Importance of Public Transit Called Zumiez on the SEE MALL | A2
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GATORS ROUT TENNESSEE, SPORTS B1 LEESBURG, FLORIDA Sunday, January 26, 2014 www.dailycommercial.com SPECIAL DESIGNATION: Scenic STATE OF THE UNION: Obama Sumter Heritage Byway designated, A3 to focus on economy, A6 Cops say 3 dead after shooting at shopping mall ERIC TUCKER upper level of the Mall Associated Press in Columbia, a suburb COLUMBIA, Md. — of both Baltimore and Someone armed with Washington, accord- a gun opened fire at a ing to Howard Coun- busy shopping mall in ty Police. suburban Baltimore Someone called 911 on Saturday, sending at around 11:15 a.m. store employees and to report a shooting customers scram- at the mall. Police re- bling for cover. Po- sponded to the scene lice said three people and found three peo- died, including the ple dead, including person believed to be one person who was the shooter, in an ap- found near a gun and parent murder-sui- ammunition. No de- BRETT LE BLANC / DAILY COMMERCIAL cide. tails were released Johnny Ellison, left, and Lucille Richardson, right, ride the Lake Xpress route 2 bus line on Jan. 16 in Leesburg. Ellison has The attack took about their identities. been trying for years to persuade LakeXpress to run on weekends. place at a skate shop Police said they had Importance of public transit called Zumiez on the SEE MALL | A2 LIVI STANFORD | Staff Writer Public transporta- [email protected] NUMBER OF LAKEXPRESS TRIPS tion in Lake County is Without public trans- LakeXpress has seen a spike in ridership since 2010, becoming increasingly with buses making 79,794 more trips — a 34% increase. portation, Anna Zarlen- important to people’s go would not make it to 300,000 lives, county and trans- portation officials said. her job at the Walmart 250,000 “The transit rider- pharmacy department 200,000 in Leesburg. ship is growing and so 150,000 TRIPS is our urban popula- The Route 2 LakeX- TRIPS TRIPS TRIPS tion,” said T.J. Fish, ex- press bus has become a 100,000 312,591 EVAN VUCCI / AP 296,969 257,721 ecutive director of the lifeline for the Leesburg 50,000 232,797 Lake-Sumter MPO. Shoppers are evacuated by police after a shooting at The resident. Mall in Columbia on Saturday in Columbia, Md. But finding afford- 2010 2011 2012 2013 “These two things are symbiotic. As our ur- able transportation Source: Title Community Services Department ban population grows, to her second job on WHITNEY WILLARD / STAFF GRAPHIC weekends as a certi- so does the demand for Vice mayor urges fied nursing assistant I spend an average of ning. transit services.” in Lady Lake has prov- $80 a weekend to pay As a result, Zarlengo LakeXpress trips — en more difficult be- for a cab. It takes a lot makes the hour-long 90 percent of which community theater cause there is no public out of my pay.” trip home by foot. are federally funded transportation on the Further, during the “I got to do what I got — have increased by AUSTIN FULLER | Staff Writer “We’re lacking on that, I weekends or evenings. weekdays her shift at to do,” she said. “I work 79,797, to 312,591, for [email protected] admit it, and we need to do fiscal year 2013, accord- “I struggle to find a Walmart ends at 8 p.m., seven days a week to Not only is Tava- something about it to make ing to the Lake-Sumter way to get to work,” after bus service has pay bills and get a roof res the only city in the us a well-rounded city worth she said. “Sometimes stopped for the eve- over my head.” SEE TRANSIT | A2 Golden Triangle with- visiting. Our downtown, our out a community the- city, just can’t be all about ater, it’s the only mu- our entertainment district nicipality in Lake and bars and restaurants Conflicted GOP keeps losing image County with a pop- — there’s so much more.” ulation greater than Tavares Vice Mayor 12,000 – with the ex- Lori Pfister THOMAS BEAUMONT largely white base. The ception of Lady Lake – on the need for a Associated Press other — one that hasn’t without such a venue. community theater in Tavares Vice Mayor WASHINGTON — evolved since the GOP’s Tavares back-to-back presiden- Lori Pfister wants to The dueling faces of change that. tial losses — lurked in worth visiting,” Pfister a conflicted politi- She is spearheading the hallways, occasion- said. “Our downtown, cal party were on dis- a fundraising effort to ally taking center stage our city, just can’t be play for all to see at the establish a communi- at the Washington ho- all about our enter- just-concluded Repub- ty theater and said the tel where party dele- tainment district and lican National Com- direction of the proj- gates from around the mittee meeting. ect will be based on bars and restaurants country met to discuss One was young- the public’s desire to — there’s so much er, more diverse and party business. enhance the city’s cul- more.” tech-savvy, part of the The reminder of tural appeal. Pfister said a com- RNC’s carefully craft- the divisions comes a “We’re lacking on munity theater is im- ed plan to inspire con- year after Chairman SUSAN WALSH / AP that, I admit it, and portant because of Reince Priebus pub- the variety of people it fidence that the GOP is Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince we need to do some- trying to grow beyond lished a report aimed Priebus is seen at the Republican National Committee thing about it to make could reach. its shrinking, older, SEE GOP | A2 winter meeting on Friday in Washington. us a well-rounded city SEE THEATER | A2 INDEX DIVERSIONS E5 OBITUARIES A4 Vol. 138 LEGALS C3 SPORTS B1 TODAY’S WEATHER CLASSIFIED C3 No. 26 $1 MONEY E1 VOICES C1 Detailed forecast 73˚/54˚ COMICS INSIDE 5 sections CROSSWORDS C4 NATION A6 WORLD A7 on page A8 Mostly cloudy with showers Call Our Experienced Physicians For Family Medicine Podiatric/Foot Careand Chiropractic Treatment 357-8615 ~ www.lakehealthcarecenter.com 910 Mt. Homer Rd. ~ Eustis Paul Austin, MD Victor M. Torres, DPM Randy Glisson, D.C. John Heiligenthal, D.C. James Fernandes, D.C. Most Insurance Accepted Family Practice Foot & Ankle Care Back & Neck Care Back & Neck Care Back & Neck Care Serving Lake County Since 1963 ~ Founded by Dr. Jim Glisson Board Certified Podiatric Surgery Nutrition & Acupuncture Palmer Graduate A2 DAILY COMMERCIAL Sunday, January 26, 2014 how we use the federal or perhaps not have a job tor, said while the coun- TRANSIT dollars.” because of lack of trans- ty would like to provide FROM PAGE A1 FLORIDA A WAY OF LIFE portation options? It is that service, there is no better to provide access Arriving on the Route funding to implement it Metropolitan Planning to jobs.” now. LOTTERY Organization. 2 bus, Anita Lazcano and Lake County Com- her 6-year-old son, Julia- “We know that the de- JAN. 25 In Leesburg, 21,879 ad- missioner Sean Parks, mand is there, and cer- ditional trips are report- no, took seats near the CASH 3 ...............................................6-8-1 who also serves as chair- tainly as soon as we can ed on the Route 2 bus, back of the bus. man of the Lake-Sumter Afternoon ..........................................9-6-8 On this day, Lazca- find some funding we which serves major ar- MPO Governing Board, PLAY 4 .............................................9-1-0-7 no was taking her son to would probably imple- eas in Leesburg such as agreed. Afternoon .......................................7-8-3-5 Walmart. the doctor, but the bus is “That is where public ment it,” she said. “En- The increase in rider- part of her daily routine. transportation can have hancements could be JAN. 24 Working in The Vil- ship is a product of the its most positive effect,” accelerated if the cities FANTASY 5 ........................... 8-20-21-29-32 economy but also be- lages, Lazcano said the he said. “It gets people to were interested.” Route 1 route, which MEGA MONEY ...................... 1-11-17-20-19 cause people are becom- work.” CITY INVOLVEMENT MEGA MILLIONS ........ 22-45-46-47-65-10-x5 ing more familiar with runs from The Villages to The Florida Public Several city officials in the service as it has ma- Eustis, is vital. Transportation Associ- tured. “I don’t have a driv- ation reported that “for Lake County expressed Certainly, Fish said, er’s license,” she said. “If every $1 invested in pub- interest in helping pro- weekend and evening I don’t have transporta- lic transportation, $4 is vide additional bus ser- THE NEWSPAPER OF CHOICE FOR LAKE AND SUMTER COUNTIES SINCE 1875 tion, I don’t work.” vice. The Daily Commercial (ISSN 0896-1042) is published daily for service is needed in Lake generated in economic $90.74 per year (plus Florida sales tax) by Halifax Media Group County. But whether LakeXpress offers four returns.” With funding in place at 212 East Main Street, Leesburg, Florida. Periodicals postage is there are enough federal routes, with routes 1, for the SR 50 spine route, paid at the USPO, Leesburg, FL. POSTMASTER: Send all address WEEKEND SERVICE changes to The Daily Commercial, P.O. Box 490007, Leesburg, FL funds to cover that need 2 and 3, running every Fish said there is also in- 34749-0007. All material contained in this edition is property of hour and route 4 every Despite the cold tem- The Daily Commercial and is protected under the copyright laws of remains the question.