In the Know

James Combs’

1 Florida lawmakers may pass a bill

that will allow the state to remain in daylight saving time year round.

Thank God! I just love arriving home from work in the dark—said nobody ever. I’m glad politicians are fi nally seeing the light on this issue!

2 An 88-year-old Umatilla man recently donated his 150th gallon of blood. Giving his blood to people in need is admirable, and I need to start following his example. Unfortunately, I give most of my blood to mosquitoes in the summertime.

3 A Tavares business was shut down for illegal gambling after law enforcement o icers seized more than $10,000 in cash. The owner should put a new sign out front that reads: “Closed. We just can’t deal with our customers anymore.”

4 A man driving a Ford Ranger picked up a woman who was on the run after a botched shoplifting spree at Wal-Mart in Summerfield. The man said

“she was pretty” and he “wanted to help her.”

Somehow, the lyrics to a Roy Orbison song just popped in my head: “Pretty woman, walking down the street. Pretty woman, the kind I like to meet.”

5 The Ocklawaha Valley Audubon Society of Lake

County began hosting a beginner’s class on basic birding. Maybe they should call it “Lord of the Wings.”

6 Similarly, the Eustis Recreation Department is o ering yoga classes inside the Lakeview

Room at the Eustis Community Center. That’s great news because I have been bending over backwards trying to find a class like this.

Don’t forget Mom on May 13

Mother’s Day will be celebrated May 13. The day was established in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson after Anna Jarvis campaigned for a May date in memory of her mother, who had died that month.

However, Anna reportedly became disappointed with the commercialization of the day. “A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world,” she said, believing her original sentiment for the day had been sacrifi ced for profi t.

Save the date

Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of Mexico’s victory in the battle at Puebla on May 5, 1862. In The Villages, Cinco de Mayo is a battle for parking spaces and seats at the squares. Villagers will pretend they’re Mexicans from 5-9pm May 5 at both Spanish Springs Town Square and Lake Sumter Landing Market Square, according to thevillagesentertainment.com. High-energy salsa and mariachi bands, themed routines by The Villages Festival Performance Groups, and the ever-popular stilt walkers in Spanish attire are among the highlights. Get there early!

Move the ote

The Lake County Supervisor of Elections Offi ce is moving this summer. Elections staff will share a building with Reunion Bank at 1898 E. Burleigh Blvd. (U.S. Highway 441), across from Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares, according to a newsletter. The new site is larger than the current offi ce at 315 W. Main St., Suite 144, Tavares, so elections operations—equipment and administra144, Tavares, so elections operations—equipment and administrative offi ces—can be consolidated in the same building. The new offi ce also will have enhanced security measures, better accessibility for the public, and it will be utilized as the county’s 10th early voting site. Look for a date soon for a public open house.

Thinking about adoption?

According to a press release from Kids Central Inc., almost 900 children in Florida are awaiting adoption. Selfl ess Love Foundation, a Florida-based nonprofi t, has partnered with Adoption-Share to launch Family-Match in the state. This is a datadriven technology that uses predictive models to assist social workers with placement decisions. Compatibility assessment was developed with help from eHarmony and is intended to reduce the time for adoptive placement, match children with families where they will thrive, and improve caseworker effi ciency. Zackary Gibson, chief child advocate and director of the state Offi ce of Adoption and Child Protection says, “We believe that Family-Match will help unlock the vault of waiting families and provide children with the permanency they need and deserve. This innovative private-public partnership will make a difference for children in foster care.” Visit kidscentralinc.org for more information.

More female centenarians centenarians

In 1980, there were 15,000 people who reached people who reached the age of 100. Today, the age of 100. Today, there are more than there are more than 720,000 centenarians, 720,000 centenarians, and 80 percent of them and 80 percent of them are women, according to are women, according to retirement facts from Fross & retirement facts from Fross & Fross Wealth Management in Fross Wealth Management in The Villages.

Hey, Mom!

Manatees are very important to Florida, and the Save the Manatee Club, an international nonprofi t organization, is promoting Adopt-A-Manatee during May. Here’s your chance to be a part of one of Jimmy Buffett’s favorite charities. Read about the work of Save the Manatee and watch a great video here: savethemanatee.org/smchist.htm, and add a new member to your family.