The Clermont Citrus Tower, located on US-27 and Citrus Tower Boulevard, celebrated a milestone 70^th Anniversary on Sunday, June 14^th, complete with an abundance of family-friendly fun that included complimentary rides to the top of the Central Florida icon.

Guest speakers included Tuskegee Airman Daniel Keel, Florida’s Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, Lake County Commissioners Leslie Campione and Sean Parks, Clermont Police Chief John Grazcyk, Minneola Mayor Pam Serviss, Former Citrus Tower owner Greg Homan and Citrus Tower founding family member Will Thacker.

One special attendee who has seen many changes to the Citrus Tower was Clermont resident Mac Jones. Mr. Jones has been a continuous employee of the Citrus Tower since 1972 when he was employed as a full-time maintenance man and groundskeeper. Mr. Jones began his career with the Citrus Tower at a time when visitors could see a “miniature flea circus” complete with circus pieces and a miniature “big top” tent that had highwire acts and dancing clowns. Mr. Jones has eased off the hustle and bustle of work life a bit by working only 3.5 days a week now instead of 5. “I have slowed down a little bit lately, but I still enjoy working here,” says Mr. Jones.  

Will Thacker, the son of the original visionary, A.W. Thacker, provided an informational history of how it all began in 1952. Clermont remained a sleepy little town with plenty of vacant land available for growth and dreams for those that dared to venture into new business ideas. Long before Walt Disney set his eyes on swamp land and private homesteads in the area, Florida’s biggest tourist attractions were far and few in between, and did not include the Lake County area at all.

During the time when US-27 was a two-lane highway and considered to be the backbone for vacationers headed south, land in the Clermont area could be purchased for $10.00 an acre for undeveloped property in that part of town.

Thacker’s original idea was born with the urging of friends to build an observation tower like that of the fire watch towers that were common in Central Florida at the time. Thacker climbed a tall pine tree that was located on the property to catch a glimpse of what that view would be like from the treetop. “I remember dad descending from the tree with misty eyes,” says Will Thacker, the elder Thacker’s son.  “He claimed that he had something in his eyes but I’m sure that the view is what teared him up,” says Will, who was seven years old at the time.  The elder Thacker commented that, “the rows of orange trees, and how they were placed in perfect lines, adorned the surrounding hills and slopes leading down to Jack’s Lake and as far as the eye could see.”

Construction on the new tower would begin in June of 1955 with completion in July of 1956 – a construction miracle for the times. Designed to withstand 190 mile per hour winds, the tower shaft is 26 feet square and contains 5 million pounds of concrete and 149,000 pounds of reinforcing steel. The spectacular tower rises to a height of more than 200 feet, or 543 feet above sea level, the highest observation point in the state. At the peak of the citrus industry in Florida, the observation point provided a view of over 2,000 square miles of citrus trees and lakes.  

When opened for business in 1956, the Citrus Tower had three observation decks – two of which were glass enclosed and one deck – a crow’s nest. The ground floor included a large elevator lobby, gift shop and a post office counter. A Schulmerich “Arlington 61” carillon (bell-chime system) was installed soon after the tower was built but eventually was replaced by an automatic mechanism that has now, unfortunately been silenced.  Early years also included the addition of a glass blower, a candy shop, citrus for sale, ice cream parlor, marmalade house and a cookie and nut store.

Fast forward six plus decades to a time when Florida’s infamous citrus industry has all but disappeared and one must look with diligence for any trace of Clermont’s rich history in the surrounding area. Explosive growth and overwhelming traffic have replaced the rolling hills of citrus trees and nearby pioneering businesses, but with all the changes, you will still see the iconic Citrus Tower standing proudly on top of the tallest hill in Central Florida. It is hard to miss the bright white tower that still stands strong and wears her bright orange stripes with statesmanship and pride.  

While time has changed the purpose of the Citrus Tower to some degree, the tower and present-day businesses in the Citrus Tower remain open for returning locals and visiting curiosity seekers alike. Greg Homan, a native of Clermont, owned the Citrus Tower for 27 years before selling it in 2022. Greg once spoke of the tremendous pride that he and his family felt in being a part of the Citrus Towers exciting history. The Homan family also created the original “Light Up-Citrus Tower” family-friendly festivities several years ago. The festivities, which take place over the Christmas and Hannukah holidays, remain in place today with activities for children and adults alike.

The Citrus Tower and surrounding buildings were sold in September 2022 to Simchat Torah Beit Midrash (STBM), a non-profit organization recognized worldwide that is led by Rabbi Ralph and Maureen Messer. The organization promotes biblical education and the Hebraic roots of Christian faith.

As with each new owner in the past, STBM have made improvements and upgrades to the Citrus Tower campus since taking ownership. A popular restaurant, Guavate Puerto Rican Eatery and Bistro is located in the main lobby of the Citrus Tower and is open on Wednesday through Sunday of each week. The Citrus Coffee Company, also located in the main lobby, offers a wide variety of coffee blends, and lattes, along with delicious pastries. A large room that has served in the past as a restaurant, a gift shop and most recently, an arcade, has been transformed into an elegantly decorated banquet hall available for weddings, corporate events, anniversaries and other social events.

With all the excitement and banner of the day, a deep need that can only be seen from the observatory platform of the Citrus Tower lingered in the minds of STBM staff. The original roof that is now 70 years old needs to be replaced. With an estimated replacement cost of $850,000, the owners are reaching out to the public and other community organizations for assistance. Another summer rainy season is on the horizon, and leaks have become a big issue for the tower roof and one of the back buildings. Raffles and fundraisers were established at the celebration, but more help is needed.  Local family business Blue Star donated a $18,000 roof raffle ticket for sale with all of the funds raised being donated back to the Citrus Tower for the new roof purchase.

If you would like to donate to the new roof project, please visit https://GoFundMe.com/f/help-replace-the-roof-on-the-iconic-citrus-tower

Please visit https://CitrusTower.com for more general information and hours of operation.

The post The Clermont Citrus Tower Celebrates Its 70th Anniversary appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Ministry Camp Programs are now in progress involving students and coaches from all local South Lake County colleges, universities, high schools and middle schools.

Each camp event will share comprehensive athletic, spiritual and leadership training as a very positive life-changing experience. These inspirational summer camp programs have been designed to celebrate local athletic youth through a commitment to integrity, community service, teamwork, and excellence. They proudly shared their ministry with the FCA Mission, Vision, and Core Values. Registration is still open for their late June to July 2026 summer camps, including the FCA Champions Camp, Charge Camp, Coaches Family Camp and the Florida Leadership Camp. For needy families, FCA students can earn camp scholarships.

FCA Area Director, Tim Hancock noted, ” Our FCA Champions Camps are designed to help our coaches and our student athletes to be Champions for Christ on and off their field of competition. This year’s FCA camps theme is ‘Proven’. We are working to help our students learn what it looks like to go from proving their own worth to be proven in Jesus.”

The first one-day camp was held at the Family Christian Center in Clermont, FL. This camp was designed for young students. This diverse program had 116 student athletes attend with numerous inspiring prayers, motivating breakout discussion groups, tiger ball team competition, indoor Olympic games, ‘slamma jamma’ cheering, coaches’ sessions and motivating presentations led by Tim Hancock, Khalil ‘Tuck’ Tucket, Katrina Cox, Amanda Palomares, Pastor Hector Ilarraza, Pastor Bobby Crespo and the Family Christian Worship Band. The speakers shared interactive themes about how to lead a better life, how to stay connected to Jesus, how to build your own identity with cultivated connections, obedience and joy. Palomares shared, “What we choose in our lives matters. You need to learn how to plant the seeds for your future growth. It’s always a great time to read your bibles to learn from the scriptures, so you can get a head start on your life by learning the best lessons and ways.”

The June 4 to 7 FCA Camp was a 3-day experience was held at the Lake Yale Conference Center, Leesburg, for all FCA coaches and their families. They shared how coaches spend their valuable time and energy focused on all of their young FCA students. This camp was aimed at providing their FCA coaches, their spouses, and children with a weekend getaway spend quality time together through fellowship, competition, worship, and huddles, with some free time to grow their relationships with the Lord, their families, local FCA staff, and peers. 

June 22-26, 2026 FCA Charge Camp & Donor Night: This 3-day camp will be hosted at Southeastern University, in Lakeland. This camp is now full.

July 3-6, 2026 FCA Florida Leadership Camp: This 4-day program will be held at Camp Lake Swan in Melrose, FL for incoming 6^th graders to graduating 12^th graders. There will be a huddle specifically designed to equip and ready each student for their college experience. This camp is only $375 per student and $150 per adult. Registration cutoff is June 14.

July 2026 — FCA Football Camp: With 20 participating teams from across Central Florida, FCA will help each team in their pre-season preparations on how to best launch their most successful new football seasons.

FCA has developed an inspired community that works with their students and coaches to see the world transformed in a very positive manner through shared Christianity. Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ programs strive to help their participating students to be inspired to become better individuals and teammates. They work to consistently engage, equip and empower everyone to achieve success through their ministry. FCA Coaches travel to each of the South Lake schools while coaching, teaching, and instructing student athletes. FCA Leadership Huddles are held regularly year-round to encourage athletes, coaches, and campuses to live and compete using biblical principles through the platform of athletic competition.

For more information about South Lake County of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, visit: www.SouthLakeCountyFCA.org. For more information and to register online for the FCA Camps, visit: https://www.southlakecountyfca.org/summer-camp. Volunteers, donors and sponsors are always appreciated. Follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/southlakecountyfca.

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Smith was taken into custody during a coordinated operation at 1130 Linton Court, Unit A, the same location where the homicide occurred on May 20, 2026. The arrest was completed without incident, and Smith was transported to the Lake County Jail, where he was booked on a charge of First-Degree Murder.

The investigation began on May 20, when Clermont Police officers responded to reports of a shooting at the residence. Upon arrival, officers discovered Rodriguez, 47, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside the home. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to investigators, Rodriguez, a close associate of Smith, had been staying at the residence for several weeks prior to the shooting. During the initial investigation, detectives recovered the suspected murder weapon—an AR-style pistol chambered in .223/5.56 caliber.

Smith was detained and interviewed by detectives on the evening of the incident. During that interview, he claimed he had acted in self-defense following a verbal altercation with Rodriguez earlier in the day. At the time, investigators had not identified witnesses or obtained evidence sufficient to contradict Smith’s account. As a result, Smith was released while detectives continued their investigation.

Over the following weeks, Clermont Police detectives conducted an extensive investigation that included numerous interviews, the execution of multiple search warrants, and the issuance of several subpoenas. Working closely with the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit, investigators pursued additional leads and analyzed forensic evidence.

As the investigation progressed, detectives developed probable cause to believe the shooting was not justified. Based on the evidence gathered, an arrest warrant was issued charging Smith with First-Degree Murder under Florida Statute 782.04(1)(a)(1).

Smith was arrested and remains in custody pending further judicial proceedings. Rodriguez’s next of kin have been notified.

The post Self-Defense Claim Unravels: Clermont Man Arrested for Murder in Fatal Shooting appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

For the high school baseball world within Lake County, it is hard to say “play ball” without thinking about Coach Kerry Whetro and his lifetime of dedication to America’s favorite pastime and hundreds of high school athletes that he has had the opportunity to not only coach, but also mentor in a way that only a hometown-style coach can do.

Coach Whetro officially wrapped up a 42-year career at the closure of this school year. A career that would include a move to Florida from Ohio and 600+ total baseball game wins. Coach Whetro speaks with fondness regarding his childhood memories that would eventually lead to his lifetime of commitment to youth baseball coaching. “My dad, Hal, was a big influence on my life and my interest in baseball. My dad was a referee, umpire, and Little League coach for 50 years in our small and very rural hometown of Edgerton, Ohio,” says Coach Whetro.

The Coach recalls family vacations every year that included traveling to the Little League World Series. “I was playing little league myself then, so the trips were very exciting. We had the opportunity to meet baseball greats such as Tommy John (also known as the Bionic Man), Pete Rose, and Cal Ripken (also known as the Iron Man), while at the World Series,” says Coach Whetro.

Credit was also given to Coach Whetro’s school math teacher and baseball coach when he was growing up. Coach Peverly was not only a coach but a man who took the extra step in helping his players and his students. “He taught me a lot, about a lot of things. Mr. Peverly’s math skills taught me how to use protractors and calculate dimensions such as square footage and yards,” says Coach Whetro. Those skills would eventually help Coach Whetro to lay out the brand new and first baseball field at East Ridge High School in 2003.

From the early days of volunteering at the local recreation department in Edgerton during his early teen years, Coach Whetro would go on to play high school baseball before graduating high school and then earn his first degree in physical education at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio. He would later earn his master’s degree in education leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University, where he also helped coach a local Little League team. “Edgerton was a small farm town with little to offer long term – the only way out for kids graduating high school was sports or college,” says Coach Whetro.

When asked about memorable moments, Coach Whetro credited his hometown environment for his determination and unwillingness to give up on things that seemed impossible. “I was raised in a small community with a single small school, kindergarten through 12^th grade, and the small towns in Ohio were very judgmental about their local sports,” says Whetro. The coach recalls one such time when a rumor reached him outlining the opinion of a few parents that the team he was coaching at the time would never win a game due to the team’s size and small selection of talent to choose from within the town. Coach Whetro recalls, with a spirited smile, that the team not only won a majority of its games that year, but also advanced to the state finals that season. “We were only one pitch away from advancing to the final 4 that season – a little disappointed but the team, and parents were very pleased with the season,” says Coach Whetro.

For the next 14 years, Coach Whetro would teach elementary physical education and middle school math, as well as coach high school baseball at his hometown school in Edgerton. During that time, Coach Whetro was named coach of the All-Ohio Baseball Team in 1997. “I really enjoyed teaching just as much as I did coaching, especially when I got to see a kid go to college and make their dreams come true – a sentiment that continued through my entire career,” says Coach Whetro.

Life would lead to a brand-new opportunity for Coach Whetro and his wife, Paula, when the couple made the move to Florida in 1999. The family was truly travelling to Florida on spiritual faith, as the future was not certain, but the feeling of “a calling” was. Coach Whetro’s wife was working on a plan to create what would later become Building Blocks Ministries, an assistance program for adults with disabilities in south Lake County. This dream became a success and is still in operation today. Coach Whetro, at the same time, had been interviewed by phone with success and acceptance for a teaching position at the brand-new Windy Hill Middle School in Clermont. He began his Florida baseball coaching career at South Lake High School.

In 2003, Coach Whetro was asked to take on the Varsity Coaching position and set up the new baseball field at East Ridge High School. Coach Whetro led the school’s first baseball team to an 18-14 season. The team, which had no senior class that year, played in the regional final, making it to the final 8 in the state. The team was also the district runner-up that year.

The next year, Coach Whetro transferred to South Lake High School, where he enjoyed 9 continuous years of coaching with an impressive record of 175 wins against 92 losses, including one regional appearance in the final 16 and 1 district championship.

In 2019, Coach Whetro would make his final move to Lake Minneola High School, where records would be set, and young lives would receive opportunities that could make dreams come true. With a compilation of 169 wins vs 60 losses and one district runner-up, Coach Whetro also led the hard-working team to 7 district championships and 7 regional appearances. The team also finished in the Sweet-16 three times – a school record. One regional finals appearance also set a school record for the team advancing to the state playoffs.

Coach Whetro maintains an impressive career history, but he is quick to acknowledge the successes of students off the field as well as on. Sixty team players from Lake Minneola High School went on to attend college after graduating high school during Coach Whetro’s watch of 22 seasons. “It is harder for students/team players in Florida because there are so many kids here that are really good at playing baseball. Their work ethic is strong, and they are determined. I saw many half-day students attend workouts hours before ball practice began. Kids here care about their future and their present,” says Coach Whetro.

To many who know Coach Whetro, that determination and desire reflect not only his coaching abilities but his personality as well. Former Lake Minneola High School Principal Linda Shephard Miller – Mama Hawk, is quoted as saying in a 2021 Daily Commercialinterview honoring Coach Kerry Whetro’s 500^th win, “that she considered hiring Coach Kerry Whetro as one of the best decisions that she’s ever made for the school’s athletic program.”

One of Coach Whetro’s traits was his ability to communicate the word of God to students and players when they approached him with spiritual questions. “I couldn’t approach them, but if they approached me, I could share the word of God without preaching scripture. There are ways to do that without causing problems – referring to the public-school policies of church and state,” says Coach Whetro. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes would often hold pregame devotions and post-game prayer for those who wanted to participate.

Coach Whetro attributes his success to family, especially his wife Paula, who has remained at his side from the beginning of their marriage. His other coaching assistants include daughter Lora, son Bryan, daughter-in-law Veronica, and three grandchildren, Sophia, Wyatt, and Savannah.

What’s next for Coach Whetro, one might ask. It likely is not a couch and remote control as Coach Whetro and his wife continue their ministry of preaching the gospel in the Clermont area. The coach enjoys helping and watching his grandson Wyatt’s baseball team in Eustis. The couple enjoys vegetable gardening and is researching fun ways to grow food. The couple is also active members of the Kiwanis Club of Clermont, and Paula remains an active founding board member of the Building Blocks, the organization that she founded.

The staff at South Lake Tablet sincerely thanks you, Coach, for your many years of service to youth and community. We wish you and your family the best in your next chapter of life.

(Photos obtained from Coach Whetro)

The post Coach Kerry Whetro Retires After A Fulfilling 42-Year Career appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Join us for a Jurassic Expedition; A one-of-a-kind dinosaur encounter on Friday, June 19 at 11am at the Minneola City Hall Gym at 800 US-Hwy 27. This experience features two baby animatronic dinosaurs, guided by two professional dinosaur trainers, creating an immersive and memorable encounter for kids.

The program includes a Dinosaur Lab where students are introduced to age-appropriate concepts related to paleontology, fossils, and dinosaur behavior in an engaging, interactive format. Kids will rotate through eight fossil dig stations, allowing for small-group participation and hands-on discovery, while also enjoying three dinosaur themed activity stations.

Each participant will receive dinosaur trading cards and bookmarks as educational takeaways to extend the learning beyond the event.

This library’s Summer Reading Program (SRP) is FREE for all ages thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Minneola Library. The library is located at 302 West Pearl Street in Minneola.

For more information email jdix@minneola.us or call Josie Dix at the library at (352) 432-3921.

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Want to learn what plants to put in your garden to attract more pollinators? Find out all that and more when you join butterfly expert Marc Minno on a 2-hour nature hike to increase our awareness of the natural world around us. By sharpening our powers of observation and interpretation, we will see nature in a new light by observing the things that are “hidden in plain sight,” and we will continue our monthly butterfly survey.

The butterfly surveys allow us to track monarchs and other butterflies. We’ll learn what plants we should put in our gardens to attract pollinators and birds. Gopher Tortoises, wild edible plants, insects, both friend and foe, and native plants will all be carefully studied in the natural habitat of The Florida Scrub-Jay Trail in Clermont.

Pack a brown bag lunch, binoculars, water bottle, and wear sensible shoes suitable for walking through the wilderness. Over lunch, you will have the opportunity to discuss your discoveries with Dr. Minno.

Bring your refillable water bottle as we will have plenty of water. Pack a brown bag lunch, binoculars, water bottle, and wear sensible shoes suitable for walking through the wilderness. Over lunch, you will have the opportunity to discuss your discoveries with Dr. Minno.

The post The Florida Scrub-Jay Trail: Learn The Plants To Put In Your Garden To Attract More Pollinators appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

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

The post Creating Magical Memories: The Venue Celebrates Grand Opening in Clermont appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and serves as a time to reflect on freedom, honor history, and celebrate the contributions of African Americans. Organizers say this year’s event will continue the tradition of bringing the community together in a meaningful and festive way.

Attendees can enjoy live cultural performances, a variety of food vendors, local merchants, and activities designed to celebrate the significance of Juneteenth while fostering connections among neighbors, friends, and families.

In addition to the celebration, vendor opportunities are available for artists, crafters, and merchandise sellers interested in participating. Vendor applications are currently being accepted, with a fee of $50 plus applicable taxes and fees.

The event will also feature the annual Juneteenth Essay and Poetry Contest, sponsored by the City of Clermont and the Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance. Students are encouraged to share their creativity and perspectives on the meaning of Juneteenth through original essays and poems.

The contest is open to students in three age groups:

• Kindergarten through 5th Grade
• 6th through 8th Grade
• 9th through 12th Grade

The submission deadline for the contest is June 15, 2026.

Organizers hope the contest will inspire young people to reflect on the importance of freedom, history, and community while giving them a platform to express their voices.

Applications for both vendors and contest participants are available online. Additional information can be found on the City of Clermont’s Juneteenth webpage.

As Clermont marks its fifth annual Juneteenth celebration, community leaders encourage residents to attend, learn, and celebrate together during an evening dedicated to honoring the past while looking toward the future.

Community members are invited to bring their families and join in a celebration of freedom, culture, and community spirit.

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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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