Lake and Sumter Style Magazine

08/21/2025

🙏 Please pray for Leesburg High School head softball coach Amber Prescott. Amber had a heart attack recently at just 37-years-old and was hospitalized for brain swelling. Amber is a wonderful mother to 3 little ones and a terrific person.

She has been so dedicated to rebuilding the Leesburg High softball program the last few years. We pray for the Prescott family including her husband Thomas Prescott. Keep fighting Amber, you are loved dearly and we are all thinking about you. ❤️‍🩹❤️🩷💚

Leesburg High School

08/21/2025

State wildlife officials voted 5-0 in August to sanction a limited bear hunt in December, but it hasn’t been unanimously welcomed by the public.

Bears are wandering into neighborhoods and becoming pests and threats, officials in five Panhandle counties complained to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before it agreed to the licensed hunt in December.

Some enjoy having furry neighbors, however, like Art and Kelly Ayris, who live on Bay Forest Lane in unincorporated Fruitland Park near a lush, 500-acre wildlife haven on Lake Griffin.

“Black bears are not much of a menace,” Art says. “There is usually only a problem at feeding time or if someone is doing something stupid. We give them a wide berth so they can live their lives”

It’s not that bears are encroaching on human territory, Art believes, but just the reverse.

“We just think that’s not equitable,” Art says. “Development is out of control. We need more responsible laws.”

It’s not just what’s happening on the ground, but there are water quality and water availability issues at stake, too.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming Bear Hunt? Let us know in the comments below. 👇

State wildlife officials voted 5-0 in August to sanction a limited bear hunt in December, but it hasn’t been unanimously welcomed by the public. Bears are w ...

08/21/2025

This right here is the Best Burger in Lake County. You voted Marmadukes Lodge Leesburg our 2025 Best of the Best. If you haven’t tried this you’re in for a treat. Mouthwatering juicy flavors with fresh fries. These fries are perfectly cut and seasoned to perfection.

Owned and managed by James Lent, a seasoned veteran of the craft beer and service industry, Marmadukes aims to make everyone feel at home.

And don’t sleep on the housemade ranch! It’s some of the best ranch in Florida.

08/21/2025

Congratulations to Quality Moving Services who won Moving Service in our 2025 Best of the Best!

08/21/2025

Congratulations to Montverde Academy’s Michael Frasure who recorded an amazing 30 (-6) to set what is believed to be a new Montverde Academy record for the best 9-hole score in school history!

Montverde Academy would defeat The First Academy 138–140 in a thriller at Bella Collina on Wednesday afternoon.

The win was the second in a row to start the season, as the Eagles are now 2–0 on the young season.

Read the full story here: https://lakeandsumterstyle.com/montverde-academys-michael-frasure-sets-new-school-golf-record/io

08/21/2025

Join us as we sit down with Dr. Sean Meagher, Diagnostic Radiologist and Neuroradiologist at UF Health. Discover what inspired his journey into medicine and get expert insights on stroke prevention and cutting-edge treatment options. Dr. Meagher shares the latest innovations in stroke care, including minimally invasive surgical techniques and UF Health's revolutionary mobile stroke treatment unit—all designed to help patients reclaim their lives.

08/21/2025

You want real New England Seafood? We found just the place! The Essex Seafood House Two in Pierson, Florida is a must try destination with some of the best Fried Clams in the state.🦞🦪🐟

The Essex House two dates back to the mid-1990s. Danny and Mary Lane left Essex, Massachusetts, home of the original Essex Seafood one and opened a new version of that beloved institution down south. By 1995, Essex Seafood House two was quietly frying clams in Pierson, Florida, and serving locals and Northeastern transplants.

Their signature? Whole-belly, long-necked clams, brought in from Massachusetts just three days out of the ocean. These fried clams are frankly, one of the most thoughtfully executed dishes you’ll find in Central Florida. They’re not over-battered. They’re not hiding behind sauces or gimmicks. Instead, they’re crisp, briny, tender, and incredibly consistent.

Perhaps there is no better way to describe the exact experience but to go try it yourself and that is exactly what you should do if you are in the area. 🦞🦪🐟

The Essex House two, lobster tastes like it came from a dock in Maine, not the back of a Sysco truck. The onion rings are textbook, golden, slightly greasy, perfectly salty. They remind me a bit of The Flying Bridge in Falmouth, Massachusetts who many would argue have the best onion rings in the country.

This is not a restaurant that’s trying to create a moment. It’s a restaurant that understands the moment already exists, between bites, across tables, in shared appreciation.

Nothing captures the restaurant’s ethos better than this small detail: It’s cash only. There’s no Square reader, no chip-enabled point-of-sale tablet glowing in the dark. Instead, there’s an old-school register.

People drive from neighboring counties just to eat here. They come because they know this kind of food craftsmanship is disappearing. They come because they want to eat something made by someone who still cares and just wants some good old fashioned New England Seafood.

Read more here: https://lakeandsumterstyle.com/looking-for-the-best-fried-clams-in-florida-locals-say-try-the-essex-house/

Location - 360 FL-40, Pierson, FL
Contact - (386) 749-1557

🦞🦪🐟

08/21/2025

Congratulations to Eustis High School softball player Carson Roden who has committed to play softball at Palm Beach Atlantic University! 👏🎉💪

Carson was part of the Eustis Lady Panthers FHSAA state championship team in 2024 and helped Eustis get back to the 2025 FHSAA State Finals this season and finish state runner-up.

Carson is coming off another stellar season in the circle. She threw 142.2 innings and racked up 182 strikeouts with a 2.80 ERA. Carson is also a great student at Eustis High with a 4.2 weighted GPA.

“I want to thank all of my coaches for helping me along the way,” Carson says. “A big thank you to Coach Beall, Coach Robert, and Coach Tyra for always being there for me and pushing me to be the best and making me the player I am today. Another big thank you to Coach Nick for guiding me and helping me achieve one of my biggest goals in life.”

“To my teammates, thank you for always having my back and supporting me through it all, I wouldn’t be where I am today without you guy,” she says. “My pitching coaches throughout the years have shaped me into the pitcher I am today so I will be forever grateful for you all! Most importantly, my family, who have been there since day one. They are my biggest supporters in life and I wouldn’t have made it this far without all of them! I can’t wait to start the next chapter of my life! Go Sailfish.”

Read more here: https://lakeandsumterstyle.com/eustis-high-softball-player-carson-roden-committs-to-palm-beach-atlantic-university/

EHS Lady Panthers Softball
Eustis High
Eustis High School Athletics

08/21/2025

Why make two stops when you can shop at two amazing stores under one roof? Visit Molly Pops on Main Boutique and The Stitching Heifers in the heart of downtown Bushnell for all your clothing, accessories, and custom gear!

At Molly Pops on Main Boutique, you’ll find stylish women’s & men’s apparel, novelty items, and perfect gift ideas — all from your favorite brands like Brümate Tumblers, Teleties, Local Boy Outfitters, Risen Denim, Duke Cannon, and so much more!

The Stitching Heifers is your one-stop shop for embroidered and printed hats, custom patch hats, and trending graphic tees that can be fully customized for you, your company, or your next big event. Whether you need a single design or a whole company’s worth of branded gear, they’ve got you covered — from hats to shirts to jackets and beyond!

Come see us at 110 Bushnell Plaza in Bushnell — shop in-store or browse online anytime at mponmain.com and thestitchingheifers.com.

Your style, your gear — all in one stop!

08/21/2025

Congratulations to Erika Donehoo who won Spray Tanning in our 2025 Best of the Best!

08/21/2025

Lake-Sumter State College’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program is launching a fall reading clinic, designed to provide individualized reading and writing support for students in grades K-6 while also giving LSSC undergraduate education students valuable hands-on teaching experience.

The 10-week clinic runs Thursdays from Sept. 11 through Nov. 13 from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. on the LSSC South Lake Campus in Clermont.

For a $75 enrollment fee, children will be paired with undergraduate students from LSSC’s elementary education program for one-on-one and small-group literacy instruction.

“We are excited for young readers in our community to gain access to individualized support that helps them build their confidence and literacy skills, setting them up for success in the classroom and beyond,” says Marni Kay-Martinez, reading education program director. “Our elementary education students are able to apply theory to practice in real time while providing a much-needed service to the community.”

Lake-Sumter State College’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program is launching a fall reading clinic, designed to provide individualized readi ...

08/21/2025

Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino decided to ditch the traditional logo of Cracker Barrel and replace it with a new simplified logo. This would be the first logo change in 48 years. 👀 The changes would impact three local Cracker Barrel locations in Lady Lake, Leesburg and Clermont.

What are your thoughts on the rebrand? Let us know in the comments below. 👇

This is all part of Cracker Barrel’s modern makeover, a campaign it calls “All the More.”

Cracker Barrel has also announced a remodel of store interiors, ditching the dark, antique Southern vibe and turning to a brighter modern farmhouse aesthetic.

Source - https://www.today.com/today/amp/rcna225839