One on One
with Don Yaeger
Accolades and acrimony have accompanied his full-court-press to transform from workaday reporter to multifaceted author and businessman
In Praise of ‘Slow Food’
TAKE THE TIME TO Savor OUR Region’s Wonderful Flavors
Counting Noses
Uncle Sam Wants You — To Fill Out That Census Form
Polio in Tallahassee
AFTEREFFECTS OF THE 1954 Outbreak STILL LINGER TODAY
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March/April 2010
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MAN OF AMBITION
Reporter, author, lobbyist, consultant, businessman, dad: Don Yaeger has crammed them all into his 46 years. And even though he’s lived here half that time, the controversial entrepreneur finds much more fame and respect outside of his hometown.
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EPIDEMIC OF FEAR
Photo by Lawrence Davidson
More than 50 years ago, Tallahassee was a polio “hot spot.” Panic that dwarfed today’s H1N1 concerns would lead parents to adopt strange measures to avoid the disease and nearly ruin the football season for the Leon High School Lions.
IN THIS ISSUE
Look at this special section before you leap into the activities planned for the 42nd edition of the region’s signature festival and parade, Springtime Tallahassee.
ON THE COVER He usually tells other people’s stories, but this time, Don Yaeger’s tale is the one being told. Photo by Scott Holstein
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contents 18
29 176
113
In Every Issue
Departments
Home & Garden
College students are earning big money with their poker-playing skills, but there are risks along with the riches.
Stovetop cooking, without all the heat.
29 ON THE MOVE
11 From the Publisher 13 From the Editor 15 Letters to the Editor 130 The Last Word
33 ARTS & CULTURE
Quick Reads 17 ONE TO WATCH
Philanthropist Charlotte Maguire supports lifelong learning during her long life.
Coming soon: An ever-growing festival for people who love to read or write, or both.
37 EDITOR’S CHOICE
What’s happening in Census 2010 and why it’s important for all to stand up and be counted.
18 FIRST PERSON
Coach Don Shula says the relentless pursuit of perfection brings success.
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99 CHECK IT OUT 100 HABITAT
Forget the fancy hat and gloves — this is Tallahassee’s garden club for the new millennium.
Mind & Body 105 IN FOCUS
Ah, ah, ah — grab those tissues, this could be an extreme allergy season — choo!
113 Travel
106 HEALTH
20 Test Drive
When leisure time is short, head for the coast and a beach getaway.
Traumatic Brain Injury can create a lifetime of challenge for its sufferers and the people who love them.
22 Gen Next
Events
Dining
Celebrating the 40th Earth Day birthday. A local author shares the inspiring story of Betty Mae Tiger Jumper in a new picture book for children.
24 LIFESTYLE
Pay homage to the talent of local artisans by wearing their handiwork.
45 SPOTLIGHT
The Florida Wine Festival has something for everyone — from sophisticated wining-and-dining to a grape-stompin’ good time.
46 CALENDAR
The weather’s fine and the area’s social calendar is full of springtime fun.
61 SOCIAL STUDIES
Check out who’s been where in our photo gallery.
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121 FIRST COURSE
If you’re going to dye eggs, here’s how to hard cook them the right way.
122 FLAVOR
The healthful and environmental benefits of “slow” food are the antidote to a fastpaced life.
126 DINING GUIDE
Rumbly in your tumbly? Find suggestions for great dining options here, Pooh.
March-April 2010
Vol. 32, No. 2
Publisher Brian E. Rowland Editor Rosanne Dunkelberger lead designer Saige Roberts
Staff Writer Jason Dehart EDITORIAL Coordinators Jennifer Ewing, Lilly Rockwell Contributing Writers Wendy O. Dixon, Jennifer Ewing, Tori Gibbs, Linda Kleindienst, Jack Macaleavy, Margy Menzel, Donna Meredith, Daniel Mutter, Sue Ray, Lilly Rockwell, Triston Sanders, Tabitha Yang copy editor Barry Ray STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Scott Holstein
Editorial Interns Chandell Dixon, Tori Gibbs, Daniel Mutter traffic coordinator Carlin Trammel traffic Assistant Kara O’Ferrell
Sales Executives Phil LaPorte, Lori Magee, Daniel Parisi, Linda Powell Online tallahasseemagazine.com twitter.com/tallahasseemag
R O W L A N D P U B L I S H I N G ,
I N C .
President Brian E. Rowland
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Kimberly Howes
Creative Director Lawrence Davidson
Production DIRECTOR Melinda Lanigan
Director of Linda Kleindienst Editorial Services
Manager of Finance Angela Jarvis HR/Administration Client Services Shannon Grooters Representative
Executive Assistant to McKenzie Burleigh the president/Publisher Assistant Saige Roberts Creative Director Marketing Coordinator Caroline Hunter Production Coordinator Carlin Trammel
senior designers Tisha Keller, Bonnie Lewis
Graphic Designers Beth Nabi, Marc Thomas, Daniel Vitter
Network Administrator Daniel Vitter
Receptionists Jennifer Ewing, Caroline Hunter
Web Site rowlandpublishing.com
Tallahassee Magazine is published bimonthly by Rowland Publishing, Inc. 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. 850/878-0554. Tallahassee Magazine and Rowland Publishing, Inc. are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. Editorial contributions are welcomed and encouraged but will not be returned. Tallahassee Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor. Copyright March 2010 Tallahassee Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Member, Tallahassee Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and Florida Magazine Association.
one-year Subscription $24.95 (SIx issues) (850) 878-0554 Tallahassee Magazine can be purchased at Borders Books, Barnes & Noble, Costco, Books-A-Million, Waldenbooks and at our Miccosukee Road office.
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March–April 2010
Proud member Florida Magazine Association and Florida Press Association
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March–April 2010
10TM_MA_Capital Health Plan.indd 1
2/5/10 2:34:02 PM
From the Publisher
PHOTO by David eggleston
It’s Time to Lighten Your Load Lately, I have been observing people and the number of keys they carry around. So I began taking an informal survey over the past couple of months to get a little more information. Basically, I wanted to know how many keys people carry with them each day — and what are they for? I ended up with some very interesting facts and responses. Whenever I saw an individual with a onepound ring of keys, I introduced myself and asked if they would participate in my informal survey, which nearly all did. So, here we were, in the parking lot of an office building, counting and analyzing the keys that people lug around. So, let’s talk about the keys — and what was revealed by those who carry the full load. Most people carry far more keys than they really need. The average number of keys carried by the folks I polled was 19. And most of those people could not identify the locks that match at least 25 percent of the keys they carry daily in their pocket or their purse. That means, on average, about four of those keys unlocked things unknown or not remembered. For the 15 keys that had a known purpose, only about three to four were used daily. As for the remainder of the keys, they were used less than once a week. But here is the really scary part of my survey: More than 80 percent of the people carrying a bucketload of keys did not have duplicate for a single one of them. And that means they could be facing a financial disaster — or at least an incredible hassle — if those keys were lost, stolen or fell off the boat. When I inquired why they would put themselves at such risk, not a single person could come up with a plausible answer. Nor did any of them seem to be concerned or really motivated to get the situation corrected. Taking this one step further, the lack of concern increased with the number of keys carried by that person. Many shrugged it off by saying, “That will not ever happen to me.” I called a locksmith and learned it can cost about $10.50 to re-key each lock on the average door in your home. So, when you have to rekey 10 locks, you are looking at spending $105. If you also have a deadbolt on each of those doors, add another $10.50 per lock — for an additional $105. And don’t forget the fee you’ll be charged just to come to your home, say another $50. That expense would be a real bite. I find this key phenomenon to be quite interesting and ask you to consider doing your own personal key inventory. Rid yourself of the dead weight. Put the infrequently used keys on a separate keychain and maybe place it in the glove box of your car so it would be nearby when needed. Then head over to your favorite home improvement store (or any place that makes keys), have at least one duplicate made of every key and put those in a safe place at home. Label each one so you won’t be looking at a key with no name. Now treat yourself to a nice new keychain and use it for the three to four keys you use every day. What a personal accomplishment! You have now prevented a potential expensive disaster, you have lightened up the load you carry around in your daily life, and you have eliminated a potentially stressful and expensive situation.
CHANGING CAREERS SHOULD BE
YOUR DECISION.
LISA M. HURLEY, ESQ., DEFENDING PROFESSIONALS AGAINST COMPLAINTS AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS INVOLVING THEIR LICENSE.
517 E. COLLEGE AVE., TALLAHASSEE, FL 32301 (850) 224-2001 lisalaw@tmo.blackberry.net WILLARDHURLEY.com
OUR GOAL IS TO PROTECT YOUR FREEDOM AND YOUR FUTURE.
Brian Rowland, Publisher tallahassee
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The Most Beautiful Diamonds and Precious Gems
3501 Thomasville Road 850-893-4171 @ www.gemcollection.com 12
March–April 2010
From the Editor
Up and At ’Em, Tallahassee, Spring Is in the Air It’s the most wonderful time It’s the most wonderful time, It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Andy Williams was crooning about Christmas, but as far as I’m concerned, around these parts, the “most wonderful” honor goes to spring. The weather takes a turn for the better, the azaleas and dogwoods put on a show, and even a recliner-bound slug like myself feels the need to get outside and do — or plant — something. It’s a time when we can shake off the winter chills (especially the freeze-a-thons in January and February), and last summer’s hot and humid days are nothing but a distant memory. For many Christians, the sacrifices of Lent are almost over and the joyous Easter season begins. (I really didn’t like Lent, because my March birthday always fell somewhere within those 40 days. I’d usually fall off of my privation wagon and celebrate with some forbidden cake and candy, but in proper Catholic fashion, I’d feel guilty about it afterward.) One of the only people I know who is not too thrilled about this time of year is my husband, a journalist and Capitol bureau chief who has spent the past 25 springs covering the Legislature for his downstate newspapers. It’s his busiest time of the year, and the agenda is usually heating up around his April birthday as the session winds down. His company gives workers a vacation day on their birthday, but he never gets to take it. When our children were still at home, we’d be off for fun-filled spring-break vacations while Lloyd was left behind, toiling at the Capitol. I think the only people who work harder than Lloyd does during the session are the state legislative staffers. After the senators and representatives have adjourned for the day and are enjoying happy hour at Clyde’s, these folks are up until the wee hours rewriting, analyzing, printing and otherwise making sense of what was decided that day. Several items in this issue of Tallahassee Magazine give a nod to the season — most notably a 16-page special section devoted to all the fun and pageantry surrounding our fair city’s signature festival, Springtime Tallahassee. We’re also writing about that once-in-a-decade occurrence, the U.S. Census, and a relatively new local event, the Tallahassee Festival of Books and Writers Conference. There’s a story about an enjoyable and educational celebration of Earth Day, and a little something about one of spring’s downsides — allergy season. Here’s hoping you have a spring season that’s as beautiful as the azaleas at Maclay Gardens.
Rosanne Dunkelberger rdunkelberger@rowlandpublishing.com
Azalea Women’s Healthcare We specialize in gentle, sensitive, personalized care. Adrienne George, MD Regina Lewis, ARNP, BS Deborah White, CNM Kimberly Morphet, CNM Erin Schleicher, CNM OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY 1219 Hodges Dr. • Tallahassee (850) 877-5767
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Letters to the Editor Wait, That’s Not All I would like to thank Tallahassee Magazine for the coverage in the January 2010 issue regarding the new tourism marketing structure and emphasis on building Tallahassee into a year-round visitor destination. Due to the limited amount of space available in the “Quick Reads” feature, it was impossible for the author to cover all the many ideas Visit Tallahassee is working on to grow this extremely important business to Tallahassee and Leon County. I would like your readers to rest assured that visual and performing arts, sporting events and film production are also significant components of our marketing strategy and execution. I view visual and performing arts as real strengths of this destination, right along with nature-based, historic and heritage attractions and our many sporting venues and filming opportunities. In addition, with the opening of the new Turnbull Conference Center and the Mission San Luis Visitor Center combined with other facilities such as the Leon County Civic Center, Tallahassee Automobile Museum, Goodwood Museum & Gardens and the TCC Workforce Development Center, we are expanding our efforts in the meetings and conventions market. We are blessed in Tallahassee to have such a well-rounded destination, and all of us at Visit Tallahassee are busy telling this wonderful story to a myriad of audiences — all with the goal of improving our economic well-being and quality of life. We look forward to working with all our community partners in the days, months and years ahead. Lee Daniel, Executive Director Visit Tallahassee Helping Us Help Children Thanks again for your support of the Children’s Campaign. We have had many positive comments and the article (“Watchdogs For Kids,” January/February 2010) greatly helped expose our work to the community. Linda Alexionok, Executive Director Children’s Campaign, Inc. CORRECTION The last name of Andrew Bachmann was spelled incorrectly in the feature story “Post Cards from the Past,” which appeared in the January/February 2010 issue of the magazine.
Do you have something to say? If you have a comment about or correction to Tallahassee Magazine, send a message to editorial@rowlandpublishing.com or 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. tallahassee
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photo by scott holstein
One to Watch
» DR. CHARLOTTE MAGUIRE
Dr. Charlotte Maguire gives a whole new meaning to the notion of “golden years.” At 90, after a brilliant career in medicine and government, she’s still in love with learning — and still inspiring others to learn. Her latest project: the Maguire Center for Lifelong Learning at Westminster Oaks Active Living Community, where she lives. The 10,000-square-foot center has a high-tech virtual library, a 350-seat auditorium, a computer lab and a bistro. It was seeded with a $1 million donation from Maguire, the largest lifetime gift
ever to Westminster Oaks, and is estimated at $4.3 million in all. “We’ve got to stimulate their brains!” said Maguire, an avid reader who loves to paint and take walks with her dog, Windy. A pathfinder for women, Maguire practiced pediatric medicine in Orlando for 25 years, then came to Tallahassee as an official at the thenDepartment of Health and Rehabilitative Services. She served in such groundbreaking roles as chief of staff for the Children’s Home Society’s central Florida division and as the first woman
president of the Florida Pediatric Society. Maguire has already given FSU a state-ofthe-art virtual medical library. In 1999, she donated $1 million to create the dean’s chair and endow student scholarships at what was then known as the Program in Medical Sciences. After advocating for the establishment of FSU’s College of Medicine, she gave another $1 million to endow a chair in geriatrics. She also established a scholarship fund for Westminster Oaks employees to train as certified nursing assistants, LPNs and RNs. — Margie Menzel
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QUICK READS first person
WINNING WAYS Former Miami Dolphins Coach Don Shula contends practice and the pursuit of perfection works, whether you’re playing football or running a restaurant.
Don Shula Speaks He holds the NFL record for the most career wins, with 347 victories under his belt; is a member of the NFL Hall of Fame who coached the young Miami Dolphins through a perfect season (17-0) in 1972; and had only two losing seasons in his coaching career. Don Shula, now 80, quit coaching after the 1995 season, but during his 32 years on the NFL sidelines he learned many lessons that helped him successfully transition into a business career. His Miami Lakes-based Shula Restaurant franchise now boasts 35 restaurants in 17 states, including a Shula’s 347 Grill that opened in Tallahassee in December. He recently sat down with Linda Kleindienst to impart some of his winning wisdom.
Obsessed with Perfection “As a coach, you want to have the best team. And we want to have the best restaurant. We want everybody to know their assignments and what to do and how to do it and do it in a first-class way. That was my whole coaching philosophy. We never wanted to lose a game because we didn’t know what we were doing or because we were penalized in critical situations. We were always the least-penalized team, and we prided ourselves in not making mental errors that might cost the ball game.
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That same thing applies (to business): knowing what you’re doing, knowing your business and doing it better than your opponent.”
Molding Many into One “On game day, it’s a team game. There’s nobody who can go out there and do it by themselves. They’ve got to rely on their teammates; they’ve got to trust their teammates. And they’ve got to have that kind of commitment to each other.”
Signs of a Good Leader “You always have to learn as much as you can from the people that you’ve been around, but do it in the framework of your own personality and don’t try to be somebody other than who you are. That’s probably one of the biggest lessons that I had to learn.”
Reflections on Game Day “There’s nothing that replaces game day. You think about … the decision making, the highs and lows, the emotional rollercoaster that you’re on. That sideline is not a place for the faint of heart.”
And a Word about Bobby Bowden Bobby Bowden’s exit as coach of Florida
State University’s football team in some ways paralleled Shula’s departure from the Dolphins in 1996. Both presided over extremely successful teams that ultimately fell onto harder times. And both were hurried out before they were ready to call it a career as a head coach. When asked about it, Shula is diplomatic, saying: “The way that I left, Jimmy Johnson was out there campaigning for the job … You could sense that’s the direction the owner wanted to go, so I sort of helped him do it and stepped aside.” Shula’s son, Dave, who is president of the Shula Restaurant operations and a former NFL coach himself, offers this assessment of the situation in both Miami and Tallahassee: “People here are complacent with (Bowden’s) level of success. They don’t realize how hard it is to build a program and continue to win. What my dad did, averaging 10 wins a year in the NFL when there wasn’t 16 games a lot of that time, and what Coach Bowden did here, with 14 seasons finishing in the Top Five and only having one losing season … that’s very remarkable, and if Jimbo Fisher comes anywhere close to that — I’m not saying he can’t — they ought to be very thankful, let alone trying to surpass it. People, they get caught up in how easy they think it is. You get spoiled, and I think that was the case in Miami.”
photo by JESSICA VAN RIPER
The Winningest Coach in Pro Football History Shares His Recipe for Success
“Welcome home.” Words everyone in the market loves to hear. HOME SALES • RELOCATION • PROPERTY • RENTALS
HOMES & LAND AND RENTAL GUIDE MAGAZINES ARE PERFECT RESOURCES for finding your next home or apartment. If you are moving locally, pick up a copy to see the area’s most attractive places to live. If you are locating outside the Tallahassee area, contact us at 800-277-7800 and we’ll send you a free magazine for your target destination. Make sure you visit HomesAndLand.com and RentalGuide.net to see thousands of new listings and apartments everyday.
QUICK READS test drive
A Day for Nature Lovers Earth Day Celebrates its 40th Birthday Locally with Festivals and Consciousness-Raising By sue ray
F
orty years ago this April, the very first Earth Day was observed, helping set the stage for the modern environmental movement. Originally conceived as a protest against the despoiling of the Earth’s natural resources and the federal government’s inattention to the issue, that inaugural event, held on April 22, 1970, drew in some 20 million Americans who took to their local streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment. Their efforts eventually bore fruit through the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and passage of the federal Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species acts. Fast-forward four decades: With the world now in the midst of the “green revolution,”
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Earth Day is perhaps even more pertinent in 2010 than it was in 1970. Fortunately, residents of the Big Bend won’t need to travel far this spring to show their appreciation for all that nature has given them. Festival Combines Celebration, Education “Love the Earth, teach the children.” That’s the motto of the Florida Earth Day Jam, a local music festival and environmental exhibition that promotes conservation, sustainability and green living. Florida Earth Day Jam 2010 will take place Saturday, April 24, at the Bradfordville Blues Club (off Bradfordville Road, about three miles east of Thomasville Road). As it did last year,
the festival will feature hot regional and local musical acts on four stages, both indoors and outdoors, throughout the day and well into the evening. An onsite educational exhibition will include dozens of nonprofit organizations, green businesses and local government programs. Artists, craftspeople and fair-trade distributors, as well as food and drink vendors, will be selling their wares as well. The Earth Day Jam is a community service project of The Magnolia School, in partnership with Leon County, the city of Tallahassee and local nonprofit groups. The small, private school has fewer than 60 students in grades K-8, but don’t let its size fool you: The parents, friends and alumni put on quite a show. For more information about the familyfriendly festival, including a schedule of performances and ticket prices, visit earthdayjam. org. Go to themagnoliaschool.net to learn more about the environmentally friendly Magnolia School. Educational booths and children’s activities are on the agenda for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s annual celebration, which will be held on the “official” Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It all takes place at the Florida Capitol, both within the Plaza Level rotunda and at Waller Park on the Capitol’s west side. For more information or to get involved, call Vanessa L. Williams of the DEP at (850) 245-2171 or e-mail her at vanessa.l.williams@dep.state.fl.us. In addition, the city of Tallahassee — recognized by the Florida Green Building Council as a Certified Green City — traditionally schedules a week’s worth of events in observance of Earth Day. To learn more about the city’s plans, which were still being finalized at press time, call its Environmental Policy and Energy Resources Department at (850) 891-2476. Cash for (Appliance) Clunkers Speaking of all things environmental, if you’ve been considering replacing your outdated and inefficient refrigerator or other household appliances, put those plans on hold … at least until Friday, April 16. Starting then and running through Sunday, April 25, Florida consumers can take advantage of the state’s own version of the federal “Cash for Clunkers” initiative. Florida residents who purchase one of six energy-efficient residential appliances during this time may be eligible for a 20-percent rebate of the purchase price, not to exceed $1,500. Eligible appliances are refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, room air conditioners and gas tankless water heaters. There are a number of rules and criteria to consider, so before you buy, visit myfloridaclimate.com and search for “Florida Energy Star Appliance Rebate Program,” or send an e-mail to energy@eog.myflorida.com.
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QUICK READS gen next
Reading Changes Lives Seminole History Shines in Local Author’s Picture Book By Jennifer EwinG
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Meet the Author from Florida State University. She has also been inducted into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame and honored with the Florida Folk Life Heritage Award and the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native American Indian Journalist’s Association. Perhaps her story, like the newspaper clipping and comic book, will one day be a powerful source of inspiration for another young person. At the very least, Annino believes that, by reading the book, kids will learn a great deal about and from an important historical figure. “This is the story of a real Seminole and we just don’t come across that,” she emphasizes. Betty Mae Tiger Jumper will celebrate her 87th birthday this April. “She Sang Promise” has been vetted by the Seminoles’ Ah-Tah-ThiKi Museum and endorsed by esteemed Florida historian Dr. Michael Gannon.
MARCH 12 Friday 7 p.m. Launch, Barnes & Noble, Tallahassee Mall, N. Monroe St. 15 Monday 7:45 p.m. Children’s Books Talk, New Leaf Market, Apalachee Pkwy. 16 Tuesday 11 a.m. Book Talk, Tallahassee Senior Center, N. Monroe St. 20 Saturday all day Festival of Books/ Tallahassee Writers Association Annual Conference, FSU’s new Turnbull Center, Pensacola St. 22 Monday 6 p.m. Leisure Learning, Tallahassee Senior Center N. Monroe St. 27 Saturday 1 p.m. Downtown Books, 67 Commerce St., Apalachicola
photo by scott holstein
ocal author Jan Godown Annino firmly believes people’s lives are shaped by what they read as children. “It’s what we do for young minds at the earliest of ages that can set their course for life,” she says. It’s a belief her personal experience affirms, albeit in an unexpected way. When she was 15 years old, her mother cut out a newspaper article about Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, who had just become the first female to serve as leader of the Seminole Tribal Council. The fateful snip of the scissors allowed Annino to recognize Jumper years later during a happenstance encounter at a Native American festival. Now she has penned a children’s picture book entitled “She Sang Promise” ($17.95, hardcover) about Jumper’s remarkable but little-known accomplishments. “I feel honored as an outsider to bring this story to children,” says Annino. “[Betty Mae Tiger Jumper] just has such achievement, and yet she still deserves more awareness.” As readers flip through the 42 pages of lyrical prose and beautiful folk-style illustrations, they will discover a real-life heroine who is as exciting as she is admirable. Children will listen with delight as Jumper embarks on a variety of adventures — from growing up in the Florida wilderness to wrestling alligators at a tourist attraction in order to help support her family. They will also hear how, much like Annino, Jumper was greatly influenced by an adolescent reading experience. At the age of 13, having never been taught to read or write, Jumper decided to go to school after watching a friend laughing at a comic book. One of the very first Seminoles to receive a high school diploma, Jumper returned to her tribe as a qualified nurse and went on to establish the first tribal newspaper, write three published books and receive an honorary doctorate
Celebrating over
years of excellence
I will create a racket on the court. The years hadn’t been kind to me or my arms. And I had to give up short sleeve tops altogether, when the first thing to swing on a serve was my arm slack. Thankfully, the a mazing tea m of surgeons at Tallahassee Plastic Surgery created a personal surgical and recovery plan just for me. Now I’m creating quite the racket on the court with my new-found confidence.
– Ann Marie, Pana ma City, F l T a l l a h a s s e e
Plastic Surgery Clinic & Physicians’ Skin Care Clinic Louis Hill Jr., M.D. | Larry L. Harper, M.D., F.A.C.S. | Alfredo A. Paredes Jr., M.D. 2452 Mahan Drive | Suite 101 | Tallahassee, FL 32308 | 850.877.2126 | www.tlhplasticsurgery.com tallahassee
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QUICK READS lifestyle
Body of Work Turn Your Wardrobe into a Gallery with Locally Handcrafted Pieces of Wearable Art
Light enough for year-round wear, this hand-dyed silk scarf by rose e. catalano has all the beautifully varied tones of a watercolor painting. $75, Humidity Gallery.
By Jennifer Ewing
Mari Aoki Knight’s fused glass jewelry is an eye-catching accent for any ensemble. Earrings $45, ring $70, Humidity Gallery.
Jennifer Colley embellishes antique glass buttons with handstitched beadwork to create colorful pins and necklace pendants. $62, Humidity Gallery.
Using a rust-based dye, Steve Torres gives T-shirts a distinct, rugged look with stamped images and artistic splotches. $15, Textures Handmade Market. Terrie Corbett uses high-fire glass enamels to create items with intricate, abstract images. Pendant $58, sterling silver chain $30, Humidity Gallery. 24
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Inspired by the abstract sculptures of Alexander Calder, the inventor of the mobile, Deborah Kivett’s silver jewelry is modern and whimsical all at once. Bracelet $150, Humidity Gallery.
Photoillustration by marc l. thomas
Biophysicist Michael Davidson brings advanced technology to the forefront of fashion with a line of neckties patterned after microscopic images. $18 plus shipping and handling, micro. magnet.fsu.edu/ store.
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2010
TOPSINGLES PRESENTING SPONSOR: CENTRE POINTE DENTAL GROUP • Dr. Ro n ald G. W illis
COME SUPPORT NOT ONLY YOUR SINGLE FRIENDS, BUT YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY AS WELL. We’re on a man – and woman – hunt, searching for Tallahassee’s most eligible singles. And it’s all up to the readers of Tallahassee Magazine.
If you know somebody who’s unattached with a winning personality — and who’s willing to have a little fun while supporting their favorite charity — be sure to nominate them. We’re looking for singles of all ages and persuasions. If they’d make a good date, be sure to nominate! (And it’s OK to nominate yourself.) If your partnerless pal is selected as a Top Single of Tallahassee, he or she will be profiled in the pages of Tallahassee Magazine’s July/August issue.
And two lucky people will be “singled” out as our cover girl and guy. But that’s not all. Winners will be feted during a Top Singles event that promises to be one of the most fun evenings of the summer of 2010! The party is at Hotel Duval, promising high energy entertainment, with food, music and libations. Lunch dates with our select singles will be auctioned off — and the money that is bid will go to each person’s designated charity.
SPONSORED BY:
CENTRE POINTE DENTAL GROUP Dr. Ronald G. W il l is
sandestination.
COM
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NOMINATION DEADLINE: APRIL 15TH
2010
TOPSINGLES PRESENTING SPONSOR: CENTRE POINTE DENTAL GROUP • Dr. Ro n ald G. W illis
NOMINATOR Your name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your address: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your phone: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your e-mail: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Your relationship to the person you are nominating: ● Friend
● Family
● Colleague
● Yourself
● Other: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TELL US ABOUT THE PERSON YOU’RE NOMINATING Their name: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Their phone: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Their e-mail: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Their job/profession: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Age:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Gender: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Status: ● Never married
● Divorced
● Widowed
Seeking: ● Women ● Men Web/Facebook/MySpace/Twitter page(s): ______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Charitable affiliations (if known): ______________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Professional affiliations: ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What makes them special: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CENTRE POINTE DENTAL GROUP D r. R o n a l d G . W il l is
NOMINATION DEADLINE: APRIL 15TH
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2010
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NOMINATION DEADLINE: APRIL 15TH
On the Move
Placing Their Bets WITH A PURPOSE After verifying an address, census workers gave residents a handout about the census and the reasons for the visit.
In Tallahassee and Across the Nation, the Poker Game Texas Hold ’em Has Players Seeking Fame and Fortune By Daniel Mutter
I
f you’ve been to any casino, you probably remember windowless, oxygen-pumped rooms filled with cigarette smoke; the hoots of excited winners mixed with the cacophony of long rows of slot machines; the card tables beckoning you to sit down and win big. In such environments, one card game has quickly captured the imaginations of gamblers looking to strike it rich. Texas Hold ’em poker is now played by millions of people all over the world. And right here in Tallahassee, they’re even going online to get their Hold ’em fix. Television broadcasts of the World Series of Poker and, more recently, the World Poker Tour have significantly added to the game’s massive popularity. However, the advent of Internet poker is another contributor to the resurgence of fans and players
enjoying Texas Hold ’em. Many Web sites, including bodog.com, pokerstars.com and fulltilt.com, offer players a chance to strike it rich — or go broke — almost anytime and anywhere. One Florida State University student turned his online success into triumph at the Las Vegas casinos, winning more than $1 million at the World Series of Poker in 2006. Leif Force, 26, was never a stranger to card games. “I grew up home-schooled, and the way we used to (learn) our math was by playing cards and using numbers like that,” he says. Force came to Florida State for one reason — to play on the Ultimate Frisbee team — but he ended up getting an education in Texas Hold ’em instead. “I never really had much money growing
up, so I had to figure out some way to get money so that I could travel,” Force said. “I was working to play Frisbee, and I was working to travel and eat, which was the only reason I ever wanted money.” He began learning to play the poker game in his first year at FSU, honing his skills between games at friends’ houses and in Internet casinos. Eventually, Force made the decision to test his newly acquired skills in Las Vegas. While there, Force had only enough cash in his pocket to play poker. After a few months, he eventually built up enough money to enter into the 37th annual World Series of Poker. The yearly event has brought the best and brightest Texas Hold ’em players since the 1970s, offering riches, bragging rights and, more recently, fame. Winners of main events within the tALLAHASSEE
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On the Move
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televised tournament also receive the prestigious gold bracelet, the Super Bowl ring of poker. Spending all of his money on the $10,000 entry fee, Force could hardly afford to eat or stay in hotels. While most players enjoyed the little time that they had off between the many different games of the tournament, Force was playing additional games at other casinos so he could have a place to stay and food to eat for the night. “I would always ask the other players in the tournaments if they wanted their complimentary meal tickets,” he says. Force says he didn’t get into Hold ’em to become the richest player or the most famous; he got into it because he enjoys playing the game. “You have to love the game, and you have to want to be better, and you have to have that desire just to know that you can play anyone,” he says. “I’m all about the entertainment value. I like to be involved with the people, to hear their stories and laugh and enjoy. It’s so much fun.” While his lifestyle is free-spirited, Force played the tournament “tightly” (conservatively), folding on hands that many pro players would usually play. Many pros, including 10-time bracelet winner Johnny Chan, were annoyed by Force’s somewhat unconventional style. Force explains that he only had enough chips to play the tournament, and wanting to stay in, he made those chips last as long as possible. After a grueling tournament, he placed 11th, winning a total of $1,154,527. Force did gain some publicity in the casinos because of his unorthodox looks. His dreadlocks and a full beard earned him the nickname “Caveman.” “I use my look to my advantage,” he says. “I used to make soooo much money at cover tables just because of how I looked. I’d go to the tables in my board shorts, surf shirts, dreads and whatnot, and people would give me the funniest comments after I took their money. They’d tell me to ‘go back to the woods, you stupid hippie,’ and ‘Where’s your backpack?’ Stuff like that.” A good friend of Force’s, who prefers to remain anonymous, doesn’t play at casinos; instead, he is making money during college at the online “tables.” Coming to FSU with more than 50 hours of college credit from his IB/AP high school program, he intends to apply to law school soon.
How to Play Texas Hold ’em The game is simple. Each player is dealt two cards, known as “pocket cards,” and asked to pay a minimum “buy-in” in order to play the game. In each game there is a “big blind” and “small blind” player. If the player is not big blind or small blind, he or she must decide whether to pay the buy-in or “fold” (quit the game) based on how good the cards are. The big blind must pay the buy-in, while the small blind must pay half the buy-in. If the player is big blind, he or she can choose to stay in or fold and lose the big-blind bet amount. If the player is small blind, he or she must pay the other half of the blind to play or fold and lose the smallblind bet amount. Of course, if anyone “raises” his or her bet, everyone must meet that raise to start the game. Once the starting bets are in, three cards, known as the “flop,” are dealt out. Betting begins again based on the hand that players can form between their two pocket cards and the three “community cards” on the table. After bets, raises and folds are over, another card, known as the “turn,” is put out on the table. Once again, players get the same opportunities with betting and folding as before. The last card, or “river” card, is the fifth and final community card put on the table. Whoever is left wins by either betting people off the table or by having the best hand between the two pocket cards and three out of five of the community cards on the table. One other popular option is when players put themselves “all in.” Players may do this whenever it is their turn to bet. This strategy allows players to wager all of their money in order to win. Every other player at the table has the option to take up the bet or to fold. This option is popular because it often allows players to both double their chips and to knock out other players on the table.
“I’d rather not use my name because I don’t want people to look me up and the first thing that comes up on Google is that I play poker,” Force’s friend says. The young man came to FSU with a loan and a low-paying internship. He began playing poker online to try to raise money to support himself. “I lived with my grandparents in high school, but they’re both retired and they live off a pretty fixed income, so they really couldn’t afford to support me in Tallahassee,” he says. Starting with no money, he began playing “free roll” games to build up his money. Internet players have a couple of options when playing Texas Hold ’em online. They can play games that don’t involve real money — good practice for amateur players, or for those who don’t want to part with their dollars. There also are money games and tournaments in which players use actual money and compete for cash prizes at the end. In many larger tournaments, participants can win money even if they don’t get first place. Another option in Internet poker is free roll or free money games. These tournaments give players the opportunity to participate in money games without having to tALLAHASSEE
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deposit actual money. Usually the top 50 to 100 people win money in these tournaments, with the poker sites floating the bill. Pay tournaments typically offer more prize money, however. The Sunday Hundred Grand Tournament, for example, runs online every Sunday and gives players the opportunity to pay $11 and get the chance to win $20,000. Cash is not the only thing players can win, however. Many of the matches, known as “satellite tournaments,” offer prize packages in which players can win seats in World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour tournaments. This gives players the opportunity to play poker all over the world, including faraway places such as New Zealand, China and Australia. Force’s friend started playing online with only $5 in his bank account. He now keeps more than $5,000 in the account at any given time, using the money to pay tuition and fully support himself. “I keep more money in my Poker Stars account then I do my own bank account,” he says, “It’s like liquid currency. Even the roommate I’m living with now, I pay him rent through Poker Stars. It’s like an entire sub-community, like an underground world.” The student continues to win big online and uses his bigger win profits to travel the world and meet up with the friends he met playing poker online. There can be a downside to the game, of course. “I have had a couple of students over the last few years with online gambling problems that have been really serious,” says Charley Mack, a mental health specialist and Certified Addiction Professional at FSU’s University Counseling Center. “I know it goes on, but you don’t really see it that much because it’s not considered a big deal by most people. I don’t think there is enough education about it, and I think it’s a much bigger problem than we recognize.” Many players have lost their money, their families, even their lives over the game. “There’s such a grind playing for so many days,” Force says. “It’s just such a heartbreak, you know, like one hand can make your three- or four-day session. That’s why so many people break down.” “My best friend just kept losing,” Force remembers. “He couldn’t take it anymore, and he ended up killing both his girlfriend and himself.” n 32
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Arts & Culture
‘ Book Town’
A Bigger, Better Conference for Readers and Writers Seeks to Put Tallahassee on the Bibliophile’s Map By Lilly Rockwell
photo courtesy dave terry
E
ach spring, the literati of Tallahassee gather in a little-known event to dissect their craft, share unpublished manuscripts and shake hands with ambitious novices, newly published authors and award-winning veteran writers. Though it’s no secret, the Tallahassee Writers Conference hasn’t exactly attracted the masses. In 2009, attendance was 160 — a record. However, conference organizers are hoping the addition of a free, opento-the-public book festival will attract far more local literature lovers. It’s the perfect marriage, organizers say, between the city’s literary talent and readers. Held over the weekend of March 19 – 21, the Tallahassee Festival of Books and Writers Conference will feature seminars and workshops geared toward writers and a book festival for readers, complete with author meet-and-greets and sales of new and used books. All events will be held at the newly completed Augustus B. Turnbull Conference Center at Florida State University. Supporters say the combined festival and conference has the right ingredients to someday equal the national literary prominence of events such as the 26-year-old Miami Book Fair, which last year attracted
ON THE LOOKOUT Literary agents Ellen Pepus and Cricket Freeman browse through the books at the 2009 festival. Toya O’Hora from Barnes and Noble stands ready to serve them.
thousands of people and big-name authors such as fiction writer Joyce Carol Oates, environmental activist and former Vice President Al Gore, and CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta. For the Writers For professional writers and wannabes, the Tallahassee conference offers the elusive chance to sit down with a literary agent and receive feedback on a finished manuscript. Sessions will cover topics including “Writing for Tweens” and “The Devil is in the Details,” the latter offering tips on how to bring historical characters to life in fiction. This year’s festival emphasizes Floridabased writers, with topics such as “Writing the Murky Waters,” on water quality and
politics in Florida. These sessions, and many others, are open to the public. “This year, we’ll have a big Florida focus,” said Donna Meredith, president of the Tallahassee Writers Association, organizer of the event. The noontime keynote speaker on Saturday, March 20, is Julianna Baggott, an FSU associate professor of English and author of more than a dozen books, including coming-of-age novel and national bestseller “Girl Talk.” Meredith said that bringing on FSU as a sponsor gives the conference the literary cachet that other conferences lack. Many accomplished writers teach at Florida State and are eager to speak at a local conference. Besides Baggott, there is Janet Burroway, who has penned eight novels, including tALLAHASSEE
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Arts & Culture Pulitzer Prize-nominated “The Buzzards.” She also has penned writing-advice books such as “Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft,” which is widely used in colleges and universities throughout the country. For writers, it’s a good value. The Florida Writers Conference in Lake Mary, near Orlando, costs at least $250 to attend. By comparison, organizers say the $135 price tag at Tallahassee’s event is a bargain. Meredith hopes the low cost will significantly boost attendance this year. Tallahassee writer Rhett DeVane has published two Southern fiction novels, “The Madhatter’s Guide to Chocolate” and its sequel, “Up the Devil’s Belly,” about the turmoil in a small town after a hate crime is committed. Her third and latest book is a bit of a departure for DeVane — it’s a political fiction piece coauthored with former state Sen. Robert McKnight. DeVane said she attended and was impressed with last year’s conference. “It’s on the right track,” she said. “They are really in line to compete with some of the bigger conferences.” For some attendees, especially novice authors, writer’s conferences offer opportunities to find a literary agent in person rather than hunting for one through a cold query letter. The in-person method gives a writer an opportunity to receive valuable feedback or even to get his or her name circulated among other agents. “Agents will even say on their Web sites, ‘I’m not accepting any new people except those I meet at conferences,’” Meredith said. An agent helps negotiate deals with book publishers. In fact, many book publishers prefer to deal with agents and won’t work directly with authors. This year, Meredith is bringing in Donald Maass, who owns a New York Citybased literary agency and represents 100 fiction writers. He also has written his own books on writing, including “Writing the Breakout Novel” and “The Fire in Fiction.” Maass will conduct an all-day workshop on Sunday, March 21, for writers who pay an extra fee ($125) and are able to submit at least 50 pages of a finished manuscript. Meredith said the pricey workshop is worth the cost because it guarantees a face-to-face meeting and a writing critique. Though it’s rare, at the last conference, an agent even offered to sign a writer. 34
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‘Books Make a Difference’ When: March 19–21. The book festival is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
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Where: Florida State University’s Augustus B. Turnbull Conference Center, located at West Pensacola and Copeland streets What: A book festival and writer’s conference Who: Organized by the Tallahassee Writer’s Association Cost: The book festival is free; the writer’s conference is $100 for members, $135 for nonmembers. (Annual membership to the Tallahassee Writer’s Association is $35.)
“It’s a great opportunity,” DeVane said. “You may meet with somebody and click with them. If they like you as a person and like what you’re saying, it gives you a leg up.” For the Readers The conference’s companion book festival started last year, although only about 50 people attended. It wasn’t widely publicized, Meredith said, and was held at a smaller venue. It also had to compete with other local book festivals offered around the same time. Meredith suspects some local readers simply had book festival fatigue. “We want more attendance for the book festival,” Meredith said. “There’s free food and all these great authors. You can pick your times of day to suit you ... I think it’s a matter of making sure people in Tallahassee understand what a book festival is.” A book festival is like a mini-book store with thousands of books available for purchase, often associated with an author who is speaking at the festival. Usually book authors will autograph copies of their book, and there is an emphasis on local writers. At Tallahassee’s Festival of Books, many local writers will also be speaking. The festival is a natural companion to a writer’s conference. “Writers need readers,” said Helen Moeller, the director of the LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library. “Even as a reader, listening to someone talk about writing can be very interesting.” It also provides a platform for local authors to promote their books. Some of the book festival speakers this
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Arts & Culture year include Michael Whitehead, a retired Army colonel who wrote a memoir about his experiences during the first year of the Iraq war; author Dee Merian, who wrote a memoir about Howard Hughes and the airline industry called “Flying High”; and crime novelist Michael Lister, whose latest, “Double Exposure,” is set in the North Florida pine flats and swamps along the Apalachicola River. This year, the book festival runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday night and continues all day Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Best of all, attendance is free.
For some attendees, especially novice authors, writer’s conferences offer opportunities to find a literary agent in person rather than hunting for one through a cold query letter. “It’s a relatively new and ambitious conference,” said John Fenstermaker, a professor emeritus of English at FSU and president of Friends of the Florida State University Libraries. “Tallahassee is a book town; we have lots of readers and organized reading groups. The community will be interested.” The Tallahassee Writers Association doesn’t make money from the conference, Meredith said. The organization’s aim is simply to break even. In fact, many of the writers are being paid through grants with groups such as the city-based Council on Culture and Arts, the Florida Humanities Council and the Leon County Tourism and Development Council. Meredith has big plans for the Tallahassee Festival of Books and Writers Conference, with dreams of one day rivaling the literary pull of festivals such as the Miami book fair. So what are you waiting for? Visit the conference and festival while it’s still one of Tallahassee’s best-kept secrets. n The schedule for the Tallahassee Festival of Books and Writers Conference wasn’t finalized in time for this article. For up-to-date information, visit twaonline.org. 36
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Editor’s Choice
photo courtesy U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office
WITH A PURPOSE After verifying an address, census workers give residents a handout about the census and the reasons for the visit.
Money, Power and the Decennial Census The Power of the U.S. Census to Influence Politics and the Forces that Shape our Lives is Greatly Underestimated By Tabitha Yang and Rosanne Dunkelberger
O
n April 1, the federal government asks that you take 10 minutes to answer 10 questions that will be used for the next 10 years. It’s National Census Day, and a proper counting of all the noses in Leon County and Florida has a weighty effect on politics and the government programs that people rely upon. Based on Florida’s population growth over the past 10 years, results of the 2010 census are expected to provide the state with at least one additional seat in Congress. Just as importantly, the numbers will also determine how much federal funding Florida, its cities and its counties receive for public safety, education, infrastructure, business, housing and social programs.
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The Census, Then and Now The first census was conducted in 1790 by U.S. marshals and their assistants traveling many weary miles on horseback, going door to door asking six questions at each household. The answers to those questions were important, as they would determine how many congressional representatives each state would have. In that original census, each free man counted as one, while each slave counted as threefifths of a person. This year, forms (they’re printing 425 million of ’em) containing 10 questions will be sent to every household in the nation in mid-March and should be answered based on who will be living in the household on April 1. “Every question on the census reflects a public program that the Census Bureau has been mandated to collect data for,” said sociology professor Ike Eberstein, who is director of the Center for Demography and Population Health at Florida State University. “They don’t put questions in that are just of interest to people like me. It costs so much money to have a question on the census, and it’s such a burden on the population, that they really limit questions to things that are immediate public-policy interests.”
If Florida had been able to reduce the 2000 undercount by half, it would have meant an additional $80 million for the state in federal money that could have gone to Florida’s schools and paid for road construction and other projects. If a household doesn’t return the form by mid-May, census takers are required to visit the home in an effort to gather the data. The 2010 census takers are scheduled to be equipped with handheld computers, which will cut paper costs and assist in the counting process, although the budget for the census still comes in at a hefty $14 billion. Census takers ask questions based on name, gender, age, date of birth, race, ethnicity, relationship to other members of the household and how long they have lived there. In previous counts, one in six households received a more detailed (and oftentimes dreaded) long-form census questionnaire. 38
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This year, no one will receive it. The longer form has been replaced by an ongoing American Community Survey, which the U.S. Census Bureau now sends out annually to about 3 million addresses. The American Community Survey “is now the source for all the data that many folks would think would be the most interesting,” Eberstein said. “All of what we used to call the long-form data that people would get upset about, the relationships between people and all that stuff.” The Census Bureau isn’t idle between once-a-decade census counts. In addition to the American Community Survey, the agency is responsible for hundreds of other tallies involving societal and economic subjects such as employment, housing and manufacturing. “The reason why the bureau decided to implement the (American Community Survey) was to provide current, detailed socioeconomic and housing data every year rather than once a decade, as well as to streamline decennial census operations,” said Genora Barber, a Census Bureau information services specialist. For the better part of two years, the bureau has been performing a Local Update of Census Addresses to develop a complete, correct mailing list that includes every residence in Leon County and throughout the United States. Although some think it would be easier to complete the census online, the Census Bureau has avoided electronic census taking because of security concerns and because not all households have access to computers. Reaching Out Recruiting workers for early-2010 census operations began in the fall of 2008. Census employees went door to door in the spring of this year to update the address list nationwide. Tallahassee/Leon County has gone a step further by committing planning staff and grant money to help the federal government create the most accurate list, said Ed Young, liaison to the Leon County Complete Count Committee representing city and county government. The committee of local volunteers was created to develop strategies to create awareness of the census and encourage residents to fill out the forms, while also addressing our area’s particular concerns. One notable local quirk is the large population of students, who may be confused tALLAHASSEE
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about how they should be counted. “It’s not like your taxes, where your parents fill it out and claim you,” Young said. “You’re counted here. In the 2000 census we had 239,000 people in Leon County, (and) a little over 20 percent of them were college students. That’s a big number. That’s why our push is very strong working with our colleges and universities.” The results of the census are due to the president by December 31, 2010. And by March 2011, the Census Bureau must deliver data to states for redistricting purposes. The Census Bureau estimates as many as 200,000 Floridians may not have been counted in the 2000 census. According to the Tallahassee-based organization Florida TaxWatch, if Florida had been able to reduce the 2000 undercount by half, it would have meant an additional $80 million for the state in federal money that could have gone to Florida’s schools and paid for road construction and other projects. Census Results and Redistricting The year after the decennial census is completed, every state is constitutionally required to go through the process of redistricting. Each state is divided into voting districts, and each district elects its own U.S. representative. A separate set of districts is drawn up for the purpose of electing state representatives and state senators. Census results determine how many, if any, new districts will be created. If a state’s population has grown significantly since the last census, it will likely create one or more new districts. In Florida, redistricting is drawn up and approved by the Legislature and reviewed by the state Supreme Court. The governor has the power to veto the congressional districts but not the legislative ones. “In the 2001 redistricting, Florida did pick up two congressional seats,” said Carol Weissert, a professor of political science at FSU. “It is likely that we will get at least one more, even though our growth has slowed considerably.” The main controversy that tends to surround redistricting is the practice of drawing district lines so that they favor a certain party and incumbents. Known as gerrymandering, it’s a bone of contention between the two parties. “The process is incredibly important and drawing the lines key,” Weissert said. “It is likely that the party in power (Republicans) will draw the lines to benefit themselves. If
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the Democrats were in charge, they would make similar choices.” Reaching Out to the Undercounted Getting an accurate count of poor, rural and minority populations has been an issue with the census, according to Harvey Choldin, who wrote a book called “Looking for the Last Percent: The Controversy Over Census Undercounts.” Getting the most accurate count possible of those groups is particularly important because they can benefit from federal money allotted by the census numbers. Workers and volunteers are being sent into areas that tend to be undercounted to connect with leaders of churches, social welfare organizations — even schoolchildren — to inform people of the importance of filling out and returning census forms. The undercounting of these groups is due to several factors, said U.S. Census Bureau historian David Pemberton. “It could be that they don’t understand the purpose of the census, or they just don’t want to deal with the government,” he said. “If they are undocumented aliens, they might have a well-founded fear of being sent back to where they came from.” Even foreigners here illegally are supposed to be counted. Strict privacy rules that go all the way down to the door-to-door census taker are in place to ensure that any information gathered in the process cannot be shared with other government agencies or used against individuals. “Residents, take it seriously,” said sociology professor Eberstein. “It really is important that everyone both reply and take (the census) seriously. Not just the costs of having those follow-backs, but the accuracy of the data is so important because this tells us the basic structure — the basic skeleton, if you will — of our society.” At the end of the day, Pemberton said, “If you’re not counted, you’re not getting your due of resources.” n
Want to Know More? The U.S. Census Bureau maintains a comprehensive Web site chock-full of facts, statistics and Q&As, all written in plain English (as well as a slew of other languages, from Albanian to Yiddish). Visit 2010.census.gov. tALLAHASSEE
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SPOTLIGHT
» Florida Wine FEstival
The Florida Wine Festival is returning to Tallahassee’s Kleman Plaza for a fabulous weekend of food, wine and fun to benefit the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science. The event kicks off Friday, March 19, when guests may stroll in the open air from 7 to 10 p.m. and enjoy all the sights, sounds and tastes the festival has to offer. The evening will include international-themed live music and a silent auction, as well as a plethora of fine wines and foods. Florida A&M University alumni Bernard and Shirley Kinsey will be there to
help commemorate the conclusion of the Brogan exhibit of their collection. There will also be a VIP area featuring special guests, food service and exclusive rare wines. Tickets for this event are $50 each and include a neverending glass of wine featuring selections from around the world. The festival continues Saturday, March 20, from noon to 4 p.m. with a free celebration open to the public. Last year’s celebrity grapestomping champions will have a chance to defend their title, accompanied by the music
of FAMU’s Marching 100. Following the competition will be wine tastings and lectures from distinguished experts, food from a variety of restaurants, and live performances by local musicians and artists. There will also be hands-on activities for the kids. Vendors will have merchandise for sale, and local cultural organizations will be present to help celebrate. For information regarding wine lists, artists, vendors, tickets or sponsorships, as well as a detailed schedule, call (850) 513-0070 or visit thefloridawinefestival.com. — Tori Gibbs
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calendar
March AND April compiled by Chandell Dixon, Tori Gibbs and the magazine writing class of Florida A&M University
March 2 ‘15 Years of Listening and Believing in Girls’ Join the PACE Center for Girls in celebrating its 15th anniversary of serving at-risk girls ages 12-17 in Leon County. Since it was established in 1993, PACE has offered education, counseling, training and advocacy to more than 835 girls. Refreshments will be served along with entertainment and a silent auction of the girls’ artwork. FREE. Tallahassee Community College Center for Workforce Development, 444 Appleyard Drive, Building 38. 5:30-7:30 p.m. RSVP by calling (850) 921-9280. March 3 ‘Hope2Haiti’ Benefit Concert Canopy Roads Baptist Church will be holding a benefit concert to raise money for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The concert will feature singer/songwriter David Glenn. FREE. Canopy Roads Baptist Church, 925 Bannerman Road. 6:30–7:45 p.m. Contact Brad Gwartney, (850) 599-3340, canopyroads.org/hopetohaiti March 4–26 ‘A Piece of Mind’: Ann Frantic Self-taught artist Ann Frantic will showcase scenes of the island lifestyle in this Bohemian exhibition. Also view artwork from the FSU Art
best bet March 20
Masked Benefit Ball Mardi Gras comes to Tallahassee as the Capital Area Community Action Agency hosts the 8th Annual Masked Benefit Ball. Plan to dance to the music of Crooked Shooz, try your luck at the Charity Casino, shop both the silent and live auctions, compete in the Parade of Masks and enjoy fantastic food. Proceeds help the Capital Area Community Action Agency continue its work with low-income residents in seven Big Bend counties. The ball runs from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum, 6800 Mahan Drive. Tickets are $50, available in advance or at the event. To purchase tickets or for sponsorship information, call the Capital Area Community Action Agency at (850) 222-2043 or visit cacaainc.org. — Tori Gibbs
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Students League in the Nan Boynton Memorial Gallery. FREE. Railroad Square, 621 Industrial Road. Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–6 p.m., First Friday March 5, extended hours 6–9 p.m. Call Denise Drury at (850) 224-6163, 621gallery.com March 5 ‘Winter Jam 2010’ Christian music’s largest annual tour, featuring Third Day, Newsboys, Tenth Avenue North and Fireflight. Come early to the pre-jam party to hear Sidewalk Prophets, Robert Pierre and Revive. Hosted by Dove Award-winning Newsong and featuring guest speaker Tony Nolan. $10. Tallahassee Leon-County Civic Center, 505 W. Pensacola St. 7 p.m. (850) 222-0400, tlccc.org March 6 ‘Leading the Way’ Gala The Alzheimer’s Project, Inc. is creating an evening of food and entertainment for its premiere fundraising event. The black tie-optional event includes cocktails (cash bar), a huge silent auction, dinner and dancing. Money raised is used to provide free support services to caregivers caring for persons with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia in Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Gadsden and Liberty counties. $75 per person. University Center Club at Florida State University. 6:30–11 p.m. (850) 386-2778, Karen@alzheimersproject.org March 6 The Joys of Keeping Chickens Master gardener Judith Stricklin shares her expertise on how to raise and care for chickens, as well as tips on how to build a chicken coop. $3 plus museum admission fee. 11 a.m. Tallahassee Museum, 3495 Museum Drive. (850) 575-8684, tallahasseemuseum.org March 6 Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra Listen to elegant Elgar, sophisticated Strauss, bold Beethoven and outstanding Ohlsson at the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra’s annual “More Than Four Notes” concert. $35 general admission, $32 seniors, $12 children and students with valid ID. Bradfordville First Baptist Church. 8 p.m. For tickets (850) 644-6500, tickets.fsu.edu. For more information (850) 2242461, tallahasseesymphony.org March 8 Annual Nutcracker Golf Classic More than 100 golfers from the Tallahassee community will be participating in the annual Lisa C. Graganella Nutcracker Golf Classic. The event includes lunch, a silent auction, door prizes and an awards banquet. Proceeds benefit the Tallahassee Ballet’s community outreach programs. Southwood Golf Club. 3750 Grove Park Drive. 11 a.m. (850) 224-6971 ext. 1, tallahasseeballet.org
March 9 Caribbean Nights Celebrate all the excitement of the Caribbean with steel drum music, dancing, Caribbean food and entertainment for the whole family. $10 for this event or $25 for three-concert Entertainment Music Series. 6–8:30 p.m. Tallahassee Senior Center’s Old Armory Auditorium. 1400 N. Monroe St. Call Rosetta Land at (850) 891-4004, talgov.com March 12–21 ‘Disney’s Geppetto and Son’ Written by award-winning composer Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked,” “Godspell”), the play is based on the Disney classic movie “Pinocchio.” $16–18. Tallahassee Young Actors Theatre, 609 Glenview Drive. Mar 12–13, 7:30 p.m.; Mar 14, 2 p.m.; Mar 18–20, 7:30 p.m.; Mar 21, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Call Robert Stuart at (850) 3866602 ext. 2, youngactorstheatre.com March 19–20 Wakulla Wildlife Festival “Art on the Terrace” and silent auction highlight the 2010 festival that also includes music, art exhibitions and tours. Admission FREE with $6 vehicle park entry donation. Wakulla Springs State Park, 550 Wakulla Park Drive. Fri 6:30–9:30 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Call Della Parker-Hanson at (850) 926-4293, wakullawildlifefestival.org March 20 Drive-in Movie Festival Join Keep Tallahassee-Leon County Beautiful for day of family fun and activities. The lineup includes a car show, games and food, followed by a showing of “Back to the Future,” with an actual DeLorean on display. $10 per person or $30 per carload. Cross Creek Center at Mahan and Interstate 10. 3 p.m. Call Diana Hanson at (850) 681-8589, ktlcb.com March 20 ‘Sisters in the City’ This event promises to be Tallahassee’s ultimate ladies night. Gather with the gals for the evening to enjoy urban cuisine, sip Cosmos, pose for paparazzi, collect swag bags and party with friends. Money raised will be used for costumes for The Tallahassee Ballet. $50 or $100 for a VIP ticket. Aloft Hotel, 200 N. Monroe Street. 7–11 p.m. Call Angela Dingwell (850) 224-6917 ext.2, angela@TallahasseeBallet.org or tallahasseeballet.org March 21 Inaugural Jewish Food and Cultural Festival Eat, Eat! Experience Jewish culture, cuisine and tradition. The festival includes savory Jewish cooking (mmm, kugel!), entertainment such as Israeli music and dancing, art and handcrafted items and civil faith discussions.
best bet
April 17–24
The USTA Tallahassee Tennis Challenger Watch top tennis players from around the world compete in the 11th Tallahassee Tennis Challenger. It will include a qualifier tournament, main draw and final for both singles and doubles. As in years past, children will be able to enjoy this event as well as adults. Second-graders in Leon County schools are taking field trips to the Challenger, where they may participate in the QuickStart tennis program and watch the professional matches. Proceeds go to the D. Mark Vogter, M.D. Memorial Endowment for NeuroIntensive Care and the Sharon Ewing Walker Breast Health Center at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. For a full schedule and ticket and sponsorship information, call (850) 545-8740 or visit tallahasseechallenger.com. —Tori Gibbs
photo by Scott holstein
FREE admission, food prices vary. Temple Israel, 2215 Mahan Drive. 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Call April Katine at (850) 322-5387, tallahasseejewishfoodfestival.com March 21 Moscow String Quartet Enjoy an evening of classical music as the FSU Artist Series presents the all-female Moscow String Quartet. This much-lauded foursome will perform pieces by Borodin, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky. $30 adults and senior citizens, $10 students. East Hill Baptist Church, 912 Miccosukee Road. 4 p.m. (850) 224-9934, theartistseries.com March 25 Chamber Music Society ‘Baroque Inspirations’ Renowned artists from the Chamber Music Society will perform an array of selections by tallahassee
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events calendar Bach, Telemann, Vivaldi and other great masters of the Baroque era. $35 general public, $15 students. 8 p.m. Thomasville Cultural Center Auditorium, 600 Block, E. Jackson St. Thomasville, Ga. (229) 226-7404, tefconcerts.com March 25 Toby Mac and Skillet ‘Awake Tonight’ Tour Enjoy great music with Grammy Award-winning Christian rock artists Toby Mac and Skillet with special guests House of Heroes, an alternative/ Christian rock band. $21.75. 7 p.m. Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, 505 W. Pensacola St. (850) 487-1691, tlccc.org March 25–27 FSU School of Dance MFA Concert Experience the modern dance styles of graduate students Ashley Brown, Kanisha Brown, Denae Hannah and Jackie O’Toole. The performances incorporate elements of jazz, African culture and hip-hop. $6 or FREE for FSU students with ID. Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre in Montgomery Hall, 130 Collegiate Loop. Thu and Fri 8 p.m., Sat 2 p.m. (850) 644-6500, tickets.fsu.edu March 25–28 FSU Opera: ‘Xerxes’ The spring opera series begins with George Frideric Handel’s ‘Xerxes.’ Prepare yourself for a tale of tangled love webs and deadly
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pursuits, performed in Italian with the lyrics in English projected above the stage for audience members. FREE for FSU students with ID, $6 for non-FSU students, $9 adults, $6 seniors. Opperman Music Hall, 122 N. Copeland St., 7:30 p.m. (850) 645-7949, music. fsu.edu/tickets March 26 Springtime Tallahassee Downtown Get-Down Kick off a weekend of Springtime Tallahassee festivities with the 2nd Annual Downtown GetDown, presented by Capital City Bank and the United Way of the Big Bend. The street party features entertainment, live music, delicious food and more. FREE. Adams Street Commons. 6–10 p.m. (850) 487-8087, springtimetallahassee.com. For details on the Springtime Tallahassee festival, see pg. 83. March 26 Crescent Moon Organic Farm Tour and Workshop Thinking about growing organic? Organic garden specialists will teach participants about organic production practices including soil fertility, and preventive and cultural practices reducing pesticide use while still controlling pests, weeds and diseases. $15. Crescent Moon Organic Farm, 145 Crescent Moon Trail, Sopchoppy. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (352) 377-6345, foginfo.org/epa
March 26–May 30 Photography by Larry Fuchs Tallahassee artist Larry Fuchs’ work features a variety of subjects and captures scenic moments of perfection from real life. The exhibit kicks off with a special opening night from 6–9 p.m., and a gallery talk at 6:30 p.m. Also, enjoy an exhibit of local artists that features watercolors by William H. McKeown, pen and ink drawings by Clay Lovel, and sculptures by Dr. Eric Bart. $1 for nonmembers, free for members and children. Gadsden Arts Center, 13 N. Madison St., Quincy. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Call Grace Maloy at (850) 875-4866. gadsdenarts.org March 27 Wakulla Springs Morning Songbird Walk Bird lovers and nature lovers alike can stroll Wakulla Springs State Park to enjoy a serenade by nature’s musicians, the songbirds. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars and a field guide. FREE with park admission of $6 per vehicle. Reservations are required. Wakulla Springs State Park, Highway 61 and 267. 8–10 a.m. (850) 926-0700, floridastateparks.org/ wakullasprings April 2–3, 9–11, and 16–17 FSU Flying High Circus Prepare to be dazzled and amazed as FSU presents a renowned circus show said to rival the pros. The production features three rings
save the dates April 8–11
Tallahassee Film Festival “See You in the Dark” is the theme for this year’s festival, which includes pre-selected films, workshops and lectures by upand-coming filmmakers from around the world. The festival, now in its third year, will feature screenings at local venues, as well as an opening-night reception, educational film sessions, a 48-hour Film Contest, after-parties, an awards ceremony and “Best of Fest” screenings. “The Tallahassee Film Festival has the potential to foster incredible growth in arts and entertainment and will continue to attract emerging and world-renowned filmmakers to this area,” says festival chairwoman Carolyn Smith. For a schedule of events and locations, as well as sponsorship and volunteer information, call (850) 201-9449 or visit tallahasseefilmfestival.com.
April 15–18
20th Annual SportsAbility The premier event of the Florida Disabled Outdoors Association, SportsAbility gives attendees the opportunity to enjoy recreational activities such as tennis, rugby, archery, shooting and fishing simulations, all while learning about the value of recreation and active leisure for everyone — especially people with disabilities. The four-day event starts
compiled by Tori Gibbs with a fundraising banquet featuring a keynote speaker, music and a silent auction. The next three days include a resource expo, indoor and outdoor activities, a power soccer clinic and a baseball game. Tickets for the fundraising banquet are $30 each or $50 per couple. All other activities are free. For times and locations of individual events, to purchase banquet tickets, or for transportation assistance, contact the Florida Disabled Outdoors Association at (850) 201-2944 or fdoa.org.
April 18
The Capital City Caper Embark on a zany scavenger hunt around town as the Tallahassee Community College Foundation holds its third annual scavenger hunt. Chauffeured limousines stocked with food and drink will escort teams of up to eight people to six sites, where they will undertake physical and mental challenges to try to solve clues. After the scavenger hunt, teams will return to the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science for dinner, where winners will be announced and prizes awarded for most creative team costume. Proceeds will benefit the Ghazvini Center for Health Care Education. The scavenger hunt takes place at 2 p.m., with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 6:30 p.m. To register a team, or for sponsorship information, call (850) 201-8580 or visit capitalcitycaper.com.
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events calendar of breathtaking acts, and includes equipment, costumes, lighting and sound produced by the students themselves. Haskin Circus Complex, 269 Chieftan Way. Showtimes vary. Call Celina Dezzuto at (850) 644-4874, circus.fsu.edu April 2 ‘Frantic Chaos’ Local artists will open their shops and studios for an evening of art, music, food and fun for all ages. The 621 Gallery will showcase the paintings of three local artists: Brad Williams, Ben Bivens and Michael C. McFalls. FREE. 621 Industrial Drive, Railroad Square Art Park. 6–9 p.m. (850) 224-6163, railroadsquare.com. April 5–6 University Singers Spring Concert Conductor Kevin Felton and the Florida State University student choir with hold their annual Spring concert. Opperman Music Hall 8 p.m. (850) 644-5084. music.fsu.edu April 8 27th Annual Golden Gala Sheryl Crow will star in this black-tie fundraising affair considered by many as the area’s premier social and charitable event. Proceeds will go toward a new educational/entertainment interactive television system for patients at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center. 6–10 p.m. Call Bonnie Cannon at (850) 784-0740. April 8–10 and 15–17 J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ TheatreTCC presents the classic story of Bilbo Baggins and his adventures in Middle Earth. Full of thrills, magic and wonder, this colorful cast of hobbits, trolls, dwarves and goblins is guaranteed to entice both young and old alike while reminding us that the heart of a hero may be found inside the most unexpected creatures. $10 adults, $7 seniors, $5 students and children, FREE for TCC students and faculty/staff. Turner Auditorium, 444 Appleyard Drive. 8 p.m. (850) 2019882, tcc.fl.edu April 8–18 New Horizons: Original Works Festival Florida State University’s School of Theatre presents their fourth installment of this mustsee event. Student playwrights, directors and actors present an extraordinary production for audiences every evening. $20. Lab Theatre, 502 S. Copeland St. 8 p.m. nightly. (850) 6446500, theatre.fsu.edu April 11 Neil Berg’s ‘100 Years of Broadway’ Experience the tunes of timeless musicals, compiled by acclaimed lyricist, composer, accompanist and producer Neil Berg. The dazzling performance will include songs from “Phantom of the Opera,” “CATS,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Les Miserables” and “Jekyll and Hyde.” (850) 487-1691, tlccc.org/events 50
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best bet April 13 Art Exhibit: Hidden Messages by Jane Darby Menton The Goodwood Museum and Gardens and Jane Darby Menton unveil the subtle messages and secret meanings of symbolism and mythology represented in the artwork, furnishings and personal effects in home’s collection. FREE. Goodwood Museum and Gardens, 1600 Miccosukee Road. 4:30–6:30 p.m. (850) 877-4202, goodwoodmuseum.org
April 23–25
Sandestin Wine Festival Worth a trip to the coast, the event provides a great opportunity for discovering new tastes with more than 600 wines available for sampling. On Friday, special festival seminars focus on wines, cheese and bourbon. Grand Wine Tastings are on the agenda for Saturday and Sunday. Bottles are also available for purchase. $65 per day or $120 for two-day ticket. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Sat noon–4 p.m., Sun 1–5 p.m. (866) 931-3678, sandestinwinefetival.com —Chandell Dixon
April 10 Tallahassee Highland Games and Celtic Festival Celebrate Scottish tradition and culture while enjoying music, parades, food and games. Watch athletes compete in events like tossing the caber, sheaf toss, hammer throws and more. North Florida Fairgrounds. (850) 385-3037, tallahasseehighlandgames.com April 11 Tallahassee Community Chorus Spring Concert Enjoy the sounds of Tallahassee Community Chorus performing Beethoven’s “Mass in C” and “Choral Fantasy,” a brilliant classical composition of chorus, piano and orchestra. $18 general admission, $12 seniors, $5 students (with valid ID). Bradfordville First Baptist Church, 6494 Thomasville Road. 4–6 p.m. (850) 668-9759, tcchorus.org April 11 3rd Annual Peace in the Park Festival Enjoy a day of live music, great food and family-friendly activities, including face painting, pet rescue and more. Also featured are over 50 organizations in the community and from FSU. FREE. Railroad Square. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Call Bill Grace at (850) 766-1257, railroadsquare.com
April 15–17 Evening of Dance FSU’s Department of Dance combines exceptionally skilled dancers and international choreographers to present their annual concert. Performances include Darshan Singh Dhuller’s “Stand and Stare,” Andy Noble’s “360-393-2237,” Gerri Houlihan’s “Aria,” Rick McCullough’s “Endswell” and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar’s “Naked City.” $16 adults, $10 seniors, $12 children and non-FSU students, $10 FSU students (with FSU ID). Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre, 202 Montgomery Hall, 130 Collegiate Loop. 8–10 p.m. Call the Fine Arts Ticket Office at (850) 644-6500, dance.fsu.edu April 16 University Symphony Orchestra Enjoy a night of classical music performed by FSU’s Symphony Orchestra. Comprised primarily of graduate students, the Orchestra will play Martinu’s “Memorial to Lidice,” Kubik’s “Piano Concerto No.3,” and other selections. FREE. Opperman Music Hall, Kuersteiner Building, 114 N. Copeland St. 8–10 p.m. (850) 645-7949, music.fsu.edu April 17–July 5 ‘Florida Farm Families’ This new exhibit opening in the Museum of Florida History’s main gallery traces the tradition of farming in Florida. FREE. Museum of Florida History, 500 S. Bronough St. Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sat 10 a.m., Sun and holidays noon–4:30 p.m. (850) 245-6400, museumoffloridahistory.com April 17 Beethoven’s ‘Mass in C’ and ‘Choral Fantasy’ Big Bend Community Orchestra presents their final concert of the season. Revel in the classical sounds of this all-volunteer orchestra dedicated to enhancing the appreciation and understanding of orchestral music by one of the greats, Beethoven. FREE. Lee Hall Auditorium, Florida A&M University, 1500 Wahnish Way. 4 p.m. (850) 599-3000, bbcorch.org April 17–18 10th Annual Chain of Parks Festival Support LeMoyne’s education programs when you attend the 10th Annual Chain of Parks Festival presented by LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts. Also enjoy the live music and refreshments. FREE. Downtown Historic District on Park Avenue. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (850) 222-8800, lemoyne.org tallahassee
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April 18 Zuill Bailey in Concert Experience the musical talents of world-class cellist Zuill Bailey, performing Beethoven, Brahms and more. Tickets may be purchased up to three weeks before scheduled performance. $30 adults, $10 students, free for children 12 and under. East Hill Baptist Church, 912 Miccosukee Road. 4 p.m. (850) 224-9934, theartistseries.com April 21 FSU Symphonic Band Enjoy the music of FSU’s top undergraduate wind band under the direction of Patrick Dunnigan. $9 adults, $6 seniors, non-FSU students $6, FREE to FSU students. Opperman Music Hall. 8 p.m. (850) 644-3424, music.fsu.edu April 21 Forever Young Concert Get ready to rock and roll with Florida State University students and residents of Heritage Oaks at this family-friendly concert. $10 for this event or $25 for three-concert Entertainment Music Series. 7 p.m. Tallahassee Senior Center Auditorium, 1400 N. Monroe St. Call Rosetta Land at (850) 891-4004, talgov.com April 21–22 ‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’ Experience the enchantment of this smashhit Broadway musical based on the Academy Award-winning animated film. Hear the songs, see all of your favorite characters and enjoy this classic heartwarming tale come to life. $15–$75. Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center. 7:30 p.m. (850) 222-0400, tlccc.org April 22 Heritage Javacya String Orchestra Concert Enjoy a reception and concert presented by the Javacya Arts Conservancy. $35 members, $45 non-members. Gadsden Arts Center, 12 N. Madison St., Quincy. 7–9 p.m. Call Grace Maloy at (850) 875-4866, gadsdenarts.org April 22–24 89th Annual Rose Show and Festival Stop to smell the roses and join the fun for this beautiful Georgia tradition. Festival-goers will enjoy parades, live music, food, sporting events, arts and crafts and more. FREE. Historic downtown Thomasville. Thu and Fri 7 p.m., Sat 10 a.m–4 p.m. (229) 227-7020, downtownthomasville.com April 25 WineDown in Midtown Delight in a five-course culinary experience created by Chef Owen Hardin of Täpäs with complementary wines, live music, a silent auction and more. Proceeds benefit The Tallahassee Ballet’s scholarship fund and special programs. $45 per person, $80 per couple. The Winery at The Red Bar. 5 p.m. Buy tickets online at tallahasseeballet.org, by phone (2246917) or in person at The Tallahassee Ballet office (218 E. Third Ave.). n
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8 9 ‘Let us Play’ dinner and silent auction: 1. Valerie Peacock, Solomon Alabi and Gabrielle Reese 2. Al and Judy Dunlap with Becky and Randy Spetman 3. Sam Bennett, Sue Semrau and Nancy Bennett 4. Billie Jones, Sarah Hamilton and Morgan Bullock; FPRA Holiday Auction 5. Ron and Gay Sachs with Cherie and Brian Rowland 6. Roger Luke and Tod Thomas 7. Val Kibler and Trish Rodriguez 8. Ashleigh Grant, Kristen Cadenhead, Jolene Gurtis and Rick Oppenheim; SouthWood Golf Club’s ‘Texas Hold ’em For Charity’: 9. Dave Berry, Jay Weinberg, Brett Ewing and Cory Vowles [Photos by Michele Edmunds and Scott Smith and courtesy The St. Joe Company] TALLAHASSEE
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United Way’s ‘power of the purse’: 1. Serena Moyle, Mimi Graham, Karen Walker, Barbie Jordan, Susanne Dudley, Patricia Greene, Vicki Willis, Anne MacKenzie, Robin Hamilton and Mia McKown 2. Liza McFadden, Liz Hirst and Heather Mitchell 3. Monesia Brown and Chozi Brown 4. Kate MacFall, Kimberly Carpenter and Electra Bustle; 7 Days of Opening Nights: 5. Lindsay Carlson, Steve MacQueen and Michael Driggers 6. Don Vodicka and Jeanie Booth 7. Molly and Eric Barron 8. Les and Ruth Akers; ECHO Golf tournament: 9. James Harrison, Jack Berg and Ricky Carmichael [Photos by Daniel Mutter, Valerie Lazzel, Dan Parisi and Mary Beth Tyson] TALLAHASSEE
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HOOPS AT HOME Don Yaeger enjoys basketball so much, he installed a full-sized court at his home near Lake Jackson. “I love the competitive aspect of it,” he says. 64
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Lightning Rod Loved by some, disliked by others, Don Yaeger has experienced success in professional endeavors ranging from sportswriting and lobbying to public speaking. By Lilly Rockwell, Photography by Scott Holstein
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on Yaeger has chatted with former President George W. Bush about his Little League years, exposed the NFL’s secret private investigative team that spies on prospective players, and watched tears roll down former NFL running back Warrick Dunn’s face as he confronted his mother’s killer. And that’s just during his writing career. Today, Yaeger may be just as well known in Tallahassee as a successful lobbyist and businessman. As much as 47-year-old Yaeger has accomplished (or perhaps because of it), the ambitious millionaire who came from humble beginnings is a love-him-or-hate-him guy who has often been the center of controversy. And that’s what makes the storyteller worthy of his own story. The Lessons of Adversity During a recent visit by Yaeger to a sports management class at Florida State University, students warily eye the man standing before them. Yaeger has black pants and a collared
shirt, with cherubic cheeks and a slight paunch. The accomplished sportswriter is doing what he enjoys most: telling stories. He begins by boasting about the time he scored against former NBA superstar Michael Jordan in a one-on-one game of basketball. “They will be closing my casket, I don’t know how many years from now it will be, and I will be forcing it back open, saying, ‘Does anyone in this room know that I scored on Michael Jordan?’” Yaeger swiftly changes topics to one a bit closer to home: football player Warrick Dunn, the former FSU running back who was part of the university’s first national championship team in 1993. Yaeger wrote a book with Dunn, observing as the football star confronted the man who murdered his mother during a bank robbery. At 18, Dunn was forced to become the primary caregiver for his five younger siblings. Although he is considered one of FSU’s best football players of all time, setting the university’s career rushing record and going on to
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play in the NFL for 12 years, Dunn was haunted by his mother’s untimely death. “Some day,” Yaeger tells his audience, “adversity is going to ring your bell,” just as it did Dunn’s. “One of the most important characteristics of truly great, successful people is the way (they) use adversity. They use these moments that knock other people (on their) tail, and they do great things.” The students are eating up his words like candy. Yaeger engages them with tales of living with Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton as he struggled with a rare liver disease, and of picking the brain of former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, whose seasoned advice spawned a book Yaeger wrote with him called “A Game Plan for Life.” After the speech, students eagerly approach Yaeger like he’s the sports star, buying autographed copies of his books. From Sportswriter to Lobbyist Donald W. Yaeger Jr. is much more than a motivational speaker. He is the former owner of several successful Tallahassee businesses, an authority on sports, the author of 16 books and hundreds of Sports Illustrated articles, a lobbyist, a publicist and — in many of these pursuits — a man at the center of controversy. “I don’t pretend to be liked by everybody,” Yaeger says. “I’m pretty confident in who I am. And if you don’t have a lot of doubts, you can deal with what people say about you.” Yaeger exudes confidence, and he has achieved the type of quiet fame and comfortable lifestyle that most people merely dream of. He is arguably one of Tallahassee’s most accomplished residents, a nationally sought-after public speaker and writer. Yaeger has been a guest on television shows including “Oprah,” “Nightline” and “Good Morning America,” and has been interviewed on CNN and FOX. Nevertheless, although he enjoys motivating others, and is described by friends and colleagues as a self-assured risk-taker, Yaeger struggles to define his own legacy. In his books, he has a reputation for taking on thorny subjects — from the way the National Collegiate Athletic Association conducts its investigations to the rape allegation that embroiled the Duke University lacrosse team in scandal in 2006. But Yeager isn’t drawn strictly to provocative topics; he is also practiced at co-writing warm and sympathetic biographies with superstar athletes. Evidence of his sportswriting excursions adorn the walls, from floor to ceiling, of his Tallahassee office, a historic home located a block away from Leon High School. 66
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But that’s Yaeger the sportswriter. There also is Yaeger the lobbyist. For more than 15 years, he has owned his own lobbying firm, 180 Consulting, which specializes in technology and health care clients including computer maker Dell and pharmaceutical giant Novartis. Yaeger’s small firm helps clients develop state contracts, monitor legislation and improve their image in the circles of Florida state government. Courting Controversy Among many Tallahassee political players and news-media insiders, Yaeger isn’t known for his writing achievements or his lobbying prowess. Rather, he is viewed as an ambitious former newspaper reporter who has always seemed to attract controversy. Yaeger has been accused of theft. He has been the subject of an FBI investigation involving bribery. He was named in a lawsuit over a controversial Sports Illustrated story he wrote about
A SPORTING COLLECTION Surrounded by memorabilia gathered during a busy career in sports writing, Don Yaeger holds a size 23 basketball shoe worn and signed by Shaquille O’Neal. It’s quite popular for a school showand-tell item, he says.
a college football coach’s alleged sexual escapades. “I was more aggressive than some other reporters, and I think that wins you friends and earns you enemies,” Yaeger says during a recent interview at his office. “I do think that most people who get to know me feel pretty comfortable.” Several lobbyists and former employees are reluctant to go on the record about their relationship with Yaeger. Jorge Chamizo, a former Yaeger employee and a lobbyist, gives this lukewarm assessment of his experience at 180 Consulting: “That’s a chapter of my life I don’t want to revisit. I wish him the best.” Others answer phone calls with groans, criticizing Tallahassee Magazine’s decision to write a story on Yaeger. “I would think you could do better,” grouses one lobbyist. “It’s unfortunate you are writing an article about him,” says another. Though Yaeger’s name may produce groans within certain circles, he is beloved by many accomplished sports figures, including Dale Brown, a former Louisiana State University
basketball coach, who co-wrote a book with Yaeger and was also the best man at his wedding. “I have the highest respect for him,” Brown says.
Son of a Preacher Man Yaeger was born in Hawaii, the son of a Methodist preacher and a homemaker who juggled odd jobs and dabbled in nursing. His parents had five children and struggled on a lower-middle-class income, living in rental houses and wearing homemade clothes. “My father was no Rick Warren,” Yaeger says, referring to the successful evangelical Christian minister who spoke at President Barack Obama’s inauguration. “My parents were among the hardestworking people I met in my life, but they weren’t highly rewarded for it.” Yaeger says his parents’ struggles “played a big role” in developing his relentless work ethic. “He didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth, he grew up earning everything he got,” says Lee Gordon, a close friend of Yaeger’s and a television news anchor at Tallahassee-based WCTV. “Everything he owns right now is from hard work.” When he was 13, Yaeger’s family moved to Indiana after a stint in Japan. His father quit preaching to work for the government. After high school, Yaeger attended Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and majored in journalism. In a 1993 South Bend Tribune article that cast a skeptical eye on Yaeger’s journalism, he was described as a star of his college newspaper. In the article, he was praised for dogged persistence — but also described by a former journalism professor as “blustery” and by a former student editor as “a scandal seeker.” After graduating from Ball State in 1984, Yaeger went to work at the now-defunct San Antonio Light. He quickly became a part of the newspaper’s investigative team and even won the “Star Reporter of the Year” award, a statewide competition, in 1985 for a story revealing that a local Job Corps program was billing the government for training non-existent people. Although he was winning accolades for his work, Yaeger made a minor misstep in another part of his life. In May 1986, he was arrested for leaving a department store without paying for two shirts worth $84, according to the 1993 South Bend Tribune article. Yaeger said he forgot he was holding the shirts when he left the store. The charges were dropped after he performed community service. Later that year, Yaeger took a job at the Dallas Morning News, but he was dismissed after the San Antonio Light published an t ALLAHA S S E E
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article about Yaeger racking up $1,000 in unpaid parking ticktrying to get franchise money, those would never be people that ets. (The Light didn’t have parking spots for reporters.) I would talk to. Trust me, a couple of them reached out to me “I was being immature, doing stupid stuff,” he admits. … I just drew the line.” Through his contacts at an investigative reporting group, he landed a job at Jacksonville’s Florida Times-Union newspaper in Taking a Risk late 1986. Yaeger said he was in his element at the Times-Union. As Yaeger’s lobbying business grew, he kept writing sports “I love politics,” he says. books, juggling his heavy workload with a steady supply of cafYaeger started as a City Hall reporter, then was promoted feine. Yaeger drinks two venti lattes — the largest size — from and moved to Tallahassee to become a reporter in the TimesStarbucks each morning, switching to Monster energy drinks in Union’s Capitol bureau. He thrived in a beat where he was the afternoon. Heavily caffeinated by evening, he then does most tasked with covering the Florida Legislature and state governof his writing, typing as late as 3 a.m. ment but given free rein during down time to tackle bigger In 1993, Yaeger wrote “Under the Tarnished Dome,” based projects. These included a trip to Afghanistan in 1988 to obon allegations that Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz had serve as Jacksonville-based Afghan doctors helped wounded abused players, sanctioned steroid use and established lax acamujahideen soldiers fighting forces from the former Soviet demic standards. The book earned Yaeger angry phone calls, Union, now Russia. letters and even death threats. But he also wrote “Never Die One of his last projects for the Times-Union was an ambitious Easy,” in 2000, a touching autobiography of Walter Payton examination of the NCAA’s investigative practices after the orgathat spanned from his childhood to his legendary career as a nization targeted the University of Florida. The university comChicago Bears running back, then on to his illness and death. plained about the lack of due process, and the newspaper wanted Critics praised Yaeger’s ability to weave Payton’s authentic voice to explore the NCAA’s policies. throughout the narrative. Yaeger and other reporters were sent to Yaeger’s love of sports oozes from him. interview other college officials. Then came He speaks in sports stats, mentioning a “He takes his big break: A national evening news show player’s weight or average running yards wanted to explore the topic and invited Yaeger like most people remember hair color. He basketball very to do an on-camera interview. especially loves basketball and has installed personally, so to It would change his life. a full-size court at his home, located near “They quoted me,” he says, “and as a result Tallahassee’s Lake Jackson. remain friends … I got my first book offer.” “I love the competitive aspect of it,” he I choose not to An Illinois-based book publisher asked says. “I’m not a sore loser, but I don’t beYaeger to expand that newspaper story into a lieve I’ve lost until you’ve beaten me. You play with him. book. can be ahead 15-1, and I figure I’ve got a I enjoy being “They offered me $5,000 to write a book,” 15-point rally in me because I’ve got to he says. “I thought I was so rich.” beat you.” on his team Yaeger spent his evenings writing while he His friend Gordon says he tries not to as opposed to kept working at the Times-Union. His editors compete against Yaeger. against him.” knew about the book, Yaeger says. He asked “He takes basketball very personally, so the newspaper’s librarian to help him with to remain friends … I choose not to play — Lee Gordon some research, and he rang up a $500 bill. with him,” Gordon says. “I enjoy being on “I didn’t realize that you had to pay every his team as opposed to against him.” time you (submitted a query),” he says. “It was my mistake.” Yaeger chooses book projects based on what he finds “intriguYaeger was fired from a newspaper job for the second time. ing,” he says. “I’m inquisitive.” Gordon says Yaeger goes for the The silver lining in his termination was the fact that Yaeger bigger, harder-hitting stories that will get more of a reaction. had gotten a taste of what life could be like as a book author. He “He is more concerned with telling a good story and taking a knew immediately that he wanted to write another book, but risk,” Gordon says. he needed a steady paycheck that would tide him over between Yaeger says it has never occurred to him to be intimidated by projects. As a political reporter, he made contacts with the state’s any subject matter. legislators and saw lobbying as a good fit. “If you’re telling the truth and you’re asking questions that Yaeger worked briefly in the early 1990s for Bud Chiles, the are reasonable, then I don’t really look at it as taking on anyson of former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles. He was fired over body, I look at it as telling a story,” he says. “client charges,” noted a 2005 St. Petersburg Times article. “A Brown, the former LSU basketball coach who co-wrote “Tiger In a Lion’s Den” with Yaeger, says of Yaeger that “it pains parting of the ways” was how Bud Chiles describes it. him when he does an investigative story and it comes out bad. Yaeger next started his own firm. I don’t think he enjoys nailing people to the cross … he’s just “I was working (as a lobbyist) while writing books, and I searching for the truth. He doesn’t get joy out of it.” thought that would be the cat’s meow,” he says. Yaeger says it was easy to keep the worlds separate. Opening Doors “I never, ever solicited or took as a lobby client anybody In 1996, Yaeger was asked to join the staff of Sports Illuswho would have any interest in the sports world,” he says. “So trated as a writer. It was a dream come true for him, he says. when there were stadium debates or there were teams that were 68
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Sage Advice From the Pros D
on Yaeger has interviewed scores of famous athletes and politicians, taking their best advice and sprinkling them throughout his motivational speeches. And he has sought out words of wisdom from sports superstars such as Michael Jordan, asking them to write letters of advice to his young son — a sort of athleticsinspired guide for life. Here’s a sample of the “lessons learned” that Yaeger has gleaned from sports stars: » With a pivotal game coming up during the NBA Finals in 2006, Miami Heat basketball star Shaquille O’Neal began packing his suitcase. He says it was because his coach, Pat Riley, had told his players to check out of their hotel prior to the game, so confident was he that the Heat would win that night against their opponent, the Dallas Mavericks. The Heat did in fact win. Lesson learned: Adopt a winning attitude. Picture yourself finding success and meeting your goals, and surround yourself with people who will help you achieve this vision. » Warren Moon dreamed of becoming a quarterback in the NFL at a time when black quarterbacks were rare. He turned down multiple college scholarships that would
“The fact that I hadn’t had a long history as a sports writer was an advantage,” he says, although he had written several books. Yaeger’s editors didn’t mind his lobbying work, he says, so long as the magazine was his primary employer. Working for Sports Illustrated opened more doors, leading to two appearances on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show. The second appearance was for a story he co-wrote on pedophiles in youth coaching. Yaeger recalls the story as one of his favorites because it exposed a flaw in background-checking laws and regulations that allowed pedophiles to work as youth athletic coaches. A number of states changed their laws to require background checks after the story was published, he says. “It’s not often doing what we do that we get to really make a difference.” Yaeger became more successful as a lobbyist and developed a close relationship with Jim King, a state senator from Jacksonville who died after a brief battle with cancer in 2009. Lobbyists say Yaeger wasn’t shy about promoting his close relationship with King, who served as Senate president, one of the two most powerful positions in the Florida Legislature, from 2002 to 2004. Yaeger says King “was like a second father to me.” Others are more skeptical. “The oldest tradition in the lobbying corps is to establish a close friendship with somebody in office … and make money off that relationship,” says Lucy Morgan, a former St. Petersburg Times reporter who occasionally wrote about Yaeger and other influential lobbyists. “It was hardly an unusual situation for that to exist.” Yaeger’s first marriage, to Allison Tant, ended in divorce in 1993. Both of them remarried, Yaeger to his second wife,
have required him to play football at other positions, instead attending junior college until the University of Washington offered him a scholarship to play quarterback. After graduating, he went undrafted by the NFL, so he played in the lesser Canadian Football League for six seasons until the Houston Oilers selected him in 1984. Lesson learned: Don’t take no for an answer, and don’t accept that you can’t do something just because someone sees you as incapable. » Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden used to start each season by teaching his players how to put on socks and shoes — specifically, how to smooth out the wrinkles in their socks and make sure the material didn’t get trapped between their toes. Wooden taught his players that any wrinkle in the sock causes rubbing that will produce a blister, and blisters keep a player from practicing. The players laughed at this advice, but there was a bigger point to the exercise. Lesson learned: Even the smallest details can help pave the way to a bigger goal. — Compiled from Don Yaeger’s books, words, and “Moments of Greatness” newsletter
Denise, who worked in technology Yaeger says gave him an inside track to getting lobbying clients in the emerging computer and software industries. By the late 1990s, his firm was working with a number of technology clients, many of whom wanted help landing state contracts. Though other local lobbying firms were starting to court technology companies by then, Yaeger’s was one of the first to develop an expertise in that area. He had 10 clients in 2000, up from three in 1998, according to state records. A Quick Nature As soon as he had money to play with, Yaeger started buying businesses. He bought a scuba shop, a restaurant called the Tree Steak House, the Comedy Zone entertainment club, a limousine company and several party-tent rental businesses. “I’m quick-natured,” he says. “If I’ve got an idea, I think I should go do it right now. I love understanding how to make something work.” “He’s an entrepreneur,” comments his third wife, Jeanette Yaeger. “He likes to build and create things; that’s why there are so many businesses and his hand is in different pots. He can juggle it.” Don Yaeger has now sold all of those businesses except for the Comedy Zone property on East Tennessee Street. “I realized there were only so many hours in a day,” he says. In 2000, the FBI investigated Yaeger over bids on a $24 million state contract, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Yaeger and another lobbyist were suspected of promising a Missouri health care executive that her firm would be guaranteed to receive the contract with Florida’s Agency for Health Care t ALLAHA S S E E
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Five Words E
It wasn’t just the lawsuit that caused bad publicity for Yaeger, but its collateral damage. When The Wall Street Journal wrote about the suit in 2005, Time Inc. (which owns Sports Illustrated) executives told the Journal that Yaeger wasn’t a lobbyist — they had asked him to stop after the FBI investigation. According to state records, Yaeger didn’t register as a lobbyist in 2001 but did each year afterward; Yaeger says he took a break due to his hectic travel schedule. Former St. Petersburg Times reporter Morgan wrote that “lobbyists and lawmakers are laughing at that claim. Yaeger remains one of the most visible lobbyists in town.” Yaeger says his editors knew he owned a lobbying firm. “I was very open about that when I got hired,” he says, adding that it was “uncomfortable” when newspapers starting digging into his background. “But I was never asked to sell the firm.” Sports Illustrated ultimately settled the lawsuit with Coach Price, but the terms were never made public.
ver the entrepreneur, Don Yaeger has a sideline business, 180 Communications, that coaches athletes on how to handle media interviews. “I work with athletes on the idea of teaching them that they are a brand,” Yaeger says as he reaches for a personalized bookmark with media training tips. He gives most athletes a homework assignment — picking five words that represent them. So what five words would Yaeger use to describe himself? He pauses. “I wrote them down once,” he says, peering at papers on his desk. “I would say I’m competitive. I’m driven … Um, I’m trying to think of what my five would be.” Silence. “See, I failed, I failed in my own class.” A few weeks later he sends an e-mail with his five words: “competitive,” “curious,” “passionate,” “positive” and “creative.” They had been buried by a paper avalanche on his desk.
Administration in exchange for a $1.2 million payment to him, several newspapers reported. Yaeger says it was the other lobbyist who spoke to the woman about payment and that the health care executive “felt like the conversation gave a greater sense of guarantee that some work would come her way.” In the end, the FBI closed its investigation of Yaeger with no charges filed. He would be under the spotlight again three years later when he wrote an article for Sports Illustrated about University of Alabama football coach Mike Price. According to the article, Price had visited a topless bar in Pensacola and later had sex with two women he picked up at the bar. The article included sensational details, such as the women screaming “Roll Tide,” the University of Alabama slogan, during sex. Many of those details were attributed to an anonymous source. Price denied the allegations. A few days before Sports Illustrated published its article, the university fired Price. Versions of that article were also published in the Pensacola News Journal and on sports Web sites. Price sued Sports Illustrated and Yaeger for libel, seeking $20 million. At the center of the suit was an effort to uncover the identity of Yaeger’s confidential source. Price, who now coaches at the University of Texas at El Paso, didn’t return a call seeking comment. “In sourcing that story, the confidential source that was used didn’t just speak to me,” Yaeger says. “She spoke to five different people at Sports Illustrated before we chose to use her story.” In deposition interviews over the course of the lawsuit, it was revealed that Yaeger paid the source $200 and took notes for the article on former Senate President King’s stationery, an indication of his close association with the lawmaker. Yaeger says allegations that he paid a source “bother” him. “It’s not unusual to send a car service to someone to pick you up and bring you to a photo shoot or interview … She didn’t have a working car, so we paid for a cab to driver her 45 miles and drive her back, and I paid that $200 to a cab. We didn’t pay her, we paid a cab.” 70
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A Change in Perspective At a weekly pick-up basketball game at Tallahassee’s First Baptist Church in 2003, Yaeger suffered a broken nose. While examining his X-ray, the doctor noticed something unusual. Upon further examination, it was determined that Yaeger had thyroid cancer, and that it had already spread to his lymph nodes. Doctors removed his thyroid and ordered radiation treatment. As the radiation coursed through his body, Yaeger mulled his life’s accomplishments. “What had I not done that I wished I had?” he recalls thinking. The answer was easy. Children. Though he had stepchildren with his second wife, Yaeger said he wanted children of his own. “There was something about being a parent that I hadn’t experienced yet that I felt was important,” he says, his eyes starting to water. “(Cancer) changes your perspective; it changes the value of each day.” Beyond wanting children, Yaeger’s hard edge started to soften. Writing books that inspired hate mail didn’t get his juices flowing anymore. “I wanted to seek out more inspirational stories to tell,” he says. The cancer was eventually determined to be in remission, but his second marriage didn’t survive. A divorce was filed in 2004. A Dream Fulfilled Yaeger was later introduced to Jeanette Wilk, another lobbyist who worked with health care and pharmaceutical companies. Their first meeting didn’t go very well — Yaeger worked too hard to impress her by dropping names. “I thought he was a jerk,” she says. A year later, they bonded during a long car ride to a Jacksonville fundraising event. Jeanette gave him a second chance, eventually inviting him over for a home-cooked dinner. Yaeger
was out of town at the time, but he didn’t let on. He flew back Metatomix CEO Jeff Dickerson. “They know how a system from Texas to make it on time to dinner. works, or equally important, doesn’t work.” They got married in 2007, and true to style, Yaeger acted Dickerson also appreciates Yaeger’s candor. Other lobbyquickly on his desire for children: Jeanette gave birth to son Will ists, he says, talked optimistically about Metatomix’s chances in 2008 and a daughter, Madeleine, in 2009. for success; Yaeger, on the other hand, was “very realistic” and Jeanette Yaeger now works with her husband at 180 pointed out the challenges his company would face in placing Consulting. its technology. “We don’t work too closely, and that’s what makes it work “He has a sense of the counties and entities in government for us,” she says. Jeanette Yaeger is the lead legislative lobbythat are more leading edge,” Dickerson says. ist, and Don Yaeger is at hand for high-level meetings with the Although Yaeger is happy to brag about the time he scored governor or Senate president. against Michael Jordan, there are certain things he keeps close to One client that Yaeger’s firm works with is Metatomix, a the vest. His fight with cancer is one. His involvement in charity Massachusetts-based technology company that developed a work is another. Brown, the former LSU basketball coach, says software platform that consolidates information from differthat after Hurricane Katrina devastated much of New Orleans ent sources into a single database. For example, it provides in 2005, Yaeger and his wife flew in a private plane to Louisilocal law enforcement officials with better access to arrestana and delivered supplies including baby formula, medicine, warrant information from food and cash. After reother counties. Metatoturning to Tallahassee, mix hired Yaeger’s firm Yaeger sent an e-mail “There was something about being a three years ago to help it to friends pleading for convince state and local more donations. He got parent that I hadn’t experienced yet that government officials to enough to fill one-and-aI felt was important. (Cancer) changes use its technology. half 18-wheeler trucks. your perspective; it changes the value “(Yaeger’s firm) has “The way it came todone a phenomenal job gether was amazing,” of each day.” — Don Yaeger in helping us get through Jeanette Yaeger says. and talk to people,” says The Yaegers are also heavily involved with the local United Way chapter, hosting a kickoff event at their home before the group’s anFAMILY LIFE And if writing and business aren’t enough to fill the hours in a day, nual golf fundraiser. And they support variDon Yaeger’s young family keeps him ous cancer and health charities, including the busy. He’s shown with his wife, Jeanette, Alzheimer’s Project and the American Cancer and children, Will, 20 months and Madeleine, 7 months. Society’s Relay for Life. “He does a lot,” Jeanette Yaeger says. Brown says Yaeger purposefully keeps a low profile when it comes to talking about his charitable work. “He said, ‘Coach, I don’t want to be like most athletes, giving some money and going on Larry King and telling everybody what I gave,’” Brown says. “He’s a giant of a man.” After Yaeger left Sports Illustrated in 2007, he transitioned into becoming a public speaker. He hired professional speech coach Patricia Fripp to work with him on delivery and content. Fripp soon spotted his weakness: “There needs to be more of you in there,” she said. “When she helped me craft the first version, it had a big chunk about me and cancer,” Yaeger says. “I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t do it. It’s six years later, and I still can’t.” So he sticks to telling stories about other people. It’s what he knows, and what he hopes will be his legacy. “It sounds so cheesy,” Yaeger says, “but (I want people to remember) that I’m a good storyteller.” n t ALLAHA S S E E
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The
‘PolioTeam’ 1954 of
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Panic, Dread and Fear Nearly Ruined the Season For Leon High Football Players When Tallahassee Experienced an Epidemic By Jason Dehart
READY TO PLAY Wiry and eager to play, the Leon Lions were frustrated by canceled away games during the 1954 polio epidemic. Opposing teams didn’t want their fans mingling with Leon fans who might have the dreaded disease.
I
t was the fall of 1954, and Roger Englert faced a daunting challenge that would have made a seasoned veteran quake in his cleats. In his first head-coaching job leading the Leon High School football team, the 20-something Englert had inherited a team of inexperienced players with only five returning lettermen. There were high expectations and a tough season ahead. The players were
looking forward to defending their conference championship. Practices were hard, hot and grueling. Competitive juices were flowing, ready for action. Then something happened that stopped them in their tracks. Just two games into the season, polio — a debilitating scourge now all but unheard of in the United States — struck Tallahassee and other Big Bend counties. Infection rates in Florida reached epidemic status; nearly 1,800
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The Aftermath of Polio
HE’S NOT ‘SUPERMAN’ Decades after he was affected by polio, Dan Middlebrooks was debilitated by post-polio syndrome. He now blogs and advocates for others with the condition.
D
an Middlebrooks of Tallahassee is living proof that polio can make a comeback — at least for some survivors. The National Center for Health Statistics indicates that more than 440,000 polio survivors in the United States could be stricken with post-polio syndrome (PPS). A degenerative disorder, PPS can strike decades after the original infection and wreak havoc in the lives of people who once thought of themselves as polio-free. Middlebrooks, 53, formerly president of a local moving company, said he was hospitalized at the age of 3 months with encephalitis in Pensacola. That was in 1956; in 1982 he first started to feel symptoms, but it wasn’t until 1995 that the driven, “type A” personality learned the truth behind his failing muscle strength. He’d had polio as a child. “I didn’t know anything about polio,” he said. “By 1998, things were getting to me. I was starting to fall, and all of a sudden I’m short-circuiting. PPS was truly attacking me. By 2003, I had to sell my business — I could not function.” Since then, Middlebrooks has learned a lot. For example, many polio-like illnesses are only now being confirmed as polio. “Many polio survivors who originally had mild cases of polio when attacked by post-polio syndrome were diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) due to the similar symptoms and the lack of knowledge of the late effects of polio,” he said. 74
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During the initial infection, the poliovirus destroys motor neurons — the nerves that control muscle movement. Surviving nerve cells sprout extra branches that can replace the ones devastated by the infection. In some cases, the muscles are able to work again but are in reality living on borrowed time. According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the working theory behind PPS is that these new branches can’t hold on forever and get weaker over time. This causes muscle weakness and paralysis later in life. Today, Middlebrooks has been forced by the illness to conserve his energy to preserve his muscle strength. But it’s not just the weakness that bothers him. He also gets muscle tremors that keep him awake at night, as well as some pulmonary problems and brain fatigue. Managing the body’s limited resources is crucial for PPS sufferers to keep going, he said. “What we have to do is acknowledge the fact that we’re not Superman, and it’s OK,” he said. In some ways, PPS has failed to slow Middlebrooks down. “Now I spend my time running youth ministries and helping needy people,” he said. “I appreciate life much more now than I ever did. I have a family, a grandchild, and feel truly blessed.” Middlebrooks also blogs about his life with PPS (poliotoday.ning.com/group/ capitalpostpoliosupport) in order to encourage others. “I want to be a voice for them,” he said.
cases were reported statewide that year, and of that number, Leon County had 448. The Leon High School football players themselves were unaffected by the illness, but big plans and expectations went by the wayside as opponents in towns untouched by polio canceled their games with Leon to prevent possible contagion. “There was no preparing for the effects of the polio epidemic that plagued Tallahassee from September 14 to October 30 on the athletic schedule,” wrote John Ross, M.D., a retired pathologist who played at fullback that year. Ross and teammates Blair Culpepper and Ferrell Elliott compiled their experiences about that 1954 season in “The Fall of ’54: The Polio Epidemic and Memories of a Leon High School Football Team.” It’s an important chronicle of the season, mixed with comments from team members and Ross’ medical insights. Ross begins the memoir with a tribute to Coach Englert, who rose to the challenge. “Eight weeks and five canceled games into the season, the schedule was in shambles and team spirit was shattered,” Ross said. “Faced with a challenge that is probably unparalleled in scholastic football history, with unusual resourcefulness and force of character and with outstanding leadership, Coach Englert forged a team that literally rose from the ashes of the season to become the dominant force in the Northeast Conference.” A Random, Unpredictable and Unusual Attack “The five summers of 1950 through 1954, during which most of us were LHS students, were the peak of the polio epidemic in the United States,” Ross recalled. “The March of Dimes was in full swing. Solemn children in leg braces gazed at movie viewers from the screen, their eyes beseeching dimes.” Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It attacks the nerves that control muscle movement. It mostly affects children under the age of 3, although it can strike at any age. As fearsome as it is, polio causes paralysis in only 1 percent of those infected. Ross said that Tallahassee’s polio epidemic came “at random, without apparent cause.” What made the Tallahassee outbreak so unusual was that 70 percent of the Leon County cases were not kids — they were at least 20 years old, and two-thirds of the cases were female. Ross said that the “so-called Tallahassee strain” was different from the regional and national trends in two ways.
Photo opposite page by Scott Holstein; this page Courtesy Florida Archives and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“The annual Southeastern polio peak was historically mid-August, and the Florida state peak was typically slightly later in August-October,” he wrote. “The Tallahassee epidemic began somewhat late in the historical cycle on September 14, peaked on October 1, and ended October 30. Second, the disease affected primarily white females, persons 20–45 years old, and was mild. Statewide, only 14 cases of paralytic polio occurred in white males from 15 to 17 years old.” The unusual nature of this local outbreak has led to some controversy over exactly what kind of illness struck Tallahassee. Ross recounted that the U.S. Public Health Service lab in Montgomery, Ala., was unable to isolate poliovirus from the Tallahassee specimens. Experts from Baylor University confirmed the odd Tallahassee outbreak, and reports from the Florida State Board of Health noted that the illness was “somewhat atypical.” The state health officer and the Leon County health officer “consistently referred to the Tallahassee epidemic as an unusual form of polio,” Ross said. The 1954 annual report of Florida Morbidity Statistics states that “some doubt exists as to whether the causative agent was actually the virus of poliomyelitis or some other organism. In most cases, there was no residual paralysis.” That one aspect makes the Tallahassee strain stand out, according to Dr. Mark Pallansch, chief of the Polio and Picornavirus Laboratory Branch of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases’ Division of Viral Diseases. “The demographic affecting young adults has been reported elsewhere, but the sex difference is not typical,” said Pallansch, who joined the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in 1984 and has been on
the front lines of the global polio eradication effort since 1985. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t welcome. Those hospitalized with it felt severely ill, and many resented their case being described as “mild.” Some needed an “iron lung” medical ventilator to survive, and others had no recollection of the first few days of getting sick. Looking back, Ross said “Tallahassee Strain Poliomyelitis” is perhaps the best name to describe the illness. “Though perhaps controversial, the title is not refuted in peer-reviewed medical literature to this day,” he said. A Terrible Time In relatively few cases, polio infections lead to paralysis. Breathing muscles can be affected, too, and scores of patients were confined to iron lungs, massive airtight steel tanks designed to force lungs to operate through the means of regulated air pressure. Tallahassee Memorial Hospital had a wing of these contraptions, according to Mark Ravenscraft, a wheelchairbound polio survivor and founder of the Capital Polio Association. “It was a terrible time. There were hundreds of cases,” said Ravenscraft, who was stricken with polio in 1948. Although not in Tallahassee during the 1954 outbreak, Ravenscraft, 62, has become an advocate for polio sufferers and has studied the Tallahassee epidemic. One of the stories he heard involves the police department. In the event of a power outage, he said, officers were under orders to drop what they were doing and rush to the hospital to help keep the iron lungs working. “They had to man the pumps to keep those people alive,” he said. The combined notion of catching the disease — and winding up in one of those
“hideous” contraptions — scared the daylights out of people, said semi-retired Tallahassee attorney Murray Wadsworth, 73, who was on the 1954 Leon football team. “You think about the way some people have acted with this swine-flu thing this flu season, and it is absolutely nothing compared to polio,” he said. “The polio scare put the absolute panic, dread and fear in people because it struck only children, and everybody was terrified of what might happen to their child.” So little was actually known about the disease that many parents invented their own means of prevention. Wadsworth said his mother in particular had a peculiar, methodical approach. When the family went on vacation, she found out which towns along the way had polio outbreaks and plotted them on a map. They would either drive out of their way to avoid those towns or drive through them with the windows up. “This was before the days of air conditioning in cars, and we drove through that town (with the windows up) in fear that somehow there were these polio germs floating around in the air, that we might be infected,” he said. “And I remember one place she made my father drive all the way around, about 50 miles out of the way, to go around this particular town. That was the kind of terror people had of it.” Ross said polio was a “grim terror” that seemed more menacing than death, “not simply because of its devastating lifelong consequences upon young lives, but also because of its random, unpredictable nature.” “People were frightened that any symptoms were polio,” said Alice Englert, Coach Englert’s widow. (He died in 2007.) “Anything out of the ordinary frightened people. I think the fact this was such a
PREVENTION AND CARE left to right: Children receive poliomyelitis vaccine at the Leon County Health Department; Photo used by the CDC to encourage people to get vaccinated; Health care workers and nurse with polio victim in iron lung at the Leon County Health Department. t ALLAHA S S E E
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Anecdotal History of Leon High School,” that students hated the “huge G.G.” shots they received. “One alumna said, ‘I remember to this day having to go into the library and lie down on one of the library tables while they Canceled Games and Flagging Spirits shot my behind with a needle that looked Wadsworth remembers how confound10 feet long!’” Teague wrote. ing it was to practice hard every day and yet Parents, meanwhile, continued to use wind up staying home because the oppossuperstition to fight the epidemic; for exing school canceled the game that week. At ample, it was thought that getting hot and one point, the team even voted to disband cool in rapid succession caused the paralysis — but quickly rescinded their decision later associated with polio. when the season resumed. “Parents required children to cool down “We went through 50 days without a before swimming on a hot day — seemgame during the season, after we had alingly clear evidence that adult logic was ready played two games,” flawed,” Ross said. he said. “It was frustrat“In fact, not much had ing, because we’d practice changed since (the polio “… Not much had changed since (the polio all week and then learn at epidemic of) 1916, when epidemic of) 1916, when people burned the the end of the week that people burned the bedbedding, scrubbed toilets and even killed the the game was either postding, scrubbed toilets poned or canceled. (It was and even killed the famfamily cat, all to no avail.” — John Ross frustrating) not knowing if ily cat, all to no avail.” we’d be able to get a seaEven today, there’s no son in. Our goal was to defend our confer“It was apparently used as a method for clear understanding of how the virus is ence championship, and it became appar- halting or slowing down paralysis in po- transmitted, said the CDC’s Pallansch. “We are still addressing the issue of how ent we weren’t going to be able because we lio patients, but its success seemed to have weren’t going to be able to get the games, been minimal,” said Mauricio Minotta, a it works in places like India, so the question regardless of how well we played.” spokesman for the Salk Institute for Bio- remains,” he said. While kids were being warned to stay Games were canceled because health logical Studies in La Jolla, Calif. officials in “away team” towns were worRoss said that millions of dollars were away from pools and springs, true advances ried about exposing their population to a spent on gamma globulin, “even though in vaccine were happening in other parts of polio-infected Tallahassee resident. One scientists knew it was useless, so great was the country. The Salk vaccine — pioneered by Dr. Jonas Salk — paved the way for potime, the Lions were on their way to play the need to do something, anything.” in Ocala when their bus was stopped by Leon High alumna and third-genera- lio eradication in the United States and the a Florida Highway Patrol officer who had tion teacher Linda Lee Teague said in her world when it was declared safe and effecorders to turn them around. book, “The Lions’ Pride: A Pictorial and tive in 1955, Minotta said. “The trooper explained to the coach that the Marion County public health officer had instructed the principal of the school A SURVIVOR Mark Ravenscraft, whose childhood polio left him they should cancel the game. There was a in a wheelchair, has studied risk of being infected,” Wadsworth said. Tallahassee’s epidemic and is “We had lunch at the Suwannee Gables founder of the Capitol Polio Association. restaurant and limped home, totally disconsolate,” recalled halfback Blair Culpepper. “And we were totally bummed out.” Wadsworth said that despite his own frustrations, he could see the point of the cancellations. Polio enters the body through the mouth, and with so many people from different towns coming to watch the game, the risk would have been too great. “I could put myself in their place and would’ve said the same thing,” he said. “They weren’t concerned for the players; it wasn’t so much player-to-player as it was the little kids in the stands, mingling with the kids from Ocala.” Fighting the Disease The U.S. polio epidemic peaked in 1952 with 58,000 cases nationwide, followed by 76
March–April 2010
34,000 cases in 1953 and 37,000 in 1954, according to Ross’ book. By contrast, Florida had only about 400 cases in 1952 and 725 in 1953. A dramatic increase happened in 1954, when 1,798 cases were reported, “the most ever recorded in Florida before or since,” Ross said. Forty-three percent of Leon County’s cases resulted in paralysis, compared to 46 percent statewide. The statewide death rate was 3.2 percent, but nobody in Tallahassee died from polio. Before there was an effective vaccine, physicians used gamma globulin, a type of blood protein used to fight infections, to fight polio.
Photo by Scott Holstein
dangerous disease for us then and could be debilitating scared everyone.” “There was a lot of fear that anything could transmit the disease,” Ravenscraft said.
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While Salk’s vaccine was the first, it wasn’t the only one used to fight polio. Dr. Albert Sabin developed an oral polio vaccine (administered via sugar cubes) in 1958. It was easier to use than Salk’s injections, and the Sabin vaccine replaced Salk’s in 1962. However, it is Salk’s name that is remembered the most. “Salk gained immediate fame as ‘the man who saved the children,’ ‘the miracle man,’ and was one of the most venerated men of the 20th century,” Ross wrote. Sabin’s vaccine may have replaced Salk’s, but both are considered responsible for defeating the disease. By 1965, there were only 61 cases of polio in the United States. It was completely eradicated in this country in 1979, and in the Western Hemisphere in 1999. That doesn’t mean polio stopped being a threat. Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan are all still struggling with the disease. Minotta said that Rotary International is leading eradication efforts in those countries. But with porous borders and a global economy, the disease could rear its ugly head again. It all depends on the level of immunization. “It’s doubtful the disease will make a comeback in the U.S. as long as parents continue to immunize their children,” Minotta said. “Immunization is key to prevent another comeback in the United States.” “We must be constantly vigilant. You have to immunize enough people,” Ravenscraft said. “If immunization drops below 70 percent, it can erupt again. We have to keep fighting it; we can’t give up the ghost now.” The CDC’s Pallansch said the good news is that, even with open borders, Mexico eliminated polio in 1989. “The risk went away, even though the borders have gotten more porous,” he said. However, “if the general population reduced its immunization and the virus was still in places like Nigeria, we’d still have the risk of outbreaks from imported virus. Here in Atlanta, there is a direct flight from Nigeria to Atlanta every day. So it’s one plane flight away to these areas that still have polio.” As for the 1954 Leon High School football team, they were finally able to play other teams again that November. But they played a “hurry-up” schedule: four games in 10 days, without much time to prepare. The team ended the season with a 6-1-1 record. Of those four games, “they won two, lost one, and tied one. Still, that was very good to do that in 10 days,” Alice Englert
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TEAM SPIRIT A member of the football team during the condensed season, Murray Wadsworth recalls the disappointment of preparing for games that were ultimately cancelled.
“It made us a better football team, I believe. It gave us a sense of camaraderie and commitment, of determination, that probably we would not have had without it.” — Murray Wadsworth
said. “(The players) have stated that (dealing with that adversity) had a great deal to do with how they have lived the rest of their lives. So they’re very special.” Wadsworth agreed that the adversity faced by team members brought out the best in them. “I can tell you this. It made us a better football team, I believe,” he said. “It gave us a sense of camaraderie and commitment, of determination, that probably we would not have had without it.” But that also holds true for the doctors and nurses who risked their lives to treat polio patients. Ross said that two doctors, their wives and families, as well as several nurses, the TMH administrator and its business manager, all contracted polio. “Although we may give face and name to an experience possibly unique in the history of any small community, many citizens, doctors, nurses, hospital staff, therapists and health officials made real sacrifices,” he said. n 78
March–April 2010
(L-R) Paul Fitzgerald, Director of Technology, Holy Comforter Episcopal School; Paul Watts, Chief Operating Officer, Electronet Broadband Communications; Dr. Barbara Hodges, Head of Holy Comforter Episcopal School
RE AL CUSTOMERS . RE AL ISSUES . RE AL SOLUTIONS . “It was our desire to establish a high tech campus in order to accommodate various areas of study such as our new robotics program along with our math and science programs … We were able to streamline our voice, data, long distance and hosting into the most stable and expandable platform available in this community. Electronet had fiber installed plus took over all of our dial tone and internet needs. It was a smooth transition and we also saved money ... We increased a d reliability and lowered our costs ... All of these things plus the fact that they are an performancee and de this thi thi h s decision deci de ciss easy for us ... We would highly recommend Electronet to any business local made ng to iimprove m ro mp rove ve ttheir heirirr ccurrent business communications platform.” he wishing Paul Fitzgerald
Barbara H. Hodges Ed.D.
3 4 1 1 C a p i t a l M e d i c a l B l v d . Ta l l a h a s s e e , F L | 2 2 2 . 0 2 2 9 | w w w. e l e c t r o n e t . n e t
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March–April 2010
March/April 2010
A Newsletter for the TCC Foundation
TCC prepares students to meet Florida’s growing health care needs
H
ealth care will generate more than three million new jobs between now and 2018. This increase is greater than in any other industry, according to the United States Department of Labor. Community colleges will play a major role in training tomorrow’s health care workers, because most careers in the industry require less than four years of college education. Tallahassee Community College’s role in supplying high-quality health professionals Anatomy students examine a model of a human skull in our region has long been critically important, and the College is wellprepared to meet growing needs. TCC trains individuals for employment in nursing, dental hygiene, dental assisting, respiratory c a re , r a d i o l o g i c t e c h n o l o g y, diagnostic medical sonography and emergency medical services. Together, these degree and certificate programs provide almost 200 new health care employees per year. TCC’s Center for Workforce Development also offers a number Aerial view of Ghazvini Center construction EMT Students practice emergency CPR of short-term training programs that focus on entry-level skills. Offerings include medical front office and medical office specialist programs that With generous donations from the Ghazvini family, Tallahassee provide an introduction to the medical office environment. The nursing Memorial HealthCare and other partners, TCC is building a stateassistant program prepares graduates to take the Certified Nursing of-the-art training facility to help meet our community’s need for Assistant licensure exam required by the state of Florida. more medical professionals. When complete, the Ghazvini Center TCC graduates perform extremely well after graduation. Recent for Health Care Education will feature 88,000 square feet of learning radiologic technology, dental hygiene and respiratory care classes have space devoted to diagnostic medical sonography, emergency medical averaged a 95 percent success rate on their licensure exams. Fortunately, services, nursing, radiologic technology and respiratory care. Cuttingmore than 95 percent of TCC health care program graduates stay and work edge technology will be a staple of the facility, allowing students to in our community, helping to meet the area’s health care needs. respond to emergencies in simulated real-time settings. The Center will TCC strives to develop new programs to meet community employment also house classrooms, conference rooms, a library, laboratory space, needs. For example, the College began its radiologic technology program a simulation center and administrative offi ces for TCC’s Division of in 2003 in response to employer requests. Diagnostic medical sonography Health Care Professions. started in August 2007 to meet the area’s need for trained sonographers. Floridians’ health will increasingly depend on a large and well-trained In January 2010, TCC began a pharmacy technician program consisting of group of health care professionals. Through diverse and expanding 1,050 clock hours of instruction. This program prepares students to take programs, taught in state-of-the-art training facilities, TCC is preparing the national exam for Certified Pharmacy Technicians. individuals to meet these needs. TCC FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER 1
TCC 1% Club
T Earnest Starks receives 1% pin from Robin Johnston
lapel pin, invitations to VIP receptions and tickets the Theatre TCC! productions. This year, TCC Foundation recognized 18 members of the TCC 1% Club:
he TCC Foundation concluded the Campaign for TCC in October. The Campaign for TCC provides an opportunity for TCC employees to give their financial support to the college. Funds raised during the month long campaign allow the TCC Foundation to sustain programs such as the Classified Staff Personal Enrichment Series, the College Innovation Fund and scholarships for TCC students. Those who give at least 1% of their annual salary are recognized as members of the TCC 1% Club. Members receive a special
Capital City Caper
Marge Banocy-Payne Will Benedicks Frank Brown James Carr John Chapin Barbara Douglas Amy Gaughf Susan Hall Omesha James
Robin Johnston Bill Law Neisa Logman Jim Murdaugh Barbara Sloan Earnest Starks April White Charles Wood Shannon Young
TheatreTCC! Thank you for supporting TheatreTCC! Please join us for our spring production…
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Dramatized by Patricia Gray
T
he Tallahassee Community College Foundation will host its third annual Capital City Caper, presented by Mainline Information Systems, on Sunday, April 18 to benefit TCC’s Ghazvini Center for Health Care Education. The Capital City Caper is a zany limousine scavenger hunt, unlike anything else in Tallahassee. Teams of eight
“detectives” are chauffeured around town to solve puzzles and complete physical and mental challenges. The winners will be announced during an evening dinner at the Mary Brogan Museum of Art & Science. Contact the TCC Foundation at (850) 2018580 or log on to www.capitalcitycaper.com to find out how you can be part of the fun.
April 8-10 & 15-17 at 8:00 p.m. This production is funded in part by student activity fees and the SGA.
Produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois.
TCC Foundation 2009-2010 Board of Directors OFFICERS:
DIRECTORS:
Douglas S. Bell, President Nolia Brandt, President Elect Mary L. Pankowski, Vice President James Ashmore, Secretary Al Penson, Treasurer Todd Hunter, Past President
Crawford Atkins Mark Bates A.J. Brickler III Steve Brown Pam Butler Robert Bryant Marshall Cassedy, Jr. Tom Cumbie
2 TCC FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER
Darrin Holloman Mike Illers John Lentz Martha Ann McCaskill David Miller Randy Pople Jim Rodgers Brian Rowland Frank Ryll
Winnie Schmeling Jimmy Suber Greg Thomas John Thomas Susan Payne Turner Richard “Rick” Weidner Ex-Officio: Bill Law Matt Willard
2 Springtime Tallahassee 2010
WELCOME
Photo by Katrice Howell Photography
Inside Your Guide
Springtime Tallahassee Partners.................... 5 The Making of the Parade....................................... 6 Schedule of Events............................................................ 8 Grand Parade Marshal...........................................10 Main Stage Music Festival.................................11 Title Sponsor....................................................................... 13 Memories................................................................................. 13 Andrew and Rachel Jackson.......................... 14 Belles and Gents............................................................. 14 Logo Design
Rowland Publishing, Inc. Cover Design
Tallahassee Magazine Cover Photo
Lawrence Davidson Published By
Rowland Publishing, Inc. Portrait Photography
Katrice Howell Photography
Contributing Authors
Polo Lacayo, President Bonnie Fisher, General Chair Title Sponsor
Tobacco Free Florida 2010 Miss and Mr. Springtime
Nicole McKissack & Colby Allen
Springtime Tallahassee would like to acknowledge the time and hard work put into this Festival Guide by Tallahassee Magazine. Our cover and festival logo were designed by the publication’s talented staff. Thanks so much!
Polo Lacayo, President & Bonnie Fisher, General Chair
A
s we “Leap into Spring”, we wish to thank each of you for your faithful participation in our many Springtime Tallahassee events and look forward to seeing you at our 42nd Annual Jubilee in the Park and Grand Parade. Our Springtime Festival continues to rank as one of the Top 20 events in the southeastern United States, and because of your participation, the “Best Community Event” by Tallahassee Magazine readers. This year we have selected Jeremiah (pictured with us above) as our mascot. He is traveling with us to other festivals in the southeast to help promote Springtime Tallahassee and our wonderful community. Jeremiah fits well with our “Leap into Spring” theme and has helped us to share the fun. Along with the many fun venues available free to families and friends, we have again brought in a fantastic group of Arts and Craft vendors to offer their many unique items. We hope you will visit the many vendor booths — we believe there’s going to be something for everyone. Our Seafood Festival will be held at Kleman Plaza where our main stage will again feature rising stars. Everyone should visit our Community Stage and our Rock/Jazz/Blues stage where you will find great local talent. Of course, our Kid’s Park is always a hit and a visit to our Food Court will yield mouthwatering delights from many local food vendors. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our many Sponsors as well as our Springtime members whose many hundreds of volunteer hours help make this weekend the success it is. It is one of very few places where a family can pack snacks and come downtown to enjoy entertainment all day for free. Or, visit the many craft vendors and pick up unique gifts, home decorations, knick-knacks or yard art at “direct-from-the-artist” prices. We have enjoyed our “Leap into Springtime” and we ask each of you to now “Leap into Spring” and take advantage of our beautiful city and all it has to offer so that you can make memories of a lifetime with us.
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Springtime Tallahassee 2010 3
4 Springtime Tallahassee 2010
Springtime Tallahassee 2010 5
Tobacco Free Florida
Presents the Grand Parade
I Wish I Had Paid More Attention By Polo Lacayo, President
Like most of my stories, I will start at the beginning. As soon as our Grand Parade ended last year, our Executive Director contacted our General Chair Elect to make sure she had selected our volunteer Parade Chair for this year. She had and he agreed, his only words being, “I wish I had paid more attention.” Thus, the planning began. First came our theme for the year, “Leap into Spring.” Our hope is that applicants will style their entries around our theme. Our 42nd annual parade is made up of around 150 entries ranging from local dignitaries to marching units to grand floats. They come from the surrounding area and from as far away as Tampa, Bradenton, Pensacola, Mobile, Ala. and Fort Walton Beach. The Springtime floats are rebuilt annually to incorporate the current theme. This takes place at “Basil’s Barn” (our float barn) and it is where the camaraderie enjoyed by Springtime members is built. Springtime members from the five Krewes spend many nights over the winter months at the barn building and decorating the floats, competing to win the coveted “Best Springtime Float” title. This is a time when you find out that people you thought had no talent actually do. Or, people you thought had no talent actually don’t. It is both fun and funny as accountant, attorney, banker, construction worker, state worker, etc. come together as one to achieve this common goal. I’ll tell you this much, a DEP auditor, a banker and a homemaker all paint a float the same way. They apply three coats — one on the float, one on the floor and one on themselves. The Parade Chair must carefully review applications for acceptance in the parade. When the application process is finished, the next step is setting “The Lineup”. This is the little chore of making sure that the folks along the parade route don’t have the pleasure of watching six bands in a row followed by six fire trucks followed by six equestrian units … and so on. We always enjoy the special requests from returning entrants such as “Don’t put us behind that band again, they are loud and we can’t hear our music,” or my favorite: “We can’t march behind those horses again.” The Parade Chair figures all this out and the lineup is set. In the background, unseen pieces of the puzzle are also coming together. Meetings are held with city and county officials to coordinate the many law enforcement requirements that ensure a successful parade. These are such minor items as closing off a 6 Springtime Tallahassee 2010
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bazillion city streets, many state roads and one federal highway without aggravating more than 53,000 motorists on that day. It involves coordinating the setup of barricades, the cleanup of the aftermath and on and on. Once all of this is done, we finally get to parade day. The Grand Parade begins at 10 a.m. All units must be in place by 9 a.m.. If your unit is one of the huge Springtime floats, it means being at the float barn at 5 a.m. Watching us get our floats out of Basil’s Barn at 5 a.m. is a hoot. The barn barely houses six of our seven floats and watching them maneuver out of the barn can be both funny and scary. These giant floats are being pulled by tractors driven by our version of “Mr. Douglas” from “Green Acres.” That is to say, we have bankers, accountants, attorneys, etc. driving these tractors down Monroe Street. Magically, they are all in place on North Monroe Street before 9. Simultaneously, floats from around the state, marching bands from the local schools, performing units from the surrounding area and more are also making their way to the lineup area along North Monroe and many of its side streets. The Parade Chair’s fun is just beginning. His morning is fraught with folks needing to know if their unit — No. 27 — is supposed to be right behind unit No. 26. Or, last-minute changes such as “we were planning to bring our float but it broke down, can we just walk?” Or, “we were planning on putting two guys in a convertible, but we decided to bring our float, is that OK?” Somehow, by 10 a.m., the lineup is set and the parade can begin. Here, the Parade Chair is faced with his final major challenge. “Keep the parade moving with no gaps.” Parade rules state there will be no stopping in front of the judges area or grand stand areas to perform because this causes “gaps” in the parade. To give you an idea of the magnitude of this chore, imagine that you are in a performing unit (a band or a dancing troupe, for example) and you have been practicing all year. When you finally get in front of the judges stand, what do you want to do? PERFORM! What do you get? Yup, gaps. And so, the final players in our parade are the Marshals. They are up and down the parade route giving out instructions such as “speed up” or “slow down” or both. Everyone makes it to Gaines Street, the end of the route, and another successful parade is in the books. Now, if you think watching our “Mr. Douglas’” pull the floats OUT of the float barn was fun, you’ll really enjoy watching them trying to get them back in. Come early and pack a lunch. It takes awhile. Meanwhile, back at the office, our Executive Director is talking to next year’s General Chair Elect and asking if she has selected her Volunteer Parade Chair for next year. She has and he agreed, his only words being, “I wish I had paid more attention.”
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Schedule of Springtime Tallahassee Festival Events 2010
March
10
Breakfast in the Park 6:30-10 a.m. in Downtown Tallahassee, Bloxham Park
Join us for a delicious old-fashioned breakfast downtown, while mingling with old friends.
Capital City Bank Downtown GetDown 6-10 p.m. in Downtown Tallahassee, Adams Street
March
26
Kick off the weekend festivities at the GetDown Street Party located at the Adams Street Commons.
March
Grand Parade
27
10:30 a.m.-noon on Monroe Street
One of the largest parades in the southeast, the Springtime Tallahassee Grand Parade needs no introduction. Come see more than 100 colorful units and floats, marching bands, dance groups, Springtime Krewe floats and much more!
Jubilee in the Park
9 a.m.-5 p.m. in Downtown Tallahassee
With more than 250 arts, craft and food vendors from around the country, this event is represented by some of the best. You can expect artists displaying incredible original, handmade masterpieces, and find cuisine with international flavors to ignite anyone’s taste buds!
March
27
March
27
HOT
spot!
Looking for the best parade viewing seats in the house or a morning snack before the activities begin? Stop by Hotel Duval.
8 Springtime Tallahassee 2010
Children’s Park
9 a.m.- 5 p.m. in Downtown Tallahassee
Looking for something for all ages, both young and young-at-heart? You’ll find a day full of fun-filled activities for all ages that will get those imaginations running with creativity. NEW: The Children’s Park is designated as smoke-free zone. With almost 22 million children being exposed to second-hand smoke, Tobacco Free Florida hopes to reduce these numbers with a smoke-free zone at Springtime Tallahassee’s Children’s Park.
Photography by Lawrence Davidson
Musical Guests March 27 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Community Stage
Killearn Kids Dance Troupe The Tallahassee Ballet VIT - Celebration Baptist Church Capital City Shakespeare Trousdell Gymnastic Center Dance Team Young Actors Theatre Troupe Arabesque
Rock/Jazz/Blues Stage Thursday Night Music Club Blacksheep Sarah Mac Band Bill Hart
Reviewing Stands
Tallahassee Community College’s Capital City Band
Jubilee
Hot Tamale
March
The Spot
27
9 a.m. – 5p.m. in Downtown Tallahassee
Middle School, High School, and College students alike can come and chill at The Spot! The Spot will feature local performers, entertainment, video games, and more. All of this will be hosted by Teen Choice Award winner Chad Bullock! The Spot is a smoke-free area that is brought to you by Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT), STRIKE, and Tobacco Free Leon.
Springtime Tallahassee 2010 9
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10 Springtime Tallahassee 2010
Kim’s career at Marpan, his family’s business, began as a part-time employee while attending Tallahassee Community College in 1968. He has served as President of the company since 1985. As an owner/developer of commercial real estate, he is managing partner of the Heritage at Commonwealth, Hamilton Industrial Park and Commerce Industrial Center. He has a long history of community involvement. Williams is a founding board member and past president of Southside Business Association. He is a past chair of the Tallahassee Chamber and was the 2006 recipient of the Godfrey Smith PastChair award. He served eight years on the board of the Tallahassee Housing Authority and also is currently a board member of Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, Capital City Bank, The Florida Center for Performing Arts and Education — an organization dedicated to building a Performing Arts Center in Tallahassee — and chair of the Economic Development Council. As a native Tallahassean, Kim is committed to encouraging economic growth so our children will be able to find opportunity here, while maintaining our quality of life. His wife, Mayda, owns Target Copy and they have four children, Matthew, Johanna, Tracey and Andrew.
Main Stage Music Festival
2009
Best Florist Best Corporate Citizen
Stony Run
March 27, 12:00-5:00 pm at Kleman Plaza They’re BACK Tallahassee! You asked and we delivered, regional entertainment act Stony Run! With a broad musical influence ranging from Reba, Faith Hill, George Jones, Sugarland, George Strait and so many others Stony Run has that unique ability of captivating audiences with a style all their own. Experience one of the most exciting musical journeys of a life-time, so buckle up and get ready to take this ride! Showcasing Tallahassee’s finest and SOUTHERN ROCK at its best! With musical influence ranging from John Cougar, Bob Seger, Elvis, THIRD DAY, Jimmy Buffett and John Mayer, the Wilson Dean Band produces a show guaranteed to ROCK Kleman Plaza making it impossible to stay in your seat. The Wilson Dean Band
Springtime Tallahassee Seafood Festival & Bud Light Lime Beer Garden March 27, 12:00-5:00 pm at Kleman Plaza
The forth annual Seafood Festival will offer a variety of cuisine guaranteed to ignite your taste buds. Come taste the best seafood around from vendors joining us from across the Florida coastline. Shrimp Pontchartrain Menu items include: Crab Fritter Seafood Kabobs & Po’Boys Baha Fish Taco Grilled Crab Cakes Crawfish Etouffee Soft Shell Crab Grouper Platters Calamari Springtime Tallahassee 2010 11
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Memories
Photography by Lawrence Davidson
For me Springtime Tallahassee is my way of celebrating the change in weather. I’m not a big fan of the Winter days! It also brings a sense of fellowship with the Tallahassee Community. I can go to the parade, enjoy it with the people that make Tallahassee what it is! I can also support the local artists on Saturdays! It’s something to do with your family, and again during the perfect time of the year! SPRING=GREAT WEATHER — Horasetta Suber
I loved Springtime Tallahassee before I had a child, but I love it even more now that I have a child. All the festivities look new to me as I see them through his eyes. — Lori Grills Taylor
I love Springtime Tallahassee!! It is the first event of the season and there are so many family activities to particpate in. It’s a great Family Fun Filled Event!! A must DO in Tallahassee! — Jeri Letchworth Nash
Of all the great memories I have of Springtime Tallahassee, I’d have to say my favorite is parade day. As a member of one of the local Krewes, its hard to overcome the feeling you get watching your friends and neighbors line the streets to see the floats everyone has been building over the last several months. Then, when the parade starts and you see the children smile, you know that all the hard work has been worth it, tenfold.— Chris Nicholas
“My favorite part is when the parade starts coming and the kids start picking everything up. That’s probably their parents’ favorite part, too, when their talkative kids have that to do.” — Benjamin Howes
I love everything about Springtime Tallahassee! My favorite memories are as a part of a large 2008 parade entry that I organized, “The Dog and Pony Show” featuring adoptable dogs from the animal shelter and Ford Mustangs from the Panhandle Ponies Tallahassee Mustang Club. My 1966 Mustang, which had run flawlessly for over 194k miles, decided to ... See Morestall in front of the judging area and the TV cameras. I had to push it up hill into a parking lot! I offloaded my goodies for the kids and ran to catch up with my entry. Despite the “technical difficulty,” we managed to have a great time and gave hundreds of backpacks and other goodies to the happy kids. Afterward, my friend Linda and I ran back to my car and did the repairs in the parking lot. It was the brain box, and I happened to have a spare. :) Anyway, I absolutely love the people of Tallahassee and enjoy great weather year-round here, not to mention the rolling hills and canopy roads. Springtime Tallahassee captures the true beauty of this city! — Gabrielle D.
U
nveiled in 2008 under the direction of the Florida Department of Health, the Tobacco Free Florida campaign works to decrease the number of Floridians using tobacco through efforts aimed at both prevention and cessation audiences.
These efforts, funded by money derived from court settlements against major tobacco companies, integrate advertising, public relations, interactive, guerilla media, event media, sponsored promotions and more. The “Be Free” campaign message empowers tobacco users to break the chain of addiction and encourages youth to build self-confidence without tobacco use. As part of the campaign’s guerilla marketing efforts, the Tobacco Free Florida Street Team travels across the state in two Smokifier Vans serving as the face of the campaign. They rally communities around the campaign’s message and educate Floridians about the dangers of tobacco use.
Tobacco Free Florida recognizes tobacco dependency is an addiction and provides tobacco users with the tools for empowerment that are necessary for longterm success. Users can contact the Florida Quitline at 1-877-U-CAN-NOW, or visit www.floridaquitline.com for free counseling and free nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches or gum. It is our hope that one day every Floridian might be free of the hazards of tobacco, and that we all may eventually live in the state that our name implies — a truly Tobacco Free Florida. For more information on the campaign, visit www. tobaccofreeflorida.com. Springtime Tallahassee 2010 13
Andrew and Rachel Jackson and the Belles and
Norm and Maryann Gravelle Andrew and Rachel Jackson
Mr. Congeniality- Charlie Corbin Miss Congeniality- Kathryn Rosser
First Row-sitting (Left to Right): Taylor Parsons, Julie Greenberg, Lauren Lastowski, Summer Shiver; 2nd Row (L to R): Claire Nagy-Kato, Kathryn Rosser, Elaina Doxsee, Janie Jansen, Carson Demont, Elise Bradford, Maggie Widener, Sarah Widener 3rd Row (L to R): Courtney Ricciardi, Jordan Thorn, Mary Beth Shields, MacKenzie Hunt 4th Row (L to R): Sarah Taff, Sarah Allen, Kelli Rosser Top/Back Row (L to R): Remi Boyd, Morgan Thorn, Nicole McKissack, Alexis Snyder, Caroline Shafer, Meaghan Maus Not Pictured: Ann Draper 14 Springtime Tallahassee 2010
Gents of Springtime Tallahassee 2010
O
Mr. Springtime - Colby Allen Miss Springtime - Nicole McKissack
Photography by Katrice Howell Photography
n November 13th, the Belles & Gents decked out in their Springtime Tallahassee dresses and tuxedos entered the University Center Club for the Belles & Gents Coronation Ball. The night had finally arrived and Mr. and Miss Springtime Tallahassee would be announced. Excitement was in the air. We need to digress just a bit and let you know what it takes to be chosen to represent Springtime Tallahassee. To be eligible for the title of Mr. or Miss Springtime, one must be the daughter/son or granddaughter/grandson of a Springtime Tallahassee member. The decision process (which is scored on a point system) includes an interview with a panel of judges, activity/ participation points and a peer vote of our fellow Belles & Gents. We have been involved in Belles & Gents since our freshman year of high school. Some of projects and activities we have taken part in are welcoming legislators back to Tallahassee, collecting items and donating them to the local animal shelter, Operation Prom Dress, the Teddy Bear Run, helping out at the Kid’s Park at the Spring-
time Tallahassee Jubilee, and ballroom and etiquette classes. Nicole, what service project do you consider the most enjoyable? I’d have to say my most memorable project was Operation Prom Dress at Gretchen Everhart. I saw so much joy on the faces of the girls as they tried on pretty dresses to get them ready for their prom. So Colby, what’s your favorite? My favorite was the Teddy Bear Run. Helping the Andrew Jackson Staff deliver bears to the residents at nursing homes and rehab hospitals really meant so much to me to see how the smallest kindness can bring joy … and you have to admit, we definitely had a blast at the ballroom classes. We feel honored to be given the responsibility of representing Springtime Tallahassee and the great community where we live. Nicole McKissack, 2010 Miss Springtime Colby Allen, 2010 Mr. Springtime
Front Row (Left to Right): Brandon Smiley, Travis Sullivan, Ryan Forgas, Morgan Sykes 2nd Row (L to R): Hunter Mobley, Ben Revell, Cole Bond, Bradley Moore, Johnny Blue Craig, Jr., Philip Widener Top Row (L to R): Mark Catney, Colby Allen, Charlie Corbin, Matt McKissack
Springtime Tallahassee 2010 15
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Photo by Mike Olivella
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16 Springtime Tallahassee 2010
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Home appliance manufacturers are now offering a new, energy-efficient technology for kitchens: induction stovetops. This innovative equipment uses electromagnetic energy to heat pots and pans directly, instead of heating a burner that would then heat the container. This allows for faster and more even cooking than gas or electric stoves. Under the surface of an induction cooker is a powerful electromagnet that generates an electromagnetic field. When a sizable piece of magnetic material is placed on the surface, the
electromagnetic field transfers energy to the metal and heats it. However, this only works with pots and pans made from magnetic materials, such as cast-iron or stainless steel. Aluminum or glass won’t work. Induction cooking has a number of benefits. Cooking temperatures can be adjusted instantly and precisely, as opposed to electric stoves that respond gradually. Also, very little heat escapes in the process — meaning the kitchen stays cooler and the stovetop warms only from heat generated by the cooking container itself.
Perhaps most importantly, induction cooktops are significantly safer in that they heat only the magnetic material placed on them, thereby eliminating the risk of burning hands or accidentally heating cooking utensils. In addition, cleaning is considerably easier, since food will not bake or burn onto the flat stovetop. Most major appliance manufacturers now offer induction ranges. Samsung’s new induction range, shown here, is priced at $1,999 and includes touch controls, a true convection oven and a built-in warming drawer. — Tori Gibbs
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Not Your Nana’s Garden Club With Service, Education, Youth Programs — and No Pearls or White Gloves — Tallahassee’s 630-Member Society Has Changed With the Times By Donna Meredith
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hesitated to join a garden club circle, worried that it might be a bunch of ladies sitting around in dresses and pearls, gossiping and balancing fragile teacups on their laps with white-gloved hands. The Tallahassee Garden Club’s Magnolia Circle quickly dispelled this notion. Armed with two containers of earthworms, Junior Gardening Chair Chris Parrish dangled wigglers in front of Gilchrist kindergartners eager to touch and study them. At the Tallahassee Garden Center on Calhoun Street, Marty Quinn and Meg
Haisten crawled deep into the azalea beds to yank out kudzu and Virginia creeper. Helen Purvis, Stacie Kornegay and Sharon Montgomery reign as the recycling queens of Tallahassee, capable of turning empty tuna cans and old tennis shoes into artistic floral arrangements. And the juiciest gossip? The first person to tell me about the massive worldwide bee die-off was Nancy Thomas, months before PBS aired its program on the topic. The 630 members of the Tallahassee Garden Club are serious gardeners and en-
Photo courtesy Carrie Duggar; Inset photo courtesy florida archives
Habitat
Top Photo courtesy Donna Meredith; bottom Photo courtesy Carrie Duggar
the Earth’s Environment Through Knowledge) conference for grades 10–12. “I would like to expand learning opportunities for both our membership and the public, especially youth,” said Tallahassee Garden Club President Jana Walling. “Assisting with Wekiva and SEEK are two of the ways we can accomplish the goal.” Leon County students wishing to obtain a garden club sponsor for Wekiva or SEEK can call Walling at (850) 656-8236. You don’t need to have a family member in a garden club to obtain a sponsor.
Now … and Then Opposite page: SEEK participants launch canoes in the Wakulla River. Inset: Dressing up was de rigueur for this 1951 flower show at the Jitney Jungle Supermarket. Above: In Kathy Law’s kindergarten class, Wellarose Jimenez studies earthworm segments as part of a Junior Gardening program. Left: Deltona High School sophomore David Lee displays a one-clawed crawfish he caught near Panacea.
vironmentalists. They meet in 27 smaller groups called circles, and many members are certified as Master Gardeners through the Leon County Extension Office. Environmental Education Leaders and Nonprofit Status Garden clubs have always been about beautifying our surroundings, but today they are much more than that. Over the past year, the Tallahassee Garden Club has received 501(c)(3) status from the federal government because of the organization’s
emphasis on education. Besides free horticultural programs, the club is on the front lines of environmental protection. Members educate the community about invasive plants and improper use of pesticides and fertilizers. The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, of which the Tallahassee Garden Club is a member, works to preserve the environment through education of young people. Programs include junior gardening in schools and two summer activities: Wekiva Camp for grades K–8 and the SEEK (Save
Camp for Tomorrow’s Environmentalists The Wekiva environmental camp near Apopka in Central Florida offers six oneweek sessions. The camp motto is “Campers today, environmental leaders tomorrow.” Organizers vary activities to suit campers’ ages. The youngest, in grades K–2, attend Critter Camp as an introduction to Florida wildlife, while eighthgraders focus on building leadership skills, canoeing and viewing firsthand the importance of Florida’s water systems and the effects that humans have on them. Nine-year-old Hailey Driggers attended Wekiva in the summer of 2009. “My absolute favorite part of camp was the night ride,” she said. During the ride, the camp director pulled children around the grounds on a trailer. “We learned to spot wolf spiders in the pine straw by shining flashlights,” Hailey said. “We found one thiiisssss big,” she added, spreading her hands chestwide. The campers also saw deer, possums, a stray cat, a bear and armadillos on the night ride. A woman from a bird refuge brought an owl and an eagle for campers to study, and a snake expert brought in reptiles he handled with a long pole. Arts and crafts, swimming, nature hikes, skits and campfires rounded out the experience. “That was the cleanest, neatest camp I’ve ever seen,” said Hailey’s grandmother, Jane Driggers, who belongs to the Tallahassee Garden Club’s Buttercup Circle.
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Another Buttercup member, Pat Sanford, twice attended Wekiva as a counselor, once during the boys’ week. The boys learned to spot and make casts of wild animal tracks and practiced bird calls. They also made leaf and tree rubbings, danced Indian dances with a Native American drummer and followed an endangered gopher turtle to his hole. Sanford’s second trip as a counselor also was fun — her granddaughter Sarah attended with her. “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of encouraging our children to attend this wonderful camp,” Sanford said.
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SEEKing Knowledge at Wakulla Springs The SEEK conference is held for four days in July. In 2009, students from all over Florida were housed at Wakulla Springs Lodge. The Tallahassee Garden Club awarded partial scholarships to six local high school students. Those attending were Cora Atkinson, Summer Chatham, Lea Ellen Kornegay, Emily Hahn, Kristie Hodges and Beth Scheffer. Lynn Artz, of Iris Garden Club in Wakulla County, organized the state conference. “We are fortunate to have many highly knowledgeable resources in our area representing diverse interests in environmental science and conservation,” she said. During the conference, wildlife biologists and educators guided students through hands-on experiences. Other leaders were certified Green Guides, citizen activists or people who work with nonprofit organizations such as Sustainable Big Bend, the Florida Wildlife Federation, the Florida Wild Mammal Association, the Wakulla Watershed Coalition and the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park. All volunteered their time and expertise. SEEK participants learned about karst hydrogeology, nutrient pollution and springs protection. They canoed the Wakulla River, spotting manatees, gators and anhingas. With guides, the children hiked sinkholes, lakes and the beach to study diverse ecosystems. They handled ocean creatures at the Florida State University Marine Laboratory; calculated their own carbon footprints on computers; took samples of macroinvertebrates — organisms that do not have a backbone and are visible without a microscope — to study water quality; and toured recycling facilities operated by the Marpan company and Leon County. “Ultimately, I was made aware of just how
easy it is to reduce your waste,” scholarship recipient Kornegay said. “Simple changes in your life, like switching from plastic water bottles, can make big, big differences.” The slide show on bottled water also impressed fellow student Scheffer. “It was fascinating to learn what bottle companies do to drain the springs,” she said. “I never realized it was so bad for the environment.” Artz, of the Iris Garden Club, said she hopes teens leave the conference inspired to live differently and influence their communities.
(Housing Opportunities and Personal Empowerment) community in southwestern Tallahassee, which is sponsored by the Big Bend Homeless Coalition. Club members maintain the gardens and provide horticultural programs for HOPE residents. Garden club members also assist with Habitat for Humanity projects. Leslie Patterson worked at one such houses. “We bought the plants, dug the holes and put in all the landscaping,” she said.
Plant Exchange and Horticulture Program When the Tallahassee Garden Club was formed in 1926, one of its earliest programs College Scholarships Offered was the Plant Exchange. In 1931, an ox Another way garden clubs work to pulled a wagon from house to house through build a better environment is through colTallahassee to facilitate trades of plants. lege scholarships. The Florida Federation “If they had something to share, they put of Garden Clubs offers 16 scholarships to it on the wagon and then it went on to the next spot,” said Nell Carlile, who founded In 1931, an ox pulled a wagon from the garden club’s Redbud Circle in 1951. house to house through Tallahassee At the next home, if to facilitate trades of plants. the owners saw any plants they wanted, Florida residents with a minimum B (3.0 they took them and added their own conon a 4.0 scale) grade point average who tributions to the cart. are in need of financial aid and are enrolled Today the Plant Exchange is held on the full time in a Florida college or university. day following circle meetings. Circles meet Scholarships are designated for a variety of the third Wednesday of each month, Sepstudies, including agriculture, butterflies, tember through May. The Plant Exchange environmental issues, ecology, horticulis held the next day, except in December. ture, botany, forestry, marine biology, city March 20, April 22 and May 20 are upplanning and landscape design. coming dates. Similar scholarships are available through Participants begin lining up around the National Garden Clubs’ Deep South Re9 a.m. on the patio of the Tallahassee gion. Scholarship inquiries can be addressed Garden Center at 507 Calhoun St. and the to Marie Harrison, Scholarship Chairman, exchange begins a half-hour later. Anyone Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, 166 can come and choose plants to take home. Edge Ave., Valparaiso, FL 32580. Bringing plants to trade is not a requirement to participate. Garden Club Service Projects Every Plant Exchange is different and full The Tallahassee Garden Club also particof surprises. The number of participants ipates in a wide range of community service varies from 40 to 100, and offerings may inprojects. At Goodwood Plantation, club clude anything grown in Tallahassee — red members weed, propagate heirloom plants lady salvia, Christmas cactus, ginger, basil, and assist with the annual plant sale. They bee balm, purple coneflower, angel wing beprovide funds to enrich Maclay State Park gonia, fairy rose or zucchini. Members also and Gardens and partner with the Florida give away dozens of door prizes, from garDepartment of Transportation to scatter den shears to hand-painted flower pots. For wildflower seeds along highways and trails. fun, they might raffle off a rain barrel. Garden club members also donate funds The Plant Exchange is followed by a to Avon Park Correctional Institution’s horhorticultural program and more door ticultural program for inmates and provide prizes in the Tallahassee Garden Club augardening and flower-arranging activities ditorium at 10 a.m. Upcoming programs at nursing homes. In addition, members include “Ask the Masters” on March 20, have created gardens around the HOPE an opportunity to pose questions to Master tALLAHASSEE
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Gardeners; “Spring in France” on April 22; and “TAPP — Water Management and Personal Pollution” on May 20. “The exchange and horticultural program is one of the most important projects of the garden club, because the public is invited to come and receive plants and information for free,” Carlile said.
(850) 562-4010
Flower Shows and Luncheons The Tallahassee Garden Club still sponsors traditional events associated with garden clubs, such as teas and flower shows, but even methods of growing things and arranging flowers have changed in the 59 years since Carlile became a member. She notes that fewer young women join the garden club because they are working. “They’re too tired and too busy,” she said. The biggest change, Carlile added, is that women don’t dress up as much as they used to. “We wore hats and gloves at our first luncheon in 1968,” she said. “It was a beautiful thing to see 550 women dressed up. We were ladies. Now the women might show up in pants or even their jeans.” I enjoy watching the 1950s-style glamour on “Mad Men,” but I’m glad the garden club relaxed the dress code. I long ago gave up high heels as the invention of a misogynist. Even if today’s members wear capris rather than pearls and pull on garden gloves rather than dress whites, I don’t think there is a lovelier group of women anywhere than the ladies of the Tallahassee Garden Club. n Donna Meredith is a freelance writer, president of the Tallahassee Writers Association and a member of Magnolia Garden Circle. She taught English and journalism for 29 years.
For More Information Contact President Jana Walling at (850) 656-8236 to: » Join a garden club circle. » Obtain a sponsorship or scholarship
to a Wekiva camp or SEEK conference.
Mail tax-deductible donations to: » The Tallahassee Garden Club,
507 Calhoun St., Tallahassee, FL 32301
» You can specify support for specific
projects, such as SEEK and Wekiva.
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mind&
BODY
Photo by scott holstein
in focus
» Attack of the Allergies
Don’t be surprised this spring if your sneezing goes out of control. Local allergists say a long winter and late spring could mean an intense pollen season in Tallahassee. “The later it is, the more pollen is in the air at one time,” says Dr. Rand Malone. “Symptoms will be more intense because you’re getting more pollen in your nose and eyes at one time.” The major allergy-inducing pollen producers in Tallahassee are our beloved live oak trees, followed by pecan trees and wax myrtle. (The crepe myrtle, shown in the photo,
does not usually cause problems and is suggested for allergy-free gardens.) What makes Tallahassee a more allergyprone place to live is its temperate weather, which allows pollinating plants from various climes to flourish. This can cause problems for people who, for example, come up from South Florida to go to college. “A limited number of things can grow down there, but here we have everything,” says Dr. Brian Wilson. There are a host of over-the-counter and prescription medications such as antihistamines
your life | well-being
and nasal sprays (of the steroidal and nonsteroidal variety) available to fight symptoms. And if that doesn’t work, allergy shots treat the symptoms and prevent new allergies from developing. If your sneezing fits keep you up at night or keep you from enjoying your life, you want to pay a visit to an allergy specialist. In most cases you don’t need a referral, Malone says. “From a quality of life issue, it’s one of the biggest things we can do that matters over the years,” he says. — Jason Dehart
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THE ‘NEW’ JIM An accident 31 years ago left Jim Cox with a life-altering brain injury which has deteriorated into dementia requiring round-the-clock care, says his wife, Cindy.
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A Heads-Up on
Traumatic Brain Injury Often Unrecognized and Widely Misunderstood, This Serious Medical Condition Can be Debilitating for Those Who Experience it By Triston V. Sanders | Photos by scott holstein
t was a windy day in March 1989 when Tallahassee resident Jim Cox was wielding a saw to cut down a tree. Two other men were helping, there was a miscommunication, and someone pulled on the rope too early. Between that and the wind, the top of the tree broke off, fell 35 feet and landed on Cox. He was driven 6 inches into the dirt and suffered a broken neck, right leg and ribs; internal bleeding; and a punctured lung. While his visible injuries were serious, Cox also sustained a traumatic brain injury that has severely affected his life ever since. Now 55 years old, he is much slower, has balance issues that require him to use a cane and has memory problems. He lives with joint pain and struggles with self-esteem.
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According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of the injury may range from “mild,” such as a brief change in mental status or consciousness, to “severe,” an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. Valerie Breen, executive director of Brain Injury Association of Florida, says there are more brain injuries than HIV diagnoses, spinal cord injuries and breast cancer combined. The CDC estimates that at least 5.3 million Americans — approximately 2 percent of the U.S. population — have a longterm or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living as a result of a TBI. In Cox’s case, his wife, Cindy, says every day has been bittersweet. “Watching Jim struggle with recovery has been both heartwrenching and heartwarming,” she says. “I think he is the most courageous man I’ve ever met. Every day he gets up, smiles and tries to make sense
Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
» Headaches or neck pain that do not go away
» Difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions
» Slowness in thinking, speaking, acting or reading
» » Feeling tired all of the time;
Getting lost or easily confused having no energy or motivation
» Mood changes (feeling sad »
or angry for no reason)
Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping a lot more or having a hard time sleeping)
» Lightheadedness, dizziness or loss of balance
» » Increased sensitivity to lights, Urge to vomit (nausea) sounds or distractions
» Blurred vision or eyes that tire easily » Loss of sense of smell or taste » Ringing in the ears Courtesy U.S. Centers for Disease Control
of his mixed-up world. We’ve talked over the years about how it’s changed him. We spent time grieving over the loss of who he was and focused on the ‘new’ Jim.” Over the years, Jim Cox has had multiple surgeries and has suffered blood clots and strokes, including one that left him blind for a few months. “He became very functional for many years,” says Cindy Cox. “He was able to drive and became a terrific househusband. He used a memory book to keep track of things so he could function independently. But now at age 55 he has developed dementia from all the brain damage. He needs 24-hour care and attends the TMH Adult DayCare while I work.” Each TBI injury is as unique as the person who has survived it. Tallahassee resident Drew Ellis was 19 when he was assaulted by a group of men in July 2003. Ellis’ injury was not immediately evident. He was examined at the emergency room and doctors found nothing “abnormal,” so after the police report was done, he was released. “Everything seemed to be fine for about four months,” says his mother, Jody Ellis.
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LIFE, INTERRUPTED Drew Ellis (third from left) has returned to college after learning to cope with the results of his brain injury. Joining him at home are his sister, Sara Beth, his mother, Jody, and father, Mike.
“Symptoms began to appear — dizziness, ringing in his ear, headaches, things tasted different, etc. What we now recognize as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) began to set in, and Drew’s anxiety level rose. “At the time, Drew was a student at Lively Technical Center but was forced by school administrators to withdraw because medical appointments resulted in too
Advice for TBI Survivors
» Don’t try to go it alone — there are
people who can help, who have been there and who will help you navigate the challenges.
» Join a support group as quickly as
possible, because you don’t want to go it alone — others may have a perspective you have not considered.
» There are new and exciting ways to
improve your life, ranging from canine companions to biofeedback. Get the latest information by being in touch with an organization such as Brain Injury Association of Florida.
» Get involved in getting better. The ten-
dency is to hibernate or isolate oneself.
» Understand that for the most part, your
life as you knew it has changed for good. Your new mission is to find that good and focus on it so it will expand.
Courtesy of Valerie Breen, executive director, Brain Injury Association of Florida
many absences,” his mother says. “He was simply told, ‘Come back when you feel better.’ This increased his depression and self-doubt, and his overall condition began to decline. It was almost a year after the injury before doctors diagnosed him with TBI/closed head injury and PTSD. The diagnosis began a multi-year journey of numerous and repeated medical and psychological tests, counseling and prescription medication. None of which seemed to have any impact.” In December 2007, at the age of 23 and after experiencing terrible side effects with prescription medication, Drew Ellis began using natural supplements and vitamins, and he began to improve. Since then, he has continued to get better. Now 25 years old, Ellis recently enrolled at Tallahassee Community College. “I don’t think you ever fully ‘recover’ from a TBI,” Jody Ellis says. “Rather, you hopefully learn how to deal and adjust to limitations you may have. Thankfully, he has been able to overcome many TBI-related issues.” TBI is underreported, under-recognized and misunderstood. Valerie Breen of Brain Injury Association of Florida says the stigma attached to the condition impairs the ability to help and also to create awareness. “That impacts the ability to raise funds,” she says. “George Clooney was afraid to let anyone know when he had sustained a brain injury (while making the movie ‘Syriana’ in 2005, a chair he was tied to was tALLAHASSEE
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Health
If your listing is not sold in 180 days, ERA Community Realty will buy it.
kicked over and he hit his head) because of the impact on his career. He would have been a great spokesperson but was afraid of ‘what people will think.’ “This applies across the board,” Breen says. “Any bump on the head is considered a concussion. Symptoms can be delayed, so just because you feel OK today doesn’t mean you won’t have issues in a week or even a month.” Breen also wants to give parents a heads-up. “If your child has ever had a bump on the head (for example, fallen off a bike or out of bed, or gotten hurt playing sports), be mindful of the symptoms and be sure their school knows and that it is in their health records, because an untreated concussion can have far-reaching effects that can impact school performance and socialization with peers.” Available to brain injury survivors is Tallahassee Memorial Hospital’s TBI Advocacy Group. The group provides an online forum for new TBI survivors and families, as well as education within the community regarding TBI. The coordinator is Sheree Porter, rehab program manager and a speech language pathologist. “TBI is a serious concern,” Porter says. “At TMH, we have seen patients sustain injury through many avenues. Many, many TBIs have been averted by wearing seat belts and helmets. Motorcycle fatalities have skyrocketed since Florida repealed the helmet law. At TMH, we admit at least one patient with TBI per week.” Direct medical costs and indirect costs such as lost productivity related to TBI totaled an estimated $60 billion in the United States in 2000, the last year data of this kind was available. TBI is now part of the
Resources CALL ONE OF OUR PROFESSIONAL AGENTS
» Brain Injury Association of Florida
(800) 992-3442 biaf.org
» thinkbraininjury.com » byyourside.org » TBI Advocacy Group at Tallahassee bteel54@aol.com (850) 893-2115 communityrealty1.com CELEBRATING OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY 110
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Memorial HealthCare tmh.org/tbi The mission of the TBI Advocacy Group is to provide an understanding of traumatic brain injury through education, information, prevention and advocacy.
national conversation in the United States because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. An important medical concern for returning soldiers is the potential long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, particularly from explosions. “Blast injury is the signature injury of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom,” Porter says. “While most veterans or active soldiers are treated through the V.A. system, we do see or hear from these individuals at TMH from time to time. As with sports concussion or mild TBI, sometimes soldiers or related personnel will be unaware of injury until they experience a change in functional activity somewhere down the line.” And even the National Football League is taking a closer look at brain injuries. In recent months, it issued new guidelines saying that if a player suffers a concussion, he must be removed from a game or practice and is not allowed to return to the field that day. “TBI is more rampant than the public realizes,” Porter says. “Recent research has revealed the alarming frequency of TBI in the world of sports. It is important for players, coaches and families to recognize the signs and symptoms of a mild TBI. Research has proven that TBI is a cumulative injury, meaning that once you sustain a TBI, a subsequent TBI can manifest as a severe injury.” Chas Wheeler was attending Ohio University when he was hit by a truck on campus in September 2004. He was lucky to survive but, like Jim Cox, battles his TBI every day. Wheeler underwent rehabilitation at TMH and went on to collaborate with the formulation of the TBI Advocacy Group there. He now works to help others who struggle with their brain injuries. “The biggest advice I have toward others who have and are dealing with TBI is to never give up,” Wheeler says. “It is very hard, and there are times when you are just tired and want to give up. But with TBI, know that half the people who have this die. You have already come so far, and never give up on going for your goals in your life. Never give up.” n Contributing writer Triston V. Sanders is an executive producer and news anchor for WCTV. Watch her televised medical segment, “Health Matters,” weekday mornings on “The Good Morning Show” on WCTV. tALLAHASSEE
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photo COURTESY visit tallahassee
Travel
Great Gulf Getaways
Two Ways to Enjoy A Short Stay By the Water — Family Fun or All the Comforts of Home edited by rosanne dunkelberger
F
or many of us, time can be one of the most precious resources in our lives. A true two-week vacation might be ideal, but oftentimes reality requires us to take our leisure in much smaller bites. Luckily, our hometown is within a few hours of the alluring Gulf of Mexico. We’ve traveled along Florida’s Northwest Coast to find appealing sojourning spots — no matter what is your idea of a great coastal vacation. Both are less-than-a-tank drives that can easily be accomplished in a long weekend. What will you do? Grab the kids and make a run for the rollicking good times to be found at Panama City Beach? Or head to Portofino Beach Resort for a condo stay that’s just like home — maybe even better — with a view of miles of Florida’s last unspoiled beach? Read on and be beguiled by the possibilities. ➤
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NOT JUST THE BEACH Enjoy the Gulf waters and sand, the resort-style pool and other amenities at Emerald Beach Resort — or venture throughout Panama City Beach for a variety of enjoyable activities that include ecotours and superb shopping.
Panama City Beach It’s the Place to Be for Sun, Sand ... and Shopping Too By Wendy O. Dixon
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And though the beaches are the draw for vacationers year after year, new condos have sprouted up recently, offering luxury rivaling many of the country’s top resorts. Make yourself at home in modern and spacious beachfront accommodations. The family-friendly Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort offers exceptional service with the luxury accommodations. In addition to Edgewater, The Resort Collection at Panama City Beach includes the Majestic Beach Resort, Emerald Beach Resort, Long Beach Resort, En Soleil and Marina Landing. Between them you’ll find more than 1,500 full-service suites and villas, tennis courts, 21 luxurious pools and 36 holes of championship golf, including the Hombre Golf Club on Coyote Pass. Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, the only Marriott in the United States to receive the Conde Nast Traveler gold list for 2009, boasts the award-winning Nicklaus Design Golf Course and the country
club-style Meadows Course. For those who prefer tranquility and relaxation, check out the luxurious Serenity Spa at Bay Point for star-quality service and pampering. Sip a glass of complimentary champagne or wine as your masseuse prepares to soothe aching muscles and tension with a hot stone massage, a relaxing Lavender Salt Glow or the “Fountain of Youth” Body wrap. Serenity Spa offers a full range of services, so check with the concierge for a full list of body treatments. The Food A must-visit restaurant while in Panama City Beach, Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market has mastered the art of seafood. Founders Jimmy and Johnny Patronis have been serving millions of loyal customers since 1967. The 660-seat restaurant has been named among America’s top 50 restaurants and is the recipient of the “Best Seafood Restaurant” award
photo by Lawrence Davidson
P
anama City Beach has gotten a makeover during the past few years. The new look includes whiter, softer beaches, luxury resort condos, exciting attractions and trendy shopping centers. Nothing says relaxation like the beach, and now you can spend your carefree days on an additional 30 feet of coastline, thanks to an expansive beach renourishment project done between 2005 and 2006. The $30 million project replaced about 3.5 million cubic yards of sand lost as a result of hurricanes since the first nourishment project in 1998. With meticulous attention to detail, beach inspectors hired by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers made sure that the sand’s grain size and color met or exceeded project specifications. The additional sand is more than just an attractive landscape — it provides vital storm protection for buildings, infrastructure, shorebirds and sea turtle habitats.
from Southern Living and Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence.” Try Capt. Anderson’s famous grilled bay shrimp or the Florida Lobster Thermidor, which is baked in a rich cream sauce with a touch of sherry. For casual, upscale dining within walking distance from Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort, Majestic Beach Resort and Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort, FireFly restaurant in the Shoppes at Edgewater features Continental cuisine with a Floridian flair and a romantic ambiance reminiscent of a Mediterranean bistro. Enjoy a grilled-to-perfection “Cowgirl” ribeye steak with a port wine demi-glacé and shallot mashed potatoes, or a refreshing poached lobster and shrimp salad with an herb emulsion dressing. If you like fresh-baked bread — and let’s face it, who doesn’t? — you’ll enjoy the quaint and charming Andy’s Flour Power Café & Bakery on Thomas Drive. Try the ham and cheese croissant or the creamy, flaky cheese Danish for breakfast. The lunch menu offers salads, soups and sandwiches made with the freshest ingredients. The homemade cookies and hospitable service make it worth a return trip.
Celebrate 2010 with a beautiful new smile
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850.893.5018
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Make the Most of the Beach For watersports enthusiasts, Sunjammers, located at the west end of the beach on State Road 79, can hook you up with all of the water recreation supplies you need for an excursion in the Gulf. Rent or purchase a kayak, surfboard or stand-up paddleboard for a fun workout. Or take the family out on one of Sunjammers’ Hobie catamarans for an afternoon sail. If you don’t have a boat, Sunjammers has you covered. See the complete list of equipment and services at sunjammers.com. For a fun time at a bargain price, visit the area’s state parks, which charge around $5 to $8 per carload. Camp Helen State Park is a playground for nature lovers of all ages. The lake is one of the largest coastal dune lakes in the state, providing visitors with a unique look at the coast’s diverse environment. From dunes and marshes to wetlands and pines, the park gives guests a snapshot of a variety of ecosystems. Along with beach access, the park offers fishing areas, nature trails, picnic areas and wildlife viewing areas. St. Andrews State Park landed the No. 2 spot on the Top 10 beaches in the United States in 2008, according to the popularity index on travel-information Web site tALLAHASSEE
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tripadvisor.com. Known for its bike trails, camping sites and rock jetties, the park brings together the best of both on- and off-the-beach activities. St. Andrews offers something for everyone, with eight pavilions, designatedswimming areas,two nature trails, two fishing piers, a play area, scuba and snorkeling rentals, canoes, kayaks and two overlooks for spying wildlife. Another popular destination, Shell Island, is easily accessible from St. Andrews State Park during the spring and summer seasons. The pristine, 700-acre barrier island provides an undeveloped landscape for a day of walking the beach, collecting shells, basking in the sun and swimming. Capt. Anderson III out of Capt. Anderson Marina (captandersonsmarina.com) offers boat rides to Shell Island. Take the family on a dolphin cruise while on the Anderson III. Cruises are offered from March through October.
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SURF AND TURF (Above) Choose from several great golf courses in and around Panama City Beach or (below) soak your toes at the En Soleil’s magnificent pool, a part of the Resort Collection of Panama City Beach.
Distance: 130 miles Travel Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes To get there: Take Interstate 10 west toward Pensacola. Take the US Highway 231 south exit (Exit 130) toward Panama City. Turn left onto U.S. Highway 231 south, then turn right onto West 15th Street/U.S. Highway 98 and follow the signs west to Panama City Beach. For reservations and more information: pcbeach.org visitpanamacitybeach.com visitpcfla.com floridastateparks.org
photos by scott holstein and courtesy visit florida
And Don’t Forget About the Shopping After a morning of fun in the sun, it’s time to get in the shade for some shopping. Pier Park, the million-plus-square-foot open-air shopping, dining and entertainment destination that opened in the spring of 2008, can be a day trip all on its own. With its Key West-inspired colors, Old Florida architecture and jazzy music playing in the streets, Pier Park has a festive atmosphere that makes even the locals feel like they’re on vacation. The fabulous boutiques, well-known department stores, delicious eateries and family-friendly entertainment truly make this venue a muststop shop. Retail stores you know — Target, Dillard’s and JCPenney — anchor the shopping center at Pier Park, while Old Navy, Yankee Candle and Borders are interwoven with more than 100 other national retailers and unique local shops within. Pick up a souvenir from the worldfamous Ron Jon Surf Shop and dine at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Back Porch Seafood and Oyster House, or Bootleg Barbeque, among others. If you need some time away from shopping and eating, check out a movie at the 16-screen Grand Theatre. Another new outdoor mall, The Village of Grand Panama, offers 55,000 square feet of gift shops, boutiques, salons, bookstores and restaurants. Located on Hutchison Boulevard, the shopping center includes Another Broken Egg, Chan’s
PANAMA CITY BEACH GETTING THERE
Wine World and Liquors, Bonefish Grill, and Indulgence Spa and Salon. Amusing Amusements You won’t be able to miss the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum — its Titaniclook-alike exterior makes it appear to be sinking. Robert Ripley — a modern-day Marco Polo and real-life Indiana Jones — traveled the world amassing an unbelievable collection of unusual artifacts. This eclectic museum, one of 27 Ripley’s sites located all over the world, boggles the mind with its collection of unique and weird stuff. Don’t forget to check out the 4-D moving theater. The Coconut Creek Family Fun Park is home to two miniature golf courses, each landscaped with beautiful tropical flowers, fish and cascading waterfalls. The Gran Maze, a human maze the size of a football field, is just as much fun for grownups as it is for the kids. Test your navigation skills as you seek out four checkpoints located at the epicenter of the labyrinth. Kids under 6 years old play free, and coupons are available online at coconutcreekfun.com. Nightlife For those who want to shake a tailfeather, get your groove on by dancing until dawn at the hottest beach clubs in the world. Spinnaker Beach Club has 20 bars in the giant nightclub. And the world-famous Club La Vela has nine different dance clubs, all under one roof. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge at Pier Park offers country music, and Schooners entertains till the wee hours with hot local bands. Enjoy the warm Gulf breeze aboard the Lady Anderson Dining Yacht, offering cruises with entertainment and a seafood and prime rib buffet. The boat departs from Capt. Anderson’s Marina at Grand Lagoon. For those who prefer to sip their way through their Gulf-side stay, Panama City Beach is home to two wineries worth fitting in their schedule — the Seabreeze Winery, featuring wines made from locally grown muscadine grapes and blends, and the Panama City Beach Winery, offering a collection of citrus, berry and fruit wines made in Florida. Panama City Beach is an easy drive from Tallahassee, just short enough for a daytrip or a long weekend. But with all of the new things to do, it’s easy to spend an enjoyable week there too. n tALLAHASSEE
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WHAT’S YOUR PLEASURE? The luxury accommodations of Portofino Island Resort & Spa offer spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico and Santa Rosa Sound as well as a wealth of beachand nature-oriented activities including kayaking (inset).
Portofino Island:
A Luxurious Experience in Pristine Surroundings
I
magine walking out of a guest suite on par with one you’d find at the Ritz Carlton, then looking east toward eight miles of pristine Gulf beaches — with no buildings as far as the eye can see. You might think it’s a vision from Florida’s past, but it’s the sight you can enjoy today at Portofino Island resort, located within the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola Beach.
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What to do in this idyllic natural setting? Walk barefoot along the seashore; drive a simple, two-lane highway, with the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Santa Rosa Sound on the other; hop on a bike and head out on a paved bike path to take in all the sights and sounds of nature; or lace up your walking shoes and traverse those same paths. Better yet, climb aboard a kayak and paddle along the bay or Gulf coastline to take in every
aspect of the pristine barrier island, which is located just three-and-a-half hours from the intersection of Thomasville Road and Interstate 10. It’s an easy drive, with probably no more than five to seven traffic lights between Tallahassee and Portofino Island. Completed in 2007, Portofino Island consists of five 21-story towers, each with its own pool and whirlpool spas. Guest suites consist of two- and three-bedroom
photos courtesy portofino island
By Jack Macaleavy
units, all with a stunning view of the Gulf, the bay or both. Unlike typical resort furnishings, these “sky homes” are designed and furnished for full-time living done high-end all the way. From the thread count on the sheets and towels to the top-brand furniture and accessory lines, including a gas grill on every elongated balcony, the accommodations are several steps above almost any rental available along Northwest Florida’s beaches. The resort is family-friendly, with plenty of activities to keep everybody — even hard-to-satisfy teenagers — happy and having fun. There are numerous waterrelated activities on both the beach and sound sides of the resort, including cruises, surfing lessons, volleyball, snorkeling, ecotours ... and so much more. The High Tides Kids Club is designed to keep youngsters happy and active. Portofino Island also offers five tennis courts and ferry service to the Portofino Boardwalk, a bustling shopping and entertainment area. If you make a reservation through portofinoisland.com or the resort’s toll-free phone number, you automatically become a Premier Club member. As a member, you’ll receive the following amenities as part of the stay: a welcome gift; beach chair/umbrella set-ups for two; a round of golf at a choice of courses; a deep-sea fishing excursion; ferry service to shopping and dining locations at Portofino Boardwalk; fitness-center access; a dolphin cruise on weekends; a 20–percent discount on food and beverages; a 30–percent discount on Adventure Beach, Adventure Cove and the High Tide Kids Club; and the opportunity to earn free nights as a repeat customer. Pensacola, with 450 years of history, is a short drive away — and it’s full of museums and attractions to explore, as well as a lively downtown area.
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Travel The National Naval Aviation Museum, located at Naval Air Station Pensacola and open to the public, will captivate children and adults with an up-close look at military aviation over the past century. NAS Pensacola also is home to the Blue Angels precision flying team; visitors can look online to find the dates and times of the team’s flight practice schedules, then sit back on a lawn chair to capture a private air show. The Terracotta Restaurant on the Portofino resort property features fresh local seafood and steaks. Visitors can also stop in at Terrazzo Grille for fresh salads, sandwiches and burgers, or make a quick stop at The Market to pick up what they need to prepare supper at home in a fully equipped kitchen. Better yet, they can enjoy the “Chef to You” service, in which a chef creates a dining experience in their suite. A similar amenity brings the “Spa to You,” with massages and other treatments available in visitors’ rooms, or beside the beach or pool. With more than 300 condominiums available, Portofino Island also provides a perfect wedding destination, with packages to accommodate most any budget, and event planners on staff to coordinate and execute details to perfection. Portofino Island is the perfect weekend or family vacation getaway for those ready for an upscale experience on the edge of nature. The fitness center is fully equipped with a second shore view of the bay, an indoor, Olympic-size pool, four outdoor pools, full spa services, and a professional staff impeccably trained to ensure that your experience is done right. n
Portofino GETTING THERE Portofino Island Resort portofinoisland.com 10 Portofino Drive Pensacola Beach, FL 32561-2465 (877) 484-3405 Distance from Tallahassee: 213 miles Travel Time: 3 hours, 30 minutes Directions: Travel west on Interstate 10. Take Exit 12/Interstate 110 and head south on I-110. Turn heading east on U.S. Highway 98 through Gulf Breeze and travel over the Pensacola Beach Toll Bridge into Pensacola Beach. Then turn east on Via De Luna Boulevard toward Navarre Beach. Portofino Island is the last resort before entering the Gulf Islands National Seashore. 120
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dining
GUIDE
restaurants | food | atmospheres
first course
» The ‘Inside’ Story on Easter Eggs
For “dye”-hards, no plastic egg stuffed with candy will do — their Easter eggs have to be hard-boiled and dipped into myriad colors. Of course, even a minor dyeing session creates an abundance of hard-boiled eggs destined to be deviled, made into egg salad, or just salted and eaten as is. If you’re going traditional this year, why not cook those eggs so that they’re delicious and easy to peel? Egg-boiling advice is all over the map — some advocate the addition of salt and/
or vinegar to the water, others the use of a lid during the cooking process — but there are some basic rules. For starters, the word “boiled” should be eliminated — the correct term is hard-cooked or coddled. If you’re doing it right, there should be very little boiling in the process. Eggs cooked with a roiling boil end up with rubbery whites and the dreaded greenish-gray ring around the yolks. Instead, says J. Kenji Lopez, who writes the blog “The Food Lab” for seriouseats.com,
place room-temperature eggs in a saucepan covered with an inch of tap water and gently bring the water to a “quivering” boil. Shut off the heat and leave the eggs in the hot water for at least 10 minutes. To assure easy peeling, use older eggs. It’s also advised to dunk the eggs in an ice-water bath when the cooking time is over and peel them under running water. In the shell, hardcooked eggs will stay fresh for about a week. — Rosanne Dunkelberger
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come to the
table Slow Food Movement Invites Us to Take the Time to Find and Enjoy Local Delicacies By Margie Menzel
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T
upelo honey. Apalachicola Bay oysters. Pecans and peaches and artisan cheese of national reputation. They represent the great foods of North Florida and South Georgia — and an international movement of both conscience and pleasure. “Slow food aims to be everything fast food is not,” as USA Today put it. That can mean fine cooking, both at home and in elite restaurants such as Cypress Restaurant, Kool Beanz Café and Sage, A Restaurant in Tallahassee and Tupelo’s Bakery and Café in Monticello. It can also mean eating foods grown without pesticides, buying fresh from local farms, paying a fair price and treating animals humanely. It certainly means making a point of gathering for a meal. “Don’t eat alone,” advises Louise Devine, who with her husband, Herman Holley, runs the 3-acre Turkey Hill Farm in eastern Leon County. “Eating a meal with people you love is central to culture.” She cites Jesus’ last night before being crucified, supping with the disciples. “It can be a sacred act.” The slow food movement got its start with the establishment of a group in Italy. That group, also known as Slow Food, calls itself an “eco-gastronomic member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.” Local slow food enthusiasts say the movement here is limited but growing. The international movement began in Rome, with a protest against the opening of a McDonald’s near the Spanish Steps in 1986. Today the movement has 100,000 members in roughly 132 countries. Each country has its own organization — the United States’ is SlowFoodUSA.org — and each region promotes local farmers, foods and markets. “Each country has its own goals,” says Tiffanie Bourassa, president of Slow Food Tallahassee (slowfoodtallahassee.blogspot. com). “Buying local is ingrained in the mission.” For instance, members of each region belong to a convivium (for conviviality) whose mission includes preserving the seeds of and making others aware of local “heirloom” plants. They work to get their local favorites into the “Ark of Taste,” a sort of compendium of the quintessential foods of each region — which in our case, says Bourassa, are Tupelo honey and Apalachicola oysters. And they educate consumers about the risks of fast food — but tactfully, in the case of Claire Olson, a founder of Slow Food Tallahassee and co-owner of Tupelo’s Bakery and Café. Olson says her customers love the food but for different reasons. Some love the politics as much as the dish, but “then you have the people who don’t know what you’re talking about. They don’t know the issues behind confined-animal operations … But they love the food, so you win those types of customers over on the taste, and then you educate ’em.” The movement aims to reconnect people with the traditions, plants, animals, soils and waters that produce their food. And as more and more Americans learn that nutrition is crucial to their health, slow food is gaining an audience. “Every trip to the supermarket these days requires us to navigate what has become a truly treacherous food landscape,”
The Slow Food movement aims to reconnect people with the traditions, plants, animals, soils and waters that produce their food. And as more and more Americans learn that nutrition is crucial to their health, slow food is gaining an audience. author Michael Pollan wrote in The New York Times Magazine last fall. Pollan is a notable of the U.S. slow food movement, which also claims restaurateur Alice Waters of Chez Panisse (the original “California cuisine” eatery) fame and about 16,000 other members. Pollan cites, for instance, a new menu item by a big fastfood chain. “This shameless exaltation of dietary fat actually redefines the very concept of a sandwich by replacing the obligatory bread with two slabs of fried chicken kept some distance apart by strips of bacon, two kinds of cheese and a dollop of sauce … Deciding what to eat, indeed deciding what qualifies as food, is not easy in such an environment.” In the North Florida/South Georgia region, local outlets for slow food are growing — slowly. The New Leaf Market food cooperative conducted its second farm tour this past October, with 33 farms welcoming the curious. The stops included working cattle and goat ranches, a dairy and a winery. The tour also offered the chance to see barnyard animals at close range, soak up fresh-baked goods and other refreshments, and take
»
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Flavor in a lecture on how to grow blueberries. And, of course, it offered opportunities to purchase fresh goods straight from the farm. One popular stop was the Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville, Ga., which has won back-to-back blue ribbons in the softripened cheese category for its Green Hill at the American Cheese Society’s yearly contest. Co-owner Jessica Little, whose parents started the business in 2000, says Sweet Grass bases its products on a rotational grazing system that is healthier for both cows and cheese. “The quality of the milk was instantly different,” Little says of her parents’ switch from confining cows to grazing them. “And a conventional dairy cow has a life span of two to three years, but the average life span at my parents’ dairy was around 15 years.” “We’re extremely careful with our dairy and our meat,” Olson says of the foods served at her Tupelo’s Bakery and Café. “We exclusively use meats where we can verify how the animals were treated and how they were slaughtered.”
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Merchants also say they’re seeing more interest in slow food. Keith Baxter, the owner of Kool Beanz Café, says his customers have responded very well, although not all the ingredients he wants are grown locally. “But as much as I can, I do use everything the local growers have available,” he says. “People are able to discern the difference between locally grown and what I sometimes have to buy when I can’t get the real stuff. There’s a very real difference.” Olson says she’d like to be able to buy everything she needs from local sources all year round. “Right now I’m just not quite there,” she says. “But I think our region has the potential to do that. Being the deep South, I really think we have the agricultural background and know-how to get to that point.” There are local farmers markets throughout the region, and their times and locations are posted at localharvest.org. Farms, stores, restaurants and online direct sales are all listed as well. And Leon County will host the Sustainable Communities
Conference in May, expecting 450 attendees from around the Southeast. “We’re targeting folks who have a particular interest in the economy as well as food,” says Leon County sustainability coordinator Maggie Theriot. “We hope to be successful in crossing … those two areas and showing how they’re united.” Little’s brother has done it, branching out with his own Dreaming Cow Creamery, which also sells to the New Leaf Market. “Yes, you can absolutely make a living doing it,” Little says. “But really, the enticing part of the business is you can make a difference and make it better, not only for the animals, but you’re also providing a better opportunity for the Earth and the long-term benefits of eating healthy and offering a healthy product to the public. So there’s a whole lot more than just money.” “Five years ago, nobody knew about this,” says Kool Beanz Café owner Baxter. “I think people’s awareness of where their food was produced is growing, wanting to know where their food comes from and how it’s produced and grown.” n
BAR
RESTAURANT
How do you like your
Wine?
25+ International Wine Competition Medals THE RED BAR FEATURES: boutique wine list, exceptional beer menu, exquisite spirits, full Tapas menu, and live music on the weekends. The Winery offers private tasting and meeting rooms, unique personalized gifts for family, friends and colleagues, and the Red Bar — a contemporary wine bar featuring wines made right here in Tallahassee. 9
BEST WINE LIST
219-WINE 1122 Thomasville Rd. Manor @ Midtown thewinerytallahassee.com
Tapas is a communal, festive, dining environment. Everything comes in fresh daily and is delivered to your plate right in front of you. Eat, drink, and be merry! Dinner tue to sat – 5 pm to 10 pm Bluegrass Brunch first sunday of every month Happy Hour for Tapa’s & The Winery tue to fri – 4 pm to 7pm 1122 Thomasville Road – Suite 8 Tallahassee, FL 32303 850-224-TAPA(8272) ~ www.tapastally.com
THE BEST LITTLE STEAKHOUSE IN TALLAHASSEE Our steaks are USDA choice midwestern corn-fed beef, specially selected, aged to our specifications and cut daily. We also serve fresh jumbo shrimp & fish – grilled, blackened or fried.
F 2705 Apalachee Parkway • 562-2525 ‘Best Of ’ Tallahassee 2009 Steakhouse – Honorable Mention
JOIN US FOR LUNCH & DINNER AT OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW LOCATION
MARIE LIVINGSTON’S STEAK HOUSE
TALLAHASSEE
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dining guide 2009 Best of Tallahassee......................... Breakfast/Brunch.................................... Lunch...................................................... Dinner..................................................... Takeout Available................................... Outdoor Dining...................................... Live Music.............................................. Bar/Lounge............................................. Reservations........................................... Credit Cards Accepted............................ Up to $10............................................... $ $10 - $15................................................$$ $15 and up.......................................... $$$
Gourmet Specialty Andrew’s 228 $$$ American and Italian. A chic urban restaurant serving signature blends of creative American and Italian cuisine. Named one of the Top 20 Restaurants in Florida three years in a row by Florida Trend and “Best Romantic Restaurant” by Tallahassee Magazine in 2008. Private rooms are available for banquets and meetings. 228 S. Adams St. 6–10 p.m. Mon.–Thu., 6–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 222-3444. Andrew’s Capital Grill and Bar $$ American. Andrew’s has been a Downtown landmark for 35 years. An energetic, casual, see-and-be-seen spot. House favorites include Capital Dip, Hamburgers, Chicken Quesadillas, Mediterranean Pasta, Cedar Plank Salmon and Chicken Fiorentina. Downtown delivery. 228 S. Adams St. 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon.– Thu., 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat.; Brunch 11 a.m.– 2 p.m. Sun. (850) 222-3444/Fax (850) 222-2433. Another Broken Egg Café $$ American. Made-to-order items using the finest ingredients, cooked to your liking. Voted Tallahassee’s best seven times, including the 2009 award for “Best Breakfast and Brunch.” 3500 Kinhega Drive. 7 a.m.– 2 p.m. Tue.–Sun. (850) 907-3447. Café Cabernet $$$ Fusion. Wine lovers will enjoy this restaurant featuring more than 500 different wine labels. The menu offers dishes such as Walnut Crusted Scallops and Cajun Pork Medallions. Honored by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine for “Best Wine List” in 2008. 1019 N. Monroe St. 5 p.m.–2 a.m. Mon.–Sat. (850) 224-0322. CHEZ PIERRE $$$ French. French and Southern hospitality converge at Chez Pierre, which offers gourmet cuisine sure to please when you want to make a good impression. From the signature Crepes Poulet to delicious grilled duck breast and fresh-ground Australian lamb burgers, the cuisine was named Best French Restaurant by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine in 2009. Live music accompanies your meal most nights of the week. Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.– 11 p.m. 1215 Thomasville Rd. (850) 222-0936. Circa Sushi $$ Japanese. Enjoy delicious Japanese dishes in the fun, modern atmosphere of Tallahassee’s first conveyer belt sushi restaurant. Diners can opt for tableside service and menu selections such as Thai specialities tempura and noodle stir-fry, or they can sit beside the 126
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belt and partake of a rotating sushi feast. Catering available. 2819 Mahan Dr. No. 106. Lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; Dinner 5–10 p.m. Sun.–Thurs., 5–10:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 222-4722. Cypress Restaurant $$$ New Southern. A winner in Tallahassee Magazine’s 2009 “Best of ” awards for “Best Fine Dining” restaurant. Sophisticated Southern regional dining in a contemporary, metropolitan setting. Menu features chef-cut fish and aged meats, fresh, in-house preparations, comprehensive wine list and full bar. Valet parking available at night. 320 E. Tennessee St. Dinner only Tues.–Sat. Open at 5 p.m. (850) 513-1100. Food Glorious Food $$$ American. Choose from several savory soups, nearly a dozen salads, and a great selection of sandwiches and pastas with hot entrées that represent a variety of world cuisines. Heavenly dessert concoctions will please even the most discriminating diner. Voted “Best Dessert” in 2009. 1950 Thomasville Road. Lunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat., Dinner 5:30–9:30 p.m. Tues.–Thurs. and Sun., 5:30–10:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., Closed Mon. for dinner. Sun. Brunch 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (850) 224-9974. Fusion Café/ Tantra Lounge $$$ American. This innovative restaurant offers a creative array of its own custom-built meals, desserts and specialty drinks that will please any palate. 1225 N. Monroe St. Lunch 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat.; dinner 5:30–10 p.m. Mon.–Sat., specialty takeout 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Tantra Lounge is open 5:30 p.m.– 2 a.m. Tue.–Sat. For reservations, private parties or catering call (850) 222-4956. Georgio’s $$$ American. If George Koikos is in the house, you can count on a visit to your table from him during your meal. His hands-on commitment to quality, food, service and a personal touch have kept his restaurants in business for 44 years. Now with two locations. 3425 Thomasville Road. Opens 5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. (850) 893-4161 or 2971 Apalachee Parkway. 4-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat. (850) 877-3211. Kitcho Japanese Restaurant $$ Japanese. Its specialty, sushi, was named the best in Tallahassee in 2006. Step inside Kitcho’s Velvet Lounge for a sip or two of sake as you sit comfortably while waiting for your table. 1415 Timberlane Road. 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5:30–10 p.m. Tue.–Fri., 5:30–10 p.m. Sat., 5:30–9 p.m. Sun. (850) 893-7686. Sushilicious $$ Japanese. Modern Japanese and Thai cooking makes Sushilicious the place to enjoy a culinary trip to the Orient. With a six-page menu of makimono, sashimi and special sushi rolls, sushi lovers have plenty of options. You can also enjoy the red and yellow Thai curries, the deep-fried crispy soft shell crab with tempura sauce or the house shrimp with honey-wasabi sauce. 2915 Kerry Forest Pkwy., Suite 604. Lunch 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Mon.–Fri. Dinner 5–10 p.m. Sun.–Thu., 5–10:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 906-0400.
Specialty AZu — a Lucy Ho’s restaurant $/$$ Oriental. Serving Tallahassee since 1970, Lucy Ho’s offers Japanese style cooking with Cantonese, Sichuan, Hunan, Peking and Taiwanese influences. After nearly four decades, Lucy Ho’s has moved back to the Apalachee Parkway, just east of Capital Circle Southeast, to better serve its customers. Diners will also find a full bar and the freshest sushi.
3220 Apalachee Parkway. Weekdays, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sat., noon–10 p.m.; Sun., noon–9 p.m.
atmospheres
Bella Bella $$ Italian. Cozy home-like atmosphere and authentic homemade traditional Italian food make this a midtown dining hotspot. Try their famous Bubble Bread and delicious pasta specials. Catering available. 123 E. 5th Ave. Lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Mon.–Fri. Dinner 5–9:30 p.m. Mon.–Thu., 5–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 412-1114. Cabell’s American Bar & Grill $$ American. Dive into a thick, juicy burger with friends on the comfortable outside deck, or enjoy a mouthwatering filet in the dining room. Private rooms are available for banquets and meetings. 2915-301 Kerry Forest Pkwy. 4–10 p.m. Mon.–Thu., 11a.m.–midnight Fri.–Sat., 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun. (850) 893-8888. Carrabba’s Italian Grill $$ Italian. The ambiance of the restaurant can romanticize any meal as you sip the best wines around and dine on fresh Italian cuisine. Voted “Best Italian” by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine in 2009. 2752 Capital Circle NE. 4–10:30 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 4–11:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 3–10 p.m. Sun. (850) 297-1100. EL JALISCO $$ Mexican. With 2–for–1 margaritas most nights of the week, where can you go wrong? And the food, named “Best Mexican” in 2009, is great too. Endless chips and salsa complement any menu item; the chicken quesadillas and beef tamales will keep you coming back for more. Mon.–Sat. 11 a.m.–12 a.m. Sun. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 2022 N. Monroe St. (850) 878-0800.
Old Town Café The Cuisine: Offering up classic All-American
food for an impressive 20 years. Features an extensive menu with something for everyone at affordable prices.
Signature Dishes: Blue Plate specials including Mom’s Meatloaf, baked chicken, pot roast and more. Also, fresh seafood, succulent prime rib, fork-tender baby back ribs, salads, wraps, sandwiches and burgers.
The Décor: “We are friendly and family-owned.
Comfortable like your favorite shoes —not trendy, but familiar and reliable for day to day.”
Plans for the Future: Hosting budget-friendly lunch and dinner banquets, as well as special events and receptions.
Measure of Success: “Familiar faces; if you
don’t keep up food quality, top-notch service and cleanliness, people won’t continue to come back — for 20 years!”
Nothing makes my day like our guests complimenting the consistency of our food and service. That’s our goal and it let’s me know we are achieving it. Old Town Café 1415 Timberlane Road, Tallahassee, FL (850) 893-5741 | oldtowncafe.com
ADVERTORIAL
Hopkins’ Eatery $ American. Sandwiches, salads, delicious sweets and more. The 2009 winner for “Best Sandwich” in Tallahassee. 1660 N. Monroe St. and 1415 Market St. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat. (850) 386-4258 (850) 668-0311. Jasmine Café and Lounge $$ Japanese. Expertly prepared sushi rolls range from traditional tuna to surprising creations which can include mango or habanero peppers. 109 E. College Ave. 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon.–Thu. 11:30 a.m.– 10:30 p.m. Fri. noon–10:30 p.m. Sat. noon–10 p.m. Sun. (850) 681-6868. Kiku Japanese Fusion $$ With a wide selection of sushi rolls and traditional Japanese dishes, Kiku caters to a variety of tastes. 3491 Thomasville Rd Suite 12. Open Mon-Thurs 11– 2:30pm, 4:30–10pm, Fri 11–2:30pm, 4:30–10:30pm, Sat 12-10:30pm and Sun 12–10. (850) 222-5458. Kool Beanz $$/$$$ Fusion. Colorful and casual, this locally owned restaurant has been serving up gourmet dishes since 1996. Diners can expect delicious modern American cuisine, as well as dishes influenced by the worldwide travels of the kitchen staff. Menus change daily so guests can expect something new with each visit. 921 Thomasville Road. Lunch Mon.–Fri. 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Dinner Mon.–Sat. 5:30–10 p.m. Luna’s Italian Food $ Italian-American. Gourmet deli sandwiches and pasta dishes to take home. Large selection of imported wine, cheeses, sauces and Italian grocery items — plus Italian gelato. 1122 Thomasville Road. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon.–Fri., 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat. (850) 421-5862.
Best Asian Restaurant/ Sushi
A modern dining experience. 847-0003 | 1001 N. Monroe St. www.masatallahassee.com T ALLAHA S S E E
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foodbites
Mad About Food Muffaletta
Thinking of eating out? Here are a few tasty dishes we’ve found while dining around town.
SANDWICH Mad About Food
ENTRÉE Piggy’s BBQ
photo by scott holstein
The muffaletta is a New Orleans tradition, and MAF’s version boasts a large helping of ham and salami. The “madness” continues with toppings of melted Swiss cheese and a delicious olive spread that gives the sandwich a slight tangy flavor. The crusty muffaletta roll is pressed and served warm. $5.95 The Pulled Pork Plate at Tallahassee’s newest barbecue restaurant features a hefty portion of delicious barbecue that’s been carefully smoked over pecan wood. Queue up at the locally owned cafeteria-style eatery and take your pick of classic Southern sides like corn casserole, sweet potato casserole or macaroni and cheese. The meal also includes a soft drink and your choice of garlic bread, cheesy biscuit or cornbread. $7.99
SUSHI Mr. Roboto
DESSERT Chez Pierre
Masa $–$$ Asian Fusion. This sister restaurant to Lucy Ho’s serves up a creative menu with items such as Chilean Sea Bass Wraps with mango salsa, Tropical Fruit Sweet and Sour Chicken and Japanese tiramisu. Voted “Best Asian” in 2009. Enjoy an extensive selection of wine, beer and sake in a dark, original and casual dining setting. 1001 N. Monroe St. 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat., Noon–10 p.m. Sunday. (850) 847-0003.
Po’ Boys Creole Café $ Creole. Specializes in Po’Boy sandwiches, jambalaya and gumbo. It was named 2009 “Best Cajun” restaurant by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine. 224 E. College Ave. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Thu., 11 a.m.– 2 a.m. Fri.–Sat., 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun. (850) 224-5400 and 1944 W. Pensacola St. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun. (850) 574-4144. 1425 Village Square Blvd. 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.– 10 p.m. Sun. (850) 906-0020. Catering available.
Tallahassee Magazine readers’ nod as 2009’s best) to choose from. Many of the wines served here are made on site. Tues.-Thurs. noon-midnight, Fri. Noon–2 a.m., Sat. 5 p.m.–2 a.m. 1122 Thomasville Road. (850) 219-9463.
Melting Pot $$$ Fondue. This restaurant offers a variety of fondues including cheese and chocolate dessert. The Melting Pot earned two “Best of” nods in 2009, for “Best Romantic” and “Best Celebration/Special Occasion.” 2727 N. Monroe St. 5–11 p.m. Sun.–Thu., 5 p.m.– midnight Fri.–Sat. (850) 386-7440.
Sakura $$$ Japanese. Sleek interior design mixed with amazing dishes equals a spectacular meal experience. This new and exciting Japanese cuisine rewards not only your taste buds but also your eyes with its beautifully prepared dishes of sushi and other traditional Japanese fare. 1318 N. Monroe St. Lunch 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Mon.–Sat. Dinner 5–10 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 5–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 4:30–10 p.m. Sun. (850) 222-9991.
Morelia Mexican Dining $$ Mexican. This casual restaurant serves classic dishes such as tacos, tostados, fajitas and burritos. Winner of “Best Mexican/Latin American” in 2008. 1400-35 Village Square Blvd. 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Mon.–Thu., 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun. (850) 907-9173. Osaka Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar $$$ Japanese. Known for its sushi, but also serves a variety of dishes including chicken, steak and seafood that earned Osaka the 2006 award for “Best International Restaurant.” 1690 Raymond Diehl Road. 5–10 p.m. Sun.–Thu., 5–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 531-0222. Private parties.
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With near-campus locations on Pensacola and Tennessee streets, this is the place to find sushi that’s quick, quality and easy on the wallet. They offer one of the best eel rolls in town; stuffed with fresh tender eel, refreshing celery, avocado and a generous topping of sweet eel sauce. Combine it with one of your other favorite rolls from the “classic” menu and you’ll get two rolls for less than $10.
Tapas $$ American. Eclectic and contemporary, the dishes at Tapas will keep you wanting more. Plates are a series of small collaborations, and each bite explodes with the flavors of the freshest seafood, meats and garden vegetables. The restaurant provides a fresh, open atmosphere, offering a friendly communal dining environment. Brunch is served on the first Sunday of every month. 1122 Thomasville Road. Lunch Mon.- Fri. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., dinner: Tues.–Wed 5–9 p.m., Thurs.–Sat. 5–11 p.m., (850) 224-8272 The Winery at the Red Bar $$ American. The Winery serves tasty hors d’oeuvres and has a lengthy list of wines (that earned
Make sure to leave a little room when dining at Chez P — you’ll need it to enjoy their delicious chocolate espresso crème brulee, a delightfully unique take on the old French favorite. This smooth, creamy custard has a definite mocha flavor, with a perfectly caramelized sugar crust. $8
Family MOMO’S $ Pizza. Boasting the largest pizza you’ll find in Tallahassee—and possibly the Southeast—Momos offers big flavor that’s gotten a Best of award in 2009 along with size. Fill yourself up with a slice for yourself or order a pie to share. Now with two different locations: Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. 1410 Market St. (850) 412-0222 and 1416 W. Tennessee St. (850) 224-9808. Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q $ Barbecue. Enjoy Sonny’s “feel good” barbecue and special sauces. Voted “Best Barbecue” in 2009. 3101 Dick Wilson Blvd., 2707 N. Monroe St. and 1460 Timberlane Road. All locations 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun.–Thu., 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Dick Wilson Blvd. (850) 878-1185, N. Monroe St. (850) 3852167, Timberlane Road. (850) 906-9996. Catering available. WHATABURGER $ Burgers. The name says it all, and with five Tallahassee locations open 24/7, there’s no need to miss your Whataburger fix. All burgers are cooked to order and can be made to specially fit your tastes. Named “Best Hamburger” in 2009 by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine.
Dining Guide
Steak/seafood BONEFISH GRILL $$$ Steak/Seafood. Although a chain, Bonefish works hard to make each restaurant—and each meal— unique with an array of seafood and sauces that can be mixed and matched to diners’ tastes. The restaurant earned 2009 Best of Tallahassee honors for its appetizers (Can you say Bang Bang Shrimp?) and the star of its menu, seafood. Mon.–Thurs. 4–10:30 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 4–11:30 p.m., Sun. 4–10 p.m. 3491 Thomasville Rd. (850) 297-0460.
Exquisite Table Service French~Mediterranean Cuisine Private Dining Room & Catering Reservations Available
Rated 5 Hats Mon~Sat, 5:30~9:30pm ~ Sun, 5~9pm ~ Lunch: Mon~Fri, 11:30am~2:00pm
1415 Timberlane Rd. ~ (850) 329-6870 ~ www.AProvence.com
CARL’S ON THE PARKWAY $$ Seafood/Steaks. What’s a Chop House? It’s a superior dining establishment that serves only the finest hand-cut steaks and seafood in an elegant atmosphere. And at Carl’s, that’s exactly what’s offered, with special care and quality served with every order. Tues.–Thurs. 5–10 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 5–11 p.m., Sun. 3–9 p.m. 6497 Apalachee Pkwy. (850) 878-8141. Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grill $$ New Orleans and Creole. A New Orleans dining experience you won’t soon forget! Delicious Creole cuisine, fresh seafood and steaks, rich pastas, sensational salads and more. “Great Food, Great Service; Good Value, Good Times.” 301 S. Bronough St. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Thu.–Sun., 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat. (850) 222-3976. Marie Livingston’s Steakhouse $$$ Steak. This restaurant specializes in steak — named Tallahassee’s “Best Steakhouse” in 2008 — but also serves seafood such as shrimp and fish. Marie Livingston’s has moved to a new location with a sophisticated decor, but the quality and value remain the same. 2705 Apalachee Parkway. Lunch 11 a.m. 2 p.m. Mon.–Fri. Dinner 5 p.m. daily (850) 562-2525. OUTBACK $$ Steaks. It won’t set you back a few thousand dollars to travel to this Outback, but it will fill you up. Their fresh steaks cooked to order earned Outback 2009 Best Steakhouse honors from the readers of Tallahassee Magazine. With a new 15 meals under $15 menu, it only gets better from here. Mon.–Thurs. 4–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat. 3–11:30 p.m. Sun. 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. 1820 Raymond Diehl Road (850) 385-1998. PARADISE GRILL & BAR $$ Seafood. This Tallahassee favorite offers a wide variety of fresh seafood, including Maryland crabcakes, seafood gumbo, fried shrimp and oysters, conch fritters and more. The 2008 winner for “Best Bar” in town. Live entertainment Friday nights. 1406 N. Meridian Road. Open 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Mon.–Tue., 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Wed.–Thu., 11:30 a.m.–2 a.m. Fri., 4:30–10 p.m. Sat. Closed Sunday. (850) 224-2742. Accepts local checks. Catering available. Shula’s 347 $$$ The legendary Miami Dolphins’ head coach brings his philosophy for winning football games — the quest for perfection — to the dining table at his namesake restaurant, located in the newly refurbished Hotel Duval. Keep it light and casual with Premium Black Angus Beef burgers or a gourmet salad or opt for one of their signature entrées — “Shula Cut” filet, New York strip or Cowboy steaks. Reservations are suggested. Sun,–Thurs., 5–10 p.m.; Fri.–Sat. 5–11 p.m. 415 N. Monroe St. (850) 224-6005 n
We Have Enjoyed Serving You For A Wonderful 44 Years Then, 1966
Now, 2010
“Your Dining Pleasure is Our Speciality”
Now With Two Convenient Locations Carriage Gate Center 3425 Thomasville Rd. 893-4161 Dinner Mon.–Sat. 5pm ’til Private Dining Rooms 10 up to 80
OUR NEW LOCATION (FORMERLY TORREYA GRILL)
2971 Apalachee Parkway 877-3211 Dinner Mon.-Sat. 4:30 p.m. ’til Private Dining Rooms 6 up to 55 Happy Hour 4:30–7 p.m.
Owner George Koikos T ALLAHA S S E E
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The Last Word
What Squirrels Can Teach Us About Retirement For Boomers, It Looks Like Stashing Nuts Beats the 401(k) By Alisa Singer
B
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on some extraordinary scientific phenomenon, Almanac.com tells us that squirrels simply “gather food until there’s no more to gather. They are rather greedy.” (Yet another parallel to humankind, but not what I was hoping to find.) OK, so the squirrel doesn’t know any more than we do when it’s time to get out of the rat race, even though it is, more or less, a rat. The most impressive information I unearthed about the squirrel is that, though its brain is roughly the size of a walnut, when spring arrives it is generally able to locate about half of the hundreds of places where it hid its hoard of nuts during the previous fall! How can this rodent, with its teeny hippocampus, remember where it hid all those tiny nuts six months earlier — especially when I can’t remember half the time which section in the mall parking lot I left my giant SUV, even though it was only an hour ago and I didn’t hide it under several layers of dirt? Surely the squirrel’s enhanced memory skills are not an indication that it is more highly evolved than we are, because if that were the case, it would not be leaping from one treetop to another, kamikaze-style, without the benefit of a net. But come to think of it, perhaps the average squirrel
is slightly more intelligent than the average human. After all, its investment loss ratio is roughly equivalent to what mine has been over the past year, and its fees are definitely a lot lower. At the end of the day, sadly, it does not appear that there is much we can learn from the ubiquitous squirrel. But there is one pretty important lesson we humans could certainly teach it: When you’re standing on your hind legs in the middle of a road and you see four large, round, black rubbery things rolling toward you at an alarming speed, don’t just stand there staring — drop the nuts and run like hell! Alisa Singer’s humorous essays have appeared in a variety of print and online newspapers and magazines in the United States and Canada. She is the author of the books “I Still Wanna Be A … ,” an illustrated collection of whimsical poetic fantasies in which she “morphs” herself into her childhood heroes, and “My Baby Boomer Memory Album,” memorializing the first grandchild, Social Security check, chin hair and other milestones of the second half of a boomer’s life. Visit her Web site at alisasinger.com or e-mail her at asingerauthor@gmail.com. n
Art by bonnie haldane lewis; photo by scott holstein
ack in the days when we were all fat and comfortable, wrapped in the security of our bloated brokerage accounts, people would talk about “The Number.” In baby boomer parlance, The Number is the amount of money you need to have in the bank to be able to retire and still maintain the lifestyle you so richly deserve and to which you have become accustomed. That’s academic now since none of us will be able to retire, ever, but back then I tried to think of who else we know that faces similar issues and might be able to provide a guiding philosophy for this thorny question. And I thought of squirrels. You see, when squirrels gather acorns and nuts for the long winter, they hide them either in one huge hole or, as the common gray squirrel does, in several hundred different places, exercising behavior known as “scatter hoarding” (what investment advisers would call portfolio diversification). The hoards allow the squirrels to rest quietly in their nests during the winter, leisurely cracking nuts while watching reruns of “American Idol,” without ever having to shovel the walk or put up with unpleasant commuting conditions. Snuggled together, they leave their nests only as necessary to grab some carry-out from their various food caches. I wondered, how does a particular squirrel figure out how many acorns and nuts it needs to maintain its standard of living during its season of “retirement” — and can this instinct help us calculate when we finally have enough “nuts” to retire? In search of an answer, I Googled “squirrels gathering nuts.” Rather than relying