like crushed egg shells, tea leaves, coffee grounds, leaves (although too many oak leaves can make the pile acidic) and vegetable peelings. Never add meat or dairy products to the heap, they will not decompose properly.

Now that your pile is ready, you can either dig the compost into the soil around your plants or you can try top dressing them. When you top dress your plants with compost, the compost will act as a mulch and will help keep moisture in the soil. This technique would be especially good during the winter months here in sunny Florida.

Other related articles you may be interested in

Growing Medicine in your yard in Hernando and Citrus County, Florida
How to Build a Pallet Fence
Adding Flowers to your New Hernando or Citrus County, Florida Home

For the 2008/2009 school year, some public elementary schools have been re-zoned to ease overcrowding. In November of 2007, the Citrus County School Board members approved the new School Attendance Boundries for the upcoming school year, this will result in around 700 students entering new schools.

The largest move will be from Citrus Springs Elementary School, with over 300 students moving to Central Ridge Elementary. Over 185 students from Forest Ridge and over 100 from Hernando Elementary and will also be attending Central Ridge Elementary this year. Forest Ridge Elementary will receive around 100 students from Lecanto Primary and less than 10 will move from Pleasant Grove Elementary to Hernando Elementary.

For more information, feel free to call the school district’s Planning and Growth Management office at (352)746-3960.