STYLE Magazine, Village Edition, June 2020

JUN '20

L AKE & SUMTER

JUN '20

VILLAGE EDITION

ALSO

AND THE WINNER IS …

Kristin Jamieson is Style’s Business Woman of the Year.

TAKING CENTER STAGE

Lake County women find their voices at TEDx forums.

INTO THE UNKNOWN

Locked loaded

&

More women are buying guns for sport and safety.

Commissioner Leslie Campione navigates the pandemic.

TOP HEALTH CONCERNS

A report urges women to take a proactive approach.

T H E E R C A R E YO U N E E D F R O M A H O S P I TA L YO U T R U S T.

U F H e a l t h T h e Vi l l a g e s ® H o s p i t a l Freestanding ER. Now Open.

L O C AT E D A C R O S S F R O M B R O W N W O O D S Q U A R E The first full-service emergency department in the Wildwood area is now open.

The freestanding ER offers quality care from seasoned health care experts, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Learn more at thevillagesregionalhospital.org/er

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KNEE REPLACEMENT?

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Knee pain, stiffness, locking, giving way (buckling), creaking, swelling or inability to walk or play without pain can occur because of traumatic injury, arthritis, or overuse.

Depending on the cause, conservative care such as a brace or therapy may relieve the pain.

If not, rejuvenative stem cell therapy, arthroscopic knee surgery or partial or total knee replacement can be life-enhancing and allow you to return to your active lifestyle.

Get moving.

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1/14/19 5:38 PM

JUN'20 V.16

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CONTENTS 1 of 2

FEATURES

038

And the winner is …

Kristin Jamieson, of Success Mortgage Partners, is Style’s Business Woman of the Year.

STORY: CHRIS GERBASI

082

Locked and loaded Many women these days are sticking to their guns, whether they’re for protection, hunting or competitive shooting.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

090

Taking the stage Some of Lake County’s top businesswomen are finding a forum at TEDx Talks.

STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

043 SPECIAL ADVERTISIN G SEC TIO N

The 2020 Business Women of Style Meet some of Lake and Sumter counties’ most successful women.

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W

re .W e Educate.

a C We Listen. We

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JUN‘20 V.16

≈ N.08

CONTENTS 2 of 2

DEPARTMENTS

first

021

022 024

THE HIT LIST 022 PERSON OF INTEREST 024 OUTSTANDING STUDENT 026 IN THE VILLAGES 028 MY FIRST TIME 030 THIS 'N' THAT 032

agenda

healthy living

098

125

100

110

107

INSPIRATION 108 MENTAL HEALTH BE FREE LAKE 110 WOMEN’S HEALTH PREVENTION 116

menu

099

097

THE TO-DO LIST 098 BOOK CLUB 099 LOCAL TALENT 100 SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT 102

028

116

108 126

IN THE KITCHEN 126 FORK ON THE ROAD 130 SPIRITS 132 DINING GUIDE 134

columns FROM THE PUBLISHER 014 AT YOUR SERVICE 015 FINAL THOUGHT 152

152

132

130 JUN '20

L AKE & SUMTER JUN '20

L AKE & SUMTER

E ON TH R C OV E

ALSO

AND THE WINNER IS …

Kristin Jamieson is Style’s Business Woman of the Year.

AL SO

LOCKED & TOP LOADED HEALTH CONCERNS

More women are buying guns for sport and safety.

A report urges women to take a proactive approach.

TAKING CENTER INTO THE STAGE UNKNOWN

Local women find their voices at TEDx forums.

Commissioner Leslie Campione navigates the pandemic.

TAKING CENTER STAGE

Lake County women find their voices at TEDx forums.

INTO THE UNKNOWN

Lake and Sumter Style Photo: Douglas Tyler Model: Kristin Jamieson

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

loaded &Locked More women are buying guns for sport and safety.

Commissioner Leslie Campione navigates the pandemic.

TOP HEALTH CONCERNS

012 /

JUN '20

VILLAGE EDITION

A report urges women to take a proactive approach.

Village Edition

Sharon Bassett, Owner/Broker HSE, SRES, MRP

1104 BECKER AVE, THE VILLAGES, FL 32163 FABULOUS 3/2 “Avondale” Bungalow Courtyard Villa in The Village of Pine Ridge. This Well-appointed Block and Stucco home features a 2-car garage on a corner homesite! “Turnkey” Furnished! $339,000 | MLS# G5027614

321 CHULA VISTA AVE, LADY LAKE, FL 32159 GORGEOUS 2/2 “Turnkey furnished” completely remodeled On the Mira Mesa Golf Course on the 4th hole with gas Golf cart, new Stainless Steel appliances, new floors, cabinets, and Architectural designed roof.

Move-in Ready! $340,000 | MLS# G5029159

463 MEDFORD PLACE, THE VILLAGES FL 32162 Absolutely Adorable 2/2 “Laredo” Ranch Home nestled on an elevated Homesite in the sought after Village of Amelia. Laminate floors and Screen-in Lanai. “Turnkey Furnished” $215,000 | MLS# G5028111

0000 W MAIN ST, LEESBURG, FL 34748 ATTENTION INVESTORS!!!!! Perfect storefront one-story building Centrally located in Downtown Leesburg on Main Street. Property has (6) retail spaces with direct Main Street Frontage. $275,000 | MLS#G5028270

1203 W. MAIN STREET, LEESBURG, FL 34748 Awesome LOCATION in Downtown Leesburg with approximately 1.87 ACRES! This property offers many opportunities!

Main Street and 12th Street FRONTAGE. Warehouse, Pole Barn and room to build. $275,000 | MLS# G5015726

4880 NE 122ND AVE, OXFORD, FL 34484 Beautiful 3/3 “Holly” model is nestled in the “Family Friendly” Villages of Parkwood, A Deed Restricted Neighborhood near the heart of the Villages. Granite, Tile, and Room for Pool!!! $254,900 | MLS# G5013168

9899 NW 26TH ST, WILDWOOD, FL 34785 Build your Custom Dream Home on this Gorgeous 13.95 Acres in the Gated PRESERVE AT OAK HILL Equestrian Community! (LOT 48).

The Deed Restrictions allow for your barn and horses. The Preserve at Oak Hill offers quiet country living right in the Heart of Sumter County. $149,000 | MLS# G5015190

7936 NE 42ND TER, WILDWOOD, FL 34785 Charming 3/1.5 Block lovely home nestled on ONE ACRE and sold AS-IS. Beautiful flowering bushes, double carport, enclosed side porch, 3 storage sheds (1 has electric), towering oak trees, 2017 Roof and yard completely fenced in. $95,000 | MLS# G5026500

13225 SE 94TH AVE, SUMMERFIELD, FL 34491 DEL WEBB GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Dynamite 2/2 “Madeira” model POOL Home with an open and spacious layout. Nestled on an over-sized homesite in a Cul-De-Sac that backs up to beautiful trees, provided rear privacy. $217,900 | MLS# G5026419

LOT 32 BARRINGTON DR, EUSTIS, FL 32736 Start Fresh! Start Here! GORGEOUS 1.42 acre Lakefront property in the prestigious Estates at Black Bear Reserve Lot 32. This golf community is Deed Restricted and offers serene Country Club Living. Build to your specifications. $104,900 | MLS# G5018145

14750 TANGELO ST., TAVARES, FL 32778 Charming 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath manufactured Home nestled in the La Dora Manor, 55+ Deed Restricted Mobile Home Park. Large front covered screened porch and eat-in Breakfast nook.$78,000 | MLS# G5027620

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

These women mean business This issue has the feminine touch from cover to cover. icking a favorite issue is like picking a favorite child—I’ve got a bunch of both—but let’s be honest: the Business Women of Style is my favorite issue. I’m a businesswoman.

They’re businesswomen.

What’s not to love?

Each year, we feature dozens of women, from millennials starting their own companies to longtime professionals, who are making their mark on the business world in Lake and Sumter counties. You’ll recognize these women from the businesses they run and the services they provide. They’re proud of what they do, and we’re proud to shine a spotlight on them.

We also are happy to present stories on Kristin Jamieson, of Success

Mortgage Partners, who is Style’s 2020 Business Woman of the Year; why more women are buying guns and learning to shoot; and how businesswomen are finding a voice through TEDx events, which are short presentations geared for online viewing.

As you may know, Business Women of Style typically runs in the May issue.

This year, due to the coronavirus, we decided to honor our courageous health-care workers in May, so Business Women was moved to June and the equally popular Business Men of Style will run in July.

The economic impact of COVID-19 has caused us to make more serious decisions as well. It is with a heavy heart that I announce that we will no longer publish Healthy Living magazine, due to the lack of advertising support. Healthy Living, a niche magazine focusing on living a well-balanced lifestyle, won multiple awards over the course of its 12-year run.

The good news is that we will now include a Healthy Living section within Style. The section will include feature stories—in this issue, women’s top health concerns and Be Free Lake’s mental health resources—plus staples of Healthy Living such as Healthy Inspiration profiles.

In addition, Lake County Commission Chairwoman Leslie Campione explains what it’s been like to help guide the county during the pandemic in My First Time, and we talk to artist Toni Stokes Marshall for Local Talent and to Joyce Huey, owner of Two Old Hags Wine Shoppe in Leesburg, for our Spirits department.

We hope you enjoy this femalecentric issue of Style. I am woman.

Hear me roar!

Have a story to tell?

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

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

Kendra Akers Doug Akers

OWNER/PUBLISHER kendra@akersmediagroup.com

DESIGN

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AT YOUR SERVICE

PRESIDENT doug@akersmediagroup.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

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EDITORIAL

Steven J. Codraro Chris Gerbasi

CREATIVE DIRECTOR steve@akersmediagroup.com

MANAGING EDITOR chris@akersmediagroup.com

Michael Gaulin James Combs

SENIOR DESIGNER michael@akersmediagroup.com

STAFF WRITER james@akersmediagroup.com

Volkan Ulgen Theresa Campbell

ART DIRECTOR volkan@akersmediagroup.com

JUN '20

L AKE & SUMTER

SPONSORED BY

JUN '20

L AKE & SUMTER

STAFF WRITER theresa@akersmediagroup.com

TO LAKE COUNTY

Douglas Tyler Victoria Schlabig

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY douglas@akersmediagroup.com

Megan Mericle

GRAPHIC DESIGNER megan@akersmediagroup.com

/

Nicole Hamel

Tim McRae

VICE PRESIDENT, SALES tim@akersmediagroup.com

Melanie Melvin Shaena Long

SALES ASSISTANT shaena@akersmediagroup.com

A D M IN IS TRATION Deb Matlock Aubrey Akers Simmons

DIRECTOR OF CLIENT SERVICES deb@akersmediagroup.com

LOCKED & TOP LOADED HEALTH More women are CONCERNS

buying guns for sport and safety.

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER nicole@akersmediagroup.com

M A RK ETIN G

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING melanie@akersmediagroup.com

Kristin Jamieson is Style’s Business Woman of the Year.

AL SO

CON TRIBUTIN G Anthony Rao WRITER S Joe Angione / Beth Hicks

S A L ES

ALSO

AND THE WINNER IS …

STAFF WRITER victoria@akersmediagroup.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER anthony@akersmediagroup.com

OFFICE MANAGER aubrey@akersmediagroup.com

JUN '20

VILLAGE EDITION

A report urges women to take a proactive approach.

TAKING CENTER INTO THE STAGE UNKNOWN

Local women find their voices at TEDx forums.

Commissioner Leslie Campione navigates the pandemic.

TAKING CENTER STAGE

Lake County women find their voices at TEDx forums.

INTO THE UNKNOWN

loaded &Locked

Perfect

THE

More women are buying guns for sport and safety.

+

Commissioner Leslie Campione navigates the pandemic.

TOP HEALTH CONCERNS

A report urges women to take a proactive approach.

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.

Back Issues: Order a single issue by mail for $7, or 2 or more single issues for $9. To pick up a back issue from our office, please call 24 hours in advance.

D IS TRIBUTION Scott Hegg

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER scott.hegg@akersmediagroup.com

Akers Media is a proud member of

Winner of 200+ Awards for Excellence

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.

Digitize your life Visit the Apple or Android app store today and download the Lake & Sumter Style online magazine app for your mobile device.

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

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COVID-19: Fact...Future PA I D

P R O M O T IO N A L

T

F E AT U R E

hink of a particle that is not alive, but whose physical closeness can cause harm...with just one breath.

COVID-19 is scary for all of us, and since there is no cure or magic bullet yet like a vaccine, the best protection is keeping our immune system in the best possible shape.

Although a cancer physician, my advice applies to all Villagers. Our Star Trek goal is for you to “live long and prosper.”

Let me explain the challenge. A virus is not alive. It depends on highjacking a cell’s ability

to reproduce. Think of it as a ship seeking a port.

Flying a friendly flag, the pirate ship slips into the harbor, only to plunder.

(Step #1). If there was a way of identifying the pirate early, it could be sunk before docking. But what if our response is delayed, the viral ship gains a foothold, and our counteroffensive destroys much of the homeland. By not focusing our cannons, the collateral damage becomes overwhelming. (Step #2).

This virus has an outer thin fat layer surrounding a protein. If the fat layer is disrupted, the protein is

exposed and disintegrates.

We have actually resolved Steps #1 and 2.

Alpha lipoic acid is a natural compound, not a prescription, cheap, safe and efficient when taken as directed, that can address both steps at the same time. It is not a cure-all. But it could offer significant benefit. Its health effect goes well beyond treating a virus.

Avoid putting your body at risk through bad eating, lack of exercise, or not enough sleep. Staying healthy is even more important now because you can’t go to the doctor

Know the Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus are a dry cough, shortness of breath, and fever of at least 100.4 degrees F. If you are receiving cancer treatment and develop a fever and respiratory symptoms, call your oncologist as you usually would if you develop a fever while on treatment. Follow their guidance on when to come into the office or hospital and when it's safer to stay home.

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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 • J U N ' 2 0

or hospital just because of a fear of exposure.

This is but one more way the Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute protects you. For quality care, we have no competition.

Travel to our web page to gain more knowledge and specific medical references about alpha lipoic acid, and to maximize your health.

Written by:

Norman H. Anderson M.D. Radiation Oncologist | CEO

Learn More about Coronavirus You can learn more about coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/.

The Florida Department of Health provides information about coronavirus in Florida at https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/.

Telehealth: Help for Wherever You Are Oncology social workers help people cope with their diagnosis and with the emotions experienced through all phases of cancer treatment. Selfisolation due to the coronavirus can create unusual feelings of depression and anxiety, especially if one cannot attend gatherings like support groups.

Telehealth is an ideal alternative to office visits during this pandemic.

Telehealth uses telecommunications and virtual technology to deliver health care outside of the office setting. This style of treatment provides secure, real-time, two-way communication anywhere. RBOI’s licensed clinical social workers, Wendy Hall and Amy Roberts, are both trained and able to provide telehealth counseling for cancer patients and their families.

You can easily meet with either Wendy or Amy if you have an internet or even just a phone connection. Sessions can be scheduled in advance, just like a regular appointment. Meeting in person is still available, but telehealth is an additional option. To speak with Wendy Hall, LCSW, call 352-527-0106.

To speak with Amy Roberts, LCSW, call 352-732-0277.

20 or more

Seconds you should take to wash your hands with soap and water to kill the coronavirus

6ft. or more

Distance to keep from someone who is coughing or sneezing

In Treatment?

Talk With Your Doctor If you are getting cancer treatment during the coronavirus outbreak, talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of continuing or delaying that treatment. If you are scheduled for an appointment (but not treatment) with your oncologist, you may be able to use telemedicine rather than an inperson meeting. Check with your doctor to see what’s right for you.

2-14

Days after exposure when the most common symptoms of coronavirus usually appear

Patient-centered radiation oncology close to home

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

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AMERICAN FAMILY HOMES 0xx

CUSTOM CHANGES BENEFIT YOU THE HIT LIST

News and notes from Lake and Sumter.

0xx PERSON OF INTEREST Food banks feed Patricia Kry’s passion.

0xx OUTSTANDING STUDENT Timothy Rodriguez marches to his own beat.

0xx MY FIRST TIME Call Leslie Campione in an emergency.

0xx

IN THE VILLAGES Pandemic? Villagers are battle-tested.

CHANGE IS GOOD

HOME BUILDERS 0xx ASSOCIATION THIS N’ THAT OF LAKE-SUMTER

You can’t get out of your own head.

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

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

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BE IN THE KNOW ABOUT LAKE AND SUMTER COUNTIES | PEOPLE. COMMENTARY. NEWS.

022 THE HIT LIST News and notes from Lake and Sumter.

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026

028

030

032

PERSON OF INTEREST Food banks feed Patricia Kry’s passion.

OUTSTANDING STUDENT Timothy Rodriguez marches to his own beat.

IN THE VILLAGES Pandemic?

Villagers are battle-tested.

MY FIRST TIME Call Leslie Campione in an emergency.

THIS ’N’ THAT You can’t get out of your own head.

THE HIT LIST

FROM ‘RUFF’ TO REFINED: Sit, stay, heel. Now here’s a command for dog owners: As temperatures rise, keep your canines cool. “Longhaired dogs should be brushed once a day,” says Brenda Meisman, owner of Bow Wow Grooming in Altoona. “When dogs have a thick undercoat in the summer, the chances of overheating and developing yeast infections and hot spots on the skin increase.” 352.669.0098.

TAKE IT TO THE BANK: Food banks are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic for various reasons.

“We’ve lost more than half of our volunteers,” says Don Diamant, president of the Leesburg Food Bank.

“They’re afraid of coming in due to the virus.” Food also is in short supply. Don welcomes donations of canned meat, rice, cereal, jelly, peanut butter and tuna fish. 503 N. 13th St. 352.326.5463.

LET’S WALK: The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Lake County had the most registrants sign up for the Let’s Walk Florida program, according to Lake County Extension agent Lori Johnson. The 10-week program began in May and runs to July 10 with walkers tracking their physical activity minutes.

SUPPORT LOCAL: Sunday Cool, a custom T-shirt company in Tavares, created the #SupportLocal campaign to help small businesses that are financially affected by COVID-19. Fans and followers may buy promotional T-shirts as a way to support businesses. The majority of the proceeds go directly to small-business owners, according to a news release. sundaycool.com/ supportlocal.

5

Doug McCormack

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FOR HANDS, NOT MOUTHS: Yalaha Bootlegging Co. owner Doug McCormack, who normally makes moonshine, recently changed his business model to produce hand sanitizer in 3.38-ounce bottles. He uses a combination of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and vegetable-grade glycerin. The hand sanitizer costs $5 per bottle and is sold only at his store. 8222 County Road 48, Yalaha. 352.304.4069.

TIME TO CHAT: Social distancing and stay-at-home guidelines typically have kept families from visiting loved ones in nursing homes. Facilities such as Avanté at Mount Dora, however, filled the void by allowing seniors to connect with their family and friends through FaceTime chats.

THE HUMAN TOUCH: Legacy Clinic of Chiropractic in The Villages has stayed open during the coronavirus pandemic by offering medical massages.

This type of massage allows a therapist to use a broader set of therapies to manage pain, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, relieve nerve compression, improve digestion, increase flexibility and treat other health-care concerns.

ON THE DRAWING BOARD: A new facility, First Responders Recreation Center, is moving ahead in the north end of The Villages. Architects are working on concept drawings and the bid document phase is expected to be completed in August, district administration reports. The former First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, south off County Road 42, is being repurposed as the new recreation center.

PUT A BOW ON IT: What once was a hobby is now a source of income for Kaley Abrehamsen, owner of Little Bird’s Bows, based in Eustis.

Through private VIP groups on Facebook, she showcases her work and targets only the intended audience. Kaley says she has attracted 1,400 members since opening in spring 2019.

MR. MOM: Father’s Day became a national holiday in 1972, but services honoring fathers began in the early 1900s, according to almanac.com. One of the inspirations for Father’s Day was William Jackson Smart, a farmer who raised six children alone after his wife died. But William was battletested for the task—he was a Civil War veteran.

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PERSON OF INTEREST

PEO PLE

Patricia Kry Executive director of the Faith Neighborhood Center in Groveland.

INTERVIEWER: JAMES COMBS

≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

About my organization: Faith Neighborhood Center is a food bank for low-income individuals and families in South Lake County. We serve 1,450 families twice a month, and 46 percent of our recipients are children. We’re not just a food pantry but also a family stabilizer. The money that they would otherwise budget for food can now be put toward keeping a roof over their heads.

L V I TA AT S ST

Favorite musician:

person’s access to food affects their health. I know this personally. My daughter, whom I adopted from China, was a malnutrition baby. That not only stunted her growth but also left her with birth defects and a lowered immune system. Adults cannot perform well in their job and students cannot thrive in school without proper nutrition.

Adam Levine. I find his voice to be soothing.

Nursing career: I earned a

• Nominated to the Lake County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018.

master’s of science in nursing degree from the University of Phoenix. I really enjoyed

Know a person of interest? Tell us!

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Dogs or cats: Dogs. They provide unconditional love. My daughter has a service dog, a German shepherd, and he loves being beside her at all times.

Passion for the job: A

• Has been a nurse for 30 years.

• Started South Lake High School’s Certified Nursing Assistant Program in 2010.

teaching nursing and seeing my students go on to graduate from nursing school and be accepted into medical school.

I still consider myself a nurse and in my current role think of myself as a community health nurse.

Admired actress: Oprah Winfrey. She was wonderful in “The Color Purple.” I admire her personality.

Favorite sport: Soccer, because it’s fast-paced. With other sports, you have a delay in action and many timeouts.

Soccer just keeps on moving.

Desired epitaph: “She gave it her all in everything she did.”

Email your recommendation to james@akersmediagroup.com.

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You read that right: all year long!

Choose from a mind-boggling array of designer sunglasses and save 20% on nearly every pair, no matter how many you choose. And ask your optician about our regular featured sales, too – because a cool customer like you can never save too much or too often.

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*See optician for additional details. Discount applies to complete set of glasses, lens and frame, excludes all contact lenses. Discount is not available with insurance or vision plans. Discount does not apply for Maui Jim and Fitovers. Sale ends 12/31/2020.

OUTSTANDING STUDENT

PEO PLE

Timothy Rodriquez Leesburg High drum major led Macy’s Parade marching band.

INTERVIEWER: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

L V I TA AT S ST

• 2020 graduate of Leesburg High School.

• Holds all three weightlifting records for his weight class at Leesburg High.

How did you find out you’d be leading the marching band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade? I was going throughout my day when I received an email from Barry Houser, the director of Smith-Walbridge Clinics, the camp that high school drum majors attend every summer and are evaluated as contenders to be drum majors for the Macy’s Great American Marching Band.

After months of waiting and hoping, the email I received was to announce that I, along with a friend of mine, were both chosen as drum majors to lead the 14th edition of the MGAMB in New York City on Thanksgiving. The experience in and of itself, once the time came, was indescribable—truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I will never forget.

If you could have dinner with anyone living or dead, who would it be? Jacob Collier. Jacob is an English singer, arranger, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist from London, and the smartest man alive when it comes to music, music competition and everything music related.

Know an outstanding student? Fill us in!

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≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

Future plans? I plan on attending Florida State University to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher in instrumental music education. My goal is to be a band director and have a band program of my own.

Motto or favorite quote? “If you can really picture the nothingness that awaits you, then what is there to be afraid of?”

Role model? Lu Xiaojun. Lu is a 35-year-old Chinese weightlifter, five-time world champion and Olympic record holder.

Interests outside music? I am also a state contender for weightlifting. I have been Olympic lifting for three years. I also earned a spot at the state championship for the high school team, winning both the district and regional championships.

Email your recommendations to victoria@akersmediagroup.com

Meet some of our 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

IN THE VILLAGES

CO MMENTARY

Been there, done that Villagers are well prepared to fight the coronavirus.

STORY: JOE ANGIONE

he Villages, “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown,” has resolutely turned its back on the coronavirus that has taken thousands of lives across the nation. Residents are fiercely complying with the CDC’s guidelines for mitigating the impact of the virus.

And the reasons are obvious: it’s a huge community of mostly older people, many of whom are dealing with other serious health issues. Remaining free of coronavirus symptoms can mean the difference between life and death for them.

Villagers have something special going for them. They’re experienced survivors. Having lived through to their “golden years,” they’ve been challenged repeatedly and have won out over a wide range of challenges: keeping a job and earning a living for decades, raising children, going off to war and suffering through a series of political changes that often made their lives tougher and pushed them around, almost to the breaking point.

In contrast, too many young people have fallen victim to their “macho” lifestyle and their unreasonable belief in their immortality—some of the really dumb ones have gleefully and openly embraced dangerous behavior during the virus pandemic.

Villagers are a different breed. They’ve shown themselves to be battle-hardened achievers who are sensible, smart and eager to accept and follow sound advice. Most have spent time in the armed forces; some were career military. They’re used to rules, regulations and the need to obey them.

In “toeing the line” and avoiding activities that spread the coronavirus infection, Villagers have exhibited a flair for getting together for safe socializing. Weekly neighborhood parties in driveways are still the “rage” but are scaled down to accommodate fewer participants who are safely spread out.

Walking socials that ramble through neighborhoods and green areas also have been a smart way for Villagers to interact safely, taking care not to violate the distance rule of 6 feet.

A lot of Villagers are do-it-yourselfers who have used the shelter-in-place order to complete home repairs and improvement projects, or painting, flooring, wallpapering, plumbing and electrical work. Residents with a “green thumb” have busied themselves with gardening and landscaping projects.

Still others, like my wife, who is handy with a sewing machine, have made thousands of cloth face masks and distributed them free to friends, neighbors and family. Villagers always make themselves useful in times of great need. They have been the models on which the entire nation’s response to coronavirus must continue to be based.

Joe Angione loves to share stories of his adventures.

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

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MY FIRST TIME

PEO PLE

Leslie Campione Lake County Commission chairwoman navigates a pandemic.

INTERVIEWER: CHRIS GERBASI

ince the first positive case in Lake County, the COVID-19 pandemic has been my highest priority.

I knew I needed to stay focused on one goal: protecting the safety of our residents with the most effective but least restrictive means possible so we could save lives and livelihoods. This situation is no doubt a “first” for me, but it is for all of us.

At first, everything revolved around getting information to residents so they could protect themselves and their families. As we learned more about the virus, I felt an incredible sense of urgency that hours could mean the difference in preventing someone’s exposure to it. We coordinated with our health department on testing and contact tracing, collaborated with our hospitals to assure ICU bed and ventilator availability, and conserved county resources while maintaining basic services to prevent panic and assure stability.

I’ve spent many sleepless nights worrying about my fellow Lake Countians and their health, their businesses and their

What about your first time?

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≈ PHOTO: DOUGLAS TYLER jobs. I have grieved with people who have lost loved ones, and I have feared for the safety of my own parents and family. And in the midst of the grief, I felt the joy of welcoming my first grandchild into this world and the frustration of having to be tested and quarantined as I waited for the results—which seemed like an eternity—before I could hold him.

I feel so much gratitude to everyone who is taking care of others by working in checkout lines, delivering food, sewing masks, providing medical care and even using their own savings to help keep others employed. Countless residents have lifted each other up with acts of kindness and good humor.

I know there is a silver lining if we are willing to look for it. I can’t help but believe we are learning valuable lessons that will help us navigate the unexpected and teach us how to hold true to our values with empathy and compassion. This has been a 24/7 situation that never leaves the forefront of my thoughts.

I hurt for everyone who is experiencing loss right now and I won’t stop working to do my part to help them—and to help our community thrive again.

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

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“The quality of work was exceptional creating our pool paradise. The entire process was a total team effort from sales, design and the construction which made our experience hassle free. They met their time line schedule, were very responsive and approachable to any questions we had. Overall, Wiseman Pools did a very nice job, were efficient and true passionate professionals that exceeded our expectations.”

— RYAN & TIFFANY LANGSTON, LEESBURG, FLORIDA

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.

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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.

THIS 'N' THAT

CO MMENTARY

IN MY ROOM I think I hear someone—oh, it’s just my brain talking.

STORY: CHRIS GERBASI

≈ ILLUSTRATION: MEGAN MERICLE

sneak peek into the future and Day 561 of isolation …

“You got the stuff ?”

“Yeah, I got the stuff. You got the money?”

“Yeah, I got the money. Show me the stuff.”

“Here it is. This will treat you right.”

“Seems a little light.”

“It’s all there, man. Four rolls. 500 sheets per roll.

That’s two-ply, that ain’t no crappy one-ply. Smooth as a baby’s bottom.”

My TP dealer is overcharging me again, but what choice do I have? He’s got the market covered from one end to the other. Nothing much has changed since President

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Kimberly Clark and running mate Mr. Whipple were flushed into office on the promise of “a Baby Yoda in every hand and a roll of toilet paper in every bathroom.” So, you take what you can get. Besides, I’m running out of back issues of Healthy Living magazine.

After months in isolation, maybe I’m getting a little paranoid, a little punchy. It’s natural to feel stir crazy, especially since TBS is airing marathons of “Stir Crazy,” starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. I’m talking to myself more and more. “No, you’re not.” Yes, I am. Plus, I’m still recovering from injecting disinfectant a year and a half ago. The mind wanders in a mixed state of boredom and delirium.

Today is a big day for me, however, with actual human interaction. The installers are finally coming to encase my house with the government-issued Surplus Cellophane Retractable Wrap Display, or SCRWD. Then it’s time for my weekly run to the supermarket.

Everything’s virtual these days—virtual sports, virtual medicine, virtual conversations, doing virtual work at home to make virtual pay to sustain my virtual life—but it’s still difficult to get food out of a computer monitor. That may be a moot point, though, with shortages of all foods except for government surplus cheese and a large stash of Twinkies recently unearthed

in a 1950s Cold War bunker in Altoona—cheese and Twinkies always endure.

I’ve got to pick a mask for the errand. I can’t believe “The Masked Singer” show made a killing in designer face masks, which, unfortunately, were distributed only to B-list celebrities.

But I have my choice of masks left over from Halloween: Harley Quinn or Dr. Fauci.

I hope I don’t get caught up in a skirmish between the Masks and the Faces. They keep battling in the streets, but it’s hard to inflict much damage from 6 feet away. The last standoff happened about three weeks ago. No, wait, it was yesterday. It’s hard to tell how long a day is anymore.

My cat is talking to me. I don’t have a cat.

I’ve now explored every inch of my home and made friends with an interloper, a gecko I’ve named “Gecky.” We play tic-tactoe (I sometimes let him win) and I’m teaching him how to use the TV remote.

The TV is my ruler and savior. Give thanks and praise to the Creator of Programming.

Theoretically, there’s plenty to watch, especially since TV is free again after Congress decided the masses must be entertained and passed the We’re Finally Stopping Cable Companies from Ripping Us Off Act of 2021.

Even so, I find myself actually looking forward to “Matlock” episodes and, of course, my favorite Lifetime marathons, like “Psycho Cheerleaders,” “Undercover Cheerleaders” and “Psycho Undercover Cheerleaders.”

TV will have to wait. I’m still trying to find work since every business in the United States was absorbed by the Nestlé company. It’s a tough job market, too. Many more people now qualify as hermits and are candidates for any job that requires something to be “hermitically sealed.” I could get some online interviews, though I don’t like using Skype. I’m afraid people will be able to watch me in my living room all evening.

Of course, that might pass for entertainment. But I’m finally realizing why the internet was invented: people still can communicate “face to face” around the world. I’m inside but I see you out there.

Can you come out and play?

Comment on this column or send story ideas to chris@akersmediagroup.com.

CHRIS GERBASI

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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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Kristin Jamieson, of Success Mortgage Partners, is Style’s 2020 Business Woman of the Year.

STORY: CHRIS GERBASI

ST

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≈ PHOTOS: DOUGLAS TYLER

evin Broughton remembers receiving a phone call about six years ago from a Kansas woman who had just moved with her husband and two children to Lake County. Kevin is one of three owners of Success Mortgage Partners Inc., a company based in Michigan that operates in 30 states, including Florida.

“She called me up and said, ‘I’m going to be a loan officer. I’ve never been a loan officer in my life. I’ve always been a processor and I just moved to a state and a town in which I know no people. Do you want to hire me?’” Kevin says. “Well, that’s normally the worst call I can get. But there was just something special about her and she said, ‘I’m unlike any woman you’ve ever met.’ And I said, ‘Tell me why,’ and she gave me this little story. She said, ‘I will exceed your expectations guaranteed.’ And I said, ‘Let’s do it.’”

Six years later, Kristin Jamieson is the producing branch manager for Success Mortgage Partners in Montverde, the largest earner for the company and the winner of its 2019 Partner of the Year award.

Kristin also is Style’s 2020 Business Woman of the Year, selected in a reverse drawing conducted

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recently on Facebook Live. Style has honored businesswomen with an annual issue for nine years.

“It’s super-exciting,” Kristin says of the selection.

As a mortgage loan consultant, she helps clients get loans to buy residential properties. She has helped more than 1,000 Lake County families achieve the dream of home ownership. She previously worked for many years in operations, processing and underwriting loans.

Kristin changed her life when she decided to become a loan officer.

“She’s the greatest success story in the history of the United States mortgage industry,” Kevin says without exaggeration. “She’s one in a million, and what she’s accomplished, I’ve never seen it before in 25 years of doing this. She’s unbelievable. She outsmarts everyone, outworks everyone and outcares everyone.”

Million is a key word in her profession. Kevin estimates the average loan officer does $5 million a year in loan production. Kristin grossed $75.1 million last year and may reach $100 million this year, he says.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the economy, Kristin says the mortgage business is a bright spot. She expected to close about $12 million in loans in May, her busiest month ever. People who have been forced to stay at home have had more time to examine their finances, she explains.

“I’M HELPING FAMILIES ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM… AND HELPING BUILD THAT SOLID FOUNDATION FOR FAMILIES TO GROW AND SUCCEED WELL, AND BUILDING THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURE.” —KRISTIN JAMIESON

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“We’re busier than we’ve ever been,” Kristin says. “Whenever there’s adversity in the world or anything going on, people tend to pull out of the stock market and put their money in safer assets, such as mortgage-backed securities.”

As of mid-May, interest rates were as low as she had ever seen, even dipping into the 2 percent range, she says.

“Pretty much every American can benefit from a refinance right now, and then it’s also bringing affordability back to our area, something we’ve lost over the last few years,” Kristin says.

“Even though the prices haven’t started declining—we haven’t seen the decline in value—the decline in interest rates is making it more affordable for your firsttime homebuyers or your older adults that are retiring and downsizing.”

On the downside, with high unemployment rates, some people can’t qualify for loans or were starting the loan process when they lost their jobs. She says government guidelines on lending also have tightened.

“The guidelines are just getting a little tougher but that’s just to ensure anybody entering into a mortgage transaction has the ability to succeed,” Kristin says. “We don’t want to end up in a housing crisis like we did in 2008.”

Kristin credits her success to educating clients and creating a communication system that provides weekly status updates to all parties involved in the loans. Her branch also closes all loans within 30 days or fewer.

The branch has 10 employees, all from Lake County, and her husband, Joe Jamieson, handles marketing. The couple now have three children: Kansas, Joe Jamieson

10; Maggie, 7; and Joey, 3. They’ve built their lives in Montverde, where home, office and school are within minutes of each other.

“We always say, it’s kind of a joke, he’s the beauty of the operation and I’m the other brains,” Kristin says of her husband.

“In our business, nothing is ever the same—no two files are ever the same, no two benefits to the customer—so we actually have something to talk about,” she adds. “There’s never a dull moment, either, and we’re both passionate and enjoy what we do.”

Kevin says that passion has driven Kristin to succeed. But he didn’t see that in her immediately. Success Mortgage Partners has 505 employees nationwide, and each employee initially is given a personality profile test. Kristin’s profile indicated she was a cautious, detailoriented person who would be best used as a support person behind the scenes.

“Everything when I met her said this gal probably won’t make it,” Kevin says.

Kristin is candid about her abilities as well.

“I didn’t come from a sales background. Quite frankly, I’m not a good salesperson. I’m just not,” she says.

“I’m much better behind a computer figuring out numbers. But because of my background in operations, it’s transitioned into an amazing position as a loan officer because I know what loans work, I know what loans don’t work.”

And that knowledge matters to clients, Kevin says.

“She’s smart as a whip. She knows mortgages better than anyone in that county, I guarantee you,” he says. “(When) you walk in there to get a loan, you want someone that’s going to make sure to explain everything to you properly.

“Some guys or gals will just put you in the easiest product or the fastest product or anything that can get you in and out quick,” Kevin continues. “She goes the opposite route. She spends more time with a client than anyone I know and all she cares about (is), are they in the right program for them and their family?”

Kristin is equally passionate about how she and her Success Mortgage Partners branch serve the community. And, as a mother of three, she’s a sucker for charities revolving around kids.

“We really care because this is our community, too,” she says. “If somebody reaches out to me and it has to do with children, I say yes.”

Her branch has served for several years as a sponsor for New Beginnings of Central Florida, a Clermont-based organization dedicated to helping the homeless population.

Success Mortgage Partners created a nonprofit organization, Partners Making a Difference, that helps fund an Adopt-a-Family program. Every year, the Montverde branch adopts at least five families at Christmastime. The branch also works with the Kiwanis Club to provide toys, blankets, toothbrushes and other supplies to 200 Lake County students each year.

Kristin is the No. 1 individual contributor of funds to Partners Making a Difference, Kevin says.

“She’s got a huge heart. She gives everything that she has to Lake County.

She loves Lake County,” he says.

He also recognizes her commitment to her own children.

“She grew up with nothing and she made it a point that her kids were never going to repeat the cycle that she had, and she’s done every single thing she’s set out to do,” he says. “She made a decision to change her life forever.”

That decision to move to Lake County and call Success Mortgage Partners has paid off professionally and personally.

She loves her job, though the financial payoff isn’t her first priority.

“It’s definitely not about the money.

I’ve never had money my whole entire life, so having money now doesn’t mean anything,” Kristin says. “I’m helping families achieve the American dream and, again, success starts at home, so if you don’t have a safe and secure place to call home, then life’s just a lot harder.

So I know that I’m helping build that solid foundation for families to grow and succeed well, and building their financial future.”

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You see them every day. You may do business with them.

They’re your neighbors and friends—the 2020 Business Women of Style.

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Lena Williams 352.636.4488

Theresa Morris 352.360.3736

Camie Kennedy 352.408.4668

Jo Leen Cooper Howe 352.267.0770

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Traci Meany 352.255.8602

Felicia Wagner 352.638.1264

Lynn Haynes

352.516.0903

Lauren Fickett 352.636.2167

Kim Ducharme Levensohn

Joan DeFoe

352.874.5906

352.516.6843

Morris Realty and Investments 10135 U.S. Hwy. 441, Ste. 3, Leesburg / 352.435.4663

1217 W. Miller St., Fruitland Park / 352.530.2665 / morrisrealtors.com

For the women of Morris Realty, real estate comes naturally.

Each member of the Morris team knows their way around Lake County, and understands the unique quality of life our natural resources and communities provide.

Year after year, the Morris Realty all-star team of women does what it takes to succeed. Their agents are more active, more productive and work harder for their clients. As a result, Morris Realty and Investments consistently ranks

among the top 10 agencies in Lake and Sumter counties against much larger agencies.

The agency is built on a strong foundation of honesty, integrity, knowledge and community pride. Morris Realty supports local businesses and charitable organizations.

In turn, community members know that taking care of their real estate needs comes naturally to the women of Morris Realty.

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Nikki Parsons

Monique Tapanes

SENIOR SALES STAFF & GIA GRADUATE

Aimeé Mullins SENIOR SALES STAFF

ASSISTANT MANAGER & GIA GRADUATE GEMOLOGIST

It’s Raining Diamonds at Arden’s Fine Jewelers 352.751.6613 / 1060 Canal St., The Villages / ardensjewelers.com Your local family-owned and operated jewelry store, Arden’s Fine Jewelers, continues to shine year after year by impressing longtime clientele and new customers alike.

The Arden’s team invests in continuing its education and keeping up on the most current fashions and trends in the jewelry industry to provide clients with the best

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service, quality and designs. The Arden’s team sparkles with meticulous attention to detail and phenomenal customer service.

“We find it an honor to help our customers celebrate the special moments in their lives,” says GIA graduate gemologist Nikki Parsons.

Arden’s Fine Jewelers’ philosophy is to provide clients with an exquisite selection

of designer jewelry and custom-made pieces. The store’s specialty is starting from scratch and creating a completely customized piece of jewelry.

Arden’s other services include jewelry and diamond appraisals, diamond upgrades, jewelry cleaning, engraving and jewelry repair.

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Ze’ Carter

OWNER

The Kitchen Cooking School 352.901.6537 / 712 W. Main St., Leesburg / getcookingwithze.com For Ze’ Carter, opening The Kitchen Cooking School and The Kitchen Café in downtown Leesburg is a dream come true. A private chef for 13 years, she is excited about letting the entire community enjoy her culinary creations rather than a select few people.

“I’ve gone from making one person or a small family happy to making an entire city happy,” says Ze’, a lifelong Lake County resident and 1991 graduate

of Tavares High School. “I’m excited to be part of the community.”

Ze’ opened her company in November 2019 inside the Southern Gardens Mall. In addition to serving breakfast and lunch, she also offers demo-and-dine cooking classes three times a month and hosts boutique events for parties of 50 or fewer.

When she is not busy creating in the kitchen she also devotes time as

the Director and founder of Kitch’n Lyfe Skills, Inc. a (501 © 3) nonprofit organization that combats food insecurity in ways that promote health, self sufficiency and education in the culinary arts. “Food is our center in life, when we lose focus on that this organization helps to point you back in the right direction.“

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Lori Esarey

NURSE PRACTITIONER / OWNER

Total Nutrition and Therapeutics 809 County Road 466, Unit 202-C, Lady Lake 352.259.5190 / totalnutritionandtherapeutics.com The best defense is a good offense.

Lori Esarey, owner of Total Nutrition and Therapeutics, centers her practice around this philosophy. “‘Personalized medicine’ that starts with understanding your health/wellness goals combined with comprehensive diagnostic testing, designing your unique plan and helping you execute it. Taking a food first approach to healing is our specialty.” This proactive approach helps her clients reduce health risks, spend less time and money on pills and aligns more with their desires to LIVE life and enjoy!

“Just because you’re not sick doesn’t mean you’re well,” she says. “Our clinic identifies those blind spots so we can take better care of ourselves and boost our body’s defense mechanisms.”

Two other clinicians work at the practice: Angela Ugarte, a nurse practitioner, and Amanda Ansbaugh, a physician’s assistant and former combat medic.

“We’re like Charlie’s Angels,” Lori says. “We come from different backgrounds but share a common goal of helping our clients feel and live their best.”

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Amanda Ansbaugh PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT

Angela Ugarte NURSE PRACTITIONER

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SPRAY Mobile Tanning 352.459.5515 sprayedxlindsey@gmail.com facebook.com/spraymobiletanning Lindsey Mallory is on a mission to make you feel beautiful in your own skin. SPRAY offers custom mobile spray tanning. That’s right, she comes to you, in the comfort of your own home. (Studio appointments also available).

“SPRAY has come so far in such a short time,” Lindsey says, and she isn’t stopping there, more mobile services are coming soon, so stay tuned.

“SPRAY isn’t just a service, it’s an experience. It’s not just a brand, but a lifestyle,” Lindsey says.

Let her bring out that glow from within in you. Get SPRAY’d.

Lindsey Mallory OWNER

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Pruett Williams Insurance Agency 352.357.6119 / 15820 Dora Ave., Tavares / pruett-williamsinsurance.com

Christine Williams Stewart

VICE PRESIDENT

Christine Williams Stewart is vice president of Pruett-Williams Insurance, her family business. She talks about the benefits of working with an independent agency: “We represent numerous companies and customize business insurance plans to provide our clients with competitive coverage and pricing. We offer personal insurance programs for homeowners, auto, boat, antique and classic, and more.”

The necklace Christine is wearing in the photo is quite the conversation piece. She is one of a dozen local ladies who each don the necklace, affectionately named “Maribella,” for a month to raise awareness and funds for Lake Cares Food Pantry.

She and her husband, John Stewart IV, of Edward Jones, enjoy spending time with their rescue husky, Apollo. She chairs the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce and is an avid runner.

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Roxanne Stafford OWNER

Alexa Stafford

OFFICE MANAGER

Window Reflections 352.330.2055 / 103 N. Main St., Wildwood / windowreflections.net Roxanne Stafford opened Window Reflections in 1991 with the dream of creating a business that not only allowed her to successfully pursue her passion for design, but also to be home for her family. She has successfully created a business that now, after 29 years, is still thriving enough to be passed down through generations.

Her daughter, Alexa Stafford, now works alongside her mother to completely transform houses into homes within The Villages and

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surrounding area. They work together to create custom window treatments that give each home a one-of-a-kind design based on their customer’s style and personality.

Although working alongside family can be challenging at times, the mother and daughter inspire and motivate each other to be better businesswomen together. They follow the motto: “Strong women: May we know them.

May we be them. May we raise them.”

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Mollie Cunningham

FORMER PRINCIPAL AT CARVER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Mollie Cunningham Molliecunninghamlakecountyschoolboard.com Mollie Cunningham’s 37-year career in education has run the gamut. She has taught in the classroom as a speech-language pathologist, overseen the building of Sorrento Elementary and served as principal at four Lake County schools.

She feels that experience makes her an excellent candidate for Lake County School Board District 4. Although she retired three years ago, running for a school board seat will allow her to continue making a positive impact on education.

“I have ideas that I feel will benefit the district and raise Lake County Schools to another level,” she says. “I’ll implement ideas to ensure all students are learning. Unless you devise a plan that includes all children, then you’re not going to be successful.”

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LeighAnn Berry OWNER

Prominent Fox Boutique 352.661.3170 / 4313 E. County Road 466, Suite #103, Oxford Owner Leigh Ann Berry opened the Boutique in 2017 in hopes of eventually growing and adding a website. In January of 2020 she did just that. Prominentfox.com launched the beginning of this year and immediately took off. We have shipped our clothing and accessories all over the United States.

Our local customers love the fact that we offer in store pickup for their online orders so they do not have to pay shipping costs.

She also made a huge announcement the beginning of the year that a second location will be opening in Downtown

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Leesburg called “The Fox on Fourth”. It will be located at 210 N. 4th St. unit 102. We are in hopes that this is just the first of many more locations to come for Prominent Fox! We will be having Live Facebook Sales every week to show off our newest arrivals. We are always thinking outside of the box to make things new and fresh for our customers!

Having a special connection and relationship with each customer is what I believe sets us apart from all the big box stores!”

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Erica McNamee CEO

Olson Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. 352.669.4547 / 545 Umatilla Blvd #8434, Umatilla, FL 32784 / olsoninsurance.net A family-owned agency since the 1975, Olson Insurance & Financial Services, Inc., specializes in helping small businesses begin and grow successfully. Erica McNamee, granddaughter of founder Terry Olson, is proud to be a part of one of the most successful and trusted independent agencies in Lake County. She knows how much it means when problems occur to have an agent nearby who knows

you and your community and is always available to help. Olson Insurance & Financial Services, Inc., not only provides all your insurance needs—home, auto, boat, RV—but it also provides what’s needed for your business with insurance, tax services and financial advice. Erica knows it makes a difference to work with an agency that’s a trusted part of your community.

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Erica McNamee CEO

Olson Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. 352.669.4547 / 545 Umatilla Blvd #8434, Umatilla, FL 32784 / olsoninsurance.net A family-owned agency since 1975, Olson Insurance & Financial Services, Inc., specializes in helping small businesses begin and grow successfully. Erica McNamee, granddaughter of founder Terry Olson, is proud to be a part of one of the most successful and trusted independent agencies in Lake County. She knows how much it means when problems occur to have an agent nearby who knows

you and your community and is always available to help. Olson Insurance & Financial Services, Inc., not only provides all your insurance needs—home, auto, boat, RV—but it also provides what’s needed for your business with insurance, tax services and financial advice. Erica knows it makes a difference to work with an agency that’s a trusted part of your community.

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Evelyn Guerra LOAN PROCESSOR

Whitney Rico

LICENSED LOAN COORDINATOR | NMLS# 1836645

Kristin Jamieson

PRODUCING BRANCH MANAGER | NMLS #1097663

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Sandy Tolen

Shelby Emerson LOAN PROCESSOR

UNDERWRITER

Pam Keller

SENIOR LOAN PROCESSOR

Success Mortgage Partners, Inc. 352.242.1535 / 16903 Lakeside Dr. #1, Montverde / kristinjamiesonfl.com / NMLS #130562 The desire to help families in their pursuit of homeownership has driven the Kristin Jamieson Mortgage Team to be the No. 1 branch for Success Mortgage Partners, Inc. Kristin and her team work closely with clients, listening to their needs and

communicating with them during every step of the loan process.

Most of her business comes from former clients and valued Realtor referral partners within the community. Hardworking and detail oriented, Kristin has helped more than

1,500 Lake County families become homeowners. Kristin takes great pride in giving back to the community through local schools and charities.

“The community is only as strong as the people in it,” Kristin says. “We care because it’s our community, too!”

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Sheena Wendler Kathy Entler

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Evelyn Santoriello

Lindsey Barker

Amelia Swart

Aimee Stanley

Alexus Stanley

Haleigh Lane

Optima One Realty 352.243.6784 / 720 Montrose St., Clermont / optimaonerealty.com Optima One Realty is celebrating 9 years in South Lake County and is looking forward to serving the Tampa region with their new Springhill location.

“Currently we are the only privately owned real estate office ranked in the top 10 performing brokerages in our

area and we are excited about what the future holds as we grow! We will also be expanding our services available to the community through adding more commercial acquisition and leasing experts to our staff as well as utilizing our new neighbor and affiliate 7Twelve

Marketing Solutions who specializes in pre-construction marketing” We pride ourselves on being a full service company being able to assist our customers in any aspect of real estate and and ensuring their success beyond the closing table.

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Kim van der Sanden OWNER

My Favorite Things 132 E. Magnolia Ave., Eustis mftstamps.com Kim van der Sanden became a paper-crafter in late 2003 and was quickly bitten by the crafting bug. In 2006, she opened My Favorite Things, offering existing papercrafting products that were her favorites, the impetus behind the company’s name. She then decided to create proprietary products, which are now carried worldwide. The goal of My Favorite Things is, and always has been, to offer products that are fresh, fun, and completely distinctive.

My Favorite Things has grown over the last fourteen years to become a well-respected industry favorite, multi-million-dollar company. Kim continues to place emphasis on offering the highest quality products, delivering excellent customer service, and helping paper-crafters everywhere bring their creativity to life.

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Dr. Breanna Ferguson OWNER / PODIATRIST

Mid Lake Foot and Ankle 870 S. Duncan Drive, Tavares / 352.432.8434 / midlakefootandankle.com Mid Lake Foot and Ankle takes pride in providing personalized care for all ages and conditions, including treating patients with diabetes, sports injuries, arthritic conditions and a multitude of other lower extremity ailments.

“We treat people with compassion and dignity,” says owner Dr. Breanna Ferguson. “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 are in our office, you are family, and we are going to provide you with the best care possible.”

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Charla Hurst DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Shannon Barney DIRECTOR OF IMAGING SERVICES

Clermont Radiology 352.241.6100 / 871 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont clermontradiology.com With convenient hours seven days a week, Clermont Radiology provides a full array of imaging services. The Women’s Center offers privacy and a calming atmosphere with 3D Mammography, Ultrasound and DEXA scans.

Other services offered are 64-slice CT, Nuclear Med scans, PET scans, 1.5T MRI, 3T MRI, Open Upright MRI as well as an additional Open MRI and Digital X-ray. Clermont Radiology specializes in injuries as the result of automobile accidents, using specialized readers and radiologists who will testify if needed.

Less expensive than hospital imaging centers, Clermont Radiology has appointments available from 7am-10pm, weekdays, 7am-5pm Saturday, and 9am-2pm Sunday.

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CEO / FAIR MANAGER

Lake County Fair 352.357.7111 A native of Central Florida, Stacey Wade found her calling at county fairs. She’s especially proud to be a part of the Lake County Fair, which will celebrate 100 years in 2021! Stacey believes the fair is the heart of the county with its mixture of entertainment, agriculture, livestock and art. As the crown jewel of Lake County, judges evaluate 700 entries, everything from chickens and rabbits to arts and food.

Stacey says it’s impossible to visit a fair of this caliber in any other Central Florida county. Though she may not be queen of the fair, she definitely reigns supreme over the many delights Lake County residents enjoy at this annual event.

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Kelsey Shirley HAIR STYLIST

Amanda Cheatham HAIR STYLIST

Danielle Daugherty CO-OWNER

Mia Bella Salon & Spa 352.508.7277 / 201 W. Miller St., Fruitland Park / miabellasalonandspa.net With its third expansion in three years, Mia Bella Salon & Spa now has customers covered from head to toe.

“We have added eyelash extensions, spray tanning and a facialist,” co-owner Danielle Daugherty says. “Before, we were just hair and massage, and now we really are full service.”

Danielle says clients bond with her stylists, such as Amanda Cheatham, who specializes in perms and hair cutting.

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“It’s been wonderful. I’ve learned a lot,” Amanda says of her first year at Mia Bella. “We have a really good team. Everyone’s just super-helpful.”

Hair stylist Kelsey Shirley specializes in coloring, braiding and styling.

“I like the opportunities that we’re given,” she says. “This is my first job in a salon, so to be able to start in a salon that’s just so great has been really awesome.”

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Shayna Grunewald CEO

Lake Centre Home Care 352.315.0050 / 310 Market St., Leesburg / golchc.com During three-plus years as CEO of Lake Centre Home Care, Shayna Grunewald has guided the company’s growth from a census of 30-35 patients to now more than 200 patients at any given time.

“You have to have a passion for what you do and I love working in the healthcare industry. The landscape of healthcare is constantly changing, which presents new challenges that allow us to continually learn and grow,” she says. “The clinicians that I work with are the best of the best and they are what have led to the great success of Lake Centre Home Care.”

Lake Centre Home Care is a 5-star skilled home health agency that provides nursing; physical, occupational and speech therapy; home health aides; and Medical Social Services. They see all acuity levels of patients including IV meds, PICC lines, orthopedic and cardiac surgical aftercare, wound vacs, and much more.

Away from the job, Shayna enjoys reading, watching football, and trips to the beach or on the boat with her husband, Jimmy, daughter, Anna Grace, 15, and son, Jack, 12.

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OWNER

Faeve Plant Therapies 352.430.2720 / 910 Old Camp Rd. Ste. 192, The Villages / myfaeve.com Meredith Cheshire is no stranger to integrative medicine and the power of holistic healing. Mulberry Integrative Medicine, a company she and her husband Chris started together, has over 15 years as one of the largest acupuncture clinics in Lake and Sumter counties.

In 2015, Meredith discovered her own passion for Functional Aromatherapy® when she pursued a career as a Registered Aromatherapist and Certified Herbalist. Now one of only five in the entire state of Florida, Meredith creates a line of all-natural products for her new endeavor, Faeve Plant Therapies, and helps people make safer, healthier choices in aromatic and herbal medicine.

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Doing things naturally, scientifically, and organically has helped her create a line of products perfect for everyday lifestyle wellness. Natural, nonaddictive pain creams, paraben free, organic shampoos and conditioners, and expertly formulated essential oil blends are a small part of that, but since March, Meredith has taken it a step forward.

New to Mt. Dora Marketplace, Faeve Plant Therapies is bringing a new experience to customers by offering a custom bath and body mixing bar. Using one of Meredith’s 15 organic, all-natural bases, she will help you build your own creams, lotions, shampoos, rollerballs, soaps, and more that are formulated to your specific needs and scent profiles.

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Annette Frederick OWNER

Hair & Nail Creations 352.330.4040 A Redkin Elite Salon, Hair and Nail Creations specializes in cuts and color though they provide all hair-care services. Attention is given to every detail, including sanitation and sterilization. Most of the staff is sent to New York City for training in Redkin’s exclusive program, “Cut and Know Why,” which helps stylists excel with the principles of point, line,

and angle. The salon also offers medical-grade facials for beautiful skincare and tone. Hair and Nail Creations is also unique in providing an apprentice program for newly graduated students for nine months. The students then enter the workforce with valuable experience and skills. At Hair and Nail Creations, “Your beauty is our passion.”

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Amanda Grace

OWNER

Lather Beauty Salon 352.530.3989 / 10601 U.S. Highway 441, Suite 303, Leesburg At Lather Beauty Salon, the personality and creativity of owner Amanda Grace shine.

Amanda, a stylist who has been in the beauty industry for 12 years, is known for her hair transformations involving new hair color and new haircuts.

“I completely change someone’s hair and make it suitable for the lifestyle and look she is trying to achieve,” Amanda says. “I enjoy bringing their hair dreams to life.”

Amanda opened her private salon suite two years ago.

“As a girl, I loved to play dress-up and do mini-makeovers on my family and friends,” she says. “It became an art form for me to express myself and bring out the best in other people.”

Amanda looks forward to becoming a hair educator with the Joico company, traveling to various salons and teaching styling techniques.

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INDEPENDENT AGENT

Bonnie Stanley Julie Graham

INDEPENDENT AGENT

INDEPENDENT AGENT

Susan Brisbin Lynn Gebaide

INDEPENDENT AGENT

INDEPENDENT AGENT

Health Insurance and Retirement Advocates, Inc. 352.735.7795 / The Renaissance Building 411 N. Donnelly St. Suite 300 / www.HIRAdvocates.com The ladies at Health Insurance and Retirement Advocates, Inc. are here to “Make Medicare Easy” for residents on or approaching Medicare, and those who have recently moved.

Nestled in historic downtown Mount Dora, the office reflects the beauty of simpler times and the easy camaraderie of the team of independent agents creates an encouraging environment.

They support each other like family, fulfilling Susan and Julie’s vision when they established the agency in 2018. In addition to exclusively offering UnitedHealthcare® Medicare products, they also represent Dental, Short Term Medical, and Annuity options. The portfolio is always changing! We invite you to stop by, have a cup of coffee and see what’s new!

Disclaimer: Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. A licensed agent may call or e-mail as a result of contact to discuss Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Plans or Medicare Supplement Insurance

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Rachelle Neck

Becky Pilpow

CO-OWNER

CO-OWNER

Edible Arrangements 3509 Wedgewood Lane, The Villages 352.391.1334 / ediblearrangements.com “At Edible Arrangements, The Villages, our mission is to WOW you,” co-owner Rachelle Neck says.

“We take a lot of well-earned pride in our hands-on approach, making the fruit bouquets and gourmet chocolate-dipped fruit ourselves from start to finish with each bouquet.”

The company also takes pride in its stellar customer service, which comes naturally to both Rachelle and co-owner Becky Pilipow. They always feel connected to customers who tell their stories about

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why they are sending an Edible Arrangement to family or friends.

“We are part of the story as we become the person connecting the lives together when they are far apart,” Rachelle says.

Edible Arrangements also donates to soup kitchens, schools and charity events in The Villages.

The best part of Rachelle and Becky’s job is seeing the smiles on people’s faces when an arrangement has made their day extra special.

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Rachelle Neck

Becky Pilpow

CO-OWNER

CO-OWNER

Edible Arrangements 3509 Wedgewood Lane, The Villages 352.391.1334 / ediblearrangements.com “At Edible Arrangements, The Villages, our mission is to WOW you,” co-owner Rachelle Neck says.

“We take a lot of well-earned pride in our hands-on approach, making the fruit bouquets and gourmet chocolate-dipped fruit ourselves from start to finish with each bouquet.”

The company also takes pride in its stellar customer service, which comes naturally to both Rachelle and co-owner Becky Pilipow. They always feel connected to customers who tell their stories about

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why they are sending an Edible Arrangement to family or friends.

“We are part of the story as we become the person connecting the lives together when they are far apart,” Rachelle says.

Edible Arrangements also donates to soup kitchens, schools and charity events in The Villages.

The best part of Rachelle and Becky’s job is seeing the smiles on people’s faces when an arrangement has made their day extra special.

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Laura Byrd, Ed.D

VICE PRESIDENT, INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LSSC FOUNDATION

Lake Sumter State College Foundation 352.365.3515 / 9501 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg Helping students is what Laura Byrd enjoys most about her job as executive director of LakeSumter State College Foundation, which provided over 750 scholarships worth more than $600,000 in 2019.

“With everything that has been going on with COVID-19, we’re looking at ways we can help

students with food insecurity and technology needs,” Laura says, adding that students have been doing their coursework online.

“We are looking at ways to help our students stay enrolled in school and keep some normalcy in their lives with the help of our emergency assistance fund,” Laura says.

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OWNER

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Dana Stenstrom

Carol Sutton

Brittany Martin

OWNER

Bold, Beautiful and Beyond Weddings, LLC 352.391.8288 / 26004 Mitchell way, Eustis At Bold, Beautiful & Beyond Weddings, the dedicated team will handle all planning, coordination, floral & decor and just about anything else you may need on your special day. Lead designer Cherie’ will make sure your floral and decor is everything you envisioned it could be.

What makes Bold, Beautiful & Beyond Weddings different from other wedding planners, owner Carol Sutton says, is that “it’s more effective and we can put together just about anything to make our wedding couple’s day a dream come true.”

“In this ever-changing world the one constant is love, friendship, and family. I have been truly blessed to be able to know how to make my bridal couples and their families have a really enjoyable day. And what’s really amazing is when people meet me, the first question they asked me is about my experiences with doing weddings. I have to really tell them that

I have met the most interesting and loving people along the way and who could have asked for a better career,” Carol says.

“We have the experience and resources, should we have to stand in wherever needed, we have that kind of experience to be able to step in and just do what it takes to run the event. We can do it all. But we wouldn’t be able to be where we are today without the help of our team of vendors, most of my vendors have been with me for years and for them we are truly thankful!” she adds. What Carol loves about her job, aside from the creativity that goes into making every wedding special, is the joy of giving to the lovely couples involved.

“I love the Cinderella effect that represents every girl’s dream come true,” she says. “They dream their whole lives to have that romantic and fairytale wedding, and I feel like every girl deserves that day. So I love that we can re-create that day for them.”

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Clara Schneider OWNER

Em’z on Fifth 352.735.4451 / 200 W. 5th St., Mount Dora Em’z on Fifth has stylish fashions, hats, jewelry and shoes to make women feel confident and be noticed, and that’s owner Clara Schneider’s goal. Her popular boutique is filled with casual to dressy attire in all sizes and fabrics.

“I’m very proud when I hear customers say, ‘I bought a top in here four years ago and I still get compliments,’ and that’s what I am here for, to make people happy,” Clara says.

“If someone comes in and says they need a purple polka-dotted dress, I will write it down and say, ‘Let me see if I can find it for you.’”

Em’z on Fifth primarily carries madein-America clothing.

“It’s great quality,” Clara says, adding that the boutique also ships, wraps, special orders, alters and delivers all items.

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Kelly Guzman

AVP RESIDENTIAL LENDER

Shari Kaiser

VP COMMERCIAL LENDER

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Carrie Cribb VP RESIDENTIAL LENDER

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DIRECTOR OF SALES

Joan Cook FLORAL DESIGNER

Miss Daisy’s Flowers & Gifts 352.787.6806 / 1024 W. Main St., Leesburg Mother’s Day is the busiest time of the year at Miss Daisy’s Flowers & Gifts, and designer Joan Cook and director of sales Carol Cina were part of a large crew working together creating beautiful floral arrangements.

“Leesburg is mostly a 55-andover community, and everybody’s

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mother lives here,” Carol says with a chuckle.

On a typical day, the designers create over 35 floral pieces. For Mother’s Day this year, the shop produced more than 1500 floral arrangements for the week.

However, the women say they survived because they work with

great people, including owners Bob Tucker, Bill Bobulinski and Jel and Keith Parker.

“We have the best bosses you could ask for,” Joan says.

“We love our jobs, we love our bosses and we love Miss Daisy’s,” Carol adds.

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FULL TIME MASTER INJECTOR KAITLYN SAPIA, our

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RAVING BEAUTY Clients prosper with the Tou Lou stylists’ touch.

STORY: JAMESON GARDNER, OWNER PA ID

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t Tou Lou Color Salon, “Beauty in Everything” is our slogan. I chose those words specifically for two reasons. While I was attending Paul Mitchell the School, I remember one of the students saying, “Oh, Jameson, you see the beauty in everything.”

Beauty ... not just in hair but in nails, makeup, microblading,

tattoos and everything that beauty touches.

But the honest fulfillment of that slogan runs much deeper. I have spent 25 years in this business, and there’s a reason my salon is so awesome! I started out as a retail makeup artist at Nordstrom throughout the United States, and Saks 5th Avenue in Beverly Hills and Fred Segal in Santa Monica.

I told everyone that I was going to Los Angeles to become a television makeup artist. Within a year and a half, I worked on the VMAs at MTV. The following year, I did VH1’s Music Awards. I did so many fashion shows that I can’t remember them all. The year after that, I was hired for the second season of “American Idol.”

I came home to Florida and worked for some of the best salons in the state until I was ready to do my own thing. Sometimes, when I walk through the doors of my creation, I literally have to pinch myself. I started Tou Lou Color Salon in October 2016. A year later, I opened the doors to SoJ Barbershop. They say you get what you put out to the world, and I feel affirmed every day when I see our team. Everyone is so dedicated and they are only trying

to get better! You can feel the energy and excitement when you walk in. All of our staff is trying to be the best and they are succeeding!

We are a Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, meaning we use only Paul Mitchell color, and in turn, they promote us within their network and send educators to keep us on trend. Their education system is the best, Paul Mitchell is the world’s most recognized hair care brand and they carefully maintain ethically sourced ingredients from around the planet.

The only other hair product I have let in is Kevin Murphy. Kevin lines up with our commitment to quality, culture and ethics. They also provide education. The line is imported from Australia and it has married beautifully with Paul Mitchell’s concept: ethically sourced, super-pure ingredients and no animal testing.

The Beauty Boutique is something I want to grow, but currently we have two makeup lines, the Balm and Cailyn. The Balm is a high-quality, cute and kitschy line, while the Cailyn brand scours the globe searching for the best in everything. You will be blown away by the quality of this brand. We do complimentary

Stevie Cleaver

makeovers while you wait. Alize Gardner is our resident makeup artist. While your hair processes, she introduces you to the latest skincare and finishes your face so when you leave, you look and feel like a million dollars!

We also have a nail tech to keep your manicure on point.

SoJ Barbershop — The barbers are excellent and they offer the experience, including a straight-razor shave, of an old school barbershop. We also have a tattoo artist in the loft above the barbershop.

We are the preferred salon of Brazilian Blowout in Sumter County. We achieved this status through education. People come from Ocala, Tampa and Orlando to get their keratin done here because we are known for our expertise. It is, in my opinion, the safest and best keratin treatment for your hair.

For us, the Key Classes were a breakthrough. I wanted our salon to have common threads to deliver the ultimate salon experience and a rock star head of hair no matter which

Who is Lou? The name Tou Lou is derived from the Estonian language and means prosperity. I did this for the stylists.

I knew in my heart that if I made my stylists successful, they would promote my vision and take excellent care of the guests. So, the very name means “Prosperous.” And that’s important to everyone involved.

stylist works with you. This is what makes us special. The Key Classes are taught to every new stylist. They are a set of benchmarks that ensure success from the consultation, the wash house experience and the refining of a haircut.

The levels of hair stylists are Duchess, usually a new talent or experienced stylist who has not taken our Key Classes; Princess, with at least two years of doing hair and mastery of the Key Classes; and Queen, the top in the shop and the most expensive.

Because my book is full and closed, I tell new guests that if they want the “Jameson” experience then I would advise you to sit with our new talent or “Duchess” level stylists.

These kids bring me into their cuts and colors all the time and I’m happy to jump in and use every opportunity to teach them while delivering the very best excellence for price in the entire county. At Tou Lou we love what we do and our clients can feel that.

Stevie Cleaver came to us with God-given artistic ability. She already was the top microblading artist in Sumter County, but I wanted her to be the best in North Florida. So, I flew her to San Francisco for advanced training. We invested in the best pigments and blades to deliver an unparalleled enhancement.

352.461.0874 touloucolorsalon.com 115 N. Main St., Wildwood Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Thursdays: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sunday: Closed

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Locked & loaded In today’s world, more and more women are having a blast with guns.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL

onning cowboy boots, a riding skirt and a vest, Betty Woodburn looks like a character from the Old West. She’s equally proficient with firearms.

By her side are two single-action revolvers, a lever-action rifle and a shotgun—all replicas of models from the late 1800s. Suddenly, she begins shooting at imaginary bad-guy targets shaped like cactuses, cowboy heads and beer mugs.

Bang! Ping. Bang, bang. Ping. Lead disintegrates into dust as it explodes against steel targets.

Betty, a resident of Grand Island, is a star in cowboy action shooting, a sport where competitors dress the part of the Old West and shoot guns from that period in a contest based on speed and accuracy. Don’t mess with this 68-year-old cowgirl. She often outshoots her male counterparts.

“Competing in cowboy action shooting is the most fun you can have with your clothes on,” she says.

Once upon a time, the typical image of an American gun owner was a macho male who clinked his boot spurs and twirled his six-shooter. Today, there’s a new group of gunslingers in the world.

Gun ownership among women has increased by 77 percent since 2005, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The Well Armed Woman, a membership and training organization, estimates there are 20 million female gun owners today in the United States. Women own guns for self-defense, hunting and shooting sports—the same reasons men cite.

As women’s shooting clubs and organizations pop up around the country, gun stores and manufacturers of gun accessories are catering to them. Women can purchase everything from concealed-carry purses and pink holsters to hunting vests and shooting-themed shirts. In 2017, the National Rifle Association put together its first

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concealed-carry fashion show for women. At Shooters World in The Villages, Mondays are designated as Ladies Day, offering free range time and gun rentals to women.

“We definitely see more women coming in these days to purchase guns and also use our gun range than we did 10 or 20 years ago,” says Gordon Schorer Jr., whose father owns the Gun Shop and Gun Range in Leesburg. “They’re very smart about purchasing a gun. Instead of picking out one that looks cool, they shoot our rental guns to see what feels comfortable in their hands.”

Contrary to popular belief, most of them are not cowgirls or country girls who come from a family of gun enthusiasts. At

Ares Firearms Training Facility in Leesburg, Trae Johnson and his wife, Julie, both NRA-certified instructors, teach a variety of professional businesswomen to shoot with stellar aim and stern confidence.

“The women who come here are highly educated and successful,” Julie says. “They’re teachers, medical professionals, business owners and lawyers who you would never guess have a concealed weapon permit.”

Here’s the kicker: Women often are better shots than their male counterparts. Women start out with an open mind and a desire to learn, Julie notes. Conversely, men tend to not follow instructions as much because they think they already know everything about firearms.

“We’ll have husbands and wives who have never shot guns come to our facility, and the wives pick up on the basics of shooting faster,” Julie says. “They listen carefully and follow instructions and don’t try to muscle the gun like men so often do.”

Betty Woodburn

The competitive type It wasn’t your typical first date, but for Betty, the cowboy action shooter, it was more enjoyable than going to dinner or a movie. Fifty-three years ago, she and her husband, Woody, went to a gun range for a few hours of plinking.

“We had lots of fun,” she recalls.

A gun enthusiast, Betty started competing in cowboy action shooting 20 years ago, and some of her matches were held at the Eustis Gun Club. The couple liked the area and moved in 2005 from Miami to Grand Island.

In cowboy action shooting, a number of stations are set up with different Old West-themed targets. The tricky part for competitors is hitting the targets in a specific order. Shooting one out of order earns a 10-second procedural penalty, and every miss is a five-second penalty. Since every shooter must create an alter-ego, Betty goes by the name “Sassy Teton Lady.”

“I love the Teton mountain range; it’s my favorite area in the country and I’d live there if I could,” she says. “I added ‘Sassy’ because I’m a sassy type of person.”

Betty is quite the marksman, becoming Florida’s overall female state champion in 2004. At the 2011 World Championships held in New Mexico, she finished second in the duelist category, where competitors shoot with one hand unsupported.

“Unlike most retirees, I don’t play golf,” says Betty, a member of the NRA. “I shoot guns.”

She encourages more women to do the same.

“Try it and you’ll like it,” she says. “If you haven’t shot guns, then don’t make any negative comments about firearms.

They’re not evil.”

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“I LOVE THE SMELL OF GUNPOWDER.” – L O RY B A X L E Y, O F E U S T I S

Protection at hand Susan Summerlin remembers the night that two loud and seemingly drunken men sneaked onto her 10-acre property at 1am to harass her horses. Frightened, the widowed Eustis resident grabbed her Taurus 9-millimeter handgun and gave the trespassers an ultimatum.

“I told them that they could either leave or be shot.”

The men fled.

Moments like those are why Susan got a concealed weapon permit after her husband died in 2018. Fortunately for her, she hasn’t had to draw her handgun on anyone since that incident.

“Carrying a gun gives me control over my life,” she says. “Knowing I can defend myself gives me a sense of peace.”

Her primary carry weapon is a .32-caliber Derringer that she purchased 34 years ago. The tiny pistol holds only two rounds and fits snugly in her back pocket, eliminating the need for a gun belt, holster or carry purse.

Susan sometimes shoots recreationally, once firing an AR-15 and “falling in love with it.” For her, though, owning a gun is mostly about selfprotection. She has nightstands on each side of her bed. Before going to sleep, she places her 9-millimeter handgun on one and her Derringer on the other.

“It makes me feel safer at night, especially in this day and age,” she says.

Safety is the primary reason that Lory Baxley, the head of business development at Lake Centre Home Care, became a gun owner. She completed a concealed weapon class in 2013 with a group of 12 female friends.

“If you’re a small woman who gets attacked by a man who is 6 feet 3 inches tall, how are you going to stop him from overpowering you? I am small in stature, so for me, firearms are a great equalizer,” she says.

Lory, who lives in Eustis, feels comfortable carrying a gun. She was brought up around firearms and has fond memories of her father taking her to a Lory Baxley

now-defunct gun range off David Walker Road in Eustis when she was 8.

Her carry revolver has a red laser sight. She said that is advantageous because the laser indicates where her gun’s muzzle is pointing, allowing her to keep both eyes open without having to line up the front and rear sights.

Occasional trips to the Eustis Gun Club keep her shooting skills sharp.

“I have a responsibility to protect myself and my family,” she says. “I think having a gun is my responsibility as a citizen because if you protect yourself and others, you can stop tragedies from happening.”

Susan Summerlin

On the hunt In 2010, Mary Pat Godigkeit, of Oxford, struggled to watch her mother battle lung cancer. To help her cope with sadness, Mary Pat’s uncle popped the unlikeliest of questions.

“He asked me if I wanted to go hunting,” says Mary Pat, a speech pathologist at UF Health Leesburg Hospital. “It seemed kind of weird because I had never really been into firearms prior to that.”

She hesitantly agreed. Her uncle bought her a used Remington 243 bolt-action hunting rifle, and off they went for a day of deer hunting. When they returned, her uncle showed her how to properly clean the gun.

“I quickly became hooked by both hunting and shooting,” she says. “The first time I shot a gun was not intimidating. I liked the feel of the rifle and the power behind it.”

She became quite the hunter. On Thanksgiving Day in both 2013 and 2014, she shot and killed a 7-point buck.

“To do that in back-to-back years was very exciting because, to be honest, most of my life I would’ve never considered shooting an animal,” she says.

Mary Pat feels confident that most women can handle the recoil from a high-powered rifle.

“When it’s your first time shooting, go out with somebody who is knowledgeable about guns so you don’t injure yourself,” she says.

“But don’t be afraid. Like anything else, you have to keep practicing.”

GOING BANG The three-most popular firearms purchased by women are:

SEMIAUTOMATIC HANDGUNS

REVOLVERS

SHOTGUNS Mary Pat Godigkeit

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Source: National Shooting Sports Foundation

Unlike Mary Pat, Grand Island resident Kristine Howard began deer hunting as a small girl growing up in Wisconsin.

Her father, a single parent raising three kids, wanted to share his hobby with them. Kristine completed a hunter safety course and, as a high school sophomore, killed her first deer with a .12-gauge shotgun.

Today, Kristine and her boyfriend travel to Alabama twice a year for deer and squirrel hunting and have been hog hunting in Texas. She got her boyfriend interested in the sport when they began dating seven years ago.

“If couples hunt together, then they stay together,” says Kristine, chief marketing officer at Mosquito Squad in Grand Island. “Some women like to go to the spa, but when I’m out hunting in camouflage, it’s relaxing.”

In addition to hunting, Kristine has actively involved her three children—Jayden, 17, Olivia, 15, and Ashley, 13—in target and clay shooting. Introducing them to guns, she says, teaches them how to use guns responsibly. She feels that when firearms are forbidden, children will satisfy their natural curiosity without proper supervision.

“I have female friends who are afraid of guns, and I tell them they have to truly have a reason not to like guns,” she says. “Once you shoot it, you realize it’s not so intimidating.”

Kristine Howard

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percentage of female gun owners who have taken at least one firearms training class.

percentage of female gun owners who go target shooting once a month or more.

average age of women when they purchase their first gun. The average age for males purchasing their first gun is 19.

Sources: National Shooting Sports Foundation, Pew Research

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SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT Lake County women find their voices at TEDxEustis presentations.

STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

ake County is blessed to be home to many inspirational and creative residents, and the internationally known TED program has provided an opportunity for these people to express themselves.

TED, which stands for technology, entertainment and design, was created in

≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL AND DOUGLAS TYLER

1984 as a conference of ideas, marked by talks of 18 minutes or less on any number of topics. The organization went online in 2006 with TED Talks.

TEDxEustis is an independently organized TED event for the local level. At TEDxEustis’ first conference in 2018, the speakers included Lake County residents Kim van der Sanden, Ze’ Carter and Heather Elmatti. Joy Williams, Ze’s daughter, spoke at the most recent Eustis event in January.

These women shared some thoughts about their experiences with TEDxEustis: Heather Elmatti, a professor of communications and speech at

Lake-Sumter State College, runs LSSC’s TEDx chapter.

“I think the TED Talks became so popular that they started realizing that they wanted to have more opportunities to do this, so they created this venture called TEDx where local groups can apply for a license and host events,” says Heather, of Eustis.

The first TEDx event at LSSC was in 2017. The gatherings require a long process of planning.

“Typically, a TEDx event is a full-day event, so we run those every other year. It takes literally almost a year to organize a one-day event,” says Heather. “At a TEDx conference, you’ll

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“AN ASPECT OF BELONGING HAS TO DO WITH A SENSE OF MATTERING; NOT ONLY RECOGNIZING THAT I’M PART OF A GROUP AND THAT I’M ADDED TO THE GROUP, BUT THE GROUP MATTERS TO ME.” —HEATHER ELMATTI

have four to five sessions, and each session has four or five different speakers and activities.”

Heather’s talk, “Deeper Learning Needs Community,” focused on the idea that people learn best in a community setting. If you can create a place, whether it’s in a classroom or a workshop setting, where people feel connected with each other, then they have a sense of belonging and, in turn, will learn to the best of their abilities, she says.

“An aspect of belonging has to do with a sense of mattering; not only recognizing that I’m part of a group and that I’m added to the group, but the group matters to me. It’s an acknowledgement of the diversity and the differences that are there, and those differences are valid and

THE ORIGINS OF TED

TED, or Technology, Entertainment and Design, was co-founded by architect, graphic designer and author Richard Saul Wurman and graphic designer Harry Marks, according to ted.com. The first TED conference in 1984 included

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demonstrations of the compact disc, the e-book, cutting-edge 3-D graphics and how to map coastlines by using mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot’s theory of fractal geometry.

The next gathering was not held until 1990, after which the TED Conference became an annual event in Monterey, California. The

viable, and in spite of them, we can still work together,” Heather says in her TEDxEustis talk.

Heather quoted research and science about learning in a classroom setting as well as in a general setting, and she explained the best ways that people can utilize tools to learn and understand on a greater level.

“Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the University of Michigan, have found a direct correlation between a college student’s willingness to persist to degree completion with a sense of belonging,” she says in her talk. “Other research by Dr. Karen Osterman has found that student success rates and retention, specifically in terms of motivation

conference attracted influential people from all fields, brought together by the common desire for new ideas. The list of speakers branched out to include scientists, musicians, philosophers, business leaders, religious leaders and others.

In 2001, media entrepreneur Chris Anderson acquired TED from its

and academic performance, are directly correlated with a sense of belonging they feel in the learning environment.”

Reflecting on the conference, Heather says, “TED, at this point, is about not people but ideas.”

Ze’ Carter is a chef and owner of the Kitchen Café and Cooking School in Leesburg. She also founded Kitch’n Lyfe Skills, a nonprofit organization that helps foster children learn how to cook healthy meals and avoid “food insecurity,” a term she uses to explain the lack of knowledge that leads people to live unhealthy lifestyles.

Once children age out of foster care at 18, they’re on their own, and they often lack the life skills, like cooking, needed to survive.

“Our original mission was to reduce the amount of foster kids who aged out of foster care, kids who are in school, and eventually we expanded that to seniors, and now our mission is for anyone who is facing food insecurity,” says Ze’, of Leesburg.

Her TEDxEustis talk, “Let Them Eat Cake: Teaching Whole Food Cooking to Alleviate Poverty,” focused on teaching people how to cook healthy meals for themselves no matter their budget.

Ze’ is passionate about what she does, both at her café and her nonprofit organization. This is one trait that led her to begin her TEDx journey. A friend who is a curator of TEDxEustis asked her if she had heard of TED Talks. She hadn’t, so that night, she looked it up and couldn’t believe how many different ideas

founders and became its curator.

Between 2001-2006, TED expanded with TEDGlobal, with events around the world; the TED Prize, granting the winner one wish to change the world; and TED Talks, an audiovisual podcast series which is free online. After the first six TED Talks were posted in June 2006, they

“OUR ORIGINAL MISSION WAS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FOSTER KIDS WHO AGED OUT OF FOSTER CARE...

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received more than 1 million views in about two months.

TEDx was created in 2009 to target local and independent events organized by individuals who want to bring new ideas and start conversations in their own communities. The events are sponsored by TED and abide by

TED guidelines regarding speaker coaching, curation, format and event organizing. More than 3,000 TEDx events are held annually.

TEDxEustis held its first conference in 2018 and conducts two or more events each year, usually with several sessions of five speakers each.

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and speakers there were from all around the world.

“This is no exaggeration, I must’ve binge-watched about four hours of TED Talks,” Ze’ says.

Overall, Ze’ loved TEDxEustis. She never has been nervous speaking in front of crowds, she says, but the experience helped her become a better public speaker, though it was in no way easy.

“I feel like if you can make it through a TED Talk, you can do anything in life,” she says.

The speech also did a lot for her career, as she spent the next year or so serving as a keynote speaker at conferences for school nutrition and other events. Ze’ and her daughter,

Joy, also were the first motherdaughter combination to speak at TEDxEustis.

Joy Williams, of Eustis, works as a chef at her mom’s kitchen, and her talk was titled, “Delivered: Childbirth Survival for All Women.” “(Doing TEDx) was kind of a personal dare, because after I had my baby, Lelani, in October of 2018, I was severely depressed, I didn’t go outside much and I’d been going to therapy,” Joy says. “I talked with my

“I DECIDED TO CHALLENGE MYSELF BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IF OTHER WOMEN COULD HEAR THAT ‘HEY, THIS HAPPENED TO ME, TOO,’ THEN WE COULD HAVE A REAL CHANCE IN ENLIGHTENING PEOPLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.” — JOY WILLIAMS

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“IT’S MY INTENTION TO TREAT MY EMPLOYEES THE WAY THAT I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE TREATED WHEN WORKING FOR SOMEONE ELSE.” — K I M VA N D E R S A N D E N

husband and I said, ‘It should be about my experience and so many other black women and people of color, especially Native American, who are going through a hard time during their pregnancy.”

In preparing her speech, Joy says that her first draft had an angry tone.

“Everyone was like, ‘Whoa, it’s very powerful, but I don’t think that the audience is going to be very receptive.’

So, we had to change it, and I really had to make them understand what it was like to be in my shoes,” she says.

Joy says that her coach, Linda King, was very helpful throughout the preparation for her talk.

All participants prepare for six months to a year.

“In every meeting, we were crying.

Thinking about my story, how it affected me emotionally, how that affected me physically, it was very hard. But I knew it was something that I had to do,” Joy says.

“The process was definitely therapy in itself,” she adds. “I decided to challenge myself because I felt like if other women could hear that ‘Hey, this happened to me, too,’ then we could have a real chance in enlightening people about this issue.”

Ahead of her January talk, Joy found out in October 2019 that she was pregnant again. This time, she went into her pregnancy knowing what to expect. She felt more prepared and knew that she had to speak up about it.

Joy’s venture with TEDxEustis also was a good one.

“The group that I was with, they’re a bunch of amazing people and they’re so loving and kind, and they heard my story and they’re like, ‘Oh, my God, people are going to cry.’ And I made several friends from the whole experience. It’s something that we went through together,” she says.

Kim van der Sanden, owner of My Favorite Things craft store in Eustis, spoke about “The Business of Giving” at the 2018 TEDxEustis.

“In terms of deciding on the topic, it’s something that I’m just really passionate about. I think that you can prosper and also treat people fairly. I don’t think it has to be one or the other,” says Kim, of Leesburg.

Kim has worked for large companies, such as Universal and iHeartMedia, as well as smaller companies. Across the board, she realized the importance of treating employees like family, which is something she has tried to do as her own business has grown over the years.

“It’s my intention to treat my employees the way that I always wanted to be treated when working for someone else,” she says.

Like the other women, Kim agrees that doing a TEDx speech requires a lot of work in creating, practicing and

perfecting it, but it’s a rewarding experience once you finally deliver it.

“I really felt so good about what I had to say and the perspective I had to bring that I just really enjoyed it,” Kim says.

To watch the talks of these women, or anyone else from TEDxEustis, visit YouTube. Information about future TEDxEustis events can be found at tedxeustis.com.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR! PLAN YOUR TRIP! BE SEEN IN LAKE AND SUMTER! | EVENTS. TRAVEL. PEOPLE.

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THE TO-DO LIST What’s happening — or not — this month.

BOOK CLUB ‘Woman’s Hour’ details suffrage fight.

LOCAL TALENT Toni Marshall weaves way back home.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT Winery is familiar stomping grounds.

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EVENT

Summer grape stomp Dates are tentative due to COVID-19 guidelines. Contact the venues for updates.

Stomp out some frustration with the purple foot dance at Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards. Enjoy two days of crushing grapes, drinking wine, listening to live music and touring the winery. Some proceeds will support the LovExtension, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping older and disabled people in Lake County and The Villages.

Admission: $10 for adults; children 12 and younger admitted free.

June 13 @ 10am-5pm; June 14 @ 11am-5pm / 19239 U.S. Highway 27 N., Clermont / lakeridgewinery.com

VIRTUAL PLAY READINGS

‘FARNDALE AVENUE’

The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol in The Villages continues its free Virtual Play Reading Series, which is streamed at 1pm each Friday, followed by Virtual Talkback with the actors.

Moonlight Players Theatre presents this farce whose full title is “Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of ‘Macbeth.’” The society ladies assault the classics with an original production of “Macbeth” staged to get them to the Welwyn Garden City Finals. The tagline is: “Compared to Macbeth, it will be a tragedy!”

June 5 June 12 June 19 June 26

Encore presentation of “Pygmalion.”

“Ever Young,” by Alice Gerstenberg.

“Accommodation,” by Greg Burdick.

“The Squirrel Plays,” by Mia McCollough.

facebook.com/thestudiotheatretierradelsol, thesharonstudio.com or find past readings at youtube.com ‘WOMANMADE’

Before the state shutdown, this art exhibit was scheduled to conclude in April. But the Lake County Museum of Art reopened in May and relaunched the show. The talents of women artists throughout Florida are displayed in this juried, tri-city collaborative exhibit produced by LCMA, the Leesburg Center for the Arts and Mount Dora Center for the Arts.

Thursday-Saturday through June 13 @ noon-4pm / 213 W. Ruby St., Tavares / lakeartmuseum.com

June 12-14 & 19-21 @ various times / Moonlight Players’ Warehouse Theater, 735 W. Minneola Ave., Clermont / moonlightplayers.com VIRTUAL ART

Art lovers can stay active at home through the Leesburg Center for the Arts’ Virtual Art Center, which features talks with artists, collaborative creations, art lessons, Coffee and Convos and more. leesburgcenterforthearts.com or the center’s Facebook page VIRTUAL LIBRARIES

The Lake County Library System offers many free online resources, such as digital movies, digital magazines, ebooks, genealogy research and language courses. Virtual events, including story times, cooking demonstrations and computer classes, are streamed on the system’s Facebook page. mylakelibrary.org and facebook.com/lakecountyfllibrary

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BOOK CLUB

REVIEW

‘THE WOMAN’S HOUR’

By Elaine Weiss. The suffrage struggle is a vital remembrance in this election year.

STORY: BETH HICKS

very Election Day, a steady stream of people journey to Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York, looking for a specific grave. When they reach it, they add their “I Voted Today” stickers to the tombstone of Susan B. Anthony. Her name is most frequently mentioned as the leader of the fight for women’s right to vote.

This year celebrates the centennial of the adoption of the 19th amendment.

Women’s Equality Day is Aug. 26, the day Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, which made it part of the U.S. Constitution.

“The Woman’s Hour – The Great Fight to Win the Vote,” by Elaine Weiss, is so appropriate during this centennial year. The focus of the nonfi ction book is the final month of summer in 1920 in ONGOI NG Nashville. As the push for ratification concludes, many parts

EVENTS

Events are subject to change and cancellation.

Ready to delve into this book?

of the earlier struggle are summarized through flashbacks and character biographies.

Some people (the Suffs) were in favor of the amendment, while others (the Antis) were opposed. Some women were adamantly opposed to getting to vote. Additionally, the women who were in favor of suffrage were divided. Some were polite and patient; others were militant. Lobbyists and politicians ran the gauntlet of these differing factions. Nashville became ground zero, where both sides had their last chance to prevail.

When women’s suffrage is mentioned, most people immediately think of Susan B. Anthony, but she was not one of the women in Nashville for this final struggle. In fact, she died in 1906, a full 14 years before the amendment was adopted.

Those who sacrificed so much for the right to vote need to be recognized and remembered: Carrie Catt, Ida B. Wells, Abby Milton and many more.

Women were not “given” the right to vote. They fought for it for years. We need to remember this battle at each election.

Your right to vote will mean even more after reading “The Woman’s Hour.”

This book can be found at amazon.com and goodreads.com.

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LOCAL TALENT

PEO PLE

Dream weaver Toni Stokes Marshall creates uncommon artwork at her Leesburg studio.

STORY: CHRIS GERBASI

≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL

extiles always fascinated Toni Stokes Marshall, but it wasn’t until her retirement from the health-care field that she was able to wrap herself in textiles as an art form.

Toni went back to school at age 58, enrolling in a professional fiber arts program in North Carolina.

She had created mixed media art over the years but fulfilled a dream by learning to weave, dye, design and paint on fabric.

“I’ve always had an attachment to textiles,” Toni says. “Textiles is one of the first things that touch us when we’re born. They wrap us in a blanket and put a knit cap on our head.”

Ten years later, Toni uses a loom to create wearable art, wall hangings and home goods at Uncommon on Sixth, a studio and gallery at 103 S. 6th St. in downtown Leesburg. The eclectic gallery, which opened in December, features the work of 19 artists in mediums including pottery, basketry, jewelry, painting and metalwork. Visitors also can see art being created in the working studio.

Toni’s sister, Lauren Stokes McClurg, makes baskets that are displayed at the gallery. Their family started Stokes Fish Co. in Leesburg, where Toni was born and raised by a “tribe of women” who were designers, knitters, seamstresses and florists.

She lived in Texas, North Carolina and North Florida for 42 years before returning home in 2019 to be closer to her family. North Carolina is an area that keeps weaving alive, she says.

“It’s been kind of a lost art,” Toni says.

The feel of the fibers inspires her creations, which she describes as multilayered studies of color, pattern, light and texture that form a bridge across time, people, places and cultures.

“I am more concerned with evoking a feeling when people look at my work,” she says.

Toni is on the board of the Leesburg Center of the Arts, which will organize the Leesburg Art Fest scheduled for Oct. 24-25. The city has an emerging arts scene, she says, and she wants to host artist demonstrations at her studio and continue to serve as an encourager of artists.

“I feel like part of my job as an artist and a gallery owner is to help educate people,” Toni says. “I have helped some people find their way back to their art, and it’s my hope that downtown Leesburg will be more supportive of artists.”

Do you know talented people in the community?

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Send recommendations to chris@akersmediagroup.com.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

EVENT

Toe the vine Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards’ annual Harvest Grape Stomp is a barrel of fun.

enise McLeod doesn’t mind jumping feet first into an activity that oozes with excitement.

A shipping manager for Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, she is a regular participant in the company’s annual Harvest Grape Stomp, scheduled for Aug. 15-16 at the Clermont winery.

Denise kicks off her shoes, takes off her socks and bares her soles as she steps into a one-person barrel. For the next 60 seconds, she stomps on grapes, trying to get as much juice as possible to

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flow into a jug connected to the barrel. With grape juice swirling around her ankles and oozing between her toes, she enjoys the organic pedicure.

“It’s very exfoliating,” she says. “When you step into the barrel, it’s cold and slippery, but the coolness feels good because it’s so hot outside in August.”

However, she does have a warning for would-be stompers.

“It only lasts a minute, but you’re tired by the time it is over,” she says. “It’s a nice little workout. You’re going to work for your next glass of wine or work off your last glass of wine.”

Stepping on a few pounds of ripe grapes is one of the highlights of the annual Harvest Grape Stomp. During each round, 10 competitors step into barrels and begin stomping furiously.

Whoever can extract as much juice as possible out of their

Photos provided by Lakeridge Winery

STORY: JAMES COMBS

Photos provided by Lakeridge Winery

barrel of grapes receives a festival T-shirt. Foodquality table grapes are used instead of Lakeridge’s homegrown muscadine grapes, which have tougher skin and are less than ideal for stomping. Plus, they are far too valuable to be stomped to an early death.

While there are no strict rules for attire, wearing your Sunday best isn’t advisable.

“You should wear something that you’re OK with getting a little grape juice on,” says Sam Cloward, events manager at Lakeridge Winery. “After the stomp, competitors have a place to spray off their feet and put their socks and shoes on.”

The festival is wildly popular, Sam says, because there are not many opportunities in Florida to participate in a grape stomp.

“Florida doesn’t have a lot of large wineries like ours to provide this type of offering,” Sam says. “It’s a unique experience for Central Florida residents and something they look forward to every year.”

For some, one round of grape squashing is not enough. They are ripe and ready to see if they can extract more juice a second time. And a person’s size does not offer an advantage.

“It’s all about who can get their feet moving the fastest,” Denise says. “I’ve seen kids take on full-grown adults and beat the pants off them. The crowd will energize you to move as fast as you can.

Everybody is clapping and cheering, so you want to do your best.”

In addition to the grape stomp, festival visitors can tour the company’s two-story, 28,000-square-foot facility and learn about the finer points of winemaking. The tour begins with a 12-minute video about Lakeridge’s past. Then, visitors will see the large stainless-steel tanks where wine is fermented and stored prior to bottling.

They also can sample eight of the company’s award-winning wines, which include the smooth and rich Southern White, the classic semi-sweet Sunblush, the fruity Pink Crescendo and the spicy, semi-dry Blanc Du Bois.

On both days, musicians will perform outside on the festival grounds, as well as in the second-story wine and cheese bar. The musicians had not been announced at press time.

IF YOU GO

LAKERIDGE WINERY HARVEST GRAPE STOMP

Aug. 15 @10am-5pm — Aug. 16 @ 11am-5pm

19239 U.S. Highway 27, Clermont // 1.800.768.9463 // lakeridgewinery.com Admission: $10

Want to see your event in Social Spotlight?

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

JAMES COMBS

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Assisted Living Brings Smiles to Residents with Creative Activities During Quarantine PAID PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

afe, but still engaged. Seniors staying active and vibrant. Osprey Lodge Assisted Living and Memory Care of Tavares has taken a unique approach to resident well-being during this time of mandated quarantines and restrictions on visitors.

“We wanted our residents, who are missing family members and the outings that they normally enjoy, to still stay as active and social- as “normal”- as is safely possible,” said Michael Hurwitz, executive director.

He challenged lifestyles

director Alana Kidd to come up with new ways to keep the 120+ residents busy with healthy exercise and mentally stimulating activities while maintaining appropriate social distancing.

Kidd certainly delivered- in addition to spending hours brainstorming and creating safe activities, she made sure the community immediately implemented usage of technology like Facebook, Facetime, Skype and Zoom so residents, with staff help, could stay connected with family members.

The result? Staff celebrating team spirit days by dressing up in

themed costumes. Drop offs of personalized activity supplies, visits from an “ice cream truck” and the “Coronasaurus” to resident apartments. Almost daily opportunities for the residents to participate in humorously creative photo shoots- all of which is documented on the community’s Facebook page.

“The response has been phenomenal,” according to lead senior living adviser Ruth Cantillon. “These resident projects have been so much fun, and it really radiates in the photos. What’s amazed us, though, is the reach of these

posts- several have gone viral across the country, as residents’ family members copy and share- we’re well past the 100,000 mark in terms of post reaches. We’re excited that our families are staying connected, but also, that people are seeing that right now, assisted living communities are not scary and disease ridden but vibrant and alive!”

The community’s photos have been featured twice on WKMG Channel 6 Orlando. You can check the Osprey Lodge Assisted Living Facebook page for daily updates.

352.253.5100 / 1761 Nightingale Ln., Tavares / ospreylodgetavares.com Now Accepting New Residents / AL License # 12259

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25994 T

Take care.

And we sincerely mean that.

When COVID-19 appeared, the world had a problem. A big problem that required big solutions from people with big ideas and even bigger hearts. COVID-19 put America on pause. Yet despite all it has taken from us, it hasn’t shaken our spirit, or dampened our resolve. We’re with you caring for patients, protecting our communities, and training the next generation because problem-solvers don’t shut down, they rise up.

So please take care of yourself. Be hopeful. Stay positive. Continue to take care of business. Above all, take care. And be confident that we’re doing the same — for you.

UFHealth.org

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INSPIRATION Lake EMS honored for heroics.

FEATURE Be Free Lake lends hand in tough times.

FEATURE Women urged to act on health concerns.

Photo: Nicole Hamel

DISCOVER HEALTHY HABITS, FOCUS ON FITNESS AND FIND AN INSPIRATION | MIND. BODY. SOUL.

INSPIRATION

Photo: Nicole Hamel

PEO PLE

Lifesavers Tyler Van Alstine and Ginger Jacobs earn praise for aiding a child during a trauma call.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

Do you know someone who is a healthy inspiration?

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Lake County EMT Ginger Jacobs on the job.

Ginger Jacobs and Tyler Van Alstine, shown in the center, received awards from Orlando Health representatives for their lifesaving efforts on a child.

Email your recommendations to theresa@akersmediagroup.com

Photo provided by: Lake County

ake EMS paramedic Tyler Van Alstine and emergency medical technician Ginger Jacobs were dispatched to a two-car, head-on collision on a dark, rainy afternoon Nov. 8, 2019, and the pair had a bad gut feeling when they got the call.

“I was thinking to myself this isn’t going to be good,” Ginger says.

Once at the scene, the first responders found a 12-yearold girl who was the most critically injured among the group, lying next to a vehicle that had major damage.

“She didn’t look good,” Ginger says.

“I could tell instantly she was critical and needed immediate care,” Tyler says. “And you could see the love and fear in the family during the call.”

The child needed trauma support, but the bad weather prevented air transport by helicopter. Tyler and Ginger drove the patient to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando with assistance from personnel from the Leesburg Fire Department.

“They performed several lifesaving maneuvers along the way. Everyone did what they were trained to do, and because of it, the patient is alive today,” Dr. Donald Plumley, chief of pediatrics trauma surgery at Orlando Health’s Palmer Hospital, says in a news release.

Lake County commissioners recognized Ginger and Tyler, who has since left Lake EMS, for their lifesaving work on the child, and Orlando Health representatives presented awards to them.

“The most memorable part after the call was receiving the amazing news that the patient was going to have a successful recovery,” Tyler says.

“I am so glad we were able to help her and she had the outcome she did,” Ginger says. “I remember doing a lot of praying.”

Tyler and Ginger are quick to say they’re not heroes but were part of a team that saved the girl.

“Everyone involved performed at the highest level,” Tyler adds.

“Thankfully, we work for a company that does an awesome job with training for all situations we come across,” Ginger says. “We all worked as a team and that is what we are supposed to do … just dedicated to taking care of the community and its visitors.”

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An inside job Be Free Lake finds new ways to reach the public with mental health services during the pandemic.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

Be Free Lake’s mental health student ambassadors have sent encouraging messages to their peers throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

he coronavirus has blown up the plans of Corbin Helton, a senior at Lake Minneola High School. He missed out on two big school trips: a music festival in Atlanta with his choir and a state competition in Tampa with his acting troupe.

But Corbin hasn’t had time for self-pity. In 2019, he learned how to recognize the symptoms of anxiety and depression through a training program provided by Be Free Lake, a drug prevention and mental health awareness coalition that provides free resources to residents of Lake and Sumter counties.

Now, he’s putting that training to good use. Corbin utilizes social media to send his classmates encouraging messages, such as “Stay strong and keep up hope” and “It will get better.” To him, it’s the least he can do during such a challenging time.

“My classmates receive these messages and appreciate that others are thinking about them,” Corbin says. “That makes me happy to know I can help them because being trapped inside and having no face-to-face interaction with their friends have been devastating for my peers.”

Indeed, the coronavirus has wreaked havoc well beyond the physical symptoms of nasal congestion, sore throat and fever. As unemployment numbers skyrocket, some people worry that the collateral damage from an

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economic collapse may cause more harm than the coronavirus itself.

“Mental health, depression, anxiety, violence, abuse and neglect—they’re actually on the rise because families are homebound and worried about finances,” says Delrita Meisner, director of Be Free Lake.

Be Free Lake, headquartered in Mount Dora, provides mental health and substance abuse services through collaborative efforts with various agencies, including the Lake County Sheriff ’s Office, Lake County Schools, LifeStream Behavioral Center, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Children and Families, and city managers.

The organization’s two full-time employees and two part-time contractors visit Lake County schools to conduct outreach programs such as mental health educational sessions and knowthe-law curriculum.

However, with the closure of public schools and the quarantine of people inside their homes, Delrita was forced to find new ways to communicate and address the mental health concerns of citizens during the pandemic.

“We’ve become very creative,” she says. “The moment we started learning about the potential closures, we immediately started working on some virtual platforms to reach families.”

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She uses Facebook and Instagram to direct people to online resources, including the Lake County Community Resource Guide and the Lake and Sumter County Behavioral Health Resource Guide. The guides provide information about food, housing, job placement and counseling services.

Comparing the last four months of 2019 to the first four months of 2020, the number of people accessing both guides has increased by 223 percent.

In addition, Delrita has created a series of social media ads targeting both teenagers and adults. One such ad, titled “No One’s House,” educates families about the dangers of underage drinking.

It received 22,236 views during February and March. Overall, the number of teens viewing Be Free Lake’s social media ads increased by 197 percent from January to March, while the number of adults accessing the ads increased by 173 percent during the same time period.

“These campaigns send messages to help educate the public in hopes of breaking the stigma associated with mental health conditions,” Delrita says.

“These ads consist of positive messages that help families and youth understand it is OK to feel periods of sadness and depression.”

Students like Corbin also have been a valuable asset to the organization.

Through funding from the Community Foundation of South Lake and the

Women’s Giving Alliance, Be Free Lake provided a teen mental health awareness training program to 142 teenagers at South Lake, Lake Minneola and East Ridge high schools before the coronavirus outbreak. Now, those students are sending uplifting messages to their peers via text messaging, email, short videos and weekly check-ins.

One student is Tyler Fields, a junior who plays on the Lake Minneola High School football team. He uses Snapchat to post pictures of himself running and lifting weights in his parents’ garage.

“They tell me my pictures encourage them to stay active and not lay around in bed all day,” Tyler says. “If any of my classmates contact me and feel depressed, I know how to direct them to proper resources so they can seek help.”

As families stay inside their homes, Delrita urges everyone to be observant of family members and look for possible signs of mental health issues: withdrawing from family activities, increased use of drugs and alcohol, lashing out in anger or too much or too little sleep.

“These are tough times,” she says. “It’s good to reassure your loved ones that they’re not alone during this struggle and they have a solid support system in place.”

It’s also possible that the pandemic could trigger anyone already dealing with suicidal thoughts. Delrita recommends that people openly talk about suicide rather than avoid the conversation.

Photos provided by Delrita Meisner, Director of Be Free Lake.

Prior to the pandemic, Be Free Lake trained students at three Lake County high schools to recognize symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Photos provided by Delrita Meisner, Director of Be Free Lake.

“THE MOMENT WE STARTED LEARNING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL CLOSURES, WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED WORKING ON SOME VIRTUAL PLATFORMS TO REACH FAMILIES.” — DELRITA MEISNER, DIRECTOR

“There’s a myth that if you feel someone is suicidal, you shouldn’t confront them about feeling suicidal thoughts,” she says. “In reality, though, they want someone to ask because it’s a doorway for them to open up and talk about what they’re feeling.

Have those encouraging types of conversations.”

In addition to mental health, Be Free Lake is addressing concerns about a possible spike in substance abuse. The organization is offering Deterra drug deactivation bags, which allow patients to safely dispose of unwanted or expired prescription drugs and keep them out of the hands of family members for whom they were not prescribed. Patients simply add water to the bag and shake it up to neutralize the drug’s active ingredients. The bags normally cost $8, but grant funding allows Be Free Lake to offer them for free.

Forming strong partnerships with various community agencies has been the backbone of Be Free Lake’s success, Delrita says. When the organization was founded in 2005, Lake County ranked sixth among 67 Florida counties for the highest rates of underage drinking. Through years of educational efforts and outreach, the county now ranks 60th.

“Having an organization like Be Free Lake is a tremendous asset to our kids,” says Randy Reynolds, chief probation officer for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Circuit 5. “The resources that Be Free Lake provides for kids struggling with addiction and mental health issues are second to none. Without them, I don’t know how we would handle things on the prevention side.”

Be Free Lake, located at 1050 Boyd Drive in Mount Dora, can be reached by calling 352.383.2099 or by visiting safeclimatecoalition.org.

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A FAMILY MAN FOR A

FAMILY PRACTICE Aegis Medical Group’s Dr. Donald Eagle is devoted to patients and the community.

PA I D

PR O M O T IO N A L

F E AT U R E

D

r. Donald Eagle will never turn his back on a patient—literally.

He likes to sit down face to face with a patient and look them in the eye.

“Most of the time, I get my best judgment on the health of a patient and how they’re doing by looking at them and seeing their response, their actions, their face,” says Dr. Eagle, who prefers jeans and a shirt to slacks and a white coat in the office.

“I’m very in tune with my patients.”

Dr. Eagle’s down-to-earth, straight-shooting approach has helped him build a family medicine career over the past 20 years. He joined Aegis Medical Group in Mount Dora in March after formerly practicing with the AdventHealth system in Eustis.

He works with every age group, from young children to seniors, but he’s the definitive “family doctor.”

“I like the small-town, close-knit family practice where you’re basically integrated

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Dr. Donald Eagle Family medicine physician

into not only the community but the families of your patients as well,” Dr. Eagle says. “I like to take care of the entire family and understand the family. I have patients now who, when I started, were very young children and now they’re having children of their own.”

In Eustis, Dr. Eagle was the city physician and high school team physician for many years. He hopes to establish a similar profile in Mount Dora and make his time with Aegis Medical Group the

final chapter of a career that started in his native California.

He earned an undergraduate degree at California State University at Sacramento and his medical degree at Loma Linda University School of Medicine.

He came to Florida in the early 1990s to complete his family medicine residency at Florida Hospital Orlando, and he fell in love with the state and Lake County.

He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1995-1999 and held positions as prevention

consultant for Special Operations and chief of the medical staff for Special Operations at Hurlburt Field in the Panhandle.

“I loved my time in the Air Force,” Dr. Eagle says. “It was a great job. At that point, if I saw a problem in the way medicine was being delivered, I could make a phone call and we could actually make a change in Air Force medicine worldwide.”

After his stint in the Air Force, Dr. Eagle returned to Lake County to begin his practice. He has built a strong

352.448.1984 | aegismedicalgroup.com | 18540 U.S. Highway 441, Mount Dora

rapport with his patients.

Even when he sends them to specialists, they return to consult with him on the specialists’ recommendations.

“They’re intensely loyal to me, and I think it’s a mutual relationship. I’m intensely loyal to them as well,” Dr. Eagle says.

He’s also a family man himself. He and his wife, Cathy, a nurse practitioner in cardiology, have six daughters and three grandchildren. “And, thanks to COVID-19, I have three more on the way,” he jokes. Many of the children have followed their parents’ path toward helping others by working in the healthcare industry and teaching professions.

“I think that’s a testament to my wife and I and what we do and our philosophy of life,” says Dr. Eagle, who likes to hunt and saltwater fish in addition to spending time with his family.

“I pride myself on being a well-integrated member of not only the team here at Aegis but also the community, and delivering more than just medicine,” he says. “It’s about being a part of patients’ lives.

I cry with them. I hug them. I praise them when they’re good and I chew them out when they’re bad. That’s just who I am and how I practice.”

HE ALTH CARE

Key word:

prevention The Healthy People 2020 report highlights some of women’s top concerns.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

aura Byrd was a young adult when her grandmother died of breast cancer.

“It made a significant impact in my life. It helped me realize the importance of being proactive in my own health-care regimen,” says Laura, vice president of institutional development and executive director of the Lake-Sumter State College Foundation.

“My grandmother’s experience with poor access to quality health care and a delay in seeking help

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gave me a desire to gain a better understanding of my risks,” adds Laura, who learned more about recommended breast cancer screenings based on her family history.

Women’s health and proactive approaches are focal points of Healthy People 2020, a report developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and available at healthypeople.gov.

The report takes a 10-year view and aims to improve Americans’ health by identifying health improvement priorities; increasing public awareness; providing measurable objectives and goals; and identifying research, evaluation and data collection needs.

The project has benchmarks and will monitor progress over time.

Of the report’s 42 topics, 16 are geared toward women and girls. The objectives for cancer

and genomics are of particular interest to nurse practitioner Nicole McCain, of Minneola.

“My mother passed of breast cancer one year ago at the age of 60,” Nicole says. “Her mother, who is now 94, also had breast cancer and survived. After my mom passed at such an early age, I wanted to get genetic testing to see if my sister or I were a carrier of the BRCA (breast cancer) gene. But, as most insurances go, it wasn’t covered, even though I had two very close family members with the disease. I decided it was important enough to me to proceed with the testing, but I had to pay out of pocket.”

The report’s goals for cancer include: reduce female breast cancer rate; reduce death rate from cancer of the uterine cervix; reduce invasive uterine cervical cancer; reduce late-stage female breast cancer; increase the

“ARTHRITIS CAN START SOONER DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU’VE DONE WITH YOUR JOINTS YOUR WHOLE LIFE.” — CATHY HUNTER

proportion of women who receive breast cancer screening based on the most recent guidelines; increase the proportion of women counseled by their providers about mammograms.

The HHS Department also wants more women with a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer to receive genetic counseling.

Nicole also was interested in the report’s goal of reducing hip fractures among older adults, including women ages 65 and older.

“This is something interesting I learned in nurse practitioner school this past year: women start losing bone density starting at age 30,” Nicole says. “While more attention is given to those more at risk for falls and fractures, women really should

begin taking calcium and vitamin D supplements at age 30, when bonedensity loss first begins.”

Physical therapist Cathy Hunter, however, believes the hip fracture objective is too challenging.

“Reducing hip fractures in the elderly for 65 and up is actually difficult,” says Cathy, of Leesburg. “As we age and get more diagnoses, our diagnoses make us a higher fall risk. If you’re on certain medications, that

makes you a higher fall risk. If you get neuropathy of your feet from diabetes, that makes you a fall risk.”

She finds many people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they experience a fracture.

“We have a good population of people who need to use a walker or a cane, but they refuse because they’re vain, and that makes you a bigger fall risk,” Cathy says.

She believes early intervention is crucial to prevent future health woes.

“If you have an injury that doesn’t go away within a week, you need to get it checked because that turns into arthritis,” Cathy says. “Arthritis can start sooner depending on what you’ve done with your joints your whole life.”

Healthy People 2020 also proposes increasing the proportion of college students who receive information from their institution on health risk behavior areas of unintentional injury; violence; suicide; tobacco use and addiction; alcohol and other drug use; unintended pregnancy; HIV/AIDS and STD infection; unhealthy dietary patterns; and inadequate physical activity.

Lake-Sumter State College is committed to providing healthrelated information to students and staff, Laura says.

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“We do have support for our students who are suffering from any type of mental health challenges. We have a program we’ve worked with the last three months which is very beneficial, especially during this time (of COVID-19 pandemic),” Laura says. “Also, our college is tobacco-free, and when we talk about health, we offer a wellness program and have wellnesstype activities that are offered to employees at no cost.”

Laura believes women need to make their health a top priority.

“I think taking that time to go to the doctor visits that we need to go to, making sure that we are getting our mammograms, getting our yearly checkups, getting the vaccinations that we need and just living a life that is healthy overall is important,” she says. “We can better take care of our families if we are taking good care of ourselves.”

Dr. Nitza Alvarez, cardiovascular disease specialist and president of Tri-County Heart Institute in Lady Lake, also encourages women to be proactive about their overall health. She would prefer to see more heart-related goals listed for women in Healthy People 2020, which lists only one: increase aspirin use among adults with no history of cardiovascular disease, especially women ages 55-79.

“Heart disease is our No. 1 health threat. Half a million women die every year from a condition that is preventable 80 percent of the time, due to lack of recognition and lack of appropriate care,” says Dr. Alvarez, who adds that

your own advocate. Don’t wait until it’s late. Prevention is the most important intervention.”

Dr. Alvarez also notes arthritis and chronic back conditions are chronic inflammatory states that increase a person’s risk for hardening of the arteries, which can increase the risk for heart attack and stroke.

“There is a clear association between inflammation and blood clots,” she says.

“Take care of your inflammation; don’t ignore the symptoms.”

Dr. Alvarez points out that it’s common for heart disease to be associated with pregnancy.

“Conditions such as gestational diabetes (a form of diabetes that appears during pregnancy) and/or high blood pressure that commonly occur during pregnancy significantly increase the risk of a heart attack later in life,” she says. “One in five women in the United States has a form of these conditions during at least one pregnancy. With more professional women waiting to start their family later in life, and with the increased incidence of obesity and diabetes, the number of women at risk for these pregnancy complications continues to rise.”

Healthy People 2020 addresses pregnancy goals: reduce the rate of maternal mortality; reduce cesarean births among low-risk women and those giving birth for the first time or who have had a prior cesarean birth; increase the proportion of pregnant women receiving prenatal care; and increase women’s intake

“...WOMEN REALLY SHOULD BEGIN TAKING CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTS AT AGE 30, WHEN BONE-DENSITY LOSS FIRST BEGINS.”

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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 • J U N ' 2 0

— NICOLE MCCAIN

more women die from heart disease than all other cancers combined.

“My main advice to all women is to learn what their risks are, understand the differences between heart disease in women and men and to get checked.

You don’t know if you are at risk for heart disease or stroke unless you get checked,” she says. “You have to be

of folic acid from fortified foods or dietary supplements.

While the report does not specifically address obesity and diabetes, it does list this nutrition and weight loss goal: reduce iron deficiency among young children and females of childbearing age, including females ages 12-49 years.

Dr. Alvarez says diet plays a crucial part in prevention and treatment of heart disease and is vital for overall health.

“However, even among the experts, there is no clear consensus on what is the most appropriate diet to follow to prevent heart disease. The consensus is that the future health of the global population largely depends on a shift to eating healthier food,” Dr. Alvarez says. “I would like to share trends that appear to be good starting points.

They are backed up with evidence supporting their heart benefits. Eat more plants!”

Her interest was piqued by a recent study that showed a link between animal-versus-plant intake and death.

“The evidence suggests that a diet that is mostly plant-based improves risk factors for heart disease and reduces progression of heart disease,” Dr. Alvarez says. “Eating mainly plants can not only reduce your risk of getting heart disease in the first place, but if you have been diagnosed already, a plant-based diet can prevent it from getting worse.”

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DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW FOR YOUR KITCHEN, GET THE SCOOP ON EATING OUT, AND TOAST THE WINE! | FOOD. DRINKS. REVIEWS.

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IN THE KITCHEN Keith Seifert Jr. has a honey of a job.

FORK ON THE ROAD Salted Fry has fries— but much more.

SPIRITS Wine and talk flow at Two Old Hags.

DINING GUIDE Our area restaurants appeal to all tastes.

IN THE KITCHEN

Keith Seifert Jr.

RECIPE

Busy bee Sweet Bee Honey Farm’s owner feels blessed to be a beekeeper in a dying industry.

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL

he No. 1 comment beekeeper Keith Seifert Jr. hears about his work is, “You must get stung a lot.” He doesn’t deny it.

“A normal day can be as many as 20 to 30 stings, and no, you never get used to it. It hurts every time!” Keith says.

Still, he takes great pride in caring for bees and producing 100 percent raw, unfiltered Florida honey straight from the beehives on his six-acre property, Sweet Bee Honey Farm, 26356 County Road 46A in Sorrento.

And those hyper-efficient insects do play a vital role in agriculture. Almonds, for example, are almost entirely dependent on honeybee pollination.

“Over one-third of our entire diet is dependent on pollination from the honeybee. So, for every three bites of food you eat, you can thank the honeybee for one of those three bites,” Keith says, also sharing his favorite Albert Einstein quote on the bees’ importance: “If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would have only four years left to live.”

Keith was a 15-year-old student at Umatilla High School when he got his first job working for a beekeeper with 2,000 colonies.

He marveled at the work ethic of beekeepers.

“But my true passion was the bees themselves,” he says.

“They always fascinated me, and I yearned for knowledge. They are truly amazing creatures.”

Keith is an apprentice-craftsman beekeeper, enrolled in a five-year program accredited by the University of Florida, and

he finds the master beekeeper course to be a lot of work and fun. He studies with Dr. Jamie Ellis, a UF entomology professor.

“He and his department have done great things to move beekeeping into the 21st century,” Keith says. “I sure have learned more about the biology of the honeybee and its intricate behavior.”

Sweet Bee Honey Farm began when Keith received his first hive at age 16. The company has grown rapidly in the past five years.

“We have spent years and countless dollars perfecting our craft, and I have been mentored by beekeepers with combined experience of 100 years in beekeeping,” he says.

The question of what he enjoys most about his work has a bittersweet answer.

“I love my job for so many reasons, but the freedom of my line of work comes with many disadvantages: many late, sleepless nights worrying about my hives; wondering how our crop will be; if we can get a fair price for our honey; and wondering how many times I will be stung today,” he says.

“But in all that, nothing brings me more happiness than to wake up every day and put in an honest day’s work,” Keith adds.

“I feel very blessed to be in this line of work as it is a dying breed of people who are willing to do it.”

Keith’s farm provides different varieties of honey, including Orange Blossom, Tupelo and Wildflower. He says that 100 percent raw honey has health benefits.

“A lot of our customers look to us for allergy relief,” Keith says. “Our Wildflower honey is very popular as it is loaded

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IN THE KITCHEN

“FOR EVERY THREE BITES OF FOOD YOU EAT, YOU CAN THANK THE HONEYBEE FOR ONE OF THOSE THREE BITES.” — KEITH SEIFERT JR.

S W E E T A N D S A LT Y H O N E Y- B A K E D V E G E TA B L E MEDLEY FRIES INGREDIENTS

1

lb. beets, peeled

1

lb. sweet potatoes, peeled

3

large carrots, peeled

2

tablespoons olive oil

12

/

teaspoon sea salt, plus salt to taste

14

/

cup honey

1

tablespoon apple cider vinegar

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the beets, sweet potatoes and carrots into slices that are about 1/4 -inch thick and 3 inches long. Put vegetables in a bowl and add oil. Toss to coat. In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 teaspoon salt, honey and vinegar. Add to vegetables and toss. Put the vegetables in a single layer on two baking sheets and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and flip vegetables. Put back in oven and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until caramelized, making sure not to burn. Add salt to taste.

TIP: Try other vegetables in your medley, just watch cooking time. For example, zucchini bakes much quicker than the root vegetables used in this recipe.

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with many different plant pollens which the bees gather and bring back to the hive. American honey is produced by local beekeepers, and when you purchase from local farms, you are helping local businesses.”

AS SWEET AS HONEY

Lori Johnson, an agent with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Lake County, used Sweet Bee Honey Farm’s honey to make the following recipes she found at honey.com. “These recipes are easy for families to cook together and stay cool in the heat,” she says.

Chat with beekeeper Keith

H O N E Y S T R AW B E R RY L E M O N A D E P O P S I C L E S INGREDIENTS

2

cups fresh strawberries, washed and stemmed, 1/2 cup reserved and diced

12

/

cup fresh or prepared lemon juice

12

/

cup honey

1

cup water

Misconceptions about honeybees: They are very misunderstood among the public. We have lost a great amount of our natural forage land due to urbanization and suburban sprawl, and when people and honeybees mix, it’s going to have less than desirable results. I receive complaints about my bees going to neighbors’ swimming pools to gather fresh water to swarms of bees moving into people’s property. You name it, I’ve dealt with it. But it takes patience and mutual understanding on both sides to overcome the obstacles.

DIRECTIONS

Place all ingredients except the 1/2 cup diced strawberries in a blender and mix on high until the strawberries are completely incorporated, about 1 minute. Divide the diced strawberries between the popsicle molds and carefully pour the strawberry lemonade mixture to the top of each mold.

Insert the popsicle sticks in each mold and freeze. Makes 8-10 popsicles.

TIP: Run warm water over the molds for just a moment for easy popsicle removal.

Funny moments: In the 15 years I’ve done this kind of work, I have seen scores of the roughest and toughest guys run out of the bee yards kicking and screaming when a bee manages to slip through their protective gear.

That can be a sight to see, and I admit there have been a few chuckles among the rest of us beekeepers.

The health benefits of honey: Raw honey is loaded with antioxidants to protect your body from cell damage due to free radicals. Honey has been long known as a folk remedy to help heal burns and wounds due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Honey is also very well known to soothe a sore throat. Try taking a spoonful of honey and add it to hot tea if you feel like you have a cold. Honey can also help as a cough suppressant.

HONEY LIME CHICK EN SK EWERS INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

2

tablespoons honey

3

tablespoons soy sauce

1

tablespoon olive oil

1

lime, juiced

1

lb. chicken breast strips, skinless and boneless

In a small bowl, whisk all liquid ingredients together until completely blended.

Pour mixture into a freezer bag and add chicken strips. Reseal bag and gently shake to cover chicken strips.

Allow to marinade for 2 hours.

Next, prepare skewers by soaking bamboo sticks in water for 15 minutes.

Remove chicken strips from marinade and skewer onto bamboo sticks. Grill on medium to high heat for 8 minutes or until juices are clear and chicken is fully cooked. Serves 8.

Favorite honey snack: Florida oranges peeled and drizzled with Sweet Bee Honey Farm’s Orange Blossom honey.

SWEET BEE HONEY FARM 26356 County Road 46A, Sorrento 352.406.0949 sweetbeehoneyfarm.business.site

IF YOU GO

Hey, readers! Do you have favorite recipes or know a chef we should profile?

Comment on this article or send story ideas to theresa@akersmediagroup.com.

THERESA CAMPBELL

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FORK ON THE ROAD

Sauce up your taste buds REVIEWS

Homemade sauces and gluten-free choices make the Salted Fry the perfect grab-and-go option.

STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL

s a longtime visitor of Mount Dora from Pennsylvania, Dale Duffy had a thought about what the area needed, particularly during events and shopping.

“I would come to all the events that they would have, and if you wanted something to eat, you would have to have a sit-down meal,” Dale says.

“There was no grab-and-go stuff, and that’s when I came up with the idea.”

He began planning the Salted Fry, a “graband-go” eatery which he opened in October 2019 in Mount Dora. The plan originally was to create a fry-centric place with an array of flavored sauces to satisfy anyone’s taste buds.

After a close friend developed a gluten allergy, however, Dale realized how difficult it is for people with allergies to eat out, so he included gluten-free choices on his menu as well. He added sandwiches on gluten-free bread and gluten-free beers such as Glutenberg, from Canada. He also carries hard

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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 • J U N ' 2 0

ciders, and all of the shop’s wines are organic and sulfate-free.

“I have a good bread that I get out of Canada.

Actually, you can’t tell it’s gluten-free, so that is the secret to having good, quality food,” Dale says. “And people can come in that aren’t gluten-free and still enjoy a meal that tastes good.”

Before opening the Salted Fry, Dale was unaware of the large size of the gluten-free community.

“It’s really been overwhelming—I mean, I didn’t realize because I’m not myself sensitive to gluten or have celiac—how many people that were out there that were dealing with this gluten issue,” he says.

“I’ve had one woman crying because she saw the menu and she just couldn’t believe that she could have something besides a salad. So, it’s pretty neat.”

One of the Salted Fry’s most popular items is the club sandwich, which comes with ham, chicken, bacon, American cheese and mayo layered between three pieces of toasted, basil-infused gluten-free bread. The sandwich almost looks too big to fit

in your mouth. My family joined me for lunch, and my mother, who typically doesn’t eat gluten-free, says she couldn’t even tell the bread was gluten-free. And, despite being part of a takeout order, the salty fries somehow remained crispy.

“The sandwiches go really well, and I can guarantee I have the best french fries in the area,” Dale says.

As for his own favorite sauces for the fries, Dale says: “I like the Gnomes Garden.

That’s the very first sauce we came up with. It’s a basil and garlic aioli, and the basil just hits it off. It just explodes in your mouth with your taste buds, so that’s probably my favorite.”

That was one of my favorites as well and it probably would be great on a sandwich.

The other sauce that was a big hit with my family and I was the Blue Cheezing, which is a chipotle blue cheese sauce. Those are strong

flavors on their own but they balance each other out well in this sauce. If you’re a fan of either flavor, you’ll love this sauce.

We also tried the Kerfuffle Truffle, a mayo-based truffle and garlic aioli, and the Spicey Dicey, which is your typical nacho cheese sauce with chopped jalapeños. The Salted Fry also makes its own ketchup, which is slow-cooked with bourbon and tastes similar to barbecue sauce, and also offers a bacon ketchup.

When preparing for the many events that Mount Dora hosts, Dale says he usually cuts the menu to just fries, especially because the rest of the menu continually grows every month.

“What we do is we promote the french fries, and I think the biggest one we did was the Light Up Mount Dora. We sold 500 pounds of potatoes that night,” he says. “This town is like the best town. It’s a good business move to put a business here.”

IF YOU GO

The Salted Fry 342 Dora Drawdy Way, Mount Dora 352.720.3755 // thesaltedfry.com Hours: 11am-8pm Thursday-Friday; 11am-9pm Saturday; 11am-7pm Sunday

Let’s do lunch Tell us about a great restaurant by emailing victoria@akersmediagroup.com.

VICTORIA SCHLABIG

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SPIRITS

D RINK

Joyce Huey

Uncorking a wine culture Two Old Hags creates quite a buzz in Leesburg.

STORY: JAMES COMBS

≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL

here’s no telling where wine connoisseurs might find their next favorite wine.

Maybe during a visit to a popular wine region like Napa Valley in California.

Maybe at one of the wineries throughout Florida.

Or, if you’re Cheri Sutherland English, a small wine shop and bar where laughter is intoxicating.

Cheri enjoys discovering new wines at Two Old Hags Wine Shoppe, located in the heart of downtown Leesburg.

“I come here for the wine and the friendships,” says Cheri, a resident of Leesburg.

“Here, everyone knows your name even if you don’t want them to.”

Indeed, Joyce Huey, who owns the wine shop, makes sure there are no strangers.

And she takes the snob factor out of the wine bar experience.

“The conversations around here range from anything to everything,” she says. “I love to roast my customers with love.

If I don’t pick on them, then they assume I don’t like them.”

When she’s not roasting, conversations revolve around a question that customers ask on a daily basis.

“Why did you name your company Two Old Hags?”

Actually, Joyce cannot take credit—or blame. The shop’s original owners, Beatrix Isaac and Linda Kohlmeyer, came up with the name when they opened it 12 years ago. When Beatrix left to focus on her ballroom dance studio, Joyce, a former medical office manager

who was working at the wine shop part time, bought her out and partnered with Linda.

Joyce became the sole owner after Linda died of cancer in 2010.

Today, Joyce works alongside her son, Michael Huey, who is affectionately known as the “son of a hag.” During the busiest times on weekday afternoons, the wine bar inside the shop and the umbrellacovered tables outside are filled to capacity.

They sell a distinctive selection of red and white fine wines ranging in price from $20 to $210 and everything in between. All types of wine are represented, from cabernet sauvignons and merlots to pinot noirs and zinfandels.

Most come from wineries in California.

“I try not to sell wines that can be found at grocery stores and liquor stores,” Joyce says. “I cannot compete with their pricing. I switch up the selection constantly. When people go on vacation and find a wine they enjoy, they’ll come back to Leesburg and ask me if I can order it here.”

Wine-drinking newbies need not worry. Wine is no longer a fancy drink for fancy people.

And while learning about wine can seem intimidating, getting to know the different types and varieties also can be lots of fun.

For beginners, Michael recommends trying a $20 bottle of Sangue du Guida, which comes from northern Italy and whose name translates to “the

“WHENEVER SOMEBODY WALKS IN HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I SAY, ‘HEY, WE HAVE A HAG VIRGIN IN THE HOUSE.’” — JOYCE HUEY

blood of Judas.” This sparkling, sweet and mild red wine with purplish reflections contains only 6 percent alcohol and is pleasant to drink.

“When people are new to wine, you have to start them off with something sweet,” Michael says. “This particular wine has a crispiness to it like when you drink a beer. It’s very enjoyable.”

More experienced wine virtuosos may prefer a $42 bottle of the Prisoner, a red wine blend made by a company in Napa Valley. It features a mix of grapes and varieties like pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon.

“People like blends because they’re more versatile,” Michael says. “You can drink the Prisoner by itself, with dinner or with dessert. You taste

the essence of fruit without the sweetness.”

People who don’t mind shelling out extra dough can buy a bottle of Michael’s favorite wine for $210. Caymus Vineyards’ Special Selection boasts a “bold, rich earthiness” taste and, according to Michael, should be paired with “a nice steak dinner.” Fair warning: After opening the bottle, give it time to breathe so aromas can be released.

Of course, not every customer is ready to hit the bottle. Joyce gives them the option of paying $5 for a 6-ounce glass of any variety.

She also caters to loyal beer drinkers who refuse to make the switch to wine. Among her popular craft beers are Sweetwater 420 Strain, featuring natural hemp

flavors, and the German beer Schofferhofer Pomegranate, known for its mild wheat taste.

Beer lovers and wine enthusiasts are equally welcome. And newcomers should expect some harmless heckling.

“Whenever somebody walks in here for the first time, I say, ‘Hey, we have a hag virgin in the house,’” Joyce says.

Joyce’s playful personality is reflected in comical signs throughout the shop, like “If you are peeing here, you better be drinking here, too” or “Beer: Helping ugly people have sex since 1862.” She even had T-shirts printed with the words: “What happens at Hags gets all over town.”

The fun atmosphere is what keeps customers like Pat Schaefer coming back. Well, that and the availability of her favorite wine, riesling.

“We talk, we laugh and we have a good time,” says Pat, of Leesburg. “We all know each other’s names. And if we don’t know someone when we walk in, we know them by the time we leave.”

IF YOU GO

TWO OLD HAGS WINE SHOPPE 410 W. Main St., Leesburg 352.435.9107

Do you know a place where we can drink?

Comment on this article or send story ideas to james@akersmediagroup.com.

JAMES COMBS

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DINING GUIDE

dine

OUT Whatever your favorite dish, you can find a great place that serves it in this area. Check out what's nearby or take a little drive to a new place!

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 Chuck’s 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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Green Garden 1790 E. Hwy. 50 352.243.2077 Guru Restaurant 2400 S. Hwy. 27 352.241.9884

Calabria Ristorante 13900 CR 455 407.656.5144

Legends Grille & Tavern 1700 Legendary Blvd.

352.243.1118

Cheeser’s Palace Café 707 W. Montrose St. 352.404.9431

Lilly’s on the Lake 846 W. Osceola St. 352.708.6565

Clermont Brewing Co. 750 W Desoto 321.430.2337

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

Corelli’s Italian Restaurant 1042 E. Hwy. 50 352.989.5924 Devenney’s Irish Pub 16909 High Grove Blvd.

352.432.3925 El Cerro Restaurant 811 W. Hwy. 50 352.241.9884 Friar Tuck 16640 Cagan Crossings Blvd.

352.404.6818 G’s NY Pizza 12346 Roper Blvd.

352.243.8900

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 Troy’s Cuban Deli 1200 Oakley Seaver Dr. 352.241.4295

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

Uncle Kenny’s BBQ 157 Hwy. 27 352.394.1225 EUSTIS Combat Café 1602 N. Hwy. 19 352.483.0250 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

Stavro’s & Sons of Eustis 2100 W. CR 44 352.589.9100 Taki’s Pizza House 2824 S. Bay St. 352.357.0022 Thai Sushi America 925 N. Bay St. 352.357.1949 The Crazy Gator 402 N. Bay St. 352.589.5885 The Great Pizza Company 23 E. Magnolia Ave. 352.357.7377 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 ibar-be-que Express 3170 Hwy. 27 352.315.4227 Legends Cafe 2468 U.S. Hwy. 441/27 352.728.0006 NY Deli N Diner 3325 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.365.0051 Rae Rae’s Restaurant 2468 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.323.1595 Stavro’s 3223 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.315.0028 The Rose Plantation 200 Rose Ave., Fruitland Park 352.805.4340

James Barbeque 262 W. Orange St. 352.557.4050 Lil Anthony’s Pizza 7965 SR 50 352.429.7499 Red Wing Restaurant 12500 S. SR 33 352.429.2997 H OW EY- I N THE -HILLS 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 Blooms 610 W. Main St. 352.787.1004

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

Ikaho Sushi Japanese Restaurant 7965 SR 50, #900 352.557.8988

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

Chesapeake Bay Grill 4467 Arlington Ridge Blvd.

352.315.0066 Cousin Vinnie’s Family Sports Restaurant 10700 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.253.2442 Dance’s BBQ 1707 South Street 352.801.8885 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 Osaka Japanese Steak House 1401 Citrus Blvd.

352.728.0788 Papa Pineapples 314 W. Main St. 352.801.7097

Pine Street Bar-B-Que 408 Pine St. 352.728.1293 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

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

Let’s Do a Maine Lobster Roll 426 N. Donnelly St. 352.735.3702 Magical Meat Boutique 322 N. Alexander St. 352.729.6911 Mount Dora Pizza & Subs 2718 W. Old U.S. Hwy. 441 352.383.5303 Olive Branch MediterraneanItalian Grille 115 W. 3rd St. 352.729.6734

Stokes Seafood Market and More 719 W. Main St. 352.787.3474

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

Pint Sized Pub 110 S. 5th St. 352.460.0383 The Florida Porch Café 706 W. Main St. 352.365.1717

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

The Mojo Grill & Catering Co. 9925 US-441 352.787.0494

Cody’s on 4th Cafe 111 E. 4th Ave. 352.735.8426

The Goblin Market 331-B Donnely St. 352.735.0059

The Old Time Diner 1350 W. North Blvd.

352.805.4250

Copacabana Cuban Cafe 320 Dora Drawdy Way 352.385.9000

Turners 114 S. 5th St. 352.530.2274

Frog & Monkey English Pub 411 N. Donnelly St. 352. 383.1936

Whale’s Tale Fish House 2720 W. Old U.S. Hwy 441 352.385.1500

The Kitchen Cafe & Cooking School 712 W. Main St. 352.901.6537

Wolfy’s 918 N. 14th St. 352.787.6777 MASCOTTE Napoli’s Pizzeria 556 S. U.S. Hwy. 27 352.243.7500 Rainbow Restaurant 704 E. Myers Blvd.

352.429.2093

Highland Street Café 185 S. Highland St. 352.383.1446 Jeremiah’s 500 N. Highland St. 352.383.7444 J.K. Thai & Sushi 116 E. 5th Ave. 352.385.5470

Hurricane Dockside Grill 3351 W. Burleigh Blvd.

352.508.5137 Kalua Hale Beach Bar 181 S. Joanna Ave. 352.609.5910

Mary’s Kountry Kitchen 15945 CR 448 352.343.6823

Pisces Rising 239 W. 4th Ave. 352.385.2669

Barnwood Country Kitchen & Smokehouse 3725 W. Old US Hwy 441 352.630.4903

Fish Camp Lake Eustis 901 Lake Shore Blvd.

352.742.4400

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

Sip Restaurant and Wine Bar 707 W. Main St. 352.435.7840

Takis Pizza Restaurant 1205 N. 14th St. 352.787.2344

Angelo’s Italian Restaurant 2270 Vindale Rd. 352.343.2757

One Flight Up 440 N. Donnelly St., Ste. 100 352.758.9818

Tiki Bar & Grill 508 S. Main Ave. 352.394.2232

Sully’s Smokehouse 10820 CR 44 352.483.7427

TAVA R E S

SORRENTO Del Franco Pizza Place 31436 CR 437 352.383.8882 Lisa’s Kountry Cafe 23911 CR 46 352.735.3380

O’Keefe’s Irish Pub and Restaurant 115 S Rockingham Ave. 352.343.2157 Palm Gardens Restaurant 1661 Palm Garden St. 352.431.3217 Puddle Jumpers 111 W Ruby St. 352.508.5862 Ruby Street Grille 221 E. Ruby St. 352.742.7829 Sunrise Grill 462 E. Burleigh Blvd.

352.343.7744 The Hideaway 11912 Lane Park Rd. 352.343.3585 Tiki West Raw Bar and Grill 118 W Ruby St, Tavares 352.508.5783

Belle Glade Country Club 446 Moyer Loop 352.205.8208 BlueFin Grill & Bar 2738 Brownwood Blvd.

352.571.5344 Cane Garden Country Club 1726 Bailey Trail 352.750.0627 Chengs Chinese and Sushi Restaurant 4050 Wedgewood Ln. 352.391.9678 China Gourmet III 343 Colony Blvd 352.750.4965 Chop House at Lake Sumter 1045 Old Camp Rd. 352.750.6000 City Fire Brownwood & Lake Sumter Landing 352.561.2078 Evans Prairie Country Club 1825 Evans Prairie Trail 352.750.2225 Fiesta Grande Mexican Grill 297 Colony Blvd 352.751.0400 Giovanni’s 3439 Wedgewood Lane 352.751.6674 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 Margarita Republic 1102 Main St. 352.753.4600 Mezza Luna Italian Restaurant and Bar 320 Colony Blvd.

352.753.3824 NYPD Pizzeria 4046 Wedgwood Ln 352.750.1994 Orange Blossom Country Club 1542 Water Tower Circle 352.751.4501

Gators 9 N. Central Ave. 352.669.6969 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

Palmer Legends Country Club 1635 Palmer Way 352.750.4499

Continental Country Club 50 Continental Blvd.

352.748.3293

RedSauce 1000 Canal St. 352.750.2930

Cotillion Southern Café 101 N. Main St. 352.748.1223

Ricciardi’s Italian Table 3660 Kiessel Rd. 352.391.9939 Sakura 265 Colony Blvd 352.205.7393 The Lighthouse Point Bar and Grille 925 Lakeshore Dr. 352.753.7800 Tierra Del Sol Country Club 806 San Marino Dr. 352.753.8005 VKI Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar 1004 Old Mill Run 352.259.9887

T H E V I L L AG E S

U M AT I L L A

Amerikano’s Grill 998 Del Mar Dr. 352.633.8027

Fish & Chix 100 N. Central Ave. 352.669.7145

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 Woody’s Bar-B-Q 1220 S. Main St. 352.748.1109 YA L A H A Yalaha Bakery 8210 CR 48 352.324.3366

GOOD GRUB

THIS MONTH'S EDITOR'S PICK

Lilly’s on the Lake Get away to a beautiful spot on a lake—or an island. Lilly’s on the Lake will take you to the Caribbean with a menu featuring island tacos, an island seafood platter of shrimp and mahi, island combo baskets, and mahi and chips.

The menu items also include quesadillas, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts, such as Lava Cake and chocolate chip cookie brownies.

Walk off your meal by enjoying the waterfront and the sweeping views of Lake Minneola.

846 W. Osceola St., Clermont / 352.708.6565

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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 also offers takeout, delivery and online ordering.

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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Tuesday-Thursday 11am-10pm Friday 11am-11pm Saturday 12pm-11pm Sunday 12pm-10pm

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 3-9pm 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.

Open at 11am Daily

Casual lakeside dining at its finest!

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.

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DINING GUIDE

Roberto’s Ristorante & Pizzeria 352.626.1059 | 2468 BURNSED BLVD., WILDWOOD FACEBOOK.COM/ROBERTOSRISTORANTEVILLAGES

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.”

Tuesday-Thursday 11am-9pm Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm Sunday 11am-9pm Closed Mondays

“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.

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.”

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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.

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

Would you like to see your restaurant in our dining section?

CALL US AT 352.787.4112

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An Elegant Twist on Chops

IN THE HEART OF THE VILLAGES® COMMUNITY

W E P R O U D LY S E R V E S I N G L E - S O U R C E D , 2 1 D AY A G E D H A L P E R N S ’ U S DA P R I M E ST E A K S F R O M G R A N D I S L A N D, N E B R AS K A

LO C AT E D AT L A K E S U M T E R L A N D I N G ™ 1045 OLD CAMP RD. THE VILLAGES, FL 32162

(352) 750-6000

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W W W. C H O P H O U S E D I N I N G . C O M

SUN - THURS 11AM - 10PM

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F R I & S AT 1 1 A M - 1 1 P M

DELIVER & takeo Y availab ut le

Here’s your chance to

vote for the people, places, and businesses of Lake & Sumter Counties that make this the best place to live, work, and play!

be t

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Submit your nominations at

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U O Y E AR ?

E M G N I D D KI OUTPATIENT PARTIAL KNEE REPLACEMENT? The area’s FIRST Center to offer the MOTO, the world’s first 3rd generation Partial Knee Replacement. Our specialty trained surgeons use the latest medical advances and rapid recovery technology to get you moving sooner, and back to enjoying the things you love again!

CALL US TODAY TO BOOK A CONSULTATION.

(888) 847-4895 UnovaHealth.com

Incredible lifestyle &

AMAZING HOME VALUE! On Top of the World is Ocala’s premier active-adult community with new homes from the $170s.

W hen you’re age 55 years or better, staying active is so important to keeping fit and healthy in the decades to come. At On Top of the World, residents have many opportunities to live an active lifestyle, and have fun doing it.

You’ll find three golf courses, tennis courts, dogs parks, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness centers, pickleball courts, 17+ miles of walking trails, all of which add up to plenty of ways to stay active whenever — and however — you like. Because there are so many outdoor activity facilities, you won’t have to wait for a tee or court time or have to worry about not getting a lane for your laps in the pool.

On Top of the World Communities LLC., Ocala, Florida a 55+ community. On Top of the World Communities reserves the right to change or withdraw any offer at any time. Prices, features and specifications are subject to change without notice. Not to be combined with any other offer. See Sales Associate for specific details.

OTOW-13535 - NHS Style Magazine Lake and Sumter Counties 2-Page Spread-2020 18 x 10.875-0.125B.indd 1

Over 188 acres of great amenities to enjoy!

On Top of the World offers so much more than just great golf! With a wide array of recreational amenities, dozens of social clubs and an award-winning lifelong learning center that features classes in a multitude of subjects that appeal to all types of interests, residents can learn new skills or just meet up with friends in pursuit of their favorite pastime.

Discover the lifestyle and community of your dreams. With countless amenities, there is always something fun to do and new friends to do it with. Live life to the fullest in Central Florida’s premier active-adult community. New homes are priced from the $170’s to over $400’s.

State parks, unique restaurants, concerts and live theatre are only the beginning when it comes to offerings in the Ocala area. Residents can go antiquing in nearby historic towns or hit the “big cities” of Orlando and Tampa.

Delight the grandkids with quick trips to Disney World, Universal Studios and other renowned theme parks in nearby Orlando. Visit nearby beach towns like Daytona or Clearwater to relax in the sand. It’s also close to four area hospitals, two of which are only minutes away from the community.

For more information, call us at 855.975.0757 or visit OnTopoftheWorld.com, and check out all of our decorated model virtual tours! #13535 - 5/20

5/8/20 3:10 PM

volunteer medical

SPECIALISTS NEEDED

W

W su

WE CARE provides specialty medical care access to the uninsured with volunteer medical specialty providers who believe no one should be without basic health care.

The Facts

· 62,692 uninsured people in Lake County · WE CARE pre-screens patients · WE CARE Medical Volunteers earn CEU’s

· Sovereign immunity provided by the State of Florida · Specialists choose their case load and provided services

Y

“R in w ye th

WE CARE has needs for these medical specialties: Cardiologists Urologists Oncologists Gastroenterologists Dermatologists

Ophthalmologists Endocrinologists Orthopedists ENT’s Pain Management

Podiatrists Neurologists Surgeons And More…

352-742-0021 / wecarelakecounty.org Check out our latest video by scanning the QR code!

2 3 C

You Can Be A Hero Lake County Students Need Supplies.

We’ve Taken Our Community School Supply Drive Virtual!

We’re forced to do things differently this year, so please show your support by ordering supplies online at www.edfoundationlake.com.

Order Online! www.edfoundationlake.com

Your Purchase Matters!

“Red for Ed” is a colossal, collaborative initiative whose goal is that each student who is in need will start the new school year with the essential supplies to help them be successful.

2045 Pruitt Street, Leesburg, FL 34748 352-326-1265 or 352-504-5327 Cullen-battc@lake.k12.fl.us

Congratulations

Scholarship Winners from the Class of 2020 Edmond Amateis Scholarship

Camiya Williams

Najma Zahira

Trivani Budram

Mike Stone Memorial Scholarship

Juan Urquijo Maddison Krieger

Nola Myers

Hannah Pait

Tavares Elementary Robert “Skip� Crawford Memorial Scholarship

Mia Vazquez Fernando Fuentes Alexander Williams

Herbert Lehner Scholarship

Nicolas Becerra Jaylyn Andrews

Hannah Pait

Scott Strong Memorial Scholarship Hannah Pait Matthew Jutkofsky Ofelia Alvarez

Madison Taylor

Lake Sumter Lions Club Scholarship

Nia Kelley

Peter Huynh

Alyssa Madison

Ofelia Alvarez Maddison Kreiger Hannah Pait

Jaylyn Andrews Benjamin Mack- Gretchen Faraci Jackson

Frank Paulhamus Lake Soil & Water Conservation District Scholarship

Jaylyn Andrews

Linda Kohlmeyer Memorial Scholarship

Timothy Harding

Emelley RodeaCarbajal

Meshach Baba

Najma Zahira

Kenan Collignon Acadia Schwartz

AaronStrong Perseverance Scholarship

Jaylyn Andrews

Holly Barno Jordan Threlfall Samil Jimenez

Camille Eldridge Sarah Marsicek

Robert (Bob) Furnas Memorial Scholarship

Camiya Williams Amanda Woodley

Thomas Kirkland

Gretchen Faraci

Juan Urquijo

p

FINAL THOUGHT

CO MMENTARY

Staying inside opens doors With quarantine comes new possibilities.

STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG

hile considering this month’s column, I really didn’t want to write about anything related to the coronavirus or quarantine—but that’s all that was on my mind.

Every time I turned on the TV, the screen was filled with the most recent virus statistics or a press conference about new steps the government was taking. Social media was cluttered with memes about toilet paper, innovative “masks” that people had created and pictures of all the things we’d appreciate much more once we were finally “free.” And, when you’re stuck at home all day for weeks, what’s there to think about besides what’s keeping you there?

I tried to focus on the positives of the situation and what I was doing to stay busy at home. I started new routines and habits, tried new things and spent the extra hour I wasn’t using to commute on other productive activities, rather than sleeping in all the time (but I’m not going to pretend I didn’t sleep in on the weekends).

Without a 30-minute drive to work and additional time spent on my hair and makeup, I had more than an extra hour in the morning to read, journal, make a nice breakfast or smoothie and get ready for my day of working from home.

I love cooking and grew up doing so with my mom and grandmother, but during a normal busy workweek, I rarely have the desire to make more than a three-step meal. During the stay-at-home order, I spent a lot more time cooking and being more creative with meals, as well as making family recipes we don’t get to eat too often.

I finally had time to make my homemade pasta sauce, and even made gnocchi from scratch. I also made homemade tzatziki to have with souvlakis and the gallon of Greek dressing my mom made. I also did a lot of baking from scratch and tried new recipes, like matcha cookies with coconut sugar and chocolate-filled pastries.

Another perk was the money I saved from my Starbucks hiatus. Instead, I made my own cold brew with coconut water, “fancy” coffee shop-inspired lattés like “cinnamon roll latté” with brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and oat milk, and way too many of the viral “fluffy coffees.”

Via Zoom, I also started a virtual book club, which has forced me to read more, as well as connected me with friends I don’t normally talk to very often. We first read “Misery,” by Stephen King, and then watched the movie together online. I also finished two other books on my own.

So, although being stuck inside wasn’t my favorite thing ever, I made it work to my advantage. Overall, I kind of enjoyed quarantine, though I am very relieved it’s finally over.

Hey, readers! Did you try anything new during quarantine?

Tell me, via email, at victoria@akersmediagroup.com.

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During this unprecedented time

RBOI is still here for you.

We are living in extraordinary circumstances, but you can rely on Robert Boisonneault Oncology Institute. This picture of Dr. Ernest Ceriani, taken by Eugene Smith as part of his photo essay for Time magazine over half a century ago, embodies our medical philosophy.

RBOI remains open and committed to helping safeguard our communities. We have taken extra precautions within our own ofďŹ ces to combat the spread of the virus, and we are working in concert with other healthcare providers to protect those most at risk.

Our telehealth technology is up and running! Patients and their families can access their physician from the comfort of their own homes. LCSW support services are available free of charge to anyone in our community struggling with cancer regardless of whether or not you are our patient. We have not skipped a beat taking care of patients and their loved ones. Please let us know how we can help.

Like the country doctor, RBOI is here for you no matter what.

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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