FIRST

A sneak peek into the fascinating people who make Lake and Sumter counties great.

Person of Interest: Michele Rigby Assad

Former undercover officer for the CIA. Photo: Douglas Tyler Vital Stats Childhood hometowns: Mount Plymouth, Mount Dora. Graduated from Tavares…

Villages High School junior has heart set on becoming a surgeon. Vital Stats Born in Leesburg, lives in Wildwood. 3.5…

I’ll give you my beer bottle when you pry it from my cold, dead hands. No beer? What the hell…

Flying high Five Umatilla High School students recently won the state championship in the Real World Design Challenge, an engineering…

Tattoos should be earned, says artist from House of Ink in Leesburg. Photo: Nicole Hamel When I got my first…

Senior at Leesburg High School is an artist and activist. Vital Stats: Maintains 4.3 GPA. Riley has lived in Lake…

Realtor, animal lover—and hippie. Vital Stats Realtor with RE/MAX Premier Realty, Mount Dora. Founder of Rich Critter Foundation. Pets: One…

First speeding ticket teaches the lesson of ‘never say never.’ I was 17 and living in a small northeast Ohio…

Get a taste of Lake County: Leesburg’s third annual Taste of Lake & Business Expo will be filled with signature…

Traveling to hot spots can be safe if you find the right ‘seam.’ Story: Joe Angione Friends who know our…