Participate in eBird Global Big Day
Lake County’s Parks and Trails Division is participating in Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s annual eBird Global Big Day, during which birdwatchers worldwide document as many bird species as possible within a 24-hour period, beginning at 7:30 a.m. May 11 at the Green Mountain Scenic Overlook and Trailhead, 20700 County Road 455, Minneola.
Local bird lovers are welcome to join park staff as they identify various birds during the event.
Area residents can report sightings by going to ebird.org/home.
Details: Gallus Quigley at 352-253-4950 or gallus.quigley@lakecountyfl.gov.
Musicians, guests can join Irish music session
Another Lake Irish Music Session, featuring folk instruments and traditional Irish music, will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. May 11 at the Simpson Farmhouse, located on the grounds of the W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora.
Area fiddle, guitar, penny whistle, flute and concertina musicians are welcome to join the session. Sheet music is provided. Those who just want to listen in are welcome as well. There is no charge.
Details: 352-735-7180.
Ages 50-over men’s softball league seeks players
The Lakes League Men’s Softball League for ages 50 and over plays at 9 a.m. on Thursdays at Pear Park, 26701 U.S. Highway 27 in Leesburg.
Interested players should email tsperanza7@gmail.com.
Nature center hosts moon phases workshop
Mike Ryan, retired planetarium director for Lake County Schools, will lead a moon phases workshop at 1:30 p.m. May 11 at Trout Lake Nature Center, 520 E. County Road 44, Eustis. Ryan’s program will include the eight major moon phases, and what it looks like at various times of the month from many points of view. Attendees will also receive a moon phases worksheet to fill out and take home to continue their learning while watching the night sky.
The program is free and open to the public. Entry to Trout Lake is $5 per vehicle, but members get in free.
Details: tlnc.info@gmail.com or 352-357-7536.
Family can enjoy horse grooming club
Dreamcatcher Horse Rescue, 10639 Toad Road, Clermont, will host its weekly Family Horse Grooming Club from 10 to 11 a.m. May 13.
Participants can go on a pony ride, as well as groom, feed and pet the horses and other farm animals, including donkeys, Highland cows, and goats. The cost is $25 per child and an accompanying adult is free. Additional adults are $10. Reservations are preferred but not required.
Details: Loran Wheatley at 407-702-8332 or sellwithalison@gmail.com.
Music for Two Pianos concert in Mount Dora
Local pianist virtuoso Randy Frieling and international pianist Phoenix-Park Kim will perform a Music for Two Pianos concert at 4 p.m. May 12 at First Presbyterian of Mount Dora. The duo will play a variety of selections, including favorites such as “Flight of the Bumblebees” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
The church is located at 222 W. Sixth Ave. and there is no admission charge for the concert. Donations will be accepted.
Details: 352-383-4089.
Clermont library hosts string orchestra concert
The Jubilant Strings Orchestra will perform a patriotic and classical music concert as part of the Cooper Concert Series from 4 to 5 p.m. May 15 at the Cooper Memorial Library, 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont.
The orchestra ensemble consists of local middle and high school students. Admission is free and open to the public.
Details: 352-536-2275.
Learn about insects during trail association meeting
The Highlanders Chapter of the Florida Trail Association will meet at 5:30 p.m. May 16 in Room B of the Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St.
Chapter naturalist Mike Barnett will present “Interesting Insects of Central Florida,” an interactive program with audience participation encouraged. Aluminum cans in non-dripping bags for recycling will be collected.
Details: 352-787-8654 or bobbiszoo@yahoo.com.
Program on Eastern indigo snakes
Trout Lake Nature Center’s Friday Night Naturalist Program will take place at 6:30 p.m. May 16. Guest speaker Nick Clark, supervisor and curator of the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation (OCIC), the only captive breeding facility, presenting on the topic “Back to the Wild — Reintroducing Eastern Indigo Snakes.”
Clark will share about the current restoration efforts and introduce program attendees to one of the center’s live ambassador snakes.
The program is free and open to the public. Entry to the nonprofit Trout Lake, 520 E. County Road 44, Eustis, is $5 per vehicle. Members get in free.
Details: troutlakenaturecenter.com.
Birthday celebration for Smokey the Bear
The Astor County Library will host an 80th birthday celebration for and with Smokey the Bear from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 18. The festivities will include a special story time.
The event is free and open to the public. The library is located at 54905 Alco Road.
Details: 352-759-9913.
Native Plant Society meets at library
The Lake Beautyberry Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will have its monthly meeting at 1:30 p.m. May 19 at the W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora. Members and guests are welcome to share details about their favorite plant during the meeting. Photos can be sent ahead of time so they can be included in a PowerPoint presentation.
Healthy native plants can be brought to the meeting to give away as well. The public is welcome to attend.
Details and plant photos: netavb@gmail.com.
Learn about backyard birds
Local bird expert Bob Wexler, a fixture at Trout Lake Nature Center, will give a presentation about backyard birds in Lake County at 1 p.m. May 22 at the Eustis Memorial Library, 120 N. Center St. The program is free and open to the public.
Details: 352-357-5686.
Leesburg police chief promoted to deputy city manager
Robert W. Hicks, the City of Leesburg’s chief of police was promoted to the position of deputy city manager effective May 6, according to the city.
Hicks has 33 years of law enforcement experience and has worked for the city of Leesburg for 28 years; 10 of those years include service as police chief.
A U.S. Army combat veteran, Hicks has a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational management from Warner University and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Southern University. Hicks also graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, holds several advanced continuing education certifications and is a highly decorated police officer.
Combined with current city manager Al Minner, the City of Leesburg has a senior executive management duo with over 60 years of municipal government experience.
Initially, Hicks will fill an existing gap in the purchasing division, where the city is at a critical point with major capital improvement projects and a tremendous load of routine operations. He will also take on other assignments such as media communication, special projects and oversight of various departments.
Major Steve Rockefeller will serve as interim police chief while a nationwide search for the next chief of police is conducted. The department also has multiple internal candidates.
Details: Leesburgflorida.gov.
May is National Water Safety Month
May is National Water Safety Month, and the Florida Department of Health in Lake County (DOH-Lake) wants to remind the public how to safely enjoy Florida’s bodies of water and prevent drowning.
Children ages 1-4 are more likely to drown in a home swimming pool than children ages 5-19, who are more likely to drown in natural bodies of water.
The following water safety tips should be followed, especially during the summer months, when water activities are highest:
— Always keep your eyes on children in and around water, including pools and open bodies of water. Actively supervising and giving children undivided attention when they are in or around water can help prevent drownings
— Never leave a child alone around water, and if a child is missing check other pools or surrounding bodies of water.
— Use barriers around water, including fences, self-closing/self-latching gates, and secure doors with alarms. Barriers help prevent young children from wandering into bodies of water, including lakes, pools, ponds, and more.
— Have a phone nearby in case you need to call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
— When swimming in lakes or the ocean and other open bodies of water, always swim with a buddy and only when safety flags and signs give the all-clear to do so. If you encounter animals that live near or in the water, stay away.
— Avoid algal blooms like red tide and blue-green algae, which cause skin irritation, burning eyes and throat and breathing irritations.
Details: DOH-Lake at 352-253-6130.
Lake County Library System converting to cloudLibrary
The Lake County Library System is converting from Libby to cloudLibrary as its provider for eBooks and audiobooks, increasing its collection from just over 20,000 titles to more than 330,000 titles.
To install the app, library patrons can download cloudLibrary via their devices app store. Once completed, users can search for Lake County Library System and sign in with a library card number and pin.
Patrons can then browse the library’s collection and borrow a title, which will appear on their virtual shelf.
Details: mylakelibrary.org.
Library sponsors First Line Literary Contest in May
The Eustis Memorial Library, 120 N. Center St., is sponsoring a First Line Literary Contest throughout May, during which adults are invited to compose an original opening line in an imaginary novel on any topic or genre and submit it by May 31.
Blind judging will be done by library staff during the first week of June. Winners will be announced June 12 and their first lines will be featured on Facebook.
The top three finishers receive Amazon gift cards for $50, $25 and $15, respectively.
Entry forms are available at any of the 16 public libraries in the county or through email by contacting the Eustis library at 352-357-5686.
Library system holds Food for Fines program
The Lake County Library System is sponsoring its annual Food for Fines program throughout May, during which patrons who have overdue fines can get them waived by donating food at any of its 16 branches during regular hours.
Donated items must be unopened, unexpired, and in their original package and can include dry food items, including spaghetti and cereal, canned goods, baby food and products, as well as pet food for dogs and cats.
Each item donated will equal $1 of forgiven overdue fees and there are no limits to the number of donations per person, though fines will not be forgiven for library items that are lost or damaged. The Umatilla Public Library will not accept pet food donations.
Those without fines are also encouraged to donate items as each item will be used anonymously to forgive another patron’s fines. All donations will be sent to local food banks and charities in Lake County.
Details: mylakelibrary.org.
Mount Dora church hosts watercolor exhibit
First Presbyterian Church of Mount Dora hosts an exhibit of paintings by watercolor artist Nancy Staffieri from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through May at the church’s multipurpose room, 222 W. Sixth Ave.
A former resident of eastern Pennsylvania, Staffieri renewed her interest in painting after moving to Mount Dora. She has taken lessons from area artists and utilized used books and photographs as inspiration.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Details: 352-383-4089.
Mixed tennis doubles in Mount Dora
Area tennis players are welcome to join in mixed doubles tennis from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday through April at the Lincoln Avenue Community Park tennis courts, 1200 N. Unser St., Mount Dora. The cost is $5 per month.
Details: Dennis at 207-289-8841.
To submit events
To submit a community event for online publication, email information at least two weeks before the event to lake@orlandosentinel.com.
