🐶 Critter blessings & Lee School flashbacks 🧱

🐶Happy Throwback Thursday!

Going waaaaaay back, St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order, died on this date, Oct. 3, 1226. He was canonized in 1228.

Born Giovanni Di Pietro di Bernardone, St. Francis was a changemaker in the Catholic Church, which was rife with corruption in the Middle Ages. The preacher and mystic created monastic communities for men and women devoted to poverty and serving the poor, and he is known for a sentiment that was revolutionary for his time: He believed that all creatures, including animals, are equal and should be treated with respect.

In his memory, churches of different denominations host a" blessing of the animals " on St. Francis' Saint's Day, tomorrow, Oct. 4, allowing all to bring pets or, sometimes, beloved livestock for a blessing from a priest or minister.

Locally, you can bring your furbaby for a blessing on Friday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m. on the lawn in front of the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Dora . All pets will receive a pet goodie bag, and at noon, they will "paws for a Children's Pet Blessing." There will also be an art project and a pet goodie bag for children.

🔍Six Lake County restaurants cited for high-priority violations

Florida's restaurant owners are not required to post restaurant inspection results where guests can see them. So every week, we provide that information for you.

Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Lake County for Sept. 23-29, 2024.

📰More news you can use

🖤💯 This has been a historic week. It was breathtaking to see our first president in history turn 100. Wow . We found out about the passing of an actor beloved for his stints in "Good Times," "Coming to America, and "Roots," John Amos , and baseball legend Pete Rose on the heels of a tearful farewell to lyrical genius, all-around superstar Kris Kristofferson 's death Monday night.

🧱This week in local history: Lee School

This year saw the demolition of a historic landmark in Leesburg. Lee School's cornerstone and some bricks are all that remain. (Though we hear indoor fixtures may appear elsewhere.) Learn more about the school here.

For its first meeting of 2024-25, the Leesburg Heritage Society met at its usual spot at Rogers Park Pavilion on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Bev Omstead, who has deep roots in Leesburg, presented a slideshow on the school and shared souvenirs from the school including a crook (a shepherd's cane) that remained hidden for decades during an annual hide-and-seek game and rediscovered during the renovation of the school auditorium. Learn more about the school here.

Especially special about this gathering were the connections shared by former students or children and grandchildren of former students and teachers raising their hands and telling their stories.

Retired elementary teacher Robin Winn Colborne saw her grandfather, Coach Frank Banning, in a photo with the Lee High School football team. He led the 1926 team to win a state championship. He later would become a two-term schools' superintendent, the first and only to be re-elected, according to local educator Ken Bragg, who was also at the meeting.

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Bye for now!

JG

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: 🐶 Critter blessings & Lee School flashbacks 🧱