LADY LAKE – A suspect has confessed to a recent string of thefts throughout Town in October, including four e-bikes and one e-scooter. The suspect, Alfred J. Woods II, was taken into custody on unrelated charges in Marion County on Oct. 25. While behind bars, he admitted to the thefts during an interview with Lady Lake detectives.
The first theft was reported on Oct. 9 at Recreation Plantation. Additional thefts happened on Oct. 20 at the Kohl’s bike rack, Oct. 24 behind Ay Jalisco, and Oct. 25 behind Papa John’s. In one incident, a victim placed an AirTag on their e-bike, allowing them to track and find it abandoned nearby. Another victim tracked their stolen e-scooter to Recreation Plantation and was able to help police with a suspect description.
When the description went out to law enforcement, Officer Ryan O’Neal recognized Woods as someone he had previously stopped riding an e-bike on C.R. 25 A on Oct. 18 for a taillight violation.
Detectives later learned the suspect had been arrested in Marion County while riding an e-bike stolen hours earlier in Lady Lake. During an interview at the jail, the suspect admitted to the thefts and stated that his girlfriend sold the e-bikes to obtain money to support his drug addiction. Detectives are currently attempting to locate the woman involved and recover any remaining stolen property. Continue reading
LADY LAKE – Lady Lake police arrested a man late Wednesday night after he was seen driving into oncoming traffic on U.S. Highway 27/441.
Just before 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 12, officers responded to reports of a reckless driver near County Road 25 and Griffin Avenue. Callers reported a red Ford passenger car swerving, crossing lanes and nearly striking other vehicles.
Officer Amanda Hayes soon saw the car turn onto U.S. Highway 27/41, driving south in the northbound lanes as other drivers swerved to avoid a collision. Officers Hayes and Officer Josh Higgins blocked traffic and brought the vehicle to a stop near Water Oak Boulevard.
The driver A male 44, of Wildwood, showed signs of heavy impairment and could not stand on his own. Officers observed open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle. Driver was unable to stand without assistance and gave breath samples of 0.245 and 0.236, nearly three times the legal limit. Continue reading
LADY LAKE – The Town of Lady Lake’s Growth Management Department is moving to a new, larger and more convenient location at the Municipal Annex located at 221 W. Guava St., next to the Lady Lake Library.
During the transition, Growth Management’s office – including Building Services, Planning and Zoning, and Code Enforcement – will be temporarily closed on Tuesday, Nov. 18 and Wednesday, Nov. 19.
As always, most Growth Management services are available online, 24 hours a day by visiting www.ladylakefl.gov and clicking on Growth Management. Online services include applying for permits, information on documentation needed to apply online, making payments, and filing or searching code cases.
All the same in-person services Growth Management provides will be available at the new location beginning Thursday, Nov. 20, including land use applications, rezoning, annexations, plan review, permitting, inspections, and code enforcement. Additionally, as an added benefit to the public, computers will be available in the lobby for searching permits or filling out permit applications. Continue reading
Lady Lake, FL — The Orange Blossom Gardens (OBG) Lions Club has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to addressing food insecurity in the region through support for the Community of Gratitude Food Pantry. As families across Central Florida face rising costs and increasing need, the Pantry continues to serve as a critical lifeline, providing essential groceries, meal supplies, and emergency food assistance to hundreds of households each month.
This November, the OBG Lions further strengthened this partnership with several contributions
underscoring the Club’s dedication to service, compassion, and community impact.
Last week, the Club donated 100 Walmart gift cards ($10 each) to assist the Pantry’s annual holiday meal program, helping local families prepare for the season with dignity and stability. Shortly after, Lions members delivered the results of the Club’s October Community Food Drive, where local residents contributed more than 500 non-perishable food items. The OBG Lions then matched this total with an additional 500 items, resulting in more than 1,000 donated goods supporting local households experiencing food insecurity.
Food insecurity continues to affect families in every part of the region, including working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and individuals facing unexpected medical or financial hardship. Community food pantries like Community of Gratitude play a vital role in bridging those gaps, ensuring that no family is left without the essentials they need to get through the week. Continue reading
Dec 02
The Longest Night at First Presbyterian: A Service of Hope & Healing
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM First Presbyterian Church Mount Dora in Mount Dora
Evening offers a gentle, reflective worship experience with beautiful music especially for those who have lost a loved one, are grieving
Dec 05
Exploration Hike
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Ferndale Preserve in Clermont
Join staff and explore the habitats and species of Ferndale Preserve. Hike intensity: Vigorous. Reservations required.
Dec 05
Lakeridge Lights – an Interactive Drone Show Experience
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards in Clermont12/512/6
Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards will be hosting a 2 night event showcasing amazing drone shows, food, wine, and music. Tickets are $35 plus taxes and fees…
Dec 06
Wetland Excursion – Scrub Point Preserve
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Scrub Point Preserve in Clermont
Join us for a fast paced, guided hike at Scrub Point Preserve to explore the diverse ecosystems within the Preserve, including the plants and animals
Dec 06
Leesburg Christmas Festival & Parade
1:00 PM – 9:00 PM Towne Square, Downtown Leesburg in Leesburg
City of Leesburg’s Christmas Festival & Parade, proudly presented by Summit Broadband Towne Square, Downtown Leesburg
Dec 07
Exploration Hike
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM P.E.A.R. Park (Gateway) in Leesburg
Join staff on an early evening walk while exploring nature at P.E.A.R. Park. Hike Intensity: Light. Reservations required. Continue reading
By TomL
In October we took a half a day to split wood. Enough to keep us in firewood for a while. We had our first fire in the fire place on Oct 31. It really felt good, I have a relaxing feeling come over me when there is a fire in the fire place. I sat there thinking here we go into winter. I am glad we made it this far, I have had a lot of friends fall along the wayside in the last two years. Dave Noel was my most hurtful one this year, so far. I lost three out of my Business Club in recent years. Anyway this is the time to be thankful. Christmas is coming and I have not done any shopping, our grand children have all the biggest tows there is already. The boys on the farm have their own horses. The other Grandchildren are easier to buy for. Of course in our business world charities are coming out of the woods. There is a lot of needy children out there this Christmas. Try to help!
Going into next year very soon I will say I have laid my trust in the right people this year. The two I always have to mention is Nick Navetta with (Edward Jones) and Christine Calvert Healthcare Insurance Specialist. I Trust these two completely. They have proven records in my book and It is hard to earn that position with me! I do business with people NOT businesses, if you trust someone it is easy to do business. Continue reading
William Ockham was a 14th century philosopher and is best known for the principle of Occam’s Razor which translates to “enti-ties must not be multiplied beyond necessity”.
To paraphrase “when a problem has more than one solution, the simplest, least complicated solution is preferred”. So which solu-tion would Willam Ockham prefer – the income tax or the FAIRtax?
At the risk of stating the obvious, HR 25 (the FAIRtax bill) is approximately 130 pages long. It replaces a system that has spawned oer 80,000 pages of tax law, regulations and case law.
The FAIRtax was designed by a small team of economists working together to devise the best tax system possible. The Internal Rev-enue Code is a hopelessly complicated patchwork of competing and conflicting provisions cobbled together by wrangling between the two political parties that has been going on since 1913. Continue reading
By TomL
WOW if you look on the internet there is a lot of positive and negative writings about Charlie Kirk. (My opinion) I think he brought a light to young people who have been almost brain washed by teachers, professors and social media.
There are many more patriotic teachers and professors than Anti-America teachers. Many years ago I wrote that I could not understand why we allow so many students from other countries to be educated here, when they graduate they go back and use their education to try to destroy us.
I think Charlie opened the door to help young people who were afraid to speak up and explained them selves about the teachings of Christianity.
He probably was not a perfect guy but he believed in what he was saying and good at it. I don’t think he was a rouge, he was a bit like our president, but when Trump says he is going to do something he does it! If people out there don’t believe him watch out the hammer of hell could befall upon you! Continue reading
By TomL
This is a true story. When I was a little boy we were being raised Dania Beach Florida by my Grand Mother while our parents worked out of town at the Boca Raton Hotel. One day just before Christmas my friend and I were playing near
the Railroad tracks. We were bare footed. I jump off a little hill and landed on a broken beer bottle. It cut my heal pretty bad. I could see everything inside, my tendon was almost severed. The other boy piggy back me to the road and ran to the Fire Chiefs house. Luckily the Fire Chiefs home was close by. He
wrapped my ankle, there was a lot of blood. He picked me up, put me in his truck and took me to my house where my grandmother was. They could tell they could not fix the wound. So the fire Chief took me to a clinic in the next town Hollywood. If the tendon was almost severed back in them days if it was severed you were crippled. They managed to get clamps on my tendon and pull it back into place and staple it. My parents were called. They picked me up at the clinic and I was told I would not be able to start walking for at least two months. Continue reading
