TomL
From the net!
I believe the voting by mail is the second best voting process. I myself challenged whether or not the mailing was safe, I had large mailings going into the Villages. There they own their own postal centers, their own streets, their own security and etc.
USPS continues to recommend that voters who plan to vote by mail send their ballots at least seven days before Election Day to ensure receipt by election officials.
If you want to make sure ballot is postmarked on the date it is received you may go to any post office and request a manual postmark free of charge. Continue reading
Dr. Matthew Cretul, Marion County’s legislative manager provided the Marion County Board of County Commissioners with a legislative update in advance of the beginning the of 2026 Florida legislative session. Marion County and FDOT approved a utility subordination agreement to address how existing utility infrastructure will be handled during construction of the I-75/ interchange. (Marion County Commission Provided Information)
By TomL
I agree the county needs the money for infra structure. The only answer to the County tax is Impact fees, not for the builder but paid by newcomers.The newcomers are moving in… No Stampeding in here by the thousands. Crowding our roads and some times being disrespectful to current residents. The people wanting to move to Florida are here. The County needs County tax money to get ready for them and take care of the people already here. Stop trying to make your long time residents to pay for it!
IMPORTANT FACT: Actually the taxes is only a portion, as I have said to raise the taxes, the county raises is done by raising value of your home, the mortgage gets a great finance move they now have a house that is worth 3 times more than when they started and the insurance company’s pounces on it. They can charge more to insure this house that is now three times what it was value at when the mortgage started. They say they are charging replacement value. Guess who decides how much insurance you need on your home mortgage The Insurance company’s! With the county raising the value the insurance companies have a perfect storm to make a big profit. Board of County Commissioners please stop this! Turn your money raising efforts into a county assessment tax and don’t raise money on the back of the long time residents. Continue reading
This is the last Networking event for 2025 at GlennView Country Club. Thank you to Glenview Country Club
65 Florida faith leaders have already signed up to support Donalds’ campaign.
NAPLES, FL – Today, the Byron Donalds for Florida Governor campaign launched a Faith Leaders Coalition consisting of individuals who lead their community in prayer, volunteer at their church or faith community, serve as clergy, or lead a faith-based organization. 65 faith leaders have already signed up to be a part of the coalition, which will hold weekly prayer calls led by rotating faith leaders.
“God calls us to pray for our leaders. This is not about politics. It is about standing in the gap and covering Byron Donalds’ leadership in prayer as we seek God’s best for our state of Florida,” said Pastor J, Jearlyn Dennie, Founder of She Leads Florida.
“We are called to pray for our leaders, and Congressman Byron Donalds is a fearless leader who shares our values and needs our prayers. In order for Florida to continue succeeding, common sense values of faith, family, and freedom must be reflected at the highest levels of state government in order to serve the public good,” said Anthony Verdugo, Founder of the Florida Christian Family Coalition. “Policy decisions impact the lives of everyday Floridians from vulnerable communities to houses of worship, and our state needs a proven leader like Congressman Donalds who listens and leads with the conviction of a man on a mission to strengthen our state. He respects the critical role faith institutions play in our state to help shape our culture and character, thus, this coalition exists to lift up Florida in prayer and support for a leader who shares and practices our values.”
The Faith Leaders for Byron Coalition follows the launch of the Veterans for Byron Coalition, co-chaired by elected officials who have served our country as part of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Navy JAG.
In polling and in fundraising, Byron Donalds is the clear front-runner in the race for Governor with endorsements from President Trump, Elon Musk, 75% of the Florida House Republican Caucus, top Florida sheriffs, 17 members of Florida’s congressional delegation, U.S. House Leadership, and leading Florida and national conservatives.
Celebrating Years of Service – Thank You, Team Lady Lake!
We proudly recognize and congratulate our dedicated Town of Lady Lake employees for their years of service to our community. Their commitment, professionalism, and institutional knowledge help ensure the high level of service our residents expect and deserve.
Years of Service Honorees:
5 Years Kourtney Fehr
10 Years Jacob Jackson
15 Years Brad Weeks
20 Years Johnny Gosneigh and Van Kao
25 Years Adam Cronk and Travis Lacey
30 Years Debbie Lopez
Last Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, UF Health broke ground on its third emergency and urgent care center in the region, near the intersection of U.S. HWY 301 and CR 466 in Oxford.
From the publisher – This is one persons opinion and they have the right to see it in print!
Draft Letter to the Editor — The Villages & Local Newspapers
Subject: Concerns Over Promotion of Unlicensed Businesses in “The Villages Word of Mouth” Facebook Group
To the Editor,
I am writing out of deep concern for the safety and fair treatment of residents in The Villages, particularly regarding the growing issue of unlicensed businesses being promoted—and in some cases protected—within one of the community’s largest online recommendation groups.
“The Villages Word of Mouth,” a Facebook group with tens of thousands of members, has become a primary resource for residents seeking trustworthy referrals for contractors, and other service providers. Many Villagers, especially older residents, rely on these recommendations believing they come from an unbiased, community-driven platform. Unfortunately, recent experiences suggest the opposite.
As a long-time contributor to the group and a licensed business owner, I have watched administrators selectively allow certain businesses to be recommended while deleting legitimate concerns or negative experiences posted about others. Several businesses, despite being unlicensed or uninsured, are freely promoted—sometimes aggressively—while licensed competitors are silenced or removed without explanation. In my own experience, I was blocked from the page after pointing out that a promoted company was operating not in compliance with licensing and insurance requirements in the state of Florida. Meanwhile, the unlicensed business was permitted to continue advertising to unsuspecting residents. Continue reading
Jan 01
Open House
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Ellis Acres Reserve in Paisley
Nature center will be open and a naturalist will be on site to answer questions.
Jan 02
Exploration Hike
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Ferndale Preserve in Montverde
Join staff on a morning exploration of habitats and species at Ferndale Preserve.
Jan 03
Wetland Excursion
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Lake Norris Conservation Area in Eustis
Ring in the New Year with a hike at Lake Norris Conservation Area. Limit 15 participants. Reservations required. No facilities. Hike intensity: Moderate.
Jan 04
Exploration Hike
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM PEAR Park (Gateway) in Leesburg
Joint staff on an early evening hike to get some exercise while exploring nature at P.E.A.R. Park.
Jan 05
Take Flight, Birds of Winter
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Lake May Reserve in Eustis
Many bird species use Florida in the fall, winter and spring as they refuel and rest along migration routes.
