Not quite feeling the Christmas spirit? A visit to The Enchanted Forest of Trees may be just what you need! Head to Victory Pointe at 938 Victory Way in downtown Clermont through January 3, 2025, and check out more than 70 beautifully decorated trees, each uniquely adorned by local organizations, businesses and families. While browsing around, you’ll enjoy the sounds of Christmas music and a gorgeous view of Lake Minneola.

Christmas trees are grown on farms all over Florida, so purchasing a homegrown Christmas tree won’t be a hassle! By supporting local tree growers, you help boost the local economy and leave a smaller carbon footprint because less fuel is used in transporting the tree. Also, farmers plant one to three seedlings for every tree purchased. According to the Florida Christmas Tree Association, Red Cedar, Virginia Pine, Sand Pine, Spruce Pine, Arizona Cypress and Leyland Cypress are grown here specifically for use as Christmas trees. To buy a fresh tree and support the local economy visit:

NICHOLAS’S CHRISTMAS TREE FARM
14260 SE 80th Ave., Summerfield
352.245.8633

On December 28, 1835, 107 U.S. soldiers were ambushed and killed by 180 Seminole warriors at what is now Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell. This battle led to the Second Seminole War, the longest and most costly Indian war in American history. The park was established in 1921 to preserve and commemorate the site of the famous battle, which is reenacted each year. For more information, go to: www.floridastateparks.org

Hours: 8am – sunset, 365 days a year.
Visitor Center Hours: 9am – 5pm
Fees: $3 per vehicle
Location: 7200 Battlefield Parkway, Bushnell
contact: 352.793.4781

Love or hate it, eggnog stirs up memories of holiday traditions. Colonists brought versions of the drink over from England and today the flavor has permeated everything from ice cream to seasonal lattes. Eggnog is made of eggs, vanilla, sugar, cream, milk, salt and nutmeg, and can be enjoyed with or without brandy, dark rum or bourbon.

The 38th Annual Miss Leesburg Scholarship Pageant took place Saturday, September 28 at the Leesburg High School auditorium. The new Miss Leesburg representatives who will be serving the community for the 2024-‘25 year are: Tiny Miss, Saige Herter; Little Miss, Sadie Starling; Junior Miss, Abby Carlton; Teen Miss, Shaylin Shumate; and Miss Leesburg, Reese Ponds. Congratulations to the winners and all participants. 

Lake County Schools recently gave kudos to Clermont’s Aurelia M. Cole’s K-8 Academy and library media specialist Shelly Meneses. The school was recognized for having an outstanding library program that is fully integrated into the school’s curriculum. The school is now a Florida Power-Library School.

Hanukkah—or more traditionally, Chanukah—will be celebrated from December 25 to January 2. Join in the festivities at several Jewish Temples across Lake and Sumter Counties:

Temple Shalom of Central Florida
13563 CR 101, Oxford
352.748.1800

Congregation Beth Shalom
315 N. 13th St., Leesburg
352.326.3692

Traditional Congregation of Mount Dora
848 N. Donnelly St.
352.735.4774

Kehilat Beth Tefillah, Leesburg
352.409.2494
bethtefillahmessianic@gmail.com

Congregation Sinai
1200 W. Broad St., Groveland
352.805.0110
info@congregation-sinai.org

Chabad Lubavitch of Ocala & The Villages
13030 CR 103, Oxford
352.330.4466

Kehilat Hesed
105 E. Baker St., Minneola
352.432.8783
info@kehilat.net

Representatives from Eustis attended the America in Bloom conference in Columbus, Ohio, in September 2024. There, the city was honored for its beautification efforts. Eustis received a plaque for community vitality and was nominated in two categories. The Eustis in Bloom committee showcased projects like the Clifford House gardens restoration and partnering with downtown businesses to beautify storefronts. The Eustis in Bloom team includes Elis Forman, Emily Lee, Michelle Saxman, Sally Mayer and Rick Gierok.

Four Lake County public school students are among the 16,000+ semifinalists named in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations to Carol E. Cash of Eustis High, Vishal A. Narine of Lake Minneola High, Ryan Oikle of East Ridge High and Andrea Noele Reyes of Leesburg High.