Good morning, Crystal River, and happy Tuesday! It's November 3, which is also National Sandwich Day, so here's a question for you: what's the one sandwich you'd drive across Citrus County for? Expect a partly cloudy day near 85 degrees with a chance of showers and isolated storms, and a sunnier, drier stretch arriving Thursday.

In the news, Crystal River is weighing an $80 million wastewater treatment plant built to last 75 years and sit outside the floodplain. Citrus County also planted 32 new native trees around the Lecanto Government Building, the Phase III water shortage order stays in effect through March 31, and Fire Rescue shared its October numbers. At school, Citrus High took home the first-quarter attendance award, and classes are closed November 11 for Veterans Day.

For your week, Toddler Tuesday is on at Mertailor's Aquarium in Lecanto today, the Uturn Mobile Soup Kitchen serves lunch in Hernando on Wednesday, and three Chamber ribbon cuttings land on Thursday afternoon. Grab your favorite sandwich and have a great Tuesday!

Crystal River Weighs $80 Million Wastewater Plant
Citrus County Chronicle
Crystal River is weighing an $80 million investment in a new wastewater treatment plant, built to last 75 years and located outside the floodplain. Read how the Citrus County Chronicle frames the decision.
Read More →

32 New Native Trees Planted Around the Lecanto Government Building
Citrus County Government (FB Page)
Citrus County planted 32 new native trees around the Lecanto Government Building, with many more coming as it works toward a community arboretum that includes Lecanto Community Park and the UF/IFAS Extension garden. The trees are paid for by a tree mitigation fund.
Read More →

DOH-Citrus Observes National Diabetes Awareness Month
Florida Dept. of Health - Citrus
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and the Florida Department of Health in Citrus County is spotlighting its programs for people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, including no-cost classes. A support group meets the first Wednesday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Lecanto office, and no registration is required.
Read More →

Citrus Libraries Volunteer Spotlight: November 2026
Citrus County Library System
The Citrus Libraries volunteer spotlight this month features Laura, who volunteers at the Homosassa Library. She says the application process was painless and that volunteering has confirmed the library is an important part of the community. The library system is always looking for more volunteers.
Read More →

Code Review and Appeals Board Seeks a Qualified Contractor
Citrus County Government (FB Page)
Citrus County is looking for a qualified contractor to serve as a regular member of the Code Review and Appeals Board. Check the county's post for the details.
Read More →

Phase III Water Shortage Order Remains in Effect Through March 31, 2027
Citrus County Government (FB Page)
A reminder as Florida enters its October to May dry season: the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Phase III Water Shortage order remains in effect for Citrus County through March 31, 2027. The scheduled days and times for watering residential lawns remain in effect too.
Read More →

Citrus County Fire Rescue October 2026 By the Numbers
Citrus County Fire Rescue
Citrus County Fire Rescue handled 3,078 incidents in October, transported 1,752 patients to area hospitals and responded to 47 brush, vehicle and structure fires. The busiest engine was Engine 03 at the Homosassa Station, and the busiest 24-hour rescue was Rescue 7 at the Connell Heights Station.
Read More →

Mark Your Calendars: Veterans Day, Early Dismissal and Thanksgiving Break
Citrus County School District
Mark your calendars: Citrus County Schools are closed Nov. 11 for Veterans Day, with a Veterans Day Parade in Inverness. Students have an early dismissal Nov. 18 for teacher professional development, and Thanksgiving break runs Nov. 23 to 27.
Read More →

Citrus High Wins First-Quarter Attendance Award
Citrus County School District
Citrus High School earned the highest first-quarter attendance among the district's high schools and brought the RISE & Shine Attendance Award banner to Hurricane Country. The banner stays through the calendar year while high schools compete for second-quarter honors, and middle and elementary winners will be announced later this week.
Read More →

ESOL Leadership Council Meets Tuesday at 8:15 a.m.
Citrus County School District
Citrus County Schools invites parents and families to the ESOL Leadership Council Meeting at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in the basement conference room at the District Service Center. Light refreshments will be served, a Federal Programs Stakeholder Meeting follows, and families are asked to RSVP.
Read More →

Superintendent Hebert: Honoring Our Veterans Goes Beyond One Day
Citrus County School District
Superintendent Dr. Scott Hebert's Chronicle column looks at how Citrus County Schools honor veterans through the Veterans in the Classroom program, where local veterans visit schools and share their service with students. He also notes that every Citrus County school has earned the Purple Star School designation.
Read More →

Lecanto JROTC Helps Celebrate Odessa Fischer's 105th Birthday
Lecanto High School
Lecanto High School's JROTC joined in celebrating Odessa Fischer, who turned 105 on Oct. 30. The school's post lists the cadets and guests who attended.
Read More →

Had enough of, “Let me think about it?” With Cherry, patients can apply for financing solutions on their phones in about 35 seconds - and 90% of them are approved*.

The result? Practices have seen acceptance rates rising by as much as 50%!

See why Cherry is trusted by over 75,000 practices.

_{^{* These figures come from Cherry’s provider case studies, so individual results vary. Details at withcherry.com/provider-reviews. Payment options through Cherry are issued by the following financing partners: withcherry.com/financing-partners}}

Toddler Tuesday at Mertailor's Aquarium
Tuesday | November 3, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 4 PM
Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium Encounter
4100 W Gulf to Lake Hwy, Lecanto, FL 34461
Toddler morning with a hands-on craft at 11 AM and mermaid story time, included with admission to Mertailor's Mermaid Aquarium in Lecanto.
View Event Details →

Uturn Mobile Soup Kitchen Serves Lunch Every Wednesday
Wednesday | November 4, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 1 PM
Old Schoolhouse Community Center
2415 N. Florida Ave, Hernando, FL 34442
U-turn for Christ Florida. Serving those in need with Grace & Grub Ministries - every Wednesday 10:30-1pm at Old Schoolhouse in Hernando.
View Event Details →

The Hangout at The Youth Center
Wednesday | November 4, 2026 | 4 PM – 6 PM
Rainbow Lakes Estates Youth Center
4010 SW Deepwater Ct, Dunnellon, FL 34431
A fun and safe place for kids to hang out, play games, and make friends. The Rainbow Lakes Estates Youth Center is open with weekly hours.
View Event Details →

BNI - Small Business Networking Meet-up in Citrus County
Thursday | November 5, 2026 | 7 AM – 9 AM
American Legion Post #155
6585 E. Gulf to Lake Hwy, Crystal River, FL 34429
Visitors are always welcome at this small business networking meet-up in Citrus County. You can register ahead to let the group know you're coming so they can introduce you.
View Event Details →

Tater Tot Thursdays
Thursday | November 5, 2026 | 10 AM – 12 PM
Rainbow Lakes Estates Community
4020 SW Deepwater Ct., Dunnellon, FL 34431
Fun, Enrichment, And Stimulation for toddlers at RLE Community Center
View Event Details →

CloudView Aerials Chamber Ribbon Cutting
Thursday | November 5, 2026 | 4:30 PM
Citrus County Chamber of Commerce
915 N. Suncoast Blvd., Crystal River, FL 34429
Join us in welcoming our newest member to the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce.
View Event Details →

Plum Behavior Health Chamber Ribbon Cutting
Thursday | November 5, 2026 | 4:30 PM
Join us in welcoming our newest member to the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce.
View Event Details →

Working Under Pressure Chamber Ribbon Cutting
Thursday | November 5, 2026 | 4:30 PM
Join us in welcoming our newest member to the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce.
View Event Details →

Belly Dancing Class Every Thursday
Thursday | November 5, 2026 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Homosassa Civic Club
5530 S. Mason Creek Rd., Homosassa, FL 34448
Belly dancing class for $5, with beginners at 5:30 PM and advanced at 6:30 PM. Mention the posting and your first class is free.
View Event Details →

Know a food truck that should roll into the spotlight? Reply to this newsletter and let us know where it’s serving next so we can share it in a future issue.

Which local restaurant do you love and recommend to everyone? Reply to this newsletter and tell us, and we may feature it in a future issue.

Know a band, show, or performer we should put on the local stage? Reply to this newsletter and let us know about upcoming live entertainment for a future issue.

If you received this newsletter from someone else, please [Subscribe Now] to get it sent directly to your inbox every day.

We're here to help support local businesses, and to see the community grow together. If there is anything that you'd like to suggest to us, just reply to this email and it'll come right to our editor.

Sincerely,
Mark and the Inside Crystal River Team