Lake County prepares for its second collegiate golf championship this week

Only three days after Conference USA named its golf champion (University of Central Florida) at a Lake County golf course, the community is welcoming the men’s golf teams from the Atlantic 10 Conference for the 32^nd Annual Golf Championship on April 30-May 2 at the Mission Inn Resort & Club, located at 10400 County Road 48 in Howey-in-the-Hills.

“Hosting two major collegiate golf tournaments in a week raises the visibility of Lake County as a Central Florida vacation destination,” said Greg Mihalic, Director of Lake County Tourism & Business Relations. “In addition, these championship tournaments bring tremendous support to local jobs in the tourism, hospitality and service industries.”

Mission Inn Resort & Club is hosting the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men's Golf Championship.

According to the Atlantic-10 Conference  Web site (www.atlantic10.com), The [Charlotte] 49ers are vying to become the first A-10 program to win five consecutive golf titles since Penn State won five straight crowns from 1986-91. Leading the way for Charlotte is 2009 individual champion and three-time All-American Corey Nagy, who was recently named to the 2010 U.S. Palmer Cup Team.”

Other schools from the Conference include University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, George Washington University, La Salle University, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph’s University, Saint Louis University, Temple University and Xavier University.

The three-day tournament includes 18 holes of competition on Friday, Saturday and Monday with the first tee times scheduled for 8 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men’s Golf Championship, as admission is free.

“We are excited to help bring the Atlantic-10 Conference championship to Lake County,” said Sam Stark, President of the Central Florida Sports Commission. “Hosting two collegiate championships in one week says a lot about the quality of golf courses in Lake County.”

For more information about the 2010 Atlantic 10 Men’s Golf Championship, call Jon Baran, Lake County Marketing Manager at the Central Florida Sports Commission, at 407-648-4900 ext. 21, e-mail jbaran@centralfloridasports.org or log on to www.lakecountysports.org. For more information about Lake County vacations, call (800) 430-LAKE, log on to www.lakecountyfl.com or visit the Welcome Center, located at 20763 U.S. Highway 27 in Groveland.

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Lake County Welcome Center to celebrate National Tourism Week on May 14

To celebrate National Tourism Week, Lake County Tourism & Business Relations will host Lake County Tourism Day on Friday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lake County Welcome Center, located at 20763 U.S. Highway 27, Groveland.

Lake County residents and visitors are encouraged to attend this event, as it will include presentations by local tourism businesses, free handouts, refreshments and information about Lake County’s tourism industry. Tourism Day includes participation from the following businesses:

• A Hitch N’ Time in Mount Dora — Free carriage rides and information
• Central Florida Nature Adventures in Eustis — Kayaking presentation and display
• Land of Green Ginger Alpacas in Eustis — Alpacas will be available to pet and observe
• Segway of Central Florida in Mount Dora — Presentation of the Segways
• Showcase of Citrus in Clermont — Display available with samples and brochures
• World Wakeboard Center in Groveland — Display available with brochures
• Yalaha Country Bakery — Fresh-baked goods to sample

The past year, Lake County Tourism & Business Relations has been busy introducing new initiatives to help spur the local tourism economy. Some of these new projects include the online trip planner at www.lakecountyfl.com, an updated Lake County Vacation Guide, Weddings & Celebrations Guide, wedding planner at www.weddingsinlake.com, Lake County Tourism blog at http://lakecountyfl.wordpress.com and a discount VIP Vacation Card.

“We also worked to promote the location of the Lake County Welcome Center,” said Debi Dyer, Lake County Tourism Specialist. “State Sen. Carey Baker was instrumental in helping us get signs placed on Florida’s Turnpike directing motorists to the Welcome Center. In addition, new art work at the Welcome Center was donated to us by a local artist.”

For more information about Lake County Tourism Day, call Debi Dyer at (352) 429-3673 or log on to www.lakecountyfl.com.

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Park rangers to host birdwatching surveys on Fri. & Sat.

The Lake County Parks & Trails Division is seeking a few experienced bird-watching volunteers to help conduct two bird surveys this week: Friday, April 23, at PEAR Park and Saturday, April 24, at the Ferndale Preserve.

The PEAR Park bird survey is scheduled from 7 to 10 a.m. and the park is located at 5336 University Ave., Leesburg. Park rangers are requesting volunteers to help identify local breeders, including Yellow-Throated Warbler and Summer Tanager, and northbound migrants, such as Swainson’s Thrush and Black-Throated Blue Warbler.

 The Ferndale Preserve bird survey is scheduled for 7 to 10 a.m. and the preserve is located off County Road 455 in South Lake County. According to park rangers, the preserve should be alive with gloriously colored northbound migrants, such as Summer Tanager, American Redstart and Indigo Bunting, and the songs of local resident species should be evident, including Northern Parula, Northern Cardinal and Carolina Wren.

It is recommended that volunteering birders be able to identify most common birds by sight or sound and have their own binoculars and field guides. Participants are expected to hike about 2 to 3 miles over hilly and sometimes uneven terrain. Participants are encouraged to bring water, snacks, insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat and hiking shoes.

Reservations are encouraged. Experienced bird watchers who wish to volunteer for either bird survey can call the Lake County Parks & Trails Division at (352) 253-4950 or-email parksandtrails@lakecountyfl.gov.

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Grab a fork and head to Mount Dora

The Ninth Annual Taste in Mount Dora is scheduled for Sunday, April 25, at Lake Receptions, located at 4425 Hwy 19A.

The news release from the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce is below:

9th Annual Taste in Mount Dora

Sunday, April 25th, 2010 (5:00-8 pm)

The Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce participation by 14 of the area’s finest restaurants and caterers in the 9th Annual Taste in Mount Dora located this year at Lake Receptions located at 4425 Hwy 19A, Mount Dora.

The past several years this event has sold out. We have sold 200+ tickets with a maximum of 500 to be served. Come enjoy yourself and indulge in a bevy of spectacular food, fabulous music and socializing.

Here is just a small sample of some of the menu items to tempt your taste buds:

• Tortellini Pavarotti
• Black Beans & Yellow Rice
• Smoked Duck Quesadilla
• Eggplant Rollatine
• Rack of Lamb with Rosemary Guinness Reduction
• Chicken Francese
• Pollo Asado
• Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
• Cannoli
• Chocolate Croissants

Live entertainment featuring: Cohen/Shooker Duet

Cash bar

To indulge in the FULL experience, CALL NOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS

352-383-2165

$35 ADVANCE/$40 at the Door Serviced Tables $50 each

Credit cards accepted

LIMITED SEATING

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Orange you glad there’s another podcast?

It’s difficult to think of Florida without recalling its most recognizable crop, the orange. Travel down any highway in Florida and you are bound to see a roadside stand of citrus.

Ever see a citrus stand on steroids? Well, at The Showcase of Citrus in Clermont, customers can not only select fresh citrus from the stand but they can also pick their own citrus, enjoy outdoor fun on a working ranch and ride a huge swamp buggy through a gator-filled swamp.

Open since 1961, the Showcase has been a prominent point along the hilly terrain of U.S. Highway 27. The highway serves as a major tourism gateway to Central Florida’s theme parks. Sunshine State visitors frequently stop at The Showcase to pick their own citrus or purchase pre-packed fruit. A map in the grove conveniently illustrates what fruit is in season and where it grows within the grove.

Check out Lake County Tourism & Business Relations’ 25^th installment in its podcast series about The Showcase of Citrus. For a complete listing of all podcasts, log on to www.lakecountyfl.gov/enjoying_lake_county/podcasts.aspx.

For more information about The Showcase of Citrus, (352) 352-394-4377 or log on to www.showcaseofcitrus.com

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Conference USA men’s golf teams to converge in Lake County for championship

Lake County Tourism & Business Relations and the Central Florida Sports Commission will be welcoming the men’s golf teams from Conference USA for the 2010 Men’s Golf Championship on April 25-27 at the RedTail Golf Club, located at 26026 Member Lane in Sorrento.

“An event like the Conference USA Men’s Golf Championship is significant in terms of the visibility it brings to our community and the tremendous direct and indirect economic impact it generates for Lake County,” said Greg Mihalic, Director of Lake County Tourism & Business Relations.

The defending C-USA Champion, the University of Central Florida, is hosting the tournament. Other schools from the Conference include East Carolina University, University of Houston, Marshall University, University of Memphis, Rice University, Southern Methodist University, University of Southern Mississippi, Tulane University, University of Tulsa, University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of Texas at El Paso.

“We are thrilled to bring the Conference USA championship to Lake County,” said Sam Stark, President of the Central Florida Sports Commission. “It gives Lake County another opportunity to show what a great place it is for collegiate sporting events.”

The three-day tournament includes 18 holes of competition on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with the first tee times scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Playing partners for the first day will be determined by a blind draw. For every succeeding round, team scores will determine pairings.

The winner gains the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. The top individual finisher at the championship will be the individual champion and the top five finishers will be the All-Tournament team. The first and second place teams will receive trophies and the first place team will receive individual awards.

The public is encouraged to attend the C-USA Championship, as admission is free. For more information about the 2010 C-USA Men’s Golf Championship, call Jon Baran, Lake County Marketing Manager at the Central Florida Sports Commission, at 407-648-4900 ext. 21, e-mail jbaran@orlandosports.org or log on to www.lakecountysports.org. For more information about Lake County vacations, call (800) 430-LAKE, log on to www.lakecountyfl.com or visit the Welcome Center, located at 20763 U.S. Highway 27 in Groveland.

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Something new is popping at Lake County Welcome Center

Bev Soltysiak samples the Lake County Welcome Center's popcorn.

The Lake County Welcome Center, located at 20763 U.S. Highway 27 in Groveland, recently introduced free popcorn for visitors.

The tourism facility opened in 1992 at the front entrance of the Christopher C. Ford Commerce Park, which houses 25 major businesses. The Welcome Center is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Welcome Center is an information resource for visitors and residents alike, where guests can find many brochures regarding antiquing, shopping, golfing, sightseeing, lake cruises as well as many other exciting and fun things to do in Lake County. The Welcome Center also offers free Wi-Fi access and Florida state maps.

In August 2009, the Welcome Center unveiled a new computer kiosk to assist vacationers in accessing the Internet to make hotel reservations and find more information about local attractions and outdoor activities.

The new computer kiosk is a continuation of the Lake County Tourism & Business Relations Division’s effort to make it easier for vacationers to access the Internet for information. Several years ago, the Welcome Center installed free wireless Internet service (Wi-Fi) for visitors. Dozens of visitors use the wireless Internet connection each month at the Welcome Center.

In addition to helping visitors locate information about Lake County accommodations and attractions, the computer kiosk will help promote the County’s tourism Web site, www.lakecountyfl.com. Several new features were recently added to the Web site including a trip planner, video podcasts and a library of digital brochures.

For more information, call (800) 430-LAKE or log on to www.lakecountyfl.com.

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Country music fans, seaplane aficionados to celebrate this Saturday

Saturday is a big day in Tavares. The City’s Third Annual Planes, Trains and BBQ event will be the launching pad for the grand opening of Tavares’ new Seaplane Base and Marina at 1 p.m.

Saturday is also a big day for country music fans. To commemorate its millions of dollars investment in the Seaplane Base and Marina and even rebranding itself as “America’s Seaplane City,” Tavares is welcoming Restless Heart and Little Texas to Wooton Park from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Country music band Little Texas will be performing at Wooton Park from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 10. (Photo by Jeremy Cowart)

Restless Heart is well known for its blockbuster 1986 album “Wheels,” which produced four straight Number One country hits: “That Rock Won’t Roll,” “I’ll Still Be Loving You,” “Why Does It Have to Be (Wrong or Right)” and the title track. Little Texas has reached similar success, but, at least to this writer, will always be known best for its smash hit “God Blessed Texas.” The chorus of the song is downright infectious:

‘Cause God blessed Texas with His own hand
Brought down angels from the promised land
Gave ‘em a place where they could dance
If you wanna see heaven brother here’s your chance
I’ve been sent to spread the message
God blessed Texas

Event details from the City of Tavares:

2010 Planes, Trains & BBQ

Tavares Seaplane Base & Marina Grand Opening!

Friday, April 9

• 12 pm – 7pm Guns and Hoses Competition (Pork and Chicken)
• 5pm -10pm Vending to Public
• 6pm Anything But Competition
• 6pm Turn in for Guns and Hoses Competition
• 7pm Awards for Guns and Hoses Competition
• 8pm -9:30pm Jim Van Fleet live Band

Saturday, April 10

• 9am – 6pm Water Taxi Service between Tavares & Mount Dora
• 10am-9pm Splash Park Open
• 10am -9pm Planes Trains and BBQ Festival Open to Public
• 10am -4pm Quilt Exhibit at City Hall
• 10am -4pm Model Train Display at City Hall
• 10am – 5pm Robbery Train Rides
• 10am -4pm Classic Car Show & DJ on Main Street
• 11am Air Show
• 1pm Seaplane Basin & Marina Dedication
• 3pm Second Air Show
• 3pm People’s Choice Barbecue Tasting
• 6 pm Sanctioned BBQ Awards Ceremony at New Gazebo by Splash Park
• 7-10pm Headliner Bands -Restless Heart and Little Texas

Note: Local bands will play throughout the day in the Wooton Park gazebo.

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Symphony to play tonight with heavy hearts

Message from the Tavares Chamber of Commerce:

It is with a sad heart that I report that Guy Saint-Clair of the Florida Lakes Symphony has passed. To celebrate his life, the concerts will continue tonight and tomorrow night as scheduled.

The Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra is in its fifth season. Based in Lake County, the not-for-profit orchestra features 60 professional musicians from all over the world who live in Florida. Internationally acclaimed composer and pianist Guy Saint-Clair, who has recorded with the London Symphony, founded the orchestra.

 Guy Saint-Clair’s wife, Audrey, would like for the show to go on tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Patrick Catholic Church of Mount Dora, located at 6803 Old Highway 441, and tomorrow evening at The Wesley Center of the First United Methodist Church of Clermont, located at 950 Seventh St.

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Lake County Fair opens tonight

With someone with a name like Happy running the show, it’s hard to imagine how a family couldn’t have a joyful experience at the 89^th Annual Lake County Fair.

Fair manager Happy Norris uses a simple formula to keep families coming back to the annual county fair.

“That’s one thing we strive not to get away from is the focus on the family,” he said. “It’s a place where you’d feel comfortable to bring your kids and have fun.”

Norris is the third generation in his family to be involved with organizing the fair, which is held for 10 days beginning on the first Thursday in April at the Lake County Fairgrounds, located at 2101 County Road 452 in Eustis.

“When I was kid, I volunteered at the fair and I realized there were so many aspects to the fair,” he said. “I learned that it takes all these things to make it work.”

Some of the components of the annual fair include the carnival, booths, live entertainment, creative arts, horticulture displays and livestock shows. The best part of a fair is everyone has his or her favorite element.

“I enjoy seeing the 4-H and FFA kids showing their livestock,” Norris said. “As the manager, I also like seeing the little kids having a ball running around here with cotton candy in one hand and a prize in the other.”

Another important facet of a County fair is the presentations and shows. The Lake County Fair features several interesting shows including a comedy safari and firefighter show.

“One of the big things about a County fair is education, and it’s not always educating about agriculture,” said Norris, citing the fire safety show as an example.

The Lake County Fair ends April 17. Admission prices are $7 for adults and $3 for children between ages 6- 11. Children under age 5 are free. Deals include a $1 ticket sale on Sunday and a two-for-one ticket special on Monday. Bring a canned good every day, except for Sunday, to receive a $1 discount. Typical Hours of the fair are Monday-Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 10 p.m.

For more information, call (352) 357-7111 or log on to www.lakecofair.com.

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