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Spotlighting the best of local people, places, and events
LAKEXPRESS ANNOUNCES ROUTE CHANGES
LakeXpress, Lake County’s fi xed route public transit service, has made service enhancements and minor route changes to improve the county’s public transportation system, according to Tomika Monterville, Lake County Public Transit Division manager.
ROUTE 1A – MARION COUNTY TO LEESBURG: Departs from Citizens Blvd. via U.S. Hwy. 27/441 to 175th Place at U.S. Hwy. 27/441 in Marion County. Serves Fruitland Park, Lady Lake and The Villages. ROUTE 1 – LEESBURG TO EUSTIS: Departs from Citizens Blvd. to Eustis via U.S. Hwy. 27/441. Serves the Lake County Extension Center traveling clockwise, south on County Road 19, west on Woodlea Road, north on Captain Haynes Road and east on Dead River Road.
ROUTE 2 – LEESBURG CIRCULATOR: No longer serves Walmart at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and U.S. Hwy. 27/441 in Leesburg. ROUTE 3 – MOUNT DORA CIRCULATOR: Stop at Limit Ave. and Unser St. moved to Lincoln Ave. and Wardell St..
ROUTE 50 WEST – MASCOTTE TO CLERMONT: Starts in Mascotte and travels rts in Mascotte and travels via State Road 50 to Clermont Park & Ride on U.S. Hwy. 27. Hwy. 27.
ROUTE 50 EAST – CLERMONT TO WINTER GARDEN: Starts at Clermont Park & Ride on U.S. Hwy. 27 and travels via State Road 50 to Winter Garden Regional Shopping Center. EN: Starts at Clermont oad 50 to Winter Garden
Fares are $1 each way, $3 for an unlimited day pass, or $8 for a 10ride pass. Exact change is required. Students with a valid school ID ride free, and seniors and veterans ride for half price with ID. Transfer passes are free for single, one-way trips. Buses are equipped for disabled passengers (ADA accessible) and have bicycle racks.To fi nd out more, call 352.326.8637 or visit www.ridelakexpress.com. pass, or $8 for a 10th a valid school ID price with ID. s. Buses are ble) and have 37 or visit
CUTIES IN THE
CROSSWALK
You might have seen something unusual in Fruitland Park recently near East Berckman and North Villa. A series of crossing signs with an adorable outline have popped up on the path to Mirror Lake. They are duck crossing signs set in place for the family of BlackBellied Whistling Ducks that make their nests in the trees along the road. And then they trek to Mirror Lake each year with their hatchlings. Fruitland Park police have been escorting them for about three years to help them arrive safely. With the signs in place, they have extra precaution and added community interest. They waddled their way to Mirror Lake this year without incident and an adoring audience: mommy duck, daddy duck, and their troupe of fl uffy little wayfarers.
HABITAT ITAT MOVES NEW ES NEW CONSTRUCTION STRUCTION TO SUMTER UMTER COUNTY NTY
Habitat for Humanity of or Humanity of Lake-Sumter strives to make mter strives to make homeownership affordable for nership affordable for hardworking families, but the ing families, but the organization has found impact ion has found impact fees on new construction costs ew construction costs $17,000 in Lake County and in Lake County and little over $3,000 in Sumter $3,000 in Sumter County for the same house r the same house plans.
For this reason, Habitat’s s reason, Habitat’s Board of Directors decided that Directors decided that once the 15+ homes planned 15+ homes planned for Lake County are built, the County are built, the organization will move all new ion will move all new construction projects to Sumter ion projects to Sumter County.
“It will permit us to permit us to serve responsibly and with ponsibly and with greater stewardship,” says tewardship,” says Kent Adcock, CEO of the ock, CEO of the organization. “This does not mean Habitat is leaving Lake County; to the contrary, we will continue our ‘Preservation and Repair’ work, and we will continue to acquire and rehab existing properties in Lake County where impact fees are not charged. This decision only affects our service with new house construction.”
He is hopeful the community—elected offi cials, staff, and other stakeholders— will work toward a solution to meet workforce housing needs. “And we would very much like to be a part of the dialogue.”
Three deserving Lake County students were recipients of the Disney Dreamers and Doers “Shining Star” Award. Presented by the Walt Disney Resort, the award recognizes students who are role models in their schools and district as well as demonstrating positive actions at home, in school, and in their community, inspiring to make the world a better place.
Ryan Boyd of Groveland Elementary School
was playing the piano at age 4 and doing tumbling and gymnastics at age 5. That ended when he fell on pavement in March 2014 and received a brain injury. After a lengthy hospital stay and seven weeks at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital learning to walk and talk again, Ryan worked diligently to return to his previous life. Five months after the accident, he was back in school, playing the piano, and doing tumbling again. Determined to give back in thanks to those who helped him, he collects donations for Ronald McDonald House and bears from Build-a-Bear for children in the hospital. “I never gave up, so I wanted to give back and help other kids to never give up,” Ryan says.
Reaghan Wooster, a recent graduate of Tavares
High School, was disappointed to fi nd there was a great distance between the general student body and special needs students at her school. She and the special education teacher founded “Best Buddies—Bulldog Buddies” to connect the two groups. She befriended Jack, who has Down syndrome and is nonverbal. He communicated with Reaghan with facial expressions and body motions. The two became close friends, and during Jacob’s senior year, when Reaghan was a sophomore, he surprised her. “I was walking to my locker, and I saw Jacob waiting for me. As I got closer, he came running up to me and in his hands were fl owers, a card, and my favorite candy,” Reaghan says. “I opened the card which simply read, ‘Prom? I love you.’” She hugged him as she agreed to be his date. “He treated me like a princess the whole night. I was so grateful for the acceptance the students gave him. Jacob remembered that night for days with a smile on his face.”
Tyler LaBelle, a 7th grader at Windy Hill Middle
School, was recognized for having many admirable qualities. He’s an exceptional students who turns in every assignment and works to get along with everyone in his classes. He has a positive attitude in and out of the classroom and consistently sets and meets goals. His future plans include helping those who are less fortunate.
JOSH TAKES ON:
AN ADMITTEDLY ASKEW POINT OF VIEW FROM THE MIND OF ILLUSTRATOR JOSH CLARK
Spotlighting the best of local people, places, and events
JAMES COMBS’ S CO MES CO
1 // A 37-YEAR-OLD ASTOR MAN who violated probation made a big mistake by refusing to surrender to Lake County sheriff’s deputies. That prompted them to release a K-9, who successfully subdued the suspect. Talk about taking a bite out of crime!
2 // AN OKAHUMPKA MAN supposedly shopping at a Leesburg Publix was caught on videotape stuffi ng four bottles of champagne down his pants. Police promptly arrived at the scene and instantly popped his cork. We all like to enjoy a little fi zzle in our “downstairs compartment” from time to time, but this is beyond ridiculous.
3 // LAKE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE took fi ve Alabama students to the hospital because the air conditioning broke on the charter bus they were traveling in. These buses require proper maintenance and inspection at all times. Simply put, it’s not very cool when children become overheated.
4 // GROVELAND POLICE CHIEF MELVIN
TENNYSON issued himself a $45 parking ticket after a Facebook post circulated with photos of his black SUV parked on the sidewalk outside of City Hall. Kudos to the police chief for being honest and setting a good example. Best of all, he didn’t have to call for backup.
5 // A WOMAN IN THE VILLAGES was arrested and held on a $10,000 bond after she was found naked in the street wearing nothing but a pair of black boots. Police urge anyone who is outside after dark to carry pepper spray so they can fend off these random bare attacks.
6 // POLICE WERE ABLE TO ARREST a man who stole $100 from a Christian Home and Bible thrift store cash register thanks to a surveillance camera that captured the tattooed letters “APK” on the back of his left arm. Moral of the story: Behind every successful thief is a man who avoids tattoo parlors.
SAFE @ THE SHARON
REDCON, an Orlando-based, veteran-owned small business, has been awarded a two-year contract to be the sole provider of security services for The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center in The Villages. The company provides unarmed guards to ensure safe and successful events at the popular 1,000-seat venue at Spanish Springs Town Square.
“I am thrilled for my team to help ensure their reputation of excellence. I hope we have only begun what will be a long-standing and successful partnership,” says Kyle Evans, president and founder of REDCON. He retired as a staff sergeant from the U.S. Army after being wounded during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and founded REDCON Solutions Group in 2014.
Student in the News!
Chelsea Bonds, a student in Auto Collision Repair and Refi nishing at Lake Tech, recently received the 2016 Women’s Industry Network (WIN) scholarship.
The Umatilla High School graduate was appointed Student Ambassador for Lake Tech’s Student Leadership Council. “She often gives guided campus tours to prospective students and represents Lake Tech at various community and high school events around the country,” says Kimberly Frasier, postsecondary program specialist at the college.
“Recipients of the WIN scholarships demonstrate their desire to excel in the fi eld of collision repair,” says Beverly Rook, chairperson of the scholarship committee.
Each student receives a $1,000 scholarship to aid with post-secondary education. It also includes a one-year membership in WIN, and fees and travel expenses to go to the annual conference. "I'm excited to meet other women in the industry and to learn from my WIN mentor," Bonds says.
The Wings & Wildfl owers Festival drew a record 5,000 visitors last year, and plans are in the works for the fi fth festival to be held on Oct. 14-16 at Leesburg’s Venetian Gardens.
Exhibitors specializing in tourism, nature activities, landscaping, gardening, irrigation, hardscapes, horticulture, fertilizer, and other areas are invited to sign up for the three-day event. For more information, visit www.wingsandwildfl owers.com.
