C M Y K PRSRT-STD OLYMPICS: Postal Customer U.S. Postage Clermont, FL Paid NTC athletes bring 34711 Clermont, FL home medals Permit #280 SEE PAGE B4 REMEMBER WHEN | B1 Serving Clermont, Minneola, Groveland, Mascotte, Montverde FRIDAY, AUGUSTOUTH 24, 2012 LAKE RESS50¢ NEWSSTAND S www.southlakepress.com P MINNEOLA CLERMONT Gray headed back home? City Council to vote on financial package GREG JONES | Staff Writer greg [email protected] The Clermont City Council will vote on a financial package at its next meeting to bring Darren Gray, the former city assistant manager and cur- rent Lake County manager, back as its city manager. Longtime Clermont Councilman Ray Goodgame made the motion this week to return Gray, and the council will vote on the financial package Aug. 28. Good- game’s motion stated “Darren Gray has agreed to come back to the city subject PHOTOS BY VICTORIA ALDRICH / DAILY COMMERCIAL GRAY Building Blocks Ministries instructor Brenda Huba, left, prunes plants with clients Brian Bean and Diane Griffin at South Lake Hospital. to contract negotiations.” Goodgame said the terms of the contract won’t be known until the council meeting. Helping to build SEE GRAY | A2 a better life MOUNT DORA ROXANNE BROWN | Staff Writer RIGHT: Building Blocks Ed Havill dead at 71 [email protected] Ministries client Robert Young smells herbs in South Lake MILLARD K. IVES | Staff Writer been left shocked and he Building Blocks [email protected] Hospital’s community garden. saddened by the death. Ministries Learning “He truly cared about BELOW: Huba shows client Long-time Lake County T Center, which pro- the Lake County commu- Melissa Swift how to water vides life skills and job property appraiser Ed rose bushes. nity,” Parks said. skills training to adults 18 Havill died Havill served 36 years and older with develop- Highway 27, Suites B & C Aug. 18, as property appraiser mental disabilities, in Minneola, now has less than a before he was unseated encourages its partici- Whetro envisioning bet- week after by former state Sen. pants to “dream, believe ter things to come. losing his Carey Baker on Aug. 14in and achieve.” Now, a new “We have 4,000-square- position in the Republican primary. location for the center has feet of space for our pro- a heated Commissioner, Jen- founder Dr. Paula Whetro grams now. That’s another race. nifer Hil counted spend- doing the dreaming as she 1,500-square-feet we did- HAVILL H avill ing wisely as Havill’s works to expand on the n’t have before. We have so reportedly died of a heart biggest achievement in center’s most popular pro- much room and we are so attack while mowing his office. grams. excited,” Whetro said, smil- “He was very frugal and The center has been lawn in Mount Dora, ac- ing from ear to ear as she cording to Sean Parks, a always watched out for around since August 2006 many homes throughout made certain activities walked with ease through Lake County,” said Hill. when Whetro, who has a south Lake County. difficult because of the Lake County Commis- bigger classrooms, among sioner. “He was very conscious developmentally disabled Until about three weeks confined space. chairs, supplies and com- of how money was spent ago, it was housed in a A much anticipated He was 71. daughter, saw a need for puter stations. and where it went.” the program. Since then, building with small class- move to the center’s new Parks said he and other the nonprofit center has rooms in Clermont that location at 548 South SEE FACILITY | A2 county officials have SEE HAVILL | A2 INSIDE TAVARES CLASSIFIED B10 CROSSWORDS B2 DEATHS A10 A healthier start REAL ESTATE C1 REMEMBER WHEN B1 GREG JONES | Staff Writer tricts, Lake County began imple- SPORTS B4 [email protected] menting a healthier menu for VOICES A4 students in the beginning of the There will be more whole grains 2011-12 school year to get ready WORD ON THE STREET A2 on school lunch menus this year, for this year. Officials believe this along with a wider selection of has made the transition easier SOUTH LAKE PRESS fruits and vegetables and other for students because they don’t healthy options, after new VOLUME 97, NO.34| 3 SECTIONS have to adjust to a new menu Department of Agriculture guide- ©2008, HarborPoint Media. immediately. lines take effect to set calorie and Lake County Food Supervisor All rights reserved. sodium limits for school meals. PHOTO BY VICTORIA ALDRICH / DAILY COMMERCIAL www.southlakepress.com But unlike other school dis- SEE FOOD | A3 Triangle Elementary School cafeteria worker Cynthia Whitted gets ready for lunch. C M Y K A2 SOUTH LAKE PRESS Friday, August 24, 2012 What South Lake residents are saying about... South Lake Briefs Word on the HURRICANE ISAAC GROVELAND Girls on the Run program Street Are you concerned about Isaac making landfall next week? at elementary school Registration is open for the “Girls on the Run” program at Groveland Elementary School for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade girls. The program offers combined train- ing for a 5k run through lessons and culminates by giving the girls the opportunity to participate in a non- competitive 5k running event. Training for the girls will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. for 12 weeks, with the season beginning the week of September 10 No, I think everything Yes, I’m always con- No, I’m not even No, I’m not concerned Yes and no. No, and ending December 6. The team will participate in the OUC 5k in will be just fine. It’s cerned about hurri- thinking about that really, but if it upsets because I didn’t Orlando on Sat., Dec. 1. like whatever hap- canes to a certain because I have too the convention, I’ll be know there was a Cost is $130 per girl, and includes a pens, happens. extent; you have to be many other things to happy. hurricane out there T-shirt, participation in the certified H ILDA EMPERADO aware. If it seems like worry about right RON EMPERADO and yes because 5K, certificates and awards, curricu- CLERMONT CLERMONT it will be posing a now. there’s always some lum, handouts, other GOTR fees, and BRANDON PEREIRA threat as it gets closer, worry with hurri- snacks for the girls after school. CLERMONT we’ll get prepared fur- canes since they can Financial assistance may be provided ther. ruin some of our upon completion of the application E VELYN ROSE houses and our trees. process online. CLERMONT JANNAI MARTIN Visit www.gotrorlando.org or con- GROVELAND tact Kathy Smith at Groveland Elementary School at 352-429-2472 for information. to care for the center’s gar- to use my imagination,” equip them to be more inde- FACILITY den. This opportunity pro- Smith said. pendent and do things for LEESBURG CONTINUED FROM A1 vides Building Blocks clients Smith is one of the students themselves and their fami- an opportunity to develop who receives a small scholar- lies,” case worker and South Lake Pro Wrestling for disabled kids at LSCC Some of the courses offered marketable job skills. ship to attend the center. instructor Sandy Castor said. by the center’s job skills The puppetry class, which Building Blocks was awarded “The Building Blocks pro- See the return of the Bounty training program include involves a large puppet the- a grant from the Community grams lift their self esteem Hunters, Venom, The Rednecks, Raz, clerical, computers, retail, ater students stand behind Foundation of South Lake to and makes them feel better Moco Loco and others at this event, 6 woodworking and dressing while manning their 3-foot assist clients who must pay about themselves and their p.m., Saturday at Lake Sumter for success. Life Skills train- high puppets, was forced to privately to attend the Center hope for living.” Community College, U.S. Highway ing includes budgeting, com- operate in the open air — while they remain on the “You can’t help but fall in love 441 in Leesburg. puters, cooking, language practically outside. Medicaid Waiver waitlist. with the big smiles on their General admission to the event is arts, health and nutrition, In the new facility, the sewing, Dennis Gromak, 69, one of faces when they know they’ve $10, age 10 and under free with funds independent living, fitness recycling and crafting class- the center’s oldest students, accomplished something.” raised benefiting the Miracle and community awareness. A rooms are huge and the pup- takes the computer classes in Because of that, Castor said, Baseball League for disabled and few other classes, sewing, pet theatre has its own room — hopes of “getting out of his “the more room the better for handicapped kids. arts and crafts, recycling and inside — where students can apartment” and securing a job. as many programs as we can Participants are subject to change. puppetry are also offered. In maneuver the puppets. For Gromak, who gets offer.” For tickets and information, contact the old facility, those class- For Judith Smith, 26, one of around with the help of a Building Blocks Ministries Joe Woods at 352-404-3807 or David rooms were so cramped that the center’s clients, that’s walker, the new building Learning Center’s hours are Harbor at 352-308-1098. attendees barely had enough great news since one of her means an easier time getting Monday through Friday from space to spread out and work favorite things in life, she said, in, out and about.