Style Magazine, Village Edition, August 2021

AUG '21

VILLAGE EDITION

Dr yi christina

T H E T E A M AT V I L L A G E S INSTITUTE OF PLASTIC SURGERY WELCOMES A NEW DOCTOR.

Superior cardiac care from leaders in health.

Backed by the experts at UF Health, our cardiac team delivers the superior care you need close to home. As part of the most experienced program in the area, we perform thousands of lifesaving procedures each year, provide a full range of diagnostic services and are consistently recognized as an Accredited Chest Pain Center by the American College of Cardiology, delivering a proven level of expertise in advanced cardiac care.

Learn more at: TheVillagesHospital.org

Close. Caring. Connected.

COMBINED EXPERTISE

TO STAY YOUNG AT HEART. As Orlando Health Medical Group FHV Health, we’ve combined our care and expertise in heart, vascular and primary care to support active lifestyles and ensure residents of Lake and Sumter Counties have access to awarded care close to home.

For trusted care that keeps you living your best life, choose Orlando Health.

OrlandoHealth.com/FHV

ORLANDO HEALTH IS NOW PARTNERS WITH FHV HEALTH.

Looking for the

N E R W I N 2021

wow factor?

(352) 728-5600 8345 US Highway 441, Leesburg, FL 34788 Mon – Sat 10 am – 5 pm, Closed Sunday

(352) 643-6430 3691 Meggison Rd, The Villages, FL 32163

BabettesOnline.com

Mon – Sat 10 am – 7 pm, Closed Sunday

PERFORMANCE. IT’S WHAT WE’RE ABOUT. At Advanced Orthopedics Institute we specialize in hips, knees, shoulders, ankles, wrists...and tennis players.

We’re national leaders in reverse shoulder replacements for those whose rotator cuffs are no longer functioning, performing more in a year than most surgeons perform in a lifetime. We also have a full range of non-invasive procedures to help relieve shoulder pain and improve function.

Return to the activities you enjoy most.

Get moving.

Call 352.751.2862.

G E T A-O K W I T H AO I

John T. Williams, Jr., MD

1400 N US Hwy 441, Suite 552 | The Villages, FL 32159 phone 352.751.2862 | fax 855.420.1047 | goaoi.com

Alfred J. Cook, Jr., MD

ERS LOP EVE D N TIO EN ATT

41846 STATE ROAD 19, UMATILLA, FL 32784 39 Acres with 1500 FT LAKE FRONTAGE, already zoned for Commercial along State Road 19 with Agricultural zoning for the back portion.

This property includes: 2 Bedroom, 1 Bath Wood Frame Home built in 1915 with approximately 1,050 SQFT. The value is in the land. Well and Septic are on the property. The electric is connected to the Home. Shop located behind the home for extra storage. $1,395,000 | MLS#G5037483

LD SO

4892 NE 123RD LN, OXFORD, FL 34484 GORGEOUS 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath corner homesite “Holly” Model in the Family Friendly & Deed Restricted Villages of Parkwood. This FRESHLY PAINTED interior & exterior home comes with a PRIVATE backyard with white vinyl fencing, a great place for entertaining! $299,999 | MLS#G5038459

G DIN PEN

1540 CR 44A, WILDWOOD, FL 34785 MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE! This TURN-KEY, specialty restaurant offers INCREDIBLE POSSIBILITIES in the bursting area of Wildwood, FL! Harmoniously REZONED to Neighborhood Commercial (NC), comes thoroughly REMODELED from top to bottom, inside and out! This VISIBLE & HIGH TRAFFIC CORNER location offers 1.23 ACRES to ADD-ON. $319,995 | MLS#G50386

LD SO

10135 SE 178TH PLACE, SUMMERFIELD, FL 34491 LOVELY 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Move-

In Ready “Pecan” home in Spruce Creek South, a 55+ Active Adult Gated Golf Community. Newer AC, Roof, Water Heater & W/D. $145,000 | MLS#G5040701

G DIN PEN

10245 SE 176TH STREET, SUMMERFIELD, FL 34491 You won’t want to miss this AWESOME 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath “Custom Dogwood” Model Home (1,726 Sqft Living area) has everything you will need! Perfectly and conveniently located in Spruce Creek South 55+ Gated Golf Community. 2-Car Garage + Golf cart Garage with plenty of storage cabinets, washer, and dryer included. $184,500 | MLS#G5041799

LD SO

14329 SE 170TH ST, WEIRSDALE, FL 32195 Heavily wooded 10 GORGEOUS ACRES offering privacy and seclusion! Let’s build your DREAM HOME right here in this excellent location close to The Villages, Lake Weir & much more. $175,000 | MLS#G5033687

G DIN PEN

9951 SE 144TH ST, SUMMERFIELD, FL 34491 Own your own corner piece of Paradise with this Beautiful 3/2 RANCH STYLE home on 1.47 ACRES with deeded access to the neighborhood community park on Little Lake Weir! 4-Board fencing, two ingress/egress gates, paved driveway, and a perfectly manicured yard. This home offers a great floorplan with formal living, dining, and split bedroom layout! $369,939 | MLS# G5044143

E UC SPR

H UT SO EK E CR

10620 SE 176TH STREET, SUMMERFIELD, FL 34491 Lovely 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath “Chestnut 2” model in the sought-after Spruce Creek South 55+ Active adult Gated Golf Community. The exterior of this Charming home has GREAT CURB APPEAL. $184,500 | MLS# G5044377

G DIN PEN

G DIN PEN

4813 CR 103G, OXFORD, FL 34484 THIS BEAUTIFUL MINI FARM boasts a 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home nestled on 2 ACRES with a 2 stall barn close to The Villages. A PERFECT homestead for the equine loving family featuring ceramic tile, plus a BRAND NEW upgraded kitchen with Granite Countertops & Stainless Steel Appliances. $470,000 | MLS#G5040432

17985 SE 106TH TERRACE, SUMMERFIELD, FL 34491 Beautiful 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath “Holly” with open floor plan in Spruce Creek South a 55+ Active Adult Gated Community. NEW ROOF 2021. Enclosed Lanai. $189,900 | MLS# G5042043

RS STO VE N I N TIO EN ATT

5031 SE 115TH STREET, BELLEVIEW, FL 34420 ATTENTION INVESTORS! GREAT LOCATION with SIX Beautiful ACRES ZONED R-3 with Retention pond, TOPO and ENGINEERING reports available. Perfect for Multi-Family and close to shopping, restaurants, medical and much more! $344,900 | MLS#G5031672 L HIL RK PA

IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT SELLING YOUR HOME, CONTACT US TODAY! 352.307.2925

LD SO

31838 SUNPARK CIRCLE, LEESBURG, FL 34748 Beautiful corner homesite featuring 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bath with Den. This elevated lot offers a fenced-in backyard with front and rear porches. Open Floor Plan loaded with upgrades including a gourmet kitchen and BRAND NEW Laminate Flooring. $319,900 |MLS# G5040968

1104 BECKER AVE, THE VILLAGES, FL 32163 TURNKEY-FURNISHED 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath “Avondale” Courtyard Villa in THE VILLAGE of PINE RIDGE. This block and stucco CORNER homesite with a TWO-CAR GARAGE and privacy wall is Tenant-Occupied until JUNE 2022. $334,500 | MLS# G5027614

Sharon Bassett, Owner/Broker 352.307.2925 / BassettPremierRealty.com Spruce Creek Professional Plaza / 10935 SE 177th Place, Suite 201, Summerfield

IMAGELIFT COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY Facial and cosmetic plastic surgery in Tampa and The Villages®

The ImageLift Guarantee: • We utilize the latest technology.

• You will see our proven track record for natural results.

• FREE CONSULTATIONS - Simply answer a few questions and we’ll immediately start guiding you through your very own ImageLift Experience™!

FACELIFTS (SURGICAL AND NON SURGICAL)

FACIAL POLISHING (CO2, IPL, SKINPEN MICRONEEDLING)

FACIAL SCULPTING (FILLER, WRINKLE RELAXERS)

DR. RICH CASTELLANO

is a Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon as seen on:

Schedule your appointment today!

352.227.1501

YOU ARE INVITED! UPCOMING SEMINARS

FOLLOWING CDC GUIDELINES ON SOCIAL DISTANCING EXCLUSIVE SEMINAR PRICING

Katie had ImageLift, Laser, and filler treatments. Results are typical and do vary.

BROWNWOOD HOTEL

Wednesday, August 11th @ 2pm 3003 Brownwood Blvd.

WATERFRONT INN

Thursday, August 26th @ 2pm 1105 Lake Shore Drive

CALL NOW TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT! •

Liz had ImageLift, Laser, and filler treatments. Results are typical and do vary.

Masks are required for guests and staff Must have reservation to attend

•

Kathy had a Laser ImageLift. Results are typical and do vary.

8630 East CR 466, The Villages www.IMAGELIFT.com

*Patient and any other person responsible for payment has a right to refuse to pay, cancel payment, or be reimbursed for payment for any other service, examination, or treatment that is performed as a result of and within 72 hrs of responding to ad for the free, discounted fee, or reduced fee service, examination, or treatment.

AUG'21 V.17

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CONTENTS 1 of 2

FEATURES FE URES

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Best of the Best

What’s hot in 2021

It’s here! Our readers have spoken, and now we reveal the best of everything in Lake and Sumter counties.

Style scanned the local scene to find out the hottest trends in everything from entertainment and hair styles to clothing and food.

READER SURVEY

STORY: ROXANNE BROWN, VICTORIA SCHLABIG, THERESA CAMPBELL, JAMES COMBS

We Listen. We Care.

352.350.1161

TBFinancialGroup.com 3261 U.S. Highway 441/27, Suite F-2, Fruitland Park, FL 34731

ANNUITIES 101 SEMINARS FOR AUGUST CALL TO REGISTER!

August 10th | 9:30 a.m.

BROWNWOOD HOTEL & SPA 3003 BROWNWOOD BLVD., THE VILLAGES

Seating is very limited and by RSVP only.

TB Financial Group Inc. is a licensed insurance agency for life, health, and annuities. We are not securities licensed. We are not tax advisors. Our seminars are very general in nature and not meant to replace the advice of your CPA, Tax Preparer, Investment Advisor or Attorney. We will not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax or legal professional for these matters. Investment advisory services offered by duly registered individuals through ChangePath, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser. ChangePath, LLC and TB Wealth Management, LLC are unaffiliated entities.

STEVE SCHNEIDER, INVESTMENT ADVISOR, TB WEALTH MANAGEMENT LIZ CORNELL, CAS®, CEO, TB FINANCIAL GROUP

AUG’21 ≈ N.10

V.17

CONTENTS 2 of 2

DEPARTMENTS

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THE HIT LIST 022 PERSON OF INTEREST 026 OUTSTANDING STUDENT 028

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IN THE KITCHEN 130 FORK ON THE ROAD 134 SPIRITS 136 DINING GUIDE 138

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INSPIRATION 106 HEALTHY BODY 108

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Turn up the heat with Style’s annual Hot List

AUG '21

VILLAGE EDITION

AUG '21

L AKE & SUMTER

columns FROM THE PUBLISHER 016 FINAL THOUGHT 144

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TO-DO LIST 088 LOCAL TALENT 092 ATTRACTIONS 094

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E ON TH R C OV E

144

Drumroll, please.

Here’s our guide to the best of Lake and Sumter counties in business, health care, food, and much more!

Dr yi christina

T H E T E A M AT V I L L A G E S INSTITUTE OF PLASTIC SURGERY WELCOMES A NEW DOCTOR.

Lake and Sumter Style

Village Edition Photo: Anthony Rao Model: Dr. Christine Yi

When you want to make it

M E MOR A B L E With everything you need right at your fingertips, the Brownwood Hotel & Spa is the perfect place to make your next meeting or signature social event unforgettable. Featuring a range of spaces both indoors and out, on-site catering, professional meeting and event specialists and state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, sit back and leave the details to us.

Explore our 5,900 square foot landscaped courtyard or the 10,000 feet of versatile event and meeting space, conveniently located on one level. There’s sure to be the perfect space to fit your needs.

3003 Brownwood Boulevard The Villages, FL 32163 352.626.1246 | brownwoodhotelandspa.com

Featuring: • 8,360 square foot ballroom with 2 airwalls, ceiling height of up to 20’ and over-sized access doors for autos and the large displays.

• 4 additional meeting rooms and a boardroom • Separate conference center motor lobby • Complimentary wireless internet

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Simply the best Drumroll, please. We are revealing YOUR Best of the Best winners. reetings to all our faithful Style readers.

The magazine you’re holding in your hand is one of my favorite issues of the year. Our annual “Best of the Best” celebrates top-notch professionals representing an array of occupations. What makes this issue special is that you, our readers, are the ones who determine the outcome.

You will choose which establishment serves your favorite meals, which hairstylist provides you with the best look, which doctor provides the highest quality of health care, which massage therapist truly has healing hands, and which financial advisor best steers you down the path to financial freedom.

Best of the Best nominees are extremely excited. In weeks leading up to the competition, many used Facebook to post a link to our website and encouraged their family members, friends, and co-workers to vote.

For us, this competition is equally enjoyable because it’s our chance to highlight the community’s favorite professionals. With the growth our area has experienced, it can be a difficult choice to decide which company best meets your needs. Therefore, our Best of the Best will serve as a go-to reference when you are seeking the perfect restaurant for a special occasion, the best Realtor to help find a dream home, and a personal trainer who can help you become physically fit.

It’s a given that not every nominee will win first place, but in my book, they’re all winners because they thrive to make

Lake and Sumter counties wonderful places to visit and do business.

I’m also excited about this issue because we’re unveiling our Hot List, a compilation of the hottest local trends.

We started our Hot List one decade ago, and it has become one of our mostpopular annual features.

I’d like to end this letter by thanking our loyal advertisers who have stuck with us through the challenging economic times brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. We appreciate your business and will continue going above and beyond to serve all your needs.

Take care and God bless.

Sincerely,

Have a story to tell?

We’re always looking for stories about people who live and work in our area. Send suggestions to editorial@akersmediagroup.com.

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Tony Pagano, General Sales Manager (left) Rick Jimenez, Salesperson (right)

Billy Graham

P L AZ A CA D I L L AC If you are going to go ‘First-Class’ then go with the car and the people at Plaza Cadillac. Special thanks to Rick Jimenez and Tony Pagano for a ‘job well done’! I am enjoying my new 2021 Cadillac Escalade Duramax 4X4 Sport Edition!

— BILLY GRAHAM

8893 US HWY 441 | LEESBURG, FL 34788 | 352.787.1323 | P L AZ A C A D I L L AC . CO M

Harold and Pamela Durocher

Sherrita Smith, Salesperson (left) Paul Ives, Salesperson (center) Tony Pagano, General Sales Manager (right)

P L AZ A L I N CO L N Purchasing a new car can be stressful, but not at Plaza Lincoln. The sales team took the time to understand our needs and recommend the right model at a reasonable price. We are very satisfied with our decision and our purchase.

— HAROLD AND PAMELA DUROCHER

8925 US HWY 441 | LEESBURG, FL 34788 | 352.787.1255 | P L AZ A L I N C O L N O F L E E S B U R G . CO M

CUSTOM CHANGES BENEFIT YOU

AMERICAN FAMILY HOMES

Let’s get started. Call me today.

Mike Neace: 352.589.6004 Award Winning Home Designer, Builder, Licensed Contractor CHANGE IS GOOD

At American Family Homes we believe you deserve your new home, your way. This includes custom changes that make your home personal and special to you. That’s always been part of the American Family Homes experience. Bring us your ideas. Let’s collaborate on style, color and design features to create an energy efficient custom home, within budget, just the way you want it.

KNOW YOUR BUILDER

“Designing and building a custom home is a long process. A thousand decisions need to be made, one just as important as the next. The first decision you need to make is to hire the right builder with the right experience.

Don’t underestimate the importance of the relationship with your builder.

American Family Homes is Committed to Quality and 100% Satisfaction. We invite your inquiry today.” - Mike Neace

CUSTOM HOMES “ON YOUR LOT” FROM THE $200S OFFICE/DESIGN STUDIO 312 South Bay St. Eustis

“Committed to Quality & Satisfaction”

AmericanFamilyHomesInc.com State License Number - CBC058306

first PEOPLE. COMMENTARY. NEWS.

Eustis High star Kyler Cots swings for the Major League.

THE HIT LIST

RECALLING A HAUNTING, UNFORGETTABLE CASE “Cold Blooded: A True Crime Story of a Murderous Teenage Vampire Cult,” is the latest book penned by Leesburg author Frank Stanfield.

“It was the worst crime scene ever,” the veteran newspaper reporter recalls of covering a 1996 vampire cult case that made international headlines when Rod Ferrell, then 16, was arrested and charged with bludgeoning a cult member’s parents.

When investigators realized the slain couple’s 15-year-old daughter was missing, they feared she was a victim, too.

The book touches on the similarities to Charles Manson and the influence of pop culture.

“The psychological component of Rod’s defense was fascinating,” says Frank. “Rod was sentenced to death, but court rulings said he was too young, and that juveniles are too young for automatic life sentences. The book also

CLERMONT POLICE CHIEF RECEIVES NOTABLE APPOINTMENT Gov. Ron DeSantis, in June, announced the appointment of Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway to the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Information Systems Council.

The council is composed of 15 members serving four-year terms.

The governor appoints five of the members: two police chiefs, two sheriffs and a clerk of the circuit court.

“We congratulate Chief Broadway on this prestigious appointment,” says Interim City Manager Susan Dauderis.

Chief Broadway’s many accomplishments include serving as a Special Agent Supervisor with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and being appointed to the Florida Police Chiefs Association Subcommittee on Accountability and Societal Change in 2020.

He is a member of the Florida Police Chiefs Association, West Central Florida Police Chiefs Association and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Board of Directors.

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Chief Charles Broadway

details the court battles, First Amendment press freedom vs. a defendant’s right to a fair trial.”

The author also covered the appeals and the resentencing hearing in 2020, when the cult leader apologized to the victims’ families.

“But was he Frank Stanfield sincere? Could he be rehabilitated? The judge said ‘no.’ The problem was that he has been a pathological liar for years,” says Frank.

One positive aspect of the case, says the author, is that opened communication in many homes between parents and their kids. “Cold Blooded is available on Amazon, WildBlue Press.

5

OUTDOOR PETFRIENDLY TIPS

1. KEEP PLANTS, FLOWERS PET-FRIENDLY

Make sure you have the best pet-friendly plants in your yard. The last thing you want is an unexpected trip to the veterinarian with your best friend.

2. PROVIDE A SPACE TO REST AND PLAY

A pet-friendly backyard is a great way to let your best friend to adventure, play, and rest.

Consider providing your pet with items like a cover or awning over their pet bed, fan, and outdoor toys.

3. BE MINDFUL OF TOXIC LANDSCAPING

Consider keeping your pet indoors and off your lawn for at least 24 hours after fertilizing the area. Some chemicals found in fertilizers may have long-lasting effects on your pet.

4. KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR PESKY PESTS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE! National Purple Heart Day is Aug. 7, a day each year dedicated to honoring service members awarded the Purple Heart Medal for having made the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives on the front lines or suffered a life-altering injury due to combat.

An organization now known as the “Military Order of the Purple Heart,” that was formed in 1932, ensures the protection and mutual interest of all who have received the combat decoration and is composed exclusively of Purple Heart recipients, according to purpleheart.org.

Each year, the organization designates counties and cities throughout the country as “Purple Heart Cities,” based on programs, services, or memorials they may offer to make sure people ‘never forget.’

Entities must apply for the designation and if accepted, are entered into the Purple Heart Trail, a registry that can be found at purpleheart.org, to let people know it is a city that supports veterans wounded or killed in action.

In Lake and Sumter counties, places who have received the designation thus far include Eustis, Lady Lake, Lake County and Mount Dora. Because of that, you may see a purple flag (signifying their designation) being proudly displayed on Aug. 7 each year.

Fleas and ticks can show up anytime and this includes in your own backyard. Consider giving your furry friend some relief with a year-round preventative. You don’t want the stress of a flea infestation or Lyme disease for your best friend.

5. PROVIDE PLENTY OF HYDRATION

Water is incredibly important for dogs of all ages. Whether you’re lounging outside or enjoying a game of toss, your pet’s overall health is dependent on getting the proper amount of hydration.

Consider keeping fresh water available in multiple areas of the yard. Also, for enrichment add items like a water fountain for extra stimulation during playtime.

Source: Trupanion, which provides medical insurance for pets.

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THE HIT LIST

LAKE’S LARGEST CITIES CITY

POPULATION

Clermont

38,654

Leesburg

23,671

Eustis

21,303

Tavares

17,749

Groveland

16,423

Lady Lake

16,020

Mount Dora

14,516

Minneola

12,595

Fruitland Park

7,848

Mascotte

6,315

Umatilla

3,750

Astatula

2,018

Montverde

1,633

Howey-in-the-Hills

1,597

Astor

1,595

Altoona

85

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019

Downtown Clermont

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING The following are a couple of historical tidbits that occurred in Lake County during the month of August many years ago.

They were documented in “The Bulletin of the Lake County Historical Society,” (the organization’s old newsletter), in December 1962.

• The first session of the Board of County Commissioners was held in a long narrow building known as Mendenhall Store in Yalaha on Aug. 2, 1887.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The first Board of County Commissioners meeting was held in Tavares at what is now the residence of Judge Tally on Aug. 14, 1888.

Of Florida’s healthiest counties, Lake and Sumter counties both ranked in the middle, according to the 2021 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, a program of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Sumter ranked 28th, while Lake ranked 30th. Florida healthiest county is St. Johns, while the leasthealthiest county is Gadsen.

If interested in viewing the information, along with loads of historical artifacts, photos, and other sources of information, visit the Lake County Historical Museum at 317 W. Main St., Tavares from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday to Friday.

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TEE IT UP August is National Golf Month. Avid golfers looking for a signature hole that will put their driving and putting skills to the test should try the 17th hole at El Campeon Golf Course at Mission Inn Resort and Club.

This par 5, 556-yard hole is appropriately named “Devil’s Delight.” It challenges golfers to think how they’re going to hit each shot. To hit a good tee shot, for example, you’ll have to successfully navigate the tree-lined fairway while at the same time avoid various bunkers. Your second shot will require strategy, as a mighty oak tree sits approximately 100 yards in front of the green. You can attempt to lay up your shot short of the tree or roll the ball past the tree. Be careful because the tiered green is flanked by a canal and guarded by bunkers.

OF

For those vintage-minded souls who don’t mind, and actually prefer a little static with their music, who appreciate classic album covers (some that fold open to reveal a plethora of cool photos of the featured artist or band), lyrics printed on inner sleeves, pull-out posters hidden inside, an occasional skip and having to physically get up and ‘make the flip’ to get a listen at the rest of the tracks on their cherished LP’s, Aug. 12 – known in the U.S. as National Vinyl Record Day – is the day to celebrate by going ‘old-school’ and spinning away.

And for collectors of vinyl, besides thrift stores and antique malls that may carry limited titles, there are a few shops with more plentiful selections to visit in Lake

County. So, should you have a few extra bucks tucked away to spend on more vinyl (because well, you can never have too much of it), you may want to stop in for a browsing session at any or all of the following places: NOT JUST CARDBOARD (COLLECTIBLES AND RECORDS) 208 W. Main St., Leesburg 352.431.3494 Follow @notjustcardboard on Facebook TRIANGLE VINYL 650 7th St., Clermont 407.408.5751 Follow @trianglevinyl on Facebook VILLAGE VINYL RECORD SHOP (AT RENNINGER’S IN ROW C) 20651 US. Highway 441, Mount Dora 904.479.1960 Follow @villagevinylrecordshop on Facebook

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PERSON OF INTEREST

PEO PLE

Danielle Stroud She’s the incoming president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter.

INTERVIEWER: THERESA CAMPBELL

≈ PHOTO: ANTHONY RAO

L V I TA AT S ST

• Employed with Habitat for six years; takes over as CEO on Nov. 1.

• Family includes husband Chase; sons Zeke, 4; Asher, 1.

What I love most working for Habitat for Humanity: Getting to work with a wide array of people who have all come together to make our community a better place.

One word that describes me: Driven.

What I enjoy at Habitat construction sites: The level of intricacy that goes into each project and the immense amount of teamwork and camraderie that is involved.

My favorite tool: Nail gun.

People who inspire me: Those that look adversity in the eye and have the strength to move beyond it, pushing towards a better tomorrow.

Best advice ever given: When I took my first job in non-profit fundraising, my former boss told me to treat every donor like they are a million-dollar donor.

What many do not know: I come

• Bachelor’s degree from University of Florida.

and my favorite person to hang with; my husband Chase because I can never wrangle him into sitting down to eat dinner; and Michael Pollan because he is one of my favorite authors and I would love to talk about food and science with him.

Ways people can help Habitat: Get involved! Whether through volunteerism, financial investment, or advocacy – those involved have the opportunity to make a life changing difference for another family and build a better community.

Words I live by: Work hard, live life to the fullest, and always count your blessings.

Hope for my sons: That they grow to be emotionally intelligent, driven, and compassionate men who understand the responsibility they hold for the future of our world and that even the smallest actions can make a big impact.

from a lovable but LOUD Italian family.

My hero as a child: Rosie the Riveter.

If I could eat dinner with three people, it would be: My sister Chelsea because she is my best friend

On my bucket list: Hike the highest point in each state (my husband and I have done 10 so far with more to come this year). Hike the Appalachian Trail in its entirety; visit every continent on the planet; attend a yoga retreat in Indonesia.

Know a person of interest? Tell us!

Email your recommendation to theresa@akersmediagroup.com.

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Mid Florida Prosthetics & Orthotics Welcomes Frederick Estok as Chief Prosthetist in Lake County, Florida Mr. Estok is a state licensed prosthetist with over 35 years of experience. His special interests involve working with adults and pediatrics with all levels of limb loss. He served as the senior prosthetist at the Shriners Hospital in Tampa for 13 years. Since leaving, he has worked as a traveling prosthetist and managed an outpatient orthotic and prosthetic clinic for 12 years.

Fred Estok, PROSTHETIST; L.P.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS HERE… In step with you.

STEP UP TO BETTER HEALTH Contact us today and let us help you find your inspiration!

Victor Bustamante, OWNER/PRESIDENT; L.P.O.

Mid Florida Prosthetics & Orthotics has been in Colby Curtis,

PROSTHETIST/ORTHOTIST; L.P.O.

Brandon Courtade,

PROSTHETIST/ORTHOTIST; L.P.O.

MIDFLPROS.COM

LEESBURG Leesburg Medical Plaza 601 East Dixie Hwy., Suite 806, Leesburg 352.435.4500

business serving markets in North Central Florida for over 35 years.

There are six offices from Lake City, Gainesville, two in Ocala, The Villages and Leesburg. We service patients and referral sources with custom and off the shelf bracing needs and prosthetics, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. Mid Florida Prosthetics & Orthotics focuses on Timely, Quality Care.

THE VILLAGES Oakland Hills Professional Center 13940 US Hwy 441, Suite 302, Lady Lake 352.259.3084

OUTSTANDING STUDENT

PEO PLE

Kyler Cots Aspiring pro baseball player ready to take a swing at senior year.

INTERVIEWER: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

L V I TA AT S ST

• 17 years old.

• Incoming senior at Eustis High School.

• Baseball player.

• Favorite subjects are algebra and biology.

• Works at Play It Again Sports.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

The ability to freeze time.

What are your plans for the summer? I work, I’m going to have baseball tournaments, and I’ll mainly spend time with my family.

What are you excited about for your senior year? The sports and all the senior activities, especially grad bash.

Dream job?

I would like to be a professional pitcher for the MLB. What are some of your hobbies outside of school and baseball? I enjoy fishing and bowling.

Any plans for college yet? I’m looking to get a sports management degree, as well as a business management degree and hoping to go (to college) on a baseball scholarship. Some schools that I’m

• Parents are Jeffrey Cots and Kim Felso, stepdad John Felso, and younger brother Xander Cots.

thinking about are the University of Tampa, Southeastern University, and Saint Leo University.

Where is your ideal place for retirement someday?

I would probably retire right here, somewhere near central or southern Florida.

Any advice for upcoming juniors? Pay attention as much as you can in classes, even if they’re boring or they get hard. You just have to push through and focus on the goals you want to achieve.

If you want to get there, you have to work hard.

Words to live by? It’s a quote from Derek Jeter: “There may be people that have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.”

Where would you like to be in 10 years? I would like to see myself either being a scout with some sort of sports organization or still playing baseball.

Know an outstanding student? Fill us in!

Email your recommendations to editorial@akersmediagroup.com

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L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M • AU G ' 2 1

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Family touch At Mia Bella, all services are highlighted with smiles, personalized care and feelings of home.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

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L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M • AU G ' 2 1

uring high school, Danielle Daugherty looked up to her mom Dawn Coulliette with awe.

“My mom was a single mom raising me. She worked three and four jobs, and then also chose to go back to college when I was in high school,” Danielle says about Dawn. “It was so inspiring to me and it put a very strong work ethic in me at a very young age.”

Today, the same feeling lingers on, but it is mutual.

Danielle, a successful businesswoman herself now, inspired Dawn into partnering

with her to open Mia Bella Salon and Spa in Fruitland Park, a family run business they are both very proud of.

Together, with help from third co-owner and Danielle’s husband Alan Daugherty, in charge of maintenance and information technology, their goals include inspiring and instilling a strong work ethic into Danielle and Alan’s two daughters Liv and Mia, who also work at the salon, and to every woman they employ.

“It’s important to us in the business that we have to inspire other women to become the best version of themselves they can

“IT’S IMPORTANT TO US IN THE BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE TO INSPIRE OTHER WOMEN TO BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES THEY CAN POSSIBLY BE AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP THEM GROW, WE’LL DO IT.”

W I N N E R 202 1

— DAW N C O U L L I E T T E

possibly be and whatever we can do to help them grow, we’ll do it,” Dawn says.

When the salon first opened more than four years ago, the entire staff was made up of four women and Alan. Today, he works alongside 27 women employed there, and is in charge maintenance, construction, and information technology.

Danielle says they couldn’t do without Alan, adding that he has been a huge part of about six renovations the salon has undergone since opening.

“Everything we’ve done at Mia Bella, we’ve done by hand. We built the rooms, the ceilings, and we divided the space into exactly what we need and it’s beautiful,” Dawn says. “We have an incredible team of girls who work here with us. They put just as much as we do into the salon because to them, it’s their home as well and they take pride in it.”

At Mia Bella, people can book appointments for any hair services they need, for massages, detoxification treatments, for facials done by a licensed aesthetician, and more.

Liv also runs a boutique – Liv’s Ray of Sunshine – where she sells handcrafted items like soap and jewelry all made by local female artists, including Liv who

makes jewelry, plus a variety of iced coffees and lollipops for clients.

And Mia, 9, the shop’s namesake, visits the shop most afternoons after school to clean bowls, sweep, answer phones and help where needed.

At the salon, Dawn is known as “Momma Bella,” Danielle is “Boss Babe Bella,” Alan is the “Fella Bella,” Liv is the “Mini Boss Bella” Mia is “Baby Bella.” and all the girls who work there are the shop’s own “Bellas.”

With that, Dawn and Danielle are proud to say they have three generations of girls in the family working together, and they make sure that every employee feels like they are among family as well.

“We have our family, but the girls who work with us here, are extended family and are treated that way,” Dawn says.

Danielle adds: “’Welcome Home,’ is the salon’s motto and the girls all call it home.”

Additionally, Dawn and Danielle take pride in understanding the challenges of working moms and always take that into account with all their ‘Bellas.’

“A lot of the girls who work here at Mia Bella have family too and their children are just as important to the salon as our own children,” says Dawn. “They never have to

worry about coming to us and asking to leave early for a child’s doctor appointment or school commitment because we get it, we are mothers, we understand, and your family is first and foremost. We make it work.”

And because everyone is thought of as family, Danielle says she not only tries to instill positivity and hope into her own girls, but to every ‘Bella” who works there.

“I just want them to know that you can be a mom, a wife, or a woman and have a successful business and still have your family be number one,” Danielle says. “This is very important truly, because at the end of the day, the reason you go to work, is for your family.”

As for new or future services, clients can look forward to unique new offerings like professional photography sessions and packages, lunch and beverage order options from Gourmet Today and spray tanning from Just Tan, two companies the salon has recently partnered with.

There is also an expanded service list for hair, facials and massages and more to come soon.

“We’re doing the same services, but we’ll have much more of them and we are so excited,” Dawn says.

352.508.7277 / miabellasalonandspa.net / 201 W. Miller St., Fruitland Park

AU G ' 2 1 • L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M

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2021

THE READERS HAVE SPOKEN, AND HERE ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST. No doubt you’ll find some of your favorites on this annual list.

The best of everything in Lake and Sumter counties.

Want to see the full list of results? Check it out at lakeandsumterstyle.com

AU G ' 2 1 • L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M

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Key: Percentage of total votes in category, number of votes received.

*Runner up, (ML) Multiple Locations. Check the full list at lakeandsumterstyle.com

The places & pros.

CUSTOM CARPENTRY/ REMODELING

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

DAYCARE

LOCKSMITH

Specifics Woodwork, Lady Lake 44.41%, 878 *O’Brien Construction, Tavares

Electrical Works, Leesburg 64.94%, 4576 *Lakeside Electric, Leesburg

First Academy, Leesburg 41.70%, 1747 *Sonshine School, Umatilla

Dixie Safe & Lock Services, Fruitland Park 79.57%, 5468 *Martins Locksmith, Leesburg

28.63%, 566

13.08%, 548

14.20%, 1001

8.66%, 595 PRIVATE SCHOOL

LAWN CARE SERVICE

PLUMBER

Elite Lawn Service, Umatilla 37.99%, 1001 *Turf Tech Professional

Dunstan Plumbing, Leesburg 37.27%, 952 *Mike Scott Plumbing, Wildwood

Lake Prep School, Leesburg 30.90%, 1502 *First Academy, Leesburg

POOL CONTRACTOR

BANK/CREDIT UNION

Premier Pool & Spa, Leesburg 38.28%, 1105 *T & D Pools, Wildwood

United Southern Bank, (ML) 30.99%, 1198 *Citizens First Bank, (ML)

Lawn Maintenance, Altoona

17.57%, 463 PAINTING CONTRACTOR

Omar’s Painting, Lady Lake 27.93%, 464 *Alleycat Painting, Eustis 24.20%, 402

16.88%, 431

26.66%, 1296

25.58%, 989

20.54%, 593

CATERER

Pat’s Sales, Leesburg 51.49%, 1280 *Floors of Distinction, Leesburg

Florida Building Inspectorz, Tavares 33.36%, 431 *Truevue Inspection Services, Eustis

Gourmet Today, Leesburg 65.72%, 4719 *Oakwood Smokehouse and Grill, (ML)

15.45%, 1109

26.32%, 340

20.07%, 499

AUTO SERVICE

HEATING & AIR

Harris AC, Mt. Dora 49.45%, 4618 *Munns Heating & Air, Fruitland Park

Superwash Express, Mt. Dora 39.98%, 1565 *BP Auto Spa, Leesburg 25.45%, 996

HOME INSPECTOR

FLOORING

CAR WASH

AUTO DETAIL

BP Auto Spa, Leesburg 42.18%, 1071 *Detailing Unlimited, Tavares 25.92%, 658

15.11%, 1411

South Bay Automotive, Eustis 36.76%, 791 *Lake-SumterTransmission, Leesburg

22.82%, 491

CLEANING SERVICE

Southern Belle Cleaning Service, Umatilla 36.02%, 1159 *Ambers Cleaning Service, Umatilla 22.06%, 710

REAL ESTATE AGENCY

Morris Realty & Investments, (ML) 33.81%, 806 *Berkshire Hathaway

Realty, Mt. Dora 27.35%, 652

INSURANCE AGENCY

Merrill insurance, Eustis 40.57%, 1201 *Kim Varnadore State

Farm Insurance, Mt. Dora 14.16%, 419

Lindsey Mallory, Spray Mobile Tanning

John Snyder, Dunstan Plumbing Joe Ciceri, Electrical Works Danielle Daughtery, Mia Bella Salon

MOVING SERVICE

BARBER SHOP

HAIR SALON

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

HAIR STYLIST

Quality Moving Services, Fruitland Park 44.61%, 4192 *Two Men and A Truck,

Razor Sharp Cutz, Eustis 23.67%, 674 *The Country Barber,

Mia Bella Salon & Spa, Fruitland Park 50.38%, 5814 *Surface Salon,

18.57%, 529

9.85%, 1137

Nicole Wortsman, Edward Jones, Tavares 43.93%, 793 *Tracy Belton, Raymond

Danielle Daughtery, Mia Bella Salon, Fruitland Park 45.98%, 5486 *Savannah Zuk,

37.45%, 676

10.43%, 1244

INSURANCE / ANNUITIES ADVISOR

ESTHETICIAN

Eustis

Leesburg

Eustis

James, Tavares

42.81%, 4022 COMPUTER / IT SERVICE

Shipton Computers, Eustis 65.36%, 4689 *MMD Computers,

TATTOO PARLOR

HEALTH / MEDICAL SPA

Forever Stained, Tavares 30.59%, 993 *Iron Will Tattoo, Eustis

Bella Toscana, Tavares 30.04%, 668 *Renew Day Spa,

20.67%, 671

Lady Lake

13.87%, 995

GYM/FITNESS CENTER

Wallace Fitness, Mt. Dora 62.63%, 4479 *True Fitness 365,

Leesburg

21.54%, 479 PLASTIC SURGERY CLINIC

8.47%, 606

Bosshardt & Marzek Plastic Surgery Associates, Tavares 78.10%, 2963 *Village Institute of

21.62%, 293

TANNING

14.65%, 556

GRAPHICS & SIGNS

Spray Mobile Tanning 28.24%, 1228 *Tan Time, Leesburg

CHEF

SELF STORAGE

44 Self Storage, Wildwood 24.06%, 326 *Lake Warehouse,

Leesburg

Mt. Dora

Hunter Signs, Leesburg 53.62%, 2037 *Data Graphics, Leesburg

12.42%, 472 PRINTER

Ford Press, Leesburg 41.05%, 812 *A+ Printing, Leesburg

33.27%, 658 PROMOTIONAL ITEMS

Sunday Cool, Tavares 71.55%, 4770 *Data Graphics, Mt.

15.80%, 687

YOGA STUDIO

Third Eye Yoga, Tavares 87.38%, 4610 *Eustis Yoga Studio,

Plastic Surgery, Fruitland Park

Chef Jessy Flinn, Gourmet Today, Leesburg 73.01%, 9215 *Chef Andrew O’Keefe,

O’Keefes Irish Pub, Tavares 15.74%, 1986

Kellee Roberts, The Dog House, Tavares 59.00%, 4913 *Lindsay Parker, Gators of Umatilla, Umatilla 13.23%, 1102

Dora

Ashley Daniels, Arch & Ash, Umatilla 39.68%, 1372 *Tasha Williams,

Bladed Beauty Bar, Bushnell 24.03%, 831

PERSONAL TRAINER

ACCOUNTANT

Shannon Barley and Associates, The Villages 28.69%, 628 *Sandy Stokes, CPA

Tyrell Rachel, Infinity Fitness, Fruitland Park 43.51%, 1531 *Pedro Roman,

Breakthrough Training, Fruitland Park 34.47%, 1213 REALTOR

ATTORNEY

Ashley Hunt, Hunt Law Firm, Leesburg 43.33%, 1745 *A.J Rohe, Rohe Law,

Tavares

FOOD SERVER

19.77%, 796

Desiree Melchiorre, Mason Jar, Umatilla 29.44%, 834 *Aidan O’Keefe, O’Keefes

9.33%, 622

Jordan Hawkins, United Southern Bank, Leesburg 20.72%, 535 *Lyndsi Johnson,

24.58%, 538

Eustis

16.34%, 411

9.71%, 617

PERMANENT MAKEUP ARTIST / MICROBLADDING

BANKER

Leesburg

BARTENDER

Jennifer Shaw, Mia Bella Salon, Fruitland Park 60.93%, 3871 *Rene Griffis

15.72%, 503

19.21%, 496

9.55%, 504

Alina Nails, Mt. Dora 25.37%, 638 *Hidden Beauty Bar,

Olson Insurance, Umatilla

Centerstate Bank, Leesburg

Eustis

NAIL SALON

Alex Hurst, Merrill Insurance, Eustis 22.19%, 710 *Erica McNamee,

Surface Salon, Mt. Dora

Brittany Knight, Berkshire Hathaway Florida Realty, Mt. Dora 24.55%, 1268 *Melissa Horbal, Watson Realty, Mt. Dora 16.90%, 873

Irish Pub, Tavares 28.20%, 799

Darrell Turner, Florida Building Inspectorz

Tyrell Rachel, Infinity Fitness Chef Jessy Flinn, Gourmet Today

Steve W. Long, Specifics Woodwork

Rod Reisman, Eustis Roofing

AU G ' 2 1 • L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M

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Key: Percentage of total votes in category, number of votes received.

MORTGAGE BROKER

FIRE FIGHTER

John Ardito, Mortgage Financial, Tavares 36.46%, 669 *Mary Rhodes, The

Shawn Kelleher, Eustis Fire Dept.

28.86%, 733 *Marc Mathis,

Mortgage Firm, Mt. Dora

*Runner up, (ML) Multiple Locations. Check the full list at lakeandsumterstyle.com

Mount Dora Fire Dept.

27.28%, 693

28.23%, 518

The

EMT/ PARAMEDIC INTERIOR DESIGN

Fleur de Lis Home Design, The Villages 49.28%, 823 *Leah D. Connor Interior Design, Leesburg

Marc Mathis, Mt. Dora 30.01%, 630 *Benjamin Green 23.92%, 502

31.44%, 525

PHOTOGRAPHER

TEACHER

Bonnie Whicher Photography 54.32%, 6348 *Madison Bracco Photography

Kelly Raley, Eustis Middle School 30.19%, 1043 *Kristy Fessenden,

14.87%, 1738

Fruitland Park Elementary School

VOLUNTEER

29.87%, 1032

Christine Cruz 66.57%, 4777 *Linda Watts

COACH

Brittany Scott Beall, Eustis High School, Eustis 35.39%, 1038 *James Scrubbs, Pinecrest Academy, Tavares

19.91%, 584

19.05%, 1367

ROOFING CONTRACTOR

Eustis Roofing, Eustis 73.25%, 6483 *Scott’s Roofing, Tavares 11.62%, 1028

ARTIST

Dusty Rowland 69.51%, 2382 *Christy Smith 12.61%, 432

BUILDING AND HOME SUPPLY

Carter’s Ace Hardware, (ML) 48.64%, 3051 *Romac Building Supply, Leesburg

LOCAL BAND/ MUSICIAN

31.81%, 1995

Time Machine 28.61%, 959 *Jeff Whitfield

PEST CONTROL

Above and Beyond Pest Control, Eustis 21.66%, 520 *Eagle Exterminating, Tavares

19.87%, 666

POLICE OFFICER

21.53%, 517

Sarah Coursey, Tavares Police Dept.

41.67%, 1641 *Gary Winheim, Eustis Police Dept.

22.07%, 869

COMMERCIAL BUILDER

Lee Woods Construction, Fruitland Park 51.17%, 633 *GSB Commercial Construction, Wildwood

30.88%, 382 HOME BUILDER

Kevco Builders, Inc., Eustis 40.84%, 1084 *K&A Construction, Mt. Dora

health care.

CARDIOLOGIST

HOSPITAL

Dr. Nitza Alvarez, Tri-County Heart Institute, The Villages 54.32%, 4614 *Dr. Theresa Mills,

UF Health Leesburg Hospital, Leesburg 65.41%, 6149 *Advent Health Waterman,

Cardiovascular Associates, Tavares 8.82%, 749 CHIROPRACTOR

Dr. Jeffrey Glover, Glover Chiropractic, Leesburg 23.95%, 821 *Dr. Jonathan Wise, WiseChiropractic, Mt. Dora 20.19%, 692 DENTIST

Dr. Talita Sizemore, Lakeview Comprehensive Dentistry, Tavares 37.17%, 1827 *Dr. Teddy Bland, Mid Florida Pediatric Dentistry, Tavares 25.43%, 1250 DENTAL HYGIENIST

Ashley Morton, Main Street Dentist, Leesburg 47.39%, 1398 *Emily Davis,

Michael Morgan Dental, Tavares 16.68%, 492

16.24%, 431

DERMATOLOGY LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Goneys Nursery and Landscaping, Lady Lake 34.24%, 670 * Father & Son Landscaping, Mt. Dora

26.37%, 516

Debbie Seifert, Fleur de Lis Home Design

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L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M • AU G ' 2 1

Dr. Jorge Torres, Lake Dermatology, Leesburg 27.62%, 923 *Dr. Johnny Gurgen, Dermatology & Mohs Surgery, (ML) 26.54%, 887

Tavares

25.27%, 2375 MEDICAL IMAGING

Lake Medical Imaging, Leesburg 74.62%, 3569 *Advent Health Imaging, Tavares 15.89%, 760

AUDIOLOGY

Citrus Hearing Clinic, Clermont 67.84%, 4479 *Lake Ear, Nose & Throat, (ML) 25.99%, 1716

MASSAGE THERAPIST

Dawn Coulliette, Mia Bella Salon & Spa, Fruitland Park 69.53%, 5842 *Maria Moreno,

Pay-Per-Klip Salon & Spa, Tavares 7.39%, 621 PHYSICAL THERAPIST

David Moulder Mount Dora Physical TherapySpecialist, Mt. Dora 37.45%, 579 *Michael Asbate,

Advent Health, Tavares 32.79%, 507 SPEECH THERAPIST

Crystal Rizzo, Lake County Schools 76.26%, 4668 *Jeanette Argento,

Sumter County Schools 9.07%, 555

NURSE

Hannah Hart, AEGIS Medical Group, (ML) 32.60%, 934 *Kathy Chastain,

Advent Health Waterman, Tavares 29.35%, 841

ONCOLOGIST

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

FACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON

Dr. Maen Hussein, Florida Cancer Specialists, Tavares 44.31%, 900 *Dr. RamTummala,

Dr. Isaac Mitchell, UF Health, Leesburg 53.68%, 2543 *Dr. Jon Radnothy, Radnothy

Dr. Peter Marzek, Bosshardt & Marzek Plastic Surgery Associates, Tavares 58.75%, 1723 *Dr. Danny Soares, Village

Florida Cancer Specialists, (ML)

Orthopaedic Center, Tavares 13.28%, 629

31.27%, 635 PEDIATRICIAN

NURSE PRACTITIONER

Gretta Ellis, Ellis Integrative Family Practice, Tavares 40.01%, 1811 *Danielle Mathis,

OPTOMETRIST

15.44%, 699

Beacon Advanced Eyecare Center, Leesburg

Advanced Health Care, Eustis

PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT

Andrea Flynn, PA, Ocala Plastic Surgery, The Villages 43.63%, 1614 *Keith Hester, PA, Hester Family

Care & Bariatric Medicine, Eustis

27.25%, 1008

Dr. Kristine Verkaik, Central Florida Eye Center, Eustis 51.70%, 1051 *Dr. James K. Berry, 15.69%, 319 OPHTHALMOLOGIST

Dr. Keith Charles, Mid Florida Eye, Leesburg 37.65%, 1750 *Dr. Scot Holman, Lake Eye Associates, The Villages

Therapuetics, Lady Lake

OB-GYN

Dr. Doug Moffett, Lake OB-GYN Associates of MidFlorida Leesburg 31.56%, 1880 *Dr. Mamie Rogers, Advent Health

8.58%, 644

ORTHODONTIST

Dr. Christopher Escott, Escott Orthodontics, Mt. Dora 51.87%, 1681 *Dr. Dave and Chris

Wollenschlaeger, Wollenschlaeger Orthodontics, Leesburg 20.30%, 658

13.30%, 390 PODIATRIST

Dr. Joanne Balkaran, The Ankle and Foot Center, Tavares 27.06%, 785 *Dr. Chad Watkins, Watkins

Foot and Ankle, Leesburg

Jim Burry, Burry’s Pharmacy, Leesburg 35.26%, 1349 *George Warren, Bay and Lake Pharmacy, Eustis 18.27%, 699 GENERAL PLASTIC SURGEON

NUTRITIONIST/WEIGHT LOSS

32.10%, 615

Alex M. Uson, MD PA, Leesburg

PHARMACIST

27.52%, 1279

Keith Hester, PA, Hester Family Care & Bariatric Medicine, Eustis 47.76%, 915 *Lori Esarey, Total Nutrition and

Dr. Rafael A. Cheas, Silver Lake Pediatrics, Leesburg 66.17%, 4965 *Dr. Alex Uson,

Institute of Plastic Surgery, The Villages

Dr. Richard Bosshardt, Bosshardt & Marzek Plastic Surgery Associates, Tavares 52.04%, 1645 *Dr. Peter Marzek, Bosshardt & Marzek Plastic Surgery Associates, Tavares 19.65%, 621

18.20%, 528 PRIMARY CARE/INTERNIST DOCTOR

Dr. Dan Boggus, AEGIS Medical Group, Tavares 33.89%, 853 *Dr. Sujatha Baskar, Advent Health,

Tavares

15.97%, 402 UROLOGIST

Dr. Jack Cassell, Urology of Mount Dora, Mt. Dora 34.46%, 996 * Dr. Michael Fountain,

Advent Health Medical Group Urology at Waterman, Tavares 27.02%, 781

Medical Group OB GYN at Waterman, Tavares

24.53%, 1461

Dr. Doug Moffett, Lake OB-GYN Associates of Mid-Florida

Dr. Jack Cassell, Urology of Mount Dora

Dr. Isaac Mitchell, UF Health, Leesburg

Dr. Nitza Alvarez, Tri-County Heart

Dr. Jeffrey Glover, Glover Chiropractic

Key: Percentage of total votes in category, number of votes received.

*Runner up, (ML) Multiple Locations. Check the full list at lakeandsumterstyle.com

The

BURGERS

SEAFOOD

Puddle Jumpers, Tavares 20.75%, 1163 *Burgers, Tacos & Waffles (BTW),

Red Crab Seafood, Eustis 41.77%, 2133 *Tiki West Raw Bar and Grill, Tavares

Tavares

18.75%, 1051

DESSERT

MEXICAN

food & drink.

17.86%, 912

San Jose’s Original Mexican Restaurant, Leesburg 31.26%, 1973 *Fiesta Grande, Mt. Dora 27.65%, 1745

Sunsational Farms, Umatilla 31.54%, 1079 *Nikki’s Sweet Cakes, Leesburg 22.62%, 774

CRAFT BREWERY

BBQ/ RIBS

Oakwood Smokehouse and Grill, (ML) 35.05%, 1765 *Mission BBQ, Lady Lake

Bully Brewing, Leesburg 39.76%, 1608 *Wolf Branch Brewing, Eustis 19.78%, 800

20.14%, 1014

COCKTAILS

DONUTS

O’Keefes Irish Pub, Tavares 27.71%, 728 *Crafted Concoctions by BTW,

Donut King, (ML) 68.62%, 3109 *Donut Box, Mt. Dora

Tavares

25.85%, 679

14.04%, 636

COFFEE ITALIAN

Mt. Dora Pizza, Mt. Dora 56.74%, 5512 *Naples Italian Restaurant, Leesburg

19.75%, 1919

15.11%, 958

SWEET TEA

PIZZA

Mount Dora Pizza & Subs, Mt. Dora 66.80%, 5839 *Stavros, Eustis 12.61%, 1102

Wave Sushi

Water Gypsy, Leesburg 58.79%, 3727 *One Flight Up, Mt. Dora

Mason Jar, Dona Vista 40.74%, 1265 *Oakwood Smokehouse and Grill,

Leesburg

33.91%, 1053 WINERY

STEAK

Goblin Market, Mt. Dora 41.07%, 1346 *O’Keefes Irish Pub, Tavares

Dragon Flower Winery, Summerfield 45.28%, 1712 *Lake Ridge Winery, Clermont 38.83%, 1468

19.22%, 630

VEGAN / GULTEN FREE SUSHI

Red Crab Seafood

Wave Asian Bistro, Mt. Dora 36.32%, 1321 *Sakura, The Villages

The Salted Fry, Mt. Dora 54.98%, 701 *Living Green Cafe, Tavares 34.51%, 440

24.66%, 897

ICE CREAM WINGS

Cousin Vinnies Family Sports Restaurant, Leesburg 37.91%, 1785 *Ramshackle Café, Leesburg 18.88%, 889

Cousin Vinnies

Mystic Ice Cream, Fruitland Park/Leeburg 19.21%, 1222 *Sunsational Farms, Umatilla 17.88%, 1137

The entertainment.

GUYS NIGHT OUT

SPORTS BAR

FESTIVAL/EVENT

BOWLING

The Dog House, Tavares 38.25%, 1863 *Bru Tap House, Tavares

Gators of Umatilla, Umatilla 29.25%, 839 *O’Keefes, Tavares

Leesburg Bikefest 40.20%, 1862 *Mount Dora

27.79%, 797

21.50%, 996

VIA Entertainment, Leesburg 39.92%, 964 *Lakeside Lanes, Tavares

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

CIGAR BAR

WINE BAR

PERFORMING ARTS

Bru Tap House, Tavares 45.15%, 2445 *The Brick and Barrel,

Hemingways, Tavares 65.64%, 1154 *Garvino’s, The Villages

Two Old Hags, Leesburg 76.64%, 3726 *The Cellar Door,

Mt. Dora

Bay Street Players, Eustis 51.49%, 1213 *Melon Patch Theater,

17.15%, 834

20.63%, 486

23.59%, 1149

17.97%, 316

Leesburg 21.11%, 1143

Art Festival, Mt. Dora

George Fest, Eustis 33.00%, 785 *Lake County Sheriff’s

Sunsational Farms, Umatilla 36.82%, 1082 *Dora Queen,

Boots, Buckles & Badges 21.94%, 522

MOVIE THEATER

Ruby Street Grille, Tavares 59.51%, 1342 *The Brick and Barrel,

Epic, Mt. Dora 40.72%, 1372 *AMC, Lake Square Mall

The

Leesburg Bikefest Lake Square Mall Entertainment

shopping.

CLOTHING BOUTIQUE (IN STORE)

SPORTING GOODS / OUTDOORS / FISHING

MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP

Salty Mare, Eustis 33.18%, 1833 *Prominent Fox,

Rural King, (ML) 38.12%, 1030 Owen’s Fishing & *Marine, Leesburg

28.07%, 813

32.60%, 1801

Gator Harley Davidson, Leesburg 63.37%, 1711 *Lucky U Cycles,

Leesburg

22.50%, 608

Wildwood RV DEALERSHIP

SHOES

Southern Mudd Boutique, Lady Lake 50.42%, 2912 *Prominent Fox,

Leesburg

27.75%, 1603

Babette’s Furniture & Home

31.28%, 1247

32.77%, 1104

Babette’s Furniture & Home, (ML) 44.48%, 1288 *City Furniture,

Lady Lake

FAMILY FUN

Via Entertainment, Leesburg 35.22%, 1404 *Sunsational Farms, Umatilla

26.30%, 593

25.52%, 750

FURNITURE

27.26%, 866

Leesburg

LIVE MUSIC

Leesburg

Mt. Dora

O’Keefes Irish Pub, Tavares 33.84%, 1075 *1921, Mt. Dora

33.33%, 805

GALA/FUNDRAISER

TOURIST ATTRACTION

DATE NIGHT

CLOTHING BOUTIQUE (ONLINE ONLY)

Southern Mudd Boutique, 70.87%, 3129 *Blu Sky’s Boutique 29.13%, 1286

Campers Corner, Fruitland Park 41.92%, 506 *Lazy Days, Wildwood

29.49%, 356

22.33%, 603 AUTO DEALERSHIP

Vann Gannaway Chevrolet, Eustis 33.77%, 975 *Phillips Toyota,

Leesburg

21.03%, 607

BOAT DEALERSHIP

Holiday Marine, Leesburg 35.55%, 812 *Nobles Marine,

Leesburg

32.97%, 753

LeighAnn Berry,

Prominent Fox

ANTIQUES

Renningers, Mt. Dora 69.00%, 1901 *Wildwood Antique

Mall, Wildwood 13.21%, 364 GIFT SHOP

Liv’s Ray of Sunshine 56.52%, 5329 *Prominent Fox

PET ITEMS

Pigelets Pantry, Mt. Dora 68.36%, 4930 *Woof Gang

Boutique, Leesburg

Bakery & Grooming, The Villages

14.70%, 1386

18.48%, 1333

JEWELRY

ORGANIC / HEALTH FOODS

Southern Mudd Boutique, (online) 38.88%, 2231 *Prominent Fox,

Oxford & Leesburg 22.93%, 1316

The Health Basket, Mt. Dora 66.81%, 5460 *The Green Apple,

Lady Lake

22.08%, 1805

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Meet Doctor Christina Yi Fellowship-trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon joins Village Institute of Plastic Surgery’s stellar practice.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Dr. Christina Yi

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nce Dr. Christina Yi met the staff at Village Institute of Plastic Surgery (VIP), she knew it was the perfect fit and she could see why the award-winning practice was named “Top 10 Aesthetic Clinics in America” for 2021 by Med Aesthetics America.

“Dr. Mendez, who through a mutual colleague introduced me to the practice, had nothing but glowing things to say about the staff and providers at VIP,” says Dr. Yi, who came here from Austin, Texas. “One of the things that makes me so excited to join this team is that each person takes pride in their role. I found everyone so supportive of each other; it is an authentically warm and welcoming place.”

VIP has been serving The Villages for over a decade; their providers and professionally trained staff are devoted to serving patients world-class medical care.

“One of the things I thought was unique about the practice is each of the providers has their own area of specialty and expertise that works so well together and complements each other,” says Dr. Yi. “We have Mr. Larry Blevins, physician assistant and co-owner of VIP, who is a master injector, [and] Dr. Danny Soares, an extremely talented facial plastic surgeon, and then you have me, who does body contouring and body aesthetics. It’s a symbiotic relationship between us all.”

“I am excited about being able to serve the community,” says Dr. Yi “Cosmetic surgery can help us approximate the version or vision of ourselves that was not necessarily bestowed upon us, regardless of age” says Dr. Yi. “Utilizing evidence-based medical knowledge and technology can provide physical transformation

that directly impacts emotional and mental well-being.”

Carrie Blevins, MS, RD, co-owner and practice manager at VIP, is pleased to have Dr. Yi on board.

“We are very excited, and I don’t think it could have fallen into place any better. There are a lot of similarities between all three providers in their attention to detail,” says Carrie, adding Dr. Yi’s communication style is like the other providers in their ability “to explain everything from A to Z, so the patient is extremely well informed and educated about the procedures they are considering.”

Before joining VIP, Dr. Yi’s career started taking shape as a toddler.

She revealed a recorded quote in her baby book: “at 3 ½ years old says, ‘I’m going to be a doctor.’”

“My father was an artist and illustrator. My mom and stepdad were physicians; I feel I ended up being a blend of them,” says Dr. Yi. “I love plastic surgery for the creativity and artistry that’s involved while also respecting the science of anatomy and physiology.”

After receiving her B.A. in psychology from Rice University in Houston, Texas, Dr. Yi graduated with honors from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.

She went on to complete three years of general surgery residency, followed by three years of plastic and reconstructive surgery residency at Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan.

After residency, Dr. Yi completed a fellowship in microsurgery at the prestigious University of California San Francisco, specializing in advanced reconstruction. She also trained with specialists in the field of gender affirming surgery during her time in San Francisco.

After training, Dr. Yi was in private practice specializing in aesthetic surgery and advanced breast reconstruction.

“I was performing microsurgery, connecting small blood vessels to create new breasts for cancer patients. I was able to help them feel whole despite what was taken from them,” she says. “And I saw

Dr. Yi’s baby book

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Patient education during consultation

firsthand how the physical representation of their internal self was so important for not only feeling whole, but wellness, self-esteem, and true healing. I am able to apply these precise technical skills to all of my patients. All people deserve to feel that they are presenting the best version of themselves.”

While Dr. Yi enjoyed her work with breast cancer patients, as for many of us, the pandemic caused her and her husband to reevaluate their careers. Her husband, an emergency medicine physician, was on the front line of treating COVID patients from the beginning of the shutdown. “I was pregnant with my daughter, and every time he went to work was wrought with fear and uncertainty,” Dr. Yi recalls.

“We developed a greater appreciation for what was really important in life, and so we wanted to shift towards more of a work-life balance for both of us, to be able to raise our family together,” says Dr. Yi, adding that joining VIP was the answer.

“The practice culture values being familyoriented. That was a key for us.”

Dr. Yi also believes her interest in the creative arts is particularly suited to aesthetic surgery as it allows her to blend art and science with the technical precision required for complex

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reconstruction. She specializes in a number of procedures including breast aesthetic surgery (augmentation, reduction, lift, implant removal), mommy makeovers, body contouring procedures, and liposuction.

Dr. Yi delights in being able to help patients feel their best, where the inside matches the outside to really offer wholeness and wellness.

“I think any well-trained plastic surgeon needs to have an eye for what makes something appealing,” she says. “There are certainly very talented male plastic surgeons, Dr. Soares being one of them.

I do think that being a female plastic surgeon, particularly for breast and body contouring, allows women to feel they are being heard [and] understood on a deeper level…I think there’s certainly a benefit of sharing a similar perspective as my female patients, but it does not limit me from being able to help anyone with an interest in making a positive change to their appearance.”

Yi and Blevins also want to dispel misconceptions about plastic surgery; it’s not only for the economically elite or celebrities.

“It is within reach,” says Dr. Yi. “It can be natural. It can be subtle. It’s attainable

and you can be a version of yourself that you recognize and draw self-esteem from.”

“When we get to a certain age, hormone levels change. Some people find they are a little heavier in the mid-section and they want to improve their contour,” adds Carrie. “Patients don’t necessarily want to change how they look; they just want to regain what gravity and the aging process has stolen over time.”

At the first meeting with a patient, Dr. Yi listens to what they are interested in changing or striving to achieve. She looks at the medical history to see if the patient is a candidate for the surgery and also tells the patient about the potential procedures and what results to expect.

“I believe in being totally forthcoming with patients about everything that is involved, not just the pros but also really informing them of any risks and complications and making sure they have all the information they need to make their decision,” she says. “So, I consider my job to be providing my expertise and my skills to help them achieve their goals and guide them through what is possible through medicine.”

For VIP, safety is priority. All of VIP’s providers keep abreast on the latest studies to evaluate what is up and coming in the plastic surgery field, especially improvements that have been made in patient safety.

“Medicine is constantly evolving, and the standard of care evolves,” says Dr. Yi. “Part of our job as providers is to stay on top of it so that patients are receiving upto-date care.”

She appreciates the ability to collaborate with her patients for personalized care throughout the entire process, since VIP has a fully equipped, on-site state licensed and accredited ambulatory surgical facility. “I felt like I could deliver not just the actual surgery and results, but also, with the help of our staff, deliver the post-operative care and support that the patients deserve, guiding them through recovery.”

In her spare time, Dr. Yi enjoys hikes with her family and their two rescue dogs, and pursuing her artistic endeavors of painting, drawing, and special effects makeup.

“IT CAN BE NATURAL. IT CAN BE SUBTLE. IT’S ATTAINABLE AND YOU CAN BE A VERSION OF YOURSELF THAT YOU RECOGNIZE AND DRAW SELF-ESTEEM FROM.” —DR. CHRISTINA YI

DR. YI’S AREAS OF SPECIALTY INCLUDE: Breast Augmentation • Breast Lift • Breast Reduction • Augmentation/Mastopexy • Mommy Makeover Masculinizing Mastectomy (top surgery) • Gynecomastia Surgery • Tummy Tuck Liposuction and Body Contouring • Trunk Lift • Arm Lift • Thigh Lift • Skin Cancer Removal • Labiaplasty

352.259.8599 / plasticSurgeryVIP.com / 607 CR 466A, Fruitland Park

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Sweating is good for you!

It's one of the body’s safest and most natural ways to heal and maintain good health and Renew Day Spa wants to help you.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

f your goal is to get healthy, Renew Day Spa’s, newly installed Sunlighten infrared sauna will give you a deep, healthy and naturally detoxifying sweat.

Say goodbye to the harsh heat of traditional saunas. Instead of sweating in a traditional sauna, Renew Day Spa, in downtown Leesburg, offers a relaxing, infrared sauna that gently heats the body from within for a natural sweat.

You can choose one of 7 wellness protocols at your fingertips that will aid detoxification, immunity response, weight loss, relaxation, anti-aging, muscle recovery or cardiovascular health. Just imagine having the ability to do this and more; removing harmful toxins from your body, while improving your body’s immunity.

But I already, sweat outside and even at the gym…

It’s ok; while any form of sweating is considered beneficial, the benefits of heating the body with infrared light from the inside out are numerous and will provide a more targeted healing process.

Tim Simpson, co-owner of Renew Day Spa with his wife Dina, says the infrared sauna is generating raves from clients.

“We have people say they love the healing aspect of it, with the different settings from detox to anti-aging, to pain relief,” says Tim. “I love the relaxing feeling after a session; it’s a healthy sweat.”

Tim recalls one Villages resident found the sauna’s detoxification beneficial when she decided to quit smoking. “The detox setting is one of the most popular because it helps remove toxins from the body.”

Client Jessy Flinn was won over by the infrared sauna during her first visit.

“I absolutely love the sauna! It sounds crazy because I don’t like to sweat, but it’s a different type of heat,” says Jessy. “By the time you are finished and shower, which is conveniently located in the same room, you feel so refreshed.

I would definitely recommend this my friends, and I have.”

Benefits of infrared sauna treatments include: DETOXIFICATION Sweating is one of the body’s safest and most natural ways to heal and maintain good health by helping to eliminate toxins. Due to ingesting and retaining toxins from the air we breathe and the foods we eat, we need to sweat. The benefit of the infrared sauna is its unique ability to detoxify or sweat out these toxic substances, many of which can lead to a variety of diseases.

IMMUNITY Heating the body from

the inside can improve the immune system just like a fever can, and it can reduce the incidences of colds and flu.

Raising the core body temperature is key to keeping you healthy. Increased body temperature provides white blood cell and T-cell production to help fight viruses.

WEIGHT LOSS Increasing core body

and white blood cell that get delivered to muscles, the quicker they rebuild.

heat can increase calorie burn, leading up to 600 calories burnt in one session.

The Sunlighten sauna has been clinically shown to aid weight loss with the use of infrared heat technology, and this can be an effective alternative for those who cannot participate in traditional exercise programs due to medical conditions such as cardiovascular or respiratory problems.

ANTI-AGING AND SKIN HEALTH Most people desire healthier looking skin and want to avoid expensive cosmetic treatments. An infrared sauna treatment is clinically proven to reach deeper levels of your skin, removing dead skin cells, oils, bacteria. Infrared sauna treatments can cause you to sweat, which can help clean out clogged pores.

MUSCLE RECOVERY Because it heats

HEART HEALTH Infrared saunas

the body from within, infrared light can penetrate further into the joints, muscles, and tissues, increasing circulation and blood flow. Good circulation is critical for proper healing. Red blood cells carry oxygen and nutrients to the site of the inflammation, which helps to create new blood vessels and tissues. The more red

can raise your heart rate and increase circulation, giving you a passive cardio workout. A stronger cardiovascular system helps capillaries deliver more oxygen to cells in your muscles, and the sauna may help people with injuries or conditions that preclude them from cardio activity.

RELAXATION Infrared therapy soothes the mind by enveloping your body in relaxing warmth. Renew’s sauna is designed for maximum comfort, allowing you to not only loosen your body, but relax your mind. During treatment, the infrared heat penetrates the body leaving you to feel light and vitalized. You might even want to schedule a message after your session.

Renew Day Spa invites you to give its infrared sauna a try! The recommended use is three to four times per week for 30 to 40 minutes. Just like exercise, the more you do it, the better the results. However, one session is bound to leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. As a reminder all first-time users of the sauna enjoy a $20 rate. Following your first session there are package rates and monthly memberships to help you with your goals.

352.787.7722 / 214 W. Main Street Leesburg, FL 34748 / renewdayspa.org

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we listen…

W I N N E R 2021

…you hear

AB OU T C I T RUS H E A R I N G C L I N I C, L L C Founded by Dr. Laura Pratesi, Au.D., a bilateral hearing aid user herself, Citrus Hearing Clinic specializes in aural rehabilitation, tinnitus management, balance therapy, and patient education. We believe that patients of all ages deserve a better approach to their hearing health than “one size fits most.” Each patient leads a unique life with unique hearing challenges. Our goal is to better understand your listening needs and provide patient-centered care in order to help you make the best, most well-informed decisions about your hearing healthcare. We implement industry-leading Best Practices and utilize state-of-the-art verification measures (including Real Ear Measurement) to ensure every patient receives top-of-the-line hearing healthcare.

352.989.5123 CitrusHearing.com

835 Seventh St, Suite 2, Clermont, FL 34711

Dr. Laura Bradley Pratesi, Au.D.

Doctor of Audiology

OD2A : Overdose to Action

-MATT Recovery Coaching - Peer Support - Resource Navigation - Counseling - Follow-up Support

(352) 531-9680 24-HOUR ON CALL SERVICES

LifeStream’s Community Substance Abuse Response Team (CSART) deploys a team to address opioid and other substance misuse. The team has the ability to intervene with individuals in their own communities, identify immediate resources on the scene and relieve the need for any further intervention when possible by motivating and assisting the individuals to receive the most efficient and effective services to address their individual needs.

cdc.gov/RxAwareness Lake County OD2A is supported by CDC and HHS as part of a financial assistance award. Contents are those of Lake County and do not represent official views of CDC/HHS or the government.

Doing what’s right Mid-Florida Agencies, the authorized agency for Florida Blue, your local Blue Cross Blue Shield, features local agents providing top quality customer service year-round.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

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id-Florida Agencies, the authorized agency for Florida Blue, your local Blue Cross Blue Shield, has seven locations, including offices in The Villages, Eustis, Belleview, Ocala, and owner Robin Gump takes pride in making sure her staff of caring, highly trained, and experienced local agents provide superb customer service.

Her team’s overall goal is to help people obtain an affordable and optimal health insurance plan that meets their needs.

“One of the biggest questions we are asked is ‘what’s available to me?’ So, we ask questions and make recommendations based on their answers to those questions,” says Robin. “We do what is right for the client.”

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Mid-Florida Agencies’ agents know getting the right health insurance for you and your family can be nerve racking or that trying to enroll in a plan on your own can feel overwhelming. The good news is there is no need to do this alone; Mid-Florida Agencies can take care of the entire process for you at no extra cost.

The company provides health plans through Florida Blue, one of the state’s largest insurers. All plans meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. “Our agents are here to support you now and throughout the year,” says Robin, a contrast to other companies that only appear to pop up at enrollment times.

Mid-Florida’s agents Samantha Gump, Anitra "Nikki" Hodges, Leonel Barron, Robert Buckmann, Renata Cockburn, Peter Musella, Kevin Lester, Judy Niverson, Janet Adam, Harry Stephens,

George Wijma, Alyssa Torrence, Mary Remson, Alisa Lawson, Samuel Johnson, and Tirsa Rodriguez are all local Medicare specialists and Affordable Care Act/Obamacare certified insurance professionals who keep abreast with the latest changes to best serve clients.

Client Kay Watters of The Villages says Mid-Florida go above and beyond in caring for their customers. Kay appreciates the personal attention she’s received from her agent Samantha Gump.

“Every time I’ve talked to Samantha, I have been delighted,” says Kay. “We learned our doctor is no longer going to carry the Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, and in the middle of this, we needed direction. Samantha was like, ‘It’s OK. We’ll take care of it.’ And this is the way she has always been. She returns phone calls, she’s pleasant, she’s knowledgeable, and she is just what you want for an agent.”

Kay was thankful Samantha took time to help her. “She’s trying to find us a doctor that not just takes HMO, but a doctor that would fit our needs, and that is what makes it special.”

Samantha says taking time to help Kay was the right thing to do.

“Nobody takes care of you like family,” says Samantha, who is Robin’s youngest daughter. “We treat everybody here and all of the agents like family. One of the things that my mom always says, ‘always take care of the client and commissions will follow.’’’

Samantha says some agents at other companies will make decisions and push certain plans for the commission aspect,

which she says is NOT the case at MidFlorida Agencies.

“There are times I’ve sat with people and told them they are better off where they are (with current insurance). It took my time, and I didn’t get any commission on it, but that is OK, because taking care of them and doing the right thing for them is important,” says Samantha.

She believes doing the right thing results in customers telling others about their great experience.

Mid-Florida Agencies’ clients often tell Robin they are thankful the agency is local and that the agents are accessible year-round.

“We are your neighbors. You see us at events, the grocery store, restaurants, etc.,” says Robin, adding agents also hear appreciation from clients for taking the time to help them find an insurance plan that’s best for them.

“With so many Medicare options available, it is more important than ever to make sure you get the plan that fits your needs,” says Robin. “The things to consider when choosing a Medicare plan is your lifestyle. Are you a year-round resident or snowbird? What doctors, hospitals are in certain networks that you need?”

A Mid-Florida agent can also search for the best Medicare plan that can help with a client’s prescription medication needs, and if the client wants the freedom to choose their healthcare providers.

Mid-Florida notes on its website that one of the best things

MEET BENDEL BLUE Dog lovers, pop in Mid-Florida Agencies’ office at 11962 County Road 101, Suite 303, in The Villages, and you might be greeted by Bendel Blue, a Cockapoo, the office greeter and head of security. Bendel Blue is owner Robin Gump’s beloved dog.

“THE THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A MEDICARE PLAN IS YOUR LIFESTYLE. ARE YOU A YEARROUND RESIDENT OR SNOWBIRD? WHAT DOCTORS, HOSPITALS ARE IN CERTAIN NETWORKS THAT YOU NEED?” —ROBIN GUMP, OWNER

DID YOU KNOW? A healthy mouth helps ensure a healthy body. Florida Blue’s Oral Health for Overall Health program provides enhanced dental benefits that can help you get healthier.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS AFFECTED BY ORAL HEALTH: Diabetes — High blood sugar can increase the risk for periodontal disease; gum disease can cause additional blood sugar increases.

Coronary Artery Disease — Oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream, causing plaque to grow on the heart arteries’ inner walls and leading to a variety of conditions, including infections and heart attacks.

Stroke — A stroke can occur when plaque breaks off from the wall of a blood vessel and travels to the brain, cutting off its blood supply.

Head and Neck Cancers — Radiation therapy is part of the

about turning 65 is the ability for seniors to go on Medicare; however, the original Medicare has limitations in coverage, so private health insurance companies offer what is referred to as Medigap or Medicare Supplement policies. Medigap picks up where Medicare coverage leaves off, assisting with copays, deductibles, and care that the original Medicare does not cover.

Medicare Supplement plans can provide very comprehensive coverage and security in knowing your health care is covered, and Mid-Florida Agencies’ agents are trained to help customize benefits specifically for you and your needs.

Medicare Advantage is referred to as Medicare Part C; a Medicare Advantage Plan is an additional health plan offered

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standard treatment for head and neck cancers and can cause dental problems including mouth sores, tooth decay and gum infection.

Oral Cancer—Treatment for oral cancer can reduce saliva, leading to dry mouth and making tooth decay more likely.

Sjögren’s Syndrome — This immune system disorder reduces saliva, causing dry mouth and making tooth decay more likely.

Pregnancy — Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause an increased risk for oral health issues, which may result in lower birthweight babies.

SOURCE: FLORIDA BLUE

to those eligible for original Medicare (Part A and Part B).

Medicare Advantage can provide a low monthly premium and an out-of-pocket max to protect you financially, and there are Medicare prescription drug plans, called Medicare Part D plans, available to help seniors pay for prescriptions.

Florida Blue also has individual health insurance plans for those not on Medicare. Mid-Florida Agencies’ agents are knowledgeable on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and on Obamacare, which was the law that implemented the changes. Robin says the American Rescue Plan provides more subsidy changes, which has resulted in lower monthly premiums for clients.

Regarding subsidies (a tax credit), Robin says the subsidy is based on a

TOP DENTAL RANKING Florida Blue’s BlueDental Choice Copayment network ranks No. 1 in the state for effective discounts, and BlueDental Choice PPO network ranks No. 2.

SOURCE: THE MILLIMAN RESEARCH REPORT FROM 2020 DENTAL ACTUARIAL ANALYTICS PPO NETWORK STUDY

client’s modified adjusted gross income reported to the IRS, the taxable income.

Florida Blue offers three networks through the Marketplace Affordable Care Act that range in different sizes.

“They are all the same plan, and the only difference is price and the name of the policy, which has to do with the network,” she says.

In addition to individual health plans, Mid-Florida also provides employer group insurance plans for a variety of coverages, including health, life, short-term medical, travel, dental, and prescription drugs.

“The best compliment is hearing ‘I appreciate what you do,’” says Robin, regarding the times she devotes to providing educational seminars to groups on the subsidies, ACA, Medicare supplemental, Medicare Advantage plans, etc.

For more information on Florida Blue’s health insurance plans, call MidFlorida Agencies at 352.259.0666 or visit midfloridaagencies.com.

Keep up to $1,50

up to inKeep your pocket per$1,500 year! in your pocket per year!

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VALUE OF A LOCAL MID-FLORIDA AGENCIES’ AGENT: • May help you qualify for a premium tax credit (a.k.a. subsidy/stipend)

should pay it? Call your agent throughout the year for help, NOT an 800 number!

• Help you determine which network of physicians, hospitals, etc. are best for you and your family.

• Check to make sure your medications are covered and how much you can expect to pay

• See if you qualify for Cost Share Reductions (lower copays and deductibles).

• Help you review ancillary plans (dental, accident, hospital, etc.) that you may need and not realize.

• Provide year-round service. Did you receive a bill from your doctor and not sure if you

• The in-person, face-toface assistance is at no additional cost to you.

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$300

for OTC

for OTC

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David and Mary Johnson

A Healthcare Experience Unlike Any Other Thanks to a patient-centered vision, The Villages Health is helping America’s Friendliest Hometown become America’s Healthiest Hometown.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

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L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M • AU G ' 2 1

hen she moved from Tennessee to The Villages® in 2018, Mary Johnson made it a priority to find a primary care physician.

After visiting two medical providers, the disappointing results were the same. Long wait times, rushed appointments, and poor bedside manner left her feeling discouraged.

They say that third time’s a charm. It certainly was for Mary when she, at the urging of friends, visited The Villages Health, an innovative healthcare system offering everything from primary care physicians and specialists to wellness programs and educational classes.

During her first appointment, Mary experienced a ‘wow’ factor that left no doubt why her friends spoke of The Villages Health with glowing praise.

“THE TEAM OF RECEPTIONISTS, NURSES, AND DOCTORS MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS SO SPECIAL. I’VE NEVER MET A DOCTOR WHO WAS SO THOROUGH. HE EVEN WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MY MINOR ISSUES.” —MARY JOHNSON

THE VILLAGES HEALTH

BY THE NUMBERS 30-60 MINUTE NEW PATIENT VISITS

30-60 MINUTE ANNUAL WELLNESS VISITS

Her wait time was less than five minutes, and her doctor spent up to an hour with her, eager to learn about Mary’s medical history and steer her on the path to wellness and health.

“The team of receptionists, nurses, and doctors made me feel like I was so special,” Mary says. “And I’ve never met a doctor who was so thorough.

He even wanted to know about my minor issues.”

In addition to receiving top-notch medical care, Mary also enjoyed another benefit by becoming a patient of The Villages Health. She switched her insurance to a Medicare Advantage plan, eliminating much of the monthly premiums and high deductibles she previously experienced.

“I have saved a ton of money,” she says. “For me, it’s more convenient to pay per visit.”

Happy patients like Mary are commonplace at The Villages Health, which has implemented a new vision in the way health care is delivered.

The Villages Health utilizes a patientcentered approach to effectively address all patient care needs, including access to care, care coordination, and the overall patient experience.

That means shorter wait times, unrushed doctor visits, and a medical team that takes the time to listen to patients, answer their questions, and address their concerns. The team not only cares for patients, but more importantly, they care about patients.

Simply put, The Villages Health takes the hassle out of health care and allows patients to enjoy the active lifestyle available in The Villages® and surrounding communities.

The medical group offers six primary care centers and two specialty care centers for patient convenience. A seventh primary care location is slated to open in late September. Each location is staffed by board-certified doctors who have undergone extensive training.

Here are a few reasons patients should consider entrusting their health care to The Villages Health.

Take advantage of Medicare Advantage The Villages Health accepts several Medicare Advantage Plans that complement their care model which

30 MINUTE FOLLOW-UP VISITS NET PROMOTER SCORE CONSISTENTLY

OVER 95 (WORLD-CLASS)

OVER 1,500 WELLNESS CLASSES OFFERED YEARLY RANKED IN THE

TOP 1% OF THE NATION’S HEALTH SYSTEMS*

#1 PHYSICIAN GROUP IN NORTH AND CENTRAL FLORIDA* *Source: UnitedHealthcare measured the performance of The Villages Health with The Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), a tool developed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) that’s used by more than 90 percent of America’s health plans to measure the level of care and service.

YOU DO NOT have to be a resident of The Villages® to become a patient of The Villages Health.

offers benefits such as same-day visits, fewer hospitalizations, fewer emergency room visits, little-to-no-wait times, and average annual savings of $2,000. Those benefits go a long way in helping patients achieve optimal health physically, emotionally, and financially and helping The Villages Health live up to its reputation of keeping patients healthy and healing them quickly.

The following enrollment periods allow for enrollment in Medicare Advantage and becoming a patient at The Villages Health: · Three months before, during, or after a patient’s 65th birthday. · Sixty-two days from the day a patient changes his/her address with social security. · During open enrollment, which occurs between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7 each year.

IF YOU ARE one of The Villages Health’s 23,000 Medicare Advantage patients, you are 71 percent less likely to be admitted to a hospital and 75 percent less likely to have to visit an emergency room.

Come see for yourself Is this really a doctor’s office? Patients who tour one of The Villages Health’s primary care centers often ask that question, and for good reason. A warm, inviting, and homey atmosphere replaces the stuffy, clinical feel patients are accustomed to. The living room—it’s not called a waiting room at The Villages Health—features hanging chandeliers, television sets, lamps, and tables, as well as comfortable couches and

Living Room - otherwise known as the “waiting room” in other healthcare organizations

chairs. Likewise, patient rooms, affectionately called visit rooms, have leather recliners for maximum comfort. An in-person tour is the ideal way to gain a better understanding of the wealth of amenities and services conveniently offered under one roof, including x-rays, lab work, audiology, a procedure room, and behavioral health.

Each primary care center employs a New Patient Specialist who excitedly shows prospective patients around the facility and answers any questions they may have. First-time visitors are eligible to receive a free welcome gift.

Feel free to call anytime The Villages Health’s Call Us First Program is for patients who require immediate care. During business hours,

patients can utilize the Call a Nurse Helpline to receive prompt medical advice or book a same-day appointment to help them feel better as quickly as possible. If a need arises after business hours, an on-call clinical expert is available to assist patients with their urgent medical needs.

In addition, The Villages Health’s EZ-Care Clinic is available for patients on Saturdays between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Same-day appointments can be made to TVH care centers, eliminating the need for patients to end up in urgent care or the emergency room for conditions that are not life-threatening.

It’s never too late to learn The Villages Health understands that education empowers patients and

The VIllages Health Care Center

motivates them to take an active role in their own health. As a result, the organization offers a learning center where more than 1,500 free classes are held each year and are available to the public. Topics include, but are not limited to, monitoring blood pressure, the benefits of intermittent fasting, reducing risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and reducing stress.

Similarly, wellness programs are offered that

cover a wealth of topics— coping with chronic pain, tobacco cessation, memory screenings, weight loss, and much more.

Receive some assurance about insurance Navigating the confusing world of health insurance leave many feeling confused

and frustrated. Fortunately, The Villages Health helps alleviate those concerns.

Adjacent to each of its seven primary care centers are Health Insurance Resource Centers. Patients are encouraged to meet face-toface with an insurance agent who can answer questions about Medicare Advantage options, assess their individual health care needs, and review various plan options and benefits.

IN ADDITION TO A HOST OF PRIMARY CARE SERVICES, THE VILLAGES HEALTH ALSO OFFERS THE FOLLOWING SPECIALTY CARE SERVICES AUDIOLOGY • CARDIOLOGY • DIABETES EDUCATION • DIETETICS ENDOCRINOLOGY • GASTROENTEROLOGY • GYNECOLOGY INTERVENTIONAL PAIN • NEUROLOGY • PODIATRY RHEUMATOLOGY • UROLOGY

352.320.5877 / thevillageshealth.com/style

MAKING THE GRADE: The Villages Health’s Net Promoter Score is a near-perfect 96, earning the distinct title of “worldclass.” The Net Promoter Score, or NPS, is considered the gold standard in measuring a customer’s overall satisfaction. In addition, The Villages Health has a 98 percent patient satisfaction rating and is in the top 1 percent of the nation’s health systems.

Taking the Hassle Out of Medicare Health Insurance Guided Medicare Solutions, which is a part of BRP Medicare Insurance III, LLC, helps clients get the Medicare health insurance coverage they need at a price they can afford.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

he complex world of Medicare health insurance leaves many Americans feeling overwhelmed.

For those with no coverage, wading through their health insurance options and plans can be complex and confusing.

For those with coverage, many do not understand the basic benefits that their Medicare health insurance plan covers, leaving them wondering if they are paying too much for their policy.

As always, knowledge is power.

Many consumers in and around The Villages are being empowered by the knowledge that they obtain from Guided Medicare Solutions.

Guided Medicare Solutions, formerly “Florida Medicare Options,” a Florida-

based Medicare brokerage firm, was launched in May 2020 as part of a new brand transformation. Guided Medicare Solutions currently has offices in The Villages, Wildwood, Ocala, Boca Raton, New Port Richey, Tampa, and Orlando.

The Wildwood location officially opened June 16th at Freedom Plaza and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“This is a major milestone for us and reflects a significant step in the firm’s evolution,” says Chase Bedsole, President of Guided Medicare Solutions. “Guided Medicare Solutions will enable us to invest in technology-driven tools and synchronize our partnered firms under one cohesive brand, which will allow us to better meet our clients’ needs. Although our name will change, our commitment to brokers and the community we serve will remain the same.”

When buying health insurance, it’s wise for consumers to get quotes from multiple carriers. This is where Guided Medicare Solutions offers a big advantage. Unlike health insurance agents who work for one insurance company and only sell that company’s insurance plans, the brokers at Guided Medicare Solutions have access to a wide variety of health insurance plans. They utilize their knowledge to find the best coverage and value for consumers and assist them whenever a concern arises.

“We’re a brokerage that represents multiple insurance companies,” says Diana Fasano, Managing Director of Guided Medicare Solutions who has been in the industry for over 14 years.

“It’s our job to find the best-suited plan for Medicare recipients and help them navigate through different choices and options.”

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L-R: Lynn Mitchel, Administrative Assistant and Barb Prindle, Broker

“We have contracts with most major carriers, and are constantly adding new carriers as availability comes to meet client needs. Therefore, we’re essentially a one-stop shop You don’t have to go to multiple locations to speak about each individual carrier.

We’ve embraced a holistic health model. Here, clients get the whole picture instead of one piece of the picture,” adds Bedsole.

Working with a health insurance broker is advantageous because they know the market and have satisfied licensing requirements and stay abreast of the latest health insurance market laws and regulations, which are very complex. The brokers at Guided Medicare Solutions act as educators rather than high-pressure salespeople. In fact, consumers spend ample time with a broker who enthusiastically answers their questions.

“We have real discussions with our clients, and give them all the time they need,” Fasano says. “It’s a true conversation and education session. We provide them with the necessary information so they can

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make an informed decision. It’s not the pushy sales approach.”

That customer-centered philosophy has resulted in meaningful, trustworthy relationships.

“Traditionally, people have met their health insurance agent at a restaurant and may have never heard from or seen them again,” Bedsole says. “At Guided Medicare Solutions, we provide them with a physical location where they can come if they have any questions. They just want a relationship with someone who can help them. The Villages is built on relationships. When we can tie in our face-to-face engagement and build relationships with the clients we’re serving … that speaks volumes.”

The Guided Medicare Solutions team is dedicated to serving the communities they live and work in a variety of ways.

They host member appreciation events, conduct annual Medicare reviews with clients, and are actively involved in service projects around the community “Sometimes, their health has changed, or their financial situation has changed, so we’re willing to sit down with Medicare beneficiaries and find them a new plan

“IT’S OUR JOB TO FIND THE BEST-SUITED PLAN FOR MEDICARE RECIPIENTS AND HELP THEM NAVIGATE THROUGH DIFFERENT CHOICES AND OPTIONS.” —DIANA FASANO, MANAGING DIRECTOR

to best meet their current situation,” Fasano says. “No matter what, we always do what’s right for the client. That’s how we’re guided.”

Seeing familiar faces may also give clients peace of mind. More than 80 percent of agents who work at Guided Medicare Solutions reside in The Villages. They enjoy their role of being “Villagers serving Villagers.”

One of those Colleagues is Lynn Mitchell, who has proudly worked at Guided Medical Solutions for six years.

“This company is very supportive of employees and make sure we are trained and have the tools needed to do our job effectively and professionally,” Mitchell says.

Plans Change. So Can Your Needs.

OPEN ENROLLMENT COMING SOON! Oct 1st - Dec 7th

Explore Your Options Stop by our local office for a Free Medicare Review to get the most out of your Medicare benefits.

No Fees Quality services you can trust, at no cost to you!

L-R: Diana Fasano, Managing Director and Chase Bedsole, President

BRP Group, a rapidly growing independent insurance distribution firm delivering tailored insurance solutions, is the parent company of Guided Medicare Solutions. The company represents approximately 600,000 clients across the United States and internationally and has 17 offices nationwide, focusing on Medicare related coverages.

The Guided Medicare Solutions team openly welcomes prospective clients to their Wildwood office for a free consultation.

“We have longstanding relationships in The Villages, and we’re excited to open the next chapter of investment in the community,” Bedsole says. “We’re also excited to forge new relationships and do all the hard work of comparison shopping for a policy that best meets a client’s needs and expectations. The bottom line is we want them to make an informed decision before they purchase a health insurance plan.”

Compare Plan Options We represent the most popular carriers and will guide you through your options to find the plan that best suits your needs.

We will ensure that you are getting the most out of Medicare!

Local Customer Service

352.260.0151 / guidedmedicare.com / 3990 E SR 44, Suite 205, Wildwood

We are just a call, click or short drive away. You can easily be connected with a live expert with local knowledge and experience in resolving problems.

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villages PEOPLE. PLACES. EVENTS.

Color-fully inspired Members of the Grownup Coloring Club talk about the activity that erases stress and brightens their world.

Dazzling sights Learn all about how nature-loving members of The Villages Canoe & Kayak Club have become Florida Waterway gurus.

Mighty Champion Meet Villages polio survivor on a spirited mission to make a difference for many of our nation’s heroes.

MEET A VILLAGER

PEO PLE

A hero’s tale Villager wrote tribute to a philanthropist and avid supporter of veterans.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

he spunky woman stands 4-foot tall and uses two crutches for mobility. Somehow, her indomitable spirit outshines her disability.

She radiates positivity. Her smile lights up the room. She commands attention.

She certainly caught the attention of Ruth DiDomenico, who first met her in the fall of 2019 at a fundraising event for female veterans to make an Honor Flight trip to the nation’s capital for free.

“I asked my friends, ‘Who is that person?’” Ruth said.

The answer: Marie Bogondoff, a polio survivor who is short in stature but big in heart. She is founder of the all-volunteer organization Villagers for Veterans, which has raised money for severely injured troops and other veteran-related programs.

“When I heard about her amazing story, I became obsessed,” Ruth says.

“I felt compelled to write a book about Marie. She has a never-quit attitude, and I am so grateful she

helped us raise $100,000 for our Honor Flight trip.”

Ruth, a Villages resident and U.S. Army veteran, accomplished the mission. Her book, “The Magnificent Survivor,” was published in 2021 and takes readers on a journey through Marie’s struggles with polio and how the illness shaped her character, defined her path, and fueled her philanthropic spirt.

In addition, the book shares endearing stories of how Marie helped injured veterans. Through her organization, Marie has raised money to provide service dogs and mobility equipment. She has also donated food and clothing to homeless veterans residing in the Ocala National Forest and has introduced equine therapy to veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“I feel this book will benefit Marie because when people become familiar with her work, she will have a much easier time raising funds for veterans,” Ruth says.

The book’s title was derived from “The Magnificent Obsession,” written by Lloyd C. Douglas in 1929.

Do you know an interesting Villager?

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In that book, the main character, Robert Merrick, changed his lifestyle of personal pleasure to that of an anonymous philanthropist.

Ruth read “The Magnificent Obsession” in her early 20s.

“I felt Marie’s story is similar to Robert’s story,” Ruth says. “They come from different backgrounds, but both have discovered that the secret to being happy is living a purpose-driven life.”

This is the second book authored

by Ruth, who served as a physical therapist in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Her first book, “Chapter 11: A Bankruptcy Personal Reorganization,” shares how she repurposed her life after losing Dan, her husband of 62 years.

Email james@akersmediagroup.com

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At Rivers Famil y Medi c i n e, we provid e ex p er i ence d , knowledgeab l e, and com pa s s i o n ate ca re to h el p yo u meet yo u r individua l heal t hc are goa l s .

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IN THE VILLAGES

CO MMENTARY

Hey pal, I know a guy ...

Would it be great to have a service registry?

STORY: JOE ANGIONE

s I was leaving a Publix parking lot, a van stopped in front of me and the driver yelled, “Hey, I can fix your front fender right now for a great low price.” Intrigued, I talked to the driver and discovered he specialized in minor dent repairs and small repainting jobs. And he would come to my driveway to do the work. We quickly negotiated a price, a hundred bucks, and he followed me home. The repairs were done in just over an hour.

I had never heard of auto body work done right at your home, so I told some neighbors about it and was surprised to learn that one neighbor knew of this repair guy and had used him before. If I’d have found him just by asking around, I’d have got the work done months earlier. I had procrastinated. I didn’t think I could get my fender fixed without tying up most of a day waiting around at an auto body shop.

Some Villages neighborhoods have initiated local service registries where residents can nominate excellent nearby service providers and include all the information necessary to contact them. My village hadn’t done this, so it was pure luck that I found the perfect guy to do my repairs. I realized then that a registry of neighbor-recommended service providers would be a time- and mistake-saving idea.

Find out if your village maintains a service registry, and if it doesn’t, suggest starting one at your next meeting. It can be set up online, enabling residents to add new providers anytime to alert neighbors to reliable providers of anything: auto and other repairs, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, house painting and general handyman services. Be sure to include a disclaimer that those who make recommendations can’t be blamed if something goes wrong in dealing with a listed provider.

Registries can be published online, say quarterly, with new providers added and others removed if bad reports surface about them.

Unfortunately, not every village will establish a registry because some feel they’re too “commercial,” and interaction between residents should be strictly for entertainment or recreational purposes. This view ignores the urgent need of some—the very elderly and/or disabled—who require counselling on where to easily find qualified help. Do them a favor...get a registry going in your village.

Joe Angione loves to share stories of his adventures.

If you want to contact him, email joeangione@aol.com.

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OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

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GO WITH THE

flow

The Villages Canoe and Kayak Club loves exploring Florida waterways.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

or some, it’s the natural beauty and sounds that draw them out—crystalclear springs, oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, the echo of chirping birds ringing from the forest.

For others, it’s a chance to see Florida’s wildlife in its natural habitat. A family of turtles resting on logs, an eagle soaring overhead, a deer scurrying in the woods, a 12-foot alligator sunning on the bank.

But members of The Villages Canoe and Kayak Club all agree that Florida is a paddler’s paradise, a place where each trip presents an opportunity to experience an everlasting memory.

Just ask Stephanie Hayano, who was mesmerized during a paddling trip at Cedar Key. “It was dolphin mating season, and dolphins were coming right up to our kayaks,” Stephanie says. “You could almost reach out and touch

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OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

them with your paddle. That was an amazing experience.”

Or ask Linda Morrison, who saw the slow, lumbering giants of Florida’s aquatic ecosystem in the unlikeliest of places—the Silver River.

“We encountered three manatees, and that was a big surprise because I had no idea manatees were there,” says Linda, who serves as the club’s trip coordinator.

The club, which has grown to 251 members since it was formed in 2001, organizes paddling trips through the website meetup.com.

Most destinations are within one-and-a-half hours of The Villages.

Popular destinations include Alexander Springs, Juniper Springs, Rainbow Springs, the Withlacoochee River, Homosassa Springs, and Lake Okahumpka.

Club members have discovered that floating under the stars can be just as exhilarating. Linda enthusiastically recalls a nighttime paddle down Silver River.

“We were paddling under a full moon,” she says. “You could hear

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“FOR ME, KAYAKING IS LIKE MEDITATION. YOU’RE IN A ZONE AND ALL YOUR ISSUES MELT AWAY.”

Photos

by Linda Villagersprovided for Veterans GalaMorrison. photos by Nicole Hamel.

— S T E P H A N I E H AYA N O

Larry Wuest paddles among the ancient dwarf cypress trees on Lake Norris in a kayak he built himself.

the rhesus monkeys in the nearby woods but couldn’t see them. Then, you could hear night owls talking back and forth. We also saw a flock of 100 or more ibis take off, and the moon was shining on their white wings. That was incredible.”

They’ve also experienced a nighttime paddling adventure where each stroke of the paddle produced an underwater light show. In the summertime, members paddle in the waters of Merritt Island’s Mosquito Lagoon, where billions of dinoflagellates emit a blueishwhite glow underwater when they are disturbed.

“You can swipe your paddle through the water or drag your hand in the water and produce a ghostly light swirl,” Linda says.

When they’re not paddling together, club members attend monthly meetings September through May on the third Tuesday of each month at Colony Cottage Recreation Center.

Though members do not teach newbie kayakers and canoeists how to operate a vessel, they will refer them to local outfitters and enthusiastically share knowledge about other components of being a paddler.

For instance, some club members demonstrated easier ways of getting a kayak atop a vehicle, while others have lectured about personal flotation devices and how to properly wear them.

“You gain so much knowledge by being a member of this club,” Stephanie says. “And because of this club, I get to explore waterways that I probably wouldn’t have found on my own.”

Stephanie recently moved from New York to The Villages. The fact that the retirement community had a club devoted to canoeing and kayaking played a big part in that decision.

“The waterways down here are beautiful,” Stephanie says. “For me, kayaking is like meditation. You’re in a zone and all your issues melt away.

You’re completely immersed in the world around you.”

Spending time on Florida’s lakes, rivers, and springs is equally enjoyable for Marc Munaretto, a club member since 2015. Marc was once an avid canoeist who switched to kayaks after moving from Illinois to Florida.

“Canoes are not a pal to those who are riding solo,” he says. “Paddling alone in a 16-foot canoe requires more

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OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

“WE ALSO SAW A FLOCK OF 100 OR MORE IBIS TAKE OFF, AND THE MOON WAS SHINING ON THEIR WHITE WINGS. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.” —LINDA MORRISON

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(L-R) Dave Davidson, Larry Wuest and Marc Munaretto wait for a train to cross Shady Brook before venturing upstream.

Photos provided by Linda Morrison.

Larry Wuest helps Dave Davidson exit his kayak before lifting it over a fallen log along Gum Slough.

work than paddling a 14-foot kayak alone. Kayaking just brings so much joy when you’re out there on the water. I love it.”

He loves it so much that Marc, along with Linda, Stephanie, and seven other club members, have become certified paddle tour guides and are now providing eco tour kayaking trips at Lake Griffin State Park. Morning tours are offered several times a week and a moonlight tour is offered once a month. They also conduct private tours.

Money raised from their tours has funded several park projects, including a renovated kayak launch area and outdoor fitness equipment.

“I love offering these tours because people realize Florida is not just Disney World; it’s a real world of wilderness and people come away with a better understanding of that,” Marc says. “I really enjoy talking to them about alligators because they have a natural fear of these animals.

I explain to them that alligators are predators of opportunity.”

One never knows what they might see on Lake Griffin. For instance,

Dave Davidson communes with a manatee during a paddle down Silver River.

Stephanie witnessed baby herons hatching and a nose-diving osprey spear a fish.

“You just cannot stage those kinds of events,” she says. “Lake Griffin is a hidden gem, and people don’t realize how beautiful it is until they get out there on a boat.”

Thanks to technology, some paddlers share the beauty they’re experiencing with loved ones in real time.

“When I was giving a tour, I had a young couple and the wife took off on her own,” Linda says. “I kept seeing her mess with her cell phone and that made me discouraged because I assumed she wasn’t having a good time. Turns out, she was Skyping her mother in Hungary to show her what she was seeing.”

Most likely, that young woman was just realizing what experienced paddlers have known for a long time.

The majesty and beauty of being on a Florida waterway never grows old.

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SOCIAL CLUB SPOTLIGHT

PEO PLE

Color me happy Villagers get together to encourage one another’s coloring tendencies.

STORY: ROXANNE BROWN

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≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL

inety-seven-year-old Norma Carlo has not worn make-up for years, so her daughter had questions when mom recently asked for several pallets of eye shadow in a variety of bright and vibrant colors recently.

Norma explains that the shadow was not for her face, but rather, for coloring.

“There are all kinds of things that can be used for coloring, including gel, chalk, colored pencils and yes, eye shadow.

I’m always up for trying new things,” Norma says, flipping through her own coloring book and pointing out beautifully finished pages done using eye shadow she applied with cotton balls and Q-tips.

Norma, a member of the The Villages Grown-Up Coloring Club, was the first in the group to try the technique. Today, eye shadow pallets of all kinds are a common sight at meetings.

Club founder Kathy Jones admits that eye shadow may sound like an odd coloring tool, but says it works wonders, especially for producing a perfect cloudy effect.

“I saw a video of a lady using eye shadow to color, then Norma began using it and it looked great. She showed us some of her work with it and I went out and bought some immediately,” Kathy says, explaining that there are no restrictions when it comes to coloring.

“Just like with any art, it’s always an experiment and that’s what my group does all the time; they experiment with colors, with coloring tools, with blending,” she adds.

Before the The Villages Grown-Up Coloring Club was officially formed in 2015, Kathy never thought about coloring. But that all changed when she came across an adult coloring book at an airport gift shop.

Kathy says the book drawn by wellknown Scottish illustrator and coloring book artist Johanna Basford intrigued her so she purchased it.

And just like that, the club was born.

“I saw that it was such an elegant presentation of a book. It wasn’t something for children, it was really sophisticated, which is how I ended up thinking, ‘This is so much fun. Why don’t we have a club?’”

Kathy says. “That’s what we do in The

“JUST LIKE WITH ANY ART, IT’S ALWAYS AN EXPERIMENT AND THAT’S WHAT MY GROUP DOES ALL THE TIME.” —KATHY JONES

Villages, we have hundreds of clubs and I thought there were probably lots of people who would enjoy coming out to color.”

Kathy says coloring became a nationwide trend around that same time and dozens of members of The Villages joined up and began discovering its many benefits.

Norma says coloring relaxes her and gives her something to do to pass the time, not just during meetings, but at home.

“It’s something I really enjoy doing, especially in the evenings,” she says.

Diane Pitts, who has been part of the group from day one, says coloring helps her get through tough days. She especially likes working on extremely detailed pages like mandalas, with tiny elements to fill in.

“This is very relaxing to me and I do the really intricate pictures when I am going through times of crisis,” Diane adds.

Michelle Nelson, another longtime member, says she loves how coloring gives her a creative outlet, even though she does not have an artistic bone in her body.

“I’m not an artist. I can’t draw the picture, but I can color it and bring it to life in that way and this definitely helps me relax,” Michelle says. “My ideal set-up for coloring is to put on some music, sit in a room by myself and color. You just completely lose track of the time and the only thing you are really thinking about is coloring in that green leaf, that flower, that butterfly wing, so it’s really relaxing, very Zen.” Even so, Michelle says she also looks forward to the social aspect of club meeting days.

“I’ve come to this group and never even taken a coloring book out of my bag or put

a pen to paper, because this is one of my circles of friends. We just talk to each other, visit each other’s tables, check out what they are working on, check out everyone’s new supplies and books they’ve bought and it’s just a nice time,” she says.

Besides that, Michelle says the best things about coloring are that anyone, anywhere can do it, and without spending much money.

“Perhaps the coolest thing about coloring is that you can color with your grandkids, so a 97-year-old can do it with a six-year-old. It spans all ages, plus men can do it, women can do it, young, old, whoever, and it really can be a very inexpensive hobby,” she says.

“You just need a coloring page Diane Pitts and some cheap coloring tools. You can make it very expensive if you want, like with any hobby, but it’s not necessary.”

Michelle adds: “People all over the world color and it’s very interesting to see how different people color the same page.”

Members of The Villages Grown-Up Coloring Club meet from 10 a.m. to about noon on the second and fourth Mondays of each month in the Paradise Recreation Center’s Charlie Chaplin Room.

Members also enjoy outings to fun places throughout Florida, lunches and other activities they plan together on occasion.

To learn more, visit the club’s Facebook page by searching “Grown-Up Coloring,” or call Kathy at 352.205.2739.

Kathy Jones, Grown Up Coloring Club founder

Michelle Nelson

Norma Carlo

Want to see your club in Social Club Spotlight?

Send your suggestions to roxanne@akersmediagroup.com.

ROXANNE BROWN

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BOOK CLUB

REVIEW

‘28 Summers’

By Elin Hilderbrand. A memorable beach read!

STORY: KATHY PORTER

hat makes a book a beach read? What makes a book a GOOD beach read? These two questions have been posed by our facilitator Nancy Myers, and Bookworm members are asked to consider them when reading “28 Summers” by Elin Hilderbrand.

Hilderbrand employs an unusual start to each of the 28 summer chapters with a paragraph that begins, “What are we talking about in ___?” This section encourages us to relive our memories for that year, and a clever way to put the chapter in context.

In “28 Summers,” we get swept away to Nantucket Island where Mallory Blessing has lived since she inherited her aunt’s beachside cottage. But Mallory is dying of cancer. She tells her 19-year-old son Link that there is an envelope in the desk drawer. The envelope says: ‘Please call.’

All that is inside is a slip of paper with a phone number on it. When Link dials the number, a man answers, “Jake

McCloud.” How could his mother know Jake McCloud, the man whose wife is running for president? Jake says to tell his mother to hang on and that he’s coming.

Flash back 28 years as Mallory says a jubilant goodbye to her roommate in New York City and moves into the cottage to begin her new life on the island. Her newly engaged brother Cooper wants to have his bachelor party there over the Labor Day weekend, and invites his two fraternity brothers, Jake McCloud and Frazier Dooley.

The stage is set for a heartfelt, often bittersweet story involving Mallory, Jake, Frazier, and a cast of well-drawn characters. After that first fateful and nearly catastrophic Labor Day weekend, Jake and Mallory form a bond.

Drawing on the movie, “Same Time Next Year,” they agree to spend every Labor Day weekend together at the cottage.

As the decades unfold, we are captivated by their lives.

We cheer for them when we approve of their actions, and we get very distressed when they make choices we don’t agree with. We applaud their happiness and cry with their sorrows. We don’t want the story to end. Thus, this novel has many of the ingredients needed for a quintessential beach read. Be sure to put it in your ‘to-be-read’ pile.

Want to read more about the story of Jake and Mallory’s unique relationship?

“28 Summers” can be found at Target, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

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Welcome to Water Oak A Lady Lake paradise residents are proud to call their own.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

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f you’re 55-plus and looking for a beautiful, serene, but activity-filled, convenient, and friendly place to live, look no farther than Water Oak Country Club Estates – a beautiful, gated community in Lady Lake that boosts reasonably priced and quality luxury residences to call home.

Not only that, this pet-friendly neighborhood is close enough to satisfy all the conveniences of The Villages area but distant enough for peace and quiet to overshadow all the hustle and bustle.

Water Oak Sales Manager, Mel Ferioli, says, “The homes at Water Oak are conveniently located, but also very affordable in comparison to other

retirement communities in the surrounding area and it’s a great place for people to start that next wonderful chapter of their lives.”

Water Oak Country Club is a perfect fit for anyone who wants to take advantage of all the shopping, dining, and entertainment options that The Villages area offers, but would like to live where it’s slower-paced, relaxing, and to just enjoy life at their own speed. Water Oak residents enjoy an active lifestyle with an abundance of several special interest clubs and activities to participate in. “Our residents can be as busy as they want, or be as reserved as they want, it’s really up to them.

Our community’s atmosphere allows them to enjoy both,” says Mel. Water Oak is a 55-plus manufactured home community and has been in the Lady Lake area since the early 1980s.

Acquired in 2005, it is one of Sun Homes Communities, Inc. flagship properties across the U.S. and has flourished ever since. They’ve invested in expansion with additional lots and updated the resort-like amenities. Residents are captivated by the picturesque community with over 300 acres of rolling hills, trees, and lakes combined with an 18-hole championship golf course, walking paths, a three-story clubhouse, and more.

Water Oak’s central Florida location is also very favorable to its residents with an abundance of tantalizing Florida attractions nearby. Several irresistible destinations are just a short drive away whether they want to experience Florida’s beaches, or visit one of the several world-famous attractions like Disney World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens or SeaWorld. The ease of access to the interstates and high-

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ways allows for short day trips to either coast to enjoy and take it all in.

The vibe Another top benefit of living at Water Oak is: “the amazing, amazing people,” says Mel. With that, Mel describes the signature “Water Oak Wave” everyone uses as a mutual greeting between each other and calls it heart-warming. “Everybody acts like a family here. They back each other up, they wave constantly to each other and if anyone is in need, they are right there supporting them,” Mel adds.

Residents are thrilled with the amenities Water Oak offers, that also provides ease of accessibility when it comes to shopping, dining, quality medical care and the value of their homes, but what seals the deal are the non-material benefits.

The residents and staff of Water Oak give a sense genuine warmth and community welcoming feeling.

Admiral II Model

Main Club House

restaurant, a championship golf course (discounted for residents), and a pro shop on site.

Not only that, but there are no amenity fees to worry about and an optional $20-per-year home-owners association membership to consider.

Additionally, the community’s ownership arrangement means more money in residents’ pockets, plus general maintenance and lawn care are included.

“We are a land-lease community, which means you own the home and lease the land that it sits on, so you’re able to put all your money into your home, which tends to be $100,000 to $200,000 less than if you were to build a stick-built home where you have to purchase the land, the home,” Mel says.

She adds, “People pay a monthly lot rent, but with that, they have a gated community, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-aweek, and there are no additional amenities fees like you would have to pay in a lot of communities around here. We also pay the majority of all the property tax and the only household tax a resident would pay is about $632 for the whole year and that includes your emergency services and garbage pick-up.”

Amenities

A home to make your very own

Water Oak offers every resort-style living activity imaginable available for its residents – including tennis, billiards, arts and crafts, quilting, fishing, shuffleboard, softball, basketball, volleyball, bocce ball, and pickleball – and the clubhouse amenities are plentiful.

With two clubhouses on-site, the resort-like community ensures the best when it comes to swimming and sunbathing poolside or keeping fit at the gym and staying entertained. There is also a

There is a home at Water Oak for every budget, including pre-owned, newer, and bigger homes with lavish features and other quaint choices.

Most residents can live comfortably under $1,000 per month excluding a mortgage payment.

Additionally, standard features in a home at Water Oak – like crown molding, LED lighting, vinyl plank flooring, window fixtures, appliances, ceiling fans, a porch or lanai, double carports, and more – are

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included features that in other communities may cost extra.

And besides that, a new home buyer has the ability to customize anything they can imagine. A multitude of specialty options includes open floor plans, tray and coffered ceilings, fully equipped kitchens, spa tubs, and Roman tiled showers, upgraded landscaping, large walk-in closets, modern decorative accents, and much more.

Water Oak also offers new home buyers the ability to choose their countertops, flooring, paint colors, and shingle colors.

The design team can alter many features such as move walls and closets; they can literally modify their new home any way that they want. Water Oak has four beautiful model homes to view options, plus several different floor plans and styles to customize the perfect place to live. If we can find the lot a resident likes, all they have to do is find something that fits their needs and we make it happen for them in the most beautiful and efficient way possible.

Here and yet to come Over this past summer, locals may have noticed the community’s main entrance underwent a massive makeover that bid farewell to the look it once had. Our residents and future home buyers are now welcomed home by lighted waterfalls, with stone and leaf-inspired accents, which also includes an updated sales center and a new administration building.

Golf Course

Bistro Restaurant Cape Coral Model

A future expansion, planned for January, will see approximately 260 new home sites to accompany the 1,200 already residing at Water Oak. With that, new and current residents will enjoy a brand-new recreation facility to feature a huge pool with its own beach entrance and cabanas, plus firepits, horseshoe pits, a bar and refreshment area, and rooftop seating.

No room for the “t” word One thing the sales team notices is that a lot of people worry when they hear the words, “manufactured homes,”

but Mel and her team can overcome these concerns.

“Some people still have that ‘trailer’ mentality, but we have gone way beyond that. They’re not trailers anymore. They are actually really well-built, energy-efficient homes,” Mel says. “Ever since Hurricane Andrew, all the standards changed and so our homes are made to withstand anywhere from 130-150 mph winds.”

The main builders Sun Homes primarily work with for Water Oak, are Palm Harbor and Skyline, known as two of the very best manufacturers in the industry. Additionally, all Water Oak homes are built to be extremely energy efficient, adding high-grade

insulation in the ceilings, walls, and floors, including double-paned windows and LED lighting throughout. This allows for cost savings overall on electricity usage and with heating and air conditioning the home.

“Live the dream and have it all,” says a Water Oak brochure.

If you are looking for that perfect, affordable retirement home offering an all-inclusive resort-like lifestyle, look to the very best in manufactured home communities in Florida at Water Oak. Envision your next chapter of life filled with enjoyment and lasting new friendships and fall in love with Water Oak.

877.363.7553 / wateroakcountryclub.com / 106 Evergreen Lane, Lady Lake

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T

off the presses Style’s annual Hot List is packing some serious heat.

STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG, THERESA CAMPBELL, ROXANNE BROWN, JAMES COMBS

When it comes to making summer sizzle, Lake and Sumter Style is giving Mother Nature a run for her money.

We’re turning up the heat a few degrees with our annual Hot List, a compilation of everything that’s hot in Lake and Sumter counties.

And we promise you … this will be one of our hottest reads ever.

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Refurbishing old and used furniture has always been a creative outlet for many, and during the last year many people have picked up the hobby. Fran Flaherty of Tavares has been thrifting and repurposing all sorts of furniture and materials for years, and has some tips.

She finds most of her items at Goodwill, OfferUp, yard sales, flea markets, and her favorite, estate sales. She has found

HOTHEADS The Hot Issue would be incomplete without asking this question: What makes you angry?

Several people were generous enough to respond.

practically-new pieces of furniture such as end tables and bed frames for a steal, and has flipped them, oftentimes by simply adding a fresh coat of paint, and maybe some new hardware or upholstery. You can also find items on Facebook marketplace, and in some of the numerous thrift stores in Lake County.

With wood materials she thrifted, Fran paneled the wall on her mobile home which

was originally an exterior window, hiding that the living room was an add-on to the original home. Another unique creation of hers is a chandelier she converted using outdoor LED light bulbs to an outdoor bird feeder, hanging it on a tree in her backyard.

Sometimes, with just a little paint or stain, or new hardware or cushioning, you can flip old furniture and items to fit modern trends and resell them to a new loving home.

“I don’t like it when people are ignorant to the fact that every single person you come across has had a different human experience than themselves. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.”

“People collecting unemployment who don’t need to collect it. I work my butt off to keep my restaurant going while they’re sitting at home collecting free money. People who take advantage of things make me the maddest.”

— S A R A H T R E M B L AY, L E E S B U R G

—ELLEN BRUCE, LEESBURG

Hotheads photos by James Combs.

RECLAIMING FURNITURE

STICKING TO THEIR

GUNS Tiktok photo is by background photo - stock.adobe.com

Between the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest, it’s not surprising that 2020 saw the highest number of concealed weapons applications in Florida. As of May 31, Lake County ranks 13th among Florida’s 67 counties in the number of people who have concealed weapons permits, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Licensing. In Lake County, 57,707 people have a concealed permit, compared to 11,631 in Sumter County.

Shawn Sullivan is a certified firearms instructor who conducts concealed weapon classes in Clermont. In 2020, his classes were held on Zoom.

“We had a couple hundred students last year,” Shawn says. “Since the coronavirus, interest has been way up.”

“I get mad when people speed down Main Street. I saw one person driving around 60-70 miles per hour passing people.

It’s ridiculous.”

— M I C H A E L H U E Y, L E E S B U R G

“I hate stupid drivers, people who do not know how to drive or make turns. I hate businesses that do not know how to treat customers. I hate liars, and I hate things that don’t work like they are supposed to.”

TIKTOK FRENZY Since its inception, TikTok, a well-known social media app, soared in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic and continues attracting users who create short 15 second to 1-minute videos – and viewers who watch them – from all across the globe.

Businesses, individuals and other organizations use the platform to spread video information on any topic of interest, including their own offerings and viewers use it as a resource for anything from make-up ideas, beauty tips, life hacks and recipes to serious advice or funny skits on topics ranging from relationships, kids and politics to Zen techniques and exercise.

In Lake County, Mount Dora’s own WAVE – Asian Bistro & Sushi, has jumped on board with the app’s concept and began making videos showcasing their unique and beautiful sushi designs. With that, WAVE’s page has garnered more than five-million hits.

Views on their individual videos start at hundreds and in some cases, top half-amillion, but one thing is for certain; WAVE has people from all over the world commenting on, sharing and salivating over their beautiful works of sushi art.

“During one of the most stressful events that directly affected most restaurants, TikTok has given us an opportunity to reach out to people from all over the world. We love showcasing our unique sushi creations to our audience and have obtained a very diverse customer following over the course of this last year, says Jonathan McKinney, WAVE’s owner. “Guests will also take out their cell phones and create their own TikTok videos with our food, so it’s amazing to see it come full circle.”

To view the restaurant’s page on TikTok, visit @wavemountdora. You can also follow them by visiting @WAVEMountDora on Facebook and Instagram.

— D O N N A B A R R E T T, T AVA R E S

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On stage

Following an intermission brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent statewide mandated closures, the Clermont Performing Arts Center, Lake County’s largest performance hall located at 3700 S. Highway 27, reopened its doors with a

2021-2022 season jampacked with live stage shows including familiar favorites, as well as new and exciting shows made for the entire family.

According to the venue’s website, its staff “is working diligently to maintain the safety

of every guest and will take every precaution to ensure the show goes on,” so when considering a show, watch for special rules or conditions that may apply.

UPCOMING SHOWS

A NEW WAY TO ROCK THE BOAT There’s an old joke in the boating industry. Boat, they say, is an acronym for Break Out Another Thousand.

Fortunately, a new trend has emerged that is friendlier on a boater’s wallet because it eliminates unwanted maintenance and repair costs.

Instead of purchasing their own vessel, boaters are

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becoming members of boat clubs like Adventure Boat Share in Leesburg. They pay a one-time initiation fee and monthly dues.

From there, all club members have to do to enjoy a day on the water is make a reservation and show up at one of the company’s three locations: Venetian Cove Marina, Lake Griffin, and Crystal River.

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“I love getting people out on the water,” says Michael Dolan, owner of Adventure Boat Share. “We cover all the expenses—insurance, dock fees, and cleaning. The only thing we don’t cover is fuel.”

The company’s fleet includes everything from bass boats and sailboats to deck boats and bow riders. Members can boat from sunrise to sunset.

MODERN GENTLEMEN: 8 p.m. , Oct. 23, 2021

HOTEL CALIFORNIA: 7 p.m., Nov. 19, 2021

STEVE SOLOMON’S MY MOTHER’S ITALIAN, MY FATHER’S JEWISH! I’M IN THERAPY: 8 p.m., Nov. 5, 2021

FLORIDA PHILHARMONIA PRESENTS HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: 7 p.m., Dec. 11, 2021

DALE K, ALMOST EVIL COMEDY HYPNOTIST: 7 p.m., Nov. 17, 2021

NATURALLY 7: 7:30 p.m., Feb. 26, 2022

Buy your tickets at ClermontPAC.com or by calling 352.394.4800. *Shows and dates are subject to change.

HOT HAIR The return of lots of old hair styles has come back for 2021. The “wolf cut” is a modern version of “the shag,” which was popularized in the late 1990s/early 2020s.

The style entails lots of layers and texture, creating a more voluminous, messy look. The 1960s are back as well: think of Farrah Fawcett’s and Bridget Bardot’s Curtain Bangs, says Amanda Grace of Lather Beauty Salon in Leesburg.

Balayage remains popular after many years. “A ‘balayage,’ which is French for ‘painting with light’ is a color technique that embraces

a rooty-look with soft ‘sun kissed’ blended highlights directed toward the face,” Amanda says. It is the perfect style for those who prefer a low-maintenance, natural look.

Warm tones are making a comeback after ashy cool tones have been very popular in recent years. Rosy reds, coppers, caramels, and golden blondes are trending this year. Also, bold, face-framing colors surrounding the face are a newer trend. A pop of blonde or a “fashion” color concentrated around the face gives a unique look to what could be a simple cut.

DINING TRENDS In 2020, people used to dining out at restaurants, had no choice but to visit fast food drive-throughs or place online orders for curbside pick-up and delivery from their favorite places.

And while 2021 has seen people flocking back to inside dining rooms, many customers are still opting to take the food and eat at home, at nearby parks, in their offices or elsewhere.

In Leesburg, a resource called “Leesburg Eats,” originally started by the Leesburg Partnership as a service to gather the menus of local restaurants

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and digitally house them in one place to make it easier for business people looking for lunch options and to save their desks from clutter, is still available.

According to Leesburg Partnership officials, the website enjoyed an uptick of users during the pandemic that has continued.

Those interested in using the service can visit leesburgeats.com. Restaurants interested in having their menus included, should call 352.365.0053 to inquire about joining and what’s involved in doing so.

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VACATION RENTALS

Now that most COVID restrictions and travel bans have been lifted after a long year, people are eager to plan their next vacation. Still, the pandemic changed the way many people will travel in the near future. People continue to enjoy outdoor trips, visiting natural getaways and camping or glamping settings over extravagant all-inclusive resort stays.

In the past few years, airbnbs were popularized, giving the option of renting entire homes or apartments in locations all over the world. This remains a trend, as it allows travelers to stay close to their own group, and away from strangers. Domestic travel is popular this year, as many countries still have strict requirements for visitors. Also, “workcations” have become a thing, because companies have decided to continue a work-from-home status. Employees bring their work with them to a cabin-in-the-woods type getaway, or even a condo near the beach.

After a year of financial hardship for many, people still want their vacation, so frugality is key when planning. Though airbnbs have perks, many are finding that with rising cleaning and other fees, a hotel is a better option, if money is a concern. After all, unless you find yourself with a bad sunburn, you probably won’t be spending a lot of time in your room anyhow.

Nail biters Throughout the years nail trends have changed, whether in popular nail shape, colors, designs, and otherwise. While dip powder nails gained traction for a while, many people are choosing to return to acrylic nails, and are asking for creative and colorful designs.

Daniela Libreros of Howey-in-the-Hills is a nail tech experienced in intricate designs,

and says what’s popular now is abstract art and line work. Whether different shades of one color, or multicolor, Daniela often finds herself painting precise shapes on her clients’ nails. Coffin shape remains popular, but almond nails have been getting popular during the last few months as well.

Medium and short length almond nails are often paired with the abstract designs

Daniela mentioned, but painted tips are also becoming a fad. Whether on coffin or almond shaped nails, many people are asking their nail techs for a “French tip” look, but with a more eye-catching tip, and a neutral color on their nail beds. To see more of Daniela’s work or to book an appointment, visit her Instagram @heavenlysets.bydani.

RIDIN’ IN STYLE Tricked-out golf cars are all the rage in The Villages. They can be customized to reflect an owner’s personality. Among the golf carts you’re likely to see include: • A GOLF CART DECORATED WITH COLORS AND PARAPHERNALIA OF AN OWNER’S FAVORITE TEAM. • A GOLF CART REPRESENTING SOMEONE’S FORMER PROFESSION, SUCH AS A MINIATURE FIRE TRUCK OR AN OLD ARMY JEEP • A GOLF CART THAT IS A SCALED-DOWN VERSION OF SOMEONE’S FAVORITE AUTOMOBILE, LIKE A CHEVROLET CORVETTE OR A FORD 1929 MODEL A.

NEW

BUSINESSES These are some of the newest places in Lake and Sumter that opened their doors in 2020/2021 according to local officials: Best Smiles Orthodontics – Mount Dora Black Bear Kitchen – Montverde BTW Crafted Concoctions – Tavares Butcher Block – Groveland Community Collision — Leesburg DiversiTech – Leesburg Foxtail Coffee Co. – Clermont & Eustis locations Funky Monkey – Mount Dora HandleBar – Mount Dora Immunity Health Spa – Lady Lake Impact Rage Room – Leesburg Jonesy’s Escape by Coffee Shop of Horrors – Tavares Just Love Coffee Café – Clermont Kroger/Ocado (distribution center) – Groveland Lulu Candles – Eustis Mammoth Oak Brewing Co. – Leesburg Montrose Market (a variety of vendors under one roof) – Clermont Mystic Ice Cream – Leesburg OMG Juice – Clermont Once Upon a Creation Co. – Clermont Orange Blossom Candies & Cream – Montverde

Pepe’s Cantina – Clermont Prominent Fox—Leesburg Pure Nutrition – Clermont RJ’s Dirty Laundry – Mount Dora Southern on 8th – Clermont Sunshine Book Co. – Clermont The Central Florida Hope Center – Clermont The Downtown Exchange (a variety of vendors under one roof) — Clermont

HOTTEST FASHIONS When temperatures are sizzling outside, Prominent Fox Boutique in Leesburg and Em’z on Fifth in Mount Dora carry fashions in lightweight fabrics that are ideal for Florida’s tropical climate. “You can look good and stay cool,” says Clara Schneider, owner of Em’z on Fifth.

The StretchLab – Clermont

5 HOT STYLES AT PROMINENT FOX:

5 HOT STYLES AT EM’Z ON FIFTH:

The Tannerie – Mount Dora

• • • • •

• • • • •

Tray’s Cookout – Leesburg Twisted Sugar – Clermont Water Gypsy Coffee Co. – Leesburg

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Ombre acid wash shorts Cami dress with ruffled hem Cold shoulder tops High-rise button denim shorts Rompers

Lace-up ankle pants Off the shoulder tops Gauze cold shoulder tops and dresses Glitzy tees Crinkle fabric tops

Hottest fashions photos by Nicole Hamel.

Peach Valley – Mount Dora

POLITICALLY ENGAGED Despite the pandemic, Americans voted in record numbers in last year’s presidential election. Lake Countians also flocked to the voting booth. There were 212,505 ballots cast, and turnout reached 80.28 percent, according to figures from the Lake County Supervisor of Election office.

Part of that was due to a high-stakes election. It also stemmed from the surge in new Lake County voters during the past four years.

In 2016, there were 222,390 registered voters in Lake. That number swelled to 264,700 registered voters in 2020.

“I’m very pleased,” says Alan Hays, supervisor of elections. “I want every person who is eligible to vote to be registered, take the time to be informed on the candidates and issues, and then exercise their right to vote.”

Here’s a breakdown of active registered voters from numbers provided on the Lake County Supervisor of Election website in early June.

REPUBLICAN

NO PARTY AFFILIATION

118,093

70,479

DEMOCRAT

79,622

OTHER

3,915

LAKE AND SUMTER

ECONOMIES

The median household income in Lake County (according to datausa.io based on 2018 Census Tract averages) is $52,096.

The economy of Lake County employs 144k people. The largest industries in Lake County are Retail Trade (19,694 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (19,457 people), and Construction (13,526 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($51,636), Finance & Insurance ($51,096), and Information ($50,755).

For Sumter County, the median household income, (according to datausa.io based on 2018 Census Tract averages) is $55,228.

The economy of Sumter County employs 25.4k people. The largest industries in Sumter County are Retail Trade (4,109 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (3,533 people), and Construction (1,841 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($58,750), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($53,125), and Information ($53,036).

Statewide, males in Florida have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females, which is $46,953. The income inequality in Florida (measured using the Gini index) is 0.473, which is lower than the national average.

Building legacy on a

Welcome to LassiterWare With 100 years under its belt, LassiterWare has not only established a track record people can trust but also has built a solid foundation for a future full of great opportunities for years to come.

In fact, the long-lasting company, who in 2017, partnered with Acrisure – one of the 10th largest privately-owned brokers in the world – is on a forward momentum like never before.

“We are very excited at LassiterWare’s numbers right now as they are indeed historically astounding for our agency,”

Jodi Underwood, Receptionist

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says LassiterWare’s President/CEO Doug Childers, at the helm since 2013.

“We have a lot of exceptional history, but we’re doing things we’ve never done before,” he says. “We’re growing and we’re doing it with a blend of the past and the future and that’s what I’m excited about.”

History In 1912, LassiterWare was founded by G.G. Ware, a pioneer insurance agent in Leesburg who handled insurance along with his bank duties as president of First National Bank at the time.

In 1912, G.G. Ware partnered with L.M. Johnson to form Johnson and Ware and became president of the company.

In 1922, Johnson and Ware was sold to the First National Company of Leesburg, when G.G. Ware, still president in 1931, hired J. Paul Lassiter as company manager.

In 1943, both men resigned from the First National Company and formed LassiterWare. Since then, T.R. “Ted” Ostrander Sr. and Ted Ostrander Jr., served as back-to-back company presidents and between them, opened many new offices throughout Florida.

In 2013, Doug Childers who started with the company in 2006 as a producer, became President/CEO and according

Serving You First: We succeed by serving our clients, our community and each other.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

to LassiterWare’s website, he “carries the mindset, as well as, tradition of past leaders, and leads the company through economic changes, innovation and growth.”

LassiterWare today LassiterWare employs over 100 employees in seven locations and continues to meet the needs of clients with commercial, employee benefits, and personal lines insurance.

LassiterWare’s leaders honor and maintain the tagline of “Serving You First,” a motto the company is known for and is at the heart of everyday dealings with clients.”

Despite the retirements of more than a dozen longtime employees in the past few years, and the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, he says the company has remained strong.

“Since 2017, we’ve had over 17 retirements, which is something I take a tremendous amount of pride in, says Doug. “We see each retiree off with a special gathering, but we want them to remain a part of LassiterWare; to leave their legacy even beyond their careers here.”

Additionally, the company has grown with seven acquisitions of books of

“WE HAVE A LOT OF EXCEPTIONAL HISTORY, BUT WE’RE DOING THINGS WE’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE. WE’RE GROWING AND WE’RE DOING IT WITH A BLEND OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE AND THAT’S WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT.” —DOUG CHILDERS, PRESIDENT AND CEO

business or other agencies and increased their total number of locations to seven throughout Florida.

Doug says even COVID couldn’t slow them down.

“Like everyone else, we did close the office for a time. But what people don’t know is that in the year prior, we had put a lot of focus on making sure everyone was able to work from home,” Doug says.

“We have a lot of appreciation for our Senior Leadership team and IT Director Don Campbell because we truly never missed a day’s work. We were prepared and we’ve been able to modify our overall work schedule post-COVID due to the preparations made.”

Offerings LassiterWare has four divisions of service starting with personal lines, which Doug says is home, auto, personal umbrella, recreational vehicles, etc.

Don Campbell, IT Director

Second is its community business unit, which insures Main Street America businesses like garages, real estate offices, hair salons, restaurants and more.

Next is our employee benefits division, which has consultants in both the small group and large group space. We consult a wide variety of businesses in this division, ranging from a 10-person group to groups with over 1,000 employees.

And lastly, LassiterWare’s commercial lines division—it’s largest—specializes in contractors, non-profits, manufacturers, and healthcare.

“We’re unique because of the resource platform we offer. We provide what most brokerage and consulting firms bring to a Fortune 200 company down to the middle market space, and that includes internal claims support, legal support, expertise in human resources and various other technology resources,” Doug says.

Additionally, the CEO says the company has been very successful in finding creative solutions for large

employers. “We have found ways to reduce our client’s overall cost of risk with the “360 Vision” process. We move our clients along the risk continuum from a standard insurance policy to more creative options where our business partners participate in the overall performance and results of mutually agreed upon loss control programs. Also, our employee benefit consultants have found creative solutions to minimize the impact of rising medical and pharmacy costs” says, Doug.

Solutions One setback in the personal lines marketplace, is litigation stemming from homeowner claims, which are more prevalent in Florida than in any other state in the country right now due to roof claims and the current assignment of benefits laws.

Because of that, Doug says: “We’re looking for creative partners to come in and assist our clients.”

Commercial lines and umbrella markets, areas already seeing a tremendous amount of litigation in the commercial auto space, were also faced with added challenges when COVID hit.

Whatever the case however, Doug says: “LassiterWare has every client’s best interest at heart.”

“We sympathize with what our clients are going through because it’s been a tough couple of years,” he says.

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Community mindfulness Besides new and expanded services, Doug says one of the most exciting things the agency has to offer the community is LassiterWare Cares – a fully-funded, employee-led program matched by carriers, that focuses on helping children less fortunate, feeding the hungry, and supporting veterans. Susan McClodden, Executive Director of LassiterWare Cares says “We do serve the community, however, employees of LassiterWare are at the top of the list. If we learn that an employee is suffering a financial hardship, we provide a financial gift and a helping hand.”.

The company also has a new internship program starting this summer designed to get the younger generations trained in the industry.

“A concern of mine is getting younger generations interested in insurance, training them, and making sure they continue the legacy beyond my tenure here,” Doug says. “We’re working towards that with our internship program and other mentorship programs in place.”

Pushing forward The CEO says the future of LassiterWare is looking bright, thanks to dedicated employees and its partnership with Acrisure.

“I’m extremely proud that despite the retirement of a significant part of our workforce, we’re able to retain and actually create new momentum. Organic growth combined with our acquisition strategy have allowed us to grow total revenue and the LassiterWare brand at a historically fast pace, and I think it’s just beginning,” Doug says. “This partnership with Acrisure, who has done

LassiterWare Cares packed food for Feeding Children Everywhere

LassiterWare Cares packed hygiene kits for Clean the World and kits were donated to a local homeless shelter

everything they promised and then some, allows us to bring other agencies into our platform, into our culture and continue to expand and grow.”

Because of that, the company is facing a future filled with new and innovative programs and services, plus a pipeline designed to keep the agency ahead of the game by attracting new employees and leadership.

“The internship program is vital.

We will be facing a job shortage in our industry and it is critical to let people know that one can have a very good financial career in the insurance industry working with an employee-centered company like LassiterWare.

“Where the agency is now is a great blend of new generational talent, and learning from our tenured employees the

unique way in which we take care of our clients, which I think is special.”

Importance Above all, Doug says the growth LassiterWare is experiencing will benefit clients in unique ways.

“Growth is important because growth protects our culture and if we protect our culture, we can take care of our clients the way we want to take care of them,” Doug says. “We grow our margins by growing our client base, not by cutting expenses.”

The CEO adds: “We want to continue to add to our client resources like we have done in the past year and I have confidence we will be able to do that.”

1317 Citizens Blvd., Leesburg / Office: 800.845.8680 / lassiterware.com

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Vision - Wisdom - Protection Leesburg • 800.845.8437 lassiterware.com L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M • AU G ' 2 1

Vision - Wisdom - Protection Vision - Wisdom - Protection Leesburg • 800.845.8437 Leesburg • 800.845.8437 lassiterware.com lassiterware.com

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every month you spend $750² or more!

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Summerfield 17950 S. US Hwy. 441 | Grand Traverse 2945 Traverse Trail

Membership is open to anyone in Alachua, Marion, Lake, and Sumter counties.4 Offer subject to change without notice. There are costs associated with the use of this card. For specific information call 800-367-6440 or write us at P.O. Box 147029, Gainesville, FL 32614. 1. Rewards are credited based on purchases with CAMPUS Platinum Rewards Mastercard. Cash advances and balance transfers do not qualify for rewards points. 2. Rewards are credited based on purchases with CAMPUS Platinum Rewards Mastercard. Cash advances and balance transfers do not qualify for rewards points. $750 in purchases is tracked per billing cycle from the date of card opening. 3. Balance Transfer promotional rate available 7/1/2021-10/15/2021 only. Promotional Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for Balance Transfer is 3.9% and will be effective for 12 billing cycles after the cycle in which the transfer takes place; then the rate on transferred balances will change to the then-current purchase APR consistent with the Cardholder Agreement. The Annual Percentage Rate is a variable rate for Platinum Rewards Mastercard and is based on the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate (index), plus a margin.

The margin is based on certain creditworthiness criteria. The APR is as low as 10.15% as of 3/17/2021 which is determined by adding together the index and the margin applicable to the card type and the consumer’s credit. The APR could change without notice. APR not to exceed 17.99%. 4. Credit approval and initial $5 deposit required. Other restrictions may apply.

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agenda EVENTS. TRAVEL. PEOPLE.

Ruben Vasquez puts his all into shaping unique works of art that bring chills and smiles.

THE TO-DO LIST

aug.

2021

AC TIVIT Y

Just winging it Pine Meadows Conservation Area invites the public to participate in its quarterly bird and butterfly survey. Participants who wish to help with the survey must bring their own binoculars.

Experience is preferred but not required.

2280 Pine Meadows Golf Course Road, Eustis Call 352.253.4950 for more information.

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AUG

21

FEB

26-28

AC TIVIT Y

PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD Sommer Sports in Clermont is hosting the third race of the Cool Sommer Morning Series. Participants can choose to compete in one of the following races: a spring, an intermediate distance triathlon, a spring duathlon, a 5K and an intermediate aqua bike.

Clermont Waterfront Park / 100 3rd St., Clermont Call 352.394.1320 for more information.

AUG

14

AUG

21

EVENT

WINE DOWN Here’s your chance to sip, swirl, and savor wine.

Corelli’s Pantry in downtown Clermont is offering a wine stroll. For $20, attendees can make their way to participating businesses for a little shopping and sampling of more than 20 wines while listening to live music.

AUG

5

AC TIVIT Y

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

732 W. Montrose St., Clermont.

Call 352.708.4085 for more information.

Skip the long lines at Central Florida theme parks and venture into a scenic area where there are no wait times. A guided tour is being offered at Ellis Acres Reserve, a 417-acre property offering rolling pastures and woodlands. You might see black bears, sandhill cranes, and wild turkeys.

25302 County Road 42, Paisley / Call 352.431.8798 for more information.

ONGOI NG EVENTS Events are subject to change and cancellation.

EVERY SUN

EVERY SUN

EVERY MON

EVERY TUE

Clermont Farmer’s Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Downtown Clermont

Downtown Mount Dora Village Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mount Dora

Webster’s Farmer’s Market 6 a.m.-2 p.m.

524 North Market Blvd., Webster

Lady Lake Farmer’s Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

250 Rolling Acres Rd., Lady Lake

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THE TO-DO LIST

aug.JAMS

AUG

7

Move to the beat of one of your favorite performers at one of these great concerts or local venues!

CHALLEN GE

HOW SWEET The Clermont Historic Village is hosting The People’s Choice Dessert and Summer Drink Challenge. The free event allows attendees to walk around and enjoy a sweet treat or family-friendly drink sample from each vendor. They can also vote for their favorite entry in each category. The top three winners in each category will receive a ribbon/ prize. The Village’s museums will also be open for regular tours by donation.

Clermont Historic Village / 490 West Ave., Clermont Call 352.432.3496 for more information.

Let us help you get the word out!

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

8/6 @ 5 p.m.

8/20 @ 9 p.m.

C.O.D. FLORIDA Hurricane Dockside Grill, Tavares

SEPTEMBER DOGS BAND Frank’s Place, Leesburg

8/7 @ 1 p.m.

8/21 @ 5 p.m.

JIMMY HUNTER Lake Harris Hideaway, Tavares

CRYSTAL VISION DUO Cody’s Original Roadhouse, The Villages

8/7 @ 7 p.m.

8/21 @ 7 p.m.

JAMIE O’NEAL Orange Blossom Opry, Weirsdale

A NIGHT WITH ELVIS Orange Blossom Opry, Weirsdale

8/13 @ 5 p.m.

8/22 @ 1 p.m.

C.O.D. FLORIDA, Grand Oaks Resort, Weirsdale

MANFREDI ROCKS Ruby Street Grille, Tavares

8/13 @ 7 p.m.

8/28 @ 5 p.m.

DENNIE AND THE JETS Elks Lodge #1578, Tavares

CRYSTAL VISION DUO Hurricane Dockside Grill, Tavares

8/14 @ 7 p.m.

8/28 @ 5 p.m.

JEFF BATES Orange Blossom Opry, Weirsdale

C.O.D. FLORIDA Grand Oaks Resort, Weirsdale

8/15 @ 4 p.m.

8/29 @ 1 p.m.

C.O.D. FLORIDA Hurricane Dockside Grill, Tavares

C.O.D. FLORIDA Yalaha Bootlegging Company, Yalaha

8/20 @ 5 p.m.

9/3 @ 5 p.m.

MACK LIVERMAN Hurricane Dockside Grill, Tavares

C.O.D. FLORIDA Hurricane Dockside Grill, Tavares

8/20 @ 6 p.m.

CRYSTAL VISION DUO Lake Veterans Club, Tavares

EVERY THU

1ST FRI

1ST FRI

2ND FRI

2ND SAT

4TH SAT

Lake County Farmers & Flea Market 8 a.m.- noon 250 Rolling Acres Rd., Lady Lake

Eustis First Friday 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Downtown Eustis

Clermont First Friday Food Trucks 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

685 W. Montrose St., Clermont

Graveland Farmer’s Market 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Lake David Park, Groveland

Plaid in the Park 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

230 W. 4th Ave., Mount Dora

Eustis Classic Car Cruise-In 4 p.m.-8 p.m.

Downtown Eustis

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N E R W I N 2021

2018 / 2019 / 2020 / 2021

Solutions for all your needs!

CARTER’S ACE HARDWARE is family owned and operated and knows what good service is all about!

• Costa Sunglasses

• Grilling Headquarters with Big Green Egg, Traeger, and Weber grills and accessories

• Stihl Power Equipment • Full line Yeti Dealer • Paint Studio

• Fill propane tanks and RV's • And more!

TAVARES • EUSTIS • UMATILLA MOUNT DORA • SORRENTO SOUTH LEESBURG • APOPKA BEVERLY HILLS • CRYSTAL RIVER

CartersAceHardware.com

LOCAL TALENT

PEO PLE

ICONIC CREATIONS Ruben Vazquez uses his art skills to create the perfect smile.

STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL

round 2015, Ruben Vasquez was watching Face Off, a special effects makeup reality competition show, and thought he too, might be interested in makeup.

He applied for and attended the Tom Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects Program in Pennsylvania and has been working on his sculpting ever since.

At the special effects school, one learns about things like beauty makeup, set building, sculpting, airbrush, body painting, prop making, character makeup, hairstyling, prosthetic application, and more. It is one of the only makeup schools where students simultaneously earn an associate’s degree in business, which is why Ruben chose to attend.

Ruben, who recently moved to Lake County from Brooklyn after traveling back and forth since 2005, says he finds sculpting and doing other creative things “very cathartic.”

“Coming from a messed-up childhood and dealing with depression and anxiety, sculpting or being creative has been my go-to escape, and it brings order to the chaos if that makes sense,” he says.

In Central Florida, the types of work available for people with Ruben’s skill usually involves prosthetic makeup, prop work, and other behind the scenes tasks at theme parks and wax museums.

Ruben has worked on short films and haunted attractions making

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“I WOULDN’T BE WHO OR WHERE I AM TODAY WITHOUT MY BABY SISTER. SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY GUARDIAN ANGEL.” — RU B E N VA Z Q U E Z

props and doing special effects makeup. Looks he has created for these jobs include zombies, creepy clowns, and old-age makeup. Besides Face Off, Ruben is inspired by Steve Wang, a Taiwan-born American makeup artist and filmmaker, and his sister Frances, who died tragically at the age of 30 in June.

“I have to give my biggest thank you to my best friend and sister Frances.

She was my guiding light in the darkness when I needed it most and my biggest cheerleader towards my artwork,” Ruben says. “She pushed me to be a better person. I wouldn’t be who or where I am today without my baby sister. She has always been my guardian angel.”

Some of Ruben’s first solo creations were replicas of creatures Wang built for Guyver, a cult film he directed.

Frances and Ruben

At the Tom Savini school, students begin with an assignment to use clay to “mimic” something like their hand or eye. Students also study anatomy, which Ruben says helped him get a good feel for how the human body is formed and what goes into creating textures.

This knowledge and experience is especially helpful to Ruben in his current day job as a dental lab technician, where he enjoys the sculpting process and creating beautiful new smiles for patients via dentures. Now, he is trying to perfect the art of making dentures, taking something many people consider “gross,” and making it more of an art form.

You can find Ruben’s work on his personal Instagram @bklyn88, and his dental work @i.c.teeth.

Do you know of a talented person in our community?

Email their story to editorial@akersmediagroup.com

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ATTRACTIONS

E XCURSIO N

A chirp off the old block ‘Out-of-the-blue’ inspiration leads to the creation of nature lover’s paradise in Lake County.

STORY: ROXANNE BROWNL

≈ PHOTOS: ANTHONY RAO

here is a hidden gem for nature lovers in south Lake County.

Attractions include walking trails highlighted with thousands of native plants, picnic areas, a serene lake to sit and relax by, camps, workshops, educational programming, and countless opportunities to watch the wonder of nature unfold before your very eyes.

All that is part of the Florida ScrubJay Trail and the 130 species of birds, 239 species of native plants and about 60 species of butterflies that live there.

“This is a mecca for nature photographers, and we also have people who like coming down to have picnics with their families; it’s nice to see,” says Bruce Brown, who with his wife Cathy Brown, founded the venue more than 18 years ago, after both had left their television broadcasting careers for a slower-paced lifestyle.

Their vision was opening B.B. Brown’s Gardens, an idea that came to fruition after purchasing a cabin from the Rosewood movie set shot near Deland; they moved to 15-acres of land with a lake and multiple ecosystems in Clermont, an area they had fallen in love with seeing.

In clearing what was left of the orange groves that once flourished on that property, the Browns discovered a type of bird they’d never seen before.

Bruce and Cathy Brown

Little did they know that the bird – a Florida scrub jay – would end up changing the direction of their lives forever.

“I’ve always loved birds and I was fascinated by that little blue bird we found in the back, so we researched it and found out that it was a Florida scrub jay found nowhere in the world but here and we’re going, ‘Oh my gosh, we have to do something to protect this bird,’” Cathy says. “In the meantime, we really couldn’t do much because our mission and focus was on the brand new business for us with the gardens and all, but that little bird remained in the back of our minds.”

Fast forward a few years after planting thousands of native plants and creating a trail system, to a partnership with the National Wildlife Federation to run its Habitat Stewards program, a venture that involved building habitats around the community. Then, they founded the National Florida Scrub Jay Consortium, a not-for-profit organization focused on creating a sanctuary for the endemic bird species and more.

They went on to create a scenic trailhead on the property, and in 2003, the Florida Scrub-Jay Trail was opened to the public.

“The gardens are very important to us, but the majority of our time

“THIS IS A MECCA FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS.” is spent on volunteering for the scrub jay, for the habitat, and for educating and getting people outdoors for that mission,” Cathy says.

Today, visitors can stop in for free tours of the Scrub-Jay Trail and as explained in a brochure: “Scouts, church groups and a variety of clubs and service organizations work side-by-side with one common cause – to save the Florida scrub jay from extinction.”

But it’s not just scrub jays that have benefitted. After the land restoration, gopher tortoises began showing up and the trail is now home to the largest population of the endangered animal species in all of Florida.

“That’s the beauty of of restoration. They made this habitat and all these gopher tortoises just came,” says Dr. Marc Minno, a scientist and butterfly expert who leads annual and monthly “Bio Blitz” programs at the venue.

The Browns also host colleges from all over the world who send teams of students down to study their habitats, animal and plant species.

“From what we understand, we have one of the largest pygmy fringe trees anybody has ever seen, which is really fascinating,” Cathy says.

The Browns and Dr. Minno have also developed an internship program where any college student can spend time learning everything there is to know about

butterflies alongside them. And after 16 years partnering with the Browns, Dr. Minno has discovered many new species of butterflies and plants.

“I always looked at this as if it were a research project, but one where I get to interact with people and where I help people learn about butterflies,” says Dr. Minno. “You never know what’s going to show up, even in your own back yard.

I love that.”

The Browns also partner with Audubon for an annual Jay Watch program that involves monitoring the scrub jays and taking scrub jay counts across the state of Florida. They were also hand-picked by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to lead annual fish camps that teach kids about aquatic life, and sustaining environments that support various species of plants and animals.

Tara Ingram, a Lake County teacher and the trail’s education program director helps with the camp and is also working with Bruce and Cathy on developing other year-round programs.

“Having that connection with nature is really important for people, especially for kids, and there’s no better way to do it than getting them outside, away from the four walls at home or school and off their phones and other things,” Tara says.

For Bruce and Cathy, the journey they’ve been on over the course of 25 years has led to much more than they ever expected.

—BRUCE BROWN

“We have everything from the young kids getting out and enjoying life to them learning all about science and some of the students who have come here to study have gone on to careers in related fields,” Cathy says. “It’s very satisfying.”

For Bruce, hosting scouting programs and camps is especially rewarding since it was one of his father’s passions, but overall, both Browns feel grateful for the little bird they came across and what that encounter grew into.

“It’s such a transition from the work that we used to do 25 years ago. We knew it was a time to do something different, but now I see this has turned out to be the best possible alternative,” Bruce says. “I didn’t realize it at the time, because I thought ‘Plants? Gardens? Ewe.’ but then, as we gradually got into it, I started realizing it was a dream come true and today I just absolutely love it here. It’s a paradise.”

IF YOU GO

FORIDA SCRUB-JAY TRAIL/ B.B. BROWN’S GARDENS 11490 Montevista Road, Clermont For hours and other information, visit scrubjaytrail.org or call 352.429.5566.

Follow @Scrub-Jay Trail on Facebook.

Know of a cool local attraction you’d like us to feature?

Contact us at least three months in advance and provide all the details to roxanne@akersmediagroup.com.

ROXANNE BROWN

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CELEBRATING

28 YEARS of Devotion and Innovation to Heart Health.

Adina Ion, MD Dr. Adina Ion, board-certified in internal medicine, joined Cardiovascular Associates in 2012. She treats patients 18 and up, specializing in treating multiple complicated medical problems.

“I like that I can develop long-term relationships with my patients and get a lot of satisfaction from having a positive impact on their lives. For a lot of them, I feel like they are family,” Dr. Ion says, adding that she enjoys the private practice setting because it lends itself to more personal care.

L-R: Miguel Bryce, MD, FACC; Adina Ion, MD; Rama Krishna, MD, FACC, FSCAI; Theresa Mills, MD, FACC;

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N E R W I N 2021

Steps toward greatness Ankle and Foot Center of Central Florida offers cutting-edge solutions.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

panish moss drips off an oak tree. A bird dives gracefully into the water to catch a fish. Gentle waves quietly crash against the shoreline.

You don’t have to go camping or hiking to enjoy these spectacular sights.

If you’re a patient of Ankle and Foot Center of Central Florida, just glance out a large, round window in one of the patient rooms and enjoy an pristine view of Lake Frances.

While doctor’s offices are typically stress-inducing locations, the views at Ankle and Foot Center of Central Florida bring a sense of calmness and peace for patients and employees alike.

That’s a point of pride for Dr. Joanne Balkaran, who moved her practice to its current location in May 2020.

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“I love giving patients a natural Zen experience,” she says.

“Patients come here knowing that they’re going to receive proper care, proper diagnosis, and proper treatment. But they also leave here with peace of mind and feeling good about themselves. Our staff enjoys these spectacular views as well, and that puts them in a happy frame of mind and allows them to treat patients to the best of their ability.”

It’s fitting that two innovative, forward-thinking podiatrists like Dr. Balkaran and Dr. Larry Suecof would create such a serene setting to complement their innovative techniques and cutting-edge technology to achieve outstanding patient outcomes.

Ankle and Foot Center of Central Florida does everything with patients’ best interest in mind. Here’s a closer look how the practice stays abreast in the latest podiatry trends.

Dr. Joanne Balkaran

“PATIENTS COME HERE KNOWING THAT THEY’RE GOING TO RECEIVE PROPER CARE, PROPER DIAGNOSIS, AND PROPER TREATMENT. BUT THEY ALSO LEAVE HERE WITH PEACE OF MIND AND FEELING GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES.”

Dr. Larry Suecof

—DR. JOANNE BALKRAN

Minimally invasive surgery Dr. Balkaran is board-certified in foot surgery, wound care, and ankle reconstructive surgery. However, she realizes not everyone can afford the downtime of staying off their feet for weeks or months after undergoing traditional surgery, which requires a long incision and plates, screws, wires, or some other form of hardware.

Therefore, she is now offering minimally invasive surgery for procedures such as bunions and hammertoes. Though minimally invasive surgery is not for everyone, it is a wonderful way to achieve lasting results with limited scarring, pain, and downtime.

“Minimally invasive surgery allows the bone to heal natural with splinting and proper post-op care,” she says. “It’s resultsoriented with fast recovery. We can fix the foot without traditional long incisions, big bone cuts, and screws and plates. We get the same results and patients are back on their feet faster.”

Laser therapy Drs. Balkaran and Suecof also treat patients with a Class 4 Multiwave Locked System (MLS) laser in order to reduce inflammation, promote healing, and eliminate pain. The laser, which is FDA approved, uses concentrated light energy to stimulate the body’s natural healing process and increase

blood flow for faster healing and natural pain relief. The laser can also be used to speed up the healing process for postsurgical patients.

A wide range of conditions can be effectively treated with the laser, including achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, neuropathy, arthritis, tendon tears, sprains and strains, and wound care.

Regenerative Medicine Sometimes, conservative treatments do little to relieve patients of ankle and foot pain. However, in these cases, patients are still reluctant to undergo surgery. Fortunately, Ankle and Foot Center of Central Florida offer patients several options for pain relief and healing: amniotic fluid injections.

An amniotic liquid allograft is derived from the amniotic liquid within the placenta to reduce inflammation, promote tissue repair, and facilitate the regrowth of damaged tissue.

It can help treat conditions such as sports injuries, joint pain,

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tendonitis, fasciitis, and muscle and meniscus tears.

In a separate procedure, Ankle and Foot Center of Central Florida performs adipose injections into the fat pad of the foot to repair diseased or injured tissue.

These injections can also be used to treat diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and tunneling wounds.

Dr. Balkaran says regenerative medicine has brought promising results to her patients.

“Though I am surgically trained, I’m now veering toward treating patients with less cutting to get the same results.

Regenerative medicine represents the direction I’m heading with my practice.”

The doctors are also licensed to dispense medical supplies, including scooters and walkers for post-operative care. Other products include compression socks, orthotics, and flip flops with orthopedic arch supports. Patients can also undergo in-office circulation tests and nerve damage tests.

One big family Once their visit is complete, patients of Ankle and Foot Center of Central Florida leave with a smile that beams with pride—a smile that was not only created through the use of leading-edge podiatric techniques but also by the friendliness of the staff.

They realize what matters most in the world of medicine: relationships and trust.

Just ask Natasha Crouch, who serves as the practice’s medical assistant.

“I love working with patients,” she says. “That’s the entire reason I got involved in this field. The patients love us, too. Even if they don’t have a formal appointment, they stop in to bring us snacks and say hello.”

Or ask Gina Miller, who has been working alongside Dr. Balkaran since 2010.

“The amazing thing about Dr. Balkaran is how she genuinely cares about each patient, whether that patient is receiving routine footcare or undergoing surgery.

Dr. Balkaran’s positivity and cheerful spirit trickles down to the staff, and that’s why we take care of our patients to the best of our ability.”

352.385.7718 / 1865 Nightingale Lane Tavares / theankelandfootcenter.com

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“THEY TOLD ME I HAD AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE AND I NEEDED TO BE ON IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I WAS NEVER GOING TO ACCEPT BAND-AID MEDICINE.” —GRETTA ELLIS

Gretta Ellis Gretta Ellis knows firsthand how battling a disease brings about physical and mental struggles. She also speaks from experience when she tells patients that making lifestyle changes can lead to a disease-free life.

Last May, Gretta opened Ellis Integrative Family Practice in Tavares. She blends traditional medicine with natural approaches to treat gastrointestinal problems, autoimmune diseases, inflammation, and chronic disease.

“I always wanted to own my own practice,” she says. “For me, this is a dream come true.”

But it was a dream that almost never materialized. In her mid-20s, Gretta was sick for two years with food intolerances and chronic inflammation. Migraine headaches, stomach pain, and back pain became constant companions, and she found herself weighing 95 pounds. Endless trips to doctors produced no answers.

“They told me I had autoimmune disease and I needed to be on immunosuppressants for the rest of my life. I was never going to accept band-aid medicine.”

Instead, Gretta attended Hippocrates Health Institute, a world-renowned, holistic health center in West Palm Beach. She underwent food intolerance testing, learned about guthealing protocols, and started the Autoimmune Paleo Diet.

That proved to be a life-changing experience. Before long, Gretta no longer required medication.

“God put me on this planet to go through something really bad then turn it around to one day help other people,” Gretta says.

“Having this practice is my purpose in life.”

Gretta is an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) who earned a master’s degree in nursing from Purdue University

Global. Having an autonomous nurse practitioner license allows her to prescribe medication for illnesses such as colds and flus.

However, she also offers services not found at most family medicine practices, including bioidentical hormone replacement, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, an IV room for hydration and immune system support, Botox and fillers, and a weight-loss program.

“Though my practice is relatively new, we’ve had great response,” Gretta says. “We are booking as far as two weeks out, and patients far away as Georgia and North Carolina are coming here. We preach quality of life over quantity of life. As people age, we want them to enjoy life rather than be in a wheelchair, lose their eyesight, or undergo surgeries.”

Gretta also operates a Facebook group called “The Gutzy Practitioner Support Group.” Members post recipes and lifestyle tips while encouraging others enduring medical hardships.

“We’re helping people with autoimmune diseases change their lifestyle and come off their medications,” Gretta says. “It’s great to have this Facebook group because there are lots of people out there who, like me, have trouble finding answers to their problems.

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A Beacon of Hope Learning disabilities no longer pose a barrier for students aspiring to advance their education or land their dream job.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

hirty-one years ago, a group of forward-thinking parents and advocates achieved an educational milestone.

They created Beacon College, the country’s first four-year accredited college to award bachelor’s degrees exclusively to students with specific learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The college, located in downtown Leesburg, tailors teaching to each student’s learning style and unique needs, optimizing their potential via the resources and support they need to thrive in a college academic setting.

Ever since, Beacon College has changed the perception of learning disabilities as a condition that limits an individual’s ability to achieve academic and professional success.

Today, staff, professors, and administrators continue to significantly advance this proud mission. Their passion to help students realize their ambitions and achieve their dreams remains stronger than ever.

Once they graduate (as 70 percent do — exceeding the 57 percent national average for all American college students), Beacon graduates pursue advanced degrees at graduate schools at large universities. Others earn positions as web page designers, entrepreneurs, business owners, cybersecurity analysts, and high school guidance counselors.

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The numbers reflect Beacon’s unyielding commitment to student growth and success. For instance, 83.5 percent of Beacon seniors either find first careers or attend graduate school within six months of graduation.

Consider this, too: When Beacon’s fall semester begins this month, faculty will greet 450 students hailing from 34 states.

That represents a 140 percent increase since 2013, the year Dr. George Hagerty became president of Beacon.

“These numbers are a concrete illustration of the devotion our faculty, staff, and administration show for the success of our students,” says Richard Killion, who joined Beacon College one year ago as vice president for institutional advancement.

“Beyond the commitment of our talented faculty, we offer an entire suite of wraparound services — from learning specialists to community educators to housing staff — that provide layers of intricate support to help our students learn and advance.”

Beacon’s stellar results have helped the college garner national recognition.

• Beacon earned the No. 1 ranking in the respected Peterson’s Guide in its “20 Great Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities” listing.

• Beacon also earned the top ranking in BestValueSchools.com’s “20 Best Value Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities.”

• In its 2021 “Best College’s” edition, U.S. News and World Report ranked Beacon in the top quartile (25 percent) of all institutions comprising the “Regional Colleges-South” category.

• In 2019, Beacon earned a No. 4 ranking in BestChoiceSchools.com’s analytical survey of “The 20 Most Affordable Colleges with High Four-Year Graduation Rates.” Beacon was the sole Florida institution listed.

Though Beacon increasingly is recognized for its academic bona fides, administrators and staff also prepare students to achieve professional success. Recently, Beacon received a generous $210,000 donation from the Edward C. and Lisbeth A. Fogg Charitable Trust to purchase a 5,000

square-foot facility in downtown Leesburg. The building has undergone renovation and expansion and proudly serves as the college’s Career Development and Transition Center.

The center addresses students’ career preparatory needs. As part of Beacon’s curriculum, five career-oriented courses will be taught in technology-enhanced classrooms. Additionally, an interview suite will allow students to prepare for real-life job interviews.

“During interviews, students will be recorded and receive immediate feedback so when they go on an internship or job interviews, they can share the very best of themselves — and their experiences — to potential employers,” Killion says. “We consider the last mile of the Beacon experience to be our students’ first hour in their first job. To achieve that, we embed career preparatory classes throughout our curriculum. We have a number of dedicated staff members spending lots of time talking to employers in Lake, Sumter, and Orange counties to create internship employment opportunities for our students.”

Killion similarly is proud that Beacon continues its legacy of reaching a broad audience to share inspiring stories of neurodiversity — this time through television. In 2020, the college launched “A World of Difference,” a monthly TV series that highlights the journey to independence families take with their children who learn differently. The show, which is broadcast on LakeFront TV and is available on Beacon’s YouTube and Facebook Watch channels, received eight awards in its maiden season and featured distinguished guests such as retired U.S. Senator Tom Harkin and Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Victor Villasenor.

The second season begins in September and episodes can be viewed at awodtv.org.

“They’re really looking at the student holistically, not just academically. That’s why my daughter feels really comfortable in the environment.

The other thing I felt differentiated Beacon from some of the other colleges I’ve been to is the maturity of the students.

I don’t always see that kind of maturity from other undergraduates.”

—STEVE STURR, VICE PRESIDENT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR DELL TECHNOLOGIES AND FATHER OF A BEACON STUDENT

Despite their successes, Killion and the rest of the Beacon staff are not content to rest on their laurels.

“Our work has just begun,” Killion says. “That’s part of the excitement of going forward. We’ve seen the difference we’re making in students’ lives, and now we’re emboldened to go much further because they deserve no less.”

855.220.5374 Toll Free / 105 East Main Street, Leesburg / Beaconcollege.edu

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healthy living MIND. BODY. SPIRIT.

Sarah Riley uses hypnosis to put others in a different frame of mind.

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Titanic victim probes depths of mind to uncover past life experiences and lead those hurting to present-day solutions.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

arah Riley’s fear of deep water caused her to feel moments of severe anxiety, and she didn’t know why.

“The fear was quite bad,” says the Sorrento resident, recalling she had panic attacks flying over the Atlantic Ocean near New York when she was heading to England, her homeland.

“Every time I went back, it was getting worse. The last time I had gone I had to take a Xanax before I got on the plane, and I’m not like that.”

Her fear of deep water was explained when Sarah was hypnotized in a past life regression session.

“And would you know, I drowned on the Titanic with my husband, and it was the most terrifying experience,” Sarah says of the past life images she relayed from her subconscious mind of being 53-year-old passenger at the time. “We were holding onto this piece of wreckage and as my soul was leaving the body. I was rising up, looking down in an aerial view, and all you could see was water, and it (the wreckage) was just a tiny speck.”

The Titanic sank in the wee hours of April 15, 1912, after the ocean liner had struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in the death of more than 1,500 people.

“I always found the movie ‘Titanic’ difficult to watch and now I know why.

As soon as I realized where that (fear of deep water) comes from, the fear went away because I realized that is not relevant anymore,” says Sarah.

She’s pleased to have helped many clients gain relevant insight about their lives, relieve stress, remove negative feelings, find new solutions, intensify

positivity, strengthen a sense of self control, and develop new healthy habits.

“Some clients learned on Dr. Oz that hypnosis could work for pain management,” says Sarah, adding hypnosis can help a client “get to the root cause of what is going on.”

Sarah has aided others in discovering the source of their problems for 18 years. Trained at the Florida Institute of Technology in Tampa, she is registered with the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners and became qualified as a Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique (QHHT®) practitioner. QHHT® is a modality that the late Delores Cannon developed to access the higher self, to gain insight and deep knowledge, and explore past life patterns and karma.

“I love my job,” says Sarah. “What usually happens is most people might come for regular hypnotherapy and after we kind of start clearing stuff and start finding out more about themselves, and I start educating them because I am a spiritual teacher, so it brings up a lot of conversations about ‘why am I in this same relationship like four times now?’”

“Clearing stuff ” begins with Sarah asking the client about his or her beliefs about God, the universe, reincarnation.

“Depending on the answer depends on what information I can then give them,” Sarah says, adding she doesn’t talk about past lives if people are not open to it.

“All we are accessing is a part of you that hasn’t been heard or that does not have a voice,” Sarah notes on her website hypnoteyes.me, adding a certified hypnotherapist can help a person transform a memory that may be causing problems.

“The mind contains unconscious memories that generally are responsible for our decisions, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors, the memory should be dealt with accordingly and will no longer cause a problem,” she says.

Some 33 percent of American adults believe in reincarnation, according to 2018 Pew Research Center analysis, and when Sarah assists clients through a past life regression, she says they are disassociated from feeling pain or emotions during the hypnosis session.

“You have already survived the event, and we go back in time,” she says, adding clients relate scenes they are seeing and tell her what is going on.

One topic often delved into during a QHHT session is life purpose. “What am I supposed to be doing, should I be learning anything new? It’s especially good if you are at crossroads and thinking, ‘I don’t know what I should be doing next.’”

Clients often want to know why they are having problems with a family member or battling health issues, and Sarah was pleased to provide hypnotherapy to help two women become pregnant, by releasing the emotional block both were feeling of unworthiness.

“The mind controls everything,” says Sarah. “There’s always an event that happens in childhood and it’s what you concluded about yourself at the time of the event that gets stuck.

Feeling unworthy causes everything else to go wrong: anxiety, depression, panic attacks, eating disorders, manifestation of illness.”

To learn more about Sarah, visit her website hypnoteyes.me.

Do you know someone who is a healthy inspiration?

Email your recommendations to theresa@akersmediagroup.com

THERESA CAMPBELL

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BODY

A above the rest Car accident leads to career change helping others improve lives through stretching.

STORY: ROXANNE BROWN

≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL

olkan Ulgen was accompanied to a comfortably padded bench, where he was told to lay down on his back with his head atop a small pillow.

That’s when Madison McGrew kneeled next to him, grabbed his leg and pushed it up and back all the way to his head, leaned into his hip, twisted it from side to side, pulled on it with strength and precision, then did the same to his other leg.

No, Madison was not torturing Volkan.

She was stretching him; or rather stretching muscles a specialized mass machine identified as stiffened, tight, overly or rarely used.

At StretchLab – a one-on-one assisted stretching studio in Clermont – flexologists like Madison use information from a state-of-the-art machine to assess problem areas and customize individualized stretching programs for each client.

That’s exactly what Volkan wanted.

“Stretch me away,” Volkan says with a smile before his first-ever assisted stretch session.

According to many online health resources and StretchLab owners Walter and Rhiannon Rogers, stretching has more benefits than people may realize.

It can improve posture and range of motion, decrease back pain and muscle soreness, increase blood flow to muscles, and relieve stress and help prevent injury – if you know the proper techniques.

Because of that, the StretchLab employs franchise vetted individuals with degrees in areas of body mechanics and movement like kinesiology and sports medicine, or who are certified yoga or Pilates instructors, professional dancers and others with like experience or interests. Those individuals then undergo 120 hours of training in Stretch Lab modalities to become Stretch

Lab-certified flexologists at your pulling, twisting, lengthening, get you moving better and able to touch your toes, service.

“The idea behind stretching and what everybody tends to forget about stretching is that it’s about flexibility, it’s about mobility, it’s also about prevention and giving you back some mobility, plus it helps with your blood flow and keeps your muscles from atrophying,” says Walter Rogers, who along with wife Rhiannon, own the first studio of its kind in the area.

“If we can help you from getting hurt, it’s going to improve your quality of life to begin with,” Walter adds.

Walter and Rhiannon have remained excited about getting to know and help people since opening their first StretchLab studio in November 2020 after months of delay brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

The pair is also psyched about being able to show what StretchLab can do, and all because of Rhiannon’s personal experience with how it helped her.

“We want to let people know that there are different options for relieving pain or stress in your body and stretching is one of them,” Walter says. “Once people’s needs are assessed, it’s the consistency of what we do next that helps train your muscles more long term.”

For years, Walter, an accident and injury attorney, and Rhiannon, a criminal defense attorney, considered delving into other ventures.

In 2019, after Rhiannon was involved in a serious car crash that left her with herniated disks in her neck and lower back, a broken clavicle, a broken toe and more, a new venture kind of found them.

After the crash, Rhiannon, though thankful to be alive, was plagued with things like neck and back pain, stiffness, shakiness in her hands, and loss of overall flexibility that were negatively

affecting her quality of life. Chiropractic treatments and clavicle surgery gave her temporary relief, but lasting improvements were minimal.

Walter says a friend told him about assisted stretch therapy – an up-andcoming form of treatment usually reserved for elite athletes and the rich and famous that was gaining popularity among the general population.

The Rogers wanted to try it, even though doing so meant flying to Laguna, California, where boutique fitness studios devoted to stretching were plentiful.

“After landing, we got 50-minute stretches, then following those stretches, I got off the bench and I was floating and I just felt like ‘Man, this is great,’” says Walter. “Then, I looked over at Rhiannon, and I get chill bumps every time I talk about this, but she moved her body a couple of times, then reached over and touched her toes – the first time she’d been able to do that since the crash.”

Rhiannon says that moment was a life changer.

“After being stretched, it was the first time in nine months I’d been able to touch my toes, but also the first time I felt that kind of relief,” she says. “It’s why we decided to invest in the company, but also, continuing with these stretching sessions has helped me both physically and mentally.”

She continues: “The same way people have a mental clearance when they do yoga or participate in some sort of physical activity, this, for me brings mental clarity, as well.”

Walter says they visited the owner of Exponential Fitness, who owns StretchLab and other franchises under that umbrella, including Club Pilates, Yoga Six, AKT, Pure Barr, Stride, Rowhouse and Rumbler.

“That’s how StretchLab was born in this area,” Walter says, explaining that he and Rhiannon have plans for more

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BODY

studios throughout Central Florida and in Pensacola.

There are also StretchLab studios owned by other franchisees in Winter Park and Orlando.

“For now, we have this one and when people say, ‘Why Clermont?’ we tell them it’s because we think it’s a great community and this is the first location we decided to develop,” Walter says, adding that they live in Ocoee but have been coming to and hanging out in Clermont for years.

Walter says they’ve made many friends in town, adding, “I even get my hair cut in Clermont.”

Since opening last fall, dozens of people who’ve come through the Clermont StretchLab doors can attest to the benefits of stretching and the relief it’s given them, in more ways than one.

“Our members run the gamut, whether they are 90 years old and they are coming in because they just want to remain active and have some sort of mobility, to a 6-year-old competitive gymnast or dancer who Is wanting to work on their flexibility and really push the limits of a body that’s still maturing,” Walter says.

Volkan says he felt results of his stretch session instantly, and that its

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effects were long lasting. He also says that although he usually has trouble getting out of bed in the mornings without stretching for several minutes, getting up the next day after his initial stretch was a piece of cake.

Walter says he hears similar comments every day.

“You’ll see a number of people coming through here from all walks of life. We have kids who are gymnasts and others who are dancers, all working on their flexibility, working on injury prevention.

We have baseball players, weekend warriors, people in boot camp, we have triathletes, runners, but we also have grandmothers that want to be able to pick up their grandchildren or reach above and be able to get something out of their shelves that are over their head, and grandfathers who just want to be able to tie their own shoes and stop wearing slide-on shoes all the time,” says Walter.

Those personal testimonies mean the world to Madison.

“I can’t say I can fix everything, but if I can help a subsection of the population with stretching and recognizing that stretching is what they need, then that makes me feel satisfied,” Madison says.

“We see a variety of people, and of course

different people need different things, but I do believe everyone can benefit from stretching in some way.”

Madison, who has a master’s degree in dance science, is also a certified personal trainer and professional dancer. She says though stretching is an everyday part of her world, most people go about their everyday lives without thinking about it unless there’s a problem and are told to do it.

She says becoming a flexologist with StretchLab has empowered her to spread the word about the importance of stretching.

“The fact that stretching had been my life up until this point, I thought it was absolutely something I could get behind,” Madison says. “Also, I came into it with the knowledge that stretching is not only inherent to dance, but that stretching might actually eliminate, if not manage, a lot of syndromes we’re seeing.”

Madison says many people work in jobs that involve a lot sitting in front of computers, which results in hunchback postures, so stretching would be a great benefit for them. But she says it can help people of all ages and professions.

“We see older clients, but then we see professional athletes or people who sit in front of a computer all day, too, so it’s

just really rewarding to use something selective like this and have it help so many people,” she says, explaining that of all her clients thus far, the one who’s impacted her the most is a 7-year-old with hip dysplasia who came in after being bullied for not being able to sit on the rug, cross-legged, with other students at school.

“She had three surgeries and spent the past three years trying to get to the position where she could sit criss-cross applesauce and now, just three months after starting here, she can do that,” says Madison. “It’s really nice to be to help in that way.”

Walter and Rhiannon Rogers

SO YOU K N OW

STRETCHLAB CLERMONT 2389 S. Highway 27, Clermont Hours (subject to change): Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. & 3 p.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., closed Sunday.

Appointments and walk-ins welcome.

For membership packages, individual pricing options, or for more information, call 352.404.8774 or visit @stretchlabclermont on Facebook or Instagram.

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Coordinating

the Team PAID

P R OM OTION AL

C

F E ATUR E

ancer survivors have a health care team behind them, but how does that team come together? Who is on it, and how do you keep everyone on the same page? That’s where patient navigators come in.

Even before diagnosis, patient navigators can help you coordinate any needed appointments, scans, consultations, and procedures, at a time when quick action and decision making are key. RBOI’s patient navigators are available, at no cost to you or your insurer when you have a suspicious test result for cancer or a newly discovered cancer and aren’t sure what to do next.

Cancer treatment affects not only you and your loved ones but your entire health care team. Health care providers outside of oncology may need to know how cancer and cancer treatment affect patients.

Our navigators can help make sure that everyone has the information they need to meet your health care needs, including your primary care physician and any specialists you may see for other medical conditions.

RBOI’s licensed clinical social workers can connect you, family,

and caregivers with survivorship programs and resources. Amy Roberts, LCSW, and Wendy Hall, LCSW can help guide you from pre-diagnosis through treatment.

Patient care assistant Michelle Jackson can help you navigate survivorship care after treatment. A compassionate, professional staff member will always answer your call during business hours.

Help for a Complicated Disease Cancer differs from other medical conditions in several ways: It’s complex, not just one disease but many diseases with different types.

It can involve different kinds of treatments that affect different parts of the body.

It’s multidisciplinary, involving surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists. Other

1990

Establishment of the first patient navigation program in the US, by Harold P. Freeman, MD, at a public hospital in Harlem, NY

specialists may be needed to treat side effects.

It can be toxic, affecting the heart or other major organs, sometimes years after treatment.

It’s expensive and can result in financial stresses affecting quality of life.

While RBOI’s patient navigators coordinate your medical team, our clinical social workers can: Help you understand what to expect moving forward.

Provide resources to help you communicate and manage the information your medical team gives you.

Connect you to literature, educational materials, and resources along the way.

Match you with another cancer survivor who shares a similar diagnosis and experience.

Provide counseling for you and your family as you manage the emotional impact of a new diagnosis.

Link you to practical assistance programs to help with financial concerns, transportation, disability, and more.

50 million

Americans without health insurance, according to the 2010 US Census Bureau report

8,200

Mission One: Accessing Care Individuals with cancer, along with their families and caregivers, are always at the center of cancer care. Patient navigators understand the medical system and its complexities, which can often create barriers to that care. Those barriers can include: Lack of transportation.

Lack of care for children or elderly relatives.

Not understanding why one should get screened.

Language difficulties.

Mistrust of the health care system.

Fear of finding out one has cancer or fear of the screening procedures.

Patient navigators reduce or eliminate those barriers by connecting patients and their supporters with the resources they need. This can be especially important for people who have less access to health care and other services, such as racial and ethnic minorities and those living in rural communities.

Patient navigators belonging to the Academy of Oncology Nurse and Patient Navigators (AONN) in 2019

2015 The Commission on Cancer adds patient navigation as a standard for program accreditation

Patient-centered radiation oncology close to home The Villages 352.259.2200 Ocala 352.732.0277 Timber Ridge 352.861.2400 Inverness 352.726.3400 Lecanto 352.527.0106 RBOI.com

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Homeward

bound

Local mortgage team aims high to help people live the dream of successful home ownership.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

“EVEN THOUGH PURCHASE PRICES ARE INFLATED BECAUSE OF DEMAND AND EVERYBODY MOVING HERE, INTEREST RATES ARE STILL HISTORICALLY LOW, SO EVEN THOUGH PRICES ARE A LITTLE HIGHER, AFFORDABILITY IS BACK BECAUSE INTEREST RATES ARE AT LOWER LEVELS THAN THEY’VE EVER BEEN IN HISTORY.” —KRISTIN JAMIESON

he Kristin Jamieson Mortgage Team Powered By Success Mortgage Partners, located in Montverde, is in the business of making home buying happen as quickly and simply as possible.

To ensure that happens more often than not, Branch Manager and Mortgage Loan Consultant Kristin Jamieson implemented something not many other mortgage companies in the area have to offer – an underwriter.

According to Kristin, bringing an underwriting to her office is a pretty unique thing to do in the industry because “nothing leaves our doors as far as any part of the loan process.”

Kristin adds: “That is huge because a lot of times people are dealing with local lenders, but the underwriters are in California, the buyers are in Florida, processing is in Michigan, everyone is all over the place; but with our own underwriters, we’re all here centralized and it’s all local.”

What that means for the client, Kristin says, is a much speedier closing process.

Additionally, a local underwriter means better understanding of all that’s involved with a transaction.

“It is essential to have an underwriter in the state of Florida that understands Florida property laws and rights and the kind of stuff we get a lot of questions on, like HOA rules, condos, manufactured homes and more. When you are dealing with somebody that’s not in our state and doesn’t understand our lending requirements or our lending laws, a lot of things get lost in translation,” Kristin says.

Overall, the Kristin Jamieson Mortgage Team Powered by Success Mortgage Partners specializes in residential mortgage loans, home purchases, and refinances. The team also helps with credit repair and getting people on the right track with budgeting, “If they are not quite ready to be a homeowner now, it’s never a ‘no’ with us, it’s just a ‘not right now,’ so we’ve come up with a game plan to get them mortgage ready,” Kristin says, adding that the unprecedented happenings of 2020 allowed her team a chance to really look at mortgage loans in a different way.

Kristin says it’s all about preparation and getting people mortgage ready by whatever means best suit their needs.

“With refinances, we’re doing a lot of cash-out debt elimination, putting people in really good financial positions.

The last couple of years have been pretty hard on everybody and if we can put them in the best possible financial position going forward, it only helps,” Kristin says. “It makes their rebuilding easier, and if people have been laid off or something, we’re saving them money on a monthly basis.”

Kristin says the guidelines for obtaining a mortgage loan have also gotten tighter since the coronavirus pandemic, which introduced new challenges.

“It’s a little but more difficult to obtain a mortgage just because there’s so much risk right now,” she says. “Nonemployment rates are still going up, and not going down much at all, so the risk to the mortgage lender is strong.”

The plus side however, Kristin says, is that “while underwriting requirements are a little bit tighter, affordability has come back a little.”

“Even though purchase prices are inflated because of demand and everybody moving here, interest rates are still historically low, so even though prices are a little higher, affordability is back because interest rates are at lower levels than they’ve ever been in history,” Kristin explains.

Even so, Kristin and her team, which consists of four loan officers (including

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Kristin Jamieson with Xxxx Xxxxxx

herself), three loan partners, three processors, one administrative person and one underwriter, all work towards the goal of getting potential home buyers in the best financial position possible so they can succeed as homeowners.

“Really anybody obtaining a mortgage for hundreds of thousands of dollars should have to show their ability to repay.

We don’t want to put somebody in a mortgage and then not perform,” Kristin says. “It only creates stress and anxiety for them, and then obviously it creates the risk to the lender, so making sure somebody can afford their mortgage and succeed is not really a bad thing.”

Kristin, who has worked in the mortgage industry for about 18 years, spent most of her early years in processing and underwriting, that is, until she realized that she was doing all the work, while the loan officers were reaping all the financial benefits.

She also knew that she could bring a lot to the table as a loan officer because of her prior experiences.

“Having the back-office experience, along with the processing and lending experience, I know what loans work and what loans don’t work,” Kristin says, adding that to this day, her office has never had to deny a person, as far as obtaining a mortgage loan, because of qualifying issues.

She says what she does is do all the research and background checks needed

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to ensure that when her company sends a pre-approval letter to a client, the possibility of obtaining a loan has actually been verified and proven.

“EVERYBODY HAS A LOT OF ENERGY, EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME COMMON GOAL; WE DON’T STOP UNTIL THE JOB’S DONE.” —KRISTIN JAMIESON

“When we issue a preapproval letter, the loans actually get to closing. We verify everything upfront, including income assets, credit, everything,” she says. “Most lenders just require that people fill out an application, but people can put anything they want to put into an application. We have the burden of proof in our industry, so before sending out any kind of pre-approval letter, we verify everything.”

Kristin says that process benefits the company, but it also benefits the client because they are not risking monetary losses that go along with having to pay for required inspections, appraisals or earnest money deposits when going out to make an offer.

For the Realtors, it ensures they are not spending time showing properties to clients who will not qualify in the end.

“We go through all the steps upfront to make sure the buyer is really fully preapproved and we never make promises we can’t keep, that’s really big,” Kristin says. “People always want that 100 percent confirmation and I never give it unless I am 100 percent sure something is going to happen.”

“When it comes to money, everyone wants to over promise and under deliver, but when we make a promise, you can rest assured we will deliver,” Kristin adds.

Besides securing mortgages, Kristin takes pride in having built a great relationship with community partners and local charities. When there is a need in the community, she helps whenever and however she can.

“We do a ton of work with the community, as far as involvement with charity organizations, helping with backpacks for kids going back to school, Christmas across South Lake, and so much more,” Kristin says. “We do it because we understand that our younger generations are the next leaders in our community and because of that, we always want to give back and start showing them at an early age what can be done if we all come together for good.”

Additionally, Kristin offers educational courses in areas like home buyer education, credit, financing, and budgeting to ensure that younger generations not being taught these things in school, are ready for adulthood and can potentially reach home ownership in their futures.

“They don’t teach finance in school anymore. They don’t teach credit or budgeting or anything like that, so I think people are craving the knowledge; everybody wants to be a homeowner and unfortunately, not everybody in this

Kristin Jamieson NMLS #1097663

world will be a homeowner, but they could be,” Kristin says.

And it’s not just young people either, she adds, but people hoping to secure a home when they haven’t been able to before, or if they are wishing to sell after many years in their current home.

Either way, Kristin says, “Knowledge is power and so if they have all the tools in their tool belt to get them there, they have a much better chance.”

With that, Kristin says it’s not just her ‘can-do’ mindset that matters, but that of her entire team.

“Everybody has a lot of energy, everybody has the same common goal;

we don’t stop until the job’s done,” Kristin says, explaining that there are times when her support staff will be in the office and still working come 9 or 10 pm.

“It’s not like I am making them do mandatory overtime, but it’s just that nobody wants to extend a closing date, everybody wants everything to close on time, because we understand there are moving trucks and everything else that’s been scheduled that can really mess up everyone’s life, even if it is just a one day delay,” Kristin says, jokingly adding: “Not to mention that most of our loans are local and I have to see these people in the grocery store, at ball games and things.”

In all seriousness however, Kristin says people ready to do what it takes to purchase a home with a team that can get it done, should give the Kristin Jamieson Mortgage Team Powered by Success Mortgage Partners a try.

“When you’re looking at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, everybody needs food, water and shelter, so I’m helping people achieve one of the number one most important things in their lives,” Kristin says. “There’s nothing more rewarding than helping people have a safe and secure place to call home.”

352.242.1535 / 16903 Lakeside Dr. #1, Montverde / kristinjamiesonfl.com / NMLS #1097663 / NMLS #130562 Success Mortgage Partners, Inc. supports Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS ID# 130562. This is informational only and is not an offer of credit or commitment to lend. Contact Success Mortgage Partners, Inc. to learn more about your eligibility for its mortgage products.

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Heart & soul Dr. Visali Kodali is back full-time without skipping a beat making a difference to her Cardiac patients at Village Heart and Vein Center.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

r. Kodali, a cardiologist in The Villages is known for the care, thoroughness and passion she extends to her patients.

She started practicing Cardiology seven years ago after completing fellowships in cardiology and cardiac imaging.

After her daughter was born, these same traits played a role in her decision to take a step back from Citrus Cardiology, her previous practice and spend more time caring for her family, while working part-time as a consultant in the field.

As of August, however, Dr. Kodali is back full-time, and on board with Village Heart & Vein – a comprehensive Cardiology practice in Lady Lake.

“I can’t wait to be back, in full swing,” Dr. Kodali says. “ I have always been very thorough and listen closely to everything my patients have to say. I spend as much time as necessary getting to really know my patients and giving them the individual attention they deserve.”

“Building trust and forming a team with my patients and their families, while coordinating with other physicians involved in their care helps me stay on top of things.” she adds. “People don’t live in a vacuum and fixing only one issue doesn’t often solve the problem.”

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Dr. Kodali says that she worries about her patients just as passionately as she worries about her children, explaining that cardiac issues are often scary and life threatening. But modern cardiology has evolved to a stage where, most cardiac issues can be treated well and patients can go on to live full, asymptomatic lives.

“I love everything about cardiology, including the time and dedication it demands,” says Dr. Kodali. “Two generations ago, a lot of people’s stories ended when they had heart attacks. But now, we can treat almost every cardiac condition, from arterial blockages to rhythm disorders, valve problems to structural cardiac issues.”

“We can do a pretty good job of fixing people’s hearts while being minimally invasive and get patients back to living happy, active, functional lives. Seeing my patients go back to golf, swim, bike and dance is incredibly satisfying.”

“My goals are pretty clear.” she says, specifying the following: • Preventing cardiac disease as much as possible with early lifestyle changes.

• Educating patients comprehensively on the signs and symptoms of cardiac disease and getting them to seek care early.

• Diagnosing risk factors and cardiac conditions early, treating them appropriately and preventing progression.

• Managing their coronary disease or heart failure well to keep my patients out of the hospital as much as I can.

• Being there at every step for my patients when they develop serious cardiac issues requiring procedures or hospitalization.

• Supporting, following, treating and cheerleading them back to a full recovery.

“I believe that this is possible only as a team – my patients, their families, all their physicians, our amazing staff and nurses and above all God,” she says with a smile. “Cardiology is incredibly ‘GRATIFYING’ and it’s good to be back full swing.”

“Cardiology is a pretty straight forward subject. Most cardiac conditions can be treated and treated well.

Thanks to all the effort and research that has gone into cardiology over the decades, Dr. Kodali says. “Now, we owe it to the world to practice it thoroughly and effectively.”

“CARDIOLOGY IS A PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD SUBJECT. MOST CARDIAC CONDITIONS CAN BE TREATED AND TREATED WELL. THANKS TO ALL THE EFFORT AND RESEARCH THAT HAS GONE INTO CARDIOLOGY OVER THE DECADES. NOW, WE OWE IT TO THE WORLD, TO PRACTICE IT THOROUGHLY AND EFFECTIVELY.”

Dr. Visali Kodali Cardiologist

—DR . VISALI KODALI

352.674.2080 / 8575 N.E. 138th Lane, Suite 203, Lady Lake / villageheartandvein.com

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Bring summer to a close with watermelon-inspired history and tasty recipes that celebrate the fruit’s ageless versatility.

IN THE KITCHEN

RECIPE

‘Slice of Americana’ Leesburg Watermelon Festival was popular summertime attraction for three decades.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

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avoring refreshing, chilled slices of juicy watermelon is a great way to stay hydrated and cool on a hot summer day, and it’s no wonder in tropical regions around the world, people have been known to eat watermelon to prevent heat stroke while working in sweltering hot temperatures.

That was the case in Leesburg from 1930 to 1963, where this luscious fruit was the star attraction at the annual Leesburg Watermelon Festival, which drew tens of thousands of residents and visitors to Florida.

The Watermelon Festival was billed as “a slice of Americana.”

“It was popular statewide and even nationwide; people would come from all over,” says Richard Horsley, a volunteer at Leesburg Historical Museum, noting the festival featured a variety of fun activities, including parades, watermelon eating contests, baseball games, and beauty pageants.

Watermelon growers also got into the spirit of the festival by competing in a contest to see who grew heaviest watermelon.

The winner was awarded a huge gold watermelon-shaped trophy to take home.

G. W. Franklin, a Leesburg melon and produce buyer, reportedly shipped the first load of watermelons out of Florida on June 4, 1894. The city was declared Florida’s watermelon capital by the USDA in 1926.

The first Leesburg Watermelon Festival was hosted on June 26, 1930 as an answer to farmers’ over-abundant crops of watermelons.

“After they had shipped all of the watermelons out nationwide, they still had an abundance and so they said, ‘Let’s have a festival,’” says Richard, adding the festival grew to become a highly anticipated attraction.

History buffs and watermelon lovers may enjoy seeing the large glass display case of Watermelon Festival memorabilia and glossy black-and-white photos of the festival through the years at the Leesburg Historical Museum at 111 S. 6th St., Leesburg. It is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.

In one published newspaper photo from 1948, Carolyn Merrell, then 16, of Leesburg, was all smiles as she defeated

15 other contestants in a watermelon eating contest. Also, at the same festival, R.E. Goddard, of Linden, grew the largest watermelon on exhibit on the festival grounds; the melon weighed 73 pounds. The massive gold trophy R.E. and other farmers won for having the largest watermelon is now housed at the Leesburg Historical Museum.

“Some of my fondest memories as a child were made at the annual Watermelon Festival,” Tom Grizzard, the founder of ERA Grizzard Real Estate, once stated in a report on Leesburg’s history. “I can vividly remember the beauty contest was held on a flatbed trailer in Venetian Gardens. I thought that they had to be the most beautiful girls in the world…I was only 10 years old.”

Several Watermelon Festival photos at the museum show beauty pageant girls in their bathing suits riding in parade floats down Main Street in Leesburg. Other photos show festivalgoers savoring their watermelon-based treats.

Richard says the popular festival ended when it became difficult to grow large crops of watermelon.

“They couldn’t cultivate any because the watermelon took so much out of the soil, like tobacco does,” he says. “They (organizers) decided there was no longer enough watermelons to have a festival.”

Additionally, Richard notes that during the same time period, there was the theory that watermelons were derogatory to African Americans.

Ellen Ficklen, author of “Watermelon,” wrote of the racial stereotype: When black slaves brought seeds with them from Africa, the fruit may have been one of the very few pleasures that slaves were allowed during harsh lives.

Richard adds that watermelon growers eventually headed south when there were not enough watermelons to give away for free at the Leesburg festival. It ended in 1963.

Lori Johnson, family and consumer science agent with UF/ IFAS Extension Lake County, hails watermelon as a tasty, nutritious treat packed with vitamins and minerals.

“I love watermelon because it is packed with nutrition, cool and refreshing eaten alone or paired with other ingredients,” she says. “They can be used in salads, drinks, appetizers, and even made into ice cubes.”

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IN THE KITCHEN

EXTRA! EXTRA! LOCAL WATERMELON HISTORY: • June 4, 1894: G. W. Franklin, a Leesburg melon and produce buyer, shipped the first load of watermelons out of Florida.

• June 4, 1926: It was announced that Leesburg had been formally designated as Florida’s “Watermelon Capital” by the USDA, which

had established a branch office in the city.

• June 26, 1930: Leesburg’s first Watermelon Festival.

• July 2, 1943: The official close of Leesburg’s watermelon season and the highest melon prices in recorded history.

Source: Leesburg Historical Museum

“IT WAS POPULAR STATEWIDE AND EVEN NATIONWIDE;

WAT E R M E L O N S A L S A 2

cups seedless watermelon, finely chopped

14

/

cup cucumber, finely chopped

14

/

cup red onion, finely chopped

14

/

cup sweet red pepper, finely chopped

14

/

cup fresh cilantro, minced

1

tablespoon fresh basil, minced

1

tablespoon fresh mint, minced

2

tablespoons honey

1

teaspoon lime juice

1

jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Combine watermelon, cucumber, onion, peppers, and herbs.

Drizzle with lime juice and honey; gently toss to coat.

Source: Taste of Home

Recipe photos provided by Lori Johnson, Leesburg Watermelon Festival photos are courtesy of floridamemory.com

INGREDIENTS :

PEOPLE WOULD COME FROM ALL OVER.”

WAT E R M E L O N , L I M E , GINGER POPSICLES

WAT E R M E L O N PIZZA

INGREDIENTS :

INGREDIENTS:

5

cups seedless watermelon, chopped

Watermelon wedges, at least an inch thick

/

cup sugar

Fresh arugula

13

/

cup fresh lime juice

Caramelized onions

2

teaspoons grated fresh ginger

Blueberries

13

DIRECTIONS:

Puree the watermelon, sugar, lime juice and ginger in a blender until smooth. Pour the mixture into ten 3-ounce or eight 4-ounce popsicle molds. Insert popsicle sticks and freeze until firm.

Source: Real Simple

—RICHARD HORSLEY

Feta cheese Balsamic glaze DIRECTIONS:

Grill watermelon on pre-heated grill on high for 2-3 minutes each side. Chill before adding toppings. Amounts of toppings will vary with the size of watermelon. Layer with arugula, onions, blueberries, and feta cheese. Drizzle balsamic glaze on top.

The glaze can be store bought or made by heating balsamic vinegar with a small amount of brown sugar. To caramelize onions, add a small amount of oil to a medium size pan over medium heat. Add onions when oil is simmering, occasionally stirring and cook until light brown. A small amount of salt or sugar can be added for browning.

Source: Recipe created by Lori Johnson

Hey, readers! Do you have favorite recipes or know a chef we should profile?

Comment on this article or send story ideas to theresa@akersmediagroup.com.

THERESA CAMPBELL

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FORK ON THE ROAD

“I COME HERE SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK FOR THE BEAUTIFUL FOOD,

REVIEW

For hearty appetites When eating at Tillie’s, prepare to go big or stay home.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

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≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL

L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M • AU G ' 2 1

hefs have the reputation of being picky eaters. Take them to a restaurant and their attitude becomes as salty and bitter as the food they’re complaining about.

Tillie’s Tavern and Grill must be doing something right.

One of the restaurant’s frequent customers is Derek MacArthur, a chef at another Lake County eatery who recognizes good food when he tastes it. On days he is not working, he visits Tillie’s and satisfies his ultra-adventurous appetite with the seared ahi tuna and the shrimp Caesar salad.

“I come here several times a week for the beautiful food, great service, and awesome atmosphere,” Derek says. “The food is always fresh and prepared very well. Also, I appreciate how the staff treats me like family whenever I come here.”

That’s a glowing endorsement for one of Lake County’s most well-known restaurateurs, James “Tillie” Tilquist. Since age 22, James has owned eight restaurants and three bars. In addition to Tillie’s Tavern and Grill, he also owns PJ’s Chop House and CJ’s Seafood Company—all in Eustis.

The secret behind his success can be summed up in four words: “Low prices, big portions.”

Simply put, Tillie’s Tavern and Grill customers never leave hungry or broke. That’s especially true for those who order an appetizer featuring a new twist on an old favorite. Instead of the usual ground beef or chicken, the nachos come piled high with barbecued pulled pork, as well as tortilla chips, lettuce, tomato, onions, barbecue sauce, and three cheeses. This appetizer is large enough to feed two people, so anyone brave enough to go at it alone should prepare to take home leftovers.

Another popular appetizer has become a southern delicacy of addictive proportions. The fried dill pickle slices, made to

GREAT SERVICE, AND AWESOME ATMOSPHERE.” order, are breaded and fried to golden perfection. The coating is not overly thick and adds a depth of flavor that complements the juicy pickle slice.

For those with hearty appetites, Tillie’s serves up a sandwich that’s larger than life—or at least the brioche bun on which it is served. Yes, the fried pork loin hangs excessively off the bun on all sides. In fact, it requires several bites before even reaching the bun. But the journey to arrive there is worth it because the meat blends well with tomato, onion, and lettuce.

Other Tillie’s treasures include the French dip sandwich with thinly sliced ribeye steak; the Pops burger topped with bacon, cheese, and grilled onions; and the Cajun chicken pasta with fettuccine noodles, grilled onions, and green peppers drenched in Alfredo sauce. Two people may be required to finish the aptly named Beach Ball sandwich, piled high with roast beef, turkey, and ham. A selection of burgers, salads, wings, and flatbreads round out the menu.

“The most frequent compliment I hear about our restaurant is the portion sizes,” says Tanya Catoe, who serves

as district manager for all of James’ restaurants. “You pay $8.99 for an appetizer of mushrooms, and you have to bring 10 people to eat them all.”

Tillie’s Tavern and Grill opened in 2015. Last March, James moved the restaurant across the street, and his loyal customers followed. He has even gained a slew of new customers, some who come from as far away as DeLand and The Villages.

“We are truly one big family here,” Tanya says. “I can look around the room right now and I only see a few customers in here who I do not recognize. So many walk-ins here and we know what they’re going to order. The relationship we build with customers is unique.”

IF YOU GO

TILLIE’S TAVERN AND GRILL 12 E. Magnolia Ave., Eustis Hours: 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

352.602.7929 tilliestavern.com

—DEREK MACARTHUR

The new location not only serves up delicious food but also an important slice of history. Tillie’s is housed inside what used to be Ferran’s Department Store, which was built in 1884 by Edgar L. Ferran and clothed generations of Lake County residents for 114 years.

At one time, the business was one of the south’s oldest independently owned stores.

Tillie’s decor bears a resemblance to Orlando’s Cheyenne Saloon, with winding, wooden staircases on both ends of the restaurant, beautifully finished wood floors, and exposed copper pipe tracing across the wall.

The spacious interior also features a full-service bar with five television sets, as well as second-story, reservation-only dining rooms that accommodate parties of 20 or more.

Tillie’s Tavern and Grill provides plenty of reasons to visit: large portion sizes, deliciousness in the air from the parade of dishes coming out of the kitchen, eye-catching architecture and design, and down-home service from friendly waiters and waitresses.

Happy hearts and full bellies are the norm.

Let’s do lunch or dinner Tell us about a great restaurant by emailing james@akersmediagroup.com.

JAMES COMBS

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SPIRITS

REVIEWS

WHAT’S ON TAP? Nothing little about Mermaid Juice’s sea of craft beer offerings.

STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

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≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL

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aneaux Narrow and his wife considered opening a collectibles and antique store until his newlyacquired interest in homebrewing led them to open Mermaid Juice, a combination brewery/ antique shop.

Daneaux became interested in brewing while working for Lakeridge Winery in Clermont, where he began in 2002. By 2003, he was experimenting with crazy wine and port concoctions on his own, mixing mix in coffee, blueberry, vanilla, and oak flavors–until Russ, the assistant winemaker at the time, told him, “You can’t do this to wine.”

Russ passed his own home brew kit to Daneaux, who proceeded to use those flavors to make beers. His first few brews were huge hits within the emerging craft beer industry in Central Florida. He says he was ahead of the game in Florida’s craft beer community in the early 2000s, and because of this, people were ecstatic to visit Mermaid Juice and not have to make the drive to Orlando or Sanford to try unique flavored craft concoctions.

“Wine was my passion because I found in wine what I couldn’t find in beer, because it wasn’t available here yet,” Daneaux says, referring to the plethora of ways you can make a unique wine.

When he first switched over to beer making, he started out with “crazy” stouts and 10-12% Russian stouts because you couldn’t find a lot of those here at that time. He also started gravitating towards Belgians and European imports, which are intricate and hard to make. He also enjoys sours, and his favorite beer is St. Bernardus from Belgium. “If I was stranded on an island, it would be my one beer,” he jokes.

Regarding the emerging craft beer scene in Florida, Daneaux says it blew up because of the range of choices available.

“Stores sell way more boxes of 64 crayons than they do 8 because of the variety. There are thousands of breweries and 10,000 plus types of beers on the shelves at any time, and that’s because so many people have different likes and dislikes,” he says. There’s so much beer out there. Daneaux compares it to wine in France. “I just couldn’t host every beer that’s available. I turn down a lot of awesome kegs that I just don’t have room for,” adding that even so, there is always a wide array of choices on tap at Mermaid Juice at any given time.

Daneaux’s “right hand man” and long-time bartender Jason Holbert adds, “Every time we run out of a beer, we replace it with something different.

We rotate our distributors so we won’t have the same beer around all the time,” and because of this, whether you like stouts, porters, sours, ciders, or domestics, you are sure to find something your tastebuds will love. Something that has newly emerged in the market is spiked seltzers, which have been popularized in the last few years, as well as ciders, because both options are

Photo of Daneaux Narrow by Matt Geleske provided by Daneaux Narrow.

Jason Holbert

gluten free. Mermaid Juice always has seltzers and ciders on tap, and they have coolers stocked with different beverages that are not on tap.

Style photographer Nicole and I tried a few different beers, and each liked different ones. Nicole was a fan of the Broski Ciderworks Strawberry Lemonade cider, which was very sweet; a nice refreshing, summery drink. The Victory Cosmic Connection 2020 Sour IPA was sour and citrusy, but not quite as bitter as I’ve found some sours to be. The Civil Society Fresh IPA, which is made in Jupiter, Florida, was not as hoppy as most IPAs tend to be and was a bit sour as well. If you prefer domestics, you should try the Proof Lager from Tallahassee, which I found to be similar to a Budweiser.

My favorite was the Southern Tier Nitro Coconut Truffle stout, which reminded me of a chocolate-coconutty ice cream and was smooth because of the nitro brewing process. It wasn’t overly sweet but was an enjoyable drink and the coconut flavor really came through. Nicole found that it had a nice aftertaste. The Grapefruit Storm Surge seltzer from Big Storm Brewing Co. in Clearwater was light and sweet, and Nicole and I both preferred it over the big brand seltzers we have tried.

One of the more interesting beers we tasted was the 2015 Bell’s Expedition Stout, which is a Russian imperial.

Daneaux and Jason like to experiment with aging certain beers, like stouts, so they had us try the 2015 and 2020 brewed versions of the same beer.

Although we didn’t really enjoy either, we definitely could taste the difference between the two. We found that the

“EVERY TIME WE RUN OUT OF A BEER, WE REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT.” —JASON HOLBERT

Daneaux Narrow IF YOU GO

2015 was sweeter and the 2020 was more bitter, but both were very strong.

Those who like to try experimental beers should definitely try the two together to compare.

Because Mermaid Juice constantly has new beers on tap, you can check out its updated menu at untappd.com, or on the Untappd app.

MERMAID JUICE 458 N. Highland St., Mount Dora 352.556.1030 mermaidjuice.com

Do you know a place where we can drink?

Comment on this article or send story ideas to editorial@akersmediagroup.com.

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DINING GUIDE

dine

OUT From classic diners and lakeside restaurants to fine dining and everything in-between, Lake County’s culinary scene is booming. Your favorite meal is sure to be served with a side of hospitality.

Denotes locations where you can find Lake & Sumter Style A S TAT U L A

CLERMONT

Race Car Diner 25641 Monroe St. 352.253.6940

Akina Sushi Bar & Asian Fusion Bistro 4300 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.243.8988

ASTOR Blackwater Inn 55716 Front St. 352.759.3802 Castaways Restaurant 23525 US SR 40 352.759.2213 Sparky’s Place Restaurant 24646 SR 40 352.759.3551 Williams Landing 55716 Front St. 352.759.2802

Cheeser’s Palace Café 707 W. Montrose St. 352.404.9431 Clermont Brewing Co. 750 W Desoto 321.430.2337 Corelli’s Italian Restaurant 1042 E. Hwy. 50 352.989.5924

BUSHNELL

Crooked Spoon Gastropub 200 Citrus Tower Blvd.

352.404.7808

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s 2586 W CR 48 352.568.7000

Devenney’s Irish Pub 16909 High Grove Blvd.

352.432.3925

Darryl’s Diner 2237 W CR 48 352.444.2318

El Cerro Restaurant 811 W. Hwy. 50 352.241.9884

Howie’s Family Restaurant 840 N. Main St. 352.793.8582 TJ’s Family Restaurant 412 W. Belt Ave 352.793.8877

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Friar Tuck 16640 Cagan Crossings Blvd.

352.404.6818 G’s NY Pizza 12346 Roper Blvd.

352.243.8900

Gators Dockside 1200 Oakley Seaver Dr. 352.242.1825 Goomba’s Pizzeria 2395 S. Hwy 27 352.989.4403 Guru Restaurant 2400 S. Hwy. 27 352.241.9884 Legends Grille & Tavern 1700 Legendary Blvd.

352.243.1118 Lilly’s on the Lake 846 W. Osceola St. 352.708.6565 Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill 230 Citrus Tower Blvd.

352.394.0036 Robata Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar 1500 Oakley Seaver Dr. 352.404.9688 Root and Branch Bistro and Bar 1200 Seaver Dr. 352.708.4529 Sanctuary Ridge Bar & Grille 2601 Diamond Club Road 352.243.0411

L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M • AU G ' 2 1

Sarah’s Greek Cuisine & More 16640 Cagan Crossings Blvd., Ste. 305 352.404.8031 Southern on 8th Kitchen & Bar 801 W. Montrose St. 352.394.7777 Troy’s Cuban Deli 1200 Oakley Seaver Dr. 352.241.4295 Uncle Kenny’s BBQ 157 Hwy. 27 352.394.1225 EUSTIS Jeannie’s Place 209 E. Gottsche Ave. 352.359.0027 Gators Dockside 15241 US Hwy 441 352.357.1255 Kiku Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar 15211 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.483.8288 LaCabana Mexican Bar and Grill 2060 S. Bay St. 352.357.4600

Nalan Sultan Mediterranean Grill 1 N. Eustis St. 352.357.4444

Ikaho Sushi Japanese Restaurant 7965 SR 50, #900 352.557.8988

NightOwl Caribbean Restaurant 929 S. Bay St. 352.589.0256

James Barbeque 262 W. Orange St. 352.557.4050

Stavro’s & Sons of Eustis 2100 W. CR 44 352.589.9100 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 Oyster Troff 936 N. Bay St. 352.357.9939 Tillie’s Tavern & Grill 31 E. Magnolia Ave. 352.602.7929

Lil Anthony’s Pizza 7965 SR 50 352.429.7499

H OW EY- I N THE -HILLS

Frank’s Place 201 N. 1st St. 352.323.1989

JB Boondocks Bar & Grill 704 S. Lakeshore Blvd.

352.324.3600

Gator Bay Bar & Grill 10320 CR 44 352.365.2177

La Hacienda Restaurant 10400 CR 48 352.324.3910

God Café 300 W. Main St. 352.801.7447

Nicker’s Clubhouse Restaurant 10400 CR 48 352.324.2718

F RU I T L A N D PA R K

El Ranchito 1 Lagrande Blvd.

352.750.3335

Legends Cafe 2468 U.S. Hwy. 441/27 352.728.0006 NY Deli N Diner 3325 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.365.0051 Rae Rae’s Restaurant 2468 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.323.1595 Stavro’s 3223 US Hwy. 441 352.315.0028 The Rose Plantation 200 Rose Ave., Fruitland Park 352.805.4340 G R OV E L A N D Coyote Rojo 214 W. Broad St. 352.557.8999

Coffee Snob 1101 W. North Blvd.

352.460.4570 Cousin Vinnie’s Family Sports Restaurant 10700 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.253.2442

L A DY L A K E

ibar-be-que Express 3170 Hwy. 27 352.315.4227

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

Red Wing Restaurant 12500 S. SR 33 352.429.2997

Tony’s Pizza & Subs 2760 E. Orange Ave. 352.589.9001

Fruitland Park Café 3180 US Hwy. 441/27 352.435.4575

Brooklyn’s Pizzeria 27405 US Highway 27 352.728.2020

Bamboo Bistro 700 Hwy. 441 352.750.9998

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 OakWood Smokehouse & Grill 860 S. Hwy 27/441 352.751.5640 Takis Greek and Italian Restaurant 13761 U.S. Hwy. 441 N. 352.430.3630 LEESBURG Bloom’s 610 W. Main St. 352.787.1004 Breakfast Station 2229 Citrus Blvd.

352.315.0291 Brick & Barrel 209 W. Main St. 352.431.3069

Great Chicago Fire Brewery & Tap Room 311 W. Magnolia St. 352.474.2739 HP Grill 1403 S. 14th St. 352.314.0006 Ichiban Buffet 10301 Hwy. 441 352.728.6669 Kountry Kitchen 1008 W. Dixie Ave. 352.323.0852 La Palma Mexican Grill 1690 Citrus Blvd.

352.323.1444 Lilly’s Super Subs 2339 CR 473 352.343.4663 Magnolia’s Oyster Bar 201 W. Magnolia St. 352.323.0093 Main Street Cantina 205 W. Main St. 352.435.7279 Mamma Mia Pizza 755 North 14th St. 352.326.0101 Mammoth Oak Brewing Company 1107 W. North Blvd.

352.326.0100 Mrs. T’s Place, Southern Restaurant 305 Pine St. 352.431.3217 Naples Italian Restaurant 1107 W. North Blvd.

352.323.1616

Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill 2775 U.S. 27 352.435.4633 Arigato Steak House 1401 Citrus Blvd.

352.728.0788 Pine Street Bar-B-Que 408 Pine St. 352.728.1293

MINNEOLA Lil Anthony’s Pizza 205 N. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.394.1516 Minneola Grill 117 W. Washington St. 352.394.2555 Napoli’s Pizzeria 556 Hwy. 27 352.243.7500

Mount Dora Pizza & Subs 2718 W. Old U.S. Hwy. 441 352.383.5303 Olive Branch Grille 115 W. 3rd St. 352.729.6734 One Flight Up 440 N. Donnelly St., Ste. 100 352.735.1446

Plantation Oaks Restaurant 4720 Plantation Blvd.

352.530.2680

The Surf Bar and Grill 650 N. Hwy. 27 202.527.0100

Ramshackle Café 1317 N. 14th St. 352.365.6565

Tiki Bar & Grill 508 S. Main Ave. 352.394.2232

PizzAmore’ 722 E. 5th Ave. 352.383.0092

Rodello’s Italian Restaurant 26736 US Hwy. 27 352.319.8093

MOUNT DORA

Shiva Indian Restaurant 140A W. 5th Ave. 352.735.4555

San Jose’s Original Mexican Restaurant 1337 S. 14th St. 352.805.4174 Sip Restaurant and Wine Bar 707 W. Main St. 352.435.7840 Sully’s Smokehouse 10820 CR 44 352.483.7427 Takis Pizza Restaurant 1205 N. 14th St. 352.787.2344

1921 Mount Dora 142 E. Fourth Ave. 352.385.1921 Anthony’s Pizza 17195 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.357.6668

Lake House Bar & Grill 315 N. Highland St. 352.735.7433

Barnwood Country Kitchen & Smokehouse 3725 W. Old US Hwy 441 352.630.4903

Sugarboo’s Bar-B-Que 1305 N. Grandview St. 352.735.7675

Beauclaire Restaurant at Lakeside Inn 100 N. Alexander St. 352.383.4101 Café Gianni 425 N. Alexander St. 352.735.3327

The Florida Porch Café 706 W. Main St. 352.365.1717

Cody’s on 4th Cafe 111 E. 4th Ave. 352.735.8426

The Mojo Grill & Catering Co. 9925 US-441 352.787.0494

Copacabana Cuban Cafe 320 Dora Drawdy Way 352.385.9000

The Old Time Diner 1350 W. North Blvd.

352.805.4250

Fiesta Grande 421 N. Baker St. 352.385.3540

Turners 114 S. 5th St. 352.530.2274

Frog & Monkey English Pub 411 N. Donnelly St. 352. 383.1936

Wolfy’s 918 N. 14th St. 352.787.6777

Highland Street Café 185 S. Highland St. 352.383.1446

MASCOTTE

Jeremiah’s 500 N. Highland St. 352.383.7444

Napoli’s Pizzeria 556 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.243.7500 Rainbow Restaurant 704 E. Myers Blvd.

352.429.2093

Pisces Rising 239 W. 4th Ave. 352.385.2669

J.K. Thai Garden 116 E. 5th Ave. 352.385.4700 Let’s Do Lunch 426 N. Donnelly St. 352.735.4577 Magical Meat Boutique 322 N. Alexander St. 352.729.6911

The Bavarian Haus 433 N. Alexander St. 352.735.8387 The Country Club 1900 Country Club Blvd.

352.735.2263 The Goblin Market 331-B Donnely St. 352.735.0059 The Pizza Shop 925 E. First Ave. 352.735.3411 Vincent’s Italian Restaurant 5914 Orange Blossom Trl. 352.735.4578 Whale’s Tale Fish House 2720 W. Old U.S. Hwy 441 352.385.1500 SORRENTO Del Franco’s Pizza 31436 CR 437 352.383.8882 Lisa’s Kountry Cafe 23911 CR 46 352.735.3380 TAVA R E S Bella Nona Pizzeria 280 Silverado St. 352.508.9370

BTW (Burgers, Tacos & Waffles) 115 E. Main St. 352.508.9287 Fish Camp Lake Eustis 901 Lake Shore Blvd.

352.742.4400 Hurricane Dockside Grill 3351 W. Burleigh Blvd.

352.508.5137 Kalua Hale Beach Bar 181 S. Joanna Ave. 352.609.5910 Lake Dora Sushi & Sake 227 E. Main St. 352.343.6313 Mary’s Kountry Kitchen 15945 CR 448 352.343.6823 O’Keefe’s Irish Pub and Restaurant 115 S Rockingham Ave. 352.343.2157 Palm Gardens Restaurant 1661 Palm Garden St. 352.431.3217 Puddle Jumpers 111 W Ruby St. 352.508.5862 Ruby Street Grille 221 E. Ruby St. 352.742.7829 Sunrise Grill 462 E. Burleigh Blvd.

352.343.7744 Tavares Ice Cream 214 E. Main 352.508.5342 The Hideaway 11912 Lane Park Rd. 352.343.3585 Tiki West Raw Bar and Grill 118 W Ruby St., Tavares 352.508.5783

THE V I L L AG E S Amerikano’s Grill 998 Del Mar Dr. 352.633.8027 Belle Glade Country Club 446 Moyer Loop 352.205.8208 BlueFin Grill & Bar 2738 Brownwood Blvd.

352.571.5344 Cane Garden Country Club 1726 Bailey Trail 352.750.0627 Chengs Chinese Restaurant 4050 Wedgewood Ln. 352.391.9678 China Gourmet III 343 Colony Blvd 352.750.4965 Chop House at Lake Sumter 1045 Old Camp Rd. 352.750.6000 Evans Prairie Country Club 1825 Evans Prairie Trail 352.750.2225 Fiesta Grande Mexican Grill 297 Colony Blvd 352.751.0400 Giovanni’s 3439 Wedgewood Lane 352.751.6674

Margarita Republic 1102 Main St. 352.753.4600 Mezza Luna Italian Restaurant and Bar 320 Colony Blvd.

352.753.3824 NYPD Pizzeria 4046 Wedgwood Ln 352.750.1994 Orange Blossom Country Club 1542 Water Tower Circle 352.751.4501 Palmer Legends Country Club 1635 Palmer Way 352.750.4499

Shang Hai Restaurant 531 N. Central Ave. 352.669.2004 The Mason Jar 37534 State Rd. 19 352.589.2535 W I L DWO O D China Jade 420 W. CR 44 352.330.5913 Continental Country Club 50 Continental Blvd.

352.748.3293

Ricciardi’s Italian Table 3660 Kiessel Rd. 352.391.9939

Cotillion Southern Café 101 N. Main St. 352.748.1223

Sakura 265 Colony Blvd.

352.205.7393

Los Magueyes Mexican Restaurant 346 Shopping Center Dr. 352.461.0577

The Lighthouse Point Bar and Grille 925 Lakeshore Dr. 352.753.7800 Tierra Del Sol Country Club 806 San Marino Dr. 352.753.8005 VKI Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar 1004 Old Mill Run 352.259.9887

Habaneros Mexican Grill 3551 Wedgewood Ln. 352.633.2080

U M AT I L L A Combat Café 831 S Central Ave. 352.483.0250 Fish & Chix 100 N. Central Ave. 352.669.7145

Legacy Restaurant 17135 Buena Vista Blvd.

352.753.1475

Old Crow Real Pit Bar-B-Q 41100 SR 19 352.669.3922

RedSauce 1000 Canal St. 352.750.5272

Glenview County Club 3914 Glenview Rd. 352.753.0077

Hemingway’s at Havana Country Club 2484 Odell Circle 352.430.3200

Greg’s Haystax 526 Umatilla Blvd.

352.669.1555

Gators of Umatilla LLC 9 N. Central Ave. 352.669.6969

O’Shucks! Oyster Bar and Grill 1016 S Main St. 352.399.2200 Roberto’s Ristorante & Pizzeria 2468 Burnsed Blvd., 352.626.1059 Traditions Café 3107 Hwy. 44 352.748.1077 Woody’s Bar-B-Q 1220 S. Main St. 352.748.1109 YA L A H A Yalaha Bakery 8210 CR 48 352.324.3366

GOOD GRUB

THIS MONTH'S EDITOR'S PICK

Palm Gardens Soak up the waterfront view while tasting fresh seafood dishes and other entrees. That’s one of many reasons to visit Palm Gardens Restaurant and Marina, situated on the scenic Dead River connecting Lake Eustis and Lake Harris. Guests certainly cannot go wrong with the fried basa fillet sandwich, which has a delicate texture and tastes slightly sweet. The menu includes a 12- or 14-ounce ribeye, alligator bites, the popular Swamp Salad, and a variety of burgers and sandwiches. Delicious food and the unimpeded vies of the surrounding natural beauty make visiting Palm Gardens Restaurant and Marina a must.

1661 Palm Garden St, Tavares / 352.343.2024

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DINING GUIDE

Mom & Dad’s Italian Restaurant 352.753.2722 | 304 US-441, LADY LAKE Mom and Dad’s Italian Restaurant in Lady Lake has the distinct honor of calling itself a true family-owned restaurant. In fact, five generations of family members have represented the restaurant since its humble beginnings in May 1962. As many generations of customers have dined there throughout the years thanks to the outstanding service and scrumptious dishes such as Spaghetti a la Bruzzi, Delmonico steak, and lasagna. This food savvy family prepares everything from scratch, crafting everything with love to satisfy your taste buds.

La Palma Mexican Grill

Wednesday-Sunday 4pm-9pm Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Full Gluten-Free Menu

Open Daily 11am–9pm

1690 CITRUS BLVD., LEESBURG | 352.323.1444 | LAPALMAGRILL.COM The entire staff invites you to a delicious dining experience at La Palma Mexican Grill. The recipes used for the restaurant’s unique dishes are a blend of old-school traditions from Mexico, combined with culinary inspirations from California and Louisiana. Homemade Mexican entrees such as Tacos Azteca, carnitas, fajitas, Chori Pollo, tamales and more, are flavorful and prepared with only the freshest of ingredients. Sit comfortably in the beautiful dining room, the festive bar, or outside on the patio deck with a serene view of the grounds and of the fun wild animals that can be spotted in the trees. Enjoy fast and friendly service, reasonable prices, three-for-one margaritas all day, every day, and a party room, available by reservation, for large parties or meetings.

Full menu at lapalmagrill.com.

AK! Call for daily specials.

BWWAA

Lunch Specials 11am–3pm

Margarita Mondays!

Enjoy $5 margaritas all day every Monday.

’clock It’s five ohere! somew

Rodello’s Italian Restaurant 26736 U.S HIGHWAY 27, LEESBURG | 352.319.8093 | RODELLOS.COM Chef Amadeo Avila invites you to enjoy authentic and fresh Italian cuisine in a friendly, comfortable dining environment at Rodello’s Italian Restaurant. The recipes used for his dishes are a blend of old-school traditions from Italy—the restaurant is named for a city in the old country—with new culinary inspirations that Chef Amadeo has learned during many years in the restaurant business.

Flavorful, homemade Italian entrees such as Pistachio Crusted Lamb, Salmon Saltimbocca, Lobster Ravioli, Shrimp Risotto, and many others are classics and prepared with only the freshest ingredients. The lunch menu features personal pizzas, calzones, subs, and pasta. Sit in the spacious dining room or enjoy drinks or desserts like delicious gelato in the cozy lounge, which features a full bar, wine menu, and an array of specialty cocktails. Always look for new features on Chef Amadeo’s menu, available on the restaurant’s website, Rodellos.com.

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Open Daily 11am-9pm

Custom-made, fresh sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads made right before your eyes.

The “healthy” alternative to fast food.

Subway SUBWAY.COM 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

Would you like to see your restaurant in our dining section?

CALL US AT 352.787.4112

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Saturday, Aug. 14, 5p.m. - 7p.m.

Spend an evening downtown Leesburg viewing some awesome corvettes and other classics, while enjoying our dining, shops, and great music.

50/50 Raffle proceeds to benefit Forward Paths.

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More information at LeesburgPartnership.com

4th Annual

Taste of Lake

&BUSINESS EXPO 2021 FOOD | LIVE MUSIC | BEER | WINE Friday, September 17 6pm–9pm

The Venetian Center

1 Dozier Cir., Leesburg

Sample food & drinks from various restaurants throughout the area. Plus, enjoy NEW drink selections, and a NEW beer garden element! $35/Ticket in advance | $40/Ticket at the door *Limited attendees. Register now at LeesburgChamber.com Presenting Sponsor:

Sponsored by:

MAGAZINE

FINAL THOUGHT

CO MMENTARY

No child left outside Kids need outdoor playtime, but parents prefer to play it safe.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

remember fun-filled childhood days from the 1980s. We’d catch crawdads and tadpoles at the creek, ride our bicycles to the local convenience store, and build indestructible forts that served as our home away from home.

Although we did not realize it then, outdoor playtime among our peers taught us valuable life lessons. We learned to socialize. We learned to compromise. We learned to use our imagination. We discovered new ways of doing things. Most importantly, we developed a strong sense of independence without parents supervising our every move.

Fast-forward 40 years. No longer do you see neighborhood streets flooded with children riding bikes and scooters, jumping rope, climbing trees, tossing balls, or creating games of their own.

Somehow, a paranoid culture arose where society deemed it unsafe for children to be outside alone. It has become so bad, in fact, that parents who do allow their children to play outdoors unsupervised risk being interrogated or facing criminal charges.

• In Texas, a stay-at-home mom was arrested for child endangerment because she allowed her children, ages 9 and 6, to ride a motorized scooter in their neighborhood. A neighbor reported to police that the children were unsupervised.

• In Florida, a 34-year-old mom was arrested because she allowed her son, 7, to walk to a nearby park alone.

• In Maryland, Children’s Protective Services investigated a couple who allowed their daughters, ages 10 and 6, to play at a nearby park unattended.

The lesson learned? Allowing children to play outside is infinitely more dangerous for parents because they may end up wearing an orange jumpsuit inside the county jail. It’s much easier to keep their children inside because it results in fewer hassles and fewer arrests. That’s where the real crime occurs because children miss out on the benefits of outdoor play, which include social and intellectual development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Parents should be able to invest small but growing amounts of trust to let their children play outdoors and become independent. Some kids might not be ready to be trusted outside alone. Of course, that’s for parents to decide, not governmental agencies.

And let’s please get a grip on our faulty perception of this “dangerous” world. First, today’s children have more safety nets than previous generations. They can use GPS in case they get lost or call on a cell phone should any trouble arise. Secondly, they’re venturing into a much safer world than the one we did.

According to FBI data, the number of missing child reports has decreased by 40 percent since 1997. In addition, violent crime has decreased 51 percent since 1991.

Riding bicycles and playing kickball with the neighborhood kids are rites of passage for children. They may endure a few cuts and bruises, but that’s more than negated by the valuable social skills and life skills that can only be learned from being unsupervised as a child.

Give children freedom to explore the beautiful world around them. By doing so, you’re not endangering your kids.

You’re empowering them

Hey, readers! Is there a particular subject that you would like me to write a commentary about? Tell me, via email, at james@akersmediagroup.com.

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JAMES COMBS

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