RestaurantsUncategorized October 26, 2024

Linda’s Weekly Blog November Restaurant Update Citrus County FL

 After taking last week off to recuperate from shoulder surgery, this week I thought I would do a restaurant update. We have not been  to many  restaurants lately because of the hurricanes and medical issues.   I did want to spotlight some places that we have been to including Prime  88 in Brooksville.

Stone Crab season is in full swing here in Citrus County,  and  Friday we purchased some from Shelly’s  Fish Market in Homosassa.  We  will be dining on those crabs this  Sunday. 

 

Stone Crabs and stone crab cracker

If you have not tried the Chopping Block for a meat market. It is excellent. We  have had the  prime filets,  and other prime cuts of meat… all excellent.  We previously  have not been able to get prime beef around here.  Closed Sunday and Monday. 209 S Lecanto Hwy, Lecanto. (352) 249-7680

We continue to have our lunches at New England Café (tuna melt) , Jimmy T’s   (chicken soup, Cubans and Reubens).  We enjoyed our Jersey Mike’s sub.  We  had several very good dinners, lunches and breakfasts at the Black Diamond Club: omelet, breakfast sandwich, squash soup, grouper bites, turkey buffet. etc

Prime 88 is a high end restaurant in Brooksville. They have a dress code, and it’s a special occasion for us to dine there because it’s rather expensive.  Friday, eight of us ventured there and some excellent meals. Service is not rushed.  Drink orders taken, then appetizers etc. A sour dough bread basket is brought to the table.  Lobster bisque delish and clam chowder good but different tasting with a smoky bacon taste.   Linda had her filet Parmesan encrusted ( cooked perfectly) Art, Dick and  Don had ribeye steaks, and they were a little grisly but tasty. Lloyd, Joan, and Pat  had filets. Nancy had clam chowder and a crab cake. 

Art and I split the lettuce wedge, had it chopped:  it was good.  The mac and cheese and creamed spinach are two of the many optional sides.  ( shareable).   We brought home the pumpkin cream cake, and it was yummy. It’s about a 30 minute ride, but it is made much easier by the Suncoast coming up to 44, and even one day it’ll be closer when there is an extension to  486. https://www.prime88steakhouse.com/;  (352) 593-4354  Looking to celebrate something special?  Nice  place.

Uncategorized October 11, 2024

Citrus County Who To Call for Home Services

Recent hurricanes Helene  and Milton have left us with quite a clean up.  I thought this week I would repeat my updated “Who To Call”  list.  I have added: gutter cleaner, massage therapist, tire service, and our Century 21 office vendor list. I include  insurance info on hurricane recovery.   Enjoy our cooler fall temps coming…

 

Who to Call list 10/2024  click:Who to Call for Services 10: 21:2024

Century 21 Preferred Vendor list click:Preferred Vendor List – Sheet1

Navigating Hurricane Recovery: Tips for Managing Your Insurance Claims After Helene and Milton

As we continue to recover from the recent impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many homeowners are facing the daunting task of filing claims and managing the aftermath. To help streamline this process and ensure you are well-prepared, here are some essential tips to keep in mind:

1. Keep a Daily Journal

One of the best ways to stay organized during the recovery process is to maintain a daily journal. Document everything related to your recovery, from conversations with insurance representatives to the progress of repairs. This journal will serve as a vital record of your experience and can be invaluable if you need to reference specific details later.

2. Save All Receipts

As you begin to address repairs and other expenses incurred due to the hurricanes, make sure to keep all receipts. This includes costs for temporary housing, repairs, and any other disaster-related expenses. Keeping these documents organized will help ensure you receive reimbursement for eligible costs when filing your claim.

3. Establish Clear Communication with Claims Personnel

Maintaining good communication with your claims adjuster is crucial. Ensure you have their contact information, including their name, phone number, and email address. Regularly follow up on the status of your claim and ask any questions you may have. Proactive communication can help prevent delays and ensure that your claim is processed efficiently.

4. Document Your Claim Number and Important Contacts

Keep your claim number in a safe and easily accessible place. This number is essential for all correspondence related to your claim. Additionally, document the contact information of anyone involved in the claims process, such as contractors or inspectors, to keep everything organized.

5. Identify the People You Are Working With

When engaging with claims personnel and other professionals, it’s important to identify who you are working with. Whether it’s your claims adjuster, a contractor, or an inspector, knowing the names and roles of these individuals will help facilitate better communication and understanding. If you receive a call or visit from someone regarding your claim, don’t hesitate to ask for their identification.

Conclusion

Recovering from the effects of hurricanes is a challenging journey, but being organized and proactive can make a significant difference in managing your insurance claims. By keeping a daily journal, saving receipts, maintaining contact with claims personnel, documenting important information, and identifying the people you work with, you can navigate this process more smoothly.

Thank you for taking the time to read this guidance. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to reach out.

Courtesy of your local insurance agency,
Kevin Hewitson
Phone: 352-563-2323
Email: kevinhewitson@Allstate.com

Stay safe and take care!

 

Real EstateUncategorized October 5, 2024

Citrus County Resale Single Family Homes Fall 2024

This week I update Citrus County real estate: single family homes in the Black Diamond/Citrus Hills Terra Vista/Pine Ridge areas.  As the article from the Florida Association of Realtors points out, home prices are up, fluctuating mortgage rates are making a difference. I include what has sold in the last six months and what is for sale now.

 

Florida Association of Realtors:

Home price growth moved up to nearly 4% year over year in August, though gains are projected to fall to less than 1% by next spring, according to the CoreLogic Home Price Index (HPI) and HPI Forecast for August 2024.

Mortgage rates dropped to the lowest level in nearly two years the last week of September, according to Freddie Mac, but weakening consumer confidence over the job market and uncertainty around the November election could be keeping price growth expectations muted.

“While mortgage rates have dropped in recent weeks, August home sales were by still-high rates in July and August, which lowered affordability,” said Dr. Selma Hepp, Chief Economist for CoreLogic.

“The combined impact of high prices and high mortgage rates kept a lid on price growth, with annual gains falling to the lowest level in a year and the monthly gain falling well below what is typically observed in August. Price gains in August were driven by areas in the Northeast but brought down by softening markets in Texas and Florida.“

Top takeaways:

  • U.S. single-family home prices (including distressed sales) increased by 3.9% year over year in August 2024 compared with August 2023. On a month-over-month basis, home prices decreased by 1% compared with July 2024.
  • In August, the annual appreciation of detached properties (4.2%) was 4 percentage points higher than that of attached properties (-0.2%).
  • CoreLogic’s forecast shows annual U.S. home price gains relaxing to 2.3% in August 2025.
  • Miami posted the highest year-over-year home price increase of the country’s 10 highlighted metro areas in August, at 8.9%. Chicago saw the next-highest gain at 6.8%.
  • Among states, South Dakota ranked first for annual appreciation in August (up by 10%), followed by New Jersey (up by 9.5%). Hawaii was the only state to record a year-over-year home price loss (-0.1).

WHAT IS FOR SALE AND WHAT HAS SOLD?

-IN ORDER to view houses in the link,  you may have to scroll through some pages and or click on a price and then it takes you to the home (homes).

Black Diamond for sale (14):

click:      https://portal.onehome.com/en-US/share/1006433P21049

Black Diamond Sold:

click:       https://portal.onehome.com/en-US/share/1006432h84951

Pine Ridge for sale:

click:      https://portal.onehome.com/en-US/share/1006434q69112

Pine Ridge Sold (116):

click:      https://portal.onehome.com/en-US/properties/map?token=eyJPU04iOiJDSVRSVVMiLCJ0eXBlIjoiMCIsInNldGlkIjoiODUwNzYyMCIsInNldGtleSI6IjYxMCIsImVtYWlsIjoibHN0aG9tYXM3N0BnbWFpbC5jb20iLCJyZXNvdXJjZWlkIjowLCJhZ2VudGlkIjozNTgxLCJWaWV3TW9kZSI6IjEifQ==&SMS=0&searchId=6d623835-4c74-3d1f-a044-9d5cb0ba684b

Citrus Hills Terra Vista for sale (57):

click:     https://portal.onehome.com/en-US/properties/map?token=eyJPU04iOiJDSVRSVVMiLCJ0eXBlIjoiMCIsInNldGlkIjoiODUwNzU5MiIsInNldGtleSI6IjUyOCIsImVtYWlsIjoibHN0aG9tYXM3N0BnbWFpbC5jb20iLCJyZXNvdXJjZWlkIjowLCJhZ2VudGlkIjozNTgxLCJWaWV3TW9kZSI6IjEifQ%3D%3D&SMS=0&searchId=dfa006cb-eae5-37f7-9e1a-0d1d1530c047

Citrus Hills Terra Vista Sold:

click:      https://portal.onehome.com/en-US/properties/map?token=eyJPU04iOiJDSVRSVVMiLCJ0eXBlIjoiMCIsInNldGlkIjoiODUwNzYxNyIsInNldGtleSI6IjYyNyIsImVtYWlsIjoibHN0aG9tYXM3N0BnbWFpbC5jb20iLCJyZXNvdXJjZWlkIjowLCJhZ2VudGlkIjozNTgxLCJWaWV3TW9kZSI6IjEifQ==&SMS=0&searchId=74b8ae34-dfbe-3b83-8021-9bf6dd98f83a

Home Maintenance September 28, 2024

Keep Your Home Clean!

Key Home Maintenance Tasks for Homeowners

By Roxana Loomes (FAR)

Whether you just became a homeowner or bought a house years ago, keeping it clean is always a priority. Nevertheless, there are some tasks that you probably avoid because you think they’re time-consuming or difficult.

If you don’t do these cleaning and maintenance tasks regularly, you inadvertently worsen your life. As time passes, grime accumulates, and appliances get older and harder to fix.

To avoid spending extra time and money on your home’s upkeep, you must do these easy tasks now and add them to your routine. Here’s how.

Clean the dryer and dryer vent

Built-up lint inside dryers and in vents can pose a serious fire risk. Dust and lint escape through the small gaps around the edges of the dryer drum and fall inside the cabinet.

They can ignite from anything, like a spark from the dryer’s motor, and travel through the exhaust vent, driving the flames with them. Cleaning your dryer vent is as easy as ensuring it’s lint-free every time you do laundry. In addition, you should get the vent professionally cleaned yearly.

Keep aerators clean

Buildup and soap from your dishes and hands can clog aerators found on your kitchen and bathroom faucets. They can reduce the water flow and make the water unsanitary.

To clean aerators, take them off the faucet, disassemble them, soak them in vinegar for thirty minutes or more, and scrub them well with a brush — even a toothbrush will do.

Clean the oven door

Oven doors are often covered in old food splashes and can cause odors and smoke inside the kitchen. Never ignore big spills; clean them thoroughly as soon as they happen, and wipe down your oven door every time you clean the kitchen.

If you’ve neglected your oven for a long time, you may need to remove the oven door and clean between the glass door panels. It’s more complicated than wiping spills down as they occur, but that’s what you get for ignoring a simple task.

Dust the bath fan

Bath fans are the perfect spot for dust and moisture to combine into a disgusting film. They’re also on the ceiling, so they’re easy to ignore until they’re caked in dirt.

To clean your bath fan, pull down the cover, remove it, and use a brush to remove the grime. Depending on how dirty your bath fan is, you may also need to vacuum it. Do this task often, and you’ll finish in no time.

Wash the garbage can

You probably use liners and bags in your garbage can, so you don’t think you need to wash it. Nevertheless, trash often leaks, and anything that comes into contact with it should be regularly sanitized.

You don’t need to wash the garbage can daily or weekly. Simply spray the inside of the can with disinfectant whenever you take out the garbage — problem solved!

Vacuum the mattress

You may think changing the sheets is enough to keep your bed clean. While it’s an important step, it’s not all there is to it. Mattresses also get dirty under those sheets and comforters; you need to vacuum them.

Try vacuuming the mattress every couple of months and air it outdoors for a few hours when it’s sunny to naturally disinfect it and remove musty odors.

Wipe down walls

Interior walls and trims don’t attract dust as effectively as TV and computer screens, but they still get a layer of dust if you never wipe them down.

To avoid this source of dirt, use a Swiffer floor mop to dust your walls and trim. Cover the end with a dry dust rag and run it along the walls. Because of the long handle, you won’t need a ladder to pick up dust and cobwebs and have sparkly clean walls.

Clean the back of the fridge

The back of your fridge is often out of sight, out of mind. However, it’s also the perfect spot to get stubborn dust and grime in the kitchen. Don’t wipe it down (or vacuum it) every week but include it in your kitchen cleaning routine a few times a year.

You’ll notice your fridge will run better when the back is free of dirt, as well, which is a bonus.

Wash the deck

Washing your deck can be one of the chores you hate the most. Because it’s exposed to the elements all year round, it can become covered in everything from dust and dirt to debris and grease from the barbecue.

However, if you have a power washer and long-handle brush, washing the deck is easy (and fun). Use a degreasing agent to reduce the elbow grease needed for the job, and enjoy your refreshed deck!

Clean the dishwasher

Much like the bathtub doesn’t stay clean, although it cleans us, the dishwasher doesn’t get sparkly clean when it leaves your dishes spotless. If you don’t clean it regularly, food bits can get into its nooks and crannies, causing bad odors and dirty dishes in the long term.

Clean the dishwasher regularly, especially if you use it every day. It’s the best way to keep it running well.

Clean the chimney

We don’t recommend you clean your chimney yourself unless you have some experience with shop vacs and standard chimney cleaning tools. However, you must clean the chimney yearly to prevent creosote fires, which can be deadly.

Secure the services of a professional cleaner every spring and enjoy peace of mind – and lovely evenings by the fire – all winter long.

Wash the siding

Vinyl siding is usually easy to clean with a hose or power washer. Still, if it’s old, it may have stubborn stains that water can’t eliminate. You can use a soft sponge or cloth and powdered laundry soap or household cleaner alongside vinegar to remove these stains.

Alternatively, you can get a professional cleaning done, although it will be more expensive. To prevent that, hose down your siding regularly, especially during the summer.

Clean the fridge

Cleaning the back of the fridge is a great way to keep the kitchen clean, but not washing the inside of the fridge does you a great disservice. Dirty fridges are smelly and unclean, and they can make you and your family sick.

Empty out the fridge and wash it with soapy water regularly. It will also help you rotate your food and avoid old leftovers, mold, and expired products.

Blow soffit vents clean

Soffit vents ensure that your attic gets good ventilation, saving you air conditioning costs during summer and protecting your roof from condensation damage during winter.

Yet, if they’re blocked by debris, cobwebs, or pieces of broken insulation, your ventilation will suffer. Use a compressor with an air nozzle or a leaf blower to clean them and protect your eyes while you do it!

Wash weep holes

Weep holes are located on the exterior bottom of sliding windows. They allow rainwater to drain from the window but can also get blocked by the debris that rain brings down.

The easiest way to keep them clean is to use a hose on them until you see a steady stream of water exiting these holes. If water doesn’t do the job, use compressed air or a wire hanger, and then spray them again with water to confirm they’re clean.

Wipe down doorknobs

Doorknobs often crawl with dirt and bacteria because every person in the household touches them multiple times a day. You may have never cleaned them because you don’t think about them – similarly to how light switches may be under your radar when you vacuum, dust, or sweep the floors.

Cleaning doorknobs is as easy as wiping them down with a bleach-based cleaner-infused cloth every few days – and a similar treatment can also keep your light switches sanitized.

Clean outdoor lights

Outdoor lights may only become an obvious problem when they’re too dim to do their job because they’re covered in dust and even pest nests. They attract insects, and the heat they provide can also make mice and other rodents feel at home.

Clean outdoor lights regularly and replace any burned-out bulbs. Besides being clean, they’ll also increase your home’s curb appeal.

Clean closets

Cleaning closets is a great way to stay on top of clutter, but it can feel like the worst chore if you don’t do it regularly. A good idea is to rotate your summer and winter wardrobe as the seasons progress and only keep the mainstays visible and at hand.

Always dust shelves, wipe down inside drawers when you do your seasonal rotation, and store things you don’t need for the next few months. Wooden boxes come in handy and can be stacked on top of each other to maximize space.

Remove sink and tub drain buildup

If your sink and tub drains aren’t draining as quickly as they should, they’re probably blocked with buildup. Buildup can contain many things and can get especially bad if you have long hair or don’t properly clear out plates before rinsing them.

First, manually remove any visible obstructions with a plunger or a pipe cleaner. Then, pour about a cup’s worth of baking soda down the drain and follow up with boiling water.

Clean range hood filters

The range hood filter does a great job of collecting grease and keeping odors and smoke down as you cook. If you don’t regularly clean it, it will become covered in grease buildup and lose effectiveness.

The easiest way to clean your hood filter is to place it in the sink after filling it with hot water and dishwashing liquid. Leave the filter soaking for fifteen minutes, scrub it with a brush, rinse it, and dry it with a paper towel. Add baking soda to your soaking water if the grease buildup is particularly stubborn.

Clean the pillows

Clean pillows and bedsheets go a long way to making your sleep more peaceful. Because pillowcases protect them, you don’t need to wash your pillows weekly. Nevertheless, you should regularly wash them on a gentle cycle and cool water.

Try washing them every three months to remove sweat stains and dead skin cells. Add clean tennis balls to plump them up in the dryer, which will also prevent their innards from clumping.

Clean and wipe shower curtains

Plastic shower liners and curtains can develop mildew when not cleaned regularly. To keep them clean, give them a good wipe-down with a vinegar solution or a mix of water and baking soda.

It goes without saying that you should wash fabric shower curtains at least every three or four months like you would any other curtains. It will help keep the bathroom smelling fresh, and you’ll enjoy your shower more.

Keep a paperwork binder

One way to avoid paperwork from taking over your kitchen drawers or countertops is to organize all your bills, repair receipts, and insurance papers in a binder. If all your house information is in one spot, your life is easier whenever you need to look this information up or set up a budget.

Likewise, having all this proof can help if or when you decide to put your house on the market.

Make appliances smudge free

If you have stainless steel appliances, you probably hate nothing more than cleaning them because they show every little fingerprint and smudge as soon as someone touches them again.

You’ll forget about smudges for good if you replace your usual surface cleaner with car wax. Apply a thin coat of wax to the appliance, let it dry, and then buff it clean. It’s as easy as that!

Use baking soda to clean upholstery

If your kids ever overturned a plate of spaghetti on your sofa, you know it’s hard to get the stain and, more importantly, the smell out of the upholstery. However, sofas can be easily deodorized and cleaned with baking soda.

Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the stain, let it sit for half an hour, and then vacuum it off with your handheld or regular vacuum. It will get rid of the stain and the odor.

Some important home upkeep tasks include maintaining a document binder and keeping up with general cleaning and maintenance so appliances continue to run smoothly.

© 2024 Wealth of Geeks LLC. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Hard Water Stains:

In the scope of housework, hard water stains are high on the list of public enemies in my home. Because we live in a place with hard water, they’re devilishly difficult to remove (and incredibly quick to appear). But fear not: By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be better equipped to make your shower doors sparkle and shine.

First, a little science!

All city water begins as hard water. In some municipalities, the city makes the decision to treat water with a water softening system, removing excess magnesium, calcium, and other minerals from water before it reaches your home. Soft water has lots of benefits: It can reduce mineral buildup in your pipes, keep your hair and skin properly hydrated, and keep your water-based appliances running longer and more smoothly.

Hard water, while not dangerous to use, does have its drawbacks. The nastiest and least aesthetic of them is what we’re here to discuss: left to dry on shower doors, the water evaporates, but the extra minerals don’t. Those small deposits build up over time, and eventually you’ve got a glass surface littered with spots that never seem to come off no matter how much Windex you use.

And that’s because Windex can’t work on water stains. Why? Because, in order to truly remove those water spots, you need a highly acidic cleaner. Household glass cleaners like Windex are formulated to be more gentle on your windows and other glass surfaces. To tackle hard water spots, you’ll need a low pH cleaner (low pH = high acid!) that can get in there and do your dirty work.

Don’t Make These Mistakes When Cleaning Your Bathroom

Before Getting Started

Consider the safety of your project. It’s wise to wear rubber

gloves when dealing with any kind of acidic cleaning project, so

while you’re assembling your other materials, it’s prudent to toss

those in, too!

You’ll Need:

Depending on your method of choice:

White vinegar

Lemons or lemon juice

Warm water

Spray bottle

Rough towel

Microfiber cloth

Commercial cleaner

Method 1: Vinegar Soak

1. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts warm water and vinegar.

2. Spray the affected area thoroughly with your solution. Don’t

be shy – really get in there and coat it. After letting it soak for

few minutes, re-apply, paying special attention to any

problem areas.

3. Use a rough towel to scrub at the water stains. The texture on

the towel will help loosen and remove water spots. Note: It

shouldn’t be a strain to remove the spots at this point – if it is,

start from the beginning and let your solution soak longer.

4. Wipe away the solution with a clean towel or microfiber

cloth. If you’re able, you can rinse the area with warm water

and wipe dry.

Method 2: Lemon Juice Solution

1. Grab 1 or 2 whole lemons. Start by rolling them on a

countertop with a decent amount of pressure; doing so helps

release the lemon juice from its membranes.

2. Slice your lemon(s) in half, across the widest part of the

lemon. You’ll know you’ve done it right if each of your lemon

halves is round in appearance as opposed to almond shaped.

Slicing this way makes the lemons easier to palm.

3. Use one half of your lemon as a natural abrasive and sponge

at at the same time! The lemon juice acts as an acid to help

remove hard water, while scrubbing in circular motions with

the lemon itself helps lift stains in the same way a towel or

sponge might.

4. Rinse or wipe your glass surface with warm water and a

clean towel.

Note: Alternately, you can mix equal parts lemon juice with water as in

Method 1.

Method 3: Commercial Glass Cleaner

1. Select the glass cleaner of your choice. Remember: you’re

looking for something low-pH, high-acid.

2. Follow the instructions on your product’s label.

Note: With commercial glass cleaners, chemicals are more often at

play. Ensure you have rubber gloves before starting this process. Safety

first!

RestaurantsUncategorized September 21, 2024

Fall 2024 Citrus County Restaurant Update

In the last month, we have been all over Citrus County, trying different dining places and some new ones including Tipsy Tarpon.  Checking out the new  Panera Bread and revisiting Bangkok Thai  and its new owners and trying  Black Diamond specials.

NEW: 

Crystal River’s Tipsy Tarpon…nice Water view…it was raining and it was trivia Wednesday night. … uncomfy chairs. Linda and Mike ordered Fried shrimp (came with 12); Karen had chicken salad plate and Art ordered the  grilled mahi  basket.  Food was okay.  View is nice.

 

Returned to Citrus Hills Skyview on the summer card you can buy that allows you and your guests restaurant access.   Food and service were good. Art had salmon, \am ahi tuna, Lloyd duck, Bud and Pat scallops and Joan appetizers.  

Homosassa’s Wallace’s at the Greenhouse serves a great bread basket and the food is creative and delicious. Pam and I had pesto parm cod with veggies and garlic mashed.  I skipped the potatoes and had extra veggies… I shared. Art had salmon,  Pat pork chop, Russ a veggie pasta dish with added chicken, Judy salad with added chicken and Joan likes the fish and chips grilled. 

 

Lecanto Glory Days is not as crowded as  it was when it first opened. The cole slaw’s  flavor is a little bit better. Fried shrimp is very good (a dozen of them!)  The Monte Cristo sandwich that Karen ordered… fantastic and huge… Art like the meatloaf.

 

Beverly Hills Bangkok Thai has new owners  and the food and service is still good

Lecanto’s Panda Express carryout:  bowls (choose rice or noodle)   and entree. Orange Chicken their specialty and it is good.  I liked the shrimp.

Lecanto Little Caesars Pizza.  Grew up in Detroit area and this was the pizza restaurant  choice!  Tried it here: thin  crust,  well-done and it was excellent as remembered and free delivery special! 

Homosassa: Michael Anthony PIzza:  We like the veal marsala and lasagne.

Black Diamond Ranch:

Turkey buffet very good .  Cranberries were different.  Lunch Cuban special was good. Breakfast omelet excellent.

LUNCH

Lecanto Panera Bread:  We like their chicken soup, cookies and great sandwich choices.  Now have some new menu items.  We enjoyed the turkey avocado sandwich.  Thought the service was fine..drive through, use the kiosk or order at register.  A  bit noisy I thought. 

Hernando and Inverness: Cattle Dog Roasters; Our favs:

A lobster roll on Friday and cranberry pecan chicken salad sandwich on pumpernickel. 

 

Hernando Jimmy T’s NY Deli …no more once a month liverwurst since  Boars Head stop making it after the Listeria recall.   

New England Cafe good tuna melt and good cookies.

On the agenda to try… Rocco’s ( new owner) Texas Roadhouse (hearing good things)

TO DOUncategorized September 13, 2024

Citrus County “To Do” Festivals and Events 2024-2025

This week I update the ANNUAL Citrus County Florida  Events and FESTIVALS…

CLICK ON This link:  gives you the lastest on what to do in the county…arts and crafts, swim with manatee, snorkel, dive, scallop, kayak, fish, bike, hike…

What’s coming up in Crystal River and Citrus County, FL?  I include 6 places in Florida to visit for chills and thrills. 

Year-round: Market at the Depot: Farmer’s/Crafters Market; Inverness: 1st and 3rd Saturdays (9-1)  and 2nd and 4 th Wednesday afternoons. (5-8 pm)

September  

13;  7-9 pm; Cooter King Queen Pageant : Valerie Theatre; https://inverness.gov/

14: STOCK CAR RACING: race starts 5 PM; Citrus County Speedway; https://citruscountyspeedwayandtrack.com/

19;  7pm; Matt Stone as Elvis; Inverness Courthouse Square; 352-341-6428; Food, soft drinks, after hours museum access.

21; Breakfast and Bingo; Central Ridge Community Center; Beverly Hills; 8:30 am

21;  VIP Homosassa River Raft Race After Party; Crumps Landing, Homosassa; 4-8 pm

6 Places in Florida to explore for thrill and chills! 

Link: https://www.floridarambler.com/historic-florida-getaways/6-haunted-places-in-florida/

October

Cootertober: Cooter Festival (activities all month)  10-5
Rock out at this three-day music festival at Liberty Park in Inverness. Enjoy beautiful Lake Henderson, live performances, family-friendly carnival rides, food vendors, and more.

http://www.inverness-fl.gov/685/Cootertober

Haunted Tram Ride (Spooky Springs)  6-10 pm
A Halloween-themed fundraising event sponsored by the Friends of Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park, enjoy a haunted house, costume contest, and a spooky tram ride at the park!

https://www.floridastateparks.org/events/spooky-springs-0

12- Heritage Village Scarecrow Festival  10- 5 pm
Bring the kids to this fall celebration at Heritage Village in Crystal River. This festival features pony rides, hayrides, a pumpkin patch and live performances.

http://www.theshoppesofheritagevillage.com/UpcomingEvents.html

6; Withlacoochee Annual Ride
On the first Sunday in October, join the cyclists who will ride all 46 miles of the beautiful Withlacoochee State Trail. Or signup to volunteer at this family-friendly event. https://www.fotwst.org/copy-of-about-us-4

November

1 Citrus Memorial Health Foundation  YMCA Prayer Breakfast; 7am ymcasuncoast.org/citrus-prayer. 

2; Stone Crab Jam;  12-9 pm; Sponsored by The Kings Bay Rotary, don’t miss this street festival featuring fresh stone crabs, beer and wine, and live music on three stages!  www.stonecrabjam.com/

2-3; Inverness Festival of the Arts ; 10-4pm
An Inverness tradition since 1971, on the first weekend in November, join art lovers to browse 100 booths of fine arts and crafts at this free two-day event.

https://inverness.gov/527/Festival-of-the-Arts

9-Black Diamond Car Show; $5 entry; http://www.blackdiamondinvitiationalcarshow.com/ 

“N Bar-B-Que:   Mark your calendars. Live blues and mouth-watering barbecue make for a perfect combination at this fun outdoor festival in Homosassa.

https://www.ncfob.com/

January

February: 

Shrimp-a-Palooza
An annual festival presented by The Rotary Club of Homosassa Charitable Foundation. Join thousands of party goers for a day of food, fun, and live music.

Fort Cooper Days
A historical reenactment from the Second Seminole War. See the battle, experience authentic weapons and uniforms, and enjoy food and refreshments.  https://thefriendsoffortcooper.com/fort-cooper-days/

Clean Air Ride
This bike ride on the Withlacoochee State Trail benefits the Key Training Center. With four distances ranging from 14 to 100 miles, there’s a way for participants of all skill levels and abilities to join in the fun!

Inverness Big Bass Classic
Anglers will love this annual bass fishing tournament which pays out $1,000 in prizes to the biggest catch every hour!  

https://www.inverness-fl.gov/525/Joe-Bega-Big-Bass-Classic

March

1, 2:  Floral City Strawberry Festival
Celebrate local producers with fresh and delicious strawberry shortcakes and on-site cooking demos at one of the top events of the year.   

https://www.gostrawberryfest.com/

3-4 Cocktail Party/Silent Auction 4C Fighting Cancer in CC.  Black Diamond Ranch GOLF tournament 

 St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Inverness knows how to do St. Patrick’s Day right! Paint the town green with a pub crawl, free live, and much more.  

 https://www.inverness-fl.gov/552/St-Patricks-Parade

St. Patrick’s Day on Citrus Avenue
Wear your green and celebrate all things Irish with a parade, live music, and much more on Citrus Avenue.

https://www.crystalriverfl.org/special/page/special-events April

Fort Cooper Bluegrass Festival
Bring your lawn chair and head to Fort Cooper State Park for live bluegrass, food, drinks, and craft vendors under the shady canopy of oak trees.

https://thefriendsoffortcooper.com/

Taste of Inverness
A food and beer festival in Inverness, featuring a competition for area chefs. Experience the food and fun with live music, arts vendors, and more.

https://www.inverness-fl.gov/551/Taste-of-Inverness May

June

Homosassa River Fireworks Fest & Poker Run
An all-day poker run on the Homosassa River followed by a brilliant fireworks display make for a day of outdoor fun for the entire family!  https://www.floridacrackerriversideresort.com/

July

Inverness Patriotic Evening
Celebrate the 4th of July in Inverness with a stunning fireworks display over Lake Henderson and live music.   

https://www.inverness-fl.gov/550/Patriotic-Evening

4th of July Celebration
Crystal River’s annual 4th of July celebration takes place at Kings Bay Park and includes a parade, fireworks, live entertainment, food, beer, and wine – and more! https://www.crystalriverfl.org/special/page/special-events

August

Pine Street Jam & Parrothead Party
Calling all Jimmy Buffet fans! This parrot-themed downtown street party in Inverness features live music, food vendors;  

https://www.discovercrystalriverfl.com/directory/pine-street-jam-parrothead-party-august/

TBD:  

???   Ozello Arts, Crafts, & Blue Crab Festival  9- 4pm
A tradition celebrating all things arts, crafts, and blue crab. Enjoy food, drinks, locally made goods, and lots of delicious blue crab delicacies. 

??? Ozello Craft Show & Chili Cookoff
Who will win the annual chili cook off? This family-friendly event features a craft show and lots of delicious chili to sample. 

Home MaintenanceUncategorized September 6, 2024

Citrus County Who To Call For Home Services

Homeownership is the American Dream but owning a home requires a lot of regular maintenance tasks to keep the investment in good shape.  I am including a list of service companies and maintenance people who can help you, if you are not a DIY person.   

Hope you find  this  helpful info  and PLEASE let know if you have a service company and/or vendor to recommend.  I have not evaluated lawn mowing services (so many!)   Printable pdf of this list at the end.

Air Conditioning Services

Air filters need to be clean/replaced yearly.  Always schedule service on air conditioners yearly.

We have used Bay Area for years:   https://bayareacool.com/  888-324-4033

Air Pros of Ocala (352) 354-3515

BD Recommendation:  Installed complete new ductwork, including a new feed to a previously unfed room, 18 inches of new attic and garage insulation and a new Carrier air conditioner, a two stage ultra-violet air scrubber, new air handler, new base and new wiring in one day, very next day of call. I won’t scare you with what we spent, but the house is very comfortable, the air is incredibly clean, and we’ve added to the value.”

Worthington Air Conditioning and Heating…

https://worthingtonacandheat.com/  352-220-9815

Aluminum & Gutter

Lanai Screen Replacement/

While a handyman may be able to repair and replace individual screening tears, lanai screens are meant to last eight years. 

Blackshears Aluminum; Crystal River,  352-795-9722; https://www.blackshears.com/

Screen Monkey 352-746-7091

Mike’s Rescreen & Gutter, LLC. 352-364-7506. He even wipes all the supporting frames down with wd40  so they look new.

Gutters were installed by Nature Coast Gutter (352) 464-0114. Beautiful work by a father-son team. Very reasonable cost.

C & C Gutter Solutions 352-257-5812; several recommendations

Animal/Critter  Removal

Trapper King; https://www.trapperking.com/;  888-991-5464; Brian

The Gopher Man, from Brooksville , Johnny Loose,1-352-279-0201

Awning:

Canvas Experts  8279 W. Homosassa Trail, Homosassa,  (352) 628-9110

Appliance Repairs:  

Johnson Appliance Service Don’t Replace it. Let me Repair it! Same Day Service * 51 Years Exp, I repair • Washers • Dryers; Air Conditioning; Refrigerators • Water heaters; Dishwashers – Garbage Disposals. LOW Overhead…LOW Prices. Tim 352.145.0072

AUTO SERVICE EMERGENCY 24 HOUR TIRE REPAIR:

Bay Breeze on the Go Mobile (Tire and Repair) 352-679-1449

Cleaning Services: Clean Drapes and Blinds (including Hunter Douglas Luminettes and Silhouettes): Don; 813-267-7376

COMPUTER SERVICES:

COMPUTER WORKS: BOULES WAHBA; 352-249-6633.

CONCRETE REPAIR: Rob’s Masonry 352-726-6554

ELECTRICIANS:

Premier Electric; http://premierelectric.com/ 239-598-2000

Gaudette Electric https://www.gaudetteelectric.com/coupon-savings/; 352-628-3064

I used Mister Sparky. 844-266-5933 mistersparky.com for some electrical work. I was given a $219 estimate but only charged $135 for the actual work done. Honesty you do not find everywhere. I would highly recommend them. ( BD resident) 

BD resident:  Ask for Mike as your tech: Malleys Electric, 2085 S. Bascombe Ave

 Homosassa, (352) 220-9326

BD Resident : In Charge Electric  352-350-7878 (BD resident recommendation: Prompt and efficient. Called a little after 9 and he was here , fixed the problem, and gone by 11:30) 

https://www.inchargeelectric.com/

Fireplace Service: 

The Fireplace Advanced LLC, Vinny; 352-794-6589

Andersen Gas: https://andersongasservice.com/; Inverness;  352-344-1059

Flooring and Tile work: BAREFOOT FLOORING & Home Services 352-535-4797; barefootflooringhomeservices.com 

Garage Doors:  We have always had good service from Discount Garage Doors; 866-420-3667  Chris .

Nextdoor listing: Elderly couple had a problem with DGD and recommends:

JS Garage Door and Repair LLC at jsgaragedoor01@gmail.com & facebook.com/installer named Joe Simmons at 352-201-7798.

Generator:

BD resident  recommendation: Trademark Electric for the generator,  3621 N.W. 27th Avenue; Ocala, (352) 629-8617; (They are the authorized dealer for Generac generators)

Handymen for your household needs: cleaning, dryer vents; pressure cleaning, etc.

Many handymen can help with the powerwashing and cleaning of drives and lanai screens.   I use  Kevin Hurd but he and his partner Jeff  can get busy, so I have developed a list of others, from other people’s suggestions: 

Kevin Hurd, Handyman  (352-220-0352)

NEW: from BD resident: Davo’s 352 -651-2530 Estradavidco@me.com;  And another number, 352 – 436- 7805. His business card reads, gutter cleaning, baseboards, sheet rock, finish carpentry, painting, wood floors, pressure washing and Window Cleaning. So, it is good to know there is another reliable Handyman around.

NEW  from BD resident: ACE hardware gave me a card for a Handyman.  His name is Joe Baldocchi, lives in Beverly Hills,  and his number is 352-322-6386.  He is responsive,  a good communicator, reliable, and knows what he is doing or recommends someone who does.    He was on time, fixed my problems, and his charges were fair and reasonable.

Jerry for pressure washing 352-212-8806

Michael Dennison 352-261-6777; Home Services; carpenter, painter, pressure washing; mdhomeservicesllc.com

Ivan Garrison of JVA Properties at 352-201-7136 (C-21 agent recommendation)

Honey Do Man Brian Havens 518-260-5603 (Century 21 agent recommendation)

The following were Recommended by the next-door.com website

Bob Beaulieu 352-587-5870.

Joey Valinoti  352-462- 8160 —he’s a Pine Ridge resident and licensed and insured

Erich Dean 352-586-8123

Nature Coast Maintenance Tony Davis 352-210-8107

Carlos Pavon   956-466-5866    He lives in Beverly Hills

Mark Michelbrink    Do It All   260-417-8438 cell

Most of our clothes dryers are vented up through the roof…

Clean your dryer vent duct yearly to prevent fires and keep the dryer working more efficiently.  A handyman may be able to do it…

Stanley Steemer: 352-726-4646  I have them deep clean my tile and grout every year. And they clean dryer vents.   I also had them do the air duct cleaning.

Tile Cleaner and Restoration:        mrsgrout.com; email: hello@mrsgrout.com;

352-461-3832

 

Home clean outs:

Lee Hans Clean Outs  352-212-8535

https://www.facebook.com/Leehans-clean-outs-110822870470621/

See PATH under local charity pick up.

HOUSE CLEANER: 

 Busy Bee Cleaning Service Tina 518-321-1525

from BD & Nextdoor: Poshmaid call 352-501-8164 just posted a review about her

Patricia has been doing my home in Black Diamond for a few months now and I just

love her. Very efficient and professional. Give her a call.

southerncleaningbymeghan@gmail.com

Sharie Maid Service: 352-201-5027

Taysia’s Home Cleaning LLC  352-257-7298

Furniture, furnishings to get rid of?  Want to sell?  

Dudleys Auctions;  https://dudleysauction.com/concrete5-8.2.0/index.php; 352-637-9588

Citrus County Charities (some purchasing and accept donations); https://citruscountycharitiesinc.us/; 352-419-7900

Second Time Around Furniture;  https://www.facebook.com/Second-Time-Around-urniture-1707517326135241/; 352-270-8803

Local  pick up charities: 

Are you moving, selling a house, or in between tenants and need to clear out the entire home hassle-free? Look no further! The Path Shelter Thrift Store now offers comprehensive Whole House Cleanouts to make your life easier. Our team is here to handle everything, from start to finish, ensuring a smooth and stress-free process for you.What We Offer: Professional and efficient cleanout services Timely and reliable scheduling Donation of usable items to support our community

 Flexible and tailored solutions to meet your needs 

Daystar Life Center; https://daystarcitruscounty.org/; 352-795-8668

Habitat for Humanity ReStores (2 locations) 

https://www.habitatcc.org/shop.php; 7800 W. Gulf to Lake Hwy; Crystal River, (352) 564-2300 and/or 3703 E. Gulf to Lake Hwy. Inver ness, (352) 341-1800

HOME WARRANTIES: Stay away from America Home Shield says a BD resident .

HOUSE CLEANERS

Sharie Maid Service: Sharie; shariemaidcleaning.com; 352-201-5027

Lighting Exterior (Landscape) 

Enlightened Designs 352-694-9111 did the lites on my trees and back yard. Real pleased with their works and price. (BD resident)

Landscape/ Yard Work: 

My son does land clearing / bush hogging as well.  Trimming limbs off roof edges.

The storm has shut down his out of town clients fishing charters and is looking to pick up some work.   Randall Lanier 352-789-5472  Let him know I referred you. Deanna, C-21 realtor

Woodchuck Yard Service:hauling, weed pulling, lawn service, stump grinding, gutter clean out, mulch laying, power washing, etc. James (681)208-3204

Alpha Exterior Cleaning: Exterior cleaning service: Chris Carr, 352-812-8322; 

Isiah Ross 352-792-7350:   Here’s the list of work I do. Gutter cleaning , pressure washing, screen cleaning (pool cage cleaning ) laying mulch /stone/pavers , hedge trimming , weed pulling , putting down liner to protect weeds from growing , cleaning fans and plant shelves (dust collectors ) , bush removal , small tree removal and decent sized stump removal.

Massage Therapy: Absolute Therapeutic Massage LLC; Robin; 989-329-7949

MOVERS: DUNCAN FAMILY MOVERS LLC: local and long distance, loading and unloading; packing and unpacking. Tony 352-364-7312

ODOR ELIMINATION:   

We specialize in removing unwanted odors from residential and commercial properties as well as numerous other areas. Our service uses Odor Elimination Technology with a Patented Delivery System to simply and truly clean, sanitize and deodorize the property.

Some of the odors we can remove:Cigarette/Cigars, Animal odors, Mold/Mildew, Smoke/Burnt Cooking odors, Trauma/Decomposition.   Troy Gronotte, Odor Medics LLC

352-727-2175.

Painters

The outside of your stucco home should be painted every eight years: A painter can also check the foundation and exterior walls for cracks and check for gaps around doors and windows and reseal them.

Several recommendations  from BD residents: 

Joshua Mancia, Painting and Pressure Washing, 786-714-3382, (recent recommendation

from BD resident ) 

Shane Burbank for painting   352-232-382

Alliance Painting, Scott Waldeck.  He does both inside and outside jobs + whatever else you may want done. 352-628-9772 or his cell is 352-422-2339.

Bonnie:  352-364-6968

Tyler Duncan 352-455-3443

Painting, Wallpaper removal, repaint cabinets:  JAN TIMMONS  352-436-7431, jan.timmons@aol.com

New 

PAINTER.  We have had several homes in our 53 year marriage and we have painted both inside and outside several homes.  We just moved back to Terra Vista and we utilized Mr. Max Painting 352-270-7574 for painting the full inside in April and just had his crew paint our full exterior this past week.  BEST PAINTERS EVER.  Attention to details were outstanding.  Extremely pleasant to work with.  Pricing was very competitive to others.  No short cuts.  Very very professionals and I’d highly recommend to my neighbors.

PHOTOGRAPHY: May realtors use Ken and Sue for their real estate pictures.  But they are expanding to include penal /pet photography.    www.studio3photos.com  352-513-3165

PLUMBERS: 

Montgomery Plumbing Inc, Tyler Montgomery, 352-436-7695

Tsacrios Plumbing; https://www.facebook.com/Bob-Tsacrios-Plumbing-Inc-116817698340930/

352-621-7705

Here is a recommendation for a plumber. I had been using Manatee Plumber since we moved here. They are not taking any new jobs or doing service calls. I called RUSSELL PLUMBING this morning and he came out checked everything and was very polite and prompt.  https://www.russellsplumbingllc.com/; 352-422-0712

Pool Builders:  ???????

Pool Repair/ Resurfacing: 

Tim’s Tile and Marcite; 352-628-0184

Alan at A&S Tile.   352-302-2215

Pool Service (weekly):

Nick Seymore; 352-423-3692 nick@ecopoolplus.com

Pool repair contractor (maybe the heater can be fixed and not have to be replaced?!) 

Jim Schiedenhelm 352-232-5817, jsaes0702@msn.com

Powerwashing: 

Used Wm. “Ted” Lawson and he did a great job cleaning my full cage. Highly recommend him. 352-302-0063

Rainy season starts in June and by March the roofs and driveways show the black algae :

Roof Cleaners:

Roof looking black? That is black algae.  Black driveways need to be cleaned more often, but once a roof is cleaned, and if treated with a retardant,  you can go about three years before having to have it cleaned again.  And love our screened lanais but not when they turn green!  Make sure they cover your bushes when they spray!

We have used Ken Nedzke Citrus Roof Cleaning and Property Maintenance (325-270-3927, http://citrusroofcleaning.com/)

Back2Bright.  Check out their website, very informative on why to clean your roof!    Many people do not realize how infested their roof really is because the spores gradually take it over and a lot of times the color changes uniformly. A good way to check is by looking at your sewer flues and vents. Most of them are galvanized, which means they were created using electrolysis which coats them with thin layer of zinc. The zinc oxide acts as a mold and mildew inhibitor. Therefore, when you look at the vents and flues on your home, you’ll find the original color of your roof!… https://www.back2bright.com/  352-445-4840

Roof  Inspections Maintenance:

Tile roofs are supposed to last for 35-50 years…but you do have to have them periodically inspected and have cracked, loose tiles replaced.  Caulking is needed on all roofs…yes, even the metal roofs  Vents on the roof can also be compromised as well… squirrels love to chew on areas up there.   It seems lately,  home inspectors are more and more checking that the roof valleys are not full of leaves which can cause water back up and eventually roof leaks.

Don Poss: https://www.facebook.com/Don-Poss-Roofing-Inc-716156871764511/  (352-270-3927)

Hise Roofing:  352-344-2442  https://www.facebook.com/hiseroofing

Boulerice Roofing: 352-628-7445  https://www.boulericeroofing.net/

Ledgewood Roofing 352-888-4825; https://ledgewoodroofing.com/

Septic service & clean out:

A Able 352-795-1554

Brooks Septic  352-644-3341

Chet’s Septic Service 352-637-1411

Tile and Flooring: 

Central Florida Tile and Stone. Jeff Stearns; 352-302-2215.

Barefoot Flooring and Home Services Llc:  tile, vinyl, laminate, stone, flagstone…352-535-4797; email:barefoorflooringservices@gmail.com

web: barefootflooringhomeservices.com

I like Stanley Steemer for cleaning.

Tire Service: recommended by Daystar: Sam’s  Tire Service; 352-302-9967 

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=7863857580336437&set=a.1906243362764585

Tree Trimmers/Removal:

JLH Tree Service   352-220-9407

Griffins Tree Service  352-249-6495

(2) Recommendations  from BD residents: 

Claypool Tree Service   Jeremy  352-201-7313

Craigs Tree Service. Have used him twice. Excellent work and very reasonable. (352) 302-9917

Sunbird Properties Maintenance; 352-232 9592 or 352-556-5991

D&J Landclearing & More LLC. “ … reaching out to our local realtors trying to expand our business. We offer land clearing, underbrush removal, tree removal & more…”

https://www.landclearingdunnellon.com/; 352-209-5827

Window Cleaning: 

Chrissy’s Window Cleaning 352-634-4838 (several glowing reports from BD residents) 

Love and Lemons Cleaning Service; Brittney Wright; (352) 560-1993

Doug Shoaf;  (352) 501-0402; 

Nextdoor new recommendation;

I had the pleasure of hiring Austin and Brandon from Brotherz Cleaning Service to clean my windows, screens, and tracks, and I must say, they did an outstanding job! Punctuality seems to be their forte, as they arrived right on time and got straight to work. 362-860-6695

Premier Pressure Washing who was recommended on Nextdoor and he did good job  our drive and lanai and the outside of our windows  352-257-5602.

WINDOW REPAIR:  Dave Arnold: 352-220-8348

 WINDOW REPLACEMENT; DOOR WALL service and replacement :

I recently had all my windows replaced by Superior Windows & Siding.  I can’t say enough good things about the company.  Competitive pricing, excellent workmanship, quality product and the owner/operator is very personable.  4 people on my block have used him and we are all happy customers!

Owner/Operator:  Jesse Pardiso;  352-634-5812

Tropical Windows,  (352) 795-4226

I used Johns Sliding Door repair. The 3 double pane sliders had new rollers installed and he cleaned tracks. They slide with barely a touch now.  He left me with spray to use on overhead tracks to use every 3 months.  Very nice man and I was pleased from contact to completion. His number is 352 756 4856. 

 

printable pdf:Who-to-Call-for-Services-92024

Courtesy of Linda Thomas LLC, J W Morton Real Estate  9/2024

Shopping August 15, 2024

How to Shop at Citrus County Aldi

Citrus County awaits the opening of ALDI.

I have included in two good articles on how to shop in this special store (bring your quarter and your own bags.)  September 1: added Simplify article on Aldi shopping tips

Read how the store operates an article by Southern Living on the best things to buy in the store.

6 Mistakes You Should Never Make When Shopping At ALDI, According To A Frequent Shopper Don’t forget that quarter!

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Photo:
Photo by Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

ALDI is a grocery store that’s known for their affordable prices, but the shopping experience can be intimidating if you’re not sure what to expect. Though the experience is a little different than traditional grocery stores, the savings and ‘ALDI Finds’ are worth it. As a frequent ALDI shopper, I’ve learned the ins and outs of the ALDI shopping

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experience.

Whether you’re a newer ALDI shopper who’s looking to make the most of your next trip or are planning your very first visit, read on to learn the mistakes you should avoid making when shopping at ALDI.

1. Forgetting Your Quarter

First things first: When shopping at ALDI, you’ll need to use a quarter to “rent” your shopping cart. When approaching the outside of the store, you’ll see carts lined up outside the doors. To get one to use, you’ll need to insert a quarter into the slot on the handlebar, and a cart will be released to you to use while you’re in the store. Simply return your cart to the designated corral when you’re done shopping, and you’ll get a quarter back. This helps keep parking lots clean and cuts down on costs.

2. Only Looking For Name Brands

When shopping at ALDI, you should keep an open mind and reach for brands you may not be familiar with. In fact, you won’t find much if you’re only looking for name brands as over 90 percent of the products you’ll see in the store are exclusive brands to ALDI. You will find great deals on name brands throughout the store, but make sure to shop the ALDI-exclusive brands too.

3. Skipping The ‘ALDI Finds’ Aisle

You’ll locate the “ALDI Finds” near the middle of most stores. New ALDI Finds are released every Wednesday and are available for one week, or until they sell out.

If you think ALDI is just for groceries, think again. ALDI Finds range from food to household essentials to decor to apparel and more. Some of my favorite purchases include a set of bed sheets and a kitchen comfort mat.

4. Sticking To A List

In addition to the “ALDI Finds,” ALDI is constantly stocking their shelves with new items around the store, especially seasonal items. Sticking to a list is sometimes necessary, but it’s also worth it to take some time to browse and snag new finds that may not be on your list. You just may find your new favorite must-have item.

5. Not Bringing Reusable Bags

ALDI encourages shoppers to bring their own bags. This helps make their checkout process more efficient while also helping to reduce waste. If you do make this mistake and forget your bags, they do have both paper and reusable bags available for purchase at the store at an affordable price. I find it easiest to just leave a few in my car so I’m always ready for an ALDI run.

6. Blocking The Checkout Line After Paying

When checking out at ALDI, you’ll notice the associate just returns your items to a shopping cart, and does not bag them. This helps cut down on checkout time and keeps the line moving swiftly. After paying for your groceries, you should proceed to the provided bagging area to pack and arrange your groceries into bags and not block the checkout aisle trying to bag them. This keeps the line moving and is considerate to both other shoppers and employees.

The 12 Best Things To Buy At

ALDI, According To Our

Editors

Grab a quarter and head to ALDI to try out these editor favorites.

Photo: Getty Images

Published on May 18, 2024

AlLDI has continued to gain popularity in recent years. They have earned a passionate fan base of shoppers with Facebook groups and Instagram accounts dedicated to sharing ALDI products.

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Shoppers have come to love ALDI for its affordability as well as its exclusive products that can’t be found anywhere else.

While ALDI does carry some name brands, more than 90 percent of the products are made by brands exclusive to ALDI, Not only does this help keep prices low, but it also means that there are many products that you can only find at ALDI.

Whether you’ve never shopped at ALDI or are a loyal shopper, here are a few of our editors’ favorite finds to look for on your next trip.

Cheese

From sliced cheese for sandwiches, shredded cheese for tacos, and artisanal cheese for charcuterie boards, the cheese section at ALDI has it all. “I always have at least 4 ALDI cheeses in my fridge at any given moment,” said Senior Travel & Culture Editor Tara Massouleh McCay. “The Emporium Selection blocked feta in water for salads, shredded Parmesan to top pastas, Happy Farms string cheese for snacking, and the Not Your Average Cheddar Cheddar & Parmesan block for impromptu girls’ nights or when I just need a little cheesy treat.”

Simply Nature Pasta Sauce

ALDI’s Simply Nature Pasta Sauce, available in Marinara and Tomato & Basil, is certified organic and free from over 125 artificial ingredients and preservatives. I always grab at least two jars when I’m at ALDI. You can’t beat the price for the quality.

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Aldi

Bake Shop Sliced Banana Nut Loaf Cake

“My husband has to get up early for work, and he’s always looking for breakfast items that he can eat on the go,” said McCay. “This is one he turns to often.”

Park Street Deli Hummus

Buying hummus at ALDI is a must. They have classic hummus as well as Roasted Garlic and Red Pepper flavors. One editor says it’s way cheaper than everywhere else, and even thinks it’s better than popular name brand options you can find at other grocery stores.

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Aldi

Nature’s Nectar Pure Coconut Water

“I always have a couple cartons of their coconut water in the fridge,” said McCay. “You really can’t beat the price at under $3 a carton, and it’s so refreshing on hot days.”

Happy Harvest Canned Vegetables

Anytime I’m at ALDI, I make sure to stock up on canned vegetables. They’re a fraction of the price as any other stores, so I don’t mind buying them without a particular use in mind. Then I’m always ready to cook up soups, slow-cooker meals, and more.

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Aldi

Pork and Chicken Sausage

Pork and chicken sausages from ALDI are great to keep on hand for quick weeknight dinners. They can be used for sheet pan dinners, alongside pasta, in soups, and more. They also keep great in the freezer and defrost quickly. “I love to crumble the Italian Hot Sausage up for pasta dishes and it’s also great on the grill! Has really good flavor and spice without being too hot,” said McCay.

Park Street Deli Egg Rolls

I buy at least two packages of these egg rolls each time I go to

ALDI, often making a special trip just to stock up on them. I love cooking them in the air fryer and serving with rice for a simple and quick dinner on weeknights.

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ALDI

Baking Ingredients

Similar to canned vegetables, ALDI offers baking ingredients at cheaper prices than most of its competitors. Keep your pantry stocked year-round so you can always whip up a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies, but it’s especially worth making a trip to stock up before holiday baking season.

Fremont Fish Market Value Pack Tilapia Fillets

From shrimp to tilapia to salmon and more, you’ll find a wide variety of seafood in the frozen section at ALDI. “I always buy the family-sized bag of frozen tilapia because it defrosts quickly and is just good to have on hand,” said McCay. Pair it with their Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil Couscous, a great pantry staple

Aldi

Beaumont Cocoa Hot Cocoa Mix

Senior Editor Rebecca Baer claims that the milk chocolate hot cocoa at ALDI is hands-down the very best anywhere. “I will

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make a trip to ALDI just for this hot chocolate,” said Baer.

Fresh Herbs

Keeping fresh herbs on hand is easy when they’re affordable. “Parsley and cilantro are under $1 for a bunch of each,” says McCay. “I use the parsley in salads, use both for garnish, and am often mixing the cilantro into homemade guacamole.”

An article from Simplify;  14 items to buy at Aldi

link: Aldi advice

 

 

 

senior living August 10, 2024

Citrus County Important Numbers

Restaurants August 3, 2024

Citrus County Restaurants: Lecanto, Hernando; Beverly Hills

 

Printable   .pdf: 7:24 Lecanto, Bev Hills, Hernando Restaurants

 

 

Citrus County Restaurants: LECANTO, HERNANDO, BEVERLY HILLS. This area of the county has some franchise and fast-food places… I usually don’t rate them. You will find: Culver’s, Wawa, Burger King, McDonalds, Wendys, Dunkin’ Donuts, Subway, PaPa John Pizza… New or coming: Starbucks, Arby’s, Panera, Texas Roadhouse, Panda Express. 

LECANTO: A FAVORITE: Katch 22 is closed for a major rebuild. 

World Fusion, Popular for sushi. Has a good following, our service has never been good there for dinner, but enjoyed lunches (1988 N Future Terrace off 486), 352-513-3800. http:// www.worldfusionsushi.com/

Glory Days: Popular sports bar; new to the area.  Good service and good food.  

3148 W Norvell Bryant HWY: Opens 3 PM   call ahead seating.(352) 352-1314; https://www.glorydaysgrill.com/?

NEW: Mikang Sushi, Hernando,  2492 N Heritage Oaks Path, Mon-Sat 11-9; Closed Sunday; I have this recommendation from the nextdoor.com website… and this is what the person said about the new place in town:  Mikang Sushi…”We lived in Okinawa Japan for five years, so we’re pretty picky about Japanese food. I’ve been searching ever since we moved here in 2021 for good Ramen and sushi we’ve tried everywhere from Crystal River to Ocala and finally found a restaurant with authentic Ramen and great sushi! They just added two types of Ramen to the menu last week.” No delivery but they do take out. They also have Korean dishes, “ambience is wonderful interior staff is very attentive and nice.” https://www.mikangsushi.com/ 352-513-3588

NEW: LaPergola Italian and Argentinian Restaurant  2780 N Florida Ave, Hernando,

Heard good things from some,  okay from other.  (352) 503-2242

Breakfast Station (4 Locations on CC) ) Good service and good food has made this restaurant very popular! (3593 Lecanto Hwy, Winn Dixie Shopping Plaza, 352-513-3845, http:// www.thebreakfaststation.com/

 

Los Magueyes, one of several locations in CC; Excellent Mexican food and good service. Beverly Hills: 352-270-9198; https://www.facebook.com/losmagueyesbeverlyhills/

 

Bangkok Thai Restaurant) New owners: Great Carry-out business. (352-746-0443), 4925 Lecanto Hwy, http://www.bangkokthai.net/

New England Pastry & Cafe continues to be a local favorite with reasonably priced home-style cooking. We split and enjoy the tuna melt.  3896 Lecanto Hwy, 352-527-3374; http://www.newenglandcafe.com/

 

Chian’s Chinese…mainly carryout…in business 19 years…3599 N Lecanto Hwy (Winn Dixie Plaza) 352-746-3233; http://hernandochansrestaurant.weebly.com/our-menu.html

 

What’s the Scoop? Hershey’s Ice Cream and more (hot dogs, sandwiches, etc. 3521 Lecanto Hwy; 352-513-3541. 

 

Moschello’s Italian: also in Homosassa; Pizza and more. Pizza by the slice. 750 W Hampshire Blvd, actually in Citrus Springs. (352) 746-5000.

 

If you have not been to Papa Willies Bar and Grill in Beverly Hills for their wings and shrimp, give it a try.  Reviews are mixed on their food but cheap!  Everyday from 4pm to 6pm all wings are .45 cents and so is the peel and eat shrimp. papawilliesbarandgrill.com; 352-746-1770 

HERNANDO: Jimmy T’s New York Deli : is a great place for breakfast and lunch. I like the crispy wrap, reuben; my husband likes that they have a chicken soup everyday and Boer’s Head meats. 919 Hwy 486, 352-637-5555,

Cattledogs  Roasters has a nice selection for lunch, light breakfast and carry out. Always something different to try with the monthly changing menu. Excellent and cheap lobster roll on Fridays.  2416 Heritage Oaks, 352-249-3166, and locations in Inverness and Crystal River); www.cattledogroasters.com

 

We tried Mike’s Other Place for lunch in Hernando (it’s a deli and hot dog place). After you enter, grab your drinks from the cooler, stand in line to place your order. They bring your lunch to your table. Art had a coney dog. I had a container of seafood salad, and it was OK. Corned Beef sandwich was HUGE. Very reasonable prices and this a very popular place. I also brought home a lobster, shrimp, and scallop cannelloni tray. It was very good for $11.99 (three cannellonis).  They usually have 3 choices of “take home” to heat up yourself..2780 N Florida Ave (Hwy 41); 352-419-4274 

Paige’s Root Beer –A place for old fashioned fried hamburgers and homemade root beer. Often wins the “best Hamburger” award in CC. from NEXTDOOR SITE: “Paiges has that old fashion burger in the softest bun.I have not found that taste since my early days in Chicago. Their root beer is A&W great. although more expensive than franchised burger places, Paiges delivers a much better product”   2147 Norvell Bryant (486), 352-746-3351, http:// paigesrootbeer.com/

Sabina’s Diner & Ice Cream Shop (2400 Hwy 41, 352-637-1308. “Been there done that.” Food was okay and reasonable.. https:// www.facebook.com/Sabinas-Diner-and-Ice-Cream-Shop-111124858920278/

 

Angelos Pizzeria near Citrus Hills (2nd location in Inverness) ; Dine in, take out, delivery. Good Italian to me. We order from here when family comes because they deliver. 2492 N. Essex; 352-746-5026; http://angelosnypizza.com/ 

Mariana’s Stinky Rose: Tasty: veal marsala, huge meatloaf size meatballs! Seafood pasta was loaded with shrimp, calamari, clams, etc. The house salad and bruschetta is very good as well as their bread. 2649 Forest Ridge Blvd (Publix), 352-270-8432;

Sauced Hog (486) Local bar, good for BBQ for reasonable prices. (352) 419-8990. 2408 N. Fatima Ave (off 486) https://www.facebook.com/sauced.hog

Burger Station: (2700 N Florida Ave, 352-726-0040). A great place for a huge burger or footlong hot dog. 

Chicken King: Always had great friend chicken. They have a great breakfast following. Short dinner hours: Call for times.  2420 N Florida Ave (41 and 486) 352-344-0223. 

Cady’s Cafe is a coffee place, but they have a nice-sized breakfast/lunch menu. This is a paper plate, plastic fork type place with very reasonable prices. Cozy size: 4 tables inside and a couple tables outside. They do have ready to go items, as well as, carry-out business.. Check their hours. Art ordered a BLT and it was OK, little lacking on the tomato. I ordered the quiche which is called a breakfast pie, and it was OK, but large for enough for leftovers. Cady’s is located in the former Kmart/ Bealls Shopping Center at 1492 U S Highway 41. 352-503-2663. https://www.cadyscafe.com

 

07/2024  courtesy Linda Thomas, Century 21 JW Morton 352-464-4881