Sound of Money up Publicly Against the Former Lake County Sand Mine
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PRSRT-STD SPORTS: FSU’s Postal Customer U.S. Postage Aurora Davis becoming Clermont, FL Paid 34711 Clermont, FL ‘Queen of Sand’ Permit #280 SEE PAGE B1 REMEMBER WHEN | C1 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014 www.southlakepress.com 50¢ NEWSTAND CLERMONT Locals fight proposed sand mine at meeting ROXANNE BROWN | Staff Writer According to Cler- [email protected] mont City Councilman More than 100 people Ray Goodgame, if Ce- turned out last week to mex is granted a zon- fight the development ing change for the sand of a 1,196-acre sand and gravel operation, it mine outside Clermont. could doom the 16,000- Organizers said the acre Wellness Way Sec- meeting’s intent was to tor Plan, an area where kick off the formation county officials envi- of what they’ve dubbed sion companies with “The South Lake Citi- high-paying jobs in the BRETT LE BLANC / DAILY COMMERCIAL zen’s Coalition,” a group medical field. of locals they hope will “If we let a sand mine Chip Simpson, a 58-year-old salesman at Gator Harley-Davidson in Leesburg rearranges motorcycles on the showroom come in and destroy floor in preparation for Bikefest on Friday. John Malik Jr., owner of Gator Harley, said he expects to sell about 60 band together to rep- motorcycles over the Bikefest weekend. resent common views the sector plan, we’d be when it comes to causes ashamed of ourselves,” LEESBURG that could impact res- Goodgame said during idents and their com- the meeting. munities. In this case, The Clermont City organizers are ask- Council and City Man- ing citizens to stand ager Darren Gray, a Sound of money up publicly against the former Lake County sand mine. SEE CEMEX | A5 For merchants, the roar of motorcycles means profit THERESA CAMPBELL and dler IV offered the TAVARES AUSTIN FULLER | Staff Writers example of a biker [email protected] spending money at a School Board will abolish hen 100,000 bik- restaurant. The direct ers and visi- benefit to the restau- lenient grading system tors descend on rant multiplies as the W owners pay their sup- downtown Leesburg LIVI STANFORD | Staff Writer this week for the 18th pliers and employ- [email protected] annual Bikefest, it will ees, who in turn spend be big and colorful and their extra income in Minimum scores of 50 on report cards and indi- the community. vidual school assignments appear to be ending in loud. In other words, it “So, every time it gets Lake County. re-spent, that’s called School Board members agreed to those changes won’t be everyone’s ideal weekend along the ripple effect, or the when they tentatively approved modifications to multiplier, however the Student Progression Plan last week. Final ap- what is usually a qui- you want to say it. And proval of the plan comes back before the board at et stretch of Main then what happens is, a public hearing tentatively set for May 12. Street known more for you get a little leak- A recent report shared with School Board mem- its quaint brick cross- age each time, which bers found the majority of county schools do walks, soft background is why it doesn’t keep not give students scores of less than 50 on report music and tortoise THERESA CAMPBELL / DAILY COMMERCIAL going on for infinity,” cards, which are sent home after each nine-week speed limit than for the Joyce Huey of Two Old Hags shows the special red wine grading period. thunder of Harleys. In- Chandler said. — Sweet Ride — that was ordered with the Bikefest crowd A survey of 378 visi- SEE GRADES | A5 deed, some of down- in mind. town Leesburg’s mer- tors for the 2012 Bike- chants will close shop that few other events fest conducted by INSIDE and leave town for the can. TouchPoll of South event. Bikefest organizers Florida revealed that CLASSIFIED D1 and local economic de- the average total ex- But for merchants towners and applying Clermont, FL Permit No. 280 CROSSWORDS C2 who are intrepid velopment experts es- penditure per visitor U.S. POSTAGE PAID U.S. POSTAGE presort standard mail a complex “multipli- REAL ESTATE E1 enough to stay open timate the impact of was $987.17. er” that assumes every According to the sur- REMEMBER WHEN C1 and creative enough the three-day event to find a product niche at roughly $100 mil- dollar spent radiates vey, 30 percent of out- SPORTS B1 that appeals to this lion, a number they throughout the com- of-town guests spent VOICES A4 non-traditional cli- derive by multiplying munity. an average of $330.67 WORD ON THE STREET A2 entele, Bikefest is a the projected atten- Lake County Eco- on local lodging. The chance to stuff their dance by the per capi- nomic Development average spent on SOUTH LAKE cash registers in a way ta spending by out-of- Director Robert Chan- SEE BIKEFEST | A2 PRESS VOLUME 99, NO. 17 MONEY ROLLING IN 5 SECTIONS Lake County officials estimate the total economic impact of Bikefest at roughly $100 million based on data ©2008, Halifax Media Group gathered from the 2012 Bikefest TouchPoll of South Florida survey. Among the findings of the survey: All rights reserved www. southlakepress.com $987.17 $173 $140 43% 21% 14% Average Average spent Average spent Merchants who Merchants Merchants expenditure on food and on gifts and close during reporting no reporting a per visitor drinks merchandise Bikefest negative impact negative impact A2 SOUTH LAKE PRESS Wednesday, April 23, 2014 What south Lake residents are saying about ... Area Briefs CLERMONT Wordon the CHICKENS Bras for the Cause and Street Do you feel local governments should Boxers Too is Saturday allow chickens in residential areas. Real men do wear bras when they are firefighters supporting the Greater Clermont Cancer Foundation’s 7th annual Bras for the Cause and Boxers Too on Saturday at Heritage Hills in Clermont. Igniting Hope is the theme for the event this year and it will be an evening of fun and food. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. To design a bra for this event or be a sponsor call Kay Simpson at 352-435-3202. The Greater Clermont Cancer foun- Yes, for personal use Absolutely yes, with I think that would be It depends - chickens or dation receives funds raised from this only, with a special permit minimal guidelines. Six fine with the proper reg- roosters, because roost- event for the community. and a limit of six. I have is plenty to provide the ulations. If it’s done, it ers are annoying. There’s Go to www.brasforthecauseandbox- no problem with people family, and most owners should be done proper- smell and flies. They can erstoo.com for details. growing their own eggs, are logical, conscientious ly, in a sanitary manner. have that stuff in the and chicken poop is good caretakers of their flocks. It shouldn’t be any differ- country, but not the city. CLERMONT fertilizer for your garden. Probably in most neigh- ent than someone having BILLY REED East Ridge High to BONNIE RAY borhoods, no roosters. a pot bellied pig as a pet. MASCOTTE CLERMONT CHUCK ARNONE BILL OLSEN present ‘The Last 5 Years’ CLERMONT TAVARES This musical about New Yorker’s who fall in and out of love over the course of five years will be performed BIKEFEST by the East Ridge High theater de- partment at 7 p.m., Thursday through FROM PAGE A1 Saturday. Tickets are $8 and doors will open at transportation, including 6:30 p.m. at the Barn, 13322 Excalibur gas, rental cars and park- Road in Clermont. ing was $214.31 per visi- Seating is limited to 60 people per tor. There was an average performance and reservations are of $173 per visitor spent encouraged. on food and drinks, an To reserve tickets, email Vince Santo average of $129 per vis- at [email protected]. itor spent on entertain- ment, and an average of GROVELAND $140 per visitor spent on gifts and merchandise. Arbor Day tree planting Michael Vassell, the event is set for Friday general manager of Hol- iday Inn Express Hotel & Celebrate Arbor Day by planting a Suites in Tavares, said the scrub oak from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on 73-room hotel is booked Friday at Lake Thomas Cove Park, for the event, and it book- 3020 Thomas Cove Dr., in Groveland. ings for next year’s event For information, call 352-253-4950, generally start in ear- BRETT LE BLANC / DAILY COMMERCIAL email parksandtrails@lakecountyfl. nest right after the cur- Harley-Davidson motorcycles sit on the showroom floor at Gator Harley-Davidson in Leesburg. gov or go to www.lakecountyfl.gov. rent year’s Bikefest con- we have never had any little money,” said Felton, Poll survey of local mer- cludes. He said it is the issues or any problems who is making up to 100 chants, 43 percent close CLERMONT biggest booking event for with any our bikers, ever.” bars of beer soap, which during the event. Congregation Sinai golf the year. Huey expects to take in was a big hit last year. “I Kim Sovercool, own- A standard room nor- $10,000 in beer and wine found out that beer it- er Michael’s Couture Hair tournament registration open mally goes for $101 to a sales, and she said a spe- self, because of the hop, Salon, closes her shop be- Registration is open for this third $125, but during Bikefest cial bottle of red wine – has extra antioxidants, so cause her regular clients annual golf tournament, sponsored that goes up to $150 be- Sweet Ride – is a big hit it’s actually very good for have no place to park.