Local Talent Profile

Romancing the coin

Military veteran and stay-at-home mom creates one-of-a-kind jewelry from quarters and pennies. Story: Theresa Campbell // Photos: Fred Lopez Tabitha Lauer remembers hearing stories from her late grandfather about trench art made by World War I and II soldiers passing…

Art from the heart

Story: Amanda Valderrama // Photo: Fred Lopez After an injury, local artist Carrie Knupp found a new way to express herself. When it comes to motivation, any artist can truly aspire to be like Carrie Knupp. Carrie suffered an injury…

The “center” of attention

Tacko Fall is standing tall in the world of college basketball. Story: James Combs Opponents of the University of Central Florida men’s basketball team have a tall order. They must find a way to slow down Tacko Fall, the Knights’…

History of Stripping

If your idea of a “historian” is a rather bland, even boring personality, then you’ve never had the pleasure of reading the works of Allan Holtz of Tavares. Story: Debbi Kiddy Allan researches and writes about newspaper comics for his…

Local Talent: Apollo Electric

Story: Leigh Neely They are five guys who are full of energy and music. You can almost hear the notes swirling around them even though they have no instruments. Eddy Wiggins, Ryan Wilnau, Anthony Smith, Steve Wild, and John Carter are…

Triumph and Tragedy on Denali

Story: Theresa Campbell PHOTO: FRED LOPEZ “We all have a story to tell, and this is mine,” Lake County Circuit Judge Larry Semento penned in “Tears in the Wind: Triumph and Tragedy on America’s Highest Peak,” where he reflects on…

LOCAL TALENT: The Case of The Mystery Writer

Author Ray Moore is a dapper Englishman who loves living in The Villages and writing mysteries with a delightful twist. He taught English to Secondary School students for 38 years before retiring and moving to Florida. On his first day…

LOCAL TALENT: Kirk Thomas Simpson & Tatum Donovan

Photo: Fred Lopez The Historic State Theatre in Eustis keeps an eye on the future with their successful program, the Young People’s Theatre. The theatre was built in 1916. It’s home to the Bay Street Players, established in 1975 by…

AMBER JESSEE: The Frau is in the Haus

Moonlight Players Theater in Clermont is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Founded by Jan Sheldon, who is president emeritus, the theater has been a popular place ever since. Shows are sponsored by internationally known comic book artist George Perez,…

Laney Clark and Mike Winternheimer: Stage Left, Don’t Miss Your Mark

photo: fred lopez Back in 1951, ladies of the Leesburg Junior Women’s Club decided it would be nice to have a community theater. Since Leesburg was considered the watermelon capital of Florida, the theater was aptly named The Melon Patch…