The unemployment rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 3.1% in May, which is 2 percentage points lower than the region’s rate a year ago.

Across the three-county region, the labor force in May 2022 was 209,108, up 2,790 for an increase of 1.4% over the year. There were 6,436 unemployed residents in the region and 202,672 employed – the most people with jobs in May in the last five years; and 7,495 more than in February 2020, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The region’s employment numbers in May are the strongest that they have been since 2007 when the labor force was 209,106, there were 200,612 employed, and 8,494 were unemployed.

According to the preliminary employment numbers that were recently released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Levy County continued to hold the lowest unemployment rate (2.8%) in the region, followed by Marion County (3.0%) and Citrus County (3.5%). The rates in all three counties rose by 0.2 percentage points.

Dale French, CareerSource CLM’s executive vice president, said, “While we continue to see historically low unemployment numbers, area businesses are growing and hiring and training at a very fast rate.”

French said one of the ways CareerSource CLM can help is to bring available talent together through job fairs, such as the Citrus County Job Fair which is scheduled on Tuesday, June 21 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the College of Central Florida’s Citrus Campus in Lecanto.

“The job fair may take place in Citrus County, but it is open to any job seeker in our region and features 20 area businesses, all with multiple jobs to fill. Our job fairs are offered at no charge. We also have a Healthcare and Human Services Job Fair planned for July 19 in Ocala. So, there are lots of opportunities for anyone seeking good, gainful employment,” added French.

Non-agricultural employment in the Ocala metropolitan statistical area, which covers all of Marion County, was 112,600 in May, an increase of 2,900 jobs over the year for a 2.6% annual growth rate.

Compared to all the metros across the state, the Ocala MSA posted the second fastest annual job growth rate in the information industry at 20%.

In addition to the information industry, the following industries gained jobs in the Ocala MSA: trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,000 jobs); education and health services (+600 jobs); Leisure and hospitality (+600 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (+400 jobs); professional and business services (+200 jobs); information (+100 jobs); and financial activities (+100 jobs).

The government industry lost jobs compared to May 2021 (-100 jobs). The manufacturing and other services industries were unchanged in jobs when compared to a year ago.

You can now travel from Tampa to Citrus County without hitting a traffic light.

LECANTO, Fla. — A faster commute with no traffic signals: What's not to like? An extension to the Suncoast Parkway brings that driving experience to Citrus County, and it's open today.

Billed as the biggest expansion project in years for area drivers, the Suncoast Parkway 2 toll road is a new 13-mile stretch along the existing Suncoast Parkway that serves Hernando and Pasco counties and points southward. Driving this new distance from U.S. Highway 98 to State Road 44 costs drivers $1.87.

The entire route — State Road 589 — now stretches from Tampa to State Road 44 in Lecanto.

"The Suncoast Parkway serves millions of drivers every year – offering a safe, efficient, and convenient travel option for residents and visitors," Florida Department of Transportation assistant secretary Will Watts, P.E., said in a statement "This extension provides additional transportation infrastructure to support Florida's continued growth and reflects the department's unwavering commitment to the people of West Central Florida."

The $135-million project includes 15 new bridges, five wildlife crossings and the extension of the Suncoast Trail from Hernando County into Citrus County, which ends at State Road 44. The trail completion is expected this spring, FDOT said.

Funding is based on turnpike toll and concessions revenue, the state added.

Whether the extension is a good thing depends on who you ask.

If anyone would have a problem with the new Suncoast Parkway extension, you would think it would be Michael Nessmith. The road practically cuts right through what used to be his front yard.

“Yeah, I’ve watched the whole thing being built and everything,” said Nessmith. “I can see it from my front yard, just as plain as day.”

Still, at least so far, Nessmith says the 13-mile extension hasn’t been as noisy as he thought it would be and can see why it might be a good idea.

“I think it would be good as far as if there was a storm or something bad. It gives people quick access out of the area. So, that part of it I think would be good," said Nessmith.

“I mean, it’ll save time. I don’t think it will increase business like they say. But I’m all for it,” said Lois Larson, who also lives nearby.

The new road is still creating friction between those who say it will promote growth in the region and those who frankly don’t want that growth. In fact, it’s part of the reason many have chosen to live here.

“I think it will take away a little bit of the slower life we have around here,” said neighbor Amanda Smith, “But, other than that, I think it’s a good thing.”

“Well, I like it for the travel to Tampa so I can go see my granddaughter,” said Don Snyder. “And I don’t like it because of the fact it will bring more people up here.”

Still, even Nessmith, who can now count cars from his front yard, knows that growth is all but inevitable, even if some would prefer it be further down the road.

“I’m a fourth-generation Floridian. The future is only improving one way or another,” said Nessmith. “So, I don’t have any complaints about it.”

With this phase of roadway construction complete, attention will shift to three additional phases to lengthen the Suncoast Parkway. State transportation leaders plan to extend the route from State Road 44 to County Road 486 in 2026. Later, it's scheduled to be extended from County Road 486 to County Road 495.

And finally, there's consideration to further draw out the parkway from County Road 495 to U.S. Highway 19.

Generations of mermaids have sprung from Weeki Wachee Springs, but now they have a new home to flash their fins.

Lecanto-based Mertailor, which is not new to the spotlight, is diving in with a new endeavor with an aquarium, including its own live mermaid show. The Mertailor Mermaid Aquarium Encounter is complete with fish, stingrays and a mermaid show, a lifelong dream of Eric Ducharme’s coming to fruition.

Ducharme’s magical creations have made headlines worldwide for his incredible success story – becoming fascinated with mermaids as a child, starting his own mermaid tail manufacturing business at the age of 14, gaining worldwide recognition for the quality of the product he creates. He is definitely a case of born-to-be-an-entrepreneur.

Mertailor hosted mermaid auditions at the aquarium for the past few days, where both Ducharme and Barbara Wynns, an instrumental figure in his journey to now, were present to discuss and judge the auditions.

Wynns was a Weeki Wachee mermaid from the 1960s and ’70s when the mermaids lived on the grounds of the springs and swam in the shows. In 2010, she met a young and enthusiastic Ducharme. She gave him an old tail they had and let him play in the springs, eventually getting him on the air-hose, which is what they use during shows to breathe while staying submerged. As a teenager, he got SCUBA certified and the park made him a prince in the show while also having him make tails for them.

“The day that Eric left Weeki Wachee, the idea for his own mermaid show was birthed,” Wynns said.

Until now, it was the lone place for professional mermaids to work, but, as Wynns said, “everyone who has left Weeki Wachee wants back in the water on the air-hose. There’s no place like it in the world.”

At the first day of auditions, Thursday, April 21, they had five potential mermaids and one merman show up to try out. They auditioned two at a time in the show tank, testing them on treading water without using their legs, breath holding, facial expressions, diving, backflips and even ballet moves like the pinwheel, front leap and bird arabesque. All of these are important for Ducharme and Wynns to determine whether the individual has both show potential and trainability.

“I did dance for 11 years, so I was familiar with some of the moves, but I’ve never attempted them underwater,” said Micah O’Leary-Wyatt, one of many who auditioned for a spot in the show. “It added a whole other element to it that was surprisingly more difficult than I had anticipated. But once I got in there, I felt comfortable.”

O’Leary-Wyatt called the show a “big deal” for Citrus County.

“I think it’s really going to help bring in profit for our tourism industry and just really help the community and give them something to appreciate locally,” she said.

Mertailor already has a number of mermaids on staff. Shows are currently at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

The biggest difference between the shows at Weeki Wachee and Mertailor is the difference in the water and aquatic life. Weeki Wachee, of course, is a freshwater spring while Mertailor’s aquarium is salt water-based, said Marissa Whittaker, a former Weeki Wachee mermaid who now does shows at the Mertailor aquarium, noting the sea life she swims alongside now isn’t what one would typically see in the spring-fed waters here. The aquatic life is truly what sets Mertailor apart from the well-known show at Weeki Wachee as well as the ever-enchanting mermaids dancing through the water.

The aquarium, which opened its doors to the public in December 2021, is home to marine life of all different kinds, including those both native species and from oceans around the world. In one tank are species from Florida’s natural springs, like the Florida gar fish and American bullfrog, while others included species such as the Peacock Mantis Shrimp and Two-Spotted Octopus.

In addition to marine life, the aquarium is also home to a flock of rescued macaws and cockatoos.

“Most people who buy these birds as pets don’t realize what goes into taking care of them and eventually decide they don’t want them anymore, especially since the lifespan of these birds is anywhere between 60-80 years, which is a lifetime commitment,” Ducharme said.

So, many of these birds end up under the care of sanctuaries or people such as Ducharme and his partner who are willing to open their homes to them. The aquarium has 10 macaws with plans of bringing in more that are currently being fostered by trusted parties.

All of the tanks in the aquarium were acquired secondhand and refurbished, either through Craigslist, Facebook marketplace or repurposing from other aquariums or amusement parks around the state. All of the woodwork in the aquarium was done by one of their employees in manufacturing who is a carpenter. The mermaid tank, which holds 15,000 gallons of water, was created especially for the aquarium by Waterdog Products Inc. in California.

The aquarium part of the mermaid experience was completely unplanned, so Ducharme dedicated most of his time initially to researching how to open an aquarium and proper care of the animals and sea life through reading manuals and textbooks published by zoologists and marine biologists, as well as reaching out to other facilities for advice on getting started. Ducharme personally learned how to care for each and every animal under Mertailor’s roof.

“It’s been a big learning curve, but my goal is not to exploit these animals, only to use them as an educational tool for our guests,” he said.

The goal of the aquarium is to provide people with an opportunity to interact with a species in a controlled environment in order to give them a better appreciation for that species to then take with them back out into nature.

“The hope is that with this knowledge about these animals they might be outside, see trash on the ground in the environment where these species live, and decide to pick it up so that it doesn’t cause harm to these species,” Ducharme said.

His ultimate plan for the aquarium is to be able to develop a marine life rehabilitation facility with the capacity to help the manatees and turtles in the springs.

For information about the aquarium, call 352-513-3278. Mertailor is at 4100 W. Gulf-to-Lake Highway, Lecanto.

Aldi is coming to Lecanto. Starbucks will open its first coffee house in Inverness. Chick-fil-A is building a fast food restaurant in (name the city).

Citrus Countians would love to see all of these places come to fruition. At this time, they remain rumors.

Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle

I don't publish rumors. The worst thing in the world is for me to write that a (you-name-it) is headed to Citrus County and it never happens. Eventually, nobody would take me seriously.

Rest assured, I check out each and every rumor that reaches me. Heck, I'm just as anxious as you to see the above businesses come here.

But first, I look into the veracity of each tip before rushing to print. For me to “break” a story about any new store, business or restaurant, I must at least get hold of a submitted request to the county or city government.

And so far, nada on these three chains.

But I am here to provide you with a little hope.

About a month ago I got a tip that Aldi was headed to the corner of County Road 491 and 486. I was even more excited when I was forwarded a future projects list from a Florida real estate development and investment company that included the Aldi logo on a promotional map.

This is a common practice among real estate firms who try to entice prospective businesses with a potential layout and schematic of where they believe the chain would make a good fit. Nothing wrong with that.

But in this case, the overzealous representative said he jumped the gun. Aldi, he said, was still at the very, very early stages of interest and - while that is encouraging - it means little until it gets past the real estate committee phase.

The same thing occurred with Starbucks. A company (inadvertently?) put a Starbucks logo on a plat where Culvers is going in at the corner of State Road 44 and Pleasant Grove Drive. I’d heard this before and each time I call Inverness City Manager Eric Williams who assures me every time that nothing has been submitted.

As for Chick-fil-A, I visited the Hernando County location earlier this year and happened to see the franchise owner sitting in one of the booths. We’ve known each other for years so I couldn’t help but ask him when Citrus County will get its first Chick-fil-A.

As much as he believes Citrus deserves to 'Eat mor Chikin', he said the chain follows stringent marketing guidelines. Each restaurant, for example, is meticulously spaced from the next. Although a potential lucrative market, Citrus is not on the radar, he said.

Bottom line: Until a chain submits actual documentation, deals can fall through. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen it happen.

But I assure you, I’m checking out each and every tip I get. Keep sending them to me. Maybe yours will be the one that actually pans out.

Each month, Lecanto High School teachers and administration chose two students they feel have demonstrated consistent hard work and success during their high school career to be recognized with the Student of the Month Award. For the month of August, LHS selected Madeline Wyka and Noah Breder.

Wyka has had A/B honor roll, and has taken IB, AP, and honors courses throughout her high school career. She currently holds a 4.5 weighted grade point average [GPA].

Wyka is a National Honor Society member and Bylaw’s chair, as well as a member of the Student Government Association at LHS. Wyka regularly tutors other students through NHS and in her free time. She has been published in the Citrus County Chronicle multiple times, and is the co-founder and co-author of a growing webcomic.

Wyka is currently undecided on a college, but plans on pursuing a degree in either Psychology or Journalism.

Like many students, Wyka has reaped the benefits of multiple activities, programs and clubs. For her, one sticks out the most.

“The most valuable activity would have to be simply making friends, having those people to talk to, study with, and have fun around,” said Wyka.

Breder was recognized with the Principal’s Honor Roll his first three years of high school, and is a National Merit Commended Scholar, as well an AP Scholar with Distinction. Breder is in the International Baccalaureate Programme (IB), and currently holds a 4.6 weighted GPA.

Breder is an NHS and Key Club member, and is also a member of the Model United Nations. Since 2012, he has been a Boy Scout with the Boy Scouts of America Troop 452, and became an Eagle Scout in November of 2020. Combined with other activities and projects, Breder has put in well over 300 hours of community service.

Breder plans on going to the University of Florida, and majoring in Electrical Engineering.

Success is driven by motivation, and every student can find motivation within themselves to go above and beyond, as Wyka and Breder have.

“I would have to say that my primary motivation has been a fascination with knowledge. I have always been fascinated by the marvels of the modern world and every time that I come into class I feel that I am gathering information that takes part of the mystery out of one of these wonders,” said Breder.

Student of the Month is sponsored by the Central Citrus Rotary Club. Through their efforts, the students are honored with a plaque that hangs in the school. Additionally, at the end of the year, two seniors will be chosen for Student of the Year and awarded a $1,000 scholarship.