Be sure to reflect on the meaning of the Fourth of July while enjoying fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, and more. According to Britannica.com, Independence Day, aka the Fourth of July/July 4th, is the annual celebration of nationhood in The United States. It commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.

Most know Pat Thomas Field as the home of the Leesburg Lightning, a team in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. However, the stadium, built in 1937 for $19,000, was also where the Philadelphia Phillies’ minor league teams held spring training from 1946 to 1968. In addition, the facility hosted Major League Baseball exhibition games through 1971. One year, Hank Aaron and the Atlanta Braves came to town. 

Looking for a hot place to take visitors from out of state? Consider the Tiki Bar & Grill at Lake Minneola Inn on the banks of Lake Minneola. It offers something most local restaurants don’t–a Key West-style atmosphere with gorgeous lake views and opportunities for a little fun in the sun. In addition to great food, visitors can swim at a beach area, feed a school of giant catfish, or simply sit back and watch boats gracefully glide across the lake. 

The Villages, the largest retirement community in the country, recently purchased 900 acres of land near Mascotte. Although there has been no official statement what the land will be used for, one can assume south Lake County residents will see plenty of rooftops in the future, as well as golf courses and a town square for shopping, dining, and dancing. 

July is National Gun Pride Month, time to dust off your rifles and handguns and visit the range. Lake County ranges include the Eustis Gun Club, Ares Training Facility, The Gun Shop and Gun Range, and Cendet Gun Range. Happy shooting! 

Want to ride the best bike paths in Lake County? What about finding important information on diabetes? Or where can you sign up your children to play Little League? The answers to these questions—and many more—can be found on getfitlake.com, a comprehensive website full of new, up-to-date information on fitness, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles. The goal of the website is to inform local residents about the abundant resources in Lake County to help people achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles.

Cobb’s Tractor, Central Florida’s expert tractor dealership—which specializes in tractors, tractor equipment, parts and service—recently celebrated 43 years serving Eustis and its neighboring communities. Shop owners Jerry and Nann Cobb thanked the community for trusting them through the years. In a Facebook post in May (Cobb’s anniversary month), they vowed to continue supporting their local community with great customer service and 100 percent honesty for many more years to come.

Longtime Clermont resident Charlie Grinker, recipient of two prime-time Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award for broadcast journalism, turned 90 in May. To celebrate, Charlie hosted a special presentation at the Clermont Performing Arts Center titled “The 1930s” There’s Always More to the Story.” During the show, mayor Tim Murry presented Charlie with a key to the city for the positive impact he’s had on the community.

Linda Shepherd-Miller, aka Mama Hawk, has retired after 37 years as an educator—14 as Lake Minneola High School’s (LMHS) first and only principal. To mark the occasion, a surprise party in Mama Hawk’s honor attended by hundreds of family, friends, faculty, dignitaries, and students, was held May 20 at the Clermont Performing Arts Center. A highlight of the event came when City of Minneola officials announced that a portion of Fosgate Road near LMHS would be officially renamed “Mama Hawk Way,” to commemorate her many years of service and dedication.