Ex-MLB star opens recreational facility to sweltering residents,

TAVARES — When they heard about the plight of disabled people sweltering in a nearby facility after losing power in Hurricane Irma, former major league baseball star Chet Lemon and his wife, Gigi, opened their 162,000-square-foot recreational facility as an emergency shelter.

They canceled basketball and volleyball youth events and converted The Big House on Thursday to a cool spot for the group from the Carlton Palms Educational Center seven miles away in Mount Dora. The center provides care for people with severe developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges.

“We were just really happy that we were able to accommodate them,” said Lemon, a longtime Lake County resident and former Eustis High School baseball coach who won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1984. “They’re such an appreciative group of people.”

Carlton Palms moved 125 clients to the Lemons’ facility, said Melanie Etters, spokeswoman for the state Agency for Persons with Disabilities. Those clients were in homes powered by generators but had only fans and no air conditioning, Etters said.

She said other clients didn’t lose power in their homes and remained at Carlton Palms. The arrivals are sleeping on air mattresses and food is being brought in for meals. On Friday, a Domino’s Pizza delivery woman brought 50 medium pizzas to The Big House, which is made of concrete and opened in 2013 on Lane Park Cutoff. Carlton Palm staffers and medical personnel also are on hand.

“Everything has gone well,” Etters said. “We have been in touch with Duke Power who has made restoration of Carlton Palms its top priority.”

Power was restored Friday evening.

A spokeswoman for Delaware-based Bellwether Behavioral Health, which owns Carlton Palms, did not return a call seeking comment.

On Friday, the Lemons’ son, Marcus Lemon, 29, was keeping an eye on things at The Big House.

“It’s been a pleasure and an honor to help out in this situation,” said the younger Lemon, also a pro baseball player. He had just finished a season with the Kansas City T-Bones, which is part of an independent league, and raced to get to his parents’ house near Umatilla before Irma struck.

Chet Lemon, 62, said he thinks a tornado confirmed a few miles away came through his property, knocking down trees, fences and roof tile.

“It was crazy,” he said. “We were just happy we were able to endure.”

Though they have their own mess to clean up, the Lemons said they didn’t hesitate to help Carlton Palms.

As Gigi Lemon pointed out, “They were in dire need over there.” jfallstrom@ orlandosentinel.com or 352-742-5916