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MARDI GRAS TAKES OVER DOWNTOWN LEESBURG ON SATURDAY

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LINDOR OUTFITS MONTVERDE ACADEMY TEAM WITH UNIFORMS

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WHAT FANS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2019 DAYTONA 500

@dailycommercial Facebook.com/daily.commercialYOUR LOCAL SOURCE FOR LAKE & SUMTER COUNTIESThursday, February 14, 2019 75¢

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Volume 143, Issue 45© 2019 GateHouse MediaHome delivery: 352-787-0600

By Jill Colvin, Andrew Taylor, Alan Fram and Catherine Lucey The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Even before seeing a final deal or agreeing to seal it, Presi-dent Donald Trump labored on Wednesday to frame the congressional agreement on border security as a political win, never mind that it con-tains only a fraction of the billions for a “great, powerful wall” that he’s been demand-ing for months.

Trump is expected to

grudgingly accept the agree-ment, which would avert another government shut-down and give him what R e p u b l i c a n s h a v e b e e n describing as a “down pay-ment” on his signature campaign pledge.

He said Wednesday that he’s still waiting on lawmakers to present him with final legisla-tive language before making a decision. But he’s not waiting to declare victory, contend-ing at the White House on Wednesday that a wall “is being built as we speak.”

Indeed, work on a first

barrier extension — 14 miles in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley — starts this month, approved by Congress about a year ago along with money to renovate and strengthen some existing fencing. But that’s a far cry from the vast wall he promised during his campaign would “go up so fast your head will spin.”

White House officials cau-tioned that they had yet to see final legislative language, which was still being worked out Wednesday. And Trump has a history of balking at

Trump still coy on border deal

President Donald Trump listens to a question during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Washington. [AP PHOTO/ EVAN VUCCI]

By Terry Spencer The Associated Press

PARKLAND — The com-munities and families terrorized by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre will spend Thursday’s anniversary vis-iting graves, packing meals for the needy and contribut-ing to other service projects as they quietly remember the 14 students and three staff members who lost their lives.

Victims’ families say they will mourn out of the public eye. The Parkland school will be on a half-day schedule: Stoneman Douglas students will serve breakfast to first responders and will be dis-missed nearly three hours before the time the shooting began, about 2:20 p.m. Many say they will avoid school altogether. Students at other Broward County schools will also work on service projects and observe a moment of

silence.A ceremony honoring the

victims will be held in a park near the school where stu-dents also will prepare meals for disadvantaged children. A nondenominational, tem-porary temple will open in neighboring Coral Springs, where half the school’s stu-dents live. Visitors will be allowed to mourn, contem-plate, leave mementos and write message on its walls. The temple will remain open until May, when it will be burned in a purification ceremony.

THE FAMILIES

For the victims’ fami-lies, there is no day without pain. The families remain outspoken in their demand that school Superintendent Robert Runcie be fired and against the reinstatement

Families quietly remember massacre anniversary today

By Katie Sartorisksartoris@dailycommercial.com

LEESBURG — Mardi Gras is this weekend.

The Leesburg Partnership’s annual fundraiser comes to an end with the Crowning Ball on Friday evening. And the all-day party in the streets starts

Saturday morning in down-town Leesburg.

“We’ve got concerts on the square, games and rides and all sorts of foods, face paint-ers, jugglers, fire eaters, stilt walkers,” said Joe Shipes, the partnership’s chief executive officer. “And beads, lots and lots of beads.”

Saturday’s events are free and begin at 11 a.m. with the kids parade and a concert by the Mudds Jazz & Blues Band.

The pet parade starts at 2 p.m. and Bobby Blackmon takes the stage at 3 p.m. The main Mardi Gras parade starts at 7 p.m., and ThunderJack, an AC/DC tribute band, will close out the night with a concert immedi-ately after the parade.

And the weather is looking promising. Saturday calls for a high of 78 and a low of 62, according to Accuweather

Mardi Gras comes to Leesburg

Candidate Steve “Elvis” Bell and his wife, Donna “Pricilla” Bell enter the party at the Leesburg Mardi Gras kickoff party. [CINDY SHARP/

CORRESPONDENT]

Five locals vie for Mardi Gras king, queen this weekend

By Cindy Sharp Correspondent

Cornerstone Hospice veteran services in Tavares recognized 11 local veterans at the Leesburg Rotary Club, honoring them for their service with a commem-orative pin, certificate and an honorary salute.

“We’ve been doing this pro-gram for years now through seven counties in central Florida,” veteran services administrator George Wan-berg said. “It’s so important

to thank a veteran because you don’t know what they are going through in their lives. I myself am a Vietnam Marine veteran and have a passion in my heart to reach out to other veterans, thanking them for their ser-vice because without them we wouldn’t be here today.”

According to Wanberg, there are more than 40,000 veterans in Lake County and more than 1.6 million in Florida, making it the state with the second largest population of veterans.

He emphasized that 1,500 U.S. veterans die each day — 22 to 25 from suicide — and about 45,000 are homeless. This is what encourages him to keep

traveling to honor these men and women.

Last November, they hit their highest number of recipients with more than 1,500 veter-ans and handed out more than 1,000 flowers to widows of veterans.

Their stop on Wednesday rec-ognized the following veterans: Don Trombley, Joe Rudderow, Jack Jones, Bob Moody, Police Chief Robert Hicks, Jerry Sex-smith, George Waters, Chip Chernault, Michael D’Annecy, Dick Huff and Steve Skaggs.

“It’s always nice to be rec-ognized,” Jerry Sexsmith said. “We have a lot of veterans and it really means a lot to us.”

Saluting their service

Joe Rudderow is recognized for his service in the Submarines at the Leesburg Rotary Club on Wednesday. [CINDY SHARP/CORRESPONDENT]

Cornerstone Hospice honors veterans at Leesburg Rotary

See PARTY, A5

See TRUMP, A5

See REMEMBER, A6

A2 Thursday, February 14, 2019 | DailyCommercial.com

NATION&WORLD

PUBLISHER: Steve Skaggssteve.skaggs@dailycommercial.com ....................... 352-365-8213EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Tom McNifftom.mcniff@dailycommercial.com .......................... 352-365-8250DIGITAL EDITOR, LIFESTYLES EDITOR: Whitney Lehneckerwhitney.lehnecker@dailycommercial.com .............. 352-365-8258SPORTS EDITOR: Paul Jenkinspaul.jenkins@dailycommercial.com ......................... 352-365-8204SPORTS WRITER: Frank Jolleyfrank.jolley@dailycommet.com................................ 352-365-8268REPORTER: Katie Sartorisksartoris@dailycommercial.com .............................. 352-365-8257REPORTER: Roxanne Brownroxanne.brown@dailycommercial.com .................... 352-365-8266REPORTER: Payne Raypray@dailycommercial.com ..................................... 352-365-8262

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L O T T E R Y

Tuesday, Feb. 12Mega Millions: 15-32-39-50-65-7-x3Jackpot: 17-19-38-40-43-46Fantasy 5: 10-17-22-32-35 Wednesday, Feb. 13Pick 5Afternoon: 7-1-2-5-5Pick 4Afternoon: 8-7-3-3Pick 3Afternoon: 2-3-7Pick 2Afternoon: 9-6

By Amir Vahdat and Jon Gambrell Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran — A suicide car bomber attacked a bus carrying members of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard paramilitary force Wednes-day, killing at least 20 people and wounding 20 others, state media reported.

The bombing Wednesday night struck the bus travel-ing on a road between the cities of Khash and Zahedan, a mountainous region along the Pakistani border that is also near Afghanistan. Images after the blast published by semi-official news agencies showed the explosion tore the bus apart, as passers-by used the light of their cellphones to illuminate the debris.

The Revolutionary Guard, which answers only to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a statement saying a vehicle loaded with explosives targeted a bus car-rying border guards affiliated with its force.

Jaish al-Adl, an al-Qaida-linked group, claimed the bombing in a statement online. Iranian state-run and semi-official media also blamed the group for the attack.

In recent months, there’s been an uptick in assaults by the Sunni extremist group Jaish al-Adl, or the “Army of Justice.” Since its founding in 2012, it has abducted or killed border guards in hit-and-run assaults from its havens in Pakistan. It kidnapped 11 Ira-nian border guards in October.

The bombing also raised the specter of possible Ira-nian retaliation targeting Jaish al-Adl, which largely operates across the border in nuclear-armed Pakistan. Recent militant assaults inside Iran have sparked retaliatory ballistic missile strikes in Iraq and Syria. While Iran has been enmeshed in the wars engulf-ing Syria and neighboring Iraq, it largely has avoided the bloodshed plaguing the region.

However, attacks have happened.

Tehran immediately linked Wednesday’s attack in Iran’s restive southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province to an ongoing U.S.-led conference in Warsaw largely focused on Iran, just two days after the nation marked the 40th anni-versary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran’s Foreign Minis-ter Mohammad Javad Zarif directly linked the meeting to the attack Wednesday.

Suicide bomber kills 20 in Iran

By Jim Mustian Associated Press

NEW YORK — In the world of corrections, there are inmates who pose security risks, and then there’s “El Chapo.”

Drug lord Joaquin Guzman has an unparalleled record of jailbreaks, having escaped two high-security Mexican prisons before his ultimate capture and extradition to the United States.

So with Guzman convicted and staring at an expected life sentence, where will the U.S. imprison a larger-than-life kingpin with a Houdini-like tendency to slip away?

Experts point to the federal government’s “Supermax” prison in Florence, Colorado. The facility is so secure, so remote and so austere that it has been called the “Alcatraz of the Rockies.”

Located outside an old m i n i n g t o w n s o u t h o f Denver, Supermax houses the nation’s most violent offenders. Unabomber Ted

Kaczynski, Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Sept. 11 conspirator Zac-arias Moussaoui are among those who call it home.

But Guzman, set to be sentenced in June for smug-gling enormous amounts of narcotics into the U.S and having a hand in dozens of murders, would stand out

even from Supermax’s infa-mous roster because of his almost mythical reputation for breaking out.

That includes a sensa-tional 2015 escape from a maximum-security Mexico prison, where he slipped into an escape hatch beneath his shower, hopped on the back of a waiting motorcycle

and sped through a mile-long, hand-dug tunnel to freedom. Bribery is widely believed to have enabled the jailbreak, as well as a 2001 escape in which Guzman was smuggled out of another top-security Mexican prison in a laundry basket.

Could that happen at Supermax? Not likely.

Most inmates at Super-max’s only view of the outside world is a 4-inch window. The window’s design prevents them from even determining where they are housed in the facil-ity. Human interaction is minimal. The facility itself is guarded by razor-wire fences, gun towers, heav-ily armed patrols and attack dogs.

“If ever there were an escape-proof prison, it’s the facility at Florence,” said Burl Cain, the former longtime warden of the maximum-security Loui-siana State Penitentiary at Angola. “It’s the prison of all prisons.”

No escape? El Chapo likely off to ‘prison of all prisons’

Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was convicted Tuesday of running an industrial-scale smuggling operation after a three-month trial packed with Hollywood-style tales of grisly killings, political payoffs, cocaine hidden in jalapeno cans, jewel-encrusted guns and a naked escape with his mistress through a tunnel. [UNITED STATES DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION]

By Joe McDonald and Paul WisemanAP Business Writers

BEIJING — U.S. and Chi-nese trade negotiators are meeting this week for talks President Donald Trump says will help decide whether he escalates a technology dis-pute by going ahead with a March 2 tariff hike on $200 billion of imports from China.

Two days of talks start-ing Thursday allow too little time to resolve the war over Beijing’s technology ambitions that threatens to drag on weakening global economic growth, business-people and economists say. They believe China’s goal is to make enough progress to persuade Trump to extend his deadline.

There are few signs of movement on the thorni-est issue: Washington’s demand that Beijing scale back its efforts to nurture world leaders in robotics and other technologies. China’s trading partners say the state support for industries violates Beijing’s market-opening obligations and some American officials worry they might erode U.S. industrial leadership.

This week, Beijing wants “to see the threat of addi-tional tariff imposition being removed for as long as possible,” with minimal con-ditions attached, said Louis Kuijs of Oxford Economics.

Trump’s December agree-ment to postpone more tariff hikes while the two sides negotiate expires March 1. The following day, a 10 per-cent tariff imposed in July on $200 billion of Chinese imports would rise to 25 percent.

On Tuesday, Trump said

while he is not inclined to extend the March 2 deadline, he might let it “slide for a little while” if talks go well. Ear-lier, the White House called March 2 a “hard deadline.”

Companies on both sides have been battered by Washington’s tariffs and retaliatory duties imposed by the government of Chi-nese President Xi Jinping. The stakes are rising as global economic growth cools.

Trump hiked tariffs on Chinese goods over com-plaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology. The dispute has spread to include Chinese industry development plans, cyberspying and the coun-tries’ lopsided trade balance.

Chinese leaders have offered to narrow their mul-tibillion-dollar trade surplus with the United States. But

they have balked at making major changes in develop-ment plans they see as a path to prosperity and more global influence.

“China will continue resisting U.S. demands in certain areas, such as changes to its industrial strategy and the role of the state in its economy,” said Eswar Prasad, a Cornell Univer-sity economist who was head of the China division at the International Monetary Fund.

Chinese officials reject complaints that foreign companies are required to hand over technology. But business groups and foreign governments point to rules they say compel companies to disclose trade secrets or share technology with state-owned local partners.

Chinese officials also are

balking at U.S. pressure to accept an enforcement mechanism to monitor whether Beijing carries out its promises, said Kuijs.

“They feel that it is humili-ating for China,” he said.

The U.S. delegation is led by Trade Representa-tive Robert Lighthizer, who has said his priority is Chi-nese industrial policy. He is accompanied by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

The Chinese side is led by Vice Premier Liu He, Xi’s top economic adviser. It will be his second meeting with Lighthizer following last month’s talks in Washington.

Business groups and econ-omists say the decision by the top trade envoys to partici-pate suggests the talks might be making enough progress to require higher-level political decisions.

US, China envoys hold talks before Trump tariff decision

A laborer works on an aluminum wheel hub at a manufacturing facility in Qinhuangdao in northern China’s Hebei province. [CHINATOPIX]

DailyCommercial.com | Thursday, February 14, 2019 A3

LOCAL&STATE Tom McNiff, editor352-365-8250tom.mcniff@dailycommercial.com

N E W S B R I E F S

GRAYTON BEACHBeachside Red Bar in Panhandle destroyed by fi re

Fire officials in Florida's Panhandle said a fire has destroyed a famed beachside restaurant and bar.

The South Walton Fire Dis-trict said in a Facebook posting that crews responded to the Red Bar about 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Several roads in the area were closed while firefighters con-tinued to extinguish the fire in Grayton Beach, which is about 28 miles northwest of Panama City Beach.

The fire marshal will inves-tigate the cause of the fire. No additional details were imme-diately available.

ORLANDOOffi cer in coma after shooting, returns to state for care

A Florida police officer who remains in a coma after responding to a domestic vio-lence call eight months ago is returning to Orlando follow-ing a stay at a specialized care facility in Atlanta.

T h e Orlando Sentinel reported Kevin Valencia was flown back to Orlando on Wednesday.

Orlando police Sgt. Eduardo Bernal said Valencia's condi-tion remains unchanged. He said the department remains committed to helping Valen-cia's wife and family "during this incredibly difficult time."

Valencia was shot in the face on June 10 by Gary Lindsey Jr. Police said Lindsey fatally shot his four children following an argument with his wife. Lind-sey then killed himself.

Valencia will be taken to a care facility in the Orlando area.

FORT LAUDERDALEHearing delayed on Parkland dad's confl ict with ex-monitor

A hearing has been post-poned on claims by a former security monitor who says he's being harassed by the father of one of 17 people who were killed in a Parkland school shooting last year.

No immediate makeup date was set Wednesday on a com-plaint filed by Andrew Medina. Medina said Andrew Pollack showed up at a park last week and threatened the former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School monitor, who is a youth baseball coach.

Pollack's daughter, Meadow, died in last February's shooting at the school. Pollack is suing Medina, accusing him of negli-gence for his actions during the shooting. Medina wants a pro-tective order against Pollack.

Medina told police he rec-ognized shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz moments before the shooting but didn't stop him or sound an alarm. Medina was fired last year.

WEST PALM BEACHPolice recover rare monkey stolen from zoo

Kali, the 12-year-old rare Goeldi's monkey reported stolen from the Palm Beach Zoo, has been found safe and sound.

West Palm Beach police said Wednesday morning on Twit-ter that "Kali is home!" and they'll provide more details soon.

Detectives brought the Goel-di's monkey back to the zoo just before midnight and she appears to be in good condition, zoo president and CEO Margo McKnight said in a news release sent Wednesday morning.

The monkey weighs about 1 pound and requires a specialized diet as well as anti-inflammatory medicine.

A zookeeper discovered the monkey missing early Monday. Surveillance video showed a person walking on the zoo's perimeter about that same time. Officials said there were signs of forced entry in Kail's habitat.

Zoo officials are "grateful for the tenacious and passionate detectives and police officers" who searched for Kali, McK-night said.

By Ana Ceballos News Service Florida

TALLAHASSEE — A year ago, Florida lawmakers decided that one way they could try to protect students from shooters was to arm school personnel, and they doled out millions of dollars to start the school “guard-ian” program.

So far, the state dollars used for that push have been dominated by expenses for firearm supplies and staff.

The 25 sheriff’s offices participating in the school guardian program have spent nearly $2 million to buy firearm supplies such as ammunition, weapons and gun holsters and at least $3 million to pay for salaries

and benefits of employees involved in the training pro-cess, according to records obtained by The News Ser-vice of Florida.

Other purchases that have driven program costs in some counties have to do with screening candi-dates who participate in the program and expenses for uniforms. While costs

vary from county to county, the state has paid at least $376,000 for drug screen-ing, polygraph tests and psychological exams and about $300,000 on uniforms for guardians.

Training equipment and firearm accessories, how-ever, tend to dominate much

‘Guardian’ money goes to gun supplies, staff

By Payne Raypray@dailycommercial.com

TAVARES — Four students earned recognition from the Educational Foundation of Lake County Monday night by winning a scholarship that covers tuition costs at Florida schools.

The scholarship is an upgraded version of the Take Stock in Children scholarship the students already earned after joining the Take Stock program in eighth grade.

“When a student is inducted into the Take Stock program in eighth grade, they are given the opportunity to earn a two-year tuition scholarship upon high school graduation,” Foundation Director Carman Cullen-Batt said. “In 2012 we introduced an incentive program to award our top scholars for the class of 2020 for not only meeting our pro-gram requirements, but for far exceeding our expectations.”

That incentive is an addi-tional two years of tuition, and where the Take Stock in Children Scholarship origi-nally paid for a Florida public college, those extra two years can be at any Florida public university.

To win a scholarship, the students had to meet expectations for their GPA, attendance, behavior and community service.

The winners, from the class of 2020:

Atiana Cardena of Lake Minneola High School, a stu-dent in the dual-enrollment program at Lake-Sumter State College through the Health Sciences Collegiate Academy. Her long-term goal is to become a pediatric doctor with her own private practice.

Four Lake students win scholarship upgrade for tuition

By Mike SchneiderAssociated Press

ORLANDO — More than two-and-a-half years after 49 people were massacred at a gay nightclub in Florida, a prosecutor said Wednesday that no clubgoers were hit by responding officers' bullets and each time responding officers fired their weapons was reasonable and justified.

State Attorney Aramis Ayala said at a news con-ference that she had issued letters of clearance to the 14 law enforcement officers who fired more than 180 shots during a more than three-hour standoff with gunman Omar Mateen at the Orlando's Pulse nightclub in June 2016.

Ayala released the findings

a day before the one-year anniversary of another Florida mass shooting — the massacre of 17 people at Marjory Stone-man Douglas High School in Parkland.

The six-month review of the Pulse nightclub massacre included 350 witness state-ments, police radio traffic, officers' body and dash cam-eras, footage from cameras inside the club and 911 calls, according to Deborah Barra, the state attorney's chief assistant, who led the review.

"No civilians were struck. Each time law enforcement pulled the trigger, it was rea-sonable and justified," Barra said.

Dozens of other clubgoers

Prosecutor: No Pulse clubgoers hit by offi cers’ bullets

Orange circuit Chief Assistant State Attorney Deborah Barra describes the actions of the shooter in the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre, during a briefi ng Wednesday, in Orlando, to announce the results of a review of all shots fi red by police in the mass shooting that left 50 dead. State Attorney Aramis Ayala says no clubgoers were hit by responding offi cers’ bullets and each time responding offi cers fi red their weapons was reasonable and justifi ed. [JOE BURBANK/AP PHOTO]

By Rick Reed Correspondent

LEESBURG — An old grocery store — that most recently sold rattan and wicker furniture — will soon get a new beginning as seven medical office spaces.

That old store, Winn-Dixie, 106 W. North Boulevard, closed its doors when a new supermarket opened just down the road in a shopping center at Perkins Street and North Boulevard, where Ollie's now calls home.

Winn-Dixie's old build-ing was constructed in 1954, and the adjoining building most recently housed an auto parts store. It was built in 1966, according to the Lake County Property Apprais-er’s Office.

Leesburg has a history without grocery stores

dating back to the 1880-90s. It changed shortly after George Rast, then 12, and his family moved to town in 1916.

Many Leesburg resi-dents remember Eddie’s Groceteria, which occu-pied the northeast corner of Main and 7th streets for years. According to Norma Hendricks, there has been a grocery store on this corner since before World War II.

First, it was Eddie's — well before WWII.  That Eddie was Eddie Lopez

who went into business in 1933. Then it was Marvin Bowden's; then it became Pal's and finally, Bobby Einstein’s store.

The concept of a groce-teria was a departure from the way folks shopped for years. It debuted in Leesburg on Oct. 4, 1919 — three years after the Rasts arrived. And it has become the accepted mode of shopping for grocer-ies today. This “startling innovation in the grocery

N O W A N D T H E N

History of shopping

The old Rattan Wicker and Winn-Dixie building on U.S. Highway 441 in Leesburg will be turned into medical offi ces. [WHITNEY LEHNECKER/DAILY COMMERCIAL]

A look at Leesburg’s grocery stores over the years

This painting offers a look at Leesburg’s fi rst store. [SUBMITTED]

See GUARDIAN, A4

See TUITION, A4See SHOPPING, A4

See PULSE, A4

A4 Thursday, February 14, 2019 | DailyCommercial.com

Funeral Services

Linda Ann Parker passed away Sunday February 10, 2019. Linda was born January 23, 1948. Lin made friends wherever she went, from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Religious Education, to Bogota, Columbia on the Mission Field. She loved literature, and had great compassion for animals. Her quirky sense of humor will be dearly

missed by family and friends. She is survived by her younger sister and brother in law, Katie and Gary Wayne, her 99 year old mother, Elizabeth Kanoy Parker, beloved double first cousins, Sandra Adams and Bill Parker of North Carolina and a cousin Robin Rouveyrol of Eustis, FL. Her four nephews and one niece, Gary Jr, Cody, Aaron, Ryder, and Maya, upon whom she doted.

Linda Ann Parker

Yvonne W. PhillipsYvonne W. Phillips, 79 of Altamonte Springs, died Sunday, February 10, 2019. Hayes Brothers Funeral Home, Fern Park Chapel. 407.645.4633.

business in Leesburg” was reported in the Oct. 3, 1919 issue of the Lees-burg Commercial.

The local master-mind was Paul A. Miller, whose father, A.L. Miller conducted his grocery business on the north side of West Main Street the old-fashioned way.

Paul Miller had pur-chased Mote Grocery and opened it with “the very latest kink in methods,” according to the Commer-cial story.

Edward H. Mote was 21 when he first came to Leesburg in 1881. He built what is now called the Opera House on Main Street around 1890 and

had a dry goods store in the west corner of the build-ing for many years. That’s where Paul Miller started his groceteria in 1919.

“His genius for plan-ning, getting things done and making money was immediately put to work,” wrote Elizabeth Geiger about Mote in the Daily Commercial in 1968. “He boarded at the Leesburg Hotel (later to become a part of the Lake View) and established his first dry goods store across the street where D. E. Davidson had a grocery store which many of us remember.”

Geiger remembers a Mr. Weeks operating a store there, as well as J. Chester Lee, who may have been in the store with Mote before establishing his own busi-ness. She also remembers it being Lee & Taylor in

1904.The 1919 story went on

to explain that Paul Mill-er’s grocery would be run as a “groceteria,” where customers waited on him or herself, filling their own basket and checking out at the cashier’s desk on a “cash-and-carry basis.”

“Paul Miller is one of the most promising young businessmen in this sec-tion, and there is every reason to expect him to make a complete success of his venture,” gushed the reporter. “The store has no connection with the old established grocery conducted by his father, A.L. Miller, and will not be a direct competitor, because of the different methods of the established stores. But the prices at the new store will be less than those charged where clerks, delivery wagons

and credit systems are necessary expenses.”

In A.L. Miller’s store, and others like it that operated before World War I, the store would call "the lady of the house on the hand-cranked wall telephone every weekday morning that rolled around, to see what she wanted to eat that day,” according to a story written by Norma Hendricks in the Daily Commercial in 1975. This was because “ladies did not go traipsing downtown to buy gro-ceries except on special occasions.”

Unlike his long-estab-lished merchant father, Paul Miller did not stay in the grocery business for long. Instead, he went on into the contracting field and with his son joining him in later years.

SHOPPINGFrom Page A3

were wounded during the massacre but lived. None of them was hit by law enforcement bullets, although there was a near-miss when two officers fired at a club patron who had come out of a bath-room during the standoff, crouching low and peeking around a corner. Officers commanded the patron to show his hands, and when the clubgoer didn't comply, they fired. Bullets hit a mirror and either part of a door or wall but not the patron, Barra said.

Mateen fired 186 times with an assault weapon and 22 times with a handgun. At one point, his assault weapon jammed, based on a spent shell found in the weapon, Barra said.

"That is significant because that actually saved lives," she said.

The prosecutor's office concluded that respond-ing officers and deputies engaged with Mateen five separate times. Mateen was hit seven times during the fourth engagement and killed during the fifth engagement.

His wife was acquitted last year of aiding and abet-ting him and lying to FBI agents during a federal trial.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina, who was Orlan-do's police chief at the time of the massacre, said offi-cers were relieved by the prosecutor's findings.

"I'm relieved for the offi-cers and deputies, the brave men and women who went inside there and risked their own lives," Mina said. "They now have final closure and relief that they weren't responsible for the death of any victim."

PULSEFrom Page A3

Brettland Coolidge of South Lake High School, with over 400 hours of community service and the highest GPA in his graduating class. He hopes to go to Princeton or Yale after graduation.

Yolanda Iglesias of East Ridge High School, a member of both Advance-m e n t V i a I n d i v i d u a l Determination and the Distributive Education Clubs of America as well as the school's lacrosse team. She plans to become a CEO someday.

C r y s t a l W h i t b e c k , Eustis High School, a member of the ROTC Color Guard with more than 150 community

service hours under her belt. Her goal is to enroll in the University of Florida for a Bachelors and then Masters degree in nursing.

TUITIONFrom Page A3

of the sheriff’s offices’ costs. Some examples include a $125,000 virtual reality active-shooting simulator purchased i n B r e v a r d C o u n t y , $52,000 for bags and gun safes used to trans-port weapons in Polk County and $107,775 in Broward County to pro-vide protective vests to guardians.

Whether that money has been spent appropri-ately by law-enforcement agencies implementing the widely debated guard-ian program will be up for discussion during the leg-islative session that starts March 5, Senate Appro-priations Chairman Rob Bradley said.

“Certainly, compensa-tion for those who train the guardians, as well as the cost of weapons and ammunition, were anticipated costs for the guardian program,” Brad-ley, R-Fleming Island, told the News Service.

Bradley said the roll-out of the program has been promising and that the state appears to be moving in the right direction. Under the law passed in 2018, the guard-ian program was limited to school staff members whose primary duties are outside the classroom.

This year, Republican leaders are building a case to allow arming classroom teachers as guardians.

Democrats, however, are concerned that too much money is going toward buying guns and ammuni-tion rather than going to other school-safety mea-sures, like cameras, fencing or hiring law-enforcement officers to work in schools.

“This is another egre-gious example of the undue influence the gun lobby was given during the creation of the guardian pro-gram,” Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, told the News Service. “Every dollar spent by districts on fire-arms and ammunition is another state dollar not being put toward school hardening, mental health services and the hiring of SROs (school resource officers).”

The guardian program, created after a gunman armed with a semi-auto-matic rifle killed 17 people at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last Valentine’s Day, has remained highly controversial as it nears its one-year mark. Democrats are pushing back against expanding it to allow armed classroom teachers.

“Every teacher that I have spoken to has made it clear that they do not want a gun, because it is not their job,” said Rep. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park. “But, leave it to Tallahassee, we do what we want to do and say the hell with what they have to say. It’s

bad, unnecessary and just wrong.”

From the 25 counties that have decided to arm school personnel, all but one have requested fund-ing from the state — a total of $9.3 million out of the $67 million that law-makers set aside for the program this year.

P o l k C o u n t y h a s requested $1.5 million to implement the program, the most of any county. The county’s sheriff, Grady Judd, was a key player in helping shape the statewide program.

The rest of the state’s 42 counties have opted out of the program and are not able to tap into the unspent $57 million for other security measures.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he wants to roll this year’s unspent money for the program into the 2019-2020 budget, but those details will be ironed out during budget n e g o t i a t i o n s b y t h e Legislature. But it has support from Republican leaders, including Senate President Bill Galvano, whose chamber is moving a sweeping school secu-rity proposal that will lead to lawmakers addressing funding questions.

The state Department of Education, which oversees the guardian program, allows counties to use state money for “relevant costs associated with the administra-tion of the project.” That includes offices sup-plies, the employment

of “appropriate staff,” meeting room rentals, consulting costs and training equipment.

In some cases, counties have redacted expense amounts, so the records obtained by the News Ser-vice do not show an exact total. But the records give details about many expenditures.

While large sums of state money have gone to firearm supplies and training equipment, such as targets, gun holsters and gun range rentals, seven of the 25 partici-pating counties have invested a total of $23,300 in training that is designed to reduce racial bias in policing.

The Clay County Sher-iff’s Office, for example, s u b m i t t e d a b u d g e t request to the Depart-ment of Education to cover $2,638 in travel costs associated with sending two deputies to a seminar on “human diversity.” Those two deputies were assigned to train school guardians.

J o n e s s a i d r a c i a l -diversity training is one piece of the puzzle when it comes to improving community policing, including school staff who are trained to act in shooting situations.

“Putting money toward racial and diversity train-ing is one thing, but putting action and rec-ommendations in their policies after the train-ings are what’s key,” Jones said.

GUARDIANFrom Page A3

From the left, Atiana Cardenas, Brettland Coolidge, Yolanda Iglesias and Crystal Whitbeck. The four each won an upgraded scholarship paying for four years of tuition at Florida schools. [TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN]

DailyCommercial.com | Thursday, February 14, 2019 A5

deals after signaling he was on board. But barring any major changes or late addi-tions, he was expected to acquiesce.

Trump and his aides have also signaled that he is prepar-ing to use executive action to try to secure additional money for the wall by tapping into existing federal dollars with-out any congressional sign-off

so he can show supporters he’s continuing to fight. That could lead to resistance in Congress or federal court.

But assuming there are no surprises in the final text, “I think he’s going to sign it,” conservative Rep. Mark Mead-ows, R-N.C., a close ally of the president, said Wednesday.

Swallowing the deal would mark a major concession by Trump, who has spent months insisting the situation at the southern border represents a national security crisis that demands an impregnable wall. He also had insisted he would

accept nothing less than $5.7 billion for the barrier — a demand that forced the 35-day partial shutdown that left hun-dreds of thousands of federal workers without paychecks.

The tentative deal lawmak-ers reached this week would provide less than $1.4 billion for border barriers while keep-ing the government funded through the end of September.

I n p r i v a t e c o n v e r s a -tions since the deal was first announced, Trump has com-plained, calling the committee members poor negotiators, said a person familiar with the

conversations who was not authorized to speak publicly. He has also made clear that he wanted more money for the wall and has expressed con-cern the plan is being framed as a defeat for him in the media.

There is also little doubt the deal will pass Congress, barring 11th-hour surprises. Democratic leaders are sell-ing it as solid compromise that will keep the government open.

At a Cabinet meeting Tues-day, Trump said he wasn’t “thrilled” or happy with the deal, but made clear that, if he

does sign the legislation, he is strongly considering supple-menting it by moving money from what he described as less important areas of government.

Trump kept his cards close, telling reporters he would be taking “a very serious look” at the final text once the White House receives it and watch-ing for any “land mines.” Still, he reiterated his aversion to another shutdown.

Lawmakers need to pass some kind of funding bill by midnight Friday to avoid another shutdown.

TRUMPFrom Page A1

forecasts. It’ll be mostly cloudy all day with a slight chance of rain. In prior years, it hasn’t been so nice, Shipes said.

Leesburg’s Mardis Gras, now in its 23rd year, is one of the partnership’s biggest fundraisers. Over the past six weeks, candidates for King Rex and Queen Divine have raised money for the partnership by hosting events, celebrity bar-tending and selling chance draw

tickets.Three men are competing for

king: John Sokol, owner of the Great Chicago Fire Brewery and Tap Room; John Mayfield, a funeral director with Beyers Funeral Home; and Steve Bell, CEO of Home Health Care Affiliates. Two women are run-ning for queen: Lyndsi Johnson, the branch manager for United Southern Bank’s downtown Leesburg location; and Jessy Flinn, executive chef and owner of Gourmet Today Catering.

On Friday, the candidates who raised the most money in each category for the part-nership will be crowned king

and queen. This year’s totals aren’t in yet, but last year, four candidates raised nearly $132,000.

“It’s been really excit-ing,” Shipes said of the 2019 season. “We’ve a great lineup this year with candidates, working really hard with a lot of events.”

Tickets for the crowning ball are still available. They cost $50 each and are available for purchase through any of the candidates. They’re also available online at leesburg-partnership.com/mardigras.

The ball starts at 7 p.m. Friday and attendees should

wear a costume or formal attire. Hypersona is enter-taining and La Hacienda

Catering is providing food. There will be a cash bar and a costume contest.

PARTYFrom Page A1

When: starting at 11 a.m. SaturdayWhere: downtown LeesburgCost: freeSchedule11 a.m. — The Mudds, kids

parade2 p.m. — Pet parade3 p.m. — Bobby Blackmon7 p.m. — Mardi Gras parade8 p.m. — Thunder Jack

Mardi Gras Party In The Streets

When: 7 p.m. FridayWhere: Leesburg Boat Club, 31 Dozier CircleCost: $50 per ticket, available from candidates or at leesburgpartnership.com/mardigras

Mardi Gras Crowning Ball

A6 Thursday, February 14, 2019 | DailyCommercial.com

BUSINESS

2,200

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3,000

A FS O N D J

2,640

2,720

2,800 S&P 500Close: 2,753.03Change: 8.30 (0.3%)

10 DAYS

21,000

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A FS O N D J

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25,640 Dow Jones industrialsClose: 25,543.27Change: 117.51 (0.5%)

10 DAYS

Advanced 1798Declined 968New Highs 84New Lows 4

Vol. (in mil.) 3,623Pvs. Volume 3,779

2,0452,07416921202

7418

NYSE NASD

DOW 25625.95 25480.86 25543.27 +117.51 +0.46% +9.50%DOW Trans. 10517.99 10431.71 10496.97 +51.70 +0.50% +14.47%DOW Util. 738.96 734.30 737.34 -1.90 -0.26% +3.42%NYSE Comp. 12510.88 12452.44 12474.89 +36.45 +0.29% +9.67%NASDAQ 7461.67 7413.84 7420.38 +5.76 +0.08% +11.83%S&P 500 2761.85 2748.63 2753.03 +8.30 +0.30% +9.82%S&P 400 1897.02 1883.59 1893.28 +8.99 +0.48% +13.84%Wilshire 5000 28625.54 28462.49 28548.53 +86.04 +0.30% +10.87%Russell 2000 1545.74 1536.25 1542.94 +4.71 +0.31% +14.41%

HIGH LOW CLOSE CHG. %CHG. YTDStocksRecap

AT&T Inc T 26.80 37.81 29.84 +.03 +0.1 s t s +4.6 -12.5 6 2.04fAdvance Auto Parts AAP 102.15 186.15 166.46 -1.43 -0.9 s s s +5.7 +53.6 29 0.24Amer Express AXP 89.05 114.55 107.56 +.56 +0.5 s s s +12.8 +14.6 15 1.56AutoNation Inc AN 32.87 54.99 37.95 -.11 -0.3 s s s +6.3 -30.3 8 ...Brown & Brown BRO 24.34 31.55 28.45 -.02 -0.1 s s s +3.2 +12.6 25 0.32CocaCola Co KO 41.45 50.84 49.79 +.13 +0.3 s s s +5.2 +16.5 94 1.56Comcast Corp A CMCSA 30.43 40.42 37.03 -.21 -0.6 t s s +8.8 -1.4 18 0.84fDarden Rest DRI 82.38 124.00 111.64 +.13 +0.1 s s s +11.8 +21.4 21 3.00Disney DIS 97.68 120.20 110.20 +1.00 +0.9 t t s +0.5 +7.3 15 1.76fGen Electric GE 6.66 15.59 10.37 +.39 +3.9 s s s +37.0 -30.2 dd 0.04mGeneral Mills GIS 36.42 56.91 44.47 -.37 -0.8 s s s +14.2 -14.8 13 1.96Harris Corp HRS 123.24 175.50 161.96 -.12 -0.1 s s s +20.3 +7.7 29 2.74fHome Depot HD 158.09 215.43 188.41 +2.89 +1.6 s s s +9.7 +3.0 21 4.12IBM IBM 105.94 162.11 137.52 +1.47 +1.1 s s s +21.0 -6.0 14 6.28Lowes Cos LOW 81.16 117.70 101.46 +1.99 +2.0 s s s +9.9 +3.6 23 1.92NY Times NYT 21.34 32.02 31.37 -.05 -0.2 r s s +40.7 +31.0 cc 0.20fNextEra Energy NEE 146.86 184.41 182.85 -.42 -0.2 t s s +5.2 +25.1 13 4.44PepsiCo PEP 95.94 122.00 114.12 +.33 +0.3 s s s +3.3 +4.9 33 3.71Suntrust Bks STI 46.05 75.08 64.65 -.91 -1.4 s s s +28.2 -0.3 11 2.00WalMart Strs WMT 81.78 106.21 97.94 +.97 +1.0 s s s +5.1 -0.5 56 2.08fXerox Corp XRX 18.58 32.31 30.00 -.09 -0.3 s s s +51.8 +3.8 cc 1.00

52-WK RANGE CLOSE YTD 1YR NAME TICKER LO HI CLOSE CHG %CHG WK MO QTR %CHG %RTN P/E DIV

Stocks of Local Interest

of suspended Sheriff Scott Israel, saying their inaction and mistakes allowed the shooting to happen. Still, most who have spoken publicly say they plan to spend Thursday quietly.

Jaime Guttenberg’s family, for example, will visit her grave, while Nick Dworet’s will go to the beach where his ashes were scattered in the ocean. Athletic Director Chris Hixon’s family is preparing for a race in his honor on Saturday.

“We are going to simply reflect and remember,” said Tony Montalto, president of the victims’ families’ organization, Stand With Parkland. “That is the best thing.”

Montalto’s 14-year-old daughter Gina died in the shooting.

THE SCHOOL

Stoneman Douglas students will mark the tragedy by work-ing on service projects. They can also receive mental health

counseling and visit therapy dogs. Volunteers will pro-vide massages and manicures. Security will be heightened at Stoneman Douglas and throughout the district. Main-tenance workers will be kept out of Broward schools to avoid banging and loud noises that might upset students and teachers.

Mickey Pope, the district’s chief of student-support ser-vices, said the staff worked with mental health counsel-ors, community groups, the victims’ families and others for four months to devise a plan that they believe will honor those killed and allow students and staff to mourn.

Many Stoneman Douglas students are skipping school Thursday. For some it’s too emotional; others don’t want to be in the spotlight.

Jessie Frengut, a senior, said she and friends, including one wounded in the attack, are going to a farm to spend time with animals trained to comfort people with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“It will just be better for us if we do something on our own,” she said.

THE TEMPLE

San Francisco-area artist David Best began building temples honoring the dead in 2000 at Nevada’s Burning Man festival after a protege died in a motorcycle accident. He has since built them worldwide.

This creation, “The Temple of Time,” represents the indefinite period it will take for the com-munity to come to grips with the slayings. Best rejected naming it “The Temple of Healing” because he said that is impos-sible for the victims and their families.

“It is a big, ornate structure that someone will come and put their faith in. I am the carpenter; I don’t write the doctrine,” Best said. “Each person can come in with whatever they have.”

Best’s regular volunteers — 26 of them came to Florida from around the country — scrambled last week to finish the approxi-mately 1,600-square-foot temple. Community members donated their time to help.

Plywood sheets and cedar beams were piled everywhere as the building took shape, meet-ing Florida’s stringent hurricane code even though it will be

burned before the storm season starts. Most construction materials and other expenses are being paid by former New York Mayor Michael Bloom-berg’s public arts foundation, but neither Best nor his work-ers are paid.

“The initial reaction (people have) is, ‘This is really crazy, why are you burning this? It is really beautiful.’ But at the end of the period it usually makes sense to everyone,” said vol-unteer Paul Walker, an English artist who now lives in San Francisco. “The fire is very therapeutic.”

REMEMBERFrom Page A1

California artist David Best, and a team of volunteers build a non-denominational, temporary temple for the anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting massacre, on Tuesday, in Coral Springs, Fla. [BRYNN ANDERSON/AP PHOTO]

DailyCommercial.com | Thursday, February 14, 2019 A7

H AV E YO U R S AY

We welcome signed letters and guest columns. Letters should not exceed 300 words and columns should not exceed 500 words. Columns need to include a recent headshot of the writer. We edit for length, clarity, and grammar. Mail: Voices, P.O. Box 490007, Leesburg, FL 34749-0007 Email: letters@daily-commercial.com Fax: 352-365-1951

A N O T H E R O P I N I O N

OPINION

Steve Skaggs | PublisherTom McNiff | Executive EditorWhitney Lehnecker | Digital Editor, Lifestyles Editor

Tom McNiff, editor352-365-8250tom.mcniff@dailycommercial.com

I t took one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history for the Florida Legislature to finally pass some sensible gun-control measures.

A year later, state lawmakers are again considering legislation in response to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland — only this time, they’re more likely to allow guns into classrooms than do more to keep them out of the hands of dangerous individuals.

Seventeen students and staff members were killed and 17 others were injured in the Feb. 14, 2018, school shooting in Parkland. The young survivors of the shooting success-fully pushed for the first gun-control legislation passed in Florida in years, including raising the age for buying rifles to 21 from 18 years old and allowing law enforce-ment to petition the courts to temporarily seize guns from people who pose a threat to themselves or others.

The legislation also included funding for school-safety measures and required that schools either employ law enforcement officers or arm school staff under a new “guardian” program. Now the Legislature is consider-ing letting classroom teachers be armed, with the bill passing the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.

Allowing guns into classrooms only raises the risk of a student accidentally being shot. Schools that have turned down the guardian program would benefit from having the millions allocated to the program going instead to helping pay for well-trained law enforcement officers in schools and measures to make school buildings more secure.

The Legislature should also expand gun-safety measures, including allowing families to petition the courts to seize guns from someone deemed to be a threat to themselves or others. Such measures help prevent shootings as well as suicides, with a study of similar laws in Connecticut and Indiana show-ing they reduced gun suicides in both states.

In addition, a loophole should be closed in Florida law that allows a gun buyer to avoid a background check by purchasing firearms through private sales or online. A new study found nearly 93,500 online ads for guns in Florida, with no background check required, were posted on a popular website for gun sales in 2018 alone.

Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun-safety group that conducted the research, also placed ads on the site and did background checks on those who responded. It found that one in seven Floridians who sought to buy guns had committed violent felonies, domes-tic abuse and other crimes that would have dis-qualified them if such checks were required.

Keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous individu-als shouldn’t be controversial, yet the National Rifle Association has denounced the background-check measure. The bill hasn’t even been scheduled for a com-mittee hearing in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

A year after the massacre in Parkland, the public needs to push lawmakers to build upon the moder-ate gun-control measures passed in the wake of the shooting. Don’t let the Legislature reverse the prog-ress made on preventing gun violence in Florida.

 The Gainesville Sun

A N O T H E R O P I N I O N

Don’t reverse progress on gun safety

K ermit the Frog was wrong. It is now easy to be “green.” The

evidence is the “Green New Deal,” which CNN describes as a “...10-year ‘economic mobi-lization’ that would phase out fossil fuel use and overhaul the nation’s infrastructure while building whole new layers into the existing social safety net.” The 14-page resolution was proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA).

Conservatives mock her for proposing, among other things, the complete trans-formation of every building in the U.S. and trains that would span the oceans as airplanes are phased out. Ocasio-Cortez doesn’t appear to know how any of this will be paid for, but when one is liberal it doesn’t matter. It’s the thought that counts, not the outcome.

It is helpful to remem-ber how what once seemed extreme has now become accepted. Think of abortion, which most of the country opposed in the late 19th cen-tury. Now our elected officials advocate for it. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently wrote a scath-ing op-ed in The New York Times supporting late-term abortions in his state.

Same-sex marriage, the outlawing of prayer and Bible reading in pub-lic schools and ending the Pledge of Allegiance in some schools was once thought extreme and fantastical.

Now we have the extreme Green New Deal, which even addresses flatulent cows and the methane they emit. CNBC reports the plan “aimed to have the U.S. creating ‘net-zero’ greenhouse gases in 10 years,” lawmakers explain-ing: “We set a goal to get to net-zero, rather than zero

emissions, in 10 years because we aren’t sure that we’ll be able to fully get rid of farting cows and airplanes that fast.”

Question. Since there are more humans than cows, shouldn’t the deal have included human flatulence, along with information on how they intend to control that?

Ocasio-Cortez was quick to backtrack.

“At the time this story was published, writes CNBC, the FAQ page with the phrase ‘farting cows’ appeared to have been removed from Ocasio-Cortez’s website. Fox News’ John Roberts reported that the language was tweaked to ‘emissions from cows’ in an update, which also appears to have been deleted.”

In separate interviews, Ocasio-Cortez first admit-ted her proposal would require “massive govern-ment intervention,” but later reversed herself, claiming it is the right wing that is mis-characterizing her proposal about more government intrusion into our lives.

The left is completely transparent now. In the words of Barack Obama, they do plan to “fundamentally transform the United States of America.” Millennials, especially, are fine with this because they have had such nonsense fed to them in public schools and by university professors. No evidence that contradicts their doctrines can persuade them. They accept what they have been told as a cult member accepts what its leader tells them.

Need proof? Read a report by the National Associa-tion of Scholars on the state of civics education in U.S. public schools. An analysis of the 525-page document on thefederalist.com found that even in places where

civics education remains, it is being “transformed into a political machine to push left-wing causes, undermine American government and incite civil unrest. ... The “New Civics” uses attrac-tive, bipartisan-sounding works like ‘civics’ and ‘service learning’ to trick Americans and their representatives into allowing progressive politi-cal machinery to hijack public funds and young minds.”

The left used to mask their agenda for fear of backlash. Now they are open about their views. The response should go beyond ridicule. What we need is pushback that con-tains scientific, economic and political arguments and supplants feelings with facts.

Want more proof that failed liberal policies never produce a change of direc-tion, but a doubling down on discredited ideas? A task force created by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel proposes giving some Chicago families $1,000 per month with no strings attached. The idea is to break the cycle of poverty, but that assumes recipients use taxpayer money wisely. I’m sure a guaranteed check for doing nothing will be all the incentive some need to liberate themselves from an addiction to government. It has worked so well at the federal level, hasn’t it?

Several Democratic presi-dential candidates support the “Green New Deal, though it reeks of communism. After the ridicule, opponents had better find a way to com-municate the truth, or we risk becoming another Venezuela.

This year marks Cal Thomas’ 35th year as a syndicated columnist. Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaedi-tors@tribpub.com.

A N O T H E R O P I N I O N

Getting easier to be ‘green’

What about that tax cut?

I am sure you have noticed, Mr. Andrews and Mr. McAli-ster, when you write one of your letters, how most who disagree cry racist and/or obstructionist? Of course, I am referring to the far right and diehard Trump fans. You two gentlemen appear to be right on the mark with your comments.

We use to have civil discus-sions, but these days they are acrimonious and insulting, much like Mr. Trump speaks. Mr. Cohn replied to a letter I wrote last year, wherein I mentioned that President Clinton's Administration left the largest surplus ever in 2000 at $237 billion. Mr. Cohn replied that Clinton-Gore left

a "$560 billion" debt. He failed to mention that Clinton-Gore slashed the deficient they inherited in half. The Clinton-Gore administration accomplished a great deal for all citizens. It's easy to find on the internet, just check out "The Clinton Presidency Historic Economic Growth."

And yes, Mr. Cohn, I do understand the meaning of obstruction. A prime example is Mitch McConnell refus-ing to consider President Obama's nomination for the Supreme Court for over a year. That was obstructing Obama's right to nominate and Judge Garland's right to be interviewed and voted on.

As for all the good things Mr. Trump has accomplished in two years, my taxes are

now going up for 2018 and the richest citizens got a tax cut.

Betty Smith, Leesburg 

Russians, Russians everywhere

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin just got sanctions reduced on Russian oligarchs and their companies, saving them millions of dollars. You may remember Mnuchin con-veniently forgot to disclose $100 million he had hidden in the Cayman Islands, when he was nominated by Trump.

Apparently Mnuchin had sold a company to Len Bla-vatnik, a Ukraine immigrant who is now a U.S. citizen, for $25 million. He had also visited Blavatnik on his luxury yacht. Blavatnik also

donated $7 million dollars to Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio in the 2016 campaign. He can do it because he is a citizen, but what do you bet that some of the money came from his Rus-sian mob partners?

Trump got $30 million from the NRA in 2016 — more than any other candidate ever. Maria Butina is a Russian spy arrested for infiltrating the NRA.

Forty percent of Americans do not have $400 in emer-gency funds, and this fake president will shut down our entire government for a wall he knows is not necessary. Let Trump pay for the wall with his money — as Mexico will not. Trump's lies about the prayer mats, Duct Tape

and fast cars at the border all originated in his head after watching a movie. It's true, you can't make this stuff up.

As a veteran, I am ashamed of our country. Trump's secret meetings with Putin, with no one else allowed in the room except Putin's transla-tor, show what a danger he is. Why are Trump support-ers willing to over look his lies, corruption and treason-ous behavior? It's because he hates the same people they hate. We should be scared.

The only thing I loathe more than a Republican politician are the uninformed fools who vote them into office.

B r i n g i t h o m e R o b e r t Mueller.

Micahael Perham, Clermont

L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

A8 Thursday, February 14, 2019 | DailyCommercial.com

FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR LEESBURG NATIONAL WEATHER FOR FEBRUARY 14,2019TODAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY

JrhtàèjS-y ■if V

Mostly sunny and warmer

Rather cloudy Mainly cloudy Intervals of clouds and sunshine

Partly sunny with a shower possible

HIGH LOW

74° 52°HIGH LOW

77° 54°HIGH LOW

78° 62°HIGH LOW

82° 64°HIGH LOW

82° 64°

a.Pensacola

67/57Panama City 66/54

Tallahassee ^ 69/40

For up to the minute and detailed weather information, go to:

® AccuWeatherDOWNLOAD THE FREE APP

Lake City 72/45

Jacksonville70/46

Daytona Beach 71/54

Astor74/50

The Villages Oxford 74/so

74/50

Wildwood 75/50 *-

ColemLake Panasoffkee®. '75/50 75/50 Sumtervi

75/50Bushnell 9. Center Hill

i/50 «-75/50«.

Webster 75/50 G

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r* ' (Altoona75/51

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-74/51 ; «-74/52 Sorrento an % r % , ft. 74/52

Leesburg Tavares .r , 74/52 74/52 le

Vero Beach 75/55

It. Petersburg 74/57

a Moni

roveland Clermont 5/51 74/52

Mount Dora74/52

I.Sarasota

76/57

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Shown is today’s weather.

Temperatures are today’s highs and

tonight's lows.

Ft. Myers«- 78/57

aNaples^

78/59

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019

NATIONAL CITIES

Okeechobee75/53

Palm Beach 76/67 -

Fort Lauderdale 78/66 ^

!. Miami 78/64

aKey Largo 76/69

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Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are today’s highs for the day. Forecast high/low temperatures are given for selected cities.

Houston74/61

Miami78/64

Showers T-slorms: : : :

RainK^I Flurries ¿3

Snowgg lceE3

Yesterday’s National High/Low: (for the 48 contiguous states)High 80° in Marathon, FL Low -20° in Harvey, ND

UV INDEX TODAY

|0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11|0-2 Low, 3-5 Moderate, 6-7 High, 8-10

Very High, 11+ Extreme The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index"

number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

THE SUN AND MOON

SOLUNAR TABLEThe solunar period schedule allows planning days so you will be fishing in good territory or hunting in good cover during those times. Major periods begin at the times shown and last for 1.5 to 2 hours. The minor periods are shorter.

Major Minor Major MinorToday 6:44 a.m. 12:30 a.m. 7:12 p.m. 12:58 p.m. Fri. 7:36 a.m. 1:22 a.m. 8:06 p.m. 1:51p.m.

Today

7:07 a.m. 6:17 p.m. 1:16 p.m. 2:19 a.m.

SunriseSunsetMoonriseMoonset

TIDESHomosassa

Day High FeetToday 1:25 pm....... 0.5

11:55 pm....1.4Daytona Beach Day High FeetToday 2:26 am....... 3.8

2:52 pm....3.3

Friday

7:06 a.m. 6:17 p.m. 2:10 p.m. 3:21 a.m.

Low Feet9:25 am....0.25:32 pm....0.3

Low Feet9:00 am....0.49:11 pm ....-0.1

Feb 19

DayFri.

DayFri.

High Feet3:06 pm....0.4

High Feet3:35 am....4.04:00 pm....3.5

Low Feet10:34 am....0.16:24 pm....0.3

Low Feet10:02 am....0.210:13 pm ....-0.3

Today Friday Today Friday Today Friday Today Friday Today FridayCity Hi Lo W Hi Lo W City Hi Lo W Hi Lo W City Hi Lo W Hi Lo W City Hi Lo W Hi Lo W City Hi Lo W Hi Lo WAlbany 36 27 pc 46 24 sh Cheyenne 48 23 pc 49 20 pc Great Falls 20 5 pc 17 3 sn Norfolk, VA 57 44 pc 67 47 c San Francisco 58 46 r 54 46 rAlbuquerque 57 45 c 61 35 c Chicago 44 11 c 23 14 c Greensboro, NC 62 42 pc 63 49 c Oklahoma City 66 31 pc 41 22 c San Juan, PR 85 73 s 85 73 pcAnchorage 13 -1 s 14 6 s Cincinnati 52 36 c 40 25 pc Hartford 39 30 pc 49 26 c Omaha 32 2 c 13 3 sn Santa Fe 54 41 c 57 30 cAsheville 60 39 pc 60 46 c Cleveland 45 37 c 38 22 pc Honolulu 75 65 sh 79 65 PC Philadelphia 46 38 pc 58 33 c St. Ste. Marie 27 19 sn 23 9 snAtlanta 65 48 pc 65 56 c Columbia, SC 68 41 pc 69 53 c Houston 74 61 c 78 64 pc Phoenix 60 53 r 66 48 c Seattle 41 35 r 46 32 shAtlantic City 47 37 pc 58 34 c Concord, NH 35 18 pc 45 23 r Indianapolis 49 24 c 32 21 pc Pittsburgh 47 40 c 43 22 pc Shreveport 72 55 c 75 53 cBaltimore 50 41 pc 59 33 c Dallas 75 51 pc 74 36 pc Jackson, MS 70 55 c 72 56 c Portland, ME 37 22 pc 45 26 c Spokane 33 27 sn 34 24 sfBillings 17 8 pc 24 11 sn Dayton 48 30 c 36 22 pc Kansas City 46 14 c 18 5 sn Portland, OR 42 37 r 49 33 sh Syracuse 34 31 c 43 24 shBirmingham 63 53 pc 66 56 c Denver 53 25 pc 54 27 pc Las Vegas 56 44 r 60 42 pc Providence 40 31 pc 53 32 sh Topeka 48 16 pc 18 7 snBismarck 2 -21 pc 4 -2 pc Des Moines 34 1 c 13 4 sn Little Rock 65 46 c 54 34 r Raleigh 62 45 pc 67 49 c Tucson 69 57 r 66 46 cBoise 48 36 sh 43 25 r Detroit 40 28 c 30 15 c Louisville 57 39 c 44 29 c Reno 49 32 r 40 25 sn Tulsa 67 31 pc 37 24 cBoston 40 32 pc 53 31 sh Duluth 23 1 sn 15 -1 pc Memphis 64 48 c 56 31 r Richmond 59 45 pc 66 43 c Washington, DC 53 46 pc 63 38 cBuffalo 39 35 c 38 21 sn El Paso 75 59 pc 71 48 c Milwaukee 41 11 c 20 13 c Sacramento 59 44 r 54 42 r Wilmington, DE 46 37 pc 57 30 cBurlington, VT 29 20 pc 40 21 sn Fargo 5 -11 pc 5 -13 s Minneapolis 24 -4 sn 12 -2 pc St. Louis 57 19 c 27 18 snCharleston, SC 67 47 s 72 54 c Fairbanks 3 -17 s 3 -13 s Nashville 60 50 c 53 35 sh Salt Lake City 49 37 sh 46 29 r Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,Charleston, WV 61 46 pc 53 32 sh Flagstaff 41 29 r 43 24 c New Orleans 72 59 c 75 64 c San Antonio 71 53 pc 84 57 pc c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,Charlotte, NC 64 43 pc 65 53 c Grand Rapids 40 22 sn 22 9 c New York City 44 39 pc 55 33 c San Diego 64 57 r 63 54 sh r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

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DailyCommercial.com | Thursday, February 14, 2019 B1

SPORTS

F O O T B A L L | B 2

RAVENS WILL SEND QB FLACCO TO DENVER

Paul Jenkins, Sports editor 352-365-8204paul.jenkins@dailycommercial.com

By Jenna FryerThe Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH — Jim France is running NASCAR the same way he lives his life — quietly, in the background, away from the spotlight he never craved.

The youngest son of NAS-CAR’s founder carved his own path in the family business and left the leadership roles to his father, Bill France Sr., and then to his older brother. Jim France ran sports cars, served on NASCAR’s boards and was content when nephew Brian

France replaced Bill France Jr. as chairman of NASCAR in 2003.

Brian France made radical changes to the playoff system, approved a new car and stage racing, pulled NASCAR out of some of its traditional markets for big city exposure and, along the way, man-aged to alienate a chunk of the series’ aging fan base. He showed little interest in calls for a condensed season, shorter events, weekday races and a greater variety of tracks even as NASCAR spent much of the last decade unable to

stop a slide in attendance and television ratings or an exodus of top sponsors.

Then Brian France was arrested last August in New York, hundreds of miles from Chase Elliott’s first Cup Series victory that same day, on charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated and crimi-nal possession of a controlled substance. He immediately took a leave of absence and uncle Jim France stepped in as interim chairman and CEO.

France quietly leads NASCAR changeThen-NASCAR executive vice president Jim France, left, and then-Daytona International Speedway president Joie Chitwood III pose in Daytona Beach in 2015. France is running NASCAR the same way he lives his day-to-day life — quietly, in the background, away from the spotlight he never craved. [JOE

BURBANK/ORLANDO

SENTINEL VIA AP, FILE]

By Frank Jolleyfrank.jolley@dailycommercial.com

Francisco Lindor has never forgotten where he came from and the people who helped him reach the major leagues.

And Montverde Academy, his high school alma mater, has never forgotten him.

Lindor, who graduated in 2011 and was selected by the Cleveland Indians with the eighth pick in that year’s Major League Baseball draft, is a frequent visitor to the school in the offseason. He

often works out there and conducts a free camp for area youngsters on the baseball field, which is named for him.

On Friday, Lindor gave back to the baseball program, out-fitting the team with uniforms and other gear, including baseball cleats through his partnership with New Bal-ance. Lindor signed a contract with New Balance in 2017 and the three-time All-Star short-stop is considered to be one of the brand’s top spokesmen.

“I am able to do what I love because of the opportunities I

had being a student-athlete at Montverde Academy,” Lindor said. “We do things like host-ing a baseball clinic here and outfitting the team because I believe that it’s important to give back. I enjoy being part of the Montverde Academy community and serving as a mentor to the players.

“I’m grateful to my partner, New Balance, who has helped make the team’s experience better.”

H I G H S C H O O L N O T E B O O K

Paying it forward

Cleveland Indians All-Star Francisco Lindor hands out equipment to Montverde Academy baseball players at the school recently. [SUBMITTED]

Lindor outfi ts Montverde Academy team with uniforms

By Eric OlsonThe Associated Press

Oregon State has won 111 of its last 130 baseball games, is coming off its third national championship since 2006 and its career coaching wins leader Pat Casey retired last fall.

E n t e r P a t B a i l e y , t h e 63-year-old interim head coach who hopes to earn the permanent job for 2020.

“People think there’s a lot of pressure,” Bailey said. “I’m going to be who I am. I can’t be somebody else. In terms of the pressure part, I just think people a lot of times put undue pressure on themselves and make things out to be a lot bigger than what they are.”

Bailey has been through this before, though not at this level. He was successor to

Casey at George Fox College in Oregon and won the Divi-sion III championship four years before he joined Casey’s Oregon State staff in 2008.

As a high school coach in Oregon, Bailey replaced a two-time state champion coach at West Linn and led the program to a state runner-up finish before he left for George Fox.

Athletic director Scott Barnes named Bailey interim coach last September when Casey announced he was retiring after 24 seasons. Casey remains as a senior associate athletic director. Bailey’s task is to keep the Beavers doing what they’ve been doing.

“Our expectations are extremely high,” he said.

The Beavers begin the defense of their national title in Surprise, Arizona, when

the Division I season opens Friday. They open against New Mexico, play Gonzaga on Saturday and Minnesota, the team they beat in super regionals, on Sunday.

Kevin Abel, who as a fresh-man won a record four games in the College World Series and threw a two-hit shutout against Arkansas in Game 3 of the finals, heads a pitch-ing staff that remains mostly intact.

Bryce Fehmel, a 10-game winner last year, and Grant Gambrell are the Nos. 2 and 3 starters, and 16-save closer Jake Mulholland returns.

The Beavers posted some of the best numbers in program history last year, and six of the players from the everyday lineup are gone.

C O L L E G E B A S E B A L L P R E V I E W

Oregon State looks to continue success

Former Oregon State coach Pat Casey, left, celebrates with his associate head coach Pat Bailey, after beating Arkansas for the NCAA College World Series championship on June 28, 2018, in Omaha, Neb. Bailey, now Oregon State’s interim head coach, is taking over the program that won the 2018 national championship and 111 of its last 130 baseball games. [AP PHOTO/NATI HARNIK]

William Byron speeds past the strip while qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday. Byron qualifi ed fi rst with a speed of 194.304 mph and will start on the pole. [STEVEN NOTARAS/GATEHOUSE MEDIA]

By Godwin KellyGatehouse Media

Q: When is the Daytona 500?

A: 2:30 p.m. SundayQ: How many laps is the

Daytona 500?A: 200Q: How many cars race in

the Daytona 500?A: 40

Q: When was the first Day-tona 500?

A: 1959 and the race was won by Lee Petty, who is Richard Petty’s father.

Q: Are tickets available for the Daytona 500?

A: Still don't have tick-ets? Call the ticket office at 800-748-7467 or go online to daytona500.com.

Daytona 500: What fans need to know

See FRANCE, B3

See DAYTONA, B3See LINDOR, B3

See OREGON, B3

B2 Thursday, February 14, 2019 | DailyCommercial.com

SCOREBOARD

H O W T O R E AC H U S

Paul Jenkins, Sports EditorEmail: paul.jenkins@dailycommercial.comPhone: 352-365-8204

S P O R T S R E S U LT S

Schools or coaches can report game results by calling 352-365-8204. Submissions also can be emailed to sports@dailycommercial.com. Results submitted after 9:30 p.m. may not appear in the next day’s edition of the Daily Commercial.

S P O R T S O N T V

GOLFPGA TOURGENESIS OPENSite: Los Angeles.Course: Riviera CC. Yardage: 7,322. Par: 71.Purse: $7.4 million. Winner’s share: $1,332,000.Television: Today-Friday, 3-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-2:45 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (CBS); Sunday, 1-2:45 p.m. (Golf Channel); 3-6:30 p.m. (CBS).Defending champion: Bubba Watson.FedEx Cup leader: Xander Schauffele.Last week: Phil Mickelson won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.Notes: Tiger Woods makes his second start of the year at the tournament his foundation runs. Riviera is the PGA Tour course he has played the most times (9) without ever win-ning. His best result was a tie for second, two shots behind, in 1999. ... No other regular PGA Tour event has had a stronger fi eld than the Genesis Open since 2006. This year, however, it is missing the Nos. 1 and 2 players in the world (Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka). ... Tim O’Neal received the Charlie Sifford exemption to promote advancement in diversity. ... Bubba Watson has won at Riviera three of the last fi ve years. ... Phil Mickelson changed his plans and entered the tournament. He is a two-time winner at Riviera. It will be his fi rst time competing against Woods in the same tournament since the Tour Championship. ... Fred Couples is playing on a sponsor exemp-tion. Couples won in 1990 and 1992. This will be his 36th start at Riviera, including the 1983 and 1995 PGA Championships. ... Lanny Wadkins set the tournament record of 264 in 1985. It is the oldest 72-hole record on the PGA Tour without being matched.Next week: WGC-Mexico Championship and Puerto Rico Open.Online: www.pgatour.com

LPGA TOURISPS HANDA WOMEN’S AUSTRALIAN OPENSite: Adelaide, Australia.Course: The Grange GC. Yardage: 6,648. Par: 72.Purse: $1.3 million. Winner’s share: $195,000.Television: Today-Saturday, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Golf Channel).Defending champion: Jin Young Ko.Race to CME Globe leader: Eun-Hee Ji and Celine Boutier.Last week: Celine Boutier won the ISPS Handa Vic Open.Notes: The Women’s Australian Open has been part of the LPGA Tour’s offi cial schedule since 2012, when Jessica Korda won a six-woman playoff that included Stacy Lewis and So Yeon Ryu. ... The tournament fi rst was held in 1974 and won by Chako Higuchi, now in the World Golf Hall of Fame. It ended after 1978 and was revived in 1994 when Annika Sorenstam won at Royal Adelaide. ... This is the second time the Women’s Australian Open will be held at The Grange. Haru Nomura won there in 2016. ... Ariya Jutanugarn, the No. 1 player in the world who took off last week at the Vic Open, leads the fi eld. She is the only player from among the top 5 at The Grange, which also features three others from the top 10. ... The LPGA goes to Thailand and then Singapore to conclude its fi rst stretch of international events.Next week: Honda LPGA Thailand.Online: www.lpga.com

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONSCHUBB CLASSICSite: Naples, Florida.Course: The Classics CC at Lely Resort. Yardage: 6,714. Par: 72.Purse: $1.6 million. Winner’s share: $240,000.Television: Friday, noon to 2 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 3-5:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 3-5 p.m. (Golf Channel).Defending champion: Joe Durant.Charles Schwab Cup leader: Bernhard Langer.Last week: Bernhard Langer won the Oasis Championship.Notes: Langer now has 39 victories on the PGA Tour Champions, six short of the record held by Hale Irwin. ... Langer has won in each of his 13 seasons on the PGA Tour Champions. Irwin won in his fi rst 11 seasons, and won a tournament in a total of 12 seasons. ... Langer and Tom Lehman, winners of the opening two events of the season, are both in the fi eld at Naples. ... John Daly and Peter Jacobsen are playing on a sponsor’s exemption. ... The tour-nament dates to 1988, when Gary Player won. ... Langer is a three-time winner of the Chubb Classic. He was runner-up twice. ... Langer’s victory last week moved him to $27,196,504 for his career on the PGA Tour Champions, surpassing Irwin.Next tournament: Cologard Classic on March 1-3.Online: www.pgatour.com/champions

EUROPEAN TOUR AND PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA AND ASIAN TOURISPS HANDA WORLD SUPER 6 PERTHSite: Perth, Australia.Course: Lake Karrinyup CC. Yardage: 7,143. Par: 72.Purse: A$1.6 million. Winner’s share: A$266,667.Television: Today-Sunday, 6-10 a.m. (Golf Channel-Tape Delay).Defending champion: Kiradech Aphibarnrat.Race to Dubai leader: Shane Lowry.Last week: David Law won the ISPS Handa Vic Open.Notes: The tournament features 54 holes of stroke play, followed by single-elimination matches over six holes for the fi nal round. After a 36-hole cut to the top 65 and ties, the leading 24 players advance to match play. ... If the six-hole matches are tied, players go to a special 100-yard “shootout” hole to determine who advances. ... The tournament is in its third year. ... The fi eld does not include anyone from the top 50. Tom Lewis at No. 55 is the highest-ranked player. ... The previous two winners of the event were Brett Rumford and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.Next week: WGC-Mexico Championship.Online: www.europeantour.com and www.pga.org.au and www.asiantour.com

WEB.COM TOURLECOM SUNCOAST CLASSICSite: Lakewood Ranch, Florida.Course: Lakewood National GC.Purse: $550,000. Winner’s share: $99,000.Television: None.Defending champion: New tournament.Money leader: Mark Anderson.Last week: Michael Gligic won the Panama Championship.Next tournament: El Bosque Mexican Championship on Feb. 21-24.Online: www.pgatour.com/webcom

AUTO RACINGNASCARDAYTONA 500Site: Daytona BeachSchedule: Friday, practice, 1:05 p.m. & 3:05 p.m. (FS1); Saturday, practice, 12:05 p.m. (FS1); Sunday, race, 2:30 p.m., FOX.Track: Daytona International Speedway (oval, 2.5 miles).Race distance: 500 miles, 200 laps.Last year: Austin Dillon opened 2018 with just his second career win.Fast facts: The 2019 season kicks off with the iconic Daytona 500. Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick are listed as the co-favorites at 9-to-1. ... Reigning rookie of the year William Byron will be on the pole next to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman. ...NASCAR announced last week that it plans to move its post-race inspection to the race track immediately following the race. Cars that fail post-race inspection will be disqualifi ed. ... The last known disqualifi cation of a race winner in NASCAR’s top series came 59 years ago at Wilson Speedway in North Carolina. Emanuel Zervakis was demoted to last place after inspectors discovered an oversized fuel tank.Next race: Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, Feb. 24, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia.Online: http://www.nascar.com

XFINITYNASCAR RACING EXPERIENCE 300Site: Daytona BeachSchedule: Friday, practice, 12:05 & 2:05 p.m. (FS1); Saturday, qualifying, 9:40 a.m. (FS1); race, 2:30 p.m., FS1.Track: Daytona International Speedway.Race distance: 300 miles, 120 laps.Last year: Tyler Reddick won after starting ninth.Fast facts: Reddick also won the season’s fi nal race at Homestead to claim the championship.

Those were his only two wins of the season. ... 2019 will look a bit different without longtime series driver Elliott Sadler. He retired at the end of last season. ... Chase Elliott, the 2014 series champion, will run the No. 8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports on Saturday.Next race: Rinnai 250, Feb. 23, Atlanta Motor Speedway.Online: http://www.nascar.com

CAMPING WORLD TRUCKNEXTERA ENERGY 250Site: Daytona BeachSchedule: Today, practice, 2:35 & 4:35 p.m. (FS2); Friday, qualifying, 4:40 p.m. (FS1), race, 7:30 p.m., FS1.Track: Daytona International Speedway.Race distance: 250 miles, 100 laps.Last year: Johnny Sauter took fi rst to start the season.Fast facts: Sauter fi nished fourth last season despite winning six races. Brett Moffi tt also won six events, taking the series title with victories in the fi nal two races of the year. ... Harrison Burton, who ran eight races in the trucks series a year ago, won Saturday’s ARCA race in his Daytona debut. Burton, 18, led 48 of the 86 laps in his fi rst ARCA start. ... Todd Gilliland, Burton’s Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate, was second.Next race: Active Pest Control 200, Feb. 23, Atlanta Motor Speedway.Online: http://www.nascar.com

FORMULA ONELast season: Lewis Hamilton won the title for the fourth time in fi ve years.Next race: Australian Grand Prix, March 17, Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne.Online: http://www.formula1.com

INDYCARLast season: Scott Dixon won his third champi-onship since 2013.Next race: Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 10, Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.Online: http://www.indycar.comNHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACINGLast event: Doug Kalitta won the Winter Nationals in California last weekend to kick off 2019.Next event: Arizona Nationals, Feb. 22-24, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, Chandler, Arizona.Online: http://www.nhra.com

NASCARNASCAR MONSTER ENERGY CUP SCHEDULEThursday, Feb. 14 — x-Duel 1 at Daytona, Daytona BeachThursday, Feb. 14 — x-Duel 2 at Daytona, Daytona BeachSunday, Feb. 17 — Daytona 500, Daytona BeachSunday, Feb. 24 — Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, Hampton, Ga.Sunday, March 3 — Pennzoil 400, Las VegasSunday, March 10 — TicketGuardian 500, Avondale, Ariz.Sunday, March 17 — Auto Club 400, Fontana, Calif.Sunday, March 24 — STP 500, Martinsville, Va.Sunday, March 31 — O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, Fort Worth, TexasSunday, April 7 — Food City 500, Bristol, Tenn.Saturday, April 13 — Toyota Owners 400, Richmond, Va.Sunday, April 28 — Geico 500, Talladega, Ala.Sunday, May 5 — MENCS race, Dover, Del.Saturday, May 11 — MENCS race, Kansas City, Kan.Saturday, May 18 — x-Monster Energy Open, Concord, N.C.Saturday, May 18 — x-Monster Energy All-Star Race, Concord, N.C.Sunday, May 26 — Coca-Cola 600, Concord, N.C.Sunday, June 2 — Pocono 400, Long Pond, Pa.Sunday, June 9 — FireKeepers Casino 400, Brooklyn, Mich.Sunday, June 23 — Toyota/Save Mart 350, Sonoma, Calif.Sunday, June 30 — Camping World 400, Joliet, Ill.Saturday, July 6 — Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona BeachSaturday, July 13 — Quaker State 400, Sparta, Ky.Sunday, July 21 — Foxwoods Resort Casino 301, Loudon, N.H.Sunday, July 28 — Gander Outdoors 400, Long Pond, Pa.Sunday, Aug. 4 — Go Bowling at The Glen, Watkins Glen, N.Y.Sunday, Aug. 11 — Consumers Energy 400, Brooklyn, Mich.Saturday, Aug. 17 — Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, Bristol, Tenn.Sunday, Sept. 1 — Bogangles’ Southern 500, Darlington, S.C.Sunday, Sept. 8 — Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard, IndianapolisSunday, Sept. 15 — South Point 400, Las VegasSaturday, Sept. 21 — Federated Auto Parts 400, Richmond, Va.Sunday, Sept. 29 — Bank of American ROVAL 400, Concord, N.C.Sunday, Oct. 6 — MENCS race, Dover, Del.Sunday, Oct. 13 — 1000Bulbs.com 500, Talladega, Ala.Sunday, Oct. 20 — Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas City, Kan.Sunday, Oct. 27 — First Data 500, Martinsville, Va.Sunday, Nov. 3 — AAA Texas 500, Fort Worth, TexasSunday, Nov. 10 — MENCS race, Avondale, Ariz.Sunday, Nov. 17 — Ford EcoBoost 400, Homesteadx-non-points racePoints Leaders

2018 Final1. Joey Logano, 50402. Martin Truex Jr., 50353. Kevin Harvick, 50344. Kyle Busch, 50335. Aric Almirola, 23546. Chase Elliott, 23507. Kurt Busch, 23508. Brad Keselowski, 23439. Kyle Larson, 229910. Ryan Blaney, 229811. Denny Hamlin, 228512. Clint Bowyer, 227213. Austin Dillon, 224514. Jimmie Johnson, 224215. Erik Jones, 222016. Alex Bowman, 220417. Ryan Newman, 76918. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., 70119. Paul Menard, 69220. Jamie McMurray, 683

PRO BASKETBALLNBAAll times EasternEASTERN CONFERENCEATLANTIC DIVISION W L PCT GBToronto 42 16 .724 —Boston 36 21 .632 5½Philadelphia 36 21 .632 5½Brooklyn 29 29 .500 13New York 10 46 .179 31SOUTHEAST DIVISION W L PCT GBCharlotte 27 29 .482 —Miami 25 30 .455 1½Orlando 26 32 .448 2Washington 24 33 .421 3½Atlanta 19 38 .333 8½CENTRAL DIVISION W L PCT GBMilwaukee 42 14 .750 —Indiana 38 19 .667 4½Detroit 26 29 .473 15½Chicago 13 44 .228 29½Cleveland 12 45 .211 30½

WESTERN CONFERENCESOUTHWEST DIVISION W L PCT GBHouston 33 23 .589 —San Antonio 33 26 .559 1½Dallas 26 30 .464 7New Orleans 25 33 .431 9Memphis 23 35 .397 11NORTHWEST DIVISION W L PCT GBDenver 38 18 .679 —Oklahoma City 37 19 .661 1Portland 33 23 .589 5Utah 32 25 .561 6½Minnesota 26 30 .464 12PACIFIC DIVISION W L PCT GBGolden State 41 15 .732 —Sacramento 30 26 .536 11L.A. Clippers 31 27 .534 11L.A. Lakers 28 29 .491 13½Phoenix 11 47 .190 31

Monday’s GamesIndiana 99, Charlotte 90Cleveland 107, New York 104

Detroit 121, Washington 112Toronto 127, Brooklyn 125Houston 120, Dallas 104Milwaukee 112, Chicago 99Minnesota 130, L.A. Clippers 120Oklahoma City 120, Portland 111Denver 103, Miami 87Tuesday’s GamesAtlanta 117, L.A. Lakers 113Boston 112, Philadelphia 109Orlando 118, New Orleans 88San Antonio 108, Memphis 107Golden State 115, Utah 108Today’s GamesBrooklyn at Cleveland, 7 p.m.Milwaukee at Indiana, 7 p.m.Detroit at Boston, 7:30 p.m.Philadelphia at New York, 7:30 p.m.Washington at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.Houston at Minnesota, 8 p.m.Memphis at Chicago, 8 p.m.Miami at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.Sacramento at Denver, 9 p.m.Golden State at Portland, 10:30 p.m.Phoenix at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.Thursday’s GamesCharlotte at Orlando, 7 p.m.New York at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.Oklahoma City at New Orleans, 8 p.m.HAWKS 117, LAKERS 113L.A. LAKERS (113)James 8-20 9-11 28, Kuzma 8-20 0-0 19, McGee 2-3 2-4 6, Bullock 6-11 0-0 15, Ingram 7-14 5-6 19, Wagner 0-1 0-0 0, Rondo 5-10 1-3 13, Caldwell-Pope 5-11 0-1 13, Stephenson 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 42-96 17-25 113.ATLANTA (117)Prince 6-14 1-1 17, Collins 8-15 4-5 22, Dedmon 4-8 4-4 12, Young 6-19 7-9 25, Huerter 2-7 1-2 5, Bembry 3-6 0-0 6, Spellman 2-6 1-2 6, Len 4-5 0-0 11, Bazemore 2-8 0-0 5, Carter 3-4 3-3 11. Totals 40-92 21-26 117.L.A. LAKERS 32 37 26 18 — 113ATLANTA 38 27 35 17 — 1173-Point Goals—L.A. Lakers 14-40 (Bullock 3-6, Caldwell-Pope 3-7, Kuzma 3-9, James 3-10, Rondo 2-4, Ingram 0-1, Wagner 0-1, Stephenson 0-2), Atlanta 16-42 (Prince 4-9, Len 3-4, Young 3-9, Collins 2-2, Carter 2-3, Bazemore 1-4, Spellman 1-4, Bembry 0-1, Dedmon 0-2, Huerter 0-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—L.A. Lakers 44 (James 11), Atlanta 47 (Collins 8). Assists—L.A. Lakers 25 (James 16), Atlanta 29 (Young 14). Total Fouls—L.A. Lakers 24, Atlanta 24. A—16,824 (18,118).

MAGIC 118, PELICANS 88ORLANDO (118)Isaac 7-18 4-4 20, Gordon 6-10 6-6 20, Vucevic 10-18 4-5 25, Augustin 1-3 0-0 2, Fournier 7-16 5-5 22, Frazier Jr. 1-5 0-0 2, Iwundu 3-6 0-0 8, Jefferson 0-1 2-2 2, Martin 1-1 0-0 3, Birch 3-5 0-0 6, Briscoe 1-4 0-0 3, Ross 1-7 0-0 3, Grant 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 42-95 21-22 118.NEW ORLEANS (88)Williams 1-7 0-0 2, Davis 1-9 1-2 3, Okafor 4-9 0-0 8, Holiday 7-15 1-1 16, Moore 8-13 0-0 19, Miller 3-11 0-0 9, Johnson 0-2 0-0 0, Randle 6-11 0-0 15, Diallo 0-2 0-0 0, Frazier 4-8 2-2 10, Jackson 2-7 2-3 6. Totals 36-94 6-8 88.ORLANDO 39 24 29 26 — 118NEW ORLEANS 17 29 15 27 — 883-Point Goals—Orlando 13-32 (Fournier 3-4, Iwundu 2-3, Gordon 2-4, Isaac 2-9, Martin 1-1, Vucevic 1-3, Briscoe 1-3, Ross 1-3, Frazier Jr. 0-1, Augustin 0-1), New Orleans 10-29 (Randle 3-5, Moore 3-5, Miller 3-9, Holiday 1-4, Frazier 0-1, Williams 0-2, Jackson 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Orlando 58 (Vucevic 17), New Orleans 42 (Okafor, Williams 7). Assists—Orlando 32 (Briscoe 8), New Orleans 21 (Frazier 7). Total Fouls—Orlando 14, New Orleans 16. A—15,733 (16,867).

CELTICS 112, 76ERS 109BOSTON (112)Tatum 7-15 5-5 20, Morris 7-13 2-2 17, Horford 9-16 2-2 23, Rozier 2-8 0-0 5, Smart 3-14 2-4 8, Hayward 8-11 4-4 26, Brown 3-8 1-2 7, Theis 2-2 1-2 6, Wanamaker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 41-87 17-21 112.PHILADELPHIA (109)Butler 7-12 7-10 22, Harris 4-14 2-2 10, Embiid 9-22 3-4 23, B.Simmons 7-9 2-7 16, Redick 4-11 4-4 16, Scott 0-0 0-0 0, Marjanovic 1-1 2-2 4, McConnell 4-6 0-0 9, J.Simmons 2-2 2-2 7, Korkmaz 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 39-80 22-31 109.BOSTON 28 24 25 35 — 112PHILADELPHIA 23 23 28 35 — 1093-Point Goals—Boston 13-29 (Hayward 6-7, Horford 3-5, Tatum 1-1, Theis 1-1, Morris 1-2, Rozier 1-3, Brown 0-2, Smart 0-8), Philadelphia 9-27 (Redick 4-8, Embiid 2-8, J.Simmons 1-1, McConnell 1-1, Butler 1-2, Korkmaz 0-1, Harris 0-6). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Boston 41 (Tatum 10), Philadelphia 47 (Embiid 14). Assists—Boston 24 (Rozier, Horford 5), Philadelphia 21 (B.Simmons 5). Total Fouls—Boston 23, Philadelphia 20. Technicals—Horford, Boston coach Celtics (Defensive three second), Redick. A—20,582 (20,478).

SPURS 108, GRIZZLIES 107SAN ANTONIO (108)Gay 4-11 5-6 15, Bertans 5-7 3-3 17, Aldridge 8-15 6-10 22, Forbes 3-10 3-3 9, DeRozan 5-19 2-3 12, Cunningham 0-0 0-0 0, Poeltl 0-2 0-0 0, Mills 7-12 2-2 22, Belinelli 4-10 2-2 11. Totals 36-86 23-29 108.MEMPHIS (107)Holiday 5-11 0-0 11, Jackson Jr. 2-7 4-6 9, Rabb 1-3 0-0 2, Wright 2-9 0-0 4, Bradley 15-21 0-0 33, Miles 3-8 2-2 10, Caboclo 2-7 0-0 4, Valanciunas 9-11 5-8 23, Noah 4-6 0-0 8, Carter 1-6 0-0 3. Totals 44-89 11-16 107.SAN ANTONIO 20 37 37 14 — 108MEMPHIS 33 25 28 21 — 1073-Point Goals—San Antonio 13-21 (Mills 6-8, Bertans 4-4, Gay 2-3, Belinelli 1-5, Forbes 0-1), Memphis 8-24 (Bradley 3-5, Miles 2-5, Jackson Jr. 1-2, Holiday 1-3, Carter 1-3, Valanciunas 0-1, Rabb 0-1, Caboclo 0-1, Wright 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—San Antonio 43 (Gay 12), Memphis 48 (Valanciunas 10). Assists—San Antonio 23 (Gay 8), Memphis 25 (Wright, Bradley 6). Total Fouls—San Antonio 14, Memphis 23. Technicals—Noah. A—13,788 (18,119).

WARRIORS 115, JAZZ 108UTAH (108)Ingles 2-2 0-0 5, Favors 6-12 1-2 13, Gobert 4-5 5-6 13, Rubio 7-17 1-1 16, Mitchell 10-29 2-3 25, O’Neale 5-6 0-0 13, Crowder 3-9 0-0 8, Neto 3-4 4-6 10, Korver 1-3 3-3 5. Totals 41-87 16-21 108.GOLDEN STATE (115)Durant 11-19 5-7 28, Green 3-7 0-0 6, Cousins 4-17 3-5 12, Curry 8-19 3-3 24, Thompson 9-14 1-2 22, McKinnie 2-2 1-2 5, Looney 0-0 0-0 0, Jerebko 0-2 1-2 1, Livingston 1-1 0-0 2, Cook 1-2 0-0 2, Iguodala 5-6 0-0 13. Totals 44-89 14-21 115.UTAH 14 30 40 24 — 108GOLDEN STATE 25 22 34 34 — 1153-Point Goals—Utah 10-26 (O’Neale 3-4, Mitchell 3-8, Crowder 2-5, Ingles 1-1, Rubio 1-5, Neto 0-1, Korver 0-2), Golden State 13-41 (Curry 5-14, Iguodala 3-3, Thompson 3-5, Cousins 1-6, Durant 1-6, Cook 0-1, Jerebko 0-2, Green 0-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Utah 49 (Gobert 16), Golden State 40 (Cousins 10). Assists—Utah 23 (Rubio 6), Golden State 29 (Durant 7). Total Fouls—Utah 21, Golden State 20. Technicals—Crowder. A—19,596 (19,596).

PRO HOCKEYNHLAll times EasternEASTERN CONFERENCEATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L OT PTS GF GATampa Bay 57 42 11 4 88 223 159Toronto 56 35 18 3 73 200 159Boston 57 32 17 8 72 168 148Montreal 56 31 18 7 69 172 162Buffalo 56 28 21 7 63 165 171Florida 55 23 24 8 54 168 192Detroit 57 22 28 7 51 159 188Ottawa 56 21 30 5 47 173 205METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP W L OT PTS GF GAN.Y. Islanders 56 33 17 6 72 161 136Washington 57 31 19 7 69 192 183Columbus 55 32 20 3 67 180 167Pittsburgh 56 29 20 7 65 193 173Carolina 57 29 22 6 64 167 164Philadelphia 57 26 24 7 59 167 190N.Y. Rangers 56 24 24 8 56 159 186New Jersey

WESTERN CONFERENCECENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OT PTS GF GAWinnipeg 57 36 18 3 75 198 163Nashville 59 33 21 5 71 182 154Dallas 56 29 22 5 63 145 140St. Louis 55 28 22 5 61 163 162Minnesota 57 27 25 5 59 160 167Colorado 56 22 23 11 55 182 188Chicago 57 23 25 9 55 185 209PACIFIC DIVISION

GP W L OT PTS GF GASan Jose 57 34 16 7 75 210 177Calgary 56 34 16 6 74 205 167Vegas 58 31 23 4 66 172 162Vancouver 57 25 25 7 57 164 181Arizona 56 25 26 5 55 150 163Edmonton 55 24 26 5 53 159 184Los Angeles 56 23 28 5 51 136 171Anaheim 56 21 26 9 51 127 1822 points for win, 1 point for overtime loss.Top 3 teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs.

Monday’s GamesWashington 6, Los Angeles 4Pittsburgh 4, Philadelphia 1San Jose 7, Vancouver 2Tuesday’s GamesColumbus 3, Washington 0Buffalo 3, N.Y. Islanders 1Dallas 3, Florida 0Boston 6, Chicago 3Tampa Bay 6, Calgary 3Carolina 4, Ottawa 1Philadelphia 5, Minnesota 4Winnipeg 4, N.Y. Rangers 3St. Louis 8, New Jersey 3Detroit 3, Nashville 2Toronto 5, Colorado 2Arizona 5, Vegas 2Today’s GamesEdmonton at Pittsburgh, 8 p.m.Vancouver at Anaheim, 10:30 p.m.Thursday’s GamesN.Y. Islanders at Columbus, 7 p.m.Calgary at Florida, 7 p.m.Ottawa at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.Dallas at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.Colorado at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.Montreal at Nashville, 8 p.m.New Jersey at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.St. Louis at Arizona, 9 p.m.Toronto at Vegas, 10 p.m.Vancouver at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.Washington at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

SABRES 3, ISLANDERS 1N.Y. ISLANDERS 1 0 0 — 1BUFFALO 1 1 1 — 3First Period—1, Buffalo, Skinner 34 (Eichel), 16:25. 2, N.Y. Islanders, Cizikas 13 (Clutterbuck, Martin), 19:37. Penalties—None.Second Period—3, Buffalo, Pominville 13 (Eichel), 6:49. Penalties—Cizikas, NYI, (trip-ping), 12:42.Third Period—4, Buffalo, Larsson 5 (Okposo, Girgensons), 17:35. Penalties—None.Shots on Goal—N.Y. Islanders 8-7-10—25. Buffalo 5-5-12—22.Power-play opportunities—N.Y. Islanders 0 of 0; Buffalo 0 of 1.Goalies—N.Y. Islanders, Lehner 17-9-4 (22 shots-19 saves). Buffalo, Ullmark 13-5-4 (25-24).A—16,894 (19,070). T—2:21.Referees—Eric Furlatt, Trevor Hanson. Linesmen—Devin Berg, Andrew Smith.

BLUE JACKETS 3, CAPITALS 0WASHINGTON 0 0 0 — 0COLUMBUS 0 1 2 — 3First Period—None. Penalties—Kuznetsov, WSH, (hooking), 8:33; Panarin, CBJ, (hold-ing), 15:36; Wilson, WSH, (tripping), 15:36; Kempny, WSH, (hooking), 18:38.Second Period—1, Columbus, Duclair 11 (Bjorkstrand, Werenski), 6:32. Penalties—Washington bench, served by Ovechkin (too many men on the ice), 8:24.Third Period—2, Columbus, Foligno 14 (Jones, Murray), 16:13. 3, Columbus, Panarin 22 (Anderson), 19:50. Penalties—Nash, CBJ, (holding), 3:24; Carlson, WSH, (slashing), 4:52.Shots on Goal—Washington 4-3-13—20. Columbus 11-13-8—32.Power-play opportunities—Washington 0 of 1; Columbus 0 of 4.Goalies—Washington, Holtby 19-14-4 (31 shots-29 saves). Columbus, Bobrovsky 23-16-1 (20-20).A—15,701 (18,500). T—2:26.Referees—Dean Morton, Chris Schlenker. Linesmen—Scott Cherrey, Greg Devorski.

TRANSACTIONSBASEBALLAmerican LeagueBALTIMORE ORIOLES — Agreed to terms with OF Eric Young Jr. on a minor league contract.CLEVELAND INDIANS — Assigned RHP A.J. Cole outright to Columbus (IL).National LeagueSAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Claimed RHP Jose Lopez off waivers from Cincinnati. Designated LHP Josh Osich for assignment.WASHINGTON NATIONALS — Signed RHPs Henderson Alvarez, Aaron Barrett, Scott Copeland, J.J. Hoover and Ronald Pena; INF Brandon Snyder; and OF Chuck Taylor to minor league contracts.Atlantic LeagueLONG ISLAND DUCKS — Signed RHP Tyler Badamo.Frontier LeagueGATEWAY GRIZZLIES — Signed RHP Sean Johnson.LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS — Signed 1B Greg Pickett.

BASKETBALLNational Basketball AssociationNBA — Fined LA Clippers F/C Montrezl Harrell $25,000 for directing inappropriate language toward a fan.Women’s NBAATLANTA DREAM — Signed F Lynetta Kizer to a training camp contract.

FOOTBALLNational Football LeagueARIZONA CARDINALS — Named Don Shumpert coaching fellow and Rusty McKinney defensive assistant coach.BUFFALO BILLS — Signed OL Spencer Long to a three-year contract. Re-signed CB Lafayette Pitts to a one-year contract.CHICAGO BEARS — Named Chris Jackson defensive assistant coach.HOUSTON TEXANS — Released WR Demaryius Thomas.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Announced the retirement of defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Released DE Vinny Curry.Canadian Football LeagueEDMONTON ESKIMOS — Signed WR Ricky Collins to a three-year contract; QB Trevor Harris, WR Greg Ellington, DB Anthony Orange and OL SirVincent Rogers to two-year contracts; DaVaris Daniels, LBs Jovan Santos-Knox, Don Unamba and Larry Dean to one-year contracts and WR Tevaun Smith and RB Alex Taylor.WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Re-signed DB Brandon Alexander and WR Nic Demski to two-year contracts and DE Willie Jefferson to a one-year contract.

HOCKEYNational Hockey LeagueNHL — Suspended Pittsburgh F Evgeni Malkin one game for high-sticking Philadelphia F Michael Raffl during a Feb. 11 game.CAROLINA HURRICANES — Reassigned F Patrick Brown to Charlotte (AHL).NEW YORK RANGERS — Traded G Marek Mazanec to Vancouver for a 2020 seventh-round draft pick.American Hockey LeagueAHL — Suspended Syracuse D Cameron Gaunce two games.

SOCCERMajor League SoccerD.C. UNITED — Aquired M/D Chris McCann off waivers.MONTREAL IMPACT — Announced F Orji Okwonkwo was loaned to the team from Bologna (Italy).NASHVILLE — Named Chance Myers chief scout and Ally Mackay assistant general manager.NEW YORK RED BULLS — Signed F Mathias Jorgensen to a multiyear contract from Odense (Superliga-Denmark).United Soccer LeagueLOUDOUN UNITED — Signed G Calle Brown and M Omar Milton Campos.

COLLEGESHIGH POINT — Named Zach Haines men’s soccer coach.INDIANA STATE — Agreed to terms with football coach Curt Mallory on a two-year contract extension.NEW MEXICO — Named Jesse Tupac assistant volleyball coach and recruiting coordinator.PENN STATE — Named Scott Sidwell deputy director of athletics-external.

AUTO RACING2:30 p.m.FS2 — NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series: NextEra Energy 250, practice, Daytona Beach4:30 p.m.FS2 — NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series: NextEra Energy 250, fi nal practice, Daytona Beach7 p.m.FS1 — NASCAR Monster Cup Series: The Duel at Day-tona, Daytona Beach BIATHLON1 p.m.NBCSN — IBU World Cup: women's 7.5km sprint, Salt Lake City, Utah COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN'S)6 p.m.CBSSN — St. Francis at Farleigh Dickinson7 p.m.ESPN — Houston at UConnESPN2 — Illinois at Ohio StateESPNU — Tulsa at Tulane8 p.m.CBSSN — UAB at Marshall9 p.m.ESPN2 — Murray State at Austin PeayESPNU — Arizona at Utah11 p.m.ESPN2 — Gonzaga at Loyola MarymountESPNU — St. Mary's at Santa Clara COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN'S)6 p.m.BTN — Minnesota at Purdue7 p.m.SEC — Georgia at South Carolina8 p.m.BTN — Nebraska at Maryland9 p.m.SEC — Missouri at Mississippi State COLLEGE SOFTBALL10 a.m.ESPNU — St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational: LSU vs. Oklahoma State, Clearwater1 p.m.ESPNU — St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational: Texas vs. California, Clearwater4 p.m.ESPNU — St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational: Ken-tucky vs. Oklahoma, Clearwater GOLF10 a.m.GOLF — PGA Tour Golf: Genesis Open, fi rst round, Pacifi c Palisades, Calif.2 p.m.GOLF — PGA Tour Golf: Genesis Open, fi rst round, Pacifi c Palisades, Calif.11 p.m.GOLF — LPGA Tour Golf: ISPS Handa Women's Austra-lian Open, second round, Australia NBA BASKETBALL7 p.m.FS-Florida — Charlotte at Orlando8 p.m.TNT — Oklahoma City at New Orleans NHL HOCKEY7:30 p.m.SUN — Dallas at Tampa Bay SKIING10:30 a.m.NBCSN — FIS World Alpine Championships: women's giant slalom (Run 1), Sweden (taped)11:30 a.m.NBCSN — FIS World Alpine Championships: women's giant slalom (Run 2), Sweden

By Arnie StapletonThe Associated Press

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to trade quarterback Joe Flacco to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a fourth-round pick in this year's NFL draft, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of ano-nymity Wednesday because neither team announced the deal, which was first reported by ESPN. NFL rules prohibit teams from discussing trades until the start of the league year on March 13.

Flacco, the MVP of the 2013 Super Bowl follow-ing a miraculous win at top-seeded Denver, became expendable in Baltimore with the emergence of rookie Lamar Jackson, the former Louisville star who led the Ravens into the playoffs after Flacco got hurt.

The Broncos again need an upgrade at QB after Case Keenum's middling debut in Denver, where a 6-10 finish led general manager John Elway to turn to Vic Fangio, his fourth head coach in six seasons.

Now, he's landed his seventh quarterback since Peyton Manning's tearful retirement following Den-ver's win in Super Bowl 50.

Broncos to acquire Joe Flacco from Ravens

They still have catcher Adley Rutschman, the 2018 CWS Most Out-s t a n d i n g P l a y e r a n d possible No. 1 pick in the Major League Baseball draft in June, along with first baseman Zak Taylor and outfielder Preston Jones.

“I think we’re going to be fine offensively,” Bailey said. “We’re going to score runs. We’re going to find ways. And honestly, batting average isn’t as important as on-base percentage and run production. That’s what we’re working on.”

The Beavers, 12th in the nation in fielding last year, are without No. 4 overall draft pick Nick Madrigal at second base and Pac-12 defensive player of the year Cadyn Greiner at shortstop. Andy Armstrong will start at second after filling in for an injured Madrigal

last season. Junior-college transfer Beau Phillip takes

over a shortstop. Bailey’s undecided on who’ll play

third. Joe Casey or Jones will play left field, Kyler McMahon or Jones will be in center and Tyler Malone will be in right.

The Beavers will be going for a third straight CWS appearance. In 2017, they won their first two games in Omaha before going out with two straight losses to LSU. Last year, they lost their CWS opener before win-ning four straight to reach the best-of-three finals.

“Our freshman year, making it so far and then coming up short, there was a lot of motivation there,” Rutschman said. “I think we have the same motivation now. It’s just coming from a different place, from having won a national championship and having that unbeliev-able experience, knowing that nothing else besides

that is really going to be the same.”

Other teams to watch, with 2018 record:

VANDERBILT (35-27)The preseason No. 1

team in three polls and SEC favorite returns eight position players from the team that came up one win short of making the CWS. The Commodores add one of the top fresh-man pitchers in the nation in 6-foot-4, 235-pound fireballer Kumar Rocker.

LSU (39-27)A n t o i n e D u p l a n t i s

needs 85 hits to overtake ex-Tiger Eddy Furniss as the SEC’s career leader. Friday night starter Zack Hess returns, and so does Eric Walker after missing 2018 because of elbow surgery. AJ Labas, a 2018 Freshman All-American, had shoulder surgery and is out.

On Tuesday, Lindor was at Montverde Acad-emy as a guest of the school as it dedicated a new turf infield practice facility along with cov-ered batting cages for the baseball and softball programs.

Football

Several football play-ers from Lake and Sumter counties in classes 1A through 6A were named recently to the FloridaHS-Football.com All State teams.

In Class 1A, Wildwood wide receiver Marcus Niblack earned second team honors on offense. Niblack’s teammate, defensive back Kanyon Walker, earned honorable mention.

In Class 2A, Mount Dora Christian’s Jesiah Pierre earned a spot on the first team as an outside line-backer. Pierre graduated in December and is enrolled at the University of Florida.

In Class 4A, The Vil-lages’ Mac Harris was named to the first team as an athlete. Harris, who played quarterback and

linebacker for the Buffalo, is the Daily Commercial’s 2018 All-Area Offensive Player of the Year.

In addition, The Vil-lages’ Mario Lockhart earned first team honors on the offensive line and Mount Dora safety Jamari Youman was named to the first team defense.

Also in Class 4A, The Vil-lages’ Tucker Woods was named to the second team offense. Woods’ team-mate, Joseph Machado,

and South Sumter defen-sive back Enier “Snoop” Jackson were named to the second team.

Mount Dora running back Isayah Hatter, South Sumter’s Andra Hart and Jaden Page, along with The Villages’ Cody Doby earned honorable mention.

In Class 5A, Eustis run-ning back Rashon Scott earned honorable men-tion, as did his teammate, offensive lineman Jacob

Foltz.In Class 6A, South

Lake wide receiver Joey Pendarvis was named to the third team, along with Eagles kicker Anthony Emelianchek.

Players from Class 7A will be included in next week’s High School Notebook.

Soccer

Jody Brown has been a key player for the

Montverde Academy girls soccer for the past two seasons.

She scored the win-ning goal for the Eagles in last year’s Class 4A state championship game against Estero and has scored 30 of Montverde Academy’s 82 goals this season as the Eagles have advanced to Friday’s state semifinals against St. Johns Bartram Trail.

However, win or lose on Friday, Brown will have plenty of soccer ahead of her.

The junior, a member of the Jamaican women’s national team, will play for her country’s team in June when the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup begins in France. Jamaica will face international powerhouse Brazil on June 9 in its opening game in Group C.

Basketball

The Real Life Christian Academy girls basketball team has enjoyed a memo-rable first season in Class 3A-District 3.

The Raptors finished the regular season with an 11-5 record and a 3-2 mark in the district, good for third place. Real Life went 2-1 in last week’s district tour-nament, beating Winter Garden Foundation and

Ocoee Legacy in the quar-terfinals and semifinals, respectively, before losing to Orlando Christian Prep in the district champion-ship game.

However, by finish-ing second in the district tournament, the Rap-tors earned a spot in T h u r s d a y ’ s r e g i o n a l quarterfinals. Real Life Christian will play at St. Petersburg Keswick Christian.

The Raptors have been led this season by junior Val Belvu, who is averag-ing 13.3 points per game. Junior Kiana Bennett nearly averaged a dou-ble-double, scoring 9.5 points and pulling down 10.2 rebounds per game.

Other area girls teams getting set for regional g a m e s o n T h u r s -day include: two-time Class 1A state champion Wildwood will play at top-ranked Trenton; in Class 5A, South Sumter will host Orlando Jones and Umatilla will play at Orlando Lake High-land Prep; in Class 6A, Eustis will play at Rock-ledge; and, in Class 8A, East Ridge will play at St. Cloud.

All games will start at 7 p.m. and tickets prices, as mandated by the Flor-ida High School Athletic Association, are $7.

DailyCommercial.com | Thursday, February 14, 2019 B3

Montverde Academy’s Jody Brown (10) chases the ball at a regional quarterfi nal match against Melbourne on Feb. 5 in Montverde. Brown will play for Jamaica in June when the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup begins in France. [PAUL RYAN / CORRESPONDENT]

Florida State infi elder Drew Mendoza, a former Lake Minneola standout, is one of the top returning players for a Florida State team that went 43-19 a year ago. [WADE

PAYNE/THEACC.COM VIA AP]

OREGONFrom Page B1

Q: Where can I park for the Daytona 500?

A: Daytona Interna-tional Speedway has several parking areas in the vicinity of the track. Parking is free at these lots and the Speed-way provides shuttle service.

Q: If I don't go to the Daytona 500, where can I watch it?

A: Fox network on TV

Q: Where can I live stream the Daytona 500?

A: FoxSportsGo appQ: Where can I listen to

racing coverage this week and the Daytona 500?

A: Speedweekradio.com will stream racing news and informa-tion before the race. During the race, go to NASCAR.com, the NASCAR app or the MRN app.

Q: When was the Day-tona 2.5-mile repaved?

A: After the 2010 summer 400 race. The 2011 Daytona 500 was the first 500 staged on the new asphalt.

Q: How many seats are in the Daytona stadium?

A: 101,500Q: Who won the 2018

Daytona 500?A: Austin DillonQ: When was the last

time a driver won back-to-back Daytona 500s?

A: Sterling Marlin won the 500 in 1994 and defended his race crown in 1995.

Q: Who gets to start first?

A: William Byron qualified first with a speed of 194.304 mph and will start on the pole. Alex Bowman also starts in the front row.

DAYTONAFrom Page B1

Jim France has been at almost every NASCAR race since, available for drivers and teams and walking pit road, some-times summoning officials to look things over. The “interim” label has been dropped from his title and it is clear Jim France is at long last running the show.

“I think Jim is doing a good job, just in being around,” said 2015 cham-pion Kyle Busch. “He’s always got a pen and a notebook, he’s in the trenches, he’s asking

q u e s t i o n s a n d h e ’ s listening.”

Still, he has offered no public insight as to how he plans to end NASCAR’s slump and has given no interviews during his six months at the helm.

France was highly vis-ible last month during the Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car race. He was late to a news conference scheduled to promote IMSA’s 50th anniversary season and took three pre-screened questions after a moderator warned he would not discuss NASCAR.

T h e r e w a s a b r i e f moment in his remarks, while discussing Ben Ken-nedy’s emergence in the

family business, when Jim France seemed to be talk-ing in broader terms.

“This is what we do, and we’ve got the next genera-tion coming,” he said. “We plan to keep it a family.”

This comes a year after reports suggested the France family was looking to sell NASCAR, reports that have not been spe-cifically addressed by the current leadership, including Lesa France Kennedy, an executive vice president and the CEO of International Speedway Corp.

N A S C A R l a t e l a s t year began acquiring the remaining public stock in ISC, which owns a majority of the

NASCAR-sanctioned tracks. Layoffs began after the start of the year and many longtime employ-ees, some who had started with the company under Bill France Jr., were let go.

NASCAR could, at minimum, be seeking investors. The silence has only fueled speculation.

“I think what Jim has probably done is he’s sat back for a long, long time,” said three-time NASCAR champion and current Fox Sports analyst Dar-rell Waltrip. “When he was put in the position that he’s in, he knew that there needed to be sweep-ing changes. When the rumor went around that NASCAR could be for sale,

there were probably a lot of questions about, ‘Well, what am I buying?’

“I think what Jim is trying to do is trying to get everything under one umbrella where you can quantify, ‘Am I buying the sanctioning body? Am I buying racetrack real estate? (Race) dates? What am I getting if I was to buy NASCAR?’”

The Daytona 500 on Sunday opens the new season and a new rules package will be intro-duced a week later at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The package is designed to slow the cars, keep them closer together and improve the competitive-ness on the track.

FRANCEFrom Page B1

LINDORFrom Page B1

B4 Thursday, February 14, 2019 | DailyCommercial.com

Feb. 10: Clash at Daytona (JimmieJohnson)Feb. 14: 150-mile qualifying races forDaytona 500Feb. 17: Daytona 500Feb. 24: Folds of Honor 500 at AtlantaMarch 3: Pennzoil 400 at Las VegasMarch 10: TicketGuardian 500 atPhoenixMarch 17: Auto Club 400 at FontanaMarch 24: STP 500 at Martinsville

March 31: O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 atTexasApril 7: Food City 500 at BristolApril 13: Toyota Owners 400 atRichmondApril 28: Geico 500 at TalladegaMay 5: Dover 400May 11: Kansas 400May 18: All-Star Race at CharlotteMay 26: Coca-Cola 600 at CharlotteJune 2: Pocono 400June 9: FireKeepers Casino 400 atMichiganJune 23: Toyota/Save Mart 350 at

SonomaJune 30: Overton’s 400 at ChicagolandJuly 6: Coke Zero 400 at DaytonaJuly 13: Quaker State 400 at KentuckyJuly 21: Foxwoods 301 at NewHampshireJuly 28: Gander Outdoors 400 at PoconoAug. 4: Go Bowling at Watkins GlenAug. 11: Consumers Energy 400 atMichiganAug. 17: Bass Pro Shops NRA NightRace at BristolSept. 1: Southern 500 at DarlingtonSept. 8: Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis

Sept. 15: South Point 400 at Las VegasSept. 21: Federated Auto Parts 400 atRichmondSept. 29: Bank of America 500k atCharlotteOct. 6: Delaware 400 at DoverOct. 13: 1000Bulbs.com 500 TalladegaOct. 20: Hollywood Casino 400 atKansasOct. 27: First Data 500 at MartinsvilleNov. 3: AAA Texas 500Nov. 10: Can-Am 500k at PhoenixNov. 17: Ford EcoBoost 400 atHomestead-Miami

NASCARTHISWEEK

FEUD OF THE WEEK

SPEED FREAKS

A few questions wehad to ask ourselves

WHAT’S ON TAP

QUESTIONS& ATTITUDE

Compelling questions ... andmaybe a few actual answers

GODWIN’S PICKSFOR DAYTONA 500

2019 CUP SERIESSCHEDULE AND WINNERS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

KEN WILLIS ’ TOP 10 NASCAR DRIVER RANKINGS

JOEYLOGANONever any

changes hereafter plateraces

KYLE BUSCHHave youseen thecurls on

Instagram?

CHASEELLIOTTCould usesome NAPAKnow-How on

Sunday

KEVINHARVICKAvoid “BigOne” and

he’s a factor,always

MARTINTRUEX JR.Last chanceto win firstplate-race

JIMMIEJOHNSONDisplayedhis hungerto end skid

ERIK JONESWill finishthird in the

500

BRADKESELOWSKIGreat plateracer whenavoidingtrouble

KURT BUSCHCould driveDaytona inhis sleep

ARICALMIROLABoth careerwins camewith a plate

The Daytona Beach News-Journal’s GodwinKelly & Ken Willis have covered NASCAR fornearly 60 years combined. godwin.kelly@news-jrnl.com ken.willis@news-jrnl.com

MOTOR MOUTHSPODCAST

The Clashing is done and the500 is upon us. To the Pod!

Tune in online atwww.news-journalonline.com/daytonamotormouths

THREE THINGSWE LEARNED

DAYTONATHREE THINGS TOWATCH

SPEEDWEEKS

Did we learn anything overthe weekend?GODSPEAK: HendrickMotorsports is coming out ofthe corner punching with aDaytona 500 pole and Clashvictory on opening day.KEN’S CALL:We learned thatJimmie Johnson was really,really hungry for a return toVictory Lane. And we learnedthat it might be physicallyimpossible to race at Daytonawithout eventually wrecking.

William Byron’s chances ofwinning the 500 from thepole?GODSPEAK:Winning the Day-tona 500 pole means his teamworked hard all winter. Therace is more driver. He willfinish top-20 Sunday.KEN’S CALL: If he wins, itwon’t be because he’s on thepole, it’ll be because he’s ingreat equipment with a greatcrew chief. I’d put him about10th in my list of favorites.

WINNER: Chase ElliottREST OF TOP 5: Kyle Busch,Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson,Brad KeselowskiFIRST ONE OUT: Ty DillonDARK HORSE: Aric AlmirolaDON’T BE SURPRISED IF:There are at least two “BigOnes” to close out the restric-tor-plate era at Daytona.

PAUL MENARD VS. JIMMIEJOHNSON:Menard led 51 lapsin the Advance Auto PartsClash, but was spun aroundby Johnson, who made a dra-matic pass for the win.GODWIN KELLY’S TAKE: Itwasn’t a points race, butit made an impression onMenard. “I got turned tothe inside and hooked tothe right, and all hell brokeloose,” he said.

CUP SERIES: Gander RV DuelAt DaytonaSITE: Daytona InternationalSpeedway (2.5-mile tri-oval)SCHEDULE: Thursday, races(Fox Sports 1, coverage beginsat 5:30 p.m., racing at 7 p.m.)

CUP SERIES: Daytona 500SITE: Daytona InternationalSpeedwaySCHEDULE: Friday, practice(Fox Sports 1, 1 p.m. and 3p.m.). Saturday, practice (FoxSports 1, noon). Sunday, race(coverage begins at 1 p.m.,racing at 2:30 p.m.)

XFINITY: NASCAR Racing Expe-rience 300SITE: Daytona InternationalSpeedwaySCHEDULE: Friday, practice(noon and 2 p.m.). Saturday,qualifying (Fox Sports 1, 9:30a.m.), race (Fox Sports 1, 2:30p.m.)

GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCKS:NextEra Energy 250SITE: Daytona InternationalSpeedwayTV SCHEDULE: Thursday, prac-tice (Fox Sports 2, 2:30 p.m.and 4:30 p.m.). Friday, qualify-ing (Fox Sports 1, 4:30 p.m.),race (Fox Sports 1, 7:30 p.m.)

One final ‘Big One’ atDaytona?

Final? Probably not. Yes, thiswill be the end of restrictor-plate racing at Daytona (andTalladega), as NASCAR turnsto “tapered spacers” to ham-string horsepower at all ovalsa mile or longer. The spacerswill tighten the competitionand bring a bit of pack-racin’to the masses, but goingforward at the two fastestspeedways, the “Big One”will likely live on. The “Really,Really Big One,” however,might become more rare.

What happens to the plates?

I’d suggest Christmas treeornaments. Maybe windchimes. Somewhere in a ware-house, NASCAR is bound to bestoring a ton of old plates withvarying sizes of holes — theairflow was manipulated manytimes since 1988. If not des-tined for the souvenir market, Igo back to an original sugges-tion: Melt all of them togetherand have an artist sculpt theminto the image of a tow truck.

—KenWillis, ken.willis@news-jrnl.com

1. Hendrick power

Rick Hendrick’s race teams flexed theirmuscles in the first weekend of racing atDaytona International Speedway. His carsswept the top four positions in qualifying,led by William Byron, who nabbed the Day-tona 500 pole. Jimmie Johnson capturedthe Clash later in the day.

2.Mustang debut

The Ford Mustang made its debut. Itreplaces the Fusion model in Cup Seriesracing this season. Joey Logano postedthe fastest speed for Ford in qualifying. Hewas clocked at 192.382 mph, good for fifthoverall. Logano and teammate Ryan Blaneywere third and fourth in the Clash.

3. Petty’s back

Thad Moffitt doesn’t carry the Pettyname, but he is a grandson to RichardPetty, “King of stock-car racing.” The18-year-old driver made his Daytona debut

in the ARCA 200. He qualified second butwas crashed out and finished 27th.

—Godwin Kelly, godwin.kelly@news-jrnl.com

Car owner Rick Hendrick and driver JimmieJohnson celebrate in Daytona VictoryLane after winning the Clash at DaytonaInternational Speedway. [NEWS-JOURNAL/DAVID TUCKER]

1. Forget everything

Hendrick Motorsportsswept through the firstweekend of competition,winning the Daytona 500pole (William Byron) andAdvance Auto Parts Clash(Jimmie Johnson). Now, doa hard reset, because raceteams will play catch-upby the time the green flagfalls on the 500. The Fordteams, sporting their newMustangs, are alreadytalking about workingtogether in the big race.Kyle Busch has a sneaky-strong Toyota for the show.

2. Intramural games

If you were not payingclose attention in thefirst weekend of racing,Jimmie Johnson and hislongtime crew chief ChadKnaus went separate waysafter the 2018 season.Both work for car ownerRick Hendrick, but withdifferent teams. Knauscame out of the chuteby winning the pole withByron. Johnson evenedthe score on the Hendrickscoreboard by nabbing the

Clash victory after puttinga strong move on PaulMenard. Will their newpartnerships continue toproduce?

3. Busyweek

Daytona InternationalSpeedway caught itsbreath and closed downMonday and Tuesday afterfour days of activity. Now

comes the Speedweeksblitz with practice, qualify-ing and racing for theNASCAR Cup, Xfinity andTruck Series. Next on thelist is the Gander RV DuelAt Daytona — the 150-mile qualifying races thatdecide the Daytona 500lineup.

—Godwin Kelly, godwin.kelly@news-jrnl.com

Most tracks host one weekend of racing and then theNASCAR circus moves to another track the following week.Not at Daytona. The Speedweeks program spans twoweekends of stock-car racing. [NEWS-JOURNAL/NIGEL COOK]

2255 GENERALEMPLOYMENT

PUBLISHER'S NOTICEFederal and State laws prohibit advert ising expressing a discriminatory preference on the basis of race, age, sex, color, national origin, religion, handicap or marital status. The Daily Commercial will not knowingly accept advertisement for employment which is in violation of the law.

Employment AdvertisingStandards of Acceptance

Employment Classifications are intended to announce bona fide employment offers only. Employment advertising must disclose the specific nature of the work being offered. Some employment categories may charge fees. If any advertiser does not comply with these standards, please notify a Classified Sales Representative at 365-8245 or 365-8200.

DailyCommercial.com | Thursday, February 14, 2019 B5

This newspaper will never knowingly accept advertise-ment that is illegal or consid-ered fraudulent. If you have questions or doubts about any ads on these pages, we advise that before responding or sending money ahead of time, you check with the local Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Line and/or the Better Business Bureau. Also be advised that some phone numbers published in these ads may require an extra charge. In all cases of questionable value, such as promises or guaran-teed income from work-at-home programs, money to loan, etc., if it sounds too good to be true — it may in fact be exactly that. This newspaper cannot be held responsible for any negative consequences that occur as a result of you doing business with these advertisers. Thank you.

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SCENE Tom McNiff, editor352-365-8250tom.mcniff@dailycommercial.com

By Linda Florea Correspondent

The Tavares Community Theater closes the comedy “Hate Mail” on Sunday. See it before it’s gone.

The Melon Patch hosts a Second Stage production of the homegrown dark com-edy, “The Lighter Side of Suicide” for three perfor-mances only this weekend.

And, “Souvenir” continues with the Bay Street Players. The two-person play offers singing so bad it’s good.

‘Hate Mail’

Tavares Community Theater’s two-person com-edy, “Hate Mail” wraps up Sunday at the Tavares Civic Center, 100 E. Caroline St.

The play is about a spoiled kid, Preston, who meets an angst-filled artist, Dahlia, via a complaint letter which ultimately gets her fired. The articulate “letter-bomb” takes you from hate to love and back again.

Different sets of actors perform the production each night lending their own interpretation to the play. Friday night will be Ashleigh Aagaard and Ryan Brooks, Saturday it’s Chasteen and Scott Mullins and the clos-ing show on Sunday features Earl and Nimmi Adams.

Tickets: $11 to $14Details: tavarestheater.

org or call 352-343-9944.

‘The Lighter Side of Suicide’

The Melon Patch The-atre presents the dark comedy from local play-wright Thomas Kline “The Lighter Side of Suicide” for three performances Friday through Sunday as part of its Second Stage Series. Students with iden-tification get in free.

Equal parts laugh-out-loud comedy and profound reflection, it examines our manic modern existence through the gray yet color-ful lens of one conflicted soul and what makes his life both devastating and ultimately meaningful.

Jingy Richards had his fiancee walk out on him and rebound faster than he could imagine. His stoner friends have failed to get him back in the game. He’s since been fired from his already dead-end job. And now he’s not sure what to believe in — or if there’s anything worth believing in anymore.

“The important thing is it has a very strong anti-suicide message,” Kline said. “Even though at times life beats you up, if you hang in there and weather the storm, things will turn around and great things will happen in your life again.”

The play has an R rat-ing for strong language, drug use, adult situations and thematic elements.

Tickets are $10, stu-dents get in free.

Details: melon-patchplayers.org

‘Souvenir, a Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins’

The Bay Street Players in Eustis present, for the first time in Lake County, the two-person play, “Souve-nir, A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins” continuing until Feb. 24.

“It’s the story of believ-ing in yourself,” said pro-ducer Nina Vatter. “She had a hard life, but she loved music and she truly believed music was in her soul and

O N S TAG E

Comedies to brighten the weekend

By Ed Symkus More Content Now

The gang is back. The little plastic collective of Lego men and Lego women and Lego animals and creatures and everything Lego that, five years ago, won over audiences (and took in about a third of a billion dollars at the box office) in “The Lego Movie.” They’re back, and

they’re a welcome sight.At least some of the

gang is back. The hero and heroine of the first film have returned, they being the ever-positive, always-chirpy Emmet (voice of Chris Pratt) and the tough and feisty Lucy AKA Wyld-style (Elizabeth Banks). Also on board again are Batman

(Will Arnett), Unikitty (Ali-son Brie), astronaut Benny (Charlie Day), and pirate MetalBeard (Nick Offerman) and, again in cameo roles, most members of the Justice League, along with Abraham Lincoln. Conspicuously missing this time are Shaq O’Neal, Han Solo, and Bad Cop/Good Cop. But those

no-show cameos are more than made up for by appear-ances from Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bruce Willis, and Larry Poppins (Yes, Larry!).

Of more importance are the new main characters, among them Rex Dangervest (Chris Pratt), General

M OV I E R E V I E W

‘Lego 2’ is that rare animal: A great sequel to a great movie

Determined Lucy/Wyldstyle and chirpy Emmet ponder how to save the world from an intergalactic attack. [WARNER BROS.]

Get the party started with Leesburg’s Mardi Gras

By Linda Florea Correspondent

D ress to impress this weekend at the Leesburg Mardi Gras, starting with the ball on Friday

and three parades and music on Saturday. Be sure to grab some beads while you’re there.

Eustis has two Black History Month events: the Black Achiev-ers annual banquet on Friday and the African-American Heritage Festival and Parade on Saturday.

Go to one of Florida’s old-est African-American com-munities near Wildwood for the 40 Acres and a Mule tour Saturday or Feb. 27.

Entertainment runs the gamut from a swing band con-cert Thursday in Umatilla, stand-up comedians Friday in Clermont, Country singer Neal McCoy Saturday in Weirs-dale and an ABBA tribute band Saturday in Leesburg.

Here’s your weekend ahead:

Leesburg Mardi Gras

It’s Mardi Gras time in Leesburg, so break out your best costumes as the revel-ers take it to the streets.

The weekend starts with the Mardi Gras Ball at 7 p.m. Friday at the Leesburg Boat Club for the crowning of King Rex and Queen Divine. Live music is by Hypersona, and there’s food, cash bar, costume and mask contests as well as dancing.

The party picks back up Satur-day in downtown with concerts,

L O C A L E N T E R TA I N M E N T S C E N E

On Tap this weekend

ABOVE: The Mardi Gras Parade, in all its

beaded glory, takes over downtown Leesburg

at 7 p.m. Saturday, and the AC/DC tribute

band Thunder Jack plays at 8 p.m. [DAILY

COMMERCIAL FILE]

RIGHT: Country singer Neal McCoy is at the

Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale for shows

at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. [GATEHOUSE

MEDIA FILE] BELOW: The African-American Heritage Festival and

Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Prescott and

Bates streets in Eustis and ends behind Bates

Avenue and Eustis High. The festival features soul food, entertainment, arts

and crafts.

See STAGE, C6

See TAP, C6

See REVIEW, C6

C2 Thursday, February 14, 2019 | DailyCommercial.com

BySigalRatner-AriasTheAssociatedPress

Twoyears agohemadethewholeworld dancewith“Despacito,” but Luis Fonsisays he is still a romanticsinger and is ready to show“all his cards”with his newalbum, “Vida,” releasedFeb. 1.“Manypeople thought

Imoved away from thatromantic side and I alwayssaid ‘I haven’t, I’mnotgoing anywhere.’ I amstilla romantic singer, I still talkthat romantic language. Butat the same time I like todoboth things. I don’t liketo be limited,” Fonsi saidin a recent interviewwithTheAssociatedPress, inSpanish.“Vida” is his ninth studio

albumandhis first in fiveyears, a timeof big changesin his life andhis career—especially since 2016,whenthe birth of his sonRoccooverlappedwith that of thesong that gave him interna-tional stardomand abroaderexposure to Latinmusic.The original “Despacito”video, featuringDaddyYankee, is still themostwatched in the history ofYouTubewith over 5.9 bil-lion views to date; its remixwith Justin Bieber remainsamong the top three songs

onBillboard’s list ofHotLatin Songs.Both versions are included

in the album, alongwith thepreviously-released singles“Echame la culpa”withDemi Lovato, “Calypso”with StefflonDon, “Imposi-ble”withOzuna and“Sola”.It also includes new roman-tic songs andonepowerfultorch song that challengedFonsi’s vocal chords.One

of themost personal piecesis “Ahi estas tu,”whichhewrote to his sonRocco.(His previous album, “8,”included a tune for hisdaugherMikaela.)There are 15 songs total

that cover or fuse Latin pop,R&B, dembow, reggaetonandother genres.“Iwant to be able to

dance,make people rejoice,and sometimes sing a ballad

with a lot of lyric, a lot ofemotion,” said thePuertoRican singer-songwriter.The touchingR&B-

infused, piano-ledballad“Dimequeno te irás” is also,according toFonsi, themostdifficult toperformvocally.It “is oneof the songswith

moreweight in this album,”he said. “It’s oneof thosesongs thatmaynothave thecommercial valueof others,

but it doeshave themusicalandemotional value.”Healsohighlightedhis

latest single, “Sola,” aballadthat youmaynothear in aclubbut thatwillmakeyounod to its beat.“It’s neither the typi-

cal depressingballadnora rhythmicpop songandmuch less a reggaeton, butit’s a hybridof thenewsoundofpopand that issomething that I’ve alwaysliked todo—to innovate,to suggest newthings tomyaudience andalways tofollowmyownpath.”In regards to the title

“Vida,”he saidhe chose itbecause the album is kindofanX-rayof his life.“These songs come from

veryhonest, real places.Manyhave todowithme,manydon’t. But I felt thatmy life is there, in eachsong,” saidFonsi, remem-beringhimself runningbetween the studio tohishouse tootherprofessionalcommitmentswhile hiswifewaspregnant,Roccowasborn and starting to grow.“That life, that excitement,that love that you feel as afather for a child, themostpure and intense formoflove— it’s impossible notto reflect that inmymusic,in theway I communicate.‘Vida’ is all that. It’smy life.”

Fonsi releases his 1st album in post-‘Despacito’ era

Luis Fonsi arrives at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20 in Las Vegas. Fonsi released a new album,“Vida,” on Feb. 1. [JORDAN STRAUSS/INVISION/AP]

TOP 10 SONGS OF THE HOT 100 LIST1. 7 Rings, Ariana Grande2. Without Me, Halsey3. Sunflower (Spider-Man” Into The Spider-Verse), PostMalone & Swae Lee4. Middle Child, J. Cole5. Sicko Mode, Travis Scott6. Thank U, Next, Ariana Grande7. High Hopes, Panic! At The Disco8. Happier, Marshmello & Bastille9. Wow, Post Malone10. Girls Like You, Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE BILLBOARD 200 LIST1. DNA, Backstreet Boys2. Future Hndrxx Presents: The WIZRD, Future3. Hoodie SZN, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie4. A Star Is Born (Soundtrack), Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper5. Weezer (Teal Album), Weezer6. beerbongs & bentleys, Post Malone7. Championships, Meek Mill8. I Am > I Was, 21 Savage9. ASTROWORLD, Travis Scott10. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Soundtrack

BILLBOARD TOP 10 For the week of Feb. 10

FICTION1. “Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild” by Dav Pilkey (Graphix)2. “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens (G.P. Putnam’sSons)3. “The Meltdown” by Jeff Kinney (Amulet Books)4. “Liar Liar” by James Patterson and Candace Fox (Little,Brown)5. “Crucible” by James Rollins (William Morrow)

NONFICTION1. “Becoming” by Michelle Obama (Crown)2. “Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis (Thomas Nelson)3. “It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way” by Lysa TerKeurst(Thomas Nelson)4. “Educated” by Tara Westover (Random House)5. “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo(Ten Speed)

FICTION E-BOOKS1. “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens (G.P. Putnam’sSons)2. “Crucible” by James Rollins (William Morrow)3. “We Shouldn’t” by Vi Keeland (Vi Keeland)4. “Eye of the Needle” by Ken Follett (Penguin)5. “An American Marriage” by Tayari Jones (Algonquin)

NONFICTION E-BOOKS1. “Educated” by Tara Westover (Random House)2. “Becoming” by Michelle Obama (Crown)3. “Night” by Elie Wiesel (Hill and Wang)4. “In Pieces” by Sally Field (Grand Central Publishing)5. “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo(Ten Speed)

BEST-SELLING BOOKS

The Wall Street Journal’s list reflects nationwide salesof hardcover books for the week ending Jan. 26

ByMarkKennedyThe Associated Press

Themomentmost peoplefirst heardMaggie Rogers waslikelymemorable. The song shesang in a viral video clip wasn’tquite finished but the promise— the sheer talent on offer—was starkly apparent. No lessa respectedmusical influencerthan PharrellWilliams appar-ently agreed.Williamsmay have

unwittingly aided Rogers’development but she hascharted her own course and thesinger-songwriter emerges thismonthwith her eagerly antici-pated— and astonishingly good— debut full-length album,“Heard It in a Past Life.”Over 12 tracks, Rogers

explores the curiously fertilemelding of folk and dance, withher distinctive andwarm voice

floating amid harmonies or arelentless, industrial beat.Rogers gained attention in

2016whenWilliams helpedcritique students in her NewYork Universitymusicmasterclass. In a video of that session,Pharrell’s stunned response tothe innovative beauty of Rogers’“Alaska” is as pleasurable aslistening to Rogers’ low-key,matter-of-fact confidentmusi-cal vision.“Alaska” is included on the

new album but it also includesthe HAIM-like “Light On,”which reveals the personalturmoil the now 24-year-oldRogers felt after the blast ofovernight interest.“I couldn’t stop it/Tried

to slow it all down/Crying inthe bathroom/Had to figure itout/With everyone aroundmesaying/‘Youmust be so happynow,’” she sings.

Rogers delivers on early promise

‘Heard It ina Past Life’

Maggie Rogers(Capitol Records)

MUSIC&BOOKS

MUSIC REVIEW

BOOK REVIEW

ByJonathanElderfieldTheAssociatedPress

Whentheleaddetectiveinacrimenovel is introducedasanexperton“serialkillers,spreekillers,andstalkers,”youknowyou’re inforaroughride.Andwhenyoureadthedescriptionsofthekillings intheearlychaptersof“Stalker,”you’ll feel likeyou’replungingdownthefirststeepdescentonarollercoaster—you’llwanttoscreamwithabjectterror.Thebeginningofthenewbookfromhusband-and-wifeteamAlexandraCoelhoAhndorilandAlexanderAhndoril,writingasLarsKepler,wasasgrippingasitwasdisturbing.Police intheSwedishNational

Criminal InvestigationDepartmentreceivealinktoashortYouTubevideoshowingawomaninherbedroom,puttingonapairofblacktights, filmedsecretlyfromtheoutside.Soonafter, thewomanis

foundmurdered,herfacemuti-latedbymultiplestabwoundsinahorrificattack.Whenasecondvideoisreceived,DetectiveMargotSilvermanknowsaserialkiller isontheloose.Theaccountsofthekillingsare

veryexplicit,writteninvivid,sick-eningdetail,andthefirstchaptersfeltexcessivelygraphic.Oncethehuntforthekillerbeginsinearnest,Iwashappytoleavethehorroroftheearlymurdersbehind.As“Stalker”unfolds,you’ll

encounterfalse leads,angrythugs,adrugden,closelykeptsecrets,jealousco-workersandimprobableescapes. It’sawildrideasthekillerhuntsforvictimsandthepolicepursuethestalker.Thefast-pacedchaptersand

deviousplottwists leftmehypno-tizedandeagertofindthestalker’sidentity.Now,Imight justwanttobehypnotizedtohavetheimagesofthemurderspurgedfrommymemory.

‘Stalker’ proves to be a wild ride

‘Stalker: aNovel’

By Lars Kepler(Alfred A. Knopf)

DailyCommercial.com | Thursday, February 14, 2019 C3

Today

VALENTINE’S DAY CONCERT: At 6:30 p.m. at the Umatilla High School Auditorium. $10. With the LC Swing Band.

RABBI ROUNDTABLE: At 1 p.m. at the Sumter County Admin-istration and Library Building, 7375 Powell Road in Wildwood. Go to bethsholomfl orida.org.

CLERMONT-MINNEOLA LIONS CLUB MEETING: At 6:30 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at St. Matthias Episcopal Church in downtown Clermont.

BOOK CLUB: At 6 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St. With local author and former educator Ray Moore. For adults and teens. Call 352-728-9790.

ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUP-PORT GROUP: From 12 to 1 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Leesburg Regional Medical Center First Floor Con-ference Room, 700 N. Palmetto St. Call 800-272-3900.

COLOR ME CALM: From 10 to 11 a.m. the second Thursday of the month at the Minneola Schoolhouse Library, 100 S. Main Ave. Color and drink tea with calming background music and lavender oil diffused into the air. All supplies are provided. Call Diane Merchant at 352-432-3921 or email dmer-chant@minneola.us.

PASTFINDERS GENEALOGY MEETING: From 5 to 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at Cooper Memorial Library, 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive in Clermont. Call 352-404-8164 for information.

SECOND THURSDAY BIKE NITE: From 5 to 9 p.m. at The Great Chicago Fire Brewery and Tap House, 311 W. Magnolia St. in Leesburg. With live music and happy hour specials from 4 to 7 p.m.

WRITERS’ GROUP: From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday at Marion Baysinger Memo-rial Library, 756 W. Broad St. in Groveland. Details: 352-429-9154.

LAKE COUNTY FARMERS AND FLEA MARKET: From 8 a.m. to noon every Thursday (except holidays) at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 2101 County Road 452 in Eustis. For infor-mation, call Cole Scharlau at 352-357-9692.

FAMILY CRAFTERS: From 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St. Free. Children

under the age of 9 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Call 352-728-9790 or email penny.richardson@leesburgfl orida.gov.

SUPPORT GROUP: From 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday at W.T. Bland Public Library Simpson Farm House, 1995 N. Donnelly St. in Mount Dora. For anyone who deals with or has a loved one with anxiety, depres-sion or other mental health issues. Call Logan at 352-483-7434 or email loganandtiger@yahoo.com for information.

MEDITATION: At 4 p.m. every Thursday at Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St. Guided meditation followed by discus-sion. Chairs provided or bring yoga mat. Beginners welcome. Call 352-728-9790 to register.

CRAFTERNOONS: From 2 to 5 p.m. every Thursday at Cooper Memorial Library, 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive in Clermont. Bring your current craft project. Call 352-536-2275 for information.

KIDS ACTIVITY NIGHT: From 6 to 7 p.m. every Thursday at Astor County Library, 54905 Alco Road. Call 352-759-9913 for information.

TNT GAMING: From 4 to 5 p.m. every Thursday at Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St. For ages 8 to 18. Call 352-728-9790 for information.

LEGO CLUB: From 3 to 4 p.m. every Thursday at Fruitland Park Library, 205 W. Berckman St. For ages 5 to 18. Call 352-360-6561 for information.

STORY TIME OUR WORLD: From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Thurs-day at Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St. For ages 5 and under. With music, movement and fi ngerplays. Call 352-728-9790 for information.

PRE-K STORY TIME: From 10:30

to 11:30 a.m. every Thursday at W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St. in Mt Dora. Call 352-735-7180 for information.

CHESS CLUB: From 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. every Thursday at Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St. Call 352-728-9790 for information.

LADIES THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY: From 9 to 11 a.m. every Thursday at Fairway Christian Church Classrooms C-D, 251 Avenida Los Angelos in The Villages. Call 352-259-9305 for information.

QUILTING SISTERS GUILD: From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Thursday at Masonic Lodge, 200 Richey Road. in Leesburg. Call Mary at 352-323-3351 or go to quiltingsistersguild.com for information.

RIDERS RIDE: At 10 a.m. every Thursday at American Legion John Gella Memorial Post 219, 194 W. Fountain St., Fruitland Park. Call 352-787-2338.

Friday

ART SHOW OPENING: From 6 to 8 p.m. at Wild Ibis Art Studios and Gallery, 133 N. Grove St., Suite A, Eustis. “The Romance of Red & The Passion of Pink.”

MOVIE NIGHT: Popcorn and snacks at 6 p.m., movie at 6:30 p.m. at Fairway Chris-tian Church, 251 Avenida Los Angelos in The Villages. Details: 352-259-9305.

ANNUAL FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON: Social at 11:30 a.m., lunch at noon at the Coun-try Club of Mount Dora. $25. For the Women’s Committee of the Fine Arts in Mount Dora. Details: 352-383-8721.

22ND ANNUAL MARDI GRAS BALL: At 7 p.m. at Leesburg Boat Club, 31 Dozier Circle. Music by Hypersona, food,

cash bar, costume and mask contests and dancing. Details: www.leesburgpartnership.com/mardigras.

TEDxLSSC TALKS ABOUT TRANSFORMATION: From 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Lake-Sumter State College’s Paul P. Williams Auditorium, 9501 U.S. Highway 441 in Leesburg. Students $10 before Dec. 5, $15 after; staff/faculty $15 before, $25 after; community $30 before, $40 after. Go to tedxlssc.com.

SILK SCARF PRINTING: From10 a.m. to noon at Dade Battlefi eld Historic State Park, 7200 CR 603 in Bushnell. Call 352-793-4781.

LITE BITES AND MEAT SHOOTS: At 5 p.m. every third Friday at John Gella Memorial Post 219, 194 W. Fountain St. in Fruit-land Park. Light supper, bake sale and fun game of meat shoots. Call 352-787-2338 for information.

THIRD FRIDAY SOCIAL AND DINNER: At 5:30 p.m. every third Friday at Triangle Boat Club, 12001 U.S. Highway 441 in Tavares. $10. Members and guests must register. Call 352-533-8398.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE STAMP CLUB: At 1 p.m. the third Friday of the month at the W.T. Bland Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St. in Mount Dora. Open to all stamp collectors. Call Scott Cornwall at 352-217-2826.

MEET THE ARTIST: From 6 to 8 p.m. the third Friday of the month at Marianne Beck Memorial Library, 112 W. Cen-tral Ave. in Howey-in-the-Hills. With music and refresh-ments. Call 352-324-0254 for information.

FRIDAY NIGHT NATURALIST: From 6 to 7:45 p.m. the third Friday of the month at Trout Lake Nature Center, 520 E.

County Road 44 in Eustis. Each month different experts about the natural world and phenom-ena give presentations. Learn about nature, wildlife and nature photography. Call Eileen Tramontana at 352-357-7536 or emailtlnc.director@gmail.com.

OPEN JUKE BOX: From 4 to 8 p.m. every Friday at American Legion John Gella Memorial Post 219, 194 W. Fountain St., Fruitland Park. Nonmembers must be signed in by a member.Call 352-787-2338.

SHIP, CAPTAIN AND CREW GAME: At 6 p.m. every Friday at American Legion John Gella Memorial Post 219, 194 W. Fountain St., Fruitland Park. Nonmembers must be signed in by a member.Call 352-787-2338.

WEEKLY SERVICE: At 7 p.m. every Friday at Traditional Congregation of Mount Dora, 848 N. Donnelly Street. Details: 352-735-4774 or www.TCOMD.org.

FISH FRY AND LIVE MUSIC: Every Friday at Golden Triangle Moose Lodge 874, 1901 Titcomb Street in Eustis. Non-mem-bers must be signed in by a member. Details: 352-357-5897 or lodge874.moosepages.org.

DINNER AND ENTERTAIN-MENT: At 5 p.m. every Friday at Amvets Post 1992, 32201 Amvets Way in Mount Dora. Nonmembers must be signed in by a member of the post. Go to amvetspost1992.org.

FRIDAY FISH FRY: From 5 to 7 p.m. every Friday at AMVETS Post 2006, 500 N. Canal St. in Leesburg. Non-members must sign in with a sponsor. Wear red to honor those deployed. Call Post Commander or Vice at 352-323-8750, email veteransIn-foandEvents@gmail.com or go to amvets2006.com.

JAZZ TRIO: From 7 to 10 p.m. every Friday at Lakeside Inn, 100 Alexander St. in Mount Dora. Featuring Johny Carlsson on piano, Barry Smith on drums and Larry Jacoby on bass.

STORY TIME: At 11 a.m. every Friday at Marianne Beck Memo-rial Library, 112 W. Central Ave. in Howey-In-The-Hills. With craft. Call 352-324-0254 for information.

CHESS CLUB: From 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. every Friday at Umatilla Public Library, 412 Hatfi eld Dr. Call 352-669-3284 for information.

SHEAR LOVE SOUL SALON: From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Friday at Wildwood United Methodist Church, 300 Mason St. With Pastor and cosmetolo-gist Krista Olson. Wash hair beforehand and bring Bible. Call 352-203-7258.

FARMERS’ MARKET: From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday in the area between Cagan

CALENDARWe want to hear from you: Send news releases about arts and entertainment events around Lake and Sumter coun-ties to news@dailycommercial.com. Include a description, date, time, cost, address, con-tact name and phone number.

E D I T O R ’ S P I C K

Find out what’s happening to Florida’s soft-shelled turtles, at Friday Night Naturalist at Trout Lake Nature Center, 520 E. County Road 44 in Eustis. [GATEHOUSE FILE]

See CALENDAR, C6

CLASSICPEANUTS

HEATHCLIFFDENNIS THE MENACE FAMILY CIRCUS

LUANN

MOTHER GOOSE & GRIMM

BEETLE BAILEY

ZITS

GARFIELD

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

B.C.

ROSE IS ROSE

DILBERT

SHOE

PICKLES

PHANTOM

BLONDIE

BABY BLUES

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

SNUFFY SMITH

COMICS C4 Thursday, February 14, 2019 | DailyCommercial.com

DEAR ABBY: Valentine's Day is here and, to be honest, I don't know much about St. Valentine. So I wonder if he meant the day to only be about lovers.

Is there any reason I shouldn't send val-entines to my friends? Why should anyone feel bad because they're not "with" someone? If you love and/or care about a person, can't you send them a box of chocolates, a card or some flowers? It seems to me this should be a time of year you can let a buddy know you ap-preciate him, or let your brother, cousin, sister, neighbor or co-worker know you care.

It doesn't have to be mushy. Happy Valentine's Day to you, Abby! -- TIM IN SYRACUSE

DEAR TIM: Valentine's Day may have started as a celebration of romance and romantic love, but it has broadened to ac-knowledge other kinds of love and affection. There's absolutely no reason you cannot celebrate the way you described.

Happy Valentine's Day to YOU, Tim, and to all my readers, for whom I have great appreciation and affection.

DEAR ABBY: My brother is a 59-year-old widower. He has dated a few wom-en over the years, and he's very afraid of being alone.

The woman he is with now has made it clear that she is with him because he can provide financial security for her. She's pushing him to move in together and get married, but only after he sells his house and buys a new one. She said she could never live there because his deceased wife lived there. However, she is unable to contribute anything financially, so this would all be out of his pocket. He looks past all of this.

I have told him I'm

worried about her using him for his money, but he doesn't want to hear it. How can I get through to him? -- WISE SISTER IN PENNSYLVANIA

DEAR SISTER: You obviously can't. However, his lawyer might be able to deliver that message more effectively than you. This is why you should STRONGLY encourage him to have a talk with his lawyer before he sells his house or formalizes his arrangement with this lady, who has made her objectives crystal clear.

DEAR ABBY: My father passed away after a long illness four months ago. I lived in the same build-ing as my parents, but a different apartment. (I still do.)

Obviously, I encounter other tenants in the pub-lic areas of the building. Since my father's death, most of them have asked me how my mother is do-ing. However, no one has ever asked me how I am doing. Frankly, it's very hurtful. Dad was getting hospice care at home, so I experienced his decline

and finally the loss. Why does no one care to offer me any words of sympa-thy? -- STILL GRIEVING

DEAR STILL GRIEVING: When there is a death, many people are un-comfortable. They don't mean to be insensitive; they simply don't know what to say to the grieving relatives.

I assume that your mother and father are/were elderly. The death of a spouse after many decades of marriage can be so traumatic that the partner goes into a de-cline. Your neighbors may assume that because you are younger and stronger, that you are more resilient and therefore are doing fine. Please don't hold the fact that they haven't asked how you are doing against them.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Ange-les, CA 90069.

How to play: Fill in the blank squares with the numbers 1 through 9 so that each horizontal row, vertical column and nine-square sub-grid contains no repeat-ed numbers.

Puzzles range in difficulty from one to six stars.

The solution to today’s puzzle will be in tomorrow’s paper.

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

›› BRIDGE

›› CRYPTOQUOTE›› HOROSCOPES

›› TODAY IN HISTORY

DIVERSIONS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR THURSDAY, FEB. 14, 2019:

This year, you will jump over your fair share of hur-dles and come out smiling. Once you’re focused, there is little you cannot achieve. If you’re single, decide what you want, and it will be yours. Just be sure. If you’re attached, you and your sweetie should discuss your immediate desires as a cou-ple. Your ability to manifest emerges. GEMINI encour-ages creative thinking and is wonderful to brainstorm with.

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) Your determination to let another person feel cared about could be charming yet weighty in some manner. Look at what he or she needs in order to feel this way. In general, others seem easygoing. Trust your timing with a project or conversation. Open up discussions.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) Others note your changeability. You might be subject to soaring energy followed by sudden depletion. You also might be defensive on some level.

Be optimistic, and respond to others in that vein. You might be more fortunate than you realize with a part-ner or finances.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) Your problem is that you’re such a social but-terfly; you seem to intrigue many people. Others often misread your friendliness. If someone becomes irate today or later, this per-son’s response could be a result of his or her expec-tations. Hopefully, you have been clear in your communication.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) A last-minute quarrel with a friend or someone who is key to your emotion-al swings could put you in a sour mood. Carrying a chip on your shoulder does not help. Be aware of distancing yourself and its impact.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) You might not be content with a professional or outside situation. Isolate that attitude to the issue at hand. Friends and even former lovers might use today as an excuse to call and catch up on news.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) Defer to others in gen-

eral. However, do not lose your focus on a key matter or get others involved. A loved one or partner has a whole other set of ideas that do not work for you. Be clear, and avoid confusion at all costs.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) Your energy makes those with whom you’re romanti-cally involved feel as though Valentine’s Day happens every day. Still, do not forget today. An argument could start out of the blue. Money could be involved. If possible, keep the peace; delay any discussions.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) You prefer to speak and share on an individual level. You like the depth and understanding that evolve. Your Valentine might not understand this choice and could become jealous. Pre-ventive action works.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) Your fiery style usually makes you the first to call or take action. You might not have that choice at present. People seek you out -- some for friendly Val-entine’s salutations, others for a motley of additional reasons. Get into the spirit of the moment.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) You might get quite involved with a project, hobby or issue in your daily life. Others might be dis-tracting you from meeting a goal. Stop to take a deep breath and understand the social nature of the day.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) Certain ideas and choices could overwhelm you. Allow your creativity to get past a difficult situation -- for now. Confusion prob-ably adds to the tumultu-ousness of the moment.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) A misunderstanding could evolve between you and your sweetie. Know that confusion and this misunderstanding are the causes. Let go. Express your caring in an unusually spe-cial manner.

Lovers aren’t the only ones who celebrate Valentine’s Day

DailyCommercial.com | Thursday, February 14, 2019 C5

license tocruise...Place your auto ad in the

and watch it go!

Call Classifieds Today!352-314-FAST

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TODAY IS THURSDAY, FEB. 14, the 45th day of 2019. There are 320 days left in the year. This is Valentine's Day.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS IN HISTORY:

On Feb. 14, 2018, a gun-man identified as a former student opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle at Mar-jory Stoneman Douglas High

School near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, killing 17 people in the nation's deadliest school shooting since the attack in Newtown, Connecticut, more than five years earlier.

ON THIS DATE:In 1929, the "St. Valentine's

Day Massacre" took place in a Chicago garage as seven rivals of Al Capone's gang were

gunned down.In 1949, Israel’s Knesset

convened for the first time.In 1984, 6-year-old Stormie

Jones became the world's first heart-liver transplant recipient at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (she lived until November, 1990).

In 2013, American Airlines and US Airways announced an

$11 billion merger that turned American into the world's biggest airline.

In 2017, a former store clerk was convicted in New York of murder in one of the nation's most haunting missing-child cases, nearly 38 years after 6-year-old Etan Patz disap-peared while on the way to a school bus stop.

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North dealer.Both sides vulnerable.

NORTH♦ 642 ¥AK♦ Q 10 9 8 7 5 ♦AK

WEST EAST♦ 9 ♦ A K 8 7 5 3¥ J 6 5 3 2 ¥ 8 4♦ A K i ) 2♦ 8 7 6 4 2 ♦ 1 0 5 3

SOUTH♦ Q J 1 0 V Q 1 0 9 7♦ 6 4 3 ♦ Q J 9

The bidding:North East South West1 ♦ 1 ♦ 1 NT Pass3 NTOpening lead — nine of spades.

Dear Mr. Becker: 1 have been a reader of your column for many years and have followed with interest your recounting of the exploits of some of the most prominent players in the world.

However, though I’ve never won a national championship or, for that matter, any other kind of champion­ship, I hereby stake my claim to at least equal recognition as one of the

world's foremost players.The only catch is that all my mar­

velous bids and plays take place while I’m asleep, and I must confess that there is an enormous difference between the way I play when I’m awake and the way I play when I’m asleep. In ease you don’t believe me, just ask my partners how I play when I’m not in the land of Nod.

Here is a typical example of my prowess. I played the hand just last night — while asleep, of course. I was West and led the nine of spades. My wife, Sapphira, won with the king and continued with the ace and another spade.

I’m sure everybody would think that, as the cards lie, South must now make the contract, since his only remaining losers appear to be two diamond tricks. But, as I stated ear­lier, these players are totally unaware of the brilliance of my play when I am in the anus of Morpheus.

When Sapphira cashed her ace of spades at trick two, I discarded the king of diamonds, and when she led the third spade, I discarded the ace of diamonds! As a result of these two plays, there was nothing South could do to avoid going down two.

Cordially yours. Ford E. Winx.

Tomorrow: Bidding quiz.©2019 King Fcalurcs Syndicale Inc.

A X Y D L B A A X R i s L O N G F E L L O W

One letter stands for another. In this sample, A is used for the three L’s, X for the two O’s, etc. Single letters, apostrophes, the length and formation of the words are all hints. Each day the code letters are different.2-14 CRYPTOQUOTE

W U D A M L Z P Y A T M U T Y U

W M G A , Q U L Y A T M U T Y U O A Z Y I ,

M P M Y M Z W U G V T A Z Y M U P , Z P O

Y I A A F Q U P A P Y U G A Z T Y I .

- A K M W X O M V E M P L U P Yesterday’s Cryptoquote: WHAT I HEAR WHEN

I’M BEING YELLED AT IS PEOPLE CARING REALLY LOUDLY AT ME. - LESLIE KN0PE

with the morning newspaper... thegjml go together.

m mm m 748-1955DAILY COMMERCIAL

TO SUBSCRIBETODAY CALL 787-0600

license to

Place your auto ad in the

DAILY COMMERCIALand watch it go!

____

C6 Thursday, February 14, 2019 | DailyCommercial.com

she was an opera singer.”Based on the 2016 hit

comedy starring Meryl Streep, the play is a rein-terpretation of the life story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy social-ite and real-life historical figure, who became famous for trying to be an opera star — and failing badly.

She is completely tone deaf but convinced she can sing. As the play unfolds, you’ll enter Florence’s world completely, find-ing the beauty Florence has heard in her head all along.

Tickets: $18 to $21 for adults and $11 for stu-dents with identification.

Details: baystreet-players.org

COMING ATTRACTIONS

‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’

The Moonlight Play-ers in Clermont present “Disney’s Beauty and the

Beast” March 1 through 24.The classic story tells of

Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Details: moon-lightplayers.com

Auditions

'FIRST DATE'Auditions for “First Date”

by the Moonlight Play-ers in Clermont are 7 p.m. Sunday with call backs on Monday at the Moonlight Players’ Warehouse The-atre, 735 W. Minneola Ave.

The cast includes four males and three females. Parts are: Casey the lead female age 30ish, Mezzo-Soprano, A3-A5; Aaron the lead male age 30 ish, Tenor, Bb2-A5; Man 1, scripted to

play Gabe, edgy British guy, and awkward pause soloist, Baritone, A2-C4; Woman 1, scripted to play Grandma Ida, Lauren, and Aaron’s mother, Mezzo-Soprano, A3-A5; Man 2, scripted to play Reggie, Aaron’s future son, and edgy Rocker guy, Tenor, C3-A5; Woman 2, scripted to play Allison, Google Girl, and female with megaphone, Mezzo-Soprano, A3-A5; and Man 3, scripted to play waiter, Casey’s “father” and friendly therapist, Baritone, A2-C4.

Auditions will start with song selections. There will be an accompanist or you may sing a cappella. You may sing something from the musical—not manda-tory, but highly encouraged for any role /roles you may be considering. It is also possible that you will be asked to learn and then sing selections from the show after your song choice.

After singing there will be readings from the script with the expectation to experi-ment/improvise different characters from the show.

You may be asked to return Monday.

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three parades, vendors, street performers and lots and lots of beads.

The day begins with enter-tainment by the Mudds and the Kids Parade at 11 a.m. The Pet Parade marches at 2 p.m. and Bobby Blackmon entertains at 3 p.m. The Mardi Gras Parade, in all its beaded glory, takes over the street at 7 p.m. and the AC/DC tribute band Thun-der Jack plays at 8 p.m.

Details: leesburgpart-nership.com/mardigras

Eustis Black History Celebrations

Events kick off with the Eustis Black Achiev-ers annual banquet will be at the Eustis Community Center at 7 p.m. Friday.

The African-American Heritage Festival and Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Prescott and Bates streets and ends behind Bates Avenue and Eustis High. The festival features soul food, enter-tainment, arts and crafts.

40 Acres and a Mule

The Young Perform-ing Artists of Royal Com-munity in Sumter County, one of Florida’s oldest African-American com-munities, has 40 Acres and a Mule tours scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday and Feb 27. You must make reser-vations to participate.

Call 352-748-0260 or email youngartists@aol.com for reservations.

You are There with Charlie Grinker

Join multi-Emmy award winner, television producer, writer and interviewer Char-lie Grinker at the Clermont Performing Arts Center as he pulls footage from his archives and takes a look at

the 1950s, at 2 p.m. Thursday.Remember favorite tele-

vision series of the time including “Bonanza,” “Gun Smoke,” “Father Knows Best,” the “Jack Benny Show,” where a young Marilyn Monroe makes her television debut, and the hit show “Your Show of Shows” starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca, with skits written by Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, and Carl Reiner.

Grinker worked on the show, and 40 years later invited the stars to share their memories on his award-winning A&E series, “The Class of the 20th Century.”

Tickets: $10.75Details: clermont-

performingarts.com

Dak Rakow Comedy Show

Clermont’s own funny

man, Dak Rakow, is at the Black Box at 7:30 pm. Fri-day at the Clermont Per-forming Arts Center. Sean Finnerty is the feature act and Mitch Silver the emcee.

Tickets: $15Details: clermont-

performingarts.com

Neal McCoy

Country singer Neal McCoy is at the Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale for shows at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. A limited number of tickets remain.

Tickets are $38 to $46.Details: obopry.com

ABBA Tribute

Take a journey back to the time when disco was king with one of the world’s most authentic ABBA tribute bands, Abbacadabra, with shows at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Lake-Sumter State Col-lege in Leesburg. The band covers 20 of the Swedish pop group’s biggest hits.

Cost: $29Call 352-365-

3506 for tickets.

Valentine’s Day Concert

The LC Swing Band has a Valentine’s Day Con-cert 6:30 p.m. Thurs-day at the Umatilla High School Auditorium as a benefit for the Key Club.

Cost: $10Call 352-360-

5679 for tickets

Friday Night Naturalist

Find out what’s happen-ing to Florida’s soft-shelled turtles at Friday Night Natu-ralist at Trout Lake Nature Center, 520 E. County Road 44 in Eustis. Many of the turtles have been found dying or dead, and researchers have been work-ing to discover the cause.

Reservations: Eileen Tramontana at 352-357-7536 or emailtlnc.director@gmail.com.

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Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) and - my favor-ite name - Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi (Tiffany Haddish).

If the first film was zany - and it was - the sequel is madcap. If the first film had a ridicu-lous amount of action and storytelling going on, this one requires a pen and notebook to keep track of things while watching it and a second or third view-ing to catch whatever else is going on besides action and storytelling.

But that’s all fine and good. There is no recent movie that’s been more fun. The central premise is that five years after the first film (in real time and in movie time), just about everyone that was once happy is now not. Although Emmet is still zooming around singing the insufferable “Every-thing Is Awesome,” and Lucy is managing to put up a good front, Lego society has been steadily collapsing. Everything is going wrong. Then, wouldn’t you know it, that same troubled soci-ety is attacked by aliens from another planet, under the command of General Mayhem, whose name is apropos.

But, the Lego popula-tion is told, all of this can be avoided if five of you make the journey to the planet Sparkle to attend a big wedding. Five of them do go. All of their identities won’t be revealed here, but suf-fice it to say that Emmet doesn’t make the trip, Lucy does, and Emmet - did you know that Emmet had a thing for Lucy? - must figure out a way to get her back.

That’s it; that’s the central premise. But swirling around it is the joyous pandemonium that makes up a Lego movie. That wedding involves the aforemen-tioned queen, who’s a fast-talker, and one of the quintet being brought to her planet. OK, OK, it’s Batman, but even poor, lonely, constantly broken-hearted Batman, again dryly and hilariously voiced by Will Arnett, doesn’t know that he’s to be the groom of this queen that he’s never heard of. Warning: There’s the existence of something called The Wedding Cake of Doom.

Although “Lego 2” is anything but a musical, one musical highlight is a duet by the queen and Batman on why mar-riage is a bad idea. There are contributions on the soundtrack rang-ing from Mötley Crüe to ZZ Top to Taylor Swift, and anyone stay-ing for the end credits will be treated to a song about the end credits. But the best or maybe it’s the wittiest or hip-pest piece of music in this non-musical is sung by ... uh-oh, there was so much going on, I forgot to note who was singing. But the lyric goes, “Every-thing’s not awesome.”

Ed Symkus writes about movies for More Content Now. He can be reached at esymkus@rcn.com.

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The Moonlight Players in Clermont present “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” March 1 through 24, with Laura Pratesi as Belle and Alexander Principe as the Prince. [SUBMITTED]

Former Louisiana residents went all out on their costumes at the Leesburg Mardi Gras Pet Parade in downtown Leesburg. [DAILY

COMMERCIAL FILE]

Join multi-Emmy award winner, television producer, writer and interviewer Charlie Grinker, right, at the Clermont Performing Arts Center as he pulls footage from his archives and takes a look at the 1950s, at 2 p.m. Thursday. [SUBMITTED]

Town Center and Community Library in Clermont. With

produce, fi sh, eggs and baked goods. For information go to CaganCrossings.com.

Saturday

31ST ANNUAL BLOOD

SCREENING: From 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Leesburg Center for the Arts, 429 W. Magnolia Street. $45. Men are eligible for a PSA test for an additional $25. Optional tests: A1C for $20, TSH for $40. Walk-ins welcome.

MILITARY WOMEN ACROSS THE NATION MEETING: At 11:30 a.m. at Perkins, 17080 U.S. 441 in Mount Dora. All women veterans welcome. Call 352-383-9797.

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