Features

If you live in Citrus County, you probably know about the local berry farms that open every summer. But one u-pick facility you might not know about is Arbor Trails Nursery in Inverness, which opens its gates to the public on Fridays and Saturdays, selling herbs, peppers, eggplant, zucchini and many other fruits and vegetables as well as potted plants.

Julianne Munn
Chronicle food writer

Fresh sweet corn on the cob dripping with melted butter, juicy ripe, red watermelon and crisp summer vegetables can all combine for memorable Memorial Day weekend feasts.

The long weekend from Friday through Monday kicks off the summer season, the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, and the 97th Indianapolis 500 race on May 26.

It is also the time to honor military veterans of all wars at services throughout Citrus County.

Romance and music take the stage in the Art Center Theatre’s production of the sweet, gentle comedy “Romance in D” opening for a three-weekend run May 17.

By Augie Salzer
For the Riverland News

The news always seems to be filled with stories about all the teens in trouble, but today this article is about one of the many good youths in Dunnellon.

Taylor Dane Myers, 19, is currently studying Information Technology at the University of Central Florida, although music is his really big dream. Most of his friends and acquaintances know him as “Taylor,” but his music friends and associates know him as “Dane.”

“The little burger with the big taste” swept the closest competition. When all ballots submitted by fans were counted, Paige’s Root Beer on County Road 486, “Home of the Little Big Burger,” was the undisputed winner of local burger fame for 2013 with 845 votes.

Second place went to High Octane Saloon in Crystal River with 451 votes for its Ultra Burger; and third place was went to Mama’s Kuntry Kafe in Inverness with 311 votes for it’s entry, The Mountaineer.

Not all pizza is created equal. Just one bite of the wood-fired pizza at The Pizza Joint Wood Fired Pies will convince you of that — and the exquisite wings and pasta dishes are in a category of their own, as well.

The Pizza Joint is a bit distant from cities in Citrus County, but the drive is more than worth the effort. This is pizza and other items elevated to new heights.

CRYSTAL RIVER — This year’s American Heart Association fundraiser at Crystal River Middle School was a real mess.

About 170 students who raised $3,878 total were rewarded for their efforts by participating Friday in a “Muddy Buddy” obstacle course race every bit as grimy the name suggests.

While the race had the usual obstacles — climbing, jumping, balancing and the like — the real draw was crawling through mud before racing to the finish line.

Students competed in one-, two-, three- and four-person teams.

Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Gen. Ulysses Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, but the Confederate States of America never formally surrendered its sovereignty at the close of the War Between the States.

Thus, even in this 149th year after the bloodiest war in the history of this nation ended, Southern and Northern sympathizers still meet annually at battlefield sites throughout the nation for return engagements and history lessons.

Cajun crabmeat au gratin
In case you didn’t notice, the Chronicle cooks took the month of January off. Something about the holidays and a nasty flu made us feel like we needed a break. But we are back cooking for our fellow employees, whether they want to be guinea pigs or not.

The first decision we had was whether to choose Valentine’s recipes or patriotic President’s Day recipes. Instead, we decided to get in the Mardi Gras mood.