Pulse Winter 2013 by Pulse the Magazine Online

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table of Issue 26 | WINTER 2013 Copyright © Pulse the Magazine, Inc. PO Box 1896 • Tavares, FL 32778 www.pulsethemagazine.com facebook.com/pulsethemagazine Publisher Calvin Arnold C&L Printing & Graphics

Editor Richard Huss Marketing & Development Mari Henninger Design Director Cristina Miller Far From Ordinary Design Advertising Design Lorri Arnold C&L Printing & Graphics

Photography Bill Casey Steven Paul Hlavac Marc Vaughn Steve Williams Illustration Jennifer Cahill Harper Contributing Writers Jeanne Fluegge Richard Huss Mari Henninger Susan Green Jaillet Beth Hughes Tom Lloyd Ella Paets, Ed.D.

Publisher's Letter/ About the Cover

Ramblin’ with Richard What, Me Worry?

On the Human Side The Ghosts of Mastodons Past

Writers One Flight Up Lisa Rast, Flash Fiction Contest Winner

The Bookies of Eustis, Florida 50 Years of Raintree Books

The Tin Twins Magic on Metal

The Purple Heart Fraternity Saluting Veterans…and their kids too

Learning to Cook with Chef Alex Cooking demonstrations at KaDee Kay

Assistant Editors Susan Green Jaillet Mike Ratrie Advertising Sales Calvin Arnold 407.421.6686 Richard Huss 203.209.6628 Mike Ratrie 443.924.0323

contents

From Bay Street to 42nd Street 32 Catching up with Adam Mathias of Eustis

A Hitch'n Time Part of Mount Dora's charm since 2002

Visit our website for more information about all of our contributors! 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, and must be typed or printed clearly, 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.

PULSE • WINTER 2013 | 5

6 | PULSE • WINTER 2013

from the

publisher

Check out

Wow, what an issue we have for you this winter! Our 2013 winter issue introduces another new writer, Violet Irminger, whose foodie interests flourish as she covers the “Food Show” at KaDee Kay’s gourmet kitchen boutique in Mount Dora. Tom Lloyd drops another excellent piece in our lap about the “Bookies” in Eustis. And Jeanne Fluegge writes a masterful and touching tribute to Mount Dora’s first salute to local vets, many of whom are Wounded Warriors.

online!

Pulse and Writers One Flight Up have completed another very successful writing contest – entries from all over the state – and Lake County resident, Lisa Rast is the winner. See her Flash Fiction piece in Pulse. Stories submitted by the runners-up, Mount Dora’s Rick Cooper and Jeanne Fluegge (her name sounds familiar!), are on our website. Check our website for features not included in the magazine, links to our advertisers with some money saving deals and behind the scenes tidbits. As always, we had fun getting our winter issue to you. Pulse continues to be the magazine that showcases great stories and images, celebrating the creativity of the Tri-Cities, and we hope you enjoy reading it. Please let us hear from you. May 2013 be a happy and healthy year for all of our supporters and readers.

www.facebook.com/ pulsethemagazine

Calvin Arnold, Publisher calvin@pulsethemagazine.com | www.pulsethemagazine.com

about the

cover

Our Winter 2013 cover is by new Mount Dora resident Leslie Spradlin, who recently moved to the area for her husband's job as the Music Minister at First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora. "The Peacock" was a surprise gift for the owner of Matamo Designs, Debbie Belton. It is painted in acrylics with metallic gold streaks lending it a very Gustav Klimt feel. To see more of Leslie's art, visit www.lesliespradlin.com or her Etsy store at etsy.com/shop/ lesliedragonfly; her work is also displayed in Matamo Designs and Annabelle's Vintage Land in Mount Dora.

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Editor's Note: Special thanks to All About Images in Mount Dora for their beautiful work digitizing this piece for us! Check out their ad on the inside back cover for more information.

Send Us an E-mail calvin@pulsethemagazine.com richard@pulsethemagazine.com

PULSE • WINTER 2013 | 7

ramblin’ withrichard richard ramblin’ with

SPONSORED BY:

by Mari Henninger, ph.D. | illustration by Jennifer cahill harper

The Ghosts of Mastodons Past: The Care and Feeding of Your Mate Directions for the care and feeding of your mate differ depending on whether your mate is a male or a female. A blinding flash of the obvious? So not true. Haven’t we all implicitly assumed that our mates want what we want and think like we think? If that weren’t the case, how could we be so gobsmacked with amazement when our mates do something completely out of character? Perhaps it’s because it’s out of character for us but not for them. Part of the divine comedy of males and females living together is our failure to recognize that our mates are not our doppelgangers, mirror images or “mini-me’s.” Though far from scientific, I humbly offer my thoughts below on the care and feeding of your mate based on the misadventures of my clients, friends and, of course, yours truly. But first some basics inspired by the new field of Evolutionary Psychology. It all started in the cave – males and females are wired differently: Not so very long ago, in caveperson days, the roles of males and females were clear. Men hunted mastodons with the guys and women did everything else. Men had to be single minded in their hunt lest the mastodons kill them and the tribe starve, and women had to juggle the rest of cave life lest those left behind succumbed to starvation, were eaten by predators or were killed by one another in intra-cave knife fights. Women were the multitaskers, men were the “git ’r done” folks; women were the peacemakers, men were the

warriors; women were the worriers, men were the adventurers. Those who excelled in their respective roles lived to eat another mastodon, those who did not ended up at the bottom of the gene pool. It all worked fairly well until there were no more mastodons to hunt, and we moved out of our caves into single-family dwellings. Most males are masters of denial: Mastodons were 20 times larger than the males hunting them, were endowed with a wicked set of tusks that could quickly eviscerate the unwary, and they were easily annoyed, particularly by a volley of nasty wooden spears thrown at them by a motley pack of Lilliputian hunters. Only males with a highly honed talent for denial could convince themselves that hunting for mastodons was a good idea. Fortunately for the survival of the human race, men became masters of denial, allowing them to hunt mastodons, feed their tribe and pass their genes on to future generations. Most females are equipped with killer emotional radar: In order to survive the rigors of intra-cave politics and pesky predators, women developed finely tuned emotional radar. While they couldn’t rely on their brawn, they could rely on their early warning system. Those with better radar spotted the bear before they became its lunch, lived to raise their babies and send their genes down the line to future generations Enough for the theory! What does all of this suggest about the care and feeding of your mate? While this evolutionary vein of thinking could – and has – spawned dissertations, here are a few top of mind thoughts that can help you and your mate flourish in your single-family cave. 352.383.3282 www.STEVEWILLIAMSPHOTO.com PORTRAITS, ARCHITECTURE, FINE ART PRINTS & VIDEO

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Insight #1–Nagging is a nasty vestige of cave life: Considered from a caveperson perspective, it’s clear why nagging would happen and why it would be so damaging to a relationship. Females, who still manage most caves, feel the safety of the cave is essential to survival. Males see cave problems as minor in comparison to the risks of mastodon hunting. To add fuel to the flames of male resentment, nagging can make males feel that their mates doubt their hunting prowess. Connubial bliss can be restored if females can reconsider how important taking the garbage out “Now” is to the health and wellbeing of the cave and if males can accept that most nags have nothing to do with their mate’s perception of their potency. A little acknowledgment of the situation on both sides, liberally sprinkled with humor, can go a long way toward keeping the “marriage killer” away from your cave doorstep. Insight #2–Females are never going to accept “I’m fine” as an answer to an inquiry about the health and happiness of their mates: Remember that emotional radar females developed as part of cave life? It’s pretty accurate. So once females sense something is “wrong,” most go after the root of the problem with an intensity that would shame the Grand Inquisitioner. Cave women learned that if they let problems fester, they were just a few steps away from a full-scale cave rebellion. While rebellions rarely happen these days, male denial does, and (except for mastodon hunting), denial is rarely the best way to solve a problem. Females can help their mates figure out that something is wrong and what that something might be. Females should then get out of the way and let their mates figure out the solutions. Insight #3–Women aren’t fickle, they’re just reacting to “conditions on the ground”: If you consider all of the things females have to juggle in modern life, you can understand why they frequently rely on the multitasking

skills they honed in cave life. They’re juggling family members’ needs with schedules, with budgets and with their own energy levels. So, for example, if the last time a female experienced a particular household problem, she asked her mate to buy a framistan, the mate should not assume she’ll want a framistan the next time the problem pops up. She may have heard framistans don’t work as well as jamistans, the family may not have the budget for a framistan this time around or she might just be too tired to deal with a “freaking” framistan. Like any good field general, your female mate will decide on the best solution by factoring in conditions on the ground. Unfortunately, she may fail to share her assessment of those conditions with her mate, assuming (incorrectly) that he has the same emotional radar she does. Insight #4–Men can “connect the dots,” they just need to know what the dots are: When females fail to share their reasoning behind a particular request, males are often set up for failure. Males are mission-focused: Kill the mastodon. This means that they will bring back the first mastodon they find along the way if not told, for example, that their mate wants a baby mastodon, aged to perfection from the baby mastodon butcher at the mastodon market one town over. Males want to please their mates because “nobody’s happy if mama ain’t happy.” If females provide their mates with specific instructions, males feel like successful hunters and females have one less thing to worry about back at the cave. A final thought: when in doubt, use generosity as the guiding principle behind your mate’s care and feeding routine. New anthropological findings suggest that even cave people practiced generosity. They didn’t toss their ill or injured onto the cave’s rubbish heap when they moved on to better hunting grounds. They valued and cared for them. In a similar vein, recent research on marital happiness has found that the more couples behave generously to their mates, the more they express affection and the more they forgive, the happier their marriages tend to be. If cave people could be generous enough to carry their infirm on their backs, certainly we can add a little more generosity to the care and feeding of our own mates. Take it from the cave wisdom that still flows through your veins, it’s worth the effort. PULSE • WINTER 2013 | 13

Photo by Bill Casey

writer and fledgling painter. Beyond the sea she enjoys kayaking, wine, art, and, of course, reading. She lives in Lake County, Florida, with her husband and three spoiled cats. First Runner Up is Rick Cooper and Second Runner Up is Jeanne Fluegge. Both Rick and Jeanne live in Mount Dora, and both chose Steve Williams’ photo as their prompt. Honorable Mentions are Kate Maier, Longwood (Steve Williams’ photo) and Marie Tackett, Eustis (Stephen Paul Hlavacs’ photo). The stories submitted by the Runners Up and their bios, as well as the bios and a summary of the stories for the Honorable Mentions, can be found on the Pulse website. "Elfin River Tours" Lisa Rast, Flash Fiction Contest Winner

Local writer Lisa Rast is the winner of the 2012 Pulse the Magazine-Writers One Flight Up Flash Fiction Contest. Lisa chose Bill Casey’s “Prairie Princess” as her photo prompt for her story, "Elfin River Tours". A Lake County resident, Lisa was aware that the original name for the Dora Canal was the Elfin River. According to Lisa, she is a mermaid masquerading as human. When not swimming she is a proofreader, editor,

“Sandy, look at the size of that thing,” the girl in the front of the tandem kayak said. She pointed with her paddle to the alligator sunning itself on the bank of the Elfin River. Sandy poked Annette in the back with the tip of her paddle. “C’mon, paddle faster, I think I hear banjos,” she laughed. “Ain’t nothing, maybe five foot,” said the man in the single kayak. He wore an Elfin River Tours khaki shirt with the name “Flint” embroidered on the pocket.

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The two kayaks continued a lazy glide under bearded cypress. A great blue heron floated through the sky ahead of them. The second alligator they spotted was larger and sat low in the water with an anhinga crushed in its jaws. Annette snapped a picture with her cell phone. “That’s disgusting. Why is it just sitting there like that?” asked Sandy. “The bird’s a fresh kill,” said Flint. “He’ll take it down deep and stash it under a log somewhere.” He reached into his waterproof bag and pulled out the Colt .45, keeping it low and out of sight. “When it gets good and rotten … dinnertime.”

“Maybe I should call the tour company,” Sandy fumbled for her cell phone in its clear plastic bag. “No signal out here,” Flint said. His gaze broke the water and he looked at the girls. His eyes were black, his mouth a red slash in a leathery face. Annette shivered again. “So what’s the story with the boat?” A dirty yellow rope trailed from the houseboat, disappearing into the water. Flint paddled to it and gave it a short yank. “A family used to live here,” he said. “A happy family.” “What happened to them?” Sandy asked.

“Gross,” said Annette. She shivered, although it was midsummer in central Florida. The river split in two, and Flint led them through a dark and narrow waterway. The bottoms of the kayaks scraped along submerged trees. The tributary ended in a stagnant cove, the water fluorescent green from algae floating on its surface. “Eeeuuww, why’d you bring us back here?” Sandy wrinkled her nose. A cloud of tiny black bugs engulfed the kayakers.

“The devil happened.” Flint’s kayak bumped the side of the houseboat. “The wife was sitting on the back with her fishing pole, her feet skimming the water. The boy in her lap, just two years old. They were singing.” He touched the Colt again, stroked the barrel. “It was quick, like lightnin’. There was a mighty splash, a hard thud shook the boat, and he rose out of the depths. A monster with a black hide, yellow eyes in a skull as wide as a man’s arm is long. Then they were gone.” Flint closed his eyes. “It looked like somebody dumped a gallon of red paint in the water.”

Annette swatted the insects with her paddle. “Let’s turn back.” “Not yet,” said Flint, and paddled on. A clearing in the brush revealed a half-sunken houseboat. A twist of filthy blue tarp lay on the back of the cabin. On the prow were the faded words “Prairie Princess.”

Annette twisted around to look at her friend. “I want to get out of here,” she mouthed. Sandy nodded and slowly dipped her paddle into the water.

Flint paddled to the boat and scanned the grass surrounding it. He felt for the weapon. The sun hit the metal and the girls caught the flash.

“Folks reported seeing a monster gator, some say sixteen foot, some say even larger. Then the sightings just stopped.” Flint rested a callused palm on the hull of the houseboat. “Until a week ago. A boy was took upriver from here.” He jerked his head.

“Hey,” said Annette. “I want to go back.”

“Why did you bring us here?” asked Annette.

Flint ignored her, peering into the depths.

Flint raised the gun. “Bait.”

"The bird’s a fresh kill... He’ll take it down deep and stash it under a log somewhere." PULSE • WINTER 2013 | 15

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Owner Jo Henson and Manager Tish Isted

Bookies the

of eustis, florida by tom lloyd | photo by steven paul hlavac

Wendell Davis was a bookie. His daughter, Jo Henson, says so. In fact, she says, he still is. Not surprisingly, Jo is something of a bookie too. Now, before the local constabulary starts getting its collective knickers in a twist, there are bookies and then there are bookies. These particular bookies haven’t been making book, they’ve been selling books in downtown Eustis for 50 years. The only bet they made was that people still love reading books. Back in 1963, Wendell and his wife started Raintree Books. Their daughter, Jo, bought the business in 2001 and now the store is celebrating a half-century of book selling in Central Florida. Fifty years is an astounding business lifespan. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, fewer than half of all small businesses manage to make it through their first four years. Raintree’s 50 years of operation puts it into rarified air as far as small business longevity is concerned. So, what’s the recipe that’s led to five decades of success? Well, start with a little surreptitious house cleaning; add a “novel” business plan; mix in equal parts of price, passion and perception and then top all that off with Tish Isted. That surreptitious house cleaning is really what started things. Wendell was in the moving business. He had worked for his grandfather at Terminal Van Lines in St. Petersburg and then launched his own company, Triangle Moving and Storage, when he moved to Eustis. Packing and moving was part of his daily routine but one day, while he was off at work, his wife and his mother decided to do a little packing and moving of their own. A voracious reader since early childhood, Wendell had kept almost every volume he’d ever owned. It was an enormous collection. So large, in fact, that his growing family was desperate for space in their Eustis Bay Street home. So, the Davis women gathered up dozens of his books, placed them in brown paper bags and started selling them from the family’s front porch. When they did, a Central Florida business was born. Wendell wasn’t thrilled when he got home that night and discovered this clandestine culling of his book collection, but he was smart enough to recognize a good business idea when he saw one. For the next few years, the book business occupied a small section of the family’s moving and storage operation. Fueled

"Rain tree gets to know it s readers. A Kindle doesn't." in part by Wendell’s own reading as well as by home libraries purchased from folks who didn’t want to “pay the freight” for shipping books from one place to another, the business kept growing. By 1977 Wendell had bought a small cottage at 432 North Eustis Street, across from the hospital, to house and to sell his books. Today the hospital is gone. Raintree Books, however, remains. That novel business plan was a page-turner, too. In a nutshell, it was a plan based on Raintree’s unique emphasis on used books. Today, 85 to 90 percent of Raintree’s business comes from used books. Customers can buy used books, read them and then return them to the store for credits to buy and read still more books. It’s a decidedly unBarnes & Noble approach. Even the advent of electronic books doesn’t scare Jo. That’s where the pricing, passion and perception kick in. The average cost of an e-book for Kindle or Nook ranges from $6.48 to $8.94. The average used book at Raintree sells for as little as $2.10 with store credit. That’s a decent price point advantage, but only if the book suits the buyer. “Raintree,” says Jo, “gets to know its readers. A Kindle doesn’t.” Customers whose tastes run towards Dorothy Sayers’ mysteries may not find “Brunettes Beware” by Carolyn McCray a sound investment in either time or money. So, Jo says her staff passionately seeks out clues as to their customers’ tastes. Then, she says they apply their perception and familiarity with the shop’s massive inventory to help readers select books they will enjoy. Leading that effort is Tish Isted. Tish manages the North Eustis Street bookshop and, according to Jo, is an ink-onpaper reading machine, a walking, talking card catalogue Continued on Page 37 PULSE • WINTER 2013 | 19

The Tin Twins: Judie Lee (L) and Julie Kessler (R)

20 | PULSE • WINTER 2013

the

tin twins by ella paets, EdD | photo by marc vaughn story sponsored by Lakeside inn

Part 1. The Twins Identical twin artists Judie Lee and Julie Kessler were born in a small Ohio town – the sort of place where the kids played outside, even after the sky became dark. Everyone in town knew them – the stereo twins – identical girls who spoke the same words at the same time. They usually shared clothes, occasionally shared confused dates and always looked exactly like each other. Judie and Julie, with their unique twin connection, appreciated their idyllic childhood. “We always had a friend. We always had each other.” As adults the twin artists lived across the country from each other for over 20 years. Several phone calls a day kept them connected over the miles. Now their lives have changed, and once again they live near each other. Julie works solo when she creates small and large metal sculptures using a welding torch and her imagination. Her wonderful metal sculptures cry out to be placed outdoors in bright sunlight. Judie works alone when she creates metal jewelry and smaller metal sculptures. They each paint separately as well. The “Tin Twin” magic comes when they work together to create large paintings on auto or truck hoods instead of canvas. They locate rusty, banged up vehicle hoods in junk yards, bang out the dents, repaint and restore them, then share the challenge of creating brightly colored, charming abstracts. The hoods are filled with layers of whimsical birds, abstract flowers and forms from nature. The two artists work side by side, talking as they paint, making joint decisions, offering each other suggestions and arguing over differences of opinion. The result is an auto hood transformed into a colorful wall hanging or a backrest for a bench. PULSE • WINTER 2013 | 21

A udaciously, I whip off my robe and the camera clicks. Their work is currently showing at the Art Fusion Gallery in the Wynwood Art District of Miami. Director William Braemer raves about their art. “They are fresh, courageous, original and green. They recycle old auto hoods. What a brilliant idea. They will be internationally known in the future.”

My husband is all for the idea. His take is, “What’s the big deal about clothes?” I tell four of my friends what I am going to do. Three of them immediately want to be painted. “If you can do it, I can,” they each say. I’m astounded at their reaction. I agree to pose and spend the next two weeks alternating between wretchedness over my commitment and elation over my boldness. With bravado I parrot, “What’s the big deal about clothes?” “Serious painters always paint nudes,” I say. “Judie is a serious painter,” I say. “Judie painted herself,” I add.

Judie and Julie’s exciting paintings, jewelry and metal work can be purchased in Mount Dora at the Gatehouse in the Lakeside Inn. Judie’s art is also present on the Gatehouse floor which she painted with her whimsical designs.

I stand – nude – before a mirror and examine the evidence. Gravity, multiple pregnancies and indulgence have taken their toll. This is my body. I look my age. I am not a crone, crooked, and bent. I am still myself. My body will continue to shift downward with time, but my persona will remain constant.

Judie is engrossed in her latest solo project, a series of abstract paintings of strong women over 40 years old posing in the nude. Judie wants women who are comfortable in their own bodies. She photographs them in natural settings and creates 4’ x 4’ abstract paintings.

However, when my emotional pendulum swings in the opposite direction, I admonish myself. “What am I doing? I couldn’t pose naked when I wore a young woman’s body. How ridiculous is it for an ancient female to shed her clothes for a painting?”

Part 2. The Nude Paintings

“What will people think?” I murmur, again looking downward at my aging body – the evidence of my insanity. Several times I pick up the phone ready to cancel the photo session. Each time I reluctantly replace the handset on the cradle.

Judie, Julie and I are connected and chat easily. My comfort level plummets when Judie asks me to be one of her nude subjects. My throat twitches in a spasm and I gulp audibly. I certainly do not expect this. I need time to think about my answer. A reality check – I resemble Maxine, not Marilyn. I am 76 years old. Who could look at a naked 76 year old without being embarrassed by the sight?

Judie arrives carrying several large flowers – better than fig leaves – and a camera. Audaciously, I whip off my robe and the camera clicks. How do I position my body? Where do I put my hands? My legs? I lean against the wall, perch on a chair and cavort across the room. Judie and I

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Cecile’s French Corner laugh in the silliness of the moment. I warm up to the experience. I pick up objects and hold them above my head. I snag the cat and hold him high. I had fun. Then it was over. Weeks pass and the abstract paintings of all of us who had the courage to pose are complete. I see mine – notice its resemblance to paintings by Picasso and like what I see. No, I love it. I love all the paintings. They are propped against Judie’s garage wall awaiting frames and the ride to the gallery where they will be displayed, perhaps sold.

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I look at the stacked artwork and wonder where the end of the road will be for my portrait. To learn more about Julie and Judie's work, visit their website at www.simplymodernart.com.

PULSE • WINTER 2013 | 23

The

PURPLE HE ART FR ATERNIT Y

by Jeanne Fluegge | photo by Steven paul hlavac

24 | PULSE • WINTER 2013

It seemed fitting for me to wear my father’s Purple Heart on Mount Dora’s first Veterans Day Patriotic Cruise and Salute. Buried for decades in a cardboard box, his Purple Heart kept company with a crusty pipe, a wallet with my baby picture spotted and torn, a Saint Christopher’s medal, an American flag and a condolence letter from President Franklin Roosevelt. I felt teary in a good way wearing his medal pinned close to my heart – father and daughter, serving as cruise escorts for Iraq veteran Staff Sergeant Christopher Gordon and his family. Maybe it was my dad’s Purple Heart, but I couldn’t help imagining how hard it would have been for Sergeant Gordon’s son, Justin, if his dad hadn’t come back from war. Justin would have a Purple Heart to hold in his hand, but he would never have a father’s hand to guide and protect him. Justin was only a little boy of seven when his dad’s vehicle drove over a roadside bomb in Iraq. After a year in Walter Reed Army Hospital, a missing leg is the most visible sign of Chris Gordon’s losses. His son’s losses are not as visible. Justin is fourteen now, tall, painfully thin, with a trace of hair on the corners above his upper lip and still very much a boy needing a father to anchor him and calm his sulky teenage restlessness.

Participants in the 2012 Patriot Cruise. Photo courtesy of Rose Mary Lalonde

Earlier, while volunteers were hustling about getting things ready, a man approached me, his arm outstretched to give my hand an energetic shake and solemnly thank me for my service and sacrifice. When I told him the Purple Heart was for my father’s sacrifice and not mine, he drew away. I felt as if I’d done something wrong, like an imposter taking credit for something I didn’t deserve.

His reac tion made me think about the children of soldiers... “I love my dad tons,” said Justin grinning up at his dad, his bony shoulder nestled beneath his dad’s outstretched arm. “He’s a hero because he fought for our country, and now he can fight for us.”

His reaction made me think about the children of soldiers who fight our wars for us. Do we even acknowledge their sacrifices? Because make no mistake about it, their sacrifices are huge.

It was seeing Justin with his dad like a balsa wood glider riding on a steady wind that moved me most on a day filled with poignant moments. People thanked Sergeant Gordon for his sacrifice and service with heart-felt hardy handshakes. Justin stepped back from his dad and cocked his head as if to say, “Hey, what about me?" I understood.

These children learn early on how uncertain life can be. Parents go away to war and come back changed – or don’t come back at all. Out on the lake Justin’s dad relaxed, his muscular arms spread across the back of the pontoon boat’s seat cushions, a child burrowed under each arm; his bulky

PULSE • WINTER 2013 | 25

mechanical leg - a mass of wires where his knee should have been - planted like a tree stump on the speeding boat’s floor; his stepdaughter, De’liyah, stroking the side of his face and his son balled up like a hedgehog barely leaving his side the entire trip. As we headed back to Mount Dora, the children’s eyes, bleary from the sun and alligator spotting, looked toward land. Boats carrying nine other families joined with us in a flotilla heading toward Grantham Point with the sound of fire truck sirens escorting these warrior families home. The mayor and several city council members, Boy Scouts, the high school ROTC Honor Guard, a live Statue of Liberty, and tireless red-shirted volunteers waited at the dock waving and clapping. At Gilbert Park, family portraits, mementos, flags, speeches, barbecue and custard, face painting, patriotic songs, conversation and hugs filled the rest of the afternoon with an outpouring of love and tears. The Patriot Cruise and Salute was a way for us to give

something special back to local wounded warriors and their families on Veterans Day. Sergeant Gordon said it best, “All of this means a lot to me … a little town like Mount Dora … that they care about the vets.” As we said our goodbyes and with the last strains of “Proud to Be an American” still in our ears, Justin and I hugged. Even though our fathers fought in different wars, I felt a special kinship with him. I think he felt it too. Emotionally drained and feeling proud to have played a small part in Mount Dora’s First Annual Veterans Day Salute, I placed my father’s Purple Heart inside its brittle box until next year’s Wounded Warrior Cruise when I’ll wear it close to my heart again. For more information see www.patriotcruise.org or to volunteer for next year’s cruise contact Rozann Abato or Carroll Jaskulski at 352.383.4683.

Staff Seargant Chris Gordon, right, with son Justin Gordon, left.

26 | PULSE • WINTER 2013

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Chef Alex Gandia at KaDee Kay Gourmet Kitchen Products

28 | PULSE • WINTER 2013

learning to cook with

Chef Alex

by Violet Irminger | photo by Bill Casey

I don’t know about you, but as a self-described foodie I thoroughly enjoy watching cooking shows. You know the shows – the ones with Alton or Giada and my personal favorite, Ina, the Barefoot Contessa. But don’t look for the next rising star on your TV channel guide because you can experience him right here in Mount Dora. Chef Alex Gandia, the head chef of Pisces Rising, and Karen Monte, owner of KaDee Kay Gourmet Kitchen Products, recently put their heads together and quickly realized they had a winning combination: a gourmet chef eager to share his knowledge and a successful entrepreneur who looks for innovative ways to demonstrate the many items featured in her store. Voilà, what do you know? A cooking show! Most of us enjoy fine dining, but an evening at KaDee Kay’s with Chef Alex takes the dining experience to another level. Chef Alex not only shares and demonstrates each recipe, usually four or five dishes, he’s also extremely entertaining and funny. His cooking demonstrations include humorous bits of trivia about his experiences as a chef which began in Puerto Rico when he was only twelve years old. While slicing and dicing, he interjects his version of how a particular recipe was created or he provides useful tips concerning the health benefits or possible medicinal uses of the ingredients he uses: how cinnamon can help lower blood pressure, or how the beta carotene found in pumpkin seeds can act as an anti-inflammatory and thus ease arthritis pain. On this particular evening, several reluctant participants from our packed audience joined Chef Alex as he demonstrated the delicate art of making a Sushi roll. I was amazed that in a matter of minutes he was able to teach them how to make a perfect California Roll. He then encouraged each of the students to make a second Sushi roll, urging them to create something new. One of the

participants made an unusual and tasty combination of strawberry, shrimp and avocado. Perhaps one day you’ll see it on the menu at Pisces Rising … the KaDee Kay Roll seems like a good name. If you appreciate a beautiful work of art, you will clearly enjoy the final touches created by Chef Alex. Rather than dig right in, I took several minutes to admire each plate as though contemplating a painting in a gallery. By using simple sauces or herbs, the plate becomes a palette! Whether it’s creating a caterpillar Sushi roll or serving a seasonal pumpkin bisque with truffle oil in a festive hollowed out pumpkin, Chef Alex enjoys presenting the plate almost as much as he does preparing the food. He makes the “art of food” look so simple and after watching him demonstrate … well … it actually isn’t as difficult as you might think. It’s all about learning to think outside the proverbial box. Or should I say cookbook? Because Karen Monte knows all about customer service, she has made arrangements with Maggie’s Attic, a boutique wine store in the same complex, to offer class participants the opportunity to purchase a glass of wine or beer. And, Chef Alex knows how to put on a cooking show that’s up close and personal. So with wine glasses and plates of beautifully prepared food in hand, it’s no wonder the mood during the demonstration becomes festive and relaxed. At the end of a perfect evening, everyone mingles, browses through the store and quickly registers for Chef Alex’s next culinary demonstration. Reservations for Chef Alex’s cooking demonstrations can be made online at www.KaDeeKay.com, by calling the store at 352.383.3600, or dropping in at 237 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 2, in Mount Dora. PULSE • WINTER 2013 | 29

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From Bay Street

to 42nd Street by Susan Green Jaillet | photos provided

“If it weren’t for the support and love I received at Bay Street Players,” Adam Mathias confides, “I don’t know what might have become of me.” His musical, See Rock City and Other Destinations, was performed in 2010 Off-Broadway in New York City at the Duke Theatre on 42nd Street. In 2011 See Rock City won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book, beating out The Book of Mormon. Looking back, Adam credits Deborah Carpenter, founder of Bay Street Players’ Young People’s Theatre, as a major influence in his life. “She taught us to project our voices on stage, which in turn taught me to value my personal voice in all aspects of my life.” When he was four, his mother, Ellen Green, took him to see The King and I at Bay Street. He had the opportunity to be in the show, but was too intimidated to accept. “Attending the performance changed that. I was immediately taken with musical theatre and wanted to be a part of it.” The next year he 32 | PULSE • WINTER 2013

enrolled in the Bay Street Young People’s Theatre. Over a 10-year span, he performed on stage and gained experience as a stage manager; doing lighting, props, scene design; and serving as pianist and vocal director. Before he graduated from Eustis High School, he wrote and directed two original shows, Once Upon a Time and Caribbean Lullaby. The next year at the Theatre School at Chicago’s DePaul University, he discovered his passion for playwriting, particularly musicals. “I knew I wanted to be involved in theatre, but I wasn’t interested in being a professional actor.” He received his BFA, then moved to New York City to pursue his MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts specializing in Musical Theatre Writing. By day Adam works for a specializes in organizing collectors and art galleries. currently Vice President.

small company, ArtBase, which and managing databases for He started there in 2002 and is “While the art of database

â&#x20AC;&#x153;She taught us to projec t our voices on stage, which in turn taught me to value my personal voice in all aspec ts of my life.â&#x20AC;? architecture seems far off from musical theatre, I have found I have a talent for it. And, my bosses are especially supportive of my career in musical theatre.â&#x20AC;? In 2002 Adam joined the BMI Musical Theatre Writing Workshop, a professional writers group whose alumni include Ed Kleban (A Chorus Line), Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Little Shop of Horrors, Disneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beauty & the Beast), Maury Yeston (Titanic), Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime) and Bobby Lopez (Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon).

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His first professional break came after writing the book and lyrics for The Passion of George W. Bush, performed as part of the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival. Simon Hammerstein, grandson of lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, directed. A short musical festival paired Adam with composer Brad Alexander to write a ten-minute musical about a dangerous choice. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wrote about a woman making a decision at Niagara Falls, and the project became a full musical focusing on people making life choices at various tourist attractions across America.â&#x20AC;? See Rock City was born. See Rock City received The Jerry Bock (Fiddler on the Roof) Award for Outstanding Musical Theatre Writing in 2007. In 2008, it received the Richard Rodgers Award for Outstanding Musical Theatre Writing. After a premier at the Barrington Stage Company in Massachusetts, the play was produced by the Transport Group Off-Broadway at the Duke Theatre on 42nd Street. In 2011, it was nominated for six Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Music, Lyrics, Book and Outstanding Musical, more nominations than any other off-Broadway show that year. Continued on Page 37 PULSE â&#x20AC;˘ WINTER 2013 | 33

A Hitch 'n Time owner Kathy Smith in one of her three horse-drawn carriages

A Hitch'n Time by Beth hughes | photo by marc vaughn 34 | PULSE â&#x20AC;˘ WINTER 2013

As I write, the Christmas season in Mount Dora is in full swing. I am lucky. My condo overlooks the lighted winter wonderland that is Donnelly Park. Every so often, I hear jingle bells. No, it’s not Santa. The bell sound is followed by hoof beats – clip-clop-clip-clop. It’s Norman, a 13 year-old, 18.3 hand (that’s BIG), one ton Percheron draft horse pulling a festively trimmed limousine carriage full of happy holiday revelers. Perhaps more than anything else, it’s the Hitch ‘n Time carriages that lend the charm to our fair hamlet. Mount Adorable. Mount Darling. Visitors come to our town to shop, dine, enjoy the sights and the mild climate. But many come specifically because they can experience the best Mount Dora has to offer from the unique perspective of the splendor of a horse-drawn carriage. J.D. Rogers, a driver with the company since the beginning, is now Kathy’s partner. He started riding horses as a young child but wasn’t allowed to “drive” them until he was tall enough to put the harness over their massive backs, a feat he accomplished at age 12. Chris Smith, no relation to Kathy, is the third driver. All three must hold "hack licenses," just like cab drivers, to operate the carriages. Currently, and more importantly, there are four horses that pull the carriages. Norman was a rescue horse from Miami. When they acquired him, J.D. says, “We didn’t think he’d make it. He was extremely skinny. But he put on weight and thrived under our care. He actually seems grateful and happy we found him and gave him a chance.” Max, also a Percheron, a draft breed suitable for pulling heavy loads, weighs a little less than Norman at a mere 1700 pounds and stands about 17 hands high at the withers. A hand is four inches and the withers are at the base of the horse’s neck. Kathy and J.D. found Max on the internet and drove half-way to his Texas home to pick him up, meeting his owner in Bassdrop, Louisiana. At age six, he is the youngest horse in their fleet. “Max had no prior training as a carriage horse, but took to the job readily and was street worthy in three months.” Duke, also 17 hands high, weighs approximately 1900 pounds and is 12 years old. Kathy and J.D. brought Duke to Mount Dora from Tampa where he was used as a therapy horse helping children with special needs. Before working as a therapy horse, Duke was trained by the

A Hitch ‘n Time st arted serving Moun t Dora in 2002 Amish. The foundation these horses receive from the Amish training makes for reliable, trustworthy animals who are not bothered by street noise, traffic, barking dogs and other distractions they may encounter along the route. Rounding out the stable is the relatively diminutive BamBam, a nine year old Morgan who stands 15 hands and weighs only 1100 pounds soaking wet. He pulls the smaller Vis-à-vis carriage which seats four passengers. The limousine carriage used by A Hitch ‘n Time seats up to six adults comfortably. In addition to regular downtown tours, Hitch ‘n Time is available for theme parties and special occasions. Everything from weddings to personalized events can be accommodated. Everyone dresses the part and the carriage’s décor will reflect the mood of your occasion. For cooler weather rides, blankets are provided; and on warm days the ladies receive parasols because, as Kathy puts it, “Southern Belles are only allowed to glisten, never sweat.” Mount Dora resident, Beth Banerjee says it’s their annual Christmas tradition to take a holiday light-viewing ride with her kids, Roland and Anjali. If you live within the Historic District or are staying downtown, you can arrange ahead of time for Hitch ‘n Time drivers to pick you up. By the time you read this story, the holidays will be over. But Norman, Max, Duke and Bam-Bam will still be working in Mount Dora as they do year ‘round, weather permitting. A Hitch 'n Time's Carriage Stand is located on 4th Avenue and Alexander Street in Mount Dora. You can also visit their website at www.ahitchntime.com, or call 352.394.8851 for schedules and reservations. PULSE • WINTER 2013 | 35

JENNIFER CAHILL HARPER RELIEF PRINTS & ILLUSTRATIONS

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Sunday April 21 at 7:30 Sunday April 28 at 7:30 Sunday May 5 at 7:30 Central Florida Premier A musical written by Adam Mathias of Eustis & Bay Street Player’s alumnus Winner of the 2011 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book Winner of the 2008 Richard Rodgers Award Winner of the 2007 Jerry Bock Award For ticket Information: baystreetplayers.tix.com/Event

36 | PULSE • WINTER 2013

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RAINTREE, continued from Page 19

with an uncanny knack of matching the right authors, both familiar and unfamiliar, to the right readers. In a business world where computers, spreadsheets, metrics and analytics now rule the roost, Raintree Books relies on its people. Even though Jo Henson is a full time financial advisor at Wells Fargo and Wendell Davis and his wife have moved to the Carolinas, where they now run a separate business dealing in rare, antiquarian books, there’s a personal touch at Raintree under Tish’s watchful eye that no computer code has yet been able to match. So, while some bookies will quote the odds on the next Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ game, take their client’s money and laugh all the way to the bank, the bookies at Raintree seem far more interested in finding their customers the right book at the right time for the right price. They even give customers credits to come back and read some more. Raintree Books is located at 432 North Eustis Street, Eustis, FL 32726. For more information and their store credit policy, call 352.357.7145 or visit their website at www.raintreebooks.com.

Mathias, continued from Page 32

Adam has several other projects in development. A new musical, A History of Summer, the story of Cherry Grove and the Fire Island Pines, America’s earliest established gay communities, explores the lives, loves, hopes and heartbreaks of the residents. He’s also been contracted to write the book for the musical version of Dances With Wolves. “At first I was surprised that someone wanted to musicalize the story, but when I rewatched the film and read the novel I realized at heart it is an intimate story about both romance and family.” “I’m so proud that Bay Street Players has added See Rock City & Other Destinations to their second stage season. I’m excited to see the show I wrote in ‘the big city’ performed in the theatre where I grew up.” See Rock City will also be performed as part of the Orlando Fringe Festival in 2013.

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The book for See Rock City is available on Amazon, published and licensed by Samuel French. An Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording will be produced by Yellow Sound Label and the CD will be available on Amazon and iTunes by the end of January 2013. Adam smiles now. “As a child, I was often teased or harassed for being different. I found a home at Bay Street and gained the confidence to leave Eustis and go after my goals.” Twenty years later he’s been honored and recognized by some of the best – and continues creating his own work. For more information about Adam Mathias and his creative work, go to adamup.com, seerockcitymusical.com and ahistoryofsummer.com. Or, Ellen Green, his mom.

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PULSE • WINTER 2013 | 39

Fun

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‘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 big local favorites. Their seasonal megawine tastings draw visitors from near and far.

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