Style Magazine, February 2015

February 2

015

THE

HOME ISSUE

BEST PL TO LIVE ACES Find out if

your city made the grade

DISCOV LOCAL BER U 2015 Para de o ILDERS Builder Pr f Homes ofiles

LOOKIN A REALTG FOR O Local mu lti-millio R?

n-dollar p roducers

KEVCO BUILDERS Innovation

Integrity

Excellence

2015 PARADE OF HOMES

DREAM JOE ZILER, PRESIDENT KEVCO HOMES

HOME

BUILDER LOOK FOR KEVCO BUILDERS' DREAM HOME, CUSTOM HOMES AND REMODEL ENTRIES DURING THE 2015 PARADE OF HOMES, FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 8

Since 1980, Kevco Builders is Central Florida’s most awardwinning custom home builder and remodeler.

Choose from or modify our most popular floor plans or bring your hand-drawn sketches, cocktail napkins, online images or magazine clippings. When it comes to a Kevco custom home, your drive the dream!

Some call them upgrades, we call them a standard part of what we do. From architectural elements, trim work, crown molding and fixtures — to name a few — we don’t cut corners on your dream.

Your Kevco custom home relationship begins with a commitment to quality, communication and professionalism with a focus on keeping your project on time and on budget.

“One of the things that I credit my mentor with is teaching me that this is not a construction business. This is a people business. And if you help enough people get what they want, everything else in life falls into place.”

— JOE ZILER, PRESIDENT KEVCO HOMES

352.742.3398 KevcoBuilders.com CBC 1259012

Leading – Edge Treatments Of Macular Degeneration Diabetic Retinopathy Mid Florida Eye Center is giving patients new opportunities for restored sight.

DEDICATED RETINA INSTITUTE Mid Florida Eye Center’s Retina Institute has been selected for high-profile clinical trials.

TWO RETINA SPECIALISTS Dr. Shawn C. Wilker has joined Lake County’s first retina specialist, Dr. Ray D. Maizel, to bring additional breakthroughs in retinal eye care to Central Florida.

ADVANCED OUTPATIENT VITREORETINAL SURGERY IN A CONVENIENT, COMFORTABLE OUTPATIENT SETTING Mid Florida Eye Center’s Surgery Center of The Villages offers advanced vitreoretinal surgery, a revolutionary procedure that allows patients a faster recovery and improved comfort.

MACULAR DEGENERATION SPECIALISTS The two Doctors are also available to provide leadingedge treatments to patients with retinal diseasessuch as macular degeneration, retinal detachments, and diabetic retinopathy.

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Visit Mid Florida Eye Center’s Retina Institute to learn how these and other recent breakthroughs could change your life.

R4 66 LOCATION: NEW

Ray D. Maizel, M.D. Shawn C. Wilker, M.D.

Call 888.820.7878 or 352.735.2020 [V ZJOLK\SL `V\Y HWWVPU[TLU[ MidFloridaEye.com MidFloridaEye.com

Mount Board -PUK V\[ TVYL PUMVYTH[PVU VUSPUL H[ Certified • Fellowship Trained Dora • Leesburg

• The Villages/Stonecrest • Apopka

Participating Medicare)VHYK *LY[PÄLK c -LSSV^ZOPW ;YHPULK c 7HY[PJPWH[PUN 4LKPJHYL 7YV]PKLY Provider • Two Surgical Locations

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NEW LOCATION: Mid Florida Eye Center The Villages/Santa Fe Crossing 8630 E. CR 466, Suite A

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FULLY ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF RADIOLOGY (ACR) IN CT, MR, PET/CT, AND ULTRASOUND

Technology provides the most precise images, but experience provides the answers.

At the Florida Hospital Waterman Center for Medical Imaging, board certified radiologists and skilled technologists have the training and experience needed to provide you with the answers you need. We offer some of the most advanced imaging services in Lake County with a focus on personalized care and convenience. To schedule an appointment, or for more information about the services provided, call (352) 253-6363.

• • • • • •

PET/CT HIGH RESOLUTION CT/CTA MRI/MRA BONE DENSITY X-RAY 4D ULTRASOUND

Visit FHWaterman.com

QUALITY CARE

IS OUR WAY

Santa Fe Professional Center, 8564 East CR 466, The Villages, FL 32162

Call 352.561.4943

S

ince its humble beginnings, Santa Fe Surgery Center has developed a reputation for providing first-class surgical services in a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment. Because no more than two surgeries are ever performed simultaneously, the staff can devote more time and attention to patients and their families.

SERVICES INCLUDE • General surgery • Podiatric surgery • Minimally invasive neurosurgery • Laser cataract surgery • Corneal transplantation • Oculoplastic surgery • General ophthalmology • Interventional pain management

________

DOCTOR SPOTLIGHT DR. FELIX J. ESAREY finds the Santa Fe Surgery Center to be a fantastic asset for both patients and his thriving practice Tri-County Podiatry.

“The great thing about Santa Fe is the relaxed atmosphere,” says Dr. Esarey. “When a patient is in a hospital setting it can be a bit overwhelming, as there can be several operating rooms being utilized at the same time. The surgery center isn’t like that at all; it’s calm and very patient-friendly. When the patient’s appointment time arrives, everyone and everything is ready.

Nothing is hurried or late.”

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cont February

201 5 // VO LU ME 1 1 N UMB E R 4

Featuring

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HOME, SWEET (UPSCALE) HOME There are homes, and then there are “homes.” See for yourself as we tour four of the most desirable communities in Lake County.

STORY: JAMES COMBS AND SHEMIR WILES

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IS FRUITLAND PARK READY FOR THE VILLAGES? One only needs to look at Lady Lake to see what The Villages can mean to a sleepy little community.

STORY: GARY CORSAIR

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IT’S ALL GOOD …BUT THE SOUTH END OF THE COUNTY MAY BE A TAD BETTER Minneola is no longer just “a great place to live.” The small city just north of Clermont on State Road 27 can now boast it is the best place to live in all of Lake County.

STORY: GARY CORSAIR

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PARADE OF HOMES Everybody loves a parade, especially when there’s something really special to celebrate.

STORY: GARY CORSAIR

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TURKISH DELIGHT History comes alive in the sixth most-visited country.

STORY: MARK ROTHSCHILD

LAKE&SUMTER EDITION

VILLAGES EDITION

On the cover PHOTOSHOP: JOSH CLARK

On the cover JOE ZILER OF KEVCO BUILDERS PHOTOSHOP: JOSH CLARK

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Editor’s column

LAKE COUNTY CAR DEALERS EARN HIGH MARKS Last month, I put my journalistic foot in my mouth with a tongue-in-cheek column about an unpleasant car shopping experience I had.

At least a few people took exception to my comments. They felt I implied that all car dealerships are dishonest.

That certainly wasn’t my intent. I apologize if I gave that impression.

I’ve had some downright enjoyable car buying experiences. I know first-hand that there are honest car salesmen. I’ve purchased cars from them.

I was attempting to present a humorous slice of life — to entertain while sending the subtle message, “Listen very carefully and read the fine print when you go car shopping.”

Let me explain my thought process. I was trying for a “I got stuck in an elevator the other day” kind of column. When journalists write that kind of column they never expect people to say, “I’ll never get in an elevator again.” And I didn’t expect people to say, “I’ll never go car shopping again” after reading my foot-inmouth column.

I figured readers would take my experience with a grain of salt, not consider it a blanket condemnation of the men and women who sell cars.

So I had a bad experience. It doesn’t mean you will. Maybe the salesman was a little off that day. He certainly seemed sincere.

Maybe I misunderstood something he said.

We writers walk a fine line when we try to be funny while attempting to make a point. My point was that I can’t outsmart a car salesperson. Unfortunately, the takeaway — at least for some people — was that all car dealers are less than honest.

In trying to poke fun at myself, I inadvertently poked honest car dealers in the eye. I apologize for that.

The irony of it all is that I’ve made several postings on Facebook about an absolutely wonderful experience I recently had with a car dealership.

My biggest faux pas might have been mentioning that I test drove a Chevy. Naturally, some people assumed my bad experience happened at a Chevrolet dealer. It did not. For the record, every Chevrolet dealer in Lake County has outstanding consumer reviews.

By not naming the dealership I visited, I left open the door for readers to speculate that I was writing about any dealer. I didn’t mean to.

Fortunately, our local car dealerships are above reproach. They are obviously treating car buyers with respect.

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In fact, Edmunds.com and Cars.com both give 5-star ratings (out of a possible 5) to five Lake County dealerships: • Cecil Clark Chevrolet • Danny Len Buick GMC • Key Scales Ford, Plaza Cadillac • Plaza Lincoln • Vann Gannaway Chevrolet In addition, Edmunds.com gave 5 stars to: • Clermont Nissan • Don Mealey Chevrolet • Headquarter Honda Cars.com also gave 5 stars to: • Boone Auto Brokers • Car Spot • Deal Time Auto Sales • Midlake Motors • Napleton Clermont Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM • Tri County Auto Group.

And Cars.com had exceptionally high marks for the following local dealers: Bill Bryan Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM (4.8), Brown’s Auto Sales (4.8), Phillips Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM (4.6), Clermont Nissan (4.5), Phillips Buick GMC (4.5), Phillips Toyota Scion (4.5), Jenkins Volkswagen of Leesburg (4.4), J&M Affordable Auto Inc. (4.4) and Headquarter Honda (4.4).

Edmunds.com gave 4 ½ stars to Phillips Toyota Scion and Jenkins Hyundai of Leesburg. Blount Honda and Prestige Ford have 4 out of 5 stars.

Bottom line: Practically every dealer in Lake County has high customer satisfaction ratings.

So shop with confidence.

Those ratings are based on actual customer reviews, not some idiot with a word processor and a deadline to meet.

My unpleasant experience was obviously the exception, not the rule.

Gary Corsair ir

‘‘I feel your pain.

“That’s why I’ve developed a proprietary approach to hip joint problems that involves an integrated combination of minimally invasive surgical procedures, pharmaceutical intervention and pain management. This results in faster healing times, fewer complications and less pain.”

— Donald Perry MD

Specializing in joint reconstruction and sports medicine

2051 Mayo Drive Tavares, FL 32778 352.343.2171 rpocenter.com

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press!

The latest editions of Lake and Sumter Style, Villages Style, Healthy Living and Welcome to Lake County

get yours.

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From the publisher

EXCITEMENT “BUILDING” ALL AROUND US

Kendra Akers PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF kendra@akersmediagroup.com

Doug Akers VICE PRESIDENT doug@akersmediagroup.com

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LAKE EUSTIS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SUMTER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

AMERICAN ADVERTISING ASSOCIATION

It is so refreshing to see all the movement and excitement within our local housing industry.

About a year ago, I remember feeling overwhelmed with happiness — and a bit of relief — as I drove through a residential neighborhood and saw a site being prepared for construction.

It wasn’t my home being built, but I was thrilled anyway. I was excited because the activity at the construction site confirmed that things were improving in Lake and Sumter counties.

I wasn’t sure the housing industry would ever recover from the hit it took a few years past.

But it is recovering. Just look around.

In fact, I have first-hand knowledge that the housing market is on the rebound — in a major way. In August, Doug and I sold our home just 45 days after listing it. Since we sold it more quickly than we had anticipated, we purchased a condo to live in until we decided what we wanted to do. We hadn’t decided if we wanted to build our forever home or try to find one that already existed.

After a few months, we ended up finding our perfect home.

So we decided to sell the condo rather than rent it out. Once we put it on the market we were flooded with calls from our Realtor asking to show the condo. We received an offer within three weeks, and I believe it would have sold even faster if we listed it any time other than the holiday season.

I still can’t believe how fast everything happened. Our experience felt like the good old days when property listings didn’t last for more than 30 days and new construction was plentiful.

We’ve tried to capture this renewed energy and excitement in this month’s issue by focusing on the Parade of Homes, Top Realtors, and the Best Places to Live in Lake and Sumter counties.

Take a look; there’s evidence all around that things are looking up.

So whether you are selling, buying or building, or you are just curious like I was, we have what you need to know about housing in this edition of Style Magazine. ine.

Things are great here in our community, unity, so the next time you see a housing professional, give ive them a high five, thank them for staying the course. ourse. And tell them, “Job well done!”

Sincerely, y,

WINNER OF AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

Lake & Sumter Style, February 2015. Published monthly by Akers Media, 108 Fifth Street, Leesburg, Florida 34748. All editorial contents copyright 2015 by Akers Media. All rights reserved. Lake & Sumter Style is a registered trademark of Akers Media. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. For back issues or billing information, call 352.787.4112. Return postage must accompany all unsolicited manuscripts and artwork if they are to be returned. Manuscripts are welcomed, but no responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. “Special to Lake & Sumter Style” and “Special Promotional Feature” denotes a paid advertising feature. Publisher is not responsible for claims or contents of advertisements. The ideas and opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of Akers Media.

Kendra Akers

Lake OB-GYN Associates are your specialists in women’s care.

We don’t “also” treat women…

We ONLY treat women!

Our physician specialists have the expertise to diagnose and treat any condition unique to women (and have been doing so for over 40 years in this area). As just an example, the cancers our WOMEN ONLY specialists screen for include:

Breast Cancer Cervical Cancer Uterine Cancer Ovarian Cancer Vaginal Cancer Vulvar Cancer

NEW

DEATHS

225,000 12,000 47,000 21,000 1,200 4,500

41,000 4,000 8,600 14,500 450 1,000

(annual national estimates)

Insist On Seeing The Best Physicians For Your Needs!

Dr. Alfred Moffett

Dr. Michelle Wood

Dr. Douglas Moffett

Lake OB-GYN Associates

Dr. Lauren Britt

Dr. Kaitlin Lee

601 E Dixie Ave., Medical Plaza #401 Leesburg, FL 34748 // 352.787.1535 1400 US Hwy. 441 N, Bldg. #950 The Villages, FL 32159 // 352.259.5649

www.leesburgobgyn.com

First Things

f1rst #TRENDING PERSON OF INTEREST OUTSTANDING STUDENT

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First things first // #trending Spotlighting the best of local people, places, and events

EPIC ARRIVAL

From left: Economic development manager Lauren Farrell, Jimmy Bilton, Rich Bilton, Melanie Bilton, Biz Bilton and Tavares Seaplane Base manager Joey Graham

It’s no secret Tavares is America’s Seaplane City. Here’s proof: in December, Tavares celebrated its 10,000th seaplane landing when a Cessna 182 flown by Jimmy Bilton of Umatilla landed at the Tavares Seaplane Base at 11:15a.m. Dec. 16.

Bill Neron, Tavares economic director; Lauren Farrell, economic development manager; and Joey Graham, manager of Tavares Seaplane Base & Marina, were on deck to greet Bilton and his passengers, which included his father, Rich Biltion, and his sister, Biz Bilton.

To commemorate the event, the city presented Bilton with a large basket of gifts and a variety of gift certificates.

Bilton explained that the Tavares Seaplane Base is one of his favorite spots and he frequently flies in family and friends for a downtown visit.

“The Tavares Seaplane Base brings the seaplane community together,” he said.

HOME, SWEET HOME

Christmas came early for attorney Merideth Nagel.

On Dec. 18, she and her staff at Merideth Nagel, P.A. proudly showed off the company’s new office building at 1201 W. State Road 50 in Clermont.

During the grand opening celebration, hundreds of local businessmen, businesswomen and city officials toured the 5,000-square-foot facility, which was adorned with colorful Christmas decorations.

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Guests were treated to food provided by Troy’s Cuban Deli and desserts from Gonzalez Bakery.

The building formerly housed PNC Bank.

“I’m excited for both our clients and our staff,” Merideth says. “The remodel happened in just 32 days, and I give God all the praise and glory.

There is no way any of this could have happened without Him.” Ann Dupee, former owner of the South Lake Press, referred to the celebration as a “hometown success story.”

“It’s wonderful to see a local woman who returned to Lake County and enjoyed tremendous success in her profession. Merideth is a tireless worker who deserves all the accolades that have come her way.”

Staff members were equally excited to call the new building home.

“Our company is all about making a difference in the lives of those we serve,” says Ashley Drawdy, a litigation team member at the firm. “When you genuinely try to help other people, good things typically happen to you in return. This building is an example of that. We’re proud to be here and will continue doing our best to serve the wonderful people of this community.”

MARDI GRAS by the numbers

50:

The length in feet of the typical New Orleans parade float

1 million:

The number of visitors to New Orleans in the weeks leading up to and including Mardi Gras.

13:

DANCING IN THE STREETS While holidays like Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day get lots of play, February is also the month of Mardi Gras madness. Also known as Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras is the last day of Carnival season and is a source of fun and decadence in the Big Easy. But N’awlins isn’t the only place to get your Mardi Gras on. On Feb. 7, Leesburg has its own celebration.

Party in the Street: 12 Hours of Madness • Kids Parade: 11a.m. on Main Street • Pet Parade: 2p.m. on Main Street • Performer: Justin Heet 3p.m. at Towne Square Stage • Main Street Parade: 7p.m. on Main Street • Performer: Lazy Bonez 8p.m. at Towne Square Stage For more information about Mardi Gras, be sure to check out this month’s Out + About on page 92

JOSH TAKES ON: AN ADMITTEDLY ASKEW POINT-OF-VIEW FROM THE MIND OF ILLUSTRATOR JOSH CLARK

The amount of times Mardi Gras has been canceled in New Orleans, usually during wartime.

$

379:

The cost per night for a room at the W New Orleans French Quarter Hotel on Chartres Street for Monday and Tuesday night during Mardi Gras.

SOURCE: blog.al.com/live/2013/02/mardi_gras_new_orleans_vs_mobi.html

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First things first // #trending Spotlighting the best of local people, places, and events

JAMES COMBS’ FEBRUARY

THEHITLIST ____________________________

1 // MOUNT DORA RESIDENT Timothy Poole wins $3 million on a Florida Lottery scratch-off ticket. Imagine if the state, in an effort to save money, decided to give him $3 a year for the next million years.

GIVE A LITTLE BIT At first glance, some may have thought they had entered Santa’s workshop, but in actuality, the storage space in Leesburg’s Palm Plaza was the site of Catholic Community of Saint Paul’s first Giving Tree event in December.

More than 250 underprivileged children throughout Lake and Sumter counties received donated gifts, helping ensure local Moms and Dads could give their children a Christmas after all.

“A Christmas wish of Father John Giel, the pastor at the Catholic Community of Saint Paul, has been to develop the Giving Tree program.

This year, he had the resources to initiate his wish and because he did, Christmas was a little brighter for 289 children,” said Mary Lou Mroczkowski, one of the hardworking parish volunteers and event organizers.

2 // DURING A POLICE PURSUIT, a 46-year-old man hurled a container of cooking meth into a populated area in Clermont.

Fortunately, a judge swatted this litterbug with a sevenyear prison sentence.

3 // A FATHER AND SON, hunting “The Lake and Sumter Social Service agencies, which include the public school systems, along with Joanne Lepold with Catholic Charities, really stepped up to the plate to work with Saint Paul in the Giving Tree initiative,” added Barbara Marino, a Saint Paul employee.

Due to the overwhelming success of the program, Saint Paul is already planning the Giving Tree event for next year and looking for a larger donated storage space to hold and distribute the gifts.

LOOKIN’ GOOD, EUSTIS Eustis is getting just a little bit lovelier as the city wraps up two major projects that were funded by state grant dollars.

The Bay Street median beautification project improved landscaping in 18 median islands, beginning with the south end of Bay Street at Ashford Avenue, then heading north to West Herick Avenue.

“State Road 19 is a main gateway into the city and these improvements provide a visually appealing welcome, which we hope will attract people to the area and promote businesses,” said Dianne Kramer, acting city manager.

The second grant-funded project, a sidewalk extension along Orange Avenue, will aid in providing safe passage for students who walk and bicycle along the thoroughfare to Eustis Elementary School.

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in eastern Pennsylvania, discovered an automated teller machine in the woods. This wasn’t exactly the kind of buck they were looking for, but they felt good about bringing home a little dough.

4 // AS A FLORIDA MAN FAKED a heart attack inside Wal-Mart, his male friends escaped with a motorized power wheel Barbie car and a Barbie Glam vacation house. We’ll just assume they forgot the sporting goods department was only a few aisles away.

5 // CITY OFFICIALS IN MOUNT DORA are considering making home and business owners pay fire assessment fees. If it goes into effect, taxpayers will see a $50 increase on their bills. The possibility of increased taxes may set tempers ablaze.

6 // FIREFIGHTERS IN CALIFORNIA rescued a naked woman who became stuck in her estranged husband’s chimney while trying to get into his home to see their children.

The rescue crew admitted she was smoking hot.

HIP, HIP, PARADE! Hundreds of marchers and thousands of spectators gathered in downtown Tavares to participate in Tavares’ annual Christmas celebration. And while the large number of extraordinary entries made judging especially difficult this year, the city was able to pick a few lucky winners.

• • • •

Best Float: Cub Scout Pack 43 Best Theme: Girl Scout Troop 9595 Most Creative: Paws Therapy Dogs Best Youth: Tavares High School & Middle School Band • Judges Award: Tavares Youth Football

THE WAIT IS OVER Before, fall graduates at LakeSumter State College had to wait nearly five agonizing months before being able to take part in graduation festivities.

However, this fall, LSSC celebrated its 220 fall semester graduates by holding the inaugural Hats off to You Graduate Celebration. This first-of-its-kind event

took place in the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Leesburg Campus and featured an address by President Charles Mojock, a motivational message

by LSSC alumni Tamara Chaplin McCray and special recognition of Camila Ugaz Reyes and Katie McKay, two students who graduated with a 4.0 GPA. Following the program, students

and family and friends enjoyed a private reception where they were photographed with Mojock and mingled with faculty and staff.

“This is an exciting time for our fall 2014 graduates, and having this celebration in December allows students to savor this significant moment

with their friends and family while the achievement is still fresh,” said Dr. Mojock.

V-DAY VIEWING Looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day on the couch instead of in a crowded restaurant? Then break out the popcorn and make sure to get your hands on these top five must-watch V-Day movies.

1. “Love Actually” 2. “Casablanca” 3. “The Notebook” 4. “Sleepless in Seattle” 5. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”

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First things first // person of interest Movers and shakers

BURNING RUBBER: I currently own a 1966 Bonneville convertible. The car is 20 feet long, has a midnight blue exterior and is powered by a 389-cubic-inch V8 engine.

In the backseat is a life-size animated Elvis Presley that is programmed to talk and sing.

KENT THALL

GUILTY PLEASURE: I drive too fast, spin my tires at times and drag race at lights.

AGE : 76 L O C AT I O N : F R U I T L A N D P A R K

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: I recently directed a movie titled “Twice Upon a Time,” a nostalgic romantic comedy that is loosely based on my life. The movie is a tender look at coming of age. There are no sex scenes or cussing. This was my first time directing a movie, and I spent $43,900 of my own money just to buy proper equipment, such as cameras, tripods and lighting. There are 37 songs in the movie. I wrote, performed and recorded them all.

BEHIND THE CAMERA: I have no film background at all. Making this movie was on my bucket list, and I realized at 76 I won’t get too many more chances.

LOCAL FLAVOR: Anyone who watches the movie will see familiar sights. A prom scene was shot at Starlight Ballroom and Dance Center; a drag race was shot in

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FAVORITE SNACK: Apple pie because it is an American tradition. Also, my stepmom used to bake an apple pie that was out of this world.

the parking lot of Rural King; and there’s a restaurant scene shot at the Florida Porch Café. We also used local actors and actresses who were all volunteers.

FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION: Las Vegas. I play blackjack and never came home with less money than I left with. I also love the musical shows.

SEEKING THE BIG TIME: Amazon.com and Wal-Mart have agreed to sell the movie. It is currently being re-edited in California. If a studio picks the movie up and redoes it, I will donate onethird of the proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

DOGS OR CATS: Cats. They’re cleaner, you don’t have to walk them and you don’t have to give them the same amount of care.

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE: I am an avid lover of automobiles. I’ve owned 64 cars throughout my lifetime and I have a picture of each one in a special photo album. I refer to the album as my time capsule. The first car I restored was a 1964 Mustang convertible. It was a rust bucket and I restored it from the ground up.

MUSIC YOU’D TAKE ON A DESERTED ISLAND: The Eagles. The band beautifully captured the spirit of the 1970s.

DESIRED TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTION: “This is not the end; this is just another beginning.”

LAST BOOK READ: I prefer listening to audio books while driving in my car. I don’t read very much.

First things first // outstanding student Making the grade

FUN FACTS • SAMANTHA HAS BEEN a consistent straight A student throughout her life.

• SAMANTHA SCORED 100 on the math procedures portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

WHEN I HEAR OF A PERSON or family in need, my mom and I will go grocery shopping for them and buy them things. One time we purchased a bike for a little kid. The money we use comes out of my allowance, but I don’t mind making sacrifices because I already have lots of things.

SAMANTHA SAPP

SOMETIMES I SEE HOMELESS people when my mom and I are driving down the road. We’ll stop and give them applesauce or other food items. I always feel good about helping people in need.

I WAS HOMESCHOOLED between first and third grade. During the past two years I have attended Lake Preparatory School in Leesburg. Being homeschooled was fun because there was not as much work and I had time to spend with my other friends who were also homeschooled. The great thing about attending a school is I am able to play sports and meet new friends.

BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL are the two sports I play at Lake Preparatory School. I like

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basketball because we get to practice outdoors in the school parking lot. This is my first year playing basketball. I am good at dribbling the ball, but I’m still working on improving my shot. This was also my first year playing volleyball and I scored lots of points for my team. I love hitting the ball over the net.

I’VE SPENT THE PAST FIVE YEARS as a dancer with the Leesburg Dance Centre. Although ballet is my favorite type of dance, I also do jazz and tap. I feel

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like dancing has made me a stronger and healthier person.

I am also fortunate to have very good teachers, including Sally Gage, Valerie Johnson and Nicole Mann.

SINGING IS ANOTHER ACTIVITY I really enjoy. I’ve been singing my entire life and just recently started taking voice lessons. In February, I will give my first concert at my cousin’s house. The two songs I chose to sing are “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri and “Title” by Meghan Trainor.

EACH FEBRUARY I VOLUNTEER for WinterFest, a community outreach event hosted by my church, Community United Methodist Church. I help my dad cook hot dogs and give away prizes. I also volunteer at the Leesburg Center for the Arts’ Beast Feast and the Leesburg Partnership’s Spring Fish Fry. ASIDE FROM SCHOOL AND SPORTS, I enjoy playing with my three Goldendoodles — Chestnut, Praline and Buttercup. I’m responsible for feeding them and putting them outside before I leave for school.

PHOTO: MATTHEW GAULIN

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BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Since the beginning, quality has always been at the heart of what makes GrangerCarter Construction & Development one of the most successful builders in the county.

Whether your needs involve an addition to an existing facility, commercial renovation, construction of a new commercial building, residential renovation, or building a dream home, Granger-Carter Construction has the

knowledge, experience and expertise to provide the extraordinary.

Combined, owners Rob Granger and Mike Carter bring more than 75 years of experience in the construction industry to the table, more than any other company in Lake County. Such longevity is a testament to their dedication to the community and their ability to meet the highly diversified construction needs of commercial and

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For those who value quality, integrity and accountability, Granger-Carter Construction & Development is the prime choice for organizations and individuals in and around Lake County. residential customers in Central Florida.

“During our time together, Mike and I have been able to develop a great reputation in the community,” says Rob. “And part of growing that reputation is placing emphasis on building strong connections. Being in construction is more than just building houses. We’re just as concerned with having solid relationships with our customers as anything else

because they become our best advertisers.”

Though Rob and Mike come from families with construction backgrounds, they didn’t step into a family-owned business to get their start. Both men worked hard and learned what they know from the ground up.

“By the time I started my own construction business my dad had already retired from the construction industry,” says Rob. “And as for Mike, his dad had moved out of state to oversee a major construction project and when he returned home, he semi-retired, so we really started from the bottom and worked our way up.”

Before their dynamic partnership, Rob, a proud resident of Eustis since 1969,

commitment to pleasing their clients by going beyond what is necessary and meeting their specific needs.

“Our reputation precedes us all the time,” says Rob. “We try to keep it local when possible by using local subcontractors and suppliers. We go far beyond what the building codes call for to give our customers a better value.

We’re very hands-on and keep personally involved in production, which I believe gives us an edge on our competitors.

“We also have an amazing team of hardworking employees that we rely on to help serve our customers the best way possible.

From our front office, through all planning and design stages, to the last detail of each

again, hopefully you’ll call on us.”

In addition to exceptional customer service, Granger-Carter Construction & Development is also very involved in the community. In addition to raising their families and attending church locally, Rob has been the past president of the Homebuilders Association of Lake and Sumter Counties, as well as a former longtime member of their board of directors. Mike has served on the board of directors since 1994 and twice served as the association’s president. Mike will also be the association’s president for 2015, and this past year, Mike was voted the association’s Builder of the Year.

“It’s a big deal because you are voted

‘‘

BEING IN CONSTRUCTION IS MORE THAN JUST BUILDING HOUSES. WE’RE JUST AS CONCERNED WITH HAVING SOLID RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR CUSTOMERS… began working in construction in the early 1970s. Eager to begin his professional career, he became the state’s youngest state certified contractor in 1971. Then in 1972, Rob became the youngest licensed real estate broker in the area.

Mike, who has lived in Eustis since 1956, received his bachelor’s degree in building construction from the University of Florida in 1978. That same year, he became a state certified general contractor.

Then in 1985, Rob and Mike joined forces to build what many came to know as Granger Construction & Development.

Just a year ago, after years of working together, Rob and Mike decided to solidify their decades-long partnership by changing the company’s name to GrangerCarter Construction & Development, which aptly reflects the duo’s strong alliance.

Both men agree they and their extremely dedicated staff share a deep

project, our entire staff works together for your complete satisfaction.”

Such dedication has not only helped grow their business, it also helped GrangerCarter Construction & Development to survive during a time when others were closing their doors.

“Construction was the largest industry in Lake County, so when the recession hit in 2006–2007, there wasn’t enough work for everyone to go around,” says Rob. “We had to refocus.”

From building luxury custom homes and commercial buildings to simple home additions, renovations and remodels, Rob and Mike believe no job is too big or too small.

“If you need a screen door hung, we’ll do it. We do those small tasks because they could eventually lead to bigger business,” says Rob. “We’re all about crafting those positive relationships with our customer base because if you ever need something

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by your peers. I’m proud to have been awarded this distinction a third time,” says Mike.

With no crystal ball, it’s hard to predict the future of construction in Lake County and Central Florida. However, Mike and Rob agree things are looking brighter.

“We’re just going to keep meeting the needs of customers who come through the door. It keeps us on our toes,” says Rob. “We enjoy what we do,” adds Mike.

“In the end, we want to uphold our integrity and go above just doing the bare minimum. We love the construction business and it is reflected in the quality work we produce.”

GRANGER-CARTER Construction & Development Inc. 2785 S. Bay St., Suite F, Eustis

352.357.8885 grangercarterconstruction.com

HOME, SWEET

(UPSCALE)

HOME

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There are homes, and then there are “homes “homes”

YES, YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL.

That’s the mantra thousands Lake County residents who are enjoying life comfort fabulous homes safe neighborhoods that offer the amenities you’d expect from a vacation resort. See for yourself as we tour four of the most desirable places to live in Lake County.

STORY: JAMES COMBS & SHEMIR WILES

HARBOR HILLS COUNTRY CLUB

“We get to watch lateafternoon golfers, as well as beautiful sunsets.

It’s so peaceful.”

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Gentle, rolling hills and scenic, winding roads lead visitors to one of Lake County’s most picturesque communities, Harbor Hills Country Club.

The community’s stunning model homes range from 1,997 square feet to 3,806 square feet and in price from $265,900 to $599,111.

Situated in Lady Lake, Harbor Hills is renowned for its 18-hole golf course featuring panoramic views of Lake Griffin and oak tree-lined fairways. The matchless scenery is something Tom and Sue Rice cherish on a daily basis. Because their home is located near the third hole, they spend many evenings enjoying dinner in their lanai.

“We get to watch late-afternoon golfers, as well as beautiful sunsets,” Sue says. “It’s so peaceful. And we don’t have to worry about golf balls hitting our home because there’s a barricade of oak trees to protect it.”

While Tom and Sue are avid golfers themselves, having ample opportunities to enjoy the sport is just one reason they say Harbor Hills a special place to live. The couple, who previously lived in New Hampshire, became full-time residents of the community in 2003.

Although both are retired, they appreciate living in a community that attracts not only other retirees but also professionals such

as architects, doctors and business owners. They realize there is a distinct advantage living in a multi-generational community of people with diverse backgrounds.

“There are young families with children, as well as retirees,” Tom says. “Interacting with them keeps us young. If we were only around mature people, we would tend to have our views skewed in one direction. To be a well-rounded person, you have to communicate with people of all ages with different viewpoints and thoughts.”

And there is no shortage of opportunities to socialize with neighbors and friends. Tom and Sue are both involved in separate golf clubs and play four times a week. They also enjoy dining at The Signature Grill, which hosts special events such as member buffet nights on Wednesday and Mingling Monday, a monthly gathering where they meet new residents.

“We have a sizeable group of friends whom we socialize with,” Tom says. “Everyone here is very friendly and open. When we first rented here in 2001, we attended the Wednesday dinner. Two couples came over and introduced themselves to us. We’ve been great friends with them ever since.”

While Harbor Hills is a gated community, residents are not physically and socially isolated from surrounding towns. In fact, the spirit of volunteerism and philanthropy are alive and well.

Much of Sue’s time is spent helping the underprivileged. As a member of the Harbor Hills Ladies Charity, she and other women organize year-round fundraisers to support schools, food pantries, medical care centers and organizations such as Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties.

Sue is also a member of the Harbor Hills Garden and Women’s Club, which conducts an annual Christmas party for Lake County’s Geriatric Residential Treatment Services (GRTS) program.

“We all feel very fortunate to live in this community,” Sue

says. “Yet, we realize that right outside our gate is people in need. We are not in our own little world; we care just as much about the surrounding area as we do Harbor Hills.”

Another perk for the Rices is having the opportunity to keep physically and mentally active. The Harbor Hills Clubhouse offers Har-Tru (clay) tennis courts, a junior Olympic pool, a fitness facility and a pro golf shop. Sue and Tom also belong to a bridge social club.

“By living here, you can choose to do as much or as little as you want,” Tom says.

For some residents, the simple things in life can be the most enjoyable. That’s certainly the case with Bill Dannelly, whose favorite activity is taking morning and afternoon strolls with his Bichon Poodle, Biscuit.

“Walking Biscuit is my primary job these days,” says Bill, who moved to Harbor Hills with his wife, Kathryn, in 1999.

Bill says Harbor Hills offers the ideal environment for those seeking to spend their days in peace and comfort.

“Residents here enjoy the best of both worlds. We are away from commercial activities, but they are readily available if we need them.

And we don’t have to deal with the hustle and bustle of traffic.”

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LAS COLINAS It’s one thing to like where you live, but it’s another when you absolutely love it and can’t see yourself living anywhere else.

That’s how Dr. Michael and Mary Whitt feel about Mission Inn’s Las Colinas, a picturesque gated golf and marina community nestled among the knolls that give Howey-in-the-Hills its name.

Upon entering the front gate, you’re greeted by stunning homes constructed in the traditional Spanish Colonial style. Each home has a fantastic view of the greens and gently rolling fairways that comprise the Las Colinas golf course. In addition, natural Florida landscape gives the community a sense of tranquility and airiness.

In Spanish, Las Colinas means “The Hills,” but to Mary, it means permanent paradise.

“It’s such a beautiful community with an amazing lifestyle,” she says. “You have golf, tennis, spas, restaurants and a fitness center. You’re never bored.”

But Las Colinas is more than just amenities. It’s a place where getting to know your neighbor is encouraged through events and social clubs. People stay connected.

“On Thursday nights we have a members’ night where you get to know all your neighbors. And during football season, there is a party bus that takes residents to University of Central Florida games.” says

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“It feels so special here.

It is so special.

The question isn’t why would you want to live here. The question is why wouldn’t you want to live here.”

Mary. “Everybody knows everybody because there are so many great ways to form friendships and relationships. Las Colinas is an active, vibrant community. It’s resort living without having to go on vacation. In fact, my husband and I have vacationed less since we’ve moved here. Instead, everyone comes to visit us.”

Before moving to Las Colinas, Mary and Michael lived on Lake Harris. They loved their home and never dreamed of moving.

That is until they realized they were spending more and more time at Mission Inn enjoying things like Sunday brunch or the seafood buffet on Saturday nights.

“We just kept coming. Eventually we decided we should quit driving out here and just move. So we put our house up for sale and we haven’t looked back,” says Mary.

For Michael, who grew up in nearby Yalaha, moving to Howey-in-the-Hills was like a homecoming.

The couple quickly and easily embraced the small-town, slow-paced way of life in Howey. When Mary wants to shop, Orlando’s Mall at Millenia is only 40 minutes away via Florida’s Turnpike. But for the most part, the couple finds themselves rarely wanting to venture far from their slice of nirvana.

“I’ll say, ‘Oh, I don’t want to leave the gate,’” Mary says. “Everything you could ever need is here. It’s just so convenient.”

And with retirement around the corner for her husband, who’s a dentist in Lady Lake, Mary foresees their lives becoming even more active inside Mission Inn. It’s what makes Las Colinas stand out as a premier residence in Lake County, says Thomas Line, the Realtor, broker and developer for Las Colinas.

“We have an eclectic community of retirees, young families and empty nesters and I believe that contributes to the energy of Las Colinas. Our biggest draws for people are the amenities and the lifestyle,” he says.

Outside of Mission Inn, Mary says she loves to visit the Howey Market for fresh, organic produce and meats and a handdipped ice cream cone for dessert. And not too far away is Yalaha Bakery, which is known for its delicious baked goods.

Plus, life is also pretty worry-free in Howey. Traffic is practically nonexistent in the town with only two traffic lights, and crime is almost unheard of.

“Before moving out here I went to the Howey-in-the-Hills Police Department and asked, ‘What’s the crime rate out here?’

They said, ‘What crime?” says Mary.

In 2016, Mission Inn is slated to begin construction on phase three of Las Colinas. Currently, phase one is completely sold and phase two is 90 percent there. In terms of prices to build a home, expect to pay anywhere from $210,000 for villa and club homes to a cool $1 million for custom homes. Resells start around $200,000 to $300,000.

Nevertheless, one could never put a price on luxurious living.

“Six clay tennis courts, two golf courses, three restaurants, a gun range, a pool, walking trails, a marina on Lake Harris … we offer a resort lifestyle when you live in Las Colinas,” says Thomas.

And for residents like Mary and Michael, they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It feels so special here. It is so special,” Mary says. “The question isn’t why would you want to live here. The question is why wouldn’t you want to live here.”

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LOCH LEVEN Bob Dias knows a well-planned residential community when he sees one.

As former vice president of Welk Resorts, a large real estate development company in California, he helped design and build eight golf course communities.

When Bob and his wife, Jean, decided to move to Lake County seven years ago, the couple visited various communities. But after seeing Loch Leven for the first time, they knew it was a place they wanted to call home.

The couple was blown away by the beautiful houses that feature distinctive architectural styles and range from $500,000 to $1 million.

“I was impressed by how exceptionally maintained it was,” he says. “I also liked that it had a guarded gate because that keeps it private and secure.”

Located in Mount Dora, Loch Leven is a gated waterfront community that appeals to young couples, empty nesters and retirees alike. The community, which is situated among the spring-fed Lake Loch Leven, features lighted tennis courts, nature trails and a private boat ramp. Winding streets and mature landscapes make for an atmosphere that is inviting and secure.

“I love how the homes are spread out on beautifully landscaped grounds,” Bob says. “Without question, Loch Leven ranks as one of my favorite two communities where I’ve lived.”

That’s a bold statement, especially considering he has owned 24 homes.

One was in La Costa, California overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Others were

located in the Florida Keys, where he enjoyed warm ocean breezes and subtropical splendor.

“I’ve lived in some very nice places, but I love Loch Leven because this community offers me what I need at this stage in my life. There’s no hassle and it’s very quiet. As a matter of fact, it’s so quiet you can hear a pin drop.”

For Bob, peace and quiet is a good thing considering he’s a best-selling author who has written several books about franchising. He is currently writing “The Repentant Trillionaire,” which is loosely based on his battles with several health issues. Some of his best writing is done in his screen room, which features a pool with cascading waterfalls, outdoor fireplace, outdoor kitchen and brick flooring.

“It’s very peaceful out here. I’ll write longhand and go back to my office and type it up.”

For Jean, taking evening walks proves to be a wonderful way to wind down her day.

“Walking at night is actually lots of fun because I see other people jogging or walking their dogs. And between the homes with Malibu lights and the lamp posts, the community is very lit up at night and makes me feel very safe.”

When Bob and Jean aren’t enjoying their beautiful 3,300 square-foot Manor home, they typically escape to nearby downtown Mount Dora.

“Jean loves to visit the quaint shops down there. And I love sitting on a bench and just watching the world go round.”

“I’ve lived in some very nice places, but I love Loch Leven because this community offers me what I need at this stage in my life.”

REDTAIL GOLF CLUB As far as gated luxury communities go, Joe Nolette believes RedTail is by far one of the best in Lake County.

“You won’t find a community as nice as RedTail,” says Joe, owner of Plaza Cadillac and Plaza Lincoln Mercury in Leesburg. “It’s utopia.”

With long views overlooking the golf course’s fairways and greens, as well as lakefront sceneries where the sunshine sparkles off the water, RedTail creates an atmosphere of pure relaxation and comfort for its residents.

Joe was a member of the country club before making RedTail his permanent residence six years ago. One of the biggest draws for him was the community’s heart and soul: the Dave Harman-designed 18-hole

championship golf course. Having hosted various NCAA and charity tournaments, RedTail is well known as one of the finest natural golf settings Florida has to offer.

Golf-front homes start in the $300,000s. From his backyard, Joe has a breathtaking view of the 18th tee box.

“No one can build behind me, which is nice,” he says.

“I was told I probably have the best lot in the whole community.”

Another draw was access. Orlando and Lake Mary are close enough to visit on a whim.

“And when the Wekiva Parkway (State Road 429) is finished, things will just get better,” he says.

At RedTail, residents have unlimited access to amazing

amenities, including a state-ofthe-art fitness center equipped with a spa services room, cutting-edge workout equipment and a yoga and Pilates studio; a 15,000-square-feet clubhouse that’s home to private men’s and women’s lounges, as well as an extraordinary restaurant, spacious veranda and bar; Har-Tru tennis courts; and a relaxing, resort-style pool.

In addition, homesites are oversized to enhance privacy and allow new residents to build the luxury residence of his or her dreams.

“For me, the large homesites are a plus because you have that added sense of seclusion,” says Joe. “For example, I can’t see my neighbor’s house.”

But beyond the obvious perks of country club living, Joe explains that it truly is the residents who make RedTail special.

“Everyone is pretty friendly.

We all get along well and there are plenty of activities available throughout the week, which allows for everyone to socialize and build friendships,” he says.

For a while, growth was slow.

The poor economy brought home building to a staggering halt for many years. However, Joe reports things are looking up.

“Homes are being built left and right,” he says. “Things have seemed to bounce back nicely.”

“For me, the large homesites are a plus because you have that added sense of seclusion.

For example, I can’t see my neighbor’s house.”

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HONORABLE MENTION

BELLA COLLINA, MONTVERDE If the rustic beauty of Tuscany feels like the perfect setting to build a dream home, look no further than Montverde’s Bella Collina.

Various elevations throughout this gated community allow for the finest vistas, ranging from lakefront to a fabulous view of the Nick Faldo designed 18-hole championship golf course.

Using several of Central Florida’s most respected builders, Bella Collina offers a variety of home plans, as well as an open mind if one is looking to design a custom home.

And the amenities are outstanding, with a luxurious salon and spa, access to dining rooms, lounges, meeting facilities, a fitness facility, men’s and ladies’ locker rooms and social events throughout the year.

Amenities are outstanding, with a luxurious salon and spa, access to dining rooms, lounges, meeting facilities, a fitness facility, men’s and ladies’ locker rooms and social events throughout the year.

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HONORABLE MENTION

GREEN KEY VILLAGE, LADY LAKE Set on 78 acres near Lake Ella Road, Green Key Village is slated to be the first fully green community in Lake County. Each home will be solar powered.

“The goal of our net zero homes is to be energy efficient,” Kim Thomas, who owns Green Key Village along with her husband Greg, told Style last year. “A family will only generate as much energy as it consumes annually.”

According to Green Key Village’s website, even the community entrance sign features a solar array, which powers the lights for street lamps, mailboxes and much more — including a future community pool. And sidewalks, fruit trees in every yard, inviting front porches and a large community garden foster a true sense of community and total sustainable living.

HONORABLE MENTION

SILVER LAKE, LEESBURG Opened at the height of a Florida land boom, Silver Lake was the epitome of exclusivity and home to one of the state’s oldest amateur golf tournaments.

However, decreasing profits in the late 1990s issued a lethal blow, putting the area’s development on hold. Then, in 2007, the golf course closed and declining real estate values

continued to stifle progress.

However, thanks to the continued turnaround in the local housing marker, Silver Lake’s owners have placed it back on the market with plans to add amenities such as a lakefront clubhouse, marina and water park.

Despite tough times, Silver Lake remains to be an exclusive, amazing place to live.

February 20 15

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2015 LAKE-SUMTER

& REMODELING EXPO WHEN

WHERE

Saturday, March 7th 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Admission is Free!

Leesburg National Guard Armory 400 W Meadow St.

From New Home Builders to Remodelers, to the latest in home improvement technology, trends, and products, Ro-Mac Lumber & Supply along with our Sponsors and Media Partners Red Apples Media, Lake Sumter Television, City of Leesburg, Focus Magazine, Lake Cares, and the Daily Commercial invite you to the 2015 Lake-Sumter New Home & Remodeling EXPO. Come enjoy a huge variety of vendors, live demonstrations, live music courtesy of the Leesburg High School Swing Band, plenty of door prizes including a $1,000 Cash Giveaway. While you’re there, help support the Lake Cares Food Pantry by making a donation and taking A Lap Against Hunger around Fountain

Lake Park. For every $5 donation you give, you will be providing 27 meals to help feed the hungry in Central Florida.

It’s an exciting event, with lots of displays and free expert advice from our vendor tables, how-to seminars, sports celebrity meet ‘n greet with University of Florida Gator Great Shane Matthews, the LHS Swing Band, live gardening and landscaping seminars from Jonathan “Barefoot Gardener” Squires, live radio remote, door prize drawings and cash prizes... whew! Make a day of it, bring your family and friends and be part of helping a great local cause, learn all about your next home or home improvement project, and have fun too!

Gator Great Shane Matthews

In The Media

University of Florida Gator Great, Shane Matthews will be at the show to sign autographs, photos, T-shirts, and just about any of your Gator memorabilia from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. So come on out to the EXPO, and have one of Florida’s best autograph your old Gator sweatshirt, helmet or football.

Be sure to get your copy of the EXPO guide on Sunday, March 1st in the Daily Commercial and Wednesday, March 4th in the South Lake Press. Check out Ro-Mac’s special show giveaways in the EXPO guide.

Put Your Foot Down To End Hunger Take a lap around the lake and make a donation to help the hungry in Lake County. Your $5 donation will provide meals for 3 hungry people 3 meals a day for 3 days! That’s 27 meals for every $5 donation! If you want to sign up early, go to their website at LakeCares.org, call them at 352.383.0100, or register the day of the event.

My790AM WLBE will be hosting a live broadcast from the EXPO floor from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Stop by and say hello to your favorite radio team.

Listen also for EXPO ads and information on 97.3 WSKY in Ocala, 640 WVLG in the Villages, and 98.5 KTK Central Florida.

LSTV and Red Apples Media will be airing special glimpses of the companies participating in the EXPO throughout the month of February during their “On the Air” television programs.

Check your local listings for these exciting shows.

_______ Sponsors and Media Partners _______

The Barefoot Gardener Jonathan “Barefoot Gardener” Squires, owner of Just Perfect Plants nursery in Leesburg, will be presenting seminars on Florida-Friendly Landscaping and The Incredible Edible Garden. A great idea for organic living, right from your own back yard. You can reach Jonathan at JustPerfectPlants.com or give him a call at 352.504.2481.

Leesburg High School Swing Band The LHS Swing Band will be playing throughout the EXPO. They are the cream of the crop composed of Juniors and Seniors with extended music and instrumental experience playing Swing, Jazz, Big Band and more. While you’re at the EXPO, stop by their fundraising concession, grab a bite, and help support the great LHS band program.

Door Prizes and $1,000 Cash Drawing!

The EXPO has something for everyone, so gather the family and come for the fun, entertainment, and knowledge.

Leave with the money and prizes! Over 50 great door prizes will be given away throughout the day by our participating vendors, along with a drawing for the Big $1,000 Cash Prize Giveaway. Be sure you sign up during the EXPO.

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fruitland park r e a d y f o r t h e v i l l a g e s ?

STORY: GARY CORSAIR PHOTOS: MATTHEW GAULIN

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olling pastureland and towering oak trees that lined a two-lane road on the west end of Fruitland Park have vanished as dump trucks and earthmovers pave the way for big-dollar homes, lush golf courses and nightly entertainment.

The Villages — happy haven of more than 100,000 retirees — is connecting to a town where building permits are filed about once every four months.

No wonder a significant number of Fruitland Park residents are cringing at the major changes looming on their horizon.

The Villages latest expansion will bring 2,050 homes, 18 miles of streets and over 4,000 senior citizens to Fruitland Park.

The Villages building project will nearly double the city’s population and likely congest Miller Street/

County Road 466A (the main thoroughfare to U.S. Highway 441/27) and South Dixie Avenue (the route many take to Wal-Mart).

More significantly, allowing The Villages to build in Fruitland Park will also alter the political landscape as residents of The Villages seek seats on the city commission. That’s precisely what happened when The Villages expanded into Lady Lake and Sumter County.

On the other hand, Fruitland Park will gain significant tax revenue, jobs, shopping and dining venues and medical facilities … and golf cart paths.

One only needs to look at Lady Lake to see what The Villages can mean to a sleepy little community.

Before The Villages jumped from the mobile home side of the highway and began building homes in 1988, Lady Lake had its library in a railroad car, no

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… F R U I T L A N D PA R K WILL GAIN SIGNIFICANT TA X R E V E N U E , J O B S , SHOPPING AND DINING VENUES AND MEDICAL FA C I L I T I E S … A N D G O L F C A R T PAT H S . O N E O N LY N E E D S T O L O O K AT L A D Y L A K E T O S E E W H AT T H E V I L L A G E S CAN MEAN TO A SLEEPY L I T T L E C O M M U N I T Y.

VITAL STATS POPULATION: 18,483 (SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU) SIZE: 11.4 SQUARE MILES (SOURCE: USA.COM) INCORPORATED: 1883

facilities for softball, soccer or baseball, two restaurants and worn-out police cars. In addition, town officials and cops crammed into a rundown block building that served as city hall.

Bill Reed, who served for 10 years as a Lady Lake Town Commissioner (until he was voted out of office for voting against The Villages’ proposal to provide its own fire/ambulance service), says there’s no question Lady Lake prospered because it worked with The Villages.

“There was give and take that allowed for the town to become a better town,” Reed said. “For instance, there were things we did for the developer that allowed him to move faster than he normally would have been able to. And those things also improved the town.”

Wildwood is about to be transformed

by The Villages expansion into Sumter The quiet charm of historic Berckman Street.

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County. The city’s population, currently at 7,100, is expected to reach 50,000 by 2030.

And, thanks to The Villages, Wildwood will have the money to improve infrastructure to accommodate the growth.

In 1998, The Villages paid Wildwood about $2 million for the rights to provide water and sewer to homes within five miles of Wildwood’s utility system. The Villages also agreed to pay $100 per home for utility rights on future homes, which could mean an additional $2 million for the city.

Life as Fruitland Park residents know it will surely change. But will it be for the better, as it was in Lady Lake?

We put that question to two men with extensive experience dealing with The Villages as the sprawling retirement community expanded — Reed, and longtime Wildwood mayor and commissioner Ed Wolf.

“There was give and take that allowed for the town to become a better town, …”

—Bill Reed, former Lady Lake Town Commissioner

Here’s what they say Fruitland Park residents can expect … along with a few words of advice on how city commissioners should deal with management of The Villages.

DON’T BACK DOWN

Reed — “I don’t know all of Fruitland Park’s ordinances and regulations, but some will have to be changed. We rewrote so many ordinances. A lot of ordinances had to be modified and altered.”

Reed — “There are things you’re going to agree on and things you have to stand fast on to protect the town. We traded a lot. For example, I remember when The Villages came to us and said, ‘We want you to ensure there’s adequate police protection in our shopping center.’ We said, ‘Fine. We’ll give you what we can afford, which wasn’t much. We ended up negotiating an agreement where they paid us $100,000 a year for 30 years if we agreed to assign two policemen.”

GOO GOBS OF MONEY

BOTTOM LINE

Wolf — “Talk about a shot in the arm as a far as a tax boost. They’ll be flush with money. I don’t see any downside. Fruitland Park commissioners should be able to do all kinds of improvements with all the ad valorem tax dollars The Villages will be pumping in.”

Wolf — “I see a huge benefit. There will be road improvements and they’re going to be able to upgrade water and sewer. I can’t see a downside.”

NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL AT CITY HALL

THE VILLAGES CAN BE QUITE GENEROUS Wolf — “We did two deals with them. One was a commercial annexation where we got $1 million. I don’t regret dealing with them at all.”

Reed — “There were things that The Villages did for us and things we did for The Villages. Lady Lake’s initial softball complex was built by Harold Schwartz. Secondly, they took our defunct sewer plant and helped us get out of substantial debt.”

EXPECT MORE NEGOTIATING Reed — “Dealing with The Villages requires a lot of negotiation, a lot of discussion. That’s probably the most important thing because there’s a lot of things Fruitland Park is going to want to insist on and a lot of things The Villages will want to have that may fall out of current ordinances and so on. I think the first thing they have to do is establish a line of communication and rapport with The Villages’ upper echelon.”

PICK YOUR BATTLES Reed — “They don’t always get their way. The location of our town hall is the perfect example. The Villages wanted us to build town hall on town square in The Villages so it would be golf cart accessible. We said, ‘No, it’s not going to be built on your town square.’ They didn’t like that. They came around to our way of thinking when I told them, ‘You have to understand that we’re building a jail in the town hall. Do you really want police cars bringing inmates to jail while people are dancing on town square?’”

Tale of Two Communities FRUITLAND PARK

34.7 $19,154 $128,357 1,433 15.0% 3.4% 69.9% 20.4% 14.4% 31% S. Baptist 58% Romney

THE VILLAGES

Median age Estimated per capita income Estimated median house value Population density (per sq. mile) Bachelor’s degree or higher Widowed White Black, Hispanic Residents living in poverty Largest religious affiliation

68.7 $37,606 $214,014 9,911

2012 Presidential results

51% Romney

32.4% 11.0% 96.7% 1.8% 4% 51% S. Baptist

Source: city-data.com

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It’s all good … b u t t h e s o u t h e n d o f t h e c o u n t y m a y b e A t a d b e t t e r STORY: GARY CORSAIR

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he City of Minneola needs to update its website.

Minneola is no longer just “a great place to live,” as the website proclaims; the small city just north of Clermont on State Road 27 can now boast it is the best place to live in all of Lake County.

So says AreaVibes, a website that uses a unique algorithm that factors dozens of characteristics in seven categories to rank the “livability” of communities.

AreaVibes says Minneola is “exceptionally livable” and supports that designation with a “livability” score of 84 out of a possible 100, the highest ranking of any city in Lake or Sumter counties.

That’s no surprise to Brett Schaffer, owner of South Lake Bikes.

“There’s been a lot of growth in the area. Lake County’s just kind of exploding, but Minneola has kind of been resistant to change and kept its small-town feel,” says Schaffer, who relocated to Minneola from Wisconsin two years ago. “There’s been growth, but we’re growing at an acceptable rate. The schools have implemented technology, and we now have a big nature-style park and the South Lake Trail, which will run coast to coast, through here.”

The livability score is based on amenities, cost of living, crime, education, employment, housing and weather. AreaVibes awards letter grades, A to F, in each of the seven categories.

Minneola earned four As — A+ for crime (the crime rate is less than 89 percent of Florida cities), A+ for weather, A for amenities and A for cost of living. Education received a B, housing a C+ and employment a C. Minneola was the only city in Lake or Sumter to receive four As. Not surprisingly, every city in Lake County received an A+ grade for weather, but only two cities

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The Tiki Bar & Grill at Lake Minneola Inn, is a must-visit.

“THERE’S BEEN GROWTH, B U T W E ’ R E G R O W I N G AT A N A C C E P TA B L E R AT E . T H E S C H O O L S H AV E I M P L E M E N T E D T E C H N O L O G Y, A N D W E N O W H AV A E A B I G N AT U R E - S T Y L E PA R K A N D T H E S O U T H L A K E TRAIL, WHICH WILL RUN COAST T O C O A S T, T H R O U G H H E R E . ”

VITAL STATS POPULATION: 9,733 (SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU) SIZE: 10.71 SQUARE MILES (SOURCE: USA.COM) INCORPORATED: 1926

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— Leesburg and Astatula — earned three A+ scores. Leesburg was awarded A+ for amenities and cost of living, while Astatula had the top grade for cost of living and crime.

While Minneola basks in the glory of being king of the hill, neighboring communities scored nearly as well. Yalaha and Groveland both had an 83 livability score, while Clermont scored an 81.

Four other Lake County cities posted a livability score of 80 or more: Silver Lake (82); Lady Lake (81), Tavares (81) and Montverde (80).

Wildwood led in Sumter County with a score of 81.

The AreaVibes livability scores are determined by a residential resource company partnering with researchers at the Martin Property Institute at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, a leading think tank on the role of location and economic prosperity.

The highest score in the state, 92, belongs to Indian Creek.

Cities with scores of 75 or above are designated “extremely livable.”

Cities with scores of 70–74 are classified as “very livable,” while cities with scores of 69 or less are designated “somewhat livable.”

Crow’s Nest, Indiana (population: 101) has the highest score in the nation, a 93.

LOOKING GOOD AreaVibes “LIVABILITY” Ratings

CITY Minneola Yalaha Groveland Lady Lake Clermont Tavares Wildwood Montverde Eustis Umatilla Mount Dora Howey-in-the-Hills Fruitland Park Sorrento The Villages Astatula Bushnell Leesburg Lake Pan. Mascotte Center Hill Webster Bay Lake Coleman Okahumpka

SCORE 84 83 83 81 81 81 81 80 79 79 79 79 78 78 77 77 77 76 76 74 70 69 69 65 60

AreaVibes “Livability” scores are based on several factors, including statistics pertaining to cost of living and employment.

Here’s a snapshot of how local cities compare

COST OF LIVING INDEX INCOME PER CAPITA

Minneola Groveland Yalaha Coleman Webster Bushnell Center Hill Astatula Lake Pan. Leesburg Tavares Mascotte Lady Lake Okahumpka Eustis Sorrento Bay Lake Fruitland Park Wildwood Umatilla FLORIDA Howey-in-the-Hills Clermont Mount Dora The Villages Montverde

97 97 94 84 86 86 90 90 90 92 92 93 93 94 94 94 94 96 97 99 100 100 102 103 109 113

$20,907 $18,456 $44,106 $14,484 $13,721 $20,431 $12,189 $17,000 $26,836 $20,899 $24,027 $13,477 $23,468 $0 $22,488 $24,985 $25,172 $20,928 $24,589 $31,906 $26,451 $36,859 $25,615 $26,432 $35,418 $29,755

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

$43,302 $49,444 $63,942 $24,625 $23,929 $32,582 $35,278 $44,214 $33,233 $33,053 $39,100 $39,780 $36,371 $9,103 $41,321 $64,464 $76,250 $55,521 $39,192 $41,791 $47,309 $64,018 $54,813 $46,112 $53,186 $70,781

UNEMPLOYMENT

5.5% 7.8% 1.2% 4.7% 2.7% 5.6% 1.5% 5.3% 2.7% 6.2% 5.3% 9.0% 4.5% 0.0% 6.5% 8.4% % 14.3% 5.4% 4.3% 3.6% 6.8% 88% % 2.7% 77% % 6.5% % 7.6% 6% 1.8% % 6.5%

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Builders vie for your attention with 2015 Parade of Homes STORY: GARY CORSAIR

Everyone loves a parade. Especially when there’s something really special to celebrate.

That’s certainly the case with the annual Parade of Homes sponsored by the Home Builders Association of Lake and Sumter (HBA), which throws open the doors of fabulous abodes to the public, Feb. 28 through March 8.

It’s certainly a good time to be home shopping. Home sales rose by 6.8 percent in Lake County in 2014 (sales fell by .3 percent in Orange County during the same period) and builders have responded with stunning, innovative models that shout “dream home.”

The 2015 HBA Parade of Homes promises to be extra special.

Twelve builders are participating, including newcomer Lee Woods Construction, a custom builder who will roll out the welcome mat on a truly unique 6,500-square-foot home in Sunnyside.

“I don’t know how to categorize it,” Woods said. “It has porches and other elements of a ranch style, but it is more like a colonial type. Let’s just say that it’s unique.”

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Dream Home Sponsor Kevco Builders has entered a magnificent, 4,400-square-foot, three-bedroom, four-bath custom lake view home with stone fireplace and three-car garage in Squirrel Pointe, along with four homes and a remodel.

Kevco Builders’ Joe Ziler isn’t the only builder with something special to show off.

Pringle Homebuilding Group, the most experienced builder in the HBA Parade of Homes, hopes to duplicate its impressive showing of a year ago when Pringle won Grand Best Score and first place in the $256,000-$325,000 category.

“We are proud to enter our Huntly model as a virtual entry for this year's Parade of Homes,” says Pringle I/T and marketing services manager Dennis Bottaro. “The Huntly is one of our customers’ favorite homes and it's easy to see why from the moment you walk in. Pringle’s quality, care and craftsmanship speak for itself and I am confident our home will show and place very well this year.”

Here’s a rundown of this year’s participants:

2015

Parade of Homes participants

• • • • • •

KEVCO BUILDERS MAINSAIL SOLUTIONS DR HORTON MEDALLION HOME DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES MARONDA

• • • • • •

HARBOR HILLS DEVELOPMENT LEE WOODS CONSTRUCTION TWIN LAKES CUSTOM HOMES ADAMS HOMES PATHFINDER DEVELOPMENT PRINGLE HOMEBUILDING GROUP

• Harbor Hills Development — Gated country club community on the shore of Lake Griffin in Lady Lake.

in 2014 and two Parade of Homes Best in Class Winner awards in 2013. Based in Eustis. Thirty years experience.

• Pathfinder Development — Builds homes in Osceola, Lake, Orange and Seminole counties. Based in Clermont.

• David Weekley Homes — The largest privately-held home builder in America.

Founded in 1976. Based in Houston.

Professional Builder magazine’s Builder of the Year in 1990 and 2013.

• Lee Woods Construction — Custom home builder serving Central Florida. Founded in 1995. Based in Fruitland Park.

• Mainsail Solutions — General contractor based in Fruitland Park.

• Pringle Homebuilding Group — Parade of Homes Grand Champion in 2014. Founded in 1913. Based in Leesburg.

• DR Horton — Regional homebuilder based in Fort Worth, Texas. Founded in 1985. Largest homebuilder in the USA according to Builder Magazine. No. 1 on Builder Magazine’s Builder 100 list 12 consecutive years.

• Kevco Builders — HBA Lake-Sumter Builder of the Year in 1995 and 2012.

HBA Lake-Sumter Remodeler of the Year in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002 and 2001. Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase Winner

• Adams Homes — Founded in 1991.

Built more than 35,000 homes.

• Maronda Homes — Builder of townhomes, condos and single-family homes in five states and 150+ 50+ communities.

Based in Sanford.

• Twin Lakes Custom Homes — General contractors. Based in DeLand/ Umatilla. Founded in 2004.

• Medallion Homes ess — Semi-custom home builder. Founded ded in 1984. Based in Sarasota.

February Feb F eebbrrua uaaryy 20 201 15 5

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On Top of the World in Ocala offers an amazing lifestyle with world class amenities ready now for your ultimate enjoyment.

Stay fit, play golf, meet new friends or sit back, relax and enjoy wide open green spaces nestled among majestic oaks and beautiful natural surroundings. Live a lifestyle beyond compare and it’s all right here ready for your enjoyment. Our innovative home designs feature award-winning kitchens, spa-like master retreats and covered screened lanais so you’ll enjoy entertaining indoors and out. Plus, with our maintenance-free living you will have the peace of mind and the freedom to do what you want when you want to do it. Tour our new and exciting fully furnished models and sample the amazing lifestyle at On Top of the World Communities for yourself.

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ENJOY THE WORLD TOUR, OUR 3 DAYS/2 NIGHT STAY FOR $189** Maintenance free single-family homes and luxury golf course estate homes from the mid $100’s - $300’s Call us at 352.247.7002 | www.OnTopOfTheWorld.com 8447 SW 99th St. Rd. Ocala, Florida 34481 From I-75 take SR 200 west 6.5 miles. Turn right at SW 99th St. Rd. *Up to $5,000 towards options and upgrades with purchase of new home. Offer valid thru February 28th, 2015. Speak to a sales counselor for details **Price for single or double occupancy, plus tax. A tour with our sales team is required. © 2014 On Top of the World Communities Inc, Ocala, Florida, a 55+ community. Prices, features and specifications are subject to change without notice. Certain conditions may apply. Void where prohibited by law

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LIVING THE GOOD LIFE On Top of the World Communities in Ocala offers four new floorplans in Stonebridge at Candler Hills.

Ocala is renowned for its slower paced lifestyle among gently rolling hills, streams and equestrian farms. Here at On Top of the World Communities, active adults find all they dream of.

The newly revitalized community is experiencing a renaissance with new entrances, landscaping, signage, a digitally interactive sales center and six award-winning, decorated model homes offering today’s most sought-after features and flexible floor plans. Now, buyers can ring in the New Year by taking advantage of preconstruction pricing on four brand new floorplans in the recently released Stonebridge community at On Top of the World.

These spacious estate homes feature three-car garages, gourmet kitchens, open living areas with volume ceilings, covered lanais and oversized golf course view homesites.

“Our homeowners have chosen to leave behind the crowds, traffic and frenzy of city and suburban living for a more satisfying lifestyle,” notes Dean Luce, vice president of sales and marketing for On Top of the World Communities. “On Top of the World residents enjoy nature and bike trails, parks, nearby historic towns and a lower cost of living here in Central Florida. Yet, our location puts On Top of the World close to top-rated Marion County hospitals and the prominent Shands Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville are all convenient, as are Atlantic and Gulf Coast beaches. It’s the best of all worlds here, and it comes with an unbelievable, amenity-rich sense of community.”

In fact, there are currently 250,000 square feet of amenities at On Top of the World, including 54 holes of golf on three courses, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a 14-acre R/C flying field, bocce, racquetball and basketball courts, fitness center, health club and spa, restaurants, cultural venues and much more.

With over 200 clubs, leagues, hobbies and lifelong learning opportunities nearby at the award winning Master the Possibilities Life-Long Learning Center, residents can choose to be as busy or as unhurried as they please at this energized, active-adult community in tranquil, centrally located Ocala. To ensure residents will enjoy their surroundings for decades to come, environmental stewardship is also a part of the lifestyle

at On Top of the World where energy savings, nature and the outdoors take center stage.

The new Stonebridge at Candler Hills floor plans range from 2,170 to 2,800 square feet of air-conditioned space and are designed for the way Baby Boomers live, work, play and entertain. For example, the Glasgow is a courtyard design with two bedrooms in the main structure and a separate guest suite with private entry, full bath and kitchenette. This plan is perfect for multigenerational families, those who have frequent visitors or anyone who wants a private office or studio space.

The Newburn and St. Andrews plans offer both a library and flex space that can be utilized for a variety of purposes, such as a hobby or sewing room, den, office, workout room, a place to display treasured collections — you’ll decide.

The Argyll offers three bedrooms and three baths, as well as a 1,000-plus square foot garage. All new Stonebridge homes are of quality construction, exceeding Energy Star standards while offering comfort, convenience and a wide variety of upgraded luxury features and design elements. Plus, even more amenities are coming with The Lodge at Candler Hills clubhouse going in at Stonebridge. A resort-style pool will be just one of the highlights of The Lodge once completed.

The new, decorated Stonebridge models will be opening in March, but smart buyers won’t want to miss today’s special preconstruction pricing starting from the $260s to the $300s.

Additionally, a variety of move-in ready, maintenance-free singlefamily homes with short closing times is available in existing On Top of the World communities of Windsor and Candler Hills.

For a limited time, those that purchase a new home on or before Feb. 28, 2015, will receive $5,000 toward options and upgrades.

Prospective residents who want to experience On Top of the World can book a relaxing three-day, two-night World Tour and enjoy everything On Top of the World Communities has to offer.

For more information, call 1.855.453.0111 or visit www.OnTopoftheWorld.com

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KEVCO BUILDERS Innovation

Integrity

Excellence

YOUR

JOE ZILER, PRESIDENT KEVCO BUILDERS

DREAM

HOME

BUILDER

RS

ence

Dream (dre–m), noun: A series of thoughts, visions, ideas created

in your imagination. Bringing your dream home to life starts here…

Scan the code to view a video featuring the Nassick’s and Benner’s stories

The Nassicks challenged Joe Ziler and Kevco Builders to create a home which was warm and suited for entertaining. Since moving into their custom-built Kevco home, the Nassicks have hosted Michael’s brother’s wedding in their front yard and a three three-generation generation Christmas including two dozen friends and family.

Innovat

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ed Joe rs to m and suited nto their Nassicks have ding in their on Christmas family.

The T h whole experience in working with Joe and the Kevco team was great. There is a difference a with Joe and the The T h whole experiencebetween in working house and a home and Kevco Joe defiteam nitelywas built us our dream great.

There is a difference between a home. We sit at the island night house just and about a homeevery and Joe defiand nitely built us our dream have dinner – home. we loveWe where at, just about every night and sit atwe’re the island have dinner – we love where we’re at,

we love what Kevco built. ilt. we love what Kevco built. ilt.

— DONNA & MICHAEL NASSICK

— DONNA & MICHAEL NASSICK

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He’s an excellent man, professional but as a pe probably referred Kevco or six times since we m Joe’s the only one we’ll

— JILL & MICHAEL BEN

Scan the code to hear the voicemail message the Benners left for Joe

ntegrity

For the Benners, choosing Kevco Builders to build their first custom home was filled with surprises… good ones. Upgraded materials, quality workmanship, a team of polite and responsivee professionals led bby president, Joe Ziler, made for an experience which Jill had to express during an extensive voicemail “thank you” message mess for Joe.

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Since 1980, Kevco Builders has been Central Florida’s most award-winning custom home builder and remodeler. And, while we’re honored by that distinction, it’s our high level of customer satisfaction and referrals which we use as the gauge of our success. Every relationship we develop, every home we build or remodel, every investment we make back into our community is framed by three simple principles; Innovation, integrity, excellence.

What does your “Dream Home” look like? How does it flow, feel, function? Whether you already have an idea in mind or are inspired by one of our popular plans, every Kevco home is a custom home – designed together to suit your needs, wants, desires and budget.

So indulge in the master bedroom you’ve always dreamed of. Design a kids’ room which will be the envy of the neighborhood. Go ahead and host that dinner party in your gourmet kitchen or fire up the grill on game day while friends and family gather around the summer kitchen on a beautiful Central Florida afternoon.

Dreams become reality, and then some, when you place your confidence – as the Nassicks and Benners did – with Joe Ziler and his exceptional team at Kevco Builders.

At Kevco Builders, we’re bringing dreams to life, one custom home at a time. We hope p yyours is next.

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Offices: The Villages, Clermont, Mount Dora, Leesburg, Tavares

www.ERAGrizzard.com | (352) 504-0020

Lauri

GRIZZARD OWNER/AGENT, CRS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PRODUCER 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE Lauri Grizzard prides herself in her dedication to both home buyers and sellers.

“A Real Estate transaction is often the largest investment in my clients’ lives,” she says. “And without the help of a professional, the process can be overwhelming.”

As a result, Lauri believes in taking the time to educate her clients. Boasting the elite Certified Residential Specialist Designation, which is earned by only 3% of Realtors in the Nation, Lauri has the experience and education you can rely on.

“It’s incredibly important to me that I guide my clients in making an informed decision,” says Lauri, who owns ERA Grizzard with her husband, Gus. “As an ERA company we have the unique ability to offer industry leading tools and resources to our clients, which helps take our customer experience to the next level.”

1300 Citizens Blvd.

Leesburg, FL 34748 352.267.1420 lauri@eragrizzard.com LauriGrizzard.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

Roxanne

LOGAN

REALTOR, SRES, GREEN, 2014 ERA REALTOR OF THE YEAR — MOUNT DORA In life, you learn your best lessons in the trenches. Roxanne Logan learned that the hard way when the real estate market took a nosedive and remained stagnant for almost six years.

However, quitters never win and Roxanne remained loyal to her profession because she knew things would get better. And they have.

“It’s exciting right now in real estate. Business is starting to boom again. It feels like life is being breathed back into Lake County,” she says.

“I’ve been in real estate for 17 years — everything from luxury to waterfront, family and Active Adult communities, as well as new construction. It’s all in the green and coming back stronger than ever!”

“Wisdom, drive, ingenuity and integrity … every day.”

600 N. Donnelly St. Mount Dora, FL 32757 352.636.1127 roxannelogan.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

Linda

GRIZZARD REALTOR, CRS, SFR Real Estate is an evolving industry and Linda Grizzard has seen it all during her 40 years as a local Realtor.

“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Lake County grow into an incredibly vibrant community. And to this day, I enjoy working as an expert in our waterfront and luxury communities,” she says.

In addition to her experience in the local area, Linda is committed to her ongoing Real Estate education and has completed property appraisal courses to assure accurate pricing for sellers.

“While many know me as a luxury home agent, one of my passions is working with first-time homebuyers. You can’t beat seeing them happy at the closing table for the first time,” she says.

Whereas technology and trends have changed throughout her career, Linda’s personal commitment to her clients remains un-wavered.

1300 Citizens Blvd.

Leesburg, FL 34748 352.504.0085 LindaGrizzard.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

RE/MAX REALTY CENTER INTERNATIONAL The secret to RE/MAX Realty Center International in Eustis is simple. Business partners Danny Teems and Leigh Ann Pippin have assembled a team of 13 real estate agents whose experience, professionalism, integrity and dedication make the buying and selling process enjoyable.

It’s no surprise the company ranks in the top 10 in total sales volume among all agencies in Lake and Sumter counties. On average, each agent produces 25 transactions a year, totaling almost $5 million in volume per agent yearly. Moreover, the company sells a property every 4.83 business hours.

“We are able to spend valuable time with our agents and teach them efficient marketing strategies,” Danny says. “We are also focused on customer service, which is why referrals are the biggest part of our business.”

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

RE/MAX Realty Center 2801 S. Bay St., Eustis, FL 32726 352.508.5532 www.housesinlake.com

RealLiving Good Neighbor Realty The Real Estate Professionals with Real Solutions "Don’t trust one of your most important purchases to just anyone….

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CONGRATULATIONS TO:

2014 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TERRI GORDON

2014 REALTOR OF THE YEAR LORETTA MAIMONE

Call (352) 516-2278 Altamonte Springs Mount Dora Winter Park www.RealLivingGoodNeighbor.com

COLDWELL BANKER

CAMELOT REALTY SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

Since 1998, Coldwell Banker Camelot Realty has been meeting the real estate needs of Lake County residents. Under the ownership of Ray and Karen Levy, the company sets education for their agents as top priority to ensure their customers receive the highest level of service.

Coldwell Banker Camelot prides itself in thinking outside of the box and relies on a hightech and high-touch approach to keep satisfied customers coming back.

For more information about real estate in Lake County, contact Coldwell Banker Camelot Realty.

1898 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora, FL 32757 352.735.1010 ColdwellBankerCamelot.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

BobPODELL REALTOR

Many would agree there is an art to helping people buy and sell a home. For Realtor Bob Podell, the keys to that are professionalism, experience, trust and an ear for listening.

“I’m an excellent listener,” says Bob, a consistent multimillion-dollar producer and a 2014 member of the Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society. “I take note of my clients’ wants and needs. This enables me to help them reach their real estate goal.”

Utilizing the Coldwell Banker brand, Camelot Realty’s resources, his business experiences and the greatest team of Realtors in Lake County, Bob prides himself on giving remarkable service that not only yields results but also exceeds clients’ expectations.

JeanaMATTHEWS

1898 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora, FL 32757 352.459.6212 Bob@LakeCoHomePro.com www.LakeCoHomePro.com

REALTOR

While selling or buying a home is a happy time for most people, it can also be very emotional.

“I believe being kind, compassionate, and understanding are very important when it comes to being a Realtor” says Jeana Matthews. “I’m truly grateful to have the skills required to help people, no matter what their personal situation might be.”

As a top producer at Coldwell Banker Camelot, Jeana says her success is a direct result of her passion for people, problem-solving ability, and business expertise.

“I draw upon my life experiences to help others,” she says. “I’m always there for my clients because I lead and engage them through the home selling or buying process”.

1898 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora, FL 32757 352.630.4737 jeana.matthews@coldwellbanker.com www.matthewshometeam.com

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On the

scene THE TO-DO LIST SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT OUT + ABOUT HI, SOCIETY!

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On the scene // the to-do list

FEBR To have an event considered for the calendar, send a short text description along with a color photo (if available) 45 days in advance of event to: calendar@akersmediagroup.com or Lake & Sumter Style Calendar, P.O. Box 490088, Leesburg, FL 34749

EVENTS FEBRUARY 7

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL Gospel choirs, arts and crafts, praise dancers, health screenings and historical and cultural education are highlights. 9a.m.–5p.m. at Wooton Park, Tavares. Free. CONTACT: 352.406.9608 or 352.742.3603

FEBRUARY 13–14

2015 CRAPPIE MASTERS Two-day national qualifier on Harris Chain of Lakes in Tavares.

Weigh-in is at Wooton Park starting at 3:30p.m. CONTACT: crappiemasters.net

FEBRUARY 14

READING ROMANCE EXPO Celebrating Florida romance authors and their books. From 10a.m. until 1p.m. at W. T. Bland Public Library, Mount Dora CONTACT: 352.735.7180 ext. 3101.

FEBRUARY 21

PET EXPO 2015 Bill Bryan Subaru sponsors pet adoption day. About 15 rescue organizations bringing cats and dogs. 10a.m.–4p.m. CONTACT: leesburgpartnership.com

FEBRUARY 28

SPRING BLING FASHION SHOW Fun, fashion and prizes. Gather your girlfriends and make an ordinary afternoon exciting. 10a.m. at Trilogy clubhouse in Groveland. CONTACT: 352.617.8788

MUSIC+THEATRE FEBRUARY 6–22

DOUBT, A PARABLE Follows a Catholic priest’s battle for truth and personal integrity.

Thursdays–Saturdays, 8p.m.; Sundays, 2p.m. at 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. Tickets: $25.

CONTACT: gardentheatre.org

FEBRUARY 13 & 15

FEBRUARY 13-16

TALE OF TWO CITIES Love Week. Kickoff rally on Feb. 13, 7p.m. Beautification projects at various schools.CONTACT: Loveweekcfl.com

VIOLIN SERENADE ROMANCE & ROSES Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra presents “Music of the Heart” for Valentine weekend. 7:30–9p.m. at Family Christian Center in Clermont; 3–4p.m. at Congregational Church of Mount Dora. CONTACT: 352.589.1500

FEBRUARY 7

SPICE IT UP FOR HOSPICE CHILI COOKOFF Benefits Lane Purcell Hospice House and Cornerstone Hospice patient care. Raffle prizes, hot dogs, live music, 25 chili cooks in a tasting contest. 11a.m.–2p.m. at downtown Bushnell Park.

CONTACT: 352.303.6779

FEBRUARY 15

SOMETHING WONDERFUL Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s. This tribute concert is performed by the Resident Artists of the Central Florida Lyric Opera with Bil Doherty at the piano. 3p.m. at Lake-Sumter State College’s Paul P. Wil iams Center for the Performing Arts. CONTACT: 877.211.5346

FEBRUARY 21–22

THROUGH FEBRUARY 22

I DO! I DO! An intimate musical portrait that follows Michael and Agnes Snow from their wedding night jitters through raising a family and negotiating the twists and turns of married life.

Sonnentag Theatre at the IceHouse, 1100 N. Unser Street, Mount Dora.

CONTACT: icehousetheatre.com

NIGHT FEVER: BEE GEES TRIBUTE All-Canadian cast backed by professional musicians, singing blockbusters such as “Night Fever,” “Jive Talkin,’” “You Should be Dancing,” and more. $27; includes showings at 2 and 7:30p.m. on Saturday and 2p.m. on Sunday at Lake-Sumter State College’s Paul P. Williams Fine Arts Auditorium. CONTACT: 352.365.3506

RUMORS A Neil Simon classic farce with nothing else on its mind except delighting audiences. Bay Street Players at the Historic State Theatre, 109 N. Bay St., Eustis.

CONTACT: baystreetplayers.org

FEBRUARY 16-18

FEBRUARY 20

LIGHT UP ROTARY Atmosphere of food, fun and dancing presented by Rotary Club of South Lake County. $100 per person; $150 for couples. 6:30p.m.–1a.m. at Gabby’s Banquet Facility, 699 S. U.S. Highway 27, Clermont. CONTACT: 352.394.1320

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FEBRUARY 15–MARCH 1 FEBRUARY 14

VALENTINE’S DAY TRIBUTE SHOW Buffet dinner, cash bar and a show from Seven Bridges Eagles Tribute Band. Admission: $93.

6–10p.m at Harbor Hil s Country Club, Lady Lake. Reservations required.

CONTACT: 352.753.7000

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PROOF A deceased mathematician’s daughter must prove the authentication of a landmark proof discovered among his papers. In the process, she must deal with her father’s legacy of genius and mental il ness. Bay Street Players at the Historic State Theatre, 109 N. Bay St., Eustis. CONTACT: baystreetplayers.org

MUSIC IN MOTION PRESENTS A TALE OF FOUR CITIES Energetic dancers and singers explore the famous sights and sounds of New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and New Orleans.

7p.m. at Savannah Center, 1545 N. Buena Vista Blvd., The Villages.

CONTACT: 352.348.1982 or thevillagesentertainment.com/events

THROUGH FEBRUARY 22

THE WHO’S TOMMY A rock musical based on The Who’s 1969 album, “Tommy.”

Moonlight Players Warehouse Theatre, 732 B W. Montrose St., Clermont. CONTACT: moonlightplayers.com

FEBRUARY 26

THE RAT PACK TOGETHER AGAIN Experience the Rat Pack again with the most popular Rat Pack tribute on the East Coast. 7p.m. at the Mount Dora Community Building. CONTACT: 352.735.7183

ART/HISTORY EXHIBITS

Will address working with papers, fabrics, found objects and past artwork. CONTACT: 352.874.5863

FEBRUARY 13

GALLERY NIGHT An art exhibit of Dr. Hugh Brown’s oil paintings of historic Mount Dora will be displayed at the Mount Dora History Museum. 6–8p.m. CONTACT: mountdorahistorymuseum.com

THROUGH FEBRUARY 27

DISTURBINGLY BEAUTIFUL Sculptor Trent Manning and painter Amy Palmer present the cynical side of life in a disturbing way that is both amusing and thought provoking. Location: 138 E. Fifth Ave., Mount Dora. CONTACT: 352.383.0880 FEBRUARY 19–22

FEBRUARY 14

ART EXTRAVAGANZA Over 70 area artists will display and sell watercolors, acrylics, oils, pastels, colored pencil, pen and inks, photography and more. 9a.m.–3 p.m. at the Laurel Manor Regional Recreation Center. Free admission.

CONTACT: billieledwards@ gmail.com

THROUGH FEBRUARY 18

LEE ANDREW BIANCO: FOOL THE EYE Lee Andrew Bianco is a fine, superrealistic painter who learned his craft as a fine and commercial artist and designer. Location: 1 W. Orange Ave., Eustis. Admission: $5, $3 for seniors and students. CONTACT: 352.483.2900

FEBRUARY 28–MARCH 28

MEMBER PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW South Lake Art League presents the framed photos of members at the Montrose Gallery, 776 W. Montrose St., Clermont. CONTACT: southlakeartleague.com

EP

MOUNT DORA MUSIC FESTIVAL

EDITOR’S PICK

A Grammy winners weekend. Suzy Bogguss performs Thursday; Melissa Manchester performs Friday; and Jack Jones performs Saturday.

7:30p.m. each night at the Mount Dora Community Building.

CONTACT: MOUNTDORAMUSICFEST.COM

FESTIVALS/FAIRS FEBRUARY 7–8

MOUNT DORA ARTS FESTIVAL Takes place in historic downtown Mount Dora. In addition to the endless rows of fine art, the festival features local and regional musical entertainment. CONTACT: mountdoracenterforthearts.org FEBRUARY 14

THROUGH FEBRUARY 21

LOCAL COLOR: RICHARD COLVIN You may know Richard from his role as executive director at the Lake Eustis Museum of Art, but the Leesburg Center for the Arts is proud to present his series of paintings reflecting the local color of Lake County. 429 W. Magnolia St., Leesburg. CONTACT: 352.365.0232

FOX RUN FAIR New and used items for sale, including original artwork and crafts, plants, jewelry, books, puzzles and home-baked goods.

Unsold items will be donated to charity. 8a.m.–2p.m. at Fox Run Manufactured Home Park, 440 Fox Run Blvd., Tavares. CONTACT: 352.552.2217

FEBRUARY 7

MARDI GRAS PARTY IN THE STREET Streets of downtown Leesburg come alive with sights and sounds of New Orleans.

11a.m.–11p.m.

CONTACT: LEESBURGMARDIGRAS.COM

FEBRUARY 26—MARCH 1 FEBRUARY 21–22

MIXED MEDIA WITH CHRISTINE PELOQUIN At the Leesburg Center for the Arts’ Art Education Center, learn the joys of mixed-media collage.

STARLITE FILM FESTIVAL Festival celebrates the imagination and entrepreneurial spirit of microbudget films and their creators. Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant Street, Winter Garden.

CONTACT: starlitefilmfest.com

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LOCAL TALENT PROFILE

POLITICIAN TURNED TROUBADOUR BILL GOOD TAKES UNIQUE BRAND OF FUSED MUSIC TO THE WORLD STORY: JANE FUENTES

After a life of service as a Leesburg High School science teacher and a Lake County commissioner, Bill Good is finally getting as much as he’s giving.

It’s bound to happen when you hang with Tibetan monks.

“My wife and I were in Lhasa, Tibet, and had just walked through the Jokhang Temple,” Good explains.

“Afterwards we went to a café.

A group of five monks came to the table and when they saw my guitar, they asked me if I’d play a song for them. I said I would and they requested ‘Blue Suede Shoes.’ They bopped their heads as I played, and they didn’t sing, but mouthed all the words in English.”

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Life after politics has certainly taken Good a long way from Lake County and his Yalaha home.

Good’s love for composing and playing has led him to Tibet, China, Spain, Morocco, Tangiers and Norway, and other exotic locations. In January, he took his musical show “Toque de Classe Euro Tour 2015” (Portuguese for Touch of Class) to the Iberian Peninsula and the Azores Islands of Portugal.

Good was just 9 years old when he picked up a guitar and taught himself to play. He started off playing “old-time music,” along with bluegrass, island music and jazz.

“I covered a lot of popular tunes,” he says, “But then I

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started writing a lot of my own music, leaning more towards classical music. However, I mainly considered myself a songwriter. Then I met up with Alessandro Samataro, an Italian composer friend of mine in Australia. We got into a conversation about my music and he said to me that I wasn’t just a songwriter; I was a composer. His comment made such an impact on me that I entirely changed my act. “ Change wasn’t easy. “I was looking for new variety in writing and composing, but I wasn’t comfortable in doing it. I had to trick myself out of my normal way of playing music.”

He tricked himself by creating a pseudonym, William Woodson.

Woodson/Good was then able to explore new ways of interpreting classical music. “I really wanted to fuse different musical elements. I started writing music that blended classical music with Spanish jazz, flamenco, bluegrass and rock ‘n’

roll. It got to the point where I no longer need William Woodson.”

While Good has been a musician most of his life, music wasn’t his only passion. “I’m a science geek,” he admits.

He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a major in biology, and later earned his master’s in science education.

For many years he was a dedicated science teacher by day and a musician by night.

And he’s still teaching.

Good uses his music to raise consciousness about environmental issues, especially global warming. “There is so much beauty on this earth and I try to capture the serenity and peacefulness in my music.”

His CDs “Travels on a Melting Planet” and “Travelin’ Guitar” are available on CDbaby.com.

Good’s two passions brought a third passion — and muse — into his life: his wife Sandi. “We were both teachers, and we met at a marine science workshop in Crystal River.”

Sandi noticed him because he had a guitar. “He carried it everywhere he went,” she says.

“Later that evening we were singing a song together and got into a discussion about the lyrics.

We made a bet that if I was right, I would take him out and buy him dinner, and that if he was right, he would buy me dinner.”

“That’s the only way to bet when you know you’re a winner either way.” Good says.

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Uncle Bob’s Rock Shop (rock) Pilotwave (indie/rock) Uncle Bob’s Rock Shop (rock) Griffin Vittone (acoustic rock) Melly L (pop/rock/R&B) Brewery Boys (’60s/’70s/’80s) Mad Hadder Band (rock) Boggy Creek (country) Uncle Bob’s Rock Shop (rock) Rainer Berry (country) Brian Smalley (folk/acoustic) Kings Country (party rock) Boggy Creek (country) Roy Baker (easy listening) Nate McManus (folk) Bobby France (acoustic) Daniel Heitz Band (blues/rock) Shadow Cabinet (alternative) The Smokin’ Torpedoes (blues) 3 Ring Circus (modern country) Southern Breeze (classic rock) Uncle Bob’s Rock Shop (rock) The Dunn Deal (folk/country/pop) Jim Perkins (singer-songwriter) Andrew Williams Band (blues/rock) Southern Breeze (classic rock) Just in Time (Mountain music) Dr. Paul (Americana/country) Dennis Gallo (Top 40/R&B/rock) Nate McManus (folk) 3 For The Road (classic rock) 3 For The Road (classic rock) Uncle Bob’s Rock Shop (rock) Kelly Jarrard (acoustic/soul/jazz) The Smokin’ Torpedoes (blues) Blue Stone Circle (variety) Brewery Boys (’60s/’70s/’80s) Stone Wagon (rock) Blue Stone Circle (variety) Hwy19 (Americana) Stone Wagon (rock) Kelly Jarrard (acoustic/soul/jazz) Jeff Whitfield (adult alternative) Dennis Gallo (Top 40/R&B/rock) Justin Heet (blues/soul/country)

VENUE

Spanish Springs Town Square, The Villages O’Keefe’s Irish Pub, Tavares Katie Belles, The Villages World of Beer, Wildwood Wallace Grill, Clermont Rocking Rabbit Brewing, Mount Dora Frank’s Place, Leesburg Shamrock Lounge & Package, Leesburg Katie Belles, The Villages O’Shucks Oyster Bar & Grill, Wildwood Rocking Rabbit Brewery, Mount Dora Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Shamrock Lounge & Package, Leesburg Olivia’s Coffeehouse, Eustis Magical Meat Boutique, Mount Dora Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Pisces Rising, Mount Dora Ruby Street Grille, Tavares McCall’s Tavern, The Villages McGregors Bar, Mount Dora Shamrock Lounge & Package, Leesburg Katie Belles, The Villages Olivia’s Coffeehouse, Eustis World of Beer, Wildwood Rocking Rabbit Brewery, Mount Dora Shamrock Lounge & Package, Leesburg Olivia’s Coffeehouse, Eustis The Lost Parrot, Mount Dora Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Magical Meat Boutique, Mount Dora Brownwood Town Square, The Villages Red Oaks Resort, Bushnell Lake Sumter Landing Market Square, The Villages Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Pisces Rising, Mount Dora Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Rocking Rabbit Brewing, Mount Dora Shamrock Lounge & Package, Leesburg Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Rocking Rabbit Brewing, Mount Dora Shamrock Lounge & Package, Leesburg Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Ruby Street Grille, Tavares Ruby Street Grille, Tavares

Bands subject to change … Email Gary@akersmediagroup.com to submit an event for In Concert. Submissions must be received by the ninth of the month prior to month of the event (example: June 9 for July issue).

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On the scene // social spotlight Where you want to be

After

A STABLE LIFE STORY: JAMES COMBS PHOTOS: PROVIDED

B

andit was so malnourished you could balance a Coca-Cola can on his ribs.

Princess has a broken jaw and cannot rotate her mouth to properly chew food. Her food must be converted into mush so she can digest it.

Misty has Cushing’s disease, a hormonal disorder caused by high levels of cortisol.

Few things are as heartbreaking as abused or neglected creatures.

But these animals have found greener pastures at Howey Horse Haven Rescue, which was opened in 2013 by Teresa Meixner. Through her nonprofit organization, she nurses abused, neglected and unwanted horses and ponies to health and finds them permanent, loving homes.

For Teresa, tending to these animals is a labor of love. She rises each morning at

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4:45 to feed them, groom them and clean their stables.

But it’s also expensive. When a pony or horse arrives, Teresa spends $180 for shots and Coggins (anemia) testing, $130 for dental work and $30 for farrier services.

The animals eat two bales of hay daily, each costing $12. There are additional expenses for worming, fly spray and supplements.

Teresa pays for these necessities out of pocket. She and her husband, Alan, own and operate Discount Muffler and Custom Exhaust in Pine Hills.

“My pocketbook is empty,” she says, “but at least the horses are happy and their hearts are full.”

To help offset expenses, Teresa is hosting the first Hearts and Hooves Silent Auction and Dinner on Feb. 7.

She hopes the event, to be held inside

Before

Lake-Sumter State College’s Magnolia Room, raises enough money to help the organization provide ponies with adequate daily care.

“I’ve lost two ponies in the past two months,” she says. “It’s heartbreaking to look into their brown eyes and know there’s nothing you can do to help them. That said, I will never take in a horse or pony I know I cannot afford to take care of. Hopefully, events such as this one will allow me to help more of these animals and give them all the care they need.”

Guests will be treated to a spaghetti dinner and live entertainment. In addition, videos will be shown of all ponies that have been rehabilitated by the organization.

“I think the videos will give the public a better understanding of what we do here,”

Source: Habitat for Horses New York Times, angelfire.com/ri/horseplanet/abusefacts.html

After

“Saving just one horse will not change the world but surely it will change the world for that one horse.”

—Unknown Before

Teresa says. “When you see these animals that were once so sick or hungry run across the pasture for the first time, there’s simply no better feeling in the world.”

Attendees can also participate in a silent auction, which includes theme park passes, dinner and hotel packages and round-trip airfare on Southwest Airlines.

Teresa encourages people to attend so they can help right the wrong of severe cases of animal neglect.

“Animals depend on us,” she says, “and it is the fault of humans that these animals are in such sad shape. It’s up

to all of us to help make positive things happen in the lives of these horses. I know I cannot save them all, but if I can make a difference in the lives of a few, then my efforts are well worth it.”

Tickets are $10 per person in advance and $15 at the door. For more information, contact Howey Horse Haven Rescue at 352.223.8761 or visit howeyhorsehavenresuce.org. The public is also encouraged to visit the rescue Saturdays between 8a.m. and 2p.m. at 2109 N. Buckhill Road in Howey-in-the-Hills.

QUICK FACTS • Adequately taking care of a horse can cost as much as $6,000 per year. Of the more than 2 million Americans who own horses, more than one-third have a household income of less than $50,000.

• According to the USDA, 92 percent of horses slaughtered are in good condition and able to live productive lives.

• An estimated 100,000 horses are sent to Mexico and Canada each year for slaughter.

• This year, an estimated 125,000 horses in the U.S. will be killed for the lucrative export of meat to Europe and Japan.

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On the scene // out+about A travel companion for points near and far

FAMILY-FRIENDLY MARDI GRAS Most people assume Mardi Gras in the U.S. began in New Orleans, but history says otherwise. While the “Big Easy” may have the largest and most decadent celebrations, another Southern city gave birth to the traditional revelry that is a precursor to the Lenten season.

STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS PHOTOS: MARY ANN DESANTIS AND THE MOBILE CARNIVAL MUSEUM. PARADE PHOTO BY TAD DENSON OF MYSHOTZ.COM

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he children giggling and catching purple, green and gold beads thrown from carnival floats on Mobile, Alabama’s Royal Street are the first clue that this Mardi Gras is different. Mobile’s Fat Tuesday celebration is certainly family friendly, not the decadent, breast-baring frenzy that is synonymous with New Orleans carnival parades.

And if you think the Mobile celebrations are tamed-down, knockoff versions of those to the west, just check the history books. French pioneers observed the first Mardi Gras in the New World at Fort Louis de la Mobile, a tiny settlement on a bluff near Mobile in 1703, more than 30 years before New Orleans held its first parade, which Mobile folks helped them organize. In 1704, Mobile established Masque de la Mobile, a secret society similar to current Mardi Gras krewes. In 1710, the Boeuf Gras Society was formed and paraded from 1711 through 1861, when “the war of Northern aggression” quieted the annual celebration just briefly.

“A lot of people not from this area do not realize Mobile’s role in the history of Mardi Gras,” says Judi Gulledge, Executive Director of the Mobile Carnival Museum.

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“The biggest difference today is we are family-focused with a lot of generational involvement.”

Nowhere is the history more apparent than the Mobile Carnival Museum, where 14 galleries are filled with Mardi Gras memorabilia, including elaborate bejeweled royal robes and gowns of queens and kings from 60-plus mystic societies.

“Our most popular exhibits are the royal robes,” says Gulledge. “People just can’t imagine the magnitude the royal krewes go to celebrate their reigns, which is one night.”

Housed in the historic BernsteinBush mansion on Government Street in downtown Mobile, the museum chronicles more than 300 years of Mobile’s Mardi Gras history. Colorful displays tell how the modern-day celebrations evolved from a papiérmaché ox, in honor of Boeuf Gras, being pulled down Dauphin Street. Today’s parades attract more than 850,000 people to Mobile just for Mardi Gras.

For me, the interactive exhibit of riding on a parade float was the biggest thrill and the closest I’ll come to being in a Mardi Gras parade. Surrounded by tableaux vivants (or living pictures) of crowds, I could almost hear the painted figures yelling for the highly

collectible doubloons and beads.

The mansion’s small front entrance belies the massive warehouse and galleries inside, as well as the fun that surrounds Mardi Gras. For only a $5 admission fee, I spent a full morning touring a museum that is both entertaining and historical.

The tour guide shared little-known facts, such as pig bladders were used for early balloons, and Moon Pies, the traditional marshmallow cookie, were first thrown

by Mobile’s Mardi Gras revelers. All that trivia certainly created giggles and smiles among the youngest merrymakers.

About the writer Mary Ann DeSantis has written features for Style publications since 2006. She was recognized with a first-place Florida Press Club Excellence in Journalism Award for Travel Writing in 2012.

HISTORY OF MARDI GRAS Although the origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, it was the French who brought the celebration as we know it to their New World colonies. Just as the medieval Christians prepared one last day of feasting before the penitential season of Lent began, early settlers used up their eggs, butter and milk — fatty ingredients forbidden during Lenten abstinence — to make pancakes and pastries. Thus, Fat Tuesday is often called Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday, which comes from the word shrive, meaning confess.

Mardi Gras, which literally translates to Fat Tuesday from French, is celebrated around the world with countries adding

their own special traditions. Students samba their way through the streets of Rio de Janeiro, which hosts what is reportedly the world’s largest carnival. In Germany, the Fastnacht celebrations mark the “eve of the fast,” and in Italy, Venetians don intricate Carnivale masks that have become popular souvenirs all yearlong. While many places in the U.S. celebrate Mardi Gras, including Leesburg and Universal Studios in Orlando, only a handful of places are known for authentic experiences on Fat Tuesday, which will be Feb. 17 this year. Not surprisingly, those areas were once under French rule: New Orleans, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mobile and Pensacola.

If you plan to visit Mobile during the two weeks of carnival season in February, you’ll have the best view of parades from Royal Street in front of the Historic Battle House Hotel.

In fact, the balcony of the hotel will be filled with revelers who’ll have a bird’s eye view of the parade route. Be sure to stop in at the popular Joe Cain Café, also on Royal Street, to learn more about the colorful character who revived Mardi Gras in 1866. Cain led the Lost Cause Minstrels in a procession through the city in defiance of occupying Union troops, and he’s revered to this day with the Sunday before Fat Tuesday known as Joe Cain Day.

Trip

TIP

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On the scene // Hi, society!

POWER OF THE PURSE Alada’s China & Gifts in downtown Leesburg hosted a Vera Bradley Foundation fundraiser in October. During the event, Joan Bradley Reedy, daughter of famed bag designer Vera Bradley, made an appearance. The event raised funds for breast cancer research at Indiana University, a project to which the Vera Bradley Foundation had already donated more than $20 million. The day of the fundraiser, Alada’s gave 15 percent of all Vera Bradley sales with a minimum of $200 to the foundation.

JUDY CARTER, JOAN BRADLEY REEDY AND SUSAN GIDDENS

RONNIE JONES AND JOAN BRADLEY REEDY

PHOTOS: ANTHONY CASTO

REBECCA SPAUDE, JOAN BRADLEY REEDY, CHRISTY SPAUDE, JEANNE THORPE AND JOY NEAD

JOAN BRADLEY REEDY, JEANNE THORPE AND JOY NEAD

DIANA RICHMOND, JOAN BRADLEY REEDY AND BEV RUPE

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JUDY CARTER, JOAN BRADLEY REEDY AND SUSAN GIDDENS

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Blaine Vermeulen A Skilled Public Adjuster When filing an insurance claim for property damage, you need d someone to fight on your behalf and t. ensure you receive a fair settlement.

There’s no better person to call than a public adjuster. As a matter of fact, a study conducted by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability concluded that public adjusters help clients receive a 74 percent higher settlement. Unfortunately, many people have no idea that public o. adjusters exist, let alone what they do.

A public adjuster is a claims specialist who interprets a policy, h assesses the damage and how much it will cost to repair, and negotiates with the insurance company until a claim is settled.

Blaine Vermeulen has served as a public adjuster for more than 20 years, fighting tenaciously for the rights of policy holders to ensure they recover the maximum amount of money to which they are entitled.

Although Blaine is licensed in 23 states, his company, Vermeulen Associates, is headquartered in Mount Dora.

Blaine’s dedication to his clients and extensive knowledge of the industry are the primary reasons why he achieves superior results for policy holders.

“Insurance adjusters work for insurance companies and have lots ” of pressure not to overpay a client,” he says. “Claims are denied all the time that should have been paid.

I have the best job in the world because I get to help a person receive what he or she is entitled to. If you have coverage on your

insurance I find it and make sure you’re paid. I take away all the headaches from you.”

Thanks to Blaine’s extensive knowledge of the insurance industry, he can navigate complex issues surrounding a policy holder’s loss and save the policy holder from needless hassle and headaches.

After all, insurance policies can be extremely complex.

“Insurance policies are written in a way where the average person does not understand them,” Blaine says.

“Therefore, people have no idea what they are entitled to. Ignorance can be bliss in situations like these.”

Blaine also possesses 30 years of experience as a general contractor, which gives him a distinct advantage over most public adjuster. His vast knowledge of construction proves invaluable when he visits a site and investigates, evaluates and assesses damaged property.

“Insurance adjusters do not understand construction,” he says. “I can find and point out things that other people didn’t even know to look for.”

For Blaine, delivering results is of paramount importance.

“I come for a free, no-pressure consultation. The only time I get paid is if I produce.”

Vermeulen Associates 240 South Highland Street Mt Dora, FL 32757-5735 Phone: (352) 383-6438 Fax: (352) 3 383-5314 83-5314 www.vermeulenassociates.com LIC# A273309

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On the scene // Hi, society!

AND THE AWARD GOES TO…

PHOTOS: RON VANDEVANDER

The Leesburg Partnership offered an evening of fun and celebration at its 20th annual Awards and Installation Dinner. The red carpet-style event honored several community leaders and volunteers with awards for categories such as City Employee of the Year, Merchant of the Year, Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, Beautification Project of the Year LIZA MARKELOV, ANASTASSIA and many more. Installation of the 2014–15 board of directors also took place, along with ABRAMENKO, ANNA LUKASHEVA silent and live auctions featuring a host of items from local merchants. AND VIKA KLEYMAN

VLADIMIR ABRAMENKO AND LILIA NECHAEVA NIK MECAJ, EUGENE PARKHIMOV, TONY WERK, IVAN MARKELOV AND ANASTASSIA ABRAMENKO

ANASTASSIA ABRAMENKO AND IVAN MARKELOV

LENA ABRAMENKO

JOHN WILLIAMS, M.D., JILL HAIGHT, TERI GRAY AND FERNANDO SERRA, M.D. ANASTASSIA ABRAMENKO AND PAVEL VOLYNSKIY

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elebrating Senior Living

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On the scene // Hi, society!

CHILI WEATHER Frosty weather offered the perfect backdrop for the Downtown Leesburg Business Association’s 15th annual Chili Cook-Off. For $5, the public received an all-you-can-eat sampling of chili from more than 30 competitors and enjoyed live entertainment featuring Bobby Blackmon. The Leesburg Fire Department took home the first-place award in the Chef’s Choice category, while Lake Medical Imaging snagged first place in the People’s Choice category. Lake Port Square received an award for the Best Decorated Booth, giving it a free entry in next year’s competition. CHERYL BLOOM

PHOTOS: MATTHEW GAULIN

CHRIS BERRY, ELVIN RODRIGUEZ, SHERIFF GARY BORDERS AND JOHN GILMORE BOBBY BLACKMON KEELY WILLIAMS, AUBREY NELSON, MIRANDA SKORUPSKI AND DAKOTA WILSON

CHIP BLACKMON, “Q” AND CHET BLACKMON DON AND TERRI FOLKER

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On the scene // Hi, society!

A GOLDEN GOOD TIME Montverde Academy’s 11th annual Celebrating Education event was an amazing evening of glamour and glitz reminiscent of Hollywood’s golden era. The affair at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando celebrated the 15th anniversary of headmaster Dr. Kasey Kesselring and featured exceptional cuisine, cocktails, exciting silent and live auctions and a wine raffle that featured more than 90 rated wines.

JULIO PAEZ, SCOTT FISHER, TAYLOR YARKOSKY AND ANTONIO SARANITA

NICCI MEYER AND WADE BOYETTE

FELECIA WILLIAMS AND GLENN PONTOO

PHOTOS: MORGAN ELLIS

ROBERT AND TIA KILDUFF WITH JAMIE AND DANNY NASH

KERRY & JACK ELDRIDGE CAROLYN ISBILL AND DENNIS WOODWARD

MANDI AND ADAM NESMITH

TINA DECLERCQ AND REBECCA BROWN

From (L-R) Nicole Silberstein, Charles Smith, Gregory Prevatt and Michael Monteith

Attention to Your Financial Details… means working toward your goal of living the lifestyle you have always envisioned. Knowing you have the resources in place to enjoy the next stage of your life is important in achieving those goals. Perhaps you want to master a new language, or travel to

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Knowing you have a financial advisor who can walk that path with you may mean the difference between living, and enjoying, your retirement. Protect what you want for today, and what you need for tomorrow.

Charles H. Smith, Sr. CWS® Senior Vice President Portfolio Management Director Wealth Advisor charlie.smith@morganstanley.com

Gregory Prevatt, CLTC, CFP® First Vice President Portfolio Management Director Financial Advisor gregory.prevatt@morganstanley.com

Michael Monteith Financial Planning Specialist Portfolio Manager Financial Advisor michael.monteith@morganstanley.com

Nicole Silberstein

The Smith Prevatt Monteith Group at Morgan Stanley 832 Lake Sumter Landing, The Villages, FL 32162

Client Service Associate nicole.silberstein@morganstanley.com

352.751.7845 • Toll free 800.447.6036

morganstanleyfa.com/smithprevattmonteith Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC offers insurance products in conjunction with its licensed insurance agency affiliates. This material is intended only for clients and prospective clients of the Portfolio Management program. It has been prepared solely for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any security or other financial instrument, or to participate in any trading strategy. The individuals mentioned as the Portfolio Management Team are Financial Advisors with Morgan Stanley participating in the Morgan Stanley Portfolio Management program. The Portfolio Management program is an investment advisory program in which the client’s Financial Advisor invests the client’s assets on a discretionary basis in a range of securities. The Portfolio Management program is described in the applicable Morgan Stanley ADV Part 2, available at www.morganstanley.com/ADV or from your Financial Advisor. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC does not accept appointments nor will it act as a trustee but it will provide access to trust services through an appropriate third-party corporate trustee. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and Federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the US. © 2015. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC CRC 1091404 01/15

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eats IN THE KITCHEN SALUTÉ FORK ON THE ROAD DINING GUIDE

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EATS // in the kitchen Out of the frying pan and onto the page.

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DINNER FOR TWO (LOVEBIRDS) Celebrate Valentine’s Day with an intimate, homemade meal at home.

STORY: SHEMIR WILES PHOTOS: MATTHEW GAULIN

T

here was a time going out for dinner on Valentine’s Day wasn’t an option for Cheryl Bloom and her husband.

“When we had the children we didn’t have a lot of money,” she says.

“Therefore, it just made sense to stay at home and enjoy a meal.”

Nevertheless, just because the food wasn’t cooked in a fancy, five-star restaurant didn’t mean the Valentine’s Day meal wasn’t special. In fact, it probably was more special because Cheryl’s children helped prepare her and her husband’s dinner.

“We would sit down as a family and the children would eat their dinner.

Then, later, after we put the kids to bed, my husband and I would enjoy our dinner for just the two of us that was prepared by the kids,” she says. “That’s how this idea kind of got started.”

Cheryl doesn’t quite remember what prompted her to choose Cornish

“I’ve always said with cooking, it should be simple and tasty. You don’t have to go overboard…”

— Cheryl Bloom game hens to have for Valentine’s Day one year, but she believes it probably had something to do with her desire to always try something different.

Plus, these young birds have a milder, more delicate flavor than their fullgrown counterparts.

Cheryl explains that Cornish game hens require very little stuffing because of their size, but cooks should be aware that the stuffing has to be moist

before placing it inside the bird.

“I don’t like dry stuffing in the first place, but making sure the stuffing is moist is important because it can dry the bird out,” she says. “Dry stuffing will draw moisture out of the hens.”

It’s also essential to tent the hens in tinfoil to further ensure juiciness and tenderness. And lastly, enjoy the meal your children helped prepare.

“This recipe is so simple it will be a piece a cake for them to help prepare or even cook on their own,” says Cheryl. “The Cornish game hens are nice because they offer that wow factor without being too complicated.

“I’ve always said with cooking, it should be simple and tasty. You don’t have to go overboard on ingredients and steps to have a nice, cozy Valentine’s Day meal.”

February 20 15

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EATS // in the kitchen Out of the frying pan and onto the page.

CHEESY POTATOES Recipe courtesy of Cheryl Bloom

INGREDIENTS: 2 large baking potatoes 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 tablespoon onion, finely chopped 1 tablespoon celery, finely chopped 1 tablespoon flour * ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 ½ cup milk 1 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese * Use cornstarch instead of flour as a thickener for the cheese sauce if going gluten-free.

DIRECTIONS: • Peel and cut potatoes into bitesized pieces. Boil, but do not overcook.

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

• Melt butter or margarine in a pan and sauté onion and celery until translucent.

• Add flour, salt and pepper to pan and stir. Next, whisk in milk until mixture thickens.

• Add shredded cheddar cheese and stir until cheese is melted.

For a gooier consistency, add more milk.

• Transfer potatoes to a baking dish and pour cheese mixture over potatoes.

• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.

• Remove potatoes and serve warm. Sprinkle with parsley or chives after potatoes are placed on plates.

CORNISH GAME HENS WITH STUFFING Recipe courtesy of Cheryl Bloom

INGREDIENTS: 2 (about 1 1/2 pounds) Cornish game hens, rinsed and dried thoroughly 3 slices of bread ½ teaspoon chicken seasoning ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning 4 tablespoons butter, melted 2 tablespoons milk Pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

• Wash and rinse inside and outside of hens. Set aside.

• In a small dish, melt butter. While butter is melting, break bread into

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small, cubed pieces and season with chicken seasoning, salt, pepper and poultry seasoning.

Toss to coat.

• Pour melted butter and milk over bread. Mix until bread is moist; then stuff each hen.

• Spray two large sheets of tinfoil with nonstick spray and roll the edges tight to form a loose tent around each bird.

• Place birds in a large roasting pan and cook for 90 minutes, or until juices run clear. Roll back the tents and set the pan under the broiler to brown the skin. Be careful not to burn.

PARMESAN GREEN BEANS Recipe courtesy of Cheryl Bloom

INGREDIENTS: 2 cups whole fresh green beans 2 tablespoons butter or margarine ¼ teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper ½ teaspoon onion powder 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese DIRECTIONS: • Boil or steam green beans to preferred taste. Set aside.

• Just before serving, melt butter or margarine in a frying pan.

• Add green beans. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and onion powder.

• Remove from heat and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese • Serve NOTE: Do not add parmesan into the pan while cooking unless you and your sweetheart enjoy crunchy cheese.

February 20 15

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EATS // saluté A worldly look at wine

A WINE OF YOUR OWN With a bit of chemistry and a dash of artistry, you can make your own wine with guidance from Joe Carvalho, owner of Corkscrew Winery in The Villages. It’s the best wine education you can get without going to sommelier school.

STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS PHOTOS: TONY DESANTIS

A

few years ago, my husband and I went in search of a well-known winery in Italy. The drive through the countryside turned out to be the best part of the day as we had trouble finding this highly recommended winery and it was closed when we arrived. We swallowed our disappointment as we returned to our host’s home, where he served us the most incredible red wine we’d ever tasted. “Is this from the nearby winery?” we asked almost in unison. It was not . . . our host had made it from grapes growing in his yard.

Although the wine was great, we were not inspired to rush home and make our own. We didn’t realize winemaking is a growing pastime with more than 100,000 people making 7.5 million gallons of homemade wine in 2012, according to WineMaker Magazine.

Joe Carvalho believes those figures have increased over the past two years. He has seen firsthand the popularity of winemaking at his Corkscrew Winery in downtown Ocala since he and his wife, Kelli, opened the business in 2012. That popularity prompted him to open a second location in Spanish Springs in The Villages where people can make and bottle their own wines in a facility that looks much like a rustic Italian winery.

“We had so many people coming from The Villages to our Ocala location that we decided to open one here,” says Carvalho. “Our purpose is to educate people about craft wine and beer. We don’t want anyone to feel intimidated when it comes to making their own.”

Customers choose the types of grapes and the “recipe” they want to make. Corkscrew Winery supplies all the ingredients, including juices and/or grapes imported from all over the world. Carvalho and his staff walk customers through the winemaking process, and then everyone steps back to let the yeast work its magic in six-gallon glass vessels called “carboys.” Customers return four-to-six weeks later for a private bottling session. Each batch yields about 28 to 30 bottles of wine so customers often come with friends to split costs. Prices range from $250 to $400 per batch depending on the types of wine.

George Mathis, vice president at Raymond James Financial in The Villages, is so much of a Corkscrew Winery fan that he has hosted client events and taken friends for winemaking parties at both locations.

“I did this in Italy, which was phenomenal, so seeing Carvalho

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bring this idea here is unbelievable,” says Mathis. “He and his staff do a great job explaining the process and the whole educational aspect. I got tons of positive feedback from my clients and friends who had a really good time and each took home a bottle of wine they made.”

Originally from Toronto, Carvalho was a volunteer in Belize when he initially learned to make wine with a friend more than 15 years ago. After marrying Ocala native Kelli McBride, he became a custom carpenter for high-end homes by day and a serious winemaking hobbyist at night. When he made wine for a friend’s wedding, several guests encouraged him to try winemaking as a business.

Many customers made bottles for their weddings or special events with customized labels Corkscrew Winery helped design.

“People will tell me they were married in a particular winemaking region and ask if I can get grapes from there,” says Carvalho. “Usually I can, and they make the bottles for their anniversaries.”

Corkscrew Winery also serves wines on tap that Carvalho makes.

He warns you that most are young — less than two years old.

He recommends storing some bottles for a year or longer, depending on the type of wine.

“When customers bring a bottle back a year later for me to taste, it’s even better than some I have on tap,” he says. “People ask me if I’m embarrassed by that and I say, ‘no, that’s the way it should be.’”

In September, Mathis and his groups made a Chilean merlot and a French-style wine that he’s cellaring for awhile.

“I had a client or two who drank their French-style wines and said they were already good,” says Mathis, who plans to host a future event to make craft beers at Corkscrew Winery.

Carvalho anticipated the batches of wine he made to serve at the new location would last years, but within months they were gone.

“It was kind of risky to jump into this, but it’s really taken off,” he says with a smile. “Kelli and I are excited to come to work every day.”

ABOUT THE WRITER Living in Italy was the catalyst for Mary Ann DeSantis to understand more about wine, and she now enjoys sharing what she’s learned. Since 2010, Saluté has covered topics for oenophiles of all levels — from novice wine drinkers to experienced connoisseurs. The column received a 2014 Florida Magazine Association Silver Award for Best Department and a 2012 Florida Press Club Excellence in Journalism Award for Commentary.

Want to know more? Visit TheCorkscrewWinery.com.

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EATS // fork on THE Road Tasty insights and observations

TASTE OF THAILAND Zab Thai brings flavors of the Far East to South Lake STORY: SHEMIR WILES PHOTOS: CAL GAINES

W

hen the mood for something international strikes me, it can oftentimes be hard to find a local restaurant that quells my hunger. After all, I don’t consider Americanized Italian or Mexican food to be “exotic,” though I have nothing against it.

Therefore, when I heard an authentic Thai restaurant had opened in Clermont, I knew I would have to pay a visit and see just how authentic the cuisine really was.

Admittedly, if you’re not paying attention, Zab Thai can be easy to miss; it sits at the corner of Citrus Tower Boulevard and State Road 50, but busy traffic and a slew of other businesses hurt the restaurant’s visibility.

Nevertheless, once you find Zab Thai, be prepared to be

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captivated. The décor comes straight from various southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and, of course, Thailand. The beautifully rich color scheme and furnishings create an ambiance that is luxurious yet inviting. It was the perfect setting for a casual lunch with one of my dearest friends. Yet, instead of catching up, we kept fawning over the extraordinary setting and equally impressive menu.

Zab Thai is owned by Kasidis Charoenmitr and his wife, selftaught chef Pattama Thummanam Charoenmitr. For the past 15 years, the pair successfully ran Ayothaya, a Thai restaurant in Orlando that has received many first-place awards from the prime minister of Thailand and been featured in several “Best of the Best”

lists for Thai food throughout the U.S. The decision to open a restaurant in Clermont was sparked by a visit to the area.

“I love the beautiful landscape,” says Kasidis. “The hills, the lakes … it’s a very quiet area. Plus, I love the Clermont people.”

In the kitchen, Pattama runs the show since many of the restaurant’s dishes are her personal recipes. In the front of the house, general manager Albert Chin Jr. keeps on top of things.

Chin’s resume is impressive; he helped open a number of restaurants in the New York/New Jersey area, including celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar in Times Square. He’s also rubbed shoulders with notable chefs such as Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse and Giada De Laurentiis.

Chin will tell you in a New York

minute that he joined Zab Thai because of its authenticity.

“We don’t dumb down flavors for the American palate,” he says. “What you get are the true flavors and tastes of Thailand.”

Shifting through Zab Thai’s menu can be a little overwhelming because it is extensive. Therefore, while I waded through pages of seemingly endless options, I placed my drink order for a Thai iced tea. If you love horchata, then you will appreciate Thai iced tea. It has a smooth, very sweet flavor with just a hint of smokiness. Also known as “cha-yen,” it is made from strongly brewed Ceylon tea mixed with signature spices and topped with half-and-half, giving it its distinctive creamy bright orange appearance.

For my appetizer, I settled on shrimp fresh rolls. Served with a delightfully creamy homemade peanut sauce, the

rolls are made using steamed rice paper wrappers filled with boiled shrimp, fresh vegetables, Thai herbs and rice noodles. I also tried an appetizer of crabmeat stuffed inside tofu sheets. It was tasty, but I enjoyed the shrimp roll much more. It was very fresh and the peanut sauce was a great touch.

I also recommend the tom kha chicken soup. This classic aromatic soup contains quintessential Thai ingredients: coconut milk, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and more.

With a choice of mild, medium, hot or Thai hot, I settled on medium as to not test my heat threshold. Overall, I found the savory soup to be quite satisfying and incredibly complex in flavor. It had good heat and a silky consistency that I liked. I will certainly order it again.

When it came time to order my main dish, I settled on curry. And

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while yellow curry is always my safe bet, I decided to be a little daring and ordered massaman curry with chicken.

In my research, I learned massaman curry is a Southern Thai curry that is mild but still full of flavor thanks to the addition of red chili paste, coconut milk, yellow onion, carrots and potatoes. In 2011, CNN declared massaman curry the “World’s Most Delicious Food” and I can see why. Though I remain loyal to my first love, west Indian curry, the spicy, nutty yet sweet curry was pleasant and paired well with the tender white chicken it accompanies. It is served with steamed white rice, which means it is quite filling.

However, I left just enough room to sample my friend’s sushi roll: the

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Ulala. It’s a deep-fried roll filled with tempura shrimp and tuna, spicy mayo, and avocado and topped with spicy mayo, eel sauce and red and black roe.

Though I tend to be a fan of the more traditional raw sushi, I found the Ulala to be enjoyable.

Be forewarned that you may have to shell out more than you’re used to paying at Thai restaurants that aren’t in the same league as Zab Thai, even though they just recently lowered their prices. But it’s worth a few dollars more because you’re paying for fresh, authentic cuisine you can’t find anywhere else in Lake or Sumter counties. I’m hoping Clermont embraces this new venture with open

arms (and empty stomachs). And if anything, it’s worth the diversity it brings to the local food scene.

ADDRESS: 1660 E. State Road 50, Clermont, FL 34711 Phone: 352.242.1314 Hours of operation: Monday–Thursday, 11a.m.–11p.m.; Friday, 11a.m.–11:30p.m.; Saturday, Noon–11:30p.m.; Sunday, Noon –11p.m.

POPULAR DISHES: Pad Thai with Chicken: $15.95 Massaman Curry with Beef: $15.95 Spicy Duck: $25.95 Tuna Roll: $7.95 Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango: $8

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EATS // dining guide Destinations of good taste

dining Charley’s Grilled Subs 421 N West St. 352.568.1186 $ Chuck’s Odd Cuples Café 117 W Belt Ave 352.568.0408 $ Coyote Rojo 2082 W. CR 48 352.569.0302 $$ Critic’s Choice 8032 CR 476B, 352.568.0008 $ Hong Kong Restaurants 2229 W CR 48 (352) 568-888 $$ Howie’s Family Restaurant 840 N. Main St. 352.793.8582 $

Astatula Race Car Diner 25641 Monroe St. 352.253.6940 $

Astor Sparky’s Place 24646 State Road 40 352.759.3551 $$ Sterling Restaurant & Lounge 23525 State Road 40 352.759.3833 $$

Bushnell Angelotti’s Pizza 920 N Main St. 352.569.0446 $ Beef O’Bradys 2586 W. CR 48 352.568.7000 $

IN YOUR CITY

Clermont Akina Sushi Bar & Asian Fusion Bistro 4300 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.243.8988 $$$ Calabria Ristorante 13900 County Road 455 407.656.5144 $$ Cheeser’s Palace 707 W. Montrose St. 352.404.9431 $ Flippers Pizzeria 2523 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.242.2214 $$ G’s NY Pizza 12346 Roper Blvd.

352.243.8900 $$$ Green Garden 1790 E. Hwy. 50 352.243.2077 $$

Manginogrube, Inc. 411 W. Parkhill Ave. 352.793.6350 $$

Legends Grille & Tavern 1700 Legendary Blvd.

352.242.1910 $$$

Market Street Gardens 311 N. Market St. 352.568.0100 $$

Lyn’s Ice Cream & Sandwich Shoppe 824 W. Montrose St. 352.536.9935 $

Mia Plaza Pizzeria 6092 CR 609 352.793.4418 $

Napolis Pizzeria 556 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.243.7500 $$

Sonny’s Bar-B-Q 2684 W. CR 48 352.569.0200 $

Robata Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar 1500 Oakley Seaver Dr. 352.404.9688 $$

TJ’s Family Restaurant 412 W. Belt Ave 352.793.8877 $$ Waffle House 2571 W CR 48 352.793.5656 $ Waller’s Restaurant 138 Bushnell Plaza 352.793.2592 $ Whistle Stop Café 311 N. Market St. 352.568.7667 $$

Rusty Fox 649 12th St. 352.394.3333 $$ Sanctuary Ridge Golf Club Restaurant 2601 Diamond Club Dr. 352.243.0411 $$ Spiro’s Pizza 1203 W. Hwy. 50 352.394.5538 $$

$: $5 – $14 $$: $15 – $24 $$$: $25 – $40 $$$$: $40+

Sugar Mama’s Bake Shoppe 648 Eighth St. 352.241.9738 $$ Troy’s Cuban & Deli 1200 Oakley Seaver Dr. 352.241.4295 $$

Eustis 1884 Restaurant & Bar 12 East Magnolia Ave. 1.800.856.1884 $$$ Cafe Gianni 119 N. Bay St. 352.589.1402 $$ Dam Smoker Barbeque 36721 County Road 19A 352.357.6555 $$ Double Take Pizza 403 N. Grove St. 352.343.0990 $$ El Korita Mexican Restaurant 256 W. Ardice Ave. 352.483.0355 $ Jeannie’s Place 209 E. Gottsche Ave. 352.357.0027 $ Kiku Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar 15211 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.483.8288 $$$

Taki’s Pizza House 2824 S. Bay St. 352.357.0022 $$ Thai Sushi America 925 N. Bay St. 352.357.1949 $$ The Crazy Gator 402 N. Bay St. 352.589.5885 $$$ The Great Pizza Company 23 E. Magnolia Ave. 352.357.7377 $$ The Oyster Troff 936 N. Bay St. 352.357.9939 $$$ Tony’s Pizza & Subs 2760 E. Orange Ave. 352.589.9001 $$

Fruitland Park Fruitland Park Café 3180 US Hwy. 441/27 352.435.4575 $ Legends Cafe 2468 U.S. Hwy. 441/27 Fruitland Park 352.728.0006 $$

Groveland Red Wing Restaurant 12500 S. State Road 33 352.429.2997 $$$

Kid’s Menu

Lady Lake Harbor Hills Country Club 6538 Lake Griffin Rd. 352.753.7000 $$$ Mom & Dad’s Italian Restaurant 504 S. U.S. Hwy. 441/27 352.753.2722 $$ Texas Stockyard BBQ 360 S. U.S. Hwy. 441 352.750.5229 $$

Leesburg Bloom’s Café 610 W. Main St. 352.787.1004 $$ Cupcake Time 703 W. Main St. 352.728.2253 $$

Beer, Wine or Cocktails

Osaka 1401 Citrus Blvd.

352.728.0788 $$ San Juan Mexican Restaurant 1341 S. 14th St. 352.787.7575 $$ Stavros Pizza 755 N. 14th St. 352.326.4202 $$ Takis Pizza Restaurant 1324 W. North Blvd.

352.787.2344 $$ The Florida Porch Café 706 W. Main St. 352.365.1717 $$ The Latin Cafe 400 N. 14th St. 352.365.0089 $$

Cedar River Seafood 8609 S. U.S. Hwy. 441 352.728.3377 $$

Two Old Hags Wine Shoppe 410 W Main St 352.435.9107 $$

Gator Bay Bar & Grill 10320 County Road 44 352.365.2177 $$

Vic’s Embers 7940 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.728.8989 $$$$

Habaneros 3 Mexican Restaurant 10601 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.315.1777 $$ HP Grill 1403 S. 14th St. 352.314.0006 $

King’s Taste Bar-B-Que 503 Palmetto St. 352.589.0404 $$

Howey-inthe-Hills

La Mandarina Mexican Restaurant 1401 Orange Ave. 352.357.2487 $$

JB Boondocks Bar & Grill 704 S. Lakeshore Blvd.

352.324.3600 $$

Olivia’s Coffee House & Bistro 113 N. Bay St. 352.357.1887 $

Mission Inn Resort & Club’s El Conquistador 10400 County Rd. 48 352.324.3101 $$$$

Magnolia’s Oyster Bar 201 W. Magnolia St. 352.323.0093 $$

Stavro’s & Sons of Eustis 2100 W. County Road 44 352.589.9100 $$

Mission Inn Resort & Club’s Nickers 10400 County Rd. 48 352.324.3101 $$$$

Naples Italian Restaurant 1107 W. North Blvd.

352.323.1616 $$

Kountry Kitchen 1008 W. Dixie Ave. 352.323.0852 $ Lilly’s Super Subs 2339 County Road 473 352.343.4663 $

Mascotte Rainbow Restaurant 704 E. Myers Blvd.

352.429.2093 $$

Minneola Jack’s Barbecue 100 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.394.2673 $ Lil Anthony’s Pizza 205 N. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.394.1516 $$ Tiki Bar & Grill 508 S. Main Ave. 352.394.2232 $$

Mount Dora Anthony’s Pizza 17195 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.357.6668 $

CONTINUED

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EATS // dining guide Destinations of good taste

COUSIN VINNIE’S FAMILY SPORTS RESTAURANT OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK: 11A.M.–9P.M. // FOOD, SPIRITS, MUSIC, SPORTS 10700 U.S. HWY. 441, LEESBURG // 352.253.2442 // WWW.CVINNIES.COM Cousin Vinnie’s is located on U.S. Hwy. 441 across from Lake Square Mall. Owner “Cousin” Vinnie Vittoria and his family have created a unique atmosphere by combining a sports bar with a family restaurant. Vinnie’s recently won “Medium Business of the Year” and is famous for outstanding food and even better service! They also have been voted BEST WINGS in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014. Additional menu items offered are killer ½ lb. burgers, personal pan pizzas, amazing ribeye cheese steaks, healthy wheat wraps, homemade salads, chicken strips that absolutely melt in your mouth, 16 awesome appetizers, and their signature deep fried Ice Cream and Snickers Bars! Every Monday is “Texas Hold’em” from 6–10p.m.

Tuesday night is “Family Night” from 4–8p.m. when kids 12-and-under eat free. Wednesday night is “Trivia Night” when the fun starts at 6:30p.m. with prizes given to the top 3 teams. Thursday night is “Karaoke Night” where everyone is a star! Every Saturday watch your favorite college team while enjoying $1.50 select draft beers all day and night. On Sundays they offer “The Sunday NFL Ticket,” catch any game… any time! Cousin Vinnie’s also offers, free Wi-Fi, great music, and an enthusiastic staff ready to exceed your expectations. Vinnie’s has been open for six years, if you have never been there… it is absolutely time for you to check it out!

FRANCESCO’S ITALIAN RISTORANTE AND STONE FIRE PIZZA 16770 SOUTH U.S. HIGHWAY 441, SUMMERFIELD 352.693.2008 // WWW.FRANCESCOSRISTORANTE.COM Francesco’s Italian Ristorante and Stone Fired Pizza brings authentic Italian dishes and “real” wood fired gourmet pizzas to the South Marion County and The Villages area. Newly opened in March of 2014 Francesco’s has been gaining a great reputation for superb Italian cuisine, beautiful atmosphere, awesome service and great prices. Also many “New” daily specials have been added like: Sunday “Famiglia Style” dinners for Two, Monday Three course Dinner for Two with bottle of wine only $29, Tuesday NY Strip’s for Two $24.95 and Thursday’s Braccioloni ala Francesco for Two $19.95. If your still looking for that special place for your holiday party or club event our “Garden Room” can accommodate up to 80 guests. Just in time for the holidays: “Give the gift of great food” For every $100 in gift certificates purchased you receive a $20 bonus card. So come visit Francesco’s and enjoy great food, service and value.

HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY-SATURDAY 11AM-10PM SUNDAY 11AM-9PM

THE GOBLIN MARKET RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 331-B DONNELLY STREET (REAR ALLEY), MOUNT DORA 352.735.0059 // WWW.GOBLINMARKETRESTAURANT.COM Nestled on a back alley in downtown Mount Dora, the Goblin Market Restaurant has been charming locals and tourists alike since 1996. The restaurant, housed in a renovated warehouse, features three intimate, book-lined dining rooms and a full-service lounge furnished in soothing, muted tones with tasteful modern art. The private, tree-shaded courtyard and garden patio are open year-round for al fresco dining. Low lighting and “new age” music add the finishing touches to the restaurant’s casual elegance. Owners Vince and Janis Guzinski embrace a simple philosophy of offering the highest-quality products, served in a unique and romantic atmosphere by a personable and attentive staff.

The Goblin Market’s wine list and menu represent a refreshing mix of ideas from its culinary team. The diversified origins and background of each member ensure exciting menu offerings and nightly selections.

HOURS OF OPERATION: LUNCH: TUESDAY–SATURDAY 11A.M.–3:00P.M. DINNER: TUESDAY–THURSDAY 5–9P.M., FRIDAY–SATURDAY 5–10P.M., SUNDAY 11A.M.–3:30P.M.

JOIN US FOR OUR NEW “LIGHTER FARE” DINNER MENU, GOURMET SOUPS, SALADS, AND SANDWICHES. TUESDAY– THURSDAY FROM 3–9P.M. (REGULAR DINNER MENU ALSO AVAILABLE).

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EATS // dining guide Destinations of good taste

dining Beauclaire Restaurant at Lakeside Inn 100 N. Alexander St. 352.383.4101 $$$ Blackbear Smokehouse 18750 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.383.2327 $$ Bocce Pizzeria 925 E. First Ave. 352.385.0067 $ Cecile’s French Corner 237 W. Fourth Ave. 352.383.7100 $$ Cody’s on 4th Cafe 111 E. 4th Ave. 352.735.8426 $ Copacabana Cuban Cafe 320 Dora Drawdy Way 352.385.9000 $$ Cupcake Delights 122 E. 4th Ave. 352.383.2200 $ Highland Street Café 185 S. Highland St. 352.383.1446 $ Incredible Edible Cakes 4295 W. Old Hwy. 441, Suite 2 352.223.3581 $ Ivory’s Take Out 1325 N. Grandview St. 352.735.6797 $ Jeremiah’s 500 N. Highland St. 352.383.7444 $ Lisa’s Kitchen 3201 N. Hwy. 19A 352.383.9338 $$ Mount Dora Pizza & Subs 2718 W. Old U.S. Hwy. 441 352.383.5303 $

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One Flight Up - Coffee, Dessert & Wine Bar 440 N. Donnelly St., Suite 100 352.758.9818 $ Operation Deep Freeze Custard 140A West 5 Avenue 352.735.8269 $ Palm Tree Grille 351 N. Donnelly St. 352.735.1936 $$ Pisces Rising 239 W. Fourth Ave. 352.385.2669 $$$ PizzAmore’ 622 N. Donnelly St. 352.383.0092 $ Saucy Spoon Catering & Bistro 427 S. Highland St. 352.383.1050 $$$ Sidelines Sport Eatery 315 N. Highland St. 352.735.7433 $ Sugarboo’s Bar-B-Que 1305 N. Grandview St. 352.735.7675 $ The Frog and Monkey Pub 411 N. Donnelly St. 352.383.1936 $$ The Garden Gate Tea Room 142 E. Fourth Ave. 352.735.2158 $$ The Health Basket of Mount Dora 18834 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.735.1166 $$ The Windsor Rose English Tea Room 142 W. Fourth Ave. 352.735.2551 $$ Village Coffee Pot 425 Donnelly St. 352.383.3334 $

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IN YOUR CITY

Wasabi Buffet 16700 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.383.7016 $$ Whales Tale Fish House 2720 W. Old. U.S. Hwy. 441 352.385.1500 $$

$: $5 – $14 $$: $15 – $24 $$$: $25 – $40 $$$$: $40+

Pressed for Time Cafe 110 S. New Hampshire Ave. 352.253.4663 $ Ruby Street Grille 221 E. Ruby St. 352.742.7829 $$

Zellie’s Pub 4025 N. U.S. Hwy. 19A 352.483.3855 $$

Sinbad’s of Lake County 1050 W. Burleigh Blvd.

352.343.6669 $$

Sorrento

Sunrise Grill 462 E. Burleigh Blvd.

352.343.7744 $

Del Franco Pizza Place 31436 County Rd. 437 352.383.8882 $ Gi Gi’s 25444 State Road 46 352.735.4000 $$ Lisa’s Country Cafe 23911 State Road 46 352.735.3380 $

Tavares Angelo’s Italian Restaurant 2270 Vindale Rd. 352.343.2757 $$ Buzzard Beach Grill 12423 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.253.5267 $$ Casa Mia Cafe 505 W Main St 352.742.9940 $

The Hideaway 11912 Lane Park Rd. 352.343.3585 $$

Umatilla Old Crow Real Pit Bar-B-Q 41100 State Road 19 352.669.3922 $ The Mason Jar 37534 State Rd. 19 352.589.2535 $$

The Villages Bob Evans 2199 Parr Dr. 352.259.1224 $ Bonefish Grill 3580 Wedgewood Ln. 352.674.9292 $$

China Gourmet III 343 Colony Blvd 352.750.4965 $ City Fire Brownwood Paddock Square 352.561.2078 $$ Olive Garden 3680 Wedgewood Ln. 352.259.0304 $$

Kid’s Menu

Palmer Legends Country Club 1635 Palmer Way 352.391.9939 $$ RedSauce 1000 Canal St. 352.750.2930 $$ Ricciardi’s Italian Table 3660 Kiessel Rd. 352.391.9938 $$

Evans Prairie Country Club 1825 Evans Prairie Trail 352.750.2225 $$

Sakura 265 Colony Blvd 352.205.7393 $$

Fiesta Grande Mexican Grill 297 Colony Blvd 352.751.0400 $$

Scooples 2718 Brownwood Blvd 352.750.6263 $

Glenview Champions Country Club 3194 Glenview Rd 352.753.0077 $$ Hemingway’s at Havana 2484 Odell Circle 352.753.1475 $$$ Las Tapas Brownwood Paddock Square 352.399.5516 $$ The Legacy Restaurant at the Nancy Lopez Country Club 17135 Buena Vista Blvd.

352.753.1475 $$$

Square One Burgers & Bar 2542 Burnsed Blvd.

352.689.2191 $$ Takis Greek and Italian Restaurant 13761 U.S. Hwy. 441 N. 352.430.3630 $$ TooJay’s 1129 Canal St. 352.430.0410 $ Toscani’s Deli and Pizzeria 8760 SE Mulberry Ln. 352.693.2237 $$ VKI Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar 1004 Old Mill Run 352.259.9887 $$

Beer, Wine or Cocktails

Buddy’s BBQ 1210 N. Main St. 352.330.0338 $$ China Jade 420 W. CR 44 352.330.5913 $ Cotillion Southern Café 101 N. Main St. 352.748.1223 $$ Dickey’s Barbeque Pit 1220 S. Main St. 352.748.4288 $$ Mel’s Island Café 901 Industrial Dr. 352.748.4105 $$ O’Shucks!

Oyster Bar and Grill 1016 S Main St. 352.399.2200 $$ Polly’s Pantry 819 S. Main St. 352.330.4002 $$ Rita’s Oyster Bar 346 Shopping Center Dr. 352.399.2987 $$ T Weston’s Smokehouse 1210 N. Main St. 352.748.9378 $$ Traditions Café 3107 Hwy. 44 352.748.1077 $$ Woody’s Bar-B-Q 1220 S. Main St. 352.748.1109 $$

Hurricane Dockside Grill 3351 W. Burleigh Blvd.

352.508.5137 $$

Bonifay Country Club 1033 Pinellas Place 352.205.7455 $$

The Lighthouse Point Bar and Grille 925 Lakeshore Dr. 352.753.7800 $$

Wildwood

Yalaha

Lake Dora Sushi & Sake 227 E. Main St. 352.343.6313 $$

Cane Garden Country Club 1726 Bailey Trail 352.750.0627 $$

Mezza Luna Italian Restaurant and Bar 320 Colony Blvd.

352.753.3824 $$

Aztec’s Mexican Restaurant 348 Shopping Center Dr. 352.748.2250 $

Yalaha Bakery 8210 County Road 48 352.324.3366 $$

Mary’s Kountry Kitchen 15945 County Road 448 352.343.6823 $

Carrabba’s 650 U.S. Hwy. 441 N 352.430.1304 $$

NYPD Pizzeria 4046 Wedgwood Ln 352.750.1994 $$

Beef O’ Bradys 840 S. Main St. 352.689.0048 $

Chengs Chinese and Sushi Restaurant 4050 Wedgewood Ln. 352.391.9678 $$

Outback Steakhouse 710 N. Hwy 441 352.430.2590 $$

.com

EATS // dining guide Destinations of good taste

PALM TREE GRILLE 351 NORTH DONNELLY STREET, MOUNT DORA 352.735.1936 // WWW.PALMTREEGRILLE.COM The décor is sophisticated yet casual allowing for the perfect meeting, family gathering, or private event. Our “Wall of Wine” makes for a stunning display of more than 600 bottles of wine. Culinary offerings include classic Italian as well as steaks, chops, seafood, pasta, salads, tasty sandwiches, sumptuous desserts, and more. Guests can relax in the lounge where we offer a full bar with unique wines, craft beers, and a variety of spirits. The restaurant is available for special events such as weddings, corporate functions, family gatherings, and other celebrations. Every month, the Palm Tree Grille operates a “Wine Connoisseur Dinner.” These exciting dinners offer four-course meals with each course being paired to a particular wine. Guests may also purchase wines to take home with you, just as you would in a wine shop.

LOCATED IN MOUNT DORA, THE PALM TREE GRILLE HAS BEEN FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1995.

HOURS OF OPERATION: SUNDAY: NOON–8P.M. MONDAY–SATURDAY: 11A.M.–9P.M.

SHUCK DAT OYSTER BAR 118 W. RUBY STREET. TAVARES // 352.508.5344 Fresh food, friendly service and fabulous times are enjoyed at Shuck Dat Oyster Bar at The Cajun Quarter. Diners can enjoy delicious oysters in all areas of the restaurant, including the 20-seat oyster bar and the family-friendly dining room. Manager Chris Clark, who has 15 years of shucking experience, ensures visitors receive nothing less than the freshest selection of oysters. Of course, there’s something for everybody on the diverse menu, including made-to-order Cajun entrees and fresh seafood. With 11 televisions and packages such as NFL Sunday Ticket, College Game Plan, the SEC Network and the Big 10 Network, sports enthusiasts will be in heaven.

HAPPY HOUR IS FROM 4–7P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. IT INCLUDES $1 OFF ALL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; $2 OFF A DOZEN OF OYSTERS STEAMED OR RAW; 70-CENT WINGS; $6.99 1/2 LB. PEEL-AND-EAT SHRIMP; 40-CENT MIDDLE NECK CLAMS; 50-CENT TOP NECK CLAMS. THE WINGS AND CLAM ITEMS FOR HAPPY HOUR COME IN ORDERS OF 10.

HOURS OF OPERATION: SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY 11A.M.–10P.M. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 11A.M.–11P.M.

SUBWAY WWW.SUBWAY.COM Custom-made, fresh sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads made right before your eyes. The “healthy” alternative to fast food.

LADY LAKE // 208 W. Guava St. // 352.750.4929 EUSTIS // 469 Plaza Dr. // 352.357.7827 MOUNT DORA // 18870 U.S. Hwy. 441 // 352.735.4376 LEESBURG // 2013 Citrus Blvd. // 352.787.6442 10135 U.S. Hwy. 441, Suite 4 // 352.326.3234 27405 U.S. Hwy. 27, Suite 4 // 352.314.8847 THE VILLAGES // 1580 Bella Cruz Drive // 352.750.9600 8796 S.E. 165th Mulberry Lane // 352.750.9991 1070 Lake Sumter Landing Drive // 352.205.8535 349 Colony Blvd. // 352.391.1657 WILDWOOD // 480 W. Gulf to Alantic Hwy. // 352.748.8800 HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY–SATURDAY SUNDAY

10A.M.–10P.M. 10A.M.–9P.M.

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FEATURING FEATURING

TITLE TITLE

PRESENTING PRESENTING

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HOSTED BY HOSTED BY

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PREMIER PREMIER

OFFICIAL AIRLINE OFFICIAL AIRLINE

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Confirmed sponsors as of December 2014 Confirmed sponsors as of December 2014

SPECIAL THANKS SPECIAL THANKS

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you’re someone whose name and ambitions matter.

Thorough Cleaning Services For: Banks Doctor’s Offices Professional Businesses New Construction Cleaning Property Management Cleaning Services Also Include: Floor Maintenance Carpet Cleaning Window Cleaning Pressure Washing Cleaning Supplies: Paper Chemicals Equipment

The Lending Team Bill Brooks, Amy Bolt, Lori Ross, Shawna Sherman, and Andrew Kurtz Does the average bank loan feel like it’s structured to serve the bank’s interests or yours? At First National, our number one priority is to help you turn your goals into realities. Lets talk about what you want – whether it’s a new home, a new business or a new chapter – and ways we can help you get there on your terms.

When you want a bank that does more, come to one that cares more. First National Bank.

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Trust and Investment Services are not FDIC Insured, not deposits of the bank, not guaranteed by the bank, not insured by any government agency, and may lose value.

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When it comes to buying a home, knowledge is power.

That’s why our loan officers make sure you know your options. We listen to your questions, and work quickly to get the answers—and approval—you need. Call Janet or Jeanne today. We’re ready to help.

Janet Noack NMLS#514772 352-589-4663 Jeanne Lazo NMLS#514769 352-771-2404

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Come see our new Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care additions Reserve a private preview before our February opening.

We are now giving advance tours of model homes and accepting reservations in the new Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care additions to our community. Be first in line to select your favorite floor plan and location. Our lovely golf cart-accessible retirement community alongside the Hacienda Hills championship golf course is the only one located in The Villages. Discover how state-of-the-art designs and experienced staff combine to assist senior bodies and minds for healthier and happier lives.

To schedule the next available appointment for your private preview tour, call (352) 750-1355 ext. 3127 or (352) 250-6580.

Brookdale Place Freedom Pointe Assisted Living | Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care 1700 El Camino Real | The Villages, FL 32159

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• INTENSIVE AND ICU MANAGEMENT • COPD • ASTHMA • DISEASES OF THE LUNGS • SLEEP DISORDERS • NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS • MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED

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History comes alive in sixth most-visited country STORY+ PHOTOS: MARK ROTHSCHILD

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As our plane approached the runway in Istanbul, Turkey, a wave of ambivalence permeated my consciousness.

My wife and I planned this trip on and off for three years. We were enthralled with the prospect of seeing Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus. Yet, two questions persisted: Would we be abducted by ISIS and then beheaded?

Would we end up in a Turkish prison as happened to Brad Davis in the 1978 movie “Midnight Express?”

I’m happy to report the experience was entirely positive and this Middle Eastern destination should be on every traveler’s short list.

The first stop on our tour was Istanbul, which has prospered over the last decade after withstanding instability wrought by a major earthquake in 1999 followed by the collapse of the Turkish Lira. Walking the streets of Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques to the sounds of the call to prayer from the old city’s minarets is a sensory experience.

Our first stop was the famous Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmet Camii. This structure has beautiful domes, half domes and minarets. Ottoman ruler Ahmet I built it early in the 17th century to compete architecturally with the magnificent Christian church Aya Sofya, also known as Haghia Sofia.

The Aya Sofya was completed in A.D. 537 and became the central church of Christianity until St. Peter’s Basilica was built in the 17th century. Mehmet the Conqueror converted the church to a mosque in 1453. Its innovative architectural form is stunning against the Istanbul skyline.

We next encountered the Yerebatan Sarnici, or Sunken Palace, a massive underground reservoir completed by Emperor Justinian during the sixth

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century. This structure has 330 marble columns that arise from a fresh water cistern constructed to supply the city in the event of a siege. The Sunken Palace was showcased in the James Bond movie “From Russia with Love.”

The Topkapi Sarayi is a spectacular palace that was once considered the power center of the Ottoman Empire.

Home to more than 20 sultans, this enormous complex spreads over the Bosphorus, a strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. The Topkapi Sarayi was home to 4,000 people (including royal wives, children, concubines and servants) between the 15th and 19th centuries Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is an enormous labyrinth with more than 20 entrances covering 65 streets and nearly 4,000 shops. The Egyptian Bazaar, or Spice Market, with its multiple colors and fragrances, is a short distance away.

Next, we flew to Cappadocia in the Anatolian plains. This area is considered a geological marvel with rock formations known as fairy chimneys and numerous cave houses, many with frescoed walls from the early days of Christianity.

Our next stop was Bodrum on the southwest coast on the Aegean Sea, where we enjoyed a view of the Castle of St. Peter that is very picturesque at sunrise or sunset.

Travelling up the coast, we came to Didyma with its magnificent ruins of the temple of Apollo. This temple rivals the Parthenon in size, measuring 623 feet by 167 feet. The temple was started in 300 B.C. and was continually expanded over the ensuing 500 years.

The highlight of this trip was Ephesus, a truly spectacular ancient city with one of the most complete ruins in the world. Many people think

the best examples of Roman ruins are in Italy, but Ephesus represents the most important Greco-Roman city in the eastern Mediterranean.

Seeing the remains of the stadium that accommodated more than 70,000 spectators during chariot races and gladiator fights was truly awe-inspiring.

Our last stop on the way to Izmir was Tire (pronounced tee-ray), where a farmer’s market takes place every Tuesday. It was interesting to see how the locals live selling vegetables and handicrafts once a week.

After touring Turkey and speaking with my guides, my advice would be plan a trip to Turkey, the sixth mostvisited country in the world. Also, avoid Cobani on the southeast border where ISIS is fighting the Kurds. And to avoid Turkish prison, refrain from bringing contraband across the border as Smith did in “Midnight Express.”

DR. MARK ROTHSCHILD is a cardiologist at Heart of The Villages in Spanish Springs.

He is also a photographer and photojournalist with contributions to Healthy Living and Style magazines. His travels are documented on his website: markrothschildphoto.com.

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The Villages Premier Board Certified Plastic Surgery Group

MEMBER OF American Society of Plastic Surgeons

MEMBER OF American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Our practice is dedicated

to providing exceptional plastic surgery and achieving a beautiful, natural-looking result for our patients. We s strive to combine surgical expertise, artistic vision, and outstanding service to st m make your visit with us a positive, rewarding experience. We offer a complete ra range of modern procedures that include non-surgical and surgical techniques.

E Each of our surgeons is board certified in plastic surgery. They are all fully tr trained and experienced in cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery. Our surgeons are always on site and are directors of our medi-spa s and ancillary procedures. a In addition, we have registered nurses assisting the physicians with your care.

This cadre of dedicated professionals ensures that all your questions are answered T a and that your experience is personal and complete to your satisfaction.

S So, if you are seeking a more youthful face, enlarging your b breasts, a flattering figure, the solution to a problem area, or guidance to help beautify and rejuvenate your skin, our practice g ccan help you achieve your goals.

GET TO KNOW OUR

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James Rogers DMD, MD

Navinderdeep Nijher MD

Leonik Ahumada MD

Dr. Rogers is a native Floridian.

He is a graduate of Emory University, and completed his dental and medical degrees from the University of Florida.

He trained in surgery at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, and completed his plastic surgical training at Tulane University and Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. Dr. Rogers is a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and has performed Cosmetic and Reconstructive Procedures in Ocala for over twenty years. He is one of the most experienced surgeons in Central Florida.

Dr. Nijher is a native New Yorker who now resides in Ocala with his wife who is a pediatrician. He completed his plastic surgery training at the prestigious New York Hospital of Cornell and Columbia Universities and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He provides the latest cutting edge techniques in minimal scar surgery of the breast, face, forehead, and eyes. He also specializes in all facets of body sculpting including but not limited to liposuction, abdominoplasty, and post bariatric body contouring. Dr.Nijher lectures extensively trying to educate patients on plastic surgery and has subsequently become one of the most sought out plastic surgeons in Central Florida.

Dr. Ahumada specializes in cosmetic and plastic surgery. He is trained in the latest plastic surgical techniques of the face, eyelids, breast and body with emphasis on minimal scarring. This includes non surgical (fillers,botox,fat grafts,sclerotherapy) and surgical procedures (facelift, eyelids, nose, breast,tummy tucks,liposuction). He graduated from Harvard with a degree in biochemistry and completed medical school at the University of Miami. He was awarded many honors while completing Plastic Surgery training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has authored and co-authored papers in plastic surgery. He prefers a personal approach to his patients and will listen to your concerns when suggesting procedures. Dr Ahumada’s family is from South America; in addition to English he is also fluent in Spanish and has an international clientele. He is married and father to three girls; when not seeing patients he enjoys time with his family.

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OCALA/PADDOCK PARK LOCATION 3320 SW 34th Circle, Ocala, FL 34474

38th Annual

Leesburg Art Festival

March 14 and 15, 2015 www.LeesburgArtFestival.com

SUPPLYING THE NEEDS OF A COMMUNITY Great customer service, competitive pricing, and quality products has made Sparr Building and Farm Supply one of the most successful farm and ranch home center retailers in the state.

S

parr Building and Farm Supply has been a known and trusted name in agriculture throughout Florida for more than 65 years. However, in recent years, Sparr has expanded its reach to fulfill the needs of everyday homeowners while holding on to its tradition of providing high-quality products with genuine service.

“Our dedication to customer service and offering the best brand-name goods to our customers is what sets us apart from our competition,” says Sam Howard, who co-owns and operates Sparr with his brother Paul. “It’s what helped us survive the recession and it’s what continues to help our business grow.”

A BIT OF HISTORY Sparr has been a family owned and operated business since its humble beginnings. It started in 1947 after Elbert Griggs returned home from fighting in World War II. He and his wife decided to purchase a small grocery store in the small, rural town of Sparr, located 10 miles north of Ocala.

“The original store had gas pumps and groceries. How-

ever, my uncle grew tired of the food spoiling, so one day when my aunt left to visit her brother, my uncle decided to replace all the food with lumber, hardware, and building materials,” says Sam. In 1981, the Howard family purchased the business from their aunt and uncle and immediately set their sights on expanding the business. The growth of their customer base came easy as the community grew and the word spread about Sparr’s impressive and ethical business practices.

As the company continued to establish itself as one of the premier farm and ranch home center stores in Florida, Sparr expanded with the opening of a second store in Williston in 1999 and a third store in Wildwood in 2003.

“We leased a location in downtown Wildwood until we were able to build our big store at its current location across from Brownwood,” says Sam. “We were also able to add more warehouse space and a state-of-the-art lumberyard to our Sparr and Williston stores. This has come as an added benefit to our customers because it has allowed us to give them more choices.”

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The Benjamin Moore department is larger than most paint stores,yet it is just one of many key areas that create our super home and farm center.

SERVING WILDWOOD The impressive 30,000-square-feet retail space and 30,000-square-feet warehouse at Sparr’s Wildwood location combines all the essentials of a hardware store, lumberyard, and farm supply retailer under one roof, making it a convenient, one-stop shop for those looking for agricultural and household materials.

As the largest farm fence dealer in Florida, as well as one of the largest independent lumber retailers in Florida, Sparr’s Wildwood store offers a full line of lumber and plywood out of its spacious lumberyard, as well as a variety of fencing and building materials.

In addition to finding the right materials to build or maintain your farmstead, Sparr also proudly stocks Purina, Buckeye, Nutrena, and MannaPro feeds for horses, cattle, poultry, and exotic animals like monkeys, tortoise, llamas, and elephants. Beginning in 2001, Sparr had a six-year run holding the distinction of being the largest Purina horse feed dealer in the United States.

Nevertheless, Sparr not only addresses the needs of the farming community, it also actively serves the residents of The Villages and surrounding communities by offering a wide selection of everyday household products that are perfect for keeping the home running in tip-top shape.

From pet food and light bulbs to state-of-the-art grills and cleaning supplies, Sparr indeed has it all. It also houses a large assortment of Benjamin Moore paints. “We make sure to have everything from pesticides to plumbing in our store.

We’re like a Home Depot meets Tractor Supply but with our own unique mix,” says Sam. “We’re a big company but we still like to preserve that homegrown feel.”

Ensuring the downhome hospitality and great product

selection keeps customers coming back in Wildwood is store manager Tom Buss and his team of knowledgeable employees. “We try to treat customers the way we would want to be treated, and Tom has been instrumental in making that a reality at our Wildwood location,” says Sam. “It has kept our customers loyal over the years, and we appreciate that.”

In addition to being a respected household name in hardware and farm supplies, Sparr is also a leader in giving back to the community. Locally, the company has been involved with youth fairs and Future Farmers of America chapters, as well as the annual county fair. Over the years, Sparr has donated a number of materials to various animal rescue organizations and Habitat for Humanity. Since 1981, Sparr has donated in excess of one million dollars to local charities and organizations in Marion, Sumter, and Levy counties. The ability to do this is a point of extreme pride.

This speaks volumes about Sparr’s devotion and sense of responsibility to the areas it serves. It’s also why Sparr can proudly proclaim to be a company with celebrated longevity and a level of prominence that continues to garner attention not only in Florida but also throughout the U.S. “We’re not just an overnight sensation,” says Sam. “We have third generation customers whose grandparents shopped in our store when my aunt and uncle owned it. That’s certainly something you don’t find too often in Florida.”

Sparr Building and Farm Supply has three locations that are open Monday–Saturday, 7a.m. to 6p.m. and Sunday, 10a.m. to 4p.m.

6000 Signature Drive, Wildwood, FL 34785, 352.330.1718 13033 N.E. Jacksonville Road, Sparr, FL 32192, 352.622.7063 240 S. Main St., Williston, FL 32696, 352.528.6177

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ELIMINATE STUBBORN FAT WITHOUT SURGERY OR DOWNTIME & FEEL GREAT FROM EVERY ANGLE. When it comes to your reflection, you can be your own toughest critic. Even that favorite outfit can feel off-limits because of stubborn fat that resists diet and exercise. But the CoolSculpting procedure shapes what you see without surgery or downtime, so you’ll look great from every angle. With over 1 million CoolSculpting procedures worldwide, people everywhere are getting a better view of themselves thanks to individual treatment plans tailored specifically to their bodies.

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1585 Santa Barbara Blvd., Suite B, The Villages tricountypodiatry.net // 352.259.1919 MEDICAL & SURGICAL TREATMENT OF: • Bunions and Hammertoes • Corns • Morton’s Neuromas • Ingrown Nails and Warts • Heel and Arch Pain • Thick, Painful Toenails • Foot Injuries • Diabetic & Geriatric Foot Care • Sports Medicine • Orthotics • Diabetic Shoes • Numbness/Tingling of Feet

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SUPER LOW PAYMENTS 0% for 72 months “ I F YO U ’ R E M O R E ABO U T CO M F O RT, ST Y L E A N D R E AL LY G O O D I N CA R I NFOTAI N M E N T, T H E 20 1 4 N IS S A N S E N T R A BE AT T H E CO M P E T I TO RS W H I L E ST I L L K E E P I N G IT S P R IC E LO W A N D IT S F U E L CO NSU M PT I O N E V E N LO W E R .” - KE L L E Y BLU E BO O K

“ T H E 2 0 1 5 N I S S A N A LT I MA O F F E RS A L L T H E “ B E ST- O F ” B E NE F ITS O F A TOY TOYOTA CA MR Y O R H O N DA ACCO RD B U T W I T H O U T TH E M ID-SIZE SE DAN “ M E -TO O ” FACTO R. A LT I M A D E L I V E RS E XC E L L E N T F UE L E CO NO M Y AND “M CO O L ST Y L I N G .” - K E L L E Y B LU E B O O K

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“Men no longer need to suffer from frequent urination because they are getting older,” says Dr. James Young, a down-toearth urologist with thirty-three years of experience in treating men with prostate problems in Lake County. Although the cause of these symptoms is most likely an enlarging prostate (BPH), a normal part of the aging process in men, treatment options are more numerous and less invasive than those offered to our fathers and grandfathers.

Years ago there were two options for treating an enlarged prostate: surgical excision via an open operation (knife) or much more commonly by performing a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), commonly referred to as a “roto-rooter” by patients and physicians. Both required hospitalization as well as major anesthesia and could be fraught with complications such as bleeding, infection, loss of bladder control and even death.

“In my career I have performed over 3,000 TURPs; however, I no longer perform any,” says Dr. Young. “There are presently too many excellent alternatives to consider a hospital operation for the vast majority of patients with BPH.” “When I see a new patient I perform a physical examination and properly evaluate the patient’s symptoms, thus diagnosing the underlying problem(s),” he says. “Next, I describe to the patient what’s normal and then explain what is abnormal with him.

Lastly, I teach him his treatment options.

If I’ve done a good job of teaching, he will select the correct option for himself.”

While prescribing medications for BPH can be done by primary care physicians, only urologists are trained to thoroughly

evaluate the bladder and prostate (including ruling out prostate cancer), as well as providing extremely effective minimally invasive, office-based therapies as alternatives to lifelong medical therapy.

One such option is Prostiva-RF Therapy, a procedure performed by Dr. Young in his office under local anesthesia that usually takes less than thirty minutes. Prostiva utilizes low level radiofrequency energy to ablate (destroy) the obstructing component of the enlarged prostate. “I am very happy with the results I have achieved for my patients using Prostiva-RF Therapy,” says Dr. Young, who has successfully treated more than 2,400 patients with this procedure.

“Medtronic is a $13 billion-a-year, publicly traded corporation that perfected the technology for Prostiva and produces the necessary hardware. Recently, Medtronic produced an educational DVD for international distribution to inform patients and physicians worldwide regarding the benefits of Prostiva therapy. Seven of the eight patients featured on the DVD are my patients. I am very proud Medtronic selected my practice to feature the benefits of Prostiva-RF Therapy. However it is sort of a bad news/good news thing. The bad news is neither my patients nor myself received a penny for our participation. The good news is Medtronic gave us all the DVD’s we want, so if anyone wants one all he needs to do is drop by my office at 801 Northshore Drive in Eustis, and we will give him one!”

And with an office staff with nearly as much experience as the doctor, (many have worked with Dr. Young more than twenty

years) you don’t spend a great deal of time waiting to see him. “We pride ourselves in being timely in seeing our patients. We respect our patient’s time as much as we do our own,” adds Dr. Young. “Patients appreciate this; many of our patients tell me I have the best office staff on the planet. I consider that a huge compliment.”

So if you are getting up at night and can’t get back to sleep because you are thinking about what may be wrong with you, it’s time to check in with Dr. Young and have him check you out.

“Many men accept frequent bladder urges as part of aging. And while it is part of the aging process, it’s not like death and taxes. There is something you can do about it,” he says.

JAMES W. YOUNG III, M.D. Board Certified Urologist Practicing in Lake County for over 33 years with extensive experience in evaluation and management of prostate problems.

For more information, contact

PHYSICIANS FOR ACCOUNTABLE CARE 920 Rolling Acres Road, Suite 201 Lady Lake, FL 32159

352.751.4990 801 Northshore Drive, Eustis, FL 32726

352.357.6786

ProstateEvaluation.com

BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER

Daringly Traditional.

You crave it. We serve it.

Turkey Avocado Sandwich Slow roasted turkey breast, avocado, arugula, tomato with lemon garlic aioli.

Exclusively at TooJay’s

Since 1981, TooJay’s has been delighting diners with an exciting and eclectic menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

When the craving strikes indulge in authentic NY–Style deli sandwiches or settle in with slow roasted turkey, old fashioned pot roast and other time–honored comfort food favorites. Friendly, professional service is a part of every meal, so make plans today to join us for “a little taste of home”.

Legendary desserts: carrot cake, black & whites, chocolate Killer Cake.

Village of Spanish Springs (352) 753-3510 Lake Sumter Landing (352) 430-0410 www.toojays.com

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Kellyann Goring

Ashley S. Hansen

Gregory Craig

Venessa G. King

Astatula Elementary

Beverly Shores Elementary

Carver Middle

Clermont Elementary

Marisol O’Neill

Virginia Schoenthaler

Laura Resos Bushwitz

Rachael Adams

Clermont Middle

Cypress Ridge Elementary

East Ridge High

East Ridge Middle

Carie Tracy

Kimberly Neas

Michael Ligler

Debra Ann Eaton

Wendy Stephens

Kelly Dodd

Michelle Sorrells

Mikel Flint

Eustis Elementary

Eustis Heights Elementary

Eustis High

Eustis Middle

Fruitland Park Elementary

Grassy Lake Elementary

Gray Middle

Groveland Elementary

Courtney Flood

Lori Helmes

David Bultema

Carlos E. Reyes

Donald Paul Miller

Jessica Hunter

John J. Arnold Jr.

Robin Williams

Imagine School

Lake Hills School

Lake Minneola High

Lake Technical Center

Lake Virtual School

Leesburg Elementary

Leesburg High

Lost Lake Elementary

Frank E. Gomez

Amanda Dierking

Marcelle McLucas

Opal Mahoney

William Rednour

Susan Schommer

Stephanie Gilbert

Maria E. Cimino

Mascotte Elementary

Minneola Elementary

Mount Dora High

Mount Dora Middle

Oak Park Middle

Pine Ridge Elementary

Rimes ELLC

Round Lake Elementary

Katelyn Avila

Diane Conkel

Christy Purdy

Scott Clark

Anita Warensford

Deborah L. Berg

Robert Jeffrey Moore

Kelly Cook

Sawgrass Bay Elementary

Seminole Springs Elementary

Sorrento Elementary

South Lake High

Spring Creek Charter School

Tavares Elementary

Tavares High

Tavares Middle

Melissa Meadows

Melissa Dillow

Susan Caldwell

Justin Crouch

Melissa Fuller

Heather Culbreath

Julie Forgie

Treadway Elementary

Triangle Elementary

Umatilla Elementary

Umatilla High

Umatilla Middle

Villages Elementary

Windy Hill Middle

“I was walking a mile by the end of the week and by week three I was riding my bike.

Now I’m living my life again!”

MEDICARE & OTHER INSURANCES ACCEPTED! Over 30,000 patients treated & 13,000 surgeries performed.

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Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery NATIONALLY FEATURED IN

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Locations THE VILLAGES, INVERNESS, SPRING HILL AND TAMPA Learn more at TAKEYOURBACKBACK.COM // 855.485.3262

What is your wedding style?

Mission Inn Resort and Lake County Style Magazine are hosting a wedding showcase! Meet and mingle with an intimate group of Central Florida and Lake County’s best wedding professionals while being INN-spired by four different distinct wedding styles: SOPHISTICATED, RELAXED, CLASSIC OR ROMANTIC. Come and plan your entire wedding in one simple afternoon and win amazing giveaways including a Mission Inn Resort Mini-moon!

MISSION INN RESORT

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Swelling, discoloration and pain in the lower extremity, all symptoms of Venous Insufficiency, are serious indicators of a potentially limb-threatening, even life-threatening condition. Samantha had all three of them and missing a dance at her daughter’s wedding was the least of her worries. Limbstitute was there to help.

Our team located the four damaged veins that were causing her problems and treated them. Six months later, Samantha got rave reviews for her fox trot at her baby’s wedding.

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Locations OCALA, TAVARES, SUMMERFIELD, WILLISTON AND THE VILLAGES For more information, call 352.854.0681

HowardDonaldson Life was rather miserable for Howard Donaldson, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for five years. He used three inhalers and required oxygen 24 hours a day.

“I did not want to wake up in the morning because I had no quality of life whatsoever. It’s ridiculous to spend all day gasping for air and not being able to do any activities. I could not even walk the length of my driveway, and I spent three years sleeping in a recliner because I had trouble breathing.”

Fortunately, his life would change dramatically after he received a flier for The Salt Room, which is located in The Villages. “I figured I should give it a try because I had nothing to lose,” he says.

One year ago, Howard began visiting The Salt Room, where he would lie peacefully for 45 minutes inside a spa-like,

The Salt Room at The Villages 480 N. U.S. Highway 27/441 Lady Lake, FL 32159 352.750.9909 info@SaltRoomVillages.com saltroomvillages.com

salt-covered room listening to soft background music. During that time, he was breathing in salt particles, which act as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agent and help remove mucus and pollutants inside the respiratory tract.

For Howard, this unique form of therapy provided a breath of fresh air.

“Within three weeks I quit using inhalers and was off oxygen. I now walk three miles each day and haven’t visited my doctor in three months. Life is wonderful again.”

Howard has faithfully visited The Salt Room each day for an entire year.

“I’ve had a wonderful year because my quality of life has improved tremendously. The staff is very outgoing and treats me like a member of the family.”

Mark Your Calendars!!

The 2015 Lake & Sumter Counties Parade of Homes is Almost Here!!

Saturday February 28 - Sunday March 8 This annual multi-site event includes Communities, Builders, and Remodelers. We have over 20 homes this year and they are all sure to impress! We are thrilled to announce the 2015 Dream Home by Kevco Builders. This beautiful Custom Home in Prestigious Squirrel Pointe has the finest of appointments. It boast over 4,440 SF and features 3 Bedrooms, 4 baths, a study, a bonus room over the oversize 3 car garage with carriage house doors. The vaulted great room has a stone fireplace and the custom kitchen has beautiful cabinetry with marble counter tops. The dining room has a warm feel with its coffered ceiling and beautiful millwork. The outdoor space features a fireplace in a peaceful PresenƟng the Breathtaking 2015 Dream Home by Kevco Builders Lakeview setting. As in all Kevco Builders homes the crown molding, oversize baseboards and attention to detail are second to none.

The Official Parade Guidebooks will be available Friday February 27th in the home deliveries of the Orlando Sentinel, in Guidebook stands throughout Lake and Sumter Counties and online at www.LakeSumterParadeofHomes.com This Guide contains Pictures, Addresses and a pull out map of all the entry locations. For up to the minute information before the Parade, including a list of Guidebook Stand locations go to www.LakeSumterHBA.com and click on the link to the Parade of Homes Web Page.

Thank you to our generous and supportive sponsors!

2015 Dream Home Builder

For more information call 352-343-7101 or Email Admin@LakeSumterHBA.com or visit www.LakeSumterHBA.com

Final thought // GARY CORSAIR

TRY DOING YOUR JOB WITH 65 KIDS BEHIND YOU

I

am a big believer in parental involvement. Mom and Dad should thoroughly know their child’s friends, friends’ families, teachers, coaches, baby sitter, doctor, dentist, troop leader, ice cream man and Sunday school teacher.

And the snooping shouldn’t stop there. Parents should count how many F-bombs Eminem pumps through Junior’s ear buds, get acquainted with the video games Suzie is playing and even obtain passwords for Facebook, Myspace, Snapchat, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and whatever new fangled social media site went live while we adults were sleeping.

Too extreme? Perhaps. But in this day and age a little nosiness can save a child’s life.

Yes, I’m a big believer in parental involvement, but with one exception: don’t mess with the school bus driver.

These unsung heroes of society deal with enough without you invading their space with some nonsense like, “You disrespected my child” or “you are out to get my little angel.”

The truth is bus drivers like kids. Even yours. Correction: At least 99 percent of bus drivers like kids. That’s a big reason they take the job. They certainly aren’t driving school buses to get rich.

Maybe, just maybe, your kid is being hauled by the one percent of drivers who can’t stand kids. I admit they exist. I worked with a grump named Gene Boos who once muttered, “This would be a great job if we didn’t have to pick up students.”

I amend his statement to “Driving a bus would be a great job if parents supported my decision to discipline their kid.”

Does that offend you? If so, you’ve never navigated a 46-foot, 19,000-pound vehicle on crowded streets on a foggy morning with your back to 65 wound-up teenagers.

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Until you’ve done that I don’t want to hear any driverdissing. Your kid got in trouble on the bus? Get over it.

The bus driver moved your child to the front seat because the little monster was a distraction. The driver kicked ’em off because the kid was a holy terror. Why do you think school bus cameras were invented? Why do some school systems have adult monitors?

Wake up and smell the diesel fumes. It doesn’t matter whether Junior was hopping seats, tossing paper wads, pulling Suzie’s pigtails, sniffing glue or — listen closely here — standing up to a bully, bus drivers have to act decisively when there is a distraction. That’s because one distraction can endanger 64 other lives.

Any behavior that has a driver looking in the mirror instead of at the road must be addressed.

So a driver may use a stern voice. Might even yell. May unfairly single your child out. Tough teabags, it’s a small price to pay to ensure a busload of kids safely get from point A to point B. So bite your tongue the next time you feel the urge to bash a school bus driver. Repeat after me: “Your kid did it, your kid did it, your kid did it.”

Still want to tangle with the bus driver? Go for it, but not until you try doing your job with 65 rowdy, Pop Tart-fueled preteens behind you.

Joy

Delivering

Comfort Safety Privacy Waiting for and welcoming a new arrival is a milestone for every family.

Florida Hospital Waterman now makes the experience even more exciting with our new and improved Center for Women & Children. Our remodeled and upgraded private rooms now feature refrigerators and free Wi-Fi, and are sized to allow family members to celebrate with mom and dad.

There are prenatal, lactation and other specialty courses to prepare you for the big event, and mom and dad enjoy a gourmet meal the night before returning home. Visit FHWaterman. com to view a tour of the new center and to sign up for classes.

TOYOTA MAKES THE CAR...

DeLUCA MAKES THE DIFFERENCE! 1719 SW COLLEGE ROAD, OCALA

352-533-2198 “Treating customers with honesty and integrity for over 36 years! Stop by today and experience the DeLuca Difference.”

– Frank DeLuca, President/Owner

OVER 87,000 TOYOTAS SOLD SINCE 1978!

WHY THE DELUCA DIFFERENCE...

HONESTY • INTEGRITY • RESPECT • KNOWLEDGE WISDOM • TRUTHFULNESS • CARING

Our new, ultra-modern facility Opening November 2014 with a state-of-the-art service department, a full-service salon and a café.

We’re just a short drive from The Villages.

Please call for directions.

TWO YEARS NO COST MAINTENANCE WITH EVERY NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE!

Featuring a no cost maintenance plan with roadside assistance.*

*ToyotaCare covers normal factory scheduled service. Plan is 2 years or 25k miles, whichever comes first. The new vehicle cannot be a part of a rental or commerical fleet, or a livery/taxi vehicle. See participating Toyota dealer for planValid details. only in continental U.S.Alaska. and Alaska.

Roadside Assistance not inlcude fluids. details. onlyValid in the continental U.S. and Roadside Assistance doesdoes not include partsparts and and fluids.

www.DeLucaToyota.com

The Institute of Medical Excellence is your first line of defense for your husband’s office full of sniffling, sneezing co-workers. Our primary care physicians are there for everything from regular checkups and treating common ailments, to promoting wellness programs like weight loss or smoking cessation. We’re also excellent at heading off illnesses before they have a chance to take hold…

Becky brought Ted in on Friday and they both got a flu shot. Ted made it through the week without a single sniffle.

we’re on it. puticeonit.com

Locations OCALA, TAVARES, SUMMERFIELD, WILLISTON AND THE VILLAGES For more information, call 352.854.0681