LovExtension works with individuals they serve at Christmas time to identify needed items on their Christmas “wish lists.” For the fifth consecutive year, Clerk’s Office employees gathered gifts on the list and assembled gift bags containing items such as clothing, bedding, and cookware.

To provide additional support, the office also held a bake sale, which resulted in a monetary donation of $1,600 to help fund LovExtension’s mission.

“Every year, it warms my heart to see the incredible thoughtfulness and compassion our Clerk family shares to brighten someone’s Christmas,” said Gary Cooney, Clerk and Comptroller. “We always look forward to supporting Linda, a former deputy clerk, in her honorable mission to serve the less fortunate members of our community.”

LovExtension, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization whose volunteers serve to improve the lives of local residents by providing social and well-being visits to those who do not have much support, in addition to distributing donated items and supplies to those in need.

For more information on volunteering or donating to LovExtension, visit www.LovExtension.com.

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“Abuse comes in many different forms, and often adults are not the only ones affected. Unfortunately, children witness abuse, and can be displaced from their homes with nothing but the clothes on their back,” said Gary Cooney, Lake County Clerk & Comptroller. “This is our fourth year of gathering donations, and our focus this year was on the community’s smallest victims who are seeking comfort and assistance.”

The stuffed animals collected were donated to the Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties, which was established in 1977 to meet the needs of victims of domestic violence. In its 40+ years of existence, Haven has expanded its base of services and now provides comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence and sexual violence.

Last year, the Lake County Clerk’s Office processed 1,213 petitions for domestic violence injunctions. The office also joined a statewide initiative to provide Hope Cards to victims who are issued a final judgment for an injunction for protection. The Hope Card serves as proof of a valid protective order, enabling law enforcement and other authorities to quickly access relevant case information. Persons seeking an injunction may contact the Injunctions Office at 352-742-6625.

If you are the victim of domestic violence, contact the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 500-1119 or contact local law enforcement.

For more information about Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc., visit their website at www.havenlakesumter.org, or to make a donation, visit their Leesburg Outreach office at 2600 South St., Leesburg.

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“We’re excited to offer a more robust and comprehensive website for our customers,” said Gary Cooney, Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. “A lot of time was spent reviewing all aspects of the site to ensure access to the information needed is available to conduct business with our office.”

The new website also features a new address –www.LakeCountyClerkFL.gov.

“While the current .ORG website address redirects you to our new website, having a .GOV domain provides greater security since all .GOV domains are controlled by the federal government,” said Cooney. “Residents can have better assurance that they are dealing with an official government entity when visiting our site.”

Key features of the new website include:

• Mobile-Responsive Design: Seamless browsing experience on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
• Streamlined Navigation: Easy access to information through a simplified menu structure.
• Updated Content: New and enhanced content across all pages.

To explore the new website, visit www.LakeCountyClerkFL.gov. Those who have direct bookmarks to pages on the former website will need to update their bookmarks to the corresponding pages on the new website.

For the latest news and information from the Clerk’s Office, follow them at Facebook:@LakeClerk and at X: @LakeClerk.

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LovExtension worked with individuals they serve to identify needed items on their Christmas “wish lists.” The Clerk’s Office employees gathered gifts on the list and assembled gift bags containing items such as clothing, bedding, and cookware.

Wanting to provide additional support, the office also held a bake sale and other fundraisers during the year, which resulted in a monetary donation of $1,600 to help with LovExtension’s mission.

“Supporting Linda, who is also ” a former deputy clerk, and her honorable mission for our community is something we look forward to every year,” said Gary Cooney, Clerk and Comptroller. “It is always heartwarming to see the generous amount of thought and care taken by our Clerk family to ensure that someone’s Christmas will be a bit brighter.”

LovExtension, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) whose volunteers serve to improve life for local residents by providing social and well-being visits for those who do not have much support and distributing donated items and supplies to those in need.

For more information on volunteering or donating to LovExtension, visit www.LovExtension.com.

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LovExtension worked with those they support to identify a small, but impactful needed item on their Christmas “wish list.” Staff from the Clerk’s Office teamed up to gather gifts on the list, along with some additional comfort items.

In total, the employees assembled 50 gift bags for individuals containing personalized cards, a box of treats, and items such as clothing, bedding, and cookware. In addition, the office held a bake sale, which resulted in a monetary donation of $1,000 for LovExtension.

Linda Krupski, founder of LovExtension, along with representatives from the organization joined the Clerk’s Office as they presented the items.

“It is heartwarming to see the generosity of our Clerk family, and the amount of thought and care they took to ensure that someone’s Christmas will be a bit brighter,” said Gary Cooney, Clerk & Comptroller. “Supporting Linda, who also is a former Deputy Clerk, and what she is doing for our community is something we are very proud of, and we hope others will do the same.”

LovExtension, Inc. is a 501(c)(3), whose volunteers serve to improve life for local residents by providing social and well-being visits for those who do not have much support, in addition to distributing donated items and supplies to those in need. For more information on volunteering or donating to LovExtension, visit www.lovextension.com.

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The closure includes the Lake County Courthouse, 550 W. Main St., Tavares, the Records Storage Facility, 313 S. Bloxham Ave., Tavares, the South Lake Branch Office, 290 Citrus Tower Blvd., Suite 116, Clermont, and the North Lake Branch Office, 902 Avenida Central, The Villages.

To make an online payment for most fees and fines owed for traffic and criminal cases, visit www.LakeCountyClerk.org/CLERKPay.

For those looking to make a next-business-day payment, submit documents for recording, or deliver court documents for filing, the Clerk’s Office offers convenient drop-box locations for these services, which are available 24/7. Drop-boxes are located in the following three areas:

• Downtown Tavares (at the Guardian Ad Litem/Veterans Services Building)
  418 W. Alfred St., Tavares
  Pickup Time: 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays)
• Leesburg (near the Lake County Tax Collector’s Office)
  1720 N. Citrus Blvd., Leesburg
  Pickup Time: 10:30 a.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays)
• Clermont (behind the Citrus Tower Village Publix Shopping Center)
  290 Citrus Tower Blvd., Suite 116, Clermont
  Pickup Time: 10:45 a.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays)

Items may also be mailed to the Lake County Clerk’s Office at P.O. Box 7800, Tavares, FL 32778. Please allow ample time for delivery and processing. For a list of available online services, visit www.LakeCountyClerk.org/Clerk_of_Court/Remote_Services.aspx.

The Clerk’s Office will resume operations on Monday, Nov. 29.

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The newly-established annual Best Practices Excellence Program evaluates and recognizes Clerks’ professional standards in the following areas: bail bond forfeitures, compliance services, confidential judicial records, guardianship audits, marriage licenses, recording fundamentals, and service of pro se documents.

Lake County was one of 18 counties across the state to receive recognition in all seven categories.

“Our office has a broad range of duties that we perform as part of our statutory responsibilities,” said Gary Cooney, Clerk & Comptroller. “I am thankful for my team’s commitment to performing these duties consistently and professionally, resulting in this recognition.”

The program was created by the statewide nonprofit association to recognize Clerks throughout Florida who complete assessments that evaluate each office’s acceptance of certain best practices.

To learn more about the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, visit www.LakeCountyClerk.org.

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“Our Budget Officer, Kevin McDonald, does an excellent job in working with the departments during the lengthy and meticulous task of preparing the annual budget,” said Gary Cooney, Lake County Clerk and Comptroller. “Not only are his efforts recognized and appreciated within our office, but it is reflected in this honor from the GFOA.”

The award is given only if nationally-recognized guidelines are met. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device.

According to the GFOA, “the award represents a significant achievement, and reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.”

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