Villages-News.com A man suspected of ripping off renters in The Villages has been sentenced to 90 days in jail on a drug charge was sentenced this past week in Lake County Court He was given credit for 43 days already served burglary and fraud in connection with a 2023 theft case in the Village of Duval A husband and wife had been renting a home on Hollyberry Place in January 2023 and originally had entered the home by obtaining a key from a lockbox according to an arrest warrant from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office The lockbox was known to a cleaning crew and handymen The couple went to play golf with the wife making the decision to leave her purse at the rented home When the couple returned home from golfing they found that both their key fobs for their Ford Expedition were missing along with the wife’s purse which contained numerous credit cards and gift cards There were no signs of forced entry at the home It was later discovered that the lockbox had been briefly accessed The woman later contacted the sheriff’s office to report that her debit card had been used at a McDonald’s restaurant in Leesburg A neighbor was interviewed by deputies and he described the Hollyberry Place home as “a short-term rental” which had “different people coming and going all of the time.” But he recalled seeing a blue Hyundai at the home and he said he thought it looked out of place A detective began checking surveillance from gates in The Villages as well as the McDonald’s in Leesburg. The detective zeroed in on Karst, who has a previous criminal history The Missouri native was arrested in March with fentanyl I have been a member of The Villages Twirlers and Drum Corps for the last 10 years I love the shows that we do in the squares I fail to understand why The Villages would hire outside entertainment to perform at these events rather than the volunteers from the clubs perform at these venues which costs them nothing The last few years I have noticed a decline in the amount of shows that we do on the square I’ve noticed many things declining in the last 10 years but that’s too much to get into right now A visitor to The Villages has been sentenced after fleeing the scene of a 2023 golf cart crash in Spanish Springs was placed on three years probation last month in Lake County Court after pleading no contest to charges of leaving the scene of an accident battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest She will also lose her driver’s license for six months however the judge did allow for her to seek a Business Purposes Only license Peck had been traveling with a male companion in a golf cart when they were involved in an accident with an automobile at about 9 p.m 2023 at Paige Place south of Avenida Central in the Spanish Springs area according to an arrest report from the Lady Lake Police Department Peck “fumbled” through her wallet when she attempted to present the investigating officer with her North Carolina driver’s license The officer had instructed Peck to remain in the golf cart while collecting information from both drivers The officer was in a patrol car when Peck was having trouble unzipping the door flap of the golf cart She appeared to be unsteady due to intoxication She drove away in the golf cart while the investigation into the accident was still in progress The officer activated the lights and siren of the patrol car in an attempt to pull over Peck’s golf cart She kept going until she reached the Comfort Suites hotel where she finally stopped She resisted the efforts of officers who attempted to take her into custody She was put into a patrol car where she continued kicking causing damage to the interior of the vehicle Peck screamed and behaved in a belligerent manner during the trip to the Lake County Jail She refused to submit to field sobriety exercises and refused to provide a breath sample The SWAT team was called to a home in The Villages where a Michigan man was arrested after a brief standoff A woman fled a home on Evelynton Loop in the Village of Lynnhaven at about 7:30 p.m according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office the woman was “crying heavily and appeared greatly distraught.” She was holding a bag of ice against her face A deputy suspected the woman’s jaw was broken or dislocated The deputy had a difficult time understanding the woman She said that 46-year-old Darrel Colin Fuson began drinking at about noon that day He also broke her phone when she attempted to call 911 Deputies made multiple attempts to persuade Fuson to come out of the home When the woman told deputies Fuson was likely in possession of “a couple of firearms,” the SWAT team was summoned Police Department indicated there was a no contact order in place for Fuson and the woman he allegedly attacked in The Villages The no contact order was issued after an alleged domestic assault on March 15 in Farmington Hills Fuson was arrested on charges of aggravated battery resisting arrest and criminal damage to property He was booked without bond at the Sumter County Detention Center A teenager was arrested after a traffic stop near a popular walking path in The Villages Wednesday on Buena Vista Boulevard near the Black Lake Walking Path when it was determined that the owner of the vehicle was wanted on a Marion County warrant who was traveling alone in the vehicle registered under her name was taken to the Sumter County Detention Center for booking She was found to be in possession of a pink electronic smoking device which had a connected vial The substance in the vial tested positive for CBD/hemp She was charged with attempting to smuggle contraband into a detention facility A New Jersey man was arrested after an alleged attack on a woman in The Villages was arrested on a felony charge of battery Thursday at his home in the Village of Bridgeport at Lake Miona A 77-year-old woman went to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Annex at County Road 466 and Morse Boulevard to report an attack which she said took place on April 24 She said they had been at the home in The Villages when she asked Gagnon for information who stands 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 260 pounds responded by grabbing the woman’s right arm with both of his hands and “squeezed tightly.” When she pulled away who was identified by his New Jersey driver’s license was taken into custody and booked at the Sumter County Detention Center on $500 bond Gagnon purchased his home in The Villages in 2018 for $650,000 He receives the tax bill at his home in Moorestown A speeding golf cart driver was injured in a crash at a postal station in The Villages Saturday was turning into the Village of Summerhill postal station on Woodridge Drive at a “careless speed” causing his golf cart to go onto two wheels and ultimately roll according to information from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office The golf cart slid on its side before coming into contact with a Mitsubishi automobile that was at the entry/exit of the postal station The golf cart driver was transported to UF Health Spanish Plaines Hospital for treatment of a minor injury described as “road rash.” Whose decision was it to eliminate Villages’ clubs from performing at events This is one of the key attractions of The Villages and we love to see our contemporaries shine and perform I have not been to one event where the clubs are performing that has been empty They are well attended and generate a lot of excitement and revenue for the square Not everyone goes to the square for the music (but it is great) buy their own equipment and uniforms and are quite amazing A husband won’t be prosecuted in a brawl with his wife at a rental unit in The Villages It was announced by the prosecutor’s office this past month that no information will be filed in the case of 63-year-old Louis Ronald Graf who had been facing a felony charge of battery The reason the prosecutor’s office gave for not pursuing the case was “victim/witness issues.” The couple had rented a home on Snodgrass Lane in the Village of DeSoto according to an arrest report from the Wildwood Police Department The couple had been arguing about returning to Illinois at the end of February but Graf did not want to “waste the money that they have already paid for their rental,” the arrest report said When he announced they would be staying through their contracted rental period who stands 5 feet 11 inches and weighs 200 pounds claimed his wife tried “biting him and kicking him in the groin.” At that point he was hanging onto her and would not let her go She was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for an evaluation of the injuries to her wrist and hip The wife told police that Graf had been consuming alcohol and that he becomes “argumentative” when he drinks the officer observed “the smell of intoxicants emitting from his breath.” A neighbor has penned a letter of support for Pickleball Billy who remains behind bars on trespassing charges who has become well known as a USA Pickleball ambassador in The Villages continues to be held without bond at the Sumter County Detention Center His original arrest came after the Massachusetts native was caught on surveillance crossing onto a neighbor’s property in the Hallandale Villas in the Village of St according to arrest reports from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Pickleball Billy had been formally banned by a trespass order from the property of the neighbor After he was released on bond, Pickleball Billy was re-arrested after he came in contact with the same neighbor at their postal station Nancy Falknor is Pickleball Billy’s neighbor and recently wrote a letter to the judge in his case She lauded Pickleball Billy as a man of faith who once saved a neighbor’s life She described the problem between Pickleball Billy and the other neighbor as a senseless “Seems the neighbor and he cannot get along,” Falknor wrote in the letter neighbors would go to such extreme measures as this Why couldn’t they come together and reason the problems out We all have problems and I think these situations are of no harm.” She asked the judge to reach “a peaceful solution for the neighborhood.” A jury trial in Hartig’s case had been set for Monday His next court date is a status conference set for June 10 He will remain jailed for the foreseeable future The Amenity Authority Committee will vote this week on a $1.26 million proposal to build a maintenance building to house a contractor’s equipment at the Mira Mesa Executive Golf Course The AAC will vote on the construction of the controversial facility during a meeting at 9 a.m AAC member Jim Vaccaro has consistently vowed to vote against the facility arguing that it should not be paid for with residents’ amenity money The controversy erupted last year when a golf maintenance official called for the facility explained that the landscaping contractor is currently parking his equipment outside All other golf courses have facilities for storing equipment District officials have also pointed out that the building will be owned by the District and not the contractor The officials also contend the building will have uses beyond storage The low bidder for the project is Qualis General Contractors LLC The price came in lower than the $1.5 million it had been expected to cost The highest bid was from Next Dimensions Construction Inc I have lived in The Villages for 11 plus years All I’ve ever heard was we need a Costco Trader Joe’s and more shopping such like Walmart Now I read almost every day complaining folks about traffic problems they are going to cause now that they are building Also I remember a petition being sent around to get Costco in The Villages The Lake Miona Recreation Center indoor facilities and sports pool will be closed for quarterly maintenance on Tuesday This schedule may be adjusted due to unforeseen circumstances If you have any questions or need additional information contact Lake Miona Recreation Center at (352) 430-2950 A motorcyclist has died after a crash near Mulberry Grove Plaza in The Villages The 36-year-old Ocala man died at Ocala Regional Medical Center as a result of the crash which occurred at about 3 p.m Wednesday on County Road 42 at SE 89th Terrace according to an accident report from the Florida Highway Patrol The motorcyclist was westbound on County Road 42 in the outside lane approaching SE 89th Terrace when a 66-year-old Dover man in an eastbound pickup made a U-turn prompting the motorcyclist to stop and lay down his motorcycle the motorcycle collided with the right side of the pickup The motorcyclist was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead The report noted he had not been wearing a helmet The man driving the pickup was not injured A Villager is facing a long difficult recovery after being knocked from a golf cart struck by a hit-and-run driver Roseanna Diiuro suffered a traumatic brain injury punctured lungs requiring chest tubes to drain the blood and other extensive internal trauma in the hit-and-run crash that occurred March 31 in the Village of Hillsborough Villager Noreen Nevrly, 75, is facing a felony charge of hit and run as a result of the crash. She remains free on $5,000 bond and has asked a judge for reinstatement of her driving privileges which have been severely restricted due to the pending charge Roseanna Diiuro and her family are enduring the long She had been at the wheel of the golf cart that day on Hillsborough Trail when it was struck by the white sport utility vehicle later tracked to Nevrly’s home thanks in large part to witnesses and surveillance from the Village of Hillsborough gate While Roseanna Diiuro was traumatically injured when she was knocked from the cart The 77-year-old was rushed to Ocala Regional Medical Center’s trauma center She suffered internal brain bleeding and required nine staples to the back of her skull Her husband of 58 years suddenly found himself making the daily drive to Ocala to be with his wife They met when they were about 13 years old and spent most of their married life in Rhode Island before moving to The Villages we have been pushed to our emotional and financial limits I’ve driven nearly an hour each way every day to and from the hospital and a half hour each way every day to and from the rehab facility — bearing the fuel costs Our adult children have taken time off work Our lives have changed forever,” Leonard Diiuro said He said his wife continues to experience immense pain and faces a long unobstructed view of our golf cart as she approached from behind and then made a sudden right-hand turn directly into our path she physically struck and moved our golf cart with her vehicle ejecting my wife violently onto the pavement This was not a case of failing to see a vehicle in a blind spot — it was a dangerous unprovoked maneuver with devastating consequences There are two eye witnesses to this exact account,” he said Nevrly told an investigator with the Florida Highway Patrol that she was unaware that she hit a golf cart She claimed she is hard of hearing and had the music turned up loud in her SUV “And despite the gravity of my wife’s injuries our family would have been understanding and sympathetic if Ms Nevrly had taken responsibility — had she stopped she continued to drive a very short distance further and into her garage and initially denied any knowledge of the incident,” Leonard Diiuro said Ed Friedman of the Village of Amelia got a hole-in-one on Thursday May 1 on the 138 yard ninth hole on the Volusia Executive Golf Course It was his first hole-in-one since moving to The Villages in November 2024 and his second lifetime hole-in-one If you get a hole-in-one, share the news at [email protected] When a huge crowd of protesters lined the road in The Villages for the “Hands Off” demonstration Well, now that many of us are back at our homes up north, how do you explain the large crowd that showed up Thursday for the May Day protest in The Villages I read in Villages-News.com that the crowd topped 800 Residents seem to be more agitated about Costco which is supposed to be a 45-mile per hour limit Contractors and construction workers use Rio Grande Avenue as a short cut from U.S The speed limit on Rio Grande is 25 miles per hour There seems to be a definite lack on policing and enforcing the speed I have lived in this community for over 12 years The Dudley  Dog Park will be closed for sod replacement Monday contact Fenney Recreation Center at (352) 674-8460 In the coming week, the Amenity Authority Committee (AAC) Board of Directors will have the opportunity to vote on behalf of the residents in the Center District (VCCDD) territory north of 466 by approving an Amenity Fee Rate Freeze LET’S START AT THE AAC BEGINNING – AAC POWERS & RESPONSIBILITIES (Collective opinion) In recent months, the amenity rate cap proposal has sparked considerable debate. Initially, the Attorney agreed that the Interlocal Agreement, Exhibit B, (7. B. VII.) gives the AAC full authority to establish an amenity fee rate cap; however The AAC shall be authorized to establish from time to time a maximum Amenity Fee for the Center District Service Territory such that an increase in Amenity Fees whether due to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) resale of a home or otherwise will not result in an Amenity Fee for a particular homesite within the Center District Service Territory having to pay in excess of such maximum amount which appears irrelevant to the rest of the clause clarifies the intended meaning of those two clauses thus negating Legal Counsel’s stated “opinion.”) To continue to provide a seamless community and services relating to Amenity Fees and Amenity Services provided to residents by Sumter Landing Community Development District and Center District shall be identical It is understood that the Amenity Fee rate applicable throughout the Village Center Service Territory varies and nothing contained herein shall be construed to mandate a uniform Amenity Fee In no event shall any action by the AAC result in residents of the Villages outside the Center District Service Territory being treated differently than residents within the Center District Service Territory Perhaps residents need to inquire with their respective District AAC Director We know that CDD4 AAC Director Don Deakin understands the past and future of implementing an amenity fee freeze for residents north of 466 one of the first Villages residents appointed to the newly designated CDD1 (1992) later served on the AAC and possesses extensive knowledge of establishing the Villages’ governmental processes Bell provided detailed first-hand experience and information on the previous 2010 AAC no adjustment amenity fee decision at the AAC 2025-26 budget workshop on Wednesday Bell shared that he originally motioned to adopt resolution 10-18 (2010) which provided for no adjustment of amenity fees for residents living north of CR 466 He indicated that the 2010 AAC Board of Directors and attorneys spent months discussing the deferral of amenity fees including holding a workshop to research the potential effects of the proposed rate ensuring they were on solid ground and would not violate any bond issue covenants Don Deakin, a resident of District 4 in The Villages for over 23 years, is hosting his monthly Q&A meeting and has graciously invited me, a District 1 resident, to be the guest speaker on this hot topic regarding “Amenity Fee rate caps and Freezes.” For more information, call or text Don Deakin at (352) 445-0181 or email him at [email protected] We will share our collective knowledge with residents at Mulberry Recreation Center on May 5th Some of the questions we will address include:                                                                              Both the POA in their March 2025 Issue and the VHA April Opinion recognize the importance of the Amenity Fee Freeze or Non-adjustment for every resident north of 466 Although they may not fully agree on the legality their discussions on the topic indicate that much is at stake please recognize that if there is this much discussion and debate If you’re new to The Villages or this topic here is some background and historical information: February 16, 2025 editorial, The AAC needs to take back its power April 22, 2025 editorial It’s time for the AAC to act April 26th editorial, Updated website more accurately reflects powers and responsibilities of AAC you have various ways to communicate with your elected representatives You can call them to discuss your concerns email them individually or collectively as a Board and attend meetings to share your thoughts at the podium for the 2 or 3 minutes they allow I recommend that if you participate in the meetings and share your thoughts you first write out your ideas and take them with you providing them as a handout to ensure that your views are recorded as a permanent record You elected your AAC Board of Directors to protect and maintain the affordability of these amenities The Board members are there to support you https://www.districtgov.org/districts/committees/amenity-authority/ If you use the group email at the top of the page this distribution includes all major District staff Click on the email + to expand it and see who is included You can also email your district’s AAC director through the email listed on the AAC website The AAC is planning to implement video recordings of meetings The next AAC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday which could irritate the attending residents A resident can always request the Chair to move the agenda item earlier in the schedule to respect the time of attending residents Should the AAC Amenity Fee Freeze fail to secure a positive vote at the May meeting it can still be approved at the June 11th meeting June is the last 2025 meeting that can facilitate a positive vote for implementation in the 2025-26 FY The residents’ presence is always a supportive signal if you can attend If you want to join my mailing list, please email me your name, village, address, email, and phone number at [email protected] Patsy Oburn is a Community Development District 1 resident Amenity Authority Committee member Don Deakin will host a special guest at his monthly question-and-answer meeting to discuss a possible amenity rate freeze Deakin’s Q&A meeting in Community Development District 4 will be held from 7 to 9 p.m May 5 at the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center Patsy Oburn will be the special guest speaker on the amenity fee freeze topic which will be discussed at  the AAC’s meeting set for 9 a.m a resident of The Villages for over 12 years has dedicated herself to acquiring extensive knowledge about The Villages’ local government including the Amenity Authority Committee Board of Directors and Community Development Districts,” Deakin said Some of the questions they will address include: • What is an Amenity Fee “Rate Cap” vs a “FREEZE” For more information, call or send a text to Deakin at (352) 445-0181; or send an Email to: [email protected] While it may seem like this anhinga bit off more than it could chew it actually managed to swallow the entire tilapia in one huge gulp at a pond in the Village of St Share your local photos with us at https://villages-news.com/contact-us went home to be with his Lord and Savior on April 1 Jerry died from complications related to a fall that took place in January then pastored Redeeming Love Christian Reformed Church Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 46 years FL; children-Benjamin (Lori Kooyenga) Lion of San Angelo TX; Peter (Kristin Johnson) Lion of Niskayuna Ireland; and his cherished grandchildren-Isabella Jerry and Donna retired in 2016 to The Villages FL where he continued to serve for two and a half years as visitation pastor to North Lake Presbyterian Church He knew history well and kept up on current events A great love was spending time with his children and grandchildren A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at 11 a.m at Avery Street Christian Reformed Church in South Windsor The service can also be streamed on the church’s website Jeffrey Loeben passed away in The Villages He is remembered by his friends and family as a sharp fun-loving retiree with a passion for golf and always being active and outside in the Florida sun New York to Arthur and Billie Joe (Teague) Loeben Canada where his wife was born and they lived there for a few more years In the early 1970’s they purchased their first home in Brandon Florida and remained there for a few years Jeff’s career in sales was taking off at this time and he quickly became a top performing sales rep with several different companies which allowed him the freedom to choose any state on the east coast of the U.S to have as their home so he moved the family to Raleigh North Carolina where they stayed until 1982 when their love for Florida lured them back After moving back to North Carolina for about 9 years Florida was calling his name again so he relocated to The Villages in 2012 so he could enjoy the retired life He separated from his wife many years before retiring but he met a very fun and outgoing woman named Ann who ended up moving in with him and they shared lots of fun memories together for about 9 years before Ann passed away at the end of 2024 Jeff’s ex-wife also passed away in 2021 but he leaves behind his son Daniel who will miss him very much and is forever grateful for his father’s advice A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held at Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory Mandy Taheri is a Newsweek reporter based in Brooklyn You can get in touch with Mandy via email: m.taheri@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content a spokesperson for the mobilizing coalition told Newsweek on Saturday "Hands Off!" is a grassroots movement and coalition of hundreds of organizations and mobilizers who want the Trump administration, including Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to take their "hands off" of Social Security, federal jobs, Medicaid, and more. Trump said in a February Fox News interview that Social Security will not be "touched" unless "there's fraud or something." The protests are taking place just days after Trump's global sweeping tariffs which have rattled global and domestic markets, with Wall Street tanking over the past few days, marking the worst days for the U.S. stock markets since 2020 The Villages, located in Central Florida, is a Republican stronghold making it notable that demonstrations are taking place there against the GOP president who has deep ties to Florida through real estate investments and political allies The Villages is primarily represented by Republican Representative Daniel Webster of Florida's 11th Congressional District Newsweek has reached out to Webster's press team for comment via email on Saturday The Villages is a predominantly white retirement community for residents aged 55 and older that spans three Central Florida counties All three counties voted comfortably for Trump in 2024: Marion at 65 percent A spokesperson for "Hands Off!" estimated that approximately 2,000 people in The Villages participated in the nationwide protests on Saturday Democratic congressional candidate Barbie Harden Hall who is running to represent Florida's 11th congressional district which includes The Villages posted video of protests writing that "more than 1,500 came out today," with clips showing dozens of residents in golf carts lined up with signs protesting the president and Musk More than 1,200 "Hands Off!" demonstrations across all 50 states were planned for Saturday, with a handful taking place in Europe as well Local protests are being organized by advocacy groups and various election and democracy activists Large crowds of protesters filled the streets in major cities across the country The organization calls upon local advocacy groups and organizers to mobilize people to speak up against the administration writing: "Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them They're taking everything they can get their hands on and daring the world to stop them we're taking to the streets nationwide to fight back with a clear message: Hands off!" The website notes that a "core principle" of the protests is "nonviolent action," and urges protesters to "act lawfully" at the events During the 2024 presidential campaign, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, campaigned in The Villages, where videos showed dozens of golf carts displaying support for her campaign. where Trump is a resident and frequently visits his golf course and Mar-a-Lago estate A "Hands Off!" spokesperson told Newsweek in a phone interview on April 5: "The goal is hands off You don't see this kind of turn out from folks unless people are frustrated upset about what their government is doing...Hands off all the things that they [the government] is trying to take away in order to give billionaires tax cuts." told Newsweek in a Saturday email: "When hundreds of thousands turn out in top GOP stronghold areas across the country it's not just a rally—it's a reckoning and the Administration should take notice." President Donald Trump told Fox News in February: "Social Security won't be touched other than if there's fraud or something...It's going to be strengthened.. none of that stuff is going to be touched." A "Hands Off!" spokesperson told Newsweek that the coalition anticipates upwards of 1 million people to partake in events across the world Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsletters in your inbox See all The reopening date has been announced for the Pimlico Executive Golf Course The recently renovated course is set to reopen on May 28 Hit-and-run crashes can be tragic for all that are involved Villager Roseanna Diiuro suffered a traumatic brain injury punctured lungs and other extensive internal trauma in a hit-and-run crash that occurred March 31 in the Village of Hillsborough Her golf cart was hit by a sport utility vehicle that fled the scene The suspect in the case, 75-year-old Noreen Nevrly of The Villages faces a potential criminal conviction which could bring severe penalties had the music turned up and never knew she hit the golf cart Witnesses and gate camera surveillance suggest otherwise The most notorious hit-and-run case in The Villages involved Villager Marilyn Hamilton Hamilton is serving time in a Florida prison and is not scheduled for release until 2027 it is that drivers should always remain at the scene of a crash A ticket or an insurance claim are a small price to pay The victim of a hit-and-run crash didn’t have a choice Letters to the editor of Villages-News. Reader and user comments/letters on events, local happenings, government, and more in The Villages, Florida. Have thoughts on a situation or issue unfolding in The Villages? Click here to share your thoughts with us and submit a letter to the editor! Lake Sumter Landing Market Square  |  5:00 PM Come celebrate the grand reopening of the Chula Vista Adult Pool this Monday The ribbon cutting ceremony will kick off at 9 a.m In addition to viewing enhancements to the pool Villagers will get the chance to also see the new fire pit added to the pool area I have two questions for the person that wrote the Letter to the Editor, indicating he hates the National Anthem Among his suggestions he would rather have other songs If your father was in his wheelchair because he was a wounded combat veteran would you feel differently War isn’t glorious and anyone that has been there will tell you that The anthem is about two minutes long and if that is too much to endure maybe you don’t deserve the “forced freedom” that it represents THE VILLAGES — Hundreds of protesters lined Morse Boulevard at the roundabout and beyond it, just south of Lake Sumter Landing in The Villages, to participate in the "May Day: National Day of Action" from 10 a.m Protests were taking place nationwide and around the world in honor of International Workers Day Elon Musk and the Trump administration's handling of Social Security "Ikea has better cabinets," referring to Trump's executive branch Casey Marr, one of the founders of a group called The Villagers for Democracy Marr estimates that more than 1,000 Villagers participated in the event in the Republican-dominated retirement community encompassing neighborhoods across Sumter Traffic was slightly backed up as cars drove by honking and waving One of the protesters insisted that around 80 percent of the passersby were cheering them on While at the protest, protesters had to stop their chants and sign-waving midway to move their cars from the closed Winn-Dixie parking lot where many had parked. (The store is being converted into an Aldi supermarket.) The Daily Commercial witnessed an argument between a Sumter County sheriff's deputy and a protester "This wouldn't be an issue if this were a Trump rally." The deputy calmly said he couldn't speak to the property owner's political beliefs but that the parking lot was private property and the owner had the deputies ask protesters there to move a Trump supporter drove by in a golf cart waving a giant Trump banner blaring Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." Protester Ira Friedman agreed with the protesters arguing with the deputy "This wouldn't be happening if we were Trumpers," he insisted Friedman told the Daily Commercial that everything had been conducted peacefully and successfully until law enforcement came and asked protesters to move their cars to a public Villages parking lot In April, Villagers for Democracy drew 2,000 people for the nationwide Hands Off protest a story publicized by NBC News and the National Democratic Party "We have a tie-in with Leesburg as we are partnering with the charity-based Forward Paths," Marr said The event is sanctioned by the Indivisible Project a nonpartisan group of individuals against President Trump's administration (This story has been updated to change or add a photo or video.) A member of a construction crew helped nab a drunk driving suspect in a work zone on County Road 466 which has been undergoing night repaving in The Villages was driving a gray 2004 Buick Century shortly before 10 p.m Tuesday on County Road 466 near Morse Boulevard when a member of the paving crew noticed that the Buick was traveling at 5 to 10 miles per hour and swerving The construction worker alerted a deputy who was in the parking lot at the nearby Sheriff’s Annex The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the Buick and immediately suspected that Dupas had been drinking The New York native was “very disoriented and confused about his whereabouts.” He agreed to take part in field sobriety exercises A 750ml bottle of McCormick Vodka was found in his vehicle Dupas was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence He was issued a citation for open container He was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center on $2,000 bond The May Day rally in The Villages ended early Thursday after representatives from Commercial Property Management arrived on the scene and cried foul over the protesters’ parking Villagers for Democracy had planned well in advance to join in the nationwide call to action with a rally at the entrance to Lake Sumter Landing. Last month the Hands Off rally That rally raised eyebrows and drew national media attention because it occurred in President Trump’s stronghold in The Villages The May Day rally drew a crowd of about 800 protesters and the parking lot at the shuttered former Winn-Dixie supermarket was filled to capacity by about 11 a.m Representatives of Commercial Property Management descended on the scene at about 11:45 a.m and told the organizers of the rally that the parking lot was private property and ordered that it be vacated Commercial Property Management claimed Lake Sumter Landing merchants had raised concerns about a lack of available parking for customers A rumor quickly spread through the crowd that cars were being towed The protesters who had arrived by car soon departed Those who had traveled to the rally by golf cart demonstrated a bit longer The national May Day rallies were organized to call attention to Trump’s policies particularly those viewed as harming American workers and their families Casey Marr of Villagers for Democracy indicated that more demonstrations will be announced in the near future Why is it that many of The Villages’ traditional events have been canceled along with the performances of many of the long-standing organizations such as the twirlers Those performances and events are the reason many have moved to The Villages to be involved and be an active part of the community These woman have spent an extraordinary amount of time and money on practices and costumes and have been an integral part of the community and representation of what The Villages are all about Leaders of these groups have requested a meeting with the powers that be to find out why they have been removed from the community’s activities but have been told they will not grant any such discussions and the decisions have been made To make such decisions which affect our entire community without any discussion or explanation is one more example of the destruction of the lifestyle and reason people moved here to begin with Who can we contact regarding this issue and voice our opinions Patty Rowe is a resident of the Village of Rio Grande The Villages is a housing complex with delusions of grandeur You heard how they compared themselves to Manhattan Completely overblown about their importance Their size is as ridiculous as the name is unimaginative I don’t believe they will be able to handle the extra growth (WGNS) - This past weekend marked a joyful milestone at The Villages of Murfreesboro Senior Independent Living and Memory Care — the community’s very first wedding Residents Bob and Linda Clarke tied the knot on Saturday afternoon and the caring staff who helped make the event unforgettable Both Bob and Linda are residents at The Villages and quickly became friends after moving in That friendship soon turned into something more and their love story has now taken a beautiful new chapter The ceremony was held on-site at The Villages which was transformed into a charming wedding venue for the day The entire event — from the catering to the decorations — was thoughtfully arranged by the staff who went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect for the couple Residents and staff alike were thrilled to take part in the celebration showing that love knows no age and that new beginnings can happen at any stage of life the newlyweds are enjoying their first week as husband and wife receiving warm congratulations from their community The Villages of Murfreesboro is proud to have hosted such a meaningful event and wishes Bob and Linda Clarke a future filled with happiness and love Tap below to take a look at some of the wedding day photos Rockland County Business Journal Rockland County residents Greg and Milka Pereira are opening 202 Cannabis Company this week The opening reception will take place May 7th at 2:30 at 202 Cannabis Company at 81 West Ramapo Road in Garnerville in the Town of Haverstraw Haverstraw is the only town out of Rockland’s five that chose to allow cannabis retailing when towns and villages in late 2021 were asked to make the decision to either “opt out,” which would have made dispensaries illegal precluding legal dispensaries within unincorporated town limits Piermont and Haverstraw jumped on the bandwagon retail dispensaries and paraphernalia shops are zoned to operate “as-of-right” in the C-Commercial Zones which largely hug West Ramapo Road and a stretch of Thiells-Mt retailers and paraphernalia shops also are as-of-right uses in the Town’s PIO-Planned Industrial Office zone which includes Cambridge Plaza and a small section off Quaker Road across from the Hudson Valley Humane Society which trains and assists individuals to secure state certification for home-based daycare centers which are regulated by the Department of Health and the Offices of Childcare and Family Services Urban Outreach also offers NYS DMV certified impaired driver programs (IDPs) NYS court approved alcohol education programs (AEPs) and Mother Against Drunk Driving victim impact panels (VIPs) “Opening this dispensary is a dream come true but it’s more than just about selling safer high quality cannabis,” said Gregory Pereira Co-Owner & COO of 202 Cannabis Company “As someone who works closely with those struggling with drug addiction I know how powerful cannabis can be in helping individuals especially veterans quit addictive pain killers It means so much to me to be able to give back and to help others get their lives back on track,” “This dispensary is the start of something huge and I am so excited for customers from across Rockland County and the whole Hudson Valley to enjoy what we have to offer.” The location for 202 Cannabis Company was approved by the Town of Haverstraw through a series of land-use hearings in 2024 under the name Blaze 420 originally sought late night hours with Saturday operations running until midnight The late night hours have been scaled back until 10 pm No consumption will be allowed onsite at the dispensary will have internal and external security cameras monitoring the site 24 hours a day and frosted windows and doors preventing visual access of cannabis products from the outside of the building customers have to be 21 or older and show valid identification and no cannabis inventory will be kept in the retail area — cannabis only changes hands when an order is ready to be filled — like in a drugstore Treehouse Cannabis on Route 59 in Nyack was the first dispensary to open in the county in 2024 Owner Seth Marks transformed a former car showroom he owns into a dispensary but started sales with home delivery The Village of Haverstraw has approved a new dispensary at 35 Route 9W is planning on purchasing a garage at 147 Route 9W The Village only allows dispensaries in its HB zone along Route 9W — effectively barring them in the central business district Towns and villages hosting cannabis dispensaries share directly in the sales tax generated by retail cannabis sales Sales tax on cannabis in New York is 9 percent which passes on 75 percent of the sales tax revenue to the town or village hosting the dispensary the Village of Nyack netted $136,367 in tax revenue from sales from April through December at Treehouse Cannabis The Nyack Village Board has been holding hearings on modifications to the Village code to set local proximity restrictions on adult-use cannabis dispensaries in the Village limits The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) regulations prevent dispensaries from opening within 2,000 feet of another dispensary in municipalities with fewer than 20,000 residents Proposals at the state level may reduce that proximity limitation to 1,000 feet OCM has the ability and a track record of issuing waivers for adult-use dispensaries allowing a new dispensary to open within another dispensary’s proximity protected area The proposal being considered by the Village trustees would establish a rule similar to the state rule as – 2,000 foot dispensary-to-dispensary proximity restrictions so that if OCM’s rulemaking changed or narrowed the restriction the Village code would still enforce a 2,000 foot limitation 50 operating dispensaries have so far contributed nearly $4 million in regional adult-use tax revenue Everyone says we need snowbirds to pay for all the businesses and help The Villages to grow It is so overgrown now it’s getting unbearable I’m more likely to get a finger than a wave Streets are packed with speeders and poor driving manners Five miles over the speed limit is asking to be rear ended by those who think they are privileged to go as fast as they want parking is a joke and many feel so privileged to park wherever there is “a space.” I don’t go to the squares because it’s a zoo of people having fun at others expense of yearly residents I have friends and neighbors who are friends on an individual basis But everything turns into a mob atmosphere as a total group of snowbirds feel privileged to do as they please It’s not much fun living here any more it’s an adult Disney Land if you don’t mind standing in lines or looking for shady places South Villages and Even More South Villages The pools in The Villages are more enticing than ever so it’s a good time for a refresher on rules at the pools All eligible residents and their guests with valid Guest ID Cards are asked to refrain from: All residents and guests are required to comply with ID requirements and ages to use the swimming pools and supporting amenities and children should have proper approved floatation devices A drunk driver with three previous convictions for driving under the influence was arrested in a golf cart in The Villages was driving a golf cart late Wednesday night in the Village of Silver Lake when a police officer noticed the golf cart only had one working headlight the officer discovered that Faunce has been classified as a habitual traffic offender and has three DUI convictions Faunce was “unsteady on his feet and smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage,” according to the report There was an open beer can in the golf cart’s cup holder and an empty Heineken beer bottle in the basket The Heineken bottle’s cap was found in Faunce’s front pocket initially declaring that he did not speak English He later said he would not give a breath sample because his license was already suspended Faunce was arrested on felony charges of driving under the influence and driving while license suspended He was arrested on misdemeanor charges of refusal to submit to a breath test possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia He was booked at the Lake County Jail on $15,500 bond Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsDaniel Dahm THE VILLAGES – A major power outage impacted The Villages in Sumter County on Wednesday The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office said the outage caused issues in the areas of Powell Road Sheriff’s officials said among the impacts were many traffic lights not working “All traffic lights should be working properly,” sheriff’s officials said Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved Daniel started with WKMG-TV in 2000 and became the digital content manager in 2009 When he's not working on ClickOrlando.com Daniel likes to head to the beach or find a sporting event nearby TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Villagers should be aware of the upcoming closures: Monday May 5 Bridgeport Recreation Indoor Facilities Outdoor Facilities and Family Pool will be closed for quarterly maintenance Fenney Recreation Family Pool will be closed for tile and paver repairs May 6 Big Cypress Recreation Billiards Hall (Goldenrod) will be closed for table recovering Tuesday Villagers should be aware of the upcoming closures: Big Cypress Recreation Billiards Hall (Goldenrod) will be closed for table recovering Tuesday Ezell Recreation Sports Pool will be closed for maintenance Tuesday SeaBreeze Recreation Sports Pool will be closed for pressure washing from 7 a.m La Hacienda Recreation Sports Pool will be closed for pressure washing from 7 a.m Fifteen children from group homes operated in Lawrence and Topeka by The Villages Inc. have been sent to another facility in New York to comply with a removal order issued by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement president of the board of directors for the Villages said the action was taken in response to alleged code of conduct violations Executive director Judette Padilla and five other employees of The Villages are no longer employed there The release didn't say whether they resigned or were fired the Office of Refugee Resettlement suspended the placement of children at The Villages after citing code of conduct violations The Villages sent five children from Lawrence and 10 children from Topeka to another facility in New York after receiving a removal order from the ORR," she said Kansas District Judge Penny Moylan issued an order to stop the ORR from moving one child who remains with The Villages." Chief compliance officer Mark Burenheide has been named interim executive director of The Villages “We are reorganizing our management team and developing corrective action plans with the ORR to ensure the safety of our children at The Villages," she said “We hope to preserve our federal contract with the ORR and retain all the jobs of our employees We have a long history of taking care of children.” The Villages is a nonprofit children's group home organization based on 400 acres in a rural setting west of S.W "Our mission is to empower children by providing a safe nurturing environment that fosters personal growth," the organization's website says "Led by a team of experienced professionals we are dedicated to creating positive outcomes for every child in our care." The Villages revealed in 2018 that it was housing children in the care of the U.S government's Office of Refugee Resettlement including minors separated from their parents at the Mexican border The Villages operates five houses in Topeka and two in Lawrence, according to its website. The Villages serves 60 minors and has about 95 employees including part-time and full-time employees Padilla had been executive director since August 2021 at The Villages, where she had been employed since August 2012, according to her LinkedIn page Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934 Several traffic lights across The Villages are inoperable Wednesday morning as local crews work to address a “major power outage” in the area According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office a major power outage in the area has downed traffic lights at several intersections across The Villages “Be aware the traffic lights are out at the intersections please follow traffic rules and proceed with caution,” reads a statement from SCSO Local residents in the area reported brief power outages According to an outage map from SECO Energy at least a dozen incidents have been reported around the area The map indicates that power should be restored in the area by 9:30 a.m Officials are expressing concern about the proliferation of towering apartment buildings around The Villagers and are worried the apartment dwellers might be using amenities in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown Community Development District 6 Supervisor Peter Moeller expressed his concerns during a meeting Monday of the Project Wide Advisory Committee at SeaBreeze Recreation Center He pointed out that apartment building are sprouting up in large numbers near The Villages He joked that The Villages could be at risk for a “non-resident invasion.” proposed a study to look at ways to ensure that the people in the pools and on the pickleball courts are residents or guests of residents “We all want to protect our amenities,” Moeller said Community Development District 10 Supervisor Steve Bova echoed Moeller’s concerns “It is unbelievable the number of people that are surrounding us,” Bova said He said the Lakewood Ranch retirement community near Sarasota uses a key card system that unlocks a gate to use pools and other amenities Do you think adequate protections are in place to keep outsiders from accessing amenities in The Villages? Share your thoughts at [email protected]