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Experience Yoga... as it was meant to be!

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www.windhorseworld.com 2 | PULSE • SUMMER 2011

PULSE • SUMMER 2011 | 3

table of Issue 20 | Summer 2011

contents

Ramblin’ with Richard Cell Phone Etiquette

Natural Florida The Majestic Live Oak

Writers One Flight Up A Merciless Love Story

Marketing & Development Mari Henninger

The Green Scene Square Foot Gardening... Gardening Made Easy

Design Director Cristina Miller Far From Ordinary Design

Racing With the Wind 18 An Indy Car Experience

Advertising Design Lorri Arnold

Port Barlow The Jazz Man

Photography Bill Casey Steven Paul Hlavac Marc Vaughn Steve Williams

Indiana Jones Slept Here...Maybe 26

Illustration Jennifer Cahill Harper Contributing Writers Jeanne Fluegge Susan Green Jaillet Beth Hughes Tony Marzano Ella Paets Visit our website for more information about our illustrator and contributing writers

From Kit to Lake SCAMPY Boats

America’s Future Speaks Talking with Dillon Sherman

The Cowboy Way From Hat to Spurs, Johnny Ruff Is the Real Deal

Tri-City Kudos

Assistant Editors Nancy Butler-Ross Susan Green Jaillet Advertising Sales Don Thibodeau 352.552.2655 Calvin Arnold 407.421.6686 Pulse the Magazine is published quarterly. We are advertiser–supported and available without charge at participating businesses in the Mount Dora, Eustis and Tavares area. Mail subscription information is available upon request. All opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Please type or print clearly. Letters must carry the writer’s name and city of residence, a signature if sent through hard mail, and at least one type of contact information: E-mail address, phone number, or physical address. Only the writer’s name and city will be published. All letters sent to Pulse the Magazine may be published in print and/or, at our website. We reserve the right to edit for accuracy, brevity, clarity, legality, and taste. Letters should be e-mailed to pulsethemagazine@gmail.com or hard mailed to Publisher at Pulse the Magazine, PO Box 1896, Tavares, FL 32778.

4 | PULSE • SUMMER 2011

about the

cover

We thought we gave photographer Marc Vaughn a simple assignment: two live oak photos, one for the cover and one for the Natural Florida column (see page 10). Live oaks are everywhere, but they grow horizontal and we needed a vertical for the cover. It took hours of searching by Marc, but he produced our cover. We hope you enjoy his gallant efforts and superb skills.

from the

publisher

My how time flies. Summer already...hey, Christmas is just 5½ months away. Start your shopping now. Summertime will get you the best deals. One of our readers pointed out to me that this issue of Pulse, #20, marks the fifth year Pulse has been printing. Please join us as we celebrate the magazine and what it adds to our Tri-Cities’ cultural life. The life of the magazine is totally dependent on the monetary support of our advertisers, the moral support of our readers and their feedback, and our incredible group of writers, photographers and editors – all of whom donate their services to the production of Pulse. To all of you I say, “Thanks”. Cordially, Calvin Arnold, Publisher calvin@pulsethemagazine.com www.pulsethemagazine.com

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RAMBLIN’ WITH RICHARD Cell Phone Etiquette You know what really toasts my tamales? It’s not the economy. Not the loss of jobs. Not the cost of Medicare, or Anthony’s weiner.

photo by Michelle Pedone©

It’s the inconsiderate use of cell phones.

One of the out-of-control wireless company’s ads hits it right on the head when a geeky looking nebbish saunters onto my TV screen shouting, “Can you hear me now ... Can you hear me now?” Yeah, Clueless. I can hear you now. And that’s the problem. If I want to know about the intimate details of your personal life, your student-of-the-month kid, underage pregnant daughter or pending divorce and how you’re going to royally screw your ex, I’ll ask you. I’ll call you. Maybe even invite you to join me and have drink. But, don’t count on it. Here’s an idea: Put a stamp on it. Mail it to me. If it’s delivered I may decide to open it. If I read it, I may decide to respond. Otherwise, drop me from the list of people you think wants to hear about your life and problems. I’ll bet Al Bell, the miserable so-and-so who started this whole thing on March 10, 1876, is laughing from his own special “ring” in hell. A ring specifically reserved for people who did not think of the unintended

consequences of puttering around in the garage to develop their “brilliant new invention which undoubtedly would improve our lives.” Initially cell phones weren’t so invasive. We needed a cord to operate them. We thought we were so cool talking in our cars with the few people who also were wired. Calls were infrequent. They were primarily for conducting business. Very few people had the %$#@ things and the “bundling packages” that allegedly give you “free minutes” had not become the business practice. Then disaster. We “lost the cord” and our cell phones became attached to us. Went wherever we went. Soon we had no privacy at all as companies “gave” us great quantities of minutes to use. Their commercials showed everyone using a phone: planning social events, hoarding their minutes for fun talks with friends and classmates, worried parents checking on kids. All offering special deals while pushing the #%* phone into our weekends. As phone plans became more affordable, the number of users skyrocketed. Towers mushroomed on every piece of available real estate: our neighbor’s backyard, church belfries, small town water towers. We could use our phone almost anywhere except the Grand Tetons, the Lincoln Tunnel and Promontory, Utah – where the east truly meets the west.

Initially cell phones weren’t so invasive.

And now here we are, bombarded by lifesharing idiots, ninety percent of whom yell

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into the device to ensure that their voices hurtle clearly and magically thousands of miles ... while we stand or sit less than three feet away. BTW, when you’re having a personal conversation with someone and your cell phone “rings” or whatever it does, don’t look at your caller ID and say, “I’m sorry. But I’ve got to take this.” You don’t “have” to take this. You’ve “chosen” to take this. It’s rude to interrupt and start a conversation with someone else when you’re already engaged with a person. You have Voice Mail. A message can be left and you can call back. I was in the john the other night in an upscale restaurant, standing at the urinal. A hip metro-sexual guy strides in next to me and starts a conversation. I think he’s addressing me. So I glance over to answer him and I see an appendage in his ear that makes him look like Seven-of-Nine, the Star Trek Borg ... only not as sexy. This son-of-a-technology-bitch is “doing his business” with one hand, flushing with the other and never missing a beat in his conversation. Give me a break. Here’s a question. Why do people wait to get into their

car to make a call? Every day I spot someone pulling out of their driveway, cell phone glued to their ear. Thirty seconds ago they were inside the house. You can use your %$#& cell phone inside your house. Then get in your car, drive with both hands and full attention. Puh-leeze! Cell phone etiquette is really pretty simple. Assume no one else wants to know your personal business. Do things one-thing-at-a-time. There’s new research that debunks the myth of multitasking. Multitasking may even lead to R-B-S, Rotting Brain Syndrome, a not so rare syndrome common among multitaskers. Drive with both hands. Concentrate on driving. You made it through a lotta years when you drove without your cell phone. Okay ... some of the time you were stoned when you drove and it worked out for you. But you were lucky. And don’t ask me if I do any of the above.

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Natural Florida

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photography by Bill Casey

“A Merciless Love Story”

Nancy Riikonen, Writers One Flight Up

Our token Finn in Writers One Flight Up, Nancy Riikonen, has entertained us for several years with her dry, sly wit and somewhat bent sense of humor. We thought it was time for her to expose herself to you. As Nancy might say, “And, aren’t you lucky.”

Nancy’s published a history of the Finnish settlers in her hometown of Lunenberg, MA. She is currently working on another ancestry piece for her own family – some in the US and many still in Finland. Yes, she is fluent in Finnish. A short story and an essay by Nancy appeared in the 2010 WOFU anthology, “Under the Cosmic Sofa.” A Merciless Love Story is an extract from a longer piece. It gives you a glimpse into Nancy’s spirited mind which we think you’ll enjoy as much as we do. A Merciless Love Story (An Extract) by Nancy Riikonen Ted barely remembered his real father. His last memory was of a fleeting figure escaping out the back door, an English muffin clenched between his teeth dripping grape jelly onto his new white shirt. In time, his mother Elsa took another stroll down the aisle—sole candidate, Paulie Mattson. Paulie was a

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much younger man, sorta like Ted’s older brother. And Ted suffered because of this comparison. But Paulie had a fatal flaw. He liked to take a drink and he always ended up having a few too many. Could never say “no” to the second one, or to any of the following ones. Perhaps that was why he had stayed single so long. Paulie’s last act opened and closed in the hush of a white winter’s evening as he rambled home from the Moose Lodge, singing and staggering. He was an extremely good singer too. His little Walkman tape player was tucked into the pocket of his navy-blue down parka, volume up to the max. Headset, hidden under the flaps of his red and black checked-wool hat, was clamped down over his big ears.

But Paulie had a fatal flaw.

He never heard the snowplow coming up behind him—and the driver never saw Paulie either. It was freezing cold inside the plow truck— heater was conked out. It was late and the plow driver was in a hurry to get home. Paulie was scooped up in a snowy vortex and catapulted into a ten-foot high roadside snow pile. For a couple of hours, he slept peacefully in his snowy cocoon as the Beach Boys sang California Dreaming over and over again until the batteries gave out. Then he froze solid as a brick in spite of his elevated alcohol content. Paulie’s body wasn’t found until many weeks later, in

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late April when an early warm spell began to melt the snow. Some high school kids were walking to the local Quiki-Mart when they saw an L.L. Bean snow boot and one red-gloved hand jutting from a melting pile of dirty snow. The girls screamed and ran off. But one of the boys, Joey Martin, who was the town’s worst rowdy, said, “Hey, you guys help me yank on the boot and the glove and let’s see who’s in here.” A few minutes later Paulie Mattson plopped out onto the sidewalk, slightly thawed and sort of flexible, but perfectly preserved. Not one sign of decomposition. They all laughed and then Joey yelled, “Hey, it’s Paulie Mattson. I found the missing person. Maybe I can get a reward. I can’t wait to tell Ted we found his Pa.” Everyone laughed even harder. They all knew Paulie wasn’t Ted’s real father but they weren’t the most caring people in town, especially Joey Martin. Ted had put up with Joey’s step-father jokes ever since junior high school. The police showed up when a passer-by reported

some odd activity near the Quiki-Mart. Everyone stood around watching for a time and even the girls slinked back. Eventually, the bored group resumed their trek to the Quiki-Mart, and Joey Martin was wearing Paulie’s red gloves. Before the police arrived, Joey had tried to pilfer the boots too, but as hard as he yanked, they wouldn’t budge—frozen solid onto Paulie’s feet. Some things were missing when Elsa and Ted went to pick up Paulie’s personal items from the funeral home. “So where’s his L.L. Bean snow boots? For damn sure somebody musta took ‘em! Don’t seem possible the police coulda done it. Those were top a’ the line boots too! And where’s his down parka? Gone? And the Walkman? Gone too, huh?” “Never mind, Ted. What the heck does a dead guy need with boots and a parka anyways, and they weren’t even the right sizes for you or me. But—it sure woulda been nice to have that Walkman, maybe listen to some nice summery Beach Boys music when it’s so snowy outside…”

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Check out online!

FLORIDA HIGHWAYMEN

Art Show, Sale and Banquet • ART SHOW & SALE

Saturday, August 13 Sunday, August 14 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Donnelly Park Building, Downtown Mount Dora. Features an incredible array of Highwaymen Art available for purchase: original works, Giclees, prints and memorabilia from 12 Original Highwaymen Artists. More information: Randy or Margie 352.383.4050 or highwaymen@type356.net.

• HIGHWAYMEN ART WALK

Like Us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ pulsethemagazine

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Saturday, July 30 – Friday, August 12. Stroll through beautiful Mount PRESEnTED BY Dora and preview EVEnT & LoDGInG InfoRMATIon Highwaymen Art displayed at selected downtown Mount Dora Merchants. All Highwaymen Art on display is for sale. Enter a lottery drawing to win two original Highwaymen paintings. Drawing held Sunday, August 13 at the Donnelly Building. More information: Brian at 352.217.5072 or visitmountdora@gmail.com.

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A portion of the proceeds to benefit the Mount Dora Historic Train Depot Restoration fund.

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Friday evening August 12 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce’s historic train station. A chance to meet and chat with individual Highwaymen at this informal “get together” sponsored by the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce. Light refreshments and snacks served. Artists available to assess your personal Highwaymen painting(s), sign books and paintings. Selected Highwaymen paintings and books on display.

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Saturday evening August 13 in the Beau Claire Dining Room in the Historic Lakeside Inn. Enjoy an evening with the Highwaymen assigned to your table. Watch artists collaborate to create an original signed painting offered to one lucky diner in a drawing at the end of the evening. Only dinner ticket holders eligible for drawing. Seating limited. Priced at $59 plus taxes and gratuity. Cash Bar open. Contact the Lakeside Inn 800.556.5016 or online at info@ lakeside-inn.com for reservations.

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The Green Scene

by Susan Green Jaillet illustration by Jennifer Cahill Harper

“Square Foot Gardening”...Gardening Made Easy If you’ve ever asked the question, “Why do we do it that way?” read on. If you hated the answer, “Because that’s how we’ve always done it,” then keep reading. What I’m about to offer you is a new and improved, manageable way for you to garden and still have the time to enjoy your life too. It’s called Square Foot Gardening. By asking that question, Mel Bartholomew pioneered Square Foot Gardening (SFG) in the 1980s. Like so many of us, Mel tried gardening the traditional way, and like so many of us, he failed. It was too much work, took too much time and the reward was not worth the effort. He then asked the question, “Why do we do it that way?” and decided to find a better way. The original SFG concept grew into a best-selling book, then one of the most popular televised gardening programs on both PBS and the Discovery channels. The SFG program is now a non-profit foundation and includes two training centers in the United States, one in Thanksgiving Point, Utah, one in Homestead, Florida. The SFG concepts, with help from other humanitarian organizations, are now global as Square Meter Gardens. Classrooms all over the U.S. have received Square Foot Garden donations that are used to teach nearly any subject in the curriculum.

The labor of watering and the amount of water used are both reduced. Watering can be automatic and easily built in to your garden box. That rain barrel you’ve been talking about installing can collect much of the water you’ll need for your garden. You can forget about fertilizing. The foundation of SFG is the soil mixture, a combination of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite. You can mix it yourself or buy it pre-mixed. It’s nutrient-rich, lightweight, easy to work with, easy for plants to grow in, holds moisture and drains well. The depth of your SFG container is only six inches, so you reduce the amount of soil used. Because SFG sites are smaller and more manageable than traditional garden sites, your planting season can be easily extended by protecting your garden from frost, insects, or for Floridians, too much sun.

There’s a seed of life in everything.

Square Foot Gardening works equally well for vegetables, herbs and flowers and is based on a few basic concepts that differ radically from traditional gardening. The typical SFG is only 4 x 4 marked off into 16 onefoot grids. It’s all located above the ground and can even be created at tabletop level. SFG occupies less space since plants are grown vertically. Plants are trained to grow upward–no more long rows that need 16 | PULSE • SUMMER 2011

to be weeded and watered. Garden supply catalogs are offering more frame and trellis options than ever before. It’s perfect for a small yard, a deck or patio, your apartment balcony, or a zero lot line home.

The garden can be close to the house, easily tended and harvested. Even if you’re unable to get out and do a lot of physical labor, you can Square Foot Garden. And remember, less work means more fun.

Steve Earls, Lake County’s only SFG certified instructor, loves talking about SFG and is delighted to assist you. I visited with Steve and his wife, Cinde, who have a small SFG business in Eustis. Steve will help you find materials–some are even free–and will give you all the help you need to begin what may be your first successful garden. Steve’s enthusiasm for SFG is contagious. “We learn so much from gardening. Plants have to be watered,

nurtured and protected. They are precious. There’s a seed of life in everything.” Steve remembers his grandparents’ West Virginia farm, large Sunday family dinners, eating with the aunts, uncles, cousins. Everything for that meal was either grown in their garden or produced and shared by neighbors. Steve thinks those times are gone and like many of us, he clings nostalgically to them. Thanks to the convenience, ease and cost effectiveness of SFG, there’s a great resurgence of interest in gardening. And like Steve and Cinde, we question the quality and safety of our food. We feel the impact of ever-increasing food costs. We have a desire to connect with nature in a fundamental way – to enjoy the outdoors, to watch vegetables and flowers grow as a result of our efforts, to share with family and friends. So, we head outside, wanting to garden. If you’ve ever tried gardening and found it too much work for what you produced, or if you never gardened

but feel that urge to connect to Mother Earth and you’re not sure how to begin, check out Steve Earls’ website and the many other SFG websites. Mark your calendar to attend one of Steve’s programs at the local libraries. Get there early, the room will be packed. But above all, get outside and Do It! For more information on SFG, contact Steve and Cinde Earls at their website: sfgsupply.com. You can also access their Facebook, Twitter and blog sites. Email Steve at steve@sfgsupply.com. All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew is available at Lowes as well as booksellers. The City of Tavares is sponsoring 4 x 12 foot community vegetable gardening plots for $20 per year. For more information contact www.Tavares. org or call 352.742.6477. Devereaux Kids and the Bates Avenue Improvement Council (Eustis) are sponsoring a neighborhood fall garden. For more information, contact Sandy Stura at 352.205.0711. Email Susan Green Jaillet at greenongreen2@comcast.net.

PULSE • SUMMER 2011 | 17

Racing with the Wind An Indy Car Experience Imagine yourself skimming across a concrete oval track at 133 mph in an IZOD Indy-type racer that is more motorcycle than car; two inches of air separates you from the pavement, a thin wrap of metal buffers your outstretched legs and backside from the banked track. You don’t worry, though, if there’s a crash you’re protected; you’re wearing a red and cream colored jump suit with flames riding up your thighs, booties and gloves made from pot holder material, and a white head sock to soak up your sweat and torture your hair. Sitting on the stem of your neck is a white padded helmet. Oh yes, you’re ready to burn up the track and looking pretty darn cocky as you slide in just inches behind your driver. Then your intellect takes over as the first lap zooms by in a blur. Your brain shouts, “This is crazy, this is against

Feeling cocky before… 18 | PULSE • SUMMER 2011

by Jeanne Fluegge

the laws of physics; for God’s sake, slow this thing down!” You come up to a turn, but the driver keeps the pedal to the floor. The tires can’t possibly hold. Your body slams against the side of the car on the banked side of the track with a g-force that molds your face into a grimace and makes your brain feel cleaved in half. Trees and fences whiz by. The concrete track comes at you like a video game stuck on level 10. Your reasoning mind tells you that the driver is a professional racer; your emotions scream, “I’m going to die!” You gulp air on the straightaway, but only for a second, because the next curve is already sucking it from your lungs. Four terrifying laps later, the Indy car rumbles to a stop in the exact place you started from. Clawing at the cockpit, you manage to grab hold of the roll bar and pull yourself onto the top of the car. Your heart is beating so fast the American flag appliqué on your chest is waving as if it’s caught in a breeze.

…not so much after.

Your brain shouts, “This is crazy.” Your emotions scream, “I’m going to die!” Without thinking, you flip up the plastic face shield gulping in your first breath of air that isn’t traveling as fast as Danika Patrick on a winning day at the Indy 500. After several shaky tries, you finally summon the strength to yank your helmet off — you look like a traumatized old Bald Eagle. The sweaty head sock is peeled away by a helpful track employee — now you look like a traumatized young Bald Eagle. You want to thank the driver for not killing you, but he doesn’t move from behind the wheel. All you can see are his face and shoulders, solid, black, and shiny. Oh my God, he’s Darth Vader. The mysterious figure in black swivels in your direction. With ease, he strips off his helmet and leaps out of the formula race car in one graceful arc. Okay, he’s probably human but why are the hairs on his head unruffled when he takes off the head sock? He removes his gloves, shakes your hand, and introduces himself. His name is Gary Terry, really… You know he’s fearless on the track and you want to discover his secret. “To be a good race car driver,” he says sounding like your third grade teacher explaining how to make a cursive z, “Start slow, learn the feel, build up confidence,

and know where the edge is.” Simple enough except for his last bit of advice, “Most important of all, you have to trust in the car.” How can you trust a tin can that eats up pavement on treadless tires when the only car you feel safe driving is a giant sized SUV? Then you remember the three terrified guys who were on the track before you. They went eight laps around the Disney Speedway in a single-seater driving themselves instead of the two-seater with driver you settled for. True enough, they didn’t crash, but they thought they were going to die. By the last three laps they began to master the speed and enjoyed pretending to be race car drivers. Two of them clocked in at 113 mph on the straight away. Sure their necks and arms were frozen in place from holding the car on the track through the curves, but they didn’t have to worry about shifting — the car doesn’t have a complete transmission (fifth gear and a push off is all you get). Our Darth Vader impersonator always stayed a steady six car lengths ahead of the rookies, babysitting, or maybe he was really goading them into keeping up. The word is a lot of drivers wimp out and never push past 70 mph. Embarrassing, sure, but so what? Even though you opted for a professional driver, you raced the wind today. Next time, you drive. You can handle it. To reserve a ride or drive at the Indy Racing Experience at Walt Disney World® Speedway, call (888) 357-5002 or visit www.indyracingexperience.com. A 3 lap ride is $109; an 8 lap drive is $399. The track is open 350 days a year. PULSE • SUMMER 2011 | 19

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Port Barlow: the Jazz Man

by Erica McFarland photography by Marc Vaughn

Port Barlow...the Jazz Man

It’s a Wednesday night, and the sleepy alleyway holding court to Maggie’s Attic and Cellar has transformed into the place to be. I grab a spot on a bench, letting music that flows from Port Barlow’s guitar wrap around me. At that moment, I’m not aware of the legend strumming so harmoniously while the crowd chats and happily sips their favorite tonics. His head shakes back and forth while he hums along with the beat, his fingers fly across the strings. Involved in his own jazz world, he seems unconcerned by everyone around him. Later when talking with Port, I begin to understand that his focused style encompasses his entire approach to music. After years as a performer, he plays now for 22 | PULSE • SUMMER 2011

the love of it – the sheer glory of making music. There is no prescription to performing jazz; the player simply goes with the emotion behind the song. “No matter how many times you play a song, it’s different,” Port tells me when we discuss what brought him to love jazz. Port’s music tastes are “obscure, eclectic,” tending towards songs and musicians you wouldn’t immediately recognize, despite the fact that his career has had mainstream ramifications. Most notable is his work with jazz great Floyd Dixon, composer of “Don’t Send Me No Flowers” and “Hey Bartender,” a track which is re-lived every two weeks by Mount Dora’s Brewery

Boys at the Rocking Rabbit Brewery on Highland Street. Floyd and Port met in 1989, at a time when Port was living in Los Angeles and playing with a smaller band, and Floyd had all but ceased performing. Through reinventing Floyd Dixon, Port gained not only a friend, but an incredible opportunity. Floyd asked Port to put together a band so the two of them could record the album that would later be dubbed, “Wake Up and Live!” Port helped Floyd write two of the tracks on the album. The updated version of Rockin’ At Home pays homage to the special relationship among Port, Floyd and Port’s wife, Kathleen Cherrier. “They were backing tracks in our living room,” Kathleen recalls, with a wistful smile at the memory. The band was preparing to go on the road when Port received a call from Floyd that changed it all. “I’m done playing,” Floyd said. Port would later discover that Floyd was in the last throes of cancer, but at the time the abrupt halt sent him reeling. “I was burning the candle at both ends,” Port recalls, for he had been recording during the week and playing concerts on the weekends. Their studio overhead costs seemed to rise with each passing week. At one point he flicked on a light in the studio and said to Kathleen, “Well, that’ll cost us five grand.”

Port said, catching the attention of sommelier Jerome Brouhau who insisted that he play for him. That led to several more gigs and now Port is a regular in the bar’s line-up. Maggie’s Attic offers a unique venue for Port, who sits right at the head of the alleyway as he plays. He is in the center of it all there, living the music. “Jerome helped to get him back playing again,” Kathleen says. The smile on her face is a perfect testament to her appreciation and love of Port’s music. Perhaps it is the improvisation of jazz that has reinvented Port, an artistic man whose path with music has undergone many changes. I realize that Port’s performance career is far from over as I witness his full-bodied movements marking time with his music, reminiscent of how Floyd used to bop about playing the piano. If anything, he has acquired new skills, his voice a pleasing baritone that drifts out over the chatter. Here in this town that migrates between a sleepy village to a happening place at night, Port Barlow has found the means to bring his creativity and music back to life.

“No matter how many times you play a song, it’s different.” Since they would be close to family, retirement in Umatilla seemed like a logical decision for the couple. “When I got to Florida, I slept for 90 days,” Port jokes, a perfect description of the low-key lifestyle he led. Later, he found a new calling as an amateur radio operator, traveling to flea markets up north in the summer to acquire vintage recording equipment. He had even stopped playing, believing that his days of entertaining were long gone. With its lively culture and unique “small town” feeling, it is no wonder that the artist in Port energized as the family explored neighboring Mount Dora. They were drawn to the ambience of Maggie’s Attic and Cellar. Listening to the radio one evening at the bar, a Floyd Dixon tune came on. “I played guitar with these guys,”

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26 | PULSE • SUMMER 2011

Indiana Jones Slept Here...Maybe

by Tony Marzano photography by Steven Paul Hlavac

Some say archeologist Dr. Edgar James Banks, a longtime Eustis retiree, was the inspiration for the Indiana Jones movie series. A look into his life vis-à-vis the records of the Eustis Historical Society allows for that speculation. But there is more to the story of Dr. Banks. Dr. Edgar Banks’ resume is impressive. A Harvard graduate, he was appointed American Consul to Baghdad (1897-98) and the Private Secretary to the American Minister to Turkey (1903). But he is most well-known for being an archeologist and antiquities dealer. Dr. Banks excavated an ancient Sumerian city in what is now present-day Iraq. He was the first American to climb Mount Ararat in search of Noah’s Ark and also searched for the Ark of the Covenant. Upon returning from his archeological expeditions, Banks would hit the lecture circuit. His home base for scholarly forums was the University of Notre Dame where he lectured on a regular basis from 1907-1919. During this time and also for the remainder of his life, Dr. Banks regularly gave lectures at other universities, museums, seminaries and libraries detailing his worldwide adventures.

…it’s easy to fancy Dr. Banks as the prototy pe for the legendary character Indiana Jones… To add to his academic pursuits Dr. Banks authored six books chronicling his expeditions. His most popular titles were Bible and the Spade (1913) and Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (1917). Additionally, Dr. Banks wrote many articles that were published in magazines and journals. It appears, however, that Dr. Edgar Banks’ non-academic pursuits contributed the most to his Indiana Jones persona. The Hollywood film producer and director Cecil B. DeMille engaged Banks as a consultant in 1921 to create realistic representations of ancient times,

civilizations and architecture for DeMille’s biblical epics. His DeMille association most likely influenced Banks to start his own film production companies. Located in Eustis, Dr. Banks presided over Sacred Films and Seminole Films from 1921-1922 with the intention to produce biblically influenced films that were family oriented. He envisioned films that parents could let their children go see on a Friday night and not worry about bad influences they might see on the silver screen. No film from Dr. Banks’ film companies exists today. The official story from the Eustis Historical Society is that before air-conditioning, Dr. Banks unfortunately stored his cellulose film reels in metal containers in a room that became too hot. The film melted and was unrecoverable. But the story doesn’t end there – supposedly Banks buried the reels of melted film in his orange grove and never told anybody the exact location of the seared cellulose. The availability of cheap grove land was another reason Dr. Banks settled in Eustis. He purchased a large parcel of lakefront property with the intention of developing it into a community of scholars. He sent thousands of letters out to professors and academic scholars throughout the country trying to garner interest in what he hoped would one day turn into a retirement haven for the bright minds of the country. Unfortunately for him, this dream never materialized. With his impressive resume, it’s easy to fancy Dr. Banks as the prototype for the legendary character Indiana Jones, portrayed by Harrison Ford. But after researching two large volumes of personal documents from Dr. Banks at the Eustis Historical Society, a few interesting aspects of his personality surfaced. First, it appears that his appointment as the American Consul to Baghdad came about after a letter-writing campaign spearheaded by Dr. Banks himself. Seemingly he wanted this diplomatic position to gain an upper Continued on Page 37 PULSE • SUMMER 2011 | 27

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From Kit to Lake

SCAMPY Boats

by Ella Paets, Ed.D. photography by Bill Casey

When they’re young, a lot of kids love to build model boats. Some really lucky kids get to build, and ultimately own, their model boats, jump in them and then whisk around Lake Eustis at full throttle. That’s what the local SCAMPY (Sunnyland Chapter Apprentice Mentoring Program for Youth) program is all about. A sprawling old barn, undistinguished and unnoticed in the center of downtown Tavares, is transformed into a magical place when boys and girls ages 10 to 16 arrive and the sawing and hammering begin. In the end, a small, sporty motorboat is built. Each kid and their adult mentor assemble a one-person craft in just four days. To the delight of both, the youngster who races across the water and the mentor who watches from the shore, the trim SCAMPY accelerates to 25 miles an hour, which to these youngsters is plenty fast enough to create the excitement of racing the “Big Boys.” The current version of the SCAMPY boat program is the brainchild of Dave Tilly, Richard Arnold and Lou Ronca, members of the Sunnyland Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society. The SCAMPY project began five years ago when the club received a James Craft kit boat, containing the plans and all materials needed for building the boat. The men expected to assemble the kit in three or four days, during the annual Antique and Classic Boat Show in Tavares. It proved to be a bigger task than expected.

It all started with a 1950’s “Popular Science” magazine article.

It was in this same barn that Dave and Lou found the inspiration that led to the modified SCAMPY boat.

Elizan Toner, hand on the throttle, takes his SCAMPY out for her maiden voyage.

Dave located a copy of a 1950s Popular Science magazine featuring an article containing the plans for building a small wooden boat suitable for one person. From this 60-year-old plan, a craft was created that could be built quickly by novices and their mentors. Last year Megan Mallo, 15, and her brother Logan, 10, guided by Jack Bingham, their mentor, built a baby blue and white cutie they ultimately named the Piranha. Megan lobbied to paint the Piranha a wild combination of colors, but was outvoted by her family. When I visited the family, Megan and Logan’s petite beauty rested comfortably on a wooden trailer while the family members admired the trim design and shiny paint job. The siblings share the SCAMPY and frequently lament to their parents, “One boat. Two children.” The Sunnyland Chapter is pioneering the SCAMPY program, urging other chapters throughout the country to adopt the boat building program. In the Continued on Page 37 PULSE • SUMMER 2011 | 29

America’s Future Speaks Eighteen year-old Dillon Sherman enters the conference room with a swagger only a teenager can master. He offers a firm handshake while balancing a can of soda in his other hand. When he takes a seat, his long legs splay outward like an overgrown puppy. When Dillon begins to speak there is nothing juvenile or hesitant about his opinions. He is certain that a person’s success is within his own control and that a student establishes behavior patterns in high school that will continue through adult life. Dillon entered Tavares High School wanting to be a part of everything. He joined organizations, entered science fairs and even had a role in a school play. He

by Ella Paets, Ed.D. photography by Bill Casey

volunteered his time mentoring elementary school kids attending the “Kids’ College” at Lake-Sumter Community College. He made the time to study, graduating summa cum laude. Rewarded for his achievements with multiple college scholarships and a Disney Doers and Dreamers Award, he quickly discovered that colleges seek students like him offering good grades and community participation. Planning to attend Florida State University, Dillon can’t decide whether to major in science, business or political science. His career goals are similarly undefined. He sees himself in politics, science or business. Whatever life path he takes, however, he is certain he will be a leader and not a manager. “I want to do a lot of things. I want to make this country better. I want to get rich. I want to have my own company.”

He tosses his views into the air like confetti.

Dillon has an opinion for every question I ask – a very strong and very personal opinion. He tosses his viewpoints into the air like confetti. His answers come quickly and carry his certainty. Recognizing his intelligence, energy and promise, Alice Croker, Dillon’s 12th grade counselor, expects to see him on the cover of Time magazine. Here are some of Dillon’s rapid-fire thoughts and opinions about our future. “Leaders are proactive while managers are reactive.” That distinction between leaders and managers places President Obama under Dillon’s youthful political scrutiny. “President Obama has an agenda and should pursue it. He is the president of the United States and Congress is going into gridlock. You can’t just ask for change. You have to make it happen. He needs to be stronger. ”

Batting ideas around with Dillon Sherman 30 | PULSE • SUMMER 2011

“America’s infrastructure, our roads, bridges and dams are old, weak and getting weaker. They need our attention.”

He frets about NASA and feels the space program is too important to subject to extreme budget cuts. To Dillon, NASA represents America’s accomplishments. He recognizes the potential benefits from maintaining and expanding space exploration. The scientist in Dillon is enthusiastic about the achievements attributed to NASA. The inventor in him emerges as he gestures broadly. He describes his idea for improving solar panels, which he showcased at science fairs, asserting that the panels might someday replace conventional windows because they generate electricity at night. Dillon points out that he stirred up corporate interest in his patented invention. “America is the best country in the world,” Dillon declares. “People are too pessimistic about the future of this country.” Government in America is everybody’s government, and Dillon wants everybody to participate in it. He acknowledges some people don’t trust our government, but he believes everybody needs to take an active part in it. “Whether you trust it or not, if you live in America, it is part of your life. You might as well speak out on issues that matter.” Dillon recognizes the need for political parties but wishes there was more agreement and less partisanship. “The two party system leads to thinking along party lines and not to thinking about the issues. You have to get rid of the terms liberal and conservative. People don’t think past the words.” “I don’t think you should have to get insurance for yourself or your car. I don’t think government should have to force someone to get insurance. If something bad happens, then it’s your call.” At the same moment Dillon declares this, he reconsiders the wisdom of what he just said. This trait of reconsidering an opinion will help Dillon move forward in life. Dillon, the oldest of six, grew up in a family that values education and is a strong participant in family life. Listening to him today, we hear an energetic modern entrepreneur with both feet firmly planted in the future. He “gets it” and we as a country will surely benefit from that.

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The Cowboy Way

by Beth Hughes photography by Marc Vaughn

Johnny Ruff – Saddle Maker

You have to look carefully because it’s a tiny sign and arrow that mark the back road turn off that reads, “Ruff’s.” If you didn’t already know it was there, you might never find the place. But it’s well worth your effort to meet the man whose shop lies on these back roads behind the miniscule sign. His name is Johnny Ruff, and Ruff’s Saddle Shop is his place. He’s the real deal – the genuine article. Pure cowboy from hat to spurs. His word and his handshake are as good as any guarantee. You can take that to the bank. When you first come into Ruff’s, you can’t help but notice all the old rodeo photos and memorabilia that line the walls. “Everything is paid for and I made it with a horse,” he says. With a sun-creased weather-wrinkled 32 | PULSE • SUMMER 2011

smile he adds, “I enjoy what I’m doing or I wouldn’t be doing it.” At the age of 71, Johnny minds the store and still finishes several custom-made saddles each week. He got his start young, dropping out of school after completing the 7th grade. He was earning a hardscrabble living breaking and training horses when he met Floyd Langle, whom Johnny describes as a “good ole cowboy from Kissimmee, who made saddles and was a real fussy type fella.” In those days, Johnny was following the horse auction circuit. On any given night he rode as many as 75-150 horses through the sale ring. Riding all those horses taught him how a horse moves and subsequently how to fit the saddle properly allowing the horse to do its

job without being hindered. When selling a horse, he always tried to match the right horse with the right rider. If the horse doesn’t work out, you can bring it back and he will find one that is the right match for you. He’ll make you the same deal on a saddle too. “Treat people right. Sell a good product at a fair price. That’s my motto.” That’s the reason people come from all over to buy a Ruff’s saddle. Forty-nine years ago Floyd taught Johnny how to work the leather and the horses taught Johnny how to fit that saddle for the rider. Floyd set the standard for craftsmanship high, teaching Johnny that if a saddle isn’t right, throw it out and start over. Johnny wouldn’t have it any other way. Johnny hails from the Pine Castle area of Orlando, starting his saddle business in the late 60s. But, twenty-two years ago, the metro area had grown too much for his taste, and he followed his customers to Umatilla purchasing 30 acres on Wiygul Road. Johnny says, “I never figured I could make a living with leather.” Scott and Glenda Eldrige from Winter Garden have been lifelong customers of Johnny’s. Glenda’s granddad knew Johnny from the Silver Spurs Rodeo circuit, way back when. “We have two horses and three Ruff’s saddles. And I’m probably gonna take another saddle home with me today.” Glenda says people come from all around to buy a Ruff’s saddle because of “the workmanship and the man that he is.” They even haul their horses to Johnny

so he can fit the saddle to the specific horse. Johnny’s family is carrying on the grand tradition that he started so long ago. They all rodeo. Son Frank and grandson Clayton have both been Florida state champions at calf roping, just like Johnny. His wife Ellen and daughter-in-law Cindy still compete in the Tri-State rodeos. Johnny says, “They can even still beat the guys sometimes.” Frank has also made a name for himself in the family business by selecting the knife inventory for the store. According to Johnny, Frank has all kinds of Buck knives and Cross knives. According to one customer I chatted with, some people carry them around for so long they can’t even sharpen them anymore because the blade is worn so thin. It appears that the wife comes in to buy a saddle, and the husband always finds his way to the knives. Everything is there – all in one place. Johnny Ruff’s home, his family, his horses and his store filled with saddles, knives and memorabilia. If you want to meet a one-of-a-kind Florida Cowboy Gentleman, who believes in genuine craftsmanship and is likely to share a story or two with you while you shop, you’d better get good directions before heading his way. It’s worth the trip. Ruff’s Saddle Shop is located outside Umatilla at 20747 Wiygul Road, Umatilla, FL 32784. Phone 352.669.6440.

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Amanda Bellamy with Archie

It’s hard to tell who the lucky one is: Amanda Bellamy, a Mount Dora High School graduate, or Archie, a 14-month old Black Lab who lived with and was trained by Amanda to serve as a guide dog for the visually impaired. A competitive rider and avid FFA member, Amanda loves all animals and sought out the guide dog program for her final FFA project. At six weeks old, Archie came to Amanda and lived as a member of her family for the next 62 weeks. With her parents’ support, Archie joined her at home, school, church, restaurants – in short, wherever Amanda went, learning over 40 voice commands and becoming completely socialized. Amanda counts her rewards in many ways. “Working with Archie was amazing; while he grew up, I grew personally, and so did my friends. That was huge.” Also huge, is the $10,000 scholarship she received from Coca-Cola for her education at Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia.

PULSE • SUMMER 2011 | 35

352.636.6336 36 | PULSE • SUMMER 2011

INDIANA JONES, continued from Page 27

hand in being selected to excavate the choice historical sites in Iraq. Upon his arrival, local authorities denied his requests to dig at major sites and Banks subsequently resigned from his post. A few years later Banks was permitted to excavate a lesser-known site where he unearthed an ancient statue and thousands of cuneiform tablets. He shipped these tables back to the States and proceeded to sell them to anyone willing to fork over five-to-ten dollars. The majority of these tablets were what we consider receipts, such as one for a boat rental and another detailing payroll hours. Although one of the tablets does contain some mathematical equations relating to the Pythagorean Theorem, its importance is debated.

That Dr. Banks lived an extraordinary life filled with adventures spanning the globe is undeniable. After getting a glimpse of the man behind the curtain and seeing his humanity, I concede that he is a legend in his own right simply based on the fact that we are still talking about him to this day. Maybe what Dr. Edgar Banks was chasing for so many years through this myriad of avenues was simply his legacy. Dr. Edgar J. Banks did in fact sleep in the bed pictured on page 29. The props on the bed suggest that Indiana Jones may have slept there also. Visit the Banks’ display at the Eustis Historical Museum and then decide for yourself whether Dr. Banks’ story led to “Indy’s” adventures.

SCAMPY BOATS, continued from Page 29

past two years, seven SCAMPY boats have been built by the local club. Currently, 20 children are waiting to build boats. The Boat Club members want to see the SCAMPY program expanded. The boat building team shares measuring, assembling, sanding and painting chores. Only the adults handle the more dangerous power tools. The club members were surprised to discover how many of the children did not know how to correctly use tools. As a result, the mentors wisely included a tool use and boating safety session during the boat building process. The Sunnyland members also plan to teach interested participants how to restore damaged full-size classic boats. Eventually they hope to reward some of the youthful boat builders with scholarships to one of the American boat building schools. Megan and

Logan would be first in line for any additional boat building training. When the young builders took control of their boats on the lake, it was hard to determine who was more delighted – kids or mentors. Lou Ronca, past president, enthusiastically told how he watched the youngsters timidly run the boats. With adult encouragement, the kids soon skimmed across the water handling their boats with ease. Steve Cutter, another club member, remembers becoming interested in boats when he was a boy. He recognizes that his early experience led to his love of boating. Steve enjoys watching the youngsters as they maneuver their SCAMPYs and is hopeful they too will remain lovers of boating. For more information visit www. acbs-sunnyland.com, or call past president, Lou Ronca at 407.493.8553.

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237 West 4th Ave. Suite 6 * Mount Dora, FL 32757 * 352-383-3600 *Cooks’ Tools & Gadgets Galore *Romertopf Clay Cooking/Baking Pots *Nordic Ware Bundt & Baking Products *Everyday Cooking & Baking Supplies for Everyone *Olive Oil in Hand Blown Imported Glass Art Bottles *Crosby & Taylor Handcrafted Pewter Kitchen Tools *Kids Cooking Tools and visit out ‘Kids In the Kitchen’

Gourmet Kitchen Products Monday-Saturday 10am till 6pm Sunday Noon till 6pm

spe Uniq cia ue & lty kitc hard he to n p fin rod d uct s

We Accept “Dora Dollars” Wine Tasting Hosts 1st and 3rd Saturday of Every Month 7-9 pm We are located in the Arbors & Eyebrows Complex at the corner of Alexander and 4th Ave in Historic Downtown Mount Dora

FOLK, FUN, FAMILY …and it’s FREE!

FRESH AUTHENTIC MEXICAN

14 Tavares

352-253-5272

Early Bird Special Starting at $4.50 Beer & Wine Great Margaritas

11 am-9pm

OCT. 8-9th

EUSTIS MAIN STREET INC | PUBLIC ARTS & MUSIC EUSTISMAINSTREET.ORG 38 | PULSE • SUMMER 2011

Sun-Thur

11am-10pm Fri & Sat

The IceHouse Theatre Presents

Summer 2011

at the Mount Dora Community Building - 520 N. Baker Street

Written and originally directed by

• the •

I c e H o u se T h e at r e

6 4 t h S e a s on

BREAKING LEGS by Tom Dulack (Sept. 16 - Oct. 9, 2011): In an Italian restaurant, a playwright convinces the owners to finance his play about a murder – discovering the truth about his new partners too late...a madcap tale of crime and pasta!

Ted Swindley • Based on a true story

TickeTs: $25 ViP; $20, $18, $16 (groups of 15+) July 14, 7:30 PM LIMITED July 15, 7:30 PM ENGAGEMENT... July 16, 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM Only SIX performances! July 17, 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM www.icehousetheatre.com • BOX OFFice (352) 383-4616 TEMPORARY BOX OFFICE lOCATION: 2001 W. Old Hwy 441, Suite 4, Mount Dora (at Morningside Drive) • Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 1-5 pm

The IceHouse Youth Theatre

SUMMER CAMPS 2011 Summer Comedy & Acting Camps Held at IceHouse Youth Theatre 2001 W. Old Hwy 441, Suite 4, Mount Dora (on the corner of Morningside Drive)

JulY 5 - 8 COMEDY FuNHOuSE (5-9 yrs) $80 • 9:30 am - Noon

JulY 11 - 15 TV SITCOM MADNESS! (8-12 yrs) $150 • 9 am - 2 pm

JulY 18 - 22 WACKY WORlD OF DR. SEuSS (5-9 yrs) $100 • 9:30 am - Noon

JulY 25 - AuGuST 5 BROADWAY GuYS & GAlS (10-15 yrs) $175 • 9 am - 2 pm

AuGuST 1 - 5 IF I RAN THE CIRCuS (5-9 yrs) $100 • 9:30 am - Noon

AuGuST 8 - 12 TEEN ACTING INTENSIVE (13-18 yrs) $150 • 2 pm - 5 pm

Summer Dance Camps Held at Footsteps Dance Studio, lake Square Mall 10401 uS Hwy 441, unit 124, leesburg (Near Sears & Books -A-Million)

JulY 11 - 15: DANCE CAMP 3 5-8 yrs • $80 • 9:30 - 11:30 am

JulY 11 - 15: DANCE CAMP 4 12-18 yrs • $125 • 1 - 4 pm

TO GET A SuMMER CAMP 2011 REGISTRATION FORM: DOWNlOAD on the Youth Page of our website www.icehousetheatre.com, PICK uP at the IceHouse Box Office, EMAIl info@icehousetheatre.com to receive a Registration Form, or CAll 352 383-3133, ext 3. Temporary Box Office: 2001 W. Old Hwy 441, Suite 4, Mount Dora info@icehousetheatre.com | 352.383.3133 x3

ANNIE Book by Thomas Meehan, Music by Charles Strouse and Lyrics by Martin Charnin (Nov. 18 - Dec. 18+): A spunky little redhead is abandoned on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. She finds a new family with rich Daddy Warbucks and a lovable mutt, Sandy. (+Extra “ANNIE” shows: Wed Nov. 23, 7:30 PM • Fifth Weekend: Sat. & Sun. Dec. 17 and Dec. 18, 2:00 PM)

LEND ME A TENOR by Ken Ludwig (Jan. 20 - Feb. 12, 2012+): When drunken tenor Tito Morelli downs a double dose of tranquilizers, amateur singer Max gets thrown into costume. All goes well – until Morelli revives in time for the second act! (+Extra Matinee: Sat. Feb. 11, 2:00 PM)

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES by Roger Bean (Mar. 16 - Apr. 8+): At the 1958 Springfield prom, Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy harmonize to hits including “Mr. Sandman,” “It’s My Party,” “Secret Love,” then skip to their 1968 reunion – for even more hit tunes such as “Respect,” “Wedding Bell Blues” and endless laughter! (+Extra Matinee: Sat. Apr. 7, 2:00 PM)

THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST’S WIFE by Charles Busch (May 4 - May 27): Marjorie is engulfed in mid-life crisis; her children grown, beloved therapist dead and mother grating on her nerves. A fascinating old friend appears – is she an antidote or a sinister guest? A comedy with mature themes for the grown-ups!

Individual Tickets $20, $18, $15, $12, $10, Groups $16 (15 or more)

Season Subscriptions $80, $85, $90, $95

Purchase tickets at www.icehousetheatre.com, call the Box Office at 352-383-4616, or stop by our TEMPORARY BOX OFFICE: June 6 to Sept. 9 at 2001 W. Old Hwy 441, Suite 4, Mount Dora, Tues-Fri, 1-5 pm. (Our phone and fax will stay the same.) PULSE • SUMMER 2011 | 39

Perfect

staycations start in Mount Dora.

Award-winning gourmet foods, specialty kitchenware, beautiful entertaining pieces, exotic spices and local

foods are in abundance at The Gourmet Spot. This ‘boutique in good taste’ has everything for easy entertaining and memorable meals at home.

The ultimate pampering experience awaits at Synergy Salonspa. This full service, ultra-modern salonspa features a relaxing couple’s massage room and self-sanitizing pedicure chairs. It’s the perfect place for a refreshing facial or a whole new summer look.

E xplore the town’s best selection of wines ‘buy’ the glass or bottle at The Wine Den, a

unique combination of wine bar and wine shop. ‘First Friday Wine Tastings’ and 3rd Friday ‘Yappy Hours’ are the perfect way to kick off your staycation.

411 N. Donnelly St. TheGourmetSpot.com 352.735.4777

40 | PULSE • SUMMER 2011

Donnelly & 3rd Ave SynergySalonspamtdora.com 352.383.2900

109 4th Avenue TheWineDenOnline.com 352.735.5594