Román was completely unaware of the viral local effort to find him because it was a full day for him -- classes at school, appearing in the Homecoming Parade, being in the Homecoming Court followed by playing in the big varsity football game.   It wasn’t until after the homecoming game that Bryant informed the star- player about the intense social media search for him. 
 
Román and Bryant agreed meet with Mount Dora Buzz yesterday at the school for what they thought was just a photo, but they didn’t know surprises were planned for both of them.  The most emotional surprise was that Lobato was also there. The good Samaritan and Lobato immediately shared a few heartwarming hugs as Lobato thanked him again for his kindness and handed him a card.   

Next up, Román was presented with the gift card from Mount Dora Buzz, as well as a swag bag with gift cards from six different downtown Mount Dora business (Barrel of Books & Games, Las Palmas, Olive Branch Mediterranean Grill, Magical Meat Boutique, Le Petit Sweet and Serendipity Coffee) whose owners immediately jumped in to reward the teen’s good character.  Bryant, a devoted parent and dedicated sports mom, was also given a surprise gift card from Papilio downtown for her extraordinary job raising a thoughtful young man.  

Those surprises were really just the tip of the iceberg.  The big reveal came when Austin Guenther of G3 Development was introduced and presented Román with a $1000 scholarship for his strong character and good grades (see video).  Both mother and son were, of course, shocked and grateful.  

Román no doubt has a bright future.  Not only is the fun-loving student enrolled in honors classes, but he is also a stellar athlete.  He has played multiple sports every year since he was 4-years-old and is currently a standout football, soccer, and baseball player at Mount Dora High School.  Earlier this year Román was named the Daily Commercial’s Soccer Player of the Year.  

Mount Dora High School varsity football coach Frank Scott nicknamed Román  “Mr. Do-it-All” because of the five positions he plays - wide receiver, cornerback, kicker, punter, and quarterback.  Scott describes him as a consistent leader on and off the field who always shows up on time with a great attitude.  ​

Lake County residents know they dodged a devastating bullet and have seen the heartbreaking decimation Hurricane Dorian did to The Bahamas.  Fortunately, Florida residents have hurricane supplies on-hand and there are immediate ways to donate those supplies, along with others, to people in need on the islands.
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Here are three effective ways to help now:

During summer break, some disadvantaged children miss the breakfasts and lunches they depend on at school.  To help close the childhood hunger gap, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) ensures that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals at Summer BreakSpots when school is not in session. 

Summer BreakSpot provides nutritious meals at no cost to children 18 and younger while school is out for the summer.

​Many meal sites are located at schools, parks, libraries and churches  where children receive the free meals in a safe and supervised environment.  Summer BreakSpot sites offer breakfasts, lunches, snacks and/or supper at specified times. The program is federally-funded, state-administered, and run by qualified sponsors.  

Click on list above to enlarge and find more locations here.  At most sites, no application is necessary.

Sign up for the free Mount Dora Buzz' monthly updates  here.     For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  ​​​

After selling all of their toys--boats, vintage cars, trailers---the Purvees used the proceeds to fund construction of a Crazy Plants Nursery greenhouse in 2017.  To goal was to grow the exotic plants needed to feed the growing number of animals. Now the conservancy hosts plant sale fundraisers throughout the year to help fund the vet bills, daily care and enclosures the animals require.  One local small business, Hometown Market in Eustis, helps by providing the facility steeply discounted produce and additional donations are always needed.

Crazy Critters Inc. does not provide tours to the public, but more information on the conservancy is available here.  Sign up for the free Mount Dora Buzz' monthly updates  here.     For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  ​

​The courage of Mabel Norris Reese might have been forgotten had it not been for “Devil in the Grove,” Gilbert King's Pulitzer Prize-winning book that recounted a tragedy that occurred in Lake County, Florida, in 1949.

Reese's fierce pursuit of the truth began when four black suspects, known as The Groveland Four,  were accused of a raping a white woman.  The suspects were victims of the time -- and victims of Lake County’s callous  Sheriff Willis McCall. One of the Four, Ernest Green, was killed by a posse before he could stand trial. The others, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd, and Charles Greenlee, were imprisoned and brutally tortured by McCall and his deputies to coerce confessions.  McCall was elected to seven consecutive terms as sheriff from 1944 to 1972,

Reese, owner and editor of the small town newspaper, the Mount Dora Topic, initially sided with McCall. But when he murdered Sammy Shepherd and wounded Walter Irvin while claiming the handcuffed prisoners had tried to escape, Reese realized she had been an unwitting accomplice in his reign of terror. 

Despite threats to her life that included the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) detonating two bombs at her home, burning a cross in her lawn, poisoning her dog, and launching a rival newspaper to drive her out of business, she spent the remainder of her career dedicated to holding the corrupt sheriff, deputies, judges, and attorneys to task. She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her persistent attempts to gain justice for the Platts, a local family whose children were suspected of being "negroes" and were therefore forced out of Mount Dora's public schools. 

Despite McCall's wrath, she continued to write articles in support of the two surviving Groveland Boys until they were released from prison. Concurrently, she continued to write articles and form alliances with politicians and attorneys to find justice for Jesse Daniels, a mentally disabled 19-year old who spent fourteen years in the state hospital for the insane after McCall, with the aid of local judges and attorneys, framed him for rape.  Daniels was the subject of the book, “Beneath a Ruthless Sun,” also written by King.

Through the persistent efforts of their families, as well as evidence presented by authors Gilbert King and Gary Corsair and the support of politicians and private citizens seeking justice, The Groveland Four were pardoned posthumously by the State of Florida on January 11,  2019 -- 70 years after their arrests.

Two decades before his death in 1994, McCall lost his re-election bid for an eighth term after being acquitted of the murder in 1972 of Tommy J. Vickers, a mentally disabled black prisoner who died in his custody.

Reese was inducted into the Lake County Women’s Hall of Fame in late 2018.  "She was a trailblazer. She devoted her life to doing what was right at such a great cost to her, and it is right she be commended,” said King, author of “Devil in the Grove.”

Now the author and others in the community have set up the Mabel Norris Reese Tribute Fund for the public's assistance to pay for the creation of a bust of Reese.  The sculpture will be on public display in Mount Dora to honor the courage of a woman who couldn't be intimidated, and to remind the observer that the written word, conveyed to the public by a free press, can bring justice to unjust situations. 

Anyone wishing to donate to the memorial fund can do so here.  For more news and events in Mount Dora, Tavares & Eustis, visit the area's website and download the area's free mobile app.  Free subscriptions to Mount Dora Buzz' monthly updates are available here.