STYLE Magazine, Village Edition, August 2020

SHINE A LIGHT

Hidden hotspots that will brighten your day! WHET YOUR APPETITE

Lakeside restaurants that will float your boat!

AUG '20

VILLAGE EDITION

Dr. Erik Zimmermann wants you to be walking, running, jumping, and living the lifestyle you want to!

.

The. Most Interesting . .

Podiatrist in the World.

ZIMMERMANN PODIATRY, helping you put your best foot forward.

Take care.

And know we’re doing the same.

Take care of yourself. Take care of your family and your loved ones. Take care of the important things in life that get you through each day. Take care of your health and don’t delay seeking medical care.

At UF Health, we’re taking the necessary precautions and investing in resources to protect you — our patients — inspiring confidence, so you can access the care you need. Our three full-service E.R.s, conveniently located in The Villages® and Leesburg, are here for you.

We’re helping our patients, protecting our communities and conquering today’s toughest challenges in medicine, because as problem-solvers, we rise up.

Take care of yourself. Take care of your family and your loved ones. Take care of the in life that get you through each day. Continue to take care because So please,important take care,things and be confident that we’re doing the same — for you. that’s exactly what we’re doing. At UF Health, we’re taking care of our health care providers to ensure they are getting the resources and protective measures they need to serve you. From providing routine health care to addressing seriousmore. conditions or Visit CentralFloridaHealth.org to learn illnesses, taking care is what we do.

UF Health Leesburg Hospital E.R.

UF Health The Villages® Hospital E.R.

UF Health Brownwood Freestanding E.R.

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CONTENTS 1 of 2

FEATURES

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Think outside theme parks There’s plenty of fun to be had without waiting in long lines or paying high admission prices.

Learn about Lake County’s fun-filled, familyfriendly hidden gems most tourists never see.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL, VICTORIA SCHLABIG, JAMES COMBS

052

Dockside dining

In Lake and Sumter counties, dining out often comes with a side of cool breezes and gorgeous sunsets. If you desire to eat in paradise, here’s a list of waterfront restaurants you should consider visiting.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL, VICTORIA SCHLABIG, JAMES COMBS

068

Simply the best

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

Lake Griffin State Park

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TEN. WE S I C EL

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AUG‘20 V.16

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CONTENTS 2 of 2

DEPARTMENTS

first

021

THE HIT LIST 022 PERSON OF INTEREST 026 OUTSTANDING STUDENT 028 MY FIRST TIME 030

agenda

026

081

028

082 084

030

JAMS 082 LOCAL TALENT 084 SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT 086

healthy living

093

086

094 096

INSPIRATION 094 LOOK GOOD FEEL GOOD 096

menu

IN THE KITCHEN 108 FORK ON THE ROAD 112 SPIRITS 114 DINING GUIDE 116

columns FROM THE PUBLISHER 014 AT YOUR SERVICE 015 FINAL THOUGHT 144

114

112

107

108 144

SHINE A LIGHT

Hidden hotspots that will brighten your day! WHET YOUR APPETITE

Lakeside restaurants that will float your boat!

JAN '20

L AKE, SUMTER & VILLAGE

SHINE A LIGHT

Hidden hotspots that will brighten your day! WHET YOUR APPETITE

Lakeside restaurants that will float your boat!

AUG '20

VILLAGE EDITION

E ON TH R C OV E

Dr. Erik Zimmermann wants you to be walking, running, jumping, and living the lifestyle you want to!

.

The. Most . . Interesting Podiatrist in the World.

ZIMMERMANN PODIATRY, helping you put your best foot forward.

Lake and Sumter Style

Village Edition Photo: Douglas Tyler Model: Erik Zimmermann

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KYLE WILLMAN REALTOR®

JENELLE LITTIZZIO BROKER ASSISTANT

SHARON BASSETT OWNER/BROKER, HSE, MRP, SFR, SRES

Passion for Perfection Residential and Commercial Sales & Leasing Experts Team of Multi-Million Dollar Producers Serving Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties

MARIA COVELLA REALTOR®, ABR, SRES

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Celebrating the best A little good news…for a change. n the midst of all the grim and scary news lately, whether it’s the virus, the riots, election drama, or the economy, it’s becoming more difficult dayby-day to turn on the news.

That is why we here at Style magazine are super excited to share some great news with you this month. After over 30,000 cast votes, the results are in for our annual “Best of the Best” readership awards.

It’s so exhilarating to see all the nominations that were made, and once the list of finalists was narrowed down, it was exciting to see how many of you went to our Style website to cast your votes for your favorite people, places and events. As

you will see when you read through the pages, there are many companies that win year after year. Businesses such as Babette’s Furniture, Cousin Vinnie’s Family Sports Restaurant, Prominent Fox Boutique, and many others. Congrats to them all for continuing to be the standard by which others are measured.

But that’s not all. The “Best of the Best” is not the only thing exciting about this issue. We have also compiled a list of on-the-water restaurants, called Dockside Dining. There aren’t too many things more relaxing than being out on the water on a warm sunny day.

But what do you do when your tummy starts growling? We have the solution for you: a comprehensive list of amazing restaurants that you can easily cruise to by boat. Now all you have to worry about is which one to choose.

Even in the midst of a pandemic, the desire to visit interesting places never fades. Luckily, here in Lake and Sumter counties you can find many places that are not the normally packed theme parks and beaches. Check out the Hidden Gems feature so that you can get outside, get some fresh air and start exploring.

In closing I would like to say, thank you for reading Style magazine. It is my passion to always serve you, put a smile on your face and make you feel happy about having chosen to live in such an amazing community in Lake and Sumter counties.

Stay well,

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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Kendra Akers Doug Akers

OWNER/PUBLISHER kendra@akersmediagroup.com

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EDITORIAL

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ART DIRECTOR volkan@akersmediagroup.com

SHINE A LIGHT

Hidden hotspots that will brighten your day! WHET YOUR APPETITE

Lakeside restaurants that will float your boat!

SHINE A LIGHT

Hidden hotspots that will brighten your day! WHET YOUR APPETITE

Lakeside restaurants that will float your boat!

SPONSORED BY

AUG '20

JAN '20

VILLAGE EDITION

L AKE, SUMTER & VILLAGE

STAFF WRITER victoria@akersmediagroup.com

TO LAKE COUNTY

Megan Mericle Roxanne Brown

GRAPHIC DESIGNER megan@akersmediagroup.com

STAFF WRITER roxanne@akersmediagroup.com

Dr. Erik Zimmermann wants you to be walking, running, jumping, and living the lifestyle you want to!

Douglas Tyler CON TRIBUTIN G DIRECTOR OF WRITER S

PHOTOGRAPHY douglas@akersmediagroup.com

ZIMMERMANN PODIATRY, helping you put your best foot forward.

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The. Most . . Interesting Podiatrist in the World.

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PICK

Lake County has bushels of berries and a bounty of agritourism sites.

ON THE WATERFRONT

GO FISH

MUTUAL ATTRACTIONS

Launch yourself into endless waterways and discover scenic wildlife areas.

Explore a fishing mecca with countless hot spots for anglers of all skill levels.

By land, sea and air, visitors can find adventure, sightseeing and recreation.

Hot off the press!

The latest editions of Lake & Sumter Style, Village Edition Style, and Welcome to Lake County.

Get yours Subscriptions: Order a subscription of your favorite magazine to be delivered directly

to your home for just $84. Each subscription includes 12 consecutive issues of Lake & Sumter Style and Village Edition Style. Choose 2 or more magazines for $108 per year.

To order, call 352.787.4112 or mail us at: Subscriptions at Akers Media, P.O. Box 490088, Leesburg, FL 34749.

Change of Address: If you are a seasonal resident or have moved, send your address change request to general@akersmediagroup.com or mail us at: Subscriptions at Akers Media, P.O. Box 490088, Leesburg, FL 34749.

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Lake & Sumter Style. Published monthly by Akers Media, 108 South Fifth Street, Leesburg, FL 34748. All editorial contents copyright 2020 by Akers Media. All rights reserved. Lake & Sumter Style is a registered trademark of Akers Media. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. For back issues or billing information, call 352.787.4112. Return postage must accompany all unsolicited manuscripts and artwork if they are to be returned. Manuscripts are welcomed, but no responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials. “Paid Promotional Feature” denotes a paid advertising feature. Publisher is not responsible for claims or contents of advertisements. The ideas and opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of Akers Media.

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OPTIONS? DO YOU KNOW YOUR BEST

FACELIFT, TEMPORARY FILLERS, OR PERMANENT FACIAL FILLERS

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Teamwork for Better Health: A Tobacco Free Partnership PA I D

S

P R O M O T IO N A L

F E AT U R E

ince 2008, Tobacco Free Florida has united the area’s residents and community groups in its mission to promote tobacco-free social norms: “prevent usage of tobacco products by youth/young adults, encourage and support tobacco cessation, eliminate the hazards of secondhand smoke, and decrease the number of deaths due to tobacco products.”

That mission is especially important these days. The risk of invasive pneumococcal lung disease,

often a byproduct of coronavirus, is two to four times higher in smokers.

The World Health Organization found that among Chinese patients diagnosed with COVID-19 associated pneumonia, those who smoked were 14 times as likely to have their disease worsen, including fatally.

Waterpipe use also poses a high risk of transmitting coronavirus.

Multiple people can use the same mouthpiece. Even if they don’t, smokers often cough into hoses, where the virus can live.

If ever there was a time to quit tobacco, this is it.

Tobacco Free Florida and the QuitDoc Foundation promotes local events and observances like Tobacco Free Florida Week, World No Tobacco Day, the Great American Smokeout, and Not A Lab Rat Day, spearheaded by Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT).

Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute is a valued teammate supporting Tobacco Free Florida initiatives. “They have been a really great avenue for getting the word out about all the different tobacco observances,” says Facilitator and Community Health Advocate Lauren Fischer in Marion County, who has spoken at RBOI events.

“The Tobacco Free Partnership is all about policy and RBOI is an integral part, bringing new ideas and new partners to the table.”

Those partners include workplaces, retailers, and housing complexes. For example, tobaccofree policies in multi-unit housing address issues of secondhand smoke and fire risk because smoke can travel beyond individual units

and common areas. Tobacco-free policies have also been enacted this year by community events, such as the Glow with the Flow 5k, the Fall Feast, The World’s Greatest Baby Shower, the Strawberry Festival, and Fine Arts For Ocala.

Before the coronavirus, Tobacco Free Florida practiced most of its education and outreach person to person. Now it holds webinars on topics like tactics used by e-cigarette brands to target young adults, and ways to recognize vulnerable populations in rural communities. Outreach also includes snail mail, email blasts, and expanded use of social media platforms like Facebook. They also connect smokers who want to quit with virtual tobacco cessation programs. The Sea Cadets and SWAT clubs have continued several after-school programs, meeting in smaller groups during the pandemic.

To learn more about the Tobacco Free of Florida, go to tobaccofreeflorida.com or call toll-free at (877) 822-6669 or 352-359-5383 locally.

$1 Billion

Money spent by the tobacco industry to market its products in Florida alone

10%

Tobacco-related deaths due to secondhand smoke

9

out of

Coming in October: Not A Lab Rat Day This October, Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) will hold its third “Not A Lab Rat Day,” a series of events across Florida to dispel myths and educate the public about the e-cigarette industry’s connection to Big Tobacco. “There’s so much that we don’t know about the health effects of e-cigarettes,” they point out, adding that tobacco companies “are using our generation as an experiment for their new nicotine-packed products.” To learn more, go to swatflorida.com.

10

Smokers who start their habit by age 18

Sources: https://www.facebook.com/TFPMarionCounty/photos /a.352383808223559/2364095720385681/?type=3&theater https://www.ocala-news.com/2019/05/29/quitdoc-foundation-spotlights-tobacco-use-lung-health-for-world-no-tobacco-day/ http://www.tfp-marion.org/news_archives/20191121_news_archive.html https://untobaccocontrol.org/kh/waterpipes/covid-19/ http://www.tfp-marion.org/ http://www.swatflorida.com/not-a-lab-rat/ http://miamidade.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2019/10/2019-10-16SWAT-Not-A-Lab-Rat-Day.html http://www.tfp-marion.org/news_archives/20200311_news_archive.html

#1

Smoking is the number one cause of preventable home fire deaths

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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AMERICAN FAMILY HOMES CUSTOM CHANGES BENEFIT YOU

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 FL 32726

HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF LAKE-SUMTER

BUILDER OF THE YEAR Let’s get started. Call me today.

Mike Neace: 352-589-6004 Award Winning Home Designer, Builder, Licensed Contractor

“Committed to Quality & Satisfaction” AmericanFamilyHomesInc.com State License Number - CBC058306

first PEOPLE. COMMENTARY. NEWS.

Find out firsthand about what it’s like to be a firefighter from Tanner Long.

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THE HIT LIST

CROSSED PURPOSES? It’s a giant cross. No, it’s a cell phone tower.

Actually, it’s both. The 155-foot tall white cross on the property of Grand Island Baptist Church also doubles as a cell phone tower for Verizon and AT&T. The cross, which has been on the property since Dec. 2014, has both spiritual and practical purposes.

“Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead,” says Dr. Chris Orr, Senior Pastor of the church. “It’s a reminder that salvation is possible. Also, everyone has a cell phone in Lake County.

Some places might have dead zones. However, in the event of an emergency, a life could be saved because our tower provides adequate cell phone coverage.”

At one time, Pastor Orr considered changing the church’s name to Church at the Cross. However, that idea was scrapped when leaders discovered there’s a church with the same name in Ocoee.

Regardless, the cross serves as a Lake County landmark.

“I live six miles away in Eustis and can see the cross when I’m coming out of my neighborhood,” Pastor Orr says. “For boaters on Lake Eustis, it’s a north compass point, and for boaters on Lake Yale, it’s a south compass point.”

FROZEN FUN

JOYOUS JUICE

Get out of the Florida heat for a day at Winterland Adventures ice skating rink in the Leesburg Mall. The indoor recreational rink is decked out with winter decor, with the atmosphere of a chalet in the Swiss mountains.

With low air-conditioned temperatures, you might forget you’re in Florida… just make sure to bring your jacket!

Skating is open to all ages, so bring the kids and grandma and grandpa for a day of skating and fun in the cold. You won’t need to leave for lunch, as Winterland’s Chalet serves a selection of soups, salads, nachos and pizza. You can also try one of the savory crepês, like the Lake Crepê with smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado. Sweet-toothed visitors might like the A La Mode Crepê, filled with apples, cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla ice cream, or a chocolate waffle stick. Mom and dad can enjoy hot and cold drinks, including a selection of beer and wine.

Skate rentals are included in the price of skating, and discounts are offered for active military and veterans.

Private lessons are also available, or you can make group reservations for birthdays and other events. Lesson packages are available, as are 6-month memberships for skaters who can’t get enough of the ice, or Northerners who miss the cold.

Something new just arrived at Mount Dora Marketplace; The Juice Box serves fresh, coldpressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls and health shots using local produce. Owner Isamarie Aymat, who is originally from Puerto Rico, always had a dream of owning her own store, and after working in a hospital for many years she

WINTERLAND ADVENTURES ICE SKATING RINK 10401 US Hwy 441 Suite 404 // Leesburg Mall // 352.787.2111 winterlandadventures.com // facebook.com/winterlandadventures Open Friday 3pm-12am, Saturday 10am-12am, Sunday 11am-8pm Closed until further notice due to COVID-19.

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THEY NEVER HAD A CHANCE The Dade Massacre, which sparked the Second Seminole War, occurred right outside of Bushnell.

On Dec. 28, 1835, nearly 200 Seminole Indians, hiding behind palmettos, ambushed 107 federal troops under the command of Maj. Francis Langhorne Dade.

For Dade’s troops, fighting a highly motivated enemy who had the element of surprise and knowledge of terrain was too much to overcome. Eight hours after the Seminoles fired the first shot, the bodies of U.S. soldiers were sprawled across the battlefield. Only three men survived.

Two of the three died in ensuing hours trying to escape.

The Second Seminole War is the longest and costliest war against Native Americans in U.S. history.

Each January, more than 200 people converge upon Dade Battlefield Historic State Park to reenact the famous battle. Those portraying U.S. soldiers don blue wool uniforms; their Seminole adversaries with painted faces wear colorful headdresses and buckskin trousers.

decided to use her savings and finally do just that, opening The Juice Box in May of 2020.

Now living in Mount Dora, Isamarie creates her drinks using recipes she makes at home and by doing research on what people like. Many of the drinks she made at home she added to the menu, because they are often requested. Her favorite is the Palm Tree, a sweeter detox juice made with pineapple, celery, green apple, kale, ginger and spinach.

Customers often love the Palm Tree as well, along with The Rainforest and The Bahia. The Rainforest is made with spinach, parsley, green apple, cucumber, ginger and lemon. The Bahia is kiwi, papaya, pineapple, ginger and coconut water. You can also try a fresh-squeezed lemonade.

Smoothies are also fan favorites, especially the Caribbean Crunch, Tropical Island and Mango Breeze. The Tropical Island and Mango Breeze are perfect for tropical fruit lovers, while the Caribbean Crunch is a peanut butter oatmeal blend with honey, almond milk and granola.

The acai bowls are also very popular among customers.

Acai bowls are $5.50, and include four fruits and three toppings. Toppings include things like Nutella, honey, granola, nuts, chia seeds, coconut flakes and even bee pollen. The shop also serves parfaits with fresh fruit.

For an extra burst of energy, try one of their ginger, turmeric or wheatgrass shots, or add whey, maca or spirulina powder to a smoothie or juice.

THE JUICE BOX MOUNT DORA 334 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora // 352.602.9560 facebook.com/pg/thejuiceboxmtdora Open Wednesday-Sunday 10am-6pm

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THE HIT LIST

A FREEZE TO PLEASE...

UF Health Leesburg Hospital and UF Health The Villages recently provided a collection of heart-healthy recipes in “Cooking for the Heart” cookbook. Here is a beverage recipe from the cookbook that is ideal on a hot summer day.

F LOR I DA F R EEZE 12

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cup orange juice

14

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cup grapefruit juice

12

/

cup pineapple chunks

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medium banana

12

Place ingredients in a blender. Mix until creamy.

Serve over crushed ice. Serves 2. Nutrition information per serving: 86 calories, less than 1 gram total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 2 mg sodium.

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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 0

SHALL WE DANCE? After teaching ballroom dancing for 30+ years, Carson Humphries recently opened his first dance studio, Legacy Ballroom, 923 E. Alfred St., Tavares.

He grew up in the dancing world and began teaching at 16.

“This is a place people can be happy and learn what they want to learn,” says Carson, who has taught students in their 80s. Some have gone on to win national dance competitions. He has enjoyed helping students feel at ease on the dance floor, whether it was for a cruise, wedding dance, or a night on the town.

“I love seeing people achieve what it is they want to learn,” he says. “I like the teaching part more than anything. It’s really about the journey, helping people get where they want to be, and I like seeing the ‘Aha!’ moment of ‘wow, I can do this!’”

He says dancing is good for one’s balance and overall health. His personal favorite dances are the bolero, waltz and swing.

“Dancing is good for your mind and body control,” adds Carson. “And for a lot of people, it’s exciting when they see that they really can do it.

The majority of people just don’t think that they can.”

110 AND GOING STRONG The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) Woman’s Club of Leesburg was first organized in October of 1909 with eighteen members. Throughout their now 110-year history, the Woman’s Club of Leesburg has done much to provide financial and physical help to their community through charities and other organizations. The club was created “for the purpose of aiding, improving and beautifying the town,” according to their website.

President of the club, Beth Doetsch, who was elected in the club’s April meeting, emphasizes that the women are “dedicated to volunteerism and fundraising.” Some of the traditional fundraising projects that take place yearly are a fashion show, which is expected to take place in April of 2021, and a fundraising project around the holidays during which they sell Georgia pecans. “They’re delicious. That’s a club favorite,” Beth adds.

The club supports breast cancer awareness, and each October they have raised funds by selling decorative flamingos.

This year they’re planning on selling an additional item; a pink hat with flamingos on it. The money raised goes to the LIP (Ladies in Philanthropy) foundation, and UF Health Leesburg Hospital. The women also donate their time to Leesburg functions, last year participating in the Christmas parade and dressing as elves.

“The Women’s Club of the country historically started libraries, so we support our local library,” Beth says. During the COVID-19 pandemic, throughout the summer some of the women got together and raised over 550 pounds of food

that was donated to a local food pantry. As for members and others in the community that weren’t able to get out during quarantine, the group sent sympathy cards and has a “sunshine committee” that they are currently working on expanding.

GFWC of Leesburg has also donated many artifacts to the Leesburg Heritage Society, such as tea sets, crystal punch bowls, and many photographs from their last 110 years of service. “In the last 12 months we have had 12 new members join us and we have swelled to 42 members, so we’re totally excited about the opportunities that we have through that,” Beth says.

They will have a president’s tea and training and orientation session for new members later this month and will visit the Leesburg Heritage Society “because we are trying to create a historic committee to bring those traditions back to our meetings,” she adds.

The group’s main focus this year is to restore the historical perspective “so that new members will appreciate and understand the kind of club that they’ve inherited,” Beth says.

The GFWC is internationally known, and has state, national and international impacts, but in their home of Leesburg, the Woman’s Club focuses on providing scholarships to women in the city, supporting local charities through volunteerism and donations, and remaining a pillar of the community for years to come.

GFWC WOMAN’S CLUB OF LEESBURG womansclubofleesburg.com facebook.com/GFWC-Womans-Club-of-Leesburg

THE GIFT OF LIFE Organ, eye and tissue donors are everyday heroes, according to DonateLifeFlorida.org.

Did you know: • One organ donor can save up to eight lives.

• One cornea donor can return sight to those suffering from blindness.

• One tissue donor can restore health to more than 50 people.

The Florida Coalition on Donation, Inc., aka DonateLifeFlorida.org says about 5,700 children and adults in Florida await life-saving organ transplants. Across the U.S., that number stands at 120,000. To learn more or to register to be a donor, go to DonateLifeFlorida.org.

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PERSON OF INTEREST

PEO PLE

Duke Jackson Elections Support Director for Lake County Supervisor of Elections.

INTERVIEWER: LEIGH NEELY

≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

What does your job entail? My team and I maintain, prepare, deploy and recover all ballot scanners, supplies and election equipment, along with any logistical needs related to elections and the needs of other departments.

What is the most important aspect of your work? Making absolutely sure that every piece of election equipment is functional and in place at the correct polling locations from Astor to Four Corners and from The Villages to the Wekiva River.

L V I TA AT S ST

• Has worked 21 years at this job in his hometown of Tavares.

• Carmen, his wife of 33 years, also works in the Supervisor of Elections office.

Know a person of interest? Tell us!

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What challenges you most about your work? Making sure that every piece of the puzzle (107

polling sites) is operational and ready for Election Day and Early Voting. This includes everything from paperclips and ink pens to ballots and tabulation equipment.

What do you enjoy most about working with voters?

I take great pride in knowing that everyone who votes in Lake County during Early Voting and on Election Day, including voting by mail, can feel confident their ballot was tabulated accurately.

I love seeing someone with an “I Voted” sticker or having someone tell me how easy their experience was at the polling site.

Share what you think our readers might find interesting or informative. I like to tell people that I work at the Lake County Supervisor of Elections Office and the first thing everyone says is, “What do you do for the rest of the year?” I always laugh because one, I have a good sense of humor and two, a lot of people do not know what goes on behind the scenes to pull off a successful election.

Email your recommendation to editorial@akersmediagroup.com.

You’re invited to

ROAM FRE E Embracing the spirit of the Floridian Cowboy, The Brownwood Hotel & Spa invites you to enjoy your surroundings and follow your adventurous spirit. From the guest rooms to the Spa, in the meeting rooms, and extending to Brownwood Paddock Square, our goal is unparalleled hospitality—wherever you may roam.

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

OUTSTANDING STUDENT

PEO PLE

Ashley Gray 2020 graduate of Montverde Academy.

VITAL STATS

INTERVIEWER: LEIGH NEELY

≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

• Rachel Scott and Darren Gray, parents; Taylor Gray, sister • 1st Place at Trail Pleasure Walking Horse World Championship, Class 168 Owner Amateur Youth 6-17.

When did you start riding horses?

My dad started me riding with him before I could walk. I’ve always been around horses, so, of course, I fell in love.

My dad also rides and does competitions.

It’s a great family hobby. I began doing shows at a very young age, and I’ve always worked with Tennessee Walking Horses. I’m with Carrie Martin, my trainer, in Lewisburg, Tennessee.

How many championships have you won? I’ve won four World Championships and one World Grand Championship.

What’s the most important aspect of working with Tennessee Walking Horses? It’s just about learning your horses and connecting with them. My dad and I ride very differently. You must have the trust, so both you and the horse are comfortable.

It’s a team effort.

For English, you have the helmet, the button-up shirt, the coat, and the nice slacks. They are quite different. For the horses, the bridle and saddles change depending on how you dress. We ride flat-shod horses, which means they don’t have pads on the bottom of their hooves, so we can wear both.

Favorite quote?

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” That’s

by Eleanor Roosevelt.

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Chrissy Teigen, because she’s very positive and uplifting and seems very funny.

Do you have a specific riding outfit? You can wear western, where

Future plans? International University

you wear a cowboy hat, western-collared shirt, jeans, and your chaps on top.

in Miami for a degree in marketing and communications.

Know an outstanding student? Fill us in!

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Email your recommendations to editorial@akersmediagroup.com

Imagine Life Beyond Lenses

with quick, safe iLASIK laser vision correction. Dr. Vinay Gutti utilizes the most advanced technology to create a unique map of your eye’s characteristics for individualized precision and ultimate satisfaction.

352-63-LASIK • LakeEyeLasik.com •

MY FIRST TIME

PEO PLE

Tanner Long Eustis fireman fights his first fire.

INTERVIEWER: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

he fire happened on Mother’s Day. We were just pulling back into the station from breakfast and I overheard on the radio for one of the Lake County stations near us to stand by for a structure fire. So, I went and got my crew and said, ‘Hey, I just heard there’s a fire close by,’ and so we all started jumping into our gear.

We pulled up second on scene and when we pulled up, we could tell that it was an active fire. By the time everybody had their protective gear on we were all standing at the front door ready for the hose line to be charged and ready to make entry. It was kind of an older two-story home, right on Lake Eustis. I think it was some sort of electrical shortage with the AC unit upstairs.

What about your first time?

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≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

So, they charged the hose line and my coworker and I made entry and went upstairs where the main bulk of the fire was. He started poking holes in the ceiling to see if there was any fire back there. There obviously was. He was pulling ceiling and drywall down as I was spraying it with water.

Then conditions kinda got worse for a little bit and our command pulled us out, and we set up the ladder and went into defensive just for a short couple of minutes. And then after we got the fire back under control, we made entry again. There wasn’t a ton of fire left, just little hotspots here and there.

I felt super amped and also super tired after. I was pretty whooped. So it was pretty nerve-racking, but once it was said and done I can look back and say that I’ve learned a lot and there’s a couple things I’ll do differently next time, just for a better outcome.

But I feel like the guys there really do a good job of showing me and keeping me ready for that moment.

To share a story about your first time doing a significant event, email victoria@akersmediagroup.com.

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“We can honestly say that whilst we were somewhat reluctant to sign with Wiseman owing to the long lead time from contract signing to completion, the finished product was well worth the wait. The custom design is exactly what we asked for and we maintain that the craftsmanship of the pool, spa, equipment, pavers, screen enclosure, and summer kitchen are second to none.”

— TOM & LYNDA MURPHY

We know that every single customer is unique—Building Unique Pools is our company motto—and so every project we undertake is delivered to a client’s signature set of personal tastes and, where necessary, solves any challenges their property may present.

352-431-3766 | www.WisemanPools.com | 1517 W Main St., Leesburg Wiseman Pools is a family-owned-and-operated, licensed residential and commercial swimming pool builder with an extensive portfolio of projects.

From the small—fountains and in-ground spas. To the large—million dollar installations with multiple pools and spas. Our customers, large and small, demand a quality swimming pool for a fair price. And we deliver.

Foot and ankle specialist Lake County native Dr. Breanna Ferguson jumps in with both feet to serve patients’ needs.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

r. Breanna Ferguson, a podiatrist, opened Mid Lake Foot and Ankle in Tavares in July of 2019, and was quickly recognized for her sweet, caring personality, professionalism, medical skills and for making patients feel like they’re family.

It’s no surprise she’s been generating kudos from happy patients.

“I want to say thank you to our patients for nominating us in Style magazine’s ‘Best of the Best’ readers’ choice awards,” says Dr. Ferguson, a Lake County native who is thrilled to be a podiatrist in her hometown, providing high-quality care for foot and ankle problems.

“We treat people with compassion and dignity,” she says. “If your injury is keeping you from the things you love, from being able to work or function, let’s get it treated so you don’t have to suffer. When you call our

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office, you are family, and we are going to provide you with the best care possible.”

A graduate of the University of Central Florida and Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine in Miami, Dr. Ferguson has a special interest in bunion surgery, ankle sprains and instability, arthritic conditions, fractures and tendon injuries.

“My goal is to keep Lake County on their feet and moving. Mobility is one of the most important parts of staying active and fit. I can offer conservative or surgical management to keep patients moving. I work with my patients individually to treat them in a way that best complements their lifestyle and health. In my opinion, many patients can get better without surgery if given the right options,” says Dr. Ferguson. “You can go a long away with custom orthotics, the correct shoes, injections and physical therapy without ever stepping foot in the operating room.”

Podiatry has progressed over the past several decades and Dr. Ferguson takes pride in keeping abreast with providing patients with the best care.

“Following four years of medical education, I continued to further my training in foot and ankle reconstruction as well as trauma surgery and diabetic limb salvage,” says Dr. Ferguson. “If someone comes into the hospital with a severe ankle fracture, they can call the podiatrist. Many folks are not aware that our entire education and training specifically focuses on treating all conditions of the foot and ankle, everything from an ingrown toenail to addressing complex deformities. The advanced training has afforded me the ability to offer specialized care and better options for treating for my patients.”

If you are a diabetic, Dr. Ferguson would be happy to participate in your overall care to keep your feet healthy.

With diabetes so prevalent in the community, many people are unaware of the effects this disease has on their feet. Dr. Ferguson wants people to know how important routine foot care is in preventing serious complications in diabetic patients. With toenail trimming, callus care and regular checkups, she can detect issues before they progress to major problems such as infections, wounds, and injuries.

“If diabetics develop a wound or an injury, they should be seen immediately.

A lot of times with the diabetic population, if you wait, these conditions worsen,” she says.

Dr. Ferguson makes it a point to offer immediate appointments for diabetics with concerns or issues to prevent more serious complications from occurring.

She also encourages newly diagnosed diabetics to get checked as well.

“There are many chronic inflammatory conditions of the foot and ankle that prevent people from participating in

“IF YOUR INJURY IS KEEPING YOU FROM THE THINGS YOU LOVE, FROM BEING ABLE TO WORK OR FUNCTION, LET’S GET IT TREATED SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO SUFFER.”

habits in our younger generation and wants to help keep our kids active on the field, court and dance floor.

“Ankle sprains are something I see a lot of amongst young athletes. Treating ankle sprains the right way from the beginning saves the athlete from developing long-term issues when they get older,” she says.

“You don’t realize how much you use your feet until you can’t use them,” she says. “I want people to know they do not have to suffer. Taking care of your feet sooner than later will benefit you in the long run.”

Call or visit to see what Mid Lake Foot and Ankle can do for you.

—DR. BREANNA FERGUSON

their daily activities, as well as sports and recreational activities. I recommend that if you are suffering from pain that is keeping you from the activities you enjoy, it warrants evaluation. This can often be treated with simple in-office treatment,” she says.

“Inflammatory conditions, if they are not resolved in a week or two at home, should be evaluated right away.

Sometimes these conditions can become chronic and not resolve on their own,” Dr. Ferguson says. Some of these conditions include plantar fasciitis (heel pain), tendinitis, gout and arthritis.

Dr. Ferguson especially loves treating children and teenagers.

She has an understanding and compassion for instilling healthy

Dr. Breanna Ferguson

352.432.8434 / 870 S. Duncan Drive, Tavares / Midlakefootandankle.com

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LWAKERIDGE &V INERY

INEYARDS

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UNCOMMONLY Florida’s Largest Premium Winery Available Online and at your Local Supermarket and Retail Outlets!

www.LakeridgeWinery.com 19239 US 27 North • Clermont, FL 34715 352-394-8627 • 1-800-768-WINE 034 /

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GOOD VOTED NUMBER 1 WINGS IN LAKE COUNTY !!!

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From our heart to yours.

Your kindness, imagination and caring helped us get through this tough time. Thank you to our employees for their sacrifice and support in keeping our community safe. Thank you to our residents, who trusted us while they sheltered in place.

And thank you to the neighbors and medical professionals who lifted us up with their smiles and helping hands.

Thank you from all of us at Lake Port Square.

Live the life you love at Lake Port Square. #LakePortSquareStrong 600 Lake Port Blvd., Leesburg, FL 34748 352-988-2556 | LakePortSeniorLiving.com

The Best For the Job Lake Jem Farms has been around since the early 1900s growing a number of agricultural products. Recognizing a real need for quality sod products, in the 1980s, the farm shifted focus to growing quality turf products that thrive in Central Florida.

Lake Jem Farms has built its turfgrass business on excellent turfgrass products, customer service, and product availability.

QUA

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352.383.7196 / lakejemfarms.com / 16929 County Road 48, Mount Dora

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(352) 750-9909 WWW.IMMUNITYHEALTHSPA.COM 480 N US Hwy 27/441 | Lady Lake, FL 32159 (in Kohl’s shopping plaza)

MORE

POWER TO YOU When it comes to generators, Electrical Works will hook you up.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

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“OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE OUR CUSTOMERS’ LIVES CONTINUE AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE DURING A POWER OUTAGE.” —JOE CICERI

eather experts are predicting an extremely active hurricane season, which begins June 1 and runs through November. As many as 16 named storms, eight hurricanes and four major hurricanes could make their way across the Atlantic Ocean in 2020, according to a forecast released in April by the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project.

Along with hurricanes come power outages, which result in many inconveniences for homeowners and business owners alike.

Joe Ciceri, owner of Electrical Works in Leesburg, says purchasing generators before hurricane season cannot be overstressed.

“It’s important for people to understand that having a generator installed doesn’t happen overnight,” Joe says. “You have to deal with permits, ordering materials and the installation process itself. It typically takes anywhere from three weeks to six weeks to be completely installed, so you need to plan well in advance.”

Therefore, waiting until a hurricane knocks out power is too late.

“By then, there is less availability of generators, and companies that sell generators are much busier,” he says. “If getting a generator is something you know you’re going to do, then don’t procrastinate.”

Joe does his part in helping clients prepare for tropical storms and hurricanes. Electrical Works installs both residential and commercial

generators. Generators enable businesses, from small companies to large corporations, to remain operational without enduring significant financial loss. In addition to businesses, Electrical Works also installs generators to help maintain water supply for communities and provide standby power for wastewater treatment plants.

Joe finds more homeowners are purchasing generators for both comfort and practicability. Without power, families are stuck inside a sizzling hot home and may go days without bathing or showering. Having a generator, however, means lights are on in the home, reducing the chances of someone falling or slipping in the dark. It also means keeping food from spoiling in the refrigerator and having a working radio or television to tune in the latest hurricane news coverage. Anyone with a health issue will be able to keep medical and life-support equipment running.

“Our job is to make sure our customers’ lives continue as normal as possible during a power outage,” Joe says. “They can sit in the comfort of their homes with the air conditioner and television going as if nothing ever happened.”

While business owners and homeowners cannot prevent hurricanes, they can ensure that backup electricity is available, making their businesses functional and their homes livable until a power outage if fixed.

352.460.0810 / electricalworksflorida.com / 8010 US Highway 441, Leesburg

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SHINING A LIGHT ON

HIDDEN GEMS Get out and explore some of the area’s lesser-known attractions.

STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG, THERESA CAMPBELL, JAMES COMBS

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ven in the age of coronavirus, the desire to visit interesting places never fades. That said, it’d be wise to avoid peoplepacked destinations like theme parks and beaches.

In Lake and Sumter counties, there are many fun-filled attractions slightly off the beaten path and tucked under the radar. All you have to do is dig a little deeper to reveal layers of fascinating places to experience and explore—all without those dreaded long lines.

While the area has rightfully earned the reputation as a top bassfishing destination, there’s so much more to do than fish.

Here, you can sip on award-winning wine at Florida’s largest winery. You can board a converted school bus that looks like a monster truck and explore a 2,500-acre ranch. You can visit a farm that is home to a cougar, Florida panther and many more animals.

You can visit a state park and take a narrated boat tour or see Florida’s second-oldest oak tree. You can ride a catamaran through the Dora Canal, which sportswriter Grantland Rice referred to as “the most beautiful mile of water in the world.”

The opportunities are endless. See for yourself.

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HIDDEN GEMS

NURTURE YOURSELF IN NATURE

Crooked River Preserve offers beautiful scenery.

CROOKED RIVER PRESERVE 11121 Lake Louisa Road, Clermont / 352.324.6141

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n sprawling Clermont, nature is still alive and well at Crooked River Preserve, a 1.7-mile loop trail that takes hikers past longleaf pines, blueberry bushes and live oaks. The 64-acre preserve managed by the Lake County Water Authority also offers scenic views of Lake Louisa and a canoe launch for those who would rather paddle.

TAKE A SIP

Like a fine wine, Lakeridge Winery gets better with time.

LAKERIDGE WINERY & VINEYARDS 19239 U.S. Hwy. 27, Clermont / 352.394.8627 / lakeridgewinery.com

S

ituated among the rolling hills of south Lake County is Florida’s largest winery, where the morning sun shines bright, lighting up long rows of Muscadine grapes.

Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, which sits on 127 acres, attracts visitors from near and far who wish to sample and purchase the company’s award-winning wine. They also take tours inside Lakeridge’s dusty-brown, Mediterranean-style facility, allowing them to see the large stainless-steel tanks where wine is fermented and stored prior to bottling.

On Aug. 15-16, Lakeridge is hosting its popular grape stomp.

“It’s a unique experience for Central Florida residents and something they look forward to every year,” says Sam Cloward, event manager at Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS PRESIDENTS HALL OF FAME See life-size wax figures of former presidents, as well as a miniature replica of the White House. The Presidents Hall of Fame is temporarily closed. Check website for re-opening information.

123 U.S. Hwy. 27, Clermont / 352.394-2836 / thepresidentshalloffame.com

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LAKE LOUISA STATE PARK This park offers it all, from hiking and horseback riding to swimming and camping.

7305 U.S. Hwy. 27, Clermont / 352.503.4489 /lakelouisastatepark.com

FEEL THE SWEETNESS Showcase of Citrus slices up fun for the entire family.

SHOWCASE OF CITRUS 5010 U.S. Hwy. 27, Clermont 352.394.4377 / showcaseofcitrus.com

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PLAY A NEW GAME

Mind Immersions allows you to experience virtual reality gaming.

MIND IMMERSIONS 2410 Hwy. 50 Suite B, Clermont / 407.559.1090 / mindimmersions.com

F

or anyone 40 and older, the mention of the word arcade conjures up images of a bustling room filled with games such as Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, electronic basketball, pinball machines and air hockey.

Enter Mind Immersions and have your reality rocked. At this virtual reality arcade, you’re no longer playing games on a screen. You’re actually in the game. Grab your Bluetooth steering wheel, put on your headset goggles and test your driving skills in a simulated race. Twirl your six shooters and see if you can survive an Old West-style shootout. Use two pistols to knock down bloodthirsty zombies and see if you can save the world from a zombie apocalypse.

Four private bays for solo gaming and a large battle arena make for an adrenaline-packed gaming experience. Neon light strips that run diagonally, up, and down provide an aesthetically pleasing futuristic vibe gamers wouldn’t find in arcades of yesterday.

SOUTHERN HILL FARMS Pick blueberries and peaches.

16651 Schofield Road, Clermont / 407.986.5806 / southernhillfarms.com

t’s fitting that a school bus takes visitors on an educational tour to learn about Florida citrus.

Well, it is actually a modified school bus featuring monster truck tires. And that vehicle is one of the main draws to Showcase of Citrus, a roadside attraction situated on a 2,500-acre ranch where visitors can pick fruit, eat slushies made of natural orange juice and pet a variety of farm animals.

During the Swamp Tour, guests hop aboard the 40-passenger converted school bus and ride around the property, which is filled with citrus groves, swampland and blueberry fields. A tour guide informs them about the 50 varieties of citrus that grow there. Be prepared to see exotic animals that call the ranch home, including two zebras, water buffalo and bison. One part of the tour goes directly through a swamp.

Aside from the tour, visitors can feed corn and carrots to a variety of farm animals—a miniature horse, donkey, pigs, emu and sheep. There’s even a kangaroo. Between November and June, guests can pick ripe citrus that grows on the property.

“We have people who come from as far away as England and Brazil,” says Jojo Pretto, manager.

“They love going fruit picking, riding the monster truck, and eating our delicious creamsicles and slushies.”

CITRUS TOWER Enjoy a birdseye view of the Clermont landscape from atop the 226-foot tall tower.

141 S. U.S. Hwy. 27, Clermont / 352.394.4061 / citrustower.com

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HIDDEN GEMS

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME

Tour the historic Baker House that was built in 1890.

BAKER HOUSE 6106 C.R. 44A, Wildwood / 352.461.0134

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he stately Baker House is a beautiful gem on five acres where Spanish moss dangles from ancient oak trees. It was the home of David Hume Baker, a state senator from Kentucky. David and his wife Mary moved to Florida in 1886 to benefit from “Orange Fever,” a term given to Florida’s booming citrus industry at the time.

David built the two-story home in 1890. Five generations of the Baker family lived in the home until it was donated to the City of Wildwood in September 2012. Since then, volunteers have maintained the home and raised money for restoration projects. In November 2019, the city decided to hold more events at the home and began offering tours.

GET DOWN ON THE FARM

Uncle Donald’s Farm features interesting animals.

UNCLE DONALD’S FARM 2713 Lake Griffin Road, Lady Lake 352.753.2882 / uncledonaldsfarm.com

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ncle Donald’s Farm is a picturesque farm for families to enjoy being outdoors to see goats, several species of Florida tortoises, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, deer, a cougar, a panther, and other animals up close. It is open 10am to 3pm Thursdays through Saturdays.

“People love seeing the animals, and our hayrides are popular, too, even in the heat. People love going on the hayride around the pasture and seeing cows come up,” says Donna Morris, who owns the farm with her two sisters, Jeanette and Beth Morris. “You can hand-feed the cows; it’s a fun country experience.”

Admission ($10 plus tax or free for children ages 2 and younger) includes a farm animal encounter, walk through the wildlife area, hayride and use of the picnic area. You may feed many of the farm animals with feed purchased at the farm. The farm has group rates for field trips and birthday parties.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS LAKE DAVID PARK Enjoy a picturesque view of Lake David and see a variety of wildlife.

450 S. Lake Ave., Groveland / 352.429.2141 groveland-fl.gov/facilities/facility/details/lake-david-park-6

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WEBSTER WESTSIDE FLEA MARKET Find great deals on furniture, musical instruments, electronics, pet supplies and much more. Mondays, 7am-1pm. Sundays beginning in November. See website for special events.

516 NW 3rd St., Webster / 352.793.9877 / websterwestsidefleamarket.com

PLOW INTO HISTORY

See restored tractors at Paquette’s.

PAQUETTE’S HISTORICAL FARMALL TRACTOR 615 S. Whitney Road, Leesburg / 352.728.3588

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aquette’s is dedicated to preserving International Harvester farm equipment. Open to the public since 2010, it is home to more than 200 restored IH tractors, farm implements and memorabilia, some dating back to the 1920s. The museum hosts many events, including a Tractor Show & Pull. The campus has a show barn for entertainment and weddings.

JUST PARK IT

Lake Griffin State Park offers hiking, camping and boat rides.

LAKE GRIFFIN STATE PARK 3089 U.S. Hwy. 441, Fruitland Park / 352.360.6760

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ho knew that natural wonders could be so close to a bustling highway? Such is the case at Lake Griffin State Park.

For starters, Lake Griffin State Park is home to Florida’s second-oldest oak tree, estimated to be between 300 and 500 years old. The tree is home to several species of birds, and historians speculate the tree may have been a landmark for Timucua Native Americans who frequented the area before settlement.

Two trails give hikers an up-close view of Florida’s natural habitats, including swamp and sandhill terrain. Along the way, visitors

may see racoons, bobcats, squirrels, opossum, and hawks.

Other popular attractions include a guided pontoon boat tour of Dead River Marsh, a tributary of Lake Griffin, during the fall to spring months. It’s as educational as it is fun because guides share interesting facts about Florida’s flora and fauna. Kayak and canoe rentals also are available Thursdays to Sundays. Single kayaks cost $10 per hour, and canoes and double kayaks cost $12 per hour.

A 40-site campground allows visitors to stay a few nights, while picnic tables and a playground are available for families.

DADE BATTLEFIELD HISTORIC STATE PARK See where the first battle of the Second Seminole War took place.

7200 County Road 603, Bushnell / 352.793.4781 / floridastateparks.org/dade-battlefield-historic-state-park

VENETIAN GARDENS PARK Get wet in the splash pad, walk over wooden bridges, and enjoy gorgeous views of Lake Harris.

109 E. Dixie St., Leesburg / 352.728.9886 / leesburgflorida.gov

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HIDDEN GEMS

SEE THE GREAT OUTDOORS An abundance of activities await at Lake Norris Conservation Area.

LAKE NORRIS CONSERVATION AREA 22437 Orange Blossom Lane, Eustis / 352.343.3777

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ake Norris Conservation Area in Eustis is sure to delight every lover of nature and animals. The area is home to Florida black bears and a number of different birds, and hosts one of the Florida’s largest populations of ospreys, also known as “sea hawks,” which can have a wingspan up to 70 inches. Alligators, gopher tortoises and various types of snakes have also been spotted. You can also hike, fish, bicycle or rent a canoe, all while photographing and enjoying the nature surrounding you.

DO WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT Catamarans take adventurous people through the famous Dora Canal.

CATBOAT ADVENTURE TOURS 148 Charles Ave., Mount Dora / 352.325.1442

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rab a friend and hop on one of CatBoat Adventure Tours’s 2-person catamarans. Expert tour guides will lead you through Lake Dora and the Dora Jungle Canal, where you will see wildlife in the 2,000 year-old cypress tree-lined waterway and hear about the history of the area in a 2-hour tour. The tour begins at Mount Dora Boating Center & Marina near downtown Mount Dora, where you can shop before your tour. The Dora Canal has been called “The Most Beautiful Mile of Water in the World,” according to CatBoat Tours’ website. As you and your partner power your catamarans at high speed across Lake Dora, you will see nature at its finest and learn interesting history before pedaling into Lake Eustis. The fully-narrated tours are also available through Lake Beauclair and Lake Carlton during sunset hours.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS LAKE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART See changing fine art exhibits and enroll in art classes for children and adults.

213 W Ruby Street, Tavares / 352.483.2900

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LAKE HARRIS LODGE Take advantage of fine dining and rustic accommodations on Lake Harris.

11924 Lane Park Road, Tavares / 518.582.8333

GO UP THE RIVER WITH A PADDLE

Adventure Outdoor Paddle offers paddleboarding.

ADVENTURE OUTDOOR PADDLE 210 E. Ruby Street, Tavares / 352.317.5012

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dventure Outdoor Paddle visitors enjoy tours of the Dora Canal, one of the most scenic routes on the Harris Chain of Lakes, all while paddleboarding. Kayaks are also available for rent, or you can sign up for one of the locals’ favorite tours, “Paddle and Bru,” which combines paddling and craft beers.

GO ARTSY

Beautiful art exhibits are prominently displayed at the Modernism Museum.

MODERNISM MUSEUM 145 E. 4th Ave. Mount Dora / 352.385.0034

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long with featured exhibits, Mount Dora’s Modernism Museum also hosts a number of events, both musical and art-related. Events scheduled for earlier this year have been postponed due to COVID-19, including “Dine and Learn, - a lesson in visual literacy and understanding art” presented by UCF professor Robert Reedy, who “shares how a bridge is built between contemporary artwork and the viewer.” The event is a discussion that allows art viewers to better appreciate and comprehend the messages within artwork. Another postponed event is a performance

by Per Danielsson, a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, writer and educator from Stockholm, Sweden. The current exhibit at the museum is “The Ultimate David Bowie Memphis Collection,” which includes objects from the estate of David Bowie. The exhibition includes over 75 examples of Memphis objects, many from Bowie’s private collection. Past exhibits have included artwork by Wharton Esherick and Wendell Castle, both of whom saw the potential for beauty in functional objects and who create furniture sculptures.

DISCOVERY GARDENS Marvel at the beautiful flora and fauna in a well-designed botanical garden.

1951 Woodlea Road, Tavares / 352.343.4101

JONES BROTHERS SEAPLANES Enjoy the exhilarating feeling of taking off from and landing on the water.

210 E Ruby Street, Tavares / 352.508.1800

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HOW’S THE REAL ESTATE MARKET?

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he state of our local real estate market is top of mind for both residents and those looking to buy or sell a home.

ERA Grizzard Real Estate, Lake & Sumter’s top-selling real estate agency, weighs in during these unique times.

Is now a good time to buy?

Interest rates for mortgages are historically low, which is good news for buyers and a motivation to consider seriously. However, with fewer homes on the market right now, it’s prudent to arrange financing ahead of time and present a strong offer with a pre-approval letter. Working with an experienced, local REALTOR® can help you navigate both the home buying and negotiation processes.

Is now a good time to sell? We are seeing real demand from qualified buyers who need to make a move. At the same time, home values in Lake & Sumter Counties have risen on average, about 5.5% compared to this time last year, and homes from April to June were selling in about 63 days.

However, the market and economy are changing daily, and the concern for potential foreclosures is there. If we see an increase in inventory due to foreclosures and a decrease in buyer demand due to the economy and unemployment, we could see a potential softening in price and decline in the market. The best place to start is with a valuation of your home and a market analysis from a local REALTOR®. We’re in a seller’s market, and you might be surprised to learn how much equity you have in your home. If you’re considering

selling, now could be the ideal time before conditions possibly change.

Are we at risk of seeing a repeat of the 2007-2010 housing crash?

It’s important to note that today’s economic impacts are due to a global health pandemic, while the Great Recession had different underlying conditions. During the crash, we saw questionable lending, high inventory, and speculation on investment properties. Today, we have low inventory and more responsible lending practices. We entered the beginning of the year in an active market, and while home sales have decreased, 4,295 homes still sold in Lake & Sumter Counties between January and June.

How has the home buying or selling process changed?

Technology has made it easier than ever to view homes through video and 3D home tours. We can also conduct paperless transactions and virtual closings. Throughout these times, the real estate industry has remained an essential service in the state of Florida, and we’ve continued to serve our customers in the way that makes them most comfortable.

As a homeowner, what trends should I monitor? Real estate is local. Be an informed homeowner by keeping track of your home value and the local market conditions, including recent sales and home values. We’ve made this more accessible than ever with a complimentary tool that provides you with a monthly digest of this crucial information. Access your home’s dashboard at: ERAGrizzard.com/MyDashboard

ERAGrizzard.com | Lake & Sumter Offices: Clermont (352) 394-5900, Leesburg (352) 787-6966, Mount Dora (352) 735-4433, The Villages, FL (352) 259-4900 *The market information provided was obtained from Stellar MLS and consisted of Lake & Sumter County market activity

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villages PEOPLE. PLACES. EVENTS.

Pony up

Mustang owners prefer to take the back roads

Curtain call Katie Belle’s says goodbye after 23 years

Hot stuff

Villagers find ways to play all summer long

Polish girl

Villages author Linda Lee Keenan shares her interest in WWII era Poland

IN THE VILL AGES

More than chump change

Villagers are saving money with less impulse buys due to COVID-19 BOOK CLUB

Out West Bookworm Book Club revisits pioneer times

MEET A VILLAGER

PEO PLE

Linda Lee Keenan

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Local author writes historical fiction set in WWII-era Poland.

• Author of “With Love From Poland” and “The Journal”.

• Resident of the Village of Fernandina.

• Originally from Buffalo, New York.

• Lives part time in Connecticut.

• Has two daughters.

How did you first get interested in World War II? I was a late college

in Yonkers, New York, where there actually are a lot of Polish people.

student and I decided to have a history major, and World War II just really captured my interest.

What is “The Journal” about? An

Did you travel to Poland to learn so much about the culture? It was from research and a fair amount of intuition. I would love to visit Krakow especially because that's where the book is stationed.

Why’d you choose Poland as the setting of your books? That's where WWII started, and I always like to start my research at the beginning.

I became enamored of the Polish customs and the fact that they didn't really have the help of other nations when WWII started. What they were able to do on their own before other countries could get there was just amazing.

What is “With Love From Poland” about? I crafted a fictional family around that time (WWII) and imagined that they formed an underground to get their family and friends out of Poland, and they landed

interior designer in 2018 Manhattan decides to research her genealogy and finds that she had a Swedish uncle who was a diplomat in WWII Berlin who also formed an underground. That’s fashioned after Raoul Wallenberg who was a real Swedish diplomat.

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What’s your favorite season? Springtime.

Any guilty pleasures? Chocolate chip ice cream.

Are you planning on writing anything else? I just started another book which is a story of mysterious happenings that I’m collecting from people, like if you were saved mysteriously maybe by a guardian angel. So far, I have 10 stories and I want 50, and it's garnering a lot of interest. That's called “Extraordinary Experiences.”

What do you like to read? I like science fiction a lot because it expands your brain.

Where can people find your books? They’re on Amazon, Barnes & Noble online and Ingram Books in softcover and ebook.

Do you know an interesting Villager?

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Favorite TV show? I really like Amazon's series called “Bosch.” It's about a private detective in LA.

Email victoria@akersmediagroup.com

Photo provided by Linda Lee Keenan.

VITAL STATS

INTERVIEWER: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

Your solution for

everything

creative

vid eo p ro d u ctio n website social m ed ia manage m e nt b ran d i ng o n li ne re p u tatio n manage m e nt p h otog rap hy

AKERSMEDIA 352.787.4112

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IN THE VILLAGES

CO MMENTARY

A burning hole in our pockets Villagers forced to curtail impulse buying.

STORY: JOE ANGIONE

ust like shoppers in most of the nation, Villagers have been forced by the coronavirus pandemic to modify their impulse buying.

Fear of corona infection and state lockdowns have kept stores and service venues of many kinds closed for months. And online shopping isn’t much help. Villagers want to feel the merchandise and personally judge its quality. So, the lockdowns have left a lot of unspent money in their pockets.

Another aspect of the pandemic that has limited our spending on impulse purchases are the many employment layoffs that have forced a tight focus on essential purchases, while avoiding trivial items.

I’m a big-time shopper. Regular store visits are entertainment for me. Although my shopping trips are usually prompted by a few planned purchases, I can’t resist buying something new and different...and most likely expensive. During Florida’s lockdown, it was painful for me to sit idly at home, surrounded only by things purchased long ago, and now not so interesting or exciting anymore.

I was watching drab days go by with little opportunity to visit stores. I was missing

the thrill of seeing and touching displays of fresh, new merchandise. I was denied being caught up in the excitement of acquiring new things. I couldn’t satisfy my longing for items that might brighten up the daily grind of keeping safe distances, frequent hand washings, wearing masks and avoiding gatherings of friends and family.

But, through all this boredom, I realized that something very good was beginning to happen. I was saving money, not just small change, but big bucks. I found I wasn’t running out of cash anymore. I was making fewer runs to the ATM than I did when I shopped mainly for the pleasure of spending money.

I began to feel good. My checking account was growing fat. This rekindled a sense of financial well-being that was lost during my big-spending days. I realized the satisfaction that comes from moderation, restraint and doing without things. I had renewed confidence that I could survive being denied things I formally regarded as crucial to my happiness. I was becoming a responsible consumer with a new resolve to save for some future “rainy day.”

But now the local economy is open again and the old compulsion to spend is heating up. It seems that at my age that rainy day is already here.

Joe Angione loves to share stories of his adventures.

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

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BOOK CLUB

CO MMENTARY

‘The Pioneers’ The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought the American Ideal West.

STORY: DOROTHY W. VON BROOK

hen I first heard the title “The Pioneers,” I thought of the westerns I have watched on TV, but this book is a great deal more than that. “The Pioneers”

by David McCullough is a great read but also teaches you about the Northwest Territory and the beginning of settlement of the American West.

When the Revolutionary War ended, John Adams and John Jay went over to Paris in 1783 to sign the peace treaty with Britain and thereby recognize the “new” United States. Due to the skill of these two diplomats, the United

States government now owned 265,878 square miles of untouched wilderness and the United States had doubled in size. To give you an idea of how vast the Northwest Territory was, remember that five states would come from this territory: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.

At this time in American history, we had a Congress, but no president.

Therefore, a new ordinance was needed to establish the details of how these new states would enter the union. This became known as the Northwest Ordinance. The three important parts of the Northwest Ordinance were freedom of religion, free universal education and the prohibition of slavery. If you recall,

slavery existed in every one of the thirteen colonies.

It all began with a meeting of Revolutionary War veterans in Boston. The Veterans came up with a plan that would provide them land in the Northwest Territory (Ohio) as payment for their military service.

Manasseh Cutler, a Massachusetts minister, led the way in opening up the Northwest Territory.

McCullough does a colorful job of describing the men and women who were the first to migrate to Ohio.

He tells us about the harsh realities of their life and how these brave people dealt with floods, fire, wolves, bears and their relationship with the native people.

Dorothy W. Von Brook is a resident of Calumet Grove in The Villages.

“The Pioneers” can be found at Target, Books-A-Million and Barnes & Noble.

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FEATURE

Lots of choices for ‘activated’ Villages Want to have some fun? Check out 20 ways to enjoy life in The Villages.

STORY: LEIGH NEELY

he promise of active, comfortable and fulfilling retirement helped The Villages become the fastest-growing city in the United States, and that promise is being kept. The developers have worked diligently to phase in activities as restrictions of COVID-19 have eased.

Golf Many residents of The Villages came for the golf. After all, free golf for life is quite a draw. This includes playing free on 40 executive courses and membership at all 12 championship courses and country clubs. The Villages also offers two specialty courses and three golf academies. All those facilities give golfers ample opportunities to play challenging courses and also find a variety of ways to improve. In addition to the original designs by Nancy Lopez and Arnold Palmer, Villagers can enjoy professional golf tournaments, along with daily rounds with friends.

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2 Pickleball It’s better than Wimbledon!

With more than 100 courts, pickleball is one of the most popular sports. The fun and exciting game with the dimpled ball provides the serious competition of tennis with a smaller court and lower impact on joints.

It’s also a great multigenerational game. Players say it’s addictive, and the amount of pickleball activity indicates why The Villages is referred to as the “Mecca” of the popular sport.

Arts & Crafts

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These indoor activities are currently available subject to rules pertaining to COVID-19.

Bring your own equipment and supplies and practice social distancing. One rule to note: only one person is allowed in the kiln room or craft closet at a time. If you have an arts or craft interest, chances are very good there’s a group of like-minded people wanting to join you. Check the Recreation News or groups for meeting times and places.

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Model Yacht Squadron What’s more fun than spending an afternoon sailing? Not much! The Villages Model Yacht Squadron (TVMYS) welcomes beginners, experienced sailors and interested spectators. Members race five different classes of radiocontrolled boats at Ashland Pond behind the Lynnhaven Lane post office. “These models range from 18” to 5’ in length, both classic and state-of-the-art yachts,” says TVMYS Commodore John Goldsworthy. “Our club membership has doubled over the past four years, reflecting the growing interest in sailing and sailboat racing.” Go sail away after checking out tvmys.org for information and dates for regattas. John adds, “Sailboat racing is a challenging hobby since it involves both strategic and tactical thinking and no two racing days are alike.”

Nature Trails The beautiful trails throughout the community provide easy access to Florida nature and picturesque scenery. Enjoy a peaceful stroll, ride your bike for miles or take a hike on beautiful trails. You may even want to take a few minutes in the quiet to meditate.

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Air Gun Activities begin in July for those interested in air-gun shooting, in which participants shoot pellets powered by compressed air. There are organized shooting competitions, camaraderie and good sportsmanship. Firearm safety is key and family fun is also an objective. Members also compete in The Villages Senior Games. Pistols and air rifles are used by club members. Enjoy yourself while developing hand-eye coordination and visual skills.

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Archery The merry men and women of The Villages Archery Club are dedicated to the sport of kings. Hitting the bull’s eye is the goal, but enjoyment of the outdoors and fun physical activity are the benefits. Though archery may take only a little while to learn, mastery the sport takes regular practice and developing skill. Getting started is as easy as checking the website villagesarcheryclub.com for information and details.

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9 FEATURE

Softball

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It’s not just a sport, it’s an adventure! As the premier senior softball league in the country, The Villages Softball Program has everything from neighborhood leagues to Division I and Division II senior leagues. Play at the Knudson Softball Fields, Saddlebrook or the Buffalo Glen Softball Complex. It’s obvious this is one of the favorite pastimes of Villagers and play is enjoyed throughout the year by about 3,000 players. Don’t forget the hot dogs and other treats available at full concession stands during league play.

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Gone Fishin’

Lawn Bowls It originated in Egypt, made it to England in the 13th century and is very popular in Central Florida. Lawn bowls, or bowling as most people call it, is a sport that uses skill and strategy more than physical activity. There’s no equipment costs and teams of one, two, three or four people can play. If you think this might be the perfect game for you, check out thevillageslbc.org for information or drop in at the court at the Rio Grande Neighborhood Center.

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It’s Florida—great weather year-round for fishing. In The Villages, you’ll find a number of excellent fishing spots. Want to fish, but don’t have gear? Check out the loaner rod program organized by The Villages Freshwater Fishing Club and the Recreation Department.

You still need a fishing license, and don’t ignore a “No Fishing” sign when you see one. Great fishing spots are available in Lake and Sumter counties, most near recreation centers.

Kickball

Water Volleyball

It’s simple. You learned the rules in elementary school, and it’s fun. Playing kickball is a great way to exercise just as you did during recess at school. If you know the basic rules of baseball—or even if you don’t, you’re ready to play. Check with the recreation department for details on playing times and places.

This is one of the most popular and invigorating sports in The Villages. It’s great exercise and good, clean fun! Moving in water means less stress on joints and terrific benefits for muscles. There’s also the advantage of enjoying competition and being with—or making—friends.

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Villages Camera Club

Billiards/Snooker

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Did you know a pool tabletop is green because the game was originally played on grass? Way back when, it was a lawn game kings enjoyed.

The Villages Billiards Club also includes Snooker as part of tournaments and play. There are billiards rooms in most of the recreation centers. A sport that calls for manners, many players believe it’s a game to be played for honor, not money.

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Though this group doesn’t meet in the summer, it’s a great place to increase your knowledge of photography and develop your skills. Members are encouraged to join the Photographic Society of America, an organization catering to all levels of photographers. Whether you do casual family photos or enjoy developing the art of photography, there’s a place for you with this group. See villages.photoclubservices.com for information.

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Darts

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Villagers can play darts, a game that dates back some 700 years, in a variety of places. Dart Baseball, also enjoyed by Villages, was brought to the public by Life magazine in 1941, but the first dartball board was introduced in 1923.

The Villages Grown

Specialty Courses Marsh View Pitch & Putt and Feeney Putt & Play are now a part of the golfing world in The Villages. The Marsh View 18-hole course includes a dedicated putting green. It’s a walking-only course in the midst of nature, and clubs and carry bags can be rented at the starter shack. Golfers can work on their short game at Feeney Putt & Play. On an island, this course is also cart free. The Feeney course is the first course professionally designed for putting and includes two nine-hole putting courses.

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Knowing a healthy lifestyle includes the food we eat, The Villages Grown produces fruits and vegetables grown on site. This hydroponically grown produce grows in water with a nutrientrich feeder system. This means plants grow up to 50 times faster than those in soil and they’re stronger and healthier thanks to the greenhouse environment.

Seeds come from non-genetically engineered providers to ensure good plant stock. Taking it a step further, The Villages Grown has two laboratories to test the level of nutrients in the produce to ensure the community enjoys the best food possible.

Clubs Though many of the more than 2,000 clubs in The Villages currently are not meeting or are meeting via Zoom, it’s important to note they exist.

Whatever your interest, there’s a group of like-minded people who enjoy getting together and participating. From art to Zumba, you’ll find a place for you to pursue that special hobby or activity you enjoy.

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Beach Tennis A combination of tennis, badminton and pickleball, beach tennis is one of the fastest growing sports in The Villages. The game uses a smaller, sand court and a higher net for teams of three per side. Scoring is done like tennis. Courts are being built throughout The Villages. Check the The Villages Recreation & Parks News for places and times to play.

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Bird Watching Florida is a bird watchers haven, and The Villages is their paradise. The Village Birders meet monthly and schedule walks in various preserves and wetlands to seek out beautiful birds. Gary Babic is president of The Village Birders, and he says the beauty of birdwatching is you can enjoy doing it in your own backyard. “This time of year, the birds you will see are year-round residents because the migrants have left… Behavior is fun because it changes during the season,” Gary says.

“Rather than run to a book, take time to look at the bird! Take out your phone and take a photo… then you can put a name on the bird.” Walks are scheduled on the club’s website (villagebirders.org) beginning in October. Within the community, walk the trails of the Sharon Rose Wiechens Preserve or Hogeye Preserve and others. If having a pet bird is more your style, check out the Parrots R Us Club.

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Note: For complete information and instructions, see The Villages Recreation & Parks News.

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SOCIAL CLUB SPOTLIGHT

CLUB

Gotta gallop Villagers love taking powerful ponies on back roads.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

he Ford Mustang went on sale to the public on April 17, 1964 and was officially introduced the following week at the World's Fair in New York City.

Gary Jones of The Villages happened to be at the fair that day. He was instantly smitten.

“From that day on, I had always wanted a Mustang,” he says.

That dream came true in 2014 for Gary and his wife Janine when the couple purchased a ruby red convertible at Ford of Clermont.

Now they are helping rev up excitement for others who enjoy these tire-smoking machines.

Gary and Janine are members of The Villages Mustang Club, a group of like-minded people who marvel at the iconic muscle car’s awesome design and amazing performance. The club, formed in 2007, has 300 members whose vehicles run the gamut from fully

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restored 1964 models to newer Shelby Mustangs and everything in-between.

“We have every decade represented,” Gary says. “Some of our members even own two Mustangs. They use one to drive around and use the other one strictly for shows.”

Gary and Janine are tasked with organizing monthly backroad cruises that take members to Central Florida restaurants and attractions.

“We’ll read a restaurant’s reviews, find out where it’s located and make sure we can find a backroad to get to it,” Gary says. “We don’t travel on highways or interstates. We’ve had as many as 73 club members participate in one of our backroad cruises.”

After eating at a restaurant, they visit a nearby attraction.

In the past, club members have explored the depths of Silver Springs aboard a glass-bottom boat, seen elephants up-close and personal at Two Tails Ranch in Williston and devoured pancakes inside the Old Spanish Sugar Mill at De Leon Springs State Park in Deland.

Of course, they’ve also had some adrenaline-filled adventures. Last October, members traveled more than

Photos were provided by Joe Raviele, club president.

600 miles one way to drive the famed Tail of the Dragon, an aptly named winding Smoky Mountains road that has 318 curves in 11 miles. Every two years, they travel to Daytona International Speedway and run three parade laps around the track.

“We’re fortunate that we get to do fun things together,” says Joe Raviele, who serves as club president. “The best thing about our club is the camaraderie. It’s a very welcoming group of wonderful people who share a common interest.”

In addition to fun activities, Joe wants the club to become active in charitable endeavors. Several months ago, he was contacted by a woman whose husband has dementia and lives in a memory-care center in The Villages. The patient is a former Mustang owner, and his wife requested that several members drive their vehicles to the facility.

The club formed a 56-car parade and completed three laps around The Villages Regional Hospital to honor hospital workers’ sacrifice during the coronavirus pandemic. Then, they drove to the memory-care center.

“We got out of our cars and went up to the window to wave to the man,” Joe says. “We made him an honorary member. He was very appreciative.”

In the future, Joe hopes to organize a cross-country drive that begins in San Diego and ends at the Mustang Owner’s Museum in Concord, North Carolina. Along the way, they’ll stop at food banks and donate time and money. He plans to ask executives at Ford to sponsor the ride.

“Hunger in this country is a major issue,” Joe says. “I think doing a cross-country trip would be wonderful because we could bring in press at each city or town we stop at, and that would help drive up donations. We could also invite local Mustang clubs to assist us.”

Until then, Joe will continue enjoying his yellow 2017 Mustang GT convertible rated at 435 horsepower.

“It looks great and handles like a dream,” Joe says.

And that’s why, after 56 years of production, there remains legions of loyal Mustang fans.

IF YOU GO

The Villages Mustang Club Meetings are held on the first Friday of each month at Eisenhower Recreation Center.

Visit villagesmustangclub.com or call Joe Raviele at 401.829.8778.

Want to see your club in Social Club Spotlight?

Send your suggestions to james@akersmediagroup.com.

JAMES COMBS

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ENTERTAINMENT

VENUE

End of a reign Katie Belle’s was quite a gal.

legant and refined, as welcoming as a lonely innkeeper.

Katie Belle was the undisputed queen when she appeared in The Villages 22 years ago, back when County Road 466 was two lanes and there weren’t any traffic signals between Lady Lake and Avenida Central. No Lake Sumter Landing, no Brownwood, no hospital, no polo complex, no homes in Marion nor Sumter, one softball diamond, no upscale dining and entertainment under one roof.

So, you can imagine the buzz in June 1996 when The Villages Vice President of Operations Mark Morse confirmed plans to build a theater, bowling center and restaurant/saloon at the corner of Alverez and Del Mar avenues?

Katie Belle’s Saloon and Music Hall cost an estimated $9 million, but the 17,000 who lived in The Villages in 1997 will tell you she was worth the wait. And it’s a pretty sure bet the Morse family recouped its investment.

The residents-only restaurant with dance floor, spacious stage and three bars was everything promised – and more.

“Honestly, when I walked in for the first time I thought, ‘This place looks like something you would find at Disney. It had an awesome old-time saloon feel, awesome decorations and a wonderful atmosphere,” says Mark

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Photo by Nicole Hamel

STORY: GARY CORSAIR

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ENTERTAINMENT

Giblin, former employee of The Villages Media Group.

Giblin wasn’t the only one who appreciated the antiques and knickknacks hand-picked by The Villages Director of Design Sharon Morse.

Several items disappeared. The remaining artifacts were mounted to the walls.

That was just one unexpected occurrence. Upstairs, the combination of pool tables, dartboards and alcohol resulted in more than one altercation.

The pool tables were removed.

Downstairs, all was well.

“Katie Belle's was very nice! It reminded me so much of the Cheyenne Saloon at Church Street in Orlando.

I loved that place. Gorgeous, 100% super! Katie Belle's was just as classy...beautiful decor, great ambience, and the music was quality, plus a nice dance floor. It was a thoroughly fun and lovely place to go,” says BonnieJean Price.

Atmosphere and exceptional food set Katie Belle’s apart from the other 15 restaurants in The Villages. Hard to believe today, but options were limited when she opened in early January 1998.

“We loved the atmosphere and it was a great place to meet and get together with friends,” says Vicky Butler, who moved to The Villages

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from New York in 1995. “It was the place to take guests due to the unique atmosphere,” says Rich Sobieray, Sr., who moved to Florida from Ohio.

Even the outside held appeal.

Countless group photos were snapped in front of a covered wagon. And most everyone read the “historical marker” detailing the pretend history of the building with the turn-of-thecentury façade.

Folklore had Katie Belle’s opening in 1851 to cater to “…the increasing number of traveling businessmen and the growth of the cattle industry...” The Van Patten House was supposedly named after the principal investor, John Decker Van Patten of

Jacksonville. “The hotel saloon, called the ‘Katie Belle’ after Van Patten’s wife, became a magnet for dusty, sunburned cowboys, gamblers and the men who were fast becoming cattle barons in central Florida.”

That history appeared in a “Special Historical Issue of the Spanish Springs Gazette, a compendium of pseudofactual, quasi-historical hyperbole and altogether fanciful tall tales depicting what might have been the incomplete folklore of a town that never was but very well could have been considering all the time and effort we have spent to make it seem real for your amusement and entertainment.”

Katie Belle’s was actually named for the mother of The Villages founder Harold Schwartz. Fittingly, Katie Belle’s was the site of birthday celebrations for Schwartz thrown by female admirers known as Harold’s Angels. Lots of people celebrated at Katie Belle’s.

The food was great!” says Vicky.

“Best restaurant in the area with no competition. Their prime rib used to compare in size to Alfie’s,” says Rich.

Katie Belle’s was a must-visit in the days before The Villages dug a lake, built a four-lane bridge and constructed a second town square.

“When we had company from New York we always took them to Katie

“WE LOVED THE ATMOSPHERE AND IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO MEET AND GET TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS.” —V I C K Y B U T L E R

Photos provided by © Donna Moore Diva Legends, donnamooremusic.com

Belle’s. They all had a great time! We had many great times and loved the entertainment and dancing. We had dinner upstairs with family when our aunt Josie moved down! We even had anniversary dinners there and went to eat breakfast on many occasions,” Rich said.

Early on, patrons enjoyed a table-side salad wheel, a concept the Morse family employed in their pre-Villages days at the Country Kitchen at Brownwood Acres in Torch Lake, Michigan where the staff motto was “The handshake of the host determines the taste of the roast.” Sunday morning brunch was also a treat.

So was the entertainment. The 9-member Katie Bar The Door Band, fronted by a Three’s Company

“IT WAS THE PLACE TO TAKE GUESTS DUE TO THE UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE” — R I C H S O B I E R AY, S R .

of talent – Tab Hunter lookalike Norman Lee, sexy redhead Kathleen Kane, and silky blonde Hunter Britton. frequently filled all 800 seats. “Norm, Kathleen, Hunter, bass, guitar, keyboards, drums, sax, trumpet. That was the big band,” recalled Mark Rewis, who replaced the original bassist.

Norman Lee quickly emerged as the star. “Entertainment wise, Norman Lee was King,” says Sobieray. And he had an album to prove it. The album of “country music with a Caribbean rhythm” sold well in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown; not so well outside.

Lee was Ricky Nelson, Sinatra and Elvis rolled into one. Norm could get people out of their seats.

The dance floor filled when the band performed the Boot Scootin’ Boogie, or Electric Slide. The late-night crowd often included lonely residents looking for love.

“I remember one time, there was a lady who swore I looked like Leonardo DiCaprio. She would not leave me alone. I looked nothing like Leonardo DiCaprio,” says Giblin, who was 18 at the time.

Some insist Katie Belle’s was frequented by single gals searching for sugar daddies and swinging couples interested in swapping.

Stories persist of Villagers pulling house keys from a pile and going home with whoever owned the keys they selected. “Add that story to the famed Midnite Cowboy who didn’t have to throw in his keys,” says Rich.

“Truth or fable? Probably both.” He then adds, “I am glad I was never on the prowl.”

Rumors of Viagra-induced hanky panky were fed by the publication of Leisureville, which included boasts by a character who called himself Mr. Midnight who claimed his only worry was having enough Viagra for his nightly conquests in The Villages.

Alex Wayne, a former newspaper reporter who frequented Katie Belle’s, didn’t see anything sleazy about Katie Belle’s. “[Crazy] Gringos was where the ‘lounge lizards’ went — Katie’s was just folks having a good time. I enjoyed it. It was a genuinely a nice place to hang out after work.”

For more than a decade, Katie Belle’s was the undisputed good time gal. But no queen rules forever. When did she lose her crown? “When Lake Sumter opened. More choices. But more choices began to surround Katie Belle’s. Longhorn, Carrabba’s, et cetera,” Rich says. “They could never sustain the competition from other fine food choices.”

Eager to promote a Villages entertainment event?

Contact us at least three months in advanced and provide all the details to gary@akersmediagroup.com.

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Dockside dining Whether you arrive by land or water, Lake County’s lakeside restaurants have whatever floats your boat.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL, VICTORIA SCHLABIG AND JAMES COMBS PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL AND ANTHONY RAO

ake County’s thriving waterfront dining scene pairs amazing food with gorgeous views.

Sit under an umbrella-shaded table on an outside deck where the sound of water lapping against the shore comes with an ice-cold beer and

margarita. Savor the taste of buttery crab legs while enjoying a beautiful sunset worthy of an Instagram or Snapchat story.

Indeed, lakeside dining is something that Lake County serves up right. Here are some waterfront restaurants that should be on everyone’s radar.

1. BUSTER TUBBS 110 N. New Hampshire Ave., Tavares // 352.742.7676 facebook.com/tavarescountrymusic Hours: Sunday 7am-6pm, Monday 7am-9pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 7am-2pm, Thursday 7am-9pm, Friday 7am11:30pm, Saturday 7am-11pm What sets them apart: Buster Tubbs on Lake Dora in Tavares’ bustling downtown district is open from breakfast to dinner.

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If you can order one item: Biscuits and gravy for breakfast ($5.25), French Quarter Shrimp Po Boy for lunch ($9.95) and the Bourbon Street BLT for dinner ($7.95).

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If you splurge: The Gator Griller ($11.95) is the most expensive item on the menu. It comes with two quarter-pound patties on sourdough bread.

2. EATON’S BEACH SANDBAR & GRILL 15790 SE 134th Ave., Weirsdale // 352.259.2444 facebook.com/EatonsBeach Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-10pm What sets them apart: A beach area for swimmers, sunbathers and diners. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 11am-6pm. The restaurant melds Cajun, Creole, Low Country, Barbeque and Spanish cooking styles.

If you can order one item: The Cajun Sweet Fried Chicken ($18.99) includes boneless chicken breasts with mashed potatoes and coleslaw garnish.

If you splurge: The Bronzed Redfish for $25.29 is finished with ham cream sauce and served with Balaya rice.

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HURRICANE DOCKSIDE GRILL 3351 W. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares // 352.508.5137 Hurricanewings.com Hours: Sunday 11am-8pm, Monday through Thursday 11am-8pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-10pm What sets them apart: A tiki hut provides outdoor seating and a spectacular view of the Dead River. Live music Friday through Sunday.

Happy hour Monday through Friday, noon to 6pm.

If you can order one item: A Maryland-style crab cake with Old Bay Aioli sauce for $12.99.

If you splurge: 20 wings made from all-natural chicken for $23.99.

3. GATOR BAY MARINA/BAR & GRILL 10320 County Road 44, Leesburg // 352.365.2177 Gatorbaybar.com Hours: Friday 11am to 10pm, Tuesday to Sunday 11am-8pm.

Closed Mondays.

5. JB BOONDOCK’S BAR AND GRILL 704 S. Lakeshore Blvd., Howey-in-the-Hills // 352.324.3600 Jbboondocks.com Hours: Sunday 11:30 am-8pm, Monday through Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-10pm.

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What sets them apart: More than 20 boat slips on Little Lake Harris to accommodate boaters, and there’s enough room to accommodate seaplanes.

What sets them apart: Located on beautiful Haynes Creek, hungry boaters can tie up at a covered boat slip and enjoy lunch or dinner on a relaxing outdoor patio.

If you can order one item: The fried shrimp platter for $17.99

If you can order one item: The Swamp Season Gator basket – bite-sized pieces of Florida’s most popular reptile for $12.99.

If you splurge: 50 wings in up to five different flavors for $46.

If you splurge: The Cajun redfish with rice pilaf and season vegetables for $22.99.

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10. PALM GARDENS RESTAURANT AND MARINA

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6. KALUA BEACH BAR

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181 S. Joanna Ave., Tavares // 352.609.5910 Kaluabeachbar.com facebook.com/kaluabeachbar Hours: Sunday through Wednesday 11am-10pm, Thursday 11am-11pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-2am

What sets them apart: Nestled on the Dead River, which connects Lake Eustis and Lake Harris. Receive $1 off all beer and wine during happy hour on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

What sets them apart: Sit beachside on Lake Dora while listening to live music throughout the week and “reggae Sundays” with local bands.

If you can order one item: The Sand Bar Burger with Black Angus beef will give you that cheeseburger-in-paradise taste.

If you can order one item: The Shrimp Po’-Boy, served on a sub roll, comes with deepfried shrimp, lettuce, tomato and onion.

If you splurge: On weekends, take advantage of the raw bar with oysters, steamed clams and mussels, shrimp and snow crab legs.

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If you splurge: Although you’re not breaking the bank, a brownie sundae for $9.95 is a great way to top your meal.

11. PISCES RISING 239 W. 4th Ave., Mount Dora // 352.385.2669 piscesrisingdining.com Hours: Sunday 11am-9pm, Monday through Thursday 11:30am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30am-10pm

7. LAKE HARRIS HIDEAWAY 11912 Lane Park Rd., Tavares // 352.343.3585 Lakeharrishideaway.net Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11am-8pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-9pm

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If you splurge: The Old Man of the Sea Combo, which includes fried grouper, shrimp, clam strips and crab cakes for $16.99.

8. LIGHTHOUSE POINT BAR & GRILLE 925 Lake Shore Dr., The Villages // 352.753.7800 lighthousepointbarandgrille.com Hours: Sunday through Saturday 8am to 8pm What sets them apart: One of the few waterfront restaurants in The Villages, Lighthouse offers happy hour every day from 3-6pm.

If you can order one item: The Classic Haddock, a deep-fried, grilled or blackened haddock on a hoagie for $14.99.

If you splurge: Two pounds of steamed snow crab for $38.99.

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What sets them apart: Relax on a sunny patio with a view of Lake Dora as you enjoy delights fresh from the farm, craft cocktails with infused liquors, or a Sunday brunch menu.

If you can order one item: A turkey sandwich served on pretzel panini bread for $12.

What sets them apart: Stunning sunsets over Lake Eustis and live bands on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

If you can order one item: The Easy Rider Messy Chicken served on a Kaiser roll and topped with Swiss cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms and bacon for $11.99.

1661 Palm Gardens St., Tavares // 352.343.2024 Palmgardensmarina.com Hours: Seven days a week 11am-8pm

If you splurge: A 16-ounce ribeye served with two sides for $40.

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9. LILLY’S ON THE LAKE 846 W. Osceola St., Clermont // 352.708.6565 Lillysonthelake.com Hours: Sunday 10:30am-10pm, Monday through Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-10pm What sets them apart: Great Caribbean food, live music on weekends, a patio overlooking Lake Minneola and a white-sand beach where diners can swim.

If you can order one item: The 6-ounce Island Mahi served with rice and spinach.

If you splurge: The Island Seafood Platter, which comes with 6 grilled and 6 coconut shrimp served on a bed of island rice with sautéed veggies for $21.99.

12. PUDDLE JUMPERS LAKESIDE GRILL AND BAR 111 W. Ruby St., Tavares // 352.508.5862 Puddlejumperslakeside.com Hours: Monday through Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 11am-8pm What sets them apart: Great views of sunsets and seaplanes landing on Lake Dora. The twostory restaurant features indoor and outdoor seating and bars on both floors.

If you can order one item: The B’s Knees steak burger, featuring crisp bacon, Chipotle black raspberry sauce and Brie cheese for $12.59.

If you splurge: The Crash Landing platter with two crab cakes, peel-and-eat shrimp and Mahi bites for $28.50.

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15. THE CRAZY GATOR

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402 N. Bay St., Eustis // 352.589.5885 Thecrazygator.com Hours: Seven days a week 11am-7pm

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What sets them apart: This popular spot for food and drinks offers indoor and outside patio seating overlooking Lake Eustis. A prime rib special on Wednesdays for $15.99 and an all-you-can-eat fish fry on Fridays for $10.99 certainly gives diners extra incentive to visit.

17

17. TIKI WEST RAW BAR AND GRILL Tavares // 352.508.5783 facebook.com/tikiwestrawbarandgrill Hours: Sunday 11am-8pm, Monday and Tuesday 4pm-9pm, Wednesday and Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-10pm

13. R.J. GATOR’S FLORIDA SEA GRILL AND BAR

If you can order one item: 10 Crazy Wings fried or grilled for $10.99.

What sets them apart: Breezy indoor and outdoor patio seating keep things cool while your table enjoys a family-style seafood pot consisting of shrimp, andouille sausage, crawfish or snow crab legs.

If you splurge: Consider the 12-ounce Black Angus ribeye for $18.99

If you can order one item: Top Neck Cedar Key Clams ($8) from the raw bar.

1015 Lakeshore Dr., The Villages // 352.751.6935 Rjgatorsfloridaseagrillandbar.com Hours: 11am-9pm 7 days a week

16. THE TIKI BAR AND GRILL

If you splurge: You can’t miss with the one pound of peel-and-eat shrimp and half-pound of Andouille sausage, corn and potatoes for $26.

What sets them apart: Located at Lake Sumter Landing in The Villages, this restaurant serves fresh seafood and tropical drinks.

The fun, cheerful vibe makes this a cool place to enjoy tasty American pub grub and happy hour all day long sitting at the inside or outside bars.

508 S. Main Ave., Minneola // 352.394.2232 Lakeminneolainn.com Hours: Seven days a week 11:30am-midnight

If you can order one item: Go for the Florida Gulf shrimp for $15.99. These delicious shrimps are rolled in coconut flakes.

If you splurge: The grilled Cajun Redfish for $17.99 comes with a blend of Cajun spices and is served with Floribbean rice and seasoned black beans.

What sets them apart: A beachside vibe featuring outdoor dining at umbrella-covered tables and tiki torches at night. Great views of Lake Minneola.

If you can order one item: Bacon and Swiss cheeseburger for $12.65.

If you splurge: Sushi aficionados will appreciate the sushi-grade tuna sandwich for $15.99.

14. RUBY STREET GRILLE 221 E. Ruby St., Tavares // 352.742.7829 Rubystreetgrille.com Hours: Sunday through Saturday 11:30am-2am What sets them apart: For those who like the night life, Ruby Street Grille stays open until 2am seven nights a week. Enjoy live music and a full-liquor bar.

If you can order one item: The shrimp and scallop fra diablo for $18.95 is served in a spicy tomato sauce over linguini.

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If you splurge: Definitely the 8-ounce seared ahi tuna served with soy mignonette and wasabi for $19.95.

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1-352-259-0666Community 1-352-775-0991 1-352-775-1129 highest rating for quality ®

Your Local Agency in The Villages® Community for over a decade!

Five out of five

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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

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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 0

Key: Percentage of total votes in category, number of votes received. * = RUNNER UP

The

health care.

AESTHETICIAN

MEDICAL IMAGING

OB-GYN

ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

PODIATRIST

Brooke Penley, Brows By Brooke 52.24%, 1530 *Christa Tibbals, Face

Lake Medical Imaging 75.27%, 3220 *Advent Health Imaging

Dr. Mamie Rogers, Advent Health Medical Group Ob-Gyn at Waterman 24.17%, 1012 *Dr. Doug Moffett, Lake Ob-Gyn Associates of Mid-Florida

Dr. Jon Radnothy, Radnothy Orthopaedic Center 32.88%, 924 *Dr. Isaac Mitchell, UF Health

Dr. Chad Watkins, Watkins Foot and Ankle 28.17%, 680 Dr. Erik Zimmermann, *Zimmermann Podiatry

15.45%, 661

2 Face 19.56%, 573

MASSAGE THERAPIST CARDIOLOGIST

Dr. Samuel Goss, Cardiovascular Associates 16.48%, 505 *Dr. David Lew, FHV

Nikki Lord, Nikki’s Therapeutic Massage 33.74%, 690 *Dawn Coulliette, Mia Bella Salon & Spa 28.26%, 578

Health 16.15%, 495

NURSE CHIROPRACTOR

Dr. Jonathan Wise, Wise Chiropractic 24.25%, 870 *Dr. Rick Brown, Rick Brown Chiropractic 17.00%, 610

DENTIST

Dr. Teddy Bland, Mid Florida Pediatric Dentistry 27.67%, 938 Dr. Timothy Pruett, Lakeview *Comprehensive Dentistry 12.45%, 422 DERMATOLOGIST

Dr. Johnny Gurgen, Dermatology & MOHS Surgery 28.20%, 844 Dr. Colleen Macinnis, *Maccinis Dermatology 21.88%, 655 HOSPITAL

Rachel Pederson 21.28%, 690 *Shari Brooks

PEDIATRICIAN ONCOLOGIST

Dr. Maen Hussein, Florida Cancer Specialists 50.02%, 1023 *Dr. Ram Tummala, Florida Cancer Specialist

OPTOMETRIST

NURSE PRACTITIONER

Michelle Reisman 22.22%, 733 *Lori Esarey 20.95%, 691

Dr. Kristine Verkaik, Central Florida Eye Center 41.87%, 891 *Dr. Brian Jones, Mid Florida Eye

24.67%, 525

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT

Keith Hester, PA, Hester Family Care & Bariatric Medicine 44.69%, 1053 *Beau Nacke, PA

Dr. Keith Charles, Mid Florida Eye 41.72%, 1570 *Dr. Greg Panzo, Mid Florida Eye

18.36%, 691

29.33%, 691

ORTHODONTIST NUTRITIONIST/WEIGHT LOSS

Lori Esarey, Total Nutrition and Therapeutics 36.39%, 825 *Keith Hester, PA

34.89%, 791

20.01%, 483

19.54%, 818

23.28%, 476

17.08%, 554

21.60%, 607

Dr. Christopher Escott, Escott Orthodontics 32.26%, 758 *Dr. Dave and Chris Wollenschlaeger, Wollenschlaeger Orthodontics 30.13%, 708

Advent Health Waterman 51.36%, 2268 *UF Health Leesburg

Dr. Rafael A. Cheas, Silver Lake Pediatrics 36.05%, 1253 *Dr. Alex Uson 20.68%, 719

PRIMARY CARE/INTERNIST DOCTOR

Dr Dan Boggus, Aegis Medical Group 48.63%, 1282 *Dr Kurt Wagner, Lake Primary Care Associates 22.69%, 598

PERSONAL TRAINER

Tyrell Rachel, Infinity Fitness 32.40%, 683 Pedro Roman, *Breakthrough Training 22.53%, 475

PSYCHIATRIST

Dr. Sheila Thomas, The Villages Health 45.78%, 542 *Dr. Dennis Cutter

33.02%, 391 PHARMACIST

George Warren, Bay/Lake Pharmacy 48.61%, 1538 *Jim Burry, Burry’s Pharmacy 27.09%, 857

PSYCHOLOGIST

Dr. Isaac Deas, Deas Consulting 48.75%, 858 *Jennifer Sullivan. Advanced Behavior Health Center 25.17%, 443

PLASTIC SURGEON

Dr. Richard Bosshardt, Bosshardt & Marzek Plastic Surgery Associates 39.14%, 1108 Peter Marzek, Bosshardt *& Dr. Marzek Plastic Surgery Associates 22.01%, 623

UROLOGIST

Dr. Jack Cassell, Urology of Mount Dora 40.53%, 1140 *Dr. Michael Fountain, Advent Health Medical Group Urology at Waterman 26.02%, 732

Lori Esarey, APRN of Total Nutrition and Therapeutics

Hospital 27.69%, 1223

Brooke Penley of Brows By Brooke

Dr. Richard Bosshardt of Bosshardt & Marzek Plastic Surgery Associates Tyrell Rachel of Infinity Fitness

Dr. Mamie Rogers of Advent Health Medical Group Ob-Gyn at Waterman

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The food & drink.

Fiesta Grande

BURGERS

PIZZA

CRAFT BREWERY

Burgers, Tacos & Waffles (BTW), Tavares 28.33%, 1556 *Ramshackle Cafe, Leesburg

Mount Dora Pizza & Subs, Mount Dora 36.80%, 1972 *Stavros, Eustis

Wolf Branch Brewing, Eustis 35.11%, 1139 *Bru Tap House, Tavares

26.44%, 1452

COCKTAILS STEAK

MEXICAN

Fiesta Grande, Mount Dora 39.24%, 2134 *Sol De Mexico, Eustis

Goblin Market, Mount Dora 31.74%, 1240 *Chop House, The Villages

Tavares 17.08%, 582 COFFEE

WINGS BBQ/ RIBS

Oakwood, Lady Lake 39.39%, 2234 Sully’s *Smokehouse, Leesburg 17.22%, 977

Cousin Vinnie’s Family Sports Restaurant, Leesburg 35.16%, 1709 *Ramshackle Café, Leesburg 31.85%, 1548 SUSHI

DOUGHNUTS

Donut King 73.06%, 3636 *Dip A Dee, Leesburg

13.92%, 693

Wave Asian Bistro, Mount Dora 62.54%, 2225 *Sakura, The Villages 28.11%, 1000 SEAFOOD

ITALIAN

Mount Dora Pizza & Subs, Mount Dora 33.05%, 1653 *Stavros, Eustis 30.37%, 1519

Tiki West Raw Bar and Grill, Tavares 32.66%, 1285 *Oyster Troff, Eustis 19.09%, 751 DESSERT

Yalaha Bakery, Yalaha 33.50%, 1309 *Twistee Treat, Tavares 25.36%, 991

Goblin Market

Pisces Rising, Mount Dora 26.45%, 901 *O’Keefes Irish Pub & Restaurant,

24.57%, 960

18.90%, 1028

Tiki West Raw Bar & Grill

28.24%, 916

25.40%, 1361

Yalaha Bakery

One Flight Up, Mount Dora 30.39%, 1063 *Coffee Snob, Leesburg 24.01%, 840 SWEET TEA

Mason Jar, Dona Vista 41.44%, 1633 *Oakwood, Leesburg 40.19%, 1584 FOOD TRUCK

2 Guys BBQ 34.96%, 988 *Locos Tacos 26.19%, 740 WINERY

Lake Ridge Winery 64.21%, 2115 *Whispering Oaks Winery 23.50%, 774

The entertainment.

SPORTS BAR

GUYS NIGHT OUT

FESTIVAL/EVENT

MOVIE THEATER

Ramshackles, Leesburg 20.52%, 767 *Gators of Umatilla

Bru Tap House, Tavares 25.03%, 659 O’Keefes Irish Pub & *Restaurant, Tavares

Leesburg Bikefest 31.57%, 1222 Mount Dora *Art Festival

Epic, Mount Dora 37.82%, 1442 AMC, Lake *Square Mall

23.43%, 617

24.90%, 964

32.10%, 1224

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

WINE BAR

PERFORMING ARTS

Painting With A Twist, Mount Dora 28.51%, 876 Two Old Hags Wine *Shoppe, Leesburg

Two Old Hags, Leesburg 38.56%, 910 The Cellar Door, *Mount Dora

Bay Street Players, Eustis 37.54%, 1104 Melon Patch, *Leesburg

19.79%, 467

17.41%, 512

BOWLING

FAMILY FUN

Break Point Alley, Tavares 37.63%, 996 Lake Square Mall *Entertainment (Via

Sunsational Farms, Umatilla 39.40%, 1534 *Via Port, Leesburg

18.62%, 696

CIGAR BAR

Hemingways, Tavares 48.55%, 853 Garvino’s, *The Villages 22.03%, 387

19.62%, 603 GALA/FUNDRAISER

Lake County Sheriff’s Boots & Buckles 38.13%, 732 Race *forAmazing Charity 23.75%, 456

ATTRACTION

Sunsational Farms, Umatilla 46.14%, 1566 *Via Port, Leesburg 19.06%, 647

Port), Leesburg 30.68%, 812

28.02%, 1091

Joyce Huey of Two Old Hags Wine Shoppe

The

shopping.

FURNITURE

CLOTHES

AUTO DEALERSHIP

RV DEALERSHIP

JEWELRY

Babette’s Furniture 63.61%, 1657 *City Furniture

Southern Mudd Boutique 42.69%, 3237 *Prominent Fox 37.87%, 2871

Campers Corner, Fruitland Park 42.29%, 650 *Camping World

14.74%, 384

Vann Gannaway Chevrolet, Eustis 46.07%, 1420 *Phillips Toyota, Leesburg

Southern Mudd Boutique 42.84%, 3127 *Prominent Fox

SHOES

Southern Mudd Boutique 46.01%, 3267 *Prominent Fox 40.07%, 2845

16.48%, 508

33.12%, 509

36.90%, 2694

SPORTING GOOD/OUTDOORS

MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP

ANTIQUES

PET ITEMS

Rural King 42.51%, 1101 *Brooker’s Bait & Tackle

Gator Harley, Leesburg 63.94%, 1658 Lucky U Cycles , *Wildwood

Rennigers, Mount Dora 80.06%, 2309 *Vintage 46, Sorrento

Piglets Pantry, Mount Dora 30.01%, 807 *Leesburg Pet Center

25.25%, 654

11.55%, 333

25.77%, 693

GIFT SHOP

HEALTH FOODS

Prominent Fox Boutique, Leesburg 52.29%, 2810 *Peddler’s Wagon, Eustis

The Health Basket, Mount Dora 50.22%, 1512 *The Green Apple, Lady Lake

20.13%, 522 BOAT DEALERSHIP

Nobles Marine, Leesburg 48.75%, 975 Dora Boating *&Mount Marina 22.15%, 443

24.67%, 1326

Ashley Mudd of Southern Mudd Boutique

26.50%, 798

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The & pros.

places

CHEF

BANKER

MORTGAGE BROKER

FIRE FIGHTER

POOL CONTRACTOR

Chef Andrew O’Keefe, O’Keefes Irish Pub & Restaurant, Tavares 37.75%, 971 *Chef Jessy Flinn, Gourmet Today

Bill Wonus, United Southern Bank 31.57%, 745 *Brad Weber, Citizens First Bank

Mary Rhodes, The Mortgage Firm 31.91%, 450 *Rich Lemoyne, Mortgage

T & D Pools 38.81%, 754 *Waterman Contruction & Pools

Financial 26.60%, 375

Tanner Long, Eustis Fire 36.59%, 1642 *Ryan Fickett, Leesburg Fire

17.07%, 766

ACCOUNTANT

INTERIOR DESIGN

EMT/ PARAMEDIC

Sandy Stokes 44.44%, 687 *Karen Berryman 34.67%, 536

Fleur De Lis Home Design 60.24%, 1377 *Leah D Connor Interior Design

Austin Sullivan 40.23%, 1209

28.98%, 684

23.06%, 593

PLUMBER

BARTENDER

Lindsey Parker, Gators of Umatilla 44.67%, 1323 Terence O’Keefe, O’Keefe’s Irish *Pub & Restaurant, Tavares 36.93%, 1094 FOOD SERVER

Desiree Melchiorre, Mason Jar 45.16%, 1256 Mary, O’Keefes Irish Pub & *Restaurant, Tavares 21.54%, 599 FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Liz Cornell, TB Financial 47.95%, 1669 *Nicole Wortsman, Edward Jones 19.36%, 674

26.20%, 599

ATTORNEY

Harry Hackney, Campione and Hackney Law 34.70%, 958 *Mike Graves, Law Office

TEACHER

Melissa Newman, Tavares High School 40.80%, 918 *Kelsie Reeder, Spring Creek

of Mike Graves 34.44%, 951

*Jerry Donaldson 26.82%, 806

COACH

Evelyn Pelton, Tri City Twirlers 40.10%, 814 *Rich Billings, LSSC 33.60%,

19.57%, 946

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

Lenhart Electric 27.04%, 547 *Lake & Sumter Electric

Lauren Fickett, Morris Realty 24.14%, 733 *Brittany Knight, BHHS Florida

FLOORING

POLICE OFFICER

Sarah Coursey, Tavares PD 38.70%, 1607 *Zach Sullivan, LCSO

*Susan Connelly 27.81%, 401

L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M • AU G ' 2 0

Kelley Painting 29.53%, 251 *Steve Kling Painting 20.82%, 177

CATERER

CUSTOM CARPENTRY

Gourmet Today 40.43%, 1088

Specifics Woodwork 46.59%, 1182 O’Brien *Construction

*Pisces Rising 27.24%, 733 ROOFING CONTRACTOR

Eustis Roofing 45.21%, 1905 *T. Scott’s Roofing 20.91%, 881

28.89%, 733

Liz Cornell of TB Financial

34.95%, 1451

Tanner Long of Eustis FD

28.20%, 657

PAINTING CONTRACTOR

ARTIST

Braxton Bennett 37.87%, 1185 *Jeff Whitfield 26.14%, 818

The Floor Shoppe 33.22%, 774 *Pat’s Sales of Leesburg

*Firefly Media 39.49%, 1080

Christine Cruz 32.87%, 474

LOCAL BAND/ MUSICIAN

Amanda Kelley of Kelley Painting

John Coronado Photography 43.77%, 1197 VOLUNTEER

Toni Stokes 29.66%, 476 *Tommy Treadway 23.55%, 378

24.17%, 489

22.19%, 978

682 REALTOR

26.54%, 664

Bonnie Whicher Photography 33.20%, 1463 *Sierra Ford Photography VIDEOGRAPHER

Heather Parker, StyleDiva Color Spa 37.69%, 1822 *Savannah Zuk, Surface Salon

Dunstan Plumbing 28.14%, 704 *Mike Scott Plumbing

PHOTOGRAPHER

Charter 34.04%, 766 HAIR STYLIST

Realty 21.38%, 649

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22.54%, 438

Jessy Flinn of Gourmet Today

LAWN CARE SERVICE

BANK/CREDIT UNION

NAIL SALON

Rays Lawn Service 37.00%, 646 *HNC Lawncare 21.25%, 371

United Southern Bank 36.55%, 1305 *Citizens First Bank 21.09%, 753

Lisa, StyleDiva Color Spa, Mount Dora 36.68%, 1299 *Alina Nails, Mount Dora

LANDSCAPE

PRIVATE SCHOOL

Rays Lawn Service 37.47%, 646 *Flattops Lawn Service 26.86%, 463

Mount Dora Christian Academy 43.90%, 1208 *First Academy28.31%, 779

HOME BUILDER

DAYCARE

25.51%, 530

Kevco Contruction 35.80%, 896 *Ryan Roberts Construction

Sonshine School 29.19%, 678 *Christian Academy Preschool

TATTOO PARLOR

24.77%, 620

22.56%, 524

27.87%, 987

BARBER SHOP

Razor Sharp Cutz, Eustis 31.04%, 645 *Garrett’s Gentleman Shop, Eustis

Forever Stained, Tavares 27.33%, 731 *Mr Williams Tattoo Co., Tavares

26.02%, 696

Specifics Woodwork

PEST CONTROL

MOVING SERVICE

Bug Man 28.96%, 668 *PCS Pest Control

Quality Moving Services 41.15%, 1321 *Two Men and a Truck

18.55%, 428

33.27%, 1068

FUNERAL HOME

Beyer’s Funeral Home 55.61%, 1607 *Harden Pauli 20.97%, 606 AUTO SERVICE

Hamptons Auto Services, Leesburg 28.68%, 756 *Southbay Automotive, Eustis

27.47%, 724 CAR WASH

COMMERCIAL BUILDER

GYM/FITNESS CENTER

Lee Woods Construction 47.17%, 651 *Evergreen Contruction

True Fitness 365 29.61%, 767 *Fitness CF 22.01%, 570

30.22%, 417

HAIR SALON

StyleDiva Color Spa, Mount Dora 32.66%, 1640 *Larue Kay Salon & Spa, Tavares

12.74%, 640

TANNING SALON

Bronzed Beauty

by Erika 41.33%, 1457 *Spray Mobile Tanning

Superwash Express, Mount Dora 44.41%, 1481 *Mister Car Wash, Tavares

24.56%, 819

HEATING & AIR

Duct-Man Mechanical Services, Eustis 26.04%, 885 *Munns Heating & Air, Fruitland Park

CLEANING SERVICE

Southern Belle Cleaning Service 52.26%, 1189 *Ambers Cleaning Service

SELF STORAGE

44 Self Storage 31.05%, 381 *Rolling Acres Self Storage

24.97%, 568

25.18%, 309

BUILDING & HOME SUPPLIES

GRAPHICS & SIGNS

Ace Hardware 66.13%, 2226 *Romac Lumber 19.55%, 658

Hunter Signs 33.28%, 785 *Ford Press 25.22%, 595

REAL ESTATE AGENCY

PRINTERS

Morris Realty & Investments 26.92%, 568 *ERA Grizzard 26.68%, 563

Ford Press 49.51%, 953 *A+ Printing 36.26%, 698 PROMOTIONAL ITEMS

INSURANCE AGENCY

Merrill Insurance 26.35%, 722 *The Villages Insurance

Tip Tops 27.59%, 696 *Data Graphics

20.89%, 527

14.23%, 390

20.06%, 682 COMPUTER / IT SUPPORT

MMD Computers 33.28%, 430 *Computer Tech Pro 29.33%, 379

40.57%, 1430

Erika of Bronzed Beauty

John Snyder of Dunstan & Son Plumbing Artist Toni Stokes

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Leigh Ann Berry

The

Fox

on Fourth Seeking stylish, original, unique fashions and jewelry? Prominent Fox is a must ‘go-to’ boutique.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

eigh Ann Berry is quick to praise her loyal, “wonderful customers” and the support from several young gals— Alexis Harrigan, Kayla Harris, Ainsley Farfaglia, Lilly Parker, Alexis Yasbeck and Kenzie Berry—who model her fashions and work with her to make Prominent Fox Boutique a booming success.

“I’m constantly asking my customers ‘what do you want to see?’” I’m getting their feedback and I’m getting my girls’ feedback and they have great taste,” she says. “I have the best girls that work for me. I could not be any more blessed or lucky.

They all are beautiful and have the best personalities. They get

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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 0

along with each other and all of the customers.”

Leigh Ann opened her first Prominent Fox in Oxford in October 2017, began her website in January and also signed a lease for her second store, The Fox on Fourth, 210 No. 4th St., unit 102, in Leesburg, which officially opened early May when Gov. Ron DeSantis allowed retail shops to reopen from COVID-19.

The Leesburg boutique is a fun place to find one-of-a-kind tees, rompers, skirts, jewelry, handbags and other accessories.

“I am bringing in new lines constantly, new brands,” says Leigh Ann. “I feel like our style is very classy; we don’t show too much, and yet we have a great style and have that edge.”

She also strives to be as original as possible. “If other stores have things, I will not sell it, because I feel like people come to me because

I don’t have what everyone else has. You can’t get what I have within a 10-mile radius. When I do find the brands and bring them into my store, I make sure the brand will protect me as far as other businesses close by not being able to sell the same things. I feel people come to me because they don’t see the same stuff everywhere and that is what has made me successful.”

One of Prominent Fox’s popular brands is designer Judith March of Alabama, who is also Leigh Ann’s cousin. The two have traveled to Los Angeles for fashion events and Leigh Ann also goes to Dallas Mart and Atlanta for original and unique fashions and jewelry.

“There’s always new clothes I can buy and sometimes it’s hard working

there because with every new shipment comes in, I buy things,” says Lilly Parker, who also adores the “perfect family atmosphere” at the boutique, which she noted is very calming and loving.

“Leigh Ann is just the best boss. She is so relaxed and so sweet. She welcomes everybody like they are family,” adds Kayla Harris, who also enjoys interacting with customers. “It’s a total turn-around when somebody walks in the store, tries something on that they really love, and they light up. I love that part of working at Prominent Fox, just making people feel great!”

Alexis Harrigan adds: “One of the things I love about Prominent Fox is I’ve made wonderful friendships and it makes me feel like I have found my place.”

L-R: Lilly, Ainsley, Alexis Y, Alexis H, Kayla H, Kenzie

This fall, the Oxford location of Prominent Fox will be in new, larger building under construction off on U.S. Highway 301, across from Oxford Oaks, where Leigh Ann will offer more in the women and men’s line, along with shoes, jewelry, home décor and accessories.

“We’re spreading out and we’re spreading the Fox love,” says Leigh Ann.

Prominent Fox Boutique 210 North 4th Street Suite 102, Leesburg 352.435.7304

CREATE SUPERIOR OFFICE

WORKFLOW Business Techs provides high quality products and service for all your office technology needs.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

076 /

L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M • AU G ' 2 0

succeeding in today’s business world is becoming increasingly difficult. Having superior office technology and a network setup are instrumental in helping companies meet their goals.

That’s why businesses throughout Lake, Sumter, Citrus, and Marion counties rely on Business Techs for all their office technology needs.

Based in Leesburg, Business Techs sells and services top-of-the-line copiers, fax machines, and network laser printers manufactured by Sharp, HP, and Brother. The family-owned company of 14 employees has thrived in the area for nearly three decades because of its reputation for providing clients with high-quality products, competitive pricing, and impeccable service.

Stellar customer service is our priority.

“All of us at Business Techs know that the No. 1 thing is that the customer wants us back,” says Beau Franklin, company president. “Adam Thomas started last year in dispatch, followed by deliveries, and now he’s a technician.

When Adam was training a new employee in dispatch he said: ‘Show up every day. Don’t be late, and don’t be an

L-R: Jim Culbreath, Terry Williams, Kyle Beers, Blair Hudson, Jacob Franklin, Angie Boliek, Dave Weisse, Chad Boliek, Mark Costa, Beau Franklin, Adam Thomas, Jennifer Stults, Richard Crews, Melisa Franklin

L-R: Adam Thomas, Terry Williams, Kyle Beers, Jacob Franklin

A-hole!’ I told Adam there are companies that have 20-page manuals for training, and you said it best in one sentence.”

The following represents one of Beau’s favorite philosophies: There are two days every week about which we should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of those days is yesterday with its mistakes and care, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we

078 /

cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow with its possible adversities; its burdens, its large promise and poor performance.

Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow’s sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds—but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day— today. Anyone can fight the battles of just one day. It is ony when you and I add the burden of those two awful eternities—yesterday

L A K E A N D S U M T E R S T Y L E .C O M • AU G ' 2 0

and tomorrow—that we break down. It is not the experience of today that drives men mad; it is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

Let us live but one day at a time. Yesterday is a cancelled check; tomorrow

is a promissory note, but today is cash. SPEND IT WISELY. (Author unknown) At Business Techs, we believe in hard work, doing the right thing, and bending over backward for our customers. We strive for zero complaints.

“THE LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS PROUD TO DO BUSINESS WITH BUSINESS TECHS, INC. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS EXCEPTIONAL, AND THEY ARE ALWAYS VERY ATTENTIVE TO OUR NEEDS. EVEN BETTER, THEY ARE LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED!” —SHERIFF PEYTON C. GRINNELL LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

L-R: Beau Franklin, Sheriff Peyton Grinnell

421 N. Palmetto St., Leesburg / 352.326.3418 / businesstechsinc.com Scan the QR code to see our new video!

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Debbie & Luke Matamo Designs owner appreciative of customers’ support when her son was ill.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

hen Debbie Belton opened her downtown Mount Dora boutique, Matamo Designs, filled with exotic, hard-to-find furnishings and accents in 2008, her son Luke had just turned 5. He was always his Dad’s helper with the buildout picking up nails, to breaking down boxes and making runs to the dumpster. His face has become a standard in the shop as his pictures are featured in the shop’s photo frames available for purchase.

Three years ago, Luke became very ill.

Specialists diagnosed that he had Ulcerative Colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease. “It’s a livable disease, but when you are very young, it can be deadly,” says Debbie. “We dealt with the diagnosis the best we could, in and out of hospitals for 2 years.” Debbie’s mother had Ulcerative Colitis and was aware of the detriment that the medications to treat can ultimately destroy other organs later on in life. Biologics were extremely expensive and honestly, just a temporary bandaid. Debbie and her husband, Bobby, wanted to give him a

better chance at a quality of life and was desperate for a better solution.

Luckily, the husband of one of her customers, a colorectal surgeon, advised Debbie to have Luke’s colon removed, and he connected them with a surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic in South Florida. That was the answer to all of their prayers.

“Luke had his surgery a year ago, lived with a temporary colostomy, then had a J-Pouch installed in place of his diseased colon. Luke is living his best life right now, 16 years old and now starting football practices with the MDHS team,” says Debbie. Three years ago, we never dreamed Luke would be working out and building muscles, driving a car, and playing sports; all the while continuing his studies without skipping a beat. Amazing!!!

Debbie is forever grateful for her family and friends, employees and customers, and Luke’s core group of friends for their wonderful support. “I have customers who come in almost daily asking how Luke is,” says Debbie, adding the customer support has been extremely meaningful in her life

and business. “It’s another extension of my family.”

Debbie followed her heart when she opened Matamo Designs, and she loves when customers find that special piece or two for their home or the perfect gift for special occasions. As the owner of Matamo Designs, Debbie also provides decorating tips, color guidance and space planning suggestions for customers who seek her expertise.

LUKE IN RECOVERY AFTER HIS SECOND SURGERY AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC.

352.735.4800 / matamodesigns.com / 100 E. 5th Avenue, Mount Dora

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agenda EVENTS. TRAVEL. PEOPLE.

Find out how Dawn DiNome became a cherished performer in The Villages and throughout Lake County.

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Move to the beat of one of your favorite performers at one of these great concerts or local venues!

8/6@7pm

8/20@7pm

GREG PANDO Mojo’s, Belleview

GREG PANDO Mojo’s, Belleview

8/7@9pm

8/21@9pm

MANFREDI ROCKS JJ’s Lounge, Sorrento

MAD HADDER BAND Frank’s Place, Leesburg

8/7@9:30pm

8/22@7pm

PAPA WHEELEE Oasis Saloon, Sorrento

THE BEACH BUOYS Mount Dora Plaza Live, Mount Dora

8/8@9pm MANFREDI ROCKS JJ’s Lounge, Sorrento

8/8@9:30pm THE CYCLONES Oasis Saloon, Sorrento

8/13@7pm GREG PANDO Mojo’s, Belleview

8/14@9:30pm SKID RODEO Oasis Saloon, Sorrento

8/15@5pm C.O.D. FLORIDA Hurricane Dockside, Tavares

8/15@5pm MANFREDI ROCKS Lighthouse Point Bar and Grille, The Villages

8/15@9:30pm SKID RODEO Oasis Saloon, Sorrento

8/21@9:30pm OVERKILT Oasis Saloon, Sorrento

8/22@7pm MAIDEN VOYAGE BAND Gators of Umatilla, Umatilla

8/22@9:30pm OVERKILT Oasis Saloon, Sorrento

8/25@8pm BOOTH BROTHERS Lake Yale Conference Baptist Center, Leesburg

8/27@7pm GREG PANDO Mojo’s, Belleview

8/28@5pm MANFREDI ROCKS Lighthouse Point Bar and Grille, The Villages

* Dates and time are tentative due to COVID-19 guidelines. Contact the venues for updates.

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LOCAL TALENT

PEO PLE

Sings like an angel Popular Villages performer Dawn DiNome eager to take the stage as Sandy in musical ‘Grease.’

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

o matter the venue, when Dawn DiNome sings, her goal is to provide a delightful experience.

“I always try to give my best,” says the soprano singer who prefers singing mezzo.

“Sometimes it’s just about the audience’s response to a particular performance that makes it a magical event, where it all seems to flow.”

Her favorite music genre is Broadway musical theater and contemporary Christian music. “I usually feel a connection to the words,” she says. “There’s always a story told in a song, and I try to connect the audience to the story within that song.”

She’s looking forward to playing Sandy in “Grease” at the Savannah Center on Jan. 6-8. The musical was initially slated for last March, yet had to be rescheduled because of COVID-19.

≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

Soon after moving to Fruitland Park in 2008 from New York, Dawn’s beautiful voice was noticed at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Wildwood, Villages’ social clubs, restaurants, on stage at Savannah Center, Katie Belle’s, and also at town squares accompanied by her father, Ralph DiNome and his band, Flashback.

“I tend to get the compliment that I sing like an angel,” says Dawn, 41. “I usually reply with ‘I’m no angel, just ask my mom.”

She also sings with the trio, The Amazing Grace Notes, at St. Vincent de Paul.

“We’ve done several shows at the church to raise money for the building fund and I’ve also sung on a few cruises in the last few years,” says Dawn.

“The Villages has kept me so busy work-wise in a variety of ways for several years that I

haven’t needed to go elsewhere.

I am blessed that I get to work in a place where I can share my gift.”

One of Dawn’s favorite times was a CD release concert in 2012 at her church.

“It was the first time doing a solo performance rather than being a guest in someone else’s show. The response was overwhelming. There was standing room only, and the performance went so well,” she says. “It’s definitely a performance I’ll never forget.”

Her parents noticed her vocal talent as a young child.

“I was really shy growing up,

Do you know talented people in the community?

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so as much as my dad tried to push me to sing publicly, I resisted a lot,” says Dawn.

She began musical training in her 20s.

“He has always pushed me to succeed,” she says of her father. “I’m sure in part because he didn’t take the chance on himself when he was younger, but also, I know he’s always seen my potential and tried to foster it. And now that he’s a Villager, he’s had a second chance at it himself, which is great. I’m proud to see him succeed at what he’s always wanted to do as well.”

Send recommendations to editorial@akersmediagroup.com.

2018 / 2019 / 2020

Roy Carter, who founded the family's first Ace Hardware in 1964, passed two years ago. However, his legacy of superior customer service and family values remain strong.

Acing great service Carter family have been treating customers right since 1964.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

he Carter family knows the nuts and bolts of the hardware business better than most. In fact, you might just say they are “aces” of their trade.

In 1964, Roy Carter opened the family’s first Ace Hardware location in Tavares. Since then, Roy and his son, Cadie, have opened eight additional sites, including five in Lake County, two in Citrus County, and one in Orange County.

“The first five stores were existing hardware stores that we purchased,” says Cadie. “We kept them going. The other stores were started from the ground up.”

care of our customers and treating them with respect.”

While the family has kept old-fashioned customer service intact, they’ve also adapted to a rapidly changing industry. For instance, the family continually introduces new merchandise lines and they sell Stihl® power equipment.

The Umatilla store is their third location, while the Mount Dora, Tavares, and Eustis stores are in their second sites. Customers have followed them to each new location.

“It’s all about building relationships,” says Cadie. “And making a point to go above and beyond for the customer.

Today, Cadie’s children are part of the third- generation company, which is now called Carter’s Ace Hardware. That includes his sons, Cade and Zach, as well as his stepdaughter, Brittany Kraemer. Each child was born and raised in Lake County.

The influx of large big-box retail stores such as Lowe’s and Home Depot has changed the face of the hardware business in Lake County. But it has not changed the way the family conducts business.

“My dad always taught me to treat people like I want to be treated,” says Cadie, a 1978 graduate of Eustis High School. “We’ve always prided ourselves on doing things the right way by taking

CARTER’S ACE: SERVICE, QUALITY, EXPERIENCE. TAVARES - EUSTIS - UMATILLA - MT. DORA - SORRENTO - S. LEESBURG - APOPKA - BEVERLY HILLS - CRYSTAL RIVER

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SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

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Friends, food and fun!

Variety and entertainment draw people to Eustis First Fridays every month.

STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

he City of Eustis’ First Fridays have been something for locals to look forward to each month since the first event in 1997.

Originally organized by the Downtown Merchants Organization, First Fridays take place on the first Friday of every month, though the last few have been cancelled due to COVID-19.

Finding entertainers and vendors for First Friday is the responsibility of Erin Bailey, who was raised in Ormond Beach and took over as the City of Eustis’s events coordinator when she moved to Eustis in February of 2014.

“Some of the bands have been playing at First Fridays for years, some I’ve booked previously to my working with the city, and others are recommended by the community or other event planners. Genres have ranged from Country and Southern Rock, to Reggae, Celtic and Bluegrass,” Erin says.

Other than the unique bands on the main stage, attendees can also find “community-minded vendors, family-friendly activities, downtown businesses and restaurants, local entertainment and FUN!” Erin adds.

Depending on the time of year, Eustis First Fridays bring in anywhere from 900-2,000 guests. Erin surveyed First Friday

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≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL attendees in 2019 and found that visitors’ favorite parts of First Fridays include the bands and entertainment, vendors, meeting friends, affordable activities, ease of parking, classic cars and variety of food choices.

Seminole PowerSports North is one of the many vendors participating in First Friday. Seminole PowerSports North, located on US-441 in Eustis, is a powersports dealership that sells things like four wheelers, dirt bikes, side by sides, personal watercrafts and motorcycles. The company usually sets up a tent and tries to bring a motorcycle or two, personal watercraft, or something for kids each month, depending on what’s new or the time of the year. Jace Appleby, marketing manager of Seminole PowerSports North, says he likes First Fridays because he gets to actually interact with customers.

“Being in the community kinda brings the small-town business feel to what’s actually a pretty big business here,” Jace says.

“It’s nice to actually interact with folks on a more personal level, because it’s a big street party, as opposed to just sitting at your desk talking to them, where it’s strictly business here (in the office).”

Kelly Fessenden, a consultant for the wickless candle company Scentsy, has enjoyed interacting at First Friday for five years. “I’ve been doing it for so many years, I’m very fortunate because it’s something people always need to replace, and I enjoy seeing these people over and over again. I like the interaction, I love the people, the entertainment is wonderful, they’ve got a good selection of food vendors, a good selection of vendors period,” says Kelly, who brings her whole “set-up” to First Fridays, including wax, warmers, diffusers and other items for customers to view. “I’m totally on display,” Kelly says.

“EVERYBODY’S HAVING A GOOD TIME, THEY USUALLY HAVE AT LEAST ONE BAND THERE AND IT BRINGS EVERYBODY OUT.” —CARL WOODWORTH

You’ll find an array of food vendors at First Fridays, including the Sweet Blessings by Sindy food truck or Fillin Good Food Truck, which offers specialty burgers, subs and sandwiches.

Carl Woodworth, owner of Woody’s Grille, a mobile food truck, has been participating in First Fridays since right after he opened the truck around April of 2019. Woody’s Grille specializes in American-style sandwiches, the main item being a pot roast sandwich.

They also serve philly cheesesteaks, hamburgers, one-fourth pound hotdogs and a deep-fried hotdog wrapped in bacon, as well as deep fried desserts like Reese’s and cheesecake during the street parties.

Carl usually sees around 80 customers at each event and loves to see the community all together. “Everybody’s having a good time, they usually have at least one band there and it brings everybody out,” Carl says. Asked what he loves about the events, he replied, “Just getting together and making new friends and seeing old friends.”

Vendors include crafters like Yvette’s Jewelry Box and Kimber Lights decorative outdoor lighting, as home improvement and real estate businesses, including All American Gutter, Home Performance Alliance, Mortgage Financial Group, Bath Fitter, Timberline

Log & Timber Frame Homes, Secured Dock Builders and Cifelli Real Estate.

You can also look for Praise Cathedral Church of God, Umatilla SDA Church and the United States Coast Guard.

Health care providers attending will be United Health Care and Mid Florida Agencies. Those with RVs should check out the Southern Palms RV Resort booth.

With all of these options for food, shopping, entertainment and more, you’ll have to mark Eustis on your calendar for every First Friday!

Want to see your event in Social Spotlight?

Contact us at least three months in advance and provide all the details to victoria@akersmediagroup.com.

VICTORIA SCHLABIG

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The Most Interesting Podiatrist in the World.

Dr. Zimmermann doesn’t always fix feet. But when he does, he does it in Lake County.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

s a kid growing up in South Florida, Dr. Erik Zimmermann dreamed of being a cowboy, pilot, fireman, Capt. Kirk or GI Joe. “The only foot-related thing in my childhood that I remember was when my mom would constantly break her toes and scream and curse,” the doctor says. That said, his road to becoming a podiatrist wasn’t an obvious one.

After growing up in South Florida, Dr. Zimmermann’s family moved to Texas and he joined the Marines at nineteen. In boot camp he sprained his ankle on a run and was sent to see a navy podiatrist, who fixed his ankle so that he could finish his basic training on time. “That was the first time I had ever even heard of a podiatrist, and the only time I was not sworn at during boot camp” Dr. Zimmermann says.

He trained as a radio-wireman in a recon unit and stayed in the Marine Corps reserves while he attended Southwest Texas State (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, Texas. He studied biology and took pre-med classes, but

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still fancied becoming an officer and a pilot. During his senior year (delayed because of his deployment for Desert Storm) he applied for officer school when a podiatry school recruiter came to give a seminar to his pre-med class.

Remembering the podiatrist that had patched up his ankle in boot camp, he was intrigued and also applied for admission. Torn between the dueling futures of becoming a podiatrist or an officer, fate intervened when his military paperwork hit some snags while his podiatry school paperwork went without a hitch. He was accepted to podiatry school at Barry University in Miami, Florida. After graduation, he packed his small car and headed to sunny Miami for podiatry school.

After four years of podiatry school and finishing his residency he moved from South Florida and moved to the Lake County in 1999. He started his career by making house calls all over Lake and

Sumter counties, picking up office work where he could, and working in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. As his family grew, he wanted to do less traveling, so Dr. Zimmermann stuck to more office-based work, and eventually opened up Zimmermann Podiatry’s new office in Leesburg. Since then the business has continued to grow significantly,. Dr. Zimmermann credits a lot of the office’s success having to do with the pleasant staff and unique office decor.

“We just try to be a super friendly office. We’re fun and we try to make the visits enjoyable. It’s a family atmosphere here,” Dr. Zimmermann

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L-R: Lucinda, Hailey, and Michelle

says. Part of what makes Zimmermann Podiatry unique is its Seinfeld theme.

“I’m the only one that’s got a Seinfeldthemed office. We play Seinfeld in the waiting room. We have Seinfeld-themed treatment rooms; the Kramer, the George and the Elaine, with specific artwork related to each one of the characters,” the doctor says. “I’ve loved Seinfeld since it came out and I still watch reruns. I’m not a Seinfeld fan, I’m a Seinfeld fanatic.”

Zimmermann Podiatry offers treatments for numerous foot ailments,

varying from treatments for diabetic foot care, toenail fungus, ingrowing toenails, skin problems, neuromas, heel pain, fractures, wounds, infections and more. His office is equipped for certain in-office procedures when necessary.

“Our overall approach is to solve foot problems without requiring surgery and to keep patients active and on their feet,” Dr. Zimmermann says.

“WE’RE AHEAD OF THE TIMES AS FAR AS LASERS GO” —DR. ERIK ZIMMERMANN

“In some cases we do minor surgeries in the office. The most common minor surgeries are hammer toe surgeries, they take about fifteen minutes, and they’re really great for a relief from pain,” Dr. Zimmermann says, “This type of hammer toe surgery gives a good correction of the toe and doesn’t require any open big, open procedures like bone removals, screws or pins.”

As far as new technology, the office is “ahead of the times.” Dr. Zimmermann

offers two lasers; one to kill toenail fungus and another for treating neuropathy, soft tissue injuries, sprains and strains. “The soft tissue laser is a great way to speed up the healing and get patients up and running,” he adds.

Neuropathy is a common issue Dr. Zimmermann is seeing at this time. “The number of new of patients complaining of tingling, burning, numbness in their feet and loss of sensation seems to be exploding right now. We have a really effective treatment program for people suffering with neuropathy,” he says.

Zimmermann Podiatry also carries a lot of oral pharmaceutical-grade supplements for treating neuropathy, as well as a pharmaceutical-grade CBD anti-inflammatory cream and topicals for fungus of the skin, nails and pain relief. Zimmermann Podiatry can perform in office X-rays for bone examinations and musculoskeletal ultrasound for soft tissue examinations.

Arthritis-related foot problems and plantar fasciitis are common, as are the need for the custom orthotics that Dr. Zimmermann offers. “The custom orthotics are great for helping relieve most types of foot pain,” Dr. Zimmerman says. The office also offers diabetic shoes and insoles which are covered by Medicare.

Besides his Seinfeld obsession and his time with the Marine Corps, there are other things that make Dr. Zimmermann “The Most Interesting Podiatrist in the World”. He’s a bit of an artist, writer, a rock and roller (having seen AC/DC eleven times), and has played guitar and sung in multiple rock bands until very recently, “because life just got too crazy.” When he’s not at work, Dr. Zimmermann is a family man. He spends his time with his wife, three kids and three dogs. “Some of our favorite family activities are fishing around Crystal river, jet skiing, and tubing,” he says.

352.435.7849 / DrZPodiatry.com / 1208 W Dixie Ave, Leesburg

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healthy living Find out how Olivia Howard stays active while living with polyarticular juvenile arthritis with an autoimmune disorder.

MIND. BODY. SOUL.

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INSPIRATION

PEO PLE

Positive attitude Teen confronts polyarticular juvenile arthritis with an autoimmune disorder head on by living a healthy lifestyle.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

livia Howard, 16, of Grand Island, is upfront sharing what it feels like to have polyarticular juvenile arthritis with an autoimmune disorder, which affects the entire body: joints, skin and internal organs.

“It’s not the best feeling, especially as a child or teen,” says Olivia, who couldn’t walk when she was diagnosed at age 11. “I woke up one morning and was not even able to get to the bathroom. My mom had to carry me. Another time I was using a blanket to slide across the floor to get to the kitchen because my ankle and knee hurt so bad.”

The Villages High School junior whose favorite subject is health sciences remembers she learned early on the importance of following doctors’ orders.

“I learned the hard way. I stopped taking my oral medicine, weekly shots and my body and joints started to swell really bad again,” says Olivia.

“I needed to go back to the hospital

≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL to see my rheumatologist and tell her I was not following the medication guidelines. I needed to go for my aspiration in the knee and ankle.

Needless to say, that is not fun.”

Olivia stays active working a 30-hour week job, swimming and helping her mom, Kristine Howard, with household chores. Olivia also has done modeling, since age 8, which she loves.

“I try to find a positive side to bad news,” she says. “Having to take shots weekly is a pain, but it leads to making my joints feel good.”

Listening to music and helping others are additional ways the teen strives to maintain a positive attitude.

Olivia has been active as an advocate for the Arthritis Foundation, and she once raised $5,000 for the organization by hosting several fundraisers.

After she graduates high school in 2022, she aspires to go to college to become a registered nurse, with hopes of working in obstetrics and be involved in the labor and delivery of newborn babies.

Do you know someone who is a healthy inspiration?

Email your recommendations to theresa@akersmediagroup.com

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Meet some of our 5 star team

We have highly skilled clinicians dedicated to all aspects of managing your home care safely and effectively.

Skilled Nursing (RN, LPN) Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Speech Therapy Certified Nursing Assistants Medical Social Services Medicare Assignment Accepted Private insurance Accepted with Pre-Authorization

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LAKE CENTRE HOME CARE

LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD

PEO PLE

Hungry for change For Angie Dolan, losing weight helped her gain a happier life.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

everal years ago, Angie Dolan desperately needed to get something off her chest. It was more than 100 pounds of unwanted fat.

Weighing nearly 300 pounds, she needed to have a heart-to-heart conversation with herself about the unhealthy habits that led to diabetes, sleep apnea and polycystic ovarian syndrome at the young age of 22. A trip to her doctor revealed another grim prognosis. Her obesity might hinder her chances of having a successful pregnancy.

“At that point in my life, my eating habits were horrible, and I hadn’t been to a gym or really exercised in a long time,” she says.

With her life mired in despair, Angie, a resident of Tavares, decided to chart a new course.

She joined a gym, enrolled in a CrossFit class and meticulously tracked all foods she consumed. Before long, these healthy habits became ingrained in her daily routine.

Three years later, she is now living large, and it is all because she made

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“FOOD DEFINITELY GAVE ME A FEELING OF SATISFACTION. IT MADE ME HAPPY AND TOOK MY MIND OFF THINGS.” —ANGIE DOLAN

the life-changing decision to downsize.

After losing 115 pounds, Angie no longer requires a CPAP machine to breathe while sleeping, has reversed her diabetes and has gone from a dress size 24 to size 9.

There’s more good news. The 25-yearold is now 16 weeks pregnant with a baby boy whom she has already named Noah.

Lake and Sumter Style talked to Angie about her incredible transformation.

gained between 60 to 70 pounds because I had gotten to a place mentally where I didn’t care about being overweight and just kept eating and eating. I could feel my health deteriorating, so when the doctor told me those things it reaffirmed what I already knew. But yes, hearing

those diagnoses come from a doctor adds a bit of fright.

You said you had gotten to a place mentally where you didn’t care about being overweight. Can you elaborate? Andrew always accepted me

Photos provided by Angie Dolan

When did you first realize your weight was out of control? In May 2017, my husband, Andrew, and I were trying to get pregnant. It wasn’t happening. I went to a doctor. I was already using a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, and he told me I was a Type 2 diabetic and had a mild case polycystic ovarian syndrome, which means there are cysts on my ovaries. He said I might not be able to have kids because I was obese and told me that the only way to get rid of these medical problems was to lose weight. It was a wake-up call for me.

You were only 22. How did you react to having all these medical conditions at such a young age? I knew things were bad. After turning 21, I

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LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD

“NOW, I’M JUST SO HAPPY.

for who I was, even when I was at my biggest point. Also, my family and friends never shamed me for being big and eating bad. Therefore, I became comfortable eating whatever I wanted in front of people. Some obese people are not like that. They tend to eat significantly less when eating around other people.

How much could you eat? I could eat a whole Publix sub and sometimes two bags of chips. For lunch, I would go to McDonald’s and order three double cheeseburgers, large fries and a large Coke. Nighttime would roll around and I’d become bored and satisfy that boredom by eating. I do think I had an eating disorder but was never diagnosed with one.

Did food bring you emotional happiness?

Food definitely gave me a feeling of satisfaction. It made me happy and took my mind off things. Once I completed a meal, I thought, ‘Well, dang. I kind of want to eat again.’ That’s why I think I had an eating disorder.

Let’s go back to the day you visited your doctor and received the bad news. You said it was a wake-up call.

How so? I remember that day like it was yesterday. I cried in my car and couldn’t even go to work that day. I cried knowing I had diabetes and might not be able to have kids. Something clicked in my brain that I had to change. That very day, I threw away all the bad food in my house and joined Planet Fitness.

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EVERY DAY IS A GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE.” O G E T TW O N K E ANGI

Did you have a hard time transitioning from an inactive unhealthy eater into an active healthy eater? It wasn’t as hard as I thought. I slowly started working out and eating healthy and became addicted to living this new lifestyle.

Before long, I found myself working out five or six days a week.

How long did it take for you to notice results? The first year I lost between 35 and 40 pounds but didn’t really feel a lot of change in my body. The second year, I hit this huge wave of motivation and joined a CrossFit class and absolutely loved it. Being around other fit people really motivated me and I ended up losing between 40 and 50 pounds.

This past year I’ve toned up a lot by building muscle and strength.

Tell me about changing your eating habits. At first, I tried several fad diets and did not enjoy them as much. Then I switched to Weight Watchers. That allows me to still eat food like potatoes, pasta and sandwiches without totally depriving myself. It’s all about eating foods you enjoy in moderation without binge eating.

But for the most part I eat chicken, beef, vegetables, fruits and fat- and sugar-free food. It’s OK to eat foods you like as long as you track what you eat.

How has coronavirus affected your workout regimen? I did have to put CrossFit classes on hold.

However, I still do CrossFit-style workouts at home. I’ve also been doing a lot of yoga and running around my neighborhood. Typically, I run about three miles. Now that I’m pregnant, I want to make healthy choices because that way I’ll know if I do gain a lot of weight it’s all because of the baby.

Tell me how you feel today versus three years ago.

Sometimes it’s hard to think how I felt back then and what made me feel a certain way and how I fell in this dark place. Now, I’m just so happy.

Every day is a great day to be alive. I always remind myself that I’ve come too far to ever go back to where I was. Since I’ve been pregnant, I asked my doctor to examine my bloodwork, and the results came back that I’m completely healthy.

It’s bittersweet.

ADVICE FOR ANYONE BEGINNING A WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY: Have

accountability, whether it’s a group, a friend, your parents. You need someone to help you stay on track.

FAVORITE WORKOUT MUSIC: Hard rock.

It puts me in this head space where a flip switches and I have all this energy.

YOUR REFRIGERATOR IS CURRENTLY STOCKED WITH: Unsweet almond milk,

water, chicken, ground turkey and lots of fruits and veggies.

FAVORITE STORE: Trader Joe’s is my go-to place because the company offers healthy organic food choices.

FUTURE PLANS: I am currently attending the University of Central Florida to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology. I saw a psychologist after my parents divorced when I was in second grade. Seeing the way they helped me makes me want to help other children.

HOBBIES: Going to the beach and hanging

out with my dogs: Lilly, a miniature shih tzu, and Storm, a pit bull.

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Highly

functi LORI ESAREY OWNER / APRN

tional Total Nutrition and Therapeutics utilizes functional medicine to get to the root cause of disease.

ou haven’t been feeling good for a while and finally decide to schedule an appointment with your doctor. You show up, explain your symptoms, and in most cases, you are treated with a conventional medicine tool. Maybe it’s a pill to help with your symptoms, maybe you are told to lose weight, or become more active, and if it’s really bad, you are scheduled for a more aggressive treatment, like surgery. Either way, did you leave the appointment wondering if you were listened to at all?

Total Nutrition and Therapeutics (TNT) takes a vastly different approach.

Most of their clients visit TNT because they are sick and tired of being sick and tired. They want to be heard. The medical team at TNT not only listens to you, but they respond with a functional medicine approach. Rather than treating a medical symptom with a pill

or prescription, the TNT team delves into why you are feeling as you are.

They determine the root cause of your symptoms, which in turn better helps them design a lifestyle treatment plan to get you back to feeling good. That means making changes in your diet, sleep patterns, nutrition, stress management and hormonal support to bolster your body’s natural healing ability.

TNT, located in Lady Lake, is owned

by Lori Esarey, a lifestyle medicine expert who earned master’s degrees in Nutritional Medicine and Metabolic Medicine from the University of South Florida. Lori could accurately be called an in-depth investigator who takes a patient-centered approach rather than a disease-focused approach. She and her team of providers investigate a client’s medical history, physical function, lab results and genetic and lifestyle factors to identify the root cause of problems. Afterwards, the TNT team coaches the client on how to restore their body back in balance and return to optimal function.

Although clients come to TNT with different medical problems, they all enjoy

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the same stellar results. They no longer feel sick and tired.

Take Jack Diehl, for instance. Jack was overweight, and his doctor wanted to put him on medication to control his high blood-sugar level. After joining the TNT program and making changes to his diet and lifestyle, Jack lost 40 pounds and his blood sugar level normalized.

“I feel good and I can really tell a difference because I am more inclined to do things that I used to put off because I didn’t have the energy to do them,” Jack says.

There’s also the story of Jacqueline Summers, who came to TNT after experiencing sleepless nights, lack of energy, heart palpitations and joint pain.

She was at the beginning of menopause.

Within two weeks of joining TNT, she felt like a new person.

“It’s the entire team at TNT that makes it happen, from teaching me how to shop at the grocery store to learning how to eat out,” Jacqueline says. “Collectively, all of these tools helped me achieve my goal.”

Marilyn Mayfield, an avid exerciser, came to TNT after experiencing bloating, acid reflux and unexplained weight gain.

Through testing, Lori accurately diagnosed Marilyn with gut issues. To say Marilyn is happy with TNT is an understatement.

“It’s like going to buy a new car and picking out all the accessories that you want in the car,” Marilyn says. “It’s customized medicine.”

Who TNT is Throughout the years, TNT has treated a wide range of clients. Some come in with symptoms such as relentless fatigue, hair loss, endurance problems, memory loss, hormonal changes and functional decline, while others are suffering from conditions like hypothyroidism, hypertension, high cholesterol, erectile dysfunction and menopause.

The good news is that everyone has innate healing powers. Healing takes a team approach involving the client and practitioner addressing all aspects of a person’s life. By treating the root causes of illness with diet and lifestyle changes,

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everyone can live a vibrant life and enjoy optimal health.

That’s why Lori Esarey and her passionate team of health care providers specialize in functional medicine, a proactive and individualized approach to preventing future disease.

“Functional medicine is a medical mindset that focuses on looking at the root cause of the condition rather than operating from a mindset of reactionary care,” Lori says. “Functional medicine is proactive alongside root cause analysis. If a person is experiencing a symptom, we can react, and we do react. But the way we react is different.”

Indeed, the TNT model of care deviates substantially from a one-size-fits-all approach. Clients receive unrushed consultation meetings, individualized care plans, effective and leading-edge medical solutions, educational and interactive classroom settings, transformational nutrition counseling, IV therapy and laboratory testing. All this and much more is offered to support natural healing of the human body and help clients achieve optimal living.

This is great news for patients who have experienced nightmares trying to navigate an often frustrating health care system.

They are suffering, stuck and confused on how to proceed. TNT’s unique model and innovative client care gives them hope. Hope is a powerful force that has propelled many of their clients to achieve great accomplishments they once thought were impossible.

“Eighty percent of what we do in functional medicine is listening,” Lori says. “That means getting the background story. How do you feel? What’s ailing you?

What kind of medical conditions have you experienced before? Twenty percent of what we do is diagnostics or filling in the blanks to see what’s going on. It’s listening to understand and react accordingly.”

Why they do it Lori knows from firsthand experience the trials and tribulations of battling disease. After giving birth to her oldest daughter in 1995, she weighed 186 pounds

and struggled with high blood pressure and gestational diabetes.

“I was depressed and fatigued,” she says.

“Although I was a new mom and had a beautiful baby, I wasn’t happy.”

Ultimately, a drastic change in nutrition helped Lori overcome disease. She then spent 13 years as a nurse practitioner at both an internal medicine and family practice. Unfortunately, when desperate patients sought her for advice, she had very little to give.

“People would ask me questions all the time about their health,” Lori says. “All I had in my toolbox was to tell them to take a pill or tell them to change their diet.

That was very frustrating for me because my personal mission statement is helping people achieve things in life that they never thought possible. At that point in my life, I was either going to stick where I was, or I was going to create an opportunity to take a new route in life and help people.”

Lori chose the latter, and TNT opened in 2006. Initially, TNT was known as a weight-loss and nutrition practice, but Lori has expanded its services to remove roadblocks that prevent clients from recovering their health.

“I want people to understand that health is so much larger than weight loss, and our business model is so much more than simply helping people shed unwanted pounds. Weight loss doesn’t necessarily mean healthy.”

Since opening TNT, Lori has lived a thriving lifestyle rather than merely surviving day-to-day. That thriving lifestyle comes from the satisfaction she derives from helping clients achieve optimal, vibrant health. Of course, she’ll be the first to admit that she only deserves some of the credit behind TNT’s many success stories. She praises her team that shares her passion in helping clients look, feel and function to the best of their ability.

“Our team members go through our program at different levels of commitment,” Lori says. “They’ve also sought medical care for multiple conditions such as sexual dysfunction, high blood pressure and thyroid conditions. Now, they’re connected and can share their stories with our clients. They, too, are striving to achieve optimal health. You

“I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT HEALTH IS SO MUCH LARGER THAN WEIGHT LOSS, AND OUR BUSINESS MODEL IS SO MUCH MORE THAN SIMPLY HELPING PEOPLE SHED UNWANTED POUNDS. WEIGHT LOSS DOESN’T NECESSARILY MEAN HEALTHY.” —LORI ESAREY

can’t teach or coach what you’re not currently doing. My team members are all on this journey of living their best life, and they want our clients to get on that same ship so they can experience their best life.”

How TNT does it As mentioned previously, functional medicine identifies and corrects the underlying causes of diseases and medical conditions rather than treating only the symptoms.

TNT utilizes multiple diagnostic tools to determine the root cause. Those include serum lab testing to identify inflammation markers, hormone levels and early risk factors for diabetes; hair analysis for heavy metals; intestinal permeability studies; vitamin and mineral analysis; cognitive testing and much more.

In lifestyle medicine, patients are educated on achieving optimal health.

That’s why TNT incorporates wellness and educational classes into its treatment approach. These classes can be held onsite or via Zoom, and are taught by advanced practice registered nurses, PA’s, health coaches, and a clinical nutritionist.

“We teach them how to shop for food, where to buy food, what to buy, how to plan, how to eat out, how to eat in, how to eat at a friend’s house, how to attend a social event,” Lori says. “That’s lifestyle medicine— incorporating new ways of healthy living into your day for it to be sustainable.”

TNT also incorporates pre-consultation meetings for new clients.

“Prior to a client’s first visit to our clinic, we send them videos so there is no question about who we are, what we do and how we do things,” Lori says. TNT offers online virtual tours and testimonials, and other tools that prepare you for a successful first visit that sets the stage for success and long term achievement of your healthcare goals.

Existing clients undergo monthly treatment plan updates to determine

what’s working and what’s not working.

This allows the TNT team to modify treatment accordingly.

“We show them and we teach them how to create their lifestyle change,” Lori says. “Not ours. Theirs. It’s extremely individualized and very strategic. I use homes as a good analogy. You have to have a strong foundation, and we teach them what those core fundamental principles are. It might take six to eight weeks to do that. Then we build the walls and roof over time for long-term sustainability. It’s an investment. Your health is the most valued asset you have. You possess it.

You own it.”

TNT offers it all. Individualized care, innovative diagnostic and treatment approaches and a team fully committed to helping clients live happy, healthy lives.

By shifting to a more client-centered approach, the TNT team is utilizing functional medicine to address the whole person rather than an isolated set of symptoms.

809 County Road 466, Unit 202-C, Lady Lake / 352.259.5190 / tnt4me.com

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CELEBRATING

61

YEARS

Find out how cook Cody Yon worked his way up the ladder at Cedar River Seafood.

menu FOOD. DRINKS. REVIEWS.

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IN THE KITCHEN

RECIPE

Mostly surf, a little turf With fish and shellfish galore, seafood lovers won’t lack choices at Cedar River Seafood.

STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

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or Cody Yon, Cedar River Seafood was his first experience cooking for more than just his family.

The now 23-year-old started at Cedar River, his first restaurant job, in 2016 when he was 19, and has since most enjoyed cooking the lobster, “and steaks, as long as they’re not well done,” Cody says.

“I’ve always been sort of good at it (cooking), but like at home.

I never cooked for a lot of people before coming here. It was just the family,” the Eustis native says. Cody himself enjoys the restaurant’s alfredo, burgers and tacos.

Kathy and Roland Bell first opened the doors to Cedar River Seafood in Leesburg 35 years ago.

Originally from Jacksonville, the family now lives in Crystal River and runs their eight restaurant locations with the help of their three sons. “The Bells are nice people, they’re good to work for,” Cody says.

“Over 40 years later and all three of their grown children helping run their life long work and their dream career- here we are… and it’s because of our customers that we are allowed the opportunity to continue living this dream together as a family,” says Roland and Kathy’s son, via the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Harry Bell, one of the sons who helps run the restaurants, says that his favorite menu items are the platter for 2, the flounder filet and the shrimp. “Our distributor is out of Jacksonville. They’re a mom-and-pop distributor as well, as we are. We get a lot of our stuff locally,” Harry says.

The restaurant’s most popular menu items consist mainly of their pastas, as well as the many different ways of eating shrimp that they offer. “We do all-youcan-eat sometimes,” Cody says.

You can try fried shrimp, spicy boiled shrimp, popcorn shrimp or coconut shrimp, as well as their non-traditional scampi.

“They’re called ‘scallops’ but it’s just two shrimps together, that’s how we do our scampi, and they’re really good,” says manager Kristin Hassey, who started as a server at Cedar River almost nine years ago. The platters are big sellers as well, Cody says. You can choose from four combo platters, as well as Lobster for One or a Lobster Feast for Two, which includes four lobster tails, shrimp, oysters, scallops and deviled crab.

The platters allow you to choose from shrimp, scallops, oysters, deviled crab, flounder filets, clam strips and calamari. Cedar River also offers a senior menu, kid’s menu and lunch platters between 11am-4pm daily.

“A lot of people come for our fried green tomatoes, they’re really popular and they’re so good,” Kristin says. You also may want to try crab-stuffed mushrooms, bell pepper stuffed with crab, or coconut shrimp with a tropical sauce. Kristin also raves about the New England Clam Chowder.

Traditional Southern fare also includes fried okra, homestyle baked beans and buttery grits as sides.

For entrees, choose from a huge menu of fish, shellfish, and even “swamp things” like frog legs or gator tail. Every entree comes with two hush puppies and two sides, like coleslaw, a loaded baked potato, garlic mashed potatoes or baby lima beans. Or, you can choose from mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, collard greens, applesauce or a garden salad for an additional charge of $1.49.

If you’re in the mood for catfish, you can choose to have it one of three ways; fried, blackened, or broiled. “Also, for upcharges they can get like a combo with shrimp and catfish, clams and catfish,

S C A M P I S AU C E INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

1

pound butter or 4 sticks

14

/

cup lemon juice

2

tablespoons garlic powder

Melt butter. Add lemon juice and garlic powder and mix thoroughly.

Refrigerate until use.

whatever,” Cody says. For the breadings on fish and most other items, the cooks use coating with a cornmeal base, rather than panko or a traditional breadcrumb. You can choose catfish filets, or if you’re extra hungry, opt for a whole fried catfish.

For diners who prefer turf over surf, you can try New York strip or ribeye steak, chicken pasta with alfredo or marinara sauce, or a one-half pound black angus burger. Other handhelds include a flounder filet sandwich, flounder, shrimp and oyster po-boys and a classic chicken wrap.

Lighter options include a garden salad with chicken, grouper, shrimp or mahi, or three chicken, shrimp or fish tacos.

Blackened salmon and grilled chicken with a choice of veggies is also a hearty but healthy choice.

All of the employees rave about Cedar River’s fried “xangos,” which is their version of fried cheesecake. The cheesecake is sliced, breaded and fried, and you can choose between toppings of fruits and caramel. The restaurant also offers Florida key lime pie, a refreshing treat to finish off your visit.

Cedar River Seafood also has locations in Middleburg, Starke, Callahan, Fernandina, Gainesville, Lake City and Inverness, which you can find out more about at cedarriverseafood.com.

H USH PUPPIES INGREDIENTS

/

34

DIRECTIONS

cup onions chopped

Place onions into a container and add sour cream, garlic powder and egg.

Lightly mix ingredients together. Add House-Autry puppy mix and sugar, and stir in warm water. Mix until desired consistency. Heat oil in a pan until it reaches 350 degrees. Scoop dough with a spoon into the oil and hold until puppy slides into oil off the spoon. Once golden brown, flip, and remove from oil and set onto a paper towel once the other side is golden brown.

2.5 teaspoons garlic powder 1

small egg

1.5

tablespoons sour cream

1

pound or 4 cups House-Autry Puppy Mix

3

tablespoons sugar

3

cups warm water

4

cups vegetable or canola oil

Hey, readers! Do you have favorite recipes or know a chef we should profile?

Comment on this article or send story ideas to victoria@akersmediagroup.com.

VICTORIA SCHLABIG

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The Floor Shoppe Showroom

The Floor Shoppe A locally owned flooring business is pleased to announce the opening of The Shower Shoppe located in the Wildwood Oaks Business Center at 9815 N US HWY 301.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE The Shower Shoppe Showroom

he Floor Shoppe has just celebrated their 40th year in business and for the past 30 years have been a primary supplier to The Villages

new construction division. Day to day operations are managed by brothers Taylor and Miles Stewart. Taylor says “My father interviewed with the Morris family in 1990 when they just began to build homes on site and was The Villages first flooring contractor hired and we have been a supplier ever since. We have completed over 15,000 homes and many of the commercial buildings you see and visit thru out all of The Villages.”

The idea of a showroom specifically built and designed to showcase their beautiful work was years in the making. “We had so many customers coming into our flooring showroom wanting to replace their existing showers that had either began to leak or were just outdated” Stewart says.

With over 4500 sq ft of showroom you can see full life-size showers including all the latest tile and accent choices actually

“THE HIGH QUALITY OF OUR INSTALLATIONS IS DISPLAYED RIGHT THERE IN OUR SHOWROOM SO OUR CUSTOMERS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT BEFORE WE EVER START THE JOB.” — M I L E S S T E WA R T

installed. Best of all Stewart says, “You can see the quality of our installation right there in the showroom and not just have somebody tell you what you might get”. The Shower Shoppe has custom made shower pans that can be tiled and will fit in the same footprint of your existing bathtub. Stewart says, “with The Villages being a retirement community a lot of our customers are over 60 and don’t feel comfortable stepping over the rim of a tub anymore, so this system allows us to create a second shower in the home with little fuss.”

“We handle everything, our designer Karen Papke will work with the customer to make sure they find the right tile for the job and then come to their home to take measurements. Once a decision is made to move forward a typical shower

The Shower Shoppe Showroom

will be started on a Monday and totally completed by the weekend. We do everything in house except those skills requiring licensed tradesman. Those trades such as plumbers and electricians are sourced and scheduled by The Shower Shoppe team of onsite managers.

A job like this might take a general contractor 2-3 weeks to complete but since we have all the trades ready to go and control the schedule you will not find

any wasted days where your job is sitting idle”. From plumbing fixtures, frameless glass doors, safety grab bars and bench seats; The Shower Shoppe is your one stop source for custom designed and beautifully built showers. With 1000’s of choices of ceramic, porcelain and stone to choose from and a strong reputation of standing behind their work, you need not go any further to find the new shower of your dreams.

352.748.4811 / thefloorshoppe.com / 4070 CR 124A, Wildwood Mon-Fri 9am-5pm | Sat 10am-2pm

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FORK ON THE ROAD

REVIEWS

Summertime on a bun Let’s Do a Maine Lobster Roll brings tasty New England coastal food classics to Lake County.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

weet, delicate, chilled chunks of lobster—the delicious delicacy from Maine—lightly tossed with mayonnaise is the star of the Maine lobster roll, and it’s the highly acclaimed signature dish at Let’s Do a Maine Lobster Roll restaurant in downtown Mount Dora.

For Maine or New England natives living in Florida, the eatery is an inviting site to savor the taste of Maine.

“It felt like home,” says Lake and Sumter Style photographer Nicole Hamel, a native of Mexico, Maine, recalling the recent weekday she walked into the 426 N. Donnelly St. restaurant and noticed wall hangings of her home state.

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≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL “This is a map I can point to and remember where I came from,” Nicole says, pointing to Oxford County. She also enjoyed perusing the restaurant’s menu and checked out a display of Maine-related merchandise available for purchase, including a boxed mix for whoopie pies.

My dining companion and I were eager to order the New England food classics Nicole mentioned that reminded her of home. We divided the dishes into thirds for a wonderful taste-testing of the restaurant’s clam chowder, the “overloaded” lobster roll and a chili slaw dog.

Each dish was perfectly prepared and delicious.

Those who love seafood owe it to themselves to savor the “overloaded,” a Maine lobster roll filled with a generous double portions of fresh lobster meat that has been steamed, chilled, and mixed with light mayonnaise and piled in a warm, grilled New England roll. The bread was a treat, too, as the bun’s split-top opening (rather than at the sides like a regular hot dog bun) makes it easy to hold, and it was toasted on the griddle to create a crispy exterior.

“THIS IS A VERY NICE PLACE TO EAT AND THE FOOD IS GOOD.” —WA L T PAV I T T

Nicole drizzled a little melted butter on her lobster roll portion, and I did the same. We discovered it enhanced the lobster meat even more.

The chili slaw dog, also served in a grilled New England bun, provided a

Let’s Do a Maine Lobster Roll is owned

by Maine native Oscar Londono. He took over the business four years ago from the previous owners, and Oscar says the best compliment is hearing raves from Maine and New England-area natives who love

tasty combination of texture and flavor of the chili hot dog topped with cold, crisp coleslaw. I enjoyed this taste sensation and will definitely order it again.

The creamy clam chowder also was scrumptious with the right amount of seasoning, clams and potatoes.

We enjoyed small talk with former Vermont native Walt Pavitt of Mount Dora, who was dining with his wife Joyce.

The pair are among the eatery’s regulars.

“This is a very nice place to eat and the food is good,” says Walt. “We like seafood, especially lobster, and we highly recommend this place.”

being able to enjoy favorite dishes from home. Oscar also enjoys seeing them become repeat customers.

“We respect the lobster,” says Oscar, adding the “overloaded” Maine lobster roll is his favorite menu item. He notes some people come to the restaurant just for the New England-style buns that he gets from Boston. Instead of spreading butter on the outer sides of the roll before it’s grilled, Oscar prefers using mayonnaise. It was nice to discover bread grilled with mayo was just as tasty.

The restaurant’s warm, grilled New England rolls can be ordered filled with

egg salad, chicken salad or tuna salad.

Other options are sandwiches on white, wheat or rye bread for grilled ham and cheese, grilled Reuben, grilled tuna melt, bacon, tomato and cheese sandwich, sliced ham or turkey sandwich.

Diners may order several other hot dog combinations besides the chili slaw dog, including a Reuben dog with sauerkraut, 1000 Island dressing and Swiss cheese.

Angus beef burgers are available, too, and side dish choices of 3-bean salad, coleslaw, potato salad or potato chips.

Let’s Do a Maine Lobster Roll eatery is a wonderful lunch option for those who crave seafood, and chilled lobster on a grilled New England roll or the different hot dog combinations are ideal sandwiches to enjoy in the summer or anytime of the year.

IF YOU GO

Let’s Do a Maine Lobster Roll Sandwiches and deli cuisine 426 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora 352.735.3702 Hours: 11am to 3:30pm Monday to Thursday; 11am to 5pm Friday to Sunday.

Let’s do lunch Tell us about a great restaurant by emailing theresa@akersmediagroup.com.

THERESA CAMPBELL

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SPIRITS

REVIEWS

Cold and Bold Mystic Ice Cream constructs alcohol-infused creamy concoctions while building relationships.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

t’s hot. It’s August, the infamous dog days of summer. A time of the year when a scoop or two of cold, creamy, made-from-scratch delicious ice cream is the most idyllic refreshment. Or perhaps an adult beverage is what you need.

If only you could have both.

You can! Mystic Ice Cream in Fruitland Park offers an array of ice cream infused with liqueur. Yes, you read that right– ice cream enhanced to an adult level of enjoyment.

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≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL

All flavors are made on the premises from natural ingredients, with alcohol added in the process. One of the most popular is the Mystic Slide, featuring chocolate ice cream with Kahlua and amaretto. “It’s like a Mudslide,” says Darrell Day, who has co-owned Mystic Ice Cream with his wife, Lisa, since December 2019. “We have another great adult ice cream called the Kahlua Fudge, which is chocolate ice cream with Kahlua in it and fudge on top.”

“The thing that is interesting is that I have never had an (alcoholic) drink.

I’ve never had a beer, and I’ve never had (the liqueur-infused ice creams),” says Darrell, who leaves it to his wife to make and taste the adult ice-cream flavors.

Lisa’s favorite is the Butterscotch Crunch, vanilla-based ice cream with butterscotch schnapps and Heath Bar crumbles. “We also have the Caribbean Orange, which is orange sherbet with Caribbean rum,” adds Darrell. “There’s a little bit of ice cream in that so it’s creamier.”

Rum Raisin is another alcoholic offering. The ice cream has rum in it and the raisins are soaked in rum. “We also have Coconut Rum and I’ve been told ours is the very best in the world,” says Darrell. “It’s a very, very good ice cream.”

The Pineapple Midori features a vanilla-based pineapple ice cream with a melon liqueur. “Midori is like a watermelon-type of liqueur,” says Darrell.

“I LOVE MAKING ICE CREAM AND I LOVE MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY.” — L I S A D AY

Other “adult” flavors at Mystic Ice Cream are Baileys, Cherry Amaretto, Mint Chocolate Chip, White Russian and Grand Marnier.

The combination of ice cream, alcohol and fruit make for some irresistible combinations.

“Our Black Raspberry Chip is black raspberry ice cream with black raspberry liqueur with chocolate chips, while the Peaches and Cream features pureed peaches with peach schnapps in a vanilla-based ice cream,” say Darrell.

Lisa has created over 100 ice-cream recipes. However, not all are available at once. On any given day, Mystic Ice Cream offers about 15 ice-cream flavors with liquor and 17 non-alcoholic flavors. Flavors are changed every three weeks.

“I love making ice cream and I love making people happy,” says Lisa.

Her husband favors non-alcoholic varieties, including the Charlie Brown Peanut Butter Crunch, a

creamy light peanut butter ice cream with Reese’s crumbles and Reese’s Pieces, and key lime pie ice cream.

“It’s like a key lime pie cheesecake, which I love, and I really love the Hog Heaven, a vanilla-based ice cream with maple syrup, brown sugar and candied bacon,” says Darrell.

Besides offering refreshing ice cream, Mystic Ice Cream is a worthwhile attraction to visit to see the parlor’s eclectic interior and décor. Colorful record album jackets of The Beatles and other artists from the 1960s and 70s cover the walls along with movie posters. The parlor resembles a pop culture museum that’s bound to evoke sweet memories for the over-50 crowd. Baby Boomers will feel right at home.

Darrell loves that Mystic Ice Cream can seat 80 people and is a fun place to go for nightly entertainment, including karaoke.

Darrell says he and Lisa will reopen

IF YOU GO

MYSTIC ICE CREAM 1217 W. Miller St. (County Road 466A), Fruitland Park 352.812.1366 Hours: 1-9pm Tuesday to Sunday

the entertainment portion of the parlor once Gov. DeSantis says places can reopen at 100 percent capacity after being limited due to COVID-19.

Before the virus, entertainment had been the nightly draw between 6 to 9:30pm. Karaoke on Tuesdays and Fridays drew 15 to 30 singers singing everything from country, Broadway and American standards. Wednesday was “Name That Tune,” (mostly 1960s to 70s music); and Thursdays at 7pm was Trivia Night. On Saturdays, the ice-cream parlor offered a show called “I Got a Secret.” On Sundays, live music was the attraction, with Darrell playing music and being joined by guitarists, singers and pianists.

The Days recently purchased an ice-cream truck that they plan to take to Villages events, including the Brits and U.S. polo match in November.

“No one else has an ice cream place like Mystic Ice Cream or a truck or cool parlor to enjoy nightly entertainment,” says Darrell. “This is more than ice cream. It’s about relationship building, and we think we do it pretty well.”

Do you know a place where we can drink?

Comment on this article or send story ideas to theresa@akersmediagroup.com.

THERESA CAMPBELL

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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 BUSHNELL Odd Cuples Café 117 W Belt Ave 352.568.0408 Hong Kong Restaurant 2229 W. CR 48 352.568.8888 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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H OW EY- I N THE -HILLS

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 Tony’s Pizza & Subs 2760 E. Orange Ave. 352.589.9001 F RU I T L A N D PA R K Fruitland Park Café 3180 US Hwy. 441/27 352.435.4575

Uncle Kenny’s BBQ 157 Hwy. 27 352.394.1225

Legends Cafe 2468 U.S. Hwy. 441/27 352.728.0006

Clermont Brewing Co. 750 W Desoto 321.430.2337

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

G’s NY Pizza 12346 Roper Blvd.

352.243.8900

Thai Sushi America 925 N. Bay St. 352.357.1949

Guru Restaurant 2400 S. Hwy. 27 352.241.9884

Lilly’s on the Lake 846 W. Osceola St. 352.708.6565

Friar Tuck 16640 Cagan Crossings Blvd.

352.404.6818

Red Wing Restaurant 12500 S. SR 33 352.429.2997

Troy’s Cuban Deli 1200 Oakley Seaver Dr. 352.241.4295

Cheeser’s Palace Café 707 W. Montrose St. 352.404.9431

El Cerro Restaurant 811 W. Hwy. 50 352.241.9884

Taki’s Pizza House 2824 S. Bay St. 352.357.0022

Green Garden 1790 E. Hwy. 50 352.243.2077

Legends Grille & Tavern 1700 Legendary Blvd.

352.243.1118

Devenney’s Irish Pub 16909 High Grove Blvd.

352.432.3925

Lil Anthony’s Pizza 7965 SR 50 352.429.7499

ibar-be-que Express 3170 Hwy. 27 352.315.4227

Calabria Ristorante 13900 CR 455 407.656.5144

Corelli’s Italian Restaurant 1042 E. Hwy. 50 352.989.5924

Stavro’s & Sons of Eustis 2100 W. CR 44 352.589.9100

Root and Branch Bistro and Bar 1200 Seaver Dr. 352.708.4529 Sanctuary Ridge Bar & Grille 2601 Diamond Club Road 352.243.0411 Sarah’s Greek Cuisine & More 16640 Cagan Crossings Blvd., Ste. 305 352.404.8031 The Crooked Spoon Gastropub 200 Citrus Tower Blvd.

352.404.7808

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EUSTIS Jeannie’s Place 209 E. Gottsche Ave. 352.359.0027 Kiku Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar 15211 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.483.8288 King’s Taste Bar-B-Que 503 Palmetto St. 352.589.0404 LaCabana Mexican Bar and Grill 2060 S. Bay St. 352.357.4600 Nalan Sultan Mediterranean Grill 1 N. Eustis St. 352.357.4444 NightOwl Caribbean Restaurant 929 S. Bay St. 352.589.0256

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 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.315.0028 The Rose Plantation 200 Rose Ave., Fruitland Park 352.805.4340

JB Boondocks Bar & Grill 704 S. Lakeshore Blvd.

352.324.3600 La Hacienda Restaurant 10400 CR 48 352.324.3910 Nicker’s Clubhouse Restaurant 10400 CR 48 352.324.2718 L A DY L A K E Bamboo Bistro 700 Hwy. 441 352.750.9998 El Ranchito 1 Lagrande Blvd.

352.750.3335 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

Cousin Vinnie’s Family Sports Restaurant 10700 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.253.2442 Frank’s Place 201 N. 1st St. 352.323.1989 Gator Bay Bar & Grill 10320 CR 44 352.365.2177 God Café 300 W. Main St. 352.801.7447 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’s Pizzeria 27405 US Highway 27 352.728.2020 Mrs. T’s Place, Southern Restaurant 305 Pine St. 352.431.3217 Naples Italian Restaurant 1107 W. North Blvd.

352.323.1616

G R OV E L A N D

Brick & Barrel 209 W. Main St. 352.431.3069

Coyote Rojo 214 W. Broad St. 352.557.8999

Cafe Ola 400 N. 14th St. 352.365.0089

Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill 2775 U.S. 27 352.435.4633

Ikaho Sushi Japanese Restaurant 7965 SR 50, #900 352.557.8988

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

Osaka Japanese Steak House 1401 Citrus Blvd.

352.728.0788

Chesapeake Bay Grill 4467 Arlington Ridge Blvd.

352.315.0066

Pine Street Bar-B-Que 408 Pine St. 352.728.1293

James Barbeque 262 W. Orange St. 352.557.4050

Plantation Oaks Restaurant 4720 Plantation Blvd.

352.530.2680 Ramshackle Café 1317 N. 14th St. 352.365.6565 Rodello’s Italian Restaurant 26736 US Hwy. 27 352.319.8093 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 Stokes Seafood Market and More 719 W. Main St. 352.787.3474 Sully’s Smokehouse 10820 CR 44 352.483.7427 Takis Pizza Restaurant 1205 N. 14th St. 352.787.2344 Pint Sized Pub 110 S. 5th St. 352.460.0383 The Florida Porch Café 706 W. Main St. 352.365.1717 The Kitchen Cafe & Cooking School 712 W. Main St. 352.901.6537 The Mojo Grill & Catering Co. 9925 US-441 352.787.0494 The Old Time Diner 1350 W. North Blvd.

352.805.4250 Turners 114 S. 5th St. 352.530.2274

MINNEOLA Jack Benny’s Barbeque 100 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.394.2673 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 The Surf Bar and Grill 650 N. Hwy. 27 202.527.0100 Tiki Bar & Grill 508 S. Main Ave. 352.394.2232

Belle Glade Country Club 446 Moyer Loop 352.205.8208

Margarita Republic 1102 Main St. 352.753.4600

Magical Meat Boutique 322 N. Alexander St. 352.729.6911

Fish Camp Lake Eustis 901 Lake Shore Blvd.

352.742.4400

BlueFin Grill & Bar 2738 Brownwood Blvd.

352.571.5344

Mount Dora Pizza & Subs 2718 W. Old U.S. Hwy. 441 352.383.5303

Hurricane Dockside Grill 3351 W. Burleigh Blvd.

352.508.5137

Cane Garden Country Club 1726 Bailey Trail 352.750.0627

Mezza Luna Italian Restaurant and Bar 320 Colony Blvd.

352.753.3824

Kalua Hale Beach Bar 181 S. Joanna Ave. 352.609.5910

Chengs Chinese and Sushi Restaurant 4050 Wedgewood Ln. 352.391.9678

Orange Blossom Country Club 1542 Water Tower Circle 352.751.4501

China Gourmet III 343 Colony Blvd 352.750.4965

Palmer Legends Country Club 1635 Palmer Way 352.750.4499

Olive Branch MediterraneanItalian Grille 115 W. 3rd St. 352.729.6734 One Flight Up 440 N. Donnelly St., Ste. 100 352.758.9818

MOUNT DORA 1921 Mount Dora 142 E. Fourth Ave. 352.385.1921

PizzAmore’ 722 E. 5th Ave. 352.383.0092

Anthony’s Pizza 17195 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.357.6668

Shiva Indian Restaurant 140A W. 5th Ave. 352.735.4555

Barnwood Country Kitchen & Smokehouse 3725 W. Old US Hwy 441 352.630.4903 Beauclaire Restaurant at Lakeside Inn 100 N. Alexander St. 352.383.4101

Sidelines Sport Eatery 315 N. Highland St. 352.735.7433 Sugarboo’s Bar-B-Que 1305 N. Grandview St. 352.735.7675

Bocce Pizzeria 925 E. First Ave. 352.385.0067

The Bavarian Haus 433 N. Alexander St. 352.735.8387

Café Gianni 425 N. Alexander St. 352.735.3327

The Country Club 1900 Country Club Blvd.

352.735.2263

Cody’s on 4th Cafe 111 E. 4th Ave. 352.735.8426

The Goblin Market 331-B Donnely St. 352.735.0059

Copacabana Cuban Cafe 320 Dora Drawdy Way 352.385.9000

Whale’s Tale Fish House 2720 W. Old U.S. Hwy 441 352.385.1500

Frog & Monkey English Pub 411 N. Donnelly St. 352. 383.1936

MASCOTTE

Highland Street Café 185 S. Highland St. 352.383.1446

Rainbow Restaurant 704 E. Myers Blvd.

352.429.2093

BTW (Burgers, Tacos & Waffles) 115 E. Main St. 352.508.9287

Pisces Rising 239 W. 4th Ave. 352.385.2669

Wolfy’s 918 N. 14th St. 352.787.6777

Napoli’s Pizzeria 556 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.243.7500

Let’s Do a Maine Lobster Roll 426 N. Donnelly St. 352.735.3702

Jeremiah’s 500 N. Highland St. 352.383.7444 J.K. Thai & Sushi 116 E. 5th Ave. 352.385.5470

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

NYPD Pizzeria 4046 Wedgwood Ln 352.750.1994

Mary’s Kountry Kitchen 15945 CR 448 352.343.6823

Chop House at Lake Sumter 1045 Old Camp Rd. 352.750.6000

O’Keefe’s Irish Pub and Restaurant 115 S Rockingham Ave. 352.343.2157

Evans Prairie Country Club 1825 Evans Prairie Trail 352.750.2225

Ricciardi’s Italian Table 3660 Kiessel Rd. 352.391.9939

Fiesta Grande Mexican Grill 297 Colony Blvd 352.751.0400

Sakura 265 Colony Blvd 352.205.7393

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 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

Giovanni’s 3439 Wedgewood Lane 352.751.6674 Glenview County Club 3914 Glenview Rd. 352.753.0077 Habaneros Mexican Grill 3551 Wedgewood Ln. 352.633.2080 Hemingway’s at Havana Country Club 2484 Odell Circle 352.430.3200 Legacy Restaurant Nancy Lopez Country Club 17135 Buena Vista Blvd.

352.753.1475

RedSauce 1000 Canal St. 352.750.2930

The Lighthouse Point Bar and Grille 925 Lakeshore Dr. 352.753.7800 Tierra Del Sol Country Club 806 San Marino Dr. 352.753.8005

Greg’s Haystax 526 Umatilla Blvd.

352.669.1555 Old Crow Real Pit Bar-B-Q 41100 SR 19 352.669.3922 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 Cotillion Southern Café 101 N. Main St. 352.748.1223 Los Magueyes Mexican Restaurant 346 Shopping Center Dr. 352.461.0577 O’Shucks! Oyster Bar and Grill 1016 S Main St. 352.399.2200 Traditions Café 3107 Hwy. 44 352.748.1077

VKI Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar 1004 Old Mill Run 352.259.9887

Woody’s Bar-B-Q 1220 S. Main St. 352.748.1109

U M AT I L L A

Yalaha Bakery 8210 CR 48 352.324.3366

Combat Café 831 S Central Ave. 352.483.0250

YA L A H A

Fish & Chix 100 N. Central Ave. 352.669.7145 Gators 9 N. Central Ave. 352.669.6969

SORRENTO Del Franco Pizza Place 31436 CR 437 352.383.8882 Lisa’s Kountry Cafe 23911 CR 46 352.735.3380 TAVA R E S Angelo’s Italian Restaurant 2270 Vindale Rd. 352.343.2757

GOOD GRUB

THIS MONTH'S EDITOR'S PICK

Bamboo Bistro At Bamboo Bistro in Lady Lake, start your visit out with appetizers like crab rangoons, ceviche or seaweed salad, or enjoy tempura vegetables or miso and wonton soups. Lunch specials run from 11am-3pm Monday through Saturday, and include $13 bento boxes, sushi bar options, chicken, beef, shrimp and tofu wok entrees, and $10 specials with a choice of meat, fried rice, a spring roll and soup for $1. Dinner for two menu specials run Sunday through Thursday all day, and include two entrees and your choice of an appetizer or dessert, all for $25. With any bill totaling $25 or more, receive a free chef’s special appetizer.

After your meal, try a mango or raspberry sorbet or banana tempura ice cream. Reservations are highly recommended.

700 Hwy. 441, Lady Lake / 352.750.9998

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DINING GUIDE

Bella Nonna Pizzeria 352.508.9370 | 280 SILVERADO ST., TAVARES BELLANONNATAVARES.COM

Monday-Thursday 11am-8pm Friday-Saturday 11am-9pm

There’s a reason Bella Nonna Pizzeria and More has developed a loyal following during the coronavirus pandemic. This family-owned and operated restaurant offers a variety of scratch-made, New York-style, brick oven pizzas to include Amore Pepperoni, Bianco, and BBQ Chicken.

In addition, they offer Italian classics such as lasagna, eggplant parmesan, calzones and the best garlic knots around. While owned by Rob and Susan Christian, the restaurant is operated primarily by family members Juan Fernandez and Casey Christian. They pride themselves in serving delicious food and providing high-quality service. The restaurant is currently offering takeout and delivery only.

BTW – Burgers, Tacos, Waffles 352.508.9287 | 115 E. MAIN ST., TAVARES FACEBOOK.COM AND BTWTAVARES.COM/BRUTAPHOUSE.COM Burgers for breakfast? You’ll want to try that at BTW, an out-of-the-box restaurant that uses uncommon combinations of toppings and sauces to create unique, fresh-made burgers, tacos and waffles. The Breakfast in Bed Burger is a half-pound burger topped with bacon, egg, cheese and tater tots on a waffle bun. The Trailer Park Taco is reminiscent of Lake County’s Southern flavors with fried chicken, sweet barbecue sauce and ranch dressing. Winner Winner pairs fried chicken breast with buttermilk waffles. For dessert, My Secret Lover is a red velvet waffle topped with Nutella sauce, white chocolate chips, berries, cream cheese, whipped cream and powdered sugar. “We’re not necessarily the best place for a diet, but our flavors are going to blow your mind,” general manager Jenny Deschenes says. The rustic, artsy restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and is pet-friendly.

Claire’s Creperie 850.776.9820 | 100 E. 4TH AVE., MOUNT DORA FACEBOOK.COM/CLAIRESCREPERIE Claire’s Creperie in Mount Dora does “all things crepes,” offering a large selection of both sweet and savory crepes, weekly specials featuring locally sourced ingredients, as well as keto and gluten-free options. Owner Claire Ernst grew up making crepes with her dad, and her signature crepe is the Something Good, filled with cheesecake cream and fresh strawberries, and topped with powdered sugar and strawberry sauce.

You also can try the Monte Cristo, a savory crepe with turkey, ham and Muenster cheese topped with powdered sugar and raspberry glaze. The creperie also has specials, such as the Croatian and the Macedonian, inspired by international students who have been hosted by Claire and her husband.

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Open 11am-10pm Tuesday-Thursday; 11am-11pm Friday; noon-11pm Saturday; noon10pm Sunday

Thursday 10am-6pm Friday & Saturday 10am-8pm

Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm Friday-Saturday 11am-10:30pm

Eaton’s Beach Florisiana Cuisine Restaurant 352.259.2444 OR 352.805.8591 | EATONSBEACH.COM 15790 SE 134TH AVE., WEIRSDALE Mix a little bit of Florida with a little bit of Louisiana and you get a gumbo of great food choices at Eaton’s Beach. And what better place to enjoy a meal than on the waterfront. Signature dishes include shrimp and grits, shrimp Creole, Cajun sweet fried chicken and “3C’s Little Bs’ Mac & Cheese. Florisiana favorites include bronzed red fish, Charleston platters of scallops or shrimp, and the Washday Special, grilled Louisiana Andouille sausage or bronzed chicken over Balaya rice and red beans with ham. Grab a sandwich or a steak burger made from black Angus. Even the appetizers will give you that Florisiana flavor: Ybor City gumbo, smoked fish dip or peel ’n’ eat shrimp. Save room for desserts such as orange cake, pecan pie or Reese’s peanut butter pie. Eaton’s Beach offers Grubhub delivery, beach rentals, live entertainment, a snack bar, catering and availability for private parties. Hit the beach!

Monday-Friday 10:30am-3pm

Ellen’s Café on 3rd 110 S. 3RD ST., LEESBURG | 352.630.1313 Ellen Bruce wanted to run her own restaurant since she was 13. Her lifelong dream came true in September 2019 when she opened Ellen’s Café on 3rd. Customers come from 30 miles away to try her madefrom-scratch food, including chicken salad, barbecue pulled pork and cranberry congealed salad. The restaurant has a private room with a working fireplace that can accommodate 40 guests for business meetings and private events. Parties can order off Ellen’s menu and use the room for free or bring their own food and drinks and pay $100. The restaurant continues to practice social distancing.

Monday-Thursday 11am-8pm Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm

Great Chicago Fire & Brewery 352.474.2739/ 311 W. MAGNOLIA ST., LEESBURG CHIFIBREW.COM | ONOURTAPS.COM When you visit Great Chicago Fire & Brewery, you can expect an extensive menu of Chicago-specific foods, including Chicago-style Italian beef, Italian sausage, gyros, meatball subs, Chicago-style tamales and pizza puffs. Most of the ingredients come directly from Illinois, including vienna sausages, poppyseed buns, neongreen relish, pickles and mustard for their Chicago-style dogs. They also serve a lesser known Chicago-style thin crust pizza, baked to a golden brown and cut into squares. Enjoy indoor or outdoor seating while you sip their 311 Amber, Southern Brown and House IPA, or one of their seven unique beers on tap, where you can find an updated list of at onourtaps.com.

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DINING GUIDE

The Kitchen Café

Tuesday-Saturday 9am-2pm

352.901.6537 | 712 W. MAIN ST., LEESBURG GETCOOKINGWITHZE.COM Culinary creativity comes alive at The Kitchen Café, tucked away inside the Southern Gardens Mall in Downtown Leesburg. The “create-your-own-bowl” option allows diners to choose a base product such as brown rice, sweet potatoes, good rice and riced cauliflower. From there, pick your choice of veggies, and a plant or animal based protein options like citrus grilled, herb roasted chicken, or personal meatloaf. Other menu items include thier made from scratch soups, chicken salad, and flavorful breakfast items like sweet potato hash, and a breakfast sandwich made with homestyle yeast rolls.

Partnering with local food purveyors bring “fresh” back to the table.

Mamma’s Pizzeria 352.728.2020 & 352.365.9004 | 27405 U.S. HWY. 27, LEESBURG MAMMASPIZZERIAON27.COM Step into Mamma’s Pizzeria and step into Little Italy. Owners Jimmy and Shawna Pancari have created an authentic, hometown restaurant adorned with an Italian flag, chandelier lighting and photos of New York City—fitting since Mamma’s specializes in New York-style pizza, the thinner the crust the better. Get any toppings you want up to super-deluxe pizza with everything on it. Other favorites include chicken parmesan, chicken marsala, classic lasagna and a variety of salads.

Jimmy and Shawna’s four children also work at the family business. Jimmy spent 31 years in the Coast Guard, and Mamma’s takes care of veterans, residents from nearby retirement communities and Northern transplants, all of whom are a big part of the devoted customer base. The restaurant offers online ordering, catering and delivery.

Mission Inn Resort & Club 10400 COUNTY ROAD 48, HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS | 352.324.3101 Taste of Hometown Featuring Farm to Table Perfection: The dishes are prepared by an award-winning culinary team that reflects their experience from the finest kitchens around the world. On-site Herb and Vegetable gardens bring a distinctive homegrown appeal and flavors earning us the reputation as a great spot for celebrating holiday events, business lunches & dinners, as well as special family occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.

From casual to candlelight, Mission Inn’s four restaurants and two lounges provide guests with superb variety, service and innovative entrees with plentiful portions.

Special wine pairing dinner events, weddings and banquet functions are also offered.

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Monday-Thursday 11am-8pm Friday 11am-9pm Saturday 3pm-9pm Sunday 12pm-7pm

A 50 year tradition of excellence in the community is the reason you can feel at home at the Mission Inn Resort.

Wednesday-Sunday 4pm-9pm Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Full Gluten-Free Menu

Tuesday-Sunday 1pm-9pm

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.

Mystic Ice Cream 1217 W. MILLER ST. (COUNTY ROAD 466A), FRUITLAND PARK 352.812.1366 Delicious homemade ice cream in a variety of flavors draws all ages to Mystic Ice Cream. Owners Darrell and Lisa Day both have their favorites.

Darrell enjoys the peanut butter crunch, a creamy, light peanut butter ice cream with Reese’s crumbles and Reese’s Pieces, while Lisa, loves the butterscotch crunch, a vanilla-base ice cream with butterscotch schnapps and Heath candy bar crumbles. The Days also serve adult ice creams with liqueur, including the popular Mystic Slide featuring chocolate ice cream with Kahlúa and amaretto. Mystic Ice Cream seats 80 people and the parlor is a pop culture museum filled with Beatles memorabilia. This is also a fun place to go for nightly entertainment, including game shows, trivia night and karaoke.

Temporary COVID Hours

Monday-Friday 4pm-10pm Saturday 11am-10pm Sunday 11am-8pm

O’Keefe’s Irish Pub & Restaurant 352.343.2157 | 115 S. ROCKINGHAM AVE., TAVARES OKEEFESIRISHPUB.NET Located in the waterfront entertainment district of Tavares, O’Keefe’s Irish Pub & Restaurant has been a local family-owned favorite since 1984.

O’Keefe’s serves traditional Irish cuisine like bangers & mash, corned beef and cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie and reubens, as well as their popular steak sandwiches and 1/2 lb burgers and delicious steaks and fresh fish selections. O’Keefe’s has a full liquor bar and serves 12 beers on draft, six of which rotate between seasonal beers, local IPAs and “old school” classics.

O’Keefe’s is currently open seven days a week for dinner, and on weekends for lunch. Happy Hour runs from 4pm-6pm Monday through Friday. O’Keefe’s famous Mug Club has over 1800 members. Your lifetime membership includes a personalized mug and discounts on all draft beer. O’Keefe’s offers indoor dining as well as outdoor dining on their covered porch or on their open-air patio with beautiful views of Lake

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Puddle Jumpers 352.508.5862 | 111 W. RUBY ST. TAVARES PUDDLEJUMPERSLAKESIDE.COM Seaplanes land gracefully on the water as the sun’s rays glisten across Lake Dora.

This creates a perfect backdrop to a wonderful lakeside dining experience at Puddle Jumpers. Owner Jon Aramino describes his food as “American fare with a twist.” That twist includes signature burgers such as the B’s Knees, featuring crisp bacon, Chipotle black raspberry sauce and Brie cheese. If you’re really hungry, consider the seafood platter affectionately named Crash Landing, which comes with two crab cakes, peel-and-eat shrimp and Mahi bites. An upstairs room with balcony seating and a private bar is perfect for private banquets, and there’s also a 30-seat bar outside offering house wines and bottled drinks.

Roberto’s Ristorante & Pizzeria 352.626.1059 | 2468 BURNSED BLVD., WILDWOOD FACEBOOK.COM/ROBERTOSRISTORANTEVILLAGES

Open at 11am Daily

Casual lakeside dining at its finest!

Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 4pm-8pm

Fresh, high-quality products will make you feel like you’re really in Italy when you visit Roberto’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, located in Pinellas Plaza in The Villages. Owner and chef Roberto Manco makes many of his products fresh every day, including mozzarella and Italian-style bread that customers can buy by the loaf or enjoy as garlic rolls with their dinner. Enjoy specials for lunch and dinner, where you can try the chicken piccata, sea bass, chicken marsala and seafood combo, as well as many fresh pasta dishes and salads topped with the homemade mozzarella. Roberto’s offers an extensive dessert menu, including tiramisu and limoncello cake made in house, as well as many desserts that get shipped straight from Italy.

Stavros and Sons Eustis 2100 W. COUNTY ROAD 44, EUSTIS | 352.589.9100 STAVROSANDSONS.COM Baked ziti, fettuccini Alfredo, Greek salad, lasagna, meatloaf parmigiana, shrimp scampi, chicken scampi and, of course, pizza are favorites at Stavros and Sons Eustis, run by Pete and Heather Kountanis. Pete is the son of Stavros and Amanda Kountanis, who started the first Stavros in Daytona Beach in 1974. “Running the restaurant is a family affair,” says Heather. “You can find Amanda here Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights and at the Fruitland Park restaurant on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesdays. Stavros is never far away, popping in frequently to prepare one of his famous recipes.”

“We are so much more than pizza,” Heather says. “We make a killer shrimp scampi or a chicken scampi that’s very popular. Our sautéed dishes are something that might be unexpected for a pizza place.” Stavros is semi-retired but his wife, Amanda, continues to work at the Eustis restaurant on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. She is at Stavros’ Fruitland Park location on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.

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Tuesday-Thursday 11am-9pm Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm Sunday 11am-9pm Closed Mondays

Tuesday-Thursday 11am-9pm Friday & Saturday 11am-10pm Sunday 11am-9pm Closed Mondays

Coming Soon!

New location opening in Wildwood!

Custom-made, fresh sandwiches, salads, and flatbreads made right before your eyes.

The “healthy” alternative to fast food.

Stavros and Sons Fruitland Park 3223 U.S. HIGHWAY 441, FRUITLAND PARK | 352.315.0028 Stavros has been a popular family business for nearly 50 years, where Stavros Kountanis and his wife, Amanda, were the original owners of all Stavros Pizza locations, known for delicious pizza and other beloved dishes made from recipes passed down by Stavros’ mother in Greece. Stavros’ son, George, and his wife, Cyndi, run the Stavros and Sons Fruitland Park restaurant. “Our pizza dough is my husband’s grandmother’s recipe that has never changed through all the years,” says Cyndi. “We are most known for our pizzas, Greek salad, lasagna, stuffed peppers and even Philly cheesesteaks. People love our warm atmosphere and that we are a family-owned business. All of our employees are family.”

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

Open Daily 8am-7pm

Yalaha Bakery 352.324.3366 | 8210 STATE ROAD 48, YALAHA

A German Bakery Like No Other!

The family owned German Bakery since 1995, is an award-winning Bakery that offers to customers high-quality German products made with the highest culinary standards. Fine European pastries and breads are made with organic flours, chocolates, and spices, butter, and imported European ingredients. Take home tortes, tarts, and wonderful pretzels, but before you go home, enjoy something from our delicious deli menu. We serve breakfast from 8-11am and lunch and dinner are served 11am-7pm. Enjoy German specialties like Nurnberger breakfast, Hunterschnitzel with Spätzle, Bratwurst, Reuben, Quiche, typical German soups, and maybe Semelknoedel (bread dumplings with mushroom sauce) for lunch or dinner. We offer a fine selection of German beers and wines. Whatever time of day, you’ll find something you love at Yalaha Bakery.

On the weekends you can come and enjoy various events and music concerts on Saturdays and Sundays at our Beer Garden. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter or via our website www.yalahabakery.com

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Thank you for your generous support of the AdventHealth Waterman Foundation in 2019. Here are just a few ways your gifts made a difference:

$3.5 Million

Distributed for Emergency Department

$23,478

Raised by Outside Community Organizations

$30,000

Awarded in Scholarships

$70,096

Raised for Cancer Care Through “Pink Out”

43,605

Hours Donated by Volunteers

805

Patients Received Care During a Mission Trip to Guatemala Thank you for caring about the health of your community, and your continued support of our mission to Extend the Healing Ministry of Christ to every patient we serve. We are truly grateful.

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Optimizing wellness is her goal Preventative medicine and anti-aging treatments can lead you to a fuller, healthier life.

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t Age & Wellness Medical Practice in Leesburg, Dr. Weena Favis’s main goal is to optimize wellness by lengthening a person’s lifespan and healthspan by using age management, making sure hormones are balanced, and determining the root cause of any disease a patient is at risk of or is already experiencing.

For most people, age management means anti-aging and longevity care.

“Lifespan is the number of years we’re alive, and there’s a healthspan, the number of years that we are healthy and well,” Dr. Favis says.

“Our main focus is to increase

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our healthspan, not just our lifespan, because there’s no point in getting old when you can’t do much of anything.”

How are lifespan and healthspan measured? “Lifespan is measured by the number of birthdays you have. Healthspan is basically what we call a biological age. Let’s say a 50-year-old person has a biologic age of 65, and their cells are older than their body. But if someone really takes care of himself or herself, they may have a biologic age of 40,” Dr. Favis says. She uses epigenetic testing to measure healthspan and the “age” of a person’s body. Once she knows a patient’s biological age, she is able to intervene and make that age younger so that person can increase their healthspan.

People are typically afraid of aging because it is associated with being frail and developing things like arthritis, cataracts, dementia, wrinkles, hair changes, and diseases like hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Parkinson’s. “So with age management

“LIFESPAN IS MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF BIRTHDAYS YOU HAVE. HEALTHSPAN IS BASICALLY WHAT WE CALL A BIOLOGICAL AGE. LET’S SAY A 50-YEAR-OLD PERSON HAS A BIOLOGIC AGE OF 65, AND THEIR CELLS ARE OLDER THAN THEIR BODY. BUT IF SOMEONE REALLY TAKES CARE OF HIMSELF OR HERSELF, THEY MAY HAVE A BIOLOGIC AGE OF 40.”

— D R . W E E N A FAV I S

you want to start as early as possible to develop or prevent these diseases from setting in. If they already have it, treat it and prevent further progression,” Dr. Favis says.

As part of age management and overall wellness, Dr. Favis’s practice offers IV Nutrient Therapy. “IV nutrient therapy is for people who don’t have time or don’t want to take medication by mouth or supplements by mouth, we give them IV, and there are also supplements that are not absorbed very well by mouth,” she says.

Hormone imbalances factor into aging as well. If your hormones are unbalanced, “you have changes like fatigue, weight gain or loss, insomnia, depression, mood changes, hot flashes, low sex drive, weak bones, hair loss, brain fog, erectile disfunction and sweat,” says Dr. Favis.

Dr. Favis also really focuses on the root cause of a disease. “When somebody has hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, memory problems, neuropathy, any chronic disease, there’s a

root cause,” she says. Most conventional doctors will look at and treat your symptoms, but working in functional and innovative medicine, Dr. Favis would rather backtrack and figure out what caused the disease in order to reverse it and prevent it from progressing.

As for other services offered, Dr. Favis says, “in the state of Florida there are 13 diagnoses that qualify for Medical Marijuana, and the 14th is any medical condition of the same kind of class comparable to the 13 others.” If a patient thinks they may qualify for Medical Marijuana, they can bring their records to Dr. Favis and she can confirm that. Then, the office will help the patient submit their application to the state and help them get their Medical Marijuana card.

Having worked in conventional medicine for over 25 years, Dr. Favis herself has struggled with some health issues. “About 15 years ago I developed a brain aneurysm that was induced by trauma, and I’ve had breast malignancies, hypertension, chronic pain,” she says. A year ago, she had to give up her previous practice when

she shattered her left shoulder. She had continued to work despite the pain and suddenly one day she could no longer move her right shoulder. At that point, she says, “I was not being helped by conventional medicine, so I did peptides, stem cells, and a lot of other unconventional ways that helped me, and that’s how I got into this.”

She then figured she could help a lot of people who are also not getting results from conventional medicine. Though she considered opening her new practice closer to Orlando, because this type of age and pain management is more common in that area, she decided that she would rather serve Lake County, where the idea of “unconventional” medicine is less known.

Her new practice opened in Leesburg in early July of this year.

“Until people know and understand that they can do a lot more than what conventional medicine is, they are not encouraged to do something about their health, to upgrade their health. This is preventative maintenance and upgrading their health or improving their health,” Dr. Favis says.

352.901.6359 / 10123 US Hwy 441, Leesburg / ageandwellnessmed.com

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There’s No Place Like Home Tissue-sparing surgical techniques, narcotic / opioid-free anesthesia combined with rapid mobilization are allowing patients to recover safely at home following total joint replacement surgery.

PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Telemedicine At UNOVA Hip & Knee Center we have embraced the outpatient concept because we believe that as Dorothy said, for our patients, “There is no place like home.”

In today’s COVID-19 impacted world, many people are trying to leave their house as seldom as possible.

Dr. Jeffrey Kerina and Dr. Tom McCoy of Unova Health Hip and Knee Center in Lady Lake has developed a way to perform total joint replacement procedures in an outpatient setting, without the need for a hospital admission.

“With the current COVID-19 issues, most people don’t want to venture outside their homes unless it is essential. This has accelerated a re-evaluation of our care delivery processes and caused us to look very carefully at what we’re doing. We began asking ourselves if we were really addressing the patient’s best interests. After evaluating the Medicare databank, we realized that the data was telling us that

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Dr. J. Mandume Kerina

the longer you’re in a facility, the greater your chance of having an adverse event.

Data shows that discharge to skilled nursing facilities and rehab centers also increases the chances of having an adverse event. That being said the safest way for the patient to undergo surgery is as an outpatient in an outpatient center, and the safest place to recover was in the comfort and safety of their own home.”

“What we are doing with total joint replacement surgery is conceptually no different from other medical practices that are now incorporating telemedicine into their care delivery. Telemedicine is safer for the patient than bringing them to a facility or medical office for an issue that can be managed on the telemedicine platform. I would not be surprised if more medical practices started incorporating house calls into their delivery. House calls are in essence what we deliver through our home health processes.

Procedure Dr. McCoy and Dr. Kerina specialize in hip and knee replacements, surgeries

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Dr. Tom McCoy

that have been around since the ‘60s but that are historically very big and painful surgeries with long recovery times, in a hospital or rehab center environment.

The thing that is different now is the focus and shift to outpatient services.

This he said, is better overall for patients for many reasons. Dr. McCoy says that these procedures can be done safely in many settings, but patients are safer at home because they are less likely to fall, get a blood clot, or get an infection at home. Home is especially safer now with COVID-19.

Anterior total hip replacement and kinematic alignment total knee replacement are a way of doing these procedures, that are tissue-preserving and allow the doctors to rapidly mobilize patients with low risk.

The surgery itself is different now Dr. McCoy says. “The anterior way is the newest way to get to the hip although the approach was first described in the late 1800s.” No muscles are cut, detached, or released on the way into the joint in the anterior approach. “You don’t penetrate any muscle to get to the joint, you’re just kind of shifting the muscles to the side to

get into the hip,” Dr. McCoy adds. In the other approaches’ muscles are either cut, split, or detached on the way in, leading to a much longer and painful recovery.

“During total knee replacements, in the past, doctors would release ligaments to straighten the leg or balance the knee.

Today we do not cut the quadriceps, which is the big muscle in the knee that keeps it from buckling and causing people to fall down. Instead, Dr. McCoy says, “there’s a way to get under the muscle and not have to cut it. You’re not cutting the tendon and not cutting the muscle, which means that again there’s not as much pain. Now we can customize the patient’s procedures, using the anatomy of the patient as a guide and working with the patient’s problem, such as a bowlegged or knock-kneed deformity specific to the patient.” It’s like getting a tailored suit instead of getting one off the rack…Since only 43 percent of people are born with and develop a straight leg to begin with.” Says Dr McCoy. “Utilizing these procedures allows us to significantly decrease our patients pain profiles post-operatively and allows us to do the other things that enhance our patients’ recovery,” Dr. Kerina says.

In both instances, people can get up and walk within hours of their procedure.

“The key thing is making it faster, less painful, and less expensive,” Dr. McCoy says. Their patients can typically go home about 1-3 hours after surgery because they use techniques during surgery that are more advanced.

“The criteria for going home is based on how well a patient can function after surgery. They have to be able to walk 200 feet; they have to be able to go upstairs; they have to be able to urinate and to eat and our patients can do all that within a few hours,” Dr. McCoy says.

Pain Management As far as the narcotic and opioid-free anesthesia, McCoy says “Historically, these are phenomenally painful surgeries, so from a humanitarian standpoint, you want to control the pain.” By using narcotic-free anesthesia, patients are not nauseated or dizzy after surgery.

With no narcotics, the patient feels wide awake after surgery and that helps in the recovery because they can go home feeling good and with a significantly diminished risk of falling, Dr. McCoy says. During the knee surgeries, how they control the pain is that they numb the nerves by injecting medication all around them. It is a procedure Dr. Kerina discovered.

Dr. Kerina will insert a needle and inject a long-lasting knee medication in the layer between the knee joint and capsule where all the central nerves travel, and it controls the pain. “It works wonderfully, and it wears off after two to three days when the patient is through the most painful part of the recovery,” Dr. McCoy says.

Ensuring that patients can walk painfree after surgery is a safe way to avoid

blood clots and falling and fractures.

There is also no risk of addictions to narcotics, no kidney damage, no nausea/ vomiting, and no respiratory problems or breathing difficulties.

“The big white elephant in the room was the opioid crisis. It truly exploded into something that nobody ever intended.

And then when you look at the hundreds of thousands if not millions of people that have been affected by this, you tell yourself, if 8-16% of people started their opioid addiction because of exposure to opioids and narcotics through elective surgery, we need to do everything we can to diminish that entry point,” Dr. Kerina says.

The doctors began to look very consciously at what they were doing and realized that it is sometimes necessary to change the technique of an operation, as well as the processes and procedures around that technique in order to best serve the patient.

‘When we’re being asked to take care of a population that’s fragile, to begin with, our over 65 population, one of the key concerns is cognitive preservation. We all know that narcotics and opioids will affect the mental acuity, so we felt that we should develop programs that allow us to steer away from as opposed to steering into narcotic use as a pain option,” Dr. Kerina says.

The doctors have switched to regional and local nerve blocks, which block the sensation in a specific part of your body during an operation, used with combinations of anti-inflammatory medications is now their standard of care`.

“Because as we learn more and more about pain control, we learn that influencing those inflammatory pathways around the pain may do more for our patients than just giving them narcotics and opioids to help deal with their pain,” Dr. Kerina says.

PATIENT TESTIMONIAL “Top notch, absolutely the best. From the time that you know you're going to be scheduled for surgery, the entire process. With my knees I did outpatient surgery so I was home in a few hours. They had the nurse come in two or three times during the night to check on me, check my vitals, and then I started physical therapy right away at home.

I'm a big water aerobics participant and I was back in the swimming pool in five weeks for one knee, the other knee was six weeks. I’m active and I've never had any trouble with them since I've had the replacements. I had a total hip replacement two and a half weeks ago and I'm walking without any aids at all, no walker, no cane. I've been doing my own housework, I even went grocery shopping yesterday.

[Dr. Kerina] is always up on the latest and newest techniques, so you know you're going to get the best.

So I always say, why go to the rest when you can go to the best?”

— GAIL BENOIT

888.847.4895 / 539 Rolling Acres Rd, Lady Lake / unovahealth.com

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A special mentor Remembering my late friend, who survived the Spanish flu and lived to 108.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

hen COVID-19 broke out, I immediately recalled stories I heard from the late Leonard McCracken, a survivor of the 1918-20 Spanish flu pandemic who lived to age 108.

The former Tavares resident had childhood friends who died from the flu, he saw businesses shuttered in his Warren, Ohio, hometown and he didn’t graduate because his high school had been closed.

When I first met Leonard, he was 100.

I was interviewing him for a newspaper story as a regular diner at a former Leesburg restaurant, and immediately I was mesmerized by Leonard’s sharp mental alertness, quick wit, common sense and upbeat spirit.

Leonard reminded me of my late grandparents, so it felt wonderful to talk to a centenarian from their generation. Leonard and I developed a special friendship, and it was easy to lose track of time during phone chats and a few lunches together. My late

husband jokingly referred to Leonard as my boyfriend.

In seriousness, Leonard was a wonderful mentor. He was a former banker and salesman, a Dale Carnegie speaker and a devoted father and husband who was married for 75 years before his wife died at age 95. I sought Leonard’s advice about work, the economy and issues of the day.

He would tell me not to stress over things that were out of my control. “Slow down. Smell the roses,” Leonard would say.

And whenever anyone would ask about the secret to his longevity, Leonard always would reply: “Oatmeal, positive attitude and gratitude.”

Leonard didn’t start eating Quaker oats until age 50. I did the same thing on the morning of my 50th birthday, inspired

by Leonard, of course. Oatmeal was his healthiest meal of the day, while he’d often enjoy a hearty lunch of a sandwich and fries, always leaving room for a slice of pie.

One special conversation with Leonard occurred in 2005. He was so excited by an invitation to fly to his childhood home in Warren to receive his high

school diploma at age 102, some 85 years after the Spanish flu epidemic.

The local newspaper photographed him beaming from ear to ear as he talked to graduating seniors. I had the photo framed a few months later for his 103rd birthday.

Leonard made the big time at age 106, when he was photographed with several other centenarians for Time magazine’s cover story on “The Science of Living Longer.”

He also was among 850 centenarians interviewed for the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University, where health experts were eager to discover the behavioral and personality traits of people who reached the age of 100. The study found these common similarities: not smoking, staying lean and being extroverted and easygoing.

I wasn’t surprised by the findings, and in thinking about what Leonard would often say, he advised that “easygoing” was the way to be at any age.

Leonard died Dec. 22, 2011. I’m grateful to have known him, and it’s hard to eat a bowl of oatmeal and not think of my 108-year-old friend.

Hey readers! Can you recommend a person worthy of being profiled in the magazine? Tell us at editorial@akersmediagroup.com

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