Lake churches host Good Friday services
— First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora will have a Good Friday, “The Darkness and Light,” service at 7 p.m. March 29 in its sanctuary, 439 E. Fifth Ave. The service will feature its choir and an orchestra. It is open to people of all ages.
Details: 352-383-2005.
— Lake Eustis Christian Church, 315 E. Orange Ave., Eustis, will have a Good Friday service at 7 p.m. March 29 in its main sanctuary. The public is welcome to attend.
Details: 352-589-2235.
Easter Sunday sunrise, worship services
— Grace Bible Baptist Church, 1703 Lewis Road, Leesburg, will have its annual Easter Sunrise Service at 6:45 a.m. March 31, followed by a complimentary breakfast in its fellowship hall.
The Celebration Choir will present “Is he Worthy?” and the Rev. George Mulford, senior pastor, will deliver an Easter message during the 10:30 a.m. service.
Details: 352-326-5738.
— One Foundation Community Church of the Nazarene will host its annual community Easter sunrise Service at 6:45 a.m. March 31 at Wooton Park, 100 E. Ruby St., Tavares.
Worshippers should bring their own chairs. Registration is requested so the church can prepare enough programs to hand out.
Details: heather@onefoundation.church.
— Lake Eustis Christian Church, 315 E. Orange Ave., Eustis, will have an Easter sunrise service at 7 a.m. March 31 on its lawn, and additional Easter services at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m.
Biscuits, gravy, donuts and coffee will be served.
Details: 352-589-2235.
— Welcome Home Christian Church, 335 Tomato Hill Road, Leesburg, will have an Easter sunrise service at 7:15 a.m. March 31 and an Easter worship service at 10:30 a.m.
Breakfast will be served between the two services.
Details: 352-801-7284 or info@welcomehomechristian.com.
— First Baptist Church of Mount Dora will have an Easter sunrise service in its courtyard at 7:30 a.m. March 31, followed by worship services in its main sanctuary at 9 and 10:30 a.m. The church is located at 1000 E. First Ave.
Details: 352-385-2222.
— Easter Celebration services at First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora, 439 E. Fifth Ave., will take place at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. March 31. Worshippers are invited to bring fresh flowers to place on the resurrection cross located on the lawn before the service.
The 8 and 11 a.m. services will feature the church’s Celebration Choir and pipe organ. The 9:30 a.m. service will feature its Praise Band. Children’s ministries will be available at the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services.
Details: 352-383-2005 or mtdorafumc.org.
— First Presbyterian Church of Mount Dora will have Easter services at 9 and 11 a.m., March 31, with the latter service featuring the Orlando Brass and its Chancel Choir. The church is located at 222 W. Sixth Ave.
Details: 352-383-4089.
— Church of the Lakes will conduct Easter services at 10 a.m. March 31 in the Leesburg High School Auditorium, 1401 Yellow Jacket Way. An age-appropriate Easter service for children will also take place at the same time.
Registration is requested at cotlakes.com/ministry/lakes-kids.
Details: Info@cotlakes.com or 352-405-2825.
— The River Clermont Church will host an Easter Sunday on the Hill service at 10 a.m. March 31 at the Clermont Arts and Recreation Center, 3700 U.S. Highway 27.
In addition to celebrating Christ’s resurrection, the service will include baby dedications and an egg hunt for kids featuring 10,000 eggs.
Details: 352-243-7505 or riverclermont.com.
County clerk’s office closed on Good Friday
All offices of the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller will be closed March 29 in observance of Good Friday, including the Tavares-based Lake County Courthouse, 550 W. Main St., the Records Storage Facility, 313 S. Bloxham Ave., and the Clerk and County Finance office, 315 W. Main St.
The closure also includes the South Lake Branch Office, 290 Citrus Tower Blvd., Suite 116, Clermont, and the North Lake Branch Office, 902 Avenida Central, The Villages.
Normal operating hours resume April 1.
Learn to become a family historian at genealogical classes
The Pastfinders of South Lake County Genealogical Society is offering free Beginner/Intermediate Genealogy classes from 1 to 3 p.m. April 3, April 17 and May 1 at the Cooper Memorial Library, 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont.
The classes will include information on how to navigate family history, use of research websites and software, vital records, census basics, avoiding errors, obituaries, government website sources and more.
Details and registration: pastfindersslc.org.
Get ready for solar eclipse with programs at Umatilla library
The Umatilla Public Library, 412 Hatfield Drive, is planning several programs focusing on the upcoming solar eclipse:
— An all-ages solar story time and solar viewing program is at 4 p.m. April 1, featuring hands-on learning about shadows and the role they play in eclipses, followed by a quick Eclipse Science 101 presentation. Safe solar viewing will be held outside.
— An after-school science enrichment program for elementary school students will take place at 3 p.m. April 3, learning about solar science and how to safely view the upcoming eclipse.
— Library staff will host a solar eclipse viewing from 2:30 to 4 p.m. April 8. The partial total eclipse will be around 3:03 p.m.
All three programs include a free pair of ISO certified solar eclipse viewing glasses.
Details: 352-669-4709.
Leesburg seeks volunteers for spring cleanup day
The city of Leesburg and Keep Lake Beautiful invite residents, church groups, businesses and organizations to join the annual community and trails spring cleanup on April 6 from 7 to 11 a.m.
The city is hosting four locations, including three city parks: Berry Park, 2121 Johns Ave.; John L. Johnson Park, 201 Mills St.; and Susan Street Complex, 940 Susan St.
The final location is the downtown/trail area. Workers will meet at the clock in Towne Square, 500 W. Main St.
Gloves, safety vests, trash bags and water will be provided to all volunteers.
Volunteers can pre-register at KeepLakeBeautiful.com or at any of the locations. Staff will register, provide equipment and assign volunteers to clean areas.
The public is invited to participate and students will be awarded volunteer hours. For more information, call the Public Works Department at 352-435-9442.
Blues under the Oaks in Lady Lake
The Town of Lady Lake’s Recreation Department is hosting a family-friendly Blues Under the Oaks concert from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6 at Snooky Park, 120 W. Lady Lake Blvd.
The event will feature Texas-based contemporary blues artist Bobby Blackmon and the Lower Jackson Band, an award-winning Southern jazz and blues rock band.
Blues Under the Oaks will also include local food trucks, including Lil Fatz BBQ and Rockabilly Pizza, along with beer and wine from Glenview Country Club. No outside alcohol or coolers are allowed. Concert-goers should bring chairs and or blankets. Admission is free and open to the public.
Details: ladylake.org or 352-751-1519.
Wreaths Across America mobile exhibit coming to Lake
Wreaths Across America’s Mobile Education Exhibit, which unites local communities, veterans, active-duty military and their families through interactive displays, short films, and shared stories, is on its national tour and will make a stop from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 6 at American Legion Post 55, 1063 W. DeSoto St., Clermont.
Mission BBQ, 631 U.S. Highway 27, Lady Lake, will also host the exhibit from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 23.
The exhibit serves as a mobile museum, educating visitors about the service and sacrifice of the nation’s heroes. Through a partnership with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, it also serves as an official Welcome Home location for the nation’s Vietnam veterans.
Representatives and volunteers from Wreaths Across America will be on hand to speak with the public about the exhibit. Admission is free and open to the public.
Details: wreathsacrossamerica.org/About/MobileEducationExhibit.
County Clerk hosts annual Operation Green Light
The Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller will host its annual Operation Green Light event from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 8-12, to help those with a suspended driver’s license, those nearing a suspension, or persons in past-due collections by offering incentives, such as recalling delinquent accounts from collections, waiving the collection fee, and waiving the payment plan fee.
Those paying in full may also have their fine reduced. In most instances, those who pay their obligations in full or establish a monthly payment plan by 5 p.m. April 12 will be eligible to have their driver’s license reinstated while saving money
Last year’s event resulted in 377 cases being addressed, with a total of $44,787 in past-due payments collected and $31,225 being dismissed from collections.
Customers wishing to coordinate payment agreements on their past-due court fees and fines can do so in person at the Lake County Courthouse, 550 W. Main St., First Floor, East Wing, Tavares.
To begin the process of establishing payment terms electronically, email GreenLight@LakeCountyClerk.org.
Details: LakeCountyClerk.org/GreenLight or 352-253-6025.
Trout Lake Nature Center hosts dog walk
Trout Lake Nature Center, 520 E. County Road 44, Eustis, will host a pack walk for well-behaved leashed dogs and their owners at 2 p.m. March 31. The walk will take place along the center’s trails and end at the education dock. Handlers are required to pick up waste and dispose of it appropriately.
Entry fee to Trout Lake is $5 per vehicle, but members get in free.
Details: 352-357-7536.
The Villages host Brownwood Paddock Square art and craft festival
The 27th annual Brownwood Paddock Square Art and Craft Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 30-31 at 2705 W. Torch Lake Drive, The Villages.
The event will include more than 160 local and national fine craft artisans offering folk art, pottery, jewelry, paintings, personalized gifts, handmade clothing, scented soaps and body products or other specialty green market items. Admission is free and open to the public.
Details: artfestival.com or 561-746-6615.
Libraries host patriotic concerts
The Lake County Ladies Chorus will perform a concert featuring patriotic tunes and songs at 1 p.m. April 4 at the W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., and 1 p.m. April 5 at the Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St.
The concerts are free and open to the public.
Mount Dora church hosts watercolor exhibit
First Presbyterian Church of Mount Dora hosts an exhibit of paintings by watercolor artist Nancy Staffieri from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through May at the church’s multipurpose room, 222 W. Sixth Ave.
A former resident of eastern Pennsylvania, Staffieri renewed her interest in painting after moving to Mount Dora. She has taken lessons from area artists and utilized used books and photographs as inspiration.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Details: 352-383-4089.
Free help with tax preparation
The AARP Foundation’s Taxaide program offers free tax assistance and income tax preparation through April 15 to area residents at several locations. Appointments are required. Call or visit the site while it is open to make an appointment:
— Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St.; Monday through Thursday, 9:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Call 352-717-4125.
— Clermont Arts and Recreation Center, 3700 S. U.S. Highway 27; Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 352-717-4242.
— Tavares Public Library, 314 N. New Hampshire Ave.; Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Call 352-717-4125.
— First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora, 439 E. Fifth Ave.; Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 352-800-6914.
— Hawthorne of Leesburg Marina, 100 Hawthorne Blvd.; Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to noon. Call 352-360-6219.
Mixed tennis doubles in Mount Dora
Area tennis players are welcome to join in mixed doubles tennis from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday through April at the Lincoln Avenue Community Park tennis courts, 1200 N. Unser St., Mount Dora. The cost is $5 per month.
Details: Dennis at 207-289-8841.
To submit events
To submit a community event for online publication, email information at least two weeks before the event to lake@orlandosentinel.com.
