ONCE A MOM, ALWAYS A MOM

As I read this month’s feature and learned about the amazing moms we were able to highlight, I found myself becoming very envious of the role these mothers have in their children’s lives. My children are all 16 and up and seem to no longer need me to be their caretaker.

My oldest son, Michael, left home when he was 18 and joined the military in 2008. This was the very first time we had ever really been away from each other for a long period of time. I could not speak to him for several weeks as he went through boot camp. I didn’t know if he was happy or if he was home-sick; I couldn’t even find out how his day went. It was the most difficult “motherhood” experience of my entire life. He was no longer my responsibility. He no longer needed me to take care of him. We had always been very close, so the immediate separation made me feel as if he was permanently gone.

After a couple of weeks, Michael was able to contact me. As it turned out, the military knew exactly what they were doing when they kept us from talking. Michael shared his feelings with me and told me that if he had been able to hear my voice that first couple of weeks, he would have dropped out and came rushing home. He was very homesick and doubted whether he had made the right decision by joining the military. He said that every time he was sad or scared, he would look at a picture of me and his will to make me proud always overcame his desire to leave and come home.

Now it is 2013, and Michael has served five years as a U.S. Naval Corpsman. He has received multiple rank increases and recognitions, and he has become a leader among his peers. Michael will be coming home in June with an honorable discharge. He has served his country and made each day that he served a day to be remembered. He has had many ups and downs, highs and lows, but he overcame them all.

I am very proud of my son and cannot wait until I get to see him every day. It won’t be like it was before he left for the military because now he is his own person: an independent young man. But one thing that Michael assured me of is that he still needs me. He needs me to love him and encourage him. He needs me to continue to help him on his journey through life. He needs me to continue to be his educator, his mentor, his coach, his nurse, his counselor, and his cheerleader.

Michael has taught me that even though my children may become independent and become their own caretakers, they will still always need me to be their mom — a role I will gladly accept.

KENDRA AKERS publisher/editor-in-chief kendra@akersmediagroup.com

DOUG AKERS vice president doug@akersmediagroup.com

JAMIE EZRA MARK chief creative officer jamie@akersmediagroup.com

EDITORIAL // DESIGN

TINA MORRISON editorial/community relations director tina@akersmediagroup.com

MARY ANN DeSANTIS editor-at-large maryann@akersmediagroup.com

SHEMIR WILES copy editor/writer shemir@akersmediagroup.com

JAMES COMBS staff writer james@akersmediagroup.com

HEATHER TOOTLE office manager heather@akersmediagroup.com contributing writers TABATHA ARCARO-ORTIZ

SANDRA BOCK

RICK BOSSHARDT RICHARD BURGUET

DAWN CERNEY

TRACY DRAPER

MARY EDWARDS

FRED HILTON

SAMANTHA SPIKER ELLEN B. WILCOX

STEVEN J. CODRARO associate creative director steve@akersmediagroup.com

CIERRA CHAPPELL production manager cierra@akersmediagroup.com

JOSH CLARK senior designer/advertising josh@akersmediagroup.com

ANTHONY CASTO senior designer/editorial anthony@akersmediagroup.com

CALEB WAYNE JENSEN graphic designer caleb@akersmediagroup.com

FRED LOPEZ chief photographer fred@akersmediagroup.com contributing photographers

ANTHONY CASTO HEATHER TOOTLE

SALES // MARKETING TIM MCRAE vice president of sales and marketing tim@akersmediagroup.com

MIKE STEGALL senior marketing representative mike@akersmediagroup.com

LORI STRONG marketing representative lori@akersmediagroup.com

HEIDI RESSLER marketing representative heidi@akersmediagroup.com

TERRI GORDON sales coordinator terri@akersmediagroup.com

DISTRIBUTION

SCOTT HEGG distribution manager scott.hegg@akersmediagroup.com

Welcome home, Michael. You always have and always will make me a very proud mommy.

Kendra Akers publisher

M

Simply egg-cellent

Women for Hospice hosted its first-ever Easter Room at the Hospice Hope Chest in Mount Dora March 11th–16th . Those who attended the event were able to purchase Easter decorations, gifts, and baked goods. In addition, a Tree of Remembrance was displayed at the store, allowing visitors to memorialize a loved one by placing an angel on the tree.

Throughout the past 20 years, Women for Hospice has raised more than $2 million for Cornerstone Hospice. They conduct numerous fundraising activities, including monthly luncheons and the popular Season of Trees event in downtown Mount Dora. The group also manages the Hope Chest, an upscale antique and resale shop. ■

A home at the state level

Governor Rick Scott recently selected Steve Smith to serve on the board of the Florida Council on Homelessness. Smith is president of New Beginnings of Lake County, a nonprofit organization that has provided clothing, shoes, household items, and counseling services to more than 40,000 local people during the past two years.

Smith founded the organization in 2007 to provide housing and recovery services to those who lost their jobs and faced the possibility of homelessness. A graduate of The Ohio State University, he also serves as treasurer of Mid-Florida Homeless Coalition and is a board member of the Lake County Affordable Housing Board. He and his wife, Linda, have four children and 10 grandchildren. ■

This man is golden

Some may think being in your 90s means being housebound or bedridden. Thomas Parks would beg to differ. While some in his age group are thinking about walkers and canes, he is thinking about running shoes.

The 91-year-old Mount Dora resident recently finished in first place at LifeStream Behavioral Center’s inaugural Healthy Mind and Body 5k/10k/Fitness Walk. Competing in the 80+ age division, Parks completed a 3.1-mile course around Silver Lake, and the near-centenarian bested quite a few younger runners.

More than 221 people participated in the event, which raised awareness about teen suicide prevention and funds for various children’s services provided by LifeStream. ■

Rest From Sickness

When a child suffers from a serious illness, it impacts the entire family. Family members sometime need as much attention and support as the child diagnosed with a chronic or life-threatening illness. Each year from September through April, more than 550 families from throughout Florida attend one of Camp Boggy Creek’s 17 family retreat programs.

These programs allow family members the opportunity to participate in all the camp’s therapeutic activities, including swimming, archery, woodshop, ropes courses, theatre, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, and arts and crafts.

Camp Boggy Creek, which is located in Eustis, is a yearround camp for children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. The organization creates memorable, exciting, fun, and empowering camping experiences at no charge.

For more information, visit www.boggycreek.org. ■

How sweet

Haley Gerig, owner of a custom design clothing company, recently raised $10,000 to provide scholarships for at-risk ninth graders so they can participate in school arts programs. Her fundraising event, Sweet Treats for a Cause, was held in January at Lake Receptions. The event featured a fashion show fundraiser, an ultimate shopping experience, and a dessert bar.

Unfortunately, many local students are unable to participate in arts programs due to costs. Thanks to Haley, ninth-grade students will have an opportunity to enjoy displaying their musical skills in band or showcasing their acting talent in theater. Haley’s mother, Shelly Gerig, an employee of the Safe Climate Coalition, helped her organize the fundraiser. ■

A beacon of hope

George J. Hagerty is the new president of Beacon College. He brings more than 35 years of experience in higher education, business, government, and nonprofit organizations. He is also the recipient of many awards and designations, among them the 1989 National Leadership Award from the National Council on Disabilities and the 2009 Fitzwater Medal for Leadership in public communication. In addition, he has authored numerous scholarly articles, book chapters, and policy papers on a range of subjects relating to special education, governance, and public finance.

He earned a master’s degree and doctoral degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

“It is his creative energy, entrepreneurial acumen, academic standing and insight, as well as his repertoire of administrative and external advocacy skills that make him an ideal president for Beacon College,” says Eileen Marinakis, who serves as a board chairwoman for the college.

Located in downtown Leesburg, Beacon College is the first four-year accredited college in the United States exclusively for students with learning disabilities. ■

An eye on philanthropy

In February, the Mount Dora Community Trust awarded a $3,168 grant to New Vision for Independence. Funds will be used for scholarships to provide low vision services to 10 residents of Mount Dora. New Vision is a nonprofit agency that provides rehabilitation, community education, and support services for people with low vision or blindness and their families in Lake and Sumter counties. To inquire about the organization’s services, call 352.435.5040. ■

IT’S AN EMERGENCY!

In the past year, the Leesburg Regional Medical Center Emergency Department handled 48,000 patient visits. That number is projected to rise in the coming years. In order to adequately meet these increasing needs, a $2 million renovation project has been initiated.

The LRMC Foundation kicked off the renovation campaign in March by presenting a check for $150,000. “Renovating the emergency department is desperately needed to modernize the ER,” says Sharon Garbaravage, director of the hospital’s emergency department. “The expansion will make the emergency department more patient-focused and aesthetically pleasing for patients and staff.”

Philanthropic support is being sought from all areas of the community, including individuals and corporations. “Raising funds for the expansion will take the efforts of the entire community,” says Gerald Tucker, chairman of the LRMC Foundation. “We hope everyone will support the capital campaign to make these planned renovations a reality.” ■