Located across from Guru Indian Restaurant, The Venue is Clermont’s newest premier event destination, offering an elegant indoor banquet area and outdoor patio space designed for a wide variety of occasions. The facility is available for all kinds of magical memories from private parties to  community fundraisers. The spacious indoor hall accommodates approximately 170 guests and features table seating, a dance floor, staging areas for entertainment. The outdoor patio provides an inviting setting for pre-dinner cocktails, networking receptions, and social gatherings.  

The Venue

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Available cuisine options include Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Caribbean, Asian, Indian, Latin American, traditional American, and many other multicultural selections. Menus can be adapted to accommodate dietary needs and special requests.

The Venue team assists with event setup, service, and teardown, allowing hosts to focus on their guests and celebrations. 

Prospective clients are invited to schedule a private tour with family members, event planners, and vendors. Walkthroughs are available by appointment and include the main hall, outdoor spaces, catering areas, and behind-the-scenes operational facilities.

The Venue is located at 2400 U.S. Highway 27, Building 1-101, Clermont, FL 34711. Book your next event at https://thevenueclermont.com/

Across the patio is Guru Indian Restaurant 

Guru Indian Restaurant, located at 2400 U.S. Highway 27, Suite 101, has received awards and rave reviews for over a decade.   For takeout orders, call 352-241-9884.

For more information about The Venue, follow its Facebook page, visit its website, or contact the team to schedule a personal tour and learn more about hosting your next special event

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With June as Caribbean-American Heritage month, the Caribbean American Association of Lake County successfully hosted its 13^th annual free Clermont Caribbean Jerk Festival at Clermont Waterfront Park with plenty of delicious Caribbean foods, live entertainment, a dominoes tournament, and a Jerk Cook-Off competition. More than 10,000 people attended from all over Florida to make this the largest Caribbean festival with AdventHealth as the primary presentation sponsor.

Mitchell Hill opened the event noting, “Today, we celebrate the vibrant culture, food, music, and traditions of the Caribbean while bringing our community together in a spirit of unity and fellowship. The festival is more than great food and entertainment. It helps us support scholarships, promote cultural awareness and give back to those in need. Over the years, the association has supported humanitarian efforts beyond our local community. Following Hurricane Melissa, we partnered with ‘No Child Hungry’ to provide over 40,000 food packages to families in Jamaica.”

The opening ceremony included the American National Anthem and presentations by many South Lake County dignitaries, including Mitchell Hill, President of the CAALC, Clermont Mayor Tim Murry, Clermont City Manager Rick van Wagner, Michelle Williams acting Mayor of Minneola, and Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks. The diverse community came together to enjoy the Caribbean mix of island foods, drinks, entertainment, music, cultures, games, dance, inspiring presentations, and prayers, with many attendees dressed in colorful Caribbean colors and flags. 

Clermont Mayor Tim Murry welcomed everyone, noting, “On behalf of our Clermont City Council. city staff, community partners, and residents, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to welcome you to the annual Caribbean Jerk Festival. Today, we will celebrate much more than incredible food. We celebrate culture, heritage, family, community and the rich contributions that Caribbean Americans have made to our nation and to all of the communities throughout Central Florida. The Caribbean spirit is one of resilience, faith, hard work and joy. It is reflected in the vibrant music, colorful traditions, warm hospitality and delicious cuisine that brings people together across all backgrounds and generations. Festivals like this remind us that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. When we come together, we build stronger and more connected communities.”

The pavilion stage featured a full day of festival fun, moving speeches and live entertainment starting with music by DJ Scott Summerz, the CAALC Steel Drum Orchestra, Gilberto Ray Y Su Trombone Sound, Adrianna Clark & The Musical Seduction Band, Stacy ‘Elevated’ Wilson & The Simple Touch Band, Qupid Ray & The Force 1 Sound, as well as Sistah Lu & The Island Powerhouse Band. Attendees were dancing in the pavilion and throughout the vendor aisles to celebrate with music broadcast throughout the event grounds. There were plenty of exciting stage surprises. Many people settled in with their chairs, blankets, and umbrellas to listen, dance and sing along with the complement of reggae, rhythm, and blues entertainers. The day included their wonderful annual Caribbean Festival Flag Parade and fashion show to proudly represent each county. The Kids Zone featured pony rides, face painting, games, and a bounce house. On-site humanitarian efforts directly supporting Jamaica with Hurricane Melissa Relief Efforts, were there to collect donations.

A moment that brought joy and tears to patrons was the presentation of the Presidential Award of Excellence to Geomar Robinson. This award was presented by Anne Winston, as a representative of Advent Health as presenting sponsor and CAALC President Mitchell Hill.

Geomar was recognized as the top scholarship recipient of the CAALC scholarship program, as part of their renewed commitment to share 10 scholarships per year.

Mitchell presented a first-place People’s Choice trophy and honors for the Jerk Cook-Off Competition went to Chef Andrew Cole from Fat Chef of Minneola. A second-place trophy with honors was awarded to Chef Gene Gabrysiak of Mr. G Caribbean Flavor. Avid domino players registered for the festival competition hosted and supervised by Glen Caven, President of the North American West Indian Domino Federation (NAWIDF). First place domino competition honors were earned by Ricky Branch of Orlando with second place awarded to Keino Burke.

The Caribbean American Association of Lake County is a 501-C3 non-profit organization focused on giving back to the community while enhancing the lives of young people in our community! They generously grant annual scholarships to young Lake County students. They continue to support Jamaica from their most recent past hurricane catastrophes. They are involved in ongoing community and charitable projects to host many fun family events while promoting the diverse Caribbean culture. CAALC encourages all Lake County students to apply for scholarships as well as to participate in their Steel Drum Orchestra.

The Caribbean American Association of Lake County is located at 614 East Highway 50, Suite #251 in Clermont.. For additional information cCall 352-978-0813 or email: CAALC2004@GMail.com.

The next Clermont Caribbean Jerk Festival will again be held on June 5, 2027 at Clermont Waterfront Park in Clermont.

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The Clermont Police Department hosted the 2^nd Annual Teen Summit on Thursday, June 4th at the Clermont Police station. The evening summit was structured around the dangers of vaping, smoking tobacco and other illicit substances that are geared towards youth and young adults.  

Clermont Police Captain Rob Corbett and Corporal Uziel Dubi led the way in introducing safety tips, awareness methods, and state statutes that are intended to educate parents and youth alike regarding the marketing trickery used in luring “new customers” to the unhealthy world of vaping and smoking.

One of the topics included not only the health risks associated with vaping but also the potential discipline repercussions if caught vaping on school properties. Penalties that can include suspension- even for a first offense, expulsion for repeat violations or possession of large quantities of vape materials, and disciplinary records that can follow- affecting college applications, and scholarships. And finally, schools are required to report violations to law enforcement, that in turn, can issue a civil citation that may require a court appearance, community service time or other punishment.  

How to quit information was shared for those that may already be vaping. In a recent medical survey, it was reported that e-cigarette and vaping use led to over 2800 hospitalizations and 68 deaths in a one-year period. The State of Florida offers several programs that are geared toward teen help in quitting.

• Florida: Live Vape Free- Text “VAPEFREE” to 873373 for information on Florida’s free support line. Free, confidential, and built for teens.
• This is Quitting- Text “DITCHVAPE” to 88709 for information on the Truth Initiatives quit program designed specifically for young people.
• Smokefree Teen- Download the “quitStart” app or join text programs at smokefree.gov for free tools, tips, and motivation on your phone.

To complete the informative evening, the police department provided a presentation with one of its four-legged public servants, K9 Mack. K9 Mack is a beautiful and well-trained German Shepard/Mai mix that is 4 years old. Ofc. Mack was purchased in 2022 and immediately began training in tracking, narcotics, building/area searches, apprehension and handler protection. Mack is State of Florida certified through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and is a fulltime and valuable member of the Clermont Police Department under the loving and professional care of Ofc. Kevin Guy.

The police department Is providing several youth-oriented community events during the school summer-break session. Schedules and contact information can be found on the department’s Facebook page, Clermont Police Department (FL) or by calling 352-394-5588.

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The Clermont Garden’s Club goals are to educate its members about their relationship to horticulture, conservation, and the environment & community. To meet this goal, the Clermont Garden Club performed various services within the local community including at Minneola Place and Head Start of Clermont. 

Minneola Place, located on South Main St. in Minneola FL, is an assisted living facility that provides full-time care for ~18-22 residents. In this program year, Clermont Garden Club members prepared and delivered gifts to the residents during the winter holiday, and then again in spring. In winter, personal mini decorated Christmas trees were distributed to brighten each resident’s room. Additionally, each resident received a gift of a mug with edible treats, plus a gift bag with personal toiletries. In spring, the Garden Club prepared floral Easter baskets for the facility’s dining area, and gifted games (dominoes and bingo) to the residents. Also throughout the growing season, Clermont Garden Club members helped beautify the grounds at Minneola Place by installing flowering plants for the residence to enjoy, ensuring that weeds are kept at bay and the flowers are adequately irrigated.

 Head Start is a free program for children (ages 3-5) of low income families, providing child care and comprehensive early learning at the facility located at E. Desoto St., Clermont FL. In the fall, 

Head Start held a festival and the Clermont Garden Club participated by hosting an activity table where children “got their hands dirty” and potted a flowering plant to give to someone special at home. In the spring, Club members led a craft session where the children made bird feeders using pinecone, peanut butter and bird seeds. Also in spring, Club members beautified the exterior of Head Start by clearing and installing flowers and plants in garden beds. Throughout the year, the Clermont Garden Club also purchased and donated flower/garden related books for the classrooms at Head Start. Club members came during the school day to interact and read the books to children. 

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The program, offered in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), provides an objective assessment of a facility’s capabilities and verifies that a hospital has the expertise, equipment and resources in place for a patient’s specific needs and risk level. The hospital underwent a comprehensive on-site review to verify the level of care provided.

As a Level 1 facility, Orlando Health South Lake Hospital has demonstrated it can care for low to moderate-risk pregnancies, detect, stabilize and initiate management of unanticipated maternal-fetal or neonatal challenges that occur throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period until the patient can be transferred to a facility where specialized maternity care is available.

“Parents and families place their wholehearted trust in us during one of the most important and pivotal moments of their lives,” said Lance Sewell, president, Orlando Health South Lake Hospital. “This designation reinforces that we have the expertise and resources to meet their needs, respond to the unexpected and deliver exceptional care for our Lake County community for generations to come.”

Orlando Health South Lake Hospital Center for Women and Babies, part of Orlando Health Women’s Institute, offers total, trusted care for women, from pre-pregnancy through post-partum care. Board-certified obstetricians delivering at the hospital care for both moms and babies before, during and after delivery. Nurses and lactation consultants also offer the support and resources moms need to be successful.

As the trusted community hospital in South Lake County, Orlando Health South Lake Hospital has provided healthcare to residents for more than 75 years. It is also the only Leapfrog Group A-rated hospital in Lake County.

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Kingdom Sushi has officially opened its doors, bringing an exciting all-you-can-eat sushi experience that may just set a new standard for sushi dining in Lake County.

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From the moment you walk in, Kingdom Sushi delivers more than just a meal—it offers a culinary adventure. The elegant and modern atmosphere creates the perfect setting for a casual lunch, date night, family dinner, or celebration with friends. Whether you’re a sushi enthusiast or just beginning to explore Japanese cuisine, there’s something on the menu to tempt every palate.

The extensive menu features an impressive selection of freshly prepared sushi rolls, sashimi, nigiri, appetizers, and traditional Japanese specialties. Guests can choose the popular all-you-can-eat option and sample an endless variety of flavors, or order à la carte from the menu and enjoy their personal favorites.

Every plate arrives beautifully presented, showcasing fresh ingredients, vibrant colors, and the artistry that makes sushi such a memorable dining experience. From classic rolls to creative specialty creations, each bite offers a delightful combination of texture and flavor.

While the food and overall dining experience were enjoyable, I believe Kingdom Sushi could further enhance its atmosphere by incorporating traditional Japanese background music throughout the restaurant. The addition of culturally inspired music would help immerse guests in the experience and create a stronger connection to the cuisine being served.

I would also enjoy seeing more visible elements of Japanese culture reflected throughout the restaurant, whether through décor, cultural displays, or team members who can share knowledge about Japanese cuisine and traditions. These touches could help create an even more authentic and memorable dining experience for guests.

If you’re looking for a place where your taste buds can embark on an unforgettable journey, Kingdom Sushi deserves a spot at the top of your dining list.

Kingdom Sushi is located at 1391 Citrus Tower Blvd (formally Ellie Lou’s BBQ) For more information, visit Kingdom Sushi website, or call (352) 988-5046.

 

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Orlando Health South Lake Hospital, along with Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center and Orlando Health Air Care, today presented Lake County Fire Rescue, Clermont Fire Department and Minneola Fire Department with awards honoring their service.

During a special ceremony held at Clermont Arts and Recreation Center, Orlando Health South Lake Hospital presented Phoenix Awards for two separate patients, which recognize lifesaving events involving the resuscitation of a patient before arriving at the emergency room. The patient must be discharged without neurological complications.

The first Phoenix Award was given to responders from Lake County Fire Rescue and Minneola Fire Department. They are Jacob Schulte, Joshua Leonard, Drake Reuter, Angelo Santos and Steven Carrero-Sierra. A lifesaver award was also given to the patient’s daughter, who performed CPR on the patient just days after becoming certified.

The second Phoenix Award was given to responders from Lake County Fire Rescue and Clermont Fire Department. They are Ian Badowski, Josiah Hook, Eric Gullikson, Dean Luginbuhl, Carolina Sermini, Jonathan Fagan, Randall West and Zachary Woolgar.

Roseanne Laffer, 911 operator, took both calls and received both Phoenix Awards as well. She was recognized for providing life-saving instructions that directly impacted the patients’ outcomes.

“Our emergency medical services partners respond with skill, courage, and unwavering commitment during some of the most critical moments in people’s lives,” said Lance Sewell, president, Orlando Health South Lake Hospital. “We are proud to recognize their extraordinary service and deeply thank them for the crucial role they play daily in preserving the health and safety of our community.”

Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center, along with Orlando Health Air Care and Our Legacy, also presented an award to responders from Lake County Fire Rescue. They are Andrew Boris, Cameron Gegelman, John Sieg, Kyndra Knebush and Edgardo Castellanos.

(Photos Provided by Lake County)

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Since the late 1980s, the Kiwanis Club of Clermont has honored the patriotics laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery by placing a United States flag at each gravesite. What began as a small community gesture has grown into one of South Lake County’s most treasured patriotic traditions.

On the morning of Saturday, May 23, Clermont residents Chuck Seaver and Greg Amann joined fellow club members, Key Club students, and community volunteers at Oak Hill Cemetery to continue the heartfelt mission. 

Today, 561 known gravesites were recognized. 

A lifelong Clermont resident, Seaver has spent years overseeing the labor-intensive effort of identifying gravesites, maintaining records, organizing volunteers, and ensuring every flag is respectfully placed. He often refers to the project as his “labor of love.”

According to Seaver, the tradition began more than 40 years ago when his grandfather, Oakley Seaver, and great-aunt, Nelle Seaver, walked the cemetery grounds themselves, carefully locating and documenting the graves of veterans. Together, they created the original cemetery map still used as the foundation for today’s flag placements.

As the project expanded over the years, Oakley Seaver — himself a Clermont Kiwanian — asked the Kiwanis Club to carry the tradition forward.

In 2018, the tribute grew once again when the club began recognizing first responders in addition to military veterans, honoring the men and women who dedicated their lives to protecting the community.

Placing more than 560 flags throughout Oak Hill Cemetery is no small undertaking. Throughout the year, Seaver continuously updates the database, verifies gravesites, and coordinates volunteers to ensure no hero is overlooked. During the weeks surrounding Memorial Day and Veterans Day, he is often seen walking the cemetery grounds, checking that every flag remains standing proudly.

This Memorial Day, the flags will remain displayed through May 30, creating a peaceful and patriotic atmosphere throughout the historic cemetery. Residents are encouraged to take a quiet drive or walk through Oak Hill Cemetery and reflect on the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who served both country and community.

The Kiwanis Club also extended its appreciation to the many volunteers who helped place the flags this year, including students from South Lake High School, First Academy-Leesburg, and Real Life Christian Academy.

Special thanks were also given to the City of Clermont for its continued support of the decades-old tradition.

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, began in the years following the Civil War and officially became a federal holiday in 1971. Observed on the last Monday in May, the holiday honors the men and women who died while serving in the United States military.

Community members who believe a loved one may have been unintentionally omitted from the cemetery maps are encouraged to contact the Kiwanis Club so the records can continue to be updated and preserved for future generations.

Oak Hill Cemetery is located on East Avenue, directly off Highway 50 in Clermont. This week, as hundreds of American flags wave gently in the breeze, visitors are invited to pause, remember, and honor the heroes whose legacy continues to live on through this enduring Clermont tradition.

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