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Leading students into uncharted waters

Sometimes, teachers need to think outside the box…and the classroom.

Just ask Leesburg High School teacher Tessa Clark. To help her advanced placement (AP) environmental science students prepare for their final exam in May, she is allowing them to test the quality of water at Lake Louisa State Park, Leesburg Canal Street Waste Water Treatment Facility, and Bourlay Historic Nature Park.

Tessa secured a $2,000 grant from the Lake County Water Authority and purchased wastewater treatment kits, biological factor kits, nitrate water test kits, and digital soil test kits. Her students tested the water in February.

Foundation funds new Beacon programs

Beacon College in Leesburg has received a $50,000 grant from the David R. Clare and Margaret C. Clare Foundation to boost career-readiness programs for students with learning differences (LD) through a residential experience.

The grant allows the college to launch its innovative First Career and postgraduate Beacon Certifi cate programs.

“The Clare Foundation has assumed a leadership role in advancing Beacon’s vision of a superior undergraduate institution that will understand an obligation to benefi t the society beyond the boundaries of our campus,” says Dr. George J. Hagerty , president of Beacon College.

It’s estimated that 20 percent of graduates from Beacon or LD students from other institutions may boost their chances of thriving personally and professionally with a postgraduate-mentored living, learning, and employment program. Participants will get that with First Career, a two-year communal experience, where members live together, engage in service and learning opportunities, and attend weekly group sessions with other residents. They also will work full-time entry-level jobs provided by JP Morgan, JetBlue, Sea World, Disney, and other Beacon national corporate partners.

TAVARES

Rock the boat

It’s a beautiful March day in Tavares. A great blue heron stands statue-like on the banks of Lake Dora while a great bald eagle spreads its wings and soars overhead. The sun’s rays shine down on shiny, sleek wooden boats displayed in water and on land, stretching as far as the eye can see.

This scene becomes reality when the Sunnyland Antique Boat Festival makes its way to Wooton Park March 24-26. More than 200 boats will be displayed, making the event the largest antique and classic boat show on America’s East Coast.

The types of boats on display include historic boats built before 1918; antique boats constructed between 1919 and 1942; classic boats built between 1943 and 1975; and contemporary boats manufactured from 1976 to the present.

Garden fair takes root

The sixth annual Landscape and Garden Fair is a free botanical-themed festival fi lled with activities for the entire family.

Slated 9am to 4pm March 25 and 10am to 3pm March 26 at the Lake County Extension Center’s Discovery Gardens, 1951 Woodlea Road, Tavares, the fair is sponsored by Lake County, University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension in Lake County, and Lake County Master Gardeners.

The indoor/outdoor event features vendors selling landscaping, native plants, roses, and fruit trees.

Guest speakers share their expertise on butterfl y gardening, unusual edibles, shade gardening, and hydroponics.

Several activities are planned for kids including a Maze Scavenger Hunt, complete with prizes, and a special butterfl y release set for the morning of March 25.

Call 352.343.4101 for more details.

2016 FACERS Award

The Florida Association of County Engineers and Road Superintendents (FACERS) awarded Lake County Public Works, and its collaborative team, the recipients of the 2016 State and Local Collaboration Project of the Year for the the Lake County Roundabout Project at County Roads 561 and 455. Pictured (left to right) is Jim Stivender, Lake County Public Works; Tony Nosse, FDOT District V Safety; Richard Atta-Armah, HDR; Brad Bublitz, lead engineer, BESH; Wendy Breeden, Lake County Commissioner; Welton Cadwell, former Lake County Commissioner; Fred Schneider, Lake County Public Works. Not pictured but recognized for their work on the project were: Lori Koontz, Bill White, Alan Kirkland, Terry Scott, Lake County Public Works; Steve Ferrell, Jamie Kreminski, HDR Inc.; T.J. Fish, Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization; J. Malaver, J Malever Construction.

NEW

THE VILLAGES

Fourth Location for Seniors vs. Crime

A new offi ce for Seniors vs. Crime will operate out of Moyer Recreation Center in The Villages. This is the same offi ce as the Fruitland Park Police substation in the Village of Pine Ridge. Hours are 10am to 2 pm on Tuesdays, managed by John Townley, a volunteer.

The purpose of these offi ces is to keep residents of the area aware of scams and crimes. Seniors vs. Crime has a database with nearly 7,000 entries to keep folks alerted.

Bryan Lifsey is a volunteer in the Sumter County offi ce, and he encourages people to check the database before hiring anyone. A volunteer since 2002, he says he has seen the number of scams continually grow along with the growth of The Villages. His motto is, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” The phone number at this location is 352.674.1882.