TRENDING

Spotlighting the best of local people, places, and events

Summer is here, and so is the heat. For those in the south, swimming holes were always a great solution to the sweltering heat, especially when the beach is just too far away for a dip. Instead, take advantage of the public pool. Lake County has several, so there’s no need to take the gang to the coast or Rainbow River every day, or pay for water parks. Check out these public pools near you:

VENETIAN GARDENS

109 E Dixie Ave, Leesburg

H. O. DABNEY RECREATION COMPLEX

1080 Beecher Street, Leesburg

EUSTIS AQUATIC CENTER

250 Ferran Park Drive, Eustis. 352.357.3264.

GARDENIA PARK RECREATION COMPLEX

201 W. Berckman St., Fruitland Park

THE CLERMONT ARTS AND RECREATION CENTER

3700 S Highway 27, Clermont 352.394.3500.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE YMCA

1465 David Walker Road, Tavares 352.343.1144.

LINCOLN AVENUE COMMUNITY PARK & POOL

1200 North Unser Street, Mount Dora

UMATILLA POOL

16 Lone Star Street , Umatilla16 Lone Star Street , Umatilla 321.263.5238. 32 21. 1.263 3.5238 8.

Coming Soon

Leesburg has planned to renovate the beloved and worn Kid’s Korner at Roger’s Park for some time. Those plans include a new playground, swings, a splash pad, an interactive music garden, and even a zipline. Style reported the project conception, and after only a few short months, ground was broken. Needless to say, the process has been exciting. With the fi nal plan approved this past March, offi cials expect the park to be completed next month. It could open as soon as Fourth of July, just in time for Leesburg’s annual celebrations. The splash pad portion, however, will follow in summer 2017.

month. It could open as soon as Fourth of July, just in time for Leesburg’s annual celebrations. The splash pad portion, however, will follow in summer 2017.

NEW PIO JOINS LEESBURG

Derek Hudson is the new public information offi cer for Leesburg, and he brings more than a decade of experience to the job. He formerly served as public/ media relations consultant and spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and former commissioned naval offi cer, Hudson earned his MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College.

fi cer of lic/ he mer MBA at

Spotlighting the best of local people, places, and events e, places, and events

A time for action

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners presented Proclamation 2016-26 to the families of the Groveland Four, supporting the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 136 and encouraging the governor to exonerate or grant pardons to Charles Greenlee, Water Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas.

The Proclamation reads: “The Board of County Commissioners recognizes that no action on the part of the State of Florida can make right the egregious wrongs perpetrated out of racial hatred against Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Ernest Thomas, but the Board respectfully acknowledges that a review of the evidence shows that grave injustices were perpetrated against these men during this racially charged time in history. The Board of County Commissioners offers this public acknowledgment to the remaining family members who have tirelessly sought to restore the reputations of not only Charles Green-

f County Commissioners lee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd and Ernest Thomas, but 6-26 to the families of the to restore the honor of their descendants who have sought the passageofSenateConcur justice in a manner devoid of hate and ill-will.” Gilbert King, who penned “Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America,” says, “It’s very impressive for the Lake County Board of County Commissioners to take this step to correct an injustice from more than 60 years ago. It’s going to take some real momentum for the state of Florida to offi cially exonerate the Groveland Boys, but this effort needs to begin somewhere, and there’s no better place to start than on a local level.” King’s book won a Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and he is currently working with screenwriters Adam Cooper and Bill Collage to put his story on the big screen. King says Lionsgate is fi nalizing casting, so shooting can begin this summer, with release of the fi lm in 2017

lee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd and Ernest Thomas, but to restore the honor of their descendants who have sought justiceinamannerdevoidofhateandillwill”

JAAMES COMBS’ A CO MES CO

1 // A PATIENT AT A LAKE COUNTY

hospital was accused of possibly contaminating thousands of dollars worth of medication after he reportedly urinated on a refrigerator. He ‘bladder’ clean it up or else risk ‘dampening’ the spirits of other patients.

2 // FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT

YEAR, The Villages was recognized as the fastest-growing metro area, according to fi gures released by the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s no surprise considering all the lovely sights you see in The Villages. You know, picturesque golf courses, beautiful custom homes, Spanish- style architecture…people having sex in public venues.

3 // A STUDENT AT A LAKE COUNTY

elementary school brought a BB gun on campus but was not planning to harm anyone. I wish show-and-tell was that cool when I was a kid.

4 // A 23-YEAR-OLD LEESBURG

man was arrested after hitting a dog, throwing a cat, and then punching his girlfriend who tried to intervene. Maybe they should make a movie after this and call it “The Texas ChainPaw Massacre.”

5 // A 43-YEAR-OLD CLERMONT man

was arrested for aggravated assault and attempted burglary after stabbing his mother’s front door with a pitchfork and trying to pry the door off its hinges. Apparently, he was attempting to get some of her pain pills. She should have offered him Viagra. Then he would’ve had something to hold onto while she repeatedly slapped him upside the head.

6 // POPULAR GAME SHOW

PERSONALITY Vanna White recently visited The Villages to help launch the Florida Lottery’s newest $5 scratch-off game, Wheel of Fortune. We don’t need to buy any consonants or vowels to know what single Village men were thinking: W__LL YO__ __ARRY M__?

SCHOOL LUNCH HAS A WHOLE NEW MEANING!

Fifth-grade students from Wildwood Elementary School were rewarded for being “Kids with Character” during a recent trip to Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q in The Villages. The restaurant was one of the locations that offered students a free meal for exhibiting the traits of good character—trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. The purpose of the exercise is to help students spend their school days concentrating on learning and avoiding behavioral distractions while exhibiting strength of character. Students who have shown these qualities during the week are entered in a drawing and rewarded for their efforts to focus and work hard.

Principal John Temple, who accompanied students Adair Benitez, Kylie Carr, Spencer Casper, Kenya Davis, Jayden Johnson, and Audra Squire, says, “The students must know that strong character coupled with an education can take them to great places in this world. We want to reward them for their efforts, and hopefully that will encourage others to embrace these qualities, too.”

“It was fun to have lunch with the principal,” says Kyle Carr. She also said she was excited to enjoy the delicious ribs.

Temple says the plan is to continue rewarding good character so the students of WES will go on to become productive citizens of Wildwood and Sumter County.

AT&T Grant Aids STEM Projects

Leesburg High School students will benefi t from a grant from AT&T that provides opportunities to study how classroom study translates into science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. Work began in January and will continue through May with a total of 225 students in grades 9 through 12 participating in 47 separate projects.

The Science National Honor Society students will learn about technology used in health care, forensic science, biotechnology, genetic and civil engineering. Those enrolled in engineering learn about basic electronics, analog and digital circuits, and reading schematic diagrams through exploring amplifi ers.

“We know that industries engaged in STEM disciplines will create a majority of high-value, high-wage jobs and within ten years, almost nine out of 10 new jobs will require education beyond a high school degree,” said Joe York, AT&T Florida president. “We are pleased to make this contribution because Florida’s K-12 education foundations are well positioned to be the link between schools and local businesses for students, enabling them to build connections with potential employers in their communities, get a sense of what careers they offer and the skill sets they require.”

The grants were administered through the Educational Foundation of Lake County as part of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.