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HI, SOCIETY
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR! PLAN YOUR TRIP! BE SEEN IN LAKE AND SUMTER! | EVENTS. TRAVEL. PEOPLE. agenda
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THE TO-DO LIST
What’s happening this month. 074
LOCAL TALENT
Rob Nichols stays true to his musical origins. 076
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT
Music at a mansion is a heavenly pairing. 078
ATTRACTIONS
The Citrus Tower remains one of a kind. 082
HI, SOCIETY!
See who is stepping out at events around town.
apr. 2020
Many events in April have been canceled due to guidelines about crowds during the coronavirus pandemic. Here is the status of some of the top events and shows as of press time. Contact the venues for updates:
BROWNWOOD PADDOCK SQUARE ART & CRAFT FESTIVAL
The 24th annual festival, scheduled for Easter weekend April 11-12, has been postponed. No makeup date was immediately announced.
813.962.0388. artfestival.com.
EARTH DAY MOUNT DORA
This annual celebration of Earth on April 11 at Donnelly Park was canceled and will not be rescheduled.
mountdoraenvironment.org.
HEARTS FOR OUR HOSPITAL 5K/10K FUN RUN & WALK
The inaugural event planned for April 25 at The Villages Polo Field was canceled. No immediate decision was made on rescheduling.
352.751.8871.
LAKE COUNTY FAIR
After initially pledging to press on, the Lake County Fair Association announced the cancellation of the 99th edition of the fair, planned for April 9-18 at the fairgrounds in Eustis. The fair will return in 2021.
Facebook @lakecofair.
LEESBURG BIKEFEST
The world’s largest three-day motorcycle and music festival was canceled and will return April 23-25, 2021, to downtown Leesburg.
leesburgbikefest.com.
MOUNT DORA BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL
The annual festival set for April 25-26 at Donnelly Park was canceled, but will return next blueberry season.
mountdorablueberryfestival.com.
SPRINGTIME FESTIVAL
The inaugural event scheduled for April 18 at Brown’s Country Market in Oxford was postponed, but organizers plan to pick a new date when appropriate.
352.615.4419. smgilbert79@gmail.com.
U RUN U PICK BLUEBERRY 5K
This morning run scheduled for April 25 at Southern Hills Farm in Clermont was canceled.
sommersports.com.
apr.ON STAGE
Enjoy quality entertainment on the many stages of Lake and Sumter counties.
4/1-12 @ various times
CANCELED – “A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER” Sonnentag Theatre at the IceHouse, 1100 N. Unser St., Mount Dora. 352.383.4616. 4/3 @ 7pm
CANCELED – “BOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD” The Sharon, 1051 Main St., The Villages. 352.751.7799. 4/4 @ 7:30pm
CANCELED – “THE QUEEN’S CARTOONISTS” Clermont Performing Arts Center, 3700 S. Highway 27. 352.394.4800. 4/17-5/3 @ various times
(RESCHEDULED FROM 4/10) “MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS” Bay Street Players, State Theatre, 109 N. Bay. St., Eustis. 352.357.7777. 4/24-26 @ 2pm and/or 7pm
“THE ADDAMS FAMILY,” PRESENTED BY THE VILLAGES CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL The Sharon, 1051 Main St., The Villages. 352.751.7799. 4/25-26 @ 2pm and/or 8pm
CANCELED – “THE LAST ROMANCE” Melon Patch Theatre, 311 N. 13th St., Leesburg. 352.787.3013. 5/8-31 @ various times
(RESCHEDULED FROM APRIL) “TUCK EVERLASTING” Moonlight Players Theatre, 735 W. Minneola Ave., Clermont. 352.319.1116. 5/15-31 @ various times
(RESCHEDULED FROM MARCH) “CABARET” Melon Patch Theatre, 311 N. 13th St., Leesburg. 352.787.3013. 6/5-7 @ various times
(RESCHEDULED FROM APRIL) “NUNSENSE, A MUSICAL COMEDY” Clermont Performing Arts Center, 3700 S. Highway 27. 352.394.4800. 6/12-21 @ various times
(RESCHEDULED FROM MARCH) “FARNDALE AVENUE’S MACBETH” Moonlight Players Theatre, 735 W. Minneola Ave., Clermont. 352.319.1116.
REVIEW
By Delia Owens. Romance and mystery surface in the marsh.
STORY: DIANE DEAN
ONGOING EVENTS
here the Crawdads Sing,” by Delia Owens, is a 2018 bestselling novel that many people have read, and it recently was the topic of discussion for the Bookworm Book Club in The Villages. The author says there are three parts to the story: romance, mystery and courtroom drama. A young girl, Kya, is left alone to fend for herself in a marsh with no modern conveniences and minimal food. Kya is abandoned by her family and ridiculed as she attempts to attend school. Yet she educates herself about nature and her environment to a level of a scientist or naturalist. She transfers that knowledge to her art and poetry. Later, as an adult, Kya is involved in the murder case of a former lover.
The author is an admirer of Jane Goodall, whose detailed observations of nature are similar to the descriptions of the world around Kya. Delia also has a doctorate in animal social behavior herself. A reader can visualize the North Carolina marsh and its residents by way of the artistic details of appearance and behavior of the animals. The birds, fi refl ies, praying mantises, water animals and, notably, the crawdads play a major role in the book. Kya’s behavior emulates animals—most importantly, the she-fox— more than humans.
Sarah Reagan led the discussion of the book club members. Small groups considered questions about characters, predators, motivations, the signifi cance of the color red and prejudice toward others who are diff erent. Kya’s lack of socialization with others resulted in her having little empathy or warmth in her relationships. Abandonment seems to be the driving force in all she does, thus, her response is to stay away from people except to meet her basic needs.
Most of the club members enjoyed the book and said they look forward to the movie version that actress Reese Witherspoon reportedly is going to produce. It is expected that the setting of the marsh, later called the swamp, will have a starring role in the visual presentation.
Events are subject to change and cancellation.
Ready to delve into this book? This book can be found at amazon.com and goodreads.com
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For more information, please contact Joa Harpster at 352.323.5506 or e-mail jharpster@centfl health.org
PRESENTING SPONSOR: SPONSORS:
PEOPLE
Country with a twist
Lake County singer often takes his talents to Nashville.
STORY: VICTORIA SCHLABIG ≈ PHOTO: NICOLE HAMEL
ountry artist Rob Nichols, who started performing professionally when he was about 22, thinks back to growing up and listening to his parents’ Elvis Presley 45s, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and gospel music. Those styles still infl uence his own music today at age 48. “I would be in my dad’s den holding his letter opener as my microphone, and that’s kind of, I guess, what got me into singing,” he says. “I love the traditional country, but it’s mixed with some rock ’n’ roll. I do a little bit of Elvis and some blues.” Born in Leesburg and raised in Groveland, Rob has split time between Lake County and Nashville since 1995. He’s currently back in Groveland with his family, though he often travels to Nashville for shows.
Rob credits his performance skills to Renee Grant-Williams, a voice coach who gave him lessons in Nashville. Renee has also worked with big country artists like Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood.
“She taught me that you close your eyes and for that three minutes that you’re singing that song, you live that song,” he says.
Rob usually is a “one-man show,” playing a Takamine Steve Wariner Edition guitar. But sometimes he brings his band along, like when he performed at the Country Music Hall of Fame, which is one of his most memorable experiences so far.
“That one was really cool—just being able to hear your voice echo through Nashville,” he says.
Rob performs mainly in the Southeast, particularly in Florida. He plays at sports bars, such as Graffi ti Junktion in Clermont, along with outdoor locations and restaurants along the water, like Lilly’s on the Lake, also in Clermont.
“In Lake County, I’ve been blessed because as much as I’ve played, they haven’t gotten tired of me yet,” he jokes.
Rob says he’s most thankful to have his wife, Holly, and daughters Dallas and Caroline always supporting him.
You can fi nd Rob’s music and a schedule of his shows at facebook.com/robnicholsmusic.
Do you know talented people in the community? Send recommendations to victoria@akersmediagroup.com.
EVENT
Vintage venue
A new concert series is filling the halls of historic Howey Mansion with music once again.
STORY: CHRIS GERBASI
fter citrus land baron William Howey built a mansion in the mid-1920s, he often hosted musicians from around the country to entertain guests during parties. Now, nearly 100 years later, music lovers are rediscovering his Howeyin-the-Hills home as a performance venue through the Howey Mansion Music Series. “When we had a concert in there for the fi rst time in December, it was like a dream come true,” says Arisa Kusumi Sullivan, executive and artistic director of the series. “The acoustics are amazing, and I can arguably say it’s probably the best or one of the best chamber music venues in Florida.” The series, which recently ended its fi rst offi cial season, was so successful that Arisa already is planning for next season.
“It takes a little time to build a reputation, but as we keep going, I feel like we increasingly gain more and more patrons and I’m really very happy with how the fi rst season has gone,” she says. “We’ve had some feedback, we did surveys, and we got overwhelmingly positive responses from everybody.”
Arisa probably knew she had a hit on her hands as soon as she secured the venue, a 20-room Mediterranean Revival-style house that she describes as “absolutely gorgeous.” Her friend Brad Cowherd is one of the owners who restored the Howey Mansion to its former glory.
“I was inspired by that because it’s a 1925 structure and I thought, oh, wow, it’s like the perfect venue for classical music because it’s got the big Great Hall and all the hardwood and the acoustics,” Arisa says. “I thought it would be amazing in there, and they just don’t make those kinds of rooms anymore.”
Arisa, an international classical singer, sang “O, Holy Night” with the Quartet Rimmamici strings during the fi rst chamber music concert in the Great Hall in December. The quartet was so popular that she plans to bring them back next
The Sovereign Brass Quintet
season along with other high-caliber singers and groups.
The series also included two Jazz on the Lawn shows featuring the Suzy Park Quartet in October and Renderglow in March. The lawn concerts are designed to be casual, family-friendly parties.
The 2019-2020 series fi nale, the Brilliant Brass Chamber Music Concert by Sovereign Brass on April 16, was postponed over health concerns. But the concert is expected to be included in next season’s lineup during the fall, Arisa says.
Sovereign Brass is a quintet of horn players that started performing together in the 1990s in Central Florida. Members include Kathy Thomas on French horn, her husband, Jeff Thomas, on trombone, Michael Fee and Tom Macklin on trumpets and Josh Parsons on tuba. All of them perform with major symphonies, including the Orlando Philharmonic.
The musicians had been looking forward to seeing the mansion and performing in the Great Hall for the fi rst time, but they will have to wait a little longer.
“It will be a very elegant place to play, and I’m sure that will make us feel very special in the surroundings,” Kathy says. Arisa also hopes to establish a Music at the Mansion children series consisting of
The Quartet Rimmamici educational presentations Photo: Ben Jimenez Photography by classical and jazz artists. Expansion is dependent on donations and grants to the series, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofi t organization. But Arisa is excited about the future. “I had a dream for about 15 years to do this,” she says. “I really wanted to one day have a festival where I could invite all of these people that I had become friends with around the world to come and perform.” The mansion’s history, which is rich and rooted in Florida lore, now has The Quartet Rimmamici performs in another chapter. the Howey Mansion Great Hall. Photo: Ben Jimenez Photography HOLD ON TO YOUR BRASS The Sovereign Brass concert scheduled for April 16 at the Howey Mansion, 1001 Citrus Ave., Howey-in-the-Hills, has been postponed until next season to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Patrons are asked to hang on to their tickets, which will be honored next season. For anyone choosing to purchase a 2020-2021 season subscription, there will be a special option exclusively for fans who have already prepaid the Sovereign Brass ticket. Check howeymusicseries.org and your email for announcements in late spring about the 2020-2021 season and subscription presales.
Want to see your event in Social Spotlight?
Contact us at least three months in advance and provide all the details to chris@akersmediagroup.com.
CHRIS GERBASI
PLACES
Orange appeal
Visitors to Central Florida are still juiced about visiting the Citrus Tower in Clermont.
STORY: JAMES COMBS
n a region where screaming roller coasters, killer whales and magical castles reign supreme, a roadside attraction in Clermont still stands tall. It’s 226 feet tall, to be exact. The Citrus Tower was opened in 1956 to pay homage to the area’s once-blossoming citrus industry. The monolithic structure is located at 141 N. U.S. Highway 27, where orderly rows of orange groves used to stretch as far as the eye could see. Tourists receive a bird’s-eye view of the landscape by taking an elevator ride to an observation deck and looking out into the vast horizon.
On a recent morning, a visit to this historical attraction serves up a slice of Lake County’s agricultural history. I step through the tower’s double glass doors and into a spacious lobby. The lobby is home to Mountaineer Coff ee, which serves roasted coff ee and homemade pastries. I peek to my left and begin feeling nostalgic as I see an arcade room with some of my favorite childhood games: Pac-Man, Pole Position, air hockey and electronic basketball.
Tempting, but I wasn’t here to shoot hoops; I was here for the famous view from the top. I step into the elevator and am immediately distracted. Neatly painted on the elevator door are some interesting factoids that intrigue me.
• The Citrus Tower contains 5 million pounds of concrete. • The Citrus Tower contains 149,000 pounds of steel. • The tower is 543 feet above sea level and is equivalent to a 22-story building. • From the observation deck, visitors can see eight counties and more than 2,000 square miles.
I scribble those facts in my notebook and, before I know it, the smooth elevator ride to the top is complete. The door opens. I step into a glass-enclosed observation deck and immediately experience a breathtaking view of Lake Minneola. My fear of heights be damned. I am too immersed in the beautiful landscape to even care.
Helpful signs throughout the 360-degree observation deck inform me about what I can see in each direction. I grab binoculars and feast my eyes on popular natural and structural landmarks. To the west, I see the Clermont Chain of Lakes. Lake Apopka, the state’s largest spring-fed lake, and Sugarloaf Mountain, the highest point in peninsular Florida, are to the north. Gazing southward, I see Magic Kingdom’s famous castle and Epcot Center’s iconic Spaceship Earth. Orlando’s skyline can be seen to the east.
After taking in the magnifi cent views, I walk over to the tower’s popular coin drop. I pull out a quarter, place it in a steel tube that runs the full height of the structure and press my ear against the tube. Seconds later … ka-ching! The coin hits a bell at the bottom and makes a chime sound.
Before beginning my descent to the lobby, I take one last glance into the horizon, imagining what the view looked like 50 years ago compared to today. Directly beneath the tower is a landscape peppered with strip malls, large subdivisions, fast-food restaurants and offi ce buildings. The endless acres of orange groves have been replaced by urban sprawl.
TOURISTS STILL COME
The attraction was built as a tribute to Lake County’s famed citrus industry. There was a time when the county boasted 130,000 acres of groves and was the state’s second-largest citrus producer.
When the Citrus Tower opened, giant theme parks had not yet found their way to Central Florida. In those days, tourists found thrills through roadside attractions featuring snake handlers, alligator wrestlers and swimming mermaids.
The Citrus Tower was immediately a big hit. Each year, approximately half a million vacationers from around the country would stop in for amazing views and much more. In those days, the attraction also featured a gift shop and soda fountain, a restaurant and cocktail lounge, a glass-blowing studio, a candy-making factory and an exhibit where guests could see the entire handling process for fresh fruit. Visitors received free samples of fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice and loaded up bags of oranges to take back home.
“The Citrus Tower brought many people to Clermont,” owner Scott Homan says. “There weren’t many things to do in this area at that time, so it was a very popular attraction.”
Of course, major freezes in 1983 and 1989 dealt a serious blow to the citrus industry, wiping out the majority of groves. When Orlando became the country’s top theme park destination, the popularity of the Citrus Tower waned, and ownership changed hands several times.
Scott’s father, Greg Homan, purchased the tower in 1995. Scott grew up around the attraction and has fond childhood memories. One year, when his father held a Christmas party at the tower, Scott dressed as an elf and served as an elevator attendant for visitors going to the observation deck.
Scott and his wife, Heather, took over ownership in 2019 with hopes of restoring the attraction’s appeal. The couple added a coff ee shop in the lobby and seating and air-conditioning in the observation deck. In addition, guests can now pay a yearly $100 membership fee and have unlimited access to the top.
“Those who purchase a membership can bring as many as four guests a day,” Scott says. “Some even use the observation deck as their offi ce, so we added Wi-Fi to convenience them.”
Scott and Heather also are bringing back the popular light show on Nov. 27. The tower will be decorated with 50,000 lights that are synchronized to music. Scott hopes the upgrades will draw at least 1,500 monthly visitors, including those who visit the homes of Mickey Mouse and Shamu. He says his attraction can complement theme parks rather than compete against them.
“We are the day-off attraction for people who are visiting Orlando theme parks,” he says. “After they’ve experienced the hustle and bustle of Disney World, they need a break. They can come here and see a piece of old Florida and relax while doing so.”
And what’s the best time to come?
“In the morning,” says Kasy Bradshaw, manager of Mountaineer Coff ee. “I go to the top and see the moon is full and bright over Lake Minneola. Then I glance toward the east, where the sun is painting the sky orange. It’s an unforgettable view.”
On clear days without humidity, guests can see parts of Lake, Sumter, Orange, Polk, Pasco, Hernando, Osceola and Seminole counties.
The Citrus Tower may not have the glitz and glamour of a giant theme park, but one thing is undeniable.
Staying power has helped it rise above many of Florida’s now defunct roadside attractions.
GOING UP! In terms of height, how does the Citrus Tower compare to other iconic structures around the world?
191 feet
LEANING TOWER OF PISA IN ITALY
226 feet
FLORIDA CITRUS TOWER
A view from the observation deck
302 feet
STATUE OF LIBERTY IN NEW YORK CITY
591 feet
THE GHERKIN IN LONDON
605 feet
SPACE NEEDLE IN SEATTLE
1,025 feet
EIFFEL TOWER IN PARIS
OJ ORIGINALS
Here is a recipe from a booklet that was provided to visitors in the early days of the Citrus Tower:
ALL-GO BREAKFAST SHAKE
INGREDIENTS
1 cup milk 1 cup Florida orange juice 1 cup corn flakes 2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey
DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until thoroughly mixed, about 1 minute. Serve immediately.
Looking for amusement outside of theme parks?
If you know of an interesting local attraction, contact James Combs at james@akersmediagroup.com.
IF YOU GO
Citrus Tower, 141 N. U.S. Highway 27, Clermont
Admission: $10 for adults; $9 for seniors; $6 for kids. Tours: 11am-3pm weekdays and Saturdays. More information: Visit citrustower.com or call 352.394.4061.
JAMES COMBS
Janice and Michael Koerting, Tim and Lila Farley, Debby and David Blais
Brenda and Kevin Mulholland Leslie Matthews, Dan and Meagan Miller
Dean and Teresa Simmons, Jonathan and Kristi Germeroth Ralph and Elke Lengemann, Kevin and Brenda Mulholland, Dean and Teresa Simmons, Jonathan and Kristi Germeroth
Debbie Case, Kristal Delgiorno, Robin Reich, Chris Ross, Ashlei Wood, Krista Carroll
CELEBRATING LIFE
@ ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER ≈ PHOTOS: NICOLE HAMEL AdventHealth Waterman Foundation’s 11th annual Celebration of Life Gala was hosted Feb. 8 at Orlando Science Center to support cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services, a program that sees more than 12,000 patients a year. Lake County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Dan Miller was the special guest, sharing how cardiac rehab helped him get back on his feet after a lifethreatening heart event. The gala also featured entertainment by Vox Audio, a silent auction and dinner.
