Sad as it is to see the remains of the old piers — barely jutting above the surface of the slow-flowing Withlacoochee River near Istachatta — they do have the benefit of revealing secrets about old-time bridge construction.

Workers apparently drove steel tubes into the riverbed, along with — right down the middle of these tubes — sturdy, reinforcing timbers. The tubes were then filled with a mixture of concrete and fist-sized rocks, forming pillars about 2 feet in diameter and nearly 20 feet high.

The piers were still standing as recently as three weeks ago, said Charles Lee, Florida Audubon's director of advocacy, who lives near the river.

But when he paddled by them on Jan. 27, he said, they had collapsed into the river.

"A part of history now gone," Lee wrote in an email to me last week.

True enough, though it's probably a little different than the history Lee heard from neighbors and passed on to me in his email and when he met me on the river Saturday — that the bridge was built by slaves during the Civil War, originally for rail, and was later converted for use by cars.

Melba Ward, 66, is an Istachatta resident who grew up in the Peters family, one of the first to settle in the tiny community in the northeast corner of Hernando County. In 2007, she wrote an extensive report about it, Istachatta: History of the First 100 Years, 1850-1950, published by the Hernando Historical Museum Association.

Ward was not able to find a record of when the bridge was completed. She did discover when the County Commission approved a $2,200 contract to build the bridge — in 1908.

She agrees with Lee on another point. It was the only bridge in the area available for car traffic until the steel and concrete bridge for what is now County Road 476 was finished in the early 1940s.

There was no record of a rail bridge before that — only of several ferries, including one that began operating near present-day Nobleton in 1859.

Those ferries were basically small barges with decks attached to ropes strung across the river. Horns made of conch shells were hung at the landings on either side so customers could summon the ferry.

As to another part of Lee's email — "The bridge had an infamous history involving lynchings" — there could definitely be something to that.

In 1926, Brooksville's Southern Argus newspaper reported that a black man named Charles Davis, accused of killing a white Pasco County deputy in eastern Hernando County, had been seized by an armed mob near the river as he was being led back to Brooksville from Ocala.

"I believe Davis was taken and thrown into the Withlacoochee River," Sheriff W.D. Cobb told the paper. "Maybe in a day or two the body will come to the surface."

The apparent lack of concern in Cobb's comment isn't surprising once you know, as some historians believe, that he was complicit in this killing and several other acts of racial violence in the 1920s.

That's not in Ward's book. But here are some things that are.

Istachatta appears on early maps as Magnolia or Magnolia Bluff. The current name didn't show up until 1884, when F.M. Townsend filed a plat map with the county.

Nearby Townsen Lake and Lake Townsen Regional Park were named after him, Ward said, which means both have been misspelled on maps and in county documents for years; she thinks somebody in the county mistakenly dropped the final "d" and the result took on a life of its own.

But even Townsend didn't really found the town, which didn't take its current shape until a developer mapped a grid of streets during the 1920s land boom.

Of course, you don't need to know about this history of the bridge or the town — if, with a population of 116, it can even be called a town.

But maybe hearing about the bridge will encourage you to get in a canoe or kayak and take a trip along the river to see what's left of the piers.

It's a good trip, even when you don't know the history. Just a little more so when you do.

Local cycling apparel company Jules Threads is more than just a business – it’s a community. Citrus County native and avid cycler Julie Pitts, 42, has been cultivating a close circle of women cyclers since she began the sport in 1999.

“I got into cycling as many women do – because their partner already rides,” Pitts said. It’s a way to connect, spend time together and have a shared hobby. “I fell in love with it.”

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Soon enough, Pitts found her own group of friends to ride with. “It’s kind of like being a kid again, where you have this freedom of movement.”

However, Pitts began to notice the apparel for women cyclers was sometimes lacking. Then in 2014, she went back to school to obtain her bachelor’s in business and organizational management at the College of Central Florida.

“What I didn’t expect was to get so inspired by my business classes,” Pitts said. This led to her founding Jules Threads in 2016 and launching her first clothing collection in 2017.

“One of the best things about it is the fact that I’ve provided so many women with something they really enjoy wearing,” Pitts said. She’s found that many women might not ride on a day where they feel self-conscious.

Pitts wants to create something that women cannot wait to wear – and consequently cannot wait to ride in.

In addition, Pitts said many apparel companies seem to cater toward the “elite athlete – or the elite athlete body.” Not all women look like this. “All bodies ride bikes,” she said.

“I wanted anyone from an extra-small to a 3X to be able to fit into my clothing and feel the same,” Pitts said.

Cycling apparel is typically tight-fitting, designed to envelop muscles and promote recovery. Cyclers also require padding to comfortably sit on a bike for extended periods of time.

Pitts’ apparel does just that, but is also colorful and creative. Her most recent launch, the “2021 Paradise Collection,” includes jerseys, bibs, socks and gloves in three different patterns, “Tropical,” “Sunrise” and “Turquoise Waters.”

Throughout the year, Pitts garners design inspiration from life around her. Then, she employs the help of her graphic designer to make her ideas come to life. Each one of her collections has three different designs, which coordinate with each other for optimal mixing and matching.

Pitts also enlists the help of a local photographer for product pictures in locations around the community. Typically, herself and two fellow cyclers model.

To Pitts, however, Jules Threads is more than just the clothing. One of the things she loves to do is organize ladies only rides. “They’re all sizes, all different levels,” she said. “We make it a fun ride.”

Pitt’s also has the help of 25 brand ambassadors that represent her company – and her ideals – around the country. “I want them to be that friendly face for other riders,” she said. “I will not accept less than that.”

For any women considering entering the world of cycling, Pitts offers the following advice: join a women-only cycling Facebook page, get recommendations from other women cyclists and get the best bike you can afford (even if it’s used).

In addition, find your sweet spot, a mix between intensity and enjoyment. For Pitts, some of her favorite places to ride are the Floral City and Istachatta areas, with their beautiful rolling hills and farmlands.

“I love this – I love cycling,” Pitts said. “I will talk for hours to convince somebody that they should try it.”

For more information about Jules Threads, visit julesthreads.com.

BROOKSVILLE — With a goal of honoring the past and looking forward to the future, Lake Lindsey United Methodist Church will host a musical homecoming service at 11 a.m. Sunday.

"There will be some great music from the Gulf Ridge Quartet," said church administrator and council chairman Ron Pearson. "We like to use this group, because they are very good, enjoy singing, and two of the members (Kelley and Kelvin Looper) grew up in this church as children. Their mom was our pianist for many years."

While only about 20 members attend church services regularly, 85 people are expected at the homecoming. It will conclude with a covered-dish lunch and time of fellowship after the service in the church's social hall.

According to a written history of the church, its roots run at least as far back as 1851, when Methodist services were held locally in people's homes.

"Later, organized services were held in a vacant building on Mayo's Hill," the document says. "In 1874, Rev. John R. Mays, a local elder, began holding revival services. Many persons were won to Christ and a rough framed building was erected on the lake. For several years it served as a place of worship for both Methodists and Baptists and as a public school for the community."

In 1886, the Methodists erected another building a couple of miles away. It was in 1928 when it moved to the location on Lake Lindsey Road. Nine small buildings were added in the 1940s for Sunday school rooms. A fellowship hall was completed in 1965, and classrooms were added in 1981.

"We've been in the same location and building since 1928," Pearson said. "It's just been modernized a little over the years."

Some of the modernization came in 2015 when the fellowship hall was rebuilt and the sanctuary repaired after a church member set those buildings on fire and went to prison for it.

That part of the church's history is behind them now, said the Rev. Carol Roberts, who has been the pastor at Lake Lindsey and New Hope United Methodist Church in Istachatta since 2012.

"Yes, they were devastated by the fires," Roberts said. "When we think back about it, sometimes you get teary-eyed. We feel like we've lost a soul. But they're forgiving and very loving people, and I think everybody has gotten past it."

The congregation is looking forward, Roberts said.

"They're always asking who they can help," Roberts said. "We've helped families get their lives back together. We buy supplies for Hernando High School. This group of people are so full of the love of God and giving and caring."

Along with the concert, Roberts said she'll be leading prayers, sharing a devotional and welcoming everybody.

"It will be good food and good singing and good Christian fellowship," she said.

Pearson said people should come and "check us out sometime for some old-time religion."

"We eagerly look to a continued ministry glorifying our Lord and Savior," he said. "We invite [the community] to be a part of this growing and exciting work of God."

New Student Move-In Set for August 28, Classes Begin August 31 at University Campus

Saint Leo University to Welcome Largest Class in University History

For the third year in a row, Saint Leo University will welcome another record-breaking incoming class of students to its University Campus. This year’s class, comprised of more than 1,100 new campus students, will surpass the size of the Fall 2019 and Fall 2020 classes, previously the largest and second-largest in the institution’s history.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming this historic number of new students to Saint Leo this year,” said Dr. Jeffrey D. Senese, Saint Leo University president. “The past year was challenging for everyone, but working together, the university community accomplished much and is ready for the new academic year. There is no replacement for the learning that happens when we are physically and socially engaged together, and it is time that we get back to that. We are encouraging students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 so that we can be together.

“This incoming class demonstrates our students’ enthusiasm for a more typical college experience,” Senese continued. “And Saint Leo provides not only the academics, but also prepares our students to be good citizens of the world.”

Moving In

Saint Leo University is welcoming students to its campus over several days in order to protect the health and safety of everyone. New international students will arrive on campus beginning on Wednesday, August 25, while new students from across the United States will move in to their residence halls from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, August 28. Returning students will move in Sunday, August 29. Classes begin at the Pasco County campus on Tuesday, August 31.

New students arriving on August 28 will check in at the university’s parking garage to receive their welcome packages. They then will proceed to their residence halls where they will be greeted by fully vaccinated volunteers (faculty, staff, and students) who will help move their belonging to their rooms.

Throughout the summer months, new students have had the opportunity to participate in mini-orientation events including the in-person Welcome to the Pride and Super Saturday (July 17), combined with an online course platform and virtual webinars developed to help students become more familiar with their future classmates.

“The past 18 months have presented unique challenges,” said Dr. Senthil Kumar, vice president of Strategic Enrollment Management. “Despite those challenges, we were able to connect with students both virtually and in-person throughout their enrollment process, maintaining the one-on-one connection and attention that is the hallmark of the Saint Leo experience.”

About the New Saint Leo Lions

Notable characteristics of the incoming Fall 2021 class include:

? 63 percent are from Florida;

? 22 percent are from out of state; and,

? 15 percent are from 45 international countries.

Choosing Saint Leo

Saint Leo University is expecting to enroll more than 1,000 new undergraduate students, with an additional anticipated 100 new students enrolling in the on-ground graduate programs in business administration, computer science, and cybersecurity. The new Lions were selected from 11,977 applicants, the largest application pool in Saint Leo’s history. This year’s applications rose 81 percent over the previous year and can be attributed to new academic programs, the D2R Program, the Tuition Advantage as well as the Catholic Promise Scholarship and other new financial aid programs.

Throughout the pandemic, international students have faced additional challenges in their pursuit of higher education in the United States. However, Saint Leo is poised to welcome its largest international class in the institution’s history, a landmark success during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About the Academics

Saint Leo recently launched a new college and school and will introduce several new degree programs throughout 2021-2022.

The new College of Health Professions now will offer three degree programs, including the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The BSN program will be offered at University Campus as well as the Bachelor of Science in health education and health promotion degree, which the university started in 2020. Population trends and events, including the coronavirus pandemic, created an ongoing need for additional nurses, particularly in Florida and the Southeast. This new degree will prepare nurses to not only help fill the labor demand, but also provide them with an orientation toward treating the whole patient, advancing the well-being of the patient’s community, and working collaboratively with clinical colleagues.

In Spring 2022, the College of Health Professions will offer the new online Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) for those employed as respiratory therapists, who already have an associate degree.

Saint Leo recently introduced its new School of Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Data Science (CARDS), which is recruiting students for the new Bachelor of Science in robotics and artificial intelligence. The new degree program will be offered in Fall Semester 2022. Because of projected job growth in Florida and neighboring states, the Florida State Legislature granted Saint Leo $1 million in 2021 to launch this program.

The university also established the nation’s first Bachelor of Arts in veteran studies, which will begin in Fall Semester 2021 at University Campus. The degree also will be offered online in the future. Those majoring in veteran studies will be immersed into courses from history, art, policy, psychology, ethics, and other fields to learn how people from various generations, ethnicities, genders, and nations have been influenced by their military service and then the transition back to civilian life.

Week of Welcome

Many activities are planned as classes begin for Fall Semester 2021 at University Campus on Tuesday, August 31. Kicking off the new academic year, students will find an information tent to assist newcomers, and breakfast bags will be available for commuter students. Everyone can enjoy the music of Lucas Nocera, music minister for University Ministry, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Benedict’s Coffeehouse, and Career Services will host a virtual Leo Great Challenge to help get students career ready.

The first day of classes will be capped off by “Aloha, Leo,” which is sponsored by the Campus Activities Board (CAB). Dr. Cynthia Selph, assistant professor of music, will be joined by the Chamber Singers and music faculty to present some tunes at 5:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Patio of the Student Community Center. The GoldRush Dancers will perform, and there will be a special performance—including fire dancers—by Polynesian dancers.

On Thursday, September 2, the community will celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit at the Saint Leo Abbey Church. In-person attendance will be limited to 50 percent of the church’s capacity and the community may join the Mass virtually via the Saint Leo Abbey’s Facebook page. During this Mass, students, faculty, and staff will ask for the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit for the academic year and for the university’s activities.

Faculty and staff are ready to greet the new and returning students and start the semester.

“Some of our returning students, those starting their second year of studies, have not resided on campus,” said Senese, the university president. “They took their courses online last year. We’re excited to welcome them to their new home away from home and get them involved in campus activities, attending our athletic events, and hanging out at Benedict’s Coffeehouse.”

About Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University is one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation, offering 57 undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs to more than 18,200 students each year. Founded in 1889 by Benedictine monks, the private, nonprofit university is known for providing a values-based education to learners of all backgrounds and ages in the liberal arts tradition. Saint Leo is regionally accredited and offers a residential campus in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, 16 education centers in five states, and an online program for students anywhere. The university is home to more than 98,000 alumni. Learn more at saintleo.edu.

Citrus County has expanded its meal pick-up services for families in the county. Starting this week, the county added four drive-up pickup sites and has started using buses to give people easier access in their communities.

One parent we talked to on one of the bus stop pick-ups was extremely grateful for the meals, as it can be difficult for her to get food for her kids.

“It’s like, wow, I don’t have to go walk 10 miles down to the store, you know, to get a carton of milk. My kids have it now,” Nicole Everage said.

35 buses are now out in Citrus Co. right now delivering meals to students at bus stops throughout the county. The district estimates they have over 1,500 meals on the buses alone to hand out. @BN9 #bn9covid19 pic.twitter.com/LYzKVO27Y2

— Kim Leoffler (@kimleoffler) March 30, 2020

Below is the full list of meal distribution sites in Citrus County:

Meal Distribution Sites at Schools

Crystal River Primary – Crystal River (front of the school) Forest Ridge Elementary – Beverly Hills (behind the school, back parking lot) Pleasant Grove Elementary – Inverness (Side Bus ramp) Citrus High School – Inverness (Stadium road/Cafeteria entrance) Central Ridge Elementary – Citrus Springs (Bus ramp) Lecanto High School – Lecanto (towards Crest School) Rock Crusher Elementary – Crystal River/Homosassa (front of the school) Homosassa Elementary - (front of the school) Floral City Elementary - (front of the school) Hernando Elementary - (front of the school) Citrus Springs Elementary - (front of the school)

School Bus Meal Distribution Stops

Crystal River

Serving Crystal River Primary: W River Rd @ Power Line Ft Island Trl @ Greenleaf Apts N Sky Crest @ W Admiral Byrd (Bicentennial Park area) Gulf to Lake @ Crede

Serving Citrus Springs Elementary: N Citrus Springs Blvd @ Park N Margaret Ter @ W Gene Martin (park) W Dunklin @ Citrus Ave. (park) W Sullivan @ N Oak Leaf

Serving Rock Crusher Elementary: W Southern @ Roselyn Way Homosassa Trl @ S Indiana (across from park by lodge) Avocado @ Gulf or Griffith

Lecanto

Serving Central Ridge Elementary: W Gene martin Ln & N Margaret Ter. E Stokes Ferry Rd & N Palm Oak Dr. E Cermak St & N Irving Park Ave. E Grail Pl & N Bighorn Pt.

Serving Forest Ridge Elementary: W Silver Hill Ln & W Wild Cherry Ter. W Union St & S Easy St.

Serving Lecanto Primary School: W. Cardinal Ln & S Pleasant Ave. Douglas St & Douglas Ct S Pelican Ln & S Sandpiper Ter. W Glenbrook St & S Oldfield Ave.

Serving Homosassa Elementary: W Holiday St & S Skylark Ter. S Riviera Dr & W Pebble Ln. W Park Dr @ S Hamburg Ter.

Inverness

Serving Hernando Elementary School: N Retreat Dr. @ Boat Ramp E Millwood Ln. @ N Tanglewood Ave. Stately Oaks @ Mourning Dove Ct.

Serving Floral City Elementary: E Oak Forest St. @41 Istachatta @ Thomas Heatherwood Subdivision (E Heatherwood St. @ S Juneau Pt.) Dolphin @ Withlapopka E Zephyr Wing Ct. @ S Zeppelin Terr.

Serving Pleasant Grove Elementary: Trail 10 @ Illiana

Serving Inverness Primary School: Canal @ Seven Lakes S Eden Gardens Ave.