Premier Issue - September 2018 by Windermere Scene

PREMIER ISSUE

SEPTEMBER 2018

COVER STORY

Windermere’s Bella Italia

THE HOPE TIARA

Hope for Central Florida’s Charities

Mayor Gary Bruhn Windermere’s Own Movie Buff

“Irma knows the market well and she works extremely hard on behalf of her clients. She was patient in getting a price we were happy with. We would highly recommend Irma to sell your property!” — Holmes Family “Irma was an excellent buyer’s agent for our family. She had a deep knowledge of the area and a broad network of connections that helped us through the entire buying process.” — Hawk Family CONTACT ME FOR A CONFIDENTIAL NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION.

Irma Yapor, Branch Office Broker Orlando Magazine 2017 & 2018 All-Star Realtor

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Publisher Andrew Haines andrew@lanahpublishing.com President Leah Haines leah@lanahpublishing.com Editor Brian Ackley brian@lanahpublishing.com Creative Director Jules Franzese jules@lanahpublishing.com Contributors Abby Stassen Eric Safranek Irma Yapor Jesslyn Hernandez Micah Kurtz Photography Philip Podskalan Contact Us 625 Main Street Windermere, FL 34786 www.lanahpublishing.com www.windermerescene.com For advertising opportunities, please contact: andrew@lanahpublishing.com

The Windermere Way One of the first questions I often get about Windermere Scene is “why”? For that, there is a relatively simple answer. Windermere has been home for me and my family for a couple of years now. While that's not nearly as long as many residents, it has been long enough to realize just how much more 34786 is than just a zip code. I like to term it the “Windermere Way.” With the town of 3,000, and 25,000 more people living outside those boundaries, Windermere is a fascinating and special amalgam of Small Town USA looking to balance the growth and demands of a 21st century way of life. I've seen firsthand that our people are passionate and proactive about both, willing to go the extra mile to preserve our past while formulating our future, an approach to which we can all be proud. The idea for “Windermere Scene” has been percolating for a while now, an idea to capture the uniqueness of area and specialness of people, a publication the people of 34786 would find interesting, unique, helpful and one they can call all their own. As you know, Windermere is full of poignant people, exciting events and loved locations. Some are world renowned, but most are just neighbors and friends, people we see at the store, in church, at the farmer's market or at our fabulous schools. We hope to bring you a monthly mix of both, highlighting the community kaleidoscope that captures the spirit and soul of the Windermere Way. I'd love to hear from you. Let us know about stories you'd like to have us write, people or businesses you'd like to have us feature, or anything else on your mind. Drop me a line at andrew@lanahpublishing.com. Let's celebrate and live the Windermere Way together! Warmly,

Andrew G. Haines Publisher

Windermere Scene is published 12x per year by Lanah Publishing. The opinions expressed by writers and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publishers. We will make mistakes, so don't be too harsh when we do. We're human just like you. Sharing articles on social media from our digital publication is encouraged.

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$10–$25/person • Get tickets @ http://WindermereArts.Eventbrite.com 407-808-0665 • WindermereArts.com • Facebook.com/WindermereArts 6 | WINDERMERE SCENE

st Annual Art, Wine and Music Stroll There will be lots more than meets the eye Friday, Sept. 7, when Windermere hosts its first ever Art, Wine and Music Stroll. Of course there will be the work of almost two dozen artists to tantalize the eyes, guitarists and violinists to soothe the ears, and plenty of spirits to please the palate. The festivities start at 5:30 p.m., a product of “Windermere Arts” and is in many ways an extension of the town’s popular annual juried fine art festival the first weekend of March every year. The fourth such show will be March 2nd and 3rd. Last year’s event drew 81 artists from around the country.

mote the arts and give them the confidence that they need to get out in front of people and show their stuff,” said Anne McDonough, who just celebrated 10 years in downtown Windermere by opening an art gallery at Tranquiliti Wellness Center. Attendees will be able to vote for their favorite artist and musician. McDonough said there will be a few centers of activity that will feature at least one musician and one artist. Those spots include Dixie Cream, Berkshire-Hathaway, the 500 Block, and Paramour House. She said the whole idea came from a collaboration between the local business and arts community to help promote both, and represents a continued growth in the arts community in Windermere. The art show, for example, has almost doubled in sized from its first year. “It’s more now that people are so hungry for it,” she added. For tickets, go to www.windermerearts.eventbrite.com.

Tickets are $10 for those who want to enjoy the entertainment and partake in the food samples inside some 20 downtown businesses. For $25, free wine sampling is available at each store as well. Ticket buyers will get a special “passport” that can be stamped at participating business, which will make attendees eligible for special prize drawings.

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September ‘18

Contents The Hope Diamonds

Eats Windermere

Out of the Past

Lights, Camera, Action

Top 10 Greater Orlando

Hope for Central Florida’s Charities

“The Vineyard Orlando”

Windermere Police Department

Windermere’s Own Movie Buff

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The Hope Diamonds Hope for Central Florida’s Charities! Brian Ackley You might say Virginia Ann has come up with a gem of an idea to help raise money for pediatric cancer research. And what gems, including a five-carat heart shaped diamond, a 2.5 carat Marquise diamond, five one-carat solitaire diamonds, and an additional 70 additional carats of diamonds and rubies. Put it all together, and you have the aptly named Hope Tiara. Ann, of Windermere's Gianni Vincent Jewellers, created the stunning $200,000 masterpiece in honor of her late nephew, Angelo Ballestero Jr., who passed away from cancer a little more than five years ago. Her idea is the tiara can be “rented” out for any family or social occasion by making a donation to “Runway To Hope”, a Central Florida organization that provides funding to pediatric patients and their families. “It gave purpose to this crazy idea. It was always something rummaging around in my head. Somehow the connection of being able to use the tiara to do good for pediatric cancer, to continue to do good for his legacy and name, it all came together,” she said. While it fulfills Ann's wish, she happily noted that Angelo, the affable young man with the curly red hair, had a wish fulfilled too before he lost his bone cancer battle. “He was 13 when he was diagnosed, and the day of his first chemotherapy, my sister asked if I was sitting down, and she handed me a pregnancy test,” she recalled. “I was like this is the last thing this family needs. And Baby Aaron ended up being the first thing that family needed, because little Angelo prayed for five years for a little brother or sister. Aaron gave the whole family love and joy and hope.” Not unlike his aunt's tiara, as it turns out. For more information, you can contact Ann at 407-217-7625 or via email at info@giannivincent.com

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A new and refreshing approach to fundraising

Gianni Vincent Jewellers The Grove at Isleworth 4757 The Grove Drive Ste 164 Windermere, FL 34786 t.407.217.7625 | GianniVincent.com WINDERMERE SCENE | 11

c.407.307.7922 | o.407.876.5575 www.LivingInCentralFlorida.com 430 Main St., Windermere, FL 34786

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Christopher Siegfried Knowing how to showcase and accentuate the best features of your home, without incurring unnecessary expense, is at the core of what I do. *2014 Lakeside Realty Windermere, Inc - Rookie of the Year *2015 ORRA (Orlando Regional Realtors Assoc) Top Producers Club *2017 Top 500 Realtors in Orlando *2017 ORRA Top Producers Club *2017 ORRA Top 4% Producing Agent 12 | WINDERMERE SCENE

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Windermere resident combines childhood memories and lifealtering car accident to bring laughter, and a little suspense, to audiences across the globe

Featured Max Winfrey 14 | WINDERMERE SCENE

Juggling Knives, Jokes and Faith Abby Stassen Why is this man holding an axe? Or three, to be exact. Because Windermere’s Max Winfrey makes a living doing two things that are incredibly hard: Performing stand-up comedy without getting tomatoes thrown at him, and juggling knives (and other things) to slice those tomatoes if they make it to the stage. His combination of circus tricks and clean jokes has gotten him far. Fans may have seen him a few years ago on TV, when he made it to the finals of America’s Got Talent. The juggling bug bit Max at the tender age of 14, when he saw a juggler at Busch Gardens in his native Virginia. After teaching himself the basics, he landed a job as an entertainer in another Virginia theme park, King’s Dominion, and then went “pro” when he moved to Florida and began working full-time at local theme parks. After five summers at Disney, Winfrey leveled up to corporate events and cruise ship entertainment, and he’s been an in-demand act ever since.

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The Big Reveal... Max Winfrey’s act is as varied as it is funny, but his signature moment -- the one that got him on America’s Got Talent -- is a knife throw that is one part fun, one part suspense, and 10 parts surprise ending. Here’s how he does it, in his own words. “Basically I invite a man from the audience to try their hand at a few skills on stage and then send them backstage to receive their prizes for helping out. “I then bring another man on stage and try to convince him to stand against a knife board and let me throw knives around him. As he begins to act nervous, I offer to demonstrate my expertise by throwing knives around his body sketch on the board. “I draw his outline and then begin to throw knives with some obvious mistakes while he watches at a safe distance. After I finish, it’s very apparent that he wants no part of standing against the board for the real thing. “That’s when I turn the board around revealing my backup plan which is the first male audience member bound and gagged against the back of the board with the knives just missing his body. “It gets a huge surprised laugh from everyone because the poor guy thought he was getting prizes and instead almost gets peppered with knives. There are lots of jokes with the drawing and mistaken knife throws and nervous tension for the guys on stage.”

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Max’s big break came when he had to abruptly fill in for a big name — Billy Ray Cyrus. He was slated to do a three-minute opening act on a network show in Nashville, and when the country legend ran late, Winfrey stepped in to make it a 10 minute gig. “That kind of shot, on the air, really grew my career. I just remember grabbing the bull by the horns, and when they said 10 minutes instead of three I said ‘absolutely, I’m your guy.’ It was just amazing.” Another famous country act, The Gatlin Brothers, saw Winfrey’s skills and asked him to be a feature act in their theater. From then on, Max’s career took off, and large corporate gigs wanted him to perform his stunts — and his comedy. The comedy part came as a package deal from his early days in Virginia. “The juggler I first saw at Busch Gardens was a comedian, and he was making the crowd laugh and that appealed to me,” he recalled. “I loved waiting for just the right opportunity to get a big laugh.” The pairing also comes with some additional benefit as audiences become more open to the stunts. “When you do strict juggling, not everyone likes that, so I started putting two and two together. Doing circus acts with the comedy was where the market was. People wanted to see that,” he noted. Another childhood memory – the Harlem Globetrotters – also left a big impression on him and proved to be a big inspiration. “I was fascinated by the tricks, but I was more fascinated by their real focus on making people laugh. When I figured out that I could juggle and make people laugh, it was like being a Harlem Globetrotter all on my own.” Max has his own signature moves that set him apart from the crowd, too: his standout knife throwing act isn’t done by anyone else in the world, and he loves seeing the crowd’s reaction during that part of his show. While Winfrey doesn’t take to the court like the Globetrotters, he still captures the imaginations of lucky audience members on cruise ships, at corporate events, and at faith-based events.

He cites a near-death car accident in the 1990s as the inspiration for becoming more involved in the church. “Things weren’t really going well for me at the time. I was a single dad just trying to take care of my daughter,” he recalled. “And I was in the car alone, about to flip over, and I remember thinking, what’s going to happen to my daughter?” After the accident, Winfrey re-dedicated his life to Christ. In that spirit, he recently was in California as a volunteer in helping the wildfire fighting efforts there. “I started living with purpose and going to church here in Windermere,” he says. He now does many, many performances a year in churches, at youth fellowship camps, and at other faith-based events. The direction of his act came at a good time, he added. “The Christian Comedy Association [a relatively new group where like-minded comics can connect] has really grown,” Winfrey observed. “If you look at the caliber of talent out there now in the clean comedy world, it’s amazing. In the old days, the overall talent level wasn’t that great. But nowadays, there are people who have been around a long time, and guys who came from comedy club backgrounds who reworked those skills and put it into a Christian comedy act. They’re killing it.” So what’s next for a Christian comedian who doesn’t mind playing with knives? Max is gearing up to reach a wider audience through online video. Right now he’s the comic relief in a yetto-be-released TV-type show, up for the challenge of adding new technology to his act. “It’s strange, you know, doing a new thing late in life,” Winfrey laughs, which is what he knows best.

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The Movie Mayor Brian Ackley

indermere Mayor Gary Bruhn has a confession to make about his movie memorabilia collection.

his eighth straight two-year term as Windermere’s mayor – “I’ll shave, and I’ll shower, and it’s election time,” he jokes – a position he’s leveraged to a county and state level. He’s lived in the area for 37 years, after growing up at various spots around the globe the son of an Army father. He spent almost 29 years with Martin-Marietta, which is what brought him to Central Florida in the first place.

Well, a couple, actually.

One, it’s not nearly as big as it used to be. Once a hobby that grew to take over much of his house, today the assemblage of unique bits of Hollywood occupy only his office.

There’s a theme to what remains of Bruhn’s unique collection. What’s left is mostly weapons used in any number of wide-ranging films, a collection he calls “phenomenal”. So, the second is a bit more surprising. Like Hollywood itself, what you see is not always what you get. “For the most part, they’re rubber, but people don’t know,” he laughs. He was once so motivated to add to his collection, he flew to Los Angeles in the late 1970s – long before there was anything like online bidding – to have the chance to purchase one of the more unique and memorable “weapons” in Hollywood history: The ice pick from Basic Instinct. First elected in 2004, Bruhn just was elected in March for 18 | WINDERMERE SCENE

“There was a lot turmoil going through the town in this time period, 2004. There had been controversies regarding annexation, The town was very, very divided. There was a developer at that time that literally was trying to buy up the entire downtown. It was his goal to completely change what the downtown would be,” he recalled. “The ongoing politics, the divisiveness, all of that led me to say ‘ya know, I just want to get involved and see what I can do.’ I had never run for office and of course a lot of people said, ‘you can’t be mayor. You’ve got to pay your dues.’ Well, that was 2004 and here I am.” He never envisioned the volunteer post would become a second career. “To put that in perspective, since then, I’ve served with 25 different council members,” Bruhn said, a number that seems to surprise even himself. In some ways, the job has gotten a little easier than when he started, in part because there was no way it could get much tougher.

Featured (left) Mayor Gary Bruhn, A Piece of Steel from The World Trade Center 9/11 Memorial at Windermere, Fl 2009 Eagle Scout Service Project, Honoring Victims of the attacks Check out the top ten movie favorites for Mayor Gary Bruhn (pages 30-31)!

Someday, he is hopeful of an extension of Old Winter Garden Road to the Turnpike, and the extension of the Daryl Carter Parkway to County Road 535, both of which could ease the congestion, at least a bit. Beyond the town borders, Bruhn is chairman of the Orange County Council of Mayors, and just in mid-August ended his run and President of the Florida League of Mayors, which represents 415 municipalities. He’s on planning and transportation boards and just about any other group that might benefit Windermere in some way or another.

“That first year was a baptism by fire. I got elected in March, six months later, Hurricane Charley. Six weeks later, Hurricane Frances. Six weeks later, Hurricane Jeanne. Eight months into being mayor, I’d been through three hurricanes,” he recalled. “And then, in early 2005, we completely tore up all our streets and we put in the roundabouts. They were very controversial because that was the single largest public works project we’d ever done at that point, it represented $2.5 million. And back then, our whole budget was under $4 million. We tore up the entire Main Street.” Ironically, the roundabouts help the town deal with today what is perhaps its number one issue: Traffic. “I can’t imagine today without them. Now, we’re inundated with 18,000 cars every work day coming through Windermere, which is the equivalent of every man, woman and child that lives in Windermere, getting in a car and driving it six times a day,” he added.

“I’m going to make sure we as a town are more active in what’s going on around us, because if you’re not sitting at the table, they’re not going to deal you a hand.,” he explains. “Windermere alone can’t do it. But when we can partner with our fellow cities in west Orange, we have a much stronger voice.” He didn’t win the ice pick auction, but the trip wasn’t in vain. “It even had the “CT” on it, Catherine Trammel,” he recalled. “And oh my God, six thousand, seven thousand, I said ‘I can’t do this.’ So I was really bummed. But my wife said ‘there’s something else kinda cool. Why don’t you get the ball from ‘Field of Dreams’? I said, ‘That’s a great idea!’ And I bought the baseball from ‘Field of Dreams’, where the guy says, ‘Hey dad, you want to have a catch?’” Which sounds like a pretty good deal all the way around, for Windermere and its mayor. WINDERMERE SCENE | 19

RESTAURANTS

a beautiful thing Brian Ackley

plate of pasta from another.

Albania isn’t the most likely spot for an Italian eatery or an American love story.

“Sauce,” he says both quickly and matter of factly. “I crush my own tomatoes, and I don’t like a machine. I do it by hand. We do a big pot every single day. Even when I serve the marinara, you still see chunks of tomatoes,”

But the southeast Europe country of about three million people is where Windermere’s Bella Italia, the restaurant, and Leonard and Dorina Kodra, the couple, have their roots. “My father used to own a restaurant, Dolce Vita. His dad and mom were from Italy,” Leonard explained. “I was helping around and he was teaching me recopies, soups and stuff, like I am with my son now. It reminds me of when I was that age. You start cleaning tables and then you start to learn the kitchen.” It was there, tugging daily at his father’s apron strings, where he learned the true secret of what sets apart one 20 | WINDERMERE SCENE

He’s picky enough – always an important trait in the kitchen when you’re a customer – to still import his tomatoes from Italy. “It is more expensive. I’ve tried other tomatoes too, but if I’m only going to save $3 or $4 a pot, is that worth it? No,” again he says, with a matter of factness that can’t be missed. “They call me picky, then I’m picky.” There is no real definitive recipe for the sauce, which tethers Leonard to the kitchen virtually 365 days a year. So dedicated are they to the local eatery that three months

ago, they purchased a house right behind Bella Italia since they spend so much time there already.

restaurant owners never actually crossed growing up. “We never met until here, so it’s just like fate,” Dorina said.

“You just have to know. You have to keep tasting it, so I have to be here every day,” he says about the sauce making. One batch of tomatoes, while still the same variety, might have a slight variance in things like acidity, meaning the final product can only be achieved by a dash of this and a pinch of that, which all adds up to a lot of Italian intuition. “The only other person I trust is my mother in law. She’s the only one, and she’s been working with me since 2001.” Leonard first came to the U.S. at age 22, in 1998, where he went to work at the popular Rosebud’s Steak and Seafood House in Sarasota which was owned by his uncle. It was the same year Dorina came to America, at age 17. Her father had fled the country’s communist regime when she was nine months old, and the two had not seen each other for more than 15 years. Their families knew each other in Albania, but the paths of the future husband and wife and eventual Windermere

They had their first date in 2001, the year Dorina’s mother came to the U.S – “She’s always been there for me and I’ll always be here for her,” Dorina adds – and married a year later. In 2008, they moved to Central Florida to open Fratellis – the Italian word for brothers – in downtown Orlando, although it was a family affair in many more ways than that. In addition to Leonard and Dorina, his brother and his wife worked there, as did a sister and her husband, and Dorina’s mother, who moved here in 2001. Although it proved to be a popular and busy spot, it really wasn’t the kind of restaurant Leonard had dreamed about running. “People were in a hurry, so I was not very comfortable,” he said. “I wanted to make nice food presentations, so it wasn’t my style. Working for yourself is better because you (Continue to page 22)

From the Bella Tuscany Ristorante kitchen It's no cliché. Just about everything that comes out of the kitchen at Bella Italia is rooted in a long-standing family recipe. Their popular beer cheese soup is no exception. Originally made and served in an Italian restaurant in Albania run by the father of Bella Italia's Leonard Kodra, here is what goes into making the delectable delight. Be warned, you might have trouble exactly replicating one ingredient. Kodra's father used “birra korca” from an Albanian brewer which first stated making beer in 1928. But we think you'll be able to find a suitable substitute! 3 ½ 3 3-4 16 2 ¼ 2 2

tablespoons extra virgin olive oil cup of chopped shallots pinches of salt and peeper pieces of garlic clove, minced oz. of dark beer cups of chicken broth cup all purpose flour cups heavy cream cups shredded cheddar cheeses

On low temperature, saute the shallots in extra virgin oil in soup pot. Add the garlic and the flour and stir until the color changes to light brown. Add chicken broth and stir well. Add heavy cream, add salt and pepper. After it starts boiling add the cheese until cheese melts. Add the beer and stir well and turn the heat off. Top with fresh Italian parsley for garnish and serve in a bread bowl. WINDERMERE SCENE | 21

do it with love.” That led to Bella Italia which opened in 2016 in the same small neighborhood plaza where it is today, although relocated from one end of it to the other a few months after debuting, to where a Barbecue restaurant had closed. “We destroyed everything,” Leonard recalled, turning over the interior plans to his wife. “I chose everything myself. I took pride in it because I get a lot of compliments,” she said. A typical day is a long day, as most in the restaurant business will tell you, at least the successful ones. Take the bread, for example, all created and baked right on site. “I do about 60 or 70 a day, but on Friday’s and Saturday’s, I’ll do 120 loaves,” Leonard noted. “I can’t see him anyplace else but 22 | WINDERMERE SCENE

in the kitchen,” Dorina laughs. “Whoever comes through the door is family. I want them feeling like they’re at their own home. And to be honest, I can’t see myself not working with him now.” The restaurant is intimate and inviting, seating only about 90. An outdoor covered patio can seat another 30 or so. The “Bella” specials are Leonard’s favorite – including a shrimp dish with a distinctive Mediterranean flair finished off with feta cheese, black olives and a white wine sauce. The“Bella” specialty pasta is popular dish highlighted by sausage sautéed in olive oil, bell peppers and onion in marinara sauce with pasta and topped with mozzarella cheese. And if you can’t decide on one favorite, get the “Taste of Italy” with lasagna, stuffed shells, manicotti and cheese ravioli napped with Kodra’s homemade marinara and melted mozzarella, all for the surprisingly

affordable price of $14.95 (which also includes a garden salad and garlic bread). While Leonard runs the kitchen, Dorina is charge in the front. “To have a good restaurant you have to have both. If one is not good, you’re not going to have a good restaurant,” Leonard asserts. And, just to keep in touch, his Dad, now in his 80s, still visits Windermere once a year. And, yes, it’s still a working vacation, much to the son’s chagrin. “He wants to do something, I’m like ‘No papa, you[‘re not going to work. Now is the time for you to relax,’”Leonard recalls. Don’t look for a Bella Italia II, for the same reason that Leonard doesn’t let anyone else make his signature sauce. “I’m not a big fan of opening two at the same time,” he added. “ It’s hard to control the quality. It’s not the same if you’re not here.” Easy? Certainly not. But if done right, the Kodras are living proof it can certainly be a “beautiful” thing.

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Orlando foodie girl EATS WINDERMERE

Jesslyn Hernandez As a discerning food blogger and vigilant restaurant reviewer, I have diligently traveled across Central Florida searching for the best and the most unique restaurants and eating experiences that Central Florida has to offer. In this adventure and journey, I have landed in the beautiful city, my own home city, of Windermere, Florida. Whoot, Whoot to Windermere! 24 | WINDERMERE SCENE

"The Vineyard Orlando" The Grove Shopping Center 4848 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd. Orlando, FL 32819

they would recognize. “The Vineyard” menu is showered with delicious chef developed recipes, melded with thoughtfully sourced ingredients and locally grown produce. This neighborhood wine bar and fresh bistro makes it their passion to provide tasty and healthy food paired with complimenting wines while providing great service and outstanding prices.

As many already know, the Windermere restaurant scene is as rich and as diverse as the Windermerian people. So although our city has many feature worthy restaurants, cafes, sandwich shops and pizzarias, this month I choose to feature a restaurant that through my journeys across Central Florida had previously made the “Best of Orlando” list on IG:@orlandofoodiegirl. So let’s take this moment to honor, “The Vineyard Orlando” and give them a hand of applause this month for a job well done. Now the question is, why is “The Vineyard Orlando” one of the best restaurants of Central Florida? Well, to begin with, in my search for the best to guide Central Floridians, l seek out uniqueness, great quality food, ambiance, food presentation, previous customer satisfaction and on a personal level, the overall experience as being an undercover guest. I will admit that visiting up to twelve restaurants, pizzerias, cafes and specialty food shops per week, “The Vineyard Orlando” not only excelled above many other restaurants, but they became an example to other restaurants on how to run a family owned wine bar and bistro with integrity, with passion and with a conscious awareness of the community. They live by the philosophy that when you give your best to the community that the community brings their best to you. Deborah Linden purchased “The Vineyard Orlando” back in November of 2016. She is a local resident of Dr. Phillips and wanted to give to the community a wine bar and bistro that the locals could be proud of. She worked thoughtfully to create a relaxing atmosphere where friends could come together, settle back into their chairs and let go of their worries while enjoying a glass of wine over tasty and healthy food prepared with integrity. Keeping “The Vineyard” name was her way of giving back to the community a name that

They also offer 200 wines in stock with a “taste before you buy option,” and if there is a wine you want that they don’t have in stock, they place a special order by the bottle or by the case. But, I wasn’t drawn to this place because of wine. I was drawn in because of their food. The Vineyard’s food is outstanding. Every meal I have ever ordered is a masterpiece in its own realm. The Vineyard chef, Chef Luis, is an innovative and artistic chef who has created some of the prettiest dishes I have ever seen, each dish so carefully crafted that the beauty and art of every creation almost makes you feel guilty to take a bite. Whether, it’s fresh caught grouper, a tender steak, carefully crafted pastas or delicious vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free dishes and desserts, each dish is delivered in a way that the minute the meal is set on your table you know that that dish was prepared specifically for you.

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HEALTH & FITNESS

questions every parent should ask Micah Kurtz

All parents want the best for their child and want them to succeed in any endeavor that they pursue. With the increased importance placed on youth and high school sports, more parents are starting their children on strength and speed training at a young age.

Training in the weight room and on the track are two of the best places to arm young people with the tools to be successful in life.

Micah Kurtz is Director of Sports Performance at Windermere Preparatory School. In addition, Kurtz serves as the Strength and Conditioning Consultant Coach to the nine-time high school basketball national champions Oak Hill Academy, and also consults on projects regarding youth athletic development education for the NFL, USA Basketball, USA Football and Nike Football. 26 | WINDERMERE SCENE

A comprehensive athletic development program will maximize the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s physical potential while also providing the student with the opportunity to overcome continual challenges and instill in the student the confidence to pursue what excites them throughout their academic, professional and personal life. With the idea that, always, the number one goal your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strength and speed coach should have is to protect the student from injury on and off the field, parents should make sure that ask these three important questions.

Does the coach have expertise in age appropriate training progressions? A training program for an athlete in 7th grade should be much different than those designed for kids in the 11th or 12th grade. Given that each student’s body matures on a different timetable, a coach must progress the student accordingly to a variety of factors other than just the student’s birth age or grade level. A huge red flag is if your child comes home and excitedly announces, “The coach has us doing the same training program as the University of Central Florida!” College athletes are much older, experienced and physically mature than youth and high school athletes and their training should differ. Youth training should focus first on teaching proper fundamental movement patterns, proper mobility and stability. Is the child’s training designed for overall athletic development or is it primarily sport-specific? To simultaneously reduce risk of injury and improve athletic performance, your child’s strength and conditioning coach should focus on overall athletic development as opposed to sport specific training so often highlighted at the collegiate and professional levels. Young athletes should learn to move well. With good mobility, stability, and the development of a fundamental strength base your child will be positioned to excel and be prepared to compete at the next level.

For example, make sure your coach does not over emphasize “jump training” for a basketball or volleyball player. It is counterproductive for young “jumping” athletes to have extensive plyometric training. A developing athlete first needs to know how to bend, hinge and control his/her body. Developing the student’s core strength, landing mechanics and mastery of form and technique through proper strength progressions should be required before progressing them to more complex training. If an athlete is only being taught to produce force and not absorb force it can lead to injuries in the long run. How will you coordinate and communicate with my child’s school coaches and private coach? More and more students are receiving private training outside the traditional school setting. Sending your child to a private coach for one-on-one or small group training provides a great opportunity for the student to receive individual attention. However, open communication between all coaches involved is required to create a unified long term athletic development program, avoid injury and maximize gains. In today’s ultra-connected world, collaborating and communicating with other coaches to discuss what each coach is working on with the student is easy. When the private coach and school coaches communicate, they can unify the training programs to maximize the student’s athletic potential, avoid overtraining and prevent injury. WINDERMERE SCENE | 27

Windermere Real Estate MARKET REPORT

Windermere Real Estate is a buyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market, as the home inventory continued to increase. Windermere home values have gone up 3.0% as an average over the past year and it is predicted they will rise 2.2% within the next year. Distressed properties have significatly decrease and rentals are still on the rise. Windermere continues to be a very high demand place to live. This Market Report is PREPARED BY:

JULY 2018 compared to July 2017 Overall Current Inventory:

Overall Pending Sales:

Highest Priced SFR* Listing:

Highest Priced SFR* Sale:

445

119

$23,000,000

$2,800,000

Overall New Listings

Overall Median Listing Price

Median Days on Market

Up 2075%

Up 4.5%

Up 2.63%

SFR* Median Sold Price

Th/C* Median Sold Price

Overall Sales Volume

Up 11.1%

Up 4.5%

Up 3.1%

$625k

$550k

$220k

100

6-Month Median Sales Chart $500k

$400k

$300k

Irma Yapor

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Branch Office Broker

eXp Realty Windermere 625 Main Street, Suite 103 Windermere, FL 34786 407-909-9200 IrmaYapor.com 28 | WINDERMERE SCENE

All statistical information is based on data provided by MFRMLS. Data shown is representative of the time frame and property types selected, and is based on both current listing inventory and recent sales data. The average and median numbers are approximate. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified through personal inspection by appropriate professionals. We are not responsible for any innacuracies provided by the source.

* SFR = Single Family Residence; Th/C = Townhouse/Condo.

Out of the Past A ONE GUN AFFAIR Brian Ackley If someone today compares the Windermere Police Department with the one Andy Taylor ran in Mayberry, it would be a compliment. And not that long ago, it wasn’t that far from the truth. Which all made for a pretty interesting Associated Press story in May, 1975. “Police reservist Pam Mullins has to send her mother to buy bullets for the .38 caliber revolver she carries on patrol,” the story reads. Turns out there was a good reason for that. Florida law prohibited anyone under the age of 21 from buying ammunition for a revolver the 19-year old told the news service. “So I get my mother to go to the store for me.” Turns out that some 43 years ago, those in the Windermere force were required to provide their own guns and ammunition. “We only have one gun,” Police Chief Ralph Witte said. “That was left behind by a policeman who was here some years ago.” Witte , a retired Air Force officer with a handlebar mustache, only served nine months in the chief ’s chair. He resigned his post, unexpectedly, in January, 1976.

Mullins didn’t have her own, she borrowed her side arm from a friend. ‘I’ve never had to use it. It is a very peaceful community and the only problems you have are speeders.” Mullins told the AP, adding that her mother Faye, “was a little alarmed when first asked to buy the bullets because she doesn’t know anything about guns.’” Mullins was the only woman on the force, which in addition to Chief Witte included three patrolman and four reservists for the town with a population of 983. The story, by AP writer Ann Helmuth, was picked up by papers from Albany, N.Y. to Honolulu, Hawaii. A graduate of Boone High School, she said she got interested in law enforcement while talking to police officer while working as a waitress at a local drive in restaurant. She usually worked the 3-11 shift, according to a story in the Orlando Sentinel Star newspaper, riding with officer Harlan Creel. That story, however, disputes the AP’s version, saying that revolvers were provided to officers. But not ammunition. Mullins also worked as a dispatcher for Orange County at the time, and figures she fired about 500 rounds in her training to become a reservist, unpaid volunteers who worked 20 hours a month and also had to buy their own uniforms. “She’s been a real help to us,” Witte added to the AP. “Everybody seems to like her, she’s likable, and she’s well qualified.” WINDERMERE SCENE | 29

Lights, Camera, Action! A Top 10 movie favorites of Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn, a renowned movie memorabilia collector. And, a bonus question thrown in for good measure.

K TA

E K A T

2 3 4

If you were stranded on a desert island, and only had one movie with you, it would be: “The Outlaw Josie Wales. It has everything. It’s got the Civil War, comancheros, it’s got elements of everything. And in fact, I met Clint Eastwood, and I told him, “I think you made the greatest western movie ever made.’ He started laughing and said, “Which one?” That was the one that actually started directing because he didn’t like the way the movie was going.” And maybe number two, “Dances with Wolves.” Most underrated movie: “I would think it might be ‘Field of Dreams.’ I think because you have to have that suspension of belief for it to work. A lot of people say ‘I just don’t get it.’

If price were no object, the one piece of movie memorabilia you would like to have: “It's come around so many times, and price is always the object, it's one of two things, one is one of the Wicked Witch's guard's costume. It was a phone action, we didn't have internet then. I was this close, and my phone line went dead right in the middle of bidding. And the other, and it just came up for auction three month's ago, was Harry Callahan's gun (Magnum Force of the Dirty Harry series).”

Most overrated movie: “Singing in the Rain. People go bonkers for it. And of course, I know I’m going to hear about it, because you’ve got your big three that you’ve got to love, you know you’ve got to love “Gone With the Wind,” you know you’ve got to love “The Wizard of Oz.” But “Singing in the Rain,” I just didn’t understand, why all this acclaim? Great people in it, but not a whole lot of story.”

5 6 7

Movie you wished they didn't make a sequel to: “Jaws. Why mess with that. And I see this happening a lot too, they're remaking great movies. C'mon, they can't.”

Favorite actor: “Clint Eastwood. He's not just an actor, so I look at his entire body of work. As a director it has been amazing, and he's in his 80s, His work behind the camera has been maybe more significant. And they tell me what's remarkable is he's a one or two take guy.

Movie you wish the DID make a sequel to: “Dances with Wolves. He went off to oblivion, but, what happened?”

Watch in the theater or on your couch kind of guy: “I'm a couch movie watcher. The movie going experience has been destroyed. You've got people texting in front of you, you've got people on their cell phones, it's like 'No!' Now I can get it on demand, popcorn at half the price.

Favorite actress: “It's not somebody that's real recent, of all time, because of the body of work, Elizabeth Taylor. She could go from glamour to just horrible. And another favorite actress, and I was a teenager, and she was gone way too soon, Natalie Wood. She was every teenagers heart throb.”

Other than popcorn, what's your favorite movie snack? “That's probably it, popcorn, yeah. I'm not a Good N' Plenty guy or any of that stuff.”

Fill in the blank. You know you're a movie buff when _________? “You can recite certain movie lines, line by line. For me, it's the lines where Josie Wales meets the Indian Chief.” WINDERMERE SCENE | 31

THE DARING YOUNG VACATIONER ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE Eric Safranek It’s just one of the many activities offered at Club Med, just a two-hour drive from the greater Orlando area, and don’t miss the white chocolate bread! One hundred feet in the air, perched upon a plank that wasn’t even as wide as my foot was long, I held on for dear life while awaiting further instructions. The girl standing next to me was half my age, height and weight. I watched as she swiftly and fearlessly maneuvered around this small slice of real estate that we shared all the way up there. 32 | WINDERMERE SCENE

She attached the safety lines to my harness while giving me some last minute advice that I attempted to concentrate upon as my mind raced with questions of how and why I got myself in to this predicament and would I even survive. It should be explained this is not a story of survival or rescue, (and that it was more like 30 feet in the air, not the 100 feet it felt like) but instead, a self-imposed challenge to expand my comfort zone and, “try something different”. As I grabbed for the metal bar with one hand, my other hand clung to the support cable with white knuckles. The catcher yelled, “Ready... HEP!” as I grabbed the bar with both hands and swung forward. I used my forward momentum to swing my legs up and around the bar, freeing my hands to complete my first ever attempt at a kneehang catch and return on the flying trapeze. Although a successful return wasn’t in the cards on that first effort, I did gracefully land upon the netting below and lived to try again another day Club Med may be only vaguely known to Americans or

even the residents of Florida and Port St Lucie, but the Resort Village of Sandpiper Bay has been welcoming guests since the late 1980’s and Club Méditerranée which popularized the all-inclusive vacation was originally founded back in Europe during the 1950’s. The all-inclusive resort of Club Med Sandpiper Bay is just two hours South of Orlando located in the city of Port St Lucie, Florida. Sandpiper Bay is a family-friendly international destination for sports enthusiasts as well as exhausted working couples that simply need to relax and getaway without the hassle of airport or passport. Active adults will enjoy the plethora of sports and tournaments available, complete with professional guidance and instruction. Choose from: sailing, kayak, paddle board, water ski (for an extra charge) a very modern gym, a variety of fitness classes and of course, the flying trapeze. You can also register for the golf, tennis and beach volleyball academies which offer basic group classes for free as well as intensive camps for an extra charge. For those looking to enjoy a little rest and relaxation, your options are just as plentiful. Starting with a morning Yoga session followed by a late morning massage at Club Med’s L’OCCITANE Spa. Our second afternoon had us contemplating a choice of three different pools: the main pool, to enjoy with family and friends; the olympic size pool to swim laps; and my favorite, the quiet adult pool with infinity edge overlooking the Port St Lucie River, complete with a little bar which was endlessly slinging mojitos and beers our way all afternoon long. The main bar, “Slice” opens in the morning and serves all day long until closing around 1 a.m. The bar is stocked with decent brands of liquor with a selection of premium brands for a surcharge. (Continue to page 34) WINDERMERE SCENE | 33

(Continuing from page 33)

The main restaurant creates an enormous buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared by chefs from all over the world. Now before you shun or snub the restaurant, know that you have not seen a buffet like this. Club Med’s French influence and international palettes offer unique, flavorful and exotic creations as well as the staples to satisfy any finicky palate. No matter your age though, I cannot stress it enough… try the White Chocolate Bread, it is life changing! For a more quiet and relaxing dinner with table service, you simply need to make a reservation at Reception for The Riverside Restaurant. Know also this is a very family friendly hotel. What differentiates this from other hotels was the Club Med Kid’s Club. As a couple that was enjoying the resort without children, my wife and I found it refreshing to see how many children partake in the Kid’s Club.

The staff ’s smiling faces, helpful nature and diverse backgrounds lend to an international atmosphere that is both welcoming and familiar. You hear accents and languages from all over the globe from the guests and G.O.’s (Gentil Organisateur as they are referred to here) making your vacation feel so far removed from traditional Florida life. The resort is open year-round and nightly rates start at $152 per person, per night, based upon double occupancy. This price includes: meals, open bar, land and water sports, kid’s clubs and nightly entertainment. Day Passes are available for those that are looking to grab some lunch and sample the sports. Night Passes are available for couples that would like to experience an evening at the Club, complete with dinner, drinks and nightly entertainment.

Contact: Sandpiper Bay All-inclusive Resort www.clubmed.us/d/Florida/Sandpiper-Bay t.1-800-CLUBMED

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Go Pro Services is a water damage restoration and construction company dedicated to providing the best customer service to its clients. We work very closely with insurance agents, brokers, adjusters, and the client to make sure the damage remediation process is smooth and hassle-free. We are a 24/7 full-service Emergency Restoration company specialized in Water & Fire Damage and Reconstruction We Service: Spring Hill, Tampa, Clearwater, Hudson, New Port Richey, Brandon, Ocala, Dade City, Lutz, Land O Lakes, Lakeland, Clermont, Orlando, Ocala, Sarasota, Bradenton, Crystal River and Surrounding Tampa Bay Areas of Florida! www.goprowaterrestoration.com | t.800.659.1807

1 TOP G r e at e r Orlando

Sat Sept. 8

Event: 8th Annual Challenge Ride to Support Camp Boggy Creek Location: Eustis The Skinny: Camp Boggy Creek in Eustis was founded in 1996 by Paul Newman and General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, hosting youngsters with serious illnesses. Cyclists can pick 20, 40 or 60 mile courses through Lake County. Breakfast and lunch included. For information, call 352-483-4200 ext. 4632 or email grico@campboggycreek.org.

Sept. 7-9

Event: Central Florida Film Festival Location: Epic Theaters, 2300 Spring Harbor Blvd., Mt. Dora The Skinny: Attracting submissions from around the world, “CenFlo” as it's known is now in its 13th year with a little bit of everything for the film enthusiast, from locally produced shorts to international documentaries. For details, go to www.centralfloridafilmfestival.com.

Fri Sept. 7

Event: Retro Game Night Location: Orange County Regional History Center | Time: 7 p.m. to midnight The Skinny: Back by popular demand is another “retro” game night, this time honoring games of the 1990s. Show off your trivia skills and enjoy free nostalgic snacks.plus retro video games and giant versions of Jenga and Connect Four. Free for history center members, $8 for everyone else. Cash bar available. Information at www.thehistorycenter.org.

Fri Sept. 7

Event: Movie Night at Leu Gardens Location: 1920 North Forest Avenue, Orlando | Time: 8 p.m. The Skinny: Gates open at 6 p.m so you can stroll 50 lush acres. Bring your own picnic dinner and drinks if you'd like, and get ready for adventure with Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Concessions available too. Adults $6, kids $3. For more information, check out www.leugardens.org.

36 | WINDERMERE SCENE

10 Sat Sept. 8

Event: Florida SMaSH Beer Festival Location: 301 West Warren Avenue, Longwood | Time: 4 to 8 p.m. The Skinny: Not your average beer fest. The SMaSH provides craft beer makers the chance to make a beer all made from the same single malt and single hop. Expect roughly 80 beers to sample and attendees pick the winners; tickets $35 with proceeds to benefit The Sharing Center, helping with homelessness and hunger in Seminole County. Information at www.floridasmashbeerfestival.com.

Sat Sept. 15

Event: Florida Hospitals Battle of the Bands 5k Location: Lake Concord Park, 95 Triplet Lake Dr., Casselberry | Time: 7:30 a.m. The Skinny: Local bands will battle it out every mile in this fun unique road race that helps fund cultural arts offerings in the Casselberry area. Vote for your favorite band, and the winning group pockets a $400. At 8:45, there's a free kids fun run too. Sign up at www.trackshack.com.

Sept. 14-16

Event: Vintage Market Days of Metro Orlando Location: Silver Spurs Arena, Kissimmee Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday The Skinny: Not your average flea market, but rather an upscale, vintage-inspired indoor market featuring original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry and more. Details at www.vintagemarketdays.com.

Sept. 21-22

Event: Orlando Jazz Festival 2018 Location: Dr. Phillips Seneff Arts Plaza | Time: Gates open at 4 p.m. Sept 21 and noon Sept. 22 The Skinny: Two-days of toe tappin', soul-soothing classic jazz music at one of the top festivals in the southeast. Bring your blanket (or, less romantic, a low backed chair) and soak it all in. Line up of artists and ticket info at www.orlandojazzfest.org.

Sept. 30

Event: Latin Jazz and Art Festival Location: 95 Triplet Lake Drive, Casselberry | Time: 5 to 9 p.m. The Skinny: It's not often you get the chance to see a 10-time Grammy winner, and for free no less, but trumpet player Arturo Sandoval headlines this show, making a return engagement after playing here in 2011. Latin inspired food and vendors too. For details, visit www.casselberry.org.

Thru Sept. 30

Event: Magical Dining Month Orlando Location: Various The Skinny: What's better than eating out? How about eating out, getting a deal, and helping out good causes all at the same time. This is the 13th year that restaurants throughout greater Orlando will be offering special $35 prixe-fixe three-course meals. Over 100 local eateries participate, with one dollar from each mean donated to either Best Buddies or Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida. Go to www.orlandomagicaldining.com for participating restaurants and menus.

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CIGARS www.lowballlouies.com | Central Florida & Surrounding Area Locations Corporate Office 407.654.3172 38 | WINDERMERE SCENE

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