It’s that time of year again. The weather is cooler, the humidity has dropped, and the days are just about perfect. That means it’s time for the annual Citrus County Festival of the Arts.

The 39th year of the Festival will again be staged around the Courthouse Square in Inverness the first full weekend of November.

Each year several thousand people attend the festival to enjoy the conviviality of a hometown event, as well as the wide-ranging and high-quality artwork and crafts of a hundred artisans. “This event is special for so many reasons,“ says Pati Smith, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Inverness.

“One of the most important is the talented artists who offer very desirable products in a wide range of classifications that cannot be found in stores. Another very special aspect of the Festival is its friendly, welcoming atmosphere that only a small town can offer.”

Smith says Citrus County public school students as well as home-schooled students will also be participating in the Festival this year. “People are always impressed and often surprised at the quality of artwork that the students display,” she adds.

The Festival is sponsored by the Festival of the Arts Committee, the City of Inverness and the Citrus County Chronicle. It is held each year as a way to promote the arts as well as to raise money for scholarships for art students in Citrus County.

This year, three $1500 scholarships were awarded, one to Katelyn Bartley of Crystal River High School, one to Theodore Olson of Lecanto High School, and one to Tiffany Richards of Citrus High School.

One very popular fund-raiser of recent years is the commemorative Festival of the Arts pin. This year’s pin, which is made of pewter, features artists’ brushes wrapped in an artistic scroll.

The pin is the creation of Kelsey Pyers, a Lecanto High School senior, who won the Festival Committee’s competition to design the pin for this year’s Festival. The pins will be available for purchase at the Festival.

Another fundraiser for this year’s scholarship program, is a piece of display art made of stained glass in various shades of blue, reminiscent of the seas. This beautiful item was provided to the Festival of the Arts by Louise Whitney of Homosassa at a fraction of its actual value.

Tickets for a chance to win this piece of art will also be available at the festival, or they can be obtained by calling 352.382.2191 or 352.726.3913.

The Festival runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 7.

There is no admission charge.

At the “van der Valk” restaurant, Lakeside Golf and Country Club in Inverness (open to the public)

St Pete’s Forum

Bon Jovi The Circle Tour, Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 7:30 PM

Having sold more than 120 million albums and performed more than 2,600 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans, Bon Jovi is at their best when they’re on the move, and

that’s truer now than ever before. The November 10, 2009 release of Bon Jovi’s new album, The Circle, and the band’s subsequent world tour, provides a powerful reassertion of Bon Jovi’s commitment to the hard-hitting rock & roll that has been the band’s indelible signature since it began more than 26 years ago.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Sunday, May 09, 2010 at 7:30 PM

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released their debut album in 1976. They have since sold more than 60 million records. Between the Heartbreakers’ recordings and his solo work, Tom Petty has received 18 Grammy nominations and been honored with lifetime achievement awards, including Billboard’s Century Award, MTV’s Video Vanguard Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Tom Petty, with the Heartbreakers at his side, has become a rock and roll icon lauded by fellow musicians and music lovers worldwide. Tom Petty’s Sirius/XM radio show, Tom Petty’s Buried Treasure, is one of the most beloved and popular shows on satellite radio. It features Tom Petty spinning favorite tunes from his extensive private music collection.

Ford Amphitheatre

Sting featuring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Saturday 07/03/10 at 8:00 PM.

Backed by the 45-piece Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and a quartet consisting of longtime Sting guitarist Dominic Miller, David Cossin (multi-percussionist), Jo Lawry (vocalist) and Ira Coleman (bassist), Sting’s new tour will see him performing his most celebrated songs re-imagined for symphonic arrangement, conducted by Steven Mercurio (Pavarotti, Bocelli). Among the reinterpreted selections with brand new orchestrations are fan-favorites such as “Roxanne,” “Next To You,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” and “Every Breath You Take,” along with notable songs from Sting’s enduring solo career, including “Englishman in New York,” “Fragile,” “Russians,” “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You,” “Fields of Gold,” and “Desert Rose.”

Dave Matthews Band, Wednesday 07/28/10 at 7:00 PM

NEW THIS TOUR…in all amphitheatres there will be a General Admission (GA) Standing Only Orchestra Pit in front of the Pavilion Reserved Seating area. In all stadiums there will be GA Standing Only on the Field and in all arenas there will be GA Standing Only on the Arena Floor. Please review the seating charts and note the ticket levels offered at each venue before requesting your tickets through the Warehouse or purchasing tickets through the public on sale.

The foods of the season are a refreshing reminder of spring flavor, color, and texture. We offer a balanced menu reflecting the current trends and traditional favorites.

There are hundreds of combination’s, styles, and foods. Our Easter brunch and our Easter menus are no exception and offer an overwhelming array of foods.  Celebrate Easter at van der Valk, Inverness.

With kind regards,

Chef Remco

Chef Remco heeft a.s. Maandag de volgende twee ‘Monday Night’ specials op het menu.

Exquisite fine European dining at “van der Valk Restaurant, Inverness, Florida

Certainly one of the more classy establishments for dinner in Citrus County. Dutch Chef Remco van Asdonk , is one big tall order (he’s literally 6 foot five or so) and packed full of creative cuisine talent.

Lunch can be a casual ordeal, there’s a golf course right next to the restaurant so you’ll have anything from women’s golfer groups to business groups there during mid week.

The weekend is reserved for quality special dining, romantic or special occasions work very well here. You can enjoy excellent martini’s at the outdoor terrace or enjoy lunch or diner in the bistro section of the fine dining restaurant.

Located at the 18th hole of the LakeSide Golf & Country Club in an upscale housing development and by far the best and most prestigious  restaurant in Citrus County. Give it a try and join us for diner at the “van der Valk” restaurant, you won’t be disappointed !

Van Der Valk Fine Dining and Bistro, 4543 E. Windmill Drive, Inverness, FL. 34.9 mile drive from The Villages. 352-637-1140. L/D daily from 10 AM. From SR 44 West out of Wildwood, merge right with US 41 North in Inverness; 1/2 mile past downtown keep right following US 41 North at N. Florida Ave.; travel 3 miles to “LakeSide Golf Club” (watch for billboard on right and continue 1/2 mile more) and turn right on E. Windmill Drive and right again at the T, past the condos to the club house.