Category Archives: The Villages Daily Sun

Oakley the eastern screech-owl, Araés the swallow-tailed kite, Ruby the red-tailed hawk and Max the bald eagle made a special appearance at the Leesburg Public Library on Friday during the Wings of Liberty: A Live Raptor Experience event. Nicole Jones, administrative assistant and volunteer coordinator for the Avian Reconditioning Center in Apopka, and volunteer WendyContinue reading “Raptors Headline Library’s America250 Series”

Matthew Griffin makes Florida’s history tangible, bringing the state’s past to life through immersive reenactments. Griffin has been giving presentations and participating in reenactments throughout Florida for the past 24 years dressed as one of the Black Seminoles who roamed Florida during the Second Seminole War from 1830s to 1840s. “That time period is soContinue reading “Matthew Griffin Dresses Up to Describe Old Florida”

It only takes gravity, a little imagination and a long stretch of road to get a community revved up. Ten drivers used their creatively built derby karts Saturday to compete in the City of Fruitland Park’s fifth annual Derby Kart Race. Christine Wilson, City of Fruitland Park sports and events coordinator, started organizing the eventContinue reading “Fruitland Park Hosts Derby Kart Race on 6/13”

Gigi Mitchell is passionate about God, community and encouraging people to learn about their neighbors. As a way to spread the Gospel and educate the community about Juneteenth, she and other members of the Many Voices, One Sound Committee on Saturday hosted a Juneteenth celebration at New Bethel Community Church. “Some people, Black or White,Continue reading “Gigi Mitchell Takes Lead on 2nd Annual Juneteenth Event”

For Allison Thomas, Saturday’s Jazz in the Grass event at La’Chea Place in Fruitland Park was a literal dream come true. After seeing a crowd of people gathered under a cluster of trees to listen to jazz during the event, Thomas said she feels she was successfully able to recreate the intimate experience inspired byContinue reading “Jazz Up June with Jazz Concerts in the Surrounding Community”

With a flip of a switch, lights across Leesburg turned purple on June 1 in support of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. The Purple for a Purpose Kickoff event, hosted by The Rotary Club of Leesburg and the City of Leesburg at Towne Square Park, started the community’s monthlong effort to support those affected by Alzheimer’s andContinue reading “Leesburg Glows Purple For Purpose in June”

Lillian Lockette is determined to share some of Leesburg’s more obscure history with the community through the Leesburg African-American Museum. She, along with other members of the Lake, Sumter and Marion Counties Section of the National Council of Negro Women, took almost seven months to sift through memorabilia, artwork, faded photographs and old newspaper clippingsContinue reading “Community Works to Open Leesburg Black History Museum”

When Kathy Wright first noticed the marked decline of Evergreen Memorial Gardens Cemetery — overgrown grass, sinking headstones and trash scattered across its nearly 8-acre lot — she organized a group of volunteers to help clean up. “I can’t imagine leaving the cemetery to turn into a field of emptiness,” said Wright, who over theContinue reading “Community Comes Together for Historic Evergreen Memorial Gardens Cemetery Cleanup”

O’Donnell, who started the social and philanthropic group with her partner Peggy Garvin in 2007, said she feels she’s accomplished their mission to build inclusion in and around The Villages. “Peggy and I had a vision early on that this could be a retirement community for LGBTQ+ people,” O’Donnell said. “We deserve just as muchContinue reading “Overlooking a crowd of people dancing, smiling and being their authentic selves during the Pride Day event hosted by the Rainbow Friends and Family of The Villages on Tuesday, Wendy O’Donnell, said the feeling she got was indescribable.”

A sea of purple filled the pews of a historic Black church in Leesburg as community organizations joined the Lake, Sumter and Marion Counties Section of the National Council of Negro Women for an afternoon of worship focused on education, health equity, social justice and economic empowerment. The local chapter of the NCNW hosted theContinue reading “Lake, Sumter, Marion Section of the National Council of Negro Women Encourages Community Organizations with 100 Women in Purple: Powering Up For Jesus”