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With freezing temperatures possible, Water Utility Supervisor Butch Goodman reminds all Town of Lady Lake water customers — including apartment communities, medical facilities and commercial properties — to take a few simple steps to protect their plumbing and avoid service interruptions.
Follow the “4 P’s” of cold weather preparation:
Protect your pipes
Cover or insulate any exposed pipes, outdoor fixtures and hose bibs. Unprotected lines can freeze, crack and lead to costly damage and temporary loss of water service.
Pay attention to backflow devices
Backflow preventers are especially vulnerable to freezing if they are not properly insulated or protected. A frozen backflow device can interrupt water service until temperatures rise and may require repairs or replacement. Continue reading
LADY LAKE – Residents are invited to connect with Lady Lake Mayor Ed Freeman during a special “Meet the Mayor at the Market” event on Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lady Lake Farmers & Crafts Market, located at 250 Rolling Acres Road.
This casual gathering provides an opportunity to discuss local topics, share ideas, and hear updates about news and events in the community directly from the mayor.
While there, visitors are invited to peruse the market, which features a wide range of offerings including fresh produce, baked goods, preserves, handmade crafts, and artisanal products. Food truck vendors will serve options such as barbecue, hot dogs, and international cuisines.
The market is accessible by golf cart via The Villages at Palermo Place through Chula Vista or Del Mar Drive.
The Lady Lake Farmers & Crafts Market is held every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to support local vendors while enjoying a vibrant community atmosphere.
For more information, visit www.ladylakefl.gov or contact market@ladylake.org.
The Lady Lake Police Department is in possession of the following found or abandoned property. Unless ownership is claimed and verified, these items will be disposed of in accordance with Florida State Statute 705 on their scheduled purge dates.
If you believe any of these items belong to you, please contact the Evidence Section at (352) 751-1576 with proof of ownership.
A credit card was recovered on Oct. 30, 2025, on Avenida Central. If unclaimed, it will be purged on Jan. 28, 2026.
On Dec. 15, 2025, an iPhone, identification cards, a passport, credit cards and keys were recovered along U.S. Highway 27/441. These items will be purged on March 13, 2026, unless claimed.
A bicycle was recovered on Dec. 19, 2025, on LaGrande Boulevard. If unclaimed, it will be disposed of on March 29, 2026.
U.S. currency was recovered on Jan. 16, 2026, on Bichara Boulevard. It is scheduled to be purged on April 16, 2026, unless claimed.
A bracelet was recovered on Jan. 22, 2026, on Bichara Boulevard. If unclaimed, it will be disposed of on April 22, 2026.
A key fob with keys was also recovered on Jan. 22, 2026, on Avenida Central. It is scheduled for disposal on April 22, 2026.
The Lady Lake Police Department is proud to officially welcome and swear in our newest Police Officer, Michael Godigkeit — and we’re even more excited to share that our department is now fully staffed, which is a major milestone for our team and our community.
Following the ceremony, we also celebrated outstanding internal promotions, highlighting the hard work, dedication, and growth happening within the department:
Corporal Lidia Maya was promoted to Sergeant
Officer Amanda Hayes was promoted to Corporal
Officer Jean Cintron was promoted to Corporal
These promotions are a true reflection of the strong leadership, mentoring, and commitment to developing talent within the Lady Lake Police Department under the guidance of Chief Steve Hunt.
Congratulations to Officer Godigkeit and to all of our newly promoted officers.
The January luncheon was hosted at the brand-new restaurant oh my! Local businesses enjoy delicious food, networking, and door prizes.
HORSE COUNTRY
By TomL
Marion County is “Horse Country”! I was always pushing for the people of Marion County to recognize the Cattlemen’s Association. After all it’s the cattle industry that is suffering now! I remember a great horse farm on hwy 40 on the way to Ocala from Dunnellon. “Ocala Stud Farm” I think was the name. In Ocala, FL, the area is famous for its numerous horse farms, with many families like the O’Farrell Family it’s is generational, the father and his son and his son’s son. The family bringing Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds from Texas in the 1960s It seems that the limestone-rich soil was ideal for bone development, establishing Ocala as the “Horse Capital of the World,”!
Horse Country one horse at a time. My wife and I lived in south Florida and we had a horse and pastured it in Davie Fl which was South Florida’s Horse country. The price of land was out of our reach so we decided to move and find land that we could afford. We won d up in Dunnellon Florida. We bought 20 acres and bought 20 more, at one time we had 55 acres and we decided we did not need that much for the Horse, a riding mule that someone gave us and a Shetland pony and Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs we were raising. We sold 15 acres. But you see if we did not have a horse we may have never moved, so Marion County grew into the name Horse Country a long time ago probably in about 1950’s. Now to put the icing on the cake now we have the World Equestrian Center. It is growing to one of the biggest industries in our Country. Everything you can think of for horse showing and riding competition. Stall and horse care and elaborate hotels to stay in. With the best restaurants, entertainment and large meeting room bringing large numbers of visitor for industrial shows. Continue reading
U.S. taxpayers know that the FAIRtax eliminates the income tax/payroll tax and replaces it with a national retail sales tax. However, many don’t fully comprehend the enormous positive impact the FAIRtax will have on the economy – especially in terms of attracting foreign investment to the United States.
The Tax Justice Network estimates that $21 trillion to $32 trillion in financial assets are sitting offshore in tax havens (estimates can vary due to the secrecy that pervades the tax haven system). They also estimate that $427 billion in tax revenue is lost every year because money is sitting in these offshore accounts.
The Tax Justice Network explains how this is commonly done: one of the most common ways people hide their wealth in tax havens is by setting up a legal vehicle (like a corporation or trust) to hold their wealth or assets without disclosing information about their identity or about wealth or assets held by the legal vehicle. These secretive structures serve as a curtain or firewall between the owner and their wealth, obscuring the owner’s identity and helping them hide the true value of their wealth and, ultimately, pay less tax than they should. Continue reading
OCALA, Fla. (January 15, 2026) – The Reilly Arts Center welcomes a variety of national and local artists for performances of rock, jazz, classical and more. Unless otherwise indicated, events are held at the Reilly Arts Center located at 500 NE 9th St. Ocala, FL 34470. Tickets can be purchased at reillyartscenter.com or by contacting the Reilly Arts Center box office at (352) 351-1606. Box office hours are 10 AM – 2 PM, Tuesday through Friday. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Reilly Arts Center during box office hours.
As the Reilly Arts Center celebrates its 10th anniversary, we’re proud to continue our Celebration Series! A special lineup featuring performances from six nationally acclaimed artists and bands – leading up to our 10th birthday party on February 28, 2026. This series leads our community into a milestone year, honoring a decade of growth, creativity, and unforgettable performances at the Reilly. The Celebration Series is sponsored by Angie Lewis State Farm.
Yellow Brick Road – A Tribute to Elton John Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM | AdventHealth Mainstage
Tickets from $23
Experience an unforgettable evening as Brann, the incredible Elton John tribute artist, takes the stage with his talented five-piece band! From his spot-on vocals and piano playing to the iconic costumes and signature glasses, Brann brings Elton’s music to life, performing hit after hit. Sing along to ‘Rocket Man’ and ‘Your Song,’ sway to ‘Candle in the Wind,’ and dance to ‘Crocodile Rock’ in a high-energy show that captures the magic of the Piano Man himself! Continue reading
Dear Editor
When we allowed the Chinese to buy Tyson Meat plants I knew it was just a matter of time and they would try to Hurt us. They are closing Nebraska and calling back meat from Texas, driving beef prices up. Cattle numbers have dropped to a 70 year low. Trump will have to rebuild the ranching industry doing something to increase the size of the herds and the size of the cattle. Then build more processing plants. There is one in Gainesville called Grandma’s meat processing plant. I have talked to them and they sound like they know what they are doing. One of the things some Processing houses don’t take into effect is when the animal is stressed from the trip to the processing plant their adrenaline is peaking they need to calm down before processing. Grass fed beef is bad about that, I talk to a lady that sold Grass fed beef. She had to credit several people because of the stress when they were processed, NOT GOOD! Aging beef can ruin the meat if the fat goes bad way before there beef is effected, so they have to watch that, if they get behind it could ruin the rest of the meat. Continue reading
Fundraising Gala
The College of Central Florida Foundation will host its annual Night at the Farm fundraising gala on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 6-8:30 p.m. at the CF Vintage Barn, 4020 … Continue reading “CF Foundation invites community to Night at the Farm fundraising gala”
AdventHealth cuts ribbon on new freestanding emergency department meant to bring faster, expert emergency care to Ocala
Access to emergency care is about to get easier for families in Ocala. AdventHealth leaders, local government officials and community members joined together to officially cut the ribbon on the new AdventHealth Heathbrook ER, designed to provide quick, compassionate care when every second counts.
Marion Graduation Rate Continues Climbing
Marion County’s high school graduation rate continues climbing and is now at 85%, a four-year high. The graduation rate is based on a cohort, defined as a group of students on the same schedule to graduate together.
