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MOUNT DORA

Christmas at the farm

Long & Scott Farms, 26216 County Road 448A, Mount Dora, is featuring visits with Santa and the farm’s popular Maze Adventures from 10am-5pm Saturdays and noon-5pm

Sundays through Dec. 10. Groups of 20 or more can make reservations for weekday visits. And, back by popular demand, the farm has fresh-cut Fraser fi r Christmas trees from North Carolina available to purchase and take home.

THE VILLAGES

O Holy Night—two of them

The Christmas classics never grow old, and The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra is planning two big nights of holiday music. Under the direction of Pasquale Valerio, the orchestra’s annual Christmas concerts are scheduled for 7pm Dec. 12-13 at The Sharon, 1051 Main St., The Villages.

The traditional concerts feature a choir and soloists singing favorite carols accompanied by the orchestra. Performers include Julie Batman, Norman Lee, Mark A. de Villiers, Ali Molnar, Sean Stork, Keith Workowski, and A Family Affair.

Tickets are $20-$60 and can be purchased individually or as part of a subscription series for the orchestra’s 2017-18 season. For more information, call 352.750.5411 or go to thesharon.com, thevillagesphilharmonic.org, or any Villages box offi ce.

James Combs’

1 Oyster bars in Lake County are dispersing their shucked shells to the Coastal Conservation Commission so they can be used to restore oyster beds. When it comes to protecting coastal water resources, this kind act will certainly turn the tide.

2 Tavares City Council members denied a couple’s request to make a change in city code and allow residents to own pet pigs. If Hollywood wants to make a movie regarding this ruling, I can think of an appropriate title: “Silence of the Hams.”

MOUNT DORA

Show you care

In the season of giving, Lake and Sumter county residents can help less fortunate people by volunteering at food pantries throughout the area.

Lake Cares Food Pantry, as just one example, always can use volunteers. The pantry, at 2001 W. Old Highway 441, Suite 1, Mount Dora, opened in 2009 during the economic downturn. The goal was to serve 25 families a week; today the pantry serves more than 200 families a week, according to its website. The Mount Dora distribution hub serves clients every Wednesday and Saturday, and two satellite locations serve clients twice a month. Clients come from all age groups and ethnicities, and from poor to middle-class families.

Volunteers can help by greeting clients on distribution day, stocking food, working at events and fundraisers, or spreading the word on social media. To volunteer or to donate, call 352.383.0100 or visit lakecares.org. Lake Cares Inc. is a not-for-profi t 501(c) (3) organization.

Cardinals abound

Red northern cardinals can be spotted on home décor accessories and holiday decorations this season, and a wide array can be seen at Peddler’s Wagon in Eustis. The cardinal ranks ahead of other species for being the state bird in the most states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

3

Lake County Animal Shelter workers had the monumental task of rescuing 50 cats found inside an Astatula home. Fifty cats in one home? You’ve got to be kitten me!

4 Two masked men entered a

Steak ’n Shake in Clermont and demanded money. Personally, I would’ve demanded milkshakes instead. After all, the vanilla shake there is legen-dairy.

5 A Eustis city commissioner publicly urged other towns and counties throughout the country to donate Confederate monuments to the city of Eustis. Good move, Mr. Commissioner. You must know the removal of these statues certainly will change American history, eradicate poverty and homelessness, end world hunger, and bring about world peace.

6 A Lake County man who owns a laptop repair business was recently burglarized for the second time in less than three weeks. Let’s put our heads together and figure out how we can stop thieves from stealing computers. It’s time to take a byte out of this ridiculous crime.

6million acres of Wildlife Management Area

NEW

TAVARES

A place to call home

Atwater Apartments is the newest community from Cagan Management Group (CMG). The Tavares community features 240 apartments with one-, two-, and threebedroom layouts. Residents will have private direct entry, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and screened balconies or patios. Atwater Apartments is located about a quarter-mile north of Florida Hospital Waterman off Ann Rou Road.

“There is a lot of new development going on in Tavares,” says Jeffrey Cagan, president of CMG. “With our proximity to Florida Hospital Waterman coupled with the growing downtown district, we are able to positively impact the housing market for working professionals looking to reside in the area in which they are employed.”

Grab your tackle box

Florida’s Wildlife Management Area system is celebrating 75 years of conservation success this year, and it’s a great time to head outdoors with family or friends.

Florida has nearly 6 million acres of Wildlife Management Area, one of the largest in the country, according to a recent press release. Some areas were closed for cleanup and repairs after Hurricane Irma, but their status can be found at myfwc.com.

Gooutdoorsfl orida.com can provide information to help you get started on:

• Saltwater fishing • Freshwater fishing • Find a boat ramp • New hunter info • Find an FWC-managed public shooting range • Get your hunting/ fishing license

Partnership honors award winners

Kelly O. Monahan, right, shown with Joanie Smalley, Main Street manager for the Leesburg Partnership, was honored for her volunteerism during the partnership’s annual awards dinner at the Leesburg Opera House.

“This year’s winners come from all walks of life but share one common goal: a dedication to community that is unparalleled. Each of these folks spends countless hours making Leesburg a better place for residents and businesses,” says Joe Shipes, CEO of the Leesburg Partnership.

The winners:

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR: Pioneer Janitorial, Robert Brown OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER: Nicki Haber, Nicki’s Hair Salon “GO TO” AWARD: Chad Peck SPONSOR OF THE YEAR: Beau Franklin, Business Techs OUTSTANDING GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE: Brandy McDaniel, budget manager for the city of Leesburg OUTSTANDING OFFICE VOLUNTEER: Kelly O. Monahan MERCHANT OF THE YEAR: Willowbee’s, Lynne Spence and Gloria Easton COMMUNITY SERVICE: Mandy Wettstein GREG PADGETT CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Tim Sullivan

Defend yourself against scams

The advancement of technology is a neverending trend, but one downside is that there always are new avenues for scammers to target consumers. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services believes the best defense against scams and fraud is to educate consumers.

The department has designed an educational outreach program that includes providing speakers at no cost to present consumer protection information to organizations, businesses, and groups, a newsletter states.

The program empowers Floridians with valuable services and resources, and enables consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing products and services. The department conducts Consumer Protection Fairs and distributes thousands of educational brochures each year.

To arrange for a speaker or for more information, visit fl oridaconsumerhelp.com or call the consumer assistance center at 1.800.HELP.FLA (435.7352).

NEW

LADY LAKE

First orthopaedic urgent care center

For the fi rst time, residents of Lake and Sumter counties have access to an urgent care facility dedicated to orthopaedic injuries, the UNOVA Orthopaedic Urgent Care Center, 539 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake. The urgent care physicians are board-certifi ed in emergency medicine and also have other special orthopaedic and sports medicine qualifi cations, according to a recent press release. This means the clinic can provide superior treatment for orthopaedic trauma. In addition, it’s an MRI-accredited facility through the American College of Radiology. In the event long-term care is needed, patients transition to the UNOVA Health Clinic, which also has physical therapy services. Visit unovahealth.com for more information.