Desaray Asay, a volunteer for the Mount Dora High School Agriculture Department and Future Farmers of America (FFA) for more than 12 years, was one of three finalists for statewide recognition as Florida’s Volunteer of the Year, bringing Mount Dora High its third major personnel recognition this school year. 

First, Mount Dora High Principal Marlene Straughan was named Lake County Principal of the Year. Then, Mount Dora High Agriscience teacher Cindy Bellamy was named Lake County Teacher of the Year. Finally, Asay was named a finalist for the state award. The award ultimately went to Jennifer Thacker of Santa Rosa County Schools, according to an announcement from the Florida Department of Education, but Lake County Schools and the Education Foundation of Lake County still celebrated Asay with a surprise visit to the school last week.

As a volunteer with the school’s Agriculture Department, Asay helps students with speech writing and preparation for FFA career development contests and state and national competitions. She serves as the FFA Alumni and Boosters president, and has helped set up events and build multiple haunted house fundraisers. She runs the annual Agriculture Family Fun Day, Chili Cook-Off, pumpkin patch sales and the animal exhibit day. She also helps with more than 100 volunteers at the Mount Dora 5K, Twilight Run and Half Marathon, proceeds from which help sponsor the school’s FFA and Agriculture students.

“Anywhere there is an Agriculture event, project, contest, program, etc., Desaray Asay is there to assist in any way possible,” her nomination form reads. “She has affected the lives of our current 330 Agriculture students. However, in reality she has reached the entire school’s student body in all of her support, guidance, and mentoring. All of Mount Dora High’s students and teachers know she is there for them and they can count on her to assist and volunteer for anything they need. She never asks for any compensation but gives abundantly from her own resources. She truly is the volunteer of a lifetime!”

For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, this month, click here.  Discover the area's online entertainment calendar here. Also download the area's free mobile app. ​

Once again, Santa has taken note that historic Mount Dora is arguably the best little Christmas town in Florida and for kids there is no place better to be during the holiday season.   Eustis and Tavares also turn on massive amounts of Christmas charm, so there are plenty of fun opportunities for Santa encounters in all three cities. 

In addition to the Santa photo ops at the Light Up events in Eustis and Mount Dora, he will also be in downtown Mount Dora for free photos on Dec. 1 from 6 p.m. in Sunset Park near the musical Christmas tree during the annual Christmas Walk. While you're there, check Mount Dora Marina's impressive holiday lights display at the waterfront.

Next up for Santa sightings are the small-town Christmas parades on December 2 in downtown Mount Dora (10 a.m.) and downtown Tavares (5:30 p.m.).

The big jolly guy also makes his festive presence known during his 3-night Mount Dora Santa Tour throughout the city's neighborhoods on December 4, 6 and 7.  Kids can listen for the sound of loud sirens announcing Santa's visit as he is escorted by a motorcade of Mount Dora's first responders and elves. The nightly tour routes start at 7 p.m. and the routes are available here. 

RELATED:  Find local events on the Local Entertainment Calendar

Every Friday night after Thanksgiving and until December 22, kids can also see Santa at the Snow Flakes on the Lake event in downtown Eustis' Feran Park.  The family can also enjoy 10 minutes of snow flurries every half an hour until 9 p.m.  
 
Santa is also a well-known dog lover and will be visiting downtown's Piglet's Pantry at 400 N. Donnelly Street for photo ops with fur babies.   The $20 sitting fee is donated to a local animal rescue organization.

RELATED:  Holiday Event Guide for Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis

Even the shyest kids have a fun way to connect with Santa in Mount Dora.  All children can drop their letters to Santa in his custom red mailbox sitting alongside a quiet Mount Dora street lined with historic cottages.  Mrs. Claus personally replies to all letters that are received early enough and that include a return address.  The mailbox is located at 201 W. 11th Avenue.
 ​​
For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, click here and follow Mount Dora Buzz on Facebook.  For local things to do, click here and for the area's free mobile app, click here. ​​​

The Lake County Animal Shelter, in collaboration with Best Friends Animal Society, is inviting the community to participate in National Adoption Weekend. During the event, the shelter will waive adoption fees from Friday, July 22 to Sunday, July 24.

Include the Lake County Animal Shelter in your weekend plans and come meet amazing shelter pets looking to find a forever best friend. The shelter is located at 12280 County Road 448 in Tavares. It is open Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Adoptions include spay or neuter services, initial vaccinations, microchip, personalized ID tag and a lifetime of love.

Best Friends Animal Society began in 1984 and is the nation’s largest sanctuary for homeless pets providing adoption, spay/neuter, and education programs. Spanning 30 years of services dedicated to finding homes for shelter pets and advocating for the no-kill movement, they are honored to work together with the Lake County Animal Shelter to help homeless pets in the community find a loving home.

Visit https://bit.ly/ShelterAdoptions to see available pets and make an appointment to visit the shelter.  For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  ​​Be sure to follow  Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram and Twitter for more local info.

The Lake County Animal Shelter has joined NBCUniversal’s “Clear the Shelters” pet adoption campaign that is taking place now through September 19. The event features fee-waived pet adoptions at the animal shelter, located at 12280 County Road 448 in Tavares.

Residents and other visitors who are interested in adopting a pet during this event are strongly encouraged to make an appointment online by visiting https://bit.ly/3sbgAzO. Walk-ins are also welcome.

“We have so many great pets waiting for homes,” said Whitney Boylston, director of the Lake County Animal Shelter. “We are excited to participate in the national adoption campaign again this year. Last year, we celebrated 275 adoptions during the event and look forward to finding loving homes for as many homeless pets as possible this year.”

The Lake County Animal Shelter experienced a nearly 30% increase in year-to-date admissions over the last year, with intake numbers rising back to pre-pandemic levels. The shelter celebrated 701 positive outcomes in July, which is more than ever in a single month. By participating in the Clear the Shelters™ adoption event, the shelter hopes to continue the trend of positive outcomes throughout the summer, which is the busiest time of the year. Residents who are unable to adopt can help by spreading the word, fostering, or donating supplies.
​
The Lake County Animal Shelter is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The shelter is closed Wednesdays and holidays.

​​Follow Mount Dora Buzz on Facebook and Instagram.  For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.

It’s a departure in Mount Dora that’s going to leave a mark. Lake Cares Food Pantry today announced that Irene O’Malley, who began as a volunteer at the group’s launch and quickly rose to lead the organization, is retiring as executive director effective December 31.

O’Malley helped open the non-profit’s doors in April 2009 by aiding clients with food stamp applications and later served on its board of directors.  In October 2010 she was appointed executive director, overseeing the daily operations, grant writing, fundraising and community collaborations.

During O’Malley’s tenure piloting the organization, Lake Cares built community partnerships with regional churches, organizations and corporations, including Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Publix, while at the same time growing its volunteer base and reach.

In her nearly 11 years at the helm, Lake Cares has doubled its volunteer brigade to approximately 200 helping hands. That active team empowered the food pantry to grow from serving a couple of dozen families a week in its early days to supporting some 325 families weekly by distributing more than 108,000 pounds of food each month.   The food pantry’s clientele is largely composed of disabled individuals, seniors, and working-age families.

“Over the years, Irene has built Lake Cares into a major force in changing lives for the better in Lake County,” said Dave Krepcho, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. “Her indelible fingerprints will remain on the organization and on the countless people who have been helped.”

Prior to being named executive director at Lake Cares, O’Malley attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and for 25 years designed men's and women's clothes. She poured that creativity into fashioning public awareness campaigns for Lake Cares, such as the “canstruction” art display — 15,966 nonperishable food items turned into messaging about food insecurity — and the recent jewelry raffles patterned after the real-life experience of 13 women as chronicled in the bestseller, “The Necklace: Thirteen Women and The Experiment That Transformed Their Lives.”

O’Malley will continue with Lake Cares while the board of directors identifies a replacement who will work alongside her while getting up to speed. The search begins May 24 and the new executive director starts September 27.  For details about the job description and to apply, visit www.LakeCares.org

​Follow Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram.  For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  ​​

Sixteen  Lake County libraries, including Mount’s Dora W.T. Bland Library, will once again offer its Food for Fines initiative to library patrons from May 1 to 31 during regular operating hours. During that time, library fines and overdue materials will be forgiven in exchange for donations of dry or canned food items and hygiene and baby products.   Each unopened, unexpired item will equate to $1 forgiven for overdue library fines.  All donations will be sent to local food banks and charities in Lake County.
 
Anyone without fines is also encouraged to donate items which will be used anonymously to help forgive another patron’s fines.   There are no limits to the number of donations per person, though library fines will not be forgiven for library items that are lost or damaged.  
 
Clearing fines, especially for children’s library cards, will allow individuals to participate in the library’s summer programs and earn prizes for reading. Summer reading keeps students engaged and active while school is out and helps build upon their academic lessons.

​Follow Mount Dora Buzz on Instagram.  For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  ​