As part of the Lady Lake Library’s annual “School Supplies for Fines” initiative, the library collected and donated 26 backpacks—its largest donation to date—filled with more than 1,000 school supplies to students of The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake. Donated items ranged from everyday essentials like notebooks, pens, and glue to more unique contributions such as headphones, Clorox wipes, and tissues. The program also forgave $791.55 in library fines, offering patrons a chance to give back while reducing barriers to library access.
“The school was incredibly grateful—and so are we! We’d like to thank our community for helping us give back in such a meaningful way,” said Library Director Aly Herman.
Pictured left to right: Kourtney Fehr, Youth Library Assistant; Aly Herman, Library Director; and Mary Shaner, Bookkeeper for The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake.
Elisha Pappacoda
By Tom James
Marjorie McGee
Director of Student Life, College of Central Florida
Back in 2018, Marjorie McGee pealed back the coconut (if you will) on her fun times as part of the Jimmy Buffett-inspired Parrot Head lifestyle. True statement: No one group typifies the tropical headspace quite like Parrot Heads do! But we also learned about all the ways these colorful customers give back locally.
“We are community servants and protectors of the environment who like to party with a purpose,” Marjorie told us at the time, while highlighting a number of community cleanup projects and blood drives the Parrot Heads would spearhead. And that ethos still holds true today, as Marjorie shared.
“When we say ‘party with a purpose’, we mean it,” she says. “We have become very involved with the Walk to End Alzheimers in the past few years, raising funds as well as participating in typical Parrot Head fashion in the walk itself. Lots of crazy hats!” Continue reading
LADY LAKE — A 53-year-old man was arrested on Friday after he forced his way into a 78-year-old woman’s home, attempted to steal her purse, and injured her during the struggle.
Lady Lake Police officers responded to a home on St. Andrews Boulevard around 3:28 p.m. on Aug. 8 after the victim reported that a man had knocked on her door asking for her vehicle keys. Police say he then pushed his way inside, grabbed her purse, and tried to find the keys.
The victim bravely fought to hold on to her belongings, stating “You’re not getting my car keys.” She was able to push the suspect back outside and call 911. Police responded quickly and located the suspect nearby. The victim identified the suspect at the scene.
She suffered swelling and redness to her hand. Continue reading
Privately funded multi-million dollar ad campaign—launched without taxpayer dollars—will be broadcast on national and local television, across all major social media platforms, and MakeAmericaFentanylFree.com
The Make America Fentanyl Free ad campaign was launched to support President Trump’s efforts to save American lives from deadly fentanyl, which continues to be a leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. The presence of fentanyl and other deadly drugs skyrocketed in American communities under the Biden administration’s open border policies, which allowed dangerous criminals, terrorists, and deadly drugs to pour into our country.
On day one in office, President Trump shut down the dangerous, open border and stemmed the flow of deadly fentanyl through our country. As a result, fentanyl traffic at the border fell by 54% in the first months of the Trump Administration. In order to continue eradicating deadly fentanyl from our communities, the Make America Fentanyl Free ad campaign was launched to join the President’s fight to: Continue reading
Leaf Filter was the Grand Prize winner at the Business to Business Expo. Pictured here is James Floyd, event emcee, and Shelly Scarbrough, Chamber Vice President, Christina Tucker from Leaf Filter, and Leslie DiCesare, Executive Director of the Lady Lake Chamber.
LAKE WORTH, Fla.— Governor Ron DeSantis announced his support for an update to the 2020 Decennial Census, which could potentially yield additional congressional seats for Florida. Governor DeSantis was joined by Attorney General Uthmeier, who has been a leading voice in the fight for a corrected census and proper reapportionment to ensure that Floridians have the representation they deserve in Congress.
“Even the Biden administration acknowledged that Florida got shortchanged in the reapportionment stemming from the last census,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “My office is working with Attorney General Uthmeier in our mission to secure Floridians’ due representation in Congress and to fix mistakes that have been identified in the aftermath of the 2020 Census.” Continue reading
The Marion County Sexual Assault Center marked a milestone Aug. 15, 2025, as the nonprofit celebrated its official certification with a ribbon cutting at its facility on SW 1st Ave. in Ocala. The Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership joined Executive Director Besty Weber, her staff, board, and community supporters to recognize the center’s mission of providing round-the-clock services to survivors of sexual violence.
Weber praised her staff for their work, noting that the center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to those in need. With statistics showing one in four women and one in 26 men experiencing sexual violence or attempted sexual violence in their lifetimes, the center’s role is more important than ever. Alongside offering critical support services, the Marion County Sexual Assault Center is committed to raising awareness, educating the community, and working toward prevention. These efforts reflect the generosity and philanthropic spirit that define Marion County.
At Stirrups ‘n Strides Therapeutic Riding Center, we witness miracles every day — not the kind that make headlines, but the quiet kind that happen when someone who’s been told “you can’t” discovers that, with the right support, they can.
We serve children, adults, and veterans with physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges through therapeutic horseback riding, equine-assisted therapy, carriage driving, and equine-assisted learning. For some, it’s the first time they’ve experienced independence. For others, it’s the first time they’ve smiled in weeks. For all, it’s a place of belonging, growth, and unconditional acceptance.
A child with cerebral palsy gains strength and balance while riding a horse that instinctively adjusts to their movement.
A teen with autism who struggles to speak finds connection and calm through grooming a gentle pony.
A veteran battling PTSD rediscovers peace in the rhythm of a horse’s gait and the trust of a nonjudgmental companion.
These moments aren’t rare at Stirrups ‘n Strides — they’re what we do. But we can’t do them without YOU.
Well the Republicans are getting it done. I would like to point out this tariff problem is something that needed done, but not without resistance. The Brits and a few other country’s think they have a better way. So they are trying to build a trade alliance with others but without us. It has not been fair that all these countries have been importing into our country free and charge us when we export to their country. Trump is negotiating hard, it is going slow but it will happen. To slow for me I can’t wait.
I notice that Trump is always fiscally leaning in, never leaning back in comfort and is always listening. People seem to respond to that. People need to be listened to, some of the strongest people I have know are good listeners.
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In this high speed world you need people around you can trust and that can keep you informed and help with challenges. I recently had a challenge when lightening struck in my front yard. It wiped out my security light, Satellite system, Wifi, computer, printer. I had a problem, as I worked my way through this challenge,I needed to recover some information off my old computer. I called Tech Brothers Ocala Florida hwy 200. I took my computer in and they said they were optimistic about the recovery. The price was not bad and recovery was important. They got it for me fast. They fixed it high speed in this high speed world. Thank you Tech Brothers for the well done job. Tell them TomL sent you. Continue reading
Department of Commerce Ends Supension Agreement, Reinstating Tomato Tariffs
Washington, D.C. — A newly released national survey of registered voters reveals a bipartisan majority of Republicans (69%), Democrats (52%) and Independents (51%) support the idea of replacing the current income tax system with a national sales tax. Also, 50% of voters surveyed support the elimination of the IRS.
Conducted by Quantus Insights and commissioned by the National Tax Research Committee, the poll suggests that Americans, particularly younger and working-class voters, are increasingly open to bold structural changes in how the federal government collects revenue.
At a time of continued economic uncertainty and public dissatisfaction with federal institutions, 58% of voters say they would support a national consumption tax that allowed workers to retain their paychecks without federal with-holding. This proposal, central to the FAIRtax Plan (HR25), envisions eliminating income, payroll, corporate, capital gains and estate taxes and replacing them with a single, visible sales tax applied at the point of retail purchase. While long discussed in academic and political circles, the FAIRtax concept appears to be gaining traction with the public. Continue reading
